Chapter 197



Behind the screen, a tall man loomed, idly smoking by the window.

At the sound of Sarah’s inquiries, the man turned slowly, a chill smile playing on his lips. “Miss Miller, are you really starting with questions for me? Well, I have one for you. Answer me. Why did today’s plan not unfold as we arranged? More importantly, you failed. Can you explain that?”

Sarah’s spirits plummeted, her eyes clouding with guilt, her confidence slipping away. “My plan today was much like yours. It’s just that luck was on Kallie’s side. How could I know that old man from the Hayes family had been pretending to be sick all the while? It’s not my fault. Who could have anticipated that?”

“Crack!” A sharp noise echoed as the man violently slammed a cup onto the floor, shattering it.

Sarah flinched and instinctively stepped back.

Instantly, several bodyguards closed in around her, their stares icy and menacing.

Caught between anxiety and ire, Sarah turned to confront the man behind the screen. “What is the meaning of this?”

“You disregard my directives, yet you have the nerve to challenge me here. How dare you!” Despite the man’s flat tone, a sinister chill lurked beneath his words.

Sarah shivered involuntarily. Clenching her teeth, she retorted, “My plan and arrangement today were indeed flawed. Yet, even if everything had gone as you had planned, with Kallie backed by the Hayes family, success was far from certain. Isn’t it a stretch to blame me for this failure?”

The man responded with a sneer, “It appears you still haven’t recognized your faults yet, Miss Miller.”

His words struck a nerve, draining the color from Sarah’s face.

Before Sarah could question his intentions, she found herself swiftly restrained, her hands and feet securely bound.

Gone was Sarah’s earlier defiance. Recalling the man’s ruthless methods, she regretted provoking him. She had truly been flirting with danger.

Observing Sarah’s distressed state, the man’s grin widened into a grotesque sneer, his eyes gleaming with undisguised venom. “Miss Miller, I believe Jake has developed strong feelings for you. Perhaps he’s truly fallen for you. Given your feelings and compassion for him, why not endure this ordeal on his behalf?”

No sooner had the man finished speaking than one of his subordinates produced a medical kit.

Realizing the gravity of the situation and her imminent punishment, Sarah shook her head desperately, her eyes wide with fear. Her voice shook as she spoke, “He… He does care about me, just not deeply yet. I’m to blame. I should have heeded your advice. I was mistaken. I won’t go against your wishes again.”

Unfazed by Sarah’s words, the subordinate continued his actions, about to force the medicine down her throat.

Despair gripped Sarah, and she closed her eyes.

From behind the screen, the man waved dismissively. “Enough. This is boring. Let her go.”

Once freed, Sarah collapsed to the ground, her back slick with cold sweat.

The man issued his warning. “If you fail to comply next time, the medicine will be administered to you. By then, I can find another, more compliant woman to stay by Jake’s side. The decision is yours.”

Suppressing the uneasiness in her heart, Sarah said cautiously, “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

The man gestured toward the door. “Get lost.”

Sarah got up clumsily and exited the room.

After Sarah had gone, a subordinate approached the man and spoke cautiously. “From what I’ve observed today, it’s clear Jake has no feelings for Kallie. Perhaps he doesn’t love her at all. Yet, he seems to genuinely shield Sarah. Should we perhaps reconsider our strategy? Focusing on Sarah might be a better way to gain leverage over Jake.”

The man chuckled as if he had just heard a hilarious joke. “Did you catch Sarah’s act just now? She professes her love for Jake, yet she’s as timid as a chick and solely looks out for herself. I know what Jake is like. Frankly, I doubt he will fall for someone like Sarah. However, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of some residual feelings from their history. Your guys have been medicating Jake, but he seems to not be affected at all. If this continues, we might need to shift our focus to a different target.”

“Understood,” the subordinate replied, nodding swiftly.

The man glanced down at Sarah’s bustling birthday celebration below, his lips curling into a subtle smile.

Elsewhere, waking up in the hospital, Jake’s first reaction was to scan the crowd for Kallie. Regrettably, she wasn’t there.

A shadow of disappointment crossed Jake’s face, which was misinterpreted by those around him.

Edgar was preoccupied with handling the aftermath of Jake’s sudden collapse. Edgar’s subordinates, assuming Jake was searching for Sarah, brought her straight to the hospital.

Seeing Jake conscious brought a sincere smile to Sarah’s face. She rushed to his side, her eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay? Do you still feel unwell anywhere?”

Jake glanced at Sarah. “I’m okay. There’s no need to worry about me.”

Sarah sat on the edge of Jake’s bed, her thoughts drifting back to her earlier conversation with the mysterious man. Remembering Jake’s kindness toward her, she felt a surge of guilt. “Jake, this is all my fault.”

Jake raised his eyebrow. “Your fault? Did you do something behind my back?”

Sarah hesitated, the words she intended to say caught in her throat. She still couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth.

“Nothing,” she muttered, her voice tinged with guilt. “I just think I shouldn’t have thrown this birthday party. It’s caused you so much trouble and even made you pass out.”

Sarah paused for a bit before continuing, “And Kallie… She’s just too much. If the Hayes family wants her, they can have her. Jake, please don’t keep her around anymore.”

Her voice carried a slight plea.

Jake turned away, his tone matter-of-fact. “You know precisely why she has to stay. She’s pregnant, and she needs to be by my side until the baby is born.”

Sarah’s anxiety was palpable. “Jake, are you really planning to keep the baby?”

Instead of answering her question, Jake asked, “Be honest with me. What else did Melinda tell you?”

Sarah hesitated, her resolve wavering before she finally spoke with resignation. “She said that if Kallie and her child stay with you, I’ll never become your wife.”

In truth, Melinda hadn’t said those exact words, but the essence of her message to Sarah had been along those lines.

Sarah bent the truth, and Jake sensed it. A flash of coldness flickered in his eyes, swiftly hidden.

Jake’s tone was casual as he remarked, “I’ve had some disagreements with Dean recently, so we’re not on the best terms. If you really care about me, you’d stay away from Dean and Melinda.”

Sarah’s smile stiffened. This turn of events was unexpected. Despite her interactions with Melinda, not once had Melinda divulged any information about this.

It dawned on Sarah then. She belatedly realized she had been manipulated, used as a pawn in someone else’s game, a realization she had never anticipated facing.

As Jake observed the dawning realization in Sarah’s face, his faint smile betrayed his satisfaction. This was precisely what he wanted.

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