Chapter 200



Outside, a heavy downpour suddenly began.

Lost in thought, Kallie stood by the window, watching the rain cascade down.

There was a piano beside the window, which caught Kallie’s attention.

Suddenly, memories flooded back of her time learning to play it. The one who had taught her was none other than Jake.

Jake was a prodigy from an early age. He had a knack for mastering any skill he set his mind to.

Jake excelled in pursuits that others pursued professionally, even in hobbies he pursued for pleasure.

Back then, Jake developed a fondness for playing the piano.

Unfortunately, Shirley disapproved, dismissing it as a waste of time. She recklessly destroyed many of the expensive pianos Jake had bought.

Therefore, Jake sought refuge at his grandfather’s house whenever he wanted to practice the piano.

Whenever Kallie saw Jake playing the piano, she was filled with admiration. In his absence, she attempted to learn herself.

Her efforts produced only a few discordant notes before she heard Jake’s mocking voice behind her.

Despite his teasing, he settled beside Kallie and began to play the piano alone.

Later, Jake offered to teach Kallie, but with the condition that she had to cover for him.

Honestly, Kallie had never been interested in the piano.

Her only motivation had been Jake.

Reflecting on these memories, Kallie suddenly felt her past teenage infatuations, which she thought were well-hidden, seemed a bit foolish.

Her fingers instinctively began to play as memories of the past tugged at her heartstrings.

Though she was a bit rusty, the melody remained unchanged.

It was Jake’s favorite tune to play on rainy days.

Accompanied by the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain outside, her sadness blended with the raindrops, spreading like a melancholic symphony.

Fortunately, Kallie couldn’t recall the rest of the melody, ending the haunting piano notes. This allowed her to snap out of her memories.

Glancing out the window, Kallie spotted a man in a hospital gown seated beneath a tree in the flower bed. The man sat there alone in the rain, lifting his head as if searching for something.

Kallie’s heart raced. She couldn’t help but recall Edgar’s earlier words. Could it be Jake? How had he arrived so quickly?

Kallie had assumed Jake would start his search with the Hayes family, and she counted on Jerome and Brent to intervene. But she never imagined he’d show up directly at the house where she was staying.

Anxious that she might be mistaken, Kallie cautiously opened the window, despite the pouring rain.

Now, she had a clear view. She could easily recognize that strikingly handsome and pallid countenance. It was none other than Jake.

At the sight of Jake, Kallie’s heart skipped a beat.

Jake was stubborn. Since Kallie wouldn’t come out, he simply sat there, waiting.

Jake spotted Kallie and gestured energetically for her to come down and meet him.

Kallie clung to the window frame, her heart pounding like a drum. She couldn’t tell if it was from agitation or some other emotion.

Taking a deep breath, she hastily shut the window and fumbled for her phone to text Edgar, only to realize her phone was off.

After pondering the situation further, Kallie realized that calling Edgar would be pointless, given Jake’s stubbornness. If Edgar could have stopped Jake, he wouldn’t have urgently warned her against meeting Jake in the first place.

Kallie analyzed the situation. Jake’s unmistakable face made anonymity impossible, and it was only a matter of time before someone recognized him. The ever-opportunistic Sarah would undoubtedly seize this opportunity to stir up trouble again. Whether she chose to meet Jake or not, trouble seemed inevitable.

Kallie hesitated and glanced at Jake again, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty.

Jake swayed in the wind and rain, his body teetering on the brink. It was the first time Kallie had seen him this vulnerable.

With determination, Kallie spun around and went out with an umbrella.

Kallie struggled to whisk Jake into her place, the heavy rain drenching her to the bone. Being completely soaked was a discomfort she couldn’t ignore.

Yet, Jake seemed utterly devoid of strength, his weight bearing down on Kallie.

He was well over 6 feet tall. While Kallie was confident she could bear the burden, she worried for the child growing inside her.

Kallie pushed Jake roughly onto the sofa as soon as they entered the house. She pointed sternly at her belly, her expression serious, and gestured firmly.

Her gestures practically said, “Jake, can you please stop this madness of looking for me? I’m not interested in knowing what happened between you and Sarah. And remember, I’m pregnant. Treating me like this is bullying a pregnant woman.”

At the sight of her sign language, Jake suddenly snapped out of his daze. He remembered why he had come to find Kallie.

With a sudden surge of determination, Jake rose from the sofa, taking strides toward her.

Kallie recoiled from Jake’s imposing presence, instinctively retreating until she felt the cold wall against her back. There was nowhere left to escape.

Kallie had intended to question his intentions in sign language, but before she could, he seized her wrist, preventing her from communicating.

Jake stared at Kallie with intense agitation. “Tell me the truth, Kallie. Whose child are you carrying?”

Caught completely off guard by Jake’s question, Kallie stood frozen in shock. She looked at him in disbelief, trembling uncontrollably.

For a moment, Kallie was engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions. Was it hurt? Was it anger? Disappointment? Perhaps it was all of them.

Kallie had believed that Jake harbored some dislike toward their unborn child, but she never expected it to run so deep that he didn’t want the child to be his altogether.

Kallie wrenched herself free from Jake’s grasp. Then, with a surge of anger, she slapped him hard across the face.

Jake recoiled from the impact, his expression shifting through a tumult of emotions, finally settling on surprise and something akin to delight.

He turned his head, showing no signs of anger but with a faint smile.

Seeing the tears of sorrow, the raw anger, and the deep disappointment in Kallie’s eyes, Jake felt a sharp pang of remorse. He felt like slapping himself. How blind he had been all this time! Why had the truth dawned on him only now?

Jake embraced Kallie tightly, his hands trembling as he murmured in her ear, “I’m sorry, Kallie. It’s all my fault. I completely misunderstood you.”

Kallie stood there, puzzled. She thought she ought to have touched Jake’s face to check if he was intoxicated when she brought him in. What was the meaning of his words? Was he trying to convey that he had misunderstood her in the past? What exactly had he misunderstood?

Despite all her self-warnings to keep her distance from Jake, Kallie found herself softening in this moment. She even entertained the idea of having a serious conversation with him.

However, before Jake could complete his apology, his body suddenly went limp.

Then, all his strength ebbed away, and he collapsed to the floor.

Kallie was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. She quickly sent a message to Edgar, urging him to come over right away.

Next, she swiftly began to move Jake into the bedroom.

Kallie exerted all her strength, feeling a dull ache in her lower abdomen as she struggled to shift him. She had to be careful not to overexert herself. Therefore, she moved him slowly.

After strenuous effort, Kallie managed to get Jake onto the bed, sweat pouring down her face.

She took a deep breath and lay down beside Jake.

Even though Jake was unconscious, his lips moved as if he were saying something. It sounded like he was murmuring someone’s name.

Intrigued, Kallie leaned in closer to listen.

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