?Chapter 1431:


    “I understand,” Kallie said. “I just wanted to keep you in the loop. And to be honest, after that long journey, I’m exhausted.”


    Jake, concerned, scooped Kallie into his arms and carried her inside.


    His office included a small lounge area, designed for taking breaks.


    Noticing the pristine condition of the bed, Kallie raised an eyebrow. “You’ve never actually used this to rest, have you?” she questioned.


    “Of course I have,” Jake lied smoothly. “I often rest at my apartment. I don’t usually stay here.”


    Kallie gave him an exasperated look. “Don’t think you can fool me,” she said. “You’re so picky about cleanliness. You don’t like staying anywhere but your own home. And you don’t even have an apartment here. The nearest one is too far from the office, making it inconvenient tomute. You’re probably staying at thepany or the hotel next door. But you don’t like hotels, so you must be sleeping in this lounge. Judging by how neat it is, you haven’t been resting well. Jake, do you honestly think I wouldn’t be upset about this?”


    Kallie dramatically covered her face with her hands, refusing to look at him.


    Panic surged through Jake. He knew Kallie well. She might not get angry over Lisa, but she would definitely be upset about this.


    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I promise I’ll get proper rest from now on,” Jake quickly reassured her, his eyes filled with remorse. His expression reminded Kallie of a kicked puppy.


    “Fine.” Kallie conceded, ncing at the time. They didn’t have much time to rest.


    She slipped out of Jake’s embrace andy down on the bed, tugging on his hand. “I need to rest, and so do you.”


    Jake raised an eyebrow slightly as he settled beside Kallie, drawing her into his arms. Though he remained upright, it was clear he wasn’t ready to sumb to the inviting softness of the bed.


    Jake cooed, “Honey, I’ve still got a bit of work to wrap up. Once I’m done, I’ll join you. How about this? I’ll move my stuff to the lounge, and you can drift off to sleep while I work nearby. Sounds cozy, doesn’t it?”


    Kallie offered a gentle, slightly exasperated smile. “What are you going on about? I don’t need you to keep mepany. I want you to rest. Those dark circles under your eyes are a testament to your exhaustion. You’re not getting any younger. You can’t burn the candle at both ends like the youngsters do.”


    The phrase “youngsters” instantly caught Jake’s attention. His captivating eyes narrowed slightly, and his hold on Kallie’s hand tightened just a touch, his voiceced with a yful yet undeniably present edge. “Youngsters, huh? And just who might these paragons of youthful energy be?”


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    Kallie, observing his yfully jealous reaction, couldn’t resist teasing him. “I couldn’t tell you who they are. But let’s just say, the young people I’ve encountered are indeed like that.”


    It didn’t take Jake long to recognize Kallie’s yful prodding. While he wasn’t easily riled, her teasing sparked apetitive fire within him. He decided, in that moment, that work could wait.


    He quickly gathered his scattered belongings and, with a smooth, decisive movement, stretched out beside Kallie, pulling her into his arms. “Let’s get some proper rest,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that resonated in her ear.


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