?Chapter 1468:


    With a gentle smile, Kallie reached out and patted Jete’s head. “Don’t be silly. It’s not like that. Jake’s just dealing with somepany issues, and I was about to head back to my ce anyway. If you’re scared, we can sleep together. After a short nap, we’ll be home, and Elma will be there waiting for you.”


    A flicker of light danced in Jete’s eyes. “Really?”


    Jete hesitated for a beat before cautiously asking, “Are you sure I’m not bothering you?” Kallie wasn’t her mother, after all.


    But Jete couldn’t help but crave Kallie’s presence, clinging to her forfort. Being close to Kallie seemed to give her the strength to keep going, helping her forget all the painful memories. More than once, she had wished Kallie could be her mother. Would there evere a day when she could call Kallie “Mom” without hesitation? But such thoughts never left the confines of her heart.


    Jete was careful not to overstep. She didn’t want anyone to think she was trying to be Kallie’s adopted daughter for selfish reasons. Therefore, she swallowed her feelings, burying them deep inside and never daring to let them show.


    As Jete was lost in thought, Kallie effortlessly lifted her into her arms.


    “You are too light,” Kallie murmured with a slight frown. “When we get home, you’ll need to eat more.”


    Jete caught the implication and felt her face heat up. She hesitated for a moment before asking, “Kallie, does that mean I’ll be living with you?”


    Kallie blinked in surprise. “Of course. Why? Do you not want to? But if you’d rather stay somewhere else, I can arrange that. It won’t be far, though. You cane to us whenever you like.”


    “No, no!” Jete blurted out, her voiceced with urgency. “I want to. I really want to stay with you.”


    Kallie couldn’t help but chuckle at Jete’s anxious expression. Reaching out, she yfully pinched Jete’s nose. “I was just teasing you. There’s no way I’d leave you alone now. I’d be too worried. It’ste, and you need to rest.”


    After saying that, Kallie gently ced Jete on the bed and settled beside her.


    Jete turned to look at Kallie, hesitation flickering in her eyes. Sleep was thest thing on her mind. Everything felt almost too perfect—so perfect that she feared she would wake up and realize it had all been a dream, and she was still alone. Not just alone, but trapped with a father who saw her as nothing more than a means to an end. If he couldn’t squeeze money out of her, he would find another way—likely by selling her off. She would then only have a tragic and dark life ahead.


    L?t??τ чh?ρτ?r? ιn gɑl??οv?l?.сo??


    With these haunting thoughts swirling in her mind, Jete finally drifted into a restless sleep, though she couldn’t escape the grip of her nightmares. In the depths of her dream, she saw her father’s menacing face looming over her. Terror seized her chest, and she let out a piercing scream.


    The sudden jolt of Jete’s cries startled Kallie awake. Seeing Jete drenched in cold sweat, her heart clenched.


    “Jete, Jete,” Kallie murmured as she wiped the cold sweat from Jete’s forehead. “It’s just a bad dream. You’re safe. I’m here.”


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