?<strong>Chapter 306:</strong>


    As the crowd began to thin, whispers of gossip still reached Kallie’s ears.


    “If I were Jake, I’d be mortified to even step foot here. It’s downright embarrassing.”


    “Why did he bothering? Was it really just to stand up for Kallie? But weren’t they on bad terms?”


    “You’re not seeing the bigger picture. With Kallie’s rising influence, he’s obviously trying to mend fences, hoping she might throw some opportunities his way.”


    “It’s ironic, isn’t it? He always carried himself with such arrogance, and now here he is, humbled. I’d love to see how he’s handling this twist.”


    Amidst these conversations, a wave of bewilderment washed over Kallie. Jake, too, must have overheard these whispers. Yet, throughout it all, his expression remained stoic and unflinching, as if the sharp words were merely background noise, irrelevant to his presence. This unwavering demeanor was so characteristic of him.


    Kallie knew Jake better than most could im. His pride was not one to bend easily, certainly not for currying favor with her as the gossip suggested. Kallie wasn’t sure why Jake hade to her defense, but she sensed that beneath his indifferent exterior, a torrent of emotions must be churning.


    Kallie maintained her distance, observing Jake from afar. The past they shared was now a vast chasm. The courage to bridge it had eluded her. Through her trials, Kallie had learned the crucial lesson of prioritizing her own life above all else.


    As Jake concluded his conversation with Ewing, he turned and locked eyes with Kallie. At that brief moment, Kallie thought she glimpsed a whirlwind of emotions in Jake’s gaze, but they disappeared as quickly as they had appeared.


    Jake turned away, casting onest look into the air before exiting, leaving Kallie with a sudden, sharp pang of sorrow. Kallie couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be thest time they met.


    Back in the solitude of her room, driven by an impulse, Kallie opened the box sent by Jake. Inside, to her astonishment,y a ck card, the kind associated with considerable wealth.


    Additionally, a staggering ten million dors represented in bankbooks and checksy beside a collection of personal letters from Roderick, her grandfather, and, unexpectedly, Jake.


    The letters from Roderick and her grandfather were familiar relics of her past, treasured emotional anchors she had left behind at the Reeves estate.


    The upheaval within the Reeves family had deterred her from retrieving them, but she remembered their contents intimately, lines that hadforted her through solitary and trying times. She knew all the lines by heart.


    gα?ησν????s．?оm takes you away


    Jake’s letter, however, was a surprise. Kallie hadn’t anticipated any furthermunication from him, given their strained history. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded the paper, revealing a message that started with formal distance but gradually revealed deep personal insights.


    The letter exined the presence of the items in the box, “Roderick always said you were too soft-hearted, too easily swayed and bullied by others. He wanted to arm you when you were ready to stand up for yourself.


    He considered giving these to you earlier, thinking you might need something to fall back on, but I knew you weren’t there yet. I thought you’d stay with the Reeves, sheltered by familiarity and familial bonds.


    Now, I see it’s time for you to reim what’s always been yours. I have kept these for you for years. It’s time to give these back to you.”


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