?<strong>Chapter 709:</strong>


    Kallie considered his words and recognized the truth behind them.


    At first, it was too dark to see Jake clearly. As Kallie’s eyes grew ustomed to the dim light, she could just make out his shape in front of her. Feeling slightly uneasy, Kallie asked, “What about you? Aren’t you cold too?”


    Jake shook his head. “I’m fine,” he replied.


    Kallie wasn’t convinced. She knew he must be freezing. He always wore a suit, every single day. When it was cold, he’d add a long overcoat. He must have left in a rush and forgotten it. Now, he was only wearing his shirt.


    It was the beginning of winter. The days weren’t too bad, but the nights were definitely getting colder.


    At the thought that Jake was likely feeling the chill now, Kallie discarded her concerns about keeping her distance. She quietly took a few steps toward him. When he didn’t say anything, she moved even closer.


    Kallie figured she was being pretty stealthy, creeping around in the dark like that. She was sure Jake hadn’t noticed a thing.


    But Jake had noticed the moment she approached him. He just decided to y it cool and stay quiet, watching her fumble around, trying to reach him in vain.


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    Jake found her clumsiness in the darkness rather entertaining. With his long strides, he easily closed the distance and stopped by her side.


    Even though Kallie couldn’t see clearly in the pitch ck, she could sense his approach. “What are you doing?” she asked, flustered.


    “It’s freezing in here,” Jake replied calmly. “I’m worried we might get hypothermia.”


    Kallie hesitated, unsure whether to voice her offer. As Jake rubbed his hands to keep himself warm, she finally said, “Why don’t youe closer? We can keep warm together.” Without offering a response, Jake simply moved closer.


    They huddled together for warmth, settling into a corner of the elevator.


    Whether it was the close proximity to Jake or simply the power of her own imagination, Kallie felt much warmer. Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic rhythm that she attributed to the stress of the situation.


    Kallie had never been trapped in an elevator with a man, let alone with her ex-husband, inplete darkness. It was a novel and unsettling experience. She had heard of elevator idents before but always felt they would never happen to her.


    Only then did Kallie realize she suffered from ustrophobia. Had it not been for this unexpected predicament, she might have gone her entire life without discovering this hidden fear.


    The silence in the elevator was deafening, amplifying Kallie’s growing sense of anxiety. That familiar feeling of dread, which she had momentarily forgotten in Jake’s presence, began to creep back in.


    Kallie dug her nails into her palms, hoping the sharp sting would keep her grounded, but it was no use. Fear hit her like a tidal wave, pulling her under. She even felt suffocated. The fear kept rising, threatening to consume her entirely.


    She gradually lost awareness of Jake’s presence. She felt like she was alone, falling into an endless abyss, sinking helplessly. Despair, fear, and that suffocating feeling all wrapped around her, squeezing the life out of her.


    Kallie couldn’t even manage a single full breath. Her arms and legs went numb. Then, through the fog of panic, she heard a voice talking to her. “Kallie? Are you alright? Kallie, wake up! Can you hear me? Hey! Pull yourself together.”


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