Unspoken Hearts: My Neglected Mute Wife’s Escape

Chapter 916:

Amid the intensity of it all, the rapid sound of her own breath and her heart pounding filled Kallie’s ears, drowning out everything else. Her mind emptied until everything faded into a dizzy hum.

Then, suddenly, she felt warmth in her eyes. A tear slipped down her cheek, unbidden. Maybe it was the heat of that tear, but Jake froze, as if jolted by an electric shock.

He pulled back, staring at her, dazed, unsure of his actions. His gaze softened when he saw her tear-streaked face, full of wounded disbelief, and a pang of regret struck his heart.

Kallie’s cheeks flushed, caught between embarrassment and hurt. Her lips appeared slightly swollen and glistening from his kiss.

Jake’s gaze deepened on her lips, his Adam’s apple moving up and down in restraint.

Kallie let out a shaky cough, her voice a little hoarse but resolute. “Jake, I’ll assume you’re just drunk. Let me go, or I’m calling the police.”

Jake stayed silent, stepping closer to Kallie without a word. His eyes intensified as he leaned closer, his handsome face inches from hers.

Kallie instinctively backed away until her shoulders met the cold wall behind her. The chill of the wall jolted her back to her senses. She freed her hands and pressed them firmly to his chest, ready to push him away.

But just as she braced herself to shove him, Jake suddenly leaned in, capturing her lips in another kiss. This time, his kiss was different. It was no longer fierce or overpowering, but tender and gentle, like a whisper against her skin.

Kallie stood frozen, her mind swirling in a daze as if she had slipped into some dream. She couldn’t deny that, after everything, part of her still loved him. After all these years of shared struggles and raising children, their familiar connection from the past washed over her, as though no time had passed. For that fleeting moment, it felt like they had gone back in time, to when they were still together. Kallie almost believed Jake might still care.

Now, Kallie’s gaze turned somber. She waited, silently watching Jake, hoping for an answer.

Jake met Kallie’s questioning stare, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. What had he been thinking? Why did he feel such an uncontrollable pull toward her?

Lacey leaned in and whispered, “Jake, remember? She almost got you killed. Is this really the woman you want to be with?”

Jake instinctively opened his mouth to argue, but the memory hit him like a punch. He recalled the betrayal, the forced leap off the cliff. Clayton had shown him the official death certificate, signed in Kallie’s unmistakable hand. There was no escaping the truth.noveldrama

The pain, buried so deep for so long, rose to the surface, tearing at him. He pressed his teeth into his lip, the rush of anger and bitterness slicing through his confusion, sharpening his thoughts and bringing clarity.

Jake drew in a steadying breath and then turned to face Kallie. In the weight of her expectant gaze, Jake stated, “Whatever just happened is because I drank too much and mistook you for someone else. I hope next time, Miss Nixon, you can push me away. Though I’m not sure what your intentions are.”

The wariness and suspicion in Jake’s eyes sent a pang through Kallie’s heart, leaving her feeling shattered. She wanted to tell him that he had been the one to barge in, holding her against her will, but decided there was no point in explaining. After all, Jake had claimed he was drunk and that it was the only reason he’d lost control and kissed her. He hadn’t meant to kiss her.

Kallie kept her composure on the surface, but inside, her heart ached. She knew she shouldn’t have let herself trust this man again, nor should she have clung to even a sliver of hope. For a fleeting moment, Kallie felt an urge to ask Jake if he’d somehow mistaken her for Lacey. Yet, as the words hovered on her lips, she couldn’t bring herself to voice them. It was definitely a disappointing answer, one that made her feel asking would be pointless.

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