671 Chapter 670
Jake stared blankly at āKeeraā.
Confusion clouded his gaze as he focused on the corner of her eye.
Keira had a small beauty mark near her eyeāsomething Keera didnāt have. It was the most obvious difference between them. Yet just moments ago, the sarcastic comment āKeeraā made felt eerily familiar.
It took him back to college when heād gone on and on about preparing for a certification exam. Keira had quietly turned to him, her expression calm as she said, āDid you even pass level one? And here you are talking about taking level two?ā
ā¦
The tone, the expression, even the cold look in her eyesāit was identical.
Jake was stunned, just staring at her.
āKeeraā walked slowly toward him. āJake, theyāre discussing your marriage, and what are you thinking about?ā
Jake looked at her in shock. He wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat, leaving him clenching his fists in frustration.
āKeeraāsā eyes locked on his. āDo you even know what you want? What kind of wife do you want?ā
Jakeās mind flashed back to college again when he was torn between two conflicting club activities. Keira had asked him the same question back then: āDo you know what you really want?ā
He was completely lost now, unable to distinguish whether the person in front of him was real or a figment of his imagination. Was this reality or just a dream?
He had loved Keira Olsen more than anyone and had pursued her relentlessly throughout all four years of college. But when he later learned from Isla that Keira was an illegitimate child, he suddenly cut ties with her.
Heād been conflicted and hesitant. But every time he thought of how Selena had driven his mother into a frenzy and how much his family despised illegitimate children, he couldnāt stand to even look at Keira.
In a fit of spite, heād proposed to Isla.
And then?
One wrong step led to a cascade of mistakesā¦
It turned out Isla was the illegitimate child, and the Keira he had looked down on was the true Olsen family heiress.
Eventually, he realized that a personās status didnāt define them. He shouldnāt have judged Keiraās life by her origins.
But he understood too late. Not only had Keira moved on with his uncle, but she had also died.
When her body was pulled from the icy sea, Jake felt like his own heart had sunk into that cold, unforgiving water.
His spirit was shattered.
In the time since Keiraās death, Jake had become a puppet, going along with everything his father arranged without a thought of his own. Heād become numb, nearly disconnected from the world around him.
If obeying his fatherās wishes could bring his mother some comfort, what difference did it make who he married?
With this in mind, Jake looked at Keira and muttered, āIt doesnāt matter who I marry. Theyāre all the same.ā
If it wasnāt Keira, then it didnāt matter who it was. Anyone else would be the same to him.
Jakeās thoughts spiraled into despair as he forced a bitter smile.
He lowered his eyes.
Keira frowned. āJake, are you sure about that?ā
Before Jake could respond, Oliver cut in, āMiss Olsen, what are you implying? My son divorcing Isla is just a matter of time. Iāve already sent someone with the papers to Oceanion to deal with her. Who he marries next is none of your concern! Youād better keep your opinions to yourself and stop meddling!ā
Nathan added, āThatās right, Keera. Allowing Lewis not to call off the engagement was the biggest favor we could extend to you. Donāt push your luck and think you can stick your nose where it doesnāt belong.ā
Nathan scoffed. āYou think everyoneās like Lewisādefiant and impossible to manage? Heās nothing but a disobedient child! Jake, on the other hand, is a good boy who does what the family tells him.ā
Oliver continued, āJake is my son, and Iāll decide who he marries. Isnāt that right, Jake?ā
All eyes turned to Jake.
He stared wide-eyed, struggling to find the words. Eventually, he just gave a helpless smile and nodded, ready to go along with whatever Oliver said. But before he could speak, āKeeraā suddenly interrupted.
āJake Horton, remember thisāyouāre not just someoneās son or grandson. Youāre your own person. Donāt ever forget that being yourself is what you really want!ā
Jakeās head shot up, and he stared at Keira in disbelief.
Those wordsā¦
They were exactly what Keira had told him back in college!
So⦠was she Keira Olsen?