671  Chapter 670

Jake stared blankly at “Keera”.

Confusion clouded his gaze as he focused on the corner of her eye.

Keira had a small beauty mark near her eye—something Keera didn’t have. It was the most obvious difference between them. Yet just moments ago, the sarcastic comment “Keera” made felt eerily familiar.

It took him back to college when he’d gone on and on about preparing for a certification exam. Keira had quietly turned to him, her expression calm as she said, “Did you even pass level one? And here you are talking about taking level two?”

…

The tone, the expression, even the cold look in her eyes—it was identical.

Jake was stunned, just staring at her.

“Keera” walked slowly toward him. “Jake, they’re discussing your marriage, and what are you thinking about?”

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.

“Keera’s” eyes locked on his. “Do you even know what you want? What kind of wife do you want?”

Jake’s mind flashed back to college again when he was torn between two conflicting club activities. Keira had asked him the same question back then: “Do you know what you really want?”

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.

He’d 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 couldn’t stand to even look at Keira.

In a fit of spite, he’d proposed to Isla.

And then?

One wrong step led to a cascade of mistakes…

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 person’s status didn’t define them. He shouldn’t have judged Keira’s 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 Keira’s death, Jake had become a puppet, going along with everything his father arranged without a thought of his own. He’d become numb, nearly disconnected from the world around him.

If obeying his father’s 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, “It doesn’t matter who I marry. They’re all the same.”

If it wasn’t Keira, then it didn’t matter who it was. Anyone else would be the same to him.

Jake’s thoughts spiraled into despair as he forced a bitter smile.

He lowered his eyes.

Keira frowned. “Jake, are you sure about that?”

Before Jake could respond, Oliver cut in, “Miss Olsen, what are you implying? My son divorcing Isla is just a matter of time. I’ve already sent someone with the papers to Oceanion to deal with her. Who he marries next is none of your concern! You’d better keep your opinions to yourself and stop meddling!”

Nathan added, “That’s right, Keera. Allowing Lewis not to call off the engagement was the biggest favor we could extend to you. Don’t push your luck and think you can stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Nathan scoffed. “You think everyone’s like Lewis—defiant and impossible to manage? He’s nothing but a disobedient child! Jake, on the other hand, is a good boy who does what the family tells him.”

Oliver continued, “Jake is my son, and I’ll decide who he marries. Isn’t that right, Jake?”

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, “Keera” suddenly interrupted.

“Jake Horton, remember this—you’re not just someone’s son or grandson. You’re your own person. Don’t ever forget that being yourself is what you really want!”

Jake’s head shot up, and he stared at Keira in disbelief.

Those words…

They were exactly what Keira had told him back in college!

So… was she Keira Olsen?