Her Vengeful Rebirth Chapter 210

Calista, checking the time, turned to Benedict with a nod. “All rig first. I’ll join you there shortly with Kallum.”

Benedict’s face brightened with a look of sincere admiration, his smile softening the lines of his somewhat ruggedly handsome features.

“You seem to be on muck better terms with Mr. Kallum now. Indeed, it might have been better had you two been siblings from the start. It would have spared you both considerable hardship.”

Calista laughed at this, finding her father’s musings endearingly naive at times. I wonder how Kallum would react to such an observation.

“Perhaps you’re right,” she responded thoughtfully. “I’ll go on ahead then.”

“All right, but don’t keep Mr. Kallum waiting too long,” Benedict added quickly.

Calista took a few steps, then paused and looked back, noticing Benedict still there, his gaze following her departure.

He stood tall and lean by the window, the sunset casting a warm glow that highlighted his refined features. Unlike many men of his age, Benedict lacked the typical middle–aged spread, his demeanor exuding relaxed charm. His eyes carried a hint of youthful naivety that belied his years, reflecting a man who, despite occasional obliviousness and bias, deeply cared for his daughter.

“Off you go, off you go!” he encouraged, waving her off with an amused chuckle when he caught her looking back.

For some reason, Calista was reminded of an incident in her previous life, when her father had let her go, only to end up severely beaten. He had, on the brink of death, managed to secure some money by selling his kidney and entrusted it to a stranger to give to her.

The one hundred and fifty thousand from that desperate act was the most bittersweet money she had ever spent, tainted with the essence of his sacrifice.

Benedict’s act of letting her go, driven by his own misplaced courage, was arguably the boldest thing he’d done. The memory made her eyes sting with unshed tears.

Regardless, Benedict had already paid the price for his foolishness in his past life.

Calista blinked back her emotions and continued on her path, determined that in this life, Benedict would live out his days in peace and stability–a repayment for both his sacrifices and to honor her grandparents‘ legacy.

Meanwhile, Kallum seemed distracted, his thoughts lingering on Calista. He had chosen a pink gown for her to wear, eager to see her in it, imagining the soft and delicate image she would present, reminiscent of the shy girl from his past.

“Mr. Kallum, why do I sense something off about you today? Speak up! You were smiling just now. What were you thinking about?” Remus, always perceptive, caught the slight change in his demeanor.

Chasing after him; when has he ever chased after someone? I can’t imagine any woman having enough charm to capture Mr. Kallum’s attention.”

Yet Louis remained unconvinced, adding, “Who knows? Maybe there is one.”

Kallum glared at them both, a bit annoyed. “Can you guys stop being so nosy?”

His lack of a retort surprised them.

Remus, taken aback, pressed on, “You’re kidding, right? Mr. Kallum, you’re seriously interested in women now? Who could it be? The one from the Quinn family? Surely she’s too easy a conquest for you. Or maybe the Lozano family girl? She’s far too arrogant for your taste.”

After a moment’s thought and finding no suitable candidate, Remus continued, “Helena? Stella? Don’t tell me it’s your former fiancée? Hahaha…”

Laughing at his speculation, he persisted, “Come on, Mr. Kallum, who is she? I’m dying to know who could possibly catch your eye!”

Louis observed the exchange, suspecting there was truth to the teasing. “I think you might be onto something,” he said to Remus, noticing Kallum’s annoyed but silent response.

Kallum remained tight–lipped, but Remus couldn’t contain his excitement. “Helena? Maureen? Stella? Did I mention these names already? Who could it be!”

As Kallum’s impatience grew, he tried to usher them out. “Enough, the banquet is about to start. Let’s get going!”

But Remus blocked his path, playfully threatening, “No way! You have to admit it, or I’ll start rumors that you’ve fallen for your former fiancée!”

He felt confident about his bluff, adding with a smirk, “Remember, a smart person does not dwell on past. Let’s see how you can show your face in the future!”

“From what you’re saying, it sounds like liking me is something shameful?” Amused by the banter, Calista, dressed in the pink mini dress and hair styled like a princess, chimed in.

Her appearance was deceivingly sweet, but her cool, sharp gaze betrayed a keen intelligence. Her slightly deeper voice cut through the playful atmosphere, challenging the notion of sweetness with her incisive wit.

“Callie,” Kallum turned to her with a proud smile, then back to his stunned friend. His eyes, shining with admiration, left no doubt that Calista, standing there in all her contradictory grace, was the one who had truly captured his heart.

Remus, still in disbelief, exclaimed, “Oh, come on! Are you serious? This is your plain, clingy, and unattractive fiancée?” He recoiled slightly under Kallum’s stern look.

It could potentially draw blood from Kallum in an instant.

Most would dismiss such an incident as an accidental scrape from an unpolished gemstone, chalking it up to mere coincidence. Yet, it was this very design that could cunningly collect a blood sample without suspicion.

“Sharp?” Charlene responded, visibly startled, then quickly recovered with a forced chuckle, “Are you talking about the pearls and gems on my bag? Oh, they are not sharp in the slightest. I’m puzzled as to why you would ask.”

As she tried to reclaim her purse, her efforts were futile against Calista’s firm grip. By then, Kallum’s expression had darkened considerably.

Exchanging a significant look with Calista, he then turned his piercing gaze to Charlene, his voice cold and steady. “I trust what Callie said. As for you, what exactly are you after? My blood sample? Considering our families are connected through marriage, are you trying to sever that tie now?”

“No!” Charlene’s face blanched at his accusation. “Have you misunderstood something?”

She continued to struggle to reclaim her bag, persisting despite the awkwardness of the situation. “Mr. Kallum… Please don’t be swayed by her words! Take a closer look; is there really anything amiss with my bag?”

She was confident in the bag’s subtle design, convinced that the tiny, less–than–half–a–centimeter needle was well–concealed by the gemstones‘ brilliance. Surely, Calista must have been setting a trap for her.

Calista maintained her playful demeanor, locking eyes with Charlene. “Well, the only way to be certain of any issue is to put it to the test, isn’t it?”

Charlene hesitated, unsure of Calista’s intentions.

In the next instant, Calista tightened her grip on the purse and, without any warning, pressed the side with the embedded needle against Charlene’s arm.

A sharp cry of pain escaped Charlene as the needle broke her skin. Calista held her firmly against the wall of the corridor, immobilizing her completely. She didn’t stop there; with a chilling smile, she slowly dragged the needle down, creating a superficial cut along Charlene’s fair skin.

The pain was akin to a knife’s edge, exacerbated by the intensity of Calista’s imposing stare, which seemed even more menacing than the needle itself.

Charlene felt her sanity fraying at the edges as she cried out, “Let go! You b*tch, let go of me!”

In her panic, Charlene’s free hand flailed, reaching to grab at Calista’s hair, but Kallum was quicker, seizing her hand before it could make contact. His gaze fixed on the fresh bloodstain, his eyes ablaze with a fierce protectiveness that bordered on murderous.

“So, how do you justify the wound on your hand? The lengths your family has gone to just to obtain my blood sample are truly remarkable,” Kallum stated, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Hearing these accusatory words, Charlene was overwhelmed with a mix of guilt and fear. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and she was unsure if it was due to the pain from her arm or the sheer panic gripping her heart. She gazed at Kallum, her eyes wide with turmoil, and her body ceased struggling; instead, she began to sob uncontrollably, her voice tinged with desperation.

“M–Mr. Kallum, please, I beg you to forgive me! I didn’t intend for any of this to happen! I’m your cousin! It was merely out of curiosity, nothing more. It wasn’t a plan orchestrated by my family!”

Calista observed the unfolding scene with a bored expression, eventually tossing the bag aside and releasing Charlene.

Maybe it was the residue of the fear she had instilled, but as soon as Calista let go, Charlene began to slump against the corridor wall, slowly sliding down until she was forced to squat to keep from collapsing entirely.

With a dismissive wave of his hand, Kallum summoned Ryder, who seemed to materialize from thin air. “Throw her out, and make sure to remove everyone who accompanied her as well,” he commanded.

“Mr. Kallum!” Charlene’s plea was filled with desperation as tears streamed down her face. “Please, don’t do this, Mr. Kallum! We are family!” The thought of her parents also being expelled fille her with dread; the punishment she would face at home would be severe.

“I have no need for relatives who conspire against me,” Kallum declared coldly as he continued walking away with Calista, who seemed to relish the drama.

“I had a hunch tonight’s banquet would be quite entertaining,” Calista remarked with a mischievous smile. “I’m curious about what other surprises they might have planned for you.”

Kallum’s expression grew serious. “Tonight is probably just a preliminary test. Knowing the nature of these people, the real spectacle is likely still to come.”

As they entered the banquet hall, all eyes turned towards them. The room was filled with genuine smiles, beaming with sincerity.

Quintus and three others positioned themselves around Kallum, forming a protective circle that prevented anyone from coming within a meter of him, effectively isolating him within a small, guarded space.

“Mr. Kallum, you are truly fortunate. Even the K Virus couldn’t subdue you. It’s quite impressive!” A portly middle–aged man approached, one of the company’s shareholders, his eyes sharp yet somewhat elusive as he appraised Kallum.

Many shared the man’s intent, but thanks to Quintus and his team, they were kept at bay, preventing any further incidents like the one with Charlene.

Kallum exchanged a few curt words with the shareholder, then made his way to Wanda, his demeanor softening. “Happy birthday, Mom,” he greeted warmly.

“Thank you, my dears,” Wanda accepted the gifts, her eyes moist with emotion as she looked on at Kallum and Calista. If it hadn’t been for the setting, she might have cried tears of joy.

After making the customary greetings, Kallum addressed the gathered crowd, his voice clear and composed. “Today, I am deeply grateful to all of you for joining us to celebrate my mother’s birthday.”

His gaze swept over the assembly, his eyes not quite as warm as his words. He knew all too well the difference between those who were genuine and those merely putting on an act.

“However, as some of you may know, I recently had an accident and received the K Virus antibody injection. I am currently in the recovery period and have been advised by my doctor to rest. Therefore, I won’t be able to stay long tonight. Once I have fully recovered in a month or two, I promise to host another gathering to celebrate properly with everyone.”

The crowd responded warmly, most seeming to believe that Kallum’s recovery was well underway. And even if there were doubters, none dared to challenge his statement openly.

Yet, as is often the case, unexpected developments were bound to arise.

Suddenly, a new voice called out, “Mr. Kallum, you wouldn’t mind if I showed up uninvited, would you?”

The banquet attendees murmured among themselves, curious about the newcomer no one seemed to remember inviting. This was intriguing because each guest had been allowed a plus–one, yet no one could place this individual.

Kallum did not recognize him at first, but others did.

“Warrick? What brings you here?”

Varrick Zielinski, a slim man with a cunning smile, replied, “Well, I do have some connections with the Fairchild family, don’t I? So why shouldn’t I be here at a family banquet?”

It then dawned on Kallum that this man was a former shareholder who had been ousted, a minor foe of the Fairchilds.

Seeing no reason to engage in petty disputes, Kallum was prepared to leave, but Warrick quickly interjected, “It’s only natural for Mr. Kallum to rest if he’s feeling unwell. I just wanted to ask Ms. Stafford a few questions in front of everyone today.”

Positioning Calista protectively behind him, Kallum turned to face Warrick directly, raising an eyebrow and smiling coldly. “And what right do you have to question her? If I remember correctly, you’re nothing more than the least favored illegitimate offspring of a disgraced family. Callie is my treasure. You’re overestimating yourself, don’t you think?”