Chapter 43


    When she got up, Kristin spoke up again. “When I was in the mmer, those jerks would mess with my


    water and spike it with nasty stuff. I knew it but when I fought back, they just doubled. down on their


    cruelty. So I stopped resisting, just sucked it up and downed it. Once, twice… ? figured if I could just


    hang in there until they got bored, they’d stop using that trick to torment.


    me.”


    After falling into depression, Kristin lost her voice. For a long stretch, she just couldn’t bring. herself to


    speak.


    But with Rhett, it was like she had a lot to get off her chest.


    She continued. “Just when they were getting over their little game, one of my kindhearted cellmates


    decided to give me a heads–up in front of everyone. What could’ve been a short–lived thing turned into


    a nightmare. They got even crazier with their revenge. After all, she couldn’t have my back 24/7, and


    she was released the following year.”


    Kristin’s smile was tinged with bitterness. One could only imagine the kind of hell she went through


    after her protector was released. There was no need for her to spell it out.


    Rhett was frozen in ce.


    He had been schooled by Kristin not once but twice today.


    He knew she was telling him if he couldn’t protect her for life, he better not stick his nose in her


    business.


    “I’veid it out for you. Mull it over before youe back at me. Given Vincent’s disdain for your and


    Summer, he won’t lift a finger to help with the school issue, but I could,” Rhett knew where to press


    Kristin’s Achilles‘ heel.


    A shadow of sadness crossed Kristin.


    She couldn’t kid herself into thinking Rhett was one of the good guys. These past years, she’d totally


    shut herself away. No way, no how was she going to let someone in again, let alone trust anyone.


    “Mommy!” Summer was back, happily bounding over to Kristin. “That sir bought it for me.”


    Kristin hugged Summer and shook her head. “Summer, you can’t just take stuffs from others. Can we


    give it back to him?”


    Summer looked down, clearly bummed. He really loved this toy, but Kristin was right. “Sorry. Mommy.


    After apologizing, Summer handed the toy back to York. “Sorry, can we return it?”


    York was taken aback. “Kristin, really? It’s just a kid’s toy. Quit ying the martyr, you think you’ll earn


    Mr. FitzGerald’s respect with this act?”


    York couldn’t stand Kristin, which was pretty deep–seated.


    Kristin didn’t bother exining and was about to leave, holding Summer.


    “Kristin.” Rhett picked up the toy Summer had dropped and handed it back to him. “I made a promise to


    Summer. He traded his toy for it and has given me his, so it’s a fair trade. No one owes anyone


    anything.”


    Kristin tightened her grip around Summer for a moment as she looked at her son, then bowed in


    gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald.”


    Summer took the toy, his gaze fixed on Rhett. It wasn’t until Kristin carried him


    Summer looked away.


    away th


    that


    Rhett massaged his temples and spoke gravely. “Tell the Turner family and Vincent, the one who called


    the cops today was me. Tell them toy off Kristin.”


    York nodded. “Got it.”


    Ducking into the subway station, Kristin didn’t take Summer home.


    If Vincent and rence went looking. It would bring trouble to Garner.


    “Mommy, this is Superman.” Summer sat in Kristin’sp, ying intently with his toy. He clearly


    cherished it.


    “Why do you like Superman, Summer?” Kristin asked softly.


    “Mommy said Daddy’s on another fighting monsters, isn’t that Superman? My dad is a hero,”


    Summer said earnestly.


    Kristin welled up her eyes instantly and hugged Summer tightly, saying with a smile, “Yes, you’re right.


    And Daddy is more like the lion king, always fighting off the evilness.”


    Summer lit up his eyes. “I love the lion king! Uncle Garner told me about that story.”


    Kristin hugged Summer close, her voice warm. “Would you like Mommy to tell you more about


    it?”


    “Yes!” Summer hugged Kristin happily.


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    Kids were so easy to please.


    After hiding out in the subway station all night, Kristin, exhausted, leaned against the wall, gazing at


    Summer asleep in her arms.


    He was too sensible, so much so that it broke Kristin’s heart.


    All night, he never once asked why they weren’t going home.


    He just stayed by her side.


    Kristin was Increasingly thankful she’d chosen to keep this child.


    “Kristin, you’ve got a congenital heart condition, a weak constitution, and your womb isn’t


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    Chapter 43


    exactly top–notch either. Terminating this pregnancy… you might not save your wornb, but carrying the


    babyes with huge risks.”


    When Kristin found out she was pregnant, she was sick for a long time. She didn’t even know who the


    man was that assaulted her that night.


    She resented the child and wanted to abort, but in the end, she wavered.


    Kristin kept Summer.


    “Summer, dawn’s breaking. Let’s go home.”


    At 6:40 in the morning, Kristin woke Summer and took him home.


    By then, Vincent and rence’s goons would have given up looking for her.


    But when Kristin brought Summer back to the rental where Garner was staying, she burst into


    tears.


    Their ce had been torched and burned to the ground overnight.


    “Garner…” Kristin ran toward the rental in horror.


    “Uncle Garner!” Summer also cried out. Garner was still inside!