Chapter 105


    Who would marry a woman who couldn’t bear children?


    “Hale, I finally saw your true colors,” Harriet leaned against the bed, her voice dripping with sarcasm as


    she gazed at him, a visage of calm belying the tumult within.


    After one betrayal too many, Harriet no longer trusted any man.


    Hale must have gone to great lengths in order to win Harriet’s heart. But s, when she finally


    mustered the courage to offer her scar–ridden heart to him, he mercilessly trampled it underfoot,


    leaving it bleeding on the ground.


    Kristin watched Harriet, her heart breaking for her friend.


    “Where were you when Harriet cried for help?” Kristin asked, her fingers clenched as she stood


    1. up.


    Kristin was timid by nature, having dealt with so much over the years, her social anxiety and


    apprehension preventing her from looking any strange man in the eye.


    But for Harriet, she found the strength to stand.


    “I was busy,” Hale furrowed his brow.


    “Bullshit! I saw you hiding out by the restroom. You were too scared toe out, you coward!” Yara


    spat out furiously.


    “She brought it on herself, flirting around and getting involved with people she shouldn’t have,” Hale


    retorted, visibly annoyed.


    Harriet’s face turned pale with fury, and in a fit of rage, she hurled the stuff from the nearby table to the


    floor, scattering the money in his direction. “Get out. Just get out!”


    Kristin bit her lip, her eyes reddening.


    “I’ve done all I can for you,” Hale said, not bothering to pick up the money as he turned to leave.


    “Wait… just wait,” Kristin stuttered, anger seizing her.


    Hale stopped in his tracks, turning back with a frown.


    Kristin grabbed a ss of water that Yara had poured earlier, which was still hot, and threw it in Hale’s


    face.


    The water scalded his skin, and he stumbled back in pain, fury burning in his eyes. “Are you freaking


    insane?”


    Kristin clenched her fists. “You deserve it.”


    “Get out!” Yara rushed forward and shoved Hale out of the room.


    Hale wanted to hurl more insults at Kristin but was stopped by the sudden appearance of


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    Chapter 105


    James, who kicked him aside. “Say one more word.”


    Upon seeing it was James, Hale nched and made a hasty retreat.


    Shaking, Kristin turned back tofort Harriet. But Harriet wasughing through tears. “Kristin… oh


    dear, all these years I’ve known you, I never knew you had it in you. I thought you’d spent all your


    courage hurting yourself.”


    Caught off guard, Kristin fell silent, looking down.


    “I told you back in jail. It’s better to go mad and make others deal with it than let them tear you down,”


    Harriet said weakly.


    Kristin remained silent, her eyes welling up as she looked at Harriet.


    “What’s the saying? ‘Ever since I went crazy, life’s been a lot more fun,” Harriet chuckled, ncing at


    Yara.


    Yara tried to smile back through her tears, but her heart was aching for her friend.


    Kristin slowly unclenched her fists. “Harriet,e stay with me in Silvergrove City. Let’s… get through


    this together.”


    Yes, they were only to survive.


    “Okay.” Harriet nodded.


    “Yara, can I borrow your phone?” Kristin whispered, ncing toward the door.


    She needed to call back Rhett, her boss. She couldn’t get him worried.


    Remembering what James had said about Rhett and Hertha…


    Kristin didn’t believe it.


    Rhett wouldn’t just walk away from his responsibilities.


    But it wasn’t her ce to pry, nor did she want to..


    Yara handed her phone to Kristin.


    As Kristin was about to call Rhett, James pushed the door open, causing her to return the phone


    hastily.


    “Trying to call him?” James held Kristin’s phone, the caller ID still showing Rhett.


    Panicking, Kristin lunged for her phone but was enveloped in James‘ arms instead. “You two rest now.


    I’ve got to head back to Silvergrove City tonight. So I won’t stay long. If there are any problems, have


    Bill call me.”


    James‘ voice was icy, brooking no argument.


    A frown knitted Harriet’s brows, her face etched with sympathy for Kristin.


    Neither James nor Rhett had an advantage over the other..


    Yara was stunned. Was this James? And he was really with Kristin?


    After James pulled Kristin away. Yara whispered, “Mr. Bryce seems to like Kristin. Could she be


    the future Mrs. Bryce of Aurora Tech?”


    Harriet sighed and shook her head. “How could someone like James ever marry a woman like


    us?”


    With a wry smile. Harriet leaned back. “Men like him only enjoy the conquest. They’ll never give Kristin


    the status she’s looking for.”


    Yara hesitated, then fell silent. Some people were out of their league. It was better to say nothing at all.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.


    In the parking lot. Kristin stumbled as James pulled her to his car.


    She was terrified. James was furious, and she could see it.


    “Is Rhett all that matters to you?” James tossed Kristin’s phone aside and pinned her beneath


    him


    “What are you doing? James, please don’t…” Kristin’s voice broke with fear as she tried to push him


    away.


    As James leaned over her, she felt herself back to that dreadful night six years ago.


    Fear engulfed her, chilling her to the bone.


    “Mr. Bryce…” Bill who had been napping in the car, woke with a start, taking in the scene with


    rm.


    “Get out!” James voice was thick with rage, not only because Kristin worked at the FitzGerald Group


    and cared more for Rhett but also because Carter was trying to fight for custody of Summer, forcing


    him to confrontwyers about custody battles.


    And there was Kristin, still clueless about what was happening.


    Panic surged through Bill He wanted to save Kristin, but James was his boss.


    “James,e on. Don’t do this…” Kristin was sobbing, terrified.


    James eyes zed with anger as he red at Bill “Don’t make me repeat it.”


    With a ringing in his ears, Bill reluctantly exited the car and walked a good distance away. breathing


    heavily. He stopped, his thoughts a chaotic mess. Should he do something?


    It was clear what James intended to do to Kristin.


    James, don’t touch me, please…” Kristin begged through tears, but James only intensified his grip.


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    He was strong, pinning Kristin’s hands above her head as she struggled in vain. “Kristin, have I been


    too nice to you?”


    “Have I respected you too much, making you forget how to protect yourself?” James was furious. He


    wanted Kristin to be submissive, to not defy him.


    He wanted her to obey.


    Gradually, Kristin’s struggles ceased, and her vision blurred with tears.


    “Mr. Bryce, Mr. Carter wants to talk to you…” Bill had returned, his voice trembling.


    James had no intention of acknowledging Bill in the car.


    “The assistant from Mr. Carter’s side said he had a heart attack.” Bill knew James‘ weak spot was his


    grandfather.


    James‘ grip on Kristin faltered, and he jerked his tie off, sitting up straight.


    Kristin seized the moment to push James away, opened the car door from the other side, and fled in a


    panic.


    James cursed under his breath and punched the passenger seat in frustration.


    “Go find her and take her back to Silvergrove City,” James ordered as he exited the car. Then he


    leaned against it, lighting a cigarette.


    Bill hesitated a little before running off to look for Kristin.


    But in a brief moment of not watching, Kristin had disappeared into one of the countless alleys near the


    hospital, crowded with drunks and stray men.


    All alone in an unfamiliar ce, Kristin was in danger. But she was too shocked to think straight,


    running for her life without looking back.


    Her mind was nk with fear. All she wanted was to find a safe ce to hide, be alone and hidden


    away.