《When the Boss’ Lady Became His Sister-in-law》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Outside the prison of Silvergrove City. ¡°After you get out, don¡¯t look back. Live a good life.¡± A police officer said. Kristin Turner looked back and bowed, shivering in the biting cold wind. It had been five years. She was just 21 when she was locked up. ¡°Get in the car. A ck Maybach parked by the roadside, the man¡¯s voice icy cold. He was the brother Kristin had called for twenty¨Cone years, only to find they weren¡¯t blood¨Crted. ¡°Brother¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse, her head lowered awkwardly. ¡°Don¡¯t call me like that again. It makes me sick,¡± rence Turner¡¯s face darkened, ncing at his watch. ¡°You¡¯ve stolen twenty¨Cone years of my sister¡¯s life and made her endure humiliation in that home. Who the hell do you think you are to call me brother?¡± Kristin¡¯s chapped lips twitched, but in the end, she said nothing. Kristin, the only darling daughter of the Turner family in Silvergrove City, turned out to be the nanny¡¯s child. And the real Ms. Turner was swapped out by the nanny. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± After a long silence, Kristin apologized in a raspy voice. Framed for extortion, she learned to be submissive in prison and apologize to survive. She could beg for mercy at any minute. Once, she was the exalted Ms. Turner, adored by her brother and cherished by her parents. Then, Ruby, the true Ms. Turner burst into her life one day, looking ragged and destitute. Kristin¡¯s biological mother was a criminal overnight, and she became the impostor who stole a life of wealth, theughingstock of Silvergrove City. No one cared that she had no choice when she was switched as a baby. ¡°Sorry? You think saying sorry and five years in prison canpensate for all the hurt your family caused Ruby?¡± rence¡¯s voice was cold, his gaze on Kristin full of disgust. ¡°Get in the car.¡± He found Kristin filthy and didn¡¯t even want to touch her. The brother who used to love holding her and saying, ¡°Our Kris is the prettiest,¡± wished she was dead. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ dirty.¡± Kristin gave a bitter smile, stepping back, afraid to get in the car. Chapter 1 rence frowned, sizing up Kristin. The Kristin who lived like a pampered heiress for twenty¨Cone years, fragile as a pearl in the palm, once dazzling in everyone¡¯s eyes. But she looked dusty, pale, and thin, pitifully low. She had a rough time inside. ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself. Get in the damn car now!¡± rence red at Kristin with a ferocious look. ¡°Ruby had an ident. Are you happy now? You owe her. Go to the hospital and pay your debt!¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes, hollow and dodging, froze. Suddenly, she was afraid. She thought she was hallucinating when she left the prison. How could her brothere to pick her up when the entire Turner family despised her? But rence came, and he didn¡¯te for her. ¡°What do you mean¡­¡± Kristin trembled. ¡°Ruby was in a car ident, and she needs a kidney transnt. You owe her.¡± rence said with a grave tone. Kristin took a deep breath and stepped back again, her survival instinct kicking in, and she turned to run. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re as vicious as ever.¡± She hadn¡¯t run far when someone grabbed her wrist hard, throwing her to the ground. Kristiny in a mess, her forehead hitting the curbstone, blood gushing out. That voice sounded cold and familiar. Looking back, Kristin curled up in fear. Vincent FitzGerald, her former fianc¨¦, was also one of those who framed her and sent her to prison. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°You owe Ruby this,¡± Vincent said, dragging Kristin, fresh out of prison, back into a hellish abyss. She thought she¡¯d be free after being released. In court, she didn¡¯t exin, and she couldn¡¯t. She thought her confession, five years in prison. would atone for all her sins, but it was far from enough. ¡°Hurry up. Take this woman to the hospital. Ruby¡¯s waiting.¡± rence said impatiently. ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t agree?¡± the driver asked. ¡°How dare she? Her life should have been Ruby¡¯s. What right does she have to say no?¡± Vincent sneered, grabbing Kristin¡¯s chin. ¡°Your wicked mother is still in prison. If you want her to live, 2/3 14:43 Chapter 1 be good and trade your kidney.¡± Kristin¡¯s trembling body stiffened. Indeed, outside prison, hell awaited. To survive among these devils, she must climb up. In Silvergrove City, the only man who could protect her was Rhett FitzGerald, president of the FitzGerald Group, Vincent¡¯s brother. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Everything went ck momentarily, and Kristin was shoved into a car, huddled in a corner, shaking in utter despair. There was no way she could donate a kidney. It would kill her, and she couldn¡¯t afford to die. ¡°Kristin, how¡¯s prison life been treating you these past five years?¡± Vincent eyed the woman curled up in the corner, who had long lost the pride she once carried. He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on the mix of emotions brewing inside him. Kristin flinched, perhaps a reflex born from being bullied behind bars. She hugged her head in fear. *Cat¡¯s got your tongue, huh?¡± Vincent looked at Kristin with disgust, grabbing her chin, the dark red blood on her forehead stark against her pale face. ¡°Please¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice shook, her eyes filled with despair and resentment. Thanks to Vincent, her time in prison was a living hell. On the day she was released, a cellmate who couldn¡¯t stand to see her mistreated any longer spilled the beans. Vincent¡¯s people had paid her to ensure Kristin ¡®got special attention¡® during those five years. Vincent¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed with disgust as he pushed her away after looking at the bruises on her face. How disgusting it was. Kristin numbly watched Vincent, the man she had once loved with all her youth, unable to stir any emotion in her anymore. She had long stopped loving him. The car arrived at Silvergrove Hospital. Vincent dragged Kristin out of the car. She pleaded with Vincent, kneeling on the ground and begging him. Endless beating during the years in prison freaked her out. f ¡°Vincent, please. I can¡¯t donate my kidney. I¡¯m not eligible. I can make amends and do anything you ask.¡± As Kristin kept begging and knocking her forehead on the ground, she knew she had no powerful family to back her up. She knew Vincent and the Turner family could squash her like a bug if they wanted to. They wanted her to suffer, and she had to outdo their expectations to cling to life a bit longer 14:44 and then figure out her next move.. It was clear to Kristin that neither Vincent nor the Turner family would let her off the hook. She had to survive. She had her reasons. Vincent stepped back Involuntarily, his eyes betraying aplexity of emotions, seemingly taken aback by the sight of the once lofty Ms. Turner in such a pitiful, lowly state. ¡°rence, please! With the Turner family¡¯s resources, plenty of people can donate a kidney to Ruby, right? rence, I¡¯m begging you. You and Mom and Dad know my body can¡¯t take it.¡± Kristin had a congenital heart defect. Even after surgery in her childhood, she couldn¡¯t withstand the damage that donating a kidney would cause. rence knew that yet he looked on coldly. ¡°This is what you owe Ruby. You would¡¯ve been dead a long time ago if your mother hadn¡¯t swapped my sister away.¡± Kristin¡¯s body stiffened for a long time before she slumped to the ground, powerless. ¡°Can I make amends in some other way?¡± ¡°Do you think you deserve that chance?¡± Vincent scoffed. ¡°Kristin, you think a five¨Cyear stint in prison can wipe the te clean? Have you forgotten what you did to me? When you betrayed me and slept with that jerk, did you ever think this day woulde?¡± Kristin couldn¡¯t bear to remember the hell from five years ago, nor did she have the energy to exin. Upon uncovering the grim truth, rence, once her sworn protector, heartlessly cast her into another man¡¯s bed. In rence¡¯s eyes, Kristin was a counterfeit, and by extension, her fianc¨¦ Vincent belonged to Ruby Collins. So, Ruby took Vincent to catch her in the act¡­ It was a setup by Ruby and rence. Ruby was the victim, the true heiress. People believed whatever she said. And nobody would believe a word from Kristin, the daughter of a thief. Ruby was still in aa in the hospital room, looking pale. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Kristin shrank her shoulders, keeping her head down. By the sickbed stood the Turner family¡¯s patriarch, Johnnie Turner, and his wife Mamie, the people Kristin had called Mom and Dad for twenty¨Cone years. Snap! When Kristin entered the room, Mamie swung a p at her, ovee with emotion. Compared to Mamie, Johnnie was much moreposed. ¡°Has she agreed?¡± Chapter 2 ¡°She doesn¡¯t have the luxury of disagreeing.¡± Vincent had already decided for Kristin, forcing her to kneel beside the bed. Trembling all over, Kristin looked up at Johnnie. ¡°Dad¡­ I mean, Mr. Turner, I¡¯m not eligible to donate. Please spare me. I can make amends in other ways. I can pay back what I owe the Turner family¡­¡± Johnnie¡¯s expression darkened, his displeasure evident. Kristin looked at everyone like strangers. During her five years in prison, she even doubted if the past twenty¨Cone years of her life had been a dream. ¡°Kristin, have you forgotten? Five years ago, you slept with some nobody and had his child, whom you gave away. That kid must be about five now,¡± Vincent said, always knowing how to hit Kristin where it hurt most, reopening her wounds and rubbing salt in them. Kristin suddenly looked up at Vincent, who was pushing her to the edge. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 When mentioning that bastard child, the disgust in Vincent¡¯s eyes grew thicker. He wished. Kristin would just drop dead. Back in the day. Kristin slept with another guy in a hotel, dragging the FitzGerald family name through the mud. To top it off, she got knocked up and popped out that bastard right before she had been thrown in the mmer.- Desperate, Kristin gazed at Vincent as if she never truly knew him. ¡°The child¡­ The child is innocent.¡± she implored. ¡°Innocent? When Ruby got swapped into your trashy life, she was innocent, too,¡± Mamie shrieked, her voice sharp, and pped Kristin across the face twice more for good measure. If Johnnie hadn¡¯t stepped in, she probably would¡¯ve kept going until she felt better. Her ears ringing. Kristin dropped her gaze and allowed the blows from Mamie tond on her Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. swollen face. She had a debt to repay for twenty¨Cone years of care and upbringing. The time hade to settle it. Taking a deep breath, Kristin¡¯s eyes welled with tears as she looked up at Vincent, her voice. weak but resolute. ¡°I¡¯ll donate the kidney¡­ She¡¯d do anything if they spared her child. ¡°You¡¯re something, aren¡¯t you?¡± Vincent watched Kristin¡¯s pathetic, groveling state, his heart tightened, but he didn¡¯t let her off the hook. ¡°Take her to get checked. Give her to the doctor and make her sign.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice trembled, but gone was the earlier cowardice and begging. She stood upon her own, a mess but with a determined look in her eyes as she stared at Johnnie. ¡°You¡¯re fully clued into my situation¡­ If I give you a kidney, that clears my tab, right? So, after that, let¡¯s call it quits and let me off the hook.¡± She¡¯d got a congenital heart defect and had been frail since she was a kid. Giving birth five years ago nearly cost her life, and the Turner family wanted her kidney, knowing they were asking for her life. Johnnie frowned a flicker of emotion in his eyes. After all, they raised her for twenty¨Cone years. Kristin had indeed been obedient and sensible in the Turner family. ¡°You¡¯ll continue to atone even after death!¡± But Mamie wasn¡¯t willing to let go. ¡°Enough,¡± Johnnie sighed. ¡°The five years you¡¯ve been in prison have punished you enough. If you agree to this kidney donation and promise to stick to the straight and narrow afterwards, we¡¯ll cut you loose, no more hassle from our end.¡± Chapter 3 Kristinughed weakly. With the way things were, she probably wouldn¡¯t even make it off the operating table. onating a kidney makes up for your mistakes? You¡¯ve stolen Ruby¡¯s wonderful life for twenty¨Cone years!¡± Yet Vincent didn¡¯t seem satisfied, as if he wanted to grind her into dust. ¡°Everyone who once loved me belonged to Ruby. Wasn¡¯t that enough? What more did I have to do to atone? What did I do wrong?¡± Kristin thought so. ¡°Vincent¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was feeble as she suddenly chuckled. ¡°If you hate me that much. scatter my ashes after I die.¡± Her lips were pale, her appearance a mess. ¡°Leave my child alone.¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes were gloomy with malice. Even then, she was still protecting that bastard! ¡°You think we wouldn¡¯t dare?¡± rence responded to Vincent, his eyes mocking as he looked at Kristin. ¡°You¡¯re downright rotten, following in your mother¡¯s lowly footsteps! That bastard child deserves to die. He¡¯s an embarrassing blight!¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond, her vision went dark, and before she could leave the hospital room, she copsed to the ground, passing out. ¡°Kris!¡± Right before losing consciousness, Kristin thought she heard someone calling her Kris. Was it Vincent? How ironic. ¡°Don¡¯t mind her! She¡¯s just acting! I knew it. She didn¡¯t learn a thing in those five years in jail,¡± rence said angrily, storming into the bathroom to fetch a basin of cold water to ssh Kristin awake. Kristin attempted to open her eyes, but strength failed her. She knew why rence was so agitated. He feared Vincent would uncover the truth; with her congenital heart condition, giving up a kidney would be a death sentence. ¡°rence¡­¡± As rence was about to douse her, Vincent grabbed his wrist. ¡°Enough¡­¡± ¡°Feeling sorry for her, Vincent?¡± rence sneered at him. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re engaged to Ruby now. And my sister had that ident because of you!¡± Vincent paused, then slowly released rence¡¯s wrist. That basin of cold water still ended up doused all over Kristin¡¯s face. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 That basin of water didn¡¯t snap Kristin out of it. Instead, it made here down with a raging. fever. ¡°What¡¯s going on here? We need to take action, stat!¡± While making rounds, the doctor noticed something was off about Kristin¡¯splexion and lip color and did a quick check¨Cup. ¡°Rush her to the ER, now!¡°¨C Vincent stood frozen, his fingers tingling numbly, momentarily losing hisposure and grabbing rence by the cor. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she was faking it?¡± rence was also panicking, swatting away Vincent¡¯s hand. ¡°How would I know? She¡¯s not exactly a stranger to drama¡­ Ever heard of crying wolf?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Kristin won¡¯t kick the bucket,¡± Mamie dered, strutting in her high heels with all the airs of a wealthydy. ¡°Dr. Lawrence, she agreed to donate a kidney to our Ruby, so check hers out while you¡¯re at it. See if it¡¯s good to go.¡± The doctor frowned slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s focus on saving her first.¡± ¡°Dr. Lawrence, your father and Johnnie are good buddies. I won¡¯t beat around the bush,¡± Mamie implied, hinting at the doctor to prioritize the transnt since the patient had agreed, and all paperwork would be signed, absolving the doctor and hospital of much responsibility should anything go south. As the emergency room staff whisked Kristin away. Connor Lawrence rose, straightening his white coat, and nced at Vincent and rence. ¡°Lady, I¡¯m just a doctor. Healing the sick and saving lives is my calling. As for the rest, it¡¯s not part of what this coat stands for.¡± ¡°You!¡± rence, a bit angry, was about to retort but got cut off by Mamie. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? In a bit, have your dad ring up his father. Doctors need to save face. Some things are better left unsaid,¡± Mamie advised, giving Vincent a look. ¡°Vincent, Ruby is your fianc¨¦e. You must take care of her.¡± Vincent nodded. ¡°Mrs. Turner, I will.¡± In the ER. ¡°Kris, hang in there. You¡¯ve got to pull through. I¡¯m waiting for you outside. Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m right here. Kris, I won¡¯t leave you hanging.¡± ??? Under the harsh lights, Kristin¡¯s consciousness was fuzzy. Five years ago, she had a premature baby and barely survived a massive hemorrhage. No one cared whether she lived or died. Ironically, the brother who had been her source offort outside the hospital room wasn¡¯t rence but Garner Collins, her real brother she 14:44 Chapter 4 hadn¡¯t met in over twenty years. ¡°Dr. Lawrence, take a look at the patient¡¯s condition. She¡¯s got chronic malnutrition, a lot of old injuries, and some new ones. Should we call the cops?¡± the nurse asked nervously in the examination room. It looked like the patient had been abused for a long time. ¡°No need,¡± Connor Lawrence frowned. He knew about Kristin, the Turner family¡¯s fake heiress who made headlines in Silvergrove City five years ago. It was not surprising that she¡¯d be malnourished after just getting out of prison. ¡°Where¡¯s the patient¡¯s family?¡± Connor looked up, spotting Vincent leaning against the smoking area door, lighting up. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any family here.¡± Vincent replied gravely. ¡°The patient is weak, with a dangerously slow sinus rhythm, likely due to chronic malnutrition. and not a suitable candidate for kidney donation,¡± Connor stated, ignoring Vincent and giving his professional opinion. ¡°Connor Lawrence, right?¡± Vincent flicked away his cigarette butt, his cold eyes locking with Connor¡¯s. ¡°She¡¯s agreed to donate. As a doctor, don¡¯t overstep your bounds.¡± Connor closed the patient file, his presence no lessmanding than Vincent¡¯s, perhaps even more so. ¡°You¡¯ve got two options. Take her home, nurse her back to health, get her nutrition and weight up, then return for the tests. Or, pick a suitable match from my list of volunteers and get the transnt done ASAP.¡± Vincent¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ll go with the first.¡± With that, Vincent walked away. ¡°Dr. Lawrence, does this woman have beef with them? Why are they so hell¨Cbent on her kidney?¡± the nurse muttered in confusion. Connor said nothing, shaking his head. The FitzGerald family and the Turner family¡¯s feud was thest thing he wanted to get mixed up 1. in. Out of the ER, Kristin was lying in bed with an IV drip in the ward. Once the doctor had left and the room was empty, she seized the moment, pulled out the IV, and climbed through the restroom window. She knew Vincent and the Turner family wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook. She had to find a way to save herself. Even for her son¡¯s sake, she had to survive. She had nearly died when giving birth to that child five years ago. Chapter 4 Even though she wasn¡¯t clear on who the father was, the child was innocent. Kristin never med the kid and never harbored any resentment. She only knew that he was a continuation of her life, the reason she clung to life during those five grueling years in prison. After escaping the hospital, Kristin dialed a number from a phone booth. ¡°Finally, you¡¯ve decided to call me, huh?¡± The man¡¯s voice on the other end was deep. ¡°I¡¯ve told you. If you want to survive, working with me is the only way. If it weren¡¯t for my protection, you¡¯d have died in prison by now.¡± ¡°I agree to your terms. I¡¯ll try to get close to Rhett.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°But I¡¯m not confident that Rhett will be interested in me.¡± Who was Rhett? The golden boy of the FitzGerald family, a business prodigy, standing at the pinnacle of the corporate food chain. He was not someone the Kristin of today could reach. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Vincent won¡¯t let you go that easily. You¡¯ll get plenty of chances to meet Rhett. All you need to do is seize them.¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Kristin bolted from the hospital, which had ticked off the Turner family and Vincent. ¡°I knew it. Kristin wouldn¡¯t just willingly give away the kidney she owes me.¡± Ruby woke up on her hospital bed, her voice choked up with emotion. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Between the lines, she was screaming to everyone that Kristin owed her big time. When she returned to the Turner family, Ruby didn¡¯t switch herst name, staying Ruby Collins instead. She said that even though the Collins family didn¡¯t treat her right, at least they had raised her for twenty¨Cone years. Talk about irony and a stark contrast. In the eyes of the Turners, Ruby was the genuine princess, kind to the core, while Kristin was a nasty, low¨Cdown fake. But Ruby was no dummy. She kept her name as a constant thorn in the Turners¡® side, keeping them feeling guilty and bending backward to make up for the twenty¨Cplus years she missed out on. ¡°Ruby, don¡¯t cry. She owes you that,¡± rence frowned, his heart aching as he spoke. ¡°She can¡¯t run forever!¡± ¡°rence, my dear brother¡­¡± Ruby cried, hugging rence. ¡°I¡¯m so scared. Kristin is out now, and what if Vinny doesn¡¯t want me anymore?¡± ¡°Ruby, what are you thinking? Kristin disgraced the FitzGerald family in Silvergrove City back. then, leaving Vincent humiliated. You think he¡¯d still want her?¡± rence consoled her, rubbing her head gently. ¡°But rence¡­ what if Kristin bs? What if she tells Vinny that it was us that¡­¡± Ruby¡¯s gaze was probing as she looked at her brother. Back then, she and rence had schemed to have Kristin spend the night in a stranger¡¯s room. ¡°Nobody knows that random dude who bedded Kristin. Do you think people would believe Kristin? Rx, that little bastard is Kristin¡¯s Achilles¡® heel. She wouldn¡¯t dare spill the beans.¡± Saying so, rence¡¯s eyes darkened a bit. He needed to give Kristin a stern warning. ¡°It¡¯s so weird. Kristin didn¡¯t hook up with the guy we set her up with. Who exactly was the man she slept with?¡± Ruby had been itching to find out for five years, but no luck. ¡°Who it was doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s all about the oue. Kristin¡¯s reputation is ruined, and Vincent is all yours now.¡± rence patted Ruby on the back. ¡°Get some rest.¡± Ruby nodded with a sly smile on her lips. And she was thinking. ¡°That bitch Kristin had hogged twenty¨C one years of my life for nothing. Why should she get Vincent¡¯s love? I am out to wreck her and make her pay back everything she owed!¡± Chapter 5 In the demolition area, sporting a found baseball cap, Kristin nced around nervously and ducked into an alley. ¡°Kris!¡± Garner called out excitedly, running over. ¡°Kris, I went to get you yesterday. Where¡¯d you go?¡± Garner¡¯s eyes reddened, his voice breaking. ¡°Kris, these five years¡­ you¡¯ve been through hell.¡± Garner knew they had framed Kristin. But during the trial five years ago, Kristin took the fall to protect him and her kid. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Kristin leaned against the wall, her voice choked with emotion. She had no family left, nothing. All she had was Garner and her kid. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. You¡¯re out, and we¡¯ll make a good life from here on out,¡± Garner hugged Kristin, patting her back. ¡°Summer¡¯s waiting at home. The little buddy¡¯s so sharp. He knew first thing you¡¯d be getting out today and dragged me out to fetch you.¡± Kristin crumbled at the mention of her kid, letting out her tears, the first time she had cried so freely in five years. Garner sighed, letting Kristin have her cry. He knew she must¡¯ve suffered plenty in prison. When she was all cried out, he patted her back again. ¡°Kris, let¡¯s go home.¡± Home? Did she even have a home anymore? # Five years back, Garner told Kristin that she had a home as long as he was around.. Thank goodness. Garner was still willing to im her. ¡°Mommy!¡± At the end of the alley, a little boy with a baby voice stood there, dressed in old clothes but scrubbed clean. Compared to Garner¡¯s patchwork mechanics coveralls reeking of engine oil, it was clear he was broke, but he had given the best of everything to the little one. ¡°Summer¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice shook. She stood frozen, vigorously cleaning her hands on her clothes, afraid she¡¯d dirty the child. ¡°Mommy.¡± Summer burst into tears, racing to Kristin and burying himself in her embrace. ¡°Mommy, I went to pick you up with Uncle Garner.¡± Kristin hugged her child tightly, tears silently streaming down. That was her life. ¡°Mommy will never leave you again, Kristin said. But even as she said it, she didn¡¯t believe DA 14:44 Chapter 5 hersell. After donating a kidney to Ruby, how much longer could she even live? ¡°Ha, Kristin, I knew I¡¯d find you here, such a touching mother¨Cchild reunion.¡± Behind her. Vincent¡¯s voice was cold and sarcastic. Kristin turned in fright, shielding her child. ¡°Vincent¡­ What, what do you want?¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°What are you doing here? Kris has done five years. Isn¡¯t that enough to penance? What more do you want?¡± Garner stood protectively before Kristin, fury burning in his eyes as he stared at Vincent. ¡°Penance?¡± Vincentughed. ¡°How will she repay what she owes me? Maybe I should be off this little bastard?¡± Kristin looked at Vincent, terrified. She knew he wasn¡¯t joking. Falling to her knees in fear, Kristin begged lowly and helplessly. ¡°Vincent, I¡¯ll do whatever you guys want. Please let me go and give me a few days. Please. I¡¯m begging you.¡± All she wanted was to return and spend some time with her kid. Couldn¡¯t she even have that for a few days? ¡°Kris! Get up! He doesn¡¯t have the guts to do anything to us.¡± Garner looked at Kristin with distress. She wasn¡¯t like this before. The Kristin of the past was like a white rose grown in a greenhouse but at the time¡­ ¡°Really? You think I don¡¯t have the guts to do anything to you?¡± Vincentughed. ¡°Garner, do you live under a rock or something?¡± With a flick of his hand, Vincent¡¯s bodyguards rushed forward,nding a punch on Garner. Garner was tall and tough from years of construction work and could handle himself. But Vincent had the numbers. Five bodyguards against one, and soon Garner was on the losing. side. *Stop! Vincent, Vincent, I¡¯m begging you. Please stop,¡± Kristin cried, kneeling before Vincent, pleading for him to stop the beating. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you want me to do. Please spare my brother, please.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beg him!¡± Garner shouted uncontrobly, trying to save Kristin, but he couldn¡¯t shake off the bodyguards. ¡°If he¡¯s got the guts, let him beat me to death.¡± ¡°I can do whatever I want to you, huh?¡± Vincent gripped Kristin¡¯s chin. ¡°You¡¯re a slut, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t touch my mom!¡± Summer lunged forward, sinking his teeth into the back of Vincent¡¯s hand. Vincent¡¯s eyes darkened, and he raised his hand to strike the little bastard kid. ¡°Smack!¡± The p didn¡¯tnd on Summer¡¯s face but on Kristin¡¯s. Kristin pulled Summer close, watching Vincent with vignce and anger. ¡°Don¡¯ty a finger on Chapter 6 my son. The Vincent before her at the time truly disgusted her. What disgusted her even more was that she had once loved this man for many years. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. After seeing Kristin protecting the bastard child, Vincent¡¯s anger intensified. ¡°Kristin, won¡¯t you tell me who that guy is till now? The one who fathered this bastard you¡¯re so protective of!¡± Vincent hated that Kristin would never tell him who the child¡¯s father was. ¡°Kristin held Summer tightly, both of them appearing as animals, coiled and ready to strike at any given moment.¡± Seeing Kristin silent, Vincent grew angrier. ¡°Take them both back with us!¡± ¡°Kris! Summer¡­¡± Garner tried to intervene but got knocked out cold by a bodyguard¡¯s club. ¡°Garner!¡± Kristin screamed, trying to rush to him, but she got forcibly shoved into the car. Vincent was right. They were no match for power and influence. In this life, they would be trampled underfoot. The car stopped before the FitzGerald Mansion. Kristin clutched Summer tightly, eyeing Vincent warily. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere for a month. Stay put and get your strength back. After one month, you¡¯re donating a kidney to Ruby,¡± Vincent said, getting out of the car and shaking off the blood from Summer¡¯s bite. ¡°Damn, this little bastard.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, did you notice it?¡± The driver got out, whispering into Vincent¡¯s ear. ¡°The kid looks a bit like you.¡± Vincent was stunned, ncing back at the stubborn child in the car. There was a resemnce to the FitzGerald family, indeed. But Vincent¡¯s expression quickly darkened again, warning the driver coldly, ¡°You talk too much!¡± Vincent knew he had never touched Kristin. When he and Kristin were dating, he treated her like a treasure, nning not toy a finger on her until marriage. Instead, she couldn¡¯t stand the loneliness and had slept with other men! ¡°Get out!¡± The nanny tried to get Summer out of the car, but the kid refused to budge like a little wolf cub. Losing patience, the nanny raised her hand to hit Summer, but he bit her instead. ¡°You little beast, you dare bite me!¡± The nanny grabbed a broom to hit Summer. Kristin instinctively shielded the child in her arms, taking the blow to her back. It hurt, but she was used to it. Chapter 6 ¡°What¡¯s all this noise?¡± On the second floor of the FitzGerald Mansion, a man stood on the balcony with a deep voice. The nanny turned around in a panic, apologizing. ¡°Mr. Rhett, I¡¯m sorry. I was out of line, disturbing your rest.¡± Rhett frowned, his gaze falling on Vincent. ¡°Brother¡­ what are you doing back home?¡± Vincent¡¯s heart tightened. Rhett hardly ever returned to this house, but why today? ¡°What? I can¡¯te home?¡± Rhett questioned coldly. Vincent quickly bowed his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± Everyone in Silvergrove City knew the FitzGerald family wasn¡¯t just any family one couldtch onto, and the whole FitzGerald family relied on Rhett. The man, whether in capability or family background, was someone that no one in Silvergrove City dared to mess with. Inside the car, Kristin¡¯s fingers tensed around her child. Why did that voice resonate with such familiarity? Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Vincent was scared of Rhett. And no one in the FitzGerald family or the whole of Silvergrove City wasn¡¯t. ¡°Take her to the servants¡® quarters in the backyard,¡± Vincent whispered urgently to the nanny. gesturing subtly towards Kristin. He was worried that Rhett was on the verge of losing his temper. Rhett was a clean freak. He moved out as soon as he was of age and hardly ever returned. His visit today was quite rare. ¡°Little brat,¡± the nanny hissed through clenched teeth. Seeing Rhett had left the patio, she booted Summer, sending the kid sprawling on the ground. Kristin panicked, clutching the child tightly, her voice choked. ¡°This isn¡¯t our home. We need to go back to our ce!¡± With that, Kristin, still holding Summer, prepared to make her exit. Summer was just a kid. How could Vincent be so heartless? ¡°Kristin, you¡¯d better get a grip on reality,¡± Vincent snarled, yanking her back by her hair. Summer was a tough cookie. Even after being kicked to the ground by the nanny, he didn¡¯t cry. But seeing Vincent bully his mom, tears rolled down his cheeks. ¡°Let go of my mom!¡± ¡°Vincent, I¡¯ve agreed to donate my kidney. What more do you want?¡± Kristin begged through tears. Couldn¡¯t he leave her alone? ¡°Kristin, if you and your mom hadn¡¯t swapped ces with Ruby, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered such severe depression nor nearly lost her life in that car crash!¡± Vincent loathed Kristin. Kristin looked down, defeated. The damage was done, and she couldn¡¯t change it. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­ Vincent, why won¡¯t you believe me? I didn¡¯t collude with the Collins family. I knew nothing.¡± Ruby had said that during her years with the Collins family, she had suffered immensely, even fabricating lies, iming that Garner, as her brother, had molested her from a young age, harming and threatening her, leaving her deeply traumatized and severely depressed. Everyone believed Ruby¡¯s words. No one trusted Kristin and Garner because they were the children of the supposed instigators. Garner said their family would have given their hearts out to Ruby. Guilty, their mother gave Ruby the only chance for education they had, working tirelessly to provide a better life for Ruby. Garner dropped out of school at 16 to earn money so his sister could live better. The truth came out after a heated argument with his mother, who favored Ruby excessively. Having overheard from outside the door, Ruby ran back to the Turner family, ndering Kristin, Chapter 7 saying that she and the Collins family had conspired everything. That day, Kristin found out she wasn¡¯t the biological daughter of the Turner family. ¡°It seems five years in prison didn¡¯t make you reflect at all,¡± Vincent said, pushing Kristin away with a look of increasing disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t touch my mom!¡± Summer wanted to protect his mother but knew he was no match forC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Vincent. ¡°Daddy!¡± Suddenly, Summer called out ¡°Daddy¡± and lunged toward the man who had just appeared at the door. What? At the door, Rhett¡¯s face darkened to the extreme. The nanny and Vincent also looked at Rhett in panic. It wasmon knowledge in the FitzGerald family that Rhett was an extreme neat freak. Hel loathed anything unfamiliar getting close to him, especially people. That little bastard, covered in dirt, wearing filthy clothes, dared to¡­ Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, including Kristin. Kristin¡¯s voice trembled, looking at Rhett nervously and helplessly. ¡°Mr¡­ Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m sorry, so sorry.¡± Kristin was on the verge of tears. She knew Rhett, Vincent¡¯s brother. When she was engaged to the FitzGerald family and attended their family banquet, she met Rhett. He was the pir of the FitzGerald family, and no one dared to provoke him. There were rumors in the business world that Rhett was ruthless and harsh. Those who had crossed him never ended well. Rhett didn¡¯t push Summer away but looked down at him instead. This little guy was sharp as a tack. He knew who held the power in this house, and at such a young age, he was already ying his cards right, quite the schemer ¡°How old are you?¡± Rhett¡¯s deep voice would have scared any ordinary child to tears, but Summer wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°I¡¯m five,¡± Summer¡¯s voice rang out clear. Rhett¡¯s gaze fell on Kristin, who was on the verge of kneeling, and he frowned slightly. ¡°Ms. Turner, it had been almost six years.¡± He thought. Thest time they met was at a banquet in the FitzGerald family. Back then, Kristin was the cherished jewel of the Turner family, her smile pretty and naive. After so many years, she had been tormented into this ghostly shadow of her former self. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± Kristin edged over, shoulders hunched, trying to take Summer 12:45 Chapter 7 away. But Summer clung to Rhett, refusing to let go. ¡°Daddy.¡± he called out again. Kristin was petrified, her eyes red, trembling as if she were a frightened rabbit too scared to fight back. ¡°Summer, he¡¯s not Daddy¡­ Mommy will take you to find Daddy, okay?¡± Rhett tried to pull his leg away, but the little guy held on tight. His gaze fell back onto Kristin, and her faint, familiar scent clung to the air. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Vincent was also scared, but meanwhile, he was shocked. Rhett, who always hated strangers getting close, acted so out of character. ¡°Rhett, sorry. Ruby had a car ident. She needs a kidney transnt. Kristin owes Ruby one, and I was afraid she might pull something sneaky, so I brought her home to stay for a few days,¡± Vincent quickly exined. Rhett didn¡¯t make a peep. He never liked to poke his nose into other people¡¯s business, especially Vincent¡¯s business. ¡°Get lost, kid,¡± Vincent said, reaching to grab Summer when he saw Rhett wasn¡¯t responding. But Summer clung to Rhett¡¯s legs, hugging him like a ko bear. Though small, Summer had learned to read the room. He could tell Vincent was a baddie, always picking on Mom, but this baddie seemed afraid of the man he was hugging. Kristin was panicked and felt nothing but heartache. He was just a five¨Cyear¨Cold child. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Summer, Mommy will take you to find Daddy, okay?¡± Kristin coaxed softly. ¡°Then hurry and find that jerk to take this brat off our hands!¡± Vincent spat, unable to control his temper and pry Summer off. Rhett looked at the little boy, smearing snot and tears all over his leg, and instead of getting mad, he felt a chuckleing on. A five¨Cyear¨Cold kid¡­. ¡°Are you my daddy? Will you be my daddy and protect Mommy?¡± Summer looked up innocently and asked. Vincent¡¯s face went darker. Did he believe a five¨Cyear¨Cold could say something like that? It had to be Kristin¡¯s doing, right? ¡°Summer¡­¡± Kristin choked up, soothing Summer. ¡°Listen, he isn¡¯t your dad.¡± Summer felt disappointed and slowly let go when he saw Rhett didn¡¯t respond to his question. Watching Vincent leading Summer and Kristin to the backyard, Rhett said nothing but looking down at his dirty pants. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± The assistant hurried over, flustered, preparing a change of clothes for Rhett. ¡°You go wash up and change into something clean. I¡¯ll throw these pants away.¡± The assistant knew Rhett well. Anything unclean had to be gone. ¡°No need,¡± Rhett said indifferently, walking away. The assistant gasped in shock. No need? Goodness, trying to figure out what Mr. FitzGerald wants was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Once in the car, Rhett looked out the window thoughtfully, tapping his long, good¨Clooking fingers. ¡°York, it¡¯s been six years. Haven¡¯t we found the person I¡¯m looking for?¡± The assistant gripped the steering wheel nervously. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, that night at the hotel¡­ the surveince didn¡¯t work, so nothing was recorded, and you didn¡¯t have me investigate right after you left¡­¡°. Rhett¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Are you ming me?¡± ¡°No¡­ Mr. FitzGerald, I didn¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s just, it¡¯s been so many years, it¡¯s hard to dig.¡± York thought he was trying to do a good deed. If they found that woman, with Rhett¡¯s temperament, he¡¯d skin her alive and throw her in the fryer. York had worked for Rhett for seven years and knew him best. Rhett was a man with a strong psychological need for cleanliness. Those women trying to climb into his bed never ended well. Six years ago, some woman managed to get into their untouchable Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s bed! Because of that, several high¨Clevel executives at the FitzGerald Group got dragged into it. causing a major internal overhaul. After all, not many could scheme against Rhett. At first, Rhett didn¡¯t want to find that woman, thinking it was only someone else¡¯s tactic against him and that she woulde out with her demands in a few days. Two years passed, yet there was still no sign. That made Rhett lose his patience. In the third year of her disappearance, Rhett had his assistant start investigating, but too much time had passed. Where should they even begin with? York even wondered if Rhett had been drugged that night, which had all been a dream. ¡°Ferris still won¡¯t talk?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice grew colder. ¡°He only admits to spiking your drink that night, but he won¡¯t confess to putting a woman in your room,¡± York was just as helpless. Ferris was one of the high¨Cups at the FitzGerald Group, and who knew what had got into him to dare to plot against Rhett? As he rubbed his temples wearily, Rhett closed his eyes. ¡°Keep searching,¡± he urged. Rhett was unsure if his relentless determination to find that woman was driven by a desire to punish her or by some other mysterious motive. Sometimes, he would dream about that night. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. Please don¡¯t touch me.¡± That woman pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ll give you money. A lot of money. Please, let me go.¡± Chapter 8 All he remembered was that the woman was crying and begging. Rhett admitted that it wasn¡¯t just the drink. He did desire that woman. The room was dark. Rhett hadn¡¯t seen the woman¡¯s face, but her scent was deadly allure. ¡°Stop the car!¡± Suddenly opening his eyes, Rhettmanded in a low voice. Kristin¡­ He wasn¡¯t sure if it was only his imagination, but Kristin¡¯s voice and faint body scent reminded him a lot of the woman from that night. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we found her.¡± York eximed as he spun around after getting off the phone. ¡°Ferris spilled the beans!!¡± Rhett let out a snort of derision. ¡°Hard nuts crack atst, huh? Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Haywood, Hertha Haywood.¡± York replied, equally stunned. Hertha had depression, and rumor had it she attempted suicide six years ago. ¡°It¡¯sing back to me now! Among the guests at the hotel that night, there was the name. Hertha. But I didn¡¯t connect the dots because she was on a different floor. Ferris said he had his sights on a different chick, but when he saw Ms. Haywood wander into the wrong room, he just rolled with it.¡± York smacked his forehead, annoyed at himself for not thinking of that angle. ¡°Ms. Hertha had a brush with death due to depression six years back, right after that shindig.¡± Rhett¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Set course for the Haywood family residence,¡± hemanded. At the FitzGerald Mansion, Vincent looked at Kristin loathingly, seemingly taken aback by how much she had changed. ¡°I never really knew you,¡± Vincent realized with a sense of betrayal, regretting his past blindness. How could he have ever seen Kristin as pure and kind¨Chearted? ¡°Even using kids in your schemes, huh? So, what, you knew you couldn¡¯t climb thedder with me, so you set your sights on my brother?¡± Kristin shook her head desperately, biting her lip. That wasn¡¯t it. She hadn¡¯t done that. Hiding Summer behind her, Kristin pleaded with tearful eyes. ¡°Vincent¡­ I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Kristin, look at yourself. Would you stoop to any level for money and what you want?¡± Vincent grabbed Kristin¡¯s chin and dragged her to a mirror. Kristin closed her eyes in fear. During her years in prison, her biggest dread was looking at her reflection. Once upon a time, she was the treasured gem of the Turner family. But in prison, she stuck out like a sore thumb among the other inmates because of her delicate, smooth skin. The other inmates would humiliate her, beat her, and force her to look at her pathetic self in the mirror during showers. She was terrified, begging and crying, but it was futile. No one came to her rescue. She felt the whole world had abandoned her. ¡°You¡¯re despicable. Kristin.¡± Despite his disgust, Vincent tore her clothes before the child. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 9 ¡°Vincent¡­ please, not in front of the kid. I¡¯m begging you¡­¡± Kristin trembled violently, her fingers growing icy with fear. She had a congenital heart condition and nearly died once in prison when she was bullied. At this time, it felt like death was looming again. She struggled helplessly, resisting, desperately clinging to Summer, shielding his eyes and ears. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Don¡¯t be scared. Summer¡¯s brave.¡± ¡°Disgusting¡­ Vincent recoiled in loathing. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d want you? Take a good look at yourself in the mirror, Kristin. You reek of the filth from jail, like a beggar on the streets. What man would desire you?¡± Kristin stiffly hugged Summer, covering his ears with all her might. Her son was innocent, regardless of the dirty circumstances of his arrival in this world. Seeing Kristin in the mess, Vincent couldn¡¯t understand why he was losing control of his emotions. There were things he didn¡¯t want to say, but he couldn¡¯t help the hatred he felt for Kristin. It was the hatred for the wrongs she had done to him, hatred for having a child with another man, a bastard. Six years ago, he pressured Kristin to terminate the pregnancy, but she insisted on keeping the baby. She said she had no family left, and that child was her reason to keep living. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer hugged Kristin, sobbing and clumsily wiping the tears from Kristin¡¯s face. ¡°Mommy. Uncle Garner said, Summer¡¯s a man and must protect Mommy.¡± Kristin copsed onto the floor, embracing Summer as she cried. At that moment, all the wrongs she had endured over the years seemed worth it. Her son was her only hope. All these years, she¡¯d thought about ending it all countless times in prison, but every time Garner visited with Summer, she felt like she had found the reason to live. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Mom, I won first prize in the drawing contest! I drew you, Uncle Garner and myself.¡± ¡°Mom, they asked me why I don¡¯t have a Dad¡­¡± ¡°Mom, when can youe home?¡± Garner said Summer was so mature for her age, way beyond what you¡¯d expect from a five¨Cyear¨Cold. Sometimes, he was heartbroken by how sensible the kid was. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Mom. You still have me.¡± Summer snuggled into Kristin¡¯s arms. He was a kid, desperately lacking a mother¡¯s love and security. Kristin held Summer tight, and in a daze, she looked up and saw her reflection in the mirror. Pale¨Cfaced, gaunt, lips white as chalk, it was as if her heart could stop at any moment. Kristin used to be one of the most sought¨Cafter socialites in Silvergrove City, with looks and a figure to die for. But Vincent was correct that she hardly looked different from a beggar on the streets. She had be a shadow of her former self. Locked away in the storage room by Vincent, Kristin felt dizzy from hunger. ¡°Are you hungry, Mom? Summer asked, his stomach growling with hunger, too. Kristin bit her lip and whispered soothingly, ¡°Be good, Summer. I will get you something to eat.¡± After putting Summer to bed, Kristin cautiously stepped outside. Vincent couldn¡¯t guard her all the time. He had to visit his fianc¨¦e Ruby in the hospital. Stepping out of the yard, Kristin asked the nanny in a low voice, ¡°Sorry, but can I have some food? My kid is hungry.¡± The nanny looked at Kristin with disdain and sneered. ¡°Want to eat?¡± She went to the kitchen, came out with two breads, and threw them into a bowl for stray dogs by the roadside. Kristin¡¯s eyes darted away as tears welled up. She was starving, and so was Summer. With not a penny to her name, she had to figure something out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± The nanny angrily asked when she saw Kristin heading for the door. ¡°Summer, Summer¡¯s here. I won¡¯t run. I¡¯m just stepping out for a bit,¡± Kristin exined softly. The nanny huffed and couldn¡¯t be bothered with Kristin anymore. Miss Ruby had made it clear. Chapter 10 ¡°No food for her, and find a way to drive her out.¡± Out of the vi, Kristin rubbed her cold hands together. The autumn in Silvergrove City wasn¡¯t very cold, but it cut to the bone. Without money, she had no idea how to get food for Summer. She stopped by a trash can and picked up a few unwanted bottles, hoping that collecting enough might get her some cash. ¡°Whoa, what do we have here? I can¡¯t believe my eyes. Isn¡¯t that the stunning Kristin?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. It was a wealthy neighborhood, and most of Kristin¡¯s former ssmates lived around. When hearing the sarcastic voice behind her, Kristin shrugged her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± But the woman wasn¡¯t going to let her off and pushed Kristin to the ground. ¡°Ruby said you got out of the prison. We didn¡¯t believe it, but here you are.¡± Kristin curled up, not daring to look up. The woman who pushed her, Adrienne Haywood, was the second daughter of the Haywood family and a ssmate of Kristin¡¯s who had always been jealous of her. In the past, Kristin had chosen not to provoke her, and her desire to avoid conflict was now even stronger. ¡°Kristin, look at you now.¡± Adrienne chuckled, stepping hard on Kristin¡¯s ankle. ¡°Ouch!¡± Kristin cried out in pain as her ankle quickly swelled. ¡°You¡¯re shameless, you know? Your mom swapped the babies and let you, the trash picker, be Ms. Turner for over twenty years,¡± Adrienne said, patting Kristin¡¯s face and pping her hard. Kristin¡¯s ears rang, but it was as if she was used to it. Over her five¨Cyear stint in jail, she had suffered a countless number of beatings. Tears pooled, but Kristin just kept her head down and stayed silent. ¡°You touched her? She¡¯s filthy.¡± another rich girl said in disgust, quickly pulling out a tissue. ¡°Clean your hands, quick.¡± ¡°Did you hear she hooked up with some random guy in a hotel and even had a child? So gross. Anyone could sleep with her. She must be carrying diseases,¡± the rich girl sneered. Adrienne took the tissue disgustedly, wiped her hands thoroughly, and tossed it on Kristin¡¯s face, kicking her hard in the chest. Painfully out of breath, Kristin curled up by the trash can, gasping for air. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 She recalled how Adrienne used to be the ringleader in bullying her, picking on her like she was their punching bag back in high school. But Vincent had her back then. She fell for Vincent, especially when Adrienne and her posse cornered her in the bathroom over her pretty bracelet and started kicking her around. Vincent busted through thedies¡® room door with a kick and whisked her away. In those moments, she felt like Vincent was a beacon of light. But eventually, that light would never shine on her again, and no one would ever pull her out of the darkness again. Maybe that was the punishment she deserved. She¡¯d coasted through over twenty years as a pampered rich girl, dodging the reaper, living on borrowed time. It was the Grim Reaper¡¯s way of settling scores. Kristin had a congenital heart defect and needed surgery right after her birth, and back then. heart surgery cost an arm and a leg. Kristin¡¯s birth mom didn¡¯t have that much cash and couldn¡¯t bear to watch her little girl die, so in a desperate move, she switched Kristin with Ruby, who was born as Ms. Turner, giving them each other¡¯s lives. With the Turner family, Kristin got a second shot at life. So, she knew she owed the Turner family and Ruby. If her mom hadn¡¯t swapped their lives, Ruby would be the one living the princess¡¯s life. Kristin needed to atone. She had to make amends. ¡°Kristin, dumpster diving? Hard up for cash?¡± Adrienne taunted, giving Kristin a shove. ¡°Cut the crap. Don¡¯t y dead.¡± Kristin¡¯s vision went dark. Her heart was racing. ¡°Got a job for you. Back to your roots and sleep with men for money.¡± Adrienne sneered, eyeing the rich boys behind her. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s got a pretty face. Didn¡¯t Tam have a thing for her in high. school? Call him over for some fun. Tell him she¡¯s an easy girl now. Anyone can get her into bed with cash.¡± Kristin gasped for air, wanting to fight back, but theirughter and mockery made her wish she could vanish. Summer was still waiting for her at home. ¡°Adrienne, she looks off¡­¡± one of the rich girls muttered. ¡°Let¡¯s not stick around for trouble. Let¡¯s bail.¡± Chapter 11 ¡°Isn¡¯t Ruby using us to do her dirty work? She has Vincent watching over her now, sending us to bully Kristin. And if anything happens, we¡¯ll take the fall?¡± another girl with more sense whispered. Adrienne got scared seeing Kristin wasn¡¯t faking it and bolted. ¡°Damn it.¡± The surroundings quieted down, and Kristin curled up in pain. Who woulde to save her? It hurt. It hurt so much. A ck sedan pulled up from the Haywood family and stopped nearby. York got out of the car, worried, and ran over. ¡°Miss, are you alright?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°Medicine¡­¡± Seeing Kristin¡¯s pale face, York quickly grabbed a bottle of water from the car and fished out a small pill bottle from her pocket, helping her take a pill. Lying on the ground for a while, Kristin slowly came back around. Propping herself up, she whispered, ¡°Thanks.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing she was okay, York finally rxed. ¡°You should go to the hospital.¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond but kneeled on the ground, weakly picking up scattered bottles. Summer was still waiting for her at home. Rhett had stayed in the car, frowning as he watched Kristin. The once radiant Ms. Turner hade down to this state. ¡°Got any cash?¡± asked Rhett. York got back in the car only to hear Rhett¡¯s stern question. Startled, York searched around, wondering how much he got. ¡°Just¡­ ten bucks.¡± ¡°Give it to her,¡± Rhett said, annoyed. York was shocked. Since when was Mr. FitzGerald so generous? He hurriedly returned and gave Kristin the ten bucks. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t have much cash on me. Kneeling on the ground, Kristin looked up at York, her eyes welling up. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want it.¡± Pathetically, she still tried to retain some dignity. She continued picking up bottles, leaning on the trash can to stand, rummaging for some cardboard to sell. Chapter 11 Watching Kristin limp away, York strangely felt a pang of sadness. She was quite the looker. What was she doing picking through trash? York returned to the car and said to Rhett, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, she didn¡¯t take it.¡± Rhett seemed annoyed, perhaps regretting his intervention. Seeing Rhett stay silent, York drove off, disgruntled. ¡°Stop the car.¡± Passing a dessert shop, Rhett spoke again. York paused, puzzled. What was happening again? ¡°Go get some and take it to her.¡± York was even more stunned, wondering what had gotten into Mr. FitzGerald. Maybe he was overjoyed from finding Hertha, so he was suddenly all hearty? Chapter 12 Chapter 12 York was on the run to take some cake and sweet treats to Kristin. Wiping her hands after a trash¨Cpicking session, Kristin eyed York nervously and stepped back. York included that she was scared of everyone after having been through hell and back. York caught the vibe and chuckled. ¡°They¡¯re all new, unopened. You can a look yourself.¡± Kristin stayed silent, staring at the ground, her hands gripping her pants tightly. She was starving and craving the food but didn¡¯t want to beg. ¡°Look, you¡¯re collecting bottles, right? Mr. FitzGerald had me bring these to you. It all cost over a hundred bucks only. When you¡¯ve saved up enough, you can pay Mr. FitzGerald back.¡± York nodded toward a car parked by the curb. Kristin nced in the direction York pointed and saw Rhett. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Nodding her head, she epted the cake. She¡¯d pay it back. She was determined to seize any chance to get close to Rhett. Hoisting her collected bottles, Kristin limped back the way she came. Her ankle throbbed, swollen from Adrienne¡¯s stomp. Numbly, she returned to the FitzGerald family¡¯s storage room, cleaned her hands, and softly called out to Summer, who was asleep. ¡°Summer, sweetie, wake up. Time to eat.¡± Vincent didn¡¯t bother keeping a close eye on her, confidently expecting that Kristin wouldn¡¯t dare bolt. After all, running would only result in her being hauled back. Hence, Kristin resolved not to flee, but to remain and make amends. Johnnie had agreed with Kristin that donating a kidney would settle her twenty¨Csome years of debt for being brought up. After that, she would owe them nothing at all. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer woke up bleary¨Ceyed but lit up at the sight of the cake, even licking his lips. ¡°Mommy, are you an angel?¡± Kristin couldn¡¯t help butugh, handing all the little cakes to Summer. ¡°Mommy¡¯s got magic.¡± ¡°You¡¯re cool, Mommy.¡± Summer kissed Kristin¡¯s forehead. Kristin instinctively flinched. ¡°Mommy¡¯s¡­ dirty.¡± ¡°Mommy¡¯s not dirty.¡± Summer held Kristin¡¯s face earnestly. ¡°Mommy¡¯s the cleanest.¡± Kristin choked up, herughter turning to tears that shamelessly spilled over. ¡°Be a good boy. Come on. Eat up.¡± Chapter 12 ¡°You eat, Mommy.¡± Summer was so well¨Cbehaved and understanding, insisting Kristin eat first. Kristin was hungry, but she wanted to save it for Summer. ¡°I¡¯m already eaten.¡± ¡°Mommy, you are lying.¡± Summer wouldn¡¯t eat until Kristin did. Sitting beside Summer, she let him lean on her and took a bite of the bread. It was so sweet. It was unbelievably sweet. She¡¯d almost forgotten what sweetness tasted like all those years in prison. ¡°Mommy, where¡¯s Daddy? Is he a superhero? Will hee to save us?¡± That night, Kristin held her son as they slept. Summer had a million questions. ¡°Daddy¡¯s off saving aliens, so he¡¯s gone. It will take him a long, long time toe back,¡± replied Kristin, ¡°Daddy¡¯s a hero.¡± Kristin was crafting an image of a father for Summer, wanting her son to grow up healthy and happy, with no sense of loss or regret. ¡°Summer, Mommy might have to go to outer space to find Daddy soon, and it might be a long time before I cane home¡­¡± Kristin whispered. But suddenly, Summer fell silent. ¡°Summer¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s heart clenched. Summer burst into tears. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Mommy.¡± He was scared of his Mommy leaving, too.¡± Kristin held Summer close, her eyes welling up with tears. She was going to die on the operating table. ¡°Get up! All you do is sleep.¡± Kristin was rudely kicked awake by the nanny the following morning. Instinctively protecting her child, she sat up, heavy with sleep. ¡°Eat up! Don¡¯t say I starved you.¡± The nanny dropped off one moldy burger and left. Summer also sat up, sniffed the burger, and felt nauseated. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s bad. We can¡¯t eat this.¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she carried the te outside with a limp, dumped it in the trash, and rinsed it clean. Then, she got some cold water to rinse their mouths and took Summer to wash up. Chapter 12 ¡°Mommy, where are we going?¡± Kristin gestured for Summer to be quiet. ¡°We¡¯re going home to Uncle Garner¡¯s ce,¡± As they reached the door, Vincent returned. His car was parked outside, and a little boy about Summer¡¯s age got out, clutching a big¨Csized Superman toy. Kristin knew that was Vincent¡¯s nephew, the child of Eve FitzGerald, Rhett¡¯s younger sister, and Vincent¡¯s twin. The year she got pregnant, Eve did too, also out of wedlock. ¡°Uncle Vincent, who¡¯s that?¡± Milo dstone pointed at Summer, his guard up. Vincent¡¯s eyes darkened, and his voice was icy. ¡°Stay away from him. He¡¯s dirty.¡± Summer looked down, hurt, at his clothes, cleaned by Garner. He wasn¡¯t dirty at all. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Vincent shot Kristin a frowning nce. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re heading off to?¡± Kristin looked down and started to back away with Summer in tow. ¡°Nowhere. Didn¡¯t have a ce in mind.¡± Vincent¡¯s expression was foul as he warned her with his gaze. ¡°Put the kid down. Take a shower, change your clothes, ande with me.¡± Tightly gripping Summer, Kristin stepped back, fearcing her voice as she stammered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± ¡°Today is Ruby¡¯s birthday. Regardless of your feelings, you are going!¡± Vincent¡¯s voice echoed. icy cold. Kristin looked at Vincent, panic¨Cstricken. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not going¡­¡± ¡°Kristin, don¡¯t push your luck. Ruby¡¯s not well, and she¡¯s very kind to have invited you. Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you.¡± Vincent was coaxing Kristin to attend because he didn¡¯t want to upset Ruby. Kristin was trembling. It was Ruby¡¯s birthday. And it was her birthday, too. Yet, she had forgotten her own because she didn¡¯t feel deserving of celebrating it and was even afraid to. Sometimes, Kristin wished she could have died on the day she was born. But life doesn¡¯t deal with what¨Cifs. ¡°Vincent¡­ please, can I not go?¡± Kristin pleaded softly. Was he killing her? Wasn¡¯t giving up a kidney enough for him? ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was a cold threat. Kristin knew she couldn¡¯t dodge this bullet. Sending Summer back to the storage room, she made him promise not to wander off and to be good. Summer obediently situated himself on the scrappy bed, promising to wait for his mommy¡¯s return. Kristin handed him thest piece of cake, telling him to eat it if hungry. After leaving the storage room, Kristin showered but still wore her clothes, waiting in the courtyard for Vincent. She knew she would face the relentless ridicule and endless insults. Chapter 13 If that was the spectacle Vincent wanted, she¡¯d give it to him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing the dress the nanny picked for you?¡± Vincent came out, looking at Kristin with disgust. It was Ruby¡¯s birthday, so Vincent was dressed to the nines in a designer suit, looking better than a movie star. Kristin gazed at Vincent calmly, her heart no longer racing at the sight of him. After all these years, the love was finally gone. ¡°I¡¯m not used to them.¡± She didn¡¯t want to wear a dress because of the many scars that marred her body. She was so thin. Nothing looked good on her anyway, so she might as well stick to what she had on. Vincent couldn¡¯t be bothered with Kristin and headed straight for the car. Kristin cautiously opened the car¡¯s back door and got in, huddling in the farthest corner. Vincent glimpsed Kristin in the rearview mirror, momentarily lost in thought. Once upon a time, she would always ride shotgun in his car. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°This seat is reserved for me alone,¡± she would im. And he¡¯d dote on her. ¡°Yeah, no other woman is allowed in my passenger seat. H Looking back, it felt like a cruel joke. ¡°Kristin, have you ever regretted it?¡± The car parked in the underground lot of Diamond Crest Hotel, and Vincent asked, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t betrayed me then, I wouldn¡¯t have left you even if you weren¡¯t Ms. Turner.¡± + Feeling weary, Kristin found Vincent¡¯s wordsughable. She struggled desperately and cried out for help, but where was he when she needed protection the most? He was with Ruby. And he had the nerve to ask if she had any regrets. ¡°I owe the Turner family. I owe Ruby big time. But Vincent, I owe you nothing.¡± Kristin took a deep breath, pushed the car door open, and exited. Infuriated by Kristin¡¯s attitude, Vincent got out of the car, grabbed her wrist, and mmed her against the wall, pinning her down. ¡°You owe me nothing? You slept with some nobody and had his lowlife kid. How dare you say you owe me nothing? Kristin, you owe me for the rest of your life!¡± Vincent was losing control, forcing Kristin to look at him. Kristin stubbornly refused to meet his gaze. Vincent said word by word, ¡°You were so desperate six years ago. Have you been able to live without a man for these five years?¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes reddened, and with courage from somewhere she didn¡¯t know, she pped 2/3 14:46 Chapter 13 Vincent across the face. Vincent returned the p. ¡°What gives you the right to hit me? You¡¯re the one being cheap!¡± Kristin stood there, dazed. It was the first time Vincent had hit her. The p meant things between them were over. When Ruby took him to catch her red¨Chanded in the hotel six years ago, he saw the blood on the pristine sheets and yelled at her for losing control but never had the heart to p her. What a joke. Inhaling deeply, Kristin trailed after Vincent, her ears still ringing. Vincent¡¯s fingers noticeably shook. He regretted hitting her the moment he did it. But he knew he could never forgive Kristin, and they could never go back. ¡°Look who¡¯s here! Today¡¯s star, Miss Kristin!¡± No sooner had they entered the room than the rich kids started to make fun of Kristin. ¡°Vincent, you sure know how to y the game. Nice going,¡± one of the silver spoon kids chuckled, coming over and giving Vincent a chummy nudge on the shoulder. ¡°Word on the street is she¡¯s avable for the right price. True story?¡± Vincent shot the guy a cold look, his voice deep. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask her yourself?¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Kristin¡¯s knuckles turned white from gripping her hands tightly. ¡°Kristin, how much for a night?¡± these men sneered. ¡°What are you even wearing? It¡¯s dirty. Where¡¯s the dress?¡± ¡°Strip off those rags quick. We like you best in your birthday suit.¡± The things those people said were filthy. Kristin felt they were dirtier than she ever could be. ¡°Knock it off. It¡¯s Ruby¡¯s birthday today,¡± someone whispered in a reminder. Then, everyone finally moved to wish the birthday girl a happy one. ¡°Kristin, it¡¯s your also birthday today, remember?¡± Ruby¡¯s voice was faint as she mentioned it. Kristin didn¡¯t respond, and she was as silent as the grave. ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± Adrienne was there, too, nudging Kristin a bit. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Kristin stumbled and fell into the arms of a guy behind her. ¡°Tam, check it out. Your dream girl is throwing herself at you!¡± ¡°Tam, you were all over her back in high school. Go on, man. She¡¯s all yours for the taking now.¡± A few of them teased Tam. Tam looked at Kristin with disgust, a look of disdain on his face. ¡°Since when did I like her? Cut the crap.¡± Kristin had heard too much of that. They were all undoubtedly scoundrels, but they were blissfully ignorant of it. In high school, Tam had been chasing her since the first year, but he was bullying her along with the rest. ¡°Tam, we¡¯ll hand her to you. You can have fun with her tonight. Take her home, bro,¡± one of the rich kids joked with augh. Vincent just watched silently, then went over to Ruby and spoke softly. ¡°She¡¯s here. Will you be a good girl and return to the hospital with me? No fussing.¡± Ruby smiled, pleased, and reached out for Vincent to carry her. Vincent indulged her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll carry you back to the hospital. Deal?* Kristin just watched as Vincent ignored her and walked away with Ruby. Chapter 14 She wanted to leave, but Adrienne and the rich kids cornered her in the room. This was not at all Ruby¡¯s birthday banquet tonight. Rather, it was a raucous revelry of devils. Vincent had sold her to these people to appease Ruby and coax her back to the hospital. He knew they would toy with her until she broke. ¡°Let me go!¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse, choking up. She wanted to leave, but how could these lunatics let her? Every moment of the bullying from her high school days and the beatings and humiliation in prison was a living hell. ¡°Want to leave, huh? Can¡¯t handle the heat?¡± One of the rich kids blocked Kristin, pointing at a bottle on the table. ¡°Down this bottle, and I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Tam frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± ¡°Look at you, pretending not to like her, Tam. If you¡¯re into her, go for it.¡± ¡°Tam, you better give her a thorough cleaning inside and out. She¡¯s had a kid before. Ready to y daddy?¡± ¡°Good one! Lol..¡± Kristin felt unsteady, pushing people away and trying to escape. Adrienne had someone hold Kristin down and grabbed a bottle of wine, pouring it over her head. Everyone was egging them on. ¡°Hey, nice figure. How can you be so skinny and still have boobs?¡± Soaked through her clothes, the guys made disgustingments. They felt Kristin up without respect. Kristin stood there numbly, snatching the bottle from Adrienne¡¯s hand. ¡°Crash!¡± There came a crisp sound. Kristin smashed the bottle over her head. The ss shattered, and blood streamed down her forehead, dripping from her chin. For a moment, everyone went silent. Kristin¡¯s voice was raspy, her eyes bloodshot red. ¡°Is this enough?¡± No one spoke. They all thought Kristin had lost it. Kristin grabbed another bottle, ready to smash it over her head again, but Tam grabbed Kristin and threw her out. ¡°Are you freaking insane?¡± LI Kristin wiped the blood from her eyes, and her delicate face was ghastly pale. She turned and walked towards the door. Finally, no one dared to stop her. As she exited the private room, everything went ck, and she fell into the strong arms of a man. ¡°Save me¡­¡± Her voice was barely audible. Maybe she didn¡¯t want to die. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± Several business partners rushed up, panicked by the sudden appearance of a drunk. But they all got scared when they saw Rhett¡¯s pristine white shirt covered in bloodstains. Rhett was a real freak about germs! Frowning, Rhett looked down at the woman who had copsed into his arms. Coincidence? Or had she done it on purpose? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± The assistant hurried over, trying to push Kristin away, but a subconscious gesture from Rhett stopped him. Upon seeing Kristin¡¯s bloodied face, Rhett experienced an unexpected knot in his stomach. He lifted Kristin, his voice deep. ¡°Check the room to see who¡¯s in there and call the cops! Take her to the hospital with me!¡± The business partners were stunned by Rhett¡¯s actions. ¡°Doesn¡¯t Mr. FitzGerald have a germ phobia?¡± ¡°I heard any woman approaching him gets tossed out.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with him today? Why did he suddenly get a heart of gold?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 On the way to the hospital, Kristin gripped Rhett¡¯s shirt for dear life, desperately clinging to a thread of security. When she bolted from the private room, Kristintched onto him like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline. Rhett frowned at the sight of Kristin, whose petite face was as white as a sheet. Years ago, when he saw her at the FitzGerald Mansion, she was like a rosebud about to bloom. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ How about, um, how about I take over here, and you dash home to get changed?¡± At the hospital, the assistant nervously offered to take Kristin. Rhett gave the assistant a frosty nce, brushed past him, and carried Kristin toward the emergency room. The assistant sucked in a breath of cold air, thinking Mr. FitzGerald was really off his rocker. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin struggled in her semi¨Cconscious state, herplexion getting worse. Anyone could tell she¡¯d been through a nightmare. ¡°No, don¡¯t touch me! Leave me alone, all of you¡­¡± The nurses tried to examine Kristin, but her struggles in her dazed condition were too fierce. ¡°Dr. Lawrence, the patient is uncooperative.¡± Connor was on duty with a stethoscope around his neck in the ER. He walked into the exam room and was shocked to see the brooding man standing there. ¡°Rhett?¡± Rhett frowned, sparing Connor a nce. He remembered Connor, the youngest son of the Lawrence family. The Fitzgerald family was the top dog in Silvergrove City, followed by the Turner, Lawrence. Haywood, and dstone families. The Turner family once got their darling.daughter Kristin engaged to Vincent, the youngest son of the Fitzgerald family, boosting their status in Silvergrove City. But s, Kristin was a fraud, and after the engagement party, rumors of her scandalous private life surfaced. Then she had a bastard child, which dragged the Fitzgerald family and the Turner family through the mud in Silvergrove City. As for Connor, Rhett remembered him because he was different from others.. As the Lawrence heir, he showed no interest in the family business but chose to be a doctor against the wishes of the Lawrence family. That turned the Lawrence family into a joke in business circles. Chapter 15 ¡°She has a minor concussion. The cut on her forehead needs stitches, a tetanus shot, severe malnutrition, and she¡¯s on the brink of starvation. How bizarre,¡± Connor scoffed after looking at Kristin¡¯s checkup results. Kristin had ticked off the Fitzgerald family but seemed out of lifelines. He¡¯d thought Vincent would be the type to torment Kristin, but Rhett, too? ¡°Starving?¡± Rhett¡¯s gaze darkened with confusion. Had Vincent brought her home just to starve her? ¡°Give her a nutritional IV,¡± Connor told another doctor, then turned to Rhett. ¡°Maybe I¡¯m overstepping, but as a doctor, Mr. Fitzgerald, I¡¯d like to remind you that five years in prison should be enough penance for Kristin. She doesn¡¯t need to be pushed to the brink.¡± Nothing was moreughable than the so¨Ccalled reputation of high society. They tormented a woman just for the sake of that humiliation. Connor had no respect for these people. Rhett was seething and said nothing. ¡°Oh, and just a heads¨Cup. This girl was once your brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e,¡± Connor added, seeing the marks on Kristin¡¯s neck and jumping to conclusions. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Everyone in Silvergrove City feared Rhett and wanted to cling to him, but Connor couldn¡¯t care less. They said Rhett was indifferent to women, so how did Kristin get all these injuries? Rhett was usually the strong, silent type, and even knowing Connor had the wrong end of the stick, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to correct him. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, did you call the cops?¡± Outside in the ward, a police officer walked in. ¡°Sorry to disturb you, but we must clear up a few things. The folks at the hotel are denying they hurt thedy, saying she did it to herself¡­¡± Rhett¡¯s gaze was icy. ¡°She beat herself into critical condition?¡± The officer panicked under Rhett¡¯s powerful aura. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Fitzgerald. We need evidence and the victim¡¯s statement.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant bring the hotel corridor¡¯s CCTV footage over,¡± Rhett said, checking the time. Since the cops were there, he saw no need to stick around. Connor was stunned. Had he misunderstood? ¡°Don¡¯t touch me. No!¡± Kristin woke from her nightmare in a panic, her eyes flying open, her whole body trembling. Where was she? What was this ce? Seeing Kristin reaching for the IV, Connor quickly stepped in and stopped her. ¡°Ease there.¡± 2/3 1227 Chapter 15 Kristin looked at Connor in terror and instinctively scooted back. She was terrified of men getting close. ¡°Miss Kristin, please cooperate and answer a few questions. What happened in the Diamond Crest Hotel suite? Was there an altercation?¡± The police officer stepped forward to ask. Still reeling from shock, Kristin looked toward Rhett, who had paused in the doorway. Taking a deep breath, Kristin was scared. Rhett was Vincent¡¯s brother. It would damage the Fitzgerald family¡¯s reputation if she said Vincent had tricked her over. Her fingers clenched slowly, and Kristin lowered her head. ¡°No¡­ nothing. I did it to myself. I hit myself¡­¡± At the doorway, Rhett¡¯s brow furrowed, displeased, and he left. He couldn¡¯t stand those spineless women who always groveled, never knowing how to assert themselves. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Rhett felt as though he was meddling in matters that were none of his business. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Seeing Rhett emerge from the examination room, the assistant panicked and started spraying alcohol as if he wanted to give Rhett a full¨Cbody disinfectant treatment. Rhett was a bit of a clean freak and hated hospitals to the point where he barely wanted to set foot in one. And yet, he carried that grubby woman into the hospital! That was enough to keep the assistant shocked for days. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we¡¯ve got the hotel¡¯s surveince footage. Do you need me to¡­¡± ¡°No need!¡± Rhett snapped back, clearly annoyed and losing his patience. The assistant zipped it, knowing Rhett was pissed, and hurried after him. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald. Ms. Turner may have been Mr. Vincent¡¯s ex¨Cfianc¨¦e, but their marriage has been canceled. She¡¯s not part of the FitzGerald family, only a fake heiress. You shouldn¡¯t bother yourself with her.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Plus, I¡¯ve heard Kristin has a sketchy private life and even had a child. Look how skinny she is. God knows if she¡¯s sick or something¡­¡± the assistant muttered. But before the assistant could finish, he felt a chill down his spine. Rhett¡¯s gaze was icy as he took the tissue from the assistant and cleaned his hands with disgust. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about things without evidence, and don¡¯t trash¨Ctalk a woman carelessly.¡± Even though he found it disgusting. Rhett didn¡¯t like hearing people gossiping about a woman behind her back. The assistant kept his mouth shut. In the hospital room, ¡°A mild concussion. You need to stay in for observation,¡± Connor told Kristin, insisting she should behave and finish her IV drip. ¡°No¡­ no need. I won¡¯t undergo treatment,¡± Kristin blurted out in panic, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Connor. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have any money.¡± She was broke. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the money. Rhett has covered it for you,¡± Connor said with a frown, a sh of pity in his eyes. But that was all. Connor just felt sorry for Kristin. Chapter 16 After all, everyone in Silvergrove City knew people like Kristin, those to be pitied, often had ws that made them detestable. She tried to be a swan among ducks when she was not born for it. She made her bed, and she had to lie in it. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Kristin trembled as she uttered his name, looking up at Connor nervously. ¡°Doctor, how much is it?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Connor was busy jotting down notes and didn¡¯t hear her. ¡°The medical bill¡­ how much is it?¡± She didn¡¯t want to owe Rhett anything, the medical fees and the money for the little cake. ¡°With the CT scan and all, it should be around eight hundred,¡± Connor said, trying to keep his patience. Kristin fell silent, not saying another word. ¡°Now, ensure you finish this IV.¡± Since Kristin had escapedst time, Connor made a point to remind her this time. Kristin didn¡¯t reply. Without any more questions, she could stay silent the whole day without a word. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. In prison, when those people bullied her, stripped her, and humiliated her, she learned to stay quiet and stop screaming. They got bored when she didn¡¯t react and eventually left her alone. ¡°Did you give yourself those injuries? Didn¡¯t those people harm you?¡± Connor also found Kristin¡¯s personality unlikable, too meek. The police were there, and what was she afraid to say? That was why some people who got bullied only had themselves to me. Kristin clenched her fists and hugged her curled legs, still not speaking. ¡°You should try to fight back,¡± Connor said out of nowhere, then felt like he was meddling in the business of others and left the room. ¡°Fight back¡­¡± Kristin murmured. She didn¡¯t dare to fight back, fearing worse humiliation and beating. When she first entered prison, Kristin fought back, too, but then? The guards just watched as she got beaten, doing nothing to help. No one would help her. Her resistance was feeble and insignificant. How could she fight back with no one behind her? Sheughed bitterly and cleaned her tears. Did these pampered rich boys know what the living hell was like? They only knew the life of luxury. 14:47 CT TO He told her to fight back, but did she have the means? Pulling out the IV needle, Kristin ran away once more. Summer was still with the FitzGerald family, and Kristin couldn¡¯t rest easy. Back at the FitzGerald Mansion, Kristin¡¯s foot was swollen, and she hobbled as she walked. Stumbling back to the vi as dusk approached. ¡°He broke my toy! He¡¯s a thie!!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not¡­ I didn¡¯t!¡± In the yard, children were arguing. Summer stood helplessly, surrounded by a circle of using servants. Milo was pointing at Summer, shaming him. ¡°You¡¯re so dirty. You look like a garbage picker. You¡¯re a thief.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the son of a thief. What else could he be but a thief himself? It¡¯s a whole den of them,¡± a, servant added fuel to the fire. Summer¡¯s eyes reddened as he defended himself fiercely, ring at everyone. ¡°I didn¡¯t. I¡¯m not a thief!¡± ¡°Your mom¡¯s a tramp, stealing someone else¡¯s life for over twenty years, and you im you¡¯re not a thief,¡± the nanny scoffed. Summer¡¯s small frame shook with anger. They could say what they wanted about him, but not about his mom! ¡°My mom is not a thief! You all are the bad ones!¡± Summer lunged to bite someone but got kicked away by the nanny. Curled up on the ground in pain, Summer didn¡¯t cry. He had to protect his mom. He had to keep her safe. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¡°What the heck are you doing!¡± Kristin burst into the courtyard in time to catch the nanny kicking Summer. With a trembling voice, Kristin instinctively rushed over, shoved the nanny aside, and pulled Summer into her arms. ¡°Mommy¡¯s here. Dear Summer, you¡¯re okay.¡± Summer was in severe pain and started to cry. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Shaking. Kristin held Summer tight and looked up at those who bullied a child with contempt. The FitzGerald family and even their servants are such disgustingly vile creatures. ¡°The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, huh? He stole Milo¡¯s toy and broke it,¡± the nanny said mockingly, looking down from her high horse. ¡°Like mother, like son, huh?¡± ¡°I heard this kid¡¯s a bastard child. Who knows who his dad is? Probably no good, just like him. A thieving mom and a loser dad, what chances did the kid have?¡± The servants all sneered at Summer and Kristin because Kristin used to be a high and mighty young lady but was even beneath them. It was also because her child didn¡¯t have a father. ¡°Summer, don¡¯t listen¡­¡± Kristin covered Summer¡¯s ears, not wanting him to hear the filth of this world. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Have him kneel and apologize to me, or I won¡¯t let this slide.¡± Milo demanded arrogantly, having picked up Eve and Vincent¡¯s overbearing ways. Connor and Vincent were two sides of the same coin, both born of the same mother. Naturally. Milo bore a striking resemnce to Vincent, especially the way he demanded Summer to kneel, an exact replica of Vincent¡¯s own domineering nature. Kristin ignored Milo, intent on taking Summer back to the storeroom. ¡°Mr. Milo is talking to you. Are you deaf? A pair of thieves,¡± the nanny said as she shoved Kristin to the ground again. Kristin instinctively protected Summer, injuring her ankle again, cold sweat breaking out all over her body from the pain. ¡°Summer wouldn¡¯t steal your toy,¡± Kristin believed in her son. He was so well¨Cbehaved and sweet. He couldn¡¯t have stolen the toy. ¡°It was him. Make him apologize to my Superman!¡± Milo insisted on an apology to a toy. Though it was childish behavior, Krist¨ªn felt humiliated. Everyone seemed to feel free to insult her and Summer. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer¡¯s eyes were red as he clung to Kristin. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll apologize. But 1/2 14:47 Chapter 17 Mommy¡­* Summer, trembling with the fear of Kristin being wronged. He was only five, after all. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal his Superman. It broke when he threw it. I just wanted to fix it.¡± Kristin¡¯s grip on her son tightened, holding him close. ¡°Mommy believes in you, Summer. You don¡¯t have to apologize.¡± Patting her son¡¯s back, Kristin knelt on the ground and spoke softly. ¡°Mr. Milo, I apologize to you. It was me who stole and broke your toy. Is that enough?* Milo stood there with hands on his hips, smug as ever. ¡°Bad woman.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a thiel, stole the life of a youngdy, and keeps stealing around the house.¡± Kristin found it so ironic. She had only returned, and everyone knew she wouldn¡¯t steal a child¡¯s toy, but because of her tarnished reputation, all the me fell on her. ¡°What¡¯s going on? I left my ne on the washbasin when I washed my hands. Where is it?¡± In the front hall, Eve came out, clearly annoyed. She usually didn¡¯te home. She was just there to pick up Milo. Just a few hours and the ce was swarming with sticky fingers. The servants exchanged nces, all nervously looking down. After a moment, someone pointed at Kristin. ¡°It must be her. She¡¯s a thief, a repeat offender. She even admitted to stealing Mr. Milo¡¯s toy for her son.¡± Eve¡¯s expression darkened as she approached for a better look. Seeing Kristin again, surprise shed in Eve¡¯s eyes, which quickly turned to disdain. ¡°Kristin?¡± Vincent had mentioned Kristin was out of jail, but she didn¡¯t expect it to be true. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, showing up here with your bastard child. You shamed my brother back in the day, and you still have the gall toe knocking with your kid after getting out? nning to cling to my brother, huh?¡± Eve¡¯s anger was palpable, assuming Kristin hade to pester Vincent. Kristin said nothing but bowed her head, fiercely protecting Summer. ¡°Miss Eve, she must have stolen the ne,¡± a servant took the opportunity to throw dirt. Kristin felt powerless to exin. Who would believe she¡¯d just returned? ¡°Did you take my ne?¡± Eve looked at Kristin as if watching a soap opera. Unbelievable, five years in the clink and a person can change so much. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse as she spoke. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°How can you prove it?¡± Eve raised an eyebrow. ¡°Miss Eve, make her strip down to prove she¡¯s not hiding anything. If she refuses, it means she¡¯s guilty,¡± the nanny suggested mockingly. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Kristin backed away in terror, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at the nanny. The nanny¡¯s words took her back to her time behind bars. She was fresh meat then, a newbie in the prison, and everyone was out for a piece of her. Her cellmates imed their stuff went missing, and no one would take her word for it, no matter what she said. They all ganged up on her, wing at her clothes, demanding she cough up the stolen goods. Eve watched with a knowing look as Kristin clutched her child and retreated. Ah, Kristin. That was the only Ms. Turner, the former belle of Silvergrove University. Back in the day, Kristin wasn¡¯t just stunning. She was a cut above the rest academically, too. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Word on the street was that Kristin had mad skills, blowing folks away with her ballet moves and tickling the ivories like a pro, way out of Eve¡¯s league despite her posh upbringing. Both were high¨Csociety youngdies from Silvergrove City, but Eve, the heiress to the FitzGerald family, always yed second fiddle to Kristin. Eve couldn¡¯t help but smirk with a sense of twisted satisfaction. Once the humanities queen of Silvergrove City, Kristin had waltzed into Silvergrove University with top marks, but then, bam! She ended up in prison in the summer holiday of her junior year. That Silvergrove sweetheart, the apple of the eye of the city¡¯s elite and the object of many men¡¯s affections, never had the chance to foss her graduation cap before she was hauled off to jail. What a damn shame. Eve could admit Kristin had talent, but it was all trashed. At the time, Kristin looked more like a beggar on the streets than the Swan queen she once was. ¡°Kristin, you deaf or what? Strip and prove you¡¯re clean,¡± Eve said with a malicious glee. Kristin just curled up tighter, saying nothing. ¡°My mom didn¡¯t steal your stuff. Stop picking on her.¡± Summer piped up, clinging to Kristin, defending her from the vultures. ¡°If you don¡¯t strip, we¡¯ll help you out of your clothes,¡± the nanny gestured to the others to start peeling off Kristin¡¯syers. As for Summer, he was just a kid, no big deal. Chapter 18 ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse, tears scalding as they spilled over. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± she screamed, begging them to back off. Those painful memories were etched into her soul, never to fade. Weren¡¯t they enough? Hadn¡¯t she paid her dues? What more did they want from her? Did she have to give up her life to make it stop? She could die, but what about her Summer? She chose to bring Summer to this world. It was her job to take care of him. She remembered the year Summer was born, her postpartum depression so heavy, sitting on the hospital roof for hours with her baby in her arms. How tempting it was to leap off with her child. She could end it all and avoid being thrown in jail by Vincent and rence. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± A man¡¯s displeased voice came from the doorway. ¡°Mr. dstone¡­¡± a servant gasped in panic. ¡°Daddy!¡± Milo eximed, thrilled, running to him. Eve froze, then moved instinctively, not wanting Caleb dstone to see Kristin. ¡°Caleb, what brings you back? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be abroad for a month?¡± Caleb was cold as ice toward Eve. ¡°Your dad¡¯s back in town. He wants me back to talk about the divorce tonight,¡± he said indifferently. Eve clenched her fists, looking anxious. ¡°Caleb¡­ Do He ignored Eve, not even sparing a nce at his son. you have to be so ruthless?¡± Stepping into the courtyard, Caleb nced in Kristin¡¯s direction, almost subconsciously. The disheveled woman cowered in the corner, clutching a child. He didn¡¯t recognize her as Kristin at first nce. Caleb, Eve, Vincent, and Adrienne had all been ssmates with Kristin since high school. Eve and Vincent were twins, their birth a social stepping stone for their mother who managed to marry into the high society by enticing Hob FitzGerald. ¡°Kristin?¡± Caleb furrowed his brow, calling out tentatively. He knew she was out of prison and had returned early to check on her. Kristin kept her head down, trembling non¨Cstop. ¡°Caleb, let¡¯s talk inside,¡± Eve said, flustered, trying to grab his arm. Caleb shot Eve a look of disgust. 14:48 Chapter 18 ¡°Daddy, she¡¯s a thief, and so is her kid! She stole Mommy¡¯s ne, and her brat stole my toy.¡± Milo comined, upset his dad wasn¡¯t paying him any mind. ¡°I didn¡¯t, and neither did my mom!¡± Summer shouted back, a mix of hurt and defiance. Caleb¡¯s fingers tensed, and he stepped toward Kristin. ¡°Kristin?¡± he called softly, squatting before her. A tangle of emotions flew in his heart. Was it Kristin? How had she ended up like this? Kristin once was the crush of most guys in ss. ¡°Oh, Caleb is back.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice dripped with icy sarcasm from the door. Upon seeing Caleb near Kristin, his anger seemed to bubble over. Hearing Vincent¡¯s voice, Kristin shook uncontrobly. His voice triggered a visceral sense of nausea in her. A Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Caleb shot Vincent a frown, asking. ¡°Why is Kristin here?¡± ¡°Well, look who¡¯s all caring about her,¡± Vincent said in a low voice, stepping up to Caleb. ¡°I remember you were at that dinner party, then suddenly off the radar, meeting someone, and now Kristin¡¯s child¡­ Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s yours.¡± Over the years, Vincent couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling and kept digging into who could¡¯ve been the guy who slept with Kristin. He had a few suspects, but Caleb topped the list, having the opportunity and motive. Then, when she was Ms. Turner, Kristin had her fair share of admirers. For Caleb, Kristin was the one who got away with the unattainable dream. For many others, she was like the pure white jasmine. Regrettably, none of these people perceived Kristin as the deceitful, unclean, and lowly individual she truly was. Kristin looked up at Caleb in fear, thinking if he was the man from that night. Vincent must have dug deep because he wouldn¡¯t use his brother¨Cinw for no reason, especially with Eve right there. But Caleb did not exin. Summer blinked her eyes, staring intensely at Caleb. ¡°Are you my daddy, sir?¡± Caleb nced at Summer, then rested his eyes on Kristin. If he admitted it, would Kristin then be his? ¡°Kristin¡­¡± Caleb reached out to help her up, but Kristin instinctively dodged, looking at Caleb with terror. Was Caleb the man who had forced her that night? ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Seeing Caleb¡¯s silence, Vincent punched him in the face. ¡°How dare you treat my sister like this! Kristin is a piece of work, always needing a man by her side¡­ even went as far as having your kid, huh¡­ Vincent was losing it. Caleb¡¯s cold eyes met Vincent¡¯s. ¡°Think about your sister when you¡¯re trash¨Ctalking Kristin. She knows best how Milo came to be.¡± Eve averted her gaze, seething with anger at Kristin. Kristin held Summer tightly, her breathing erratic. Was Caleb the man from that night? Chapter 19 Tears of pain rolled down as Kristin looked down. Five years ago, when she was dragged to court by the Turner and FitzGerald families, no one stood up for her, including Caleb. To Kristin, Caleb was just like Tam and the rest, viins through and through. ¡°I get it now. You¡¯re suddenly so eager to divorce me because you already knew this bitch got out.¡± Eve sneered sarcastically. She pped Kristin, her eyes burning with rage at Caleb. ¡°Let me tell you, Caleb. Even if we divorce, I won¡¯t let you and that woman off easy.¡± Caleb frowned, shielding Kristin. ¡°I¡¯m taking her with me. Lay a finger on her again, I dare you ¡°So, this little bastard is your son.¡± Eve, too, was going off the rails, grabbing Caleb¡¯s cor and shouting. ¡°Haven¡¯t I been decent to you all these years? When the dstones hit rock bottom, my dad was there to lend a hand. And this is how you repay me!¡± Caleb looked stern and said nothing. Kristin¡¯s face was swollen and burning with pain. ¡°Mommy¡­ does it hurt?¡± Summer asked through tears. Kristin shook her head. She was used to it. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Vincent looked at Kristin with disgust. ¡°You want to take her with you? Just try.¡± ¡°Vincent! Hitting a woman, are you even a man?¡± Caleb grabbed Vincent¡¯s cor. ¡°What¡¯s all this racket? Get in here!¡± Hob bellowed as Vincent and Caleb were about toe to blows over Kristin. ¡°Dad¡­¡± Vincent quickly lowered his head and walked over with Eve. ¡°Caleb, you too,¡± Hob said with a deep look at Caleb, then turned his gaze to Kristin. ¡°As for that woman, send her home first. It¡¯s inappropriate for her to stay with us.¡± ¡°Dad¡­¡± Vincent wanted to keep Kristin under his watchful eye. After all, he only felt secure. when she was in his sight. But Vincent didn¡¯t dare to contradict Hob¡¯s words. With a threatening re at Kristin, Vincent signaled his assistant to send her away. ¡°Caleb, I heard you¡¯re hell¨Cbent on divorcing Eve?¡± Hob inquired. Caleb remained silent. ¡°Is there something wrong with Eve?¡± Hob pressed. Caleb looked down. ¡°It¡¯s not her. It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Dad! He¡¯s been with that slut Kristin all along, and Kristin¡¯s bastard child is Caleb¡¯s!¡± Eve Chapter 19 believed the child was Caleb¡¯s. His behavior was practically an admission. ¡°Shut up!¡± Hob silenced Eve. Swallowing her grievances, Eve kept quiet as ordered. ¡°Caleb, marriage is no child¡¯s y. The dstone family is running into some financial trouble. Your dad came to me just yesterday. Go home and discuss it with your parents. You¡¯re an adult and should know better than to act on impulse.¡± Hob subtly reminded Caleb, giving him a way out. Caleb¡¯s brow furrowed, his fingers slowly clenching into a fist. The FitzGerald family had used business to pressure the dstone family for years. ¡°Look, when ites to Kristin and that bastard child, I don¡¯t care how you handle it, but you better ensure it doesn¡¯t blow back on the FitzGerald or the dstone families¡® rep, got it?¡± Hob warned. ¡°Show me what you¡¯re made of. How you deal with Kristin and the little one. is on you, so impress me.¡± Hob had put Caleb on the spot, making him prove his chops by dealing with Kristin himself if he wanted help getting the dstone family out of this hot mess. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 ¡°That kid¡¯s not mine,¡± Caleb blurted out defensively. ¡°Cut the crap, Caleb,¡± Eve wasn¡¯t buying it. Hob furrowed his brow. ¡°No matter whose kid it is, I expect you to handle it properly.¡± Caleb felt sweat begin to pool in his palms. Hob was backing him into a corner, eager to see how he¡¯d handle Kristin in order to save Eve¡¯s reputation. Eve watched Caleb with a smirk of schadenfreude. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you handle Kristin and the little bastard. y your cards right, and my dad might bail out your family business.¡± Caleb shot Eve a look of deep anger, snorted, and stormed off. ¡°Dad, why won¡¯t you let me speak?¡± Eve started whining to Hob right after Caleb left. ¡°If you two had half theposure and guts of your elder brother, I¡¯d be at ease,¡± Hob sighed. ¡°What¡¯s marriage and love anyway? You must have dirt on someone to have them by the balls.¡± Eve¡¯s lips curled up. She was eager to see if Caleb would do something drastic to Kristin and the kid for the sake of the dstone family¡¯s business. ¡°Dad, a guy like Caleb won¡¯t just roll over and y nice.¡± Vincent said with a stony face. Caleb had some nerve, having had the audacity to make a move on his girl back in the day. And he would pay the price for it. ¡°The dstone family is facing more than just a minor crisis. He¡¯de begging to you.¡± Hob patted Vincent¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Lately, focus your energy. I¡¯m not pleased with your performance at the ¡°Dad! With Rhett around, nothing I do is ever good enough,¡± Vincent envied Rhett but had to admit the guy had talent. He was intimidated by Rhett. ¡°Keep yourself in line, and Rhett will help you out.¡± Hob hoped for family harmony. ¡°I¡¯ll be traveling abroad in a few days. Don¡¯t you two cause any trouble at home.¡°. ¡°Dad, I¡­¡± Vincent wanted to talk to Hob about shares and management rights but didn¡¯t dare to speak up. Vincent¡¯s mother Nic red at him unhappily upstairs. If he didn¡¯t bring it up, when would he? Rhett hadplete control of thepany at the time. What would that mean for her and her children? ¡°Hob, Vincent doesn¡¯t have real power in thepany. Even if he¡¯s capable, he can¡¯t show it because those old staff only recognize shares. It¡¯s tough for Vincent,¡± Nic said with a smile, carefully catering to Hob. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She married Hob after being the other woman, all for a piece of the FitzGerald Group¡¯s Chapter 20 shares. ¡°Father had given the shares directly to Rhett in the will. Nobody can do anything without Rhett loosening his grip. ¡°Hob¡­ you¡¯re the head of the family. Rhett has to listen to you. He¡¯ll give in if you speak up. Rhett isn¡¯t unreasonable.¡± Nic redressed, implying that if Rhett hoarded hispany shares without parting some to Vincent, he¡¯d be acting out of line. Hob rubbed his temples. ¡°I¡¯ll find an opportunity to talk to him.¡± In the demolition area, Garner was whacked with a stick by Vincent¡¯s people andter found and taken to the hospital. These days, reporting to the police was useless. Garner couldn¡¯t even get close to the FitzGerald Mansion. ¡°Uncle Garner!¡± Garner, fixing a car, heard Summer¡¯s voice, dropped his wrench, and ran over excitedly. ¡°Summer!¡± Kristin, pale, gave Garner a weak smile. ¡°Garner, we¡¯re okay.¡± Garner¡¯s eyes reddened as he nodded. ¡°Hungry, right? I¡¯ll wash up and cook for you. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not capable enough to protect you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Garner.¡± Kristin shook her head. Garner had done so well. He¡¯d done amendable job taking care of Summer for the past five years on her behalf. Kristin was content. + ¡°Your face¡­ what happened?¡± Garner noticed Kristin¡¯s swollen cheek, filled with anger and helplessness. Vincent was correct that he knew nothing about society, where power always trumped all. How could he protect Summer and Kristin? ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Kristin choked up, shaking her head and looking down. ¡°No more talk¡­ Let¡¯s eat,¡± Garner hurried inside, washed his hands, and started cooking. An oatmeal satisfied Kristin immensely. It had been long since she¡¯d had a hot, big meal. ¡°Want more? There¡¯s still some in the kitchen,¡± Garner offered with a smile as he went to get Kristin more oatmeal. Kristin had more and smiled at Garner. ¡°Garner, it¡¯s delicious.¡± 14:48 Chapter 20 ¡°Uncle Garner used to be a chef. He¡¯s good,¡± Summer praised, passing the egg to his mom. ¡°Eat, Summer. You are growing,¡± Kristin gave it back to Summer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Summer, your mommy has got a big one here,¡± Garnerughed and served another one to Kristin. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice wavered, looking at the te. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. I¡¯m your brother,¡± Garner waved it off. ¡°Summer, go get me some ketchup.¡± With Summer out of earshot, Garner whispered, ¡°Still¡­ don¡¯t know who Summer¡¯s dad is?¡± Kristin shook her head. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was Caleb. ¡°Summer was premature, always weak. Hec anemia could be hereditary. The doctor said we need her biological parents to cooperate in tests to find the cause,¡± Garner sighed. Kristin¡¯s grip on her spoon tightened, and she bit her lip. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ figure it out.¡± She would go to Caleb. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Vincent slumped on the couch in the private room of Nightfall Bar, looking worn out. Ruby got into a car ident because of him, and for the FitzGerald and Turner family¡¯s reputation, he had to take good care of Ruby. Rubbing his brow, Vincent was not in the best of moods. ¡°Mr. dstone is here.¡± ¡°Vincent, your brother¨Cinw has arrived,¡± his buddies said with augh. Caleb entered the room and frowned at Vincent. ¡°Everybody out.¡± Vincent¡¯s pals exchanged nces, sensing some FitzGerald family drama, and they stepped outside to guard the door. ¡°Caleb, what brings you to me?¡± Vincent leaned back, lighting a smoke with azy vibe. Caleb¡¯s frown deepened, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. ¡°The dstone family ran into a hup with a project in the eastern suburbs and needs the FitzGerald family to, um, have a chat with Mr. Bryce from Aurora Tech.¡± Caleb¡¯s parents, having heard about Caleb¡¯s tiff with Vincent, pressured Caleb to apologize, as the matter was crucial for the future and prospects of the dstone Group. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s that to me? You came to me for help?¡± Vincent¡¯s tone was icy, remembering the guy from that night at the hotel who made him sick and wishing to take him down. Caleb was such a mama¡¯s boy, always listening to his mother. Vincent couldn¡¯t fathom what Kristin and his sister saw in him! ¡°Vincent, if you don¡¯t want to help, you could at least stop with the snide remarks,¡± Caleb interjected, his brows knitted. ¡°That¡¯s how you ask for a favor?¡± Vincent chuckled, taking a deep drag. ¡°The only one in the FitzGerald family who can get a word with Mr. Bryce is my brother Rhett. Why don¡¯t you beg him?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. Caleb was a wimp. He didn¡¯t have the guts to beg Rhett because Rhett didn¡¯t care about anyone. And he certainly wouldn¡¯t bother with the dstone family¡¯s affairs. ¡°Vincent, what do you want?¡± Caleb asked, hands clenched. He couldn¡¯t go begging Eve. ¡°Go kneel and apologize to my sister. Swear you¡¯ll never make her sad again, and maybe I¡¯ll help you,¡± Vincent flicked the ash from his cigarette. ¡°Boss, that woman you had us watch sneaked off to the dstone family. It looks like she¡¯s searching for Caleb,¡± the assistant entered the room, reporting. Vincent¡¯s face darkened instantly, his foot smashing onto the coffee table. Kristin! Isn¡¯t that something? Just one day after Vincent cut her loose, and she¡¯s already itching for a rendezvous with Caleb! Talk about moving on quickly. Caleb was stunned, ring at Vincent. ¡°You¡¯re stalking Kristin?¡± Was Kristin looking for him? With a surge of joy in his chest, Caleb turned to leave, eager to see Kristin. ¡°Caleb, are you trying to make the dstone family fall apart because of you?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was icy, thick with threat. Caleb froze mid¨Cstep, turning back to Vincent. ¡°What are you nning to do to her?¡± ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve got her,¡± the assistant boasted to Vincent. Vincent frowned. ¡°Where is she? Bring her in.¡± The room door swung open, and Kristin was shoved inside, tumbling to the floor. Crouching down, Kristin looked up at Caleb. She wanted to ask Caleb to take a paternity test with Summer. Summer¡¯s condition requires a medical examination in cooperation with her biological father. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re something.¡± Vincent stood up, grabbing Kristin¡¯s chin. ¡°Can¡¯t live without a man? You ran to your lover just like that, huh?¡± ¡°Vincent, don¡¯t go too far.¡± Caleb tried to intervene. ¡°Caleb! Remember, you¡¯re here to ask for my help!¡± Vincent red at Caleb, his rage making him lose control. He had loved Kristin for many years and treasured her like a gem.* From high school to junior year of college, he ced Kristin on a pedestal. But Kristin? She slept with Caleb behind his back and even had his child! How is Vincent supposed to save face now? Those rich kids only refrained from mocking him openly out of respect for Rhett. And Vincent knew how theyughed behind his back! His girl cheated and had another man¡¯s bastard. Kristin outdid herself! ¡°Kristin, what do you see in him?¡± Vincent wanted to know what Kristin saw in Caleb. 2/3 14:49 Chapter 21 In what way was he inferior to Caleb? ¡°Do you think he can protect you? He can¡¯t even save his family. How¡¯s he going to protect you?¡± Vincent shouted. ¡°Everyone, get in here!¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. He was going to show Kristin that a man like Caleb was useless. Caleb couldn¡¯t protect her. It was time she got that through her head! Kristin looked at Vincent in terror. He was losing it. He was going crazy again. Wasn¡¯t it enough that he lured her over on Ruby¡¯s birthday to humiliate her? ¡°Boss, who¡¯s this chick?¡± Several guys walked in, eyeing Kristin with interest. ¡°Not bad¨Clooking, but too skinny.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­ Kristin! Boss, that shameless woman¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s out of jail?¡± Kristin was infamous in Silvergrove City. Once known for her beauty and talent, she was infamous for being shameless and a fake heiress. ¡°Man, I¡¯ve heard this chick sleeps around, and she¡¯s even into popping out kids for random guys?¡± someone teased with a snicker, their words flirty and provocative. ¡°Vincent, don¡¯t be such a jerk,¡± Caleb tried to intervene. But that only fanned the mes for Vincent. ¡°You all love fucking around, right? Well, go ahead. Have a st, and do whatever you want. She¡¯s the type that can¡¯t live without a man, so let¡¯s give Mr. dstone a good show here.¡± Vincent¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, looking like the devil incarnate. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¡°Vincent! You¡¯re a beast,¡± Caleb was itching to charge forward but got blocked by Vincent¡¯s crew. ¡°Mr. dstone, you best sit tight and watch.¡± They were helpless. After all, it was Vincent, a member of the FitzGerald family, Rhett¡¯s younger brother. In Silvergrove City, who¡¯d dare to pick a fight with the FitzGeralds? Who¡¯d have the nerve to take on Rhett? Everyone sucked up to Vincent not because of who he was but because he was Rhett¡¯s brother. ¡°Caleb, keep your cool. If you don¡¯t throw a punch, I¡¯ll tell my brother to put in a good word for you with Mr. Bryce,¡± Vincent said mockingly, using the dstone Group to threaten Caleb. He bet Caleb, the yellow¨Cbellied guy, would cave for his interests. He just wanted Kristin to see what kind of a man Caleb was. ¡°Let me go¡­¡± Kristin pleaded through tears. ¡°Vincent, please, let me go.¡± But begging was useless. Kristin should¡¯ve known that by then. A few guys roughly grabbed Kristin, pushing her down on the couch, trying to rip her clothes off. Kristin cried and struggled, but it was no use. ¡°Help me¡­ please, help me¡­¡± Kristin looked to Caleb for rescue, feeling like she¡¯d fallen into an icy pit, cold and suffocating. Caleb¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he wanted to step forward, but he hesitated. Without the dstone Group, he¡¯d be another doormat in their circle. Fingers clenched until they shook, Caleb looked away. He hadn¡¯t expected that Ms. Turner, once so untouchable, would be brought so low by this crowd. That blooming white rose was nothing but withered petals. And Vincent, it was like he wanted to strip Kristin of all her thorns, of every shining part, drag her through the mud, and stomp her down. Kristin looked at Caleb with despair, no longer struggling or begging. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It was pointless. How could these people possibly save her? Lying helplessly on the couch, Kristin ceased her futile attempts to fight. They tore her clothes open, seeing her body covered in bruises and scars. Chapter 22 Throughout her prison stint, those bought off by Vincent ensured she received ¡°special treatment¡± ¨C a daily dose of bullying. Those bruises on her would take a long time to fade. ¡°Goddamn¡­ is this chick sick or what? What¡¯s with all these bruises?¡± Someone said with disgust, instinctively letting go. They were up for a good time but not at the risk of catching something. The others quickly backed off from Kristin. ¡°I heard she¡¯s sick¡­¡± ¡°Man, who knows how many guys she¡¯s been with. She¡¯s filthy. Vincent, we don¡¯t do sloppy seconds.¡± Kristiny there, eyes empty, not moving an inch. The cruelest way to destroy a girl was to start a sex rumor. Kristin had been through this back in high school. So many boys had a crush on her back then, and Kristin would find love letters on her desk daily. Tam was the most persistent suitor, followed by Caleb. Tam and Caleb had publicly confessed to Kristin, but Kristin turned them down gently. Later, rumors started to spread that Kristin had already slept with guys, putting on airs but being promiscuous behind the scenes. Kristin cried many times over these rumors and was bullied by the girls in her ss, enduring verbal abuse. Even worse, the bullies spilled pig blood on her ballet costume and stuffed razor des into her ¡ü dance shoes. Eventually, she dated Vincent, and with no one daring to mess with him, the rumors slowly got squashed. So, since then, Kristin had seen Vincent as her redemption, a beam of light in her dark world and savior. But suddenly, the savior turned into the devil one day.. ¡°What good is she if she¡¯s already got a kid.¡± ¡°Yeah, wouldn¡¯t take her if she was free.¡± ¡°Tam was head¨Cover¨Cheels back in the day and couldn¡¯t eat or sleep well because of Kristin. Tam surely wouldn¡¯t mind. Where¡¯s Tam today anyway?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Numb, Kristiny on the couch, listening to their vile words. Slowly sitting up, Kristin pulled at her clothes, realizing all the buttons had been torn off. She didn¡¯t cry, because there were no tears left. 14.50 Chapter 22 Vincent sat nearby, cigarette burning down to his fingers, seemingly oblivious. He suddenly felt some regret, knowing he might¡¯ve gone too far. But that was all Kristin¡¯s fault. He just wanted her to see Caleb¡¯s true colors. ¡°Kris¡­¡± Caleb approached but didn¡¯t dare get close to Kristin. He believed what they said about her being dirty and that she was diseased. Kristin didn¡¯t speak, but her body involuntarily curled up. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home¡­¡± Caleb said softly. Kristin didn¡¯t move but sat there quietly. After a while, she looked up at Caleb. ¡°Get a paternity test with Summer.¡± When they heard Kristin¡¯s words, the guys around got excited and mmed the table. ¡°Whoa! Kristin¡¯s lover is Mr. dstone, huh? Caleb, you got some nerve, not minding the dirt!¡± ¡°Caleb, are you happy ying daddy?¡± ¡°Caleb, you¡¯ve got balls to fuck a woman like that.¡± Caleb seemed annoyed, obviously feeling his reputation damaged. ¡°Shut up.¡± The group scoffed but went silent. ¡°Kristin, Summer¡¯s not my kid, and neither was I with you at the hotel,¡± Caleb quickly denied. Kristin sighed in relief and nodded. That was so good. Otherwise, she¡¯d throw up. At the door, Tam walked in, saw themotion, heard the crude talk, and frowned. His gaze settled on Kristin, and he paused. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Were they picking on Kristin again? Seeing Kristin¡¯s messy hair and torn clothes, even an idiot could tell these jerks had been up to nasty tricks. ¡°Are you guys ever going to cut it out?¡± Tam¡¯s sudden burst of anger came out with a kick to a guy lounging nearby. The kicked guy got pissed. ¡°What¡¯s your deal, Tam?¡± As the two squared up to fight, the others jumped in to break it up. ¡°We¡¯re all buddies here. No need to ruin the vibe.¡± ¡°Who the hell is buddying with him? He has kicked me over some chick!¡± The rich kid who got kicked whined, looking wronged. Tam nced at Vincent, sitting in a corner, brooding silently. Tam frowned and took off his jacket, draping it over Kristin. ¡°I¡¯ll get her out of here.¡± The rich brats started to tease. ¡°Tam, you¡¯re such a hopeless romantic, huh?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you at the hotel that night, too? Isn¡¯t Kristin¡¯s kid yours?¡± the rich kid, who got kicked, asked with a nasty sneer. Tam had a short fuse and was about to throw a punch. The guy quickly dodged to the side. Kristin numbly followed Tam and left the private room. The corridor outside the bar was deafening, with young people partying wildly on the dance floor. Kristin¡¯s ears were ringing, and her steps were unsteady. Tam pulled out a tissue by the restroom door, wet it, and handed it to Kristin. ¡°Clean the blood on your face.¡± Kristin paused, instinctively touching her face and feeling the warm blood. She didn¡¯t realize when the cut on her forehead had opened up. Trembling, she took the tissue from Tam and cleaned her face, asking softly, ¡°Was it you?¡± Tam scowled, impatient and unable to make out what Kristin was saying. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Were you the guy at the Diamond Crest Hotel six years ago?¡± Kristin looked up at Tam, her swollen eyes clear. Tam stiffened, feeling an unexpected tightness in his chest. Chapter 23 Kristin was his first love, his dream girl. Back in high school, he was the jock, and Kristin was the school belle, his goddess, Kristin wowed the crowd with a solo performance as the White Swan at the opening of the sports festival. She was like a shining star in the sky, now fallen into the mire, having no more shine. ¡°What, slept with so many guys that you can¡¯t tell them apart anymore?¡± Tam looked away, his question dripping with sarcasm. Kristin fell silent, staring at the blood¨Cstained tissue. ¡°Can you go home by yourself?¡± Tam frowned at Kristin. It wasn¡¯t right to let her go alone sote at night. Kristin took a timid step back, wanting to leave, but stopped, mustering the courage to turn and look at Tam. ¡°Is Summer¡­ your son?¡± She was on a mission to find her son¡¯s father, the biological one. Her fingers clenched tightly, turning white. Kristin despised these people, all of them. But for Summer¡¯s sake, she had to muster the courage to disgust herself. She had to keep recalling that night six years ago. Tam was stunned, thinking Kristin had lost it. Was she going around trying to find a dad for her kid? ¡°You desperate for cash or a man?¡± Tam sneered. Kristin got her answer. It wasn¡¯t Tam. The restroom door swung open, and Rhett walked out with a steely expression and an icy aura. He loathed ces like bars, but tonight¡¯s meetup was unavoidable. He overheard a woman questioning a man about being her child¡¯s father in the restroom. Coming out to see it was Kristin was a real ¡®surprise¡®. Seeing Kristin in the mirror, Rhett felt the irony. Too many men, and she doesn¡¯t know who her kid¡¯s dad was? ¡°Rhett?¡± Tam was shocked, not expecting to find Rhett in the restroom! Tam and Rhett were rtives. Rhett¡¯s biological mother and Tam¡¯s mother were cousins. Rhett¡¯s mother had taken good care of Tam¡¯s family before she passed away, so the families were close. Rhett kept a poker face, ncing at Tam once before issuing a stern warning. ¡°Don¡¯t push it too far.¡± Though indifferent to the FitzGerald family, Rhett still looked after his mother¡¯s side of the Chapter 23 family. He didn¡¯t want Tam¡¯s mother crying on the phone, asking him to sort Tam out. ¡°You got it wrong, Rhett¡­¡± Tam touched his nose, trying to exin. ¡°For that kind of woman, I wouldn¡¯t give her the time of day.¡± Rhett frowned, casting a nce at Kristin. Kristin instinctively looked down as if afraid to dirty Rhett¡¯s sight. Rhett had his assistant send her a little cake that day. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. It was one of the few nice gestures she¡¯d received in this circle. ¡°Get her home safe, and don¡¯t forget the medical expenses,¡± Rhett warned Tam, hinting at not leaving loose ends after a fling. Tam opened his mouth to protest. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°The cut on her head wasn¡¯t my doing. Why should I pay for her medical bills?¡± Tam muttered under his breath. ¡°She¡¯s gone crazy from poverty, trying to scam me.¡± ¡°Did your dad go bankrupt?¡± Rhett threw out the question. Tam¡¯s face showed sheer surprise. ¡°Not that I know of?¡± ¡°Give her the money,¡± Rhettmanded, implying that getting scammed was Tam¡¯s fault. ¡°I don¡¯t want it¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes reddened, and she turned and walked away with trembling breaths. She had thought Rhett was different from the rest, but they were all the same. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Rhett frowned, watching Kristin¡¯s retreating figure, feeling oddly choked up. Without thinking, he almost chased her and then caught himself. When had he be such a busybody? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, something¡¯s off. Ms. Haywood tried to kill herself again! The Haywoods said, um, you didn¡¯t take responsibility for what you did to her six years ago, and Ms. Haywood couldn¡¯t handle the double whammy.¡± York ran over in a panic, eyeing Rhett nervously. ¡°The dough you forked over and thepensation to the Haywood family, they sent it all back. It¡¯s clear as day they want you to answer for their daughter.¡± Rhett rubbed his temples in irritation, havingnded himself in a fine mess! ¡°Head to the Haywood family.¡± With a stern voice, Rhett gestured to Tam. ¡°Ensure she gets home safe. It¡¯s dangerous for her to walk alone at night.¡± Looking like that, Kristin was bound to run into trouble. The bar¡¯s neighborhood was crawling with drunkards. Tam reluctantly followed. Sure enough, Kristin was barely out of the bar when some guystched onto her. ¡°Hey, gorgeous, what¡¯s up? Why the long face? Tell me. I¡¯ll back you up.¡± ¡°Sweetheart, don¡¯t run. You here by yourself?¡± A few boozed¨Cup guys were all over Kristin. She tried to dodge but couldn¡¯t escape. The ringleader reached to touch Kristin¡¯s face. ¡°Pretty face you got there. Let me take care of you.¡°. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin retreated weakly like she was falling into an abyss of despair. Sometimes, she wondered if God was punishing her formitting some unforgivable sin, perhaps for stealing someone else¡¯s life and changing her fate. ¡°Scram!¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Tam came after her, cursing the lead guy. stered, the guy signaled his buddies to start a scuffle after seeing Tam was solo. Tam, an ex¨Cjock with a regr gym routine, could handle a few drunks with no problem. He sorted them out quickly and looked at Kristin with disgust. ¡°You are trouble, aren¡¯t you? You can¡¯t stop roping in the guys, huh? Vincent wasn¡¯t wrong. You can¡¯t live without a man.¡± Kristin stood there, drained, mouth agape but without sound. Chapter 24 Gossip could ruin a woman to the point where everyone despised her. ¡°If I hadn¡¯te after you, were you nning to go with these losers tonight? You¡¯re not picky, are you? Lance and Madden imed they¡¯ve been with you. You¡¯re pretty infamous in these parts.¡± Tam was pissed as he once had a thing for Kristin and thought she was as pure as a white rose, but she was a whore. Kristin¡¯s cracked lips quivered, but she did not exin. She didn¡¯t even know the guys that Tam mentioned. Why would they say they¡¯ve slept with her? In the past, when Kristin heard such filthy rumors, she¡¯d panic, defend herself, and feel wronged, but eventually, she got used to it. Let them talk. She was already ruined, and what did a few more rumors matter? With a feeble smile, all Kristin said was thank you. See, the way to destroy a woman was spreading rumors. And when enough people did it, it became ¡®the truth.¡® Seeing Kristin not defending herself, Tam got more agitated. He had been blind. Given another chance, he wouldn¡¯t touch Kristin with a ten¨Cfoot pole. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± But Tam still intended to escort Kristin home. With her ma¨Cfor¨Ctrouble vibe, she wouldn¡¯t make it on her own. ¡°Tam!¡± Kristin was about to leave when she saw one of the guys picking up a stick to blindside Tam and instinctively pushed him away. Kristin didn¡¯t have time to dodge and closed her eyes in panic. Over the years, she¡¯d gotten used to being hit. Even if she did get whacked, it didn¡¯t scare her much anymore. Her body¡¯s muscle memory made her instinctively close her eyes and brace her head, waiting for the blow tond, but the pain didn¡¯te. Breathlessly, she opened her eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of security from the figure before her. While she was looking up timidly, Kristin¡¯s eyes were skittish yet clear. Rhett was holding the stick, looking down at Kristin. Their eyes met, hers moist but shining brightly. Rhett paused, just looking at Kristin. Those eyes of hers were beautiful. Tam stood frozen, then after snapping out of it, he kicked the attacker away andnded a solid punch. ¡°You¡¯re asking for it.¡± Chapter 24 York, Rhett¡¯s assistant, called security to deal with the situation while shakily wiping Rhett¡¯s hands with a tissue. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, let¡¯s go.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t say much, gave Kristin another look, and handed her a tissue before walking away. Kristin stood there, staring at the tissue in her hand for the longest time. ¡°You¡­ you alright?¡± Shocked by Kristin¡¯s instinctive action earlier, Tam softened his tone. Kristin shook her head, gripping the tissue as she exited the bar. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°Are you strapped for cash?¡± Tam casually asked after dropping Kristin off. Kristin didn¡¯t reply but looked down and got out of the car. ¡°Take these. I¡¯m not carrying much cash. I¡¯ll hook you up with some more tomorrow,¡± Tam said, shoving a few bills from his car into Kristin¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t trash yourself for money. Sure, you¡¯re used to living in thep of luxury, but you¡¯re not a legit heiress. Even if you¡¯re faking it, you have to hustle. Selling your body for cash would get you looked down on.¡± Having had a thing for Kristin long ago, Tam furrowed his brow and gave her advice. Besides, Kristin had protected him just now. Kristin nced at the money Tam offered, didn¡¯t take it, and just walked away. That was an insult to her. ¡°You think that¡¯s too little?¡± Tam exploded. ¡°Whatever those guys like Lance are paying you, I¡¯ll double it, and you can spend the night with me!¡± After his outburst, Tam didn¡¯t notice his ears had turned red. Damn it! Cursing inwardly, Tam felt he¡¯d been too bold. Kristin bit her lip, red at Tam, said nothing, and ran into the alley. ¡°Damn it!¡± Tam cursed again, feeling he¡¯d lost his mind. Everyone knew Kristin was trouble, willing to go with any man, and possibly carrying diseases. Summer had already fallen asleep in Garner¡¯s mechanic shed. Maybe because he¡¯d always been around Garner, Summer felt particrly secure in Garner¡¯s shabby little hut, sprawling out as he slept. ¡°You¡¯ll sleep in the bed with Summer, and I¡¯ll crash on the couch,¡± Gafner said. He was poor and couldn¡¯t afford a ce in Silvergrove City, so he tidied up the shed he used.for work just enough to be livable, albeit a bit cold in winter. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Kristin called softly. ¡°Tomorrow, I want to find a job.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll see what I can do. You do need a job,¡± Garner smiled, turning on an electric heater for Kristin. ¡°This will keep you warm.¡± ¡°Garner, no need. Let¡¯s save on the electric bill,¡± Kristin smiled at Garner. Her eyes were clear, glistening with tears. Garner couldn¡¯t stand to see his sister suffer, so he turned and headed for the couch. Kristin shouldn¡¯t have been part of the Turner family but had lived the life of a pampered 1/3 14:50 Chapter 25 heiress for twenty years. She had to endure hard times, and he thought she couldn¡¯t handle it. But she was proving to be sensible in a heart¨Cwrenching way. That night, Garner didn¡¯t sleep a wink, thinking about how to make a better life for Summer andText content ? N?velDrama.Org. Kristin. With their mother in jail and their father long passed away, he had little savings, having spent it all on raising Summer. He¡¯d roughed it out himself but wouldn¡¯t let Summer suffer. But fixing cars wasn¡¯t a long¨Cterm solution and didn¡¯t make big money. Garner had to think about earning more at least to give Kristin and Summer a home in Silvergrove City. ¡°Hey Garner, what about that thing I mentioned to you? I want you toe and work with me.¡± Early in the morning, Garner¡¯s old army buddy called him. Garner had served a few years as a special forces soldier before being discharged due to an injury. His buddy had set up a securitypany and wanted him to join. Thepany serviced the elite families in Silvergrove City and offered a handsome sry. Garner had previously turned it down to look after Summer, but Kristin was out, and he needed to make money. ¡°Garner, here¡¯s the thing. The darling daughter of the Lawrence family married a tycoon from Mistwood City a few years back. The guy kicked the bucket from a heart attack, and now she¡¯s back in Silvergrove City with nearly ten billion in inheritance, needing a reliable bodyguard. Think it over. The offer is generous. You know the Lawrence family is second only to the FitzGerald family. Before Rhett took over the FitzGerald family, the Lawrence family was neck and neck with them. It¡¯s just that the Lawrence¡® family¡¯s current generation only has Ms. Lawrence.¡± Garner frowned, hesitating for a moment. He wasn¡¯t too fond of rich kids, especially spoiled heiresses, but he needed the cash. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give it a shot.¡± On the other end of the line, his buddy was stunned. ¡°Garner, you agreed? Are you in trouble, or did you finallye to your senses?¡± Garner remained silent, then spoke after a long pause. ¡°My sister¡¯s out of jail. I have to provide for the family.¡± ¡°Okay,e in for orientation tomorrow.¡± After hanging up, Garner went to make breakfast for Kristin and Summer. Kristin seemed sick, running a fever through the night and still out of it at half¨Cpast eight, showing no signs of waking up. ¡°Uncle Garner, I think Mommy¡¯s sick,¡± Feeling Kristin¡¯s forehead, Summer quickly got out of bed 2/3 14:50 Chapter 25 and rummaged for some aspirin for her mother. Garner rushed into the room and also felt Kristin¡¯s forehead. Her fever was skyrocketing, a bad sign. So, they needed to hightail it to the hospital. ¡°Summer, be good and stay home, okay? I will take your mommy to the hospital.¡± Summer nodded sweetly. Anxious, Garner picked up the lightweight Kristin and hurried out. ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± A ck sedan pulled up at the door, and Vincent¡¯s voice sounded impatient. Garner red at Vincent with anger and disgust. ¡°What do you want now?¡± Vincent caught a glimpse of Kristin, pale in Garner¡¯s arms, and felt a tightness in his chest. ¡°She owes Ruby and needs to pay it back,¡± Vincent gestured for Garner to hand Kristin over obediently. ¡°Kris is sick. I¡¯m taking her to the hospital first. As for what we owe Ruby, we¡¯ll pay it back,¡± Garner was in a hurry and didn¡¯t want to waste time arguing with Vincent. But Vincent wasn¡¯t about to cut Kristin any ck. ¡°Sick? Yeah, right, she¡¯s faking it big time. Even if she kicked the bucket today, she¡¯d still have to roll with me.¡± He didn¡¯t trust Kristin one bit. No matter what she did, he believed Kristin was putting on an act. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¡°Vincent! You were once engaged to Kristin. How can you treat her so heartlessly?¡± Garner was seething with rage. ¡°Heartless? Are you kidding me? You bunch of liars are calling me heartless? When she was messing around with another man and ended up with his illegitimate child, wasn¡¯t that heartless?¡± Vincent snapped at Garner. ¡°Hand her over, or¡­¡± Groggy from fever, Kristin shivered at the sound of Vincent¡¯s voice. Taking a deep, searing breath to steady herself, Kristin faced Vincent. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you¡­ Just leave my brother and Summer alone.¡± In Kristin¡¯s eyes, Vincent was a loose cannon, capable of anything. He could harm Garner and Summer since he could let those people take turns humiliating her the night before. ¡°Kris, you¡¯ve got a fever. We need to get you to the hospital,¡± Garner said anxiously. ¡°Garner, I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Kristin shook her head, walked over to Vincent, and got into the without further discussion. e car Vincent seemed quite pleased with Kristin¡¯spliance, his gaze softening significantly. He knew from deep down that he might have gone too farst night. ¡°So, what fresh hell do you have nned for me today?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse as she asked. ¡°Ruby¡¯s been discharged and is staying with the FitzGerald family. You¡¯ll take care of her,¡± Vincent instructed Kristin to atone for her sins with Ruby. Kristin had a splitting headache and felt feverishly weak, leaning against the car window. She had no strength to fight back. ¡°I won¡¯t stay there,¡± Kristin resisted the idea of not living with the FitzGerald family. ¡°Heard you¡¯re job hunting? That little bastard of yours can¡¯t get into kindergarten, can he?¡± Vincent nced at Kristin. Kristin clenched her fists, taking a deep breath. ¡°What do you want¡­¡± ¡°Take good care of Ruby, and I¡¯ll pay you a sry of ten grand. If you do well, I might help sort out the schooling issue for your little bastard,¡± Vincent said, frowning. He felt a tad guilty about the night before, and this was his way of making amends. Ten thousand dors was nothing to Vincent, and so was helping with the kid¡¯s schooling. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. But for Kristin, ten grand a month was a dream sry. But 10 28 ¡°Work hours Risin pressed Vines for details Vinced thaught betatin was pushing her buck Yernsed to be at the Faze am, takeme id Huby¡¯s meals throughout the day and dome I¡¯m take off Younen huby this much fm giving you a chance to make things ng Kretin took a deep breath and kept silent To Vincent Kristin had robbed fly of twenty years of a proteger life Sernog berasa nanny was only hung Leaning against the window and feeling diewey, Kristin thought she¡¯d be done for the day if she could make it to nine at night. ¡°Vincent Kristin got out of the car, her voice hourse, and she hesitantly began, ¡°Cou get an advance on my wages?¡± Summer¡¯s schooling wasn¡¯t cheap, and a regr kindergarten cost about five grand for two months of tuition and expenses. Vincent scowled, clearly displeased. ¡°Kristin, are you that desperate? Kristin fell silent, knowing it was no use begging him. ¡°Get changed and start taking care of Miss Ruby. Let me remind you. Once you¡¯re in the FitzGerald family, keep your hands clean. No stealing,¡± the maid threw the uniform at Kristin, her warning dripping with sarcasin Kristin looked down, not responding. ¡°And one more thing. Mr. Rhett ising home today. You better watch yourself. If you dare piss him off, nobody can save you,¡± the maid pointed at Kristin¡¯s head as she snapped. Kristin instinctively stepped back, clutching the few notes in her pocket, the money she¡¯d earned from recycling bottles, She still hadn¡¯t gathered enough to pay back Rhett Nearly a thousand bucks was no small sum for Kristin. ¡°Rhett¡¯sing home?¡± Vincent was surprised. With their father Hob away, why had Rhette home so frequentlytely? ¡°He told you¡­ to wait for him at home,¡± the maid whispered. Vincent felt an inexplicable panic. Rhett never called him directly, sending messages through the maid, but if Rhett had told him to wait at home, it meant Rhett knew he¡¯d messed up somehow. Clutching his fists in frustration, Vincent stormed into his study. He hadn¡¯t made any big mistakes at thepany recently, so what did Rhett want with him? Could it be about Caleb? He had approached Mr. Bryce of Aurora Tech without Rhett¡¯s consent. Chapter 26 Vincent felt suffocated. With Rhett breathing down his neck, he thought he had to tread on eggshells. In a fit of irritation, he knocked everything off his desk. Was Rhett going to lord over him forever? As long as Rhett was around, Vincent felt he could never hold his head high. Rhett was like an untouchable deity in the FitzGerald family, seemingly wless, enshrined on a pedestal. But Vincent believed Rhett would make mistakes. Rhett better make sure no skeletons came tumbling out of his closet! Sooner orter, he¡¯d drag Rhett down from that high horse. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¡°Crash¡± There was a sound of something smashed in the bedroom Vincent, worried about Ruby¡¯s well¨Cbeing, rushed in Kristin stood in theer of the room, surrounded by shattered dishes. ¡°How dare she? She¡¯s out to get me. It was scalding hot! Ruby said in anger, with tears welling up in her eyes. ¡°Vinny, she wants to kill me.¡± Kristin looked down numbly, hiding her hands behind her back. Her hands were burnt by the hot soup that had spilled all over them, stinging with pain ¡°Kristin, don¡¯t expect me to y nice if you dare pull more stunts Vincent always took Ruby¡¯s side shooting Kristin a look of disgust as heforted Ruby. Kristin was numb to it all, indifferent to their affectionate disy before her because love was no longer in the equation. She remembered how this man had personally sent her to jail five years ago, and her heart tore apart in agony. But she had already grown ustomed to it. She even thought that Vincent and Ruby deserved each other. They were a match made in Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. heaven Crouching on the floor, Kristin began to clean up the broken remnants. ¡°Vinny, she doesn¡¯t want to take care of me. I can¡¯t stand her attitude,¡± Ruby whined pitifully. Vincent was quick to soothe her. ¡°Ruby, I¡¯ll make her do it willingly. She owes you and has to pay.¡± Then, shifting his icy stare to Kristin, he issued a warning, ¡°Cross Ruby again, and see if any school in Silvergrove City would dare to take in your little lovechild.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers stiffened as she collected the debris, a piece of it slicing her fingertip, blood dripping down. Vincent always knew how to hit where it hurt. Kristin sat on her knees, almost as low as the dust. ¡°What do I have to do¡­ for you to be happy?¡± Kristin had no clue what would make Ruby stop resenting her. ¡°Happy? Kristin, you¡¯ve taken twenty years of my life. If we hadn¡¯t switched ces, I¡¯d be Ms. Turner, enjoying a higher education, no, and dance. I should¡¯ve been the high and mighty socialite of Silvergrove City, and you would be trampled in the mud,¡± Ruby said, her eyes seething with hate. She loathed Kristin, and destroying her wasn¡¯t enough. She wanted to see Kristin down and dragged through the mud, ruin everything about Kristin, cripple her, tarnish her reputation, and make her life worse than death. Even that wouldn¡¯t quell her hatred. Why should Kristin have stolen everything that belonged to her? ¡°Vinny, does it mean I can do anything to her?¡± Ruby posed the question intentionally, and it was meant for Kristin¡¯s ears. She wanted to boast, to tell Kristin that everything she once had belonged to her. rence, her brother, belonged to her, and so did Vincent. The two men who once protected Kristin were willing to harm her for Ruby¡¯s sake. ¡°Of course, she owes you, and nothing you do could be too much,¡± Vincent said, his eyes downcast as he kissed Ruby¡¯s fingers, doting on her. ¡°But you have to be good, eat well, and get better, okay?¡± Ruby nodded sweetly, but her words sent chills down Kristin¡¯s spine. ¡°Seeing her struggle like this, I feel a bit bad¡­ Vincent remained silent, not responding. ¡°Considering Kristin¡¯s reputation in Silvergrove City, it must be hard for her to get a husband, right? Who would dare to take her, right, Vinny?¡± Ruby asked with a smirk. Who would want a woman who had a child with some random guy? God knows how many men she¡¯s been with, who might even have a disease. Not just the wealthy families, but even average folks wouldn¡¯t marry a woman like Kristin. Ruby thought she had destroyed Kristin. ¡°I heard today that the son of your family¡¯s butler, nearly forty, was still single. The butler¡¯s worried about his son¡¯s marriage, isn¡¯t he? Despite her bad reputation and having a child, Kristin marrying the butler¡¯s son would be quite fitting, right?¡± Ruby¡¯s words were like knives, stabbing at Kristin¡¯s nerves with each sentence. Kristin¡¯s gaze trembled with fear while she instinctively looked up at Vincent. The son of the FitzGerald family¡¯s butler had a mental illness. When he had an episode, he liked to hurt people. Kristin had heard about it when she was eighteen. The butler¡¯s son had attacked a maid, biting and beating her brutally, causing a scandal that embarrassed the FitzGerald family. Vincent, a member of the FitzGerald family, would surely know firsthand how terrible the beaten maid¡¯s life had be. Ruby was doing it on purpose. Vincent¡¯s body tensed for a moment, ncing back at Ruby. Ruby still looked innocent as she continued, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Vinny? I¡¯m just considering what¡¯s best for Kristin. Her child doesn¡¯t have a father and can¡¯t be registered properly Schools won¡¯t take him, right? I heard the servants talking about it today and thought I could do the matchmaking,¡± she said slyly Vincent rxed, Ruby hadn¡¯t lived with the Turner family for over twenty years and had no connections with the FitzGerald family, so naturally, she wouldn¡¯t know about the butler¡¯s son¡¯s mental illness. It must not be intentional. So he was about to exin. ¡°The butler¡¯s son isn¡¯t. ¡°Kristin, you still can¡¯t forget that guy you slept with in the hotel six years ago, can you? Who was he, anyway? Ruby knew how to push Vincent¡¯s buttons. Before he could refuse, she brought up the incident from six years ago to infuriate Vincent That way, he would agree to throw Kristin to the lunatic. Only when Kristin was married off and ruined could Ruby rest easy Otherwise, she tossed and turned every night, fearing Kristin might return and steal Vincent away. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Vincent¡¯s expression soured once more. Clearly, it was a blot on his past he still found hard to swallow. The thought of his fianc¨¦e, his high school sweetheart, hooking up with another guy and getting busted in a hotel by him was too much to bear. She shielded the other guy at every turn, refusing to spill the beans on who he was, and even had the nerve to have the guy¡¯s kid. ¡°Kristin, aren¡¯t you looking for a school for your child? I heard the butler¡¯s son has a ce in a top¨C notch school district,plete with a kindergarten, elementary, and middle school in the neighborhood. Marry him, and you¡¯ll get your child¡¯s education in the bag,¡± Ruby mentioned casually. Kristin had no clue how vile they could get. The burn on her hand throbbed painfully behind her back. She didn¡¯t dare fight back, nor did she offer any objections. ¡°So, you want to fix the little bastard¡¯s schooling? Ah, are you going to tie the knot or not?¡± Vincent was itching to see how far Kristin would go for that man¡¯s child and how shameless she could be. Seeing Kristin stay mum, Vincent got antsy. ¡°Get lost.¡± Kristin picked up the shattered te off the floor and walked out. ¡°Vinny, since you¡¯ve agreed, I¡¯ll get right on it. The butler has been ving away for the FitzGerald family for years. It¡¯s only right we lend a hand,¡± Ruby said, her face a picture of kindness and generosity. Vincent cuddled Ruby to console her. ¡°Sure, whatever you want to do is fine by me.¡± As for Kristin, she had iting. She was just one of those who couldn¡¯t survive without a man, and this was her just deserts. Kristin checked the time after rinsing her scalded hand with cold water downstairs. It was already seven in the evening. Kristin wanted to know if Summer had dinner. Just two more hours, and she could head home. ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin? That tramp spilled the soup meant for Miss Ruby and even scalded her. I¡¯ll skin her alive.¡± The nanny cursed as she searched for Kristin, who was scared out of her wits. She ducked into the study, curling up in a corner. She was spooked, terrified. But before she kicked the bucket, she had to make some cash for her brother and Summer. Chapter 28 She must admit that Vincent¡¯s ten grand a month was quite the draw Her job prospects were slim without a college degree. Maybe she could waitress and earn a few grand a month at best Suddenly, the study light flicked on Frightened, Kristin scurried behind the curtain into aer Wasn¡¯t the nanny saying this room was off¨Climits, only kept tidy because it was rarely used? Had the nannye looking for her? Kristin¡¯s fear peaked as she identally knocked into a nearby ornament. Back at his ce, Rhett was met with a faint rustling sound from a corner as soon as he stepped into his study His brow furrowed, not pleased. Was Eve¡¯s little brat sneaking in again? He had made it clear to the staff that no one, especially that little rat Milo was allowed in his study. Rhett wasn¡¯t a fan of kids, especially spoiled ones. Milo had been spoiled rotten by the dstone and FitzGerald families. Rhett pulled back the curtain, his expression dark as he caught a glimpse. Kristin shrank back in rm, trembling all over, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up at him. Her eyes were beautiful, bright, and eternally pure and clear. Rhett paused, then frowned. ¡°Ms. Turner, are you doing it on purpose?¡± Crouching before Kristin, Rhett mocked. There were plenty of rumors about Kristin in Silvergrove City, most of which were about her promiscuity and cunning nature. Rhett didn¡¯t buy into gossip, but when rumors persisted, they looked like facts, casting a bad image of Kristin. Moreover, Kristin had been popping up in Rhett¡¯s line of sighttely, making it hard not to be suspicious.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. In the past, women had gone to great lengths to lure him, showing up at the FitzGerald family by any means necessary. Some high society girls in Silvergrove City have even worked as maids at the FitzGerald Mansion to get close to him. This sort of thing got on Rhett¡¯s nerves. ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s not¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Kristin stammered in fear, her voice quivering. ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin? Seen her? That little hussy, always skulking off somewhere¡± ¡°Notzing around, then she¡¯s thieving. She needs a good thrashing.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll beat her senseless.¡± Outside, the nanny¡¯s voice was full of curses. Kristin sped her hands together in a plea, begging Rhett not to hand her over. Rhett frowned, his gaze settling on Kristin¡¯s reddened hand. Without a word, he got up and left. Kristin was petrified, thinking Rhett was going to snitch to the nanny. Clutching herself in terror, Kristin hoped that the nanny wouldn¡¯t be too harsh and that her brother and Summer wouldn¡¯t notice. She had to endure. For her brother and her child, there was nothing she couldn¡¯t withstand as long as she was dead and wouldn¡¯t drag them down anymore. ¡°Just hold on a little longer.¡± She thought inwardly. Once she had atoned for her sins, she could be free. After a while, someone pulled back the curtain again. It wasn¡¯t the nanny who returned but Rhett. He had brought a first¨Caid kit and got some burn ointment. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Kristin was staring at Rhett like a deer in headlights, her fingers tingling like crazy Rhett looked at her and reached out ¡°Give me your hand Like she was possessed or something, Kristin moved her hand toward him, but then she snatched it back just before touching him, shrinking away in fear ¡°Dirty I¡¯m dirty¡± She felt filthy and unworthy as if she¡¯d contaminate Rhett In her eyes, Rhett was Mr. Perfect, a god like figure. She shouldn¡¯t tarnish him, not even a little bit Rhett frowned again, not sure why he was even bothering with her. ¡°Put it on yourself, or you¡¯ll scar Kristin was pale as a ghost, her fingers delicate and soft, making the burn look more shocking. She was like a pristine piece of art, stunning but oh¨Cso¨Cfragile. Scared, Kristin watched Rhett, reached out to snatch the ointment quickly, and curled back 1. up. A grin tugged at Rhett¡¯s lips. She reminded him of a defensive stray cat on the streets, always on high alert, paws at the ready, but too scared to throw a swipe. What was she so scared of? That kid named Summer? ¡°Rhett¡­ you¡¯re back.¡± Outside, Vincent pushed the door and walked in. Rhett¡¯s face darkened in a heartbeat. He yanked the curtains closed to hide Kristin, giving Vincent the cold eye. ¡°Ever heard of knocking?¡± Vincent was stunned, quickly lowering his head and whispering, ¡°Sorry, Rhett. The nanny said you were back.¡± ¡°Did you go behind my back and contact Mr. Bryce at Aurora Tech?¡± Rhett asked with an icy tone. Vincent kept his head down, scrambling to exin, ¡°Rhett, Caleb is Eve¡¯s husband and part of the FitzGerald family. I just wanted to help him and didn¡¯t mean to keep you in the dark. I thought you were too busy.¡± In front of Rhett, Vincent could never hold his head high. With Rhett around, he was always second best, whether at work or home. Rhett was just too good, making Vincent, who was not too shabby, look like a total loser. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Behind the curtain, Kristin shrank back, listening quietly. Her heart was racing. And she didn¡¯t even dare breathe too loud. When she was with Vincent, he¡¯d often whine about how the family would be better off without Rhett, even wishing him dead. Kristin wouldfort Vincent, telling him to stopparing since they both had their strengths. But Vincent was always green with envy over Rhett and everything he had. Staring at the ointment on her hand, Kristin fell silent for a long time. In the entire Silvergrove City, only Rhett could protect her, Summer, and Garner. If she¡­ Startled by her thoughts, Kristin hugged herself, breathing rapidly. No, she couldn¡¯t. How could someone as dirty as her even think about making a move on Rhett? Crossing Rhett would only make things a hundred times worse than they already were. What was she even thinking? How ridiculous it was to dare to fancy Rhett. ¡°I told you the dstone family¡¯s mess wasn¡¯t that simple. We¡¯d best steer clear of it. You got that?¡± Rhett¡¯s presence was icy as he red at Vincent, thinking he was stupid. ¡°But¡­ we¡¯re family,¡± Vincent mumbled an excuse. ¡°Humph,¡± Rhett let out a mockingugh. Too tired to lecture, he knew the dstone Group had been too bold in the past, and no one could save them now. When the copse came, Vincent and Hob would be running for cover, yet here he was talking about family. ¡°Don¡¯t contact Mr. Bryce anymore. Don¡¯t drag the FitzGerald family¡¯s name through the mud,¡± Rhett warned Vincent. Vincent clenched his fists, head bowed, ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°Get out,¡± Rhett said, ncing behind the curtain again. ¡°Heard you brought Ruby home?¡± Vincent stiffened mid¨Cstride. Rhett never poked his nose into family stuff. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s easier to look after her.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a piece of the Turner, family drama, but watch yourself,¡± Rhett warned again. ¡°Don¡¯t stir up trouble.¡± Rhett was hinting at Vincent not to push Kristin too far. Vincent nodded and left the study in anger. Why the hell did Rhett always have to keep him down or stop him from contacting the big shots at the FitzGerald Group? Was he afraid he¡¯d get real power one day? Hmph, he¡¯d keep schmoozing with those big shots no matter what Rhett thought. He wasn¡¯t going to be under Rhett¡¯s thumb forever. ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± Vincent snapped in a foul mood. Chapter 29 The nanny was puzzled, too. ¡°Mr. Vincent, I¡¯ve got no idea where she¡¯s hiding. I didn¡¯t see her. She¡¯s always up to no good, if not stealing, thenzing around.¡± Vincent irked, smashed a cup on the table. ¡°Karl Smith¡¯s son isn¡¯t married yet, is he?¡± The nanny jumped, quickly replying, ¡°Nope. His son is violent and always hits others. Who¡¯d marry him? Someone he beat up is still in a rehab clinic, scared out of his wits.¡± Vincent frowned. ¡°Bring his son over tomorrow.¡± He¡¯d show her what would happen when she betrayed him if Kristin still wouldn¡¯t spill about that mystery man.. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡°How long are you nning to hide out?¡± Sitting beside his desk in the study, Rhett arched an eyebrow and threw the question out there. Tucked away in aer, Kristin waited until the coast was clear before cautiously crawling out from behind the curtains. Kristin meant to return the medicine after applying some ointment to her hand. ¡°Thank¡­ thank you. She mumbled with her head bowed, a little on edge as she fished out a few crumpled bills from her pocket, the cash she¡¯d earned from collecting bottles and scrap. ¡°About that day¡­ the bread and pastries you brought, thanks. Summer really liked them.¡± Saying so, Kristin shed Rhett a smile, an awkward smile. In Kristin¡¯s eyes. Rhett was a saintpared to the bad ones. Rhett nced at the money in Kristin¡¯s hand and spoke up sternly. ¡°Keep it. I¡¯ll hit you up when I¡¯m short of cash.¡± Holding the money awkwardly, Kristin quickly bowed her head and stashed it back. It was a joke, but it brought tears to Kristin¡¯s eyes. It had been ages since she¡¯d felt any kindness. It was Rhett, after all. He¡¯d never be short on dough. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, goodbye¡­¡± Kristin gave a deep bow, intending to put down the burn ointment and run. ¡°Take it with you. You¡¯ve used that ointment, so it¡¯s just trash if you leave it here,¡± Rhett said indifferently. Each time he offered Kristin something, it seemed impossible for her to refuse. Rhett could tell Kristin was too sensitive. Carefully, Kristin reached out and took the burn ointment. ¡°Thank you.¡± She opened the door to the study and slipped out quietly. As she reached the living room, she bumped into Ruby, standing on the stairs. Kristin remained silent. It was the end of her shift, and she could leave. ¡°Kristin,ing from the study?¡± Ruby squinted her eyes, shocked, pressing for an answer. Kristin stayed quiet. ¡°Huh¡­ Old habits die hard, huh? Always know which strings to pull, seducing whoever¡¯s in charge, right?¡± Ruby seemed intent on blowing things out of proportion, relentless in her pursuit. Kristin ignored her and turned to leave. 10 29 ¡°Stand right there!¡± Ruby red at Kristin, fury burning in her eyes. ¡°Kristin, have you ever looked yourself in the mirror? Do you see what a mess you are? Did you know Rhett is a Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. clean freak? Trying to seduce Rhett, you might not even know how you¡¯ll end up dead! Kristin hung her head low, saying nothing. ¡°You¡¯ve overestimated yourself.¡± Ruby was angry and panicked. She feared Kristin might get Involved with Rhett. Hearing themotion from the room, Vincent emerged with a shawl, draping it over Ruby. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Kristin just emerged from your brother¡¯s study! I¡¯ve told you that she is untrustworthy. She¡¯s too bunning, acting all innocent when she¡¯s shrewd. She knows your brother runs the show here and is trying to seduce him,¡± Ruby purposely provoked Vincent. Ruby knew Vincent like the back of her hand. Her words turned Vincent¡¯s face as dark as thunder. Letting go of Ruby, Vincent towered over Kristin, descending the stairs with a menacing air. ¡°Exin.¡± Vincent struggled to keep his emotions in check.. Feeling the danger, Kristin backed away in rm. ¡°It was¡­ nothing. I just¡­ *Just what!¡± Vincent struck Kristin across the face. ¡°Just that you¡¯re shameless, trying to seduce my brother?¡± Kristin¡¯s head spun, and she copsed to the ground, her vision going dark. Her fingers were painfully stiff. She couldn¡¯t make a fist, and a sense of utter despair washed over her. ¡°Kristin, I thought you would¡¯ve toned it down after five years behind bars, but what a performance! You¡¯re trying to seduce my brother, huh? Do you think he¡¯d touch you? He would feel disgusted just looking at someone like you. You get it?¡± Vincent found it ironic. All those who tried to seduce Rhett before had met miserable fates. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Kristin denied. Tomorrow, 8:30 AM sharp. Don¡¯t bete, Vincent sneered, gripping Kristin¡¯s cor. ¡°Since you¡¯re so desperate for a man, I¡¯ll make sure you get what you want.¡± Kristin looked down, tears spilling over. Vincent felt defiled. Kristin¡¯s every move seemed like a facade to him. It was such great acting. ¡°Vincent.¡± After hearing the noise, Rhett stepped out, a bit worried. He was the type who wouldn¡¯t shake even if a mountain crumbled before him. Today was yet another unusual day for him. Landing his cold gaze on Ruby, Rhett spoke again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be ill? You | Chapter 30 seemed pretty energetic when you were shouting¡± Panicked, Ruby tried to exin. After all, this was hett, an untouchable figure she aspired to but could not reach ¡°Rhett it¡¯s not like that. I just just saw hering out of your study and feared she might have ulterior motives toward you She has conspired with her mother to steal my life She¡¯s morally loose and filthy,¡± Ruby hurnedly exined, emphasizing filthy knowing thetrs severe germaphobia. Rhett¡¯s brow furrowed ¡°As far as I know, when you got swapped, you two were just infants, a few days old. How did she have the cunning to rece your life then?¡± Rhett¡¯s words left Ruby speechless. Still reeling from the blow, Kristin suddenly looked up at Rhett With tears threatening to spill over, Kristin¡¯s eyes were filled with a flicker of hope Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. No one has ever taken her side all these years, not even half a word of justice No matter how much she struggled, screamed, or fought back, it was useless. No one was listening She felt like a stomped on flower in the mud, too beaten down for another struggle. But Rhett¡¯s words somehow managed to stir her long¨Cdormant heart ¡°Rhett I mean, no, it wasn¡¯t like that She wasn¡¯t in cahoots with her mom then. It waster when she and her mom plotted to scam my family¡¯s money¡± Rattled by Rhett¡¯s intense gaze, Ruby stuttered through her words. Rhett¡¯s presence was overwhelming. Rhett didn¡¯t bother with Ruby anymore and walked straight up to Kristin. ¡°Carey was not here. so I had her bring me a ss of water. Got a problem with that?¡± Vincent looked at Rhett in surprise. The words were understandable, but Rhetting to Kristin¡¯s defense like this was out of character. This wasn¡¯t like the Rhett he knew. Why would Rhett stick his neck out for a woman like Kristin? It only made Vincent¡¯s jealousy more intense. ¡°Vincent, you¡¯ve got some nerve to raise a hand against a woman,¡± Rhett said, anger ring he saw the swollen handprint on Kristin¡¯s pale face. Vincent clenched his fists, unwilling to admit he had hit Kristin. Rhett¡¯s face darkened, and with a low and threatening voice, he demanded, ¡°Apologize!¡± Shocked again, Vincent wondered why he should apologize. ¡°This kind of woman is trashy. I¡­¡± Bam! Before Vincent could finish, Rhett¡¯s fist connected with his face. Vincent stumbled backward, struggling to keep his bnce. ¡°Vincent!¡± Ruby ran over, dumbfounded, helping him up. Vincent¡¯s cold eyes met Rhett¡¯s. He cursed inwardly, ¡°Damn it! He did it on purpose, definitely on purpose!¡± Rhett didn¡¯t meddle in others¡® business. He must be doing this to get back at him for secretly contacting Mr. Bryce, a warning not to pull any stunts at thepany. After a long moment, Vincent took a deep breath. ¡°Rhett ¡­ I realize I was wrong.¡± Rhett frowned at Vincent, wondering how the FitzGerald family could raise someone socking in manners. ¡°Is it me you should be apologizing to?¡± 10.30 Chapter 31 ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Vincent felt humiliated by Rhett, his apology to Kristin through gritted teeth. Kristin sat on the ground, going dazed, and felt addicted to this feeling of someone having her back. So, Rhett shouldn¡¯t have gotten involved. Slowly getting up, Kristin covered her cheek and walked away. She was too fragile, too thin as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Rhett nced at Kristin and turned his cold gaze on Vincent. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you manners?¡± Vincent clenched his teeth. Rhett was humiliating him and his mother. He knew Rhett had never respected him or his mother because she wasn¡¯t born into high society but had risen as a mistress. Rhett had never taken him seriously. ¡°Stay away from thepany for a while. Reflect on your actions at home!¡± Rhett warned. him and left, not wanting to spend another moment there. Since Vincent¡¯s mother entered this home pregnant, it was no longer Rhett¡¯s home. After Rhett left, Vincent went mad, smashing things in the room. ¡°Who the hell does he think he is to boss me around?¡± he shouted. ¡°Vincent¡­¡± Ruby hugged Vincent, scared. ¡°I¡¯ll trample him underfoot one day. The FitzGerald family¡¯s wealth andpany will be mine, and then I¡¯ll see how Rhett can be so arrogant!¡± Vincent was seething with rage. ¡°It¡¯s all Kristin¡¯s fault. She did it on purpose. She got close to Rhett to drive a wedge between you two to make trouble for the Turner and FitzGerald families. She¡¯s so cunning. She knows she can only turn to Rhett for help in Silvergrove City, so she¡¯s here for revenge.¡± Ruby started crying. ¡°Vinny, what if Rhett keeps protecting Kristin, and she won¡¯t donate her kidney to me?¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Vincent was furious. ¡°Rhett wouldn¡¯t even give her a second nce!¡± In Vincent¡¯s mind, Rhett was just seizing this opportunity to kick up a fuss. As for Kristin, she was as maniptive and deceptive as ever. He wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook the following day. ¡°Vinny, let¡¯s get her married off to the butler¡¯s son as soon as possible. That¡¯ll save us future trouble,¡± Ruby schemed. Vincent nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± On the roadside, Kristin didn¡¯t dare go home as the p marks on her face were still visible. She walked slowly, her ankle still throbbing with pain. ¡°Get in.¡± A ck car stopped by the roadside, and the speaker was Rhett. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Kristin was squirming on the spot, gripping her hands tightly in anxiety. She didn¡¯t dare get in Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. the car. ¡°Thank¡­ thanks, but no. I¡¯ll pass Kristin waved her hand stiffly Rhett didn¡¯t say much. He was about to take off, but catching a glimpse of Kristin hobbling sway in the rearview mirror, he felt an annoying itch he couldn¡¯t scratch. Kristin didn¡¯t go home. She was a hot mess and had wounds on her face and hands. Garner would freak out if he saw her like this Getting her family worried when one couldn¡¯t change things only added to the headache. Kristin was the Turner family¡¯s golden girl back then, so she had never tasted much injustice. or hardship growing up. She was cocooned in too much care, basking in the sun, clueless about the darkness in the trenches After losing everything, she got the joke that rebelling was just aughable act of futility for someone without a powerful background. Finding a bench in a nearby park, Kristin touched her forehead and slowlyy down. Her head was spinning. At this rate, she¡¯d probably check out a bit sooner. While looking at her scalded hand, Kristin¡¯s gaze went distant. Did it hurt? She¡¯d be numb to it. When Vincent misunderstood her before, it felt like the end of the world. But now, it was just par for the course. She thought they loved each other deeply, yet such vile treatment was the payback of the love. Sometimes, Kristin wondered if Vincent would¡¯ve been one of the bullies leading the charge against her if she hadn¡¯t been Ms. Turner or if Vincent hadn¡¯t fallen for her in high school. His true colors were anything but kind. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re such a faker, acting all pure and innocent, luring the boys in. Strip her down. Let¡¯s see how she flirts then.¡± ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? I¡¯ll tell the teacher.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve got several boyfriends outside school, much for being pure and innocent.¡± 10:30 In high school, rumors and gossip could destroy a person. Some were jealous of her looks, others of the attention she got from teachers. ¡°Kristin is my girl. If anyone touches her again, try me.¡± Vincent used to protect her. ¡°Let¡¯s date.¡± Later, Vincent sat on her desk, reaching out his hand to her. Kristin cautiously reached out, only to be yanked into the abyss by Vincent. ¡°No!¡± Kristin was having a nightmare again. It was a nightmare about the past. Winter in Silvergrove City wasn¡¯t too cold, but the night wind cut to the bone. Kristin curled up, wrapping herself tightly. ¡°Get up.¡± In her groggy state, Kristin thought she saw a figure standing in the park lights, backlit, looking like a Goding to lead her out of hell. ¡°Are you taking me away?¡± Kristin asked hoarsely, probably hallucinating from the fever. ¡°Hmm,¡± the man replied in a deep voice. Kristin closed her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to hell, right?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve been dead a long time ago¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was raspy. She would¡¯ve been dead long ago if it weren¡¯t for her mom¡¯s desperate swap of her and Ruby¡¯s lives and if she hadn¡¯t stayed with the Turner family and had the heart. surgery. That was like defying fate. So, she would go to hell. ¡°You can¡¯t die just yet.¡± Rhett touched Kristin¡¯s forehead, frowning. ¡°York, call the family doctor.¡± The warmth was spreading, and Kristin instinctively snuggled into the heat source. Rhett watched Kristin nuzzle into his arms, his face showing little emotion. York, who had been dragged out in the midnight, was shaking. He had doubts before, but it seemed clear that Mr. FitzGerald had a thing for this Kristin chick. Otherwise, with Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s personality, he¡¯d never let a woman get close like that! York was baffled by Rhett¡¯s choice. Sure, Kristin was drop¨Cdead gorgeous, no question, with wless skin. But that wasn¡¯t the point. The point was that this woman was no easy walk in the park. To York, Kristin kept pulling the pity card to stay in Rhett¡¯s line of sight, ying the victim. 10 30 Chapter 32 In Silvergrove City, everyone knew Kristin was a fake who switched lives with the true Tome heiress to bask in luxury, only to end up like this after being exposed Her messy personal life led to her being utterly shunned by her ex fianc¨¦ Vincent and thrown in jail. She was out of prison, and the FitzGerald and the Turner families wouldn¡¯t let her off easy if she wanted to keep living the high life, Rhett was the only one in Silvergrove City who could protect her. Kristin was sharp as a tack. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s more than a coincidence, her popping up before you all the time?¡± York whispered, trying to give Rhett a heads¨Cup. ¡°She¡¯s pretty crafty¡° Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Rhett shot Kristin a nce and kept his lips sealed. Was she doing it on purpose? Well, that wasn¡¯t the dumbest move. He had pegged Kristin as the shy, non confrontational type, but having some tricks up her sleeve was better than being a total pushover. ¡°She¡¯s looking out for number one. In Silvergrove City, you¡¯re the only one who can shield her. You should probably steer clear of this hot mess,¡± York thought Kristin was nothing but trouble. Just drive,¡± Rhett frowned. York mmed up quickly. Rhett was no fool. If there was one thing he couldn¡¯t stand, it was hassle. The Haywood heiress was already a sticky problem he couldn¡¯t shake off, let alone adding Kristin into the mix. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, that Ms. Haywood is on your case every day. Skip one visit, and she starts. going crazy, acting all possessed. You¡¯ve walked into this one, and now you¡¯re stuck,¡± Feeling bold from spending so much time with Rhett, York started to throw some shade. That was like asking for a death wish. After a pause, York spoke up again. ¡± Ms. Haywood is nice, pretty, and has a good heart. She¡¯s wildly obsessed with you, a bit too clingy. Sooner orter, you will settle down. That chunk of shares Mr. Lucius, your grandfather, left you will only thaw out once you¡¯re married.¡± Rhett¡¯s brow twitched. He found York chatty tonight. ¡°Did the Haywood family grease your palm?¡± York almost bit his tongue, shaking his head like crazy. ¡°No, no, I couldn¡¯t possibly ept it.¡± Rhett snorted, looking like a bribe was in y. ¡°Just drive and crank up the heat.¡± Noticing Kristin shivering, Rhett instinctively ced his hand on her shoulder. His arm tensed, and he quietly shifted his gaze out the window. Why was he even interested in this woman? He felt that odd sensation whenever Kristin was around him, feeling his body crave her touch more than his mind. And yet, he was a major germaphobe. He loathed anyone getting close all these years, much less wanting to touch anyone. As far as Rhett was concerned, Kristin wasn¡¯t anything special. It was just that she¡¯d been cropping up in his field of vision a lottely. Chapter 33 When Kristin woke up at Silvergrove Hospital, only York was there. He sat in his chair, dozing off, obviously having spent the whole night. Kristin sat up anxiously. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± York woke up, too, giving Kristin a look of silent reproach. ¡°You had a fever through the roof. What were you doing running off to the park?¡± He thought, ¡°What a great actress,ying it on thick to snag Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s attention. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kristin didn¡¯t want to exin. ¡°Thank you.¡± It was pointless to talk. Nobody would believe her, and it would just be exhausting. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Thank Mr. Fitzgerald for saving your bacon. Do you think this will get his attention? Dream on. Our Mr. Fitzgerald isn¡¯t into women, especially not the dirty ones. Got it?¡± York tried to sound fierce, hoping to get Kristin to back off. Kristin looked down, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°I¡­ I understand. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°You better not have.¡± York huffed and ordered her some takeout. ¡°Got you some milk and pancakes. Eat them while it¡¯s hot. Since you¡¯re up, I should head out.¡± Kristin nodded hurriedly, ncing at the clock, showing 7:40 AM. She had promised Vincent she¡¯d be at the Fitzgerald Mansion by 8:30 AM, but she was so hungry. The food came quickly. York had just left when the delivery arrived. Kristin was grateful to Rhett, but the more she owed, the harder it was to repay. With tears welling up, she squatted down and took a few bites, her lips going numb from the heat. Blowing on the food, Kristin didn¡¯t want to waste it and kept wolfing it down. She was starving. At 8 AM, the doctor made his rounds. Holding Kristin¡¯s test results, Connor walked in, looked around, and finally found Kristin squatting on the floor eating. ¡°Why are you eating on the floor?¡± Connor was puzzled. Kristin paused, realizing her habit. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a habit,¡± she mumbled. In prison, she often ate squatting in a corner. She was afraid to sit with the other inmates, who would bully her and spit in her food. She¡¯d go several days hungry, only managing a few bites when she passed out from hunger. Connor¡¯s fingers stiffened, and he took a deep breath. He had forgotten that Kristin had just gotten out of prison. ¡°You¡¯re staying on IV today. You¡¯re too frail to meet the donor criteria. I¡¯ve informed the Turner family and Vincent to look for another donor ASAP¡± Kristin kept eating, nearly choking, took a drink, then secured the food box and carefully tidied up the stic bag to take with her. Seeing Kristin not listening, Connor frowned. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t donate your kidney, you won¡¯tst long if you don¡¯t take good care of yourself. You have a heart condition. Did you know N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. that?¡± Kristin kept walking. She knew her time was short. The Turner family didn¡¯t care if she met the donation standards. ¡°Kristin!¡± Connor was getting infuriated. Did she not care if she lived or died? He wasn¡¯t exaggerating. Kristin could drop dead from a cardiac arrest at any moment. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Bolted from the hospital, Kristin nced at her watch and made a beeline for the FitzGerald Mansion. She couldn¡¯t afford to bete. She desperately needed that ten grand to sort out Summer¡¯s school situation. A few strides in, and Kristin¡¯s heart was stabbing her something fierce. After a pause and leaning against a wall to catch her breath for an eternity, she pushed on. Before kicking the bucket, she had to find the creep who forced himself on her six years back at a hotel. He was Summer¡¯s biological dad, and Kristin needed him to y ball for a paternity test. Perched in a ck sedan by the hospital, Rhett spotted Kristin hauling ass with a food container and frowned. ¡°Did you dig up what I asked for?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin volunteered to look after Miss Ruby, eyeing a juicy ten grand a month plus a daycare spot for her kid,¡± York grumbled, none too keen on Rhett butting in. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, that woman¡¯s sharp as a tack. You don¡¯t need to fuss over her.¡± York nced at the time. ¡°We should head to the Haywood family now. You promised Mr. Haywood to drop in on Ms. Haywood before hitting the office every day.¡± Rhett said nothing but massaged his temples. ¡°If you¡¯re not into Ms. Haywood, why not snag a well¨Cheeled heiress to get hitched? It¡¯d fulfill Mr. Lucius¡®st wish and get the Haywood family off your back, right?¡± York yed advisor. For once, Rhett didn¡¯t tell York to zip it but kept kneading his brow. Would Hertha Haywood back off and swallow her pride if he showed up with ady on his arm? He¡¯dpensated the Haywood family for everything but marriage. He could make up for it all except that. But the Haywood family was hell¨Cbent on marrying their daughter to him. His phone buzzed, and Rhett¡¯s face clouded over seeing Hob¡¯s name. He let it ring for an age before answering. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°Rhett, the Haywood family reached out. What¡¯s the deal with you and Hertha? They¡¯re keen on a union. Give it some thought, eh? Don¡¯t let any bad press about the Fitzgerald family get out.¡± Hob could care less about his son than the family¡¯s reputation. Rhett listened coldly on the call before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Rhett, you¡¯re of marrying age. Your younger brother is engaged. How long will you wait?¡± ¡°No rush,¡± Rhett replied, still cool as a cucumber. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Rhett, I know I haven¡¯t been there for you enough, but you can¡¯t let me down on this.¡± Rhett scoffed at the irony ¡°Yeah? No matter what Hob saut hell was the epime were, that Hob knew Rhen held a gridge over tas morts onde, we all these years? ¡°Rhett, your mother When Hob mentioned his mother, el bug orgy tes phone aside in imitation ¡°Look into Kristin. Find out who her child¡¯s father is He neared w Kristin popped into his mind first If it were a matter of quid pro quo, then let it be d save the hassle t on ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you are nning on ying stepdad? York couldn¡¯t hide has shock ¡°Shut it¡± Rhell wanted to fire York, but the guy was a distant redative from Sodds ste and Grandpa¡¯s rmendation from way back ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, everybody in Silvergrove City knows Kristin¡¯s a hot mess. Even sh know who the father is Where do I start?¡± York muttered, buffled at Pendoge But then, a woman with no family ties and cklisted by both the Turner and Field families was easy to control and wouldn¡¯t be future trouble. ¡°Don¡¯t judge a person by hearsay alone¡± Going by the gut, Rhett didn¡¯t peg Kristin as that type ¡°I just need a shield, nothing more ¡°Roger that, Mr. FitzGerald, but I still think it¡¯s a bad call. Her reputation could spell trouble for you.¡± ¡°Zip it.¡± Rhett fought to keep his cool. ¡°Got it.¡± York shut up. In two minutes t, York piped up again. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you¡¯re only doing this to fend off Ms. Haywood, right? Just make sure she sees it. No need for a public spectacle. Am I right?¡± Rhett silently agreed. York got the hint and started scheming about a confidentiality agreement. The big shots of Silvergrove City would often be the sugar daddies of up¨Canding stars, models, and even college kids. Rhett had been clean as a whistle for years. It had stirred up some excitement by asking to ¡®sponsor someone for the first time. Kristin was a bit of a stretch for the public eye, but a woman who didn¡¯t trigger Rhett¡¯s health issues might not be the worst. His germaphobia was so bad that any undesired contact could set off his allergies. As for Kristin, Rhett had never met or dealt with her before, but his body didn¡¯t seem to its guard up at all. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 The FitzGerald family. Kristin had no money and had to run from the hospital to the FitzGerald¡¯s Mansion. The clock was ticking past 8:35. She was five minuteste to her job. Vincent looked like he was waiting on purpose in the yard, wearing a nasty scowl. ¡°You¡¯rete. Vincent checked his watch, his voice low and heavy Kristin hung her head and made for the house. She was only there to take care of Ruby. There was no need to y into Vincent¡¯s drama. ¡°Hold it right there.¡± Vincent reached out to stop Kristin. I¡¯m asking you onest time. Who is that man?¡± He was obsessed with knowing who the guy was to have made Kristin cheat on him. If it wasn¡¯t Caleb, then who? Tam? But he¡¯d checked, and it wasn¡¯t Tam. Too many faces were at that hotel that night, and Vincent couldn¡¯t put his finger on the guy. Not many in Kristin¡¯s circle would dare have a secret fling with her. ¡°I¡¯d like to know that, too,¡± Kristin said, pushing his hand away. ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯re still ying dumb at this point.¡± Vincent red at her, anger bubbling up.. Kristin had a few choice words in her heart, too, but even if she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say them, she felt like calling him a freaking moron. She never thought Vincent was this kind of idiot before. It seemed he wouldn¡¯t believe her no matter what she said, just hellbent on the idea that she was protecting that guy, unwilling to spill the beans. She had curses in her heart, but Kristin didn¡¯t dare let them out. She could only bow her head in silence. She couldn¡¯t afford to stir the pot. ¡°You haven¡¯t learned a thing about remorse all these years,¡± Vincent said with a sarcastic chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve been giving you chances.¡± Kristin hung her head in silence, then looked up at Vincent. ¡°What chances?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you toe clean and tell me who that guy is!¡± Vincent was seething. 10 10 No matter how angry he got no matter how much it hurt to fat her, Kristin wouldn¡¯t make a peop the punching vetten, diving people crazy like Why are you a hellbent on knowing who he is? Are you mad that I betrayed you, or you can¡¯t stand koowing whe outshone you, made me unable to resist being with him, betraying you?¡± Kustm was usually light lipped, fearing any word might bring disaster. She almost went mute in prison and could go months without uttering a word. If it weren¡¯t for the stink trying to engage her in conversation, she could go a whole year silent. Does it make any difference? Vincent looked at Kristin with disgust. Tell me who he is, and maybe I can let you off the hook Your so¨Ccalled chances are just grilling me over and over. I tell you, and you don¡¯t believe me. What do you want me to say to please you?¡± Kristin was at a loss. She didn¡¯t know what to do anymore It had been six years. Before going to prison, Kristin kept exining, crying out, and screaming But did he ever believe her? No. He just kept on hurting her, pushing her deeper into the abyss. Vincent was infuriated by Kristin, hating her defeated demeanor and theck of light in her eyes. Though timid and meek, she didn¡¯t seem to care about him. The former Kristin used to be so cheerful, proud like a swan, her eyes shining only for him. But Kristin¡¯s gaze was indifferent at this point, devoid of light or emotion. Nothing but fear and timidity remained. That made Vincent even angrier. ¡°Kristin, why are youte?¡± Before Vincent could press Kristin further about the man from the past. Ruby came over, hugging his arm. Kristin hung her head again, still silent. ¡°Go get me a shovel in the backyard shed. I want to nt flowers myself,¡± Ruby ordered. Kristin to the shed. Vincent clenched his fists, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing, but in the end, he said nothing. He watched as Kristin headed to the backyard. ¡°She wants her child to get into school right away, right? We¡¯re just helping her out,¡± Ruby said coldly, malice in her eyes, but her words sounded kind. Vincent stayed silent, feeling inexplicably irked. He withdrew his arm and went into the living room. Ruby watched the shed with a malicious gaze. Once Kristin walked through that door, Ruby wouldn¡¯t have to worry about Vincent being snatched away by her again because Vincent 10:30 was clear about how disgusting the butler¡¯s son was. Vincent wouldn¡¯t go near any woman again the butler¡¯s son had touched. Vincent had resolved to hand Kristin to the butler¡¯s son, and Ruby was quite pleased. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Hmph.¡± With a cold snort, Ruby also entered the living room. Whether Kristin could survive was up to fate. If she resisted, she¡¯d trigger that guy¡¯s sadistic streak. The guy was a psycho. If he hit Kristin, there¡¯s no way she¡¯de out alive. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 At the FitzGerald Group. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, here¡¯s the information I dug up on Kristin, the whole nine yards. Take a gander, it¡¯s a hot mess¡± York handed over the investigation files to Rhett. Rhett took a nce Kristin¡¯s life seemed to have been a game of two halves. First, as Ms. Turner, she was in the spotlight, not just acing her studies and being a natural talent, but also racking up awards and honors like nobody¡¯s business. She even nailed it as the top one in SAT in the city and got into Silvergrove University with flying colors. Her love life was smooth sailing too. Kristin started dating Vincent in high school, and they were the perfect couple, with both families giving them the thumbs up. But at her peak, her life took a nosedive. No, it wasn¡¯t just a nosedive, but a plunge straight into hell. When the real heiress of the Turner family came back, Kristin, the fake, turned into a public enemy, falling from grace and into the abyss. First, the Turner family gave Kristin the boot, then came the scandals that trashed her reputation, followed by the FitzGerald family breaking off the engagement, leaving her to be loathed by everyone. Next, Kristin was pregnant, her reputation in tatters. Under all that pressure, she insisted on having the kid. As soon as the baby was born, she was dragged to court by rence and Vincent. In court, Kristin didn¡¯t utter a word in her defense. No matter what the opposingwyer threw at her, she copped to it. Kristin ended up getting a five¨Cyear sentence for extortion. Extortion? Rhett furrowed his brow. With Kristin¡¯s timid nature, would she ckmail Vincent and the Turner family? It was clear as day that Kristin got on everyone¡¯s bad side and the Turner family and FitzGerald family conspired to throw her in the mmer. ¡°Can¡¯t find anything on the kid¡¯s dad?¡± Rhett asked, thumbing through the stack of papers. ¡°That¡¯s just it. That¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you to steer clear of this hot potato. Think about it, would someone like Kristin resort to ckmail? Obviously, she¡¯s taken the fall for someone. Why else would she keep silent about the kid¡¯s dad this whole time? I bet he¡¯s the mastermind behind the whole extortion scheme.¡± York whispered. ¡°Ease up on the detective novels,¡± Rhett tossed the file aside. ¡°Keep digging. Is there anything you can¡¯t find?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ there¡¯s a little boy downstairs¡­ the secretary popped in, asking tentatively. ¡°He says he¡¯s your son but we¡¯re not sure what¡¯s up Seounty¡¯s dealing with its York was shocking and ducting out. Mr EntzGerald you¡¯ve got a kid? Rhett leaned back in his chat, giving York, a dark book York quickly changed the subject, survival instincts kicking in ¡°Kids these days are something else, but? Smart enough to show up here looking for daddy¡± ¡°Shall I have security take the little guy to the police station?¡± the secretary checked the time ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you¡¯ve got that video call with the folks overseas in five minutes, you need to Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. prepare Rhett nodded, standing up to head to the meeting room, but then turned back to ask, ¡°How old¡¯s the kid? What¡¯s his name?¡± ¡°He¡¯s five, goes by Summer¡± replied the secretary Rhett arched an eyebrow. It was Kristin¡¯s kid. ¡°Tell security to watch the kid, I¡¯ll be right down.¡± The secretary blinked in surprise. ¡°And the meeting?¡± ¡°Push it back.¡± Rhett walked out of the office with an air of indifference, striding quickly towards the elevator. York followed, still in shock. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin¡¯s a real piece of work, ain¡¯t she? Isn¡¯t Summer just her son with a mysterious origin? She sure knows how to y hardball, sending a five¨Cyear¨Cold to the office totch onto you!¡± To York, Kristin was practically a sly fox. She¡¯s such a crafty woman, not above even using her own child as a pawn in her game. Didn¡¯t she worry about a five¨Cyear¨Cold child getting into trouble? What if something actually happened to him? But Rhett didn¡¯t see it that way. If Kristin wasn¡¯t sharp enough, he wouldn¡¯t even give her the time of day. ¡°Smart women keep things simple,¡± Rhett remarked coolly. At least when ites to dealing with what came next, there wouldn¡¯t be too much of a hassle. York nodded, getting it. Smart women knew what they wanted and once they got it, they wouldn¡¯t cause much troubleter. But a woman like Hertha was a real headache, always chasing love. This world was brutally realistic without much room for love, especially not for a man like Rhett. He didn¡¯t need love. His world was all about weighing pros and cons and strategic nning. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Downstairs. Summer had been searching high and low for his mom but couldn¡¯t find her anywhere. Sacting the ortunity when his uncle was distracted, he slipped out unnoticed. Relying on his memory he went to the vi Vincent had taken him and his mom to, but the security guard wouldnt let him in With no other options, he headed to find Rhett. Summer had seen it on the news. Everyone knew that Rhett was the baddest dude in all of vergrove Oh So Rhett had to be able to save his mom. doo, how old are you? You can¡¯t just go around picking out dads, you know?¡± The security guard was still having augh with the little guy. After all, five¨Cyear¨Cold Summer was at his test, super handsome and adorable, a real crowd¨Cpleaser. The¡¯s really my dad.¡± Summer said innocently Maybe it was a kid¡¯s fixation on the strong. He just wanted the toughest guy to be his dad, so he could keep his mom safe This little guy¡¯s got talent,¡± the security guard chuckled to the receptionist. But the receptionist locked disgusted. ¡°Look at his washed¨Cout clothes. He¡¯s clearly from a poor family. Mr. Rogerald is too busy for this, just kick him out already.¡± Summer ditched his faded stuffed toy and hung his head, not saying a word. Ex, it¡¯s fitty just throw it out already the reception manager said angrily, ordering someone to shoo Summer away. This is an office, not the children¡¯s park. What¡¯s with security? How car this kid just waitz in?¡± Summer looked down at the doll in his hands and murmured softly, ¡°It¡¯s not dirty. Uncle Samer made it for me.¡± The security guard took a closer look at Summer¡¯s toy and finally realized it was a handmade incredibly ugly Superman. The security guard couldn¡¯t help butugh at Summer¡¯s toy, and he pleaded softly. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll carry the kid out now. He¡¯s just little. Let¡¯s not be too harsh on him.¡± Herst? This is an office! Get him out of here, now! Who knows where this kid came from or if he¡¯s intentional or not? If Mr. Fitzgerald sees this, you can kiss your job goodbye,¡± the manager said angrily, muttering under his breath, ¡°What¡¯s with people these days, evening here to find a dad. Who wouldn¡¯t want Mr. Fitzgerald for a dad? I¡¯d even want Mr. Fitzgerald to be my kids Dad Summer hugged his toy his eyes welling up, and turned to leave. He wasn¡¯t diny at alll. Uncle Garner washed his clothes every day. They were clean and smelled nice 10 31 ¡°Summer?¡± As Rhett stepped out of the elevator, the sight of Summer¡¯s downcast silhouette made an unexpected knot form in his chest. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Summer¡¯s eyes were red, and he looked back at Rhett, his head drooping with sadness. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡­¡± The security guard was so scared that he quickly stepped aside. The receptionist and the manager were also taken aback. Mr. Fitzgerald actually knew this kid. ¡°Where¡¯s your mom?¡± Rhett nced around, surprised to see Summer all alone. ¡°Dad. ¡°The bad guys took her. Dad, go to save her with me,¡± Summer said, offering his Superman toy to Rhett. He really liked Rhett, which was why he was giving Rhett his treasured toy. fight monsters to protect Mom. York, with a look of disdain, wanted to chuck the toy away. It was so dirty, clearly made from old clothes. And Mr. Fitzgerald was a neat freak. But Rhett took the toy, inspecting it. ¡°Who made this for you?¡± ¡°Uncle Garner,¡± Summer said carefully, watching Rhett¡¯s reaction. ¡°If you help me save mom, I¡¯ll give it to you¡­ Rhett paused for a moment, seeing how much the kid liked the doll. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you to find your mom.¡± Rhett picked up Summer with one arm and headed out. York¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor in shock. This was all wrong. If Mr. Fitzgerald had a soft spot for Kristin, it was because Kristin was useful. But this little squirt¡­ Didn¡¯t Mr. Fitzgerald hate kids the most? Miss Eve¡¯s kid would burst into tears at the sight of Mr. Fitzgerald. Not just York, but the manager and the receptionist were also too shocked to breathe. Is this grubby little kid calling Mr. Fitzgerald ¡°Dad¡°? When did Mr. Fitzgerald be a father? ¡°York, what¡¯s going on here¡­¡± the receptionist asked nervously. As Rhett walked out with Summer, York blurted out, ¡®Lately Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s been into charity!¡± The receptionist lit up his face with understanding. So this was a kid Mr. Fitzgerald was sponsoring. What good fortune! To be held by Mr. Fitzgerald, this kid must have saved the world in his past life. ¡°They say Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s so cold and distant, but look at him holding a child, so warm.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already dreaming of having Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s babies¡­¡± The girls at the reception desk were all starry¨Ceyed. Meanwhile, York was getting anxious ¡°Mr Fitzgerald, you still have a meeting¡± Reschedule it Rhett got in the cat looking at Summer. ¡°Did your mom tell you toe find me?¡± Summer shook his head. ¡°On Uncle Gamer¡¯s phone, I can look up your information to be here¡± Rhett raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who taught you that?¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¡°It¡¯s a piece of cake, Summer said with a puzzled face. Was searching for apany address difficult? ¡°Who¡¯s your dad?¡± Rhett found chatting with this kiddo pretty amusing. York was driving, his eyes practically glued to the rearview mirror. Was that their Mr. FitzGerald? He even goofed around with a kid. ¡°You¡¯re my dad,¡± Summer seemed convinced that Rhett was her father. In Summer¡¯s world, everything was always straightforward, never thatplicated. Rhett cracked a smile, totally clueless that he was such a kid ma. Howe he remembered that Eve¡¯s brat would start bawling at the sight of Rhett, as if he¡¯d seen the Bogeyman? Sure, this little boy was more lovable. ¡°Can I keep this Superman? I¡¯ll get you a new one. How about that?¡± Rhett said softly. Summer pondered for a moment, then adorably nodded. ¡°If you like it, it¡¯s yours, no need to get me a new one.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wanna make you spend money.¡± Summer knew earning cash was a hard slog. ¡°Uncle Garner works super hard to make money, you must be worn out too.¡± Rhett never bothered to correct Summer¡¯s address, and even York was getting a bit fed up, wondering what the heck Rhett was up to. ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t go calling random dudes Dad, he¡¯s not your pop. Your real dad is something else, and no one knows who he is yet.¡± Summer nced at York and then kept quiet. ¡°You talk too much, don¡¯t you?¡± Rhett furrowed his brow. York didn¡¯t dare to bber any further. Summer, with her head down, carefully handed the little toy to Rhett and then whispered in an extremely soft voice, ¡°Daddy, this is for you.¡± No one knew how much Summer longed for a father. In kindergarten, it was always Mom and Dad who yed games with their children, but Summer only had his uncle. His mom was locked up, and he had never even seen his dad. Uncle Garner was busy making money to support him and didn¡¯t have much time to spend with him. Summer was always alone, watching the other kids with their parents. Rhett took the stuffed toy and gave it a look. Garner¡¯s sewing skills were pretty basic. The 10:31 doll was a hot mean and downright noly It Summer hadst mentioned it was Superman, he wouldn¡¯t have recognized it at all. Indeed, kids¡® imaginations were something else At the FitzGerald Mansion Kust headed to the backyard shed in search of a shovel The door to the shed closed behind her, and someone locked it from the outside. Kristin nced back and got the picture She was more sensitive than anyone else. It¡¯s just that she had fought back before and had been brutally crushed, so she stopped resisting. So are you the gulfriend Vincent got for me? A dude in a sloppy ck tracksuit was cracking sunflower seeds in theer and asked. Kristin stepped back, trying to open the door, but it was locked from the outside. With a downward gaze, Kristin let out a cynicalugh. It seemed Vincent wouldn¡¯t be satisfied until she was dead. Back when Kristin was going through dark times, Vincent was a ray of light in her life. She had given Vincent her only trust, but he pushed her into the abyss, making her see for herself the layers of hell. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Kristin tried to calm the man in front of her. Shecked the strength to resist, but she needed to find a way to protect herself. Tm Kemp Smith, 39 years old, and you?¡± Kemp seemed intent on forcing himself on Kristin, but she didn¡¯t seem to resist or detest him. The other women used to scream and run at the sight of Kemp as if he were a madman, but Kristin was actually up for a chat. I¡¯m Kristin, twenty¨Csix.¡± Kristin sat down at a safe yet reachable distance, her face undisturbed. At this distance, she had a chance to escape if danger arose. But with the shed door locked from the outside, escaping would be tough. She could only try to stall for time and figure out a n. During her five years in prison, Kristin learned to protect herself in her way, on top of being passively beaten. She would time things right. During the guards¡® rounds, she¡¯d provoke the inmates who usually hit her, getting them thrown into solitary. If once didn¡¯t work, she¡¯d do it twice. Either way, she was gonna get hit¡­ Chapter She¡¯d also sneak the hair of the inmates into the food of those who bullied her, causing them to fight each other. She seemed to endure everything silently, but was constantly resisting in her own silent way. For Kristin, hysterical resistance was pointless. And she needed to stay cool, use her head. and learn to use the ploy. ¡°I heard from a miss named Ruby that you¡¯ve never had a girlfriend, right?¡± Kristin probed. ¡°Who? Ruby?¡± Kemp cracked another peanut and peeled a few bananas. ¡°Yeah, she said you¡¯ve never found a girlfriend and you¡¯re sick, a nutcase.¡± Kristin replied, ¡°She also said I¡¯m dirty. Since I¡¯m so filthy, I should be with someone like you.¡± Kristin smiled at Kemp and pointed to the peanuts in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m a bit hungry, could I have some?¡± Kemp paused, no woman had ever been willing to eat something he touched before.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Yook, Edout boy the crop she¡¯s spewing You¡¯re not messy at all.¡± Kemp pulled out some peanuts and dumped them into ktina hand. Kustin dit dodge the just grabbed a peanut and popped it into her mouth. Inthe chat Ruby know, the first time she bbed about marrying Kristin off to Kemp, Kristin had already sneakily grilled the servants about him Kemp had his stivalen with bipr and paranoid delusional disorders, but it wasn¡¯t like he was off his rocker all the time. It would only kick in when something got under his skin. When he wasn¡¯t having an episode, he was just like anyone else. Kustin had done her homework on psychology back in the mmer and had her nose in tons of books about it. She got the drill with folks like him. They hated being looked down on but had a touchy and fragile sense of pride with a fierce protective streak. The trick was to y the weaker victim that would trigger their knight¨Cin¨Cshining¨Carmorplex. ¡°Carey¡¯s been yapping about you bing my wife, saying I could have a bang with you.¡± Kemp plopped down next to Kristin. When she didn¡¯t push back, he figured she was giving the green light ¡°So, you clued in that I¡¯m sick?¡± Kristin eyed Kemp. ¡°I don¡¯t want to mess you up. I think they¡¯re out to screw you over.¡± Kemp gawked at Kristin, dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re sick?¡± ¡°Or what, you think they¡¯re genuinely that sweet to you? Do they treat you well usually?¡± Kristin was ying her cards. ¡°Hell no,¡± Kemp cursed. ¡°These people are all about looking down their noses at us. My dad¡¯s been with the FitzGerald family for years, and not one of them respects us.¡± ¡°See? Carey can¡¯t stand you, but suddenly she¡¯s hooking you up with a wife, Doesn¡¯t that ring any rm bells?¡± Kristin whispered. ¡°What kind of illness did you say you have?¡± Kemp was growing suspicious, sensing something fishy about this Carey character. ¡°AIDS¡­ It¡¯s contagious, incurable, and it¡¯ll kill you.¡± Kristin showed Kemp the bruises covering her body. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t have long left.¡± Kemp was shaken as he stared at the dark bruises on her pale skin, instinctively scooting away. ¡°I don¡¯t get why Carey would want to screw you over.¡± Kristin sighed. Then she dropped another bomb. ¡°I overheard them whispering about that time you lost it and hurt a maid from the FitzGerald family, tarnishing their reputation. Your dad¡¯s an old¨Ctimer there with a fat paycheck they can¡¯t cut loose. They want to nudge him out and need to provoke you to mess TO 37 up again if you hurt me, and I conveniently kick the bucket, it¡¯ll blow up big time. You and your dad will get the boot from the FitzGerald family¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Kemp was seething, barely keeping a lid on it. In a fit of rage, he flung a stool against the warehouse door. Kristin shuddered and curled up in a corner. She was scared out of her wits¡­ If Kemp lost control, she¡¯d be in the crossfire ¡°Son of a bitch. I always knew she was no good. She¡¯s been badmouthing my dad for ages!¡± Kemp ranted as he tried to bust out. Kristin hugged herself tight, trying to avoid getting hurt. But Kemp¡¯s manic mood had taken the wheel, and he was beyond reach. He was trashing the ce, cursing and howling like a madman. Outside the room, a few servants pretended to be deaf to the chaos,ughing and munching on fruit with the utmost indifference. ¡°Do you think this could end up a murder scene?¡± A servant shivered with fear. ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? If she dies, it¡¯s her bad luck for messing with a nutcase. It¡¯s not a crime if a lunatic kills someone,¡± Carey muttered darkly, looking like she wouldn¡¯t lose any sleep over it. The servants nervously eyed the warehouse. ¡°Can Kristin¡¯s tiny frame handle this? It seems to end in a fatality.¡± Vincent was by the window, themotion from the backyard warehouse reaching him even there. Gripping his hands tightly, Vincent was itching to rush down. He only wanted Kristin to swallow her pride and admit her mistake, not to die. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Ruby¡¯s coughing up blood!¡± Just then, Ruby¡¯s maid came running out, panic in her voice. Vincent bolted to Ruby¡¯s room. ¡°Ruby.¡± ¡°Vinny, I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± Blood was still on her lips. ¡°Stay with me, take me to the hospital.¡± Vincent hesitated for a second, then carried Ruby downstairs, with Kristin¡¯s fate slipping from his priorities. ¡°Have the butler check it out. We don¡¯t want her dead!¡± Even as Vincent got into the car, he gave the order to Carey, who nced at Ruby. Ruby was stone cold, not a word from her. Carey got the message and didn¡¯t rush to open the warehouse door. Chapter. Ruby wanted Kristin dead. As long as Kristin was breathing, Ruby was terrified that Kristin might snatch back everything that belonged to her one day. So Kristin had to go. In the Warehouse. ¡°Chill out.. kemp¡­ just cool it.¡± At the sight of Kemp in full meltdown mode with no oneing to unlock the door, Kristin shrank into the corner, crying for him to calm down. Kemp was beyond reason, flinging a stool that crashed in Kristin¡¯s direction. Kristin curled up and hugged herself tight as the stool hit her ear, tearing a two¨Ccentimeter gash, blood gushing out instantly. With her ear ringing fiercely, Kristin¡¯s left ear was temporarily deaf and the world gone silent. Kemp was still in a frenzy, smashing everything in sight. Kristin leaned into the corner, her heartbeat slowing down. Was this where she¡¯d die? Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Out in the yard. Carey was having a st chatting with some folks, totally ignoring whether Kristin was dead or alive. A ck sedan rolled in, and Carey straightened up in a panic. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald.¡± Why was Rhett back at this time? He never came back at this hour on any regr day. Rhett got out of the car, a little tyke in tow. Carey went pale as a ghost to see the little bastard Kristin had given birth to. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what brings you¡­¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± Rhett asked with a stern voice. ¡°I haven¡¯t¡­ haven¡¯t seen her.¡± Carey shook her head quickly. Summer nced towards the backyard, heard some smashing sounds, and bolted in that direction. The first time he came to the FitzGerald family, they locked him and his mom up there. ¡°Summer!¡± York, still worried about the little critter, followed. The warehouse was locked from the outside, but there was clearly someone inside. ¡°Open the door!¡± York shouted. Carey, trembling with fear, didn¡¯t dare to open it. ¡°Can¡¯t hear me?¡± Rhett¡¯s tone was ice¨Ccold. ¡°Mr. Vincent¡­ said we can¡¯t touch it.¡± Carey quickly made up an excuse. Rhett¡¯s expression darkened, sensing that something was amiss. He strode over and kicked the warehouse door open with one foot. Kemp burst out like a madman, eyes bloodshot, wielding a stick, obviously triggered and out of control again. *Kristin!¡± Rhett rushed inside, frowning at the dusty mess all over the warehouse. In the corner, Kristin was almost buried under debris, her breathing faint. She didn¡¯t have the strength to respond. Summer ran towards his mom. Rhett felt a tightness in his chest and hurriedly lifted the wooden nk off Kristin, taking a sharp breath at the sight of her barely alive and bloodied. 10:32 Chapter 40 Summer stood still, his stuffed toy falling to the ground. York instinctively covered Summer¡¯s eyes. For a five¨Cyear¨Cold kid, at the sight of his mom lying in a pool of blood, his first reaction. wasn¡¯t to scream or cry, but to quietly well up with tears. This reaction ached even grown¨Cups like York who softened his tone when speaking to Summer. ¡°Summer, your mom¡¯s gonna be okay. Wanna step out with me for a bit?¡± Summer was silent for a long time before asking in a quiet voice, ¡°Is my mom gonna His tone was too calm. die? ¡°Why would you ask that, of course not,¡± York said, picking up Summer and walking out, not caring about the dirt. ¡°Mom said¡­ dad¡¯s a hero and went to outer space to fight monsters, she said she might have to go too.¡± York froze mid¨Cstep, looking back at Rhett who was carrying Kristin out. Rhett¡¯s face was grim, and he hadn¡¯t said a word. Screams echoed from the yard. York walked out with Summer and saw Kemp out of control, walloping Carey with a stick. ¡°You bitch, trying to screw me over, no way, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Carey was beaten bloody, crying out for help, but no one dared approach Kemp now. If it weren¡¯t for the security guards arriving just in time, Carey might have been beaten to death. Rhett, holding Kristin, got into the car, giving York a cold look. ¡°Call the cops and see who locked Kristin and Kemp in the warehouse. We¡¯ve got cameras in the yard with the evidence for her attempted murder. Get awyer to sue. Carey was so frightened that her face turned ghostly white, begging for mercy, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, please, I beg you, it wasn¡¯t me. It was Miss Ruby who said Kemp was mentally ill and asked me to lock him and Kristin in the warehouse. It wasn¡¯t my fault, please spare me.¡± Rhett gave Carey a cold look. ¡°If Ruby was the mastermind, then go tell that to the cops.¡± With that, Rhett closed the car door. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, three bodyguards couldn¡¯t hold down Kemp, who kept yelling he¡¯d kill Carey. Kristin weakly opened her eyes and looked out the car window, her gaze deep.. Rhett watched Kristin with interest for quite a while. Ruby¡¯s motive for locking Kristin and Kemp in the warehouse was clear, which was definitely more than just wanting Kristin dead. Chapter 45 Kemp, nearly forty with no woman, had multiple incidents of hurting people due to his manic depression triggered by his desire to assault women. Ruby was malicious. But seeing that Kristin, despite being injured, had her clothes intact and showed no signs of being vited It seemed she wasn¡¯t as timid and defenseless as she appeared. Moreover, when Kemp¡¯s manic episode red, he ran out of the warehouse and went straight for Carey, giving her a beating¡­ I¡¯m curious, what did you say to Kemp?¡± Rhett was getting more and more interested in Kristin Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Kristin mmed up, ying possum by closing her eyes. She was scared of being seen through. Rhett¡¯s gaze was like the zing sun, seemingly able to expose herpletely, leaving no ce to hide. York nced at Summer sitting in the passenger seat, hugging the seatbelt and keeping silent. He just couldn¡¯t bring himself to tease Summer anymore. ¡°Your mom¡¯s fine, kiddo. She¡¯s not gonna let anything happen to her. Those words gave Summer just enough courage to peek back at his mom. He wasn¡¯t a scaredy¨Ccat or squeamish about blood but was scared of losing his mom. Rhett frowned, instinctively taking off his suit jacket to cover Kristin and hide the bloodstains. He didn¡¯t want to scare Summer. Summer¡¯s eyes were fixed on Kristin, then on Rhett. ¡°Dad, are you gonna protect me and Mom all the time, right?¡± Rhett hesitated and couldn¡¯t make that promise to the kid because he knew he couldn¡¯t keep it. He couldn¡¯t always be watching over Kristin. If Kristin didn¡¯t learn to toughen up, life wasn¡¯t gonna be a walk in the park for her and her kiddo. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Rhett wasn¡¯t one to lie, and he felt bad about it. Summer welled up with tears as he turned around and sat back down. During the whole ride, Summer was down in the dumps. Summer was just five, with a bit of baby chub on his cheeks, big eyes, and long eyshes quivering with tears. Rhett felt an odd irritation, puzzled by his concern for the child. Fiddling with his tie, Rhett finally gave in, took out a pen, and grabbed Summer¡¯s hand to write down his private number. ¡°Can you remember my phone number?¡± This was Rhett¡¯s personal line, known only to York and no one else at thepany. Rhett used it just for those he truly cared about. York shot Rhett an astonished look, realizing he had a soft spot for Summer. But truth be told. York also found the kid heart¨Cwrenchingly adorable. At five years old, Summer had already been through too much. Summer¡¯s eyes shone, and he nodded. ¡°Got it memorized.¡± 1/3 10:05 Chapter 41 Rhett raised an eyebrow. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then.¡± Sure, Summer rattled off the number without missing a beat. ¡°This kid¡¯s got a photographic memory, huh?¡± York said with augh. Rhett looked at Summer. ¡°If you¡¯re ever in danger, call me.¡± ¡°Dad, are you really a Superman? Will youe to save me if I call?¡± Summer looked at Rhett anxiously, far too sensitive for his age. Rhett furrowed his brow and kept silent. He couldn¡¯t guarantee it. York parked the car, feeling a twinge of sympathy for Summer¡¯s sadness. ¡°Here, remember my number too. I¡¯ll only say it once, and you can call me if you need saving just the same.¡± N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. York got out and opened the door for Summer.. Summer quietly memorized York¡¯s number. Rhett got out and went over to Kristin who, having just woken up, reflexively recoiled from him in fear, trying to evade his approach. Rhett stood outside the car door, signaling her to get out on her own. Kristin got out, her vision darkened, and still ended up in Rhett¡¯s arms. Taking a frightened step back, Kristin hung her head and made her way to the hospital on her own. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer ran over, taking Kristin¡¯s hand. Kristin shivered, not wanting to scare Summer, so she put on Rhett¡¯s coat. It was stained with her blood, unlikely to evere clean. Rhett¡¯s clothes were so expensive that she couldn¡¯t afford to pay him back. With teary eyes, Kristin held Summer¡¯s hand a little tighter. ¡°The report says Kristin suffered a lot in prison, and even became suicidal, which led to her getting psychological therapy. She¡¯s severely depressed and has developed selective mutism. In other words, unless she wants to talk¡­¡± York sighed. Summer was pitiful. But Kristin had her faults. Those who were pitiable often had their despicable sides. She brought trouble on herself, and now her kid was paying for it. ¡°Why is she so terrified of men getting close?¡± Rhett asked. If it wasn¡¯t trauma, she wouldn¡¯t react like that. Chapter 41 ¡°They say Kristin was raped. At first, she kept exining to everyone that she didn¡¯t mean to betray Vincent and it wasn¡¯t her choice. Instead, someone hurt her. But no one believed her. Eventually, she stopped talking. Later, when Vincent confronted Kristin, she just epted it.¡± Rhett frowned. What a troublesome woman! In the treatment room, the doctor numbed Kristin and started stitching her up. She sat quietly the whole time, her eyes empty, like a soulless doll. ¡°If it hurts, just say so,¡± the doctor whispered to her. But Kristin never moved or made a sound. ¡°Eardrum perforated. There¡¯s still bleeding in the ear canal. After the anti¨Cinmmatory shot. take care of it and keep water out of your ear.¡± Kristin¡¯s left ear was deaf now. After the doctor treated her wounds, he wrapped it up too. Now she waspletely deaf. ¡°Can you hear clearly with your right ear?¡± The doctor asked on Kristin¡¯s right side. Kristin nodded. The doctor nced at Rhett. ¡°She can be discharged after the IV.¡± ¡°Thank¨Cyou,¡± Rhett said, then approached Kristin. ¡°I sent York to take the kid out.¡± He didn¡¯t want Summer to be frightened by seeing Kristin getting stitched up. ¡°Thanks,¡± Kristin said softly. ¡°The cops will be here soon, and this time the evidence is solid. Carey won¡¯t cover for Ruby, so if you¡¯ve got something to say, tell the police,¡± Rhett reminded Kristin not to be foolish or timid this time. This was his chance for Kristin. If she didn¡¯t appreciate it, he wouldn¡¯t bother with her ever again. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Kristin nced up at Rhett and took her sweet time before she spoke. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, this is just¡­ pointless.¡± If she brought Ruby into this mess, it would only open the door for Vincent and the Turner family to come at her guns zing. Kristin just wanted to protect her family. She wasn¡¯t born with a silver spoon like Rhett, all hight and mighty. Rhett scrunched his brows. ¡°If you let people walk all over you and don¡¯t stand up for yourself, then you¡¯re practically asking for trouble.¡± His voice was ice¨Ccold, which freaked Kristin out a bit.. Rhett wasn¡¯t a traditionally good guy, but he sure had her back more times than Kristin could count. She was grateful for that, even though she knew it was a tall order expecting him to get where she was coming from. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, how about a little wager?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse, but her eyes were on fire. Rhett looked at her with a deep gaze. ¡°Wager on what?¡± ¡°That even if I spill the beans, Ruby won¡¯t catch any heat.¡± Kristin let out a bitter chuckle. But if Kristin yed that card, Vincent and rence wouldn¡¯t let her off the hook. She could already picture the fallout. Her fear of what mighte next was something nobody could wrap their head around. Rhett was just like everyone else in one way. He¡¯d just m Kristin for being a scaredy¨Ccat who didn¡¯t fight back without a clue about her reasons forying low. Rhett frowned as he said, ¡°I can help you out.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got no reason to cross your kin and the Turner family for my sake.¡± Kristin shook her head. To Rhett, it was all just a game. She didn¡¯t want Rhett to throw himself into the ring for her. He might be tough as nails, but she was small fry. Rhett watched her in silence, taking her in for the first time. This chick knew the score. She was smart about her ce in all this. The cops showed up and took her statement. True to Rhett¡¯s n, Kristin dragged Ruby into it. But no sooner had the police left than they rang up to inform that Miss Ruby didn¡¯t know diddly, it was just Carey talking out of her ass and she¡¯d copped to it. 1/3 10.06 Chapter 42 Kristin hadn¡¯t even finished her drip when Vincent and the Turner family had already swept the whole thing under the rug. Kristin gave Rhett a nce, her voice raspy. ¡°You lost.¡± Rhett looked like he¡¯d just swallowed a bug. Today, of all days, he¡¯d been schooled by the likes of Kristin. Carey flipping her story was clearly Vincent and the Turner family pulling strings. Rhett had the muscle to turn the tables and make here clean, but Kristin wasn¡¯t wrong. She wasn¡¯t worth the hassle for him. ¡°Thanks for today.¡± Kristin yanked out her IV and bowed to Rhett. Rhett had the urge to stop her, but it was toote. Kristin was out the door like she¡¯d done this a million times, not even pressing down on the needle mark like it was not a big deal. She bolted like she was running from the bogeyman. She didn¡¯t even stick around to finish her antibiotics. Vincent and rence must be tearing the ce apart looking for Kristin. If they got their hands on her today, she¡¯d be in a world of hurt. Ruby was their little darling, after all. ? He was *Kristin!¡± Rhett was all kinds of irritated. Why was she running? What was she afraid of? right there. Did she think Vincent would have the guts to mess with her under his nose? ¡°I¡¯m right here, why the hell are you running?¡± ¡°Can you protect me for life, Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin trembled as she asked. Rhett frowned. She really had some nerve, thinking he¡¯d be her lifelong bodyguard. ¡°If you can¡¯t, then don¡¯t bother ying a nice guy. You should understand that, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± Kristin clutched her clothes tighter and nced at his suit. ¡°About the suit¡­ I¡¯ll pay you back. when I have the cash.¡± She wasn¡¯t one to owe favors and went looking for Summer, all out of sorts. Rhett felt off his game. ¡°Since I lost the bet, you and Summer crash at my ce tonight.¡± He figured that was the least he could do, bending his rules to a breaking point. He¡¯d sort out the drama of the FitzGerald family and the Turner family for her. Kristin stopped dead in her tracks and turned around, looking scared. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ what is it that you want from me?¡± She didn¡¯t buy for a second that Rhett was just being charitable. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. 10:06 Chapter 42 Hitting on her? No way. That might fly with anyone else, but not Rhett. Guys like him could have any woman they wanted. So what was the deal? ¡°I need a woman by my side to y a certain role, no need to get into the details. You just happen to fit the bill.¡± Rhett was nonchnt in his tone. Kristin got it. She was easy to deal with. Actually, this yed right into her hands. Did this mean Kristin was hitching her wagon to Rhett¡¯s star? But now that Rhett had offered her an olive branch, she regretted it. She didn¡¯t want to drag him down with her. ¡°Sorry, Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m not selling myself out.¡± Kristin bowed again. Chapter 43 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¨Cup in front of everyone. What could¡¯ve been a short¨Clived 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¨Cseated. 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. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. 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 2/3 10:06 Chapter 43 exactly top¨Cnotch 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! Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Kristin bolted towards the charred remains of the house in a panic, only to be stopped by the firefighters. ¡°Is this your ce? It¡¯s been burning all night. If the neighbors hadn¡¯t been choked awake by the smoke, this whole thing would¡¯ve been toast by now. Don¡¯t even think about going in there, it¡¯s still not safe. These old houses just fall apart once they catch fire.¡± Kristin was shaking like a leaf, squatting on the ground with her fingers trembling. Because of her severe depression, she¡¯d lose her speech when stressed out. She wanted to talk, but no words came out. She wanted to lift her arms, but they seemed to have a mind of their own. Her brother was still inside. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Her biggest fear was dragging Garner into this mess. Why¡­ why wouldn¡¯t they just leave her. alone? Curled up into a ball and quaking all over, Kristin silently wept on the ground. Why did they have to do this to her? How much did they need to torment her before they¡¯d call it quits? Did they really want her dead? ¡°My Uncle is still in there,¡± Summer cried, clinging to his mom and pointing at the room. ¡°Please, can you save my uncle?¡± The firefighters exchanged looks. ¡°We¡¯ve been in there, there¡¯s no one.¡± Kristin stiffened her body and looked up helplessly at the firefighter. ¡°No¡­ no one?¡± ¡°It¡¯s empty, you guys are lucky, didn¡¯te backst night.¡± Taking a deep breath, Kristin reached out and pulled Summer into a gentle hug. Everything was okay as long as Garner was okay. ¡°Summer!¡± Garner came running in with breakfast in hand, his face as white as a sheet. At the sight of Kristin and Summer in safety, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, crouching down to hug them both. ¡°What happened?¡± Just yesterday, he¡¯d gone to Ms. Lawrence¡¯s ce for a bodyguard job interview, and that spoiled brat made him stand outside listening to a luby all night long. Only if he could stay awake and alert all night would he pass the test. He was worried sick about Summer being home alone all night without a wink of sleep and anxious for dawn to break. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ Summer and I didn¡¯te backst night,¡± Kristin sobbed, holding Summer tight, a little shaken. ¡°Garner¡­ I¡¯ve crossed Ruby, so Vincent and rence won¡¯t let me off the hook. ¡°At least you¡¯ve got some self¨Cawareness.¡± No sooner had Kristin finished than rence 10:06 Cider walked in. Looking disdainfully at the burned¨Cout yard, rence cast a cold nce at Kristin. ¡°Ruby got so stressed out by you yesterday, she¡¯s beenatose since then. Kristin¡­ you really deserve to die.¡± Saying this nonchntly, rence lit a cigarette. Kristin, terrified, clutched Summer and backed away, not daring to meet rence¡¯s eyes. She was scared and disgusted by all of them, ¡°rence,e at me if you¡¯ve got a problem!¡± Garner stood up, shielding Kristin and Summer. ¡°Garner, you think too highly of yourself,¡± renceughed, hisughter dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d let you off the hook?¡± A bunch of bodyguards, about eight or nine, got out of the car and pinned Garner down. Garner fought back, one against nine, but the odds were against him. rence seemed to want Garner to watch, stepping up to Kristin and yanking her hair right in front of the kid. ¡°Ruby used to live in this filthy slum, living a life worse than death?¡± Kristin looked at rence fearfully, not daring to speak. Summer mustered up the courage to push rence away, but in response, rence ruthlessly pped him across the face. Summer hit the ground without tears, but blood gushed from his nose instantly. No matter how hard Summer tried to clean it, he couldn¡¯t stop the bleeding. He didn¡¯t want his mom to worry, so he kept wiping his nose with his back to her, but what could he do? There was so much blood. ¡°Summer!¡± Krist¨ªn struggled out of control, fighting back, desperately trying to push rence away. But rence was too strong, gripping her hair tightly, she couldn¡¯t break free. Kristin screamed until her voice cracked, kneeling and begging non¨Cstop, wishing she could kill rence, but only able to plead helplessly. ¡°rence, you son of a bitch!¡± Garner struggled to his feet, fighting against the nine men. He couldn¡¯t fall, not in front of Summer at least. Taking a deep drag, rence blew out a cloud of smoke, looking down at Kristin. Kristin¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, filled with intense hatred as she red at rence. ¡°If you hate me so much, kill me then!¡± rence hated seeing those eyes of Kristin¡¯s, once always shining, now only dark and stormy. He raised his hand with the burning cigarette butt aimed at Kristin¡¯s eyes, about to press it down. Kristin¡¯s breath was intense, her eyes locked on his, growing redder by the second. 10:06 Chapter 44 In the end, rence didn¡¯t press it into her eyes but onto her cheek instead, The searing pain made Kristin tremble all over, yet she bit her tongue and didn¡¯t make a sound The once beautiful face was scorched with a ghastly scar, a sight to behold. rence really relished destroying her, ruining herpletely. ¡°Ruby said she was in this dirty and messy ce where you, this beast, vited and molested her! Insulting my sister, Garner, you will get your dead wish.¡± As Garner was pinned down, rence choked Kristin in front of him. Garner red at rence with intense hatred. ¡°She¡¯s lying!¡± He and his mother had always pampered Ruby, he never hurt her. But his exnations were too weak, how could he prove his innocence when a bucket of filth was dumped on him from above? rence hit Kristin across the face. ¡°Nonsense? Does Kristin ever tell the truth?¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Garner was iling like a fish out of water. ¡°rence, you son of a gun,e at me!¡± he shouted in desperation. Kristin¡¯s bandaged ear was hurt again, and now she might lose hearing in her left ear for good. Lying on the ground, Kristin tried feebly to crawl towards Summer. He was scared out of his mind, still wiping away a never¨Cending stream of nosebleeds. ¡°Garner, Ruby nearly got killed by Kristin, and she still managed to pull Rhett into this mess. Quite the mover and shaker, huh?¡± rence kicked Kristin hard in the stomach, clearly pissed off that Kristin had found herself a powerful backer. ¡°Kristin, are you stepping up your game, huh? What tricks did you pull to reel Rhett in?¡± rence grabbed her hair again, forcing her to look up. ¡°Take a good look.¡± After that, rence signaled his bodyguard to rough up Garner. ¡°Which hand of yours was getting fresh with Ruby, huh? Let Kristin watch how I make you useless.¡± Garner struggled as his right hand was pinned to the ground. He¡¯d learned some handy skills in the military and even specialized in car repair after his discharge. His livelihood depended on those hands. If they wrecked Garner¡¯s hands, they might as well be taking his life. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ Please¡­¡± Kristin was on her knees begging rence, ¡°Take mine, not my brother¡¯s. please¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse from screaming, pleading for Garner¡¯s safety. But rence just stood there cold as ice, forcing her to watch with eyes wide open. A bodyguard picked up a hammer and smashed it down on Garner¡¯s hand, again and again, until it was a bloody, unrecognizable mess¡­ Kristin knelt there stiffly, her body slowly numbing, growing cold. Summer was still crying, throwing himself on Garner¡¯s hand. And those monsters were still swinging the hammer down. It was just a kid¡­How could they be so heartless? Garner was fighting like a madman, punching the bodyguard in the face with his bloodied fists, as if he wanted to kill the man. It was all their doing, pushing him to the edge. Kristin just knelt there, surrounded by silence. With a raspy volce and eyes locked onto rence¡¯s, she asserted, ¡°I¡¯ve long since repaid any 10:06 debt I owed to the Turner family¡­ and yet, you persist in hounding me¡­¡± Death didn¡¯t scare her, what else could? ¡°Kristin, you think you can settle your debt with the Turner family and Ruby that easily? Ruby has been tormented by depression and nightmares since she was little, now she¡¯s got one kidney less from a suicide attempt after a car crash, and you¡¯ve pushed her to the brink of death again. Do you think the Turner family and the FitzGerald family would let you off? Let me tell you, this is just the beginning.¡± rence was telling the truth, Ruby was in aa from stress, and Mamie and Johnnie had lost their minds, hell¨Cbent on taking Kristin¡¯s life. rence came himself to at least ensure Kristin wouldn¡¯t die¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Maybe feeling satisfied, rence threw Kristin aside and left with his crew. Garner wasforting Summer, who was still shaking from shock. They all knew this couldn¡¯t go on. If it did¡­ Summer could get sick. Kristin sat on the ground in silence for a long time. Maybeing back was a mistake. Kristin should¡¯ve stayed away from Summer, to let him have a peaceful childhood. ¡°Garner, I¡¯ve gotta go.¡± Kristin had thought donating a kidney would cover her debt, but now it seemed the Turner family wasn¡¯t worth it anymore. They had stripped her of far too much, more than anyone should ever bear. She¡¯d more than repaid their so¨Ccalled kindness over the past twenty years. ¡°Where will you go¡­¡± Garner¡¯s voice was raspy, leaning against the wall and chain¨Csmoking. Summer had passed out, deeply traumatized. His condition hadn¡¯t been properly treated yet. and Kristin needed money, a lot of it. ¡°I¡¯ll go work¡­¡± Kristin nced at Garner. ¡°Garner, I¡¯ll send money home every month. Don¡¯t skimp on food for yourself. As for the education of Summer, if it¡¯s too expensive, just skip preschool.¡± Garner nodded. They didn¡¯t have much choice. ¡°If I stay, the Turner and FitzGerald families won¡¯t leave me alone. Summer will keep getting traumatized, and he¡¯s showing signs of autism and can¡¯t be stressed out anymore.¡± Kristin cleaned her tears, the cigarette burning on her face stung with the wetness. ¡°Going into hiding might be best.¡± Garner agreed. ¡°Take this money, I¡¯ve found a new job that¡¯s not as hard as fixing cars, working 24 on and 24 off. It¡¯s kindaid¨Cback and I can take care of Summer.¡± Kristin only took five hundred¨Cdor bills for travel expenses from the money Garner offered, insisting he keep the rest. ¡°Taking care of Summer costs money¡­ 10.06 Chapter 45 Choking back tears, Kristin turned and walked away. ¡°Kris¡­¡± Garner called out. ¡°No matter where you go, give me a call,¡± Kristin, deaf in one ear, didn¡¯t stop. She was leaving and breaking free to make money. Without donating a kidney to Ruby, the Turner family would hunt her down even more fiercely, Perhaps one day she would end up dead in the wilderness, her organs harvested, Kristin let out a hollowugh as she limped away. After a few paces, she turned to cast onest look over her shoulder. What she couldn¡¯t bear to leave behind was her son..Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 At the FitzGerald Group. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, this quarter¡¯s¡­¡± Rhett was in the middle of a meeting when suddenly, out of nowhere, someone¡¯s phone started to ring. The conference room went dead silent in an instant. Everyone shot nervous nces at each other, wondering who had the guts to forget to put their phone on silent, let alone bring it into an internal meeting.. Just as everyone was shivering with fear, Rhett himself pulled out his phone. And just like that. everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Rhett frowned slightly as he looked at the unfamiliar number on his personal cell, knowing that not many people had this number. ¡°Hello?¡± On the other end, a tearful and sweet voice came through. ¡°Daddy, you gottae save me¡­¡± It was Summer, crying and calling for Rhett to the rescue. The room was so quiet that everyone¡¯s eyes were glued to Rhett in shock. Since when did Mr. FitzGerald have a kid? Had he been keeping his marriage under wraps? Listening to the crying on the phone, Rhett clenched his heart and shot up from his seat. He gestured to his deputy to carry on with the meeting and strode towards the exit. ¡°Summer, what¡¯s happened?¡± : ¡°They¡­ they set the house on fire, I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Summer was crying so hard she was gasping for breath. ¡°Daddy, they hit me. There¡¯s so much blood. It won¡¯t stop. They hit Uncle Garner too, his hands are all bloody¡­ Mommy¡¯s gone.¡± Rhett turned as dark as a storm cloud, his mood plunging to rock bottom. Everyone in the conference room watched Rhett with a mix of fear and awe. Was Mr. FitzGerald about to go on a rampage? Outside the room, York, who was carrying coffee, stopped in his tracks, seeing Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s fierce expression. He handed off the coffee to someone nearby and quickly followed. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Get the car!¡± Rhett was barely in control of his emotions. York dashed into the elevator, frantically pressing buttons, desperate to get to the underground parking lot and get the car, thinking something major had gone down. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Rhett spoke softly to calm Summer down. 1/3 pter 46 Rhett pondered, ¡°Did I really mess this up? Without Kristin tipping off the cops about Ruby¡¯s link to the families yesterday, would the Turners and Vincent have left her in peace?¡± ¡°Daddy, I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Summer was still crying. Rhett wasn¡¯t great at soothing kids. After all, he¡¯d never had to do it before. ¡°Summer, count to one hundred, and I¡¯ll be there, okay?¡± For some reason, Rhett felt his heart twinge with pain. He was never someone who liked kids, but when it came to Summer, he couldn¡¯t find it in him to dislike this kid, and he even felt a bit of tenderness. Summer, through his tears, began to count. Rhett didn¡¯t dare hang up the phone and walked briskly out of thepany. York had just pulled up with the car. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, get in!¡± York floored the elerator and they were off, but then he remembered to ask. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, where are we headed?¡± ¡°To Garner¡¯s ce.¡± York mmed on the brakes. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Rhett was grim. York, shivering with fright, didn¡¯t dare ask any more questions, whipped out his phone to look. up Garner¡¯s Garage, and sped off. In the demolition area. Summer was hiding in a corner, looking at the charred remains of the house, counting through his tears. In the yard, Garner didn¡¯t want Summer to see his injuries and couldn¡¯t bear to go to the hospital for X¨C rays, so he just clumsily fixed his fingers and palm with some wooden splints and wrapped them up. ¡°89,90¡­¡± Summer kept counting, his eyes filled with hope as he nced towards the door. But Rhett wasn¡¯t there yet. ¡°98¡­¡± ¡°Summer!¡± A ck luxury car came tearing in, and Rhett and York jumped out in a frenzy. Garner panicked at the sight of the car and Rhett getting out, instinctively grabbing a stick nearby. ¡°What do you guys want?! Do you think you can keep driving people to the brink of death because you¡¯ve got money and power?!¡± Chapter 45 Garner had seen Rhett before when he had knelt before the FitzGerald family begging Vincent. to spare Kristin. To Garner, these people were no different from Vincent and rence. ¡°Daddy!¡± Summer ended the call, crying as he ran and threw himself into Rhett¡¯s arms. Garner was stunned, looking from Summer to Rhett who was holding him. Rhett looked harmless, but Garner no longer trusted them. ¡°Rhett, what do you want?! Summer, he¡¯s not your father,e here!¡± Summer¡¯s eyes were red as he looked at Garner. ¡°Uncle Garner, Rhett can protect me and Mommy.¡± Garner stood there frozen. Even a five¨Cyear¨Cold understood the need for refuge. He med himself entirely for failing to provide Summer with a sense of security. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. ¡°Summer, he¡¯s no different from those bad guys, stay away from him¡­¡± Garner didn¡¯t believe Rhett had good intentions. These kinds of people had no heart. ¡°Mr. Collins, you shoulde with us to the hospital first, your hand looks pretty bad.¡± York nced at Garner¡¯s hand and winced. Garner gave York a cold look and hid his hand behind his back. ¡°I don¡¯t need your fake concern.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± Rhett asked with a frown. Garner scoffed, knowing they were here for Kristin. ¡°Rhett, Kristin hasn¡¯t done anything to wrong your family. If she owes anyone, it¡¯s the Turner family, not you. You have no right toy a finger on her. Please leave.¡± Kristin had left. Perhaps her choice to flee Silvergrove City was the right one. She had to get away from these scumbags. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Rhett didn¡¯t offer an exnation, just shot York a look andmanded, ¡°Get someone on it.¡± His gazended on Summer¡¯s cheek, and Rhett turned sour. ¡°Who hit you?¡± Summer hung his head, silent. Garner sneered. ¡°What do you mean, Mr. FitzGerald? Aren¡¯t you the type to trample people underfoot at will?¡± Summer looked up at Rhett, with his eyes rimmed red. Suddenly, his nose felt warm, and blood started to flow again. Scared, Summer covered his nose with his hand, crouched down, and turned away, not wanting to scare Rhett. ¡°Summer.¡± Garner dropped the stick he was holding and quickly grabbed a tissue to clean. Summer¡¯s nose, but his hand was injured. He clumsily smeared blood everywhere. York wanted to rush over to help, but Rhett beat him to it, taking a tissue to clean Summer¡¯s nose. ¡°To the hospital¡± Seeing Summer¡¯s nosebleed wouldn¡¯t stop, Rhett frowned and spoke up. anxiety in his voice. ¡°Give me back my kid.¡± Garner eyed Rhett warily, unsure of his intentions. Was he ying phnthropist? ¡°Mr. Garner, we¡¯re just looking out for Summer¡¯s best interest. You¡¯d bettere with us to the hospital, now¡¯s not the time to be stubborn,¡± York chimed in, opening the car door for Rhett. Garner hesitated for a moment, dusted himself off, and got into Rhett¡¯s car. York stole a nce at Rhett in the rearview mirror, sensing something wasn¡¯t quite right¡­ Plus, York had this weird feeling that Summer and Rhett looked alike. Could it be, six years ago¡­ Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Startled by his thoughts, York quickly shook his head. No, Ferris was the schemer back then, he said it was Hertha who had admitted it, even able to recount details of that night, including the room number. No girl would joke about her reputation. Besides, if the person that night had been Kristin, how could she not recognize Rhett? In Silvergrove City, was there any woman who didn¡¯t know Mr. FitzGerald? Shaking his head, York figured he was probably overthinking it. Maybe Mr. FitzGerald just genuinely liked Summer. Chapter 47 ¡°Daddy¡­¡± On the way, Summer sat quietly, his nose stuffed with tissues, softly calling out. Rhett gently rubbed Summer¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, we¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡± Summer looked at Rhett with teary eyes. ¡°Daddy, where¡¯s Mommy?¡± ¡°Your mommy¡¯s gone to buy you a toy, and she¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Rhett signaled York to quickly find Kristin. York nodded. Summer had bled a lot from his nose. With the beating and shock, he felt dizzy. Garner looked back at Summer, concerned, and asked quietly, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ do you have any food in the car? Summer gets hypoglycemic¡­¡± In his desperation, Garner had realized he¡¯d hastily jumped into the car and forgotten to bring snacks for Summer ¨C something he wouldn¡¯t have done if it wasn¡¯t for his dire need for Rhett¡¯s help. Rhett was taken aback for a moment. He had a thing for cleanliness, so he normally wouldn¡¯t keep anything in the car. York, equally anxious, shook his head. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, there¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Keep some snacks in the car from now on,¡± Rhett said with a frown. For the past few days, York had been so spooked by Rhett he didn¡¯t dare to talk back and just nodded repeatedly. At the hospital, Rhett held Summer for the examination, while Garner was dragged away by the doctor to get his hand treated and X¨Crayed. ¡°The medical fees and the check¨Cup costs for Summer? Sir, they have been paid already.¡± When Garner went to pay, he was told it had already been taken care of. Garner frowned, unclear about Rhett¡¯s intentions. Rhett was also a member of the FitzGerald family. The ones who almost ruined his family were the FitzGerald family and the Turner family. Garner couldn¡¯t have a good impression of anyone from the FitzGerald family, yet Rhett, such a powerful figure, had no reason to take advantage of Summer, and his concern for her seemed genuine. ¡°How much was the total cost?¡± Garner asked quietly. The receptionist nced at the record. ¡°Sir, the total for the check¨Cup and medical fees is six thousand seven hundred.¡± Garner was stunned for a moment¡­ He didn¡¯t have that much money to repay Rhett right now. ¡°Mr. Collins!¡± York, having bought snacks for Summer, approached with a serious expression. Chapter 47 ¡°About Summer¡¯s condition, we need to talk. The tests have revealed hemolytic anemia. Are you aware of this?¡± Garner nodded. ¡°Could it be gic? Who¡¯s the father?¡± Rhett had sought a specialist consultation, and the expert rmended that the biological father should cooperate to determine the specific cause and then decide if a heterologous hematopoietic stem cell transnt would be necessary. ¡°Heh¡­ I¡¯d like to know who that bastard is.¡± Garner spoke under his breath. York looked at Garner in shock. Kristin couldn¡¯t be joking about Summer¡¯s condition, which required the father¡¯s cooperation. Could it be that Kristin didn¡¯t know who Summer¡¯s father was? Chapter 48 Chapter 48 ¡°So Kristin¡­doesn¡¯t have a clue, huh? How messed up does her personal life have to be to not know who fathered her child? ¡°Isn¡¯t it all thanks to you guys? The FitzGerald family and the Turner family know how Summer came to be and why Kristin ended up in some stranger¡¯s bed. To wreck a woman, you pulled out all the stops. Now how dare you ask me about Summer¡¯s dad? Garner was ticked off. ¡°Mr. Collins, you¡¯ve got it all wrong about Mr. FitzGerald. He¡¯s never done anything to you folks. Frankly, he¡¯s above that sort of thing.¡± York said, a bit heated,ing to defend Rhett. Garner snorted. ¡°For the FitzGerald family, it¡¯s all for one and one for all. ¡°Even if Kristin was yed to have Summer, how can you not even know who the guy is?¡± York asked angrily. Garner couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin to York and turned to find Summer. Just then, Rhett came out holding Summer. Garner went over and took Summer from him. ¡°Thanks for today. Mr. FitzGerald. I¡¯ll pay your back and just give me a deadline.¡± Rhett frowned, thinking how alike Garner and Kristin were in their stubbornness. ¡°The FitzGerald Group has a charity foundation. Summer¡¯s situation qualifies for aid. I¡¯ve already had York take care of it. His treatment at this hospital will be on the house.¡± Rhett said coolly. Garner paused, then spoke in a low voice. ¡°We don¡¯t need charity from the FitzGerald family¡­. I¡¯ll pay you back in two months. Thanks, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± With that, Garner left with Summer in his arms. Summery on Garner¡¯s shoulder, his eyes shining as he gazed at Rhett. He really wished that Rhett was his dad. Rhett wanted to say more, but at the sight of Garner¡¯s strong defenses, he let it be. ¡°Did you find Kristin?¡± he asked York. York shook his head, replying, ¡°Kristin didn¡¯t get her ticket with her ID. In a city as huge as Silvergrove, if she¡¯s looking toy low, it¡¯ll be like finding a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Who hit Summer?¡± Rhett asked. ¡°rence went to Garner¡¯s garage first this morning. Likely, they also torched the ce, and rence¡­ well, he hit Summer,¡± York said, clearly upset. Kristin¡¯s beef with the Turner family and Vincent was deep, but that was no reason to take it out on a kid. Wasn¡¯t that what any sane person would think? What did the child do wrong? But rence, in 1/3 10:07 his impulsiveness, hit Summer remember warning the Turner family to the reinstatem Kristin, Rhett said, his voice grave. York knew Rhett was angry, and not just a little b The Turner family was definately in for a store At the Turner family ¡°Ruby still hasn¡¯t woken up? ¡°The doctor said Ruby was shocked with poor heath and hapet has surgery Morsia cried, sitting on the couch. ¡°Why is my daughters te cobardes acrots Sault Sho deliberately called the cops to frame Ruby, just wanting to take Ruby¡¯s Me. How can croinde 50 wicked?¡± Johnnie sat there with a dark face and coldly asked. Where¡¯s Coster ¡°Dad¡­ Kristin ran away,¡± rence said as he entered the livegrosa signty teos. ¡°Ran away? Didn¡¯t I order people to take her away? How did she magne asked sternly. rence darted his eyes around before he spoke softly, ¡°I went over to Garners ce to find her, but she wasn¡¯t there. I had some guys rough up Games maybe that scooked tent rence¡¯s intention that morning was to drive Kristin away, if possible she could run away and never come back to Silvergrove City. Coming back would mean certain deam Johnnie was indeed out for blood. ¡°rence, remember Ruby is your real sister, Mamie reminded him, choking up. ¡°So I suggest we look for a volunteer donor first. Once Ruby¡¯s health improves, we can still make Kristin pay. She¡¯s in hiding now, and we can¡¯t find her. If we dy Ruby¡¯s treatment that wouldn¡¯t be good.¡± rence tried to calm Johnnie and Marnie. ¡°Hmph, her life is there for Ruby, Who else would we use? Mamie disagreed. ¡°The doctor said Ruby¡¯s body is too weak for transnt surgery right now. We still have time. Within a month, we must find her.¡± rence was silent, then nodded after a while. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make sure we catch her.¡± ¡°Bad news. There¡¯s trouble at thepany,¡± the assistant ran in. ¡°The FitzGerald Group suddenly pulled out of the project with the Turner family in Chicago. They withdrew their Investment, and now our funds are stuck¡­ Everything else is manageable, but if the workers¡± wages are cut, it¡¯ll dy the construction period. If so, the penalty¡­ There would be beyond the tolerance, C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Johnnie went through a whole contortion act as he eyed rence. ¡°The FitzGerald Group? Can 2/3 Chapter 48 you go check if they¡¯ve lost their marbles? Our family and the FitzGerald family are practically inws, Ruby¡¯s engaged to Vincent. Which blind bat at the FitzGerald Group would dare to sever ties with our family?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the CEO, Rhett¡­¡± The assistant took a deep breath, barely getting the words out in a whisper. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 rence went pale and shot up from his seat. ¡°Rhett?¡± Rhett had been sticking his nose into Kristin¡¯s business for a while now, and what was up with that? Is he actually helping Kristin out? Kristin must have some serious skills to get Rhett to lend her a hand. How low can she stoop to degrade herself like that? rence clenched his fingers tight, with his face as dark as thunder, he stormed out of the living room. ¡°Get Vincent on the line. I¡¯m heading to the FitzGerald family!¡± On the rickety train to Crescendo Town, Kristin curled up in a corner, munching on a sausage. She¡¯d snuck on board without a ticket, scared that the Turner family and the FitzGerald family might trace her using her ID. Her stop wasing up soon. Chances were that she¡¯d have toy low from now on. Stepping out of the train station, Kristin nibbled on some sausages while she searched for at payphone to call Garner. ¡°Garner¡­¡± ¡°Kris, where have you gone¡­¡± Garner asked anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯m fine. Just give me your ount number, I¡¯ll send money every month once I start working.¡± Kristin whispered, pulling out a notebook and pen. ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived in a new city, take care of yourself first,¡± Garner said with a heavy heart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s for Summer¡¯s savings. He¡¯ll need the money for doctor¡¯s visits.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was slightly. hoarse. Holding back tears and keeping her emotions in check, Kristin spoke again. ¡°Garner¡­ I¡¯ll be alright.¡± ¡°Today, Rhett came by and took Summer for a check¨Cup. I don¡¯t know what his intention is.¡± Kristin froze her hand on her phone. ¡°Rhett¡¯s not like Vincent, and he¡¯s not a bad guy,¡± Kristin said, defending Rhett. ¡°But it¡¯s right for us to keep our distance from the FitzGerald family.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about us here. They can¡¯t touch us. But Summer¡¯s situation is getting serious and his nose bled several times today, which only stopped after going to the hospital. We still need to find his biological father¡­¡± Garner was nervous, not wanting to upset Kristin. ¡°I know, I¡¯ll find him.¡± Kristin hade to Crescendo Town to meet someone in particr. 10:07 That night at the Silvergrove City hotel, besides Caleb and Tam, one another person was a likely candidate: James Bryce of Aurora Tech. He was the only one who came to her rescue after the incident, promising to keep her safe and out of jail, on the condition that she stayed with him. ¡°Kris, take care of yourself out there,¡± Garner said softly. Kristin acknowledged, jotting down the bank ount number. ¡°I¡¯ll hang up now, but I¡¯ll keep in touch.¡± After hanging up, Kristin stared nkly at the unfamiliar city. How could she get a meeting with James? Aurora Tech was a powerhouse on par with the FitzGerald Group, not based in Silvergrove City. but its influence in Crescendo Town wasn¡¯t something just anyone could cling to. Back in the day, James took a fancy to Kristin because of a ballet performance. At neen, naive and repulsed by such advances, especially since she had Vincent. Kristin spurned anyone else¡¯s interest. She rejected James outright, which only fueled hispetitive spirit. For a long time, James used all sorts of ways to keep tabs on her, even showing up at her school. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore andshed out at James, who then stopped bothering her. At that time, she had no clue she¡¯d angered someone so formidable. It was only after going to prison that Kristin learned about the Bryce family of Aurora Tech, equal titans in the business world to the FitzGerald family, even cooperating as equals. 1 The night everything went haywire, Kristin attended a charity g in Silvergrove City. After the fake debacle of being the false heiress of the Turner family, she had no intention of mingling in such circles, but rence insisted she go in ce of the Turner family, as the invitation bore her name and it was for the family¡¯s sake. Kristin epted the invitation, unaware it was a trap set by rence and Ruby. At the g, she saw James again, who told her if she couldn¡¯t make it to Silvergrove City, she could alwayse to Crescendo Town and he¡¯d take care of her, more thanfortably. Kristin refused again. After sipping the drink passed to her, her consciousness blurred. During her five years in jail, Kristin went over and over the men who could¡¯ve been in her room that night, and James seemed the most likely, because of her defiance towards him. ¡°Thisdy, do you need a ce to stay or do you want to grab a cab?¡± Outside the train station, hustlers shouted at Kristin, who hesitated, standing there awkwardly. With only five hundred bucks on her, she couldn¡¯t afford a hotel. She walked away from the station, found a 24¨Chour bank, and curled up in a corner. It was toote tonight and she¡¯d look for a job tomorrow. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. First, she needed to settle down, then figured out how to meet James to get some answers. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Crescendo Town, while different, held its own against Silvergrove City in terms of vibrancy and shimmer. In this city with all its bright lights and boozy nights, the feeling of being a stranger nearly drowned Kristin like a surging river. Kristin curled up in a corner, her body trembling like a leaf. Unlike Silvergrove City, Crescendo Town had to endure the harsh sting of bone¨Cchilling winters. At night, the snow came down in buckets, and folks hurried along. Kristin leaned against the window ss, gazing at the heavy snowfall outside. As a kid, she loved snowy days, because Silvergrove City never got winter, so she was dying to see the snow. ¡°Kris, this year I¡¯m gonna take you to Oakville Crossings to catch some snow.¡± She remembered the winter before her cover was blown, rence had everything nned out. He whisked her away from school, giving her the surprise of her life. Back then, rence doted on her. He provided every form of protection a brother could possibly offer to his sister. Kristin used to take it for granted, but now, it felt like a debt she owed that she ought to repay. Over the years, Kristin had silently endured all the pain inflicted by the Turner family, simply because she got more warmth in those first twenty years than she deserved. She could understand why Summer hated her. # ¡°I checked the weather. Right when wend, the snow starts.¡± That year, rence fondly ruffled Kristin¡¯s hair, taking her to Oakville Crossings to enjoy the snowy view. She was bundled up in a thick¨Cdown jacket. The weather was freezing, but her heart was warm. Now the dream was over, and her current life was the real deal she was supposed to face. ¡°Kristin! Wake up, Kris!¡± Kristin had dozed off by the window. Hearing her name, she jolted awake, clutching herself in panic. ¡°What¡¯s there to be scared of? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m gonna eat you up,¡± said the woman squatting in front of Kristin, dressed in a miniskirt on a snowy day with heavy makeup. Kristin breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°How did you know I was here¡­?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only this ATM around the train station where you can catch some sleep and it¡¯s safe.¡± Chapter 50 The woman chuckled, lighting up a cigarette. ¡°You called me yesterday, I thought I heard C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. wrong. I told you to look for me when you got out, why¡¯d you take so long?¡± Kristin felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I spent a few days with my kid at home.¡± ¡°Fine,e with me.¡± The woman was Harriet, Kristin¡¯s prison buddy and the one who got out early. Harriet got caught up with the wrong guy, one with a wife who was a moocher, and apparently made his fortune thanks to his wife¡¯s family. Still, he kept a mistress on the side. When the wife found out, she demanded Harriet pay back the money. Harriet refused, and the guy and his wife sued her for ckmail. The guy was clever and yed Harriet for the three¨Cyear youth. ¡°I heard you on the phone. Are you saying you wanted to make some cash?¡± Harriet sized up Kristin, who was shivering, and thought Kristin was too fragile for their line of work. ¡°With that tiny frame, you won¡¯t survive our gig.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay, I can take the heat,¡± Kristin shook her head. ¡°Waiting tables and pouring drinks are not difficult for me.¡± Harriet looked at Kristin, took a deep drag, andughed so hard she bent over. ¡°Kristin, don¡¯t tell me you actually think¡­ I¡¯m just a waitress? A waitress earning tens of thousands a month?¡± Kristin was taken aback, finally getting Harriet¡¯s drift. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who said you¡¯re strapped for cash.¡± Harriet pulled Kristin into a cab. ¡°When you¡¯re really broke, do you care about that stuff?¡± Harriet leaned against the cab window, flicking her cigarette butt out carelessly. Kristin instinctively wanted to stop her, feeling it wasn¡¯t right to litter. At the sight of Kristin¡¯s reaction, Harrietughed without malice. ¡°Do you think you were still a noble lady, huh?¡± Kristin paused, slowly curling up in the corner. Yeah, she needed to return that pride and so¨Ccalled nobility in her bones to the Turner family. She was meant to be mired in the mud all along. rence and Vincent wanted her to rot there. ¡°I warn you we don¡¯t keep freeloaders where I¡¯m from. You¡¯re pretty and got a nice figure, plus you¡¯re trained in dance, that¡¯s your advantage. If you wanna dive in, no one¡¯s gonna do better or make money faster than you,¡± Harriet said earnestly, heaving a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s all up to you, though. If you¡¯re still stubborn, those rich folks ain¡¯t there to serve you. Kristin kept her head down, silent. ¡°Kristin, five years in prison, right? You were the most obedient and the mostmitted to 10:07 Chapter 50 reform, yet you never got parole. Anyone could see you were being yed and someone was stepping on you. Do you think you can make clean money? Is that even possible? If so, you wouldn¡¯t have contacted me. I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I?¡± Harriet used to be not so sharp, but she learned from her mistakes, those lousy men made her wiser. Seeing Kristin go mute again, Harriet shed with pity, but what good was her pity? Harriet was barely able to save herself. ¡°I want to help you¡­ Just my luck to have a conscience, but I¡¯m not capable.¡± Harriet sneered. She¡¯d been hurt and wanted to help Kristin, but was Harriet in any position to do so? ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Kristin didn¡¯t know what was the point of clinging to her so¨Ccalled pride anymore. In Silvergrove City, her reputation was trashed, down to the bone. Everyone was gabbing about how she got dirty enough to have a strange man¡¯s baby. However, only she was aware that it was a singr night of passion with a man. Once your name was dragged through the mud, you could never be clean again. As long as Kristin could make money, enough to cover Summer¡¯s medical bills, she¡¯d do anything. Harriet was a bit taken aback, not expecting Kristin to agree. During those five years in the mmer, no matter how much her cellmates bullied and humiliated her, she never budged but stood tall. Kristin never begged for mercy, and bit back the pain without making a peep. Who knew she¡¯d have a change of heart just days after getting out? ¡°Try working with me for a month first and do some other stuff. I¡¯m worried your weakness¡­ might not handle this work,¡± Harriet sighed, paid the driver, and got out to help Kristin with her things. Kristin didn¡¯t have much to carry, just a few clothes, the same ones Garner had sent to the prison. ¡°Thanks, Harriet.¡± Kristin hurried to show her gratitude. ¨C¡°What for? Once you¡¯re in Crescendo Town, if I¡¯ve got a roof, you¡¯ve got a ce to shelter from the storm.¡± The snow wasing down hard, piling up on Harriet¡¯s long hair. Kristin reached up to touch her hair, which, once long enough to drape over her shoulders, had been chopped off when she was locked up. Not having cut it for half a year, it was barely shoulder¨Clength now. ¡°Harriet, do you evere across James from Aurora Tech?¡± Kristin asked quietly. As they climbed the stairs to the rental, Harriet cursed at the trash littering the hallway. ¡°These ssless jerks, throwing all their nasty junk here, it reeks!¡± ncing back at Kristin, Harriet chuckled. ¡°Who? Our Crescendo Town¡¯s big shot?¡± Kristin stayed silent. ¡°Chance would be a fine thing, on TV, on my phone, in the news, that¡¯s where,¡± Harriet thought Kristin was just messing around. A look of disappointment filled Kristin¡¯s eyes. How on earth could she meet James? 1/4 ¡°Our club is the biggest and fanciest in Silvergrove City. I heard Aurora Tech¡¯s got a stake in it. and some top brass from there do fancy a visit. But I have never seen James myself, only in biz Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. mags. You wanna meet him¡­ It¡¯s not totally out of the question, but you gotta count ondy luck.¡± Harriet knew a bit about Kristin¡¯s backstory. If It was any other gal, Harriet might haveughed at their pipe dreams, but Kristin was once Ms. Turner, who rubbed elbows with the high and mighty. Kristin lit up her eyes for a moment, then she shed a smile at Harriet. ¡°Thank you, Harriet.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all in the same mud pit here, why all the fuss?¡± Harriet lifted her chin towards the hallway garbage. ¡°See that? That¡¯s where we belong.¡± Kristin stared nkly at the filthy and stinking trash without a word. At the FitzGerald Group in Silvergrove City. *Mr. FitzGerald, here¡¯s the financial summary forst quarter.¡± the secretary reported. ¡°Vincent¡¯s project cost 1.2 billion, what¡¯s the return on investment?¡± Rhett frowned, clearly displeased. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald said¡­ we shouldn¡¯t fixate on return on investment just yet.¡± The secretary was a bit scared. Rhett scoffed. ¡°Is he running a charity?¡± To Rhett, Vincent was just foolish and clueless. ¡°So¡­ should we dig into where that money¡¯s gone?¡± the secretary asked timidly. After all, Vincent and Rhett were brothers. A thorough investigation might strain their rtionship. ¡°Check it out, but don¡¯t spook the horses,¡± Rhett huffed. He didn¡¯t trust anyone in the FitzGerald family, including his father Hob. ¡°By the way, Mr. FitzGerald, Mr. Bryce from Aurora Tech said next¨Cmonth¡¯s Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce dinner will be in Crescendo Town with himself as the host. He¡¯s inviting you to Crescendo Town.¡± The secretary checked Rhett¡¯s schedule. ¡°Last year¡¯s dinner was here in Silvergrove City, and you were the host. It¡¯s Mr. Bryce¡¯s turn to return the favor.¡± ¡°Just a show of strength,¡± Rhett said nonchntly. ¡°Make the arrangements.¡± The Bryce family and the FitzGerald family had been cooperating andpeting behind the scenes for years. James was smart, but Rhett always felt he was up to no good. Rhett preferred James¡® younger brother, Yates. The secretary nodded and left the office. Chapter 51 ¡°We haven¡¯t been able to locate Kristin yet, but the Turner family has shown up here multiple times. In fact, rence even went to meet your father,¡± Slipping into the office, York reported with a slight air of unease. Clearly, Hob had been giving York grief. Rhett leaned back in his chair, his eyes coldly on York. ¡°I won¡¯t see him.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, cut the stubborn act, will you? You haven¡¯t even got your hands on the shares your grandfather promised you yet. Without tying the knot, you¡¯re just keeping the seat warm. You need to get hitched to call the shots.¡± York was freaking out. ¡°Vincent and his mom are eyeing those shares like hawks. Rubbing your father is the wrong way right now.¡± And all this fuss was over a kid who¡¯s not even part of the picture. Sure, it¡¯s a bummer that Summer got roughed up, but let¡¯s not lose our heads here. Rhett is a member of the FitzGerald family through and through and he should weigh what mattered more. ¡°Until Kristin¡¯s back, I¡¯m notying eyes on anyone from the Turner family, Vincent included.¡± Rhett¡¯s voice dropped an octave, and a warning re shot at York. ¡°One more word, and you can hit the road too.¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 York was freaking out and panicking as he looked at Rhett, who usually had the business world wrapped around his finger and cut through it like a hot knife through butter. Why the heck was he losing his marbles over a kid? As long as the FitzGerald Group held firm, the Turner family¡¯s project was dyed yet another. day. If they failed to wrap it up by the contract deadline, they would have to cough up a hefty penalty fee. Each day dyed meant more dough out the window, which would be a serious cash here. Rheft couldn¡¯t care less about the development of the Turner family. Since the FitzGerald family and the Turner family were tied by marriage, people might get the wrong idea that Rhett¡¯s got it out for Vincent. Family feuds were already a ticking time bomb for the FitzGerald Group, which could easilynd Rhett in hot water. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± York, risking getting kicked to the curb, couldn¡¯t keep it bottled up anymore. ¡°You seem to have a soft spot for Kristin and her kid, which is kinda out of character for you¡­ York was being as subtle as a sledgehammer here. Rhett couldn¡¯t be bothered to spell it out. ¡°Sometimes, whether it¡¯s people or situations, you gotta look beyond the surface to see what¡¯s really going on.¡± York was stumped, not quite catching Rhett¡¯s drift, but Rhett¡¯s actions always had some reason behind their madness. A career¨Cdriven guy like Rhett wouldn¡¯t easily fall for any dame and he wouldn¡¯t put the screws on the Turner family for Summer¡¯s sake unless¡­ the Turner family had stepped on Rhett¡¯s toes, and Summer was just the match that lit the fuse. With a nod, York exited the office. Vincent and rence had been thick as thievestely, even teaming up on a project without Rhett¡¯s thumbs¨Cup. What got York¡¯s goat was Vincent and rence going behind Rhett¡¯s back and making cozy with Mr. Bryce from Aurora Tech, clearly looking to pull a fast one without Rhett in the loop. So, Rhett shaking up the Turner family was to take the chance to teach the Turner family and Vincent a lesson they wouldn¡¯t forget. At the FitzGerald family. ¡°Dad, you¡¯re finally back. I don¡¯t know what got into Rhett. He is suddenly giving the Turner family a hard time.¡± Vincent, seething but trying not to step out of line in front of Hob. Hob furrowed his brow and nced at rence, asking, ¡°What did you guys do to tick off Rhett?¡± Chapter 52 Hob knew Rhett well enough to know he wouldn¡¯t go to war without a good reason. Rhett was always one to mind his business first and foremost. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that bitch Kristin. Vincent darkened his face, having had people on the lookout for Kristin for three days with not a peep! She had the gall to go into hiding and better hope to high heaven to avoid our search. ¡°Kristin?¡± Hob asked, puzzled. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°rence stirred up trouble with Kristin, and somehow she pulled some dirty trick to get Rhett. to back her up.¡± Vincent grimaced, knowing full well Rhett wouldn¡¯t take on the Turner family over a woman. But he couldn¡¯t let Hob catch wind of his and rence¡¯s shady dealings with Mr. Bryce and their other little schemes. Hob huffed. ¡°Without the straight dope, I can¡¯t help you.¡± Hob was crystal clear that Rhett wouldn¡¯t pick a fight with the Turner family over just any skirt, especially not one like Kristin. Clearly, Vincent and rence weren¡¯t telling the whole truth, and Kristin was just an excuse for Rhett to make his move. Vincent paused, giving rence a nervous look. rence, realizing the jig was up, spoke softly. ¡°Truth be told, Vincent and I got involved in a project together. We¡¯ve had some dealings with Mr..Bryce from Aurora Tech and a few other partners. Maybe Rhett misunderstood¡­ and thought we were going behind his back.¡± Hob turned to stone, fixing Vincent with a stern look. ¡°Getting too big for your britches, eh? Don¡¯t want to y by Rhett¡¯s rules?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­ Dad, I¡¯ve got my chops. I can¡¯t shine under his wing and just want to prove myself to you.¡± Vincent was getting desperate. Why should he always be outshone by Rhett? Rhett was holding him back and Vincent was scared he¡¯d one day take his spot. Hob pointed a warning finger at Vincent. ¡°Next month, there¡¯s a g in Crescendo Town held by the Chamber of Commerce. You two better go and clear things up with Rhett about your dealings with James! After you get back, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± rence was on edge. ¡°Ourpany¡¯s project can¡¯t be put on hold that long.¡± ¡°Then go beg Rhett now to see if he¡¯ll budge,¡± Hob snorted. Neither rence nor Vincent said another word. Who was Rhett? His word wasw. If begging him was worth a dime, would they have gone behind his back to deal with James? Chapter 52 Vincent turned even more sour. Why did Rhett always have to lord over everyone? Casting a meaningful nce at rence, Vincent had a n brewing. He had to throw some shade Rhett¡¯s way to smear his reputation a bit. When James hit up Crescendo Town this time, he¡¯s totally gonna drag Rhett to some nightclubs. The moment Rhett got caught up in some scandal with a sketchydy, it¡¯s gonna be a real smear on his reputation. Chapter 53 At the Nightlight Club of Crescendo Town. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Harriet waltzed in with Kristin, hooking her up with a chill gig at the reception desk. Kristin¡¯s got the looks with a killer figure, a real head¨Cturner behind the desk. ¡°Front desk¡¯s all about image, but it¡¯s a trouble ma too. If some drunk ruffles your feathers, don¡¯t poke the bear, just buzz me, got it?¡± Harriet¡¯s the sales honcho for the joint, so she¡¯s got Kristin¡¯s back. Kristin nodded, ¡°Got it, I¡¯m on it.¡± As Harriet checked her phone, she rallied a few lookers to charm the guests. ¡°Hey, Mr. Zack, been a minute, huh? What¡¯s your poison tonight? On the house!¡± The chubby guy chuckled, wrapping an arm around Harriet¡¯s waist. ¡°You? Treat me? Brought some pals, find me some sharp gals for a bit of fun.¡± Harriet shot him a knowing smile and followed him into the elevator. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Kristin stood at the desk, going over the VIP mugshots. These high¨Crollers were untouchable. ¡°Where are you from? A looker like you at the front desk, that¡¯s a tough break,¡± Yara, another receptionist, said with a grin. Kristin chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m from out of town.¡°. ¡°Same! I hail from Saint Diego.¡± Yara wasn¡¯t a knockout, but her smile was infectious. ¡°Front desk pays peanuts, nomission. But you, dolling up and sipping drinks without the extra, could rake in a couple grand a month,¡± Yara said, noticing Kristin¡¯s silence. Kristin shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to alcohol.¡± Yara got it. ¡°Shame, but no biggie. We make less, but it¡¯s honest work.¡± Kristin gave her a once¨Cover, whispering, ¡°How long have you been here?¡± ¡°Since graduation, pushing four years,¡± Yara whispered back, slipping Kristin a stick of gum. Kristin murmured thanks and probed softly, ¡°Ever seen Aurora Tech¡¯s James Bryce around?¡± Yara popped her eyes. ¡°Yeah! We¡¯re Aurora Tech¡¯s yground, didn¡¯t Lisa tell you? Mr. Bryce. brings his posse here and he¡¯s our VIP.¡± Kristin breathed easier, shaking her head. HR went easy on her because of Harriet. ¡°Manager just paged us that some big shot¡¯sing tonight. We gotta suit up. I¡¯ll get our uniforms.¡± Kristin nodded. With this gig, she¡¯s found some stability. Thepany¡¯s got dorms. Harriet, being the sales queen, had her space, and Kristin got to room with her by association. Figuring she¡¯d pocket five hundred from her first paycheck and send the rest to Garner, she couldn¡¯t help but miss Summer, her little boy. She dared not call, fearing his cries would break her resolve to stay away. ¡°Kris, go get changed. You¡¯re tall and slim. I¡¯ve got your size. Check if the dress is too short. Here are your shoes.¡± Yara handed Kristin the crystal heels and the dress. Even receptionists had to look the part in a swanky club. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to m up. Makeup room¡¯s over there and my kit¡¯s all yours,¡± Yara said, transformed by her makeup. Kristin, taken aback, remembered that she had nearly forgotten how to do makeup. She had gone without makeup for five years in prison, and even before that, she rarely beautified herself. Any stage makeup she¡¯d had was always professionally done. Dressed up and awkward, Kristin eyed her reflection. The dress hugged her form, showcasing her ballet¨Ctrained, swan¨Clike neck, and delicate features. Her hair was tied back, her lips pale, but otherwise, striking, especially those legs. She wasn¡¯t the tallest, but her proportions were spot¨Con. High heels entuated her shapely and fair legs, though the bruises still healing were a harsh contrast. Taking a deep breath, she tried to pull down the dress, but it was hopeless. The high slits. meant her legs were on full disy. ¡°Kris, you done?¡± Yara burst in and stopped short at the sight of Kristin. ¡°You a dancer or what?¡± Kristin stayed quiet, embarrassed. ¡°Those marks¡­¡± Yara noticed the bruises, whispering. Kristin bit her lip, silent. Yara dug out a pair of new flesh¨Ctoned stockings. ¡°Put these on.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Kristin murmured, promising to rece them tomorrow. ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger. You¡¯ve got the foundation. p on some lipstick ande on out, Lisa said the big fish is arriving, and we need to greet them.¡± Kristin nodded, hastily put on the stockings, slipped into the unfamiliar heels, and applied Harriet¡¯s lipstick. With color on her lips, she looked much better, cautiously stepping out. ¡°Just lipstick, no makeup?¡± Lisa, from the etiquette department, was stunned by Kristin¡¯s LULA Chapter 53 beauty. ¡°Such a waste to have you just greeting at the door.¡± Kristin blushed and headed to her post. ¡°Get ready, the dinner for Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce is about to start. Big shots everywhere, stay sharp!¡± The mention of the chamber dinner sent Kristin¡¯s nerves into overdrive, her breathing grew erratic. Staggering a bit as she approached the door, Kristin was turning ghostly pale. Six years back, she had attended a dinner party hosted by the Chamber of Commerce right in Silvergrove City. That banquet was a total nightmare for Kristin. The scandal about her being a fake heiress blew up, and everyone there was mocking and dissing her, treating her like a clown up for their entertainment. And that¡¯s exactly the show rence wanted to see. ¡°Kristin, the guests are here, what¡¯s up with you?¡± Yara called out softly, noticing Kristin was off her game. The reception staff were leading the way, with a distracted Kristin trailing behind. ¡°Mr. Bryce, right this way, please.¡± Lisa stepped forward to wee the arriving party. ¡°How¡¯s the club¡¯s renovation been going?¡± James¡® assistant threw out the question. ¡°We¡¯ve got a business dinner happening here and we don¡¯t want any hups for Mr. Bryce.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, we¡¯ve been on a hiring and training spreetely, nothing¡¯s gonna go wrong.¡± James walked into the club with a poker face, not even ncing at the hostesses lined up on both sides. The Bryce family¡¯s clout in Crescendo Town was no less than the FitzGerald family¡¯s in Silvergrove City. The e moment Kristin caught sight of James, she was a deer in headlights, quickly ducking her head. Now that she was facing James, she was all thumbs. She had no clue how to even start a conversation with him. If Kristin just blurted it out now, she¡¯d probably kiss her job goodbye. James took a step forward, then suddenly stopped, stepping back to stand right in front of Kristin. Startled, Kristin tried to shrink away, but James stopped her with a hand. ¡°Lift your head up.¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Kristin clenched her fingers tight with fear as she threw Lisa a look begging for help. ¡°Mr. Bryce, she¡¯s the new girl, just finished training, our new receptionist. Is there a problem?¡± Lisa quickly dashed over. ¡°Lift your head up!¡± James was icy and seemingly short on patience. Kristin gripped her fingers tight and slowly raised her head. James paused for a moment, then burst outughing. ¡°Never mind, I got you mixed up with someone else.¡± Lisa breathed a sigh of relief and motioned for Kristin to scram. James didn¡¯t linger and made a beeline for the entrance. Kristin exhaled deeply, feeling a wave of relief. After five years, James surely must have forgotten her. Once James was out of earshot, Yara came shivering over. ¡°Man, that big shot¡¯s got an aura like no other, scared the living daylights out of me.¡± Kristin felt her legs turn to jelly. Yara chuckled and steadied Kristin. ¡°Scared you, huh? I thought Mr. Bryce had his eye on you for a second there. Talk about a heart attack!¡± Kristin offered an awkward smile. ¡°Did you catch what Mr. Bryce¡¯s assistant was saying?¡± Yara led Kristin to the front desk. ¡°The annual dinner for the Chamber of Commerce gonna be here at our club, the biggest in Crescendo Town. Even front desk jobs here are for the educated. Younded this gig just in time with the hiring spree.¡± Kristin nodded. ¡°I heard it.¡± ¡°Do you know who shows up at these dinners? Ever heard of the FitzGerald family from Silvergrove City? They¡¯re even bigger fish than Mr. Bryce. In the business world, there¡¯s always a bigger fish.¡± Kristin stiffened her fingers, panic rising within her. If it was the dinner for the Chamber of Commerce, Vincent and rence would surely attend. ¡°Can I¡­ can I take that day off?¡± Kristin asked in a hushed tone. ¡°No go, Lisa said everything¡¯s leading up to this night, no one¡¯s allowed to bail,¡± Yara shook her head. Kristin tightened her fingers anxiously as she calcted her next move. Staying put meant risking being dragged back. And being dragged back by them meant a one¨Cway ticket to the Chapter 54 grave. ¡°Kris, room 3688 upstairs needs a fruit tter delivered. The catering staff¡¯s swamped, go give them a hand,¡± Lisa instructed, sending Kristin on her way. ¡°I could go, Kris isn¡¯t up to speed yet.¡± Yara offered, thinking she should handle it. ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a fruit tter. I need you here for something else, Lisa said dismissively. Kristin nodded and, unustomed to the high heels, made her way to the catering area. ¡°This bottle of wine costs over a million per piece, handle it with utmost care,¡± the staff member instructed, pointing to a wine bottle chilling in an ice bucket. Kristin nodded nervously and wheeled the cart into the elevator. In the past, a million¨Cplus bottle meant nothing to Kristin, but now, it was a fantasy figure. ¡°Sir, your fruit tter and wine,¡± Kristin announced, knocking on the door. No answer from inside. Noticing the door was ajar, Kristin pushed it open and entered. Inside, James was lounging on the sofa, schmoozing with a few bigwigs. Kristin, head down, first set the wine bucket on the table, then arranged the fruit tter. Moving Silently, she turned to leave. ¡°This club¡¯s different alright, even the waitstaff are hotter than celebs. It seems like a waste to have a looker like her serving drinks,¡± Zack, previously dragged away by Harriet, gawked at Kristin, dazzled by her slim legs. James nced at Kristin, saying nothing. Feeling anxious, Kristin kept her head down and tried to exit. Zack stood up, blocking her path. ¡°Hey, miss, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ha, looks like Zack¡¯s taken a shine to this girl.¡± someone booed. ¡°Let me tell you, catching Zack¡¯s eye is a stroke of luck.¡± The others chuckled, egging Kristin on not to miss her chance. Kristin¡¯s palms began to sweat as she wondered how to handle the situation. It was her first day on the job after three days of training, and she didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for Harriet. ¡°A college girl?¡± Kristin looked young and fit. No one could tell she¡¯d had a child. Zack¡¯s hand almost reached Kristin¡¯s leg. ¡°She¡¯s not up for grabs,¡± James finally spoke with a firm voice after a long silence. Kristin flinched, standing still with her head bowed. Zack paused, confused, and James added. ¡°She¡¯s had a child.¡± Kristin faltered her grip on the tray, her heartbeat racing. James had indeed¡­ recognized her. Zack and the others were taken aback. ¡°Do you know her? Is she still in such great shape after having a kid?¡± ¡°I like that even more,¡± another boss joked,ughing. Kristin flushed her cheeks, not with embarrassment, but anger. The way these men appraised women, as if they were picking out produce at a market, was humiliating. ¡°Her? Tough cookie to crack.¡± James smirked, implying a challenge. ¡°It¡¯s up to you big shots to show what you¡¯re made of.¡± ¡°Ha, it sounds like Mr. Bryce¡¯s tried before?¡± The menughed, probing further. ¡°Yep, chased her for three years and got nowhere,¡± James joked half¨Cseriously. Kristi burned with the effort to hold back and just wanted to flee. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She could already predict the humiliation that wasing. James would take this chance to mock her. ¡°That hard to get. huh? Not even epting Mr. Bryce? Is she ying hard to get or is the money just not enough?¡± Zack sneered, reaching out to grab Kristin¡¯s wrist. ¡°A million for one night, I¡¯m offering top dor here.¡± Kristin dodged in panic, her aversion to being touched by men was a reflex. A te smashed against Zack¡¯s head. In that instant, Kristin nearly copsed to her knees. It wasn¡¯t intentional, really not¡­ It was just an unconscious reaction, her body acting beyond her control. Near tears, Kristin choked out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, so sorry¡­ Zack, stunned, touched his forehead, feeling a scratch. Everyone else gasped, too. This chick¡­ really doesn¡¯t know how to y the game. ¡°Man, that¡¯s a p in the face,¡± Zack dropped his voice, throwing a pissed¨Coff nce at Kristin. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your looks, you wouldn¡¯t even get the chance to stand here.¡± She seemed to strike a chord with the guys¡®petitive spirit. Another boss chimed in with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ll put down two million. Mr. Bryce, I¡¯ll take her off your hands.¡± James was smirking, eyeing Kristin like he knew something she didn¡¯t. ¡°Back in the day, I was 11:38 Chapter 54 ready to shell out eight million for her.¡± Kristin stood there shivering like a leaf. Six years back, Vincent and rence dragged her to court, using her of squeezing a cool eight million out of the Turner family and the FitzGerald family¡­ Eight million, that was the number James used to poke at her. That year, James had approached her, proposing he could make her eight million debt disappear if she agreed to be with him. ¡°What? Eight million? For a woman who¡¯s had a kid?¡± That boss couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°Ha? Why would I do that when I could get a young starlet for fun? It¡¯s all about the connections, you know.¡± ¡°With the current rates, eight million.¡± Zack was clearly picking a fight with Kristin. ¡°But shouldn¡¯t I get to check on her first?¡± Kristin turned to leave but Zack yanked her back, mming her against the wall. ¡°How are we gonna settle you hitting me? I¡¯ll get my injuries checked and see how much you owe me. deduct it from your eight million!¡± Zack had never met a woman who dared to hit him. Today, for the sake of his pride, he had to take Kristin with him. ¡°Zack, thisdy¡¯s had a kid. She ain¡¯t worth eight million now, right?¡± someone joked from the side. James, with a thoughtful look, spoke mildly. ¡°What if her kid was mine? Wouldn¡¯t that make her even more valuable?¡± Everyone was at a loss for words. The moment James finished speaking, Zack instinctively let go of Kristin, looking at James with an almost terrified expression and thinking, ¡°Had I justid my hands on James¡® woman?¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Everyone in the room was instantly in shock. Kristin turned out to be James¡® woman¡­. No wonder she turned down 8 million. Since she had borne James¡® love child, even a sum of several hundred million would have been easy to secure, let alone a mere 8 million. ¡°You should step out for a bit.¡± James told Kristin to leave. Kristin stood there, dazed, looking at James. Was it really him that night? She fled the room in panic and holed up in the bathroom for ages, sshing her face with cold. water non¨Cstop. All these years, she was tormented by the memories of that night, like a nightmare, gnawing away at her soul. During her five years in prison, she had that terrible dream almost every night, dreaming of hands groping her wildly, and then dragging her down to hell. She hated herself for not staying sober that night or sinking with the drugged drinks. What Kristin couldn¡¯te to terms with the most was that, she had given up resisting at the end. She was actually responding to him. ¡°Kris, you okay?¡± Yara asked quietly when Kristin returned with her hair all wet. Kristin just shook her head. ¡°The HR department wants us to fill out our personal information, you should do it.¡± Kristin took the form, nced at it, and took a deep breath. That survey was so detailed, it even asked if you were single. In the name field, Kristin was about to write her name but thought better of it and wrote Kristin Collins instead. The name ¡°Kristin Turner¡± had followed her for over twenty years. For the first twenty, it was a badge of pride. But thesest few years, it had be abel of disgrace. The Turner family hated her but wouldn¡¯t let her go. She had been kicked out by the Turner family, so keeping that surname was pointless. After filling out the form, Kristin handed it back to Yara. ¡°It¡¯s a really nice name.¡± Kristin just smiled and said nothing. She stayed at the front desk until 10 PM. Once the night shift person arrived, Kristin could leave. 11.20 Chapter 55 ¡°Harriet has to entertain clients with drinks tonight, so she won¡¯t be going back with you.¡± Kristin nodded and nned to head home alone. After changing her clothes, Kristin stepped outside, hesitated for a long time, but decided to wait and see when James would leave.. She needed to clear things up. Sitting behind her designated parking spot, Kristin curled up her legs and zoned out. She had escaped without money to buy a phone. Harriet mentioned an old phone, but she hadn¡¯t had the chance to get a SIM card. The chamber ofmerce¡¯s dinner wasing up soon. It would be dangerous to continue to stay here, but if not, she couldn¡¯t be sheltered by Harriet anymore, especially since she had promised to help Harriet when the club was short¨Cstaffed. ¡°Mr. Bryce, everything has been taken care of at the club. There won¡¯t be any mistakes,¡± the assistant said, following James and helping him open the car door. Several club leaders followed, smiling and seeing James off to his car. It was clear that they were intimidated by James¡® status. Kristin hid behind the curb, nervously peeking out. With so many people around, she didn¡¯t dare to show her face. After James got into the car and nced in the rearview mirror, he saw a fuzzy head buried in legs, huddled silently behind the car. The assistant was about to drive off, but James spoke in a deep voice, ¡°Get out.¡± The assistant paused. ¡°Mr. Bryce, aren¡¯t we leaving?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself back.¡± James got out of the car and gestured for the assistant to leave. The managers also watched James, not understanding what was going on. ¡°Let them all go back,¡± James frowned, disliking such pomp and pageantry. The managers exchanged nces and left with the assistant. Once the parking lot was empty, James leaned against the car door and smoked. Kristin hid for a while longer, then peered out to see James looking in her direction. Startled, she quickly hid again. James was one of amusement, as if he was waiting to see what Kristin was up to. Gathering her courage, Kristin stood up and walked over with her head down. ¡°Mr. Bryce¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± James looked at Kristin with a meaningful gaze. ¡°Was it you¡­ six years ago?¡± Kristin asked softly, head still lowered. 2/4 11:39 Chapter 55 James scrutinized Kristin who was someone he wouldn¡¯t give a second nce in a crowd. The woman who once caught his eye was the swan that shone brightly on stage, not this timid and dusty little ugly duckling. Ruining someone was easy, which seemed to take only five years. ¡°Who do you hope it was?¡± James asked. He knew everything about Kristin. Five years ago, he did want to take that swan¨Clike Kristin home and keep her. But back then, Kristin was too proud. She wouldn¡¯t bow her head, so he just had to wait and see her edges smoothed, her pride stripped away. Kristin didn¡¯t reply. She hoped that nothing had happened that night, but that wasn¡¯t realistic. ¡°What will you do if I say it was me? ckmail, extortion, or call the cops?¡± James asked meaningfully. Kristin dropped her head even lower. ¡°No¡­¡± She hadn¡¯t ckmailed or extorted money from rence and Vincent who had ndered her. But no one would believe her. With reddened eyes, Kristin looked up at James, continuing, ¡°I don¡¯t want anything¡­ If it was you, could you please do a paternity test with Summer¡­¡± James looked into Kristin¡¯s eyes, his brows furrowing. This woman was still as ever pushing his limits. ¡°Summer is sick and needs his father for a medical examination,¡± Kristin quickly exined, worried James might misunderstand. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to use the child¡­ to fight for anything. I promise.¡± James crushed the cigarette butt in the trash can and opened the car door. ¡°Get in.¡± Kristin stood there, uneasy, not sure if James had agreed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± At the sight of Kristin still standing there, James inquired. ¡°Hemolytic anemia,¡± Kristin said quietly. James was silent for a long stretch before he finally spoke up. ¡°And why should I lift a finger to help you?¡± Kristin was momentarily stunned, biting her lip as if wrestling with an internal struggle. She¡¯d do anything for her son. Her ruined reputation was the least of her worries. ¡°Stick with me for three years, and I¡¯ll take care of the kid¡¯s medical issues,¡± James said, eyeing Kristin as if waiting to gauge her reaction. 3/4 11:39 Chapter 55 She just stood there, looking lost, as if she didn¡¯t know what hit her. Had it been Kristin six years ago, she would¡¯ve shot down James¡® proposition without a second thought. Back then, Kristin was all pride, as if she¡¯d rather break her back than bow down to anyone. But now, she was bending way too low. ¡°I¡­ want to see a paternity test first,¡± Kristin wasn¡¯t born yesterday. She had to make sure James was Summer¡¯s biological dad. James raised an eyebrow, a smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Sure, I¡¯m ready whenever you are.¡± At his words, Kristin raced her heart. James wasn¡¯t the type to im a son willy¨Cnilly but was hardly the sentimental type, so the odds were high it was him that night. ¡°Get in, I¡¯ll give you a ride back.¡± Kristin shook her head. ¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary.¡± ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll hurt you?¡± James looked at Kristin with a meaningful gaze. Kristin didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Leave a way to contact you, at least. I can¡¯t be expected to hunt you down, can I?¡± James handed over his phone to her. Kristin paused, head down, not moving. N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She didn¡¯t have a phone. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 James got the picture and leaned back in his seat with a chuckle. ¡°Hop in, don¡¯t make me say it a third time.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers were nearly raw from her nervous picking. She nced down to make sure her clothes were clean before carefully opening the back door. ¡°Sit up front,¡± James gestured. Kristin pondered for a moment before settling into the front seat. James didn¡¯t say a word and drove Kristin to the mall. ¡°Get out,¡± he instructed as they arrived. Kristin stayed put. After a long pause, Kristin finally spoke up. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll go back.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯ve had you around for three years to y nanny or maid?¡± James had to stifle augh. Kristin remained silent. ¡°Come on, whether or not I go for a paternity test depends on if you can follow directions,¡± James resorted to a threat, as nothing else seemed to work. Kristin was stubborn, only responding to this kind of talk. She got out of the car and followed James inside. Entering the elevator, Kristin instinctively tucked herself into the farthest corner, eyes fixed on the walls. The elevator reached the ground floor, crowded with people entering the mall. James reached out and pulled Kristin in front of him, frowning slightly. Kristin stood rigid among the crowd with a trace of fear in her demeanor. Crowds terrified her. After years in prison, Kristin developed severe psychological issues. Any person facing great trauma and change would inevitably show some stress response. Kristin feared enclosed spaces, crowds, and being squeezed among people. Her breathing. became labored, sweat forming on her forehead. James nced down at Kristin. He towered over others, but Kristin was nearly swallowed by the crowd. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± he said. Kristin had be much more docile than she was five years ago. She followed James 11:39 Chapter 56 obediently like a soulless marite. As they walked, James had an epiphany about what had changed in Kristin. Her eyes once shimmered, bursting with life. Now, they were vacant, hollow. It was as though her spirit had been depleted, leaving only an empty shell behind. A twinge of regret clenched James¡® hands. Five years ago, he could have helped Kristin, but he didn¡¯t. In fact¡­ he wanted to see her stripped of her pride. ¡°Get her a SIM card with her ID and send it to IF, James called his assistant, leading Kristin into a phone store. The prices on the phones were steep, Kristin kept her head down, not daring to look. James wasn¡¯t into shopping, never buying stuff unless he had to. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Yet, Kristin seemed to be his one exception. ¡°Can you handle this one?¡± he asked in a low voice. Kristin stood far away, looking up at him briefly, then fell silent. ¡°Come here!¡± James took a deep breath. Kristin, fearing his anger, edged closer. Five years off the grid, she might not know how to use a modern smartphone. She was out of touch with the world. ¡°No¡­ I can¡¯t,¡± she confessed, shaking her head, then pointed to the simplest phone she could find, a model typically used by seniors. ¡°I can use this one.¡± James let out a chuckle. He wasn¡¯t typically someone who was prone toughter, but Kristin had always been an exception to that rule. ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass me, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± He picked up a phone, grabbed Kristin¡¯s wrist, and led her out. Kristin wanted to pull away. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to get a hang of it first?¡± James asked, looking at her. Kristin stayed silent. ¡°Whoa, isn¡¯t that¡­ Mr. Bryce!¡± James took Kristin into a high¨Cend boutique, and the disy assistant lit up upon seeing James. ¡°Mr. Bryce, why didn¡¯t Lindae with you?¡± Linda was a little starlet James had kept around in the past, known to everyone in the circle. Chapter 56 She used to prance around with her nose in the air, taking pride in her three¨Cyear stint with James. James darkened his face and instinctively nced at Kristin, who looked back, withdrawing her wrist from his grasp. Kristin needed to stay clear¨Cheaded that men like him were all the same without exceptions. To them, a woman was just a fleeting ything, nothing more. The disy assistant, realizing the faux pas, covered her mouth in panic. ¡°Mr. Bryce, I didn¡¯t mean¡­¡± ¡°Take her to try some clothes,¡± James said irritably, massaging his temples and flipping through a magazine on the sofa. ¡°Who¡¯s the in girl Mr. Bryce brought today? He never brings anyone here willingly, and he even held her hand.¡± ¡°That girl looks so timid like a country bumpkin. Did Mr. Bryce change his taste? He¡¯s over those proud swans now?¡± Kristin changed in the fitting room, overhearing the gossip outside. The tailor measured her and whispered, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Mr. Bryce?¡± Kristin said nothing. ¡°You¡¯re pretty, stand tall with confidence. Mr. Bryce likes girls with grace, like those who¡¯ve danced since childhood,¡± the tailor suggested. .Kristin paused, still silent. ¡°Linda¡¯s been with Mr. Bryce for three years, and he ditches that haughty princess for a maid?¡± The chatter outside continued. Kristin didn¡¯t respond and didn¡¯t care about being looked down on. What mattered was not interfering with others¡® rtionships. Slipping into a white dress the assistant had brought, Kristin emerged from the fitting room. James watched Kristin for a long silence. Truth be told, she had changed drastically. The sparkle was gone. As Kristin looked at herself in the mirror, she quickly lowered her gaze, not daring to recognize the reflection. She was a stranger to herself, unfamiliar and frightening. ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± James nodded. The assistant went to find more clothes for Kristin, asking her to wait on the side. ¡°Who¡¯s Linda?¡± Kristin asked, looking up. 3/5 Chapter 56 If she turned out to be James¡® girlfriend, then Kristin would have to turn down his request. She wasn¡¯t going to destroy others¡® love. ¡°You care?¡± James looked at Kristin. Kristin shook her head, replying, ¡°If you have a girlfriend, I¡¯m not going to be your mistress.¡± ¡°Mistress?¡± James chuckled. ¡°You sure think highly of yourself.¡± Kristin looked down and fell silent again. ¡°I don¡¯t have a girlfriend, James rified. Linda was definitely not a girlfriend, at most a fancy peacock kept around for amusement. Kristin remained silent. ¡°Mr. Bryce, your SIM card.¡± The assistant rushed in and handed the SIM card to James. James put the SIM card into his phone, turned it on, and started activating it for Kristin. ¡°Come sit here, I¡¯ll show you how to use it,¡± James said, patting the spot next to him. Kristin hesitated for a moment, then sat down. The assistant looked at Kristin in astonishment. Wasn¡¯t she¡­ the little receptionist from that club? Had she hooked up with their Mr. Bryce already? Impressive. ¨C¡°Nowadays, it¡¯s all about facial recognition,¡± James patiently exined to Kristin. Kristin watched the phone intently. When the facial recognition went through, she looked at James, surprised and a bit shocked. Phones these days were so amazing. James caught Kristin¡¯s eyes. For a moment, he was lost in thought. In that instant, it seemed as if there was a light in them. ¡°To make calls and use WhatsApp, it¡¯s all here. I¡¯ll help you set up an ount.¡± James said patiently. Kristin listened attentively. The assistant stood by, seriously shocked. ¡°Mr. Bryce¡­¡± The assistant hesitated for a long time but decided to talk business first. While Kristin went to try on clothes, James frowned and spoke. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The president of the FitzGerald Group from Silvergrove City, Rhett, ising to Crescendo 11:39 Chapter 56 Town earlier than expected. He needs your help to find someone,¡± the assistant quickly exined. ¡°Find someone? Who?¡± James was genuinely curious. Who could be so important that Rhett, the ice block of a millennium, woulde looking personally? ¡°A woman.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 James arched an eyebrow. A woman? Rhett was stirring up such a fuss just to find ady, evening to Crescendo Town ahead of schedule? ¡°Got it covered. I can¡¯t have Rhett feeling neglected. I¡¯ll take care of it personally tomorrow night.¡± James told his assistant after a quick nce at his schedule. ¡°Push back my appointments for the next few days. If Rhett¡¯s hitting up Silvergrove City, I gotta tag along.¡± The assistant got how important Rhett was, but from Mr. Bryce¡¯s vibe, it seemed like Rhett was just a smokescreen. Because James¡® gaze was glued to Kristin the whole time. ¡°Dig up some dirt on the FitzGerald family and the Turner family to see why she¡¯s popped up in Crescendo Town James said. He knew Kristin had been released from the mmer and had been itching for a chance to swing by Silvergrove City. Little did he expect her to waltz right up to his doorstep. Lounging on the sofa, James¡® gaze carried a deep meaning. This time, it was Kristin who hade looking for trouble¡­Well she couldn¡¯t me him for not letting go now. ¡°Is she¡­ the receptionist at the club, right?¡± the assistant blurted out, shocked. How was she tied to the FitzGerald family and the Turner family of Silvergrove City? James paused for a beat, then looked up at his assistant. ¡°Bill, how long you been with me?¡± Bill was all nerves. ¡°Six years¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you recognize her?¡± James felt a weird tightness in his chest. Kristin really changed a lot, so much that even Bill couldn¡¯t spot her. Bill was stunned, covering his mouth in shock. ¡°Man, that¡¯s one heck of a transformation.¡± Bill knew in his first year on the job that his boss had his eye on a society darling. Ms. Turner, all cool and ssy. She was the one his boss wanted but couldn¡¯t have. Just six years¡­ and she had turned into this. ¡°Mr. Bryce, does she know about what you did back then¡­?¡± Bill started, then held back. James shot him a warning look. ¡°Zip it.¡± Bill hung his head. ¡°My bad, Mr. Bryce.¡± After recognizing Kristin, Bill¡¯s eyes were all tense, sneaking several nces her way. It had been six years, but he still remembered the first time he saw Kristin, fresh out of college, tagging along with Mr. Bryce to Silvergrove City, watching her on stage performing a ballet solo. On that stage, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Bill knew Kristin was meant to be a dazzling and noble swan, a pure white presence gracing the heavens. But then, she¡¯d fallen into the muck. When no one offered her a helping hand, all the men who¡¯d loved and lost her wanted to trample her underfoot, see her grovel and get her toe crawling on her knees. No doubt, James had won. At least Kristin six yearster had lost her pride and showed up at his side, humbled. Kristin now bore no resemnce to her past self. ¡°Mr. Bryce, what do you think of this outfit?¡± the image consultant brought Kristin over for James¡® approval. James took his time before speaking. ¡°Long hair suited you better.¡± Kristin subconsciously reached for her hair, bowing her head in difort. Her once¨Cprized long hair, naturally sleek and straight even without care, had been cruelly cut along with her pride. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Go settle the bill¡± James instructed Bill. Kristin, nervous, followed him. She at least needed to know how much it cost. At the sight of panic in Kristin¡¯s eyes, Bill whispered, ¡°Short hair looks good, too.¡± Kristin hesitated, then waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Can I just¡­ get one piece? It¡¯s too pricey.¡± Bill still remembered his first conversation with Kristin. She had asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it tiring to be an assistant, always running around after your boss¡® girls?¡± Back then, Kristin¡¯s smile was like sunshine, fairy¨Clike, making hearts race. She handed Bill a bottle of water, then took the white rose from his hand. ¡°Your boss would give you a hard time if I didn¡¯t ept this, right?¡± In Bill¡¯s memory, Kristin was the beautiful and kind¨Chearted princess with a golden background, meant to forever shine bright as the pure moonlight. But to see the holydy trampled in the mud was a pity. ¡°Are you sure you want to stick with our boss?¡± Bill asked with goodwill, taking advantage of a quiet moment. Maybe he was starting to feel a twinge of guilt. Bill also knew James liked Kristin, but his kind of like¡­ Over the years, James had a parade of women by his side, each one a ballerina, each one Chapter 57 molded in Kristin¡¯s former image. No matter how many women he switched, Kristin¡¯s shadow lingered on them all. Kristin thought for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. ¡°I have no choice¡­¡± If there were another way, she wouldn¡¯t debase herself. But she was already low enough, with nowhere else to turn. Sticking with James was still better than being thrown to the wolves by Vincent. Bill looked down, feeling it was such a shame. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat the clothes. Mr. Bryce has always been generous with women, and he¡¯ll be even more so with you. Stick by Mr. Bryce¡¯s side and you¡¯ll be safe as long as he wants to keep you, you won¡¯t have to worry about anything else.¡± To Bill, the once puredy he had known was inevitably stained by the world. He didn¡¯t think the current Kristin was bad, just that it was a sad reflection of how the world worked. Kristin hung her head, silent. ¡°Where are you staying?¡± On the way back, James threw out the question. Kristin, lost in thought looking out the car window, didn¡¯t catch on right away. In this strange city, she hadn¡¯t had a proper rest for days. James signaled Bill to drive around the city, to give Kristin a good look at the world outside. ¡°It¡¯s developing so fast.¡± Kristin mused, marveling at the glitz and mour of Crescendo Town. Back when she was a teenager, she visited Crescendo Town, which at that time was pretty backward. She remembered rence saying that only Silvergrove City was the real deal, a big city, and Crescendo Town was just the sticks. Kristin had snapped back, arguing that every city had its unique cultural vibes and quirks. Now that it was all developed, which seemed to have lost that old charm it¡¯once had. ¡°The high¨Cend malls, hotels, entertainment spots all Mr. Bryce¡¯s turf,¡± the assistant said with at chuckle while giving her the lowdown. Kristin was glued to the window, just gazing outside. It had just snowed these past few days, and the trees were still frosted over, but the roads below were spick and span. After five years in the mmer, what Kristin craved the most was freedom. While Kristin kept her eyes fixed on the world outside. James couldn¡¯t take his off her. ¡°Let¡¯s hit River Park.¡± 3/4 11:39 Chapter 57 The assistant blinked, a bit thrown off, but drove to River Park. Stepping out of the car, Kristin took in the snowy scene of the park, and a rare smile broke through her usual reserve. She had a thing for snow. It was pure and white as a sheet. ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± James frowned as he saw Kristin reaching out to grab snow. ¡°It¡¯s warm¡­¡± Kristin cracked a rare smile at James. James was floored, never realizing she was someone who could be satisfied so easily. Six years back, he had splurged at an auction for some bling, all to snag a smile from Kristin. But back then, Kristin was all ice, glued to Vincent¡¯s side. She wouldn¡¯t give the time of day to anyone else. And now? She¡¯s incredibly joyous just to be outside to experience the snow. Maybe he never knew what Kristin wanted. And nobody else seemed to get it either. ¡°Silvergrove City doesn¡¯t get snow, did you ever have snowball fights as a kid?¡± James draped his coat over Kristin, crouched beside her, and started packing a snowball. Then he lobbed it at Kristin. She was caught off guard, holding the snowball and staring at it for ages, finally letting out augh. But thatugh had a tinge of bitterness. James stood up, looking at Kristin with a face that wasn¡¯t beaming. ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to head back.¡± He regretted it. 1 Three years ago, he had visited Kristin in jail, but she had turned down the meet¨Cup. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 On the way back, Kristin dozed off against the window. James gestured to Bill to crank up the heat and kill the music, driving smoothly in silence. ¡°Mr. Bryce, I¡¯ve dug up some dirt¡­ Ms. Turner skedaddled to Crescendo Town solo. The Turner family and the FitzGerald family don¡¯t seem keen on letting her off the hook. Word on the street is Vincent¡¯s trying to strong¨Carm her into marrying his butler¡¯s son, a psycho. She called the cops and bolted,¡± Bill said, his voice hoarse. He couldn¡¯t fathom why all the malice in the world seemed to have it out for this kind¨Chearteddy. James had a grim look on his face, his gaze dark as he stared out the car window. ¡°Back in the day, Ms. Turner must¡¯ve been blind to fall for a guy like Vincent. What a bad luck in the love department!¡± Bill mused. Six years ago, he had sensed Vincent wasn¡¯t worthy of Kristin. But back then, Kristin had eyes only for Vincent. ¡°Ms. Turner showing up at the club was a fluke. The club¡¯s business manager, Harriet, did time with Ms. Turner and needed an extra hand because of the chamber ofmerce dinner. Harriet roped Ms. Turner in to help out as a drink¨Cserving gal initially, but since Ms. Turner probably can¡¯t hold her liquor, Harriet, being somewhat decent, let her work the front desk instead.¡± James frowned and nced at Kristin. If he hadn¡¯t recognized Kristin at the club, she might¡¯ve been in for a rougher time. ¡°Ms. Turner is shacking up with Harriet in the club¡¯s apartment block, a ce that isn¡¯t top¨Cnotch,¡± Bill whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡± James wasn¡¯t about to let Kristin keep bunking with others in some rental dump. ¡°To the No.9 Mansion or¡­¡± Bill hesitated. Over the years, James had a fair share of women, most of them taken to the No. 9 Mansion. Linda, the one who¡¯d hung around the longest, always met him there. James had never brought any woman to his own ce. ¡°Back to Marigold Manor.¡± replied James N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Bill looked back at James in surprise, as if to double¨Ccheck. James didn¡¯t say another word, and Bill just drove back. That was James¡® own pad, a ce never sullied by the presence of a woman. 11:40 Dacher 58 Watching Kristin sleeping, James rubbed his temples. This time he was dead serious about not letting her slip away easily. At Garner¡¯s Garage in Silvergrove City. Summer was sitting in the yard, fiddling with a magic cube, lightning¨Cfast despite being only five years old. ¡°Hey kid, where are the grown¨Cups?¡± asked a man in a van, stopping to peek through the iron gate. Summer looked up and replied, ¡°My uncle is at work, not fixing cars today.¡± Garner had taken a side gig as a bodyguard for the well¨Cheeled, which was on one day and off the next. Today, Summer was home alone. The man nced around. ¡°Hey kid, I¡¯ve got candy here. Open the gate for me, and I¡¯ll take you out for some fun.¡± Summer eyed the man. ¡°I can¡¯t take candy from strangers, and I won¡¯t go out to y with you. You a kidnapper or what?¡± The man was taken aback by the cheeky kid. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just being nice, offering you sweets.¡± ¡°Well I¡¯ve got candy too. You game?¡± Summer put down his cube and shot back. The man chuckled, impressed by the kid¡¯s savvy. ¡°Open up, and I promise, I¡¯m not a kidnapper. Just gonna take you somewhere special.¡± When Summer ignored him, the man darkened his face and got back in his van, ready to bust the gate down. 1 He was just doing a job for the cash to snatch the kid for someone. Just as he was about to ram the gate, a ck sedan pulled up to the curb. Spotting someone, the van driver hit the gas and skedaddled. York got out of the car, eyeing the van suspiciously. Without much thought, York walked up with snacks in hand. ¡°Summer.¡± At the sight of York, Summer ran over, all smiles. ¡°Mr. York!¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald sent me to bring you some grub.¡± Summer bit his lip, asking softly. ¡°Is he noting?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald is swamped. Be d he¡¯s thinking of you at all.¡± York chuckled, crouching down to ruffle Summer¡¯s hair through the gate gap. ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out your school enrollment. Garner will take you tomorrow. Be good and study hard. Don¡¯t open the door to strangers.¡± Summer nodded obediently. 11:40 Chapter 58 Suddenly remembering something. Summer dashed inside and came back with a carefully folded paper. ¡°This is for Dad.¡± Summer was trying to win Rhett¡¯s favor, wanting Rhett to be his dad for real. York took the paper with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m off to Crescendo Town with Mr. FitzGerald tomorrow, so be good.¡± ¡°Will you bring Mom back?¡± Summer missed his mother. ¡°Will do.¡± York nodded. He had found out that Kristin might be in Crescendo Town. Rhett¡¯s trip there was also to hunt for Kristin. Lately, Vincent and rence had been going bonkers searching for Kristin. Rhett feared they¡¯d harm Summer. Those two would likely use Summer to strong¨Carm Kristin intoing back. ¡°Mr. York, you gotta keep your word.¡± Summer reddened his eyes. York paused, then nodded. ¡°Summer, does your mom have any friends in Crescendo Town?¡± Summer thought for a bit, then replied, ¡°Mom has a friend, Harriet. She got out of the prison before Mom and came to see me. I remember her number.¡± Summer had a photographic memory, especially sharp with numbers. York was totally gobsmacked by sharp Summer who made sure to jot down her number. Ditching the snacks, York hopped into the car and took a quick peek at the drawing Summer had whipped up. For some reason, it hit him right in the feels. Summer had drawn two adults holding hands with a kid in the middle. 1 Dad was holding an umbre, shielding both him and Mom from the stormy weather. The drawing made it clear as day. Summer was dying for aplete family. At the airport of Crescendo Town. Rhett rocked up to Crescendo Town ahead of time and kept it on the down¨Clow from James. ¡°Got the address?¡± Rhett asked in a deep voice. ¡°Harriet lives in the dorm building of Nightlight Club, smack¨Cdab in the Charing Cross.¡± York gged down a cab and made a beeline for Harriet¡¯s ce. ¡°It¡¯s the crack of dawn. What¡¯s this chick still doing out?¡± York muttered under his breath. ¡°Harriet is one of those barflies.¡± Rhett frowned. ¡°Hit up Nightlight Club!¡± York did a double¨Ctake. ¡°You can¡¯t just waltz Into Nightlight Club like that. It¡¯s Aurora Tech¡¯s turf. Mr. Bryce will definitely get wind of it.¡± 11:40 Chapter 58 ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat myself.¡± Rhett was getting irked for some reason. Was Kristin hitting the booze too? York didn¡¯t dare to push it and drove straight to the club. In the wee hours of the morning, the club¡¯s nightlife was just kicking off. ¡°Hey, you got a gal named Kristin here?¡± York approached the reception and popped the question. The night¨Cshift receptionist shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know her.¡± ¡°What about Harriet?¡± York pressed on. ¡°Are you looking for Harriet? She¡¯s busy entertaining a client, sorry. She can¡¯te to meet you.¡± The receptionist seemed a bit uneasy. ¡°Harriet¡¯s with some big shots tonight, so¡­¡± Harriet was hobnobbing with Zack and his crew. ¡°Room number.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t wait in the car and strutted straight into the club. The receptionist was totally bowled over by Rhett¡¯s presence and looks, stuttering. ¡°Are you¡­ Mr. FitzGerald from Silvergrove City?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Harriet?¡± York pushed once more. ¡°Room¡­ 3688.¡± Rhett, stone¨Cfaced, headed for the elevator. The receptionist was freaked out, thinking she must¡¯ve seen wrong. Rhett¡­ was an even bigger fish than Mr. Bryce. Shaking like a leaf, she snatched up her cell and hastily dialed the manager. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 At Room 3688. Rhett pushed open the door and strode in with a stormy look on his face. A few big shots were getting sloshed, with girls in their arms and others hanging around, in an atmosphere dripping with extravagance. With a slight frown, Rhett cast a cold nce around the room but didn¡¯t spot Kristin. Oddly, he breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Who¡¯s Harriet?¡± York threw out the question. The bosses were too buzzed to catch York¡¯s words. York flipped on the lights and killed the music, his voice dropping an octave. ¡°Who is Harriet?¡± Being Rhett¡¯s assistant. York carried himself with more swagger than the average flunky with the chops to back it up. One of the bosses red at York, irked. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± Someone got a good look at Rhett and shot to their feet in a drunken haze, half¨Cthinking they were hallucinating¡­. Mr. Fitzgerald?¡± Harriet stood up in shock, too. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald?¡± None of those nightclubdies wouldn¡¯t recognize Rhett. They knew each and every business tycoon. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald! What brings you to Crescendo Town without a heads¨Cup? We could¡¯ve rolled out the red carpet,¡± the manager burst in, all flustered. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, what¡¯s this all about?¡± Harriet eyed Rhett nervously. The man was just too dashing. Being loaded and influential, Rhett was extremely attractive to all women. Harriet put on a sultry smile, her voice dropping to a murmur. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡­ are you looking for me?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± Rhett didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush, his frown deepening as her sidestepped the iing manager. He hated women crowding him. York quickly stepped in between, blocking any female advances. ¡°Kristin lives with you, right? Where is she?¡± Harriet was taken aback before it clicked. Rhett was from the Fitzgerald family, and he was Vincent¡¯s older brother. With Rhett storming in like this and Kristin having bolted from Silvergrove City¡­. 1/4 11:40 Chapter 59 ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡­ what do you mean? I¡¯ve no clue what you¡¯re on about,¡± Harriet instinctively. guarded Kristin. York cut the crap. ¡°Do you think we¡¯d be here if we hadn¡¯t done our investigation?¡± ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you mean Kristin Collins, correct?¡± The manager didn¡¯t dare cross Rhett, pretty sure who Rhett was referring to. ¡°She clocked out ages ago.¡± ¡°Call her,¡± Rhett ordered Harriet to reach out to Kristin. ¡°No phone on her,¡± Harriet didn¡¯t bother lying. ¡°She might be at my ce.¡± ¡°I just came from yours, and she¡¯s not there,¡± Rhett replied, slightly irritated. Harriet paused. ¡°Then¡­ then I really don¡¯t know. She¡¯s bound to show up for work tomorrow. maybe you can check back then?¡± Eager to alert Kristin, she had no idea where the girl could have disappeared to. At the vi of Marigold Manor. Kristin came up and sat nervously in the car, refusing to get out. James leaned on the car door, watching her with a smirk. ¡°Scared I¡¯ll gobble you up?¡± Kristin mmed up, her hands almost bruising from the grip. Taking this step meant no turning back. But Summer was waiting, his condition couldn¡¯t drag on. They needed to pin down the illness and settle on a treatment n pronto. She needed cash and Summer needed to hit the books. ¡°Just three years¡­ right?¡± Kristin stepped out of the car, her voice barely above a whisper. James nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Kristin clutched her clothes, murmuring, ¡°Tomorrow¡­ I¡¯ll go for the medical check¨Cup.¡± Everyone at the club knew James wasn¡¯t one to dabble with the girls there easily. His standards were sky¨Chigh. Passing a health check was step one to being hisdy. James blinked, then turned to head into the living room. Kristin was still a native girl. Those eyes once shone with innocence and stupidity, but now seemed to harbor just thetter. ¡°Come on in, I won¡¯t touch you tonight.¡± Seeing Kristin still hesitating at the door, James spoke up again. Kristin exhaled in relief and slowly made her way inside. James¡® ce was massive and sparse, clear signs of his solo living. The ce was a bit of a 11:40 Chapter mess and he didn¡¯t seem to have a maid. While James showered, Kristin, bored and standing around, started tidying up. By the time James reemerged, the living room had transformed. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Awkwardly, Kristin stood aside. ¡°I just¡­ cleaned up a bit.¡± James didn¡¯t respond but led Kristin to the door, registering herce and fingerprints on the security lock. I¡¯m not home much. You stay here.¡± Kristin blinked, her mouth opening then closing without a word. Was James this generous with. every girt? ¡°Hit the sack,¡± James motioned for Kristin to go to bed. Kristin entered the quest room, but James was far from sleepy. Five years back, when Kristin got pped with extortion charges by Vincent and rence, it was his idea. He was the one who nudged Vincent, hoping to corner Kristin into submission. He thought that when Kristin was pushed to the brink, she¡¯d agree to any terms heid out. But Kristin refused. In court, she stunned everyone by pleading guilty. James was there that day. He wanted to pull Vincent back, but it was toote. Kristin back then, stubborn and infuriatingly proud¡­ He despised her iron spine, like a white rose blooming against the storm, uncrushable by the fiercest gales. T Never bested by a woman, James perversely longed to see her edges worn down. In her third year of prison, with good behavior, there was a shot at early release. Vincent and rence were up to some shady dealings behind closed doors. When James caught wind of it, he made a beeline for the clink. He was itching to see if the prison had managed to file down Kristin¡¯s sharp edges and if she¡¯d be willing to bend her lofty backbone. But Kristin t¨Cout refused to see him. Once again¡­ James decided to just sit back and watch. Fast forward five years, and Kristin¡¯s stint in the mmer was up. Lounging on the couch and puffing on a cig, James was in a bit of a mental tangle. Back in the day, he thought his thing for Kristin was just a sh in the pan, a woman who dazzled him but was the one that got away, no matter how he tried, she wouldn¡¯t just roll over 11:40 Chapter 59 and show him her belly. Butter on, he realized Kristin had be his obsession. His phone was buzzing non¨Cstop, and James was getting ticked off. It was Linda. ¡°Mr. Bryce, you haven¡¯t hit me uptely.¡± James was really irked. Out and about, Kristin even had the gall to rock up nearby, and now he was just in sick of all women. ¡°Hit up Bill tomorrow. He¡¯ll handle the stuff you want.¡± He sent the message and blocked her just like that. He was generous with women, but he could cut ties like no other. Kristin was the exception. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t be harsh with her. It was that whenever he was cruel to her, he ended up kicking himself. And that feeling was just¡­ damn¡­annoying. He took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. There was no way he could let Kristin find out he¡¯d been the one pulling the strings back then. He v wouldn¡¯t let Kristin walk away, but he could make amends. ¡°Bill, get in touch with the blood and gics experts over at Silvergrove City, and have them consult on Kristin¡¯s son¡¯s condition.¡± To his surprise, James didn¡¯t give a damn that Kristin had someone else¡¯s kid, although he was so damn picky with other women. ¡°Mr. Bryce! The Nightlight Club just called to say that Rhett¡¯s hit town early, he¡¯s at our spot in Silvergrove City, on the hunt for Miss Kristin¡­¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 James slowly opened his eyes with a deep look in his gaze. ¡°What¡¯s Rhett got to do, sticking hist nose into Vincent¡¯s business?¡± James hadn¡¯t pegged Rhett as the meddlesome elder brother type. Bill was kinda worried, the FitzGerald family and the Turner family in Silvergrove City were on Kristin¡¯s case like white on rice. ¡°Mr. Bryce, the FitzGerald family and the Turner family are giving Ms. Turner the runaround. Do you want to tangle with this hot mess?¡± James let out a derisive chuckle. ¡°As for the dame I choose to shield, what can the FitzGerald family and the Turner family do about it? Besides, Rhett is not the kind to poke his nose into others¡® business.¡± ¡°But Mr. FitzGerald is still on the hunt for her,¡± Bill uttered, not sure how to handle it. ¡°Let him,¡± James said curtly before hanging up the phone. Tossing his phone aside, James got up and walked to the living room door. His hand froze mid¨Cair, and he rubbed his temples before entering his bedroom. Just let Kristin have a good rest. Bright and early the next day, Kristin got up at the crack of dawn. She was new on the job and had morning shifts all week. She needed to get going early for the handover. Rifling through the fridge, Kristin noted that James¡® ce reallycked any homey vibes. Aside from a few eggs, you couldn¡¯t scrounge up any other ingredients. Clear as day, James didn¡¯t bother with a housekeeper and never ate at home. Dashing out of theplex, Kristin, card in hand, picked out groceries with serious intent at the supermarket right outside these fancy neighborhoods. The prices were through the roof. A single cabbage cost a whopping ten bucks. Head hanging as she went to pay, Kristin consoled herself. After all, it wasn¡¯t her money she was spending. After getting the groceries, Kristin whipped up breakfast and set it on the dining table. The doorbell rang. James, roused from sleep, walked out a bit cranky, d in his robe, leaning against the door frame all lazy and devil¨Cmay¨Ccare. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Seeing the breakfast Kristin had made, there was a split second of surprise in James¡® eyes. It urred to him that the esteemed Ms. Turner had actually prepared breakfast, and it actually looked pretty decent. James, who never ate breakfast at home, suddenly felt his appetite kick in. 11:40 At the door, Kristin opened the door and looked up, freezing on the spot. Shock stered on her face, and her throat seemed to clog up. What was Rhett doing in Crescendo Town? Rhett¡¯s mood was foul, his expression tired as if he hadn¡¯t slept all night. Kristin panicked, instinctively turning to run. She feared Rhett was in cahoots with the FitzGerald family,ing to snatch her away. ¡°Running for what!¡± Rhett furrowed his brow as he grabbed Kristin¡¯s wrist. Kristin turned as pale as a ghost, trembling all over. She couldn¡¯t go back or be dragged back to Silvergrove City. She¡¯d be done for. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, bright and early¡­ you sure know how to surprise me.¡± James leaned against the dining table, a half¨Csmile on his face. ¡°You came all the way to my ce?¡± Rhett was stern. ¡°I¡¯m taking her with me.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald,ing over to my ce in the morning to take my woman? That¡¯s not cool, is it?¡± James walked over and pulled Kristin into his embrace. Kristin kept shaking, inexplicably unable to meet Rhett¡¯s gaze. She feared seeing disappointment in his eyes. In the end¡­ she had chosen this path. -Is Kristin kept as a mistress? Or¡­ is she selling her body and soul? But she had no other choice, because James was Summer¡¯s father. Rhett¡¯s look at Kristin was indeed full of disappointment. He hadn¡¯t expected her to choose this path. ¡°I¡¯ve sorted out Summer¡¯s schooling, and I¡¯ll handle the FitzGerald family and Turner, family for you. Think it over,¡± Rhett said. He wasn¡¯t a fool. If James brought a woman home, it meant something. James frowned. Was Rhett helping Kristin? But to James, Rhett was coldblooded without feelings, not easily moved by anyone. Kristin said nothing, almost burying her head in his chest. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald hasn¡¯t had breakfast, right? Kris made it, care for a taste?¡± James asked, hugging Kristin tight. Kristin stiffened her body, her eyes reddening. Rhett nced at the dining table, and even from afar, he could smell the aroma. 11:40 Strangely, he wanted to taste Kristin¡¯s cooking. James smirked with a deep meaning, suddenly feeling a sense of crisis. If it were Vincent¡­ he wouldn¡¯t give a damn. But as for Rhett, that was a different story. ¡°No thanks.¡± Rhett said gravely, giving Kristin a look as if offering her onest chance, Kristin kept her head down, silent the whole time. ¡°Take care, I¡¯ll host dinner tonight. My assistant will get in touch in advance,¡± James said as he watched Rhett leave. Rhett¡¯s expression was hard to read, his eyes somewhatplex. He¡¯d actually felt an impulse to fight James for her¡­. He wanted to know what deal James had made with Kristin and he could offer double. But when the words reached his lips, reason ultimately prevalled. Why bother over a woman who had fallen so low¡­ Rubbing his temples, Rhett spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Look into the rtionship between James and Kristin.¡± James definitely wouldn¡¯t just take someone home at a nce. This was James¡® home, and the fact that he didn¡¯t bring women home wasmon knowledge in their circles. York stared at Rhett in shock. ¡°Does Kristin¡­ have a rtionship with Mr. Bryce?¡± Chances were that Kristin had taken a hike to Crescendo Town for her new lover. ¡°Kristin is a smart cookie. She knows you¡¯re a tough nut to crack that doesn¡¯t fall for charms, so she made a beeline for Crescendo Town. James is¡­ the only other guy besides you who could keep her safe. With her in Crestendo Town, Vincent and the Turner family can¡¯t touch her.¡± Rhett glowered at York. ¡°You can zip it now.¡± In the living room. After Rhett left, Kristin stood silently, refusing to look up. ¡°I underestimated you¡­ you¡¯ve got some game. Vincent¡¯s your fianc¨¦, and you¡¯re even reeling in his brother?¡± James reached out and tilted Kristin¡¯s chin up. He was feeling a bit sour, so his words came out a bit harsh. But the moment he lifted Kristin¡¯s chin, James regretted it. Because Kristin was crying. Tears streaked her face, and her eyes were red¨Crimmed. ¡°What are you crying for?¡± James frowned. Was she upset because Rhett misunderstood her, or because she thought Rhett was N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. 11:40 disappointed in her? ¡°Got a thing for Rhett now?¡± James grew more irritable. Kristin shook her head. ¡°Breakfast¡­ got cold.¡± Kristin gestured towards the dining table, nced at the clock, and then turned to bolt. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, sit down and eat.¡± James wanted her to have breakfast. before leaving. ¡°I have to work. I¡¯m going to bete.¡± Kristin said nervously. ¡°Take your phone. James pointed to the mobile on the table. Kristin paused and then realized James had bought her a phone. She picked up the phone, looked at it, then turned back to James. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± The fingers of James¡® hand holding the fork slowly tightened. After Kristin dashed out the door, James irritably tossed the fork away. What on earth was he doing? At the Nightlight Club. Work wasn¡¯t busy during the day, mainly taking care of guests and checking out of private rooms or hotel rooms upstairs. Yara also arrived, grinning at Kristin. ¡°Kris, got some new threads?¡± Kristin paused and nced down at her dress, a gift from James. ¡°That outfit isn¡¯t cheap, huh?¡± Yara continued. Kristin nodded slightly. ¡°Kristin.¡± Harriet burst in, all hustle and bustle, and dragged Kristin off to the restroom. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with you and Rhett? He¡¯s a big¨Ctime CEO! The richest of the rich! He dragged me around Crescendo Town looking for you all night. I¡¯m worried sick you were in trouble¡­ It seems like he really cares about you.¡± Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Kristin froze for a second, her gaze flickering. Had Rhett been looking for her all night? ¡°No, he¡¯s Vincent¡¯s brother,¡± Kristin dodged eye contact subconsciously. ¡°He seems different from Vincent and he gives a damn about you. I mean. As a big shot CEO toe looking for you in the middle of the night himself, he could¡¯ve just sent someone if he wanted to grab you,¡± Harriet shook her head, feeling that Rhett had no bad intentions towards Kristin. ¡°Harriet, did I get any packages at home?¡± Kristin changed the subject. Harriet could tell Kristin wasn¡¯t up for talking and pulled a small bag out of her purse. ¡°Here, your brother sent it.¡± Kristin nced at it and breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Kris, if you¡¯ve decided to start over, don¡¯t let the past cage you in. I thought I¡¯d never move on. but once you do, it¡¯s all good,¡± Harriet tried to cheer Kristin up. Kristin nodded, gripping the item in her hand. It was a lock of hair with the follicles from Summer. She needed James to get a paternity test done with Summer as soon as possible. She had to confirm James¡® identity. ¡°Your outfit¡­¡± Harrietnded her eyes on Kristin¡¯s clothes, instantly recognizing the high¨Cend bespoke brand, way out of the league for most people. It was a single piece costing a small -fortune. ¡°Mr. Bryce?¡± Harriet guessed herself, shocked as she pulled Kristin into the restroom. ¡°Kristin, think this through. James, like Rhett, is out of our league. Do you know how many women James has had over the years? He¡­¡± ¡°He might be the father of my child,¡± Kristin whispered. Harriet inhaled sharply, biting her lip in thought. ¡°James has a woman named Linda, a celebrity. She¡¯s not someone you cross lightly. Be careful.¡± Harriet was worried Linda might seek revenge on Kristin. ¡°But, Linda isn¡¯t the real problem. Have you heard that the Bryce family and the Haywood family of Silvergrove City might be tying the knot? The Haywood family had been hyping it up for ages, which seems like a done deal,¡± Harriet felt sorry for Kristin¡¯s tough fate. She didn¡¯t believe these rich folks genuinely liked Kristin. Kristin was a woman who¡¯d been to jail and had a kid. To these big shots, she wasn¡¯t even a ything on their list of priorities. 11:40 Kade avert a dared look. The Haywood family? westrut. Kristin almost instinctively started trembling Maxww was leader who bullied her back in the day. Alter Kristin¡¯s take as wax whethewesman who humiliated and tormented Kristin the most. Xerox Yard¡¯s voice came through Kristinmod bec cet and walked out nervously. QUANTI Nwered her head and made her way to the front desk. Janes bat arrives at the club and the management statt practically sprinted over to show him Mt. Sace what brises you. The manager started asking, puzzled by his visit at this hour. James onored the man, ist nced at Kristin, and handed over the breakfast he brought. ¡°Make sure you eat.¡± Everyone stared at Kristin in shock, including herself. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. James was making a statement with his actions. Everyone was confused, watching James, wondering what the boss was implying by delivering breakfast to a lowly receptionist early in the morning. With all the gossip swirling around James over the years, the one woman who seemed to stick the longest was the young celebrity Linda. But even so, James had never been known to visit her on set, let alone bring her food. For Kristin with no education who was just a club¡¯s front desk, shouldn¡¯t she be keeping a low profile and hidden away? So why was James so tantly open about her? Harriet looked on with concern at Kristin. Being thrust into the spotlight was no good news, ¡°Kris¡­¡± After James had handed over breakfast and exited, leaving a trail of astonished gazes behind, Harriet pulled Kristin to one side. ¡°What¡¯s going on in your head?¡± Kristin remained silent. With James exposing her location like that, he was pushing her to the edge of a cliff. With no way back, her only chance of survival was to cling to James, the reliable shelter. ¡°He¡¯s forcing my hand,¡± Kristin could see right through what James wanted. To drive her to a point of no return, James was making her realize that he was the only one she could lean on and rely upon. 11:41 Chapter 61 Harriet sighed and gave Kristin a hug. ¡°These rich bastards ain¡¯t worth shit¡­¡± ¡°Kris, you and Mr. Bryce¡­ The manager came over with a sycophantic expression. Even Yara was looking at Kristin with shock. Kristin didn¡¯t know how to exin and kept her head down, silent. ¡°Kris and Mr. Bryce knew each other from before.¡± Harriet blurted out a hasty exnation. ¡°Wonder how long Mr. Bryce¡¯s novelty with her willst.¡± The manager nodded. ¡°Still, for Mr Bryce to be momentarily amused by Kris is a stroke of luck for her and for our establishment.¡± It was clear the manager wanted Kristin to sweet¨Ctalk her way through this. Kristin didn¡¯t respond, standing there with her head bowed. Not long after James left, Bill showed up, saying the manager had given her time off to go for a medical check¨Cup. ¡°Ms. Turner, my bad¡­ it¡¯s just standard procedure, you know?¡± Bill was feeling awkward about the whole medical check¨Cup thing. It wasn¡¯t a walk in the park for dignity. But hey, Mr. Bryce¡¯s sugar¨Cbaby routine always started this way, which wasn¡¯t Bill¡¯s ce to rock the boat. ¡°No worries.¡± Kristin shook her head, brushing it off. ¡°The clinic will crank out those results in time. I¡¯ll take you to thepany to meet Mr. Bryce after.¡± Bill said, sensing that James was on pins and needles, a tad too eager to keep Kristin close. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Kristin agreed. She was also itching to get that paternity test done between James and Summer. Once they stepped out of the clinic, Bill handed Kristin a bottle of mineral water. She took it with a ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Ms. Turner¡­ I probably shouldn¡¯t say this, but brace yourself, because Mr. Bryce won¡¯t tie the knot with you.¡± Bill had been James¡® right¨Chand man for six years and knew James inside out. James kept marriage and emotions in separate corners. He wasn¡¯t the type to rush into marriage. If he did, it would be nothing short of a business deal, and Kristin didn¡¯t fit the bill. Bill¡¯s heads¨Cup was gentle, but clear as day. He wanted Kristin to think twice before getting her heart tangled up in this, or she¡¯d be signing up for a world of hurt. Kristin nodded, pocketing the medical report before following Bill to Aurora Tech. ¡°Mr. Bryce, Ms. Turner is here.¡± James stood up and gave Kristin the once¨Cover. ¡°Had breakfast?¡± Chapter 61 She nodded. ¡°Take a look at the contract,¡± James pointed to the document, suggesting Kristin give it a once¨Cover. ¡°No need¡­¡± she shook her head. The contract¡¯s fine print was the least of her concerns. Pulling out Summer¡¯s hair sample from her pocket, Kristin faced James. ¡°I want the paternity test results.¡± Then she plopped the medical report on the desk. ¡°Apart from that one night, no man has touched me, so¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s head was down, her face flushed with a fierce red. But it wasn¡¯t a blush of shyness or the awkwardness of the topic at hand. ¡°So, if that night was you, let me know the score as soon as possible.¡± She didn¡¯t need James to y the hero, just needed him to y ball for the health checks. Everything else was off the table. Summer was an unexpected twist, but he was an innocent party. James took Summer¡¯s hair and sank into the sofa. ¡°And if I¡¯m not Summer¡¯s biological dad, what¡¯s your next move?¡± Kristin looked up at him replying, ¡°Keep searching.¡± James darkened his expression for a second. Kristin¡¯s currentpromise was all for her kid, .which felt like she was hashing out a deal with him. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¡°Rush it, get a paternity test done, and make it snappy.¡± James handed the hair sample over to Bill. Bill shot aplicated look at Kristin, let out a sigh, and took off without another word. At the Nightlight Club, Kristin got back to her station, and soon enough, Bill showed up with the report from the professional testing agency in hand. ¡°That fast?¡± Kristin gaped at Bill, a tad nervous for a moment. Bill nodded. ¡°Yep, results in three hours.¡± Kristin tingled her fingers as she reached for the report. Inside, her feelings were a tangled mess. Kristin wasn¡¯t sure what oue she was hoping for. She tore open the sealed bag, took a deep breath, and pulled out the report, her breathing. shaky. ¡°Truth be told, whether the kid is Mr. Bryce¡¯s or not, he knows best himself,¡± Bill murmured. Kristin pped a hand over her mouth, biting hard on her finger¡­ The report confirmed that James was Summer¡¯s biological father. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± Kristin choked out. Bill nodded again. ¡°Miss Kristin, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Kristin clutched the report, curled up in a corner, and shivered for a long time. The man that night was indeed James. It made sense really. Six years ago, James was hell¨Cbent on having her. But the joy was thest thing Kristin felt. She had been locked up for five long years. On the day of the trial, James was there. He knew everything, yet he still lowly wanted to see her beg. Kristin didn¡¯t see this obsessive possessiveness as love. ¡°Got the test results?¡± James rang Kristin up. She answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had experts consult on Summer¡¯s case and informed Garner to take the child for consultation. Summer¡¯s condition isn¡¯t critical. They¡¯re discussing the best treatment options,¡± James said in azy drawl. ¡°Thank you.¡± 1/4 Chapter 62 ¡°After the chamber ofmerce dinner, how about I take you back to Silvergrove City and pick up the kid?¡± he asked. ¡°No need. He¡¯s good with his uncle,¡± Kristin refused.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. She couldn¡¯t afford to rely on anyone. Otherwise, when James no longer needed her, she wouldn¡¯t know how to hold her ground and stand on her own. ¡°Kristin, apany me to a dinner tonight,¡± Jamesmanded, not asking for consent. ¡°OK.¡± Kristin had no right to refuse. After hanging up, her trembling fingers tore the paternity report into shreds. Her finger bitten by herself, and the pain made her whole body quiver. With scars of a suicide attempt from her time in prison still on her wrists, she had thought of ending it all countless times. These people had no idea how much they¡¯d hurt her. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, please. Let me go¨C That night, no matter how much Kristin pleaded, it was in vain. Just like in prison, where she was bullied, her cries were ignored by the guards until she attempted suicide, bloodied next to the toilet, then finally they took her to the hospital. At the FitzGerald family in Silvergrove City. ¡°Vincent, that kid ain¡¯t easy to fool, and Garner¡¯s got a tight grip on him. I sent several folks and none could trick the kid,¡± the assistant said, troubled. Vincent tossed the documents aside with frustration. ¡°You can¡¯t handle a kid?¡± ¡°That kid is sharp as a tack and ng to a busted phone to dial 911 at the drop of a hat. The cops take it real serious, patrolling that area non¨Cstop,¡± the assistant was at his wits¡® end. They tried to snatch Summer away, but he would y the human trafficker card, causing his men to sprint three blocks to dodge the cops. ¡°And that kid¡¯s got a memory like an elephant and directed the police right to our guys,¡± the assistant was driven to tears by a mere child. ¡°That little rascal¡¯s wasting his talents not being in the military. He is too good at counter¨Csurveince,¡± the assistant kept grumbling. Vincent darkened his face. ¡°Still no word on Kristin?¡± He wanted to use the kid to make Kristine back obediently, but the kid wasn¡¯t taking the bait. The assistant answered a call, then hurried over. We¡¯ve located Kristin. Vincent shot up. ¡°Where?¡± 2/4 11: ¡°She¡¯s headed to Crescendo Town.¡± ¡°Does she really believe that if she flees to Crescendo Town, she¡¯s beyond my reach? Vincent scoffed. Kristin¡¯s at Nightlight Club, and they say Mr. Bryce even personally brought her breakfast,¡± the assistant delicately informed, knowing full well this would set Vincent off. And it did. Vincent¡¯s anger was barely contained. ¡°You said what? Who?¡± ¡°James¡­ Mr. Bryce from Aurora Tech,¡± the assistant said nervously. Pushing the assistant aside. Vincent took a deep breath. ¡°Heh Kristin¡¯s really got some nerve! Alright, good for her, found herself a backer!¡± Vincent was well aware that James had eyes for Kristin six years ago. But he hadn¡¯t expected Kristin to be so low, running straight to James after getting out. ¡°She thinks having James as her protector makes her bulletproof?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice rumbled. low. ¡°Ain¡¯t that ¡®Nightshade Club¡® the joint for the chamber¡¯s shindig this year?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the assistant nodded quickly. ¡°I recall the Bryce family had some marriage talk with Adrienne of the Haywood family. She¡¯s been strutting around like she owns the ce. Go tell Adrienne, her future husband¡¯s cozying up in Kristin¡¯s bed right now,¡± Vincent¡¯s eyes were deep, veins on the back of his hand standing. out. Kristin and James may have already gotten involved six years back! Vincent was so sweet to Kristin back then, treating her like she was a delicate flower, scared that she might get even the slightest scratch. And this was how she repaid him! At the hotel of Crescendo Town. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I got some information¡­ Today, James¡® assistant rushed a sample to the paternity test center. It¡¯s for a DNA test. The guy Kristin had the scandal with has never been revealed. There are only two possibilities. Either Kristin¡¯s too scared to spill the beans, or she has no clue who the guy is.¡± The chance that Kristin didn¡¯t know the guy was slim to none, so the other possibility must be that the guy¡¯s a big shot, someone she wouldn¡¯t dare mess with. ¡°Is Summer James¡® kid?¡± Rhett frowned, not looking too hot. ¡°It¡¯s true¡­.¡± York shrugged. ¡°This is some juicy gossip. The CEO of Aurora Tech stole the fiancee of Vincent from the FitzGerald family? Do you have beef or something?¡± Rhett raised his hand to his forehead in frustration. ¡°Zip it.¡± York covered his mouth, whispering. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we should just butt out. Kristin¡¯s a smart cookie. James is known for being generous with thedies, she¡¯s not at a loss.¡± 11:4 Chapter 62 Rhett frowned. ¡°If the kid is James¡®, howe she got pped with a five¨Cyear sentence for ckmail? What was James doing?¡± ¡°I checked. Mr. Bryce was at the trial,¡± York said, not quite catching Rhett¡¯s drift. ¡°That means Kristin wasn¡¯t doing it willingly back then.¡± Rhett stood up, his expression darkening. ¡°James doesn¡¯t deserve her.¡± Rhett walked out, the air around him heavy with displeasure. James let Kristin and Summer suffer for so many years, just watching from the sidelines. What did that mean? It¡¯s just a power y by James who¡¯s too high and mighty, trying to wear Kristin down, waiting for her toe crawling back to him. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, where are you off to?¡± York followed, clearly confused. ¡°Going to the Nightlight Club,¡± Rhett said, his voice deep. York scurried after him, shivering. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ are you going to snatch Kristin from Mr. Bryce?¡± Chapter 63 115 Chapter 63 At the Nightlight Club. Kristin¡¯s shift was wrapping up, and she was getting ready to clock out. James shot her a text, telling her to hang tight at the club. ¡°Kris, Mr. Bryce will be entertaining some guests here in a bit. Do us a solid and talk us up, will you?¡± The manager came over with a grin. Kristin had a tendency towards social anxiety, the kind that made her dodge and deflect when around people. But the manager didn¡¯t seem to mind. In fact, she was on her like bees on honey. ¡°Who¡¯s Kristin?¡± Outside, a posse of bodyguards in ck escorted a woman in. She was rocking shades, teetering on high heels, squeezed into a tight leather skirt. Topped off with a Chanel jacket, she looked like a frozen beauty in the chilly weather. It wasn¡¯t until the woman took off her sunsses and the bodyguards cleared the area that the manager realized who she was. Linda! The manager had a bad feeling. ¡°Are you Kristin?¡± Linda approached Yara and popped the question. Yara was shaking her head like it was on a swivel, scared out of her wits. Linda sized everyone up, then turned to the manager. ¡°Bring Kristin to me.¡± Clearly, she didn¡¯t think the current Kristin was Mr. Bryce¡¯s type. Kristin was tucked away in a corner, almost burying her head in the dust, her shoulders hunched habitually, too scared to stand straight. Years in prison had left her scared stiff, so she kept her shoulders hunched as a way of self¨Cdefense. The manager sneaked a nervous nce at Kristin. They were still in the dark about the whole Mr. Bryce and Linda situation. Mr. Bryce might just be having a fling with Kristin, but Linda had been with him for three years. When it came down to it, Linda and Mr. Bryce probably had a deeper connection. ¡°Are you deaf? Who¡¯s Kristin?¡± Linda asked, her patience wearing thin. Weighing the pros and cons, the manager reluctantly pointed to Kristin in the corner. ¡°That¡¯s her. You looking for her or something?¡± 11:41 Chapter 63 Linda looked surprised as she sauntered over and lifted Kristin¡¯s chin for a closer look. ¡°You¡¯re Kristin?¡± The shock and disbelief were written all over her face as she continued, ¡°Is Mr. Bryce blind?¡± Kristin stayed mum, taking a step back and keeping her head down. Linda ground her teeth. She hade in all guns zing, ready to throw down. However, Kristin was all meek ying the wounded card like a pro, even though Linda hadn¡¯t lifted a finger! ¡°Wait, are you sure she¡¯s Kristin? The same one James personally delivers breakfast for?¡± Linda asked again, skeptical. The manager nodded crazily. Linda was floored, taking another good look at Kristin. ¡°You and James¡­ had a bang? He¡¯s not into your type, you know.¡± Kristin remained silent, her head bowed as if trying to bury herself. I thought I was gonna see some angelic beauty. It turns out he¡¯s just tired of caviar and craving some in old cabbage?¡± Linda muttered to herself. She¡¯de to see what she was losing to, but Kristin¡¯s sorry state was a letdown. ¡°Do you think you can steal my man?¡± Linda gave Kristin a shove. Kristin, scared, stumbled backward and fell to the ground. Linda was stunned. She hadn¡¯t even touched her, why wasn¡¯t Kristin in showbiz with those acting chops? Linda¡¯s bodyguard stepped forward and grabbed Kristin. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin reflexively curled up, her body going into lockdown as she ducked for cover behind a low cab. Linda was taken aback by Kristin¡¯s reaction. The bodyguard frowned and stepped back. Linda took a hard look at Kristin, and then at the manager. ¡°What¡¯s with her?¡± The manager rushed to smooth things over. ¡°Kristin¡¯s a bit of a scaredy¨Ccat.¡± ¡°Kris!¡± Harriet, having received a distress signal from Yara, charged down from upstairs to shield Kristin. ¡°Miss Linda, please, don¡¯t make this hard for her. She¡¯s got a severe depression. If something happens to her because of you, Mr. Bryce won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± Harriet wasn¡¯t entirely sure of herself, but she had to y the James card now. Linda looked at Kristin in astonishment. ¡°Is this the type James is into these days?¡± Harriet stood her ground in front of Kristin. ¡°Mr. Bryce doesn¡¯t like trouble. Don¡¯t mess with his 11:41 Chapter 63 people. You know the drill.¡± Linda scoffed. ¡°I just wanted to see who¡¯s trying to snatch my man, that¡¯s all.¡± It turned out she was a headcase. Kristin was pale as a ghost, not out of fear of Linda, but Linda¡¯s bodyguards. Back then, Adrienne cornered her in an alley with bodyguards. If Garner hadn¡¯t arrived just in time, they would have raped her. Ever since, Kristin would have an episode if more than two men got close. She¡¯d have trouble breathing, her body would shake, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to utter a word. ¡°Kris, it¡¯s okay now.¡± Harriet, aware of Kristin¡¯s condition, crouched outside the cab, whispering comfort. ¡°It¡¯s over, can youe out?¡± Harriet had done two and a half years in the clink. During that time, Kristin had attempted suicide countless times until the guards, scared of repercussions, had put her through dozens of CT treatments. Each time she came back, Kristin was like a soulless corpse, her eyes hollow, sometimes even forgetting who she was. Back then, Harriet didn¡¯t know what CT treatment was. It wasn¡¯t until she got out that she looked it up and cried her eyes out. It was electroconvulsive therapy, basically zapping people numb to dull the pain temporarily and reduce suicidal tendencies. But with too many treatments, whether the painful memories faded or not, Kristin became more and more numb. She turned silent and lost her speech. At her worst, she couldn¡¯t even manage basic self¨Ccare. She became forgetful, easily confused, and often got schooled by her fellow inmates. Even the guards bullied h¨¦r. In short, it was Kristin¡¯s hell, a hell created by those who once loved her and those she loved. ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb,e on, I didn¡¯t even touch you.¡± Linda thought Kristin wasying it on thick.. ¡°With acting chops like yours, it¡¯s a waste you¡¯re not on Broadway. James doesn¡¯t buy this act. does he? ying the damsel in distress?¡± Her bodyguard barely bumped into her, was it really such a big deal? ¡°Ms. Linda, don¡¯t jump to conclusions about others. If you knew what she¡¯s been through, your wouldn¡¯t talk like that,¡± Harriet said, her eyes welling up as she turned to look at Kristin. ¡°Kris,e on out, she won¡¯t hurt you.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Linda opened her mouth to say something, but then mped it shut. Kristin was curled up in the corner, the only ce that made her feel safe. Probably it was a habit she picked up in jail, hiding under tables. 3/4 11:41 Chapter 63 ¡°Take your bodyguard and get out. Don¡¯t crowd us.¡± Harriet told Linda to take her bodyguard and leave. Linda had stormed in with an entourage, intimidating not just Kristin, but Harriet as well. With a snort of disdain, Linda put on her sunsses and left, clearly bored with the drama. ¡°Check out that Kristin for me and find out what her deal is.¡± Even the bodyguards were curious. The woman¡¯s panic didn¡¯t seem fake. Not long after Linda and her bodyguard left, Rhett and York entered the club. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald?¡± The manager hurried over. ¡°Are you here for Mr. Bryce¡¯s appointment? Right this way, please.¡± Rhett frowned and walked over to where Harriet was protecting Kristin. Harriet instinctively shielded Kristin. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Kris got a bit of a scare.¡± It seemed Rhett was used to Kristin seeking refuge in corners when she was frightened. Back at the mansion of the FitzGerald family, she had hidden behind the curtains in a corner. ¡°Looking for a hideout, huh? How long do you want to stay there?¡± Rhett crouched in front of Kristin and asked softly. Kristin was biting her finger, nced up at Rhett, then looked down again. Rhett reached out to Kristin. ¡°Come on out, I¡¯m right here, no one¡¯s going to bother you.¡± Kristin looked at Rhett, feeling tears stinging at the corners of her eyes. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Harriet gawked at Rhett, scooting over to the side and quietly stood up to distance herself. Women¡¯s intuition was spot on to tell if a guy¡¯s up to no good in a heartbeat. And Rhett, at least for now, didn¡¯t seem to have a mean bone in his body. Nearby, a few managers exchanged shocked nces. Just who the heck was Kristin? Mr. Bryce personally delivered breakfast to her, and now Rhett swung by to sweet¨Ctalk her. Everyone was on edge, racking their brains on how to handle Kristin with kid gloves from now 1. on. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ everyone¡¯s watching.¡± York said, looking like a deer in the headlights. Here. was the big boss, the heir to the FitzGerald Group, bending over backward to cate a woman. in a ce buzzing with prying eyes. Seeing Rhett reach out, Kristin almost lifted her hand on impulse. But halfway through, she pulled back, instinctively keeping her distance and slowly edged away. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± She apologized to the managers with her shoulders hunched and then to Rhett. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Come with me,¡± Rhett said, grabbing Kristin¡¯s wrist, wanting to whisk her away. The burn on the back of her hand was nearly healed, but there was a round burn mark near her lower eyelid that was hard to miss. Everyone at the club could guess it was a cigarette burn. Kristin¡¯s face was too pristine, so the scar stood out like a sore thumb. ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Rhett asked. Kristin squirmed, trying to break free from his grip. Being the center of attention scared her. Seeing that Kristin stayed silent, Rhett didn¡¯t pry further and took out some burn ointment from his car, handing it to her. Kristin was stunned for a second, looking at the ointment and then back at Rhett. He had burn ointment in his car, all because of her hand¡­ Shaking her head, Kristin derisively looked down, mocking herself for being so presumptuous. As if. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about scarring?¡± Rhett asked casually, not the best at small talk but trying to get her to lower her guard, but Kristin was wound up tight. She shook her head and offered Rhett a smile that was a part of self¨Cmockery. Why would she be afraid of scars? She was already a mess, with nothing left inside but rot and 11:41 pus under the skin. ¡°Come back to Silvergrove City with me. I didn¡¯t think this through,¡± Rhett admitted, a rare show of contrition. Kristin had taught him a lesson. He¡¯d always been on a pedestal, never putting himself in others¡® shoes. Kristin shook her head again. She couldn¡¯t go back. James had delivered breakfast once, and now she was in the eye of the storm. Going back was like walking into a trap. Rhett was capable, but he couldn¡¯t protect her forever. And she had nothing to offer in exchange for his help. James, at least, was Summer¡¯s biological father. No matter what, she was tied to him. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re not dumb,¡± Rhett said, giving her time to think. She knew what James was after. During the trial five years ago, when she was imprisoned, James just watched from the sidelines. Even Rhett knew someone like Kristin would keep her nose clean in prison, so why no chance of parole? Even Harriet got out six months early. ¡°The Chamber of Commerce dinner is in a week. I¡¯ll be in Crescendo Town until the 3rd of next month. You¡¯ve got time to decide,¡± Rhett said as he handed her his business card. ¡°Think it over.¡± Kristin trembled her fingers holding the card. It was an olive branch from Rhett, but she didn¡¯t know how to grab it. Rhett was a businessman and wouldn¡¯t offer kindness for anything. Whether it¡¯s James or Rhett, she had a dirty,deal to choose from. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, here to poach my woman again?¡± James stepped out of a ck sedan, his voice heavy with implication. ¡°It¡¯s justpetition,¡± Rhett replied coolly. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Kristin was once your brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e,¡± James said, pulling Kristin into his embrace and taunting her with a smile. ¡°As you you said, it was the past,¡± Rhett retorted, his voice deep. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about dirty rumors smearing your reputation in Silvergrove City over the years?¡± James was warning Rhett that Kristin was tied to too much baggage and didn¡¯t mess with her. Kristin hung her head, but she caught the underlying message. She was the dirty one. ¡°It¡¯s the rumors and people¡¯s hearts that are filthy,¡± Rhett said meaningfully, then got into his car. Chapter 64 ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I Insist on hosting a dinner tonight as a courtesy,¡± James offered politely. ¡°Your offer is generous, but you might want to pay more heed to the women in your circle. Be careful not to let your love nest alight.¡± York chimed in, shooting Kristin a nce before hurrying to drive Rhett away. They had to cut this short. With the way things punches might start flying any minute now, were heating up between the two tycoons, James darkened his face, his grip on Kristin¡¯s shoulder tightening. ¡°From now on, no meeting him.¡± Kristin lowered her head in pain, staying silent. James plucked Rhett¡¯s business card from Kristin, his voice cool. ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t protect you by myself?¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond. James tossed the card away, clearly displeased. Bill standing to the side, quickly spoke up. ¡°Mr. Bryce, Miss Linda is here causing trouble for Miss Kristin.¡± James paused mid¨Cstep and nced back at Kristin. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a ring?¡± Kristin kept silent. James knew all too well that Kristin didn¡¯t trust him and was constantly on her guard. ¡°Kristin, I¡¯m the only one who can have your back, you get me?¡± James lifted her chin with his hand, his fingers gently caressing her cheek. He wanted Kristin to be totally reliant on him, but it was clear that was going to take some more time and tactics. Kristin looked down and murmured softly, ¡°Always?¡± How long was always? Wasn¡¯t it just a deadline he¡¯s set on his terms? It could end anytime at any moment. ¡°If Mr. FitzGerald isn¡¯t in the mood to y ball, then let¡¯s head home.¡± James said, no longer interested in hobnobbing with the farts from the business. He escorted Kristin to the car. ¡°What do you fancy for dinner? I can have something delivered,¡± James asked softly. Kristin huddled by the car door, pondering for a moment. ¡°Let¡¯s cook ourselves. There¡¯s stuff in the fridge.¡± James thought about the breakfast this morning, which had been pretty decent. ¡°When did you learn to cook?¡± James was curious. Kristin of the past didn¡¯t have this domestic vibe, more like a goddess too remote for this world. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. 11:41 Chap 64 ¡°Before I went to the mmer, there was a year¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse. That year was worse than death. She¡¯d rather be behind bars than dare to stay out in the open. James watched Kristin and after a long pause, he asked, ¡°Before the trial, I asked if you¡¯d stick with me, and you said no. Regretting it now?¡± In James¡® view, five years were wasted, edges worn down, and pride swallowed. After all that. wasn¡¯t it the same oue in the end? Chapter 65 Chapter 65 N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Kristin shook her head, not uttering a word. Of course, she was filled with regret. But regret was as useless as a chocte teapot. What she regretted wasn¡¯t herck ofpromise with James back then, but rather¡­ why the heck she didn¡¯t kick the bucket in her birth year. ¡°Have a rest, and I¡¯ll whip up some dinner,¡± Kristin said with a voice so low it dripped with formality and detachment. James frowned and sauntered over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window to light up a cigarette.. Kristin¡¯s current vibe was obviously not what he was gunning for. But just because she was Kristin. ¡°Bill, drop a line to Linda¡¯s agent and tell her she¡¯s been too big for her britchestely. Have hery low, no biz gigs or roles for the next half a year.¡± James ordered coldly over the phone. On the other end, Bill got the memo. Linda was getting iced for a good six months. All because she had the gall to ruffle Kristin today. ¡°Got it, Mr. Bryce. After hanging up. James turned to look at Kristin bustling about in the kitchen. Her hair was loosely pinned up, her frame gaunt, her skin so pale it nearly glowed. From James¡® perspective, Kristin was drop¨Cdead gorgeous, the kind that made it hard to look away. Six years back, when James first pped eyes on Kristin, he thought she was the kind of princess meant to be caged in gold, a trophy for all to admire. But now, he felt an urge to hide her away and keep her all to himself away from prying eyes. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t wanna nce at the contract?¡± Ditching the cigarette butt, James stepped into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Kristin from behind. Kristin tensed up, almost dropping the kitchen knife on her foot, but James was quick to catch 1. it. ¡°No need¡­¡± Replying, she shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring you here to y nanny¡­¡± James¡® voice was deep and raspy, a reminder he kept drilling into Kristin. He had a strong impulse towards Kristin, but at least in this regard, he would respect her choice. 1/4 11: Chapter 65 Kristin numbly stared at the noodles bolling in the pot, her hands slowly dropping to her sides. ¡°James, it¡¯s not like you¡¯re short on women.¡± James did never had a shortage of women. ¡°I¡¯m not short on nannies either,¡± James let go of Kristin and leaned back, teasing. Kristin got it. James was the kind of guy who wanted what he couldn¡¯t have, but once he had it. he might not cling on so tightly. ¡°Today¡­ I ran into Linda. She¡¯s stunning, a real head¨Cturner, the type that shines no matter where she stands.¡± Kristin turned off the stove and faced James. ¡°There¡¯s no point¡­ wasting your energy on someone like me. You won¡¯t like it.¡± Compared to a shining star like Linda, she felt dull andckluster. Kristin untied her apron and tossed it aside, slowly unbuttoning her shirt. The scars on her body were a horror show, the bruises frighteningly vivid. The marks from her time in the clink hadn¡¯t fadedpletely. Her wrists wereced with ugly scars from countless suicide attempts. James, the kind of guy who demanded the ultimate from women, at the very least perfection. And she¡­ was a shattered porcin pot, glued back together, too cheap and tawdry. James stood rigid, his fingers clenched tight. ¡°Does this look valuable to you?¡± Kristin chuckled bitterly, as if she wouldn¡¯t fetch a dime even on the streets. ¡°Rest up.¡± James finally said, his voice low. ¡°When you¡¯ve made up your mind, see Bill for the contract. Use the card as you like, and hit up Bill if you¡¯re short on cash.¡± James turned and bolted, practically fleeing. At the sight of Kristin¡¯s bruised body, aplex storm of emotions in him was stirred. Kristin let out a self¨Cdeprecatingugh, picked up her shirt from the floor, and crouched there for a long time. No man would give her a second look now. If they knew the vile things she¡¯d been through. they¡¯d probably not want toy eyes on her again. At the Nightlight Club, James had left his ce, nursing a drink alone at the bar. ¡°Mr. Bryce¡­¡± Upon hearing that James was solo drinking, Linda barged into the room and started clinging to him. ¡°I know I messed up¡­¡± She heard from her agent that James was nning to put her on ice. She had been with James for three years. Her no¨Cname status from a dance academy to her current sess was all thanks to James. Although she¡¯d made her nest egg over the years, what woman wouldn¡¯t love a guy like James? 11:42 Chapter Compared to the sugar daddy hunters in showbiz, Linda hit the jackpot. You know, the other bigwigs were either pudgy or had all sorts of quirks. But a hot and fun¨Cloving guy like James was rare. Of course, every female star had a thing for Rhett, but too bad for them, Rhett was a germaphobe who didn¡¯t let any woman near him. ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± James didn¡¯t shove Linda away, his voice a low rumble. Linda was practically glued to him. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have messed with Kristin¡­¡± ¡°Stand up.¡± James told Linda to get on her feet. Confused, Linda stood obediently in front of him. ¡°Take off your shirt.¡± His voice was barely above a whisper. Linda paused, ncing around, though it was just the two of them. She bit her lip. After all, he was her sugar daddy. Undoing her buttons, Linda stripped off her shirt, ready to climb onto James¡®p. ¡°Scram.¡± James cursed under his breath, downing a whole ss of booze. Just like Kristin said, Linda was beautiful, her skin wless and unmarred. Yet, for some odd reason, James¡® mind was flooded with images of Kristin¡­ ¡°James¡­¡± Linda sounded hurt, not understanding where she fell short. ¡°Kristin is my red line. If you mess with her, I won¡¯t hesitate to reintroduce myself.¡± James said. standing up and straightening his suit before walking out without looking back. Linda was left stunned, watching James¡® departure. After three years, she never knew any woman could be his breaking point. Who the heck was Kristin anyway? She seemed pretty average to Linda. When James got home, he loosened his tie and nced around the empty room. Kristin must have hit the hay. Passing by the dining table, James spotted a te of spaghetti, still steaming and not clumped together. Clearly, Kristin had just whipped it up and left it on the table. Instinctively, he nced towards the guest room and tossed his coat aside. For some reason, he found the aroma of the spaghetti irresistible. After scarfing down a few bites, James pressed his hand against his forehead. Annoyed, he yanked off his tie and threw it aside, then mmed his fist onto the dining table, 11:4 Chapter 65 sending the te crashing to the floor. Images of Kristin covered in bruises and purple marks haunted his mind. He had left Kristin tonguish in jail for five years. He had stood by and done nothing while Vincent and the Turner family ripped away her dignity. Kristin, hearing themotion, panicked and came out. She saw James in a sorry state in the dining area, clearly stered. Bowing her head to get him some water, Kristin crouched down and silently started picking up the pieces. ¡°Get up¡­¡± James¡® voice was hoarse. Kristin didn¡¯t budge, continuing to silently clean up the mess. ¡°I said get up!¡± James yanked Kristin to her feet, his hands bracing the table as he cornered her. Kristin was scared stiff by James¡® fury, her hands trembling as she tried to push him away. James breathed intensely, just staring at Kristin, his voice rough. ¡°You can make demands¡­¡± He wanted Kristin to lean on him and she could ask for anything. Whatever she wanted, he was loaded enough to provide. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Kristin was shaking like a leaf. Demands? What kind of demands was she supposed to make? ¡°Just go to sleep.¡± James let go of Kristin, his voice hoarse. Scared out of her wits, Kristin dashed back to her room and mmed the door shut. Leaning against the corner, she slid down onto the floor. Biting her fingers fiercely, she was losing control, her hands numb and not listening to her. What could she do? She just couldn¡¯t shake off that night¡¯s ordeal. It felt like she would never escape that shadow and that hell. Those people wrecked her¡­ Grasping her hair, Kristin became more rapid in her breath. Over the years, she¡¯s been filled with hate, rage, and had lost control. Why? Why did this happen to her? What did she do wrong? What rights did she have when everything seemed to be a bacsh against her? She was crazed with thoughts of revenge, wanting to drag them down to hell with her. But then there¡¯s this thing called conscience¡­ Why did it have to stick to her? Why should she be condemned? Why should she be the one to suffer, denying herself over and over? Why should she think it¡¯s all her fault because she had no right to enjoy the life that could have been Ruby¡¯s for twenty years? It was all on her. She was asking for it! Why should she bend over backwards for her child and for everyone, doing things she didn¡¯t want to do? Why did it have to be so exhausting? She longed for release. During her sickness even breathing felt like a ton of bricks, she was gasping for air, feeling choked, desperately trying to save herself. Her soul was struggling and she didn¡¯t want to die, but her body kept mechanically simting countless ways to end it all. What was she supposed to do? Who could save her? Curling up, Kristin clutched her hair tightly. No one could save her, everyone would rather stomp on her while she was down. In the darkness, no light would appear. Nor would someone genuinely reach out to help her. 1/4 11:24 Chapter 66 N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner. Her phone rang. It was Garner. Kristin¡¯s fingers stiffly slid across the screen, but she couldn¡¯t answer the call. Her fingers were numb as if they had been frozen stiff for ages. Tears dropped onto the screen, making the phone even more sluggish. Kristin, on the verge of breaking down, wiped the phone on herself and slowly answered. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Choking back her meltdown, Kristin¡¯s voice was rough. She couldn¡¯t let Garner worry. ¡°Kris, you asleep?¡± Garner whispered. ¡°No.¡± ¡°The hospital called today and they said Summer¡¯s condition isn¡¯t serious. After monitoring for a while, they can do a minor surgery when he¡¯s a bit older. We¡¯ve still got time to save up some money. Don¡¯t put yourself down out there.¡± Garner wanted to tell Kristin toe back and stop doing things that made her unhappy. He could guess why the hospital was suddenly so attentive, with even the director personally calling him. It must be because Kristin found Summer¡¯s biological father, and the guy must be someone with power and status. ¡°Garner..¡± Kristin took a deep breath, forcing a smile. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can¡¯te back for now. I¡¯ll still send you my wages every month.¡± ¡°Kris.¡± Garner fell silent, then spoke again. ¡°Who is it?¡± He wanted to know who Summer¡¯s father was. *James¡­¡± Kristin looked up, fighting back tears. Garner fell silent again. Garner recollected James, a bigwig who was on the same level as Rhett. James was at the trial five years ago. ¡°We can¡¯tpete in the games rich folks y, Kris. I can take care of your guys now. I¡¯m working as a bodyguard for the Lawrence family and making thirty grand a month. She pays. well and I can support the two of you.¡± Garner wanted Kristin toe back. Being with James, what good coulde of it? It was nothing more than selling oneself. ¡°Garner, I can¡¯te back just yet. Harriet needs help with something. Just take care of Summer and yourself¡­¡± Kristin bit her finger hard. If she chose to go back now, the issue wouldn¡¯t be about money. It would be a question of whether the Turner and FitzGerald families would let her off the hook. As long as the Turner family and Vincent didn¡¯t touch Summer, she could hide out for a while. 2/4 A Chapter 66 * Is James good to you?¡± Garner had guessed that Kristin was with James. ¡°He¡­ He¡¯s pretty good to me.¡± Kristin thought for a moment before continuing. ¡°Really good. You know¡­ as long as you y by his rules, he¡¯s quite generous.¡± She still remembered how James had pursued her with money, throwing millions at jewelry. ready to buy anything at the drop of a hat. But after twenty years living in the rich family as the heiress of the Turner family, at least materially, she wasn¡¯t someone whose values could be easily twisted by money. Kristin could also understand why rence was so determined to destroy her and take away everything she had. Because rence knew that all the shine on her came from the Turner family, so he believed that the Turner family had every right to take it all back. ¡°If you feel wronged,e back.¡± Garner felt powerless to protect his sister, unsure of what he could do. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Kristin was a bit tense. ¡°Summer¡­ Is Summer asleep?¡± Garner walked into the room and called out to Summer. ¡°It¡¯s Mom on the phone.¡± ¡°Mommy! I miss you so much.¡± Summer rushed over excitedly, telling Kristin, ¡°Mommy, Mr. York bought me lots of toys and snacks. It¡¯s Dad who told him to do so. I didn¡¯t really want those gifts, but since Dad bought them, I wanted to keep them¡­ Summer was seeking Kristin¡¯s approval Kristin could tell that Summer really liked Rhett. ¡°Rhett sent York to check on you?¡± Kristin choked her voice, quietly asking with a mix of tears and tenderness. ¡°It must be because you¡¯re so adorable.¡± Summer beamed, ¡°Mommy, I like Daddy too. When are youing back? I miss you so much. Dad says he¡¯s gone to Crescendo Town too. Are you guys hanging out together?¡± Kristin was curled up in a corner, crying so hard her whole body was shaking. Biting her finger hard, Kristin struggled to speak. ¡°Um¡­ I¡¯m with him now.¡± Somehow, she had just lied to her kid. Summer was filled with too much excitement. ¡°Mom, I miss Dad too.¡± Summer got a bit worked up. ¡°Can I talk to Dad?¡± ¡°Summer¡­¡± Kristin took a long time to reply. ¡°Rhett isn¡¯t your dad, but¡­ I¡¯m with your real dad right now.¡± There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a moment, Summer spoke. ¡°Is Dad cool? Can he protect you, Mom?¡± hapter 66 Kristin took a deep breath. ¡°Yes¡­¡± ¡°So, can I meet Dad?¡± Summer sounded hopeful. Kristin froze for a second, feeling a tightness in her chest instinctively. Summer wanted to meet James, but what about James? Did he want to meet Summer? ¡°Mom¡­ could you ask Dad what he thinks?¡± There was a sense of loss in Summer¡¯s voice. It took a while before Summer spoke in his childlike voice. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s okay if Dad doesn¡¯t want to meet me. I¡¯m happy with just you, and Uncle Garner can protect us.¡± Kristin held the phone in silence for a very long time. After getting Summer to sleep, Kristin hung up and mustered the courage to open the door to see if James was asleep yet. James was still sitting in the living room, clearly not nning on sleeping. ¡°Aren¡¯t you¡­ going to bed?¡± Kristin asked from behind the grill. ¡°Come here.¡± James, seeing that Kristin was still up, spoke in a low voice. Kristin walked over and poured him a ss of warm water. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± James could tell Kristin was holding back. ¡°Can I make a request?¡± Kristin looked at James cautiously. James sat up straight. ¡°You can.¡± Kristin could make any request she wanted. ¡°Could¡­ could we see Summer?¡± Kristin looked at James nervously, quickly waving her hands. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make you recognize Summer or anything. It¡¯s just¡­ he wants to see his dad¡­¡± Chapter 6/ Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Kristin was trying to exin herself out of a bind, but the more she tried, the more of a mess she became. Over the years, Kristin had be worse at exining herself. James grabbed her wrist and yanked her in front of him. ¡°Okay¡­¡± The words trailing after that never made it out. She just stood there, gawking at Summer. ¡°I¡¯ll agree to whatever you ask.¡± James looked down at the scars on Kristin¡¯s wrist, reminders of het past attempts at cutting. ¡°Was it tough inside?¡± James whispered. Kristin just sat on the ground in front of James, her gaze falling helplessly. Truthfully, she couldn¡¯t even measure her own grit anymore. After all, she was living in hell and was numbed to all forms of suffering. ¡°These scars can be removed,¡± James said, looking at Kristin. Kristin yanked her wrist back, covering it with her sleeve. ¡°No need.¡± Why bother with such an ostrich act? ¡°You don¡¯t have to go back to the club anymore. Stick with me, and I can¡¯t just let you continue as a receptionist. Stick with me for three years, and I¡¯ll have someone deposit a hefty sum into Summer¡¯s ount every month, and the rest I¡¯ll transfer to your card. You can use my credit card for whatever you need. If you need cash, just tell me.¡± James didn¡¯t know how else to make it up to Kristin, other than giving her everything she could want, materially speaking. ¡°No,¡± Kristin looked down. ¡°I promised Harriet I¡¯d help¡­¡± James frowned. ¡°Think it over.¡± Kristin nodded, then spoke again. ¡°I hope to keep it private.¡± That was for James¡® sake. She didn¡¯t care about her reputation anymore. James rubbed Kristin¡¯s head, not directly responding. ¡°Not sleeping yet? nning on keeping me company?¡± Kristin panicked a bit, instinctively stepping back. James chuckled. ¡°Until you make up your mind, I won¡¯t touch you, but I don¡¯t want you to make me wait too long.¡± Tears still clung to Kristin¡¯s eyshes and she had clearly been crying. After a moment, James spoke again. ¡°You sure don¡¯t want to bring Summer over?¡± 1/4 11:24 Chapter 67 Kristin stood up and shook her head. Bringing Summer over would mean she¡¯d be trapped by James. ¡°Get some sleep. After the chamber ofmerce dinner, I¡¯ll go back with you.¡± James promised Kristin. Kristin nodded and ran back to her room. James heaved an exasperated sigh. It was torment to have a juicy steak right in front of him. yet unable to take a bite¡­ But what could he do? He had brought this upon himself. It was his fault. At the Nightlight Club. Kristin came to work and everyone at the club was sneakily eyeing her.. She was used to it. Ever since James¡® breakfast incident and the time Rhett dragged her away. the employees had been acting like this. Even Yara started to tiptoe around her. ¡°Kris¡­¡± Yara nced around before whispering. ¡°What¡¯s your deal with Mr. Bryce?¡± Kristin kept her head down as she replied, ¡°I just knew him from before.¡± Yara gasped. ¡°Kris, you¡¯re the talk of the club now. Look over there.¡± Kristin nced up the stairs and saw dozens of women, all staring at her. They were probably all dying to know which of the club¡¯s girls had snagged the notoriously picky Mr. Bryce. And Kristin had be that person of interest. ¡°With big clients today, everyone buck up and get to work,¡± the manager shouted toward the staircase. As the crowd dispersed, the manager walked up to Kristin with a smile. ¡°Kris, had breakfast? Working at the front desk is a bore, wanna switch it up?¡± The manager wanted to offer Kristin a better¨Cpaying and more rxed position. Kristin shook her head, declining. The manager didn¡¯t press further. A red sports car pulled up outside the club¡¯s revolving doors. A woman dressed to the nines got out, tossed the keys to the valet, and strutted in. Kristin kept her head down, not looking up. ¡°Miss, you are¡­?¡± the manager hurriedly approached, asking. ¦° Chapter 67 The woman shoved the manager aside, scanned the room, spotted Kristin, and marched straight toward her. A loud smack echoed through the hall and it went silent. Kristin numbly looked up, recognizing her assant, and instinctively turned to run. ¡°Running?¡± Adrienne leaned against the bar, amused by Kristin¡¯s attempt to flee. ¡°Keep running. If you don¡¯t beg me on your knees today. I¡¯ll sell your little bastard to human trader.¡± Kristin faltered her steps and turned back frantically, gasping for air. ¡°What do you want to do¡­¡± ¡°Stopped running?¡± Adrienne smiled, closing in on Kristin. ¡°Who are you?¡± Yara, finally snapping out of her shock, bravely stepped in front of Kristin. ¡°You can¡¯t hit her!¡± The manager and security caught on and rushed over. ¡°Are you all blind?¡± Adrienne looked down her nose at them, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯m Adrienne, Ms. Haywood, your boss James¡® fianc¨¦e.¡± The manager was shocked, looking at the head of security. They had indeed heard about the Bryce family¡¯s engagement with the Haywood family. Adrienne was the second heiress of the Haywood family, the one engaged to James. Years ago, there were rumors about Adrienne humiliating Linda by dumping a milk tea on her head in front of the entire cast, and then having someone beat her up. The incident caused a stir but was quickly hushed by James. James didn¡¯t react to.Adrienne¡¯s treatment of Linda, which only emboldened Adrienne. For years, Adrienne had behaved like she was James¡® fianc¨¦e, throwing her weight around everywhere she went. No matter what nasty rumors surfaced, James would take care of them. Hearing that the big shot had arrived, the manager didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Kristin, skedaddling from Silvergrove City to Crescendo Town, you¡¯ve really got some nerve,¡± Adrienne said, shoving Yara aside and grabbing Kristin¡¯s hair. ¡°All the guys in Silvergrove have had their way with you. Now are you here to snatch my man?¡± Kristin clenched her trembling fingers, but didn¡¯t say a word. The hall quickly filled with onlookers, all stunned by the scene unfolding before them. ¡°Take a good look, everyone. Know who she is?¡± Adrienne said with a smirk. ¡°Kristin, the girl from the infamous case of false heiress that rocked the nation six years ago? Ring any bells?¡± Whispers started spreading among the crowd. Kristin felt the darkness creeping in, once again the center of gossip and disdain in front of an Chapter 67 audience. In extreme desperation, Kristin was suffocated by the memory of public humiliation. ¡°Thisdy here is the thief who took over the real heiress of the Turner family for a year, nothing but trash,¡± Adrienne continued, yanking Kristin¡¯s hair. ¡°Know what the men in Silvergrove City circle call her? She is yed out by everyone.¡± Kristin bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. How could she exin and how could she fight back against such rumors? ¡°I¡¯ve got videos of her, plenty of them¡­ Wanna see? X¨Crated.¡± Adrienne chuckled, pulling out her phone to search for the videos she had taken when they bullied Kristin. Kristin, crying, tried to stop her, her fingers numb. ¡°Scared now? Weren¡¯t you scared when you were seducing my man? Kristin¡­ you¡¯re quite the piece of work,¡± Adrienneughed wildly, not taking Kristin seriously at all, just reveling in the thrill of bullying someone else. ¡°Remember six years ago¡­ Oh, when they cornered you in that alley, you were pregnant, and they still didn¡¯t let you off.¡± Adrienne¡¯s words were like hell itself, forcing Kristin to relive moments that made her wish she were dead. + Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¡°Don¡¯t push it too far.¡± Yara was getting ticked off. Adrienne was way out of line, bullying people like it¡¯s her birthright.. Yara continued, ¡°Kris and Mr. Bryce were just acquaintances from before, nothing more. If your don¡¯t believe me, go ahead, call Mr. Bryce.¡± Adrienne cracked a smile. She couldn¡¯t care less whether Kristin and James had something going on or not. She just wanted to ruffle Kristin¡¯s feathers and make a show of her clout. ¡°Ms. Haywood, we¡¯ve already given Mr. Bryce a heads¨Cup¡­ You¡¯d better head home and deal. with this mess¡­¡± The manager was also quaking in his boots, afraid of the ruckus it might cause. But Adrienne wasn¡¯t about to let Kristin off the hook that easily. ¡°I¡¯ve got these videos all. How about I share them online and let everyone have a peek, huh?¡± Kristin shook her head in horror. ¡°Please, don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to spread it, get down on your knees and beg.¡± Adrienne demanded, wanting Kristin to grovel just like she did five years ago. In the alleyway footage, they also cornered Kristin and made her kneel. Otherwise, they threatened to physically force the baby out of Kristin. In the end, Kristin did kneel, sinking into the mire of humiliation. ¡°Please¡­¡± Kristin pleaded with Adrienne not to release the video. It took scrub clean the scandal of the true or false heiresses. The smear campaign o years to had also left her reputation in tatters. If Adrienne released it again, it would stir up another round of public mockery. Kristin didn¡¯t care about herself anymore, but Summer¡­ She had to protect Summer. She knew all too well how vile and ruthless the cyberbullies could be. When the heiress scandal first broke, their house was exposed and crowds of people blocked their door, cursing from dawn to dusk. They would throw garbage at their home and engage in all sorts of disgusting acts, even¡­ someone set fire in the middle of the night. ¡°Get down,¡± Adriennemanded from her high ground, looking down at Kristin. Kristin¡¯s fingers were numb, her hands tightly gripping her dress, as she slowly knelt on the ground. But Adrienne was still not willing to let her off the hook. With a smirk, she sent those videos. ¡°Oops, I identally tweeted it.¡± Everyone in the club whipped out their phones to search Adrienne¡¯s Twitter. Truth be told, they 11:25 were all dying to know what was in the video. In the video was a poorly lit, damp and messy alley. Adrienne and a few girls, apanied by six or seven guys, cornered Kristin. Theyughed nastity, jeered, and spouted the filthiestnguage, doing the most repulsive things. They tried to strip Kristin, hit her, forced her to her knees. It was all too sordid to watch. Kneeling on the ground, Kristin heard the soundsing from the phones around her, her whole body shaking like a leaf. She thought she had forgotten it all. In prison, she had undergone countless CT treatments to erase all those painful memories. But why? Why did the joyful memories fade while the painful ones became ever clearer? Even the heavens seemed to be punishing her for stealing someone else¡¯s life. ¡°Kristin, did you think I¡¯d let you off so easily? James is my man, and you thought you could mess with him and I¡¯d let you slide?¡± Adrienne squatted in front of Kristin, pping her face with each word, each one harder than thest. ¡°Today¡¯s the first day your son starts kindergarten. How about I send this video to every single parent of his ssmates? Let them see what his filthy and low¨Clife slut mother is¡­ They will know you are a woman who seduces men, pregnant with a bastard¡­¡± Kristin numbly looked up at Adrienne, her fingernails digging into the palms of her hands, the blood at the corners of her mouth starting to dry and crust. After a long silence, Kristin¡¯s hands moved uncontrobly, grabbing Adrienne¡¯s cor, her voice trembling. ¡°Summer is my line in the sand. If you hurt him¡­ just try it¡­¡± All these years, she had swallowed her pride, refusing to stand tall because she knew she was at fault. And she was atoning. But that didn¡¯t mean that she could forever be trampled on mercilessly by these people. Adrienne was momentarily taken aback, frightened by the look in Kristin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Pushing Kristin away, Adrienneughed. ¡°A bastard from the slums thinks he¡¯s fit for Angelic Guard International Nursery? How did you even snag a spot there? Do you think I¡¯d let your son stay at that school? You seem to be clueless¡­ The principal of Angelic Guard International Nursery is my aunt.¡± Kristin trembled violently. The school Rhett had arranged for Summer was Angelic Guard International Nursery, the best elite school in Silvergrove City. ¡°Kristin!¡± Harriet rushed through the crowd, panic¨Cstricken, and hugged Kristin. ¡°What¡¯s going Chapter 68 on?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Looking up at Adrienne, Harriet had already guessed most of it. Kristin¡¯s biggest fear in following James wasn¡¯t Linda but Adrienne. Adrienne was a loose cannon; even Linda was scared of her. Kristin didn¡¯t say anything and just kept shaking. ¡°Harriet¡­¡± Yara was close to tears, handing her phone to Harriet. After a nce at the video Adrienne had posted, Harriet red at her furiously. ¡°Just because you¡¯re loaded and powerful, do you think you can just hurt people without any consequences?¡± ¡°Are you her friend?¡± Adrienne narrowed her eyes. Kristin panicked and didn¡¯t want to drag Harriet into this. ¡°No¡­¡± But Harriet held Kristin¡¯s wrist firmly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m her sister. If you¡¯ve got a beef, take it up with me.¡± Adrienne looked at the manager andughed. ¡°So can we fire the both of them now?¡± The manager hesitated. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the future bossdy of Aurora Tech as James¡® fianc¨¦e. I¡¯m telling you to fire two employees.¡± Adrienne barked arrogantly. The manager was in a tight spot. ¡°We need to check with Mr. Bryce.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you to kick them out right this instant!¡± Adrienne was relentless. Kristin stood up, wanting to leave on her own. She couldn¡¯t drag Harriet into this mess. ¡°Is the heiress of the Haywood family putting on such airs?¡± At the door, Rhett was icy strode in. Adrienne paused, seemingly not expecting Rhett to be there. as he Adrienne was still scared of Rhett and she spoke up softly. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re not chummy with Mr. FitzGerald,¡± York said with a frown. Rhett shot Adrienne a frown and then looked down at the bruise on Kristin¡¯s face. ¡°Did you do this?¡± Adrienne¡¯s heart skipped a beat and she took a nervous step back. What was Rhett implying? Taking Kristin¡¯s side? ¡°She flirted with every man and tried to seduce James¡­¡± ¡°Mind your words,¡± Rhett warned with a stern voice. Looking down at Kristin, Rhett asked with a frown, ¡°How do you want to handle this?¡± Kristin clenched her clothes tightly, took a deep breath, and looked up at Rhett. ¡°Help me call the police.¡± Chapter 68 Rhett¡¯s gaze was serious as he crouched in front of Kristin. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Call the police¡­¡± Kristin repeated firmly. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 ¡°Pull up the surveince from the club. York, call the cops. The rest of you block her path,¡± Rhett commanded in a low voice, ncing at the time. ¡°You¡¯ve got two minutes to get your stories straight about what you¡¯ve seen today! Watch out for your words.¡± The manager nodded frantically, warning the rubberneckers to stop gawking and beat it! In a sh, everyone scattered like roaches, not wanting any part of the drama. Harriet let out a sigh of relief, whispering to Kristin, ¡°Kris¡­ I called Mr. FitzGerald just now.¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond, her gaze fixed on the ground. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, look at this,¡± York gasped, taking a phone from one of the employees. Adrienne had posted the video of her bullying Kristin from five years ago online. Rhett nced at the phone, his eyes shooting daggers at Adrienne. Adrienne took a fearful step back. ¡°Rhett¡­ It¡¯s not a big deal. Why are you siding with her¡­ I¡­ | gotta go.¡± She sensed danger and was ready to bolt, but York blocked her escape. ¡°Ms. Haywood, no one can escape thew. And you were dumb enough to st your crime spree from five years ago all over the inte.¡± York sneered. ¡°Stirring up trouble with serious consequences starts with a three¨Cyear lock¨Cup.¡± Adrienne turned pale, terror¨Cstricken as she faced Rhett. ¡°Rhett¡­ What¡¯s this about? I hit her because she was asking for it. She¡¯s flirting with my man. I¡¯m James¡® fianc¨¦e. You¡¯re holding me back and calling the cops¡­ Aren¡¯t you worried about dragging Aurora Tech through the mud, or ruining things with the Bryce family?¡± Adrienne was shocked, finally grasping the gravity of the situation. Rhett had no reason to jeopardize his rtionship with James over Kristin. The FitzGerald Group and Aurora Tech were in bed together, a sweet win¨Cwin deal. ¡°Do you think I care?¡± Rhett shot back, icy as ever. He draped his jacket over Kristin, signaling Harriet to help her to the side to rest. ¡°You have spread videos and ng mud at others with defamation and invasion of privacy, which has over five hundred shares with rock¨Csolid proof. You¡¯re in for a world of hurt with those charges stacked against you.¡± Rhett dangled the phone before delivering a calm warning to Adrienne. ¡°You sted your guilt to the world. You¡¯re not escaping the mmer.¡± Tossing the phone to York, Rhettmanded, ¡°Get the sharpestwyer in Silvergrove City.¡± ¡°Rhett¡­ Are you kidding me? Do you think you can scare me? For Kristin, you¡¯d throw away the 1/3 Chapter 69 interest of the Bryce family?¡± Adrienne was shaking like a leaf, her voice quivering. Desperate, she moved to plead with Rhett, realizing she¡¯d made a colossal blunder by leaking Kristin¡¯s video, which was a self¨Cinflicted expos¨¦ of her guilt. She¡¯d been confident that Kristin wouldn¡¯t dare retaliate, expecting Kristin to slink away. scorned by all. But Adrienne never expected Rhett to stand up for Kristin! ¡°Rhett, cut it out, stop scaring me. All of the Haywood family knows you¡¯re bound to get engaged to my sister. We¡¯re practically family¡­ Taking this as a lesson for me, I¡¯ll never do it again.¡± A short distance away. Kristin sat on a bench, numb, watching Adrienne grovel pathetically. It turned out that even the bully had her fears. A bitter chuckle escaped her as Kristin lifted her head, cleaning the blood trickling from her nose, but the nosebleed wouldn¡¯t stop, staining her clothes. Kristin looked down, her eyes welling up. She now owed Rhett a suit, something she couldn¡¯t repay. Wiping her face haphazardly, Kristin sat there, disheveled and fragile like a soulless rag doll. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. That was how society worked with hierarchy. When someone was above Adrienne, she went from high and mighty to begging for mercy. ¡°Kris¡­¡± Harriet crouched beside Kristin, whispering. ¡°You can¡¯t keep taking this lying down. These people won¡¯t let up. Didn¡¯t prison teach you anything?¡± Kristin looked at Harriet numbly. ¡°They messed with my son. So this time, I won¡¯t back down.¡± Replying. Kristin took a deep breath, as if she¡¯d made up her mind. Harriet nodded, hugging Kristin with a pained expression. ¡°No one¡¯s got your back forever. you¡¯ve got to use every card in your hand, even if these guys are just a brief lift up. Hold tight and climb your way up step by step.¡± Harriet¡¯s voice was low and hoarse, echoing the lessons from the school of hard knocks. Power was everything. Those with power lived on top and the rest could only beg for scraps, but no one should be content to live at the bottom forever. ¡°Your debt¡¯s been paid, you¡¯re a single mother with a son. You¡¯ve got to get strong, if not for yourself, then for him.¡± Harriet¡¯s eyes were red as she gripped Kristin¡¯s hand firmly. Kristin sat silently, numbness creeping over her as the cops arrived to take Adrienne away. That was when Adrienne realized the severity of ber situation. ¡°Rhett¡­ you can¡¯t do this to me, you can¡¯t.¡± Adrienne was frantic, her eyes locked on Rhett in 2/3 Chapter 69 fear. ¡°Rhett, six years ago, you and Hertha at the hotel¡­¡± Rhett¡¯s frosty gaze met Adrienne¡¯s, which was a clear warning. Some things were meant to be said, while others were best kept secret. Adrienne wasn¡¯t about to make that mistake. Sure¡­ Adrienne pped her hand over her mouth in panic. ¡°Rhett, I know I screwed up. Don¡¯t call the cops or tell them to hit the road.¡± Rhett nced over at Kristin. ¡°She¡¯s the victim.¡± Adrienne caught on in a heartbeat and darted over to beg Kristin to drop the charges. ¡°Kristin! Tell the cops it was just a joke, all of it, tell them!¡± But Adrienne wasn¡¯t showing a shred of remorse, she was still making threats. With a nk look, Kristin turned to the police after facing Rhett and said, ¡°I can no longer hear with my left ear.¡± The cop paused, stepping forward to check Kristin¡¯s injury.. Kristin cast her eyes down and spoke again. ¡°She hit me five years ago and brought people to hurt me. She also ndered me and drove me to attempt suicide multiple times. It¡¯s on record at the jail in Silvergrove City.¡± Kristin rolled up her sleeve to reveal the gruesome scars on her pale arm. Slowly standing up, Kristin spoke again. ¡°I want to press charges¡­¡± The cop was visibly shocked by Kristin¡¯s arm, and then looked back at Rhett. ¡°Take her away first.¡± *The evidence is all here. I¡¯ve got it ready for you folks,¡± York stepped in, handing over surveince footage and videos to the authorities. ¡°Ourwyer will be here shortly.¡± The police nodded and took Adrienne away. Rhett looked at Kristin with aplex gaze, furrowed his brow, and was silent for a long time. ¡°Let me go. I¡¯m not going to the station! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong!¡± Adrienne kept yelling. Outside, James walked in with his assistant, his voice deep and serious. ¡°What¡¯s all this chaos. about?¡± Adrienne lit up her face at the sight of James. ¡°James, save me, they¡¯re taking me to the station and want to lock me up! James, save me.¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 James darkened his face for a moment and furrowed his brows as he stared at Adrienne. thinking, ¡°What was Adrienne doing showing up early in Crescendo Town?¡± ¡°James, you gotta help me.¡± Adrienne sobbed, pleading for his aid. When he nced at Kristin, James got the picture to know that Adrienne was here to stir up trouble with Kristin. Instinctively stepping in front of Kristin, James quietly asked, ¡°Did shey a hand on you?¡± Kristin kept her head down, not looking up. James turned icy in a sh, turning back to Adrienne. ¡°Is this how your family teach you?¡± Adrienne, shocked, stared at James in disbelief. ¡°James¡­ I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e, and you¡¯re using me without even asking? She seduced you first, why can¡¯t I hit her!¡± Kristin remained silent, not saying a word. ¡°You better take a hard look at yourself, or nobody¡¯s gonna be able to help you.¡± James warned Adrienne with a cold look in his eyes, figuring he¡¯d settle scores with herter. ¡°James! Kristin, tell the cops we were just joking around! Kristin! Don¡¯t wait for me to get out!¡± Adrienne, red¨Cfaced with anger, continued to threaten Kristin. James grew dark as he let the cops take Adrienne away. He took Kristin¡¯s hand, intending to take her to the hospital.N?velDrama.Org is the owner. But Kristin instinctively pulled away, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. James hadn¡¯t denied this rtionship with Adrienne, which meant he acknowledged his alliance with the Haywood family. Sooner orter, Adrienne would be his wife in name. If Kristin kept hanging with James, all the humiliation she suffered today was on her. James paused, turning back to look at Kristin, who stayed silent. ¡°Mr. Bryce, take a look at Miss Adrienne¡¯s Twitter,¡± Bill said, shaking with anger. They had bullied Kristin like this five years ago. Kristin was the victim¡­ How dare Adrienne post that video? James gripped his phone so hard the screen shattered. Idiot! Adrienne was such a fool. If it weren¡¯t for the Haywood family still being of value¡­ ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, did you call the cops?¡± Tossing his phone to Bill, James shot Rhett a look. Rhett didn¡¯t say a word, just stood there watching Kristin. ¡°Think carefully, whether you wanna go with me or stay with him.¡± By making this choice, Kristin was pushing herself to the edge of a cliff. Chapter 70 At most, Adrienne would spend a few months inside, but once out, she wouldn¡¯t let Kristin off the hook. Plus, if Kristin was responsible for getting Adrienne locked up, the Haywood family wouldn¡¯t let Kristin off easy either By taking this s today, Kristin was choosing between James and Rhett as her rock. If not, her survival would be tough.. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, I¡¯ll take good care of Kristin,¡± James said, his brows knitted. Rhett remained silent, just looking at Kristin, waiting for her choice and decision. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital¡± James said, leading Kristin away. Kristin was silent for a long time before choosing to follow James. Rhett furrowed his brow, his expression grim. ¡°Kristin¡¯s not dumb,¡± York breathed a sigh of relief and worried Kristin would choose Rhett. If Kristin went with Rhett, she¡¯d be bringing him a world of trouble. ¡°She knows staying in Crescendo Town is safer than heading back to Silvergrove City.¡± York said proudly, acknowledging her smarts. Rhett grew darker, his gaze chilling as he nced at York. ¡°I think you¡¯d fit in well in Crescendo Town too. How about you go be James¡® assistant?¡± York shivered, hurrying after Rhett. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, you¡¯re the only one in my heart!¡± Rhett ignored York, his mood darkening as he got in the car. For some reason, he felt a pang of anger, upset that Kristin chose James over him. Was it because James was Summer¡¯s biological father? Fingers tapping the armrest, Rhett couldn¡¯t shake the image of Kristin¡¯s pale and bloodless face from his mind. She said she couldn¡¯t hear in her left ear, and she said she had tried to end her life many times. Taking a deep breath, Rhett looked at York. ¡°Find out what Kristin went through in prison these past five years.¡± ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡­ why bother digging into her past? Is it necessary?¡± York clearly wasn¡¯t thinking straight. Feeling Rhett¡¯s murderous re, York silently bowed his head and drove. ¡°Alright, Mr. Fitzgerald.¡± Rhett rubbed his temples, seriously considering hiring a new assistant. On the way to the hospital, Kristin sat in James¡® car, silent as a stone. Chapter 70 ¡°Does it hurt?¡± James asked and held an ice pack, personally applying it to Kristin¡¯s cheek. Kristin tried to dodge, but James deliberately trapped her in his arms, gently cleaning the blood from the corner of her mouth. ¡°Adrienne messed with my love, and I¡¯ll make sure she pays a price.¡± James was trying tofort Kristin. Kristin¡¯s eyes were void of any ripples as she remained silent. James pinched Kristin¡¯s pale and delicate face, looking at her for a long while. ¡°Kristin¡­ I¡¯ve said it before, you cany down your terms. How do you want me to handle it?¡± Kristin was quiet for a long time, her voice hoarse. ¡°I won¡¯t let this go easily¡­ I want a medical examination.¡± James took a deep breath before he realized Kristin was dead serious. She wasn¡¯t about to let Adrienne off the hook easily. ¡°Alright¡­¡± James conceded. With a weary voice, Kristin spoke again. ¡°She¡¯s your fianc¨¦e.¡± James didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°If word gets out about bullying and assault, especially involving a criminal case, it¡¯s gonna look. bad for Aurora Tech and the Bryce family,¡± Kristinid it out upfront. ¡°Are you looking out for me?¡± James chuckled, feeling inexplicably good. Kristin didn¡¯t deny it and spoke again, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d take advantage of the public opinion and call off the engagement with the Haywood family.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse but firm. If James agreed to break off the engagement now, it would be a devastating blow to the Haywood family and Adrienne. Kristin was out for revenge. James could see that Kristin was using him to get back at Adrienne. Taking a deep breath, James looked at Kristin with a burning gaze. ¡°Kris, I can give you anything.¡± Kristin reddened her eyes and her clenched hands slowly rxed. Sheughed bitterly and helplessly. ¡°But a marriage alliance isn¡¯t as simple as you think. James added. Clearly, he didn¡¯t agree to break off the engagement. Kristin looked down, smiling faintly. This was her giving James a chance, hisst chance. ¡°If you break off the engagement¡­ cut ties with the Haywood family, I could always be with you.¡± Even as Kristin said it, she found itughable. She was such a tainted woman. James would probably get tired of her in no time. But she didn¡¯t have any other cards to y, except for her body. 3/4 Chapter 70 ¡°Kris, you can¡¯t seriously expect me to marry you¡­¡± James leaned back in his chair, his voice deep and tired. Apart from marriage, he could give Kristin anything. ¡°I promise you, I won¡¯t let Adrienne and the Haywood family off the hook that easy. I won¡¯t lift at finger to help her this time. Whatever the cops decide to do, she¡¯ll have iting. But¡­ the Bryce family and the Haywood family can¡¯t have a falling out just yet. Give me two years and I¡¯ll give you an answer you¡¯ll be happy with, okay?¡± James reached out to take Kristin¡¯s hand. Like she¡¯d been shocked, Kristin jerked her hand away and stared out the window, defeated. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Bad feelings overwhelmed Kristin. ¡°James, I never had the wild hope that you¡¯d marry me¡­¡± With a somewhat strained smile, Kristin fought back the tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Just tuck me away somewhere safe. I promise, I¡¯ll be good,¡± she uttered. As long as James was willing to call off the engagement and ready to publicly admit that Adrienne was guilty, Kristin would hand over her body and soul. James reached out to pull Kristin into his arms and hugged her tightly. ¡°Kris¡­ give me some time to think about it.¡± His voice was hoarse. For a split second, he actually considered throwing caution to the wind and agreeing to Kristin¡¯s request, taking her home and hiding her away. ¡°Give me an answer at the Chamber of Commerce dinner, okay?¡± Kristin knew James was smart. He knew what Kristin wanted. She wanted James to use Adrienne¡¯s guilt as an excuse to cut ties with the Haywood family. It was the best reason and excuse she coulde up with for James. At the hospital. After a thorough examination of Kristin, the doctor¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°Your ear¡­ is so badly injured. Why haven¡¯t you been protecting it?¡± Kristin just looked down, silent. ¡°Your left ear has permanent hearing damage.¡± the doctor said. Kristin numbly looked up at the doctor. ¡°Does causing disability increase the penalty?¡± The doctor sighed. ¡°Of course, the forensic expert will assess the severity of the injury.¡± Kristin continued sitting numbly. Outside the examination room, James was grim as he repeatedly watched the video of Kristin being bullied five years ago. ¡°Mr. Bryce, take this opportunity to call off the engagement with the Haywood family,¡± Bill whispered. James gave Bill a cold nce and said nothing. Bill looked down, his chest aching slightly. If James didn¡¯t call off the engagement, he¡¯d definitely get involved, since scandals from the Haywood family could also impact the Bryce family. Chapter 71 Once James got involved with Adrienne¡¯s case, Kristin would not be able to handle it. Kristin was already pitiful enough, what wrong had she done? Buzz! Just as James was about to say something, his phone rang. It was Carter Bryce, James¡® grandfather. James took a deep breath and headed to the emergency exit. Clearly, the Haywood family had gotten wind of the situation and had immediately contacted Carter. Bill was worried. James feared nothing, except for his grandfather. He wouldn¡¯t go against Carter. ¡°Ms. Turner.¡± Seeing Kristine out of the examination room and sit weakly in the corridor, Bill rushed over and handed her a warm bottle of water. Kristin epted the water and said thank you. Bill smiled awkwardly and sat next to Kristin,forting her, ¡°Ms. Turner, it¡¯s not your fault. Don¡¯t mind those videos online. Mr. Bryce has taken action. All those videos have been taken down and the links can¡¯t be opened again.¡± Kristin didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to thosements. The idea that the victim is to me is fundamentally wrong. You did nothing wrong and the bullies are the ones at fault.¡± Bill didn¡¯t know how tofort her. He couldn¡¯t protect Kristin, all he could do was¡­ try to reassure her. Kristin smiled at Bill ¡°Thank you.¡± # Bill was taken aback, feeling his ears heat up. Kristin looked really pretty when she smiled even now. ¡°Your ear¡­¡± Bill quickly changed the subject. ¡°Permanent hearing loss, it can¡¯t be fixed,¡± Kristin said calmly. She liked the quiet and it was fine this way. She still had her right ear to hear things. ¡°Kristin¡­¡± Bill took a deep breath, his fingers clenched. ¡°Don¡¯t hold out too much hope for Mr. Bryce. The union between the Bryce family and the Haywood family isn¡¯t as simple as it seems, involving Mr. Bryce¡¯s grandfather. Besides, his grandfather hasn¡¯t fully relinquished his power yet, and Mr. Bryce¡­¡± Kristin understood what Bill was getting at and continued to look down in silence. She never had much hope for herself in the first ce. What was her tainted body worth? It wasn¡¯t worth it for James topletely fall out with the Haywood family. Chapter 71 With a self¨Cdeprecating smile, Kristin stood up and walked out of the hospital. After James finished the call his face remained troubled. He nced at Bill and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Kristin?¡± ¡°Ms. Turner said she was going out for some air.¡± Bill handed over the examination results to James, which read permanent and incurable hearing loss, severe depression and anxiety, multiple suicide attempts¡­¡± James, holding the results, felt a pang in his heart. He ran out of the hospital frantically, searching for Kristin¡¯s figure. In the gazebo, Kristin sat on a bench, dressed thinly, staring at the frozenke. It was snowing again in Crescendo Town. Yara said this might be Crescendo Town¡¯sst snow this year. Christmas wasing. For twenty years with the Turner family, Kristin had always looked forward to celebrating Christmas. Every Christmas, rence would go to great lengths to give her the most stunning gifts. Kristin liked fireworks, and rence would host a fireworks show every year, taking her to watch the sky filled with them. Her gaze drifting. Kristin reached out to catch the falling snowkes outside the gazebo. In stark contrast to Silvergrove City, where snow was a rare sight and usually fell as mere ice pellets, here the snowkes were impressivelyrge. ¡°Kristin, do you still want to go back to school?¡± James came over and asked softly. He wanted to try to make amends for Kristin. ¡°I got thrown in the mmer in my sophomore year and got booted off the university rolls. How am I supposed to go back to school?¡± Kristin shook her head. She didn¡¯t even feel like hitting the books anymore. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. In just a few days, she¡¯d be hitting 27. With a wry smile, Kristin leaned on the railing, watching the snowfall. ¡°James, are you tied up? If so, you can head out.¡± She just wanted some peace and quiet, the hospital was dead silent. ¡°I got you.¡± James wrapped his coat around Kristin and took the scarf Bill handed him. wrapping her up too. Chapter 71 Kristin moved her lips but ended up not saying a thing. ¡°Weren¡¯t you once the top talented student in Silvergrove City? How about giving the SAT another shot?¡± James knew it was a damn shame about Kristin. Kristin reddened her eyes and pointed to her head. ¡°¡­ It¡¯s all gone.¡± Her memory was no longer what it used to be. Several CT treatments had blurred her memory. diminished her recall, and left her feeling numb and slow¨Cwitted. James took a deep breath, realizing he¡¯d struck a nerve with Kristin again and took her hand. ¡°It¡¯ll get better.¡± he said. Kristin didn¡¯t speak, nor did she ask James what to choose. Since she had given James seven days, she¡¯d just wait. e When the stuff with Adrienne hit the fan, the inte went nuts with a pile¨Con. At first, folks. mmed the bullies. However, the moment discourse was deliberately diverted towards Kristin¡¯s alleged switch with a wealthy girl, all restraint was lost. The inte was suddenly on fire with bacsh against Kristin, with numerousments suggesting she got what she deserved. Clearly, someone was intentionally stirring the pot online. ¡°Did you find out who it is?¡± James asked coldly. Bill looked down, replying, ¡°It might be the Turner family.¡± The Turner family was tight with the Haywood family. They were trying to spin the narrative to save Adrienne. ¡°Shut down all the negative chatter!¡± James looked furious. ¡°Mr. Bryce, unless you call off your engagement with the Haywood family, you can¡¯t squash it.¡± Bill said, mustering up some courage. James paused for a moment, massaging his temples. ¡°I can make it up to her in other ways¡­¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 At James¡® ce. Ever since that incident, Kristin has been holed up at home, too scared to step outside. The online bacsh was intense, and Kristin found herself in the eye of the storm once again. Too terrified to venture out, she chose to remain hidden. Although Harriet made several attempts to get in touch, Kristin¡¯s fear held her back from agreeing to meet. ¡°Grabbed a bite yet?¡± James was back, carrying dinner. Kristin stepped out of her room, shaking her head. She was too scared to even look at her phone, let alone leave the house. She feared that the online mob would corner her at her doorstep like they did six years ago, hurling trash at her, cursing her to drop dead, saying she had iting. ¡°Eat something.¡± James opened up the porridge, urging Kristin to have some. Kristin sat at the dining table, her hands somewhat numb.. ¡°I¡¯ve squashed the buzz online. It¡¯ll all be forgotten soon,¡± James tried to reassure Kristin. She said nothing. Would it blow over that quickly? The inte might forget, but she couldn¡¯t. ¡°Try to stay indoors for the next few days. Don¡¯t even think about hitting the club. After the chamber of commerce dinner, I¡¯ll take you out to clear your head,¡± James suggested, knowing that the folks from the Haywood family were on the hunt for a private settlement. It wasn¡¯t just the Haywood family searching. The Turner family and Fitzgerald family were also on the prowl. Kristin looked up at James, waiting for some sort of assurance, but James couldn¡¯t give her a straight answer. ¡°If Adrienne gets tangled up in criminal charges, the Haywood family won¡¯t stand for it. They¡¯ll go to great lengths to find me. After all, she¡¯s your fianc¨¦e. They¡¯ll track me down sooner orter,¡± Kristin was aware that there were no secrets that time did not reveal. Staying at James¡® home wasn¡¯t a safe haven. ¡°I¡¯ve got your back, James wanted Kristin to feel secure. Kristin didn¡¯t push the conversation and just took a deep breath. She didn¡¯t eat much, feeling nauseous, and retreated back to her room, her figure solitary and forlorn. James often felt the urge to pull her into his arms, but Kristin always seemed aloof. He was well aware that without breaking off the engagement with the Haywood family, Kristin 1/4 11-26 might never fully open up to him. But he was confident he could keep her by his side. He just needed some time¡­. With Carter not handing over the reins, James couldn¡¯t call off the engagement. The Haywood family had been hounding him, urging him to get Adrienne out of the mess. James had been dodoing everyone, letting Adrienne stew a bit. After all, actions had consequences. But James knew they couldn¡¯t drag this out much longer. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. When the phone rang again, he knew it was Berg before he even looked. Rubbing his temples, James answered the call. It was Adrienne¡¯s grandfather, Berg. He shared a strong bond with Carter, cemented by their shared experiences asrades¨Cin¨Carms. ¡°James, Adrienne¡¯s been bullied in Crescendo Town. What are you doing about it?¡± Berg went straight to the point. ¡°Berg, Adrienne was the one who messed up first,¡± James frowned. ¡°Adrienne is your fianc¨¦e, promised by Carter himself. How many women you have on the side. is none of my business. But if Adrienne knows, she¡¯s entitled to swing at whoever she wants.¡± James stayed silent, just rubbing his temples.. ¡°I¡¯m speaking for Carter and I¡¯vee to Crescendo Town myself. Adrienne has been bullied into jail and I want to see who¡¯s got the nerve to do that.¡± On the other end, Carter chimed in, ¡°Bring that woman back.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not possible.¡± James said with a frown. He couldn¡¯t bring Kristin back to the Bryce family. ¡°James, it seems like you¡¯ve grown too big for your britches,¡± Carter was furious. 7 ¡°I¡¯ming home now, but¡­ don¡¯t you dare touch her.¡± James said, ncing at the clock with a heavy heart. With Berg personally arriving in Crescendo Town, the whole situation took on a different weight. If Kristin kept this up, it would only work against her. After hanging up. James instinctively looked back. Kristin was standing at the doorway, obviously having overheard their conversation. ¡°Kris¡­¡± James wanted to exin. With eyes reddened, Kristin gripped her skirt tightly. ¡°Just go home¡­¡± she murmured. James felt a pang in his chest but still spoke up. ¡°About Adrienne¡­ maybe let her off with a lesson learned and drop the charges. With Berg here in Crescendo Town, dragging this out will Chapter 72 only hurt you. Kristin trembled as she took a deep breath, holding back the tears. ¡°I won¡¯t¡­¡± She wouldn¡¯t cave. ¡°Not even for Summer and Garner?¡± James didn¡¯t want to worry Kristin with this. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kristin stepped forward anxiously, fearful of James¡® response. ¡°The Haywood family have already approached Garner and Summer¡¯s been ostracized by her ssmates, even taking a break from school.¡± Kristin stumbled back and was lost. She had known the Haywood family wouldn¡¯t let Summer and Garner off the hook. ¡°Even if I give in, they won¡¯t stoping after me!¡± Kristin yelled uncontrobly. ¡°Kris¡­¡± James moved to embrace her to calm her down. ¡°Drop the case for now, and I¡¯ll handle the rest. Trust me, okay?¡± ¡°James¡­ you won¡¯t call off the engagement, right? You won¡¯t!¡± Kristin pushed James away in desperation, retreating helplessly. ¡°Tomorrow is the big shindig at the Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce, and your answer¡­ Can¡¯t be clearer¡­¡± Kristin was trembling all over, heart racing. She knew that James won¡¯t call off the engagement with the Haywood family. As long as James didn¡¯t bail on the engagement, there was no way she picked him, not even for a bit of leverage. Kristin was not about to be the mistress, giving someone the ammo to keep hurting her. No way. ¡°Kristin¡­¡± James was at a loss for words. This was one heck of a tangled web. ¡°Calling off an engagement is not as easy as you think. When businesses and families get hitched, there¡¯s al whole lot of strings attached.¡± Kristin cracked a smile and took a step back. Truth be told, it was all because she was not important enough. Kristin knew she was a small fry, insignificant. ¡°Just give it two years. Once I¡¯m fully in charge, my marriage to Adrienne will be nothing more than a formality,¡± James tried to get it through to Kristin that he didn¡¯t love Adrienne, marrying her was all about the power y. Kristin kept backing up, shaking her head non¨Cstop. James was not the one she was supposed to go for The phone rang over and over, and James, clearly irritated, yanked at his tie. ¡°Stay home, take it Chapter 72 easy. Justy low for a while.¡± With that, James took off. Berg¡¯s arrival in Crescendo Town was a sure sign that the whole Haywood family was on the move. James needed to keep Carter¡¯s temper under wraps for now. With Carter¡¯s health being a bit shaky these past few years with high blood pressure, James didn¡¯t want him blowing a gasket. As for Kristin¡­ Before leaving. James took onest look back at her. James believed that he was the only one that Kristin could lean on, her sole source of protection. He could stash her away for now, and revisit this in a few years¡­ Kristin stood there numbly, watching James leave. She couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. The Haywood family had called James away to hunt her down, and she wasn¡¯t safe around James. In a frenzy, she dashed back to her room and grabbed her phone. Throwing on her coat, she wrapped up tight and hesitated for a moment before running to the kitchen to grab a fruit knife, and bolted out the door. But it was toote. Three ck sedans had already pulled up outside just as James left. Clearly. James¡® visit had blown her cover. $ Out of the cars stepped Vincent and rence. The other cars were packed with the Haywood family members. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Kristin stood under the re of a few car headlights, squinting hard to see. Clutching the fruit knife up her sleeve, she shivered and backed away. She wanted to run, but her legs felt like lead, totally out of control. She was stuck. Really, she could¡¯ve called James, but she gave up on that idea. She didn¡¯t want to drag him into more trouble. ¡°Kristin, do you think you¡¯re something, huh?¡± Vincent was filled with disappointment as he spoke with biting sarcasm. ¡°How dare James fall for a woman of your reputation.¡± Kristin numbly retreated, trying hard not to care about Vincent¡¯s mockery. ¡°Kristin, I told you to get lost.¡± rence said, lighting up a cigarette and leaning against the car, watching the scene unfold with an icy gaze. Vincent stepped closer to Kristin. Kristin felt as though she were plummeting into a frigid ice cave. ¡°You got Adrienne locked up, I underestimated you,¡± Vincent said with a sneeringugh, grabbing Kristin by the hair and dragging her to the front of the first car. A poshdy in the car looked down at Kristin with disdain. ¡°Spit it out. How much to drop the charges?¡± Kristin trembled all over. ¡°Assault is a crime, in and simple¡­¡± Adrienne¡¯s mom scoffed. ¡°Kristin, do you think I¡¯m giving you a chance?¡± Kristin tightened her grip on the knife handle. ¡°Nonsense.¡± rence, holding the cigarette butt, stiffened for a second, and looked up at Kristin. He seemed about to say something, but ultimately he said nothing. ¡°Three million, is that enough?¡± Adrienne¡¯s mom frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡± Kristin gritted her teeth in pain, her voice hoarse. ¡°Too little for you?¡± Adrienne¡¯s mom stepped out of the car, looking at Vincent. ¡°She won¡¯t listen, what can you do?¡± ¡°For a woman like this, you gotta use other methods. She¡¯s been with James and doesn¡¯t need the three million dors,¡± Vincent said, his smile dripping with scorn as he shoved Kristin into the car. ¡°Vincent, I¡¯m leaving this to you. No killings, alright? Make sure she drops the charges before the Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce dinner ends tomorrow,¡± Adrienne¡¯s mom instructed. Vincent nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Chapter 73 Kristin clutched her phone, sneakily trying to call for help. rence saw Kristin fiddling with her phone, frowned, but didn¡¯t stop her. But Vincent caught her, snatched the phone, and tossed it out the window. ¡°Trying to call James? He¡¯s a bit tied up to save you right now,¡± Vincent said, massaging his temples with a crazy chuckle. ¡°Keep running, Kristin.¡± Kristin curled up under the car seat, hugging herself tightly, clueless about Vincent¡¯s next move. ¡°When did you start hooking up with James? Six years ago, or was it seven? Huh? That bastard child is James¡®?¡± Vincentughed, a crazy edge to it. When Kristin kept silent, Vincent yanked her hair toward him. ¡°Kristin, you are a bitch! Wasn¡¯t! good to you? How dare you cheat on me with other guys?¡± Vincent was losing it. Kristin looked at him, terrified, saying nothing. Her silence clearly infuriated Vincent. ¡°Whore.¡± He despised her and thought she was filthy, yet he couldn¡¯t let her go. ¡°James isn¡¯t picky,¡± Vincent muttered irritably, then violently threw Kristin¡¯s head against the car door. With her head hit the door, Kristin felt dizzy. In the passenger seat, rence massaged his temples with a low voice. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far¡­ remember why we¡¯re here. We need her to drop the charges.¡± Vincent just sneered, saying nothing. They drove to an abandoned mine in Crescendo Town, far from the city center, after nearly an hour on the road. Vincent dragged Kristin out of the car, and she stumbled to the ground several times, her knees scraped raw, skin sticking to her torn pants, pain ring with every move. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time, will you drop the charges?¡± Vincent threw Kristin into a warehouse. Kristin struggled to her feet and shook her head. Vincent frowned and kicked her away. Kristiny on the ground, coughing for a long time. rence stood at the door, hand on his temple, silent. Kristin coughed, the sweet yet metallic taste of blood evident in her throat. ¡°Onest time, will you drop them?¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°No¡­¡± Kristin red at Vincent with loathing, herbice hoarse but firm. ¡°Kristin! Do you think you can talk to me like that with James backing you up?¡± Vincent pulled at her cor, unable to stand seeing Kristin like this. ¡°Still won¡¯t drop them?¡± Vincent nced at the men behind him. There were about a dozen bodyguards in the warehouse, all waiting in advance. ¡°They¡¯ll take turns to rape you, then let¡¯s see if James will still love you.¡± Vincent wasn¡¯t just trying to scare Kristin. Obviously, Kristin being with James had pushed Vincent over the edge, making him lose all reason. The bodyguards moved in as Vincentmanded, ¡°Don¡¯t forget to take pictures.¡± Kristin retreated in terror, crying helplessly, ¡°Get away¡­¡± rence frowned and grabbed Vincent, snapping, ¡°You serious about this?¡± ¡°Do you think just a scare will make her afraid? With James to lean on, she is not scared of you or me.¡± Vincent shrugged off rence¡¯s hand. ¡°Vincent, don¡¯t go too far!¡± rence thought this approach was despicable. ¡°She¡¯s already a mess. Why should she care about a few more guys?¡± Vincent snapped as he grabbed rence¡¯s cor. ¡°You better not be stirring the pot.¡°. rence shoved Vincent off, paused for a moment, then turned and walked away. Kristin leaned against a pir, watching rence walk away with a sense of despair. She should¡¯ve totally given up on him long ago. Why was there still a glimmer of hope? Vincent made his arrangements and left. He sure wasn¡¯t going to stick around with his eyes dirtied. ¡°We¡¯re just doing what we¡¯re paid to do. If you drop the charges now, we don¡¯t wanna mess with you,¡± the head bodyguard threw in. Kristin sat there numbly, looking up at the men. ¡°Rape is a crime, and you¡¯ll get punishment¡­¡± ¡°This is the middle of nowhere, who¡¯s gonna know?¡± one ruffian snickered. ¡°If you don¡¯t take al turn, I¡¯ll go first. Even Mr. Bryce had a go, she¡¯s clean for sure. Besides, with the cash paid by Mr. FitzGerald, a few years in prison is worth it.¡± The menughed, egging each other on. As one began to unbuckle his pants, Kristin gripped a dagger and pressed it to her own throat. ¡°What about murder, huh?¡± The man furrowed his brow, looking at Kristin, pale but not trembling. What was she implying? Kristin¡¯s de shed across her neck, red blood spurting out instantly. Chapter 73 The men looked at each other in horror. ¡°She is crazy¡­ N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. They knew they couldn¡¯t bear the weight of a murder charge. With a weak smile, Kristin leaned against the pir. She waited until everyone was far away before pressing her scarf against the wound and staggeringly walking out. When Vincent yanked her into the car, she struggled, lost a shoe, and walked barefoot on the road, the gravel piercing her skin, the pain numbing. The scarf was soaked with blood. Kristin knew what she was doing, but she also knew she¡¯d die without quick help. She didn¡¯t know how long she walked. It felt like dawn was breaking. Finally, she saw someone out for a night run on the roadside. ¡°Can I borrow your phone, please?¡± The jogger was horrified at the sight of Kristin, all bloodied in the middle of nowhere. ¡°Miss¡­ I¡¯ll call the cops for you!¡± Kristin shook her head, her voice quivering. ¡°Can I just use your phone?¡± The jogger quickly handed it over. Kristin thought for a second, then dialed Rhett¡¯s number. She had memorized it the day Rhett gave her his business card. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 At the hotel Rhett spent the night in a fitful slumber due to the haunting memories that used to rob him of sleep. For the longest time, he couldn¡¯t catch a wink without popping some sleeping pills. On the nightstand, there were sleeping pills that York had set out for him, but tonight Rhett didn¡¯t take any. His head was buzzing with thoughts of Kristin¡­ Funny enough, Rhett never thought he¡¯d be head over heels for a dame. When she said she was deaf in her left ear and tried to off herself more times than she could count, she was so calm like she was talking about the weather or spilling the beans on something trivial. ncing at the clock, it was already 3 a.m. Rubbing his chest to calm a heart that wasn¡¯t in it, Rhett felt all kinds of restlessness. Why the heck did he keep thinking about that gal without even trying.. His phone screen lit up with a call, but in sleep mode, not even a buzz. Outskirts of town. Kristin was trembling all over as she stared at her phone, shaking so much she was about out of juice. ¡°Lady, we should call the fuzz,¡± said the jogger who was scared witless. The gal looked like she had bled out¡­ Tears brimming in her eyes, Kristin stubbornly kept dialing Rhett¡¯s number. Finally, on the third try, Rhett picked up. ¡°Hello?¡± His voice was detached, weary with a hint of gravel. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice shook with emotion, thick with the verge of tears, but she couldn¡¯t get the rest out. On the other end, Rhett hitched his breath and bolted upright. Tentatively, he asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± It was Kristin. He recognized her voice. ¡°I¡¯m at¡­¡± Kristin asked weakly, her vision turning ck. The jogger quickly took the phone and added, ¡°We¡¯re at the outskirts on the Road 306. Your friend¡¯s in bad shape, all bloody. Should I rush her to the hospital?¡± ¡°Stop the bleeding, I¡¯m on my way. 1/4 11:27 Chapter 74 After hanging up, Rhett call an ambnce, grabbed his car keys from the table, and ran out in a panic. He had a gut feeling something bad had happened to Kristin. Today, when York said the Haywood family goons had shown up in Crescendo Town, he knew they might not let Kristin off the hook. But since she had been with James, Rhett didn¡¯t think things would go south. Cursing under his breath, Rhett drove like a bat out of hell to the outskirts. The caller had said she was covered in blood¡­ When Rhett got there, the ambnce hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Jumping out of the car, he saw a shivering figure curled up in the grass by the road. Her face was as white as a sheet like a paper doll. Her f feet were bare, the tops frozen to a bluish¨Cpurple, toes smeared with blood. When Kristin¡¯s eyes, void of life, caught sight of Rhett stepping out of the car, she broke down in tears. He came running through the headlights like a gode to save her. Could it be that the gods hadn¡¯t forsaken her after all? But it was only a fleeting moment. Rhett couldn¡¯t protect her forever. She was well aware of that. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Kristin croaked. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Rhett stood in front of her, panting. He quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around her, pulling her into his arms. ¡°The ambnce is coming. Hang in there.¡± Finally, Kristin could let go and pass out. She had held on for so long. He hade, really. Honestly, Kristin hadn¡¯t held out much hope. She thought if Rhett didn¡¯t show up, she¡¯d just take her life. That way, the Turner family, the Haywood family, and the FitzGerald family would stop hounding Garner and Summer. But Rhett came¡­ Her breath growing fainter, Kristin slumped in Rhett¡¯s arms. He was so warm. Rhett¡¯s breathing stopped short because of ice¨Ccold Kristin. Chapter 4 In the biting cold of a Crescendo Town night, when even puddles froze solid, she sat there barefoot, waiting for him.- ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯ll be alright.¡± To Kristin, Rhett sounded far away but crystal clear. He was so gentle. Instinctively, she snuggled closer into his embrace, seeking the warmth. ¡°Kristin, stay with me, you can¡¯t sleep now,¡± Rhett urged her to stay conscious. She¡¯d lost too much blood and it wasn¡¯t time to sleep. But Kristin was so tired. ¡°So tired¡­¡± she sobbed, her tears scalding hot. She was exhausted. ¡°When will my penance end?¡± she murmured, as if asking the messenger from hell how much longer she had to atone before she could be free. ¡°You¡¯re not guilty.¡± Struggling to keep her eyes open, Kristin heard someone say she was innocent. At that moment, as if being torn apart by countless hands from hell, she seemed to hear redemption. The ambnce arrived, and Rhett held Kristin close, never letting her down. The medics and nurses gasped at the sight of the wound on her neck. ¡°Did someone call the cops?¡± Rhett nodded. ¡°The police will head to the hospital.¡± Rhett¡¯s face was grim. The Haywood family wouldn¡¯t get off easy after stirring up this mess. At the abandoned factory. Not long after Kristin had made her escape, rence had a fit of madness, doubling back and ramming his car through the warehouse door. He hopped out, gasping for air, looking for Kristin like a madman, but Kristin was no longer there. The warehouse was empty, save for a puddle of blood. rence went numb in his fingers as he lit up a cigarette, then turned to follow the blood trail. He found nothing. Punching the car window in frustration, rence couldn¡¯t shake the image of Kristin¡­¡± Chapter 74 During the Chamber of Commerce dinner at Crescendo Town. The dinner started at three in the afternoon. As the organizer, James had to be there early. Bill looked panicked, desperate to tell James that Kristin was in trouble, not in the vi, but Carter¡¯s men blocked him. ¡°Bill, Carter wants to see you.¡± Bill felt a sudden pit in his stomach and knew trouble was brewing. He got pulled away, which meant James would be in the dark about Kristin¡¯s mishap. He wanted to shout out to let James know, but feared maybe Kristin wasn¡¯t as big a deal in James. If he did shout, he could kiss his career goodbye. ¡°Bill, if you cross Carter, you¡¯ll be out in Crescendo Town,¡± Carter¡¯s guy gave Bill a warning look, mped a hand over his mouth before he could speak, and shoved him into the car. ¡°You guys are way out of line!¡± Bill¡¯s protest came out weakly. ¡°To go after a woman with such dirty tricks, how do you sleep at night?¡± ¡°Bill, haven¡¯t you learned anything from all the years with Mr. Bryce? If it ain¡¯t your business. hang it up and don¡¯t get involved. Did you get a piece of Kristin too?¡± The guy riding the shotgun was Vincent. Bill hitched his breath. At that moment, it all clicked that this scheme was the doing of Vincent. rence, and the Haywood family, all in cahoots with Carter. What about Kristin? A woman with no power, no support, trampled and humiliated, how was she expected to fight back? ¡°Vincent, you were once engaged to her, how can you do this to her without fearing regret?¡± Bill red at Vincent with anger. ¡°What did she do wrong? Is it her fault that her life got swapped. or that she was raped? You just take it out on her but don¡¯t have the guts to confront those who hurt her, you coward!¡± Chapter 75 11:27 Chapter 75 This was probably the toughest Bill had been since he started following James. He was seriously worried about Kristin. Vincent was grim as he smirked sarcastically. ¡°Bill, you¡¯re so worked up. You seem to be quite taken with her.¡± ¡°Buzz off.¡± Bill pushed the guy next to him and sat upright. ¡°I need to see Carter.¡± ¡°He won¡¯t see you, of course. You¡¯ll just have to suck it up and stay put in the car until the Chamber of Commerce dinner wraps up.¡± Vincent straightened his clothes, ready to get out of the car. ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared Mr. Bryce will find out?¡± Bill red at Vincent. ¡°The n was Carter¡¯s idea. I¡¯m just along for the ride, Bill. What could James do to his grandpa?¡± Vincent chuckled and stepped out of the car. Bill knew that the people stopping him were Carter¡¯s guys. Vincent sure didn¡¯t have the guts or the clout to block James¡® right¨Chand man. At the hospital. York was pacing anxiously. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, the dinner¡¯s about to start. You better head out.¡± The Chamber of Commerce dinner was more than just a feast. It was aworking hotspot, a ce to exchange resources. And it wasn¡¯t just luxury brands showing up. Superstars and influential people from all walks of life were going to be there. As a leading figure in various circles, Rhett was the center of attention. If he didn¡¯t show, it¡¯d be a big blow to the FitzGerald Group. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯ve got things covered here. Kristin will be fine. She¡¯s just faking it¡­¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try slicing your neck and see how it feels?¡± Rhett cut York off coldly. York was taken aback, looking at Rhett. Rhett seemed dead serious, genuinely concerned about Kristin.. What was scarier was that Rhett was covered in Kristin¡¯s blood. From the break of dawn until now, he hadn¡¯t had a moment¡¯s rest or even changed his clothes. Rhett was not only a clean freak but also absolutely couldn¡¯t stand others¡® blood. But it seemed like he couldn¡¯t care less right now. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± 1/4 11:27 Chapter 75 ¡°I said not to nder others without evidence,¡± Rhett leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, it was the Haywood family and Vincent who took her from James¡® cest night and kept her in that abandoned factory on the outskirts. I checked that there were ten bodyguards that night¡­ Their job was to hurt Kristin for videos and photos, and ckmail her into dropping the case.¡± As York turned his gaze away, his face flushed with unmistakable anger. Rhett nced at York before asking. ¡°Did Vincent go to the dinner?¡± ¡°Yes¡± York nodded. ¡°Tell the hospital to call me the moment she wakes up.¡± Rhett stood up, leaving the room with a dark cloud hanging over him. York took a sharp breath and smacked himself stealthily, ming his abruptness. With Rhett in this mood, Vincent was in for it. At the dinner. James frowned at his phone. Where had Bill run off to? Feeling uneasy, James went to the restroom to call Kristin, but she didn¡¯t pick¨Cup. His face darkened for a moment before he stepped out and ordered his other assistant, ¡°Find Bill and bring him to me.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald has arrived.¡± Most of the Chamber was waiting for Rhett. After all, James and Rhett were known as the two geniuses of the business world. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I heard you¡¯ve been in Crescendo Town for a while.¡± At the entrance, a leading actress was already making a beeline to chat him up. Rhett didn¡¯t look too happy, dressed in a new suit, his wless face attracting a crowd like moths to a me. Even if Rhett entered showbiz, he would be top¨Ctier. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, did you oversleep at the hotel?¡± James approached with a smile. Rhett¡¯s gazended on Vincent, not far away. Ignoring James, he marched straight over. In James¡® eyes, he¡¯d failed to protect Kristin and had already lost. James furrowed his brow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Rhett?¡± His secretary whispered from behind, ¡°Mr. Bryce, something seems off.¡± With a muffled thud, everyone was shocked at Rhett¡¯s move. 2/4 11:271 Chapter 75 Thank goodness no reporters were allowed at the business event. Rhett grabbed Vincent by the cor andnded a punch right there. James knitted his brows together. What had Vincent done to send Rhett off the rails, not even caring about his image? This was the Chamber dinner. Rhett hitting Vincent was family business, but did it need to be aired in public? This was clearly a move to ruin Vincent in the business. Vincent was equally stunned. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Pointing at Vincent, Rhett said, ¡°You¡¯re an adult. You¡¯re responsible for your actions.¡± Vincent¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What do you mean¡­¡± ¡°Ask the cops.¡± Rhett shoved Vincent away. Vincent took a deep breath. Could it be that Kristin was in trouble? Impossible. He had made it clearst night that those guys weren¡¯t to hurt Kristin, no fatalities allowed. ¡°Rhett¡­ what happened?¡± Vincent started to panic. No one¨Cdared to approach, unclear about the drama of the FitzGerald family. ¡°Mr. Vincent, pleasee with us for an investigation. We believe you¡¯re connected to an illegal detention and assault case,¡± the police arrived, taking Vincent away. Vincent went dark. Being taken away by the police here was a tant move to destroy him! ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit much? York trailed behind Rhett. ¡°He¡¯s still a member of the FitzGerald family as your brother. If Mr. FitzGerald found out¡­¡± Rhett snorted with disdain. ¡°Vincent brought it on himself.¡± Vincent straightened his clothes, wearing a calm and collected smile: ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s been some kind of misunderstanding here.¡± With that, he willingly walked off with the police. He definitely wasn¡¯t going to let Rhett get the upper hand. Was Rhett thinking of ruining Vincent this way to severe his chances of fighting for the FitzGerald Group inheritance? No way! ¡°Rhett, what¡¯s happened to Vincent?¡± someone plucked up the courage to ask. Some of the elders inquired as well. Rhett spoke nonchntly. ¡°Sorry for the spectacle Vincent¡¯s been spoiled by his parents and vited thew.¡± THE 11:27 Chapter 75 With Rhett¡¯s exnation, everyone got the hint and tactfully stopped prying. The FitzGerald family had enough on their te with Rhett, and Vincent was the son of Rhett¡¯s stepmom. Before this stepmom married into the FitzGerald family, Vincent was nothing but a love child. Rumors were swirling around Silvergrove City that Rhett¡¯s mom was killed by Vincent¡¯s mom.Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Everyone knew that despite their cordial harmony, they were at odds at heart. Too bad for Vincent, Rhett was just too formidable, always outshining him. If any real trouble stirred up, it looked like Vincent might never be able to turn the tables on Rhett. York stayed close behind Rhett, his palms starting to sweat. Rhett was known for his decisive and ruthless actions. He had a ton of ways to deal with Vincent, but he chose the most brutal one. The incident with Kristin was just the tip of the iceberg. Rhett was clearly using it as a chance. to show everyone cozying up to Vincent secretly in the business and tell them who the real boss of the FitzGerald Group was. Rhett was even more hardcore. York found himself inexplicably anxious for Kristin, worrying she might be coteral damage in Rhett¡¯s scheme against Vincent and his mother. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Vincent got hauled off by the cops, but the chamber ofmerce shindig just kept rolling on. Rhett was still the brightest star at the banquet, with a swarm of folks itching to rub elbows with him. But Rhett always had an indifferent vibe stered on his face.. This man, who virtually ruled the business world, naturally exuded an air of condescension, as if always peering from his ivory tower. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, fancy a drink?¡± some actress made a beeline for Rhett to get to know him. Everyone in the loop knew Rhett wasn¡¯t one for chasing skirts or being easy to get chummy with, but there were always those who thought they were hot stuff to take a shot. If Rhett took a shine to her, then she¡¯d be on cloud nine for sure. The FitzGerald Group¡¯s film and TV empire was always the bellwether in showbiz. Everyone. wanted to sign up with them and be one of the superstars under Rhett¡¯s leadership. ¡°Sorry, Mr. FitzGerald doesn¡¯t drink, York stepped in with a smile, ying the buffer for Rhett. Rhett, nursing a champagne ss, was glued to his phone screen the whole time. He was waiting for a call from the hospital. No call meant Kristin hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Rhett furrowed his brow, feeling like he might¡¯ve gone too easy on someone earlier. At Crescendo Central Hospital, Kristin woke to find herself alone in the room. Taking a deep breath, she felt parched in her throat. She wore a breathing mask, clearly displeased with its presence. Frowning and struggling a bit, she felt utterly drained. Against all odds, she¡¯d survived. Her head was spinning something fierce. The side effects of losing too much blood were kicking in. ¡°Ms. Turner, you¡¯re awake,¡± the nurse rushed in, supporting Kristin. ¡°Don¡¯t move just yet, lie down for a bit longer.¡± Kristin curled up, her belly cramping up something nasty. She¡¯d walked too long in the frigid snowst night. Her body just couldn¡¯t handle it. ¡°Ms. Turner, is it that time of the period?¡± The nurse saw blood on the bed and dashed to grab a sanitary pad. Kristin had bled quite a bitst night. Even though she was treated in time, coupling it with her 1/4 11:27 Chapter 76 period meant she was in for a rough patch. After mumbling thanks, Kristin yanked off the pulse oximeter and tried to get out of bed, propping herself up. ¡°Where you off to? Mr. FitzGerald asked you to rest up in the hospital, he¡¯ll be here in a jiffy,¡± the nurse had already hit up Rhett the moment she woke up. ¡°Bathroom,¡± Kristin said and locked herself in. Sitting on the toilet, she massaged her temples, feeling a headacheing on. Last night, in a moment of impulse, she¡¯d called Rhett. But now, she had to think straight that she couldn¡¯t stick around James, not while he wouldn¡¯t call off his engagement with Adrienne. As long as James wouldn¡¯t break it off, she wouldn¡¯t stick by him. Now that she¡¯d ticked off Vincent, rence and the Haywood family, if she didn¡¯t want to drop the case, they wouldn¡¯t let her off easy. So far, only Rhett could keep her safe. But why on earth would Rhett help her? What could she possibly offer him in return? Biting her finger, Kristin¡¯s anxiety kicked in again. She had to figure out a way out, or she was toast. Her body went rigid with tremors, her hands shaking non¨Cstop. Her anxiety had turned physical making her feel worse than dead. What could she offer Rhett to make a fair trade? ¡°What¡¯s the deal with this Ms. Turner and Rhett? Never seen Rhett give a damn about any chick before.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Rhett, always popping up in the news. Have you heard about the drama of the FitzGerald family? Stuff about Rhett and his half¨Cbrother Vincent.¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard Vincent¡¯s mom was the mistress who offed Rhett¡¯s mom, then climbed her way up. She even tried to snag the family fortune and the FitzGerald Group¡¯s reins with her children.¡± Even the junior nurses were hip to all the FitzGerald family¡¯s juicy gossip. Kristin, locked in the bathroom, biting her finger, froze for a second. She was sitting on a secret. Rhett¡¯s mom, indeed, got taken out by Vincent¡¯s mom. Kristin had heard it with her own e ears. Rumors usually did not emerge out of nowhere. Rhett, in his current position, must know the real deal behind his mother¡¯s death. He and Vincent had always been at arm¡¯s length. 2/4 11:27 Chapter 7 Vincent had bbed countless times about taking everything from Rhett and knocking him off his high horse. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± Rhett had arrived, and a nervous yet bashful nurse called out, ¡°Ms. Turner¡¯s been in the bathroom for ages and hasn¡¯te out yet.¡± Rhett nced at the bathroom door and strode over. ¡°Kristin?¡± Startled, Kristin got up and fumbled with the door. Rhett was about to knock when they bumped into each other. Taking a step back, Kristin nervously looked down. ¡°Thanks¡­¡± Rhett exhaled in relief. Kristin looked pale and had a bandage around her neck, but she seemed out of danger, not likest night¡­ The coldness of her touch had given him the eerie feeling of holding a corpse. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Made up your mind?¡± With the nurses gone, Rhett cornered Kristin in the bathroom, asking in a deep voice. ¡°I pretended to be asleep when the cops came,¡± Kristin whispered, unsure how to face him. ¡°What? Do you still have a soft spot for Vincent?¡± Rhett frowned, clearly not looking pleased. If Vincent treated her like that and she still had feelings for him, then she was just asking for it. ¡°Vincent¡¯s got a million tricks up his sleeve to get off the hook. I know him inside out,¡± Kristin said, clenching her fists and looking up at Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, using my injury to knock Vincent down for good is just pie in the sky.¡± Rhett squinted, giving Kristin a deep, prating look. ¡°Oh?¡± Did Kristin think he was helping her just to crush Vincent? He wouldn¡¯t stoop to using a woman to get at Vincent. Besides. Vincent wasn¡¯t worth his while. ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through¡­¡± Kristin mustered her courage, locking eyes with Rhett. ¡°You said before that you needed a woman by your side to fend off some trouble¡­ I¡¯m game.¡± Kristin clenched her fists tighter, biting the corner of her lip before speaking again. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, let¡¯s join forces. I know who¡¯s responsible for your mother¡¯s death and I¡¯m aware of Vincent and his mother¡¯s weak spot. I¡¯ll take care of the dirty work you can¡¯t handle.¡± What she could do was help Rhett neutralize the threat of Vincent and his mother. Being the eldest at home, Rhett could catch k for going too far, but she was different. As long as she could ensure Summer and Garner were safe, she was up for anything. Even death didn¡¯t scare her. 11-27 Chapter 76 Rhett¡¯s gaze grew even more intense as he lifted his hand to Kristin¡¯s chin. There was rity in Kristin¡¯s eyes, but no naivety. She was scheming and plotting how to use him. Rhett¡¯s lips curled into a smirk, his interest in Kristin piqued. He wanted to see what kind of surprises this woman could bring him. ¡°What all do you know?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was husky. ¡°I once overheard Vincent¡¯s mom saying that if she hadn¡¯t bribed the sanitarium staff to switch your mother¡¯s medicines, Vincent would still be ducking and diving as a bastard who couldn¡¯t show his face.¡± Kristin¡¯s gaze burned into Rhett as if afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe her. ¡°I¡¯m not lying, and you can check¡­¡± ¡°Does Nic know you eavesdropped on their conversation?¡± Rhett frowned and asked. Nic was Vincent¡¯s mom. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Kristin hung her head, staying silent. ¡°No wonder Nic has been gunning for you since six years ago,¡± Rhett chuckled. What a fate! Six years back, when he was heading home, he happened to overhear Nic putting a hit out on a woman named Kristin. He wasn¡¯t interested initially, but for some reason, he didn¡¯t want Nic to get her way, so he sent someone to rescue Kristin. Reflecting on it, had he not intervened in the matter, he would have regretted it deeply. Kristin clenched her fists. Nic must be scared stiff of her getting tangled up with Rhett. Nic yed no small part in Vincent¡¯s hatred for her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call Jamesst night?¡± Rhett asked casually. Kristin looked down, nervously wringing her fingers. ¡°He¡­ he¡¯s engaged.¡± James refused to call off the engagement. That was why she ditched the idea of choosing James. ¡°Oh? ying by the rules, you¡¯re not keen on being the other woman.¡± Rhett said with a touch of amusement. ¡°If you ever get engaged, please give me a heads up. I¡¯ll make myself scarce,¡± Kristin said, under no illusion that Rhett would want her around forever. Maybe he was just momentarily intrigued by her. Rhett looked at Kristin, saying nothing for a long while. After a moment of silence, Rhett stepped out of the restroom. ¡°If you¡¯re up for it, we head back to Silvergrove City today.¡± The Haywood family was all over Crescendo Town. If Kristin didn¡¯t drop the case, Adrienne could have been stuck inside. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the police station. You just stick with me.¡± Following Rhett, Kristin felt an inexplicable sense of security. She trusted that Rhett would take care of things. On the ride back to Silvergrove City, Kristin messaged Harriet from her new phone, saying she was leaving since Crescendo Town wasn¡¯t safe. Harriet didn¡¯t say much and just told her to stay safe. 1/4 11:28 Clutching the hefty phone, Kristin felt a bit dazed. The phone James got her was also new. It was such a waste to lose it which almost cost a grand down the drain. Rhett rested with his eyes closed, quietly leaning back in his seat. Stealing a nce at him, Kristin wondered how a man could be so impably perfect. Quickly looking away, she gazed out the window. Raising her hand to feel the sunlight, Kristin slowly closed her eyes. Finally, she took that step. Completely drained, Kristin slept soundly the whole way. Perhaps considering Kristin¡¯s condition, Rhett chose to endure the hassle of driving rather than flying home. Of course, York, as the assistant and driver, bore the brunt of it, cruising the highway for a solid six hours. Casting a resentful nce at the rear¨Cview mirror, York nearly mistook the gas pedal for the brake. With Kristin slumped against the car window in deep slumber, Rhett, without a flicker of emotion, offered his arm for her to rest on. With a deep sigh, York¡¯s gaze grew contemtive. Knowing Rhett as he did, York was certain his interest in Kristin was genuine. It seemed that Mr. FitzGerald was courting trouble this time. Heaving a sigh, York pondered how to reduce the hassle for Rhett. 1 But Kristin was a walking disaster, whether as Vincent¡¯s ex¨Cfiancee, the faux heiress of the Turner family, or as the woman who¡¯d been bullied and humiliated by the Silvergrove City. After a lengthy and murky sleep, Kristin dreamed a long dream. In it, she fell into an abyssal pond, unable to breathe or cry out until a hand grasped her, yanking her out of the water¡¯s grip. ¡°No!¡± Jolted awake, Kristin¡¯s breath came in short gasps. The car had stopped, and shey alone on the back seat, covered with Rhett¡¯s jacket. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. FitzGerald?¡± she asked anxiously. York frowned slightly, speaking in a low voice. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald has gone back to his ce. He asked me to drop you off.¡± It was only then Kristin noticed they were at Garner¡¯s repair shop through the car window. Gripping her fists tightly, she feared Rhett didn¡¯t want her anymore, and she couldn¡¯t afford to be without a backer. ¡°Did Mr. FitzGerald¡­ say anything else?¡± 2/4 11:38 Chapter 77 ¡°Just rest up.¡± York said, stepping out to open the door for Kristin. Her body trembling. Kristin clutched her skirt, humbly requesting. ¡°I¡­ I want to see him.¡± She knew she was being shameless, clinging to Rhett like this. ¡°Ms. Turner, you¡¯re a handful in your right. Be aware of that and try to keep your ties with Mr. FitzGerald on the down¨Clow unless he needs you as a shield,¡± York reminded Kristin. With her grip loosening, Kristin breathed a sigh of relief. Good, Rhett hadn¡¯t washed his hands. of her. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. At least she was still of some value. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald said to keep goodpany with Summer. Don¡¯t fret over anything else. He¡¯s got it covered. I¡¯lle to get you when you¡¯re needed.¡± York said, ushering Kristin out of the car and handing her a cup of hot cocoa. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald asked me to get this for you.¡± Holding the cup of hot cocoa, Kristin asked, ¡°Am I not supposed to be his mistress?¡± Didn¡¯t she have to do anything? Did she just stay with her family without any contribution? York gave Kristin the once¨Cover and knew straight away she got it twisted, ¡°You think Mr. FitzGerald wants to hit the hay with you?¡± Kristin¡¯s ears turned beet red with shame, and she bit down on the corner of her lip, staying mum. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald is a bit of a clean freak. He¡¯s helping you because you¡¯ve got your merits, but it¡¯s not that kind of sleazy deal you¡¯re thinking about.¡± York said with a look of distaste before hopping into his car. Mr. FitzGerald, unlike those pampered rich kids who seldom pondered the consequences of their actions, was governed by his intellect, not by base desires. Kristin¡¯s reputation was pretty much shot in Silvergrove City. Even if York didn¡¯t buy into the whole wild private life gossip, the fact she had a kid was on the books. It¡¯s not like Mr. FitzGerald would have the hots for Kristin. At best, he¡¯s just intrigued by the person she is. Kristin took a step back instinctively, her head hung low in a mix of shyness and shame. Rhett got this thing about cleanliness and probably thought she was dirty. And yeah, she was the one who popped out a stranger¡¯s kid, and the rumors flying around Silvergrove City have dragged her name through the mud. No one was going to bet on her being innocent. But just waiting around like this was giving her the jitters. For Summer¡¯s sake, she can¡¯t just sit back and let things happen. 3/4 11:281 Chapter F ¡°Kris?¡± The sound of a car outside snapped her back to reality, and Garner emerged from the cabin, surprised. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Kristin, a bundle of nerves, eyed Garner closely. Seeing the bandage wrapped around his arm, she rushed over in a panic, ¡°Garner, what¡¯s wrong with your arm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m working as a bodyguard and took a de for the boss,¡± Garner said with a simple grin. ¡°Why are you back sote? Did you sneak in?¡± As he ushered Kristin inside, Garner nced around. ¡°Heard the Haywood family¡¯s been looking for you, and someone tried to take Summer from the nursery.¡± He knew Kristin stirred up trouble in Crescendo Town. ¡°Um¡­ Adrienne hit me, and then I called the cops. The coroner said permanent damage to my left ear and Adrienne might be involved in a criminal offense,¡± Kristin whispered. If she didn¡¯t back down this time, Adrienne was going to be behind bars for a bit. It won¡¯t be long, but it was enough to make the Haywood family seethe with hate. But it was Adrienne who messed up, not her. Garner Soured his face. He had seen the cyberbullying videos of Kristin too. ¡°They want you to drop the charges?¡± Kristin nodded. ¡°We¡¯re not backing down,¡± Garner said quickly, packing stuff up. ¡°Worstes to worst, I¡¯ll take you out of Silvergrove City with Summer, and we¡¯lly low in another city. It¡¯s not like the Haywood family can control everything.¡± The lights from a car outside shone through the window. Kristin, gripped by fear, hid in a corner, ¡°Garner, did theye for me?¡± How did they find her so fast? Garnerforted Kristin and stepped outside alone. A ck sedan was parked outside, and a man got out, his voice filled with urgency, ¡°Has Kristine back?¡± Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Garner furrowed his brows, eyeing rence with suspicion. ¡°What exactly are you up to?¡± rence wanted to step inside, but Garner blocked his way. ¡°rence! I¡¯m warning you, you better not show your face at my ce alone.¡± Garner spat out angrily, barely holding back the urge to throw a punch. rence, this typical rich kid, couldn¡¯t take a hit, especially without his bodyguards around. rence clenched his fingers into a fist. ¡°Are you sure she hasn¡¯te back?¡± ¡°How could shee back after you drove her out of Silvergrove City? My nephew is asleep, so cut the crazy act.¡± Garner shoved rence out the door. rence looked down, his breathing bing erratic. Kristin hadn¡¯t returned, and even his people in Crescendo Town couldn¡¯t locate her. She must be in trouble¡­ ¡°Listen here, whether you believe it or not, I gotta tell you again. Our family never mistreated Ruby, and I neverid a finger on her. Kris was swapped out by my mom when she was just a baby, she¡¯s always been the victim here. There¡¯s no need for you guys to treat her like this.¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Garner grabbed rence by the cor, his eyes bloodshot and on the verge of losing control. ¡°Please, for the love of God, be kind.¡± rence shoved Garner away, his anger ring up. ¡°Garner, you¡¯ve got no right to expect me to trust you. Ruby is too kind¨Chearted and she would never tarnish her reputation to frame you! If you treated her so well, why would she be so depressed that she could take her life at any moment? I¡¯m telling you, Garner, when ites to choosing between you and my sister Ruby, I will always stand by my sister.¡± rence got into his car and floored it away. Garner rubbed his temples, cursing under his breath. ¡°Idiot¡­¡± These rich folks must be brainless. Taking a deep breath, Garner locked the gate securely and then dashed back inside to pack. ¡°Kris, wake up Summer, we¡¯re getting out of here tonight.¡± Kristin was curled up in a corner, her face pale with fear. ¡°Has rence left?¡± Garner nced outside. ¡°He¡¯s gone for now, but who knows if he¡¯lle back. We ain¡¯t got much to take, so we¡¯re leaving tonight. Crimees with a price, and Adrienne will get what¡¯sing to her. We¡¯re not giving in or settling.¡± Kristin hugged her knees, crying pitifully. Last night, she really thought she was going to die. She was so scared, truly terrified. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t leave you alone. If we have to run, we run as a family. We can¡¯t let you 1/4 11:28 Chapter 78 bear this alone.¡± Garner was thick with emotion, his eyes reddening. Men weren¡¯t supposed to cry easily, but his heart ached for Kristin. Garner had been worried sick about Kristintely, afraid she was out there struggling to get by. This time, he couldn¡¯t let her suffer alone. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Kristin looked up at Garner, her voice choked with sobs.. Advancing closer, Garner whispered with an assuring tone, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. If things start to crumble, I¡¯ll be here to hold them up for you.¡± ¡°Gamer, Summer¡¯s condition is unstable and needs treatment¡­ James said he¡¯s discussed a treatment n with specialists, which needs regr therapy for the uing year. We can¡¯t run away.¡± Kristin shook her head, cleaning her tears. Garner slowly dropped his hands, a powerless punch hitting the wall. It was all because of his helplessness. ¡°Garner¡­ Summer still needs to go to school, we can¡¯t run.¡± Kristin forced a smile to look less scared. ¡°Rhett said he¡¯d protect us, he promised.¡± Garner darkened his expression. ¡°He¡¯ll protect us? What is he, a phnthropist? How can he protect us for no reason? Kristin¡­ what did you promise him? And what¡¯s James doing? He¡¯s Summer¡¯s dad, what the hell is that bastard up to!¡± Garner, agitated, continued, ¡°Did Rhett touch you? I¡¯ll kill him, just end it!¡± Six years ago, when Kristin was harassed in a hotel, Garner, as her brother, couldn¡¯t do anything. They were like ants, rheant to be trampled underfoot. ¡°Adrienne is James¡® fianc¨¦e,¡± Kristin said with a weak smile. Garner froze, his hands dropping limply. Kristin continued, ¡°Rhett says he needs an obedient woman by his side, someone to be a shield. asionally. Because I¡¯m obedient and easy to dismiss, he¡¯s willing to protect us, even if it¡¯s just temporary.¡± Kristin didn¡¯t know how long Rhett would protect her, probably until he got engaged or married. But at least it would buy them some breathing room. ¡°Rhett¡¯s different from the others¡­ He won¡¯t touch me and is notcking in women.¡± Garner frowned, still skeptical. If Rhett needed an obedient woman as a shield, there must be thousands out there. Why Kristin? ¡°You were¡­ Vincent¡¯s former fianc¨¦e. Don¡¯t you think he might have other schemes up his sleeve?¡± Garner wasn¡¯t stupid. With Vincent in the picture, Rhett shouldn¡¯t have chosen Kristin, but he did, which meant there was something fishy between Rhett and Vincent. 11:28 Chapter 78 Kristin, frightened, clenched her hands. She didn¡¯t dare tell anyone that Rhett¡¯s mother was killed by Nic, fearing she would drag Garner and Summer into it. ¡°Garner¡­ just let it be, we don¡¯t have any other options right now. Summer still needs her treatments, we just can¡¯t leave.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was barely audible, wanting to trust Rhett onest time. If thisst act of trust didn¡¯t bring the protection she hoped for, then there was only one path left for her. It was a dead end. If she died, it would be the best oue for Summer and Garner. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± From the next room, Summer woke up, groggily calling for his mother. Kristin rushed into the room, scooping up Summer in her arms. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Summer suddenly burst into tears, thinking he was dreaming. ¡°Mom, I miss you so much.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving anymore, not ever again,¡± Kristin hugged Summer tight, whisperingforts. ¡°Mommy.¡± Summer cupped Kristin¡¯s cheeks with his tiny hands, taking a good look. ¡°It¡¯s not a dream, mommy¡¯s back!¡± Kristinughed through her tears, tickled by Summer¡¯s adorably clueless expression. The sole purpose of living for Kristin would be to watch Summer grow up. ¡°Mom, I missed you so much, please don¡¯t go away again, okay?¡± Summer snuggled into Kristin¡¯s embrace. ¡°I¡¯ve been really goodtely.¡± Garner averted his gaze, pausing for a moment before putting on a smile and speaking up. *Summer started preschool recently. He¡¯s super smart and even got praised by the teacher.¡± ¡°Really? So, do you want to keep going to preschool, Summer?¡± Kristin asked, beaming with joy. Summer seemed a bit scared but still nodded. He wanted to go to school. ¡°Be good, Summer, and sleep tight. I¡¯m not going anywhere, I¡¯ll be right here with you.¡± Summer clung to Kristin in his arms, refusing to let go. Kristin struggled to lift Summer, chuckling. ¡°You have gotten so big, I can hardly lift you now.¡± Summer looked somberly at the bandage on Kristin¡¯s neck. ¡°You¡¯re hurt, let me blow on it and make the ouchie fly away.¡± Kristin held Summer tight, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°I won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Cradling her son and humming softly, Kristin sang a luby. This luby was taught by an olderdy in prison whose son died at eight. She was so traumatized that she would sometimes hum this tuby out of the blue. 11:28 Chapter 78 ¡°Adrienne shared the video in the preschool parents¡® group. I was worried about Summer getting affected, so I let him take a break from school,¡± Garner whispered. Kristin darkened her eyes. ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why should we suffer for it? I¡¯ll take Summer to school tomorrow.¡± ¡°The principal of Angelic Guard International Nursery is said to be from the Haywood family.¡± Garner sounded concerned. ¡°Then we¡¯ll change schools,¡± Kristin resolved, unwilling to let Summer be mistreated. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Bright and early the next morning. Kristin had just woken up when she heard a ruckus outside. A bunch of people were talking. ¡°We¡¯re from Angelic Guard International Nursery. Here¡¯s our head of academic affairs, Mr. Collins. We¡¯re here to check on one of our students who¡¯s been sick and missing school.¡± ¡°Yep. Mr. FitzGerald gave us a ring himself.¡± ¡°Mr. Collins, you¡¯re all about the Summer¡¯s future, right? We can¡¯t have him missing out on school. We¡¯re sincere about this and we will take good care of Summer.¡± ¡°Summer¡¯s got top marks in IQ and entrance exams, a real whiz kid. It¡¯d be such a waste for a talent like that to go anywhere else.¡± Kristin propped herself up on her elbow and eavesdropped a little. Rhett must¡¯ve called the school. Otherwise, why would a fancy school¡¯s big cheesee knocking at their door? N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Our principal has been unwell and transferred out.¡± ¡°Yeah, we don¡¯t know what¡¯s up with Principal Haywood, but she got moved to another campus because of some blunders.¡± Kristin¡¯s gaze fell as she leaned against the wall. It was Rhett who must¡¯ve known Adrienne could st that video to all the parents. It wasn¡¯t a fluke. Principal Haywood must¡¯ve had a big part in it. ¡°We¡¯ll be attending school as usual today. I¡¯ll take Summer there in a bit.¡± Kristin stepped out, speaking in a hushed tone. The school official visibly rxed, greeting her warmly. ¡°Ms. Turner, right? Mr. FitzGerald has given us special requirements. Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll take great care of Summer.¡± Kristin was taken aback by the enthusiasm and instinctively took a step back. ¡°Okay.¡± she replied. ¡°Summer is such a bright child and so adorable! We love having geniuses like him.¡± Kristin eyed the suddenly over¨Cthe¨Ctop school official and couldn¡¯t help but sense the irony and reality of it all. Just after one phone call from Rhett, these peoplepletely changed their attitudes. Harriet was right. You¡¯ve gotta have some clout. ¡°Kristin, we owe Rhett a lot, and I¡¯m worried¡­¡± Garner seemed anxious, afraid Kristin might not be able to handle the future. 11:28 1 Kristin shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve figured it out. I¡¯m not scared anymore.¡± She had to learn to change if she was going to protect Summer. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry about me, I¡¯ll be good and listen to the teacher, and wait for you to pick me up.¡± Summer reassured Kristin in a soft voice as he entered the nursery. Kristin nodded with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯ll be there to pick you up.¡± ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Kristin?¡± Just as Summer ran into the nursery, a woman in high heels made a snarkyment. ¡°Heard the Haywood family¡¯s been scouring the earth for you. Pretty bold of you to be strutting around Silvergrove City and daring to drop off your kid.¡± Kristin pulled her hat down lower, not daring to linger, and made a dash for it. The woman blocked Kristin¡¯s path. ¡°Kristin, we go way back, and I don¡¯t want to go to extremes, but you had Adrienne locked up. Now you¡¯ve crossed the Haywood family¡­¡± Kristin took a deep breath. This woman was one of Adrienne¡¯s cronies. Kristin heard she¡¯d tied the knot early with some rich dude, a guy a decade her senior who splurged and yed the field. Now this woman was a full¨Ctime housewife, tending to the kids at home. ¡°This has nothing to do with you.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse as she tried to leave. ¡°There she is!¡± Several sports cars pulled up at the nursery¡¯s entrance. Clearly, the woman had sted a message to their chat group after spotting Kristin. Kristin gasped in fear, contemting calling Rhett. She didn¡¯t know who else to turn to. ¡°Look at you, Kristin! Hightailing it to Crescendo Town and still brazen enough to show yourself in Silvergrove City! The Haywood family and the Turner family are about to put a hit out on you.¡± A rich woman leaned against his car door, lighting a cigarette with a smirk. ¡°Did you guys tell Tam toe to rescue his goddess?¡± Kristin kept her head down, trying to leave. The folks from the sports cars surrounded her by the trash cans. ¡°Trying to run, huh?¡± A woman with pink hair grabbed Kristin¡¯s cor and smacked her face. ¡°Look at you now, what a sorry sight, all dressed in rags. Fake will always be fake, not fit for the spotlight.¡± Kristin looked up at the woman, her eyes reddening. ¡°Your dad owes billions and your mom¡¯s got side action. Do you think you¡¯re any better?¡± The pink¨Chaired woman looked shocked. Was Kristih talking back to her? ¡°Huh?¡± The womanughed, looking around. ¡°Did I hear that right?¡± 2/4 11:29 Chapter 79 Kristin nced at the others. ¡°You all dressed to the nines like you¡¯re rolling in it like you¡¯re the cream of high society. However, deep down, you reek. All of you loafing around is nothing without your family?¡± These rich kids were nothing like James or Rhett. ¡°At your age, you¡¯re all in driving sports cars, racing, drinking, clubbing and chasing girls.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice broke as she shook uncontrobly. She¡¯d been holding back so long. She wanted tosh out and knew what it would cost, but she couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. And she wouldn¡¯t stand for it anymore! ¡°I know why you love putting me down. Because it makes you feel high and mighty. You nobodies get dissed at home, so of course, you need to feel big out here, a bunch of worthless¡­¡± Kristin struggled to breathe, tears streaming down her face. She edged backward, eyeing everyone with a guarded look. Even if it came to a beating, she wasn¡¯t scared anymore. She¡¯d arm herself with thew to fight. back. ¡°Whoa, is that Kristin? What, did someone take over your body?¡± ¡°Got your tongue today, eh? We were starting to think you were a mute.¡± Those folks were clearly riled up by Kristin, closing in step by step. ¡°Look at you, all tough after a trip to Crescendo Town,¡± the pink¨Chaired woman aimed to hit Kristin. ¡°You got some big shot backing you now?¡± Kristin was backing away in fear when she bumped into someone¡¯s embrace. After instinctively clutching her head, it took a while for Kristin to catch her breath. At the sight of the rich guys¡® change, retreating with eyes wide in terror, Kristin¡® finally looked up at the person behind her. He was exceptionally tall. Bumping into him felt like hitting a wall¡­ an inexplicably dependable wall. It was Rhett. Why was he here? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ what are you doing here? What a coincidence.¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± A few women around tried to cozy up, all tense and on edge. They all knew that Rhett was someone who couldn¡¯t be messed with. ¡°Did Summer go off to school?¡± Rhett ignored the leeches, looking down at Kristin. 11:29 Kristin welled up her eyes, nodding with a sense of grievance, ¡°She did¡­¡± ¡°Had breakfast yet?¡± Rhett reached to touch the gauze on Kristin¡¯s neck. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Kristin hung her head low, as if shrinking into the dust, shaking it vigorously. The pain didn¡¯t faze her. ¡°Let¡¯s go grab some breakfast,¡± Rhett said, taking the initiative to grab Kristin¡¯s hand and lead her away. He didn¡¯t need to do much, just holding hands or even exchanging a few words with Kristin was enough to intimidate everyone. The rich guys looked as if they¡¯d seen a ghost, pale as sheets. Was that Rhett holding hands with Kristin!? Chapter 80 Chapter 80 The rich guys looked at each other in shock, speechless for quite a while. ¡°When did Kristin start hooking up with Rhett? That¡¯s Rhett we¡¯re talking about!¡± The woman with pink hair was the first to snap out of it, shrieking in disbelief, her voice piercing. ¡°Does Vincent know about this? That was his ex¨Cfianc¨¦e, for crying out loud.¡± ¡°Shit¡¯s about to hit the fan.¡± Some folks were just there for the drama, but nobody dared to mess with Rhett. ¡°We might not dare to mess with Rhett, but we can totally spill the beans to Vincent, right? Vincent hates Kristin¡¯s guts. If he finds out Kristin is cozying up to his brother¡­¡± One of them said with a sly grin, clearly enjoying the thought. ¡°I¡¯ve got some juicy gossip.¡± The woman who was dropping off her kid at school chimed in with augh. ¡°Bet you didn¡¯t know, Rhett had a fling with Adrienne¡¯s older sister, Hertha. They¡¯ve¡­ you know¡­¡± The rich guys exchanged shocked nces. ¡°Really? I thought Rhett was all neat¨Cfreaky and never touched a woman?¡± ¡°Come on, aren¡¯t all guys hypocrites? They act all high and mighty but behind closed doors¡­ If he steered clear of women, would he be into Kristin? Holding her hand? We all think she¡¯s dirty. but Rhett doesn¡¯t seem to mind.¡± ¡°Now this is gonna be a hot mess. I also heard the Haywood family¡¯s been itching to tie the knot with the FitzGerald family. Hertha thought she was the one to bag Rhett, and now Kristin¡¯s stolen her thunder¡­¡± They shared a chuckle. ¡°The Haywood family is probably so pissed to skin Kristin alive.¡± ¡°But Kristin¡¯s got Rhett by her side now, who¡¯d dare touch her? Even Vincent might think twice before laying a finger on her.¡± The pink¨Chaired woman sounded worried. Kristin seemed to find her reliable support. ¡°How long do you think Rhett will be interested in her? Who is Rhett? The big fish of Silvergrove City¡¯s business. Sooner orter he¡¯s gonna get hitched, and I heard he won¡¯t get his hands on the FitzGerald Group shares until he does. Do you think he¡¯s gonna marry Kristin? She¡¯s just a ything. Once Rhett dumps her, she¡¯ll be worse off than she is now.¡± They snorted and got into their cars. These guys loved a good show and never thought the mess was too big. The one thing that united them was making Kristin¡¯s life miserable, but now she seemed to have snagged Rhett¡¯s support. 1/4 11:29 N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Naturally, they¡¯d try every trick in the book to make Kristin¡¯s life even more miserable. In the car. Rhett had a stern look, gazing out the window in silence. After a prolonged silence, Kristin found the courage to voice her concerns. ¡°You took me away in front of them, could that cause trouble for you?¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m scared of them?¡± Rhett retorted. Kristin hung her head, saying nothing more. ¡°Is Spanish cuisine okay?¡± Rhett asked again after a moment. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Kristin nodded. ¡°Your ear¡­¡± Rhett stared at Kristin¡¯s left ear for a while, then reached out to lift her chin. examining her closely with a slight frown. ¡°I can still hear with my right ear¡­¡± Kristin exined nervously, afraid that Rhett would be put off by her hearing loss on the left. ¡°Adrienne did this?¡± Rhett knew Adrienne didn¡¯t have the strength to cause such irreversible damage with a p unless it was from prolonged harm. ¡°Not entirely.¡± Kristin¡¯s palms were sweaty from nerves, and her body was stiff. Rhett didn¡¯t press further. Delving too deep might only bring her more harm. He could find out on his own. ¡°Let¡¯s go and get something to eat.¡± The driver parked the car, and Rhett got out and came around to open Kristin¡¯s door for her. Kristin was flustered and started to wave him off. ¡°No, no need to be so¡­ courteous.¡± To Kristin, Rhett was being too much of a gentleman, which was giving her false impressions. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what do you need me to to do?¡± Kristin asked, following him with her head down. She¡¯d mentioned helping Rhett deal with Vincent and Nic, but Rhett hadn¡¯t made his stance clear. She didn¡¯t know what he really thought. ¡°Just eat well.¡± Rhett nced at Kristin. York had said she was severely malnourished, and the medical reports from Crescendo Central Hospital showed all her conditions were dangerously low, especially vitamin D2. Feeling self¨Cconscious, Kristin looked down at her frail frame without a shadow of her former self. Now if she was thrown out on the streets, she¡¯d hardly get a second nce. Taking a deep breath, Kristin nodded. ¡°I will eat well.¡± 11:29 Rhett ordered light dishes, miraculously all of Kristin¡¯s favorites. ¡°Have some more of the hot soup.¡± Rhett served Kristin some soup. Kristin stood up nervously and took the bowl awkwardly. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± At the sight of Kristin¡¯s constant vignce and wariness, Rhett said no more. Trust wasn¡¯t something that could be rebuilt overnight, especially not for someone with Kristin¡¯s highly sensitive nature. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, howe you were near the school?¡± Kristin took a sip of the hot soup, feeling warmed up, and mustered the courage to ask. ¡°Just passing by.¡± ¡°I¡­ I wanted to talk to you.¡± Kristin said, almost burying her head in her bowl. ¡°How long do you need me for?¡± Kristin wanted a timeline to n ahead. Just in case Rhett dropped her, she needed to have a backup n. Rhett looked at Kristin and replied, ¡°Until I get married, I need a woman to keep troublemakers at the FitzGerald Group off my back.¡± Rhett had been flying solo all this time without chicks around or juicy gossip. As long as he stayed unmarried, the FitzGerald¡¯s shares from Lucius wouldn¡¯t fall into hisp. Besides, his inheritance would just dangle in front of him like a carrot. The old foxes would totally start scheming. Kristin clenched her heart for a second. Deep down, she knew the score. Nodding, Kristin looked up at Rhett. ¡°So are there any wedding bells ringing in the near future?¡± ¡°If I had marriage on the brain, you wouldn¡¯t be my pick.¡± Kristin was clued in, just fishing for information. ¡°Then¡­ how about three years?¡± Kristin gripped her hands tight, wheeling and dealing with Rhett. It was like hashing out another business deal or a trade, nothing personal. Rhett¡¯s gaze was bottomless, his lips sealed. ¡°Within three years, if you wanna tie the knot or if some gal steals your heart to take over for me, I¡¯ll bow out without fuss or muss. You won¡¯t have to worry about me gluing myself to you. After three years, whether you¡¯re ready to get hitched or not, just make sure I can make a clean getaway with Summer and Garner.¡± Three years should be enough for Summer to stabilize his condition. Kristin should be able to go away with Garner and Summer, never looking back. 11:29 Chapter 80 At the sight of Rhett¡¯s silence, Kristin started to panic. Asking Rhett to stay single for three years was a stretch. She bit her lip, digging out a medical report from her bag. It was from back in Crescendo Town when Bill had taken her for a check¨Cup, and she¡¯d downloaded and printed it from her phone. Pushing it gingerly towards Rhett, Kristin barely whispered, clearlycking oomph. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, this is my medical report. I¡¯m clean and I haven¡¯t¡­ haven¡¯t been with a bunch of guys.¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Rhett furrowed his brows. Even if he was slow on the uptake, he got what Kristin was driving at. She was nning to be his human shield, and she wanted him to be her sugar daddy. But Kristin wasn¡¯t dumb. It¡¯s tough to draw the line once things get romantic between a man and a woman. He would look out for her, Summer, and Garner since it was a piece of cake within his wheelhouse. ¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes reddened as Rhett remained silent. ¡°Those rumors are not true. I¡¯ve only been with James, not the multitude of men they¡¯re iming. No one else, just him.¡± Rhett¡¯s frown deepened as he nced at the medical report from Crescendo Central Hospital. James¡® assistant had taken her for the tests, all screenings for STDs. Those tests were insulting.. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t touch James¡® girl.¡± Rhett tossed the report on the table. Kristin looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. Was she going to carry that stigma for life because of that one involuntary time? *No need to y those tricks on me. You¡¯re valuable to me, but not in that way. I¡¯ll protect you and Summer, so forget about those ns,¡± Rhett spoke up again. Embarassed, Kristinpsed into silence. She wanted to use this tactic to tie Rhett down temporarily, but he wasn¡¯t into her. He even seemed to find her repulsive. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers trembled as she took the report back and stuffed it into her bag. ¡°Let¡¯s eat,¡± Rhett said, urging Kristin to eat. Disheartened, Kristin nibbled on her food and remained silent for the rest of the meal. ¡°Kristin, I could use a personal assistant. I¡¯ll have York handle the sry package for you. Pull yourself together and go for an interview at HR. Grab this opportunity.¡± Rhett mentioned as they left the restaurant. He had her pegged well, strong¨Cwilled with much pride. She¡¯d turn down a handout, but a job was different. Kristin had once topped the SAT at Silvergrove University, so she was no slouch. Fresh out of the prison, it was time for her to shape up. Kristin looked at Rhett with a burning gaze, seemingly moved. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll seize the chance. Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t respond but had his driver take her home and leave. Kristin stood there, watching his car fade into the distance, unable to head home for the longest time. Rhett seemed different from the others. At the very least, he appeared to respect her. With a bitter smile, Kristin mocked her pathetic pride.. ¡°Are you Kristin?¡± As Kristin turned to leave, a woman got out of a car parked inside the yard for a while. The woman was stunning, with pale skin that spoke of a sickly beauty. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kristin was on guard. ¡°I¡¯m Hertha, Adrienne¡¯s older sister.¡± Hertha¡¯s voice was frail, with a hint of red in her eyes. ¡°Sorry if I scared you. I¡¯m not here to hurt you. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Kristin wanted to run away, but Hertha wasn¡¯t there to fight. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just found out about what my sister did to you. I¡¯m truly sorry. I want to apologize on her behalf.¡± Hertha bowed to Kristin, her eyes reddening. Kristin stepped back, overwhelmed. ¡°What¡­ what do you want? I won¡¯t retract the case, no out¨Cof¨Ccourt settlement, I won¡¯t.¡± Kristin shook her head and was determined not to agree, no matter what they offered. ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I¡¯m not here to ask you to drop the case. My parents might have crossed the line,¡± Hertha whispered soothingly.¡± I wanted to meet you.¡± Hertha wore a white dress that gave her an ethereal aura, like a celestial nymph. She carefully rolled up her sleeves, revealing both arms covered in a dense patchwork of scars. from cuts and self¨Charm. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Kristin froze in shock, unable to move. She was Ms. Haywood, ady of noble background, but how could she¡­ ¡°Kristin, I wanted to meet you because we¡¯ve suffered the same. We¡¯re both sick,¡± Hertha said softly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I saw the videos of them bullying you.¡± Kristin looked away. ¡°I¡¯ve been through bullying at school, too, and like you, unwillingly, without knowing who the other person was, I was raped,¡± Hertha shared her simr haunting experiences. Kristin was stunned. Of all people, how could Ms. Haywood have suffered like this? ¡°But recently, my condition improved because I found that the person who dragged me into hell 2/3 13:08 Chapter 81 was the man I love the most. It seems it was all worth it.¡± Hertha said shyly, blushing. Kristin could see she must love that guy. ¡°Kristin, I hope you can find your way out like I did, out of the darkness, and try to ept the people who hurt us.¡± Hertha said with a smile that bloomed like a pure daisy. Kristin might have thought Hertha was about to glow and save souls with her grace if she were a theist. ¡°Huh, ept the people who hurt me? So, I deserved all the pain I¡¯ve endured?¡± Kristin couldn¡¯t grasp Hertha¡¯s point. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it, Kristin. Don¡¯t get me wrong. Obsessing over the past is a perpetual injury to yourself.¡± Hertha exined, shaking her head. ¡°People mistreat us, but we can see the bright side of the misfortune.¡± Hertha stepped forward. reaching for Kristin¡¯s hand. ¡°Kristin, try to let go and forgive yourself.¡± Kristin felt Hertha was being a bit too kind. ¡°When life mistreats me, sure, I can choose not to sling it back, but I can¡¯t see the bright side when I¡¯m already sinking in the darkness,¡± Kristin stepped back. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you should head back. No matter what you say, I¡¯m not dropping the case.¡°. ¡°Kristin, there¡¯s a hundred grand in this card. Think of it as a small token ofpensation from my sister to you. Can you please take it? Otherwise, I¡¯ll feel guilty as hell.¡± Hertha looked at Kristin with pleading eyes. Kristin frowned as she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want your money. Cash won¡¯t fix the damage Adrienne¡¯s done to me.¡± ¡°Kris¡­ I like you. I can empathize. Can we be friends? I¡¯ll talk to my parents. They won¡¯t hassle. you anymore.¡± Adrienne said with a tearful voice, looking at Kristin pitifully. Kristin was somewhat baffled by Adrienne¡¯s intentions. Be friends with her? Was Hertha genuinely this kind¨Chearted, or was she a few sandwiches. short of a pic? ¡°I don¡¯t need¡­¡± ¡°Kris, I was out of line showing up like this today. I probably freaked you out. But don¡¯t rush to reject me. I¡¯lle around often. I hope we can be best friends. I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Hertha interrupted Kristin and hugged her with a smile. Kristin¡¯s body tensed up, feeling that Hertha was too naive. Friends? Something told Kristin that Hertha had an ulterior motive. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 In the Bryce family in Crescendo Town. ¡°Mr. James? Mr. Carter¡¯s having a rest. ¡°Mr. James¡­¡± ¡°Mr. James!¡± The butler and the bodyguards couldn¡¯t stop James as he decked one of them to the ground with a punch. ¡°Mr. Bryce, thank you once again for having my back.¡± In the living room, Vincent was sharing a coffee time with Carter. Since Carter had Vincent¡¯s back, it was only natural for him to visit. Vincent and his mom had wanted to snatch what rightfully belonged to Rhett, so getting thepany folks and business partners on their sid was the key. For years, Rhett had Vincent under his thumb. So, he had yed his cards right with the Haywood and the Bryce families to cozy up to the Bryce family, sparing no expense. ¡°Vincent, you¡¯re a good kid. It¡¯s on me for dragging you into this mess,¡± Carter said with a chuckle. ¡°Stick around for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Bryce.¡± Vincent nodded. A noise came from outside, and James stormed in with a stormy face. ¡°Did you send someone to my ce to take Kristin?¡± James asked with a deep voice. Carter¡¯s face fell in an instant. ¡°Berg is still here. What¡¯s with the attitude?¡± Shoving past the butler trying to stop him, James nced at the house guests. ¡°The Haywood family has been scheming against a woman and even dragging me into it. What a move,¡± James sneered, loosening his tie. ¡°Adrienne disregarded thew, beat people to a pulp, and was a notorious bully. It speaks volumes about her character and upbringing. I won¡¯t marry such a woman.¡± James pointed at Vincent and then made his exit. He¡¯d make Vincent pay with his life if anything happened to Kristin. Vincent furrowed his brows, looking quite peeved. James was humiliating to have made a scene over Kristin before the family elders. ¡°James, you stop right there!¡± Carter bellowed with fury. James paused and then turned back to look at the butler. ¡°Keep an eye on Mr. Carter. Pop some blood pressure pills if his BP skyrockets.¡± ¡°Carter, your grandson¡­¡± Berg was losing face over James¡® attitude. ¡°He¡¯s still wet behind the ears, not cool¨Cheaded enough, all hot and bothered.¡± Carter glowered at Vincent. ¡°This Kristin is quite the character.¡± Vincent quickly agreed. ¡°Yeah, Kristin¡¯s a real piece of work, fooling the FitzGerald and the Turner families. James must have fallen into her tricks, too.¡± ¡°I hear that James is the father to Kristin¡¯s love child,¡± Berg said in a low voice. Carter was stunned and looked up at his aide. ¡°A child, too?¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± The aide nervously bowed his head, replying, ¡°Mr. James has forbidden the word to get out, 50¡­ ¡°I bet my bottom dor that kiddo isn¡¯t James¡®. Kristin¡¯s sweet talk has bamboozled James big time. It must be some trickery at y.¡± Bergmented coldly, standing up to leave. ¡°The marriage between our families is set. I¡¯ll chalk it up to James being too young.¡± ¡°Mr. Bryce, I¡¯ll escort Berg back home. Call me if you need anything.¡± Vincent said, helping Berg up. ¡°As for Adrienne, that will need some more of your attention.¡± Once the family cleared out, Carter¡¯s gaze turned icy. ¡°Check out the child to see if James has been fooled.¡± ¡°Mr. Bryce. Vincent had Kristin taken to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts, nning to let her get harmed¡­Miss Kristin escaped. That¡¯s what a night jogger said. He saw her covered in blood with a nasty gash on her neck, which scared the wits out of him. Kristin borrowed the jogger¡¯s phone and made a call. I checked it was to Rhett.¡± Bill spoke sotto voce in the car, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. These people are despicable, treating a woman this way. ¡°Rhett?¡± James asked in a deep tone. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± James leaned back in the rear seat, eyes slowly closing. Kristin had reached out to Rhett and not him. ¡°Head to Silvergrove City.¡± James opened his eyes, a deep look in them. He thought, ¡°Kristin was mine, and nobody could snatch her away.¡± After all the effort James had put in, breaking down her defenses, finally having her lean on him. Did Rhett think he could step in and steal her away? Dream on. Chapter 82 In Angelic Guard International Nursery of Silvergrove City, Kristin was on the dot at 5:30 pm at the school gate, ready to pick up Summer. ¡°Miss Kristin? Summer had a tiff with a ssmate and hurt someone. You¡¯ll need toe in,¡± the teacher from the student affairs office was already waiting for her at the gate. Kristin went pale, following the teacher into the administration office with bated breath. ¡°Summer,¡± she called our softly. Summer was in a corner, head hung low, clothes dirty from the scuffle. In another corner, Milo stood tall, oozing rich kid vibes head to toe. ¡°You bad woman, thief, beggar.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes reddened, and fists clenched. He wouldn¡¯t haveshed out if Milo hadn¡¯t pushed his buttons. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Summer burst into tears as Kristin arrived. He was scared of getting on his mom¡¯s bad side, scared she¡¯d give him an earful. ¡°Did you get hurt, Summer?¡± Kristin squatted before Summer, not grilling him about why he hit someone. Instead, she softly asked if he was injured. Summer shook his head, eyes brimming with tears. ¡°Ms. Turner, Summer here threw a punch at Milo. Now there¡¯s swelling on his body and face. His parents are on the way, and Milo¡¯s mother demands an exnation. You better give the dstone family an answer,¡± the Director of Student Affairs said sternly, obviously siding with Milo. ¡°My kid wouldn¡¯t hit someone for no reason.¡± Kristin hugged Summer and looked him over. noticing a bruise near Summer¡¯s eye, then looked up at the teacher. ¡°Both kids got into it and got hurt. Why should we be the ones exining? Who¡¯ll exin this to me?¡± ¡°Ms. Turner, Milo¡¯s father is Caleb dstone, the CEO of the dstone Group, and his mother is Eve FitzGerald, the heiress of the FitzGerald Group,¡± the homeroom teacher reminded Kristin. Who should be exining to whom? It was all about who had got the longer stick. ¡°Mom¡­ he started it by bad¨Cmouthing you, calling me a bastard, and saying you¡¯re a thief.¡± Summer cleaned his tears. He wouldn¡¯t let anyone talk trash about his mom. Kristin felt a tingling in her fingers. She¡¯d learned to bite her tongue and swallow all grievances over the years. She couldn¡¯t afford to cross the dstone and FitzGerald families, and part of her wanted to compromise and let bygones be bygones. But if her child was willing to go to the mat for her, could she ask him to suck it up? ¡°As teachers, did you guys even bother to check who started it?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°If THE Chapter 82 Milo hadn¡¯t provoked Summer, Summer wouldn¡¯t have hit him.¡± ¡°I did provoke him, you bad woman, thief. All you know is how to steal someone else¡¯s dad. My mom said you¡¯re the dirtiest, disgusting.¡± Milo stuck out his tongue and pulled a face at Summer. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Milo.¡± At the office door, Eve arrived, her voice urgent. ¡°Who¡¯s the blind fool daring enough toy hands on my son?¡± Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Eve totally babies Milo, after all. He¡¯s the kid she went through all tricks to have with Caleb. Caleb wasn¡¯t into Eve, but she was putting in the effort with the kid to keep Caleb on the hook. Running up to Milo in a panic, Eve scanned the area and saw her son¡¯s reddened cheeks, ring at the head of the school office. ¡°What kind of babysitting is this?¡± The director quickly rose to apologize, all eagerness and ttery. ¡°Ms. FitzGerald, it was a little scrap between two kids¡­¡± ¡°Scrap?¡± Eve shot a cold nce at Kristin, and her face darkened instantly. ¡°Kristin?¡± Hugging Summer tight, Kristin looked down and tried to walk away. ¡°Heh¡­ I should¡¯ve known it was you again. You let your son hit mine, huh?¡± Eve¡¯s voice sharp as she ordered the bodyguard to block the door. ¡°Stop them!¡± The bodyguard stood in the doorway, preventing Kristin from leaving. She stepped back, protecting Summer. ¡°What do you want?¡± was Eve looked at Kristin, shocked, then burst into sarcasticughter. ¡°What trash is your son to even be in this school? Has Angelic Guard International Nursery started precision poverty alleviation? Letting in any riffraff?¡± Eve frowned at the director, snapping, ¡°You better exin to me how her son has attended here! We donate so much money to your school each year through the FitzGerald Group, and it¡¯s for you to take in trash?¡± Eve¡¯s anger mounted. The principal hastened to exin. ¡°Ms. FitzGerald, please let me exin. Miss Kristin¡­ It was Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s instruction.¡± Eve was even more shocked. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re shameless, aren¡¯t you? Seduced my brother?¡± Rhett, who had never been interested in women or involved in scandals, had helped Kristin¡¯s son get into school. Kristin clenched her fists, stepping back with Summer. ¡°Oh, impressive! Getting your son to hit mine, huh? Who do you think you are?¡± Eveughed mockingly, raising her hand to p Kristin. With her gaze turning intense and dark, Kristin caught Eve¡¯s wrist. ¡°Eve, your son started with mine. We¡¯re both mothers. Our children are our lines in the sand. Don¡¯t cross mine.¡± Eve looked at Kristin, startled, thenughed. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. Let go of me!¡± Eve shook off Kristin¡¯s hand with disgust. ¡°Think you¡¯ve got a backer now? My brother is probably briefly interested in you, a burst of charity. What are you? Everyone in Silvergrove City 13-09 Chapter 83 knows how dirty you are.¡± Kristin lowered her eyes, taking a deep breath. ¡°Stop badmouthing my mom!¡± Summer res at Eve like a little beast ready to pounce. Eve ruffled Milo¡¯s hair. ¡°Boy, how did he hit you?¡± ¡°He hit my face.¡± Milo pointed to his cheek. ¡°Kristin, for what happened today, either your son kneels and apologizes to mine, or you do. Or else, let¡¯s see if this school will even keep your son.¡± Eve watched Kristin and waited for her to kneel and beg for mercy. Holding Summer, Kristin finally spoke up. ¡°Summer did nothing wrong. If anyone should apologize, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°Kristin, you seem a bit confused about the situation here.¡± Eveughed. ¡°Do you think my brother will care about you? Or that he¡¯ll protect your little bastard instead of his nephew?¡± Kristin kept her head down. She had no intention of letting Rhett know. She couldn¡¯t bother Rhett with every little thing. ¡°Apologize to me, kneel!¡± Spoiled, Milo carried the haughty arrogance of a young master, demanding Summer kneel before him. Summer gripped his hands tightly, staring at Milo. The teacher and director nearby dare not speak. On one side was the FitzGerald family¡¯s youngdy, and on the other was someone Rhett had instructed them about, but Eve seemed more significant. After all, a rich girl and a fleeting fling were different. ¡°Not willing to apologize, huh?¡± Seeing Kristin unmoved, Eve looked at the director. ¡°Expel this little bastard and tell all the schools in Silvergrove City. Let¡¯s see who dares to take him!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± the director nervously wiped his sweat. ¡°Any problems, I¡¯ll take the heat.¡± Eve snorted. ¡°If my brother asks, tell him this little bastard injured his nephew.¡± The director quickly nodded. He knew who mattered more. Kristin¡¯s eyes filled with tears. Facing this power¨Cdriven bullying, she was helpless, unable to resist, but she didn¡¯t believe her son did anything wrong. ¡°Summer, let¡¯s go. You did nothing wrong, so you don¡¯t need to apologize. Even if we have to drop out of school, Mom won¡¯t make you apologize for someone else¡¯s mistake.¡± Kristin picked up Summer, making her way out with difficulty. This nursery was top¨Cnotch, one many would kill to get into, known for grooming many a prodigy. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. 13:09 Chapter 83 But Kristin felt it was a dirty ce. She wanted to instill the correct values in her son, not vanity or power¨Cworship. She didn¡¯t believe her son would get a better education at a nursery like this. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯lle begging to me eventually.¡± Eve¡¯s sarcasticughter followed them. Kristin didn¡¯t respond. If this nursery didn¡¯t take them, they would find another. ¡°Mommy¡­ did I cause you trouble?¡± Summer hugged Kristin¡¯s neck, voice small and choked. Kristin shook her head. ¡°Nope. Summer is the best. It¡¯s right to stand up when provoked, but we can¡¯t go around hitting people for no reason.¡± ¨C Summer¡¯s eyes got even redder. ¡°Mom, he hit me just now. He tore up my sketchbook, which had the drawing I made for Dad, and then he messed with my toys and hit my head with them.¡± Kristin¡¯s steps froze as she held Summer, and she carefully ced Summer down by the roadside to take a closer look at his head. Under the cover of his hair, his scalp was red and swollen with a bump. Kristin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, her voice hoarse and out of control. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell Mommy at the office¡­¡± Summer cupped Kristin¡¯s cheeks and whispered, ¡°I was scared Mommy would get picked on.¡± Kristin bowed her head, tears falling uncontrobly. He was only five years old, still so little. Why did he have to be so sensible? It broke Kristin¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯m not scared of the bad guys, so Summer, you shouldn¡¯t be scared either.¡± Kristin thought she could live her whole life in the dust, always saying yes and swallowing her pride, but not her son. Since she brought Summer into this world, she had to take responsibility for him. She couldn¡¯t let her son continue her dirty life. She might not n for herself, but she had to think for her son. So, even if she had to y dirty, she was determined to break free from her current situation. She had to use every person and resource avable to w her way out of the abyss. ¡°Kristin!¡± A ck sedan pulled up by the roadside, and the person who got off called out with urgency. Kristin¡¯s body stiffened, and she hugged Summer tighter in panic. It was James. He had followed her to Silvergrove City. Chapter 83 ¡°Kristin¡­¡± Bill had driven for five and a half hours and finally arrived in Silvergrove City. He guessed Kristin would be at the school waiting for Summer. While Summer was in the hospital, their people had gotten clear on where Summer¡¯s school was. ¡°James¡­¡± Kristin looked down, her grip around Summer tightening. Summer looked up at James, his bright eyes filled with confusion. ¡°Are you Summer?¡± James took a deep breath to steady his emotions, his voice gentle. ¡°I¡¯m your dad.¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Summer was momentarily dazed, staring nkly at James and then scurrying into Kristin¡¯s arms, a bit scared. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Kristin nervously looked down. ¡°Mr. Bryce¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± James apologized first, admitting he had been careless this time, not expecting Vincent and the Haywood family crew to go after his grandpa. ¡°Come back with me.¡± Kristin took a deep breath, head still lowered. ¡°No, I¡¯m not going back.¡± she said. James reached out tofort Kristin but caught air instead, and in her eyes, he saw a distance forming. ¡°Is it because I didn¡¯t protect you, or is it because I didn¡¯t agree to call off the engagement with Adrienne?¡± James asked, his voice heavy with concern. Kristin kept her head down, silent. James knew it all deep down. She just wasn¡¯t important enough. That was all. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer hugged Kristin, asking softly. ¡°Who is he?¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes reddened, ncing at James tentatively. She wasn¡¯t sure if James was willing to acknowledge Summer. ¡°Summer, I¡¯m your dad.¡± James crouched before Summer, reaching out gently. ¡°Sorry, I waste.¡± In his mind, Kristin was probably having a momentary spat with him, something he could sweet¨Ctalk out of. A guy like Rhett, with his serious germaphobia, wouldn¡¯t fall for someone like Kristin. Wide¨Ceyed and tearful, Summer looked to Kristin for reassurance. He¡¯d often dreamed about his dad showing up one day, saying, ¡°Summer, I¡¯m your dad.¡± But when James appeared, apologizing for histeness, Summer felt like crying. ¡°I don¡¯t like Daddy.¡± Summer looked away, clinging to Kristin. It was because Daddy hadn¡¯t protected Mommy. James took a deep breath, looking at Kristin. ¡°Juste with me for now.¡± Kristin stood up, holding Summer, then shook her head. ¡°No need, Mr. Bryce¡­¡± She was drawing a line with James. James felt tight in his chest as he watched Kristin walk away with the child. 13:10 F Chapter 84 Rubbing his temples, James cursed the Haywood family in his mind and hurried after them. It had been hard enough to get her to stick around him, and these jerks had to ruin it all. ¡°Kris, let me take you guys.¡± James caught up, offering to carry Summer. ¡°Mommy¡¯s tired. Let Daddy carry you, okay?¡± Summer hesitated, then asked softly, ¡°Can you protect Mommy?¡± James paused, looking into the little one¡¯s eyes. Those eyes, looking so much like Kristin¡¯s from back in the day, were so innocent and pure. ¡°I can,¡± James nodded firmly. It had been an ident this time. He wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake again. ¡°Then will you marry Mommy?¡± Summer sniffled and asked softly. James¡® steps froze, and he said nothing. Kristin held Summer tight and quickly exined, ¡°He¡¯s just a kid. He doesn¡¯t understand these things.¡± ¡°I do understand. Milo said no man would marry Mommy and called her a thief who steals other people¡¯s dad, but that¡¯s not true. Someone will marry Mommy.¡± Summer cried out, feeling wronged. He didn¡¯t believe Milo¡¯s words. That was why he had fought with Milo. When Milo bullied him, he never fought back, afraid to cause trouble for his uncle and mom. But when Milo badmouthed his mom, he lost control. James stood there, stunned, massaging his temples. He couldn¡¯t possibly marry Kristin. Apart from that status, he could give Kristin anything. Kristin nced back at James. She was clueless about what she was expecting, maybe even harboring a fleeting fancy to give Summer aplete family. But she knew James wouldn¡¯t marry her. It was all just wishful thinking. Without a word, Kristin stood alone at the bus stop with Summer, waiting for the bus. James stood by Kristin, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn¡¯te out each time. he opened his mouth. The bus arrived, and Kristin got on. James followed. In James¡® memory, he had never taken the bus before. The bus was too crowded. James offered to hold Summer, not wanting Kristin to tire from holding the child. Kristin hesitated, then passed Summer to James. Chapter 84 The bus jolted to a stop, and Kristin nearly fell, but James caught her. ¡°Youngdy, why don¡¯t you and the child take a seat? Look at you three. What a good¨Clooking family,¡± an elderlydy on the bus said, smiling as she stood up to offer Kristin her seat. ¡°Thanks, ma¡¯am, but no need,¡± Kristin waved off. Thedy chuckled. ¡°Youth is wonderful, and the kid is adorable.¡± James didn¡¯t exin. He just held Summer and smiled politely. Kristin whispered. ¡°We¡¯re not family¡­¡± Marriage and aplete family for Summer were things Kristin didn¡¯t even dare to dream about. Her life was already ruined. No one would want to marry her. And no one would willingly be Summer¡¯s stepdad. She didn¡¯t want to settle for someone and have Summer suffer. Bever She had fantasized about James, even knowing it was unrealistic, but she had thought she¡¯d do anything, even if James didn¡¯t love her but was willing to give Summer aplete home. She no longer longed for love. She wouldn¡¯t love anyone else, and nobody would love her. The elderdy said nothing more and got off at her stop. Kristin nced at Bill, following the bus in his car, and said helplessly, ¡°Mr. Bryce, you don¡¯t have to do this.¡± What was this? Rich man¡¯s life experience tour? ¡°If you don¡¯t want to return to Crescendo Town with me, stay in Silvergrove City. I¡¯ll sort everything out. I¡¯ll hang out with you in Silvergrove City for like two weeks every month. If your need anything, call me or Bill, okay?¡± James whispered, and when Kristin got to her stop. He helped her off the train with Summer in his arms. ¡°Here¡¯s the key for Elmwood Estate. You and Summer crash there. And don¡¯t forget to keep the card I gave you¡­¡± Kristin nced at the card James handed over. The guy was being really nice to her. If James wasn¡¯t engaged, she might have just gone with the flow and be his mistress. ¡°James, I¡¯ve told you I¡¯m not ying the other woman for anyone. That¡¯s a line I won¡¯t cross.¡± Kristin shook her head and took Summer from him. ¡°Mr. Bryce, we must split and catch the subway. You better head back.¡± ¡°Kristin!¡± James was getting desperate. ¡°Do you have to be so stubborn, clinging to your guns? I¡¯ve told you whatever I can offer, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Chapter 84 ¡°What if I say all I want is a legit title, a real status for Summer and me? What if I say I want you to marry me?¡± Kristin turned to look at James.. James clenched his fists, his brow furrowed as he stood frozen. ¡°Kristin, I told you not to get too greedy.¡± Kristin chuckled and walked away. Yeah, she was way too greedy. Six years ago, it was James who had ignored her pleas and forced her. He wrecked her life and made her have Summer. Looking up at the sky, Kristin tried to hold back her tears. But what was the point of all this hurt? It was nothing. ¡°Kristin!¡± James couldn¡¯t let it go and chased after her, but the station was too crowded, teeming with people. Holding her child, Kristin had already vanished into the crowd. Someone like James, who had never dealt with subways or buses growing up, was at a loss. He couldn¡¯t even begin to look for Kristin and Summer. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 At Garner¡¯s pad. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The rent for the auto shop was about to go up. Kristin, Summer, and Garner have all been cramming in there. ¡°Garner, the rent¡¯sing due. Are we still renting?¡± Kristin whispered. ¡°Thendlord was here. today to collect the rent, and he¡¯s Jacking it up.¡± Someone had been talking to thendlord, giving Kristin and Garner a hard time on purpose. Garner sighed and leaned against the door outside, lighting a cigarette and saying, ¡°I¡¯ll handle the housing stuff.¡± Kristin nodded. ¡°Garner, Summer got into a scuffle at school today, roughed up the dstone family¡¯s little lordling. Milo.¡± Garner froze for a second, his cigarette hand going stiff. ¡°Did Summer get hurt?¡± Kristin shook her head. ¡°Got a little bump on his head, nothing serious. But school¡­ it¡¯s off the table now. Milo¡¯s mom is Eve. She¡¯s from the FitzGerald family.¡± Garner frowned, speaking in a heavy tone. ¡°Forget it. We¡¯ll find a new preschool.¡± Kristin smiled bitterly and nodded. ¡°Garner, you know what? Sometimes, I wonder if I should even be around.¡± Garner tossed his smoke and yanked Kristin into the yard. ¡°If you leave, what happens to Summer? No dad, and if no mom, how will he make it?¡± ¡°Sorry, Garner.¡± Kristin hung her head, tears hitting the ground. 1 Garner took a deep breath and nced at his phone. ¡°I¡¯m pulling an all¨Cnighter at work. I¡¯ll handle the cash. Just take care of Summer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking of going to work on Monday. Got a shot at an interview,¡± Kristin said, checking her watch. Garner nodded. ¡°Cool, we¡¯ll sort out Summer¡¯s school thing before Monday.¡± Kristin sat in the yard, zoned out. Garner had been busytely. He thought hisdy boss was a loon with more dors than sense. stirring the pot constantly. But the pay was good, so he was sucking it up. Bright and early the next day, Kristin was out hunting for a new preschool with Summer. Every preschool was all smiles and wee, but when it came to registering, they got the cold 1/4 Chapter 85 shoulder for some weird reason. The excuse was that Summer didn¡¯t meet the entrance requirements. Kristin got it figured out, though. It was useless trying more preschools. Eve was pulling the strings. Eve had been holding a grudge over Caleb¡¯s thing, and she¡¯d got her excuse and motive. ¡°Kristin, it doesn¡¯t matter how many preschools you try. I¡¯ll be waiting for you toe crawling.¡± Eve taunted, parked at the curb, waiting to gloat over Kristin¡¯s misery. ¡°Mommy, can¡¯t we just not go to preschool?¡± Summer whispered. Kristin shook her head. ¡°We¡¯ll find another one.¡± Early education mattered, and Kristin didn¡¯t want her son tog at the starting line. Otherwise. he would lag behind other kids when he hit grade school. ¡°Kristin, I¡¯m curious how you have sweet¨Ctalked my brother into backing you?¡± Eve wasn¡¯t just there to shame Kristin but also to figure out what Rhett was up to. Rhett was no Good Samaritan. He had no business meddling with Kristin. With the FitzGerald Group¡¯s internal squabbles, Eve and Vincent being full siblings, Rhett would be it if she had to pick an outsider. Eve was no fool. She feared Rhett¡¯s support for Kristin was a move against Vincent. After all, Vincent once loved Kristin dearly, and she was his fianc¨¦e. Was Rhett aiming to humiliate Vincent? Or was it a warning, a provocation? Kristin ignored Eve. ¡°Kristin, can¡¯t wait to see how long you can stand tall,¡± Eve sneered, mming her car door shut. Peeved by Kristin¡¯s pride, Eve buzzed Vincent. ¡°You still in Crescendo Town?¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh¡­¡± Vincent was clueless about Kristin being back in Silvergrove City and had made excuses to hang in Crescendo Town to find her. But he didn¡¯t want to admit that he had still hung up on Kristin. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing back? Silvergrove City is flipping upside down! Did you know Kristin¡¯s son getting into Angelic Guard International Nursery was Rhett¡¯s doing? She¡¯s walking tall with Rhett backing her and had her kid hit my boy yesterday! I heard she has even given Amy Brook a piece of her mind.¡± Eve¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm, acting like she was about to hit the ceiling. 13:10 Chapter 85 Vincent paused, and his voice was urgent. ¡°Who? Kristin? She¡¯s in Silvergrove City now?¡± ¡°Yep, strutting around with Rhett¡¯s backing. Can¡¯t understand what Rhett is thinking. What did you do? Did you piss off Rhett again?¡± Eve wished for family harmony. It was too bad that Mom and Vincent¡¯s ambitions were off the charts. Vincent¡¯s voice turned icy. ¡°Rhett, of course.¡± Rhett took Kristin away, the same guy who made cops haul him off at the party. Was Rhett using Kristin to y him? Pfft! How low could he get? After hanging up, Vincent red at his assistant. ¡°Drive! Hit the gas. We¡¯re heading back to Silvergrove City, and make it snappy!¡± Inside the vi, Melissa lounged in her pajamas, chilling in the massage chair with a face mask, asionally sipping her coffee. She nced at Garner standing beside her like a robot and rolled her eyes. What a clueless, irritating man. Besides taking a knife for her that day, Garner barely wanted to give her a second nce any other time. Melissa seriously wondered whether she was not hot enough or her figure wasn¡¯t curvy enough. Guys would have lost their cool over her in a heartbeat, but Garner was always sporting that poker face. ¡°You¡¯ve been standing here all night. Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Melissa found Garner interesting. It seemed he could use some cash. He took that knife for her, darting through the alleys with her like a desperado with nothing to lose, and the intensity he radiated attracted Melissa. She had done her homework on Garner, who was from a family of poverty, had a nephew to look after, got screwed over in a car repair job and had to pay up 300 thousand dors, borrowed from loan sharks, and with interest piling up, it¡¯s probably around 600 thousand dors,at the time. Garner kept quiet, not saying a word. Melissa invited him into her room the night before, but he refused, choosing instead to stand guard all night long. Garner needed the dough but was there to be a bodyguard, not to y the gigolo. Melissa raised an eyebrow, peeled off her face mask, and tossed it aside, confident there was no man she couldn¡¯t handle. 13:10 Chapter 85 ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything you want to ask me for? I heard about the loan sharks. I could help you pay them off.¡± Melissa said with a seductive smile. Garner frowned, slightly annoyed. To someone like Melissa, an heiress with deep pockets, 600 thousand dors was like pocket change. But he didn¡¯t need her charity. ¡°Talk about not ying along.¡± Melissa snapped, clearly annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re off the clock. Get lost.¡± She could have fired Garner on the spot, but Melissa was reluctant to let him go. Without him, she¡¯d miss out on teasing her very own blockhead. Lately, Melissa had found a new pastime in getting a rise out of Garner each day. It became entertaining. After hearing he can finally clock out, Garner breathed a sigh of relief. Heading to the locker room, he went to grab his clothes and phone. Just then, Kristin called. ¡°Garner¡­ Eve has talked to all the kindergartens in Silvergrove City, and it will be tough for Summer to get in,¡± Kristin¡¯s voice came with emotion. Garner¡¯s grip on his phone tightened, sick of these people pushing them around. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll figure it out.¡± After hanging up, Garner raised his hand to his forehead, thumping it lightly, then sat on the bench in the locker room for a long while. What else could he do except going to beg Melissa? Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Sitting in the locker room for half a day, Garner scratched his head in irritation. ¡°Those bastards!¡± he cursed inwardly. With a gloomy face, he walked out of the locker room and nced at Melissa, sitting in the yard. He hesitated for long and decided to let it be. ¡°Garner,¡± Melissa called out to him first. Garner pretended not to hear and steeled himself to leave. ¡°Garner, the boss is calling for you.¡± Someone who couldn¡¯t read the room had reminded him. Taking a deep breath, Garner turned and walked up to Melissa. ¡°Boss, what do you need?¡± ¡°Overtime tonight. An extra 30 grand. What do you say?¡± Melissa wanted to rag Garner, determined to keep him up all night. Garner had already been on his feet the whole night yesterday. The other bodyguards could tell the boss was picking on Garner and felt sorry for him. ¡°Boss, Garner hasn¡¯t had a break for three days straight. At this rate¡­¡± Money was no good if one was too dead to spend it. What was the boss trying to do? How did Garner tick off the boss? ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do the overtime.¡± Garner¡¯s voice remained calm, without a ripple. ¡°I don¡¯t need the money. Please do me a favor, boss.¡± Melissa looked at Garner with interest, seeing him ask her for help. ¡°No money? Speak up.¡± Melissa was intrigued. ¡°My nephew¡¯s schooling¡­ No school dares to take him.¡± Garner hung his head, clenching his fists. He wasn¡¯t good at asking for favors. He wouldn¡¯t have spoken up if he had another choice. Melissa noticed that about Garner. ¡°Your nephew is an unregistered citizen?¡± Garner shook his head, replying. ¡°No, it¡¯s because he crossed the heiress of the FitzGerald family.¡± *The FitzGerald family¡­¡± Melissa¡¯s fingers tapped lightly on the table. ¡°The daughter of the FitzGerald family¡¯s mistress who climbed up thedder? Her name is Eve, right?¡± Melissa wore a look of disdain, clearly not a fan of Eve. Garner looked clueless. He wasn¡¯t up to speed on these high¨Csociety scandals. ¡°Heh, messing with my people. She¡¯s got some nerve.¡± Melissa sat up straight and stretched gracefully. ¡°I can help you out. Just keep mepany tonight.¡± ¡°Cough¡­¡± Nearby, the other bodyguards quickly left as if they hadn¡¯t heard a thing. Garner¡¯s face darkened. ¡°No need. I¡¯m off.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Garner!¡± Melissa pped the table in irritation. Garner acted as if he were deaf to her, ready to be fired if that was what it came down to. Seeing Garner leave without looking back, Melissa¡¯s face flushed with anger, calling him a blockhead. ¡°Find out about the best kindergarten in Silvergrove City. Say it¡¯s my nephew, and see who dares to stop it.¡± Melissa¡¯s slender fingers picked up a cigarette, asking the butler to light it for her. The butler nodded. ¡°Yes, madam.¡± ¡°Call me miss.¡± Melissa frowned. The butler quickly nodded again. ¡°Yes, miss.¡± It was at the car repair shop. ¡°Move it along. Are you paying the rent or not? If not, scram.¡± Thendlord was at it again, pushing them out. ¡°We still have a month before the lease is up. We haven¡¯t decided yet¡­¡± Kristin spoke softly and with some fear. ¡°A month? Everyone knows you pay three months in advance. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± Thendlord was rude, obviously intent on kicking Kristin and the others out. Kristin bowed, hesitating for a long time before speaking. ¡°We¡­ won¡¯t renew.¡± ¡°What? Not renewing?¡± Thendlord¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Not renewing and still squatting here? Grab your stuff and get lost!¡± He was about to enter the room to throw Kristin¡¯s things out. ¡°We still have a month.¡± Kristin protected Summer as she backed away. ¡°A month? You¡¯ve got to be out three months in advance.¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes reddened. She wanted to fight back but felt powerless. She knew the Turner or the FitzGerald family was messing with her through thendlord. So even if she stood her ground, it would be pointless. ¡°Kristin, your brother¡¯s been renting from me for six years. He¡¯s a loyal tenant. How much do Chapter 86 you charge a night out there?¡± Thendlord smirked, squinting at Kristin through a cloud of smoke. Kristin¡¯s face paled, her fingers digging into her palm. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb. Do you think I don¡¯t know the score? Go and ask around who doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re selling yourself. Open for business, and I¡¯ll knock it off your rent. How about that?¡± Thendlord moved in on Kristin with a dirty smile, reaching out to grope her. ¡°Ah!¡± Thendlord screamed as he saw Summer smash a pair of pliers on his foot. ¡°You little bastard.¡± Thendlord tried to hit Summer. Kristin pushed thendlord away with force and ran out, holding Summer. ¡°What¡¯s the act? ying the saint while being a whore.¡± Thendlord grabbed Kristin¡¯s hair and threw her to the ground. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer clung to Kristin, scared. ¡°What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± Fortunately, Garner returned, rushing over and kicking the landlord out. away! Thendlord knew Garner¡¯s ruthlessness and scrambled his pants hitched up when he saw him return. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Kristin was trembling in the corner, her voice shaking. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s not stay here anymore.¡± Garner quickly picked up Summer andforted Kristin. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll find a ce tomorrow.¡± Kristin looked up at Garner, tears uncontroble. Why did they have to endure all this? Why did they have to take the malice from others? ¡°Kristin¡­¡± Seeing Kristin looking off, Garner put down Summer, and his voice filled with panic. ¡°Go get the medicine.¡± Summer dashed into the room to get the nitroglycerin pills. ¡°Kris, take deep breaths.¡± Garner patted Kristin¡¯s back frantically. ¡°Listen to me. Take deep breaths.¡± Kristin took a deep breath, her lips turning white from the pain in her heart. ¡°It¡¯s okay now. It¡¯s all right.¡± Summer brought the medicine, and Garner helped Kristin take it. Kristin took a long time before lowering her head, curling her legs, and crying. She didn¡¯t even know what she was upset about. Was this the life she was supposed to live? ¡°Kristin!¡± Outside the door, Vincent¡¯s sounded. Chapter 86 Kristin had juste to her senses when she heard Vincent¡¯s voice and hid in the corner in fear. ¡°Garner¡­¡± Vincent had shown up. Garner was itching for a fight with those sons of guns. He shoved Summer into the house, locked the door, and picked up an iron rod from the ground, ring at Vincent as he entered. ¡°What are you up to now?¡± Vincent¡¯s gaze fell on Kristin in the corner, his voice deep. ¡°Get out here.¡± Kristin hugged herself tightly, too afraid to move. ¡°Vincent! Don¡¯t push it too far,¡± Garner stood protectively over Kristin. Inside were Summer¡¯s cries and the sound of banging on the door. He was frightened. He feared that this malicious guy would hurt his mom. ¡°So, what if I¡¯m bullying you?¡± Vincent scoffed, had his bodyguards block Garner, and slowly approached Kristin. Garnernded a punch on one of the bodyguards¡® faces. They were three against one, but they were no match for him. ¡°Vincent, you bastard.¡± Garner grabbed Vincent by the cor andnded a hard punch on his face. Vincent punched back but was no match for Garner in fighting. ¡°Are you all freaking dead?¡± Vincent cursed under his breath. All the bodyguards swarmed and pinned Garner to the ground. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Vincent cursed from the pain, got up, walked over to Kristin, grabbed her hair, and dragged her out. ¡°Heard my brother helped you sort out your little bastard¡¯s schooling, huh?¡± ¡°You bastard, let go of my sister!¡± Garner struggled violently. Vincent looked at Garner with dark eyes. ¡°Last time, I wanted to ruin your hand. I didn¡¯t think you were such a tough nut to crack. How about I chop it off this time? Do you think you can get it reattached?¡± Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Kristin stared at Vincent with terror in her eyes, her voice shaking. ¡°No¡­ Don¡¯t hurt my brother.¡± ¡°Kristin, I¡¯ve told you. If you don¡¯t behave, I¡¯ll make someone close to you pay the price,¡± Vincent said, trapping her in his embrace and forcefully gripping her chin. ¡°This time, watch closely.¡± ¡°Vincent¡­ you bastard¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s trembling voice broke through. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt my brother. Rhett¡­ Rhett said he¡¯d look out for me.¡± Her voice quivered, hoping that mentioning Rhett would make Vincent think twice, but it only pissed him off more. ¡°You¡¯re a slut,¡± Vincent dragged Kristin into a nearby cabin. ¡°You¡¯ve slept with my brother, haven¡¯t you?¡± Kristin bit her lip, ring at Vincent with hatred. ¡°You have no right to ask me that.¡± ¡°I have no right, huh? Kristin, how low can you stoop?¡± Vincent sneered mockingly, tearing open her clothes. ¡°I regret that I never touched you before.¡± Her whole body shivered, burning wherever Vincent touched her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you disgusted?¡± Kristin cried out, challenging him. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re dirty.¡± Vincent retaliated, biting Kristin¡¯s neck. ¡°But if Rhett doesn¡¯t care, why should 12¡± Rhett thought he could humiliate him through Kristin. Dream on. ¡°Vincent, You won¡¯t let me go unless I¡¯m dead, right?¡± Kristin sank to her knees, her fingers trembling as she clutched at Vincent¡¯s clothes. ¡°Spare my brother, please.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive Garner for the harm he¡¯s caused Ruby. Even if he were to endure a thousand deaths or lose both of his hands, it wouldn¡¯t begin to extinguish my deep¨Cseated hatred for him!¡± Vincent forced Kristin to look outside. ¡°Go on. Cut off his hands.¡± The bodyguard pulled out a knife. ¡°Sorry about this.¡± ¡°No!¡± Kristin screamed, struggling and rushing to push away the man about to act. ¡°Vincent! The one who wronged you is me. I owe you¡­¡± Kristin picked up the knife from the ground and shed her wrist without any hesitation. ¡°Not enough, right?¡± She kept cutting her wrist, blood gushing out in rming streams. ¡°Bastard, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Garner yelled hysterically, fighting off his restraints and beating his captors senselessly. As Kristin¡¯s face turned ghostly pale, she stumbled backward, continuously cutting her wrist deeper. Chapter 87 Vincent stood rigid, watching Kristin¡¯s madness, his chest aching as if it were splitting open. What exactly did he want Kristin to do? ¡°Boss, that, that woman¡¯s gone mad. She will die, won¡¯t she?¡± The bodyguard was terrified, his voice shaking. They didn¡¯t want to be responsible for a death. Fueled by rage, Garner fought off everyone, knocking out his captors before staggering to his feet and rushing over to Kristin, forcefully taking the knife from her grasp. ¡°Give me the knife.¡± Garner¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his hand trembling as he held the de. Kristin looked at Garner with empty eyes, and seeing his blood dripping down the de, she let go in shock. As her vision darkened, Kristin copsed into Garner¡¯s arms. ¡°Garner, I¡¯m so tired.¡± Garner¡¯s throat burned. He swallowed hard but couldn¡¯t find any words offort. Apart from killing these people, he didn¡¯t know how else to protect Kristin and Summer. ¡°Take her to the hospital. Garner fought to steady his shaking voice, wrapping Kristin¡¯s wrist with his shirt. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital, Kris.¡± ¡°Summer¡­¡± Kristin looked toward the door, hearing Summer¡¯s desperate cries, and slowly raised her hand. ¡°Garner, take care of Summer.¡± She was so tired, exhausted. Let her be free. If she died, these people would have no reason to continue tormenting them. *Stop ying dead.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was trembling, yet he spoke coldly. ¡°Take her to the hospital.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Garner red at Vincent with red¨Crimmed eyes. He was afraid he couldn¡¯t control himself from killing Vincent. Vincent clenched his fists. ¡°Damn it. I¡¯ll take her to the hospital!¡± ¡°Get the hell out!¡± Garner picked up Kristin, intent on heading to the hospital. After hearing that Vincent had returned, Rhett hurriedly drove over, only to find Garner holding a blood¨C soaked Kristin. James had also arrived because he was worried, having asked Bill to find out where Garner lived and wanted to check in. ¡°To the hospital¡­ I¡¯ll take her to the hospital,¡± Rhett insisted on taking Kristin.. Seeing Kristin covered in blood again, Rhett felt his emotions spiraling out of control. Chapter 87 He was always a man unaffected by emotion, but at that moment, he wanted to kill Vincent. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry.¡± James also approached in panic, trying to take Kristin. Garner avoided James, handing Kristin to Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ please.¡± Kristin had said Rhett was different from the others. James didn¡¯t deserve her. In Garner¡¯s eyes, if James were the person who had forced Kristin six years ago, he would never be worthy. Rhett held Kristin and got into the car, his gaze deep as he looked at Vincent. Vincent¡¯s knuckles turned white with tension, furious that he could only watch Rhett take Kristin away! Because he dared not defy Rhett. Irked, James adjusted his tie and turned back to Vincent. ¡°Are you freaking asking to die?¡± James kicked Vincent, losing control and punching him in the face over and over. Vincent watched James with a coldugh. ¡°Mr. Bryce, you¡¯re not falling for a tramp, are you? What I did to her was none of your business, right? Your fianc¨¦e is still in jail, after all.¡± James¡® fist froze mid¨Cair, and the darkness in his eyes grew even more intense. ¡°Vincent, you got a death wish or something?¡± After saying that, James threw another punch. Vincent¡¯s bodyguard tried to step in, but Bill blocked him with an outstretched hand. ¡°You guys better weigh your options if Mr. Bryce gets a scratch.¡± Garner didn¡¯t give a shit about the rich folks¡® squabble. Clutching his hand in his clothes, he stumbled over to the door, let Summer out, and hugged him. ¡°No more tears, Summer. It¡¯s okay now.¡± Summer had cried herself hoarse, screaming for her mom. Hearing Summer¡¯s cries, James held back and kicked Vincent in the stomach before heading to Summer. After all, Vincent was from the FitzGerald family, so James didn¡¯t go all the way. He just knocked the guy out. The bodyguards whisked Vincent away, leaving only James, Bill, Garner, and Summer in the yard. ¡°Summer¡­ James¡® voice was strained, rasp¨Clike, as he wiped the blood from his face and crouched down before him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sweetheart¡­ Daddy¡¯ste.¡± Exhausted from crying, Summer clung to Garner. ¡°You¡¯re alwayste. I don¡¯t like you¡­. James raised his hand to his forehead and took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. How about we go to 3/4 12-15 Chapter 67 the hospital and see Mommy, okay?¡± Summer nced at Garner, wanting to see his mom. Garner turned to James with a low voice. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve it.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. In Garner¡¯s mind, James didn¡¯t deserve to be Summer¡¯s father. But Garner didn¡¯t stop Summer from going with him. Bill stood there, biting his tongue. That was James¡® choice, insisting on using Summer to tie Kristin down. So, it was only fair that he dealt with everyone¡¯s misjudgments. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 At Silvergrove Hospital, Rhett sat outside the emergency room, looking down in the dumps. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± York dared not toe any closer because Rhett seemed a bit scary. York had only seen Rhett like this twice before. Once at his mother¡¯s funeral and the other at this moment. York knew Rhett well. They were somewhat rted, and he knew since childhood that Rhett was always the genius and the golden boy in everyone¡¯s eyes. But from the first time Yorkid eyes on Rhett, he knew Rhett wasn¡¯t living a happy life. Rhett had the ability, the talent, and the strength, but he never seemed truly happy. Being born into the FitzGerald family, the responsibilities and pressures on him seemed way heavier than on the average Joe. ¡°James hasnded Mr. Vincent in the hospital. Nic is already in the loop, and Mr. Hob is on his way. It might blow up a big deal. If your family has to point fingers, they wouldn¡¯t dare to me James directly. They¡¯d probably take it out on Kristin.¡± York spoke softly, giving Rhett a heads¨Cup. In Crescendo Town, the Bryce and the FitzGerald families were strong allies. Besides that, Nic and Vincent wouldn¡¯t dare to cross the Bryce family as they were busy sucking up to them and trying to snag the inheritance rights to the FitzGerald Group. But they would make a scapegoat out of Kristin. ¡°Let them try,¡± Rhett said, his voice deep and his eyes dark and intimidating. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you sure you don¡¯t need to recuse yourself from this situation?¡± York gasped. It seemed best for Rhett to stay out of it. Once Rhett got involved, it would be hard for him to extricate himselfter. Nic and Vincent had been up to their little shenanigans for years, waiting to catch Rhett in a trap. ¡°Recuse me? Huh, funny.¡± Rhett snorted, ncing at York. ¡°Garner¡¯s garage has CCTV. Get Garner to hand the footage to the cops. If he didn¡¯t learn his lesson in Crescendo Town, it¡¯s time he learns it now.¡± ¡°And the part where Mr. Bryce hit Mr. Vincent¡­¡± York shivered with fear. Rhett was seriously dering war on Nic. Sending his brother to the police station would be a p in the face for the FitzGerald family and Hob. 1/4 17-19 Chapter 88 That would put Rhett in a¡­ Hob would be furious, especially with Nic whispering sweet nothings in his ear. York took a deep breath and didn¡¯t dare to say more. ¡°Hand everything to the police. Nic wouldn¡¯t dare mess with James, Rhett was clear about that. Nic would give James and the Bryce family that much respect. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you doing this for Kristin, or are you seizing this chance to have it out with Nic?¡± York hesitated before speaking in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯ve been holding back for so many years. There¡¯s no need to wreck your ns over Kristin.¡± Rhett fell silent, frowning slightly. York didn¡¯t press further and turned to take care of things. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, iare you outright trying to kill her now?¡± In the emergency room, Connor came over with the test results, speaking in a low tone and handing theb report to Rhett. ¡°She¡¯s got a congenital heart condition; and the Turner family is still waiting for her to donate a kidney. At this rate, forget about donating. Surviving will be a problem.¡± Rhett¡¯s expression darkened as he looked up at Connor. ¡°What kidney donation?¡± ¡°Ruby needs a kidney transnt, and they¡¯re insisting on Kristin¡¯s,¡± Connor said with his hands in his pockets, his tone sarcastic. ¡°They im Kristin owes the Turner family. ¡°Do they have a screw loose?¡± Rhett rubbed his temples. ¡°How is she doing?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not going to die just yet, but next time, who knows? The injury on her neck looks recent, too, and torturing her like this is a bit much,¡± Connor saw life and death a lot but had never seen someone so alive yet so abused. ¡°She¡¯s also got severe depression with clear psychosomatic symptoms, and I¡¯ve looked through her records. She¡¯s had many CT treatments. You probably can¡¯t imagine what she¡¯s going through. She¡¯s like a walking corpse.¡±N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Connor checked the time and left. Rhett stared at Kristin¡¯sb report for a long while. That was shocking. What on earth had this woman been through? ¡°No, don¡¯t¡­ Get off me. Don¡¯t touch me¡­¡± Kristin was restless in her hospital bed. Excessive blood loss made her constantly dizzy and ringing in her ears. She was deaf in her left ear, and Kristin felt she was in a ss bottle, cut off from the world. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, these are the remaining test results. Take a look. She¡¯s severely Chapter 88 malnourished,¡± the nurse was shocked, wondering why one could still starve to death. With this severeck of vitamin D2, her bones would start falling apart soon. Rhett stood by the bed and nced at Kristin. ¡°I got it.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, she¡¯s pitiful. During the resuscitation earlier, her heart stopped. She was close. to¡­ not making it,¡± the nurse whispered and left quietly. Rhett gazed deeply at Kristin. She was not afraid of death, yet she was too scared to fight back. If she had nothing to lose, how far would she go? ¡°Water¡­¡± Kristin was incredibly thirsty and wanted some water. Rhett was caught off guard for a moment, never having looked after a patient before, and he was a bit clueless about where to start. He pulled out a cotton swab, dampened it, and carefully moistened Kristin¡¯s lips. ¡°Water¡­¡± Kristin was dying of thirst and slowly opened her eyes, wanting a drink. ¡°You¡¯ve lost too much blood and can¡¯t gulp the water right now. Hang in there,¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was soothing. At least to Kristin¡¯s ears, it wasforting. ¡°You again¡­¡± Kristin managed a weak smile. Rhett again, huh? Was this a dream? 5 This time, she was seriously in his debt, as her blood had stained his clothes once more. Rhett¡¯s heart tightened as he looked at Kristin. She could still smile in a state like this. For some reason, Rhett thought she looked pretty when she smiled. ¡°Get some rest,¡± Rhett whispered. Kristin¡¯s eyelids gradually drifted shut, teetering between wakefulness and her. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s slender, powerless fingers gently sped Rhett¡¯s wrist, mustering courage from God knows where like a drowning person clutching desperately at a lifebuoy. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Rhett sat by her side, not pulling away from Kristin¡¯s grip. She held on to Rhett tightly and drifted off into a groggy sleep. York popped in once, shocked to see Rhett, and quickly mentioned the cops took Vincent away before he stationed himself outside the hospital room. Later, James arrived, carrying Summer. And Garner followed. ¡°Kristin¡¯s not in life¨Cthreatening danger. No need to worry too much.¡± York patted Garner on the 3/4 13:12 Chapter 55 shoulder. Garner nodded. ¡°Thanks. York didn¡¯t say much more. James entered the room and saw Rhett sitting by the bed, with Kristin¡¯s hand gripping his wrist tightly. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± Summer¡¯s eyes reddened, and he choked on calling for his mom. Rhett instinctively extended his arm to embrace Summer. But he stopped midway, abruptly. reminded that James was his biological father. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you can go home and rest now,¡± James said with furrowed brows. James didn¡¯t want Kristin to have a second option besides him. ¡°It seems that¡¯s not an option right now,¡± Rhett¡¯s gaze fell on Kristin¡¯s hand, holding onto him, unwilling to let go. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± James¡® face darkened, and he spoke in a lowered voice. ¡°Don¡¯t drag Kristin into your family¡¯s internal strife. She¡¯s already suffered like this. Stop using her.¡± James was well aware of Rhett¡¯s agenda. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 ¡°Be right back at you.¡± Rhett had no intention of letting go. Everyone was manipting Kristin: what made James think he was any different or noble? James frowned, wanting to say more, when a cop entered the room. ¡°Mr. Bryce, please cooperate with our investigation into the assault by Vincent FitzGerald.¡± James nced at Rhett, his expression darkening. Was Rhett ying him, too? ¡°Mr. Bryce, this assault by Vincent is serious. Kristin won¡¯t settle, considering the rough time she has been through. We need you to stick to the facts,¡± Rhett said coldly. James took a deep breath. ssic Rhett. Vincent was part of the FitzGerald family, Rhett¡¯s younger brother. If Rhett called the cops and testified, it would be too obvious, and Hob would be mad at Rhett. But if James testified against Vincent, that would be a different ball game. And if James defended Vincent, Kristin would be more disappointed in him. A Rhett was killing two birds with one stone, pulling the strings masterfully. *Summer, stay here with Mommy. Daddy wille byter,¡± James said, ruffling Summer¡¯s hair and crouching before him. ¡°Call me if you need anything. Got it?¡± Summer nodded, teary¨Ceyed, and looked back cautiously at Rhett. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. HE wished Rhett was his dad, but his mom said James was his daddy. Feeling a bit down, Summer fell silent. James asked Bill to stay and look after Summer, then left with the police. Rhett saw through James¡® act. He was making his position clear, and no matter what, it didn¡¯t change the fact that he was Summer¡¯s dad. The bond between Kristin and James, through Summer, was something Rhett couldn¡¯t sever. ¡°Summer, are you going to school tomorrow?¡± Rhett whispered. Summer cautiously edged closer to Rhett, clutching the hem of his clothes with his little, adorable hand. Garner and York were outside the room, leaving only Rhett, Summer, and Kristin inside. ¡°Do you like school?¡± Rhett asked again, reaching out to Summer. Summer started crying, burying himself in Rhett¡¯s arms, trying not to make a sound. Rhett took a deep breath and stroked Summer¡¯s head. 1/4 13-15 ¡°I don¡¯t want to go to school anymore¡­¡± Summer mumbled, liking the feeling of security when. Rhett held him. ¡°Why?¡± Rhett asked, his tone softer than he realized. ¡°He said mean things about Mommy, and we fought,¡± Summer said, standing there looking so pitiful that it broke his heart. York walked in, about to say something, but stopped short at the sight of Summer looking much like Rhett. ¡°You can¡¯t just skip school. You¡¯re about to start elementary school, and you can¡¯t fall behind on preschool,¡± Rhett said in an educational tone but still oh¨Cso¨Cgentle. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Summer said quietly, cleaning his tears. He couldn¡¯t call him ¡®Dad¡® anymore, but he wanted to. ¡°School doesn¡¯t want me anymore because I fought.¡± Rhett frowned and nced at York. ¡°Take care of it, okay?¡± York hurried out to make a call. ¡°Will Mommy be fine?¡± Summer asked quietly, not wanting to wake her. ¡°Yeah, she will be.¡± Rhett nodded. ¡°Sir, thank you,¡± Summer said, not calling him ¡®Dad¡® this time. But did Rhett feel a twinge of disappointment. ¡°Focus on your studies, and you can thank me when you grow up,¡± Rhett gave Summer a goal. Summer¡¯s eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, the nursery said Summer hit Ms. FitzGerald¡¯s son, Milo, but the richdy. Melissa, has spoken to them. They¡¯re taking it seriously and said they¡¯d personally bring Summer back to school tomorrow morning.¡± York said, shocked. What was the deal with Kristin and Melissa? Melissa was known as a firecracker in the circles. She married a wealthy businessman three years ago, and not long after, he died. She was back in the country with his billions, a tough cookie. At the door, Garner paused. ¡°Melissa? She is my boss, and I¡¯m her bodyguard.¡± York¡¯s mouth fell open in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re bodyguarding for Melissa? You¡¯ve got guts.¡± That was some real bravery. The word was that Melissa¡¯ste husband was rted to the mob, and with her carrying his inheritance back home, his family wouldn¡¯t let her off. Being Melissa¡¯s bodyguard meant risking your life for your paycheck. Garner kept mum, as it was his boss¡® private business, which he preferred not to probe. Chapter 89 But Melissa had intervened about the nursery issue. ¡°Has Eve given you a hard time?¡± Rhett looked at Garner. Garner nodded. ¡°Yeah. No nursery would take Summer, so I had to ask my boss for help.¡± Rhett¡¯s frown deepened, thinking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Kristin call me? Was she afraid of bothering me?¡± ncing back at Kristin, Rhett wondered how he could make her let down her guard. ¡°Take Summer home. He needs to sleep. Tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll have York take him to school,¡± Rhett said as he stroked Summer¡¯s head. Summer looked back at his mom and nodded obediently. He¡¯d probably resist if it were anyone else, but he listened to Rhett. Garner was surprised, too. Summer was a good kid but stubborn. Kristin was injured, and Summer surely wouldn¡¯t want to leave, but he agreed to Rhett¡¯s request. ¡°I¡¯m here. Nothing will happen to your mom,¡± Rhett reassured again. Summer looked up at Rhett, his mouth agape, but the word ¡°Dad¡± wouldn¡¯te out. He turned and ran to Garner. ¡°I¡¯ve got your back. You can breathe easy,¡± Rhett kindly reminded Garner. ¡°The FitzGerald family will probablye knocking for Kristin¡¯s hide. You¡¯d better hide for a while. Don¡¯t get dragged into this mess.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what can my sister and I do for you?¡± Garner wasn¡¯t the type to be in someone¡¯s debt. He didn¡¯t want Kristin owing Rhett too much, either. ¡°I¡¯m not helping you guys for no reason, but I¡¯m not the type to kick someone when they¡¯re down,¡± Rhett reassured Garner. Garner took a deep breath and carried Summer away. Rhett wasn¡¯t the same breed as Vincent. At the very least, he wouldn¡¯t force Kristin to do something against her will. As for any other ¡®use¡® she might have, it was just a bit of quid pro quo in Kristin¡¯s words. The following morning, Kristin slowly opened her eyes, staring nkly at the IV drop above her. ¡°You awake?¡± Rhett propped up his head from the couch and frowned as he spoke. Kristin looked at Rhett nervously. Had he kept watch all night? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Rhett put a finger to his lips. ¡°Vincent¡¯s been hauled in by the cops for questioning, and the FitzGerald family will be here any minute. Don¡¯t say a peep no matter what they say when they arrive.¡± Rhett was on a mission to shield Kristin. 3/4 Chapter 29 Kristin¡¯s hands clenched tightly, exuding an almost tangible aura of fear. With Vincent in prison, there was no way the FitzGeralds would let her off the hook. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here for you¡± Rhett stood by the hospital bed, trying to give Kristin peace of mind. Kristin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she nodded. But how long could Rhett keep her safe? Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¡°Oh, look who¡¯s here! Rhett, too.¡± Nic waltzed in the hospital room, decked out in luxury from head to toe, with a handbag worth millions of dors swinging from her arm, exuding arrogance. Seeing Rhett there, Nic¡¯s face soured. ¡°Hob, I see Rhett is also here.¡± Hob¡¯s expression was no less grim. Entering the room, he first nced at Rhett and then at Kristin, lying on the hospital bed. Feeling anxious and scared, Kristin sat up. Rhett instinctively moved forward, positioning himself protectively by Kristin¡¯s bed, casting a low and threatening barrier between her and Nic. ¡°Rhett, what¡¯s this about? ying the knight in shining armor for this woman?¡± Nic¡¯s voice had a sharp edge. ¡°Do you even know who she is? She was your brother¡¯s fianc¨¦e, that little bitch from the Turner family.¡± ¡°Years married into the FitzGerald family, and you still haven¡¯t shed that innate coarseness or yourck of ss, Rhett indifferently warned Nic to watch her tongue. Intimidated by Rhett, Nic didn¡¯t daresh out directly. Instead, she clenched her fists and turned to cling to Hob¡¯s arm. ¡°Hob, look at this.¡± Kristin sat on the hospital bed, hands sped tightly, sneaking a nce at Rhett. He was so tall, seemingly a true beacon of safety. It created an illusion in her mind, that as long as Rhett was by her side, she would be safe from any harm. He wouldn¡¯t let anyoney a finger on her. ¡°Rhett, do you know that the police have taken your brother away?¡± Hob frowned and interrogated Rhett with a stern look. ¡°I was there.¡± Rhett leaned against the bed, crossing his legszily. ¡°James called the cops.¡± Kristin stayed silent. It was Rhett who had made the call. He sure knew how to pass the buck. ¡°James?¡± Nic gritted her teeth with frustration, fully aware Rhett had alerted the police, but she couldn¡¯t argue without evidence. ¡°Miss Kristin, my son was too impulsive. How would you like to settle this matter? Do you want money or something else?¡± Hob¡¯s gaze settled on Kristin. Nic¡¯s face darkened, thinking Rhett was trying to avoid responsibility. She sneered, ¡°Rhett, if you hadn¡¯t called the police, what are you doing here? Vincent is your brother. Did you just stand by and let this woman call the cops and have your brother taken away?¡± Rhett couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage with Nic. Chapter 90 Seeing Rhett wasn¡¯t giving her the time of day. Nic nearly exploded. ¡°Hob, look at Rhett. He did it on purpose. Vincent getting locked up is a p in the face for the FitzGerald Group. Our shares will surely take a hit. Sibling rivalry and family discordCould only make things worse. Why is Rhett so thoughtless?¡± Kristin watched Nic in shock, marveling at how she could turn the table deftly. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ncing at Rhett, she knew about his mother¡¯s passing when he was seventeen and Nic entering the FitzGerald family shortly after. Rhett was still a minor and must have faced his share of troubles in that house. Despite the mess of her life, Kristin felt a hint of sympathy for the seventeen¨Cyear¨Cold Rhett. ¡°The one bringing shame to the FitzGerald family is Vincent, with hisck of upbringing. disregard for thew, assault, and brazen behavior,¡± Rhett saidzily, his chin raised, his jawline sharp, mocking the absurdity of Nic¡¯s ims. ¡°Father, spare a rod, spoil a child. Without proper discipline, trouble will follow, right?¡± Rhett was giving Hob a nudge, hinting Nic failed to raise her son properly. ¡°Rhett, step outside,¡± Hob said, taking a deep breath and rubbing his temples. Kristin watched Rhett anxiously, fearing he might leave. ¡°Hob, he¡¯s dooming his brother. Blood is thicker than water. Why the rush to turn on each other?¡± Nic began to cry when Rhett made no move to leave. ¡°Rhett has never liked Vincent. always picking on him, and now he¡¯s framing Vincent.¡± ¡°Is that how you see it, Rhett?¡± Hob frowned with usation. Rhett scoffed. It was a prime example of ¡®give a dog a bad name and hang him.¡± ¡°Just like you all, he came here asking me to settle privately and drop the charges, but I refused,¡± Kristin said, her hands clenched tightly, mustering her courage to speak up. Hob¡¯s and Nic¡¯s gazes snapped to Kristin¡¯s face. With those words, Rhett was off the hook. Rhett frowned slightly but said nothing. ¡°Vincent¡¯s assault and taking his goons to force me are undisputable facts,¡± Kristin took a deep breath. ¡°Lady Nic, after all these years in the FitzGerald family, is this what your education amounts to? A son who tramples on thew at will?¡± Nic¡¯s face turned stormy, and she moved to p Kristin. ¡°You little tramp, you have the nerve to talk after being in jail for five years?¡± Before Rhett could intervene, Kristin raised her hand, grabbing Nic¡¯s wrist tightly. She seemed so frail, yet her wrist tightened, blood seeping through the bandage. She gazed at Nic, her voice trembling but fierce, her eyes defiant. ¡°Are you jealous, Lady 13:13 Chapter 90 Nic? Do you want your son to go to Jall, too? Uwful detention, restriction of personal freedom, trampling on human rights, instructing bodyguards tomit crimes, deliberate injury, causing disability¡­¡± Nic stared at Kristin in shock, then turned to Hob. ¡°Hob, is she trying to extort us?¡± Hob¡¯s eyes sank as he looked at Rhett, his voice tinged with guilt. ¡°Rhett, what did you put on the table that she won¡¯t settle and drop the case?¡± Rhett nced at Kristin and smiled. He didn¡¯t let Kristin speak up because he wanted to shield her since she was naturally timid. But who would¡¯ve thought that she was looking out for him? ¡°Three million.¡± Kristin piped up before Rhett could say anything. Rhett leaned back, giving Kristin a meaningful look. The clever thing about Kristin was that she knew her worth. ¡°You think cutting yourself a few times is worth three million dors, huh? Dream on,¡± Nic snapped. ¡°You popped out a son and a daughter for the FitzGerald family without raising them properly. and now you¡¯re gunning for the FitzGerald Group that Mr. Hob¡¯s, his ex¨Cwife¡¯s, and Lucius¡® have gone all out to build? Who¡¯s dreaming on here, you or me?¡± Kristin gripped the bedsheets tightly. She had to fend for herself. How long could she cower behind Rhett, passively relying on his protection? She must figure out something to tie herself to Rhett to create a mutual interest. They both needed each other to be mutually beneficial. Only then could she safeguard herself and ensure Rhett would have her back. Rhett¡¯s lips curled up slightly. It turned out that she wasn¡¯t such a pushover incapable of fighting back. She was mostly quiet, but when she talked, she cut deep. ¡°Kristin, are you asking for it?¡± Nic was enraged. ¡°I¡¯ll throw in an extra two million,¡± Hob interjected coldly, cutting off Nic¡¯s cursing. Kristin looked at Hob and shook her head. ¡°Five years ago, I was framed and ckmailed by you guys and thatnded me in jail. I¡¯ve learned my lesson. I don¡¯t want your dirty money.¡± Hob frowned, scrutinizing Kristin. ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Kristin¡¯s palms were sweaty as she slowly rxed her fingers and looked up at Rhett. ¡°I want Rhett to marry me.¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Kristin was doing it deliberately to give Hob and Nic a heads¨Cup that she wouldn¡¯t let Vincent off the hook that easy. She wasn¡¯t holding her breath for Rhett to pop the question. That was Rhett¡¯s chance to twist Nic and Hob¡¯s arms, too. After all, ording to Lucius¡® will, if Rhett got married, he would inherit a substantial 41% of the FitzGerald Group¡¯s shares the portions belonging to Rhett¡¯s mother and Lucius himself. What Nic was after was the 23% share belonging to Lucius within that 41%, plus the 21% that Hob was sitting on. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Nic figured they could kick Rhett to the curb and take control of the FitzGerald Group if Vincent¡¯s stake was bigger than Rhett¡¯s. No sooner had Kristin¡¯s words hit the air than Hob cracked up, hisugh a mix of shock and scorn. ¡°A con artist pretending to be some high¨Csociety dame, fooling the FitzGerald family for years, and now she wants to marry Into the family?¡± Rhett tensed up, too, turning to look at Kristin. He knew she wasn¡¯t serious, Just trying to keep Nic in check. ¡°My engagement to the FitzGerald family was set by Mr. Lucius when he was alive because I saved his life. It wasn¡¯t a con,¡± Kristin retorted with her head down. She never dreamed of marrying into the FitzGerald family. Her engagement to Vincent was because Lucius liked her. ¡°You are shameless, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯d advise you to ditch that pipe dream,¡± Nic sneered coldly. ¡°Speak up about what you want, or you might just shoot yourself in the foot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s either Rhett marries me¡­ or Vincent goes to jail,¡± Kristin clutched her hands tightly, nails digging into her palms, drawing blood. She would wait to see if Hob would sacrifice his eldest son¡¯s happiness for his youngest. ¡°What¡¯s your take, Rhett?¡± Hob turned to him. Rhett scoffed. ¡°Dad, are you seriously trying to make me marry Kristin for Vincent¡¯s sake?¡± Hob waved dismissively. ¡°For your brother¡¯s sake, talk some sense into her. This mess can¡¯t blow up. It¡¯s about our family¡¯s reputation.¡± Rhett kept mum. ¡°Hob¡­¡± Nic was about to throw more shade at Kristin, but it hit her then. Perhaps it might not turn out to be such a terrible thing after all if this infamous woman ended up marrying Rhett. Chapter 91 That way, Rhett would be tainted. Rhett¡¯s mom¡¯s shares were untouchable, but she had to fight for Lucius and Hob¡¯s shares for her son Vincent. ¡°Rhett¡¯s at the marrying age. It¡¯s only a matter of ying along. We can¡¯t have Vincent¡¯s reputation ruined or him behind bars,¡± Nic wrapped her arm around Hob, coaxing him out of the hospital room. ¡°Hob, you can¡¯t y favorites. Vincent had it rough growing up. Rhett won¡¯t lose anything.¡± Nic¡¯s voice choked up as she looked at Hob. Hob shot Nic a frosty nce, knowing what she was up to. ¡°Rhett¡¯s reputation matters to the FitzGerald family, too. Got it?¡± he said coldly. Nic flinched, bowing her head reluctantly. ¡°Hob, then¡­ what about Vincent? Are we just going to let the cops take him for questioning? The media¡¯s already sniffing around.¡± Hob frowned. ¡°Then get the Turner family to rein in Kristin!¡± Back in the hospital room, Kristin kept her head down, too scared to utter a word. Rhett watched her intently for a long while before speaking with a smile. ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t need me to step in. You can handle yourself.¡± Kristin remained silent. Being able to fend for herself didn¡¯t mean she wanted to stir up trouble. ¡°Vincent¡¯s in the clink, and Nic won¡¯t let you off the hook. Are you nning on making me marry you?¡± Rhett looked at Kristin. Kristin shook her head frantically. ¡°No¡­ I didn¡¯t mean¡­ I was just¡­¡± ¡°Just temporarily using me,¡± Rhett finished for her. Kristin looked down, her eyes welling up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I had to look out for myself.¡± She needed to protect herself and didn¡¯t want to see Rhett ndered¨Cby Nic. ¡°Back at Riverton Elmwood Estate, you saved my grandfather?¡± Rhett asked, probing deeper. Kristin nodded. ¡°Yes, but I had no ulterior motive.¡± She didn¡¯t want Rhett to get the wrong idea. Rhett was stunned. Lucius had left two wills, and the second, a private one, remained a mystery despite Nic and Hob¡¯s best efforts. Thewyer at the notary¡¯s office had said only the person who saved Lucius could read the second will Nic and Hob knew Kristin had saved Lucius, but they publicly imed it was Ruby. No wonder Ruby came up with every excuse not to go to the notary¡¯s office. She knew she 15-49 Chapter 91 wasn¡¯t the one who saved Luclus, ¡°So, what¡¯s your next move?¡± Rhett asked, lounging on the sofa. He hadn¡¯t expected Kristin to be quite the treasure trove. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, can you ensure the safety of Summer and Garner?¡± Kristin asked anxiously, seeking assurance from Rhett. She needed a solid promise from him. Kristin had a wake¨Cup call this time around. She knew she couldn¡¯t dodge some people. She would take the bull by the horns, ensure they wouldn¡¯t get another shot to knock her down, and keep hurting her. She would wait for the perfect moment and then give a deadly strike. ¡°I can guarantee Summer and Garner¡¯s safety, but you also know as well as I do that protection is just a Band¨CAid. As long as you¡¯re a thorn in their side, I can¡¯t promise to keep Summer and Garner safe forever.¡± Rhett was spitting straight facts. He was ready to take care of all Kristin¡¯s loose ends to see how far she could go. Even the gentlest creature will fight when it¡¯s backed into a corner. Vincent, Nic, and the whole Turner family had pushed Kristin to the edge. He could help take those guys off her te, but considering Kristin¡¯s temperament and the deep hole she was in with her depression, she had to solve the problems herself and heal from within. Only the bell ringer could untie the bell and heartaches. Kristin hung her head in silence, and after a long while, she finally said in a hoarse whisper. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, take that video of Vincent hitting people and spread it all over the web.¡± Kristin knew Rhett could stir up a storm, make it the talk of the town, and put Vincent and Nic in the eye of the media hurricane. Seeing Rhett not responding, Kristin nced at him anxiously, betting that he was about to make a move on Vincent and Nic. But she doubted Rhett would dare to do it, considering the FitzGerald family¡¯s reputation could be on the line. If Vincent went down, the FitzGerald Group could take some hits. Rhett simply chuckled, his gaze intensifying as he continued to look at Kristin. Rhett didn¡¯t give her a straight answer, but the following morning, the buzz of gossip in the hospital woke Kristin up. Nurses and patients alike were chattering about Vincent¡¯s involvement with the underworld. Kristin knew it was Rhett¡¯s doing. Once the mor mill got going, nobody dared to pull strings or cover it up. There was no way 12:48 Chapter 91 Vincent was getting out easy. Nic would have toe ¡®begging¡® again. Pulling out her phone, Kristin hesitated but finally dialed an unknown number. ¡°It¡¯s Kristin.¡± ¡°I figured.¡± The voice on the other end was hoarse and had a touch ofziness. ¡°You¡¯ve seen what¡¯s up with Vincent in the news?¡± Kristin asked in a low voice. ¡°Got it all figured out?¡± The person asked back indifferently. ¡°Let¡¯s strike while the iron¡¯s hot ¨C spread the word about Nic, the sly mistress who¡¯s climbed the ranks with her children, driven the wife to despair¡­.¡± Kristin took a deep breath. She couldn¡¯t be the only one getting battered by the online storm. She had to make sure Nic was too busy to fuss over her, no time toe stirring trouble. ¡°But this won¡¯t finish Vincent.¡± The man on the phone spoke again, his voice gruff. ¡°I bet some bodyguard will take the fall within a month. Just detention, a warning, and a fine.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers trembled. ¡°A month is enough.¡± ¡°Kristin, no one will help you for real except me. Everyone¡¯s got an angle., James and Rhett both deserve to rot.¡± The man seemed to have a beef with James and Rhett. ¡°Don¡¯t drag Rhett into this, not even a little. If your media circus hurts him, our deal¡¯s off,¡± Kristin rushed out. On the phone, his voice suddenly turned icy. ¡°Have you fallen for Rhett?¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Kristin kept mum. ¡°Trust someone from the FitzGerald family? Don¡¯t forget whonded you in prison for five years.¡± On the other end of the line, the man was agitated. Kristin was silent for a long while before whispering, ¡°Regardless, he¡¯s saved my life more than once.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­ Same old tricks. You¡¯re only a pawn in his game against Nic and Vincent,¡± the man warned Kristin. ¡°Leave Rhett out of it,¡± Kristin took a deep breath, trying to caution the man. ¡°Ha.¡± The manughed before responding. ¡°Fine then. Not often you ask me for favors.¡± At the FitzGerald Group, in the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, have you read the news? Someone¡¯s stirring the pot. Now, everyone¡¯s badmouthing Vincent as a bastard child and Nic as the mistress who wed her way up. Kristin¡¯s not behind this, right?¡± York burst into the office, all fired up. But then, York started to worry. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you didn¡¯t have a hand in this, did you?¡± Rhett had only asked him to post the video of Vincent assaulting someone online. With Vincent¡¯s old bar fighting days being dredged up again, he was a hot topic and stayed at the top of the trending searches. The FitzGerald Group was caught in the eye of the storm, too. Taking on Vincent was risky for Rhett since any glory or scandal would affect the entire FitzGerald family. But Rhett had agreed to help Kristin. ¡°Has Nic been giving Kristin trouble these past few days?¡± Rhett tossed the documents on his desk. ¡°Nic¡¯s too scared to even step outside now, let alone cause trouble.¡± York chuckled, recalling how Nic had always tried to present herself as a high¨Csocietydy. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t erase the fact that she was a homewrecker who had climbed her way up as the other woman. ¡°But, Mr. FitzGerald, there¡¯s word about the bodyguards involved,¡± York whispered. Hob was nning to have someone take the fall. ¡°Is everything in ce?¡± Rhett raised an eyebrow. York nodded, taking a sharp breath. ¡°Are you nning to let Vincent do time?¡± Rhett had anticipated that Hob would try to pin the me on the bodyguards and had already approached them beforehand. So, they wouldn¡¯t dare to take the fall for Vincent so 12-49 easily. Everyone had families to think about. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m waiting for Hob toe begging to me.¡± Rhett leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping the desk lightly. With Nic also entangled in the scandal, she couldn¡¯t afford to make any rash moves. With no one willing to take the fall for them, there was only one path left for them, which was through Kristin. ncing at the time, Rhett stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital.¡± Without other options, the Turner family would send someone to mess with Kristin. At Silvergrove Hospital, Kristin leaned against the headboard and called Garner. Summer was back to school. No one dared to trouble him again, and the teacher and the principal had personally apologized. Moreover, Garner¡¯s boss seemed to be a kinddy. She had visited the school to see Summer and hugged and kissed Summer several times in front of all the teachers and kids. That certainly made Summer quite the center of attention at school. Melissa¡¯s family might not hold a candle to the FitzGerald family in Silvergrove City, but Melissa was an exception. Melissa¡¯s ex¨Chusband was a wealthy tycoon, said to be from a dangerous family. ¡°Kristin, you do have a way with things, huh?¡± The door to the hospital room swung open as Mamie and Johnnie showed up personally. rence followed behind, not looking too pleased. Kristin had guessed it. Mamie and Johnnie were here to ¡®persuade¡® her. ¡°Are you going for revenge after getting out of prison? Trying to get back at the FitzGerald family for framing you for extortion all those years ago?¡± Mamie sat elegantly on the sofa, her voice deep. Johnnie¡¯s face was just as stern. ¡°Withdraw thewsuit, now. Stop ying these games. And with Adrienne, drop that case, too. Apologize to the Haywood and FitzGerald families!¡± Johnnie¡¯s tone wasmanding. Kristin felt a burning sensation in her eyes and managed a misty smile. ¡°Mr. Turner, on what grounds are you ordering me around?¡± A father? Hadn¡¯t they already cut ties? We raised you for twenty years!¡± Johnnie mmed his hand on the table, seething with anger. 12:49 Chapter 92 ¡°I decided to let bygones be bygones as you agreed to donate a kidney to Ruby. But I see you¡¯re ungrateful and far too ambitious!¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers clenched her clothes tightly as she looked up at Johnnie. ¡°The Turner family. raised me for twenty years, had me locked up for five years on trumped¨Cup charges, and let rence throw me to a stranger¡¯s bed, ruining the rest of my life. And that¡¯s not enough. You want my life in exchange?¡± What had she done wrong? rence nched, looking up at Kristin involuntarily. ¡°I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Kristin scoffed sarcastically. ¡°Didn¡¯t you send Ruby and Vincent to catch me in the act? Even if you weren¡¯t the mastermind, when I was crying out for help, did you, my brother,e to my rescue? No, you didn¡¯t, did you?¡± He didn¡¯t deserve to be a brother. Six years ago, she was drugged and dumped in a strange room, barely conscious. To stay awake, she cut her leg with a piece of ss, desperately pounding on the door for help. rence was right outside. Maybe feeling guilty, his breathing was tight, hands clenched, head down, not saying a word in his defense. He was indeed right outside that door. Not only did he not rescue Kristin, but he also called Ruby and told her to bring Vincent over to ¡®catch them in the act¡®. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. He figured the marriage alliance with the FitzGerald family would go up in smoke if Vincent got the wrong idea, and Vincent would crawl back to his sister Ruby. Vincent would break up with Kristin and call off the engagement. But he never expected the media to show up, and that just wrecked Kristin¡¯s life. Nor did he expect that night would leave Kristin pregnant, and she insisted on having that little bastard. He did have regrets. He tried to convince Kristin to get an abortion, wanted to hide her away. and promised she¡¯d never want for anything for the rest of her life. But Kristin was resolute in her refusal to end the pregnancy. She was determined to have the baby. ¡°So, you meant you were out for revenge, starting your vendetta?¡± Mamie sneered, shooting rence a nce. ¡°rence, get out.¡± rence didn¡¯t want to leave. He feared what Mamie might do to Kristin. He felt it was enough already. Torturing Kristin to this point was enough. ¡°Get out!¡± Mamie stood up, fury in her eyes, staring down at rence. ¡°I¡¯ve told you many times 12:10 Chapter 92 that she is not your sister. They¡¯ve ruined your sister¡¯s life! Ruby¡¯s life is already wrecked. Kristin¡¯s death wouldn¡¯t matter!¡± Mamie hated Kristin¡¯s guts. Kristin knew it. Slowly unsping her fingers. Kristin spoke bitterly. ¡°I won¡¯t drop thewsuit. Adrienne won¡¯t let me go, neither will Vincent.¡± ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re on a suicide mission,¡± Johnnie sighed. Did Kristin think she could shake up the wealthy families of Silvergrove City with her abilities? She was delusional. ¡°With the shape I¡¯m in, forcing me to donate a kidney is like pushing me to my death.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°I know I owe the Turner family. I thought what I¡¯ve done over the years would be enough.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Summer, she wouldn¡¯t care if she died, but with Summer around, she couldn¡¯t just die. ¡°Ruby¡¯s condition is getting worse. Her depression is all thanks to you. Enough? In your dreams,¡± Mamie¡¯s voice came with emotion. ¡°Kristin, you owe us for the rest of your life.¡± Kristin gave a numb smile. She also wished she could give her life to the Turner family. Death would be a release for her. That way, she could finally be free of this burden. But she wanted to be there for Summer as he grew up. Anyway, with her terrible health, she didn¡¯t have many years left. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°Kristin, this is yourst warning. Drop thewsuit and apologize to the Haywood and the FitzGerald families, prontol Otherwise, we won¡¯t let you off the hook,¡± Mamie said, pointing a threatening finger at Kristin. Kristin shook her head, retorting. ¡°I owe you guys for twenty years of raising me, not them.¡± ¡°Kristin! You¡¯ve grown a backbone now, huh?¡± Mamie raised her hand to hit Kristin. ¡°Mrs. Turner, are you aiming for a cellmate experience?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was ice¨Ccold from the doorway. rence was stunned and frowned at Rhett. He wasn¡¯t cozying up to Kristin to take a swing at Vincent. In rence¡¯s eyes, Rhett was no saint either. Giving Kristin a meaningful look, rence seemed he wanted to say something, but in the end. he kept mum. ¡°Mom, Dad, let¡¯s bounce.¡± Mamie was so mad that she could hardly breathe and turned to Rhett. ¡°What¡¯s your deal, Rhett? Vincent is your brother, and Ruby will be your sister¨Cinw. You¡¯re all family.¡± Rhett cracked a smile, asking. ¡°And how does that rte to assault being illegal?¡± Seeing Mamie gearing up to say more, Johnnie tugged at her. ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road. Let the FitzGerald family sort their mess. As long as Ruby¡¯s unharmed, we¡¯re out of here.¡± It was clear that it was a FitzGerald family squabble. Was Rhett helping Vincent? Even a fool could tell that was a long shot. Mamie wasn¡¯t born yesterday. Mad as she was, they all knew Rhett¡¯s capabilities. He¡¯d say ¡®cut ties¡® with the Turner family, and that would be that. When Rhett got tough, he didn¡¯t y favorites. Alone with Rhett in the hospital room, she murmured a soft ¡°thank you,¡± head bowed. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Rhett said, standing by the bed. She had some tricks up her sleeve, getting the news of Nic¡¯s affair to resurface, a PR nightmare for FitzGerald Group that wouldn¡¯t stay down. With a deep look at Kristin, Rhett cupped her chin. ¡°Who¡¯s backing you?¡± There had to be someone else behind Kristin, apart from him. The FitzGerald Group¡¯s PR couldn¡¯t kill the trending search. Was it James? Kristin panicked, her gaze darting away. ¡°I have no clue what you¡¯re talking about, Mr. FitzGerald. ¡°Kristin, I said I¡¯d help you and keep Garner and Summer safe. It¡¯s just a verbal promise. You think that¡¯s good enough?¡± Rhett felt he had underestimated her. ¡°Did you deliberately get me to leak Vincent¡¯s assault video, then have your people hype up Nic¡¯s scandal, all to tie your 12:49 7 Chapter 93 fate to mine?¡± Kristin Utched the corner of her clothes, unconcerned with being misunderstood. She really couldn¡¯t trust anyone¡¯s mere words. And she did want to tie her interests with Rhett¡¯s. But in his eyes, she was no more significant than a tiny ant, easily crushed underfoot whenever he wished. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not greedy.¡± Her gaze wavered as she looked up at Rhett. She wasn¡¯t greedy. All she wanted was safety for Summer and Garner. She¡¯d leave without a second thought if Rhett no longer needed her. That was exactly why Rhett had singled her out. She was an easy target. Rhett¡¯s brow furrowed and then rxed. ¡°Let¡¯s get you discharged.¡± Kristin hurriedly got up, frantically packing. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you didn¡¯t have toe yourself.¡± A taxi ride home would have been just fine. Rhett said nothing, just waiting for her to finish packing. Kristin had little to take, so after tidying up the bed, she followed Rhett out of the hospital. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, the discharge process isplete, and James¡® assistant came to pick up Kristin, too. I¡¯ve handled him,¡± York whispered into Rhett¡¯s ear, opening the car door for him. Rhett gestured for Kristin to get in the car first without a word. After some hesitation, Kristin climbed into the car, squeezing herself nervously against the door as if she could almost pop through it. Leaning back in his seat, Rhett almost chuckled at her wariness. ¡°Want me to open the door for you?¡± Kristin¡¯s cheeks and ears blushed with embarrassment. Distracted the whole ride, she didn¡¯t even notice they weren¡¯t on the way to her home. When they stopped before the city hall, Rhett spoke up. ¡°Get out.¡°. Kristin froze, then scrambled out, looking around in shock. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald?¡± ¡°You wanted me to marry you, right?¡± Rhett headed toward the city hall. Shocked, Kristin¡¯s fingers and legs went numb. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, that¡¯s not what I meant. I didn¡¯t¡­¡± Rhett stopped and looked back at her. ¡°You can say no. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go this far, really¡­¡± Kristin stammered. ¡°Or, do you have a better n and someone else to protect you?¡± Rhett cut her off. 12:49 Chapter 93 Kristin was at a loss, lowering her head. Rhett¡¯s move had caught her off guard. He was Rhett, after all. How could he have decided to get married on the spot? Even James wasn¡¯t willing to get Involved with her like this. Knowing it was a temporary alnce, Kristin spoke softly. ¡°You could find someone better. My reputation¡­¡± ¡°Getting married means I can get my hands on what I want faster,¡± Rhett said without the intention to disguise his motives. ¡°It¡¯s a win¨Cwin.¡± Kristin trailed behind Rhett, her head down. Indeed, marrying him was her safety at the moment. Besides, Rhett had no ns to let the cat out of the bag about their marriage. The secret marriage was just up Rhett¡¯s alley. ¡°Why¡­ me?¡± Kristin asked quietly. ¡°You said you¡¯re not greedy.¡± Rhett pointed out, signaling York to take Kristin to handle the paperwork. ¡°Miss Kristin, please follow me this way.¡± York called out. ¡°You must understand that Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s decision to tie the knot with you is merely a partnership.¡± Kristin¡¯s head remained bowed, and har hands clenched tightly. ¡°Miss Kristin, Mr. FitzGerald trusts you and hasn¡¯t made a prenup, but for safety and to cut down on future hassles, I think you need to sign this agreement,¡± York said, producing the premarital contract. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Miss Kristin, this marriage willst no longer than three years. During this time, Mr. FitzGerald can call it quits at any moment, and you are free to seek a divorce whenever you wish. Three years from now, for any reason, you should promptly proceed with the divorce,¡± York exined. pointing to the terms of the agreement. ¡°Aspensation, all expenses for Summer¡¯s upbringing, education, college, graduate studies. or further education abroad until he embarks on her own career will be covered by Mr. FitzGerald,¡± York continued. ¡°Furthermore, as long as you stick to the terms of the agreement, whether you end the marriage early or after three years, Mr. FitzGerald will toss in an extra property in Silvergrove City, ten million in cash, and a monthly allowance after the marriage ends.¡± York spoke indifferently, thinking Kristin should count her lucky stars and that Mr. FitzGerald was a soft touch when it came to money! ¡°No¡­ no need. I don¡¯t want the money or any of that.¡± Kristin looked at York nervously. She wasn¡¯t in it for the dough. She just wanted to protect herself and those she cared for. Her calcting Rhett was ast resort. ¡°You¡¯d better y ball and sign. It¡¯s good for you, me, and Mr. FitzGerald. You taking these makes things pasier for everyone.¡± York said meaningfully. He didn¡¯t buy that anyone would turn their nose up at wealth. Taking the goodies would save everyone a headache. Kristin¡¯s fingers stiffened for a moment, but she didn¡¯t continue to argue, She picked up the pen and signed on the dotted line. She wouldn¡¯t need three years. She¡¯d be out of there before then. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 ¡°Hey, are you two here to snap your wedding pics?¡± The clerk asked cautiously. York had the whole thing under wraps because this marriage was just a cob. Kristin was on edge, sitting there clutching her clothes for dear life. On the other hand, Rhett leaned in closer to Kristin. ¡°Come on, darling, give us a smile,¡± the clerk teased Kristin, making it seem like she was about to walk the nk. Kristin nervously nced at Rhett and forced a grin. The clerk sighed in resignation, clearly not satisfied. ¡°Garner said Summer used to run around the block butt¨Cnaked as a kid, and it took a bee sting on his backside to learn to wear pants,¡± Rhett said, turning to Kristin. ¡°For real?¡± Kristin¡¯s heart skipped a beat, looking into Rhett¡¯s soft gaze. Rhett wasn¡¯t one to chuckle much, but he was trying to make herugh. The mental image of Summer bawling with a bare bum cracked Kristin up. Garner had shared this during a prison visit. Back then, anything about Summer was Kristin¡¯s light in the darkness of jail. The photographer seized the moment, caught Kristin¡¯s attention, and clicked the shutter. Kristin flushed with embarrassment, only realizing it afterward. The marriage certificate was stamped and handed over, making Kristin feel like she was dreaming. That was Rhett, after all. She wouldn¡¯t dare dream of crossing paths with Rhett, let alone tying the knot. ¡°For safety¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll keep the marriage certificate,¡± York tried to take it, worried Kristin might unt it. Rhett frowned, snatched the certificate from York, and handed it to Kristin. ¡°Keep it safe.¡± York was speechless. Kristin was shocked, anxiously looking at Rhett. He had handed her the marriage certificate. Wasn¡¯t he worried she might make a fuss with it? ¡°Trust is the key to a partnership,¡± Rhett stated tly. Kristin stared at Rhett, then lowered her gaze without a word. York drove Kristin to Rhett¡¯s ce. 12:49 Chapter 94 ¡°Since we¡¯re partners, I¡¯m looking forward to working with you.¡± Rhett said, stepping out to open the car door for Kristin. She looked at him, bewildered. ¡°Are we going to live together?¡± ¡°The marriage certificate is for show to the notary folks. If we¡¯re not living together, they won¡¯t buy it,¡± Rhett didn¡¯t see the need to hide this from Kristin. Kristin preferred Rhett¡¯s straightforwardness, no schemes or deceit,ying everything in the open. ¡°Got it, Mr. FitzGerald,¡± she murmured. ¡°Start at thepany tomorrow. Call me Mr. FitzGerald in public, but drop it at home,¡± Rhett said, setting up facial recognition and fingerprint ess at the entrance for Kristin.. ¡°Here¡¯s a card for any expenses, your allowance for the next three years. Sry is separate.¡± Rhett handed Kristin a bank card. Kristin took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t need the money.¡± ¡°As my partner and the one helping me secure shares, this is what you deserve. If I teamed up with some celebrity, it¡¯d cost me more than ten times this,¡± Rhett felt he was getting a bargain. Kristin¡¯s jaw dropped, realizing the high price of celebrity partnerships. Taking the card, she figured she¡¯d save Rhett some cash by not splurging. ¡°You need to learn a lot as my future personal assistant. You¡¯ll get trained, and York will fill your in on the details,¡± Saying, Rhett nced at York, who nodded promptly.. York instructed, ¡°A cleaning service will tidy up daily. Pick a room you like. You don¡¯t need to bring anything else. York will help you get new stuff.¡± Rhett was a bit of a clean freak but showed respect to Kristin. She nodded. ¡°Oh, Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s study is off¨Climits,¡± York added. Rhett shot York a look, expressionless. ¡°No off¨Climits at home, feel free. Just don¡¯t bug me when I¡¯m working.¡± Kristin nodded earnestly. York mentally ranted about the double standard. Why was the study off¨Climits when he visited? ¡°A chef wille at 7:30 for breakfast. Tell the housekeeper the day before if you want something specific,¡± Rhett sized Kristin up. ¡°Take care of yourself. Being my PA will be exhausting.¡± Kristin nodded, her palms mmy with nervous sweat. ¡°Let me know if you need anything.¡± Rhett nced at the time. His phone was buzzing. 12:49 and leave. Kristin trailed behind nervously, watching him go. Once he drove off, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. His presence was overwhelming, always leaving her breathless. She turned and cautiously eyed Rhett¡¯s vi, slowly unclenching her hands. Was she going to live here with Rhett for a good while? York said Rhett was often away, not always home. But as his assistant, she¡¯d need to be on call. Rhett¡¯s home was spotless. It was so clean that she thought she would sully the air with her presence. Sitting stiffly on the sofa, Kristin remained still and silent. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Rhett seemed in a hurry. Though he told her to pick a room, Kristin felt it best to wait for him to return. In the car, York had his suspicions. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, did your father call you?¡± Hob was getting impatient. ¡°Back to the FitzGerald family.¡± Rhett sneered. Nic was trending online, and Vincent was still the talk of the town. The media had even started digging into the truth about Rhett¡¯s mother¡¯s death. That was Nic and Hob¡¯s Achilles¡® heel. Whether Vincent did time or not was secondary, but they couldn¡¯t afford to have the press poke their noses into that affair. ¡°Mr. Hob has got the trending topic under control. Anything rted to your mother has been cklisted,¡± York said, frowning and speaking in a hushed tone. ¡°He¡¯s got a guilty conscience,¡± Rhett said in a low voice. York¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Anybody with half a brain could tell there was something fishy about the death of Rhett¡¯s mother. It was just an allergy, as they said, but how could she drop dead out of the blue? Rhett demanded an autopsy, but Hob, her husband, wouldn¡¯t have it. Rhett was still a minor then and didn¡¯t stand a chance against the big shot, Hob. 12:49 Chapter 94 Rhett wasn¡¯t married and had never gotten his hands on the shares Lucius and his mother left behind, so Hob never really saw Rhett as an independent grown¨Cup. But things had changed. The cops had taken Vincent, and Nic got caught in the crossfire of public opinion. Rhett had got all the cards at this time. ¡°Mr. Rhett, you¡¯re back. Thedy had a major meltdown. She was so enraged she needed oxygen. And Mr. Hob, he looks like a thundercloud about to burst. You¡¯d better get in there.¡± said the butler, who was waiting at the door. Rhett walked indifferently into the living room, facing Hob, sitting on the couch waiting for him. It looked like there was no other way out. ¡°I had someone go to the hospital to meet Kristin today. She¡¯s been discharged. Did you take her?¡± Hob started, his voice heavy and questioning. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Rhett lounged on the sofa opposite Hob, allid¨Cback¨Clike. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°We must sort out Vincent¡¯s mess ASAP. The big wigs and the board are starting to make noise. After all, Vincent is your brother, part of the FitzGerald family through and through. We¡¯re in this together, for better or worse.¡± Hob reminded Rhett not to overdo it. ¡°I can lend a hand to Nic and help out Vincent. And If I have to, convincing Kristin to marry me isn¡¯t off the table,¡± Rhett said with a smirk, sounding like he was ready to wheel and deal. In the room, perking up at the mention of help, Nic ditched the oxygen and bolted out in her slippers. ¡°Rhett, you are back! Your brother¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve tried every trick in the book. The Turner family and you guys have backed Kristin into at corner. She¡¯s got no way out except to marry into the FitzGerald family to save her skin, so pushing her to drop the case by other means is off the table,¡± Rhettid his cards on the table. ¡°Rhett, how about we bluff her? Agree for now and tie the knot on paper. Once this storm blows over, we¡¯ll deal with her. It¡¯s just Kristin,¡± Nic cajoled Rhett in a rush. ¡°I could marry Kristin,¡± Rhett said, cool as a cucumber. Hob frowned and refused, ¡°No can do. Rhett¡¯s reputation is on the line, too, and that¡¯s tied to our family¡¯s reputation.¡± Rhett scoffed. In Hob¡¯s eyes, the family¡¯s reputation was more precious than his son¡¯s. ¡°Hob!¡± Nic was choking up in desperation. ¡°Even if it¡¯s just to keep Kristin quiet, a secret marriage will do. No one needs to know. Vincent¡¯s your son, too, and you can¡¯t y favorites. If he gets jailed, it¡¯ll wreck his life.¡± Hob raised a hand to his forehead, clearly getting a headache. ¡°If I¡¯m to take the fall, no problem. But shouldn¡¯t I get some security for what¡¯s mine. Dad?¡± Rhett cut to the chase. Nic was stunned, knowing Rhett wouldn¡¯t fold easily. ¡°If I¡¯m married, I can waltz into the notary office and im what¡¯s mine. Grandpa¡¯s and Mom¡¯s shares are all mine. You got any objections to that, Dad?¡± Rhett eyed Hob. ¡°No way!¡± Nic protested before Hob could get a word in. ¡°It¡¯s not like¡­ Rhett, your grandpa got more than one grandson. Vincent¡¯s his grandson, too. Those shares¡­ you can¡¯t hog them all.¡± Rhett snorted and stood up. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing to talk about. Company policy is clear. Anyone with a criminal record, no excuses, can¡¯t be part of the management.¡± Nic went pale, hands clenched in panic. Rhett had gone too far! He was in cahoots with Kristin to screw over her boy! Chapter 95 ¡°Damn that evil Kristin.¡± she cursed inside. With a calcting glint in her eyes, Nic could onlypromise for the time. ¡°If Lucius left a will, I¡¯ve got no beef with it.¡± Hob nced up at Rhett. It was at that moment he became aware Rhett had grown up. ¡°I¡¯ve got no beef with it,¡± Hob finally sald. ¡°As for the shares you¡¯re holding, Dad, whoever you want to give them to, that¡¯s your call,¡± Rhett said, not bothering to vie for the scraps in Hob¡¯s hands. He could give them all to Vincent if he thought it was right. Whether they kept up this sad excuse for a father¨Cson rtionship was on Hob. Nic was fuming, fists clenched. ¡°Easy, first things first, I have to get Vincent out. If Rhett kicked the bucket by chance, or if I got dirt on him, I could still fight for those shares.¡± she thought, ¡°Plus, marrying Kristin? That was a ticking time bomb and a permanent stain on Rhett¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take Kristin to the notary¡¯s office. I expect you to be there as a witness, Dad,¡± Rhett straightened his tie and left without a second look¡± He wasn¡¯t worried about Nic spilling the beans on his marriage to Kristin. Hob was the kind who¡¯d bury family dirt to save face. He¡¯d probably prefer to keep this under wraps. ¡°Hob, look at Rhett. He¡¯s openly grabbing for the family shares now. Lucius¡® shares were to include Vincent, how can you hand them over like that?¡± Nic broke down in tears, ying up the sympathy card with Hob. Hob¡¯s face darkened, cursing, ¡°Look at the good son you¡¯ve raised! Father¡¯sst wishes are in his will!¡± Nic turned a shade of green, biting back her dissatisfaction, fists still clenched. She wouldn¡¯t let Rhett have thestugh ande out on top. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Kristin had been waiting on the sofa for ages at Rhett¡¯s vi. Being in unfamiliar territory, she dared not to move around, opting to crash on the couch for a bit. Rhett rolled in at ten that night. Coming home to find Kristin on the sofa, he paused, instinctively treading lightly. Ditching his suit jacket and loosening his tie, Rhett thought he¡¯d be all weirded out by having a strange woman in his space. But seeing Kristin asleep on the couch didn¡¯t bug him. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± Kristin woke up to see Rhett¡¯s homing and sat up in a panic, nervously fixing her hair. ¡°Had dinner yet?¡± Rhett nced at the clock. Chapter Kristin shook her head, meaning no. No Rhett, no chet. The chefs¡® schedules were all managed by York. Rhett¡¯s brows knitted in displeasure, clearly unimpressed by York¡¯s disregard.. ¡°¡­ I made dinner. There¡¯s stuff in the fridge. Mr. FitzGerald, you could grab a bite if you don¡¯t turn your nose up at it.¡± Kristin quickly rose and headed to the kitchen to bring out the still¨Cwarm food. Rhett had already eaten and was about to decline, He was a bit of a clean freak, not really into eating meals cooked by someone who wasn¡¯t his usual chel, But then, he remembered the mouth¨Cwatering meal Kristin had whipped up for Crescendo Town, and out of the blue, he found himself wanting to try it. He got up and walked into the dining room, eyeing the spread on the table. dnes back in It was simple home cooking, including stewed beef, two tes of spaghetti, some vegetable sd, and m chowder. Unlike the fancy schmancy stuff from a Michelin¨Cstar chef, Kristin¡¯s dishes weren¡¯t eye candy but had this inexplicable homey vibe. Rhett took a seat, picked up the fork, and took a taste. If York had been present, he probably would have dropped his jaw in disbelief. Kristin watched Rhett expectantly. Her cooking skills weren¡¯t anything to write home about, but she¡¯d put her heart into it. Rhett nced up at Kristin, catching the hopeful look in her eyes, and almost instinctively took a few more bites. ¡°Tastes good.¡± ¡°I washed the veggies well,¡± Kristin said, holding her fork and shing a cautious smile. If Rhett said it was tasty, It was all good. Rhett¡¯s hand, holding the fork, paused as he looked at Kristin. ¡°If you¡¯re up for it, you can take over the cooking. I¡¯ll pay you extra for it.¡± Kristin sprang to her feet and started waving her hands. ¡°No, no need for pay. I can cook, and I¡¯ll learn more dishes. You don¡¯t have to pay me.¡± That was more than enough for her. Rhett didn¡¯t want to pile on the pressure for Kristin, so he nodded. ¡°Come with me to the notary¡¯s office tomorrow. Hob and Nic will be there, too. Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ll be with you.¡± Charter ¨C Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Kristin nodded anddled some soup for Rhett. Rhett was stunned for a while. He¡¯d already had dinner but still felt the urge to dig in. Kristin was eating cautiously, and when Rhett put down his fork, she quickly followed suit and got up to clean up. Rhett pitched in and loaded the dishes Into the dishwasher, something he wouldn¡¯t bother with in a million years. ¡°We¡¯re partners, not master and servant outside of work hours.¡± Rhett told Kristin, saying she didn¡¯t need to bust her chops. Crouched beside the dishwasher, Kristin fidgeted for quite some time. Her fingertips grew cold, and she looked down at the floor, feeling deted. Five years behind bars left her out of sync with society, clueless about these fancy newfangled gadgets. Seeing Kristin frozen in ce, Rhett squatted beside her and peeked at the dishwasher, whispering, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to work this thing, either. Let¡¯s have the housekeeper deal with it tomorrow.¡± Kristin looked up at Rhett, her heart racing. He said he didn¡¯t know how to use it either. She knew Rhett was clueless because he never bothered with such things, but she still felt like a comfort to her. ¡°I¡¯ll learn from the maid tomorrow,¡± Kristin said with a smile to Rhett. Rhett chuckled softly. ¡°Okay, and then you can teach me. Kristin¡¯s face flushed, and she looked down, fiddling with her fingers. ¡°Don¡¯t be too kind to me.¡± She thought inwardly, ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it, and I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°The master bedroom on the first floor is right here, sunny and spacious. The walk¨Cin closet. should be to your liking.¡± Rhett said, knowing Kristin probably hadn¡¯t picked a room and took the initiative Kristin nodded, then ducked into the room and hid behind the door. ¡°Goodnight, Mr. FitzGerald,¡± she said. Rhett wanted to say more, but Kristin¡¯s ¡°goodnight¡± shut him up. She was seriously socially awkward. With a nod, Rhett headed upstairs. Having a stranger suddenly living in his house and saying goodnight to him¡­ Strangely, he felt it good. 1/4 ʽ 12:50 With a slight smile, Rhett walked into his study. With Kristin moving in, the house didn¡¯t seem so empty anymore. In her room, Kristin looked around, then nervously hid in the bathroom. It took her quite a while to cautiously start filling the bathtub. It had been so long since she¡¯d felt at ease enough to rx. By Rhett¡¯s side, a sense of security came naturally. ¡°Ding.¡± Her phone vibrated. Lying in the tub, Kristin checked her phone. It was a message from Rhett, who reminded her to keep her wound away from water. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Her cheeks red up again with a blush. She set the phone aside and curled up in the bathtub, holding her injured hand, staring at it for ages. It all felt like a dream. Being with Rhett, even if it was a mutually beneficial arrangement, felt Incredibly lucky to her. Resting her head on the tub edge, Kristin slowly closed her eyes. She was so sleepy. Finally, she could sleep soundly. At the Diamond Crest Hotel. After the police questioning. James returned to the hotel, visibly displeased and with a dark expression. The FitzGerald family thought James had called the cops. Rhett sure knew how to pass the buck. *Is Kristin discharged?¡± James asked. Bill tightened his grip on the steering wheel nervously as he replied, ¡°Today, I ran into Rhett¡¯s assistant, York, at the hospital. He said Kristin was in the doctor¡¯s office. I went there, but the doctor said she had left. By the time I got to her ward, Kristin was gone.¡± James¡® face darkened. ¡°Go to Garner¡¯s ce.¡± He was worried about Kristin. ¡°Mr. Bryce, have you ever considered¡­ If you don¡¯t call off your engagement with Adrienne, Ms. Kristin will never feel secure,¡± Bill said, mustering courage. With someone like Adrienne, she wouldn¡¯t leave Kristin alone even if she were out of the picture. Kristin would never be with James if he didn¡¯t break off the engagement. Chapter 96. ¡°Then let¡¯s hide her away,¡± James rubbed his temple. ¡°Father has agreed to the marriage with the Haywood family. It¡¯s not that easy to cancel. I can only try to dy it or get divorced after three years.¡± ¡°Mr. Bryce, that¡¯s not fair to Kristin and Summer,¡± Bill said as he waited at the traffic light. ¡°Fair? What is fair? Marriage is only a transaction. It doesn¡¯t affect my feelings for Kristin. I can give her everything apart from that title,¡± James believed. Even if Adrienne became his wife, she would only be a figurehead. She wouldn¡¯t get his love. He could give Kristin everything but that title. Bill opened his mouth to speak but said nothing, driving toward Garner¡¯s ce. But Garner¡¯s garage was closed, and everything inside had been cleared out. ¡°Excuse me, where are the people living here?¡± Bill got out of the car and asked a neighbor. ¡°Ah. Garner? He moved out. Thatndlord was a real jerk, picking on his sister. Garner beat him up and then left.¡± the neighbor, who liked Garner and Summer, spoke indignantly. James furrowed his brow and rolled down the window. ¡°Find out where they moved to.¡± Bill nodded and got back in the car. ¡°Mr. Bryce, you go back to the hotel and rest. I¡¯ll handle this.¡± ¡°Take care of thatndlord,¡± James leaned back in his seat, exhausted. How dare thatndlord mess with Kristin! ¡°Understood, Mr. Bryce.¡± Bill drove out of the narrow alley and suddenly remembered something crucial. ¡°Oh, Mr. Bryce, the paternity center called, saying someone sent by Mr. Carter was asking questions.¡± James frowned and sat up. ¡°How was it handled?¡± ¡°They did as you instructed,¡± Bill quickly replied. James nodded. ¡°Make sure they keep a close watch. No slip¨Cups.¡± Bill nodded. Carter¡¯s people had checked Summer and James¡® rtionship, and the paternity center must have confirmed the father¨Cson connection. So. Carter wouldy off Kristin for Summer¡¯s good graces. He wouldn¡¯t let the Haywood family hurt her, either. Kristin would be safe for the time being. That meant they had to keep it under wraps for as long as possible. Once Carter found out Summer wasn¡¯t James¡® son, Kristin would be in hot water. James massaged his temples, feeling the headache brewing, and spoke up again. ¡°Vincent and Nic are still trending big time. Rhett sure doesn¡¯t pull any punches.¡± 12:50: Chapter 96 ¡°Vincent and Nic have always been troublemakers. As a homewrecker and a love child wing their way up, they¡¯re biting off more than they can chew. They don¡¯t have the skills to match their ambition, probably no match for Rhett, Bill agreed and nodded. Gazing out the window, James added with a deeper implication, ¡°As a business partner, I¡¯d rather have a clueless client rather than a formidable adversary like Rhett.¡± Tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, James continued, ¡°With Hob¡¯s skills, Vincent will be out in three months tops, and this whole drama will blow over soon.¡± ¡°Mr. Bryce, are you suggesting we should back Vincent?¡± Bill asked nervously, eyeing James. Il Kristin found out, she¡¯d be devastated, considering how much Vincent hurt her. ¡°It¡¯s not about backing him. It¡¯s about keeping him on a tight leash.¡± James had a preference for Vincent, whom he could control, over Rhett, who could be a main rival at any moment. Besides, what worried James most was Rhett fighting him for Kristin. Without Rhett in the picture, Kristin¡¯s only option would be him, so he couldn¡¯t allow Rhett to snatch Kristin from his grasp. To win over Kristin, he had sacrificed too much already. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Summer just got out of school all happy and bubbly, with a little backpack bouncing along as he dashed out of the gate. That backpack was a gift from York, who said it was from Rhett. Summer treasured it big time. As he waited in the pickup zone, Summer scanned the area, but there was no sight of Garner. ¡°Is Uncle Garner runningte from work today?¡± Summer wondered. ¡°Little bastard.¡± Milo walked past Summer and shoved him deliberately. Summer lost his bnce and tumbled, and the backpack got scuffed up in the dirt. Eyes brimming with tears, Summer red at Milo and tackled him to the ground, fists raised like hammers, warning. ¡°Milo, you¡¯re asking for a beatdown, so back off!¡± Milo got the scare of his life and burst into tears. The teacher rushed over to break it up. And after seeing the dstone family heir down on the ground, she pushed Summer away in a frenzy. ¡°Fighting again, huh?¡± Summer was on the verge of tears. ¡°He pushed me first!¡± The teacher was ying favorites. ¡°Summer, this is low. No ss, no home training. Why do you always hit people at school?¡± ¡°Yeah, no manners at all.¡± Others interrupted, dissing Summer. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Mom!¡± Milo spotted a luxury car by the road and started bawling for his mom. Eve came to pick up her son, and seeing him in tears, she strode over quickly, demanding from the teacher, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Summer¡­ He fought again. Kids from the slums have no manners,¡± the teacher said with a troubled look, pinning the me on Summer. Summer clenched their backpack and kept his head down, silent. Thatdy was trouble. He didn¡¯t want to bring any grief to his mom and uncle. ¡°You again, little bastard. You¡¯re just a no¨Cgood brat without a dad. How dare you hit my son! Who do you think you are?¡± Eve was already fuming over her brother Vincent and her mom¡¯s affair, climbing the socialdder, which made her lose face in their social circle. She grabbed Summer¡¯s cor and was about to p him. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your lowlife mom.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Before Eve¡¯s hand couldnd, someone kicked her from behind. Eve almost lost her bnce and turned around in shock. The nearby teachers and parents were also stunned. Who the heck had kicked the heiress of 1/4 12506 The RitzGerald family? Weissa? Are you out of your mind? Eve screamed once she saw who it was. Looking discusted Melissa shrugged and nced down at her canvas shoes. ¡°Gosh. I should¡¯ve wom stilettos today. Would¡¯ve kicked you to oblivion.¡± groting Eve¡¯s shock Melissa reached out to Summer. ¡°Hey, handsome, I¡¯m here to pick you Summer¡¯s eyes went wide with tears, and he ran to Melissa. ¡°Ms. Hottie.¡± You What¡¯s your deal with him?¡± Eve was shocked. What was the rtionship between Melissa and Summer? Haven¡¯t you heard it? Rich girls should start raising a boyfriend from kindergarten. I¡¯ll look aber him for eighteen years, then he¡¯ll be my beau Melissa bragged, pointing at Milo. ¡°Tell your little pussy to stay away from our Summer. If she gets handsy again, I¡¯ll break her neck!¡± Meissa raised her hand to scare Millo. Terrified Wilo hid behind Eve. Mic was a cute little thing, all pretty and chubby, except that he was spoiled. Melissa calling him a ¡°Tittle pussy¡® was a tant insult. ¡°Weissa. Don¡¯t you go too far.¡± Eve clenched her fists. She could handle the Lawrence family. bur Melissa was a loose cannon, and her ex¡¯s family were all lunatics, rumored to kill without binding and Eve didn¡¯t want to mess with them for the time. Too far?¡± Weissaughed and ruffled Summer¡¯s hair. ¡°Next time he bullies you, beat him to a pub. If he ends up crippled. I¡¯ll cover the costs.¡± Eve and a few teachers were utterly shocked. Who dared to talk Eke that? The vibe was intense. Summer hugged Melissa and nced at Milo. Mic, behind Eve was petrified by Melissa The¡¯s a little bastard. His mom¡¯s a con artist a criminal. He¡¯s just like her, a little thief!¡± deaned his tears, feeling bold with his mom there. ¡°My mom¡¯s no con artist! You¡¯re the con artist. Summer shot back, fuming. ¡°Kids don¡¯t talk like that. You taught him that didn¡¯t you?¡± Melissa stared at Eve. Eve furrowed her brows and stayed silent. ¡°Uite pussy, didn¡¯t you hear about your grandma bing the other woman? Your mom¡¯s a bastard kid, isn¡¯t she? Know what they call that? Shamelessly clinging to a married man! Does your mom take after your grandma or what?¡± Melissa didn¡¯t care about her high¨Csocietydy image. Her voice boomed. Chapter 97 The other parents were shocked, watching the showdown between Melissa and Eve. But Eve¡¯s mom being the ¡°other woman¡± wasmon knowledge in Silvergrove City. It was just that nobody dared to mention it because of the FitzGerald family¡¯s reputation. Eve¡¯s face turned ck with rage, her fingers trembling. ¡°Melissa! Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Scared of the truth? Mess with our Summer again, and I¡¯ll call a press conference. Just try me,¡± Melissa said, picking up Summer and walking away without giving Eve a second nce. Eve, a grown woman, was trying to hit a child? No way! She¡¯d never have known how shameless this woman could be if she hadn¡¯t intentionally sent Garner away and decided to pick up Summer. ¡°Melissa!¡± Eve was livid, trying to go after her, but the driver held her back. ¡°Mydy, let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Too many people were around, all with phones out, ready to film. It could go viral in minutes. Melissa publicly called the FitzGerald family¡¯s heiress, Eve, a mistress¡® daughter, which had shot up the trending searches! For Nic, that was a lethal blow. The elites looked down on Nic and Eve, and this was like rubbing Hob¡¯s face in the dirt In the car, Summer was clutching his little backpack like it was his treasure, wiping it over. ¡°You like that backpack, huh?¡± Melissa asked. Summer nodded sweetly. ¡°It¡¯s from a gift from Daddy¡­¡± There was a brief moment of sadness before Summer spoke again. ¡°He gave it to me.¡± Melissa leaned in to cheer Summer up. ¡°Hey there, cutie pie, how about a kiss?¡± Summer hesitated, then nted a smooch on Melissa¡¯s cheek, holding her face. ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Melissa burst intoughter,ughing to tears. ¡°You¡¯ve got way more game than your uncle.¡± Summer looked confused. ¡°Mommy says a boy can¡¯t kiss girls for no reason. If he kisses, he must take responsibility. He can only kiss when he¡¯s grown up, and kissing means getting married.¡± Melissa couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. What an adorable little one. ¡°Then your mom must be a real sweetheart.¡± she praised. How could the sister of Garner, that big lug, be anything like the rumors say? Having been in this circle for so long, she knew she couldn¡¯t believe the gossip in wealthy families, not a single word of it. Chander 97 ¡°My mommy is the best mommy.¡± Summer said happily, his eyes twinkling like stars. Melissa ruffled Summer¡¯s hair. ¡°If anyone ever bullies you, you hit them right back. We don¡¯t start trouble, but we don¡¯t take any crap, either. I¡¯ve got your back.¡± Summer looked at Melissa for a long while, then gave her cheek another big kiss. Melissa froze. Oh no, she just got charmed by a five¨Cyear¨Cold! What was she going to do? Chapter 98 Chapter 98 In the Bryce family of Crescendo Town ¡°Boss, take a look at this.¡± The assistant burst into the living room, quickly taking out the paternity test result. Carter¡¯s face darkened as he stared at the document, falling silent for long. ¡°A woman like Kristin doesn¡¯t deserve to bear a child of the Bryce family.¡± ¡°Boss, what do you reckon we should do about this?¡± The assistant asked nervously. Carter furrowed his brows, lost in thought. ¡°The child is innocent, after all. Since he carries the Bryce family blood, he can¡¯t grow up around such a woman.¡± Kristin had a terrible reputation, and Carter didn¡¯t trust her with his grandson. ¡°What good can this kind of girl like her teach a kid? She¡¯s pulled all the stops to cling to the high and mighty, shameless.¡± Carter mmed the table in anger. ¡°Get James to see me!¡± Carter thought, ¡°Kristin had got some nerve. Since she was out of prison, even a good kid like James started to sass me! She was indeed something.¡± ¡°If Mr. Bryce refuses to return¡­¡± The assistant sounded worried. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t return, bring the child here. We can¡¯t let that kind of woman mislead the Bryce family¡¯s blood.¡± Carter spoke with a heavy tone. ¡°Kristin, that type of woman, fooled the Turner family for twenty years for glory and wealth. She certainly won¡¯t let go and hand over the child. She¡¯ll probably make some outrageous demands. Adrienne is still in the police station. Kristin refuses to drop the charges, and the case will go to the prosecution soon. The Haywood family probably won¡¯t let it slide, either,¡± the assistant fretted. Carter snorted coldly. ¡°It¡¯s all about money, right? Go and ask her how much she wants.¡± Considering Kristin gave birth to Bryce, Carter wouldn¡¯t be too stingy, but Kristin mustn¡¯t be greedy. ¡°Tell the Haywood family that I¡¯ll handle Adrienne¡¯s. Whatever Adrienne has suffered, the Haywood family willpensate ordingly. Give the Influx Enterprise project to them and drop the profit margin by five points. As for Kristin, tell her toy off for now.¡± In Carter¡¯s eyes, the smartest thing Kristin did was to bear James¡® child against all odds. Blood is thick. Carter understood that well. Given that Kristin was the mother of his precious grandson, Carter wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her and might even ensure she lived a life offort. But Kristin had to know her ce and be content. ¡°Got it.¡± The assistant took a deep breath, realizing Carter had changed his mind about his grandson, no longer pushing for a private settlement with the Haywood family. 12:50 In the Bryce family of Crescendo Town N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Chapter 98 ¡°Boss, take a look at this.¡± The assistant burst into the living room, quickly taking out the paternity test result. Carter¡¯s face darkened as he stared at the document, falling silent for long. ¡°A woman like Kristin doesn¡¯t deserve to bear a child of the Bryce family.¡± ¡°Boss, what do you reckon we should do about this?¡± The assistant asked nervously. Carter furrowed his brows, lost in thought. ¡°The child is innocent, after all. Since he carries the Bryce family blood, he can¡¯t grow up around such a woman.¡± Kristin had a terrible reputation, and Carter didn¡¯t trust her with his grandson. ¡°What good can this kind of girl like her teach a kid? She¡¯s pulled all the stops to cling to the high and mighty, shameless.¡± Carter mmed the table in anger. ¡°Get James to see me!¡± Carter thought, ¡°Kristin had got some nerve. Since she was out of prison, even a good kid like James started to sass me! She was indeed something.¡± ¡°If Mr. Bryce refuses to return¡­¡± The assistant sounded worried. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t return, bring the child here. We can¡¯t let that kind of woman mislead the Bryce family¡¯s blood.¡± Carter spoke with a heavy tone. ¡°Kristin, that type of woman, fooled the Turner family for twenty years for glory and wealth. She certainly won¡¯t let go and hand over the child. She¡¯ll probably make some outrageous demands. Adrienne is still in the police station. Kristin refuses to drop the charges, and the case will go to the prosecution soon. The Haywood family probably won¡¯t let it slide, either,¡± the assistant fretted. Carter snorted coldly. ¡°It¡¯s all about money, right? Go and ask her how much she wants.¡± Considering Kristin gave birth to Bryce, Carter wouldn¡¯t be too stingy, but Kristin mustn¡¯t be greedy. ¡°Tell the Haywood family that I¡¯ll handle Adrienne¡¯s issue. Whatever Adrienne has suffered, the Haywood family willpensate ordingly. Give the Influx Enterprise project to them and drop the profit margin by five points. As for Kristin, tell her toy off for now.¡± In Carter¡¯s eyes, the smartest thing Kristin did was to bear James¡® child against all odds. Blood is thick. Carter understood that well. Given that Kristin was the mother of his precious grandson, Carter wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her and might even ensure she lived a life offort. But Kristin had to know her ce and be content. ¡°Got it.¡± The assistant took a deep breath, realizing Carter had changed his mind about his grandson, no longer pushing for a private settlement with the Haywood family. 12:50 It was evident that Carter had high hopes for the kid. The FitzGerald Group. ¡°Lisa, I heard about an opening for a personal assistant to Mr. FitzGerald. Could you please pull some strings for me? I¡¯m pretty qualified.¡± The HR manager lounged back in her chair, chuckling. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t help you with that. York has picked someone and said she would report for duty this morning at nine. I¡¯m waiting for her as we speak.¡± ¡°A shoo¨Cin? Who¡¯s York¡¯s pick? Does Mr. FitzGerald know about this? He hates under¨Cthe¨Ctable deals and nepotism,¡± a few female employees cut in, their curiosity piqued. ¡°Does Mr. FitzGerald need to be bothered with such trifles?¡± The HR manager, Jasmine,ughed. ¡°I bet it¡¯s York¡¯s girlfriend or something. How else could he be so gung¨Cho,ing to me for a direct appointment?¡± ¡°And I thought York was as OCD as Mr. FitzGerald.¡± One of the womenined. ¡°Who¡¯s this lucky lady to be Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s PA? Talk about being in the right ce at the right time.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s a cushy job? Why do you think that spot¡¯s been vacant? Did you get no clue? Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s got a thing about cleanliness, especially with women. No regr girl can get near him, let alone be his PA. It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°Exactly. Bet the newbie won¡¯tst a few days, just like the others who¡¯ve tried before.¡± The women gossiped away, and the HR manager nced at the time. It was 8:40 AM. Was she kept waiting like this? 1 ¡°Wow, making Lisa wait for her, huh?¡± The sniping had already begun. Just then, Kristin rushed in, a bit messy. She had asked for directions from Rhett¡¯s ce, but the subway was a maze, and she had missed her stop. Luckily, she wasn¡¯tte. ncing at the time ¨C 8:41 AM- Kristin let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m here to report for duty.¡± Kristin handed her referral letter from York to the receptionist. In the break area, the women looked Kristin up and down, whispering amongst themselves, looks quite innocent, but she¡¯s also strangely familiar.¡± ¡°Right. I feel I¡¯ve seen this girl somewhere before.¡± Lisa, the HR manager scrutinized Kristin, her face dropping in astonishment. Wasn¡¯t this the infamous fake heiress Kristin from that shocking scandal years ago? 12:50 Lisa knew Kristin because she was tight with Nic. Over the years, Nic had been cozying up to the old staff, especially those in HR, trying to rece key positions with her people sneakily, ¡°Your name¡¯s Kristin?¡± Lisa stood up and approached Kristin. ¡°Ma¡¯am, good morning. I¡¯m Kristin Collins. It¡¯s my first day reporting for duty.¡± Kristin quickly bowed, handing over her referral letter. ¡°Follow my lead.¡± Lisa sized Kristin from top to bottom, turned on her heel with authority, and whisked her to the office. ¡°Got the lowdown on what a life assistant does?¡± Lisa threw out the question. ¡°Mr. York gave me the rundown. I¡¯m mainly in charge of Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s daily needs, like his wardrobe, food, amodation, travel arrangements, meetings, and social engagements.¡± Kristin nodded, Lisa couldn¡¯t find fault, so she printed out the workflow and handed it to Kristin. ¡°As his assistant, you must have Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s likes, dislikes, and no¨Cnos down pat.¡± Kristin nodded again, taking the documents and reading them carefully, etching each detail into her memory. While Kristin focused on the procedures, Lisa sneakily shot a WhatsApp message to Nic. *The new exec assistant who joined today is Kristin, who fooled Vincent.¡± Nic shot back a message almost immediately. ¡°What? Rhett allowed that woman into thepany?¡± Nic was livid. ¡°Yep, she¡¯s here with me.¡± Replying, Lisa nced toward Kristin¡¯s way meaningfully. ¡°This chick can¡¯t stick around in thepany. Rhett¡¯s using Kristin to get under Vincent¡¯s skin. We must ditch her before Vincent¡¯s back,¡± Nic fumed in her reply. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it. Just make her hit the road.¡± Lisa pondered with intrigue for a moment before speaking up. ¡°Oh Kristin, l¨Cforgot to jot down something. Mr. FitzGerald loves peanuts, so you might want to stock up on some peanut brittle. You can offer that to him if Mr. FitzGerald gets too swamped to eat.¡± Kristin looked up at Lisa and nodded. Rhett was allergic to peanuts, something he had made a point of telling her this morning. It looked like the FitzGerald Group wasn¡¯t all that straightforward after all. The HR manager wasn¡¯t in cahoots with Rhett. She and Rhett were in the same boat. She had to prove her worth, like weeding out the dissenters, to make Rhett go the extra mile for her. 12:50 Chapter 98 Like, for instance, weeding out the dissenters. ¡°Lisa, sorry, I¡¯m a bit on edge. First¨Cday jitters, you know. Could you run that by me again?¡± Kristin secretly activated the voice recording on her phone, looking earnestly at the HR manager. ¡°When Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s swamped with work, remember to have some peanuts ready. Also, first thing in the morning, brew Mr. FitzGerald a coffee, no milk, no sugar. He hates it when assistants reek of body odor. Make sure you doll yourself up and spritz on some subtle perfume.¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Lisa sure wouldn¡¯t have guessed that Kristin and Rhett were living together, and she¡¯d bet her bottom dor she had no clue that Rhett had spilled the beans about his habits and no¨Cnos to Kristin. Lisa told Kristin was half¨Ctrue, half¨Cfake. Even York wasn¡¯t in the loop on some of it. Even if things hit the fan, the worst that could happen to Kristin would be getting the stink eye and the boot from Rhett. It wouldn¡¯te back to bite her. The coffee thing was legit. Rhett was a sucker for a straight cup of coffee in the morning. Prepping sugar was a habit picked up from previous assistants, but peanut candy was a no¨Cgo due to Rhett¡¯s peanut allergy. As for Rhett hating body odor on assistants, that was the real McCoy because Rhett was a bit of a clean freak, but he hated the smell of perfume on women even more. Kristin was all ears, nodding earnestly. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll be on my toes.¡± ¡°Alright, the training folks will show you the ropester. Hit the books hard, and you¡¯re on dutye Wednesday,¡± Lisa said, ncing at the clock and gesturing for Kristin to head out. Kristin stood up, left the office, and kept the recording safe. It was always good to have an ace up your sleeve. Taking a deep breath, Kristin followed the trainer to their office. The FitzGerald Group wasn¡¯t as easy¨Cpeasy as she thought. Nic and Vincent must have been up to some sneaky stuff over the years. 1 Smart as a whip, Rhett wasn¡¯t one for sweating the small stuff, and his style wasn¡¯t exactly cozying up to the rank and file, which usually meant suffering some losses. Kristin mulled it over, propping her head up, thinking that the HR manager¡¯s role was critical. With the company¡¯s blood getting fresh faces fast, if the HR manager swapped out seemingly unimportant but crucial positions with Nic and Vincent¡¯s people, it would cause Rhett trouble. Kristin had been studying business management at Silvergrove University, and even though she had to drop out in her sophomore year, she was the top dog from Silvergrove City who got into Silvergrove University. It was only after Kristin had left the HR manager¡¯s office that Lisa pulled up her file to take a look. Her face darkened, and she buzzed HR. ¡°Come here a sec.¡± Kristin, a gal with only a high school diploma, being Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant? What a joket What was going on in that noggin of York¡¯s? ¡°You go find York. See what¡¯s up with him. He sticks a high school graduate in here with us? Is he looking to make The FitzGerald Group theughingstock? Lisa was scheming to kick Kristin out swiftly. And she would do it by ying the education card. To get into The FitzGerald Group, one would at least need a degree from a prestigious university like Harvard or Princeton. The bar was high, and many hotshots falled even to get a This is from N?velDrama.Org. foot in the door, Kristin, with her high school diploma and a checkered past,plete with a criminal record to boot¡­ What a joke! Kristin wouldn¡¯tst a day if the rest of thepany got wind of this, and she would freak out from the digs and Jeers. Business was all about cutthroatpetition, everyone Jockeying for positions, and the one with the least clout was always the prime target. She looked to see if Kristin could handle the heat. ¡°A high school diploma? No way.¡± The recruitment staffer barged in, shocked. ¡°An assistant. with a high school diploma for Mr. FitzGerald Who¡¯s got the guts? Got a death wish?¡± ¡°Not just a diploma. She¡¯s got a rap sheet, too,¡± Lisa knew the HR folks were the grapevine, and she was spreading the word. Anybody could be Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant, which would tick people off. ¡°A rap sheet!¡± The recruitment staffer gasped. ¡°Where is she? Kick her out. What¡¯s she still doing here? Waiting for us to get canned? Lisa, this is no joke.¡± ¡°It¡¯s York¡¯s pick. Go ask him,¡± Lisa yed it safe. She had been with The FitzGerald Group for twenty years, a veteran in the HR Department for over a decade, and she didn¡¯t get to her position by chance. She wasn¡¯t at all fazed by a small fry like Kristin. But Nic seemed to have a bee in her bo about Kristin, blowing up her phone with messages, urging her to make Kristin walk the nk from The FitzGerald Group ASAP. Kristin was in the office, taking notes on everything the trainer said. ¡°You¡¯ve got an assessment the day after tomorrow. Pass that, and you¡¯re on the job. Since it¡¯s for Mr. FitzGerald, we¡¯re ying it safe. Give it your all,¡± the instructor emphasized. Kristin nodded; she wasn¡¯t sweating it. For someone who used to have an almost photographic memory, even after five years behind bars and multiple CT treatments, learning was still second nature. Besides, being an assistant was just the basics. What worried Kristin was the HR manager leading her astray on purpose, aiming to mess up and get canned. She had no beef with Lisa, so this sudden target on her back could only mean one thing. It was Nic. Someone wanted her out on her ear. It wouldn¡¯t be a cakewalk if she wanted to stick around. When she left in the morning, Rhett had deliberately mentioned some habits and taboos. probably to remind her not to get yed. Rhett was very astute; he¡¯d sensed that Kristin would face challenges in thepany. Nevertheless, he allowed her to join. He was watching, sizing her up as a potential ally. Kristin didn¡¯t need to deal with the likes of Lisa. She needed to do something to catch Rhett¡¯s eye. That was kind of like her debut performance at thepany. In the CEO¡¯s office, York walked in with a coffee, whispering, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, just as you predicted, the recruitment staffer came knocking about Kristin. She only has a high school diploma and some past run¨Cins with thew.¡± He nced at his phone and saw the news had already spread like wildfire in thepany chat group, and everyone was freaking out. ¡°See, it¡¯s all over thepany now. Kristin will have a tough time sticking around, being all meek and mild. What can she do?¡± In York¡¯s view, Kristin was more like a decorative piece, appealing but coddled ¨C she showed no real aptitude. Rhett leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, with the k she¡¯s getting, she could drown in spit. She¡¯s so prone to thinking about offing herself. How¡¯s she going to handle this kind of pressure?¡± York was practically in fantasnd. ¡°What if she manages to stay and even takes care of the ticking time bomb in the HR Department?¡± Rhett said meaningfully. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you¡¯re dreaming¡­¡± York almost burst outughing, touching his nose cautiously. ¡°You¡¯re giving Kristin way too much credit.¡± As Rhett¡¯s assistant, he had to watch everything happening in thepany, ready to nip any issue in the bud for Rhett. 12:51 Chapter 99 Kristin? As it! He hadn¡¯t managed to shake the HR manager in all these years, so how was someone as frail as Kristin supposed to handle Lisa, a sly fox with eons of experience? ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet then. If you lose, you¡¯re her errand boy for three months. Noints. Just hard work.¡± Rhett was in a surprisingly good mood. Yorkughed, believing Rhett would lose. It wasn¡¯t that he looked down on Kristin, but anyone would. ¡°The best hunters often disguise themselves as their prey.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t share that view. Kristin had managed to be his contract ¡®wife,¡® and he had seen something in her beyond being easy to control. He hoped she wouldn¡¯t let him down. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 At thepany Cafeteria. It was noon, and no one called Kristin out for lunch. She was still not familiar with thepany. Usually, the HR manager should¡¯ve set someone up to show Kristin the ropes, but Lisa didn¡¯t think Kristin would stick around long, so she decided to y hardball ¡°Huh? Why aren¡¯t you out grabbing a bite?¡± A kind¨Chearted female employee popped the question from outside the door. Kristin nced at the clock and whispered, ¡°Hi, where¡¯s the cafeteria?¡± The employee peered at her watch. ¡°At this hour, you¡¯re probably out of luck for food. Didn¡¯t the HR staller give you the grand tour?¡± Kristin shook her head. ¡°Let me show you around then.¡± The woman was about to take Kristin to the cafeteria when another employee deliberately pulled her aside. ¡°Why bother with her? Did you know she got in through the back door? I heard she¡¯s just got a high school diploma and a rap sheet. Keep your distance. Rumor has it she¡¯s a pilferer.¡± The good¨Chearted employee turned around, shocked. How could shend a job at the FitzGerald Group with a high school diploma? ¡°Sorry, but something just came up that I need to handle right away. You might want to ask someone else for help,¡± the kind employee excused herself and bolted. Kristin lowered her gaze to her fidgeting fingers, having foreseen this. Walking down the hall, even the cleaningdy gave her the cold shoulder. Everyone steered clear of her, leaving a trail of whispers in her wake. Kristin had a hunch. That was the wee wagon, the FitzGerald style. ¡°Excuse me, could you tell me¡­ where the cafeteria is? Kristin spotted the janitor near the restroom and asked tentatively. The cleaningdy scrubbed the floor with gusto as if Kristin were invisible. Kristin stepped back, bowed her head in slight defeat, and kept silent. After wandering thepany alone and finally finding the cafeteria, the staff had cleaned up. ¡°You¡¯re new here?¡± The cafeteria employee saw Kristin standing at the door and whispered. Kristin nodded. ¡°Lunchtime is at 11:40 a.m., and it¡¯s almost time to clock back in. Come earlier next time,¡± the 1251 L / Chapter 100 cafeteria employee advised. Kristin nodded and walked away. ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, go out thepany, take a hundred¨Cmeter stroll down the alley. There¡¯s a lunch spot there. Check it out,¡± he added. Kristin thanked him and headed for the exit. ¡°That¡¯s Kristin. Remember the real versus fake heiress case six years ago? It blew up the search engines, and she¡¯s the one.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who lived another girl¡¯s life for over twenty years, a thief with a criminal record and only a high school diploma.¡± ¡°How she got the nerve to show up at the FitzGerald Group¡­¡± Hearing these words, Kristin kept her head down. They spoke as if she wasn¡¯t there to hear. ¡°I heard she¡¯s got her way with men. Not a single rich kid in Silvergrove City she hasn¡¯t been with.¡± Kristin¡¯s steps froze, but she didn¡¯t turn around. There was no point in rifying. When she tried to prove her innocence, she was already tainted. ¡°Word is York vouched for her. She wouldn¡¯t have¡­ with York, too, would she?¡± Kristin hurried out, fingers trembling. She was used to the gossip. The HR manager¡¯s intimidation tactics were pretty bush¨Cleague. After buying a soda in the alley, she nced back at the towering FitzGerald Group building. It was soaring high to a height many couldn¡¯t reach in a lifetime. ¡°Kris, it¡¯s Yara. Remember me?¡± came a call. It was Yara from the Crescendo Club¡¯s reception. Kristin remembered her. Yara was a kind soul. ¡°Yara, what¡¯s up?¡± Kristin asked softly. Her number was new. Only Harriet from the club knew it. Kristin had reached out to Harriet after the switch. ¡°Harriet had me call you. She¡¯s in trouble. Can youe?¡± Yara sobbed. Kristin¡¯s breath caught her grip on the phone tightening. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Harriet¡¯s been caring for this regr, Jose. His wife came with goons. Harriet got beaten up. She was pregnant and didn¡¯t know. There was a lot of blood¡­ Even if she pulls through, her womb¡­ will be done for.¡± 12.51 Yara¡¯s voice trembled with tears. ¡°Harriet and Jose were innocent. She had a boyfriend, a manager at our club. It¡¯s his child. But when she got beat up, he hid away.¡± Kristin took a deep breath. She knew about Harriet¡¯s boyfriend. Even if Harriet stayed mum, their few days living together dued her in. ¡°Did you call the cops?¡± Kristin asked numbly, knowing it was futile. ¡°They¡¯re too connected for us. Everyone at the club¡¯s turned a blind eye,¡± Yara wept. ¡°Kris, I¡¯m at a loss. I can¡¯t cover her medical bills. Could you ask Mr. Bryce for help? Maybe he could make a call for us. He will handle it easily.¡± Yara cried helplessly. Which hospital??¡± Kristin¡¯s voice shook Should she ask. James for help? Kristin hesitated. ¡°Crescendo Central Hospital ¡°I see what I can do¡­¡± Kristin crouched down, feeling helpless. What could she do? It was her first day at FitzGerald. If she bailed, she might not make it through probation. If she left right then, would Rhett be disappointed? But if she didn¡¯t go, what about Harriet? Harriet had saved Kristin¡¯s life. So Kristin had no other choice but to ask James for help. James was lounging on the couch at Diamond Crest Hotel, eyeing Bill. ¡°Kristin isn¡¯t living with Garner and Summer?¡± Rubbing his temples, James was getting antsy. ¡°Can¡¯t even track down one person? ¡°Mr. Bryce, Silvergrove City is Rhett¡¯s turf, and if he doesn¡¯t want us finding someone¡­¡± Bill let out a weary sigh. Buzz. His phone rang. James nced at the caller ID, an unknown number. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°James¡­¡± It was Kristin on the other end. ¡°Kris? Where the heck are you?¡± James straightened up, really worried about Kristin. ¡°Could you¡­ do me a favor?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was edgy.. ¡°Where are you?¡± All James wanted to know was where Kristin was and if she was safe. 12:51 Chapter 100 ¡°Harriet¡¯s at Crescendo Central Hospital. She¡¯s in desperate need of cash. It¡¯s a matter of life and death. Help me out, and I¡¯ll pay you back,¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was shaky. James frowned and shot a look at Bill, motioning him to handle it. ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. I¡¯ve sent Bill to sort it out. Where are you? I¡¯ll pick you up and return to Crescendo Town, okay?¡± Kristin went quiet. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve got a job and started today. I can¡¯t leave right now. I¡¯m off work at 5:30 in the afternoon. I¡¯ll figure something out¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Harriet, and I¡¯ll wait for you till 5:30 to take you to see her,¡± James saw an opportunity to bring Kristin back to Crescendo Town. ¡°Okay¡­¡± Kristin agreed. ¡°Thanks.¡± After hanging up, James looked at Bill and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the deal with Hamer Bill, who had just ended a call, was somewhat panicked. ¡°Jose¡¯s wife showed up at the club, got into a brawl with Harriet, and Harriet took a nasty fall down the stairs. She¡¯s pregnant, bleeding badly.¡± James¡® brow furrowed, hand massaging his forehead. He had deliberately let Jose¡¯s wife in on Harriet¡¯s situation, figuring that Harriet would reach out to Kristin if she got into trouble, and that would mean Kristin woulde to him for help. He didn¡¯t anticipate such a critical ident. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Get on it, now!¡± James snapped, frustration boiling over as he kicked the table. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 In thepany break room, Kristin sat clutching her soda, her grip tight on her phone. Everything had to be okay. Harriet had to pull through. Kristin viewed Harriet as the type of woman who could thrive and bloom, even when life tossed her into the mud. She was tough. In prison, Harriet had confided about losing a child because she hadn¡¯t known the man was married. When she got pregnant with his child andter discovered the truth, she confronted him for money, threatening to get an abortion if he didn¡¯t pay up. The truth was that she had already terminated the pregnancy. It was all about getting back at that jerk, but ironically, he and his wife had her thrown in jail for extortion. What a joke. Harriet had said in prison that men were all the same, and she¡¯d never trust one again. Once out, she vowed to use men as stepping stones to climb up thedder. But somehow, she had been deceived by a man again. That weak man watched her get hit and was too scared toe out and protect her. Men like that were more disgusting than con artists. ¡°No eating in here. It¡¯s disgusting. What¡¯s that smell? It¡¯s gross.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. A colleague made a snide remark. Kristin looked down at her soda. Just a soda. Everyone else was drinking coffee there. Was there such a big difference between coffee and soda? ¡°It¡¯s probably her smell, right? Too many men, and you end up with that cheap scent.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers stiffened around her phone. They were talking about her. ¡°Kristin,e here for a sec.¡± The HR manager called from the office. Kristin stood up, downed her soda, tossed it in the trash, and hurried to the office. ¡°Kristin, it¡¯s about your educational background. We can only verify a high school diploma. Here at the FitzGerald Group, we have strict educational requirements. You don¡¯t quite meet them,¡± Lisa said gravely. ¡°I suggest you talk to York and take the initiative to step down. It¡¯ll look better for everyone.¡± Kristin stayed silent. ¡°Or I could reassign you. With your educational level, you could clean the dining area or the bathrooms, Lisa said, attempting to humiliate Kristin. Kristin didn¡¯t see anything wrong with those jobs. As long as she could earn money, any job was honorable. ¡°I¡¯d like to try the assessment in three days.¡± Kristin faced Lisa, unyielding. The assessment was York¡¯s domain as Rhett¡¯s assistant. Lisa frowned, finding Kristin stubborn. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the caliber of our staff. Everyone is from top universities, and even the less critical roles are filled by PhDs. Are you sure you want to risk public outrage for this job?¡± ¡°I am a student from Silvergrove University, majoring in Business Administration. I¡¯ve been the top one in my ss for three consecutive terms. I¡¯m fluent in fournguages and proficient in psychology, managerial psychology, marketing, and joint venture management. Ipleted all my credits before leaving school. They may not have kept my records, but I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m Inferlor to those you mentioned.¡± Kristin stared back at Lisa quietly, then spoke again. ¡°You¡¯re the HR manager. You know the CEO¡¯s assistant is a position filled by personal appointment. You know this, yet you position me as an adversary. That¡¯s not wise.¡± If the HR manager didn¡¯t side with Rhett, she¡¯d be a trouble in the future. It would be hard for Kristin to deal with Lisa directly, and a misstep could backfire. She had to win her over to hold leverage. But it wasn¡¯t the time yet. Kristin just needed to remind Lisa to be careful at the moment and not to be used by others. Lisa regarded Kristin thoughtfully, then smiled. ¡°If you believe you¡¯re up to the job, I look forward to seeing you prove it.¡± York¡¯s decision to appoint Kristin as the assistant must have been Rhett¡¯s instruction. Nic couldn¡¯t ept Kristin¡¯s presence and demanded Lisa get rid of her. She¡¯d be openly defying Rhett if Lisaplied. With the FitzGerald Group¡¯s unclear power dynamics, Lisa had to consider her alliances carefully. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Kristin said, bowing slightly before leaving the office. Lisa watched her leave with a spective eye. Perhaps Nic¡¯s wariness of Kristin wasn¡¯t unfounded. She was seemingly harmless and tender yet surprisingly assertive. In the work area, Kristin poured over Rhett¡¯s past schedules, noting the details his previous assistant had missed. ¡°Here.¡± York entered, cing a box of sandwiches on her desk. ¡°You didn¡¯t have lunch, did you? Mr. FitzGerald told me to bring this to you.¡± He nced around to ensure no one was within earshot. ¡°Don¡¯t disappoint me by not making it through these three days.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Kristin assured him. The office was abuzz with whispers about her, but because of York, they didn¡¯t dare speak openly, York had deliberately walked her through the office, a clear signal to everyone that Kristin was under his protection, a move also intended by Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald is heading to Capital City and will be back the day after tomorrow. He¡¯s in the underground parking, wanting you to meet him there.¡± York tapped the desk. ¡°Come on.¡± Kristin hesitated, surprised by Rhett¡¯s trip. She quickly gathered her things, always ready, and followed York. As they walked, employees murmured, but none too loudly, respecting York¡¯s presence and his obvious protection of Kristin. York¡¯s actions were not just a direct message to the staff. They were a strategic maneuver in the complex corporate loyalty and power game. York felt a bit sour, to be honest. They had a bet, and Rhett had promised not to meddle and to let Kristin handle things alone. Yet here he was, covertly lending a helping hand. Grumbling under his breath, York entered the elevator and nced at Kristin. What was so special about her? Why did Mr. FitzGerald treat her so differently? They went to the underground parking lot, where Kristin cautiously got into Rhett¡¯s car. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you going on a business trip?¡± ¡°Yep, the babysitter will stay over tonight. No need to worry.¡± Rhett confirmed with a nod. ¡°I¡­¡± Kristin hesitated, not revealing her ns to visit Crescendo Town. After work, she wanted to travel to Crescendo Town to check on Harriet, then hustle back through the night. She wouldn¡¯t miss a beat of work the following day. But considering she and Rhett were just business partners, Kristin kept it to herself, afraid to cause him trouble. ¡°First day, how¡¯s it going?¡± Rhett broke the silence. Noticing York hadn¡¯t joined them in the car, Kristin spoke softly. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you aware the HR manager is Nic¡¯s person?¡± Rhett¡¯s eyebrows lifted, but he didn¡¯t respond. Of course, he knew. He knew well that Lisa was a tough nut to crack, hard to handle, especially 3/4 11:49: alter over twenty years with thepany, a decade under Hob¡¯s wing. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you nning to win her over?¡± Kristin was curious about Rhett¡¯s ns. ¡°Or¡­ to let her go?¡± Rhett¡¯s lips curved into a half¨Csmile. ¡°She¡¯s been with thepany for ages. Letting her go would be a loss.¡± Whenpany interests were secured, winning Lisa over was the natural course. ¡°I can handle it.¡± Kristin¡¯s gaze was firm. She had a n. Rhett paused, his gaze deepening as he looked at her. He might have dismissed anyone else¡¯s words as bravado, buting from Kristin, he found them believable. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± Rhett asked, smiling. ¡°What happens if you eat peanuts, Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin eyed him nervously. ¡°Anaphxis. Trouble breathing, shock in severe cases.¡± Rhett disclosed his vulnerability without hesitation. Kristin¡¯s mouth fell open, and then she lowered her voice. ¡°I might need you to take a little risk, Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Rhett chuckled. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll talk when I return from my trip.¡± He didn¡¯t even realize his tone had softened, almost sounding indulgent. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 After a hectic afternoon at the office, Kristin hadn¡¯t realised it was time to clock out ncing at her notepad, she tidied up her documents and answered a call from James. ¡°Harriet¡¯s out of danger and has woken up. Don¡¯t worry,¡± James cut straight to the chase about Hamel¡¯s condition. The hospital stall say she¡¯s a bit emotionally unstable. I¡¯ll pick you up, and we can visit her together.¡± James mentioning Harriet was his way of ensuring kristin would go with him. Deep down, he knew Kristin well enough. Her job hunt in Silvergrove City was nothing but a statement, a deration of wanting to distance her sell from him. James thought Kristin was ying games, andry that he hadn¡¯t called off the engagement, But he couldn¡¯t call off the engagement with the Haywood family on a whim, Carter¡¯s health had been tragile, and any upset could be disastrous. ¡°Alright¡­ where are you? I¡¯lle to you,¡± Kristin sald softly. ¡°Where are you working? I can pick you up, and we can head straight there,¡± James pushed, eager to know her workce, a detail even Bill couldn¡¯t uncover. ¡°The Fitzgerald Group¡­¡± Kristin didn¡¯t hide it. She knew sooner orter, he would find out. She intended to stand by Rhett¡¯s side in the future. On the other end of the line, James fell silent. Even through the phone, Kristin could sense his mood plummet. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± he finally said, his voice heavy. Kristin took a deep breath and hung up. She neatly arranged the items on her desk and left the office space. Most of thepany¡¯s employees had left for the day. Employees on, the ground floor mostly held entry¨Clevel positions, not requiring overtime. ¡°See her? That¡¯s Kristin, the so¨Ccalled heiress. The shameless one who tried to con her way into marrying into the Fitzgerald family, nearly bing ourpany¡¯sdy boss.¡± ¡°Unbelievable. This woman has aimed to marry Vincent to be Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s sister¨Cinw. The nerve!¡± ¡°At least Vincent is ourpany¡¯s young master, Rhett¡¯s brother. Her scheming is just too much.¡± ¡°Pity, now look at her. fresh out of jail.¡± Near the entrance, a group of middle managers gathered as If waiting to see what sort of person Kristin was. 1150 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 After a hectic afternoon at the office. Kristin hadn¡¯t realized it was time to clock out. ncing at her notepad, she tidied up her documents and answered a call from James. ¡°Harriet¡¯s out of danger and has woken up. Don¡¯t worry,¡± James cut straight to the chase about Harriet¡¯s condition. ¡°The hospital staff say she¡¯s a bit emotionally unstable. I¡¯ll pick you up, and we can visit her together.¡± James mentioning Harriet was his way of ensuring Kristin would go with him. Deep down, he knew Kristin well enough. Her job hunt in Silvergrove City was nothing but a statement, a deration of wanting to distance herself from him. aving games, angry ba James thought Kristin was he hadn¡¯t called off the engagement. But he couldn¡¯t call off the engagement with the Haywood family on a whim. Carter¡¯s health had been fragile, and any upset could be disastrous. ¡°Alright¡­ where are you? I¡¯lle to you,¡± Kristin said softly. ¡°Where are you working? I can pick you up, and we can head straight there.¡± James pushed, eager to know her workce, a detail even Bill couldn¡¯t uncover. ¡°The Fitzgerald Group¡­¡± Kristin didn¡¯t hide it. She knew sooner orter, he would find out. She intended to stand by Rhett¡¯s side in the future. On the other end of the line, James fell silent. Even through the phone, Kristin could sense his mood plummet. ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon,¡± he finally said, his voice heavy. Kristin took a deep breath and hung up. She neatly arranged the items on her desk and left the office space. Most of thepany¡¯s employees had left for the day. Employees on the ground floor mostly held entry¨Clevel positions, not requiring overtime. ¡°See her? That¡¯s Kristin, the so¨Ccalled heiress. The shameless one who tried to con her way into marrying into the Fitzgerald family, nearly bing ourpany¡¯sdy boss.¡± ¡°Unbelievable. This woman has aimed to marry Vincent to be Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s sister¨Cinw. The nerve!¡± ¡°At least Vincent is ourpany¡¯s young master, Rhett¡¯s brother. Her scheming is just too much.¡± ¡°Pity, now look at her, fresh out of jail.¡± Near the entrance, a group of middle managers gathered as if waiting to see what sort of person Kristin was. 11:50 Chapter 102 Kristin said nothing, head bowed, trying to slip by. ¡°Shameless,¡± the woman jeered, unwilling to let her go without a confrontation. ¡°How can you show your face at ourpany? Mr. Fitzgerald nearly got ruined because of you,¡± someone from Vincent¡¯s team used, having been waiting for Kristin. ¡°You got Mr. Fitzgerald taken away by the cops, didn¡¯t you? Using such tactics to get a chance at the Fitzgerald Group. Shame on you.¡± Nic had kept the incident of Vincent being taken to the station tightly sealed. Even when it hit the trending searches, the real reason remained obscure. But these people confronting her at thepany¡¯s entrance were Nic¡¯s doing. ¡°Kristin.¡± Among the crowd was another significant presence. Hearing her voice sent chills down Kristin¡¯s spine. It was Ruby. It was almostughable that she had personallye to wait for Kristin to finish work. Ruby looked pale as she stepped out of a ck luxury car that belonged to Vincent. Ruby was there to stake her im. ¡°You use Vincent¡¯s future as leverage to get a position at the Fitzgerald Group. Ah, I have. underestimated you,¡± Ruby said softly, pping Kristin across the face before everyone. Kristin stood numbly, having anticipated the p but not dodging it. Perhaps it was guilt. Kristin had lived twenty years that should have been Ruby¡¯s. So, no matter how outrageous Ruby¡¯s actions had been over the years, Kristin had endured them. But Ruby seemed unsatisfied, escting her cruelty. ¡°You think you can have a good life in the Fitzgerald Group? I heard from my mother you¡¯re here for revenge. Ha¡­¡± Rubyughed, clearly looking down on Kristin. ¡°You? I could squash you like an ant with no effort at all.¡± Ruby¡¯s threat hung in the air. Kristin remained silent. ¡°She¡¯s too shameless. How can she show her face at the Fitzgerald Group?¡± ¡°She even wants to be Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s assistant. What is she thinking?¡± The bystanders sided with Ruby, for she was the ¡®victim¡®, the legitimate heiress and Vincent¡¯s official fianc¨¦e. On the other hand, Kristin was a thief, powerless, and an ex¨Cconvict. ¡°She used despicable means to threaten Rhett into keeping her as an assistant. It¡¯s her usual tactic,¡± Ruby said with sarcasm. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Chapte Nic dared not tell anyone about Kristin and Rhett¡¯s marriage certificate. At least, not yet, So, Ruby assumed Kristin had simply ckmailed Rhett with the case withdrawal. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯ve offended Rhett. Do you think you¡¯re in for good times?¡± Ruby continued her mockery, raising her hand to strike again. ¡°I¡¯m waiting to see your downfall.¡± Kristin met Ruby¡¯s gaze and didn¡¯t let the pnd this time. ¡°Whatever I owed you, I¡¯ve paid back long ago. And the debt wasn¡¯t mine to repay in the first ce. That p just now was thest one. I won¡¯t hesitate to call the police if youy a hand on me again,¡± Kristin said, pushing Ruby¡¯s hand away. Ruby stared at Kristin in shock. Huh, that was quite bold. Ruby hadn¡¯t bought into Mamie¡¯s ims that Kristin had stopped pretending and changed, not until now. Finally, she could see Kristin¡¯s genuine side. Copsing to the ground with a look of utter exhaustion, Ruby fainted, her delicate frame unable to support her any longer. ¡°She hit Ruby! How could she? Ruby¡¯s so fragile. How could she be so heartless!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare walk away! If anything happens to Miss Ruby, the Turner family won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± Ruby¡¯s driver lunged forward, grabbing Kristin¡¯s wrist, refusing to let her leave.. Everyone was pointing fingers at Kristin. She felt she was suffocating, struggling to breathe. The crowd, the stares, the usations were all too much. Kristin couldn¡¯t catch her breath. ¡°Ruby!¡± After hearing Ruby hade to confront Kristin at the FitzGerald Group, rence was worried about Kristin. But seeing Ruby on the ground, his anger red as he red at Kristin. shoving her aside. Thrown off bnce, Kristin stumbled and fell hard onto the pavement, scraping her palms and bruising her forehead. Everything went dark momentarily as she winced in pain, looking at the blood seeping from her hands. rence scooped Ruby up, his fury evident as he looked back at Kristin. ¡°You better pray she¡¯s fine.¡± Otherwise, the Turner family would indeed have their revenge. Kristin scoffed, pushing herself to her feet, her gaze sweeping over the onlookers who relished the drama, each quick to condemn her. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Ruby was setting her up, but deep down, everyone wanted to believe Kristin was the viin. That was human nature. 11:50 Chapter 102 ¡°rence, if your sister¡¯s sick, take her to a doctor. Don¡¯t let her out in the draft. It might give her a bad back.¡± came a deep voice. A sedan pulled up to the curb, and James stepped out, his voice resonating with authority. rence¡¯s brows furrowed. Not James again. ¡°Mr. Bryce¡­ from Aurora Tech, right?¡± ¡°Is Mr. Bryce defending Kristin?¡± The bystanders erupted into fresh gossip. ¡°Mr. Bryce, Kristin deliberately pushed Miss Ruby,¡± the driver seethed. James approached Kristin. ¡°Did you push her?¡± Kristin stayed silent. She knew Rhett wouldn¡¯t ask her such a question if he were there. He would¡¯ve just dealt with the situation. For a moment, Kristin thought of Rhett at such a time. Why did hee to mind in this moment of chaos? Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Kristin took a deep breath as she faced rence, her gaze steady and defiant. ¡°You could check the surveince cameras yourself,¡± she pointed out. The FitzGerald Group had cameras at every corner around its entrance. Security was tight, and nothing went unnoticed. He should havee with proof if he would use her of something, not just tossed usations around like confetti. But Kristin didn¡¯t bother exining. She knew it was futile.. rence had already judged her the moment he pushed her away. rence¡¯s frown deepened, and his eyes clouded withplexity as he looked at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± James said, reaching to take Kristin¡¯s hand, but she deftly sidestepped his touch. With her head bowed in silence, she climbed into James¡® car. James sighed. Kristin was truly stubborn. Yet he couldn¡¯t be too harsh with her, not when Summer was still the link that bound them. ¡°Kris, why the sudden visit to the FitzGerald Group?¡± James was concerned about her presence there. Kristin had managed to secure a position at the FitzGerald Group. There was no doubt Rhett had extended an olive branch to her. But with yers like Vincent and Nic in the mix, there was no way they would make her stay at the FitzGerald Groupfortable. He wished he could hide her away, keep her locked up, but he knew Kristin inside out. She was not one to be caged. ¡°The FitzGerald Group is great. They offered me a good sry.¡± Kristin murmured. ¡°If you want, you coulde work with me. I¡¯ll pay you double what the FitzGerald Group does,¡± James said, his brow furrowing. ¡°And do what exactly by your side?¡± Kristin asked. James paused, momentarily stunned. Kristin had been expelled from her academic program. Her credential was a high school diplorna. What position could she possibly fill at Aurora Tech? ¡°You¡¯d be my assistant,¡± he finally said. ¡°Assistants don¡¯t need that high a sry,¡± she replied quietly, her gaze steady. James still treated her differently because he didn¡¯t believe she was capable of her job. But Rhett trusted her, and that trust wasforting. So, she preferred a regr sry for a normal position, not double. ¡°Kris, must you always be so headstrong?¡± James ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. ¡°The 11-50 Chapter 103 corporate world isplex, a microcosm of society itself, and sometimes even more intricate.¡± He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Kristin getting mistreated anymore. Kristin tucked her hands into her sleeves, staying silent. James reached out to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your hands?¡± She shook her head, remaining quiet. ¡°Let me see.¡± He grasped her wrist, pulling it toward him, and only then did he notice the abrasions on her palm, the blood dried between her fingers. James¡® face darkened with anger, and he cursed under his breath as he fetched a first aid kit from the car and tended to her wounds. Kristin didn¡¯t speak or make a sound the entire time. ¡°Kris, why put up with all this? Stay by my side, keep mepany, and I won¡¯t let you get hurt again. I won¡¯t make the same mistake twice,¡± he said, still not understanding her. Kristin could have an easy life if she stayed with him, but she seemed determined to make things difficult for herself. ¡°By your side, as your secret mistress?¡± she retorted sharply. James was shocked. He hadn¡¯t realized Kristin could be so sharp¨Ctongued. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be like that. My marriage to the Haywood family is just a business arrangement, for my grandfather¡¯s sake,¡± he tried to exin. Kristin got what James meant. As long as Carter was alive, James couldn¡¯t divorce Adrienne. He had to maintain that rtionship. But if Carter passed away, he would divorce Adrienne in a heartbeat. He was asking Kristin to wait for Carter¡¯s death. ¡°Even if I¡¯m by your side when Carter dies, you won¡¯t marry me,¡± she stated inly. Perhaps James would divorce Adrienne but would never give Kristin a legitimate status. ¡°Does a title matter so much? Once I divorce Adrienne, there will be only you. Everything will be yours except for that marriage certificate,¡± James said, rubbing his temples. Kristin looked out the car window, feeling drained. Everything was hers, but what did she have? Even Rhett understood that only a marriage certificate could give her the peace of mind to coborate. With a bittersweet smile, Kristin felt a sting in her eyes as tears threatened to spill. Her marriage to Rhett was just as much a business arrangement as James¡® to Adrienne. It was a sad parallel Chapter 103 Yet the security and respect Rhett could offer her were things James couldn¡¯t provide. ¡°Think it over,¡± James insisted. Nic wouldn¡¯t let her stay at the FitzGerald Group, and once Vincent was back, he wouldn¡¯t let her off easily, either. And then, there was the Haywood family. Once Adrienne was free, she¡¯d surelye after Kristin. James was worried about Kristin¡¯s safety if she wasn¡¯t around. ¡°James, I have my own life to live, a son to raise, a brother to care for. I am a person,¡± Kristin said, grateful for his help but resolute in her stance. ¡°Status and marriage mean a lot to me, even if I, as I am, don¡¯t deserve them.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Kristin had envisioned her wedding day co gown. But for now, those dreams were on hold. times, dressing up in the most beautiful Strolling down an aisle strewn with roses, she walked toward the love of her life, her husband¨Cto¨Cbe. But such fantasies would never materialize because no man was willing to give her a title, not even the dignity of a wedding ceremony. Her secret marriage to Rhett was nothing more than a transaction, James frowned as he watched Kristin, who saw things through yet failed to understand the most obvious truths. After all, she was still so fresh to the world, her experiences too few. In pain, he realized he had to let her suffer a bit more before she would understand that staying by his side was the best option. ¡°You want to stay at the FitzGerald Group? Rhett won¡¯t look out for you,¡± James sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll do everything in my power,¡± Kristin replied with a determined gaze. James¡® heart tightened. ¡°Call me if anything happens. After visiting Harriet, I¡¯ll have Bill drive you back.¡± The drive from Crescendo Town to Silvergrove City needed to be quick if she didn¡¯t want to miss work the next day. Highways and speed were the only options. Kristin didn¡¯t refuse, simply nodding her agreement. They arrived at Crescendo Central Hospital. Bill had driven for over four hours from 5:50 PM to 10:00 PM. ¡°You¡¯ve been a great help¡­¡± Kristin whispered her thanks as she approached Bill. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s nothing. Go on up with Mr. Bryce. I¡¯ll rest in the car for a bit, then drive you backter.¡± Bill said with a wave of his hand. 11:517 Chapter 103 Seeing Kristin¡¯s hesitance. Bill spoke again. ¡°If you feel you¡¯re troubling me, it¡¯ll be morning by the time we get to Silvergrove City. Just treat me to breakfast. How about that?¡± Kristin looked up at Bill and nodded vigorously with a smile, ¡°Sure, what would you like? Bill paused, taken aback as he gazed at her. She was still so lovely when she smiled. ¡°Some pancakes and orange juice would be great. I¡¯ve been craving that diner on Seaside Avenue.¡± Bill said with a smile. Kristin nodded. ¡°Deal!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± James said, ncing at Bill Irritatingly. He didn¡¯t like seeing Kristin smiling with someone else. Kristin turned and followed James, speaking softly. ¡°The doctor said Harriet¡¯s condition¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve instructed the doctors to do their best, but saving her uterus is unlikely. She¡¯ll need a good recovery, and the club will provide her with the necessarypensation,¡± James said as he entered the hospital elevator. Kristin followed, feeling a sense of loss. Without a uterus. Harriet could never have her children. And Kristin knew Harriet loved kids. In prison, Harriet always enjoyed asking about Summer, Kristin¡¯s son. It was clear she adored children. When Harriet was released, she even asked for a photo of Summer. Kristin¡¯s phone rang. It was Rhett. In her panic, she fumbled with the phone, which had crashed to the floor. James picked it up, his expression darkening. ¡°Give it back to me¡­¡± Kristin was flustered. Seeing Kristin¡¯s nervousness irritated James further. He hung up on Rhett and pulled Kristin into a corner. ¡°Kristin, do you think Rhett is a saint? Did you know he slept with Adrienne¡¯s sister, Hertha? He didn¡¯t take responsibility, and it drove Hertha to attempt suicide several times.¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Kristin¡¯s breath came in short gasps as she faced James, her gaze defiant yet resolute. ¡°Rhett isn¡¯t that type of person,¡± she dered. ¡°Kristin!¡± James thought she would be shocked and disappointed, but he never imagined Kristin¡¯s first reaction would be to defend Rhett. ¡°You¡¯ve only known him for a few days. How well do you think you understand him? Do you believe a man like Rhett could rise to where he is today by being Mr. Nice Guy?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s private business. It has nothing to do with me.¡± Kristin¡¯s heart was pounding, a suffocating weight settling in her chest. No matter what Rhett was like, it was irrelevant to her. They were only partners. But why did it have to be Hertha, and why the Haywood family again? She didn¡¯t want to get entangled with the Haywood family anymore. *Kristin, stay away from Rhett. He¡¯s not like me. I at least have genuine feelings for you and wouldn¡¯t use you. But Rhett¡­ he could ruin you.¡± James released Kristin, and his voice was heavy with warning. Kristin looked down, silent. James tugged at his tie in frustration. Kristin was stubborn, unwilling to see the truth until it was too late. She wouldn¡¯t turn back until she had suffered at the hands of Rhett and the FitzGerald Group. In Capital City. Rhett stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows of the hotel, frowning slightly. Kristin hung up on his call. Knowing her temperament, she wouldn¡¯t cut off themunication without a serious reason. ¡°Check if something¡¯s happened to Kristin. Ask the housekeeper if she¡¯s returned home, and find out what¡¯s happening at the office,¡± Rhettmanded York in a deep voice. York sighed, knowing Kristin was in trouble. After making several calls, York approached Rhett with a grim face. ¡°The housekeeper said Kristin hasn¡¯t returned home. The office reported that Kristin had confronted Ruby at thepany entrance in the daytime. Kristin pushed her, causing Ruby to faint.¡± Kristin was bing reckless, openly assaulting Ruby despite her frail health. ¡°Do you believe that?¡± Rhett asked, his voice low as he sat on the sofa. ¡°Did the Turner family stir up trouble for Kristin?¡± 11:511 ¡°rence took Ruby away, and the Turner family has been pulling strings with Nic and Hob, iming someone like Kristin has no ce in the FitzGerald Group.¡± York sighed. With so many against Kristin¡¯s presence in the FitzGerald Group, he wondered if she could withstand the pressure. ¡°Pull up the surveince footage from thepany entrance and send it to me. Who did Kristin leave with?¡± Rhett refused to believe Kristin would intentionally harm Ruby. ¡°Kristin left with James. It looks like they¡¯ve returned to Crescendo Town.¡± York nced at Rhett before adding, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯ve told you before that Summer is James¡® son. Kristin and James are tied together, and this will bring you nothing but trouble.¡± Rhett pondered. ¡°She can¡¯t take a leave from the three¨Cday training. She¡¯ll rush back to Silvergrove City before work tomorrow. She must be concerned about something in Crescendo Town and have left with James in such a hurry. Look into that woman named Harriet.¡± York hesitated, wondering why Rhett paid so much attention to Kristin. It seemed pointless. But he carried out Rhett¡¯s orders all the same. Sure enough, York found out after calling the club that Harriet was in an ident and pushed down a flight of stairs, causing massive bleeding. She lost the baby and almost her life. *Mr. FitzGerald, Harriet was pregnant and pushed down the stairs. The baby¡¯s gone, and she can¡¯t have children anymore, but she survived.¡± Rhett paused, then nced at the time. Did Kristin seek James¡® help over Harriet¡¯s situation? She hadn¡¯t fully trusted him, so she hadn¡¯t informed him immediately. ¡°We¡¯re going to Crescendo Town,¡± Rhett dered and rose to grab his coat. York was shocked. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald! You have a meeting tomorrow afternoon. Heading to Crescendo Town now¡­¡± Though it wasn¡¯t far from Capital City to Crescendo Town, just over an hour¡¯s drive, it waste. Why was Rhett making this trip at this hour? ¡°And if Kristin has gone with James, he will help her sort things out.¡± York spoke anxiously. As Rhett stepped into the elevator, his voice was deep and firm. ¡°She¡¯s currently my wife in the eyes of thew. Do you think I should let her owe favors to another man?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s Summer¡¯s dad. How could it¡­¡± York trailed off, stomping his foot in frustration. When Rhett made up his mind, no one could change it. At Crescendo Central Hospital. ¡°Go on in. I¡¯ll wait for you here,¡± James told Kristin, gesturing toward the hospital room as he walked off to the smoking area to light a cigarette. Feeling uneasy, Kristin reached out for James¡® phone. James frowned. ¡°Want to contact Rhett?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my boss¡­¡± Kristin exined. ¡°It¡¯s after hours now.¡± James¡® voice carried a hint of jealousy. He wasn¡¯t worried about any other man expect Rhett. ¡°Why the hell should you tell me what to do?¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes were zing, her voice tinged with a defiance she did not feel. She couldn¡¯t risk getting on James¡® bad side. ¡°Kristin, don¡¯t test my patience,¡± James warned. His voice was such a low growl that it vibrated with barely contained anger. Kristin knew she had pushed him too far. She was scared of James. The trauma of being assaulted six years ago had left deep scars, and his fury was thest thing she wanted to unleash. Head bowed, she walked into the hospital room, her mind racing with how to exin everything to Rhett. In the room, Harriety on the bed, her face ghostly pale, her eyes dull as they stared out the window. ¡°Kris,¡± Yara was still there, eyes tinged with palpable worry. It was clear that Yara was a good soul the only o steadfast enough to remain by Harriet¡¯s side in her time of need. After hearing Yara call Kristin, Harriet seemed to snap back to reality, turning to look at Kristin, unable to hold back her emotions any longer. ¡°Harriet,¡± Kristin softly said as she approached the bedside and reached her hand. Without a word, Harriet clung to Kristin tightly. Three years in prison gave them an understanding of each other¡¯s pain that words could never convey. It was a silent scream, a raw and helpless outcry, shattering the soul without sce. ¡°How¡¯s life in Silvergrove City?¡± Harriet asked in a whisper. Kristin just nodded. They didn¡¯t talk about Harriet¡¯s lost child or her uterus, not because they didn¡¯t care, but because they understood each other too well. ¡°I got a job at the FitzGerald Group. I am still in training and must get back tonight. I¡¯m in a three¨Cday assessment period. If I pass, I¡¯ll be Rhett¡¯s assistant,¡± Kristin confided in a hushed tone. Harriet took a deep breath. ¡°Kris, you¡¯ve got to hold on tight to Rhett. Ride on his coattails.¡± Kristin nodded silently. ¡°You need to reach heights where those people can¡¯t touch you.¡± Harriet¡¯s voice was weary. Kristin didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Kris, once I¡¯m discharged and settle things here, I¡¯ll go to Silvergrove City. I need a fresh start.¡± Harriet said with a raspy chuckle. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be waiting for you in Silvergrove City,¡± Kristin reassured her, patting her back. ¡°Harriet¡­¡± Harriet was about to continue when her gazended on a man entering the room. Kristin also turned to look and recognized the club manager she had met before. He was handsome, with well¨Cdefined features, but she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so spineless. ¡°Harriet, the club¡¯s been hectic. I just got the chance toe see you,¡± the man said softly. ¡°How are you doing?¡± Despite knowing what had happened, he feigned ignorance. Harriet¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°I lost the baby, your baby, and my uterus, either.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Sheid the truth bare since he chose to y dumb. ¡°Harriet, take care of yourself. Here¡¯s thirty thousand,¡± the man said, cing the money on the bed before leaving. ¡°A child is a woman¡¯s entire life¡­ thirty thousand? You¡¯re not much of a man,¡± Yara spat out angrily. Kristin watched the man, feeling the sting of irony. That was the bitter truth of the matter. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that she fell down the stairs. Now she can¡¯t have kids anymore¡­¡± the man muttered as he walked away. Chapter 105 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¨Cridden 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 11:517 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. 11:52 Chapter 105 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. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 ¡°Kristin!¡± Bill bolted down the alley, his eyes darting desperately from shadow to shadow. Where could she be? ¡°Kristin!¡± The alley echoed his calls, a lonely silence that offered no clues. He ran and searched, but Kristin was nowhere to be found. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. He didn¡¯t know Kristin had a habit of seeking a corner to hide in when spooked. Terrified, she curled up beside a dumpster, her body shaking uncontrobly. Six years ago, she had too many drinks at a party and was led, her mind foggy, Into a room. Fear gripped her as she struggled internally, screaming silently, her body not responding to her commands. Desperate to escape, she fought to keep her mind alert, but it was futile. Pounding on the door, she cried for help, thrashing against her invisible restraints, but nobody came to her rescue. She might have considered jumping to escape the horror if not for the hotel¡¯s sealed panoramic windows. She huddled in the corner, slowly losing hope in humanity. ¡°Slut, shameless.¡± ¡°Look at the marks on her body. She¡¯s not even dressed properly.¡± ¡°See, there¡¯s blood on the bed. How could this woman be so disgraceful?¡± Before she woke up the following morning, Ruby and Vincent burst into the room with reporters in tow. She opened her eyes dazedly, then wrapped herself tightly in the nket as terror surpassed her fright from the night before. Like a fish thrown ashore to die of thirst, she was in her final throes. Helplessly crying, she begged Vincent to help her, but Vincent¡¯s gaze was cold, malicious, and alien, filled with disgust. Each look cast her deeper into hell. What was her fault? The faulty with those who hurt her. But no one believed her. Everyone wanted to crush her into the mud beyond redemption. In her fear, even breathing became a struggle. Huddled in her corner, Kristin wept silently until her body trembled. 11:52 Chapter 106 A few drunks staggered down the alley, and Kristin curled up tighter, biting her tinger to silence her sobs. She bit her finger through the taste of blood spreading through her mouth. It felt like she had lost control over her breathing. Just like the day she was locked in the FitzGerald family¡¯s warehouse by Vincent and Ruby, her terror peaked, and her anxiety manifested physicality, making even her breath feel numb ¡°Kristin.¡± At her moment of utmost fear, a familiar figure appeared before her. Stiffly, she looked up to see Rhett It must be a dream. He was supposed to be on a business trip in Capital City. How could he be there in Crescendo Town? That was impossible. It must be a dream. Rhett was breathing heavily. Seeing Kristin in such a state, he slowly crouched before her. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Kristin was biting her hand, blood already visible. She bit deep. With trembling eyes and fingers, she lifted her hand, wanting to hand it over, yet feeling too filthy, she froze in hesitation. Rhett grabbed Kristin¡¯s wrist, pulling her into his arms, relief in his voice. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± He had found her. York imed he didn¡¯t care about Kristin, yet he floored the gas pedal and made it to the hospital in just over an hour. Harriet said James had taken Kristin away and that he seemed off. Rhett rushed downstairs and seeing James car still in the parking lot, knew Kristin had to be nearby. He knew that when scared. Kristin liked to hide in corners, ces she deemed safe. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± York followed and breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Rhett with Kristin. ¡°James¡® assistant has been looking for Kristin, too. James rushed back to the Bryce family. They say Carter¡¯s having heart trouble.¡± Rhett draped his coat over Kristin, his voice deep. ¡°We¡¯re heading back to Silvergrove City.¡± ¡°What?¡± York was shocked. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, it¡¯s over four hours from here to Silvergrove City and then back to Capital City for your afternoon meeting¡­ You won¡¯t have any time to rest. It¡¯s too exhausting.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t care. He held Kristin and got into the car. Chapter 1800 It took a while for Kristin to realize the person beside her was real, not a hallucination. She tried to speak but couldn¡¯t make a sound. ¡°Have some water.¡± Rhett handed her a bottle of water. Kristin¡¯s hands shook as she took it. Rhett didn¡¯t ask what had happened. He just sat quietly, waiting for Kristin to recover before speaking. ¡°If you¡¯re in trouble, you can tell me. I can arrange a driver for you.¡± Kristin opened her mouth and whispered, looking down. ¡°Thank you.¡± Rhett said nothing, slowly closing his eyes. Holding the water bottle, Kristin said hoarsely. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, why were you here¡­ in Crescendo Town?¡± Just passing through,¡± Rhett said casually. Kristin looked down, staying silent. Rhett probably didn¡¯t want her to get the wrong idea. Throughout the journey, Rhett said not another word. Kristin nced at him secretly. He was strikingly handsome even with his eyes closed, his features still exuded an aristocratic charm. Her frantic heart gradually calmed down. Kristin leaned against the car window, watching Rhett rest. Simply watching him appeared to bring her heart a sense of peace. ¡°Hungry?¡± Perhaps sensing her gaze, Rhett slowly opened his eyes, his voice husky and pleasant. Startled, Kristin sat up sharply, instinctively trying to stand, and bumped her head on the car roof, the water bottle nearly tumbling from her grip. Rhett caught the bottle, smiling. ¡°Next time, we¡¯ll take a bigger car.¡± Kristin¡¯s ears turned red, and she lowered her head, too embarrassed to speak. Rhett brought over a bag of snacks and ced it beside Kristin. These treats were for Summer. Since Summer had a hypoglycemic episode, Rhett had instructed York to keep a stash of snacks in the car. Kristin stared nkly at the assortment of goodies, then lifted her gaze to Rhett. She shouldn¡¯t be treated so kindly. Flowers growing in darkness tended to wither when suddenly exposed to sunlight. Chapter 106 Tentatively, she reached out to grab a chocte bar, tearing it open and taking a bite. It was sweet. After eating the bar, the gnawing in her stomach subsided significantly. The silence in the car was overwhelming, and leaning against the window, Kristin drifted off to sleep. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Rhett nced at the time. It was 3:30 AM. With a motion for silence, he gently lifted Kristin from the car. Kristin was a light sleeper, a habit formed during her time in prison when any movement would jolt her awake. But for some reason, she was sleeping deeply. York grunted softly, then spoke in a low voice. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, why don¡¯t you catch some sleep at home, too? We¡¯ll head out at 8 in the morning.¡± Rhett nodded, carrying Kristin into the bedroom. Heid her down on the bed and intended to leave, but Kristin¡¯s fingers clung tightly to his shirt cuff. Standing by the bed in silence, Rhett¡¯s thoughts grewplex. His dealings with Kristin were indeed getting overly personal, which might not bode well for her. It seemed necessary to maintain some distance unless he wanted to take full responsibility for her. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 ¡°Mrs. FitzGerald, you¡¯re awake.¡± At 7:30 in the morning, Kristin woke up. She sat up in a panic, her eyes darting around the room. Had Rhett brought her back ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin whispered. ¡°He¡¯s in the dining room,¡± the housekeeper smiled and replied. Kristin hurried out of bed, quickly washed up, and dashed out. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Breakfast is ready.¡± Rhett said tly, his face revealing no emotion. Kristin took her seat, head bowed, and noticed a Band¨CAid on her finger where she had bitten. herself in nervousness. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, about your coboration in Capital City¡­¡± Kristin asked softly. ¡°This afternoon, no rush,¡± Rhett said, noticing how Kristin bit her lip when she was tense. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to trouble you,¡± Kristin said guiltily. ¡°Then stay away from James from now on,¡± Rhett put down his coffee cup, his voice detached. Kristin couldn¡¯t decipher Rhett, unsure if he was indeed angry. Before she could apologize again, Rhett spoke first. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Tears rimmed Kristin¡¯s eyes as she nodded. Once Summer was stable, she¡¯d leave as soon as possible. She couldn¡¯t keep troubling Rhett. After a silent breakfast, Kristin wanted to head to the office.. ¡°This is for you.¡± Rhett pushed a new smartphone toward her. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± she choked up. She had lost her phone again. ¡°Remember our arrangement. Since it¡¯s a partnership, we should use each other. Next time. something happens, tell me first instead of taking matters into your own hands,¡± Rhett said calmly but firmly. Kristin was frightened the night before, and Rhett hadn¡¯t med her then. But since they were both clear¨Cheaded, he needed to set things straight. He knew James had designs on Kristin. She must have guessed as much. Since she had guessed it, she should have avoided him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Kristin gripped her fingers tightly. She must have made Rhett dislike her. Indeed, she only ever seemed to be disliked. Chapter ¡°It¡¯s not that you did anything wrong. Harriet is your friend, and your concern was natural But next time, you should turn to me, not James.¡± Rhett stood and walked to the closet. ¡°Come and help me pick a tie.¡± Kristin sniffled and hurried over. Shepared the colors with Rhett¡¯s suit and chose a matching tie. ¡°How about this one?¡± Rhett gave a nod of approval at his personal assistant¡¯s taste. At least Kristin had chosen something that caught his eye at first nce. ¡°Can you tie a tie?¡± Rhett asked. Kristin nodded, and her voice was soft. ¡°I used to help Vincent¡­¡± She stopped mid¨Csentence, closing her mouth. Standing on tiptoes, Kristin helped Rhett with his tie. Perhaps it was the proximity, but Kristin could tell Rhett¡¯s demeanor cooled considerably, and the noble countenance on his face visibly darkened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± she apologized instinctively, realizing her slip. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office,¡± Rhett said sternly. Kristin left, head bowed, feeling she had displeased him again. Once Kristin was gone, Rhett furrowed his brow and massaged his temples. Was it because he hadn¡¯t been with women for years? Not only did he not mind Kristin¡¯s closeness, but even¡­ When she reached up to tie his tie, he had actually¡­ With a clouded expression, Rhett left the house. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I like your choice of tie today,¡± York said, his eyes rimmed with dark circles, grinning foolishly. Rhett¡¯s face darkened even more than York¡¯s eye bags, and he got into the car without a word. York stood there, puzzled. Was Mr. FitzGerald in a bad mood? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Kristin has withdrawn herint, and Vincent¡¯s been released. Mr. Hob took him home. He¡¯ll probablyy low for a while,¡± York reported cautiously. ¡°When did Vincent and Kristin meet?¡± Rhett asked indifferently. ¡°Aren¡¯t they famously childhood sweethearts? Grew up together as each other¡¯s first love? Remember when Vincent went out in the rain to deliver homemade birthday choctes to Kristin on her eighteenth birthday?¡± York was oblivious to the brewing storm, chattering away. ¡°How could a teenage girl not be swayed? That was the beautiful first love. I wonder what Vincent thinks now, turned love to 11:536 hate?¡± ¡°You can shut up now,¡± Rhett said with his face grim. York opened his mouth but then closed Il, confused. Wasn¡¯t Rhett the one asking? The tension in the car hung heavy for a long while before Rhett said, ¡°Childish.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± York had nearly forgotten what he¡¯d been talking about. Who was childish? What was childish? Kristin endured three days at the office amidst endless taunts and snide remarks, which she pretended not to hear. ¡°Kristin, your probation is over, but it doesn¡¯t mean you can stay at thepany,¡± Lisa called Kristin into the office, looking over the assessment form York had handed her. ¡°Full marks, huh? York seems to think highly of you.¡± Kristin looked up at Lisa in surprise, York had given her full marks? She had thought York disliked her and wouldn¡¯t rate her highly, but¡­. ¡°People are saying she¡¯s the parachuted¨Cin type, probably has some messy rtionship with York. I bet she¡¯s a slut in bed,¡± Lisa¡¯s assistant said with a sneer. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard? She¡¯s been through all the high society boys.¡± Kristin stared at her employment offer, silent for a long while. She wouldn¡¯t care about their gossip if she couldn¡¯t stay at thepany. Now that she was Rhett¡¯s assistant, these ongoing nders against her could tarnish his reputation. As the personal assistant, she couldn¡¯t let her boss suffer the slightest harm. ¡°Were you there watching by the bedside when I had sex with them?¡± Kristin took a deep breath, lifted her head, and asked the other assistant. The assistant was visibly shocked, stumped by Kristin¡¯s question: ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know what you are? A lot of people have slept with you. You are quite the talk of the town, a real piece of work. You stole twenty years of some heiress¡® life, didn¡¯t you?¡± Kristin picked up her employment offer letter and said hoarsely. ¡°We¡¯re colleagues here. By defaming me, you¡¯re not just smearing my name but thepany¡¯s and yours. If you defame me without proof or alibi, I will sue you.¡± ¡°Want to sue now? I can help you with the evidence. I¡¯ve screenshotted all lewd rumors they¡¯ve spread in the chat group.¡± At the doorway. York leaned against the frame, his voice deep. Lisa¡¯s assistant panicked a bit, casting a fearful look at Lisa. ¡°Lisa¡­¡± ¡°York,e on, we¡¯re all colleagues, here. There¡¯s no need for this,¡± Lisa said, getting up with a 3/4 11:53 0 Chapter 1U/ cating smile. This is from N?velDrama.Org. York remained silent, his gazending on Kristin. ¡°I have the right to sue,¡± Kristin stated, her voice still hoarse. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll help you report it. Spreading pornographic rumors and defamation is a serious offense with a chat group of over five hundred. That could lead to jail time.¡± York took out his phone, dialed the police, and stared at the assistant. ¡°Spreading rumors cannd you in prison, and you¡¯lle outbeled just like the ones you mock.¡± York wasn¡¯t one to meddle, but Mr. FitzGerald, for reasons unknown, had sent him to punish one as a warning to others on Kristin¡¯s behalf. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Within minutes, the police arrived and took away the used for questioning. It wasn¡¯t the crime of the century. After the investigation, the whole thing was settled with a simple apology andpensation. But York had a ir for the dramatic. Soon enough, everyone in the office chat was buzzing about it. ¡°Hey, if she got nothing to hide, why worry about it, right?¡± One male employee scoffed, puffing on his cigarette in the break room. ¡°I mean, if she¡¯s not clean as a whistle and she¡¯s sharing someone else¡¯s bed, can shein about the talk?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you. I know a guy who¡¯s been with Kristin. She¡¯s got quite the reputation in our circle,¡± another chimed in between drags. ¡°She looks all sweet and innocent, but the man didn¡¯t expect her to be one of those girls. I wouldn¡¯t mind a piece of that pie myself,¡± a third snickered, exhaling a cloud of smoke. Gossip was like wildfire. Even if it was not spread openly, it burned on in hushed tones and behind closed doors. ¡®You? You¡¯re not even in her league. The guys that Kristin beds are all loaded, trust fund babies.¡± Kristin stood outside the break room, silent for a long moment before she pushed the door open. ¡°Which friend of yours has slept with me? Bring him here to face me. And if he hasn¡¯t, you owe me a public apology.¡± Her voice was slightly hoarse, betraying her frustration. She had hoped to keep the peace, to ignore the slurs if she couldn¡¯t hear them. But they had crossed a line. The men in the break room were caught off guard. Seeing Kristin¡¯s tear¨Cstained face and her challenging stance, their bravado faltered. One tried to joke it off. ¡°What, can¡¯t handle the truth? How much for a night? I might not be a rich kid, but I can save a month¡¯s sry for a good time. with you. That¡¯s good, huh?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± Kristin asked, her voice choking up. ¡°Does belittling a woman you don¡¯t even know and spreading false rumors about her bring you joy?¡± ¡°Because in the minds of men with no real substance, having one useless piece of anatomy more than a woman is all they¡¯ve got to brag about.¡± a deep voice said from behind her. Rhett stepped into view, his presence alone demanding respect. The smokers looked up in rm at Rhett, their cigarettes forgotten as they tried to shrink away. ¡°Apologize, Rhettmanded, his gaze unyielding. He didn¡¯t need to raise his voice. His authority was implicit. Chapter 108 This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± The ringleader quickly mumbled an apology, his head bowed low. ¡°The FitzGerald Group doesn¡¯tck talent. When skills are equal, character bes crucial,¡± Rhett sald, turning to the HR manager. Lisa¡¯s face paled. Those men were her recruits. They were hires that Nic and Vincent had nted in advance, and one of them was her nephew. ¡°Get back to work,¡± she snapped. ¡°In a case like this, you think a verbal apology is enough to get back to work?¡± York asked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°Lisa, isn¡¯t there a rule in HR about one¡¯s charactering first?¡± Lisa nced nervously at Kristin. It was her first day as Rhett¡¯s assistant, and already she¡¯d stirred up trouble. ¡°Kristin, about this¡­ How would you like to handle it?¡± Taking a deep breath, Kristin knew the game Lisa was ying. She had learned of Lisa¡¯s nephew¡¯s identity the day before from the cafeteria guy. She was aware of Clyde¡¯s habits, his daily smoke break at 3:30 PM with his clique. Lisa was sowing seeds for Nic and Vincent. ¡°Ourpany doesn¡¯tck top university graduates but doesn¡¯t tolerate disrespect,¡± Kristin stated firmly. ¡°I request that these men write and post a formal letter of self¨Ccriticism in the work chat and that they voluntarily resign.¡± Kristin left them out. Resigning would allow them to find other jobs easily, using their experience at The FitzGerald Group to their advantage. But being fired would stain their record forever. The men stared at Kristin, their faces turning various shades of anger. ¡°Kristin, you can¡¯t do that! It is personal revenge!¡± But they tempered their outrage before Rhett. Kristin remained silent, hoping they¡¯d take the hint. As Rhett¡¯s assistant, she must shoulder the burden. Besides, what did she have to lose? Her reputation was already in tatters. Rhett gave Kristin an approving look. It was the nod of a boss recognizing a job well done. York also nced at Kristin, impressed by her resilience on her first day, gifting their boss with such a bold move. ¡°Kristin¡­¡± Lisa began. But Kristin cut her off. ¡°Lisa, you know thepany¡¯s reputation is everything.¡± Lisa frowned, her gaze deepening as she looked at Kristin. For a moment, she saw a different woman than the timid one she¡¯d first met, a woman who might be a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. ¡°Thank her,¡± Rhett said, his voice leaving no room for argument. ¡°Why should I thank¡­¡± Clyde began, but Lisa had the sense to cut him off. ¡°Resigning is your choice. Write your reasons for leaving. But if thepany fires you, your future employment checks will reveal why. Who will vouch for you then?¡± 11:53 Chapter 108 Clyde clenched his teeth and huffed. ¡°Fine! We apologize.¡± With that, they left, their pride wounded, but their future still in their hands. They had surrendered to Rhett¡¯smand, and Kristin was the shrewd maniptor pulling the strings behind his influence. ¡°Lisa, be more careful with recruitments,¡± Rhett reminded her meaningfully. Lisa inhaled deeply, nodding. ¡°Of course, Mr. FitzGerald. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll return to my office.¡± Rhett exchanged a knowing look with York as the drama settled into the fabric of the FitzGerald Group¡¯s corporate saga. York nodded sharply, ready to deal with Clyde and his cronies. ¡°Did you know Clyde is Lisa¡¯s nephew?¡± When Rhett and Kristin were alone, Rhett threw out the question. Kristin sighed, avoiding Rhett¡¯s gaze, her words tumbling in a stutter. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± She had done her homework. Rhett cracked a rare smile, the sharpness from moments ago dissolving into amusement. Was she backing down so easily in front of him? He seldom gave outpliments, but Kristin always managed to surprise him. Taking a step closer, Rhett leaned to look at Kristin. ¡°First day on the job and already making a statement?¡± Rhett was too close forfort. Flustered, Kristin stepped backward, not noticing the step leading to the smoking area. She nearly tumbled down. Rhett¡¯s reflexes kicked in, and they both fell against the sink behind them. Thankfully, Rhett¡¯s hand cushioned the fall, saving Kristin from a nasty bump. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kristin murmured, blushing to the tips of her ears. ¡°This isn¡¯t about making a statement. They¡¯re not worth it.¡± To Rhett, Clyde was just another pawn. That was just the appetizer. Over the next few days, Kristin discreetly removed Lisa¡¯s assistant, her nephew, and several other informers. She was sending a clear message. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Lisa was the kind of veteran employee who wore her tenure like a badge of honor. She strutted. through the halls with arrogance, born from years of service, as if she owned the ce.. A minor hup here or there wouldn¡¯t ruffle her feathers. Kristin knew she¡¯d have to knock Lisa down a peg or two to win Lisa over to Rhett¡¯s side. She would have to shave off thatyer of ego, at least. ¡°When do you n to use me?¡± Rhett remembered Kristin asking him about his peanut allergy. ¡°Strike while the iron¡¯s hot. Tomorrow, um, tomorrow¡­¡± Kristin stammered, still a bit apprehensive. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, Mr. FitzGerald. I¡¯ll have the antihistamines ready. There won¡¯t be any danger.¡± Offering a smile, Rhett said, ¡°Well, I look forward to your pledge of loyalty.¡± Kristin nodded vigorously with her head bowed. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Come on. Let me show you around thepany.¡± Rhett¡¯s offer to personally acquaint her with thepany left Kristin stunned. That wasn¡¯t just a tour. It was Rhett lending her his clout. As Rhett¡¯s assistant, Kristin would have to interact with all departments. He knew they wouldn¡¯t roll out the red carpet for her, so to get ahead of the curve and streamline efficiency, he needed to establish her authority early on. Kristin¡¯s palms were warm. Her usually clenched fingers slowly rxed as she followed Rhett, ncing at him secretly from behind. Rhett was a man of innate aloofness and detachment, seemingly indifferent to everything around him. Kristin had once thought Rhett was unfeeling, recalling her teenage years spent avoiding him during visits to the FitzGerald Mansion. She was fearful of him primarily because Vincent was. Yet, she perceived a different facet of his character. He was cold, undoubtedly, but not devoid of principles. She needed to work harder to prove her worth to Rhett. That way, even if their ¡®marriage of convenience¡® ended, she could remain his most trusted aide. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, your schedule is packed. Even your usual Saturday off might be taken up this week due to the Coastal International partnership at Harborside Haven,¡± she reported when there was a moment to speak. ¡°Didn¡¯t York mention that an early Sunday departure would suffice?¡± Rhett inquired coolly. 11:54 Chapter 109 ¡°That¡¯s true. Mr. FitzGerald, but it¡¯s the first coboration between the FitzGerald Group and Coastal International. The project at Harborside Haven is crucial for our expansion into the coastal market.¡± Kristin¡¯s stutter vanished when discussing work. ¡°I¡¯ve done my homework on Eddie Jose of Coastal International. He¡¯s a man who values his pride and prefers a bit of ttery. Arriving early and visiting him the same night is strategic for sess rates and leaves a solid impression.¡± Rhett¡¯s standing in the industry was unshakable, yet some still found his youth and pride irritating. Some resented his perceived arrogance, preferring Vincent¡¯s feigned humility and approachability. Kristin intended to anticipate Rhett¡¯s needs in every way. Rhett halted, turning to face her. ¡°Day one on the job, and you¡¯re already nning my only day off?¡± Kristin stumbled over her words, scrambling for an excuse. ¡°Harborside Haven¡­ it¡¯s a resort area, scenic. Good for a, um, a walk, a rest.¡± He nodded, saying nothing more, tacitly approving her ns. Keeping Kristin as his assistant seemed like a stroke of genius to Rhett. After all, York was a man, and there were some things he didn¡¯t consider as carefully as Kristin did. Moreover, York was a rtive from his mother¡¯s side bound for promotion. He couldn¡¯t keep York as an aide forever. But it seemed Kristin could be by his side for a lifetime. He paused again, catching himself off guard. Caught unawares, Kristin bumped into Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, any instructions?¡± Rhett pondered for a moment. ¡°What do you feel like for dinner?¡± Confused, Kristin looked around before whispering, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we¡¯re on the clock.¡± He nodded. ¡°After hours?¡± Taking a deep breath, Kristin was honest. ¡°James reached out and said he wanted to check on Summer.¡± At her words, Rhett¡¯s expression darkened instantly. Seeing Rhett had fallen silent, Kristin followed suit, her presence muted. She opened her mouth to exin, then closed it again. Was it necessary to say Summer¡¯s doctor had asked for his birth father¡¯s cooperation for a check¨Cup? It seemed redundant. If it weren¡¯t for Summer, Kristin would never contact James again. Chapter 109 But James knew there would always be a connection between them as long as Summer existed. ¡°Good day, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what brings you to our department?¡± A friendly department head inquired with a smile. Stone¨Cfaced, Rhett replied tersely, ¡°Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± The department head silently retorted, ¡®I¡¯m working here. Aren¡¯t you the one strolling around with your assistant?¡± ¡°Is there something you need, Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Another brave soul asked. ¡°This is the new assistant. Make her acquaintance. It¡¯ll smooth out the workflow forter. Rhett introduced Kristin, setting the stage for her new role. The manager was left utterly surprised. Were executive assistants hustling that hard these days? Did the CEO need to provide a grand tour of the departments? And where in the world was York? ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Kristin.¡± Kristin hurried forward, eager to make a good impression. ¡°Hi, my pleasure to meet you,¡± the manager smiled politely, extending his hand for a shake. Rhett gave the manager a sidelong nce. ¡°Did you wash your hands?¡± The manager hastily pulled back his hand. Did one really need to wash their hands before a handshake with an assistant? Once Rhett left without another word, Kristin quickly jogged after him. The department erupted into a frenzy when Kristin and Rhett were out of sight. Spection ran rampant. ¡°Who is this Kristin, anyway? has been swirling since she arrived, and now Mr. FitzGerald is personally escorting her around. What kind of special treatment is this?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I hear she was once engaged to Mr. Vincent?¡± ¡°Shush! Let¡¯s not talk about Kristin so openly. Did you see the group chat? Clyde and the others. posted public apologies and announced their resignations!¡± That shut everyone up fast. Kristin was not someone to mess with. When the clock struck the end of the workday, Kristin didn¡¯t dare leave her post because Rhett showed no sign of calling it a day. The assistant couldn¡¯t clock out early if the boss wasn¡¯t leaving. Fidgeting nervously, Kristin stole nces at Rhett. The schedule didn¡¯t show after¨Chours work, 11:54 Chapter 109 so why wasn¡¯t Rhett showing any intention to wrap up? Rhett, his face a study in stern concentration, was thumbing through documents, tapping his fingers lightly on the desktop. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Kristin nced at the clock. She had an appointment with the doctor at six. ¡°There¡¯s one more document that needs your signature,¡± Rhett said, cing the file on the desk. ¡°In a hurry to leave?¡± Kristin waved her hands hastily. ¡°I¡­ no, it¡¯s just that Summer¡¯s doctor asked James toe in for a check¨Cup,¡± she exined softly. ¡°Have Garner take care of it,¡± Rhett said, frowning slightly. Kristin nodded quickly. ¡°Of course.¡± Downstairs at FitzGerald Group¡¯s headquarters, James sat in his car with a scowl across his face. It was already six o¡¯clock. Why on earth hadn¡¯t Rhett let Kristin leave yet? Chapter 110 Chapter 110 This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. In the executive office, Kristin¡¯s phone was buzzing incessantly. Rhett¡¯s displeasure was evident as Kristin fumbled to silence her phone. He didn¡¯t force Kristin to turn off her phone, knowing James would be left hanging if she didn¡¯t answer. York had texted earlier, saying that James¡® car was parked downstairs, clearly there to pick up Kristin. ¡°Copy this document a hundred times,¡± Rhett said, giving Kristin a task. Kristin nced at the document, which was a set of employee guidelines. A hundred copies? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are these for distribution to the entire staff?¡± she asked. ¡°Yep,¡± Rhett replied indifferently. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be more efficient to send a group text to the department heads and have them pass it down?¡± Kristin questioned the need for such an arduous task. Rhett looked up from his papers and fixed her with a gaze. He said nothing, but Kristin caved. ¡°Right away, boss,¡± she said, heading to the copy area with the document in hand, making copies with diligence. Back in the office, Kristin¡¯s phone continued to vibrate. James¡® call was still unanswered. Rhett stood up, nced at the phone, smirked, and walked over to the window. He wouldn¡¯t touch Kristin¡¯s phone, but the thought of James growing increasingly irate downstairs brought him a twisted sense of satisfaction. He remembered he called Kristin that day in Crescendo Town, and James had audaciously hung up on him. Rhett always appreciated a bit of tit¨Cfor¨Ctat Downstairs, James was fuming with impatience. After several unanswered calls, he knew Rhett was to me. When he tried calling Rhett directly, there was no answer. Furrowing his brow, James massaged his temples. Knowing Rhett as he did, there must be a reason he was engaging in such pettiness over a woman. If Rhett acted this way, he was trying to warn James that Kristin was fair game. 11:54 ¨C Chapter 110 James knew that Rhett knew about his secret dealings with Vincent and that the Bryce family had even hosted Nic at the Harborside Haven banquet to bid on a project. Rhett was determined to win the Harborside Haven project, but Vincent was also in the running. After a police incident and a trending scandal, Vincent¡¯s reputation within the FitzGerald Group was hit, leaving him vulnerable to Rhett¡¯s maneuverings. He had to secure this project to regain his standing in the company. Did Rhett know the Bryce family was backing Vincent? Was he using Kristin to send a warning? Stepping out of his car, James headed straight for the FitzGerald Group¡¯s building. He needed to remind Rhett that not everything was up for grabs or maniption. At least, he hoped Rhett could stop using Kristin as a pawn in the sibling rivalry between Rhett and Vincent. ¡°Mr.. um. Mr. Bryce, good to see you. Are you here to meet Mr. FitzGerald?¡± the receptionist stammered. ¡°Right this way, please.¡± As the strategic partner of the FitzGerald Group, Aurora Tech couldn¡¯t turn James away. They had to escort him to the elevator instead. Meanwhile, Rhett approached Kristin at the copier. ¡°How many have you done?¡± ¡°Just thirty so far,¡± Kristin replied hastily. ¡°Forget it. York will be back soon. Come with me.¡± Rhett said, heading for the elevator. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, do we have an engagement?¡± Kristin asked, checking her notes. There was no dinner or event scheduled for that evening. Rhett said nothing and led Kristin down to the underground parking garage. As Kristin and Rhett¡¯s elevator doors closed, James emerged from another. ¡°Sorry, Mr. Bryce, Mr. FitzGerald has left the building,¡± the flustered manager informed him. Growing impatient, James spun around and began furiously pressing the elevator button. Was Rhett ying games with him? Perhaps he had been too lenient with Rhett over the years. In the parking garage. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you driving yourself?¡± Kristin looked around, noticing the absence of a driver and York. ¡°Can you drive?¡± Rhett asked tly. Kristin shook her head nervously. ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Chapter 110 Noticing Kristin heading to the backseat, Rhell¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°Sit up front!¡± Kristin hurriedly closed the door and took the passenger seat. *Mr. FitzGerald, where are we going?¡± she asked, wanting to prepare if they were meeting a client. Rhett remained silent as he floored the elerator. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± At the elevator exit, the manager called out to James in a panic, but it was too Rhett had calcted his moves precisely, ensuring James stepped on everyndmineid out for him. While standing there with a heavy air. James¡® expression soured. ¡°Rhett, you¡¯re meddling more than you should.¡± he thought to himself. ¡°Is Mr. FitzGerald particrly busytely?¡± James asked coldly, his mood unreadable. The manager nodded anxiously. ¡°Mr. Bryce, I apologize. Mr. FitzGerald has indeed been busy.¡± ¡°Hmph¡­¡± James nced at the clock on the wall. ¡°If he¡¯s that busy, ring up Vincent for me, will you? Tell him I¡¯m interested in discussing the Harborside Haven project.¡± The manager hesitated, stuttering as he started to speak, then stopped. It was clear as day that James was pissed off. hett and Vincent, the half¨Cbrothers from the FitzGerald family, were notoriously known for their discord. ¡°Mr. Bryce, how ¡®bout,l give Mr. FitzGerald another call?¡± The manager¡¯s hand trembled as he fumbled for his phone to call Rhett. James didn¡¯t stop him. He wanted to gauge Rhett¡¯s reaction. If Rhett yed his cards too obviously, James wouldn¡¯t have to y coy either. Vincent was much easier to handle than Rhett by a long shot. At Melissa¡¯s vi, ¡°Oh, for heaven¡¯s sake, look what you¡¯ve done! My dress is ruined,¡± Melissained, stepping out of her luxury car in sky¨Chigh heels, her slender legs wless as she descended. She had expected Garner, waiting outside, to instinctively reach out to help her down or at least hold her dress up. Instead, he stood there, straight as an arrow, the very picture of stoicism. ¡°Come over here and hold up my dress!¡± Melissa was stunned by Garner¡¯sck of response. What was his deal? Was he not into women? 11:54 Chapter 110 Despite her alluring legs that could make any man take a second nce, he remained unmoved. His eyes were clear but tinged with impatience. As if he was saying, ¡°Hurry up and let me clock out¡­¡± ¡°Boss, can I call it a day?¡± Garner stepped forward, bunching up the hem of Melissa¡¯s dress in his hand, ncing at his watch. He had to take Summer to the hospital to see the doctor. Melissa¡¯s legs, as exquisite as sculptures, were exposed for all to see, and Garner felt it was inappropriate. He loosened the grip on the dress, covering her thighs. Melissa looked at Garner¡¯s puzzling actions, her expression amusement and disbelief. ¡°This. dress is a one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind, haute couture piece worth a million. You can¡¯t just handle it like that.¡± Garner looked down at the bunched¨Cup fabric in his hand, then quickly let go. He suspected Melissa was setting him up. But she wasn¡¯t wrong. The dress couldn¡¯t be held roughly, and where Garner had grabbed was visibly creased. Taking a deep breath, Garner spoke in a low voice, ¡°Did someone¡­ pull a fast one on you?¡± A million for this dress? Was it a stick¨Cup? Melissa¡¯s gaze bore into Garner, unguarded and meaningful. ¡°Stay with me tonight, and we¡¯ll forget about the dress,¡± she said, her toneced with an offer he¡¯d have to consider. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Garner knew it. Melissa was at it again. ¡°Bark!¡± ¡°Bark!¡± Suddenly, the dog barking came outside the vi, and a massive ck Labrador charged them. ¡°Ah!¡± Melissa screamed, almost instinctively leaping to hang onto Garner, clinging to him for dear life. Melissa was afraid of dogs, a fact well¨Cknown to the security staff of the Lawrence family. Being Melissa¡¯s bodyguard was a cushy job. Without real danger, they just needed to keep the dogs at bay for the boss. Garner didn¡¯t know why Melissa was so terrified of dogs, but judging by her fear, it wasn¡¯t just a simple phobia. She must have had some traumatic experiences in the past, like being bitten by a dog. ¡°Garner, get rid of it, please!¡± Melissa¡¯s voice choked with panic as she hung onto Garner, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Garner cradled Melissa with one arm, his gaze dark and intense on the approaching dog. Melissa had bought a vi on an ind in the middle of ake for safety. There were no nearby neighbors with dogs, making it clear that this was someone¡¯s deliberate doing. ¡°Baillie, follow it and see where it came from,¡± Garner ordered after shooing the dog away, telling the other bodyguards to track it down. ¡°It¡¯s gone. Come down,¡± Garner said, loosening his grip, signaling Melissa to get off him. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Her clinging act left the other bodyguards speechless. But Melissa teasing Garner was a daily routine, so they were not surprised. ¡°I¡¯m noting down,¡± Melissa insisted, refusing to let go of Garner. Garner raised his hand to peel her off him when he felt a damp coolness on his shoulder. ¡°Are you crying?¡± Melissa stayed silent, her head tilted, resting on Garner¡¯s shoulder. This man was so sturdy, so reassuring. She didn¡¯t want to let go. ¡°Why are you so scared of dogs?¡± Garner asked, his curiosity piqued. He felt Melissa tense up at his question. He wasn¡¯t sure what he¡¯d said to offend Melissa, but she suddenly got down and headed straight for the house with a tear¨Cstreaked face. Chapter 111 ¡°Madam, this is the attorney representing Mr. Keith Martin here to discuss yourte husband¡¯s estate,¡± Melissa¡¯s eyes sharpened instantly, wary of thewyer. ¡°Keith sent you? I thought I made myself clear. My husband left a will, notarized on video. I am the sole beneficiary of his entire estate. Keith, his brother, has no im. Do you understand?¡± The attorney stepped forward politely, offering his hand to Melissa. ¡°I represent Mr. Keith Martin¡­¡± Melissa stepped back cautiously, but the attorney advanced, brandishing a knife hidden up his sleeve, stabbing toward Melissa¡¯s heart. Melissa recoiled in horror, instinctively closing her eyes. ¡°Watch out!¡± The knife never reached her. With her breath caught in her throat, Melissa opened her eyes, trembling. ¡°Ga¡­ Garner.¡± Garner enveloped her in his arms, kicking the impostor attorney away. His back muscles firm, the knife only inflicted a superficial wound, not serious. But the bleeding was profuse, and his crisp white shirt quickly soaked with blood. To Melissa, it looked like Garner was dying. ¡°Garner, Garner¡­ don¡¯t die.¡± Melissa cried out in a panic, turning to the butler to call an ambnce. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± Garner murmured, eyeing the subdued attorney. ¡°What will you do with him?¡± Melissa had no time for anyone else, clutching Garner tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t die. Please don¡¯t leave me alone¡­¡± That wasn¡¯t the first time Garner had taken a de for her. Garner frowned, trying to push Melissa away. He got paid handsomely to take bullets for the boss. It was part of the job, and he didn¡¯t want Melissa to harbor unrealistic fantasies about him. Because they were from different worlds. In Garner¡¯s eyes, these spoiled heirs and heiresses were a different species altogether. How could there be feelings between different species? Just like humans wouldn¡¯t fall in love with rats in the sewers, and a stray cat wouldn¡¯t fall for a passerby on the street. Rhett drove all the way to pick up Summer at the kindergarten. Garner had anticipated that Melissa wouldn¡¯t allow him to finish work on time, so he asked 11:55 Chapter Rhett to ensure Kristin could leave on time to pick up Summer. Either of them needed to be free from the boss¡® demands to pick up Summer on time. Pulling up at the kindergarten, Kristin was stunned. ¡°Are we picking up Summer?¡± Rhett nced at Kristin. ¡°What else? Take you to college?¡± His tone might have been sarcastic, but Kristin felt a strange warmth. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll get Summer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got people contacted the hospital. James has arranged for the doctor to call you under the guise of Summer¡¯s check¨Cup. He¡¯s just using Summer¡¯s condition as an excuse to see you,¡± Rhett said bluntly about James¡® scheming. Of course, it wasn¡¯t nder. It was the truth. He was merely stating the facts. Kristin opened her mouth in surprise, then bit her lip. ¡°Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± That was indeed something James would do. He knew she wouldn¡¯t want to see him unless it involved Summer after what happened in Crescendo Town that night. ¡°Is Summer registered under Garner¡¯s name?¡± Rhett asked before Kristin got out of the car. Kristin quickly nodded, exining in a low voice, ¡°Yes, Mr. FitzGerald, you don¡¯t have to worry. It won¡¯t cause you any trouble.¡± Rhett¡¯s expression darkened further. Kristin seemed to have no sense of the danger they were 1. in. Summer was James¡® son, and even if James didn¡¯t fight for custody, his grandfather Carter wouldn¡¯t let the custody of Summer go unchallenged. ¡°Get custody of Summer back as soon as possible.¡± Rhett checked the time. ¡°Tomorrow, at thetest, the day after, have York go with you to take care of the paperwork.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Kristin began, her voice trailing off with hesitation. By tying the knot. Summer and Rhett would be bound by a legal step¨Cparent rtionship. On paper. Summer would be Rhett¡¯s stepchild. Didn¡¯t Rhett worry that Summer mighte after his inheritance one day? ¡°Summer¡¯s out.¡± Rhett interjected, interrupting Kristin¡¯s thoughts. Kristin spun around to peer at the kindergarten entrance but didn¡¯t see Summer. ¡°Excuse me, where is Summer?¡± Kristin hurried over to the teacher leading the group. ¡°Summer? Oh? Someone picked him up about half an hour ago,¡± the teacher said, puzzled as she looked at Kristin. Kristin drew in a sharp breath, her panic gripping as she clutched the teacher¡¯s arm. ¡°How could someone just take Summer? How could you let him go without our permission?¡± 3/4 11:55 Chapter 111 Her voice trembled with anxiety. Seeing Kristin on the verge of tears, the teacher became flustered. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it someone you know?¡± Rhett sensed something was wrong in the car and stepped out. ¡°Where¡¯s Summer?¡± Visibly shaken, the teacher turned to Rhett, her voice quivering. Mr. FitzGerald I need to check the sign¨Cout sheet. It says ¡°picked up by Dad.¡± Kristin released the teacher and frantically pulled out her phone to call James. Did he have someone pick up Summer? ¡°Where are you?¡± James answered the call, his voice thick with annoyance ¡°Did you have someone take Summer?¡± Kristin¡¯s voice came with tears and fear. On the other end, James paused. ¡°Summer? I didn¡¯t¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t sent anyone to pick up Summer. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Rhett¡¯s voice carried a dangerous edge as he confronted the teacher, ¡°How could my kid be released from your school without proper identification? If anything happens to Summer, you¡¯re directly responsible.¡± The warning in his tone was unmistakable. ¡°Mr., Mr. FitzGerald, the headmaster¡­¡± The teacher¡¯s voice trembled, fear evident in the stutter. ¡°Get me the headmaster. Now!¡± Rhett¡¯s voice remained low and menacing as he whipped out his cell phone and dialed his assistant, York. ¡°Check the nearby CCTV footage. Find out who look Summer. Move fast.¡± Soon, the headmaster strode out, his face flushed with anxiety. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°My child is in this school for one reason, which is security. And yet, someone just waltzed in and took him? How did you let this happen?¡± Rhett¡¯s cold demeanor was cracking, his anger barely contained. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, your son?¡± The headmaster stuttered, his eyes scanning the logbook. ¡°You mean Summer? A Mr. Carter, who imed to be the child¡¯s grandfather, picked him up on behalf of her father.¡± Kristin¡¯s grip on her phone tightened until her knuckles turned white. The patriarch of the Bryce family hade for Summer. What was his game? ¡°No father, no grandfather¡­ Why didn¡¯t you call me? You have my number!¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was frantic, her fear palpable. Rhett wrapped an arm around Kristin, his voice a soothing rumble. ¡°The school better have a good exnation for this.¡± Without another word, Rhett escorted Kristin away. ¡°If Carter acknowledges Summer as a Bryce, he won¡¯t harm him. He¡¯s too smart to be lured away by strangers. Once we find him, we¡¯ll get some answers.¡± Kristin¡¯s face was ghostly pale, her body shaking as she fell to the ground, tears threatening to spill. The idea of fighting the Bryce family for custody of Summer terrified her. ¡°Kristin, breathe,¡± Rhett said as he crouched before her. ¡°Look at me. Summer¡¯s okay. No one can take him from you without your consent. Trust me.¡± Looking into Rhett¡¯s eyes, her breath hitched, but she foundfort there, much to her surprise. In a moment of vulnerability, Kristin reached out her hands and embraced him, her tears finally breaking free. It was an intimate gesture she hadn¡¯t intended, which she thought would be met with disdain. But Rhett didn¡¯t push her away. Instead, he steadied her when she tried to pull back, almost falling. ¡°Calm down now?¡± His voice was always so reassuring. Chapter 112 Kristin felt Rhett was her lifeline in the depths of her despair, always able to soothe her worries. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she murmured. The headmaster watched, legs wobbly, as the charged moment unfolded. The connection between Kristin and Rhett was undeniable. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald,¡± the headmaster began, desperate to exin. ¡°We had Summer¡¯s consent before we let him leave with Mr. Carter. Given his status, we didn¡¯t imagine he¡¯d¡­¡± Summer was a prodigy, able to read almost fluently at four, thanks to the dedication of her guardian, Garner, who had used the dictionary to teach Summer himself. At five and a half, Summer understood the meaning of a paternity test well. ¡°We¡¯ve contacted Carter¡¯s assistant. They¡¯re at the Diamond Crest Hotel now. Let¡¯s ensure Summer¡¯s safety first, and I assure you that the school will do everything to rectify this mistake,¡± pleaded the headmaster, fearing the wrath of the mighty FitzGerald Group. Rhett¡¯s response was a cold scoff as he led Kristin to his car. York¡¯s call came in shortly after. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, they¡¯re at the Diamond Crest Hotel Carter does not attempt to hide his presence in Silvergrove. Summer is with him.¡± The call ended, and Rhett¡¯s gaze fell worriedly on Kristin. Carter¡¯s transparency and Summer¡¯s willingness to go with him were troubling signs. The Bryce family would undoubtedly fight for custody. Kristin¡¯s phone rang again. It was James. ¡°Kris, my grandfather has taken Summer. I¡¯m going to the Diamond Crest Hotel. Don¡¯t panic. Summer¡¯s safe.¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°James¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°You promised you wouldn¡¯t fight me for Summer.¡± There was a silence on the other end before James spoke. ¡°Kristin, I never intended to fight with you for Summer. He¡¯s yours. But the condition is you have to be mine, too.¡± Kristin¡¯s instinct was to bite her fingers, a nervous habit, but Rhett caught her hand, shaking his head. She looked at him with pleading eyes, desperate for a solution. How could she keep Summer? ¡°Kristin, I¡¯m not threatening you, but you must think it over. I¡¯m not too keen on you cozying up to Rhett, James said, his voice a mixture of concern and something darker. He knew Kristin and Rhett had been spending time together. And damn, was he jealous. After watching Kristin drive off with Rhett, jealousy wed at him like a wild beast. His words weren¡¯t just for Kristin. They were a warning to Rhett, too. James ended the call with a click, convinced that Kristin had no choice but to fall in line. What he didn¡¯t know was that Kristin had already gone and tied the knot with Rhett. Chapter 112 In James¡® world, that was iprehensible. He couldn¡¯t marry Kristin. And Rhett? That was even less likely. The FitzGerald family valued their public image far more than the Bryce family ever did. ¡°We¡¯ll pick up Summer first,¡± Rhett said, trying to soothe the tension. James was, after all, Summer¡¯s father, and there was only so much Rhett could say. Kristin¡¯s gaze dropped, and her grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned white. Summer was James¡® son, an inescapable reality. Blood ties are unbreakable, and Summer would reunite with them sooner orter. And how long could Rhett protect her? It was a three¨Cyear marriage, and when it ended, where would she go? What about Summer? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, don¡¯t worry about fighting for Summer¡¯s custody.¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse as the car pulled into the parking lot of the Diamond Crest Hotel. If Rhett got involved in the custody battle, the Bryce family would find out about their secret marriage certificate. Aurora Tech and the FitzGerald Group might be strategic partners, but they werepetitors. too. Her tarnished reputation and former engagement to Vincent would drag Rhett through the mud, leaving a stain he couldn¡¯t wipe clean. That was the FitzGerald way, something the Hob family would never stand for. It would jeopardize Rhett¡¯s standing within the FitzGerald Group. So, she couldn¡¯t let him intervene. Rhett¡¯s brow furrowed, feeling a wild, reckless surge for the first time, a desire to throw all caution to the wind for her sake. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Rhett had always been a rock of sensibility, even as a child. Perhaps it was the influence of his upbringing, but at the tender age of five, he was already navigating life with the steadfastness of an old soul under the wing of Lucius. This is from N?velDrama.Org. While his peers were testing boundaries and riding the tumultuous waves of adolescence, Rhett stood apart. his actions always measured and deliberate. Before he embarked on any endeavor, he meticulously weighed its worth, plotting out the potential oues with the precision of a seasoned strategist. Even during kindergarten, when the teacher offered the chance to take home and care for the ss pet a privilege granted to top students. Rhett declined without a second thought. He knew epting a pet meant epting responsibility and the inevitable heartache of its eventuel passing after a decade or so. He was a man who understood the value of cutting losses early. To Rhett emotions and romantic entanglements were merely abstract concepts. His razor¨Csharp rationality saw no room for the chaotic dance of hormones or the folly of love. Yet he never imagined he would be so driven by impulse as to contemte fighting for a women¡¯s right to her child, a move with no discernible benefit. ¡°Think it through.¡± Rhett said to Kristin, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that belied his calm exterior. Once he made a decision, he wouldn¡¯t change his mind. Whether it meant conflict with the powerful Bryce family, a tarnished reputation, or just in inconvenience, nothing seemed to faze him. With his capabilities, he could afford to dismiss such troubles with a contemptuous flick of his wrist. ¡°Being with the Bryce family does seem like a much better bet than sticking with me.¡± Kristin said, her fingers slowly unraveling from the tight sp they had formed, a resigned smile curving her lips. After all she couldn¡¯t afford to be too indebted to Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I can go up by myself. You don¡¯t need toe along. It¡¯s a family matter¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. Rhett¡¯s brow furrowed, and he remained silent, his irritation mounting. The mention of ¡®family matter¡® irked him. Was she implying that because she and James shared Summer, their issues were family matters, and he, her husband in name only, was an outsider? Just a business partner? With a short, Rhett spoke in a deep tone. ¡°Call me if you need anything, even if it¡¯s just a buzz. Chapter 113 Kristin lifted her gaze to meet his, saying, ¡°Do you extend this courtesy to all your business associates?¡± She wasn¡¯t sure what she was hoping for. Was she expecting to be the exception in Rhett¡¯s world? Looking down, Kristin clenched her fists, a self¨Cdeprecating smile shing before she stepped out of the car and walked away. Rhett watched Kristin disappear into the hotel, a restless agitation simmering within him. In the suite¡¯s living room, she could hear Carter¡¯s boisterousughter down the hall. ¡°My, my, look at this little genius! He¡¯s got James¡® smarts as a boy.¡± Carter boasted, clearly enamored with Summer after just a few hours. ¡°Great¨Cgrandpa, my mom says all this is pretty simple stuff, not worth showing off. She says we should be humble,¡± Summer chirped from his spot on the carpet, having easily solved all the puzzle toys before him. It was clear Carter was fond of Summer. He seemed ready to acknowledge Summer¡¯s ce in the family without another paternity test. The child was too charming to resist. ¡°Summer!¡± James burst into the room, sweeping Summer into his arms. ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Carter¡¯s expression darkened. He huffed, ¡°You¡¯re too big for your britches now, James, not even answering my calls.¡± The fallout from James¡® decision to leave with Kristin had led to a standoff, with James refusing to return home, no matter how desperately Carter tried to reach him. Carter had event faked a heart attack to lure him back, but once James uncovered the ruse, he left that night, vowing never to take another call from Carter. It was out of sheer necessity that Carter came to Silvergrove City to see how this siren Kristin had managed to seize his grandson¡¯s heart. Of course, Carter¡¯s primary interest was in his great¨Cgrandson, the newest addition to the Bryce legacy. ¡°Grandpa, this has nothing to do with Summer or Kristin, and you shouldn¡¯t have taken Summer without saying a word,¡± James said, trying to bnce reproach with respect for his grandfather. ¡°I chose to go with Great¨Cgrandpa,¡± Summer interjected,ing to Carter¡¯s defense. James paused, looking down at his son. ¡°Why?¡± Summer remained silent, and his thoughts were unreadable. Chapter 113 He wasn¡¯t thrilled about acknowledging James as his father. He preferred Rhett. But he understood what a paternity test meant. It meant he was James¡® son gically. He knew that with such proof, they could take him away from his mother. Summer was mature beyond his years, and he needed to outmaneuver them. He didn¡¯t want his mother to suffer or to be taken away by Carter. So, he showcased his intelligence and his mother¡¯s sessful upbringing, emphasizing his happiness with her and his enrollment in the nation¡¯s top program for gifted children. He resolved to study harder and grow stronger until he could protect Kristin. He was fighting for time with his mother. ¡°Mr. Carter, Kristin is here,¡± the assistant announced, ushering Kristin into the room. That was Carter¡¯s first encounter with Kristin. He had to admit that Kristin was stunning, with delicate features that any man would find alluring. James had good taste, and Carter had researched Kristin thoroughly. Her des of being the top student in the province and a young prodigy were impressive enough to match James. But the truth was hard to ignore. Fake was fake, no matter how appealing the package was. ¡°You should be grateful for your good genes, but did you think you could deceive the Bryce family? Your scheming is far too obvious,¡± Carter said, his voice devoid of warmth. Summer rushed to Carter¡¯s side. ¡°Great¨Cgrandpa, do you like my mom? She¡¯s kind.¡± Carter had a soft spot for Summer and knew better than to berate Kristin before her child. ¡°The smartest thing your mother ever did was give birth to you,¡± he remarked, a grudging respect in his tone. In his adorable voice, Summer told his Carter, ¡°My mom¡¯s here to pick me up. We¡¯re going home, but I¡¯ll miss you.¡± Carter¡¯s smile was so big that it nearly split his face, but he didn¡¯t want to frighten the child, so he motioned for Kristin to take Summer away. As for discussing custody issues with Kristin, he would carve out sometime the next day for a private conversation. Children were innocent, after all. ¡°Mommy, can we go home?¡± Summer turned and hugged Kristin, looking up at her. Kristin gave Summer a tense smile before ncing at Carter. *Summer, take your toys and all these with you,¡± Carter said, gesturing to a small mountain of clothes and shoes he had bought for his great¨Cgrandson. 3/4 1156 His great¨Cgrandson should never look like some ragamuffin, though Summer looked good in anything. ¡°No, Great¨Cgrandpa, I like you, but Mommy said we shouldn¡¯t take things from others. These aren¡¯t mine,¡± Summer said, shaking his head. He couldn¡¯t take them. Kristin felt a twinge in her heart as she held Summer¡¯s hand, keeping her head low. She didn¡¯t need to exin. Summer¡¯s upbringing was her mostpelling argument. Carter nced at Kristin involuntarily, surprised that a woman he had pegged for greedy had taught her child not to take others¡® belongings so freely. ¡°Don¡¯t you like these clothes and toys, Summer?¡± A look of longing flickered in Summer¡¯s eyes. ¡°I like them, but Mommy says if you want something, you must work for it, not just get it from someone else.¡± Carter looked at Kristin meaningfully. ¡°James, take Summer outside for a moment. I¡¯d like to have a word with Kristin.¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 James furrowed his brow, reluctant to leave the room. He feared what Carter might say could upset Kristin. ¡°Is this woman more important to you than me?¡± Carter asked angrily. James remained silent and bowed his head for a long time before saying, ¡°Summer, go out with Daddy,¡± he finally said. Summer looked back at her mom, unwilling to leave. Kristin cupped Summer¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Go wait for Mommy, sweetie. It¡¯s okay. Great¨Cgrandpa needs. to talk to Mommy for a bit.¡± With a nod, Summer left the room warily. Then, only Kristin, Carter, and an assistant were left there. The assistant broke the silence. ¡°Ms. Turner, name your price. What will it take for you to give up custody of the child?¡± ¡°Summer is mine.¡± Kristin said, her fingers tightening into fists. ¡°James and I have an agreement. The child is mine. He won¡¯t contest it, and I won¡¯t use him of rape.¡± Taking a deep breath, Kristin looked straight at Carter. It wasn¡¯t her fault, and she had nothing. to be ashamed of. Summer¡¯s existence was unexpected but not of her choosing. Carter¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°Ah, quite the tactic, Ms. Turner,¡± he said. Kristin bit her lip, her voice hoarse. ¡°I have nothing left to lose, and I don¡¯t want anything from the Bryce family. If it makes you feel better, I can sign an agreement rifying that Summer has nothing to do with the Bryce family.¡± Carter squinted his eyes. ¡°You must realize that your chances are slim if I take this to court to fight for custody.¡± ¡°Sir, James will merge with the Haywood family through marriage. He¡¯ll have his children, and Summer¡¯s existence couldplicate the alliance between the Haywood and Bryce families. Instead of jeopardizing your deal, it might be better to keep Summer¡¯s identity ¨¤ secret. He is my son, not a Bryce,¡± Kristin negotiated. ¡°Besides, I have a stable job and an ie now. As his mother, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re guaranteed to win.¡± ¡°Unfortunately for you, you¡¯ve done time,¡± Carter said, and his words pushed Kristin to the edge. Her incarceration was a stain she could never erase. For her whole life, she would be a burden. to Summer. What kind of child coulde from a mother who had been in prison? ¡°Summer is under my brother¡¯s name,¡± Kristin said, looking up at Carter. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯d want to make a spectacle by suing me. It wouldn¡¯t reflect well on James or Aurora Tech.¡± Chapter 114 Carter regarded Kristin thoughtfully. He had expected her to seize this opportunity to make outrageous demands, to show a greedy face that would disgust anyone. Instead, she was proving to be a clever woman, negotiating methodically. Carter had no desire for a court battle. If it came to that, the scandal would go public, which would be detrimental to James and Aurora Tech. ¡°If Summer is a Bryce, we won¡¯t neglect our duties. He needs a proper educational environment. I will allot you a monthly educational fund of thirty thousand dors. You will take good care of Summer and bring him to visit me in Crescendo Town once a month. If he fails to receive a proper education with you, I will take measures to remove him, and you will not see. him until he turns eighteen.¡± Carter¡¯s terms were not harsh. They were merely for Summer¡¯s sake. ¡°Summer doesn¡¯t need your educational fund,¡± Kristin said, standing up and bowing to Carter. ¡°I understand your reason for keeping me here. It¡¯s not just about Summer but about James, too.¡± Carter showed a hint of admiration. Kristin might seem timid, but she was indeed clever. ¡°James and I will never be together, so you don¡¯t have to worry, sir, and you should trust your grandson. He¡¯s more rational than anyone and won¡¯t give up his alliance with the Haywood family for me.¡± Kristin turned and left. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m a tad worried about this Kristin gal. Seems all sweet and light, but could be just mouthing off,¡± the assistant voiced his concern. ¡°She¡¯s stuck out there in Silvergrove, not a lot she can stir up. Keep tabs on her; if she drops the ball while caring for Summer, bring the kid back to me,¡± Carter replied calmly, throwing a nce at his assistant. ¡°What¡¯s the Haywood n saying?¡± ¡°The media is on a leash for now. No one¡¯s got wind of Miss Haywood being hauled off by the cops. The Haywoods¡® n is to announce the union of our families as soon as she¡¯s out,¡± the assistant quietly murmured. Carter pensively stroked his chin. His grandson James usually yed by the book. He could only hope this time would be no different. The unknown variable here could be Kristin.¡± Outside the room, James held Summer were waiting for Kristin¡¯s return. ¡°Did Grandpa give you a hard time?¡± he asked as she emerged. Kristin shook her head, taking Summer into her arms. ¡°Mr. Bryce, we¡¯re going home.¡± ¡°Kristin, think carefully about what I said,¡± James warned, his brow furrowed, feeling perhaps he had indulged her too much, allowing her to treat him this way. 2/4 11:56 ¡°James¡­¡± Kristin paused, turning to look at him. ¡°You have your own life to lead. Please stay away from me if you can¡¯t give me what I want.¡± James scowled. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re too greedy.¡± Kristin¡¯sugh was tinged with sarcasm as she stepped into the elevator. She was indeed too greedy, but it was just an excuse to keep James out of her world. ¡°Mom, will they take me away?¡± Summer clung to Kristin¡¯s neck, his voice a whisper of worry. ¡°No, honey¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was hoarse as she shook her head, trying to reassure her son and herself. Summer nuzzled closer. ¡°Mom, did I get you worried?¡± ¡°Why did you go with Mr. Carter?¡± Kristin murmured. ¡°He had a paternity test, saying I was their family¡¯s child and wanted to take me away. He said he would snatch me away from you if I didn¡¯t go with him nicely.¡± Fear was evident in Summer¡¯s voice. ¡°They won¡¯t. I won¡¯t let anyone take you away.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. After stepping out of the hotel, Kristin¡¯s gaze fell on Rhett, waiting by the car. The evening sun seemed to shine brighter just because he was there. ¡°Daddy!¡± Summer eximed instinctively, his face lighting up, but then his expression fell. That wasn¡¯t Daddy. ¡°Did they give you a hard time?¡± Rhett asked. Kristin shook her head, replying. ¡°They offered a trust fund for Summer¡¯s education. I refused.¡± ¡°What does Summer feel like eating?¡± Rhett was in a good mood, noticing Kristin¡¯s resolve. ¡°I¡¯m not picky.¡± Summer¡¯s eyes sparkled when he looked at Rhett. A child¡¯s affection was always pure. ¡°My brother texted, saying he¡¯s workingte and needs me to look after Summer, Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯ll take Summer home tonight. We can take a cab,¡± Kristin said, nning to take Summer back to their modest apartment. Rhett nced at her. ¡°We¡¯ll go home together. The cook¡¯s off tonight.¡± Summer cleverly hugged Rhett¡¯s neck. ¡°I want Mom¡¯s homemade pasta. Can you make it for me and Daddy?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cover your overtime.¡± Rhett dered, not giving Kristin a chance to refuse, as he ushered Summer into the car, a subtle smile on his lips. Kristin waved her hands frantically. ¡°No, no need for overtime pay.¡± ¡°The housekeeper¡¯s out, and the cook is on leave. From now on, it looks like you¡¯ll have your 3/4 Chapter 114 hands full with my meals and daily routines, Miss Kristin,¡± Rhett said sternly. Kristin nodded earnestly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. FitzGerald. I¡¯ll get to know your dietary preferences soon.¡± ¡°As for the money saved from the cook and housekeeper¡¯s absence, I¡¯ll have York transfer to you,¡± Rhett spoke as if discussing work. But in reality, he knew Kristin was too proud, and he was finding creative ways to support her without her having to ept a dime from the Bryce family. He could afford to take care of Kristin and Summer. Why would he need the Bryce family to provide an education fund? Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Kristin exited the subway station and hurried into the FitzGerald Group¡¯s high¨Crise. As Rhett¡¯s assistant, it was her job to beat the morning rush and be at her desk before Rhett arrived. ¡°Kristin! What a coincidence! Fancy seeing you here,¡± Hertha called out excitedly from thepany¡¯s lounge area. She was looking stunning. Her long, smooth hair was natural, cascading over her shoulders. Her wless skin was in a touch of nude makeup, and she wore a crisp white sundress that made her smile shine as brightly as a lily in full bloom. Kristin paused, caught off guard. Hertha¡­ Suddenly, she remembered James mentioning aplicated past between Hertha and Rhett. Kristin felt a lump in her throat and her fingers involuntarily balled up. ¡°Ms. Haywood¡­¡± she managed to squeak out. ¡°Are you working for the FitzGerald Group?¡± Hertha asked in surprise. Kristin nodded. ¡°Kris, you¡¯re amazing! Getting into the FitzGerald Group isn¡¯t easy. It¡¯s usually Ivy League graduates or the like. Which college did you attend?¡± Hertha looked at Kristin with admiration. Kristin took a deep breath, ncing back at the other employees who were whispering. It was time for work, and the lobby was bustling. Hertha¡¯s innocence made it hard to think she had any ulterior motives, but Kristin had long since stopped taking people at face value. Beneath a guise of naivety, one couldn¡¯t always expect to find a kind heart. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Haywood?¡± Kristin asked politely. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for Rhett,¡± Hertha beamed, grasping Kristin¡¯s hand. ¡°Since you work here, have you seen him? He¡¯s as handsome as the guy I told you about.¡± Hertha leaned in and quietly confessed, ¡°He¡¯s the guy I¡¯m into.¡± Kristin stiffened but said nothing. ¡°Ms. Haywood, what are you doing standing around? Pleasee in,¡± Rhett¡¯s secretary appeared, chastising the receptionist. ¡°In the future, Ms. Haywood should not have to wait. Mr. FitzGerald has made it clear she cane and go as she pleases.¡± Rhett had granted Hertha special privileges. ¡°Kristin, what are you standing there for? Take care of Ms. Haywood,¡± the secretary reprimanded, implying Kristincked initiative as an assistant. Caught off guard, Kristin quickly stepped forward. ¡°Ms. Haywood, right this way, please.¡± 11:57: Chapter 113 ¡°Mr. FitzGerald has never extended such privileges to anyone. Ms. Haywood receives VIP treatment every time she visits. Several times, Mr. FitzGerald has even personally escorted her. I bet she¡¯s going to be the wife of our CEO.¡± ¡°I heard the Haywood and FitzGerald families are considering a union. Mr. Vincent is already engaged to the Turner heiress, leaving only Mr. Rhett.¡± As Kristin followed the secretary and Hertha into the elevator, she overheard the receptionist¡¯s gossip, feeling distracted. ¡°Ms. Haywood, this is Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant. If you need anything, she¡¯ll handle it,¡± the secretary said ingratiatingly. Kristin frowned slightly. She was Rhett¡¯s assistant, not a servant to everyone. For some reason, she felt a pang of displeasure. ¡°Kris, you¡¯re Rhett¡¯s assistant?¡± Hertha eximed, then hugged Kristin¡¯s arm happily. ¡°We¡¯re such good friends. You¡¯ll keep an eye on Rhett for me, right? If any little bitch tries to snatch him away from me, you¡¯ll have to help me out.¡± Hertha spoke half¨Cjokingly. Kristin remained silent, her head down, emotions swirling. ¡°Kristin, ensure Ms. Haywood isfortable. She might be Mrs. FitzGerald, thedy boss of the FitzGerald Group,¡± the secretary whispered, pulling Kristin aside. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. You¡¯d better make a good impression.¡± Kristin¡¯s fingers tightened nervously, and she remained speechless. Would Rhett marry Hertha after their marriage ended? Hertha was beautiful, pure, and free from artificial scents, a type Rhett would likely fall for.. ¡°Kristin.¡± Hertha called softly from Rhett¡¯s office, ¡°I skipped breakfast this morning and I¡¯m feeling a bit low on sugar. Could you grab me something to eat?¡± Kristin hesitated, wanting to refuse. It was nearly time to start work, and Rhett would be arriving soon. As his assistant, she couldn¡¯t afford to bete. The clock was ticking. ¡°Kris, I¡¯m so hungry,¡± Hertha pleaded. ¡°If Rhett has to get it for me, he¡¯ll lecture me again. He¡¯ll be upset if he finds out I didn¡¯t eat beforeing here. Please?¡± Kristin looked at Hertha and nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She hurried toward the elevator, checking the time as she went to get Hertha¡¯s breakfast. After Kristin left, Hertha nced at her wristwatch. Rhett hated procrastination more than anything. He valued punctuality highly. At 8:30 sharp, Rhett entered the office. 2/4 1157 ? nute chalisname to the tue sedistant krien instinctively leaked at shell and boud spetegetically. Im sorry Me Maywood, dent manage to ust breakfast: Hertha¡¯s expression darkened slightly. Frisin¡¯s move was a May Bhelfe eves glow stem as he stood and took the documents from Kristin. ¡°You¡¯re my assistant. You take ardere from me. What¡¯s with the running around7 Fome with me to the meeting. Kristim fell a sting from Rhett¡¯s ¡®scalding, though she was somermal wrong. But if was clear thell wasn¡¯t truly chading her. He had reinforced that she was his assistant alone, not beholden to anyone else¡¯s demands. 11:571 Chapter 115 Seeing Hertha but not Kristin, he frowned. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, where¡¯s Kristin? There¡¯s a meeting at 8:40, Where¡¯s the material she prepared for you?¡± The secretary followed Rhett in, frantically searching for Kristin. This assistant had no sense of responsibility, running off at a time like this. ¡°Rhett, is there something important? Shall I help you find it?¡± Hertha asked with innocence. The clock struck 8:40, and Kristin was nowhere to be seen. Rhett said nothing. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting at home? What brings you here?¡± Hertha stood up, sauntered to Rhett, and cooed, ¡®Rhett, I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Rhett stepped back, maintaining a distance. ¡°Let York drive you home.¡± After that, he turned to his secretary. ¡°Call Kristin. Where the heck is she?¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. It was clear Rhett was not pleased. ¡°Rhett, your new secretary? How can she wander off during work hours?¡± Hertha feigned innocence. Rhett nced at his watch. ¡°The firm¡¯s mmedtely. No time to drop by. I was free this Saturday, but the Harborside Haven project needs me there ahead of schedule.¡± ¡°I came here about that project.¡± Hertha said, beaming. ¡°Eddie from Coastal International was my senior at Silvergrove University. We¡¯re pretty tight. I already told him I woulde with you on Saturday. I¡¯ve got it all arranged.¡± Hertha intended to meet the business partner as Rhett¡¯s plus one. Rhett frowned. ¡°This is work, not child¡¯s y.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you. Vincent¡¯s already at Harborside Haven, and your stepmom also longed for the project. I¡¯m definitely on your side,¡± Hertha said with a confident grin. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Outside, upon receiving the secretary¡¯s call, Kristin hurried back without even grabbing breakfast. Compared to Hertha, Rhett¡¯s concerns were naturally a priority for her. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I apologize. I wasn¡¯t aware the Milo project was ahead of schedule. Here¡¯s the prep work I did in advance.¡± Kristin rushed into the office and began pulling out documents. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, Kristin? As the president¡¯s assistant, you shouldn¡¯t be gallivanting around during work hours,¡± the secretary chided, following her in. Kristin nced at Hertha and then at the secretary, quickly piecing things together. However, Hertha feigned innocence, ¡°Kris, Rhett is quite the stickler for punctuality. It must be 3/4 11:57 Chapter 115 quite challenging to be his assistant.¡± Kristin instinctively looked at Rhett and bowed apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Haywood. I dides manage to get breakfast.¡± Hertha¡¯s expression darkened slightly, Kristin¡¯s move was quite a y. Rhett¡¯s eyes grew stern as he stood and took the documents from Kristin. ¡°You¡¯re my assistant. You take orders from me. What¡¯s with the running around? Come with me to the meeting.¡± Kristin felt a sting from Rhett¡¯s ¡®scolding, though she was somewhat wrong. But it was clear Rhett wasn¡¯t truly chiding her. He had reinforced that she was his alone, not beholden to anyone else¡¯s demands. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 As she watched Kristin and Rhett leave, Hertha¡¯s expression turned sour. ¡°Ms. Haywood¡­¡± Rhett¡¯s secretary spoke softly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here.¡± Hertha responded, her face quickly returning to an innocent smile. ¡°I¡¯ll have lunch with Rhett after his meeting.¡± She settled onto the couch, where she remained the entire morning. Her love for Rhett stretched back to childhood. Yet, Rhett never seemed to notice her. But Hertha had always known that Rhett would be hers somehow. By any means necessary, she¡¯d ensure that he would marry her. The secretary nodded and exited the CEO¡¯s office. Leaning back, Hertha was lost in thought. ¡°How could I force Kristin out of thepany?¡± ¡°Sirens! We need an ambnce!¡± Themotion outside pulled Hertha from her scheming. She stood up and grabbed someone passing by. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald had an allergic reaction and he¡¯s in shock!¡± Hertha went pale with worry and rushed towards the conference room. ¡°Is the meeting over? How did he have an allergic reaction all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Apparently, the new assistant didn¡¯t know about Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s peanut allergy and offered him a peanut brittle after the meeting.¡± Hertha frowned deeply. Kristin was a troublemaker! Hertha¡¯s stride faltered, but then a sly smile tugged at the corners of her lips.. With such a blunder, could Kristin even stay at thepany after this? ¡°Ms. Haywood, don¡¯t fret. The ambnce has arrived and Mr. FitzGerald is already on his way to the hospital,¡± the secretary reassured. Hertha nodded, her voice heavy with implication. ¡°Randall, how long have you been with Rhett?¡± ¡°This is my second year,¡± the secretary Randall promptly replied. Chapter 111 N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Rhett is demanding. To be by his side for two years means he trusts you, second only to York. But this new assistant seems unreliable without a trustworthy degree or credentials. Now she has made Rhett allergic and he was even sent to the hospital. This is serious, isn¡¯t it?¡± Randall hesitated before agreeing. ¡°It is. A mistake like this during such an important meeting will be taken seriously. The board will hold Kristin ountable. They definitely emphasized Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s allergy during training.¡± Poor Kristin was in hot water. ¡°The chat group is blowing up. Nobody can save Kristin now. Mr. Hob is already on his way here.¡± Hertha widened her smile, ¡°That¡¯s right. We can¡¯t have someone so careless around Rhett.¡± Tapping her cheek thoughtfully, Hertha asked, ¡°Has Hob arrived?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here any moment,¡± Randall confirmed. ¡°I think Rhett¡¯s assistant should be someone professional to trust. I can¡¯t trust anyone else with him. I should do it myself.¡± Hertha was ready to volunteer. ¡°Absolutely, Ms. Haywood. You¡¯re bound to be Mrs. FitzGerald soon. What¡¯s better than being his assistant? It would intensify your rtionship with Mr. FitzGerald!¡± Randall caught on quickly. ¡°When Mr. Hob arrives, I¡¯ll make sure to rmend you.¡± Hertha nodded. ¡°Once I join the FitzGerald family, I won¡¯t forget to reward your loyalty.¡± ¡°Ms. Haywood, your word is all I need,¡± Randall beamed. At Harborside Haven. Vincent, hoping to take credit for the work, arrived early at Harborside Haven with Nic, only to receive a call from thepany. ¡°Kristin has caused a mess. She unknowingly gave Rhett peanut brittle.¡± Vincent stood abruptly, furrowing his brow. ¡°Kristin gave Rhett peanut brittle?¡± This was a disaster¡­ The board wouldn¡¯t let Kristin off the hook. Rubbing his temples, Vincent stiffened suddenly, his subconscious filled with 2/4 12:01 concern for Kristin. He chuckled bitterly at his irony and was going mad. Back at Garner¡¯s ce, Vincent had panicked at the sight of Kristin shing her wrists emotionlessly before him. His chest hurt. He couldn¡¯t let go of Kristin even after all her mistakes. ¡°Kristin gave Rhett peanut brittle?¡± Nic entered, herughter filled with glee. ¡°Lisa, you¡¯re brilliant. Now the board will have to take action against Kristin. We should strike while the iron¡¯s hot. Kristin already has a record. We¡¯ll insist that the training emphasized these points and use Kristin of deliberately endangering Rhett. We¡¯ll call the police and get her locked up again.¡± Nic sat back, a cold huff escaping her. Kristin nearly sent Vincent to jail, and then Nic took revenge on Kristin. ¡°Mom!¡± Vincent rushed over, snatching Nic¡¯s phone. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nic was startled by his reaction. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± ¡°You let Lisa set Kristin up? Did Lisa fail to inform Kristin about Rhett¡¯s allergy?¡± Vincent¡¯s anxiety was palpable, his heart racing. Kristin might not survive back in jail. That day she attempted suicide, which wasn¡¯t an act. Her eyes were void of life like a walking corpse without a soul. ¡°I did it for you. Kristin dared to plot against you, dragging our names through the mud. Sending her to jail is letting her off easy,¡± Nic retorted coldly.. If it weren¡¯t for the stain of Vincent getting hauled off by the cops, would they be slumming it in Harborside Haven so early, hustling to wine and dine Eddie just to save face? Vincent clenched his fists and turned to leave. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nic was steeped in shock as she stared at Vincent. Had hepletely lost his mind? ¡°I¡¯m going back,¡± Vincent dered his intent to return. He could hurt Kristin but didn¡¯t want to be the reason she¡¯d end up behind bars 3/4 12.01 Chapter 116 again. In truth, he regretted it the moment he stood in court five years ago, pointing the finger at Kristin for extortion. Kristin had just gazed at him, her eyes filled with shock and despair. His remorse was immediate. He wanted to retract his usation and flip¨Cflopped, but Kristin confessed. She admitted she was a con artist in a hoarse voice and had been swindling money all along. It was Kristin who had sealed her fate and sent herself to prison. She¡¯d been locked away for five years. During that time, he¡¯d tried to visit her countless times, only to be rejected each and every time. He had his regrets. ¡°Vincent! I¡¯ve already set up a meeting with Eddie for you. If you dare walk out today. you¡¯re no son of mine!¡± Nic darkened her face with fury at the thought of him rushing back to Silvergrove City. Had he lost his mind? ¡°Vincent!¡± Nic couldn¡¯t believe her eyes as he didn¡¯t even nce back. Her son had gone mad again. For that bitch, he had already gone mad six years ago, locking himself in his room, refusing to eat or drink. If it hadn¡¯t been for Ruby¡¯spanionship coaxing him back to life. Nic would have thought Vincent might have starved himself over the bitch in distress! ¡°Worthless!¡± she cursed in anger. For a woman, Vincent had defied Nic time and again. Kristin had be a problem that needed to be eradicated. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 In a hospital room at Silvergrove City. Kristin hunched over the edge of a bed, her eyes swollen from relentless crying. It was evident that the tears had carved rivers down her cheeks for quite some time. Rhett, having just removed his oxygen mask, nced at her with a resigned smile. ¡°It was just an act and here are you crying for real?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ you were so convincing,¡± Kristin choked back a sob, her voice trembling with emotion. After the meeting had concluded, Kristin handed Rhett what was supposed to be at ¡°harmless¡± piece of peanut brittle. But as soon as he popped it into his mouth, a violent coughing fit overtook him, his face contorting as if he was gasping for air. Kristin was terrified out of her wits. Watching her stutter and cower amused Rhett to no end. Kristin resembled a frightened deer caught in the headlights. ¡°Are you upset because you think I might die from an allergic reaction, or because you¡¯d feel guilty if something happened to me?¡± Rhett couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Kristin was truly concerned about him. Cleaning her tears, Kristin pondered the two scenarios. Did it make a difference? ¡°I was scared because I thought I had grabbed the wrong candy.¡± Rhett stiffened his smile momentarily, realizing perhaps he had given it too much thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the PR team will being to take you away soon. But don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯ve got your back,¡± Rhett reassured her. With a nervous nod, Kristin acknowledged hisfort. They had to y out their drama to the hilt, stirring up rumors throughout thepany to make sure this did not end quietly. By now, Lisa was probably wracked with anxiety, dreading the possibility of Kristin revealing her malicious plot to harm Rhett. Lisa had her excuses ready. After all, Kristin was a con artist and a former inmate. Not one at the company would take her word over Lisa¡¯s. 1/5 12:42 Chapter 117 ¡°Ms. Turner, your negligence at work is a grave matter, Pleasee with us to assist in the investigation,¡± the PR team arrived, leading Kristin away. York, who had returned with allergy medication, instinctively wanted to intervene as they took Kristin, but considering the gravity of the situation, he let them escort her out. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you awake?¡± Only after the PR team had left did Rhett finally open his eyes. ¡°Kristin really screwed up this time. It seems like she¡¯s been yed. How else could she have identally given you peanut brittle?¡± York sighed, regretting that Rhett had overestimated Kristin. She had barely arrived at thepany before bing a pawn in others¡® games. Kristin definitely couldn¡¯t stay. Rhett sat up and yanked out his IV, swinging his legs off the bed. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Back to the office to watch the show.¡± York was stunned. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, how can you just¡­¡± Rhett just quirked a corner of his mouth. He hadn¡¯t informed York of the ruse he and Kristin had concocted. York had been brought to tears by Rhett¡¯s fake allergic reaction earlier and was only now catching on, his jaw nearly hit the floor. Had he been duped by Kristin and Rhett? Feeling a twinge of jealousy. York grumbled as he followed Rhett out. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I haven¡¯t even transferred departments yet. Can you clue me in before you and Kristin n something?¡± ¡°Your acting is terrible,¡± Rhett replied indifferently. York rolled his eyes. ¡°You scared the life out of me.¡± Rhett remained silent, heading straight for the car. ¡°Don¡¯t forget our wager. If Kristin handles Lisa, you¡¯re her errand boy for three months at her beck and call.¡± York stood still, shocked as Rhett drove away, vigorously rubbing his eyes. Had he seen right? Had aloof Mr. FitzGerald just teased him with a smile? It was nothing short of a miracle. Ever since Kristin entered Rhett¡¯s world, everything about him had be 215 1202 Chapter 117 increasingly peculiar. At the FitzGerald Group, the PR team was conducting their interrogation with relentless precision. ¡°Kristin, did you do this on purpose to harm Mr. FitzGerald? As a neer, you couldn¡¯t be unaware of Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s peanut allergy. This is premeditated. Miss Kristin, if you don¡¯t cooperate with the investigation, we¡¯ll have no choice but to involve the police,¡± the PR staff pressed on. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it,¡± Kristin murmured, her head bowed, repeating the only defense she could muster. Even though she believed Rhett would arrive in time to save her, confronted by the barrage of usations, she couldn¡¯t articte a single exnation. She was suffering from social anxiety, petrified, especially when interrogated by these people. It was a sensation akin to severe hypoglycemia, excruciatingly painful. This was the physical manifestation of depression. Kristin dreaded being questioned this way. When Vincent and rence had conspired to send her to prison on charges of extortion, she had endured a simr grilling by the police. Hob broke the tension as he entered the room with solemnness. ¡°Mr. Hob, there¡¯s no doubt Kristin did this intentionally. Rhett¡¯s peanut allergy is well¨Cknown and I made sure to warn her when she started here. She couldn¡¯t have. been ignorant. Perhaps we should call the police,¡± Lisa said, following Hob, intent on framing Kristin. ¡°Kris, I heard you went to prison because of an extortion usation from the FitzGerald family. Are you holding a grudge over that¡­ that¡¯s why you¡­¡± Herthal trailed in, her voice breaking, hands covering her mouth in shock and disbelief. ¡°Kris, you¡¯ve been so foolish. Rhett wasn¡¯t even involved in your extortion case back then.¡± Kristin gave Hertha a numb nce, then lowered her head in irony. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She had hit Kristin¡¯s sore spot with precision, effectively handing the PR team the rationale they needed. ¡°Mr. Hob, what do you think¡­ Maybe we should just call the police,¡± the PR staff suggested, believing Kristin¡¯s motive was revenge. ¡°Everyone out,¡± Hobmanded, wanting to speak with Kristin alone. 15-13 Lisa, her hands clenched anxiously, exited the room. She was certain that no one was going to believe Kristin. The room was now void of any other souls, leaving just the two of them in a tension you could slice with a knife. ¡°Come on, spill the beans,¡± Hob¡¯s voice was a low growl. ¡°Is this some kind of twisted vendetta against the FitzGerald family? Isn¡¯t your fling with Rhett enough for you?¡± Kristin¡¯s gaze locked with Hob¡¯s, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°HR never mentioned Rhett¡¯s peanut allergy. In fact, they went out of their way to tell me he¡¯s nuts about peanut butter sandwiches. Can you believe that?¡± Her words were more than just a question, pointing at Lisa and implicating her in the scheme against Rhett. The FitzGerald family was no stranger to backstabbing and shadow games. Hob had to be aware of the cozy deal between Lisa and Nic, even if he turned a blind eye. ¡°Do you really expect me to buy that story?¡± Hob scoffed. ¡°Mr. Hob, Rhett is your son too. He¡¯s human with feelings and he hurts.¡± Kristin carried a mix of anger and pity for Rhett. Hob¡¯s favoritism was ring, which wasn¡¯t fair. If there was a wicked stepmother, a heartless stepfather was inevitable. Hob deepened his frown, his voice was somber. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re fighting a losing battle. No one will believe you. If I call the cops and get thewyers on you, you¡¯ll be charged with intentional harm. And you know better than anyone what life behind bars tastes like.¡± Kristin clenched her fingers tightly, her whole body trembling as she bowed her head. Prison¡¯s bitter taste was all too familiar to her. ¡°If you were smart, you¡¯d quietly end things with Rhett, let this whole drama blow over, and just walk away from thepany,¡± Hob attempted to negotiate. ¡°I¡¯l give you a hefty sum to keep your mouth shut. Take your son and vanish from Silvergrove City forever.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t do that.¡± Kristin¡¯s eyes zed with a fierce resolve. Hob stood up, his patience worn thin, ready to call PR to alert the authorities. ¡°You won¡¯t see reason till you hit rock bottom.¡± ¡°I need a word with Lisa. Alone.¡± Kristin rose to her feet, her gaze shifting to the door Chapter 117 where Lisa lurked, eavesdropping with a smirk that she quickly masked into a sneer. Lisa would never admit to her foul y. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Hob ignored Kristin and said to the people In the PR department, ¡°Call the cops.¡± Lisa appeared to exhale in relief. ¡°Exactly, Mr. Hob, why give her an exnation? A woman with a criminal record doesn¡¯t deserve a chance and should be reported to the police straight away.¡± ¡°Can we give Kris one more shot? Just let her walk away from thepany,¡± Hertha pleaded with a genuinely concerned expression. Hob snorted. ¡°Hertha, don¡¯t let your heart rule your head. Your sister¡¯s still locked up because of her.¡± Hertha sighed deeply, her face etched with regret. ¡°It¡¯s just that Kris doesn¡¯t seem like a bad egg.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t judge a book by its cover,¡± Lisa chimed in with a snidement. Kristin, however, remained calm throughout, sitting silently until Hob and the PR team had left. Then she turned to Lisa. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less, but I¡¯ve got a recording here that you might be interested in hearing.¡± Lisa, who was about to leave, tensed up upon hearing about the recording. ¡°What are you on about?¡± Lisa asked, confused. Kristin coolly took out her phone and yed the recording. She had sent the audio file to Rhett the day it was made. After the recording finished, Lisa turned pale, staring at Kristin in disbelief and horror. ¡°You¡­ you set me up!¡± Recording from day one, Kristin had been gunning for her! ¡°Do you know what it means to be killed by others¡® fake praises, Lisa?¡± Kristin said, turning off the recording and deftly sidestepping with her phone in hand. ¡°I have plenty of copies of this recording. Snatching my phone won¡¯t help you.¡± Lisa trembled her fingers with anger as she pointed at Kristin. ¡°What the hell do you want!¡± ¡°Over the years, as a longstanding employee holding the juicy position of HR, you¡¯ve been coddled by Nic to be arrogant,¡± Kristin saidposedly, her voice steady. 1/2 Chapter 118 Her heart was racing, fear nipping at her, but the thought of Rhett arriving soon gave Kristin courage. ¡°When people get too full of themselves, they end up messing up big time, just like what happened this time,¡± Kristin said, standing up. ¡°With themotion this incident has caused, whether with the police or internally at thepany, all I have to do is release this recording to clear my name. You, on the other hand, will be taken away for investigation.¡± Sabotaging a new employee to harm the CEO was serious. ¡°If Mr. FitzGerald decides to pursue this, you could be looking at an assault charge.¡± Kristin said, gripping the hem of her dress to keep herposure. Lisa was in a panic, aplete mess. ¡°It¡¯s just a recording. What can it prove? No one will believe you,¡± Lisa continued to argue. ¡°The recording can be authenticated.¡± Kristin knew Lisa was just iling. The authenticity of the recording wasn¡¯t what most people cared about. Once it was out, there would be plenty eager to kick her while she was down. Lisa was trembling. She nced nervously at the door, then rushed at Kristin, grabbing her clothes. ¡°How do you want to resolve this? Don¡¯t give the recording to the cops.¡± ¡°Did Nic put you, up to this? Do you think that all your little schemes at the FitzGerald Group over the years have gone unnoticed by Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin pushed Lisa¡¯s hands away, taking a step back. Lisa took a deep breath. ¡°Did Mr. FitzGerald deliberately send you to get close to me just to get rid of me and rece me with his people?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald doesn¡¯t y such petty games, but you¡¯re not too bright,¡± Kristin said, almost losing her bnce and sitting back down. ¡°Lisa, you¡¯ve toiled at thispany for years. If Mr. FitzGerald goes to the mat with this, you¡¯ll not only be convicted, but all your years of hard work will go down the drain. You¡¯ll end up with a criminal record and behind bars,¡± Kristin exined calmly. ¡°Prison life is not something I¡¯d wish for you to experience.¡± Lisa stepped back, defeated. ¡°What do you want to destroy the recording? Name your price. If it¡¯s money you want, I can give it to you, please.¡± ¡°Indeed, only when you hold the cards can you make people grovel,¡± Kristin said with 2/4 12:02 Chapter 118 a hint of sarcasm. Lisa had not been so humble before Kristin had the upper hand. ¡°Kristin, you did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you? Just to watch me squirm. You deliberately lured Mr. FitzGerald to get Clyde and others fired because they were appointed by Nic on my rmendation!¡± Lisa¡¯s realization came toote. She looked at Kristin, an ex¨Cconvict with no education or connections, with a mix of horror and disbelief. In just a few days at thepany, Kristin had achieved this. How terrifying! This woman was fearsome. Kristin watched Lisa quietly. ¡°From the moment Hob calls the cops to the time they walk through that door, there are forty minutes.¡± Kristin gave Lisa forty minutes to think things over, decide what to do next and contemte what she truly wanted. ¡°Kristin, who the hell do you think you are to threaten me?¡± Lisa was near hysteria. Kristin just looked at her calmly. When people couldn¡¯t ept the oue, going mad was their first line of defense. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Kristin, I beg you, just delete the recording. I¡¯ll tell the cops it was my oversight, that I indeed failed to make things clear. Okay? In that way, neither of us suffers much loss. Please?¡± Lisa was now grasping at straws, pleading.. In Kristin¡¯s view, this was her second line of defense, still harboring a sliver of hope. At the sight of unresponsive Kristin, Lisa paced back and forth restlessly, then took a deep breath and walked over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows.. Kristin had been urate. From the moment the police were dispatched to arriving at The FitzGerald Group¡¯s building, it took thirty¨Cfive minutes. It took roughly five minutes to ascend to the room. Lisa looked back at Kristin with terror. At that moment, her fear of Kristin only intensified. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Lisa blurted out in desperation. The police had arrived. She could see the shing lights of the cruiser. Kristin just stared at Lisa, an unreadable expression on her face. 12:02 If Lisa wasn¡¯t smart enough, even if she stayed, she¡¯d be no use to Rhett and might as well cut her loose. Lisa¡¯s palms were sweaty with urgency. She didn¡¯t even know what Kristin wanted. Was it all for Rhett? ¡°After firing Clyde and the others, I thought that would make it clear to you, Lisa¡­ But it seems you¡¯re just as clueless,¡± Kristin said with a sarcastic edge, standing up to face the iing officers. Lisa watched her in panic, rushing over to grab Kristin¡¯s wrist. ¡°Nic and Vincent headed to Harborside Haven. She had already scoped out Eddie¡¯s contact information and preferences. She approached me years ago and tasked me with nting her people within thepany. I know every position, so¡­ those are Nic¡¯s spies. Kristin, I can give you the list! Just help me out this one time, and I¡¯ll be Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s loyal aide from here on out. I¡¯ll report Nic¡¯s every move to your the moment I learn anything!¡± Lisa trembled her voice. Kristin¡¯s gaze was intense as she looked at Lisa, a smile forming on her lips. ¡°How can I trust you?¡± ¡°Randall, the secretary close to Rhett ¨C he¡¯s actually Nic¡¯s pawn!¡± Lisa blurted out in her struggle for survival. Kristin nodded slightly, waving her smartphone in front of Lisa, the recording light on. ¡°Lisa, you should learn from your setbacks. Now, I¡¯ve got it all recorded. If Nic finds out¡­¡± Kristin had just burned Lisa¡¯s bridgespletely. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 The color drained from Lisa¡¯s face, leaving her pale as a ghost. ¡°Kristin!¡± she shouted. Taking a step back with her phone in hand, Kristin shed Lisa a smile. ¡°Lisa, it¡¯s such a pleasure to be working with you.¡± Lisa trembled her hands uncontrobly. Kristin had been plotting against her relentlessly, and now she had revealed the person who had positioned Nic by Rhett¡¯s side. With Nic¡¯s temperament, there was no way she would let Lisa off the hook. She was at Kristin¡¯s mercy. Kristin was truly terrifying. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald takes good care of all his employees.¡± As Kristin¡¯s words hung in the air, the police walked in. ¡°Kristin? We received a report that you¡¯re suspected of assault. Pleasee with us.¡± Kristin nced at Lisa, her expressionposed. Around them stood thepany¡¯s senior staff, all watching the spectacle at the door. Lisa feigned calmness, stepping forward with a smile. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding. I¡¯m the HR manager for the FitzGerald Group. I just had a chat. with Kristin and realized it was a procedural error on our part, no assault took ce.¡± The police officer frowned. ¡°Are you the person in charge here?¡± Lisa nodded. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. We¡¯ll handle it internally. Thank you for your time.¡± ¡°Lisa, what¡¯s going on?¡± Hob approached, clearly displeased. Kristin remained silent, intent on having Lisa speak on her behalf. By doing so, she was effectively cutting off any escape for Lisa. ¡°Mr. Hob, it¡¯s all a misunderstanding. We just sorted things out and realized it was indeed an error during a staff handover on my part. I had specifically instructed the training department to emphasize that Mr. FitzGerald is allergic to peanuts, but 1/5 12:02 they misunderstood and thought he liked peanuts, hence the mix¨Cup.¡± Lisa quickly interjected, nning to pin the me on a scapegoat and be done with it. Hob cast a meaningful nce at Kristin and snorted. ¡°Rhett is still in the hospital. We need to get to the bottom of this.¡± ¡°It was a misunderstanding.¡± Rhett emerged from the crowd, his words instantly calming Kristin¡¯s agitated heart. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald.¡± The police officer stepped forward to inquire. Rhett exined briefly to the authorities that he insisted on having peanut brittle, not anticipating an allergic reaction, and that it had nothing to do with his assistant. The police took notes and left. Thepany employees quickly returned to their posts, no one daring to trouble Rhett further. ¡°Rhett! Are you okay?¡± Hertha ran over, crying and embracing Rhett, her face the picture of fright. Rhett darkened his expression, his gaze involuntarily catching Kristin¡¯s. She stood dumbfounded by the door, noting any closer. With a stormy expression, Rhett shot a warning look at York. York, scared, quickly stepped between Rhett and Hertha, arms outstretched. ¡°Ms. Haywood, Mr. FitzGerald is still feeling under the weather. Let him rest in his office.¡± Hertha cleaned her tears, her voice soft. ¡°Rhett, this whole ordeal was terrifying. Your people aren¡¯t careful enough. If I were your assistant, I would never make such a mistake. Maybe I should just take on that role.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t hear a word Hertha said, his attention fixed on Kristin. What was Kristin pondering so deeply that she stood there, head bowed, clutching her arm? ¡°We must take this incident seriously,¡± Hob insisted, seeing an opportunity for Rhett to end his absurd marriage to Kristin. ¡°You¡¯re right, it must be dealt with seriously.¡± Rhett approached Kristin, his voice deep. ¡°No more peanut brittle. I want a reflective essay on my desk by the end of the day. You don¡¯t leave until it¡¯s done!¡± Kristin snapped back to reality, looking at Rhett. 2/5 12:03 Chapter 119 A reflective essay? Hob darkened his face, Rhett was clearly feigning ignorance to provoke him. ¡°I can¡¯t deal with you anymore. You better watch yourself!¡± Hob pointed at Kristin and then at Rhett. This is from N?velDrama.Org. If they didn¡¯t resolve this issue now, any future exposure would tarnish Rhett¡¯s reputation. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Lisa called out, trembling, too scared to raise her head. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you also write a reflective essay and submit it to me?¡± Rhett asked pointedly. Lisa nodded hastily. ¡°Yes, this is my fault.¡± She was petrified and dared not openly defy Rhett. If Rhett wanted to target her, Lisa would be utterly cornered. ¡°What are you still standing there for? Did I tell you to stand? Come in and write that essay.¡± Rhett looked down at Kristin, a smile ying on his lips. Kristin quickly turned and scurried after Rhett. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Hertha stood still, her voice hoarse. Was she being ignored by Rhett? ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯re not well. You should go home and rest. Shall I take you?¡± York smiled, intercepting Hertha, offering to escort her. ¡°I¡¯d like to have lunch with Rhett.¡± Hertha clenched her hands, wanting York to back off, but since he was Rhett¡¯s cousin, she restrained herself. She had to keep up appearances. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald just threw up and the doctor said he can¡¯t eat for now. You go on home and he¡¯ll visit you once he¡¯s feeling better,¡± York insisted, blocking Hertha with a strained smile. Tears welled up in Hertha¡¯s eyes. ¡°Does Rhett not like me?¡± she asked. ¡°I swear he doesn¡¯t dislike you!¡± York was as gentle as theye, treating women. like delicate roses. Hertha was like a pristine jasmine in bloom, yet it seemed to him. that Mr. FitzGeraldcked the appreciation for such beauty. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you know how much the Harborside Haven project means to Mr. FitzGerald. He¡¯s a workaholic who pulled out his IV toe back to work. Nothing gets in the way when he¡¯s in the zone.¡± Chapter 119 Hertha understood all too well that Rhett disliked interruptions during work. ¡°Eddie was my senior at college, and I¡¯ve already reached out to him. We¡¯re heading to Harborside Haven together. I can be a real help to him,¡± said Hertha with utmost sincerity. York pondered for a moment, deciding to y it cool for now. ¡°Alright, Ms. Haywood, I¡¯ll pass on your thoughtful message to Mr. FitzGerald.¡± Hertha bit the corner of her lip, her fingers tightening. ¡°How can Rhett be so casual about hiring an assistant York took a deep breath. Casual? Was she kidding? The moment Kristin arrived, she practically blew the doors off the FitzGerald Group! HR was like the first challenge in the FitzGerald Group, which seemed imprable to Rhett¡¯s path. It had taken York years without making much headway, but Kristin had stormed in and overcame it with a couple of well¨Cced ps. Indeed, appearances could be deceiving. ¡°Miss Kristin passed the assessment with flying colors,¡± York admitted with a hint of admiration in his voice. Hertha just nodded, not saying anything more. ¡°Ms. Haywood, let me escort you,¡± offered Randall, rushing over to personally operate the elevator for her. ¡°I remember Kristin. She¡¯s Vincent¡¯s fianc¨¦e, right?¡± Hertha asked with a hint of meaning. Randall nodded. ¡°There¡¯s a rumor to that effect.¡± Hertha snorted augh, her smile cold. It looked like she needed to pay a visit to the Turner family and have a word with Ruby about Kristin. In the office. Kristin was a bundle of nerves. She had maintained such a good facade, but now she felt as wobbly as her shaky legs. Barely holding her stance, she leaned against the door frame. Rhett, sipping on his coffee, leaned back against his desk. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the sight of Kristin. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your reflective essay,¡± he reminded her. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what should I write about?¡± Kristin stammered. 12.01 Chapter 119 ¡°Did you block James¡® number?¡± Rhett suddenly changed the subject. Kristin¡¯s guilt made her fingers fidget nervously. ¡°No, I can¡¯t just block.¡± Rhett set his coffee cup down with a stern look. ¡°Focus on your reflection! You¡¯re not leaving until it¡¯s done.¡± Kristin stood there, bewildered. What was she supposed to reflect on? Chapter 120 Chapter 120 At lunchtime, Kristin still hadn¡¯t managed to write her self¨Ccritique. She didn¡¯t even know what she was supposed to be critiquing herself for. And those words in her essay essentially boiled down to one sentiment: ¡°ording to your words, I must be wrong, but I don¡¯t know where I erred.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, aren¡¯t you going to grab some lunch?¡± Kristin asked tentatively and pushed the office door open, seeing Rhett buried in his work. Rhett put down his papers and raised an eyebrow. Lisa had somehow managed to deliver a self¨Ccritique that pleased him in record time. In the encrypted email was Lisa¡¯s pledge of allegiance, which listed people she had seeded throughout thepany on Nic¡¯s orders, spanning various departments. Rhett knew Lisa had kept some names to herself, a safety of sorts, but he had enough to work with. The rest didn¡¯t matter to him. In light of the gift Kristin had brought him on her first day, Rhett decided to let her off the hook this time and take her out to the executive dining hall for lunch. But, as fate would have it, Kristin¡¯s phone chose that exact moment to ring. Kristin shot up and dashed to the side to take the call. ¡°What are you in the mood for at noon?¡± James hadn¡¯t left Silvergrove City and was nning to take Kristin to Harborside Haven. Kristin bit her lip and declined. ¡°We have a cafeteria at the office.¡± ¡°After three minutes, meet me downstairs.¡± James said, giving no room for rejection. ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± Kristin said bravely, refusing. ¡°Are you sure? The doctor said that I need to be involved in Summer¡¯s treatment n,¡± said James, his voice stern. Kristin intensified the pressure on her lip, turning it pale. James knew just how to threaten her with Summer. ¡°You can¡¯t do this,¡± Kristin attempted to reason with James, but he was not the type to be reasoned with. 12:03 Chapter 120 ¡°Come down, don¡¯t make me say it a third time.¡± With that, James hung up. Kristin turned back nervously to face Rhett, stuttering, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, may I go out to have lunch?¡± Rhett stood at his office door, his expression dark and the air around him heavy with disapproval. It was clear who had called Kristin. James had stayed in Silvergrove City instead of returning to Crescendo Town or going to Harborside Haven, solely to keep pestering Kristin. ¡°Is your reflective essay done?¡± Rhett asked, his voice low and serious.. Kristin sensed Rhett¡¯s anger and wondered if she had done something wrong again. His moods were unpredictable and hard to gauge. ¡°No¡­ not yet.¡± ¡°If not, you¡¯re not leaving,¡± Rhett said, ncing at the paper on her desk with only a few defiant words, as if telling him she did nothing wrong. ¡°For two hours, is this all you¡¯ve got?¡± Rhett frowned, clearly displeased, yet his gaze lingered on her handwriting. Her script was elegant yet strong, shockingly beautiful. Kristin looked down nervously, gripping her fingers tightly. Had she upset Rhett again? York, standing nearby, saw an opportunity to chime in, ¡°Kristin, your work efficiency is way too low!¡± He began to scold her on Rhett¡¯s behalf, but his words trailed off as he caught sight of the paper on the desk. Kristin¡¯s reflective essay was a few words that flowed beautifully across the page. Setting aside the content, the handwriting was stunning, even more appealing than that found in calligraphy workbooks. ¡°Kristin, your writing is really beautiful.¡± ¡°Just so so.¡± Kristin was at a loss for words. ¡°No wonder you were the top schr. With handwriting like that, the examiners must have been reluctant to deduct any points,¡± York said with a smile. Kristin paused, looking down with a hint of pain in her heart. She once stood shining brightly on high too. After she was incarcerated and expelled from university, her high school teacher had Chapter 120 visited her, repeating her sympathy for Kristin¡¯s result. Kristin was a rare talent. Had her life not been ruined, she would be out of reach for many by now. Rhett darkened his gaze and shot York a look. ¡°Move her desk in here. I don¡¯t keep freeloaders around!¡± Rhett was cold with his words but did the unbelievable thing that dropped York¡¯s jaw. He had been Rhett¡¯s assistant for years and had never made it into the CEO¡¯s office. Now Kristin¡¯s small desk was getting a VIP pass! ¡°York will get you lunch. He lost a bet and said he¡¯d be your runner for three months,¡± Rhett said with a raised eyebrow. ¡°And you¡¯re not leaving early! Stayte and work on that reflective essay!¡± York was so intimidated by Rhett that it was clear exploitation. ¡°Why not write it after hours? Besides, Kristin didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± York protested, attempting to coax Rhett into letting her go for lunch. ¡°It¡¯ll be cold by the time it gets here. I¡¯ll take her myself. The chefs in the executive dining area are all five¨Cstar rated. We¡¯ll bask in your glory.¡± York winked at Kristin, ready to whisk her away from Rhett¡¯s clutches. Kristin looked forward with a glimmer of anticipation. She had heard about the gourmet meals for the executives and was thrilled at the prospect of experiencing it herself. Rhett darkened his face and took a deep breath. At the sight of anticipation in Kristin, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say no. Picking up her phone, Kristin followed York but paused after a few steps to turn back and ask hesitantly, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I have a friend, can he join us in the dining hall?¡± Rhett was struggling to keep hisposure. ¡°Suit yourself!¡± Not wanting to seem petty, Rhett mmed his office door shut with a bang. York scratched his head. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald had a rough day. He hasn¡¯t eaten anything and had to be induced to vomit by the doctor, so his mood is understandable. Let¡¯s just enjoy our meal.¡± With that, Kristin and York headed out to experience the executive dining area, leaving the door of Rhett¡¯s office and his dark mood behind them. Chapter ¡°Has Mr. FitzGerald always been such a moody guy?¡± Kristin whispered. She needed to grill York for more information on Rhett. ¡°Oh, you ain¡¯t seen nothing yet. You should see him when he really blows his top. Sure, Mr. FitzGerald seems all smooth and polite most days, but cross him and you¡¯ll wish you hadn¡¯t. If you ever see that side of him, just run for the hills. Because he can be a real beast,¡± York murmured back. Kristin just nodded, trailing behind York, and texted James. ¡°Gonna grab a bite at the staff canteen, pulling an all¨Cnighter. It¡¯s on the second floor, wanna join? Heard it¡¯s not half bad.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to give James any chance for a one¨Con¨Cone. Downstairs, in the car. Seeing threats were useless, James clenched his teeth in frustration. Fine! Workingte again! What kind of executive assistant was always burning the midnight oil? It was nothing but Rhett giving Kristin a hard time, wasn¡¯t it? How could James, the big¨Cshot CEO of Aurora Tech, go to eat a staff meal at Rhett¡¯s ce? No way! ¡°Mr. Bryce, isn¡¯t that Vincent? Didn¡¯t you hook him up with Eddie? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to head over to Harborside Haven early with Nic?¡± Bill caught sight of Vincent entering thepany and asked, puzzled. James furrowed his brows and stepped out of the car with a stony expression. ¡°Mr. Bryce, where are you off to?¡± Bill asked nervously. ¡°I¡¯m off to mooch off Rhett¡¯s staff meal!¡± James gritted out. Vincent showing up at this hour meant he¡¯d made a beeline for thepany straight from the airport. What else could be so important that it¡¯d drag him back,pletely disregarding the coboration of the Harborside Haven Project? Chapter 120 ¡°Has Mr. FitzGerald always been such a moody guy?¡± Kristin whispered. She needed to grill York for more information on Rhett. ¡°Oh, you ain¡¯t seen nothing yet. You should see him when he really blows his top. Sure, Mr. FitzGerald seems all smooth and polite most days, but cross him and you¡¯ll wish you hadn¡¯t. If you ever see that side of him, just run for the hills. Because he can be a real beast,¡± York murmured back. Kristin just nodded, trailing behind York, and texted James. ¡°Gonna grab a bite at the staff canteen, pulling an all¨Cnighter. It¡¯s on the second floor, wanna join? Heard it¡¯s not half bad.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to give James any chance for a one¨Con¨Cone. Downstairs, in the car. Seeing threats were useless, James clenched his teeth in frustration. Fine! Workingte again! What kind of executive assistant was always burning the midnight oil? This is from N?velDrama.Org. It was nothing but Rhett giving Kristin a hard time, wasn¡¯t it? How could James, the big¨Cshot CEO of Aurora Tech, go to eat a staff meal at Rhett¡¯s ce? No way! ¡°Mr. Bryce, isn¡¯t that Vincent? Didn¡¯t you hook him up with Eddie? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to head over to Harborside Haven early with Nic?¡± Bill caught sight of Vincent entering thepany and asked, puzzled. James furrowed his brows and stepped out of the car with a stony expression. ¡°Mr. Bryce, where are you off to?¡± Bill asked nervously. ¡°I¡¯m off to mooch off Rhett¡¯s staff meal!¡± James gritted out. Vincent showing up at this hour meant he¡¯d made a beeline for thepany straight from the airport. What else could be so important that it¡¯d drag him back,pletely disregarding the coboration of the Harborside Haven Project? Chapter 121 Chapter 121 At the Executive Dining Lounge on the second floor. This ce was reserved for the top brass of thepany, boasting an ambiance that could rival any five¨Cstar hotel Kristin felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wondend as she entered the executive dining lounge. It was a stark contrast to the bustling employee cafeteria downstairs. This was tranquility and luxurybined. ¡°Is all of this free?¡± Kristin gestured towards the fruit station and the array of dishes avable. York chuckled. ¡°Yeah, help yourself.¡± It seemed that Kristin¡¯s skills had indeed earned York¡¯s respect. His demeanor towards her had softened subconsciously. Kristin sparkled her eyes at the neatly sliced fruit arranged in the chilled disy with a smile spreading across her face. Recently, her spirits had lifted significantly. though she hardly noticed. ¡°These fruits must cost a fortune.¡± She took a modest portion, muttering to herself in a hushed tone. York watched Kristin¡¯s frugal behavior. ¡°You should eat more. Look at how thin you are. This figure isn¡¯t healthy. Men prefer a woman with curves. You¡¯re all skin and bones, while others have assets to unt. How can youmand presence like that?¡± At a loss for words, Kristin nced down at her chest and swallowed choosing to remain silent. She was quite gifted in certain areas, which just weren¡¯t that obvious¡­. ¡°Here, take some more of this,¡± York insisted, piling more food onto her te as if she wasn¡¯t just a colleague but a close friend. Kristin hurriedly epted the offerings, stuttering, ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ it¡¯s too much¡­¡± Her te was nearly toppling over when a pair of hands reached from behind to steady it. Kristin turned to see who had helped her and gasped, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, the doctor advised you to fast at lunch,¡± York interjected, puzzled as to why Rhett had come down. Chapter 121 Rhett was stern as he contemted when to transfer York. ¡°I¡¯ll just have some broth.¡± York nodded. ¡°Please, have a seat. I¡¯ll get it for you!¡± Rhett took the te from Kristin, who stood awkwardly in ce for a long while, grateful that the executive dining area was empty. Otherwise, with Rhett helping her with her te, she¡¯d be the talk of thepany by tomorrow. ¡°How irresistible is the FitzGerald Group¡¯s staff meal to you?¡± James walked in, taking hold of Kristin¡¯s wrist with a resigned sigh. Kristin snapped out of her daze, pulling her wrist free. James stood beside Kristin, yet his eyes were focused on Rhett. ¡°We want to go out for a meal, Mr. FitzGerald. I¡¯d like to request leave on Kristin¡¯s behalf,¡± he proposed. It was clear that James was putting on a show for Rhett. ¡°My assistant doesn¡¯t get time off,¡± Rhett responded coolly, his tone icy. ¡°Rhett!¡± James was losing patience. Rhett, however, appeared as nonchnt as a noble straight out of a fairy tale. Kristin dared not look at Rhett, whose presence was too dazzling. ¡°Mr. Bryce, why don¡¯t you try our chef¡¯s cuisine? We have anything you can get outside right here. Please feel free to order!¡± York rushed over to pacify James. ¡°Mr. Bryce, please take a seat.¡± He then pulled out a chair for James. ¡°Kristin, aren¡¯t you going to pour Mr. Bryce some water?¡± Kristin nodded swiftly and went to fetch a ss of water for James. Left alone with James, Rhett spoke calmly. ¡°What are you implying. Rhett? Are youpeting with me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no implication. She¡¯s under my employ now,¡± Rhett stated lightly. James clenched his fists. ¡°How long do you think she¡¯llst at the FitzGerald Group?¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m at the FitzGerald Group, she¡¯s under my protection.¡± The air crackled between them, both men¡¯s aura sparking conflict. 2/5 ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± James retorted with a sarcasticugh, not believing Rhett could protect Kristin. He was convinced that once Kristin became a liability Rhett would have to let go of. Rhett wouldn¡¯t dare to confront the entire FitzGerald Group, let alone the business for her. James was well aware that even if he didn¡¯t make a move, the internal factions of the FitzGerald Group including the Haywood family, the Turner family, and even the FitzGerald family themselves would take action. James just needed to sit back and watch Rhett lose. ¡°Mr. Bryce, your water,¡± Kristin offered the ss to James, asking softly. ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± James leaned back, his lips curving up. ¡°Since Mr. FitzGerald is hosting, let him order for me.¡± Rhett scowled but remained silent. Kristin took a deep breath, stammering, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± ¡°Tell the chef that Mr. Bryce likes to keep fit. He prefers light meals without oil or salt. Just boiled chicken breast, eggs, and some raw food juices.¡± Rhett said with a smirk. Kristin made a face, wondering how that could be appetizing. After Kristin left, James spoke up. ¡°Rhett, I never realized you could be so childish.¡± ¡°The feeling is mutual.¡± Rhett huffed. James gritted his teeth. ¡°Then let¡¯s see who wins in the end. Kristin is mine, the mother of my son.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already lost.¡± Rhett countered, not disclosing to James that he and Kristin were now legally married with a certificate to prove it. ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± James said confidently, sure that Rhett wouldn¡¯tst long. At the Turner family. Rubyy in her bed, feigning frailty ever since she had faked a faint at the entrance of the FitzGerald Group. She had been ying the weakened damsel ever since. ¡°Ruby, how are you feeling, sweetheart?¡± Mamie asked with a mix of worry and fury Chapter 121 etched on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve been so caught up nursing you back to health these past few days, I haven¡¯t had a second to go after Kristin.¡± The audacity of Kristinto messing with Ruby in broad daylight was just unbelievable, ¡°Mom, maybe Kristin didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Ruby¡¯s voice was weak, her body still recovering. ¡°Defending her now? She doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡± Mamie¡¯s anger was palpable. ¡°Madam, Ms. Haywood is here to see Ruby,¡± the nanny reported in a hushed tone from the doorway. Ruby blinked in surprise. Hertha? She and Hertha had never been particrly close. Hertha was a bit of a recluse, one for quiet and solitude. Their encounters at social gatherings had been limited to polite nods. What could her visit today mean? ¡°Show her in.¡± Mamie said with a smile, turning back to Ruby. ¡°Darling, chat with your friend. Don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll see justice done for you today.¡± After leaving Ruby¡¯s bedroom, Mamie darkened her expression as she strode into the living room. ¡°rence, Ruby has been bullied. Are you just sitting there doing. nothing? Well, what are you waiting for? Go bring Kristin back here!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± rence massaged his temples, clearly exasperated. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her fault this time.¡± ¡°Have you started ying favorites with Kristin now?¡± Mamie shot back, her gaze sharp. rence remained silent, his gaze lowered. ¡°Rhett had York send me the security footage from the FitzGerald Group¡¯s entrance that day from three angles, which is all crystal clear. They even made slow¨Cmotion edits, just to make sure I saw everything.¡± rence knew it was Rhett¡¯s way of sending a message, a warning to keep his hands. off Kristin. ¡°Besides, the FitzGerald Group has dyed the final payment for the project within the contract period, leaving our cash flow in a bind.¡± rence didn¡¯t expect Rhett to go to such lengths for Kristin. The FitzGerald Group had a marriage alliance with the Turner family, so their financial team always prioritized payments to the Turner family. But because of rence¡¯s altercation with Kristin at the entrance, suddenly the project team reported a funding. Chapter 121 etched on her face. ¡°I¡¯ve been so caught up nursing you back to health these past few days, I haven¡¯t had a second to go after Kristin.¡± The audacity of Kristinto messing with Ruby in broad daylight was just unbelievable. ¡°Mom, maybe Kristin didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Ruby¡¯s voice was weak, her body still recovering. ¡°Defending her now? She doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡± Mamie¡¯s anger was palpable. ¡°Madam, Ms. Haywood is here to see Ruby,¡± the nanny reported in a hushed tone from the doorway. Ruby blinked in surprise. Hertha? She and Hertha had never been particrly close. Hertha was a bit of a recluse, one for quiet and solitude. Their encounters at social gatherings had been limited to polite nods. What could her visit today mean? ¡°Show her in,¡± Mamie said with a smile, turning back to Ruby. ¡°Darling, chat with your friend. Don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll see justice done for you today.¡± After leaving Ruby¡¯s bedroom, Mamie darkened her expression as she strode into the living room. ¡°rence, Ruby has been bullied. Are you just sitting there doing nothing? Well, what are you waiting for? Go bring Kristin back here!¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± rence massaged his temples, clearly exasperated. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her fault this time.¡± ¡°Have you started ying favorites with Kristin now?¡± Mamie shot back, her gaze sharp. rence remained silent, his gaze lowered. ¡°Rhett had York send me the security footage from the FitzGerald Group¡¯s entrance that day from three angles, which is all crystal clear. They even made slow¨Cmotion edits, just to make sure I saw everything.¡± rence knew it was Rhett¡¯s way of sending a message, a warning to keep his hands N?velDrama.Org is the owner. off Kristin. ¡°Besides, the FitzGerald Group has dyed the final payment for the project within the contract period, leaving our cash flow in a bind.¡± rence didn¡¯t expect Rhett to go to such lengths for Kristin. The FitzGerald Group had a marriage alliance with the Turner family, so their financial team always prioritized payments to the Turner family. But because of rence¡¯s altercation with Kristin at the entrance, suddenly the project team reported a funding. 4/5 15.45 Chapter 121 issue. They would only pay ording to the final contract deadline. The Turner family had grown ustomed to receiving early payments from the FitzGerald Group. This dy meant a bottleneck in cash flow and a subsequent dy in project timelines, which could have a domino effect, Impacting the Turner family¡¯s reputation. It was like a butterfly effect. Rhett was indeed a formidable man. With a mere flick of his finger, he could make enterprises reliant on the FitzGerald Group crumble instantly. Fortunately, the Turner family had a solid foundation, and Rhett hadn¡¯t taken extreme measures against them yet. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 At the FitzGerald Group. Kristin sat at the table, listlessly picking at her fruit sd seemingly without an appetite. ¡°Eat up, you¡¯re too skinny. If you¡¯re gonna survive as Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant, you better be ready for a whirlwind,¡± York muttered under his breath, ribbing his boss. Kristin just nodded and forced a few more bites of her cherries and strawberries. It seemed she was only interested in the sweetest parts of her te. James, across the table, was eyeballing a in grilled chicken breast, utterly devoid of any dressing. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to pick up his knife, instead reaching over with his fork to snag some fruit from Kristin¡¯s te. It was a move that was borderline flirtatious. In truth, James was purposely goading Rhett. Everyone knew Rhett had a thing about cleanliness, and James was just throwing down the gauntlet, which was a challenge Rhett would never take up. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I heard you¡¯re a bit of a germophobe. In all these years, aside from Hertha, you haven¡¯t touched a woman, have you?¡± James prodded as Rhett darkened his face. ¡°Focus on your food, okay? Carter¡¯s upbringing seems a tadx,¡± Rhett frowned. Kristin tightened her grip on her fork. Rhett hadn¡¯t denied his involvement with Hertha. It appeared to be true. ¡°Hertha is quite the catch,pliant and low¨Ckey,¡± James said coolly, his words stillced with provocation. ¡°What a pity then! You¡¯re set to marry her sister. If you¡¯re regretful, you could always bring it up with the Haywood family,¡± Rhett said, setting down his ss and wiping his hands. ¡°Enjoy your meal.¡± With that, he stood and left. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m done too. I should get back to work,¡± Kristin said, dropping her fork and standing abruptly. James frowned. ¡°It¡¯s not even time to clock in yet, is it?¡± 1/5 Chapter 127 ¡°I need to work overtime.¡± Kristin was eager to leave. ¡°Kristin, how long are you going to keep this up with me?¡± James grabbed her wrist. ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Kristin stammered, trying to pull away. York choked on his food and quickly excused himself, sensing the tension. ¡°The Haywood family paid a visit to the FitzGerald family today to see Hob. Rhett is bound to marry Hertha sooner orter. If you stay with the FitzGerald Corp, the Haywood family won¡¯t let you off easy.¡± James said, genuinely worried for her. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± Kristin snapped, shaking off James¡® hand. She was irritable, though she thought she had long since lost her temper. But it was more about not daring to show it without any support behind her. James looked annoyed and had perhaps been too indulgent with Kristintely, which made her lose touch with reality. This was just how Kristin was and he had known it six years ago. If she had been more pragmatic, she wouldn¡¯t have chosen prison over him five years back. Rubbing his temples in frustration, James sighed. What could he do? He just liked Kristin the way she was. Even if she had lost all her edges, she wouldn¡¯t be herself. James wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He had time to wait for her toe around. Nowhere else would be safe for her but by his side. ¡°Mr. Bryce, you¡¯ve been frequenting the FitzGerald Corp quite a lottely.¡± Vincent remarked as he walked into the dining room, clearly looking for Kristin, ¡°Got a problem with that?¡± James leaned back, his voice deep. Even if Vincent had objections, he would have to swallow them. ¡°Carter won¡¯t approve of you and Kristin together. Adrienne will be out soon, and do you think the Haywood family would ept your rtionship with Kristin?¡± Vincent clenched his fists, but he needed James¡® cooperation right now. ¡°In the face of absolute interests, the Haywood family has no right to object,¡± James said, rising and approaching Vincent. ¡°That is the difference between you and Rhett. You¡¯ve never reached his level.¡± James was ying a double game, fueling the rivalry between Vincent and Rhett. Chapter 122 But he was right. In the face of absolute interests, the Haywood family had no say. If the Haywood family didn¡¯t approve of James and Kristin, it would mean breaking off the engagement. A move James would wee. Unfortunately, the Haywood family wouldn¡¯t call off a business marriage just because James had a mistress on the side. These sorts of arrangements were understood by all involved. At the Turner family. Mamie was seething. ¡°What kind of game is Kristin ying to hook Rhett and have him so protective over her?¡± ¡°Rhett won¡¯t be interested in Kristin for long. She got her job through despicable means. How long can he keep her?¡± Ruby stood at the doorway, her voice breaking. ¡°rence, I did faint that day, which wasn¡¯t Kristin¡¯s fault. But since she¡¯s been out, her attitude towards us is clearly vindictive.¡± rence was silent. He knew too well that Kristin was out for revenge against the Turner family and Vincent. Otherwise, why would she stay by Rhett¡¯s side and keep James on a leash? Was she so fallen now that she had to sell herself for their help? ¡°Does she think Rhett would actually marry her?¡± Mamie scoffed. ¡°Forget about the FitzGerald family, who in Silvergrove City would even dare to propose to her now?¡± ¡°Rhett won¡¯t marry her,¡± Hertha breezed into the room, herughter sweet as apple pie. ¡°I¡¯m the one he¡¯s got his eye on for that.¡± Ruby nced at Hertha. She¡¯d heard the buzz alright that the Haywood family had been cozying up to Hob, aiming to tie the knot between their houses. Sure, Hob had Rhett pegged for Ms. Haywood. The Haywood family¡¯s game was crystal clear. Married off the older mistress to Rhett and the younger one to James. They nned to get their hooks into two of the big fishes in business. ¡°What brings Ms. Haywood here today.?¡± Ruby inquired with a hint of curiosity. Chapter 122 ¡°I swung by the FitzGerald Group earlier to catch Phett, but bumped into Vincent instead. He seemed to have just jetted back into town. Since we¡¯ll be family soon, rd drop by to see you,¡± Hertha was all pleasantries in her tone with the undercurrent Hertha and Ruby were like oil and water, really. The Turner family turned their noses up at the Haywood family¡¯s hungry look while the Haywood family scoffed at the Turner family for rescuing a sickly and ignorant girl, making them theughing stock of Silvergrove City. ¡°Vincent?¡± Ruby¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she made a bertine for Hertha. ¡°You saw Vincent at the FitzGerald Group?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Hertha replied, the picture of innocence. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t believe it, but Kristin caused quite the stir at the office today. Phett is allergic to peanuts, and she gave him peanut brittle of all things and sent him straight to the hospital Just outrageous.¡± Ruby hitched her breath, her grip tightening on Hertha¡¯s arm. ¡°Kristin sent Rhett to the hospital? How did the PR department and the evens handle ty With Kristin¡¯s blunder and Vincent¡¯s sudden reappearance at the FitzGerald Group, Ruby didn¡¯t need a roadmap to see the connection. The project of Harborside Haven was Vincent¡¯s baby and he was supposed to meet Eddie today. Was he really ditching everything for Kristin? ¡°They¡¯re letting her off with just a written apology, if you can believe that Hertha said nonchntly.¡± Ruby¡¯s eyes zed with fury as she stormed out. ¡°Ruby!¡± rence stood up and chased after her. ¡°Where are you off to?¡± Ruby paused to dial Vincent¡¯s number. He didn¡¯t pick up at first. On the second try, he answered. ¡°Vinny, where are you?¡± Ruby was strained. ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel Vincent lied. ¡°Tied up with some things. You need something?¡± ¡°No, no¡­¡± Ruby trembled her voice. Vincent was lying to her because of Kristin. Chapter 122 After Ruby hung up, Hertha stood at the doorway, feigning confusion. ¡°Did I get it wrong?¡± ¡°Ruby!¡± Headstrong as ever, Ruby jumped in her car and floored it towards the FitzGerald Group. She was always so reckless. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hertha¡¯s concern was painted on her face. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into Ruby?¡± rence was too frantic chasing after Ruby to answer. Hertha watched the siblings drive off, her lips curling into a smug smile. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Ruby only had a mean streak and no brains to boot, which was the truth. Now, the FitzGerald Group was in for a show. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 In the CEO¡¯s office. Kristin nced at her tiny desk tucked into the corner, feeling incredibly cramped. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, maybe I should go work outside. It¡¯s quite nice there.¡± After all, a CEO needed his privacy, and her working inside his office just didn¡¯t seem right. ¡°What exactly does being a personal assistant entail?¡± Rhett asked casually, setting down the contract he had been reviewing. Kristin dropped her gaze to the floor and fell silent, not wanting to provoke his anger. ¡°Coffee.¡± Rhett gestured toward his empty cup. Quickly, Kristin moved to fetch the cup and started preparing a fresh coffee for Rhett. *Carter won¡¯t give up on Summer¡¯s custody that easily. He¡¯s waiting for you to slip up,¡± Rhett mentioned nonchntly, as if reminding her were an afterthought. At the door, Kristin paused but didn¡¯t respond. ¡°If you need, York can assist with Summer¡¯s registration,¡± Rhett muttered, still not looking up. He¡¯d never admitted that he had a soft spot for Summer. Before meeting Summer, Rhett had considered himself not fond of children. After encountering Summer, he realized it wasn¡¯t a general disdain for kids. He specifically disliked Eve¡¯s son, Milo. ¡°Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald, but it¡¯s not necessary,¡± Kristin refused, shaking her head. Even if Rhett was willing to help her, she couldn¡¯t ept. If Summer¡¯s registration ended up in Rhett¡¯s name, their illicit rtionship would be exposed to the Bryce family. Besides, her rtionship with Rhett was purely transactional. Just as James had said, it was likely that Rhett would eventually marry Hertha. It was only a matter of three years, perhaps even less before Rhett grew tired of her. Why bother with the hassle? Moreover, if Summer were to be legally under Rhett¡¯s care, Summer could im a portion of his wealth, something the FitzGerald family would never allow. 1/4 12:05 Kristin wasn¡¯t stupid and didn¡¯t want to stir trouble for herself or Summer. Rhett stayed silent, aware of Kristin¡¯s concerns. Their marriage, after all, was a business arrangement, bound to dissolve at any moment. Stepping out of the office, Kristin went to prepare Rhett¡¯s coffee. Then she saw Hob arriving and stepped aside. Hob gave Kristin a quick nce before entering Rhett¡¯s office. ¡°The Haywood family approached me today,¡± Hob stated bluntly. ¡°If this isn¡¯t about work, we can talk at home,¡± Rhett dismissed the topic. ¡°Vincent is out of the picture. In a few months, Kristin won¡¯t pose a threat to the FitzGerald family anymore. It¡¯s time to let her go,¡± Hob frowned, urging Rhett to cut ties with Kristin, considering her a ticking time bomb. ¡°Your situation with Herthal doesn¡¯t need boration. As adults, this is about responsibility. If the Haywood family makes a case out of that incident, will you face a rape charge or marry her?¡± Rhett mmed his pen down with frustration. ¡°Since we¡¯re all adults, we both bear responsibility. The hotel room was in my name. Why was Hertha there? Was being drunk an excuse? How did she even get into my room? Do they think I¡¯m a fool?¡± If Hertha was as innocent as she seemed, how did she end up in his room? ¡°So, it¡¯s you who¡¯s at a disadvantage?¡± Hob went pale with anger. Rhett furrowed his brows. ¡°If the Haywood family insists on pursuing this, it will be me holding them ountable. Marrying her is out of the question.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t up for debate. It¡¯s about our family¡¯s reputation. You might afford to lose. face, but our family cannot! Don¡¯t think you can do whatever you please just because you¡¯ve grown up. Thispany isn¡¯t solely under your control yet!¡± Hob was irate at Rhett¡¯s defiance. ¡°Marry her yourself, then,¡± Rhett retorted, ignoring Hob¡¯s outburst. ¡°You!¡± Hob struggled to breathe, infuriated. ¡°The union between our family and the Haywood family is already set, and the media knows. Make sure Kristin keeps her mouth shut. If she leaks a word, I¡¯ll make her disappear from Silvergrove City,¡± he threatened in a low voice. Rhett looked up sharply. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about Kristin! As a woman of loose morals with a child out of wedlock, she¡¯s a bomb waiting to go off. I¡¯m looking out for you,¡± Hob banged the table, 12:05 This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Chapter 143 visibly upset. ¡°Does Nic have morals? She seduced a married man and had two illegitimate. children. Despite objections, didn¡¯t you marry her? I should learn from you,¡± Rhett leaned back in his chair and continued, ¡°Kristin is my wife. Insulting her is an insult Having a child with a worthless man is a fact, and that reflects poorly on James, not Kristin.¡± to me. Have you witnessed her so¨Ccalled loose morale ¡°You pride yourself on being a highbrow intellectual. Be careful not to lower your standards,¡± Rhett warned Hob, reminding him to think before he spoke. ¡°Rhett!¡± Hob trembled his hands with fury. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re untouchable with those shares in your grasp? You¡¯re fooling yourself. Legally speaking, half of Lucius¡® shares belong to Vincent. As for your mother¡¯s shares, by rights of inheritance, they¡¯re mine first and foremost. Whether you get a single share or not depends entirely on my mood.¡± Hob was using the shares to strong¨Carm Rhett. ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Rhett replied, curious to see just how far Hob would go. Would Hob dare to give Vincent a piece of his mother¡¯s legacy? The thought was almostughable¡­. ¡°Rhett, you¡¯ve always been a source of pride for me. Don¡¯t let me down. If you y ball and get engaged to Hertha and then, once we¡¯ve dealt with Kristin, you can get married to Hertha, and I¡¯ll drop this whole share business. But if you choose to disobey, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless.¡± With a huff, Hob turned on his heel and left. He hade with the sole purpose of giving Rhett a wake¨Cup call. Leaning back in his chair, Rhett turned dark. Hob did indeed have the leverage to threaten him. From the standpoint of inheritance, Rhett was not in a favorable position. His mother¡¯s sudden death had left her will concealed by Hob¡¯s malice, never notarized nor imed in time. The same problem gued Lucius¡® shares. So even though Rhett currently held both his grandfather¡¯s and mother¡¯s shares, Hob could still contest them if he wished. Outside, Kristin clutched her now¨Ccold cup of coffee, her heart tightening. Rhett¡¯s predicament at the FitzGerald Group was more challenging than she had 3/4 12:05 imagined. ¡°The coffee¡¯s gone cold.¡± Rhett stood in the doorway, smiling at Kristin who was hiding outside. Tears welled up in Kristin¡¯s eyes as she stepped inside. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ maybe we should just get a divorce.¡± ¡°Do you think I can¡¯t protect you?¡± Rhett asked. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­¡± Kristin shook her head. She didn¡¯t want to burden Rhett. For some reason, Hob¡¯s threats against Rhett ached her heart. ¡°Just trust me.¡± Rhett didn¡¯t borate, asking Kristin to have faith in him. Kristin looked up at him, nodded, and inexplicably felt at peace. ¡°Kristin! Get out here! Kristin! You lowlife, Kristin,e out!¡± Themotion outside grew louder with Ruby¡¯s hysterical shouting. Kristin froze, unsure of what was happening, tempted to go see. Rhett lifted his hand and caught Kristin¡¯s cor. ¡°Don¡¯t get involved in the drama. Go write your reflective essay.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 ¡°Kristin, get out here now! Are you for real, Kristin? How can you even show your face at FitzGerald Group? What right do you have to be here? Get out!¡± Ruby¡¯s voice echoed through the corridors, loud and abrasive, her privilege as Vincent¡¯s fianc¨¦e acting like a shield against any attempt to silence her. The executives and security staff, knowing well enough not to cross her, kept their distance. Everyone at FitzGerald Group was well aware of Ruby¡¯s frail health, a ticking time. bomb no one dared to provoke. If she were to faint from a confrontation, nobody wanted to be held ountable for that kind of drama. Inside her office, Kristin sat on the edge of her seat, her fingers interlocked tightly, betraying her anxiety. She nced up at Rhett several times, but he seemedpletely oblivious to themotion, engrossed in his work. Yet it was clear Ruby wouldn¡¯t stop until she saw Kristin. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ Ruby is disrupting your work. I should go¡­¡± Kristin began, her voice tinged with fear. She was worried Rhett might see her as a constant source of trouble. ¡°York can handle it,¡± Rhett said without looking up, gesturing for Kristin toe over. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Kristin quickly rose and moved to Rhett¡¯s side. ¡°Here¡¯s a list from Lisa. Deal with this person, Neal.¡± Rhett circled a name on a paper. He was the director of the Investment Division at FitzGerald Group. Neal, a 48¨Cyear¨Cold, was one of Hob¡¯s most trusted men. Despite Hob no longer being involved in the day¨Cto¨Cday, his influence still loomedrge over the If Rhett wanted to sideline Hob, he needed to rece his loyalists. With Neal being under his direct jurisdiction in the Investment Division, he was a significant obstacle. ¡°Lisa¡¯s list? That means Neal is one of Nic¡¯s, whichplicates things.¡± Kristin pondered, holding the list. ¡°He¡¯s been with thepany for ages. I¡¯ve looked into the heads of departments. Neal¡¯s a charmer, well¨Cliked around here. It¡¯s not easy to find 12.06 Chapter 124 any dirt on him.¡± ¡°Is it too tough?¡± Rhett leaned back in his chair, wondering if he¡¯d given Kristin too big a task for starters. Kristin was nervous but also felt a sense of tion. Rhett was entrusting her with a major yer right off the bat, which meant he had faith in her abilities. ¡°Not at all. Just need some time.¡± Rhett observed her for a moment, then smiled. ¡°You stutter less when you¡¯re focused, huh?¡± Kristin flushed with embarrassment at his teasing. ¡°May¡­maybe.¡± ¡°Got any ideas? Need my help with anything?¡± Rhett was curious to hear her n. ¡°I need to dig into his personal life first and do some investigating.¡± Kristin admitted, hoping Rhett could assist since she had no means to hire a private investigator. ¡°Here¡¯s everything we have on him.¡± Rhett handed over Neal¡¯s dossier. Kristin looked at Rhett, surprised. He had been nning to move against Neal for quite some time. ¡°York gathered this, but he¡¯s not equipped to handle it from here,¡± Rhett said, not to belittle York, but acknowledging his limitations to merely uncovering Neal¡¯s personal activities. ¡°Each to their strength. York has his talents. We need to work together to finish the job,¡± Kristin said nervously, taking the dossier back to her desk to study it. Rhett watched her, pensively twirling a pen in his hand. He had indeed found a gem. ¡°At 2:30 PM sharp, we leave for the airport. Got everything you need for the trip?¡± Rhett asked, concerned Kristin might not be ready for her first business trip. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, everything is prepared. Your suit has been sent ahead to the hotel. They¡¯ll press it there. The ties and watches I picked out have options, in case you want to switch,¡± Kristin reported, standing up with the eagerness of a student presenting homework. Checking the time, she continued, ¡°The gift for Eddie has also been shipped. You can head straight to the meeting once you arrive.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± York interrupted, stepping inside after taking a deep breath. ¡°Ms. Vincent¡¯s fianc¨¦e is causing a scene outside.¡± 12:06 Chapter 124 Rhett ignored York, more interested in whether Kristin had prepared her essentials. ¡°What gift did you get for Eddie?¡± ¡°Fresh king crab¡­¡± Kristin had researched Eddie¡¯s preferences thoroughly. Rhett dropped his pen onto the desk with a tter. ¡°Excuse me?¡± King crab? Did Eddie look like he was short on king crab? ¡°You got Eddie king crab?¡± York was astonished. ¡°Look, you might think it¡¯s a delicacy, but let me handle this. There¡¯s still time.¡± York sounded disappointed, having expected something impressive from Kristin. Rhett just smiled, saying nothing. Kristin wanted to exin, but she couldn¡¯t find the words. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Ruby is having a meltdown and no one dares approach her.¡± York added, looking helplessly at Rhett. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± Kristin said, guiltily making her way outside. She couldn¡¯t fathom why Ruby had such a vendetta against her, causing such turmoil at the Rhett gave York a sharp look and followed Kristin out. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯ve already stolen twenty years of my life. What more do you want? Will you never let me be? What will it take for you to leave FitzGerald Group and stay away from my boyfriend?¡± Ruby yelled, her emotions running high as Kristin appeared. Kristin stood there, lost and bewildered, while onlookers whispered among themselves. Ever since Kristin had joined thepany, it had never been short of drama. ¡°Ruby!¡± rence and Vincent came rushing over, desperately trying to calm her down. ¡°Ruby, stop this madness. Let¡¯s go home. I¡¯ll exin everything, okay?¡± Vincent wrapped his arms around Ruby, whispering words offort. ¡°Don¡¯t get worked up. I¡¯ll exin everything once we get back.¡± Ruby was fiery as she stared at Kristin. ¡°Do I need to get on my knees and beg you? For twenty years, you¡¯ve lived in my house, stolen my identity and reaped the benefits of the best education and the best life. But me? Do you have any clue what kind of hell I¡¯ve been through? Do you even know what Garner did to me?¡± 12:06 Tears streaming down her face, Ruby shouted out her years of anguish, using Kristin of every imaginable sin. This is from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯ve stolen my life and my boyfriend. How much more of me do you want to destroy?¡± Kristin stood there silently, letting Ruby vent her fury. ¡°Vinny, what does Kristin want from me, huh? Does she want me dead?¡± Ruby cried uncontrobly, turning to jump out of the window. rence quickly grabbed Ruby, holding her back, and shot Vincent an angry look. ¡°Do something!¡± Looking visibly annoyed, Vincent rubbed his temples. After a moment, he turned to Kristin. ¡°Apologize to Ruby. Get her to forgive you. Kristin didn¡¯t say a word and just stared at Vincent. Vincent looked away, exasperated. ¡°You owe her more than you can ever repay. If someone has to die, it should be you. Apologize to her.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Rhett leaned against the door frame,zily adjusting his tie. What aplete idiot Vincent is, he thought. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Kristin turned to look at Rhett, her heart pounding with an unusualbination of nerves, Hearing such a scathing rebuke from Rhett without a hint of profanity was indeed a shock to the system. For the first time, Kristin was seeing a side of Rhett that was brazenly defiant, which was undeniably maic.. Rhett had always been the epitome of a corporate titan, aloof, mature,manding. respect without trying, seemingly untouchable. But now, standing there with that. unexpected fierceness, he seemed more like a guardian deity than a distant. overlord. And for the first time, Kristin felt that exhrating sense of having someone in her corner. Vincent tightened his grip, his voice low with barely contained fury. ¡°Rhett, this is a family matter.¡± ¡°Coincidentally, it¡¯s mine as well,¡± Rhett replied, straightening up and giving Ruby a dismissive nce. ¡°Basic human decency runs deeper than external education. Any reasonable person would know that this is a ce of business, not your personal. yground.¡± The imposing aura Rhett exuded was intense enough to silence Ruby, leaving her standing in frozen panic. Vincent stepped forward, protectively wrapping an arm around Ruby. ¡°She¡¯s my fianc¨¦e, and you have no idea what she¡¯s been through. You have no right to judge her.¡± ¡°The people I care about are off¨Climits to your criticism,¡± Rhett shot back, stepping up ¡°Control your woman. Missing a kidney isn¡¯t fatal, butcking a brain and to t being manipted is a tragedy waiting to happen.¡± It was obvious to Rhett that someone had deliberately provoked Ruby. Without a shred ofmon sense. Ruby was an easy pawn in others¡® games. ¡°This is highly inappropriate even if word got back to Mr. FitzGerald himself,¡± York interjected, gesturing for Ruby and Vincent to leave. Ruby, hiding behind Vincent, red at Kristin with envy and resentment. Why was 14 12:06 Rhett defending her? ¡°So, Rhett, you¡¯re saying you care about Kristin? What¡¯s going on between you two? You know she was once hooked up with Vincent, right? Doesn¡¯t that sound a bit. messy? And Tam, he¡¯s your cousin, huh? Word¡¯s out that he and his buddies had a wild time with Kristin. Doesn¡¯t that rub you the wrong way?¡± Ruby¡¯s words dripped with sarcasm, intentionally loud enough for the office crowd. Kristin, her breathing in short gasps, looked at Rhett with eyes brimming with tears, desperate to exin. For the first time in her life, she was frantic to clear her name. Before Rhett came into her life, she didn¡¯t care about the nder and the contempt. But now, in front of him, she was panicked and didn¡¯t want him to see her as tainted or to despise her. Vincent soured his expression as he red at Kristin. He had been a fool to rush back to the FitzGerald Group out of concern for her. Clearly, she and Rhett had a connection that went beyond the professional. ¡°When did this supposedly happen? It seems Ruby is an eyewitness,¡± Rhett stated calmly, ncing at York. ¡°Call the police. Let them know that Ruby is a key witness to Kristin¡¯s ordeal and she knows exactly who the culprits are.¡± ¡°Ruby¡­¡± rence took a deep breath, attempting to whisk her away from the mess she had created. Ruby was clearly out of her depth against Rhett. The siblings, even with Vincent on their side, were no match for Rhett¡¯smanding presence. ¡°Toote for that now.¡± Rhett said, blocking their path. ¡°Everyone here is a witness to Ruby¡¯s im. Did you all hear that?¡± The employees, nervous under Rhett¡¯s gaze, nodded in unison. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, we heard everything. Tam and a few others were involved.¡± ¡°Good. Call the police,¡± Rhett said, checking his watch. ¡°I have just enough time to seek justice for my assistant.¡± York quickly pulled out his phone to call the cops. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Ruby stammered, herposure shattered as she tried to stop York. 275 12:06 Chapter 125 N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°What seems to be the problem, Ms. Collins?¡± York took a step back. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see it with your eyes?¡± ¡°I¡­ I only heard it was consensual!¡± Ruby bit her lip with venom in her eyes as she looked at Kristin. Kristin stood numbly behind Rhett, her head bowed, tears silently falling to the floor. Her reputation was already in tatters and Kristin didn¡¯t care if it got worse, but Rhett was standing up for her. The CEO of the FitzGerald Group had no reason to get involved in such sordid affairs, yet he did. The debt she owed him was bing insurmountable. ¡°Was it consensual?¡± Rhett turned, at the sight of Kristin¡¯s tears, and felt an unexpected sting in his chest. His frown deepened, the veins on the back of his hand standing out. What had she endured all these years? Kristin couldn¡¯t speak and could only shake her head. No, it wasn¡¯t true. ¡°See, Ms. Kristin said it wasn¡¯t her choice, making Ms. Collins a key witness. Your statement is crucial for the police. I¡¯ve already contacted Tam and the others you mentioned, advising them to turn themselves in and await the authorities,¡± York said as he finished his call and looked at Ruby. ¡°Ms. Collins, your courage ismendable. It¡¯s brave to expose those scoundrels, especially with so many witnesses.¡± ¡°York!¡± Vincent pointed at him with a warning re. York shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t anyone leave. It¡¯s lunchtime anyway. Let¡¯s all stay and bear witness.¡± Ruby, desperate to escape, looked at rence with pleading eyes. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, Ruby is not well¡­¡± rence tried to appeal to Rhett¡¯s mercy on Ruby¡¯s behalf. ¡°Feeling under the weather? You seemed pretty spry hollering outside just now.¡± Rhett tly refused with a cold voice. ¡°Cooperating with an investigation is a duty of aw¨Cabiding citizen and spreading rumors is a crime. If Ruby is lying, there¡¯s audio on the surveince. Tam and his crew can sue her for defamation because. After all, 3/5 12.06 Chapter 125 the nature of a rape usation is quite vile.¡± In less than half an hour, Tam and his pack of rowdy friends came barreling up the street, hearts racing and faces flushed with urgency, like they were in a high¨Cspeed chase. ¡°Vinny¡­¡± Ruby sobbed, clinging desperately to Vincent¡¯s arm. Vincent furrowed his brow as he whispered soothingly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you spouting, Ruby? What rumor did you start?¡± Tam, pale as a ghost with a cheek bearing the print of a p, was frantic. ¡°Look! My mom did this!¡± Rhett didn¡¯t crack a smile. But everyone else watching the scene unfold couldn¡¯t help butugh, York included. ¡°Laughing at what? It¡¯s all your fault. What did you tell my mom?¡± Tam, pointing an usatory finger at York, unleashed a torrent of words before turning back to Rhett, shivering. ¡°Rhett! I¡¯m innocent. I swear I never even touched Kristin!¡± The men trailing behind Tam turned even paler. ¡°Rhett, we barely know Kristin, honestly.¡± ¡°So is Ruby spreading rumors?¡± Rhett raised an eyebrow and asked. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s all her. She¡¯s the one making stuff up. We¡¯re absolutely innocent,¡± they all nodded vigorously in agreement. ¡°Well, word has already reached your parents¡® ears. It doesn¡¯t look like this is going to end well. If you guys want to clear your names, best call the police and use her of spreading rumors,¡± York said apologetically. He had already informed the parents of each of these young gentlemen. York had barely finished speaking when a barrage of phone calls began to bombard each of them. These guys had all bullied Kristin and spread sleazy rumors to varying degrees. This time, Rhett decided to set them straight. ¡°Vincent, your woman came to thepany spreading rumors, seriously damaging the image of the executive assistant and causing immeasurable loss to thepany. How do you n to resolve this?¡± Rhett looked at Vincent, expecting him toe up with a solution. Chapter 125 ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Vincent rubbed his temples, recognizing that Ruby was clearly in the wrong. ¡°Apologize to Kristin,¡± Rhettmanded with an oppressive gaze. If Ruby didn¡¯t apologize to Kristin today in public, she would have to face the consequences. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Ruby brimmed with tears as she clung to Vincent¡¯s shirt, her grip tight and desperate. ¡°Vincent. why should I apologize to her? What gives her the right to demand an apology from me?¡± Vincent darkened his expression. He knew Rhett¡¯s temperament all too well. Even someone as influential as Hob might fail to persuade him, let alone Vincent himself. Looking up at Kristin, Vincent wished she would speak up and put an end to this debacle. After all, Kristin was indebted to Ruby. It was a debt that could never be fully repaid in this lifetime. With her head bowed, Kristin stood silently behind Rhett. ¡°What are you looking at her for? Watch your woman,¡± Rhett said as he stepped in front of Kristin, effectively blocking Vincent¡¯s line of sight. Kristin felt the towering presence of Rhett before her, a sense of security that calmed her racing heart in an instant. ¡°Kristin, why should I apologize to you?¡± Ruby¡¯s tear¨Cfilled eyes turned towards Kristin as she cried out. With Rhett there, Vincent was powerless to protect her. But Ruby was not willing to back down. Kristin remained silent, her gaze fixed on the ground. ¡°So Ms. Collins, are you admitting that you spread rumors about Kristin out of personal spite?¡± York stepped forward to rify for Ruby. ¡°Ruby, have you lost your mind? Why drag us into your feud with Kristin?¡± Tam had just gotten off a phone call filled with a tirade from his parents, leaving him practically on the brink of depression. Still fuming. Tam red at Vincent. ¡°Vincent, can¡¯t you control your woman? She¡¯s been spreading rumors for years. If it weren¡¯t for the sake of your reputation, I¡¯d never let her off the hook!¡± Vincent¡¯s expression darkened as he shot a warning nce at Tam, who responded with a snort of exasperation. The others had also been berated by their families. With Rhett applying pressure, none of their families dared to provoke him. ¡°Rhett, we¡¯ve made mistakes too. We¡¯ll hold Ruby ountable for spreading rumors, but we also failed to clear Kristin¡¯s name right away. That¡¯s on us,¡± the group quickly apologized to Kristin, hoping to avoid awsuit. They feared the wrath of their families more than anything. Besides, it was clear to anyone with eyes that Rhett was backing Kristin now. Times had changed and the tables had turned. 174 11-591 Rhett remained silent, only ncing at Kristin. Instinctively, she edged closer to Rhett, clearly rejecting the others. ¡°Get lost!¡± Rhett deepened his frown as he spoke. The group inhaled sharply and scrambled away without looking back. ¡°Rhett. I didn¡¯t provoke her, I just¡­¡± Tam began to protest, but Rhett cut him off.. ¡°You too, get lost.¡± Rhett said, his patience wearing thin. ¡°Right¡­ Tam spun on his heel and scampered off. York couldn¡¯t help butugh at the scene. Tam stopped, turned back, and pointed at York. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that p.¡± York rolled his eyes and kept quiet. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Tam huffed, gave Kristin a frustrated nce, and left. It was clear to him that Vincent and Ruby hade to bully Kristin again, but this time they¡¯d hit a wall. ¡°Vincent¡­¡± Ruby looked nervously at Vincent and didn¡¯t want to apologize. But without an apology, Rhett seemed to have no intention of letting her leave. ¡°Rhett, you don¡¯t understand the whole story between Kristin and Ruby. It was Kristin who stole Ruby¡¯s life first. If anyone is at fault, it¡¯s Kristin. Ruby lost twenty years of her life to her, years. filled with suffering.¡± Vincent tried to exin on Ruby¡¯s behalf. ¡°So you prove that your mom you are idiots,¡± Rhett retorted, ncing at his watch impatiently. Everyone knew Rhett had a packed schedule, and Ruby was holding up importantpany operations, wasting his valuable time. ¡°I heard Mr. Vincent¡¯s mother was a mistress when she was pregnant with him, always on shaky ground. She was just a poor student back then with nothing to her name. No wonder Mr. Fitzgerald mentioned her nutritional deficiencies.¡± ¡°Yeah, I heard about the affair too.¡± Thepany¡¯s employees whispered among themselves, careful not to speak too loudly, but their words spread in hushed tones. Vincent grew darker with each murmured word, his gaze filled with malice as he looked at Rhett. Ruby was also panicking, her eyes darting nervously around for rence, who had kept his head low and had been silent throughout the whole ordeal. == He felt humiliated, yet he couldn¡¯t abandon Ruby and leave. ¡°When Kristin and Ruby were switched, they were both mere infants and swapped without a 11-59 P Chapter 126 choice. Both were victims, and the culprit has been punished and jailed. You keep saying Kristin owes you a life, but what about her life? How will you repay that?¡± Rhett questioned Ruby in his cold voice. ¡°Or do you think that only the Turner family¡¯s lives are worth something with wealthy living and high social status? In Kristin¡¯s eyes, she would rather have grown up with her real brother, cherished by Garner. Without the need for riches, just a peaceful life with family is far better than all of the Turner family¡¯s pretenses.¡± Rhett settled his gaze on rence, his words meant for him as well. iming to love his sister, yet he turned his back on Kristin the moment he learned she wasn¡¯t his biological sibling, which showed that his twenty years of brotherly love were nothing but a sham. Such kinship was utterly revolting. rence¡¯s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, unable to muster a single word in retaliation. Rhett¡¯s words struck deep, leaving no room for argument. ¡°Look, it¡¯s because her mom had her eyes on our family¡¯s wealth, purposefully letting her daughter live the high life while I got dragged through the mud!¡± Ruby spat out the words with venom. ¡°From what I¡¯ve gathered and the neighbors I¡¯ve talked to, the Collins family poured all their efforts into you. Garner was wearing summer clothes in the middle of winter, while you had a new wardrobe for every season. To afford your schooling at top institutions, Garner¡¯s mom worked day and night, ensuring you both received the same education at the same prestigious schools during your elementary and middle school years. Tell me, what kind of family can afford such an education for you on par with the Turner family? You dropped out because you couldn¡¯t cut it academically, not because of them, right?¡± Seeing that Ruby showed no remorse, Rhett felt no need to spare her any dignity. Ruby froze, her eyes flicking towards Vincent in panic. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s because the Collins family felt guilty.¡± Rhett couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with such a foolish woman. She was an irritation he¡¯d rather not endure. ¡°Ruby, you¡¯re in the wrong here. Apologize to Kristin and I¡¯ll take you home,¡± rence said, his voice low as he tugged at Ruby¡¯s wrist, pleading with her to stop talking. The more she spoke, the more he felt he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold himself together. Rhett was right. What had Kristin done to deserve this? But over the years, what had he, rence, done to Kristin? Now, all he wanted was to run away. rence didn¡¯t even have the courage to lift his head and 11:59 Chapter 126 look at Kristin. Together, they had destroyed her, especially him. Six years ago, rence had stood by, watching someone enter Kristin¡¯s room, watching as she was bullied and defiled¡­ Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Ruby stared in disbelief as rence demanded she apologize to Kristin. ¡°rence¡­¡± her voice was hoarse with shock. ¡°You might have a beef with Kristin, but spreading nasty rumors about her private life is out of line. Apologize and let¡¯s go home,¡± rence insisted. Behind Rhett, Kristin¡¯s gaze was locked on him, still reeling from the words he¡¯d spoken. It had been six years from the scandal of the fake heiress. In all that time, nobody had ever stood up for her, speaking objectively on her behalf. She was tongue¨Ctied, rendered speechless by the sting of humiliation, and shecked the words to exin herself, unable to craft a response that would satisfy anyone.. But each word Rhett uttered seemed to strike a chord, leaving her both shocked and moved. It was as if he had voiced all her grievances with more conviction than she ever could. Tears welled up in Kristin¡¯s eyes with an urge to cry oveing her. In the past, it was the injustice that brought her to tears, but now it was the relief of someone else speaking up for her. ¡°Why should I apologize to her? Her personal life is a mess, did I lie? Six years ago at the Diamond Crest Hotel, she had a strange man in her room. It was public knowledge, even the media covered it.¡± Ruby shouted uncontrobly. *p!¡± rence shot out his hand, delivering a stinging p to Ruby¡¯s cheek. After the p, even rence was stunned. He had actually¡­ struck Ruby. The person he should be hitting was himself. His hand trembled as he fought back tears, his voice low and fierce. ¡°Apologize, thene home with me!¡± Ruby gazed at rence in shock, her hand covering her reddened cheek. Clearly, she too was taken aback by rence¡¯s furious and threatening look. Ruby knew rence was well aware of the truth behind the incident six years ago. She was the one who had orchestrated the humiliation of Kristin at the hotel, bringing Vincent and the press to catch her in apromising situation. rence knew it all¡­ Ruby suddenly felt a wave of fear. She had been spoiled by rence for years, always getting her way, almost forgetting that he knew every detail of her past misdeeds. 11:59 M Chapter 127 ¡°rence¡­¡± Ruby pleaded, begging him not to expose her, not to let Vincent find out. ¡°What the hell, rence!¡± Vincent was equally shaken, witnessing rence strike Ruby. ¡°I apologize¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Ruby said, her voice feigning humility as she turned to Kristin. ¡°Kristin I¡¯m sorry for gossiping about your private life without knowing the whole story.¡± Rhett watched Kristin with aplex expression. Was the incident at the Diamond Crest Hotel six years ago a coincidence? He¡¯d checked that Kristin was indeed at the Diamond Crest Hotel that day, but not on the same floor as him. The odds were practically zero. Besides, James was Summer¡¯s biological father. Probably he was overthinking. ¡°Ruby, I don¡¯t ept your apology.¡± Kristin finally broke her silence, her voice hoarse. She would not ept Ruby¡¯s insincere apology. ¡°What goes aroundes around. I did nothing wrong.¡± ¡°Kristin!¡± Ruby was agitated. But rence seemed to exude a chilling aura, and Ruby had no choice but to back down for now. ¡°Kristin, for using you of being involved with Tam and others without getting the facts straight, I was wrong. I apologize.¡± Kristin remained silent. ¡°Rhett, I¡¯m sorry for the disruption. It¡¯s my fault, I apologize¡­¡± Ruby clenched her fists tightly. Her words were apologetic, but her heart seethed with resentment towards Kristin. ¡°If you¡¯ve done wrong, you¡¯ve got to pay the price. A flimsy sorry doesn¡¯t cut it.¡± Rhett said. looking at Vincent. ¡°Ruby is your responsibility. She messed up, so you make it right. Head out to supervise the desert project personally until it¡¯s done. I don¡¯t want to see you until then.¡± Rhett was effectively banishing Vincent to endure three months of scorching sun and sand! By sending Vincent away, Ruby would be forced to behave. Without Vincent, Ruby wouldn¡¯t dare to step foot outside her house. Panic¨Cstricken, Ruby turned to Vincent, her emotions running high. ¡°Vincent, call Hob! Why should he send you to such a godforsaken ce?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald is the CEO, and you report directly to him, Vincent. The desert project is a major focus for thepany this year. How did it suddenly be a godforsaken ce?¡± York feigned confusion. Vincent, his face dark with anger, didn¡¯t look at Ruby. It was clear he understood that Ruby had crossed a line this time. 1159 Chapter 127 Pulling Ruby by the wrist, Vincent left with his head down. Today was a total embarrassment. ¡°Alright, break it up, everyone. Back to work.¡± York dispersed the onlookers. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, it¡¯s time to head to the airport.¡± Rhett nodded and gestured for York to get the car. He then took Kristin by the wrist and led her into the office.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. As the door closed behind them, Kristin couldn¡¯t hold back her tears any longer. ¡°If someone¡¯s giving you a hard time, hit them back twice as hard. When they try to drag your name through the dirt, don¡¯t just aim to clear it. Make them back up their usations. If they can¡¯t, that¡¯s nder and gives you the higher ground,¡± Rhett said, leaning against the wall, his voice deep and steady. Kristin felt cornered, her head bowed as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her voice barely a whisper. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have a messy personal life¡­¡± Kristin was afraid of being misunderstood by Rhett. In the past, she didn¡¯t care about others¡® misconceptions, as there was no one whose opinion mattered enough for her to bother exining herself. But now, she cared about what Rhett thought. ¡°So next time, what¡¯s your n to shut her up?¡± Rhett¡¯s tone was sharp, almost usatory. Kristen nced at Rhett with fear, her eyes darting to the floor like a kid put on the spot by a stern teacher, her voice quivering with panic. ¡°Let let her prove what she¡¯s saying is true. If there¡¯s no proof, we we should call the cops.¡± Rhett chuckled. ¡°The police have better things to do than chase wild geese, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°But then¡­¡± Kristen stammered, her nerves frayed. What should she do? ¡°Actions speak louder than words,¡± Rhett said, gesturing for Kristen to grab her notebook and follow him downstairs. Kristen was taken aback, trailing behind Rhett like a lost puppy. ¡°But Mr. FitzGerald, what if what if we can¡¯t handle it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m with you, so what¡¯s there to fear?¡± Rhett¡¯s words were a quietfort. Kristen spoke up tentatively. ¡°And what if you¡¯re not around?¡± Rhett paused, turning to look at her. ¡°If I¡¯m not there, you can call me. We¡¯ll deal with it when I arrive.¡± Kristen sniffled, a smallugh escaping her as she hurried to catch up with Rhett. Having someone to back her up felt amazing. 12:00 Chapter 127 She just wondered how long she could count on Rhett to be her rock. A sudden and unexined bout of anxiety clenched her chest, and Kristen bowed her head. She couldn¡¯t be too dependent on Rhett. After all, a fish out of water would eventually die of thirst. At the airport. Hertha had arrived early, waiting with Rhett¡¯s assistant for their arrival. ¡°What happened with Ruby causing a scene at the office? How was it resolved for Kristen?¡± Hertha inquired. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald stepped in to sort it out,¡± Randall promptly replied. Hertha turned sour, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at Randall. Rhett was getting involved in Ruby and Kristen¡¯s mess too? What were his feelings for Kristen? She couldn¡¯t let Rhett and Kristen continue whatever was brewing between them. She had to marry Rhett quickly. ¡°Make sure everything goes off without a hitch with that hotel job I handed off to you, Randall,¡± Hertha stated, with clear intent. Randall went pale, his nod tense. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Hertha was nning to spike Rhett¡¯s drink, and then have a photographer snap scandalous photos of her and Rhett together in a hotel room to force his hand. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 On the road to the airport, York was on the phone, arranging for avish gift. Kristin didn¡¯t intervene, just in case it came in handy. ¡°Our held back a bottle of red winest year in quite a collector¡¯s piece, and the price isn¡¯t too steep either,¡± York mentioned to Rhett. Rhett remained silent, ncing at Kristin. ¡°How much?¡± Kristin inquired. ¡°Over a million,¡± York said with a chuckle. Kristin took a deep breath before saying, ¡°I think we shouldn¡¯t give gifts that are too extravagant. The Harborside Haven project is an open bid by Eddie, and the FitzGerald Group sets the industry standard. Just being willing to discuss the project and meet him in advance is already a big deal. A little respect given in business is enough. Otherwise, the other party might get cocky.¡± York paused for a moment. ¡°But gifting him some king crabs might be a bit too casual, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡®Eddie¡¯s mother has a fondness for king crabs, and it¡¯s not their season now. I¡¯ve selected specially farmed crabs, which are raised in greenhouses by the farmers themselves. They¡¯re plump and quite pricey..¡± Kristin defended her choice of king crabs. Rhett, resting his chin on one hand, chuckled. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Well it¡¯s three hundred bucks a pop, and I got fifteen female crabs.¡± Kristin felt the pinch. ¡°I still think.¡± York wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. ¡°Vincent and Nic got to Harborside Haven ahead of us, and they must have booked Eddie¡¯s time. Nic would¡¯ve brought Eddie a grand gift. He isn¡¯t blind to the dynamics within the FitzGerald Group. The more someone tries to suck up, the more it seems they¡¯recking confidence. If Nic is currying favor with Eddie, we should do the opposite to show we¡¯re solid.¡± Kristin spoke softly, casting an uncertain nce at Rhett. Rhett just looked at her, his gaze intense. ¡°Perhaps we could prepare two gifts and decide which one to gift based on the situation¡­¡± Kristin trailed off her voice,cking confidence. ¡°Let¡¯s go with Kristin¡¯s n,¡± Rhett said tly. York opened his mouth, sighed, and let it go. Kristin sparkled her eyes as she sneaked a peek at Rhett, nervously clutching the hem of her Chapter 120 dress and shrinking back towards the door. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯ve reviewed the dossier on Neal from the Investment Division. His personal life is a mess and seems to have quite a few mistresses.¡± Kristin whispered, changing the subject. Rhett hummed, closing his eyes. ¡°Neal¡¯s greatest talent is keeping his lovers and his wife in harmonious coexistence.¡± So going after Neal¡¯s personal life might not be the best angle. ¡°It¡¯s not just that Neal has numerous mistresses. He enjoys parading them at social events, and most of these women are celebrities or models with top¨Cnotch looks and figures. This shows a man of extreme confidence and vanity. Plus, Neal is apany veteran, so deep down he values his contributions to the FitzGerald Group, believing that losing him would be a loss,¡± Kristin analyzed Neal in a hushed tone. Rhett opened his eyes, surprised. ¡°You have a deep understanding of human nature.¡± Kristin had never met Neal. She had only read York¡¯s investigative reports and yet had managed to get a pretty good read on Neal. ¡°In prison for five years, I was always studying psychology,¡± Kristin murmured. Rhett bobbed his Adam¡¯s apple but said nothing. Kristin was undoubtedly a genius. But only Kristin knew why she learned psychology was to save herself. She suffered from severe depression and anxiety and wanted to heal on her own. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, do we try to win Neal over or take him out?¡± Kristin looked to Rhett for guidance. York, driving, mmed on the brakes at a traffic light and turned around in shock, looking at Kristin. She just went big. Rhett instinctively reached out to protect Kristin, frowning at York. ¡°Can you even drive?¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, my apologies,¡± York quickly conceded, always good at owning up to his mistakes. ¡°Neal has been a sly old fox in thepany. Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s intention might be to get rid of him, but because he¡¯s been around for so long, a direct dismissal would cause quite a stir, akin to ingratitude. Even with plenty of dirt on Neal, it¡¯s not easy to just fire him. Mr. FitzGerald has been holding off.¡± Kristin nodded, understanding. ¡°With such a person, we might dismiss him with overwhelming promotion and praises.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Rhett looked intrigued. ¡°He is vain, so we feed his vanity. Pridees before a fall. I heard the Vice President position in operations is up for grabs, and Neal¡¯s a prime contender,¡± Kristin said, head bowed, not 12:00 Chapter 128 daring to look at Rhett. He made Kristin nervous when he watched her like that. ¡°Indeed, Neal has hinted at it many times, overtly and covertly. I¡¯ve never agreed,¡± Rhett nodded. ¡°This Harborside Haven project is an opportunity. Nic and Vincenting to see Eddie like that is too obvious. With Nic¡¯s scandal as a mistress dogging her, she¡¯s getting desperate. The more she overdoes it, the more you can seem to panic. Why not use that as a pretext to let me please him in private?¡± Kristin said meaningfully, hoping Rhett would catch her drift. ¡°Your n is sound, but you won¡¯t be the one pleasing him. York will,¡± Rhett frowned. How could Rhett use his wife to personally appease Neal? That would be giving Neal too much. credit. ¡°For anything, just order York to do it. He¡¯s yourckey now,¡± Rhett said, the corner of his mouth tilting upward. York rolled his eyes covertly, careful to keep driving. He really was the fall guy. Kristin was racing her heart a touch faster than usual, her gaze fixed on anything but Rhett as she stared out the car window. A guy like him was hard not to be smitten. But she just wasn¡¯t in his league. In the departure lounge at the airport. ¡°Rhett, what took you¡¯so long? I was worried we¡¯d miss the flight, but thank God we made it in time,¡± Hertha sighed in relief as she approached, her voice as smooth as silk. ¡°York has been with you for ages, how could he make such a blunder?¡± York opened his mouth, ready to shoulder the me. It wasn¡¯t his fault they werete. Mr. FitzGerald had to y the hero, getting tangled up with Ruby and Vincent. They would have been here ages ago otherwise. ¡°Rhett, the omething I need to discuss with you.¡± Hertha pulled out her smartphone. ¡°My buddy sent me an address and said he¡¯s hosting tonight. He mentioned he¡¯d missed me and used to have a bit of a crush on me back in the day. I didn¡¯t want him to get the wrong idea, so I mentioned our rtionship. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Hertha watched Rhett anxiously. In the chat history, Hertha had dered Rhett to be her boyfriend, suggesting an engagement was imminent. Clearly, Hob had agreed to an alliance with the Haywood family, giving Hertha a new sense 12:00 of confidence. Hertha deliberately brought up the chat and the fact that Eddie had once pursued her to let Rhett know that tonight¡¯s arrangement was entirely because of her. With her on board, the sess of their project was virtually guaranteed. Hertha was sending a clear message to Kristin and Rhett that she was the one of true value to Rhett. Kristin, trailing behind Rhett, felt her step falter. For some reason, she felt a pang of envy. She was envious that Hertha could be Rhett¡¯s fianc¨¦e, officially and rightfully. ¡°What rtionship?¡± Rhett stopped in his tracks, his voice deep and serious. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Hertha hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice. ¡°You promised to take responsibility. Mr. Hob has agreed to our families¡® merger and it¡¯s all over the news now. Reporters interviewed Mr. Hob and he confirmed it.¡± To Hertha, it was a done deal. An engagement between her and Rhett would be to everyone¡¯s advantage. Besides, Rhett had no real reason to refuse. After all, Hob had agreed and even acknowledged it in front of the press, If Rhett were to disagree or deny it, it would be a public p in the face to Hob. Rhett¡¯s position in the FitzGerald Group was far from secure, teetering on the edge, with his rightful share under threat from Nic and Vincent. Only a strategic marriage could cement his ce and his commercial worth within the group. So unless he was a fool, Rhett would never deny it. Kristin clutched herptop a bit tighter. She had seen the news. Hob had indeed confirmed the merger with the FitzGerald Group. The media was all over the event. hyping it up as the wedding of the century. Many imed the Haywood family had hit the jackpot. Their eldest daughter was set to marry Rhett, while the younger one was getting hitched to James. It was clear to everyone online that marrying into the Haywood family was a shrewd move for Rhett¡¯s current predicament. This was beyond Kristin¡¯s ability to help. All Kristin could do was her job, managing thepany¡¯s internal affairs for Rhett. ¡°Has my father agreed to the merger? Is he nning to divorce and remarry?¡± Rhett quipped. Hertha hitched her breath, but she managed a strained smile. ¡°Rhett, stop joking.¡± Rhett snorted and boarded the ne.. Kristin followed York, stepping aside to let Hertha walk with Rhett. In truth, Kristin knew Hertha could offer Rhett benefits far greater than anyone else could. ¡°This is mine.¡± York said, taking theptop bag and gesturing for Kristin to sit inside. The business¨Css seats were spacious and quiet. Kristin settled in, ncing out the window. It had been six long years since she¡¯dst been on a ne. York had barely sat down when Rhett pushed him aside. ¡°You sit over there and keep an eye on Ms. Haywood.¡± York was a picture of confusion. Why should he be looking after Ms. Haywood? 12:00 Chapter 129 Internally screaming and blinking furiously. York couldn¡¯t change Rhett¡¯s mind, who had already settled in and closed his eyes. Kristin, oblivious to the exchange, continued to gaze out the window, while Hertha, seated next to it, struggled to contain her tears, biting her lip and clenching her fists in frustration. What was Rhett trying to do? Did he reject her so outright? ¡°Ms. Haywood, if you need anything, just go ahead! Mr. FitzGerald is so concerned about you and got me here to take care of you.¡± York muttered, his patience burning thin. Hertha snorted and looked away. With Hob¡¯s support, Rhett would marry her. They¡¯d have time to grow closer after the wedding. She didn¡¯t believe for a second that someone as perfect as Rhett could fall for someone as tarnished as Kristin. In her eyes, he was clearly using another woman as a shield. Hertha could wait. Patience was her game. Kristin watched the world outside until the ne took off, unaware that Rhett was seated beside her. ¡°York, should I arrange a separate room for Ms. Haywood? Or¡­ is she going to share with Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin asked in a muffled voice, her head lowered. ¡°What do you think?¡± Rhett asked without opening his eyes, his brow furrowed. Startled by his voice, Kristin tried to stand up but was restrained by the seatbelt, which painfully tugged at her. Rhett sighed. ¡°Are you that afraid of me?¡± Kristin shrank back toward the window. ¡°We¡¯re on a ne. Where do you n on going?¡± Rhett realized teasing Kristin had be a peculiar source of amusement. Kristin nced at Rhett, then surreptitiously at York and Hertha. York sat beside Hertha with a look of silent protest, shooting Kristin a nce. Taking a deep breath, Kristin cleared her throat. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you going to book a room for Ms. Haywood?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Rhett murmured, closing his eyes to rest. Kristin didn¡¯t dare speak further. Rhett seemed to be in a low mood. The flight from Silvergrove City to Harborside Haven was just over three hours. Kristin spent the entire trip wide¨Ceyed, cautiously perched on the edge of her seat, stealing nces at Rhett. He was undeniably handsome in his features, his build and his presence. He didn¡¯t need to utter a word. Even in repose, he exuded a natural authority. Kristin had once thought Vincent handsome, but he seemed almost boyish next to Rhett. 12:00 Chapter 129 Uponnding, a chauffeur was waiting. Diamond Crest Hotel, part of the FitzGerald Group¡¯s national chain, was the obvious choice for Rhett¡¯s stay. Randall had caught an earlier flight to Harborside Haven and had everything at the hotel squared away with a driver to pick them up. ¡°Hello, Mr. FitzGerald and Ms. Haywood,¡± Randall greeted them with a smile, taking Hertha¡¯s luggage from her hands, Hertha cast a meaningful nce at Randall, who nodded in acknowledgment. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. With a yful smile, Hertha strode over to Rhett and reached out to adjust his tie and suit. Outside the airport, a swarm of reportersy in wait. The photos snapped from this angle were undoubtedly suggestive. Rhett stepped back, his expression darkening. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to call out Hertha¡¯s little game and was well aware that the press was lurking outside. ¡°Kristin,e here.¡± Kristin, still busy with the luggage, scurried over, looking at Rhett with concern. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Straighten my tie.¡± Rhett said with a firm voice. Frozen in ce, Hertha maintained her smile. ¡°Kris, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve never fixed a tie for a man nor do I know how to tie a Windsor knot. You¡¯ll have to show me sometime.¡± Kristin stiffened her fingers while adjusting Rhett¡¯s tie, catching the insinuation in Hertha¡¯s words. Hertha was insinuating that Kristin had been with lots of men, hence her expertise. Without a word, Kristin turned to open the car door for Rhett. Hertha shot Kristin a knowing smile before taking her seat in the back of the car next to Rhett. Kristin chose to sit in the front, and the atmosphere inside the spacious SUV turned icy. Kristin felt a chill down her spine as though she was being watched with some resentful gaze. ¡°Rhett, the mentor has already checked into the Diamond Crest Hotel, Shall we have Kristin and York handle the luggage while we head over? We¡¯re familiar enough. It¡¯s not a business meeting. There¡¯s no need to bring an assistant. It would just seem awkward.¡± Hertha suggested with a smile to ditch Kristin. ¡°I prefer having someone by my side. York can stay behind. Kristin wille with me,¡± Rhett said, his gaze heavy with intent on Kristin. Kristin opened her mouth to speak but then closed it without saying a word. Hertha soured her face, but she couldn¡¯t outright object. Upon reaching the hotel Rhett stood behind Kristin, his voice low and authoritative. ¡°You seem to have forgotten your role.¡± He had brought Kristin along as a butter to fend off the women who threw themselves at him. Why did Kristin prefer to hide away? Kristin let out a small noise of confusion. Wasn¡¯t Hertha an exception? Eventually, the Haywood family and the FitzGerald family were bound to unite through marriage. ¡°I¡¯m allergic to women. Keep her at a distance,¡± Rhett warned Kristin coldly, not to shirk her duties. Kristin looked baffled. Allergic to women? Wasn¡¯t she a woman? ¡°Rhett. I¡¯ve brought along a couple of bottles of fine wine. You¡¯ll love them.¡± Hertha said as Randall brought over the wine. ¡°We¡¯ll drink them tonight.¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 ¡°Rhett, I heard Nic and Vincent rolled into Harborside Haven ahead of time,¡± Hertha said with a sigh, a look of worry etched on her face for Rhett. ¡°Eddie mentioned something about their assistant dropping off a gift worth three million. I know you don¡¯t want to lose this project to Vincent, after all¡­ Kris, what did you get for Eddie?¡± Hertha was fishing for augh at Kristin¡¯s expense. If Kristin¡¯s gift was less impressive than what Nic and Vincent had lined up for Eddie, she was sure to be the butt of the joke. ¡°Uh¡­ king crab,¡± Kristin muttered under her breath. ¡°What?¡± Hertha thought Kristin might go for something modest, but king crab? She must have misheard. ¡°King crab¡­¡± Kristin repeated, a bit louder. Hertha couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth to stifle augh. ¡°Kris, are you serious?¡± After mocking Kristin, Hertha quickly looked at Rhett. ¡°Rhett, king crab is hardly an adequate. gift. We can¡¯t be outdone by Vincent. Luckily, I had the foresight to prepare something else. We would¡¯ve been theughingstock.¡± Pretending to be relieved, Hertha gave Kristin a reproachful look. ¡°Kris, next time you¡¯re picking out a gift, ask me for help, okay?¡± Kristin lowered her head, silent. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Kristin felt that, given Eddie¡¯s wealth, the price tag wouldn¡¯t matter to him. She had intentionally put thought into choosing the king crab. ¡°Kristin¡¯s choice of king crab is quite valuable,¡± Rhett said with a stern voice, clearly displeased. ¡°Really? How much for a crab?¡± Hertha asked with a grin, eager to hear how much Rhett valued the crustacean. ¡°Three hundred a piece,¡± Kristin barely managed to look up at Rhett. Hertha thought this was the funniest thing she¡¯d heard all day and let out anotherugh. ¡°Kris, you¡¯re just too adorable.¡± ¡°Do you think Eddie cares how much something costs? A billionaire like him? It¡¯s not about the cash value but about the sentiment,¡± Rhett cautioned Hertha, warning her not to mock Kristin further. Hertha¡¯s smile dimmed as she turned to greet Eddie, who wasing out of the hotel.. ¡°You¡¯ve been rather poorpany today. You¡¯re docked a day¡¯s pay,¡± Rhett ¡®threatened¡® Kristin, seizing the moment. 1/4 12:01 Chapter 130 Didn¡¯t Kristin see Hertha had been all but draped over him a moment ago? Feeling wronged, Kristin asked quietly. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, since when are you allergic to women?* That wasn¡¯t covered in the training except that Rhett had severe germophobia. ¡°Before boarding the ne,¡± Rhett replied in a low voice, huffing and heading toward Eddie. Kristin stood frozen. Since before boarding the ne, he developed an allergy to women? ¡°Sorry for dropping in unannounced,¡± Rhett said as he approached Eddie, shaking his hand. Eddie, giving Rhett due respect, came to the hotel personally. ¡°Nonsense, I¡¯ve been looking forward to meeting you.¡± As the two exchanged pleasantries, they beganplimenting Hertha. ¡°She contacted me a month in advance and insisted I clear my schedule. My whole day is yours, lovebirds.¡± Eddie was obviously alluding to the news online. After all, the FitzGerald family had already weed Hertha as the future daughter¨Cinw. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Hertha has been quite diligent. She¡¯s like a sister to me. If she ever marries, I¡¯ll ensure a generous gift,¡± Rhett spoke courteously. Eddie was taken aback, casting a surprised nce at Hertha. A sister? Hadn¡¯t Hob announced a union between the two families? Had Rhett not approved? Interesting. ¡°Hertha is a fine young woman and I admired her back in college,¡± Eddieughed, shifting the topic. Hertha¡¯s expression turned sour and her fingers clenched tightly. ¡°Sorry for the haste of this visit without grand presents. Kristin arranged for the king crab to be sent in advance. Did your mother receive them? Were they to her satisfaction?¡± Rhett asked casually, his demeanor as cool as ever. At Rhett¡¯s call, Kristin came over, visibly flustered. ¡°Eddie, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Eddie paused, the mirth in his eyes freezing over, then turning to shock. ¡°Kristin?¡± Kristin smiled awkwardly. Hertha was also stunned. ¡°Eddie, do you know Kristin?¡± she asked. ¡°Kris and I went to the same school, she¡¯s a financial whizz kid. She joined our department with top marks. As the student council president, I weed her personally,¡± Eddie said, clearly surprised. ¡°What a coincidence that Kris is now with Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Rhett narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Kristin with a deep intent. She always managed to surprise him. ¡°My assistant.¡± *To think our department¡¯s genius is now an assistant, only Mr. FitzGerald could manage that,¡± 7/4 12.01 Chapter 130 Eddie said, hisughter hearty, his guard down around Rhett. ¡°Kris, how much is Rhett paying you? I¡¯ll double it, what do you say?¡± Kristin stayed quiet, her head down. Eddie had been abroad for thetter half of his senior year and had only recentlye back to take over the family business. He probably didn¡¯t know what Kristin had been through. The two years she knew Eddie were her most glorious times. ¡°Trying to poach my assistant? I¡¯ll have to make an effort to keep her,¡± Rhett said with a smile, clearly laying im. Eddie caught the subtext in his words and nced at Hertha, then at Kristin without another word. Both were seasoned yers in the business world, and they understood each other perfectly. ¡°So it was Kris who picked out those crab legs, no wonder my mom was over the moon about them. She kept raving that getting such quality crabs this season really showed someone cared,¡± Eddie remarked with a bright smile, looking for an excuse to chat with Kristin. Hertha, who had asked Eddie out under the pretense of being an old friend, was feeling. increasingly ufortable on the sidelines. With a look of quiet resentment, Hertha flickered her gaze towards Kristin, sensing a threat in every possible way. Born into the Haywood family, Hertha had always been too proud. She couldn¡¯t stand anyone outshining her, especially not another woman potentially taking what she deemed hers. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, would you mind terribly if I borrowed Kris for a ride? We haven¡¯t caught up in what, six or seven years? I¡¯m just thrilled to see her today,¡± Eddie suggested, inviting Kristin to leave with him. Hertha managed a smile. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m sure Kris must be dying to catch up with you.¡°¡± With Eddie putting it that way, Rhett couldn¡¯t very well snub him without causing offense. Hertha was rather pleased. At least she could sideline Kristin, who she viewed as a burden. Alone with Rhett, Hertha felt assured of her special ce in his regard. Without Kristin¡¯s presence, Rhett had shown remorse for past events and had promised to take responsibility, even offering to support the Haywood family in business matters. ¡°Rhett, what do you think?¡± asked Hertha, smiling as she turned to him, while Rhett appeared visibly tense. Eddie and Kristin waited for Rhett¡¯s response. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I indeed have much to catch up on with Eddie.¡± Kristin said, sensing the 3/4 12:01 Chapter 130 awkwardness and volunteering to ride with Eddie. Rhett darkened his expression and shot Kristin a covert re, thinking that maybe docking a day¡¯s pay was too lenient a punishment for stirring up such trouble. 2/2 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 ¡°We vibe well, Eddie. It just so happened I could hitch a ride in your car.¡± Rhett grinned as he spoke, taking the initiative to open the passenger door for Eddie. Eddie was a picture of confusion. When did the tables turn like this? nw Y= Kristin snuck a nce at Rhett. Was it her imagination, or did Rhett¡¯s smile remind her of a fox that had just outwitted the hounds? Before Eddie could gather his wits, Rhett¡¯s forwardness with the car door had him obediently sliding into the passenger seat. Rhett, ever the proactive one, closed the door behind Eddie, then opened the back door, his gaze signaling for Kristin to get in. Kristin wore her bewilderment openly, ncing at her boss with an expression that said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be the host?¡± With Rhett¡¯s encouraging smile urging her to hurry up, Kristin could almost feel the threat. looming over her. She shivered slightly as she got into the car, instinctively hugging the edge of the seat. Hertha, standing by impatiently, seemed about to speak, but Rhett was already in the car, shutting the door behind him. There was no room left for discussion. ¡°Driver, we can go. Take it slow, my assistant gets a bit queasy,¡± Rhett said nonchntly, epitomizing the art of taking charge. At a loss for words, Hertha stood curbside, fuming as she watched Eddie¡¯s car pull away. ¡°Ms. Haywood, shall we head out as well?¡± Randall drove up, ready to take her away. Hertha¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears as she gripped the wine box tightly. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Randall nodded. ¡°The bottle on the right has been¡­ amended. Mr. FitzGerald doesn¡¯t touch spirits, only a bit of red wine. And since Eddie isn¡¯t keen on reds, we¡¯ve prepared something else for him. Rest assured.¡± Taking a deep breath, Hertha tightened her grip. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Upon reaching the destination, Hertha reminded herpanion in a serious tone, ¡°Tonight, don¡¯t forget to have the reporters wait at the hotel.¡± Hertha had waited six years, thinking her ties with Rhett were severed, only to have him. reappear, inquiring about an incident from six years past. Back then, Hertha had indeed bribed the hotel staff, pretending to be drunk to enter Rhett¡¯s room early. However, Rhett never returned to his room that night. 12:01 Chapter 131 Six years on, Rhett hade seeking her out, questioning who had been with him in that hotel. room. Naturally, she imed it was her, as she had been the one to wake up in his room at dawn. But now, upon reflection, if Rhett hadn¡¯t returned to his room, who was the woman who spent the night with him? Who did he actually visit that night? Observing Rhett¡¯s current demeanor towards her, it was clear he was still in the dark about the truth. He was brooding over the suspicion that someone had set him up. Hertha exined how she got into his room, but Rhett was clearly skeptical. All Hertha desired now was not Rhett¡¯s affection but to secure the man first, love coulde Hertha was confident that once married, she could make Rhett fall for her. ¡°Check into who was staying at the Diamond Crest Hotel in Silvergrove City during the Chamber of Commerce Dinner six years ago.¡± Hertha instructed her private investigator. A sense of panic had taken hold of her, fearing Rhett might uncover the truth one day. She needed to find that woman first, to either buy her silence or make her disappear. In a private room at the lounge. Rhett had not discussed business from the beginning, which left Eddie with a favorable impression. Kristin wasn¡¯t much of a talker, speaking only when directly questioned. ¡°Kris, I heard youpleted all your courses by sophomore year and nned to double major. What did you end up studying?¡± Eddie was curious about Kristin¡¯s subsequent academic choices. ¡°I¡­¡± Kristin took a deep breath, not hiding anything. ¡°You might not be aware, but I ran into some trouble, so I wasn¡¯t able toplete my studies.¡± Hertha, sitting beside Kristin, affectionately took her hand. ¡°Eddie, let¡¯s not pry. Kris worked hard to reform herself in prison and has been trying to turn over a new leaf since her release, working hard. It¡¯s really touching to see.¡± N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner. Eddie was taken aback, apparently unaware of Kristin¡¯s time behind bars. Kristin clenched her hands, subtly withdrawing her grip, remaining silent. Hertha¡¯s words were true. There was nothing Kristin could say to counter them. ¡°Kris, now that you¡¯re out, you need to work hard. If you want something, you¡¯ve got to earn it with your skills and effort. You can¡¯t go back to your old ways. There are no free lunches falling from the sky. You¡¯ve lived a life of luxury for twenty years, and such unearned gains must eventually be repaid.¡± Hertha sighed with a hypocritical look on her face. ¡°We¡¯re all family here. 12:01 Chapter 131 Honestly, I really do like you.¡± Kristin stayed quiet, not responding. Eddie, holding his ss, looked at Rhett. After all, Kristin was his assistant. ¡°As a baby, Kristin had her life swapped and probably didn¡¯t have the power to stop it. Besides if you¡¯re walking down the street and a stone falls from the sky and hits you, it¡¯s the stone and the thrower who are at fault. The person hit is innocent, right?¡± Rhett set down his wine ss, his gaze fixed on Hertha. ¡°Ms. Haywood should brush up on her legal knowledge. There seems to be a deficit inmon sense.¡± Hertha was at a loss for words, her face turning red with embarrassment. She was smarter than Ruby, knowing when to advance and when to retreat. ¡°I heard about the heiress scandal but didn¡¯t inquire further. Kristin is such a remarkable kid. I thought the Turner family, out of affection, would have raised her as their own, but it turned out¡­¡± Eddie sounded regretful. ¡°Kris, why didn¡¯t you reach out to me back then? I would have helped you out.¡± ¡°There are many regrets in life. In that respect. I¡¯m like you, regretting I didn¡¯t know her then to offer help.¡± Rhett picked up his ss again, shifting the topic smoothly. ¡°This wine is superb Hertha, you certainly have a discerning taste for wines. Just like wine, people should be experienced first¨Chand, not judged on hearsay.¡± Kristin nced up at Rhett, her eyes rimmed red with the effort of holding back tears. Sniffling, she lifted her head and managed a smile at Eddie. ¡°Eddie, let bygones be bygones, right? I¡¯m looking forward to a long and fruitful coboration with you.¡± There were things Rhett wouldn¡¯t say because of his stature, but as an assistant, it was on Kristin to be the voice of practicality. Eddie let out a sigh, his eyes filled with a mix of regret and sympathy. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s reputation in the industry is impable. Stick with Mr. FitzGerald, and if you hit any bumps. give me a call.¡± Rhett leaned his head on his hand, offering Kristin a wry smile. Kristin smiled back. But this smile wasn¡¯t the cautious or insincere one she had worn before. It was genuine and warm. A smile reserved just for Rhett. Rhett felt a tightness in his chest and coughed, looking away. Was there something off with the wine? Why did it seem like Kristin¡¯s smile¡­ shone brighter than any filter could make it? Hertha took a deep breath, clenching her fingers tightly. She had thought she¡¯d be the star of 1201 this meeting, but as it turned out, Kristin had stolen the spotlight. No matter, Rhett had downed quite a few sses of red wine. After reaching a preliminary agreement, Eddie personally escorted Rhett out of the club. Once in the car. Rhett rubbed his temples, feeling a headacheing on. He had sensed something was off. Was the wine spiked? ¡°Kris, Rhett¡¯s a bit of a lightweight when ites to alcohol. Could you dash to the pharmacy and grab some hangover relief? We¡¯ll wait here,¡± Hertha saw her chance and sent Kristin on an errand. Concerned for Rhett¡¯s difort, Kristin nodded and hurried off to the pharmacy. But after purchasing the medicine and stepping outside, she found Rhett¡¯s car was already gone. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Standing anxiously in ce, Kristin frantically dialed York¡¯s number. ¡°York, Mr. FitzGerald is stered. Hertha and the secretary drove him back. I bought some hangover pills and am now hailing a cab back to the hotel. Can you meet me?¡± ¡°Kristin, I¡¯m not at the hotel. Mr. FitzGerald had me run some errands out of town and I won¡¯t be back until early tomorrow.¡± York sounded worried. ¡°You better get back quickly.¡± Kristin gged down a taxi, but it was tough to catch one at the roadside. Restlessly, she started running towards the hotel. After about five minutes, Kristin finally managed to hail a cab. ¡°To the Diamond Crest Hotel, please. Can you make it quick?¡± The cab driver was on it, stepping on the gas as soon as she got in. After paying the fare, Kristin sprinted into the hotel and headed for the elevator. ¡°Excuse me, madam, are you staying with us? We need to verify your identity. Could you please bring your ID to the front desk for a check?¡± Kristin froze her stride. Although she hadn¡¯t stayed in a hotel for six years, her time apart from society while in prison had taught her that hotels didn¡¯t typically re¨Ccheck a guest¡¯s identity. Clearly, this was a deliberate stall. ¡°I have my key card.¡± Kristin showed the card briefly. ¡°Sorry, we still need to verify your identity.¡± ¡°My ID is in my room,¡± Kristin said, trying to move past. ¡°Sorry, without proper identification, we can¡¯t let you go. We¡¯re currently cracking down on whores, and you don¡¯t seem quite the part,¡± the front desk clerk said with a sneer. Kristin was furious but had no time to argue. ¡°Then call the police.¡± With that, she tried to enter the elevator. The front desk clerk grabbed Kristin with an angry look. ¡°Our manager said you¡¯re not allowed in. Are you shameless? Everyone upstairs knows why you¡¯re here. If you have any dignity, leave now.¡± ¡°What am I here for?¡± Kristin demanded. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a whore? Stop pretending,¡± the clerk rolled her eyes dismissively. ¡°Which manager said that?¡± Kristin nced at the time, her eyes welling up in desperation. ¡°Our hotel manager sent your photo and ordered us to stop you. Whatever it is you¡¯re up to, it¡¯s no secret. Just leave,¡± the clerk was adamant about not letting Kristin through. 12.02 Standing there, feeling helpless, Kristin pondered how she could get upstairs quickly. ¡°I¡¯m the executive assistant of the FitzGerald Group. Here¡¯s my employee badge.¡± Remembering she had it on her, she pulled it out for them to see. The clerk hesitated, then turned to their department manager. ¡°Um, she ims she¡¯s the executive assistant. But what about Manager Donald¡¯s instructions¡­ could there be a mix¨Cup? Manager Donald told us to hold her back, we¡­¡± Before they could finish, Kristin dashed into the elevator and quickly swiped her key card for her floor. ¡°Hey! Stop right there!¡± As the elevator ascended, Kristin breathed a sigh of relief. She knew this must be Hertha¡¯s doing, making things difficult for her on purpose. But she was powerless to do anything about 1. it. On the way back, even the cab driver knew about the Haywood family and the FitzGerald family¡¯s impending union in Silvergrove City, a marriage of the century. Judging by Hob¡¯s attitude towards Rhett, Rhett¡¯s position at the FitzGerald Group was precarious. He needed this marriage to secure his standing. Nic and Vincent were probably thest people who wanted Rhett to tie the knot with Hertha. The elevator doors opened, and Kristin hurried to Rhett¡¯s room, knocking frantically. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. There was no response from inside. Her breath tightened as she searched for her key card. When leaving the hotel York had given her both cards and the room number. But as she opened the door, the suite was deserted. Desperate, Kristin called Rhett, but he didn¡¯t answer. Hertha must have booked another room. ¡°York, I can¡¯t find Mr. FitzGerald. He¡¯s not in his room. He might be in another one with Hertha. What do I do¡­¡± Kristin crouched on the floor, her voice quivering with the threat of tears. ¡°I¡¯ve found it, Hertha is in room 80269. Go there quickly.¡± York urged from the other end, anticipating this scenario. Hertha would have devoured Rhett with her eyes if she could. If Kristin didn¡¯t act fast, Rhett would surely be at a disadvantage. Kristin got up and dashed out. Knocking persistently, Kristin stood outside, desperate for an answer, but Hertha wouldn¡¯t open the door. Kristin was close to tears, but now wasn¡¯t the time for that. 12.05 Chapter 132 Finally, annoyed by the persistent knocking, Hertha cracked open the door. Wrapped in a towel, with hair damp, she opened just a sliver. ¡°Kris, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. FitzGerald?¡± Kristin asked, breathless. ¡°We¡¯re about to rest,¡± Hertha said with a smile. ¡°Kris, you know the deal between Rhett and me. We¡¯re bound to get married eventually.¡± Kristin clenched her fists. ¡°I need to see Mr. FitzGerald.¡± ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re just an assistant,¡± Hertha said with augh. ¡°Meddling in the boss¡® personal life is not so cool, right? Now, you better get some rest. I¡¯ll take care of Rhett.¡± ¡°Now¡­ you two aren¡¯t married yet. I need to see Mr. FitzGerald.¡± Kristin summoned courage from somewhere, determined to take Rhett back. Hertha¡¯splexion was ghastly. ¡°Kristin,¡± she began, her voice tinged with a severity that cut through the air, ¡°Rhett¡¯s position at the firm is far more precarious than you seem to understand. Marrying me is his best shot at securing his status. Do I need to spell it out for you?¡± Kristin inhaled sharply, her gaze dropping to the floor as a numb ache spread across her chest. ¡°I need to see Mr. FitzGerald. It¡¯s important, something work¨Crted,¡± Kristin insisted, her resolve to speak with Rhett unshaken. She would only take Rhett¡¯s word for it. If Rhett asked her to leave¡­ she would. ¡°Rhett, Kris is here to see you,¡± Hertha called over her shoulder. Silence hung in the room. Kristin stood trembling, waiting. ¡°You see, he won¡¯t see you. Whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow.¡± Hertha dered, moving to close the door. ¡°I brought the hangover remedy for Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± ¡°Hand it to me,¡± Hertha demanded, reaching out for the medicine. Kristin¡¯s head remained bowed, and she hesitated to pass the remedy to Hertha. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re fond of Rhett, aren¡¯t you?¡± Hertha chuckled with a hint of mockery. ¡°Let¡¯s be realistic, darling. You can¡¯t reach for the stars when you¡¯re stuck in the mud. Do you catch my drift? Your little crush is better off keeping to yourself.¡± Women knew women best. Hertha saw right through Kristin¡¯s feelings for Rhett. Kristin panicked, denying it. ¡°No, I don¡¯t!¡± She didn¡¯t have the courage to admit her feelings for Rhett, believing she wasn¡¯t worthy of him. Chapter 132 ¡°Six years ago, you were the talk of Silvergrove City, and not for any good reason. Don¡¯t make yourself the subject of gossip again,¡± Hertha said with a sneer, closing the door firmly. Kristin stood frozen outside, her legs stiff, She was uncertain if she should walk away, or just stand there, waiting. She also questioned if she should allow Rhett and Hertha to share a room. Aligning with the Haywood family, after all, was a strategic move for Rhett¡¯s benefit. To her and Rhett, their connection was nothing more than a business arrangement¡­ Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Why bother to to ruin Rhett and Hertha¡¯s enjoyable evening? With tears in her eyes, Kristin numbly made her way to her room. What was she so upset about? Six years ago, when Ruby had stormed into the hotel with Vincent to catch a cheater, Kristin didn¡¯t seem nearly as distraught as she felt now when Vincent had doubted her. Insecurity, helplessness and fear all crashed down on her in an instant. The moment Hertha suggested her feelings for Rhett, Kristin panicked. Kristin feared her feelings being discovered by others, especially Rhett. She couldn¡¯t let Rhett know¡­ Her liking Rhett felt like a contamination of him. ¡°Kristin, don¡¯t turn yourself into aughing stock again¡­¡± She felt like the punchline of a joke. Just because Rhett was different from the others, she foolishly fluttered her heart. Disgusting¡­ Kristin felt repulsed by herself. She should take a hard look at herself in the mirror and assess if she was even deserving. Once in her room, Kristin tried desperately to stayposed, but it seemed like her illness was ring up again. Her limbs stiffened, her breathing grewboured. She hid in the bathroom, turning on the shower to rinse endlessly, feeling dirty, unworthy of anyone. Anxiously biting her lip, Kristin didn¡¯t even notice when she drew blood. How could she like Rhett? Impossible. An impatient knocking came from outside the door. Kristin thought she was hallucinating. Turning off the shower, she wrapped a towel around herself and walked stiffly to the door. ¡°Open up¡­¡± It was Rhett¡¯s voice on the other side tinged with irritation and anger. Kristin opened the door in a panic, momentarily forgetting her drenched state. As soon as the door cracked open, Rhett stumbled in, falling on top of Kristin. She frantically tried to support Rhett, smelling the strong scent of blood on him. 12.02 Chapter 133 This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what happened to you?¡± Kristin¡¯s hand came away covered in blood, ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Kristin sobbed, anxiously checking for wounds as she sat on the floor with him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­ just a cut on my palm.¡± Rhett¡¯s consciousness was hazy, but he could hear Kristin crying. Her voice was what finally made him rx. To stay awake, he had cut his palm with a shard of a broken ss. ¡°Kristin¡­¡± he murmured. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Kristin cried as she treated his wound. ¡°I¡¯m docking your sry this month. How could you leave me behind?¡± Rhett hade with anger, but at the sight of Kristin¡¯s tears, his rage dissipated. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Kristin noticed something was off with Rhett who was definitely not just drunk. Rhett gripped his injured hand tightly to maintain consciousness. ¡°The drink was spiked.¡± Kristin burst into tears, disoriented. She stood up, intending to change clothes and take Rhett to the hospital. How could this happen? How could he be hurt? But as she was about to get up, Rhett suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her into his embrace and holding her tight. Clearly, he had lost his rationality. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Kristin was terrified, her whole body shaking. Only then did she realize she was only in a towel. Her face paled as she tried to push Rhett away, her hands trembling with fear. Would Rhett think she did this on purpose? ¡°Stay still¡­¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was hoarse as he tried to restrain himself. ¡°I feel terrible¡­¡± Kristin dared not move, her heart pounding. Was it an illusion? She resisted all men, but with Rhett in this intimate position, she didn¡¯t feel the need to push him away. ¡°It hurts.¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was hoarse as he held Kristin tighter. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt an unexpected pang of sympathy. ¡°The drink tonight¡­¡± Feeling the heat of his breath, Kristin realized, the drink must have been tampered with. ¡°Why did you run¡­¡± Rhett had lost all sense of reason, holding her head as he kissed her. He must have lost control picking up that familiar scent on Kristin, the same one that woman carried six years ago. Kristin didn¡¯t dare move as tears streamed down her face. 12:02 CAMANTR She desperately wanted to push he away but she was scared ¡°I feel bad¡­¡± But when he buried his head in her neck, his voice hoarse and gained, Kristin inexplicably lifted her hand to embrace hims She was dirty, unworthy of Rhett But maybe this was all she was worth She owed Phett so much. How was she to repay him? Her trembling fingers reached for his tie and Kristin felt she was going mad. Perhaps she truly was. Phett leaned against the wall his gaze intense as he looked at Kristin, then suddenly stood, holding her in one arm. Kristin let out a gasp, clinging to Rhett her body shaking uncontrobly Rhett wanted to kiss Kristin but she dodged. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Kristin was hoarse in her voice, shaking as she undid his buttons. ¡°Do we need a condom? ¡°Don¡¯t run again.¡± Rhett wasmanding as he traced Kristin and kissed her. ¡°You¡¯ve been running for six years, huh?¡± Kristin couldn¡¯t control her tears, wanting to flee in fear. She knew the person Rhett was talking about wasn¡¯t her. It was hetta Should she call Hertha? Would that be right? ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ not me.¡± Kristin cried hard, but she couldn¡¯t push Rhett away. At the sight of Kristin¡¯s constant tears, Rhettforted her, holding her close. ¡°We re a legal couple.¡± Kristin tensed her body, her gaze shifting to Rhett in shock. Had she misheard, or was she overthinking? It must be thetter¡­ ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly pushed against the wall Kristin felt the cold wall on her back and instinctively sought refuge in his arms. Rhett took the opportunity to kiss her neck, pulling away the towel Now, Kristin was as red as a boiled lobster. Even though she had given birth to Summer, Kristin had no experience in such matters. She repelled men so much that she would stiffen up if one came close. Harriet had often joked with her and asked her to learn how to charm a man, but Kristin never Chapter 133 took it to heart. But when Kristin found herself in front of Rhett, her usually steady hands began to tremble. Would he find hercking? What would he think when he woke up the next day? Would he despise her? Would he cancel the contract and demand sho leave the FitzGerald Group immediately? Kristin was terrified, but her body seemed to betray her thoughts. The overwhelming desire to please Rhett shattered herposure, which wasn¡¯t who she was. Tears streamed down her face, born out of fear. She was afraid Rhett would find her dirty and frivolous, but she couldn¡¯t control herself. In the heat of the moment, Rhett was indifferent to Kristin¡¯s reaction, her cries fading into the night. Evidently, this encounter was far from a treasured memory for Kristin. Itsted until the early hours, and finally Rhett relented. Kristin felt like she was on the brink of copse, her heart racing, panic setting in. What was she going to do? How could she face Rhett tomorrow? How about running away? A voice inside her was screaming for her to flee, urging her to pretend as if nothing had urred. Rhett would probably remember nothing when he awoke, so if she just fled, pretending it all hadn¡¯t urred¡­ With trembling arms, she tried to sit up, only to realize she waspletely drained. Carefully sliding out of bed, Kristin gathered her clothes strewn on the floor. In a state of panic, she fled the hotel and found refuge in the hotel¡¯s garden, where she curled up and spent the rest of the night hidden in the shadows. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 The morning next day, Rhett woke up with his head pounding. ¡°Damn¡­¡± he muttered under his breath, a familiar sense of regret seeping in. With effort, Rhett sat up and nced at the deste expanse of his king¨Csized bed, the sheets a jumbled testament tost night¡¯s follies. The memories were hazy, obscured by a hangover that clung to him like a second skin. He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of his low mood. It had been six years since he¡¯d been yed for a fool, and yet, here he was, seemingly reliving history. ¡°Rhett, you¡¯re up.¡± Hertha¡¯s voice came from the bathroom, her tone rough with a tinge of shyness. She emerged holding a freshly washed towel. ¡°Clean your face¡­ it¡¯ll help.¡± Her cheeks were flushed with an awkward tenderness in her eyes that didn¡¯t quite reach Rhett. He shot her a frosty look, his voice icy. ¡°Hertha, I let go of the incident six years ago because it was ancient history. Do you take me for an idiot again?¡± He felt like a puppet in a game he didn¡¯t consent to y. ¡°Rhett¡­¡± Hertha gasped, a picture of innocence. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean. I was just¡­ taking care of youst night.¡± ¡°Taking care of me? Am I supposed to owe you for that?¡± Rhett¡¯sugh was hollow. She bit her lip with a gesture of faux vulnerability. ¡°We were supposed to get engaged, and six years ago¡­¡± ¡°Get out,¡± Rhett cut her off, his voice brooking no argument. Hertha stood, stunned for a moment before her eyes brimmed with panic. ¡°Rhett. believe me¡­ His expression was granite and he was in no mood to repeat himself. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald!¡± The urgency in York¡¯s voice carried from beyond the door. Rhett¡¯s fury had scared Hertha, who had probably never seen such a terrifying side of him before. ¡°Ms. Haywood, please leave,¡± York said as he ushered her out, his voice shaky. ¡°We can discuss this later.¡± Once Hertha was gone, York closed the door with trembling hands. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, it¡¯s my fault. I should have warned Kristin to be more cautious ahead of time. What¡¯s your n for handling this?¡± ¡°Start with Randall and don¡¯t let anyone off the hook!¡± Rhett¡¯smand was firm as he got out of bed. 12:02 Chapter 134 York nearly copsed, his legs going weak. The marks of passion on Rhett¡¯s body were a testament to the passion of the previous night. Who would have thought the demure Ms. Haywood could be so fierce? York felt like he might as well be walking to his execution. Rhett¡¯s anger was something York never wanted to face head¨Con. ¡°Randall is Hob¡¯s pawn,¡± York managed to stammer out, a reminder of who they were dealing with. Rhett¡¯s gaze was piercingly cold. York quickly lowered his gaze. ¡°I¡­I¡¯ll find it out. Where was¡­where was Kristinst night?¡± he stammered. Rhett¡¯s face hardened into a frown, but he offered no reply. Havingid out fresh clothes for Rhett, York didn¡¯t allow himself the time or courage to ask anything further. He turned and beat a hasty retreat from the room. The atmosphere around Rhett was suffocating, reminiscent of the scandal six years ago. In the hotel¡¯s garden, Kristin copsed in the gazebo, her sleep restless and disturbed. She was running a fever, a consequence of the previous night¡¯s ordeal. ¡°Kristin, Rhett has agreed to our engagement. As for whatever happenedst night, you know what should not be said.¡± Hertha stood before Kristin, her tone suggestive. Kristin rubbed her forehead, wordless. ¡°Nic is at Harborside Haven. Word is she is cozying up to Eddie¡¯s mother, even gifting her an emerald set worth millions,¡± Hertha reminded her. ¡°So Rhett might not win this afternoon¡¯s bidding against Vincent.¡± If Vincent secured the project, he wouldy a firm foundation for his position, challenging Rhett¡¯s authority. Kristin clenched her fists, her head bowed in silence. ¡°Kristin, just help me out, okay? I want to support Rhett too, but he¡¯s resisting me. He thinks I¡¯m scheming against him, which it¡¯s so unjust,¡± Hertha pleaded, grabbing Kristin¡¯s arm with feigned affection. Kristin recoiled reflexively, curling up and hugging her knees to her chest, mute. ¡°Do you know why Rhett despises me? Because six years ago, we slept together after I was set up. He¡¯s always thought I was part of the scheme. He¡¯s got this obsession with purity. It¡¯s been years and he¡¯s still hung up on it. And if he thinks¡­¡± Hertha¡¯s insinuation was clear. Kristin¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, but she remained quiet, wrapping her arms tightly around herself. 1203 M 7 Chapter 134 ¡°Three years ago, there was an actress, Cindy, who tried to get close to Rhett and ended up in a mental institution. She hadpletely lost her mind,¡± Hertha spoke with feigned innocence, her words laced with threat. She was trying to intimidate Kristin. ¡°Rhett finds Cindy repulsive because she had been with so many men, even had a child.¡± Kristin tightened her grip, her nails digging into her palm. ¡°Kris, I like you and don¡¯t want you to get hurt. You understand what I¡¯m saying, right?¡± Hertha¡¯s patience was evident as she spoke. Kristin tightened her grip around her legs. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. If Rhett ever found out what happenedst night, he would probably think it was all a calcted move by Kristin, wouldn¡¯t he? The thought alone was enough to churn her stomach. Kristin couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Rhett despising her. Tears welled up in Kristin¡¯s eyes, and she fought the urge to cry. ¡°That day, I went to pick up my niece from the daycare and saw Summer there. He¡¯s such an angel. It would be a crying shame for such a sweet child to grow up without her mother.¡± Hertha delivered another heavy blow to Kristin¡¯s already fragile state. ¡°Adrienne ising back, you know? She¡¯s got a heart condition and needs medical parole.¡± Kristin snapped up her head, her eyes wide with intense fear. Adrienne wasing back. Kristin began to tremble her body uncontrobly. Most of the darkest moments of her past had been gifts from Adrienne. Now that she hadnded Adrienne in the clink, Adrienne would be out for blood. Taking a hot and shaky breath, Kristin clutched at herself, biting down hard on the corner of her lip. She couldn¡¯t let Rhett hate her and couldn¡¯t survive without his protection¡­ She still needed Rhett, so she had to keep the truth aboutst night a secret. ¡°Kristin! What are you doing hiding out here? Mr. FitzGerald is furious. Where in the world were youst night?¡± York hade looking and admonished her with thick anger. Noticing Hertha present, York promptly shut his mouth. Hertha gave Kristin a meaningful nce. ¡°I¡­ I couldn¡¯t find Mr. FitzGeraldst night¡­¡± Kristin muttered, her voice hoarse with emotion. With a slight smirk, Hertha felt reassured and left. She knew Kristin wouldn¡¯t dare to speak a word. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 ¡°Come with me. Mr. FitzGerald is blowing a gasket.¡± York sighed, beckoning Kristin to follow him. Kristin dabbed at her tears topose herself and followed York, her head bowed. ¡°What¡¯s the deal with you? What were you up tost night? Got a guilty conscience?¡± As soon as they entered the hotel, the receptionist fromst night spotted Kristin and stormed over, fuming. ¡°That ID of yours was a fake, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Kristin said nothing and just kept her head down. York frowned, about to ask what was going on when Rhett stepped out of the elevator. The receptionist hurried over. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, did you sleep wellst night?¡± Rhett¡¯s face darkened, his gaze locked onto Kristin. Kristin, too scared to meet his eyes, stood there awkwardly. Ignoring everyone else, Rhett made a beeline for Kristin. She bit her lip nervously and took a retreat step, her hands anxiously sped together. With a low and oppressive voice, Rhett lifted Kristin¡¯s hair. She felt a burning touch where his fingertips met her skin and tried to dodge, but Rhett caught her wrist. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Rhett was oppressive. Tears welled up in Kristin¡¯s eyes, her voice hoarse with unspoken grievances. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I couldn¡¯t find you. It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± She was crying now, scared to let Rhett know the truth, so she lied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, please don¡¯t fire me.¡± Kristin tried hard not to cry, but she was terrified and afraid that Rhett didn¡¯t want her anymore. She really needed him now. ¡°Fire you? Why?¡± Rhett murmured, his intimidating aura visibly dissipating almost with a hint of relief. York was dumbfounded. What had gotten into Mr. FitzGerald? ¡°I couldn¡¯t find youst night.¡± Kristin continued through her tears. Rhett softened his voice. ¡°Alright, go freshen up. York was speechless. Was he hallucinating? Why was Rhett¡¯s tone so tender with Kristin, as if dripping with honey? Kristin nodded and moved to leave, but Rhett caught her wrist again, touching her forehead without any regard for the onlookers, checking for a fever. His expression darkened as he noticed Kristin¡¯s flushed cheeks. ¡°Go rest. Fil have breakfast sent up.¡± ¡°But¡­.¡± Kristin nced nervously at the time. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We don¡¯t leave until two in the afternoon. It¡¯s only half¨Cpast seven now,¡± Rhett exined with patience. York touched his forehead, wondering if he wasing down with something too. Rhett had just been yed and York thought he¡¯d be in a wrathful state. But this was uncanny and more frightening than Rhett in a murderous mood. ¡°Go get some cold medicine,¡± Rhett turned, his voice icy. York felt a cold shiver run down his spine. This firm and impersonal demeanor ¨C that was the Mr. Fitzgerald he was familiar with. But why was it that he was so chilly and imposing towards him, yet showed such gentleness to Kristin? In his mind. York couldn¡¯t help but grapple with the seeming injustice of it all. The reception staff were petrified, nervously exchanging nces. Was this woman¡­ really Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant? Why had their manager asked them to stop herst night? Kristin wiped away her tears and approached the front desk. My 10, please.¡± The receptionist, terrified, quickly handed over her ID. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kristin left without a word, staggering slightly as she entered the elevator. Her head was spinning. As soon as Kristin was in the elevator, Rhett¡¯s soft gaze turned icy. York pinched himself, which wasn¡¯t an illusion. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± ¡°Why was Kristin¡¯s ID at the front desk?¡± Rhett demanded, his voice heavy. The receptionist hesitated. ¡°Last night¡­ Sorry, we thought Ms. Turner was¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Rhett furrowed his brow, his patience wearing thin. ¡°A whore.¡± the receptionist blurted out, trembling. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, it wasn¡¯t our fault, we didn¡¯t know Ms. Turner was your assistant.¡± As Rhett¡¯s gaze turned frostier and the two young women at the front desk turned pale, their voices quivering. ¡°The manager gave us a photo and told us to stop her. He said she might be a whore,¡± the receptionist mumbled, head bowed. Chapter 135 Rhett scoffed. Someone was ying a dangerous game. They¡¯d targeted Rhett and now dared to mess with Kristin. ¡°Investigation is needed. Fire and sue those involved in this incident. cklist them in the industry if necessary,¡± Rhett nced at York and walked out of the hotel. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald!¡± York inhaled sharply, realizingst night¡¯s incident had hit Rhett¡¯sst nerve. An industry¨Cwide cklist meant not only unemployment for the hotel management butwsuits and a permanent ban from the hospitality industry. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, your dining area is on the second floor. Where are you going?¡± York asked, his voice filled with anxiety. ¡°To get medicine,¡± Rhett said, his face etched with concern. ¡°Huh? I¡¯ll go,¡± York hadn¡¯t caught up yet. ¡°No need, handle the hotel situation,¡± Rhett warned, pointing at York. ¡°Make sure anyone who gave Kristin a hard timest night gets what they deserve.¡± York was momentarily lost. Their formidable CEO of the FitzGerald Group was personally going to get medicine for his assistant. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, during ourst business trip, I was so sick I could have kicked the bucket, and you didn¡¯t even bother to get me any medicines,¡± York grumbled with a note of jealousy. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you my wife or something?¡± Rhett retorted with disdain, giving York a sidelong nce before striding away. York stood rooted to the spot, so shocked that it took him an eternity to recover his wits.. Rhett¡¯sment had jogged York¡¯s memory. Kristin wasn¡¯t just the CEO¡¯s assistant but Rhett¡¯s contractual wife, too. York was so mind¨Cblinded. After a steaming hot shower, Kristin staggered out of the bathroom, her head spinning so much she could hardly stand. ¡°Good morning, madam, I¡¯ve brought your breakfast,¡± came the hotel staff through the door. Kristin, weak and breathless, opened the door to see a cartden with a sumptuous breakfast being wheeled in. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Kristin faltered for a second as she saw Rhett standing outside. Catching Kristin before she could lose her bnce, Rhett instinctively pulled her into his arms. That familiar scent was unmistakably hers. ¡°Please leave us,¡± he gestured to the staff. Once they were gone, Rhett scooped Kristin up and 12:03 Chapter 135 Kristin was too nervous to breathe, her heart racing. ¡°Where did you go to freeze half to death?¡± Rhett scolded, his annoyance apparent. He couldn¡¯t fathom why Kristin would run off like that. What did she think he¡¯d do to her? If he hadn¡¯t been smart enough to leave his mark on herst night with a bite, was Kristin nning to sleep with him and then shirk responsibility? Kristin sniffled and burrowed into the nkets, covering herselfpletely, leaving only her eyes visible. She felt guilty. ¡°Have your medicine,¡± Rhett chided as he prepared the hot drink with a cold remedy for her. Kristin looked at Rhett through blurred vision. Why was he being so nice to her? ¡°Kristin, drink up. We need to talk about something about six years ago¡­¡± Rhett stirred the cold remedy, intending to have a serious talk and settle some old ounts with Kristin, but when he turned back, he found that Kristin had already fallen asleep. She was too exhausted and worn out to stay awake. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Rhett was upromising when it came to Kristin¡¯s health. ¡°Down the medicine, then you can have breakfast,¡± he insisted, jostling her awake even as he lifted her in his arms. After all, being sick meant she had to treat it promptly with medication and a good meal. Otherwise, her recovery would be slow due to a weakened immune system. ¡°I¡¯m so tired¡­¡± Kristin murmured truthfully, yearning for sleep. Sick and feverish, she felt heavy and continued to rest her head against Rhett¡¯s chest. With a sigh, Rhett carried her to the dining table, coaxing her to eat first. Kristin was burning up her body, her breath hot against his skin. Rhett felt a pang of guilt, but it was mostly self¨Creproach. Had he been too rough with herst night? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald.¡± York called from outside, knocking at the door. Kristin, groggy and startled, jerked upright so fiercely she nearly fell. With a protective arm, Rhett steadied her and gave her hair a gentle ruffle. ¡°Have something to eat and take your medicine.¡± Kristin quickened her heartbeat, her cheeks flushing visibly. She was mortified. What had she just done in front of Mr. FitzGerald? Seeing Rhett¡¯s indifferent expression as he stood to answer the door allowed Kristin to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯ve handled the hotel staff and found the leaders involved. It was Randall who coerced them into acting against us.¡± York whispered, wary of Rhett¡¯s anger. But Rhett was already fuming. His own hotel should be a ce offort and safety. ¡°What about the receptionists involved? Are we firing everyone?¡± York asked tentatively. ¡°What use is there in keeping them?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Kris, they were just following orders, you wouldn¡¯t me them, right?¡± York, ever the gant despite his single status, felt for the weeping beauties at the front desk and turned to Kristin for support. Kristin, her head heavy, looked up in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°As for the receptionists fromst night who tried to stop you from entering the hotel, what should we do with them?¡± Rhett asked, respecting Kristin¡¯s opinion. ¡°Last night¡­ Kristin recalled the incident where she was suspected of being a whore and barred from entry. ¡°They were just doing their job and seemed quite dedicated.¡± Rhett frowned, letting out a sigh. Being too kindhearted wasn¡¯t always a good thing in the business world, *Just say Kristin pleaded on their behalf,¡± Rhett instructed York to handle it. ¡°Thanks, Mr. FitzGerald,¡± York chirped, eyeing the breakfast spread. ¡°Kris, you can¡¯t finish all this by yourself. I¡¯m starving after rushing back. Mind if I join you?¡± Kristin waved him off hastily. ¡°No, not at all.¡± ¡°I mind. Beat it,¡± Rhett warned York to keep his distance from Kristin. York, unfazed, retorted, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, don¡¯t be so petty. When Kristin¡¯s sick, you run out to get medicine. I¡¯m hypoglycemic here, let me have a bite.¡± Kristin tightened her grip on her spoon and looked up at Rhett in surprise. Had Rhett personally bought the medicine? Rhett met her gaze, his eyes intense. Terrified, Kristin looked down and focused on her food. ¡°Eat up, you¡¯re too thin.¡± York continued to fuss, offering Kristin some pancakes. Kristin, with little appetite and feeling tense, refused. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°I think you look quite spirited. Maybe you should apany Vincent to supervise the desert project.¡± Rhett suggested casually. He¡¯d transfer York out of the first chance he e got. York choked and quickly stood, grabbing a few pancakes and leaving. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m off to work. You can¡¯t be without me.¡± Once York had left, Rhett cleared Kristin¡¯s te and reced it with lighter fare. ¡°Don¡¯t eat anything too greasy. Have some oatmeal and sd, take your medicine, then go to sleep.¡± Kristin felt dizzy, unable to believe the tenderness Rhett was showing her. Why was he being so nice? Was this a figment of her imagination, or was it real? She was afraid to trust it. After a few bites of sd and a bowl of oatmeal, she cradled a ss of water to wash down her medicine. ¡°Is it bitter?¡± Rhett asked, noticing her reddening eyes. ¡°No¡­.¡± she shook her head. How could medicine be bitter? Back with the Turner family, Kristin dreaded getting sick because it meant taking medicine. 2/4 07:09 Chapter 136 She¡¯d rather have an IV than swallow pills. Every time she was sick, rence had to coax her for a long time before she¡¯d retent. Kristin at that time naively believed that medicine was the bitterest thing in the world until she left the Turner family and ended up in prison. Only then did Kristin realize that medicine wasn¡¯t bitter at all. Living was far more so. She gulped down the medicine and looked up to find Rhett offering her a piece of candy, sweet and milky, dissolving the bitter taste in an instant. Her eyes burned even hotter, and she felt the tears threatening to spill. ¡°When it¡¯s bitter, have some candy.¡± Rhett murmured soothingly. Kristin stared at Rhett, panic setting in. What was happening? She felt like she was in deep trouble. She was really starting to have feelings for Rhett that she shouldn¡¯t. It seemed Hertha had seen right through her. Avoiding his gaze, Kristin got up shakily and headed for the bed. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you should rest. I¡¯ll just sleep a bit and won¡¯t dy the afternoon¡¯s bidding.¡± ¡°Kristin, my thing with Hertha six years ago was an ident. Does it bother you?¡± Rhett asked in a steady voice. Now that he had been intimate with Kristin. As they were married, he intended to take responsibility for her.. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. But first, he needed toe clean about his past. As a matter of honesty and integrity. Rhett broke the silence once again, ¡°Other than Hertha, there hasn¡¯t been another woman by my side, no scandals or anything.¡± Kristin felt a wave of confusion. Why was Rhett bringing up Hertha all of a sudden? Was he asking if she minded what happenedst night? Did he think it was Hertha? Sniffling a little, Kristin nervously spoke up. ¡°No, I don¡¯t mind.¡± What right did she have to mind, anyway? Her role as ¡®wife¡® was nothing more than a transaction. Rhett could disregard her feelings entirely and do whatever he pleased. Yet here he was, asking her, which seemed all the more cruel. Rhett let out a sigh of relief, appearing to be in a good mood. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to make it up to you¡± He trailed off. 07.03 Chapter 136 Kristin didn¡¯t mind his past with Hertha, which was a relief. ¡°If there¡¯s anything I¡¯m not doing right, you can tell me.¡± Rhett had no experience with dating, let alone jumping straight into marriage. Kristin covered her head with the nket, feeling incredibly vulnerable. She desperately wanted to tell him that she was the one with himst night. But if Rhett found out, he¡¯d despise her so much that he¡¯d want her gone. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­ I¡¯m tired.¡± She just wanted to get some sleep. ¡°Yeah, go to sleep.¡± Rhett settled on the nearby sofa with hisptop, as if nning to stay by Kristin¡¯s side. Kristin panicked. Wasn¡¯t he going to leave? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, aren¡¯t you going back to your room?¡± she stuttered out, wondering why he hadn¡¯t left yet. ¡°Isn¡¯t this my room?¡± Rhett replied with a helpless chuckle. Kristin shot up in bed, her heart racing. That¡¯s right, York had booked the rooms. Rhett had slept here last night, woke up here, and must have assumed this was his room. Then why had shee back here to shower and sleep? Oh, what had she done! ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I¡¯ll just¡­ I¡¯ll go!¡± She wished the earth¡¯would swallow her up. ¡°Let¡¯s just sleep together from now on,¡± Rhett said nonchntly, his eyes still on hisptop. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ¡°Seriously?¡± Kristin was tinged with disbelief with a hint of denial nestled in the curve of her words. ¡°You¡¯re not considering marrying me into the Haywood family, are you?¡± Rhett lounged on the couch, his question floating through the air with a casual detachment. Kristin hung open her mouth, a silent gap before words finally found their way out. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, at this juncture, an alliance with the Haywood family would be most advantageous for your position in the FitzGerald Group.¡± ¡°Do I need to auction off my marital bliss for a more secure standing?¡± Rhett shot back, his toneced with a touch of irony. A sharp breath of cool air escaped Kristin, the realization striking her that perhaps. It wasn¡¯t entirely necessary. ¡°But it would smooth over a lot ofplications.¡± ¡°And what would be the point of our partnership then?¡± Rhett couldn¡¯t help the naivety of Kristin¡¯s little schemes. When would she get a clue? Panic flickered in Kristin¡¯s eyes. but want tough at Rhett implied that if he were to join fortunes with the Haywood family, her presence would be rendered obsolete. And it seemed so very true. The Haywood family could offer a permanent solution, which was something she couldn¡¯t provide. Tears reddened her eyes as she looked down at her hands. ¡°Then¡­ when do you n to divorce me. Mr. FitzGerald?¡± What was she to do? Was this the end of her rtionship with Rhett? Fear wed at her heart. Adrienne was lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. Without Rhett, who would shield her from the storm? ¡°If you don¡¯t want to lose your worth, take good care of me,¡± Rhett teased, urging her to be more astute. The next time she saw Hertha lurking around, Kristin would better protect him well. The scare from the night before and the prospect of failing Rhett again brought Kristin closer to tears. Was he reproaching her for not keeping him safe? ¡°Okay. Mr. FitzGerald, I understand.¡± From now on, she would test Rhett¡¯s drinks for poison first. She would intercept any drink Rhett shouldn¡¯t have and take the sip herself. Rhett eyed Kristin skeptically. Did she get it or was she just pretending? Why did her expression carry such pain? Had the previous night¡¯s events truly frightened her? ¡°Alright, go to sleep.¡± Rhett finally said, dropping the yful banter and giving her permission to 07-49 rest. But sleep was the furthest thing from Kristin¡¯s mind as she curled up, shivering beneath the covers. She had feared the nightmares would keep her awake, but exhaustion imed her quickly. She fell into a deep slumber,forted by Rhett¡¯s familiar scent that lingered in the room and on the bed. Enveloped in the warmth of the nkets, Kristin hid herself away from the world, her mind sinking into a peaceful oblivion. Meanwhile, Rhett sat through a video conference, silent as a ghost. Not wanting to disturb Kristin, he kept the volume low. In the conference room, the senior staff were taken aback. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, this afternoon¡¯s bidding will be fierce. Severalpanies are strong contenders,¡± they said, concerned. Rhett merely responded with a faint ¡°well¡°. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, for the next quarter¡¯s departmental¡­¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Suddenly, Kristin¡¯s restless sleep was punctuated by a distressed whimper, her voice tinged with tears. Rhett shot a worried nce her way and made a hushing gesture to the people on the other end of the call. Back in the conference room, the staff were stunned. It was clear that Rhett was in a hotel and there was someone else in his room! Rhett stood and moved to the bedside, gently pulling down the nkets with a tender smile. ¡°You know, you will suffocate under there,¡± he chided softly. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me, rence. Please don¡¯t go,¡± Kristin pleaded from within her cocoon of nkets. tormented by nightmares. For years, Kristin had been haunted by dark dreams. The most despairing was that rence abandoned her to the mercy of a stranger¡¯s vile intentions. Aplex emotion flickered in Rhett¡¯s eyes with a twinge of pain at his heart. Why hadn¡¯t he met Kristin sooner to protect her? Had he been the one to know her first instead of Vincent, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have had to endure so much. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here,¡± Rhett soothed, his voice a gentle balm. On the other end of the video call, the conference room was shrouded in silence. They couldn¡¯t see what was happening, but they could faintly hear Rhett¡¯sforting tone, so tender. It was shocking. 07:00: Despite working at the FitzGerald Group for years, they had never witnessed this side of Rhett. ¡°It¡¯s Hertha. We¡¯ve seen the news. Reporters have been buzzing about Mr. FitzGerald and Hertha entering the hotel together and going into the same room,¡± they whispered among themselves. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Some female staffers giggled quietly. ¡°Ms. Haywood is lucky to have Mr. FitzGerald so smitten. ¡°The Haywood family is a decent family after all, recognized by our chairman.¡± It was a while before Rhett returned to the call, resuming his usual frosty demeanor. ¡°All departments will submit their reports to their supervisors for review. The Vice President of Operations is retiring, so send the reports to me. As for the session, think about who you¡¯d rmend and we¡¯ll discuss it when I return.¡± Rhett spoke with a hint of deeper intent. Upon his return, he would begin a thorough cleanse of the company. Hob thought he could use thepany to threaten him. Well, he¡¯d just have to wait and see. In Hertha¡¯s room. ¡°Ms Haywood, I¡¯ve informed Hob of the situation here, iming you took care of Mr. FitzGerald all night. He is very pleased.¡± Randall reported over the phone. ¡°Randall, you¡¯ve done well. Once I marry into the FitzGerald family and join thepany. I¡¯ll make sure to promote you.¡± Hertha responded with a smile. ¡°Then here¡¯s to you, the future CEO¡¯s wife,¡± replied Randall, always the smooth talker. ¡°Listen, Randall, I overheard some chatter at the hotel that Rhett is digging intost night¡¯s fiasco. It¡¯s only a matter of time before he traces it back to you. You¡¯ve gotta know what to spill. and what to keep under wraps,¡± Hertha cautioned Randall with a conspiratorial tone. Randall felt a surge of anxiety. ¡°Ms. Haywood, you¡¯ve gotta have my back. Everything I did is for you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m around, even if Rhett sniffs out your trail, he can¡¯t touch you. You¡¯re Hob¡¯s guy. He¡¯d need Hob¡¯s nod to fire you. Besides, with me in your corner, Rhett is bound to cool off sooner orter,¡± Hertha reassured him, her words a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. With that assurance from Hertha, Randall ebbed his tension. ¡°With your word, I can breathe easy. You should get some rest. madam. I still have to prepare for this afternoon¡¯s bidding on the project.¡± ¡°Right, keep your eyes peeled on Nic and Vincent. Nic trusts you, but never forget who you work for,¡± Hertha spoke with a detached calm. She was set to marry Rhett, aiming to cement his standing in the FitzGerald Group. 07-091 Chapter 137 That meant Nic and Vincent were her adversaries. Randall was a double agent. ced by Hob to ostensibly assist Rhett, his true mission was surveince. Nic had long been in cahoots with Randall. A master of diplomacy with a chameleon¡¯s charm, Randall was open to allers. ying both sides wasn¡¯t as straightforward or simple as he wished. The oue of this afternoon¡¯s Harborside Haven Project bid was anyone¡¯s guess. Vincent and Nic weren¡¯t pushovers either. In Nic¡¯s room. Vincent had returned, his expression stormy. Rhett had sent him to oversee some desert project, a clear act of sabotage. ¡°Useless,¡± Nic hissed with a dismissive scorn. ¡°Thank goodness Eddie¡¯s mom and I hit it off, or you¡¯d have no chance at all!¡± Vincent hung his head in silence. ¡°Is Rhett bringing Kristin to the bid this afternoon?¡± Nic probed. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Vincent nodded. ¡°Kristin¡¯s his assistant now.¡± ¡°Perfect. This afternoon, all we gotta do is make Rhett look like a fool and our chances will go through the roof. Kristin, with all her scandals, is just the right kind of trouble for Rhett,¡± Nic sneered. Without dirt on Rhett, they¡¯d target Kristin instead. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Vincent asked, a hint of nervousness creeping into his voice. ¡°I¡¯ve hired some men to stir up trouble for Kristin at the bid. Her reputation and past make her an easy target. Now that she¡¯s Rhett¡¯s assistant, it¡¯s his reputation on the line too. Once the drama unfolds, our partners will doubt Rhett¡¯s judgment. Not wanting to offend the FitzGerald Group, they¡¯ll have no choice but to side with us. Get it?¡± Nic¡¯s coldughter filled the room. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 In a hotel room. Kristin stirred from a heavy slumber, feeling an unusual warmth by her side. Instinctively snuggling closer to the source offort, she abruptly jolted awake as her forehead bumped into Rhett¡¯s chin. ¡°Ouch.¡± Rhett winced, rubbing the reddened spot on his jaw, Panic¨Cstricken, Kristin immediately cupped his face with concern. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I¡¯m so sorry.¡± The awkwardness of their proximity was undeniable as Rhett looked down at her with a resigned expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to. I don¡¯t know how I ended up¡­¡± Kristin was on the verge of tears, utterly confused about how she had ended up in Rhett¡¯s embrace. ¡°We¡¯re legally married now. Isn¡¯t sharing a bed part of marital duties?¡± Rhett was calm, but his heartbeat quickened at the sight of her tear¨Crimmed eyes. In the past, he¡¯d never felt a strong impulse towards any woman, believing his rationality could ovee any carnal desires. Yet now, he understood it was hard to resist the lure. ¡°I mean,¡± Kristin stammered to sit up, but Rhett¡¯s hold on her was firm, and she dared not move. Rhett felt his body temperature rising. In this lucid state, he found himself really wanting her body and soul. ¡°You know. It¡¯s said that if a husband doesn¡¯t share his bed with his wife after marriage, neglecting his duties, it¡¯s a form of abuse and illegal,¡± Rhett exined, trying to educate Kristin on the matter. Kristin looked at him, bewildered. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Rhett confirmed with a nod. ¡°So¡­¡± Kristin bit her lip, ¡°Does our prenup mention anything about this?¡± ¡°No.¡± Rhett cleared his throat, his voice slightly strained. ¡°Come on and get up. We should get going.¡± Kristin dropped her gaze, her mind racing. Rhett was a desirable man, his life was never short of female attention. If Hertha could manipte him once, she could do it again. ¡°Could¡­,¡± Kristin¡¯s fear of being deemed worthless by Rhett crept in, ¡°Could you maybe¡­ not be with other women? I can do whatever they can.¡± The thought of Rhett discarding her terrified her. Whether it was the Haywood family, the Turner family, or Vincent and Nic, any of them could crush her without effort. Harriet was 7-011 Chapter 138 right. Kristin had to cling to Rhett. ¡°I¡¯m not dirty.¡± Kristin said, recalling the health report she had shown Rhett. He had rejected her then. Remembering Rhett¡¯s reaction at the time made her even more anxious. She quickly retracted, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That¡¯s not what I meant. I apologize.¡± ¡°What did you mean?¡± Rhett¡¯s smile was gentle, but his gaze was intense. Kristin, biting her lip hard, took a while before she softly grasped the cor of Rhett¡¯s shirt. ¡°I showed you my medical report but you didn¡¯t agree then.¡± Rhett recalled Kristin¡¯s offer to share her bed with him. Rhett frowned, looking notably pale as he clearly questioned whether he had lost his mind. during that moment. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald¡­¡± Seeing his face change, Kristin cried with fear, choked and grabbed his skirt corner, and exined in a panic. ¡°I¡¯m really not dirty¡­¡± Rhett took a deep breath, squeezed Kristin¡¯s chin and kissed her. Kristin looked at Rhett stiffly and forgot to breathe for a moment. Rhett got Kristin in his arms. ¡°Are you going to suffocate yourself?¡± Kristin breathed quickly and panicked to hide. ¡°What can you do?¡± Rhett was also burning his breath. God knew what he was enduring. Kristin clenched her lips and raised her trembling hand to unbutton Rhett¡¯s clothes. ¡°I will not force others.¡± Rhett took her hand. Kristin shook her head anxiously. ¡°No, I¡¯m not forced, I just can¡¯t help shaking.¡± Kristin broke into tears, desperately trying to exin. She didn¡¯t hate Rhett and just got out of her control when she was excited because of her past experience and depression. ¡°I might be willing to learn¡­¡± Her voice was tinged with a sob. Kristin wasn¡¯t skilled in the art of pleasing a man, but she was willing to learn. Harriet wasing to Silvergrove City and had promised to teach her. Just thinking about the things Harriet had described over the phone made Kristin¡¯s face burn with embarrassment. Rhett, leaning back against the headboard, released her hand, signaling her to continue. With her head bowed and face flushed, Kristin hesitantly reached for the buttons of Rhett¡¯s shirt when a knock on the door interrupted them. York¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, it¡¯s almost time. You need to get ready.¡± 07:09 Chapter 138 Rhett darkened his expression and was considering skipping an important bid for a project because of Kristin. He now understood why ancient kings were often led astray by enchantresses, neglecting their royal duties. Kristin, with tears brimming in her eyes, looked so vulnerable that¡­ Taking a deep breath, Rhett sat up straight, his voice low. ¡°Head to the venue first. We¡¯ll continue this evening.¡± Her ears burning, Kristin wished the ground would swallow her up. She had been on the verge of seducing Rhett. She was losing her mind. How was she any different from those other women? Clutching her fingers tightly, Kristin slipped into the bathroom, sshing her face with cold water to calm herself. She was indeed going mad. To ensure Rhett wouldn¡¯t cast her aside and to protect her when Adrienne returned, she was willing to offer even her body. What would Rhett think of her now? Would he see her as cheap? What was she to do? Downstairs in the hotel lobby, the world continued on, oblivious to the turmoil unfolding in the room above. As York shuffled through the project materials on his desk, he nced up to meet the stern gaze of Rhett. The sudden chill in the air made York shiver slightly, and York lowered his voice respectfully. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, did you have a rough night?¡± Rhett¡¯s re could cut through steel. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. An icy shiver ran down York¡¯s spine, prompting an involuntary gulp. Kristin trailed behind Rhett, her head bowed so low it was as if she was trying to burrow into the floor, her ears flushed a deep crimson. What on earth had happened? ¡°York, which position are you interested in?¡± Rhett was impatient, clearly eager to dispatch York elsewhere. York twisted his face into an awkward grimace. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are you firing me?¡± Rhett let out a derisive chuckle, his patience already threadbare. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, after we deal with Neal, I¡¯d like to move to the investment division,¡± York ventured. His loyalty to Rhett was unwavering, and he eyed a pivotal role within thepany. Neal¡¯s departure seemed inevitable. York was keen to slide into his shoes. 07:09 Chapter 138 Rhett had already considered this and turned to Kristin. ¡°Once we¡¯re back in Silvergrove City, sort out Neal promptly.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. FitzGerald,¡± Kristin responded, nodding as she followed in Rhett¡¯s wake. She interpreted Rhett¡¯smand as a push to eliminate a potential threat. But Rhett¡¯s intentions were focused on removing York, the human equivalent of a love breaker. His presence was nothing more than unnecessary. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Outside the hotel, Randall pulled up in his sleek ck sedan. Hertha stood beside the car, her eyes wide with nervous anticipation as she watched Rhett. ¡°Rhett,¡± she murmured. Rhett didn¡¯t even spare Hertha a nce, taking theptop from Kristin¡¯s hands and opening the car door for her. ¡°Get in.¡± Kristin was both ttered and aware that Rhett was using her as a shield, deliberately cing her in the line of fire. But that was where her valuey. ¡°Rhett, Can we talk, please?¡± Hertha trembled with a sob. ¡°You drank too muchst night. I was only looking out for you. Can¡¯t you trust me, please?¡± Rhett signaled for York to close the car door. ¡°Ms. Haywood, maybe we should talk after the Harborside Haven project wraps up?¡± York coaxed in a hushed tone. Hertha, tears welling in her eyes, stood rooted to the spot as Rhett closed the car door. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Ms. Haywood, this way¡± The secretary opened the passenger door, beckoning her to get in. With a sense of defeat, Hertha climbed into the passenger seat. ¡°Thirsty? You should drink more water if you¡¯ve got a cold,¡± Rhett said to Kristin with a tenderness that was almost palpable. York sat shivering, his legs trembling. Mr. Fitzgerald was making it painfully obvious, which was all a performance for Hertha. Hertha had crossed a line with Rhett once against night. But there was nothing York could do about it. He hadn¡¯t dared tell Rhett that the video of him and Hertha leaving the same hotel suite had gone viral, now topping the trending searches. The marriage alliance between the Haywood family and the Fitzgerald family was an unstoppable force. Even if Rhett was unhappy, there was no way out. For the sake of both families¡® honor, an engagement was inevitable. Sighing, York gazed out the window, fearing Hertha¡¯s cunning might backfire. Rhett despised being manipted or used, and Hertha was being far too transparent. How could the paparazzi have been so fortunate to capture that moment if not for some premeditated setup? Chapter 139 ¡°Are you hungry? You skipped lunch, and the banquet might not be to your taste,¡± Rhett said to Kristin, unfazed by the others, as he handed her a piece of chocte. Kristin looked at Rhett in surprise. ¡°Where did you get this?¡± She hadn¡¯t seen Mr. Fitzgerald carrying chocte. ¡°Magic,¡± Rhett quipped with a raised eyebrow. Kristin blushed and averted her gaze, staring out the window instead. His face was devilishly charming. Even a casual joke from him was disconcertingly alluring. Taking a deep breath, Kristin tried to calm her nerves, her back turned to Rhett. Hertha, sitting in the passenger seat, felt her anger brewing like a storm. Rhett was doing this on purpose, infuriating Hertha with his calcted indifference. But what did it matter? He would still have to marry Hertha willingly or not. Kristin was at a loss for words. Hertha clenched her teeth, wishing Kristin would just disappear. She needed toe up with a n to erase Kristinpletely, not just from sight, but to tarnish her reputation so thoroughly that she¡¯d be forced to leave Silvergrove City forever. Hertha wanted Rhett to feel repulsed at the mere mention of Kristin. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, perhaps we should take another look at the project proposal?¡± York suggested cautiously, passing the document to Rhett. Rhett took it with one hand, while secretly holding Kristin¡¯s hand with the other, prying her clenched fingers apart. She always clenched her fists when nervous, her nails digging into her palms. It was as if Rhett could see through these self¨Cdestructive habits. In a ce hidden from prying eyes, Rhett held Kristin¡¯s hand firmly, preventing her from causing herself any more pain. Kristin tried to steady her breathing as she gazed out the window, her cheeks burning red. She hoped Rhett not keep giving her false hope. Or was he always so attentive and caring with every woman? Kristin needed to stay clear¨Cheaded. He was Rhett, after all. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, the team at the venue says Nic and Vincent arrived early, looking confident and ready to im victory.¡± York whispered. Rhett ignored York¡¯sment. Chapter 139 Confident? With Vincent¡¯s capabilities? What a joke! The car stopped in the parking lot. York got out and opened the door for Rhett. Rhett stepped out, waiting patiently for Kristin to follow. He even took care to shield her head, concerned she might bump it. and the secretary York coughed lightly before speaking up softly, noticing Hertha¡¯s teary eyes a standing together. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, that¡¯s enough. Ms. Haywood is crying.¡± Rhett gave York a withering look. What concern was it of his? ¡°Besides, with all these reporters and media watching, you¡¯re putting Kristin in a tough spot. She¡¯s already under enough scrutiny,¡± York added, worried for Kristin. Rhett thought for a moment, deciding York had a point, and headed straight for the venue. York breathed a sigh of relief, pulling Kristin aside. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald¡¯s actions are all for show to Ms. Haywood. Don¡¯t read too much into it. Sure, Mr. Fitzgerald is handsome, but don¡¯t let your heart wander. Getting emotionally involved is messy, and you¡¯d be the one getting hurt in the end.¡± York was reminding Kristin of her ce. Theirs was strictly a business rtionship, and she shouldn¡¯t get confused and cause trouble. Kristin bit her lip, her nose tingling as she nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll remember my position.¡± York rxed, looking at Kristin approvingly. ¡°I have high hopes for you, and Mr. Fitzgerald appreciates your work. Even if the contract ends early, he¡¯ll likely keep you on at Fitzgerald Group. Your best days are ahead. Work hard. Let¡¯s coborate well. As long as Mr. Fitzgerald is here, we¡¯ll live the good life.¡± Kristin nodded vigorously, her gaze anchored to the ground. Experienced York gave an affirming nod. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. The conference is starting.¡± This bidding war was Eddie¡¯s brainchild, epassing not just project coborations but also the g banquet. Before the bids were thrown down, the big shots from the business world would gather, mostly to weave theirworks of influence. After all, everyone knew that when the FitzGerald Group threw its hat in the ring, other contenders rarely stood a chance. But connections mattered, so show up they did. Many were there just for Rhett. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, you¡¯re quite the rising star. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you myself,¡± said a tycoon who had never crossed paths with Rhett, stepping forward to make conversation. Chapter 139 ¡°Rhett, let me introduce you to President Scales of BrightFuture Tech.¡± A mutual acquaintance made the introductions. ¡°President Scales, delighted to meet you,¡± Rhett said with a smile, clearly in good spirits. York was stunned. Mr. FitzGerald, usually as indifferent as ice, was all smiles today. Impressive! He silently prayed that Mr. FitzGerald would keep this up. Had Rhett shown such awareness in his early years, would the FitzGerald Group have left room for the likes of Vincent and Nic? ¡°President Scales, I¡¯m Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant, Kristin. I¡¯d love to exchange business cards. for future coborations,¡± Kristin said with a smile, stepping forward proactively. She needed to make the best impression on Rhett¡¯s behalf. President Scales was pleasantly surprised and handed over his card with gusto. ¡°Rhett, you¡¯ve got a sharp one here. Anyone who works with you is bound to be talented.¡± President Scales was charmed by Kristin,ughing heartily. ¡°If you ever decide to hire fresh. blood, Mr. FitzGerald, send this assistant my way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m someone who values consistency.¡± Rhett replied with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s a great philosophy. It makes us even more confident in partnering with the FitzGerald Group!¡± President Scales¡® boisterous nature and loud voice drew the attention of the room. Everyone looked at Rhett in shock. Those who knew him were aware of his aloof demeanor, as unreachable as a gem, not easily approached. What had changed? ¡°Kristin!¡± A man with a sly grin approached from the crowd, calling out her name. ¡°Well, it¡¯s been years and you¡¯vended yourself as Mr. FitzGerald¡¯s assistant? Has the bar for hiring assistants at the FitzGerald Group sunk so low, or are they just looking for a whore?¡± Chapter 140 Chapter 140 These words were measured, just loud enough for those nearby to listen in. ¡°Whoa, look who it is! Kristin? Remember her from that high¨Cprofile heiress scam six years ago? The one who turned out to be a big fat fake.¡± ¡°Yeah, word on the street is she¡¯s not decent with chaotic sexual rtionships. I heard she¡¯s been linked with quite a few guys.¡± ¡°Kristin, have you forgotten me?¡± The man teased with a sly nce her way. ¡°Climbing up the social ladder to Mr. FitzGerald now, huh? How could you forget your old me? I was your first lover, wasn¡¯t I?¡± It was clear he was out to smear Kristin. Beforeing to the g, Kristin had already anticipated the kind of tactics Nic might employ. Using her to sling mud at Rhett was all her tricks. The crowd circled around, eager for the spectacle. Even President Scales, who was deep in conversation with Rhett, paused, taken aback. ¡°Rhett, what¡¯s all this about?¡± An elder acquaintance of Rhett¡¯s asked, clearly bewildered. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, how can you keep someone like her on staff? Did she pull the wool over your eyes?¡± ¡°Rhett, you¡¯ve really got to work on your judgment. At an event like this, bringing her along is just embarrassing.¡± From the crowd, Nic emerged, her high heels clicking, d in a designer dress that oozed elegance. Apanying her was Eddie¡¯s mother, a prominent businesswoman from the previous generation in Harborside Haven. Eddie owed everything to his mother, who had passed on the family business to him. ¡°The FitzGerald Group is this careless with their choice of assistant?¡± Anita, Eddie¡¯s mother, clearly displeased, questioned how such a controversial figure could be invited to a bidding event. ¡°Mom, there must be some misunderstanding. This is Kristin, the one I mentioned to you years ago. She even picked out the crabs we all enjoyed tonight.¡± Eddie quickly interjected, attempting to clear the air for Kristin. Eddie¡¯s mother, Anita, paused for a moment, giving Kristin a once¨Cover. ¡°Good evening, Mrs. FitzGerald,¡± Kristin said to contain her anxiety and stiffness as she greeted her. ¡°I apologize if I¡¯ve given you a poor impression.¡± ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, is there a certain ir you require in your assistants?¡± The man¡¯s intention to embarrass Rhett was obvious. 1/4 07:10 Chapter 140 ¡°Have the standards for a bidding event fallen this low?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was low and it was clear he was far from pleased. Eddie sensed Rhett¡¯s anger and quickly had someone check the identity of the man who had spoken. ¡°Kristin¡¯s reputation in Silvergrove City is well¨Cknown. She is indiscreet with a questionable history, and even a stint in jail. She¡¯s not the kind of person you want to associate with at an event like this, Rhett. You¡¯ve made apse in judgment this time,¡± Nic added, stirring the pot. If they could get Anita to turn on Rhett, the contract would go to Vincent. ¡°Kristin, have you forgotten me with all the men you¡¯ve been with?¡± the man mocked her with at grin. ¡°Excuse me, sir,¡± Kristin said after a brief apology, her gaze fixed on the man. ¡°I have a birthmark on my arm. Is it on the left or the right?¡± The man hesitated. ¡°How should I know¡­¡± ¡°You im to have been intimate with me, yet you denigrate and attempt to oppress me with these tactics, trying to negate my professional abilities and talent by ndering my private life. My efforts at work should not be tarnished by your dirty words and actions. It¡¯s your soul that¡¯s dirty which sees filth everywhere.¡± Kristin knew Anita, a businesswoman of her generation, had faced pressures and disparagement that many had never endured. Men who couldn¡¯t match her sess would discredit her achievements and capabilities, and women who envied her sess would insinuate she only got ahead through men. Kristin, in fact, had to thank Nic for presenting her with an opportunity to make a good impression in front of Anita. ¡°Now, please answer my question. Is my birthmark on my left arm, or on my right?¡± Kristin was firm. ¡°If you can¡¯t answer, I will take legal action against you for defamation.¡± The man nced at Nic, unsure of what to do next. ¡°What are you looking at Nic for? Are you saying she orchestrated this to undermine Mr. FitzGerald and sabotage this bidding partnership?¡± Kristin looked at Nic, feigning shock. ¡°Nic, how could you do such a thing? I know Rhett is the child of Mr. Hob¡¯s first wife. but this favoritism is too much.¡± Nic only knew how to curry favor with Anita, not realizing that Anita had started her business and carried her family because Eddie¡¯s father had an affair and insisted on marrying his mistress, driving Anita and Eddie away. ¡°Kristin, what nonsense are you spouting?¡± Nic was taken aback. Was this the Kristin she knew? Serious? Chapter 140 Kristin¡¯s confrontation left Nic wishing she could tear Kristin to shreds. ¡°What a sly fox! Do you think you can drive a wedge between our family? What are you but a woman with a tarnished reputation? Do you need others to nder you?¡± Kristin nced back at Rhett. His eyes were deep and understanding, and he nodded slightly at her. Suddenly, Kristin wasn¡¯t panicking anymore because she knew she had Rhett¡¯s support. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been with you for so long, how would I remember where your birthmark is? I just know you have one, but who can remember which side it¡¯s on?¡± the man blurted out. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Oh,¡± Kristin turned her attention to the silent Vincent. ¡°Vincent, do I have a birthmark on my arm?¡± Tho are you eveni about?!¡± Nic snapped, ring at Kristin with unmasked disgust. ¡°Vincent would nevery a finger on trash like you.¡± Vincent¡¯s face was ashen, almostpletely drained of color. ¡°Vincent, we were together for six years from high school to college. I was once your fianc¨¦e, recognized publicly. Don¡¯t you have anything to say in my defense?¡± Kristin was deliberate. If Nic was going to sling mud at her to get at Rhett, Kristin was ready to sling it right back. With a slightly hoarse voice, Kristin silently monitored Vincent. Kristin wanted to see just how Vincent would denigrate her. In such a public setting, if Vincent joined Nic in ndering her, then who had poor judgment? Rhett was just her boss. Herpetence at work was all that mattered. But in her personal life, Vincent as her ex¨Cboyfriend had more vile judgment. ¡°Don¡¯t dredge up the past. Vincent was just fooled by you, ing around behind his back¡­¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Vincent¡¯s voice was a low rumble, cutting off Nic mid¨Csentence. ¡°Kristin has no birthmark. This person is deliberately defaming Kristin. Let¡¯s just drop it.¡± Vincent inhaled deeply, casting a nce at Nic before awkwardly turning to leave. What bothered him was the memory of catching Kristin in a hotel with another man, an incident that left him unable to hold his head high. And now, with Nic airing dirtyundry in front of an audience, Vincent was understandably reluctant. ¡°Mister Eddie Wilson, we checked. This guy wasn¡¯t invited to the event,¡± York said, approaching with the event coordinator in tow. The man¡¯s face paled, panic setting in as he tried to bolt. Rhett shot out his hand, grabbing the back of the intruder¡¯s cor, his expression dark and Chapter 140 stormy. ¡°Causing trouble at Eddie¡¯s bidding event could be a major issue.¡± The crowd collectively inhaled sharply. Rhett seemed furious. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Kristin pounded her heart with confusion as she sensed Rhett¡¯s anger directed towards her. Her back tensed, and she bowed her head, unsure of how to proceed. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Did Rhett take offense? ¡°Take him away and grill him,¡± Eddlemanded with a dark expression, casting a meaningful nce at Nic and snorting disdainfully. Feuds between high society¡¯s elite were often spectacles for the masses. If the incident didn¡¯t affect Eddie personally, he¡¯d be more than happy to watch the drama unfold. But now, Nic had dragged him into her scheming, which was a different story. Nic was equally stormy as she watched Vincent leave without looking back, wishing she could grind her teeth to dust. ¡°That disgraceful man! I had poured my heart out for you, and you had the audacity to shame. me in front of an audience for some tart!¡± she cursed inwardly. ¡°Mrs. Wilson, it¡¯s clear that this is¡­¡± Nic wanted to exin something. ¡°The bidding is about to start, let¡¯s get everyone seated,¡± Anita interrupted Nic with a low voice. Anita softened her gaze as she looked at Kristin. ¡°I trust Rhett¡¯s judgment. Someone who manages the FitzGerald Group, supporting so many freeloaders, couldn¡¯t choose an assistant poorly.¡± Anita stated firmly, walking up to Eddie. ¡°Your could learn a thing or two from Rhett. His capabilities are worth emting.¡± Eddie quickly nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Nic felt as if she had been trampled underfoot, with her n backfiring spectacrly. Struggling to breathe, Nic nearly lost her bnce. Her assistant rushed to her side. ¡°Madam, are you alright? Shall we proceed to the venue?¡± ¡°Forget it!¡± Nic snapped. With Vin Vincent gone, there was no point in going. Once again, she had been outyed by Rhett. It was all because of Kristin, so clever and quick¨Cwitted. She was supposed to be nearly mute, wasn¡¯t she? But now she had too much talk! ¡°I think Kristin might as well be mute,¡± Nic seethed, clutching her chest as she stumbled out. ¡°Find a way to teach Kristin a lesson. I hope she bes mute!¡± Chapter 141 The assistant hesitated for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± At the venue, Kristin followed Rhett with her head down. ¡°Ah!¡± Caught off guard just before entering, Kristin was suddenly pulled into a corner and pinned against the wall. Rhett¡¯s mood was stormy, his face grim, his eyes fierce. Kristin panicked, her eyes red as she frantically exined. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. That man ndered me¡­¡± After a rushed exnation, Kristin bowed her head, at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault, I¡¯ve caused you trouble.¡± She could only apologize, having nothing else to say. ¡°Were you with Vincent for six years?¡± Rhett asked through clenched teeth. Kristin had spent her time from age sixteen to twenty¨Ctwo with Vincent. In York¡¯s opinion, they were childhood sweethearts, innocent and naive. Such a bond was infuriatingly jealousy¨Cinducing. Rhett didn¡¯t understand why he felt such rage, the urge to punch Vincent overwhelming him. If only Rhett had known Vincent wouldn¡¯t cherish her, he should have appeared when Kristin was sixteen. But Rhett couldn¡¯t turn back time. Kristin nced at Rhett before lowering her gaze. ¡°Yes¡­¡± It was true that she had been with Vincent since high school. ¡°Did you love him?¡± Rhett pressed, voice low. ¡°I loved him once¡­¡± Kristin didn¡¯t lie. She had loved Vincent deeply. ¡°Forget him!¡± Rhettmanded, gripping her chin, his voice threatening. Kristin had never felt such pressure from Rhett, nor had she seen him truly angry. Everyone feared Rhett, including the servants of the FitzGerald family. When Rhett exerted his power over her, Kristin felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who you are now. You¡¯re my woman.¡± Rhett reminded Kristin. With reddened eyes and bitten lips, Kristin remained silent. Releasing Kristin, Rhett straightened his tie and entered the venue with a stern face. Kristin leaned against the wall, taking time to collect herself. She didn¡¯t understand why Rhett was angry, only that she felt overwhelmingly guilty. Her very existence seemed to bring endless trouble to Rhett. 2/4 Chapter 141 It was all her fault. Her existence was the original sin. At the bidding venue, Rhett was oppressively low in the mood, deterring anyone from approaching him. Kristin hid in a corner, too scared to face Rhett, letting York stay by his side. Until the meeting concluded, Rhett seemed on the verge ofshing out. The FitzGerald Group won the bid without question, and the contract was signed after Rhett¡¯s meticulous handling. Customarily, all the tycoons would stay for dinner, but Rhett excused himself early, feigning illness. At the venue¡¯s entrance, Kristin hurried to catch up with Rhett, head bowed. Throughout the drive back to the hotel, Rhett remained silent towards Kristin, his mind reying Vincent¡¯s words about Kristin¡¯sck of birthmarks and her admission of past love. Rhett wanted to obliterate Vincent. Rhett wanted to teach a lesson to every man who had touched Kristin. Hiding in a corner, Kristin surreptitiously cleaned her tears. York nced back and saw, his brow furrowing slightly. He couldn¡¯t help but feel sympathy for her plight. Kristin had always been the talk of the city, but not in the way one might hope. Whispers turned to shouts, and rumors became as sticky and unpleasant as spilled soda on a hot summer¡¯s day. It was enough to wear down even the strongest of souls. Secretly handing Kristin a paper towel, York stuffed a piece of sugar. Kristin gave York a grateful look, leaned against the window and watched the traffic outside. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, are we heading back to Silvergrove City tonight, or¡­York inquired, his voice tinged with concern. He had seen Rhett leave the hall earlier, skipping out on the evening¡¯s festivities and looking quite vexed. York assumed Rhett would want to drive back to Silvergrove City right away. ¡°The n hasn¡¯t changed,¡± Rhett responded curtly, his brow furrowed. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± York asked, taken aback. It wasn¡¯t like Rhett to deviate from his original ns unless something was seriously off. Were they going to spend another night at the hotel? Could Rhett be that unwell? Rhett nced back at Kristin, who had been battling a fever that day. Perhaps an extra night¡¯s rest would do her good. Rhett grunted in affirmation. 07:11 Chapter 141 ¡°Then we¡¯ll head back to the hotel and get some rest,¡± York said with genuine worry. Rhett didn¡¯t reply, secretly wishing the car was free of York¡¯s well¨Cmeaning but Intrusive presence. At the Diamond Crest Hotel. Nic¡¯s assistant lurked in a hidden corridor, whispering to one of the hotel¡¯s staff. ¡°Take this bottle and ce it in Kristin¡¯s room. If anything goes awry, pour the contents into the tollet first thing. Don¡¯t leave any evidence. There are no cameras in the rooms and they won¡¯t trace it back to you.¡± Nic had a n to silence Kristin for good, and the assistant had tampered with the bottle to ensure just that. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 In a hotel room. Rhett sat at the desk, ncing towards Kristin who hesitated in the corridor, too timid to approach. ¡°Take your medicine,¡± he said, sliding a ss of water with the dissolved pill towards her. Kristin, nervously hiding behind a partition until she heard Rhett¡¯s voice, walked over with her head down. ¡°Do you feel like resting here, or would you like to check out the town?¡± Rhett remembered Kristin had once mentioned she loved the seaside view from Harborside Haven. A spark lit up in Kristin¡¯s eyes as she tightly clutched the water ss. Although she struggled to express herself, her eyes never lied. Whether she liked something or not, it was always apparent at a nce. That was why when Rhett first met her at a Fitzgerald family gathering, he thought her eyes shone with a naive rity. ¡°Feeling any cooler?¡± Rhett stood and touched her forehead. Kristin stiffened but didn¡¯t pull away. ¡°Still a bit warm. Take the medicine and rest a bit. Later, we can go see the coastal night view,¡± Rhett said and leaned on the desk, watching her. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. She nervously gulped down the medicine in one go. ¡°Here,¡± Rhett said, handing her a bottle of water from the desk, having already unscrewed the cap for her. Kristin, grimacing from the bitter taste, was about to take a sip when Rhett suddenly frowned and took the bottle back. He had a thing about cleanliness and was very particr about hotel¡¯amenities. The cap hade off too easily, meaning the bottle had been tampered with. He inspected it closely and sniffed the contents, his expression darkening. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with this water.¡± Kristin stared at him, shocked. ¡°Wrong? Is it dirty?¡± She thought Rhett was just being overly fastidious. ¡°I¡¯ll get a fresh one.¡± ¡°Smell this,¡± he urged, holding the bottle to her nose. She sniffed and her eyes widened in rm. ¡°There¡¯s definitely something off. It smells sour.¡± Good water wouldn¡¯t smell sour even if it was past its expiration date. This wasn¡¯t water. Rhett furrowed his brow, motioning for her to be silent. He grabbed two sugar packets from Chapter 142 near the coffee machine before guiding her into the bathroom. Kristin watched, curious about what he was nning. Rhett tore open the sugar packets and poured them into an ashtray, then added the bottled water. The sugar turned ck and bubbled up with gas. ¡°Diluted sulfuric acid,¡± Rhett said, his voice low. Kristin gasped, covering her mouth. ¡°Sulfuric acid?¡± If she had drunk that, the consequences could have been disastrous from severe damage to her throat to a life¨Cthreatening emergency. Rhett was grave as he screwed the cap back on and stepped out of the bathroom to call York. Soon after, York arrived at the room and set up makeshift cameras in both the bathroom and the main room. ¡°Act natural,¡± York advised, ncing at Kristin. She nodded dumbly, aware that they were trying to catch the culprit. The bottle contained sulfuric acid, and only a limited number of staff had been in and out of the room. It wouldn¡¯t be fair to use anyone without evidence. If Kristin had been harmed, everyone would have been too panicked to consider keeping the water bottle as evidence for the police. The perpetrator would return to the crime scene to cover their tracks, because simply flushing the bottle down the toilet would leave no evidence. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared,¡± Rhett reassured her. Kristin was pale, not sure whether the person behind this was targeting her or Rhett. ¡°This room was booked under Kristin¡¯s name, could this be a personal attack?¡± York whispered. Rhett nodded. If he hadn¡¯t been the one to open the bottle for Kristin today, it didn¡¯t bear thinking about. His fingertips were cold as he felt a wave of retrospective fear. ¡°Help! Something¡¯s happened! Call an ambnce!* Outside, York¡¯s panicked shouts filled the air, his hands apparently covered in ¡®blood¡°. Kristin¡¯s face and mouth were smeared with ¡®blood¡® as she pretended to faint in Rhett¡¯s arms. They rushed out of the hotel and into the elevator. ¡°Mr. Fitzgerald, what¡¯s happened to Kristin?¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was tense and low, and he didn¡¯t respond. As York and the others left, a housekeeper who had been lurking in the hallway sneaked into Chapter 142 the still¨Copen room, searching for the open bottle of water. Quickly, she poured the contents into the toilet. ¡°Heh, it¡¯s always the ones you least expect.¡± York came from the doorway, carrying a note of sarcasm as he entered with the hotel manager. The housekeeper went pale, almost copsing to the floor. ¡°Speak up! Who put you up to this? You¡¯ve got some nerve to harm Mr. Fitzgerald!¡± the manager¡¯s voice shook with fury. This was a criminal offense. ¡°Manager, I didn¡¯t do anything. I just saw the door open and came in to clean,¡± the housekeeper protested. ¡°Really?¡± York sneered, pointing to the prepared cameras and the switched sulfuric acid. ¡°Caught red¨C handed. Go exin yourself to the police.¡± In the underground parking lot. Kristin sat in the car, still in shock. ¡°Scared?¡± Rhett asked, pulling her close. Kristin looked up at Rhett, feeling the aftershock of the incident. From now on, she resolved that anything Rhett was about to consume, she would need to test. first. ¡°We¡¯re going back to Silvergrove City, and York will stay to handle things here,¡± Rhett said, his mood dark. He couldn¡¯t risk Kristin¡¯s safety any further. Kristin had just had a run¨Cin with Nic, and then this attempt on her life, a warning from Nic. Rhett snorted coldly, flexing his fingers. Nic had be toofortable within the Fitzgerald family. Kristin nodded stiffly. She had been looking forward to seeing the seaside night view with Rhett. Now, ncing out the car window at the passing traffic, her gaze lingered with a hint of sadness. Sometimes she wondered was everyone in this world free except for her. She felt like she was forever locked in a cage. ¡°Take the outer loop to the beach,¡± Rhett instructed briefly. The driver nodded and steered the car onto the outer loop road. Chapter 142 A few years ago. ¡°Kris, what are your ns after getting out?¡± the only person Kristin could talk to during those years in prison was Harriet. ¡°Just wanna be there for my kid¡­¡± Kristin¡¯s voice was raspy. She just wanted to be there as Summer grew up. ¡°Ever thought about getting hitched? It¡¯s gonna be tough for a woman raising a child on her own.¡± ¡°As if marrying off would make life any easier? No one¡¯s gonna love a woman like me¡­¡± Kristin was acutely aware of her tarnished reputation, knowing full well that love might nevere knocking again. She had stopped longing for marriage and a future a long time ago. Unbeknownst to her, the car had pulled over to the curb, and Rhett stepped out, opening Kristin¡¯s door. She had been leaning against the door, lost in thought, and almost fell out when Rhett abruptly opened it, throwing her off bnce. Instinctively, Rhett stepped forward, catching Kristin against his legs. With Rhett¡¯s high figure and perfectly proportioned body, his long legs made Kristin¡¯s fall. awkwardly intimate, to say the least. Clearing his throat, Rhett looked away. ¡°The tide¡¯sing in. You might like a stroll by the beach.¡± Kristin straightened up, following Rhett clumsily, her nerves in a twist. ncing up at Rhett, Kristin noticed his ears had turned a deep shade of red, aplete giveaway of his embarrassment and shyness. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 At the seaside. Rhett walked ahead, Kristin trailing behind him. With Rhett there, how could she have any mind to admire the ocean? Her heartbeat was a bit frantic, Kristin¡¯s mind filled with thoughts of Rhett. She had thought he would take her straight back to Silvergrove City, but to her surprise, he¡¯d brought her to see the sea. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, the matter has been handed over to the police. The housekeeper said that it was Nic¡¯s assistant who instructed her to do it. The police have detained Nic¡¯s assistant, but the individual is taking all the me. For now, we can¡¯t trace it back to Nic.¡± York had called Rhett. ¡°Leak the story to the press and say that I was the one who drank that water and got hurt.¡± Rhett said in a deep voice. ¡°Suppress all that online buzz about the merging of the Haywood family and the FitzGerald family. I don¡¯t want to see any more news about a merger, you understand?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± When Rhett stepped aside to make the call, Kristin walked alone by the sea. The beach was adorned with floralnterns, set up especially for tourists. As one approached, they would light up, and the flowers would bloom to the sound of soft music. Kristin looked up in amazement at the blossomingnterns, standing in the light, gently twirling. She had once been the sole dancer of Silvergrove City¡¯s premier ballet dancer and the Swan Queen who represented the Silvergrove City Ballet at performances.* But during her years in prison, her spine had been broken, and she had swallowed all the shattered pieces. Lifting her hand, Kristin assumed a ballet position. Her body was stiff. With a sense of loss, she lowered her hand. It seemed she could never return to what had once been. Trying to stand on tiptoe along with the soft music, Kristin attempted to bnce several times before giving up. A swan with broken wings could never fly back to the blue skies again. Rhett leaned against the car door, his gaze intense as he watched Kristin. Chapter 143 He had seen Kristin on stage once before. Back then, he had only felt that Vincent wasn¡¯t worthy of that blooming white rose. Butter, the rose was broken, shattered, trampled into the mud. What was Kristin¡¯s fault? Was it because she was too beautiful or too pure? ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, what time is our flight?¡± Concerned about missing their flight, Kristin ran over to ask. Rhett snapped back to reality, abruptly pulling Kristin into his arms, embracing her. Kristin froze for a second, not daring to move. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Rhett¡¯s voice was hoarse and weary. ¡°Okay.¡± Kristin nodded. Following Rhett into the car, Kristin¡¯s heartbeat remained rapid. This marriage bargain with Rhett, no matter how long itsted, was her stroke of luck. This man was beyond reproach. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, thank you.¡± On the ne, Kristin cautiously nced at Rhett. ¡°Hmm?¡± Rhett had Kristin sit inside, asking the flight attendant for a nket to cover her. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, that water¡­¡± Kristin felt a chill run down her spine. Rhett didn¡¯t respond, his gaze deep. ¡°Sir, your coffee.¡± The flight attendant approached with a smile, bringing Rhett his coffee. Kristin instinctively took the coffee cup, taking a sip herself first. After ensuring it was safe, she rxed and passed it to Rhett. The flight attendant froze her professional smile. Rhett, observing Kristin¡¯s actions, couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Kristin admitted, realizing the extent of her actions when she tested Rhett¡¯s cup for poison. He wouldn¡¯t drink it now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, could you pour another cup?¡± Kristin asked the attendant, embarrassed. The attendant kept her professional smile. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Rhett said politely, nodding in acknowledgment. The attendant left, and Rhett, holding the coffee cup, smiled. ¡°Poisoned?¡± Kristin¡¯s ears turned red as she shook her head. ¡°No, no poison.¡± Chapter 143 Rhett sipped the coffee. ¡°I never thought airne coffee tasted good before.¡± Kristin¡¯s ears turned even redder, the coffee was quite bitter, bitterer than medicine. ¡°Get some sleep. I¡¯ll watch over you,¡± Rhett whispered, suggesting Kristin take a rest. Kristin looked at Rhett nkly, then quickly averted her gaze, nervously sping her fingers, turning her head and closing her eyes, pretending to sleep. Jesus, she was truly bewitched. In prison, Kristin had read a book stating that when faced with a fatal temptation, no one could resist its allure, but when one was deeply ensnared, death would quietly descend. Kristin knew Rhett was a dangerous man, perfect and attractive. A single misstep could mean utter ruin. Yet her heart was still stirred. Perhaps she was too unaware of her vulnerability. Unsure of how long she slept, Kristin was gently awakened. ¡°Kristin, we¡¯re home.¡± Slowly opening her eyes, Kristin realized that at some point she had ended up resting on Rhett¡¯s shoulder. She sat up abruptly, nervously unbuckling her seatbelt, and stood, following Rhett. As soon as they disembarked, Hob called Rhett. Clearly. York had been efficient. The news of Nic¡¯s assistant¡¯s criminal offense and the injury to Rhett was already trending. ¡°Yes, just arrived,¡± Rhett spoke gravely. ¡°Come home.¡± Hob told Rhett to return home, his tone indifferent, revealing no emotion. If he were a normal father, at this time he should be concerned about his son¡¯s well¨Cbeing, but all Hob did was tell Rhett toe home. Besides, Rhett could already guess that next, Hob would want the trending news to be pulled down. Rhett hung up the phone on Hob without much of an exnation. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling great. I¡¯m going to head home and rest. We can talk about this tomorrow.¡± Tomorrow was the day Nic would be back. Settling scores always required a full house for the drama to unfold properly. ncing over at Kristin, Rhett cracked a smile. ¡°Knock off work early tomorrow ande with me to my house.¡± Kristin felt a shiver run down her spine at the mention of the FitzGerald family. It was the ce that held dark memories for her. Chapter ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be there with you,¡± Rhett reassured her after a brief silence. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to a show.¡± Kristin bit her lip and nodded, feeling an odd sense of sympathy for Rhett. She wondered how he had managed to navigate the treacherous waters of that household alone. The journey from the airport to Rhett¡¯s ce filled Kristin¡¯s chest with emotion. They went back home together. The marriage certificate they had signed was fueling unrealistic fantasies in Kristin¡¯s mind. She had once told Harriet that she would never get married and she had lost all hope in men. But now, what was she doing? Was she fantasizing about a normal romance with Rhett, or even a married life? ¡°Kristin, I¡¯m starving.¡± Rhett said as soon as they walked through the door, pulling her into his embrace with his chin resting on her head, his voice weary and husky. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll go make us some dinner. How about a nice green sd?¡± she asked nervously. He hummed in response, rolling up his sleeves to help in the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll wash the veggies.¡± Kristin blushed and nodded. But her regret was instant. Rhett wasn¡¯t so much washing the veggies as he was massacring them. He seemed to think every single leaf wasn¡¯t to his taste, which went into the trash they went. Kristin quickly rescued what was left, fighting back tears. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, those vegetables cost a pretty penny.¡± Rhett stepped back with a chuckle, ceasing his ¡®help¡®. As Kristin began to wash the rescued greens, her phone rang. ¡°Kris! Are you still at Harborside Haven?¡± It was Garner on the other end, his voiceced with panic. ¡°Adrienne¡¯s been around¡­ You can¡¯t let her find you!¡± Her hand froze on the phone. In the background, she could hear Summer¡¯s crying. He was calling out for his mother. ¡°Garner¡­ what happened to Summer?¡± Kristin trembled her voice. ¡°Summer¡¯s hurt. We¡¯re at the hospital, but you don¡¯t need to worry about us. Don¡¯te back here, Adrienne¡¯s people are watching us. They¡¯re just trying to force you out!¡± Garner seemed to realize they were discovered, and he quickly hung up. Chapter 144Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Kristin pounded her heart wildly as she turned to Rhett, panic etched on her face. ¡°Summer is hurt. Mr. FitzGerald, I need to go to the hospital,¡± Kristin stammered, her voice quivering on the verge of tears as she dashed for the exit. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Rhett grabbed his coat, draped it over her shoulders, and headed to the garage to get the car. ¡°Get in.¡± Kristin wanted to say thank you, but fear had stolen her voice. n, was ¡°Check which hospital Garner and Summer are at,¡± Rhett said as he dialed York¡¯s number. York, just having finished dealing with some maintenance issues at Harborside Haven, now tasked with tracking down Garner¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Right away, Mr. FitzGerald.¡± In the emergency room of the Silvergrove Hospital. Garner¡¯s phoney shattered on the floor, victim to a would¨Cbe thief¡¯s rage. was Summer in tears, clinging to Garner for safety. A cut marred his forehead, clearly inflicted by something sharp. Garner was h holding back his anger, fists clenched with restrained fury. What bastards! For years, knowing he was outmatched, Garner had kept a low profile, but now they were pushing him too far. ¡°Garner, still not willing to let Kristine back?¡± Adrienne leaned against the doorframe, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°With my disagreement, I¡¯d like to see who dares to bandage this little bastard¡¯s wounds.¡± Garner tightened his grip as he red at the entourage of bodyguards Adrienne had brought with her. ¡°This is a hospital.¡± ¡°So what?¡± Adrienne boasted, her time in detention having done nothing but deepen her grudge. against Kristin, especially with the rumors swirling about Kristin and Rhett: ¡°Without the consent of the Haywood family, no one touches this brat!¡± ¡°Make way.¡± At that moment, Connor, d in a white coat and carrying a medical kit, entered the room He examined Summer¡¯s wound, frowning as he knelt in front of him. ¡°Hey, buddy. Are you afraid? It¡¯ll hurt.¡± Summer, struggling not to cry, bravely met Connor¡¯s gaze. ¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± ¡°Worrying about your looks already?¡± Connor teased with a smile. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Summer was choked with tears, but he fought them back. ¡°My mom will see 1/4 07:12 Chapter 144 it and¡­ she¡¯ll worry.¡± He didn¡¯t want to make Kristin worry. Connor paused, his movements softening unconsciously. ¡°No scars, buddy. The cut¡¯s not deep. I¡¯ll be super careful with the stitches. You won¡¯t even see a mark, okay?¡± Summer nodded obediently. ¡°How can a parent let their child get hurt like this?¡± Connor¡¯s voice deepened with disapproval. ¡°They trashed our apartment. The ss broke and cut Summer,¡± Garner exined, holding Summer close. Summer, eyes red, nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m not scared. It wasn¡¯t his fault.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you understand?¡± Adrienne, furious, moved to intervene. Connor turned a cold eye to Adrienne. ¡°This is a public hospital. Have the Haywood family be so arrogant?¡± ¡°Dr. Lawrence, they won¡¯t let us inside,¡± a nurse said angrily from the door. ¡°Call the police,¡± Connor instructed the nurse. Adrienne paled at the mention of the police. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Connor,¡± he replied, pointing to the badge on his chest. ¡°Fine, you just wait,¡± Adrienne snarled, motioning for the guards to let the nurse pass, then stepped aside to call the hospital management. ¡°Garner!¡± Melissa burst into the room, her voice tinged with panic. ¡°Melissa,¡± Connor greeted, focusing on treating Summer¡¯s wound. Melissa was Connor¡¯s cousin. Melissa nodded at Connor, acknowledging him. The Lawrence family¡¯s sole heir had no interest in the family business, choosing instead to pursue medicine. ¡°Boss,¡± Garner said, taken aback as he noticed Melissa¡¯s presence. Melissa rushed to Summer¡¯s side, her eyes filled with concern. ¡°Summer, who did this to you?¡± Summer, trying to be strong, broke down in tears upon seeing Melissa. ¡°How did you get here?¡± Garner asked, his voiceced with anxiety. ¡°Why didn¡¯t y you answer my calls?¡± Melissa was Irate, having gone to Garner¡¯s trashed rental and realizing something was terribly wrong. She had secretly enabled location tracking on Garner¡¯s phone. 3/4 ¡°I couldn¡¯t pick up your call and I was busy,¡± Garner replied softly, moving Summer to a nearby treatment bed. ¡°Who did this?¡± Melissa demanded, pointing to Summer¡¯s wound. Garner remained silent. Adrienne, having finished her call, spoke with a sneer. ¡°Your superiors are on their way. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Until this bastard¡¯s mother shows up, no one touches him.¡± That was when Melissa noticed Adrienne. Narrowing her eyes, Melissa turned to face Adrienne squarely. ¡°Did you hurt my child?¡± Adrienne cast a sideways nce at Melissa, but she didn¡¯t recognize her at all. Today. Melissa was dressed down infy jeans and a tee, with her hair pulled into a yful ponytail that made her look years younger than she was. Plus, Melissa had spent quite some time abroad, which made her somewhat unfamiliar to the local crowd of Silvergrove City. In this town, the only socialite who could hold a candle to Melissa was Eve. The thing was, Eve had the mighty FitzGerald family backing her up, while Melissa made a name for herself on her own merits. Once, a journalist had the nerve to ask Melissa what it was like to marry into wealth. Without missing a beat, Melissa had retorted in front of everyone. ¡°You should ask my husband what it¡¯s like to marry into a fortune.¡± ¡°Your kid? Who even are you? Are you Garner¡¯s new fling?¡± Adrienne let out augh, her disbelief apparent. It had only been a few days since she¡¯dst seen Garner, and now had he got a girlfriend? ¡°Do you have any damn idea what kind of slime Garner is?¡± Adrienne spat out, contempt heavy in her voice. ¡°A sick pervert who can¡¯t keep his grubby hands off his own sister, a bastard with no control over his base instincts. You¡¯d better run a country mile from him.¡± Garner furrowed his brows, wanting to exin. But then he realized it was pointless. Kristin had a point that once someone threw mud at you, you were dirty whether you liked it or not. Melissa turned to look at Garner, and he met her gaze. His eyes held aplex mix of emotions. But Melissa felt a twinge of pity for him. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Which loony bin forgot to lock the door and let you out?¡± Melissa wasn¡¯t about to coddle Adrienne. With a swift kick, she sent Adrienne flying into the wall. The entire clinic was in shock. Chapter 144 The young nurse covered her mouth in horror, while the more timid ones had already taken refuge behind Connor. Connor, for his part, raised an eyebrow. He wasn¡¯t surprised in the slightest. His cousin had always been a force to be reckoned with¡­ Indeed, sometimes only magic could conquer Melissa. Outside the door. Kristin ran over in a panic, and the first thing she saw was a graceful figure delivering a powerful kick. At a loss for words, Kristin stopped dead in her tracks, turning back to Rhett with a look of utter confusion. The one on the receiving end of that kick was Adrienne, right? Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Garner was utterly bbergasted. His frail boss, who could nearly faint from sunbathing due to low blood sugar, surprisingly delivered a roundhouse kick any martial arts master would be proud of. Adrienne was pinned against the wall, her head having smacked into it with a thud that left her seeing stars. It took her a moment to gather her wits, her eyes wide with shock as she locked gazes with Melissa. How dare Melissa kick her? ¡°You¡­ you kicked me?¡± Adrienne asked in disbelief. ¡°How did my kid get those bruises on his face?¡± Melissa grabbed a fistful of Adrienne¡¯s hair, ring menacingly at the dumbstruck bodyguards. ¡°Get out of here, all of you! This is a hospital!¡± The bodyguards exchanged nces, still reeling from the surprise when Melissa¡¯s entourage. cleared the area. Adrienne¡¯s protectors were mostly security guards, there for show rather than skill. Melissa¡¯s ex¨C husband was a big shot in the underworld and her guards were practically mercenaries. Kristin stood trembling, unsure of the unfolding situation. Rhett covered Kristin¡¯s mouth before she could speak, signaling her to stay silent. Someone was already giving Adrienne a lesson, so there was no need to interrupt. Truth be told, Rhett had nned on giving Adrienne a lesson of his own that evening. However, his methods were moremercial in nature. En route, he had already warned the Haywood family to end all business ties, extending beyond mere contracts to any industry they had their fingers in. And now, as Adrienne¡¯s father bombarded Rhett with calls he ignored, the Haywood family must be scrambling to the scene. But this trick was outshone by Melissa¡¯s physical approach. ¡°You crazy bitch.¡± Adrienne wailed in pain, as Melissa dragged her by the hair towards a hospital bed. With a resounding crash, Melissa mmed Adrienne¡¯s head against the metal frame. Summer shivered, his wide eyes fixed on Melissa, thinking how cool she looked. ¡°Boy, did Adrienne do this to you?¡± Melissa asked. Summer nodded, then shook his head. ¡°The ss broke, and I got cut by the shards.¡± Chapter 145 Summer was an honest child. ¡°Who the hell are you? Garner, get this psycho off me¡­¡± Adrienne was in tears, unustomed to such rough treatment. She¡¯d always been the bully, never the bullied. Garner stepped forward, mouth agape, only to be silenced by a sharp look from Melissa. ¡°You want to defend her?¡± Melissa squinted threateningly at Garner. He frowned. ¡°She¡¯s a member of the Haywood family. I don¡¯t want you in trouble.¡± ¡°The Haywood family? I have no idea.¡± Melissa turned to Connor. ¡°What¡¯s their deal?¡± ¡°They¡¯re climbing the socialdder through marriage. James, the Bryce family of Crescendo Town, is her fianc¨¦,¡± Connor replied casually as he stitched Summer¡¯s wound. ¡°Oh, her sister is Hertha who has been trendingtely for her engagement to Rhett.¡± ¡°James and Rhett?¡± Melissa raised her voice. ¡°I can get over James, but Rhett? I¡¯ve only been abroad for a few years. Is he blind?¡± Kristin peered over her shoulder at the ¡°blind¡± Mr. FitzGerald. She envied this fierce woman. Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org. ¡°Ahem!¡± Rhett cleared his throat, a picture of indifference. ¡°I¡¯m not blind yet¡­¡± Melissa turned to see Rhett at the door, behind a shivering Kristin. She recognized Kristin from photos cherished by Summer, where he called her mom a fairy. ¡°Rhett, save me!¡± Adrienne, her nose bruised and bleeding, her forehead swollen, cried out for Rhett¡¯s help. Rhett was impassive, as if he didn¡¯t know the woman before him. ¡°Kris.¡± Garner rushed to Kristin protectively. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to stay away?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Kristin shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s my mess. I need to deal with it.¡± She approached the bed, her eyes full of concern for Summer. Summer, too scared to move, burst into tears at the sight of Kristin, covering his wound. ¡°Don¡¯t look, mommy. I¡¯m okay.¡± Connor finished bandaging Summer¡¯s cut, frowning. ¡°Take care of him.¡± ¡°Thank you, Dr. Lawrence,¡± Kristin said gratefully, hugging Summer close. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯mte.¡± Summer¡¯s teary eyes fell on Rhett and he hesitated to call out ¡®Dad¡®. Rhett, pained by the sight of his pale and tear¨Cstreaked child, stepped forward to take Summer in his arms. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± he asked gently. Summer clung to Rhett, resting his head on Rhett¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± 2/4 07.12 Chapter 145 Rhett darkened his eyes as he turned to Adrienne. ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡± Melissa had thought Rhett was there to rescue Adrienne, but now, it seemed the tables had turned. Things were about to get interesting. Melissa yanked on Adrienne¡¯s hair, her patience snapping like the ss she shattered on the floor. Picking up a sharp shard, she pressed it against Adrienne¡¯s cheek. ¡°How about I leave you with a little mark on your pretty face? Maybe that¡¯ll help you remember your lesson.¡± ¡°Help! This chick¡¯s gone nuts! Let go of me!¡± Adrienne was terrified, struggling against Melissa¡¯s iron grip, but it was no use. In a fit of desperation, Adrienne cried out for Kristin. ¡°Kristin! Who is this psycho and why won¡¯t you call her off? I swear, if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make you pay!¡± Kristin stood rooted to the spot, her knuckles white as she clenched her hands, and her eyes brimming with unshed tears. Years ago, Adrienne and her cronies had cornered Kristin in an alley, ignoring her tears and pleas for mercy. Melissa¡¯s intimidation was child¡¯s y inparison. ¡°Kristin! Oh, do you think you¡¯re all that now, huh? Get yourself a pitbull for protection! Just your wait¡­¡± Adrienne dissolved her threats into sobs, her bravado only targeting the perceived weak. Melissa smirked at the outburst. ¡°Still got the energy to yell, I see.¡± She let the ss graze Adrienne¡¯s forehead, eerily mirroring the injury that Summer had suffered. Adrienne¡¯s cries turned into hysterical screams. ¡°Kristin, you¡¯re going to regret this¡­¡± Kristin ducked behind Rhett and her silence spoke volumes. Oddly enough, she felt a twinge of satisfaction seeing Adrienne so humbled¡­ yet the urge to cry lingered. Satisfied with the mark she¡¯d left on Adrienne, Melissa nodded approvingly. ¡°Connor, tend to her wound. I¡¯ll cover the costs.¡± Dismissively, she shoved the whimpering girl away and turned her scrutiny back to Kristin. ¡°So are you Summer¡¯s mom?¡± Kristin nodded nervously. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Rhett, what¡¯s the deal with you two?¡± Melissa asked with a knowing smile. She had known Rhett since kindergarten and could tell that whatever was between him and Kristin was far from ordinary. Women¡¯s intuition never failed. Rhett was notoriously detached, capable of staring down death with a stoic gaze. And yet, here he was, protectively circling Kristin, even going so far as to hold Summer. His germaphobia was legendary. ¡°A blind connection,¡± Rhett quipped darkly. 07:12 Chapter 145 Melissa chuckled, her curiosity about Kristin peaking. Melissa had once wondered what sort of woman could capture a man like Rhett. Life was full of surprises. ¡°Rhett, never thought I¡¯d see the day,¡± Melissa mused, perching herself on the edge of the hospital bed. Rhett raised an eyebrow, reminding her. ¡°Adrienne is engaged to James and they¡¯re gearing up for an official engagement party. You¡¯ve messed up her pretty face. Watch out for Jamesing after you.¡± Melissaughed it off. ¡°James? He should probably get his eyes checked first.¡± ¡°Rhett.¡± The Haywood family had arrived outside the door. Here came Adrienne¡¯s parents, along with Hertha and Hob. ¡°Mom! Dad! Hob!¡± Adrienne cried out, crawling pathetically towards them.. Rhett narrowed his eyes. The Haywood family weren¡¯t fools, bringing in Hob to try and leverage him. With a stern face, Hob caught Rhett¡¯s eye. ¡°Rhett, we need to talk. Outside.¡± Chapter 146 Chapter 146 ¡°Come on, kiddo, greet your grandpa,¡± Rhett tousled Summer¡¯s hair, his voice a deep rumble. The silence in the treatment room was palpable. Everyone was taken aback. Rhett¡¯s gesture was more than a im of authority, which was a deration to the Haywood family about where Summer stood in his heart. Particrly to Hob, he was acutely aware of the actual ¡®marriage¡® between Kristin and Rhett. Hob darkened his face further as he spoke with a chilling tone, ¡°Outside, now!¡± ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Summer¡¯s timid call was met only with a frosty re from Hob. Feeling slighted, Summer turned and buried his face in Rhett¡¯s shoulder, whispering, ¡°Mr. Rhett¡­ Grandpa doesn¡¯t seem to like me.¡± ¡°Just call me Dad,¡± Rhett said again. Stunned, Summer looked up into Rhett¡¯s eyes, searching for confirmation. ¡°Could I really call this man Dad?¡± he thought. After a long and intense gaze, Summer hugged Rhett tightly and called out with a shy voice, ¡°Daddy¡­¡± His joy was unmistakable. Summer liked Rhett. Rhett felt a lump in his throat, his grip tightening around Summer involuntarily. He was surprised by how much he hade to care for this child. Hertha¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she confronted Rhett. ¡°Do you have to humiliate me like this?¡± Adopting a wild child as his son and letting that unknown kid call him dad in front of the Haywood family was an immense disgrace to Hertha. ¡°Humiliate? Where is thising from?¡± Rhett asked calmly. ¡°Rhett, the FitzGerald family has already agreed to a merger with the Haywood family. Here your are, in front of Hertha, having some random kid call you dad. What are you ying at?¡± Richter pressed, clearly struggling to maintain hisposure. ¡°Hob, what is Rhett¡¯s intention here?¡± Hob was also a mask of barely concealed anger, signaling a warning to Rhett that he better know his ce. ¡°Dad¡­¡± Adrienne was still on the ground, beingforted by a crying Abigail. ¡°Richter, look at our daughter and look at how they are bullying her. It¡¯s outrageous! There¡¯s no way the Haywood family is going to let Kristin get away with this!¡± Abigail cried out. ¡°Kristin, 1/4 07:13 Chapter 146 you¡¯ve gone too far.¡± Kristin kept her head down and her hands clenched tightly. ¡°What does this have to do with Kristin? Adrienne was my doing.¡± Melissa greeted Hob with a nod. ¡°Mr. FitzGerald, long time no see.¡± Only then did Hob notice the Lawrence family was present. ¡°Melissa? It has been a while.¡± Hob acknowledged with a nod. He had to show some respect to the Lawrence family, after all, Melissa now had full control over the Lawrence family¡¯s international business. ¡°To not discipline your child is your failing as parents. Adriennecks manners. If you don¡¯t teach her at home, then someone else has to do it in public. Don¡¯t thank me too much. I did my best, but some are just beyond help,¡± Melissa dered with a proud face. Richter and Abigail turned stormy. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Melissa Lawrence.¡± Hob whispered an introduction. ¡°The Lawrence family?¡± The Haywood family grew even darker. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too much for my daughter?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Adrienne what she did first?¡± Melissa replied, shocked. ¡°I was thinking on my way over, maybe the Haywood family only had one uneducated member, but it seems like the whole lot of you are cut from the same cloth. Adrienne and her bodyguards trashed my boyfriend¡¯s ce and even hurt my kid. We haven¡¯t even settled that score yet. Garner looked up sharply. Melissa could lie with such ease. Since when had he be her boyfriend? Kristin was also shocked by Melissa¡¯s words, then nced at her brother blossoming? Kristin felt a surge of excitement, her eyes rimming with tears. Was he finally Over the years, due to her and Ruby, Garner had faced controversy, enduring as much nder and defamation as she had. This is from N?velDrama.Org. Kristin felt for Garner, hoping that a woman who loved him would be willing to apany him for the rest of his life. ¡°It hurts, really,¡± Adrienne cried out in pain. ¡°Dad, I don¡¯t care who she is. You have to teach her a lesson today.¡± Richter was stern as he grunted. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re all ganging up on my daughter.¡± Melissa rolled her eyes. It was a ssic case of the pot calling the kettle ck. ¡°Talking sense to the senseless is like teaching a mute how to speak,¡± Melissa mused as she stepped forward and kicked Adrienne right in front of Abigail. ¡°Come on then, I¡¯m waiting for 2/4 07:13 you to teach me a lesson. Today I want to see what the Haywood family can do to me.¡± After that Melissa dragged a chair over and sat beside Adrienne. ¡°Hurry up, I¡¯ve got ces to be Adrienne was terrified and cried as she hid behind Abigail ¡°My goodness, what kind of upbringing is this to raise such a bandit? Who would dare marry you? You¡¯re nothing but a bad seed. Abigail said shaking with anger as she held Adrienne close. ¡°Whoa? But I¡¯m a tough cookie, you know? Cross me, and you¡¯re toast. Melissa said with her usual brazen ease. All the while, those words were the same ones that had been slung at her online and the spiteful gossip that swirled through Silvergrove City. Yet she could f¨¹p them around and wield them like a weacon with such breezy confidence. Kristin looked on with envy, knowing deep down that she¡¯d never be able to pull that off and live with that fearless ir. ¡°Absolutely outrageous!¡± Abigail fumed, clutching Adrienne as they stepped aside. ¡°Doctor! Tend to my daughter¡¯s wounds immediately and call the cops if you must.¡± ¡®I¡¯ll be calling them too.¡± Connor said coolly, medical kit in hand as he approached Adrienne. ¡°Adrienne¡¯s bodyguard is guilty of uwful detention, causing a public disturbance, interfering with medical treatment, harming a child, and vandalizing property. Isn¡¯t she still on probation?¡± Threats aside. he was a doctor first and foremost,mitted to his duty. ¡°Mom! I don¡¯t want him treating me. He¡¯s in cahoots with them.¡± Adrienne cried out in panic, her voice reaching a fever pitch. Connor shrugged. ¡°If she¡¯s not cooperating, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Abigail turned ashen. Adrienne couldn¡¯t afford to stir up more trouble. ¡°Why the hell did you leave the house to make this mess?¡± Abigail hissed at Adrienne, well aware that the Lawrence family was not one to be trifled with. But Adrienne, spoiled as she was, wailed for her mother to take her side. ¡®Rhett¡­¡± Hertha¡¯s voice broke as she looked at him, eyes welling with tears. ¡°Adrienne is my sister, and I apologize for whatever she¡¯s done wrong. I¡¯m also fond of Summer. It hurts to see him like this. But please don¡¯t use this incident to punish me. It¡¯s not fair. We¡¯re about to get engaged and you promised to take care of me. You know I can¡¯t handle this¡­¡± Hertha was known to everyone as someone battling severe depression. Rhett pushing her like this was something she couldn¡¯t bear. Clearly, Hertha was much smarter than Adrienne. Her words might not have seemed forceful, but they sent a chilling message to everyone that if they pushed Hertha over the edge, she might just end it all and they were all to me. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 ¡°Jeez, the Haywood family¡¯s daughters are Interesting. A hypocritical delicate beauty, huh?¡± Melissa sneered. Garner took a deep breath and walked over, pressing a hand over Melissa¡¯s mouth. ¡°Zip it. Let¡¯s not stir the pot, okay?¡± Melissa batted her eyshes at Garner flirtatiously. ¡°Darling, are you worried about me?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Garner felt a tingling sensation in his palm. Melissa was clearly baiting him. He jerked his hand away and stood behind Melissa with a stern expression. ¡°Boss, keep it professional, will you?¡± ¡°Not a chance.¡± Melissa leaned back against Garner, letting her full weight rest on him. At this point, if Garner stepped back, she would tumble to the ground. But she dared to practically lie in his arms. Garner, fighting the urge to react, stood straight and helpless. Melissa tilted her head back and continued to tease Garner, acting as if she wasn¡¯t the one who had caused a scene with Adrienne, just an innocent bystander watching a y. ¡°Rhett,¡± Richter scolded in a deep voice, taking the stance of an elder. ¡°You know Hertha¡¯s condition better than anyone. Whatever happened between you two, I need not remind you. Now that your father has agreed to the marriage between our families, you better weigh priorities.¡± It was clear he was confident that Rhett would marry Hertha. ¡°Hob¡¯s agreement has nothing to do with me,¡± Rhett murmured softly as he patted Summer¡¯s back tofort him. ¡°He¡¯s tired. As an elder, you should know to keep your voice down. It¡¯s a matter of manners.¡± ¡°You!¡± Richter was visibly upset. ¡°Hob, look at your son!¡± Hob was ashen, but he was somewhat at fault due to the incident with Nic at Harborside Haven and couldn¡¯t be too assertive. ¡°Rhett, step outside. Now.¡± Rhett showed no intention of heeding Hob. ¡°Do you think what Adrienne did was right?¡± Hob darkened his face further at being questioned. ¡®Didn¡¯t Richter tell you that you¡¯ve halted all dealings with the Haywood family? What do you mean? For an outsider¡­¡± Hob couldn¡¯t keep up his facade as Rhett refused to leave. ¡°Outsider? Who¡¯s the outsider? Shouldn¡¯t you be very clear on that? Or are you saying that when you need my help for Vincent, I¡¯m family, but now that Vincent is out, I¡¯m an outsider?¡± Rhett reminded Hob that Kristin was a member of the FitzGerald family, something he 07:13 knew very well. Hadn¡¯t Hob asked him to agree to marry Kristin to drop the charges? ¡°Rhett!¡± Hob, losing control, gestured for him to stop talking nonsense. ¡°Both sides are at fault here, Adrienne has been hurt and has paid a price. Call our partners immediately and sort out the company affairs! For some illegitimate child, you¡¯re trying to make me angry.¡± Hob believed he understood Rhett. The stir he caused upon returning from Harborside Haven wasn¡¯t for Kristin or the child. It was clear Rhett was opposing Hob over Nic to make Hob suffer. But now, with his guilt, Hob could only seethe with barely suppressed rage. ¡°Impossible,¡± Rhett stated firmly. ¡°Rhett, you¡¯re being unreasonable. Are you trying to destroy our family?¡± Abigail looked at Rhett in shock. ¡°Rhett, Richter and I have always had high hopes for you. You and Hertha are well¨Csuited. We are family. What are you doing?¡± ¡°Let Adrienne publicly apologize, confess her sins, and acknowledge all the harm she¡¯s done to Kristin in front of the media. Whether it¡¯s bullying, nder, or assault, she muste clean. apologize sincerely, and promise never to harm Kristin or her family again. Let Adrienne leave Silvergrove City and never appear before me again. I might consider letting this go,¡± Rhett said, holding the sleeping Summer, his voice not loud but filled with a deterrent force. Kristin hid behind Rhett and looked up at him, her eyes reddening. She turned away, unable to hold his gaze. Even if the Haywood family disagreed, Rhett¡¯s willingness was enough to make her grateful. She had once begged James to acknowledge Adrienne¡¯s misdeeds and call off their engagement, but he refused¡­ Yet Rhett was willing to force a public apology from the Haywood family. ¡°Rhett, your demands are too much. The Haywood family is a respected lineage in Silvergrove City. How can you expect them to show their faces?¡® Hob rubbed his temples. Rhett was being too hard on the Haywood family. People in their circle valued their reputation, both the FitzGerald family and the Haywood family alike. Forcing Adrienne to publicly admit her wrongdoings was more insulting than a p in the face. ¡°You¡¯re out of line¡­¡± Richter trembled with anger. ¡°Our family isn¡¯t just allied with the FitzGerald family. We¡¯re also connected to the Bryce family of Crescendo Town. Adrienne¡¯s issues areplicated. We¡¯re at fault this time, and I¡¯ll have her apologize. But Rhett, let¡¯s not be too stubborn. Let¡¯s both take a step back. Right, Kristin?¡± Richter turned the focus to Kristin, challenging her. 07:13 Chapter 147 ¡°Not at all¡­¡± Kristin fell silent for a long while, her voice hoarse as she began to speak. ¡°Every vile thing Adrienne has done is because you all enabled her¡­¡± Richter darkened his face with anger. Kristin was getting all bold now. ¡°Kristin, a smart woman knows when to go with the flow. When your rock crumbles, no one can protect you forever,¡± Richter warned her, implying that the day mighte when Rhett wouldn¡¯t stand by her side. Kristin straightened up, her voice raspy as she spoke again. ¡°This has nothing to do with anyone else. Even if you break my backbone, I will never forgive Adrienne in this lifetime. Your know best what she and the Haywood family have done to me.¡± Back in Crescendo Town, it was Abigail who had Vincent take her to the outskirts warehouse. She had nearly lost her life there. Richter snorted. ¡°Rhett, this isn¡¯t much of your concern. Don¡¯t make a spectacle of both our families.¡± ¡°This is the best I can offer. If Adrienne won¡¯t publicly apologize, admit her wrongdoings, and leave Silvergrove City, then I¡¯ll expose all her misdeeds myself. I¡¯ll call a press conference and express my dissatisfaction with the Haywood family¡¯s upbringing because of Adrienne, which will also reflect poorly on Hertha, won¡¯t it?¡± Rhett had been looking for a reason to rify his rtionship with Hertha. Using Adrienne¡¯s scandal as an excuse didn¡¯t seem like a bad idea. Hertha reddened her eyes, herplexion pale. Rhett was using Adrienne¡¯s mess as a way to distance himself from her. She had deliberately provoked Adrienne to confront Garner and Summer, thinking that withi James in the picture, nothing too serious would go awry¡­ But she hadn¡¯t expected Rhett to be so ruthless. For Kristin and that child, he could go to such lengths. ¡°Rhett, what are you doing¡­?¡± Abigail was terrified. Once Rhett spoke out, the Haywood family would be ruined! Who would dare to marry such a woman after this? If this blew up, it wouldn¡¯t look good for Carter either. If the Bryce family also called off the engagement¡­ ¡°Richter, what do we do? Convince Hob to talk some sense into Rhett!¡± Abigail was close to tears. Her two precious daughters were at stake. ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Richter scoffed, clearly holding a trump card. ¡°James is still in Silvergrove City. He¡¯ll be here soon. He¡¯s Adrienne¡¯s fianc¨¦ and has to deal with this family matter!¡± This is from N?velDrama.Org. Even if the FitzGerald family didn¡¯t respect the Haywood family, they had to give a face to the 02:13 Chapter 14/ Bryce family. If Aurora Tech severed ties with the FitzGerald Group, the loss would be more than Rhett could afford at this stage. Everyone knows Rhett¡¯s position is precarious. Would he risk it all for Kristin and that child? No one was a fool here. They just need to give each other a way out. At the mention of James, Kristin shot up her head in rm, looking at Rhett. She didn¡¯t want Rhett and James at odds, which would be detrimental to Rhett¡¯s standing in the