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, glanced 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 be coming to take you away soon. But don’t be scared, I’ve got your back,” Rhett reassured her.
With a nervous nod, Kristin acknowledged his comfort.
They had to play out their drama to the hilt, stirring up rumors throughout the company 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.
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“Ms. Turner, your negligence at work is a grave matter, Please come 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 played. How else could she have accidentally given you peanut brittle?” York sighed, regretting that Rhett had overestimated Kristin. She had barely arrived at the company before becoming 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 plan 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 become
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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 newcomer, 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 accusations, she couldn’t articulate a single explanation.
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 Clarence had conspired to send her to prison on charges of extortion, she had endured a similar grilling by the police.
Holcomb broke the tension as he entered the room with solemnness.
“Mr. Holcomb, there’s no doubt Kristin did this intentionally. Rhett’s peanut allergy is well–known 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 Holcomb, intent on framing Kristin.
“Kris, I heard you went to prison because of an extortion accusation 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 glance, then lowered her head in irony.
She had hit Kristin’s sore spot with precision, effectively handing the PR team the rationale they needed.
“Mr. Holcomb, what do you think… Maybe we should just call the police,” the PR staff suggested, believing Kristin’s motive was revenge.
“Everyone out,” Holcomb commanded, wanting to speak with Kristin alone.
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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,” Holcomb’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 Holcomb’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. Holcomb had to be aware of the cozy deal between Lisa and Nicola, even if he turned a blind
eye.
“Do you really expect me to buy that story?” Holcomb scoffed.
“Mr. Holcomb, Rhett is your son too. He’s human with feelings and he hurts.” Kristin carried a mix of anger and pity for Rhett.
Holcomb’s favoritism was glaring, which wasn’t fair.
If there was a wicked stepmother, a heartless stepfather was inevitable.
Holcomb 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 the lawyers 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 the company,” Holcomb 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 blazed with a fierce resolve.
Holcomb 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 play.
