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?
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Kristin snuck a glance 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, glancing 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 nonchalantly, 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 her companion 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.
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Chapter 131
Six years on, Rhett had come seeking her out, questioning who had been with him in that hotel.
room.
Naturally, she claimed 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 explained 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 could come
later.
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 you completed all your courses by sophomore year and planned 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 to complete 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.”
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.
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Chapter 131
Honestly, I really do like you.”
Kristin stayed quiet, not responding.
Eddie, holding his glass, 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 glass, his gaze fixed on Hertha. “Ms. Haywood should brush up on her legal knowledge. There seems to be a deficit in common 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 glass 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–hand, not judged on hearsay.”
Kristin glanced 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 collaboration 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 impeccable. 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
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this meeting, but as it turned out, Kristin had stolen the spotlight.
No matter, Rhett had downed quite a few glasses 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 headache coming on. He had sensed something was off.
Was the wine spiked?
“Kris, Rhett’s a bit of a lightweight when it comes 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 discomfort, Kristin nodded and hurried off to the pharmacy.
But after purchasing the medicine and stepping outside, she found Rhett’s car was already
gone.
