Chapter 148
“James!”
Outside, James walked in with his assistant, barely stepping through the door before Adrienne. disheveled and frantic, crashed into him.
Frowning, James instinctively sidestepped Adrienne.
“James, they’re bullying me.” Adrienne cried, clinging to James‘ arm. “She hit me, even though she knows I’m your fiancée.”
Adrienne pointed accusingly at Melissa, who was leaning against Garner for support.
Melissa straightened up and flashed James a wry smile. “Are you calling in your boyfriend because you can’t handle a fight?”
James didn’t look at Melissa. His gaze settled on Kristin instead.
Shaking off Adrienne’s grip, he strode forward. “What are you doing at the hospital?”
Kristin looked down, silent.
Grabbing her wrist, James checked her over to make sure she wasn’t hurt and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Adrienne had gone back to Silvergrove City, and James thought Kristin would be spending the evening at Harborside Haven, so he had let his guard down.
Given Adrienne’s nature, it was clear she would have lashed out at Kristin.
“Did she hurt you?” James asked, his voice a low rumble, as Kristin remained silent.
“It’s Summer… they hurt Summer.” Kristin instinctively moved behind Rhett, seeking refuge.
Rhett was dark with fury as he glared at James.
To Rhett, Vincent was a fool not worth considering, but James was different.
He had to tread carefully around James.
James, a formidable opponent in business, had already gained the upper hand with Kristin. The fact that Summer was related to him by blood made Rhett jealous of the murderous rage.
It was then that James realized Rhett was holding Summer.
“Summer.” James reached out to take his son.
“My son’s asleep,” Rhett warned him.
James frowned, his expression souring at his childish antics. Was Rhett stooping to fighting over a child?
“James!” Adrienne stamped her foot in frustration, her eyes reddening with anger. “I am your
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flancée.”
Hertha’s gaze was equally dark.
The man they both desired only had eyes for Kristin.
Kristin had to be dealt with, but now was not the time.
Rhett was at odds with Holcomb, holed up in his stubbornness.
She couldn’t afford a head–on clash with Rhett now but had to play along with him and find a way to help him and gain his favor first.
“Adrienne, stop this nonsense. You’re in the wrong here. You bullied Kris in Crescendo Town, and she already showed you mercy. Instead of learning your lesson, you continued to target her. Now you’ve even injured a child.” Hertha said, her eyes welling up as she scolded Adrienne.
“Hertha…” Adrienne didn’t dare provoke Hertha. In the Haywood family, everyone feared Hertha. Because Hertha was known for her threats of suicide.
“James, Rhett has been bewitched by that temptress and insists on making enemies with the Bryce family and Haywood family, even ruining Adrienne’s reputation and dragging the Bryce family’s name through the mud,” Abigail hurriedly approached James, pleading for him to take charge for the Haywood family.
The fortunes of the Haywood family and the Bryce family were intertwined. Even if not for his sake, James had to consider Carter.
“James is here too, Rhett… For James‘ sake, let Adrienne apologize to Kris and make a public apology statement. What do you think?” Hertha stepped forward, her voice choked with
emotion.
“An apology statement? What I want is for her to admit all her wrongdoings and then get out of Silvergrove City,” Rhett’s stance was unyielding.
He needed Adrienne out of Silvergrove City and never to appear before him again.
“Rhett, whatever Adrienne’s done, it’s my place to deal with her. Aren’t you overstepping?” James darkened his expression as he faced Rhett.
It was clear that James was ready to confront Rhett head–on.
“Summer is my son. If he can’t be protected properly in Silvergrove City, then I have every right. to take him back to Crescendo Town,” James spoke with gravity, addressing the issue again.
Kristin looked up at James in alarm, her voice hoarse. “Summer is mine. You promised you wouldn’t take him from me.”
“Have you protected him well? All you do is run around with Rhett. Summer needs someone by his side. If you can’t provide that, he should be with me.” James was angry. He was jealous of
Kristin instinctively seeking refuge behind Rhett.
In James‘ eyes, Rhett was no good but an old fox.
Kristin was foolish to choose Rhett over him.
At least his feelings for Kristin were genuine. What did Rhett have?
Nothing but manipulation!
“James, we’ll take good care of Summer. You can’t take him away.” Garner chimed in, equally anxious.
“So this is your idea of care? Landing Summer in the hospital?” James shot back, his brow furrowed in disapproval.
Melissa squinted her eyes, sensing the complicated relationships at play.
Was Summer a baby for Kristin and James? Well, that was impressive.
Kristin could put two big shots from the domestic business arena against each other…
Her skills must go beyond just a pretty face, right?
“Connor, I’m putting down cash for you to go get Mr. Bryce an appointment with an ophthalmologist,” Melissa tugged at Connor, who was enjoying the drama, to get him moving.
“That’s not my department. I’m on call for the ER today.” Connor replied nonchalantly. “Besides, doctors are off now. You’ll have to book an appointment for tomorrow.”
James turned around with a dark look and glanced at Melissa.
He knew her and had seen her at a corporate gala for the Martin Group a few years back.
Melissa was legendary and clearly not one to be trifled with.
“James, your girlfriend hurt my boyfriend and my child, yet instead of reprimanding her, you’re trying to take the child away. What’s your intention here?” Melissa didn’t coddle James but went straight for the jugular.
She was clearly using the child to tie Kristin down.
“My family matters are none of Mrs. Martin’s concern,” James said pointedly, calling Melissa Mrs. Martin to remind her of her late husband.
“I just want to defend the justice?” Melissa stood up, infuriated by James, ready to argue.
Garner quickly grabbed Melissa. James was someone they couldn’t afford to provoke.
“Kris and Mr. FitzGerald, thanks for taking care of Summer. I’ll take my boss back home now. She’s tired,” Garner said as he dragged Melissa away.
“Why are you pulling me? I’m definitely getting involved in this today, whether you like it or not. What are you gonna do about it?” Melissa rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.
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Garner gasped and hoisted Melissa up, carrying her off.
“James, to think you could fall for a woman like Adrienne, are you blind?” Melissa’s voice echoed down the hallway, still hurling insults.
James massaged his temples and turned back to Kristin. “Take Summer and come home with me.”
“I don’t want to…” Kristin hid fearfully behind Rhett. She didn’t want to go with James.
“Kristin, don’t make me repeat myself,” James said, his patience wearing thin.
“Are you hard of hearing? It seems you need more than an ophthalmologist.” Rhett gently patted Summer, frowning and warning James to lower his voice so as not to frighten the child.
James took a deep breath, his anger subsiding with Summer’s soft cries.
For the sake of his child, he held back.
“Rhett, I’m Summer’s father. Hand him over to me,” James said to Rhett. “I recall you’re quite interested in the mining project of Crescendo Town.”
James turned and flashed a smile at Holcomb. “Carter mentioned that the project shouldn’t be monopolized by the Bryce family alone. He’s quite keen on partnering with the FitzGerald family, but of course, it all depends on your sincerity.”
