Chapter 151
Kristin hastily clamped her hand over Summer’s mouth, whispering an apology. “Mr. FitzGerald… I’m sorry, he’s just a child…”
Summer was just too eager for a complete family.
“Yes.” Rhett’s response was resolute.
That answer stunned James.
His anger grew and he glared at Rhett. “Mr. FitzGerald, you’re lying even to a kid.”
“There’s no need to explain myself to you.” Rhett opened the car door, gesturing for Kristin to get in with Summer in her arms.
Kristin, too, was taken aback by Rhett’s affirmation.
He said yes… Don’t overthink it. They were technically a married couple already.
So Rhett wasn’t lying. He was indeed legally wed to her.
Summer burned his gaze into Rhett, his eyes brimming with emotion. “Daddy, are you gonna marry Mommy, right? Are you gonna protect her?”
“Yep.” Rhett nodded, ruffling Summer’s hair.
Clutching Kristin, Summer’s voice broke with sobs. “Mommy, Rhett said he’s gonna marry
you…”
Kristin went numb with shock as she comfortingly patted Summer and settled into the car, closing the door behind them.
The adult world is complicated indeed. Some things aren’t as simple as children think.
Being married doesn’t necessarily mean a family…
“Rhett, what game are you playing? You don’t love Kristin. What are you competing with me for?” James‘ voice was low and agitated.
“Who says I don’t love her?” Shutting the car door, Rhett calmly faced James. “I’ve known Kristin for a while. Although we’ve only recently started to get to know each other, she deserves to be cherished, not shunned like you’re doing, unwilling to take responsibility.”
James clenched his teeth.
“Rhett, we’re both men here, no need to play these games with me.” James massaged his forehead. “Your crises aren’t even sorted out yet, and here you are meddling in my business. Do you think Kristin’s safe with you and you can protect Summer?”
“Let’s wait and see.” Rhett was firm.
“Rhett, if anything happens to Summer while he’s with you, I’ll take him away the first chance!
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get, James warned him,
“The FitzGerald family’s issues are tricky, but for now… If the Haywood family isn’t willing to publicly acknowledge Adrienne’s crimes against Kristin, and if they don’t send her away from Silvergrove City, I won’t let things slide. If the Haywood family’s reputation suffers, the Bryce family will inevitably be implicated. If I were you, I’d know how to mitigate risks and personal losses. Rhett spoke calmly, then got into the car.
The driver pulled away, leaving James alone at the hospital entrance.
Cursing under his breath, James rubbed his temples.
Rhett was a madman and just might pull it off.
Once Adrienne’s reputation was ruined, he’d have to call a press conference immediately to break off the engagement and avoid risks.
Rhett, a cunning fox, was dragging the Bryce family down with him!
Rhett had always been ruthless, but why was he so fixated on the Haywood family this time?
Did Hertha provoke Rhett one too many times, or is it because Nicola and Abigail got too close? “Mr. Bryce…” Bill approached.
“Take Adrienne and Hertha back. Tell Hertha I want to see her alone tomorrow morning.”
James needed to know what had transpired between Rhett and Hertha.
He didn’t believe Rhett would marry Kristin, nor did he believe Rhett had feelings for her.
It was probably just possessiveness.
In the car.
Summer reached out for Rhett to hold him.
Rhett complied, holding Summer as they both looked out the window.
“Daddy, can we pinky promise?” Summer, clever as he was, wanted Rhett to make a pinky promise, afraid he’d back out later.
What if Rhett refused to marry Kristin later?
Kristin tensed, tugging at Summer’s hand. “Summer… don’t.”
She feared Rhett might find Summer too precocious, thinking she wanted to cling to the FitzGerald family.
But Rhett saw things differently, his heart aching for the child.
Such a deep lack of security and a longing for a father’s love made her so cautious.
“Pinky promise.” Rhett lifted his hand, locking his pinky with Summer’s tiny one.
Chapter 151
Tears welled up in Summer’s eyes as he choked out, “Pinky promise, no changes…”
Rhett gently patted Summer’s back, offering silent comfort.
Kristin’s eyes grew misty too, as she turned to look out the other window.
She knew what her son wanted.
When Rhett no longer needed her, she’d probably go on dates, looking for someone willing to accept her and Summer, to marry and live out the rest of her life.
She needed to give Summer a home.
Once home, Summer had fallen asleep. Rhett placed him gently on the guest room bed, tiptoeing out.
It’s clear he loved Summer, but that didn’t excuse Kristin’s greed.
“There’s no child’s room here. Tomorrow, I’ll have someone redo the ground floor master bedroom into a child’s room,” Rhett whispered.
“But…” Kristin bit her lip in apprehension.
“If Summer wants a complete family, shouldn’t his parents sleep together?” Rhett skillfully played on Kristin’s vulnerability.
Kristin’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Mr. FitzGerald… I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you. Please don’t hold it against Summer. He’s grown up without a father, and I’ve been behind bars all this time. So he’s had to mature quicker than other kids his age.”
Rhett spoke softly. “He’s a lot like me.”
Kristin paused, looking down without a word.
“Vincent is only three years younger than me,” Rhett’s voice was deep, carrying a hint of
sorrow.
Vincent was the illegitimate child of the FitzGerald family.
That meant when Rhett was just three years old, Holcomb had Vincent with Nicola, away from home.
His childhood, too, was devoid of a father’s love. His family was also far from complete.
Therefore, Rhett could empathize with Summer more than anyone else, understanding his feelings.
“I’m sorry…” Kristin didn’t want to dredge up painful memories for Rhett and quickly ducked into the kitchen to serve up the spaghetti.
Rhett looked at the steaming plate and smiled.
It turned out that the simplest joys were the most heartwarming.
He regretted only one thing that he didn’t meet Kristin sooner.
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Chapter 151
“If only I had been born three years later, Rhett murmured.
“Hm?” Kristin, busy serving Rhett, didn’t grasp the meaning of his words.
“That way, you, me and Vincent might have all met in the same school.” Rhett was confident that between him and Vincent, Kristin would have chosen him first.
But the world was devoid of so many ‘what–ifs.”
If he had been there when Kristin bloomed, no one would have trampled over his rose.
Kristin tightened her grip on her fork. It took her a long while before she looked up at Rhett. “Mr. FitzGerald, the spaghetti will get mushy if we don’t eat it now…”
If only it had been Rhett Instead of Vincent who had appeared in her life back then, how wonderful that would have been.
No… that was not right.
In that scenario, no one would have believed her.
She and Rhett had met too late.
She wasn’t worthy of him now.
Why harbor such hopes?
And Rhett shouldn’t give her any hope either.
“Kristin,” Rhett said, a decision firm in his voice, “I want to officially adopt Summer. To publicly declare his identity as my foster son and legally inherit everything I have.”
The fork in Kristin’s hand clattered to the floor.
