Chapter 41
Kristin clammed up, playing possum by closing her eyes. She was scared of being seen through.
Rhett’s gaze was like the blazing sun, seemingly able to expose her completely, leaving no place to hide.
York glanced 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–cat 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 eyelashes 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 the company.
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–wrenchingly adorable.
At five years old, Summer had already been through too much.
Summer’s eyes shone, and he nodded. “Got it memorized.”
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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 a laugh.
Rhett looked at Summer. “If you’re ever in danger, call me.”
“Dad, are you really a Superman? Will you come 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.”
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 ever come 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 explaining 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 accepted 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–inflammatory 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 was completely deaf.
“Can you hear clearly with your right ear?” The doctor asked on Kristin’s right side.
Kristin nodded.
The doctor glanced at Rhett. “She can be discharged after the IV.”
“Thank–you,” 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.
