Chapter 66
Kristin was shaking like a leaf.
Demands? What kind of demands was she supposed to make?
“Just go to sleep.” James let go of Kristin, his voice hoarse.
Scared out of her wits, Kristin dashed back to her room and slammed the door shut.
Leaning against the corner, she slid down onto the floor. Biting her fingers fiercely, she was losing control, her hands numb and not listening to her.
What could she do? She just couldn’t shake off that night’s ordeal. It felt like she would never escape that shadow and that hell.
Those people wrecked her…
Grasping her hair, Kristin became more rapid in her breath.
Over the years, she’s been filled with hate, rage, and had lost control.
Why? Why did this happen to her? What did she do wrong?
What rights did she have when everything seemed to be a backlash against her?
She was crazed with thoughts of revenge, wanting to drag them down to hell with her.
But then there’s this thing called conscience… Why did it have to stick to her?
Why should she be condemned? Why should she be the one to suffer, denying herself over and over? Why should she think it’s all her fault because she had no right to enjoy the life that could have been Ruby’s for twenty years? It was all on her.
She was asking for it!
Why should she bend over backwards for her child and for everyone, doing things she didn’t want to do?
Why did it have to be so exhausting?
She longed for release. During her sickness even breathing felt like a ton of bricks, she was gasping for air, feeling choked, desperately trying to save herself.
Her soul was struggling and she didn’t want to die, but her body kept mechanically simulating countless ways to end it all.
What was she supposed to do? Who could save her?
Curling up, Kristin clutched her hair tightly.
No one could save her, everyone would rather stomp on her while she was down.
In the darkness, no light would appear. Nor would someone genuinely reach out to help her.
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11:24
Chapter 66
Her phone rang. It was Garner.
Kristin’s fingers stiffly slid across the screen, but she couldn’t answer the call. Her fingers were numb as if they had been frozen stiff for ages.
Tears dropped onto the screen, making the phone even more sluggish.
Kristin, on the verge of breaking down, wiped the phone on herself and slowly answered. “Garner…”
Choking back her meltdown, Kristin’s voice was rough. She couldn’t let Garner worry.
“Kris, you asleep?” Garner whispered.
“No.”
“The hospital called today and they said Summer’s condition isn’t serious. After monitoring for a while, they can do a minor surgery when he’s a bit older. We’ve still got time to save up some money. Don’t put yourself down out there.”
Garner wanted to tell Kristin to come back and stop doing things that made her unhappy.
He could guess why the hospital was suddenly so attentive, with even the director personally calling him. It must be because Kristin found Summer’s biological father, and the guy must be someone with power and status.
“Garner..” Kristin took a deep breath, forcing a smile. “It’s okay. I can’t come back for now. I’ll still send you my wages every month.”
“Kris.” Garner fell silent, then spoke again. “Who is it?” He wanted to know who Summer’s father was.
*James…” Kristin looked up, fighting back tears.
Garner fell silent again.
Garner recollected James, a bigwig who was on the same level as Rhett.
James was at the trial five years ago.
“We can’t compete in the games rich folks play, Kris. I can take care of your guys now. I’m working as a bodyguard for the Lawrence family and making thirty grand a month. She pays. well and I can support the two of you.” Garner wanted Kristin to come back.
Being with James, what good could come of it? It was nothing more than selling oneself.
“Garner, I can’t come back just yet. Harriet needs help with something. Just take care of Summer and yourself…” Kristin bit her finger hard.
If she chose to go back now, the issue wouldn’t be about money. It would be a question of whether the Turner and FitzGerald families would let her off the hook.
As long as the Turner family and Vincent didn’t touch Summer, she could hide out for a while.
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A
Chapter 66
* Is James good to you?” Garner had guessed that Kristin was with James.
“He… He’s pretty good to me.” Kristin thought for a moment before continuing. “Really good. You know… as long as you play by his rules, he’s quite generous.”
She still remembered how James had pursued her with money, throwing millions at jewelry. ready to buy anything at the drop of a hat.
But after twenty years living in the rich family as the heiress of the Turner family, at least materially, she wasn’t someone whose values could be easily twisted by money.
Kristin could also understand why Clarence was so determined to destroy her and take away everything she had.
Because Clarence knew that all the shine on her came from the Turner family, so he believed that the Turner family had every right to take it all back.
“If you feel wronged, come back.” Garner felt powerless to protect his sister, unsure of what he could do.
“Okay…” Kristin was a bit tense. “Summer… Is Summer asleep?”
Garner walked into the room and called out to Summer. “It’s Mom on the phone.”
“Mommy! I miss you so much.” Summer rushed over excitedly, telling Kristin, “Mommy, Mr. York bought me lots of toys and snacks. It’s Dad who told him to do so. I didn’t really want those gifts, but since Dad bought them, I wanted to keep them…
Summer was seeking Kristin’s approval
Kristin could tell that Summer really liked Rhett.
“Rhett sent York to check on you?” Kristin choked her voice, quietly asking with a mix of tears and tenderness. “It must be because you’re so adorable.”
Summer beamed, “Mommy, I like Daddy too. When are you coming back? I miss you so much. Dad says he’s gone to Crescendo Town too. Are you guys hanging out together?”
Kristin was curled up in a corner, crying so hard her whole body was shaking.
Biting her finger hard, Kristin struggled to speak. “Um… I’m with him now.”
Somehow, she had just lied to her kid.
Summer was filled with too much excitement.
“Mom, I miss Dad too.” Summer got a bit worked up. “Can I talk to Dad?”
“Summer…” Kristin took a long time to reply. “Rhett isn’t your dad, but… I’m with your real dad right now.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a moment, Summer spoke. “Is Dad cool? Can he protect you, Mom?”
hapter 66
Kristin took a deep breath. “Yes…”
“So, can I meet Dad?” Summer sounded hopeful.
Kristin froze for a second, feeling a tightness in her chest instinctively.
Summer wanted to meet James, but what about James? Did he want to meet Summer?
“Mom… could you ask Dad what he thinks?” There was a sense of loss in Summer’s voice.
It took a while before Summer spoke in his childlike voice. “Mom, it’s okay if Dad doesn’t want to meet me. I’m happy with just you, and Uncle Garner can protect us.”
Kristin held the phone in silence for a very long time.
After getting Summer to sleep, Kristin hung up and mustered the courage to open the door to see if James was asleep yet.
James was still sitting in the living room, clearly not planning on sleeping.
“Aren’t you… going to bed?” Kristin asked from behind the grill.
“Come here.” James, seeing that Kristin was still up, spoke in a low voice.
Kristin walked over and poured him a glass of warm water.
“Something on your mind?” James could tell Kristin was holding back.
“Can I make a request?” Kristin looked at James cautiously.
James sat up straight. “You can.”
Kristin could make any request she wanted.
“Could… could we see Summer?” Kristin looked at James nervously, quickly waving her hands. “I’m not trying to make you recognize Summer or anything. It’s just… he wants to see his dad…”
Chapter 6/
