Chapter 70
James darkened his face for a moment and furrowed his brows as he stared at Adrienne. thinking, “What was Adrienne doing showing up early in Crescendo Town?”
“James, you gotta help me.” Adrienne sobbed, pleading for his aid.
When he glanced at Kristin, James got the picture to know that Adrienne was here to stir up
trouble with Kristin.
Instinctively stepping in front of Kristin, James quietly asked, “Did she lay a hand on you?”
Kristin kept her head down, not looking up.
James turned icy in a flash, turning back to Adrienne. “Is this how your family teach you?”
Adrienne, shocked, stared at James in disbelief. “James… I’m your fiancée, and you’re accusing me without even asking? She seduced you first, why can’t I hit her!”
Kristin remained silent, not saying a word.
“You better take a hard look at yourself, or nobody’s gonna be able to help you.” James warned Adrienne with a cold look in his eyes, figuring he’d settle scores with her later.
“James! Kristin, tell the cops we were just joking around! Kristin! Don’t wait for me to get out!” Adrienne, red–faced with anger, continued to threaten Kristin.
James grew dark as he let the cops take Adrienne away. He took Kristin’s hand, intending to take her to the hospital.
But Kristin instinctively pulled away, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
James hadn’t denied this relationship with Adrienne, which meant he acknowledged his alliance with the Haywood family. Sooner or later, Adrienne would be his wife in name.
If Kristin kept hanging with James, all the humiliation she suffered today was on her.
James paused, turning back to look at Kristin, who stayed silent.
“Mr. Bryce, take a look at Miss Adrienne’s Twitter,” Bill said, shaking with anger. They had bullied Kristin like this five years ago.
Kristin was the victim… How dare Adrienne post that video?
James gripped his phone so hard the screen shattered.
Idiot! Adrienne was such a fool. If it weren’t for the Haywood family still being of value…
“Mr. Fitzgerald, did you call the cops?” Tossing his phone to Bill, James shot Rhett a look.
Rhett didn’t say a word, just stood there watching Kristin. “Think carefully, whether you wanna go with me or stay with him.”
By making this choice, Kristin was pushing herself to the edge of a cliff.
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At most, Adrienne would spend a few months inside, but once out, she wouldn’t let Kristin off
the hook.
Plus, if Kristin was responsible for getting Adrienne locked up, the Haywood family wouldn’t let Kristin off easy either
By taking this s
today, Kristin was choosing between James and Rhett as her rock.
If not, her survival would be tough..
“Mr. Fitzgerald, I’ll take good care of Kristin,” James said, his brows knitted.
Rhett remained silent, just looking at Kristin, waiting for her choice and decision.
“I’ll take you to the hospital” James said, leading Kristin away.
Kristin was silent for a long time before choosing to follow James.
Rhett furrowed his brow, his expression grim.
“Kristin’s not dumb,” York breathed a sigh of relief and worried Kristin would choose Rhett. If Kristin went with Rhett, she’d be bringing him a world of trouble.
“She knows staying in Crescendo Town is safer than heading back to Silvergrove City.” York said proudly, acknowledging her smarts.
Rhett grew darker, his gaze chilling as he glanced at York. “I think you’d fit in well in Crescendo Town too. How about you go be James‘ assistant?”
York shivered, hurrying after Rhett. “Mr. Fitzgerald, you’re the only one in my heart!”
Rhett ignored York, his mood darkening as he got in the car.
For some reason, he felt a pang of anger, upset that Kristin chose James over him.
Was it because James was Summer’s biological father?
Fingers tapping the armrest, Rhett couldn’t shake the image of Kristin’s pale and bloodless face from his mind.
She said she couldn’t hear in her left ear, and she said she had tried to end her life many times.
Taking a deep breath, Rhett looked at York. “Find out what Kristin went through in prison these past five years.”
“Mr. Fitzgerald… why bother digging into her past? Is it necessary?” York clearly wasn’t thinking straight.
Feeling Rhett’s murderous glare, York silently bowed his head and drove. “Alright, Mr. Fitzgerald.”
Rhett rubbed his temples, seriously considering hiring a new assistant.
On the way to the hospital, Kristin sat in James‘ car, silent as a stone.
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“Does it hurt?” James asked and held an ice pack, personally applying it to Kristin’s cheek.
Kristin tried to dodge, but James deliberately trapped her in his arms, gently cleaning the blood from the corner of her mouth. “Adrienne messed with my love, and I’ll make sure she pays a price.” James was trying to comfort Kristin.
Kristin’s eyes were void of any ripples as she remained silent.
James pinched Kristin’s pale and delicate face, looking at her for a long while. “Kristin… I’ve said it before, you can lay down your terms. How do you want me to handle it?”
Kristin was quiet for a long time, her voice hoarse. “I won’t let this go easily… I want a medical examination.”
James took a deep breath before he realized Kristin was dead serious. She wasn’t about to let Adrienne off the hook easily.
“Alright…” James conceded.
With a weary voice, Kristin spoke again. “She’s your fiancée.”
James didn’t deny it.
“If word gets out about bullying and assault, especially involving a criminal case, it’s gonna look. bad for Aurora Tech and the Bryce family,” Kristin laid it out upfront.
“Are you looking out for me?” James chuckled, feeling inexplicably good.
Kristin didn’t deny it and spoke again, “If I were you, I’d take advantage of the public opinion and call off the engagement with the Haywood family.” Kristin’s voice was hoarse but firm.
If James agreed to break off the engagement now, it would be a devastating blow to the Haywood family and Adrienne.
Kristin was out for revenge.
James could see that Kristin was using him to get back at Adrienne.
Taking a deep breath, James looked at Kristin with a burning gaze. “Kris, I can give you anything.”
Kristin reddened her eyes and her clenched hands slowly relaxed. She laughed bitterly and helplessly.
“But a marriage alliance isn’t as simple as you think. James added. Clearly, he didn’t agree to break off the engagement.
Kristin looked down, smiling faintly. This was her giving James a chance, his last chance.
“If you break off the engagement… cut ties with the Haywood family, I could always be with you.” Even as Kristin said it, she found it laughable. She was such a tainted woman. James would probably get tired of her in no time.
But she didn’t have any other cards to play, except for her body.
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“Kris, you can’t seriously expect me to marry you…” James leaned back in his chair, his voice deep and tired.
Apart from marriage, he could give Kristin anything.
“I promise you, I won’t let Adrienne and the Haywood family off the hook that easy. I won’t lift at finger to help her this time. Whatever the cops decide to do, she’ll have it coming. But… the Bryce family and the Haywood family can’t have a falling out just yet. Give me two years and I’ll give you an answer you’ll be happy with, okay?”
James reached out to take Kristin’s hand.
Like she’d been shocked, Kristin jerked her hand away and stared out the window, defeated.
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