Chapter 76
Vincent got hauled off by the cops, but the chamber of commerce shindig just kept rolling on.
Rhett was still the brightest star at the banquet, with a swarm of folks itching to rub elbows with him.
But Rhett always had an indifferent vibe plastered on his face..
This man, who virtually ruled the business world, naturally exuded an air of condescension, as if always peering from his ivory tower.
“Mr. FitzGerald, fancy a drink?” some actress made a beeline for Rhett to get to know him.
Everyone in the loop knew Rhett wasn’t one for chasing skirts or being easy to get chummy with, but there were always those who thought they were hot stuff to take a shot.
If Rhett took a shine to her, then she’d be on cloud nine for sure.
The FitzGerald Group’s film and TV empire was always the bellwether in showbiz. Everyone. wanted to sign up with them and be one of the superstars under Rhett’s leadership.
“Sorry, Mr. FitzGerald doesn’t drink, York stepped in with a smile, playing the buffer for Rhett.
Rhett, nursing a champagne glass, was glued to his phone screen the whole time. He was waiting for a call from the hospital.
No call meant Kristin hadn’t woken up yet.
Rhett furrowed his brow, feeling like he might’ve gone too easy on someone earlier.
At Crescendo Central Hospital, Kristin woke to find herself alone in the room.
Taking a deep breath, she felt parched in her throat.
She wore a breathing mask, clearly displeased with its presence. Frowning and struggling a bit, she felt utterly drained.
Against all odds, she’d survived.
Her head was spinning something fierce. The side effects of losing too much blood were kicking in.
“Ms. Turner, you’re awake,” the nurse rushed in, supporting Kristin. “Don’t move just yet, lie down for a bit longer.”
Kristin curled up, her belly cramping up something nasty.
She’d walked too long in the frigid snow last night. Her body just couldn’t handle it.
“Ms. Turner, is it that time of the period?” The nurse saw blood on the bed and dashed to grab a sanitary pad.
Kristin had bled quite a bit last night. Even though she was treated in time, coupling it with her
1/4
11:27
Chapter 76
period meant she was in for a rough patch.
After mumbling thanks, Kristin yanked off the pulse oximeter and tried to get out of bed, propping herself up.
“Where you off to? Mr. FitzGerald asked you to rest up in the hospital, he’ll be here in a jiffy,” the nurse had already hit up Rhett the moment she woke up.
“Bathroom,” Kristin said and locked herself in.
Sitting on the toilet, she massaged her temples, feeling a headache coming on.
Last night, in a moment of impulse, she’d called Rhett. But now, she had to think straight that she couldn’t stick around James, not while he wouldn’t call off his engagement with Adrienne.
As long as James wouldn’t break it off, she wouldn’t stick by him.
Now that she’d ticked off Vincent, Clarence and the Haywood family, if she didn’t want to drop the case, they wouldn’t let her off easy.
So far, only Rhett could keep her safe.
But why on earth would Rhett help her? What could she possibly offer him in return?
Biting her finger, Kristin’s anxiety kicked in again.
She had to figure out a way out, or she was toast.
Her body went rigid with tremors, her hands shaking non–stop. Her anxiety had turned physical making her feel worse than dead.
What could she offer Rhett to make a fair trade?
“What’s the deal with this Ms. Turner and Rhett? Never seen Rhett give a damn about any chick before.”
“That’s Rhett, always popping up in the news. Have you heard about the drama of the FitzGerald family? Stuff about Rhett and his half–brother Vincent.”
“Yeah, I heard Vincent’s mom was the mistress who offed Rhett’s mom, then climbed her way up. She even tried to snag the family fortune and the FitzGerald Group’s reins with her children.”
Even the junior nurses were hip to all the FitzGerald family’s juicy gossip.
Kristin, locked in the bathroom, biting her finger, froze for a second.
She was sitting on a secret.
Rhett’s mom, indeed, got taken out by Vincent’s mom. Kristin had heard it with her own e
ears.
Rumors usually did not emerge out of nowhere.
Rhett, in his current position, must know the real deal behind his mother’s death. He and Vincent had always been at arm’s length.
2/4
11:27
Chapter 7
Vincent had blabbed countless times about taking everything from Rhett and knocking him off his high horse.
“Mr. FitzGerald!”
Rhett had arrived, and a nervous yet bashful nurse called out, “Ms. Turner’s been in the bathroom for ages and hasn’t come out yet.”
Rhett glanced at the bathroom door and strode over. “Kristin?”
Startled, Kristin got up and fumbled with the door.
Rhett was about to knock when they bumped into each other.
Taking a step back, Kristin nervously looked down. “Thanks…”
Rhett exhaled in relief. Kristin looked pale and had a bandage around her neck, but she seemed out of danger, not like last night…
The coldness of her touch had given him the eerie feeling of holding a corpse.
“Made up your mind?” With the nurses gone, Rhett cornered Kristin in the bathroom, asking in a
deep voice.
“I pretended to be asleep when the cops came,” Kristin whispered, unsure how to face him.
“What? Do you still have a soft spot for Vincent?” Rhett frowned, clearly not looking pleased.
If Vincent treated her like that and she still had feelings for him, then she was just asking for it.
“Vincent’s got a million tricks up his sleeve to get off the hook. I know him inside out,” Kristin said, clenching her fists and looking up at Rhett. “Mr. FitzGerald, using my injury to knock Vincent down for good is just pie in the sky.”
Rhett squinted, giving Kristin a deep, penetrating look. “Oh?”
Did Kristin think he was helping her just to crush Vincent?
He wouldn’t stoop to using a woman to get at Vincent. Besides. Vincent wasn’t worth his while.
“I’ve thought it through…” Kristin mustered her courage, locking eyes with Rhett. “You said before that you needed a woman by your side to fend off some trouble… I’m game.”
Kristin clenched her fists tighter, biting the corner of her lip before speaking again. “Mr. FitzGerald, let’s join forces. I know who’s responsible for your mother’s death and I’m aware of Vincent and his mother’s weak spot. I’ll take care of the dirty work you can’t handle.”
What she could do was help Rhett neutralize the threat of Vincent and his mother.
Being the eldest at home, Rhett could catch flak for going too far, but she was different.
As long as she could ensure Summer and Garner were safe, she was up for anything.
Even death didn’t scare her.
11-27
Chapter 76
Rhett’s gaze grew even more intense as he lifted his hand to Kristin’s chin.
There was clarity in Kristin’s eyes, but no naivety.
She was scheming and plotting how to use him.
Rhett’s lips curled into a smirk, his interest in Kristin piqued. He wanted to see what kind of surprises this woman could bring him.
“What all do you know?” Rhett’s voice was husky.
“I once overheard Vincent’s mom saying that if she hadn’t bribed the sanitarium staff to switch your mother’s medicines, Vincent would still be ducking and diving as a bastard who couldn’t show his face.”
Kristin’s gaze burned into Rhett as if afraid he wouldn’t believe her. “I’m not lying, and you can check…”
“Does Nicola know you eavesdropped on their conversation?” Rhett frowned and asked.
Nicola was Vincent’s mom.
