Chapter 82
In the Bryce family in Crescendo Town.
“Mr. James? Mr. Carter’s having a rest.
“Mr. James…”
“Mr. James!”
The butler and the bodyguards couldn’t stop James as he decked one of them to the ground
with a punch.
“Mr. Bryce, thank you once again for having my back.” In the living room, Vincent was sharing a coffee time with Carter.
Since Carter had Vincent’s back, it was only natural for him to visit.
Vincent and his mom had wanted to snatch what rightfully belonged to Rhett, so getting the company folks and business partners on their sid
was the key.
For years, Rhett had Vincent under his thumb. So, he had played his cards right with the Haywood and the Bryce families to cozy up to the Bryce family, sparing no expense.
“Vincent, you’re a good kid. It’s on me for dragging you into this mess,” Carter said with a chuckle. “Stick around for dinner tonight.”
“Sure, Mr. Bryce.” Vincent nodded.
A noise came from outside, and James stormed in with a stormy face.
“Did you send someone to my place to take Kristin?” James asked with a deep voice.
Carter’s face fell in an instant. “Berg is still here. What’s with the attitude?”
Shoving past the butler trying to stop him, James glanced at the house guests.
“The Haywood family has been scheming against a woman and even dragging me into it. What a move,” James sneered, loosening his tie. “Adrienne disregarded the law, beat people to a pulp, and was a notorious bully. It speaks volumes about her character and upbringing. I won’t marry such a woman.”
James pointed at Vincent and then made his exit. He’d make Vincent pay with his life if anything happened to Kristin.
Vincent furrowed his brows, looking quite peeved.
James was humiliating to have made a scene over Kristin before the family elders.
“James, you stop right there!” Carter bellowed with fury.
James paused and then turned back to look at the butler. “Keep an eye on Mr. Carter. Pop some blood pressure pills if his BP skyrockets.”
“Carter, your grandson…” Berg was losing face over James‘ attitude.
“He’s still wet behind the ears, not cool–headed enough, all hot and bothered.” Carter glowered at Vincent. “This Kristin is quite the character.”
Vincent quickly agreed. “Yeah, Kristin’s a real piece of work, fooling the FitzGerald and the Turner families. James must have fallen into her tricks, too.”
“I hear that James is the father to Kristin’s love child,” Berg said in a low voice.
Carter was stunned and looked up at his aide. “A child, too?”
“Yes…” The aide nervously bowed his head, replying, “Mr. James has forbidden the word to get out, 50…
“I bet my bottom dollar that kiddo isn’t James‘. Kristin’s sweet talk has bamboozled James big time. It must be some trickery at play.” Berg commented coldly, standing up to leave. “The marriage between our families is set. I’ll chalk it up to James being too young.”
“Mr. Bryce, I’ll escort Berg back home. Call me if you need anything.” Vincent said, helping Berg up. “As for Adrienne, that will need some more of your attention.”
Once the family cleared out, Carter’s gaze turned icy. “Check out the child to see if James has been fooled.”
“Mr. Bryce. Vincent had Kristin taken to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts, planning to let her get harmed…Miss Kristin escaped. That’s what a night jogger said. He saw her covered in blood with a nasty gash on her neck, which scared the wits out of him. Kristin borrowed the jogger’s phone and made a call. I checked it was to Rhett.”
Bill spoke sotto voce in the car, his knuckles white on the steering wheel.
These people are despicable, treating a woman this way.
“Rhett?” James asked in a deep tone.
“That’s right.”
James leaned back in the rear seat, eyes slowly closing.
Kristin had reached out to Rhett and not him.
“Head to Silvergrove City.” James opened his eyes, a deep look in them.
He thought, “Kristin was mine, and nobody could snatch her away.”
After all the effort James had put in, breaking down her defenses, finally having her lean on him.
Did Rhett think he could step in and steal her away? Dream on.
Chapter 82
In Angelic Guard International Nursery of Silvergrove City, Kristin was on the dot at 5:30 pm at the school gate, ready to pick up Summer.
“Miss Kristin? Summer had a tiff with a classmate and hurt someone. You’ll need to come in,” the teacher from the student affairs office was already waiting for her at the gate.
Kristin went pale, following the teacher into the administration office with bated breath.
“Summer,” she called our softly.
Summer was in a corner, head hung low, clothes dirty from the scuffle.
In another corner, Milo stood tall, oozing rich kid vibes head to toe. “You bad woman, thief, beggar.”
Summer’s eyes reddened, and fists clenched.
He wouldn’t have lashed out if Milo hadn’t pushed his buttons.
“Mom, I’m sorry…” Summer burst into tears as Kristin arrived. He was scared of getting on his mom’s bad side, scared she’d give him an earful.
“Did you get hurt, Summer?” Kristin squatted before Summer, not grilling him about why he hit someone. Instead, she softly asked if he was injured.
Summer shook his head, eyes brimming with tears.
“Ms. Turner, Summer here threw a punch at Milo. Now there’s swelling on his body and face. His parents are on the way, and Milo’s mother demands an explanation. You better give the Gladstone family an answer,” the Director of Student Affairs said sternly, obviously siding with Milo.
“My kid wouldn’t hit someone for no reason.” Kristin hugged Summer and looked him over. noticing a bruise near Summer’s eye, then looked up at the teacher. “Both kids got into it and got hurt. Why should we be the ones explaining? Who’ll explain this to me?”
“Ms. Turner, Milo’s father is Caleb Gladstone, the CEO of the Gladstone Group, and his mother is Eve FitzGerald, the heiress of the FitzGerald Group,” the homeroom teacher reminded Kristin. Who should be explaining to whom? It was all about who had got the longer stick.
“Mom… he started it by bad–mouthing you, calling me a bastard, and saying you’re a thief.” Summer cleaned his tears. He wouldn’t let anyone talk trash about his mom.
Kristin felt a tingling in her fingers. She’d learned to bite her tongue and swallow all grievances over the years.
She couldn’t afford to cross the Gladstone and FitzGerald families, and part of her wanted to compromise and let bygones be bygones.
But if her child was willing to go to the mat for her, could she ask him to suck it up?
“As teachers, did you guys even bother to check who started it?” Kristin’s voice was hoarse. “If
THE
Chapter 82
Milo hadn’t provoked Summer, Summer wouldn’t have hit him.”
“I did provoke him, you bad woman, thief. All you know is how to steal someone else’s dad. My mom said you’re the dirtiest, disgusting.” Milo stuck out his tongue and pulled a face at Summer.
“Milo.” At the office door, Eve arrived, her voice urgent. “Who’s the blind fool daring enough to lay hands on my son?”
