Chapter 27
Chapter 27:
Everything could change before she recovered. Waiting passively was no longer an option — she had to act.
When morning arrived, Kristine came downstairs and froze when she spotted Colton still there. She had assumed that after Elyse’s call the previous night, he would have disappeared again for several days.
Moving toward the dining table, she watched as Claire placed a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of milk in front of her. A trace of ridicule tugged at her lips.
“Has the Yates family fallen on hard times? Is that the reason breakfast looks this sparse p>
From the beginning, the servants in the Yates household had never treated her with genuine respect. They cut corners not just with her food, but with everything connected to her. Back then, her attention had been so fixed on Colton that she had ignored all of it. Now that even he no longer occupied her heart, there was no reason to waste her patience on the household staff.
Claire had not expected Kristine to be so direct. Surprise flashed across her face before it quickly hardened into scorn. Kristine thought herself the lady of the house simply because Colton had personally brought her home.
“You showed up unannounced, so the kitchen didn’t have anything prepared,” Claire replied, her tone sharp and unapologetic.
Kristine tipped the oatmeal straight into the trash. “Then make something else p>
Watching perfectly good food get thrown out sent Claire’s temper flaring. “Kristine, you p>
A cold voice cut through her protest. “She told you to cook something new. Do it and stop arguing p>
𝖱𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌
Claire could hardly believe what she was hearing from Colton. Was he actually taking Kristine’s side? It seemed impossible — but as a staff member, she did not dare protest further and retreated to the kitchen.
Once Claire was gone, Colton stepped closer to Kristine. “Bobby will pick you up tonight at seven p>
Kristine offered no reply.
Colton hesitated, as though about to say something more, but in the end he simply turned and walked away.
After a filling breakfast, Kristine left the house. Claire’s sharp muttering continued behind her, but she chose to ignore it and focused on what mattered instead.
Upon arriving at the coffee shop and spotting Vance, Kristine wasted no time. “Sorry about last night. Things happened so quickly I didn’t get a chance to fill you in p>
That morning, Vance had texted her — and only then did Kristine realize she had forgotten to mention she had returned to Colton’s villa.
“Don’t worry about it.” Vance, ever the gentleman, pulled out a chair for her, his throat moving as he spoke. “You still have feelings for him, don’t you p>
Kristine froze, her hand pausing over the menu. “Why would you think that p>
A sad smile tugged at Vance’s lips. “Seven years isn’t a small chapter in anyone’s life p>
All Kristine offered in return was a quiet smile. What people assumed no longer mattered to her — those feelings were gone for good.
She changed the subject. “Have you heard anything new about the company’s money-laundering case p>