Chapter 45
Chapter 45:
Colton switched on the lamp beside the bed, only to meet Kristine’s glacial stare — a look that seemed to cut straight through him. If a glance could inflict harm, he would already be gone.
Dread washed over him, his heart sinking as unease settled in.
Kristine refused to break eye contact. Her fists were balled tight beneath the blanket, trembling ever so slightly. Seeing Colton’s face brought back the sting of his words — his claim that she had never been good enough for him.
“Why are you acting like this?” he asked, watching her sealed lips and the storm gathering in her expression. The panic creeping across his face grew harder to hide. “Can’t we just talk about it p>
𝖳𝗁оu𝘀an𝗱s o𝖿 𝘳𝖾𝘢d𝗲rs o𝗻
“Leave. Now.” Her anger erupted in her voice, every word shaking.
Confusion etched across his features. “What happened to make you this upset p>
Her patience snapped. “I said get out!” she shouted, reaching for the lamp, ready to throw it if necessary.
Colton’s reflexes kicked in. He caught her wrist firmly. “Kristine, take a breath. Calm down p>
She raised her head slowly, eyes burning red with rage. “If you think I’m not good enough for you, why drag me back here? Why bother keeping me around? Do you enjoy breaking me apart p>
Lines deepened on Colton’s forehead. “What are you even talking about? When did I p>
“Will you leave, or let me go?” Her hand shook in his grasp, her voice desperate but her eyes still icy. “Please — I’m begging you p>
Defeat flickered in his eyes. He squeezed her hand once, gently. “It’s late, Kristine. Try to get some rest p>
He released her and quietly left the room.
Kristine’s arm dropped limply to her side. With her eyes pressed shut, a single tear escaped down her cheek. After a long moment, she opened them again and gazed at the soft glow of the lamp. Her determination to leave Gridron only grew stronger.
Kristine did not come downstairs until she heard Colton’s car pull away the following morning.
Breakfast was waiting in the kitchen, prepared with noticeably more care than before. When Claire arrived to serve the meal, she was unsettled by the emptiness in Kristine’s expression.
Every moment of Elyse’s visit the day before was still fresh in her mind — she had witnessed the entire scene unfold. Seeing Colton step in to defend Kristine had genuinely surprised her. She had no idea what had prompted him to do it, but as a staff member, she knew better than to invite trouble or gossip.
Without reacting to Claire’s nervous glances, Kristine finished her breakfast in silence and left the house.
Once outside Gridron, law enforcement could easily follow her trail through official documentation. And after Mackenzie’s public apology, nearly everyone in the city now recognized her face. There was no longer any need for Colton to monitor her directly.
Arriving at her scheduled meeting with the private investigator, Kristine quickly noticed several people glancing in her direction. Curiosity flickered in their eyes, but no one dared to approach.