Chapter 71
Chapter 71:
The sharp question stirred irritation at once, and Kristine’s brows drew together. “I’m not obligated to explain where I’ve been p>
She turned and started toward the staircase.
Frustration got the better of him, and Colton caught her arm. “Kristine, I’m your boyfriend. Isn’t it normal for you to tell me where you’ve been p>
Her reaction was not what he expected. She laughed outright — and there was nothing lighthearted in the sound. It was filled with ridicule.
“So you do know that couples are supposed to keep each other informed? That’s amusing, considering you never felt the need to do that for me.” Throughout the past four years, the only reason she had ever known his schedule was because Elyse had told her. Every overseas trip he took to see Elyse had reached her through Elyse’s messages alone.
Colton’s grip slackened for a brief moment.
Giving updates about his whereabouts had never been part of his routine. In his world, others answered to him — there had never been any reason, in his mind, to explain his plans to anyone. And beyond that —
𝗔𝖽𝗱іс𝗍i𝗏𝗲 n𝗈v𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗈ո
“My schedule is arranged well in advance. Bobby always knows where I’m supposed to be,” he said.
But when his meetings had ended and he returned, Kristine was nowhere to be found. At first, he had convinced himself she was deliberately avoiding him again.
With a sharp motion, Kristine pulled her arm free. “Colton, we are no longer together. You are not my boyfriend, and I don’t owe you any explanations p>
Without sparing him another glance, she walked past him, her face showing no reaction.
Colton watched her go, irritation settling heavily in his chest. He moved to follow — then a quiet voice stopped him.
“Mr. Yates… Ms. Green… she just came back from the hospital p>
He turned sharply. His eyes fixed on Claire. “What did you just say p>
Claire flinched slightly at the coldness radiating from him, but steadied herself and explained what had happened.
No one had asked her to say anything. The decision had been entirely her own.
When she finished, disbelief cut through Colton’s voice. “This was serious, and you chose not to tell me p>
“Ms. Green told me not to say anything to you p>
The tension across his brow deepened as his expression hardened.
Unwanted memories rose from the early days of their relationship — a time when Kristine had fallen severely ill with a cold. On that very same day, Elyse had been scheduled for a high-risk procedure. Because of that, he had left Kristine, still burning with fever, in Bobby’s care while he traveled. When he returned, he had steeled himself for her anger. Instead, she had looked up at him with concern and asked whether the trip had worn him out.
From that point on, as far as he had known, Kristine never fell sick again. If she did, none of it had ever reached him.
A sudden chill moved through him and settled deep along his spine.