Chapter 88
Chapter 88:
With a sudden motion, he seized her wrists and forced them behind her back. His free hand yanked hard at her dress. Fabric tore apart under the force. A rush of cold air swept over her exposed skin, and goosebumps surfaced at once.
Dread settled heavily in her chest.
From the corner of her eye, a single tear slipped free without a sound.
Noticing it, Colton felt an uneasy agitation crawl through him — restless and gnawing, like something beneath his skin. He lifted her chin roughly. “Do you really hate it that much when I touch you p>
The question struck Kristine as almost absurd. She raised her eyes and looked straight back at him.
“Colton, this is embarrassing. You claim I am beneath you, yet you are desperate to touch me. Let us stop pretending. You refuse to let me go because you have never been with me — am I wrong p>
The look in her eyes held nothing but contempt and resolve. It struck him like cold water. Whatever had been burning inside him extinguished on the spot.
He did want Kristine. But that desire had never been driven by physical hunger. Something else lay beneath it — something he had not yet found the words to name.
Forcing down the tightness in his chest, he spoke evenly. “I have never thought you don’t deserve me. And in that situation, you were the one who was hurt p>
A brief hesitation crossed Kristine’s face.
Hurt? A victim?
𝗠𝘰ѕt 𝗿𝘦𝘢𝖽 th𝗂s 𝘄𝘦е𝘬 𝘰𝘯 ѕ.𝗰оm
What was he even talking about?
Unable to make sense of it, Kristine chose to stop forcing an answer. “If you never believed I didn’t deserve you, then why…” Her voice trailed off as a realization struck her.
So that was it.
Elyse had lied to her.
But for what reason?
Was it meant to drive a wedge between her and Colton?
A dry, bitter laugh escaped Kristine. Did their relationship really need anyone’s interference to fall apart?
And the reason Colton had refused to sleep with her had never been because she was unworthy of him. Despite everything.
“Was it you who reported the problems with K&C Entertainment’s accounts?” Kristine asked carefully, her gaze fixed directly on Colton.
A faint crease formed between Colton’s brows.
Because he did not deny it, certainty settled in Kristine’s mind that he was the one behind the report.
Cold spread through her chest at once.
On paper, K&C Entertainment belonged to both of them, yet Colton had never once stepped inside the company or shown the slightest concern for its operations. To him, it must have felt like nothing more than a burden. Perhaps he even believed that without it, everything would be simpler.
Her thoughts drifted back to the days when she had poured every ounce of effort into building the company, convinced it would strengthen their relationship. Throughout all of it, Colton had remained completely detached. When she had finally finished and handed him the invitation to the opening ceremony, his only response had been, “What’s this?” Even now, remembering it made her want to laugh.
At her side, Colton’s expression gradually hardened.