Chapter 119
Chapter 119:
Elsewhere, in a dorm at Gridron University, Ryan shot upright in his bed the moment Kristine’s message appeared. The sudden motion startled his roommates, who all turned to look his way.
“What’s got you grinning like that? Did your crush finally message you p>
“Ryan always goes for the prettiest girls on campus. She must be a real knockout p>
“Don’t hold out on us, Ryan. Show us who she is p>
“What are you even going on about?” Ryan muttered, though a bashful pink colored his cheeks.
Ignoring their teasing, he slipped out onto the balcony with his phone. The second he read the message, an uncontrollable smile spread across his face.
He and Kristine had met face-to-face only once. Every other conversation had lived on Facebook. Yet every interaction with her felt easy — she was always genuine and warm, nothing like the arrogant clients he was used to. Talking with her always reminded him of his long-lost sister.
𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯
That thought softened his smile, a quiet sadness flickering briefly in his eyes.
Ryan had a sister who was three years older than him, close in age to Kristine. Growing up, she had always been kind and protective toward him. Then, when she turned ten, she vanished without warning — no clues left behind, no trace ever found. That loss had become one of the driving forces behind his decision to become a private detective.
Pulling himself out of the memory, he focused and answered Kristine’s message.
At that moment, Kristine had just begun filling the bathtub when her phone vibrated. She reached for it and checked the screen.
“Help me look into this hospital. I need to know when I supposedly took a kidney compatibility test with a woman named Elyse Lloyd, and what the results were p>
Ryan replied without delay. “Understood p>
After shutting off the faucet, Kristine set her phone on the nearby shelf and eased herself into the warm bath. She had added a few drops of rose essential oil earlier, and the gentle scent mixed with the rising steam, slowly loosening the tension in her shoulders and spine. Resting her head against the edge of the tub, she closed her eyes and let the quiet settle around her.
Then, without warning, the bathroom door flew open with a loud kick.
Colton appeared in the doorway, the sharp smell of whiskey following him inside. His collar sat loose and undone, revealing the sharp line of his collarbone. Alcohol had softened the severity of his features, leaving him looking careless and unguarded. Darkness filled his eyes as they fixed on her, deep and unreadable.
Without giving Kristine time to react, Colton crossed the threshold. One broad hand slid to the back of her head, and what followed crashed into her without warning — the kiss aggressive and overpowering.
For a brief second, Kristine went rigid. The moment awareness returned, she parted her lips with the intent to bite him. He anticipated it. His free hand closed firmly around her jaw and held her in place. There was no room to pull away, no way to resist. She was forced to endure it.