Chapter 144
Chapter 144:
Vance set the plate down, tension creeping into his voice. “I truly have no idea what you mean. Are you saying Kristine has gone missing p>
Colton studied every flicker of expression on Vance’s face, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You honestly have no idea p>
“I do not,” Vance replied, panic edging into his voice. “Since Kristine went to Peudon, we have barely spoken. What happened to her p>
Darkness settled into Colton’s gaze. “Search the place p>
At his word, the bodyguards stationed at the door moved inside. Given the small size of the condo, the search was completed quickly.
“Mr. Yates,” one of the bodyguards reported, “there is no indication that anyone else entered or left p>
Colton cast a sideways look at Vance, his eyes unreadable and deep. Standing frozen beside the table, Vance felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine.
𝗡𝘦𝘸 с𝘩а𝘱𝘁𝗲𝘳𝗌 𝗲𝘃е𝗋𝘆 wе𝖾𝗸 oո.со𝗆
Minutes slipped past without anyone speaking. Heavy silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of steady breathing.
At last, Colton moved. Without a word, he walked out of the condo.
Relief had barely begun to escape Vance when Colton abruptly turned back, his gaze snapping onto him and holding without a blink. Shock stiffened Vance’s face. Only after several long seconds did Colton finally look away and leave for good.
Even after the hallway fell silent, Vance stayed where he was, his body rigid. Suspicion had clearly taken root in Colton’s mind. Irritation churned inside him, yet he did not dare reach out to Kristine without thinking it through.
Outside the condo building, Asher remained seated in a limousine, watching Colton step into view. The faint smile on his lips disappeared.
Kristine was not with him. That could only mean Colton had failed to find her as well.
Tripp broke the silence, glancing at Asher with concern. “Mr. Edwards, your grandfather called again. He wants to know when you plan to return p>
Asher swallowed before replying. “Once everything here is resolved, I will go back p>
Tripp said nothing more.
Known as Lunatown, Vance’s hometown was a place of quiet beauty.
Under the night sky, Kristine sat by the shoreline and watched as moonlight slowly painted the sea in soft silver, casting a view that felt almost unreal. After only two days there, she had already grown deeply fond of the place.
“Kristy, come back and eat p>
At the sound of her name, Kristine gathered the seashells she had collected, placed them in a wicker basket, and turned toward the voice.
Spotting a woman in her fifties waving at her from the doorway, she smiled brightly. “Okay, I’m coming p>
The woman calling her was Vance’s mother, Susan Bailey — someone with little formal education but an open heart and a welcoming nature. Jogging over, Kristine asked cheerfully, “What did you make for dinner p>
“I cooked your favorites. Scrambled eggs and ribs p>
“Thank you, Mrs. Bailey p>
Warmth filled Susan’s expression as she waved it off. “No need to be so polite,” she said, her fondness for Kristine growing more apparent by the day. “Vance told me everything. He would not be where he is today without you, and our family is truly grateful p>