Chapter 149
Chapter 149:
Left alone, Colton kept his attention on the villa, studying every detail of the quiet structure. After a brief wait, he approached the door and knocked. Nothing answered him. He tried again, rapping harder this time, yet the silence held.
“The family left town two weeks ago p>
The voice came from behind. Colton turned immediately — and the moment he recognized Asher seated in his wheelchair, his expression hardened. “Why are you here p>
A faint smile crossed Asher’s face as he held Colton’s stare. “If you managed to track this place down, it was only a matter of time before I did too.” He paused before adding, “Sadly, Kristine isn’t around p>
Without warning, Colton seized Asher by the collar.
Tripp stepped forward instinctively, but Asher raised a hand to stop him.
“I won’t deny that I share some responsibility for her disappearance,” Asher said, his tone unhurried. “Still, if you had been willing to let her go, none of this would have happened p>
Colton tightened his hold. “She is mine. I alone decide whether she stays or walks away p>
Rather than pulling back, Asher caught Colton’s wrist and leaned closer, his voice low and unshaken. “You’re wrong. You can’t keep a woman who no longer loves you p>
A faint tremor ran through Colton’s arm, and his grip slackened before he realized it.
At that moment, Bobby returned and paused when he noticed Asher, though he pressed on with his update. “Mr. Yates, I checked with the neighbors. They said Vance’s parents haven’t been around, and no young woman has been seen here recently. This may not be the right location p>
𝖨ո𝗌𝘁аո𝘵 а𝗰𝗰е𝘴ѕ 𝗼𝘯
Pulling himself together, Colton released Asher and straightened, his features hardening. Then he turned back to Asher and spoke with measured resolve. “She loved me for seven years. And I will find her p>
Without a backward glance, he climbed into the car and pulled the door shut.
Asher watched Colton’s departing figure, the faint smile on his face fading slowly until nothing remained but a cold emptiness.
News of Colton’s arrival reached Vance almost as soon as he stepped into Lunatown. Holding the position of vice president at K&C Entertainment made it effortless to keep tabs on Colton’s whereabouts. He had already expected Colton to chase Kristine all the way there. The address Colton had found belonged to the home he had bought for his parents — he had hidden Kristine in his old family home.
Leaning back in his office chair, Vance let his thoughts settle. Colton’s trip to Lunatown was destined to lead nowhere, yet the speed at which he had located his parents’ address still caught him off guard. Fortunately, his father would be back in two days.
When his gaze shifted to the computer screen, concentration refused to come.
In Vance’s old home, the evening carried on quietly. After finishing dinner, Kristine, Ryan, Helen, and Susan gathered in the living room and settled in to watch television. Taking advantage of the moment, Ryan motioned for Kristine to step outside with him.
“Kristine, you still haven’t told me what’s really been happening p>
Calmly, Kristine met his gaze. “Now that you know I’m here, I might as well explain everything p>