Chapter 163
Chapter 163:
Just then, his ringtone snapped him back. A quick glance at the screen, and his gaze sharpened. The photo showed Kristine and Vance standing side by side, warm sunlight spilling across her features and making her eyes sparkle as though the night sky had settled inside them.
Without a second thought, Colton dialed Devin. “Where did they go p>
A quiet sigh came through the line. “Colton, remember the promise you made to Kristine p>
Devin had hoped the photo would help him let go — proof that Kristine had already moved forward, and maybe Colton should too.
“Tell me right now. Where are they p>
A long pause followed before Devin answered. “Sycamore Avenue.” The call disconnected.
𝖩оi𝗇 о𝘂r с𝘰𝘮m𝘂𝗇𝘪𝗍у 𝗼𝗻 gа𝘭ո𝗼𝘃el𝘀.с𝗈𝗆
A heavy sigh slipped from Devin’s lips.
That afternoon, Kristine and Vance spent hours searching before they finally found an apartment that seemed to tick every box. Standing on the city’s edge yet surprisingly accessible, it felt to Kristine as though it had been made with her in mind. The unit sat on the 28th floor, featuring a large picture window with a sweeping view of the river. Inside, the landlord’s style mirrored her own — rustic charm paired with warm, luxurious furnishings. If the landlord hadn’t moved overseas, Kristine would have asked to keep in touch.
“Now that you’ve found a place to stay, what’s next for you?” Vance asked, glancing at Kristine over dinner.
“Honestly…” She swirled her spoon in the soup, thinking aloud. “I’m not sure yet. Gridron doesn’t have a conservation institute. If I want to work on antiques, I’ll have to find opportunities on my own. But I’m a nobody here — no reputation. Nobody’s going to hand me their valuables to restore p>
Vance watched her, noting the quiet determination in her profile. “Take your time. Everything will fall into place p>
Kristine managed a faint nod. There was no need to rush.
Once dinner ended, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Later that evening, after giving it some thought, Kristine wrote Victor a resignation letter. Since she intended to make Gridron her permanent home, returning to the institute was no longer an option. Ending things cleanly seemed the wisest choice.
No sooner had Victor received it than he called her. “Kristine, why are you suddenly resigning p>
“I’m sorry, Mr. Todd. I can’t live up to what you expect of me. I won’t be coming back to Peudon p>
Victor’s tone sharpened with concern. “Is this about that man again? Kristine, don’t throw away your future over someone who isn’t worth it p>
She struggled to find words that would make him understand and simply repeated, “I’m really sorry p>
Victor went quiet for a moment, thinking it over, then finally said, “How about this — I’ll give you a month to reconsider. If you still feel the same way, I’ll accept your resignation without argument. Does that sound fair p>
The offer made Kristine’s heart ache with longing. Part of her still yearned to go back to restoring antiques. It was, after all, the dream she had carried for years.
Victor took her silence as agreement. “All right then. If you have nothing else to say, I’ll take it as a yes.” Not giving her the chance to back out, he ended the call.