Chapter 494
“It’s not Elyse. He’s here with Kristine Green.” Iris stole a glance at Colton, confirmed he wasn’t watching, and kept typing. “Kristine is far prettier than me. I don’t stand a chance.”
The moment Kristine’s name appeared, the group chat erupted.
“Wait — am I reading that right? Colton is there with Kristine? You have to be joking.”
“He can’t stand Kristine. Why would he take her to a spa? Are you making this up because we can’t see him for ourselves?”
“If Colton is really spending his afternoon at a salon with Kristine, I will eat my shoes.”
Rather than argue, Iris pulled up the salon’s security footage and dropped it directly into the chat.
Silence fell over the group. The video showed Colton walking in with Kristine and carrying her upstairs, plain as day.
After a long pause, someone finally typed: “Didn’t Colton post a photo on Facebook recently announcing he was with Elyse? How is he with Kristine now?”
“Actually… he just posted a picture. He never wrote a single word about who she was.”
That observation gave everyone pause. The chat went quiet again as people scrambled to go back and check.
Sure enough — just a photo, no caption.
Now the speculation was running wild.
While the internet worked itself into a frenzy, Kristine lay on a plush massage table, trying to let herself relax under the beautician’s practiced hands.
It didn’t last. As the minutes stretched on, the tension crept back in.
She glanced at the wall clock. “Is Colton still out in the lobby?”
“He is,” the beautician said with a warm smile. “He’s so devoted — even with everything on his plate, he’s perfectly happy to sit and wait while you’re treated.”
Kristine produced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Is that what you think?” She kept watching the clock, feeling the walls close in.
She needed to get him out of the building.
“Could I have a glass of water, please?”
“Of course!” The beautician set down her tools and stepped out.
The moment the door closed, Kristine connected to the salon’s Wi-Fi, opened her settings, and unblocked Elyse’s number. She typed a single message — “Colton is spending the day with me” — and hit send. Then she immediately blocked her again.
A moment later, a ringtone drifted in from the waiting area. She recognized it instantly — the distinctive tone Colton used only for Elyse’s calls. Kristine exhaled slowly, satisfied.
The beautician returned with the water. Kristine took a small sip and kept her expression neutral. “Is Colton still out front?”
“He is,” the woman confirmed.
Kristine’s smile faded.
She had been certain Elyse’s call would draw him away. But he hadn’t moved. She needed to see it for herself. With the beautician’s help, she walked to the door and looked out. Colton was exactly where she’d left him, eyes on his laptop.
He looked up at the sound of the door and gave her an easy smile. “All finished?”
She shook her head. “No. Not yet.” She tried again. “This is going to take a while. Don’t you have somewhere to be?”