Chapter 463
Chapter 463:
Whatever Colton had done to her — whatever drug or damage had been inflicted — a single bowl of soup and a warm dinner were not enough to undo it.
“Ms. Green, your bath is ready,” Claire called from the bathroom.
Kristine pulled herself back into bed and arranged herself as though she hadn’t moved at all.
After washing up and getting dressed, Kristine leaned on Claire for support as they made their way slowly out of the room.
Colton heard them on the landing and came up the stairs at once.
“Why didn’t you tell me she needed to bathe?” he snapped, his irritation directed squarely at Claire.
Claire blinked, startled. “I’m sorry, sir p>
Colton brushed past her without another word. He bent down and lifted Kristine into his arms. “Since you’re still weak, I’ll carry you,” he said simply.
ѕ𝘁o𝗿i𝗲𝗌 𝗒𝗈𝘶 𝗐о𝗇’𝗍 pu𝗍 𝖽𝗼𝗐𝘯 𝘰ո
Kristine fixed him with a cold smile. “Don’t expect a thank you. I can’t walk because of what you did to me p>
Colton’s jaw tightened — but then, unexpectedly, his expression softened into something quiet and earnest. “I’m going to prove myself to you p>
Kristine stared at him, a chill settling in her chest. “What are you up to now p>
He said nothing. He carried her out of the villa and settled her into the car.
They drove at a slow, unhurried pace through the darkening roads.
An hour later, the car passed through the gates of the Yates family manor.
The estate had stood for a hundred years, built when the Yates family first rose to wealth and prominence. The main gate was immense and imposing, its thick doors weathered but unyielding. Beyond it, a vast courtyard opened up, and beside the courtyard ran a long, curving hallway whose pillars were carved with intricate detail — worn at the edges now, but still bearing the unmistakable mark of time and craftsmanship.
For all its grandeur, the manor was strangely silent. It carried the hushed, still quality of a place that had outlived much of its own life.
The car came to a stop.
Kristine didn’t move, and Colton reached in to lift her out of the seat without a word.
The butler appeared at once to receive them. For a fraction of a second, surprise flickered across his face — then it was gone, replaced by practiced composure. “Mr. Yates, you may want to set Ms. Green down,” he said carefully. “Your grandmother… she doesn’t quite approve of that sort of thing p>
Bryanna Yates, Colton’s grandmother, was a woman of deeply traditional sensibilities and exacting standards. She had always held a low opinion of Kristine. Seeing Colton carry her through the front door would do nothing to improve it.
Colton’s voice was glacial. “If she’s upset, that’s her concern. I’ll do things my way p>
The butler stared at Colton, his jaw nearly dropping.
Kristine, caught right in the middle of it all, was even more stunned than he was.