Chapter 116
Chapter 116:
With a small shake of her head, Kristine chose not to answer. She had simply never imagined that Asher’s grandparents shared such a strong bond. Her assumptions had always leaned toward the opposite — in her mind, families with that level of wealth rarely knew real affection. Years spent beside Colton had only reinforced that belief. She had not seen warmth between his parents. She had not seen it among his circle.
That said, one exception lingered.
Love had existed between Colton and Elyse.
The thought tugged a faint, bitter smile from Kristine.
“This restoration will not be complicated, but it will require patience,” she said, steering the conversation away. “Would you be comfortable letting me take the vase with me p>
Dі𝘀𝘤𝗈𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘩𝗂𝖽de𝗻 𝗴е𝘮ѕ 𝗈n ѕ.co𝗺
“There is no issue,” Asher replied, studying her from the side.
Whenever she smiled, her entire face seemed to come alive. Light danced in her eyes, bright and fluid, as though reflecting sunlight on water. He had never encountered anything quite like it. The image reminded him of a sunflower instinctively turning toward warmth. His heart stuttered, then skipped again. Softness crept into his gaze.
“Bring it back when it is ready. Take as much time as you need. If the fee ever feels unreasonable, we can revisit it,” Asher said.
“There is no need,” Kristine responded, a faint warmth touching her cheeks as their eyes met. She looked away quickly. “Two million is fair. Let us leave it at that p>
“If you are satisfied, then so am I p>
Kristine carefully placed each fragment back into the box.
“Would you like to stay for coffee?” Asher suggested, his tone easy and welcoming.
She lifted a hand in refusal. “Thank you, but I am on a schedule p>
“Where to next? I can drive you p>
After glancing at her phone, Kristine replied, “Downtown. I need to stop by a law firm. I will take a taxi p>
“Downtown?” A subtle shift passed through Asher’s voice.
“That is right p>
There were questions she needed answered — specifically, whether attempting to coerce someone into donating a kidney could be grounds for legal action when proof was limited.
“I would rather take you myself,” Asher insisted. “The vase is delicate. This would be safer p>
Uncertainty flickered across Kristine’s face.
Tripp cut in politely. “Please allow Mr. Edwards to escort you. That vase holds deep meaning for his grandmother. We cannot risk another mishap p>
After a brief pause, Kristine nodded. “All right p>
Together, they exited the café. A vehicle was already waiting at the curb.
The moment Kristine laid eyes on it, her eyelids twitched.
A Bugatti sat before Kristine, a sight that never failed to impress. She tried to recall its price — a machine like that would easily set someone back a hundred million. It seemed the Edwards family had no trouble living up to their reputation as Peudon’s elite. Even those on the outskirts of their circle could afford indulgences most people only dreamed of.
“Hop in,” Asher said.
With a subtle nod, Kristine slid into the car. Settling into her seat, she picked up on even more hints of opulence tucked into every detail. Every part of the cabin had been meticulously handcrafted. The floor felt like velvet beneath her feet, and the seats were tailored not just for comfort but to accommodate Asher perfectly.
“So, what made you decide to consult a lawyer?” Asher’s voice rolled out, deep and almost mesmerizing.