Chapter 130
Chapter 130:
Within moments, he reached the bed and laid her down onto it. The mattress gave way beneath her weight. Before she could gather herself, his towering presence pressed close, trapping her beneath him. There was no tenderness in his actions — only force, leaving her no room to breathe.
Air vanished from Kristine’s lungs as panic surged through her. Beneath his grip, fabric tore, exposing her to the sudden chill, and fear flashed across her face. Tears broke free and ran down her cheeks.
Her tears gave Colton a moment’s pause, yet whatever restraint appeared in him vanished almost immediately. His movements grew harsher, leaving her overwhelmed and desperate.
“Stop! Colton, stop right now!” Kristine cried, her voice shaking so badly the words nearly fell apart.
No hesitation showed in his actions.
Lifting her gaze, Kristine stared helplessly at the dim bedside lamp above her. Colton’s hand had already reached the edge of her clothing.
She bit down on her lip, reached up, and swung the lamp against his head with everything she had.
A heavy impact rang out across the room.
Silence followed.
Still straddling her, Colton did not move. His face darkened, and disbelief flickered through his eyes.
𝘜p𝖽𝘢𝘁𝘦s e𝘷𝖾𝗿у 𝘄е𝖾𝗸 o𝗻
Fear tightened Kristine’s grip on the lamp. It was not regret that shook her — what terrified her was that she had only fueled his anger. She raised the lamp higher. “Do not come any closer. Take one more step, and p>
Seeing the terror written across her face, Colton froze. The rage drained away, and something long buried seemed to surface in its place.
“I’m sorry. I frightened you,” he said.
A slow blink broke Kristine’s cold stare.
Colton closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her, his voice dropping low. “Everything that went wrong is over now p>
Shaking slightly, Kristine resisted the urge to push him away.
Unbidden, a memory surfaced — the moment Colton had once referred to her as a victim. So…
Was that why he had kept his distance from her all this time? Did he believe she had been sexually assaulted in the past? That would mean it was never because he thought she didn’t deserve him — nor because he had been holding himself back for Elyse.
Still, the pieces refused to fit together. She had never gone through anything like that. How could Colton have reached such a conclusion? Even if Elyse had planted the idea in his mind, why would he have accepted it without evidence?
Confusion knotted her thoughts.
Little by little, the trembling in her body eased. Sensing the change, Colton finally relaxed, the stiffness in his shoulders softening. Only then did he become aware of the warm, sticky trail running down from his forehead. He raised a hand and brushed his fingers across it. When he pulled them back, red stained his skin.
Slowly, he let go of Kristine.
She looked up and noticed the fresh blood tracing a line down his face. No words came from her. She only lay still and watched.
A sudden, piercing ache struck Colton’s chest. In the past, any injury he suffered would have sent Kristine into greater panic than him.
“Kristine, let’s talk this through calmly,” he said.