Chapter 145
Chapter 145:
What Susan said was no exaggeration. After completing his studies at Gridron University, Vance had secured a respectable position, yet his blunt and overly honest nature caused friction with many around him. Without Kristine’s job offer, he would likely have returned to his hometown and taken whatever work he could find just to get by. That kind of life would have been stable enough, but it would never have led to the comfort he now enjoyed — a city home and a newly built house back in town.
Walking beside Susan, Kristine smiled and gently linked her arm through hers. With Susan, she experienced a quiet kind of maternal warmth that had never once come from Monica. At times, the thought crossed her mind that Monica might not truly be her biological mother.
Inside the house, only the two of them were around. Helen was still at school, and Frey Bailey had gone out to sea to fish.
Speaking of her husband, Susan smiled softly. “Frey has always loved fishing. Every time he goes out on the water, he says it feels like starting a new adventure p>
Just as her words settled, Susan’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen and smiled. “It’s Vance calling p>
Without warning, a tight pressure formed in Kristine’s chest. After Susan answered, Kristine noticed it was only Vance on the line, and her clenched hands gradually relaxed.
Once the brief exchange ended, Susan passed the phone to her.
On the other end, Vance spoke directly. “Kristine, my father will be home on Sunday. He will take you away then p>
Her heart gave a sharp jolt. “Did something happen p>
𝗤𝗎аl𝗂𝗍𝘺 𝘵𝗿an𝘀𝗅𝗮𝗍iо𝗇𝘀 𝘰n
A quiet sigh came through the line. “Mr. Yates came back today p>
Tension ran straight through Kristine’s spine.
“He came to see me the moment he returned. But don’t panic. I moved away from my hometown when I was very young — all my records, including my identification, list my address in the city. No one knows Lunatown is my real hometown. Because of that, Mr. Yates won’t find you there anytime soon. Wait until my dad gets back. I will let you know if anything changes p>
Trying to steady herself, Kristine replied, “All right.” Her voice trembled slightly. “Vance, please stay safe p>
Her concern stirred something in his chest. “I will.” Without lingering, he ended the call.
With the phone still in her hand, unease settled heavily in Kristine’s chest.
Noticing the shift in her mood, Susan reached out and gave her shoulder a comforting pat. “Don’t worry, Kristy. Everything will work out in the end p>
Kristine gave a small nod, though the tension in her eyes refused to fade.
Late that night, a sudden storm broke out, bringing rolling thunder and sharp flashes of lightning. The noise startled Kristine awake.
Since childhood, thunderstorms had always filled her with fear. Business trips often kept her father away, leaving her rarely at home. Whenever storms came, she would bury herself beneath the blankets, too frightened to seek comfort from Monica — because her mother was far more terrifying to her than any thunder outside.
Years later, after she went to college in Gridron — a city known for its lack of heavy rain — she encountered a storm only once. That night happened to be her first evening at the villa in Crestwood, the same night she learned of Elyse’s existence. After a fierce argument with Colton, she had fled to the bedroom and tried to sleep.