Chapter 177
Chapter 177:
Silence filled the apartment once again. She crossed her arms, her mind in complete turmoil — one moment replaying Colton’s recent visit, the next unable to shake the memory of Vance opening up about his feelings. No matter how she tried to piece things together, none of it made any sense.
Eventually, she abandoned the tangled thoughts and returned to her room, deciding that sleep was her only escape.
Morning arrived with an unexpected message from Elyse. “What do you think of the ring Colton gave me?” Attached was a photo of a gold ring gleaming under the light.
Kristine barely spared the image a second glance before her mind shifted to something far more pressing. Elyse had once tried to force her into donating a kidney. She had been completely in the dark about what progress Ryan had made with his investigation. Now that Elyse had resurfaced, it was time for answers — and if Elyse had ever intended to use the transplant as leverage to hurt her, she was determined not to let her off so easily this time.
𝘔𝗼𝗿𝘦 𝗇o𝗏е𝘭𝗌 𝗼𝘯
Without hesitating, Kristine called Ryan.
The line rang for more than a minute before he finally picked up.
“Were you in the middle of class?” Kristine asked gently.
“No. Not really,” Ryan replied, his tone sounding strangely unsettled.
Concern crept into her voice. “Are you feeling okay? You sound a bit off p>
Ryan hesitated. “I’m fine. Kristine, you called because you want to know if I betrayed you, didn’t you p>
Surprise washed over her before she broke into a light laugh. “Why would I even think to ask you something like that p>
Confusion edged into his voice. “The only people who knew about what happened in Lunatown were Helen’s family and me. Helen’s family would never turn on you, so the only person left is me p>
With mock seriousness, Kristine asked, “So you really did it, huh p>
Panic crept into Ryan’s reply. “No! It wasn’t me, I swear! I promise you, if I had p>
Kristine cut him off gently. “I knew it wasn’t you p>
Ryan went silent, unable to process what he was hearing. “You never doubted me p>
“Didn’t you promise you wouldn’t turn your back on me?” A soft smile touched Kristine’s lips. “I trust you, Ryan. I know you’d never betray me p>
That single reassurance allowed the tension in his chest to finally dissolve.
He remembered how, just a few days ago, Vance had come to see him and told him Kristine had never left Gridron. Vance had confided his suspicion that someone had leaked information and ruined their plans. The moment Ryan heard those words, a cold, prickling sensation had spread through him. He was by nature reserved and indifferent to what people thought of him, so he had managed only a curt “Understood” before turning away — but once alone in his dorm, the same question had circled endlessly in his mind. What would Kristine think of him?
Knowing she had never once suspected him filled Ryan with genuine warmth, a real smile finally softening his features.
That relief didn’t last long. His brow furrowed again. “If it wasn’t me, and Helen’s family isn’t involved, then who else could possibly be responsible p>