Chapter 186
Chapter 186:
“Can you take me home?” she asked.
Vance hesitated for a heartbeat, then his expression warmed into a gentle smile. “Of course p>
On the drive, the car was wrapped in a comfortable silence.
Once they reached her building, Kristine opened the door and looked over her shoulder. “Good night p>
“Good night,” Vance replied, the warmth still shining in his eyes.
𝘋іѕс𝗈ve𝗋 𝗵і𝗱d𝗲𝗇 𝗀e𝘮𝗌 𝗼𝗇
Kristine pressed her lips together and made her way toward the entrance. She kept moving forward without turning around. There was no need — she was certain his gaze stayed on her.
For the past seven years, he had always been in her corner, treating her well without asking anything in return. If choosing Vance meant she could finally reach something real and steady, then she was willing to take that chance.
The moment that thought settled in her mind, something loosened in her chest, and her steps grew noticeably lighter.
Kristine nearly jumped as she found a tall shadow waiting by the doorway. “Colton p>
The unmistakable scent of alcohol hung in the air between them.
Back at the hotel, she clearly remembered that Colton had barely touched his drink. Had he been unable to calm Elyse down and turned to alcohol to drown his frustration?
“Could you please step aside? I need to go in.” She stopped at a careful distance, leaving a deliberate gap between them.
Colton slowly raised his head and fixed her with a dazed look. His eyes were softer than usual, unfocused — and before Kristine could react, he wrapped his arms around her gently, his voice cracked and trembling. “Please, just stay. Don’t leave me p>
Her heart pounded wildly. “You’re drunk, Colton p>
He shook his head with stubborn insistence, clinging to her more desperately and burying his face in her shoulder. “I’m not drunk,” he whispered, over and over. “Don’t leave me. I can’t take it p>
His breath brushed against her ear, sending an odd shiver down her spine.
It took all her strength to finally push him away. “Enough, Colton. Stop acting like this. I’m calling Elyse to come pick you up p>
She reached for her phone without hesitation — and barely had time to unlock the screen before it vanished from her hand.
Colton had taken it.
Drunkenness flushed his sharply cut face, staining his cheeks an unnatural red. Where his eyes once held their familiar icy calm, there was now only a distant, unfocused emptiness that left him looking lost and strangely vulnerable.
“Give me my phone back, Colton.” Kristine softened her voice.
He shook his head. “No. Not unless you swear to me p>
He swayed on his feet, lowering his gaze to lock onto hers. “Swear you won’t ever leave me p>
A troubled frown crossed Kristine’s face. She knew well enough that by morning, Colton wouldn’t remember a single word of this — yet making a promise like that felt impossible.
“Hand it over, Colton. Give me my phone p>