Chapter 188
Chapter 188:
Neither of them moved. At last, when nothing else happened, she glanced back and saw that he remained deep in sleep, his expression peaceful. Gently, she pried his fingers away and set his hand back down beside him.
A quiet, broken plea escaped his lips. “Don’t leave p>
Kristine had never seen Colton so vulnerable. A faint frown creased her forehead as she watched him.
A soft murmur drifted from his lips. “Please, baby, don’t go. I’m begging you p>
That single word sent a ripple through her.
All those years together, Colton had never once called her anything so affectionate. She knew exactly who he meant. “Baby” was reserved for Elyse.
𝘋𝗈𝘸n𝘭𝗈𝖺𝖽𝘢𝖻𝗅e 𝖯DF𝘴 on 𝗴а𝗹ո𝗼vеl𝘴.𝖼𝗈m
So Elyse was the reason he had ended up in this state.
Casting him one final look, Kristine slipped away toward the bathroom. A hot shower washed away the tension, and soon after she crawled into bed, exhaustion pulling her swiftly to sleep.
Morning sunlight spilled into the bedroom. Kristine blinked in confusion when she spotted Colton sitting on her couch, the memory of the previous night rushing back.
“Sorry about last night,” he said, his tone calm now, all traces of drunken desperation gone.
Kristine responded with a silent nod and headed for the bathroom to freshen up.
When she walked back out, Colton hadn’t moved from the living room. He was clearly in no rush to leave.
A frown pulled at her brow. “Just to be clear, Colton, when I agreed to come back p>
He pressed his fingers to his temples, the strain evident on his face. “We may not be together anymore,” he muttered, “but do you really have to speak to me like I’m a stranger p>
“If it’s comfort you want,” Kristine said, her tone cool, “I think you’d have better luck finding it with Elyse p>
Colton’s hands curled into fists. After a few tense seconds, he exhaled and tried again. “Is it really impossible for us to have a calm conversation p>
She met his gaze without hesitation. “There’s nothing left to say between us p>
“Vance isn’t the one for you,” Colton said, a muscle pulsing along his jaw.
Kristine offered him a warm, bright smile. “My relationships are my own concern. You don’t get a say in who I date p>
“It’s just — Vance p>
“Are you about to claim he’s a bad person?” she interrupted with a sharp edge. “Funny. You said the same thing about Asher, didn’t you p>
Colton’s eyes hardened as he looked at her, his voice dropping to something unexpectedly serious. “That’s not what I mean. Vance is a decent man — and that’s the problem. If you go out with him, you will only end up making things difficult for him p>
Uncertainty flickered in Kristine’s chest as she held his gaze. “What are you really saying p>
“Someone told me where you were when you were hiding in Lunatown,” Colton said flatly.
A chill slid through Kristine’s chest. Even though she had already guessed the truth, she still asked, “Who p>
“Helen Bailey p>
Kristine stiffened.
So it really had been Helen.
But why? There had never been any bad blood between them.