Chapter 196
Chapter 196:
Kristine felt her throat tighten as she stared at the sheer volume of material. Victor had always stood by her side, offering encouragement whenever she needed it. She had let him down. Though she longed to return to the institute, she might not get another chance.
Determined to refocus, she immersed herself in the reference materials. Tackling watch restoration for the first time, she was swept up by the world of intricate mechanisms and techniques. Hours slipped away unnoticed as she pored over the content, losing all sense of day and night.
Only when her phone rang on Saturday morning did she remember her plans with Vance.
“That’s right — we’re supposed to have lunch together today,” Kristine said aloud, quickly closing her laptop and rubbing the fatigue from her eyes. “Give me ten minutes and I’ll be ready p>
Vance’s warm voice answered, “Don’t worry. There’s no need to rush p>
“But you’re already waiting outside, aren’t you p>
“I don’t mind,” he replied. “I’ll be here p>
A brief silence passed before Kristine said, “Okay. I’ll be down soon p>
She hurried to the bathroom, freshened up, and tried to shake off her exhaustion. Even moving as quickly as she could, it still took thirty minutes before she finally made it downstairs.
рo𝘱𝘶𝗹а𝘳 𝘴t𝘰𝘳i𝗲𝗌 o𝗇 ѕ.с𝗈𝗆
“Sorry you had to wait,” she said, slightly out of breath.
Vance just smiled, unable to look away.
Most days, Kristine kept her appearance simple and natural. Today was different. There was something almost otherworldly about her, as if she had wandered straight out of an enchanted woodland. Soft curls framed her face and cascaded down in gentle waves, while flawless makeup brought out a poise and allure that turned every head.
For a moment, Vance could only stare, caught off guard by the transformation. “Let me open the door for you,” he managed to say.
Kristine smiled and brushed him off. “That’s alright. I’ve got it.” She opened the car door herself and slipped inside.
Vance lingered a few seconds longer, unable to let go of the image. His heart still racing, he finally settled into the driver’s seat. He had always known Kristine was attractive, but he had never imagined she could look so breathtaking.
A flicker of self-doubt crept in behind the initial awe. He had done well for himself since college, but it paled in comparison to what Colton had achieved.
Noticing he hadn’t started the car, Kristine turned to him. “Vance?” she asked, puzzled.
Vance blinked and gave his head a small shake. “Right — we need to pick up Helen from school first p>
“Sure p>
They soon reached the school and waited for Helen. She had also taken extra care with her appearance that day, but standing next to Kristine, her efforts faded into the background. A flash of irritation crossed her mind, though she kept her expression bright.
“Kristine, I brought you something. You have to take it.” She held out a lipstick.
Kristine’s eyes flickered briefly toward Vance. Noticing the hopeful look he gave her, she accepted the gift.
With that, the three set out for lunch together. Their destination was a restaurant near downtown, with prices averaging around a hundred per person — Helen’s self-imposed budget cap.