Chapter 209
Chapter 209:
Joselyn didn’t move. Her mouth stayed parted, eyes wide, as cold liquid dripped down her cheek and caught in her lashes. Then came the shriek. “You miserable bitch! I’ll end you!” She lunged, wild and snarling.
Kristine shifted just in time, stepping aside as though she had expected the outburst entirely.
But Joselyn wasn’t finished. Her hand shot out and grabbed Kristine’s bag. Driven by rage and humiliated beyond repair, she swung it with the full force of her fury, aiming straight for Kristine’s head, her grip wild and desperate.
The students circled the scene in stunned silence, retreating like smoke from a flame, none of them daring to get involved.
Helen stood rooted to the floor, eyes locked on the splattered lemonade — her early-morning effort, now reduced to a spreading puddle on the tile.
“You’ve lost your mind!” Helen snapped, shoving Joselyn back hard enough to rattle her balance.
Recognition dawned on Joselyn’s face, and her attitude shifted fast. The sneer faded, replaced by a smile so forced it practically cracked. “You must be Helen. Vance mentioned you. We were classmates for a while p>
“I’m well aware,” Helen cut in, her voice sharp as glass. “You’re the one who wouldn’t leave him alone. He said no, and you made sure his career was dead before it even started. That’s what you did, isn’t it p>
𝘞𝖾 𝗎𝗉𝖽𝗮𝘵е е𝘷𝗲𝘳у 𝘸е𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝗻
Kristine blinked, caught off guard. That wasn’t the story Vance had told her. He had always blamed his early struggles on being too blunt for the corporate world.
Color drained from Joselyn’s face. “That’s not what happened p>
“Spare me. We both know exactly what happened,” Helen said, her tone laced with contempt.
“I didn’t do that, no matter what you think,” Joselyn replied, lifting her chin as whispers rose behind her. Eyes burned into her from every direction, but she held her ground, if only barely.
With a sharp motion, she threw Kristine’s bag onto the table and leveled a final glare. “This isn’t finished, Kristine. You’ll see p>
Kristine watched Joselyn disappear down the hallway, a faint crease of concern settling between her brows. Something about the encounter lingered, stirring an unease she couldn’t quite shake.
“Kristine,” Helen called out.
She turned to find Helen looking tired and deflated.
“I just wanted you to try the lemonade I made, but that woman managed to ruin the whole moment. Here, give me the bottle — I’ll go clean it up p>
Kristine glanced at the bottle in her hand. A little liquid still clung to the bottom; she had been careful not to spill everything.
“No need. I’ll wash it myself,” Kristine replied.
Helen looked as though she wanted to argue, then thought better of it and gave a small nod. “Alright, thanks, Kristine p>
With a gentle smile, Kristine stepped out from the busy backstage. Rather than heading straight to the sinks, she drifted toward a quiet grove where the peach trees stood.
By now, the last of the peach blossoms had fallen, leaving the branches thin and bare compared to their lush summer fullness. Even stripped of their flowers, the trees radiated a quiet, unhurried grace that Kristine had always found soothing.