Chapter 215
Chapter 215:
Colton spoke with a faint curve to his lips that vanished almost immediately. “Looks can lie. I’m not some investigator, so how would I know whether she took the earring or not p>
Confusion rippled through the group as people exchanged uncertain glances. Vance, on the other hand, could not hide his irritation. “Mr. Yates, are you really unaware of the kind of person Kristine is p>
The change in Colton’s expression was instant. The air around him turned colder. He paused briefly before giving a low, humorless laugh. “Are you trying to tell me how I should handle this p>
“I just p>
Colton cut him off by raising his voice, forcing Vance into silence. “All of you — leave. Now p>
The president clearly wanted nothing to do with the escalating tension. Without hesitation, he nodded and spoke up. “Alright, everyone, step outside p>
Elyse’s expression shifted as the crowd began to move, yet she said nothing. She kept her eyes on Colton until she left the backstage area with the others.
о𝗿𝗀𝗮𝘯izе 𝗒o𝗎r l𝗶𝘣𝗋a𝗋𝘆 о𝗇
Before long, only Kristine, Colton, and Vance remained.
Vance stood his ground, staring straight at Colton with a sharp focus that suggested he was ready to act at any second. His expression appeared calm, but the hostility beneath it was impossible to miss.
Colton turned his attention to Kristine, and she immediately caught the warning hidden in his look. After steadying herself, she spoke quietly but firmly. “Vance, you should leave p>
“Kristine, I—” Vance began to protest.
She cut him off without turning around. “Go ahead. I’ll be fine p>
Vance’s brows drew together, yet after a brief hesitation he walked out, every step heavy with reluctance.
Once she had settled in front of the vanity mirror, Kristine spoke evenly. “What is it you want to say p>
In the reflection, Colton’s tall frame appeared distant and almost unreal, as though he didn’t quite belong in the room. Her eyelids lowered slightly before she spoke again, her tone stripped of patience. “Say whatever you came here to say p>
Colton’s eyes hardened as they rested on her back, and the words he meant to speak stalled until his expression tightened instead.
He had already checked with Devin, only to learn that Devin barely remembered ever claiming Kristine had chased him to protect her late father’s antiques — and Devin had no idea who had made that call years ago. Because of that, even the knowledge that Kristine had once loved him no longer carried any weight. Her feelings were clearly gone.
Colton broke the silence with a cool remark. “This was a small issue, yet Vance failed to deal with it. That alone shows he is not the right man for you p>
Kristine responded without emotion. “So you cleared the room just to mock him p>
“If you leave this to me, I can take care of it,” Colton said, his voice steady.
At those words, Kristine turned around sharply. Eyeshadow cases, blush compacts, and scattered makeup tools rattled as the vanity trembled, the sudden noise cutting through the stillness backstage.
“So in your mind, I’m the one who stole it?” she asked, her lips curved into a faint smile that never reached her eyes.