Chapter 258
Chapter 258:
The excitement had been so overwhelming that she had dashed downstairs in her pajamas to ask Colton if he was behind the surprise. His response was icy. “A supplier sent them. Why would I buy that for you?” The joy vanished instantly, replaced by disappointment.
Now, watching Colton go to such lengths for Elyse — arranging to have desserts flown in — Kristine felt nothing. Still, she couldn’t ignore the truth: there was a world of difference between being cherished and being overlooked.
“Kristine,” a gentle voice called from behind her.
Turning around, she was surprised to find Asher approaching in his wheelchair. His appearance caught her off guard. A small, reassuring smile played on his lips, but his gaze was sharp as he took in the entire room. “I heard today was your first day filming, so I wanted to stop by and see how things were going.” His voice was calm, yet it carried clearly through the room.
The chatter on set slowly faded into silence. The moment the crowd spotted Asher, surprise lit up their faces — they couldn’t quite process that someone of his standing would make an appearance here.
іn𝗍еո𝘴𝖾 ro𝗺𝖺𝗇𝗰𝖾 𝗼𝘯
Rolling further into the room, Asher let the intensity in his eyes soften. Only then did the others notice his assistant and two bodyguards following close behind, each carrying beautifully wrapped food boxes. A few quick glances revealed the logo: BloomBake, the most prestigious bakery in Peudon. The name was well known, but only a handful had ever walked through its doors — not for lack of desire, but because it was simply far too expensive. A place meant for the wealthy, plain and simple.
“I brought a few treats for everyone,” Asher announced, nodding to his staff to set the boxes on the table. He turned to Kristine with a warm smile. “Since this is Kristine’s debut shoot, she’s still getting used to things. I hope everyone will look out for her and show her some support p>
The stunned expressions around the room said it all, and Kristine felt just as surprised as the rest.
Asher’s message was clear. He was there for her.
Other than her father, no one had ever publicly stood by her side before. The realization touched her deeply.
As people crowded around Asher and Kristine, Elyse’s expression darkened, a deep frown settling across her face.
Ever since she learned Colton had traveled to Peudon, her thoughts had been a tangled mess. She had packed her belongings and left for Peudon that very night, staying close to Colton nearly every waking moment, only parting ways when they slept. A wave of relief had washed over her each time she confirmed he made no effort to visit Kristine.
Yet several nights earlier, she had noticed a strange pattern: Colton would return to his hotel room, rest briefly, then disappear again. Curiosity got the better of her, and she trailed him in secret. That was when she saw him drive straight to the Artifact Institute. If she hadn’t personally witnessed Kristine leaving with another woman, she would never have guessed Colton’s real reason for coming to Peudon.