Chapter 292
Chapter 292:
Everything that followed faded into a haze. The next clear image in her mind was stepping into his hospital room. A sea of white surrounded her on every side — her father rested in the bed, swathed head to toe in white bandages, and even the ceiling above offered no comfort. The bed linens matched: pristine, cold, and still. All that white emptiness seemed to press down on her, leaving behind a strange, quiet fear she couldn’t shake.
In the end, the man she had once seen as larger than life became nothing more than a delicate urn held tightly between her palms.
Suddenly, a crushing pain seized Kristine’s chest, leaving her gasping for air.
Meanwhile, in a lavish hotel suite, Colton studied the face glowing on his phone screen.
“Kristine didn’t say a word? Just blocked you outright p>
“She did,” the man admitted, his smile careful and unreadable. “I sent her both photos you gave me, and she blocked me right after p>
A subtle tension flickered across Colton’s features, his eyes narrowing just slightly. He looked up and locked his gaze on the man, his voice turning icy. “Understood. Bobby will handle your payment soon p>
“This really isn’t p>
Colton hung up before the man could finish. With the call ended, a shadow crossed his face.
𝖱е𝗮𝗱 wi𝗍𝘩𝗼𝗎𝗍 in𝘁𝘦𝗋𝘳𝗎𝗽𝗍i𝗈n𝘴 𝘰n
Did Kristine really not care anymore?
Unable to sit still, he rose from the couch and pulled open the door. Elyse stood just outside, a plate of fresh strawberries in her hands.
“Are you going out, Colton?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah.” He gave a short nod, and without another word, brushed past her and left.
Elyse watched him walk away, a storm brewing behind her eyes. No matter what Colton had promised her, Kristine was still a threat.
Stepping out of the hotel, Colton made his way straight to Kristine’s apartment.
He rang the doorbell again and again, but no one answered. The sound drew out a neighbor instead, who eyed him with mild curiosity. “Are you looking for Ms. Green p>
“Yes,” Colton replied, keeping his tone firm. He tried to soften his expression, but the effort only seemed to make the neighbor more uneasy, so he dropped the act and asked plainly, “Do you know where she is p>
“It’s been days since I last saw her.” The neighbor kept her eyes fixed on the ceiling as she thought back. “If I remember right, it’s been about three days. She hasn’t stepped outside once since then. And something felt off that day — she barely reacted when I tried to talk to her p>
Colton’s brow tightened with concern. He didn’t waste another moment. He strode to the emergency case, snatched up the fire axe, and headed straight for the door. Muscles coiled with tension, he hefted the axe and slammed it into the wood with all his strength. The door groaned and buckled, a jagged crack splintering across the frame. With one final effort, he forced it open.
The neighbor, startled from her daze, stared at the wrecked frame before peering cautiously inside.
A heavy silence filled the apartment. Not even the faintest sound reached their ears.
“Perhaps Ms. Green isn’t home after all?” the neighbor offered.
Colton didn’t bother to answer. He stepped inside, letting his eyes sweep the space as a familiar warmth tugged at something deep within him. The apartment was modest — a simple one-bedroom layout. He crossed to the bedroom in just a few strides.