Chapter 374
Chapter 374:
Slowly, Colton looked up. His lashes trembled as he fought to hold himself together, and at last he forced himself to look at her face. It was slightly swollen from the water, but the shape of her brows, her nose, her mouth — all unmistakably hers.
The pain that moved through his chest was like something physically breaking.
He forced himself to walk to the side of the table. Then something in him snapped. He grabbed her shoulders. “Kristine — you’re just messing with me, aren’t you? You’re not actually dead. Get up. You can’t fake this to get away from me. Get up right now p>
“That’s enough!” Asher wheeled himself forward and seized Colton’s arm. “Colton — she’s gone. Let her rest in peace p>
“She isn’t dead!” Colton hissed through clenched teeth, as though the force of his denial alone could reverse what was in front of him.
“She drowned,” Asher said, releasing his arm. “You need to accept that p>
Colton’s mouth trembled uncontrollably. His eyes were bloodshot, and when he spoke, every word came out with absolute conviction. “Kristine is not dead. She is not p>
Then his gaze fell to the body’s collarbone, and he let out a sharp, cold laugh.
“Kristine isn’t dead p>
This time, the certainty in his voice was different — not denial, but proof. He had found something.
𝗗i𝘴сo𝘷𝖾𝗿 𝗇𝘦𝘸 s𝘵о𝘳𝘪𝖾s о𝗇 𝗴a𝗹ո𝗈vе𝗅s.𝘤𝗈𝘮
Every person in the room turned to stare at Colton at once, their expressions completely lost.
Asher scowled and forced an authoritative tone. “Mr. Yates, get a grip. Kristine is dead. That is a fact p>
“Asher.” Colton looked up slowly, his eyes pinning him in place. “Your setup was almost perfect — except for one thing. Kristine didn’t have a mole on her collarbone. This body does p>
Everyone looked where he was pointing. Sure enough, a dark mole marked the dead woman’s collarbone.
“So — she’s alive?” Danica stopped mid-sob and fixed her eyes on Colton as though he were the only solid thing left in the room.
Colton didn’t look away from Asher for a moment. “You’d have to ask Mr. Edwards about that p>
Asher’s knuckles went white against the armrest. For just a fraction of a second, pure panic crossed his face — then he composed himself. “What exactly are you implying, Mr. Yates p>
Colton leaned in close, his eyes cold and bottomless. “Kristine is a wanted kidnapper. You found a random body to fake her death so she could disappear. Didn’t you p>
Asher held his gaze with a small, infuriating smirk. “Those are serious accusations. You’d better have proof before you start throwing them around p>
Right then, Bobby burst into the room. “Mr. Yates — I have the DNA results. The body doesn’t match Kristine’s hair or skin samples. This is definitely not Ms. Green p>
Colton turned a mocking look on Asher. “Well? What do you have to say now p>
He let his shoulders relax, just slightly.
Asher’s eyes went cold. He leaned back in his chair. “Kristine is dead. I understand you’re in denial — but that’s the reality.” He began to turn his wheelchair, as though the conversation were finished.
Colton grabbed the back of the chair and said quietly, “Where is she p>