Chapter 4
Chapter 4:
Once the message was sent, silence followed without any reply.
Only after midnight did a response from Colton finally come through. “I do not know how to make a cake. If there is anything you want to eat, I can ask Bobby to buy it for you p>
A bitter laugh slipped from Kristine.
Was it truly because he did not know how to bake, or simply because he did not want to do it for her? Her eyes drifted to the scar on her wrist, which had already begun to fade, and her smile slowly grew heavier.
Back when she was at home, cooking had never been something she needed to do. But to make Colton happy, she had taught herself to prepare all of his favorite dishes. Even when her fingers were cut or blisters formed from burns, she endured it and refused to stop.
𝖠d𝗱іc𝘵iv𝗲 ոо𝗏𝗲𝗅𝗌 𝗈n
“No need,” Kristine texted back.
From that moment on, she no longer needed anything from him.
The following morning, Kristine walked downstairs and froze when she found Colton already there. A sudden unease tightened in her chest.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“In case you forgot, yesterday was your birthday,” Colton replied in an even tone. “I had something important to handle, so I couldn’t stay with you. That is why I am making it up to you today p>
A muted scoff echoed in Kristine’s mind. To him, being with Elyse was clearly what mattered most.
“There is no need for that,” she said. “I already made plans for today p>
Colton rose to his feet, his tall frame seeming to press down on the space around them. “Are you keeping something from me?” Lately, Kristine had been far too composed. That calmness unsettled him. They used to argue over Elyse all the time — sometimes every few days without fail.
Kristine held his gaze and answered without hesitation. “No p>
Colton examined the stubborn look in her eyes, and a slow unease tightened in his chest, as though something unpleasant was on the verge of unfolding.
“Come with me,” he said. “You can decide where we go p>
Before Kristine could turn him down, the moment slipped away. Without warning, Colton seized her arm and ushered her straight into the car.
Her flight was set for eight that evening. There was still enough time. And more importantly, there was one place she wanted to see again before everything ended.
Following Kristine’s directions, the car eventually stopped at the main entrance of Gridron University.
Surprise flickered across Colton’s face as he took in the familiar buildings. “Why did you bring me here p>
“This is where I once confessed my feelings to you.” Kristine spoke as she gestured toward a large stone nearby. On campus, it was known as the wishing stone. People believed that standing beside it and making a wish would ensure it came true.
At the time, her only wish had been to become Colton’s girlfriend. In the end, that wish was fulfilled. What never followed was his love.
Colton’s gaze shifted in the same direction, and the memory slowly resurfaced.
On that day, Kristine had been a little drunk. She burst out from behind the stone, clutched his collar, and declared without hesitation, “Colton, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend p>
Back then, Colton had been one of the most sought-after people on campus. Whether in Gridron or Peudon, there was never a shortage of people chasing after him. But having a tipsy girl confess so boldly was a first. Finding it entertaining, he replied on a whim, “Sure p>
Clarity returned to Kristine’s eyes at once, yet shock rooted her to the spot. Before he had the chance to tease her further, Elyse called, and he left. When he came back, he finally realized what it felt like to have a girlfriend.
In the beginning, Colton had found Kristine’s nonstop talking irritating. Over time, however, her constant presence slowly became something he was used to. There was even a moment — when she fell ill and did not seek him out — that he felt an unexpected emptiness.
A sharp stir of emotion moved through him. Turning his head, he looked at Kristine sitting beside him. Since when had she grown so silent?
Looking back, it seemed to start after he repeatedly insisted on flying to Eyling, no matter how strongly she objected. At first, she had argued with him heatedly. Later, her resistance faded. Eventually, she stopped arguing about Elyse at all.
That realization struck his chest again.
“Kristine, Elyse’s return was because p>
“This is where we went on our first date,” Kristine said, cutting him off. She pushed open the car door and stepped out. She had no desire to hear Elyse’s name.
A moment later, Colton got out and followed.
Kristine slowed her steps and came to a halt in front of a small stall that sold chili dogs. As the heir to the wealthiest family in Gridron, Colton had grown up under strict expectations and careful supervision. Street food had never been something he would willingly touch. Kristine, however, had always loved pulling him through cramped alleys and sampling local snacks together.
This stall had been the very first place she ever brought him to eat. The memory of his expression twisting in obvious disgust when the chili dog was handed to him still lingered vividly in her mind.
Snapping back to the present, she placed the order exactly as she had years ago. “Two chili dogs, please p>
“Of course, just a moment,” the owner answered. Seeing such a striking pair together was a first for him — he stared briefly before remembering to move.
Even though four years had passed, Kristine could still recall this place with striking clarity.
Colton’s gaze stayed on her, his throat moving slightly as he spoke. “We could go back to how things were at the beginning.” No more fights. No more cold silences. The words sounded almost perfect.
A faint trace of irony curved Kristine’s lips. “If Elyse had never existed, then maybe we could have p>
But reality never allowed room for such possibilities.
“Elyse’s situation will be resolved soon,” Colton said, taking her hands in his. “We can return to how things were before p>
Only then did he notice how cold her hands felt. The fear rising in his chest made his grip tighten instinctively. “Kristine, believe me. We can make this work p>
Something within her wavered.
“There is no chance left anymore. Tonight I p>
Her words were cut off by the sharp sound of Colton’s phone ringing. It was Elyse’s exclusive ringtone.
A faint smile settled on Kristine’s lips as she quietly mocked herself for having believed him, even briefly, for thinking they could ever go back to the past.
Without hesitation, Colton answered the call.
The voice that came through was not Elyse’s. It belonged to her attending physician, Brent Walsh. “Colton, you need to come to the hospital immediately. Elyse’s heart condition has worsened, and she truly needs you here right now p>
Colton’s face turned rigid. “I understand p>
He turned around and walked away.
Kristine kept her eyes on his retreating figure, the same faint smile still resting on her face. Her emotions did not waver.
No matter whether Colton had appeared today or not, she had already decided to walk the entire food street they had once visited together, from beginning to end. Back then, Kristine had been completely unaware of Elyse’s existence. She had truly believed Colton loved her too — that it was love that made him indulge all her playful impulses. It was only much later that she finally saw the truth clearly.
When she reached the far end of the food street, Kristine paused and cast one last glance at the bustling crowd. Then she turned around and walked straight toward the airport without looking back.
By seven thirty that evening, Kristine had already arrived. While she waited to board, a message from Colton came through.
“Are you still at Gridron University? I’m on my way there p>
She did not respond. Instead, she cut off every possible way for him to reach her.