Chapter 405
Chapter 405:
Alma came into view with Goodwin close behind her, following at a leisurely pace despite her irritation. He wore the same calm, pleasant smile he always seemed to have — patient, unhurried, entirely unbothered.
Seeing him always stirred the same unsettling association in Kristine’s mind. The resemblance to Colton was inescapable, and it always pulled her back to the same image — Colton’s voice going soft and tender whenever he spoke to Elyse.
Alma spotted her and hurried over as though she had just been rescued from something. “Kristine! When did you get here p>
Kristine glanced past her and caught Goodwin watching with a sly, knowing look in his eyes. She felt a prickle of discomfort and turned back to Alma. “Just now. The house is so large — I thought I’d have a look around,” she said, and then quietly excused herself.
She slipped out through the back and found herself standing in an enormous garden. It stretched so far in every direction that there wasn’t a fence in sight. Asher’s Bugatti was parked just beyond the grounds; a few other cars sat nearby, which she assumed belonged to Alma and Goodwin.
What she didn’t know was that across the street, Devin sat low in a white car, binoculars pressed to his eyes. He adjusted the focus until her face came in sharp and unmistakable.
𝖱е𝗮𝗱 wi𝗍𝘩𝗼𝗎𝗍 in𝘁𝘦𝗋𝘳𝗎𝗽𝗍i𝗈n𝘴 𝘰n
It was her. It was absolutely Kristine.
He slapped his knee in excitement and took a photo. He fired it off to Colton with a message: I told you! Kristine faked her death to get close to your father and force the marriage. Look at this — do you recognize the location?
Colton’s reply came almost immediately. Stop talking nonsense.
Devin gritted his teeth. This is the home of the woman your father is pursuing. Kristine tracked it down herself — she’s playing a long game here.
Colton stared at the message and the photo for a long moment, something shifting in his expression. Then he typed a single word. Address.
Devin sat up straighter. Wait — are you already in Raskor?
No explanation came. Just the same word, sent again. Address.
Devin was momentarily speechless.
In the garden, Kristine stood quietly before a cluster of roses.
In the soft moonlight, they looked almost unreal — pale and luminous, as though dusted with silver. A cool breeze moved through the grounds, carrying the mingled scents of blossoms and damp earth, and for just a moment she felt the tension in her chest ease slightly.
Then a shadow fell across the ground in front of her.
She didn’t turn around. “Mr. Yates,” she said quietly.
Sure enough, Goodwin stood behind her when she looked. He offered a small smile. “You really are perceptive, Ms. Green. It’s no wonder Colton is so taken with you p>
The mention of Colton’s name sent her thoughts scattering in every direction at once.
She studied Goodwin carefully. “Who are you, exactly p>
He laughed softly. “You genuinely don’t know p>
She shook her head.
He laughed again, more openly this time. “Then let me be clearer. I’m Goodwin Yates — Colton’s father p>