Chapter 433
Chapter 433:
Kristine and Alma exchanged a glance. After a brief conversation with the shopkeeper, the picture became clearer — a group from Rymonst had visited the shop earlier that day, and one of the women in the group had looked strikingly like Kristine.
Alma turned to her. “Could it be your sister p>
Jemma’s face flashed through Kristine’s mind, but the idea seemed improbable. What reason would Jemma have to be in Evira?
“Is it possible you’ve mixed me up with someone else?” she asked the shopkeeper.
He shook his head with calm certainty. “No. The resemblance was quite strong p>
Kristine’s expression tightened. She reached for her mask and put it back on. She had removed it before entering to avoid drawing attention — but now it was clear she needed to keep it on anytime she was outside.
Alma caught the look on her face and brought the exchange with the shopkeeper to a swift close, paid for the materials, and steered them back out the door.
The car was parked at the end of a narrow alley nearby. They moved through it quickly, side by side, footsteps light and purposeful.
“What a strange coincidence,” Alma muttered under her breath. “Someone with your face, in a different country. That’s not nothing. Do you have any idea who it could be p>
Kristine shook her head.
“Never mind for now,” Alma said, her jaw tightening. “We need to get back p>
𝖱𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝗈𝘯 𝗮𝗇у 𝖽𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘤e 𝗈ո 𝗴𝖺𝘭no𝘷е𝘭ѕ.𝗰o𝘮
Asher would not forgive her if anything went wrong — not when Kristine had only come out to buy repair parts.
Kristine gave a small nod — and then felt it. A prickle at the back of her neck. The unsettling awareness of being observed by eyes she couldn’t locate.
They reached the car. Alma’s hand was already on the door handle when footsteps rang out behind them — sharp and deliberate in the empty alley, each one echoing off the walls.
The door swung open.
A voice called out from behind them. “Kristine p>
Her heart plummeted. The voice was familiar — she had heard it before, somewhere, and the recognition arrived before the name did.
Two firm hands came down on her shoulders.
“I finally found you p>
Kristine turned slowly. The moment her eyes found that familiar, round face, the tension in her chest released all at once. “Mr. Todd p>
The instant Victor recognized her, his eyes reddened. “It really is you.” His voice broke. “Someone told me a while ago that you’d passed away. I never believed it. I spotted a figure at the junction that looked like you and came running. I still can’t believe you’re actually standing here p>
Tears slipped down his face without restraint.
The sight moved something quiet and deep in Kristine’s chest.
She had spent a long time believing that no one would truly notice — or care — if she were gone. Yet here he was.
“Victor, who is this young woman?” an elderly voice asked from behind him.
Kristine looked up. Several others stood in the alley, watching her with calm, assessing expressions.