Chapter 436
Chapter 436:
Oliver laughed softly. “You’ve resolved a problem that had us completely at a standstill. Without that model, we would have had no direction at all p>
Kristine responded with a faint smile.
Oliver glanced at Victor. “You mentioned she works under you. What brings her to Evira rather than Rymonst p>
Kristine turned to Victor with a questioning look.
Having worked alongside Oliver for several days, Victor read the room immediately. “Kristine is on leave at the moment,” he replied smoothly.
“Ah.” Oliver sounded briefly skeptical, then offered a warm smile. “In that case, you’re welcome to visit our institute whenever you like.” He extended his card.
Others followed in quick succession, pressing their own cards forward.
“Come by the workshop when you have time p>
“We’d genuinely appreciate your eye p>
“We’ll make sure you’re well looked after p>
𝖡e 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘧𝗶𝗿𝘀𝗍 𝘁o 𝗿𝘦𝖺𝗱 оո
Kristine felt both faintly amused and genuinely moved. She accepted each card in turn. “I’ll visit when I have the chance. It’s quite late now, though — I should be heading off p>
Reluctance rippled through the room.
“Stay for dinner, at least p>
“You’ve helped us enormously. It doesn’t feel right to just let you walk out the door p>
She shook her head gently. “No dinner. But I do have one small request p>
“Name it p>
“Please don’t mention that I was here tonight p>
Given everything she had done for them, the request was agreed to at once, even if no one fully understood the reason behind it. Kristine smiled politely, offered no further explanation, and left.
These people almost certainly had no connection to Colton — but caution had become a habit, and she saw no reason to abandon it now.
Outside, she got into the car and found Alma reclining with her eyes closed. Hearing the door, Alma stirred and sat up. “All done p>
“Yes p>
“Then let’s go.” She gave the driver a nod.
The drive back was smooth, and they reached the hotel without incident. Alma had intended to stay and watch Kristine work on the watch repair, but an urgent matter pulled her away. She said a quick goodbye and left.
Alone, Kristine noticed almost immediately that the tension she had been carrying for days had quietly lifted. The room felt lighter. She took out Alma’s watch and settled in to work.
She had just completed the repair when her phone rang. The number was unfamiliar. She hesitated a moment, then answered.
“Hello p>
Silence.
She frowned and checked the screen. The call was still connected.
She raised the phone again.
Nothing.
Then a thought crossed her mind. “Asher p>
A warm, quiet laugh came through. “It’s me p>
A smile spread across her face before she could stop it.
“What are you up to?” he asked, his voice easy and unhurried in the stillness of the night.
The tiredness she’d felt moments ago seemed to simply dissolve. “Repairing Alma’s watch. I heard you went out today p>
Kristine glanced instinctively toward the door. She understood at once.
She straightened, a note of concern entering her voice. “Did it cause any trouble for you p>