Chapter 443
Chapter 443:
Colton stepped inside and scanned the room without comment. When she moved toward him, he stepped away from her reach and turned to face her, his voice completely flat.
“Why did Victor Todd seek you out today p>
A flash of panic moved across Elyse’s face before she could suppress it. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly. “Really p>
“Is it?” Colton’s eyes were flat and cold, holding her in place with the particular stillness that was more unsettling than any raised voice. The weight of his presence seemed to compress the air in the room.
Elyse steadied herself and forced her mouth into a smile. “I swear, it’s nothing at all p>
Colton held her gaze for a long, unblinking moment. Then he looked away. “I see p>
She let out a barely audible breath of relief.
“You know I can’t stand liars, Elyse,” he added, his voice quiet and precise as a blade.
The color left her face. After a stretched, trembling silence, she whispered, “I know, Colton p>
He gave her one last, searching look and then walked out, pulling the door shut behind him.
𝘉𝘦 р𝗮𝘳t 𝗼𝘧 оu𝗋 c𝗈𝗺𝘮𝘶𝗻𝘪t𝘺 о𝗇 ѕ.𝗰𝘰𝘮
The click of the latch had barely registered before her legs gave way. She sank to the floor and stayed there, heart hammering.
A vibration against the floor startled her.
Her phone. She grabbed it, and her expression hardened the instant she read the screen — an encrypted message from the person she had hired.
She opened it. A single photograph.
Kristine, standing outside what appeared to be a luxury hotel, holding a bag of takeaway food. Looking, by all appearances, perfectly content. Beside her stood a tall, powerfully built man whose back was to the camera — the kind of effortless physical presence that was impossible to miss even in a photograph.
Seeing Kristine like that — composed, at ease, living her life as though nothing had happened — sent a hot, ugly surge of jealousy through Elyse’s chest.
She squinted at the background and confirmed it. That hotel. That was where Kristine was hiding.
Is that where she’s staying? she typed.
Yes.
When are you going to move?
Tonight. It’s handled.
The satisfaction that moved through her was dark and immediate. Perfect. The rest of the payment goes through the moment it’s done.
The contact went offline without a response.
Elyse set the phone down, folded her hands in her lap, and closed her eyes.
Kristine had to go. There was no version of her future that included Kristine still walking around in it. Only then — only when this was finally over — would she be able to breathe.
Across the city in Evira, Kristine finished her shower and came out to find Davin already back at his post beside the door, standing with the rigid patience of someone who considered stillness a professional skill.
She looked at him and shook her head slightly. There was simply no arguing with him on this.
She had stopped trying.
In the living room, she picked up her phone. A message from Asher was waiting: Mr. Todd is back home safely. Everything went smoothly — don’t worry.