Chapter 469
Chapter 469:
Colton had brought her here to shelter her under his protection, to signal to everyone that she was his. But it hadn’t mattered at all, because every person inside that house despised her. Even if they had loved each other — truly, completely — they could never have built anything real within a family like this. Not without someone to stand behind them. Not without a single person willing to approve.
A raindrop struck her forehead. Then another. Within moments the rain was falling steadily, soaking her face.
She tilted her head back toward the dark, churning sky and began, slowly, to smile.
The cold rain ran across her lips. It tasted sharp and bitter on her tongue.
Inside, Faye Ahmed watched from a window, her expression tense. “Mrs. Yates,” she said carefully, “aren’t you afraid that when he wakes up, he’ll be furious about this p>
Victoria let out a short, contemptuous laugh. “He’s my son. I refuse to believe he would choose some stranger over his own family p>
Faye said nothing as Victoria walked away. But the look on her face made it quietly clear that she did not share the confidence.
The rain intensified, falling in heavy sheets with no sign of letting up.
Kristine remained exactly where she was, kneeling in the middle of the storm, refusing to move an inch. Beneath the porch roof, two bodyguards watched her through the curtain of water. Even after all that time, her back remained perfectly straight. She was not giving in.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗻
The guards, watching her, found themselves feeling something uncomfortably close to pity. But Victoria had said nothing, so they kept their thoughts to themselves and kept watching.
Upstairs in the second-floor bedroom, Colton finally stirred.
The Yates family stood clustered around the bed, every person holding their breath. When his eyes opened at last, the room released a collective sigh of relief.
Bryanna leaned toward him, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. “Colton, you’re back with us. How are you feeling p>
For a fraction of a second he looked disoriented — then he sat bolt upright. “Where is Kristine p>
Victoria’s jaw tightened. “Seriously? That’s the first thing out of your mouth p>
Colton swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Bryanna and Victoria moved to block him. “Where do you think you’re going p>
He looked pale but utterly resolved. “Get out of my way p>
“And if I don’t?” Victoria hissed. “Are you going to disown me? She used to care about you, but now? She didn’t even flinch when you collapsed p>
The words drove into him like a blade.
He had seen Kristine’s expression from the floor above — he knew exactly what it had meant. But he refused to accept it as the final word.
“Things are complicated between us right now,” he said. “Once we fix it, she’ll love me again, the way she used to p>
Victoria paused, then snapped, “If you have any respect for me as your mother, you will get back into that bed p>
Colton didn’t spare her a glance as he moved toward the hallway.
“If you walk out of this room,” Victoria called after him, her voice rising, “don’t you ever call me your mother again p>
He had already reached the top of the stairs.
“You’re really choosing her over your own mother.” Her voice cracked on the last word.
“That is enough p>