Chapter 53
Chapter 53:
“Kristine, everything from your father’s collection is now in place. Take a look at this.” Victor turned his phone to show her the room. “The villa turned out beautifully, and there’s even a temperature control system. Quite impressive, isn’t it p>
Kristine’s heart warmed at the sight of her father’s antiques safely displayed. “Thank you, Mr. Todd. Truly p>
“Don’t mention it,” Victor replied, turning the camera back to himself. “But Kristine, when are you coming back? We could really use you here p>
The praise was genuine, not merely polite. Even though her time in the restoration room had been brief, everyone at the Institute — from senior staff to the newest members — had been asking about her and hoping she would return.
“I’ll come back once I’ve finished everything here,” she said.
“Don’t take too long,” Victor insisted. They spoke for another half hour about work before the call ended.
𝗥e𝘢𝖽 wit𝗁𝘰𝘂𝘁 𝘪𝗇𝘵е𝘳𝘳uр𝗍𝗶оnѕ 𝗈𝗇
Kristine set her phone aside and gazed out the window, her thoughts drifting. She found herself hoping Ryan would soon uncover whoever had filed the report against her company. Only then would she finally be able to leave Gridron behind.
Night fell, and Colton was still home.
Moments like this had once been rare. Kristine noted the unexpected change but remained composed and ate her dinner quietly.
Midway through the meal, Colton’s phone rang — the distinctive ringtone he used exclusively for Elyse.
Kristine kept her head down and sipped her soup, a faint, sardonic smile curving at her lips. Nearly every time she and Colton had shared a meal in the past, a call from Elyse had followed not long after.
Without any attempt to conceal his irritation, Colton scowled, picked up his phone, and answered in front of her. “Elyse p>
“Colton, I feel so sick!” Elyse’s voice came through thick with tears, as though she might collapse at any moment.
Colton rubbed his temple. “If you’re unwell, call Brent. He’s your doctor, not me p>
“It’s not exactly that kind of sick. I had a dream about Patsy. She told me there’s no cure for what I have, and she apologized for ever letting me donate. Colton, I p>
He rose from his seat. Noticing Kristine glancing over, he lowered his voice. “Don’t talk like that. You are going to get better p>
Even so, the way his fingers dug into his palm betrayed his anxiety.
Kristine caught the tension in his hand — the veins standing out sharply beneath the skin — and her eyebrows lifted just slightly. Colton always grew unsettled when Elyse called. Tonight, though, what she sensed in him was something closer to genuine fear.
“But…” Elyse’s voice trembled, her sniffling barely contained. “Patsy told me in the dream that she came to take me with her. I don’t want to die. Please, Patsy, don’t take me p>
The line descended into chaos as Elyse’s crying gave way to Brent’s urgent voice. “Colton, you need to get over here. Elyse hasn’t stopped having nightmares all afternoon, and you know how fragile she is. She cannot handle any more of this p>
Colton’s grip on his phone tightened. He looked up, and his eyes met Kristine’s across the table.