Chapter 61
Chapter 61:
An aura of elegance surrounded him, but beneath that refined exterior lay a sharp and intimidating chill. It was Colton — the figure Jemma had heard about countless times but had never encountered face to face.
“Mr. Yates.” The moment she recognized him, her gaze locked in place, unable to shift away.
His presence was striking enough to steal her breath. It suddenly made sense why Kristine had been willing to set her pride aside and pursue him for three years.
Colton’s cold eyes moved toward the jewelry laid out across the table. Each piece bore the marks of age and history, their beauty undeniable — yet they had been left out carelessly, exposed and unprotected.
His eyes narrowed. He stepped fully inside.
The 𝘣𝗲𝗌𝘁 𝘳e𝘢𝘥𝗶𝘯𝗴 е𝘹𝗽е𝗿i𝘦𝘯c𝘦 о𝗇.с𝗼𝗆
The moment he entered, tension spread through the room. Fear took hold instinctively, and everyone retreated a step without thinking.
Overwhelmed with panic, Jemma could only call out, “Mom! Mom p>
Monica hurried out from the second-floor master bedroom. “What’s happening?” A subtle shift crossed her face the instant she recognized Colton. She had expected Kristine to return — but Colton’s arrival was something she had never anticipated.
“Mr. Yates.” Despite the unease in her chest, Monica managed a polite smile. “I didn’t expect you to come by. You didn’t even call ahead p>
Colton raised his cold eyes and met her gaze directly. “I came to see Kristine’s collection for myself p>
The smile on Monica’s face stiffened.
From his words, it sounded as though he was standing behind Kristine. Yet he had never truly cared for her — there was no reason for him to defend her now. After turning it over in her mind, only one explanation made sense to Monica. Colton must have set his sights on the antiques himself. That idea neatly explained why he had dated Kristine despite showing no real affection. Once that conclusion settled, Monica’s smile softened again. She glanced toward Jemma. “Would you mind giving us a moment alone p>
Moving with unhurried ease, Colton sat down on the sofa and crossed his long legs. “If there’s something you want to say, you can say it here p>
Monica let out a quiet breath and stepped closer, lowering her voice. “Kristine’s father left behind quite an impressive collection of antiques… If any of them happen to catch your eye p>
Colton shifted his attention to the woman standing before him. Time had been generous to her — her appearance remained refined, and within her features, he could clearly see traces of Kristine’s likeness. But beneath her gaze lay a sharp calculation that stood in stark contrast to the sincerity and openness he had always found in Kristine’s eyes.
“As far as I’m aware, Kristine inherited those antiques from her father.” A faint, humorless smile lifted his lips as his gaze drifted toward Jemma, who had shrunk into the corner. “Jemma led people to Marty Iacono’s property and forcibly removed the antiques. Any single piece from that collection would be enough to justify criminal prosecution p>
At the word prosecution, the color drained from Jemma’s face, and fear tangled her speech. “T-that wasn’t stealing. Those antiques have always belonged to our family p>