Chapter 65
Chapter 65:
At the front of the house, Claire finally let herself breathe as Kristine’s figure disappeared from view. She kept the smile on her face and waited as everyone finished their lemonade. “Good, isn’t it?” she asked, her tone slightly rushed.
“Delicious, Claire — you really have a talent for this,” one of the bodyguards replied.
Claire kept the tray steady and her smile in place, but her eyes kept darting nervously toward the back of the property.
Rather than heading straight out after slipping through the exit, Kristine circled around the property and took a different path toward the neighborhood gate. Spotting security posted at the entrance, she quickly adjusted her mask to conceal her face.
Her heart skipped when she noticed a Rolls-Royce approaching slowly. She recognized it instantly. It was Colton’s car.
He had come back.
Kristine held the panic at bay. Running would only draw attention. The best she could do was blend into the crowd and move like any ordinary passerby. She eased into a slower stride and made her way toward the main road one measured step at a time.
Relief washed over her briefly as the car glided past.
In the next instant, it spun around and came directly for her.
Kristine ran.
𝗥𝖾аd 𝘸і𝘁𝗵𝗈𝗎𝘁 іոtеr𝗿u𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗈𝘯𝘴 𝗼ո
But her feet were no match for a car. The vehicle swept in a smooth arc and stopped cleanly right in front of her.
She froze. The car door swung open and Colton stepped out, radiating icy authority, his eyes locking onto her with sharp and unyielding intensity.
“Where do you think you’re going p>
He had rushed back after confirming the antiques were secure, running on no sleep — only to find Kristine slipping away.
Bobby and several bodyguards stepped out behind him. Kristine knew escape was impossible, but she bolted in the opposite direction anyway.
Colton rubbed his temples, watching her futile attempt. When she had managed only a few steps, he gave a quiet signal to his men. “Bring her back p>
Within moments, the bodyguards caught up and restrained her with ease. Every effort she made to break free was useless.
Colton looked at her, frustration evident. “You don’t need to run off to Peudon. The antiques are back where they belong p>
Kristine looked up sharply, emotion flashing in her eyes. “How do you know about the antiques p>
“I’ve just returned from a work trip to Peudon. I heard about the situation — your mother and Jemma have already brought the antiques back p>
Not a single word Colton said convinced Kristine. Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone and called Victor.
The moment he heard her voice, Victor sounded overjoyed. “Kristine! You finally called. The antiques are back, and your mother delivered them herself. What exactly happened p>
Shock rippled through Kristine. She went still, her eyes shifting briefly toward Colton before she quickly looked away. “It’s good that everything is back where it belongs. I’m not home right now. I’ll call you once I return p>
“Alright, alright p>
She ended the call and stood motionless, her thoughts completely scattered.