Chapter 9
Chapter 9:
Once Colton had gone, the assistant lingered in place before finally saying, “Mr. Edwards, why didn’t you tell Mr. Yates outright that the woman you’re marrying is Ms. Kristine Green p>
A slow, unhurried smile appeared on Asher’s face. Bathed in the soft yellow light, his refined features seemed almost unreal. “If the truth comes out too early, it takes all the enjoyment out of it p>
For a moment, the assistant had no words.
Later that day, Kristine arrived at the Arbfact Institute and met Victor Todd, one of her father’s old friends and colleagues.
Back in college, Kristine’s major had been directly tied to conservation and restoration work. However, because Colton was obsessively neat and deeply disliked the scent of restoration materials, she had declined the position the Institute offered her after graduation. Instead, she chose to move into his villa, spending her days cooking meals and doing laundry, living much like a household helper.
After she returned to Peudon, the thought of going back to her original field never truly faded. Today, she had finally gathered enough resolve to walk through the Institute’s doors once more.
Victor’s excitement was immediate. “Kristine, I reviewed your graduation project. You handled an early-period painted bronze artifact, and although you were only assigned the main body, your restoration was impeccable — not a single trace left behind. That level of work was exactly why I offered you a position back then. But you never showed up, and I won’t deny I was disappointed. Still, seeing you here now makes it worthwhile. Tell me you’ll join us this time p>
At that moment, every lingering concern dissolved. She looked at him with sincere appreciation. “Alright. Once I settle my personal matters, I’ll come work here p>
After her marriage to Asher, she would finally be able to begin. From that point forward, her life would belong entirely to her.
“That’s excellent! The Institute will always be waiting for you,” Victor said brightly, clearly taken aback by how quickly she had agreed.
“I should get going now,” Kristine replied, lifting a hand in farewell.
а𝗰tі𝗏е 𝗰𝗈𝗺𝘮𝘂𝗻і𝘁𝘺 𝗈𝘯
Once she settled into the driver’s seat, it dawned on her that she had nowhere specific in mind. Returning to the hotel felt wrong. As for that house, it no longer deserved to be called home.
She drove without direction, and before she realized it, the road had led her straight to the sea.
A short distance away, a newly married couple was posing for their wedding photographs. From the looks of it, the shoot had been going on all day. Fatigue showed on their faces, yet their smiles remained bright and unmistakably joyful.
Kristine’s thoughts drifted to Colton and Elyse. If they ever stood in front of a camera together, would Colton wear the same kind of smile?
A quiet laugh slipped from her. None of that belonged to her world anymore. Ahead of her was the start of an entirely different chapter.
So deep in thought was she that the sound of a horn behind her never registered. Only when whispers of excitement rose from nearby did she snap back to reality.
Following the direction of everyone’s gaze, she stiffened.
An attendant was approaching her, pushing a small cart stacked high with roses. She turned to look behind her. No one else stood there.
Moments later, the attendant came to a halt before her. “Miss Green, these roses were sent by Mr. Yates p>
Kristine had just opened her mouth when another ripple of murmurs moved through the crowd. Lifting her head, she caught sight of Colton stepping out of a car, dressed sharply in a black suit. Tall and well-proportioned, with striking features that were hard to ignore, he immediately became the focus of eager whispers from the women nearby.
Kristine understood, however, that his appearance was not the only reason. Resting in his hand was a brilliant diamond ring — remarkably large and clearly rare.
“Kristine,” Colton said as he came to a stop in front of her. He made no move to kneel. Instead, he simply extended the ring toward her. “Can you forgive me p>
Kristine’s eyes moved from the roses to the ring before returning to his face. “So this is how you plan to make amends p>
“Naturally,” Colton replied. “Once we return to Gridron, we’ll handle the marriage registration right away. After that, I’ll give you a lavish wedding.” A faint edge of superiority lingered in his tone.
A brief flicker crossed Kristine’s eyes as a memory surfaced — a message Elyse had sent her a year earlier. That particular day had marked Elyse’s birthday. Instead of something bought, Colton had presented her with a scarf he had knitted by hand. The workmanship had been clumsy, yet every stitch had been his own. She had watched the entire process from beginning to end. At the time, she had naively believed the scarf was meant for her, since Valentine’s Day was only a month away.
Forcing herself back to the present, Kristine looked once more at the roses and the diamond. Those gifts were clearly worth a small fortune, but money had never been something Colton lacked.
“You keep me around when you’re pleased and discard me the moment you’re not,” she said evenly. As she raised her head, a hint of ridicule appeared in her cold gaze. “But hear this clearly — that version of me is gone. Now stay as far away from me as you can p>
With that, she seized the ring and flung it away.
The diamond flew past Colton’s temple before striking the ground with a sharp clatter.
Without looking back, Kristine turned and walked away.
What Colton had been holding in finally burst. Closing the distance in a few long strides, he seized her arm. “Kristine, how long do you plan to keep this up p>
“This isn’t a performance,” she shot back, teeth clenched. “I’ve already explained everything clearly. We are finished. Do you understand that p>
“I never agreed to that,” Colton said. “As long as I don’t say it’s over, this relationship isn’t ending p>
A bitter laugh escaped her as she met his gaze head-on. “Then listen carefully. I’m getting married tomorrow. That should be clear enough for you p>
His grip tightened instinctively, yet a trace of ridicule surfaced in his eyes. “Married? And to whom, if not me? If you’re going to lie, at least choose something convincing p>
All at once, Kristine grew unnervingly calm. “Let go p>
“I will,” Colton said, “but only after you promise to stop being upset p>
“Alright,” Kristine answered flatly. “I’m not angry anymore p>
A deep frown settled on his face. What he saw in her expression was not peace — it was resignation. An indifferent stillness settled over him in response. As long as Kristine was no longer causing trouble, that was enough.
“That’s more like it,” Colton said, reaching out as if to pat her head. Kristine stepped aside, and he pulled his hand back. “The tickets are already booked. We’ll return to Gridron the day after tomorrow p>
“Alright,” Kristine replied dully, her voice almost mechanical.
A crease formed between Colton’s brows again. That hollow version of her unsettled him. Still, he convinced himself she was merely worn down after several exhausting days and chose not to pursue it.
“We’re heading back to the hotel,” he said.
No answer came. Kristine simply opened the car door and got in ahead of him.
After they reached the hotel, her voice finally broke the silence. “I’m going to my room p>
Without waiting, she shut the door behind her.
Left staring at the closed door, Colton lifted a hand to rub his temples. Even so, the tension he had bottled up for days finally loosened now that Kristine had stopped resisting him.
Before dawn the next morning, Kristine was already awake at five.
Carefully, she cracked the door open, made sure no one was paying attention, and slipped out. After removing the SIM card from her phone, she placed it into a spare device. Only then did she leave the hotel in plain sight, her steps steady and unhesitating.
Yesterday, Colton must have located her by tracking her phone number. With the SIM card now left behind in the spare device, the hotel would be the only place his search led him. By the time he found another way to trace her movements, she would have already finalized the marriage paperwork with Asher.