Chapter 141
Kristin pounded her heart with confusion as she sensed Rhett’s anger directed towards her. Her back tensed, and she bowed her head, unsure of how to proceed.
Did Rhett take offense?
“Take him away and grill him,” Eddle commanded with a dark expression, casting a meaningful glance at Nicola and snorting disdainfully.
Feuds between high society’s elite were often spectacles for the masses.
If the incident didn’t affect Eddie personally, he’d be more than happy to watch the drama unfold.
But now, Nicola had dragged him into her scheming, which was a different story.
Nicola was equally stormy as she watched Vincent leave without looking back, wishing she could grind her teeth to dust.
“That disgraceful man! I had poured my heart out for you, and you had the audacity to shame. me in front of an audience for some tart!” she cursed inwardly.
“Mrs. Wilson, it’s clear that this is…” Nicola wanted to explain something.
“The bidding is about to start, let’s get everyone seated,” Anita interrupted Nicola with a low voice.
Anita softened her gaze as she looked at Kristin.
“I trust Rhett’s judgment. Someone who manages the FitzGerald Group, supporting so many freeloaders, couldn’t choose an assistant poorly.” Anita stated firmly, walking up to Eddie. “Your could learn a thing or two from Rhett. His capabilities are worth emulating.”
Eddie quickly nodded. “Of course.”
Nicola felt as if she had been trampled underfoot, with her plan backfiring spectacularly.
Struggling to breathe, Nicola nearly lost her balance.
Her assistant rushed to her side. “Madam, are you alright? Shall we proceed to the venue?”
“Forget it!” Nicola snapped.
With Vin
Vincent gone, there was no point in going. NôvelDrama.Org owns all content.
Once again, she had been outplayed by Rhett.
It was all because of Kristin, so clever and quick–witted.
She was supposed to be nearly mute, wasn’t she? But now she had too much talk!
“I think Kristin might as well become mute,” Nicola seethed, clutching her chest as she stumbled out. “Find a way to teach Kristin a lesson. I hope she becomes mute!”
The assistant hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, Madam.”
At the venue, Kristin followed Rhett with her head down.
“Ah!” Caught off guard just before entering, Kristin was suddenly pulled into a corner and pinned against the wall.
Rhett’s mood was stormy, his face grim, his eyes fierce.
Kristin panicked, her eyes red as she frantically explained. “Mr. FitzGerald, I didn’t do anything wrong. That man slandered me…”
After a rushed explanation, Kristin bowed her head, at a loss for words. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault, I’ve caused you trouble.”
She could only apologize, having nothing else to say.
“Were you with Vincent for six years?” Rhett asked through clenched teeth.
Kristin had spent her time from age sixteen to twenty–two with Vincent.
In York’s opinion, they were childhood sweethearts, innocent and naive. Such a bond was infuriatingly jealousy–inducing.
Rhett didn’t understand why he felt such rage, the urge to punch Vincent overwhelming him.
If only Rhett had known Vincent wouldn’t cherish her, he should have appeared when Kristin was sixteen. But Rhett couldn’t turn back time.
Kristin glanced at Rhett before lowering her gaze. “Yes…”
It was true that she had been with Vincent since high school.
“Did you love him?” Rhett pressed, voice low.
“I loved him once…” Kristin didn’t lie. She had loved Vincent deeply.
“Forget him!” Rhett commanded, gripping her chin, his voice threatening.
Kristin had never felt such pressure from Rhett, nor had she seen him truly angry.
Everyone feared Rhett, including the servants of the FitzGerald family.
When Rhett exerted his power over her, Kristin felt a chill run down her spine.
“Don’t forget who you are now. You’re my woman.” Rhett reminded Kristin.
With reddened eyes and bitten lips, Kristin remained silent.
Releasing Kristin, Rhett straightened his tie and entered the venue with a stern face.
Kristin leaned against the wall, taking time to collect herself.
She didn’t understand why Rhett was angry, only that she felt overwhelmingly guilty.
Her very existence seemed to bring endless trouble to Rhett.
It was all her fault.
Her existence was the original sin.
At the bidding venue, Rhett was oppressively low in the mood, deterring anyone from approaching him.
Kristin hid in a corner, too scared to face Rhett, letting York stay by his side.
Until the meeting concluded, Rhett seemed on the verge of lashing out.
The FitzGerald Group won the bid without question, and the contract was signed after Rhett’s meticulous handling.
Customarily, all the tycoons would stay for dinner, but Rhett excused himself early, feigning illness.
At the venue’s entrance, Kristin hurried to catch up with Rhett, head bowed.
Throughout the drive back to the hotel, Rhett remained silent towards Kristin, his mind replaying Vincent’s words about Kristin’s lack of birthmarks and her admission of past love.
Rhett wanted to obliterate Vincent. Rhett wanted to teach a lesson to every man who had touched Kristin.
Hiding in a corner, Kristin surreptitiously cleaned her tears.
York glanced back and saw, his brow furrowing slightly. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her plight.
Kristin had always been the talk of the city, but not in the way one might hope. Whispers turned to shouts, and rumors became as sticky and unpleasant as spilled soda on a hot summer’s day. It was enough to wear down even the strongest of souls.
Secretly handing Kristin a paper towel, York stuffed a piece of sugar.
Kristin gave York a grateful look, leaned against the window and watched the traffic outside.
“Mr. FitzGerald, are we heading back to Silvergrove City tonight, or…York inquired, his voice tinged with concern. He had seen Rhett leave the hall earlier, skipping out on the evening’s festivities and looking quite vexed. York assumed Rhett would want to drive back to Silvergrove City right away.
“The plan hasn’t changed,” Rhett responded curtly, his brow furrowed.
“Are you not feeling well?” York asked, taken aback. It wasn’t like Rhett to deviate from his original plans unless something was seriously off.
Were they going to spend another night at the hotel? Could Rhett be that unwell?
Rhett glanced back at Kristin, who had been battling a fever that day. Perhaps an extra night’s rest would do her good.
Rhett grunted in affirmation.
07:11
“Then we’ll head back to the hotel and get some rest,” York said with genuine worry.
Rhett didn’t reply, secretly wishing the car was free of York’s well–meaning but Intrusive
presence.
At the Diamond Crest Hotel.
Nicola’s assistant lurked in a hidden corridor, whispering to one of the hotel’s staff. “Take this bottle and place it in Kristin’s room. If anything goes awry, pour the contents into the tollet first thing. Don’t leave any evidence. There are no cameras in the rooms and they won’t trace it
back to you.”
Nicola had a plan to silence Kristin for good, and the assistant had tampered with the bottle to ensure just that.