Chapter 102

Chapter 102

After a hectic afternoon at the office, Kristin hadn’t realised it was time to clock out

Glancing at her notepad, she tidied up her documents and answered a call from James.

“Harriet’s out of danger and has woken up. Don’t worry,” James cut straight to the chase about Hamel’s condition. The hospital stall say she’s a bit emotionally unstable. I’ll pick you up, and we can visit her together.”

James mentioning Harriet was his way of ensuring kristin would go with him.

Deep down, he knew Kristin well enough. Her job hunt in Silvergrove City was nothing but a statement, a declaration of wanting to distance her sell from him.

James thought Kristin was playing games, andry that he hadn’t called off the engagement,

But he couldn’t call off the engagement with the Haywood family on a whim, Carter’s health had been tragile, and any upset could be disastrous.

“Alright… where are you? I’ll come to you,” Kristin sald softly.

“Where are you working? I can pick you up, and we can head straight there,” James pushed, eager to know her workplace, a detail even Bill couldn’t uncover.

“The Fitzgerald Group…” Kristin didn’t hide it. She knew sooner or later, he would find out.

She intended to stand by Rhett’s side in the future.

On the other end of the line, James fell silent. Even through the phone, Kristin could sense his mood plummet.

“I’ll be there soon,” he finally said, his voice heavy.

Kristin took a deep breath and hung up. She neatly arranged the items on her desk and left the

office space.

Most of the company’s employees had left for the day. Employees on, the ground floor mostly held entry–level positions, not requiring overtime.

“See her? That’s Kristin, the so–called heiress. The shameless one who tried to con her way into marrying into the Fitzgerald family, nearly becoming our company’s lady boss.”

“Unbelievable. This woman has aimed to marry Vincent to be Mr. Fitzgerald’s sister–in–law. The nerve!”

“At least Vincent is our company’s young master, Rhett’s brother. Her scheming is just too much.”

“Pity, now look at her. fresh out of jail.”

Near the entrance, a group of middle managers gathered as If waiting to see what sort of person Kristin was.

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Chapter 102

Chapter 102

After a hectic afternoon at the office. Kristin hadn’t realized it was time to clock out.

Glancing at her notepad, she tidied up her documents and answered a call from James.

“Harriet’s out of danger and has woken up. Don’t worry,” James cut straight to the chase about Harriet’s condition. “The hospital staff say she’s a bit emotionally unstable. I’ll pick you up, and we can visit her together.”

James mentioning Harriet was his way of ensuring Kristin would go with him.

Deep down, he knew Kristin well enough. Her job hunt in Silvergrove City was nothing but a statement, a declaration of wanting to distance herself from him.

aving games, angry ba

James thought Kristin was he hadn’t called off the engagement.

But he couldn’t call off the engagement with the Haywood family on a whim. Carter’s health had been fragile, and any upset could be disastrous.

“Alright… where are you? I’ll come to you,” Kristin said softly.

“Where are you working? I can pick you up, and we can head straight there.” James pushed, eager to know her workplace, a detail even Bill couldn’t uncover.

“The Fitzgerald Group…” Kristin didn’t hide it. She knew sooner or later, he would find out.

She intended to stand by Rhett’s side in the future.

On the other end of the line, James fell silent. Even through the phone, Kristin could sense his mood plummet.

“I’ll be there soon,” he finally said, his voice heavy.

Kristin took a deep breath and hung up. She neatly arranged the items on her desk and left the

office space.

Most of the company’s employees had left for the day. Employees on the ground floor mostly held entry–level positions, not requiring overtime.

“See her? That’s Kristin, the so–called heiress. The shameless one who tried to con her way into marrying into the Fitzgerald family, nearly becoming our company’s lady boss.”

“Unbelievable. This woman has aimed to marry Vincent to be Mr. Fitzgerald’s sister–in–law. The nerve!”

“At least Vincent is our company’s young master, Rhett’s brother. Her scheming is just too much.”

“Pity, now look at her, fresh out of jail.”

Near the entrance, a group of middle managers gathered as if waiting to see what sort of person Kristin was.

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Chapter 102

Kristin said nothing, head bowed, trying to slip by.

“Shameless,” the woman jeered, unwilling to let her go without a confrontation.

“How can you show your face at our company? Mr. Fitzgerald nearly got ruined because of you,” someone from Vincent’s team accused, having been waiting for Kristin. “You got Mr. Fitzgerald taken away by the cops, didn’t you? Using such tactics to get a chance at the Fitzgerald Group. Shame on you.”

Nicola had kept the incident of Vincent being taken to the station tightly sealed. Even when it hit the trending searches, the real reason remained obscure.

But these people confronting her at the company’s entrance were Nicola’s doing.

“Kristin.” Among the crowd was another significant presence. Hearing her voice sent chills down Kristin’s spine. It was Ruby.

It was almost laughable that she had personally come to wait for Kristin to finish work.

Ruby looked pale as she stepped out of a black luxury car that belonged to Vincent.

Ruby was there to stake her claim.

“You use Vincent’s future as leverage to get a position at the Fitzgerald Group. Ah, I have. underestimated you,” Ruby said softly, slapping Kristin across the face before everyone.

Kristin stood numbly, having anticipated the slap but not dodging it.

Perhaps it was guilt. Kristin had lived twenty years that should have been Ruby’s.

So, no matter how outrageous Ruby’s actions had been over the years, Kristin had endured

them.

But Ruby seemed unsatisfied, escalating her cruelty.

“You think you can have a good life in the Fitzgerald Group? I heard from my mother you’re here for revenge. Ha…” Ruby laughed, clearly looking down on Kristin. “You? I could squash you like an ant with no effort at all.”

Ruby’s threat hung in the air.

Kristin remained silent.

“She’s too shameless. How can she show her face at the Fitzgerald Group?”

“She even wants to be Mr. Fitzgerald’s assistant. What is she thinking?”

The bystanders sided with Ruby, for she was the ‘victim‘, the legitimate heiress and Vincent’s official fiancée.

On the other hand, Kristin was a thief, powerless, and an ex–convict.

“She used despicable means to threaten Rhett into keeping her as an assistant. It’s her usual tactic,” Ruby said with sarcasm.

Chapte

Nicola dared not tell anyone about Kristin and Rhett’s marriage certificate. At least, not yet,

So, Ruby assumed Kristin had simply blackmailed Rhett with the case withdrawal.

“Kristin, you’ve offended Rhett. Do you think you’re in for good times?” Ruby continued her mockery, raising her hand to strike again. “I’m waiting to see your downfall.”

Kristin met Ruby’s gaze and didn’t let the slap land this time.

“Whatever I owed you, I’ve paid back long ago. And the debt wasn’t mine to repay in the first place. That slap just now was the last one. I won’t hesitate to call the police if you lay a hand on me again,” Kristin said, pushing Ruby’s hand away.

Ruby stared at Kristin in shock. Huh, that was quite bold.

Ruby hadn’t bought into Mamie’s claims that Kristin had stopped pretending and changed, not until now. Finally, she could see Kristin’s genuine side.

Collapsing to the ground with a look of utter exhaustion, Ruby fainted, her delicate frame unable to support her any longer.

“She hit Ruby! How could she? Ruby’s so fragile. How could she be so heartless!”

“Don’t you dare walk away! If anything happens to Miss Ruby, the Turner family won’t let you off the hook!” Ruby’s driver lunged forward, grabbing Kristin’s wrist, refusing to let her leave..

Everyone was pointing fingers at Kristin.

She felt she was suffocating, struggling to breathe.

The crowd, the stares, the accusations were all too much. Kristin couldn’t catch her breath.

“Ruby!” After hearing Ruby had come to confront Kristin at the FitzGerald Group, Clarence was worried about Kristin. But seeing Ruby on the ground, his anger flared as he glared at Kristin. shoving her aside.

Thrown off balance, Kristin stumbled and fell hard onto the pavement, scraping her palms and bruising her forehead.

Everything went dark momentarily as she winced in pain, looking at the blood seeping from her hands.

Clarence scooped Ruby up, his fury evident as he looked back at Kristin. “You better pray she’s

fine.”

Otherwise, the Turner family would indeed have their revenge.

Kristin scoffed, pushing herself to her feet, her gaze sweeping over the onlookers who relished the drama, each quick to condemn her.

It was clear to anyone with eyes that Ruby was setting her up, but deep down, everyone wanted to believe Kristin was the villain.

That was human nature.

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Chapter 102

“Clarence, if your sister’s sick, take her to a doctor. Don’t let her out in the draft. It might give her a bad back.” came a deep voice.

A sedan pulled up to the curb, and James stepped out, his voice resonating with authority.

Clarence’s brows furrowed. Not James again.

“Mr. Bryce… from Aurora Tech, right?”

“Is Mr. Bryce defending Kristin?”

The bystanders erupted into fresh gossip.

“Mr. Bryce, Kristin deliberately pushed Miss Ruby,” the driver seethed.

James approached Kristin. “Did you push her?”

Kristin stayed silent.

She knew Rhett wouldn’t ask her such a question if he were there. He would’ve just dealt with the situation.

For a moment, Kristin thought of Rhett at such a time. Why did he come to mind in this moment

of chaos?