Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Kristin bolted from the hospital, which had ticked off the Turner family and Vincent.

“I knew it. Kristin wouldn’t just willingly give away the kidney she owes me.” Ruby woke up on her hospital bed, her voice choked up with emotion.

Between the lines, she was screaming to everyone that Kristin owed her big time.

When she returned to the Turner family, Ruby didn’t switch her last name, staying Ruby Collins instead.

She said that even though the Collins family didn’t treat her right, at least they had raised her for twenty–one years.

Talk about irony and a stark contrast. In the eyes of the Turners, Ruby was the genuine princess, kind to the core, while Kristin was a nasty, low–down fake.

But Ruby was no dummy. She kept her name as a constant thorn in the Turners‘ side, keeping them feeling guilty and bending backward to make up for the twenty–plus years she missed

out on.

“Ruby, don’t cry. She owes you that,” Clarence frowned, his heart aching as he spoke. “She can’t run forever!”

“Clarence, my dear brother…” Ruby cried, hugging Clarence. “I’m so scared. Kristin is out now, and what if Vinny doesn’t want me anymore?”

“Ruby, what are you thinking? Kristin disgraced the FitzGerald family in Silvergrove City back. then, leaving Vincent humiliated. You think he’d still want her?” Clarence consoled her, rubbing her head gently.

“But Clarence… what if Kristin blabs? What if she tells Vinny that it was us that…” Ruby’s gaze was probing as she looked at her brother.

Back then, she and Clarence had schemed to have Kristin spend the night in a stranger’s room. “Nobody knows that random dude who bedded Kristin. Do you think people would believe Kristin? Relax, that little bastard is Kristin’s Achilles‘ heel. She wouldn’t dare spill the beans.” Saying so, Clarence’s eyes darkened a bit. He needed to give Kristin a stern warning.

“It’s so weird. Kristin didn’t hook up with the guy we set her up with. Who exactly was the man she slept with?” Ruby had been itching to find out for five years, but no luck.

“Who it was doesn’t matter. It’s all about the outcome. Kristin’s reputation is ruined, and Vincent is all yours now.” Clarence patted Ruby on the back. “Get some rest.”

Ruby nodded with a sly smile on her lips. And she was thinking. “That bitch Kristin had hogged twenty–one years of my life for nothing. Why should she get Vincent’s love? I am out to wreck her and make her pay back everything she owed!”

Chapter 5

In the demolition area, sporting a found baseball cap, Kristin glanced around nervously and ducked into an alley.

“Kris!” Garner called out excitedly, running over.

“Kris, I went to get you yesterday. Where’d you go?” Garner’s eyes reddened, his voice breaking. “Kris, these five years… you’ve been through hell.”

Garner knew they had framed Kristin. But during the trial five years ago, Kristin took the fall to protect him and her kid.

“Garner…” Kristin leaned against the wall, her voice choked with emotion.

She had no family left, nothing. All she had was Garner and her kid.

“It’s okay now. You’re out, and we’ll make a good life from here on out,” Garner hugged Kristin, patting her back. “Summer’s waiting at home. The little buddy’s so sharp. He knew first thing you’d be getting out today and dragged me out to fetch you.”

Kristin crumbled at the mention of her kid, letting out her tears, the first time she had cried so freely in five years.

Garner sighed, letting Kristin have her cry.

He knew she must’ve suffered plenty in prison.

When she was all cried out, he patted her back again. “Kris, let’s go home.”

Home?

Did she even have a home anymore?

#

Five years back, Garner told Kristin that she had a home as long as he was around..

Thank goodness. Garner was still willing to claim her.

“Mommy!” At the end of the alley, a little boy with a baby voice stood there, dressed in old clothes but scrubbed clean.

Compared to Garner’s patchwork mechanics coveralls reeking of engine oil, it was clear he was broke, but he had given the best of everything to the little one.

“Summer…” Kristin’s voice shook. She stood frozen, vigorously cleaning her hands on her clothes, afraid she’d dirty the child.

“Mommy.” Summer burst into tears, racing to Kristin and burying himself in her embrace. “Mommy, I went to pick you up with Uncle Garner.”

Kristin hugged her child tightly, tears silently streaming down.

That was her life.

“Mommy will never leave you again, Kristin said. But even as she said it, she didn’t believe

DA

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Chapter 5

hersell.

After donating a kidney to Ruby, how much longer could she even live?

“Ha, Kristin, I knew I’d find you here, such a touching mother–child reunion.” Behind her. Vincent’s voice was cold and sarcastic.

Kristin turned in fright, shielding her child. “Vincent… What, what do you want?”