Chapter 43

Chapter 43

When she got up, Kristin spoke up again. “When I was in the slammer, those jerks would mess with my water and spike it with nasty stuff. I knew it but when I fought back, they just doubled. down on their cruelty. So I stopped resisting, just sucked it up and downed it. Once, twice… İ figured if I could just hang in there until they got bored, they’d stop using that trick to torment.

me.”

After falling into depression, Kristin lost her voice. For a long stretch, she just couldn’t bring. herself to speak.

But with Rhett, it was like she had a lot to get off her chest.

She continued. “Just when they were getting over their little game, one of my kindhearted cellmates decided to give me a heads–up in front of everyone. What could’ve been a short–lived thing turned into a nightmare. They got even crazier with their revenge. After all, she couldn’t have my back 24/7, and she was released the following year.”

Kristin’s smile was tinged with bitterness. One could only imagine the kind of hell she went through after her protector was released. There was no need for her to spell it out.

Rhett was frozen in place.

He had been schooled by Kristin not once but twice today.

He knew she was telling him if he couldn’t protect her for life, he better not stick his nose in her business.

“I’ve laid it out for you. Mull it over before you come back at me. Given Vincent’s disdain for your and Summer, he won’t lift a finger to help with the school issue, but I could,” Rhett knew where to press Kristin’s Achilles‘ heel.

A shadow of sadness crossed Kristin.

She couldn’t kid herself into thinking Rhett was one of the good guys. These past years, she’d totally shut herself away. No way, no how was she going to let someone in again, let alone trust anyone.

“Mommy!” Summer was back, happily bounding over to Kristin. “That sir bought it for me.”

Kristin hugged Summer and shook her head. “Summer, you can’t just take stuffs from others. Can we give it back to him?”

Summer looked down, clearly bummed. He really loved this toy, but Kristin was right. “Sorry. Mommy.

After apologizing, Summer handed the toy back to York. “Sorry, can we return it?”

York was taken aback. “Kristin, really? It’s just a kid’s toy. Quit playing the martyr, you think you’ll earn Mr. FitzGerald’s respect with this act?”

York couldn’t stand Kristin, which was pretty deep–seated.

Kristin didn’t bother explaining and was about to leave, holding Summer.

“Kristin.” Rhett picked up the toy Summer had dropped and handed it back to him. “I made a promise to Summer. He traded his toy for it and has given me his, so it’s a fair trade. No one owes anyone anything.”

Kristin tightened her grip around Summer for a moment as she looked at her son, then bowed in gratitude. “Thank you, Mr. FitzGerald.”

Summer took the toy, his gaze fixed on Rhett. It wasn’t until Kristin carried him

Summer looked away.

away th

that

Rhett massaged his temples and spoke gravely. “Tell the Turner family and Vincent, the one who called the cops today was me. Tell them to lay off Kristin.”

York nodded. “Got it.”

Ducking into the subway station, Kristin didn’t take Summer home.

If Vincent and Clarence went looking. It would bring trouble to Garner.

“Mommy, this is Superman.” Summer sat in Kristin’s lap, playing intently with his toy. He clearly cherished it.

“Why do you like Superman, Summer?” Kristin asked softly.

“Mommy said Daddy’s on another planet fighting monsters, isn’t that Superman? My dad is a hero,” Summer said earnestly.

Kristin welled up her eyes instantly and hugged Summer tightly, saying with a smile, “Yes, you’re right. And Daddy is more like the lion king, always fighting off the evilness.”

Summer lit up his eyes. “I love the lion king! Uncle Garner told me about that story.”

Kristin hugged Summer close, her voice warm. “Would you like Mommy to tell you more about

it?”

“Yes!” Summer hugged Kristin happily.

Kids were so easy to please.

After hiding out in the subway station all night, Kristin, exhausted, leaned against the wall, gazing at Summer asleep in her arms.

He was too sensible, so much so that it broke Kristin’s heart.

All night, he never once asked why they weren’t going home.

He just stayed by her side.

Kristin was Increasingly thankful she’d chosen to keep this child.

“Kristin, you’ve got a congenital heart condition, a weak constitution, and your womb isn’t

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Chapter 43

exactly top–notch either. Terminating this pregnancy… you might not save your wornb, but carrying the baby comes with huge risks.”

When Kristin found out she was pregnant, she was sick for a long time. She didn’t even know who the man was that assaulted her that night.

She resented the child and wanted to abort, but in the end, she wavered.

Kristin kept Summer.

“Summer, dawn’s breaking. Let’s go home.”

At 6:40 in the morning, Kristin woke Summer and took him home.

By then, Vincent and Clarence’s goons would have given up looking for her.

But when Kristin brought Summer back to the rental where Garner was staying, she burst into

tears.

Their place had been torched and burned to the ground overnight.

“Garner…” Kristin ran toward the rental in horror.

“Uncle Garner!” Summer also cried out. Garner was still inside!