Chapter 57

Chapter 57

James arched an eyebrow. A woman? Rhett was stirring up such a fuss just to find a lady, even coming to Crescendo Town ahead of schedule?

“Got it covered. I can’t have Rhett feeling neglected. I’ll take care of it personally tomorrow night.” James told his assistant after a quick glance at his schedule. “Push back my appointments for the next few days. If Rhett’s hitting up Silvergrove City, I gotta tag along.”

The assistant got how important Rhett was, but from Mr. Bryce’s vibe, it seemed like Rhett was just a smokescreen.

Because James‘ gaze was glued to Kristin the whole time.

“Dig up some dirt on the FitzGerald family and the Turner family to see why she’s popped up in Crescendo Town James said. He knew Kristin had been released from the slammer and had been itching for a chance to swing by Silvergrove City. Little did he expect her to waltz right up to his doorstep.

Lounging on the sofa, James‘ gaze carried a deep meaning. This time, it was Kristin who had come looking for trouble…Well she couldn’t blame him for not letting go now.

“Is she… the receptionist at the club, right?” the assistant blurted out, shocked. How was she tied to the FitzGerald family and the Turner family of Silvergrove City?

James paused for a beat, then looked up at his assistant. “Bill, how long you been with me?”

Bill was all nerves. “Six years…”

“Didn’t you recognize her?” James felt a weird tightness in his chest.

Kristin really changed a lot, so much that even Bill couldn’t spot her.

Bill was stunned, covering his mouth in shock. “Man, that’s one heck of a transformation.”

Bill knew in his first year on the job that his boss had his eye on a society darling. Ms. Turner, all cool and classy.

She was the one his boss wanted but couldn’t have.

Just six years… and she had turned into this.

“Mr. Bryce, does she know about what you did back then…?” Bill started, then held back.

James shot him a warning look. “Zip it.”

Bill hung his head. “My bad, Mr. Bryce.”

After recognizing Kristin, Bill’s eyes were all tense, sneaking several glances her way.

It had been six years, but he still remembered the first time he saw Kristin, fresh out of college, tagging along with Mr. Bryce to Silvergrove City, watching her on stage performing a ballet

solo.

On that stage, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Bill knew Kristin was meant to be a dazzling and noble swan, a pure white presence gracing the heavens.

But then, she’d fallen into the muck. When no one offered her a helping hand, all the men who’d loved and lost her wanted to trample her underfoot, see her grovel and get her to come crawling

on her knees.

No doubt, James had won. At least Kristin six years later had lost her pride and showed up at his side, humbled.

Kristin now bore no resemblance to her past self.

“Mr. Bryce, what do you think of this outfit?” the image consultant brought Kristin over for James‘ approval.

James took his time before speaking. “Long hair suited you better.”

Kristin subconsciously reached for her hair, bowing her head in discomfort.

Her once–prized long hair, naturally sleek and straight even without care, had been cruelly cut along with her pride.

“Go settle the bill” James instructed Bill.

Kristin, nervous, followed him. She at least needed to know how much it cost.

At the sight of panic in Kristin’s eyes, Bill whispered, “Short hair looks good, too.”

Kristin hesitated, then waved her hand dismissively. “Can I just… get one piece? It’s too pricey.” Bill still remembered his first conversation with Kristin. She had asked, “Isn’t it tiring to be an assistant, always running around after your boss‘ girls?”

Back then, Kristin’s smile was like sunshine, fairy–like, making hearts race.

She handed Bill a bottle of water, then took the white rose from his hand. “Your boss would give you a hard time if I didn’t accept this, right?”

In Bill’s memory, Kristin was the beautiful and kind–hearted princess with a golden background, meant to forever shine bright as the pure moonlight.

But to see the holy lady trampled in the mud was a pity.

“Are you sure you want to stick with our boss?” Bill asked with goodwill, taking advantage of a quiet moment.

Maybe he was starting to feel a twinge of guilt.

Bill also knew James liked Kristin, but his kind of like…

Over the years, James had a parade of women by his side, each one a ballerina, each one

Chapter 57

molded in Kristin’s former image.

No matter how many women he switched, Kristin’s shadow lingered on them all.

Kristin thought for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “I have no choice…”

If there were another way, she wouldn’t debase herself.

But she was already low enough, with nowhere else to turn.

Sticking with James was still better than being thrown to the wolves by Vincent.

Bill looked down, feeling it was such a shame. “Don’t sweat the clothes. Mr. Bryce has always been generous with women, and he’ll be even more so with you. Stick by Mr. Bryce’s side and you’ll be safe as long as he wants to keep you, you won’t have to worry about anything else.”

To Bill, the once pure lady he had known was inevitably stained by the world.

He didn’t think the current Kristin was bad, just that it was a sad reflection of how the world worked.

Kristin hung her head, silent.

“Where are you staying?” On the way back, James threw out the question.

Kristin, lost in thought looking out the car window, didn’t catch on right away.

In this strange city, she hadn’t had a proper rest for days.

James signaled Bill to drive around the city, to give Kristin a good look at the world outside.

“It’s developing so fast.” Kristin mused, marveling at the glitz and glamour of Crescendo Town.

Back when she was a teenager, she visited Crescendo Town, which at that time was pretty backward.

She remembered Clarence saying that only Silvergrove City was the real deal, a big city, and Crescendo Town was just the sticks.

Kristin had snapped back, arguing that every city had its unique cultural vibes and quirks.

Now that it was all developed, which seemed to have lost that old charm it’once had.

“The high–end malls, hotels, entertainment spots all Mr. Bryce’s turf,” the assistant said with at chuckle while giving her the lowdown.

Kristin was glued to the window, just gazing outside.

It had just snowed these past few days, and the trees were still frosted over, but the roads below were spick and span.

After five years in the slammer, what Kristin craved the most was freedom.

While Kristin kept her eyes fixed on the world outside. James couldn’t take his off her. “Let’s hit River Park.”

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Chapter 57

The assistant blinked, a bit thrown off, but drove to River Park.

Stepping out of the car, Kristin took in the snowy scene of the park, and a rare smile broke through her usual reserve.

She had a thing for snow. It was pure and white as a sheet.

“Aren’t you cold?” James frowned as he saw Kristin reaching out to grab snow.

“It’s warm…” Kristin cracked a rare smile at James.

James was floored, never realizing she was someone who could be satisfied so easily.

Six years back, he had splurged at an auction for some bling, all to snag a smile from Kristin.

But back then, Kristin was all ice, glued to Vincent’s side. She wouldn’t give the time of day to anyone else. And now? She’s incredibly joyous just to be outside to experience the snow.

Maybe he never knew what Kristin wanted. And nobody else seemed to get it either.

“Silvergrove City doesn’t get snow, did you ever have snowball fights as a kid?” James draped his coat over Kristin, crouched beside her, and started packing a snowball.

Then he lobbed it at Kristin.

She was caught off guard, holding the snowball and staring at it for ages, finally letting out a laugh.

But that laugh had a tinge of bitterness.

James stood up, looking at Kristin with a face that wasn’t beaming. “Let’s go, time to head back.”

He regretted it.

1

Three years ago, he had visited Kristin in jail, but she had turned down the meet–up.