Chapter 201
Rhett’s phone buzzed insistently, a call from Eve lighting up the screen.
He furrowed his brow and ignored it.
Eve was nothing but a pawn used by Holcomb and Nicola to test the waters.
“Do we need to rush back?” Rhett asked, after Kristin had ended her call.
“It’s Garner Collins‘ mom. She’s been released from prison and wants to see me,” Kristin said, her gaze distant, her mind evidently elsewhere.
She didn’t know how to face the woman, let alone what to call her.
After being cast out by the Turner family, Kristin found herself without a home until Garner took her in, giving her a room in their rental property.
Garner’s mother hadn’t been in prison then, and she had been insistent that Kristin get an abortion, arguing that a child would be a burden and make it impossible for her to replace a husband. She warned that raising a child alone was a grueling task that would wear her down just as it had her.
Kristin had seriously considered terminating the pregnancy, especially since the baby’s father was a mystery. But when the hospital informed her that an abortion could risk her ability to have children in the future, she hesitated.
–
Back then, she still dreamt of a traditional life a marriage, a family, a protective and loving husband.
So she made the choice to keep the baby, a decision that sent her spiraling into a personal
hell.
Vincent FitzGerald despised her, the Turner family resented her, and before long, Kristin felt like an outcast, bullied and scorned by all.
Initially, she thought of giving up the baby, starting afresh in a new city. But as her belly grew and she felt the life inside her, she abandoned the idea.
“If you don’t want to see her, then don’t,” Rhett said softly, seeing the turmoil in Kristin’s
eyes.
“It’s not that I don’t want to… From her perspective, should I be grateful for her ‘saving‘ my life? After all, I was the actual beneficiary of the whole heiress thing,” Kristin said with a weary smile, reflecting on the twenty–one years of education and life she’d undeservedly enjoyed as a Turner.
If not for taking over Ruby’s life, perhaps she would have died in childhood.
“Shall I come with you?” Rhett offered, draping a towel around Kristin’s shoulders.
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No… It’s okay, Kristin quickly gestured, not wanting to burden Rhett with her family’s mess, fearing his disgust.
Rhett’s phone rang again, this time his patience waning. He had considered blocking Eve but saw the call was from York.
“You better have a good reason,” Rhett answered, having warned York not to disturb his vacation without a serious cause.
“Mr. FitzGerald, Garner and Miss Eve called. Summer and Milo have run off after school, no one knows where. Melissa is about to tear the school apart looking for them…” York stammered, worried about the kids and Melissa’s wrath.
Rhett’s expression darkened. How could sweet little Summer run off like that? Were the FitzGerald family so desperate to get him back that they’d stoop to involving children?
“Mr. FitzGerald?” Kristin looked at him, anxiety written all over her face.
“Pack up, we’re heading back to the city,” Rhett said, scooping up Kristin as he stood.
Silvergrove City, kindergarten.
“Ms. Melissa, please don’t be angry, we’re getting the surveillance footage,” the principal pleaded, wiping sweat from his brow and stalling for time.
“You must be looking for trouble,” Melissa snapped, having demanded to see the footage earlier only to be met with delays.
“Ms. Melissa…” Bodyguards surrounded the principal, who, now fearful, led them to the security room.
The footage showed Summer and Milo exiting the classroom before school ended, heading straight into a blind spot in the surveillance.
“Ms. Melissa, look, the kids… they ran off on their own…” the principal attempted to shirk responsibility.
“During class, your teachers let my kids run off, and you have the nerve to say that to me?” Melissa seethed, grabbing the principal by the collar. “With such a glaring security risk, you better be ready for the court!”
The principal was terrified. “This blind spot… we had no idea…”
“What? With cameras every ten steps, there’s conveniently no coverage here, and the kids just happened to go this way? Do you think they’re spies or something?” Melissa pushed him aside and ordered the bodyguards, “Call the police, let them figure out why the kids were able to run off so easily during class.”
1881h 1ba1 Maliaan stormod off toward a decrepit warehouse indicated by the surveillance
It’s okay, Kristin quickly gestured, not wanting to burden Rhett with her family ess, fearing his disgust.
Rhett’s phone rang again, this time his patience waning. He had considered blocking Eve but saw the call was from York.
“You better have a good reason,” Rhett answered, having warned York not to disturb his vacation without a serious cause.
“Mr. FitzGerald, Garner and Miss Eve called. Summer and Milo have run off after school, no one knows where. Melissa is about to tear the school apart looking for them…” York stammered, worried about the kids and Melissa’s wrath.
Rhett’s expression darkened. How could sweet little Summer run off like that? Were the FitzGerald family so desperate to get him back that they’d stoop to involving children?
“Mr. FitzGerald?” Kristin looked at him, anxiety written all over her face.
“Pack up, we’re heading back to the city,” Rhett said, scooping up Kristin as he stood.
Silvergrove City, kindergarten.
“Ms. Melissa, please don’t be angry, we’re getting the surveillance footage,” the principal pleaded, wiping sweat from his brow and stalling for time.
“You must be looking for trouble,” Melissa snapped, having demanded to see the footage earlier only to be met with delays.
“Ms. Melissa…” Bodyguards surrounded the principal, who, now fearful, led them to the
security room.
The footage showed Summer and Milo exiting the classroom before school ended, heading straight into a blind spot in the surveillance.
“Ms. Melissa, look, the kids… they ran off on their own… the principal attempted to shirk responsibility.
“During class, your teachers let my kids run off, and you have the nerve to say that to me?” Melissa seethed, grabbing the principal by the collar. “With such a glaring security risk, you better be ready for the court!”
The principal was terrified. “This blind spot… we had no idea…”
“What? With cameras every ten steps, there’s conveniently no coverage here, and the kids just happened to go this way? Do you think they’re spies or something?” Melissa pushed him aside and ordered the bodyguards, “Call the police, let them figure out why the kids were able to run off so easily during class.”
With that, Melissa stormed off toward a decrepit warehouse indicated by the surveillance footage.
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in the warehouse.
Summer had found what he was looking for, a small wicker basket, and was ready to leave with Milo. “Milo, I’ve got it, our little flower basket!”
Milo, covered in dust, beamed. “Summer, you’re amazing!”
“Let’s go.” Summer took Milo’s hand and headed for the door, only to replace it locked from the outside.
Milo’s voice trembled, “Summer, it’s so dark in here.”
Summer frowned and banged on the door. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
Outside, there was no answer.
Summer glanced at the smartwatch on his wrist, a gift from Rhett.
Glancing at the time, he realized that school had already let out. His uncle would be worried sick if he couldn’t pick him up.
“I’m scared, Summer,” Milo whimpered, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Don’t cry, I’ll call my uncle,” Summer said, pulling out the phone function on the smartwatch.
“There’s no signal,” he muttered, frowning at the tiny screen.
“What are we gonna do, Summer?” Milo’s sobs were getting louder by the second.
Summer thought for a moment, looking at Milo trying to stifle his cries.
“Don’t be scared. We’re still at school; it’s safe here. If Uncle can’t replace us, for sure he’ll check the security cams. They cover both sides of the storage shed,” Summer said.with unexpected calmness. Rhett had taught him: when things go south, stay cool and think.
“But, but, I’m scared,” Milo’s eyes were red, trying not to bawl because Summer might get annoyed at the noise.
“What do we do now, Summer?” Milo, in his little denim overalls, clung to Summer, sniffling and teary–eyed.
Summer looked at Milo with a hint of irritation. “Just cry louder.
Milo blinked, his long lashes wet with tears.
“They’ll check the cameras and come replace us. If you cry loud enough, Uncle will hear you,” Summer said, sounding wise beyond his years.
“Summer, why aren’t you crying?” Milo asked, looking up at him, his own tears drying up.
“I don’t cry,” Summer said, looking down.
With his mom behind bars a
his uncle bringing him up, Summer was pretty mature for
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his age.
“I can’t cry, Summer,” Milo said, feeling utterly pitiful.
“Did you know? They say there’s a monster in the shed that loves to gobble up vide Summer teased, pulling a scary face at Milo,
“Waaah!” With that, Milo burst into loud sobs,
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