When the Boss’ Lady Became His Sister-in-law

Chapter 56

James got the picture and leaned back in his seat with a chuckle. “Hop in, don’t make me say it a third time.”

Kristin’s fingers were nearly raw from her nervous picking. She glanced down to make sure her clothes were clean before carefully opening the back door.

“Sit up front,” James gestured.

Kristin pondered for a moment before settling into the front seat.

James didn’t say a word and drove Kristin to the mall.

“Get out,” he instructed as they arrived.

Kristin stayed put. After a long pause, Kristin finally spoke up. “I… I’ll go back.”

“Do you think I’ve had you around for three years to play nanny or maid?” James had to stifle a laugh.

Kristin remained silent.

“Come on, whether or not I go for a paternity test depends on if you can follow directions,” James resorted to a threat, as nothing else seemed to work.

Kristin was stubborn, only responding to this kind of talk.

She got out of the car and followed James inside.

Entering the elevator, Kristin instinctively tucked herself into the farthest corner, eyes fixed on the walls.

The elevator reached the ground floor, crowded with people entering the mall.

James reached out and pulled Kristin in front of him, frowning slightly.

Kristin stood rigid among the crowd with a trace of fear in her demeanor.

Crowds terrified her.

After years in prison, Kristin developed severe psychological issues.

Any person facing great trauma and change would inevitably show some stress response.

Kristin feared enclosed spaces, crowds, and being squeezed among people. Her breathing. became labored, sweat forming on her forehead.

James glanced down at Kristin. He towered over others, but Kristin was nearly swallowed by

the crowd.

“Let’s go.” he said.

Kristin had become much more docile than she was five years ago. She followed James

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obediently like a soulless marionette.

As they walked, James had an epiphany about what had changed in Kristin.

Her eyes once shimmered, bursting with life. Now, they were vacant, hollow. It was as though her spirit had been depleted, leaving only an empty shell behind.

of regret clenched

he could have helped Kristin,

he wanted to see her

and send it to IF, James called

were steep, Kristin kept her head down, not daring

buying stuff unless he had

Kristin seemed to be his one exception.

he asked

stood far away, looking up at him

James took a deep

his anger, edged

the grid, she might not know how to use a modern smartphone. She was out

with the

she confessed, shaking her head, then pointed to the simplest phone she could find, a model

prone to laughter, but Kristin had always been an exception to

He picked up a phone, grabbed Kristin’s wrist, and

out.

wanted to pull away.

hang of it first?” James

Kristin stayed silent.

isn’t that…

lit up upon seeing James. “Mr. Bryce, why didn’t Linda come

little starlet James had kept around in the past, known to everyone

Chapter 56

nose in the air, taking pride in

instinctively glanced at Kristin, who looked back,

like him were all the same without

a woman was just a fleeting plaything, nothing

covered her mouth in panic. “Mr.

his temples and flipping

today? He never brings anyone here willingly,

Did Mr. Bryce change his

fitting room,

measured her and whispered, “What’s

Kristin said nothing.

with confidence. Mr. Bryce likes girls with

still silent.

he ditches

respond and didn’t care about being looked down on. What mattered was not interfering with others‘ relationships.

dress the assistant had brought, Kristin emerged from the fitting

watched Kristin for a long

had changed drastically. The sparkle was

at herself in the mirror, she quickly lowered her

stranger to

James nodded.

more clothes for Kristin, asking her to

asked, looking

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girlfriend, then Kristin

wasn’t going to destroy others‘ love.