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.

regret clenched James‘ hands.

ago, he could have helped Kristin,

to see her stripped of

her a SIM card with her ID and send it to IF, James called his assistant, leading Kristin into a phone store.

phones were steep, Kristin kept her head down, not daring to look.

wasn’t into shopping, never buying stuff unless he had

seemed to be his one exception.

handle this one?” he asked in a

up at him briefly, then

here!” James took

fearing his anger, edged closer.

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

the

to the simplest phone she could find, a model typically used by seniors. “I

to laughter, but Kristin had always been an exception

teach you.” He picked up a phone, grabbed Kristin’s

out.

to pull away.

you want to get a hang of

Kristin stayed silent.

that… Mr. Bryce!”

took Kristin into a high–end boutique, and the display assistant lit up upon seeing James. “Mr. Bryce, why didn’t Linda

had kept around in the past, known to everyone in

Chapter 56

the air, taking pride in her three–year stint with

glanced at Kristin, who

clear–headed that men like him were all the same without

a woman was just a

the faux pas, covered her mouth in panic.

to try some clothes,” James said irritably, massaging his temples and flipping through a

plain girl Mr. Bryce brought today? He never brings anyone here willingly, and he

so timid like a country bumpkin. Did Mr. Bryce change his taste? He’s

the fitting room,

measured her and whispered, “What’s your relationship with Mr. Bryce?”

Kristin said nothing.

with grace, like those who’ve danced since childhood,” the tailor suggested.

still

Bryce for three years, and he ditches that haughty princess for a maid?” The chatter outside

looked down on. What mattered was not interfering with others‘ relationships.

a white dress the assistant had brought, Kristin

watched Kristin for a long silence.

be told, she had changed drastically. The

looked at herself in the mirror, she quickly lowered her gaze, not daring to recognize

to herself, unfamiliar

do.” James

for Kristin, asking her to wait on

Kristin asked, looking

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Chapter 56

girlfriend, then Kristin would have to turn down his

going to destroy others‘ love.