Chapter 72

At James‘ Place.

Ever since that incident, Kristin has been holed up at home, too scared to step outside.

The online backlash was intense, and Kristin found herself in the eye of the storm once again.

Too terrified to venture out, she chose to remain hidden.

Although Harriet made several attempts to get in touch, Kristin’s fear held her back from agreeing to meet.

“Grabbed a bite yet?” James was back, carrying dinner.

Kristin stepped out of her room, shaking her head.

She was too scared to even look at her phone, let alone leave the house.

She feared that the online mob would corner her at her doorstep like they did six years ago, hurling trash at her, cursing her to drop dead, saying she had it coming.

“Eat something.” James opened up the porridge, urging Kristin to have some.

Kristin sat at the dining table, her hands somewhat numb..

“I’ve squashed the buzz online. It’ll all be forgotten soon,” James tried to reassure Kristin.

She said nothing. Would it blow over that quickly? The internet might forget, but she couldn’t.

“Try to stay indoors for the next few days. Don’t even think about hitting the club. After the chamber of commerce dinner, I’ll take you out to clear your head,” James suggested, knowing that the folks from the Haywood family were on the hunt for a private settlement.

It wasn’t just the Haywood family searching. The Turner family and Fitzgerald family were also on the prowl.

Kristin looked up at James, waiting for some sort of assurance, but James couldn’t give her a straight answer.

“If Adrienne gets tangled up in criminal charges, the Haywood family won’t stand for it. They’ll go to great lengths to find me. After all, she’s your fiancée. They’ll track me down sooner or later,” Kristin was aware that there were no secrets that time did not reveal.

Staying at James‘ home wasn’t a safe haven.

“I’ve got your back, James wanted Kristin to feel secure.

Kristin didn’t push the conversation and just took a deep breath. She didn’t eat much, feeling nauseous, and retreated back to her room, her figure solitary and forlorn.

James often felt the urge to pull her into his arms, but Kristin always seemed aloof.

He was well aware that without breaking off the engagement with the Haywood family, Kristin

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fully open up to

was confident he could keep her by

not handing over the reins, James couldn’t call

Haywood family had been hounding him, urging him to get Adrienne out

a bit. After all, actions

phone rang again, he knew it

temples, James

was Adrienne’s grandfather, Berg. He shared a strong bond with Carter, cemented by their shared experiences as

you doing about it?”

who

have on the side. is none of my business. But if Adrienne knows, she’s entitled to swing at

just rubbing

bullied into jail and I want to see who’s got

Carter chimed in, “Bring that

not possible.” James said with a frown. He couldn’t bring Kristin back to the

too big for your britches,”

7

touch her.” James said, glancing at the clock with a heavy heart.

whole situation took on a different weight. If Kristin kept this up, it

up. James instinctively

was standing at the doorway, obviously

wanted to

her skirt tightly. “Just go home…”

in his chest but still spoke up. “About Adrienne… maybe let her off with a lesson learned and drop the charges. With Berg here in Crescendo

Chapter 72

only hurt you.

she took a deep breath, holding back the tears.

She wouldn’t cave.

James didn’t want to worry Kristin

Kristin stepped forward anxiously, fearful

ostracized by her classmates, even taking a break

lost. She had known the Haywood family wouldn’t let Summer and

they won’t stop coming

calm her down. “Drop the case for now, and I’ll handle the rest. Trust

won’t call off the engagement, right? You won’t!” Kristin

big shindig at the Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce,

clearer…” Kristin was trembling

James won’t call off the engagement with

was no way she picked him, not even for a bit of

about to be the mistress, giving someone the ammo

way.

a loss for words. This was one heck of a tangled web. “Calling off an engagement is not as easy as you think. When businesses and families get hitched, there’s

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