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

Chapter 170

On that fateful evening, young Milo found himself abandoned by his parents, seemingly forgotten by the Gladstone family. The family’s finances were in shambles, and Caleb’s folks were busy with work, leaving the boy to fend for himself.

Caleb was as drunk as a lord, his whereabouts unknown, presumably sprawled on some woman’s bed. Eve was also as drunk as a fiddler, lying unconscious at the FitzGerald Mansion.

Kristin couldn’t bear to trust the Gladstone’s help to whisk Milo away. She pleaded with Rhett to let the boy stay, her eyes brimming with concern.

Elated yet cautious, Milo clung to Summer’s hand, his excitement palpable but contained.

After all, loneliness was a child’s greatest fear, but with a playmate by his side, the world seemed a bit brighter.

“Good thing that I switched Summer to a big kid’s bed,” Rhett mused, leaning against the revamped children’s room’s doorframe, ruffling Summer’s hair. “Is it more comfortable now, kiddo, with your growing sprout legs and all?”

Beaming, Summer bolted to the bathroom and found the sink and basin lowered to his height. “You’re the best, Dad!”

Basking in the praise, Rhett couldn’t help but smirk.

“Okay, pumpkins, time for wash up and hit the hay. School’s up early, and we’re inching closer to middle school. Must keep those grades up, you hear that?” Kristin cooed, shepherding the two tykes to brush their teeth.

Not one to watch from the sidelines, Rhett scooped up Summer, squeezing toothpaste onto a brand–new froggy toothbrush.

“I love this toothbrush!” Summer was thrilled with the gift. Anything Dad gave him was a

treasure.

Milo eyed the pink piggy brush Kristin had handed him, a frown creasing his brow. “Aunt Kristin, why’s mine pink? Pink is for little girls, and I’m a big boy.”

Kristin chuckled at his protest. “Who says pink’s only for girls? Boys can rock pink, too.”

It was then Kristin’s cheeks flushed, realizing Milo had called her… Aunt Kristin.

Rhett suppressed a laugh, quite pleased with the title.

“I want the froggy one,” Milo, soiled at home, pointed at Summer’s froggy brush, yearning for green.

“Milo, you’re a guest in our home, and guests need to mind their manners, not snatch things from their hosts. Got it?” Rhett gently admonished.

12.13

got ready to brush

cute, though, Summer whispered. “Want to exchange?”

hope

handing over the froggy brush.

thought, Milo decided. “I’ll stick with the piggy.

by side, the boys brushed their teeth. “Top and bottom, don’t forget, or the cavity

not.

they silently withdrew, leaving the youngsters

dessert for you,” Kristin offered timidly, recalling Rhett’s earlier complaints of an upset stomach. “It might

right,” Rhett remembered faking

with a smile as she hurried to the kitchen to

least she believed she was of

to speak, his words catching in his throat. Kristin sat beside him, quiet as a mouse.

not like Adrienne. Adrienne’s bad, but at least she’s upfront about it. Some people play a

same Hertha seen as a pure jasmine flower by other men look like

she’s quite capable,”

have her wiles, but she could be helpful if she were on the same team as Rhett. A marriage alliance

probably still wary of your alliance with the Haywood family. If you and Hertha were to…”

his voice. “Kristin, I’ve said it before. There’s no future for me and Hertha. If there were, you wouldn’t have any place here, would you? Since you’re here, scrap any delusions of setting me up with

that, Rhett stood and ascended

professional. He knew she had no feelings for him, so he clung to the idea of her needing him,

as he had value to her, she wouldn’t

bind Kristin to him, Rhett knew he had to make her fall for him, to

her, cater to her every whim, and make her dependent

at the table, Kristin’s eyes welled up with

she angered Rhett? She felt

to back her up

only she were still a Turner, she wouldn’t push Rhett toward Hertha.

was best for Rhett, even if it meant stepping

to consider everything for Rhett’s sake.

move against Rhett, but when Holcomb did, Kristin would be helpless, no matter how