Chapter 184

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Chapter 184

Kristin wanted to ask, but whenever there had been gossip about Rhett in the past, he never bothered to clear it up.

“Talking about those old rumors?” Rhett felt a twinge of guilt. “Patty’s under contract with my label. It was Hanson’s idea to drum up some publicity for her at the time…”

Back then, Rhett had no clue that one day he would meet Kristin. “I can explain this.”

“I meant to set the record straight, but I just didn’t feel like going into it. Should I issue a statement tomorrow?” Rhett was worried Kristin would be upset.

Kristin looked puzzled. “Why issue a statement?”

Wasn’t this all pretty standard stuff?

“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea…” Rhett took a sharp breath in.

So this is what it felt like to be on edge in front of someone you liked.

“Not at all,” Kristin shook her head. “We’re working together, and my job is to shield you from those women. I Just need to know your true intentions, Mr. FitzGerald. If she’s someone you care about, I’ll keep my distance.”

Kristin’s business–like response deflated Rhett’s spirits.

“You don’t need to keep your distance,” Rhett’s voice was heavy with emotion.

“Mr. FitzGerald…” Kristin was relentless, asking softly again. “You don’t have any special feelings for Miss Patty, do you?”

“Do I look like I’m interested in her? Rhett huffed, visibly irked.

Kristin didn’t understand what had set Rhett off, her gaze falling to her fidgeting fingers.

Even if Rhett claimed not to care, she must have embarrassed him in front of Hanson. He could still get angry, right?

Her upbringing and her past weighed on her, making Kristin painfully self–conscious.

Rhett parked his luxury car next to the night market that Summer and Garner frequently visited. Among a sea of shared electric scooters and tricycles, his million–dollar vehicle stood out like a sore thumb.

Of course, there was another car just as conspicuous as Rhett’s

“Uncle!” Summer exclaimed with joy as he spotted Garner and Melissa also indulging in the street food.

your

At the stall, Garner’s face was clouded as he eyed Melissa. “Are you sure you can handle this kind of food?”

Melissa snorted. “I was living like a hobo when you were still in the military.”

Garner paused, taking her comment as a joke.

She was Ms. Lawrence, after all, married into wealth. The idea of her scavenging for food was ludicrous.

“Uncle!” Summer burst forth, throwing himself into Garner’s arms.

Only then did Garner notice Summer and Rhett. “Mr. FitzGerald?”

Melissa was unfazed, patting the spot next to her. “What a coincidence! Garner’s treating, so come on, dig

in.”

“We’ve already got someone treating us,” Rhett said with a smile.

11:47

“Oh? Kristin’s treating you to skewers? Just like siblings, both with excellent taste, Melissa teased, resting her chin in her hands as she smiled at Kristin.

Kristin had a soft spot for Melissa and, without thinking, pushed past Rhett to sit excitedly next to her. “Actually, it’s Summer’s treat today…”

‘Summer is treating?” Melissa looked at Summer in delight. “Come here and let me give you a kiss.”

Summer happily leapt into Melissa’s arms. “Yes, I’m treating today!”

Melissa held Summer close, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Well, then you’ve saved your uncle some money today.”

Gamer stood up reluctantly, feeling a bit awkward. “Mr. FitzGerald, if you don’t mind… please, take a seat here.”

He even wiped down a chair with an alcohol wipe for Rhett.

Rhett gazed at the street–side skewer stall, silent for a long moment.

This was a culinary world unknown to him. Did all these people share this food?

He was hesitant, but he couldn’t dismiss Summer’s kind offer.

Kristin was too preoccupied with Melissa to spare Rhett a thought.

“Melissa, are you sure you’re okay with this?” Kristin saw the sparkle in Melissa’s eyes, her admiration nearly written on her face.

“It’s delicious,” Melissa confirmed, picking up a skewer of meat, her glance at Garner pointed. “I’m not hard to please, unlike Mr. FitzGerald. He’s picky as hell.”

Rhett’s face darkened.

Chase after Garner if you must, but why throw me under the bus?

Kristin suddenly remembered Rhett and stood up anxiously. “Mr. FitzGerald, if you’re not used to this, we can go eat something else.”

Rhett grunted. Was she only just now thinking of him?

Watching her nearly throwing herself at Melissa…

Thank goodness Melissa was a woman. If she were a man, Rhett’s jealousy might have been blatantly evident.

“I can handle it!” Rhett said, as if in a challenge to Melissa.

Melissa, nibbling on her skewer, taunted Rhett. “Well then, Mr. FitzGerald, go ahead and eat.”

Rhett took a deep breath, his face set as if he were going into battle.

Was winning a wife ever easy?

“Daddy, this is yummy,” Summer offered Rhett a fish skewer.

Rhett, unfamiliar with such processed foods, quietly reminded Summer. “Street food might be tasty, but not good for you, they’re…

He swallowed the words ‘unhealthy‘ that were on the tip of his tongue.

“Milo, why are you hiding behind your uncle? Come, try this.” Kristin noticed Milo cowering, too scared to

move.

Milo was frightened of Melissa and stayed meekly behind Gamer.

Melissa caught sight of Milo. “Oh, who brought the tag–along?”

Milo had been scared by Melissa before, and now he was exceedingly timid around her.

“Milo’s my new best friend,” Summer offered, leaning into the conversation with an eager grin.

After all, Milo had attacked Hanson just for him.

Melissa’s eyebrow quirked upward, her lips pursed in a half–smile. “Kids are awesome and all, but you gotta be careful of those stage moms with their own sneaky plans.”

It was as if Melissa had dropped a hint bomb right in the middle of Rhett and Kristin’s mental living room, urging them to keep their guard up.

Once Milo and Summer got tight, Summer could drop his guard, and if Eve, that sly fox, ever decided to make a move on the kid…

S DE 2F ?

Rhett blinked, caught off–guard, then nodded his acknowledgment. He owed Melissa one for that heads–up. The possibility hadn’t even crossed his mind.

But, kids being the little angels they are, Kristin’s heart wasn’t in it to tear Summer and Milo apart.

“I won’t… I won’t pick on Summer anymore. We’re friends now,” Milo insisted in a tiny voice, all wide–eyed sincerity.

“Oh, then grab a seat and let’s eat,” Melissa gestured to the spot next to Summer.

Milo scooted over, quiet and obedient as a freshly–trained pup–more docile than Kristin had ever seen him.

Main while, at the Haywood family

Rhett had stirred up a hornet’s nest at the press conference, and now the Haywoods were like a circus act gone wrong, desperately juggling their reputation while rivals lobbed tomatoes from the sidelines.

Though the Bryces hadn’t made an official peep, James‘ hemming and hawing under the press‘ spotlight suggested they were reconsidering their ties with the Haywood

It was probably just a matter of time until Carter gave the nod.

In the blink of an eye, the Haywoods‘ efforts seemed to vanish like smoke.

Luckily, the Haywoods had some dirt on the Holcombs, a potential lifeline if played right.”

“Miss, Kenney didn’t manage to stir up trouble at the FitzGerald Group. Ended up in the ER,” a henchman reported over the phone to Hertha.

Hertha’s face drained of color. “Useless! The guy’s from a loaded family. Who’d have the guts to hit him?”

“Word is… it was Tam, Rhett’s cousin.”

Hertha paused, digesting the news. If it had been Rhett, she could’ve worked with that. But Tam? The notorious trust fund playboy? That was a different game.

“Make sure all this gets into Carter’s ears,” Hertha snapped, frustrated. Did Carter really turn a deaf ear to all the chatter?

It seemed she needed to up the ante, change her game plan–time to take aim at Summer.

At the Bryce Manor