Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Rhett frowned, watching Kristin’s retreating figure, feeling oddly choked up.

Without thinking, he almost chased her and then caught himself. When had he become such a busybody?

“Mr. FitzGerald, something’s off. Ms. Haywood tried to kill herself again! The Haywoods said, um, you didn’t take responsibility for what you did to her six years ago, and Ms. Haywood couldn’t handle the double whammy.”

York ran over in a panic, eyeing Rhett nervously. “The dough you forked over and the compensation to the Haywood family, they sent it all back. It’s clear as day they want you to answer for their daughter.”

Rhett rubbed his temples in irritation, having landed himself in a fine mess!

“Head to the Haywood family.” With a stern voice, Rhett gestured to Tam. “Ensure she gets home safe. It’s dangerous for her to walk alone at night.”

Looking like that, Kristin was bound to run into trouble. The bar’s neighborhood was crawling with drunkards.

Tam reluctantly followed.

Sure enough, Kristin was barely out of the bar when some guys latched onto her.

“Hey, gorgeous, what’s up? Why the long face? Tell me. I’ll back you up.”

“Sweetheart, don’t run. You here by yourself?”

A few boozed–up guys were all over Kristin.

She tried to dodge but couldn’t escape. The ringleader reached to touch Kristin’s face. “Pretty face you got there. Let me take care of you.“.

“Don’t touch me…” Kristin retreated weakly like she was falling into an abyss of despair.

Sometimes, she wondered if God was punishing her for committing some unforgivable sin, perhaps for stealing someone else’s life and changing her fate.

“Scram!”

Tam came after her, cursing the lead guy.

Plastered, the guy signaled his buddies to start a scuffle after seeing Tam was solo.

Tam, an ex–jock with a regular gym routine, could handle a few drunks with no problem.

He sorted them out quickly and looked at Kristin with disgust. “You are trouble, aren’t you? You can’t stop roping in the guys, huh? Vincent wasn’t wrong. You can’t live without a man.”

Kristin stood there, drained, mouth agape but without sound.

Chapter 24

Gossip could ruin a woman to the point where everyone despised her.

“If I hadn’t come after you, were you planning to go with these losers tonight? You’re not picky, are you? Lance and Madden claimed they’ve been with you. You’re pretty infamous in these parts.”

Tam was pissed as he once had a thing for Kristin and thought she was as pure as a white rose, but she was a whore.

Kristin’s cracked lips quivered, but she did not explain.

She didn’t even know the guys that Tam mentioned. Why would they say they’ve slept with her? In the past, when Kristin heard such filthy rumors, she’d panic, defend herself, and feel wronged, but eventually, she got used to it.

Let them talk. She was already ruined, and what did a few more rumors matter?

With a feeble smile, all Kristin said was thank you.

See, the way to destroy a woman was spreading rumors. And when enough people did it, it became ‘the truth.‘

Seeing Kristin not defending herself, Tam got more agitated. He had been blind.

Given another chance, he wouldn’t touch Kristin with a ten–foot pole.

“Let’s go.” But Tam still intended to escort Kristin home. With her magnet–for–trouble vibe, she wouldn’t make it on her own.

“Tam!” Kristin was about to leave when she saw one of the guys picking up a stick to blindside Tam and instinctively pushed him away.

Kristin didn’t have time to dodge and closed her eyes in panic.

Over the years, she’d gotten used to being hit. Even if she did get whacked, it didn’t scare her much anymore. Her body’s muscle memory made her instinctively close her eyes and brace her head, waiting for the blow to land, but the pain didn’t come.

Breathlessly, she opened her eyes, feeling an unprecedented sense of security from the figure before her.

While she was looking up timidly, Kristin’s eyes were skittish yet clear.

Rhett was holding the stick, looking down at Kristin.

Their eyes met, hers moist but shining brightly.

Rhett paused, just looking at Kristin. Those eyes of hers were beautiful.

Tam stood frozen, then after snapping out of it, he kicked the attacker away and landed a solid punch. “You’re asking for it.”

Chapter 24

York, Rhett’s assistant, called security to deal with the situation while shakily wiping Rhett’s hands with a tissue. “Mr. FitzGerald, let’s go.”

Rhett didn’t say much, gave Kristin another look, and handed her a tissue before walking away.

Kristin stood there, staring at the tissue in her hand for the longest time.

“You… you alright?” Shocked by Kristin’s instinctive action earlier, Tam softened his tone.

Kristin shook her head, gripping the tissue as she exited the bar.