Chapter 102
Chapter 102: The light in Fred’s eyes faded abruptly. Fred had been Belinda’s companion for the day, his usual lively and chatty demeanor brightening their time together. Now, witnessing his sudden change, Belinda felt an unexpected pang of sadness. However, with Kristopher there, she was at a loss for words to comfort him. After a brief silence, she turned to Kristopher and asked, “If you don’t want him with us, could you drive me home?”’ Without a word, Kristopher coldly let go of her hand and moved towards the car. “Fred.”’ Belinda took a deep breath, her lips tightening as she faced the dejected man before her. “Madisyn has your number, right? I’ll have her send your payment soon.”’ She sighed deeply, adding softly, “Thank you for taking care of me today.”’ Then, turning away, Belinda opened the car door and stepped inside. The black Maserati sped away, soon vanishing from Fred’s sight. As the sound of the engine receded, the night air whispered around him. Fred remained still, gazing long into the distance where the car had disappeared, before letting out a deep breath. He meandered to the spot where Belinda and Kristopher had stood earlier, picked up his black and white coat, and dusted it off. Suddenly, he noticed several strands of curly, soft cat hair on the coat”some white, some brown. The thought of Belinda’s cat, Fluffy, struck him, and his eyes snapped wide open. He hastily took out his phone and sent a message to Madisyn on WhatsApp. “Could you give me Belinda’s number? I need to talk to her about something!”’ g’±¯lnÏνð’®ð’sï¹ð’¬ð’ð’º, the heart of fiction The Maserati came to a stop outside an apartment building. “Get out.”’ Kristopher’s command was icy as the car stopped. Belinda reached to open the door, only to realize it was locked. She had barely processed this when the driver quietly got out of the car. As she pieced together Kristopher’s intentions, it was already too late. In an instant, she was forced back against the leather seat. Kristopher’s presence was overwhelming; his strong body pinned her down, one hand securing her wrists above her head, the other gripping her chin, compelling her to face him. “Why do you care so much about that young man?”’ he demanded. His voice was low and sinister. “It’s the first time I’ve seen you defend a man like this in my presence.”’ Pinned in place, Belinda could only look up at him. The driver hadn’t turned on the interior lights, leaving the car cloaked in shadows. The only illumination came from the street lamps outside, casting a dim glow that sharpened the angles of his face, adding a menacing air to his expression. She took a deep breath to steady herself and met his gaze firmly. “Madisyn met him at the bar. I barely know him. He was asked to take care of me in the hospital by his friend. I defended him because I didn’t want to feel too indebted.”’ “Really?”’ A sneer crossed Kristopher’s face as his hand shifted from her jaw to her collarbone, caressing it softly. “What’s wrong today, Mrs. Cox? Why did you need the company of a young, athletic student?”’ Belinda involuntarily tensed. Kristopher often used the formal address “Mrs. Cox”’ during their intimate moments, a reminder of her formal identity”distant yet possessive. Hearing him use it now made his intentions clear in her mind. She swallowed hard, her voice raspy with tension. “Kristopher, we’re going to get a divorce.”’ With a sly grin and a husky voice, Kristopher responded, “You missed our appointment today. Do you really want a divorce?”’ He then leaned in closer, his lips grazing her collarbone in a feigned tender gesture. His kiss descended further, but then, suddenly, he paused. In the scant moonlight filtering through the window, he spotted two dark red marks on her collarbone. The semblance of romance that had built in the dimly lit car evaporated in an instant. “Get out of here!”’ Anger replaced the extinguished desire in Kristopher as he jerked his hand away and straightened up….