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

Kristin backed away in terror, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at the nanny.

The nanny’s words took her back to her time behind bars.

She was fresh meat then, a newbie in the prison, and everyone was out for a piece of her. Her cellmates claimed their stuff went missing, and no one would take her word for it, no matter what she said. They all ganged up on her, clawing at her clothes, demanding she cough up the stolen goods.

Eve watched with a knowing look as Kristin clutched her child and retreated.

Ah, Kristin.

That was the only Ms. Turner, the former belle of Silvergrove University.

Back in the day, Kristin wasn’t just stunning. She was a cut above the rest academically, too.

Word on the street was that Kristin had mad skills, blowing folks away with her ballet moves and tickling the ivories like a pro, way out of Eve’s league despite her posh upbringing.

Both were high–society young ladies from Silvergrove City, but Eve, the heiress to the FitzGerald family, always played second fiddle to Kristin.

Eve couldn’t help but smirk with a sense of twisted satisfaction.

Once the humanities queen of Silvergrove City, Kristin had waltzed into Silvergrove University with top marks, but then, bam! She ended up in prison in the summer holiday of her junior year. That Silvergrove sweetheart, the apple of the eye of the city’s elite and the object of many men’s affections, never had the chance to foss her graduation cap before she was hauled off to jail.

What a damn shame.

Eve could admit Kristin had talent, but it was all trashed.

At the time, Kristin looked more like a beggar on the streets than the Swan queen she once

was.

“Kristin, you deaf or what? Strip and prove you’re clean,” Eve said with a malicious glee.

Kristin just curled up tighter, saying nothing.

“My mom didn’t steal your stuff. Stop picking on her.” Summer piped up, clinging to Kristin, defending her from the vultures.

“If you don’t strip, we’ll help you out of your clothes,” the nanny gestured to the others to start peeling off Kristin’s layers.

As for Summer, he was just a kid, no big deal.

“Don’t touch me…” Kristin’s voice was hoarse, tears scalding as they spilled over.

“Don’t touch me!” she screamed, begging them to back off.

Those painful memories were etched into her soul, never to fade.

Weren’t they enough? Hadn’t she paid her dues?

What more did they want from her? Did she have to give up her life to make it stop?

She could die, but what about her Summer?

She chose to bring Summer to this world. It was her job to take care of him.

She remembered the year Summer was born, her postpartum depression so heavy, sitting on the hospital roof for hours with her baby in her arms.

How tempting it was to leap off with her child.

She could end it all and avoid being thrown in jail by Vincent and Clarence.

“What’s going on here?” A man’s displeased voice came from the doorway.

“Mr. Gladstone…” a servant gasped in panic.

“Daddy!” Milo exclaimed, thrilled, running to him.

Eve froze, then moved instinctively, not wanting Caleb Gladstone to see Kristin. “Caleb, what brings you back? Weren’t you supposed to be abroad for a month?”

Caleb was cold as ice toward Eve. “Your dad’s back in town. He wants me back to talk about the divorce tonight,” he said indifferently.

Eve clenched her fists, looking anxious. “Caleb… Do

He ignored Eve, not even sparing a glance at his son.

you have to be so ruthless?”

Stepping into the courtyard, Caleb glanced in Kristin’s direction, almost subconsciously.

The disheveled woman cowered in the corner, clutching a child. He didn’t recognize her as Kristin at first glance.

Caleb, Eve, Vincent, and Adrienne had all been classmates with Kristin since high school.

Eve and Vincent were twins, their birth a social stepping stone for their mother who managed to marry into the high society by enticing Holcomb FitzGerald.

“Kristin?” Caleb furrowed his brow, calling out tentatively.

He knew she was out of prison and had returned early to check on her.

Kristin kept her head down, trembling non–stop.

“Caleb, let’s talk inside,” Eve said, flustered, trying to grab his arm.

Caleb shot Eve a look of disgust.

14:48

“Daddy, she’s a thief, and so is her kid! She stole Mommy’s necklace, and her brat stole my toy.” Milo complained, upset his dad wasn’t paying him any mind.

“I didn’t, and neither did my mom!” Summer shouted back, a mix of hurt and defiance.

Caleb’s fingers tensed, and he stepped toward Kristin.

“Kristin?” he called softly, squatting before her.

A tangle of emotions flew in his heart. Was it Kristin? How had she ended up like this?

Kristin once was the crush of most guys in class.

“Oh, Caleb is back.” Vincent’s voice dripped with icy sarcasm from the door. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Upon seeing Caleb near Kristin, his anger seemed to bubble over.

Hearing Vincent’s voice, Kristin shook uncontrollably. His voice triggered a visceral sense of nausea in her.

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