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

At James‘ Place.

Ever since that incident, Kristin has been holed up at home, too scared to step outside.

The online backlash was intense, and Kristin found herself in the eye of the storm once again.

Too terrified to venture out, she chose to remain hidden.

Although Harriet made several attempts to get in touch, Kristin’s fear held her back from agreeing to meet.

“Grabbed a bite yet?” James was back, carrying dinner.

Kristin stepped out of her room, shaking her head.

She was too scared to even look at her phone, let alone leave the house.

She feared that the online mob would corner her at her doorstep like they did six years ago, hurling trash at her, cursing her to drop dead, saying she had it coming.

“Eat something.” James opened up the porridge, urging Kristin to have some.

Kristin sat at the dining table, her hands somewhat numb..

“I’ve squashed the buzz online. It’ll all be forgotten soon,” James tried to reassure Kristin.

She said nothing. Would it blow over that quickly? The internet might forget, but she couldn’t.

“Try to stay indoors for the next few days. Don’t even think about hitting the club. After the chamber of commerce dinner, I’ll take you out to clear your head,” James suggested, knowing that the folks from

the Haywood family were on the hunt for a private settlement.

It wasn’t just the Haywood family searching. The Turner family and Fitzgerald family were also on the prowl.

Kristin looked up at James, waiting for some sort of assurance, but James couldn’t give her a straight answer.

“If Adrienne gets tangled up in criminal charges, the Haywood family won’t stand for it. They’ll go to great lengths to find me. After all, she’s your fiancée. They’ll track me down sooner or later,” Kristin was aware that there were no secrets that time did not reveal. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Staying at James‘ home wasn’t a safe haven.

“I’ve got your back, James wanted Kristin to feel secure.

Kristin didn’t push the conversation and just took a deep breath. She didn’t eat much, feeling nauseous, and retreated back to her room, her figure solitary and forlorn.

James often felt the urge to pull her into his arms, but Kristin always seemed aloof.

He was well aware that without breaking off the engagement with the Haywood family, Kristin

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might never fully open up to him.

But he was confident he could keep her by his side. He just needed some time….

With Carter not handing over the reins, James couldn’t call off the engagement.

The Haywood family had been hounding him, urging him to get Adrienne out of the mess.

James had been dodoing everyone, letting Adrienne stew a bit. After all, actions had consequences. But James knew they couldn’t drag this out much longer.

When the phone rang again, he knew it was Berg before he even looked.

Rubbing his temples, James answered the call.

It was Adrienne’s grandfather, Berg. He shared a strong bond with Carter, cemented by their shared experiences as comrades–in–arms.

“James, Adrienne’s been bullied in Crescendo Town. What are you doing about it?” Berg went straight to the point.

“Berg, Adrienne was the one who messed up first,” James frowned.

“Adrienne is your fiancée, promised by Carter himself. How many women you have on the side. is none of my business. But if Adrienne knows, she’s entitled to swing at whoever she wants.”

James stayed silent, just rubbing his temples..

“I’m speaking for Carter and I’ve come to Crescendo Town myself. Adrienne has been bullied into jail and I want to see who’s got the nerve to do that.”

On the other end, Carter chimed in, “Bring that woman back.”

“It’s not possible.” James said with a frown. He couldn’t bring Kristin back to the Bryce family.

“James, it seems like you’ve grown too big for your britches,” Carter was furious.

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“I’m coming home now, but… don’t you dare touch her.” James said, glancing at the clock with a heavy heart.

With Berg personally arriving in Crescendo Town, the whole situation took on a different weight. If Kristin kept this up, it would only work against her.

After hanging up. James instinctively looked back.

Kristin was standing at the doorway, obviously having overheard their conversation.

“Kris…” James wanted to explain.

With eyes reddened, Kristin gripped her skirt tightly. “Just go home…” she murmured.

James felt a pang in his chest but still spoke up. “About Adrienne… maybe let her off with a lesson learned and drop the charges. With Berg here in Crescendo Town, dragging this out will

only hurt you.

Kristin trembled as she took a deep breath, holding back the tears. “I won’t…”

She wouldn’t cave.

“Not even for Summer and Garner?” James didn’t want to worry Kristin with this.

“What do you mean?” Kristin stepped forward anxiously, fearful of James‘ response.

“The Haywood family have already approached Garner and Summer’s been ostracized by her classmates, even taking a break from school.”

Kristin stumbled back and was lost. She had known the Haywood family wouldn’t let Summer and Garner off the hook.

“Even if I give in, they won’t stop coming after me!” Kristin yelled uncontrollably.

“Kris…” James moved to embrace her to calm her down. “Drop the case for now, and I’ll handle the rest. Trust me, okay?”

“James… you won’t call off the engagement, right? You won’t!” Kristin pushed James away in desperation, retreating helplessly.

“Tomorrow is the big shindig at the Silvergrove Chamber of Commerce, and your answer…

Can’t be clearer…” Kristin was trembling all over, heart racing.

She knew that James won’t call off the engagement with the Haywood family.

As long as James didn’t bail on the engagement, there was no way she picked him, not even for a bit of leverage.

Kristin was not about to be the mistress, giving someone the ammo to keep hurting her. No

way.

“Kristin…” James was at a loss for words. This was one heck of a tangled web. “Calling off an engagement is not as easy as you think. When businesses and families get hitched, there’s al whole lot of strings attached.”

Kristin cracked a smile and took a step back.

Truth be told, it was all because she was not important enough.

Kristin knew she was a small fry, insignificant.

“Just give it two years. Once I’m fully in charge, my marriage to Adrienne will be nothing more than a formality,” James tried to get it through to Kristin that he didn’t love Adrienne, marrying her was all about the power play.

Kristin kept backing up, shaking her head non–stop.

James was not the one she was supposed to go for

The phone rang over and over, and James, clearly irritated, yanked at his tie. “Stay home, take it

easy. Just lay low for a while.” With that, James took off.

Berg’s arrival in Crescendo Town was a sure sign that the whole Haywood family was on the

move.

James needed to keep Carter’s temper under wraps for now.

With Carter’s health being a bit shaky these past few years with high blood pressure, James didn’t want him blowing a gasket.

As for Kristin… Before leaving. James took one last look back at her.

James believed that he was the only one that Kristin could lean on, her sole source of protection.

He could stash her away for now, and revisit this in a few years…

Kristin stood there numbly, watching James leave.

She couldn’t stay here any longer.

The Haywood family had called James away to hunt her down, and she wasn’t safe around James.

In a frenzy, she dashed back to her room and grabbed her phone. Throwing on her coat, she wrapped up tight and hesitated for a moment before running to the kitchen to grab a fruit knife, and bolted out the door.

But it was too late.

Three black sedans had already pulled up outside just as James left.

Clearly. James‘ visit had blown her cover.

$

Out of the cars stepped Vincent and Clarence.

The other cars were packed with the Haywood family members.