Seven Years a Fool One Day a Queen (Kristine and Colton) novel Chapter 380

Chapter 380

Only then did Gideon finally piece it together.

It must have been around ten years ago.

A long time back, anyway.

That was the second year after Calvin had returned to the country. Gideon used to go see him all the time.

Back then, Calvin had only just started his business, and conditions were rough.

At first, his office had been rented space on the top floor of an old office building–freezing in winter, sweltering in summer.

For a while, Calvin kept having him order large amounts of seafood delivered there.

But after it arrived, Calvin never ate any of it himself. He just sat there peeling shrimp and cracking crab.

Everything he peeled ended up in Gideon’s and Baxter’s stomachs.

The result was that for a very long time afterward, Gideon felt sick whenever he saw seafood.

So he remembered that period vividly, even now, more than ten years later.

Back then, both he and Baxter had asked about it.

Calvin had explained that startup pressure was intense, and peeling shrimp and crab helped him relieve stress.

the two of them had genuinely believed him at the time.

Only now did Gideon realize-

Calvin hadn’t learned how to handle seafood to relieve stress at all.

He had learned because he knew Eliza hated dealing with seafood herself.

Calv… did you already like Eliza back then?”

Gideon finally voiced the question that had been bothering him for years.

Only after finishing the wine in his glass did Calvin answer.

Earlier than that.”

Gideon felt his heart jolt.

Carlier?

hen just how early had it started?

alvin had hidden it too deeply.

to wonder Eliza had never realized.

ven they, his childhood friends who had grown up with him, hadn’t seen it either.

You did so much for her. Why did you never tell Eliza?” Gideon asked, baffled.

Then, after a beat, he added. “And what right did I have to drag her down with me?”

“If that’s how you saw it, then why did you get involved with her in the first place?”

Calvin tightened his grip on the wineglass. His voice sounded as though the wind itself had gotten tangled in it.

“I’m a man. There are times when I lose control.”

That night, the drug had only been the trigger. It drew out all the feelings he had been forcing down into the deepest part of himself.

And once they broke loose, there was no stopping them.

When he came back to his senses afterward, he regretted having entangled her.

t was Eliza who told him not to take it seriously–that there was someone she deeply loved but could never be with, and that she didn’t need him to take esponsibility.

le had felt a savage disappointment.

and yet, secretly, he had also been relieved.

le kept telling himself that it was better if she didn’t love him.

f she didn’t love him, then when they eventually went their separate ways, it wouldn’t hurt her too much.

it the same time, he warned himself that one mistake was enough.

here could not be a second time.

ut in the end, he had overestimated himself.

nce the balance had been broken, Calvin tried all kinds of ways to force himself back into calm.

Vork. Business trips. Distance. Avoidance.

ut feelings were the kind of thing that, once repressed to the extreme, turned on you twice as hard.

nce there was a first time, there would be a second. And a third.

nce you’d had a taste, it was impossible to go back.

liza would never know that after every time, he spent his days drowning in regret, which was why he would always turn colder toward her afterward.

e had even pushed back the timing of his revenge by two whole years because he couldn’t bear to let go of that relationship.

i the end, it was Montgomery who warned him that if he delayed any longer, the other party would retire with full honors and quietly go abroad to enjoy the

est of life-

putation intact, fortune secured.

ristan rose from his seat and began making the rounds, table by table, to toast the guests, with Kim beside him.

Then they reached Eliza and Vega’s table, the smile on Kim’s face looked fake, and her jaw was clenched tight.

ristan, on the other hand, remained at ease. He greeted Vega warmly and chatted with Eliza for a few moments as well.

hen, as they clinked glasses, Kim deliberately let her hand shake and spilled half a glass of red wine all over Eliza’s dress.

ristan’s face changed instantly.

tim said innocently, “That was an accident. I’m so sorry, Miss Grant.”

It’s fine.” Eliza genuinely couldn’t be bothered with such petty tricks.

Even Tristan felt humiliated. Irritated, he scolded her, “Miss Grant is my honored guest! Hurry and take her to get cleaned up!”

Kim had just opened her mouth to refuse when Vega spoke first,

That won’t be necessary. I’ll take her myself. You two go on.”

With that, he led Eliza away from the table.

tim was so furious she stamped her foot.

f she had known splashing red wine on Eliza would only create a chance for the two of them to be alone together, she never would have done it.

I’m going-” she had barely started to follow when Tristan grabbed her arm.

You’re staying with me to make the rounds.”

Dad!”

You’d better behave.”

With so many guests present, Tristan couldn’t explode openly, so he could only lower his voice and warn her.

Only then did Kim obediently continue following him from table to table.

Eliza had been wearing a light–colored gown. Once red wine got on fabric like that, there was no getting it out.

Vega had someone bring over another dress in Eliza’s size.

S

She reached out, clearly intending to shove Tliza into the pond.

Eliza dodged easily.

Kim stumbled wildly and nearly fell into the pond herself.

She had only just regained her balance and turned back, ready to curse Eliza again-

when someone suddenly kicked her.

And not lightly, either.

ter whole body went flying straight into the pond, sending up a huge spray of water.

nstinctively, Eliza lifted a hand to block the splash-

ut before she could, someone had already stepped in front of her.

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