Contract Marriage: Bound To A Notorious Tycoon

Only a handful of days remained before the SAT, and the students were buried studying with frantic intensity. In the middle of that tense stretch, however, the school summoned Kristina Jenner's guardian.

It started when one of her classmates got hold of her diary and decided to read it out loud to the entire class. Every page revealed her feelings for Jason Oliver.

Jason was her guardian. They shared no blood, yet she always called him "Uncle Jason."

"My aunt threw me out again today. I sat alone on a rain-soaked street corner, drenched to the bone, missing my mom and dad. Then Uncle Jason found me. He stepped through the storm in a spotless white shirt, a large umbrella in his hand. The rain couldn't touch me once he stood beside me, shielding me completely. His hand reached out toward me, and he said he was taking me home. The first days in his house were terrifying. Every night, fear kept me awake long after the lights went out. Uncle Jason noticed. He gave me a plush bunny to hug and sat by my bedside, reading story after story until I finally drifted off to sleep. On my birthday, Uncle Jason surprised me with a stunning white grand piano. We sat side by side at the keys, playing together. When I glanced up at him, there was warmth in his eyes and a smile waiting there just for me. I kept telling myself it was nothing more than gratitude. Dependence. A child clinging to the person who saved her. But no matter how many times I repeated that lie, my heart refused to listen. Uncle Jason, I love you."

A young guy stood there reading from the diary in an exaggerated, taunting voice, each sentence dripping with ridicule. The feelings Kristina had guarded so carefully were stripped bare and displayed before the entire class.

Each insult struck like a hammer blow, splintering what little dignity Kristina had left.

"Give it back..." The words came out broken and trembling as tears blurred her vision. She lunged from her seat, reaching desperately for the diary.

The guy twisted away with ease, clutching it out of reach. In a deliberately syrupy voice, he mocked, "Uncle Jason, I love you."

The classroom exploded. Laughter crashed over her from every direction. Someone slapped a desk and yelled, "No wonder you're cursed! Your parents died because of you, and now you're throwing yourself at the man who took you in. Have you no shame?"

"Cursed freak! Seductress! Shameless bitch!"

The diary kept changing hands, each new reader adding another cruel remark. Before long, the ridicule had moved beyond Kristina and onto the memory of her dead parents.

Something inside her snapped. Rage surged through her like fire. With her eyes blazing, she seized a chair nearby and swung it up without hesitation, hurling it straight at the guy with every ounce of strength she had.

...

A man stepped inside the office wearing a spotless white shirt. Calm, elegant, and impossibly striking, he carried himself with effortless authority. The moment he appeared, the atmosphere of the room seemed to shift, as if everything had suddenly become brighter.

The teacher who had been berating Kristina a second earlier instantly abandoned her harsh attitude. "Excuse me, and you are?" she asked in a pleasant voice.

"Jason Oliver," the man answered evenly, his gaze drifting to Kristina's disheveled hair. "I'm her guardian."

The teacher froze. In that instant, everything clicked into place. No wonder Kristina had poured page after page of her heart into that diary.

Kristina couldn't bring herself to meet Jason's eyes. She kept her head bowed, staring fixedly at her shoes. Her fingers knotted together so tightly they hurt, while panic twisted relentlessly in her chest.

About thirty minutes later, she found herself following Jason out to his car.

His familiar cologne lingered throughout the cabin, wrapping around the small space. Once, that scent had been her refuge-the smell that meant she was safe, protected, and no longer alone. Now it only made her pulse race. Every breath carried a fresh wave of dread.

What terrified her most wasn't the humiliation; it was the possibility that Jason would find her disgusting.

Several minutes passed before she finally gathered enough courage to glance at him. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable. "Uncle Jason..." she called quietly.

Jason raised a hand to cut her off, then lit a cigarette.

Smoke drifted through the car, veiling his features behind a pale haze. Kristina sank her teeth into her lower lip, trying to suppress the ache spreading through her chest.

Only after the cigarette had burned down did Jason speak. "You won't be taking the SAT. Instead, you'll be studying overseas. I'll arrange your applications myself."

The words slammed into Kristina so hard her mind went blank. "No." Panic surged through her as she shook her head. "I have to take the SAT. I have to get into Plence University. I want to study biopharmaceutical sciences."

"There are excellent universities abroad. Study overseas for a few years. After that, come back and enter public service. I'll arrange a stable position for you-something easy, something that won't bring you unnecessary pressure."

The Oliver family had produced politicians for generations, and Jason was the brightest among them. Despite his age, he had already secured a highly-trusted role as a confidential aide within a federal agency.

The chill in his voice made her bite down on her lip as tears quietly spilled from her eyes.

Love had hit her for the first time, and she was still too young to understand how unforgiving the world could be. In her eyes, there was nothing wrong with caring for Jason. They weren't related by blood, so why was it forbidden?

What she understood even less was the punishment. All she'd done was write down her feelings, yet Jason had decided to take away her chance to sit for the SAT.

Security had never been part of Kristina's childhood. Her mother passed away when she was seven. Three years later, her father-a police officer-lost his life while rescuing two college students from the sea. After his death, the family tore itself apart fighting over the compensation money he left behind.

Her aunt eventually gained custody. But what she wanted was the money, not the orphaned girl attached to it. Kristina grew up half-starved and dressed in worn-out clothes. Beatings were common. On some nights, her aunt would lock her out of the house entirely, leaving her alone in the cold rain with nowhere to go.

Jason was one of the two college students her father had died saving. After learning about her situation, he took her in and became her guardian.

When she first moved into Jason's home, she was quiet and skittish-a wounded girl who never knew what it felt like to be cherished. Little by little, Jason helped her heal. He gave her stability, protected her, and became the one person she trusted without reservation.

Now that same person was pushing her away.

"I know I was wrong, Uncle Jason. I won't repeat the same mistake again. Please... let me take the SAT. I won't apply to Plence University anymore. I can go to an out-of-state college. Any school is fine."

Watching her cry so desperately, Jason felt the hardness inside him begin to give way.

He had taken care of her since taking her in. The thought of destroying her hopes was something he simply couldn't bring himself to do.

Yet he couldn't pretend this had never happened, either. Those feelings she harbored for him had to be cut off completely. If that meant teaching her a painful lesson she would never forget, then so be it.

So he took her SAT admission ticket, intending to return it the day before the exam.

As for whether the stress and uncertainty might hurt her performance on the SAT, he never considered that a real concern. The life he had given her was already a destination countless kids spent years struggling to reach.

After confining her to her room, he made it clear he had no intention of seeing her or picking up her calls.

By the time the final night before the SAT rolled around, Kristina felt herself unraveling.

All these years, she had poured everything into that exam. Countless practice papers had left rough calluses along her fingers. The mountain of prep books she had worked through was tall enough to tower over her if stacked together.

The SAT wasn't simply a test that determined where she would go next. It was the battle she had spent her entire adolescence preparing to fight, and she couldn't bring herself to walk away from it.

As darkness settled outside, an unusual stillness blanketed the Oliver estate. The entire family had left for a dinner gathering, leaving the house eerily quiet.

Kristina slipped out of her room and made her way into Jason's.

She rummaged the room, but no matter how hard she searched, her SAT admission ticket was nowhere to be found.

A crushing sense of hopelessness settled over her. For one reckless moment, she almost reached for her phone to call the police.

The thought of creating a scandal stopped her cold. If she dragged the Olivers into it, she feared Jason would never forgive her.

While she was still torn over what to do, her phone suddenly lit up with a call from her best friend, Ellie Oliver.

Ellie was related to the Oliver family through a distant branch of the family tree, which made Jason her uncle. Ever since Kristina had come to live with the Olivers, Ellie had been the only person she could truly call a friend.

"Kristina, get over to the hotel right now," Ellie said urgently over the phone. "Hurry! Uncle Jason's drunk, and I just spotted your SAT admission ticket sticking out of his suit pocket."

...

Kristina rushed to the hotel and found Ellie waiting for her.

The two girls slipped into a quiet corner, huddling together as they spoke in low voices. While they talked, Ellie pressed a glass of juice into Kristina's hand. "Kristina, you can do this. I'll meet you at the testing center tomorrow. You're getting into Plence University's biopharmaceutical sciences program. One day, you'll create a treatment for Alzheimer's and help families facing the same nightmare your mother did."

Kristina nodded with all the conviction she had left. Her mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's before she even reached forty. That day, her mother was on her way to pick her up from school when the disease stole a moment of awareness. Disoriented and confused, she wandered into the road. Kristina had witnessed everything. The screech of brakes. The impact. Her mother's body flung through the air. Then the sight of her mother lying motionless on the pavement, broken and covered in blood.

Years ago, standing before her mother's grave, Kristina had made a promise through tears. When she grew up, she would dedicate herself to finding a cure. She would create a medicine that could fight the disease so other children would never have to endure the same loss.

What began as a dream had long since become the reason she kept moving forward, bordering on an obsession.

Kristina finished the juice in a single swallow. With the key card Ellie had slipped her, she made her way to Room 3206 and swiped the door open.

A few steps behind her, Ellie remained in the hallway. She pulled out her phone and tapped out a message. The screen briefly glowed against the dim hallway before going black again.

Completely unaware, Kristina stepped through that doorway without the slightest suspicion. She didn't know that the events waiting for her that night would haunt her for years to come-or that this was the moment everything began to unravel, setting her on the path that would eventually send her overseas.

Seven years had passed, and Kristina had finally returned to her homeland, but she hadn't told the Olivers.

At the airport, she maneuvered a trolley stacked with suitcases as her tall coworker casually added one more bag to the pile.

Tapping her shoulder lightly, he said, "Appreciate it, Zero."

Kristina simply smiled without replying. During her years abroad, the Oliver family had never supported her financially. At her hardest moments, she had picked crops in fields and taken exhausting construction jobs just to get by. Compared to those struggles, hauling luggage was effortless.

Her colleague strolled beside her with empty hands, casually taking photos on his phone.

People passing by glanced at them and shook their heads, while a few couldn't resist making sarcastic remarks.

"Look at that. She's acting like a porter just to impress a guy. He must be rich, huh?"

"Some women are exactly like that. They're willing to do anything for money."

Hearing the unpleasant comments, Jason, who was there to receive important guests, unexpectedly thought of the girl he had sent overseas. Seven years had gone by, and he found himself wondering how Kristina was faring.

Had life forced her into a situation like the woman being mocked, making sacrifices to survive in a foreign land?

He immediately pushed the idea aside. That woman was likely motivated by financial need, but Kristina had received thirty thousand dollars every month from him for the past seven years without interruption.

Even in a high-cost place like Mekania, that amount was more than enough to ensure a comfortable lifestyle.

The university he chose for her wasn't particularly challenging. She only needed to complete her studies and collect her degree.

Seven years ought to have been enough for her to mature and gain some perspective. The time had come for her to return.

Thinking of this, Jason turned to Rylan Harrison, the CEO of AcePharma Group, and asked, "Didn't you mention traveling to Mekania to recruit that up-and-coming pharmaceutical specialist, Zero? When are you planning to go?"

Three days ago, Alexander Anderson, one of the nation's most respected scientists, passed away unexpectedly. As a member of the nation's top academies and recipient of a prestigious international scientific award, his death sent shockwaves through government institutions and pharmaceutical organizations alike.

AcePharma Group suffered the greatest impact, with several major pharmaceutical research projects suddenly losing momentum.

The company desperately needed a qualified researcher to take over and ensure those projects continued progressing.

Their top candidate was Alexander's most gifted student, the researcher known only as Zero.

At Jason's question, Rylan lifted his gaze from the game he had been playing on his phone.

He brushed a finger against the snake-shaped ear cuff decorating his left ear and replied lazily, "Zero is actually part of the Mekania delegation you've come to welcome."

Jason was momentarily stunned before it made sense. Rylan's influence extended far beyond business, and with his extensive connections, it wasn't surprising he had access to information others didn't.

Curiosity got the better of Jason. "How old is Zero? Is she from our nation?"

Sliding his phone into his pocket, Rylan replied, "Yes, she's our compatriot. I know nothing else about her. She's incredibly secretive."

"A lot of elite researchers prefer to stay out of public view," Jason remarked. "Still, it's unusual for someone of her caliber to leave behind virtually no trace of information."

While they were talking, someone nearby announced, "The delegation has arrived."

Both men turned toward the arrival gate. Moments later, a group of men walked out.

Leading the group was Hank Phillips. The moment he saw Rylan, he enthusiastically opened his arms as though preparing for a hug.

Rylan's brow furrowed. Avoiding the embrace, he simply offered a handshake instead.

Since the delegation was being welcomed on behalf of the government, Jason stepped forward and introduced himself smoothly.

Following a short round of greetings, Jason prepared to arrange transportation to their hotel.

Hank suddenly looked behind him and said, "Just a moment. We're still waiting for one more person. Ah, there she is."

Was the final arrival the mysterious Zero?

Jason and Rylan immediately turned toward the spot Hank was pointing at.

A tall young woman approached them. Dressed casually in jeans and a plain shirt, she was partially hidden behind a mountain of luggage, leaving only her bright eyes visible.

She was none other than the woman who had just been the subject of everyone's gossip.

As Jason considered asking someone to assist her, Rylan's calm voice cut through the air. "Hank, did you guys leave your hands at home?"

Hank and the other experts hesitated, failing to grasp the mockery behind his words.

The group looked at one another in bewilderment.

Still, even without fully understanding, they could tell it wasn't praise.

The local staff struggled to keep straight faces.

As expected from the CEO of the nation's leading pharmaceutical firm, Rylan's remarks always carried a sharp edge.

A light laugh sounded from behind the luggage trolley. The woman then emerged from behind the stacked suitcases and said, "Gentlemen, you've misunderstood. I was just doing my job."

Doing her job? To them, it only reinforced the impression that she was willingly doing all the heavy lifting to curry favor.

Rylan merely spared her an indifferent look before turning away, while Jason stood rooted to the spot, staring at her in disbelief.

The woman standing before him had graceful brows and long eyelashes. When she smiled, her eyes softened into crescents, and shallow dimples appeared at the corners of her lips.

Kristina? He found it difficult to reconcile this poised young woman with the girl from his memories.

At the same moment, Kristina's gaze landed on Jason.

The years appeared to have treated him kindly. His handsome features remained unchanged, and he still looked gentle and refined.

Bitterness welled up inside Kristina. So much appeared unchanged, yet everything had become different.

Her thoughts drifted back to seven years earlier. After drinking the juice Ellie had handed her, she entered Room 3206 expecting to find Jason. Instead, a complete stranger was waiting inside, someone who seemed to be in as compromised a state as she was.

The room had been dim, making it impossible for either of them to see the other clearly. What lingered in her memory was only the warmth of his solid frame and the chaos of that unforgettable night.

The following morning, she was jolted awake by a sharp slap delivered by Vicki Cole, Jason's older sister, who was married.

From then on, she was branded with accusations of being shameless and lacking any moral character.

Even after all these years, Kristina still couldn't comprehend it. She had been the one wronged, so why had Vicki distorted the truth and painted her as the one who had schemed against Jason?

She had only turned eighteen. In a single night, she lost her reputation, her virginity, and the future she had planned. Denied the chance to sit for the SAT, she was sent abroad carrying the burden of everyone's accusations.

Yet her suffering was far from over. Shortly after arriving in Mekania, she was robbed and left with nothing. When she eventually managed to borrow a phone and reach out to Jason, he dismissed her call as another attempt to gain his pity, ending the call and blocking the number.

A young woman stranded alone in an unfamiliar country was vulnerable to countless dangers. Kristina knew how close she had come to becoming another victim. Had she not crossed paths with two compassionate international students who offered help, she might never have made it through those difficult days.

Kristina adjusted the sleeve on her left arm, pulling it snugly into place. Then she raised her gaze to Jason and said calmly, "Uncle Jason, long time no see."

As the shock faded, Jason gradually composed himself, though a mixture of emotions welled up inside him.

His throat felt tight as he spoke gently. "Kristina, how have you been all these years?"

Kristina avoided his gaze, caught in silence.

Saying she was fine felt like a lie, yet admitting the opposite was difficult when she was still standing there breathing.

She couldn't force herself to say she was doing fine.

Over those seven years, whether she was homeless or seriously ill, she had received no help at all and survived entirely on her own.

For seven long years, he had never reached out to her. Even a single phone call had felt like an unreachable hope.

Perhaps she should have walked away on her own when they insulted her and labeled her as shameless.

Instead, she had been sent abroad and deserted, clinging stubbornly to the belief that they would eventually soften, dialing a number that never went through repeatedly until hope slowly eroded into despair.

Noticing her silence, Jason instinctively reached out his hand, intending to pat her head as he once did.

Kristina moved immediately to the trolley, using the action as a way to avoid his touch.

Jason's hand stalled in the air, stiff and uncertain, before slowly curling shut as he withdrew it.

The girl he remembered would have run straight into his arms, breaking down as she released years of bottled-up pain without restraint.

But now, she stood apart from him, distant and guarded, clearly still harboring resentment.

He tried to rationalize it. After all, he had sent an eighteen-year-old overseas alone; even with financial support, loneliness and fear were inevitable.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have repeatedly found reasons to return-sometimes claiming robbery, sometimes illness-anything to make her way back.

That realization left Jason with a dull ache in his chest. Even after seven years, she still failed to understand his good intentions.

Just then, a coworker approached to take his luggage. Kristina offered Jason a brief apologetic smile, saying, "I need to return to work."

As she moved past Rylan with the trolley, she cast him a brief, almost reflexive side glance.

She had encountered many handsome men in her life, Jason being one of them.

But this man carried a completely different presence-sharp, intense, and almost intimidating in his beauty, with deep-set eyes and a sharply defined nose bridge.

Still, he was a stranger to her.

Out of courtesy, she gave him a small nod and continued walking without pause.

Rylan turned his gaze away as well, and they passed without acknowledging each other further.

At that exact moment, a faint trace of lemon scent reached Rylan, triggering something buried in his memory.

The relaxed expression in his eyes vanished instantly, replaced by sharp alertness. He inhaled again, focusing intently, his sense of smell unusually sharp.

That was it-fresh lemon blended with lavender, underlined by a faint woody tone.

Rylan's gaze snapped back to Kristina. That scent was identical to the one from the woman he had slept with seven years earlier.

"Wait," he called sharply after her.

Kristina turned toward Rylan, clearly startled, her eyes widening with visible confusion.

"Kristina, relax." Jason then stepped slightly away with Rylan, lowering his voice. "That's Kristina Jenner, the girl I took in. She was majoring in finance in Mekania. You don't actually think she's Zero, do you?"

Rylan didn't think the woman was Zero. But he saw no reason to tell Jason that she might be the woman who had slept with him seven years ago. The incident was known only to him, his bodyguard, Connor Howard, and his friend, Aaron Ford.

For seven years, Rylan had been searching for that woman, and that fixation had slowly turned into something bordering on obsession.

He looked at Kristina for a moment longer than necessary, silently committing her name to memory.

Once they reached the hotel, Kristina quickly began assisting Hank with the arrangements.

Jason watched her moving about so efficiently, a heavy, dull ache forming in his chest. The girl he once cherished now stood in service to others.

After seeing Hank to his room, Kristina brushed off the sweat on her brow and said casually, "I lost fair and square, so I carried everyone's luggage. If you lose next time, no backing out."

Hank groaned theatrically, covering his face. "Seriously? Last time I lost, you made me wear a dress and dance in the square!"

Kristina was about to respond when she noticed Jason approaching and shifted aside. "Uncle Jason, are you here for Dr. Phillips?" she asked.

"No. I came for you." Jason's voice softened. "Kristina, come home with me."

Home. The word no longer had a place in her life. Yet she didn't resist. A faint, unreadable smile touched her lips as she nodded once. "Alright."

Even though they had cut her off financially since she went abroad, they had still raised her and provided her with the best education from the age of ten to eighteen. That part of her past was real, and she couldn't simply erase it.

More importantly, she had come back for answers about seven years ago. Returning to the Oliver residence was unavoidable.

Inside the car, Jason broke the silence first. "You're just doing odd jobs in Hank's lab?"

Kristina hesitated briefly. Her position wasn't clearly defined, so she gave a small nod.

"Leave it," Jason said firmly.

Kristina turned to him. "Why would I do that?"

"That kind of work doesn't even reach ten thousand a month. How do you expect that to cover what you're wearing?"

Kristina glanced down at her designer clothes, a small, almost mocking smile flickering across her face.

Did he think she was living off him?

He didn't even realize her card had been canceled and never replaced.

Not once had he asked how she had survived all these years with nothing to rely on.

Jason's expression softened as if reassured. "The civil service exam is in four months. Study properly. I'll handle the rest for you."

Kristina tilted her head slightly. "Government jobs don't pay much either."

"You don't understand yet. It's about status; that's what secures your future marriage. You're not like those upper-class girls."

In his eyes, without family backing, she could only climb through effort alone.

She could tell he truly believed he was helping her.

The life he envisioned for her began where most people spent their entire lives trying to arrive.

But it wasn't a path she wanted.

She had her own direction in life, something that had kept her moving even in her darkest, poorest days.

She swallowed the ache in her chest and asked quietly, "Uncle Jason, are you not angry anymore?"

Jason paused, catching the implication behind her words.

He had long since let go of that anger.

He had been furious in the beginning, but time had long since diluted it. After years of navigating public life, those old frustrations over a teenage girl's defiance no longer mattered to him.

He gave a small, patient smile. "I was angry because you were reckless. But you've changed now, haven't you? You're not still blaming me, are you?"

Kristina lowered her eyes slightly. "I wouldn't dare."

She wouldn't dare voice it, but that didn't mean the resentment had disappeared.

Jason chose to ignore the underlying meaning in her words and shifted the topic to her life overseas.

"It was alright," she replied briefly. "Mostly classes, home, and the library."

To Jason, her tone sounded distant, almost like dissatisfaction, so he didn't probe further. The rest of the drive passed in silence as they headed back to the Oliver residence.

When they arrived, a wave of emotion washed over Kristina.

Seven years earlier, she had sat on that very swing, dreaming about what her future might look like. She had once picked roses from the garden and placed them carefully in Jason's room.

Now, the swing chains were freshly maintained, and the roses were still blooming vividly. On the surface, nothing here seemed to have changed.

"Kristina? Is that you?" a familiar elderly voice called from inside.

Kristina turned and saw an older woman stepping out in a deep magenta silk dress.

"Grandma," Kristina greeted, quickly moving forward to steady her.

Jason's mother, Nancy Oliver, wrapped Kristina in a tight embrace, her voice shaking with emotion. "Oh, sweetheart, you're finally home. The moment you left, I was filled with regret. A young girl like you, all alone in a foreign country with no family or friends... it must have been so difficult."

Kristina managed a smile, masking the sadness in her eyes. Back then, her phone had been stolen, but she still remembered all their numbers by heart. Once she got a new SIM card, she sent her contact to everyone. If anyone had truly cared, she wouldn't have gone seven years without hearing from them.

Jason spoke calmly, offering reassurance. "Mom, she needed time to grow on her own. See? She's come back perfectly fine."

Nancy held Kristina's hands and studied her closely. Though dressed modestly, every piece Kristina wore was clearly high-end, and the necklace at her collarbone alone was a luxury item worth a fortune.

Nancy nodded in satisfaction. "Go in first. Freshen up and rest. Rita has prepared your favorite chicken pot pie."

A maid quietly escorted Kristina upstairs. Watching her disappear, Nancy exhaled softly and said to Jason, "She's a grown-up woman now."

Jason remained silent, his gaze fixed on her retreating form, the white shirt drifting like a distant sail fading away.

Lowering her voice, Nancy added, "Just look at what she's wearing. Even though she hasn't stayed with us these years, you've clearly still provided for her."

...

Kristina pushed the door open and stopped short-the room inside no longer resembled what she remembered at all.

When she was young, Nancy had filled the room with soft pink tones. She used to lie under the canopy bed, imagining herself as a princess in a painted dollhouse.

As she grew older, she outgrew the childish decor but never felt entitled to change it since it wasn't her home. She only removed the canopy and replaced the bedding with neutral shades.

Now, the entire space had been redesigned into a muted, upscale aesthetic. Soft beige tones filled the room, and every piece of furniture looked custom-built with refined precision.

For a moment, she doubted she had entered the right place until she saw the vanity set, clearly arranged for a young woman.

Had the Olivers renovated it earlier, quietly preparing it for her return?

A wave of warmth stirred in her guarded heart. Before everything fell apart, they had indeed been kind to her.

Maybe it was time to explain everything properly. Even without their financial support over the past seven years, she had managed on her own-finishing her postdoctoral research at Blison University, joining Hank's lab, and now returning to establish her career.

She walked over to the wardrobe, just about to open it, when the maid's voice stopped her. "Please leave. This isn't your room."

Kristina turned around. It was the same maid who had brought her upstairs.

She glanced around the room again; it didn't really match Vicki's taste.

However, apart from Vicki, already in her forties, there wasn't any young woman in the household.

Could it be Jason's girlfriend?

Unable to hold back her curiosity, Kristina asked, "Then whose room is this?"

"Mine," a voice answered.

Kristina turned toward the sound, her eyes narrowing slightly in recognition.