Kolton paid no attention to Adalind's sharp words, his gaze locked on the woman who stood at the center of the stage, her smile radiant with triumph.
That smile sent waves of pure joy through his chest.
All he wanted was to witness her victory. Whether Kirk's company benefited meant nothing to him. The only thing that mattered was seeing genuine happiness light up her face.
Adalind's voice cut through his thoughts once more.
"You're being incredibly naive about love, Kolton. I know Kirk better than anyone. You've dominated every project he's wanted for two years running, so naturally he's had his sights set on this one. Can't you see what he did? He positioned Kimi perfectly, used her as his weapon. He pushed her into this competition, built up her confidence until she believed she was the only one capable of handling it. And now look where we are - he's gotten exactly what he wanted."
