Karma Doesn’t Sleep The Revenge Queen Rises novel Chapter 442

Mr. Baker didn’t say much in response. He just pulled the corners of his mouth into a faint, unreadable smile.

“You two really went to a lot of trouble.”

He placed the bronze artifact back in its box and handed it to Felix.

“Just put it up on the shelf.”

His offhand dismissal left Mr. Watts and Kristen feeling awkward and unsure what to do next.

What was going on?

Hadn’t he seemed so pleased with it at first?

Kristen fidgeted nervously. “Grandpa…”

“Please, call me Grandpa Baker,” Mr. Baker interrupted, his tone gentle but distant. “There are a lot of guests today, and I don’t want any misunderstandings if people overhear.”

His words were polite, but the warmth from before was gone.

“I have two children, though I can’t really say I’m proud of either. Felix here, and his younger sister Olivia. She’s about your age, Kristen, but she’s a war correspondent overseas and couldn’t make it home today.”

Kristen opened her mouth, wanting to say something more. “Grandpa Baker, I—”

But Mr. Baker was already pushing his wheelchair away, looking tired.

“The party’s about to start. I need to get ready, so I’ll have to excuse myself.” He turned to Felix. “Felix, please show Mr. Watts and his daughter back to the main hall.”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

Felix nodded, then turned to Kristen and her father, his voice polite but distant. “This way, please.”

Hank and Kristen exchanged a look, but could only say their goodbyes and follow Felix out.

As soon as they left the bamboo grove, Hank found an excuse to step aside and take a call, telling Kristen to go ahead with Felix.

He hurried to a quiet corner, pulled out his phone, and dialed Bianca.

His face was stormy as he spoke in a low voice, “Are you absolutely sure that Flying Phoenix bronze is authentic? You’ve sold off so many of my antiques to help out your family, then replaced them with fakes to trick me. I let most of it slide, but today was supposed to be important. If you swapped it out for a fake—”

Bianca snapped back right away, “How could it be fake? I had three experts look at it. It’s definitely real! Why would I risk our daughter’s future over something so stupid?”

Kristen had done her homework—she’d heard Felix had a thing for pretty feet, and every woman who’d ever been linked to him had gorgeous ones. She was confident she could measure up.

“Mr. Baker, would you mind helping me find somewhere to sit down?” she asked in her sweetest voice.

She was used to men falling over themselves to help her.

She didn’t even really like Felix, but she hated that he never gave her the time of day—especially when he seemed to care about Amelia.

Felix looked her in the eyes. For a second, she thought she saw a flicker of warmth in his smile.

But then, just as she was sure she’d gotten through to him, Felix’s tone turned sharp.

“Ms. Watts, are you trying to hook a rich guy, and now you’ve set your sights on me?”

Kristen’s smile faltered.

Felix started peeling her fingers off his arm, one by one.

“It’s fine if you like to play the field,” he said, his smile all politeness and no warmth, “but I’m not interested in being one of your guys. And just a heads-up—if you already have a fiancé, maybe don’t flirt around so much.”