Chapter 157:

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“Carrie?” Beverly’s voice wavered with concern, but as her gaze settled on Kristopher sitting intimately beside Carrie, her worry was overtaken by shock. Whatever words she had intended to say were swallowed by the awkward tension in the room.

“Perhaps you should take a short rest. We might need your further input later on for additional details.” The officer, spotting an approaching figure, quickly imparted this advice to Carrie with a note of urgency before stepping away briskly.

The nurse, poking her head back through the doorway, mentioned in a clipped tone, “I’ll return to administer your injection once you get changed.” With a swift nod, she disappeared down the hallway.

Now, the hospital room felt more intimate with only Carrie, Kristopher, Oliver, and Beverly remaining.

Stumbling over her words, Beverly managed a tense chuckle as she addressed Kristopher. “M-Mr. Norris, fancy seeing you here. What a surprise.”

Kristopher coldly dismissed her attempt at conversation with a mere flick of his eyes, his focus elsewhere.

Beverly, however, hardly seemed to notice as her eyes danced with unspoken stories, flitting from Carrie to Kristopher with a mischievous glint. Clutching her clothes close, Carrie turned towards Beverly, her voice gentle but firm. “Beverly, mind helping me get changed?”

She then directed a pointed look at Kristopher, adding, “Mr. Norris, would you mind stepping out? It’s a bit awkward to change with you here.”

Thinking back to how he had just dealt with Nate, Kristopher felt his annoyance intensify. With exhaustion etched into his features, he thought back to the lengths he had gone to, pulling strings and searching tirelessly through the night to find her. Not even a whisper of thanks escaped her lips before she coldly demanded that he leave.

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His lips twisted into a wry, mocking smile as he responded, “I’ve seen it all before.”

“Really, what’s the issue?” The revelation erupted like an explosive shockwave, instantly unsettling Beverly.

Beverly’s eyes flared with surprise, her breath caught by the scandalous discovery. It emerged that Carrie had cunningly usurped Lise’s wealthy patron! This explained the deep-seated enmity between Lise and Carrie; they were entangled in a fierce romantic rivalry!

Carrie faced him, her expression unreadable as stone. “If my disgrace provides you with entertainment, Mr. Norris, I invite you to revel in it.”

Her response painted her as nothing more than an object for amusement.

Kristopher let out a derisive scoff and rose abruptly. “Your words fail to offend me; instead, they reveal you as trivial and sorely lacking in self-worth.”

Carrie’s mind lingered on the cruel words of those thugs, accusing her of indiscretions and roaming the streets late at night alone. Their accusations smacked of victim-blaming. Now, the man she once cherished was mirroring the harsh judgments of those who had threatened her safety.

Carrie’s smile was tinged with irony. “No need to waste your worry on me, Mr. Norris. After all, Lise is the one who can do no wrong in your heart.”

Kristopher’s face hardened as he strode determinedly towards the door.

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