Chapter 219:

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Lise’s expression morphed into one of surprise, her face etched with distress. “Kristopher, I really don’t want to be alone! I absolutely can’t stand needles and all these tests,” she whimpered, her voice trembling as it threatened to break into tears.

“Please, Lise, try to be brave,” Kristopher implored in a tender voice, turning away from her. With these words, he exited the room, leaving a heavy silence in his wake. Lise watched his departing silhouette, her eyes brimming with tears, hands balled into tight fists. In her heart, a silent wish echoed for Carrie to vanish forever.

Carrie’s eyelids fluttered open. Above her, the crystal chandelier swayed gently, casting a harsh light that made her squint and raise a hand to shield her eyes. As her surroundings came into focus, realization dawned on her—this was not a dream. Confusion swirled within her. Was she still alive? Had she been rescued and brought back to the yacht? Had Nate been her savior?

Peering down, she noticed her attire—she was dressed in pristine athletic wear and covered with a silky, soft quilt. Remarkably, she felt no pain or violation of any sort. She sat up, scanning the room, which was notably larger than the one on Nate’s yacht that she had previously been in. Even the stark white walls radiated an air of opulence reminiscent of the Norris family’s yacht.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door swung open, and a man dressed in a crisp white shirt entered. His features were refined, his eyes reflecting the light of the chandelier with a serene gentleness, as if he were gazing at someone cherished.

“Carrie, it’s been far too long,” he said, his voice smooth and calming, like a soothing stream, tempering the storm of anxiety that had plagued her throughout the night.

Carrie’s tightly wound nerves finally gave way, and tears streamed down her cheeks, unstoppable and unrelenting. She wasn’t sure if it was fear, relief, or heartbreak, but the dam inside her had burst, and no matter how much she tried to hold it in, the tears kept coming.

Daxton Garcia sat down beside her, his hand hovering for a moment before he gently rested it on her shoulder. His voice was soft, comforting. “It’s okay now. I’m here.” Those simple words broke her even more, and her sobs turned louder, rawer. Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, Carrie buried her face and cried, her body trembling with the weight of emotions she had held back for far too long.

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She had always been lucky—someone had always come to save her when she needed it most. But it had never been Kristopher. No matter how much she told herself not to expect anything from him, in moments of danger, his face was the one she instinctively thought of. And every time, she was left disappointed. Eventually, the faint spark of hope she harbored deep in her heart dimmed, then died entirely, leaving only darkness in its wake.

As Carrie cried, Daxton sat silently by her side, his presence steady and unyielding, like an anchor in a storm. After what felt like an eternity, her sobs quieted. Embarrassed, she wiped her face and looked up at him. “I’m sorry for making such a scene.”

Daxton handed her a tissue, his smile kind and unassuming. “It’s nothing.”

Daxton had been a junior in college when she was a freshman. One day, he caught a girl stealing something. Carrie had been passing by and saw the scene, and she mistook him for a pervert harassing a girl.

Without hesitation, she hurled the stack of heavy hardcover dictionaries she was carrying straight at him. The books hit their mark, leaving him with a bleeding nose. Despite the misunderstanding, he patiently explained the situation to her instead of getting angry. That bizarre encounter was the start of an unexpected friendship.

Over time, they discovered a shared love for books and an uncanny ability to challenge each other intellectually. However, not long after they became friends, Daxton graduated early and earned a scholarship to study in Janfort. Life happened. Carrie, pressured by her family and weighed down by her own troubles, lost touch with him over the years.

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