Chapter 222:

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Tears cascaded down Camille’s cheeks as she embraced Carrie tightly. “I was terrified! I feared those obsessive fans might have kidnapped you, or something even worse!” she exclaimed, her voice choked with emotion.

Carrie allowed Camille’s embrace, soaking in the comfort, before her eyes sought Ruby. “Ruby, I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

There was no signal out on the boat… “As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters,” Ruby replied with a gentle smile, her demeanor composed and reassuring. She retrieved her phone from her purse, saying, “I’ll call Asher to let him know you’re okay. He’s been up all night, worried sick.”

With a nod, Ruby moved away to make the call. Meanwhile, Kristopher observed the scene silently, his piercing gaze never leaving Carrie. Even though she had stepped off the boat, her gaze never once met his, treating him as though he were completely invisible. It stung, especially since he was the one she was expected to notice first upon stepping off the boat.

Even the seasoned police officers present could sense the palpable tension and silence enveloping them. Kristopher took in her appearance: her attire was immaculate, and her stance poised. Even the slight fatigue marking her features suggested she had recently woken from a deep sleep. She appeared far from the fragile, vulnerable person he had envisioned she would be in such a crisis.

After the harrowing events involving a fire and violent assailants, Kristopher had made a solemn vow never to let her confront danger alone. At the slightest hint of trouble, he had promised himself to be there for her. He had spent the night tirelessly coordinating with every contact and police unit available, desperate to locate her. To the outside observer, it might have seemed like a major criminal investigation was underway.

When a call about a potential homicide had come through at dawn, he had raced to the scene, standing by the shore for what felt like an eternity. Yet, when he finally did find her, there she was, unharmed and alongside another man.

Kristopher’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint bruising at the corner of Carrie’s lips. She must have been hurt. For a fleeting moment, sympathy rose in his chest, but it vanished the instant he saw Daxton.

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Dressed in a crisp white sweater and jeans, Daxton stood effortlessly poised, the sunlight casting a warm glow over his figure. He seemed almost ethereal, exuding an easy confidence that grated on Kristopher. When their eyes met, Daxton offered a polite, serene smile, but beneath it was an unmistakable frost.

The two men locked gazes, the tension between them palpable—like two predators circling, vying for dominance over the same territory. Though Daxton’s demeanor lacked the lethal edge honed by Kristopher’s years in high-stakes battles, it carried a quiet, unshakable resolve.

“Alright, everyone’s watching,” Carrie said softly, patting Camille on the shoulder. She was entirely oblivious to the silent war raging behind her. Camille straightened, wiping away her tears.

Kristopher strode towards Carrie with measured purpose. He took the jacket draped over Oliver’s arm and, in a few swift steps, reached Carrie. Without a word, he pulled off the jacket loosely hanging on her shoulders, tossed it toward Daxton, and replaced it with his own.

His dark eyes bore into hers, his voice cold and commanding. “Carrie, you’re an adult. Start acting like one. A mere online gossip, and you can’t handle it? You turn off your phone and vanish without a word? Do you have any idea how many resources, how much manpower and police effort, I wasted searching for you all night?”

There were so many things Kristopher wanted to say—words of worry, of comfort—but seeing Daxton by her side twisted those thoughts into harsh, unkind accusations.

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