Chapter 269:

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She had refrained from voicing these sentiments in Daxton’s presence earlier, partly to preserve Kristopher’s self-respect and partly to prevent any misunderstandings with Daxton.

Daxton had been nothing but kind to her. She cherished their friendship and wished it to last indefinitely. Entertaining any deeper feelings was beyond what she felt she could endure. Turning on her heel, she made her way inside.

Oliver watched as Kristopher’s face clouded over, then cautiously suggested, “Mr. Norris, Mrs. Norris tends to push back when pressured. A softer touch might allow you to communicate your concerns more effectively.”

Kristopher shot Oliver a chilly, sideways glance. “I simply refuse to let her be exploited by those schemers.”

Oliver watched the Bentley pull away and murmured, “You might consider revealing the truth about the Garcia family to her.”

“We’ll see,” Kristopher replied, his voice tinged with hesitation. “If I speak now, it’ll just look like I’m slandering her friend out of spite. Besides, Daxton came through for her not long ago. I can’t afford to turn her against her savior. If the press catches wind, it’ll ignite another scandal.”

After a brief pause, Kristopher commanded, “Keep a close watch on Daxton. Ensure he understands his limits. Carrie is not someone he can simply toy with.”

Oliver was left momentarily dumbfounded. Why did Mr. Norris have to be so frustratingly aloof? It was evident that Mr. Norris had painstakingly calculated every move for Mrs. Norris, yet his words carried an undertone of harshness.

Oliver caught himself thinking that perhaps a divorce could not be the worst outcome—if Mr. Norris had to woo his wife back, it could just remedy his relentless pride. That idea made Oliver glance at Kristopher with a pang of guilt. He had to keep his inner thoughts concealed; this was for Kristopher’s own good. Sometimes, the harshest cures are the most necessary.

Norris a bottle earlier, but it was sealed! I offered her a Fillico first, but she wanted Evian instead, so I got one. The bottle I drank from is still in the car—untouched!”

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He spoke so quickly that it seemed he might pull out surveillance footage at any moment just to exonerate himself. But Kristopher didn’t even blink. He responded with a single, nonchalant, “Hmm.”

Seeing Kristopher’s calm demeanor, Oliver breathed a sigh of relief. His boss wasn’t one to fall for wild accusations, especially not from an unhinged woman grasping at straws.

Charis, meanwhile, grabbed Lettie’s arm and pulled her aside, her voice a sharp whisper. “What kind of nonsense are you spewing? Everyone saw Carrie return with her husband yesterday! They’re clearly happy together.” Hoping to shift the focus, Charis turned back to Carrie, adopting a more pleading tone. “Carrie, you heard the young man—it was just a moment of panic! The truck startled her. Besides, isn’t the car insured? Surely insurance can cover some of it? A few million… that’s an amount we couldn’t scrape together in a hundred years! If we’re forced to pay, it’ll ruin us!”

Oliver hesitated, glancing toward Kristopher. “Well…” But before he could finish, Kristopher’s cold voice sliced through the tension like a blade. “This isn’t about the money.”

Kristopher’s sharp eyes locked onto Carrie. “She did it because she has her eyes on your husband. She wanted to stage some dramatic encounter, hoping it would lead somewhere. If we let this go unpunished, what’s stopping every other woman from trying the same trick? Do you think I have time to visit the police station every day to deal with nonsense like this?”

Lettie’s face turned pale. For someone used to being admired and doted on, having her ploy laid bare by the very man she fancied was a humiliation she could hardly bear. Her lips quivered, and she lowered her head, wishing she could sink into the floor and disappear.

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