?<strong>Chapter 989:</strong>


    Carrie lowered her gaze, absentmindedly resting a hand on her still-t stomach. She thought back to her first pregnancy. Had she been this moody back then? No… she didn’t remember having such unpredictable emotions before.


    Maybe her first child had simply been more well-behaved, she mused. She watched as Daxton quietly fetched her a ss of juice, making sure she wasfortable without a singleint. Was she being unreasonable? Here was a man who treated her so well, yet she had questioned him over something as trivial as a board game.


    She scolded herself for overthinking, for letting doubts creep in where they weren’t needed. And yet… a small voice in the back of her mind whispered: If someone dismissed the small things so easily, would they do the same with the bigger things?


    But just as quickly as the thought appeared, she pushed it away.


    Weekend.


    The Morrison family was hosting a gathering, and Daxton had business matters to attend to. He drove Carrie to the estate, making sure she was settled before he left for his trip. “You’ll stay here for the next two days,” he told her as they arrived. “I’ll pick you up when I get back on Monday.”


    Carrie shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll just take a taxi home after dinner.” Daxton’s brows drew together in a frown. “No. I won’t feel at ease if you go back alone.” His tone was firm, leaving little room for argument. “If you insist on leaving tonight, I’ll stay for dinner, drop you off myself, and then head to the airport.”


    Before Carrie could respond, Jenesis, who had been listening nearby, smiled reassuringly. “There’s no need for that,” she said. “If Carrie wants to stay, she’s more than wee. If she needs to leave, Arion can drive her home. Daxton, don’t worry—we’re family. Of course, we’ll take good care of her.”


    Carrie nodded in agreement. “Yes, exactly. I can just have Arion drive me back. You don’t need to disrupt your schedule over something so trivial.”


    Daxton turned to her, his grip tightening slightly around her hand. His gaze was steady, unwavering. “I’ve told you before,” he said softly, “everything I do is for our future. You are the center of it. Anything that concerns you is never ‘something small.''”


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    Carrie looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the weight of his words. After a beat, she nodded, her tone gentler. “Okay. I understand. I won’t be stubborn. I’ll take good care of myself.” Then, with a slight smirk, she added, “But you can’t be so casual about your work, either, alright?”


    Jenesis, watching their exchange, chuckled. “Seeing you two like this makes me believe in love again.”


    Daxton left some instructions before he left. The family was rxing in the living room, sipping coffee and sharingughs, when an unexpected knock disrupted their evening.


    To their collective astonishment, the Hinks family stood at the door. The living room, previously alive with joy, suddenly chilled to a cold silence that choked the air.


    Luca mmed his cup down onto the table,pletely oblivious to the hot coffee sshing onto the back of his hand. His voice seethed with anger as he demanded, “Who do the Hinks family think they are, showing up here like this?”


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