?<strong>Chapter 122:</strong>
“Hmm?” Carrie, caught off guard by his question, blinked in confusion before it clicked—he was referring to her earlier offhand critique of his culinary skills.
Speechless, she could only marvel silently at how petty he could be.
The doorbell echoed through the apartment, prompting Carrie to rise and answer it. There stood Oliver, his armsden with two bags brimming with essentials—shower gel, pajamas, and the like, all items Kristopher favored.
With a genial smile breaking through the gloom of the rainy evening, Oliver said, “The downpour outside is relentless, and with the leak at Bayview Vi, staying there isn’t an option. Would you, Mrs. Norris, be so kind as to let Mr. Norris crash here for the night? I’ll swing by first thing tomorrow to pick him up.”
Oliver’s attempt at ying Cupid was unmistakable this time. To consider it mere coincidence would be nothing short of naive. She realized that giving in might only fuel Kristopher’s ims that she was just ying hard to get. With their divorce impending, prolonging any interaction would onlyplicate matters.
With aposed demeanor, she replied, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I don’t have a spare room avable.”
Kristopher, who had been momentarily buoyed by their recent tentative reconciliation, felt a chill as she voiced her refusal.
“Furthermore, my agent might stop byter to discuss some business. It might be inconvenient. However, I can arrange for a driver to take him back if you’re upied,” she added, her voice steady and indifferent.
This left Kristopher stunned, his expression turning icy. He had done everything—extended peace offerings, prepared meals, and sought forgiveness—never had he shown such humility. Yet here he was, met with nothing but her aloofness. The realization stung—perhaps he had been too quick to buy into Albin’s idealistic nonsense that rtionships requiredmitment.
Kristopher mmed the cup down with such force that it echoed through the room, striding over with a stern expression stered across his face. He rebuked Oliver sharply. “If you’re too swamped to handle your duties, perhaps it’s best you resign. I’m sure I can find another assistant who can manage their time better.”
Oliver, caught off guard and unaware of the underlying issues, sensed the tension had escted beyond repair. Opting not to press the matter, he stepped aside, allowing room for Kristopher to pass, and offered politely, “Mr. Norris, shall I drive you home now?”
Without so much as a backward nce at Carrie, Kristopher marched straight towards the exit, Oliver tailing him closely. Carrie watched their retreating figures blend into the elevator’s closing doors, then gently shut her own door with a soft click, a wave of emptiness and a pang of loss washing over her.
Just then, her phone chirped with iing notifications, snapping her out of her reverie. Carrie picked up her phone and swiped it unlocked to find two alerts from Twitter. The first was from Silver Elephant Media’s official ount, announcing, “Exciting new drama in the works—stay tuned! @AsherBurton, @CarrieCampbell.”
Intrigued, she tapped on the next notification to find Asher’s enthusiastic retweet. “Teaming up with @CarrieCampbell—can’t wait to get started!”
Carrie harbored reservations about Asher’s unpredictable nature. His emotional transparency and impulsive decisions were legendary, yet somehow, he had ascended to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. Whether his sess was attributed to his remarkable talent or just dumb luck was anyone’s guess.
Despite his stature as a superstar with a predominantly female fanbase, Asher was a solitary figure in the industry, rarely mentioning colleagues on his social media. The sudden appearance of Carrie on his Twitter was unexpected and potentially problematic. If fans started connecting dots or if someone with a vested interest twisted their rtionship into a love affair, it could jeopardize Carrie’s standing.
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