?<strong>Chapter 218:</strong>


    Kristopher crossed the room to Lise’s side, his actions tender. He tousled her hair affectionately and draped a coat over her shoulders, his voice warm and reassuring. “Don’t dwell on those thoughts too much. Whatever it takes, I’m here to ensure you have a healthy, joyful life.”


    Just as the moment seemed to settle, Oliver’s phone vibrated urgently. He nced at Kristopher, hesitated for a beat, then excused himself and stepped into the corridor for more privacy.


    Only when he was alone in the dimly lit corridor did Oliver press the phone to his ear. “Hello, Mr. Murray.” The echo of Kristopher’s earlier heated call with Albin hung heavily in the air, a prelude to more trouble, perhaps. What had Albin stirred up this time?


    A raspy voice crackled through the speaker,den with urgency. “It’s serious—Carrie’s gone missing! You need to speak with Kristopher now. We can’t afford any dys or standoffs!”


    Albin’s voice was frantic, the words tumbling out in a rush of pent-up anxiety and exhaustion. “We’ve been looking for hours, and I even tried to file a missing person’s report, but the police need us to wait 24 hours.” Desperation seeped into his tone. “I reached out to Mrs. Norris, but she just bounced me over to the Campbell family. They’re no help—just bloodsuckers, really. I was out of my mind to think they’d lift a finger.”


    Albin paused, a deep sigh filtering through the line. “In the end, I had to call a few friends to join the search.” He omitted the part where he sought assistance from the Murray family. Hisint about Billie’s and Kristopher’sck of concern had backfired, leading them to practically shut him out, refusing even the simplest aid since Carriecked any notable social standing. For the first time, Albin felt the sting of seeing his social world through the eyes of an outsider—harsh, cold, and indifferent.


    “We’ve been at it for five or six hours now. I’ve checked four or five different spots, and there’s no trace of her. Carrie’s phone is off, and now Kristopher isn’t picking up his phone either. You have to talk to him!”


    The harsh reality dawned on Albin. Without the Murray family’s influential backing, his own power was frustratingly minimal.


    “Wait, Mr. Murray,” Oliver interjected sharply, sensing the urgency of the matter.


    He quickly retraced his steps back to the room, his phone clutched tightly in his grasp. As he burst through the door, Oliver fixed his gaze on Kristopher and dered with urgency, “Mr. Norris, Mrs. Norris has vanished!”


    “What do you mean she’s vanished?” Kristopher’s brows furrowed deeply, his irritation giving way to a mix of disbelief and growing concern. Meanwhile, Lise’s eyes sparkled with a mischievous satisfaction. She hadn’t anticipated such a swift reaction from the fans.


    “I’ll speak to Kristopher myself!” Albin called out over the phone. Oliver passed the phone to Kristopher, allowing Albin to ry the details once more.


    Lise blinked, her demeanor innocent, her voice delicate and seemingly sincere. “I just looked at the trending topics online. There’s nothing too scandalous. It’s not being taken seriously, really. At most, people are just chatting about it online.”


    She then continued in a lower tone, “Besides, it isn’t the first time Carrie hasn’t picked up her phone. It would be absurd to report her missing every time, wouldn’t it?”


    Kristopher paused for a moment, his expression turning somber and contemtive. Lise approached and gently tugged at his arm. “Kristopher, we still have a few tests to go—and a blood draw. I’m really frightened to do it alone.”


    Kristopher gently pushed her hand away, shifting his eyes away from her. “Oliver, stay here and make a call to Elva. Both of you should stay with Lise during her tests.”


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