?<strong>Chapter 225:</strong>


    Ruby stepped out of the kitchen, bncing a steaming mug of coffee, which she handed to Carrie before sinking into a beanbag across from her.


    She locked eyes with Carrie, her expression grave. “Camille’s right, you know. You can’t take all of this on yourself.”


    “Alright, I understand. I was wrong,” Carrie admitted, her fingers curling around the warm mug, the heat seepingfort into her bones.


    Camille rose, retrieving the first aid kit from the cupboard.


    She pulled out the ointment that Mny had supplied for Carrie’s injuries.


    As she noticed the angry red welts marring Carrie’s skin, her eyes brimmed with tears, and she spat out bitterly, “That bastard Nate! He should pay dearly for what he’s done!”


    Ruby pondered for a moment before suggesting, “Maybe I should ask Mr. Rodgers if you can take some time off during this period?”


    “No way.”


    “That would just throw the entire production schedule off track,” Carrie objected, shaking her head. “The doctor assured me I’m okay. A little ointment, and these marks will fade in a couple of days.”


    She tried to reassure Ruby, adding, “Don’t worry, the police will catch Nate soon enough. I’m safe.”


    Ruby crossed her legs and lit a cigarette, her mind racing as she remarked, “Considering everything we know, the Foxfire County thug incident and the buzz on social media weren’t Nate’s doing. The thugs were a fluke, but the media frenzy? That seems orchestrated.”


    Their eyes met, and a moment of realization passed between them.


    They eximed, “Lise!”


    In the plush confines of a luxurious hotel suite, Nate found himself engulfed by insomnia, surrounded by chaos—empty bottles and an overflowing ashtray brimming with cigarette remains.


    His mind was haunted by thoughts of Carrie, whom he had yearned for over two years. She was now on the brink of bing a permanent scar in his life’s narrative.


    As dawn crept closer, the shrill ring of his phone sliced through the silence.


    Nate nced at the caller ID—it was Yara.


    She likely wanted an update on theirtest scheme.


    Yara had orchestrated the n to kidnap Carrie with chilling efficiency, acting as the brains of their covert operation.


    Nate, gripped by a fleeting impulse of annoyance, was about to dismiss the call when his chief bodyguard intervened with a swift gesture.


    The bodyguard’s words caught Nate off guard. “Considering she’s Carrie’s sister, isn’t she a suitable alternative? Plus, Yara isn’t tangled up with the Norris family’s influential connections.”


    A spark of realization ignited in Nate’s eyes, dissipating his previous frustration.


    A sly smile spread across his face as he epted the call, his tone smooth andposed. “It’s all over. She’s gone for good.”


    “As a token of my appreciation, I’ve secured a rare, high-end designer bag for you. I’ll arrange for you to be brought over for a celebratory dinner tonight.”


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