?<strong>Chapter 239:</strong>


    Regaining hisposure, Tristan’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Mr. Norris, Carrie is still my daughter. As her father, I im the right to…”


    Before he could finish, Kristopher let go of his hand. “Father, are you truly worthy of that title?”


    Tristan stumbled back and copsed onto a bench in the corridor.


    Cindy joined him, concerned, and after checking that he was okay, she looked up defiantly. “The police are still present. Do you think your actions are above thew, Mr. Norris?”


    Kristopher wiped his hand with a wet wipe, as if disgusted by the contact.


    He disposed of the wipe casually, his tone deliberate. “He was about to hit my wife. I was simply protecting her. Of course…”


    He paused, his gaze shifting to Cindy. “If you’re implying that I act without restraint, well, that could be arranged.” His eyes conveyed a cold, daunting calm.


    Cindy’s color drained from her face, her lips quivered, and she found herself speechless.


    A police officer broke the silence and exined, “I informed Mr. and Mrs. Norris. As the victim, Carrie not only deserves to be updated on the investigation, but she is also required to cooperate with us in solving the case.”


    The officers disapproved of Tristan.


    Observing Kristopher’s self-control, they didn’t intervene.


    Cindy, dabbing at her tears, retorted, “What victim? She’s more likely the criminal. Nate was her fiancé once, everyone here knows that. A few years ago, Carrie was set to join the Crawford family through marriage. It’s a mystery how she ended up married into the Norris family instead. Just recently, she was seen in Foxfire County, rekindling ties with Nate. It’s possible she’s been deceitful all along, cheating and plotting against my children! My poor daughter lies here, unconscious.”


    Cindy brazenly cast the me onto Carrie.


    Tristan not onlycked anypassion for Carrie but also regarded her with visible hatred.


    Those around could not help but feel their sympathies grow for Carrie.


    With a stepmother in the mix, even a father by blood seemed to drift away. His favoritism knew no bounds.


    Kristopher drew Carrie closer, his arm around her shoulders providing a firm,forting squeeze, trying to fortify her with his support.


    Carrie faced Cindy calmly and queried, “We haven’t spoken in so long. How would you know I went to Foxfire County? And how could you know I’ve been in contact with Nate?”


    Kristopher, observing her assertive stance, reminisced about the time two years ago when she first sought his help, so vulnerable and desperate.


    How did the girl who once depended on him for protection be so self-sufficient?


    Cindy diverted her gaze, exining, “A child of a friend from Foxfire County saw everything. He told us what happened.”


    Carrie gave a subtle smile. “You and Dad haven’t stayed in touch with any old acquaintances from our hometown, and you only move in high society circles, yet now you’re iming to have close friends in a destitute area like Foxfire County?”


    Under Carrie’s sharp questioning, Cindy began to sweat, her difort more pronounced than during any police interrogation.


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