?<strong>Chapter 381:</strong>
“You’re such a handful,” Billie responded, pretending to sound annoyed, though her voice softened. “I’ll take you to meet some neighbors, hang out with the otherdies, and maybe even get a spa treatment. It’s time you started learning how to mingle. You’ve been avoiding everyone, but now it’s time to start making connections. The Norris family can’t keep relying on me forever.” Her words carried a subtle intention to mold Carrie into a more capable hostess, quietly signaling her eptance as part of the family.
Aside from their ss differences, what Billie disliked most about Carrie was her cool detachment. Unlike Kailee, Carrie never bothered to win her over with charm. This had always been a sore point for Billie, making her feel as though shecked someone to confide in. She had hoped that having a daughter-inw would help soften Kristopher’s distant nature. Instead, she got Carrie—someone hardworking but emotionally unaware.
Having one emotionally cold figure like Kristopher was enough to give her a headache, but dealing with both of them this way was even more draining. Kristopher, as the head of the Norris family, always carried himself with maturity, and even as his mother, Billie hesitated to say much. Naturally, she wanted to shape Carrie’s temperament, especially given her humble background. However, Carrie’s pride and refusal to submit made it hard for them to connect.
Over time, their rtionship as mother-inw and daughter-inw had grown more tense. Noticing Billie’s softened attitude, Carrie chose to back off a little, making a strategic move. With a smile, she said, “Billie, you’re so young. I can afford to ck off for a few more years. I won’t take on anything too risky, and I’ll keep my workload light. If it’s a boy, don’t you think prenatal activities should be more enriching than just games and gossip?”
Billie nodded, finally giving in. “Just make sure you stick to your promise.”
“Billie, would I ever lie to you?” Carrie responded with a yful tone.
What initially seemed like a challenging step grew easier after her first words. Maybe it was because, with her own career now, her confidence had grown, making her conversations feel less stiff and more natural.
As their conversation continued, the car pulled up to the hospital. When they turned into the courtyard, Carrie spotted two familiar figures standing at the entrance. Billie, noticing Carrie’s gaze, turned her head to see what she was looking at.
It was Cindy and Tristan, and they appeared to be in the middle of a heated argument. Carrie’s face shifted, a look of unease crossing her features. She didn’t want Billie to have to deal with her family.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Billie spoke with unexpected concern. “If you’d rather avoid them, I can ask the driver to take us to the basement parking lot, and we can head up from there.”
Carrie understood that the Campbell family was probably here to cause trouble for Gracie, and for her sake, hiding wasn’t an option. She gave Billie a grateful smile. “Thanks, Billie. I’ve got this covered. Don’t let them spoil your day.”
Watching Carrie handle things on her own, Billie realized that no matter how much she evolved, she could never be like Kailee, who depended on her for everything. Billie gave a nod and gestured for the driver to stop the car.
As Billie watched Carrie step out of the car, a thought crossed her mind about her own daughter. If she were still alive, would she be as self-sufficient as Carrie, or would she be more dependent like Kailee?
Carrie’s eyes narrowed as she approached Tristan and Cindy, her voice cold and direct. “What are you doing?”
The pair turned at the sound of her voice, and Tristan’s expression darkened almost immediately. “Why do you walk so sneakily? You nearly scared me to death.” Although they still held shares in thepany, those shares were more of a liability than an asset. They knew they couldn’t negotiate with Carrie, so they turned their attention to Gracie, hoping to find a way to exploit Carrie’s weakness and reach apromise.
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