?<strong>Chapter 385:</strong>


    “Ouch,” Kristopher grunted in mock pain, letting go of her and frowning.


    Carrie took the chance to step back, creating some distance. She was worried and suspicious, wondering if Kristopher was pulling a trick. “Don’t fake it.”


    Kristopher chuckled weakly, looking pitiful on purpose. “What? Did you forget I’m still injured?”


    Carrie froze. Her face became serious as she quickly unbuttoned his jacket. “Are you alright? Why are you fooling around when you’re injured?”


    As she removed his jacket, she noticed blood slowly soaking through his shirt from the wound on his arm. The wound had reopened. Blood was spreading across half of his arm, and it looked serious.


    Carriepletely forgot about their teasing as panic set in. She shouted toward the nurses’ station, “Nurse, please help with his wound!”


    Carrie was still in shock. During lunch, she had convinced herself that Kristopher was exaggerating, so she hadn’t taken his injury seriously.


    Still in a daze, she followed the nurse into the treatment room. But then, a cold, stern voice rang out behind her. “What have you done?”


    Billie stormed in, seething with anger. Carrie barely had time to register her presence before Billie shoved her aside and barged into the treatment room. The impact sent Carrie’s arm crashing against the doorframe, sparking a jolt of pain. She remained silent, soothing the pain with her free hand.


    Bowing her head, Carrie murmured, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”


    Her apology wasn’t out of fear of Billie. The reality was Kristopher had sustained an injury while protecting her, and she had dismissed his pain as an exaggeration, leading her to act recklessly during their interaction. Though the wound was not fatal, the serious cut had exposed the bone,plicating his recovery.


    Overwhelmed by remorse, Carrie found herself unable to focus on Billie’s demeanor. Disregarding Carrie’s words, Billie moved swiftly toward Kristopher, hesitating just before examining his wound closely. The nurse had just unwrapped the bandage, and the absence of pressure caused the blood to flow more visibly, intensifying the severity of the sight. Blood soaked his entire arm, highlighting a gruesome sh across his upper arm.


    Billie was aware of the injury but had not been informed of the gruesome details. Kristopher, his voice steady, questioned, “Mom, why involve Carrie in this? Why must you me her for everything?”


    Kristopher had not concealed his injury from Billie, though the circumstances behind it remained secret, with all involved maintaining their silence. His frequent overseas business activities were fraught with danger, often leading to injuries. Confident that Billie would not probe too deeply, he spoke with an air of assurance.


    Billie cast a critical nce at Carrie, then refocused on Kristopher’s arm, voicing her discontent. “You receive such a serious injury, and yet she’s there, shoving you yfully in the corridor! Utterly careless!”


    Catching Carrie’s eye as she stood there, head down and biting her lip like a reprimanded child, Kristopher said, “The yful shoving was my doing.”


    Billie was unmoved by Kristopher’s defense. “yful or not, she needs to exercise caution. As your wife, her duty is to protect you.”


    .


    .


    .