?<strong>Chapter 396:</strong>


    “That pen doesn’t suit me.” Kristopher’s tone was low, almost contemtive.


    Carrie didn’t hesitate to reply, her words straightforward. “It’s not for you. It suits him just fine.”


    The air in the room seemed to freeze, the once buzzing energy reced by an icy stillness. Kristopher’s gaze turned colder, his question cutting through the silence like a de. “Who is he?”


    “Daxton,” Carrie replied absentmindedly, still inspecting the pen in her hand. “He saved me at sea that time. If I gave him a gift just for that, it might seem a bit deliberate. But his birthday ising up soon, so I figured I’d get something for him while I had the time today.”


    Kristopher’s expression darkened instantly. A cold smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm, “His birthday? You seem to remember it quite well.”


    Carrie, oblivious to his shift in mood, continued focusing on the pen. “We haven’t seen each other in years. How could I remember that?” she said offhandedly.


    The sudden brightness in Kristopher’s expression was hard to miss. Nearby, Camille leaned toward Albin, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “Does Kristopher enjoy being ignored? Back when Carrie used to cater to his every whim, he was always indifferent. Now that she doesn’t care about him, he’s like a happy puppy… Look at him, getting excited over one little sentence.”


    Albin, lost in his thoughts, muttered absently, “Speaking of which, Daxton’s some kind of distant rtive of Carrie’s…”


    He trailed off mid-sentence, realizing his blunder. Snapping back to attention, he grabbed Camille’s arm and dragged her toward the exit. “Kristopher, Carrie, we haven’t finished our movie yet. We’ll leave you to it!”


    Camille blinked, confused by the sudden retreat, but Albin’s urgency left no room for protest.


    Carrie stood still, stunned by Albin’s earlierment. “Distant rtive?” she murmured. Since when did the Campbell family have any distant rtives worth mentioning? Then it clicked.


    Albin wouldn’t know anything about the Campbell family’s genealogy, but he would know about the Norris family. That meant Daxton wasn’t her rtive — he was Kristopher’s.


    The pieces fell into ce. It exined how Daxton could use the Norris family’s yacht and why he and Kristopher had engaged in a private conversation at the hot springs. But then, why had Kristopher not formally introduced Daxton?


    Still, Carrie didn’t linger on their rtionship. Instead, she focused on a more pressing matter.


    Turning to Kristopher, she asked, “Since you’re rted, you must know his preferences. Can you help me figure out if he’d like this pen? Or does he have other hobbies? It’s always best to pick a gift that suits the recipient.”


    She picked up a sleek ck pen, tilting it under the light as she inspected it.


    Kristopher’s face darkened further, his voice t. “We’re not close. I haven’t been in touch with him in years. I’m not his father. He’s a distant cousin, and I have hundreds of rtives. How would I possibly know all their preferences?”


    “True.” Carrie nodded, putting the ck pen down. She turned her attention back to the white pen she’d been eyeing earlier and handed it to the CEO. “Wrap this up, please.”


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