?<strong>Chapter 416:</strong>


    Carrie’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Although they often yed the loving couple in public, Kristopher rarely spoke so tenderly when it was just the two of them—except, of course, in bed. For a moment, Carrie found herself silently hoping life would continue to unfold so blissfully.


    Just as she was lost in that thought, Kristopher’s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen, then turned it off with a shrug. “Oliver’s already made sure Willow’s out of Orkset,” he mentioned casually.


    Ever since that day at the mall, when Oliver had arranged for Willow to be taken away, Carrie hadn’t really thought about it much. Now, with Kristopher bringing it up, memories began to resurface, and Carrie said, “I’ve always had the feeling Willow held some kind of grudge against me, but I don’t remember ever having any direct interaction with her.”


    Kristopher shrugged nonchntly. “People can be unpredictable. Some just have malicious intent, and her targeting you doesn’t even have much to do with you personally.”


    Carrie shook her head firmly. “No, it’s a woman’s intuition. I always sensed she had something particr against me.”


    Kristopher gave her a reassuring smile. “She’s gone for good and won’t being back to Orkset. Don’t waste your energy trying to understand people like her.”


    “Okay,” Carrie replied, though a nagging feeling lingered, telling her there was more to the story than she was being told.


    Kristopher piled more food onto her te before beginning his own meal. He ate in silence, the sound of utensils the only noise between them. Carrie found herself sneaking nces at him. His chiseled features, the gentle curve of his jaw, and the graceful way he held his bowl made him appear like a living work of art.


    Explore gα?ησv???s for fresh content


    Kristopher caught her looking and couldn’t resist teasing her. “Enjoying the view, are you?”


    Carrie leaned in slightly, resting her chin on her hand with a yful smile. “You’re definitely easy on the eyes,” she replied with a grin.


    Kristopher raised an eyebrow, his voiceced with mischief. “We’ve never tried that on the dining table before, right?”


    Carrie immediately understood his insinuation, her cheeks flushing bright red. She shot him a look andughed. “Why does your mind always go straight to the gutter?”


    “It’s human nature to indulge in life’s pleasures,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming with both charm and sincerity.


    Recalling how her legs still wobbled from the night before, Carrie quickly raised her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, you win.”


    A slight smile tugged at Kristopher’s lips. He had no intention of pushing further at the table, aware that he’d already tested her limits the night before. With casual ease, he asked, “Got any ns this afternoon?”


    The abrupt change in topic caught Carrie off guard. After a brief pause, she replied with determination, “I’m heading to thepany. I’ve gone over its current situation and decided it’s time to bring in new staff to get things moving again.”


    Kristopher casually offered, “If you need money, just let me know. You can think of it as a loan or an investment, whatever makes you feel better.” He paused for a moment, then added, “By the way, how do you n to deal with the previous orders?”


    Kristopher leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes fixed on Carrie. His curiosity wasn’t idle—he genuinely wanted to understand her ideas and help refine them. His approach had shifted. Instead of simply providing solutions, he now wanted to teach her how to solve problems herself.


    .


    .


    .