?<strong>Chapter 446:</strong>


    Carrie opened her mouth to respond, but then her gaze shifted past Kailee. Her lips parted, yet the words she had nned to say were left hanging in the air.


    Kailee stumbled back, bumping into a firm chest. She turned around and was startled to see Kristopher standing right behind her. Oblivious to the anger in his eyes, Kailee pouted and whined, “Kristopher, your wife pped my friend and insulted us. On top of that, her giarism scandal is making the Norris family look awful. You should just end things with her.”


    Before she could finish her rant, Kristopher raised his hand without warning and pped her across the face. His expression was as cold as ice when he spoke, his voice steady and full of authority.


    “Carrie doesn’t need to handle this. I’ll be the one to teach you a lesson.”


    Kailee pressed her hand to her face, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at Kristopher. “Kristopher…” He gave Kailee a sharp look, and she instantly quieted down, her gaze bitter and heavy with unshed tears as she shot a look of fury at Carrie.


    Ignoring the people around them, Kristopher moved straight to Carrie and took her hand. Their eyes met, and his cold expression softened into something warmer, his gaze mirroring her own. Even though the summer evening air was warm, her hands were chilled. He held them briefly, wanting to warm them, but the coldness lingered.


    “I know about the script situation. I’ll speak to Katrina about it. Don’t worry,” Kristopher reassured her softly.


    After speaking, he cast a quick nce toward Kailee’s friends. They were all young, many still in school, using their family’s wealth as a way to push people around. Kristopher was only a few years older than they were, yet they always treated him with the respect reserved for an elder, unable to shake an odd, unspoken fear when he was around. Even their parents spoke of him with a quiet respect, acknowledging his power.


    Kristopher spoke casually, his tone cold but firm. “If you disrespect my wife, you disrespect the Norris Group. In that case, the Norris Group won’t be doing business with you anymore. All future projects between your families and the Norris Group are officially canceled.”


    The young women, barely in their twenties, felt as if the ground had crumbled beneath them. Tears welled up in their eyes, and they couldn’t manage a single word. It was over.


    Completely over.


    They knew their families had depended on Kailee’s father to secure connections with the Norris Group, and those deals were the lifeline to theirvish way of life. Compared to the sting of the p earlier, Kristopher’s words now cut even deeper, leaving Kailee with a feeling of utter humiliation.


    Trying to hold onto whatever dignity she had left, Kailee stammered, “Kristopher, those projects were approved by Aunt! You can’t just take them away!”


    Kristopher didn’t respond. He simply released her hand and guided Carrie toward the car waiting behind them. After settling Carrie in the car, Kristopher turned his gaze back to Kailee, his voice cold as ice. “Go back and tell Cory. He carries the Myers name and doesn’t have much to do with the Norris family. Tell him to stop using the Norris name in his business dealings, or I’ll have to take back the money my mother gave you.”


    Kailee’s face drained of color, and she took a step back. It was done. The weight of Kristopher’s anger hit her, undeniable and fierce. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine Kristopher would cut off her family over Carrie.


    Carrie sank into the car, her exhaustion clear as she kicked off her shoes and curled up on the seat. As she shifted to getfortable, something sharp poked painfully into her back. With a sigh, she propped herself up and reached beneath her for the object. It was a book.


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