?<strong>Chapter 483:</strong>
With a slight shake of her head to dispel these thoughts, Carrie quietly sipped her tea. It was the standardplimentary brew from the hotel—decent but notably bitter. She frowned lightly and returned the cup to the table.
Ailyn had organized this dinner at the Norris Group’s hotel, unting her generosity, yet sparingly on the meal and beverages. As Kristopher paused at the doorway, murmurs spread among the guests. “Is Mr. Norris here specifically for us? Or is he just passing through?” One person eyed Albin and guessed, “Could it be because of Mr. Murray?” Another dismissed the notion, saying, “Attending a good friend’s girlfriend’s ss reunion seems a stretch.” Yet another chimed in, “Given that Ailyn’s partner is Mr.
Norris’s uncle and this is a Norris Group hotel, perhaps Mr. Myers sent him to cover our costs.” Thisst suggestion seemed the most likely to the group, and they turned to Ailyn with ttering remarks, saying, “Ailyn, we’re truly fortunate today to have Mr. Norris among us. It’s like hitting the jackpot!”
Ailyn sat stunned, her usual bravado faltering as she faced the reality of Kristopher standing before her. She had believed Kristopher had gone out of his way to attend just for her. The thought that Kristopher hade for her quickened her pulse. She muttered under her breath, “Maybe he was just passing through.”
Camille rolled her eyes. “The audacity of some, iming connections wherever possible. Do you even realize your ce? You’re merely the partner of Kristopher’s rtive. The Norris family would hardly acknowledge you. And to think Kristopher would attend a ss reunion for you? You’re lost in a daydream, and it’s already nightfall.”
Albin gave Camille a fond look and took her hand, indifferent to the others around them. Though Ailyn shot Camille a sharp look, she held her tongue because of Albin’s presence and instead redirected her irritation toward Carrie. Her eyes darted from Camille to Carrie. “If Mr. Norris isn’t here for me, then who? Surely not for Carrie?”
“Actually, I am here for my wife,” Kristopher said, then without another word, he strode confidently into the room.
“Wife?” A hush fell over the room as puzzled looks were exchanged, everyone wondering who among them was Kristopher’s wife.
Camille’s eyes darted around the room, studying the faces of those nearby with the satisfaction of a cat that had just caught a mouse. A subtle smirk curved her lips as she turned to the man sitting on Carrie’s other side and quipped, “Hey, can’t you see her husband’s here? Maybe it’s time you scoot over and make some space for him.”
Bewildered, the man nced around, his eyes darting between the girls before settling back on Carrie with an expression of pure disbelief. “You mean… Carrie? She’s Mr. Norris’s wife?”
“Wife? Carrie?” Every head turned toward Carrie, then shifted to Kristopher as if they were watching a live tennis match. The revtion hit like a thunderbolt, leaving the crowd momentarily stunned. But when they took a moment to weigh the looks and demeanor of all the women in the room, the scales tipped decisively in Carrie’s favor—she was the only one who fit the bill.
No one was more bbergasted than Ailyn, who burst out, her voice an octave higher than usual, “That’s impossible! Isn’t Carrie’s husband just some low-level employee at the Norris Group?”
Kristopher, unbothered by the whispers, strolled up to Carrie with the kind of confidence only a man at the top of the food chain could pull off. The man sitting next to her scrambled to his feet, nearly upending a ss in his haste. Grabbing a napkin, he clumsily wiped down the chair as though it needed a royal polish, then gestured respectfully. “Mr. Norris, please, have a seat.”
Kristopher’s eyes flicked to the napkin with mild amusement before he sank into the chair next to Carrie, his movements deliberate, almost theatrical. Leaning closer, he reached out and flicked her nose lightly, his smile warm and teasing. “So, this is how you introduce me to your old friends? A low-level employee?”
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