?<strong>Chapter 496:</strong>


    “Huh?” The nurse nced between Kristopher and Daxton, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize. My mistake.” She hurried off, mumbling apologies.


    Daxton remained quiet, his deep eyes shing briefly with aplicated emotion as Kristopher approached. “All settled,” Kristopher said tly, ignoring the tension in Daxton’s expression. He pulled a receipt from his pocket and stuffed it into Daxton’s shirt. “Pay me back when you get home.”


    Carrie turned to Kristopher, her tone lightening as she tried to ease the atmosphere. “Let’s take Daxton to get something to eat before we drop him off.”


    “He looks like he hasn’t eaten in days,” Carrie said, reaching for Kristopher’s hand with a yful pinch. But he grabbed her hand firmly, holding it in ce. His gaze turned cold as he replied, “Your friend is at our ce. I’ll have Oliver take you home now.”


    Carrie furrowed her brows. “Camille? How did she end up at our house?” She pulled out her phone and checked her messages, but there were no notifications from Camille on WhatsApp.


    Kristopher’s jaw tightened as he tried to keep his tone even. “How would I know? She’s full of surprises. Maybe her phone died.”


    Carrie squinted at him, doubtful. His answer seemed usible, but something about his calm demeanor made her uneasy.


    After a moment of hesitation, she turned to Daxton with concern etched across her face. “What should we do with Daxton now?”


    Kristopher’s response was immediate, his voice calm but tinged with irritation. “I’ll escort him home. Even if I can’t stand him, I’m not about to kick him while he’s down.”


    Carrie hesitated, her unease growing. “But…”


    Kristopher’s frustration finally surfaced. “But what? When I took a hit for youst time, that was way worse than what he’s dealing with now. I sure didn’t see you fussing over me like this.”


    Carrie flinched at his words. She opened her mouth to argue, but seeing Daxton’s calm gaze, she swallowed her retort. Instead, she rattled off instructions. “Fine. But be careful with him. Don’t bump his injured arm. Make sure he eats something on the way home. Help him clean up, and make sure his bandages don’t get wet.”


    Kristopher tilted his head slightly, his expression mocking. “I’m not his nursemaid. He has staff who can handle all that.”


    Turning to Daxton, Carrie softened her tone. “I’lle see you tomorrow, okay?”


    Daxton, reclining against the wall, gave a faint smile. “You don’t need to trouble yourself, Carrie. It’s just a small injury. I’ll be fine.” His tone was even, almost too polite. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to disrupt your routine. We all have our own lives, and this is hardly something worth worrying about. More so, in this state, I won’t be much fun to be around.”


    Kristopher’s gaze darkened, Daxton’s calm and considerate tone only fueling his frustration. Earlier, at the hotel, Kristopher had been certain Daxton’s injury was no ident, convinced it was another of his calcted moves.


    Just then, Oliver appeared, his footsteps brisk. He greeted them all with a respectful nod. “Mr. Norris, Mrs. Norris, Mr. Garcia.”


    Kristopher gesturedzily with one hand. “Oliver, take Mrs. Norris back to Bayview Vi.”


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