?<strong>Chapter 497:</strong>


    Oliver’s sharp eyes flicked toward Daxton before returning to Kristopher. “And Mr. Garcia?”


    “I’ll escort him home and head back myself,” Kristopher replied curtly.


    “Understood,” Oliver said with a slight bow before turning to Carrie. “Mrs. Norris, this way, please.” Carrie said a quick goodbye to Daxton and followed Oliver toward the car.


    Through the corridor window, Kristopher waited until he saw Carrie step into the vehicle and watched it drive off into the distance. Only then did he turn back to Daxton, his demeanor shifting instantly. “What exactly are you trying to pull here?”


    Kristopher’s voice was sharp, like the crack of a whip, every trace of warmthpletely gone from his expression.


    “What are you using me of now?” Daxton raised his injured hand slightly, offering a faint, lopsided smile. “I’m hurt. I’ve got no cash on me. Can’t I ask a friend for a hand?”


    “Don’t y the innocent act with me,” Kristopher shot back. His tone was biting, his dark eyes narrowed. “Only Carrie falls for your nice-guy routine. With you, not making things worse for everyone else counts as doing good.”


    Daxton let his hand drop, his posture rxed. “If you don’t believe me, that’s on you.”


    Kristopher’s frustration boiled over. Without warning, he swung his fist,nding a hard punch squarely on Daxton’s jaw. The impact sent Daxton sprawling to the floor.


    Propping himself up on one knee, Daxton wiped the corner of his mouth, smearing blood across his hand. His pale face remained expressionless, but his deep eyes gleamed with amusement. “You’ve still got quite the temper. What do you think Carrie would say if she saw this scene?”


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    Kristopher stepped closer, grabbed Daxton by the cor, and hauled him to his feet. Hended another punch, harder this time, sending Daxton’s head snapping to the side. “What’s your n, huh?” Kristopher growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Do you actually care about her, or are you just trying to drag her down to hell with you?”


    Daxton and Kristopher exchanged a brief, intense stare before both cracked a smile.


    Daxton tilted his head and spat out a mouthful of blood with a grimace.


    In the blink of an eye, a deadly spark lit up his gaze as his fist shot toward Kristopher. The punch was aimed straight at Kristopher’s temple. Every move Daxton made was a calcted threat.


    Kristopher, however, was quicker. As soon as Daxton swung his arm, Kristopher let go of his cor and smoothly dodged the punch. Daxton’s fist collided with Kristopher’s arm instead. The force of the punch was intense—few would have been able to endure it, even if it onlynded on their arm.


    Kristopher rose to his feet with ease, casually brushing off nonexistent dust from his clothes, his movements smooth and controlled.


    Daxton wasn’t caught off guard; he knew just how capable Kristopher was. Mercenaries across the world whispered about him in fear. Today, Daxton saw it with his own eyes.


    Daxton stood as well, regaining his usual refined and collected demeanor as though the altercation had never happened. With a smirk, Daxton eyed Kristopher and remarked, “Your hands aren’t so clean either. They call you the devil incarnate; your world must be one hell of a ce.”


    Kristopher shot him a frosty look. “Don’t put me in the same category as you. I have a code, boundaries I don’t cross.”


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