?<strong>Chapter 504:</strong>


    Besides, Lise had alreadymented on her morning sickness earlier that day.


    The clerk beamed. “Do you know if it’s for a boy or a girl? I can make some rmendations.”


    “Boy or girl?”


    If it’s a boy, he might end up being the next Norris family heir, and his future wouldn’t really be his to decide—not for himself, and not even for his parents. Carrie understood the weight that came with wealth and ambition, but she had no craving for the Norris family’s influence or riches. She knew all too well that every gain demanded a sacrifice. Being the head of the Norris family came with burdens too immense to bear. For her, money should serve its purpose and nothing more.


    If it were a girl, backed by the Norris family’s wealth, she might enjoy a life of ease and freedom. Perhaps a daughter would be the better choice.


    “Miss?” The shop assistant’s voice broke through, drawing Carrie out of her drifting thoughts.


    Carrie gave a soft smile. “The baby hasn’t arrived yet, so we don’t know the gender.”


    The shop assistant nodded and said, “It doesn’t really matter. For babies, gender isn’t that important. There are so many colors that suit both boys and girls.”


    galnσν???s?c?m opens doors to new adventures


    Sheid out a few sets of baby clothes, bottles, and pillows, exining each one in detail.


    Carrie picked a pink outfit, thinking it looked adorable for either a boy or a girl. She even found the idea of boys in pink to have its own unique charm.


    Suddenly, an image of Kristopher dressed in pink shed through her mind. Hisposed, almost austere personality shing with the cheerful color created an oddly captivating contrast.


    As Carrie left the store with her purchase carefully wrapped, her phone buzzed with a call from Camille.


    “Carrie, did you hear? Cory’s wife just found out about Ailyn.”


    Carrie froze in surprise and asked, “Who told you that?”


    “I’m not sure,” Camille muttered, her words muffled by whatever she was eating. “In this circle, people are always sucking up to the powerful and stepping on the weak.”


    At the reunion, Kristopher made it obvious that he’s not on good terms with his uncle. So, of course, someone thought siding with him like this would win them favor.” Camille paused to swallow before adding, “I doubt she’ll even be able to keep that so-called ‘prince’ she’s carrying.”


    Carrie’s eyes lingered on the busy street as she said pensively, “Whoever’s behind it, Ailyn’s going to me us for it.”


    Camille shrugged indifferently. “And what can she do about it? If she loses the baby, it’s not like I can magically give her another. Even if she wanted me to, it wouldn’t matter. I’m not nning on having kids.”


    Camille muttered a few more things, but when Albin appeared, she quickly hung up.


    Standing motionless, Carrie felt a wave of unease rising within her. Without thinking, her hand drifted to her stomach. Camille’s casualment hit a sensitive spot. For the first time, Carrie felt she had a real vulnerability. No matter what, she wouldn’t allow anyone to harm her child.


    As Carrie gged down a taxi to head home, her phone buzzed with a call from Kristopher.


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