?<strong>Chapter 513:</strong>


    “Ah, my wife has strict rules, and I dare not break curfew.” Regretfully, Kristopher declined with a light chuckle. His rxed, genuine tone made his eyes twinkle with warmth.


    The room erupted inughter. “Who would have guessed? Mr. Norris, just as intimidated as any of us!”


    After a few more exchanges, Kristopher strode to his sleek ck car.


    Just as he was about to slide into the vehicle, a cautious voice stopped him. “Mr. Norris, one moment, please.”


    He turned, recognizing the speaker behind the unremarkable voice. It was Aspyn Gray, whose father spearheaded the local tourism initiative. Despite countless attempts by others to catch his attention, Aspyn’s modest looks and small-town origins made her bold approach all the more unexpected.


    Kristopher’s expression turned cold, his impatience palpable as he straightened. “What do you want?” The cool shift in his demeanor triggered unpleasant memories for Aspyn of theirst meeting. Gripping her skirt tightly, she hesitated, her lips trembling, her gaze conflicted.


    With a cold tone, Kristopher said, “Speak now, or I’m leaving.”


    Her resolve solidified abruptly. Aspyn looked up and blurted out, “Is it Lise you’re returning to?”


    His face remained impassive, his dark eyes intimidating. “And how does that concern you?”


    Young and clearly shaken, Aspyn felt a cold run through her. Yet, despite her fear, she summoned an unexpected boldness. “Lise is no saint. I know her well—her father’s a gambler who caused a terrible ident…”


    Kristopher replied coldly, “Stay out of matters that don’t concern you.”


    Without another nce, he climbed into his car. Oliver, after closing the car door, turned to Aspyn with a stern expression. “Whatever you think you know about Ms. Nash and her family, keep it to yourself. She’s not someone you want to mess with.”


    His smile was polite, but the warning in his eyes was unmistakable. In an instant, all the courage Aspyn had summoned dissolved, leaving her feeling small and defeated. She could only stand there, watching as the ck car faded into the distance.


    Eventually, she bowed her head and whispered so softly that her words were nearly lost in the breeze, “Kristopher, what will you do when you discover the woman you love is the daughter of your adversary?”


    Kristopher returned to Bayview Vi, immediately spotting Carrie crouched in the garden, carefully watering the gardenias. His grandparents had brought the flowers during their recent visit, and Carrie had taken a particr liking to them. Since discovering her pregnancy, Carrie had stopped wearing perfume, preferring the natural fragrance of fresh blooms.


    She wore a simple white loungewear set, and the soft glow of the setting sun cast a golden light around her, softening her usually cool demeanor and making her appear warm and radiant.


    Carrie looked up at the sound of his arrival, her eyes catching his. “Why are you home so early?”


    Kristopher raised the bag he was holding, a faint smile on his face. “I noticed you haven’t been eating muchtely, so I got you some lemon chicken—your favorite.”


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