?<strong>Chapter 839:</strong>


    Nicol, asid-back as ever, stayed seated and gave a casual wave to Kristopher. “Be sure to close the door when you leave,” he said.


    “Will do.” Kristopher left. Turning to shut the door, he caught a glimpse of the elderly couple and Carrie at the table,ughing and talking warmly. A wave of unexined emptiness washed over him. The familial warmth of the scene was something he had never experienced before.


    As the realization hit him, a sudden sharp pang tugged at his heart, as if a forgotten memory was trying to resurface.


    Worried he might copse on the spot, he quickly reached for a painkiller Aliza had given him. Marketed as an enhanced form, it took effect right away.


    The pill provided relief, but it also suppressed the emerging memories, pushing them back into the deeper corners of his mind.


    Kristopher walked out of the Hewitt family’s apartmentplex, feelingpletely at a loss.


    Originally, he had nned to stay for lunch. But the moment he saw Carrie, he made an excuse to leave in a hurry. He didn’t want to be under the same roof as her, but now that he was outside… he didn’t know what to do.


    He had a dinner appointment with Alizater. But that was six hours away.


    Kristopher sighed. He didn’t want to see Aliza. Even having one evening with her felt exhausting. She talked about things he had no interest in—trivial gossip, socialite drama, expensive shopping, and thetest trends.


    It had been the same when he was with Lise, but at least Lise hade from a more modest background. She had been more restrainedpared to Aliza.


    As these thoughts ran through his mind, Kristopher suddenly looked up. His gazended on the windows of the Hewitt family’s home. His chest tightened. What was it like when he and Carrie were still married?


    He was thinking about her again.


    Kristopher frowned, forcing himself to look away. He lowered his head and checked his phone to focus on work. But all his work notifications were about the Herrera family. His irritation deepened. He didn’t want to deal with Aliza. He especially didn’t want to deal with the Herrera family.


    Ever since he and Aliza started preparing for their marriage, hispany had been offering more and more “favors” to the Herrera family.


    At first, their only coboration was on the AR project—something that Bernie Herrera had actually worked hard on. It was a mutually beneficial deal.


    But now? Every new project felt like nothing more than a handout. To put it bluntly, the Norris Group was subsidizing the Herrera family.


    Kristopher hated mixing business with personal rtionships. But he had given in. Over and over again. Because Billie and Aliza wouldn’t stop pushing.


    Then he remembered what Aliza had said. Carrie’spany? Apparently, she had “snatched” it from the Campbell family. Kristopher didn’t even need to investigate to know that someone had helped her. And that someone… was probably him.


    It wouldn’t be right to help his ex-wife without helping his current girlfriend, so he repeatedlypromised on matters concerning the Herrera family.


    It was all because of Carrie! That woman kept breaking his principles. Kristopher wandered into a quiet alleyway. A group of elderly men sat under arge tree, enjoying the afternoon while ying chess.


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