?strongChapter 85:/strong

Kristopher turned away, his expression detached and cool. “You don’t need to bother yourself about her,” he responded, his voice icy, betraying no emotion.

Lise’s words came out softly,ced with uncertainty. “Kristopher, is it true? Are you thinking of divorcing her?”

“Divorce? I’m not nning anything of the sort,” Kristopher stated casually, pulling a sleek ck card from his bag and handing it to the sales associate as a way to deflect. “Please package the dress she’s modeling and those handbags she admired.”

The transaction was steep, exceeding a million dors.

The sales associate, initially caught off guard, quickly recovered and dashed to process the payment. “Right away, sir.”

Upon Kristopher and Lise’s arrival, the sales associate had been sternly instructed by her manager to maintain the utmost discretion regarding their high-profile clients, avoiding any chance of gossip.

At first, the associate had seemed indifferent, having no personal stake or spicy tales to spread. However, the prospect of a hefty sale sparked her enthusiasm. She approached with a glowing smile, showeringpliments. “Miss Nash, that dress is breathtaking on you. Could we snap a picture togetherter?”

“Of course,” Lise responded, her smile warm yetcking genuine joy as her hand involuntarily tightened into a fist.

Meanwhile, just outside, Camille, having just exited the boutique, caught sight of the interaction and turned, ready to storm back in, when Carrie seized her hand.

“Why are you stopping me?” Camille snapped, her eyes zing. “I need to deal with that damn bitch! She’s putting on quite the show now. I should expose her deceit.”

gα?ησν????s, where the best stories live

Carrie restrained her, steering her clear of the storefront. “We’ve already dealt with her after those earlier remarks. Dragging this out won’t help. She’s just acting like a victim to win Kristopher over. Let’s not y into her hands.”

Persuaded, Camille ceased her resistance and intertwined her arm with Carrie’s, venting with a scowl, “What kind of enchantment has that woman cast on Kristopher? How could he fall for such a basic, two-faced bitch? Is he blind? The perfect wife is literally right before his eyes! Or perhaps he’s like one of those oblivious rich guys from romance novels, grown weary of exquisite dinners and suddenly craving a taste of street food. And that outfit she’s wearing? It’s like a cheap knockoff from an online bazaar.”

Carrie absorbed her friend’s diatribe, her resolve hardening to carve out her own path. “Men are too fickle to depend on. I have to make it on my own. Any sess that bitch wrangled through Kristopher, I’m determined to earn independently!”

Mid-conversation, Carrie’s phone buzzed with a text from Soren, informing her of her audition time with the male lead.

Three dayster, at Silver Elephant Media, Ruby dashed in, out of breath. Her anxiety eased only when she spotted Carrie lounging on a sofa in the reception area. “You waited until thest minute to tell me about this big deal. Lucky for you, I was free.”

Witnessing Ruby’s distress, Carrie offered aforting smile. “It’s merely an audition. Nothing’s set in stone yet.”

“For a project of this magnitude, even stepping into the audition room is crucial,” Ruby remarked, settling beside Carrie. “How did yound such a coveted spot? Katrina Spencer’s screeny, no less! Even the premier star of our agency might not snag such a chance. Was it that connection who helped you investigate the mastermind during that viral moment who got you this?”

Carrie pressed her lips together, steeling herself to reveal the truth. “I am Katrina Spencer.”

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