Chapter 6 Delivery

Lise hesitated mid-sip, her expression clouded briefly by a ripple of confusion.

Albin leaned forward, his smile teasing. "You left her all alone at home and went out with Lise, huh? Don't you think she might feel a bit left out?"

Renowned among their friends as a connoisseur of relationships, Albin had navigated the complexities of romance with numerous partners, always armed with just the right words to mend fences.

With a dismissive flick of his hand, he suggested, "A little extra attention never hurts. How about we swing by the mall after this? My family's shop just received a limited-edition Hermes bag for the spring collection. She'd probably love it."

Kristopher, unswayed by Albin's tactics, merely nodded toward Oliver, signaling him to continue. "Go ahead."

Oliver faltered before continuing, "Mrs. Norris left behind a bank card-the very one you once handed to her."

Kristopher's eyes dropped to his phone, his long eyelashes casting shadows that seemed to cool the air around him.

He swiftly tapped into the banking app associated with the card and perused the transaction history.

The screen displayed a series of financial activities.

Two years ago, there was a withdrawal of two million.

A year later, precisely on the same date, the same amount was deposited.

And shockingly, a staggering deposit of twenty million had been made just a couple of hours earlier.

This meant that aside from the original withdrawal, Carrie had not used any funds from the account he provided.

Not only had she refunded the two million the next year, but today she took things further by depositing a massive twenty million to the account.

Kristopher's brow creased as he muttered, "Where on earth did she acquire such an amount?"

He pondered over Carrie's daily routines, which predominantly involved adorning their home, trying out new recipes, or purchasing ornamental items and clothing for him.

Although she had signed on with an entertainment agency, she only attended one audition before declining further engagements. Kristopher had to have Oliver intervene at her agency to avoid severe fines for her lack of commitment.

It seemed improbable that someone with her lifestyle could independently amass twenty million.

And if she had the capability and drive to earn that much, why would she agree to a marriage of convenience for a mere two million?

Bowing his head in a hurried, regretful gesture, Oliver spoke earnestly. "I apologize, sir. It was a lapse on my part. I will look into Mrs. Norris's financial dealings immediately."

Smirking, Albin nudged Kristopher lightly, his tone full of mockery. "Kristopher, don't tell me you got dumped! I've always said, women need affection! Neglect them too long, and they'll seek comfort elsewhere... And now, here you are, missing out on a joyful life and tangled in complications."

He stopped abruptly as he caught the chill in Kristopher's stare.

Only then did he recall that Lise was still present.

Albin cast a quick glance at Lise, noticing her smile had stiffened slightly.

"Sorry!" he exclaimed, playfully smacking his forehead and making a show of zipping his lips shut.

Lise turned her attention to Kristopher, her fingers gently wrapped around his arm, her expression one of empathy. "Did I somehow lead your wife to misunderstand? I can clear things up with her if you'd like."

A deep line formed on Kristopher's forehead as he frowned. "What does this even have to do with you?" he inquired, his tone full of confusion.

Albin, who had just promised silence, burst out again, unable to contain himself. "Oh my! Kristopher, have you been living in seclusion? Haven't you caught wind of the latest buzz? Don't you see why she's upset?"

Lise ventured a cautious guess. "Could it be that the paparazzi snapped some photos of you extricating me from the dilemma and it spiraled into a scandal? Ms. Campbell might have seen it. I attempted to quash the rumors as soon as they surfaced, but given our high profiles..."

Her voice faded into a murmur, heavy with an air of reluctant guilt.

Kristopher's expression softened, his tone unexpectedly tender as he reassured her. "You're not to blame for this."

He then shifted his gaze to Oliver, who was already trembling under the weight of Kristopher's steely stare.

"I've been preoccupied with Ms. Nash's affairs all day and missed the viral news. It's my oversight," Oliver stated, anxiety evident in his voice. "I'll have it taken care of immediately."

With a sense of urgency, Oliver excused himself to manage the situation.

Meanwhile, Lise nervously toyed with her clothing, watching Kristopher with apprehensive eyes.

She bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper. "Kristopher, am I becoming a burden to you?"

Kristopher set his phone face down on the table with a deliberate calmness. "It's not about you," he assured her, his voice steady. "She's just upset with me, having a bit of a meltdown, that's all. She's got nowhere else to go without me. I wouldn't be surprised if she returns soon, luggage in tow."

"Marrying someone as influential as Mr. Norris is a golden chance, one that shouldn't be squandered. Getting all worked up over nothing?" one of Kristopher's companions interjected, hoisting his drink for emphasis. "Frankly, I think women need to remember where they belong!"

The room murmured in agreement.

"Absolutely. It's just too much leniency!" another added, swirling his drink. "With Mr. Norris's stature, a few rumors or even a couple of affairs are hardly out of line, right? Is there even a woman in the world who would willingly abandon the title of Mrs. Norris and demand a divorce?"

Albin was about to chime in when he was cut off by the interruption.

"Which one of you is Mr. Kristopher Norris?"

Everyone turned, spotting a delivery man clad in his work uniform at the door.

Albin, looking confused, asked, "Did someone here order takeout?"

A chorus of denials followed, each person brandishing their phone. "Not me."

"Perhaps it's a mistake?" someone mused aloud, tilting their head skeptically. "Or maybe someone's trying to impress Mr. Norris with a gift? I'm curious to see what it is."

With a quick scan of the document in his grip, the delivery man stated plainly, "This is a divorce agreement, sent by Ms. Carrie Campbell with instructions to deliver it straight to Mr. Kristopher Norris."