Chapter 1131:

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If she had been careless yesterday, or if Kristopher hadn’t arrived precisely when he did, losing this baby might have shattered her completely.

A dangerous gleam flickered in her eyes. While Lise had released her yesterday, she had deliberately left Carrie bound even after forcing her into that room, clearly hoping Carrie would suffer serious harm.

A vindictive enemy like Lise, still moving freely through the world, could easily become a weapon in the hands of someone with genuine power and ruthless intelligence—someone like the Hinks family.

Carrie stated firmly, “I tested Lise yesterday, initially suspecting Billie might have orchestrated her escape, but judging from her responses, that seems highly unlikely. If Billie had been involved, she would have hidden Lise somewhere completely secure—perhaps overseas or in some remote small town—rather than allowing such a conspicuous scene here in Isonridge. I believe someone is manipulating her as their pawn.”

Reece’s face remained a mask of calm, though beneath the surface, turmoil churned through his thoughts.

Someone in Isonridge had located Lise and orchestrated her move against Carrie—a feat that spoke of exceptional skill and resources.

While Isonridge held more power than Orkset, the distance between the cities made cross-regional interference far more challenging than local operations.

Before Kristopher had lost his memory, he had given explicit orders to the police to handle the case without bias. Billie had attempted intervention countless times, trying to save Lise, but each effort had crumbled. The Morrison family had also called upon their Orkset connections to monitor Lise’s situation. With solid evidence already stacked against her, rescuing Lise meant circumventing the Norris family, the Morrison family, and the police—a task that demanded extraordinary capability.

Aliza crossed Reece’s mind briefly, but he pushed the thought aside after consideration. Even the Herrera family lacked such reach, much less Aliza herself.

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He voiced his growing suspicion after a moment’s reflection. “Could this be the Hinks family’s doing?”

Carrie nodded, her expression thoughtful. “More specifically, I suspect Kelsey and Jacob remain unaware. This feels like Alethea’s solo operation.” She paused, setting down her utensils before continuing, “Reece, I’m not defending them or clinging to some romantic notion of family loyalty. I simply don’t see their motive for harming me, especially when Kelsey still needs me.”

Reece’s hand found hers, offering gentle reassurance. “I understand you’re approaching this with intelligence and clear thinking. I’m not concerned about you acting rashly.”

Other thoughts remained unspoken. He had observed that people only succumbed to illusions of kinship and love when they had never truly experienced either. The old Carrie might have worried him, but now she basked in her family’s genuine affection and had quality men like Daxton and Kyson in her life—both decisive yet gentle souls.

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