?


    "Haha!" The usually reserved Yasmin could not help butugh, covering her mouth.


    Ryan had gone to great lengths for Carrie, but his usual tactics for charming women seemed to be useless on her. He had toe up with alternatives, which often yielded amusing results.


    Carrie had no intention of boasting about being fed by Ryan. But she noticed that Ryan looked tired holding onto the bowl and spoon. Thus, she quietly leaned forward, opened her mouth, and took a bite.


    When he saw Carrie obediently eating the food, Ryan chuckled softly. His eyes narrowed with affection.


    "Cough... Cough..." Carrie ate too fast and coughed a few times.


    "Take it slow, Carrie. Even if you''re hungry, you should eat slowly." Ryan reached out to pat Carrie''s back. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed a trickle of fluid at the corner of her lips. His dark pupils contracted for a moment as his handsome face turned crimson.


    It was just soup.


    "Delicious... Ryan, this soup is yummy! I want more," Carrie said softly as she noticed Ryan''s momentary distraction.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Okay." Ryan''s voice was unusually hoarse.


    At that moment, the door of the ward flung open.


    "Ryan! How dare you?"


    Carrie panicked. In her haste, she threw herself into Ryan''s arms. Her delicate arm clung to him tightly, allowing him to feel his importance to her.


    "Don''t be afraid. It''s just your sister-inw and your second brother. They''re here to pick you up," Ryan whispered in her ears.


    Meanwhile, the former married couple rushed into the room. Seeing the ambiguous scene, their expressions froze.


    "Ryan! You-Don''t you darey a hand on Carrie!" Be felt like her heart would leap out of her mouth when she saw Carrie curled up in Ryan''s arms.


    "What?" Ryan had not actually made a move, but Be''s outcry made him instinctively embrace Carrie.


    Be let out a long breath. Her thoughts were running wild. ''An entire night! Did Ryan take advantage of Carrie? Could he resist not touching her?''


    It was easier to believe that pigs could fly than to believe in Ryan Hoffman''s ability to abstain from women.


    Justin''s face remained calm. He asked in a cold tone, "What''s going on? Why is Carrie hospitalized?"


    "Carrie, what happened to your ear?" Be''s sharp eyes were the first to notice the bandage on Carrie''s left ear. She hurried to the bedside and questioned Ryan, "Mr. Hoffman, what''s going on? What happened to Carrie?"


    Justin felt a sudden tightening in his heart. He also hurried over and stood side-by-side with Be.


    Ryan could not help but feel how biased this couple was against him. ''Carrie is just their sister, but their reaction makes it seem like she''s their daughter...''


    He gently stroked Carrie''s trembling back and lowered his voice. "Carrie just had surgery. I''ll exin what happened in a while."


    Be felt that there was more to the story, but she refrained from asking. She said sternly, " Grandpa Nigel wants to take Carrie back to the vi in Crescent Bay. From now on, she will live with Grandpa Nigel."


    "Really? That''s great! Carrie can finally escape the tiger''s den." Carrie had not said anything, but the news made Ryan ecstatic.


    Justin did not say much, as he was observing Carrie''s flustered expression. Realization struck him, and his thin lips pressed together tightly.


    "I won''t go! I won''t go! I want to be with Ryan!" Carrie suddenly shouted.


    All three of them were taken aback.