Ryan was especially stunned. He stared nkly at the teary-eyed girl in his arms. He gulped, and a thought shed through his mind. ‘I want to take her home. I really want to bring her back with me.’


    “Carrie, d-do you want to follow him?” Be stammered in astonishment.


    “Ryan…” Carrie buried her little head in the warmth of the man’s chest. Her trembling breath passed through his crisp ck shirt and prated straight into his heart. “I want to go home with you.”


    With Carrie’s insistence, Be and Justin had no choice but to agree.


    Justin called Ryan out for a smoke. Thus, the two men went to the hospital’s smoking area.


    “Ryan, what happened to Carrie’s ear?” Justin pulled out two cigarettes, took one for himself, and handed the other to his best friend.


    “What happened?” Ryan’s hawk-like eyes shed with a fierce glint. ‘


    It’s because you spoiled your sister, Bethany.”


    “She’s not my sister. I only recognize Carrie as my sister.” Justin could not help but feel repulsed by Bethany’s name.


    He asked in a deep, chilly voice, “Did Bethany hurt Carrie?”


    Ryan was so angry that he gritted his teeth and nearly crushed the cigarette in his hand. “Justin, if I take action against Bethany, would you stand with the Salvador family and stop me?”


    Justin lit his cigarette and took a deep drag. He replied without hesitation, “I’ll pretend not to know about the matter.”N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    His stance could not be clearer.


    “Hehe. Thanks, bro.” Ryan smirked with a touch of wickedness and patted Justin’s shoulder.


    “But a lesson is enough. Don’t cause any harm to her, for your sake.” Justin cast a thought-provoking nce. “If you really fall for Carrie and intend to have a future with her, you have to cut off all your affairs with other women and cleanse your body and mind. Also, you shouldn’t shed blood anymore. You’re the heir of the Hoffman Group, not a mafia boss. I’m worried about Carrie being with you with your current lifestyle.”


    “Justin, I only thought of Carrie as a sister. It’s not what you’re thinking.” Ryan hurriedly exined, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.


    However, his flickering gaze and trembling fingers betrayed his true feelings.


    Justin looked at him deeply and calmly said, “Don’t mind the grudges between me and Shannon. Although Carrie is Shannon’s daughter, I’ve never had any prejudice against her. Carrie is a good girl, and I hope she finds happiness.”


    “Justin… I…” Ryan’s throat tightened as a hint ofplex emotions welled up in his heart.


    “Even though you’re no saint and you have a whole bunch of bad habits, I think you genuinely care for Carrie.” Justin gently blew out a smoke ring. He spoke like an elderly sage. “So, I’m willing to give you a chance to pursue her.”


    Ryan thought, ‘What the hell? Why does this sound like a pep talk from my future father-inw?’


    “Are you going to smoke that damn thing or not?” Justin reached out to grab Ryan’s cigarette. “If you’re not going to smoke, give it back. That’s myst one.”


    “It’s mine.” Ryan quickly ced it between his lips and twisted his thick eyebrows. “When did you be such a miser? Your worth is almost a trillion dors, but you can’t even spare a cigarette? No-wonder I’m your only friend after all these years!”


    “I’m trying to quit smoking, so I’m limiting myself to only half a pack a day.”


    “Why? Are you starting to focus on your health now that you’re 30 years old? Then, you should probably swap out alcohol for detox juices.”


    “It’s because of Be.” Justin thought of his crush, his eyes filled with warm ripples. “She dislikes it when I smoke. I know quitting is hard, but I want to give it a try.”


    “Tsk tsk… Back then, Be disliked Rosalind, too. Why didn’t you kick Rosalind out?” Ryan found his friend’s attempt to quit smoking for a woman particrly cheesy and could not help but tease him.