?Chapter 51:


    Christina’s voice dripped with icy sarcasm. Her tone alone made everyone’s blood boil.


    Katie practically vibrated with rage. “Enough with that attitude! Apologize properly, pay for the medical bills, and maybe—maybe—we’ll let this go. If not—”


    Christina tilted her head, her smile cool and effortless. “If not, what? You’ll cry louder?”


    Katie’s eyes zed. “We’ll press charges! You’ll be arrested for assault. Hope you enjoy jail food.”


    Christina widened her eyes in mock fear, sping her hands to her chest. “Oh no, not that. Please don’t call the police… I might be able to heal that old man myself.”


    Katie scoffed, her tone cutting. “Heal Finnegan? You? Don’t make meugh—you’re not even a real doctor!”


    Just then, Ynda’s voice wavered, choked with theatrical tears. “Christina, how can you still refuse to acknowledge your misdeeds? If you’re angry, take it out on me—not on my father. He’s not in the best health.”


    “Not in the best health?” Christina’s smile was razor-sharp. “Perfect. Not only can I heal him—I’ll have him doing cartwheels by next week.”


    “Christina!” Ynda’s voice cracked as if it were a plea, her eyes shimmering with fake tears. “How can you joke like this? Have you no heart at all?”


    “Can you really heal Finnegan? And make him fit as a fiddle?” Katie folded her arms, practically salivating at the chance to spring her trap.


    “Absolutely,” Christina replied, her voice cool and unwavering,ced with an infuriating calm that only made Katie itch to humiliate her.


    “Good!” Katie leaned forward, eyes gleaming with anticipation. “Let’s make it interesting. If you pull it off, I’ll give you five million. If not—you owe me five million.”


    Katie couldn’t believe how easily Christina had walked into her trap. What an idiot.


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    “Deal.” Christina’s answer came without hesitation, her confidence unwavering.


    She, who had remained quiet until now, chimed in with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Why don’t we all get in on this? We’ll each put up one million. If you fail, you owe each of us a million.”


    Katie hesitated, lips pursed—but with everyone watching, backing down wasn’t an option.


    Finnegany perfectly still, struggling to suppress a grin. With his feigning to be seriously wounded on the floor, his family would win three million? It felt like the heavens themselves had wired him a personal jackpot. He wasn’t just after the three million—he also nned to squeeze everyst penny from Christina for “medical expenses.” If he yed this right, she’d be paying for everything.


    “Please, excuse me for a moment.” Christina turned on her heel and disappeared into the hallway.


    When she returned, gasps rippled through the room. She was holding a massive syringe—thick, gleaming, and absurdly oversized. It looked like it belonged in a veterinary clinic for sedating lions.


    “What… What is that?” She’s voice trembled, recoiling instinctively.


    Ynda blinked, stunned. “Christina, you’re not seriously going to use that on my dad, are you?”


    “Have you lost your mind?” Katie barked, eyes bulging as she took a step back.


    Joselyn’s jaw dropped. “You… You’re not going to kill him, are you?”


    “Kill him?” Christina scoffed, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Please. I’m saving his life.” She held the syringe aloft like it was a magic wand. “Rx. I have plenty of experience with this sort of thing.”


    “Experience?” Ynda echoed skeptically. “Since when have you ever studied medicine?”


    “I didn’t,” Christina answered cheerfully. “But I am a vet, so that’s close enough. Besides, don’t be dramatic. A body’s a body. One shot from this, and he’ll be doing jumping jacks before lunch.”


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