?Chapter 52:


    Sprawled on the floor, Finnegan’s mind spun in a haze of confusion. Only moments ago, he’d been feigning unconsciousness in peace, but the second the word “vet” hit his ears, a surge of panic jolted through him.


    He cracked open one wary eye, risking a sly peek at his surroundings—and what he saw nearly made his heart stop. Christina was wielding a syringe so enormous that it looked fit for tranquilizing an elephant. No human being could possibly survive a dose from that thing. Hell, even a wild boar wouldn’t stand a chance.


    Finnegan had no hesitation believing the needle could drop him dead in a heartbeat. Did Christina intend to bring him down alongside her? His life was valuable. Dying alongside this pathetic bitch would be a colossal waste. She didn’t even deserve the honor.


    Finnegan squeezed his wife’s hand in secret, desperation written in the tension of his grip—a silent cue for She to intervene.


    She shot upright, her voice trembling with outrage. “Absolutely not! You’re not using that thing on my husband. Are you out of your mind? You’ll kill him!”


    Christina didn’t bother to argue. She simply reached out a palm, calm and expectant. “All right, have it your way. You lost the bet, so pay up.” Her cool determination made it clear—she wasn’t leaving without that five million. What kind of twisted family threw down million-dor gambles like pocket change? They were so eager to throw money at her, and she’d be a fool to say no.


    Katie, her face flushed with indignation, snapped, “Pay you? For what? You haven’t even cured Finnegan!”


    Christina cocked an eyebrow, a scornful smirk tugging at her lips. “If you won’t let me treat him, how exactly am I supposed to cure him? Let me try, and I promise he’ll walk out of here healthy. If I fail, you win. Simple as that.”


    Ynda started to plead. “Christina, please—”


    But Christina sliced through her words with a cold, tmand. “Enough. Either let me do this or hand over the money. I’m done listening to excuses.”


    ?????? ???????????????? ????????: ga l no v els .co m


    “We won’t pay you. What can you… Ah…” Katie tried to push back, but her protest ended in a shriek of pure terror.


    Christina lunged, wielding the monstrous syringe like a weapon, her gaze wild and unflinching, radiating a threat that made everyone’s blood run cold.


    Finnegan snapped awake at the sound, his eyes going wide as he caught sight of Christina storming toward him, that syringe aimed straight at his heart. Whatever hope he’d had of survival instantly evaporated—this woman wasn’t trying to save him. She was about to murder him in broad daylight.


    “This is a life-saving injection!” Christina dered, mming the syringe downward with zero hesitation.


    “Hell no!” Finnegan barked, panic overtaking his pride. “You fucking lunatic—stay away from me!”


    He scrambled backward, pale and sweating, rolling out of the way as Christina’s “treatment” came down with deadly force. He was sure this woman was insane. Absolutely, irredeemably insane—there was no other word for her.


    Christina’s wildughter rang out as she missed her mark, flinging her arm back for another go.


    “You deranged bitch! Are you out of your fucking head?” Finnegan shrieked, scrambling up from the floor. He stumbled forward in a panic. “Somebody stop her! She’s gone berserk! Stop her! She’s about to kill me!”


    Gripping the syringe, Christina shed a deranged grin. Her eyes glittered with a manic light, giving off the unmistakable aura of an escaped lunatic. The syringe hovered menacingly in her fist as she stalked forward, her every movement promising chaos.


    “Finnegan!” She gasped, lunging to intercept Christina to protect Finnegan.


    But the instant Christina’s wild, feral gaze swung in her direction, She’s courage shattered. She shrieked, “No! Stay away!”


    She stumbled back, tripping over her own feet, eyes wide with pure panic. She wasn’t alone—everyone else retreated in frantic disarray. No one doubted it now: Christina had snapped, gonepletely off the rails.


    There was something chilling about confronting a lunatic—someone who had nothing left to lose and could shatter the rules with a flick of her wrist. That kind of unpredictable recklessness was terrifying, the threat of sudden violence hanging in the air.


    While the others shrank back, Christina whipped around and locked eyes with Finnegan, her grin stretching wider.


    The moment Finnegan dared to hope she’d forgotten him, her predatory gaze pinned him in ce, icy terror flooding his veins—he was certain this was the end.


    “Time for your shot…” Christina grinned, charging forward with the syringe poised like a weapon. She looked like a fanatic soldier, gripping herst grenade—utterly


    Fearless, fully prepared to go down with her target, the menace in her eyes was enough to freeze the room.


    A strangled cry slipped from Finnegan’s lips, panic overwhelming him.


    .


    .


    .