?Chapter 53:


    The house rang with Finnegan’s terrified screams, mixed with the panicked shrieks of the others as they scrambled away.


    Christina finally stopped, arms crossed and breath steady. “Medicine delivered, illness cured. Time to pay up—I don’t do credit.”


    The group froze, panting, their eyes wide with fear. They stared at her like she might snap at any second.


    “What money?” Finnegan gasped, still out of breath.


    Christina raised a brow. “The five-million bet, remember? What, you trying to weasel out of it now?”


    Katie, still catching her breath, red. “Did you even cure Finnegan? If anything, you owe us—for emotional damage!”


    “Of course, I cured him alright,” Christina said, pointing at Finnegan. “Look at him. He’s wide awake and sprinting like an Olympian. I didn’t just bring him back—I upgraded him. Guys half his age can’t keep up.”


    “That’s nonsense!” She snapped, face flushed with anger. She looked like she wanted to lunge—if not for the fear still hanging in the air.


    “Anyway, I did my part. You lost and owed me money,” Christina said coolly.


    Finnegan let out a sharpugh. “And if we don’t pay? What’re you gonna do?”


    “Yeah!” Katie chimed in, smirking. “What can you possibly do, you psycho?”


    “Christina…” Ynda said softly, once again managing to paint Christina as a viin. “Please be reasonable. You can’t just shake people down like this. It’s not right.”


    Christina rolled her eyes. “If I weren’t reasonable, you’d all be buried out back by now.”


    She pulled out a tablet and yed a video, holding it out for them to see. “Here’s proof. The bet, the win, the miracle cure—all caught on camera. Try stiffing me. I’ll post this online and let the world decide.”


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    Her voice was steady, each word sharp and sure. Not a hint of fear.


    The group paled as they watched the footage. The audio was crystal clear.


    Then, without warning, Finnegan snatched the tablet from Christina’s hands.


    A wave of relief swept through the group.


    “Ha!” Finnegan shouted. “No proof now, genius! Good luck getting a dime out of us!”


    Katie scoffed. “What’ll you post now? Your imaginary win?”


    Christina didn’t even blink. “Smash that tablet all you want. My security system auto-uploads everything—multiple backups.” Christina turned, locking eyes with Finnegan just as he reached for the security camera overhead, ready to destroy it. She drawled, “And by the way—trying to destroy that camera? That’s just more evidence.” She lifted her fingers like a gun and aimed at him with a smirk. “You’re in deep.”


    Meanwhile, She crept up behind Christina, ripping a ss, her eyes burning with rage.


    But Christina’s senses were razor-sharp. Her hearing, especially, was deadly.


    Just as She raised the ss, Christina sidestepped and spun, gripping She’s wrist tightly.


    She cried out in pain, “Ah!”


    The ss slipped from her hand.


    Christina caught the ss just before it hit the floor.


    “Mom!” Ynda shouted, lunging forward.


    But Christina’s re froze Ynda in ce. Her grip tightened.


    “Ah!” She cried again.


    “Christina, please,” Ynda pleaded, eyes red. “Let her go. She didn’t mean any harm.”


    Christina gave a coldugh. “No harm? If this ss had hit me, I’d be bleeding—or dead. You call that harmless?” Christina raised an eyebrow. “Tell you what—why don’t I do the same thing on you, and you tell me how it feels?”


    “Ynda, stop begging her!” Katie barked. “We didn’t do anything wrong! This is my brother’s house—we can throw her out if we want!”


    Christina’s voice turned ice-cold. “This house? Part of my divorce settlement. It belongs to me now.”


    “Says who?” a voice cut in.


    Christina turned. Her eyes narrowed. It was Brendon. He stood there, face hard, a bandage on his head, and a storm brewing behind his eyes. She frowned slightly. He was hurt?


    “You promised me this house. It’s in the agreement,” Christina said calmly.


    “The agreement says a seaside property. Not this one. And since the papers aren’t finalized, it’s still mine,” Brendon replied coldly. He could still feel the sting—Christina ignoring his calls, climbing into that luxury car without a word of concern.


    “But you said this one was mine,” Christina said, looking into his eyes.


    “Verbal promises don’t count. I’ve changed my mind. It’s Ynda’s now,” Brendon said.


    Christina stared at him for a long moment. “Brendon… Going back on your word—what kind of man does that?”


    “I don’t need your approval to be a man. You think too highly of yourself, Christina,” Brendon sneered.


    Christina stood there, stunned, eyes flicking to the others. Their faces were full of smug delight.


    “You’re so clever, right? With all those men you’ve been charming, I’m sure one of them can buy you a fancy new house,” Brendon added with a smirk.


    Christina said nothing. She had long stopped expecting anything from him. But his words still cut deep. Every cruel syble jabbed like a needle, turning her past sacrifices into one long, bitter joke.


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