?Chapter 67:


    . Christina passed her phone to the female officer without a word and backed away, her face stricken with a convincing act of fear so raw it could’ve fooled anyone.


    Katie didn’t react at first. She stood still, breathing heavily. But as the reality of the situation hit her, fury bubbled up, and she lunged forward. Yet, restrained by the officer, she couldn’t get any closer to Christina.


    Her hands clenched into fists. Then, she lifted her foot and kicked in Christina’s direction, not caring who saw. “You conniving witch! You tricked us! Stop pretending!”


    Katie btedly realized she had been outsmarted by Christina. All that boldness Christina unted earlier had vanished. Now, Christina looked like a fragile victim, eyes lowered, shoulders shakingpletely transformed, hoping people would pity her. It was disgusting. The gall of this woman. Faking it all like she deserved an Oscar.


    What Katie didn’t see was the effect her outburst had on the watching officers. Every shout. Every wild movement. It only made Christina seem more like the wounded one.


    Moreover, Christina had proof. Real, solid evidence. She hadn’t started the mess—Katie and the others had.


    By the time the officers finished their investigation, they handed down fines and a strict verbal warning to everyone involved. Finnegan was detained for a few days as punishment for filing false police reports.


    Except for Finnegan, the rest of the group was released.


    Once outside the police station, Ynda broke down and ran into Brendon’s arms, sobbing as if her chest might cave in. “Brendon, what do we do now? My dad didn’t mean for this to happen…” Her voice cracked, full of panic.


    She stood off to the side, her face pale. “It was just a harmless lie,” she said quietly. “Did the officers really need to take it that far? Locking Finnegan up over that?”


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    “Christina’s the reason we got hit with those fines! If she hadn’t pulled that stunt, we wouldn’t have been in this mess!” Katie snapped, her voice shaking with rage.


    Joselyn crossed her arms and sneered. “Lucky thing our Dawson family had the sense to cut her off when we did. That bitch’s cursed—she would’ve dragged all of us down.”


    Ynda sniffled, seizing the moment to appear gentle and understanding. “It’s not all on Christina. She was just looking out for herself… She had her reasons. But my dad…” Her words gave way to sobs before she could finish.


    Brendon nced at Ynda, taking in the tears trailing down her face. But it wasn’t her he saw. Instead, his mind wandered back to Christina’s tearful image. He wasn’t even sure if it was Ynda or Christina that his chest tightened for.


    “Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get your father out,” Brendon said to Ynda, his voice steady.


    “Really?” Ynda blinked up at him, her eyes red and swollen.


    “Yes.” Brendon reached out and brushed her tears away with his thumb. “Come on. Let’s head home.”


    But even as the words left his mouth, he wasn’t fully present. That look on Christina’s face—so raw, so shaken—it wouldn’t leave him. Christina had always struck him as tough, the kind of woman who didn’t crumble. But today, she did. And it wasn’t an act. She must have been genuinely terrified.


    While the group continued their chatter, Brendon stayed silent. Every step he took was haunted by that moment—Christina’s trembling, tear-filled eyes burned into his memory.


    Suddenly, Katie’s voice rang out, slicing through Brendon’s drifting thoughts like a p to the face. “Stop right there!”


    The shout rang loud and fierce, but Christina didn’t even flinch. She kept walking,pletely unfazed.


    Driven by a surge of anger, Katie charged ahead and threw herself in front of Christina, cutting off her path.


    Christina frowned, her gaze sharp and unyielding. “Haven’t you learned your lesson?”


    Shaking with fury, Katie stood her ground. Her expression clouded over, and her hands clenched at her sides. “You think you can take us on? Without backup, you’re nobody!”


    “Step aside,” Christinamanded with chilling calm.


    “No. You’re going back to the police station, and you’re going to make sure they let Ynda’s dad out. Right now,” Katie demanded, lifting her chin defiantly.


    “That man means nothing to me. Why would I bother getting involved? If you’re really that worried about him, maybe you should go sit in that cell for him,” Christina retorted. She folded her arms and stared at Katie like she was aplete fool.


    Seething, She stomped forward and jabbed a finger at Christina. “You’re such a scheming bitch! You fooled everyone at the police station, crying like you were really terrified. Your audacity and shamelessness astound me!”


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