?Chapter 129:


    Bruno’s fists clenched, and his eyes shed with fury. Every time he slipped up, Elliott ran straight to his parents. And every single time, he ended up being punished. If not for the Hubbards, he could get away with anything. But once they stepped in, it didn’t matter who was right. He always ended up paying the price. He hated Elliott and the whole Hubbard n.


    In that moment, Bruno made a silent vow—if he ever got the chance to bring the Hubbard family down, he’d take it. No second thoughts. One day, the Hubbard Group would be his.


    “Fine! A bet’s a bet!” Bruno spat, then dropped hard to his knees before Davina and Christina. “I was wrong! Forgive me!” He forced the words out, each oneced with bitter anger, like they left a bad taste in his mouth.


    Davina smirked. “Now that’s settled, wire the money.”


    “I’m doing it!” Bruno growled under his breath.


    Davina handed over Christina’s ount info. Bruno tapped his screen and sent the ten million over. “It’s sent!” he snapped.


    Christina smiled, sugar-sweet. “Got it.”


    “Well then, looks like we’re done here,” Davina said, linking arms with Christina. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Let’s grab some barbecue. Maybe a drink. We earned it.”


    Bruno nearly choked. They were really going to celebrate?


    “Sure,” Christina replied with a nod.


    But just as Christina turned to leave, Elliott’s voice rang out. “Wait.”


    Before the word had even settled, someone grabbed Christina’s wrist. But it wasn’t Elliott.


    Christina turned, and her eyes met Brendon’s. His grip was firm, his expression cold. She scowled, clearly annoyed.


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    “Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Davina barked, stepping forward. “Take your dirty hands off her!”


    “This doesn’t concern you. Stay out of it,” Brendon shot back without looking at her.


    Davina’s lip curled. “You’re the outsider here! Like a bad penny—you just keep showing up. Why are we always stuck running into you?” That one hit a nerve. Brendon’s face darkened. “Oh, so Rd’s yours now? You run the ce?” he sneered. “If anyone’s a bad penny, it’s you.”


    Davina opened her mouth to fire back, but Christina stepped in first. “You’re the bad penny here,” she said, her voice sharp as ss. “Let go of me. I won’t say it again.”


    Her re spoke volumes. She was seconds away from exploding.


    Brendon backed off—just a little. “I just wanna talk. About my grandma,” he muttered, softer now. He had suffered at Christina’s hands before and was wary of her sudden movements.


    Christina eyed him warily. “What about her?”


    Brendon looked around and then leaned closer. “Too many people here. Let’s talk somewhere else.”


    “Right here. Or not at all,” she replied tly.


    Brendon clenched his jaw. A sharp ache throbbed in his head. “Do you have to be like this? We don’t have to fight. Can’t we just talk?” His voice was pleading, but there was an edge to it.


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