?Chapter 184:


    “Only someone with real influence could pull this off. No way a regr person would dare take on people from families like theirs.”


    Flipping through more and morements, Christina let herself get lost in the online spection. Beside her, Chloe practically vibrated with excitement, urging her to read the best ones out loud.


    Chloe’sughter burst out, her handsing together in cheerful apuse. “They got exactly what wasing! That’s karma in action. Serves them right!”


    A quickugh escaped Christina before she handed the tablet over.


    “Anyway, what do you feel like for dinner tonight?”


    “Steak sounds perfect,” Chloe replied, her eyes still sparkling.


    “Steak it is.” Christina nodded.


    Once Chloe headed out, Christina didn’t waste any time. She pulled out her phone and called Dn. He answered immediately, leaving her a little startled by how quickly he picked up.


    The silence stretched for a moment before Dn finally spoke. “Is something wrong?”


    “It’s nothing big,” she replied. “Just wanted to ask you something.”


    Curiosity had been gnawing at her ever since she saw the news, and she couldn’t shake the suspicion that he had orchestrated that oundish payback.


    “Go ahead,” Dn replied, voice even andposed.


    “The whole mess with the… well, the filth. Was that your handiwork?”


    A silence settled—short but weighted—before Christina finally heard the faint rumble of Dn’s voice.


    “Yeah.”


    Step into a new world at gα?ησν???s?c?m


    “Thanks,” Christina said softly, the word barely more than a breath.


    Dn stood before the towering windows, the skyline stretching endlessly behind him. A flicker of amusement tugged at his mouth. He tried to contain it, but the corners kept twitching upward, betraying his amusement.


    Christina stayed on the line, letting the silence spool out longer than it should’ve. She moistened her lips and then spoke again, voice tentative.


    “Are you still there?”


    His smirk faded as he brought himself back to the moment. When he finally answered, his voice was steady.


    “Yeah. I’m still here.”


    “It’s not a big deal,” she said quickly, ying it cool. “Chloe mentioned steak for dinner. Thought I’d ask if you wanted in.” She made it sound like an afterthought, but even she didn’t believe that.


    “Sure,” Dn replied, his tone as crisp and effortless as ever. His lips curved again, slowly, inevitably—like a reflex he couldn’t quite control. Was Christina inviting him to dine together?


    Before he could get lost in the thought, her voice sliced through—steady,posed.


    “Well, I guess that’s all then.”


    “Hold on,” Dn interjected, the word slipping out before reason could catch it.


    “Anything else?” Christina asked, her voice edged with curiosity.


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