?Chapter 214:


    Pulling out would only make him think she was calcting, not loyal. And until shended a richer man, she couldn’t afford to lose her hold on Brendon. He remained her safety—her carefully chosen backup n.


    “I’m sorry, Ynda,” Brendon murmured again, his arms wrapping around her more tightly. “We’re about to be an item. You don’t need to apologize.”


    Ynda’s lips curved into a sugary smile, masking the bitterness wing at her chest.


    With the Dawson family nking her, Ynda marched forward and shouldered the me, confessing to Katie’s crime without flinching.


    Katie, finally released, clung to Ynda with newfound gratitude. In her eyes, Ynda had be more reliable than blood—her one true savior.


    Once Katie and the others returned to the Dawson family’s estate, Finnegan and She came charging over.


    “Why on earth was Ynda arrested?” Finnegan’s fury erupted, his voice rattling the hall. “She’s barely settled from her father’s ordeal, and now she’s locked up herself? Is this some kind of sick joke?”


    She’s re skewered Brendon. “You swore you’d protect her. This is what protection looks like to you?” she demanded.


    Katie, who had been shrinking behind Joselyn, finally mustered the nerve to step forward, shame coloring her cheeks. “I’m sorry… Ynda wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for me.”


    Finnegan’s gaze snapped to her, sharp and bewildered. “What do you mean? Someone tell me what actually happened!”


    They’d only been told Ynda was taken by the police—none of the ugly details had reached them.


    Katie stammered through a clipped summary, but as soon as the truth came out, Finnegan and She exploded. They tly refused to leave until the Dawson family offered a proper exnation.


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    Joselyn, scowling, had tried to stop Katie from spilling the truth, but the damage was done. With her temper fraying, she spun on her heel. “You deal with this!” she snapped at Brendon before storming away.


    Left to clean up the disaster, Brendon finally caved, promising Ynda five percent of the Dawson Group’s shares aspensation for Ynda’s ordeal. Only then did Finnegan and She finally relent, retreating in a huff.


    Meanwhile, word of Ynda’s sacrifice quickly reached Christina.


    A cold, satisfied smile flickered across Christina’s lips as she read the news in the kitchen. Since Ynda was so desperate to y the martyr, she had no qualms about letting her—she’d even make sure the charges couldn’t be shaken off.


    Christina slipped her phone into her pocket and resumed chopping vegetables, her movements calm and unhurried, as though nothing unusual had happened at all.


    By the time Dn came home, the apartment was filled with the warm, savory scent of dinner.


    Chloe appeared in the doorway, nose sniffing around for the spread on the table. “Oh my god, it smells incredible in here!” she gushed, her hands flying together in genuine delight. “Christina, you’re amazing!” By now, she could vaguely make out the dishes on the dining table.


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