?Chapter 237:


    Katie’s bravado faltered. “We’re just… We’re just trying to help. It would be terrible if you let someone in by mistake…”


    Before the lead security guard could reply, Christina let out a soft, amusedugh. “Shouldn’t they have been escorted off the premises by now?”


    The shift in the lead security guard’s demeanor was unmistakable—his rigid stance softened, and subtle respect tinged his tone when addressing Christina, in stark contrast to the coldness he showed the Dawsons and Mitchells. “You’ve got ten seconds to leave,” the lead security guard said sharply. “Stick around any longer, and we’ll have you—and your cars—removed by forklift.”


    The Dawsons’ and Mitchells’plexions drained of color instantly, terror shing wildly in their eyes.


    Joselyn stepped forward, her voice shrill and incredulous. “No! You can’t just throw us out like this!”


    “This has to be some kind of mistake—please, check again!” Finnegan urged, his words stumbling over each other.


    “We were invited!” She protested, her tone indignant. “How dare you treat us with such disrespect?”


    Katie, caughtpletely off guard, cried out, “You can’t kick me out! I’m—” She bit her tongue, barely stopping herself from dering she was the futuredy of the Hubbard family. Recovering quickly, she scrambled for a safer angle. “I’m very close with Miss Reed—”


    Before she could finish, the lead security guard interrupted with a sharp edge to his voice. “I don’t care if you’re friends with the Reeds or any other families. You broke the rules. And now, you deal with the fallout.”


    Then, casting a meaningful nce toward Christina, the lead security guard added, “Unless, of course, Miss Jones is willing to vouch for you.”


    Katie staggered back like she’d been pped. “What? That—”


    The insult on the tip of Katie’s tongue—that worthless bitch—died the moment Brendon barked, “Shut up!” His voice was cold, his expression twisted with barely contained disdain.


    Brendon hated to admit it, but the reality was sinking in. If they wanted to stay instead of being dragged out, there was only one person who could save them—and it was Christina. Whatever methods she’d used to gain Elliott’s attention didn’t matter now. What mattered was that she held all the power.


    “Brendon, you’re not seriously considering begging her, are you?” Joselyn stared at him, disbelief etched across her face. To her, Christina was nothing—useless in every way. She couldn’t cook a decent meal, spent her time buried in chores like a servant, and had no grace, no refinement. How could Brendon, brilliant and aplished as he was, even consider stooping so low as to beg Christina?


    Brendon was Joselyn’s pride. The shining example of everything a person should be. And now, he was thinking of humbling himself before her? Her stomach turned at the thought, the image of her elite, dignified son lowering himself—groveling—for help from the woman she’d always scorned? It was unthinkable.


    “Christina,” Brendon said, ignoring his mother’s protests, his eyes fixed intently on the woman inside the car. “Could you find it in your heart to forgive us, for old times’ sake? After all, we were once married. That has to mean something.”


    “Don’t you dare y that card with me,” Christina said coolly, her voice cutting like ice. “What kind of marriage did we even have, Brendon? We were little more than strangers bound by a piece of paper.”


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