?Chapter 238:


    And calling them strangers was an understatement. In truth, they had been more like enemies, locked in a bitter silence disguised as a union. From the moment she entered that house, she had been treated unfairly—scrutinized, ridiculed, and made to feel like an outsider. She’d worked herself to the bone trying to earn their approval, sacrificing her pride, herfort, and her dreams. And what had it gotten her? Their scorn and cruelty.


    “Christina, I know you harbor resentment,” Brendon pleaded, his voice tinged with regret, “but haven’t I done all I could to make amends? This time, we were mistaken—we used you unjustly. Please forgive us once and put in a good word for us. I’m truly sorry.” His words held a desperate sincerity. The Hubbard g represented a golden chance to mingle with the upper echelon—missing it could hinder the Dawson family’s ascent.


    Christina’s gaze swept over Brendon and his crew coolly. “Why is it only you who offers an apology? You’re not the only one who has wronged me.”


    “Don’t push your luck!” Katie snapped, eyes zing.


    “Oh?” Christina arched an eyebrow, a slow, sardonic smile curling her lips. “So, now I’m the unreasonable one? Very well. Security, perhaps it’s time to summon the forklift.”


    “Christina Jones!” Joselyn exploded, rage and disbelief in her voice. “Are you seriously trying to pick a fight with the entire Dawson family? After everything we gave you? Brendon already gave youpensation after the divorce—why are you still hounding us like this?”


    With a dramatic sway, Joselyn clutched at her chest like a wronged matriarch in an old drama, her knees buckling until Finnegan and She rushed to prop her up.


    “Ah, Joselyn, so this is where your children learned their mastery of twisting the truth. They really took after you, didn’t they?” Christina taunted with a cuttingugh.


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    Christina’s mocking words hit their mark, and Joselyn’s face turned crimson with fury. She opened her mouth tosh back, but Brendon raised a hand, silently halting her. His jaw clenched tightly. He was seething inside, humiliated by Christina’s insolence toward his mother, but he dared not retaliate. Not now.


    Brendon forced himself to bow deeply before Christina. “We were wrong. I apologize on behalf of all of us,” he said, his voice strained but respectful. “I’m sorry, Christina.”


    But his crew stood stiffly, their expressions sour, unwilling to follow suit. Straightening, Brendon shot them a withering re. “Well? What are you waiting for? Apologize.”


    Failure to appease Christina meant forfeiting any hope of attending the banquet. Reluctantly, the four muttered their apologies through clenched teeth. Brendon turned back to Christina, frustration simmering in his eyes. “There. Happy now?”


    Christina tilted her head, her smile unfazed, calm, and cruel. “Not particrly.”


    Katie snapped, “Don’t push it!”


    Brendon’s warning nce shut her up instantly. He turned back to Christina. “What will it take, then? Just tell us. What do you want from us?”


    Christina tapped her finger against her chin, pretending to consider. “Hmm… I don’t know. Let me think…”


    Brendon ground his teeth. “As long as you’re willing to let this slide and your demands are reasonable, we’llply with them.”


    She chuckled softly, crimson lips curving slyly. “I assure you, it will be reasonable. How about this—each of you ps yourself twice?”


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