?Chapter 245:


    Christina slipped into the sprawling banquet hall, where clusters of elegantly dressed guests gathered beneath glittering chandeliers, each swirling wine in delicate crystal sses. She handed off her empty ss to a passing waiter, smoothly snatching a fresh pour of red before slipping toward a secluded corner.


    The event had struck her as a bore at first—just another hollow gathering of socialites. But the lingering mystery of the poison eating away at Eloise’s health added a spark of fascination she hadn’t felt in a long time. A sly smirk tugged at her lips as she idly twirled the stem of her ss, fingers itching for a challenge. It had been far too long since she’d dealt with a case of real poisoning, and the prospect of diving back into antidotes sent a thrill through her veins.


    Hidden in the dim shadows, Christina let her gaze driftzily across the sea of glittering guests, mentally cataloging the possible antidotes she’d need depending on just how deep the toxin ran.


    Meanwhile, at the heart of the festivities, Katie held her wine ss aloft, pasting on what she believed was an irresistible smile. She scanned the crowd for influential faces, ready to pounce on anyone exuding wealth or power—hoping to forge connections that might finally tip fortune her way.


    Yet, each time she sidled up to someone promising, she caught a fleeting sh of difort in their eyes. Their reactions felt oddly familiar. With a flicker of self-consciousness, she discreetly studied her own reflection in a nearby window and then watched as, one after another, people subtly pinched their noses when she approached.


    Katie believed the others recoiled from her scent. She’d spent days scrubbing herself raw, dousing her skin with expensive perfume, desperate to erase any trace of that old humiliation. How could they still smell anything? It had to be the headlines. They’d seen the stories, recognized her face, and decided she had to be disgusting.


    Still, uncertainty gnawed at her. She discreetly lifted her wrist, inhaling. The only thing she smelled was a faint floral perfume—no trace of anything foul. They were truly loathsome! She seethed, grinding her teeth as she gripped her wine ss hard enough to leave marks in the ss. How dare these people belittle her!


    ???????? ???????? ???? ???? ????????????????: g????????ν????????????


    Katiemitted every mocking face to memory, silently swearing that when she finally became Elliott’s wife, she’d make every single one of them regret it. The thought of the mysterious orchestrator of her humiliation only fueled her rage. How despicable! She’d uncovered nothing so far, but if she ever learned the truth, she would make sure the mastermind paid tenfold.


    Katie scanned the bustling banquet hall and quickly spotted Thea lingering near the edge of the crowd, isted and sullen.


    Without hesitating, she made her way over. “Thea,” she called out, keeping her voice low.


    Thea shot her a sharp re. “What do you want? Come to mock me with the rest of them?”


    “Of course not. I would never mock you.” Katie mustered a brittle smile as she spoke.


    Thea’s lips curled in disdain, but her eyes burned with something darker. “If I ever find out who set me up, they’ll pay for it. I won’t let them off easy.” Lowering her voice, Katie leaned in. “You still haven’t found any leads?”


    Thea shook her head, her jaw clenched. “Nothing. My dad won’t let me investigate, but I’m not dropping this. I don’t care what he says—I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”


    Katie’s frown deepened. Even Thea, with all her connections, had turned up empty-handed.


    .


    .


    .