?Chapter 282:


    Christina, hearing Calvin’s overly dramatic pause, teetered between exasperation andughter. The urge to nudge him through the phone was almost irresistible.


    “Fine. Just this once—don’t ask me again.” Calvin’s apparently reluctant agreement finally broke the tension.


    Christina’s eyes sparkled with delight, her grin breaking free atst. “Dr. Emmett, thank you! Really, thank you so much!”


    She couldn’t hold back herughter any longer—the whole charade had nearly made her burst.


    “Thank you so much, Dr. Emmett!” The Hubbard family and Carson chimed in at once, their voicesyering over each other as they bowed in deep gratitude. Even though Calvin couldn’t see them from the other end of the line, their gestures brimmed with sincere relief.


    The moment Christina ended the call, she spun toward them, her expression crisp andmanding. “Take Miss Hubbard to the hospital now. She needs stitches—don’t waste a second.”


    Omar snapped to attention, barely containing his relief. “Understood!” If Christina truly had this connection to Calvin, then every bold im she’d made had to be real. She’d just saved Eloise’s life—and now, the entire Hubbard family owed her everything.


    The moment Elliott shifted to follow, Omar shut it down with a firm hand. “You’re not going anywhere. Stay here and entertain Miss Jones—the banquet still needs a host.”


    The party was in full swing—kicking everyone out now would be chaos. Vanessa backed him up, her gaze decisive. “Yes, you stay. Carson wille with us instead.”


    In truth, leaving Elliott behind served another purpose: it kept Christina from slipping away before they could confirm her story. Only when they arrived at the hospital and saw Calvin in person would they know if she’d been bluffing.


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    “Fine, I’ll stay,” Elliott agreed, ncing at Christina.


    Carson, however, hesitated before asking Christina cautiously, “Miss Jones… is it really safe to move Miss Hubbard now?”


    “Yes.” Christina gave a quiet nod, her tone unshakable. She’d managed to stabilize Eloise and draw out part of the tainted blood—at least for now, the poison wouldn’t touch Eloise’s heart.


    Before long, the paramedics who’d apanied the ambnce carefully transferred Eloise onto a stretcher and hustled her straight to the hospital. As the red-and-white vehicle pulled away, whispers rippled through the guests like electricity.


    “What just happened? Was Miss Hubbard actually saved?”


    “She must’ve been—look at Miss Jones, standing there with Mr. Hubbard. If anything had gone wrong, would she still look that calm?”


    “That’s incredible! All those specialists couldn’t even give a diagnosis, and Miss Jones just figured it out and cured Miss Hubbard! And Miss Jones is so young. She’s a genius, I swear!”


    With each excited voice, the mood shifted. One by one, guests beganuding Christina’s talents until their admiration echoed through the room.


    Katie, lurking on the edge of the group, felt her mood plummet. Scowling, she muttered, “Christina is nothing but a veterinarian. There’s no way she actually cured anyone. Miss Hubbard probably just fainted and woke up—Christina is just grabbing credit.”


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