?Chapter 289:


    But the only reply was Chloe’s muffled sobbing, the line heavy with panic.


    “Chloe, listen to me. Your brother will be fine. Just take a breath and tell me—slowly, okay?” Christina said, her voice gentle.


    “My brother went to Kitaso for a business meeting—someone tried to kill him! He was shot, Christina! He’s in emergency surgery at Kitaso Hospital right now!” Chloe’s words tumbled out between ragged breaths. She was shaking so hard that her teeth nearly chattered,pletely undone by fear. She reached out to Christina because she had no idea what else to do.


    Christina’s hand clenched around her phone. An anxious ache twisted through her chest. She couldn’t hide her worry for Dn. A gunshot wound was no joke. If it hit a vital organ…


    “I hear you. I’m going to Kitaso Hospital right now. Stay home, Chloe. Don’t go anywhere—wait for my call,” Christina instructed, her voice leaving no room for argument.


    “Should I send a driver for you?” Chloe’s voice trembled, every word thick with anxiety.


    “That’s not necessary. Just trust me—once he’s stable, I’ll call you myself,” Christina swiftly assured her.


    “Okay… Christina, please, take care of yourself.” Chloe’s plea was almost a whisper.


    “Will do.” With that, Christina ended the call and spun around to face Elliott, who hovered nearby, eyes brimming with concern. He stepped forward and inquired, “What happened?”


    “Dn’s been shot. I need to get to Kitaso Hospital—now.” Christina’s wordsnded sharp and urgent.


    “I’ll drive you.” Elliott’s response was instant, almost instinctive.


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    But Christina shook her head, determined. “No, the party still needs you here. Miss Hubbard’s out of danger for now—let’s hold off on the discussion of how to handle the mastermind behind the poisoning.”


    Elliott hesitated, jaw tight, but finally relented. “Alright. Just… be careful out there.”


    He watched her, the tension in her shoulders obvious, her worry for Dn written all over her face. His own heart clenched with an unfamiliar ache. “Tell Dn he’s not allowed to die before we settle ourpetition,” he muttered, the wordsced with an unexpected sting of jealousy.


    “Got it!” With a sharp nod, Christina took off without another word.


    She barely paused after leaving the hidden room, immediately gging down one of Elliott’s drivers—there was no way she’d risk driving after the wine she’d had at the party.


    Digging out her phone, Christina rapidly thumbed out a message to Davina. “Get me a helicopter to Kitaso ASAP. I need to be there in minutes, not hours.”


    Davina’s response appeared almost instantly. “Already on it! But what’s happening? Why the emergency? Is something wrong with the Jones family?”


    “It’s not the Jones family—Dn was ambushed and shot. I have a bad feeling about this.”


    Davina’s reply came with a teasing undertone. “A bad feeling? Christina, don’t tell me you’ve actually started falling for him?”


    Christina shot Davina a quick text: “Nothing like that. Don’t overthink it. Dn and I are just friends, and I’m definitely not looking to date anyone. I’ll message you once I’m there.”


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