?Chapter 327:


    The crowd’s condemnation of Christina grew louder, their eyes filled with the desire to tear her apart on the spot, their faces twisted with contempt.


    Yvonne turned to Liza, her voice trembling with desperation that clung to every word.


    “Mom, you gave birth to me! Why do you keep insisting that…”


    “She’s the one who should run our family business? She doesn’t appreciate anything you’ve done!”


    Liza patted Yvonne’s head, her voice dripping with false sincerity. “Sweetie, no matter what, Christina is still your sister.”


    Pausing for dramatic effect, Liza continued, acting the part of a caring mother. “Because you’re my own flesh and blood, I can’t show favoritism. Otherwise, Christina might feel left out.”


    Truth had no ce in Liza’s words. Not a single thing she said came from the heart. Behind every convincing act, Liza and her husband had one goal: to pull Christina back into managing the family business. It wasn’t about making things right for Christina. They simply wanted to use her business savvy for their own gain. If she could boost the Jones Group, they nned to keep her around long enough to reap every ounce of her worth, and then cast her aside. By keeping all thepany shares out of Christina’s reach, they figured Christina could never snatch thepany away, her contributions practically for free. She was a tool, not family.


    Had Christina not been far more capable than Yvonne, neither Liza nor her husband would have bothered dangling the offer of taking the helm of the Jones Group in front of Christina at all.


    Yet, oblivious to her parents’ grand n, Yvonne couldn’t wrap her mind around their sudden shift in demeanor toward Christina. Her parents could hardly tolerate Christina, so why were they so determined to have her take over the business? Were they nning to ditch Yvonne, their biological daughter?


    “You’re so worried about Christina’s feelings, but what about me?” Tears pooled in Yvonne’s eyes as she confronted her mother.


    Liza’s heart tightened, but keeping Yvonne in the dark was essential for the charade to seed in fooling Christina.


    “Yvonne, you have to remember that Christina is adopted. She’s always been sensitive and needed extra care. I— I—”


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    Whatever honeyed words Liza had nned to say were cut short when Christina’s re sliced through the conversation. “Drop the act already! If you’re finished, step aside. I’ve got a wager to settle,” Christina snapped, her irritation barely concealed.


    Christina had long stopped falling for Liza’s fake tears. Any trace of hope for real affection from the Jones family had vanished from her heart ages ago. Those empty promises Liza dangled? Christina only yed along because she chose to, never because she truly believed.


    Mock desperation filled Liza’s voice as she reached for Christina. “Christina, don’t go through with the wager! You’ll only end up hurt!”


    Stepping aside, Christina dodged Liza’s grasp. “Don’t touch me!” she snapped, her eyes shing cold. “Touch me again, and you’ll regret it!”


    A shaky step backward sent Liza reeling, one hand pressed dramatically against her chest as tears threatened to spill.


    Seeing her act, the crowd’s scorn toward Christina skyrocketed, their voices turning sharp and usatory.


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