?Chapter 358:


    Whistling to himself, the lean man exited the building, eager to share the news of his unexpected payday. But the second he stepped into a quiet alleyway, a hand mped over his face—and he was yanked into a waiting van.


    Once back in the ward, Yvonne couldn’t wipe the smirk off her face, relishing the prospect of Christina’s imminent crash and burn.


    Her parents didn’t miss her odd vibe. Liza, intrigued, prodded, “Yvonne, what’s with that cat-who-ate-the-canary grin?”


    Mack jumped in, “Did you hit the jackpot or something? Don’t keep us in the dark!”


    “Oh, it’s nothing to write home about,” Yvonne brushed it off. “Just mulling over what to bring to Kurt’s birthday bash.” No way was she spilling the beans about her under-the-table deal with that lean guy—the scheme to throw Christina behind bars.


    “Make sure it’s something top-notch!” Mack enthused. “Something that’ll knock Kurt’s socks off. Who knows? You might just lock in your spot as his future granddaughter-inw!”


    “But what should I prepare?” Yvonne furrowed her brow. “Maybe an antique?”


    “I hear he’s got a thing for calligraphy and paintings. An antique masterpiece could be the golden ticket,” Mack proposed.


    Liza, though, had her doubts. “But won’t everyone else be thinking along the same lines? What if ours gets lost in the shuffle?”


    “Who knows? Maybe we’ll hit the jackpot and pick exactly what he loves,” Mack replied with hopeful optimism.


    Just as Yvonne opened her mouth to reply, her phone buzzed. She pulled it out and saw a transfer notification sh on the screen. Why would someone suddenly send her money?


    As she tapped on the message, her eyes widened. It was a transfer of one million, apanied by a note: “Here’s your money back. The deal’s off.” Yvonne froze, her smile evaporating in an instant. She frantically typed a message back to the lean man. “Why’re you backing out? You already took the money—why send it back?”


    No reply.


    Gritting her teeth, she sent another text. “Where are you? Answer me!” Still nothing. She typed again, anger boiling over. “Returning the money changes nothing. The deal stands, and if you don’t honor it, I’ll sue for fraud and extortion!”


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    But it was like shouting into a void. Her messages vanished into thin air. That lean man hadpletely ghosted her.


    When Yvonne tried again, she found he’d blocked her. A tremor of rage shook her, triggering a harsh coughing fit.


    “Yvonne!” Liza rushed over, patting her back with concern. “Are you alright?”


    “Yeah… I’m fine, Mom. Thanks.” Yvonne forced a smile, clutching her now-dark phone tightly.


    The more Yvonne dwelled on it, the hotter her anger burned. That wretched bastard had gone back on his word! What on earth had happened? Since when did a bottom-feeder like him pass up a cool two million? But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t wrap her head around his sudden change of heart.


    On the other end, the lean man jammed his phone into his pocket after blocking Yvonne. He hobbled along, his face a canvas of bruises and swelling, his ribs screaming as if they’d been shattered.


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