?Chapter 431:


    Christina hadn’t crashed the party—she had been invited by Kurt himself.


    Celine snapped the invitation shut and leveled a cial stare at Christina. The crowd sensed the shift—like a cold wind passing through velvet curtains—and whispers broke out like wildfire.


    “From the look on Mrs. Miller’s face, it must be some ordinary invite.”


    “I knew it. That woman only brought a modest gift—there’s no way she’s an honored guest of the Miller family.”


    “She’s done for! Just wait, she’ll be thrown out in shame any minute now.”


    The schadenfreude thickened. Those hoping to watch Christina fall from grace leaned in, eyes gleaming with anticipation. Among them were Yvonne and Lorraine. Celine’s expression confirmed what they wanted to believe. They exchanged self-satisfied nces, already savoring the supposed scandal toe. If this got out, Christina’s name would be scorched from every guest list in town.


    Lorraine stepped forward with barely contained glee. “Celine, that must be an ordinary invite, right?”


    Celine didn’t answer Lorraine. Instead, she turned and strode toward Christina. “Miss Jones, this time, Lorraine’s at fault. I apologize on her behalf—”


    Before Celine could finish, Christina interrupted her, her voice calm but razor-sharp. “Mrs. Miller, those who err should own their actions.” Her gaze held firm—cold, steady, fearless. “If she were tomit a crime one day… say, murder—would you take the me for that, Mrs. Miller?”


    A stunned silence fell like a thunderp. The crowd gasped, eyes wide as her words echoed across the hall like a p. “She’spletely humiliating Mrs. Miller in public!”


    “Even if she’s a special guest, that’s way out of line.”


    “Doesn’t she know how protective Mr. Miller is of his wife? She’s ying with fire.”


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    “And wasn’t she just a foster daughter of the Jones family? Where does she get the gall to talk like that?”


    Lorraine’s face twisted with rage. “How dare you! Who do you think you are, talking to Celine like that?”


    Lorraine lunged forward, her arm arcing through the air, her hand poised for a brutal p. Venom seethed in her expression; the blow was meant tond with every ounce of spite she had.


    The sharp sound cracked through the air like a whip—but it wasn’t Christina who was hit. It was Lorraine.


    In one swift, fluid motion, Christina caught Lorraine’s wrist mid-swing, her grip like steel, stopping the p before it couldnd. Then, without hesitation, she struck back. Her palm connected with Lorraine’s cheek in a clean, blistering arc that left Lorraine reeling, her head snapping to the side.


    Gasps rippled through the room like a shockwave. No one could believe what they’d just witnessed. Not only had Christina wlessly blocked the assault—she had dared to retaliate. And not just in front of everyone, but right in front of Celine. The p didn’t just sting Lorraine’s pride—it struck at Celine’s authority.


    All eyes locked on Christina, the room holding its breath. She’d crossed a line. Even if Celine had considered letting things slide before, she wouldn’t now—not without losing face.


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