?Chapter 436:


    “Exactly! Kurt’s been trying to marry Robin off for years, but no one’s ever caught Robin’s eye.”


    “Well, look at them! Laughing and standing that close—she has to be someone special. They look good together too. He wouldn’t just linger like that for no reason…”


    “You must’ve gotten here early and missed the drama outside! That woman beside Robin? Personally invited by Kurt himself. She’s clearly someone of significance.”


    At that, nearby guests straightened, their curiosity instantly piqued, hungry for every detail of the earlier drama. When the truth surfaced—that Christina was nothing more than the Jones family’s adopted daughter yet had the audacity to p Celine’s goddaughter right in front of Celine—a collective gasp of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Bold. Reckless. Fearless. Christina’s brazen defiance stunned them all. She showed no sign of trembling before the looming threat of the Miller family’s retribution whispered behind closed doors.


    Whispers turned to murmurs of doubt. Could Christina really be just an adopted daughter? Or was there a secret identity lurking beneath her calm facade, one that linked her more deeply to the Millers than anyone had guessed?


    Not long after, Lorraine swept into the banquet hall. Her sharp ears caught the chatter drifting through the air—rumors about Christina and Robin weaving through the guests like wildfire. By the time the tale reached her, it had splintered into countless versions. What began as casual spection about Christina being Robin’s girlfriend had blossomed into full-blown gossip, painting them as a destined pair on the cusp of making it official.


    A surge of fury and urgency mmed through Lorraine’s chest. She couldn’t let Christina have Robin’s affection—not now, not ever.


    Yvonne kept her eyes fixed on Christina, who was chatting with Robin andughing as if nothing in the world could break their bond.


    A wave of jealousy rose within Yvonne, and for a moment, she had to fight the urge tosh out at Christina. From her point of view, Christina was merely an orphan whom the Jones family had pitied enough to take in. She was far from being a noble heiress. There was no reason for her to gain Robin’s attention. With her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles ached, Yvonne struggled to keep her feelings under control.


    L??t??τ ?h??ρτ?rs ιn g??l??ov?l??.??оm


    As she turned her head, she noticed the fire zing in Lorraine’s eyes and smirked to herself. It hadn’t been long since Christina had upset Lorraine, and now here she was, getting close to Robin—the man Lorraine had set her sights on. Wasn’t Christina just setting herself up for trouble?


    A flicker of satisfaction crossed Yvonne’s face as she realized she didn’t need to lift a finger; Lorraine would surely make things difficult for Christina. Masking her glee, she furrowed her brows and said deliberately, “Lorraine, try not to let those rumors get to you. They’re probably nothing more than idle gossip. I don’t believe Christina and Robin are that close anyway.”


    Lorraine let out a harshugh, her eyes full of scorn. “It doesn’t matter what they have going on now. Soon enough, there won’t be anything between them.”


    Dropping her voice, Yvonne asked cautiously, “So what exactly are you nning to do? Robin already dislikes you. You’re not seriously thinking of a confrontation, are you?”


    .


    .


    .