?Chapter 819:


    Brendon’s brow creased faintly, his eyes narrowing on Christina with quiet curiosity, wondering how she had ended up here.


    “Ugh! That woman always pops up like a bad penny! We show up for the auction, and she’s right on our heels. She’s definitely here to pester my brother and try to win him back. She’s never held a proper job—just slinks around, trying to charm men,” Katie sneered.


    Her jab loosened the tension in Brendon’s frown, and a faint smile tugged at his mouth. So that was it. He figured as much. Christina wouldn’t give up on him easily. After all, she had once loved him to the moon and back.


    Finnegan and She shot Christina sharp res, full of pent-up resentment. Back when they were in Dorfield, she had embarrassed them and caused them significant losses. They had yet to settle that score. And now, here she was—bold enough to walk right into their hometown, clearly intent on stirring the pot all over again.


    Ynda’s parents clenched their jaws, dead set on making Christina pay this time.


    “Hey, Christina. What brings you here?” Ynda stepped up with a sharine smile stretched across her face.


    Davina rolled her eyes, her toneced with irritation. “What? Do you own the ce or something? You lot can show up, but we can’t?”


    “I didn’t mean it like that,” Ynda’s eyes welled up, brimming with grievance. She gave her lip a delicate nibble and turned to Brendon with a silent plea for defense.


    “Christina, keep your friend’s mouth in check,” Brendon muttered, his brow furrowed in annoyance.


    “Before you start on me, maybe try muzzling those around you first. They’re not exactly avoiding trouble,” Christina shot back without flinching, firmly backing her friend.


    With Christina shielding her, Davina beamed like a cat in cream, nearly lifting her hands to her hips in smug delight.


    The others looked on with bitter disdain, watching Davina ride Christina’s coattails like that—it made their skin crawl.


    “Stop pretending like you haven’t followed us all the way here,” Brendon said, his re slicing into Christina. “Apologize to Ynda before Ipletely lose my patience, and then we’ll let it slide.”


    Christina felt a fierce impulse to knock some sense into his skull. This man couldn’t evenprehend basguage. “I’m not apologizing. Now, get the hell out of my face!” she snapped. “Stop being a pest.”<fnde29> Find the newest release on find[f]ovel</fnde29>


    Without waiting for a reply, Christina seized Davina’s hand, ready to breeze right past them.


    But Brendon suddenly grabbed Christina’s wrist, his face thunderous as hemanded, “Apologize.”


    “Let go.” Christina twisted her head sharply, her eyes like frozen daggers.


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