?Chapter 901:


    “I don’t have time to waste,” Christina said coolly. “Hurry up. I don’t want to miss the banquet.”<f68> Original content can be found at f?ndnovel</f68>


    Katie was fuming. She wanted tosh out at Christina right then and there—but she had no choice but to choke it all down. This smug, vile Christina! So despicable.


    Katie swore to herself—if she ever got the chance, she’d make Christina pay.


    Brendon lowered his head, the sting of defeat cutting deep. “My sister spoke without thinking and offended you. I apologize on her behalf,” he said stiffly.


    He was swallowing his pride now, but deep down, he was more determined than ever to climb his way to the top. In his mind, Robin was only where he was because of being born into a wealthy family. He didn’t believe Robin truly had any skill. He was sure that one day, he’d rise above all those who’d looked down upon him—and prove he belonged.


    “I’m sorry, Christina,” Ynda added gently. “Katie didn’t mean to offend you.”


    Hearing Ynda speak up only made Katie feel even more wronged—why was everyone ming her? She looked around and saw everyone staring at her like she was the viin. Her eyes reddened, frustrated. She’d never felt so wronged. She didn’t think she’d done anything wrong. Yet, here they were, forcing her to bow her head and apologize.


    Katie truly believed she wasn’t in the wrong, not in the slightest. She’d merely stated the truth. So why the hell should she apologize to that bitch, Christina?


    Katie’s fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, her jaw locked so hard that her gums began to bleed. Her whole body trembled with rage. If she apologized to Christina now, wouldn’t that just cement the impression that she had been stirring the pot all along?


    “Katie, apologize to Miss Jones immediately—no stalling,” Brendon’s voice sliced through the tension like a de of ice.


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    Katie turned to him, eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down her face in thick, heavy drops.


    “Apologize! Right now!” Brendon snapped, the words cracking through the air like a whip. He pressed two fingers to his temple, the stress of it all practically driving him insane.


    Brendon couldn’t care less whether Katie was in the wrong or not—apologizing was non-negotiable. The Dawson family wasn’t strong enough to go up against the Millers. Not yet. When one was on the weaker side, there was no luxury of pride or seeking justice. Submission was survival. More importantly, the Millers had deep roots with the Scotts—an alliance carved through generations. And the Scotts? They were infamous for backing their own, no matter what. Brendon bitterly understood that if it really came down to a fight between the Dawsons and the Millers, the Scotts would side with the Millers without blinking.


    “Katie—” Ynda grabbed Katie’s arm and leaned in to whisper, “Just say it. One word. That’s all it takes. Otherwise, we’ll all get kicked out.”


    Katie blinked as the fog in her brain cleared, and reality hit her like a p. They hadn’t jumped through all those hoops just to get kicked out now. They’d put in way too much effort to get invited to this birthday banquet—had even dropped half a billion on a famous painting, all to win Margot’s favor. They couldn’t get thrown out. They had to stay, no matter what. Otherwise, everything they’d done up until now would be for nothing.


    Once again, Katie felt it was all that bitch Christina’s fault! If Christina had just agreed to sell them Feathers of the Divine, they wouldn’t have been forced to spend half a billion on a backup.


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