?Chapter 955:


    Brendon immediately reached out and pulled Katie back, acting on pure instinct. They had already been burned by Christina more than once. If she were right again, not only would they have wasted over five hundred million, but they’d also be bound by a wager in her favor.


    “Are you some hardened gambler, always chasing the next bet?” Brendon snapped coldly.


    “I’m not. But your sister seems so unwilling to back down, even after suffering so many losses at my hands. I figured she might need an unforgettable lesson,” Christina sneered.


    “Christina, are you hinting that Katie’s an idiot who would never learn?” Ynda chimed in, feigning innocence while subtly stirring the pot.


    Katie hadn’t even caught on to this insinuation, but Ynda’s prodding lit a fresh spark of rage in her. She jabbed a finger at Christina, her voice shaking with fury. “Are you insulting me?”


    “Honestly, no, I never called you anything of the sort. Everyone here heard what I said—did any of it sound like I was calling you foolish?” Christina’s tone wasced with innocence, yet carried just enough provocation to make the air feel heavier.


    In truth, Christina did think Katie was foolish, forever dancing to Ynda’s tune without realizing it. However, her aim wasn’t to attack Katie’s intelligence outright, but to mock Katie’s inability to learn from past blunders.


    “You!” Katie could only sputter, bereft of a proper retort.


    “Christina, you—” Brendon began, but his voice was cut off by Dn’s icy interruption. “Enough! This is my home, not a stage for your petty squabbles!” His voice sliced through the tension, sharp and unyielding. No one dared meet his eyes; his very presence pressed down like a storm cloud, and the stern fire in his gaze left no room for defiance.


    Margot, watching from the side, was quietly pleased to see her grandson step in for the woman he admired. Her gaze toward Christina was full of appreciation. This young woman was extraordinary—no wonder Dn had given her his heart.


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    Margot had learned from Chloe that Christina was not only a race car driver but also the celebrated international pianist, Tiana. And now, here she stood, a restoration expert impressive enough to earn Magnus’s respect.


    Margot could already see that Vickie would be no match for Christina. The room fell into a charged silence as all eyes turned to Magnus, waiting for his verdict.


    After what felt like an eternity, Magnus finally spoke, his tone heavy with disappointment. “Regrettably, this oil painting is indeed a counterfeit.” A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.


    “Who would have thought it was a fake? Magnus took so long to examine it, but that woman could tell from across the room. Her eye for detail is razor-sharp.”


    “This proves she’s even more skilled than Magnus. Maybe she really is a remarkable restoration expert.”


    “It’s unbelievable—a woman this young, outshining Magnus. She’s a genius.”


    The guests marveled at Christina’s rare talent, while Brendon, Katie, and Ynda stood frozen in ce, their faces drained of color, struggling to recover from the blow.


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