?Chapter 956:


    Once Katie recalled that she had parted with the gown Allison had custom-made for her—selling it off to help her brother raise over five hundred million—only to end up buying a counterfeit, a deep wave of regret surged through her chest. This meant everyst cent had been wasted, and to add insult to injury, they now carried the shame of presenting a fake to Margot.


    A sudden dizziness struck Katie, the world spinning in wild, drunken circles before her eyes, and she nearly lost her footing.


    Ynda darted forward and caught Katie, her own face drained of all color. She was in serious trouble this time! Her parents had been the ones to introduce the art seller; would the Dawson family shift the me onto her? She had no idea the seller was a fraudster…


    The more Ynda dwelled on it, the more her unease swelled—her eyes flitted restlessly like a trapped bird searching for escape, while panic coiled around her ribs with the slow, suffocating grip of a serpent. That wretched swindler!


    Brendon stood frozen, a rush of memories flickering one after another through his mind—each recollection heavy, each one pressing tighter against his chest as though unseen hands were wringing his heart. The longer he dwelled on it, the hotter his anger burned, his blood boiling in his veins.


    Then, without warning, a dizzy spell overtook him. He doubled over and hacked up a mouthful of blood, crimson spilling past his lips. His steps faltered like a drunkard’s, his body swaying precariously, as fragile as a leaf clinging to a branch in the midst of a storm.


    The blow was too great to withstand—his very vitality seemed to drain away, leaving behind nothing but a hollow shell where strength and spirit had once lived.<fn88bc> Original content can be found at find[?]ovel</fn88bc>


    Gasps and startled cries rippled through the air as Ynda pushed Katie aside and lunged forward to catch Brendon.


    “Brendon! How could this happen?” Ynda cried, her voice a mix of panic and desperate concern. “Why are you coughing up blood?”


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    “Brendon, any other difort? We must go to the hospital right away for a proper diagnosis.” Katie, trembling, rushed to support him from the other side, her mind nk with shock. Why on earth was he suddenly vomiting blood like this?


    “I’m… I’m fine,” Brendon forced out, struggling to steady himself. Even so, his eyes were drawn, almost instinctively, to Christina—like apass needle stubbornly pointing north despite the raging storm.


    Somewhere deep in his heart, a fragile thread of hope stirred, yearning to see even the faintest flicker of concern in her gaze. Just the smallest sign of reaction would have been enough. Surely, she could not stand unmoved while he coughed up blood.


    But the hope shattered instantly—not only did Christina remain motionless, but her lips even curved into a faint smile.


    A sharp pain shot through Brendon’s heart, splintering into a thousand jagged shards that coursed through his veins, each heartbeat driving them deeper.


    How could Christina be so callously apathetic—wasn’t she supposed to love him more than anything? How could she remain utterly unmoved when he coughed up blood? What a heartless woman!


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