?Chapter 960:


    That was when Christina struck, her heeling down hard on his foot. The sharp pain made him falter, just long enough for her to slip sideways out of his hold.


    Her hand mped onto his wrist—the one holding the dagger—and with a sharp upward twist, she broke free like water slipping past a clenched fist. Christina aimed to wrench his arm back and dislocate it, but his reflexes snapped into action before she couldplete the move.


    The entire exchange was over in a blink; she had escaped his grasp and was already shifting into an attack. If Terrence had been anyone else, she would have already dislocated both his arms and ended this encounter on her terms. But years spent in the chaos of conflict had shaped Terrence into a man whose reflexes could rival Christina’s own. Where he had once underestimated her and failed to read her style, he now moved with sharpened caution, unwilling to be taken by surprise again.


    He smirked. “That’s what I see in you. You’ve got grit and fire in equal measure.”


    “Cut the nonsense!” Her gaze locked onto his movements. Christina seized the split-second opening to wrench his arm and send the dagger ttering to the floor.


    “You’re even more breathtaking when you’re angry, darling.” A crooked, wicked grin curved Terrence’s lips as they shed again, adrenaline burning through him. The challenge of conquering a woman like her was intoxicating.


    In the next heartbeat, his fingers mped around her wrist and yanked her toward him.


    She spun with the pull, angling her elbow sharply toward his ribs in a vicious counter.


    Terrence shifted back just in time, shoving her away as his boots scraped against the floor.


    Christina turned around, her palm cutting through the air toward his face. But before it couldnd, a faint, familiar scent reached Terrence first, stealing his focus for a fraction of a second. His instincts told him to evade—but some irrational pull urged him forward instead, letting her strike connect against his cheek.


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    Smack! The pping sound cracked through the room like a whip, and Christina instantly knew it was toote to take it back. Her eyes darted to Terrence. He looked as though he had enjoyed it, leaving herpletely at a loss for words. This man truly had strange tendencies. It almost seemed like he carried a hint of masochism.


    “My darling, I must be on my way. Until we meet again,” Terrence said as he picked up a sharp dagger and turned toward the door.


    He had only taken a few steps before stopping. Turning back, he gave her a crooked smile. “Honey, don’t forget—you still owe me a dance.” With that, Terrence walked out and vanished from Christina’s sight.


    Christina frowned, her heart unsettled. She had no clue what went on in that man’s head.<fn55f2> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FιndＮovel</fn55f2>


    Late that night, Calvin had justin down when his phone rang. It was Magnus. He frowned. A call at this hour could only mean something urgent. He picked up at once, his voice tight with worry. “Magnus? What’s wrong?”


    “Everything’s good. I’m at your door. Come out and open up—I brought some top-notch coffee beans,” Magnus replied, cheerful as ever.


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