?Chapter 966:


    In Lorbridge Hospital, Katie asked with genuine concern, “How are you feeling, Brendon? Are you doing any better now?”


    “Brendon, do you still feel unwell anywhere?” Ynda asked softly.


    The day before, Brendon had been so enraged that he’d vomited blood. The doctor assured them it wasn’t serious but warned him to rest, keep calm, and avoid anger.


    “I’m feeling better,” Brendon said faintly. But his energy was gone, and his appetite had vanished.


    The thought of losing over half a billion, on top of earning ridicule for presenting Margot with a counterfeit painting, weighed on his chest like lead. The money was wasted, his reputation destroyed, and instead of gaining connections or resources, he had be the butt of cruel jokes among the upper ss. It felt like a stain that would never be washed away.


    “It’s all that wretched Christina’s fault! If she hadn’t spoken up and insisted the painting was a fake, no one would have realized,” Katie burst out angrily. Even Magnus had needed time to confirm the authenticity of that painting. Most people wouldn’t have noticed. If Christina had kept her mouth shut, they would have slipped by unscathed. And even when the truth eventually surfaced, they would have already secured the connections and resources they wanted by then.


    “I’m sorry,” Ynda whispered, her head bowed and her eyes red. “It’s my fault for hiring an appraiser who wasn’t skilled enough to see through the forgery.” She had tortured herself with unease the entire night and resolved to shoulder the me.


    “It’s not your fault, Ynda. Don’t hold it against yourself,” Brendon said, gently taking her hand.


    “Exactly, Ynda. Even Magnus took a long time to determine it was a fake. Most appraisers wouldn’t have spotted it at all. The forgery was so masterfully done that it could almost pass for the original,” Katie chimed infortingly.


    “But… but my parents were the ones who found the seller. It’s my fault we suffered such a massive loss,” Ynda cried, her delicate face wet with flowing tears. Brendon and Katie both felt their hearts soften, quickly absolving her of responsibility.


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    “The one who gained the most from this disaster is Christina. She’s the real culprit here,” Katie said sharply, pulling out her phone to show them the trending topics about Christina. “She’s now winning favor with Calvin and Magnus, and her public image has skyrocketed.”


    Brendon stared at the endless stream of praise for his ex-wife, along with the fact that two legendary figures had followed her ount. His blood pressure soared. What drove him over the edge were thements mocking him for being her ex-husband—calling him blind and a fool for ever casting such a gem away.


    “Ugh!” Brendon suddenly coughed up blood and copsed.


    “Holy crap! Brendon!”


    “Brendon!”


    “Doctor! Someone get a doctor!”


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