?Chapter 1072:


    “All of you are Mr. Barker’s friends, right? Mr. Barker asked me toe over and raise a ss with you all,” Christina said with a smile that could disarm the sharpest de.


    “I knew Judd would introduce such a beauty to us.”


    “Indeed. I must admit, Judd, I misjudged you. I assumed you’d want to keep such a rare beauty entirely to yourself.”


    “That’s how much Judd values friendship. From this day forward, wherever he points, I’ll follow.”


    Their words dripped with implication, thinly disguised praise that painted Judd as magnanimous for sharing Christina with them.


    Basking in their ttery, Judd’s smile widened. His chest swelled with pride as he looked at Christina, who made him feel so triumphant—so utterly enthralled. To Judd, women had always been ythings, amusements to be passed around once he tired of them. But with her, he faltered. This time, he could not bear the thought of letting anyone else touch her.


    As Christina, behind her smile, weighed how best to spike their drinks, one of the men leaned forward with a grin. “Miss Jones, I was green with envy when I saw you feeding Judd wine earlier. Might I be lucky enough to receive the same honor from you?”


    A sh of gleam flickered across Christina’s eyes. The timing of that question couldn’t have been better—it was exactly what she needed.


    Under the weight of the group of men’s malicious stares, a faint curve tugged at the corner of Christina’s lips.


    “I don’t think that is a good idea—it seems too much to ask from Miss Jones,” Judd remarked with a practiced smile. Yet beneath the polite veneer, annoyance simmered in him. In his mind, this group of men didn’t deserve the same treatment from Christina.


    “Judd, do you want to keep Miss Jones entirely to yourself? Don’t forget that just now, we had…” one young man teased, draping a hand over Judd’s shoulder. He let the words trail off, but his meaningful look said enough.


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    That same thinly disguised, threatening glint lingered in the eyes of the others, and Judd’s fists clenched tightly at his sides. They were all pressuring him. If he stopped them from toying with the beauty beside him, they would reveal their earlier bet. And if she learned of the bet, she would surely pull away—and perhaps even despise him. He couldn’t risk losing her. Better to share her with all these men than not have her at all.


    Judd’s thoughts raced furiously before he made his decision. Anyway, she likely didn’t hail from a prominent family and was not the type of woman suited for marriage. She could only be his ything at most. For men like them, the real prize was always a wealthy heiress whose name and fortune could benefit their own families.


    “What happened earlier?” Christina asked, her smile sweet, her toneced with feigned innocence.


    “Nothing serious—just a bit of business talk. If the deal goes through, we’re looking at billions,” Judd replied, puffing himself up with arrogance.


    “Miss Jones, would you be interested in partnering with us?” a young man asked, grinning from ear to ear.<fnb46c> Content originallyes from FιndＮovel</fnb46c>


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