?Chapter 1339:


    “The results aren’t out yet,” Merlin said curtly.


    What he meant was clear—until they saw the paternity test, it was too soon for Ophelia to start calling Christina by that name.


    “I don’t care! I can just feel she’s Bonnie,” Ophelia shot back, flipping her vibrant red hair over her shoulder with a flourish. She jabbed a finger at him and said sternly, “And stay out of a girl’s business.”


    Merlin could only stare at her, speechless.


    When his gaze drifted toward Christina, he caught her eyes for a fleeting moment.


    He tried to smile, an effort to seem gentle.


    But the result was worse than his usual scowl.


    He remainedpletely unaware, though Ophelia caught it right away.


    “Oh my God, Merlin, stop smiling!” she eximed. “Do you have any idea how scary that looks?”


    She almost wished she had a mask to hide his face.


    Startled, Merlin dropped the smile instantly, staring at her in disbelief. “Really?”


    “See for yourself,” Ophelia said, thrusting herpact mirror into his hands.


    Taking the mirror from her, Merlin cast a quick nce toward Christina before turning his back to face his reflection. He forced a smile, but the moment he saw it, the expression froze on his lips.


    Words failed him—he couldn’t bring himself to smile again.


    Ophelia hadn’t been exaggerating after all; he truly did look unsettling when he smiled. He had honestly tried to seem kind, yet somehow his face twisted that attempt into something menacing.


    Realizing his smile was more horrifying than he’d imagined, Merlin stole another furtive nce at Christina. Had she been frightened by that grin?


    He thought Ophelia was being too hasty in calling her Bonnie, yet somewhere deep inside, he too had begun to think of Christina that way.


    Christina, meanwhile, sensed the unease gripping everyone. No one seemed ready to open the envelope.


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    Finally, she broke the silence. “Why don’t I do it?” she said softly.


    Florrie looked around at the others, and after a moment, they all nodded.


    She handed the envelope to Christina with trembling fingers.


    Every eye followed Christina as she carefully began to open it.


    As she peeled back the seal, a heavy stillness fell over the room. No one dared breathe, afraid even a single blink might change what wasing.


    Christina hadn’t felt nervous at first, but their tension seeped into her.


    Her palms grew damp, and her thoughts raced wildly.


    With painstaking care, she drew the paternity report from the envelope—and the moment of truth stood on the brink of revtion.


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