?Chapter 1361:


    Maybe it was the constant pampering, but by the time she was discharged, Christina looked healthier. Her cheeks were rounder, her skin brighter. She almost looked like her old self again.


    Once her thoughts cleared and her body felt stronger, Christina threw herself straight back into work.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    Her n was simple: finish restoring the mural, then travel to Kitaso with Dn to visit Joelle’s resting ce.


    It had been years since she had gone there. Joelley alone in that quiet, lonely ce, and Christina often imagined how empty it must have felt.


    She couldn’t help but think that if Joelle could see her now, she would probably scold her and call her a coward for staying away for so long.


    The guilt still lingered, heavy in her chest, but she had made up her mind. She would live well, for both of them. Joelle had given up too much for her; the least Christina could do was live a life worthy of that sacrifice.


    Days blended into weeks, and before she knew it, more than two weeks had flown by.


    Christina’s emotions had finally calmed, and the work her three brothers had been busy with was almost done.


    She checked her watch and smiled faintly. They would be here any minute now.


    When she arrived at the Vaughn family vi, she was greeted by three faces that felt both familiar and new all at once.


    Familiar, because ever since her hospital stay, her brothers had called her every day, cracking stupid jokes and doing everything they could to make herugh.


    Yet unfamiliar, because this was the first time she was seeing them in person. Video calls hadn’t prepared her for how real, how warm, they actually were.


    Christina froze for a moment, startled to see the three real Jones men standing before her. It felt almost unreal. They were Bain, Jordy, and Gerry—the three brothers she had only known through stories and calls until now.


    As a child, her family had named her Bonnie Jones, but she hadn’t wanted to change her name again. “Bonnie” simply stayed as her nickname.


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    The brothers stared at her, unblinking, as if afraid that looking away for even a second would make her disappear.


    Beforeing home, they had already heard all about her achievements. Seeing her in person filled them with pride and an unshakable urge to protect her.


    As she walked closer, their excitement turned into nerves, their palms slick with sweat from trying to actposed.


    “Bain, Jordy, Gerry… finally meeting you all in person,” Christina said warmly, her smile genuine.


    It had felt awkward at first calling them that during video calls, but now it came naturally, almostforting.


    “Hey, Christina!” all three greeted together, their voices ovepping in excitement.


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