?Chapter 1369:


    If only he knew she had already made the same promise twice before.


    Momentster, Gerry returned to the dining hall, his expression practically glowing with excitement.


    “Bonnie!” he called out, bounding up to Christina.


    Christina looked up from her phone, startled by his energy. Her eyes narrowed yfully when she saw how thrilled he looked.


    “Gerry,” she said with a teasing smile, “what made you look so happy?”


    “Nothing,” Gerry said quickly, his tone brimming with warmth. “I’m just… overjoyed to have you back in our lives, Bonnie.”


    Christina’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Let’s go home.”


    In the beginning, she hadn’t quite known how to react to all their affection. It had been overwhelming—too much, too soon. But as the days passed, she found herself easing into it, slowly embracing the warmth she had been missing all her life.


    If only she hadn’t been so afraid of the truth back then… if she’d reached out sooner, perhaps she would have found her way back to her family long ago.


    Fleeting images from her past surfaced—memories both bitter and sweet.


    And yet, she realized now, each moment had shaped her into who she was. Maybe the timing was exactly what fate had intended.


    If she had returned earlier, she might never have met the people who had changed her life forever.


    Her heart felt unexpectedly light, and a quiet smile tugged at her lips.


    “Bonnie, what are you smiling about?” Gerry asked curiously, watching her with eyes filled with warmth.


    Christina looked up, her gaze calm and bright. “I was just thinking… meeting you all now—it must be the universe’s perfect n for us.”


    Gerry’s expression softened further, his voice thick with emotion. “If only we had found you sooner… you wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.”


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    Christina shook her head gently. “Everything I went through helped me grow. It’s all part of my journey.”


    Gerry’s chest tightened. His sister—so kind, so strong—deserved nothing but peace from now on.


    “Bonnie, you’re tough,” he said softly, patting her head with brotherly affection. “From now on, we’ll protect you. No one will ever bully you again.”


    As they walked through the main hall of Morfort Restaurant, Gerry’s gaze lingered on Christina with open fondness. His protective warmth was unmistakable.


    Across the room, Brendon caught sight of them and his heart clenched.


    The unfamiliar young man walking beside Christina exuded quiet confidence, his posture straight, his expressionposed yetmanding. Something about him…


    unsettled Brendon deeply. And when he saw Christina smiling so naturally in that man’spany, jealousy prickled under his skin like fire.


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