?Chapter 1444:


    He paused for effect, his next words slow and deliberate. “And you? You’re mine.”


    “Deal.” Christina agreed.


    “No way!” The Miller family’s answer was otherwise.


    Christina’s voice was cool, certain. The Millers’, on the other hand, were full of panic.


    “Are you out of your mind?” Robin immediately stepped in front of Christina with a frown, blocking Noah’s smug stare from reaching her.


    “I am not,” Christina said evenly. “Trust me. I won’t lose to him.” She exuded such calm confidence.


    Gasps rippled through the crowd. People exchanged disbelieving looks, shocked by her audacity. To them, she wasn’t confident—she was arrogant beyond reason.


    Lorraine, still sulking to the side, scoffed loud enough for everyone to hear. “Who does she think she is? Saying she won’t lose? If she screws this up, she’ll drag the entire Miller family down with her.”


    She turned to Celine. “Celine, are you really going to let her do this?”


    “Enough. I don’t want to hear anymore,” Celine snapped, anger simmering beneath her words.


    Lorraine’s anger boiled, but she chose to stay quiet. She was certain they would all regret allowing Christina to have her way.


    Noah, watching the scene unfold, chuckled under his breath.


    The more Christina defied him, the more she intrigued him. That fearless spark—he hadn’t seen that in a long time. Still, he wondered if her skills could actually back up that fire in her words.


    Robin’s heart was pounding. “You can’t gamble with him,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “Not when you’re the one being wagered. That’s not happening.”


    He couldn’t let Christina make such a reckless bet.


    He couldn’t even bring himself to imagine what that meant if she lost.


    He fumbled for his phone. “I’ll call my friend. He’ll handle this.”


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    But as soon as he dialed, his expression fell—the line was dead.


    What was going on? Why couldn’t he get through?


    A wave of dread washed over him. He redialed again, refusing to give up hope, but it was still off.


    Panic tightened his chest. Why couldn’t he reach his friend at such a critical moment?


    “Time’s up,” Noah saidzily, his voice cutting through the tension. “I’m only gambling with her. Either she ys, or you all walk away losers. Your choice.”


    Robin’s head snapped up. “Even if the Miller family goes down in mes, I won’t sacrifice her!” he shouted, his voice cracking.


    Noah just smiled wider, as if enjoying the chaos. “She already agreed to y. If she won’t, you all lose. And frankly, I don’t care if the Miller family vanishes,” Noah said, arms out, smile smug as he looked straight at Christina.


    If she took his bet and lost, the Millers would have to swallow his terms.


    He knew she wouldn’t stand by while the family fell—otherwise she wouldn’t havee at all.


    “I’ll gamble with you. Like we agreed,” Christina said, stepping forward and sliding past Robin.


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