?Chapter 1521:


    “Don’t let him get to you. He’s always been cold and impossible to deal with. Just ignore him.” Her words were heavy with resentment.


    If he weren’t so heartless, would he really have gone as far as cklisting Christina across the entire industry?AdChoicesADVERTISING


    Every time she thought of it, Chloe couldn’t help but feel like her brother had been reced by something dark and merciless.


    Maybe some dark spirit had taken root inside him now—he was a stranger wearing her brother’s face, nothing like the man she once knew.


    The brother she once knew only seemed cold on the outside. Beneath that exterior, he cared deeply for the people close to him. If that weren’t true, those around him wouldn’t have stayed so loyal all these years.


    “Chloe, how can you speak about your brother like that?” Vickie forced a shaky smile,posing herself. “He’s a good man. He’s earned every right to be proud.”


    “Hmph! He treats you horribly, yet you still defend him? You should really just stop—” Chloe cut herself off mid-sentence.


    She’d been about to tell Vickie to give up on Dn altogether—that loving him would only end in heartbreak. If he could be so cruel to a woman he once loved, what would he do to someone he never cared about at all? But she bit the words back. Now wasn’t the time. Christina was still standing there after all.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    “Stop making excuses for him. I don’t want to hear it,” Chloe said instead, her tone clipped.


    Vickie smiled faintly. “Alright, Chloe. I’ll listen to you.”


    She had spent so many years by the Scotts’ side, earning the favor of every single family member—except Dn. That one failure gnawed at her more than anything else.


    “Come on, let’s sit and talk over dinner.” Chloe tugged her gently forward, leading her straight to where Christina stood.


    “Christina, this is the person I’ve been wanting you to meet—Vickie Cullen,” Chloe said brightly.AdChoicesADVERTISING


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    “So you’re the Miss Jones Chloe always talks about. It’s lovely to finally meet you,” Vickie said with a polished smile, extending her hand toward Christina.


    Her face was all pleasant charm, but underneath, resentment simmered.


    Every time Chloe chatted with her, she used to mention Dn, Morse, and Ralphy the most.


    But after Dn’s grandma let slip that Dn had someone he liked, Chloe’s conversations shifted—his name was now tied to one woman, over and over again: Christina.


    Vickie had worked tirelessly to fit into the Scott family, to be one of them. So what gave this outsider the right to just walk in and take what she had spent years trying to im?


    “Nice to meet you,” Christina said, offering a brief, polite smile as she shook Vickie’s hand.


    Their handshake was quick, both women maintaining a polite, professional manner.


    Outwardly, Vickie was perfectly well-mannered and polished, showing no sign of hostility. Yet, Christina found she simply could not like her.


    Was it because Vickie used to have feelings for Dn, and perhaps still did?


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