?Chapter 1618:


    She held every piece close to her heart. To her, they felt precious enough to be family heirlooms one day.


    Some might call gold excessive, but she loved it. Gold endured—it had weight, truth, and permanence.


    And beyond its material worth, the love behind each piece made them priceless.


    Surrounded by her family, Christina continued opening a few more gifts, each one leaving a soft, contented warmth behind.


    “I’ll stop here,” she said, letting out a quietugh. “I want to keep the rest and open them slowly.”


    “Bonnie, you must be exhausted,” Florrie said gently, worry evident in her voice. “Go wash up and turn in early.”


    “Okay,” Christina replied, smiling back at them. “You should all rest too.”


    They walked her back to her room, clearly unwilling to part with her even for the night.


    Only the fear of disturbing her sleep finally made them step away.


    After washing up, Christina slipped into deep sleep almost immediately.


    Perhaps because her heart was so full, her dreams carried her to Joelle.


    She and Joelle ran across a sunlit beach, chasing each other andughing without restraint.


    Joelle asked how Christina had been doing recently.


    Christina told her about all the good things that had happened—how she’d found someone whose heart truly matched her own, and how she’d returned to a family who loved her deeply. She was living inside that love, happier than she’d ever believed possible.


    She spoke about opening the gifts and admitted that a quiet sadness lingered because Joelle hadn’t been there to share the moment.


    With a gentle smile, Joelle ruffled her hair and told her she had always stayed by her side. She urged Christina to live well and fully embrace the life she herself could no longer live.


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    Christina’s eyes burned as she struggled to ask whether Joelle was doing well now.


    “I’m fine,” Joelle said softly. “And your happiness brings me happiness too.”


    Without warning, Joelle vanished. Christina copsed into tears, sprinting across the beach in a desperate search for her.


    From a ce far beyond reach, Joelle’s voice floated back to her. “Christina, we’ll see each other again.”


    As the words dissolved, an unexpected surge of warmth pierced through Christina’s sorrow.


    Tears she hadn’t even noticed began spilling down her cheeks. She raised a hand to wipe them away.


    Still caught in the dream’s afterglow, she pulled the nket up against her chest and clung to it.


    She curled inward, drawing her knees close, lowering her chin, and slowly wrapping her arms around her legs.


    It looked as though she was simply hugging herself—but in her heart, she was embracing the friend she had lost.


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