?Chapter 1628:


    Christina opened the lid and leaned in, inhaling with careful restraint. What others would miss entirely did not escape her senses. Inside the cup lingered the unmistakable residue of a slow-acting toxin. It was clear that this very container had been used repeatedly to poison her father.


    Having finished his replies, Bain noticed Christina fixed intently on the cup their father had relied on for years. His brows creased faintly as unease crept in. He examined it himself but found nothing out of the ordinary.


    “Bonnie, why are you looking at Dad’s cup?” he asked, confusion evident.


    Before she could respond, he added lightly, “Don’t tell me you’re nning to imitate Dad and drink virgin eggnog?”


    “Why not? I’m trying to understand him,” Christina answered with a faint smile, humoring him.


    “Alright,” Bain said. “But that one belongs to Dad. If you want one, I’ll get you a brand-new cup.”


    “Okay,” Christina agreed at once, her gaze pure and unreadable. She reced the lid and deliberately steered away from the subject.


    She knew Bain was sharp, and pressing the matter further would only raise his suspicions. For now, letting it go was the wiser choice. She would find a way to question her father subtly when they were alone.


    At that moment, both of their phones buzzed with iing notifications. They exchanged a nce, already guessing the source. Sure enough, it was a message from their father, Hurley, in the family group chat. “Zahir Wade, a close family friend, will be joining us for dinner. Come home early.”


    They both replied promptly, confirming they would attend. A private message from Hurley followed shortly after: “Bonnie, are you at thepany? I’lle pick you up.”


    Christina typed back: “Dad, I’ll drive myself back. Please be safe on the road.”


    “Alright, Bonnie,” Hurley replied.


    After the brief exchange, Christina put her phone away and looked toward Bain. “Bain, who is this Zahir? Are our families close?”


    Discover more on gα?ησv????s


    “Yes,” Bain exined. “He’s Dad’s lifelong friend. Our families have visited each other for years.” Christina caught the fleetingplexity that passed through his eyes. There was clearly someone in the Wade family he didn’t care for.


    “Are the Wade family’s businesses also based in Lionesspaw? Who’s stronger, them or us?” she asked with an easy smile.


    “Both families operate in Lionesspaw, but the Wades rank below us. Our family holds first ce, with the Martels in second — they’re our sworn rivals,” Bain replied.


    “So the Wades are third?” Christina asked, curiosity flickering.


    Bain shook his head. “They’re fourth. The Hewitts are third, and they’re tied to the Martels through marriage.”


    Christina’s brows drew together slightly. If that was the case, could the ones orchestrating everything against her father be the Martel family? The people who had tried to recruit her could very well havee from them.


    Her eyes darkened, a dangerous chill spilling from her entire presence. Anyone bold enough to endanger her family was courting disaster. It didn’t matter that the Martels ranked second in Lionesspaw — even if they stood at the very top, she could erase them from the country without a trace.


    Bain stiffened at the abrupt shift in her demeanor. Her gaze had sharpened into something lethal, an icy pressure radiating outward that made an involuntary shiver run through him.


    “Bonnie?” he called quietly.


    When she snapped back to herself, he couldn’t help asking, “What were you thinking about?” He had a strong feeling she was keeping something hidden from them.


    .


    .


    .