?Chapter 1630:


    Marsha extended an invitation for Christina to visit, hoping it would create more opportunities for her son to grow close to her — but Christina declined outright, leaving Marsha quietly seething. Establishing a marital tie with the Jones family would bring enormous leverage to the Wades, and in Marsha’s view, it made no difference whether it was her son or her daughter who married in — the benefit would be identical. What she hadn’t expected was for Christina to be so unreceptive and refuse the offer on the spot.


    “You and my daughter are nearly the same age, so I’m sure you’d have plenty inmon,” Marsha said with a courteous smile.


    Before Christina could answer, a voice rang out nearby.


    “Bain!” La Wade called out, her voice bright, crisp, and brimming with excitement.


    Christina noticed the shift in Bain’s expression — his brows drawing together slightly, a sh of irritation crossing his face. She remembered his reaction back at thepany when the Wade family hade up; he hadn’t looked pleased then either. Perhaps La was the source of that displeasure.


    Bain cast La a brief nce before turning back to Christina, his expression softening at once. “Bonnie, are you hungry? Would you like me to get you something to eat?”


    It was the first time La had ever seen Bain treat anyone with such visible tenderness. Even knowing Christina was his sister, jealousy surged through her.


    “So this is your sister, Bonnie!” La walked over and eximed, “Bonnie, you’re really beautiful!”


    Christina, unused to such overwhelming enthusiasm, responded with a polite smile. “Thank you.”


    “Bonnie, this is my daughter, La. She’s only a year older than you, so I’m sure you’ll get along well,” Marsha said warmly. “Some other day, let La and her brother take you out and show you around.”


    Christina returned the smile and greeted her courteously. “Hello, La.”


    “Bonnie, I brought something for you.” La handed her a gift bag. “They’re gemstone earrings. I hope they suit your taste.”


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    “Thank you,” Christina said as she epted it.


    “Your hands are so soft, Bonnie,” La said, settling beside her and taking her hands. “Let’s go out tonight.”


    Bain’s brows tightened slightly, as though he were about to decline on Christina’s behalf — but then he heard her speak first.


    “Alright,” Christina said.


    “We will be family sooner orter,” La added with a smile.


    A shadow crossed Bain’s face, the crease between his brows cutting deeper. The Jones family had never once considered binding themselves to the Wades through marriage, and none of the three Jones brothers harbored any romantic interest in La. Still, the Wade family persisted in forcing the idea, with Bain and La paired most aggressively.


    Watching La focus so intently on Christina gave Marsha a quiet sense of relief. She was confident that once her son appeared, Christina would be captivated by him. He was striking in appearance, solidly built, born into prominence, and the Wade family’s sole male heir — women from elite circles would vie for his attention. Marsha believed that Christina, having been raised away from wealth and only recently returned to the Jones family, stood to gain far more by marrying her son. After all, the Jones family fortune would eventually pass to the three brothers, not Christina. And if the Jones family truly cared about her, they would naturally embrace her son as one of their own after the marriage. A union between the two families would serve both sides well, ensuring the Jones family’s stability even if the Martels and Hewitts joined forces against them.


    Christina, for her part, found La’s eagerness unsettling. Unlike Chloe’s warmth, La’s enthusiasm carried an edge that put her on guard. Chloe’s kindness had been sincere and unguarded; La, beneath her bright smile, seemed far moreplicated than she let on.


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