?Chapter 1632:


    “Thanks,” Christina replied with an easy smile. She lifted a piece of chicken and bit into it, then noticed Marsha across the table already reaching over to offer her more.


    Christina had never cared much for chicken, but it made sense that Marsha wouldn’t know that, and it seemed impolite to say so.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    “Thank you,” Christina said again, maintaining her courteous smile.


    Just as Marsha reached out to add even more to her te, Florrie spoke up from the head of the table, her smile calm and warm. “Bonnie isn’t really a fan of chicken. Marsha, I had these prepared especially for you — I know how much you enjoy them.”


    Realizing her misstep, Marsha let out an embarrassedugh. “Oh… I’m sorry. I thought Bonnie liked them as well.”


    “That’s all right,” Florrie replied with a reassuring look. “Let’s have drinks.” She rose from her seat and raised her ss of red wine. One after another, everyone followed, lifting their sses and clinking them together. The momentary awkwardness dissolved, though a faint trace of difort lingered on Marsha’s face.


    After the meal, Jaxen suggested taking a stroll around the estate to help everyone digest. In truth, what he wanted was a chance to be alone with Christina, leaving La free to spend time with Bain.


    The Jones family, however, guarded Christina closely. No matter where she went, her three brothers were sure to follow. Jaxen had always known they would dote on the daughter they had only recently found again, but he hadn’t expected the extent of it. Perhaps it was because Beth had given birth to three sons before finally having a daughter, making Christina especially cherished as their only girl.


    It suddenly became clear to Jaxen why Marsha had often brought La to visit Beth and had even considered letting the Jones family raise her. If La had been taken in by them back then, she would be the one basking in all that affection now. But the Jones family had been resolute in their search for their lost daughter, refusing to entertain the idea of adopting another child. Their hearts were fixed solely on finding their own.


    More than ten years earlier, Zahir had encountered a lovely little girl at an orphanage — bright and endearing, effortlessly winning over everyone she met. He had initially intended to propose her adoption to the Jones family, but Hurley and Beth declined. They were steadfast in their belief that they would one day find their biological daughter, and they couldn’t bear the thought of another girl stepping into the ce of the child they had lost. Convinced they could never love an adopted child the same way they would their own flesh and blood, they chose not to adopt at all rather than risk making a child without blood ties feel lesser. In the end, Zahir and Marsha were forced to abandon the idea.


    Lost in his thoughts, Jaxen nearly stumbled and almost crashed into Christina. Bain grabbed him just in time, steadying him.


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    “Watch where you’re going, Jaxen,” Bain said with a sharp frown. “You’re a grown man, for God’s sake.”


    If Bain hadn’t yanked him back, Jaxen would have knocked straight into Christina. Bain wouldn’t have cared if Jaxen took a fall — but he would never allow Christina to be hurt because of it.


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