?Chapter 1644:


    In the dining room, Marsha gestured toward the chair beside her with an inviting smile. “Bonnie, sit over here.”


    “Alright,” Christina answered quietly, easing herself down with a faint, reserved smile. She had already delivered the toxin to La’s arm. Now she only needed a natural moment to draw close to Marsha andplete the task without raising suspicion.AdChoicesADVERTISING


    The moment Christina took her seat, Marsha reached out and sped her hand, her smile gentle and reassuring. “Bonnie, rx and treat this ce like home. There’s no need to be tense.”


    “Okay,” Christina said, inclining her head softly. Her expression remained calm as the sharp edge of her nail grazed Marsha’s skin — barely a whisper of contact.


    Thepound she had perfected required nothing more than the lightest touch. It was a poison designed to unfold slowly: early tests revealed nothing, and the body showed no immediate reaction. In the middle stage, itching and pain became unbearable. In its final stage, flesh would break down and decay relentlessly, the torment dwarfing everything that came before. Few endured that far — most chose to end it themselves. That was why even seasoned professionals feared the name Noxin, a name synonymous with Christina’s hidden expertise. She possessed endless methods to steer someone toward death, then withhold it. Under her control, dying was a mercy she could grant or revoke at will. Any sincerity offered to her would be returned in kind. Any malice aimed her way would be met with equal measure.


    Just then, Zahir and Jaxen arrived.


    “Bonnie, I heard you were staying for dinner, so I rushed back,” Jaxen said, smiling as he imed the seat beside her.


    Christina answered with an even smile, though a fleeting chill passed through her gaze. The scented candle had been proof enough of the Wade family’s intentions.


    “Bonnie.” Without warning, Jaxen reached out and closed his hand around hers.


    Her smile didn’t falter, but her eyes hardened. As she drew her hand back, the sharpened edge of her nail traced his arm, delivering the dose with wless precision.


    “Sorry, Bonnie — I got a bit carried away,” Jaxen said, sensing her resistance and choosing not to press further.


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    “I understand,” Christina said with an easy smile. “I’m starting to feel hungry. Can we eat now?”


    “Of course,” Marsha said warmly, signaling for the food to be brought out.


    Before the table was fully set, Marsha picked up a piece of chicken and ced it directly onto Christina’s te.


    Christina’s brow tightened for a fraction of a second before she smiled softly. “Mrs. Wade, I… I’m not very fond of chicken.”


    Just the day before, at dinner with the Jones family, Florrie had clearly stated that Christina disliked chicken. Yet here, Marsha served it to her again. The intent was unmistakable. Christina had barely stepped through their door, and they were already testing herpliance. It was a familiar tactic — aware of a guest’s dislike, or even what might make them ufortable, certain hosts would insist they consume it anyway. A subtle power y, a warning shot before any real negotiation began. Yield once, and the demands would only grow, pressing limits inch by inch. The gentler and more amodating one appeared, the easier it became for others to wear them down.


    “That’s only because you haven’t eaten enough of it. You’ll adjust,” Marsha said pleasantly. As she spoke, she added several more pieces, stacking them into Christina’s te until it was heaped with chicken, the thick sticky sauce soaking through everything beneath and leaving her with no clear ce to begin.


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