?Chapter 1675:


    Christina flicked an annoyed nce at Jaxen. “You frightened her. Go sit down.”


    “Bonnie, that wasn’t my intention,” Jaxen said quickly. Even though irritation burned in him because of the child, he swallowed his pride and apologized.


    This troublesome little girl was turning Christina against him, and that alone made her intolerable in his eyes.


    “I know, but give her some distance. She’s afraid of you,” Christina replied gently.


    “Alright.” Jaxen turned away and returned to his seat, resentment churning in his chest.


    This child was an obstacle standing between him and Christina. Sooner orter, he would have to remove her.


    “She’s ridiculously delicate. Jaxen barely brushed her, and she’s already wailing like that,” Marsha scoffed, herugh carefully calibrated to sound dismissive.


    Christina heard the remark and let a faint smile curve her lips, lifting calm eyes to Marsha.


    “Mrs. Wade, she’s recovering from a head injury and isn’t fully stable. Why would you take offense at a child? If anything, the one overreacting here seems to be you.”


    Being called out so directly, and in front of everyone, nearly cracked Marsha’sposure.


    “Bonnie, you misunderstood,” Marsha said quickly. “I didn’t mean it that way. I was only teasing.” Her smile stayed stered in ce, though her teeth were clenched behind it.


    Just who did Christina think she was, daring to speak to her like this? Once Christina became her daughter-inw, she would make sure the woman learned exactly how to behave.


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    “I was teasing as well, Mrs. Wade,” Christina answered sweetly, her smile wless. “Don’t read too much into it, or you’ll only prove my point.”


    Marsha’s expression stiffened, her fingers curling tightly beneath the table. This was no ident. Christina wasn’t nearly as meek as she pretended to be.


    It was uneptable — Christina daring to show this level of disrespect toward her future mother-inw, and all for the sake of a little girl who had appeared out of nowhere. She resolved that once Christina married Jaxen, she would personally correct her attitude.


    “Alright, let’s eat while the food is hot,” Florrie said warmly, stepping in to ease the tension.


    The Wade family followed along with strained smiles, displeasure simmering just beneath the surface. Christina had openly embarrassed Marsha, and the Jones family hadn’t intervened at all. They were indulging her far too much. She had only just returned, and already she dared mock someone she shouldn’t have — clearly emboldened by the family’s protection.


    After soothing the child, Christina lifted a piece of crisp lobster to the girl’s lips. Hershes were still damp, but she obediently opened her mouth.


    “Does it taste good?” Christina asked softly.


    The child tilted her head, then nodded, eyes fixed on the food. She clearly liked it.


    Christina fed her another bite, watching with quiet contentment. For a brief moment, she imagined a future where she and Dn had a daughter of their own, and her chest warmed at the thought. She had only been in Lionesspaw a handful of days, yet she already found herself missing him.


    Elliott noticed that Christina hadn’t touched her own meal, fully absorbed in caring for the child, and concern flickered across his face. He picked up the serving tongs and ced a portion of crispy ribs — her favorite — onto her te.


    “You should eat too, not just look after her,” he said gently.


    “Thanks.” Christina smiled, lifted a rib, and bit into it. The crackling skin gave way to tender meat, rich and savory, the vor blooming across her tongue. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until that first bite awakened her appetite.


    “And here’s the crab you like.” Elliott deftly cracked the shell and set the white meat onto her te.


    “That’s a lot of crab. It smells incredible,” Christina said, already savoring it.


    Across the table, the Wade family watched the quiet familiarity between them, immediately sensing the shift. This man was far too attentive — and to them, it was obvious. He wasn’t simply being kind. He was setting his sights on the Jones family itself.


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