?Chapter 1698:


    Gillian wondered if this man had been deliberately trying to drive a wedge between her and Christina — seeding doubt, turning one against the other. What a despicable scheme.


    Her animosity toward Alban intensified. Yet one detail nagged at her. Since Alban was capable of speaking Apreshian — anguage she herself didn’t understand — with Christina, why had he switched to Lionesspawian instead? If she hadn’t been able to follow the conversation, she would have had no chance to defend herself. Or had he wanted her to respond out loud, knowing that any exnation would only deepen Christina’s suspicion?


    How utterly contemptible.


    The longer Gillian dwelled on it, the hotter her temper burned. Her aversion toward Alban swelled until she felt so enraged she could have struck him — but she only simmered. Laying hands on someone was unthinkable, and she wouldn’t risk it. Still, this encounter left her with one firm resolution: to keep as much distance as possible from that man.


    She had to focus on what mattered. Serving the Jones family properly, earning a permanent role, holding onto this reliable and respectable position — so she could give her daughter a secure future.


    Alban had found Gillian’s outrage entertaining at first. But then he caught a sh of genuine revulsion in her gaze, and a faint, inexplicable ache pierced his chest. His eyebrows drew together slightly. He couldn’t understand why he had reacted that way — it was unlike him, especially where women were concerned.


    “Mr. Martel, that little attempt at stirring conflict was rather crude,” Christina said, stepping forward and slipping her arm through Gillian’s. “She is under my protection. I do not believe she is any spy you arranged.”


    Gillian had never expected such unconditional faith. Emotion flooded her instantly — her eyes burned, her striking emerald pupils shimmering with unshed tears. Aside from her parents and her child, scarcely anyone had ever trusted her sopletely. Christina was the first to extend such belief, and the first to save both her and her daughter. To Gillian, Christina resembled a divine presence who had pulled her back from the edge of death, granting her precious time with her child and the chance to watch her grow. She would dly devote her entire life to serving her, because Christina deserved nothing less than unwavering loyalty.


    “Your assurance is admirable,” Alban remarked, lifting his ss. “Cheers.”


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    Christina nced briefly at the raised ss, said nothing, and touched her own to his. Both of them drank with effortlessposure.


    “I’ll take my leave,” Alban said, a faint curve on his lips.


    Christina watched him go with a cool expression, but she didn’t miss the deliberate nce he sent Gillian’s way as he turned. She was certain it had been intentional — onest attempt to nt a seed of doubt. It would not seed.


    Gillian red at his retreating figure, still boiling. When she turned back and met Christina’s warm smile, she rushed to exin. “I truly have nothing to do with him. I don’t even know who he is.”


    “Don’t worry. I trust you,” Christina said gently.


    Still unsettled, Gillian asked carefully, “Do you really believe me?” This position meant everything to her. She couldn’t afford to lose it.


    “Yes,” Christina replied, slowly rotating her wine ss, her voice steady andposed. “But anyone who betrays me will face consequences beyond imagination.”


    “I understand. I would never betray you,” Gillian answered without hesitation. Only a fool would betray someone who had shown her such generosity — someone who had be her savior. If the operation seeded, her very life belonged to Christina. A debt like that could never be repaid in a single lifetime.


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