Chapter 1772:


    She had looked into Henrik’s background carefully. There was nothing in it that pointed toward darker motivations. Every piece of evidence led to the same ce.


    The remaining color left Gillian’s face entirely. Her whole body began to tremble.


    She reached out and gripped Christina’s arm, her eyes red and flooding. “Miss Jones, I cannot lose Adide. She is everything to me — the only thing that matters.”


    The words broke apart in her throat. Before Christina could respond, Gillian sank to her knees on the floor, tears streaming freely, her voice barely holding together.


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    “Please help me. If Adide truly is a Martel by blood, they will take her from me. I won’t survive that. I won’t.”


    “The only family with any real standing against the Martels is the Jones family. Please, Miss Jones — I have nowhere else to turn. If you’re willing to help us, Adide and I will spend the rest of our lives finding a way to repay you.”


    Gillian understood, in the clearest and most honest part of herself, that Christina’s support was more reliable than anything else she could reach for.


    “Get up first,” Christina said, and reached out to help her to her feet. “Calm yourself. And keep your voice down — Adide has juste through surgery and she needs rest.”


    Gillian swallowed her sobs, though the tears continued to fall despite her efforts.


    “Miss Jones… I don’t know who else I can depend on. If this is too much, please forget I said anything. You’ve already done more for me than I had any right to expect, and I don’t want to pull you or your family into further trouble.”


    The fear of losing Adide had overtaken herpletely, and she had thrown herself at Christina without restraint. Now that the worst of the panic had ebbed slightly, she could see herself more clearly — and felt the shame of it. Christina owed her nothing. And asking her to stand against the Martels was not a small thing. It was the kind of request that could invite serious consequences for the Jones family.


    “Sit down,” Christina said, her voice low and steady. “Let me talk you through this.”


    Gillian lowered herself into the chair and pressed her hands to her face, trying to pull herself back together.


    “Don’t let fear drive you,” Christina said, taking her hand. “Breathe.”


    Gillian drew a slow, deliberate breath, then nodded. “I’m alright. I’m steadier now.”


    “My sense is that they’ve already conducted a paternity test,” Christina said, her tone quiet and matter-of-fact.


    Gillian’sposure wavered again. “Then what am I supposed to do?”


    “Don’t panic,” Christina said. “If their intention was to take Adide from you, they would have moved already. They wouldn’t be hovering around her like this.”


    The reassurance helped, but only so much. “What if they’re building closeness with her first — waiting until the moment is right?”


    “I don’t think that’s what this is. For now, we say nothing and let them show us what they intend to do next,” Christina replied.


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