Chapter 1815:


    “The n fell apart. She refused both sses — and then she threw the wine on me.” Irene’s hands trembled as she clutched the soaked fabric of her dress.


    “You useless fool!” Violette raised her hand as if to strike her, then held back, rage burning in her eyes. “Everything was perfectly arranged. How could you fail at something so simple?” She had anticipated that Christina might hesitate — which was precisely why she had tampered with both sses. Was Christina truly sharp enough to suspect them both?


    “Did you give yourself away? Did she figure you out?”


    “I didn’t,” Irene said, faltering, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.


    She recounted everything in detail, resentment threaded through every word. “That’s exactly how it happened. I couldn’t tell whether she had sensed something, so I came to ask what to do next.”


    “Hopeless,” Violette snapped. “You can’t do anything right.”


    She forced herself to breathe steadily, her thoughts moving fast. She couldn’t be certain whether Christina had grown suspicious or simply acted on instinct.


    “Fine. Go and change immediately, then go back to her. Bring a gift and make it look sincere. I’ll have a server bring wine — this time, let her choose her own ss first.” Violette’s expression hardened. She would have multiple sses prepared, every one of themced. There was no way Christina could avoid them all.


    “What about me? What if the drug takes effect before I’m done?” Irene asked, her voice tightening with anxiety at the thought of losing control in public.


    “It won’t act that quickly,” Violette said tly, cutting her off.


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    Irene exhaled, then ventured carefully, “You want me to bring a gift — but where am I supposed to get one now?”


    It couldn’t be something cheap, or it wouldn’t move Christina at all — and Irene had no means of acquiring anything impressive on her own. She had no choice but to rely on Violette.


    Violette shot her a cold look, then reluctantly slid the jade bracelet from her own wrist and ced it in Irene’s hands. “That is worth ten million. She should be grateful.”


    She fixed Irene with a severe stare. “Do not fail again. If you want any chance with Alban, use your head. Opportunities like this don’te twice.”


    “Understood!” Irene gripped the bracelet tightly, her resolve snapping back into ce. “I won’t fail this time.”


    With a gift of that value in hand, she was certain Christina would lower her guard and drink without suspicion.


    “Go. Now. Don’t waste another second — and if you fail again, forget about Alban entirely.” The words were cruel, but not without truth. Alban was not someone easily reached. Without her connection to Violette, Irene would never have had a chance at all.


    “I’m going right now!” Irene slipped out of the lounge, her pulse quickening with renewed determination.


    She didn’t notice the look that followed her out.


    Violette watched her go, silent fury coiling beneath the surface. Any woman who dared want what was hers deserved nothing good. If she couldn’t have Alban, she would make certain no one else ever would either.


    Irene returned to find Christina standing exactly where she had left her, and the sight settled her nerves. If Christina had truly uncovered their scheme, she would never have waited there so calmly.


    Suppressing the flicker of excitement rising in her chest, Irene approached with the jade bracelet cradled carefully in both hands.


    “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” Irene said, her tone carefully contrite.


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