Chapter 1818:


    “Of course,” Christina said, watching her with quiet amusement. “But first, I want you to see something.”


    “See what?” Irene went still, caught off guard.


    Christina smiled and gestured ahead. “Over there. The performance is about to begin.”


    Irene looked in the direction Christina had indicated and saw members of the Wade and Hewitt families being restrained. Before her mind could catch up, armed police flooded the room.


    “On the ground — now!”


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    Panic swept through the guests instantly. People dropped where they stood, hands pressed over their heads. Dazed and unsteady, Irene sank down with the rest.


    Her gaze cut to Christina, who remained upright and perfectly still.


    Irene nearly shouted at her to get down — then something darker surfaced. A part of her hoped Christina would stay standing long enough to be shot. The moment that thought formed, she looked up and found Christina watching her with faint amusement. With unhurriedposure, Christina slowly lowered herself into a crouch.


    Irene’s stomach dropped. Why was she kneeling? She was supposed to stay defiant, stand her ground, and face the consequences.


    “Enjoying the view?” Christina said softly, lips curved. “Quite a spectacle, isn’t it?”


    The realization hit Irene like a blow. Her eyes went wide. “It was you. You arranged all of this?”


    How was that possible? These were armed officers — they answered to official authority, not to some guest at an engagement party. How could Christina have orchestrated this?


    “Wondering how I managed it?” Christina asked, a quietugh escaping her as one brow arched.


    Irene said nothing, jaw locked tight. She felt like a fool — outmaneuvered from the very beginning without ever knowing it.


    “It isn’tplicated,” Christina continued, her tone easy and unhurried. “I gathered more than enough evidence of their crimes. The charges are severe enough to ensure they never walk free.”


    The color drained from Irene’s face. “That’s impossible. How could you collect evidence strong enough to destroy them this quickly? You’re connected to the Jones family, but even they wouldn’t allow this level of disruption — or risk their rtionship with the Wade family — for your sake alone. Who are you, really?”


    Irene had never known that Christina was the Jones family’s own daughter. Violette had known — and had said nothing.


    “My, my,” Christina replied, still smiling. “So Violette never told you.”


    “Told me what?” Irene’s face went a shade paler.


    “I’ll exin it simply,” Christina said, her expressionposed. “I am the biological daughter of the Jones family. Violette knew this when she agreed to marry Jaxen. As for why she kept you in the dark — I think you understand that better than I do. To her, you were never a person. You were a tool. And tools get discarded.”


    Irene knew it, somewhere underneath everything. She still couldn’t ept it.


    “No. That’s not true. She wouldn’t do that to me — she swore she’d help me win Alban.”


    Christina’sugh was short and cold. “Should I feel sorry for your naivety, or simply marvel at it? She was using you from the start. Why would she ever let you rise above her? And if she genuinely had the power to make Alban fall for someone, she would have used it on herself long ago. Why would she hand that to you?”


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