Chapter 1819:


    She raised her wrist, letting the jade bracelet catch the light. “A bracelet worth ten million makes for very convincing bait. She drugged the wine, and you yed your part — trying to coax me into drinking it. That was the n, wasn’t it? It failed, as it happens. But even if it hadn’t, there was never an escape waiting for you. What you imagined as a shared victory was her victory alone, from start to finish. You believed yourself clever. Next to Violette, you were simply the pawn she needed.”


    The color drained from Irene’s face with every word, Christina’s blunt delivery leaving nothing open to interpretation. Her jaw locked tight, eyes zing with barely contained fury.


    Violette. That treacherous, calcting woman. How could she have done this?


    Irene had clung to the thin illusion that she was using Violette as adder into high society — but the truth was that she had been nothing more than a piece on Violette’s board from the very beginning.


    Christina’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, clearly savoring the unraveling before her. Once the arrests wereplete, Irene would almost certainly turn on Violette and expose everything she knew.


    “Where is Violette? Did she get away?” Irene snapped.


    “She’s already in custody,” Christina answered with easy certainty.


    “You’re sure?” Irene’s eyes narrowed.


    “Absolutely. None of you will slip through,” Christina replied, her voice calm and unshaken.


    A chill moved through Irene, a cold dread settling in her chest. “What exactly are you saying?”


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    Christina fixed her with a level stare. “You’ve stood at Violette’s side for years, involving yourself in her crimes. It’s only fitting that you answer for them together.”


    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Irene said, her eyes darting nervously. She refused to confess — Christina had to be bluffing, trying to rattle her into making a mistake.


    “I don’t need to go far back,” Christina said. “Just a few months ago, a woman had an altercation with the two of you, and you quietly arranged for her to be taken and tortured until she died. Am I wrong?”


    Her eyes were cold, filled with contempt.


    “That’s — that’s a lie! I didn’t —” Irene’s protest broke off as panic took over. Her gazended on a shattered wine bottle nearby. She lunged for it and turned on Christina with a desperate, feral look.


    She was finished either way. She had nothing left to lose.


    What happened next was over in an instant. Christina caught her wrist with effortless precision before the strike couldnd. A fraction of a secondter, the broken bottle was wrenched from Irene’s grip — and before Irene could cry out, Christina mped a hand over her mouth.


    The jagged ss drove into Irene’s thigh.


    Searing pain tore through her. She thrashed and tried to scream, but Christina’s palm held firm. When Irene continued to struggle, Christina seized her by the throat and subdued her without visible effort.


    “Violette probably never mentioned that I’m trained in self-defense,” Christina said quietly.


    Overwhelmed by pain and shock, Irene went limp.


    Christina released her and stepped back several paces. “Help — someone’s been hurt!” she called out, her voice rising with convincing rm.


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