Chapter 1859:


    Looking at the images felt like watching an entire life y out in quiet, frozen moments. Young Bethel smiled with an openness that made her beautiful in a way that was impossible to look away from. Karl stood at her side looking equally striking, his gaze turned toward her with unmistakable warmth and devotion. Even through the faded photographs, it was in that they had been deeply happy together. Bethel seemed to glow in every frame — the way a person glows when they are genuinely,pletely loved.


    Christina smiled softly and lingered over the pages.


    She found herself wondering whether she and Dn might someday look back on photographs of their own with the same quiet contentment. Sheughed under her breath at the thought and carefully tucked the album into her bag. Whatever the future held, she decided, she would be grateful as long as she and Dn had each other now. She made a small mental note to start taking more photographs with him — so that one day, when they were old, they would have their own album to look through.


    She was turning to leave when her phone buzzed unexpectedly.


    Robin.


    Since he was calling this particr number, she knew he wanted to speak to her other identity. Christinaposed herself, then answered in a low, measured voice — the unhurried, slightly rough tone she used for that persona.


    “When are you actually free?” Robin said, sounding harried. “It’s nearly impossible to arrange a drink with you. You’re always tied up with something.”


    “I have a great deal on at the moment,” Christina replied in that same even, deepened voice. “I’m not free right now.”


    Robin let out a long breath. “You keep hiding behind that excuse. Did you offend someely and now you’re too scared to be seen in public?”


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    “I haven’t done anything. I’m just buried in work — I barely have time to breathe, let alone make enemies,” Christina answered, keeping her voice light.


    “Then when can we meet? Pick a day. Let’s actually lock something in,” Robin pressed.


    “Later. We’ll sort something outter. I’m drowning right now. Call me if it’s urgent.” She ended the call before he could get another word in.


    Whenever he phoned to arrange drinks, she found a way to slip out of it. And yet he always came back, stubborn as ever, determined to make it happen. He had clearly grown tired of months with little to fill his time, and the idea of catching up over a drink or two had be something of a fixed point for him.


    Along with the photo album, Christina gathered several medicinal herbs she intended to prepare for Bethel. Many of the nts stored at the Jones estate had originallye from her. Some could be added straight to a soup, while others required careful blending and slow simmering under her direct supervision before they were safe to consume.


    Once everything was packed, she gave a few quiet instructions to the servants and the bodyguards, then headed out. The driver had been told to drop her near a stop first before going to collect Dn. Once she finished her errands, they woulde back for her and take her home.


    She hadn’t been on the street long when her phone buzzed in her hand.


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