Chapter 259:
The thought of Dylan finding out made Ralphy cringe. If Christina had reservations about Dylan because of him, he’d never live it down. “Look, Miss Jones, I know I’ve made a name for myself as a player, but—”
Christina didn’t let him finish. Her palm lifted to stop him mid-sentence. “I know you’ve got the whole bad-boy vibe going, but you’re still a virgin,” she said, her tone full of certainty.
Mortification crept over Ralphy, and the tips of his ears turned a deep shade of red. How the heck did Christina know that? It was downright spooky.
For as long as he could remember, his family had painted him as a playboy sowing his wild oats. Behind the scenes, though, he played along for appearances but never actually jumped into anything serious. Right now, being called out by Christina made his cheeks burn with embarrassment. The real question was how Christina, who barely knew him, had nailed something so private. “How… How did you even know that?” Ralphy asked, trying to play it cool but failing. The second he asked, he regretted it. He’d just given himself away. Backpedaling, he added, “Honestly, you’re mistaken. I’m not what you think.”
Christina shot him a knowing smile. “You can’t fool me. I have a knack for reading people. Guess it’s my vet instincts.”
“Well, that’s quite something.” Catching himself, Ralphy paused. “Wait, what? You’re a vet? How does that explain anything? Are you kidding me?”
Her grin widened. “Yeah. I was just pulling your leg. Didn’t expect you to give yourself up so fast. Look, I know you and Dylan are straight shooters. Relax.” There was no way she would reveal her discreet identity as King. Plus, even if she dropped the news, nobody would buy it anyway.
Ralphy exhaled, shoulders relaxing. “Knew you were messing around! But if it clears Dylan’s name, I’m cool with it.”
Just now, Ralphy was really rattled. If Christina had figured out something that private, he wondered what else she’d pick up on.
Christina gestured toward the hall. “Let’s get going. The party’s about to kick off.”
Ready to move on, Ralphy nodded and followed her lead, grateful to leave that awkward exchange behind.
Omar stepped into the hall, his arm linked with his wife, as they kicked off the banquet. They introduced their long-lost daughter to the guests present.
Instead of stopping there, Vanessa Hubbard, Omar’s wife, turned the spotlight to a grand display: a collection of birthday gifts she’d prepared for Eloise, marking every year from infancy through adulthood. She insisted on placing each one directly in Eloise’s hands.
Holding up the first gift, Vanessa announced, “This was meant for my daughter on the day she was born—twenty percent of the Hubbard Group shares.” A collective gasp echoed around the room as the guests took in the announcement. Even Elliott, known as the Hubbard heir, had only managed to secure ten percent of those coveted shares. It was clear—Eloise had always been destined to be cherished, receiving a fortune the moment she came into the world.
Vanessa continued, picking up the next keepsake. “When Eloise turned a month old, I set aside a manor at Estates for her. And for her first birthday…” Every milestone came with a new present, each one handed over personally by Vanessa.
Tears sparkled in Vanessa’s eyes as her voice trembled, while the rest of the Hubbard family looked just as emotional.
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