Chapter 870:
If Christina ever decided to marry again one day, Bethel hoped she would find someone who genuinely cherished her.
“I don’t ask for much. I just want you to stay safe and well. I hope you live a long, healthy life—so you can always be by my side.” Christina dabbed at her tears and managed a small, tender smile.
“Alright, alright,” Bethel said with a light chuckle, patting her hand again. “I’ll be right here with you, always.”
Christina gently clasped Bethel’s hand in return and then reached over to carefully tidy her hair.
The passage of time had written itself into Bethel’s features, silvering her once ebony locks, but she still carried herself with grace and timeless elegance. Christina wished she could bottle this moment, hold it still, and never have to face the sorrow of parting.
Elsewhere, when Katie, Yolanda, and Brendon stepped into the living room, Joselyn wasted no time—she looked up from the couch and asked, “Did Bethel agree?”
“No,” Brendon muttered darkly, his face clouded with frustration.
“What?” Joselyn’s eyes flew open in disbelief. “Why is she being so stubborn? We’re not even asking for a favor—we’re offering to buy the painting!”
Grabbing Brendon’s arm, she asked pointedly, “Did you offer Christina extra money? I can’t believe she wouldn’t budge if you raised the price.”
“I did, but she flat-out refused. Said she wouldn’t sell it for any amount. If only the auction house had taken collateral at the time…” Brendon’s voice was tight with anger, the memory still a bitter pill to swallow.
According to what Christina had claimed, she didn’t even have the funds to compete back then. If Katie hadn’t thrown a fit and insisted on bidding on the statue, they might’ve walked away with the painting right then and there.
𝓐𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓬𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝗀ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗲𝗅𝗌﹒𝗰𝗼𝗺
Although Brendon had always indulged Katie, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering bitterness toward her because of that misstep.
But what Brendon didn’t realize was that Christina had played them masterfully. The whole story she spun after the auction was a ruse—meant to make them think they’d only just missed their chance. She wanted them to feel the sting of almost having it, only to come up empty-handed. Even if they’d mortgaged every last asset the Dawson family owned, they still wouldn’t have outbid her.
“Mom, Christina is completely out of line! Now she’s saying she wants to trade the painting for the entire Dawson Group! She’s extremely greedy!” Katie burst out.
“She’s insane! It’s just a painting, and she wants the entire Dawson Group in exchange? She must’ve lost her mind! We can easily find something else to gift Margot,” Joselyn snapped.
“But where are we going to find another painting on par with that one? And I think Christina plans on gifting it to Margot herself…” Yolanda spoke up hesitantly, her voice trailing off.
Joselyn let out a sharp scoff. “She’s nothing but a caregiver with no background or connections, and she has the nerve to dream of attending Margot’s birthday celebration!” She let out a dry, mocking laugh. “If she’s actually invited, I’ll eat my hat!”
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