?Chapter 556:


    A faint, cruel smile yed on Ynda’s face, her eyes glinting with barely veiled malice.


    “By the way, Brendon,” Ynda said sweetly, “my parents wanted to know when your dad’s returning. He ising to our engagement party, right?”


    “I told him. It’s up to him whether he shows or not,” Brendon replied, his brows drawing together slightly. Thest thing he wanted was another run-in with his father. His old man was erratic, always trying to muscle his grandmother out of thepany. If someone like that took the reins at the Dawson Group, it would be a disaster.


    Brendon knew full well that if his grandmother were the one making the call, he would be the obvious sessor—smart, capable, and calcted.


    “Whatever you decide. I’ll support you,” Ynda said quickly, sensing the shift in his mood and choosing to go along with it.


    Still, her deference did nothing to lighten Brendon’s irritation. As the engagement party loomed closer, a heavy cloud of unease settled over him, refusing to lift. “I’m going to lie down,” he muttered, brushing off Ynda’s attempt at closeness and walking away, his shoulders tense.


    “Alright,” Ynda said softly, watching his retreating figure as her hands slowly curled into fists. She picked up on the shift in him, and a slow, creeping unease settled in her chest. With every passing day, he was bing less hers and more of a force she couldn’t contain.


    A few dayster, Chloe leaned forward from the back seat, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Today was such a st! What do you say we grab some stew?” From the passenger seat, Eloise smiled. “That sounds perfect.”


    Christina grinned, her hands steady on the wheel. “Then stew it is.”


    The car was filled with light chatter andughter as the three of them enjoyed the moment—until everything changed in an instant. Out of nowhere, a massive truck came barreling toward them, swerving violently and picking up speed. Its engine roared like a monster unleashed.


    People on the street froze for a second and then scattered in every direction. Screams rang out as bystanders rushed to get out of the way.


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    Chloe and Eloise sat frozen in ce, terror gripping them so tightly that it was as if their blood had turned to ice. Their minds went nk,pletely overwhelmed by the sheer panic of the moment. Mouths parted in shock, eyes wide with disbelief. They could only stare as their hearts thundered violently in their chests.


    In stark contrast, Christina remained eerily calm. Her expression was cold, her gaze sharp and unflinching. Not a flicker of panic crossed her face. Even as danger hurtled toward them, her heartbeat stayed steady—controlled. The more critical the moment, the moreposed she became. It was that very calmness that had carried her through the brutal trials of training camp. Her survival hadn’te from luck alone—it was a result of her sharp instincts, honed skill, and unwavering ability to stay level-headed in the face of crisis.


    With her mind razor-sharp, Christina acted without hesitation. Calmly but decisively, she mmed her foot on the elerator, swerving just in time to evade the oing truck.


    Bang! The massive vehicle, unable to stop, tore through the guardrail, veered wildly into the oppositene, and finally crashed headlong into a concrete wall. Screech! The shrill sound of tires skidding echoed through the chaos as Christina brought the car to a steady, controlled stop.


    They sat in stunned silence. They hade within a breath of death—one second slower, one moment’s hesitation, and it would have all been over.


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