?Chapter 798:

    Certain of her talent, Mariana refused to be rattled by empty theatrics. Arms folded, she arched a brow and smirked.

    “Your art? It’s hardly worth my attention. But if you want to make things interesting, I’ll match your wager.”

    Without warning, she raised a single elegant finger.

    “But I’m not done. I’ve got a condition of my own to add.”

    Mariana’s gaze finally found its mark — Chris.

    She bit her lower lip, determination shing in her eyes like a de drawn from its sheath.

    “If you lose, then from this day forward, stay away from anyone associated with the Cooper family.”

    She paused, letting the weight of her next words sink like stones into still water.

    “Even if they’re not officially part of the family — even if they were born outside of wedlock like Chris — you are not to go near them or have any kind of connection with them.”

    Her voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. It lingered there, a silent frost settling over the room.

    A hushed tension gripped the crowd. People nced at one another, bewilderment spreading like wildfire. Whispers drifted through the air, confusion etched on every face.

    But Mariana remainedposed. Without turning her head, she subtly nced at Kiley to gauge her reaction — still no visible shift. The corners of Mariana’s mouth lifted in quiet satisfaction.

    She had anticipated this. If she had bluntly forbidden Maia from approaching Chris, it would have sounded too personal, too obvious. It would have raised Kiley’s suspicions.

    Since udius hade up earlier in conversation with Kiley, Mariana could easily justify thister — iming she only wanted to shield udius from potential temptation.

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    And her emphasis on “even if they were born outside of wedlock”? That, too, had its purpose. She could argue that Chris needed the reminder: any indiscretion on his part would reflect poorly on the Cooper family. It would silence any doubters.

    Still, all of it was just window dressing.

    In truth, Mariana simply wanted to ensure that as long as she defeated Maia, this woman would stay away from Chris.

    Upon hearing Mariana’s stiption, Maia raised an eyebrow and cast a sidelong nce at Chris.

    Chris, for his part, only shrugged — he looked just as confused.

    Maia turned back, folded her arms, and tilted her head with a trace of amusement as she faced Mariana.

    “Alright, I ept. But if you lose, then no one from the…”

    “Cooper family is allowed to make things difficult for Chris again.”

    A wave of gasps rippled through the onlookers. No one had expected Maia to actually agree.

    “Is she out of her mind? She’s wagering her rtionship, her career, and her future in one move!”

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