Christina’s POV

"Haven’t you heard? I told you, my mom and Daniel left Highrise City with the old man the day after your dad came to see him. They’re on a cruise, supposedly a world tour. No idea when they’ll be back."

"They didn’t think to take you with them?" I asked.

Niall shrugged. "What would be the point? Franklin knows I won’t give him money. He wouldn’t bother coming after me. Besides, he’s got nothing on me."

In other words, if I wanted information about my father, Niall was the only person I could work with.

Either him, or my mother, Caroline.

I picked the lesser of two evils.

"What’s the favor?" I asked, bracing myself for whatever ridiculous request was coming.

"Come with me," Niall said with smirk.

"Where to?"

"You’ll see soon enough." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

When I didn’t move, he added, "What, you don’t trust me enough to get in the car?"

I sent a quick text to Ysolde, apologizing for cancelling dinner, and then got in. Whatever this was, I needed that recording.

Niall took me to a styling salon. First, they did my hair, then applied meticulous makeup, and finally helped me into an exquisite evening gown.

"You look stunning," Niall gazed at me, clearly spellbound.

"Let’s go," I said flatly, heading for the door without acknowledging the compliment. I wasn’t here to boost his ego.

I knew getting me all dressed up could only mean one thing: he was taking me to a function. I just hadn’t expected it to be a private viewing party for some of the most spectacular jewelry I’d ever seen.

The display cases glittered under brilliant chandeliers, though not as dazzlingly as the precious jewels held within them.

My attention was immediately captured by the central display, and for a moment, I forgot all about Niall and the party.

A flawless ruby hung in a platinum setting—not the usual deep red, but rare pigeon’s blood color that seemed to glow. The note said it was 250 carats, sold at auction for a record price.

The platinum was shaped like a serpent, covered in tiny sapphires that shifted from blue to violet like moving scales. The serpent’s head was a large pear-cut emerald.

"I knew you’d like it," Niall said, looking smug.

I pulled myself away from my near-reverent study of the incredible piece and looked at Niall.

I stopped myself from thanking him for bringing me; after all, I’d only come because he’d blackmailed me, and I didn’t want him to think I was softening.

But deep down, I was grateful he’d brought me here. Before Hudson, jewelry had been my one true passion in life.

"Who owns this?" I asked, my fingers itching to sketch the design.

Niall told me a name that meant nothing to me.

"He’s a wealthy old man with a serious collecting habit. Loves all sorts of rare things, and loves showing them off even more. He hosts these viewing parties pretty regularly."

I looked back at the ruby choker. If I owned something like that, I’d want to show it off every single day. The craftmanship was exquisite—whoever designed this was a master.

"Christina."

I turned, surprised to see Hudson there. My stomach dropped to my toes.

Just last night, I’d refused to accompany him to a function. And now, here I was, showing up with another man—my ex-fiancé, no less. The situation was... well, to say it was awkward would be putting it mildly.

"I didn’t know this was the function you had in mind," I groped for anything to say, feeling like the world’s biggest hypocrite.

Hudson said nothing, his eyes boring straight into mine.

Just then, someone else arrived. "Christina!"

"Naomi," I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good to see you."

"A friend of yours?" Niall asked, half-smiling as he gazed at me.

"Yes, a good friend. Naomi Fenty, Ryan Fenty’s better half," I introduced.

Niall extended his hand amiably. "Lovely to meet you. I’m a friend of Christina’s."

"Ex-friend," I clarified immediately. "Actually, ex-everything."

Niall looked at me, his expression genuinely wounded. "I’d hoped we could still be good friends, even after everything."

"What ever gave you that idea?" I said. "We aren’t even casual friends."

At best, we were temporary allies until he gave me that damn recording.

"Not even casual friends? Then why are you here as his date?"

The sharp, mocking voice could only belong to Genevieve.

I should’ve expected her here. The woman was like a bad penny, always turning up at the worst possible moment.

I glanced at Hudson, wondering if Genevieve was his date for the evening.

"So you turned Hudson down just so you could be some other man’s plus-one? I wonder how your mate feels about that." Genevieve’s smile was all poisoned honey.

"Genevieve, will you just shut up?" Naomi hissed.

Hudson just watched me coldly. He didn’t tell Genevieve to stop. He didn’t say a word in my defense.

Right.

Some things never changed. He was still protecting her.

"Niall, let’s go. I’m hungry." I was done with this situation.

Niall shot a triumphant glance at Hudson before turning to follow me.

Behind us, I could still hear Genevieve pressing on. "Hudson, are you really going to just take that from your Luna?"

"Genevieve, will you please just shut the hell up?" Naomi sounded exasperated.

"I’m only stating facts," Genevieve retorted.

I didn’t catch the rest. I didn’t want to.

I found a quiet spot to sit down, and Niall went to fetch me some food.

But before he could return, Hudson was suddenly beside me, pulling me to my feet. His hand was firm around my arm, his touch sending electricity through me.

"You’re coming with me," he growled.

"What are you doing?" I glared at him. "I don’t want to leave. If you have something to say, say it right here."

"Don’t you owe me an explanation for why you’re here with him?"

"And what about you? Care to explain why you were with Genevieve here? And why you keep protecting her, over and over?"

Hudson looked at me as though I was being unreasonable. "Do we have to do this now?"

"Do what, exactly?"

"Have this conversation."

"Why not? The ballroom full of strangers seems like the perfect place for a marital spat. Very on-brand for us."

"Fine. I don’t like you spending time with Niall."

"Well, I don’t like you spending time with Genevieve."

"I’ll do my best not to see her from now on," Hudson said without hesitation.