《Let Me Stay The Night》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Ugh¡­ It hurts¡­ Christina Steele felt as though her body had been hit by a truck when she woke up. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Upon turning over to the side, she saw the face of a handsome yet cold-looking man. Christina was so shocked that her heart nearly stopped beating on the spot. Her eyes widened, and her brain went nk for a good few seconds before she recalled what happened. Oh, that¡¯s right¡­ Someone drugged me at the graduation partyst night, and I identally entered this man¡¯s room while making my escape¡­ The man was still fast asleep. Christina clenched her teeth and endured the intense pain as she carefully got out of bed. The floor was a mess, and her clothes had been torn to pieces. She let out a helpless sigh as she put on the man¡¯s white shirt and quietly left the room. Nathaniel Hadley woke up shortly after Christina left the hotel. He narrowed his eyes as he nced about and saw that she was nowhere in sight. The messy state of the room and the bloodstain on the bedsheet were proof that he had slept with a woman. Nathaniel had be allergic to women ever since he got into an ident five years ago. Because no woman could even get close to him, people started spreading nasty rumors about him being unable to continue the family lineage. He felt that his encounter with that unknown womanst night was a miracle of science. Without any hesitation, he grabbed his phone and called his assistant. ¡°Come over right this instant.¡± His assistant, Sebastian Taggart, arrived in his hotel room shortly after. ¡°Check the footage from the surveince cameras. I want information on the woman who was in my roomst night,¡± Nathaniel ordered after getting dressed. ¡°Woman?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice grew cold as he asked, ¡°What? Is there a problem?¡± Sebastian froze in shock. But Mr. Hadley is allergic to women! He breaks out in a rash whenever he gets close to them! The three years of treatment overseas did nothing to help him, so how could he be sleeping with a woman immediately aftering back? Of course, Sebastian didn¡¯t dare doubt Nathaniel¡¯s words in the slightest. ¡°N-No problem at all!¡± He was about to head out and carry out his task when Nathaniel called out to him again, ¡°Tell the lawyer, Mr. Lozowski, toe to see me in my office.¡± It was almost nine by the time Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. She paused in her tracks when she saw the housekeepers cleaning the courtyard. Now that I¡¯ve spent the night outside, they¡¯re bound to gossip and spread rumors about me! While Christina was contemting if she should avoid them, the butler made his way over. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re back!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What happened to your clothes?¡± Christina tugged at the dress shirt she had on. ¡°Oh, I just bought it. It¡¯s thetest design. Does it look nice on me?¡± As long as I appear confident, the butler won¡¯t dare ask me too many questions! Although the dress shirt was a little big, it was just long enough to cover Christina¡¯s thighs, revealing only her slender calves. The butler simply nodded without saying anything further. Christina straightened up and made her way toward the second floor. The butler waited until she had entered her room before making his way to a quiet corner. After entering the bathroom inside the bedroom, Christina immersed herself in the bathtub to relieve her pain. ¡°Ugh! This makes me so mad!¡± she muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes and recalled what had happenedst night. I¡¯ll find out who drugged me, and I¡¯ll make that person pay for it! However, she changed her mind when she thought about the man she was in bed with. No, I can¡¯t afford to blow this out of proportion. My husband, whom I have never met despite being married to for three years now, will be returning from overseas soon. Things are going to get really problematic if he finds out that I¡¯ve been sleeping with other men and confronts my family about it. Christina was snapped out of her train of thought when the butler knocked on the door. ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°He¡¯s back?¡± Christina tensed up when she heard that. So soon? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 ¡°No, Mr. Hadley¡¯swyer is here. He wants to see you.¡± Awyer? Why would awyere over all of a sudden? Feeling curious and nervous, Christina slowly got dressed and made her way out of the bathroom. Thewyer, Leonardo Lozowski, was sitting on the couch in the living room. On the coffee table in front of him were two sets of documents and a fancy-looking pen. ¡°What brings you here all of a sudden, Mr. Lozowski?¡± Christina asked as she sat down on the couch next to his. Leonardo wasted no time with pleasantries and got straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Hadley wanted me to pass these documents to you,¡± he said, handing her one of the two folders on the coffee table. For some reason, Christina had a bad feeling about its contents. Sure enough, the document turned out to be a divorce agreement. ¡°A divorce agreement? He wants to divorce me?¡± Christina was shocked and confused by the sudden turn of events. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Leonardo nodded. ¡°Once you and Mr. Hadley are divorced, the Steele family will get to keep the fifty million aspensation.¡± ¡°Is he serious?¡± Christina still couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Three years ago, the Steele family had been on the brink of bankruptcy. Christina¡¯s stepmother, Miranda Weaver, and her heartless father had offered her up to the Hadley family in exchange for fifty million. She had assumed that she would have to spend at least five to eight years with the Hadley family before she would be free from her marriage, yet Nathaniel was divorcing her in less than three years. Leonardo nodded. ¡°Yes, he is. Mr. Hadley has already signed the divorce papers.¡± ¡°Why did he want to divorce me?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley did not state his reasons.¡± ¡°All right, then!¡± Christina turned to thest page of the divorce agreement and signed her name next to Nathaniel¡¯s. I don¡¯t know why Nathaniel wanted to divorce me immediately upon his return from overseas, but I don¡¯t need to find out! He¡¯s the one who asked for a divorce, so I might as well seize this opportunity to free myself from this marriage! My family won¡¯t be able to object to this divorce anyway! After Leonardo left, Christina was about to head upstairs and start packing her bags when a housekeeper came into the living room. ¡°Mrs. Hadley is here to see you,¡± said the housekeeper. Christina turned around upon hearing that, only to see Julia Hanks standing outside the front door. Despite being over the age of fifty, Julia still looked beautiful and elegant as she gracefully entered the house. After sitting down on the couch, Julia looked up at Christina and frowned in displeasure when she saw how happy she was. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯m happy because I¡¯m getting divorced from Nathaniel. Starting today, I will no longer be staying in this house,¡± Christina said and went up the stairs. Julia had always looked down on Christina due to her unimpressive family background, so she had insisted on Christina addressing her as ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡± since she married into the family. Naturally, Christina didn¡¯t take too kindly to her arrogant mother-inw either. Julia had shock written all over her face when she heard that. What? Nathaniel divorced her? Does that mean I came all the way here for nothing? Since I¡¯m already here, I have to do something to protect the Hadley family¡¯s reputation! ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Julia shouted sternly after taking a moment to regain herposure. ¡°I came here today to ask you if you¡¯ve been cheating on my son!¡± Christina froze and stared at Julia and the butler standing next to her. She broke into a faint smile as she replied, ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± She had never met Nathaniel before, so there was no rtionship to betray anyway. Besides, she was a victim in the situationst night. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You won¡¯t admit it, huh? Fine! Go search her bedroom!¡± Julia ordered the housekeepers, refusing to believe her words. The housekeeper quickly went upstairs and searched Christina¡¯s bedroom. A few minutester, they returned with the dress shirt that Christina had yet to put away. ¡°What is this?¡± Julia questioned with the dress shirt in her hand. ¡°A shirtdress that I just bought this morning,¡± Christina replied calmly. She was not about to tell anyone about that incident, as the Hadley family would surely destroy the Steele family if they found out what happened. Although she couldn¡¯t care less about the Steele family, she didn¡¯t want her mother to suffer along with them. Julia was starting to wonder if she had wrongly used Christina of cheating when she saw the confidence in her eyes. However, that dress shirt was clearly made for men, and there was a letter ¡°N¡± sewn in gold threads at the cor. It was clearly a luxurious piece of clothing. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Julia got even angrier when she noticed that. She walked up to Christina and pped her hard across the face, causing it to swell up on the spot. ¡°Still won¡¯t admit it, huh? I bet you cheated on my son and kept that toyboy of yours with our family¡¯s money!¡± Julia had never seen Christina as a member of the Hadley family to begin with. In fact, she had already picked out a candidate to marry Nathaniel, and she was going to kick Christina out the moment he was cured of his medical condition. Christina is nothing but a useless parasite! She doesn¡¯t deserve to be a part of the Hadley family! Christina did not expect Julia toe up with such a ridiculous theory from a dress shirt alone. She rubbed her swollen cheek as she stared at Julia defiantly. ¡°I¡¯ve been married into the Hadley family for three years now, and Nathaniel hasn¡¯t shown himself even once. Given how beautiful the foreign women are, I¡¯d say it¡¯s more likely that he¡¯s the one who¡¯s been cheating on me.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Unable to stand someone insulting her son, Julia raised her hand to p Christina again. This time, however, Christina caught her wrist with ease and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I allowed you to hit me once because you¡¯re an elder, but you shouldn¡¯t mistake my patience for weakness. Don¡¯t forget how I married into the Hadley family in the first ce. Fighting me will not benefit you at all.¡± Back then, she had been drugged and delivered to the Hadley family against her will. Had her mother not been at the mercy of the Steele family, Christina wouldn¡¯t have willingly married Nathaniel for three years just to rid him of those nasty rumors. Julia¡¯s eyes went wide with anger and disbelief. ¡°You dare threaten me?¡± For three years, she had assumed that Christina was harmless and submissive. That was why she felt shocked when Christina actually fought back. ¡°No, I¡¯m just giving you a gentle reminder.¡± With a smile on her face, Christina let go of Julia¡¯s wrist. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Christina went upstairs to pack her things and soon after left the house. Meanwhile, Sebastian knocked on the door of the CEO¡¯s office of Hadley Corporation and walked up to Nathaniel, who was sitting on the couch. ¡°We found out who she is, Mr. Hadley.¡± He handed Nathaniel a folder. ¡°Her name is Christina Steele. She was attending the graduation party when she got drugged and ended up in your room by mistake.¡± Sebastian knew right off the bat that Christina wasn¡¯t acting upon someone else¡¯s instructions. Nathaniel showed no reaction whatsoever as he nced at the photographs inside the folder. The lighting was dim, but the cameras managed to capture Christina¡¯s face rather clearly. She had exquisite facial features, a petite figure, and curves in all the right ces. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but recall the wild night he had with her yesterday. Noticing that Nathaniel was staring nkly at the photographs, Sebastian added cautiously, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that you need to know, Mr. Hadley.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Sebastian was so nervous that he nearly bit his tongue when he said, ¡°Christina is a married woman.¡± Having worked under Nathaniel for so many years, he knew full well that it was a miracle to encounter a woman who didn¡¯t trigger his allergy. However, he also knew that Nathaniel couldn¡¯t stand being with women who belonged to other men. Sure enough, the look on Nathaniel¡¯s face turned gloomy instantly. Sebastian broke out in a cold sweat when he felt the temperature in the room drop rapidly. Buzz¡­ The silence in the room was broken when Sebastian received a call from Scenic Garden Manor. Sebastian instinctively nced at Nathaniel, who nodded in response. He quickly answered the phone, but the call onlysted about two seconds. Sebastian¡¯s face went pale as he turned to Nathaniel and said nervously, ¡°Mr. Hadley, the housekeeper said Mrs. Hadley went to Scenic Garden Manor and gave your wife a hard time. Mrs. Hadley said your wife cheated on you. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ¡°Mr. Hadley, do you wish to go home and check it out?¡± Sebastian asked, seeing that Nathaniel hadn¡¯t answered him for a while. ¡°No,¡± Nathaniel said in a clipped tone. She¡¯s just an inconsequential woman who is not worth my effort. At the same time, he threw the pile of documents in his hand to Sebastian with an impassive look on his face. ¡°Get rid of this.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± It was obvious to Sebastian that Nathaniel was not in a good mood, so he quickly left. Nathaniel shifted himself in his seat and sorted his thoughts before throwing himself into work. Knock, knock! Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley has signed the divorce papers.¡± It was Leonardo. He passed the signed divorce agreement to Nathaniel. Nathaniel was slightly stunned. Then, he recalled asking Leonardo to proceed with the divorce matters earlier in the morning. He snapped out of his thoughts and took the agreement from Leonardo. ¡°She didn¡¯t cause a scene?¡± ¡°No,¡± Leonardo replied. Julia was the one behind the marriage arrangement between Nathaniel and the Steele family. He had only agreed to the marriage because of one reason: to fulfill his sick grandmother¡¯s wish of seeing him married. Now that Grandma has recovered, I have no use for the woman anymore. Nathaniel had no impression of the woman who had been his wife for three years. He couldn¡¯t even remember her name. However, as a businessman, he did remember that the Steele family had profited fifty million out of the deal when they married off their daughter, not to mention the countless benefits that they had mooched off of the Hadley family. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Nathaniel had thought that the Steele family would make exorbitant demands during the divorce proceedings. Little did he expect how easily they agreed to the terms. Nathaniel flipped to thest page of the document. ¡°Christina Steele?¡± Her delicate signature caught his eye. ¡°Her name is Christina Steele?¡± Nathaniel lifted his head, raising a brow in mild confusion at Leonardo. ¡°Yes. Mrs. Hadley¡¯s name is Christina Steele,¡± Leonardo replied despite not understanding why Nathaniel had asked him that question. An unfathomable look filled Nathaniel¡¯s eyes after he got Leonardo¡¯s confirmation. At the same time, he recalled what Sebastian had said earlier. All of a sudden, disparate events came together to form a coherent narrative in his mind. ¡°Revoke the agreement,¡± Nathaniel ordered, his eyes narrowing slightly. Leonardo was taken aback. Before he could rify with Nathaniel, Nathaniel threw the documents to him, shot up from his seat, and headed toward the door. ¡°Sebastian!¡± Nathaniel yelled. The man was waiting right outside Nathaniel¡¯s door. He immediately pushed open the door. ¡°Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°Get the car. We¡¯re heading back to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sebastian didn¡¯t understand why Nathaniel had changed his mind, but he did as told. Christina went back to her dorm after leaving the Hadley residence. She was about to graduate from university soon. Her roommate was out for an internship, leaving Christina all alone in the dorm. However, she enjoyed the silence. As she leaned back on the couch to rest, her phone on the coffee table rang. Christina opened her eyes to nce at her phone. It was a call from the Steele residence. She didn¡¯t want to pick it up, knowing that the Steeles must be calling to question her about the divorce. However, her phone rang relentlessly. ¡°Hello.¡± Christina gave in and begrudgingly picked up the call with furrowed brows. ¡°Where are you? Get the hell back home right now!¡± Gideon Steele¡¯s voice boomed over the speaker. Christina could already picture her father seething with fury. She held the phone further from her ears and asked in a cold voice, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? How dare you ask that question? Don¡¯t you know what you¡¯ve done?¡± Gideon was so loud that Christina thought his voice was about to pierce her eardrum. ¡°I¡¯m going to give you an hour. Get the hell back home!¡± It was depressing that a father would curse at his own daughter to get her back home. However, Christina seemed to have gotten used to the harsh words. She rejected her father outright. ¡°I have a ss in the afternoon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap if you still care about your mother!¡± Gideon bellowed, then hung up the call right away. Christina¡¯s lips twitched as she watched her phone screen go dark. He only has that one trick up his sleeve, huh? Too bad it works all too well on me. Her mother was her Achilles heel. The glint in her eyes turned dim right then. For as long as Christina could remember, her mother, Sharon Zapler, had always been a selfless person who had devoted everything to the Steele family. However, her father had an affair at the height of his sess despite Sharon¡¯s sacrifices. When she was five years old, Gideon had brought Miranda home, along with their daughter, Emilia Steele. Sharon had chosen to endure Gideon¡¯s betrayal and divorced the man withoutpensation for the sake of Christina. However, her kindness andpromises had gotten her nowhere. Instead, she was exploited and tricked by Gideon and Miranda again and again. Three years ago, Sharon had fallen sick and had been admitted to the ICU, requiring arge sum of money for her medical treatment. Gideon and Miranda had seized the opportunity and deviously plotted for Christina to marry into the Hadley family, all for the fifty million betrothal gift that would save the failing business of the Steele family. Christina clenched her fists at the thought. The Steeles were akin to a pack of wolves, stopping at nothing to tear her apart and leave nothing but bones. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Right after Christina stepped into the Steele residence, Gideon¡¯s castigation rained down on her. ¡°You¡¯ve finally decided toe, huh?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me toe?¡± Christina retorted. As a father, Gideon had never felt Christina¡¯s respect or admiration for him. Infuriated by her words, Gideon hurled a cup at her viciously. The cup did not hit her but shattered into pieces right by her feet. A small shard flew out, leaving a cut on Christina¡¯s tender and fair hand, with crimson blood flowing out. As though she couldn¡¯t feel anything, Christina didn¡¯t even furrow her brows. Her tone was still impassive as ever as she said, ¡°Did you call me back home just to throw this tantrum? Now that you¡¯ve vented your anger, I¡¯m going to leave.¡± Then she turned around to leave without a hint of hesitation. ¡°Enough, Gideon. Don¡¯t get all worked up and forget the main thing,¡± Miranda interjected, having enjoyed the spectacle for long enough. ¡°Stand right there!¡± Gideon suppressed his fury, having been reminded of their main purpose of summoning Christina back home. Christina stopped in her tracks. ¡°I heard that Nathaniel has divorced you?¡± Christina turned around and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Her determined tone made Gideon¡¯s blood pressure soar. ¡°You insolent girl! Go right back to the Hadley residence right now! I don¡¯t care how you do it, but you¡¯re not leaving the Hadley family!¡± The Hadley family was a cash cow that the Steele family had to hold the reins of, for they knew they would be wiped out in Hallsbay if it weren¡¯t for the Hadley family. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that dumb to agree to step into a hellhole twice?¡± Christina found Gideon¡¯s orders amusing. ¡°Christina, you know that our family cannot survive without the Hadleys,¡± Miranda said, almost in a pleading tone. She had never liked Christina, but in the face of their interests, she knew her pride came second. ¡°What does that have to do with me? I¡¯m not a Steele,¡± Christina stated inly. Ever since Gideon betrayed her mother, she had decided to cut all ties with the Steele family. Seeing that Christina was unrelenting and seemed as if she couldn¡¯t care less about the Steele family, Miranda tugged at Gideon¡¯s sleeves and hinted at him with a look. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯m going to call and terminate the financial support for your mother¡¯s medical treatment,¡± Gideon said, finally resorting to attacking Christina¡¯s weakest point. Sharon had fallen ill a few years ago and required arge sum of money every day for her treatment. Gideon had repeatedly used her as leverage to coerce Christina into doing what he wanted. They knew for a fact that Christina could never afford Sharon¡¯s costly medical treatment, so the coercion had always worked like a charm. However, this time, Christina shrugged and raised a brow as she said, ¡°Who do you think Nathaniel is? A gullible nobody? Someone you guys can toy with repeatedly?¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Gideon¡¯s and Miranda¡¯s faces fell. The Hadleys had wanted Emilia as their daughter-inw. However, Miranda couldn¡¯t bear to marry her daughter to an ugly and allegedly gay man. She had drugged Christina and sent her over to the Hadleys instead. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Figure it out yourself,¡± Gideon insisted. Christina rolled her eyes inwardly. ¡°No can do. Nathaniel chased me out of the Hadley residence, so I can¡¯t ever go back there unless he personallyes over to take me.¡± Her heart leaped with joy as she said that, for she knew that Nathaniel would never show up at the Steele residence. However, her happiness was short-lived. The next moment, a housekeeper scurried into the living room, looking oddly nervous. ¡°Mr. Steele, Mrs. Steele, someone from the Hadley family is here.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°The Hadley family?¡± Christina, Gideon, and Miranda were equally stunned. They gaped at the housekeeper, who added, ¡°Mr. Nathaniel Hadley is here to escort Ms. Steele home.¡± ¡°Nathaniel Hadley?¡± Christina¡¯s mouth remained agape with shock as she stared at the housekeeper for confirmation. s, the housekeeper nodded in affirmation. Damn it! Christina cursed her chatty mouth for jinxing herself. The arranged marriage between the Steele and Hadley familiessted three years, but not a single Hadley had ever visited their home. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, the groom himself was at the Steeles¡¯ doorstep. Gideon and Miranda¡¯s shock turned to delight when they learned Nathaniel was there for Christina. Gideon said, ¡°Invite him in!¡± ¡°I¡¯m already here.¡± While Christina was still confused, a male voice drifted from outside. The speaker sported a rich baritone and sounded self-assured yet somewhat distant at the same time. A secondter, an extremely handsome man stepped into their lines of sight. Christina visibly stiffened when she met his gaze. The rumors had painted the Hadley family¡¯s heir to be a horribly disfigured man who stood no taller than one and a half meters. It could not be farther from the truth. He was so handsome it was impossible to tear one¡¯s eyes away from him. He wore a tailored suit that ttered his tall figure. In a couple of steps, he was right in front of Christina. Christina sputtered, ¡°Y-You¡¯re Nathaniel Hadley?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s unreal looks were only the tip of the iceberg. To her horror, she was starting to realize that he was the man from the hotel the night before. Something shed through his eyes. His cool gaze roved over Christina, and once he was satisfied that he had found the correct person, he replied, ¡°That¡¯s ¡®husband¡¯ for you.¡± His response knocked the breath out of Christina. Meanwhile, Miranda was on the verge of a breakdown. Isn¡¯t he supposed to be an ugly monster? The only person thrilled by Nathaniel¡¯s visit was Gideon, who was all smiles as he invited their guest into their home. ¡°Pleasee in, Mr. Hadley.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯m here to take Christina home,¡± Nathaniel replied coldly. What on earth is happening? Christina finally snapped out of her shock-induced trance and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we already divorced?¡± His actions perplexed her to no end. His gaze glinted dangerously before he uttered, ¡°The divorce agreement has been voided. You¡¯re still Mrs. Hadley.¡± Christina did a poor job of hiding her bewilderment. Still, with Gideon and Miranda hovering around, she had no choice but to follow Nathaniel into his car and leave for the Hadley residence. The silence in Nathaniel¡¯s Lincoln stretch limousine was suffocating. Once they were far from the Steele residence, Christina shouted, ¡°Stop the car!¡± The driver instinctively stepped on the brakes and parked the car at the side of the road. Christina promptly opened the door, ready to make her escape. Nathaniel mped his hand around her wrist with lightning speed and demanded, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Befuddled by his question, Christina replied matter-of-factly, ¡°Home!¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t arrived at the Hadley residence.¡± When Christina realized he was not joking, she arched a brow and challenged, ¡°You can¡¯t possibly think you can treat everyone like pawns just because you¡¯re a walking Adonis. Is this entertaining to you or something?¡± His behavior was infuriating. She hastily escaped his grasp and tried to dart out of the car. ¡°Yes,¡± Nathaniel replied to the grumpy woman beside him. After a slight pause, he pulled her into his arms rather effortlessly and pressed his lips beside her ear. ¡°Especiallyst night. That was very entertaining.¡± Scious scenes shed through Christina¡¯s mind at the mention ofst night. She blushed as red as a tomato. She gritted her teeth but failed to restrain herself. ¡°You psycho!¡± The driver held his breath in fear, stunned by her audacity. No one had ever scolded Nathaniel in his face. Nathaniel¡¯s expression hardly changed. He pulled Christina deeper into his embrace and ordered, ¡°Start the car!¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The car zoomed off despite Christina¡¯s protests and struggles. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 As the familiar sight of the entrance came into view, someone pulled open the door to the passenger seat. ¡°Get down.¡± Christina didn¡¯t have the slightest wish to return to Scenic Garden Manor, which had been nothing more than a cage to her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to,¡± she refused indifferently. She didn¡¯t want to be Mrs. Hadley, much less live at Nathaniel¡¯s mercy. Before she could react, Christina suddenly felt herself being lifted. Her soft body stuck close to his muscr chest. Christina¡¯s heart palpitated inexplicably as she sensed his body heat seeping through her skin. Nathaniel carried her into the house. The housekeeper, moving in their direction, was utterly shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe her eyes when she saw Nathaniel holding Christina, who had been chased out of the house, in his arms. After gently cing her on the couch, he held up her palm. The cut on her hand stimted her nerves, sending pain up her arm. ¡°Bring me the first-aid kit.¡± The housekeeper, who was in a daze, immediately hummed in acknowledgment after hearing Nathaniel¡¯s stern voice. She hastily retrieved the first-aid kit and ced it on the table. ¡°Should I do it, Mr. Hadley?¡± How can I let Mr. Hadley handle this sort of thing? ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± He wiped the back of Christina¡¯s hand with a cotton swab stained with aqueous iodine. ¡°Ouch! It hurts!¡± She feared physical pain the most. She wanted to retract her arm, but he grasped her hand tight. ¡°Be good. Bear with it.¡± He spoke tenderly as if he was coaxing a child. The stark contrast of a man, standing at approximately six feet tall, suddenly talking to her in such a gentle tone befuddled Christina. The sunlight shining on his face made his serious facial expression look unusually serene. After he was done bandaging her wound, he even blew at it lightly. His breath grazed her skin as if he was physically caressing her. Christina withdrew her arm and averted her gaze. ¡°Thank you. Can I go home now?¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Do you suffer from amnesia? This is your home.¡± Nathaniel seemed to have forgotten entirely about their divorce as if that had never happened. Christina was anxious, but she knew confronting him head-on wouldn¡¯t benefit her, so she thought communicating with him would be a better alternative. He has never shown me any concern after so many years of marriage. Is he doing this because he changed his mind after we slept together that night? ¡°We¡¯re already divorced. What you¡¯re doing now is uwful imprisonment!¡± Nathaniel pinched her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. He curled his lips into a smirk. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought you¡¯re knowledgeable in legal matters too?¡± Christina¡¯s face flushed red. She could sense he was being sarcastic. Nathaniel leaned very close to her, puffing his breaths on the tip of her nose. ¡°In that case, are we still considered a legally married couple if the divorce agreement is missing, and we¡¯ve yet to finalize the documents at the court?¡± He¡¯s as cunning as a fox! He forced me to sign the divorce papers, yet he¡¯s also the one going back on his words now. How can a naive girl like me match up against a sly devil like him? The phone in his pocket rang at that moment, shattering the ambiguous atmosphere between them. Nathaniel answered the call. Sebastian said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, there¡¯s an emergency meeting with the authorities from Hawen that requires your personal attention. I¡¯ve brought the car to the entrance of the house.¡± Nathaniel muttered a response and hung up the call. He let go of Christina and tidied her suit. Sensing he was about to leave, Christina began to devise an escape n in her mind. When Nathaniel reached the doorway, he deliberately halted in his tracks and instructed, ¡°Stand guard here and make sure she doesn¡¯t go anywhere.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± the bodyguards responded with a resounding voice. Christina felt her heart sink. Is he seriously locking me up? She hit the air in frustration while watching Nathaniel leave. Chapter 8 Meanwhile, inside the Hadley residence, two women were seated on avish imported couch. One of them was Julia, while the other was an elegant and fashionably dresseddy. An antique emerald bracelet was disyed on the table. Judging by the luster and color, one could easily tell that that piece of essory was crafted using the highest quality emerald. A bracelet like that was worth more than three million. Xandra Sullivan had made contact with multiple middlemen before sessfully purchasing the bracelet. She had deliberately brought that item to pay her respects to her future mother-inw. Julia wore a friendly smile as she said, ¡°You¡¯re so thoughtful, Xandra, unlike that disgraceful woman who only seemed capable of regarding others with a scowl. She acted as if the Hadley family had wronged her by having her marry my son!¡± She sized up Xandra admiringly. Xandra is the daughter of the owner of Sullivan Real Estate and the face of the socialites in this city. Her career has recently thrived, and she has sessfully upgraded her status to an A-list celebrity. She¡¯s beautiful and equipped with great etiquette. All of her excellent traits fulfilled the standards of the daughter-inw I have in mind. In contrast, Julia had been displeased since Christina married Nathaniel three years ago. Not only was Christina unpresentable, but Julia was also fearful she might suffer from embarrassment if others were to know about Christina¡¯s existence. If it weren¡¯t for the reporters¡¯ ardent publishing of the news in the past, causing their share price to plummet drastically, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t have agreed to resolve the matter via marriage. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, did you say Nathaniel got a divorce?¡± Xandra was excited upon learning that news. Nathaniel finally divorced that bumpkin. I¡¯ve waited so many years for this moment. Julia shed a meaningful grin, patted the back of Xandra¡¯s hand, and whispered, ¡°Not only did he get a divorce, but he also received treatment overseas and cured his illness. Nathaniel doesn¡¯t have any issues getting intimate with a woman now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Xandra¡¯s dimming hope had been rekindled. When she learned about Nathaniel¡¯s allergy toward women, she hadforted herself by thinking it would be a constion to have hispany even if she couldn¡¯t copte with him. However, after she heard from Julia about Nathaniel¡¯s secret marriage, she gave up the idea of being with him. Now that his body had recovered and he was single again, Xandra couldn¡¯t help but feel the gods were helping her. Julia could tell the thoughts going through Xandra¡¯s mind, so she suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t I call Nathaniel home so we can have a meal together? It¡¯s been so long since you twost met. You can seize this opportunity to catch up and improve your rtionship with him.¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Xandra grinned from ear to ear. Her heart fluttered when she imagined reuniting with the exceptionally handsome Nathaniel. Julia was about to dial Nathaniel¡¯s number in front of Xandra when the phone rang. She noticed that the iing call was thendline number of Scenic Garden Manor. Although she didn¡¯t live there, she had arranged numerous spies there to keep her updated. That way, she could receive news about Christina¡¯s condition immediately. She reckoned something urgent must¡¯ve happened since she was receiving a call from thendline number of Scenic Garden Manor. Julia ced the call on speaker. Subsequently, a panicky voice sounded. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley brought Ms. Christina back to Scenic Garden Manor. He even asked her to stay there and forbade her from going anywhere else. It seems that they don¡¯t n on divorcing.¡± ¡°What? How dare that damn girle back after signing the divorce papers? I¡¯m going to y her alive!¡± Julia bellowed furiously. She appeared scary as her eyes turned bloodshot. ¡°Calm down, Mrs. Hadley. Getting angry is bad for your health.¡± Xandra was unnerved. Still, she had to keep up herdylike image in front of Julia. Julia snorted before she hurried over to Scenic Garden Manor with a party. The housekeeper quickly opened the door when she noticed Julia had arrived. Julia entered the living room and shouted angrily, ¡°Christina, you shameless woman! Why are you still here?¡± Christina, wearing a white dress, was drawing in the living room. She was holding a brush with her slender fingers and was focused on her painting. ¡°Why am I here? You should ask your precious son that question.¡±This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Chapter 9 ¡°Christina, you¡¯re not Nathaniel¡¯s wife anymore, so get out!¡± Since Christina had signed the divorce papers, Julia couldn¡¯t see any reason why Christina would continue to stay and found it inappropriate for her to do so after the end of her marriage to Nathaniel. Seeing that Julia was infuriated, Xandra put on her good-guy act and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s bad for your health. There¡¯s no point in getting mad at an outsider.¡± She sounded as though she cared for Julia, but her real intention was to underline Christina¡¯s status as an outsider to the family so she could have Nathaniel all to herself. Yet, despite Julia¡¯s orders, none of the maids dared toy a finger on Christina, who was folding her arms before her chest and staring at the two women with her glistening eyes. Well, there¡¯s nothing you can do to me! Since no one dared to chase Christina out, Julia decided to do it herself. ¡°They may be scared of you, but I¡¯m not! I swear I¡¯m getting rid of you today.¡± It¡¯s so frustrating to see this unfaithful woman in my house. Despite being almost fifty, Julia was still strong enough to fight. Her image as the Hadley family¡¯s matriarch was thest thing on her mind. With one hand, she overturned all the paints before Christina, sending all the various colors flying and mixing into a ck mass that soiled Christina¡¯s white dress. If this had happened to Christina in the past, she would have just climbed upstairs in pathetic silence to get a change, but not anymore. She lifted the water for paint-cleaning and threw it forward without the slightest hesitation, soaking Julia and Xandra wet. When Xandra saw her dress tainted with dirty water, she gritted her teeth as she red at Christina with her eyes zing with fury. She would have pounced on Christina and ripped her to pieces if no one were there. Meanwhile, Julia¡¯s entire face was covered with pungent-smelling water, and her voice shook as she shouted, ¡°Christina Steele! You have no respect for your elders!¡± Christina looked up with her sharp eyes and asked coldly, ¡°It¡¯s not like you care for me. Why should I respect someone who doesn¡¯t even love me?¡± Over the years, Julia had only treated Christina worse than a maid. If Julia had been more respectful and polite when she talked to her, Christina might have put up with the humiliation earlier. However, Christina had learned her lesson¡ªkeeping quiet would only embolden the perpetrators. ¡°How dare you talk back to me? I-I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Julia¡¯s blood pressure shot up so much that she fell backward before she could even raise her hand. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you okay?¡± Xandra rushed over to hold Julia. ¡°Christina, what is it that you want? Do you want to kill her?¡± Pfft! You sure are a world-famous actress. You put on an act damn quickly. ¡°There are no cameras here, so just cut out,¡± Christina scoffed. Xandra was so agitated that she saw red. Still holding Julia, she dared not breathe a word and told herself not to overdo her act just in case Julia got tired of it. At that moment, the sound of a car engine could be heard outside. Nathaniel is back! Finally! Just wait till he sees for himself what Christina is capable of. He will chase her out. The sole fact that she hurt Mrs. Hadley was enough to turn her out. No man can tolerate a woman who hits his own mother. Mellow taps of footsteps echoed through the air as the atmosphere became tense until Nathaniel entered the house. He looked at the three women caught in a wretched state and furrowed his brows. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Seeing that she had someone to back her up now that her son had returned, Juliained, ¡°Nathaniel, Christina is impossible. She hit me! There will be no peace in the family as long as she stays here!¡±Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 When Nathaniel saw the women¡¯s smeared clothing, he figured they must have fought. Christina watched calmly as Nathaniel walked over to her and took a piece of tissue to wipe her face. He then turned to Julia and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to stay with her. You don¡¯t have toe to my house unless there¡¯s important business.¡± Julia was mortified. Since when are they that close? Although their mother-and-son rtionship was not as close as outsiders perceived, Nathaniel had never once confronted Julia so openly. A mere sentence from him was what it took to show how much his attitude toward Christina had changed. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Nathaniel. How have you been?¡± Xandra asked with an anticipative gaze in Nathaniel¡¯s direction although she dared not look the dashingly elegant man in the eye. They were that close to getting married years back. Ever since then, time had passed with Xandra living in resentment and thinking Christina had snatched Nathaniel away from her. Nathaniel did not respond to her. Instead, he ordered with a scowl on his face, ¡°Sebastian, send Mrs. Hadley off.¡± The air stood still at his words. The sweet smile on Xandra¡¯s face froze while the hand she had held out earlier hung in the air as if she had acted unnecessarily. She was green with envy as she took in Nathaniel¡¯s loving gesture toward Christina. What did that woman even do to win his heart? Stepping forward, Sebastian said politely, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Sullivan, this way, please.¡± The assistant¡¯s undisguised attempt to chase them out made the atmosphere seem exceptionally awkward, with Julia feeling that Nathaniel was drawing a clear line between them. Vexed and angry, Julia thought Nathaniel must have lost his mind because Christina had bewitched him. ¡°Nathaniel, don¡¯t fall for her innocent look. She¡¯s not as good as you think she is.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened as her lips curved into a smirk. Well, I can¡¯t wait to hear what lies you make up about me. All that while, Nathaniel was wiping away the paint on Christina with his gaze locked on her beautiful face as if he could hear nothing aside from Christina¡¯s voice. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Having been ignored again, Julia did not feel great. I bet he doesn¡¯t know how evil that woman is. He definitely won¡¯t keep her if he knows how slutty she is. Even if he has cured his allergy, he is still a clean freak. ¡°Nathaniel, here is a word of advice for you as your mother. That woman was at some hotel the night before you returned. She was even wearing that man¡¯s shirt when she came back!¡± Charged with a sense of justice, Julia condemned Christina in front of Nathaniel in hopes that thetter would chase Christina out of the Hadley family. To her, there was no way a sleazy woman like Christina could be worthy of his son. She believed that Nathaniel should marry a woman who could help expand the family¡¯s business so he could consolidate his position as the heir of the Hadley family. In that regard, Xandra was the best candidate, as she came from an established family and had loved Nathaniel for years. Everything will go back to its ce once I get rid of Christina. ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re an exceptional man yourself. Why did you even choose to be with a filthy woman like her?¡± Xandra asked with worry written all over her face. ¡°Christina, if you really love Nathaniel, you should let him go so he can marry someone more suited to him.¡± Like me¡­ Christina almost puked when she heard Xandra. Do you think you¡¯re still shooting at a set? Stop faking it. You¡¯re not the only one here who knows how to put on an act. With that in mind, Christina inched closer to Nathaniel and rested against his chest, enticing him with her beguiling gaze. ¡°Since I¡¯m a filthy woman, you should just find someone else.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but be amused by the woman in his arms as her sweet fragrance wafted into his nose. He grabbed her chin and said, ¡°Let me help you wash wherever it¡¯s filthy tonight.¡± His sentence conjured up inappropriate images in her mind. Christina flushed crimson. I was just saying¡­ He didn¡¯t have to be so cooperative! The two shamelessly disyed their affection for each other,pletely ignoring everyone present. Julia was so furious she almost fainted. Xandra quickly supported her and said, ¡°Nathaniel,e quick and take a look at your mother.¡± You better get off Nathaniel, you b*tch! Christina nced at the two. ¡°Since Mrs. Hadley still has the strength to curse at people, she must be all right. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m needed.¡± Then she purposely leaned in closer to Nathaniel. Julia shot a look at the housekeeper behind her. ¡°Nathaniel, I know you don¡¯t believe me, but I have evidence of this damn girl¡¯s infidelity!¡± That day, she had had someone hide the shirt Christina had worn just for this moment. She wanted to expose Christina personally. I want to see how she exins herself with concrete evidence! Christina propped her chin up, looking bored, as if she was waiting for a performance to start. What kind of trick are they going to pull now? The housekeeper brought out a white shirt andid it t on the coffee table. There was a faint red bloodstain on it. Everyone knew Christina was a virgin when she married into the Hadley family. ¡°Christina returned that day with messy hair and wearing this white shirt. There is also a bloodstain right here!¡± Julia¡¯s eyes had turned red from her being agitated. She red at Christina. ¡°I¡¯m not ndering you. Everyone in the residence saw what happened that day. Are you going to deny it?¡± It was not just her using Christina. Everyone had seen her that day. Christina nced at the shirt and blushed. If one didn¡¯t know the truth, one would have thought that her lies were about to be exposed and that she was embarrassed. Feigning surprised, Xandra eximed, ¡°How could you betray Nathaniel like this, Christina? Nathaniel is going to be very sad!¡± Christina rolled her eyes inwardly. Huh? Nathaniel didn¡¯t even say he was sad about it. What do you even know? Are you trying to make him lose his temper? Christina then red at Nathaniel. Is he not going to exin? Julia pointed at the door. ¡°Christina, get out of here now and never step foot in the Hadley residence again.¡± With that, she gave the bodyguards behind her a look, signaling them to take action. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°This shirt is mine!¡± Everyone, except for Christina, was stunned. This shirt belongs to the man Christina had an affair with. How could it be Nathaniel¡¯s? If that¡¯s the case, does that mean Christina wasn¡¯t involved with another man? She was only spending time with her husband? Julia couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to admit you have been cheated on, the truth is right in front of you. Can you not deceive yourself?¡± Nathaniel must have been deluded to utter such a lie. Xandra immediately chimed in, ¡°If the man was really you, why were you at the hotel, then?¡± Christina stared at the two clowns and sneered, ¡°What do you guys know? This is one of my and my husband¡¯s interests!¡± Xandra felt a pang in her heart. Does that mean Nathaniel has been with Christina since he was cured of his allergy?This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Julia stood rooted to the spot, utterly shocked. Nathaniel instructed, ¡°Sebastian, go upstairs and bring down one of my shirts for my mother so that she can take a good look at it!¡± Sebastian quickly went upstairs to get the shirt upon hearing his words. Julia and Xandra would have no choice but to believe once they saw it for themselves. Sebastian quickly returned with a shirt andid both shirts on the coffee table. Although there were some wrinkles on the shirt that Christina had worn, it was evident that it was Nathaniel¡¯s shirt when they saw that the right cors of both shirts were embroidered with the letter N in gold. Nathaniel¡¯s shirts were custom-made by Irushean tailors. Each shirt had the letter N embroidered on the right cor. Julia¡¯s face paled. She had no choice but to believe it with the truth lying before her eyes. Her blood pressure rose again, and she almost fainted. Sebastian hurriedly approached her and supported her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, shall I send you back?¡± Julia snorted coldly before letting Sebastian support her and leaving. Xandra had no rtion with the Hadley family to begin with. She was only acquainted with Julia, so she didn¡¯t have any reason to stay after thetter left. Soon, the sound of a car engine could be heard from the front yard. ¡°The audience has left. There¡¯s no need to continue the show.¡± Christina jumped out of Nathaniel¡¯s embrace like a squirrel. Nathaniel furrowed his brows. Was I just a tool for her to use to anger them? ¡°Get over here, Christina,¡± he said in a low voiceced with annoyance. Christina ignored him. They locked eyes for a moment before she quickly ran upstairs. Upon entering the master bedroom, she changed into a nightgown. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and someone enveloped her in his embrace from behind. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m changing!¡± Christina was in the process of wearing her nightgown, so Nathaniel could see her bare waist and legs. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, and his heartbeat and breathing elerated. ¡°It¡¯s not as if I haven¡¯t seen it before.¡± Nathaniel chuckled. He was dressed in a high-end suit. The ck vest entuated his waist, and his upright posture exuded a domineering aura. Christina pushed him away in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever mention what happened that night!¡± It was an ident to her, and she was determined not to let it affect her life. However, she didn¡¯t expect Nathaniel to be her biggest obstacle. Nathaniel held her chin and narrowed his eyes. ¡°If I can¡¯t mention it, then I¡¯ll let you relive it. No, I will create new memories with you!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened. She was lightly picked up and thrown on the bed. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel pinned her hands above her head and leaned in to admire her gorgeous facial features. She had a special scent. It was seductive and addicting. ¡°Are you insane? Let go of me!¡± If that night was an ident, then his forceful demeanor this night was deliberate. Christina refused to let him have his way, but she was like a little rabbit who couldn¡¯t fight against the big bad wolf. ¡°If I let you go, will you behave?¡± Nathaniel arched his brow. Christina was rendered speechless. Of course not! For some reason, Nathaniel felt an inexplicable urge to dote on her as he looked into her watery eyes and at her rosy cheeks. He leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Christina pushed him when she finally felt suffocated by the kiss. ¡°Enough, Nathaniel. Do you think this is fun? You can¡¯t just treat me like your wife when you feel like it and then ignore me for three years when you don¡¯t!¡± A woman¡¯s youth was precious, and she could not waste her time like this. She had important things to do and did not want to be tied down by him. ¡°Whatever happened in the past was an ident. Let¡¯s get to know each other again and stop talking about the divorce,¡± Nathaniel said in an authoritative tone. His expression suddenly became serious. Christina ced her hands on her waist and let out a snort, her displeasure evident in her bodynguage and expression. Nathaniel only found her adorable. He walked over and grabbed her hand gently. He had to appease her anger since he was the one who caused it. His tone softened as he said, ¡°Many women dream of being my wife, but you¡¯re the lucky one. You should cherish that.¡± Many women dreamed of sleeping with Nathaniel, but he made an exception for her alone, so shouldn¡¯t she treasure it? His coaxing tone still soundedmanding. Christina didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry when she looked at his prideful expression.Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°I¡¯m willing to let them take my position. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything gooding from this except starving to death!¡± Starving to death? Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened. Is sheining about being my wife? Christina noticed his puzzled expression as though he was saying she had wronged him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it true? I¡¯ve been married to you for so long and haven¡¯t received any money. Working outside for three thousand a month is better than being your wife!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression grew even colder. Working outside is better than being my wife? This is definitely the most insulting thing I¡¯ve ever heard in my life. He called Sebastian in with a phone call. As soon as Sebastian opened the door, he sensed that the atmosphere was rather tense. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Christina have any pocket money? Didn¡¯t you arrange this properly?¡± Nathaniel had never cared about his wife for the past three years, so Sebastian had been the one responsible for everything. He had no clue about this. ¡°Mr. Hadley, didn¡¯t you arrange for this? You said not to care about her except for household expenses,¡± Sebastian replied. Christina snorted upon hearing that. Look! I didn¡¯t wrong him! She had been living a frugal life for the past few years. She didn¡¯t even own decent gowns, as she was just an unnecessary ornament at home. Now that she had the chance to leave, how could she not take advantage of it? Nathaniel¡¯s face flushed in anger. ¡°All right. Get out of here.¡± Sebastian didn¡¯t dare to stay any longer and quickly left. The atmosphere only seemed to ease slightly when the two of them were left in the room. Nathaniel handed Christina a ck card. ¡°Buy whatever you want in the future. Buy the most expensive things. You don¡¯t need to live so frugally as my wife.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes lit up. It was her first time seeing this legendary ck card. All the words on the card were golden, and the card was seemingly glowing. I heard you need at least one billion to be able to apply for this card! Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Christina nced at the ck card in her hand. Since I don¡¯t want to have anything to do with Nathaniel, how can I take his card? She gritted her teeth and passed the card back to him. ¡°I don¡¯t want your money. You can take it back.¡± She felt slightly reluctant when she passed him back the card. Nathaniel looked at her. She wants to ept the card, but at the same time, she doesn¡¯t want to. She¡¯s really a little miser. He took a few strides with his long legs, closing the distance between them. He did not take the card but instead wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly in his embrace. His muscr chest was pressed against her. A strong, masculine scent instantly enveloped her. She could feel the warmth of the man¡¯s breath along the edge of her ear. Her heart began racing uncontrobly. Nathaniel had already asked Sebastian to gather Christina¡¯s information, which included her social activities and personal rtionships. At this moment, she was like a delicious meal trapped in the hands of a beast. She panicked when she felt Nathaniel¡¯s stare. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. An inexplicable glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly into a sly smile. ¡°Have you thought it through? If you leave me, how are you going to exin to the Steeles?¡± Immediately, Christina became alert. Her heart was beating so irregrly that her cheeks turned red. ¡°You!¡± How does he know about my rtionship with the Steeles? Hasn¡¯t he been uninterested in me for the past three years? Nathaniel lightly grazed his fingers over her face. She had a fair and smoothplexion. He tucked her stray hair behind her ear before resting them on her neck. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you. If you return, they may make things difficult for you or your mother¡­¡± Christina understood his intentions even though he didn¡¯t state them explicitly. Without Nathaniel as a shield against the Steeles, she would only be hurt deeply by them. However, Christina wondered how Nathaniel knew so much about her family affairs. The next second, realization dawned on her, and she was livid. ¡°You investigated me!¡± B*stard! So what if he¡¯s rich? That doesn¡¯t mean he can just pry into my personal affairs. Nathaniel revealed a half-smile, giving him a mysterious look. To Christina, his expression was nothing but mockery. She red at him. ¡°With so many women out there, why did you choose me as your wife? Can¡¯t you choose someone else?¡± There are countless women who are willing to throw themselves at him. Why can¡¯t he just let me go? Nathaniel looked determined as he replied, ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± She had said so much, yet he only needed three words topletely shut her up. There was no room for discussion. Christina felt defeated and remained silent. Nathaniel was satisfied upon seeing the woman in his arms falling silent. It meant that she had realized that the divorce would only bring her more harm than good. He took in her pouty expression and couldn¡¯t get mad at her. He patted her head andforted her awkwardly, ¡°Be good now. I¡¯ll help you find evidence and seek justice.¡± With his power and wealth, he could investigate a matter much faster than Christina could. Christina swatted his hand away. ¡°No, thank you!¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Christina had been hurt before, so she didn¡¯t trust anyone now. Naturally, this included Nathaniel. She gripped the ck card in her hand. I suppose this card is still useful if I need to put on a front when the situation calls for it. With the ck card in her hand, she left the room. Nathaniel wanted to call out to her and stop her from leaving, but the gorgeous figure had already gotten far away. After leaving Scenic Garden Manor, she took a taxi and went straight to her workce¡ªSeven Nights Bar. In order to give her mother a better life and not to get bullied constantly by the Steeles, Christina had been working hard to earn money all these years. Seven Nights Bar was a ce where the people from the upper-ss society get their entertainment. The furnishings were known to be the mostvish in the city, and the pay was naturally quite high. The commission rate was three times more than an ordinary bar. In the dressing room, Christina changed into a ck uniform and tied her hair into a high ponytail, her youthful and delicate appearance reflecting in the mirror. Under the light, her porcin-white skin looked as pure as the snow, and her watery eyes were calm. After getting changed, she left the dressing room and went to work. It was the third anniversary of the bar. The atmosphere was livelier than usual, and the ce was already crowded before it was nine o¡¯clock. To celebrate the anniversary, the bar manager hired the most famous DJ in the country. Not only that, but there were also other performances for the finale of that night. It was said that the manager had also invited the most well-known dance crew to perform, and there would also be a solo dance performed by the famous dancer, Peacock. There was obviously an increased number of customers that night. Christina was so busy that she didn¡¯t even have time to take a quick break. Just as she went to the dressing room to drink some water, the door was pushed open. With a panicked look on her face, Yasmine entered the room. Her expression changed when she saw Christina as if thetter was herst hope. ¡°Christina, you must help me tonight no matter what!¡± Christina was dumbfounded, her bright eyes filled with confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Yasmine?¡± Yasmine was extremely worried, and she couldn¡¯t waste any more time. ¡°This is urgent! Put on a mask and help me rece Peacock on stage!¡± Rece Peacock, the famous dancer? Christina immediately shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t! I just know some basics! How can I bepared to her? I¡¯ll be exposed as soon as I start dancing!¡± If Nathaniel finds out I performed a dance on stage, I¡¯ll definitely not live to see another day. Yasmine instantly waved her hands and exined, ¡°You¡¯re just recing her temporarily and performing a short dance. The audience won¡¯t be able to see you clearly since it¡¯s dark and the lights keep flickering.¡± Peacock had eaten something bad and had a stomach ache. She fainted and was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment. Christina looked troubled. ¡°I really can¡¯t¡­¡± Yasmine patted her chest and guaranteed that everything would be all right. ¡°She called and informed us just now she would be back as soon as she finished her IV drip. You just have to rece her for a short while until she returns. Everything will be fine. No one can recognize you when you have a mask on, anyway.¡± As Yasmine had always taken good care of her, Christina began to waver. Yasmine held Christina¡¯s hand and persuaded, ¡°If there isn¡¯t any performance, the guests will surely make a scene. Our boss will fire me if he finds out.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Yasmine was a single mother. It wasn¡¯t easy for a woman to raise her family alone. Seeing that they were both unfortunate people, Christina finally agreed after hesitating for a while. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll help you!¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Christina changed her clothes and wore a mask, only revealing her clear and bright eyes. Following the host¡¯s introduction on the stage, a loud and enthusiastic wave of cheers echoed in the bar. Everyone fixed their gazes in the same direction. On the raised stage tform, Christina¡¯s figure was rising slowly. She stood in the center of the stage, looking radiant and mesmerizing. The light shone behind her gorgeous figure, showcasing her smooth and plump curves. Even if she was just standing there quietly, her silhouette alone could cause the surrounding world to fade. Those sparkling and enchanting eyes were unforgettable, and her slender body was petite and beautiful. When the music sounded, Christina moved her body ording to muscle memory and performed a dance she had learned back then. A piece of fast-tempo music was ying in the background, but Christina performed a graceful ssical dance instead. The audience was used to watching all sorts of sexy dances, so they found the sudden change of style interesting. Christina¡¯s delicate figure was flexible. The people watching her couldn¡¯t take their eyes off her. After a while, the music stopped, and the host went on the stage. ¡°Next up, we have Peacock¡¯s solo dance stage. The starting bid is five thousand. Whoever bids the highest can enjoy Peacock¡¯s dance all to themselves. This is your only chance!¡± Christina looked across the audience below the stage. Suddenly, her eyes widened slightly as she fixed her gaze on a VIP table. She felt her heart clench. Isn¡¯t that Brayden, the person I¡¯ve been having aContent is ? by N?velDrama.Org. crush on for many years? Why is he here? Brayden Griffin was dressed in a white suit and had auburn hair. He was elegant and looked out of ce in the bar. Beside him sat a fashionably dressed woman who had long hair. She was none other than Christina¡¯s best friend, Freya Larson. While they were conversing, Freya deliberately leaned closer to Brayden, causing them to seem intimate. Just when Christina was still caught in a daze, her gaze met Freya¡¯s. In that instant, Freya recognized Christina. Freya sneered in her heart and she pretended to be shocked. ¡°Brayden, look. Doesn¡¯t the dancer look a lot like Christina?¡± Upon hearing a familiar name, Brayden raised his head and looked in the direction of the stage, his eyes meeting her clear, alluring ones. He was certain that she was Christina. ¡°What is Christina doing here?¡± she muttered in confusion. Taking in the way Brayden was looking at Christina, Freya could feel a surge of jealousy coursing through her. She clenched her fists and looked upset. Freya had a crush on Brayden, yet Brayden liked Christina instead. The reason Freya had invited Brayden to hang out at this bar was that she knew Christina worked as a server there. Freya just wanted to expose Christina for working at a nightclub to sabotage her image in Brayden¡¯s mind. After failing to set her upst time, I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s doing something so cheap this time! She¡¯s simply digging her own grave! With a frown on her face, Freya pretended to feel sorry for her best friend as she said, ¡°Why would Christina be a dancer at a bar? She¡¯s a good girl. Does she have no sense of self-respect?¡± Brayden merely stared at the slim figure while gritting his teeth. Seeing that he was silent, Freya added, ¡°Brayden, don¡¯t look down on Christina. I¡¯m sure she¡¯s just doing this because her family is going through a hard time.¡± Brayden was aware that Christina was the daughter of the Steele family. However, he wasn¡¯t clear about her rtionship with her family. Freya had caused a bigger misunderstanding instead of defending Christina. Brayden didn¡¯t listen to any of Freya¡¯s words. He picked up the sign on the table and raised it to bid with the others. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Christina clenched her fists, and she was a little unsettled under the mask. Seeing that Brayden waspeting with others and raising the bid, she assumed Brayden had certainly mistaken her for Peacock. She wanted to ask him to stop, but she wasn¡¯t in a position to do so, as she was still on stage. The bidding had gone from five thousand to over ten thousand. However, the audience had no intention of stopping, and they even started bidding over a million. Brayden was from a wealthy family, and he was known as the handsome, rich man on campus. However, hundreds of thousands were too high of a price, and he simply couldn¡¯t afford it. He felt anxious that the junior he liked would have to dance for another man. Seeing that Brayden was worried for Christina, Freya felt as if her heart had been stabbed by a dagger. ¡°Brayden, Christina volunteered to be a dancer. Even if you¡¯re worried about her, she won¡¯t care at all.¡± Brayden merely balled his fists, his facial muscles tense. As no one was raising the price, the host was about to end the auction when a cold and deep voice came from the crowd. ¡°Five million!¡± Everyone looked in the direction of the voice almost at the same time. Who is the generous man who will pay five million just for a dance? Under the dark lighting, the man stood there with his hands behind his back. He had chiseled facial features. His brows were dashing, and his tapered eyes were as deep as an abyss. He pursed his thin lips slightly as an elegant aura emanated from his body. At that moment, it was unlikely that anyone would bid a higher price than him. Nathaniel shed a faint smile as he became the big winner. He strode toward Christina. Seeing that Nathaniel was about to bring Christina away, Brayden was so agitated that he got up on the stage before Nathaniel without hesitation. He held Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°Come with me!¡± Christina felt a pain in her wrist. She couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brows. ¡°Brayden, let me exin¡ª¡± Before she could finish her sentence, her other hand was being held by Nathaniel, who had caught up with them. ¡°Let her go!¡± This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. The two men looked as if they couldn¡¯t tolerate each other and went into a stalemate. Nathaniel had the upper hand due to his height. They stared at each other intensely, and neither of them was willing to let go of Christina. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Christina had both her arms pulled apart on each side. She had never expected things to develop in such a strange direction. The scene on stage where two men were fighting over a woman sparked a debate among the audience. Freya watched the two handsome men fighting over Christina, and her jealousy intensified. She was gifted to the Hadley family by her own family like an object. She doesn¡¯t deserve to have two men fighting over her. Freya walked onto the stage and stared right into Christina¡¯s eyes with fury. Christina¡¯s pupils dted slightly. Is Freya here to stop the fight? Before Christina could speak, Freya walked toward her and reached for her mask, pulling the mask off her face. The crowd gasped in shock and almost everyone saw the woman behind the mask. Her face was delicate, and her shimmering eyes were bright and enchanting. The crowd had never seen such an alluring beauty before. Taking in the flustered look on Christina¡¯s face, Freya curled her lips into a mocking smirk. ¡°Christina, shouldn¡¯t you be at the Hadley residence right now?¡± Christina was stunned, as she didn¡¯t understand why Freya would ask her such a question in this situation. Freya deliberately pulled Brayden¡¯s hand, which was holding Christina¡¯s, away. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re working here as a dancer? Won¡¯t your husband chase you out from the family if he finds out?¡± Freya had spoken as if she was concerned about Christina, but in fact, she had disclosed everything that she shouldn¡¯t have talked about. Christina¡¯s face darkened. She realized Freya was purposely speaking about her private matters in front of Brayden. Freya approached Christina again. ¡°You¡¯re a married woman, yet you don¡¯t care about your identity as a wife and work as a dancer. Not only that, but you lied to Brayden. What is your motive?¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Freya¡¯s voice was loud, so everyone on the stage heard her. Brayden was especially dumbfounded. He stared at Christina¡¯s innocent face in disbelief, feeling as if his heart was about to explode. Incredulity filled Christina¡¯s eyes as well. She couldn¡¯t believe that the best friend she had for many years would disclose her secret in public without a care for her reputation. Best friend forever, my ass. How disgusting! ¡°Christina, is Freya telling the truth?¡± Brayden wanted to verify the truth with his own ears. Christina answered him with silence. There¡¯s nothing to verify, after all. Looks like the rumors circting on campus are true. Christina is exactly the kind of girl that others imed she is¡ªa hypocrite who uses her innocent appearance to deceive boys. Brayden was thoroughly disappointed that the girl he firmly believed in was actually so unprincipled. Christina felt as if she had been stabbed in her heart, but she couldn¡¯t utter even a single exnation, as that was precisely the truth. Nathaniel, who was standing next to them, could roughly guess the meaning of the look on Brayden¡¯s face. He held Christina¡¯s hand and pulled her lightly, shielding her behind him as if she was a tiny creature that needed to be protected. Nathaniel fixed his sharp gaze on Brayden and Freya coldly. ¡°It¡¯s true. I¡¯m Christina¡¯s husband.¡± As soon as he said that, Brayden¡¯s and Freya¡¯s eyes widened in shock. After a few seconds, Freya sneered, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Christina married an ugly old man from the Hadley family for money. How can you be her husband?¡± Although the lighting was dark, it didn¡¯t affect Nathaniel¡¯s good looks at all. He was extremely handsome, and he was even a few times more good-looking than Brayden. Nathaniel¡¯s handsomeness was at its peak, and he exuded an unapproachable aura. His icy gaze kept everyone at arm¡¯s length. It was impossible that such a good-looking man was Christina¡¯s husband. At that time, the music in the bar stopped. The bar manager walked out frantically after hearing themotion. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you¡¯re here! What happened?¡± Everyone was taken aback by his attitude. Christina was extremely puzzled, too. As far as I can recall, Felix has always acted like a boss. Why is he behaving like a subordinate in front of Nathaniel? Nathaniel stared at Felix Wilson coldly. ¡°How dare you ask my wife to perform a dance on stage?¡± What? Felix¡¯s expression changed drastically. His knees went weak, almost causing him to kneel. ¡°Please calm down, Mr. Hadley! If I had known Christina was your wife, I wouldn¡¯t have asked her to do so!¡± Felix couldn¡¯t care less about how other people perceive him. His face was filled with fear, and there he wasn¡¯t disying the slightest bit of the demeanor of a manager. ¡°Did you just address him as Mr. Hadley?¡± Christina asked in confusion. Upon learning Christina¡¯s identity, Felix immediately treated her with more respect. ¡°That¡¯s right, Mrs. Hadley. Don¡¯t you know this bar is under Mr. Hadley¡¯s name?¡± Many people didn¡¯t know and had assumed that Felix was Seven Nights Bar¡¯s owner. In fact, he was merely the manager, and Nathaniel was actually the owner. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. Freya¡¯s face contorted when she heard that. ¡°You¡¯re a hypocrite, Christina! How could you lie to me? We¡¯ve been friends for so many years, yet you¡¯ve been pretending to be pitiful in front of me when you clearly have a handsome and rich husband!¡± Christina felt her anger skyrocket at that moment. She had also just learned that her husband was actually such a formidable person. Her eyes darkened when she saw the panic on Freya¡¯s face. She walked toward her and asked, ¡°Were you the one who purposely set me up that night?¡± It had been a long while since that incident, and Christina had never once suspected Freya. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Freya gritted her teeth furiously when she realized Christina¡¯s husband was a handsome man with a high ranking, and the jealousy in her heart grew into hatred. In any case, their pretentious and fake friendship had ended. She had nothing to be concerned about. ¡°So what?¡± Freya then turned to face Nathaniel. ¡°Your wife was most likely involved with countless men while you were away. I would divorce her right away if I were you!¡± His harsh words were like a bucket of ice water poured over Christina¡¯s body. She was so angry that her fingertips felt cold. After all these years, she hadn¡¯t realized Freya had always harbored ill intentions toward her. If she hadn¡¯t met Nathaniel that night, the matter of her innocence would never have been properly exined with such wild usations. She would have be the kind of shameless woman Freya had described in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. Christina narrowed her eyes coldly. ¡°Freya! I must¡¯ve been blind to have treated you like a sister. I shared all my secrets with you, but you used my weakness to hurt me!¡± Freya¡¯s face contorted with rage. I thought that if I revealed the fact that Christina had lost her virginity, that cold and handsome man would tear her apart. Surprisingly, the man continued to stand in front of Christina with no intention of ming her. Freya had been ying the role of a good friend in front of Christina for four years at university because she discovered that Brayden treated Christina differently. Brayden would undoubtedly attend any party where Christina was present. Freya had deliberately bonded with her in order to get closer to him and sabotage their rtionship from within. Freya didn¡¯t expect Christina to be so gullible that she¡¯d tell her everything. When she met Christina¡¯s resentful gaze, Freya felt that she had the upper hand. ¡°How can you me it on me when you¡¯re the one who¡¯s stupid?¡± Christina gritted her teeth silently, her stomach churning with rage. Freya nced at Brayden with eyes filled with admiration, and he returned her gaze with something flickering in his eyes. She persisted and continued to interrogate Christina, ¡°You are obviously married and have a husband. So why do you still keep hanging around Brayden? You know that I have been secretly in love with him for four years! You led Brayden on without telling him the truth. I¡¯m just bringing your hypocrisy to light. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± That¡¯s right. I¡¯m not at fault. Christina¡¯s just a b*tch. Such a person doesn¡¯t deserve happiness, let alone Brayden¡¯s favor! Christina felt ridiculous when confronted with Freya¡¯s rage and distortion of facts. It would have been impossible for Freya to have such thoughts if she had just tried to understand her for a bit. Freya clearly knew how helpless I was when I was forced to marry into the Hadley family. That¡¯s just great. Let¡¯s intensify your hatred for me since you hate me so much! With a sneer, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯m the type of person who likes to have a clear distinction between love and hate, and I have to be clear about everything.¡± Freya frowned, unsure of what she meant. Christina looked at Nathaniel with a distant expression on her face before she took out a white pill from her bag. ¡°You have such a venomous heart. Taking this pill will help you cleanse your heart of its venom.¡± Nathaniel raised his brows slightly, and after hearing their conversation, he naturally understood what Christina was on about. Christina stared at Freya coldly. ¡°Take this pill, and the enmity between us will be written off.¡± Freya¡¯s face turned pale in an instant as if she were facing a formidable foe. Christina, who was usually delicate and frail, had surprised her by being so strong at this moment. Is she really the Christina I know? Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°I-I won¡¯t eat it!¡± Freya immediately refused. Christina snorted, looking demonic and dangerous. ¡°You¡¯re not brave enough to eat it? Why didn¡¯t you consider what would happen to me when you asked me to eat it? You¡¯re lucky I¡¯m only giving you some laxatives!¡± I am just as determined as Freya was heartless back then. Christina strode forward and closed in on her menacingly. ¡°Are you going to eat it yourself? Or do you want someone to feed you?¡± Freya was well aware of the consequences of eating it. She was terrified, and her heart was pounding. Her face was pale, and she looked at Brayden beseechingly. ¡°Brayden¡­¡± Brayden had heard their conversation loud and clear just now. He couldn¡¯t think of any reason to help her because she was the one who had tried to hurt Christina first. As for her confession, he pretended not to hear it. He shifted his gaze away from Freya and toward Christina. Her pure face remained wless, but their rtionship had changed. Brayden¡¯s eyes were filled with disappointment, and he let out a sigh. ¡°The grudge is between you and her. You should settle it yourself.¡± He turned around and walked off the stage, striding toward the door after he said that. Christina felt regretful when she saw Brayden leave, but she would not try to persuade him to stay. After all, they had always been people from two different worlds. Christina raised her head and stared coldly at Freya. ¡°I don¡¯t have the patience to wait for you.¡± The implication is that I will be fed if I don¡¯t eat it. The bar belonged to Christina¡¯s husband, and Freya knew she had no way out. She took the pill from Christina¡¯s hand and popped it into her mouth. Christina snorted coldly after watching her swallow the pill. ¡°Don¡¯t greet me when we meet again.¡± With that, she dragged Nathaniel off the stage. Freya stood on the stage, held her breath, and red at Christina¡¯s back as she walked away. Christina let go of Nathaniel¡¯s hand indifferently after she stepped down the stage. He nced at his empty palm, and there were still traces of Christina¡¯s warmth on his fingertips. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me. Hurry up and leave,¡± Christina said tly, stressed out by the fact that she had to find a new job. Nathaniel felt as if he was being discarded after he had served his purpose. How daring of her! He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around Christina¡¯s waist, and shackled her. ¡°Did I say you could go?¡± ¡°You want to restrict me again? It¡¯s against thew, you know!¡± Christina was a university student who had a strong awareness of thew. Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Christina and smiled coldly. His dark eyes could seduce the souls of others. ¡°I just spent five million to bid on your solo dance, Mrs. Hadley.¡± He turned his head slightly, pressed his thin lips against Christina¡¯s ear, and said softly, ¡°I own the rest of your time and your body!¡± Christina felt as if something in her had exploded, and her entire body froze. Nathaniel beckoned the manager over with his finger, who immediately understood and handed over the key. ¡°The room is ready, Mr. Hadley.¡± He left tactfully after he said that, not daring to ruin Nathaniel¡¯s mood. Christina became alert at the sight of the gleaming silver key. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nathaniel stared at her innocent little face with affectionate eyes. ¡°Why would I have the nerve to say such things when actions speak louder than words?¡± Hiszy and provocative voice echoed in Christina¡¯s ears. Christina, of course, understood what he was implying. Her delicate brows furrowed, and she retorted, ¡°You shameless scoundrel!¡± Nathaniel still had an unruly and cold smile on the corner of his lips, and he promptly carried Christina on his shoulder. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do as you wish, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll be a shameless scoundrel until the end.¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Damn It Red rose petals were scattered on the ground, forming a big red heart, and the air exuded an ambiguous smell. Nathaniel pushed open the door and carried Christina into the room. She was too light, like a doll on his shoulders ¡°Let go of me! I¡¯m not Peacock. Are you deaf?¡± Christina was about to cry. Does he not understand a word that came out of my mouth? The door mmed shur with a bang. Nathaniel abruptly threw Christina onto the bed and pinned her down. When lus muscr body leaned in, the surrounding temperature dropped several degrees. Christma felt as if she had wandered into a woll¡¯s den as she stared into his deep eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who you are. I only know you¡¯re my woman! Nathaniel¡¯s domineering tonel rendered her speechless, and she was unable to refute him The divorce agreement had been torn up as if it had never happened. Christina was still his, and she couldn¡¯t deny that Christina¡¯s face was flushed red, and her ears were like glowing rednterns on both sides. ¡°Go away.¡± ¡°Hmm? Seems like my darling needs to be taught a lesson! Hoe dare the tell me to go away? Nathaniel snorted coldly as he held her chin in huis hand, lowered his head, and kissed her. His domineering breath rushed into Christina¡¯s mouth, slowly stealing all her oxygen. Her peute body. trembled as she felt his fingertips slide over her armi Although they had previously been intimate, she still couldn¡¯tpletely ept contact with Nathaniel Her thin lips were wounded, and the smell of blood permeated the breath of the two of them Christina¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she felt the pain. Nathaniel was taken aback for a moment. He stopped what he was doing and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes Christina¡¯s small face was clearly filled with grievances, but she was defiant and refused to give in. Not bad. My tooman needs to be a little arrogant to be perfect! Nathantel¡¯s lips curled into a smile, but Christina felt threatened and terrified. He gave her a cold stare. ¡°Christina, you are truly unique. Im growing increasingly fond of you.¡± ¡°What a shame. I despise you¡± She pushed him away and found it easier to breathe after that. She didn¡¯t want Nathaniel to disrupt her ns I thought if I kept my distance from him, he might forget about me in a few days. Who would have thought that he would cling to me and look as if he would not stop until he subdued me¡­ What a headache. Christina stood up, walked to the door, and prepared to leave, but arge palm wrapped around her before she could open it. She was trapped behind the cold door, and she could feel arge body approaching. Nathaniel¡¯s devilish face magnified before her eyes. He pressed his thin lips against Christina¡¯s earlobe, and his maic voice pierced her cars. ¡°I¡¯ll soon make you like me so much that you won¡¯t want anyone but me! He couldn¡¯t stop thinking about Christina after that night. It¡¯s impossible for her to leave now! Christina realized what he meant, and her cheeks and eyes turned bright red like fireballs. There was a difference in strength between men and women, and Christina knew that she couldn¡¯t rely on brute force to get out of this situation. In fact, it would only arouse Nathaniel¡¯s possessiveness. How about¡­ I pretend to obey him? Christina raised her eyes again. Her anger disappeared without a trace, and she tried to look like a good girl. She gasped softly in a child-like tone as she ced her little hands on Nathaniel¡¯s chest and moved them up to the back of his neck. ¡°You smell. Why don¡¯t you take a shower first?¡± Nathaniel was surrounded by a lot of smoke in the bar just now, and he, who had always been a clean freak, noticed it as well. ¡°You¡¯ll wait for me obediently?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Christina smiled brightly. She even entered the room, sat on the bed, and urged him. ¡°You better hurry up! Nathaniel saw her well-behaved appearance and assumed she would not dare to run away, so he nodded lightly before entering the bathroom.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The bathroom door was made of frosted ss, and Christina was secretly relieved when she saw the tall figure undress. She quickly took out her phone to call Yasmine. Yasmine had gone to the hospital to pick up Peacock after she went on the stage. She checked the time and figured Yasmine would be back soon. As soon as the phone call was answered, Christina gave Yasmine the room number and asked her to bring Peacock over right away. Christina stood at the door and waited anxiously while fixing her gaze on the bathroom door. I¡¯ll turn off the lightster. Nathaniel will never guess I¡¯ve been switched. Even if he found out, I would have fled long ago. Yasmine brought Peacock over after a while. Christina gently opened the door and let her in. She put the mask on Peacock¡¯s face and whispered. ¡°The guest is in the bathroom. Put on some music and danceter. Remember not to take off the mask!¡± Peacock made an ¡°okay¡± gesture and walked in. An excellent escape n was thus wlessly executed. Christina tiptoed out of the room. The air is fresh when Nathaniel¡¯s not present, She left the bar after receiving her pay via Yasmine¡¯s phone. Meanwhile, inside the room, after he showered, Nathaniel wore only a towel around his waist. Water droplets slid down his muscr eight-pack abs. The room was pitch ck, and the air was thick with tension. He could only make out the slender figure of a woman sitting obediently by the bed in the dim light. My little wife must be too shy. That¡¯s why she turned off the lights, Nathaniel walked over to the bed. The room had a strong aroma that overpowered Christina¡¯s faint fragrance, but he didn¡¯t mind Peacock sat by the bed, and when she saw him walk out, she pressed a button on the small speaker she had prepared. The music began to y, and she showed off her dancing skills to the fullest. When she saw the man¡¯s strong body reeking of testosterone, her entire body turned to jelly. Peacock could feel him approaching her, and she clutched the corner of her clothes tightly. Her heart raced as she felt the man¡¯s fingertips on her shoulders. God, my heart is about to explode! Nathaniel felt a burning sensation from his fingertips in the blink of an eye. Why is my allergy acting up again? A bad premonition welled up in his heart, and he immediately turned on the lights. The dazzling light illuminated the entire room, and he saw that the woman dancing in front of him was not Christina at all. Peacock noticed his abnormality as well, so she removed her mask and walked over. ¡°What¡¯s wrong. Sir? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Before she got close, Nathaniel warned her with a low growl, ¡°Scram!¡± Peacock was frightened by his growl. She had felt that the man had a very strong aura when she was waiting in the dark just now. At that moment, she felt as if he was about to tear her to pieces now that she could see his devilishly handsome face and the hostility in his thick brows. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face turned increasingly grim by the second. The thought of being tricked by Christina made him so furious that he grabbed the crystal sses on the table and smashed them all into aer. Damn it! Christina actually dared to run away and get rid of me with a random woman! Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 A Small World Peacock felt that the man before her was the devil incarnate. One re from him was enough to kill somebody. In less than a minute, Nathaniel¡¯s hands were covered in red spots, and his heart rate started speeding up uncontrobly. It seemed that his allergic reaction this time was worse than thest. He clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. Christina¡¯ The first thing that Sebastian saw when he arrived at the hospital was Nathaniel receiving an IV drip. The latter had an icy look on his face as if the world owed him a great debt, which made Sebastian gulp in fear. He began. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley has not returned to the mansion, nor has she gone to the Steele residence. We haven¡¯t managed to locate her as of- Before Sebastian could even finish his words, a wave of rage surged through Nathaniel, and he swept all the sses on the table to the ground. The cacophony of ss shattering and water sshing duly expressed the turmoil of displeasure he was feeling. He growled. ¡°Keep searching! ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and got to work immediately. I can¡¯t believe Mrs Hadley just up and left after poking the bear, leaving us to clean up her mess! What a pitiful life I¡¯m living! While Nathaniel was suffering in the hospital. Christina was leisurely drawing a design draft in her university dorm. She couldn¡¯t help but admit that she felt rather happy about not seeing Nathaniel for the past few days, I¡¯m sure a mighty CEO like him will lose interest in me soon enough. With graduation just around the corner, Christina decided to devote all her energy to her major. After studying fashion design for four years, she had a solid foundation. Upon opening the webpage, she filled in her information and design drawings before sending them to the industry¡¯s most famous clothingpany-Radiant Corporation-for an interview. She reckoned a bigpany like that would take about a week to get back to her. Since her job at the bar had fallen through, she had used her spare time and found a part-time job as a saleswoman at a luxury store. ncing at the time, she quickly changed into her work uniform and prepared herself for work. As most luxury stores have high requirements for their clerks, it was necessary for her to tie up her hair and put on some makeup. When Christina arrived at the store, the store manager briefed her on what she should and should not 1/4 Due to the fact that luxury stores provide high-end services, the ce was never busy most of the time, as they treated customers who were dressed normally with indifference. Such behavior was considered the norm when it came to ces like this. ¡°Ms. Sullivan, you haven¡¯t been here for a long time. Why don¡¯t I show you some of our newest collection?¡± The enthusiastic voice of a salesgirl echoed throughout the store. Christina, who was busy putting out items, turned her head and saw Xandra, who was dressed stylishly, What a small world. I can¡¯t believe I bumped into her here Not wanting to draw any attention to herself, Christina whipped her head back and continued with her task Meanwhile, Xandra was perusing the goods in the store without much interest, feeling disappointed about theck of new items, when she noticed a slender figure in the corner just when she was abour to leave. Isn¡¯t that Christina? What is she doing here? Wouldn¡¯t she be aughingstock if others found out that the wife of the great Mr. Hadley is working as a saleswoman? It seems that Nathaniel doesn¡¯t really care about her, huh? He¡¯s probably only putting on a show for Mrs. Hadley before. But I guess that makes sense. After all, why would the heir of Hadley Corporation fall for a woman with no background and no status? With that thought in mind, Xandra walked toward Christina and said contemptuously, ¡°Is this one of your saleswomen?¡± The store manager answered without dy, ¡°She¡¯s new here, so she¡¯s not used to how things work here yet. Why don¡¯trrange for a more experienced saleswoman to-¡± Before the store manager could finish. Xandra cut her off, ¡°I want her to assist me.¡± The store manager looked conflicted when she heard that. She had no idea what rtionship Christina and Xandra shared and was worried that the former would offend the store¡¯s esteemed customer. Christina got to her feet calmly and said. ¡°Feel free to tell me if you need anything, Ms. Sullivan The two women gave each other an odd look before Xandra turned around and swept her gaze around the store, trying toe up with a way to embarrass Christina. Finally, her gaze fell on a row of limited-edition high heels. ¡°I want to try on this row of heels. My feet size is thirty-seven, so hurry up and get them for me.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Since there were more than a dozen different types of heels on the rack, a salesperson beside Christina tried to help her out but was discouraged from doing so after receiving a re from Xandra. Naturally, Christina knew that Xandra was purposely making things difficult for her. Nheless, she didn¡¯t say anything and simply turned around before making her way to the warehouse to look for the heels. Because of how petite she was, she had to make several trips in order to get all the different types of heels. When Kandra saw how the woman was getting out of breath, a feeling of glee filled her heart and she felt as if she had had her revenge. Subsequently, she kicked off her shoes arrogantly and ordered coldly. ¡°Help me try on each pair of these heels.¡± Although it was the duty of a salesperson to help their customer try on shoes, those who were present could clearly tell that Xandra was deliberately making things difficult for Christina. What can a celebrity and a fresh graduate have to do with each other? Is it because Christina is beautiful? I guess it¡¯s true when they say it¡¯s hard to grasp what makes a woman jealous. Throughout the whole process, Christina didn¡¯t make a single protest as she took the heels out for Xandra to try on. It was as if her calm demeanor would persist no matter how much trouble thetter was giving her. With her hands on her waist and her head tilted to the side, Xandra struck a domineering pose that demanded attention. She thought that the high heels were of excellent quality, especially how the smooth surface was able to reflect the exquisite face that was more supple and beautiful than hers. She raised her brows, and a look of disdain flitted across her eyes as she said. ¡°Not bad. Let¡¯s continue trying them on Christina breathed a sigh of relief discreetly. Just when she reached out to touch the tip of Xandra¡¯s shoes, the woman deliberately turned her ankle as if she was toying with her. The clear act of provocation instantly turned the atmosphere cial. Christina raised her eyes, her gaze shing with slight annoyance, It wasn¡¯t the first time she had encountered a difficult customer, and she knew that the more she cared, the more pleased Xandra would be. Needless to say, she wouldn¡¯t let the woman get her way. A faint sneer appeared on her delicate face before she forcefully grabbed Xandra¡¯s ankle and took off her shoes. Xandra furrowed her brows. How dare this b*tch get rough with me? Just when Christina was helping her put on the second pair of heels, Xandra mustered her strength and stomped on the former¡¯s fair and slender fingers. The sharp, stabbing pain made Christina knit her brows as a dark look filled her eyes. The more she tried to pull her fingers from the sole of Xandra¡¯s shoe, the harder thetter stepped on them. It was as if she was determined to crush them. Hostility filled the air as the two women engaged in a silent battle. Christina gave onest tug and freed her fingers, causing Xandra to lose her bnce and almost fell. for she didn¡¯t expect the burst of strength from her. Xandra¡¯s face fell, and she fumed, ¡°Are you trying to hurt me on purpose, Christina?¡± Although everyone present could see that Xandra was the one giving Christina a hard time, there was nothing they could do about it. After all, Xandra was the store¡¯s esteemed customer and an A-list celebrity. Even if she was in the wrong, she still owned the moral high ground. ¡°I want Christina to kneel and apologize to me, or else I¡¯ll make aint to your headquarters!¡± Silence ensued, for nobody dared to utter a word. Even the store manager was hesitant about what she should say. Just then, a steady set of footfalls echoed from the entrance. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Different Worlds. The atmosphere at the scene grew tense. Next, a shadow appeared in the silhouette of a tall man, and he was wearing a wrinkleless suit. That man was handsome and aloof. ¡°Sir?¡± the store manager greeted the man, but the man ignored her and walked straight toward the messy pile of shoe boxes. Xandra¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she saw that handsome man¡¯s face. ¡°Nathaniel? W-Why are you here?¡± Xandra was wondering if Nathaniel saw her bullying Christina. While looking at Christina¡¯s reddened knuckles, Nathaniel frowned and asked Xandra, ¡°Did you do this?¡± When he entered the store earlier, he had already noticed the weird looks on the two women¡¯s faces. Feeling guilty. Xandra stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯m innocent! When I saw Christina working here, I came in just to help her make some sales!¡± Xandra¡¯s acting skills were so impressive that if the staff hadn¡¯t seen her bullying Christina, they would¡¯ve surely believed her words. Meanwhile, Christina had a stone-cold expression on her face because she didn¡¯t want Nathaniel to see the wretched state she was in. ¡°I¡¯m working here. Please leave.¡± As she was saying that, she didn¡¯t dare to look into Nathaniel¡¯s dark gaze. Although she was talking in a cold tone, her flushed ears betrayed her feelings. Nathaniel¡¯s expression tensed when he heard that, and his innate arrogance instantly froze the atmosphere. Is she expecting me to leave and let her get bullied by others? This woman is ridiculous! With that in mind, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and demanded, ¡°Come with me His tone was so domineering that she couldn¡¯t reject him. Just like that, Christina was dragged toward the entrance. ¡°I still need to work. How can you just drag me away?¡± she argued. This man doesn¡¯t know what it¡¯s like to work, does he? How can I leave work as I wish? From the moment Nathaniel appeared until he brought Christina away, the store manager didn¡¯t dare to utter a single word. That was because she knew the man with an imposing presence was none other than the CEO of the mall. Although he had only appeared once during the opening ceremony, his aura and his handsome face left an unforgettable impression on her. Suddenly, Nathaniel stopped in his tracks. With a stern expression, he pulled out a ck card and gave it to the store manager. ¡°I¡¯m buying everything you have.¡± With that, he dragged Christina along as he continued walking. ¡°Now, you¡¯re free to leave work¡± Obviously, Christina wasn¡¯t keen on leaving. However, that wasn¡¯t up to her. In fact, she knew that Nathaniel would always have a way to convince her to do whatever he wanted her to do. Xandra was livid as she watched the couple leave. She then vented her anger by kicking the new shoes. Why did Nathaniel show up and protect Christina? What¡¯s so good about that country bumpkin? Upon exiting the mall, Nathaniel shoved Christina into the back seat of the car before getting into the vehicle himself. The atmosphere in the spacious car suddenly turned extremely tense and suffocating Without saying anything to exin himself, Nathaniel pulled Christina into his embrace and kissed her on the lips. As he was kissing her, her sweet and charming scent was taking his breath away. When Christina finally regained her senses, she immediately shoved Nathaniel aside. ¡°What are you doing. Nathaniel? Let go of me!¡± she fumed. Did he drag me out of my work and get me into the car just to kiss me? Does he have nothing better to do? Instead of getting angry after being pushed aside, Nathaniel grinned and stared at Christina with his predatory gaze. ¡°Since you had the guts to tease me, you should¡¯ve known this would happen. How dare you swap with another woman? Have you forgotten about your identity. Christina?¡± How could I have forgotten? I simply refuse to acknowledge it. While clenching her fists, Christina red at him and said. ¡°Nathaniel, do you really think I would dance on the stage? I told you before, didn¡¯t E1 was merely substituting Peacock. What you bought was Peacock¡¯s dance, not mine.¡± In other words, she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. Nathaniel instantly became upset. ¡°Even so, you had no reason to give me another woman. Did you know you nearly killed me- Nathaniel paused mid-sentence. Christina will surely misunderstand me if she were to find out that I¡¯m allergic to all women except her. She¡¯s going to think that I have no choice but to be with her. Upon hearing that, Christina shot him a re. How could he possibly die from that? A brief silence ensued while Nathaniel just kept staring at her with his deep gaze. Christina shied away, but she was feeling uneasy because Nathaniel was still grabbing her waist. ¡°Pervert! Let go of me!¡± she yelled. Why must he always touch me whenever he sees me? Nathaniel hugged her tighter when he heard herining. Despite initially having little to no distance between them, Christina¡¯s lips were even closer to Nathaniel¡¯s chin after he pulled her in. At that moment, all she could see was his alluring Adam¡¯s apple, and that instantly reminded her of what had happened that night. With his sexy lips next to her ear, he whispered, ¡°If I get called a pervert for hugging my own wife, does that mean I would get used of rape when I have sex with you?¡± Christina grew anxious, and she almost jumped in rm. How could he say such a thing to an innocent lady? That¡¯s rude! ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Christina was so upset that she could almost cry. ¡°All right. That¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Nathaniel was amused and couldn¡¯t helpughing when he saw how red she had gotten. I should be magnanimous and forget about what happened that night. After all, I need to be patient with my wife. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back! I must get back to my part-time job!¡± Christina was worried that her manager would fire her. Now that I think about it, even if the manager doesn¡¯t mind, I don¡¯t think Xandra will give up so easily. It seems like I¡¯m going to lose this part-time job as well. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened, and he held her slender arm. ¡°Why must you work? Do you like getting mistreated?¡± Christina was pissed off when she heard hisst sentence. ¡°What do you mean if I like getting mistreated? I¡¯m doing it because I need money!¡± Indeed, Christina needed money to take care of her mother and carry out her revenge. I don¡¯t have a choice! Ugh! Why am I talking about money with a rich man? I¡¯m just embarrassing myself, aren¡¯t I? ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t you just stay home and be my wife? I can give you however much money you want! Nathaniel sounded so serious that it was as though he would give her all his money if she were to agree to it. Every woman wants to live a luxurious life, no? If hy does she not want that? As Nathaniel was talking, there was a haughty look in his eyes that was telling her that he would be willing to give her the world as long as she was willing to please him. In response, Christina heaved a sigh. What I want isn¡¯t just money. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. Despite raising her gaze to see Nathaniel looking back at her sternly, she couldn¡¯t find the patience in her to exin herself. ¡°Nathaniel, we¡¯re from different worlds. We don¡¯t have a future together.¡± Nathaniel kept mum. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just get a divorce sooner rather thanter? I¡¯ll sign the divorce agreement and pass it to you afterward,¡± she added. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Suitability. Nathaniel seemed increasingly agitated. ¡°Why are you always talking about getting a divorce? Those who have no clue about what¡¯s going on will think I¡¯ve been mistreating you.¡± Christina looked into his eyes and noticed a hint of anger in his gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you aren¡¯t treating me well. It¡¯s just that we¡¯re not suitable for each other. Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± she asked. Sometimes, the distance between two individuals could be an unbridgeable abyss. What can I do to make him understand that? Nathaniel fell into deep thought after hearing what she said. Seeing that he was distracted, Christina quickly pulled herself away from his embrace. ¡°Please think it through. I¡¯ll give you the document as soon as possible.¡± With that, Christina left. By the time Nathaniel snapped out of his reverie, she was already long gone. Christina then went back to draft a divorce agreement, print it out, and send it to him by mail. After getting the important matter over with, she moved out of the university dorm. The Steele family was never going to take her in, and the only person she could rely on in the city was her grandmother. With only a suitcase, she hailed a taxi after exiting the university and headed toward the east side of the city. On that side of the city, an old woman in a floral skirt was seen standing in front of a two-story mansion. With a cane in one hand, she was craning her neck and ncing around. A green taxi soon arrived at the entrance of the mansion. Christina paid the taxi fare and hurried out of the car with her suitcase. ¡°Hi, Granny!¡± Christina greeted before throwing herself into her grandmother¡¯s arms as if she were still a child. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you dearly! Did you miss me?¡± Christina hadn¡¯t been back in a while, so when she was hugging her grandmother, Evelyn Henderson. Christina felt the warmth of a family member once again. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, Christina! Let¡¯s go in. I¡¯ll make you something tasty.¡± Evelyn smiled and brought Christina into the house. I haven¡¯t been back in a long time, but the interior decoration is still the same. There¡¯s that decorative piece with carvings in the middle of the hall facing the main entrance, and she¡¯s still ying the same song on the record yer! Christina would feel at ease every time she visited Evelyn. ¡°Christina, bring your suitcase into the room. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen to cook you dinner. Although Evelyn was in her sixties, she was a strong, healthy woman who loved singing and cooking. Christina replied in the affirmative and went to the room with her suitcase. The decoration in the room was simple. Evelyn had known Christina wasing back, so the elderly woman had put on brand new sheets with daisies printed on them After keeping her suitcase away. Christina took out herptop and started sending out her resume. To be safe, she decided to send it out to multiple designpanies at once. After sending out her resume, she texted her store manager to inform thetter of her resignation. The store manager replied to Christina¡¯s text almost immediately. That day. Xandra and Nathaniel had bought a lot of stuff from the store, so the manager ended up transferring Christina the sry and commission she had made over the past few days. After receiving arge sum of money, Christina was over the moon and regarded it as the best thing that had happened to her that day. With this money. I won¡¯t need to look for a job urgently while waiting for the responses from thepanies. Instead, I can take my time drafting my designs. Evelyn called out for Christina once dinner was ready. That evening, they had four dishes for dinner, and one of them was Christina¡¯s favorite. ¡°I would be the happiest girl alive if I could eat the food you make every day, Granny!¡± Christina stuffed a spoonful of food into her mouth. If even Mom failed to learn how to cook like Granny, would it be too difficult for me? ¡°You¡¯re a sweet talker, aren¡¯t you, Christina?¡± Evelyn was ted after getting praised. After dinner, Christina helped clean up and do the dishes. Christina had a rare good night¡¯s sleep that night. The next morning, Christina only got out of bed afterzing about for a while. Upon entering the living room, she saw that Evelyn had left breakfast and a note on the table. Evelyn had a good voice and had been invited to join a choir. There was apetitioning up, so she had gone out early in the morning for a rehearsal. Christina ate her breakfast before drafting her designs in a small pavilion in the courtyard. At around noon, she changed into a skirt and went out. Meanwhile, inside the Hadley residence. Nathaniel was wearing a stylish suit and a limited-edition Bulgari watch. He was exuding a rich heir aura, and his demeanor was as austere as ever. In fact, he seemed slightly unapproachable. There were documents on Christina¡¯s information from recent years on his desk. With a ss of milk in his hand, Nathaniel flipped through the documents with his slender fingers. Although she¡¯s the eldest daughter of the Steele family, no one seems to be fond of her. Not only does she need to pay for her own university tuition fees, but she also needs to pay for her mother¡¯s treatment on her own. How could a university student live with such pressure in life? No wonder she cares about money so much. She needs her ie to stay alive! Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but recall how resolute Christina was when she left him the other day. She must have been severely disappointed in me. I¡¯ve never paid attention to her feelings or put myself in her shoes. She¡¯s an extraordinary girl. Unlike most other women out there, there¡¯s a sense of innocence in her, and her eyes are always so bright. My physical reaction aside, I still find her very attractive. All of a sudden, Sebastian came rushing in before presenting Nathaniel with a document. ¡°Mr. Hadley, this is a document from Ms. Christina¡± With a slight frown, Nathaniel opened the document and saw that it was a divorce agreement. 2/3 The words were an utter eyesore to him. I didn¡¯t expect her to have the guts to send me this. It seems like I need to straighten her out. Nathaniel then let out a snort and strode toward the door with the document in his grip. ¡°Get the car ready!¡± Sebastian hummed in acknowledgment and ran after him, At the same time, Christina had just finished shopping for groceries. Before returning home, she even bought herself an ice cream, and she was on cloud nine as she enjoyed her ice cream while walking home. Suddenly, a man in a white shirt appeared in her sight when she was walking along the path to the courtyard. ¡°Brayden?¡± Christina was stumped. How did he find me here? Brayden was a bright and decent guy with fluffy hair and dark eyes. He was the campus hunk because he was an utter gentleman, like a prince from the movies, Like all the other girls, Christina also had a crush on Brayden. ¡°Hi, Christina.¡± Intense emotions surged in Brayden¡¯s eyes when he saw the face he had been dreaming of day and night. After going their separate ways at the bar that day, Brayden had thought things through. Over the four years that he had spent with Christina, he could tell that she was a nice girl. His heart would ache whenever he thought about the possibility of her disappearing from his world forever. I read that it¡¯s rather simple to find out if my feelings for her are real. If it hurts when I imagine not seeing her anymore for the rest of my life, that means I¡¯ve fallen for her. Well, that¡¯s exactly how I feel now. With that in mind, he walked over to her and held her slender and soft wrist. ¡°Ive been thinking about things over the past few days, and I don¡¯t think I can give up on you. I don¡¯t mind your past, so I hope we can go out on a date.¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 23 Suitability. Nathaniel seemed increasingly agitated. ¡°Why are you always talking about getting a divorce? Those who have no clue about what¡¯s going on will think I¡¯ve been mistreating you.¡± Christina looked into his eyes and noticed a hint of anger in his gaze. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you aren¡¯t treating me well. It¡¯s just that we¡¯re not suitable for each other. Don¡¯t you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± she asked. Sometimes, the distance between two individuals could be an unbridgeable abyss. What can I do to make him understand that? Nathaniel fell into deep thought after hearing what she said. Seeing that he was distracted, Christina quickly pulled herself away from his embrace. ¡°Please think it through. I¡¯ll give you the document as soon as possible.¡± With that, Christina left. By the time Nathaniel snapped out of his reverie, she was already long gone. Christina then went back to draft a divorce agreement, print it out, and send it to him by mail. After getting the important matter over with, she moved out of the university dorm. The Steele family was never going to take her in, and the only person she could rely on in the city was her grandmother. With only a suitcase, she hailed a taxi after exiting the university and headed toward the east side of the city. On that side of the city, an old woman in a floral skirt was seen standing in front of a two-story mansion. With a cane in one hand, she was craning her neck and ncing around. A green taxi soon arrived at the entrance of the mansion. Christina paid the taxi fare and hurried out of the car with her suitcase. ¡°Hi, Granny!¡± Christina greeted before throwing herself into her grandmother¡¯s arms as if she were still a child. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you dearly! Did you miss me?¡± Christina hadn¡¯t been back in a while, so when she was hugging her grandmother, Evelyn Henderson. Christina felt the warmth of a family member once again. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too, Christina! Let¡¯s go in. I¡¯ll make you something tasty.¡± Evelyn smiled and brought Christina into the house. I haven¡¯t been back in a long time, but the interior decoration is still the same. There¡¯s that decorative piece with carvings in the middle of the hall facing the main entrance, and she¡¯s still ying the same song on the record yer! Christina would feel at ease every time she visited Evelyn. ¡°Christina, bring your suitcase into the room. I¡¯ll go to the kitchen to cook you dinner. Although Evelyn was in her sixties, she was a strong, healthy woman who loved singing and cooking. Christina replied in the affirmative and went to the room with her suitcase. The decoration in the room was simple. Evelyn had known Christina wasing back, so the elderly woman had put on brand new sheets with daisies printed on them After keeping her suitcase away. Christina took out herptop and started sending out her resume. To be safe, she decided to send it out to multiple designpanies at once. After sending out her resume, she texted her store manager to inform thetter of her resignation. The store manager replied to Christina¡¯s text almost immediately. That day. Xandra and Nathaniel had bought a lot of stuff from the store, so the manager ended up transferring Christina the sry and commission she had made over the past few days. After receiving arge sum of money, Christina was over the moon and regarded it as the best thing that had happened to her that day. With this money. I won¡¯t need to look for a job urgently while waiting for the responses from thepanies. Instead, I can take my time drafting my designs. Evelyn called out for Christina once dinner was ready. That evening, they had four dishes for dinner, and one of them was Christina¡¯s favorite. ¡°I would be the happiest girl alive if I could eat the food you make every day, Granny!¡± Christina stuffed a spoonful of food into her mouth. If even Mom failed to learn how to cook like Granny, would it be too difficult for me? ¡°You¡¯re a sweet talker, aren¡¯t you, Christina?¡± Evelyn was ted after getting praised. After dinner, Christina helped clean up and do the dishes. Christina had a rare good night¡¯s sleep that night. The next morning, Christina only got out of bed afterzing about for a while. Upon entering the living room, she saw that Evelyn had left breakfast and a note on the table. Evelyn had a good voice and had been invited to join a choir. There was apetitioning up, so she had gone out early in the morning for a rehearsal. Christina ate her breakfast before drafting her designs in a small pavilion in the courtyard. At around noon, she changed into a skirt and went out.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, inside the Hadley residence. Nathaniel was wearing a stylish suit and a limited-edition Bulgari watch. He was exuding a rich heir aura, and his demeanor was as austere as ever. In fact, he seemed slightly unapproachable. There were documents on Christina¡¯s information from recent years on his desk. With a ss of milk in his hand, Nathaniel flipped through the documents with his slender fingers. Although she¡¯s the eldest daughter of the Steele family, no one seems to be fond of her. Not only does she need to pay for her own university tuition fees, but she also needs to pay for her mother¡¯s treatment on her own. How could a university student live with such pressure in life? No wonder she cares about money so much. She needs her ie to stay alive! Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but recall how resolute Christina was when she left him the other day. She must have been severely disappointed in me. I¡¯ve never paid attention to her feelings or put myself in her shoes. She¡¯s an extraordinary girl. Unlike most other women out there, there¡¯s a sense of innocence in her, and her eyes are always so bright. My physical reaction aside, I still find her very attractive. All of a sudden, Sebastian came rushing in before presenting Nathaniel with a document. ¡°Mr. Hadley, this is a document from Ms. Christina¡± With a slight frown, Nathaniel opened the document and saw that it was a divorce agreement. 2/3 The words were an utter eyesore to him. I didn¡¯t expect her to have the guts to send me this. It seems like I need to straighten her out. Nathaniel then let out a snort and strode toward the door with the document in his grip. ¡°Get the car ready!¡± Sebastian hummed in acknowledgment and ran after him, At the same time, Christina had just finished shopping for groceries. Before returning home, she even bought herself an ice cream, and she was on cloud nine as she enjoyed her ice cream while walking home. Suddenly, a man in a white shirt appeared in her sight when she was walking along the path to the courtyard. ¡°Brayden?¡± Christina was stumped. How did he find me here? Brayden was a bright and decent guy with fluffy hair and dark eyes. He was the campus hunk because he was an utter gentleman, like a prince from the movies, Like all the other girls, Christina also had a crush on Brayden. ¡°Hi, Christina.¡± Intense emotions surged in Brayden¡¯s eyes when he saw the face he had been dreaming of day and night. After going their separate ways at the bar that day, Brayden had thought things through. Over the four years that he had spent with Christina, he could tell that she was a nice girl. His heart would ache whenever he thought about the possibility of her disappearing from his world forever. I read that it¡¯s rather simple to find out if my feelings for her are real. If it hurts when I imagine not seeing her anymore for the rest of my life, that means I¡¯ve fallen for her. Well, that¡¯s exactly how I feel now. With that in mind, he walked over to her and held her slender and soft wrist. ¡°Ive been thinking about things over the past few days, and I don¡¯t think I can give up on you. I don¡¯t mind your past, so I hope we can go out on a date.¡± Chapter 25 Feeling Too Hot Chapter 25 Feeling Too Hot The corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips lifted as he propped his chin with one hand, exuding a wicked charm. ¡°You¡¯re right. My wife looks good in anything¡± Christma was slightly embarrassed by his praise. She suddenly felt that he was much more agreeable. when he wasn¡¯t being intimidating. Sounds of the door opening in the courtyard reached her ears, indicating that her grandmother was probably back home. She pointed at the door to the backyard. ¡°We¡¯ll smooth out the agreementter. Hurry up and leave now.¡± Christina didn¡¯t want her grandmother to discover Nathaniel¡¯s existence. She¡¯d kept their marriage low-key. As such, her grandmother was not aware of it. It wouldplicate matters if she were caught together with a man. Nathaniel¡¯s expression crumbled as he felt like he was being cast aside. Christina couldn¡¯t care less for his pettiness as she held on to his hand and pulled him out toward the courtyard. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t just stand there.¡± He got distracted by the warmth of her palm in his and was pulled along dazedly to the back door. Christina released him and pushed open the gate. ¡°That¡¯s it. Go now,¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help missing the feel of her soft and tiny hand in his. A sly idea struck him as he took in how anxious she was. ¡°How dare you see it fit for the CEO of Hadley Corporation to use the backdoor.¡± His face was full of loathing. Christina was at her wit¡¯s end at his inopportune disy of stubbornness. In ce of fretting, she tried appeasing him so he¡¯d leave. ¡°Could you please leave first? I beg of you?¡± Her humble pleas were like music to his ears. Nathaniel smirked. His inky eyes were fathomless as he leaned toward Christina and whispered into her ear, ¡°I¡¯ll leave only if you give me a kiss.¡± His warm breath tickled Christina, causing her heartbeat and blood pressure to skyrocket. ¡°You¡¯re such a rogue!¡± Christina huffed as she turned her flushed face away. ¡°I hear the sounds of your granny unlocking the gate¡­ Nathaniel was amused by her bashfulness and took another step closer. Christina felt like a guilty child that feared their parent¡¯s discovery of their misbehavior. Even her heart was thumping wildly in her chest. ¡°The only kiss you get is a peck on your cheek.¡± She had scarce options left but to cede to his demands. ¡°Deal, Nathaniel agreed. He would not overstep her boundaries. He slightly angled his face away from her and raised his angr jawline. This simple gesture alone. emanated a mysterious masculine allure.. His posture was casual yet exhibited haughtiness. It was as if every single one of his pores oozed self- satisfaction. Christina couldn¡¯tprehend how a mere kiss made him feel as if he¡¯d won the lottery. She got onto her tippy-toes and was about to kiss Nathaniel¡¯s cheek when he suddenly turned toward her out of impatience. Both of them stopped breathing at the same time as their lips brushed. Christina¡¯s eyes flew wide open. in surprise at such a coincidental happening. She came to and hastily shoved Nathaniel out the door before shutting it behind her. Nathaniel remained standing outside. His lips still bore the remains of Christina¡¯s natural fragrance. A chuckle bubbled up his throat as he savored the moment and wondered if it had been an intentional move by Christina. At that moment. Evelyn was inside the house and had called out several times to no reply. Christina made her way in from the backyard and replied guiltily, ¡°Granny, I was too engrossed with my designs that I didn¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°Christina, why are you so flushed?¡± Evelyn inquired out of concern. Christina covered her cheeks out of reflex and sensed how warm they were. The image of her kissing Nathaniel shed in her mind. She dashed toward her room as she exined, ¡°I¡¯m just feeling rather warm. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Christina ducked into her room like a stealthy feline. Just then, a chilly breeze blew in from the door.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. It was a perfectly sunny day to head out the following day. Evelyn had gone out for her morning exercise at the crack of dawn. Christina was nibbling on a piece of bread when the doorbell began ringing. She rushed to get the door. ¡°Are you Mrs. Hadley?¡± The person at the door was wearing a uniform belonging to the salesperson of a luxury brand. Christina swallowed her bread before replying in confusion, ¡°Yes, I am. What is- ¡°We¡¯ve got the right person then.¡± The woman smiled as she gestured to several of the staff behind her. They moved three mobile clothing racks full of thetest women¡¯s attire from various brands. ¡°I did not purchase any clothes. Was there perhaps a mix-up?¡± Christina queried. The women extended a proof of delivery after they finished moving the clothes. ¡°Mr. Hadley has paid for these clothes, and we¡¯ve delivered them to you. You¡¯d be doing us a great favor by signing this¡± Christina had predicted that only Nathaniel was capable of spending sovishly. She felt ufortable rejecting the clothes since much effort was expended to move them all the way here. The sales staff departed after she signed her name. She pushed all three of the clothing racks into her room. Her formerly spacious room immediately felt cramped. Christina frowned and was about to call Nathaniel to return the clothes when she realized she did not have his number. She was astonished by the level of his extravagance. He¡¯d sent three whole racks of new clothes her way when he¡¯d onlymented about how in hers were the day before. Christina did not want to leave such premium clothes to waste by not wearing them, so she picked a suit with a rtively simple design and headed out.. Radiant Corporation was a considerably well-knownpany in the fashion design sphere. It was even one of the top ten most recognizedpanies internationally in recent years. The goal of all of the local fashion designers was to seek employment within Radiant Corporation. It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration to im that the designers who worked there were fully capable of making it on their own. Christina¡¯s first stop was to report to the HR department. The recruits usually began as interns and were divided into two groups in the design department. Christina was assigned to Team A. Christina¡¯s delicate features immediately caught everyone¡¯s attention the moment she stepped foot into the brightly-lit open-n office. Her team leader was Gina Tanner, a chicdy full of character and a head of chestnut curls whose preferred fragrance was Jo Malone¡¯s wild bluebell cologne. Christina was given a position and delegated duties promptly. The first challenge Christina had to face was apetition between the interns. They would need to submit a draft of their designs, the best of which would be selected by their team leader. Christina chose to submit a recent series of designs she¡¯d been working on. The newbies usually were not required to participate in the design process as familiarizing themselves with the workings of thepany¡¯s various departments took precedence. Gina¡¯s favorite draft was posted on the announcement board when it was almost time to get off work. ¡°This intern is highly-skilled. All current employees should buckle up. Otherwise, you might be pushed out soon!¡± The members of Team A gathered around to peer at the outstanding design chosen by their team. leader. It was indeed exceptionally creative, and right at the bottom of the draft paper was signed Christina¡¯s name. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Cornering The Newbie Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. The other interns working with Christina were amazed when they saw her designs, but their surprise quickly gave way to jealousy. One of the designers went over to look out of curiosity and found Christina¡¯s work to be rather creative. and appealing to young women, albeit not quite thepany¡¯s style. Still, that level of design was above the mark for a rookie. Standing in the crowd, Christina did not receive any apuse. Instead, what she got were meaningful looks from a few people. It went without saying that having Gina stick her design up on the noticeboard was an invitation to disaster, for the shot always hit the bird that poked its head out first. Because of what happened, all the interns who joined thepany with Christina took her as their biggestpetitor. Meanwhile, Nathaniel had unprecedentedly left Christina uninterrupted for the first week since she started the internship so she could focus on work, given her hectic schedule. On one asion, Christina was almost runningte for work and would have to clock inte if she missed the elevator, so she rushed toward the elevator, holding a carton of milk she had just bought. ¡°Wait up!¡± Despite her cry, the female intern at the elevator door quickly pressed the ¡°close¡± button, leaving Christina behind. As the doors closed between them, Christina¡¯s steps slowed down in disappointment. She felt ostracized when she noticed the smug expression on the woman¡¯s face. She recalled how Team A had strict rules about tardiness: anyone who turned upte for work twice would not receive any bonus. At the thought, she swirled the milk still in her mouth as she came to terms with the finality of the situation, but the elevator door suddenly opened again. ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± a man voiced with slightly arched brows. The man who opened the door had a closely-cut suit that fit his tall build perfectly and exuded a regal aura that bespelled Christina momentarily. Still, thetter quickly snapped back to her senses and ran into the elevator as though a ray of light had shone down into the darkness for her. Thank you!¡± The man nced at her employee ID from the corner of his eyes and simply grunted curtly in response. Christina then stole a glimpse at the man¡¯s ID clipped to his suit: Yosef Gunther-leader of Team B. This name was no stranger to Christina, for even back at school, she had heard a lot about the designer who had won multiple international awards. She did not expect to run into someone she had admired in the elevator-let alone work at the same On a closer look, Yosef had a head of shoulder-length hair and a pair of enchanting upturned eyes. He was a total dreamboat with a high nose bridge and sculpted jaw that could charm just about anyone. To top that up, his six-foot-tall physique meant he could pull off any outfit and catch the spotlight effortlessly on the runway. Their short-lived meeting came to an end when the elevator door opened again. Christina headed to her office and was able to clock in just in time before work. Just as she thought the day would unfold uneventfully, trouble set in when she arrived at a drenched office table with all the documents she had printed out soaked with water. It was apparent that this was an ill-intentioned stunt. Darting her sharp gaze around the office, Christina questioned her colleagues, ¡°Who knocked my cup over?¡± Everyone stopped working and looked up, but in their hearts, they were secretly pleased to see the youngdy with a red face fuming with anger. As Christina expected, no one admitted their fault. Christina was not interested in identifying the culprit she just wanted to warn whoever did it, or else this kind of prank would only continue. She did not back down despite being met with disdainful gazes from her colleagues. ¡°I¡¯ll get security to come in the next time this happens again.¡± The whole office fell into silence. No one expected a greenhorn who had just stepped into society to be this shrewd, for those newbies bullied in the past would only endure everything in silence. None of them had ever publicly stood up for themselves. After the incident, Christina went to the pantry to calm herself before returning to work. When it was almost time to go home, Jade Sali, the office assistant, came to talk to her. ¡°They need some help with cleaning the office on the top floor. Go over there, Jade ordered Some cleaning work will surely bring you down a peg or two since you were so arrogant in the morning. Let¡¯s see if you still dare to cross us after this. Knowing that the assistant hade to make life difficult for her, Christina put aside her work and looked at her calmly. ¡°I¡¯m an intern designer. I¡¯m not here for cleaning duty. Please get that through your head.¡± As an experienced senior employee, Jade hade prepared with all the tricks she needed to put recruits in their ces. ¡°You have no work to attend to at the moment. Don¡¯t tell me I should ask the busy designers to clean the office? Christina Steele, you should learn to follow orders here at the company, or else I¡¯ll file aint against you.¡± Christina was still an intern. She could not afford to have aint against her since it would have detrimental effects on her future confirmation to be a full-time employee. ¡°All right, then.¡± With that said, Christina walked out of the office, got the cleaning tools, and took the elevator up to the top floor, where the CEO¡¯s office was. Having received an ess card from the cleaningdy, she entered the office with a pail of water. Since the boss seldom came in for work, the whole office was immacte, except that the ce felt slightly lonely and cold without anyone in it. Having cleaned a piece of cloth, Christina began wiping the corners. After that, she went over to dust the cupboard on the right of the room. Just then, three sets of footsteps echoed down the corridor. The man who first opened the office door and entered was a man dressed in a red velvet suit called Zachary Shetti. The cutting of that fashion piece he wore was not something anyone could pull off. but it looked just right on thenky man. Like a model who had just gotten off a fashion show, the dashing man had a head of short ash-grey hair and some of thetest gold ornaments around his fingers. Once he and the others entered, the wholepany sat on the couch. Then, Zachary ced that quarter¡¯s business performance report on the table, saying, ¡°It¡¯s only been half a month, and I¡¯ve already exceeded my target by fifty percent.¡± That was some incredible results. Over on the single-seater couch, Nathaniel sat like a king with his spindly legs crossed as he rested his chin on his hand. With a subtle smile, he answered, ¡°You can be quite productive when you channel your energy to work instead of women.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s statement elicited augh fromn Zimmerman, sitting on his right. ¡°I bet he must have some problem functioning normally down there, which is why he¡¯s suddenly putting all his energy into work.¡± The man who had just spoken was d in a tailored in shirt. His exquisite corbone way left exposed under the first two unbuttoned holes on his shirt, oveid with a ck vest thatplimented his inverted triangle body shape. He had a ck car stud on one of his ears and had kept his eyes down, looking at his watch as he arranged it around his wrist while entering the room. The aura he exuded was gentlemanly yet professional Among the three men, Zachary was most used to his friends¡¯ teasing since he had the most happening in his love life. ¡°I¡¯m still functioning all right. I¡¯m just a little lost now that I¡¯m not seeing anyone interesting,¡± he replied, making a face that said he was too good for anyone. Then he turned to Nathaniel and asked jokingly, ¡°Why did you suddenlye to the office? Is it because thepany has invited a few models, including Xandra, for the anniversary? Did youe on purpose to meet her?¡± Nathaniel? Christina jolted behind the cupboard at the mention of that name. Caught by surprise, she identally bumped into a crystal ball next to her. Thump! Chapter 27 He Requests Your Company Chapter 27 He Requests Your Company The air berame tense as the three men trailed their gazes toward the rolling crystal ball until they eventually caught sight of a curvy and slim figure near the cupboard. The woman they beheld had twinkling and bright eyes that reminded them of the stars With an over- knee length white dress that left half her fair legs uncovered, she appeared like a lost fairy who hadnded in the human world by mistake She¡¯s beautiful! Zachary was deeply impressed the moment he set eyes on Christina Despite having dated numerous women in the past, Zachary had never been so captivated by a woman at first sight. Certain that he had never met the girl, he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Christina did not answer but fixed her shimmering eyes on Nathaniel, shocked at the knowledge that Nathaniel was also Radiant Corporation¡¯s boss Just how big is his business empire? Does he owen everypany in Durbaine? Embarrassed, Christina picked up the pail of water and rushed toward the door without answering Zachary¡¯s question. She escaped from the office like an agile cat, but because she left in a hurry, she did not realize her employee IDnyard was caught on the doorknob and had dropped to the floor When Zachary ran after her, he could no longer see her at the door, though he spotted her ID ¡°Christina Steele?¡± he mumbled as he nced at it Although the photo on the ID was blurry, he could still tell that the woman was as beautiful as an angel. He held the card closer and could even smell a pleasing scent from it. Now, since when did a beauty like her join thepany? Howe I was unaware? Just as Zachary was about to keep the ID for himself to use it as an excuse to get to know Christina, Nathaniel snatched it away from him, warning coldly, ¡°Not her.¡± Zachary was astonished, but when he read Nathaniel¡¯s serious face, he could not help but quip. ¡°Man. don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re interested in her too!¡± Without another word, Nathaniel nced at Zachary and walked off with the employee ID. Zachary had never seen Nathaniel, someone who found women repulsive, that worked up all because of a woman. ¡°From my experience, he must have fallen for that girl he noted, looking back at fan Equally confounded by what happened,n replied, ¡°I don¡¯t think so, but regardless, you¡¯d better keep your hands off her.¡± Based on his judgment, things would not end well if an innocent woman like Christina became involved with a yboy like Zachary Meanwhile, Christina managed to flee the office atst after a challenging run lugging the pail of water Closing the restroom door behind her, she felt like she had just made a narrow escape from the enemy¡¯s base, but before she could even catch her breath, the door was pushed open from behind. The movement was so forceful she was shoved into the restroom as the door pushed her forward. Before she could do anything. Nathaniel had made his way in until his towering shadow stretched across the restroom floor. The light fell on his face, forming a stark contrast with the pair of dark and mesmerizing eyes on his face. Christina had never seen such eyes on other men before-even the lights flickered like glistening stars in his deep eyes. Underneath that face, Christina saw abination of a neatly-pressed ck suit pulled over a wless white shirt. His whole look and bearing gave off a chilling aloofness, reminding one of a blossoming flower in the winter. ¡°Nathaniel! W-What are you doing here?¡± As the dominating shadow closed in on her, Christina shrunk away instinctively until she was pressed against the wall. This is the female restroom! He can¡¯t just walk in here so openly, even if this whole floor is off-limits to other employees! Nathaniel pressed on toward Christina until he was so close his sturdy chestpletely blocked her field of vision. She could even pick up the subtly pleasing scent from his body.When Nathaniel finally put her employee ID around her neck, Christina realized she had dropped it back in the office when she left hastily ¡°Thank you.¡± She hunched her shoulders slightly as she expressed her thanks, At her utterance. Nathaniel ran his fingers along her cheek before tucking her stray hair behind her cars ¡°Well, you can¡¯t just be paying lip service to me every time.¡± Christina¡¯s face flushed red at the intimacy, but unbeknownst to her, her shy fumbling only aroused his desire to have her. Knowing he had an ulterior motive, Christina knitted her brows and bit her lip. ¡°What do you want, then?¡± ¡°You need to show me with tangible action that you¡¯re grateful.¡± As his maic voice died away, Christina felt a wave of burning sensation overwhelm her. Before she could do anything. Nathaniel had already nted his thin lips on hers. Christina¡¯s mind went nk, and she could not even think straight.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Her heart beat uncontrobly fast, so much so that she felt like it was breaking out from her chest. When Nathaniel finally and reluctantly let go of her lips after a long, long kiss, the blushing woman red at him in disgruntlement while covering her mouth. So this is what he meant by a tangible act of gratitude? He¡¯s clearly trying to fool around¡± With Nathaniel¡¯s strapping build blocking out all the light, it felt like he hadpletemand over the whole space. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up after work. We need to talk,¡± he informed calmly. Is he bringing me back to the Hadley residence again? Afraid he would keep bothering her, Christina evaded his gaze and uttered insincerely, ¡°Sure.¡± When Nathaniel caught the guilty look in her eyes, he raised her chin and reminded her. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about running away. I don¡¯t mind picking you up from your office.¡± What? That is no different from making an open statement about our rtionship! Christina knew Nathaniel meant what he said, so she could only do as he wished. ¡°It¡¯s still a long way until I finish work. Have fun waiting¡± With that said, she slipped out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms and left the restroom. By the time Christina returned to work, she hadpletely forgotten about their exchange earlier. When it was about time to leave the office, Gina announced a new assignment for the team. Since the first round of screening for fall designs had begun, each designer had to hand in a portfolio. of design drafts. The screening was also open to interns. If their design was selected, they stood a higher chance of bing a permanent employee. All charged up about the screening, Christina decided to spend that nighting up with some designs. After work, she was heading toward the crossroad right around the corner of thepany when at ck Maybach pulled up in front of her. Sebastian, who had just gotten off the auto, opened the backseat door and said politely, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley requests yourpany It was dark in the car, but just the sight of that pair of long legs and the neat suit was enough to deter her from entering. Christina was hesitant, for she felt like she was stepping onto a minefield. She was afraid her freedom would be curtailed after she went back with Nathaniel ¡°Mrs. Hadley?¡± Sebastian called out again. He found it perplexing that Christina always seemed to have a hard time deciding to ride with Nathaniel when numerous women out there would die for an opportunity like that. ¡°Yeah.¡± Christina finally said before going in. Closing the door behind her, Sebastian returned to the driver¡¯s seat and drove off. Chapter 28 Come Closer Chapter 28 Come Closer The temperature inside the car was a little low. Christina, remaining quiet like a child, sat up straight and ced her restless hands on her knees while waiting for Nathaniel to speak. Will he find another excuse to bring me back to the Hadley residence and say my work will affect the Hadley family¡¯s reputation because I¡¯m showing myself publicly? I escaped that ce with so much difficulty thest time. I doubt I¡¯ll get to leave again if I am forced to return there this time. Nathaniel sat beside her. His shirt was buttoned all the way up, entuating the captivating outline of his manly Adam¡¯s apple, muscr neck, and chiseled jawline. A soft glow filtered in through the car window and illuminated his profile. Half of his extraordinarily handsome face was covered in shadows, adding a hint of indifference and mystery to his usual vibe. Christina fell into a daze, watching him. How many women must he have enthralled with that bewitching face of his? Sensing the admiration in her eyes, he curled his lips into a faint smile. ¡°Feel free to look at me openly as you wish. After all, I¡¯m considered yours.¡± She blushed crimson after listening to his meaningful words. After getting caught red-handed for peeking at him, she became too embarrassed to gaze at him. The temperature inside the car continued to drop, causing Christina to sneeze due to the cold. She was about to ask Sebastian to turn up the heat when arge palm grasped her slim shoulder. Nathaniel gently pulled her into his embrace. ¡°You won¡¯t feel cold if youe a little closer.¡± She lowered her head, not daring to meet his stunning countenance. Every moment spent with him felt like torture now. He took in her demeanor and waited a long while before uttering nonchntly, ¡°How¡¯s your new job?¡± She was slightly taken aback. I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s expressing his concern about my work. Is this an opening speech before he asks me to go back to his house? ¡°It¡¯s quite nice,¡± she answered truthfully. The air seemed to turn chillier. Even her fingertips started feeling numb, and her thin shoulders. trembled from the cold. Creases formed on the hem of her skirt as she clutched her garment. ¡°Okay,¡± Nathaniel responded. He took off his coat and draped it over her. A faint smell of cologne wafted into her nose. Nathaniel¡¯s body warmth lingered on the piece of outerwear Christina found the sensation simr to how he embraced her that night.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. He tenderly tidied the loose strands of her hair with his fingertips. His movements were gentle and affectionate, as though they were a married couple who had spent many years together. Nathaniel retracted his arm and said, ¡°In that case, keep working hard.¡± Christina looked up at him in utter disbelief. He¡¯s not going to bring me back? On the contrary, he appears to be very supportive of me working. His response took Christina by surprise. She was stunned for a few seconds beforeing to her senses. Smiling, she nodded. ¡°Okay¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes gleamed when he noticed that was the first time she regarded him with fondness in her eyes. Forcing her toply won¡¯t work. Instead, I should let her do as she pleases. That way, she won¡¯t resist me as much. He lightly cupped her petite face. ¡°Instead of relying on your privileges as Mrs. Hadley, use your own abilities to prove to me that supporting you is the right thing to do.¡± Christina turned into an obedient girl instantaneously. She lifted her head, bored her dazzling eyes. into him, and nodded firmly. ¡°Sure!¡± Sensing the overflowing positiveness she exuded, Nathaniel grinned. She¡¯s indeed the woman who won my affection. This determination is one of her strong points. He added. ¡°I¡¯m going on an overseas business trip to attend a summit meeting, so I won¡¯t be in the country for some time.¡± Complicated emotions churned within her after she heard that. Nathaniel is Hadley Corporation¡¯s CEO as well as the future heir of thepany, so he must be swamped with many work-rted matters. Not knowing how to respond, she merely hummed in acknowledgment. At that moment, the car gradually came to a stop at its destination. The quietness in the car¡¯s interior grew more discernible after the engine was turned off. Christina gazed out the window and noticed they had arrived at her grandmother¡¯s house. As it turned out, he never nned to bring her back to the Hadley residence from the beginning. The sudden realization caused her to feel a little guilty because she felt she had judged Nathaniel too quickly ¡°I-I¡¯m getting out of the car, then.¡± She removed his coat and turned to open the car door. Suddenly, someone grabbed her arm from behind. ncing over her shoulder, she met Nathaniel¡¯s pensive dark gaze. The two were already sitting close to each other, to begin with. Now, the distance between them decreased further. Her heart palpitated heavily against her chest as she felt his breath on her face. ¡°W-What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nathaniel gazed longingly at her. ¡°You must contact me at once if you face any trouble.¡± Ill be going somewhere far away from her. Even if I say this, how will I materialize before her when she needs me during a predicament? Christina noddedpliantly again. Not daring to exhale, she held her breath and murmured a response. Only then did he let go of her arm. Then, he ced his palm on the back of her head, pulled her close, and kissed her forehead. ¡°Go back now.¡± 6 She had just rposed herself, but after feeling his cool lips on her forehead, Christina¡¯s heart began fluttering uncontrobly again. ¡°Okay¡± With that, she swiftly escaped into the night after opening the car door. Upon returning to the house, shey on the bed and covered herself with a nket. The scenes from her interaction with Nathaniel earlier resurfaced in her mind. My heart is too weakto handle his flirtation. After dinner, Christina sat at her desk and sketched her designs. She continued drawing even as midnight drew close. For the subsequent few days, she went to the office during the day and worked on her designs after returning home. Three dayster, she submitted herpleted draft to Gina before the deadline. The next morning, Christina felt tired fromck of sleep after staying upte for a few nights in a row, so she went to the pantry to make herself a cup of coffee. The jar of coffee beans was ced in the top cab, and she couldn¡¯t reach it even after standing on her tiptoes. Right when she was about to move a chair over to give herself a boost, a tall figure appeared behind her. That man stretched out his arm and effortlessly retrieved the jar of coffee beans. ¡°Here.¡± Christina looked up and realized it was Yosef, the man who helped her stop the elevator the other day. ¡°Thank you,¡± she uttered sheepishly. Her shyness didn¡¯t stem from her harboring feelings for him. Instead, it was because Yosef was renowned in the design field. Almost all the fashion design students were familiar with his name. He was dressed in a ck shirt that day, giving prominence to his physique. Wearing a trench coat as his outerwear, he emanated an ethereal aura. Then, he hummed in response and left. Most designers had an aloof nature, so Christina was unfazed by his distant behavior. She exited the pantry after making a cup of coffee. Meanwhile, Ginapleted her work with great efficiency. She selected the designs she was most satisfied with among all the excellent submissions, after which the chosen designers¡¯ name list was sent to everyone¡¯s mailbox. Christina was thrilled when she saw her name on the list, as that proved she hadn¡¯t burned the midnightmp for those few nights in vain. However, she didn¡¯t realize how the other experienced designers would be jealous of her because a mere intern like her had outshone them. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Shunning Christina Christina left work in a cheerful mood and broke the news to Evelyn that her design had been selected by thepany. Evelyn was overjoyed, and she hurried into the kitchen to prepare a few more dishes to celebrate. Christina went into her bedroom, kicked off her slippers, and sprawled on the bed to scroll through her phone when she received an international call. A hypnotic male voice said, ¡°Have you gotten off work?¡± Christina stilled for a moment before returning. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± The hoarseness in his voice lent credence to how busy he had been for the past few days, but the fact that she didn¡¯t recognize his voice darkened his mood. He gave a low hum, and both of them fell silent. ¡°Did anyone deliberately approach you in my absence?¡± Christina¡¯s brows drew together as she did not understand what he was implying. ¡°No,¡± she answered honestly. Nathaniel said unemotionally. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Before he disconnected, she heard someone in the background shouting about a meeting starting, as if he had carved out time from his hectic schedule to give her a call before resuming work. Christina stared at the unfamiliar number and hesitated for a moment before saving it to her contacts. Evelyn called her out for dinner a whileter. After a good night¡¯s rest, Christina changed into a petite suit and went to work the next morning- She felt eyes boring into her with contempt the moment she walked into the office as if she was everyone¡¯smon enemy. Why the drastic change after one night? Christina felt like an alien in everyone¡¯s eyes, a feeling that left a sour taste in her mouth. She clicked on thepany¡¯s forum to figure out the problem and finally understood after reading the headlines. A Radiant Corporation intern hitched a ride in the director¡¯s Mercedes after work! She tarnished the reputation of Radiant Corporation by sleeping around! Christina Steele has to be stopped! It had been blown out of proportion, and practically every employee had shared the headline. The news didn¡¯t only spin a narration about her getting into the director¡¯s car, but also on her dubious rtionship with Yosef, leader of Team B. Yosef was the prince charming in the circle of designers, and the director was the ultimate prize. It was a crime for Christina to sink her ws in both of them! Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. A chill seeped into her bones as she finished reading the article. Even her fingertips were cold. They painted me as a woman who sleeps her way to the top because my designs made the cut despite me being new. What a ridiculous joke! But how do I clear up the rumors without inadvertently revealing that I¡¯m Mrs. Hadley or having Nathaniel step forward? Disgruntlement rendered her silent. Christina could only grudgingly ignore this matter and hope it would pass. Two dayster, the rumors didn¡¯t peter out as Christina had thought but were exacerbated instead, and every designer had voiced their desire to boycott her. They would not tolerate a designer in Radiant Corporation using her beauty for an advantage or sexual favors. It not only promoted a dangerous culture but was also an insult to the other hardworking designers. When Christina arrived at the office in the morning, several designers demanding justice surrounded her small desk. It was too much of a frenzy, and the security guards immediately informed the CEO and vice CEO. Zachary andn came to the design department a few minutester to find a small crowd had surrounded Christina and were moring for her resignation. Tina, Team A¡¯s assistant team leader, challenged, ¡°Mr. Shetti, if Christina doesn¡¯t turn in her resignation letter today, it will be an insult to the rest of the hardworking designers. Either she goes, or we leave!¡± Zachary had seen the photos online, but he wasn¡¯t sure what the rtionship between Nathaniel and Christina was. Even so, he had seen how differently Nathaniel treated her the other day. First, Nathaniel warned me away, then this girl was photographed entering his car¡­ He¡¯s a germaphobe who will nitpick every time someone gets into his car, even us, so maybe, as the inte suggests¡­ Zachary could care less about this matter, but he had to resolve the worsening situation. Currently, he was feeling conflicted as he was personally unwilling to fire a beautiful woman. His face twisted into an awkward expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take some time off, Christina? We¡¯ll make a decision once I get to the bottom of this.¡± It was the most polite way out for Christina. It was pointless for Christina to resist and embarrass herself further now that he had spoken out. I¡¯m not in the wrong, yet I have to leave¡­ Isn¡¯t this indirectly admitting that I slept my way to the top? The stain on her name and disgrace would follow her to every job, which was really unfair! He tried to be objective and leafed through her designs again, still believing that they were better than others in terms of artistic conception. A male voice from behind said, ¡°I agree with Mr. Zimmerman that Christina¡¯s designs are fantastic.¡± Everyone whipped their head around to see Yosef standing there. If a designer of his stature supported her, surely that proved Christina¡¯s expertise. The designers who had raised a racket wanting her gone all fell silent. However, Tina didn¡¯t relent and asked, ¡°How do you know she didn¡¯tmission those? I don¡¯t believe. that a fresh grad designer possesses such skills.¡± The designs are either a fraud, or she¡¯s a true genius, and I¡¯m going with the former Christina knew a few words of support wouldn¡¯t dispel their suspicion. Then,n suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we hold another week-long designpetition? Everyone will be required to stay at the hotel, with thepany covering all costs, to level the ying field.¡± Now was as good a time as any to ay everyone¡¯s suspicion and doubt Christina was the first to put in her name, determined to win thepetition to prove herself. The rest who wanted to bring her down followed suit. Ian delegated the registration duties to Gina and informed the designers who entered thepetition. to go home and pack before congregating at Golden Rose Holiday Hotel two hourster. Christina quickly gathered her belongings and left the office, as did the rest of the designers. Following that,n sent out a memo requesting that any news regarding Christina be removed. He had just returned to the office and sat down at his desk when he received a call from Nathaniel. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 The Theme Of The Competition ¡°How did things go?¡± The low and hoarse voice on the other end sounded as if it belonged to a smoker. ¡°I¡¯ve done it your way,¡± respondedn hurriedly before he even had a chance to drink his water. After a hum of acknowledgment from Nathaniel. Ian questioned curiously. ¡°What¡¯s Christina to you?¡± Since Nathaniel never seemed interested in women,n could not help but wonder about the rtionship between Christina and the man. As Nathaniel was involved in the matter, it was not appropriate for him to speak up. Hence, he hadn arrange the event for him instead. ¡°Mind your own business,¡± replied Nathaniel coldly before hanging up. Staring at his phone, Ian felt like a tool being cast aside after it had outlived its usefulness. That¡¯s ungrateful of him. Christina told her grandmother that she was participating in apetition and that she would only return in a week. After that, she took her luggage with her and made her way to Golden Rose Holiday Hotel. The rooms on the twenty-third floor were all reserved for the designers to rest and concentrate on work. Gina was in charge of overseeing thepetition. The theme of thispetition is theing-of- age gift for a young girl. Besides drafting the design, you also have to produce it. The winner will be decided in a week.¡± After exining the rules, Gina distributed the room cards to the participating designers, and Christina was assigned to room 2088. Tina, who was assigned to the room next door, stared coldly at Christina and mocked, ¡°Your luck has run out this time, Christina. I¡¯ll beat you and get you kicked out of Radiant Corporation.¡± Huh? Does Tina seriously believe that I just got lucky? Christina¡¯s lips curled into a smirk as she responded, ¡°Let¡¯s make a bet, then. If you lose, you¡¯ll get the hell out of Radiant Corporation!¡± Tina had worked many years at Radiant Corporation and won countless awards, so she was convinced she would never lose to a fresh graduate. On top of that, she was sure that Christina only got promoted because the woman was shown favor. ¡°1 don¡¯t see why not. Just be careful not to drown in your own tears when you lose.¡± In response, Christina smirked at Tina once again before entering her room. With the door closed behind her. Christina could smell a faint citrusy fragrance in the room. illuminated by the afternoon sunlight. After settling her luggage, she took a pen, paper, and drawing board and began to work on her draft on the balcony. As Christina basked in the sunlight, an elegant shadow was cast on the carpet. With her outline blurred by the light and her downcast eyes focused on her work, the woman looked as beautiful as a work of 1/3 art. Christina refused to leave the room; she even had the staff deliver her meals straight to her room. She spent the first three days on the draft and the next four days on the production. For the sake of fairness, the designers had to use fabrics and colors of the same quality. Since Christina spent too much time on her draft, she had to burn the midnight oil to catch up. On the seventh evening, she received a message from Gina informing her that she had to bring her outfit to the hall on the second floor by ten o¡¯clock in the morning. Those who failed to do so would be disqualified. After going through the text message, Christina shifted her attention back to her sewing, threading. and embellishing. She was asleep at the foot of the bed when the morning light shone through the ss and onto the piece of furniture. It was already eight o¡¯clock when Christina awakened to wash up. Once she was done, she hurriedly put her hard work into a bag before rushing out of the room. She knew she was already racing against time by then, but unexpectedly, two of her colleagues entered the elevator she was in. All three of them were carrying their dresses for thepetition in ck bags, and after exchanging wary nces with each other. Christina pressed the button for the second floor. As the elevator slowly descended, the three had their eyes fixed on the red number counting down. The elevator stopped when it reached the second floor, but its door did not open as expected as the three got ready to hurry out. Instead, the elevator continued to descend at a speed that was obviously much faster than before. With their pupils dted, the three lost their bnce and fell due to the pressure of the rapid descent. Before they could even react, they heard a loud noise before they were suddenly surrounded by dead silence. It was as though they had reached an uninhabited wastnd. The three were utterly dumbfounded by the unforeseen incident, and it took a while before Christina realized that the elevator had gone out of control. It seems we¡¯re stuck here. The girl beside Christina climbed to her feet and screamed in pain because of the wound she hitting her forehead. got from Tina tried to pry the elevator door open with her bare hands but eventually gave up since it remained. unmoving despite several attempts. Christina hurriedly pressed the emergency button. Unfortunately, it was not working, so the three took out their phones in near unison to call for help but then realized there was no reception at all At that moment, they felt like birds trapped in a cage. Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°What do we do? We¡¯re stuck!¡± The injured woman looked pitiful as blood continued to pour out of her wound despite her efforts to stop it. Christina then took a piece of tissue out of her bag and covered the injured woman¡¯s wound with it. ¡°Thank you,¡± uttered the injured woman guiltily with a red face. The truth was that half the participating designers longed to prove themselves, while the other half wanted to work together to kick Christina out of Radiant Corporation. The injured woman only felt guilty because she epted help from her enemy, and Christina could see that Hence, Christina kept her distance after handing the tissue over. ¡°You don¡¯t have to pretend to be nice here because that won¡¯t earn you any mercy during the competition, scoffed Tina. Being stuck in such a dangerous situation, Christina truly had no mood to argue with Tina. ¡°We¡¯re trapped inside an elevator with no exhaust fan, which means none of us will get out alive if nobody comes to our rescue in time.¡± It was only after hearing Christina that the other two designers realized the seriousness of their situation. Logically, someone should notice that the elevator had malfunctioned soon and get help. However, if that did not happen, the three would gradually be hypoxic and pass out when the oxygen in the confined space ran out. Horrified to think what would happen afterward, Tina and the other designer began to panic. We¡¯re still so young; there¡¯s so much we haven¡¯t done yet. This can¡¯t be the end of us! Then, Tina suddenly pointed her finger at Christina and cursed. ¡°This is all your fault! We wouldn¡¯t be in this situation if we didn¡¯t share the elevator with you! You¡¯re nothing but a jinx. If anything happens. to me. I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t live to regret it!¡± With the light shining on her ice-cold visage, Christina seemed to be emitting a bone-chilling aura. ¡°The more you talk, the quicker we¡¯ll run out of oxygen and die. If you value your life, shut up!¡± warned Christina, ring at Tina. Immediately. Tina and the other designer shrank into a corner and covered their mouths, afraid to say another word. As time passed by, Christina had her obsidian eyes fixed on the signal bars on her phone screen as she waited for any sign of reception. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Did She Bribe The Judges Half an hour passed, and a heavy silence slowly descended over the space. It feels as though we¡¯re trapped in some ancient and mysterious corner of the world, and no one knows we¡¯re here. If another half an hour passes. the oxygen in this tiny space will probably all be gone. A thin sheen of sweat covered Christina¡¯s forehead. In such an environment, a person¡¯s fear of the dark would grow and intensify slowly but surely like sand through an hourss. Feeling dizzy. Tina walked over to the doors, raised her hands, and pounded on them. ¡°Are you all dead? Why isn¡¯t anyoneing to save me!¡± After a while, her hands started to hurt so much that she switched to kicking. The doors were made entirely of solid steel, so she would be unable to make a crack even if she broke a bone. With all the pent-up anger bubbling inside her, Tina pointed at the figure in the corner andshed out at her. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Christina Steele! Someone must¡¯ve been trying to prank you, and that¡¯s why we got caught up in this mess!¡± It was not the first time someone had yed a prank on Christina in the office. Sometimes it was just one person, and sometimes there were more. Everyone knew about it, but no one said anything and quietly allowed such behavior to carry on. Christina felt a suffocating sensation in her chest, and she started to panic. Thest time she had felt like that was while kissing Nathaniel on the bed in a hotel. However, the sensation felt way more ufortable now. The sound of Tina¡¯s voice yapping away made her feel even more frustrated, so she turned away and ignored the former. Although she had been standing in a corner at first, she gradually felt weak and slumped to the floor in a heap. She stared into space, her eyes unfocused. It was impossible to guess what was running through her mind. Time continued ticking by, then suddenly, they heard a deep voice on the other side of the doors. ¡°Christina, are you in there?¡± It was Nathaniel¡¯s voice! Christina sprang up from the floor with a thud like an arrow released from a taut bowstring, then rushed to the doors. ¡°Nathaniel. it¡¯s me! I¡¯m inside!¡± No one knew that her mind had already been gripped with fear for her life just a second before. She was ovee with emotion, so much so that her eyes instantly brimmed with tears. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, and don¡¯te close to the doors. I¡¯m going to get you out of there immediately!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She could tell that his voice sounded just as anxious as hers. This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org. She took a few steps backward and stood far away from the doors. For one minute, everything was quiet outside. Then, they heard the sound of something heavy being dragged. It only took several minutes for a few security guards to pry open the heavy steel doors, and those inside the elevator could finally breathe some fresh air as a gust of wind blew in Nathaniel strode in, and before Christina could say anything, he scooped her up in his arms and quickly walked back out. 1/3 That scene left the other two people inside the elevator dumbfounded. Wasn¡¯t that good-looking guy the boss of Radiant Corporation? He personally came to rescue Christina, so how can they still say nothing is going on between them? Meanwhile, the wind had also blown away the heavy, suffocating feeling in Christina¡¯s chest. She could finally breathe easily, and her mind started to clear. When she noticed Nathaniel was carrying her out of the parking lot, she jumped out of his arms like a frightened cat. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Nathaniel furrowed his brows at the sudden feeling of emptiness in his arms. ¡°To the hospital for a thorough checkup.¡± Seeing that it was almost ten o¡¯clock, she hurriedly waved her hand in refusal. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve got to hurry back for thepetition.¡± If I don¡¯t get there in time, they¡¯ll take it as a voluntary withdrawal from thepetition! I don¡¯t have time to chit-chat! Turning around, she started walking back. As Nathaniel followed behind her, he observed that she did not seem out of breath and was walking faster than him. He sighed quietly, then hurried after her. Thepetition had already begun by the time she arrived at the venue. She hastily prepared the clothes and approached a staff member to ask for her model. The staff member asked for her name, checked the list, and said brusquely, ¡°You werete, so the model left.¡± Christina stared at the person in disbelief and asked frantically. ¡°Left? Then what am I going to do?¡± ¡°How am I supposed to know that? The rules are clear. Anyone who¡¯ste won¡¯t get a model. Why are you ming me for having no concept of time?¡± The staff member gave a cold snort and bustled away. Even while stuck in that elevator, I didn¡¯t have such a sense of despair. However, now that I don¡¯t have a model, it feels as though my whole world is crashing down! One shouldn¡¯t underestimate the effect of how a model carries an outfit. Someone with a tall, thin frame and fair skin will give off an entirely different vibe from someone with darker skin and shorter stature. What am I to do now that I don¡¯t have a model? Tina, who was helping her model into her gown, cast Christina a mocking nce out of the corner of eye. Even the heavens can¡¯t save you this time. I¡¯ve got this in the bag! her At that moment, a staff member walked over and hollered, ¡°Get ready to go on. Tina! Next up is Christina!¡± Tina uttered an acknowledgment and led her model backstage to prepare. Meanwhile, Christina stared at the gown inside the ck bag and fell silent. Radiant Corporation announced the designpetition on its official website a week ago, attracting the attention of many young people. The venue was packed with spectators, and seated in the front row were the judges-Gina, Yosef, Zachary, andn-who could be considered rtively high-ranking. in the company Tina¡¯s model strutted down the runway, and the judges quickly gave their scores. Then, the host announced. ¡°Now, let¡¯s wee our next designer, Christina Steele, to showcase her design!¡± The music continued ring, but no one appeared at the top of the runway for a long time. What¡¯s going on? Even if they¡¯re slow, there can¡¯t possibly still be nobody there even after ten seconds! The host lowered his head and was about to announce the next designer when gasps and exmations of surprise went up from the audience. Everyone¡¯s gaze was locked on the runway. Under the blinding white lights, a slender figure emerged. The gown had multipleyers of pale pink chiffon and white organza under the bottom half, giving the skirt its fuller volume, while the top featured a strapless design in a champagne color. The woman slowly walked toward the center of the stage. She wore no makeup on her delicate face. Her skin was fair and wless, her eyes sparkled like diamonds, she had a straight nose, and her lips were rosy red. She was simply beautiful beyond compare. With the rays of light shining upon her, the audience thought they had seen an angel. Everyone whipped out their phones and began snapping photos of her in a frenzy. The designers backstage were also dumbfounded. Didn¡¯t they say Christina¡¯s model left? However, a closer look revealed that the woman walking down the runway was none other than Christina herself! She had not bothered with makeup, not even applying any foundation to her face. Instead, she had only swiped on some lipstick and let her long hair flow down to her waist. Even so, she was more beautiful than the other models who had dolled up meticulously. Christina walked off the stage, and several other designers proceeded to showcase their designs. After that, thepetition came to an end. The host took the list containing the name of that night¡¯s winner from the judges. When he called out Christina¡¯s name, the audience erupted into cheers. There was no suspense in the results. Even those in the audience who did not understand the first thing about design had already chosen Christina as the winner in their hearts. Suddenly, someone in the crowd stood up and pointed at Christina while yelling angrily. ¡°This woman yed dirty! She must¡¯ve bribed the judges ores from a privileged background. Hurry, let¡¯s all report her!¡± The man was holding his phone and live-streaming the scene, which instantly stirred up amotion. Even though several security guards stepped forward to stop him, he continued shouting. ¡°That gown she designed is a piece of garbage! Are the judges blind?¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Appear In Three Seconds The man¡¯s voice was so loud that almost everyone in the venue could hear him. They couldn¡¯t deny that the female winner was indeed young, but could there be more to the situation than met the eye as the man had suggested? Thetter, who had an easily recognizable square face and booming voice, continued his tirade. ¡°Radiant Corporation has disrespected all fashion designers by randomly picking a winner. What an utterly disgustingpany! Now that thepany¡¯s reputation had been called into question, the judges¡¯ faces instantly darkened. ¡°What should we do now?¡± Gina whispered as she turned her head. Yosef hadn¡¯t once lost his cool since the heckler made those outrageous ims, nor was he about to let his decision be swayed. Christina¡¯s design was undoubtedly the best among everyone else¡¯s! Whether it was her choice and matching of colors or her tailoring skills, she outshone them all! Meanwhile,n had ordered the security guards to take the man away. After all, how could they change the winner for no rhyme or reason? It¡¯d be ridiculous if they did! The security guards quickly approached the heckler, but thetter refused to budge and even began. screaming at the top of his lungs, ¡°Get off the stage, Christina Steele! You¡¯re not worthy!¡± As the incandescent light shone harshly on Christina¡¯s face and revealed the glint in her eye, she fixed the man with a cold, hard stare. Hushed whispers constantly rang out around her, and she knew herpetitors also believed she didn¡¯t deserve to win. After all, she was nowhere near their level of qualifications and experience when it came to fashion design. Tina curled her lips into a half smile and gave Christina a side-eye. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you still have the nerve to remain on stage. You sure are thick-skinned, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Exactly. I¡¯d be running off in shame if I were her.¡± ¡°Perhaps being shameless is what she¡¯s good at. It¡¯s bad enough to be hooking up with the boss, but she has even resorted to cheating with the judges. How disgusting. Christina, on the other hand, merely scoffed. Ha! These people have such wild imaginations! They should quit being designers and be screenwriters instead. How would I, an individual who had only just stepped into society, have the power to bribe the judges? Just then, her sharp gaze fell on the heckler below the stage. This face¡­ Why does it seem so familiar? Not only was the man tall and burly, but he also barely flinched when the security guards tried to hold him down. With the way he had his phone out while vilifying Christina, those who didn¡¯t know any better might even think he was venting his anger because of unrequited love. 1/4 At the start, he only said Christina cheated, but it didn¡¯t take long before he escted the issue and dragged Radiant Corporation through the mud. Needless to say, the crowd soon broke out into jeers. What shocked them, however, was when the woman standing in the limelight suddenly turned around and walked off the stage. Oh, my. Has the embarrassment gotten to her, or is she ashamed that her cheating scandal has been exposed? Either way, being ridiculed and insulted while on a public stage can¡¯t be fun. Anyone in her shoes would feel mortified too. Naturally, the four judges were just as shocked. They hadn¡¯t been bribed, and Christina had won the competition fair and square. Why was there a need to get off the stage, then? Wouldn¡¯t her actions. suggest she was guilty like the man had imed? Then again, Christina was merely a youngdy in her twenties. What more could they expect from Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org. her? Meanwhile, Zachary had had enough of how things were developing. If the man continued to spew usations about Radiant Corporation, theirpany¡¯s reputation would undoubtedly go down the drain. Just then, Christina suddenly returned to the stage. After borrowing the host¡¯s microphone, she shed a work pass to the audience and turned her attention to the man. ¡°Sir, is this your work pass?¡± Stunned, thetter quickly looked away. ¡°T-This¡­ Thanks to the bright lights, everyone could see that the photo on the work pass was that of the heckler. Even though he didn¡¯t admit it, those in the crowd had already confirmed his identity. It was clear as day that the work pass belonged to the square-faced man. Not only was his name on it. but hispany logo was also hard to miss. ¡°You¡¯re an employee of Modern Fashionista, and as everyone knows, Radiant Corporation and Modern Fashionista have been the fiercestpetitors in the fashion industry in recent years. However, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d use such underhanded tactics to attack Radiant Corporation¡¯s designers!¡± When it came to domestic fashion brands, Modern Fashionista used to be the biggest name until Radiant Corporation gradually surpassed them over the years. There were even a few asions when Modern Fashionista giarized Radiant Corporation¡¯s designs. resulting in countlesswsuits between the twopanies. Although those were eventually settled out of court, Modern Fashionista continued to look for opportunities to bring Radiant Corporation down. With that, the square-faced man¡¯s intentions had be apparent. A smirk crept across Christina¡¯s face. ¡°No matter who the winner is, you¡¯d still raise your objections. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Upon hearing that, the man¡¯s face turned deathly pale. Sh¡¯t. My n to stir up trouble has been exposed! I can¡¯t believe I dropped my work pass while tinkering with the elevator earlier. Worst of all, this b*tch was the one who picked it up. How infuriating! The next second, he pushed the security guards away in an attempt to leave. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Hands off me! I¡¯m leaving this instance.¡± At the same time, Zachary stood up and ordered the security guards to apprehend the man. ¡°Leaving so soon? You spread malicious falsehoods about Radiant Corporation and expect me to turn a blind eye to it? No way. I¡¯m holding you ountable for it.¡± After the security guards had led the troublemaker away and handed him to the police, the crowd finally quietened down. Since Christina had proven that she won thepetition on her own merits, the other designers knew better than to continue mocking her. They instantly fell silent, not at all daring to mess with the talented youngdy, Once thepetition ended, the contestants promptly returned backstage to pack up. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Christina lugged her big bag and left to look forn ¡°Thank you for trusting me, Mr. Zimmerman,¡± she said with a polite bow. ¡°Also, thank you for hosting thispetition so I can showcase my skills to the world.¡± Back then,n was the only one who had stepped forward to help her when everyone else questioned her ability. If it weren¡¯t for him, people would truly think she made her way up by selling her body, and she¡¯d be reduced to nothing more than an embarrassment in the fashion industry. Ian had recently taken to wearing a ck shirt that was both ttering and also lent him an almost mysterious and cold aura. ¡°The person you should be thanking isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s Nathaniel Hadley,¡± he said smilingly. Christina¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the man in confusion. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°He called me the day after your scandal broke and instructed me to put on this act of rescuing a damsel in distress. He was also the one who paid for all of thepetition¡¯s expenses.¡± Aftern had taken his leave, Christina remained speechless and frozen to her spot. The day after the scandal¡­ Wasn¡¯t Nathaniel overseas, then? He still cared so much about me even though he was bury, huh? Christina felt all warm and fuzzy in her heart, which instantly dispelled her prejudice against. Nathaniel. When she finally got out of her daze, she fished out her phone and dialed thetter¡¯s number. Within seconds, the call went through. ¡°Where are you?¡± she asked. ¡°I want to meet you.¡± Nathaniel had been quietly monitoring the entire situation and even considered intervening as soon as things took a turn for the worse. To his surprise, Christina saved the day herself. One thing was for sure-the youngdy was not to be underestimated. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you miss me?¡± Nathaniel teased, his voice so silky smooth that there was no way one could be mad at him Christina pursed her lips. Oh gosh. How is he always flirting with me, regardless of the situation? ¡°I¡¯ll give you three seconds. If you can appear before the time is up, I¡¯ll admit I miss you, she replied checkily With that, she craned her neck to look at the entrances on either side of the building. At that moment, there was nothing but emptiness and pin-drop silence. Nathaniel chuckled. ¡°Start counting¡± m Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Couple Watches Bathed in the warm glow of the street lights, Christina walked down the deserted streets and looked around her. The next second, she spoke into the phone. ¡°Three, two, one. As soon as she finished counting down, a sleek, ck Jaguar suddenly skidded to a halt in front of her, the gust of wind causing her skirt to fly up. It was, without a doubt, quite a sight to behold. Everything happened so fast that Christina jumped in shock, heaving a sigh of relief only when she saw Nathaniel stepping out of the driver¡¯s seat. Argh. I forgot that Nathaniel has many cars and changes them frequently. Sometimes I don¡¯t even recognize them¡­. Ever the gentleman, Nathaniel strode toward Christina and opened the passenger door for her. The inside of the car was slightly cold, and while Christina was fastening her seat belt, Nathaniel whipped out a beautiful gift box and ced it in her hand. ¡°Open it and have a look.¡± Christina did as instructed, only to find an exquisite custom-made watch nestled within. With its bezel embellished with several brilliant-cut diamonds, it was both luxurious and tastefully elegant. ¡°Thank you. Isn¡¯t this really expensive, though? I don¡¯t think I can ept it.¡± Upon hearing that, Nathaniel pulled up his sleeve to reveal a simrly designed watch around his left wrist. ¡°These are couple watches. What am I supposed to do if you don¡¯t wear yours? Wear them both?¡± Christina instantly burst intoughter. She would¡¯ve tly refused Nathaniel¡¯s gift in the past, but now, she was so touched by everything he had done for her that she couldn¡¯t find a reason to turn him down. With that thought in mind, she wore the watch on her right wrist to match Nathaniel. When the car stopped at the traffic lights, Christina suddenly realized they weren¡¯t headed toward her grandmother¡¯s ce. ¡°Where are you taking me to?¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Back to Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel replied matter-of-factly. Christina immediately puffed up her cheeks like a hamster. ¡°I haven¡¯t agreed to move back in with you.¡± Nathaniel turned his head to look at the woman, and for a moment, he was utterly mesmerized by how beautiful she was under the glow of the lights. I can¡¯t y hardball with her. I can¡¯t y hardball with her. I can¡¯t y hardball with her¡­ Having reminded himself, he gently pinched Christina¡¯s chin and ran his thumb over her lips. ¡°Please give up this stubborn resistance of yours as soon as possible. You¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°And what if I don¡¯t?¡± Christina retorted, looking especially bewitching with her flutteringshes and cheeky grin. Nathaniel moved his hand to the back of her head and lightly pulled her to him, his gaze dark and intimidating. The next second, he tilted his head and leaned into her car. ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll just have to badger you to death until you willinglye back to me.¡± For a moment, Christina was stunned. Oh, my¡­ What is this power that he has over me? Why does his voice always make me shudder uncontrobly? Besides, why does this love confession sound more like a ruthless businessman trying to force a deal? When the traffic lights finally turned green, Nathaniel turned the car around and drove toward Evelyn¡¯s house in the eastern district. Less than half an hourter, the car stopped in front of a small vi, its courtyard dimly lit with a warm yellow light Christina unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You don¡¯t have to get down. I can head inside myself. By the way, regarding thepetition¡­ Thank you.¡± By then, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and it was clear to see she was somewhat embarrassed. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened as he held the back of Christina¡¯s head and leaned in to kiss her. A whileter, he let go of the woman in his arms, albeit with much reluctance. Christina, on the other hand, hastily said goodnight to him and stepped out of the car. She jogged into the house, her heart pounding like a drum as she did. The man¡¯s scent lingered on her lips, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t get the sight of them locking lips out of her mind¡­ The next day, Christina had to make a mad dash to the office after having overslept. Gina approached her and handed her an employment letter. ¡°Congrattions! From today onward, you¡¯re no longer an intern. You¡¯re officially a designer at Radiant Corporation! Best of luck!¡± ¡°Thank you. Ms. Tanner, Christina replied as she stared at the official letterhead, happy that the company had finally recognized her abilities.. Bing a designer was her first step forward, but the work of one was far from being a walk in the park. Not only did Radiant Corporation create designs for its own brand, but it also coborated with several otherpanies. As such, Gina assigned Christina to follow and learn from another designer, Anna. ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat, Christina!¡± Anna said proudly. ¡°Our next coboration is with one of the biggest celebrities, Xandra Sullivan!¡± It was undeniably an honor to work with an A-list celebrity, but to Christina, Xandra¡¯s name was one that she dreaded hearing. Previously, we parted ways on a sour note at the store. If Xandra finds out I¡¯m in charge of designing her clothes now, I¡¯m sure she¡¯d make things difficult for me¡­ Despite that, Christina forced a smile and nodded. ¡°Yes, Ms. Anna.¡± As it turned out, it was also Anna¡¯s first time working with a top celebrity, so her enthusiasm was palpable. ¡°Pack your things. We¡¯re going for a meeting in the conference room.¡± ¡°Huh? Is Xandra already here?¡± Christina muttered in shock. ¡°Are we meeting her now?¡± ¡°Oh, you ignorant child. She may be a celebrity, but she¡¯s still human. As her designers, it¡¯s our job to meet with her and learn about her requirements,¡± Anna scoffed. Ha! This must be her first time meeting someone so famous. That¡¯s why she¡¯s scared. Without further ado, she shoved a pile of documents into Christina¡¯s hands and led her to the conference room. Three people-Xandra, her assistant, and Zachary-were already seated and waiting inside. Interestingly enough, Xandra showed no trace of surprise when she saw Christina walking in. Instead, she gazed at thetter like a hunter zeroing in on his prey. Zachary smiled and wasted no time making the introductions. ¡°This is Anna, one of our most experienced senior designers. I have no doubt she¡¯d be able to design a dress to your liking¡± He had known Xandra for as long as he knew Nathaniel, so one could say that they were all old friends. To his surprise, Xandra threw a dress design draft onto the table. It was Anna¡¯s sketch, and from the looks of it. Xandra wasn¡¯t happy with the design. ¡°I don¡¯t think Anna¡¯s design suits my style. I want this other designer to do it,¡± Xandra said as she pointed a slender finger at Christina. Naturally, Christina was shocked to be picked, while Anna felt embarrassed to have her designs shot down so brutally. Meanwhile, Zachary was caught between a rock and a hard ce. He saw how angry Anna was, but since Christina had performed exceptionally well at thepetition, he decided to give in to Xandra. ¡°All right. If there¡¯s anything you aren¡¯t satisfied with. I¡¯ll get you another designer.¡± Xandra curled her lips into an enigmatic smile. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure Ms. Steele will do her best. As for Ms. Anna, why don¡¯t we assign her to be Ms. Steele¡¯s assistant?¡± After all, one person¡¯s solo effort was never enough toplete an evening gown. Anna instantly turned ashen-faced. It felt like she had fallen from grace, and the pain was excruciating ¡°No need. L¡­¡± Christina mumbled as a glint shed across her eyes. Xandra sure has learned a lot from her acting roles¡­ She¡¯s be so good at scheming! This ploy of hers is to turn everyone around me int my enemy¡¯ Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Preferential Treatment Before Christina could finish her words, Anna interrupted. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll be Christina¡¯s assistant. As long as we finish the job, it doesn¡¯t matter who¡¯s in charge.¡± Zachary nodded in satisfaction. Yes. That¡¯s the way it should be. We¡¯re apany, and teamwork is what¡¯s most important. ¡°That¡¯s all, then. You guys can leave now,¡± he ordered, eyes roaming over Christina¡¯s exquisite little face. Xandra felt her brows twitch as she clenched her fists tightly, Christina Steele¡¯s a viren! I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s seducing every man in her sight. ording to the housekeepers I bribed at Scenic Garden Manor. Christina has already moved out¡­ That must mean her rtionship with Nathaniel has turned sour! Otherwise, why would she live elsewhere instead of in a sprawling mansion? Just then, Xandra noticed a custom-made luxury watch on Christina¡¯s wrist. Ha. I know what Christina¡¯s family background is like. There¡¯s no way she can afford such an expensive watch. One of those men she seduced must¡¯ve bought it for her. Soon, Christina left the conference room with Anna. Whether Xandra had purposefully intended for it or not, her actions would undeniably cause Christina to attract the wrath of her colleagues. How could tongues not wag when a newly hired intern shot up the ranks overnight to be a chief designer? ¡°Nathaniel has returned from his work trip, hasn¡¯t he? Shall we meet for dinner tonight?¡± Xandra asked, grinning from ear to ear whenever she talked about Nathaniel. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll call him,¡± Zachary said before dialing thetter¡¯s number and getting a reply in less than ten seconds. ¡°Okay. He¡¯s down for it.¡± Xandra¡¯s face immediately lit up as she called out to Christina. ¡°I want to see the design first thing tomorrow morning. Would that be all right with you?¡± It was no easy feat toplete a design sketch in a short amount of time, and Anna knew that well. However, just as she was about to speak up for Christina, thetter stopped her. Oh, I know what Xandra¡¯s ying at. She¡¯s having dinner with Nathaniel tonight and doesn¡¯t want me to interfere. That¡¯s why she¡¯s making things difficult for me. ¡°Sure,¡± Christina answered before strutting out of the room and closing the door behind her. Once she was back at her desk, she calmed her racing thoughts and prepared to work. Anna, who was standing beside her, let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t know you guys were acquainted.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Christina eximed before realizing what Anna meant and smiled. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s deliberately putting me in a spot. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Carry on with your work,¡± Anna reassured and walked away. Ah¡­ After being in the fashion industry for so many years, this isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve been reced or transferred. It¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯m already used to it. As soon as Anna left, Christina threw herself back to work. She was now officially a designer, and letting personal grudges get in the way would be unprofessional. Without further ado, she scoured the inte for photos of Xandra in evening gowns. Thetter smiled brightly in all of them and carried herself with a regal bearing that fit her celebrity status. After analyzing her strengths and weaknesses, Christina finally had an idea for a dress. Even though it had be popr to use tablets and design software for sketches, Christina still preferred the old-fashioned method. After all, using the good old paper and pencil gave her the peace to think creatively. Just like that, Christina sketched out draft after draft and made several changes to the details. By the time the outline waspleted, it was already seven at night. Her other colleagues had left, leaving her all alone in the office. She stretched herself out, feeling content that the only thing left to do was the coloring. Having sat in her chair for an entire afternoon, Christina decided to grab a ss of water from the pantry when her phone suddenly rang. Nathaniel¡¯s deep voice rang out from the other end. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m working overtime. What about you?¡± Christina replied as she stepped into the pantry and instinctively checked the time. Hmm¡­ He¡¯s probably having dinner with his friends now. ¡°I¡¯m about to have my dinner. Have you eaten?¡± ¡°No,¡± the woman answered before gulping her water and letting out a satisfied sigh. The soft, pleasant sound was music to Nathaniel¡¯s ears, and he couldn¡¯t help but recall how pretty Christina¡¯s lips were. ¡°I¡¯ll go find you. We can have dinner together.¡± Before thetter could turn him down, he hung up and turned off his phone. Back in the private room, a spread of delectable dishes had beenid out on the table, and the fragrance of red wine permeated the air. Upon entering the room, Nathaniel saw Zachary andn sitting together, leaving an empty seat between themselves and Xandra. ¡°Here, Nathaniel. Take a seat,¡± Xandra urged. She had gotten herself all dolled up for the asion and even picked a beautiful diamond ne to complement her low-cut ck dress. One thing was for sure-she was every bit as pretty in real life as she was on television. Nathaniel merely nced at Xandra and sat beside Ian. Needless to say. Xandra was upset and embarrassed by the man¡¯s outright rejection. Thankfully, Zachary took the initiative to break the awkward silence and sat beside her. ¡°Nathaniel is such a bore, All women aren¡¯t any different from men in his eyes.¡± At least to them, that was the case. It was why Nathaniel was always cool as a cucumber in front of Women In response, Xandra merely smiled to hide her embarrassment. It¡¯s not true that he treats all women the same¡­ Christina, for one, gets treated very differently! Throughout the dinner, Nathaniel barely ate anything and only had a few sips of water. Ten minutester, a server entered the room and handed Nathaniel several takeaway boxes. With that, thetter stood up and excused himself. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. I have another appointment.¡± ¡°Leaving just like that after packing so much food?¡± Zachary teased. ¡°Be honest. Are you going on a date¡± ¡°Yes. Besides, you¡¯re treating us, so I had to order the most expensive dishes, Nathaniel muttered before striding out of the room Zachary, on the other hand, fumed in silence. Argh! Nathaniel¡¯s such an insensitive jerk! How dare he make me pay for his dates! Xandra didn¡¯t snap out of her daze until the door to the room closed. I-I saw the watch on Nathaniel¡¯s wrist when he grabbed the takeaway boxes earlier¡­ It¡¯s the same as the one Christina had! He¡¯s going to look for her! Oh, that wretched b*tch¡­ What gives her the right to receive preferential treatment from Nathaniel? I¡¯ll be sure to make life difficult for that b*tch tomorrow! Back in therge, spacious office, it was mostly dark except for the area Christina was in. She had been busy coloring the design draft and had justpleted it when she heard the door opening. Nathaniel was so tall that he towered over the desks, making it easy for Christina to spot his handsome face when she lifted her gaze. With his neatly styled hair, ck tailored suit, and that unmistakable glint in his eye, one look from him was enough to sweep countless young women off their feet. The closer Nathaniel got to Christina, the more thetter could see the takeaway boxes in his hands. Oh¡­ So that¡¯s what he meant when he suggested having dinner together. He was going to order takeout. The next second, Christina hastily cleared the table and took the five big boxes from Nathaniel. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hmm¡­ Are there no carbohydrates like potatoes or pasta?¡± she asked as she looked up at the man. For a moment, Nathaniel was taken aback. ¡°No.¡± As could be seen, it was his first time ordering takeout, and he was utterly clueless about the need for a more substantial carbohydrate dish. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Design Knowledge. Christina chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯s all good. Eating these without carbs can be just as satisfying as anything else.¡± She offered him her seat and sat beside him. Eating just the food would make them thirsty, so she diligently poured two cups of warm water for the two of them. Nathaniel had never experienced having a meal with in water before, and his eyes were drawn to the pink cup. Curiosity bubbled up within him as he wondered if that was the cup Christina usually used to drink water. ¡°Eat up.¡± she urged, putting a piece of meat on his te. In response, Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and retracted his gaze. They were sitting so close to each other that if either of them moved their arms, it would cause them to come into contact with each other. Nathaniel was too eye-catching, so Christina could not help but steal nces at his profile. He was an exceptionally cultured person, and he ate his food at a leisurely pace. His teeth were grinding, but his mouth stayed closed. Due to his firm pectoral muscles, his broad chest seemed on the brink of bursting through the fabric of his crisp white shirt. Nathaniel suddenly let out a soft cough, startling Christina so much that she quickly looked away. Without saying a word, he reached out an arm and picked up the cup before bringing it to his lips and sipping at it. The rim of the cup smelled faintly of Christina¡¯s lipstick, and when he sipped from it, the water was delightfully sweet. When Christina discovered he was using her cup and his lips were touching the lipstick stain she had left on it, she said, ¡°You took the wrong cup. That¡¯s mine.¡± Nathaniel nonchntly swept his gaze over the cup. There was no hint of astonishment in his demeanor as he ced the cup aside and remarked. ¡°I don¡¯t like using disposable cups.¡± It was clear to her that he had not taken her cup wrongly. Instead, he had deliberately chosen to use her cup. After they had finished lunch, Christina cleared the table and disposed of the rubbish in the bin before heading back to her office, where she found Nathaniel perusing her design. ¡°Do you have knowledge of design as well?¡± she asked curiously. The man raised his head to give her an unfathomable look. ¡°I¡¯m the boss, after all.¡± pantry¡¯s As the owner of Radiant Corporation, he was undoubtedly required to possess aprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, Radiant Corporation had managed to take the fashion world by storm in a rtively short period, and its sess was not merely attributable to a handful of talented designers. cing her arms behind her back, Christina regarded him with a sincere gaze as she inquired. ¡°What do you think about my design?¡± In her opmon, her design was overall eptable, but there was somethingcking that she could not quite identity Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel pu her design down and stared at her. ¡°I do have some opinions about it. Come closer to me, and I¡¯ll tell you about it.¡± There¡¯s no one here Why would he need to whisper? Despite her puzzlement, Christina stood on tiptoes as she leaned her head forward in an attempt to close the distance between them. This brings back memories. Back when I was still a student. I used to gossip with my ssmates in this manner because we had to be wary of others. As she moved closer, her bodily scent drifted into Nathaniel¡¯s nostrils, filling him with an awareness of her neartiesS. Without warning, he tilted his head slightly and brushed his lips across her cheek in what seemed like an unintentional gesture Caught by suprise, Christina delt her hackles rise as she believed he was taking advantage of her. She was about to respond with a scathing retort when he unexpectedly said, ¡°I¡¯ve gone ahead and edited the design for you.¡± Christina huffed angrily as she picked up her draft. Indeed, there were marks of edits on the paper. Upon scrutiny, she noted that the majority of the changes had been to the color scheme. He had reced her orignal colors with an elegant yellow and a stylish blue. Thebination of those two colors created a stark contrast that looked high-fashion and modern. Her design looked so much more aesthetically pleasing then. Contented, Christina decided to drop the matter. Once the duo packed up their things, they left thepany together. Knowing that it was important to remain anonymous from their previous experience, she had the foresight to cover her face with a mask and pull a cap over her head to obscure her identity. After shooting a nce at her, Nathaniel asked. ¡°Is it that embarrassing to be seen with me?¡± He seemed displeased to see her all wrapped up. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be gossiped about by others,¡± Christina replied. She had no interest in getting caught up in any kind of scandal, preferring instead to stay focused on her work. At that, he quirked the corners of his lips into a smile. ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll give you a ride home¡± The following day, Xandra arrived at the office early in the morning and demanded to see the design Gina was present in the reception room as well. Right after walking through the door. Christina presented the design she hadpleted the night before. Xandra took the design from her and threw it on the floor two secondster. ¡°What kind of design is this? It¡¯s hideous¡± Christina¡¯s expression changed slightly. Without even taking the time to examine it closely, she carelessly threw away my design in less than three seconds and harshly criticized it. Xandra¡¯s ruthless action of stepping on the design that she had crafted with painstaking precision over the course of one day caused a wave of humiliation to wash over her, leaving her feeling as though her pride had been utterly wounded. Christina clenched her teeth silently. At university, her lecturer taught them not to doubt their own designs as everyone had different tastes. Patiently, she inquired, ¡°Ms. Sullivan, could you please tell me what you dislike about the designi? 1 would be more than happy to make whatever alterations you require.¡± With arms akimbo, Xandra replied carelessly. ¡°I like nothing about it. Prepare another design for me.¡± She was making trouble for Christina on purpose, being of the opinion that she was the client and clients were always right. Serves you right for wearing a couple¡¯s watch and taking Nathaniel away from my mealtime with him. It thrilled Xandra immensely that she was able to release her pent-up frustrations onto Christing after being snubbed by Nathaniel. Gina, who was watching from the side, could tell that Christina was in a tough spot, but she knew it was pointless to intervene in the situation at the moment. After all, Xandra was intent on making things as difficult as possible for Christina. Although Gina had no idea what their conflict was, she felt that Christina was truly unlucky to get Xandra as her client. ¡°Okay. I¡¯lle up with another design,¡± Christina said as she bent down to pick up her draft, brushing off any dust that had gathered on it. Thank goodness that it didn¡¯t get dirty. Raising her bright eyes, she met Xandra¡¯s gaze and announced. ¡°This gown was designed ording to your figure, Ms. Sullivan. Since you dislike it, I shall hand it to Ms. Michelle Ledger, then. Anyway, her figure is the same as yours, so I believe she¡¯ll also look gorgeous in it,¡± Michelle and Xandra both made their debuts during the same period, and their styles were strikingly simr as both were mature and sophisticated. As a result, they often found themselves inpetition. for the same work opportunities. Xandra had been overshadowed by Michelle on the red carpet a couple of times. If she were to lose another bout with her rival, she would undoubtedly be theughingstock of the entire showbiz. ¡°How could you give the design I rejected to someone else?¡± Xandra scowled. ¡°That¡¯s right. You rejected it, so why can¡¯t I give it to someone else?¡± Christina felt as though she had heard a joke. Aware of Christina¡¯s intentions. Gina gave her a nce before chiming in, ¡°Ms. Sullivan, we have the right to provide the design you rejected to other clients. Unless, of course, you would like to keep it for yourself.¡± Christina was delighted to learn that her team leader was on her side. Xandra clenched her teeth silently. While it was important for her to make things difficult for Christina, it would be worse if her rival were to steal her thunder. Having made up her mind, she snatched the design from Christina and dered, ¡°Your design isn¡¯t particrly remarkable, but I¡¯d look great in anything since Im pretty. This gown belongs to me!¡± ¡°Okay, then. We¡¯ll do our best toplete the gown as soon as possible.¡± Christina retrieved the design and strode out of the reception room. Back at her office, she could not help but allow a soft chuckle to escape her lips. The whole scenario of Michelle working in coboration with them was merely a fabricated story on her end. During her research, she discovered that Michelle and Xandra were often seen inpetition with each other, with their feuds constantly making their way into the news headlines. Hence, she had nned to use bring up Michelle should Xandra try to make things difficult for her. The work day went exceptionally well for Christina. When it was about time to get off work, her mood was suddenly ruined by a phone call from the Steele residence. ¡°Christina Steele, get your butt back home now!¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 I Am Busy At Work Hearing Gideon¡¯s impatient voice at the other end of the line, Christina had to fight back the urge to hang up on him. ¡°What is this about? I¡¯m busy at work,¡± she responded indifferently. Gideon took a deep breath, and his voice turned grim as he said, ¡°It¡¯s already the end of a workday, so come back home now. This is about your mother.¡± At the mention of her mother. Christina felt her heart leap to her throat. ¡°I¡¯lle back home now.¡± After hanging up, she quickly tidied her desk and left. When Christina pulled up in a taxi to the Steele residence, the imposing ck steel gates were already. wide open. She got out of the taxi and made her way into the house. Before she even stepped into the house, she could hear Emilia¡¯s coy voice. ¡°Nathaniel, try some of the white strawberries. They were flown in this morning!¡± Nathaniel was not at all interested in the fruits, so Miranda told the housekeeper to bring them some tea. ¡°Nathaniel, have some tea. This is an expensive and delicious variety imported from Ustrana.¡± Lounging on the ivory-white couch. Nathaniel had his legs crossed in a graceful manner. His top for the day was a white shirt and ck vest that drew attention to his well-built body, and his pants were perfectly ironed out with no signs of creases. Like himself, his attire was cold and unapproachable. His ebony eyes were slightly narrowed as he regarded the elegantly-dressed mother and daughter with a gleam of frostiness in his gaze. The price of the snacks on the table is sufficient to pay for Christina¡¯s tuition fees for an entire year. Just how do they usually bully my girl? ¡°You¡¯re Emilia Steele, right?¡± Nathaniel suddenly spoke up. Emilia grew excited to hear her name fall from the man¡¯s lips. ¡°You remember my name. Nathaniel?¡± she replied, nodding eagerly. The man¡¯s brows furrowed together. ¡°You are both daughters of the Steele family, so why is Christina wearing such inexpensive clothing while you are dressed so extravagantly?¡± He sounded as if he was interrogating prisoners, pressing them for immediate responses without allowing them a moment to pause and consider their replies. Emilia was taken aback to hear Nathaniel pose such a sharp inquiry. After all, she had not anticipated him to do so before everyone else, nor was she as acute as Christina to be able to react to it immediately. Since we were young. Mom never bought pretty clothes for Christina or treated her well. Despite being known to the public as the eldest daughter of the Steele family, Christina wears clothes that are cheaper than our housekeeper¡¯s Miranda offered a cating smile as she exined. ¡°Nathaniel, you may not know this since you haven¡¯t had many chances to spend time with Christina, but she has always been a hard-working girl and is used to living a frugal lifestyle. This is why she isn¡¯tfortable wearing clothes of famous brands or living in luxury.¡± In an instant, Emilia was filled with admiration for her mother and inwardly praised her for giving Nathaniel such a suitable exnation. ¡°That¡¯s right, Nathaniel Christina doesn¡¯t like wearing expensive clothes.¡± Christina, standing in the doorway, never anticipated that she would hear such deceptive words as soon as she reached home. How could she say I don¡¯t like wearing expensive clothes? Miranda never bought me anything but always spoils Emilia with costly garments. Not only that, but she would often serve delicious meals to Emilia¡¯s room while I would be subjected to her abuse in the form of yelling and physical punishments. The childhood trauma left an unelidable mark in her heart. Nathaniel was not foolish enough to trust their nonsense. ¡°Christina doesn¡¯t like wearing cheap brands. like these, so I make sure to provide her with clothes from international brands. Most importantly, Christina looks gorgeous in anythin He was indirectly mocking that Emilia could never rival Christina in terms of beauty, regardless of how expensive her attire might have been. To their consternation, Nathaniel sounded affectionate whenever he mentioned Christina¡¯s name. Miranda was observant enough to realize that Nathaniel was very protective of Christina. Any negative comments about her would likely be met with his displeasure. With that, she gave Emilia a pinch covertly. When their eyes met, through her gaze, she hinted at the latter to cease antagonizing Nathaniel. Afterward, she shot Nathaniel an apologetic smile. ¡°You¡¯re right, Nathaniel. Christina is indeed a sensible child.¡± A faint smile slowly spread across the man¡¯s face when he heard her words of praise for his wife. It was only then that his spirits were finally lifted. Meanwhile, Christina felt warmth enveloping her heart, and she could not help but smile softly. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. It came as a surprise to her that Nathaniel was willing to defend her to that extent. He even deliberately. satirized Miranda and Emilia, Well, to be honest, it¡¯s quite exhrating to see them be humiliated by him. Just as she was about to head into the house, Gideon grabbed her arm from behind. Christina looked over her shoulder and retracted her arm from his grip. ¡°What is it, Dad?¡± Gideon¡¯s expression was solemn as he handed her a document. This is a project ourpany preparing to develop. I¡¯d like to coborate with Nathaniel, so have him sign this document.¡± Oh, so this was why he summoned me back home. He wants me to get Nathaniel to sign this document. No wonder Nathaniel is here, too. They must¡¯ve invited him here without informing me in advance. Instead of epting the document, Christina said, ¡°I usually don¡¯t interfere with his work affairs. If you have anything to discuss with him, do it yourself.¡± Her tone was t but was still surprisingly melodic and pleasant to the car. Nevertheless, her face was expressionless, giving her a distant and detached air Gideon had not expected Christina to reject his request Instinctively, he wanted to fly into a rage bur was forced to curb his temper and put on a fake smile upon glimpsing Nathaniel¡¯s gaze on them ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to ask for his help. You¡¯re my daughter and Nathaniel¡¯s wife, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get him to. sign this easily, he exined, thrusting the document into her hands without waiting for her reply. In that instant, Christina felt like a donkey being forced to dance. Her rtionship with Nathaniel was far from intimate, in which the two of them could give of themselves selflessly to one another without a second thought. Just as she intended to reject Gideon again, he had already stridden into the living room ¡°Nathaniel, why don¡¯t you join us for dinner?¡± he asked politely, standing next to the couch. In the face of the Hadleys, who had a much greater social standing than them, the Steeles had to constantly maintain an ingratiating attitude, regardless of the time and ce. Christina felt disgusted by their behavior. When she joined them in the living room, Nathaniel raised his head to look at her and asked, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± It was quite evident to everyone working in the Steele household that Nathaniel¡¯s tone became considerably gentler when he spoke with Christina. They reckoned that he would not even consider setting foot in the Steele residence if it were not for her presence. In fact, his behavior toward Christina made them surmise that he would forbid others from having dinner if she did not feel like eating. Christina could not help but feel a slight sense of tion when she perceived Emilia ring at her enviously from the corner of her eye. Turning to Nathaniel, she shed him a grin and replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m hungry Her eyes were shining with anguid and adorable look. If not for the fact that they were in public, Nathaniel would not have been able to suppress the urge to take her in his arms and pinch her checks. After getting to his feet, he took Christina¡¯s hand and announced, ¡°Let¡¯s eat¡± Gideon led them to the dining room, where they took their seats. During dinner, it was mostly he and his wife who did the talking. Nathaniel rarely spoke as he was busy serving Christina food. In the past Miranda would always go out of her way to serve Emilia first, but on that day, all the scrumptious dishes were ced on Christina¡¯s te. At that sight, Emilia could not help but feel that someone had taken over her rightful ce. A deep-seated sense of envy and jealousy raged in her heart. The anger she felt prompted her to grit her teeth so hard that her gums even began to bleed. Thanks to Nathaniel, Christina had her first-ever filling meal at the Steele residence. Just as she was about to munch on a piece of meat, something warm pressed against the outer side of 3/4 her thigh. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Teach Her A Lesson The family dinner was a solemn affair. However, beneath the table, there was something else happening between Christina and Nathaniel. When the man¡¯s warm hand came to rest on Christina¡¯s knee, her body trembled in shock, and she nearly dropped the piece of meat. Tilting her head, she red at him surreptitiously to tell him to cut it out.. Yet, it only caused Nathaniel to be amused. Meeting her widened eyes, he found her anxious demeanor endearing and utterly adorable. He then ignored the warning look in her eyes and continued eating in an elegant manner akin to a prince¡¯s. Christina was the most impressed by how he could maintain a tranquil expression throughout it all, as though he was not the one touching her knee beneath the table. His mastery in masking his real emotions reminded her of an experienced magician. When his hand stopped moving across her thigh, Christina assumed that he no longer found it fun, so she proceeded to ignore him. No sooner had she crammed the meat into her mouth and began to chew than she suddenly coughed. and expelled the contents of her mouth onto the face of Emilia, who had been seated directly across from her. A deathly hush fell over the dining table. No one expected Christina to be capable of doing something as rude as spitting out food during the meal. Emilia came to her senses and btedly realized that Christina had spat food on her face, causing her delicate makeup to be ruined entirely, ¡°Ah! Christina, why are you so uncouth? This is disgusting!¡± she screamed tearfully as she ran away. At that sight, the housekeepers could not help but snicker among themselves. Gideon had hoped to have Emilia showcase her best qualities in front of Nathaniel so as to make a good impression on thetter, but his hopes were dashed. He glowered at the housekeepers to stop them fromughing at his beloved daughter. Someone let out a derisive chuckle beside him. At once, sheer anger washed over Gideon, and he vowed to fire the housekeeper who had the audacity tough at his daughter. He shifted his gaze toward the source of thatughter, only to see Nathaniel propping his right arm on the table with his fingertips on his lips. One could not deny that the smirk on thetter¡¯s face was downright mesmerizing. Mr. Hadley was the one who snorted! At that realization, Miranda and Gideonpsed into silence, their expressions turning as ck as thunder. It was never Christina¡¯s intention to humiliate Emilia. They might be at odds, but she was not uncivilized. Then, she shot a discreet look at Nathaniel, the culprit. It was all his fault! I only spit out the food in my mouth because he frightened me by pinching my thigh when I was focused on eating! Fury brimmed in Miranda¡¯s eyes, but she dared not reveal her displeasure toward Christina as Nathaniel was still around. Miranda waited until she finished her food before she headed to Emilia¡¯s room to check on thetter. doing so under the excuse of needing the bathroom. Emilia had washed her face, but her makeup was all smeared. She looked like she had juste out of the pool. ¡°Mom, Christina must have done that on purpose! Teach her a lesson on my behalf!¡± Emilia whined. Heartbroken at how miserable Emilia looked, Miranda took her hand andforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad and quickly clean yourself up. Show them what you¡¯re made of by taking Nathaniel away from her. I can¡¯t help you if you stay in your room and wallow in despair.¡± Emilia felt that her mother¡¯s words made sense. Stealing Nathaniel away from Christina was her only way to take revenge on thetter. Afterforting Emilia, Miranda walked out of the bedroom. By then. Christina had finished her meal and was about to leave with Nathaniel. Since the start of the dinner, Christina had not mentioned a word about the coboration to Nathaniel. so Gideon grew increasingly anxious and repeatedly gave her looks to remind her s, Christina refused to meet his eyes and merelymunicated with Nathaniel briefly. A wave of fury crashed through Gideon, but he could notsh out at her. After some deliberation, he said. ¡°Christina, you previously mentioned that you would discuss the coboration with Nathaniel. How did it go?¡± Nathaniel tilted his head to look at the woman beside her. ¡°What coboration? You didn¡¯t tell me anything about it.¡± Christina wanted to leave after finishing the strawberries; she could not be bothered to mention the coboration. Having grown up without any mary support from Gideon, she was not willing to assist the Steele family in any way that could potentially lead to their sess. It was none of her concern, anyway Christina popped a white strawberry into her mouth. As expected, imported strawberries are sweeter than locally sourced ones. After Gideon red at her for the second time, she answered slowly. ¡°Steele Group wants to coborate with Hadley Corporation, but I don¡¯t think that is necessary. After all, Steele Group will be taking advantage of Hadley Corporation in the coboration as theyck the financial resources and connections required to do things on their own. I¡¯m trying to save Dad¡¯s face and prevent others from 9/1 using our family of riding on Hadley Corporation¡¯s coattails¡± Never in Gideon¡¯s wildest dreams did he think Christina would have the guts to be so blunt. He felt rage pulsing through his veins. Not only did she degrade Steele Group, but she also used me of being shameless! That¡¯s absurdly outrageous of her! The tension crackled in the air. If Nathaniel were not present, Gideon would have long ordered. someone to fetch him a stick so that he could give his unfilial daughter a severe beating. It was rare for Christina to be so bold as to go against Gideon fearlessly. In the past, she had tried pleasing the Steele family and endured many grievances for her mother¡¯s sake. She even allowed them to arrange her marriage, but they still did not change their attitudes and continued treating her badly, Right then, Nathaniel picked up the document from the table and nced at it. ¡°We¡¯re a family, so this is not taking advantage of me. I¡¯ll bring this home to review it and will give you my answer as soon as possible.¡± His words had a calming effect, like a bucket of water dousing the mes of rage that had been smoldering within the room. Gideon¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Sure thing! Take your time, Nathaniel. You can call me if you need rification on anything, or I can visit your office and exin things if needed.¡± Christina snorted inwardly. What a shameless dog. Her smile never wavered, and she hid her annoyance deep in her heart. No one could tell her true emotions. Herplexion was so luminous that it almost seemed as if a filter had been applied to her skin. Her silky, dark hair framed her small face, making her look like an enchanting fairy that had recently descended from the heavens. Her beauty was precisely why people were envious of her. Christina stretchedzily and pressed her hands on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. Gazing at his handsome face, she said, ¡°I¡¯m tired. Can we go home and sleep now?¡± Nathaniel was captivated by the inadvertent cuteness in her behavior. ¡°Mm. Let¡¯s go.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Gideon saw them to the door in an obsequious manner. Right then, Emilia descended the stairs and hollered. ¡°Wait up, Nathaniel!¡± She took extra care with her appearance, having applied a new makeup look and chosen clothes that were more daring than usual. Since she was a few centimeters shorter than him, her deliberate outfit choice of an off-shoulder chiffon shirt made sure that he would get an eyeful of her cleavage if he were to lower his gaze. Disgusted, Christina hurried Nathaniel along. As Nathaniel walked away, Emilia grew anxious and hastened to catch up with him. She was sure she could outshine Christina in her pretty clothes. Wait up, Nathaniel! Ah!¡± Delighted that she had finally caught up with Nathaniel, Emilia reached out boldly to grab his arm. Without any warning. Christina used her ankle to trip Emilia, causing thetter to fall head-first onto the pebbled path. The pain prompted her to yelp in pain. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Afraid Of Me Emilia¡¯s newly done makeup was smudged, and she was even more humiliated than before. ¡°Haha! I know you can¡¯t bear to watch me leave, Emilia, but you don¡¯t have to give me such an epic farewell!¡± Christinaughed cheekily. Nathaniel then held Christina¡¯s hand and brought her into the Maybach before driving off By the time Emilia had risen to her feet, the car was long gone, and she was left with a few swollen bruises on her forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll get back at you, Christina!¡± Emilia was livid. ¡°Wow! I didn¡¯t expect Ms. Steele to have such a nice figure!¡± ¡°It seems like Mr. and Mrs. Steele have been feeding their daughter well! Haha!¡± Emilia only realized something was wrong when she heard sniggering and perverted remarksing from around her. It turned out that her top had split open as a result of the fall At that moment, her assets were for everyone to see, and needless to say, the male housekeepers in the courtyard were enjoying the view. ¡°Ah!¡± Emilia covered herself up with her hands and ran back into the house while screaming. hysterically. Gideon shouted furiously when he saw his favorite daughter getting embarrassed. Although he ordered the housekeepers to keep their mouths shut, he couldn¡¯t stop them from thinking about what they had seen. After all, they already ingrained the memory of how fair her skin was in their minds. Miranda heard Emilia¡¯s wails, so she and Gideon immediately went into the room to check on Emilia. Emilia was all wrapped up in her nket, and she was crying her eyes out. Miranda¡¯s heart wrenched as she said. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Emilia. You have the most beautiful eyes. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This is all Christina¡¯s fault! I hate her!¡± Emilia screamed at the top of her lungs. Gideon was also trying to console Emilia by saying, ¡°Cheer up, Emilia. Your mom and I will help you. get Nathaniel back. That brat can¡¯t possibly beat the three of us.¡± Although Christina had formed a connection with the Hadley family, they were still not reaping the benefits because Christina wouldn¡¯t let Nathaniel help them. The only way the Steele family could do to change the situation was by pairing Emilia and Nathaniel up. Therefore, Gideon knew they had to use some tricks to make it happen. Soon, the car arrived at a ce with white fences and a patch of grass. The ck Maybach came to a halt on the path in front of the courtyard, and Christina was unbuckling her seat belt and getting ready to get out of the car. With a hand on the steering wheel, Nathaniel gazed at Christina¡¯s pretty face and asked. ¡°Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ve helped you again. Even if you¡¯re not nning to reward me, shouldn¡¯t you at least say something nice to praise me?¡± Christina scoffed in annoyance, crossing her arms. ¡°Who told you to promise Gideon you would cooperate with him? You didn¡¯t need to stoop so low for my sake.¡± She hated the fact that the Steele family was taking advantage of her rtionship with Nathaniel. ¡°I was doing it for your own good,¡± Nathaniel answered in a meaningful tone. When he was talking, he even deliberately used a deep and sexy voice. Christina merely looked at him silently, waiting for him to provide an exnation. ¡°If I were to reject him, he would surely make your life difficult, no? Although I gave him a verbal agreement, it doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t stall him. In the meantime, he¡¯ll get off your back on my ount.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s exnation was reasonable, and realization finally dawned upon Christina. ¡°In that case, thank you. I¡¯ll go now. Goodnight!¡± With that, she quickly got out of the car. The car was parked on the other side of the entrance, so she had to walk around the car to get to the entrance. As she was walking past the front of the car, Nathaniel suddenly grabbed her slim wrist. Staring at her with a slight frown and a sharp gaze, he asked, ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m a monster. Are you afraid I¡¯ll eat you up?¡± He bites, though. Christina sensed his terrifying aura, and she felt a chill go down her spine when their eyes met up close. ¡°Is there anything else? I¡¯m tired, and I want to sleep.¡± She narrowed her eyeszily, looking exceptionally adorable. Nathaniel knew she wanted to flee, so he said, ¡°You can only leave after you give me a kiss.¡±, ww Christina knew she couldn¡¯t talk her way out of it, so she had no choice but toply with his domineering request. She stood on her toes and gave him a perfunctory peck on his wless cheek. Right when she thought she had already fulfilled his wishes, Nathaniel suddenly held the back of her head and pushed her toward him. Their lips were pressed tightly against each other. The lights from the car shone on them, elongating their ovepped shadows. Christina was forced to tilt her head upward and reciprocate the kiss. Their breaths entangled as the kiss deepened. All of a sudden. Nathaniel lifted her off her feet and carried her from the head of the car to the side. where the lights wouldn¡¯t reach them. Amidst the dimness, the atmosphere between them changed swiftly. Without the light, Christina felt as though she was doing something inappropriate, worried that they would get caught at any moment. However, the passion and desire within her inexplicably grew even more intense under such circumstances. In the end, she sprinted into the house and ran all the way into her room before hiding under the nket. She could finally feel how rapidly her heart was pounding when silence enshrouded her. At the same time, all she could think about was Nathaniel¡¯s kiss. She used to think Nathaniel was either a boring and conservative person or an aloof and indifferent. man. However, he was constantly surprising her and debunking her perceptions of him. Nathaniel, you¡¯re just irresistible, aren¡¯t you? His charm and seductiveness never failed to make the pure and innocent Christina feel restless. The following day, Christina sat up from therge bed when the rm woke her up. After having a good night¡¯s rest, she could finally prevent her thoughts from running wild, Nathaniel had prepared racks of garments for her, enough for her to wear a different attire every day for a whole year. Upon arriving at the office, she started working- The next major event for thepany was the anniversary celebration. Xandra was the highlight of the event, and she was modeling the clothes designed by Christina. Recently, thepany executives decided to venture into the men¡¯s suit market. The Public Rtions. Department felt that the anniversary event was an opportunity to showcase thepany¡¯s products. Hence, they proposed to invite a male model to walk alongside Xandra during the fashion show. Apart from having a pair of stunning models showcasing the clothes, they could also publish a variety of designs. With that, thepany could be the talk of the town. During the meeting. Gina suggested having Christina design the male suit as well. Since the male model was walking alongside Xandra, it would only make sense if the models were wearing matching outfits designed by the same designer. The staff members in the design department agreed with the suggestion. After all, Christina had been. the center of attention in thepany and was a highly sought-after designer. Furthermore, they had only been designing outfits for females, so they were inexperienced in terms of designing men¡¯s outfits. Even if they were to snatch the job from Christina, they would only end up getting criticized for underperforming. In the workce, not doing anything was better than making mistakes. Christina epted the task and focused all her attention on it for the following month. Working overtime at night had be a norm for her. Fortunately, thepany was very amodating as it provided the employees with three enormous design and tailoring rooms. In fact, it was every designer¡¯s dream to have such facilities. One evening. Christina had a simple dinner and brought her tools to the tailoring room after altering her design draft. She was working on a piece of white cloth, and her fair and slender fingers handled the cloth deftly. and professionally. After a few cuts here and there, the in white cloth transformed into a shirt for men. While she was totally focused on her work, she didn¡¯t even notice someone had pushed the ss door open. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Strawberry Cake A man in ck entered the room, and by the time Christina realized someone was there, the man was already standing before her eyes. ¡°Yosef? Why are you still here?¡± she asked. That day. Yosef was dressed in a ck shirt and jeans that made him look even taller than he already was. With a long thin coat made of chiffon on the outside, he looked nothing short of dashing. Moreover, his handsome facial features made him look like a model off the cover of a magazine. Yosef then calmly asked in a concerned tone, ¡°I was about to leave, but I noticed how you¡¯ve been working overtimetely. Hence, I decided toe over to check on you.¡± Being a designer himself, he couldn¡¯t help but show another fellow design enthusiast some care. Christina handed him her design draft and uttered. ¡°I ran into some problems. Please let me know what changes I should make.¡± Ever since he was a university undergraduate, Yosef had been working in the industry and representing thepany in international designpetitions. Within a few years, he gained a reputation for himself, and everyone in the industry knew who he was. It would be too hypocritical of him if he were to behave modestly. He took Christina¡¯s design and checked it out thoroughly. It was a design of a men¡¯s suit with a neat and elegant style. Yosef put the draft aside and replied, ¡°The design is great, but itcks inspiration.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Christina asked. Is he calling me a dull person? ¡°Once you have a suit design in mind, you should picture a model wearing it. Only then can you find. the inspiration you¡¯re looking for,¡± Yosef reminded her earnestly. Christina had an epiphany as she stared at her design draft. Seeing that Christina had understood what he meant, Yosef patted her shoulder and said, ¡°Keep up good work.¡± With that, he left. the Christina let out a sigh while looking at her design draft. No wonder I kept feeling like itcked something. That¡¯s because I need a clear idea of what I want it to look like. From the beginning. I¡¯ve been using male models on posters to find inspiration. However, those were people in pictures, so the inspiration I get could be vague. That¡¯s why my design lacked uniqueness. With the drawing board in hand, Christina stared at the piece of nk paper while sitting at her desk. searching her mind for the perfect model she could envision. That was when the door was once again pushed open. Christina lifted her gaze and saw a man with a perfect body ratioing in. Under the faint yellow light, the man¡¯s gaze seemed deep and dark, and he was exuding a prideful and elegant aura. He was wearing a white shirt with its hem tucked in to show off his muscr body. As he walked, he was radiating male pheromone all over. ¡°What are you doing here, Nathaniel?¡± she asked. Nathaniel lifted his chin and uttered in a slightly arrogant tone. ¡°This is mypany. From an official standpoint, I¡¯m here to check on my employee. From a personal standpoint, however¡­¡± He suddenly narrowed his eyes like a cunning fox targeting a delicious bunny, and Christina blushed in response. ¡°You don¡¯t have to consider this from a personal standpoint. Just treat me as your employee.¡± Nathaniel shrugged and ced the strawberry cake that he had been carrying on the table. ¡°In that case, should I regard this cake as an official or an unofficial gesture?¡± The exquisite-looking box had the logo of Sweet Cheeks printed on it. Sweet Cheeks was the most famous bakery in the city, and only thirty cakes were sold each day. Hence, their cakes were hard to come by. Christina almost started salivating upon seeing the delicious-looking cream through the transparent box. ¡°It¡¯s already sote. How did you manage to get your hands on a cake from Sweet Cheeks?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s mood improved when he saw how happy she was. With a handsome smile on his face, he removed the golden ribbon on the box and said. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how incredible your husband is? It¡¯s a walk in the park for me to demand even a hundred cakes from them, let alone one.¡± The moment the box was opened, the amazing aroma of dairy permeated the room. Besides, the fresh strawberries and exquisite decorations on the cake made it look even more tantalizing. ¡°I know you¡¯re amazing. Mr. Hadley!¡± Smiling, Christina stood up to take the fork and the knife that came with the cake. Right when she was about to cut the cake, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist. His palm was so warm that she felt her wrist burning. Nathaniel took the knife from her and passed her a fork. ¡°Why would you cut such a beautiful cake? Why can¡¯t you just cat it whole?¡± Christina was stumped. ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to cut and share the cake in slices?¡± With a serious look on his face, Nathaniel replied, ¡°I don¡¯t cut my cakes. In fact, I don¡¯t divide any of my things. If I can¡¯t have it all to myself, I would rather not have it at all.¡± Seriously? It¡¯s just a cake. Does he have to be this possessive? Christina shed a casual smile and said, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s not cut it, then. I hope you won¡¯t mind my saliva Nathaniel smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve never had it.¡± Christina blushed and ignored his shameless statement before tasting a mouthful of cream. The silky-smooth creamplemented the strawberries¡¯ sweetness and the cake¡¯s texture magnificently. Thebined taste of the differentpartments of the cake was extremely delicious. That was not the first time Christina saw a cake from Sweet Cheeks, but she never got the chance to taste it before this. Miranda would often preorder cakes from Sweet Cheeks for Emilia, and they would then give their leftovers to the servants rather than share them with Christina. From that moment on, Christina vowed to work hard and make money on her own so that she could buy herself cakes from Sweet Cheeks. Obviously, she didn¡¯t expect her first cake from Sweet Cheeks to be a gift from Nathaniel. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina then passed Nathaniel a new fork and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want some?¡± She was still chewing strawberries when she talked, so her speech was a little slurred, sounding like an adorable kitten. A mere cake is enough to satisfy her and cheer her up. Is she innocent or just naive? Well, I like her either tay. Hearing that, Nathaniel inched toward her and said. ¡°Feed me.¡± Christina brought the fork to his mouth and fed him some cake. In response, he gazed at her affectionately and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s good.¡± After finishing the cake, Christina went to the pantry to make two sses of lemonade to wash the cake down. Suddenly, Nathaniel received a phone call and walked toward the window to answer it. It was most probably a business call because he was talking about some documentation issues. Now that her tummy was full, Christina nced at Nathaniel¡¯s straight back and could feel her inspiratione flooding in. I found the perfect model I was looking for! Within twenty seconds, Christina figured out what style and color she wanted for the suit. She then quickly picked up her pencil and started drafting as quickly as she could. By the time Nathaniel was done with his phone call, he returned to see her satisfied with the design she hade up with. ¡°Let¡¯s head home,¡± Nathaniel said. Christina nodded and kept her draft aside in satisfaction. When she turned around and stood up. identally fell into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, she Just like that, her soft body bumped into Nathaniel¡¯s muscr chest. The man didn¡¯t see thating. and was also caught by surprise. After taking a step backward, he wrapped his arms around her slim waist Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Make My Heart Race Both of them unexpectedlynded in each other¡¯s arms. A tinge of redness swiftly tainted Christina¡¯s cheeks, and her porcin skin only served to entuate the rosiness. The ovepping of both colors made her cheek look as gorgeous as a pink apple. Without a second thought, Nathaniel went in for the kiss and tasted the faint sweetness in her mouth. She makes my heart race without even doing anything! Before this, I thought I was only attracted to her because body didn¡¯t react the way it would when I was with other women. Now, however, I know that I¡¯ve fallen madly in love with this woman. My mind is filled with the different expressions she wears on her face when she¡¯s acting serious, when she talks, and when she¡¯s in my arms. All those scenes are deeply engraved in my soul, affecting every cell in my body. In fact, my blood burns with passion whenever I see her. ¡°We¡¯re in the office.¡± Christina frowned slightly and gave him a light nudge before gazing at the ss door behind him. It was so dark outside that she felt as though they were isted from the world. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m blocking you.¡± With that, Nathaniel kissed her again. Not only was he a lot taller than Christina, but he was also very muscr. Therefore, he had not problem blocking herpletely from view. Christina could feel her face heating up, and she was losing her rationality as she kissed him back. They moved from the side of the table to the floor-to-ceiling ss windows. Christina was eventually pinned against the window. While her back was facing the city lights, the man that made her heart thump wildly within her chest was right before her eyes. The scene was so breathtakingly beautiful and mesmerizing that one could easily get lost in it. The next day, Christina was done drafting the design of the suit by the time she reached thepany. She busied herself making the suit in the tailoring room for the next two weeks. Normally, the designer would have to personally tailor the outfit for the first time based on the design. Hence, Christina made sure to be very careful. This is my first show in Radiant Corporation, I shouldn¡¯t mess it up. Nathaniel had likewise been busy as well. However, she wasn¡¯t concerned with what he was busy with. He would asionally bring supper to the office for her before bringing her home. Although they were both so busy that they wouldn¡¯t even get to see each other for a few days in a row at times. Christina liked the way things were between them. It would be so tiring if we had to be with each other every single day. I think it¡¯s good that we both have our own careers and our own dreams to achieve. Furthermore, the show is happening next week. I still have to prepare the essories, so I will have my hands full. A day before the show, Gina went to check on Christina¡¯s progress. She has managed to get everything done on her own within such a short period of time. She¡¯s rather efficient, it seems, ¡°You have to be there early to get ready tomorrow afternoon. Make sure to arrange your time. properly,¡± Gina reminded. ¡°Yes, Ms. Tanner.¡± After chatting for a short while. Christina continued selecting her essories for the show. She only got off work that night after getting everything done and ready. Early the next morning, Christina arrived at the venue. It was an exhibition hall belonging to the Hadley family. Radiant Corporation¡¯s retail store was located on the first floor of the venue. Since there was a show that day, quite a few consumers were seen shopping in the store earlier than usual. A whileter, the seats below the stage were slowly upied, and it was filled up within half an hour. At that moment, the scene backstage was hectic. Xandra was sitting in a separate dressing room and was very uncooperative since the beginning. In fact, she was deliberately making things difficult for the designer. When the makeup artist went outside for a ss of water and a breather, she couldn¡¯t help but comin to her assistant. ¡°You ought to stay sharpter. Otherwise, Ms. Sullivan will try to find fault with us.¡± The assistant pouted and grumbled, ¡°You were merely praising her skin out of courtesy, but she really thought her skin was wless. The fact is that it was so hard to apply makeup on her face! If it weren¡¯t for your excellent skills, there would be no saving her face!¡± The makeup artist shook her head helplessly in response. ¡°She¡¯s in very bad shape today. No matter how pretty the dress is, it still can¡¯t conceal her weariness. ¡°When I was out with my friends at the barst night. I saw Xandra. She and her group of friends had a wild night, and they only left when the bar closed in the morning. How could she possibly do well today?¡± When those twodies were whispering, Christina showed up. She then greeted them with a nod before entering the dressing room. Xandra¡¯s expression turned grim when she saw Christina in the dressing room, and she merely shot Christina a nce and kept mum. Right then, an employee from the Public Rtions Department entered the room with the event itinerary in her hands. With a polite tone, the employee asked Xandra. ¡°Are you ready, Ms. Sullivan? We need to rehearse and familiarize ourselves with the scene.¡± Normally, fashion show models were required to familiarize themselves with the scene in order to prevent mistakes from happening. In response, however, Xandra let out a cold snort and mocked, ¡°Are the people from Public Rtions Department stupid or something? Why are you asking me to check out the scene personally? Are you looking down upon me?¡± It seemed like Xandra was directing her hatred for Christina at the employee from Public Rtions Department. In Xandra¡¯s defense, experienced models weren¡¯t required to do so. However, the employee was merely carrying out an order given by her superiors. Upon getting scolded for no reason, the employee was so terrified that words cluded her. Xandra wasn¡¯t bothered when she saw how startled the employee was. After all, that wasn¡¯t her first time reprimanding others in public. Not only was she used to seeing others looking dejected after getting scolded, but she also enjoyed it. Xandra then picked up herb and nonchntlybed her curly hair. ¡°I only agreed to attend this pathetic event for Mr. Shetti¡¯s sake.¡± With that. Xandra turned toward Christina and mocked, ¡°With such a cheap-looking design, I¡¯ll look like I¡¯m wearing rags. After the event, I think I have to tell Mr. Shetti to get rid of some designers with horrible taste.¡± As soon as those words fell. a long and awkward silence ensued. A number of colleagues at the scene looked at Christina silently. Even a fool could tell that Xandra was obviously mocking Christina. The white light showered on Christina, forming a slender shadow. At the same time, her gaze had turned cold, and she couldn¡¯t wait to disassociate herself from ¡°the designer with horrible taste¡± that Xandra was talking about. Three secondster, Christina raised her sharp gaze and uttered. ¡°Since you don¡¯t like the dress, Ms. Sullivan, please take it off.¡± The look in Christina¡¯s eyes was so cold that the atmosphere in the room suddenly became chilly. Besides, the way she was speaking so calmly proved that she was serious about what she said. Upon hearing those words, everyone in the room gasped. Has Christina gone mad? How could she ask Xandra, a superstar, to take off the dress designed by her? Even if the dress doesn¡¯t look good, Christina could stili make a name for herself if her design has been donned by a superstar! Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Already Defending Her To have a celebrity boost the poprity of one¡¯s design was an extremely rare opportunity, and yet, Christina was throwing it away as though it didn¡¯t mean a thing to her. Xandra¡¯s face was twisted with rage after she heard what Christina said. She jabbed a finger at Christina and shouted in a trembling voice, ¡°You dare ask me to take this dress off? You think I won¡¯t do it?¡± Xandra then tugged hard at the zipper on the dress as she continued insulting it. ¡°Your crappy dress isn¡¯t even worthy of being used as a rag!¡± The mes of anger burned brightly in Christina¡¯s eyes when she saw that the dress, which she had spent a whole month working really hard on, waspared to a rag. Had she not been raised well, Christina probably would have lunged at Xandra and ripped her hair out on the spot. While she was fine with others insulting her, her pride as a designer refused to tolerate insults to her designs. Besides, a model hating their outfit was one of the worst things that could happen when it came to fashion shows. After all, they wouldn¡¯t be able to showcase the outfit¡¯s beauty, and nobody would want to look at a model with a grumpy expression. While the models would usually wear serious expressions when walking down catwalks, they were doing it to showcase attitude, but in a good way. ¡°Take it off, then. Will the makeup artists please help Ms. Sullivan with the dress?¡± Christina said with a firm look in her eyes. She only asked the staff to help Xandra with the dress because she didn¡¯t want Xandra to ruin it on purpose. All Christina wanted was to showcase that dress, so she couldn¡¯t care less about using celebrities to boost its poprity. Xandra¡¯s face clouded over when she heard that. This was probably the first time she had ever suffered such humiliation since her debut in the entertainment industry. I didn¡¯t make it this far just to have some nobody insult me like this! I¡¯ll be sure to get my revenge! After changing into her casual outfit, Xandra red daggers at Christina and threatened, ¡°Just you wait! I¡¯ll make you regret this!¡± Christina pointed at the door. ¡°You may see yourself out now.¡± Xandra clenched her fists so hard that her knuckles made cracking noises as she left with her assistant. Christina¡¯s mind was in a mess at the time, so she couldn¡¯t be bothered to worry about Xandra getting back at her. Right now, I need to find myself a new model. With that in mind, she turned toward her assistant, who was still frozen in shock, and asked. ¡°Could you go find me a new model? I need one urgently.¡± Having snapped out of her daze, the assistant told her that there were no more candidates avable. Christina gasped in shock when she heard that. Oh, no¡­ This is bad¡­ How will I present my design without a model? I don¡¯t want to lose out on such a great opportunity just because of Xandra, but I don¡¯t know what I can do¡­ That was when her gaze fell upon her assistant, who was standing next to her. Hmm¡­ She¡¯s slender and has pretty eyes that go well with her facial structure. Most importantly, she¡¯s tall enough to make this work! ¡°How about you be my model instead?¡± Although the incident in the dressing room earlier had happened behind closed doors. Xandra gave Zachary a call to rant about it immediately after storming out of there. She also had her assistant write an article about that incident and publish it on the inte. ¡°Hey, Zachary! I only agreed to model for your show because you invited me, but your staff, Christina, told me to take the dress off! She had no respect for me at all!¡± Xandra eximed in a shrill voice. I am a celebrity! I will not allow a mere designer to humiliate me like this, or I will be the laughingstock of the city! At that moment, Zachary and Nathaniel were sitting in the VIP room and waiting for the show to start. While it was perfectly normal for Zachary to be there, Nathaniel was only there because of Christina. Having worked continuously for over twenty hours, Nathaniel was both physically and mentally drained. He only stayed so he could bring Christina home as soon as the show was over. As such, he was not expecting to hear such news before he even got the chance to behold Christina¡¯s design. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled into an impressed smile when he heard that Christina hadpletely shut down a nasty woman like Nandra. Zachary shot his friend a displeased re while apologizing to Xandra over the phone,forting her. He then confronted Nathaniel immediately after ending the call. ¡°I understand that Christina is very beautiful and all, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for you to be dating your own employee.¡± There was a hint of jealousy in his voice when he said that, I still remember the way Christina made me feel when I first saw her. I can¡¯t believe Nathaniel managed to beat me to her! Nathaniel simply shot him an icy-cold gaze without saying anything ¡°Because you¡¯ve been backing her up, she now has the audacity to offend celebrities! Is she going to disregard my authority as her boss too?¡± Zachary continued. ¡°What¡¯s there to respect about you? She is to be treated as my equal from now on, so I wille for you if anyone dares hurt her!¡± Nathaniel replied. ¡°Already defending her, huh? I suppose even the greatest of men can¡¯t resist the charms of a beautiful woman!¡± Zachary protested with a pout. Nathaniel shot him another cold gaze, warning him to shut up. Fortunately for Christina, her design was thest to be presented, so she had plenty of time to doll her assistant up. After getting her assistant ready. Christina gave her a little pep talk before it was her turn. The assistant encouraged herself inwardly before making her way over to the right side of the stage. She was supposed to walk in syne with the music alongside a male model and get off the stage after showcasing their outfits. Upon receiving a verbal cue from the backstage crew, she then stepped out with her head held high. The spotlight helped highlight the fine details of the dress when it shone on her, especially the perfect. design and expert tailoring. The dress was also form-fitting, which entuated her feminine curves even more. Christina used silk as the dress base material and added a thin veil over it, which made it look all the more elegant. As the assistant and the male model walked down the catwalk in sync with the music, they looked so great together that the audience gave them a huge round of apuse. Many even took pictures of the two and uploaded them online. Christina¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile as she admired her dress from beneath the stage. Who says you need a model to showcase your outfit? Anyone can steal the spotlight as long as they¡¯re confident enough! ¡°The design looks gorgeous, Radiant Corporation could use this dress as its gship product for the year, Nathaniel said, his deep voice sounding pleasant to the ears, Christina turned around and saw that he was standing right next to her. Nathaniel exuded a powerful air of elegance and pride that could win the hearts of any woman he encountered. ¡°What about the male model¡¯s outfit?¡± she asked. ¡°It looks nice,¡± Nathaniel replied with a smile. Christina let out a chuckle as she said. ¡°I think so too. It was designed with you in mind, so it¡¯s bound to look nice. I bet it would look even better on you!¡± Nathaniel propped his chin up with one hand and shot her a nce. ¡°Then maybe I should charge you for using me as your model,¡± he said while inching closer toward her. The sexual tension in the air continued to rise as their faces got closer and closer to each other. ¡°Wait! We¡¯re in public right now!¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Let Me Stay The Night He had her fingers tightly wrapped within the palm of his hand while he gently caressed them as if he was ying with a cute kitten. Christina knew that she should pull her hand back as they were standing in a public area. Though the spot they were at was inconspicuous, they were still surrounded by people. Staff and crew members would pass them by from time to time, so it was possible that someone would notice them standing next to each other. The lighting in the area was dim, but people could still notice them holding hands if they looked closely. Despite so, Christina was enjoying the warmth of his touch so much that she just stood there and stared dreamily at him. Her heart was beating rapidly as though she were a high school student falling in love for the first time. It was an incredibly thrilling sensation to sneakily do something she shouldn¡¯t have while at risk of being caught. It wasn¡¯t until the fashion show wasing to an end that Christina quickly pulled her hand back. ¡°I need to head backstage now.¡± Nathaniel shed her a smile and watched as she ran off. Because the fashion show was very sessful. Zachary wanted to reward the staff by treating them to a barbecue. He then proceeded to make the reservations and told them to head over to the restaurant shortly after. As Zachary had offered to treat them himself, the staff would have to go even if they didn¡¯t want to. It was about eleven by the time they were done cleaning up. Christina saw Nathaniel waiting for her next to his car the moment she stepped outside. The moonlight cast a faint silver glow over his slender figure and gave him an air of mystery, There was, however, a hint of exhaustion on his handsome face, which was probably the result of his overworking. Christina made her way over and asked worriedly, ¡°Are you tired? Let¡¯s go home, okay?¡± That was when Gina called and urged her to head over to the barbecue ce. As her design was the spotlight of the fashion show, everyone wanted to have a chat with her about it. Oh, well¡­ There goes my n to head home early¡­ If I don¡¯t go, everyone¡¯s going to be upset with me for being a killjoy. I suppose this is just something you have to deal with when you¡¯re in the corporate world. There are bound to be social gatherings that you simply have to attend. With that in mind, Christina shed him a sweet smile and said. ¡°How about you head on back without me? I¡¯ll just go there and hang out for a bit. It won¡¯t be long.¡± Nathaniel patted her on the head and tousled her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. Come on,¡± he replied while opening the car door for her. He then got into the car and drove straight toward the barbecue ce. Dozens of staff from two departments attended the gathering, so the entire restaurant was filled with Radiant Corporation¡¯s employees. The atmosphere was merry as the staff chatted away happily with each other. However, the entire ce fellpletely silent the moment Christina and Nathaniel entered the restaurant together. After all, they were not expecting to see their boss at the restaurant, especially with Christina by his side. Realizing that the atmosphere had be tense because of his presence, Nathaniel waved at them and said. ¡°No need to be so tense, you guys. Just rx and eat to your hearts content.¡± Having received the green light from Nathaniel, the staff slowly reverted to their rxed and merry state from earlier. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. As the two continued making their way inside the restaurant, Zachary called out to them from a table with lots of pretty women. ¡°Come join us!¡± Nathaniel and Christina then sat down next to Zachary with Nathaniel sitting in between them. As Nathaniel wasn¡¯t hungry, he just sat there with a solemn look on his face. The women at the table were all team leaders in thepany. Their hearts were racing like crazy because it was their first time being this up close and personal with Nathaniel. Some of them tried to build a closer rtionship with him by raising their sses at him, but he declined their toasts with the excuse of having to driveter. As such, they decided to shift their attention toward Christina instead. Since she was a junior at work, it would be rude for her to decline their toasts. Christina had no choice but to take small sips for every toast. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t deliberately. make things difficult for her, but even so, she still ended up downing a few sses of wine after several rounds. Being a lightweight, that was all it took for her to start getting dizzy. Nathaniel seized the opportunity to carry her in his arms and told them, ¡°She¡¯s drunk, so we¡¯ll be heading back now.¡± Although Christina was a little tipsy, she was still conscious and aware of what was going on around her. Why did Nathaniel have to carry me like this in front of everyone? What would the other colleagues think of us? As if that isn¡¯t bad enough, he even mentioned that we¡¯ll be heading back together! That¡¯s pretty much hinting to that we¡¯re staying under the same roof? There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be able to lie my way out of this one! everyone With that in mind, she pretended to be unconscious to avoid meeting her colleagues nosy and curious. gazes while Nathaniel carried her out of the restaurant. The cold night wind outside helped clear her head up a lot. ¡°How are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Would you like to drink some water?¡± Nathaniel asked as he carefully ced her in the passenger seat before caressing her forehead. Apart from slight dizziness, Christina did not feel any other difort. ¡°No, let¡¯s go home. I¡¯m tired.¡± she replied while shaking her head. Nathaniel nodded and made his way over to the driver¡¯s seat. He then rolled down her car window by a little to let some fresh air into the car. Christina¡¯s long hair fluttered in the wind while the light from the streetmps shed past her beautiful face, casting shadows under her long eyshes which gave her an air of vague sexiness. She was so tired that she dozed off after a few minutes. Seeing as she was still asleep when they arrived. home, Nathaniel parked the car outside the house and waited patiently. By the time she woke up, it was already one in the morning. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± she asked while unbuckling her seat belt. Nathaniel was tired too, but he chose not to wake her up because he wanted to gaze at her for a little while longer. ¡°Because you looked really tired.¡± Christina felt a warm sensation in her heart when she heard that. It felt as soothing as snuggling against a heater in winter. While ncing shyly at him, she noticed that Nathaniel looked even more tired than before. The dark. circles under his eyes were obvious. ¡°It¡¯s reallyte. You should hurry up and head home.¡± She was about to open the car door when she felt something press down on her shoulder. Upon turning around, Christina saw Nathaniel leaning against her with his head on her shoulder. ¡°It is indeed reallyte, and I am really tired. Would you let me stay the night?¡± he asked while nuzzling against her neck. ¡°Huh?¡± It took Christina a good few seconds to realize what he was saying Nathaniel wants to stay over at my house? Her face burned bright red as she stammered nervously, ¡°B-But I don¡¯t have any clothes for you to change into, a-and it¡¯d probably be ufortable for you to sleep in those cks.¡± Nathaniel deliberately rubbed his lips against the delicate skin of her neck as he replied, ¡°I go on business trips often, so I have some spare clothes in the trunk.¡± Christina tensed up like a frightened animal. ¡°I only have one bed, though.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just cuddle in bed. It¡¯s reallyte, and I have been working all day without getting any rest. My Nathaniel head is all woozy now. You wouldn¡¯t want me to drive home in my current state, would you?¡± saidzily. Sure enough, ying the sympathy card worked really well against Christina. As she was unable to think of a reason to refuse his request, she had no choice but to let him stay. ¡°A-All right, then¡­¡± They had to be very quiet when making their way through the living room as Evelyn was already asleep when Christina led Nathaniel into the house. A faint feminine fragrance greeted Nathaniel¡¯s nose the moment he entered her bedroom. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Try To Persuade Him As though she was afraid of being caught with a man in her room, Christina immediately shut the door behind her. ¡°Hurry up and go take a shower!¡± she said while shoving him into the bathroom and shutting the door. Nathaniel snickered when he saw that almost everything in the bathroom was of a feminine color. There was a pink toothbrush, a pink towel, and a floral scent in the air. It wasn¡¯t long before he was done showering and stepped out of the bathroom. While waiting. Christina took a shower in the bathroom in the guest room. She looked really adorable with her face all red after blow-drying her hair. She returned to her bedroom with two sses of milk. ¡°Here, drink this and go to bed,¡± she said while. handing him one. It was already half past one at the time. Christina would never stay up sote if it weren¡¯t because of work. ¡°Are you that eager to cuddle with me?¡± Nathaniel asked with a soft chuckle as he sipped on the milk. Christina¡¯s cheeks, which were already red from blow-drying her hair, got even redder after she heard that. He looked really tired while he was in the car earlier, and yet, he seems pretty energetic now. I feel like I¡¯ve walked right into a trap by taking him in¡­. She gulped down her milk in one go and wiped the stain off the corner of her lips. ¡°You¡¯re sleeping on the floor.¡± Oh, no¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have teased her like that! She might actually make me sleep on the floor! Nathaniel ced the ss down and wrapped his arms around Christina¡¯s slender waist as the two of themy down in bed. Nathaniel caught a whiff of the faint, gentle fragrance from her hair as she snuggled in his arms, ¡°Could you leave earlier tomorrow?¡± Christina asked while looking at him with her crystal-clear eyes. Granny doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m married, so it¡¯d be really hard for me to exin myself if she sees him. I shouldn¡¯t have brought him into the house! Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You want me to leave through that back door again?¡± Nathaniel asked with a snort. I¡¯m the CEO of Hadley Corporation, and yet, I have to sneak in and out of my wife¡¯s house? We¡¯re a legally married couple! ¡°But my granny hasn¡¯t seen you before. She doesn¡¯t know about you at all, so you¡¯ll scare her if she sees. you all of a sudden. How about I find an opportunity to formally introduce you two? That way, she¡¯ll be more likely to ept you.¡± ¡°When will you introduce us?¡± he asked, seemingly excited. Christina was only saying that to brush Nathaniel off as she wasn¡¯t nning on bringing him home every day, but he took it very seriously. When Nathaniel didn¡¯t get a response from her, he shot her a gaze that said, ¡°You¡¯re not saying that just to brush me off, are you?¡± Christina suggested. ¡°How about the tenth of next month? It¡¯s my granny¡¯s birthday. I¡¯ll get you two formally introduced then, okay?¡± Sure enough, Nathaniel agreed to it in a heartbeat. I can¡¯t force Christina to stay in Scenic Garden Manor if she doesn¡¯t want to, but I can¡¯t be sneaking into her house every single time Ie over either. If I can get on her granny¡¯s good side, then it¡¯ll make spending time with Christina a lot easier. I wouldn¡¯t have to use the back door whenever I n on staying over anymore. This is like killing two birds with one stone! Feeling a lot better, Nathaniel leaned in close and gave her a gentle kiss on the earlobe. ¡°You smell really nice. Darling¡± Christina felt as though all the cells in her body were stimted when she heard him call her ¡°Darling¡± in that seductive voice of his. He hardly addressed her so affectionately, which made it sound all the more intimate. Oh, my goodness! It feels like we¡¯re a newlywed couple! ¡°Hurry up and go to sleep¡­ Christina mumbled. Nathaniel let out a soft chuckle in response. Heh¡­ Does she really think I¡¯d be able to fall asleep like this? She looks like a newborn baby with her skin slightly pink from the hot shower. It makes me want to just hold her tight and love her right! He then instinctively moved his lips down to Christina¡¯s neck and gave her a gentle nibble. Nathaniel thought he had hurt her when he heard a groan, only to look up and realize that she had already fallen asleep. Wow¡­ Am I really that unattractive? How is she able to sleep so soundly with a hot guy like me lying next to her? He let out another chuckle and gave her an affectionate pinch on the nose before pulling her closer. It wasn¡¯t long before he, too, fell asleep. The two of them then slept soundly until the rays of the morning sun shone through the window. Christina was nestling on Nathaniel¡¯s chest like a kitten as she whispered, ¡°Come on, wake up! Granny just went out to buy breakfast, so you can leave through the front door.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s insanely busy work schedule would usually leave him sleep deprived, so he had not slept. that soundly in ages. Even when he did manage to get enough sleep, he would be tense from all that stress. The next thing Christina knew, he had grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the bed. ¡°Give me a morning kiss, will you?¡± He then kissed her on the forehead before she could even respond. His lips felt warm to the touch, and his body was exuding a faint masculine fragrance that got her heart racing. It could be best described as the tempting scent of freshly ground coffee beans. ¡°Cut it out, will you? You need to get going before Grannyes home!¡± Christina eximed while pushing Nathaniel off her. She then handed him his formal clothes and urged him to get changed. Fortunately for her, Nathaniel gave her his full cooperation and was done changing fairly quickly. ¡°Come and help me with my necktie,¡± he said to Christina, who had her back facing him. The woman slowly turned around to see Nathaniel in his white dress shirt and a pair of cks that entuated his slender legs. His ck necktie was hanging loosely from his shoulder. As Christina was a fashion designer, she was familiar with neckties and got it done in just a few seconds. Having gotten him dressed, Christina began dragging him out of the house. His ck car was parked diagonally across the front door. She was about to shove him out the door when he turned around, wrapped his arm around her waist, and gave her a kiss on the lips. ¡°I¡¯ll be on my way now, Darling!¡± Nathaniel said with a chuckle, ¡°Hurry up and get out of here!¡± Christina was burning bright red as she pushed him out and shut the door behind her. After she ran back to her bedroom and saw his pajamas on the bed, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about. the kiss goodbye he just gave her. Nathaniel and I sure have gotten a lot more intimatetely¡­. Christina hurriedly got dressed and headed out after a quick breakfast. Nathaniel sent her a few short texts after she arrived at work, and the two of them started going about. their business as usual. Christina¡¯s phone started ringing all of a sudden at noon. She answered the call without checking the caller ID, only to hear Gideon asking, ¡°Hey, Christina! Didn¡¯t I tell you to show Nathaniel the coboration proposal? It has been a week now! Why hasn¡¯t he responded yet?¡± ¡°Oh, I showed it to him. He didn¡¯t want to coborate with you,¡± Christina replied with a frown. In reality, she didn¡¯t even ask Nathaniel about it. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you try to persuade him into coborating? Talk to him about it every night or something! Why are you so stupid?¡± Gideon shouted angrily. Angered, Christina snapped back at him, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how stupid I am! We don¡¯t even live together, so you can forget about using me to get anything out of him!¡± She hated how the Steele family kept trying to use her to get closer to Nathaniel. That was especially the case since the Steele family¡¯spany was in no position to coborate with a hugepany like Hadley Corporation. ¡°Are you saying that your marriage is fake?¡± I¡¯ve heard rumors about Nathaniel avoiding women. Could it be that those rumors are actually true? Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Chapter 44 I Will Set Up A Studio Christina couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin herself as she was not obligated to tell anyone about their rtionship. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We¡¯re not a real married couple, so you should stop expecting me to be the bridge between you guys,¡± she said and hung up the phone immediately after. Seeing the word ¡°Dad¡± on her phone screen put a wry smile on her face. I treated him like my father, but he has never treated me like his daughter¡­ He never calls unless he needs me to pull some strings or do him some favors. He doesn¡¯t even ask me how I¡¯ve been. What a joke¡­ Oh, well¡­ He¡¯ll probably stop bothering me in the future, so that¡¯s not so bad. Although Nathaniel had gotten a lot busiertely, he would still call her and text her on a daily basis. Christina¡¯s daily life revolved around her office, the cafeteria, and her house. When it was time for lunch, her colleagues suggested that they go to a nearby barbecue restaurant. Probably because of her rtionship with Nathaniel, her colleagues had gotten a lot chattier and friendlier with her all of a sudden. Some of them would even ask her about her rtionship with Nathaniel, but she would always brush their questions off with vague answers, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Christina! We¡¯ve already made reservations!¡± said a female colleague as they dragged her out of the office. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived at the restaurant that they realized Yosef was there as well. As they were seated directly across from him, the female colleagues were all fangirling over his elegant yet mncholic aura. Christina was starting to wonder if they actually came here for him and not to have lunch. She went to use the restroom before they paid the bill, and Yosef was the only one left by the time she came out. The waiter served them two sses of juice after putting away the tes and utensils. ¡°Let¡¯s finish this before we go.¡± Yosef said while handing her one of the sses. Christina couldn¡¯t bring herself to decline his offer, so she sat down and took a sip of the juice. ¡°Let¡¯s split the bill. I¡¯ll transfer the money over to you.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Here¡¯s my QR code,¡± Yosef replied while holding his phone out. Christina pulled out her phone and was about to scan his QR code when someone snatched her phone out of her hand. ¡°What do you two think you¡¯re doing?¡± Nathaniel shouted angrily as he stood there, dressed in a suit The look in his eyes grew cold when his gaze fell upon Yosef. The aura he exuded was so frigid that nobody dared look directly at him. Oh, no¡­ What is Nathaniel doing here? He looks really angry. I bet he must have gotten the wrong idea. With that in mind. Christina said. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m just paying him money for lunch.¡±Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel got incredibly jealous when he nced at the table and saw that there were only two sets of tes and utensils. ¡°Were you two the only ones having lunch here?¡± he asked while trying his best to keep his anger suppressed. Christina quickly exined, ¡°No, there were other colleagues as well. They went back ahead of us.¡± I shouldn¡¯t have let the waiter clear the table! It¡¯ll be a lot harder to convince Nathaniel noto! Naturally, Yosef recognized Nathaniel as his boss, but he wasn¡¯t afraid of being used of something he didn¡¯t do. ¡°Hey, Christina. Isn¡¯t your boyfriend overreacting a little? There¡¯s nothing wrong with two coworkers. having lunch together, is there?¡± he asked nonchntly. The look on Nathaniel¡¯s face turned increasingly gloomy when he heard that. ¡°Shut up! Outsiders. should just stay out of this!¡± He had wanted to tell Yosef about their rtionship, but Christina dragged him away before he could say anything. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my boyfriend is a little hot-tempered¡± It wasn¡¯t until they reached a quiet alley that she stopped and asked, ¡°Why did you have to get so mad earlier?¡± There was a hint of displease in Christina¡¯s eyes when she said that. Why is he acting like I¡¯ve done something horrible? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong! Naturally, Nathaniel didn¡¯t take too kindly to her question after everything that had just happened. ¡°I came over to have lunch with you, only to see you dining with another man.¡± ¡°I told you, there were other colleagues with us! Could you stop being so unreasonable?¡± Christina eximed in frustration. What is wrong with him? Am I not allowed to have a social life anymore? Or am I only allowed to hang out with women? Although Nathaniel was still mad at her, he knew better than to continue arguing when he saw that she was getting angry. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to finally improve their rtionship, so he didn¡¯t want to run it over another man. After a brief moment of silence, Nathaniel said, ¡°I was just worried about you. Did you see how that guy dolls himself up? He¡¯s definitely no gentleman!¡± ¡°What are you so worried about? Did you really think I¡¯d leave you for someone else just because I had lunch with them? Am I really that fickle to you?¡± Christina was really getting irritated. She had wanted to warn Nathaniel against badmouthing Yosef, but held her tongue when she saw how furious he looked. She knew that bringing that up would only add fuel to his mes of anger even Of course, Nathaniel didn¡¯t actually think she would leave him for someone else over a meal However, he felt as though his precious treasure was taken from him when he saw her having a great time with another man. Not many people in the world were capable of angering Nathaniel, but Christina was the only one he couldn¡¯t bring himself to argue with. Nathaniel tried his best to suppress his rage as he said, ¡°What¡¯s the point in working at a ce like this? You should just resign and leave thispany. If you like designing so much, I¡¯ll set up a studio just for you! How about that?¡± There are plenty of male colleagues at her workce, so there¡¯s no telling if she¡¯ll run into perverts who want to take advantage of her. It¡¯s better if I provide her with an isted environment and cut her off from all those other guys! Also, she¡¯s always so busy, and I can¡¯t believe I need to make an appointment just to have lunch with her! It feels as though we¡¯re having a business meeting instead! Now you¡¯re just going overboard. I¡¯m doing just fine at work, so why should I quit my job?¡± Christina had had enough of his unreasonable behavior. Has he ever considered seeking my opinion on things? That was so disrespectful! Was his gentle personality just a lie to conceal his ugly nature? He¡¯s being unreasonable when things aren¡¯t going his way! Nathaniel genuinely thought his suggestion was a great idea, so he didn¡¯t understand why she got so worked up about it. ¡°It¡¯s so difficult for me to juste and see you. You¡¯re either busy at work, dining with your colleagues, or clocking in overtime!¡± He was starting to get tired of going out of his way andpromising for her sake when he himself was swamped with work, too. While he found it refreshing at first, doing it for a prolonged period of time was starting to wear him down. It would be a lot easier for them to spend time with each other if her schedule wasn¡¯t so packed. I do like it when Nathanieles over to spend time with me, but now it turns out I¡¯m the only one enjoying it. I don¡¯t want him to be so tired and stressed out because of me. With that in mind, Christina let out a sigh and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know this would be such a huge burden to you. You don¡¯t have toe and see me if I¡¯m working overtime.¡± Realizing that she had misunderstood him, Nathaniel asked anxiously, ¡°Isn¡¯t it every designer¡¯s dream. to own a studio of their own? I¡¯m just helping you make that dream a reality here. What¡¯s so wrong about that?¡± Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Do Not Need Your Money Christina¡¯s career goal was to set up a studio for her own brand. Currently, her priority was to gain more experience in preparation for the future. It was something she wanted to achieve through her own hard work and capabilities and not by relying on others. Christina¡¯s expression tensed as she said, ¡°I won¡¯t take your money to set up my studio.¡± el felt as if a boule was weighing on his heart. Countless women were dying to get close to Fair benefits from him but did not have the opportunity to. He simply could not understand ristina would reject him. Men like Zachary seemed to get their way with any woman they wanted just by buying them branded watches or luxury cars. However, it had the opposite effect when Nathaniel tried to make Christina happy by spending money on her. Is it that embarrassing for her to use my money? Nathaniel did not have the patience to continue arguing with Christina. Besides, he did not know what else he could say. Just then, Christina¡¯s phone rang. It was Gina calling to ask for the design draft. After Christina exchanged a few words with the woman, she hung up and nced at Nathaniel. She noticed that his face was clouded over. Under his thick brows were a pair of dark, deep-set eyes. He had a high nose bridge and was pressing his thin lips tightly together. Moreover, dressed in a ck suit, the man was looking exceptionally elegant and aloof. As the man was in a bad mood, his sharp features looked even more intimidating. Even at a distance, one could feel the chillness he was emitting. Christina opened her mouth to speak but did not seem to be able to find the right words. ¡°I have to get back to work now,¡± she quickly said before walking out of the alley. Fixing his gaze on the woman¡¯s diminishing figure, Nathaniel could feel anger rising in him. His stomach was rumbling in hunger, and he could not believe that Christina had left him there. That was the first time Nathaniel had felt such anger. He had lost all his appetite and stormed out of the alley. Instead of returning to the office, he headed to the top floor of Radiant Corporation¡¯s building and called for a meeting with the other two of thepany¡¯srgest shareholders. Zachary was halfway through a discussion with the Public Rtions Department when he was summoned. ¡°What brings you here? Don¡¯t you have work to handle at Hadley Corporation?¡± When Nathaniel joined Radiant Corporation back then, it was decided that Zachary would be the one in charge of thepany¡¯s operations while Nathaniel would simply receive dividends and remain behind scenes. niel shot a cold re at Zachary and tossed a piece of document from the HR department in i him. ¡°Fire this designer.¡± Zachary picked up the profile of the designer and saw the picture of a handsome man with fair skin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did he offend you?¡±, Zachary was no fool. He knew that the reason Nathaniel suddenly showed up at thepany was not simple. Without giving an exnation, Nathaniel reached for thendline phone on the desk and passed it to his friend. As both of them had grown up together, Zachary knew Nathaniel¡¯s character very well. Judging by the look in his eyes, it was clear that the man was not joking. Zachary put down the phone and said, ¡°I had a hard time persuading him to stay with us, and we have just renewed his contract for another year. If we fire him now, we would have to pay him arge amount ofpensation.¡± He knew that Nathaniel wasn¡¯t someone who would act on his impulses, and neither would he bring his personal issues to work. ¡°Is it because of Christina?¡± Zachary¡¯s suspicions were confirmed when he noticed how Nathaniel was keeping quiet. pping his thigh in realization, the man teased, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to get jealous so easily.¡± ¡°Cut the crap and do as I say.¡± Nathaniel showed no intention of relenting. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that the company is setting up a branch office overseas? Just send him there.¡± ¡°But, Nathaniel¡­¡± ¡°Either that, or you fire him. It¡¯s decided.¡± Nathaniel was simply unwilling to hear Zachary out. As such, Zachary had no choice but to agree. It was such a shame that he had to send away a talent. whom he had put in so much effort to acquire. He looked up and saw Nathaniel¡¯s grim expression. It was as if the entire world had offended him. Zachary stood up and asked in concern, ¡°Did you do something to upset your girl?¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Zachary chuckled, amused at Nathaniel¡¯s stubbornness. The next moment, he took out a restaurant¡¯s VIP card from his pocket and ced it on the table. *Let me give you a tip. This restaurant has an excellent ambiance. Every woman I have taken there loved the ce.¡± Zachary left after saying that. Nathaniel picked up the gold card and fell into deep thought as he spun it between his fingers. I should try case her, in case she uses this as an excuse to bring up divorce again. whole lot of patience, Nathaniel finally managed to bridge the distance between him and and he did not want his efforts to go to waste because of such a trivial matter. me contemtion, he took out his phone and texted Christina. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Soon, it was time for Christina to knock off. As it had been a few days since shest visited her mother at the hospital, she intended to bring her some change of clothes after work. After settling her work for the day, Christina grabbed her bag and left the office on the dot. She only saw the message from Nathaniel when she arrived at the Steele residence. He had sent her a short text, inviting her to have dinner together at eight that night. Since he had taken the initiative to reconcile with her, she had no reason to stay angry over something so inconsequential. Christina nced at the time and figured that she would be able to reach on time. After sending her reply, she entered her mother¡¯s room, The moment she opened the door, a gust of dusty air filled her nostrils. As there were plenty of housekeepers in the Steele residence, it was clear that they had intentionally overlooked her mother¡¯s room when they were doing the cleaning. However, that was nothingpared to how the Steele family previously mistreated Christina and her mother. In fact, Christina¡¯s mother had already moved out for quite some time. As the weather was turning cold, Christina specially made the trip back to pack some winter clothes, so that she wouldn¡¯t have to return again. ¡°Why is Alfred not doing his job? Why did he let you in?¡± Emilia¡¯s sarcastic voice sounded behind Christina. Used to the woman¡¯s taunts, Christina continued packing the clothes without even turning around. Emilia¡¯s anger spiked after she was ignored. She strode into the room and grabbed Christina¡¯s cor while bellowing, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me talking to you? I could smell your pathetic scent from a distance away¡­ As Emilia exerted considerable force, Christina¡¯s phone fell out of her pocket and hit the floor. Christina turned around and fixed her frosty gaze on Emilia as she said, ¡°Well, I definitely didn¡¯t smell anything weird before you came in. As for you, not even the most expensive clothing could mask the horrible stench you¡¯re giving off.¡± ¡°Christina, who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me so disrespectfully? Like what my mom said, a b*tch like you doesn¡¯t deserve to be wearing such fine-quality clothing. In fact, you¡¯re not fit to have anything good!¡± Emilia widened her eyes in fury. At that moment, she had lost all herposure as an elegantdy and behaved just like an unreasonable shrew. Christina¡¯s expression darkened. While walking out with her luggage in hand, she replied, ¡°Who are whors for formel 1 don¡¯t wood thing offering will Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Why Are You Not Running Anymore A single nce at the cheap phone was enough for Emilia to know that it belonged to Christina. Walking over, she snagged the phone, nning to toss it into the trash can. Out of curiosity, she took a look at the screen. Surprisingly, she saw a message from Nathaniel, who asked whether Christina had arrived at the restaurant. Didn¡¯t Dad say that Christina and Nathaniel¡¯s marriage is fake? Why would they have dinner together? Ah, she must have lied to Dad because she wasn¡¯t willing to help the Steele family out! She keyed in Christina¡¯s birthday and unlocked the phone. When she was done replying to the message, she threw it away. Meanwhile, Christina went to the hospital to visit her mother after leaving the Steele residence. Recently, her mother suffered a rpse and had been hospitalized for a few days. It was not serious, but Christina still urged her to have a full-body checkup. They both inquired after each other¡¯s health, and Christina told her mother about the interesting things at worktely. Subsequently, she went to the counter and paid the hospitalization fees. There was little money left on her bank card, and she would only receive her sry next month. She had just returned to the hospital room and sat for a while when visitation hours ended. A nurse came and requested that she leave. When she left the hospital, she abruptly remembered Nathaniel asking her out for dinner. It was only when she nned to return a call to him did she realize that her phone was gone. She had no idea where she had lost it. Worried about making Nathaniel wait, she hailed a taxi and rushed to the restaurant, Upon arrival, she gave the server Nathaniel¡¯s name. The server led her to the private room before leaving. The decoration in the private room was incredibly romantic. All the candles were arranged into heart shapes, and the tablecloth was red. Even the furnishings were very much unique. It¡¯s already eight-thirty. Could Nathaniel bete because he¡¯s busy with work? Christina waited for him on the couch. A wave of drowsiness suddenly assailed her after she had bustled around for the entire day, and she dozed off. By the time the server woke her up, it was already ten o¡¯clock, and the restaurant was closing for the day. Hmm, Nathaniel probably couldn¡¯t contact me since my phone is missing. Gah! Why did I have to misce my phone? The mere thought of it irritated her. The moment she stepped out of the restaurant, a gust of wind hit her, causing her to shiver in the cold. She had little money on her then. Since she had used more than half of it to take a taxi there carlier, e couldnly choose to board the bus. thest bus, so there were only a few people. Christina found a seat and sat down. Leaning back against the chair, she gazed at the scenery outside. As the silhouette of the scenery shed past her eyes in a continuous stream, Nathaniel¡¯s countenance inexplicably popped into her mind. After alighting from the bus, she still had to walk a distance before arriving at her house. Down in the dumps, she trudged along like a tortoise, Out of the blue, she sensed something amiss. Huh? It sounds as though someone is walking in sync with my footsteps. She snapped her head back in bewilderment. But then, there was no one behind her. In fact, the entire street was empty. However, that made her feel all the more uneasy. Everyone had their own auras. When two people¡¯s auras appeared at the same time, the other party would undoubtedly sense it. The quieter one¡¯s surroundings were, the easier it was to sense it. Realizing that danger was lurking behind her, Christina quickened her pace. At the thought that someone with nefarious intentions might pop out, her heart abruptly started pounding. She had only trotted a few steps ahead when the figure hiding behind her stepped out of the darkness. ¡°Ahh!¡± she shrieked at the top of her lungs even as she began running as fast as her legs could her. carry Along the terribly cold street in the dead of night, her screams were swallowed by the darkness. Practically no one heard her. When she was finally about to reach her house, a sense of relief suffused her. However, just two seconds after that, her long hair was yanked by a brute force from behind. She fell to the ground hard as a result, a stabbing pain shooting up her knees when they grazed the gravel road. ¡°D*mn, you¡¯re pretty fair and bonny. Why¡¯d you stop running?¡± The man¡¯s face was obscured by the darkness, and only his malicious smile was visible. Christina climbed to her feet. Her expression remained calm and unruffled, but inwardly, she was trembling in fear. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt me. I¡¯ll give you all my money.¡± ¡°I want both your money and body. Be good, and I¡¯ll be gentle with you.¡± The man stalked closer to her, step by step. It was a narrow path, and if she wanted to escape, she needed to run faster than a professional athlete. Sheer terror swamped Christina. She had seen too many news reports of people encountering perverts while walking home ale at night. All the hair on her body bristled with hostility. Withou warning, the man grabbed her wrist. ¡°This is more like it. Don¡¯t fight me-¡± fore the man could even finish his sentence, he was sent flying like a bowling pin by a single punch. ried out in pain before spewing a mouthful of blood. Frowning, Nathaniel scrutinized Christina, who had gone pale in fright. ¡°Are you okay?¡± At the sight of the familiar handsome countenance before her, Christina breathed a sigh of relief. Under the dim lights, Nathaniel¡¯s jaw was clenched tightly, rendering his features exceptionally icy and flinty. His unfathomable eyes gave others a sense of a frigid mysteriousness. After ascertaining that Christina was fine, he strode over to the man. With his eyes emanating frost, he kicked the man a few times. Snapping sounds echoed along the silent stretch of road. Anyone with an ounce of knowledge of human anatomy would be able to tell that those were sounds of bones breaking. Only when Nathaniel had made his way back to Christina did he notice her scraped knees and elbows. Blood dyed her shirt red, forming red floral patterns. Unbidden, he recalled such a shade of red on the white bedsheet after a bout of passion on the night they met for the first time. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed furtively. Scooping her up, he carried her to the car. Without further ado, he floored the gas pedal and sped to a private hospital. He said nothing throughout the entire drive. When Christina made to get out of the car, he had already circled over and scooped her up. As he marched into the hospital, all the staff seemingly knew him, for their expressions changed drastically at the sight of him. In the emergency room, Nathaniel impatiently ordered, ¡°Have a female doctore over.¡± Murmuring an acquiescence, the nurse standing at the door promptly left. Nathaniel had Christina sit on the hospital bed while he studied the injury on her knees. The skin had broken, with blood oozing out and sand sticking to the flesh. It made for a distressing sight. Soon, the nurse returned with a doctor. ¡°Mr. Hadley, all the female doctors have gone off work. There are only male doctors.¡± She spoke in a mere whisper as though afraid of being scolded. Nathaniel threw the male doctor a cial look. ¡°Never mind. Bring me the necessary equipment.¡± Not daring to tarry, the nurse hastily prepared everything and ce them aside. Then, she went out and closed the door behind her. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel carefully cleaned Christina¡¯s wounds. His brows inexorably creased even deeper, likely because he found her wounds ghastly. When he applied antiseptic to her wound, he blew on it to alleviate the stinging pain. *Bear with it a while more. Ill be done in no time.¡± kay¡± For coc hrst time, Christina stared down at him. It would be a lie to im that she was not moved when a tall and prideful man was willing to bend down and clean her wounds right then Never had she seen him being so considerate. His motements were unbelievably gentle, as though caring for something precious A wealth of warmth filled the softest part of her heart, melting her from the inside out Attaching a Band Aid over her wound. Nathaniel casually asked. ¡°I thought you were at home. Why were you only going back at euch an hour At his question, Christina¡¯s heart lurched. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree on having dinner together at the testaurant¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 I Misced My Phone hen Nathaniel and Christina¡¯s words contrasted, the problem immediately came to light. Nathaniel was a smart man, so he perceived the issue right away. ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± He had been calling her for the entire night and texting her incessantly, but she did not answer his calls or reply to his messages. Thinking that she was still mad, he was contemting whether to knock on her door to seek her out when he heard her terrified cry. Christina hung her head like a child who had done something wrong. ¡°I misced my phone.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. A mixture ofplex emotions brewed in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°You waited at the restaurant for the whole night?¡± Saying nothing, Christina kept her head lowered. She felt utterly stupid for waiting for him at the restaurant. At her silence, Nathaniel¡¯s muted fury dissipated. He pinned his eyes on her pitiful face, his voice growing tender. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a call?¡± ¡°I was afraid I¡¯d disrupt your work.¡± I thought he would arrive after a while. I didn¡¯t expect such an incident to transpire. Unlocking his phone, Nathaniel showed her a message that came from her number. It read: I¡¯m not going to have dinner with you. I don¡¯t like you either, so stop pestering me. Nheless, it was clear as day that she wasn¡¯t the one who sent such a harsh and sarcasm-filled message. All of a sudden, Christina remembered she bumped into Emilia when she made a trip back to the Steele residence to pack her clothes. Realization struck her like a bombshell at that moment. If Nathaniel hadn¡¯te to my rescue today, considering the situation at that time¡­ the consequences would¡¯ve been devastating! Rage zed in her eyes. I¡¯ll definitely have her pay for this severalfold! ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! I¡¯d never send such a message!¡± Snatching Nathaniel¡¯s phone away, she deleted the message right away. Her childish action amused Nathaniel greatly. Half an hour ago, he resembled a lion ready to pounce anytime, but at present, the rainbow had appeared after the storm. He caressed her hair gently with his massive palm. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad. I know you¡¯d never do such a thing.¡± After a he could sense that she had also been sincere toward him all this time. Subsequently, he scooped her up. ¡°It¡¯s veryte, and you¡¯ll disturb your granny if you return home at this hour. You should spend the night at Scenic Garden Manor tonight.¡± Seeing that it was already past midnight, Christina hesitated slightly before replying, ¡°Okay.¡± In all the time they had been separated, it was the first time she agreed to return to Scenic Garden Manor. That ced Nathaniel in a great mood. He carried her to the car and sped back to the Scenic Garden Manor. gates of Christina herself had never imagined that she would willingly step foot into the ce again one day. She looked at the familiar furnishings that she had always found an eyesore in the past. Presently, however, she felt that Nathaniel had pretty good taste. From the living room, the two of them went to the master bedroom on the second floor. Christina¡¯s clothes were still in the closet, for Nathaniel did not throw her things away following her departure. Nathaniel carried her into the bathroom straight away. Loosening his arms around her, he let her stand on the backs of his feet. He propped a hand against the wall, confining her within his embrace. Tilting his head a fraction, his thin lips almost touched the woman¡¯s car. ¡°Shall I help you since you¡¯re injured?¡± His voice had a deep undertone to it that could seemingly tug on one¡¯s heartstrings. Christina¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red, and heat radiated from them in waves. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Her voice was thready, making her sound like a newborn kitten, pitiful and weak. The more meek and delicate she appeared, the greater Nathaniel¡¯s desire to tease her. ¡°But I want to help.¡± Christina pushed him away, Exerting slight force, Nathaniel closed the distance she ced between them. The distance between them grew even more negligible, their warm breaths brushing past each other¡¯s cheeks. A sense of intimacy pervaded the entire bathroom. Perhaps her nerves had been stretched too taut that Christina felt like all the cells in her body were alive, and every breath of his was beyond refreshing. ¡°I¡¯m not joking around. I really missed you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was soft, but Christina heard him loud and clear. ¡°I missed you, too- Before her words had fallen, he had captured her thin lips. new delicate and gentle, while the other was domineering and possessive. im yellow light shone down obliquely overhead, reflecting the couple¡¯s ovepping shadows on the gian door. The harsh sounds of breathing made their bodies heat up. The chaos of the entire world faded with their heartbeats the only thing remaining. The first rays of sunlight on that early autumn morning carried a hint of cool breeze. As soon as Christina opened her eyes, she was greeted by Nathaniel¡¯s devilishly handsome countenance. Her slumbering heart skipped a beat, and she promptly jolted wide awake. away, She had never been one toze in bed, but at that moment, she actually wanted to sleep for a while longer. As she gazed at the man¡¯s peaceful sleeping countenance, it felt as though the world had be a better ce. A smile bloomed on her face. Without warning, the closed door was pushed open, and a figure barged 1. ¡°You¡¯re downright shameless, Christina! You¡¯ve already divorced my son, yet you still have the guts to The woman standing by the bed with wrath etched across her features was none other than Julia. She had a spy in the house, and that person told her about Christina having spent the night at Scenic Garden Manor early in the morning. Christina¡¯s expression changed, and fury colored her eyes. Her chest felt as though a heavy boulder. was weighing on it. Before she could retort, Nathaniel shielded her behind him. His eyes zed with suppressed anger, and his voice dripped with hostility. ¡°Get out!¡± Julia¡¯s face flushed bright red. At the sight of them both wearing casual pajamas and sleeping in each other¡¯s arms, any adult could tell the events that had transpiredst night. Ever since she learned that Nathaniel had recovered, she had been obsessed with having Xandra marry into the family as soon as possible. Argh! Never have I expected this b*tch to keep clinging to Nathaniel! In an icy voice, she scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t you find yourself revolting, Christina? I¡¯ve already kicked you out of the house, but you¡¯re still adamant about climbing into Nathaniel¡¯s bed. Are you that desperate for men?¡± She seized the opportunity to insult Christina so that thetter would not dare step foot into Scenic Garden Manor anymore. With her face drained of all color, Christina rolled out of bed and shot daggers at the woman before her. I didn¡¯t do anything with Nathanielst night. All we did was sleep together. Yet, she¡¯s making it sound as though we did something shameful. Since she¡¯s so opposed to us getting back together, I¡¯ll do exactly that! ¡°I¡¯m no desperate for men. Nathaniel alone is enough for me!¡± She emphasized the word ¡°enough¡± with the corners of her mouth lifting a fraction. She looked as alluring as the most beautiful woman in he world. ¡°How dare you! What impertinence!¡± Julia was so livid that she was on the verge of getting physical with Christina. Nathaniel¡¯s good mood that morning waspletely ruined. He stood between the two women. ¡°Mom, Christina and I are not divorced. Don¡¯t insult her in front of me!¡± At that, Julia was wholly stunned. In all the years I raised him, this is the first time he ever spoke to me in such a tone. All this is on that b*tch, Christina! Who does she think she is? Amoner like her isn¡¯t worthy of marrying into the Hadley family! She is downright unworthy of Nathaniel, who enjoys a high status! ¡°Don¡¯t forget your identity, Christina! You¡¯re merely a woman I bought back then to marry Nathaniel to aid his recovery. Don¡¯t think you can be the mistress of the Hadley family just because you¡¯ve gotten involved with him! Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 How About Moving Back Christina felt as though ice had encased her entire body, the cold engulfing her from head to toe. Naturally, I¡¯d never forget that the two families had a business deal back then. We agreed that I was to leave once the time is up. All this while, I¡¯d always remembered my ce, never once harboring any thought of getting involved with Nathaniel¡­. Upon hearing no retort from her. Julia instantly knew that she had hit a sore spot. ¡°Remember your identity. I don¡¯t mind even if you have some kind of intimate rtionship with Nathaniel Christina nched further. ordingly, Julia¡¯s voice turned even harsher. ¡°However, I can also tell you this clearly-as long as remain part of the Hadley family, you can forget about bing my daughter-inw. To me, you¡¯re merely an ornament. I bought for show. When the timees. I¡¯ll throw you away. An ornament will forever be an ornament You¡¯re too naive if you actually think you¡¯d earn a ce in the Hadley famil Never would I allow a girl without any statue or family background to marry into the Hadley far Taking Christina¡¯s hand. Nathaniel hid her behind him. ¡°That¡¯s my business. I¡¯ll also tell you this clearly ¡ªI¡¯ll never divorce Christina! So long as I remain part of the Hadley family, she will be my wife It was supposed to be a sweet and romantic morning, but it had turned into a battlefield after the whole debacle Christina¡¯s fingertips were cold from distress, and she quietly retracted her hand from the man¡¯s grip ¡°Im going to work¡± She wanted to leave in her pajamas, but it went without saying that Nathaniel did not allow it. He grabbed her hand. ¡°Go out, Mom¡± Julia had said everything she wanted to say and attained her goal, so she knew it was pointless for her to stay Harrumphing at Christina, she strolled out of the room. When the door mmed shut. Nathaniel grasped Christina¡¯s hands in anguish. ¡°Don¡¯t bother About my mother. You know I don¡¯t share her sentiments.¡± Christina¡¯s mind was buzzing her thoughts a jumbled mess I should¡¯ve long since known my ce. But all the time I spent with Nathaniel recently made that slip my mind. ¡°I¡¯m about to bete for work¡± Withdrawing her hand from his, she went to the bathroom to change When she went downstairs, she did not even bother having breakfast Noticing her grun expression, Nathamel did not force the issue He had the driver send her to work After arriving at the other, Christina could not really register what exactly her team leader and during the meeting in the morning. At noon, a courier staff delivered a box to her. It was thetest phone. Winout even thinking about it, she knew that it was from Nathaniel. She initially wanted to turn it down arrogantly, but she suddenly remembered that she had little money left after paying her mother¡¯s hospitalization fees, and it was exceedingly inconvenient to be without a phone when she was living in such a fast-paced city.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Mere moments after she had received the phone, Nathaniel called. Only then did she realize that a SIM card had already been installed in it. ¡°Since you didn¡¯t eat anything in the morning,e to mypany at noon.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was a touch hoarse. At once, Christina made up an excuse and declined. ¡°I need to work overtime at noon. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go and look for you instead.¡± Nathaniel was seemingly determined to have lunch with her. ncing at the location, Christina discovered that the twopanies were actually pretty close. ¡°I¡¯ll go over.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± On the other end of the phone, Nathaniel hung up in gratification. When it was time for lunch, Christina hurriedly left the office after packing her things. By the time she arrived at Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel had already informed the receptionist about her visit. For that reason, she made it to the floor where the CEO¡¯s office was located without a hitch. The ce was even more high-end than Radiant Corporation. As the cold shadows were reflected onto the long corridor, they gave off a sense of destion. Sebastian led Christina in. It was her first time visiting Nathaniel¡¯s office. Arge and sleek desk upied the space, and every single ornament was beyond exquisite. One could tell that he had impable taste. When she walked into the room, Nathaniel was still looking at documents. The instant he heard footsteps, he casually ced the documents down. He lifted his handsome face. Beneath his sharp brows were a pair of bright ebony eyes. Regretfully, his features lent him an air of chilliness. He had a high nose bridge and thin lips that formed an icy arc. On top of that, his tightly clenched jaw gave off a haughty sense of aloofness. Leaving the room, Sebastian closed the door behind him. Nathaniel pinned his eyes on her, the corners of his mouth curling a fraction. ¡°Come here.¡± Christina walked over to him. The air-conditioning in the office was very low, and it was making her freeze. Grabbing her hand, Nathaniel exerted slight strength and yanked her into his embrace. He studied her profile with a scorching gaze, finding every part of her lovely and pleasing to the eye. Subsequently, he rested his chin on her shoulder as though he needed somefort in his weariness from work. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± As Christina had not eaten anything in the morning, she was indeed hungry. ¡°Yeah.¡± Nathaniel inhaled the fragrance emanating off her. ¡°I¡¯ve instructed Sebastian to make the arrangements. Right now, let¡¯s have some dessert first.¡± Before Christina could make any sense of his meaning, he had already captured her lips. She wanted to rebuff him, but her hands unconsciously rested against his neck. The two of them kissed until Sebastian knocked on the door. It was not until then that Nathaniel let go of her reluctantly. He dragged her to the conference room for lunch. He chose not to eat in the office because he disliked the lingering smell of food. There was a long ck table made of polished marble in the conference room, so he did not have to worry about scratching it. To Christina¡¯s surprise, the conference room appeared to have been temporarily converted into a mini restaurant,plete with all the equipment needed to cook. A middle-aged man in a chef¡¯s uniform was grilling ready-made steaks. At a closer look, one could see that his chef¡¯s uniform was embroidered with the words ¡°rus Restaurant.¡± Oh my God, he¡¯s a chef from a five-star establishment! Yet, he came to the office to cook us lunch! ¡°Chefs from rus Restaurant offer private cooking services?¡± Surprise flooded Christina. Sebastian ced the menu in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s because Mr. Hadley has the power to request it. Other people won¡¯t be able to aplish this.¡± In response, Christina nodded in understanding- Nathaniel was usually too approachable when he was with her and never put on any airs. In fact, he had never acted like a wealthy heir before her. Therefore, she forgot about the gap between their identities for a moment. It was not only a street or a small stream but an infinite gxy. While she was distracted, a searing palm enveloped her hand under the table. ¡°Why is your hand so cold?¡± Nathaniel asked softly. Kight then, there were still many people in the conference room, including the chef, assistant chef, and Sebastian. Christina¡¯s expression froze briefly, and she wanted to retract her hand. s, the man tightened his grip. ¡°There¡¯s someone else here, she whispered. Despite having gotten used to Nathaniel¡¯s intimate gestures after all this time, she still felt embarrassed when there were others around. ¡°It¡¯s out of sight, so they can¡¯t see it. As Nathaniel said that, he brushed a finger across her palm lightly. Christina burst into giggles. The two of them went about their game under the table for a while. When the chef finished serving them food, everyone left. As they were the only ones remaining in the room, Christina enjoyed the food in front of her with relish. A five-star chef¡¯s cooking is truly delicious! Taking a sip of red wine, Nathaniel chuckled at her carefree expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you move back to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina?¡± His sudden suggestion took Christina aback. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Busy Christina didn¡¯t n to move back. After witnessing themotion Mrs. Hadley caused during the morning. I thin if I move back, she¡¯ll undoubtedly disturb me often. Thus, she said, ¡°My granny hasn¡¯t been feeling well recently, so I want to spend a bit more time with her.¡± While that was one of the reasons, another was that she found theirtest circumstancesfortable. The closer we get, the more we¡¯ll subconsciously need. If something awful happens, it won¡¯t be easy for me to leave again if I want to. As though Nathaniel had read her mind, he assured her with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the day you¡¯re willing to move back in.¡± She blinked and found herself in a daze. His handsomeness is special. It¡¯s not overly masculine or feminine. It sits somewhere in the middle. He can appear domineering or elegant when necessary. After lunch. Nathaniel suggested that she rest in his lounge. There was still more than an hour left until it was time for her to work, and herpany was close to his. Hence, she agreed. There was an independent lounge in the CEO¡¯s office, which resembled a simple suite. It had a bathroom, a bed, and a wardrobe. As the bed had been bathed in sunlight due to its cement next to the window, Christina felt warm when shey on the furniture. Not long after, she fell asleep. The door was then silently pushed open before a slender hand closed the curtains. Nathaniel removed his suit, revealing his conspicuous muscles and his smooth waistline. It was the result of a workout routine. The single bed became quite cramped after hey on the furniture. Initially, Christina was shocked by the sudden warmth. However, she lowered her guard when his unique scent entered her nose. ¡°Why did you alsoe in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired, and I want to sleep while hugging you. After busying about for the whole morning, he felt exhausted. Hiszy, baritone voice wormed into her ears and cradled her heart. He wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pressed his chin on her thin shoulder. When he raised his head, he could kiss her earlobe. It was so soft that he didn¡¯t want to stop biting it. As Nathaniel¡¯s hot breathnded on Christina¡¯s face, she felt her body was on fire, and her blood was boiling. That instantly drove her drowsiness away. How can I sleep when he¡¯s hugging me¡­.. She wanted to remove his hand resting on her waist, but when she moved, Nathaniel whispered into her ear. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Sleep for a while.¡± After turning her sight to him, she saw himying his head on her shoulder like a baby and burying his face in her neck. He appeared soundly asleep as his long eyshes brushed against his skin. Eventually, Christina abandoned the idea of waking him up because she couldn¡¯t bear to, but she still couldn¡¯t sleep. All she could do was stare at the ceiling. As the blinding light pierced through the window andnded next to her, she suddenly thought, I feel like that beam of sunlight, weak but stubborn. After a while, she fell asleep. By the time she woke up, it was already close to evening, and she was the only one on the bed. Upon leaving the bed and the lounge, she saw Nathaniel sitting in his office chair, reading his documents. The suit he wore made him appear cold but elegant. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± asked Christina after she noticed it was almost four. In response, Nathaniel put his document down. ¡°You were sleeping very soundly, so I didn¡¯t want to wake you up. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll send a word to yourpany- Before he could end his sentence, she sped out of his office. Sebastian was waiting for her in Nathaniel¡¯s car when she arrived. ¡°Mr. Hadley ordered me to send you back.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. If not for the fact that she was in a hurry, she wouldn¡¯t have boarded the car. Upon reaching herpany, Christina noticed her coworkers were staring at her with strange looks. She felt so awkward that she wished the ground would swallow her up. Before work ended for the day, Gina held a group meeting and picked three designers to take charge of an uing exhibition. Major corporations tended to hold exhibitions during special holidays to improve thepany¡¯s image. In the end, Gina requested Christina to work with two other designers. ¡°Many preparations are still waiting for us, so try to hand in your design drafts by Monday,¡± Gina ordered before dismissing everyone. After the meeting ended, Anna called out to the other two designers and suggested, ¡°We only have three days until Monday. How about we work overtime to discuss what elements we should use? It¡¯ll be great if we can exchange our opinions and have our drafts approved in one go.¡± Sometimes, designers needed to work overtime because there were many details they had to discuss for their designs. Their usual work time wouldn¡¯t be enough for them to wrap up such discussions. The others agreed. Together, they went for dinner near thepany after work before returning to the office to discuss details. While Christina¡¯s and Anna¡¯s opinions were mostly aligned, they kept shing against the third designer, Pearl. Their discussionsted the whole night, yet they only managed to agree on the framework. Many details had yet to be finalized. When it was almost ten, Pearl left first. Sighing, Anna remarked, ¡°I don¡¯t know why Ms. Tanner ced Pearl into our group.¡± She and Pearl often had conflicting ideas because they graduated from different design schools and had different styles. However, Christina disagreed. ¡°I think Pearl has great suggestions. We¡¯ll likely be able to develop a draft after a little more discussion tomorrow.¡± ¡°She has been in thepany for years, yet she¡¯s still¡­ Ugh, she¡¯s too withdrawn. Anyway, I¡¯ll be leaving now¡± Anna didn¡¯t want to speak too much about Pearl. After work, Christina realized she had many unread messages from Nathaniel. Upon reading all of them, she called him. ¡°Have you gotten off work?¡± His voice sounded hoarse. She tidied her desk and entered the elevator. ¡°Mhm. What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯lle and pick you up. I doubt there are any taxis around thiste at night.¡± Before she could say anything, he hung up the phone. When she exited the elevator, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s car in front of the entrance. As the car sped down the empty road, lights shed past her eyes. Christina didn¡¯t notice he was frowning as she replied to Anna¡¯s message. ¡°Are you very busy?¡± Nathaniel grumbled. Momentster, she sent her message, put the phone down, and turned to him. The darkness made his jawline appear colder, though that didn¡¯t diminish his handsomeness. He¡¯s knitting his eyebrows. I think that means he¡¯s jealous, Smiling, she replied, ¡°A little.¡± Nathaniel narrowed his eyes and shot her a warning look. Seeing his jealousy intensify delighted her. ¡°I¡¯m busy looking at you, aren¡¯t I?¡± He was taken aback to hear that, as he didn¡¯t expect she would abruptly flirt with him. Her words instantly enraptured him as he grinned. ¡°You have a good eye. I¡¯ll give you that.¡± Meanwhile, she was amused by his gleeful expression. I didn¡¯t expect it¡¯d be this easy to cheer him up. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Reluctant To Leave As they smiled at each other, their countenances were reflected in each other¡¯s eyes. Upon stopping the car at a red traffic light, Nathaniel suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the back of Christina¡¯s head with hisrge palm. Then he gently pulled her toward his embrace, lifted her chin, and kissed her lips. She has a sweet, refreshing fragrance I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get sick of As there weren¡¯t any other cars on the street, the ck Maybach remained unmoving even after the traffic light turned green. It wasn¡¯t until the light went through another cycle of red to green again that Nathaniel unwillingly let Christina go. When they did, they seemed calm, as though they hadn¡¯t just had an intimate moment. Half an hourter, the car arrived before a familiar building. killed the engine and held her small hands while affectionately gazing at her delicate face. ¡°I¡¯m reluctant to leave you whenever I send you home¡± Upon finishing his sentence, Nathaniel raised and pecked the back of her hand. Christina smiled shyly. ¡°You¡¯re such a sweet-talker.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± He grinned, too. In the past, he thought he could never flirt with anyone. It wasn¡¯t until he fell in love that he realized all sweet nothings came naturally from the heart and didn¡¯t need to be learned. ¡°In two days, I¡¯ll be going on a business trip to Hallsbay. It may be a week before I can return.¡± Nathaniel paused before turning to Christina. ¡°How about you ask for a leave and apany me there?¡± Hallsbay¡¯s a prominent city, so there should be plenty of fun sights to visit. Looking somewhat troubled, she rejected his invitation. ¡°I¡¯ve just received a new assignment, so I can¡¯t leave now. How about next time?¡± Of course, he was disappointed to hear that. So, money can¡¯t solve everything, after all. Although, after our disputest time, I¡¯d like to avoid arguing with her over small matters. I suppose there¡¯s nothing else I can do about this. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll go there next time.¡± Christina withdrew her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll be going back now, then.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± The atmosphere had turned slightly ambiguous. After unbuckling her seatbelt, she kissed Nathaniel¡¯s cheek. Her heart raced as she blushed. ¡°Goodnight,¡± uttered Christina before she left the vehicle. Once returning to the building, she waited until she heard his car leaving before jogging to her room. In the following two days, both of them were very upied with their work. As she and her coworkers still had plenty of disagreements, their designs underwent multiple revisions before the finals were handed to Gina. Thankfully, Gina was quite satisfied with the designs. If there were no further problems, all that was left was to manufacture the products. Nathaniel invited Christina to dinner on the day of his departure. As busy as she was, she squeezed out some time to join him. He brought her to a famous, tastefully decorated restaurant known as West Coast. Inside, anywhere. they looked, they could see works of art. The establishment had only ten tables, so the interior seemed quite spacious. Also, almost all tables had been taken since it was dinner time then. Just as the couple took their seats, the owner personally greeted them before requesting a waiter to serve them a bottle of precious fruit wine. Nathaniel still had to driveter, so he poured half a ss of wine for Christina and none for himself. The dishes were served rtively quickly, and she liked all of them. She also enjoyed the wine because it tasted sour and sweet at the same time. Holding a fork and a knife, he elegantly sliced his steak. ¡°It¡¯ll be your grandmother¡¯s birthday soon. What present should I get for her?¡± She was slightly surprised he remembered Evelyn¡¯s birthday, ¡°I think anything¡¯s fine. She won¡¯t mind.¡± Under the atmospheric lighting. Christina¡¯s small face resembled a matured fruit as the wine she consumed rendered her cheeks slightly pink. Nathaniel put a few pieces of his steak in front of her. I¡¯ll return as soon as I can. Her birthday¡¯s on the third, right?¡± Christina¡¯s heart pounded as she nodded. It has been so long since someone has valued me greatly, so much so that I¡¯ve forgotten how it felt like. I think thest time I experienced something like this was after Mom was forced out of the Steele family. After dinner, he escorted her to the entrance. Before they left, they entered his vehicle for onest intimate moment as emotions stirred in their hearts. They gazed at each other wordlessly before drawing closer until their lips touched. Concurrently, the temperature of the air slowly rose. After they split up, they went their own separate ways. Nathaniel frequently sent messages to Christina during his trip, no matter how busy he got. Even if the messages were short, they were still a slight respite from the couple¡¯s boring jobs. A weekter, the clothes Christina¡¯s team designed officially entered the market. In less than three days, theirtest model broke sales records. Furthermore, five or six of the models kept selling out. When the news broke in thepany, thedies behind that sess became the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Christina wasn¡¯t surprised by the results as she had created the designs afterparing many data. ¡°Your new models broke another record today, Christina!¡± ¡°I heard Christina¡¯s the main designer. Even Anna¡¯s just her assistant.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Embarrassed by the praises, Christina humbly refuted. ¡°All three of us are responsible for this sess. Thank you, everyone, for your support.¡± One of her colleagues asked. ¡°Considering how well you did, don¡¯t you think you should treat us all to a meal?¡± The others nodded in agreement. Christina was too embarrassed to reject that proposal, so she agreed and allowed her colleagues to pick. the ce. After work, they all took a taxi to West Coast as they had already booked a private room there. It was only then Christina was aware they had picked this restaurant. Upon their arrival, they immediately requested the waiter to serve the dishes. ¡°To save time, we¡¯ve already ordered the food on the phone. You won¡¯t mind, will you, Christina?¡± Anna grinned. Gina was also present and only learned her colleagues had already ordered the dishes when she arrived. Why is she asking me if I¡¯ll mind when the dishes, all of which are expensive seafood, are already served? Smiling. Christina said, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Let¡¯s dig in, everyone.¡± Plenty of people at the table ttered her. asionally, they would ask about her family background or the price of her branded clothing. However, they were most interested in the gossip about her rtionship with Nathaniel. It was very likely the other questions were just a lead-up to that topic. They all stared at Christina curiously as though they were eager to dissect her and learn everything about her. Typically, she would respond with a wordless grin. It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to hide her rtionship. She just disliked others poking into her personal life. Anna took the lead. ¡°How did you and Mr. Hadley meet? Does he have an awesome figure? Where do you usually have your dates with him?¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Who Is Paying The atmosphere at the table was slightly awkward. Christina took a sip of water and spoke inly. ¡°Since you all seem to have finished your meals, it¡¯s time to pay the bill. The crowd was disappointed. ¡°You¡¯re no fun, Christina.¡± Just as they were going to ask more questions, Gina stopped them. Meanwhile, Anna hailed a server to pay the bill because she couldn¡¯t get a word in edgewise. Soon, a server entered the room with a credit card machine. ¡°Thank you for spending eighty thousand. Who¡¯ll be paying for it?¡± The crowd turned their attention to Christina. In response, the server approached her. ¡°Will you be paying with a card or WhatsApp, miss?¡± Christina started sweating bullets. I didn¡¯t pay attention to the price when I came here with Nathaniel for a mealst time, so I didn¡¯t expect eating here would be this expensive. Then again, if it¡¯s a ce he picks, then there¡¯s no doubt it¡¯s expensive. I don¡¯t think I have much money left on my card after paying Mom¡¯s hospital fee and Granny¡¯s living expenses. What do I do? I can¡¯t pay the bill, but I can¡¯t ask my colleagues to do it either. Momentster, Anna approached her and questioned, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t have a few tens of thousands.¡± Abruptly, the table became unusually quiet. The others stared at Christina with mockery. ¡°Don¡¯t tell us you didn¡¯t get anything after being with Mr. Hadley for so long.¡± ¡°Maybe Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t care about her at all.¡± Aside from Christina¡¯s good looks, they didn¡¯t believe she had any advantage that could win over Nathaniel¡¯s heart. They assumed those who dated prominent figures like Nathaniel would automatically have a ck card, branded items, and a fancy mansion, among other things. Therefore, when Christina didn¡¯t immediately pay the bill, they concluded that Nathaniel was just ying with her. The fact that she was cagey about her rtionship with Nathaniel only strengthened their spection. A faintly tense expression was present on Christina¡¯s face as she spoke calmly. ¡°While Mr. Hadley and I are in a rtionship, I¡¯m not his sugar baby, so how rich he is has nothing to do with me.¡± When the crowd heard that, they started gloating at her as they shot her mocking looks. From their perspective, Christina was still pretending to be Nathaniel¡¯s queen when she was just his ything That amused them. Then, Christina removed her phone from her bag. ¡°However, if I want to spend his money, I can just ask him for it.¡± She proceeded to dial Nathaniel¡¯s number and put the call on loudspeaker mode. Secondster, he answered with hiszy, maic voice, ¡°Do you miss me, ¡®Christina?¡± That instantly silenced the room because the crowd could scarcely believe Nathaniel would talk to Christina in such a gentle tone. Christina coughed and went straight to the point as she was worried he would say something inappropriate, ¡°My colleagues and I are dining at the restaurant you brought me to before you left for your trip.¡± Swiftly, he understood what she meant. ¡°Ah, so you want to drink their fruit wine. I¡¯ll ask someone to bring you a bottle.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She then ended the call. The instant she did that, the women in the room screamed. Mr. Hadley¡¯s voice sounds so good that it I make anyone¡¯s heart race! Christina is so lucky. She can listen to hiszy but gentle voice whenever she wants! If they weren¡¯t a couple, there¡¯s no way Mr. Hadley would¡¯ve given her his number. It seems like her rtionship with him is genuine. It was then the owner brought a freshly opened bottle of fruit wine into the room. ¡°Mr. Hadley has paid for your bill, Ms. Steele. Also, this is the fruit wine he ordered for you.¡± The owner only left after personally pouring her a ss of wine. Those whoughed at her earlier lowered their heads in shame. Upon taking a sip of the wine, Christina exined, ¡°This fruit wine is from the owner¡¯s personal stash. Enjoy it. I¡¯ll be taking my leave now,¡± Anna, who had ridiculed Christina earlier, smiled brightly and opened the door for thetter. After leaving the building, Christina went home in a taxi. Granny should be out dancing right now. Sitting before herputer, she called Nathaniel. He asked, ¡°You finished your meal this quickly?¡± With reddened cheeks, she thanked, ¡°Thank you for helping me out earlier. When I get my sry next month, I¡¯ll return the money to you.¡± As he imagined her blushing like a shy teenager, he replied, ¡°Do you think I want that money back? If you want to thank me, give me a kiss when I return home.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She simply chuckled in response. ¡°Rest early¡± As Nathaniel still had matters to attend to, he hung up the call after saying goodnight. The next day, when Christina arrived at thepany, her colleagues treated her much more enthusiastically than before. Truthfully, she disliked that sort of shallow social interaction, which was why she had intentionally hidden her rtionship with Nathaniel. She ignored that matter as she turned on theputer. It was then Gina returned to the office with a scowl from her morning meeting. She arrived in the center of the office space beforemanding, ¡°Christina, Anna, Pearl, I want you three in my office right now.¡± Her tone suggested something terrible had happened. The three of them left their seats, puzzled. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°One of Radiant Corporation¡¯s new designs is suspected to be giarized!¡± To a designer, the word ¡°giarize¡± was a death sentence. Paling, the trio exchanged nces as though they were specting who was responsible. Christina¡¯s heart lurched. No wonder Gina looks so pissed. ¡°What are you three standing there for? Come in!¡± shouted Gina. Wordlessly, the trio entered Gina¡¯s office and closed the door. Gina mmed her hand on her desk with considerable force. It was evident she was furious. ¡°Why is one of the designs giarized? Exin!¡± Earlier, during the meeting, Zachary admonished her as she was the group leader. Pearl nced askance at her group mates. ¡°I never giarize, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s the same for colleagues.¡± my Feeling insulted, Anna barked, ¡°What do you mean by that? Christina and I will never giarize anyone¡¯s work!¡± ¡°Stop arguing!¡± Gina red at them before showing the picture of a design to them. ¡°This design was said to be giarized. Who¡¯s responsible for this?¡± When the trio saw that, Anna and Pearl turned to Christina. Gina¡¯s heart wrenched as she questioned. ¡°Did you design this?¡± Christina was stunned for a moment before nodding. ¡°I assure you that this design is mine. I¡¯ve never giarized anyone¡¯s work.¡± Aplicated expression settled on Gina¡¯s countenance as she asked the other two to leave. Then she turned on herptop and showed Christina a warning letter from an art gallery, asking Radiant Corporation to remove all clothing with a specific pattern from the market. Christina nced at the warning letter and spoke calmly. ¡°Ms. Tanner, please post a notice on the company¡¯s website rifying that there is no giarism. Tomorrow, this art gallery will issue an apology.¡± Enraged, Gina questioned, ¡°Who do you think you are. Christina? I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re asking the company to support you unconditionally. Do you have any proof of your innocence?¡± Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Not Protected ¡°Please, believe me, Ms. Tanner. I didn¡¯t giarize anything. Besides, this matter involves you and the company as much as it involves me.¡± Tensely and resolutely, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯ll apply for a leave today to settle this issue.¡± With that, she left. Gina hesitated about what to do for a moment before she called Nathaniel. In reality, she had always been his spy. Whenever something significant urred in thepany, she would be the first to report it to him. After the call connected, she briefly exined the situation to him. In response, Nathaniel said he would call the Public Rtions Department. Upon hanging up the phone, Gina sighed. I hope Christina¡¯s doing the right thing instead of avoiding her responsibility. When Christina exited Gina¡¯s office, the chatter in the bullpen died down. After she returned to her desk, she packed her things and was ready to leave. Her actions caused everyone to think she had been fired. Gradually, the employees¡¯ whispers grew louder. ¡°What an embarrassment. It¡¯s her fault that Radiant Corporation¡¯s reputation is now tarnished.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised she¡¯s not protected even though she¡¯s Mr. Hadley¡¯s girlfriend.¡± ¡°Is it possible that her other works have issues, too?¡± No one in the office was on Christina¡¯s side. However, she didn¡¯t mind. After she finished cleaning her desk, she left. ¡°I want a refund!¡± ¡°Get out of Radiant Corporation, Christina!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a shameless thief?¡± Just as Christina arrived at the entrance, she saw a group of people yelling in front of the building. A few security guards were preventing them from charging in. There¡¯s already a public outrage? Christina furrowed her eyebrows. The protesters outside thepany were all holding the t-shirt she designed while demanding a refund. She was startled as it was her first time seeing something like that. One of the security guards recognized her and eximed, ¡°Don¡¯te any closer! Leave quickly!¡± By the time she returned to her senses, someone in the crowd had already recognized her. Amidst the chaos, someone threw a rock at her, whichnded on her head. She tried to dodge it, but it still hit her forehead. The smell of blood spread in the air as she experienced stinging pain. These people are like mindless beasts. If I stay, only trouble awaits me. Hurriedly, she entered the elevator and left thepany through the parking lot. Christina then called for a taxi and went to the art gallery that sent the warning notice. The gallery had a collection of famous paintings and works of up-anding painters. At that moment, many were visiting the gallery as it was opening hours. Christina waited around two minutes at the entrance before seeing a slender figure approaching her. The man was wearing a clean, casual outfit with a shirt hanging on his shoulder. He appeared particrly dazzling under the sunlight. ¡°Why are you suddenly visiting me, Christina? Come in.¡± The man was the owner of the gallery, a rich scion, and Christina¡¯s childhood friend. Hunter Smith. Without dy, Christina showed him the warning letter. ¡°Did you send this?¡± When Hunter saw it, he furiously exined, ¡°I did. Do you know what this bloodypany did? They took your design, changed the color, and put it on a t-shirt before selling them!¡± I wish I could give him a knock on the head right now. She was rendered speechless for a moment before exining. ¡°This is mypany. It¡¯s fine if they use my design!¡± Some time ago, he had seen her design and thought it looked good, so he decided to let her disy it in the gallery. In reality, the copyright of that design still solely belonged to Christina. Thus, there was no giarism involved. Shocked, Hunter asked, ¡°When did you start working at Radiant Corporation, Christina? Why did you choose to work at apany like that instead of my workshop? That¡¯s not fair.¡± Instead of derailing from the original topic, she said, ¡°Just issue an apology now and remove my design. from your gallery. Otherwise, I can¡¯t help you when Radiant Corporation resorts to legal measures.¡± The situation had turned on its head. At that moment, Radiant Corporation could sue him instead. After ending her sentence, Christina left. It was already afternoon by the time she arrived home. Since Evelyn wasn¡¯t in the house, she quickly treated the wound on her forehead. Thank goodness the rock didn¡¯t hit me at any other spot. At least I can still cover it up with my hair, Hastily, she turned on herputer to check the development of the controversy. Someone had filmed the crowd demanding a refund in front of thepany and posted that video online. Thankfully, the commenters supported her and condemned those who acted violently. Before the controversy blew up. Radiant Corporation issued a notice iming that she didn¡¯t giarize anything. Thanks to that, the controversy was mostly suppressed. However, she was still receiving a bunch of texts on her phone. Almost everyone in thepany group chat on WhatsApp was talking about her giarism. Even though thepany had issued a statement, it didn¡¯t mean all employees believed it. In fact, someone demanded Christina provide an exnation. If the issue wasn¡¯t resolved by tomorrow, it would turn into a crisis, and she would be fired from Radiant Corporation. Meanwhile, she ignored their questioning. Turning off her phone, she grabbed her bathrobe and entered the bathroom. The wound still hurt when it came in contact with water. After she dried her hair, she swiftly put a band- aid on her injury. At eight in the evening, the gallery issued an apology on Twitter, which set off a heated discussion. After that, Radiant Corporation apologized to Christina and pinned its statement on the main page of its website. For five hours, people continuously joined the discussion of the controversy. Once the gallery apologized and proved Christina didn¡¯tmit giarism, the mockery in the chat ceased. A few minutester, someone apologized to her before the others did. Their messages swiftly dominated her screen. group At that moment, her colleagues who were apologizing wished they could smash their heads into a wall. Wow, I¡¯m still receiving messages telling me they¡¯re sorry for doubting me. It¡¯s a little surprising to see that they¡¯re self-aware enough to know talking badly about people isn¡¯t a good thing. I suppose I¡¯ll give them some time to repent. I¡¯m just d that this whole situation has been resolved. Sighing, Christina lay on herfy bed. With that, the controversy came to an end. When she woke up, she saw Hunter had sent her a message. He said he was sorry for what he did and promised to buy a cake for Evelyn when her birthday rolled around. Smiling, she replied: Okay. After changing her clothes, she went to herpany and was promptly summoned to Gina¡¯s office. Gina was in a pretty great mood after leaving her meeting. ¡°Topensate you for this misunderstanding, Mr. Shetti grants you two extra percent of the profits from this fashion line.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Without dy, Christina did the calction in her mind and realized that the bonus would be worth more than a couple of months of her sry. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Tanner. I¡¯m just d the crisis was averted.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say. You can leave now.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± After Christina left the office, Anna and Pearl approached her. ¡°You almost dragged us down, so I¡¯m d you¡¯re innocent. Did Ms. Tanner give you a warning?¡± Christina grinned. ¡°Nope. In fact, my share of the profits has increased by two percent.¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Coffee ¡°Really?¡± An envious expression settled on their countenances. After all, their fashion line was selling exceptionally well, so their earnings were already much higher than the typical designer¡¯s. Thus, when Gina raised Christina¡¯s share, thetter¡¯s earnings would be several times higher than the other two. ¡°Yeah. I still have matters to attend to, so I¡¯m leaving now,¡± said Christina before walking away. Before she left work, Yosef approached her. ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet, Christina? How about we grab a coffee together?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They then went to the coffee shop at the bottom of thepany building and sat across from each other before he put two color coordination books on the table. Christina¡¯s eyes glinted when she saw that. ¡°These two books are the discontinued ssic works of a color master! I can¡¯t believe you have them!¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving them to you because I¡¯ve memorized everything inside.¡± Yosef pushed the books toward her. Gleefully, she epted them. ¡°Thank you! Let me pay for your coffee.¡± ¡°I can tell you¡¯re passionate about designing. Initially, I had hoped we would have a chance to work together. Sadly, I¡¯ll be joining an overseas branchpany next week.¡± ¡°Eh? You¡¯re getting transferred?¡± The news surprised her. A dark look shed past his eyes as he smiled. ¡°Orders from the higher-up.¡± Christinamented his departure, not understanding why the higher-ups made such an arrangement. Before they left, they promised to coborate if an opportunity surfaced. During the night, she changed into herfortable pajamas and sprawled on the small bed. She folded her legs and propped her chin up, making herself look adorable. Just as she was absorbed in the color coordination book, her phone rang and interrupted her thoughts. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nathaniel askedzily. ¡°I¡¯m reading.¡± Her eyes remained glued to the book as she turned on the loudspeaker mode. ¡°I¡¯m attending a banquet tonight.¡± Upon detecting that she was distracted, he asked, ¡°Are you busy? ¡°I¡¯m reading a book right now. Go and do your stuff. We can chat after you return home.¡± Then she ended the call. Nathaniel frowned at his phone. I wish she didn¡¯t treat me this half-heartedly when I finally have the time to give her a call. After Christina arrived at thepany, she heard a new gossip spreading among spreading among her colleagues. Since she stepped into the office, their voices had never ceased. Hence, she curiously checked thetest news online and saw the title ¡°Mr. Hadley was spotted in a secret meeting with Xandra! Good news is right around the corner!¡± There was a paragraph under the title and a picture of them together. No wonder people have been staring at me. It¡¯s because of this. Composedly, Christina closed the webpage and focused on her work. She continued to ignore the endless rumors for the next two days. Since she had no appetite during lunchtime, she opted to read a book at her desk instead. Someone opened the ss door and closed it before blocking her light. The scent of a pungent perfume entered Christina¡¯s nose before she raised her head and saw Xandra standing arrogantly before her. Their eye contactsted for a second before Christina lowered her head. Feeling ignored, Xandra questioned with hostility, ¡°Did you see the news?¡± Christina replied, ¡°I did, though you shouldn¡¯t believe in tabloids.¡± Xandra¡¯s eyes widened in fury as she raised her hand, intending to p Christina. Christina stood and grabbed her hand, the look in her eyes turning sharp. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea for a big star like you to get physical in public.¡± Upon ending her sentence, she flung Xandra¡¯s hand away. Xandra glowered. ¡°Mrs. Hadley promised me she¡¯ll kick you out and make me Nathaniel¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Then wait until that day before youe and bother me. Please get the hell out of my office,¡± barked Christina coldly. ¡°Just you wait and see, Christina!¡± Xandra growled. Initially, she nned to take advantage of the rumors to intimidate Christina. Unfortunately for her, that advantage didn¡¯t help her at all. Evelyn¡¯s birthday was during the weekend. Christina had already ordered the cake early in the morning and used the sry she had just received to buy a pair of gold earrings for her grandmother. Instead of dancing outside. Evelyn was ying music at home. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Christina bought a bunch of ingredients. Then, she busied about in the kitchen from morning till noon. As time passed, the dining table was filled with various delicious dishes. When Christina heard the doorbell ringing, she removed her apron and went to open the door. Earlier that morning, she had sent a message to Nathaniel. However, he didn¡¯t reply, so she wasn¡¯t sure if he could make it. ¡°Are you happy to see me, Christina?¡± Hunter was wearing a casual striped shirt. His facial features appeared a little gentler under the sunlight. Other women would scream if they saw him. However, Christina grew up with him, so she had already gotten used to his good looks. ¡°Come in quick.¡± Curtly, she turned around and headed back in. Grinning, he entered the building with a gift in his hand. vo As he handed the present to Evelyn, he said, ¡°It took me a long time to find this antiquated record yer. Give it a try.¡± He had picked that gift because he knew she loved listening to music. ¡°You know me well, Hunt.¡± Evelyn smiled and turned on the record yer. When the doorbell rang again, Christina thought it was the cake delivery. ¡°Open the door for me, will you, Hunter?¡± Christina said before diving back into the kitchen. When Hunter opened the door, he saw an extremely tall man standing at the entrance. Wow, he must be over one point eight-five meters. It certainly contributes to his overpowering vibe. I think he¡¯s the most handsome man I¡¯ve ever met. Upon seeing the box in the man¡¯s hand, he asked, ¡°Are you here to deliver the cake?¡± Nathaniel frowned, pushed him away, and barged into the living room. His reaction made Hunter a little wary of him. ¡°You can just stay outside and hand me the cake.¡± Meanwhile, Christina had just exited the kitchen with a steaming hot dish when she saw the two men were about to start a fight. ¡°Why are you here, Nathaniel?¡± Nathaniel approached her and hugged her. ¡°I promised I¡¯d celebrate your grandmother¡¯s birthday with you so you can introduce me to her, didn¡¯t I? ¡°Who are you? Let Christina go.¡± Hunter swiftly pushed him away and pulled Christina behind him. Evelyn scrutinized Nathaniel and asked, ¡°Is this your friend, Christina?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯m going to chase him away.¡± Just as Hunter was about to act, Christina stopped him and stood before Nathaniel. Hastily, she rified, ¡°His name¡¯s Nathaniel Hadley, and he¡¯s my boyfriend. He¡¯s here to celebrate Granny¡¯s birthday.¡± The atmosphere suddenly turned serious. Hunter¡¯s eyes widened to the size of an egg. ¡°When did you have a boyfriend, Christina? You never mentioned him before.¡± Christina was at a loss for words as she wasn¡¯t sure where to begin. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Talk About The Photos ¡°My matters with Christina have nothing to do with you.¡± Nathaniel nced at Hunter coldly, not intending to continue bickering. Evelyn dragged Hunter over to the table and sat down. ¡°Well, since you¡¯re here,e and join us,¡± she offered Nathaniel. With the elderly woman around, the two men calmed down and took their seats. ¡°Happy birthday, Granny. This is for you.¡± Nathaniel handed Evelyn a gift box. When the old woman opened it, Christina was taken aback. There was nothing but a key inside that huge box. ¡°I heard from Christina that you like dancing, so I bought you a studio nearby. Now, you won¡¯t have to trouble yourself with heading outside whenever you feel like dancing.¡± Nathaniel exined. Hunter scoffed. ¡°What do you know? Granny loves dancing outdoors precisely because she wants people to appreciate her moves.¡± Evelyn kicked him from underneath the table and beamed. ¡°Thank you, Nat. That¡¯s so thoughtful of you.¡± After a pleasant meal, Hunter took Evelyn to the courtyard to listen to her record yer while Christina saw Nathaniel off. ¡°Do you not have anything to ask me?¡± asked Nathaniel. Christina tilted her head. ¡°Are you talking about the photos?¡± She took his silence as a ¡°yes¡± ¡°Xandra came looking for me to brag about it, but she ran off after I dissed her.¡± Christina winked. Nathaniel caressed her head. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± Even if he weren¡¯t in town, he would still know everything that had happened to her. The woman shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. You should head back now.¡± Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her waist and ced his forehead against hers, his breath lingering over her rosy cheeks. ¡°Will youe over to Scenic Garden Manor tomorrow?¡± Christina tried to push him away, only to be held more tightly. ¡°I won¡¯t let go until you say yes,¡± the man insisted shamelessly, It was daytime, so anyone who walked by could see how affectionate the two looked with each other. Christina¡¯s face flushed. ¡°Okay, I promise you. Let go of me already!¡± With a chuckle, Nathaniel gave her a peck on the lips. The young woman then scurried off like a frightened rabbit. Nathaniel hopped into his car and headed back to work. Sebastian followed him into the office. ¡°That guy hase clean, Mr. Hadley. Ms. Xandra Sullivan had her assistant hire those people to bother Ms. Christina. Ms. Sullivan also gave them the order to hurt her.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows knitted as he heard that. To think Xandra would do such a thing to Christina behind his back. ¡°Send out a notice. Hadley Corporation will be terminating all its projects with Xandra.¡± Sebastian stilled briefly upon hearing that, as he knew how close Xandra and Julia were. ¡°Mrs. Hadley won¡¯t be happy about this¡­¡± Before he could finish, he caught a glimpse of Nathaniel¡¯s jaw clenching and tensed up in fright. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of that right away.¡± Back at the Hadley residence, Xandra brought an array of extravagant gifts into the building, where housekeeper immediately came up to take them off her hands. Whether it be premium supplements or luxury clothes, she always went all out when it came to appeasing her future mother-inw. Julia was having some tea when the young woman showed up. ¡°The inte can¡¯t stop gushing about. how you and Nathaniel are perfect for each other,¡± she remarked with a wide grin. Xandra¡¯s expression grew resentful as she sat down next to Julia. ¡°You have no idea how terrible Christina is, Mrs. Hadley. She told me that even if you don¡¯t like her, she¡¯ll never give Nathaniel up. ¡°That brat! How dare she?¡± Julia was immediately enraged. Xandra nodded earnestly and sighed. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll never get to have you as my mother-inw. Julia huffed. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. It¡¯s not over yet. No one knows how things might end up.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The younger woman smirked internally as she sensed Julia¡¯s hatred toward Christina deepen. Just then, she received a phone call from her manager. ¡°What¡¯s going on. Xandra? I just received Hadley Corporation¡¯s notice saying they¡¯re terminating their contracts with you. You just lost five endorsements!¡± Xandra felt her stomach drop. ¡°What happened? Did you ask them why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it has to be something personal. You¡¯d better find out about it yourself.¡± Xandra¡¯s face turned pale as she hung up, and tears threatened to spill from the corners of her eyes. ¡°What happened?¡± Julia asked, concerned. The tears finally flowed down Xandra¡¯s face as she looked especially aggrieved. ¡°Christina must¡¯ve talked about me behind my back and asked Nathaniel to cancel all my endorsement contracts with Hadley Corporation.¡± Julia froze momentarily. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Xandra. I¡¯ll talk to Nathaniel about this.¡± As the weekend came, Nathaniel had Sebastian take Christina to Scenic Garden Manor first thing in the morning. ¡°Mr. Hadley is waiting for you inside the courtyard.¡± Christina nodded. Familiar with the ce, she walked right in. She then spotted a tall figure seated inside the pavilion. There was a hugeke next to it. Sun rays fell on Nathaniel as he turned around, and there was a glint in his orbs like two lone stars shining in the night sky. ¡°Come here.¡± Christina walked toward him. ¡°Just two fish in this humongouske? Isn¡¯t that a bit of a waste?¡± Nathaniel took her by the hand. ¡°Not at all. Just like you and me, they have each other. That¡¯s more than enough.¡± The woman chuckled in amusement, but before the two could continue, the butler announced Julia¡¯s arrival. The older woman hadn¡¯t visited Scenic Garden Manor ever since the previous argument, so she surely had a reason for dropping by today. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you out here.¡± Nathaniel grabbed her hand and walked into the building. ¡°Come inside with me. There¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. It¡¯s just that she doesn¡¯t like me, and I don¡¯t want to cause you any trouble,¡± Christina asserted, trying to break free. Having to choose between one¡¯s own mother and wife was every man¡¯s worst nightmare. Nathaniel stilled for a moment before tugging onto her again. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± The two then entered to find Julia seated on the couch as a maid served her tea. Julia¡¯s expression clouded over the moment she saw her son walk in hand-in-hand with Christina. ¡°Nathaniel, why did you terminate Xandra¡¯s contracts with Hadley Corporation?¡± she asked in a reproachful tone. Christina had also learned the news, although she didn¡¯t know the reason behind such a decision. Julia¡¯s demeanor was as though her son had led Christina into the room without a care in the world. As the two walked over to the couch, Nathaniel wrapped an arm around Christina¡¯s waist and pulled. her closer. ¡°You should be asking her what she did instead ofing over to interrogate me,¡± he responded to his mother. Julia¡¯s face stiffened. The more intimate they looked, the more aggravated she became. ¡°Xandra didn¡¯t do anything, so you¡¯d better not ruin the friendship between our family and hers all for a woman I don¡¯t approve of!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recall having such a rtionship with the Sullivans. It¡¯s always been a one-sided notion on your part,¡± Nathanielmented. Then, his gaze turned frosty. ¡°She deliberately got some people to hurt Christina, so I performed my duties as a husband and protected my wife. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that.¡± Christina was astonished to hear that. When did Xandra try to hurt me? Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Nonsense, Julia¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Xandra would never hurt anyone. I bet Christina was the one who fed you all that nonsense!¡± The Xandra she knew was an elegant and dazzling youngdy who would never resort to such vulgar acts. Nathaniel calmly took out his phone and yed a video clip. Christina recognized the man in the footage right away. He¡¯s the guy who threw the rock at me downstairs at work! In the video, the man verbally admitted that Xandra¡¯s assistant had instructed him to stir up trouble. Moreover, the people who had joined him were a team of actors. There was also someone in charge of taking pictures of the incident and uploading them online. Christina had been wondering how people could¡¯vee over to cause a scene so soon after the ordeal. So, Xandra was behind it! As the truth wasid bare in front of her. Julia could no longer deny Xandra¡¯s involvement. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes remained frigid. ¡°If we weren¡¯t acquainted, I would¡¯ve handed this over to the police by now. Instead, I¡¯m only terminating her contracts as a warning.¡± He was already being merciful by handling the situation this way, With that, Julia left with a scowl on her face. This was Christina¡¯s first time seeing her look so grumpy. ¡°Are you mad that I didn¡¯t hand the video over to the police?¡± Nathaniel asked after only the two of them remained in the living room. ¡°Not at all. With this footage in your hands, you can even threaten her not to mess with me, so I¡¯d say you¡¯re a smart one.¡± Nathaniel ced a hand on her head and pulled her into a gentle embrace. ¡°You¡¯re really smart too.¡± The woman had such a baby face that he would subconsciously treat her like a child at times, After dinner, Nathaniel walked her to the front door. ¡°I really don¡¯t want you to go,¡± he said while pulling on her hand gently. ¡°I have to go to work tomorrow, so I shouldn¡¯t head back toote,¡± Christina reminded with curved lips. For the first time, she actually felt reluctant to leave. Scenic Garden Manor used to be like a birdcage that restricted her freedom Yet, she now had a newfound impression of the ce-all because of one person. Not forcing her to stay, Nathaniel kissed her on her forehead and opened the car door to let her in. ¡°I still have work to do. Text me when you arrive home safely.¡± The woman nodded, and the car drove off after she closed the door. She headed to work as usual the next day. Right after a morning meeting, Gina announced Christina¡¯s new position as small team leader. It usually took at least two years for an ordinary designer to be promoted to small team leader. Yet, Christina had broken the promotion record twice, and her colleagues admired her for that. Everyone used to think she had made her way up by relying on her connections, but her past two solo designs had garnered so much attention that they sold out immediately. With this achievement being proof of her abilities, no one dared talk behind her back. Instead, everybody now tried to butter her up. anymore. Radiant Corporation had recently epted a project involving the shooting of an ancient-themed web series. Thepany would be in charge of styling and costume design. Gina had chosen Christina and Anna as her teammates for the role of styling the series¡¯ actors. Styling actors was an excellent opportunity for designers to showcase their skills and build their reputation in the industry. The series was about love in a ssical setting. Gina would be in charge of the male lead¡¯s costume, Christina the female lead and supporting female, and Anna the remaining characters. Christina spent the entire week busying herself with the costume design and would stay up until the crack of dawn almost every day due to the tight deadline. When the weekend came, she suddenly received a phone call informing her that Sharon had suffered a heart attack and was now receiving emergency treatment. Christina jumped in fright upon hearing the news and took a taxi straight to the hospital. Seeing the red sign outside the operating room light up was akin to being stabbed in the eyes with a knife. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. After over an hour of waiting, the nurse finally wheeled an unconscious Sharon out of the room. Christina went up immediately. ¡°Doctor! How¡¯s my mother doing?¡± ¡°Not too good,¡± the doctor answered solemnly. ¡°It¡¯s best to operate on her as soon as possible. She¡¯ll be much better after a heart bypass surgery.¡± Christina felt as though her heart was being gripped by an invisible force. ¡°How much will the surgery cost?¡± ¡°Five hundred thousand, including before-and-after procedures. Make the necessary Arrangements quickly. Any moment of dy wouldn¡¯t do your mother good.¡± With that, the doctor walked away. Five hundred thousand was no small amount to Christina. There was simply no way for her to gather such arge sum of money right away, and she hadn¡¯t been on good terms with her rtives ever since her parents¡¯ divorce. The woman tried to enter the ward to see her mother, only to be stopped by a nurse. Sharon was still in critical condition and couldn¡¯t leave the sterile area. Hence, Christina could only observe her mother through the ss window. Her heart ached as she saw how thin and pale thetter looked. Just when I had a tiny breakthrough in my career and can soon let us live a little morefortably. Why did this have to happen now? The woman suppressed her emotions and questioned the nurse, ¡°Why did my mother suddenly have a heart attack?¡± Justst week, the doctor had said that Sharon could be discharged so long as her condition had settled. The nurse froze and appeared hesitant to answer. Seeing that, Christina flew into a rage as her eyes began to water. ¡°Did you guys abuse her? I¡¯m going to sue you if you did!¡± ¡°It definitely has nothing to do with us!¡± the nurse exined hastily. ¡°But a very extravagantly-dressed woman dropped by earlier this morning, and your mother¡¯s heart attack urred not long after she left.¡± ¡°What woman? I don¡¯t have any other rtives!¡± Or rather, she wasn¡¯t in contact with any kin from her father¡¯s side. The nurse shook her head anxiously. ¡°She registered herself as Mrs. Steele when visiting. We don¡¯t know what they were talking about inside the ward.¡± Mrs. Steele? It was Miranda! An ominous feeling rose within Christina¡¯s chest. She must¡¯ve triggered Mom¡¯s heart attack! I won¡¯t forgive her for this. Meanwhile, Miranda was in the middle of a chat with a few of her peers inside a luxurious beauty salon. Suddenly, someone sshed a cup of coffee over her head from behind, causing her to shriek. With her makeup and branded clothes ruined, she now looked as though she had just crawled out of a pool of mud. Everyone was so startled that they jumped out of the woman¡¯s way. Miranda turned around and spotted a livid Christina immediately. ¡°Christina! Have you lost your mind?¡± Thetter put the ss down. ¡°What the hell did you to do my mother at the hospital, Miranda?¡± Miranda red at her furiously. ¡°I told that shameless woman to keep an eye on you, you brat! Seriously, do you not have any guilt? It¡¯s about time you repay your father for having raised you all these years, but instead, you refuse to help the family out at all!¡± She would have long made a move if Christina weren¡¯t Nathaniel¡¯s wife. In fact, she had even attempted to reap some benefits from the Hadley family through Christina, but the latter refused to help. That was why she had dropped by the hospital to rile Sharon up instead. Christina inched closer to her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you make me repay my debts by selling me off three years ago? And now, you¡¯re resorting to your old tricks again by threatening my mother?¡± Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Dream On The crowd around them began to murmur as they gossiped. Miranda¡¯s expression was tense as she hissed, ¡°Can you not talk about our family matters in public?¡± The Steele family was a well-respected family. Moreover, Emilia was about to be a celebrity. If any gossip were to spread, her reputation might suffer The corners of Christina¡¯s lips were curled slightly as she narrowed her eyes. ¡°Apologize to my mom now, and I¡¯ll stop exposing your unsavory affairs.¡± ¡°You want me to apologize? Hah! Dream on!¡± Realizing someone had taken out their phone to take pictures, Miranda shoved the person aside. wanting to leave the ce immediately. However, Christina grabbed Miranda¡¯s arm with tremendous strength. ¡°You brat! I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson on your dad¡¯s behalf!¡± Miranda was not someone to be trifled with. She raised her hand and was about to hit Christina when thetter grabbed her wrist. Boring her eyes into Miranda¡¯s with a cold, piercing gaze, Christina snapped, ¡°You¡¯re just a mistress who kicked out the original wife. What gives you the right to teach me a lesson?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Perhaps she was too mad that she did not realize how much strength she was exerting. Her grip on Miranda¡¯s wrist grew tighter and tighter. The sound of bones breaking sounded in the still air. Immediately, Miranda let out a cry and fell to her knees. Only then did Christina let go of Miranda¡¯s hand. ¡°Things won¡¯t end as easy as this if youe looking. for trouble with my mom again.¡± With that, she flung Miranda¡¯s hand aside and left. Miranda was a prideful woman. After experiencing such humiliation, her anger ignited like mes fed with fuel. Even the blood vessels in the whites of his eyes became visible. Christina, this isn¡¯t over! When Christina got home, she did not dare to tell Evelyn about her mother¡¯s situation. Instead, she only informed Evelyn she would be very busy recently and needed to work overtime. After that, Christina grabbed her workptop and some papers before heading out. Over the next few days, Christina constantly worried about the funds. One day during working hours. she received a call from Gideon. ¡°Get back here if you want money to cure your mother¡¯s sickness!¡± At that, Christina immediately applied for leave with Gina and returned to the Steele residence. Sitting in the living room were Miranda, whose hand was in a cast, and a scowling Gideon. Their expressions darkened even more when they saw Christina. ¡°You brat! Come over here and apologize right now!¡± Gideon growled. Christina simply red back at him with her lips sealed. Seeing that, Gideon marched over and threw a kick. Even though Christina tried to dodge it, the attack. stillnded on her calf. A sharp pain shot through her leg, and her face paled. ¡°I won¡¯t cooperate if you don¡¯t have any money to give me.¡± Her cold expressiontled Gideon. Just as he was about to hit Christina, she pped his hand. away. ¡°Of course, we have it. I¡¯ve already helped you negotiate the amount you want. One agreement is worth fifty thousand. It all depends on how many you can get signed,¡± said Miranda while tossing the agreement onto the table. What¡¯s the meaning of this? Do they take me as a money-making tool? Christina was utterly disgusted, and her eyes glinted coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not capable of earning this kind of money. You, on the other hand, seem to be quite experienced in this, Ms. Weaver. Maybe you could get someone richer than my dad?¡± Miranda had met Gideon at a drinking party. She always hated it when someone brought up her sore points. Meanwhile, Gideon felt utterly humiliated. He raised his fist and got ready to punch Christina. ¡°You¡¯ve only left home for a few days, and you¡¯ve be so audacious. I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today!¡± His powerful fist swung fiercely toward the frail figure. At that moment, Christina¡¯s heart pumped wildly. There¡¯s no avoiding this. Just then, a powerful gust swept across the top of Christina¡¯s head before a huge hand stopped Gideon¡¯s fist from touching her. The pain she expected did not hit her. Rather, she felt an incredible aura from above her head, Astonished, Christina turned around, only to notice Nathaniel had appeared behind her unexpectedly. His towering figure created a shadow that felt like a protective barrier shielding her. Suddenly, Christina felt as if the world had be a safe ce. By the time Gideon snapped out of it, he felt a force on his wrist before he was pushed away. As he fell heavily to the ground, he stammered, ¡°M-Mr. Hadley, 1-1 mean, Nathaniel, my dear son-in- law. Why are you here?¡± Before Christina arrived at the residence, Gideon had called the hospital to check on the situation. When he learned that she could not even afford to pay five hundred thousand for the surgery, he thought Nathaniel had gotten bored and abandoned her. Never did Gideon expect Nathaniel to suddenly appear and protect Christina. Dread surged in Gideon¡¯s heart. He quickly gave Miranda a look that hinted her to put away the nderous documents. Meanwhile, Nathaniel helped Christina up with a frown. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Christina said nothing, for she was still shocked by his sudden appearance. Pulling her into his arms, Nathaniel shifted his gaze to Gideon. ¡°Oh? Turns out you still remember I¡¯m your son-inw, ch? Why did you hit my wife, then? I think you just don¡¯t respect me. That¡¯s why you have the audacity to hit her.¡± The intimidating aura he emitted made the air tense. It was as if he was a demon that crawled out of the abyss. Gideon quickly scrambled to his feet while trembling from head to toe and feeling at a loss for words. It was as if he was being condemned for his sins. ¡°No, no. I would never disrespect you! It¡¯s just that my emotions got the better of me. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± Christina was filled with disdain when she saw Gideon chickening out so easily. Didn¡¯t he say he wanted to teach me a lesson? His attitude did a one-eighty in the face of benefit. She was disappointed by Gideon¡¯s pretentiousness. Nathaniel¡¯s tense expression did not fade. He pointed at Miranda and demanded, ¡°Apologize to her.¡± Gideon hurriedly nodded and tugged at Miranda to apologize to Christina. Those not in the know would think they were worshipping a god. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s go,¡± prompted Christina. She then led Nathaniel out of the house. Sebastian put up the separator in the car while the atmosphere in the back seat grew tense. Nathaniel pinned Christina against the seat. All she could see in the dark were his gleaming eyes. At that moment, she felt as if she was being interrogated. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. Are you hurt?¡± Since Christina¡¯s sense of sight was limited, her other senses heightened. She could feel the warmth of his breath spreading on her skin. It was as if she could feel his emotions. Christina admitted, ¡°My calf hurts.¡± Only then did Nathaniel let her go and order Sebastian to drive them back to Scenic Garden Manor. When Nathaniel stepped out of the car, he carried her in his arms and went to the second floor. He then ced her on the couch and took out a medical kit. Upon returning, he squatted in front of her and rolled up her pants to reveal a bruise on her fair skin. A slight frown appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s forehead as he poured out some medicated oil and rubbed it. on the bruise. The amount of force he applied was just nice, so her calf did not hurt too much. He did not stop massaging it until the blood clot had dispersed. When he saw the light bruise on Christina¡¯s calf, his anger suddenly surged, and he pushed her onto the couch. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 What Are You Smiling For ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d call me immediately when something arises?¡± Nathaniel leaned closer, making his fiery gaze appear rather horrifying. Christina could not help but blink. It was her first time seeing him being emotional andpletely. unlike his usual calm self. That¡¯s not true. Thest time he lost his cool was when I got into trouble on the road. Nathaniel would always behave that way when he was worried about her safety. A subtle smile crept to her lips. It¡¯s nice to have someone worry about me. However, Nathaniel furrowed his brows. ¡°What are you smiling for? I¡¯m feeling angry here!¡± The smile on Christina¡¯s lips deepened. She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. Before Nathaniel coulde to his senses, she exerted more force and closed the distance between them by lifting her head slightly to kiss his lips. Their breathing grew louder as their breaths intertwined, and their hearts beat faster. The gentle kiss grew passionate and hot, making Christina feel disoriented. When Christina woke up again, it was already the next morning. It was drizzling outside. The moment she spotted the clothes that were torn into pieces, her cheeks. flushed. She had failed to hold herself back and let Nathaniel seed. As she sat up, she saw a brand-new dress sitting on the couch. Hence, she walked into the bathroom to get dressed. The second she looked into the mirror and saw the red marks on her body, her face flushed redder. The marks were like voices screaming out to her, informing her of how chaoticst night had been. She hurriedly put on her clothes to cover the marks. Thankfully, the clothes fit her perfectly, After that, she went downstairs. Nathaniel waited for her to finish her breakfast before sending her to Radiant Corporation. Upon arriving at the office, Gina told her to not work that day. Instead, Christina was to go home and pack some clothes before joining the film crew. ¡°Aren¡¯t I supposed to join the crew at the end of the month?¡± Christina asked. She had yet to settle her mother¡¯s surgery. Gina sighed helplessly. ¡°These are orders from the higher-ups. I don¡¯t have a say in this. Hurry up and get ready. We¡¯re leaving in two hours.¡± With that, she left to get ready, Meanwhile, Christina left thepany and rushed to the hospital. She was panting heavily when she arrived at the nurses¡¯ station. ¡°Hello, miss. Could I please pay half of the surgery fees first so you could save my mother?¡± As she spoke, her voice sounded choked. After all, her mother was in critical condition. Christina would not be able to focus on her work if the matter was not settled. The nurse recognized her. ¡°Calm down, Ms. Steele. The fees were paid for this morning, wasn¡¯t it? We were even ordered to have our hospital¡¯s best cardiac surgeon operate on your mother.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Christina froze. She had told no one she needed money, not even Hunter. Although they were childhood friends, she was too shy to ask him for help again after all the help he had given her. Puzzled, Christina asked, ¡°Did you guys make a mistake? I never paid for anything. Hearing that, the nurse handed her the receipt signed by Nathaniel. Christina kept the receipt and paid her mother a visit before leaving the hospital. When she stepped out of the hospital, she took out her phone and dialed a number, which connected almost instantly. ¡°Thank you, Nathaniel. Why didn¡¯t you tell me you paid?¡± ¡°I wanted to tell you about it in the morning, but you left too quickly.¡± It sounded quiet on his end. Hence, Christina figured he was in his office. Just then, Christina remembered she had gotten out of the car so urgently that morning that she did not realize he had something to tell her. ¡°I¡¯m joining the film crew, so I might be out of town for the time being,¡± she informed, finally getting to the main topic. ¡°I know. Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m yourpany¡¯s boss,¡± Nathaniel said with a chuckle. Finally, Christina hung up with a smile. She returned to Evelyn¡¯s house, packed some clothes, and regrouped with the film crew in the car arranged by thepany. The location chosen for the web series was in the suburbs. It took them three hours by car to finally arrive at their destination. The beautiful scenery of the blue sky, fluffy white clouds, the sound of birds chirping, and the sweet scent of flowers made Christina feel the hours spent in the car had been worth it. Unfortunately, she did not have much time to rest. After sending Nathaniel a picture to inform him of her arrival, she went off to get busy. There were about thirty outfits used in the drama. It took a lot of effort to arrange all of them and match the essories. It took so long that she only finished her work at night. Since the actors were only arriving tomorrow, she could rest early for the night. The outfits had to be ced in the tent of the filming location. Hence, Christina carefully them and returned to the hotel. arranged The next morning, someone from the film crew knocked on her door, telling her the actors had arrived and needed them to try on the outfits, Soon, Christina and her two coworkers arrived at the filming location and greeted the actors for the first time. Much to her surprise, the actress for the female lead was Xandra. Even if Xandra did not have Hadley Corporation¡¯s support, her years of involvement in the entertainment industry and her wealthy background enabled her to have a lot of resources. The second Christina¡¯s and Xandra¡¯s gazes met, they could feel the hostility in each other¡¯s eyes. Not long after, the director instructed the actors to try on the outfits while entering the fitting room. Thus, Xandra and her assistant followed after the former. The outfits were slightlyplicated, and it was quite difficult for Christina to handle them alone. Thus, Xandra¡¯s assistant wanted to go over to help her, which only caused Xandra to stare daggers at the assistant. After finally helping Xandra to put on the outfit, Christina went to the front to help the former adjust the cor. Xandra had never stood so close to Christina before. To her, thetter had an innocent face but a cunning personality. Now that I¡¯m seeing her up close, I must admit she¡¯s quite pretty. No wonder Nathaniel¡¯s attracted to her. Xandra uttered coldly through gritted teeth, ¡°Nathaniel will soon be bored with a little girl like who pretends to be cute.¡± you However, Christina merely eyed Xandra coldly and ignored thetter¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m a famous celebrity, whilst you¡¯re just a lowly designer. In fact, people like you are somon I can easily find one on the streets. Both you and I are onpletely different levels,¡± Xandra hissed softly. After adjusting Xandra¡¯s cor, Christina looked up and said, ¡°Tell this to Nathaniel if you¡¯re so capable. I¡¯ll dly leave if he chooses you.¡± When she finished, Christina picked up an embroidered belt and went to Xandra¡¯s back to put it on for thetter. Xandra was so mad that she was at a loss for words. Even her expression turned darket. ¡°I¡¯m done adjusting your outfit. Be careful to not ruin it.¡± Christina approached Xandra from behind, recalling the time when thetter purposely sent people to cause trouble outside the office. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t. have made the outfits look so bright if I knew you¡¯d be the one wearing them. Darker and more sinister vibes suit you better.¡± Enraged, Xandra lifted her hand to hit Christina, but it was swiftly caught by thetter. The two red at each other as neither of them was willing to give in. Softly, Christina warned, ¡°As a celebrity, you¡¯d better behave and not p someone out of nowhere. Aren¡¯t you afraid I might take pictures and denunciate you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go too far, Christina,¡± was all Xandra could utter in anger. She wanted to cuss at Christina, but she still suppressed her urge. Curling her lips into a smirk, Christina gave her a provocative look before flinging Xandra¡¯s hand away and walking out. Xandra was so furious her fingers trembled. This d*mned Christina. How dare she bully me! Unfortunately, Xandra could not make things difficult for Christina because thetter was not an actress. Moreover, she could not ruin the outfit, for it would affect the filming progress. Christina must¡¯ve known about this. That¡¯s why she dared to treat me this way. Hmph. She¡¯s going to be on this film crew for a few months. I¡¯m sure I can find a chance to teach her a lesson. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Kill Two Birds With One Stone The first day of filming went smoothly. Although it was just a web series, all the actors and actresses were famous celebrities. The male lead of the series was the hottest male celebrity of the season, Ethan Sellers, while the second female lead was a third¨Ctier actress, Coco Lynch. It was Christina¡¯s first time meeting so many celebrities in a day. When Christina and her team were not busy, they could hang around and watch the director film the scenes, which was quite fun. When they had finished filming for the day, Christina had to hang up the outfit Xandra wore. It could not be washed, or it would go out of shape. The sun had already set when Christina and her members returned to the hotel with the logistics tears To celebrate the smooth start of the production, the director invited everyone to have a meal in the hall. However, it cost a lot to treat a film crew that had more than a thousand people. Thus, the dishes served at the other tables were not as great as the main table. There were ten people at every table, yet they were only served one meat dish. Christina and the others barely ate anything. Anna scanned the empty table while grumbling softly, ¡°I might as well go back to my room and have some snacks.¡± Christina merely chuckled and said nothing. Before long, a few servers walked in and served each table dishes such as seafood and various selections of meat. It was as if they were having a wedding dinner. Seeing that, the director hurriedly called the manager over and asked if they had made a mistake. Such a sumptuous feast surely would cost more than a hundred thousand. To the director¡¯s surprise, the manager chuckled and exined, ¡°Mr. Hadley called earlier to add in a few more dishes. He said he¡¯s worried his girlfriend might not have enough food. Anyway, he¡¯s payin for everything here.¡± Exmations rose from the crowd, and all attention was on Xandra. After all, everyone knew about the recent rumor of Xandra being Nathaniel¡¯s partner. On top of that, neither of them responded to the news. Therefore, they never expected Nathaniel would use such a method to confirm their rtionship. ¡°There¡¯s a cake for dessert. Please enjoy your food, everyone. I¡¯ll send someone to bring the cake in later¡± With that, the manager walked away. The second he said that, words of envy flooded Xandra¡¯s ears. ¡°Xandra, you¡¯re so blessed to have such a caring boyfriend!¡± ¡°Xandra, Mr. Hadley¡¯s so attentive to you.¡± ¡°Gosh! I¡¯m so jealous of you.¡± A blissful smile appeared on Xandra¡¯s face. Mrs. Hadley must¡¯ve praised me in front of Nathaniel. It sure feels different to have the support of a future mother inw. Nathaniel must¡¯ve requested the hotel to add more dishes to show his favor to me. Nathaniel, you¡¯re so attentive! Just then, Xandra turned her attention to Christina. She lifted her ss of wine and made her way to Thetter. The staff at Christina¡¯s table congratted Xandra when they saw her approaching. After responding to their kind words, Xandra sat beside Christina and took a sip of wine. ¡°Feeling jealous, Christina?¡± I¡¯m an A¨Clist celebrity now. It won¡¯t take long for me to be the respected Mrs. Hadley. Soon, I¡¯ll have two incredible identities. Nheless, Christina munched on a piece of meat without even looking at Xandra. ¡°No. I¡¯ve always nade a living using my own capabilities. I don¡¯t like being pretentious.¡± The female lead in the series is a brave and kind woman. She¡¯s apletely different character from the real Xandra. Hmph. I know you¡¯re feeling jealous. You must be pissed that Nathaniel is showing off his affection for me.¡± Xandra breathed so that they were the only ones who could hear the conversation. The gloating tone in Xandra¡¯s words was palpable. It was as if she wanted Christina to realize what was happening. Christina let out a mockingugh. ¡°This is nothingpared to how Nathaniel normally pesters me to make me eat. Anyway, if you¡¯re done talking, then leave. Don¡¯t interrupt my meal.¡± Xandra¡¯s eyes widened with fury. She wanted to hit Christina so badly, but she did not dare to do so because they were in public. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving. I¡¯m going to sit here until the cakees so everyone knows I¡¯m Nathaniel¡¯s girlfriend, while you¡¯re just a toy he dumped once he was done ying with you.¡± Earlier, the manager mentioned there would be cake served after dinner. Xandra was determined to make Christina envious when everyone watched her cut the cake. Even so, Christina was not bothered by it. It did not matter to her as long as her meal was not interrupted. In the meantime, Xandra chatted andughed with the people around her. She had the air of a celebrity as she sipped on her wine and talked at the same time. When the meal was about to end, Christina wanted to go back to her room to get some rest after having her fill of food. However, Xandra stopped the former. Who gave you permission to leave? I want you to see who¡¯s the one overestimating herself.¡± Knitting her brows, Christina sat back down with an icy glint in her eyes. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll make sure to catch very detail.¡± Xandra could not wait for the server to bring the cake in. She even ordered her assistant to gather the rowd to enjoy the cake. Not long after, almost everyone had surrounded the table. Please make way. The cake is here!¡± As soon as the server ced the ten¨Cinch cake on the table, everyone looked down at the words written on it. It read: All the best on your first day of work, Christina. Everyone was bewildered. Why isn¡¯t Xandra¡¯s name on it? Who¡¯s Christina? Immediately, someone called out to the server to check if they had made a mistake. Surprisingly, the server confirmed that the name was Christina. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Just then, Anna eximed, ¡°Christina, so you¡¯re the girlfriend Mr. Hadley was talking about!¡± Her words shocked the crowd. They instantly shifted their attention to the young woman, who had a pair of bright eyes, fair skin. delicate features. She was not overshadowed by Xandra despite sitting beside her. That was when the crowd realized they had congratted the wrong person. Christina had been the girlfriend Nathaniel was referring to from the very beginning. Both the cake and dishes were ordered for her. Xandra was livid. She had never been humiliated like that in her life. Even worse, she had gathered everyone to watch her get humiliated. Xandra clenched her fists tightly, and her blood pumped wildly due to anger. When Xandra got up to leave, Christina grabbed the former¡¯s hand and said with a chuckle, ¡°Do you know who¡¯s the one overestimating herself now?¡± Xandra¡¯s eyes gleamed with rage. Now that she had been humiliated in front of the entire film crew or the first day of production, she could not imagine how she was going to survive the next few months. ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck, Christina,¡± she hissed. ¡°Too bad. I can afford to push my luck. You, on the other hand, should stop testing my limits. Even kittens scratch humans when they¡¯re angry.¡± Only then did Christina let go of Xandra¡¯s hand. \ subtle smile crept upon Christina¡¯s lips as she watched the pathetic figure recede from her sight After Xandra walked away, everyone turned to Christina and repeated the words they had spoken to he former earlier. Christina simply thanked them and returned to her room to give Nathaniel a call without even eating the cake. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Go Back To The Hotel With Nathaniel backing her up, Christina worked smoothly with the film crew. Being in charge of styling was actually not a tiring job, as there were designated makeup artists in charge of the actors¡® makeup. All she had to do was focus on hair styling and helping the actors put on their costumes. The only downside was that Christina had to arrive before the start of the shoot and finish hanging up the clothes after the shoot before leaving. When it was lunchtime, Christina sat beside Anna to watch the filming after finishing her tasks. Ethan was the most popr celebrity recently. He had a smooth and gentle¨Clooking face, a pair of eyes that nted upwards, a straight nose, and a pair of thin lips. He was incredibly handsome and more recognizable, unlike normal male celebrities. Even Anna had be his fan after joining the film crew for only a few days. She would constantly sing praises of him to Christina. Although the job had long working hours, Christina had a lot of free time. Therefore, she could use some of her time to study the contrast of colors. Meanwhile, Xandra, who was resting not far away, had her gaze fixed on Christina. She had been avoiding Christina ever since she was humiliated in front of everyone that night. In fact, Xandra would change out of her outfit herself during their break before letting Christina handle it. Xandra could not put aside her ego and lower herself to talk to Christina after being humiliated by who she thought was an ordinary girl. After all, the former was well¨Cknown in the entertainment industry. ¡°Are you still angry, Xandra?¡± asked Xandra¡¯s assistant, who had suffered a lot for the past few days. Retracting Mer gaze, Xandra snapped, ¡°Why would I hold a grudge against someone so insignificant?¡± Who does Christina think she is? Nathaniel¡¯s just not tired of her yet. It won¡¯t be long before he gets bored with her. He¡¯ll still end up choosing someone who matches him in terms of social and economic status. ¡°You¡¯re prettier than her. Not only that, youe from a wealthier family. You¡¯re better than Christina in every aspect. Amph. The more I see her, the more I dislike her. I really want to teach her a lesson,¡± said the assistant to get in Xandra¡¯s good books. She was certain she would suffer terribly for the next few days if she did not get revenge for Xandra. ¡°A lesson? Tell me what you have in mind.¡± Xandra¡¯s interest was piqued. At that, the assistant leaned over and whispered something into Xandra¡¯s ears. Xandra curled her lips into a smirk as she eyed Christina. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s do that.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The shoot ended a littlete that night. It was almost midnight by the time they finished working. Just then, Xandra¡¯s assistant went looking for Christina. ¡°Xandra¡¯s getting changed in the lounge on the second floor. Please wait at the door.¡± The second floor was where Xandra¡¯s private lounge was. Christina had been there a few times to collect the clothes. After giving a brief response, she went upstairs, only to find the door closed. Usually, Xandra woulde out after getting changed. And every time, the clothes would be left on the ground as if they were trash. Hence, Christina simply waited patiently outside the door. Soon, an hour flew by. It was more than enough time for a person to shower, let alone change their clothes. Unable to resist any longer, Christina knocked on the door. s, no one answered. A sense of foreboding rose within her. She knocked a few more times, yet she was greeted with silence. That was when she realized something was off, and she instinctively pushed the door open. The lights were on, and the clothes were simply left in a corner. However, Xandra was nowhere to be seen.- I¡¯ve been tricked! It was close to two o¡¯clock in the morning when Christina rushed out of the room. When she hurried down the stairs, she realized the entire film crew was gone. There was not even a single car left. She had been left behind! Her mind buzzed, and she could not find her way around the set that was pitch ck. To make matters worse, she was in the suburbs, where her phone usually had no reception. No wonder no one called me. Using her phone¡¯s torchlight, she walked out of the set and arrived at an intersection where she stood between a mountain trail and a lonely¨Clooking studio. Suddenly, she was at a loss for what to do. It would take her more than an hour to walk back to the hotel However, she could not stay there either. Thus, she had no choice but to rely on her memory and walk back using the path. The darkness made her conjure scenes of a horrifying beasting out anytime or even a hand reaching out of nowhere to grab her leg and drag her off to eat her. The more she thought about it, the more fearful and anxious she felt. All of a sudden, she started running, hoping to get out of the darkness as soon as possible. All she needed was a ce with light so she would not be so afraid. Not noticing the rock near her foot, she tripped on it and fell to the ground. Ouch! It hurts! Perhaps it was because she was feeling so miserable that she burst into tears. There was no one around, anyway; she could cry without feeling ashamed. She buried her head in her arms as she endured the burning pain in her knees. Instantly, her mood plummeted to rock bottom. Suddenly, a beam of light pierced.through the night. Christina looked to the light¡¯s source in fear as a tall figure approached. His bright eyes were the only feature Christina could see clearly. It was as if he was her light. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Nathaniel approached and examined her wound with a frown. ¡°Does it hurt? Are you hurt anywhere else? Christina Steele, answer me!¡± The moment he finished his sentence, Christina suddenly opened her arms and threw herself at him. Her slender arms had surprisingly great strength. She hugged him tightly as if she feared he would run away at any moment. Nathaniel stiffened for a few seconds before realizing she was trembling slightly in his arms. He patted her head gently andforted her, ¡°There, there. I¡¯m here. It¡¯s all right now. Let¡¯s go back to the hotel.¡± Upon arriving at the presidential suite, a dusty Christina cleaned herself in the bathroom before walking out wearing one of Nathaniel¡¯s white shirts. ¡°Come here so I can apply medicine for you.¡± Nathaniel walked over and carried her to the couch. He wrapped an arm around her, making her lean on his firm chest. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, he used the other arm to clean her wound. ¡°It¡¯s going to hurt a little. Please bear with it.¡± Christina ced both arms around his neck and nodded like an injured animal. It tugged at Nathaniel heartstrings. Her face was pressed against his chest as she sat curled up in his arms. She was so focused on his heartbeat that she felt no pain. After putting on a bandage for her, Nathaniel gently lifted her leg and kissed it. ¡°It¡¯ll recover soon.¡± Just then, Christina looked up, teary¨Ceyed. She never expected Nathaniel would give her such sense of security. She was so caught up in studying his face that she did not notice Nathaniel pressing his warm 1 against hers. His warm breath was like a me that lit up the night sky. It slowly surrounded her. The next morning, everyone had arrived at the set. Xandra could not wait tough and tease Christina. Serves her right. How dare a plebian like her bully a celebrity like me? Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Change Of Tone Xandra scanned the surroundings and didn¡¯t see Christina. She then instructed her assistant, ¡°Look for Christina. Since she didn¡¯t have a good night¡¯s sleepst night, she must look horrible. Remember to take a photo of her with your pher!¡± ¡°Yes, Xandra.¡± The assistant went around the studio but still didn¡¯t see Christina. Xandra. I didn¡¯t see Christina. Could it be that she has gone back?¡± the assistant asked. Well, it only takes around an hour to walk back to the hotel. Christina wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to stay here through the night, ight? Just then, Gina and Anna came over and asked in a displeased tone, ¡°Last night, you said Christina had already gone back! We couldn¡¯t contact her the entire night!¡± Xandra¡¯s assistant had told them a lie to prevent them from looking for Christina the night before. Hence, she felt embarrassed when she was called out. ¡°Perhaps my eyes were ying tricks on me. Who would pay attention to where an insignificant designer would go?¡± That¡¯s not what you saidst night!¡± Anna grew anxious, and Gina had to calm her down. Suddenly, the director told everyone to get ready, and they both had to help the actors get changed. While others were getting ready, Christina was still nowhere to be seen. Therefore, no one was helping Xandra put her clothes on, and she had no choice but to wait in the dressing room. After half an hour, Xandra went to the director andined, ¡°Director, Christina iste by almost an hour. She¡¯s so unprofessional. I suggest we change the stylist.¡± Xandra was trying to kick Christina out of the production team so that she wouldn¡¯t need to deal with Christina anymore. After all, anyone can be a stylist. The director frowned in response. Christina isn¡¯tmitted, is she? I¡¯ve never been held up by a stylist. ¡°Let¡¯s just change the stylist. Kindly get Radiant Corporation to send another stylist here,¡± the director said. Xandra was ted. I didn¡¯t know it would be this easy to kick Christina out of the production team! ¡°Director, did I hear you say you want a new stylist?¡± A cold voice suddenly rang out, and everyone turned in the direction of the voice. Nathaniel¡¯s tall figure was facing away from the light, but his facial features and jawline made him look even more dazzling than a star. With Christina standing next to him, everyone at the scene could tell they were a couple. Right then, the producer ran toward the director and whispered something into thetter¡¯s ear. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing what the producer said, the director changed his expression dramatically. Smiling, he weed Nathaniel by saying, ¡°Hello, Mr. Hadley. I didn¡¯t know you were the major investor for this web series. Please have a seat.¡± Nathan stood still without budging an inch and asked, ¡°Did you say you want to change my girlfriend as the stylist?¡± The director was overwhelined with regret. I knew Mr. Hadley was rumored to be in a rtionship with a stylist on the production team. However, I didn¡¯t know he was also the major investor! ¡°No! Never! Christina is such a good stylist. How could I ask for someone else?¡± The director chuckled after changing his tone. Only then did Nathaniel nod in satisfaction. Suddenly, Xandra approached Nathaniel with a smile and asked, ¡°Nathaniel, did you specifically ask for me to be the lead actress for this series?¡± Wait¡­ Could it be that Nathaniel was the one who brought Christina awayst night? With that in mind, Xandra¡¯s heart sank, and she instinctively clenched her fists. Nathaniel ignored her and shifted his gaze toward Christina. ¡°Get on with your work. We¡¯ll have lunch togetherter.¡± Christina nodded and left. Upon entering the dressing room, Xandra mmed the door shut and warned, ¡°Christina, you better not say silly things in front of Nathaniel!¡± Xandra¡¯s heart ached when she recalled how cold Nathaniel had been toward her moments earlier. Nathaniel is now bewitched by Christina. If she were to say anything to him, he would misunderstand me even more! In response, Christina raised her cold gaze and asked in an icy tone, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you afraid that I mightin about you to Nathaniel?¡± Xandra¡¯s face was filled with fear, but she pretended to be calm and exined, ¡°It was you who wandered around and failed to get on the cars heading back to the hotelst night. I have nothing to do with that.¡± Christina smirked and put on an expression that indicated that she was choosing not to expose Xandra. Her expression soon became aloof and distant. ¡°Let¡¯s get changed, shall we? If we wait any longer, you might run to the director toin about me again,¡± Christina uttered sarcastically. Xandra was weirded out by the fact that Christina wasn¡¯t keen on pursuing that matter. However, she didn¡¯t give it much thought. While Christina was helping Xandra get changed, Christina seemed extremely calm, as if she hadn¡¯t been tricked just the night before. Xandra got her makeup done and went downstairs to start shooting. Meanwhile, Christina stood on the second floor, looking down at Xandra. Nathaniel would know what happened even without me telling him about it. Besides, I have my own way of getting revenge. Cana and Anna soon found Christina and expressed their concern. The three of them then went to the studio to watch the progress of the filming. It was a fighting scene, so the idle staff would also gather around and watch the filming. One had to admit that Xandra looked amazing as a beauty from the olden times, and credit had to be given to her stylist for doing a good job at making that happen. Although Nathaniel was sitting in the director¡¯s seat, he wasn¡¯t paying attention to the shoot. Instead, he was busy answering calls and going through his documents. !lence, he didn¡¯t notice Xandra shooting him several flirtatious nces. \ while into the shooting, Xandra suddenly felt difort all over her body. Why does it feel like I¡¯ve been bitten by mosquitoes? Since she was constantly scratching her neck and her arms, she was making odd movements during the shoot. Consequently, the director was getting annoyed because they had to keep pausing the shoot. What¡¯s wrong with you, Xandra? Didn¡¯t you showerst night?¡± the director asked unhappily. ¡°I think there are a lot of mosquitoes around because we¡¯re near the forest. My body itches,¡± Xandra. exined while scratching all over her body. Xandra was panicking because she didn¡¯t know what was going on. Soon, a red patch appeared on her cheek. The director was getting stressed out. Normally, it¡¯s already annoying to hear so many requests from Xandra. Now, issues are surfacing during the shoot! You can¡¯t carry on with the shoot, can you? Get the makeup artist to cover up the red patch on your heek,¡± the director ordered. Xandra was about to burst into tears because everyone around her seemed fine. Furthermore, quite a few were chuckling discreetly when they saw her getting embarrassed. At the same time, the crowd began to murmur among themselves. ¡°Could it be that Xandra doesn¡¯t like taking a shower?¡± ¡°That¡¯s most probably it. Otherwise, why is no one else feeling itchy?¡± ¡°She only looks clean on the outside. It seems like she¡¯s actually unhygienic. How disgusting!¡± Xandra was infuriated, and the red patch on her cheek became more apparent as she felt humiliated. Right at that moment, Xandra noticed a pair of calm eyes staring right at her. Christina was staring at Xandra and enjoying the fact that Xandra was humiliating herself in front of the crowd. Upon seeing that, Xandra knew Christina was the cause of the itch she was feeling all over her body. I Can¡¯t say anything now because I don¡¯t have any proof! How dare you sabotage me, Christina! Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Xandra¡¯s situation made it impossible for her to continue working, leaving the director with no choice but to temporarily stop filming. Christina finished work early for a change, and Nathaniel took her out for dinner. There was a farm in the suburbs where all the ingredients were fresh. After booking a private room, the two sat down facing each other. ¡°Will you be staying here tonight?¡± Christina asked. Isn¡¯t Hadley Corporation quite busy? How does Nathaniel find the time toe here? ¡°There¡¯s a project going on here, so I came to see you.¡± To see if you¡¯ve been bullied by anyone. Christina hummed in acknowledgment. With so many engineering coborations at Hadley Corporation, they might be discussing some kind of development.¡± She didn¡¯t ask much, as Nathaniel seemed very busy, answering calls or sending messages the entire time. The light cast a halo on his jet-ck hair, highlighting his wless skin and striking features. As he focused on his work with heavy-lidded eyes, he exuded the charm of a mature man. Sebastian, standing to the side, hesitated and wanted to say something. There isn¡¯t any project at all; Mr. Hadley came here specifically to see you! After a while, Christina asked Nathaniel when ordering food, ¡°Can you eat spicy food?¡± She had recently been eating packed lunches at the set, but the dishes were too nd. Nathaniel nced at her expectant expression. ¡°Yes, I can.¡± When the waiter walked in, Christina ordered a lot of spicy dishes. Sebastian broke out in a cold sweat. Mr. Hadley clearly can¡¯t handle spicy food, so why didn¡¯t he say anything? Why did he have to amodate Christina? He wanted to stop it, but Nathaniel shot him a stern nce. Sebastian had never seen Nathaniel be so amodating to others before¡­ Christina was an exception. After the dishes were served, Christina kept putting food on Nathaniel¡¯s te. She thought that one would feel energized after sweating profusely from consuming spicy food, Sebastian was absent-minded. After seeing Nathaniel eat such spicy food, he worried that thetter¡¯s body wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it. ¡°Tonight¡¯s meal was so delicious. Did you eat enough?¡± Christina asked with a smile. Nathaniel nodded. ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Sebastian was rendered speechless at that. After the bill was paid, the three of them left. The next morning, as soon as the rm clock rang, Christina quickly changed her clothes and was ready to leave the house As soon as she reached the doorway, Nathaniel pushed her against the door, his dark eyes gazing at her like dazzling gems. He gently lifted his hand and used his fingertips to tuck her stray hairs behind her ears. Then, he softly uttered, ¡°I have to go back today.¡± Christina recoiled slightly, her cheeks starting to flush with warmth. ¡°I know,¡± she responded, ¡°you should go back and focus on your work. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± ¡°Will you miss me?¡± Nathaniel leaned in slightly. Christina instinctively held her breath. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Nathaniel gently kissed her forehead, leaving a faint trace of warmness with his soft, tender lips. Christina¡¯s heart was pounding like a frightened deer, her legs barely able to support her. If she continued. facing him, her heart rate would end up chaotic. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going first.¡± Like a deer desperate to escape, the youngdy disappeared in a sh. As he thought of her blushing and shy face, the corners of his mouth lifted into a meaningful curve. Christina only found out that Xandra was on vacation when she arrived on set. She heard that Xandra had a severe allergy and needed to rest, so everyone had to adjust their schedules to amodate her. The director had no choice but to film the scenes of the second female lead first. Meanwhile, Christina wasn¡¯t idle either, she helped Gina and Anna as their assistant. There was an adorable cat on the set, probably a stray from the nearby area. When Christina had some free time, she would feed the dishes to it. Since its fur was brown with patterns, she gave it a lovely name-Patty. Whenever she had some free time, she would find Patty, who was resting in the corner, to y with. After taking a few days off, Xandra finally returned to work, acting as if she was superior to everyone else on the set. Ultimately, she was an A-list celebrity, so no one dared to say anything. After filming the earlier scenes, she changed into her new costume for the next part of the story. Her overall styling exuded the charisma of a female lead. Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Christina, hurry up and help Xandra sort out her clothes,¡± the production assistant called out. Christina, who was ying with Patty, said, ¡°I have to go to work now. You can just wait for me here.¡± After she finished speaking, she hurriedly ran off. Patty couldn¡¯t bear to let her go and followed her footsteps. quietly chasing after her. Xandra stood up, spreading her arms while waiting to be served like a queen. The duo¡¯s gazes met, and a strange atmosphere arose between them without a word being spoken. While Christina wasn¡¯t paying attention, Xandra deliberately scratched the former with her gel nails ¡°Xandra!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Just tidy my clothes properly,¡± Xandra said indifferently as she looked at her. The two of them were in a rtively secluded spot, and since the historical drama costumes were quite large, Xandra¡¯s movements were swift, making it impossible for outsiders to see clearly. Moreover, her hand was only slightly injured, with a few red marks. Even if it were to be investigated, Xandra could simply say it was an ident, and the matter would be swept under the rug. Christina bit her lip, her gaze filled with hostility as she red at her. Xandra¡¯s eyes lit up with smugness, but before her smile couldst for even two seconds, a sudden shadow shed past her side. She let out a startled cry. Upon seeing the shadow more clearly, she realized it was a cat. 4 Xandra¡¯s brows furrowed in concern as she raised her hand to take a look. Three bright red scratch marks appeared on the back of her hand. ¡°Help, it hurts so much¡­¡± Christina was taken aback, never expecting the usually gentle Patty to suddenly scratch someone. Fortunately, the little cat ran away quickly. Otherwise, it would be in trouble if it had been caught. At that moment, the staff members rushed over after hearing somemotion, ¡°What happened?¡± Xandra angrily pointed at Christina and used her, ¡°Christina is so malicious. She deliberately instructed a wild cat to bite me!¡± Iris hurriedly went over to fuel the fire. ¡°Yes, I often see her feeding that kitten. It must be because Xandra asked her to tidy up the clothes that she¡¯s upset, so she did that on purpose.¡± Everyone looked at Christina in shock. In fact, ever since the two of them entered the set, they had been at odds with each other. There were also rumors that the two of them werepeting for the CEO from Hadley Corporation, it was understandable that when love rivals met, personal grudges and dramas would be involved. Facing the questioning gazes, Christina calmly exined, ¡°Wild cats don¡¯t usually follow human commands, right? Why don¡¯t you use somemon sense and look it up online? Don¡¯t you know that training a pet to be well-behaved takes a long time? Go ahead and feed it some food, and see if it¡¯ll listen to you. Cats are also spiritual creatures. If one suddenly attacks a person, the only exnation is that that person must have annoyed it!¡± Xandra red at Christina fiercely, wondering how she had never noticed thetter¡¯s witty eloquence before Just a few simple words from her managed to turn the situation around, making it seem as if being scratched by a stray cat was my fault for being unlikable. The crowd gathered together, and more and more people joined in to watch the scene unfold. The director walked over angrily. ¡°What are you all doing? Is this a filming set or a vegetable market? All of you don¡¯t need to work anymore, huh?¡± Their show that was nned to bepleted in three months had been going on for over a month, yet not even one-third of it had been finished. Xandra frowned andined, ¡°Sir, I got scratched by a stray cat. Does this count as a work-rted injury?¡± ¡°Hurry up and see a doctor. Your shooting can be postponed slightly, but you must appear by tomorrow at the The director was rendered speechless. Who wouldpensate for the extra costs incurred due to the dy? After careful consideration, he decided to reduce Xandra¡¯s screen time. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Christina searched all over the ce for Patty and finally found it on a small carpet in the changing room. Meow. Patty suddenly perked its pair of cat ears, looking very adorable. Christina reached out and caressed Patty¡¯s little head. ¡°Were you standing up for me? Next time, don¡¯t do that. You can¡¯t afford to mess with Xandra.¡± After themotion, the production assistant asked Christina to hand the costume prepared for Xandra to the second female lead, Coco, to wear. She heard that the director asked the screenwriter to make changes to the characters and storyline in order to speed up the filming process. The screen time of the second female lead might be as much as that of the female lead. Christina proceeded to help Coco change into her outfit. In fact, Coco¡¯s expression was more in line with the protagonist¡¯s character in this show. ¡°You look great in it,¡± Christina said. Coco¡¯s face showed a hint of shyness. ¡°I have to thank you for this. If it weren¡¯t for Xandra being unable to shoot, I wouldn¡¯t have had this opportunity.¡± Her status wasn¡¯t that of an A¨Clist celebrity, so naturally, the resources to be the protagonist wouldn¡¯t fall into her hands. Christina merely smiled and didn¡¯t say a word. The filming went smoothly that day, and by evening, they had basically caught up with the dyed schedule. The next day, Xandra returned to the set with a rather unpleasant expression on her face. Christina had alwayse out on top whenever the two of thempeted with each other. This pushed Xandra¡¯s patience to the limit. Now she had even caused Xandra¡¯s scenes to be cut. I must get my revenge! During the shoot, Xandra discreetly observed Christina, who would y with the kitten whenever she had some free time. How dare you deny instructing that stinky cat to scratch me! Suddenly, she thought of a very interesting way to get her revenge and immediately called for Iris. After a secret conversation between the two, Iris walked away with a solemn expression on her face. On the other hand, Christina was busy with the costumes for both the female lead and the second female lead, working tirelessly all morning and feeling dizzy from the hectic schedule. During the free time after her dinner, she went to find Patty She searched all around but couldn¡¯t find Patty, which could usually be found sleeping in its favorite spot. However, there were no signs of the cat. Christina began to panic. Just when she was thinking about searching for Patty again, Xandra appeared in front of her. ¡°Are you looking for that stinky cat?¡± Xandra narrowed her eyes coldly, her wordsced with sarcasm. ¡°Did you hide Patty?¡± Christina asked with an angry re. Usually, whenever Patty heard her voice, it woulde running out. However, no matter how much she called out to the cat that day, it did not show up. Xandra¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I¡¯m the kind of person who holds a grudge. If a cat scratched me, should I ughter it and make stew out of it? Perhaps, should I lock it up and let it starve to death?¡± Christina gasped in surprise. ¡°Xandra, can you please stop being so malicious? Patty only identally scratched you the other day. If you¡¯re angry, I apologize to you. Can you please let Patty go?¡± ¡°Sure, if you want me to let go of that stinky cat. But you need to admit that you were the one who instructed the cat to scratch me and then apologize to me!¡± Xandra was relentless and unwilling to give in. Christina clenched her teeth, knowing that Patty had indeed attacked Xandra because of her. The thought of an innocent and helpless kitten being harmed because of her made her heart ache with pain. ¡°All right. I apologize to you. It was my fault that Patty scratched you. I¡¯m sorry. Can you return Patty to me now?¡± After listening, Xandra revealed a sly smile and responded, ¡°Although there wasn¡¯t much sincerity, you lost this round.¡± Christina didn¡¯t have the mood to argue about winning or losing with her. She insisted once again, ¡°Give Patty back to me.¡± Xandra took out her phone and opened a photo. ¡°Your cat is already dead!¡± Christina stared at the gruesome images on her phone, and a wave of nausea washed over her. She was on the verge of vomiting. ¡°Why¡­ Why did you kill Patty?¡± Xandra frowned, as she couldn¡¯t stand the pretense of innocence and kindness from Christina. There are no men around. Who is she trying to impress? ¡°A stinky wild cat is just as annoying as you, appearing out of nowhere, thinking that acting cute and adorable will make people like you. That hypocritical appearance is truly nauseating. Wouldn¡¯t it be better if you were dead? The same goes for you. You should disappear from between me and Nathaniel!¡± Christina lowered her gaze, her long eyshes covering her expression, while her nose and eyes began to sting from tearing up. Then a drop of crystal¨Cclear tear rolled down her cheek. p! As the sound of a p rang out, it seemed particrly loud to the ears. Christina¡¯s hand was burning, as she had used too much force. Even so, she wasn¡¯t able to calm down! Xandra¡¯s right cheek swelled up after being pped, the pain causing tears to stream down her face. The stinging sensation intensified, constantly reminding her of the fact that she had been hit. When she finally realized what had happened, she waspletely dumbfounded. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± ¡°Xandra, karma will catch up with you!¡± Christina forcefully pushed her, causing thetter to fallpletely onto the ground. Xandra felt a little frightened, wondering what the other party would do if she suddenly went crazy and tried to hurt her. After getting up from the ground, she hastily ran away. Christina stared at Xandra¡¯s retreating figure, feeling difort all over. She wiped the tears from her eyes and turned away After what happened to Patty, Christina felt down for a few days. She had initially thought that this matter would pass by after some time. A few dayster, a video made it to the trending list, and within just a few minutes, it had surpassed tens of millions of views. Once the video was yed, Christina could be seen pping Xandra across the fac¨¦. ¡°So what if I steal your fianc¨¦?¡± Tears streamed down Xandra¡¯s face, and her voice choked with emotion. ¡°I¡¯ve liked Nathaniel for many years, and we¡¯ve liked each other. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been so busy with work recently, which is why you had the chance to step in!¡± Christina¡¯s face was grim. ¡°So what if it is? Since you don¡¯t have the time to apany him, let me be the one to apany him!¡± Xandra¡¯s face grew even sadder, giving off a pitiful look. ¡°How could you say such a thing? Being a mistress is disgraceful. You¡¯re so young, so you should be working honestly and meeting single men instead of stealing someone else¡¯s man!¡± Christina pped her again. ¡°If you have the capability, steal him back.¡± Following that, Xandra covered her face and ran away. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. The video footage ended there as well. Christina looked at the scene with a puzzled expression on her face. It seemed so familiar, yet she had never said such words before! After carefully reviewing the content again, it was indeed the location where she had gone to find Patty and had a conversation with Xandra that day. However, the actual conversation was about Patty, and Nathaniel wasn¡¯t even mentioned! It was clear that this video had been edited and dubbed, altering its original content! At that moment, the video had made it to the trending list, and basically everyone could watch it with their own eyes. Thements in thement section were simply brutal too. Someone wrote: An unknown designer steals A list celebrity Xandra¡¯s fiance? Someone elsemented: An outrageous mistress. How arrogant and repulsive! Anotherizen posted: I heard she¡¯s a designer at Radiant Corporation! Let¡¯s all denounce and boycott her. Among suchments, someizens even cursed Christina¡¯s whole family relentlessly. Meanwhile, somementers¡® words were even more piercing than the tip of a knife, insulting Christina every chance they got. Compared to the previous giarism usation, the impact on the public this time greatly exceeded. Christina¡¯s imagination. Gina called and informed, ¡°Christina, there are many people at the film set who want to confront you. You must note here. I¡¯ve arranged a car for you, so hurry back to downtown first!¡± Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Christina was stunned. Has the situation gotten that serious? News on the inte spread so quickly that when a crowd gathered, they were definitely there to criticize her. She calmed herself down and then dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. ¡°Christina, how are you?¡± Nathaniel saw the news that morning too. Christina gripped her phone tightly, her calm eyes revealing no emotions. ¡°The situation is really bad. Theizens have swarmed the set, and I can¡¯t go to work.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already sent a car to pick you up,¡± Nathaniel said, clearly worried. ¡°All right.¡± After leaving the hotel, Christina went straight to Scenic Garden Manor. Inside the study, thewyer was analyzing the approach to handle this matter while examining the documents. Upon examination, it was evident that the video had been edited, and it was also possible to clearly identify which part of it had been changed. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. However, that might not be enough to persuade the public. Even if Xandra¡¯s video was fake,izens might not necessarily buy it. However, if there were original footage, it would be different, as it could clearly depict the truth of the event and be more persuasive. Christina frowned slightly. ¡°It must have been when Xandra and I were confronting each other that someone took a sneaky video. But I don¡¯t know who took it. Was it her assistant or someone from the film crew?¡± At that time, all she had in her mind was Patty, and she didn¡¯t even notice that someone was secretly taking videos of her. ¡°Firstly, issue a warning through Christina¡¯s social media ount, and then follow the standard procedure,¡± Nathaniel instructed. After agreeing to that, Sebastian and thewyer walked out together. After watching the edited video, Christina was lost in thought. She reckoned Xandra must have gone back to the scene and shot another identical video before she edited it all together. Or had Xandra nned everything from the beginning, luring me into a corner and then deliberately provoking me with her words? No wonder she¡¯s an A¨Clist actress; she¡¯s really calctive. ¡°That was a rather nice p.¡± Nathaniel saw her being so angry for the first time and thought she should have hit Xandra even harder. Christina shut off herputer, and only after watching the video did she realize how angry she was at that moment. ¡°I just feel sorry for Patty, as it got innocently involved because of me. Furthermore, you¡¯re also being dragged into this crazy love triangle.¡± Nathaniel gently pulled her into his embrace, softlyforting her like soothing a frightened little creature. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you.¡± Christina leaned against his chest, humming an acknowledgment softly. Worried that Evelyn might be affected, she didn¡¯t dare to go home rashly. She only managed to give Evelyn a call and told thetter not to go out for the time being. In the evening, Christina was reading a book in the master bedroom. As long as she didn¡¯t look at the news online, she wouldn¡¯t be affected. However, she still underestimated the craziness of thoseizens, as her phone kept receiving non¨C stop text messages. Each message was filled with various derogatory words, making it quite unpleasant to read. Christina calmly nced around, and immediately, the phone in her hand was snatched away. ¡°Don¡¯t read text messages like that.¡± After Nathaniel snatched it away, the first thing he did was delete all the content on it. Then, a call was made to thepany¡¯s technical department, asking them to immediately block the spam messages being sent to Christina¡¯s phone. After taking care of that, only then did he return the phone to her. Christina chuckled lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t care what those people say. Would you consider this using public resources for personal purposes?¡± Seeing that she was still in the mood for talking andughing, Nathaniel felt less worried. Surprisingly, she was stronger inside than he had imagined. Most people would definitely be unable to bear such insulting messages. However, Christina appeared quite indifferent. ¡°Let¡¯s get some rest earlier, then.¡± Nathaniel picked her up and carried her back to bed, cradling her soft body gently in his arms like a cherished pet. Ever since Nathaniel was gone, Christina found herself alone in this room. Before that, she had never realized howfortable the bed actually was. The next day, when she woke up, Nathaniel had already left for thepany. Christina wasn¡¯t idle either. She analyzed the video and found that it was seamlessly edited, with almost no ws visible. Generally, an editor might not necessarily have this level of expertise, so those who could aplish this task were definitely people with a certain amount of technical skill. Hence, it should be quite easy for her to figure it out. Back when she was in college, she worked as a voice actress to earn some extra money. She got to know a big shot named Bailey in the broadcasting circle. Not only was she a talented voice actor, but she was also an amazing editor. She reckoned perhaps Bailey would discover something. Christina gave Bailey a call, and the person on the other end of the line sounded like she had just woken up. ¡°Christina, why are you calling me? Did you miss me?¡± Bailey was a workaholic, often editing or doing voice¨Covers untilte at night before taking a break. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve missed you. Hurry up and get up. I need your help,¡± Christina replied with a smile. Bailey suddenly sobered up. ¡°Go ahead and tell me.¡± Christina briefly exined the situation and asked for her help in finding someone. After Bailey agreed, all Christina had to do was wait for news. For two consecutive days, she hadn¡¯t checked the news online, only aware of the rapid development of the situation and the constant buzz generated by Xandra. Even after her party had sent awyer¡¯s letter, the video remained high on the charts without dropping in poprity. It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that the situation took a new turn. Since the matter had also affected Nathaniel, he didn¡¯t call once during that period of time. It seemed like he was allowing the matter to continue unfolding naturally. Finally, Xandra took the initiative to call. ¡°Nathaniel, I have no idea who posted the video online, and I never thought this would affect Hadley Corporation.¡± In recent days, Hadley Corporation¡¯s stock price had experienced minor fluctuations. However, for such argepany, this was not considered a significant issue. Nathaniel was busy handling some documents, so he did not even nce at his phone. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll hang up the call.¡± ¡°I will hold a press conference tomorrow to rify this matter¡­¡± Xandra wondered if they would have been engaged by then if it weren¡¯t for Christina: ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Before Xandra could finish speaking, the call had already been disconnected. In fact, before Nathaniel returned to his home country, the Sullivan family and the Hadley family had already discussed and agreed upon a marriage alliance between the two families. She didn¡¯t mind that Nathaniel had been married before. After all, her career was on the rise back then, and various reasons prevented her from staying by Nathaniel¡¯s side. At present, she didn¡¯t want to give up any opportunity to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side. She wanted to say that she could help Christina rify things as long as Nathaniel gave her a chance. However, Nathaniel¡¯s cold attitude made her feel a sense of crisis as if the fortress she had built suddenly copsed, crushing her without giving her a chance to react. In that case, it was no wonder she was horrible toward Christina. At the press conference, the first few rows were filled with ck cameras, each lens aimed at the slender Xandra on stage. That day, she wore very light makeup, trying her best to make her appearance look like a delicate and vulnerable victim. The reporter raised the microphone and asked, ¡°Ms. Xandra, your fianc¨¦ was snatched away, and his mistress pped you. Why is it you who ising forward to rify things instead of them apologizing?¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 The person who made the mistake didn¡¯te forward to rify and apologize, but Xandra, a victim, spoke up instead. That alone was enough to intensify everyone¡¯s anger toward Christina to another level. Xandra¡¯s eyes were red. It looked as if she had just cried. ¡°I don¡¯t know how that video got leaked. It should have been my private matter. I want to apologize to everyone here for taking up public resources. Thank you to the fans who care about me and stand up for me. My rtionship with Nathaniel has always been good. It¡¯s just because we¡¯ve been too busy with work that it gave Christina a chance to take advantage.¡± Every word she spoke was filled with a victim¡¯s vulnerability and helplessness. Inside the live broadcast room, it was packed with people in no time. Everyone was cursing Christina and sympathizing with Xandra. That¡¯s right. Everyone¡¯s reaction is exactly what I want. I¡¯m going to make Christina disappear completely. Once she bes a woman with a tarnished reputation, Nathaniel won¡¯t allow her to stay by his side. When the timees, it will be the perfect opportunity for me! When that happens, it doesn¡¯t matter who is right or wrong anymore; what matters is the poprity of this matter. Behind the constantly rising poprityy a terrifying amount of traffic, which could bring considerable influence to the parties involved in just one hour. Hence, every question was meant to spark the next trending topic. Only that way could there be a constant influx of new traffic. The door suddenly swung open with a loud bang, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Christina and Nathaniel appeared together at the press conference. Upon seeing the person involved, all the reporters swarmed toward the duo, only to be stopped by the bodyguards behind Nathaniel. ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Christina, how would you exin the usations from Xandra that you seduced her fianc¨¦?¡± ¡°Ms. Christina, thepany you work for also belongs to Mr. Hadley. Is your frequent promotion within thepany rted to your rtionship?¡± ¡°Ms. Christina, shouldn¡¯t you apologize for hitting Ms. Xandra?¡± Christina replied calmly, ¡°I won¡¯t apologize for hitting Xandra!¡± Not apologizing? Isn¡¯t this attitude outrageous? In the midst of everyone¡¯s astonished gazes, Christina continued to say, ¡°Not only will I not apologize, but she should apologize to me!¡± The reporter¡¯s expression gradually turned disdainful. ¡°Ms. Steele, would you say that you¡¯re taking advantage of your position to bully others?¡± Christina scoffed, her fair face showing no traces of warmth. ¡°If you think I¡¯m bullying others with my power, please look at the truth on the big screen!¡± A video appeared on the panoramic screen. In the video, the same two people were in the same setting, but the content of their conversation was completely different! ¡°Give Patty back to me!¡± ¡°Your cat is already dead!¡± ¡°Why did you kill Patty?¡± ¡°A stinky wild cat is just as annoying as you¡­¡± p! Everyone inhaled a deep breath, and the venue fell silent, not a sound to be heard. At that moment, silence was louder than words. The longer the silencested, the more shocking the event proved to be! Just like the sudden surge of Cayburn River, it caught everyone off guard! Xandra was dumbfounded. She did not expect Christina to be so capable of digging up the original video. ¡°No, listen to me. This video is fake!¡± Some time ago, there were people iming Xandra¡¯s video to be fake, but no one believed that. It wasn¡¯t until this very moment that the original video surfaced. The truth was presented right before their eyes. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Xandra was actually caught abusing a cat! She was known for being consistently voted as the most approachable actress, and she had been representing the Animal Protection Society for years, urging everyone to love and care for cats and dogs! Behind the facade of being approachable and friendlyy her ugliness. This was simply uneptable to the crowd! Suddenly, the inte went into a frenzy with people posting about how they wanted to stop being her fan. Aizenmented: Xandra actually killed the kitten. At this moment, her smile seems terrifying! Someone else posted: She has deceived everyone. This kind of idol is really the sc*m of the entertainment industry! Anotherizen responded: Christina was wrongly used. If it weren¡¯t for the original video, how long would everyone be deceived by Xandra? More brutalments appeared after another, seemingly wanting to drown Xandra¡¯s live broadcast comment section. As Xandra was still on the stage, the color drained from her face, and her legs felt as if they were filled with cement, about to fuse with the ground. She kept shouting at the cameras, ¡°Listen to my exnation¡­¡± However, who would believe her words again? It was like the boy who cried wolf; the trust was gone once a lie was exposed. Christina walked up to her, a glint of darkness flickering in her eyes. ¡°Xandra, do you remember what I said? Your karma will catch up to you.¡± Xandra gritted her teeth. ¡°Christina, are you doing this on purpose, trying to ruin my reputation? You have such a vicious heart!¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. After all thismotion, she now faced the risk of being cklisted. The more usations she hurled at Christina back then, the more horrible stuff was heading toward her way now. Christina seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. ¡°This wholemotion is obviously your doing, so how can you me me? It¡¯s you who put your face in my hands to be pped!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Xandra wanted to curse, but Iris grabbed her and pulled her backstage. The farce finally came to an end. The reason Christina had been enduring malicious attacks from people online all this while was that she was patiently waiting for this moment. I finally kicked Xandra off the cliff while she was all high and mighty. This is my revenge and redemption for Patty! Reporters surrounded Christina, and there was still a difficult question that remained unclear. ¡°Excuse me, Ms. Steele, is it true that you are with Mr. Hadley, who¡¯s actually the former fianc¨¦ of Ms. Sullivan, and that¡¯s why she ndered you?¡± Christina narrowed her eyes slightly, determined not to let the reporters find a loophole in this issue to find an excuse on behalf of Xandra. ¡°Christina is my woman!¡± Just as she was about to speak, Nathaniel walked over. The towering figure exuded a cold aura, and the dark pupils beneath his thick eyebrows reflected a hawk¨Clike glint, instilling fear in others. Nathaniel stood in front of the reporters, pulling Christina into his embrace protectively. ¡°I have never been Xandra¡¯s fianc¨¦. She made that up herself, and I have never acknowledged it publicly. However, please feel free to take as many photos as you¡¯d like at this moment.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s words only served to admit his rtionship with Christina in public. It was well known that Nathaniel rarely appeared in public, so it was a rare opportunity to see him in person. When a situation involved a handsome man and a beautiful woman, no matter how one looked at them, the couple would be very pleasing to the eye. Just by simply uploading a casual photo of them would attract a lot of attention. The camera continuously snapped photos of the duo as Christina and Nathaniel appeared together in public for the first time. Christina¡¯s face showed a hint of unease. Nathaniel tilted his head slightly and whispered softly into her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Suddenly, Christina¡¯s palm was grabbed by Nathaniel, enveloped in his warm hand. The heat that emanated from it made her feel much more rxed. At that moment, even standing on the edge of a cliff wouldn¡¯t feel scary to her. Meanwhile, the still¨Copenrge screen emitted a piercing sound. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how dumb this is! Why did the original video get leaked? Did you betray me and hand the video . to Christina?¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 The ear¨Cpiercing sound of things being thrown around could be heard from therge screen that hadn¡¯t been switched off. Xandra was so upset that she crushed the object to pieces with a stomp of her foot and threw the thermos sk in her hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t, Xandra. Believe me. I only gave it to the editor,¡± Iris pleaded with a sobbing voice. ¡°How could she have gotten the original video, then? This is pissing me off!¡± Xandra couldn¡¯t understand how Christina managed to get her hands on the original video. The edited video was so perfect that no one could tell it had been altered. Xandra had been sure that there was no way Christina could turn things around this time. ¡°Hurry up and post an announcement stating that the video of Christina is fake. Then, find apetent editor to release a video proving that Christina¡¯s video is fake, and im that the cat abuse incident was fabricated by Christina. I can¡¯t lose the endorsement of the Animal Protection Society. It¡¯s crucial to my public image,¡± Xandra huffed, sitting in the chair. She had been in the industry for so long without hiring an agent because her public rtions skills were far more effective than those of an average agent. Iris sniffled. ¡°Xandra, do you think we¡¯ll be found out?¡± ¡°What will they find out? Thoseizens are so stupid. Just saying a few words can arouse their sympathy. And those fans arepletely brainless. They believe whatever I say.¡± Xandra felt extremely annoyed. The mere thought of having to face those mindless fans filled her with irritation. Iris hummed in response and then ran out. In the hall, the live broadcast was still ongoing at this moment. Not only the people present, but also the hundreds of people in the live room had heard Xandra¡¯s words loud and clear. Xandra has just shown the world what it means to have a beautiful appearance but an ugly heart. How could she say that theizens are stupid and the fans are brainless? It¡¯s surprising that she is loved and respected by so many people when in fact she doesn¡¯t appreciate the love others have for her. Such idols are simply an insult to their fans! Nathaniel led Christina out of the venue, no longer concerned about how things would unfold, knowing that Xandra¡¯s image as a big star had definitely been ruined. The two of them got into the car. Christina nced sideways at his incredibly handsome face. ¡°Was it you who bribed Iris for the recording?¡± She had only contacted the person to y the original video without colluding with Iris. It was quite clear that the conversation earlier was orchestrated by Iris. Xandra could never have imagined that she would be betrayed by Iris. Nathaniel propped his chin with one hand. ¡°Her boss is about to be cklisted. I¡¯m just trying to help her earn a bit more before her job ends. Moreover, when killing an enemy, it¡¯s best to finish them off in one go and not give them a chance to make aeback.¡± A cold, calm voice traveled into Christina¡¯s ears, and she nodded thoughtfully. No wonder Nathaniel dominates the business world and no one dares to provoke him. Relying on his set of experiences, he has led Hadley Corporation to be a leader in the industry. He reached out, pulling Christina into his embrace, and rested his forehead against hers. ¡°I¡¯ve done you a huge favor. Shouldn¡¯t there be some kind of reward?¡± A pair of deep, captivating eyes met Christina¡¯s gaze, causing her heartbeat to soar uncontrobly. ¡°Um¡­ Thank you?¡± ¡°Not enough. At least give me something substantial.¡± As soon as he said that, he nted his lips against her and gently savored her. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. A surge of scorching heat flooded into Christina¡¯s mind, momentarily leaving her dazed by the captivating man before her. The car stopped at the entrance of Scenic Garden Manor. Christina returned and immediately called Gina to exin the situation. If everything went as expected, she should be able to return to the set tomorrow. The director personally called herter, asking her to return to the set. Before hanging up, he also asked her to pass on his regards to Nathaniel. After all this time, things had finally settled down. Christina was in a good mood. She wanted to share the great news with Nathaniel. Walking into the study, Sebastian, with a serious expression, took a white pill from a bottle and handed it to Nathaniel. ¡°Nathaniel, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Christina pulled out a few sheets of tissue paper and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. ¡°Do you feel unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just gastric,¡± Nathaniel said with a tense face, looking somewhat ufortable. It was the first time Christina had seen him reveal such an expression, and she felt a little uneasy. ¡°Mr. Hadley has been eating spicy food recently. His eating habits have be irregr as he¡¯s been busy with your matters, Mrs. Hadley, which is why he¡¯s suffering from gastric,¡± Sebastian grumbled. Nathaniel¡¯s stomach had finally recovered after a period of time, but after eating a spicy meal with Christinast time, he started to feel a dull pain again. This time it was more severe, and he had to take painkillers to relieve the pain. Sebastian felt sorry for Nathaniel. Thetter already had so many things to deal with day and night, yet he still had to find time to handle Christina¡¯s matters. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you can¡¯t eat spicy food?¡± Christina said, somewhat annoyed. At that time, she was only focused on enjoying her own meal, not realizing that Nathaniel couldn¡¯t eat spicy food. During the time they spent together, she hadn¡¯t seen him suffer from any stomach problems, so naturally, she didn¡¯t think about these things. What was even more unexpected was how amodating he was, which took her some time to get used to. As adults, shouldn¡¯t we be able to express what we can¡¯t eat? Christina was overwhelmed with guilt. Nathaniel gently patted her head as though stroking a kitten. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine after taking the medicine and resting for a while. Don¡¯t worry.¡± The more he tried not to let her worry, the more uneasy Christina felt. Nathaniel lowered his head slightly and lightly kissed her forehead. Christina, feeling shy, lowered her head as well in embarrassment. He¡¯s the one feeling unwell, yet here is he trying tofort me. ¡°Wait a moment. I¡¯ll make you some warm oatmeal for your stomach.¡± After saying that, Christina jogged out. Upon entering the kitchen, she began to bustle about. She carried a steaming bowl of oatmeal and headed toward the study shortly after. ¡°Nathaniel, have something to eat first and warm your stomach before you get back to work.¡± Sebastian furrowed his brow slightly. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, usually Mr. Hadley would rest and not eat anything after taking his medicine, so maybe you should¡­¡± Christina¡¯s face showed a hint of disappointment. She med herself for not asking clearly. Holding the bowl in her hands, she looked like a student who had handed in her homework only to receive a failing grade. She appeared at a loss for what to do. ¡°Bring it over. I¡¯m actually kind of hungry,¡± Nathaniel piped up. Indeed, he didn¡¯t have an appetite, but seeing the disappointment on the woman¡¯s face, he couldn¡¯t bear to hurt her. Sebastian¡¯s gaze flickered with a hint of surprise, as Nathaniel had crossed the line once again. ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside, then,¡± he said and quickly walked away. Christina ced the oatmeal on the table, scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it to cool it down, and then brought it to Nathaniel¡¯s mouth. She felt content and satisfied as she watched him slowly finish his meal, ¡°From now on, make sure to eat on time, and don¡¯t eat anything that doesn¡¯t suit you just to amodate me, all right?¡± Christina gently reminded. Her voice had always been very gentle and soothing, like the lowest string on a guitar, which was very pleasing to the ear when lightly plucked. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll listen to you, Darling.¡° Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 The next day, Christina packed her things and returned to the set. Gina and Anna hugged her. ¡°You¡¯re finally back! Do you know how busy we¡¯ve been these past few days?¡± ¡°Sorry for causing you trouble.¡± Christina felt a bit embarrassed. Ginaughed. ¡°We¡¯re in the same group. There¡¯s no need for such apologies.¡± Xandra had been cklisted, and for an entire week, negative news about her had dominated the headlines. All her contracts had been terminated, and even her endorsements had been canceled. Everyone on the inte had been cheering. As she hadn¡¯t shot many scenes, the screenwriterpletely changed her role. In order not to be affected, all the shots rted to Xandra had been deleted. As a result, Coco, who was initially the second female lead, became the female lead. Christina and Coco got along very well. Coco was a hardworking young actress, who was both youthful and cheerful. For two months, almost all the staff had to work overtime and stay upte toplete the filming. Inside the dressing room, Christina was helping Coco organize her clothes. ¡°We¡¯re wrapping up today, and we¡¯ll have to part ways. I really don¡¯t want to say goodbye,¡± Coco said. She felt that Christina had a great sense of style and uniqueness in fashion. She deeply admired her talent. ¡°We have each other¡¯s number. We can meet up for a meal after this,¡± Christina said with a smile while helping Coco fix her hair. Coco hesitated, feeling that it would be a pity not to seize the opportunity with such a talented person right in front of her. ¡°Christina, have you ever thought about bing a celebrity stylist? I think you have a great eye for fashion. Why don¡¯t you quit your job and be my personal stylist?¡± In fact, behind every big¨Cname celebrity is their own exclusive makeup artist. A good stylist can create an image that helps a celebrity quickly rise to a new level, even increasing their poprity. Many female celebrities have gained fame through a single breakthrough move. ¡°I¡¯m doing quite well at Radiant Corporation, and I¡¯m not nning to go solo yet. If there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll contact you,¡± Christina said with a smile. She felt that working in argepany was quite good, as it provided more resources and a bigger tform for development. ¡°All right, then. I have a party on Saturday. Can you help me with my styling? I promise I¡¯ll pay you well.¡± Coco leaned on Christina¡¯s slender shoulder, acting cute, which made Christina shudder inwardly. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll ask Ms. Tanner and get back to you.¡± After Christina finished organizing her clothes, the two of them arrived at the film set. Christina told Gina about Coco¡¯s invitation. ¡°Radiant Corporation is quite amodating. As long as it doesn¡¯t affect thepany¡¯s image, you can take private orders. However, you¡¯ll need to give thirty percent of yourmission to thepany. Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Christina cared more about opportunities. After staying on the set for two months, Christina immediately went to see her mother upon returning downtown. The surgery was very sessful. Sharon¡¯s body had recovered significantly after nearly two months of recuperation in the VIP ward. As soon as the nurse saw Christina, she couldn¡¯t stop her mouth from running. ¡°Your boyfriend is handsome and nice! He visits Mrs. Steele often and apanies her on walks around the courtyard to enjoy the breeze. What an incredible man. I¡¯m truly envious!¡± Christina would hear the same words every time she came, and each time she would just respond with, a smile. ¡°Mom, your health has improved a lot. I¡¯ll help you with the discharge process in a few days. Shall we go back and stay at Granny¡¯s house together?¡± Sharon shook her head, not agreeing. ¡°Your granny was upset about me marrying your dad. Not only did we lose your granddad¡¯spany, but it also caused him to pass away with regrets. I really can¡¯t bring myself to go back and see her.¡± Every time the past was brought up, her mother would be mncholic. And each time Christina saw her mother in distress because of the Steele family, a desire for revenge would sprout in her heart. She just knew that now was not the right time. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go back to Granny¡¯s, then just go back to your previous condominium,¡± Christina said as she turned around, the gloom on her face disappearing instantly. She would never let her mother see her unhappy side. ¡°All right.¡± After leaving the hospital, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re back! Mr. Hadley is waiting for you in the dining room.¡± Upon entering the dining hall, Christina saw a table filled with delicious food, and she couldn¡¯t help but gulp. ¡°Can we really finish all this food?¡± Nathaniel chuckled softly, gently grasping her wrist and pulling her into his embrace. Christina found herself sitting sideways in his arms. ¡°It¡¯s dinnertime.¡± Christina flinched, feeling a gentle warmth on her right cheek. ¡°We¡¯ll eat like this.¡± Nathaniel wrapped one arm around Christina¡¯s slender waist, his dark eyes taking in her blushing cheeks. It had been almost two months since they had been apart, and he had been missing her like crazy. However, to his surprise, the woman did not even spare him a nce when she returned, as her sparkling eyes were fixed on the table full of delicious food. Christina could not move freely, having been held, but it didn¡¯t prevent her from eating. ¡°This is delicious. You should try some.¡± While eating, Christina didn¡¯t forget to feed Nathaniel as well. ¡°This is quite good too. You should try it¡­ That¡¯s more like it. You need to eat a little bit of everything to get proper nutrition¡­ This one is too fat. You eat.¡± The housekeeper standing nearby was dumbfounded upon witnessing this scene. Everyone at Scenic Garden Manor knew that Nathaniel had a severe case of mysophobia. However, every time Christina brought the food she had eaten to Nathaniel¡¯s mouth, he would eat it all. At first, Christina would pick up a piece of chicken and take a bite, leaving only one bite left for Nathaniel. Then gradually feeling full, she took a bite of each dessert and stuffed the remaining pieces into Nathaniel¡¯s mouth. What does she take Mr. Hadley for? This is just too much! ¡°I¡¯m so full. I can¡¯t eat anymore,¡± Christina said contentedly, patting her satisfied belly. She shifted slightly, adjusting her position to curl up better in Nathaniel¡¯s arms, then nuzzled against him. Nathaniel took a napkin and gently wiped her mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s go to a dinner party together on Saturday.¡± Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org. Christina saidzily, ¡°I can¡¯t. I promised to give Coco a makeover, and I can¡¯t go back on my word.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t insist. He scooped her up and headed toward the second floor. ¡°Where are we going?¡± Christina had nned to eat her fill and then head back. Nathaniel furrowed his brow. ¡°After eating so much, we need to do some exercise to burn it off.¡± After saying that, he carried her into the bedroom and closed the door. Christina felt a sense of danger as if a sheep had entered a wolf¡¯s den. Nathaniel put her down on the couch, but when he leaned in, she held him back with her small hand. ¡°I have to work tomorrow. I can¡¯t tire myself out,¡± she whispered in protest. Ever since their feelings for each other grew stronger, Nathaniel had be increasingly attached to her. This time, they hadn¡¯t seen each other for two months. Nathaniel leaned in slightly toward her ear and whispered, ¡°When have I ever asked you to tire yourself out?¡± Christina¡¯s resistance was in vain as the man soon conquered her. On Saturday, Christina arrived at the hotel with a set of formal attire and work materials following the address given by Coco. Chapter Do ¡°Christina, with you styling me, I¡¯ll definitely dazzle everyone this time!¡± Coco pulled Christina into the hotel room, filled with confidence. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 The Same Banquet Half an hourter, Coco put on the dress designed by Christina herself. Eachyer of the dress was made of organza and pink tulle, and Christina even embroidered butterflies on the organza fabric. Each one was vivid and lifelike. The high-waisted design entuated Coco¡¯s slender waist, and on her neck was a ne designed by Christina as well. With a fluffy hairstyle and sophisticated makeup, her whole look wasplete. Before going out, Coco asked the photographer to take pictures of her. ¡°Christina, this design is absolutely amazing! This is definitely the most beautiful gown I¡¯ve ever worn!¡± This was Christina¡¯s first time creating aplete look for a celebrity. With her keen observation and experience, this ensemble was a perfect representation of her vision. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll take you to the venue and introduce you to some of my friends.¡± Christina had her heart set on styling Coco only. She had never intended to socialize. That doesn¡¯t sound like a good idea. I¡¯m not mentally prepared, and besides, I don¡¯t even know those celebrities.¡± Coco excitedly led her to the venue, saying, ¡°This is a great opportunity! So many styling teams are eager to attend parties with big celebrities like this. We can take the chance to meet people and even bring in business for ourselves.¡± Christina felt it inappropriate to argue with Coco in public, so she went along with Coco¡¯s suggestion and decided to just go through the motions. The banquet hall was vast, with lights shining in all directions, and the people around were dressed in magnificent attire. Christina recognized that many female celebrities were wearing high-end designer dresses, and their outfits were all very exquisite. As soon as Coco appeared, she attracted quite a bit of attention. Several reporters at the scene took many photos of her andplimented her on bing more beautiful, which instantly attracted envious nces from those around her. Seeing that Coco had been surrounded by the crowd, Christina walked away. She didn¡¯t really enjoy socializing and didn¡¯t know what to say to these celebrities. ¡°Coco, what brand is this outfit? It looks great.¡± ¡°You seem quite different today. You look much more sophisticated than usual.¡± Coco has a cat-like face, with a slightly short lower jaw, almond eyes, and a tall nose. A woman like her tended to look seductive. And that day, her makeup and attire gave off a fairy-like and gentle vibe. ¡°All thanks to my stylist, Christina Steele, whom I¡¯d like to introduce to you all.¡± Coco pulled Christina, who was drinking water on the side, over to her. ¡°Are you Coco¡¯s stylist, the one who graduated from that prestigious school?¡± ¡°Which big celebrities have you styled before?¡± ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the price of the dress you designed?¡± Christina was caught off guard by the question. For celebrities, of course, the more high-end and luxurious items they have, the higher their value and status will be. That¡¯s why they pay special attention to which brand they wear and the ability of the stylist they hire. ¡°I graduated from a domestic design college, and this is my first time styling a celebrity. The price of the evening gown is less than fifty thousand.¡± After hearing Christina¡¯s answer, the originally enthusiastic crowd suddenly felt uninterested. ¡°Coco, I heard you¡¯ve been doing welltely. How did you end up working with this unknown designer?¡± ¡°Coco, I know quite a few famous stylists. Would you like me to introduce you to some of them?¡± Coco¡¯s face stiffened slightly. ¡°Please don¡¯t talk about my stylist like that. Christina¡¯s designs are really good.¡± As soon as her words fell, a burst ofughter could be heard from the surroundings. ¡°It¡¯s quite nice, but unfortunately, it¡¯s not a brand.¡± ¡°You, as a designer, shouldn¡¯t even be present at an event like this,¡± the female celebrity sneered, her cold gaze falling on Christina. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Another person chimed in, ¡°It lowers the ss of the event.¡± Each sentence spoken by the individuals sounded particrly harsh to Christina¡¯s ears. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know they would say things like that.¡± Coco was on the verge of tears. She just wanted to help Christina expand her social circle. They don¡¯t know what they¡¯re missing. From now on, you will style me exclusively, making me look stunning and leaving them green with envy.¡± Christina was amused. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ll go first. You have fun.¡± ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡± Coco felt embarrassed to insist further. As Christina turned to put down her cup, she suddenly tripped on something and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Everyone¡¯s gaze simultaneously turned in the same direction. 2/4 When Christina fell, she knocked over all the champagne on the table. The crystal sses shattered on the floor, and the golden liquid spilled all over her. The scene was aplete mess, with chaos and disorder everywhere. It is embarrassing to make a fool of oneself at a banquet like this. The worst part was that Christina was surrounded by broken ss. No one dared to approach her as they simply looked on. Christina¡¯s skirt was wet, and her hair was covered in droplets of wine. She looked like a naive child who had suddenly taken a fall, somewhat at a loss for what to do. ¡°Isn¡¯t this that unknown designer?¡± ¡°Look at her wearing such cheap clothes. I wonder if she can even afford the cost of the champagne.¡± ¡°Such people seem to have no other use other than knowing how to cause a disturbance.¡± Christina¡¯s brow furrowed slightly as she brushed off the shattered ss from her body and stood up. She just wanted to leave quickly, but as she looked at the ground ahead that was covered in shattered. ss, she hesitated. Walking out like this was no less terrifying than treading on a path of burning coals. Even a tiny piece of ss could easily wound her. If I don¡¯t leave, they¡¯ll just keepughing at me. Christina clenched her fists, ready to give it her all when a tall figure pushed through the crowd and walked toward her. The ss beneath his feet seemed like insignificant dust in the man¡¯s eyes, as he strode forward with increasing speed, much like a valiant prince. When the tall figure appeared in front of her, Christina was stunned. ¡°Nathaniel? What are you doing here?¡± At that moment, Christina remembered that Nathaniel had asked her to apany him to a banquet last night. Nathaniel immediately took off his coat and draped it over her. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± A sandalwood scent wafted over, covering her drenched slender shoulders. Then, she felt light at her feet, and her entire body was lifted into the air. Christina lowered her head and her face turned red. ¡°Nathaniel, there are so many people here.¡± The surrounding gazes pierced her eyes like countless shing lights. ¡°What does it matter?¡± Nathaniel held her tightly in his arms, ignoring the gazes of others. He covered her body with his coat before walking out. In the quiet space, one could hear the sound of leather shoes crushing ss. Everyone held their breath, unable to believe the scene unfolding before their eyes. ¡°What? This can¡¯t be possible! Mr. Hadley took that girl away?¡± ¡°Rumor has it that Mr. Hadley has mysophobia, right? That woman is soaking wet and reeks of alcohol. How could Mr. Hadley possibly touch her?¡± ¡°Could it be that she deliberately knocked over the table earlier to gain Mr. Hadley¡¯s sympathy?¡± ¡°That must be it.¡± ¡°Generally, men tend to be more sympathetic. Otherwise, why didn¡¯t she run away immediately when she broke the ss? Why did she have to wait for Mr. Hadley to show up?¡± ¡°This woman has some skills.¡± w Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 She Is My Woman Nathaniel suddenly stopped in his tracks. ¡°I will cover the damages caused just now.¡± At that moment, the lobby manager approached and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, it was this youngdy who knocked the sses over.¡± He didn¡¯t dare to ask Nathaniel forpensation. Nathaniel¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°She¡¯s my woman. What¡¯s the problem with me paying for her?¡± This woman is¡­ Mr. Hadley¡¯s woman! Everyone was so shocked that their eyeballs were about to fall out Those women who had just looked down on Christina, especially, became speechless. Did we just offend Mr. Hadley¡¯s woman? It will be difficult to get resources from Mr. Hadley in the future. Their faces contorted as if they had swallowed a bitter pill. Is it toote to apologize now? It was unclear who took the initiative to walk over first, but she bent down and apologized to Christina. ¡°Um¡­ Miss, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She couldn¡¯t remember the name. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to offend you just now. Please forgive me.¡± The few women who had mocked Christina just now all ran over. ¡°Miss, I think your designs are very beautiful. Is there any chance you could design a set for me?¡± ¡°Miss, what I said earlier was just a joke. Please don¡¯t take it seriously.¡± ¡°Kindly forgive my mistakes.¡± Christina looked at the usually arrogant and aloof superstars, who were actually apologizing to her at this moment. She knew that all of this was because of Nathaniel. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Christina didn¡¯t look at them and leaned into Nathaniel¡¯s strong chest. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m cold.¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s head back now.¡± After speaking, Nathaniel took a step forward and brought her out Inside the master bedroom, Nathaniel was using a hair dryer to dry Christina¡¯s long hair. His fingertips were gentle and soft, and the tender touch on her scalp gave her a sense of care and protection. Christina bit her lip and looked at him with her big, dark eyes. ¡°Did I embarrass you just now?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Now that everyone knows you¡¯re my woman, no one will dare to badmouth you Nathaniel turned off the hairdryer and gently tucked her long hair behind her ear. Christina wasforted by him, and she gentlyughed, revealing her adorable, pearly white teeth. behind your back.¡± She stood on her tiptoes, just enough to kiss him on the cheek. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nathaniel had always told her not to just verbally express gratitude. That was why she would instinctively kiss him. Right then, Nathaniel¡¯s phone rang, and he answered it. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯ve arrived at the office. Are you avable toe out?¡± ¡°All right, I¡¯ming over now.¡± After hanging up the phone, Nathaniel kissed Christina on the forehead and said, ¡°You should get some rest. I need to go back to the office for a bit.¡± The office was lit with a cold, white light thatcked warmth. The woman was dressed in a white suit. Her long hair was neatlybed, and she was wearing a pair of Chanel earrings, which made her look fashionable, capable, and beautiful. Nathaniel walked in, and the woman turned around, her face lighting up with joy. ¡°You can¡¯t believe it, right? I finished the task ahead of schedule and even made a profit that¡¯s twenty percent higher than our initial estimation.¡± She had just taken two steps when Sebastian grabbed her. ¡°Madison, don¡¯t get close to Mr. Hadley.¡± Madison had been a bit excited just now and had forgotten that Nathaniel was allergic to women. Both she and Sebastian were well aware of this issue. For a long time, she had been keeping her distance from Nathaniel. Being able to appreciate this god-like man from such a close distance, she felt luckier than any other woman. Nathaniel nodded. Both of them were his capable assistants. As that tall figure passed by Madison, her nerves suddenly stretched taut. She actually smelled a woman¡¯s scent on Nathaniel. Impossible! Nathaniel clearly can¡¯t be around women. As soon as liees into contact with a woman, he¡¯ll have an allergic reaction all over his body. She had doubts in her heart, but she didn¡¯t dare to ask directly. After listening to their reports, Nathaniel left. As they left the office, Madison grabbed Sebastian¡¯s hand. ¡°Does Mr. Hadley have¡­ a woman?¡± Even she herself was surprised by her own question. Sebastian looked stunned as he quickly withdrew his hand. ¡°Madison, have you forgotten that Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t like people prying into his affairs?¡± That was what they should do as assistants. They were not to pry into matters beyond their work. Sebastian walked away, leaving Madison bewildered. Sebastian¡¯s expression just now had clearly indicated that Nathaniel had something going on. The next day, Christina arrived at thepany. Upon switching on her phone, she saw that she had over ny-nine follower requests on Instagram. They were various celebrities, both male and female. Quite a few of them were even people she had met at the banquetst night. Coco texted her: Christina, do you know that you¡¯ve be popr in the celebrity circle? Christina felt a bit amused and helpless, wondering what was going on. Coco added: I posted the group photo and the one of you being carried away by Mr. Hadley on my Instagram. Now everyone is following you on Instagram. Of course, I wasn¡¯t so polite. I sold your ount for ten thousand. These celebrities are all valuable resources, so remember to make good use of them. Thank you for helping me earn some extra pocket money. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal someday. Christina epted all of the follower requests. In the future, she nned to enter the fashion industry and develop her own independent brand. Getting to know celebrities wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing. Gina returned to her office after the meeting and eximed, ¡°Our fashion design is going to win an award!¡± The people in the office gathered around curiously. ¡°Who is that impressive designer?¡± At Radiant Corporation, there were many opportunities to interact with the outside world. One would never know when they might suddenly coborate with a big celebrity or when a new project might come up. There were quite a few people who had received awards, but everyone was curious, thinking that they might have a chance too. Gina made her way through the crowd and approached the figure who was deeply engrossed in sketching. ¡°It¡¯s Christina!¡± The female lead¡¯s costume for the previous web drama had been selected for the web drama costume competition. After two months of fiercepetition, Christina won first ce. It was undoubtedly a recognition of her abilities, as it was her first time designing costumes for a web drama. As Christina received the praise from her colleagues, she was very excited in her heart. The first thing she thought of was to share this great news with Nathaniel. ¡°Congrattions, Christina! Shouldn¡¯t you treat us to a meal?¡± ¡°Exactly. You didn¡¯t even celebrate with us when you ranked first in salesst time!¡± Christina couldn¡¯t refuse, so she reluctantly agreed to their request. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll treat you all to dinner after work.¡± ¡°Eating is so boring. Let¡¯s go sing!¡± Anna suggested. Christina chuckled. ¡°All right, all right.¡± At night, in the private room of a karaoke bar,ughter and singing could be heard. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina sat at the side, watching her colleagues y Truth or Dare. Right then, her phone rang, and she stepped out into the hallway to answer it. ¡°Are you still at work?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s deep maic voice rang out through the phone. ¡°My design won an award, so I¡¯m celebrating with my colleagues. Are you off work yet?¡± Christina asked. ¡°Come to the office when your gathering is over,¡± Nathaniel said with a light chuckle. ¡°All right.¡± Before hanging up the phone, she asked with concern ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 These Things Are Not Your Responsibility. ¡°Not yet. Nathaniel continued working after lunch. In truth, his irregr eating habits were rted to his focus on work. When he got serious, he usually forgot to even eat. ¡°Then I¡¯ll do it as soon as possible.¡¯ After hanging up the phone, Nathaniel continued to review the ns for the second half of the year. There was a knock on the office door, and Madison walked in with a lunchbox. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you haven¡¯t had dinner yet. I specially made this at home and brought it for you. It¡¯s healthier than takeout.¡± She stood in front of the desk, gazing at the man before her who seemed like a god from such a close distance. Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrows twitched slightly as he looked up at her. ¡°These things are not your responsibility.¡± Sebastian had always been in charge of organizing his clothes and taking care of his meals. Madison instantly deted at having her good intentions rejected. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was just worried about your health. Doing these things won¡¯t affect my work She had always been capable, and that was a fact Nathaniel could not refute. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have kept her by his side for so many years. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on the dense text. ¡°In the future don¡¯t focus on matters that are not within your job scope.¡± He was still as indifferent as ever, just like before. ¡°All right.¡± Madison clenched the lunchbox tightly, responding with a hint of undeniable disappointment in her eyes. In truth, she would also make lunchboxes for Nathaniel when she wasn¡¯t busy in the past. Even if he didn¡¯t eat much of them, she still felt contented and satisfied. But now, he had outright rejected it. After stepping out, Madison ced the lunchbox on Sebastian¡¯s desk. ¡°Eat it. Don¡¯t waste food.¡± Footsteps echoed in the hallway as Christina approached, carrying a simple bag on her back. ¡°Sebastian, is Nathaniel in there?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go on in, then,¡± Christina said with a smile. Just as she was about to push the door open, Madison grabbed her arm to stop her. The young woman stared at Madison with wide, clear eyes, her face filled with surprise. ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you think you can just waltz into the CEO¡¯s office?¡± Madison scolded angrily. This was Christina¡¯s first time meeting Madison. With so many people in thepany, it was normal for her not to know Madison. Sebastian wanted to step forward and stop the brewing fight, but the tightly closed door was pushed open. Nathaniel stood at the doorway, exuding an air of natural defiance and cool elegance. ¡°Come in.¡± Christina nodded and walked in before the door was closed tightly behind her. Madison was dumbfounded, feeling as though she had been struck by lightning before being bombarded by hail. In a disbelieving tone, she asked Sebastian, ¡°Who is that woman?¡± Sebastian looked a bit troubled. ¡°She is Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife.¡± Madison was stunned. She had only been separated from Nathaniel for less than half a year, so how could he have gotten married already? Her fingertips were trembling as she lowered her voice and said, ¡°How is this possible? Didn¡¯t Mr. Hadleye back to get a divorce?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t like people prying into his personal affairs, Madison. You¡¯re crossing the line.¡± After saying that, Sebastian walked away with the lunchbox. Even he wasn¡¯t sure how Nathaniel and Christina¡¯s rtionship had developed so quickly. Inside the office, Christina took out the packed meals from her bag and ced them on the coffee table. ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to have a gathering with your colleagues?¡± Nathaniel looked at the table full of dishes and suddenly felt a bit hungry. ¡°Yeah, but as soon as I heard you hadn¡¯t eaten, I quickly packed up some food and came over,¡± Christina said as she opened the lids. ¡°Anyway, as long as I take care of the bill, it doesn¡¯t matter if I stay or leave.¡± Nathaniel looked at her. The fact that she was starting to worry about him made him feel warm inside. ¡°All right, let¡¯s eat.¡± After the two of them finished their meal, Nathaniel set aside his work and personally escorted her home. Madison watched as the two of them walked away. This was her first time seeing Nathaniel so close to another woman besides herself. They were almost leaning on each other. Could it be that Nathaniel¡¯s no longer allergic to women? Various uncertainties and ambiguities sparked her curiosity. What¡¯s really going on with them? In today¡¯s advanced digital world, one could casily ess news from the past few months just by turning on one¡¯sputer. Nathaniel¡¯s and Christina¡¯s names appeared together in one headline after another. In the recent few months, news about Nathaniel had be even more popr than that of celebrities. Madison stared at the ring words, her heart aching as if it were being sliced by a knife. As Radiant Corporation had a very high work efficiency, no one could afford to be idle. Early in the morning, Christina was called into Gina¡¯s office. ¡°The higher-ups have decided to assign you to the branch west of the city, with the task of increasing its performance by fifty percent. If you can maintain this for two months, you¡¯ll be transferred back here. After you return, you will be able to directly take up the position of group leader for Team B.¡± This was undoubtedly an opportunity for Christina to get a promotion. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Tanner, for the opportunity. I will definitely do my best toplete the task.¡± Christina epted the assignment. ¡°Finish your current work before office hours are over Tomorrow, you¡¯ll be heading off to your new position.¡± The branch office was over an hour¡¯s journey west of the city center. Besides that, two months was not a long time. At the conference room of Hadley Corporation. For their next project, they would bepeting with their rivalpany, Radford Corporation, for the same piece ofnd, which happened to be a coboration with Dapner Corporation. Nathaniel had actually set his sights on this piece ofnd a while ago, but somehow, Dapner Corporation managed to get it first. Now, Dapner Corporation was extending an olive branch and looking for a partner to coborate with. Large corporations often coborated with each other, and so it was amon urrence. With the pre-existing condition that both parties had sufficient funds, investments would also be more stable. The executives in charge of the project were very busy in the following days, so much so that working overtime became amon urrence, That night, they were having a meeting when Nathaniel¡¯s phone rang. The people present almost instinctively held their breaths. Turning off one¡¯s phone during a meeting was a must, something that even Nathaniel never forgot. Nathaniel nced at the screen, stood up, and left the room after saying, ¡°Take a three-minute break.¡± Everyone was stunned; this was the first time a meeting had been interrupted! They wondered who could make Nathaniel pause a meeting just to answer a phone call. Only Madison, who was sitting nearby with a pale face, had seen the name on the screen. It was Christina. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel actually didn¡¯t turn off his phone during the meeting for her sake! Just what kind of method did that woman use to seduce him? Inside his office, Nathaniel stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling ss window, looking outside. ¡°Have you finished work?¡± ¡°Yes, and you?¡± Christina¡¯s sweet voice came through the phone, apanied by the sound of a car horn passing by. Sorry, I might not be able to give you a ride tomorrow since I¡¯m working overtime.¡± Christina had texted him at noon, informing him about her job transfer. Christina hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be picked up and dropped off by thepany car.¡± ¡°Let me know when you¡¯ve arrived there safely.¡± Christina hummed twice before hesitantly asking. ¡°Do you¡­ miss me?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then take a look downstairs at the road across the building!¡± Nathaniel looked down, and from a distance of several dozen meters in the air, he could see a slender figure waving at him. The two of them gazed at each other from a distance. At that moment, they both appeared so tiny in each other¡¯s eyes, yet the sight of the other person filled their heart with so much warmth it threatened to overflow Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Wait For Me Christina had purposelye over to see him. However, she hadn¡¯t gone up because she didn¡¯t want to disturb him while he was working. ¡°I¡¯ve already seen you, so we can hang up the phone now.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s dark pupils stared at her intently, as if he couldn¡¯t help but wish to burn the delicate figure. into his mind¡¯s eye. ¡°Christina, stay there and wait for me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Before Christina could react, the call was disconnected. In just a minute, a tall figure appeared in her sight. They gazed at each other from across the street. Lost in the other¡¯s eyes, the surrounding figures blurred, and all they could see was each other. The traffic light turned red, and Christina sprinted toward him. For some reason, she was running faster than the average person even though she usually didn¡¯t exercise. It wasn¡¯t until her head bumped into Nathaniel¡¯s chest that she caught a whiff of the faint sandalwood scent on him. As she looked up, she was met with a kiss. At that moment, atop the high-rise building nearby, Madison stood by the window, watching the silhouettes of the two embracing each other. Without realizing it, her eyes welled up with tears. Nathaniel actually tossed aside his work just to go and give Christina a hug? There was no way she could ept that the man she had waited for ten years was snatched away by someone else. I definitely won¡¯t just admit defeat like this! The sky was clear when Christina got up early the next morning. After eating the breakfast cooked by Evelyn, she picked up her luggage and headed out the door. A red Maserati was parked at the entrance, and when Sebastian saw her, he went forward to help carry her luggage. ¡°Why are you here? Wasn¡¯t thepany supposed to send someone?¡± She was expecting a business vehicle. Sebastian chuckled lightly, ¡°Mr. Hadley is busy, so he asked me to fetch you. Radiant Corporation also belongs to Mr. Hadley.¡± Christina didn¡¯t refuse, and after getting in the car, they arrived at the base of a high-end condominium in less than an hour. The condominium was thepany-arranged staff dormitory, featuring two bedrooms and a living room. It was clean and tidy. After dropping off Christina, Sebastian went back. Christina would officially start work tomorrow, so after unpacking her things, she headed out. Inside a high-end shopping mall, the lights reflected off the floor as Christina walked into a clothing store. The disyed outfits were very trendy while also being suitable for everyday wear. She observed the arrangement of the clothes on disy and the essories ced ording to the requirements, noting how they gave off a fashionable and elegant vibe. Christina went on to touch the fabric of the clothes, and it made sense that they were expensive, as the texture was very smooth. ¡°Excuse me, miss, could I please try on this skirt?¡± Upon hearing the request, a saleswoman dressed in a uniform approached. The woman looked somewhat impatient, and after sizing Christina up, she said, ¡°Miss, this skirt is thirty thousand, with no discount. Can you ept this price?¡± Christina raised her eyebrows slightly, wondering how the salesperson of such arge store could have such a poor attitude. ¡°Yes, I can, but I want to try it on.¡± The saleswoman had originally intended to scare Christina away with the price, but when thetter didn¡¯t leave, she didn¡¯t bother gathering the patience to entertain her. ¡°Penny,e over and see to this customer!¡± With that, the woman strode away without another word to Christina. Walking up to Christina, the saleswoman named Penny took the skirt off the mannequin and said, ¡°Miss, pleasee this way.¡± Christina went to the fitting room to try on the skirt. The small size fit her perfectly, making her look elegant and graceful. While still wearing the skirt, she went to try on the matching shoes and essories. Penny patiently served her, not showing any displeasure despite Christina¡¯s in clothes. ¡°I think I¡¯ve tried enough. I¡¯d like to change back into my clothes.¡± As soon as Christina walked into the fitting room, J went over to Penny and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s obvious that woman can¡¯t afford any of this stuff. Are you an idiot? Haven¡¯t you been a salesperson for so many years? Don¡¯t you know better?¡± ¡°Our job is to attend to our customers; performance rankinges second.¡± The advantage of this company was that the base sry was quite high, unlike otherpanies where the base sry was kept low¡­. Hence, most of theirpany¡¯s salespersons weren¡¯t desperate to boost their performance and would simply not want to attend to customers who seemed like they wouldn¡¯t buy anything. ¡°That¡¯s why I say you¡¯re not smart. You¡¯ve been working for so long, yet you¡¯re still just an employee. Look at me; I¡¯ve already be an assistant shop manager! If it weren¡¯t for thepany suddenly bringing in a shop manager, I would have been the one getting promoted this time.¡± J shot the fitting room door a disdainful look and said confidently, ¡°I can assure you, she definitely won¡¯t buy anything.¡± Penny smiled and didn¡¯t respond. Just then, Christina took out the clothes she had tried on. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t really like them.¡± After saying that, she walked out. Behind her, J¡¯s mockingughter at Penny¡¯s foolishness could be heard. The next day at ten o¡¯clock, the lights in the shopping mall turned on. Penny was organizing the clothes when a tall and graceful figure walked in behind her. Turning around, she paused for a moment when she saw who it was. Then, she smiled and asked, ¡°Miss, have you thought about it overnight and decided to buy the skirt you tried on yesterday?¡± Today, Christina was dressed in professional attire with her long hair tied up, lookingpletely different from her fresh and youthful appearance yesterday. At that moment, J walked out while waving the feather duster in her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve changed into decent clothes, you cane back to our store to try on clothes without buying anything. We have the right to refuse service to you.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened, and she took out her work ID. ¡°I am the newly appointed shop manager, Christina Steele!¡± The expressions on their faces instantly froze, especially J¡¯s. She looked as though she had just been pped. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. ¡°All staff members, please gather at the front desk for the morning meeting.¡± One minuteter, the five sales assistants stood in front of Christina inside the store. ¡°My first action as your new shop manager is to appoint Penny as the assistant shop manager. From now on, she will assist me in all aspects of my work,¡± Christina announced solemnly. This store had the best location in the entire mall, yet the sales performance just couldn¡¯t seem to take off. It was quite obvious that the reason was the staff¡¯s biased treatment of customers. J felt that she was being unfairly targeted and protested, ¡°I don¡¯t ept this. I have the best performance among everyone!¡± ¡°You have the best performance, but you also have the mostints, the worst customer service, and you¡¯re affecting thepany¡¯s image,¡± Christina said with a stern face, exuding the aura of a leader. ¡°Those who don¡¯t want to follow my management can resign; I have no objections.¡±, The five of them exchanged nces, and in the next second, they fellpletely silent. Radiant Corporation offered high sries, excellent benefits, and had a handsome boss. However, the company also had high entry requirements, and once someone left, they wouldn¡¯t be allowed to return a second time. Thus, even though J was feeling resentful, she could only endure it. Next, Christina conducted staff training and adjusted the cement of disys. Once she had given out her instructions, she didn¡¯t stay idle. She noticed that the customers who entered were all modern professional women who were very particr about their outfits. However, the clothing in their store leaned more toward a mature style, which was not particrly favored by office workers in that age group. With that, she concluded that she needed to design professional attire that better resonated with the modern woman. After returning home in the evening, she added the WhatsApp contacts of many different branch shop managers and conducted a detailed investigation. Then, she shared her idea with Gina. Once the higher-ups approved it, she could start designing. The next day at noon, Christina received a reply from Gina. Thepany agreed to her suggestion, so once she had designed the draft, she would have to send it to Gina for verification. First, Christina went to the store for a brief morning meeting, where she handed the details of the task to Penny. Right before the meeting ended, J interrupted, ¡°Ms. Steele, since you¡¯re managing us, I¡¯d really like to learn some basic sales experience from you.¡± Her words clearly indicated that she wanted to see Christina¡¯s sales ability. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 A Total Fail ¡°What¡¯s the point of just talking about strategies on paper? Any shop manager has strong sales skills. Ms. Steele, I hope you won¡¯t hold back and will show is what you¡¯ve got.¡± J¡¯s gaze was filled with mockery. It¡¯s obvious she just graduated as a designer. So what if she¡¯s studied a few more years than me? What¡¯s the big deal? Christina put down the work files in her hands. ¡°All right, then you better watch closely.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to watch with our eyes wide open,¡± J said, making a show of opening her eyes wide. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Right as she finished speaking, a fashionably-dressed woman walked into the store. Christina walked over and said, ¡°Hello, miss. Please feel free to browse around.¡± A faint but meaningful smile hung on the woman¡¯s lips. Though she nodded slightly, she didn¡¯t say anything. Christina kept smiling and followed behind her. The salespersons at the checkout counter looked at the woman with mixed emotions as they all recognized her. ¡°J, there¡¯s no need for this,¡± Penny whispered in warning. That woman was J¡¯s close friend. She also worked in sales, though not in the samepany. It was obvious that J deliberately called that woman over to make things difficult for Christina. ¡°What do you mean by that? Ms. Steele is going to demonstrate sales techniques for us; just watch!¡± J wanted everyone to watch Christina embarrass herself. Let¡¯s see if she still dares to act smug in front of us after tasting defeat! ¡°Miss, I noticed you¡¯ve been looking at the clothing section. These are all thetest styles in our store,¡± Christina said with a smile. The woman still didn¡¯t respond. From her disdainful gaze, it seemed she was looking down on those clothes. ¡°What size do you usually wear, miss?¡± Christina had very good temperament and maintained proper politeness no matter how indifferent the other party was. After all, she knew very well that excessive enthusiasm could be off-putting. The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained silent. ¡°I see that you have a slim and attractive figure. You should be a size S, right?¡± Christina continued the conversation. Smiling slightly, the woman couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Not at all. I wear a size M.¡± ¡°You have a slender figure, miss, which makes you look quite thin. Why don¡¯t you take a look at this slim-fit dress? It¡¯s perfect for women with your body shape. Shall I grab a size M for you?¡± Christina said with a smile. The woman was somewhat moved by thepliment and hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°All right then.¡± I¡¯ll just give it a try but not buy anything. No matter what, I have to make things as difficult as possible for her! Christina quickly brought the dress to the dressing room for the woman. In no time, the woman changed into the new dress and walked out. The moment she opened the door, she found a pair of high heels disyed in front of her. ¡°Only by trying the dress together with the heels can we see the results.¡± The woman¡¯s smile grew even more pronounced as it was her first time encountering such an attentive salesperson. Putting on the high heels, she stood in front of the mirror and admired her own beauty. ¡°Miss, you look very elegant in this style of clothing. It will definitely turn heads when you walk down the street,¡± Christina praised. The woman¡¯s heart soared with thepliment, but her face remained calm as she casually expressed her true feelings, ¡°I also think it looks quite nice!¡± Seeing the woman¡¯s delighted expression, Christina took the opportunity to continue, ¡°I apologize, miss. I made a mistake earlier. This outfit is actually from the previous collection, so there¡¯s a discount. avable now. Would you like to consider it?¡± The young woman looked at the dress she was wearing with satisfaction and immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take it.¡± Christina smiled slightly and said, ¡°All right.¡± As she turned around, the woman grabbed her hand, Christina looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°Please pack the shoes as well,¡± the woman said shyly, hot daring to look at the cashier counter. Christina nodded with a smile. ¡°There¡¯s an extra discount if you buy the shoes as well. Miss, you really know how to shop!¡± After swiping her card to pay, the woman happily walked out with her spoils. ¡°Ms. Steele, you¡¯re amazing!¡± said one of the sales assistants with stars in their eyes. ¡°I¡¯m totally convinced!¡± Penny¡¯s heart had been trembling with fear just a moment ago. J had an awful expression, as if someone had pped her across the face. She pursed her lips and remained silent. Regardless, Christina chose to be low-key. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. As long as you put your heart into it, you can definitely aplish great things.¡± After going through the test, the sales assistants gained more respect for Christina, which also made them work even harder. Behind the shop was a food street, and J took advantage of her lunch break to step out and make a phone call. ¡°Jenny, you idiot! I asked you to give her a hard time, not to actually buy something!¡± Jenny replied impatiently, ¡°How is this my fault? Your shop manager is just too good. She managed to touch my heart with just a few words.¡± ¡°Can she force you if you don¡¯t want to buy? You¡¯re so stupid! Besides, what¡¯s so great about her?¡± J was so angry that her veins were throbbing on both sides of her head, and her fury could be felt even. through the phone. With a scoff, Jenny said, ¡°Can you please have a better attitude? You should learn from the good qualities of such an excellent shop manager! For example, I learned quite a few sales techniques just now! If you don¡¯t want to work there anymore, just let me know, and I¡¯ll go learn from her.¡± With that, Jenny ended the call. J was so angry that she almost threw her phone. Her n to embarrass Christina had backfired, and it was infuriating! When she turned around, she waspletely taken aback. Christina had appeared behind her at some point. At that moment, the former¡¯s face was expressionless as she exuded a sense of seriousness. J lowered her head, feeling a bit guilty inside. She really enjoyed working at Radiant Corporation. If she were to be fired, it would be difficult to find another job with such great benefits. Since every employee had a work history, those who had been fired would not have the opportunity to join other branches either. ¡°Ms. Steele¡­ I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡± From challenging Christina to arranging for someone toe in and make things difficult for her, it was quite obvious that J had done it intentionally. Christina¡¯s eyes gleamed as she replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to hide the truth. I knew that customer was in cahoots with you the moment she walked in.¡± J gasped, then eximed in surprise, ¡°So you know Jenny!¡± As it turned out, she was the one who¡¯d been yed! Christina chuckled lightly. ¡°No, it¡¯s because she nced at you as soon as she walked in. J¡¯s face turned red instantly, and she couldn¡¯t help but admire Christina¡¯s keen observation skills. ¡°Ms. Steele, you have a sharp eye. Could you please not fire me? I really like this job.¡±. She became anxious, regretting the foolish thing she had just done and fearing retaliation. For Christina to fire her was just a matter of saying a few words. Christina¡¯s face took on a moreposed expression. ¡°I came here to work, not to be entangled in a feud with you. I¡¯ve observed your work abilities, and you are indeed more capable than the others. From now on, please focus all your attention on your work, and don¡¯t let me down.¡± A tremble went through J, and she felt her defenses crumbling. Christina appeared to be of a simr age to her, yet the former¡¯s ability to handle situations was several times greater than J¡¯s. Finally epting Christina as her superior, J wholeheartedly agreed and expressed her gratitude. ¡°Thank you. Ms. Steele. I will definitely work hard.¡± ¡°Hurry back to work, then.¡± After work, Christina went to a convenience store near her condominium to buy some daily necessities. Pushing open the ss door, she walked out carrying a heavy bag, only to bump into a figure approaching her head-on. The unexpected collision caused her to stumble before clumsily lunging forward. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Special Privileges ¡°Christina!¡± Brayden¡¯s heart raced with excitement as he looked at the person who had staggered into his arms. ¡°Brayden? What are you doing here?¡± Christina asked, a bit surprised. It felt like encountering a familiar face in a foreignnd. Brayden was wearing an extremely simple white shirt with the cuffs folded back, revealing half of his clean and strong arms. Standing under the moonlight, he appeared gentle and refined, like a character in a beautiful watercolor painting. ¡°I opened a studio nearby. What about you?¡± Brayden squatted down to help her pick up the fallen items. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina took the bag and said, ¡°Thepany assigned me to manage a branch store here.¡± ¡°What a coincidence! How about we find somewhere near to sit for a bit?¡± Brayden suggested. After hesitating for a moment, Christina agreed. Meanwhile, in the city center. Nathaniel had just finished a meeting. Originally, the meeting was scheduled for tomorrow, but he made time to handle it in advance. After the meeting ended, Madison walked over and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, let¡¯s go for a run together tomorrow. Sebastian, would you like to join us?¡± In the past, the three of them used to go running together quite often as a way to exercise their bodies. They would then enjoy breakfast together after their workout. Madison really missed those days. Although it wasn¡¯t a date with Nathaniel, it still counted as a cherished memory between them. Nathaniel stood up and nced at them. ¡°You and Sebastian go ahead. I have something to do tonight, and I¡¯ll be back a bitte tomorrow.¡± After saying that, he walked out. Madison watched him leave with confusion, feeling a sense of loss in her heart. Sebastian, seeing her like this, couldn¡¯t help but gently remind her, ¡°Mr. Hadley is going to see Mrs. Hadley.¡± After saying that, he walked out. Madison¡¯s eyes dimmed, and her heart ached even more as if pierced by something sharp. This was her first time seeing Nathaniel put in so much effort for a woman. Unfortunately, that woman was not her. In the caf¨¦, Brayden and Christina ordered hot drinks and snacks. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve seen each other after thest time we parted. I really didn¡¯t expect to meet you here,¡± Brayden eximed. Christina smiled slightly. ¡°Yeah. Have you been busytely?¡± The two of them chatted casually, just like old ssmates would. Right as they were paying the bill, a dark figure walked straight up to the two of them from the entrance. The figure was exuding a chilling aura, causing the surrounding temperature to drop by several degrees. Christina was dumbfounded and in disbelief as she stared at the handsome and cold man in front of her. Speak of the devil, and he shows up. Could it be that he knows magic and somehow knows when people are talking about him? Nathaniel looked extremely displeased. ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Brayden quickly spoke up before Christina could say anything. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. We both work nearby, and Christina and I are just catching up as old ssmates.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression was still gloomy as he reached out to grab Christina¡¯s hand and led her outside. Brayden clenched his fists, wanting to chase after them, but he knew that running after her would only cause more trouble for Christina. After watching the two figures disappear from sight, he finally paid the bill and left. ¡°Nathaniel, what are you doing!¡± Christina felt extremely embarrassed. He could have at least let me say goodbye to Brayden How awkward to leave without saying anything. ¡°How dare you ask me that? You should be asking yourself!¡± Nathaniel, despite his exhaustion, made a special effort toe over, only to see her chatting and laughing with another man. How could he not be upset? ¡°How is it appropriate for a married woman like you to not return home thiste at night and instead meet up with a man?¡± Christina felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water out of nowhere. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I was just having a normal conversation with Brayden, yet he¡¯s making it seem like I was cheating on him! Nathaniel, feeling upset, crossed his arms and sulked in silence. Christina¡¯s expression was less than happy as well. She had been scolded for no reason despite having done nothing wrong. The two of them stood silently, neither willing to take a step back and apologize to the other. ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± After saying that, Nathaniel strode away. Christina turned around, watching the tall figure in her sight gradually fade away. Her eyes welled with a thinyer of tears. How annoying! Did hee here on purpose just to infuriate me? Christina, who usually slept very well, was actually kept awake by her anger that night. She hated herself for caring so much about Nathaniel¡¯s unreasonable tantrums, but at the same time, she found herself growing more and more fond of him. Otherwise, why would she feel heartache when he turned around and left? The next day, after finishing up the tasks at the store, Christina began working on the design drafts. For some reason, she suddenly felt the urge to return to downtown as soon as possible. In the following days, she devoted herself to drawing the designs, almost forgetting to eat and sleep. She quicklypleted the design drawing. When Gina received the email, she praised Christina greatly. ¡°Christina, you work incredibly fast! I thought you wouldn¡¯t be able to submit the draft to me until next week.¡± ¡°Ms. Tanner, please let me know once you¡¯ve confirmed which one to use, and if there¡¯s anything that needs to be changed, just tell me. I¡¯ll definitely cooperate with you,¡± Christina said earnestly. ¡°You are indeed diligent. All right, I¡¯ll contact you again.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina took a deep breath. In truth, she wanted toplete the task quickly so she could return as soon as possible. After work in the evening, Christina invited her coworkers to join her for dinner at a nearby pizza joint. After spending some time together, everyone had be familiar with each other, so they did not - hold back when ordering food. Chatting andughing, they paid the bill and left after having a satisfying meal. As they were discussing getting a taxi, Penny curiously asked, ¡°Ms. Steele, where do you live?¡± ¡°I live in the staff dormitory. How about you guys?¡± Christina said. The others looked puzzled and asked her, ¡°We also live in the staff dormitory, so why aren¡¯t you. staying with us?¡± Christina didn¡¯t understand why, either. Back when Sebastian first took her to the luxury condominium, he had said it waspany-arranged amodation. ¡°Could it be that the shop manager has some special privileges?¡± Christina guessed as this was the only exnation that made sense. The rest shook their heads at the same time. ¡°That can¡¯t be it. The previous shop manager also lived with us.¡± Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she suddenly guessed what was going on. At that moment, in the city center. Nathaniel flipped through the documents, his furrowed brows never rxing as a grim expression remained on his face. Sebastian stood to the side, holding his breath and exhaling softly while trying his best to make himself invisible. Just then, Madison walked in, holding a file. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the ns for next month are all in here.¡± Nathaniel epted the file and flipped through it, pulling out a few sheets of paper and cing them on the table. ¡°Implement this project first.¡± Sebastian and Madison picked up the documents and looked through them together. These were ns, for building a hotel west of the city next month. Thends at the west of the city were vast, and the transportation system there was well-developed. Despite that, there was only one resort. ording to Hadley Corporation¡¯s n, they would inspect the site next month and thenpete for thend. If everything proceeded smoothly, building a hotel there shouldn¡¯t be an issue. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit too early for us to go there since thend auction is not until next month?¡± Madison asked. She knew Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t change his ns for no reason. Sebastian had already guessed the reason. Wasn¡¯t Christina recently sent on a business trip to the west of the city? ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea to go and scout ahead of time. I¡¯ll start building connections right away,¡± Sebastian stated. Nathaniel nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Madison wanted to ask more questions, but Sebastian pulled her out of the office. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Not A Good Sign Madison shook off Sebastian¡¯s hand. ¡°What are you doing? Why didn¡¯t you stop Mr. Hadley from messing up the n for a woman?¡± The moment she stepped out of the office, she had a hunch. Nathaniel was definitely not the type to change his mind on a whim. He had done that for Christina. Sebastian let out a light sigh. ¡°Since you already know, just go along with Mr. Hadley¡¯s wishes. Do you think you can stop him?¡± After saying that, he walked away to prepare what was needed. Madison stood there, dumbfounded. She felt as if her heart was bleeding. Right. How could I possibly change anything with my own strength alone? After work, Madison went to a quiet bar near her condominium to have a drink and unwind. Madison sat in a vacant corner. Theughter of men and women came from the table behind her, starkly contrasting her current mood.. She ordered a strong drink and downed it in one gulp The fiery taste burned her throat, but she ordered a second ss. Whenever she thought of everything Nathaniel did for Christina, she felt like the alcohol in her stomach was nothingpared to the bitterness in her heart. Madison and Nathaniel first met in junior high. From the moment sheid eyes on him, she fell deeply in love. After she secretly admired him for so many years, he was snatched away by someone before she could even confess her feelings. This was a hard pill to swallow for Madison. Just then, a tall figure appeared from the private room. The man was tall and slender with long legs and perfect proportions. As he emerged from the shadows, he resembled a high-end fashion model in fashion week. When he walked into the light, his handsome face came into view. He had upturned, ebony eyes, and his featheryshes cast shadows on his face. He exuded a captivating aura that could be felt even from a distance. The man gradually approached Madison and stopped beside her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit-unsafe for a girl to be drinking alone in a bar?¡± His deep voice interjected: Madison quickly hid her dejected expression and looked up. She recognized him right away and asked, Chapter 73 Not A Good Sign ¡°Francis, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°One of my artists just won the best actor award, so I brought them here to celebrate.¡± Francis Fernando sat down next to Madison and ordered a ss of whiskey. +5 Bonus ¡°I saw the news,¡± hemented. Nathaniel had been appearing in the news from time to timetely, and Francis often watched them. Madison¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her emotions unreadable. Following a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke up. ¡°I can help you if you want, but on one condition. Help me get rid of that woman.¡± Nathaniel had been growing more and more distant from Madison recently, and no matter what she did, it didn¡¯t seem to work. If Christina disappears from Nathaniel¡¯s side, would the old Nathaniel return? Even if I can¡¯t get close to him, I¡¯d be content with watching him from afar and silently standing by his side¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Francis said before walking away Meanwhile, Christina was in the store. She had bustled around there all morning, spent the entire evening tweaking designs, and reviewed their sales for the whole month. She was so tired that she saw double every time she spotted a ck object. Suddenly, J squealed as she excitedly ran in from the entrance. ¡°Ms. Steele, there¡¯s an incredibly handsome guy looking for you at the door.¡± Handsome guy? Is Nathaniel here? Christina put down her work and walked out. ¡°Christina, am I disrupting your work?¡± A man¡¯s clear and bright voice reached her ears, and Christina¡¯s anticipating smile shifted into a surprised grin. ¡°Brayden, how did you know I work here?¡± Brayden noticed the subtle change in Christina¡¯s expression and curled up his lips in a carefree manner. ¡°Radiant Corporation only has one branch in each district, so it was easy to find. Did he give you a hard time that night when you went back?¡± Recalling that night, Christina felt a bit embarrassed. Not really. He didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± ¡°My studio is nearby. How about I bring you there so you can take a look around?¡± Brayden offered. Since it was almost lunch break, Christina agreed, ¡°Alright.¡± Jurato Workshop designed styles that were particrly popr among contemporary women. Upon entering, one would be weed by strong design elements, creative decorations, and a spacious design studio. Christina thought that if she had her own design studio one day, she would definitely disy her design concepts so more people could see them. As the two of them sat down and discussed their careers and future ns, time flew by. When Christina returned to the store, J curiously came over and asked her, ¡°Is that handsome guy your boyfriend?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m married,¡± Christina replied. J couldn¡¯t help but look at her with sympathy. ¡°You must regret getting married early, don¡¯t you? You missed out on such a handsome man!¡± Christina lifted the corner of her lips and boasted yfully, ¡°My husband is even more handsome than that man. He also spoils me a lot!¡± Jughed and thought Christina was just putting up a front. ¡°Keep pretending.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. The man she had seen just now was not only handsome but also had a great temperament. J did not believe there were so many perfect men around. Right after J¡¯s words fell, a figure appeared at the entrance of the shop. Towering at a height of a hundred and eighty-eight meters, the man gave off a domineering aura. His cold and exquisite facial features, well-defined jawline, and innate vibe of superiority were striking enough to stun someone just after one nce. ¡°Sir, are you here to buy clothes for your girlfriend? J approached him and prompted with an envious look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone,¡± the man responded, his maic voice pleasant to the ears. Christina felt a chill down her spine. When she turned around, her gaze met Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°Nathaniel? When did you arrive?¡± A blush spread across her face as she wondered in embarrassment if he had heard everything she just told J. J¡¯s eager gaze was making Nathaniel ufortable, so he turned around and walked away. After a short pause, Christina followed him. A ck Maybach was parked at the entrance. As Nathaniel stood beside it in silence, the air seemed to stagnate. Christina caught up, feeling a bit annoyed. ¡°Why did youe to the west of the city again?¡± ¡°Is the west of the city yours? Are you the only one who cane?¡± Nathaniel asked in return. His retortion left Christina speechless. At the side, Sebastian wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He obviously came for Mrs. Hadley. Why can¡¯t he speak to her properly? Since Nathanial wouldn¡¯t talk, Christina didn¡¯t want to stand there and be snubbed. The moment she turned around, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist. ¡°Who said Christina was unable to move because of his tight grip. you could leave?¡± At that moment, Nathaniel¡¯s phone rang. He then let go of Christina¡¯s hand to answer the call. Julia¡¯s voice came from the speaker. ¡°Nathaniel,e to the Hadley residence for dinner on Saturday.¡± Christina held her breath, not wanting to make a sound. When Julia was about to hang up, she added disdainfully. ¡°Also, remember to bring that country bumpkin with you!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened. Is she referring to me? ¡°She¡¯s not a country bumpkin,¡± Nathaniel countered coldly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter as long as you know who I¡¯m talking about,¡± Julia replied with impatience before cutting the call. With that, Nathaniel put away his phone. ¡°You heard that. Come home with me on Saturday.¡± Christina was puzzled. She has never been fond of me. Why does she suddenly want me there for no reason? This isn¡¯t a good sign. ¡°All right.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Help Me Bathe Nathaniel opened the car door and ordered, ¡°Get in.¡± ¡°I need to get back to work,¡± Christina pointed out. She turned to leave, but Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t let go and even opened the car door wider. Instinctively, Christina resisted and angrily pushed the car door. Following a thud. Nathaniel let out a muffled groan. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pull your hand back?¡± Christina hurriedly pulled the door open with a worried frown and rushed to check Nathaniel¡¯s hand. His fingertips and palms were red and swollen. ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you okay? We should go to the hospital in case there are fractures,¡± Sebastian interjected with concern. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go now!¡± They soon got to the hospital, where Nathaniel took an X-ray. Thankfully, there were no fractures, but his palm was quite swollen. There was also a bloody mark on the back of his hand that required daily. disinfection. ¡°Don¡¯t touch water, and make sure to take the medicine three times a day. Remember to wrap the gauze properly. You¡¯ll be fine in a week or so.¡± After giving these instructions, the doctor told them to settle the fees. In no time, Sebastian brought them the medicine and carefully exined the dosage to Christina. ¡°Mr. Hadley cannot touch water for the next few days. It¡¯s inconvenient for him to stay in the hotel alone. Mrs. Hadley, would you mind if he stays at your ce in the meantime?¡± Christina looked up in surprise. ¡°Stay at my ce?¡± Sebastian nodded confidently. ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s hand is injured, so he needs someone to take care of him. I won¡¯t be able to attend to him all the time since I also have to work.¡± Christina hesitated for a moment. Realizing she was the one who caused Nathaniel¡¯s injury, she had no choice but to agree. It was dusk when the two of them returned to the condominium. Right after entering the house, Christina walked into the kitchen. ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll make you some oatmeal.¡± Nathaniel looked around. The ce was very clean, and there was a faint, refreshing fragrance in the air. He walked over to the couch and sat down. Since his hand didn¡¯t really hurt that much, he turned on his tablet to check some documents. The warm, golden light of the setting sun streamed in through the window with a cool breeze, blending with the enticing aroma of food from the kitchen. ¡°The food is ready. Come over and cat.¡± Christina put her long hair into a casual ponytail and untied her apron. They sat facing each other and ate, looking like a peaceful painting as none of them uttered a word. After dinner, Nathaniel gently unbuttoned his cor with his uninjured hand. ¡°Come in and help me bathe.¡± ¡°What?¡± Christina eximed, her fork slipping from her grasp. ¡°I can¡¯t bathe by myself,¡± Nathaniel insisted. Before she could even respond, he turned around and walked into the bathroom. Eventually, Christina found herself in the bathroom, wiping down Nathaniel with her head buried between her shoulders. The water vapor in the air was slowly transforming into a cloud of mist, while the sound of trickling water filled her ears. From time to time, her fingertips would inadvertentlye in contact with Nathaniel¡¯s sturdy muscles. Droplets of water sshed onto her arms, and her white dress had be somewhat damp. ¡°Can you put a little more strength into the back rub? Nathanielined. Even someone wiping a table would use more strength than this! Christina¡¯s face turned tomato-red. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do it yourself?¡± As the sound of the water drowned out her voice, she sounded like a whining cat. ¡°Sure, if you want my hand to get infected,¡± Nathaniel quipped with a deep voice and moved a few inches closer to her. Christina narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth as she rubbed his back vigorously with the towel. Unexpectedly, the towel slipped from her hands, causing her to lose bnce and fall onto Nathaniel. The water droplets sprinkling from above dampened her long hair. When she lifted her head, her eyes glistened alluringly. Her crimson lips parted slightly as if making a silent confession to him. Her palms were rested against Nathaniel¡¯s chest, its temperature so scorching that it felt intentional. ¡°Christina, what are you up to, jumping into my arms so eagerly?¡± Without giving Christina a chance to answer, Nathaniel lowered his head and savored her delicate lips. Along with two sets of quickening breaths, misty steam pervaded the bathroom. In the cool breeze of the early morning, Christina awoke to find that there was no one by her side. She went to work and assigned the tasks as usual. That day, she received Gina¡¯s response, telling her that the higher-ups had approved her design draft. It was estimated that the products would hit the store shelves at the beginning of the next month. This was definitely the best thing Christina had heard all month. Chapter 74 Help Me Bathe In the following days, Brayden didn¡¯te looking for Christina. She figured he probably had things to take care of. It was a good thing, too, since she didn¡¯t want unnecessary misunderstandings. On Saturday, Christina arranged everything in advance and then set out for the Hadley residence early with Nathaniel. There were several luxury cars parked at the entrance of the mansion. Nathaniel could see that the license tes didn¡¯t belong to his family. Clearly, there were guests at home. As soon as the two of them got out of the car, the housekeeper came forward to wee them. ¡°Mr. Hadley. Mrs. Hadley has been waiting for you.¡± Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and walked in with her. A few borately dressed women sat on the couch, the scents of their perfumes mingling in the air. They were conversing with Julia andughing nonstop. ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re back! Come over here.¡± Julia¡¯s gaze toward Christina was filled with an understate contempt, but when facing Nathaniel, she smiled amiably. The two of them walked to the women¡¯s opposite. Right when Christina sat down, Julia¡¯s cold, sarcastic voice sounded. ¡°Does the Hadley family not have enough money for you to buy clothes? Why are you. wearing such an ugly outfit in public?¡± Christina froze subtly in surprise. I had deliberately worn a branded outfit since I knew I wasing here. How is this outfit ugly in any way? ¡°Beautiful people look good in anything. It¡¯s the ugly ones who need to dress up,¡± Nathaniel interjected lazily. He crossed his legs and ced his uninjured hand around Christina as if protecting something precious. Julia¡¯s face darkened at that. Nevertheless, her target today was Christina. She shot thetter a sideways nce and sneered, ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve been married to Nathaniel for quite a few years now, haven¡¯t you? Yet you still don¡¯t have a child. You should really get a move on!¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I get a check-up every year. The doctor said I¡¯m in great shape to have children!¡± A woman wearing an expensive yellow dress immediately chimed in. Christina¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and she retorted, ¡°It¡¯s true that we¡¯ve been married for quite a few years now, but Nathaniel was abroad all this time. If I had gotten pregnant and given birth to a baby, that would really bring disgrace to the family.¡± Julia never expected Christina to be so bold to talk back at her like that. ¡°Well, he¡¯s back now. Why haven¡¯t you been putting in more efforttely? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t have children?¡± Even with outsiders around, Julia didn¡¯t bother saving Christina some face. ¡°I need to work. How can I think about having children every day?¡± Christina said indignantly. Just then, a woman with wavy hair mocked, ¡°If I were married, I would definitely stay at home every day to take care of my husband instead of going out to work.¡± Her words pleased Julia, who agreed, ¡°That¡¯s right. That is the duty of a good wife.¡± When Christina heard that, her eyes widened with a bint of anger. I¡¯m not a sloth. How could I possibly stay at home every day and not go out and work? She didn¡¯t want to be a shallow-minded bird in a gilded cage. ¡°If you¡¯re not satisfied with me, you may ask Nathaniel to divorce me. Or you can even give birth to another son and let him marry someone who meets your expectations,¡± she countered without Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. hesitation. Julia was so furious that her blood pressure soared. Grabbing the coffee cup on the table, she threw it at Christina¡¯s foot. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Get Lost Bang! The cup fell to the floor and shattered, the hot water spilling over Christina¡¯s high heels. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡± Nathaniel picked Christina up in his arms and took off her shoes, revealing her fair feet that were burned red. ¡°Bring me the first aid kit,¡± he ordered coldly. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. The housekeeper didn¡¯t dare to dy and immediately ran off to fetch the first aid kit. At this moment, Julia was truly angry. Sensing the tense atmosphere, the socialites nearby didn¡¯t dare to hang around either. Instead, they quickly found an excuse and hurried off. Julia watched as Nathaniel applied medicine to Christina¡¯s feet, feeling even more upset. ¡°There are so many people here. Look at what your wife just said to me. She has no manners!¡± ¡°It was obviously you who intended to bring other people along to bully her together.¡± Nathaniel continued applying medicine to Christina¡¯s feet, feeling fortunate that the injury was not serious. Christina hung her head, finally understanding why Julia insisted on hering back. It was Julia¡¯s opportunity tobine forces with others to humiliate Christina. ¡°What have I done to bully her? Did I say anything wrong? Forget the fact that she hasn¡¯t gotten pregnant despite being with you for so long, she¡¯s also just working all the time and doesn¡¯t really bother about taking care of you. What¡¯s the point of such a daughter-inw?¡± Julia red fiercely at Christina as though the two of them had a blood feud. Nathaniel ced Christina¡¯s hands on his shoulders and then lifted her off the couch. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Did I say you could leave? You really have no manners at all.¡± Julia knew it was pointless to lecture Nathaniel, so she turned to Christina instead. ¡°Nathanjel may not know better, but shouldn¡¯t you, as his wife, have some sense?¡± Christina bit her lip, wriggling slightly to get down from Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, but the man¡¯s strong arms did not allow her to resist. Struggling in vain, she then said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, as you can see, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m being unreasonable. It¡¯s your son who¡¯s being unreasonable and forcing me to act this way.¡± Julia was so angry that her cheeks were trembling. ¡°Christina, get lost! I despise uncouth, ill-mannered women like you!¡± How I regret bringing this seductive vixen into my home! Look at how infatuated my son is with her now. This is infuriating! Unable to hold back her exasperation, Christina gritted her teeth as she replied, ¡°Well, isn¡¯t it a coincidence then, as I don¡¯t like you either!¡± Nathaniel walked out of the Hadley residence, cradling Christina, who was like a feral kitten, in his arms. Behind her, Julia¡¯s angry grumbling and cursing could still be heard. ¡°Even without Xandra, I would never approve of you as my daughter-inw. There are so many other distinguished youngdies for me to choose from!¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, don¡¯t be upset, and don¡¯t bother arguing with that ignorant brat,¡± said the housekeeper, Helen, supporting Julia as they walked inside. ¡°Next week, we have a ball to attend. Why don¡¯t we go and pick out some clothes?¡± Helen knew that Julia loved dressing up, and seeing beautiful clothes would instantly lift her spirits. The two of them entered the walk-in closet together, where there were nearly thousands of dresses in various styles hanging inside. There were dresses of all price ranges, including limited edition ones. Julia searched the whole ce but couldn¡¯t find anything suitable, which made her mood even worse. ¡°Can you help me contact Vivian? I¡¯d like to ask Ada to design a new gown for me.¡± Helen quickly agreed, ¡°I heard that Ms. Ada is very talented and a rising star in the design industry. Last time, Ms. Jones asked her to design a gown for her, and Ms. Jones certainly stole the spotlight the night she wore the dress.¡± Julia is a very prideful person who could not stand others stealing her spotlight. ¡°You must bring me Ada!¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley!¡± The car slowly headed toward Christina¡¯s grandmother¡¯s house. Christina tilted her head, looking at the scenery outside, and got lost in thought for a moment. How long does a rtionship that is not favored by one¡¯s family usuallyst? Recalling the words of those people earlier, Christina fell silent for a moment before speaking. ¡°Nathaniel, let¡¯s get a divorce!¡± The moment her words fell, the car came to an abrupt stop. Christina almost fell due to not being seated securely. She turned to look at the person in the driver¡¯s seat. The man¡¯s dark eyes were filled with gloom, appearing especially cold and distant. ¡°What did you say?¡± Christina clenched her bag with both hands, looking rather upset and frustrated. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom say she wants you to have a child? Since this isn¡¯t possible in the short term, you don¡¯t have to think about it anymore. I don¡¯t want to hold you back.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he asked seriously. ¡°When did I ever force you to have a child?¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not getting any younger. I¡¯m doing this for your own good.¡± Counting on her fingers, Christina realized that she was only in her twenties and didn¡¯t have such ns yet. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. Is sheining that I¡¯m old? He grasped her small hand and gazed into her eyes, which shimmered like the rippling surface of a pond. ¡°If you want to do things for my good, then stay by my side obediently and stop making wild guesses. Let everything else take its natural course.¡± Christina froze for a moment but temporarily set aside the worries in her heart. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back and check on Evelyn first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick you upter.¡± The car drove away, and Nathaniel made a trip back to the office. Upon seeing his injured hand, Madison immediately felt concerned. ¡°Mr. Hadley, how did your hand?¡± His hand was wrapped up with gauze, and the injury did not look like a minor one. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± replied Nathaniel calmly and continued to read the documents. you hurt Madison looked at his injured hand, feeling very worried. His hand was perfectly fine when he left two days ago. It must have been injured after meeting Christina. Christina is clearly bad luck! Nothing good ever happens to Mr. Hadley whenever he gets close to her. They worked untilte in the evening. When Nathaniel was leaving, Madison followed him into the elevator. ¡°Mr. Hadley, how about I go with you to the west of the city? Since your hand is injured, it would be helpful to have an extra hand, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± she suggested, clenching her fists and feeling rather nervous. Nathaniel was injured, and all she wanted was to be by his side, making sure he wouldn¡¯t get hurt again. The elevator descended and then opened. Nathaniel finally said casually, ¡°No need, Christina will take care of me.¡± After saying that, he walked out. The elevator doors closed slowly. Madison stood inside as though she was just abandoned, watching the man¡¯s tall figure disappear from her view. Just the thought of Christina being together with Nathaniel happily filled her heart with resentment. At that moment, her phone rang. It was a call from Francis. ¡°Regarding the conditions you mentionedst time, I agree to them.¡± Madison¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°All right, then! I look forward to working with you!¡± After picking up Christina, Nathaniel returned to their condominium in the west of the city ¡°I forgot that today is the day to change the wound dressing.¡± Nathaniel watched as the delicate figure changed her shoes and hurried into the living room. Christina quickly grabbed some anti-inmmatory medicine from a drawer and ced it on the coffee table. Then, she turned around to look at him. ¡°Come over here quickly!¡± Nathaniel hurriedly changed his shoes and walked over to sit down by the couch. Christina crouched down and skillfully unwrapped the bandage on his hand, revealing the wound, which had healed significantly. As she applied the medicine, she didn¡¯t forget to gently blow on the wound. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± she asked, internally ming herself for having pushed the car door so hard the other day. Nathaniel raised his hand and rubbed her little head gently, saying in a soft voice, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± ¡°So, what would you like to eat? I¡¯ll cook it for you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s hand went to her chin, lifting up her face and allowing her to look directly into his eyes. The atmosphere instantly grew intense. He gently bent down and nted a soft kiss on her forehead. ¡°Anything is fine.¡± Christina¡¯s face reddened slightly. Humming softly in response, she then stood up and went to the kitchen. Chapter 76 Full Chapter 76 Full In the evening, Nathaniel was in the study, working on some documents.Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Christina switched on herputer to check her email. She noticed an email from the person in charge of her design studio, who had not contacted her for a long time. The email read: Ada, there¡¯s an important client specifically requesting you, and they¡¯re offering double the usual price. Christina had started coborating with this studio ever since she started attending university. Although there weren¡¯t many clients there, the clients usually had high requirements for quality. She could always design the most suitable gowns for her clients based on their body shape and temperament. Therefore, she soon made a name for herself in the circle. However, with her heavy study load at the university, she didn¡¯t have the energy to focus on her part- time work, so she stopped taking orders for quite some time. She hesitated for a moment, then replied to Vivian: I¡¯ve been really busytely, so I probably won¡¯t have much spare time. Vivian quickly replied: Would you like to take a look at the client¡¯s information first? They offered a really good price as well. You might just change your mind. Christina opened the details that Vivian sent over and saw that the price offered was three million. Upon looking at the client¡¯s photograph, she was astonished. It¡¯s Julia? She was just cursing at me at home today. If she knew that I was Ada, would she still be willing to wear my design? ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nathaniel, who just finished his work, walked up behind Christina and noticed her being lost in thought in front of theputer. ¡°Your mom wants to hire me to design a gown for her but she doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m the designer behind it. So, do you think I should ept the job?¡± Christina looked up at Nathaniel, anticipating his opinion. Nathaniel unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his toned and strong muscles that looked especially perfect being illuminated by the light. As he raised his hand to change into his pajamas, the muscr lines of his arm connected with the muscles of his back, and be exuded an overwhelming sense of masculine charm. He didn¡¯t notice that Christina¡¯s eyes were sparkling like water as she looked at him. He casually replied, ¡°Do as you please. ept the offer if you want, or decline it if you don¡¯t.¡± Christina secretly swallowed her saliva and quickly averted her gaze. Chapter 76 A Deal Worth Three Million +5 Bonus ¡°I want to ept it because she¡¯s your mom, even though she doesn¡¯t like me. But I don¡¯t want things to get too awkward.¡± It might still be eptable to turn down the offer if she did not know the client¡¯s details, but now that she knew, if she still deliberately declined, it would make her seem petty. Nathaniel took theputer off the bed and, in one smooth motion, pulled Christina into hist embrace, holding her tightly before his strong chest. He casually pulled up the sheets, burying them both in the darkness under the sheets. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re so understanding. Let me reward you properly¡­¡± The morning light streamed through the ss windows, filling the room with a warm and cozy atmosphere. When Nathaniel woke up, Christina was lying in his arms. She was sound asleep, probably too tired fromst night. He kissed her forehead gently before getting out of bed. When Christina woke up, she realized she was going to bete. Enduring her sore body, she forced herself to get out of bed. After packing her things, she headed out. Meanwhile, Julia, who still did not receive a response thought that Ada was trying to raise the price. Thus, she called the studio and raised her offer to five million. Her only condition was that the designer had to personally visit her and create the design on the spot. After receiving the order, Vivian sent another message to Ada but did not receive a response for a long time. Christina had been busy all day at the store. It wasn¡¯t until she finished work in the evening that she remembered she had forgotten to help Nathaniel change his wound dressing again. She made a phone call and found out that Nathaniel was still busy with his documents in the office. After Sebastian provided the address, she hurriedly hailed a cab and rushed over. It turned out that Hadley Corporation had set up a CEO¡¯s office in each district, specifically to provide Nathaniel with a pleasant working environment when he was out of the office. Inside the spacious office, Madison ced several documents on the desk. ¡°These urgent documents require your signature before we can proceed to the next step with them.¡± Nathaniel hummed softly as he flipped open a document and focused on the text. When he was quiet, his cold and handsome face looked like a beautiful sculpture crafted by an artist, making it hard for people to take their eyes off him. Every time Madison had the chance to admire this handsome face up close, she felt as if her shattered heart was pieced back together into a whole. Chapter 76 A Deal Worth Three Million Nathaniel quickly finished reading the document, signed it, and handed it to her. ¡°It¡¯s sote now. You must be tired.¡± +5 Bonus Madison had returned for some time, but this was the first time that Nathaniel had spoken to her with such a gentle attitude ever since she came back. Madison couldn¡¯t help but feel secretly delighted in her heart. She thought that even if the drive took five hours instead of one, it would still be worth it. ¡°It¡¯ste now and not safe for you to go back at this hour. How about I book a hotel for you?¡± asked Sebastian, who was standing beside them. Madison didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she looked at Nathaniel and asked, ¡°Mr. Hadley, don¡¯t you live in Scenic Garden Manor?¡± In every region across the country, there was a Scenic Garden Manor. The facilities and decorations were all modeled after the one that was located in the city center. Sometimes, Nathaniel would even arrange for an assistant to be stationed at the specific Scenic Garden Manor where he would be staying, just to make his work more convenient. Sebastian understood her meaning and exined, ¡°Mr. Hadley and Mrs. Hadley live in their condominium, and I also stay at a hotel.¡± Surprise shed in Madison¡¯s eyes, followed by a sense of loss. Nathaniel and Christina live together! Nathaniel had mysophobia, so whenever he went, he always stayed at the Scenic Garden Manor in that region and rarely stayed in hotels. However, for Christina¡¯s sake, he was now willing to live in a cramped condominium. It was clear how deep his affection was toward her. Madison¡¯s shattered heart instantly cracked open once again as she lowered her gaze without responding. At that moment, the door was pushed open. ¡°Does your hand hurt today? I forgot all about it! Why didn¡¯t you remind me to change your dressing for you?¡± Christinained. She pouted as she walked over to Nathaniel. Without another word, she snatched the documents from his hands. ¡°How dare you-¡± Madison blurted out her warning instinctively. However, before she could finish speaking, she was it with a cold re from Nathaniel. ¡°Sorry, I forgot for a moment there,¡± she quickly apologized. She remembered that women were not allowed to touch Nathaniel. But she had forgotten that only Christina could touch Nathaniel without causing him an allergic reaction. Why couldn¡¯t that person be me? What¡¯s so great about Christina? What kind of charm does she possess? Suddenly, a thought crossed Madison¡¯s mind¡­ Christina helped Nathaniel undo the bandage, which hadn¡¯t been changed the whole day. The wound hadn¡¯t healed, and instead, there were even traces of blood. This startled Christina. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did you do any heavy work today?¡± Sebastian quickly waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Mr. Hadley has been in the office all day today.¡± Nathaniel gently rubbed her head with his other hand, leaning toward her ear and softly reminding her, ¡°It¡¯s because ofst night¡­ It was an ident.¡± Christina¡¯s checks instantly turned red, looking as if she had just applied blush. She pursed her thin lips and red at him with annoyance. Can¡¯t you show some restraint when there are people around? Madison watched from the side as Nathaniel and Christina whispered to each other, her eyes spilling with jealousy. Before she had an emotional breakdown, she turned around and walked away. Seeing the situation, Sebastian quickly stepped out as well, letting Nathaniel and Christina have some space to themselves. He caught up with Madison and saw that she was already in tears. At that moment, he didn¡¯t know what words to say tofort her. He was very skilled at handling his work and the documents in the office, but he really had no experience with this kind of situation. ¡°Don¡¯t be sad. Mr. Hadley got married three years ago. You know that as well, don¡¯t you?¡± Madison wiped away her tears. As she was a strong-willed woman, she didn¡¯t like to cry in front of others or receive other people¡¯s sympathy. ¡°Why¡­ Why can¡¯t that woman be me!¡± 12:41 Mon, May 15 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 A Show Of Power Sebastian¡¯s face was calm; at this point in the situation there was no use in saying anything. ¡°In this world, nothing can sway Mr. Hadley¡¯s thoughts, including you and me.¡± Watching the woman¡¯s slightly trembling figure, he let out a soft sigh. ¡°If you lose control again, you won¡¯t be qualified to stay by Mr. Hadley¡¯s side.¡± After saying that, he walked out. Madison reined in her emotions, knowing she was a mature woman and understanding what Sebastian. had said. If she continued to be overly dramatic, she would definitely be driven away by Nathaniel, so she couldn¡¯t go on like this. I definitely need to change my strategy¡­ After Christina finished bandaging Nathaniel¡¯s wound, she asked, ¡°That woman earlier is your assistant?¡± ¡°Yes, she has worked with Sebastian at Hadley Corporation for many years,¡± Nathaniel replied. Christina didn¡¯t respond but instead used the adhesive tape in her hand to help secure the gauze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Jealous?¡± His husky voice was heard. Christina shook her head, her face full of innocence. ¡°No.¡± There was no reason for her to be jealous, as coworker¡¯s consisted of men and women. Looking into Christina¡¯s innocent and pure eyes that shimmered like water, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help. but wonder what she would look like when she was jealous. When they returned home, Christina immediately went into the kitchen to cook dinner for Nathaniel. After the busy day ended, she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to reply to Vivian¡¯s message. The client had requested for a face-to-face session with her. Christina hesitated for a moment. Generally, she had seen the client¡¯s photo and taken their measurements, so her designs would be quite urate. After hesitating for a moment, she could only agree te a video discussion. Vivian quickly agreed, and Julia wanted to make the most of their time, so she wanted to video chat with her right away. ¡°Sure, we can connect in ten minutes.¡± After replying to the message, Christina immediately went into the dressing room and began rummaging through her belongings to find her gear. Ten minutester, the video call was connected. Julia was dressed magnificently, wearing a high-end limited-edition dress and her long wavy hair flowing beautifully. She took great care of herself, and at fifty years old, she still looked radiant and youthful. ¡°Ms. Ada, why are you wearing a mask? Are you trying to trick me?¡± Christina could feel the pressure from Julia even through the screen, and it was evident that she must have been a very dominant person in her youth. Christina¡¯s mask came with a voice changer, so when she spoke, her voice had a repetitive electronic. tone that made it impossible for others to identify. ¡°I have one condition for taking up this job, and that is to keep my identity confidential. I hope you understand that.¡± In fact, everyone in the circle knew about that, and she believed Vivian had also made it clear to the client. Julia felt a bit unhappy, but she didn¡¯t say anything. She had heard earlier that this designer¡¯s design had a unique style. Although the designer remained anonymous, it did not affect their professionalism. ¡°Julia, please tell me the measurements you¡¯ve taken so I can record them.¡± On the other end of the call, Helen sent over the clearly marked numbers. ¡°By looking at these numbers, you can clearly know Mrs. Hadley¡¯s body curves?¡± A string of numbers was just a reference, after all. Some people possessed more defined muscles, while others had softer ones. Christina carefully observed all the numbers and then saved them securely. ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not enough. Julia, please stand up and give a spin in front of the camera.¡± Julia had always been the one in control, but now she found it quite unusual to be taking orders from a much younger girl. Even though she wasn¡¯t very willing, she still stood up and twirled in front of the camera. Her figure had not be bloated due to age; on the contrary, she maintained it quite well, showing great self-discipline. A vivid image was enough for Christina to clearly remember the distribution of her client¡¯s body¡¯s curves. She held the pencil and quickly sketched Julia¡¯s body proportions on the paper, taking note of them. ¡°Have you finished stating your requests? Now it¡¯s my turn, right?¡± Julia sat in front of the camera, her expression solemn as if she were holding a meeting with her subordinates. Chapter 77 A Show Of Power Christina put down her pen. ¡°Julia, please speak.¡± Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. +5 Bonus ¡°In three days, I want to see five design drawings for me to choose from. If I¡¯m not satisfied, you¡¯ll have to redraw them. If you show me the design drawing three times and I¡¯m still not satisfied, then our coboration will be canceled.¡± Christina¡¯s pupils constricted slightly. ¡°Five design drawings in three days?¡± If I were to draw three times, wouldn¡¯t that be fifteen design drawings? If Julia deliberately makes things difficult and refuses to cooperate, won¡¯t all my efforts be in vain? Seeing that Christina wasn¡¯t responding, Julia spoke up again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you scared? If you don¡¯t have the confidence, you can always refuse. Christina couldn¡¯t understand what Julia was trying to do. She continuously raised the price just to seek my cooperation, and now she¡¯s posing challenges to me? Perhaps one could only say that Julia was a suspicious person and would not trust anyone too much or too easily. ¡°All right. I ept.¡± Christina agreed, as she had great confidence in her own skills. After disconnecting the call, she finally took off the mask from her face and let out a sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯re done?¡± Nathaniel walked in with a ss of milk, handing it to her. ¡°I found that your mom is quite suspicious as if she doesn¡¯t trust me,¡± Christina said, taking a sip of her milk. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. Ever since I hadn¡¯t divorced Christina, our rtionship has be even more tense. ¡°She¡¯s always been like this, so you don¡¯t need to worry too much. If you feel ufortable, just don¡¯t ept it. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t support you.¡± He gently lifted her head and brushed aside her bangs. Underneath her delicate eyebrows, her were charming and captivating, like a clear spring. Christina put down the empty milk cup, nodded, and hummed in acknowledgment like a well- behaved little kitten. eyes She had three chances, after all. If she couldn¡¯t satisfy Julia in the end, she wouldn¡¯t dwell on it either. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell upon her, taking in her delicate and dewy face that still retained traces of baby fat and her little rosy lips. That sight made him really want to¡­ Take a bite. As another new day arrived, Nathaniel went to the office to work as usual.. Madison didn¡¯t go home the previous night, and she was busy tidying up the work desk early in the morning. When she heard footsteps, she turned around, and a brilliant smile lit up her face. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ve prepared some oatmeal for you. Would you like to have a bowl before you start working?¡± Nathaniel, dressed in a well-tailored suit, strode confidently into the room, walking directly past. Madison. ¡°No need for that. Don¡¯t prepare breakfast for me in the future,¡± he said as he walked to his desk and sat down, his gaze turning cold. ¡°I don¡¯t want Christina to misunderstand.¡± His words pierced Madison¡¯s heart like a sharp knife, and a flicker of disappointment shed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. In fact, she had recently noticed that Nathaniel was deliberately keeping a distance from her, maintaining a professional working rtionship between them. He was deliberately trying to appear aloof. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll definitely be more mindful next time. I¡¯m heading back to the headquarters now,¡± she said calmly, but in reality, every second of being in front of Nathaniel was tormenting her inside. Nathaniel gave a faint hum of acknowledgment, and Madison walked out. After leaving the branch office, Madison didn¡¯t rush back but instead changed direction and headed to the shopping mall. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Stay Away From Me Radiant Corporation¡¯s signature was quite eye-catching. As one walked in, one could see a familiar figure holding a notebook, diligently working. Madison walked in, and Christina looked up and recognized her. ¡°Ms. Turner, are you here to buy clothes?¡± ¡°No, I need to go back now. Mr. Hadley has a bad stomach. Please take good care of him,¡± Madison said with a faint smile at the corner of her lips. This smile appeared friendly on the surface, but the hidden provocation could only be understood by the two of them. When Christina first met Madison, she immediately felt that this woman had hostility toward her. A woman¡¯s sixth sense was never wrong. So did shee to demonstrate her power right in front of me today? Christina¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, and her clear eyes sparkled. ¡°Nathaniel is my husband, and it¡¯s only natural for me to take care of him. Thank you for your reminder.¡± ¡°No need to thank me, I¡¯m just worried that if you don¡¯t do well, you¡¯ll be reced,¡± Madison said coldly, the strong hint of unrequited love and resentment dripping off her words. Christina chuckled lightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry because I won¡¯t be reced.¡± She spoke with such confidence that it cut Madison to the core. With a cold snort, Madison turned and walked away. Madison settled into a Jaguar and made a call. ¡°You can proceed now.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t understand why Madison suddenly appeared in front of her andid her cards on the table. She didn¡¯t bother thinking too much about it. After finishing her tasks, she made time to work on her sketches. Having to produce five design drawings in three days was quite a demanding workload. When Christina had some free time, she went to the caf¨¦ on the pedestrian street behind the mall. ordered a cup of coffee, and then turned on her tablet to work on her design drawings with a stylus. After she sat there for some time, dusk arrived before she knew it. Having lowered her head to work all day, Christina fel dazed as she walked into the mall. As a figure brushed past her, she was inadvertently bumped. The person moved quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the restroom. ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± A hand covered her mouth, and a faint floral scent wafted into Christina¡¯s nostrils. She lifted her frightened gaze and saw a man wearing a ck mask in front of her. He had shoulder- length hair dyed in a trendy gray color with slightly curled ends. Judging from the half of his face that was visible, he was a very handsome man. ¡°Excuse me, could you please cooperate with me and be quiet for a moment?¡± The man¡¯s clear and maic voice was as pleasant to listen to as the male protagonist in a TV drama. Before Christina could react, she heard hurried footstepsing from outside the door. ¡°Where¡¯s Francis? How did he run to? Quick, search around!¡± After a while, those people couldn¡¯t find their target and left. The man¡¯s hand finally rxed, and he pulled down his mask, revealing his handsome face. His upturned eyes and deep gaze were like a thousand-year-old demon lurking in the depths of the mountains, capable of stealing one¡¯s soul with just a nce. Christina immediately recognized the man in front of her as Francis Fernando, a very famous male actor in the entertainment industry. Thest time he won the Best Actor award for a film, he started taking on fewer roles. After establishing his own studio, he spent most of his time mentoring neers, and asionally, he would make asional appearances on variety shows. ¡°How can I thank you for helping me?¡± Taking advantage of the moment when she was not paying attention, the man silently moved closer to the youngdy by a few inches. He¡¯s getting a bit too close! Christina crawled out from a gap on one side and said, ¡°No need to be polite. It¡¯s just a small matter.¡± ¡°This won¡¯t do. How about you leave your contact information, and I¡¯ll give you a few tickets to the popr Zion concert that¡¯s happening soon?¡± Francis said as he took out his phone. Seeing that Christina was hesitant, he simply took matters into his own hands and grabbed Christina¡¯s phone. With a quick scan of the QR code, the friend request was sent sessfully sent. ¡°Let¡¯s get in touch again. Bye!¡± As soon as his words fell, Francis walked away nonchntly. Christina stared at her phone in disbelief as she saw that a famous celebrity had suddenly appeared on her phone. The feeling was like suddenly winning the jackpot even though she had never bought any lottery ticket. The feeling was a bit surreal. She returned to the store and quickly forgot about the whole incident. In the evening, when she returned to the condominium, she quickly prepared some simple homemade dishes and ced them on the table. After that, Christina took a shower and changed into her soft, pink pajamas. Holding her tablet, she sat on the couch and continued to finish her iplete design drawing. In the middle of the night, the door was pushed open Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel walked in, his gaze falling on the slender figure lying on the couch. Christina¡¯s skirt was lifted up, revealing a section of her smooth, slender legs. Her hands were crossed over her chest, and her face was turned to the side. The tranquil scene of her was as beautiful as a sleeping angel. As he walked in, he simultaneously loosened his tie with one hand, removed his suit jacket, and unbuttoned his white shirt. It seemed as if the y of light and shadow was deliberately carved onto his chest, illuminating the expanse of muscles brimming with masculine hormones¡­ Nathaniel approached Christina, bent down to pick her up, and carried her into the bedroom. Christina slept soundly, her body pressing against the bed as she turned over, casually grabbing a nket and pulling it into her embrace. Following that, she continued her deep slumber. Nathaniel shed a faint smile and gently kissed her face. Meanwhile, Christina¡¯s cellphone rang outside the living room. He walked out and saw her phone with the screen lit up. Francis texted: Are you asleep yet, Cutie? Nathaniel waspletely stunned. Looking at the profile picture and the tone of speech, he was certain that it was Francis himself. Seeing that the other party didn¡¯t respond, Francis sent a new message: I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the caf¨¦ tomorrow. Shall I give you the tickets then? When did he meet Christina? Why would they be friends on WhatsApp? Nathaniel¡¯s body suddenly red up with anger when he thought of that cunning man. It made him feel extremely uneasy. He stared at the screen, typed a single word in response, and then deleted the chat history. When Christina woke up, there was no one by her side. Upon leaving the living room, the small dishes she had ced on the table the previous night remained untouched. However, there were worn clothes in the bathroom. Perhaps Nathaniel is too busy these days? Christina didn¡¯t give it much thought. After tidying up the house, she got ready to go to work when her phone received a new voice message. Francis: ¡°Why haven¡¯t you arrived yet?¡± Christina looked at the message, feeling puzzled. Did he message the wrong person? Inside the caf¨¦, there were no customers early in the morning. The man was wearing a mask and sunsses, but that couldn¡¯t hide the charm that radiated from him. The female store staff couldn¡¯t help but be captivated by him. At that moment, an even more aloof and handsome man entered through the door. The female staff was stunned. What a wonderful day! Two handsome guys appearing at the same time? That tall figure seemed eager to meet the handsome guy wearing a mask. The former walked straight over and grabbed thetter by the cor. ¡°Francis, haven¡¯t I warned you to stay away from my people?¡± Francis saw the look of anger on Nathaniel¡¯s face and suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. He enjoyed seeing Nathaniel lose control like this. Francis spoke with a hint of disdain and indifference I¡¯m waiting for the little kitten. What¡¯s that got to do with you? Why is someone like you, who can¡¯t even get close to women, trying to protect a girl?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what your intentions are. Christina is my woman.¡± A storm raged in the depths of Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as if he wanted to swallow the man before him whole. ¡°So? I just like getting close to her¡­¡± Pow! With a loud thud, Nathaniel¡¯s fistnded heavily on Francis¡¯ temple! Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Stay Away From Him ¡°Don¡¯t take my warning lightly.¡± Nathaniel tightly gripped Francis¡¯ cor, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Oh, Nathaniel. Are you finally showing your ruthless side? All for a woman?¡± Blood stained the corner of Francis mouth. Despite the stinging sensation, heughed. His attractive face appeared even more enchanting as he stared at the man in front of him intently. ¡°Well, what should I do? I¡¯m also quite interested in that little girl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re looking for trouble!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed. He threw another punch without hesitation, but this time, Francis caught his hand. They red at each other, their gazes fiery like a volcano¡¯sva threatening to set the store aze. ¡°It¡¯s Francis!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe we ran into him here! Quick, take a photo!¡± When Francis heard the screams from outside the store, his lips curled up coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to let go, that¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t mind making the headlines with you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrows twitched in annoyance. Reluctantly, he released his grip. He naturally didn¡¯t want to be seen in the same frame as Francis, especially when they were fighting. Francis put his mask back on and wore the baseball cap, almost covering his entire face. ¡°Nathaniel, what are you guys doing?¡± A familiar voice sounded at that point. The two men turned their heads to see Christina walking in, her eyes filled with confusion. She had nned to buy a cup of coffee with her colleague before going to work, but she never expected to encounter such a scene. Why did Nathaniel hit Francis? Are they acquainted with each other? ¡°I came to deliver the tickets to you, but he attacked me without asking any questions!¡± Francis exined with an innocent look. ¡°What ticket? I never asked for one.¡± Christina didn¡¯t know what Francis was talking about, let alone the reason the two men would meet here. However, she firmly believed that Nathaniel would never hit someone over a trivial matter. Having an idea why Nathaniel appeared at the caf¨¦, Francis remarked coldly, ¡°How cunning.¡± ¡°Believe it or not. I can hit you so hard that you won¡¯t be able to speak,¡± Nathaniel threatened. He nced at Francis coldly, and the surrounding atmosphere seemed to turn icy because of the piercing chill emanating from him. Even though he knew Francis was deliberately provoking him, he couldn¡¯t help but want to hit the man. Francis shrugged and looked at Christina worriedly, ¡°Look, he¡¯s not gentle at all. You should stay away from him as soon as possible. I¡¯ll be off now.¡± After saying that, he stuffed the concert tickets he was holding into Christina¡¯s bag. Nathaniel immediately grabbed the tickets from the bag and flung them at Francis¡¯ back. ¡°No one cares about your tickets.¡± The front-row tickets that were worth a few thousand fluttered to the ground like worthless scraps of paper. In spite of that, Francis was unbothered. He walked out, whistling cheerfully. Nathaniel¡¯s brows were furrowed. With a gloomy face he took Christina¡¯s hand and led her outside. The store clerks standing at the entrance watched as the two men left one after the other. They were screaming so hard to the point of losing their voices. ¡°Am I dreaming? Was that really the superstar, Francis, and the CEO of Hadley Corporation?¡± ¡°What a great day it is today! I can¡¯t believe I met two dreamy men at the same time!¡± ¡°I heard that Ms. Steele and the CEO have a special rtionship. It seems to be true!¡± Outside, Nathaniel pushed Christina against the wall, his hawk-like eyes filled with displeasure. ¡°Stay away from him from now on.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him? Why did you two fight?¡± Christina asked curiously. She knew their backgrounds quite well, and there was absolutely no connection between them. Apart from their height, they basically had no other simrities. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Just remember what I said.¡± With that, Nathaniel took Christina¡¯s phone from her bag and blocked Francis¡¯ WhatsApp number. ¡°Why are there so many men in your WhatsApp?¡± he questioned with a frown. There used to be just over a hundred. Why are there Hundreds of them now? Worried that he would delete her other contacts, Christina quickly took the phone from him. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. They¡¯re just some minor celebrities who want to work with me.¡± After the banquetst time, minor celebrities would try to get her number from time to time. Some wanted to coborate with her on styling, while others simply wanted to get closer to her to secure endorsements from Hadley Corporation. Though Nathaniel felt uneasy about that, what mattered was that Francis was no longer on her contact list. ¡°Remember what I said. I don¡¯t want to repeat it.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left. Christina had no idea why he was angry. As she watched him walk away in a huff, she sighed helplessly. Upon returning to the condominium in the evening, Christina sent thepleted design drawings to Julia. Right away, Julia gave her a video call. Christina hurriedly put on her equipment and disguised her voice using a voice changer. ¡°Julia, did you see any designs you like?¡± She assumed they should be able to pick at least one out of the five designs she had provided. On the other side of the line, Julia exuded an air of sophistication and grace with her elegant outfit and neatly styled curls. She scanned the designs on the screen. Each one of them was unique and distinct, showcasing a solid foundation in design skills. ¡°I¡¯ve looked through them. The designs are pretty good, and I¡¯m quite satisfied, but¡­¡± She paused for a moment and continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing that particrly captivates me.¡± Christina was a bit puzzled. She¡¯s satisfied and thinks they¡¯re good, but none of them captivates her? Helen, who was sitting at the side, tried to smooth things over. ¡°Ada, Mrs. Hadley has very high standards and is quite the perfectionist when ites to clothing. So, we¡¯ll give you three more days to prepare five more designs for Mrs. Hadley to choose from.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened. Prepare five more designs? Is Julia deliberately trying to make things difficult for me? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She suddenly realized that Julia wasn¡¯t just targeting her alone. In fact, thetter held the same doubtful attitude toward others as well. To gain Julia¡¯s trust, Christina gritted her teeth and agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s get in touch again in three days.¡± After the call ended, Helen turned off theputer. ¡°I think the designs are quite good. Do you not like them, Mrs. Hadley?¡± she queried. Julia¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile, her expression turning unreadable. ¡°I do like them, but since she charges me so much, she has to satisfy me.¡± For some reason, Ada¡¯s eyes reminded her of someone he didn¡¯t like. ¡°That¡¯s true. Maybe her next designs will be even better.¡± Julia scoffed. ¡°I hope she doesn¡¯t disappoint.¡± In her condominium, Christina was holding her tablet, looking at her design drawings. All five of them were customized ording to Julia¡¯s measurements, and she couldn¡¯t find any ws. Julia didn¡¯t point out what she was unhappy about, so Christina had no idea how to revise the designs. Vaguements like this stressed her out the most. Since she was uninspired, Christina decided to take a break for a while. When she nced up, she realized it was almost midnight. Why isn¡¯t Nathaniel back yet? Christina leaned back on the couch and checked the news. Thankfully, the fight between Nathaniel and Francis earlier that day didn¡¯t make it online. She could not understand how the two of them got into a conflict when they had no connections on social media at all. Could it be that Nathaniel was too jealous? Feeling tired, she leaned on the pillow and fell asleep. After some time, the door was quietly pushed open. A faint light glowed inside the silent room, the hazy moonlight pouring on the floor. On one side of the couchy a soft figure. Nathaniel walked over and cast his gaze on the woman¡¯s sleeping face. Her long, dark eyshes cast a shadow on her rosy cheeks. His anger vanished at the sight of her innocent and pure expression. Why did she fall asleep on the couch? Doesn¡¯t she know she might catch a cold? Nathaniel scrunched his brows slightly and gently took away Christina¡¯s tablet that was still on. Then, he carried her in his arms. As he turned around, his gaze fell upon the dining table, where three dishes and a pot of soup were laid out along with his tableware. Obviously, the food were prepared for him. Nathaniel¡¯s pupils tightened slightly, and warmth filled his heart. Why didn¡¯t she call me when she made a meal for me? He walked to the master bedroom and gentlyid Christina down on the bed. The faint floral scent emanating from her soft body made him reluctant to let go. Nathaniel gently lifted her long hair away from her face, revealing her smooth forehead. He gave it a light peck, then paused briefly before pressing a deeper, more affectionate kiss. The next morning, a gentle breeze seeped through the tiny gaps in the window. Christina wrapped the nket around herself tightly and only woke up when the rm rang. When she saw the empty space beside her, she felt an indescribable sense of loss in her heart. I thought Nathaniel carried me here while I was asleepst night. Was it just my imagination? She turned over and got up. Before leaving the house, she noticed the food on the table had been finished. This confirmed thatst night was not a dream but indeed a reality. Without thinking too much about it, Christina headed for the store and dived into work right away. The clothes she previously designed had been shipped out and distributed to various branches across the country. Thanks to the wonderful promotion job by Radiant Corporation¡¯s public rtions department, the sales exceeded their expectations by fifty percent. Since Christina managed toplete her task ahead of schedule, the headquarters asked her to return from the branch office. Before parting, she had a celebration with the store clerks. On the way back, Christina opened her phone¡¯s call log and realized that she hadn¡¯t been in touch with Nathaniel for a week. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Why Are You In My House Is he still angry about Francis? If Christina had to define her rtionship with Francis, she would undoubtedly consider him at stranger. With a sigh, she dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. It rang for a while, but no one answered. Christina had no choice but to call Sebastian. ¡°Sebastian, are you with Nathaniel?¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley? Mr. Hadley just got off the ne and returned to Scenic Garden Manor to rest,¡± Sebastian answered truthfully. ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina asked the driver to head to Scenic Garden Manor. Half an hourter, Christina walked through the gates of Scenic Garden Manor, dragging her suitcase with one hand and holding a cake with the other. Upon seeing her, the housekeeper came over to help her with her luggage. Christina entered the house and looked around. As no one was around, she figured that Nathaniel must be on the second floor. We¡¯ve already been giving each other the silent treatment for so many days now. He¡¯s probably not upset anymore, right? Carrying the cake she had specially bought, Christina walked up to the second floor. The door to the study was half-open. She happily walked over and began, ¡°Nathaniel, I bought a cake Halfway through her sentence, Christina paused in her tracks in shock. Madison was standing in front of the desk, slowly turning around. Her long hair was damp, and she donned a bathrobe that revealed a part of her chest. What was worse, the bathrobe was Christina¡¯s. She didn¡¯t need brains to figure out what it meant for Madison to take a bath in their house and even wear her bathrobe. ¡°Christina, what brings you back here?¡± Madison lifted her chin and spoke as if she were thedy of the house. ¡°This is my house. Do I need to report to you when ome back?¡± Christina clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filled with hostility. ¡°I should be the one asking why you¡¯re in my house.¡± Christina had lived in Scenic Garden Manor for several years, and as Nathaniel¡¯s wife, she could confidently call this ce her house. Madison¡¯s lips curled up in triumph. She hooked her hair around her finger and replied provocatively, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guess why I¡¯m here, wearing a bathrobe and looking like I just took a shower?¡± Christina instantly felt a lump in her throat. She blinked a few times as the scene of a mistress entering the house in a TV show shed through her mind. ¡°Disgusting,¡± she blurted out angrily before storming off. So this was why he didn¡¯t contact me for a week. He deliberately found an excuse to get angry and left me at the side to have fun with another woman! Christina could barely hold back her tears. When she descended the stairs, the butler noticed that something was off with her expression and hurriedly caught up. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Without saying anything, Christina angrily threw the cake into the trash, then grabbed her luggage and left aggrievedly. The butler had no idea what had happened and why Christina would suddenly throw the perfectly fine. cake. Upstairs, Nathaniel stepped out of the master bedroom. He was dressed in casual home wear, his freshly blown hair appearing soft under the light. At that moment, he looked just like a dazzling celebrity on a magazine cover. For a while, Madison felt as if she was truly thedy of the house, and the man walking toward her was none other than her husband. Such a life is too perfect- ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Nathaniel walked past her, his gaze not even lingering on her for a second. His curt sentence shattered the beautiful vision that Madison had just conjured up in her mind. Her heart tightened painfully. ¡°I just finished organizing the files for you,¡± Madison said with a somewhat unfocused gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll leave as soon as my clothes are here.¡± It had suddenly started pouring when they came back just now, so both of them got drenched. That was why Nathaniel made an exception and allowed Madison to dry her clothes in his house. Madison had delivered documents to Scenic Garden Manor countless times before, but today was the first time she could actually stay for a while. She didn¡¯t expect that this would cause Christina to misunderstand. Thinking back to the way Christina left furiously just now, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll let the driver take you home,¡± Nathaniel said, implying that he wanted her to leave. He didn¡¯t like other women hanging around in his hose, and he disliked, even more, having the scent of another woman in the air. ¡°But I¡¯m wearing a bathrobe¡­¡± Madison protested weakly. She had casually grabbed Christina¡¯s bathrobe earlier. Nathaniel lowered his eyes and flipped through the documents in his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t need it Do whatever you want with it when you go back.¡± He wouldn¡¯t let Christina touch the bathrobe that another woman had worn, anyway. anymore. Madison couldn¡¯t hide the disappointment in her eyes. She bit her lip and wanted to ask why Nathaniel disliked her so much, but she didn¡¯t dare to speak up. After giving a hum of acknowledgment, she turned around and walked away. The driver was already waiting for her with the car reserved for guests when she got to the entrance. While Madison got into the car and left, Nathaniel checked his phone and saw a missed call from Christina.Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Last week, Nathaniel had to make an unexpected overseas business trip due to an urgent matter. Due to the difference in time zones, every time he was free, it was alreadyte at night on Christina¡¯s side. That was the reason he didn¡¯t call Christina. Staring at the phone, Nathaniel wondered if his little girl had been behaving well these days. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 I Love You Francis Upon returning to Evelyn¡¯s house, Christina dove under her sheets the moment she closed her room door. She hid herself under the sheets and her eyes reddened when she thought of what happened earlier. You¡¯re such a jerk, Nathaniel! You don¡¯t allow me anywher near men. Yet what were you doing at home with Madison? Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. When Christina¡¯s phone rang abruptly, she answered at once. A gentle voice subsequently rang out from it. ¡°Christina, I have a job for you. Mr. Henry Jackson from Jadeborough wants to work with us. He¡¯ll be paying for our air tickets and amodation too. Are you in?¡± Christina owed Bailey a debt of gratitude after thetter helped her retrieve the original video from the video editor previously. Since she was feeling down, taking a short break while making some money sounded like a good idea. Without the slightest hesitation, she agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll see you at the airport tomorrow.¡± Bailey ended the call after her reply. Thereafter, Christina found Gina¡¯s number in her contact list and gave thetter a call. Ever since she started work half a year ago, she had never missed a day of work. Thus, the time was ripe for her to use her leave for a break. Gina quickly agreed and reminded Christina to hand in her leave application upon her return. The next day, Christina packed a small luggage and put on a floral dress with a matching pink hoodie. She subsequentlypleted her look with two casually tied braids. With a porcin-white face that didn¡¯t need any makeup, Christina put on some lip balm and curled the corner of her lips slightly. The way she looked was the epitome of a youthful and vibrant girl. As it was still early, there weren¡¯t many people at the airport when she arrived. Thus, Christina easily spotted Bailey in the waiting area. With a headful of ck hair strewn upon her shoulder, Bailey was wearing a shirt with teddy-bear prints and ck overalls. The ck baseball cap on her head was slung so low that her eyes were almost covered. ¡°Bailey, did you spend the entire night recording again?¡± Bailey was famous in the recording industry due to the versatility of her voice. Therefore, she was highly sought after by audiobook producers. ¡°I don¡¯t mind suffering a little for the opportunity to work with my best friend.¡± shing a smile, Christina tapped Bailey on the nose. ¡°You¡¯re such a sweet talker.¡± As it had been a while since theyst saw each other, both of them chatted happily while boarding the ne. Meanwhile, inside a skyscraper located in the city center, Nathaniel was sitting elegantly in his office chair, listening to Sebastian¡¯s reports. Nevertheless, he felt particrly distracted, and his eyes would drift toward his phone intermittently. His calls to Christina the night before were unanswered, while his calls today couldn¡¯t even get through. Is it because she¡¯s busy at work? All of a sudden, he interrupted Sebastian, ¡°Find out what Christina is up to.¡± Madison was naturally upset to hear his words but could only keep her emotions to herself. After all, no one ever dared to show their displeasure to his face. All she felt was jealousy over the fact that the usually workaholic Nathaniel was thinking of Christina. during work. With no time to lose, Sebastian called Radiant Corporation immediately and had his answer within two minutes. ¡°Mrs. Hadley has returned, but she took a week¡¯s leave. No one knows where she is.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Did she actually go on a holiday without telling me? ¡°Find out where she is.¡± Sebastian briefly froze before dropping whatever he was doing. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, Sebastian still has important matters to report to you. Christina is an adult who can take care of herself, so I don¡¯t see why you need to be worried.¡± Madison could guess why Christina had gone on leave and wasn¡¯t taking Nathaniel¡¯s calls. It had to do with what she said the day before. The fact that she had sown discord in their rtionship filled her with schadenfreude. All she needed to do to deepen the rift between them was to prevent Nathaniel from seeing Christina. Sebastian subsequently turned around and gave Nathaniel an awkward look. The document on which he was reporting was indeed important. Nathaniel eyes consequently darkened. ¡°We¡¯ll deal with work first.¡± Madison was secretly overjoyed by his decision as if she was a cat burr who had stolen a treasure. With that, Sebastian returned to Nathaniel¡¯s side and continued his report. In the meantime, Nathaniel turned on hisputer and typed casually on the keyboard until Sebastian was done. He had wanted to give both of them clear instructions about work. ¡°Sebastian, pack your bags. We¡¯re going to Jadeborough.¡± ¡°But Mr. Hadley, Jadeborough isn¡¯t in the n, is it?¡± Madison rified while flicking through the document in hand. A frosty glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he ignored her question. Although Sebastian was equally clueless, he didn¡¯t dare question Nathaniel. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley,¡± he answered before packing up and leaving with Madison following him from behind. It wasn¡¯t until they returned to the assistants¡¯ room that Sebastian suggested, ¡°Madison, you had better prepared your resignation letter.¡± That would sooner orter be her fate if she failed to exercise control over her emotions. Since both of them had worked for Nathaniel for many years, he didn¡¯t want to see her make a mistake over her personal feelings. ¡°Sebastian, you¡¯re the one whose judgment is clouded How can you let Mr. Hadley be distracted from his work?¡± Just the thought of Nathaniel ignoring work because of Christina was enough to outrage her. ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s confused about what our duty actually is.¡± Not wanting to waste any more time with her, Sebastian packed up all the important documents. Before he left, he made an effort to remind her, ¡°You had better use this opportunity to calm down. If you cross the line again, there¡¯ll be consequences.¡± The moment the door shut, a sense of dejection descended upon Madison. All this while, they had helped Nathaniel deal with his personal affairs, but it just felt entirely different this time. It was as if the stronger her feelings for Nathaniel were, the further the distance between them became. Meanwhile, Bailey and Christina arrived at Henry¡¯s recording studio. Henry¡¯s studio was famous within the industry and was highly sought after by sound editors of major celebrities and big-budget productions. With the three of them seated inside a conference room, Henry handed them a score. ¡°This is a theme song for a web drama, and it¡¯s beautifully written. I like it a lot and feel that it suits both of your voices.¡± Christina had started to involve herself in the recording industry a long time ago. Under her belt were a couple of sessful dubbing and singing projects. Nevertheless, she only epted jobs back then to pay the bills because her ambition was to be a designer. As a result, it had been a long while since she worked on a recording project. Upon receiving the score, she hummed out the melody while reading the notes and lyrics. From the beautiful rhythm and lyrics, one could easily tell how talented theposer was. After that, Henry sent them home to familiarize themselves with the score. They were to return the next day to do the recording. Upon leaving the studio, Bailey dragged Christina to Jadeborough¡¯s movie studios. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± Christina gave Bailey a quizzical look. ¡°We¡¯re here to cheer for my favorite idol!¡± Without any hesitation, Bailey pulled out two sets of cat-ear hair clips. She pinned one set on Christina¡¯s head before putting the other set on herself. After waiting backstage for a while, they were led on set by the film crew. Inside, the audience area was brimming with fans who were wearing the same hair clips and holding cheerleading cards. Once both of them were ushered to their seats in the front row, Bailey raised the card that had been prepared. On it were the blinking words: I love you, Francis! Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 An Interview With Francis Christina¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°This is an interview with Francis?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s mytest idol. Isn¡¯t he handsome?¡± Baileyughed gleefully. Truth be told, she had come all the way to Jadeborough just to see Francis. Despite sensing that she had been taken for a ride, Christina realized it was toote to bail on Bailey and resigned herself to stay. All of a sudden, screams broke out on set. Out from a recording studio came a towering figure. The man had shoulder-length silver hair with their ends dyed in blue; his long narrow eyes were gleaming like stars. With a slight curl of his lips, the indiscernible smile on his face would bewitch anyone who saw it. As he gradually stepped into view, the screams intenslied with greater fervor. While Christina felt as if her eardrums were going to burst, the excited Bailey tugged her with one hand and waved her card hysterically with the other. Chaos subsequently descended upon the scene. Despite the host¡¯s best effort to calm the audience down, his pleas simply fell on deaf ears. Finally, it was Francis who picked up the microphone to quieten the fans. ¡°My dear cuties, if you continue to make so much noise, the host won¡¯t be able to ask me any questions. Why don¡¯t we lower our voices for the interview, and I¡¯ll take a group photo with all of you at the end?¡± Francis¡¯ suggestion was extremely effective, for the group of obsessed female fans instantly kept mum. That was the first time Christina felt the star power of a celebrity up close. Mere words were enough to silence a group of boisterous women. Just as Francis returned the microphone to the host, the simple gesture was so mesmerizing that everyone found it difficult to peel their eyes away. After starting by exchanging pleasantries, the host dived straight into the interview. ¡°Francis, am I right that you wrote the theme song for the web drama-The Domineering Prince?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. I also handpicked the script. I was so inspired by it that I ended up writing the theme song.¡± Francis answered. The host continued to go down the list of prepared questions. ¡°Francis, since you haven¡¯t acted in a while, how does ying a prince in a period drama feel like? Is there anything interesting you can share with us?¡± As Francis had gone through the script for the interview, his reply was particrly eloquent. ¡°Since this is my first time acting in a period drama-¡± Midway through his sentence, he was interrupted by a tic-tac sound. Right in front of everyone, the buttons on his shirt had fallen onto the ground. When his cor opened abruptly, it exposed his muscr chest to the female fans below the stage. The very next moment, an uproar broke out when everyone present was seduced by the heart-throbbing sight. ¡°Oh, my God! I never knew Francis had such a good figure!¡± ¡°The sight of his ab muscles alone has made this entire trip worth it!¡± ¡°I wonder how it feels like running my hands over them?¡± Worried about losing control of the situation, the production crew dropped the curtains and came forward to calm the audience down.¡± After a while, the production assistant inquired, ¡°Does anyone have a needle and thread?¡± As a safety pin would ruin his shirt, there was no other choice but to sew the button back on. ¡°I do.¡± Christina retrieved the sewing kit she always carried on her. Instead of taking it, the production assistant pulled Christina abruptly. Before she could react, she was already led behind the curtain where the production assistant urged, ¡°Quick, help Francis sew his button back on.¡± When Francis looked in her direction, he was greeted by the sight of a young girl with adorable braids. She was wearing the blinking hair clips that were used to cheer him on during the show, while her cheeks were tinged with a dreamy red hue. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Upon looking up, Christina blushed when her gaze met Francis¡¯ gleaming obsidian eyes. She put the sewing kit down on the table and remarked softly, ¡°Here¡¯s the sewing kit. Please return it to me once you¡¯re done.¡± Weighed down by embarrassment, she turned around in an attempt to leave quickly. Francis¡¯ lips curled as a cheeky look shed across his eyes. He then called out at Christina¡¯s silhouette, ¡°I want you to help me sew it back on.¡± Frozen in her tracks, Christina nned to pay no need to his request. After all, she wasn¡¯t the one who lost a button, and sewing wasn¡¯t her favorite pastime. When the production assistant realized Christina¡¯s intention to leave, she hurried up to thetter. ¡°Miss, please lend us a hand. We won¡¯t be able to get off work on time if there are any dys. Also, just look at the fans outside. If they start getting rowdy, you might not even be able to leave.¡± The words caused Christina to hesitate a little. It¡¯s true that I can¡¯t leave if the show doesn¡¯t end. Besides, Bailey came all this way just for Francis. ¡°Fine.¡± Christina relented in the end. When she turned to look at Francis, the smug look on his face for getting his way was unmistakable. Christina subsequently walked up to him and stopped at arm¡¯s length. She calmly picked up the thread before threading it through the needle. In the meantime, she caught a whiff of the floral scent on Francis¡¯ body. He actually smelled more fragrant than a woman did. With his arms folded across his chest, his pose made him look like the perfect statue, exuding an imposing aura even in his silence. Christina had her head lowered to avert her eyes from his. After pinching his cor with her fingertips, she began to sew the button back on. A single nce was all it took for Francis to see that Christina was blushing nervously. He couldn¡¯t deny how adorable she looked with the reddish hue on her cheeks. When an idea popped into his head, he pulled out his phone and discreetly took a photo of her serious. expression. Sensing something amiss, Christina raised her head be greeted by the sight of a camera lens staring her in the face. She put some distance between them by reflex. ¡°Are you secretly taking photos of me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know how to get a good angle. You¡¯ll definitely look good in the shot.¡± Francis proceeded to put his phone away. The anger in Christina¡¯s eyes began to swell. ¡°Delete the photo.¡± If I had known that Francis was this cunning. I wouldn¡¯t have agreed to sew his button for him. He¡¯s such an ingrate. Without even needing to guess, Christina knew that Nathaniel would blow his top once he learned that Francis had a photo of her looking up at him on his phone. Upon letting out a snort, Francis stared intently at Christina¡¯s exquisite-looking face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you worried that your other half will be jealous once he finds out?¡± Since you know that Nathaniel will be jealous, why did you take a photo of me? The fact that they could fight over a mere disagreement thest time made it clear that both of them weren¡¯t on good terms. Ignoring Francis¡¯ment, Christina repeated her warning, ¡°I told you to delete it.¡± With both of them staring each other down, one party was filled with mischief, while the other maintained her vignce. All of a sudden, Francis got to his feet, blocking Christina¡¯s view with his towering figure. His eye blink as he spoke. ¡°Thank you for your help. You can now return to your seat and continue watching my interview,¡± ¡°You have not deleted the photo yet.¡± Christina began to grow anxious. She wasn¡¯t going to leave until he hadplied with her demand. Meanwhile, the production assistant thought that Christina was being difficult by refusing to stop interacting with her idol. ¡°Miss, you should return to your seat now, as filming is about to continue.¡± In the midst of her being shooed away, the curtains began to open. If she didn¡¯t go, Francis¡¯ fans would assume that she was trying to take advantage of him. As a result, she had no choice but to think of another n. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Twice The Price Christina did not pay any attention to the host¡¯s questions or Francis responses in the subsequent interview After finally making it to the end of the interview, shmerely stood aside and watched when the group photo was taken She had absolutely no desire to be in the same picture as Francis When it was over, she dragged Bailey away, thinking that as long as she ignored Francis, he would lose interest and forget what had happened between them They returned to the hotel and had just finished taking their showers when the hotel staff came knocking on the door A serving cart full of delicacies appeared before themas soon as they opened the door, ¡°Good evening. this is the hotel¡¯s specialty dinner¡± Christina was shocked and asked. ¡°Have you made a mistake! We didn¡¯t order dinner service¡± Such a sumptuous meal would cost a few thousand at the very leatt The hotel staff smiled professionally. ¡°This is on the house. Please enjoy yourselves¡± Bailey stuck her head out and remarked, ¡°Such a good treatment. Bring it in quickly.¡± The two of them watched as the hotel staff ced the food on the table and uncorked a fine bottle of red wine,plimenting Henry in their minds for his extreme kindness to them. They had been hungry all day and ate the delicious food in front of them without hesitation. At the same time, in the room opposite theirs, Sebastian set the documents to be addressed on the table and reported, ¡°Mr. Hadley, the hotel staff has sent the dinner to Mrs. Hadley¡¯s room.¡± Nathaniel lowered his head to study the documents and let out a hum of acknowledgment. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I won¡¯t bother you any longer Sebastian left the room after giving him a curt nod. The lights in the room cast a halo around Nathaniel¡¯s dark, lustrous hair. He lowered his head and read the documents, only getting up after a long while. He went to the door and looked at the opposite room from the peephole. Even though there was only a corridor that separated them, he felt for the first time that those few meters were longer than vast rivers like Cayburn River. I wonder what Christina is doing for her toe to Hallsbey without telling me. What is her purpose? The breeze was cooler that morningpared to the previous day. Christina wore a pale-yellow knitted outerwear with a casual checkered dress, appearing more youthful with her hair down. Meanwhile, Bailey changed into a long dress. She, who never wore makeup, abruptly spent half an hour applying it. When they arrived at the recording studio, Henry met them in the conference room and brought out a new contract. ¡°The other party is willing to pay twice the previous price for the entire copyright.¡± The entire copyright meant that once the song was recorded, the other party would fully own it. They could not perform it for profit in any public setting or online tform. In other words, it was no longer their music after they had recorded it. Bailey was a little hesitant and looked at Christina. ¡°What do you think?¡± Frankly, they would not appear on camera even if they sang it, and the other party would not promote them either, so it was no different from buying out the entire copyright. Christina mulled over it for a while before responding. ¡°We don¡¯t n to appear on camera either, so it doesn¡¯t matter much.¡± After discussing it among themselves, they agreed to the other party¡¯s request in full. When he saw that they had agreed, Henry was likewise overjoyed. As the price of the deal was high, so was his profit. The recording started smoothly. Perhaps it was because Christina liked the lyrics of this song very much, so she sang it with more emotion. For three consecutive days, the two went straight back to the hotel after the recordings. In the opposite room, Sebastian sorted out the documents before reporting, ¡°For the past few days, Mrs. Hadley has been recording in a dubbing studio, returning immediately to the hotel after each session. Other than that, she didn¡¯t go anywhere else After hearing the report, Nathaniel was quite satisfied. The only thing he could not figure out was why Christina did not want to inform him when she was just there for a recording. Is it because I went on a business trip overseas without telling her? ¡°Where is she recording? Send me the address.¡± Nathaniel stood up from the couch, took his car keys, and left the room. Soon, he received the address from Sebastian. Meanwhile, Christina and Bailey¡¯s task in the studio was consideredplete after they sang the final chorus. Bailey stretched her stiff muscles before patting Henry on the shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll be heading back tomorrow. Thank you for the feasts these past few days!¡± Henry stared at her in confusion. ¡°What feast? Speaking of which, let me treat you two to a meal before you leave, okay?¡± Bailey was slightly shocked and exchanged nces with Christina. ¡°The hotel has been providing us with scrumptious meals for the past few days, saying that it was arranged by the person who booked the room. Isn¡¯t it you?¡± Christina gazed at Henry curiously. Henry shook his head. ¡°I did book the room, but I didn¡¯t know about the arrangement of any meal. You must be mistaken.¡± The two girls shrugged. But the hotel staff who brought us our meals for the past few days did say that they were free of charge. Could it be that the hotel made a mistake? They did not dwell on it too long, and Bailey¡¯s thoughts moved on to more important matters. ¡°Christina, will you join meter to cheer on Francis new drama?¡± Francis again? Christina hurriedly shook her head. ¡°No, thanks. I don¡¯t like him. Go on your own.¡± Just hearing his name now sent a chill down her spine. I wonder if he had already deleted that photo. Bailey checked the time and seemed a little anxious. The fan meeting is about to begin. Don¡¯t wait for me tonight. See you at the airport tomorrow.¡± After saying that, she left in a hurry. Christina considered it a blessing not to be dragged along to that event. She left the recording studio, after packing up her things. Despite having been in Jadeborough for several days, she had not had a good look at the city. Before leaving, she decided to visit some popr attractions to make some memories. Christina tasted all kinds of snacks and took many photos while walking through the brightly lit, bustling food streets, unaware of a pair of eyes secretly watching her amid the crowd. The figure was hiding in an obscure spot, somewhere she could not see. It was nearly ten at night before she headed back to the hotel. There were quite a lot of people at this time. Christina stood on the edge of the zebra crossing at the traffic lights, her gaze on the pedestrian signal light at the opposite end. The bright red light lit up, and a car drove past in front of her. A silhouette approached her slender figure from behind, and when no one was looking, stretched out a hand and shoved her pink bag. With that burst of brute force from behind, Christina¡¯s body was like a pebble being thrown into the air as she lost bnce and tilted toward the front. Her eyes widened, and her dark pupils dted rapidly. The passing cars in front of her were like Grim Reapersing for her. There was no possibility of her surviving if she bumped into one. It was as if the surrounding people had seen the figure lunge out as they dared not move forward even if they wished to help her. Just then, a tall and austere figure pushed his way through the crowd and shot out like a flying arrow. The man¡¯s gaze was very firm. Hence, even the most perilous ces would not Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. frighten him¡­ Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Near ident Nathaniel furrowed his brows as he reached out to hug Christina¡¯s waist tightly. As they fell, he made sure tond on his back, shielding Christina in his arms. Christina was still reeling in shock when she heard the screeching sound of the brakes in her ears. The driver btedly realized a woman had darted onto the street when he saw a man suddenly appear in front of his vehicle. He quickly turned the steering wheel to avoid hitting them. ¡°Are you nuts? If you want to fool around, do it back home!¡± the driver hollered angrily before driving away in a huff. It felt like time hade to a standstill. Both Nathaniel and Christina stared at each other silently, frozen in their tracks. They could hear each other¡¯s heartbeats distinctly. Both of them were breathing heavily. Right then, the lights turned green. People from both sides of the street started crossing the street using the zebra crossing. Nathaniel extended a hand to help Christina up, and the bustling crowd around them faded into nothingness as they locked eyes with each other. It took Christina a few seconds to regain herposure. If Nathaniel hadn¡¯t rushed out to save her, the consequences would¡¯ve been dire! I remember someone pushed me from behind. Upon recalling that fact, she whirled around to find the culprit, but the culprit was nowhere to be seen. Was it an ident or a deliberate act? Nathaniel put his arms around her shoulders in a protective manner and asked in concern, ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± Christina shook her head in response. Nathaniel had shielded her with his body, so she escaped unscathed from the near ident. Nathaniel surveyed the area but didn¡¯t see anyone suspicious. He felt his heart tightening as his grew dark. ¡°Let¡¯s talk back at the hotel.¡± They soon arrived at the hotel. Despite not telling Nathaniel her room number, Christina was surprised when he led her back to her room. ¡°How do you know my room number?¡± she asked in amazement. Nathaniel arched a brow. ¡°Is it hard for me to know your whereabouts and your room number?¡± gaze Christina shed an awkward smile. Yeah, yeah. You¡¯re the high and mighty CEO of Hadley Corporation who can find out my whereabouts with just a phone call. Before she could reply, Nathaniel unlocked the door and picked her up by the cor, bringing her into the room. Christina immediately recognized hisptop on the desk. Her eyes widened in surprise as she blurted out, ¡°You¡¯re staying in the room across from mine?¡± Without bothering to reply to her, Nathaniel reached out to hold her chin. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face drew closer, his hot breath fanning Christina¡¯s checks. He tilted his head and spoke in a deep, charming voice, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, it¡¯s time to end this game of running away from home. Go home with me tomorrow.¡± Christina pouted unhappily. Running away from home? I¡¯m here on a business trip! I¡¯ll head home once I finish work. As he had saved her life, Christina didn¡¯tsh out at him and replied casually, ¡°Got it.¡± Right then, Sebastian knocked on the door. Hearing that, Christina slipped out of his embrace and sat down on the couch. Nathaniel felt relieved as he saw her hanging her head low like a docile rabbit. He opened the door, and Sebastian walked in. Thetter was surprised to see Christina, but he gave her a nod in greeting before getting on with hist work. Both men started discussing the details of the contract on the desk. They were so engrossed that Christina couldn¡¯t find a chance to interrupt. She was nning on waiting until Nathaniel ended his discussion before telling him she was heading back to her room. However, half an hourter, both men were still deep in discussion. Christina stared at them and suddenly wondered if this was how Madison and Nathaniel spent their time with each other. Do they talk for half an hour straight without stopping? The more she pondered over the matter, the more jealous she got. Feeling tired, she ended up sprawling on the couch. As she listened to their conversation, drowsiness slowly crept over her, and she eventually drifted off into a deep slumber. The men wrapped up their conversation, and Nathaniel instructed Sebastian to arrange their trip back. home the following day. When he turned around, he noticed that Christina had drifted off to sleep on the couch. He went over to help her take off her shoes and her backpack. He then hauled her into his arms. It was easy for him to wrap his arm around her slender waist since she was so light. Sensing the warmth emanating from Nathaniel¡¯s body, Christina snuggled into his arms and continued sleeping peacefully as his familiar scent surrounded lier. She had no idea how alluring she looked right now. The lights brought out the rosy tint of her cheeks, making her look even more lovely. Her delicate pink nose and full lips gave her the appearance of a cute kitten. Nathaniel ced her gently on the bed and gently wrapped his arms around her, falling asleep in the same bed as her. Meanwhile, back at Jadeborough, Madison was sitting at the bar in her living room as she poured herself a ss of wine. Her phone rang, and she answered the call only to be told, ¡°Ms. Taggart, the mission was a failure. A man rushed out to save the youngdy.¡± Knitting her brows, Madison dered angrily, ¡°You promised to get it done when you took my money!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Someone interfered and ruined our n, so it wasn¡¯t our fault. I¡¯ll send you the photo, but we won¡¯t be refunding your money.¡± Madison ended the call, smoking in anger. What a bunch of useless fools! Shortly after, she received a photo on her phone. Intrigued, Madison opened the message, eager to discover who had interfered with her n. The photo disyed the side profile of a man cradling a young woman in his arms with a firm grip, his eyes filled with apprehension as if she were his sole concern. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze went into Madison¡¯s heart like an iron shard. She couldn¡¯t stop the feeling of jealousy from overwhelming her heart as it seemed like Nathaniel would risk his life just to protect Christina. Anger boiled inside of her, and she hurled her winess to the ground, shattering it into pieces. The red liquid spread across the floor, reflecting her current emotions. Whipping out her phone, she texted Francis furiously Hurry up. I want Christina to disappear from Nathaniel¡¯s side! She soon received his reply: All right. Give me all the information regarding Hadley Corporation¡¯s Project Spherico. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Nathaniel had put in two years of effort into Project Spherico, and Madison knew how crucial it was to him. The project was set to beunched by the end of the year if everything went ording to n. Clearly, Francis wanted the project¡¯s information to deal Nathaniel with a huge blow. Madison narrowed her eyes dangerously. She was also involved in this project, so if any problem were to ur, she knew their previous efforts would be in vain. Picking her phone up, she texted a reply: Okay. She was willing to sacrifice anything as long as she could get rid of Christina. As the first rays of dawn illuminated the sky, Christina gazed out of the ne window and saw the layers of clouds stretching out below her. Nathaniel took her to his private ne at dawn to fly back to Jadeborough. They were assigned to share a private room, while Bailey was given a separate private room to rest in. The flight attendant served them breakfast. After Christina polished her portion off, Nathaniel returned to his seat, having finished discussing work with Sebastian. He shrugged off his suit jacket, revealing his form-fitting vest and crisp white shirt that entuated his physique. She had to admit that he looked devastatingly handsome. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Airsick Christina stared at his masculine figure without saying a word as embarrassing images that made her ears turn red began popping into her mind. Usually, Nathaniel woulde out of the shower wrapped in nothing but a towel around his waist, exposing his muscr chest. Christina would avoid staring at him involuntarily whenever she saw him half-naked, but those scenes were branded in her brain. Her brain felt like an open Pandora¡¯s box, as those scenes continued to rey themselves over and over again in her mind. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you airsick?¡± Nathaniel was sitting beside her and noticed her cheeks were as red as a tomato. Airsick? Christina cowered back as her heart began racing. ¡°No.¡± Afraid she would get bored, Nathaniel took out his tablet. ¡°Do you want to hear some music or y games?¡± Christina shook her head and replied in a tiny voice. ¡°No need.¡± She hung her head low, not daring to look at him as images of his half-naked torso filled her mind. Nathaniel inched nearer to her, his dark orbs staring at her intently like she was his prey. ¡°Are you afraid? I can help you divert your attention so you won¡¯t feel scared.¡±¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was maic and charming as if it hade from an expensive sound system worth millions. They were so close to each other, and his presence was overwhelming. Christina felt the hair on her skin standing up as she rubbed her palms anxiously. Looking up, she asked, ¡°How are you going to divert my attention?¡± A devilishly handsome smile yed on Nathaniel¡¯s lips. ¡°Come nearer to me. I need to whisper in your ear.¡± Christina was utterly confused as she fixed a dubious look on him. After a brief hesitation, she came closer to him as told. By then, they would be touching each other if either of them moved. Nathaniel raised his arm and mped his hand around her head, covering her lips with his. His warm breath soon became searing hot, filling Christina¡¯s mouth. As he bit her lips, Christina felt like her heart had also been bitten as it started beating wildly. We¡¯re on the ne. Even if it¡¯s a private ne, the flight attendant, Bailey, and Sebastian are around. They might suddenly show up. If outsiders see us kissing on the ne, they will think I¡¯m a horny woman, won¡¯t they? Christina ced.her fists on his chest, intending to push him away. However, her struggles merely made Nathaniel increase his force. He mped his other arm around Christina¡¯s waist, making it impossible for her to move. Christina had to admit that he was doing a good job of diverting her attention even though she was currently feeling breathless. Her initial struggles soon faded away, and she caved in willingly. Christina¡¯s lips were swollen and stinging when he finally released her. She fell limply into his arms and rested her check on his shoulders. Outside, the blue sky and clouds shed by while they hugged each other tightly inside the ne. After disembarking from the ne, they made their way back to Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel returned to his study to deal with some work. It seemed important as he bore an icy expression. Christina returned to the master bedroom to take a shower. As she stepped out of the shower, a notification sounded on herptop, signaling an iing video call. At herptop, she was surprised to discover that it was Julia. She had been too busy these few days and forgot to send her design draft to Julia. Christina felt like her parents were checking up on her during her trip. Tensing up, she quickly unzipped her luggage and grabbed her disguise, putting it on hastily. She ced herself in front of a white background before answering the call. At once, Julia¡¯s elegant figure appeared on the screen. It was obvious she had selected her outfit carefully, but her makeup made her look especially cold. ¡°Why did it take you so long to answer my call?¡± Julia demanded, her voice tinged with displeasure. Julia was used to having others wait for her, so she appeared clearly displeased when she had to wait for a youngdy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was caught up in something else earlier, Christina exined. She didn¡¯t even have time to dry her hair, which hung limply on her back. Once she put on the mask, her voice also changed. Julia was unable toprehend Christina¡¯s response because she was ustomed to being the center of attention. She believed that Christina should prioritize her needs no matter what. Something glinted across her eyes as she demanded icily, ¡°Have youpleted the design draft?¡± Her gaze was fixed on Christina as she asked that question. The youngdy is wearing a ck mask which only shows her bright eyes and longshes. Why do the eyes look familiar to me? I can¡¯t recall who it is, though. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll send it to you now,¡± Christina replied. She hadpleted the designs during her free time. She found the file and sent it to Julia instantly. After receiving the file, Julia examined it meticulously. Her face remained aloof, and there was no hint of emotion on her features. Christina started wondering if Nathaniel had inherited this personality trait from Julia. After spending some time with Julia, Christina observed that Julia treated everyone with coldness and haughtiness. Only those who yed along with her would be treated well. Christina wasn¡¯t one of those who yed along with Julia. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. They both said nothing for a few minutes. Julia soon broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m not quite satisfied. Redraw everything.¡± She is not satisfied again? Christina had poured in her efforts to create these designs. She had never encountered such a difficult client. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, do you mind letting me know which part you¡¯re dissatisfied with?¡± Previously, she thought the style wasn¡¯t what Julia liked, so she prepared five different styles this time. She couldn¡¯t believe none of them were to Julia¡¯s liking. Christina nervously dug her nails into her palm, silently questioning her confidence in her designs. Julia took another look at the draft. ¡°I can¡¯t be specific The designs are quite outstanding, but I don¡¯t feel like wearing any of them.¡± She let out an icy snort before Christina could say anything and dered, ¡°It turns out that the legendary genius designer is nothing much. I¡¯ll give you onest chance. If your designs fail to satisfy me, we won¡¯t be coborating anymore.¡± Christina¡¯s brows twitched. Is she nitpicking on me to make things difficult for me on purpose? ¡°I want to see the designs in three days. Don¡¯t worry, even if I¡¯m not satisfied with the new designs, I¡¯ll pay half of the agreed payment for your efforts.¡± With that, Julia ended the video call calmly. Helen could sense that Julia was not in good spirits, which made her feel uneasy. She might¡¯ve worked for Julia for several years, but there were moments when she couldn¡¯t decipher Julia¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you really not going to coborate with Ada?¡± Ada¡¯s designs are quite unique. If they are made into ready-stock items, Mrs. Hadley might take a liking to them. Julia looked up, her mind preupied with Christina¡¯s bright eyes. Instead of answering the question, she asked, ¡°Do you think Ada resembles Christina?¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Never Be Bored With Me There Helen was momentarily taken aback before she answered casually with a chuckle, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Pausing briefly, she continued, ¡°I reckon Ms. Ada is also in her twenties. Don¡¯t all girls of that age have bright eyes?¡± Julia felt that it made sense, and her gaze fell on the design drafts once more. She scrutinized them time and again. In truth, she wanted to fabricate a gown out of every design though she knew that she was making things difficult for everyone. Ultimately, her goal was to choose the one to her greatest satisfaction, for she was determined to be the most outstanding guest when she attended the banquet. Puzzled, Helen asked in curiosity, ¡°I heard that Ms. Christina is also a designer. Why don¡¯t you ask her to design a gown for you?¡± She was aware that Julia did not like Christina. However, the same could not be said of Nathaniel. Since the two of them had a row over Christina¡¯s presence, their initially unharmonious rtionship. deteriorated further. When Julia abruptly heard Christina¡¯s name while studying the design drafts she found satisfactory, her face promptly went as ck as thunder. ¡°Don¡¯t mention that woman to me. She¡¯s nothing more than a country bumpkin, a piece of trash despised by the Steele family. How is she worthy of designing a gown for me? I¡¯ll never wear her design, even if there are no other designers in this world!¡± In the past, Nathaniel would still give me a call ande over to dine with me every two weeks or a month. But because I had a quarrel with Christina back then, he now ignores mepletely. This is all on her! The sudden change in her aura gave Helen a fright, and thetter¡¯s breathing caught. Whoa! It looks like Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t only dislike Ms. Christina. Instead, her aversion to thetter has reached the point of contempt! From the look of things, it isn¡¯t quite possible to ease the tension in their rtionship. Meanwhile, Christina sprawled on the bed like a starving rabbit drained of all energy after hanging up the phone. She perused the ten design drafts she had drawn over the past few days repeatedly, but she could not find a single fault with any of them. Worse still, Julia would not tell her the kind of style she liked or the aspect she found dissatisfactory. I¡¯m not a neuron in her head, so how could I possibly know what exactly she wants? When Nathaniel had finished his work, he went into the bedroom. At once, he was greeted by the sight of the orange and yellow hues of the setting sun streaming in through the window and Christina sprawled on the bednguidly. Her white pajamas outlined her slender waist, and she had her calves crossed behind her in mid-air. Her face was also puffed up in annoyance, rendering her incredibly adorable. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Walking over, he sat down beside her. Christina turned to look at him. With her limpid eyes shimmering, she whined aggrievedly, ¡°Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t like my designs. Ugh, I¡¯m at a total loss.¡± Lifting a hand, Nathaniel pinched her cheek and coaxed, ¡°Never mind her. How much did she offer you? I¡¯ll pay you double.¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank, and she felt so irate that words eluded her. The urge to clobber him over the head seized her. Argh! I don¡¯t have my eyes set on the money, okay? Instead, it¡¯s because I know she¡¯s his mother, so I really want to use this opportunity to change her perception of me. But now, I can¡¯t even design a satisfactory gown that she likes. That¡¯s the only reason for this crushing sense of defeat! ¡°Don¡¯t fret over it anymore. Come, I¡¯ll take you out for some fun.¡± Scooping her up from the bed, Nathaniel strode into the walk-in closet and picked a gown for her to change into. He gently lifted the strap on her shoulder, giving her such a scare that she shrieked like a frightened. kitten. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± ¡°How are you going out without changing?¡± Having said that solemnly, he again moved to slip her strap down recklessly. The strap was thin, so it snapped with a light tug. Christina¡¯s snow-white skin was bared to his sight, sparking his desire like a match to hay. Like a bristling kitten, Christina pushed him out. ¡°I¡¯ll change by myself. Go out and wait for me.¡± Grasping her chin, Nathaniel bit her lower lip. ¡°All right, then.¡± Verily, he was afraid he would devour her if he were to stay any longer. After leaving the dressing room, he went to the kitchen. He took several sips of ice water before he finally managed to force a leash on his scorching desire. At that precise moment, the butler, Raymond Patel, led Madison into the house. Madison was dressed to the nines. Her red strapless evening gown matched the ne on her neck perfectly, and her long hair that was pulled up entuated her shoulder des. On the whole, she appeared capable and feminine. As she sashayed over, she roamed her eyes over Nathaniel. Not only was the man¡¯s figure ster, but his countenance was also handsome beyond words, and he exuded an innate sense of elegance and arrogance. The sight had her heart skip a beat. A smile adorned her face. ¡°Are you ready to leave, Nathaniel?¡± Ah, getting to attend banquets with him each and every time is the best perk I have at work! Whenever we make an appearance together, everyone thinks that we¡¯re dating, and I¡¯m happy though it¡¯s just a misunderstanding! ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Nathaniel answered nonchntly, straightening his tie gracefully. Just when Madison was about to speak further, the sound of footsteps descending the stairs drifted into her ears. Lifting her eyes, she cast her gaze over. Christina wore a pure white form-fitting mermaid gown that showcased her slender waist to a tee. Without any makeup, she appeared a touch aloof. Her exquisite brows and zed eyes emanated elegance. Alongside her presence, the atmosphere in the air turned gentle considerably. Madison¡¯s eyes promptly dimmed, and she felt like a massive boulder was crushing her heart. ¡°You¡¯re going as well, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Having no idea where they were going, Christina tumed her gaze to Nathaniel in perplexity and waited for his exnation. Nathaniel strolled over to her and took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s a small-scale banquet. Just consider it as keeping mepany.¡± ¡°Will I hinder you from work?¡± Christina asked, blinking her limpid and alluring eyes. Madison inexorably balled her hands into fists, digging her nails into her palms and using the pain to suppress her emotions. Despite the stabbing pain within her, her expression remained calm and unruffled. ¡°Mrs. Hadley is unfamiliar with such events, so she¡¯ll be bored there. Truthfully, she did not want Christina to attend the banquet and intrude on her chance to spend time with Nathaniel alone. Looking down at Nathaniel through lowered eyes, Christina whispered, ¡°Perhaps you can keep me company when you return after work?¡± She could already imagine herself at a social event whereby she did not know anyone and was inept at socializing, looking like a statue by standing around. However, Nathaniel grabbed her hand and started toward the door. ¡°You¡¯ll never be bored with me there. But if that happens, I¡¯lle home with you.¡± Seeing that he had said as much, Christina had no choice but to relent. When she walked out with her hand on the man¡¯s arm, her gaze inadvertently lingered on Madison for a few seconds. Although thetter hid it well, she could still glimpse the sh of envy in her eyes. What exactly is their rtionship? Superior and subordinate? Friends? Or something more than that? Getting into the car, Nathaniel and Christina sat in the back while Madison sat in the passenger seat. In that instant, Madison felt that she was an outsider. In the past, I always felt that I was the woman closest to him! Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 The Gift When the car arrived at the entrance of the banquet hall, Nathaniel alighted from the vehicle and appeared in everyone¡¯s line of sight with Christina holding his arm. His features were perfect, and his tapered eyes glinted brightly. He was so handsome that he gave others a strong sense of detachment. Standing beside him, Christina had her long ck hair pinned up with a red gemstone barrette. She had a slender figure, and her skin was porcin white with a hint of pink adorning her face that was devoid of makeup. She was so beautiful that anyone beholding her wouldud her as a goddess. With their outfitsplementing each other, one ck and the other white, they looked like celebrities who stepped out of a fashion poster, so striking that no one could take their eyes off them. ¡°Who is she to Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°In the past, it was always Ms. Taggart who stood by Mr. Hadley¡¯s side that I thought they were a couple.¡± ¡°Thisdy is breathtakingly beautiful!¡± Madison followed behind the couple, going unnoticed despite her exquisite outer that day. She felt like she was the leading female who had suddenly been relegated to a supporting role. After taking a few seconds topose herself, she quickened her steps and tried her best to keep pace with Nathaniel so that she would not look left out in the eyes of outsiders. Subsequently, a few people in the industry spotted Nathaniel and enthusiastically pulled him aside to discuss business. Seizing that opportunity, Madison took out an exquisite box and handed it to Christina. ¡°It¡¯s Mrs. Chassagne¡¯s birthday tonight, Mrs. Hadley. It¡¯d be more appropriate for you to hand this gift out on behalf of Hadley Corporation.¡± Cndre Chassagne was the CEO of a multinationalpany that had many coborations with Hadley Corporation. As such, Madison would pick a gift for her each year on behalf of thepany. Christina lifted her gaze and eyed the capable woman in front of her. The scene in the study that day shed across her mind, and a sense of disquiet swamped her. Nheless, she took the box offered. ¡°Sure.¡± At that, a cryptic smile tugged at Madison¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you over to meet Mrs. Chassagne.¡± With that, the two of them went further into the banquet hall. Cndre was a Ferropenian who was almost forty years old yet maintained her looks exceedingly well. She had short blond hair and wore big pearl earrings with a pure pink suit. The trendy V-neck design rendered her intellectual and mature. Upon meeting, Madison conversed with Cndre in fluent Ferropenian. The two of them even chuckled every so often. All in all, the atmosphere was very much pleasant. Throughout it all, Christina stood at the side and listened to their conversation quietly. Her gentle and delicate appearance sparked a sense of protectiveness within others. Only after talking for some time did Madison deliberately introduce Christina to Cndre in Ferropenian. ¡°This is Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife, Ms. Christina Steele.¡± She then went silent, not bothering to interpret it into Chanacan. Instead, she waited to witness. Christina making a fool of herself with a smug look in her eyes. Cndre was not the kind of person to put on airs, so she greeted, ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Hadley. You¡¯re stunningly beautiful.¡± Her speech was somewhat rapid to the point that Madison had to focus intently to understand her. In spite of that, a calm smile remained on Christina¡¯s lips. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mrs. Chassagne. Thank you for thepliment.¡± A stream of Ferropenian with a pure ent flowed out of her mouth, her speedparable to that of Cndre¡¯s. At once, surprise flooded Cndre. In fact, she would suspect that it was from prerecorded audio if she had not seen Christina speaking with her own eyes. Meanwhile, Madison was wholly stumped. She even wondered if she had misheard, querying in Ferropenian, ¡°You know Ferropenian, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Blinking her crystalline eyes, Christina swiftly answered in Ferropenian, ¡°A little bit.¡± Following that reply, distinct fury showed in Madison¡¯s eyes. She¡¯s calling this a little bit? It was rare for Cndre to meet someone she liked greatly. With a prominent smile on her face, she enthusiastically chatted with Christina about various other subjects. Christina listened smilingly, paying close attention to the woman¡¯s subtle expressions, and waited until she had finished speaking before she replied unhurriedly. Even then, Madison could not believe her ears. The sight of Cndre and Christina conversing happily was like a dagger to her chest, the tip plunging deeper with each passing moment. Argh! I wanted to embarrass her, but never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined that she doesn¡¯t only know Ferropenian but also speaks it fluently! Sheer resentment inundated her, yet she could not do anything about it. Her gaze furtively fell on the gift box in Christina¡¯s hand, and a jumble ofplex emotions surged within her. After the two women had talked for a while, Nathaniel walked over to Christina after he had finished discussing business to meet with Cndre. A few pleasantriester, Christina took out the gift box prepared by Madison and held it out to Cndre. ¡°Happy birthday, Mrs. Chassagne!¡± It was the first time Nathaniel heard her speaking Ferropenian. The corners of his mouth turned Hmm, she¡¯s pretty fluent in it. Taking the gift box in delight, Cndre expressed her thanks before opening it. Immediately, an intense fragrance wafted out, instantly perfuming the air with a sweet aroma. As Cndre took out the perfume, the smile on her face vanished into thin air. She studied the perfume bottle, her brows creasing in displeasure. ¡°This perfume smells pretty great. On top of that, it¡¯s priceless since it¡¯s a limited edition. Regretfully, it has already been used.¡± In a sh, Christina¡¯s expression stiffened. On a closer look, it was rather obvious. After all, a brand-new perfume would only have a very faint. fragrance. Contrarily, that perfume had evidently been opened and used before hurriedly stuffed back into the box. That was the only reason for the strong smell when the box was opened earlier. That aside, the alignment of the bottle was not quite right since the logo was misaligned with the body. All those were traces of the perfume having been opened. On the whole, giving someone else a bottle of used perfume was a clear sign of disrespect. At the same time, it plunged both parties into a whirlpool of awkwardness and mortification. Without giving Christina a chance to question things. Madison quickly stepped forward and bowed at Cndre with panic written all over her face, apologizing, ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Chassagne. Mrs. Hadley definitely didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Would you please forgive her?¡± Christina¡¯s heart clenched. It was not until she saw Madison stepping out to apologize that it btedly dawned upon her that it was all a ploy by thetter. She knew full well that I wasn¡¯t the one who created this mess, yet she stepped out to put the me on me. Hah! She only wants to humiliate me before Nathaniel, no? And she even imed that it¡¯d be more appropriate for me to hand this gift out. In truth, she had long since broken the seal of the perfume bottle, merely making up an excuse to give it to me, then waiting to see me create trouble for Hadley Corporation! But no matter the reason, this perfume came from me now, so all the responsibility is naturally on me as well! Reaching out, she took the perfume back. Without any visible change of expression on her exquisite face, she stated in an even voice, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Chassagne. Actually, I prepared another gift for you. Would you mind waiting for a moment?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed. He took her hand and brought it to his back, telling her without words to let him handle the matter. Needless to say, Madison noticed that. Intense envy and hatred zed within her. This mansion is halfway up the mountain, so it isn¡¯t possible even if she wants to go and buy something new! It¡¯s most likely that she feels humiliated, thus simply making up some excuse to take off and leave us to clean this mess up! Cndre¡¯s expression was frightfully dark, but in view of the great conversation they shared earlier, she agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. After receiving the woman¡¯s assent, Christina threw Nathaniel a look before walking away. Madison surreptitiously clenched her hands as she stared at Christina¡¯s retreating back. I shall see what trick you have up your sleeve! Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Turning Things Around Time flew when one was waiting silently. In the blink of an eye, more than ten minutes went past. Cndre nced at the time. ¡°I think Mrs. Hadley must have gotten lost. Forget about the gift. Thank you for attending my birthday party, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel inclined his head a fraction. He understood that the woman was indirectly taking her leave, but Christina was not back yet. Thus, he parted his lips lightly. ¡°I believe my wife will be back very soon since she promised to go and prepare a gift for you.¡± In other words, he was asking her to wait a while longer. Madison furtively balled her fists. Why is he still adamant about believing that Christina will be back when Mrs. Chassagne is no longer taking offense to the matter? It only takes a few minutes from here to the door. Therefore, Christina can¡¯t be gone for so long. Who knows, she¡¯s aware that she created a mess and made a run for it because she was afraid and cowardly. No matter what, I¡¯m never allowing her the opportunity to make aeback! ¡°Mr. Hadley, perhaps Mrs. Hadley is feeling under the weather and left ahead of us. I¡¯ll choose a new gift and have it delivered to Mrs. Chassagne¡¯s ce tomorrow.¡± Ignoring her entirely, Nathaniel continued staring at Cndre calmly, awaiting her answer. Cndre stilled for a moment. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for another five minutes.¡± Inwardly, Madison was downright chagrined. Hmph! Even if Christinaes back, it¡¯s very likely that shell embarrass herself. That perfume I chose was a limited edition, priced at over a hundred thousand. How could a country bumpkin like her possibly have the money to buy an even more expensive gift? A few minutes passed, and the time was almost up. This time, no one would be able to convince Cndre to stay any longer. Despite the displeasure within her, she did not show on her face. ¡°This matter won¡¯t affect our coboration.¡± It was undeniable that their interactions had been exceedingly amicable throughout the years they had worked together. Furthermore, she was the kind of person who would never allow her personal feelings to affect her work. At that precise moment, a flurry of frantic footsteps split the air. The few of them promptly swung their gazes over. Christina had returned, her initially bound hair draped behind her shoulders. She had to keep her movements measured since she was wearing a gown to she could only trot. Reaching them, she held the tiny gift box in her hand out. ¡°This is my actual gift meant for you, Mrs. Chassagne.¡± Madison gaped at the gift box, shocked beyond words Where did she buy this gift? Unconvinced that Christina had the ability to conjure something out of thin air, she scoffed with a sneer on her lips, ¡°I¡¯m really curious about the gift Mrs. Hadley prepared.¡± Christina blinked at Nathaniel before replying, ¡°You¡¯ll know when you open it.¡± Cndre was likewise very much curious. She opened the box, revealing a beautifully-cut gemstone brooch within. Under the reflection of the lights, it shimmered brightly. The most noteworthy aspect of the brooch was the uniqueness of the silver needles used in securing the gemstone. Like a diamond ring, it was affixed with a few silver needles. That was the first time Cndre had seen such a distinctive brooch. ¡°I made this myself. May I put in on for you?¡± Christina offered. Never having expected her to be so skilled with her hands, Cndre nodded fervently. ¡°Of course,¡± Christina took a step forward and unfastened the brooch before pinning it to the woman¡¯s deep V- neckline. In an instant, the plunging neckline became a shallow one. It made for a slightly sexy sight yet still as elegant as ever. Cndre¡¯s lips curved into a smile, and her eyes shone as she looked at Christina. ¡°Thank you. I love it! If there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll definitely invite you to my jewelry store for a look!¡± Earlier, the seam of her gown¡¯s neckline burst. Consequently, the neckline turned a bit too low, making it easy for her to sh her assets. Since she was in public, she was too embarrassed to tug at her gown and could only leave it gaping. To her surprise, not only did Christina notice it, but she especially made a brooch for her to alleviate her predicament. Turning her gaze to Nathaniel, shemented, ¡°Your wife is truly a thoughtful and meticulous woman, Mr. Hadley. You must be blessed.¡± A tad embarrassed by the high praise, Christina blushed deeply. Conversely, Nathaniel took her hand unabashedly and lifted his chin confidently in agreement. ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± Cndre walked away with a smile, in a far greater mood than she was earlier. When Madison saw Christina resolving the crisis so effortlessly and even winning Cndre¡¯s approval in the process, her fragile heart seemingly fell from a great height and shattered into a million pieces. Christina surreptitiously breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Nathaniel. Can we go home now?¡± She had devoted all her focus to the task earlier, so she was exhausted right then. Upon hearing that, Madison hastily interjected, ¡°You can go home first if you¡¯re tired, Mrs. Hadley. A few CEOs who wanted to coborate with Mr. Hadley on new projects just now are still waiting, so he probably won¡¯t be able to leave anytime soon.¡± It¡¯d be great if she¡¯d leave quickly so that I can spend time alone with Nathaniel! Lifting his hand, Nathaniel nced at the priceless watch on his wrist before he made to leave with Christina on his arm. ¡°Stay and discuss the new coboration projects with the few CEOS, Madison. I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving me here alone, Mr. Hadley?¡± Panic deluged Madison, and her voice turned somewhat aggrieved. In normal circumstances, Christina would have undoubtedly urged Nathaniel to stay. At that very moment, however, she said nothing but waited quietly for the man to make his decision. From the instant she saw Madison wearing her nightgown in the study back then, she had been on guard against her. Perhaps it was her womanly intuition, but she sensed that thetter¡¯s feeling toward Nathaniel had far exceeded that of a subordinate toward her superior. For that reason, she felt downright uneasy to allow Nathaniel to be alone with Madison. ¡°I want to sleep, Nathaniel.¡± No longer as mature as she was a while ago, Christina appeared very much like a baby who had stayed up past her bedtime. She stuck out her crimson-colored lower lip, her voice. soft and girlish. ¡°We¡¯ll go home right now.¡± As soon as Nathaniel said that, he strode out while dragging her along. If the situation permitted, he actually wanted to carry her in his arms. A chilly gust of wind blew past. Madison watched as Nathaniel brushed past her while holding onto Christina intimately. She could seemingly feel a drop of something hot skimming across her cheek. As the car sped along the road, Christina clung to Nathaniel like azy baby ko. She was dead on her feet, and it was incrediblyfortable to use the man¡¯s chest as a pillow. ¡°When did you learn Ferropenian?¡± Nathaniel asked as he was curious. Considering the fact that there were outsiders present earlier, he had restrained himself from putting forth that question. With her eyes half-closed, Christina murmured, ¡°I especially learned it in order to attend a Ferropenian design lecturer¡¯s ss in the past.¡± There was no interpreter in the ss at that time, so she could only bite the bullet and learn Ferropenian in order to understand the lecture. Chuckling softly, Nathaniel stroked her head. I have no idea how she managed to learn a foreign language, attend sses, and even work part-time at the same time. ¡°What about the brooch, then?¡± At that, Christina giggled. ¡°That was thanks to your geinstone barrette.¡± She removed the gemstone from the barrette before setting it on a sewing needle. It was a rather time- consuming process. Fortunately, I chose handicrafts as an elective course at university! Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. When Christina thought of everything Madison did that night, she shuddered from the depths of her heart. Frustration lingered within her, but perhaps Nathaniel¡¯s chest was toofortable, for she fell asleep moments after resting against him. : Even when the car drove into Scenic Garden Manor, she remained dead to the world. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Sword With Two Edges Christina was woken up by the sensation of her gown being unzipped. She shuddered as she heard the clear sound of the zippering undone and felt the cold air on her skin. The next thing she knew, Nathaniel had smothered her car and neck with a barrage of kisses. Christina moaned a few times as Nathaniel tightened his grip around her waist and held her firmly in his arms. She drifted in and out of sleep for a bit before snoozing till morning. The sun was shining brightly into the room by the time Christina woke up again. The air was filled with a faint floral fragrance. Nathaniel pulled her closer toward his chest the moment he felt her move her head as though he was afraid of her running away. The two of them simplyy there until the sun was high up in the sky. As Nathaniel got out of bed and stood in front of the window, the sunlight shone on his body and highlighted his perfectly-sculpted muscles. He then buttoned up his white dress shirt and gently patted Christina on the waist. ¡°Wake up, sleepyhead!¡± Hmph! How dare he call me a sleepyhead when he was the one who wouldn¡¯t let go of me earlier? Christina waited until he had closed the bedroom door before climbing out of the nket. She made sure to pick an outfit with long sleeves to cover the hickeys on her shoulder. Since it was thest day of holiday, Christina decided to put all of her attention on her design. This was herst chance at gaining Julia¡¯s approval, so she needed to get it done right. Sitting by the windowsill with her legs crossed and her chin propped up by both hands, Christina¡¯s skirt gently billowed in the wind as she stared at the nk paper in front of her. After tearing off several pages of drafts, she was still clueless as to what she should draw. ¡°Why are you staring nkly into space like that? What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Nathaniel asked as he entered the room with breakfast and saw her spacing out. Christina took the tray over and sipped on the milk before replying, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about the design. drawing. The previous two were rejected, so I don¡¯t know what to draw.¡± Nathaniel took her drawing block away and said, ¡°My mom is rather introverted, so you wouldn¡¯t be able to figure her out unless you understand her.¡± Since this was the first time he had mentioned anything about his parents, Christina got interested and asked, ¡°Could you tell me more about her?¡± ¡°Sure thing, but you need to eat your breakfast first,¡± Nathaniel said while handing her the toast he had prepared. Christina shoved it into her mouth and munched on it like an adorable little chipmunk. ¡°Come on, tell mel¡± Despite having married into the Hadley family for so many years, she hardly had the chance to meet Julia. Even when the two did see each other, they would get into a fight after a brief exchange. As such, it was incredibly difficult for Christina to understand her. Nathaniel lowered his gaze and tried to recall something as he said, ¡°When I was little, my mother loved jasmines. In order to please her, my father nted a lot of them in the backyard. When I was ten, a woman my father was having an affair with showed up at our house and provoked my mother on her birthday. My father promised he would cut ties with that woman, but my mother¡¯s pride prevented her from epting his apology. Eventually, the two of them ended up living separately.¡± Given how domineering Julia was, Christina could imagine how angry she must have been back then. The fact that the woman decided to show up on Julia¡¯s birthday just showed how nasty she was. ¡°So, are you hinting at me that jasmines are an absolute taboo that should be avoided at all costs?¡± Christina asked curiously. Nathaniel shot her a nce and replied, ¡°It¡¯s a double-edged sword. The oue depends on how well you use it. Decide for yourself how you wish to proceed.¡± Christina froze for a few seconds before realizing what he meant. ¡°You¡¯re right! It was as though her thoughts had been locked up inside a dark house, and Nathaniel¡¯s words lit the ce up like the sun. With her creativity activated, Christina leaped to her feet and threw herself into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. ¡°I know what I¡¯m going to do now! Thank you so much! Nathaniel was so caught off guard that he froze up for a good few seconds. There was a hint of joy in his eyes as he caressed Christina¡¯s hair and said with a smile, ¡°Then do your best at home. I¡¯ll head over to the office now. We can have dinner together tonight.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Christina replied with a wink. Christina then went back to working on the design drawing after Nathaniel left. This time, she was confident that she could satisfy Julia with her design drawing. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel was seated in front of hisputer and rapidly typing away when someone knocked on his door and opened it. ¡°Mr. Hadley, here¡¯s the minutes of today¡¯s meeting. Please have a look at it,¡± Madison said as she entered Nathaniel¡¯s office. She looked modern, capable, intelligent, and mature in her formal attire. ¡°Okay,¡± Nathaniel mumbled without even looking at her. Instead of leaving after cing the documents down on his desk, Madison simply stood there and admired Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. His chiseled jaw and masculine facial features were enough to charm the pants off any woman he encountered. Noticing that she was still there, Nathaniel paused and looked up at her. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Having been snapped out of her dazed state, Madison let out a soft chuckle and said, ¡°Since we outperformed ourselves in the first half of the year, I was wondering if the three of us should go out and celebrate just like we used to.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression slid into a frown as he gave it some thought. Mistaking his silence for approval, Madison continued. ¡°Since we won¡¯t have to work overtime this week, how about I pick a date and book a private room in a hotel restaurant?¡± Nathaniel would always reward them whenever theypleted their tasks ahead of schedule or outperformed themselves. ¡°You and Sebastian can go ahead and submit an expense report to thepany afterward,¡± Nathaniel said calmly as he shifted his gaze back toward theputer screen. Madison clenched her fists when she heard that. ¡°You mean you¡¯re not going? But why?¡± Isn¡¯t this how we used to celebrate it, though? In order to avoid causing him any trouble, I would always be careful not to touch him. That¡¯s why he let me remain as his assistant! Nathaniel sounded a little impatient as he replied, ¡°As you already know, I¡¯m married. It¡¯s not convenient for me to head out during the weekends.] He never liked exining himself to anyone, and Madison was no exception. His tone was so cold that it felt as though the air around them had frozen up. As Madison had never seen him like this, she didn¡¯t dare say another word. Madison turned around and was about to leave when Nathaniel¡¯s icy-cold voice rang out behind her. ¡°That limited edition perfume fromst night¡­ You bought it about a year ago, so I doubt it was meant to be a gift for Mrs. Chassagne.¡± Don¡¯t take me for a fool! No one would prepare a birthday gift one year in advance, let alone gift someone a bottle of used perfume. As Madison was extremely skilled in handling social rtionships, there was no way she would make such a ridiculous mistake. Even with her back facing Nathaniel, Madison could clearly feel his prating gaze pierce through her guilty conscience. That perfume was something she came up with at thest minute to embarrass Christina. The actual present she got Cndre was a pair of limited-edition pearl earrings. However, she did not expect Nathaniel to see right through her ns. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 A Visit From Julia In just few seconds, Madison hade up with countless excuses for herself. Not wanting to arouse Nathaniel¡¯s suspicion, she then turned around and said in the most casual tone possible, ¡°I-It¡¯s not what you think, Mr. Hadley¡­¡± Nathaniel exuded an intimidating aura as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already checked the receipt. It¡¯s a pair of limited-edition pearl earrings.¡± That meant Madison had deliberately handed Christina the perfume. Madison tried her best to remain calm, but her palms were already drenched in sweat. ¡°You¡¯re right. I grabbed the wrong present by mistake and left the earrings in the car. I had wanted to exin it at the time, but I never got the chance to do so. After that, you left with Mrs. Hadley, so¡­ I¡¯m terribly sorry. That only happened because of my careless mistake.¡± Nathaniel narrowed his eyes and simply stared at her in silence. The air in his office felt as though it hadpletely frozen over at that point. After what seemed like forever, Nathaniel said, ¡°You can tender your resignation with the HR department if you make a mistake like that again.¡±, ¡°Understood, Mr. Hadley.¡± Of course, Madison knew full well what he meant by that. Her tears began to fall the moment she stepped out of Nathaniel¡¯s office. I can¡¯t believe Mr. Hadley would say something so heartless to me because of Christina! This is a clear warning. I¡¯ll have to be more careful next time! Christina got so carried away with her design drawing that she neglected her meals and rest. That was especially the case since her creativity had been activated, and each draft looked better than the one before. She would take naps at the desk whenever she got tired and continue drawing after waking up. Just like that, she spent the entire afternoon drawing and only stopped in the evening. Right as she leaned back and gave her back a stretch, someone knocked on the bedroom door. ¡°Ms. Christina? Mrs. Hadley is here and would like to see you downstairs,¡± the butler called out to her from outside the door. Christina panicked and tried to organize her design drawing, but the door was opened before she could do so. Julia exuded a domineering aura as she walked into the room with Helen following closely behind. An unpleasant feeling filled her heart the moment she saw Christina sitting at Nathaniel¡¯s desk. As Nathaniel had a serious case of mysophobia, he refused to let any woman touch his belongings, and Julia was no exception. Christina, however, had the run of the ce. ¡°Don¡¯t you know you shoulde outside and greet your elders upon their arrival? How rude of you!¡± Julia said with a disdainful snort. Having dealt with Julia several times in the past, Christina had somehow gotten used to her sharp tongue. That was especially the case since Julia was mean to everyone around her. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me that you¡¯d being over, so I didn¡¯t have time to get ready,¡± Christina protested softly. This time, her tone was much calmer. ¡°Oh? Are you implying that it¡¯s my fault, then? What else can you do except talk back to me, huh?¡± Julia snapped back at her with an authoritative look on her face. Helen couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted about being caught in the middle of the two. Because Julia disliked Christina, Helen could not say anything to defend thetter at all. Christina could only remind herself not to take Julia¡¯s words to heart. ¡°What brings you here at this hour, Mrs. Hadley? Is there something I can help you with?¡± she asked in an attempt to change the topic. Having recalled the reason she came over, Julia let out a snort and said coldly, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? I can visit Scenic Garden Manor anytime I like! Did you really think you¡¯re the woman of this house simply because Nathaniel let you stay here?¡± The corner of Christina¡¯s eyelids twitched when she heard that. Suddenly, she felt that Nathaniel was a lot more pleasant to deal with whenpared with Julia. I haven¡¯t colored the design drawing, and I didn¡¯t have time to put it away before she barged in. I need to get her out of the study before she notices it and finds out about my identity, or things are going to get really problematic!Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. With that in mind, Christina said, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. The purpose of your visit is indeed none of my business. Now, please step out of the study.¡± Julia exploded with anger the moment she heard that ¡°I want to use the study right now, so get out of here!¡± she yelled furiously while making her way toward Christina. Like a scared kitten, Christina quickly grabbed her design drawing and clutched it tightly in her arms. Because of how suspicious she looked while doing that, Julia felt provoked and got even angrier. ¡°What are you hiding from me, huh?¡± she asked while jabbing a finger at the drafts. Christina red at her and replied defiantly, ¡°It¡¯s just my design drawing! I can¡¯t let anyone see it until it gets published!¡± Julia rolled her eyes and said in a mocking tone, ¡°Oh, please! No one would want to see the work of an amateur designer like you! Just because you¡¯re able to draw some basic stuff doesn¡¯t make you a designer!¡± That statement struck a nerve and angered Christina to the core. Just moments ago, she was feeling excited about showing Julia the gown she had designed. However, hearing those mean remarks made her so mad that she felt like leaving the design drawing on the desk. Fortunately for her, she managed to calm herself down and took a few steps back to keep Julia at bay. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that there are countless people out there who love my designs! Just because you don¡¯t like them doesn¡¯t mean everyone else doesn¡¯t either! Who knows? Someday, you might just want to wear one of my designs!¡± ¡°I would never like your designs! In fact, I would tear them up without even looking at them!¡± Julia retorted coldly. Christina is nothing but a filthy gold digger! She has no ce being with Nathaniel! ¡°Fine, you can say whatever you like about my designs. If you don¡¯t like them, then I have nothing further to say to you.¡± Not wanting to waste her time and energy arguing with Julia, Christina stormed out of the study with her design drawings in hand. Julia waited until she was gone before having Helen retrieve a hidden camera from her handbag. ¡°I don¡¯t think this is a good idea, Mrs. Hadley. Mr. Hadley will get very angry if he finds out.¡± Although Helen disapproved of Julia¡¯s actions, she did as told and handed her the hidden camera anyway. ¡°He can get mad at me all he wants. I¡¯m just as mad at him for dating that gold digger!¡± Julia retorted and scanned the study for a spot to ce the camera It wasn¡¯t long before she found a perfect spot inside the potted nt on the bookshelf. Without any hesitation whatsoever, she then installed the hidden camera and looked at it from a few different angles just to make sure it wouldn¡¯t be discovered. Julia turned around and asked Helen, ¡°Well? Can you see it?¡± ¡°No, but-¡± ¡°That¡¯s all that matters,¡± Julia cut her off with a gleeful grin. If Nathaniel won¡¯t leave Christina, then I will kick her out of Scenic Garden Manor myself! The two of them then left the house after that. The butler told Nathaniel about Julia¡¯s visit the moment he entered through the front door. ¡°Did she give Christina a hard time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Ms. Christina is resting in her bedroom right now. Mrs. Hadley left after using the study for a bit,¡± replied the butler. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Hard Time A faint floral scent wafted through the air when Nathaniel pushed open the bedroom door. He was greeted by a slender figure lying on the couch. Christina looked listless. up when she heard the sound of footsteps. ¡°You¡¯re home?¡± she askedzily, looking ¡°Did my mom give you a hard time just now?¡± Nathaniel asked in concern as he approached her. Christina gave a shrug. ¡°She didn¡¯t.¡± To her, what had happened could not be considered as Julia giving her a hard time at all. After all, Julia had always talked to her with that attitude. Nathaniel took off his jacket and went to the bathroom to shower. Christina had already kept her art supplies when he came out and was lying on the bed. He slowly walked over and watched the sleeping beauty who was fast asleep lying on her side. Her long eyshes entuated her beauty despite her eyes being closed. Nathaniel lifted the nket and slid into bed before hugging her from behind. He rested his nose against her neck and breathed in the faint fragrance emanating from her as he drifted off into dreand. The next day, Christina prepared breakfast before going back to her room to color her design. After repeatedly confirming that there were zero errors, she sent the drafts to Julia. Christina stared at the screen, her heart beating rapidly as she waited. The door to the bedroom was pushed open. Nathaniel had just returned from his morning jog. The casual sportswear he donned made him look much younger. His fringe was wet from sweat, and he stared at her when he entered with his deep, dark eyes. Just then, the ringtone of an iing video call rang out from theputer. Like a student eager to return home when the bell rang, Christina quickly took out the ckced mask from her bag and put it on before answering the call. Julia¡¯s gloomy face appeared on the screen. She shot Christina a sharp gaze through the camera, looking like a mother lion ready to attack. This expression¡­ Could it be that Mrs. Hadley dislikes the jasmine flowers I designed? Within a few seconds into the call, Christina had already thought of the worst situation that could happen. ¡°Ms. Ada, inay I know what inspired you to use jasmine flowers for the design?¡± Julia asked coldly. Christina felt uneasy as she stole a nce at Nathaniel. He had his hands in his pockets and looked extremely attractive. His lips curved into an amused smile as he stared at her. ¡°Jasmine flowers.represent purity and respect. They¡¯re very suitable for a mature and mysterious woman like you.¡± Christina also exined that jasmines represented pure love. She reckoned Julia must have also had the same expectations for her rtionship with Nn Hadley in the past. Julia¡¯s eyes darkened and she went silent. Her slightly pursed lips made her seem as though she was displeased with Christina¡¯s words. Every second spent in silence felt like torture to Christina. A few minutester, Julia said, ¡°I like this series of designs inspired by jasmine flowers. Come to the Hadley residence and get my measurements so you can tailor these clothes for me.¡± Surprise shed across Christina¡¯s sparkling eyes. She did not expect that Julia would like the designs. However, in the next second, a frown reced her smile under the mask. Did Mrs. Hadley say she wants me to go to the Hadley residence to take her measurements and tailor the gowns there? ¡°My apologies, Mrs. Hadley. I can¡¯t go to the Hadley residence.¡± Through the screen, both parties could only see the upper halves of their bodies. Christina was wearing a mask, so Julia had yet to find out about her identity. However, if Christina were to appear before Julia, it would be unpredictable whether or not Julia would take off Christina¡¯s mask to expose her. There was also a possibility that Julia would recognize Christina by her figure. Suddenly, Christina¡¯s mind was filled with the harsh words that Julia had said to her the night before. I can¡¯t take the risk! Julia¡¯s slightly softened expression turned serious once more. ¡°Why? Are you going to give your design drafts to someone else toplete instead of tailoring the gowns yourself?¡± Only a handful of people would dare to reject her, and the designer named Ada was one of them. Julia would have already instructed the fashion industry to cklist Christina if she didn¡¯t have some talent. Her overbearing question made Christina feel pressured. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯llplete the designs myself, but I must work during the day. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be at the Hadley residence all day.¡± In desperation, she could only use the excuse of needing to go to work as a shield. Julia snorted. ¡°That¡¯s fine. You cane over after work. Coming every day for a month should be enough time for you to finish five evening gowns.¡± Christina did not expect Julia to be that stubborn and not allow her the slightest chance to refuse. She turned to look at Nathaniel, who stood there enjoying the show. She blinked furiously to indicate that she needed his help. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward into a smile as he nodded, indicating that she should agree to Julia¡¯s request. Julia did not give Christina any chance to reject her suggestion as she asked, ¡°Where do you leave? I¡¯ll have my driver pick you up.¡± Christina felt her head ache. I can¡¯t possibly tell her that I live in Scenic Garden Manor, can I? She bit her lip as she hesitated before replying, ¡°It¡¯s firic. Give me your address, and I¡¯ll head there tomorrow on my own, However, I do have one condition.¡± Julia furrowed her brows. How dare she try to ask for something in return? ¡°Pray tell.¡± Christina went all out. ¡°I¡¯ll be wearing my mask the entire time. You have to promise not to take it off.¡± The frown on Julia¡¯s forehead deepened. She had wanted to find a chance to look at her face, but she did not expect thetter to be wary of her. ¡°All right.¡± After the call ended, Helen, who stood at Julia¡¯s side, asked in confusion, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, don¡¯t you think the chair Ms. Ada was sitting on looks simr to the one at Mr. Hadley¡¯s Scenic Garden Manor?¡± Although the background was pure white, the chair looked familiar and was easily recognizable. Julia had also noticed it but thought such a coincidence couldn¡¯t happen. ¡°It¡¯s not as if the manufacturer only produced one of that type of high-end chair. Although Ada is a little weird, she¡¯s quite talented. That unknown designer, Christina Steele, can¡¯t bepared to her.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. She stared at the design drawings on the screen and continued, ¡°Christina won¡¯t be able to produce such beautiful design drawings even if she tries! Besides, if we really want to know who Ada is, we¡¯ll always have a chance to expose her when shees to the Hadley residence.¡± Christina shut down herputer and sighed. She felt that the camera had not covered the way Julia saw her, which made her feel very defensive about being on camerately. She rested her chin on her hands and said bitterly, ¡°This is just great. My identity is bound to be exposed.¡± Given Julia¡¯s attitude, chaos would ensue if she were to find out about Christina¡¯s identity. By then, one would be able to save her. no A faint smile appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s lips as he approached Christina and gently patted her head. ¡°You¡¯re quick-witted. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to hide your identity well. If ites to the point where you¡¯re exposed, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll help you.¡± His words brought a sense of security to Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t go back on your words¡­¡± She looked up and locked gazes with Nathaniel¡¯s shining eyes. She felt as if she had been transported to another world for a moment. Nathaniel quickly lowered his gaze and gently cupped her cheeks with both hands. He ced a kiss on her lips before saying, ¡°Go get changed. I¡¯ll send you to work.¡± Half an hourter, they arrived at Radiant Corporation. Christina waved toward the ck Maybach. The corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips tugged into a grin. He slowly wound up the window and drove away. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Did You Make A Mistake After entering the office, Christina received a message from Gina saying that she had already told Team B about her and that she could directly go to their office. Team B¡¯s office was not inferior to Team A¡¯s in terms of grandeur. For the past few years, Yosef had been managing Team B, so the results they achieved were on par with Team A¡¯s. However, since Yosef had been transferred overseas, Team B seemed to be in bad shape. It was working hours, but the employees in the office did not seem to have any intention to work. Instead, they had gathered together and were chatting among themselves. Christina had just entered the office when someone gave her a stack of documents. ¡°You must be the office¡¯s new assistant, right? Hurry and separate these documents. We¡¯ll need it for the meetingter.¡± Christina¡¯s expression turned grim as she held onto the heavy stack of documents. Are they treating me as the office¡¯s assistant? ¡°I¡¯m not-¡± op dawdling and quickly finish what I¡¯ve asked you to. Once you¡¯ve organized the documents, the pantry and make twelve cups of coffee.¡± Christina tried to exin, but the woman could not be bothered. She pushed Christina into the conference room and left. go to Staring at the documents in her hands, Christina breathed a heavy sigh and did as she was asked. She separated the documents and arranged them neatly on the table before exiting the conference room. The group of employees had not dispersed. Their gazes were locked onto the ss door of the office entrance as they continued gossiping. ¡°I heard the higher-ups are sending an employee from Team A to be our group leader.¡± ¡°Is there no one else in Radiant Corporation they can send? How could they simply arrange a designer to be our group leader?¡± ¡°I heard she got the position through connections. She¡¯s somehow rted to the big boss,¡± someone whispered. The deputy leader of the team, Caroline Zucker, was the most unsatisfied with that decision. She had thought she would be promoted to group leader after Yosef left. Now that the higher-ups had transferred someone with zero experience to take control of the team, she could not help but feel annoyed. Caroline¡¯s gaze fell onto Christina, and an indescribable feeling shed across her eyes. The woman before Caroline oddly made her feel pressured. ¡°Hey, newbie! What are you doing standing around? Have you made the coffee?¡± Christina shed a faint smile. She exuded a gentle yet intimidating aura as she said, ¡°The meeting is about to start. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s enough time for me to make you coffee.¡± A newly arrived assistant wants to sit in on the meeting? Just then, the HR department sent the news of Christina¡¯s official appointment to Team B¡¯s group chat. Everyone lowered their heads to look at their phones and felt their hearts sink when they read the announcement. They turned to look at the woman before them and gaped in disbelief as theypared her to the professional photo on their phones. She had the same high ponytail and slender figure, but she looked slightly different from the image because she was bare-faced. ¡°You¡¯re the newly appointed group leader for Team B¡± Caroline asked, shocked. 16 Christina was silent as she nodded calmly. The other employees looked as though they had taken a p to their faces, feeling their checks heating. up and reddening in embarrassment. They were displeased with the higher-ups¡¯ decision, but they did not dare to make any otherments. After all, not only had they voiced their opinions out loud, but they had also said them in front of the person in question. A new broom sweeps clean. They feared Christina would make an example to the other employees by punishing them. Caroline was red with anger as she probed further, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that you were the new group leader earlier? Why did you pretend to be our assistant?¡± ¡°I did try to tell you, but none of you bothered to listen to me.¡± The group of employees had been busy gossiping. They did not even bother to pay her any attention. Christina did not pursue the matter any longer. ¡°All right, all group leader-level employees, pleasee in for the meeting.¡± With that, she turned around and entered the conference room. A few of the employees exchanged nces before following her inside. The cold air from the air conditioning caused the unharmonious atmosphere to turn even more gloomy. Before Christina could speak, Caroline beat her to it and said, ¡°Ms. Steele, not to offend you, but you just joined the design department, so you may not be clear with how things work around here. Why don¡¯t you go to your office to review the documents before we start the meeting?¡± What right does a twenty-something-year-old woman have to take over the position of a group leader? Does she even have the capability to bear such heavy responsibility? Christina was calm as she stared at Caroline. The others could not figure her out with how calm she was. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I¡¯ve already looked through everythingst night. There¡¯s a fashion show this month, two autumn tasks we need to finalize for the second half of the year, as well as an internalpetition for the designers of Radiant Corporation.¡± Caroline felt humiliated. She had wanted to assert dominance against Christina but did not expect the Hatter toe prepared. A fashion show would be held in the middle of the month by a brand under Radiant Corporation. Every year, they would invite VIP customers to attend the show and allow them to pre-order the clothes before they were sold in stores. Many designs were only sold to people who attended the show. Hence, many rich women liked participating in that event because of the special treatment they would receive. After the morning meeting, Christina brought two assistants to Hadley Corporation¡¯s shopping mall to check the decorations at the venue. Yosef had been in charge of the designs for the show. It was also thest work he had left behind before transferring overseas. Yosef had also designed the clothes for the show. As for theyout of the venue, Yosef had left behind a draft, so Christina needed only to follow it. Christina and the two assistants busied themselves until the afternoon. The two assistants were exhausted. When they noticed it was almost time for lunch, they said, ¡°Ms. Steele, most of the arrangements are in order. The only thing left is the rehearsal.¡± ¡°No matter how hard you work, no one willpliment you. After all, this is all Mr. Gunther¡¯s blood, sweat, and tears.¡± Doesn¡¯t she understand that she will never be able to rece Mr. Gunther no matter how hard she tries? Christina was unfazed by their words. It was precisely because that fashion show was the task left behind by Yosef that she did not dare to mess it up. If the show were ruined, she would feel embarrassed to face Yosef. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. When it was time for lunch, the two assistants left Christina behind and went on their way. When she was done, lunch break was almost over. The cafeteria in thepany had long since. finished serving staff meals. Christina returned to the office and was about to order food delivery when several bodyguards dressed in fancy suits arrived and barged into the group leader¡¯s room. ¡°Those people seem to be targeting Ms. Steele.¡± ¡°Are they here to collect debt?¡± The bodyguards entered the office and ced the takeout boxes on the table. There were various kinds. of dishes, fruit, and desserts. On the boxes was a printed logo of the most famous restaurant in the city. Christina was taken aback by all the food. She stared at the order page disyed on her phone before shifting her gaze to the delicious food on the table. She could not keep her calm as she said. ¡°I didn¡¯t order any food delivery. Did you make a mistake?¡± The bodyguard at the front replied earnestly, ¡°You did not make a mistake. Mr. Hadley sent us here to deliver the food. Please enjoy your meal, Mrs. Hadley Christina was shocked. Isn¡¯t Nathaniel spending too much? How could he send bodyguards that he pays a high sry to send me food? Right then, Nathaniel video-called her, and she quickly answered it. The man¡¯s handsome face appeared on the screen. His gaze was deep and mesmerizing. ¡°Is the food to your liking? If they¡¯re not, I¡¯ll have them buy new ones for you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s maic voice rang out and echoed throughout the room. Christina¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment as she guiltily lowered the volume of her phone. ¡°They are. I¡¯ll eat now, so I¡¯m going to hang up.¡± She reached out to press the ¡°End Call¡± button, but Nathaniel stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t. Just eat your food. I¡¯ll just look at you. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Do as you like.¡± Christina was starving after busying herself the entire morning, so she started to eat the food. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 What Is There For Her To Hide Christina looked like a little squirrel emerging from hibernation when chomping on the meat. Engrossed in watching her cat, Nathaniel felt his appetite improve as well. ¡°Is it nice?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± mumbled Christina. As her mouth was stuffed with food, she could not pronounce the words. clearly and sounded like a toddler speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll continue sending them to you tomorrow.¡± Just when Christina was about to speak, someone suddenly pushed the door open. She quickly ended the call in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock?¡± She was unhappy. After all, knocking before entering is an act of basic courtesy. Caroline replied nonchntly, ¡°I forgot.¡± In reality, she had done it on purpose. What qualifications do an inexperienced designer who got transferred from Team A have to be Team B¡¯s leader? Rumors have it that she forced Yosef away to strive for the position of team leader. I will never respect someone like that. Taking in Caroline¡¯s flippant look, Christina could sense the disrespecting from her. If Caroline had genuinely forgotten, Christina would not me her for anything. However, it was obvious that she had not. She ced her fork down. ¡°Go out, knock, ande in again.¡± Caroline¡¯s eyes widened in anger as a feeling of displeasure arose within her. Yet, there was a warning. look in Christina¡¯s eyes, cautioning Caroline from angering her further. She gritted her teeth. Since her position was lower than Christina¡¯s, she had no choice but to submit. Furiously, Caroline spun around and exited the room. After knocking on the door and receiving Christina¡¯s response, she entered again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°This is my draft for the department¡¯s internalpetition. Please submit it to the superiors.¡± Caroline passed a form and a few design drafts to Christina. Radiant Corporation would host an internalpetition annually. The winner would be promoted, and Caroline believed that this was her chance. Once she came in first ce, the first thing she would do was chase Christina out. What¡¯s so impressive about this woman? Didn¡¯t she get her position by selling off her good looks? Wait and see how I¡¯ll drag you down. Christina took the drafts. ¡°Okay. You can leave now if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Despite the unpleasant look on her face, Caroline did not say anything and left. After work, Nathaniel arranged for a car to send Christina to the Hadley residence. Helen weed her. ¡°Are you Ms. Ada?¡± Christina wore a ck outfit that she had prepared beforehand and put on a ck cape that covered her entire body, which made her look like a night traveler. With a mask on her face and a voice-changing device hiding in her clothes, her look wasplete. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°This way please, Ms. Ada.¡± Not doubting her, Helen brought her in. It was Christina¡¯s second time at the Hadley residence after getting married to Nathaniel. The house was just as it was in her memories. The atmosphere was solemn. A vase of flowers and some coffee were ced on the grey marble coffee table. Julia was sipping on a cup of coffee while sitting on the couch. When she saw Ada, she scrutinized her for a few moments before averting her gaze. What¡¯s there for her to hide? We¡¯ve already guaranteed that we won¡¯t take pictures of her or expose her identity. Why is she so reluctant to reveal her face? ¡°Take a seat. Would you like some coffee?¡± asked Julia tentatively. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡± Christina could not eat or drink in front of them since she would have to take off her mask. Julia did not make things difficult for her. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a room for you to rest in. You can start work. tomorrow.¡± Although she had hired Julia as a designer, she did not intend to overwork her. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mrs. Hadley. It¡¯s still early, so I¡¯d like to measure your waist and make a record of it first.¡± Christina wanted to finish her task earlier and leave the Hadley residence as soon as possible. Although she had already done all the preparations, unexpected events might still ur. She would ratherplete her task quickly than be in constant anxiety. cing her cup down, Julia walked to the second floor elegantly without a second word. Gazing at Julia¡¯s back, Christina could not help but marvel at how elegant women could retain their air of arrogance even at an old age. They would make others nervous because of their status. ¡°This way please, Ms. Ada.¡± Helen led the way and brought her up the stairs to a guest room. The decorations inside had been cleared outpletely. The room, which was over a hundred square meters, was furnished with a sewing machine, a table, and all sorts of tools. They were all of superior quality. Christina took out a measuring tape and a notebook from her bag. ¡°Please raise your arms, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll take your measurements.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± replied Julia as she raised her arms. Christina moved closer to her. Since it was her first time being so close to Julia, she could not help but feel nervous. From a close distance, she could smell Julia¡¯s faint jasmine fragrance. Looks like Nathaniel was right. Mrs. Hadley really likes it. She pulled out the measuring tape carefully and recorded the measurements. Looking down, Julia observed the woman in front of her. She¡¯s so securely covered up. In fact, she¡¯s even wearing ck gloves over her hands. Is she ugly? Or does she have any hidden diseases? ¡°I¡¯m done taking your measurements, Mrs. Hadley. You can rest now.¡± Christina kept the measuring tape. Gazing at her, who waspletely covered in ck, Julia mumbled a curt response and walked out. Christina heaved a sigh of relief after the door was shut. After confirming the measurements, she did not stay idle either. She chose the fabric and started sketching. The most important process of making such gowns was the embellishment in thetter half. By midnight, the foundation of the outfit wasplete. Only then did Christina finally stop working. She returned to the lounge on the first floor to bathe and rest. At that moment, a ck Maybach drove through the gates of the Hadley residence. Helen was surprised and delighted upon recognizing that it was Nathaniel¡¯s car. Ever since he got into a conflict with Julia over Christina, he had not visited in a long time. Helen informed Julia about Nathaniel¡¯s arrival happily Although Julia was pleased to hear that, she felt suspicious as well. Why would Nathaniel look for me at such a time? When she walked out of the living room, she saw a lot of nutritional products ced on the coffee table. Julia walked over and sat on the couch. ¡°You could¡¯ve juste without all these gifts. I have everything here.¡± ¡°You can never have too much. Take care of your health.¡± Nathaniel cast his gaze around the house but did not spot Christina anywhere. Julia could barely believe her ears when she heard Nathaniel¡¯s words of concern. ¡°Why did youe here at such an hour? You can¡¯t be so useless that you got chased out by that woman, right?¡± Nathaniel could never understand why his mother always took issue with Christina. ¡°Christina is very gentle. She¡¯ll never do something like that.¡± Christina would always be waiting for him at home. Yet, now that she had to work overnight here, his heart ached for her. Feeling a wave of anger rushing over her, Julia chased him out in annoyance. ¡°Hmph! If you¡¯re here to show off your wife, you can go back now.¡± Nathaniel did not wish to visit either. Every time he came, his mother would always throw shade at him. ¡°I¡¯m inspecting a project nearby tomorrow, so I¡¯m staying here for the night.¡± Julia was stunned for a while. ¡°Do whatever you want. With that, she went upstairs. Helen smiled. ¡°Mr. Hadley, don¡¯t take it personally with Mrs. Hadley. She was over the moon when she heard that you wereing back. I¡¯ll prepare the room for you now.¡± ¡°Sure, Helen.¡±Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Why Did You Come The wind was whistling through the windowte at night, making it hard for Christina to have a good sleep. Suddenly, she heard a series of squeaky noises in the pitch-dark room and tensed up. Is Mrs. Hadley trying to remove my mask when I¡¯m sleeping? I bet no one else will do that. But based on my understanding of Mrs. Hadley, it¡¯s possible. After all, there¡¯s nothing she doesn¡¯t dare to do. Subsequently, Christina heard footsteps approaching as an intimidating aura enveloped the room. She shuddered and became wide awake when a warm palmnded on her slender waist. She widened her eyes in an instant and saw Nathaniel¡¯s cold yet handsome face under the faint silver lighting. He was like a monster lurking in the dark, appearing out of nowhere. ¡°Are you asleep?¡± Christina broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing that. You jolted me awake! She quickly recollected herself, got down from her bed like a nocturnal hamster, and checked if the door was locked. As soon as she confirmed the lock was secured, she heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°Why did youe here?¡± Nathaniel pinned his eyes on her startled face and thought she looked quite cute. ¡°I¡¯m just dropping by since I¡¯m heading somewhere nearby to do a re tomorrow.¡± Christina narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Even if this ce is near the site he ns to inspect, it¡¯s unlikely he wille all the way here for that one reason alone. Nathaniel proceeded to unbutton his jacket, revealing his toned chest muscles underneath the shirt. Then, he ced his hand on his belt. ¡°Why are you removing your clothes?¡± Christina covered her eyes as her face turned crimson red. ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± At that, he swept her off her feet in one swift motion andy her down on the bed, tucking her in his arms as though she was his most desirable pillow for a good night¡¯s sleep. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. He tilted his head sideways and leaned against her forehead, indulging in her body scent. He could always get an indescribable sense of peace and tranquility from Christina, and thatfort received could never be appeased by words. ¡°You can¡¯t sleep here. What if Mrs. Hadley finds out? Quick, get up!¡± Christina tried her best to break free from his tight embrace but to no avail. She could not even move a muscle. ¡°Get up earlier tomorrow morning and we¡¯ll leave together. They won¡¯t notice us.¡± Ayer of sleepiness laced Nathaniel¡¯s voice as he tried to answer her question before dozing off. Christina felt that it was too risky for him to stay. However, her hands were tied, and there was nothing she could do about the situation. Soon, the couple¡¯s consistent breathing filled the quiet room. It was azy morning when the sunbeam illuminated he room. Two figures were seen leaving the Hadley residence in the Maybach which pulled up at the entrance last night. The journey from the Hadley residence to Radiant Corporation would easily take about an hour. Christina leaned on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder and continued to catch up on her sleep on the way to her office. When they arrived at the parking lot, a long silence ensued in the car. Sebastian turned his head to remind Nathaniel, only to see thetter giving him a frosty look. Nathaniel ced his index finger in front of his thin lips, beckoning Sebastian to keep quiet. Immediately, Sebastian became vignt and swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue as if someone had activated the pause button on him. He withdrew his gaze and left the car quietly, giving the couple some personal space. Since work would not start until half an hourter, Nathaniel did not have the heart to wake Christina up so early. As a faint fragrance lingered in the air, he let her sleep on his shoulder while he whipped out his tablet to work. Christina had no idea how long she had slept. When she woke up, the first thing she noticed was the bright sky outside the window. Upon checking, she realized it was time for work. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± Christina rubbed her leary eyes. There was a tiny red mark on the right side of her face. She was so exhausted from the night before. The recent workload was too much for her to handle, so she overslept. Nathaniel put his tablet aside and gazed at hernguidly. Then he wiped off the drool stain on the corner of her lip and, as though he was coaxing a child, said, ¡°You arrived at work on the dot.¡± Her eyes sparkled when she heard that. She had forgotten how long it had been since someone allowed her to have it her way. His affection showered toward her was a treasure she never knew she needed. He was always standing in the right ce and at the right time for her. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± With that, Christina left, but she did not forget to turn and wave goodbye in the direction of the car. Right when she was entering the elevator, she bumped into a former group mate, Anna. Thetter eximed, ¡°You look very differenttely after being promoted, Christina. You¡¯re so energetic and high- spirited now.¡± Christina smiled shyly and replied, ¡°Really? I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯m just recing Yosef temporarily.¡± Radiant Corporation had very strict requirements when promoting an employee. There was a two- month probation period given to the employee to settle down in their new position. Anyone who could not meet the stipted requirements for the position would be reced at once. ¡°Caroline from ¡®Team B kept telling others some thug that she was about to be promoted as the group leader. Now that you¡¯ve snatched the position away from her, I bet she will find fault with you. All I can say is¡­ good luck!¡± The twodies got out of the elevator, one after anor Christina did not take Anna¡¯s words seriously. As soos she returned to her desk, she started working Thank goodness I don¡¯t have to spend the whole day at the adley residence. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be supervised by Mrs. Hadley twenty-four hours a day just like how the discipliny teacher used to keep a close eye on me during my schooling days. How stressful is that! Team B would be releasing a new series of designs. 1nce, Christina had to order a batch of apparel. It was quite time-consuming for her to deal with all the rivial matters such as tracking and following up with the order reference numbers. Meanwhile, at the Hadley residence, Julia received a ece of unbelievable news. Nathaniel went into Ms. Ada¡¯s roomst night! ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t see it wrongly?¡± Julia asked in incredulity. A mother will always know her son like the back of her hand. Nathaniel grew up under Julia¡¯s watch even though their rtionship in recent years was not as close as before. This child has got very good taste and high standards since he was young. Something must be going on between him and Ada if he was caught entering her room. Helen pondered for a while and blurted out something which she herself found hard to believe, ¡°Could it be that Mr. Hadley has fallen for Ada?¡± Shortly after, she dismissed her assumption. ¡°I thought Mr. Hadley has feelings for the girl at Scenic Garden Manor. Why did he change his mind all of a sudden?¡± Julia was dubious about it. She had a lot of questions in her head and became even more curious about Ada¡¯s identity. Although she was the one who had reached out to Ad in the beginning, she would not allow the other party to get close to her. Helen thought further and eximed, ¡°Perhaps Mr. Hadley has lost interest in that brat after his recovery?¡± Julia felt that Ada was too mysterious. ¡°This won¡¯t do. Let¡¯s test her out tonight.¡± She made a decision on the spot. After knocking off work, Christina saw a private car waiting for her. Nathaniel had intentionally arranged for her a female driver. Christina put up the partition in the car before changing her clothes and putting her mask on. The mask was good for covering her face, but it had one disadvantage because the airtight mask made her sweat a lot. After getting changed, she leaned back and shut her eyes to get some rest. Soon, the car pulled up at the Hadley residence. What greeted her the moment she stepped out of the car was a bucket of cold water drenching her from head to toe. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Deliberate ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Ada. The housekeeper identally spilled some water. Why don¡¯t you go and get changed?¡± The person who bumped into Christina was Helen. Se sized up Christina¡¯s ck outfit curiously. She¡¯s concealing her figure too well. I can¡¯t even see a thing. Christina shuddered. She didn¡¯t just spill the water. The housekeeper obviously intended to ssh the water at 1. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of vulnerability. Christina didn¡¯t have any spare ck clothes. Her ck coat was drenched and clinging tightly to her body. She did not expect Julia to do something like that. Having no other choice, she could only go inside the house to get changed. The ck outerwear was thoroughly wet, but fortunately, her mask was fine. If this precious item is ruined, I¡¯ll be in big trouble! A few momentster, Christina changed into a white dress. When she went downstairs, Julia found her appearance more pleasant to the eyes now that she had taken off her ck outfit. ¡°Ms. Ada, why don¡¯t youe here and take a seat?¡± Christina walked over. As a precautionary measure, she wore a ck face mask beneath her mask, revealing nothing aside from her eyes. Julia sized her up. Other than having a slender figure, she looks no different from any other girl. She put down the coffee cup in her hand and said, ¡°Ms. Ada, since I hired you as my designer, let me know where you work. I¡¯ll have the driver send you to your office tomorrow.¡± Christina tensed up. I knew it. It¡¯s not easy to fool Mrs. Hadley. Telling her where I work will expose my identity. ¡°My workce is not far from here, so there¡¯s no need to go to the trouble to do that.¡± Julia wanted to probe further, but Christina didn¡¯t give her the chance. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs to work now.¡± Christina stood up from the couch and headed upstairs. Staring at Christina¡¯s retreating figure, Julia felt an increasing sense of familiarity. Why does she remind me of that brat at Scenic Garden Manor? However, on second thought, she found that to be imusible. The items designed by this Ada are intricate. How would that brat from Scenic Garden Manor be equipped with such outstanding skills? It must be just a simrity in body shape. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I heard that talented designers can be quite unsociable. Will we upset her by doing this?¡± Helen asked concernedly. Julia also thought Helen¡¯s words made sense. I hired her here to make me dresses. So long as the job is done, it¡¯s fine. Christina didn¡¯t let out a sigh of relief until after she entered the room. This is even more thrilling than walking on a tightrope. She sat down before the sewing machine and began work diligently. At that moment, the only thing on her mind was to finish the dress as soon as possible so she could leave the Hadley residence. It wasn¡¯t untilte at night that Christina took a break She got to her feet and stretched her arms. The next day was the weekend, so she nned to workte that night. Right then, her stomach growled with hunger. It¡¯s already sote. I suppose Mrs. Hadley should be resting by now. She noticed the lights in the living room were still on when she went downstairs. She went into the kitchen and took out some ingredients from the refrigerator. Not long after, she made a te of spaghetti. When she turned around to grab some utensils, a tall figure showed up behind her, scaring her out of her wits. ¡°Nathaniel! Why are you here again?¡± Christina figured she would eventually suffer from a heart attack if she continued to be startled like that. Nathaniel had just returned from his inspection. He was worried about Christina staying alone in the Hadley residence, so he had deliberatelye over to visit. He knew his mother¡¯s personality too well. If Julia were to discover Christina¡¯s identity, she would undoubtedly be furious. ¡°What are you eating? Let me have a serving too.¡± She waved her hand at him and carried the te of spaghetti out of the kitchen. ¡°No way. We¡¯re supposed to be strangers now, so stop bothering me. Can¡¯t he make his own food? It would be best if I practice extra caution now. Nathaniel watched as Christina brought the food upstairs. She did not show the slightest inclination to entertain him. We¡¯re a normal married couple, so why are we acting like strangers? I really regret supporting her decision toe here back then. I should¡¯ve let her stay at home and keep the bed warm. Christina went upstairs and locked the door before taking off her mask to have her meal. After filling her stomach, she continued working. When she got tired, shey on the table and drifted off. Early the next morning, the knocks on the door roused her from a deep sleep, prompting her to open her eyes abruptly. She hastily put on her heavy mask before going to open the door. Then, Nathaniel entered the room. with breakfast. ¡°Why are you here again?¡± Is he worried that others wouldn¡¯t know I¡¯m Christina? Nathaniel locked the door behind him and sat her down on the chair. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be discovered, hurry up and eat.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. She couldn¡¯t argue, or rather, she couldn¡¯t resist the temptation of breakfast. She removed her mask, revealing her fair, delicate face. Her sparkling eyes were captivating as a picturesque twilight view. All of a sudden, Nathaniel gently slid his hand past Christina¡¯s car and tenderly rubbed the bridge of her nose, which had a red mark from wearing the mask for too long. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She shook her head while concentrating on eating her breakfast. Just as the ambiance inside the room turned pleasant, another series of urgent knocks sounded. This time, it was Helen standing outside the door. ¡°Ms. Ada, open up! Otherwise, we¡¯re barging in!¡± Christina almost choked on her food when she heard Helen¡¯s voice. Oh no! What should I do? If Mrs. Hadleyes in, she¡¯ll see Nathaniel and me staying inside the same room alone. By then, my identity will certainly be exposed! ¡°I¡¯m done for. This is all your fault.¡± Christina grasped Nathaniel¡¯s suit anxiously. Even tears started to brim in her eyes. ¡°I told you not to cling to me, but you wouldn¡¯t listen!¡± He pinched her face and told her to calm down. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Your husband is here to help you. sort out the situation.¡± She gazed up at him in bafflement, feeling even more unsettled when she saw his calm expression. Outside the door, Julia grimaced, looking as if she was about to explode with rage. I just heard from the housekeeper that Nathaniel had brought breakfast into Ms.da¡¯s studio. If that¡¯s really the case, then this Ada is likely to be Christina! Helen rapped on the door a few times, but there was still no response from the people inside. She took out a spare key and unlocked the door, revealing two figures leaning close together in in sight. Julia¡¯s visage wasced with hints of anger as she strode inward. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Nathaniel lifted both his hands and gazed at his mother impassively. ¡°I¡¯m having my waist measured. I asked Ms. Ada to design a suit for me to attend a dinner party. Is there a problem?¡± Julia¡¯s expression froze. She furrowed her brows and shifted her gaze onto Christina¡¯s hands. Christina was indeed holding a measuring tape, and the notebook on the table was filled with recorded measurements. The two stood so close to one another because she was doing her work. ¡°Do you really need to lock the door just to take measurements?¡± Julia asked. Christina¡¯s back was covered in a cold sweat, and even her fingertips were slightly stiff. However, from an outsider¡¯s perspective, she was merely taking Nathaniel¡¯s measurements. Her mask concealed her countenance, so only her gleaming eyes were visible. She measured the sizes required and jotted down the numbers, collecting the necessary information smoothly without facing any issues. Nathaniel lowered his hands and casually adjusted his tie. Then, he cast a cold, sidelong nce and asked, ¡°I¡¯ve never liked being disturbed by others. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re a little rude for barging in?¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Julia¡¯s face darkened drastically after she got questioned by her son. Taking Helen with her, she turned and exited the room. As the room door closed again, Christina slumped onto her seat. I can¡¯t afford to let simr situations happen again. She abruptly stood up and pushed Nathaniel toward the door. ¡°Don¡¯te in again until Iplete. the gowns.¡± Upon saying that, she shut the door without hesitation,pletely cutting each other¡¯s line of sight. And just like that, Nathaniel was chased out of the room. Perhaps I¡¯ve been worrying over nothing. Christina can probably manage. I¡¯ll just be causing more trouble for her instead if I stay. After mulling it over, he eventually left the Hadley residence. Without any interruption, Christina was making rapid progress. Within a day, she finished sewing the fabrics together. At night, she went to knock on Julia¡¯s room door. ¡°M Hadley, is it convenient for you toe our and try on the gowns now?¡± As much as the gowns were tailor-made, they might need some amendments too. Christina wanted to ensure they fit Julia well before adding the embellishments. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Helen opened the door. ¡°Please head over first. Mrs. Hadley will go over in a while.¡± Christina nodded and returned to the tailor room. Since she had the rare opportunity to take a break, she walked up to the window to view the scenery. The moonlight poured from the night sky, casting ayer of glistening glow on the jasmine flowers in the backyard. Next to the jasmine flowers were some chamomile nts. But since it was the winter season, there were no flowers. ¡°I can try on the gowns now.¡± Christina flinched in fright when she heard a sudden voice from behind her. She hastily walked over and said, ¡°These three gowns are ready. Try them on first, and let me know if any parts don¡¯t fit. I¡¯ll make the necessary changes after.¡± Julia hummed an acknowledgment and took the gowns to try on. The first gown was deep blue color, made using velvet material. It was a shade that gave off a sense of healing and, at the same time, a mysterious feeling. Julia thought it fit perfectly after wearing it, and even lelen praised, ¡°Ms. Ada, you have excellent skills. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯vee across someone who can grasp the cutting of clothing so perfectly the first time.¡± Unlike Ada¡¯s technique, many designers would usually save some excess fabric during cutting for amendments at ater stage. 1/1 Chapter 96 Who Is She +15 Bonus Christina still had confidence in herself. ¡°I¡¯ll add the embellishments next and sew on the jasmine. flowers.¡± Julia was satisfied as well. However, she did not show her emotions and merely bobbed her head. She consecutively tried on all three gowns, and there were no problems. As Christina hung the gowns that Julia had tried back onto the racks, a growling sound suddenly broke. the silence in the room. Christina looked at Helen, but thetter looked at Juli instead. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you hardly had anything for dinner. How about I ask the chef to whip up something for you?¡± Julia had been in a bad mood for the entire day after Nathaniel talked back to her that morning. She had barely eaten anything during dinner. Christina suggested, ¡°I¡¯m good at making desserts. How about I make some for you?¡± Julia nced at her. Thebination of the ck mask and white dress on Christina gave off an odd vibe, but Julia was somewhat interested in her cooking skills. She turned to leave without saying if she wanted to ca or not. Helen, however, turned back with a smile. ¡°We¡¯ll be counting on you, then, Ms. Ada. Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t like it too sweet. You can leave it after you¡¯re done making it. I¡¯ll bring it to Mrs. Hadley.¡± With that, she turned and followed Julia out of the room. The smile on Christina¡¯s face faded. Helen is literally Mrs. Hadley¡¯s confidante. She seems to be able to read her mind. After making her way downstairs, she opened the fridge in the kitchen. There were many ingredients inside, including some dried jasmine flowers. Christina made a small portion of jasmine panna cot, then made herself a te of pasta before. returning to her room. Shortly after she left, Helen took a serving of the panna cotta and brought it upstairs for Julia. It was the first time Julia had seen such a novel desser Is Ada someone I knew in the past? How did she know I like jasmine flowers? Is it deliberate, or is it mere coincidence? It was the weekend the next day. Christina sat before the sewing machine, preparing the embellishments she needed. Each gown had a unique style and design. She had chosen a unique material, whereby she would have to slowly superpose the material on the gown to form the floral petals. After working on it diligently for the entire morning, she finally made a lifelike jasmine flower. Right then. Madison, carrying all kinds of supplements, arrived downstairs. Julia was pleased to see Madison¡¯s presence. After all, she had quite a good impression of that young 2/4 12:50 Mon, May Chapter 96 Who Is She Sadly, for unknown reasons, Nathaniel loved opposing her. Nathaniel had never liked the women Julia chose for him and would always go against her. <277%8 +15 Bonus Madison passed the gifts to Helen and approached Ju with a wide smile. ¡°I¡¯m here, Mrs. Hadley. How have you been?¡± Julia instructed the housekeeper to prepare some coffee before chatting with Madison. ¡°Not much difference. I¡¯m still waiting to see when Nathaniel will chase that woman out of the house.¡± Madison was well aware that Julia disliked Christina. That was why Julia would say those words without holding back. That was precisely also why Madison felt that she still stood a chance. Mrs. Hadley is Nathaniel¡¯s mother, after all. Since she doesnt like Christina, Christina might get chased out of the house at any time. When that happens, my opportunity wille, won¡¯t it? Madison held Julia¡¯s hand and said politely. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Nathaniel will be upset if he hears that She was trying to act sweet and lovely in front of Julia so that thetter would be more epting of her in the future. As expected, that method worked wonders on Julia. It¡¯d be great if he¡¯s upset. He should hurry and chase out those who aren¡¯t supposed to stay in this family. That way, I¡¯ll be able to feel better.¡± Christina decided to go to the backyard for a short break after sitting too long. Unexpectedly, she overheard the two¡¯s conversation. She can¡¯t wait to chase me out of the family so that she¡¯ll feel better, huh? Christinaughed bitterly to herself. Mrs. Hadley sure holds a strong prejudice toward me. Madison turned to look in the direction of where the footsteps sounded from, and at first nce, she was shocked by the woman¡¯s strange style. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, who is she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the designer I hired. There are two important dinner banquets next month,¡± Julia responded. tly. Madison thought that woman¡¯s figure resembled Christina¡¯s. The gentle and delicate aura she emanated wasced with a tinge of distant vibe, and her thin shoulders made others feel like protecting her. Madison hated that kind of woman the most as she presumed they would use their weakness to gain men¡¯s sympathy. Naturally, she did not like the woman before her eyes at that instant. Christina merely gave Julia a light nod and walked out right after. In the backyard, a light jasmine floral scent permeated the air as the cool breeze blew. It was refreshing and soothing to the soul. Suddenly, an idea bloomed in Christina¡¯s head. She picked some withered jasmine flowers, intending to bring them back. Most of the jasmine flowers were well cared for, and of course, she could not bear to pluck the healthy ones. Instead, she picked up the ones scattered on the ground and had quite a good yield after circling the yard once. ¡°The nerve of you to pluck Mrs. Hadley¡¯s jasmine flowers. Any idea how much effort she puts into caring for these flowers every month?¡± Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 I Can Afford It +15 Bonus Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Madison spotted someone in the distance plucking flowers, and she immediately recognized that it was the stretch of jasmine flowers that Julia valued the most at the Hadley residence. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s bold enough to pluck the jasmine flowers Helen told me that this designer can design pretty clothes and is good at preparing desserts to please Mrs. Hadley. Is she trying to tter Mrs. Hadley to win Nathaniel¡¯s heart? Madison strode over and dered, ¡°Do you know each and every petal here is more important than you are? Who gave you the guts to pluck the flowers?¡± Under the mask, Christina¡¯s face had turned dark. So, Madison has been putting up a facade of being gracious in front of Nathaniel all this time? It¡¯s revolting how she jumped to conclusions and rudely questioned me without even bothering to find out what I was really doing! ¡°I¡¯m not plucking the flowers,¡± she replied. With the help of the voice changer, her current voice was different from her usual one. Madison went breathless with anger. ¡°Do you think you own the whole ce after staying here for a couple of days? I saw you plucking flowers with my own eyes! You really need me to teach you a lesson so you know your ce, huh?¡± She raised her hand angrily, intending to p Christina. I¡¯m going to p her and remove her pretentious-looking mask. It¡¯s annoying to see her acting all mysterious by wearing that mask! Seeing Madison lifting her arm, Christina tensed up as she felt a chill go down her back. I can¡¯t let Madison remove my mask. I¡¯ll be doomed if she does that. At the same time, Christina lifted her arm and hastily grabbed Madison¡¯s wrist, effectively stopping the An icy glint shed across her eyes. ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t push your luck!¡± she warned. Madison had no idea that the skinny-looking woman would be this strong. She took a sharp breath, noticing how the woman¡¯s eyes seemed to pierce through her even though. she couldn¡¯t see thetter¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Helen¡¯s voice interrupted the tension in the air that was formed by the two women locking gazes with each other. Madison trembled slightly and immediately gave Christina a push. She then copsed to the ground, seemingly having lost her bnce. Her eyes were red as sheined, ¡°Ms. Ada, these flowers are Mrs. Hadley¡¯s favorite. Why did you push me when all I did was tell you not to pluck these flowers?¡± Christina scowled. I pushed her? She was the one who pretended to fall to the ground! How dare she me me for pushing her? Right then. Julia came over to join them and gave Helen a pointed look. 12:50 Mon, May Chapter 971 Can Afford It At once. Helen hurried over to help Madison to her feet. Madison sniffled gently and exined weakly, ¡°Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯m fine, but your flowers¡­¡± +15 Bonus Julia arched a brow and directed an imposing look toward Christina. Clearly, she was waiting for an exnation. Christina met her gaze calmly and spread her palin open to reveal some withered jasmine flowers. It was clear what had transpired. Helen broke the silence. ¡°It¡¯s obvious the flowers are withered, so Ms. Ada didn¡¯t pluck them.¡± Christina nodded and exined. ¡°The flowers may have withered, but their fragrance is still intact. I thought it would be a shame to let them go to waste, so I wanted to gather a few to bring back with me.¡± Madison¡¯s face paled when she caught sight of the withered flowers in Christina¡¯s palm. She was just picking withered flowers? Why didn¡¯t she says earlier? What a scheming woman! I can¡¯t believe she made me look like the bad person here! Julia gave her a look. ¡°Ms. Ada, do you like these withered flowers? If that¡¯s the case. I¡¯ll ask the housekeeper to pick up some and deliver them to your room every day.¡± Withered flowers aren¡¯t worth anything. Let¡¯s see what she¡¯s up to. Christina didn¡¯t reject her offer. ¡°Sure! Thank you, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll head upstairs for now.¡± Madison stared at her retreating figure and fell into deep thought. She might be wearing a mask to hide her features, but her figure bears an uncanny resemnce to Christina¡­ Snapping out of her reverie, she blew on her scraped palms instinctively. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t make sure what happened first before using her.¡± ¡°Forget it. You were just concerned about my flowers. Come on, let¡¯s head in.¡± With that, the three of them headed back to the house. Upstairs, Christina soaked the flowers she picked in warm water before cing white thread into the liquid. After that, she screwed the cap shut and hid it in a corner like it was a valuable treasure. She was nning to soak the thread for a few days to infuse it with the jasmine fragrance before. drying it. The resulting thread would be highly aromatic. Christina¡¯s mood soured when she heard voicesing from downstairs as she was reminded of how Madison had treated her earlier. If I stay in my room, Madison will have no chance to make things difficult for me. Christina remained in her room until night fell. The housekeeper usually brought her dinner to her room, but it seemed like tonight was an exception as no one had knocked on her door yet. Chapter 97 I Can Afford It +15 Bonus The door was suddenly pushed open. Instead of the housekeeper, it was Madison who was delivering her dinner today. After striding into her room, Madison ced the food tray aside carelessly. ¡°Ms. Ada, your dinner is. here.¡± ¡°Thanks for delivering my dinner. You may leave now¡± Christina replied. She had put her guard up against Madison after their encounter earlier in the day. Madison had always presented herself as a refined and magnanimous woman, even in front of Christina, while pretending to be an intellectual office worker. Witnessing Madison¡¯s true character was a shocking revtion for Christina. Madison didn¡¯t seem to have heard her words as she walked into the room to gaze at the three gowns. She wasn¡¯t a design major, but as she examined the iplete gowns, their style and cut told her that they were on par with bespoke gowns from high-end brands. It¡¯s surprising that this woman is this talented. Christina marched over to block her view. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but these gowns are not yetplete and not avable for viewing.¡± An ugly scowl crept up Madison¡¯s face. So what if she¡¯s good at designing clothes? What¡¯s there to be proud of? She let out an icy snort and stared intently at Christina¡¯s eyes, hoping to pierce through the mask and confirm if it was really Christina underneath. ¡°Ms. Ada, I¡¯m pleasantly surprised at how talented you are. Why don¡¯t you design a gown for me? I can afford to pay any amount you demand,¡± she dered. Christina narrowed her eyes at how preposterous Madison sounded. So what if you¡¯re rich? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my schedule for the next six months is full,¡± she snapped. How dare she reject me? Madison¡¯s scowl deepened. ¡°You¡¯re using a voice changer, aren¡¯t you? What is your goal foring to Mrs. Hadley while acting all mysterious?¡± She reached out, intending to remove Christina¡¯s mask. Christina immediately stepped back out of her reach and replied icily, ¡°Ms. Taggart, please stop doing this. Mrs. Hadley invited me here, so I¡¯m considered her guest. If you insist on crossing my bottom line, don¡¯t me me for taking action.¡± Seeing her response, Madison grew increasingly sure that the woman before her was hiding. something. However, they were currently in the Hady residence, and she had already humiliated herself in front of Julia this noon. After a brief hesitation, she gave Christina a frosty look before turning to leave the room. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Wake Up Darling +15 Bonus Christina could finally heave a sigh of relief when the floor clicked shut behind her. Madison is insistent on making things difficult for me. How annoying. She whipped her phone out to call Nathaniel. The call was answered after a few rings. ¡°Do you miss me?¡± His charming voice rang out from the other end. ¡°Of course I do. Can youe over?¡± she asked coyly Nathaniel¡¯s mood was lifted when he heard her soft voice. ¡°I have nowhere to sleep if I arrive there this late at night.¡± Christina was speechless. ¡°There are dozens of rooms in the Hadley residence. Why can¡¯t you find a ce to sleep?¡± He could even change rooms every hour, and there would still be rooms left. untouched. A half-smile nudged Nathaniel¡¯s lips as he stood up from his chair, gesturing for Sebastian to prepare his car. However, he didn¡¯t y along with Christina and responded, ¡°I can¡¯t fall asleep in other rooms.¡± Christina sounded like she was about to burst out in fury. Biting her lip, she tamped down her anger as she needed his help. ¡°Can you share a room with me? But you¡¯ll have to leave early in the morning.¡± ¡°Since you want that, I¡¯lle over to keep youpany now,¡± Nathaniel told her. He was already. walking into the elevator as he said that. Christina¡¯s goal was something else entirely. ¡°Beforeing here, you need to help me out with something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t make things difficult for her. Christina talked to him briefly before ending the call. Meanwhile, Madison had been ingratiating herself to Julia in the living room, and it seemed to be working as Julia was looking pleased. Her phone rang at the wrong time, but she answered it nheless. ¡°Mr. Hadley has an urgent document that he needs tomorrow morning. Can youe back and work overtime now?¡± Sebastian asked. Nathaniel was always Madison¡¯s priority, so she agreed readily. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll head back now. Send the details to my email.¡± After the call ended, Madison shot the design studio upstairs a resentful look before she bade goodbye to Julia. Not long after Madison left, a ck Maybach drove into the residence. Helen considered the odds of Nathaniel showing up twice within three days to be lower than winning the lottery. 77% +15 Bonus Chapter 98 Wake Up Darling She went out to wee him. ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you Back for the night or just here to inspect a nearby project? Nathaniel¡¯s expression remained unfazed as he let out a soft grunt in acknowledgment. He was usually indifferent, so the housekeeper was used to it. Julia exchanged a look with him before parting her lips to say, ¡°Rest early.¡± Nathaniel gave another grunt in affirmation but looked calmer than before. He knew his mother would suspect him as he kept showing up at home.. That was why he stayed in the living room, reading documents on his tablet untilte at night. He then. instructed the kitchen to prepare supper for him. The chef left for the day after finishing preparing Nathaniel¡¯s supper, leaving the Hadley residence shrouded in ate-night silence, filled with an air of mystery. Finally, Nathaniel felt sleepy and ced his tablet down. Instead of heading upstairs, he went to the room allocated to ¡°Ms. Ada.¡± Shortly after, a slender figure made her way into the room. Christina entered the room quietly and furtively as if she were a thief. She quickly drew the curtains shut and locked the door before finally removing her mask. Her cheeks were flushed as she winked at him cheekily. ¡°I¡¯m d that you managed to make her leave.¡± Otherwise, Madison would still be here, trying to nitpick on her. Nathaniel¡¯s chest puffed up proudly. ¡°I¡¯ve brought supper. Come, let¡¯s eat.¡± They huddled together side by side. Christina was starving as she didn¡¯t eat dinner after Madison showed up. The chef had prepared a bowl of beef noodles. It was generous portion but could only feed one. A few bitester, the bowl of noodles was devoured by them both. Nathaniel had picked up thest slice of beef when he noticed that she was staring at him greedily. ¡°Are you starving?¡± Christina bobbed her head vigorously. ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± Nathaniel mped a hand behind her head and pulled her closer to him to feed her the slice of beef. ¡°Yummy!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes lit up in delight as she bearned with happiness, like a sunflower basking in the nourishing sunlight. ¡°Now that you¡¯re full, it¡¯s time for bed.¡± With that, Nathaniel scooped Christina off her feet and ced her on the bed. ¡°We¡¯ve just finished the noodles. Shouldn¡¯t we take a break?¡± Christina whined. 12:50 Mon, Chapter 98 Wake Up Darling +15 Bonus ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± came Nathaniel¡¯s reply. He buried his face into her nape and took a deep sniff of her alluring scent. He believed that a conducive atmosphere would aid him in sleeping. Christina stared ahead as her heart leaped to her throat. She was afraid the door would open anytime, and someone would catch them in the act. ¡°Wake up early tomorrow so Mrs. Hadley won¡¯t find out that you¡¯re here,¡± she reminded him. worriedly. Nathaniel was about to fall asleep, but her abrupt reminder woke him up. He opened his falling onto her plump and pink lips. eyes, his gaze Suddenly, he reached out to brush her fringe aside before inching closer to her. His gaze was as captivating as ever as he rasped out, ¡°Okay.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Parting his lips, he brushed them across Christina¡¯s casually, causing a zing to travel across their bodies. Christina felt her hair standing on its ends as though she had been electrified. When Nathaniel¡¯s breath. entered her lungs, she let her guard down and rxed, A long whileter, she gradually fell into a deep slumber. Perhaps she was too tired, or the kiss had gone on for too long. The following day, it was still dawn when the rm rang. Christina rubbed her eyes and woke up to find Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face next to hers. His prominent nose cast a shadow on his cheekbones, and his lips were slightly parted. The cor of his shirt was slightly open, revealing his sexy corbones. Even when he was asleep, he looked especially charming and elegant. Christina couldn¡¯t help but gape at him. When the rm rang for the second time, she snapped out of her reverie and shook his shoulders. ¡°Wake up. It¡¯s time for you to leave.¡± Nathaniel was sleeping soundly, so his expression turned grim as he was rudely awakened. His displeasure was evident, giving the impression that a thunderstorm was imminent. Christina was aware of Nathaniel¡¯s morning grumpiness, but it was already eight o¡¯clock. The housekeeper had already started her work, so if Nathaniel stayed in her room any longer, they would likely be caught soon. After staring ahead nkly for a few seconds, Nathaniel closed his eyes and went back to sleep. Christina felt both exasperated and helpless. Look at the time! I can¡¯t believe he can go back to sleep. He promised me to leave early in the morningst night, didn¡¯t he? I knew he was lying! Hmph! Without warning, someone knocked on the door. Upon hearing that, Christina nearly leaped onto the ceiling to conceal herself. Taking a deep breath, she whispered in his ear coyly, ¡°Darling, can you please wake up now?¡± Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Hide In The Bathroom Her sweet and charming voice sounded like music to Nathaniel¡¯s cars, and he could feel his grumpiness fading away. +15 Bonus Seeing his reaction, Christina came closer to kiss his cheek. ¡°Someone is knocking on the door. You don¡¯t want my efforts to go to waste, do you?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression was icy as he gazed at the anxius Christina without a word. ¡°Hide in the bathroom. As long as no one discovers you here, you can still sleep with me tonight. Does that sound good?¡± she asked hastily. Without waiting for a reply, Christina reached out and pulled him up from the bed. As she had promised he coulde over tonight, Nathaniel yed along with her and went into the bathroom as told. After the bathroom door shut behind him, Christina went to open the door of her room. ¡°Ms. Ada, I¡¯m here to deliver your breakfast.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina mistook the knock on her door for Julia¡¯s, but it turned out to be the housekeeper delivering her breakfast. Once she had taken the tray, the housekeeper left, oblivious to the fact that Nathaniel was hiding in the room. After Christina closed the door, Nathaniel emerged from hiding and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His bodynguage made it obvious that he was unhappy with what Christina had asked him to 1. He couldn¡¯t understand why he had to hide in his own house. As Nathaniel came closer to Christina, thetter retreated step by step. In the end, she was forced to a corner. Cowering back, she offered him the bowl of noodles she was holding. ¡°I understand if you¡¯re upset. Sorry about that. Let me make it up to you with breakfast.¡± Nathaniel nced at the bowl of steaming noodles. She¡¯s good at using something prepared by someone else to make it up to me, huh? His lips curled as the iciness in his gaze faded away. ¡°ve supper with me tonight to make it up to me.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question but an order. Christina¡¯s heart, which had been racing, finally calmed down. ¡°Deal. Stop being mad at me, okay?¡± She was aware that if news of Nathaniel hiding in the bathroom was to leak out, it could tarnish his reputation as CEO of Hadley Corporation. Nathaniel pulled her closer to him. As a result, Christina¡¯s forehead pressed against his lips ¡°willingly.¡± After that, Nathaniel spun on his heels and left the room. 12:50 Mon, May Chapter 99 Hide In The Bathroom +15 Bonus Christina left the Hadley residence after she had her breakfast. To speed up her progress, she brought the jasmine flowers that she nned to incorporate into her designs back to her office to work overtime. She nned to cut out the flower petals one by one using fiber optics before sewing them onto the outfit to achieve a 3D effect. Christina spent an entire day perfecting the prototype, as the process was long and arduous. She also had to deal with some documents and submit some files for evaluation. Christina was upied with her tasks until it was time to get off work. Nathaniel told Sebastian to pick her up from work. When she arrived at the CEO¡¯s office, Nathaniel was still working. Christina settled on the couch. silently to continue on her jasmine design. ¡°Come here.¡± Halting in her tracks, Christina turned around to head toward him. She then stood in front of his desk like a subordinate waiting for his order. Nathaniel spared her a nce and gestured at the empty space beside him. ¡°Sit here.¡± Christina doubted her ears, but she still walked around his desk to see a stool beside his chair. ¡°You want me to sit here?¡± she asked incredulously. Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and gestured for her to sit down. His office is huge, but he won¡¯t let me sit on the couch or char. Instead, he wants me to sit on a tiny stool. Is he bullying me? Ugh, forget it. I made a mistake this morning and promised to make it up to him. Christina¡¯s cheeks puffed up as she sat down on the sol reluctantly. Pleased, Nathaniel ruffled her hair as though she was his adored pet. His once empty heart was now full. Nathaniel instructed Sebastian to get them some supper before going back to work. Time slowly ticked past, and none of them spoke a word. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was Madison who entered his office. Every time Nathaniel worked overtime, she would also find an excuse to work overtime so she¡¯d get to spend more time with him. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you have a gathering scheduled with the directors of Jointer Enterprise tomorrow afternoon to discuss the details of our coboration for the second half of the year,¡± she reported. Her eyes moved over Nathaniel¡¯s chiseled features, from his strong and angr eyebrows to his well- defined nose and full, alluring lips. There wasn¡¯t a woman alive who could resist his captivating aura. Nathaniel merely grunted in response. Chapter 99 Hide In The Bathroom 77% +15 Bonus Instead of leaving right away, Madison gazed at him for a moment before asking hesitantly, ¡°Am I going to attend the gathering with you?¡± Nathaniel looked up from his document and spared her a frosty look. ¡°If you are not free, I can ask Sebastian to keep mepany.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± Madison responded hastily. Realizing she had overreacted, she lowered her voice and added. ¡°I was worried you¡¯d bring Christina along.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression grew increasingly cold. Christina, who had been diligently working by Nathaniel¡¯s feet like a kitten, raised her head from her repetitive task. She heard Madison talking about her, loud and clear The office desk was huge, so Madison couldn¡¯t see Christina crouched beside Nathaniel¡¯s desk from the spot she was standing. Oblivious to her presence, Madison continued, ¡°She didn¡¯t study business andcks experience in socializing with people. I¡¯m concerned that her presence might affect our conversation.¡± As she was considering the bigger picture, it didn¡¯t sound like she was prejudiced toward Christina. After Christina attended the party with Nathaniel previously, many people knew they were a couple. That very realization made Madison extremely ufortable as she didn¡¯t want to destroy what was left of her fantasy. Something glinted across Christina¡¯s eyes. Back at the Hadley residence, Madison had already tried to make things difficult for her, and now she was trying to belittle her in front of Nathaniel. Why have I never realized how scheming Madison is? Nathaniel rested his cheeks on his folded palms as the light above him cast a halo on top of his head. His gaze grew increasingly cold as he listened to Madison¡¯s words. A whileter, he broke the silence. ¡°She is no less capable than you.¡± He had easily dismissed her criticism for Christina with just a curt reply. Madison blinked rapidly at his response. After all, she knew she was an exceptional secretary, and it would be challenging to find someone as capable as her in all of Jadeborough. Having graduated from a prestigious university with master¡¯s degree ahead of time, she had also be proficient in many foreignnguages. As a result, many CEOs ofrge corporations had attempted to recruit her. How could hepare me to Christina, who doesn¡¯t even know any etiquette? Deep down, Madison seethed with anger, her fingers trembling with fury. Despite her irritation, she knew better than to show any negative emotion in front of Nathaniel. Tamping down her frustration, she suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you bring Christina along to the gathering so I can see how capable she is? I¡¯d like to learn from her.¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Is There A Problem +15 Bonus Madison did not believe Christina was capable of any hing. Nathaniel must have spoken that without much thought. Yet, secondster, Nathaniel agreed. ¡°All right. Make sure you learn a thing or two from her then.¡± Madison pondered whether Nathaniel¡¯sment was meant as a joke. Christina, whoes from a nouveau-rich family, might be a university graduate, but she¡¯s just an unaplished designer. She may have knowledge about sewing and tailoring, but I doubt she knows anything about red wines and their production years. Yet, he still wants her to be there? Even if Nathaniel protective of her, he shouldn¡¯t risk turning an important lunch into a circus! A few secondster, sheposed herself. With an idea forming in mind, she clenched her teeth and shed a smirk. ¡°Certainly, I will.¡± Madison left after that. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. As soon as she heard the door closing, Christina emerged like a startled rabbit, staring incredulously as she asked, ¡°You don¡¯t intend to take me to that lunch, do you?¡± ¡°Any problem with that?¡± A cold glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. Christina was on the verge of tears when she gazed into his steady eyes. Of course, there is! A big problem! How on earth did he find the confidence to say that to Madison? Even the smallest mistake in an event like that could make me aughingstock! Christina wanted to refute, but after meeting his piercing gaze, she swallowed the words that had formed in her throat. ¡°All right. As long as you don¡¯t think there¡¯s a problem, it¡¯s fine with me,¡± she responded. What else can I say? A few momentster, Sebastian came in, bringing some snacks for supper and arranging them on the coffee table. As Christina caught a whiff of the aroma, she eagerly began eating the snacks, much like a hungry. squirrel foraging for a meal. Nathaniel walked over and saw her stuffing her cheeks full as if she was worried someone might snatch her food away. ¡°Just stick close to me throughout the heal.¡± At that point, Christina was no longer thinking about the business lunch. ¡°So when you said I was capable, were you actually referring to yourself being capable?¡± she casually remarked while taking a bite of themb shank. Did he not say my capabilities were on par with Madison¡¯s? So he was only saying that because he knew I could count on him? ¡°Isn¡¯t that true?¡± Nathaniel sliced the steak into parts and stuffed a piece into her mouth. With her mouth full of food, Christina could only not in response, unable to speak. I¡¯ve never met someone who would go to such lengths to praise himself. Christina, being the only one indulging in the supper, tending to his beloved pet, continuously fed her and consumed most of the food. Nathaniel, as if served as she cleared her te. Chapter 100 Is There A Problem He was surprised by the hearty appetite of someone with such a petite body. +15 Bonus ¡°Go to the bar counter and get yourself a drink. I need to take care of something, but I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Nathaniel instructed as he stood up and returned to his seat, his gaze fixed on the screen. Indeed, Christina felt thirsty. Sebastian had prepared a delicious spread of food, but there was no drink. to quench her thirst. She walked to the bar counter and stared at all the wine bottles, uncertain which one contained drinking water. Upon spotting the Anndurn word ¡°fruit¡± on one of the bottles, she assumed it must be fruit juice. and decided to give it a try. As she unscrewed the cap, a delightful aroma of blueberries greeted her senses. She poured herself a full ss of the beverage and began drinking. Why does it taste so peculiar? It has a slightly fermented vor. Could it be expired? Christina took another sip of the blueberry beverage, which stained her lips, but the sweet, fermented taste continued to confuse her. Afterpleting his work, Nathaniel took a sidelong nce at the room but did not see her around. As he approached the bar counter, he noticed a small figure sitting in a corner, holding a small bottle in her hand. Walking over, he crouched down slightly and nced at the Anndurn words on the bottle. ¡°Why did you drink wine? Didn¡¯t you say you were thirsty and wanted water?¡± Christina knitted her brows slightly, struggling to hear Nathaniel¡¯s words clearly. Feeling a wave of dizziness after drinking the beverage, she muttered, Your fruit juice must have expired¡­ It tastes. absolutely awful¡­¡± When Nathaniel was about to exin to her that she had drunk wine, he felt a weight on his shoulder. He looked over and saw that Christina had passed out her head resting on his shoulder. Christina¡¯s warm breath caressed his neck, evoking a tingling sensation that coursed through his body, causing his nerves to tighten with anticipation. A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he lifted her gently into his arms. He then left the office and took the elevator to get to the parking lot. As Madison continued to sort through documents in the oflice, her attention was momentarily diverted when she looked up and noticed Nathaniel cirrying Christina in his arms, walking out of his office. A frown creased her forehead. How did Christina end in his office? Madison¡¯s gaze then fell on the white jasmine flowers hanging from Christina¡¯s bag. The unique floral pattern caught her attention, and in an instant, she recognized it as the same design made by Ada, the designer from the Hadley residence! Is that a pure coiidence? How is that possible? If Christina is indeed Ada, then it makes sense why she always covers her face with a mask. Nathaniel got into the car and ordered, ¡°Scenic Garden Manor.¡± 12:50 Mon, Maj Chapter 100 Is There A Problem The driver hummed in acknowledgment and started the engine. +15 Bonus Nathaniel held Christina in his arms as the night grew dark. The intery of light and shadow shed by the window, illuminating the face of the woman in his embrace. Herplexion was as luminous as a pearl, and her long eyshes delicately rested on her lower eyelids, giving her a doll-like demeanor that tugged at one¡¯s heart. The subtle aroma of alcohol intertwined with the natural fragrance emanating from her body, creating a captivating blend that surpassed the allure of any wine. Nathaniel held her close, his eyes closing as he sought rest. Theforting softness in his arms proved irresistible, and he unknowingly drifted off to sleep. While half-asleep, he remembered the overseas business trip he had taken with Sebastian and Madison many years ago. They were in a coastal country, which, although notrge in size, was highly industrialized. The business negotiation went smoothly, and after dinner, Nathaniel had some wine. When he returned to the hotel, he started feeling unwell. His body felt like an ignited torch, with every drop of blood and every cell boiling within him. When Madison tried to show concern for him, he forcefully pushed her away and spent the whole night lying in a bathtub filled with iced water. Since that day, he developed an allergic response to women. His body would turn red whenever he was in physical contact with women. In more severe cases, he would experience breathing difficulties that could endanger his life. Whenever his body came into contact with women, he would relive the torment of that night repeatedly, as if trapped in an endless cycle of suffering. Half an hourter, the car stopped. The driver turned around to look at him, only to be met with Nathaniel¡¯s icy expression that froze the air, creating a palpable tension in the atmosphere. Nathaniel opened his eyes, feeling cold sweat bead on the sides of his cheeks. He held Christina securely in his arms as he carried her out of the car. Returning to the room, he gently ced her on the bed and embraced her tightly once again. Despite the ample space on the bed, they upied only a small corner of it. The room fell into an unusual silence, and only the woman¡¯s warmth had the power to quell the tempestuous turmoil in his heart. Nathaniel hugged the petite body even more tightly, hoping to merge their beings into a harmonious whole. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 I Need To Get Up +15 Bonus A gentle cool breeze blew through the window into the room but was quickly mitigated by the warmth inside. Christina was startled by the movement behind her and woke up. When she opened her eyes, she realized Nathaniel was hugging her tightly. It seemed his grip was more aggressive today. She rubbed her eyes and gently pushed him away. ¡°Nathaniel, I need to get up.¡± Christina¡¯s gentle voice woke Nathaniel. He opened his eyes, revealing a hint ofnguidness. He was in a good mood after having a well-rested sleepst night. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the Hadley residence. I¡¯m sure Mrs. Hadley wasn¡¯t pleased when I didn¡¯t returnst night.¡± Christina rolled off the bed and did a stretch. Her thin dress clung tightly to her body, revealing her slender and sexy figure as she raised her arms. Nathaniel kept his gaze fixed on her until she entered the bathroom. Shortly after, Christina came out of the bathroom, decked in ck. She hurriedly headed downstairs and grabbed a few pieces of bread before leaving in a car. Christina was long gone by the time Nathaniel changed his clothes and headed downstairs. Without any hesitation, Nathaniel got in a car and asked the driver to take him to the Hadley residence. When Christina arrived at the Hadley residence, she saw Julia sitting in the living room, sipping coffee from an exquisite porcin cup. She was like a jasmine flower in full blossom, exuding an air of elegance and gracefulness as she sipped the coffee brewed using coffee beans that were specially air- flown in. Christina approached her and said, ¡°My apologies, Mis. Hadley. I wasn¡¯t able toe back yesterday as I was working overtime at the office.¡± Julia nced at Christina calmly and replied, ¡°I¡¯ve seen the progress. Go ahead and carry on with your work.¡± Julia was pleased with how the gown wasing along, and hence, did not question Christina further about her absencest night. Christina heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Julia reply. She headed upstairs and continued with her work in the room, carefully fixing the eight embroidered jasmine flowers onto the gown. Along with some embroidered petals adorning the flowers, the overall design looked perfect. As Christina looked at the gown she had painstakingly created, a satisfied smile appeared of her face. Next, she removed the thread soaked in the water infused with jasmine flowers and hung it on the 12.50 Mon, May Chapter 101 I Need To Get Up balcony. The thread could be used once it was dry. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Christina answered, ¡°Come in.¡± +15 Bonus One of the Hadley family¡¯s housekeepers entered. ¡°M. Ada, Mrs. Hadley is asking to meet you in the backyard.¡± ¡°Did Mrs. Hadley mention what it¡¯s about?¡± Christina asked curiously. ¡°No, she didn¡¯t.¡± Christina did not inquire further. She followed the housekeeper down the stairs and to the backyard. There was a big swimming pool on the right side of the backyard. Julia was nowhere in sight, but Christina noticed another slender figure. The housekeeper left without a word after bringing Christina to the poolside. Madison had a hint of slyness in her eyes as both women exchanged hostile nces. ¡°You¡¯re the one looking for me?¡± Christina questioned. She had already guessed the housekeeper was lying about Julia waiting for her in the backyard. As Madison stared at Christina¡¯s crystal clear eyes, she could not help but feel the simrity. ¡°You¡¯re Christina, aren¡¯t you? If that¡¯s not the case, why do you dare not take off the mask?¡± Christina¡¯s heart started beating faster. She did not want to engage with Madison, so she tried to brush her off. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea who you are talking about. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Are you feeling guilty, Christina? Watch as I tear off that pretentious mask of yours!¡± With that, Madison pushed Christina, who had turned to walk away, into the swimming pool! She has to remove the mask for sure once she gets wet. I¡¯ll finally know if she¡¯s indeed Christina! Behind the mask, Christina¡¯s eyes instantly widened in shock. She did not expect Madison to go to such extremes. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating as her body lost bnce and fell toward the swimming pool. At thest second, Christina grabbed Madison¡¯s curly tresses, resulting in them falling in tandem. Madison was smirking and feeling proud of her ingenious n when she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her scalp. The two simultaneously fell into the swimming pool with a loud ssh. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina, who did not know how to swim, swallowed several mouthfuls of water. To make matters worse, her bulky mask interfered with her breathing Soon, she started to encounter difficulties breathing. Madison also took in a few mouthfuls of water after falling into the water unexpectedly. She noticed Christina struggling in the water and began to swim toward her. ¡°You crazy woman! I shall see how you 12:50 Mon, May Chapter 101 I Need To Get Up 1 can continue to act mysterious once I get that mask off!¡± +15 Bonus Madison was certain that Ada and Christina were the same person. Hence, she was determined to expose her true identity in front of Julia. She did not want to continue letting Christina gain brownie points from Julia by using the pretext of designing a gown. Madison reached the struggling figure and was ecstatic when her hand touched the mask. However, Christina¡¯s limp body suddenly gained strength from nowhere, and she gave a powerful kick to Madison¡¯s abdomen, sending thetter under the water in pain. Christina had mustered all of her remaining strength to that kick. Her body subsequently went limp. and slowly sank to the bottom of the pool. Who¡­ Who can save me¡­ Christina could hardly breathe. It was as if her lungs were filled with water and about to burst anytime. Her eyelids began to droop slowly. Amidst the blurriness, she saw a tall figure diving into the water. The figure swam swiftly toward her and grabbed her just as she was about to pass out. Meanwhile, Madison, who had swallowed several more mouthfuls of water, could distinctly recognize the figure as Nathaniel. ¡°Nathaniel, save me! Nathaniel¡­¡± Madison kept calling out feebly. She firmly believed that Nathaniel would not leave her behind. But she was wrong. She watched in shock as Nathaniel carried Christina and swam to the top without looking back. A sharp pain bolted through Madison¡¯s body as if she was being skinned alive. As she watched. Nathaniel¡¯s retreating figure, her eyes widened in anger. Her body began to tremble uncontrobly with rage. If one¡¯s murderous expression could kill someone, Christina would be shredded into pieces by Madison at that moment. Meanwhile, Julia and the housekeepers rushed over after hearing themotion and were stunned by what they saw. A soaking wet Mr. Hadley is carrying Ms. Ada in his arms? Did he jump into the water to save a female stranger? These were the thoughts that first came to everyone¡¯s mind. Before they could even react, they heard Madison¡¯s dry for help in the pool. Even though nobody had any idea what had happened, Helen immediately sent two housekeepers into the pool to rescue Madison as saving her life was more important at the moment. Nathaniel looked at Julia with a darkened expression and bloodshot eyes. ¡°Please give me an exnationter.¡± With that, he entered the house with Christina in his arms. Julia was baffled by Nathaniel¡¯s words. Is he mad at me because of a designer? This is ridiculous! Boiling with rage, Julia turned to look at the drenched Madison with an ice-cold expression. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be exining what¡¯s going on here?¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Do Not Want To Leave Madison shuddered as a gust of cold wind blew past. +15 Bonus She wanted to expose Christina, but now that Christina was taken away by Nathaniel, Madison¡¯s ims would be pointless since there weren¡¯t any witnesses. Moreover, Madison figured Julia must¡¯ve guessed it too, but she couldn¡¯t fathom why thetter didn¡¯t take any action. Under such circumstances, if Madison were to raise that issue, she might even risk getting herself labeled as a troublemaker. ¡°When I was chatting with Ms. Ada carlier, she lost her bnce and fell. I panicked and jumped in after her. I¡¯m sorry that I caused such amotion.¡± Tears welled up in Madison¡¯s eyes. Her body was soaked, and the chilly winter wind blowing at her caused her to shiver in the cold. Anyone who saw her in that pitiful state would sympathize with her, especially given her excellent rtionship with Julia. Bring Ms. Taggart back into the house so she can change into clean clothes.¡± The housekeepers behind Julia immediately executed her orders after she spoke, stepping forward and helping Madison to enter the house. Helen waited until they walked farther ahead before she approached and uttered in an undertone. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, what should we do now?¡± Mr. Hadley mentioned he wanted an exnation. Does that mean Ms. Ada is closely acquainted with Mr. Hadley? Julia¡¯s doubts gradually cleared up, as if a thick fog in her mind had been lifted. She snorted and turned around to go back into the house. Meanwhile, inside the guest room, Christina¡¯s body was drenched. Her pale face shone under the lights, and the water on her long eyshes glistened. She looked like a drowned kitten. If he had gone. to her rescue a littleter, she would¡¯ve been done for Christina tensed up again when the sound of fabric getting torn up rang out. She hurriedly covered her exposed shoulder and stared at him in utter shock. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Why is he tearing my clothes like a thug without a word? Nathaniel wore a sheer cold expression. If I hadn¡¯t been worried and followed her earlier, the person lying in front of me now wouldn¡¯t be alive anymore. Instead, I¡¯d be facing a corpse. He uttered sternly, ¡°Changing your clothes.¡± Does she still n to continue working in this soaked outfit? With that, he resumed ripping up the ck clothes wrapped around her body. The crisp sound of clothes being torn apart reverberged. In just a few seconds, Christina¡¯s garments were torn into pieces. ¡°All right! That¡¯s enough! I¡¯ll do the rest myself.¡± Christina covered her slender shoulders. A few droplets adorned her exquisite corbones, and the remaining clothes clinging to her body vaguely 12.30 Chapter 102 Do Not Want To Leave revealed her curvy figure. +15 Bonus Nathaniel, who had intended to continue, hesitated. He caught his breath as he took in the sight of her fair skin. ¡°Hurry up and change.¡± Christina blinked, thinking he was going to continue tearing up her clothes. When she regained her senses, she hastily grabbed some clean clothes and rushed into the bathroom. Momentster, she changed into a clean outfit. When exiting the bathroom, she couldn¡¯t help but sneeze. Falling into the water during such chilly weather is definitely more exciting than taking a walk in an icehouse. Before she could steady herself, Nathaniel pulled her over and started blow-drying her hair. ¡°We¡¯re going back right away. If I let her stay here any longer, something is bound to go wrong. Christina felt her heart sink. The design of the gown is almost done. Won¡¯t all my effort be wasted if I walk away now? But Nathaniel has always been a willful person, and no one can change his mind. Not to mention, he¡¯s still enraged at the moment. Christina looked up and saw the expression on Nathaniel¡¯s face. He was gazing at her as if she was caught up in the thick of the fray, and he was determined to rescue her from the predicament. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave¡­ Achoo!¡± Even my body is betraying me. Taking in her reddened nose, Nathaniel felt his heartache. He said more firmly, ¡°No. We¡¯re leaving right away.¡± Nathaniel no longer cared about falling out with his mother. He didn¡¯t want Christina to suffer such grievances, having to live vigntly every day and afraid of being caught. Christina wasn¡¯t wearing her mask, so her identity would be exposed if she stepped out of the room. like this. In that case, all my previous hard work will go to waste! She was being dragged along like a baby panda. The next second, she tugged on Nathaniel¡¯s arm and acted cute, uttering in a coy voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I only have two more decorations left toplete my task. It¡¯s not worth walking away now!¡± Nathaniel stopped abruptly in his tracks. He felt his heart melting as he listened to her sweet voice. Noticing his gradually rxing brows, she carefully observed how Nathaniel was susceptible to that approach. It¡¯ll be easy once I know his weakness! Christina continued to y up her coquettish charm, pressing her body against him. The height difference between the two was apparent, and when he looked down, he could appreciate even the slightest details of her delicate facial features. ¡°I promise you I can finish the whole collection in at most two days. After that, I¡¯ll go back to Scenic Garden Manor and keep youpany every day. What do you say?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes gleamed. He clearly appeared to be more moved than before. She¡¯ll keep me company every day? Usually, Christina would rest at her grandmother¡¯s house and only spend her weekends at Scenic Garden Manor at my insistence. She¡¯s making me a promise toe back to Scenic Garden Manor every day and keep mepany now. This seems like a pretty good deal, after all. Nathaniel arched his right brow. ¡°Really?¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Christina blinked her long eyshes and pouted her rosy lips. ¡°Of course. I promise, but can you let me stay here for now?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows twitched as he uttered coldly, ¡°Fine He agreed somewhat reluctantly as if being threatened by Christina. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Christina jumped up in joy wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward imperceptibly when he felt the tender sensation on his face. Lifting his hand, he patted her head. ¡°Stay in the room. Let me handle the exnation.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving Christina slightly puzzled. What is he nning to do? Nathaniel opened the door and strode to the living room before sitting on the couch. Julia seemed to be waiting for him as she immediately questioned her son, ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Ms. Ada? Is she Christina?¡± Julia was too familiar with her son¡¯s personality. He would never be so anxious if it weren¡¯t someone or something he cared about. Hence, she was certain the woman inside the room must be Christina. Wearing a poker face, he regarded his mother with a sharp gaze. ¡°She¡¯s Ada, the famous designer. She¡¯s handling a few outfit designs for me and agreed she would take Christina as her apprentice after completing the job here.¡± ¡°So, you saved her because of Christina?¡± Julia frowned and pressed further. He responded firmly and impassively, ¡°Christina will participate in an internationalpetition soon. Ada is responsible for guiding Christina, so quit making things difficult for her. If you push her too hard, I¡¯ll take her away immediately.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 I Will Never ept Her Everything seemed to slow to a halt. +15 Bonus It would still be believable if Nathaniel admitted that he had only taken Ada¡¯s side for Christina. ¡°You would do all that for that brat?¡± Julia said disdainfully, her tone tinged with resentment. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Her resentment, however, was targeted at Christina. Nathaniel crossed his arms as his handsome face revealed a cold, somber expression. ¡°If you had epted her in the first ce, we wouldn¡¯t need to have this conversation.¡± Christina had only suffered in the Hadley residence for so long because of Julia. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t be with her all the time, but he wanted to at least make sure she was safe. Julia scoffed as if she had just heard a bad joke. ¡°I¡¯ll never ept her. Stop dreaming.¡± Not even in her wildest dreams would she ever allow lowly little brat to marry into the Hadley family. Nathaniel knew his mother¡¯s stubbornness better than anyone and wasn¡¯t nning on an argument. ¡°I¡¯ll come and pick Ms. Ada up in three days. I hope to see her unscathed.¡± After that, he stood up and strode out calmly. Sebastian hurriedly followed suit. The mother-son rtionship that had barely been mended after so long had once returned to a standstill. He wondered when Julia and Nathaniel could finally be on good terms again. Meanwhile, Christina was blowing her mask dry in the room. Luckily, the voice changer was still working. If it had been broken, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to continue even if Nathaniel didn¡¯t stop her. She put on her disguise, which included a checkered shawl that practically swallowed up her petite figure. Her mask sufficiently covered her slender face. Christina walked downstairs and met eyes with Madison, who had just walked out of the guest room, freshly dressed. Their gazes sparked with animosity. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, as your guest, shouldn¡¯t you give me an exnation as to why I was treated the way I was in your humble abode?¡± The crowd fell silent and nced at each other awkwardly at Ada¡¯s words. To them, the petite woman was a little strange, but she also seemed like someone who was easy to manipte because of how sheltered she acted. It was rather out of character for them to see her act so firmly. Julia raised an eyebrow. She was somehow more interested in this demanding side of the petitedy. ¡°Madison said you were the one who fell, and she simply wanted to help you. What further exnation could you possibly need?¡± 1/2 12:51 Mon, May 15 Chapter 103 I Will Never ept Her +15 Bonus Madison felt like her heart was being held up by a single thread of fishing line. Even her heartbeat felt unstable. She had no idea that Ada would demand an exnation from her. Christina looked down at Madison from the stairs. ¡°You were the one who pushed me. I must say, Ms. Taggart, you¡¯re as good at twisting the truth as you are at hiding it.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Madison was taken aback by her jab. Is she calling me fake? Christina wasn¡¯t just going to let things go so easily. If she didn¡¯t give Madison a proper warning this time, she knew she was about to have a hard time trying to design the clothes in peace. Madison carefully stered an expression of hurt and betrayal as tears began to form in her eyes. ¡°You were the one who almost fell. I was just trying to help you! I can¡¯t believe you thought I would hurt you. How could you tantly lie like that?¡± tant lie? Christina was finally beginning to see Madison for who she truly was. She stepped closer to Madison. ¡°You were the one who got the maid to lead me to the swimming pool. Sure, I won¡¯t deny that you wanted to talk to me. I just didn¡¯t expect that the talk would get interrupted. by you pushing me into the pool.¡± Madison¡¯s expression soured after she heard the woman¡¯s words. There was nothing she could do to deny it further as all Julia had to do was ask the maid about what happened. ¡°Enough! There will be no more talk about this,¡± Juliamanded sharply. She already knew what was going on and was clearly just saving Madison¡¯s face. Madison knew when to step down and was more than aware that she would only embarrass herself by staying any longer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Hadley. It was all my fault for troubling you. I have somewhere else to be, so I¡¯ll get going. I¡¯lle and visit you some other day.¡± Julia nodded inly. Christina felt a subtle surge of joy in her heart as she watched Madison scamper away with her tail between her legs. After eating such a big slice of humble pie, Madison wouldn¡¯t being back for a long time. After chasing Madison away, Christina switched her target to Julia. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you agreed to provide me with a quiet environment when I arrived.¡± Julia¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°You have my word that no one will bother you while you¡¯re working on your designs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all the reassurance I need.¡± After that, Christina turned and walked back upstairs. Once she closed the door, Christina threw herself back into her work. She checked through all the spools of thread and arranged them back into the bag once she made sure they were all dry: Chapter 103 I Will Never ept Her +15 Bonus She then took the second gown off of the mannequin and set up the temte for the petals before starting to work on the embroidery for the dress. It took a lot of patience and skill to embroider those jasmine flowers neatly. However, to a designer like Christina, embroidery was one of the more outstanding skills in her arsenal. Her grandmother had personally taught her embroidery ever since she was young. Christina had even received a few awards for winning embroiderypetitions when she was in school. A few hourster, the basic outline of the petals were done. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Nathaniel who called to remind her about their dinner ns. In the midst of her work, Christina had actuallypletely forgotten about it. She hung up the phone. and put the gown back on the mannequin before rushing out. She spotted the ck Bentley that usually drove her around parked outside in the driveway. The driver handed her a gift bag. ¡°This is from Mr. Hadley. He wants you to wear thister.¡± Then, she rolled up the partition without another word. The car pulled up in front of a five-star restaurant about an hourter. Christina ced the mask inside the bag. She was dressed in a crisp white button-down blouse paired with a pink bodycon skirt that was offset by a white coat perched casually on her shoulders. Her silky raven hair fell like a waterfall down her back. Her surroundings seemed to light up with her very presence the moment she stepped out of the car. She walked toward the VIP room and almost bumped into Nathaniel. When their gazes met, Christina felt a strange sense of guilt, Madison walked up to her and went in for a huge hug ¡°Christina! I heard from Mr. Hadley that you¡¯re really good at making connections during dinners like these. I¡¯m going to make sure I learn from you today.¡± Christina would have marveled at Madison¡¯s kindness and friendliness had that conversation happened a few weeks ago. Now, however, all she felt was that Madison was a big phony. Her friendliness only showed in front of Nathaniel. When he wasn¡¯t there, that was when her true self emerged. She was just like the evil stepmother in fairy tales. Christina smiled tly before slipping her arm around Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel raised his chin slightly, impressed by her taking the initiative. The two of them walked in, leaving Madison standing behind, shaking in anger, She used to be the one who would show up with Nathaniel to events like these. Her heart felt like it was twisted into thousands of knots now that the woman next to him was no longer her. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Who Said I Was Drunk +15 Bonus ¡°Good evening, Mr. Hadley. Who¡¯s this beauty you brought along today?¡± Charles Lowe piped up as soon as they walked in. He was the CEO of Golden Peak Group. In fact, all of the seats at the table were filled by a bunch of well-known CEOs. It was Christina¡¯s first time seeing so many VIPs in one ce. It seemed like birds of a feather really did flock together. ¡°She¡¯s my personal assistant,¡± Nathaniel said inly. He wasn¡¯t about to reveal Christina¡¯s true identity. The two of them sat down next to each other, and a waiter approached to fill their sses. Madison, on the other hand, remained unnoticed when she walked in a couple of minutes after. She used to be the center of attention whenever she walked into the room. Instead of teasing her, the men¡¯s attention at the table was all fixated on Christina now. Madison sat next to Christina and identally met eyes with a CEO sitting across from her. After giving her a meaningful nce, he looked away. Madison scoffed inwardly. She couldn¡¯t wait to see how capable Christina was. A few more CEOs came by in the pretense of toasting to Nathaniel, but in reality, they all just wanted. to get a closer look at the gorgeous woman sitting next to him. ¡°Only ady this beautiful could manage to win Mr. Hadley¡¯s heart over,¡± Charles said with a chuckle. His gaze, however, shone with a glimpse of malevolence. Christina smiled gently. ¡°Mr. Hadley prefers to go for substance instead. I¡¯m honored that he picked my skillset over others.¡± She had managed to shut down Charles¡¯ jab in just two sentences. If he said anything else, he was going to seem like the petty one. The other CEOs could tell that she wasn¡¯t someone to be messed with. She was like a nightshade flower ¨C beautiful but deadly. There were some other business partners who hadn¡¯t personally met Nathaniel before, and all of them went up to toast him. It wasn¡¯t as bad while toasting the familiar people for Nathaniel because even though he had seen some of them before, he hadn¡¯t cared enough to remember their names. So when he couldn¡¯t address them properly, the situation became rather awkward. Christina stood up and reminded Nathaniel of their names quietly next to him. ¡°This is Mr. Wesley. He owns apany in the west of the city and worked with Hadley Corporation before.¡± Then, she continued, ¡°This one is Mr. Lachmann, and hispany focuses on robotics. They also focus on new scientific discoveries. Since the Hadley Corporation has ns to branch out into that area in the future, we could n for a meeting sometime soon.¡± 12:51 Mon, May 15 Chapter 104 Who Said I Was Drunk +15 Bonus With Christina next to him, Nathaniel sessfully evaded any awkwardness that could have taken ce. She had already learned about everyone who would attend the dinner from Sebastian beforehand in order to keep the atmosphere light and cheerful. Madison was beginning to wonder if the woman next to Nathaniel was actually the Christina she knew. From what she heard, Christina had never attended a dinner with so many VIPs. Howe she knew to prepare so much? Madison was beginning to feel like she had underestimated her. After greeting everyone, Christina remained silent next to Nathaniel.¡± 16 ¡± All of the CEOs were smiling and seemed friendly, but their words wereced with thorns. If Nathaniel or Christina said a single wrong thing, it could possiblynd them into more trouble than expected. ¡°Hadley Corporation really is making it big recently, huh? There¡¯s still quite a bit left to be desired, though. I always say business isn¡¯t just about the numbers. It requires decency, too,¡± the CEO of Riser Group said. His name was Carter York, and he had once been up against Nathaniel for a piece ofnd which ended up going to Hadley Corporation for an extremely reasonable price. He had held that grudge against Nathaniel ever since. ¡± ¡± Carter obviously knew the consequences of starting trouble at a dinner like the one they were attending. ¡± 4 Everyone fell silent. Clearly, nobody wanted to get involved in their dirtyundry, so they all just waited for the drama to unfold. ¡± H If Nathaniel retaliated, it would clearly be a hit to his reputation. If he didn¡¯t say anything after getting humiliated like that. Carter would have reveled in getting the upper hand.. The silence was so thick one could cut it with a knifel Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open, and a waiter walked in bearing a bottle of red wine. He nced at Nathaniel before eximing in shock, ¡°Excuse me, are you Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met,¡± Nathaniel responded mildly Now that the waiter knew he was talking to Nathaniel, his voice shook slightly from excitement. ¡°Well, of course, you wouldn¡¯t remember someone like me. But I remember you. Specifically, I remember you for being so generous and building an affordable housing area in the middle of such an expensive city. It¡¯s one of the only reasons blue-cor workers like myself can afford to live here. You have no idea how grateful all of us are.¡± Christina, who had been quiet the whole time, stood up with a gracious smile. ¡°Giving back to the community is one of Mr. Hadley¡¯s top priorities. Thank you so much for your appreciation¡± The waiter continued to thank Nathaniel profusely even as he began to leave the room. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Chapter 104 Who Said I Was Drunk +15 Bonus Carter, who had failed to embarrass Nathaniel, felt like he had ended up embarrassing himself instead. He had already been extremely ticked off at the fact at Nathaniel had gotten his hands on the piece. of land. What pissed him off even more was how, instead of raising the prices of the houses there. Nathamel had lowered them instead. That was what Carter was the angriest about. If he showed it now, however, he would definitely bebeled as a heartless businessman. The atmosphere began to warm up once again. Madison couldn¡¯t find even a single thing to nitpick. about Christina¡¯s performance, even when the dinner was over. Christina helped a tipsy Nathaniel to the backseat of their car after walking out of the restaurant. ¡°Are you feeling all right?¡± she asked before turning to the driver. ¡°Please take us back to Scenic Garden Manor The driver nodded in response and drove off. When Madison finally walked out, the road in front of her was empty. Her thin lips quivered, and her heart felt like a chunk had been cut out of it. Even the wind seemed to be harsher as a cold breeze made her shiver. The Maybach stopped at the gates of Scenic Garden Manor, and Christina helped Nathaniel get out of the car. However, his tall stature almostpletely shadowed her small, slender figure. The two of them stumbled down the driveway and into the house. After barely making it inside, Christina called out for some housekeepers. ¡°Come over and help-¡± The butler and a few housekeepers all began to approach them, but Nathaniel waved them. away with disdain. They looked at him in silent understanding. By the time Christina had finished dabbing off the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, the living room was empty. ¡°That¡¯s weird. Why didn¡¯t theye to help?¡± She was left to bring Nathaniel upstairs alone. The two of them copsed onto the bed once they entered the bedroom. The smell of liquor on Nathaniel¡¯s clothes and skin mixed with his usual sandalwood scent, creating an intoxicating perfume that wafted past Christina¡¯s nose. She sat up and sighed helplessly at the sight of Nathaniel¡¯s motionless body. Only a CEO like himself could afford to get so drunk and still have people waiting on his every move. She reached out to take off his suit jacket and reached out to help him unbutton some of the buttons on his shirt in an attempt to get rid of the smell of liquor and cigars. The moment her handnded on his shirt, he grabbed it tightly. The palm of his hand was warmer than usual, perhaps due to the alcohol he had consumed. His skin on hers felt like a candle¡¯s me gently heating up her hand. After a quick turn of events, Christina was now face up on the bed as Nathaniel hovered over her. Her glossy eyes sparkled. ¡°So you aren¡¯t drunk?¡± ¡°Who said I was drunk?¡± Nathaniel said with a smirk, le just wanted to enjoy the feeling of Christina taking care of him. ¡°Since you¡¯re perfectly fine, I¡¯m going to go back to the Hadley residence,¡± Christina said huffily. She reached out to push him away, but when her handsnded against his chest, she could feel his heart thudding loudly beneath his skin. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Long Distance Rtionship +15 Bonus Christina stared at Nathaniel¡¯s frigid countenance, feeling as though her heart was forced to beat faster. with his. Without warning, he grabbed her fair wrist, so slim that he only needed to apply a slight force to snap it. ¡°Didn¡¯t you agree you¡¯ll sleep with me every day?¡± Hesitation was apparent in her tone. ¡°I did, but¡­¡± ¡°Then sleep¡± Nathaniely on the bed sideways and pulled Christina into his embrace. Despite his muscr arms, he was gentle when he wrapped them around her body because he was worried he would identally hurt her. It wasn¡¯t until he felt her body temperature as he pressed her against his chest that he truly felt at ease. As Christina was held tightly in his arms, she listened to his breathing. Eventually, her tense nerves rxed. As her eyelids shut, she fell asleep. The next morning, when she woke up, Nathaniel was already gone. Momentster, she recalled she still needed to work. Hastily, she left the bed and rushed downstairs like a busy rabbit. ¡°The car is ready to set off, Mrs. Hadley,¡± the driver informed. Christina nodded and entered the vehicle, where she saw a cup of hot milk and egg sitting in the empty space next to her. The driver rified, ¡°Mr. Hadley knew you¡¯d wake upte, so he specially prepared breakfast for you.¡± As Christina sipped the milk, she felt a sense of warmth bubbling from within. Half an hourter, the car arrived at Radiant Corporation. After she arrived at the office using the elevator, she noticed that there were still a dozen minutes left until the morning meeting. Thus, she entered the pantry with a cup. There, she bumped into Anna, who greeted her, ¡°Hey, Ms. Steele. You¡¯re here for coffee, too?¡± ¡°Why are you treating me like a stranger?¡± Christina smiled, knowing Anna was merely teasing her. ¡°The result will be announced next week. If I¡¯m chosen, I¡¯m definitely thanking you first.¡± Promptly. Anna delivered a cup of coffee to Christina. Thetter epted it. ¡°I¡¯m already satisfied with the coffee you brewed.¡± While they were chatting, Caroline entered the room and nced at them with disdain. The atmosphere instantly turned ufortable. Seeing that the morning meeting was about to begin, Christina exited the room. 12:51 Mon, May 15 Chapter 105 Long Distance Rtionship +15 Bonus Before she left work, she applied for leave with Gina think I¡¯ll be able toplete the mission if I work from Friday tomorrow to Sunday. Once Christina returned to her office, she wrapped up her task ahead of time. Then, after work, she entered a car in the parking lot. During her journey to the Hadley residence, she changed into appropriate clothing. When she exited the vehicle, she was wearing all ck and assuming the persona of Ada again. Julia was in the backyard, so Christina didn¡¯t meet her upon arriving at the residence. Right after Christina entered the room, she began busying about as she hadn¡¯t finished embroidering the rest of the jasmine yet. The setting sun outside the window gradually submerged into the horizon as the stars decorated the sky. Eventually, the room was lit, and a shadow of her slim body was cast on the glossy floor. It wasn¡¯t until Christina¡¯s phone rang at midnight that she shifted her attention away from her work to answer the call. ¡°What are you doing right now?¡± Nathaniel asked. As Christina pressed the phone between her ear and shoulder, she spokezily. ¡°I¡¯m embroidering. You¡¯re not sleeping yet?¡± ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was somewhat hoarse. His environment sounded quiet, so she assumed he was in his office. Now that he mentioned it, I do feel pretty hungry. Although, if I tell him that, he¡¯ll deliver supper to me. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to remove Mrs. Hadley¡¯s concern. If hees here, my efforts will be for naught. When Christina¡¯s train of thought ended there, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Nathaniel slightly raised his voice as though he was questioning her. ¡°Ind Hotel recently released a new dish. They also sell desserts, like milk ice. Are you sure you don¡¯t want any of them?¡± As Christina listened, her hunger struck back. She gulped. D*mn it. Why does he have to say all that? Now I¡¯m really hungry. Gritting her teeth, she told herself to resist the temptation. I won¡¯t let him find an excuse to disturb my istion n. As she pressed her hand on her abdomen, she spoke resolutely. ¡°I¡¯m really not hungry. You should rest early. I still need to finish my task. Bye.¡± Christina wrapped up the conversation hurriedly as lough she was worried if she hesitated for a second longer, Nathaniel would deliver food to her door. His countenance grew colder as he stared at his phone. It seems I¡¯ve failed to convince her. I guess I¡¯ll bring a chef to the Hadley residence tomorrow. There¡¯s no way that glutton will be able to say no to delicious food. Suddenly, he received a text message from Christina Don¡¯te to the Hadley residence and disturb my work for the next three days. I¡¯ll return to Scenic Garden Manor once Iplete my task during the weekend. If you aren¡¯t busy, wait for me in the study during the afternoon. Love, Christina. Chapter 105 Long Distance Rtionship 7% Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. +15 Bonus What? I can¡¯t visit her for the next three days? What is this, a long-distance rtionship? Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened. When Sebastian entered the room, he noticed something was wrong with the atmosphere. Did I step into hell or what? Then he noticed Nathaniel staring at the phone. Why does he appear so cold and gloomy? What text message is he reading? ¡°The driver is ready to take you home, Mr. Hadley,¡± informed Sebastian. Can we get off work already? Upon cing his phone down, Nathaniel lifted his sight. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive. ¡°I¡¯m not returning. Bring me all the documents I need to take care of next week.¡± A chill ran down Sebastian¡¯s spine as he felt perplexed Didn¡¯t he ask me to call for the driver? Why did he suddenly decide to work overtime? ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Still, he didn¡¯t dare to waste any time. Promptly, he turned around, ready to leave the room. However, upon arriving at the entrance, he recalled something important. ¡°Do you want me to send you the supper you ordered earlier, Mr. Hadley?¡± Icily, Nathaniel replied. ¡°No. You finish it.¡± Sebastian was pleasantly surprised. After all, the food was prepared by five-star chefs. ¡°Understood.¡± Then, he exited the room and closed the door. Meanwhile, Nathaniel felt sullen that he couldn¡¯t sleep with his cuddly lover for the next three nights. That thought was enough to sweep away all of his drowsiness away. He opened the files sitting at the side and read through them with full attention. Back in the Hadley residence, the air inside the building felt much fresher after the morning breeze entered it. Julia was in a pretty good mood. When she returned from her walk in the outer courtyard, she nced at the second floor. ¡°Has Ms. Ada been staying inside her room?¡± Helen replied, ¡°Ever since she returned yesterday, yes Even her meals were delivered to her by the housekeepers.¡± In response, Julia nodded and rested in the living room. ¡°Since she dislikes being bothered, we¡¯ll just leave her be.¡± Later on, she learned from the studio that Ada didn¡¯t intentionally hide her identity. Instead, it was always Ada¡¯s style to avoid making an appearance. For the next two days, Christina remained in her room. She would only enter the guest room to rest and wash herself. During the night, she stared at the third dress, which was nearingpletion. I think I did a pretty good job! Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be able to wrap things up. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Best Dress +15 Bonus Christina woke up early in the morning, which was why she sessfully finalized all the dresses before the afternoon. Upon hearing that her long-awaited dresses had beenpleted, Julia beamed, which was rare. Together with Helen, they admired Christina¡¯s handiwork. Initially, when Julia picked three designs from five options, she did it to test Ada¡¯s skills. After seeing the three magnificent dresses, she regretted not asking Ada to make all five of them. As sunlightnded on all three slim-fit dresses, they appeared wless, whether in terms of their color coordination or exquisite craftsmanship. The vividness of the jasmine was an excellent finishing touch. ¡± ¡°Wow. This is the best-looking dress I¡¯ve ever seen, Mrs. Hadley. I think it¡¯ll look great on you.¡± Helen was excited, like a child staring at a rare toy. 4 ¡± ¡± 14 1 A satisfied grin settled on Julia¡¯s oftenposed countenance while she stared at the dresses like they were treasures. Even though Julia didn¡¯t verbally express her liking for the dresses, Christina could still tell the former was pleased with them. Closing her eyes, Helen stood next to the dresses and sniffed. Curiously, she asked. ¡°Why does the dress smell like jasmine, Ms. Ada?¡± The cloth themselves don¡¯t have any smell, and I doubt Ms. Ada sprayed some perfume on them since the fragrance doesn¡¯tst long. The aroma is sweet and oddly refreshing. Julia also found the fragrance refreshing. ¡± 17 4 ¡± 1477 ¡± ¡± ¡± ¡± ¡± # ¡± 4 ¡± ¡± ¡°It¡¯s thanks to the jasmines Mrs. Hadley asked the housekeeper to deliver me every day. Even though. they¡¯ve wilted, they¡¯re still capable of emitting a pleasint scent after I soaked them in warm water. After bathing the threads in that water, I added some special material into the mix, imbuing them with the aroma of jasmine. Then, I applied those threads to the dress. That¡¯s why the dress has that smell.¡± exined Christina. Upon listening to her exnation, Helen and Julia were thoroughly impressed by Ada¡¯s talent. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve handed these dresses to you, my task ispleted. Hannah will take care of the rest.¡± As Christina spoke, she packed up her tools, preparing to leave. Julia¡¯s impression of the mysterious, masked woman improved after she spent some time with the latter. Swiftly, she shot a meaningful look at Helen. Helen immediately understood her employer¡¯s intention and proposed, ¡°There¡¯ll be a night banquet next week, Ms. Ada. If you have the time, feel free to participate with Mrs. Hadley. Ordinary folks aren¡¯t allowed to join, as most attendants are prominent figures. However, your status will differ if you attend it with Mrs. Hadley. I bet plenty of socialites will be interested in wearing your dresses when the timees.¡± In other words, she was saying Christina should ept Julia¡¯s offer to widen her horizons. Upon hearing that, Christina rejected the offer with a troubled look. ¡°Actually, my schedule for these Chapter 106 Best Dress +15 Bonus two years is pretty full, so I won¡¯t be epting any new jobs for a while. Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Hadley.¡± After she swiftly packed her things, she nodded at Julia and left. Helen didn¡¯t expect Christina to reject the proposal that straightforwardly. Meanwhile, Julia didn¡¯t mind, possibly because she had already gotten used to Christina¡¯s indifference and because she was satisfied with the dresses. Once Christina stepped out of the Hadley residence, she saw the driver waiting for her at the side of the entrance. She entered the vehicle and returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Upon entering the living room, she saw Raymond approaching her with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re back, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to prepare more dishes.¡± Mr. Hadley typically doesn¡¯t eat a lot, so the dishes are usually only prepared for one person. However, if Mrs. Hadley is around, the table will be filled with food. Christina grinned forcefully. Why does it sound like he¡¯s saying I got a huge appetite? When Raymond noticed the slight awkwardness on her face, he knew she had misunderstood him. Speedily, he exined, ¡°It¡¯s because Mr. Hadley¡¯s appetite will improve if you join him for a meal.¡± The edges of her lips curved upward with embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯ll head upstairs first.¡± Once she reached the second floor, she tiptoed toward the study. The door was already opened. Just as she tried to sneak inside, she was surprised when someone exited the room. ¡°What the heck?¡± Widening her eyes, she dodged backward reflexively. She was stunned for two seconds before she realized who was standing before her. Sebastian was wearing formal attire and giant bags under his eyes. He looked horrendously pale, like a refugee who hadn¡¯t eaten anything for a week. ¡°What happened to you, Sebastian?¡± asked Christina, Sebastian stared at Christina as if looking at his savior from a pit of despair. With a hoarse voice, he exined, ¡°Mr. Hadley didn¡¯t sleep or rest for three days. I had to help him organize the documents.¡± Three days without rest? Did he stop sleeping since the nigh I returned to the Hadley residence? Even machines can¡¯t withstand this level of physical exertion. If Sebastian works any longer, he¡¯ll probably turn into a skeleton. Swiftly, Christina suggested, ¡°You should return home to rest.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. With a folder still in his hand, Sebastian spoke hesitantly. ¡°But I still haven¡¯t¡­ ¡°You have my permission to continue handling the rest of the documents tomorrow.¡± Upon hearing that, he nodded enthusiastically as if he had just received the best news all year. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be heading out now. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± Then he scampered away. Christina promptly entered the study. Even though the heater was turned on, the room still felt chilly. A tall figure was sitting on the scarlet office chair. The sunlightnded on his body, outlining his subdued yet elegant vibe. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were half-opened as he scanned the document on his desk. The armband he was wearing disyed just how muscr his right biceps were. Upon hearing someone stepping into the room, he lifted his starry eyes. ¡°I heard you didn¡¯t sleep for three days. Don¡¯t you feel tired?¡± Christina approached his desk, pressed her elbows on the surface, cupped her chin with her hands, and gazed at him with shock and curiosity. The edges of her lips curved upward mischievously and energetically. A tender look swirled in her apricot eyes. When Nathaniel shifted his sight from the boring document to her fair, pretty face, he felt his tired. eyes rxing. Emotions swelled in his calm heart as he stared at her. ¡°Come over here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina strode to the back of his desk. Before she could stand still, she was pulled into his embrace. ¡°Am I disturbing your work?¡± she asked, shrinking her neck. I shouldn¡¯t have allowed Sebastian to leave without first asking him about the situation. What if he has something important he needs Sebastian to take care of? Wordlessly, Nathaniel aimed his cold gaze at her, inadvertently spooking her. Panicked, she stated, ¡°How about I leave so you can focus- Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her passionately. His scorching, overwhelming vibe dominated her breathing. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Report Christina was disoriented by the sudden kiss and blushed. It wasn¡¯t until she was almost out of breath that she was released. ¡°How are you still so energetic after staying awake for three days?¡± Also, how can he remain so elegant, aside from his eye bags, even though he worked overnight? I pity Sebastian, honestly. He¡¯s forced to keep up with Nathaniel. Nathanielid the Ferropenian documents before he ¡°Trante it for me.¡± I recall she¡¯s fluent in Ferropenian. Puzzled, she stared at him. Doesn¡¯t he understand thenguage? Why does he need me to trante it for him? Still, she epted the documents and replied ingratiatingly, ¡°Okay.¡± Christina scanned through the Ferropenian text and started reading the document aloud. There was plenty of jargon on the paper, though it didn¡¯t stump her. Her sweet voice resembled the pleasant sound of a stream crashing against the rocks and a precious. cdon being knocked. When her voice wormed into Nathaniel¡¯s ears, each of her pronunciations sounded like a musical note. Christina was earnestly reading the documents when she noticed something pressing on her shoulder. In response, she nced back and saw him sleeping. my voice that hypnotic? While she wanted to move, she was worried she would wake him up. Considering he worked non-stop for three days, I bet he¡¯s exhausted. I guess I¡¯ll give in and be his pillow for the night. She lifted a tablet and drew some design elements on it. Then, she gazed around the room before staring at Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face. Twilight sunshinended on the side of his face, illuminating his thin eyelids and long eyshes. Despite the dark bags under his eyes, his attractiveness wasn¡¯t diminished. Instead, it was increased. Suddenly, Christina was inspired to draw Nathaniel on the tablet. Every stroke of her stylus was done skillfully. Half an hourter, his handsome face was depicted on the tablet. She was used to saving her drawings in the tablet¡¯s folder. Once she concluded her task, she leaned on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder and slumbered because she was tired. When she woke up in a bed, it was already the next morning. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. She didn¡¯t expect to sleep that well. In any case, since it was Monday, she needed to head to work, so she left the bed. Upon arriving downstairs, Christina saw Nathaniel eating breakfast at the dining table and watching. the news on his tablet. He looks so elegant, like an eighteenth-century royal prince. Heck, he may be even more dignified than a prince. ¡°Good morning, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Raymond served her a cup of hot milk and her breakfast. As Christina enjoyed her meal, she nced at Nathaniel, who seemed to be in high spirits. He doesn¡¯t look like someone who has been working overnight at all. In fact, even his eye bags have disappeared. Chapter 107 Report After that, Nathaniel personally sent her to her workce. When they arrived, but before Christina exited the vehicle, he said, ¡°Join me for dinner at home tonight.¡± His tone was cold, as if he was ordering her. Christina nodded and grinned. ¡°Okay.¡± Without dy, she ambled into thepany building.. It was an especially lively day as it was time for the winners ofst week¡¯s internalpetition to be announced. Many who participated were excited since the top three would be given a raise and a promotion. Caroline was chatting with a few coworkers in Team B¡¯s office. ¡°I bet you¡¯ll take one of the top three spots, Caroline!¡± ¡°Remember to take good care of us once you get your promotion.¡± Caroline was feeling pretty smug. While confident in her work, she still pretended to be humble. ¡°We¡¯ll wait until the result is out.¡± When the group saw Christina entering the office, they scattered. Before work was over, the HR department sent the names of the top three contestants in the competition to everyone¡¯s mailbox. Anna took first ce, while the second and third were from Team B and C, respectively. Surprisingly, Caroline¡¯s name wasn¡¯t in the top three Naturally, she was crushed, especially after she unted what she thought was her would-be achievement in front of her coworkers in the morning. I spent so much effort creating that fantastic design. How could I have lost? Her colleagues were cheering in the office, starkly contrasting how she felt at that moment. When she saw Christina stepping out of the oflice, she couldn¡¯t suppress her anger any longer and approached thetter. Upon noticing a figure was in her path, Christina lifted her sight and saw Caroline ring at her furiously. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Did you not submit my work, Christina?¡± Caroline thought that was the only exnation for her failure. She must¡¯ve intentionally done that because she doesn¡¯t like me! There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll fail to reach the top three with my capabilities! What an evil woman! She doesn¡¯t deserve to be the team leader! Christina furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°I did. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s disrespectful for you to use me without understanding the situation first?¡± However, anger blinded Caroline. She was convinced Christina was lying to her instead of listening to thetter¡¯s exnation. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like me, but don¡¯t you think it¡¯s outrageous for you to do this? I¡¯m reporting you to the higher-ups!¡± Their colleagues promptly surrounded them. Since work hours were over, the neighboring team came to check out what the fuss was about. In an instant, Team B¡¯s office was crammed with people. If Christina failed to handle her subordinate¡¯s provocation adequately, her reputation in Radiant Corporation would suffer a fatal blow. Still, she remainedposed. Her fair countenance appeared equally soft and frigid, like snowkes. under the lunar glow. ¡°The HR Department is on the thirteenth floor. If you have anyints, submit them there.¡± As she didn¡¯t do anything wrong, she wasn¡¯t intimidated by Caroline¡¯s threats. Besides, I¡¯m not the one who chose the winners. I¡¯m only responsible for submitting people¡¯s work to thepetition. Upon witnessing Christina¡¯s confidence, Caroline recalled the rumors that the former was protected by a prestigious figure. Doesn¡¯t that mean the higher-ups won¡¯t punish her even if she does something terrible? This is ridiculous! When her train of thought ended there, she became even more incensed. As she had no outlet for her grievance, her eyes reddened as she red at Christina wordlessly. It was then Anna arrived, intending to share her good news with Christina. When she saw Caroline giving Christina trouble, she immediately spoke up. ¡°Christina¡¯s right. If you¡¯re dissatisfied with her, submit aint about her to the HR department. Why make a scene here instead?¡± Caroline exploded with jealousy when she saw Anna, thepetition winner. ¡°Drop your act, Anna! Some time ago, in the pantry, I heard you promising to repay Christina if you got first ce! She¡¯s clearly favoring you!¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Leave Before Apology +15 Bonus Upon hearing that, the other employees instantly peered at Christina and Anna with disdain. After all, favoritism was an anathema in the industry. Anna wasn¡¯t going to ignore that usation as she retorted lividly, ¡°What nonsense are you speaking? Yes, Christina shared some of her opinions with me, but that doesn¡¯t mean she¡¯s showing me favoritism!¡± A scowl settled on Caroline¡¯s countenance. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t admit it. They¡¯re colluding with each other, after all! There¡¯s no point in continuing this argument since our colleagues will start to think Christina¡¯s unreliable, whether it¡¯s true or not. ¡°In any case, I know you two are working with each other. How disgusting!¡± Uponpleting her sentence, she turned around, ready to leave. Suddenly, someone spoke in a cold voice at the entrance. ¡°You¡¯re just going to leave after scolding her?¡± His maic voice instantly attracted everyone¡¯s attention. The bodyguards pushed the crowd aside, making way for Nathaniel to enter. His simple, slim-fit suit perfectly illustrated his towering figure. A cold look was present on his exceptionally alluring face as he stepped toward Christina with a kingly vibe. The female employees covered their mouths because they almost shouted when they finally saw Nathaniel¡¯s rumored handsome mug. However, they couldn¡¯t help but dismiss the rumors once they witnessed his beauty with their own eyes. After all, his charming appearance couldn¡¯t be described with words. Momentster, they wondered why he was standing up for Christina, which roused their jealousy. Christina was stunned to see him. I can¡¯t believe it. Why is he here? Nathaniel¡¯s sharp, icy gazended on Caroline. ¡°You¡¯re iming Christina is showing favoritism, yes?¡± Trembling like a weak animal facing its natural predator, Caroline was so terrified that she couldn¡¯t utter anything. ¡°Call Zachary here.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± One of Nathaniel¡¯s bodyguards promptly left the room. Cold sweat covered Christina¡¯s back. This is only a minor matter that requires a little rification. The crowd thought Nathaniel looked like a king adjudicating a case as he stood in the middle of the office with a group of bodyguards. A minuteter, Zachary hurriedly arrived at the office Even from afar, he could already sense the cold, unpleasant atmosphere in the room. ¡°What happened? Why did Mr. Hadley personallye to resolve an issue?¡± Nathaniel lifted his chin silently. 12:52 Mon, May Chapter 108 Leave Before Apology +15 Bonus No one in the room dared to utter a word, fearing they would get sacked if they said the wrong thing. In the end, Christina stepped forward to recount what had transpired. When Zachary finished listening to her tale, he thought there was more to the story, so he asked, ¡°Is that all?¡± Christina eyed the disbelief on his countenance while feeling the same. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s all.¡± Zachary was so furious that he almost rolled his eyes around. I can¡¯t believe Nathaniel marched into the office as if he was going to destroy the ce for such a minor issue. Isn¡¯t this overkill? Then again, it involves Christina, who he has always protected. Swiftly, he asked his assistant to bring all the work submitted to thepetition. There really were thirty design drawings. He exined, ¡°Caroline¡¯s work was submitted. However, it wasn¡¯t good enough to reach the top three. Meanwhile, Anna¡¯s work is deemed by the judges to be the best, which is why she won.¡± Once every submitted piece of work wasid next to each other, everyone could clearly discern which one was the best. Thus, it was Caroline¡¯s fault for thinking she was better than she actually was. She thought her victory was secured because she didn¡¯t consider the talents others possessed. Her countenance was flushed with embarrassment as people stared at her mockingly. This is more embarrassing than getting pped! I don¡¯t want to stay here anymore! Immediately, Caroline tried to escape, but Nathaniel¡¯s bodyguards blocked her path. ¡°Do you think you can leave after ndering someone without apologizing?¡± Nathaniel red at her sharply. Caroline paled as she turned to Christina, no longer possessing her overbearing attitude. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Steele. I shouldn¡¯t have used you.¡± Calmly, Christina replied, ¡°I ept your apology. You may leave now.¡± In response, the bodyguards stepped away, allowing Caroline to leave. Zachary asked the security guards to vacate the office before approaching Nathaniel. ¡°It¡¯s pretty rare for you toe here, so how about we have dinner together?¡± Holding Christina¡¯s hand, Nathaniel declined, ¡°I¡¯m busy tonight.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to leave after summoning me here?¡± grumbled Zachary. Nathaniel ignored him and dragged Christina away. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, dinner had already been prepared by the time the couple arrived. The entire table was so filled with food that there was barely any space left for the desserts. ¡°Why is there so much food here? Do we have guests tonight?¡± Christina was shocked. There¡¯s no way two of us can eat all of these. the Nathaniel eyed her and pulled her to her seat. ¡°No.¡± Once the couple was seated, Christina ate while Nathaniel continuouslyid food on her te. She didn¡¯t want to waste any food, so she ate more and more until her stomach was on the exploding. verge of Yet, Nathaniel didn¡¯t stop as he watched Christina stuff her mouth full. She looks so cute when she chews. It¡¯s like I¡¯m feeding a tiny, adorable animal. It really warms my heart. ¡°You should eat something, too. I can¡¯t finish all of these.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help butin when he stacked arge drumstick on the mountain of meat in her bowl. ¡°I still want to eat desserts, you know.¡± Peering at her displeased pout, Nathaniel pulled her bowl to his side while cing desserts before her. ¡°Go ahead.¡± While Christina was full, she couldn¡¯t resist the call of the delicious desserts, so she grabbed her spoon and devoured them. After dinner, they went on a stroll in the backyard. Meanwhile, the housekeepers and Raymond cleaned up the dishes, which were all almost empty. Raymond thought, If Mr. Hadley continues to feed Mrs. Hadley like this, I bet she¡¯ll grow fat soon. Still, I enjoy seeing Mrs. Hadley sharing dinner with Mr. Hadley in the house. It makes the ce seem livelier. Meanwhile, the darkness of night gradually swallowed the remaining vestiges of twilight. Scenic Garden Manor¡¯s backyard was huge. Back then Nathaniel hired a world-famous designer to create it. Its yearly maintenance fee cost more than ten million. Even though it had been some time since Christina started living there, it was her first time properly strolling in the backyard. Just as she felt the night breeze was chilly, she felt soffiething resting on her shoulders. It was Nathaniel¡¯s ck coat. As his unique scent enveloped her body, she felt a sense of warmth. expelling the cold. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± he uttered before holding her tender hand and continuing their walk. His big sturdy hand made Christina feel safe.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 I Only Want You To Come Chapter 109 I Only Want You To Come +15 Bonus The backyard was huge, and Christina got tired before they managed to walk through three-quarters of the ce. And so, the couple returned to where they came from. They sat on the wicker swing with the boundless starry night illuminating their figure from above. Christina felt a weight on her shoulder as the unique ambergris scent from Nathaniel¡¯s body wafted. into her nostrils. Leaning his weight on Christina¡¯s shoulder, the man shut his eyes and rested. Nathaniel¡¯s side profile was like a perfectly crafted statue, with frostiness swirling in his eyes that plummeted the temperature in his surroundings. Christina lifted her hand to stroke Nathaniel¡¯s thick hair like she was trying tofort arge animal. ¡°Are you sleepy? Shall we return home to rest up? It¡¯s too windy here.¡± She feared Nathaniel would catch a cold from staying in a windy location for too long. Nathaniel lifted his head slightly, resting his nose on Christina¡¯s neck. Then, he kissed her on the neck. The man replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I enjoy sitting here.¡± He didn¡¯t want to interrupt the current harmonious atmosphere. It was enjoyable for him to take in her scent and feel her warmth and breath. Christina didn¡¯t force it. To her, it was good for Nathaniel to immerse in the natural air after a whole day of working and meeting. Nathaniel¡¯s hot breath tickled Christina¡¯s neck like a feather. She shrunk her neck, changing the topic. ¡°Do you think Mrs. Hadley will look beautiful in her dress? She invited me to the banquet today, but I said no in case she realized it was me¡­. Christina babbled on, but Nathaniel gave her no response. It was then she lowered her head, realizing. that he was asleep. With a phone call, she told Raymond to bring a nket to them. Soon, Raymond walked over with the item they requested. Christina covered Nathaniel with a nket huge enough to cover both of them. As for Raymond, he was d to see Nathaniel sleeping soundly in Christina¡¯s embrace, as it had been. long since Nathaniel had exuded such a gentle aura. The butler headed into the house and bumped into Julia. He stepped forward, greeting respectfully, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, what¡¯s the purpose of yourte visitation? Are you looking for Mr. Hadley?¡± A surge of heat radiated from Julia after she got out of her car. She peered inside. ¡°That woman is here too?¡± Julia¡¯s tone was upset, with a touch of disdain in it. Raymond knew who Julia referred to. ¡°Ms. Christina and Mr. Hadley are resting over there.¡± Julia shot cold daggers in the direction Raymond pointed while walking over to the couple. She halted in her steps when she neared them. The woman didn¡¯t want to bother the couple when she noticed Nathaniel¡¯s tranquil appearance, with his head leaning against Christina. Chapter 109 I Only Want You To Come It¡¯s been so long since Nathaniel look so serene and at peace After a moment of hesitation, Julia turned and walked into the house without speaking. +15 Bonus As for Christina, Julia¡¯s arrival went unnoticed by her. She took out her phone to check on thetest fashion news and found the information about Yosef being featured in an overseas fashion magazine. His clothing designs had gradually be more outstanding as time passed. Christina browsed through them before saving a few eye-catching outfit photos on her phone. I have to be open to new ideas in our field of work. If not, will be eliminated by the fashion world. After that, Christina came across Renee Olson, a famous television drama actress, announcing the news about her marriage. With soaring poprity, the innocent, clean-looking actress had full eyebrows, big eyes, a small but sharp nose that didn¡¯t steal the spotlight from her other beautiful features, and thin lips. She was a woman who naturally attracted others¡¯ attention by just standing there with a bare face and casual clothing. The rumor was that she had already registered her marriage, while her husband¡¯s identity was kept. under wrap. Even though her tall husband¡¯s face was lurred out in their photo, they matched each other perfectly. Theizens reacted positively after discovering the news, making the announcement of Renee¡¯s marriage a trending topic. After that, Christina put away her phone, realizing the time waste and that the outside temperature had dropped significantly. She turned her head and voiced, ¡°Nathaniel, let¡¯s head inside now. You will get a cold if we stay out too long.¡± As Nathaniel was displeased to be interrupted during his deep sleep, annoyance shed across his face as he stared at Christina¡¯s face. Christina scrunched her brows,ining, ¡°I¡¯m freezing out here. If the wind continues to blow in my face, I¡¯ll get sick.¡± Nathaniel got up abruptly after hearing her remarks. With his back against the moonlight, unreadable. emotions glinted in his eyes, hidden by the dark. Surprised by his sudden movement, Christina wondered if she said something wrong when Nathaniel covered her with the nket and wrapped her up like a burrito before picking her up from the ground. From his worried stares, Christina guessed the man would have ced a quilt over her if there was one beside them. Then, Nathaniel turned and male his way into the house. When they reached the living room, the couple noticed Julia seated on the couch with a half-empty cup before her on the coffee table, indicating that she had arrived quite some time. As Christina was a tad embarrassed to be seen by Julia her cheeks turned a rosy-red shade. She objected, ¡°Quick. Put me down!¡± Nathaniel peered at her and walked over to the couch, letting Christina sit on hisp. Christina was rendered speechless by what Nathaniel did. She wanted to burrow herself into a hole because it was so embarrassing. I¡¯m not a doll! Isn¡¯t it weird for me to sit on hisp? She noticed Julia¡¯s expression darkening at their lovey-dovey action, so she mumbled, ¡°Can you please let me go?¡± Nathaniel ignored her. Instead, he gripped her tighter ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were freezing? Stop wriggling around.¡± Feeling self-conscious and unnerved by their sitting positions and Julia¡¯s upset face, Christina escaped from Nathaniel¡¯s embrace while removing the nket from her. ¡°You guys have a nice chat! I¡¯m heading up now!¡± With that, she hugged the nket and rushed upstairs Raymond was amused by the duo¡¯s sweet interaction, smiling to himself. Mr. Hadley and Ms. Christina¡¯s bond grew stronger as the days passed. Julia coughed lightly as she shot warning looks at the couple. ¡°Is there anything of concern for you to show up sote at night?¡± Nathaniel asked coldly. Julia¡¯s expression softened after Christina walked away. ¡°You¡¯re invited to the banquet on the day after tomorrow.¡± Nathaniel eyes darkened. ¡°Okay.¡± Julia was surprised by his answer. ¡°I only want you toe. Don¡¯t bring her with you. She assumed Nathaniel must have readily agreed to her invitation because of Christina. ¡°It depends on my mood.¡± Nathaniel got up from the couch and went upstairs. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Julia was upset by his behavior. She sighed inwardly. Oh no. When did Nathaniel fall in love with Christina? He loves her so much that he can¡¯t bear to hear others. gossiping or talking badly about her. I¡¯m afraid that if this continues, he will be increasingly obsessed with her. Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Banquet +15 Bonus The sound of the leaving car drifted into Christina¡¯s cars as Nathaniel walked into the room. She craned her neck toward him like a curious baby, asking, ¡°Why did Mrs. Hadley find you?¡± Nathaniel headed over to her and caressed her head. ¡°She told me to bring you along to a banquet tomorrow.¡± Christina narrowed her eyes upon hearing his response. It was customary for her to be invited to the banquet if her identity was Ada, the designer. But Juli only knew of her as Christina, the daughter-in- law she despised, so Christina couldn¡¯t understand why Julia would invite her to the event. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that you want to see my mom in the dress you designed? Let¡¯s go and take a stroll at the banquet so we can take a peek, shall we?¡± Nathaniel leaned forward and kissed Christina¡¯s head. A sweet sense of bliss filled Christina, then. Just one nce at the dress will do! No harm done, right? Christina arrived at Radiant Corporation on time the following day. She wasn¡¯t busy because there was not much work to be done on the weekend. Then, after their meeting ended, Gina came to her. She said, ¡°Christina, we have a customer here to choose a dress. Why don¡¯t you serve her?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Exquisite dresses were disyed asionally in therge exhibition hall on the tenth floor of Radiant Corporation. These unique, one-of-a-kind dresses were seble items reserved only for VIP guests. and sometimes, these picky guests would request the dress designers to serve them. Hence, Christina didn¡¯t overthink the situation. She picked her stuff and went downstairs. Soon, she arrived at the brightly-lit exhibition hall that showcased numerous customized formal dresses that cost a hefty sum. A smiling Madison stood in the middle of the exhibition hall, provocation evident in her eyes, greeting, ¡°We meet again, Ms. Steele.¡± Initially, Christina never did notice the unusual glint in Madison¡¯s eyes. If it weren¡¯t for her identity as Ada, she wouldn¡¯t have realized how dangerous this gentle-looking woman was. ¡°Hi, Ms. Taggart. Are you here to choose a dress today?¡± Christina greeted the woman calmly. As Madison nced at Christina, her mind was flooded with different thoughts. Urgh! Her body figure resembled that of Ada. She looks soft and fragile. What a pretentious woman! She utilized her body to make Nathaniel fall in love with her. Madison chuckled lightly. ¡°I need a suitable dress for Mrs. Hadley¡¯s banquet tonight. You¡¯re a designer, so I¡¯m sure you have a keen eyesight. Come on. Pick a dress for me.¡± With that, she grabbed Christina¡¯s wrist and walked toward the racks of dresses. Even though she was rmed by Madison¡¯s fake intimacy with her, Christina kept her emotions under control while remaining expressionless. 12.34 Chapter 110 Banquet +15 Bonus After browsing through the dresses, Madison stopped as she fiddled with the dresses before her. ¡°I think these two are great. What do you think? Is the red one or the white one better?¡± Christina looked at the dresses. However, Madison continued without waiting for her to speak, ¡°Nathaniel doesn¡¯t like red, so I think I¡¯ll go with the white one.¡± Then, she grinned at Christina. There was a hint of provocation in it that only Christina could detect. To others, the women were just having a normal conversation. Just then, Christina¡¯s colleague approached them to wrap up the white dress Madison chose. Christina walked over and took the red dress. She passed it to the salesperson. ¡°Wrap this red dress and send it to my office.¡± Her colleagues nodded before walking away with both dresses. Christina¡¯s action was a retaliation to Madison¡¯s insinuation. I will wear a red dress even if Nathaniel doesn¡¯t like red. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Sheughed lightly, exining herself, ¡°What a coincidence. I¡¯m also heading to the banquet tonight and need a new dress. Please don¡¯t overthink this, okay?¡± Madison smiled in embarrassment, for she never expected Christina to respond in such a way. ¡°Of course not.¡± They turned and headed toward the entrance after that. Then Madison spotted the essories on the side and stopped Christina, who was at the front, from leaving. ¡°Ms. Steele, does this look nice on me?¡± Christina turned around. Unexpected to her, Madison grabbed a ck mask that closely resembled the one worn by Ada and covered Christina¡¯s face. Christina shuddered and froze as her face got hidden by the mask, with only her bright eyes exposed. Madison narrowed her eyes, asking suspiciously, ¡°You look a lot like a designer I saw a few days ago. Her name is Ada. Do you know her?¡± Christina¡¯s back was rigid as she removed the mask calmly. Her face was cold when she replied, ¡°Of course. She is quite famous in the design industry.¡± An eerie smile appeared on Madison¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight, then.¡± Having said that, she strutted off on her heels. Mixed emotions filled Christina as she stared at the mask in her hands. Did she find out about my identity? Many big shots showed up at the banquet that night. Those included in the list were young men bestowed the title of count and countless reputable young socialites from Jadeborough. The moment Christina stepped inside, she thought she had arrived at the kingdom of women, for everywhere sheid her eyes, she saw women dressed to the nines. ¡°Are you sure this is Mrs. Hadley¡¯s banquet? This seems like¡­¡± Christina was confused. She thought the scene was something out of a consort selection event. Nathaniel grabbed her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Dressed in a wine-red-colored suit and a white shirt, Nathaniel radiated the aura of a vampire found in the darkest of night. Although his eyes were frosty and his gaze was chilling, the surrounding women threw flirtatious looks in Nathaniel¡¯s way after they entered the hall. What was not known to the crowd was that Nathaniel chose his suit toplement Christina. Meanwhile, Christina¡¯s red, off-shoulder dress had a swirling pattern on the waistline that entuated her slim midriff. Standing side by side, the couple looked perfectlypatible, like they had just stepped out of a poster. After making a round, Nathaniel noticed Julia was conversing with a few socialites, so he walked over with Christina in his arms, and his appearance immediately attracted these women¡¯s attention. Concurrently, Julia was sizing up Christina with disdain on her face. She made it evident that she had no intention of weing thetter as her guest. After all, the main goal of today¡¯s banquet was to introduce new friends and acquaintances to Nathaniel because, to her, Nathaniel had fallen in love with Christina at first sight because he had no experience with other women for all these years. If Nathaniel surrounds himself with more women and friends and gains more experience in the dating world, maybe he will find that little girl uninteresting! Julia shifted her gaze away as she spoke. ¡°Come over Nathaniel. I¡¯ll introduce you to a few socialites that grew up in wealthy, educated families. They are nothing like the scoundrels from low-ie. families.¡± Meanwhile, the socialites¡¯ eyes brightened when they spotted Nathaniel as the same thought shed across their minds. Wow! We heard so much about him being the perfect man. It seems like this news about him is true now that we havee face-to-face with him. The socialites were about to talk when Nathaniel red at them warningly. ¡°My darling doesn¡¯t like these women.¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Exposed Identity Everything seemed to havee to a halt, and an awkward silence filled the air. Christina was horror-stricken. +ID Bonus On the other hand, Nathaniel had a serious look on his face that seemed to say she was the one who instigated him to do it, causing whatever-good impression Julia had of her to fly out the window. Nathaniel grabbed her hand and walked the other way once he was finished speaking. Julia felt humiliated as she watched the couple leave. Her son showed her no mercy at all. He just had to reject all the other women because Christina says she doesn¡¯t like it. What a vicious woman she is! Many wives of wealthy families arrived at the banquet one after another, and most of them had brought their daughters along. They went to greet Julia upon their arrival, and the women couldn¡¯t help but give her praises when they saw her unique evening gown. ¡°What an extraordinary dress you have on, Mrs. Hadley. Which designer designed it?¡± one of the guests asked. ¡°You look stunning tonight, Mrs. Hadley.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Julia smiled, feeling embarrassed by theirplimenis. The dress was definitely worth its price since so many people had acknowledged it. Someone walked up to get a closer look at the dress. love embroidery. This designer must be a master designer who has been working for decades, fight?¡± Julia had no idea that Ada was so skilled in embroidery that she would be seen as a master designer. Smiling, she answered, ¡°Ms. Ada was the one who designed my dress. She¡¯s really good at her craft.¡± Many knew who Julia was talking about, but they were also aware that Ada rarely epted commissions and how difficult it was to get an appointment with her. ¡°You actually managed to get an appointment with M. Ada? It seems like the two of you are quite close. Ms. Ada never shows her face, and that¡¯s something everyone knows.¡± ¡°If only we can meet up with her just once,¡± one of the guests eximed. The other guests shared their sentiments on how it was difficult to meet Ada when a woman¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the crowd. ¡°I know where Ada is!¡± Madison¡¯s voice was like a light lit up in a pitch-ck area, attracting everyone¡¯s attention to her. ¡°Do you know who Ms. Ada is, Madison?¡± Julia asked, her voice full of doubt. Madison emerged from the crowd and answered confidently, ¡°Of course. In fact, Ms. Ada is currently 12:52 Mon, May 15 Chapter 111 Exposed Identity right here with us.¡± Whoosh! What is this? How could the mysterious designer be here at the banquet? +15 Bonus The guests instantly scanned the crowd, trying to find this special someone. Unfortunately, none of them had any idea what Ada looked like, so there was no way they could do that. Feeling anxious, a few of the wealthy guests urged. ¡°Stop acting so mysterious, Ms. Taggart. Hurry up and tell us who Ms. Ada is. Let us get to know each other, all right?¡± They wanted to be acquainted to Ada and have her design their clothes too. Of course, Madison was silently feeling jealous that was so popr. Her lips curled into a cold. smirk as she kept her eyes on the red figure among the guests. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she walked toward Christina and pulled her to the center of the venue. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°This is Ms. Ada, the one all of you had been looking for. Isn¡¯t that true, Christina?¡± Christina was shocked by Madison¡¯s actions. She had been pulled to the center before she could event react and was forced to admit her identity under everyone¡¯s gazes. Her cheeks burned and flushed red, and she red at the smug face that was waiting for her to embarrass herself. Julia was shocked to see Christina at first. Then, a doubtful look took its ce on her face. ¡°How can you prove this is Ms. Ada, Madison? From what I know, Christina graduated from a third-rate design academy. She probably doesn¡¯t even know how to embroider.¡± Seeing how disgusted and disbelieving Julia was in Christina¡¯s identity made Madison extremely happy. Yes, that¡¯s it! Don¡¯t be fond of her, and don¡¯t you dare admit you¡¯re Ada! ¡°That¡¯s enough! Stop fooling around!¡± Nathaniel emerged from the crowd and stood in front of the woman he loved in a defensive manner. He looked absolutely captivating in his dark red suit. The air in the room turned cold as he stood. before everyone, looking like a majestic ruler of and. Everyone held their breaths, afraid that they would interrupt the air of mysteriousness. Madison panicked. She was upset to see the menacing look on Nathaniel¡¯s face. The woman didn¡¯t want to be the bad guy, but she didn¡¯t want Christina to leave a good impression on Julia either. Frowning, Madison said in an aggrieved tone, ¡°I¡¯m not lying. Come on, Christina. Just admit it. Mrs. Hadley likes your work so much. Why would you hide it from her?¡± Her choked-up voice made everyone else think that it was pretentious of Christina to hide her identity. Why wouldn¡¯t you admit to it if you¡¯re such a famous designer? Did you think it would elevate your status by being mysterious? Right then, Madison¡¯s gaze fell on the crowd once again. Christina felt her heart skip a beat. Madison had set her up again. She watched as Julia¡¯s face turned darker by the second, and a sense of foreboding rose within her. Admitting her identity was not the solution, nor could she continue to hide the truth. Nathaniel could feel that Christina¡¯s hand was covered in sweat, and he said quietly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m here.¡± He took her hand and turned to leave. However, a middle-aged woman wearing a white suit stepped forward right then. It was Hannah. She announced to everyone present, ¡°I am the boss of a studio, and I can prove that Ms. Christina Steele is Ms. Ada. All these years, Ms. Ada had only epted work after we were done negotiating the prices.¡± Now that the boss of a studio had stepped forward, Christina had no choice but to admit she was Ms. Ada. Julia¡¯s eyes trembled when she heard that. She walked over to Christina and asked furiously, ¡°Are you really Ada?¡± At that moment, thetter wanted nothing else but to dig a hole and bury herself in it. Her face. burned, and her hands sweated profusely. She couldn¡¯t deny the fact any longer in such a situation and finally admitted, ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Julia felt her chest ache, and her fingers trembled. Her furious voice rang out. ¡°So you¡¯ve been lying to me all this time?¡± The older woman absolutely hated being lied to. All those who lie to me should go to h*ll! H ¡°How dare you fool me, you brat! Do you think you¡¯re all that just because you know how to embroider? Am I a joke to you? What a vicious brat you are!¡± She moved closer to Christina, her eyes burning with fury. Thetter stepped backward. Noticing the pool behind Christina, Julia reached out and pushed the younger woman in without any hesitation. Ssh! The defenseless Christina fell right in just like that. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Huge Loss Ever since their days in the Hadley residence, Julia already knew that Christina did not know how to swim. Despite that, she still pushed Christina into the water, revealing how furious she must have been over thetter¡¯s deceit. ¡°I asked her to design your outfit. me me if you have to,¡± said Nathaniel curtly before unbuttoning his coat. He then tossed it aside and promptly dived into the pool to save Christina. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Seeing that the situation was worsening, Helen instructed the butler and the housekeepers to send the guests away. Meanwhile, Julia stomped back into the house angrily The guests were soon brought away. Nathaniel carried Christina, who waspletely drenched. In such weather, she shivered when gusts of wind blew past. Wrapping two thick towels around them, the butler invited them back into the house. The water on their body dripped all over the ce. Cristina was so cold that she shivered vigorously. With his heart aching, Nathaniel wiped her hair and instructed the butler, ¡°Bring some hot tea over.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± said the butler. However, just when he turned around to leave, Julia warned sternly, ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to!¡± ¡°But Ms. Christina will catch a cold, Mrs. Hadley,¡± said the butler in a conflicted tone as he looked at Christina¡¯s frail body. Sitting in the living room, Julia exuded such an intimidating aura that the housekeepers around her did not even dare to breathe loudly. If one looked closely, Julia had changed into a ck gown after taking off the jasmine gown. Casting a cold nce at Christina¡¯s drenched body, the older woman did not think that Christina was pitiable at all. ¡°This is the Hadley residence, not the Scenic Garden Manor. Get lost with her.¡± While Julia used to look down on Christina, it was obvious to everyone that she now hated thetter. Madison was overjoyed when she saw that, although she did not understand why Julia hated being lied. to so much. Nevertheless, with Christina having vited the older woman¡¯s taboo, Madison was sure that everything Christina did that might have left a good impression on Julia had now gone to waste. Walking toward Christina, Madison frowned anxiously and appeared to be regretful. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. When I saw how much Mrs. Hadley liked the outfit that you designed, I thought she¡¯ll see you in a different light after finding out that you¡¯re Ms. Ada¡­ I really want to help improve you improve your rtionship with her. I definitely did not harbor any other intentions.¡± She even made it sound like she was on the verge of crying when she reached the emotional part of her speech. Christina trembled in coldness. Her cheeks were ashen, and fury filled the depths of her watery eyes. Improve our rtionship? It¡¯s obvious that this is all part of her n! Otherwise, why would she have pulled me Chapter 112 Huge Loss out in public and arranged for Hannah from the studio to act as the witness? Her objective is to put Mrs. Hadley in a difficult position in front of everyone else, making her hate me even more. What a marvelous n! She managed to force me into this pathetic state¡­. Christina nced upward, her icy gazending on Mailison. ¡°I know you have kind intentions, but Hannah probably wasn¡¯t included in Mrs. Hadley¡¯s guest list, right? You must have a really wide social network to be able to invite her.¡± Madison¡¯s expression changed drastically when she heard this. Although she had prepared all sorts of refutations, she did not expect Christina to use Hannah against her. After all, she had paid Hannah to act as a witness for Christina¡¯s identity. The situation became strange again, for Madison could not think of an excuse to rebuke Christina. Rather than gloating silently, she was now worried about what Nathaniel would think of her. At that moment, Helen brought out the two gowns that Julia had not worn yet. ¡°What shall we do with the gowns, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Narrowing her eyes, Julia pursed her lips tightly and instructed in an icy tone, ¡°Burn them in the backyard.¡± Burn them? Helen wondered if she had misheard Julia. These three gowns are Mrs. Hadley¡¯s favorite gowns. She hasn¡¯t even worn them yet! How can she bear to burn them? Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. When she heard that her eyes reddened. Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrows knitted. Exuding a cold aura, he demanded, ¡°Christina had so many sleepless nights just to make these gowns for you. How can you burn them?¡± Christina spent a lot of effort in order toplete the three gowns. Because of that, she did not even return to Scenic Garden Manor to keep himpany. Undoubtedly, she would be devasted to hear that all that work would be burned to ashes. Nathaniel could never bear to see her sad. Julia¡¯s face was so gloomy that it seemed like dark clouds loomed over it. When she saw how pained Christina was, she felt happy. ¡°I bought the gowns with my money. It¡¯s none of your business what I do with them.¡± Gripping Christina¡¯s thin shoulders tightly, Nathaniel could feel her trembling beneath his palms. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you thrice the amount. Give me the gowns.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather burn them than give them to you. Why are you still standing there, Helen?¡± When Julia nced to the side coldly, Helen did not dare to dy it any further. Mumbling a response, thetter swiftly walked out with two housekeepers. Christina felt resentful. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you just don¡¯t like me, right? This has nothing to do with the gowns.¡± Staring at her face, which was dripping with water, Julia revealed a cold smirk. ¡°Of course, the gowns have something to do with this. I don¡¯t like anything associated with you!¡± Christina would rather forgo thepensation than let the gowns which she had painstakingly made be burned. However, she no longer had any reason to get the dresses back. After Julia paid for them, they now. belonged to her. Regardless of whether the older woman wanted to burn the dresses, give them to others or do anything to them, Christina had no right to intervene. Afraid that Christina would catch a cold, Nathaniel wrapped his towel around her and carried her in his arms. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± After speaking, he turned around and left, not forgetting to re at Madison coldly, his brooding gaze piercing into the depths of her soul like a deadly arrow. Madison felt like she had suffered a huge loss, even though she managed to exact some damage on Christina. While Christina fell into her trap, Madison also dug her own grave. Nathaniel walked out while carrying Christina. When Sebastian, who was waiting outside the door, stepped forward, Nathaniel threw him an icy look from the side of his eyes. Although Sebastian was standing outside, the voices indoors were so loud that he heard everything. While Nathaniel continued walking out, Sebastian turned around and headed to the backyard. The cold gusts of wind extinguished the matchsticks in the housekeeper¡¯s hands as if they also opposed the burning of the gowns. Looking at the exquisitely made gowns, Helen felt reluctant to burn them. However, they did not dare to defy Julia¡¯s orders. ¡°Helen, please give me the gowns.¡± Sebastian walked over and stretched out his hand to take the gowns. ¡°But Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± Helen felt troubled. Sebastian grabbed the gowns without waiting for her response. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If Mrs. Hadley continues. to pursue this matter, say that Mr. Hadley took them. She won¡¯t me you.¡± Helen was helpless to do anything. However, as she was genuinely reluctant to let such beautiful gowns be destroyed, she allowed Sebastian to take them. Sebastian then walked out of the door and ced the gowns in the trunk before getting into the car It was almost midnight when they arrived at Scenic Garden Manor. Christina, who was wrapped in two towels, went into the bathroom and soaked herself in warm water. Perhaps as she was too exhausted, she fell asleep the moment she changed into her pajamas. In the middle of the night, however, she started to feel ufortable. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Late At Night +15 Bonus Nathaniel stayed upte in his study, poring over documents before returning to his bedroom. A subtle scent of flowers and fruit lingered in the air. I was the aroma of a woman who had just finished bathing. His eyesnded on the bed, where Christina had buried herself under the covers, with only her head sticking out. He walked over and lifted the nket, whispering, ¡°Silly girl, won¡¯t you have trouble breathing like this¡­¡± Suddenly, his words were caught in his throat. Christina¡¯s cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, and her nose was tinged with a pink shade. She looked like a ripened tomato. Her long eyshes trembled as she struggled to open her eyes. Despite her blurred vision, the man¡¯s handsome features remained strikingly clear. Christina struggled to speak due to the sharp pain in her throat. ¡°Umm¡­¡± haniel immediately covered her burning forehead, his eyebrows furrowed with concern. ¡°It¡¯s very hot. You have a fever.¡± ¡°Hmm, seems like it,¡± Christina whispered weakly. It was no wonder that she felt tired and drowsy earlier. Yet, the more she dozed off, the more exhausted she became. Nathaniel quickly grabbed his phone and called their family doctor, Daryl Zadoff. ¡°Come over right away.¡± After hanging up, he sat on the edge of the bed and lifted Christina into his arms. Her body felt like a burning furnace, radiating intense heat that warmed his chest. In fact, she was so weak from the prolonged fever that she looked like a wilted flower nestled in his armis. Christina¡¯s breathing was shallow and delicate, evoking a strong protective instinct in those around her. Nathaniel furrowed his brows and instructed the housekeeper outside, ¡°Get me some water, now.¡± In a matter of minutes, the tranquil Scenic Garden Manor suddenly sprang to life, and everyone began bustling about. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Even Sebastian hurried over to help. He rushed over after receiving Daryl¡¯s call, thinking it was Nathaniel who was feeling unwell. It wasn¡¯t until he arrived that he realized Christina had fallen ill. Daryl tried to calm the grumpy Sebastian down by exining, ¡°Mr. Hadley sounded mad on the phone. I was afraid something was wrong, so I figured it was better to have youe, just to be safe.¡± Just then, a deep, menacing voice sounded from inside the room. ¡°Why are you standing there? Did I ask you toe here to chat?¡± Flustered and scared, the duo hurriedly rushed into the room. As Daryl¡¯s eyes fell upon the girl cradled in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, he couldn¡¯t help but gasp. Her beauty was breathtaking, enough to set one¡¯s heart racing. ¡°Have you taken her temperature, Mr. Hadley?¡± In response, Nathaniel red at him. ¡°Not yet.¡± Daryl broke out in cold sweat. He couldn¡¯t help but question Nathaniel¡¯s ability to care for a patient as he hadn¡¯t even taken Christina¡¯s temperature, despite her obvious fever. ¡°Let¡¯s take her temperature first.¡± After helping Christina lie down, Nathaniel took her temperature. Five minutester, Daryl prescribed medicine. Not long after, the housekeeper arrived with a jug of warm water and set it down by the bedside. Nathaniel, known for his reserved and proud demeanor, fed Christina water with great care and tenderness. Watching him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel amused and let out a gentle chuckle. After a ten-minute wait, Nathaniel once again touched Christina¡¯s forehead; his expression imm¨¦diately turned grim. As he rose abruptly from his seat, the man¡¯s towering figure seemed to fill the room with palpable anger. His cold gaze fell on Daryl. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t her fever gone down yet?¡± The doctor was startled by Nathaniel¡¯s question. After all, it wasmon knowledge that it would take time for the medicine to take effect. Why is this cool-headed man losing his wits when Christina is sick? ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hadley. You need to wait for the medicine to take effect. The fever should subside half an hourter,¡± Sebastian hurriedly exined. ¡°That¡¯s right. The medicine needs time to be absorbed into the body,¡± Daryl added, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Nathaniel loosened his cor and instructed, ¡°Get out With that, Sebastian and Daryl quickly left the room They exchanged a look and let out a sigh of relief before making their way downstairs, As Christina drifted off to sleep after taking her medicine, she was besieged by a relentless wave of heat and sweat. It was as if she had been cast into a scorching desert and buried underyer uponyer of searing sand, -her-body writhing in difort. ¡°Hot¡­ so hot¡­¡± she moaned softly. Nathaniel kept a vignt watch at the young woman¡¯s bedside; his eyes fixated on the gentle slope of her ivory skin and the enticing curves of her figure as she pulled his cor. A surge of heat rippled through him, his emotions running wild as he strode over and took hold of her small, trembling hand. Nathaniel realized Christina was tugging his cor because she was soaked in sweat. He strode into the bathroom and fetched a hot towel. Carefully, he wiped away the beads of sweat that had gathered on Christina¡¯s skin. Herplexion had paled, a clear sign that her fever had subsided. Coincidentally, herplexion was a peachy, translucent white, and the scent wafting from her body. was enough to leave one spellbound. As Nathaniel trailed his hand up her back to wipe off her sweat, he couldn¡¯t ignore the supple and dewy texture of her skin. The searing heat under his fingertips caused him to shudder as though he had been electrocuted. As Christina¡¯s head leaned against Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder, he couldn¡¯t help but feel the warmth of her breath on his neck. He raised his brow slightly and reached out to help her lie down. However, she leaned in and nted a soft kiss on his cheek. Suddenly, she murmured in a soft, sultry voice, ¡°Jelly tastes so good.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s temples throbbed as he wondered if Christina had mistaken him for food. Next, he cradled her neck with his hand and lowered her onto the bed. Enveloping her in a tender embrace, he ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. Nathaniel had hoped to settle in for a peaceful night¡¯s rest. Unfortunately, Christina continuously tossed and kicked the covers in search of afortable position. Eventually, he resorted to wrapping his muscr thighs around her soft body, pulling her close until she finally quieted. They slept soundly, their bodies entwined through the night. The morning light pierced through the window, casting a golden glow over the room. As Christina slowly opened her eyes, she felt the stiffness in her body, having spent the whole night in the same position. She had turned into a human cushion for the man beside her, providing him with support throughout the night. She lifted her hand to push away his arm draped over her waist. Just as she was about to get out of bed, Nathaniel pulled her back again. When Christina turned to face him, she was stunned by the sight of his handsome, sleeping face. Seeing such a delightful sight first thing in the morning lifted her spirits considerably. After a good night¡¯s rest, the dizziness and fatigue from the night before had disappeared. She felt completely rejuvenated, all ready to seize the day. ncing at the clock on the bedside table, she realized it was already ten o¡¯clock. Nathaniel, however, remained sound asleep, showing no signs of getting up. Christina whispered in his ear, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Wedding Dress Nathaniel let out a soft grunt in response. ) +15 Bonus Wondering if she had misheard, Christina asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it inappropriate for you to skip work during this period?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal,¡± he murmuredzily. ¨C He then tightened his arm around her, pulling her close like a doll. Christina pouted, wondering how a CEO like Nathaniel could possibly understand the struggles of the common folk who have to clock in on time every day. Oh well, I¡¯ll just have to call Gina and take time off from workter. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Having spent the night drinking only cold water, her stomach growled as soon as she woke up, reminding her of her hunger. Nathaniel gently ced his palm on her forehead, checking for any signs of a fever. Once he confirmed that she was not running a temperature, he let out a sigh of relief. As they sat down for breakfast, Christina couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the chef had made it his mission. to use up every ingredient in the fridge. The table wasden with a vast assortment of dishes. It was a sumptuous feast morevish than what would be served to a VIP. ¡°There isn¡¯t a need to prepare so much food every time.¡± She then picked up a piece of pastry and ate 1. Nathaniel remained quiet and focused on serving her food. It gave him a sense of satisfaction as though feeding a delicate little animal. After breakfast, Christina sat on the couch in the study and worked on her design drawing.. Meanwhile, Sebastian hurried back and forth from the office to Nathaniel¡¯s study, delivering and retrieving documents multiple times. As noon approached, Madison arrived with a stack of documents in tow. As she knocked and entered the study, she spotted Christina curled up in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, fully engrossed in her book. Did Mr. Hadley not go to work because of Christina? She¡¯s a femme fatale! Madison approached his desk and stood firm. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I have something important to discuss,¡± she said. As she spoke, her eyes shifted to Christina. It was an attempt to insinuate that it was inappropriate for Christina to listen to what she had to say. As the CEO¡¯s secretary, she was well aware of thepany¡¯s confidential matters and the need to keep them away from prying ears. Christina, who caught Madison¡¯s hint, was uninterested in hearing about the confidential matters of the Hadley Corporation. Thus, she put her book down and got ready to leave. Chapter 114 Wedding Dress +15 Bonus Before she could walk away, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into his embrace. With his head slightly lowered, Nathaniel¡¯s lips grazed her earlobe as he spoke in a low, husky voice. ¡°Sit here.¡± He tightened his grip around Christina¡¯s waist, preventing her from leaving, Does he fully trust her or is he confident that she wouldn¡¯t understand our conversation? Madison¡¯s extensive experience in the workce had taught her the skill of concealing her emotions. Hence, even though she felt irritated, she managed to keep a calm expression.. Nevertheless, she balled her hands into fists and clenched her teeth in frustration before speaking up. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we spent over two months preparing for the contract with Orail Corporation. Will canceling the meeting now make all that effort go to waste?¡± Her words were solely focused on thepany¡¯s interests, devoid of any personal sentiment. It dawned on Christina that Nathaniel had canceled such an important meeting to apany her. No wonder Madison red at her with such resentment, It was as though she was a wicked queen causing the downfall of a nation, the reason why the king would not attend to his duties. Christina leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on Nathaniel¡¯s unwavering expression. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to do. Why don¡¯t you stick to your nned schedule this afternoon?¡± He shot her a frigid stare and responded coldly, ¡°You haven¡¯t fully recovered.¡± For the first time in her twenty-plus years of life, Christina realized how delicate she could be. ¡°It¡¯s just a little cold; I¡¯m fine now. Look, I have a good appetite. I could take on a tiger!¡± she eximed, lifting her tiny arm to prove her point to Nathaniel. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled into a charming smile as he gazed at the spirited young woman. He lifted his palm and tenderly ruffled Christina¡¯s hair, making her feel like a small, adorable creature beingforted by its master. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Meanwhile, Madison found the scene before her to be distressing. She had been by Nathaniel¡¯s side for four to five years, and she had never seen this cold, aloof man disy such a sweet smile. Madison had always believed that Nathaniel¡¯s austere demeanor represented the entirety of his emotional range. It wasn¡¯t until now that she realized how limited her perspective truly was. In contrast, Christina could see the different facets of Nathaniel, unlocking a side of him that Madison had never witnessed before. ¡°Make arrangements for the afternoon meeting.¡± Nathaniel instructed. Madison huffed, realizing she was no match for Christina¡¯s effortless charm. She withdrew her envious. gaze, her eyes now bloodshot. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied before turning away. What right did Christina have to act like a hero and receive praise from Nathaniel? She¡¯s responsible for this mess. As Sebastian strode into the room with a stack of documents, he caught sight of Madison walking out with red-rimmed eyes. Their eyes met briefly before she quickened her step and walked away with cold indifference. When will Madison learn that Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are destined to be together? Sebastian didn¡¯t pay much attention and walked straight into the study. Nathaniel studied the materials for the afternoon meeting, and before he knew it, it was already noon. He brought Christina along when he left. ¡°Do I have to go too?¡± Christina was still trying to figure out what was going on when she was pushed into the back seat. Sitting in the passenger seat, Sebastian turned around and suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you shop at Aquawood Mall, Mrs. Hadley? They¡¯ve got all the big international brands you can imagine. Mr. Hadley has made a reservation in the restaurant on the fifth floor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so rare for you to have some time off. You should spend some time outdoors,¡± Nathaniel added. Christina nodded in agreement. She realized Nathaniel had been worried she would be bored staying at Scenic Garden Manor all day. Hence, he brought her along to enjoy some fresh air. When they arrived at Aquawood Mall, Nathaniel and Sebastian went to attend their business meeting, while Christina strolled around the mall with Nathaniel¡¯s exclusive ck card in her hand. The mall was a hub of luxury brands, and she could peruse all thetest seasonal collections within the building. She stepped into a high-end boutique, and her eyes immediately widened in awe. Every piece on disy was beautifully crafted. It was as if she had stumbled into a museum of fashion, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel inspired by the sheer creativity and skill that went into making these stunning pieces. Just then, a slender woman donning a baseball cap made her way over to Christina. The woman¡¯s face was mostly concealed by a mask. ¡°Do you like this dress too?¡± she inquired. As Christina turned around, she couldn¡¯t quite make out the woman¡¯s face. However, there was something about the confidence that emanated from her eyes that was truly captivating. Her casual attire did little to conceal her alluring charm, and Christina found herself drawn to her. Perhaps it was a woman¡¯s innate nature to feel a connection when they both coveted the same item. ¡°The gown is unique in its design and color coordination. Although it¡¯s a wedding dress, it¡¯s not really suitable for formal asions. It¡¯s more suitable for artists to wear for photo shoots,¡± Christina said. The woman became excited after hearing Christina¡¯s response. ¡°I thought the exact same thing! That¡¯s why I haven¡¯t been able to find a suitable wedding dress. Are you also here to pick out a dress for your wedding?¡± she asked. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Material Problem Christina chuckled and exined, ¡°I¡¯m a designer, so I have the upational habit of stopping to look whenever I see a beautiful dress.¡± The woman became even more excited after hearing that. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a designer. No wonder you have such good taste. How about we exchange contact information, and I¡¯ll ask you to help me design my wedding dress?¡± ¡°All right, sure.¡± It was rare for Christina to stumble into someone she could get along well, so she took out her phone to exchange numbers with that woman That woman took her leave after saving Christina¡¯s number. ¡°I have some work to attend to. Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡± Christina waved her hand at her. Only after the woman was gone did Christina recall she had forgotten to enquire about her name. After saving the phone number, she continued to stroll around the mall. When Nathaniel was done handling his matters, he had dinner with Christina. Noticing she seemed distracted during mealtime, he asked her, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± While shopping at the mall, Christina saw some gowns specifically designed for middle-ageddies. Her heart ached as she was reminded of the gowns she had put in so much effort to design getting burned by Julia. ¡°Is Mrs. Hadley still mad at me? Should I find an opportunity to pay her a visit and apologize to her?¡± She didn¡¯t expect her actions would end up causing the rtionship between the mother and son to be even more tense. If I had known Mrs. Hadley would disapprove of me so much, I wouldn¡¯t have epted the job previously. ¡°The gowns weren¡¯t burned. I told Sebastian to retrieve it. As for my mom, just let her stay angry as she likes.¡± Nathaniel sipped his soup nonchntly as if they were discussing someone else¡¯s mother. In fact, he knew his mother¡¯s personality well. Once she got furious and had a bad impression of someone, nothing they did would be good enough for her. His father did something wrong in the past, and no matter how he begged for her forgiveness afterward, it was fruitless. Ultimately, his father started a family with another woman outside, leading to the current situation. No one could tell for sure who was right and who was wrong. Christina felt guilty for deceiving Julia. ¡°Why don¡¯t we visit Mrs. Hadley some other day when you¡¯re free?¡± Nathaniel looked up and nced at the sensible girl before him. ¡°Do as you wish.¡± A smile finally spread across Christina¡¯s visage. The two returned home after finishing their dinner. After taking a day off, she returned to thepany the next day to find her desk piled with documents. Chapter 115 Material Probl She sat in front of herputer to deal with her work. Right after the morning meeting ended, Gina angrily summoned her to Radiant Corporation¡¯s clothing factory. The clothing factory was located behind thepany building, so Christina jogged all the way there. When she arrived, she didn¡¯t even have the time to catch a break because Gina immediately questioned her sternly, ¡°Christina, what¡¯s going on with these fabrics of inferior quality?¡± Christina was baffled by the pile of discarded fabrics in front of her. Those fabrics were supposed to be used to manufacture next season¡¯s clothes, but they realized there was a problem with the materials at few days before starting production. At that moment, the factory director walked over and sneered, ¡°What¡¯s there to ask? She must¡¯ve used thepany¡¯s money to purchase inferior-quality fabrics because she wanted to make a profit from the price difference.¡± A group leader had the power to decide which factory¡¯s fabric to use. Not to mention, the funds were also paid by the group leader. Hence, anyone wishing to make money from the price difference or get a kickback from the textile supplier could aplish that effortlessly.. Christina immediately sensed the severity of the situation and firmly exined, ¡°Ms. Tanner, I didn¡¯t take anymission, nor did I order inferior-quality fabrics to make a profit.¡± Gina grimaced. ¡°Of course I trust you, but this problem happened under your watch. I need to provide. a reasonable exnation to my superior.¡± Christina racked her brain, recalling the entire procuring process and trying to figure out where the problem could¡¯ve possibly arisen. She suddenly thought of something and said, ¡°I have the order information and records of transactions. The fabric factory owner can also vouch for me.¡± Gina shook her head in resignation. ¡°Before I called you here, I had already tried to contact the factory owner, but his phone was turned off, and he had gone missing.¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank when she heard this. The witness is gone, meaning the only proof of my innocence is lost. At that moment, she felt as if she was wandering in the desert with no water or direction and could sense the oppressive crises closing in on her. Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org. Gina turned around to make a phone call. It turned out their superior had already learned about that issue. After exining for more than ten minutes, she finally returned to Christina¡¯s side and conveyed the ultimatum. ¡°Christina, I can only buy you two days. You can either fork out your own money to pay for a new batch of fabrics or resign.¡± Looking at the pile of fabrics that even a beggar would disdain, Christina felt frustrated. She didn¡¯t have the time to find out who had deliberately framed her because figuring out a solution to that problem took precedence. On her way back from the factory to her office, Christina heard the whisperings inside abruptly cease when she pushed open the door. She could sense everyone was looking at her with eyes filled with contempt. Needless to guess, the issue about the problematic fabric must¡¯ve spread to the office. Caroline, the most delighted by Christina¡¯s misfortune, scoffed. ¡°I wonder how someone who resorts to all sorts of despicable means to make money from thepany is qualified to be the group leader.¡± When their gazes met, a hint of anger shed across Christina¡¯s eyes as she responded, ¡°Before we find out the truth behind this matter, I suggest you mind your tongue.¡± Caroline took a deep breath and red at Christina. We shall see when you¡¯ll have to pack your belongings and leave the office!¡± She didn¡¯t believe thepany would retain Christina after thetter had done something like that. Christina wasn¡¯t in the mood to argue with Caroline. She gazed at her assistant and said, ¡°Mandy, please help me organize all the information regarding the procurement of fabrics.¡± Mandy got to her feet. ¡°Okay-¡± However, Caroline interrupted their conversation sarcastically, ¡°Mandy, I advise you not to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs. The consequences will be dire if someone tries to pin the me on youter.¡± Mandy broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing that. Caroline has a point¡­ After all, I¡¯m just an insignificant employee, while Christina has the support of Mr. Hadley. It be easy for her to find a scapegoat. Christina finally knew what it felt like to be kicked when she was down. ¡°That¡¯s all right. I don¡¯t need your help. I can handle this on my own.¡± With that, she turned around and entered her office. The others exchanged nces and fell silent. Christina sat before her desk, using herputer to search for information. She needed to find a new fabric supplier and order a new batch of material as soon as possible. I can use the design fee I received recently to cover this expense. She didn¡¯t have the time to overthink. After contacting a few textile factory owners and arranging a time to meet with them, Christina left the office in a hurry. Despite having visited a few fabric factories, she didn¡¯t manage to find a suitable supplier. Either the colors were off, or the factories were fully booked and couldn¡¯t process her order. The sky was already dark by the time Christina exited the caf¨¦. She felt upset and disheartened, having aplished nothing after a busy day. She returned to Scenic Garden Manor at around midnight. When she stepped into the living room, the air inside was freezing, causing her to shudder uncontrobly. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 An Exnation +15 Bonus Nathaniel was on the couch, d in nothing but a bathrobe that partially revealed his chest as droplets. of water rolled down his neck. His very presence in the roommanded attention. For a brief moment, Christina felt as if Nathaniel was a dazzling spark in the dark. It was as though a nce at him would wash her exhaustion away. As Nathaniel turned to her, he chided, ¡°Why did youe back sote?¡± He made it sound like Christina was a misbehaving girl, but the truth was that she had been walking. the entire day. Even blisters were about to form on her feet. Frankly, she wanted to vent her frustrations to someone so that the weight on her shoulder would be lighter, but if she were to do that to Nathaniel¡­ Either he was going to make her stop working, or he was going to settle the score with herpany. Furthermore, Christina was an adult. She felt that she should not be bawling her eyes out over every trivial matter. Thus, she walked over to him and said in a deliberately lighthearted tone, ¡°Thepany had a show, so I was following up on it. That¡¯s why I¡¯mte.¡± Nathaniel quietly stared at her, his gaze piercing. Christina took in a guilty, sharp intake before stretching. Leaning on him, she then raised her head to look at him with puppy eyes. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. Darling, can you give me a massage?¡± She even gave him a cute and earnest smile. At that, Nathaniel reached up to rub her temples, his movements stiff. Christina guessed that it was his first time giving anyone a massage, but she did not mind it. Instead, she slowly rxed as she breathed in his scent. Right then, the butler came over with supper. When he saw Nathaniel massaging Christina¡¯s temples, he froze as if he had seen a ghost. The mysophobic Mr. Hadley is letting Mrs. Hadley lean on him even though she hasn¡¯t changed into fresh clothes? Quietly, he turned around to return to the kitchen with the tray of food, not wanting to disturb their moment of peace. Next morning. Christina left early. When Nathaniel arrived in the office, Madison came into the room with several folders. It was then she realized that there was an unfamiliar woman sitting in the corner of the office. Madison was wary of all women who approached Nathaniel. After a moment of studying the unfamiliar face, she averted her gaze and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ve contacted the textile manufacturers you told me to.¡± Nathaniel paused in his work and let his eyes flick toward Gina, who was on the couch. ¡°I¡¯ll leave this to 12:50 MON Chapter 116 An Exnation you.¡± +15 Bonus Gina walked over and flipped to the page with the fabric samples. Once she picked apany, she put its folder on the table. ¡°Thispany has the right color.¡± After receiving a quiet hum of acknowledgment from Nathaniel, Gina left with the folder. It was then Madison realized what was going on. She had been busying away in the morning, only to pave the way for another woman. Madison was willing to spend all her time working for Nathaniel, but she would not do it for anyone else. Gina had informed Nathaniel about the factory matter that happened the day before. She, too, knew that Christina had been having trouble looking for a suitable textile manufacturer. Nevertheless, Nathaniel could find the right manufacturer immediately. Furthermore, when the manufacturer found out that Hadley Corporation was the one interested in the coboration, they agreed to it immediately. Once Gina left Hadley Corporation, she immediately called Christina and told thetter to head to the textile factory. When Christina arrived, the factory manager came to greet her personally. ¡°You must be the one Ms. Tanner was talking about. Pleasee in.¡± Once Christina made sure that the textile factory was capable of manufacturing the fabric she was looking for, she asked, ¡°Mister, I¡¯d like to make an order for a batch of fabric. Will you be able to deliver in a week?¡± The manager chuckled and answered, ¡°Of course. Coincidentally, we have a free spot for this, so we¡¯ll be able to deliver on time.¡± A smile crept onto Christina¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful. Let¡¯s sign the contract right now then.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quick in making decisions, Ms. Steele. I¡¯d like to give you a discount.¡± At that, the factory manager asked his assistant to bring the contract and told Christina that he was giving her a twenty- percent discount. The two soon signed the contract. Christina found herself rxing as she looked at the signed contract. As she walked out of the textile factory, she thought about how things seemed to have gone a little too smoothly. However, she soon thought about how her persistence had to be why things went well with the textile manufacturer. When Christina returned to thepany, she thanked Gina for the rmendation. Then, she returned to her team, only to notice the strangeness in the air. Her coworkers were looking at her with questioning gazes. They all felt that it was shameful for a group leader to use her title to get more earnings. Despite making that mistake, Christina was still allowed to stay. The joyous expression she had face only irked her coworkers even more. on her Caroline then took out a resignation letter from her drawer and gave it to Christina in front of the others. ¡°Tm quitting. Radiant Corporation has changed. It¡¯s no longer apany where all designers. get to have equal rights¡± Christina nced at the resignation letter. Naturally, she knew that Caroline was doing this in public to assert dominance. The atmosphere in the room was gloomy, and everyone seemed dispirited. Christina ignored the letter and said. ¡°I¡¯ll be giving you all an exnation about the fabric. If you want to quit, you can hand this letter straight to the HR department. If you think that I was the one behind. the fabric incident, then I will have to say that you¡¯recking in the intelligence department. Who would shoot themself in the foot by doing this to their subordinate?¡± Her words made realization strike the others. It was then her coworkers realized that she made sense. Christina had Nathaniel backing her, so why would she greed for a small amount of money like this? It simply did not make sense. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The look in Christina¡¯s bright eyes turned grim. As she ambled over to Caroline, she questioned, ¡°I will definitely find out who¡¯s behind this. Tell me, are you in such a rush to leave thepany because you feel guilty?¡± If Christina¡¯s memory served her right. Caroline was the one who was in charge of the contract, while Christina herself was only in charge of supervising theyout and signing the contract. Subconsciously, Caroline tightened her grip on the letter, wrinkling it, as her heart skipped a beat. At that very moment, the resignation letter felt like it was made of lead. Caroline could not lift it to pass it to Christina, but she curled her lips mockingly and said, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you to do that, but if your investigation proves to be fruitless, I¡¯d like to ask you to leave Team B.¡± Without hesitation. Christina agreed. ¡°Sure.¡± Caroline returned to her station after letting out a scoff. The others did not dare to continue watching the show, and they quickly lowered their heads to focus on working instead. Meanwhile, after Christina went back to her office, she started looking into the factory owner¡¯s tracks, but it seemed as if the man had vanished into thin air. When she looked at the transfer records, she found out that the traces of this deal had also been erased. Hence, Christina became sure that someone was trying to frame her and get her kicked out of Radiant Corporation. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Go Down With Me Caroline had a bad premonition when she saw a grim-looking Christina walking into the office. Although she had already deleted all the data and rted invoices, she was worried Christina might track down the factory manager. That would spell big trouble for her. Despite having cleared the air, Christina felt aggrieved about being wronged. When she got into her office, she immediately called Bailey and asked for her help to do some sleuthing. Bailey was enigmatic and had multiple identities. Although she had been acquainted with her for so many years, Christina only knew she was an influential figure in the voice-over industry and was also one of the top three hackers. It didn¡¯t take long for Bailey to find out the address. Other than the hotel name, she also managed to get the check-in information and details of expenses incurred at the hotel. Christina stared hesitantly at the address for a moment before calling the police. She wasn¡¯t stupid and would not risk her own safety by heading there personally. As they had already filed a police report for the matter, the police were quick to act when they received her tip-off on the whereabouts of the suspect. Christina was confident that so long as the suspect was detained, it would be easy to track down the mastermind of the matter. Just then, the phone on her office desk rang. It was Gina on the line. ¡°We have a VIP guest. Please come to the conference room now,¡± Gina requested. When Christina reached the conference room, she saw that a few other designers were already gathered there. Anna from Team A and Millie from Team C were there. They were both senior designers of the company with many years of experience in the industry. The guest was ady with almost half her face hidden behind a pair of oversized shades. She was looking through some designs, and from her pursed lips, it was pretty obvious she wasn¡¯t too pleased. with what she saw. Anna and Millie exchanged worried nces, stunned that even Gina¡¯s design could not win her approval. They reckoned no one in Radiant Corporation could meet her expectations. Thatdyid down the design drawings and asked, ¡°Are there any works from other designers?¡± There was a tinge of disappointment in her voice. Gina handed her another set of drawings and said, ¡°There¡¯s one more. She¡¯s new to Radiant Corporation. Please take a look at her portfolio.¡± Thedy took the drawings, and after she went through a few, a smile broke out on her face. ¡°This designer is good. Let me meet her.¡± Gina immediately turned to Christina, pulled her over, and made the introduction. ¡°She is the 1/3 Chapter 117 Go Down With Me designer, Christina Steele.¡± +15 Bonus Thedy was visibly excited when she saw Christina. She removed her shades and eximed, ¡°We meet again!¡± When her face was revealed, there was a moment of silence in the room. Everyone was stunned. That mysterious guest was Renee Olson, the most sought-after actress. No one had expected a star like her would turn up at Radiant Corporation personally to look for a designer for her wedding gown. Anna and Millie were devastated. If they had known who she was, they would have done their utmost to market their own designs. Without a doubt, Renee¡¯s wedding gown would definitely get lots of media attention, bringing fame and fortune to the designer. Christina had no idea thedy she had met in the mall was a hot celebrity. Renee had made special efforts to disguise herself in order to stay incognito while she was in public ces. Renee held Christina¡¯s hand and grumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you respond to the messages I sent you?¡± As Christina did not save Renee¡¯s contact details, she could not recognize the phone number. She had thought those were unsolicited junk messages, so she had conveniently ignored them. ¡°My apologies. I must have missed them.¡± She told a harmless white lie. Once again, Gina, Anna, and Millie were stunned. Famous celebrities like Renee were notoriously private and would not reveal their personal contact number to any Tom, Dick, and Harry. ¡°No issue! Come, let¡¯s discuss my wedding gown design!¡± Renee chummily made Christina sit down next to her and began to rattle off her list of requirements. ¡°I don¡¯t want the top to be too revealing. As for the bottom, I want it to be borate, preferably with exquisite and eye-catching details. Most importantly, the design must show off my tiny waist! Oh, is it possible to add some glittery diamonds?¡± Bombarded with a quick session of demands and worried that she might forget any details, Christina quickly took out her tablet and recorded everything Renee asked for. Renee and Christina were totally engrossed in their discussion and paid no attention to the other three ladies in the room. Anna and Millie knew they stood no chance anymore, so they bitterly left the room. They were green with envy that Christina was given the lucky break to work with Renee. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. On the other hand, Gina quietly sat down next to Renee and Christina, listened to their discussion, and asionally chipped in with her own suggestions. Before they knew it, three hours had passed, and they had spent almost the entire morning on that discussion. When Renee was finally ready to leave, Christina and Gina personally walked her to the door. 12:56 Mon, May 076 Chapter 117 Go Down With Me +15 Bonus As Renee put on her shades, hiding her gorgeous eyes, she reminded Christina, ¡°Remember to send the design drafts to me when you¡¯re done, Christina. I¡¯ll send my hubby overter so you can get his measurements.¡± ¡°Sure, Ms. Olson! Enjoy your day!¡± Christina smilingly replied. Renee was ted that she had finally found a designer for her wedding gown. She cheerfully blew Christina a kiss as she turned around to leave. At times, Gina could not help but be envious of Christina, who was blessed with talents as well as solid backing. She had no doubts Christina would go far in the industry. Just as she and Christina were leaving the conference room, an ashen-faced assistant came running toward them, shouting, ¡°It¡¯s terrible, Ms. Tanner! Quick! Please head over to Team B now! A crazy guy has forced his way in!¡± After giving each other a worried look, Gina and Christina dashed over to Team B¡¯s office. When they arrived, they saw a crowd gathered outside the office. Those were Team B¡¯s staff who had run out of their office. A few security personnel were inside, facing off against the intruder. Gin¨¢ pushed her way through the crowd and entered the office. Christina caught a glimpse of the intruder and recognized he was the factory manager who had run off with the funds. Throwing caution in the wind, she took the risk and made her way into the office as well. The manager was sping onto Caroline¡¯s throat with one hand while his other hand was holding a knife to her neck. ¡°You b*tch! You must be the one who sold me out to the police and led them to my hideout!¡± he yelled into her ear. A terrified Caroline quavered and exined, ¡°N-No, I-I didn¡¯t. I sent you a message urging you to leave as soon as possible! I didn¡¯t expect the police to find you¡­¡± She had been worried if the manager did not leave after getting the money, then sooner orter, Christina might hunt him down. She had never expected her innocent act of sending him a warning. message would lead him to mistakenly think she was the one who had betrayed him. ¡°You were the one who instigated me to misappropriate Radiant Corporation¡¯s funds. Yet, you were also the one who turned around and reported me to the police! You¡¯re evil!¡± The manager tightened his grip on her neck. He had had a narrow escape and managed to run away just before the police surrounded his hiding ce. Disgruntled, he hade to seek revenge on her. ¡°If I fall, I¡¯ll make sure you go down with me!¡± Caroline felt the cold de of the knife pressing against her neck, and she cried out in distress. Not only did she fail to frame Christina, but her ns had backfired and put herself at risk instead. The security personnel had not made an attempt to wrestle the knife from the intruder. They were worried for Caroline¡¯s safety. One wrong move from them could infuriate the manager, and he would harm Caroline. The manager was getting emotional, and Gina could see there were already a few bruises on Caroline¡¯s neck. Eyeing the knife worriedly, she implored, ¡°Calm down! Let¡¯s talk it out. Please don¡¯t hurt her.¡± Christina stepped forward and dered, ¡°Let go of Caroline and we¡¯ll forgive you of your crime. Deal?¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Pride Of The Night The factory manager¡¯s eyes widened as he red at Christina. ¡°Do you mean what you said?¡± Christina answered firmly, ¡°Of course. Let Caroline go now. There¡¯ll be no room for negotiation if you hurt her.¡± The man was hesitant. After all, he had onlye seeking revenge out of impulse. Now that things were getting out of hand, he was beginning to feel scared. Just when he was about to let Caroline go, the security guard seized the opportunity and leaped at the factory manager. Before he could react, he was already pressed on the ground. Caroline copsed on the ground and cried from the shock. She could have died if the de had sliced her. Rage washed over the man when he realized he had been tricked. ¡°You b*tch! What did I do to you to deserve this? You were the one who made me frame your group leader. And now, you¡¯re throwing me under the bus? I¡¯ll expose you even if I¡¯m captured!¡± His voice was so loud that his words traveled to the ears of those in the corridor. Everyone knew Caroline and the factory manager had worked together to nder Christina. In the end, the factory manager was taken away while Caroline stood rooted to the ground with many disapproving gazes fixed on her. It was an extremely embarrassing situation. Everyone knew it was not the first time Caroline had given Christina a hard time. However, hertest trick was too uneptable. Gina¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°Caroline,e to my office. There¡¯s something you need to exin. to thepany.¡± Knowing what she was about to face, Caroline cast Christina a resentful re. s, there was no turning things around at that point. Caroline had no choice but to follow Gina out of the oflice. The employees who had finally learned about the truth fell silent. Some felt ashamed for not believing Christina, while some felt guilty for talking behind her back. However, Christina seemed unfazed by it. ¡°Get back to work if you¡¯re done watching,¡± she ordered before entering her office. Caroline, on the other hand, packed her things as soon as she exited Gina¡¯s office. It was no surprise that she was fired, but not a single person-not even the ones who usually chatted with her in the pantry-sent her off. When it was almost time to get off work, a notice was posted by thepany to clear Christina¡¯s name. Just as Christina was packing her things to go home, her phone rang. It was Bailey calling to ask about her situation. Both of them decided to meet at a mall under Hadley Corporation. Mon, Ma Chapter 118 Pride Of The Night 76% +15 Bonus It had been a long time since they hadst met. They went on a shopping spree and did not stop until they could barely carry the bags. After chatting for some time at a caf¨¦, Bailey pulled Christina to an undergarment store. Bailey picked up a set of red undergarments and ced it in front of Christina topare the size. Pride of the Night was its name. ¡°This suits you,¡±mented Bailey with a smirk. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Christina¡¯s face flushed red when she saw the undergarment made of little fabric. ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± Seeing how shy Christina was, Bailey chuckled and whispered into her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t you and Mr. Hadley need a little spice? I¡¯m sure things are exciting with a body like his.¡± Bailey had met Nathaniel on the ne before. He exuled a strong masculine aura and had a gaze that could make any woman fall head over heels for him. Christina quickly covered Bailey¡¯s mouth to stop her from spouting nonsense. ¡°I¡¯m going to check out the pajamas. Take your time to shop.¡± After looking around, Christina bought a set of cartoon-printed pajamas. While she was paying for it, Bailey sneaked Pride of the Night into her bag. The two had dinner together before Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Since Nathaniel had not gotten off work, she simply set the bag down by the bed and went off to take a shower. It was only after she had taken a shower did she realize she had forgotten to bring her pajamas in. She walked out with the towel wrapped around her. At that time, Nathaniel had returned and was sitting on the couch while reading a document. Like an animal sensing its predator, Christina quickly retracted her foot that had just stepped out of the bathroom. ¡°Nathaniel, can you hand me my pajamas from the bag?¡± Nathaniel made a hum of acknowledgment before putting down his document. He then walked over to the shopping bag and looked inside. Just then, a shadow caught his attention. He curled his lips into a smirk, picked the garment up, and ced it in Christina¡¯s hand. Huh? Why does it feel so light? Christina lowered her gaze to find Pride of the Night in her hand instead of the cartoon-printed pajamas she wanted. When did Bailey put this in? She¡¯s a terrible friend! Christina¡¯s face turned red. She looked as if she had juste out of a spa massage. ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong one. I didn¡¯t mean this!¡± There was a mischievous twinkle in Nathaniel¡¯s dark eyes. ¡°I want to see you in it. Come on Don¡¯t be shy.¡± Chapter 118 Pride Of The Night As if I¡¯m not wearing this! +15 Bonus Suddenly, the door was pushed open, causing Christina to take a few steps backward in fright. The moment Nathaniel stepped into the bathroom, his tall figure made the entire space be cramped. Christina curled herself into a ball like an animal facing a strong predator. ¡°What are you doing? Get out!¡± Christina¡¯s voice was like a feather tickling his cars. Her delicate corbone triggered a sensation in his body. He leaned closer and tilted his head a little to his lips grazed her earlobe as he spoke. ¡°Do you need help?¡± Christina¡¯s heart raced uncontrobly. It raced faster as time passed as if it was going to leap out of her body. She did not dare to speak, so she shook her head like frightened prey, honest yet at a loss for what to 1. ¡°Get dressed quickly. I¡¯ll wait for you outside Nathaniel could not help but nt a kiss on her tender check. However, that move shattered his remaining ounce of self-control, and the faint fragrance made him lose all sense of rationality. Immediately, his lips shifted from her check to her lips as he breathed in all the fragrance. The kiss was so intense that it left Christina disorientated. It was as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of her lungs. Her heart beat so fast that she felt the need to call for an ambnce. Time seemed to havee to a halt in the bathroom as the two intertwined figures grew blurry in the steam. When they went downstairs to have their meal, Raymond asked Christina with worry, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you having a fever again? Why is your face so red Christina was in her cartoon-printed pajamas with her long hair covering most of her face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m just dehydrated. I¡¯ll be fine after drinking some water.¡± She picked up the ss and took a few gulps. Nathaniel could not help but smile at the sight of that. Christina shot him a resentful re. How dare you smile? You were the one who made me like this! After they finished their dinner, Madison showed up. ¡°Mr. Hadley, there¡¯s an urgent document that needs your signature.¡± Nathamel got to his feet and went upstairs with Madison. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Will Not Do You Any Good Nathaniel studied the document carefully in the study before penning his signature and cing the document on the table. Instead of leaving after taking the document. Madison stared at him, looking hesitant to speak. Nathaniel cast her an indifferent nce. ¡°Is there something else?¡± Christina bit her hp but did not show any excessive expressions ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you sending me abroad because of Christina?¡± She had just received a notice from the HR department that she would be in charge of a project. abroad. It would take at least two months or more. In truth, she realized Nathaniel had been more indifferent to her ever since she exposed that Christina was Ada to Julia. The feeling was as painful as someone stabbing her heart. Nathamel propped his chin up with his hand, his face slightly facing downward, which prevented the light from reaching his eyes Madison dared not look straight into those dark eyes. ¡°Are you suggesting I¡¯m bringing my private matters into work¡± His tone sounded icy and N?velDrama.Org owns all content. domineering Madison felt a chill run down her spine. ¡°Of course not I just think you¡¯ve been distancing yourself from me on purpose. Is it because of Ada¡¯s identity didn¡¯t mean it.¡± Her fists were balled without her realizing it. At the same time, she felt a wave of uneasiness, for she had no idea what was about to happen next. As Nathaniel lifted his gaze, his eyes lit up under the lights, making him look like a wolf lurking in the bushes Targeting her won¡¯t do you any good. If you don¡¯t want to stay in Hadley Corporation, you can leave anytime¡± Madison felt aggrieved, but she did not dare to speak honestly. After all, she knew well that Nathaniel was not giving her a warning. Rather, it was a final chance. I¡¯ve been by Nathaniel¡¯s side for so many years, and I¡¯ve ever done a lot for him. How is it that I¡¯m not better than Christina who only appeared in his life for a few months? Madison could not admit defeat, but she still went against her heart. ¡°N-No¡­ I respect Mrs. Hadley with all my heart. I ept your arrangements and will do my best toplete it smoothly.¡± Nathaniel hummed icily in acknowledgement. ¡°That¡¯s all. I¡¯ll get going first.¡± With that, Madison picked up the document and exited the study. When Madison met Christina¡¯s gaze at the staircase, she badly wanted to tear her apart. Why is it that she gets to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side every day while I¡¯m sent to another country because of a trivial matter? Even so, Madison knew it was not the right time to go against Christina. She recollected herself and greeted, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hadley.¡± 70% Chapter 119 Will Not Do You Any Good +15 Bonus Christina caught the look of fury that shed past Madison¡¯s eyes. Why bother pretending to be friendly when she clearly doesn¡¯t like me? Just exactly how scheming is this woman that she can go to such an extent? Christina simply shed Madison a smile before heading upstairs. A hostile aura still lingered in the study when Christina entered. Nathaniel was looking through some documents which seemed never-ending. ¡°It¡¯ste. Aren¡¯t you going to get some rest?¡± she asked. He should be tired from working hard every day. Even robots get tired, too. Nathaniel embraced her, his gaze still glued to the documents. ¡°I¡¯ll be done in a while.¡± Unable to convince him otherwise, Christina decided to stay in his arms and study the documents with him. However, the dense text was long and boring, so it did not take long for her to fall asleep. What they did not know was that a camera was secretly capturing everything and disying it on anotherputer. Julia was infuriated when she saw the lovey-dovey scene on the screen. This b*tch is a tricky one. No wonder Nathaniel keeps falling harder for her. She can really flirt! ¡°I¡¯ll never let Nathaniel be with a woman who¡¯s full of schemes!¡± Julia mmed theptop shut. Helen, on the other hand, could only watch Julia fume in silence. She had no idea how to console her. After all, it was Nathaniel who had pulled Christina into his embrace. Christina had only advised him. to rest early. Helen did not think it was an evil trick. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, if Mr. Hadley finds out we fixed a camera there, he¡¯ll definitely be mad. Should we do it another way?¡± Helen suggested softly. The consequences would be dire if Nathaniel found out they had been spying on him in the study. Julia pounded the table and hissed, ¡°This is my n, and there won¡¯t be any changes to it.¡± Christina never would¡¯ve managed to hide her identity if Nathaniel did not help her to lie to me. So, why can¡¯t I return the favor by installing a hidden camera? Since I was yed by Christina. I¡¯m going to separate the two of them. Helen thought Julia was bing rather extreme, but she did not dare to say much as a mere servant. The next day, Christina saw Renee sitting in her office by the time she arrived. There was a mask and a pair of sunsses on the table, and the woman was dressed in a set of casual clothes. Christina figured Renee was keeping a low profile to avoid the reporters. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re finally here. How¡¯s the design drawing?¡± asked Renee with concern. ¡°I¡¯ve just started drafting it, so it won¡¯t be done so soon. Let¡¯s take your measurements today,¡± Christina answered with a smile. Under normal circumstances, a design drawing would usually take a week to bepleted. After taking Renee¡¯s measurements, Christina poured her a ss of water. Having answered a phone call, Renee said to Christina exasperatedly. ¡°My husband can¡¯t make it today. Can youe to my house to take his measurements? You know he¡¯s a celebrity, too. It¡¯s quite inconvenient for us to move around.¡± Christina could understand, so she answered, ¡°Okay. She informed Gina about it before leaving thepany with Rence. Taysley Prime was one of the high-end mansions that cost tens of millions per square meter and had strict security. Renee unlocked the door with her fingerprint and invited Christina into the house. The interior was spotless with sunlight shining in. Even the air smelled fresh, too. Not only that, but the furnishings in every inch of the house seemed costly. ¡°My husband is probably still sleeping. Please make yourselffortable while I go get him.¡± Rence turned around and headed upstairs. Christina sat down at a random spot. ¡°Okay.¡± Just like that, she was left alone in the huge living room, which made her feel uneasy. Fortunately, she soon heard footsteps approaching. She lifted her gaze, only to find a man with slender legs dressed in a white shirt and a ck suit. His lean shoulders gave him a clean and neat look. Both of them were taken aback when they finally registered each other¡¯s faces. ¡°Francis? You¡¯re Renee¡¯s husband?¡± asked Christina in shock. Francis walked over. She looks cute with her eyes widened like that. ¡°You¡¯re the designer she hired?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Christina nodded. A glint shed past Francis¡¯ eyes and a smirk appeared on his lips when he said, ¡°You¡¯re here to take my measurements, aren¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Her Condition Have Worsened Christina got to her feet and scanned Francis¡¯ tall figue, feeling hesitant. ¡°I forgot to bring my measuring tape.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Immediately, Francis narrowed his eyes and nced at the shoulder bag hanging by her side. She¡¯s hired to design the formal attires. Hoto could she possibly not bring her measuring tapes? It was clear that she did not want to take his measurements. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give me your number, then? We can arrange for another time.¡± While saying that, he took a step forward and caught a whiff of her perfume It was not a smell that contained alcohol but the fragrance of natural blooming flowers. Christina nodded and took out her phone to exchange their numbers. This time, Francis watched her save her number on his phone with his own eyes. Getting his measurements was the main point of visiong his house. Since that could not be done that day, Christina figured she should just leave early. However, she was caught off guard the moment she lied her head, and she shuddered like a frightened kitten. Even her hair stood on end. No matter how calm she looked on the outside, her heart was racing fast. Their lips had almost touched earlier. Why is he standing so close? It¡¯ll make others suspicious. Christina¡¯s hand was sweaty as she muttered, ¡°I just remembered I have something to take care of in the office. Please tell Rence I¡¯ll make the arrangement for another day.¡± Having said that, she left in a hurry. The moment she left the house, she was greeted by the winter breeze. Only then did she feel more alive. Just as she left the residential area, her phone rang. It was a call from the nurse at the hospital. ¡°Ms. Steele, your mother¡¯s condition has worsened. Pleasee to the hospital quickly.¡± Christina hung up and rushed to the hospital. The hospital bed was surrounded with all kinds of instruments with her mother lying on it looking extremely pale. Her mother had been recuperating in a private ward of the hospital. In fact, she would be discharged that month. It did not make sense that her condition had worsened all of a sudden. Christina tugged at the doctor¡¯s coat and asked urgently, ¡°I thought my mother¡¯s condition was already stable. Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯d recover after recuperating for some time?¡± ¡°Logically, yes, but Mrs. Steele¡¯s body deteriorated rapidly. Some of her organs were affected as well.¡± The doctor was surprised, too. After all, her condition should not have be so serious even if it was 12:57 Mon, May 15 Chapter 120 Her Condition Have Worsened a rpse. 76%1 +15 Bonus Pausing momentarily, the doctor continued, ¡°There were many bruises on Mrs. Steele¡¯s body made by blunt objects. Do any family members who visited have violent tendencies? Perhaps you can get the police¡¯s help.¡± A look of shock appeared on Christina¡¯s face. The idea of her mother getting attacked broke her heart. Could her condition have worsened because someone attacked her? ¡°I¡¯ll look into this. Please take care of my mother.¡± Christina responded with a frown. ¡°We can only use medication to control her condition now. Even if we need to perform surgery, we need to wait until the time when her body can handle it,¡± answered the doctor with worry. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll pay the bill now. Please take good care of my mother.¡± The doctor nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best.¡± With that, he walked away. Christina went to the first floor to settle the bill without wasting any time. When the cashier handed Christina the bill, thetter realized it cost tens of thousands for one day. It¡¯ll cost at least five hundred thousand a month. When Radiant Corporation¡¯s fabrics had issues back then, she used the money she earned from Julia to pay for the goods. Thepany had promised to return the bnce to her once the case was over. She had just enough in her bank tost for a month. Still, Christina did not hesitate to pay the bill. She returned to the ward to take care of her mother before finally leaving in the afternoon. Worry was disyed all over her face the second she stepped out of the hospital. How am I going to make so much money in such a short time? Should I get Nathaniel¡¯s help? It¡¯s not a small amount, though. This is a year¡¯s living expenses for ordinary families. She decided to think of ways to make money and would only get Nathaniel¡¯s help when she was desperate. Ever since Hannah revealed Christina¡¯s identity to Julia, Christina had never contacted the former again. In fact, Christina had rejected all of Hannah¡¯s calls when she tried to apologize. Trusting an unreliable person again could put her in danger. Now that her fastest source of ie had been cut off, she shifted her focus to designing Renee¡¯s wedding gown. For-projects like that, thepany would only take a thirty percentmission while the rest would go to her. If the project could bepleted, the concerns with the medical bills for the next month would be solved, and she would have more time to take care of it. Christina began drawing the design as soon as she returned to the office. She did not leave even after Chapter 120 Her Condition Have Worsened everyone had left after work. 76% +15 Bonus Her shadow was elongated under themp while her eyshes were lowered slightly as she fixed her gaze on the tablet. Just then, the ringing of a phone broke the silence in the office. Christina answered it without checking who the caller was. ¡°Hello?¡± Her gentle voice put a smile on Francis¡¯ face. ¡°Can youe over to take my measurements tomorrow?¡± His maic voice sounded gentle, unlike Nathaniel¡¯s deep, cold voice. Christina immediately realized who the caller was. Usually, she would have rejected the suggestion. However, all she wanted at that moment was to complete the project and get themission as soon as possible. ¡°All right. Give me your address. I¡¯ll send my assistant over tomorrow,¡± she informed nonchntly, still focused on the pen. Francis¡¯ eyes dimmed a little. ¡°That can¡¯t do. I¡¯m not someone ordinary people can meet. You need to come here on your own.¡± Of course, Christina knew how influential he was in the country. Even though he had been spending most of his time training neers behind the scenes for the past few years, any show he participated in could make the fans excited. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll head over personally.¡± Christina then ended the call. It was almost dawn when she finally sent the design to Renee and packed her things to go home. She also sent Nathaniel a text before heading to Evelyn¡¯s house. Early the next morning, Christina took a taxi to Francis¡¯ studio. An artist¡¯s studio was usually located in less crowded ces like the suburbs. After getting out of the car, Christina examined the fabulously designed private studio. It had a cozy vibe. On top of that, it was peaceful like a paradise since it was far from the hustle and bustle of a big city. There were no industrial high rises around, so the sunlight shone directly on the lush field while the main colors of the building-blue and white-made it look well-defined. The shiny floor-to-ceiling ss windows and geometric outline gave it a stylish look. Not only that, but each corner was decorated with unique artwork. Every twistedmp and simple painting was made by a famous artist. After informing the purpose of her visit, the receptionist brought Christina to the office in the deepest part of the building. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Custom Attire Francis was wearing a thin ck shirt that contrasted with his fair skin, making him stand out visually. Apart from that, he was also wearing some small stainless steel pendants and rings that added to his charm. When he heard themotion, he raised his head and looked at the young woman. A yful smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he said, ¡°Did you bring your measuring tape today? If not, I have plenty prepared.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I brought it with me.¡± Christina walked over and took out her measuring tape. After saving the edited itinerary, Francis got to his feet and made his way to her side. He noticed how the light fell on her clean and wless face, which made her seem as pretty as a piece. of translucent emerald. Her clear eyes were gazing at the scenery outside the window, and the calmness reflected in them was as serene as a painting A sly look shed in Francis¡¯ eyes as he bent down slightly and leaned close to her ear before whispering, ¡°Remember to save the measurements after you¡¯re done. I n to have all my future formal wear custom-made by you.¡± Taken aback by the sudden closeness, Christina shot him a re and huffed, ¡°You don¡¯t need to talk so close to me. I¡¯m not deaf.¡± When he saw that his prank had seeded, a satisfied smile spread across his lips. He suddenly found the woman to be rather interesting and felt that even if he hadn¡¯t made a deal with her, he would still want to get close to her. Christina took out the measuring tape and instructed, ¡°Raise your hands.¡± Francis obliged and raised them obediently, looking like a king who was waiting for his attendant to dress him up. Since the two had a significant height difference, Christina had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him. She kept him at arm¡¯s length, making it obvious that she was deliberately avoiding any physical contact with him. Francis furrowed his brows slightly at that, and with a displeased tone, he said, ¡°I¡¯m not sick, so why are you keeping your distance?¡± He didn¡¯t like the way she was treating him as if he was some sort of dangerous person. ¡°You¡¯re getting married soon, and your spouse-to-be is the famous actress, Renee Olson. I¡¯m just worried that if we¡¯re seen getting too close, it will have a negative impact on your marriage,¡± Christina replied matter-of-factly. She was trying her best to avoid any unnecessary conflict. Francis chuckled in response. ¡°Why do I get the feeling that you¡¯re worried about being misunderstood by Nathaniel instead?¡± Realizing that her intention had been seen through, she red at him irritably and continued measuring him with the tape in her hand. After a while, she recorded the measurements. Chapter 121 Custom Attire +15 Bonus ¡°All right, I¡¯ve got your measurements. The designs will be up to Renee to decide.¡± Christina put away her measuring tape and notebook. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Just as she was about to leave, Francis stopped her. ¡°You forgot to take the measurements for the pants.¡± Christina¡¯s lips twitched slightly in response. It wasn¡¯t that she had forgotten, but rather she simply. didn¡¯t want to take the measurements. ¡°The size of the pants can be adjusted easily, so I¡¯ll just use the standard measurements for models of simr height.¡± Sensing the perfunctory tone she was using, Francis nced at his watch and grinned. ¡°All right. Let me walk you out, then.¡± Christina nodded and walked over to open the door, only to see a group of people approaching. Her gaze then settled on Nathaniel, who was dressed in a ck suit. His handsome face was cold and emotionless as he exuded a gloomy aura. When the light fell on his side profile, it made him seem as if he was glowing. Christina blinked in surprise. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. When Nathaniel saw Christina walking out of Francis studio, his expression darkened further. An overwhelming sense of oppression swept over the area, and Christina swiftly moved away from Francis¡¯ side. She put on her best docile look before walking up to Nathaniel and exining with a sweet smile, ¡°I¡¯m here to take measurements for an order that thepany received.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on Christina¡¯s face and he asked coldly, ¡°Are you done, then?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m done.¡± She nodded. Francis was leaning against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest and a mocking look in his eyes when he said, ¡°Christina, remember to bring the clothes over for me to try on in person when they¡¯re ready.¡± When he saw the slight change in Nathaniel¡¯s expression, a sense of glee surged within him. He was well aware of what the other man was thinking, for he knew better than anyone how possessive Nathaniel could be. Nobody can touch what belongs to him. That is probably the only weakness Nathaniel has. Christina stiffened when she heard Francis¡¯ words and wondered why the man was mentioning the clothes in such an ambiguous tone. ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant bring them over,¡± she replied. With that, she linked her arm with Nathaniel and walked out. Silence filled the air once they got into the car. Christina looked at Nathaniel curiously and asked, ¡°What were you doing in Francis¡¯ studio?¡± Although she didn¡¯t see the two interact much, she was certain that there must be some kind of grudge between them. He wouldn¡¯t go to Francis¡¯ studio for no reason. Chapter 121 Custom Attire +15 Bonus Sebastian, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and exined, ¡°This piece ofnd belongs to Hadley Corporation. Thepany¡¯s nning to take it back and build a mansion.¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking back thend? Does that mean Francis would have to move his studio?¡± Christina was surprised and felt that it was a waste to build a mansion in such a nice area. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not decided yet. We¡¯re still negotiating on the price,¡± came Sebastian¡¯s reply. When thend was leased out, it was done so using a rental agreement with a ten-year contract and a price increase every five years. Since Nathaniel was going to increase the rent, Francis would have to return thend to Hadley Corporation if he could not afford it. Nathaniel nced at Christina and asked, ¡°Are you disappointed to hear that?¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s not like it¡¯s my studio, anyway. I just envy having such a good and spacious ce to work, that¡¯s all,¡± Christina answered with a smile. She felt that she could get a lot more done working in a ce like this and thought it was a pity to let such a good ce go to waste. Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Nathaniel didn¡¯t question her further. The car soon left the suburbs and returned to the bustling city center beforeing to a stop at the entrance of Radiant Corporation. Just before Christina got out of the car, Nathaniel said, ¡°Go back to Scenic Garden Manor once you¡¯re done with work.¡± Christina was nning to stay back at thepany to continue working. As such, when she heard the man¡¯s words, she hesitated for a moment before narrowing her eyes and replying, ¡°Okay.¡± Once she alighted, the car drove off. Christina had just entered the office when she received a message on her phone. The message was from Francis, and it read: I have an artist who is going to release a new album soon, and I want you to do the styling for her. The payment will be a hundred thousand. Christina was tempted when she saw the figures, so she messaged back: Sure. Send me the information about the artist, then. Half a minuteter, she received a reply from Francis. It turned out that the artist was Coco. It had been a while since they hadst met, and Christina could see that the woman had gained some confidence. Thinking that she would be able to work with someone she was familiar with, Christina suddenly felt less resistant toward this job. After working until the evening, she sent the designs for the wedding dress and suit to Renee before leaving the office. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina saw that several stylists were waiting for her in the living room. ¡°Mr. Hadley instructed us toe and do the styling for you, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Just as she was left feeling puzzled by the whole thing, she was quickly ushered upstairs. An hour later,. she was dressed in a high-end feather evening gown, which was light and elegant. Her long ck hair was tied up, giving her a dignified and graceful appearance. The moment Christina was done with the styling, Nathaniel¡¯s car arrived at the door. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Charlie Hadley Christina sat in the car, and the faint scent of agarwood lingered in the air. This scent didn¡¯t seem like a specific perfume, but rather one that could change its fragrance depending on the person¡¯s body. temperature. At that moment, Nathaniel¡¯s masculine scent came to life. ¡°Are we going to a party?¡± Christina asked curiously. Nathaniel hadn¡¯t mentioned it beforehand. ¡°Banues¡¯ wine party,¡± Nathaniel replied. Christina had heard of the name before. The brand was famous internationally, and every year it would hold an anniversary day exclusively for members. For ordinary people, it was a good opportunity to expand their social circle. But for Nathaniel, a wine. party at this level didn¡¯t require his personal appearance. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Is there another reason? Christina hesitated and asked, ¡°Is there anything special about this party?¡± Nathaniel paused for a moment, then held Christina¡¯s small hand. Her hand was tiny and tender, like a child¡¯s. It made him feel like protecting her. ¡°Back then, my parents met at this wine party. They both love this wine and would attend the party every year,¡± Nathaniel said cidly. Suddenly, Christina realized why Julia valued this party so much and even had a custom-made gown. designed. The reason was that she could see Nathaniel¡¯s father. From this, it was clear that Julia still hadn¡¯t let go of Nathaniel¡¯s father. Half an hourter, the car slowly stopped at the entrance of the venue. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and they got out of the car before walking into the venue together. Julia wore a sleek dark blue gown, looking dignified and elegant. She chatted with several wealthy ladies who were considered her old friends from her younger days. One wealthydy proudly showed off her gown. ¡°This dress was personally sewn by the designer Kevel, and the workmanship is excellent.¡± ¡°I envy you for being able to hire Kevel. Could you introduce him to me someday?¡± These famous designers were not easy to hire. The wealthydy was ttered by theirpliments and casually said, ¡°Last month, I offered the designer Ada ten million to make me a dress, but she was unavable, so I had no choice but to hire Kevel instead.¡± The wealthydies listened and became even more envious. Who wouldn¡¯t want a custom-made gown? Chapter 122 Charlie Hadley +15 Bonus Julia remained calm, but her heart was disturbed. Christina gave up such a high-payingmission for me? The image of the girl wearing a mask and embroidering every day in the sewing room shed across her mind. When she thought of how the girl had deliberately hidden her identity to get closer to her, she felt a little ufortable. Nathaniel walked over with Christina at this moment. As soon as Julia saw Christina, any positive feelings she had disappeared. She looked Christina up and down and sneered, ¡°It¡¯s good to bring her out to see the world so that she won¡¯t embarrass the Hadley family when interacting with people in our circles.¡± Her disdainful tone sounded icy as if no matter how hard Christina tried to please her, she would still be rejected. Christina wasn¡¯t angry. She replied calmly, ¡°Nathaniel has everything, and I¡¯ve seen everything there is to see in the world.¡± Julia¡¯s lips curved into a smile. This brat is quite eloquent indeed! Suddenly, a figure brushed past Christina from behind, causing the girl to stumble and spill her drink onto Julia¡¯s gown. ¡°Ah¡­ Ms. Christina, how could you be so careless?¡± Helen was the first to react as she anxiously stared at the wet patch on Julia¡¯s dress. Leaving the party at this moment when it had just started would not be appropriate, but attending the party in a wet dress would invite ridicule. The atmosphere became cold, and everyone¡¯s faces looked grim. Christina¡¯s face turned slightly red as she was intimidated by Julia¡¯s angry gaze. After a moment of silence, she said in embarrassment, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that. I¡¯llpensate you with a new dress.¡± Christina then turned to Sebastian. ¡°Go to the car trunk and bring the spare dress.¡± Afraid that Julia would be relentless in her scolding. Christina pulled Nathaniel¡¯s arm and hurried. away. Sebastian quickly brought the dress in a gift box and handed it to Helen, saying, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is the dress that Ms. Christina ispensating you with He then left afterpleting his task. Helen opened the box and was surprised to see the jasmine dress that Julia had asked her to burn. ¡°M-Mrs. Hadley, um¡­ we have no choice. It¡¯s better to wear it now first. This is a dress that many wealthydies envy!¡± Helen sounded cautious, fearing that she would upset Julia. Julia had yet to meet the person she wanted to meet, so she didn¡¯t want to leave yet. She remained calm, took the gift box without any expression, and went to the dressing room to get changed. Soon, the party was in full swing, and the brand manager of Banues opened a new bottle of wine in the center of the living room and invited the guests to taste it. Christina took a few sips of the wine, and the fragrant aroma filled her nose. The wine tasted so Chapter 122 Charlie Hadley smooth that she unconsciously finished the entire ss of it. +15 Bonus ¡°Do you like it?¡± Nathaniel asked, seeing that she seemed to be drinking wine for the first time. This wine was not very high in alcohol content, and it had a strong fruity fragrance. Christina had drunk it as though it was a normal non-alcoholic beverage. Christina nodded. ¡°I do.¡± Nathaniel turned to Sebastian and said, ¡°ce an order for ten boxes.¡± Sebastian hummed in acknowledgment and left to handle the order. As a couple approached the brand manager. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on them, and his expression turned slightly cold. Christina could feel the temperature around her dropping and curiously followed Nathaniel¡¯s gaze. A middle-aged couple was standing together, wearing matching ck formal wear. The man was wearing an elegant ck suit, while the woman was wearing a tailored ck dress. The woman was holding the man¡¯s hand, and they looked like husband and wife. The man¡¯s features were somewhat simr to Nathaniel¡¯s handsome, almost otherworldly face. The curve of his nose and jaw, especially made him look as though he had stepped straight out of an oil painting This is your father, right?¡± Christina widened her eyes in shock. It¡¯s really Charlie Hadley. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were cold and mysterious, like a ck rose in the dark. He knows that Mom will attend every year, and yet he openly brought his mistress here. Charlie had no regard for Julia¡¯s status as Mrs. Hadley at all. That was why Nathaniel hated their whole family, including their child, Francis Fernando. Upon learning the truth, Christina opened her mouth in disbelief. How could Charlie behave so outrageously and not consider Mrs. Hadley¡¯s feelings? At that moment Julia had already changed her clothes and came out. She took slow steps toward the brand manager, and the guests couldn¡¯t help but look at this esteemed lady wherever she passed by Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 None Of Your Business Illuminated by the lights, Julia stood there in a custom-made gown that fit her perfectly. The jasmine flowers that adorned the gown! were extremely lifelike and looked as if they had bloomed on it. Paired with her elegant makeup, she was the picture of refinement. Over the years, Julia had made sure to take good care of her skin, and it showed. Her skin was far more supple than the skin of other people her age. Charlie, who had not seen her in a long time, eximed when heid eyes on her. ¡°Julia, you look fantastic in that gown He, too, liked jasmine flowers. As he drew closer, he could detect the faint fragrance of jasmine. He had to admit that it was mesmerizing. The woman who stood next to Charlie was close to their age. Although she was also dressed elegantly. there was a distinct contrast as she stood next to Julia. ¡°Julia, that¡¯s such a pretty gown you¡¯re wearing! Is it made by a famous designer?¡± Linda smiled. Linda Macall was Charlie¡¯s mistress. Everyone in their circle knew about the Hadley family¡¯s scandal, and they were aware of Charlie¡¯s infidelity. This time, he had even boldly brought his mistress to the wine party. Only Julia would have the grace to tolerate such a faux pas. The outsiders thought it wise that Julia did not choose to divorce Charlie. This meant no matter where Charlie brought Linda, thetter would always be regarded as a mistress. Julia tilted her chin, and her eyes darkened as she said, ¡°Shut up. You are not qualified to speak of such matters. Also, we¡¯re not that close. I never permitted you to address me by name.¡± Thoroughly humiliated at being publicly admonished Linda, whose eyes were red, replied aggrievedly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Charlie felt a headache forming. Whenever the two women encountered each other, Linda would always be the one who came out on the losing side. In an attempt to help Linda out, he turned to Julia and said. ¡°Can you tone down on the aggressiveness whenever we meet Whatever happened to your image as a refineddy from a prestigious tamily?¡± His tone was unfriendly, and it carried with it a hint of usation Inwardly, Linda gloated while she kept a pitiful expression on her face. ¡°Charlie, I¡¯m sure Mrs. Hadley didn¡¯t do it on purpose Let¡¯s not make a scene in public julia felt her heart clench as a wave of anger surged within her ring at the off-putting and hypocritical expression Linda wore. Julia said coldly, Stop unting her in front of me if you don¡¯t wish for me to admonish her As her anger continued to rise she continued in a frigid tone. ¡°It I were actually uncouth. I would have torn into her countless unes before this. You know that she¡¯s not someone who should have been brought here, but still you did that and behaved shamefully on purpose.¡± ¡°Why, you¡­¡± Charlie was furious. The slight admiration he had felt toward her a moment ago had vanished without a trace. 12:57 Mon, May 15 Chapter 123 None Of Your Business +15 Bonus Although Linda was frowning, she was secretly thrilled. It did not matter how elegantly and gorgeously Julia was dressed. In the end, Charlie still did not favor her. There¡¯s no way Julia can beat me in this lifetime! A heavy silence hung in the end, turning the atmosphere ufortably awkward. Christina stared at the three of them. It was obvious that they did not like each other, but for the sake of appearances, they had to act cordially with each other. She could notprehend such a feeling. She turned around to look at Nathaniel¡¯s reaction and saw that his cold and handsome face was completely expressionless. He looked as if he was used to such a scene. Just then, a tall figure strode out from the crowd. d in a dignified suit, the man looked to be around fifty years old. However, that did not diminish the elegance he exuded. He had a calm face that was tempered by time, and he gave off an assertive aura. ¡°Julia, you¡¯re here!¡± the man said in a mellow voice. The three of them immediately turned their gazes toward him. Julia was stunned. Her pupils contracted slightly as she turned to look at him. ¡°Lawrence! When did you return from overseas?¡± Smiling slightly, Lawrence Phelps walked toward her with a ss of red wine in his hand. ¡°I just got off the ne. I remembered that you were a member of Banues and thought I might run into you here.¡± ¡°You know I¡¯ll always attend the party every year.¡± The confrontational energy from earlier had vanished, and Julia resumed her usual elegant demeanor. ¡°You look especially gorgeous today. Since it¡¯s rare for us to meet, shall we have a chat?¡± Lawrence invited gantly. ¡°Of course.¡± Smiling slightly, Julia nodded and left with Lawrence. When Linda saw that Julia had gone off with another man, she sneered, ¡°They seem to have a good rtionship.¡± She turned around in puzzlement when she realized that herment was met with silence. She saw a hint of anger color Charlie¡¯s face. He looks as if he¡¯s jealous. Charlie knew better than anyone else how close Lawrence and Julia were. They were childhood friends, and their families had even nned for their engagement at one point. If Charlie had not suddenly barged in, Julia might have married Lawrence. Now that we¡¯re estranged, Lawrence must be up to something! Charlie suddenly felt a little upset. Curiously, Christina turned and asked Nathaniel, ¡°Who¡¯s that unusually charming gentleman? He seems to have a good rtionship with Mrs. Hadley. Nathaniel frowned. ¡°What do you mean by charming? He¡¯s just an ordinary person.¡± Christina was baffled. I guess for someone as handsome as Nathaniel, anyone else would seem like an ordinary person to him. Nathaniel stared after his mother¡¯s and Lawrence¡¯s retreating figures and casuallymented, ¡°I¡¯ve met him once or twice. He seems to be an old friend of my mother.¡± Since Nathaniel had been young back then, he could not quite discern their rtionship. Due to Lawrence¡¯s appearance at the party, Julia felt as if time had passed very quickly. When it ended, Lawrence offered to send her back. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to send my wife back.¡± Out of nowhere, Charlie suddenly appeared and rejected the other man bluntly. Lawrence¡¯s eyes darkened imperceptibly. ¡°You seem to be quite a busy man. Thedy over there appears to be waiting for you.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. He was referring to Linda, whom he knew had wrecked Julia¡¯s marriage. Hence, he wasn¡¯t too fond of the other woman. After witnessing their friendly banter earlier, Charlie was so jealous that his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets. How dare he cozy up to someone else¡¯s wife like that. He must have bad intentions! Charlie red at the other man and said, ¡°That¡¯s none of your business. Please step aside.¡± The other guests gathered to watch the show gleefully when they saw that an argument had ensued. Julia¡¯s expression grew tense as she told the two of them to stop arguing. ¡°I don¡¯t need either of you to send me home,¡± she said as she gazed somewhere into the distance. ¡°Nathaniel will be sending me home.¡± Nathaniel obliged. Soon, he, Christina, and Julia walked out of the reception hall. With only Charlie and Lawrence left, everyone else dispersed. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 A Unique Design After getting into the car, Christina felt a little uneasy when she saw Julia sitting in the back seat. ¡°I think I should ride shotgun.¡± Sebastian reached his arm out and blocked her path. ¡°That¡¯s my spot, Ms. Christina. It¡¯s really spacious. in the back, so you won¡¯t feel cramped at all.¡± Realizing that she had nothing to say in retaliation, Christina had no choice but to give up on the front seat. ¡°All right, then.¡± After making sure that everyone was seated, the driver started the car and drove off. The atmosphere in the back of the car was ridiculously tense, and the silence felt deafening. It was already tense with Nathaniel around, but Julia¡¯s presence took things to the next level. Christina was so uptight that she didn¡¯t even dare breathe out loud as she sat there with her palms on her knees. As the car slowly cruised down the road, Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel as though the driver was slowing down on purpose. Julia felt pressure on her shoulder when the car pulled up at a traffic light. She turned her head in confusion, only to see Christina resting her head on her shoulder. What? Even Nathaniel has never been this close to me! Who does she think she is? How dare she rest her head on my shoulder? Suppressing her rage, Julia was about to move Christina¡¯s head away, but Nathaniel grabbed her by the wrist. ¡°She didn¡¯t get enough sleep the past few days in order to make you that dress,¡± he said with at resentful look in his eyes. Julia shot him a displeased re as she put her hand down, but her face suddenly turned solemn. As much as she disliked Christina, Julia decided to let it go since Christina had helped her. The car soon arrived at the Hadley residence. Nathaniel carefully pulled Christina into his arms before Julia got out of the car. Christina frowned slightly in surprise and nuzzled against his chest. As though she had just found a newfortable spot, Christina continued sleeping soundly. ¡°Get some rest,¡± Nathaniel said and rolled up the car window. Julia¡¯s eyes narrowed as she watched the car drive off Nathaniel always had an icy-cold expression, but I saw a hint of warmth on his face just now. It¡¯s almost as though he¡¯s bing more and more human. Is Christina the one who changed him? As the rays of the morning sun shone into the bedroom, Christina slowly opened her eyes. She sat bolt upright when she recognized the familiar bedroom around her. Wait a minute¡­ Did I fall asleep on the way homest night? If I recall correctly, I rested my head on Mrs. Hadley¡¯s shoulder¡­ Oh, no! I can¡¯t believe I did something that rude to Mrs. Hadley! She must hate me even more Chapter 124 A Unique Design now! It looks like I¡¯m going to have a lot of trouble maintaining a decent rtionship with her¡­ With that in mind, Christina hopped off the bed, got changed, and ran down the stairs. +15 Bonus To her surprise, Nathaniel had yet to leave the house at that hour. Instead, he was reading the news on his tablet while having breakfast at the dining table. Is he waiting for me? ¡°Don¡¯t you have to go to work?¡± Christina asked curiously while making her way over. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The look in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes was still cold as he replied, ¡°I was waiting for you so we could head over together.¡± Christina let out a soft chuckle when she heard that. After all, Nathaniel hardly ever waited for anyone. It was usually others who waited for him instead. The two of them left the house after having breakfast After returning to the office, Christina got a call from Francis when she had only sat down for a bit. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up outside your office building in five minutes,¡± he said and hung up the phone before Christina could even respond. Christina had spent time doing some research after promising him to help Coco with her appearance, so all she needed to do was inform Gina before leaving the office. A ck MPV was parked outside the office building. The door only opened when Christina got closer to it. Coco gave Christina a big hug the moment she entered the car. ¡°Yay! I¡¯m so d I get to work with you again!¡± Coco had been so busy filming for her new show that they barely had any time to meet up. Being ant extroverted person, Coco kept telling Christina about the interesting incidents she encountered while filming throughout the entire drive. Upon arriving on set, Coco went on to get her makeup done while Christina followed the staff to the dressing room. She saw Francis sitting on a couch inside the moment she opened the door. He was wearing a simplistic ck dress shirt with a denim jacket. The retro-looking pendant dangling from his neck helped add some more ir to his overall outfit. Wow¡­ Those in the entertainment industry sure have great fashion sense! Francis¡¯ lips curled into a smile when he saw Christinae in. ¡°You¡¯re free to mix and match the clothes here however you like. All you have to do is create five outfits in total. That should be a piece of cake for you, right?¡± It wasn¡¯t until then that Christina realized the clothes on the shelf were thetest designs of the season. Those clothes could easily cost up to millions. Since Coco¡¯s style was that of a pretty and cute princess, Christina had to focus on clothes that looked cute when putting the outfits together. ¡°You know, you wouldn¡¯t have to buy this many clothes if you had just let me preview them beforehand,¡± Christina said. ¡°What, are you feeling sorry about how much I¡¯ve spent?¡± Francis asked with a huge grin. Ugh¡­ Can¡¯t he just talk to me normally? Why did he have to make it sound so flirty? Christina rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I was simply expressing my opinion from a businessperson¡¯s point of view.¡± It was her dream to someday own a studio for her own brand and develop it little by little. In order to do that, she needed to gain more experience and knowledge. Amused by Christina¡¯s prideful behavior, Francis leanedzily on his side and watched her get down to business. Hmm¡­ She looks kind of cute when she¡¯s all serious about her work. Christina became even more focused as the dressing room fell into silence. In order to create apletely unique outfit, she tried putting together elements that did not stand out at first nce. It wasn¡¯t long before she came up with outfits that she was satisfied with. All that was left to do was to have Coco try them on and see how she looked. With that in mind, she turned around to seek Francis¡¯ opinion on the outfits, only to realize he was standing right behind her. Because he was standing really close to her, his handsome face was merely inches away from her shoulder. Surprisingly, the faint scent of tobo on his clothes mixed with his perfume didn¡¯t smell that bad. Feeling satisfied with her outfitbinations, Francis reached out and tied the ribbon on one of the outfits into the shape of a bow. ¡°There, that outfit is now perfect!¡± Christina nodded in response. ¡°Agreed,¡± she said with a smile that revealed her perfect pearly whites and highlighted her rosy lips. Charmed by Christina¡¯s beauty, Francis inched closer to her and whispered seductively into her ear, ¡°We really make a perfect pair.¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Angering Nathaniel Again Like a scared kitten, Christina jumped back when his manly voice reached her ears. She felt goosebumps all over her skin and his warm breath around her ear. Her face burned bright red > instantly. ¡°I can hear you just fine, so you don¡¯t have to talk next to my car like that. Honestly, you gave me quite the scare back there!¡± Francis chuckled in amusement when he saw her response. ¡°I¡¯ve charmed tons of women in the past, but you¡¯re the first one to get scared instead. I¡¯ll be sure to remember you.¡± Oh, she looks like a deer caught in the headlights! It just makes me want to protect her! The look in Christina¡¯s eyes turned gloomy as she said with a displeased frown, ¡°Would you please behave yourself? You¡¯re engaged, remember? Stop flirting with other women! Is this how people in the entertainment industry carry themselves?¡± While handsome and wealthy men like Francis were bound to attract tons of women, Christina was not one of them. Francis lips curled into a faint smile when he heard that. There was an unfathomable look in his gaze. Just then, someone opened the door to the dressing room, relieving the sexual tension almost instantly. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Coco walked up to Christina in anticipation and cast her gaze upon the outfits. ¡°Wow! You sure have great taste, Christina! I¡¯ll go try them on right away!¡± Christina then helped Coco with her hairstyle and makeup after thetter put on the outfits. ¡°Your makeup skills have improved, Christina! Have you been practicing at home or something?¡± Coco asked. ¡°Ah, you caught me!¡± Christina replied with a chuckle. As fashion design was closely rted to makeup, Christina needed to study makeup as part of her profession. After all, she could onlyplete a perfect look with better skills. About an hourter, Christina had finished applying the makeup to match the first outfit that she put together. Coco was really pleased with the way she looked in the mirror. ¡°You¡¯re so good at this, Christina! I want you to be my fashion designer for all of my music videos in the future!¡± Christina felt happy after receiving Coco¡¯s acknowledgment andpliment. The film crew then had Coco do a photo shoot before she could try on the next outfit. Because the makeup for each outfit was different, Christina would have to help Coco with her makeup all over again. As such, it was impossible to try out all five outfits within a single day. While Christina waited patiently on the side, someone handed her a cup of coffee. She turned around in confusion, only to see Francis winking seductively at her. ¡°Here you go. Come on; you¡¯re not still mad at me, are you?¡± If I¡¯m bothered by his behavior, then that would mean I feel something toward him as well! Chapter 125 Angering Nathaniel Again +15 Bonus With that in mind, Christina took the coffee over and sipped on it before asking, ¡°I heard you¡¯re moving your studio. Is that true?¡± She had heard about that while she was in Nathaniel¡¯s car. Francis nodded and replied nonchntly, ¡°It shoulde as no surprise to you that he hates me. He¡¯s always picking a fight with me, so I¡¯ve gotten used to it by now.¡± Christina narrowed her eyes as she asked, ¡°How are you rted to Nathaniel?¡± Did those two know each other long ago? Do they have some kind of grudge between them or something? ¡°He never told you?¡± Francis asked with a sarcastic smile. He absolutely refuses to talk about it, so I¡¯m really curious.. Christina pouted at the thought of that. Francis lowered his gaze when he saw the look on her face and knew her answer to his question. ¡°We have the same father. I¡¯m his younger brother, but he has never acknowledged me.¡± Christina opened her mouth slightly as a sudden realization dawned upon her. Oh¡­ That exins why they¡¯re always at each other¡¯s throats and get into fights whenever they see each other! Coco¡¯s photoshoot took all day and ended ratherte in the evening. Despite her performing really well, she got tired after working for more than ten hours straight. Most of the staff had gone off work by then. Because the location of the photo shoot was a little far away from the city, the staff decided to leave in groups. By the time Christina was done arranging the outfits in the dressing room, the staff had all left the set. ¡°I¡¯ll send you home,¡± Francis said while waving a set of keys in the air. As it was incredibly difficult to hail a cab there, Christina decided to take him up on his offer. She was about to open the door to the back seat when Francis stopped her. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that it¡¯s basic manners to ride shotgun when your friend is giving you a ride?¡± What does she take me for? A driver? Of course, Christina didn¡¯t do that on purpose. She had gotten so used to having a driver that it became second nature to her. Francis waited until she had gotten into the passenger seat before entering the car. He then sped off shortly after starting the engine. Because the road they were on was not a part of the main road, there were hardly any cars around. The sound of the wind was the only thing Christina could hear inside the car. As they slowly came to a halt at a red light, a car in front of them shed its high beams repeatedly at them to get their attention. Christina narrowed her eyes when she nced at the car and recognized its license te. Nathaniel has got to be the only person in all of Jadeborough to own a license te with four eights ini Both cars were facing each other, so it wasn¡¯t hard to see Nathaniel sitting in the back seat. The look in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes was so cold that Christina could feel his domineering aura even from a distance. The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as though their cars were the only ones in the area. It felt as though something horrible was about to happen in no time. ¡°It seems Nathaniel hase to pick me up, so you don¡¯t have to send me home tonight,¡± Christina said while undoing her seat belt. Her tone sounded casual as though she was saying goodbye to an ordinary friend. Francis¡¯ lips curled into a faint smile as he leaned over and opened the door for her. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up at the same time tomorrow.¡± Christina paused in her tracks when she heard that. ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary. I know the way, so I cane over myself.¡± She then swiftly got out of the car and walked up to Nathaniel¡¯s. Sebastian quickly opened the door for her and motioned at her to get in when he saw her walking over. The traffic light turned green, and both cars continued to move forward slowly. Nathaniel¡¯s huge figure made his presence all the more domineering, and the look in his eyes was so cold that a single nce was enough to make one¡¯s blood freeze. Sebastian nervously wiped the sweat off his brow as he drove on. Mr. Hadley is usually happy to see Mrs. Hadley, so why does he look even angrier now? Christina leaned against Nathaniel and propped her chin up with one arm as she asked, ¡°Nathaniel, do you know what I did at work today?¡± Sebastian felt as though the air in the car had been depleted at that point. Regardless of what Christina did at work, she should not have been in Francis¡¯ car After all, Nathaniel¡¯s level of jealousy was ridiculous, and there was no telling what he would do. It¡¯s never a good idea to anger Mr. Hadley, even if you¡¯re his wife. I wish you all the best, Mrs. Hadley! Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 New Style Time stood still. After a while, Nathaniel uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯m doing styling for Coco¡¯s new music video. Do you remember Coco? I was the one in charge of her clothing styling for my first television series.¡± Christina got more and more animated as she spoke. Her words were soft and sweet, like cotton candy, and they melted one¡¯s heart. Gradually, the atmosphere in the car became less tense. ¡°I think I¡¯m much better in my job now, and I should be able to have my own distinct style soon. When I open up my own studio, do you want to be my first customer? I¡¯ll make you the most handsome- looking suit that will make you shine at all times.¡± Christina¡¯s eager expression made her look like an adorable, small animal waiting for his approval. Nathaniel was no longer as cold as before. He raised his long fingers, touched her chin, and caressed her soft and smooth skin. ¡°All right.¡± All of a sudden, his gorgeous face came close to Christina¡¯s. Before she knew it, he bent down and kissed her on her lips. Her heart skipped a beat, and there was only silence. Nathaniel had his arms around her slender shoulders as he assaulted her with his passionate kiss. Just as she was about to pass out, he released her. ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to go near him in the future.¡± By him, Christina knew that he was referring to Francis. I wonder why Nathaniel hates him so much. Is it because Francis is an illegitimate child? The grudges from the previous generations tended to have an effect on the younger generations too. Christina bit her lip. ¡°But I still have a job to do, and Coco is his¡­ Coco is one of his artists. I can¡¯t get away from him¡­¡± Her words turned the atmosphere ice-cold once again. Even Sebastian felt like jumping out of the car as the tense atmosphere terrified him. Why can¡¯t Mrs. Hadley lie to Mr. Hadley? It¡¯s not like he can use a surveince camera on you when you¡¯re at work, can he? Christina looked at that cold face of his carefully before continuing, ¡°However, I can assure you that I won¡¯t have any interaction with Francis besides work-rted stuff.¡± Unfortunately, Nathaniel did not budge an inch. He was still as cold as ever. Christina wrapped her arms around his lean torso and could feel the result of the hard work that he put in at the gym. She then returned to her senses. ¡°Think about it. You wouldn¡¯t find out even if I lied to you and continued to work with Francis behind your back. However, I don¡¯t do pretentious things.¡± 12:58 Mon, May 15 Chapter 126 New Style +15 Bonus Christina¡¯s assurance was way better than any other tactic. If he still refused to give in, it would make him look very harsh. The annoyance on Nathaniel¡¯s face lessened. ¡°Okay. In the future, Sebastian will send you to work and fetch you afterward.¡± At that moment, Sebastian was frozen to his scat. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± The following day, Christina saw Sebastian waiting for her when she was about to head to work. ¡°You¡¯re a very busy man. Why don¡¯t you just let the driver send me instead?¡± Christina felt that it was a waste of resources for the secretary of a CEO to be sending her to work. Sebastian smiled and opened the car door. ¡°Mr. Hadley trusts me. That¡¯s why he lets me do this task. I have an assistant to help me with things recently, so it¡¯s all right.¡± ¡°Oh, by the way, what happened to Madison?¡± asked Christina after she got into the car. Madison had not made things difficult for her in a long time. Sebastian started the engine and replied, ¡°Mr. Hadley has sent her abroad to deal with some projects.¡± Madison was sent away after Ada¡¯s identity was revealed. It was not hard to guess what Nathaniel¡¯s motive was. Christina asked no more questions. She took out her tablet and started working. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Soon, they arrived at the location. Francis was not there that day, and Christina felt that everything went much smoother and faster. It was easy for Coco to portray the yful style given her childlike face. There was no need to use extra styling. The moment she showed up, she was in character. Christina had prepared shimmery makeup for her. The current set of styling made Coco look even more quirky and cheerful.. Once they were done with indoor filming that morning, they proceeded to the outdoor location. In order to achieve good lighting, the staff moved quickly once they were done with the indoor shooting. During the lunch break, Christina tidied up the clothes. Since she had no assistant, she had to do everything by herself. The next scene was an outdoor location that was built by the studio. Back then, Francis had built it for the sake of convenience. Most of thepany¡¯s music videos and photoshoots were shot andpleted at the same location. Christina went to the location using thepany car. By the time she arrived, the staff were staging the ce. She, on the other hand, had alreadyid out all her tools and equipment. ¡°Are you Coco¡¯s stylist?¡± asked a piercing voice, causing Christina to turn around. The woman was dressed in simple ck clothing, and she had no makeup on. She appeared to of the artists here for the shoot. be ¡°Yes,¡± answered Christina indifferently. Gwh Lawson ced her hands on her waist, feeling unhappy about Christina¡¯s attitude. However, Gwh had heard from the cameraman that Coco¡¯s styling was excellent the day before, and her makeup was different from usual. As such, Gwh wanted to try Christina out as well. She did not expect Christina to be so unappreciative. Gwh¡¯s assistant walked up to Christina and said arrogantly, ¡°Do you know who you are talking to? Lots of makeup artists want to work with Ms. Lawson!¡±. Christina nced at the tall and slender woman. Gwh indeed had a great figure and a good- looking face, so Christina had no doubt she was an artist. However, Christina was not interested in working with her. After a soft ¡°I see¡± as acknowledgment, she continued with her work. It was Gwh¡¯s first time witnessing such an arrogan working attitude from a stylist. Then again, she had been in the entertainment industry for some time now. It was true that some unique stylists had a bit of a temper. Thus, Gwh pulled out a chair and sat down. She then undid her ck jacket, which happened to showcase her exquisite figure. ¡°Come over and do my makeup.¡± Christina turned around and saw her in the chair. ¡°My apologies. I have to do the makeup for Cocoter on, so I won¡¯t have time for you.¡± Gwh¡¯s assistant red at Christina before telling her off, ¡°Ms. Lawson is Coco¡¯s senior. Is there anything wrong with letting Ms. Lawson go first?¡± Christina was at a loss for words. It was the first time something like that had happened to her. Just then, Coco came over. After changing into a pink checkered dress, she looked extremely adorable. She had heard the conversation earlier on. Since Gwh was more famous and higher in seniority, she tended to bully the newer and younger artists. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Not The First Bullying Incident. It wasn¡¯t the first time Coco got bullied. Once during a gathering, Gwh intentionally sent the others away and left Coco alone at the club. Another incident was during their coboration for amercial. It was a winter day with snow falling, and Gwh deliberately had Coco smiling in the cold winter breeze, d in thin clothing. She even purposely dragged things on, so Coco was close to being a frozen snowman by the time she was done filming. Thinking back on all her past experiences, Coco didn¡¯t have a single nice thing to say about the arrogant woman in front of her. She turned to Christina and said, ¡°Let Ms. Lawson use my spot if she wants it since she¡¯ll need more time to conceal the wrinkles on her face.¡± ¡°Coco!¡± Gwh shot to her feet and stormed over to them with anger on her face. She wasn¡¯t happy about Francis splitting some of her resources with Coco as ofte. She¡¯s a woman with no background, yet she wants to snatch away my resources, I¡¯ll take that as a challenge. ¡°Mr. Fernando specifically hired Christina to be my stylist, so if you want to employ her, call Mr. nando first,¡± Coco rebutted. Francis said I was the only one getting a stylist, so I¡¯m not conceding, regardless of what Gwh says. Gwh nted her hand on her hip and red at Coco. ¡°Do I need to spell out my rtionship with. Mr. Fernando for you? You¡¯re just a country girl. What right do you have to stand on this stage as a celebrity? I guess your fans are either brainless or country bumpkins like you. Why else would they like you?¡± she scorned. Gwh¡¯s family had always been wealthy. She had been an art student since she was young and spent her earlier days studying in a music school abroad. That was where she met and got acquainted with Francis. The two then returned to the country to kickstart their career. Francis established his own studio, Francis Entertainment, after achieving sess as an actor. Gwh joined without a second thought the moment she found out about Francis¡¯pany. She had performed well for the past years and earned a hefty profit for thepany, so she was considered a favorite. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Coco¡¯s starting point was different from hers. Coco had learned and trained at small organizations. Naturally, her curriculum vitae were severelyckingpared to Gwh¡¯s. However, the only difference was Coco¡¯s years of backbreaking training. She had focused on improving her acting skills, which finally paid off in the form of Francis¡¯ acknowledgment. Christina stood in front of Coco, worried thetter¡¯s dress would be stained. ¡°Youck caliber for speaking like that. Both of you are celebrities, so insulting her as such is basically criticizing yourself.¡± Even though Christina knew the entertainment industry was ugly like that, Coco was not only her partner but also her friend. She couldn¡¯t stand there and watch others mock Coca Chapter 127 Not The First Bullying Incident +15 Bonus Sensing the tension in the air, the surrounding photographers and production assistants gathered around them to watch. Gwh¡¯s features twisted in anger. ¡°You better not think you¡¯re somebody. You¡¯re just a no-name stylist! Believe it or not, but one word from me, and the majority of the big shots in the entertainment industry won¡¯t coborate with you.¡± Her threatening eyes fixed on Christina¡¯s face. A mere stylist dares to challenge me? Everyone who takes Coco¡¯s side is my enemy. Coco was enraged but didn¡¯t want to affect Christina¡¯s career. Instinctively, she grabbed Christina¡¯s wrist. ¡°Leave it, Christina.¡± ¡°Leave it? I won¡¯t drop the matter if you don¡¯t kneel down and apologize.¡± Gwh snorted. Her dislike for Coco was amplifying as ofte. She figured she should use this chance to teach the newer celebrity a lesson. With a sneer on her lips, Gwh crossed her arms across her chest, perfectly embodying the word ¡°arrogance.¡± Kneel and apologize? Gwh dares to demand us do something so humiliating? This has obviously crossed a line! How are we supposed to keep our pride intact in the entertainment industry if we kneel in public? ¡°You¡¯re crossing a line!¡± Coco had nned to bury the hatchet by apologizing, yet she didn¡¯t expect Gwh to rack it up a notch. Gwh merely stared them down with cold eyes that held a gleam of envy. ¡°I want you to regret ever showing off in front of me. Do you think you¡¯re a big deal since Francis gave you a chance? Guess whose side he¡¯ll take with one word from me?¡± The benefits she brought to thepany were more than Coco. Naturally, any top management would choose a more valuable artist. Plus, there was a long-time rumor flowing in thepany. Gwh liked Francis, hence herck of hesitation injoining hispany when it first started. Any new artist who wished to get closer to Francis would have to face Gwh¡¯s attacks. Recently, Coco hadn¡¯t only received Francis¡¯ attention but also a few good endorsement deals. Naturally, her colleagues would gossip about her. All the gossip reached Gwh¡¯s ears, and she took it as Coco¡¯s shameless attempt to snatch Francis away from her. That was why she singled Coco out. ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t we call Francis over and see how he deals with this?¡± Christina asked. She refused to believe Francis didn¡¯t have a sense of morality. Gwh looked like she had heard something unimaginable. They dare to call Francis over? During their argument, the production assistant had discreetly recorded a video of the scene and sent it to Francis. Francis immediately raced over once he saw the video. The crowd parted for him to pass through. ¡°This ce is used for filming, not for an argument. Why are none of you working?¡± Francis approached them in a ck shirt with a wine-red tic, looking more serious than usual. His overly-cool gaze was like the cold, icy water. It deterred anyone which itnded on. The crowd instantly dispersed like small critters scattering away. Usually calm and gentle, Francis was apletely different person whenever there was a dispute. It was a first for Christina to see such a serious-looking Francis. Studying him in further detail, his presence was much stronger than Nathaniel¡¯s, but their features when tense were quite simr. ¡°Francis, this makeup artist and Coco are bullying me Hurry up and help me!¡± Gwh immediately rushed to his side andined as though her pir of support had arrived. ¡°I want them to apologize to me no matter what, or I¡¯ll be angry. Once I¡¯m angry. I can¡¯t focus on work. Francis, hurry up and make them apologize!¡± At the heel of her words, Gwh even sneered at Christina. Seeing the closeness between the two, envy filled Coco. Everyone wanted recognition from their bosses, and she was no exception. However, she wasn¡¯t willing to take the injustice lying down. ¡°Mr. Fernando, I didn¡¯t bully Ms. Lawson. She was the one who started it. I just resisted, as is the normal reaction.¡± With a frown, Gwh snapped, ¡°Shut up!¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 What Is Going On Francis swept his gaze across them before fixing his stare on Christina. He questioned, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gwh froze momentarily, wondering if she had misheard Francis. What? I can¡¯t believe that Francis believes in Christina¡¯s words instead of mine. Isn¡¯t she just a stylist? Besides, I¡¯ve never heard of her in this field before. I was merely trying to stir up trouble by snatching Coco¡¯s stylist. I won¡¯t let her go easily if she deliberately says something to Francis! Christina¡¯s gaze flickered as she exchanged nces with Francis. At that moment, she looked like she knew Francis¡¯ intention. She uttered nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing big. Gwh¡¯s stylist is not here yet, so she wanted my help. However, I can¡¯t leave now,¡± ¡°I see,¡± uttered Francis. Turning to gaze at the assistant, he ordered, ¡°Hurry up and bring Gwh to do her makeup.¡± ¡°Yes, got it.¡± The assistant nodded, approached Gwh, and pulled her lightly. ¡°Ms. Lawson, let¡¯s get to work. Our schedule is pretty full today.¡± Meanwhile, Gwh knew that Christina was giving her an out by doing so. Things would probably turn south if she refused to cooperate. Judging from how Francis immediately turned to Christina to ask her take on what happened, he¡¯s clearly on her side. With that thought in mind, Gwh felt uneasy. Knowing that she shouldn¡¯t be kicking up a fuss about that, Gwh mustered every ounce of willpower to keep her feelings suppressed and walked away. It took Coco quite a while to register what she had just heard. Is that it? What¡¯s happening? Gwh isn¡¯t someone who would give in just like that. ¡°Let¡¯s go! We have to do the makeup. What are you waiting for?¡± Christina pulled Coco and left. The drama died down unexpectedly. After they were done with the makeup, Coco followed the photographer for a shoot. Meanwhile, Christina tidied her makeup tools at the dressing table and prepared the next outfit. It was at that moment a dark reflection appeared in the bright mirror. Francis walked up to her silently and uttered, ¡°You did a great job. I think that you have the potential to be a manager. Do you want to consider it?¡± After what had happened a while ago, Christina rolled her eyes at him and replied. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Stop pushing the responsibility on me next time. Although I¡¯m not working for yourpany, it would affect my career if I offend people like that.¡± A hint of a smile appeared on Francis¡¯ lips. She¡¯s smarter than I thought. It didn¡¯t matter which side I picked in a situation like that. There would be an aggrieved party anyway. That was why I asked Christina for help. She didn¡¯t want to find trouble and was smart enough to cooperate with me after realizing what I wanted. All things considered, everyone had a happy ending. Besides that, Gwh won¡¯t make things difficult for Coco again in the 1/3 Chapter 128 What Is Going On future too. +15 Bonus Francis sat on the couch at the back, a wide smile on his face. ¡°I owe you a favor. I¡¯ll add another five percent to your fees.¡± ¡°I¡¯m satisfied with this method of repayment.¡± Now that Christina needed money, she wouldn¡¯t reject the offer. Christina turned around to look at him. ¡°The suit is done. Do you want to try it?¡± Renee had recently been participating in a variety show. She was probably too busy to reply to her text messages and merely mentioned that she was satisfied with the design drawing. Thus, she asked Christina to proceed with tailoring the clothes. Subsequently, Christina took some time out of her schedule to make the clothes. Renee didn¡¯t have the time to try hers on yet. Hence, Christina nned to deal with Francis first. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Standing up, Francis responded, ¡°Okay, pass the suit to me.¡± Christina grabbed the suit from a garment bag beside her. After stacking the clothes up neatly, she passed them to Francis. There was a changing room there. After taking the suit, Francis went into the room to get changed. After some time, Francis came out in a white shirt. Christina had chosen a stand-up cor for it, which was a design suitable for weddings or grand events. By matching the dress shirt with a ck bow tie, it lent a mysterious but charming aura to Francis. Meanwhile, Christina had also borately tailored the waist of the suit. Once he buttoned the suit, Francis could unt his perfect slim figure underneath. The length of the trousers was just right, and when paired with a pair of leather shoes, the overall result was that of a wless wedding suit. Christina answered with satisfaction, ¡°It fits you amazingly. I think there¡¯s no need for any alteration, right?¡± Slightly lifting his chin, Francis tilted his head, showing his good-looking features. ¡°Do I look handsome?¡± There was no doubt that he was handsome. Back when he first started out, he gained poprity with his personable appearance. Other than possessing good looks, he was talented in acting and singing as well. He was a high-profile celebrity back then, and the paparazzi would follow him all day to take pictures of him to sell to the media. Needless to say, his good looks were widely acknowledged by the public. Later, Francis set up his own studio and started taking lesser jobs. Because of that, it was not common to spot him in the media nowadays. Christina¡¯s expression grew awkward as he looked at her. ¡°Ask yourself. I think you know yourself better¡± ¡°It¡¯s so difficult to hear a word ofpliment from you.¡± Francis shoved his hand into his pocket and suddenly frowned slightly. ¡°Is there something wrong with the shirt? I feel something poking me.¡± Hearing that, Christina walked over in confusion. How is that possible? I used the best materials to make this. Really? Where?¡± As Francis lifted his suit, the pleasant scent of his cologne wafted across her nose. ¡°Touch the inside of this side. I think there¡¯s a needle poking me.¡± Christina focused all her attention on the shirt. It was not her habit to be that careless to leave a needle on the shirt. As she was about to ce her hand on the shirt, she abruptly paused. Lifting her head to look at Francis, she saw the wicked smile on his face and immediately realized that she had been fooled. She retrieved her hand and said furiously, ¡°Judging from how shameless you are, I think your skin is too thick for a needle to poke through. Can you stop flirting around? You¡¯re getting married soon.¡± I wonder if Renee knows he is this flirtatious? Although Nathaniel is cold and aloof, I much prefer him. Nathaniel is definitely more likable! Francis had been sorely tempted to grab Christina into his embrace earlier. Ah! No matter what she does, she looks so adorable! However, she seems to have misunderstood me. Should I make it clear to her? Francis asked abruptly, ¡°Would you feel better if I¡¯m not getting married?¡± ¡°No. I wouldn¡¯t bother talking to you if you were not Renee¡¯s fianc¨¦.¡± Christina shot him a re. Christina only got in touch with Francis because of Renee. After all, Nathaniel would be unhappy if she had too much interaction with another man. Francis¡¯s face fell as a dark glint flitted across his eyes. He kept mum for a moment before saying, ¡°Could you please make another suit ording to these measurements?¡± ¡°Huh? Two sets?¡± Christina reconfirmed. Did I hear it right? Why would he make two simr suits? ¡°Yes. I will pay you ordingly.¡± As soon as he said that, Francis turned around to take off the suit and handed it to Christina. ¡°Pass the suits to Renee after you¡¯re done.¡± Christina took over the suit and responded, ¡°Okay.¡± She hesitated for a brief moment before asking, ¡°Do you know any celebrities who are looking for custom-made dresses? I have excellent craftsmanship, and I¡¯m able to deliver fast. Nevertheless, I charge slightly higher than the other tailors.¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Francis To The Rescue With an arched brow, Francis crossed his arms and stared at her puzzledly. ¡°Your husband is filthy rich. Why are you working so hard for money? Is he not letting you spend his money?¡± Christina raised her brows in response. ¡°That¡¯s not the case, of course. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m still so young, so I don¡¯t want to rely on my husband financially. I want to spend my own money. You know what? Forget I ever asked,¡± she answered. I¡¯ll just contact the other studios. I should be able to make some money if I hide my identity. ¡°Wait. I have great connections, so obviously, I know some people. They¡¯ll pay at least three hundred thousand for each outfit. Will that work?¡± Francis called out to her. ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll pay youmissions if the deal goes through.¡± Christina was surprised to hear how much she could make. If I can make that much money, no longer have to worry about Mom¡¯s medical fees. ¡°I don¡¯t needmissions. Perhaps you can treat me to a meal instead,¡± Francis suggested. Christina hesitated for a while before agreeing, ¡°Sure] ¡°I¡¯ll send you the contactster,¡± Francis said and got back to his work. Christina kept Cocopany until the shooting was done, and Sebastian came to fetch Christina right before noon. Coincidentally, Gwh saw Christina getting into the car. ¡°She¡¯s just a stylist, no? Why is she getting picked up in such an expensive car?¡± Gwh¡¯s assistant had noticed Christina as well. ¡°I bet she¡¯s a mistress. She looks so shady, but she¡¯s pretending to be an innocent girl,¡± Gwh sneered. ¡°She¡¯s clearly loaded. Why is she still working so hard I bet she¡¯s trying to get close to Mr. Fernando!¡± the assistant uttered firmly. I¡¯ve been working in the entertainment industry for so many years now, so I¡¯ve seen countless peopleing into the industry to get close to celebrities. Plenty of people are going after Mr. Fernando because he¡¯s handsome. ¡°Is Christina after Francis?¡± Gwh¡¯s expression froze. I haven¡¯t even gotten rid of Coco! Now, I have to deal with Christina as well! With that in mind, Gwh demanded angrily, ¡°Find out who Christina is working for!¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lawson.¡± By the time Christina arrived in the city center, it was Junchtime. Hence, Sebastian sent her to Hadley Corporation. Upon arriving in the CEO¡¯s office, she saw Nathaniel working on hisputer. Shortly after she arrived, the chef entered the office with a cart and piled up the coffee table with delicious dishes. ¡°Mr. Hadley, lunch is ready,¡± the chef uttered and left the office. Chapter 129 Francis To The Rescue This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. +15 Bonus Hearing that, Nathaniel rose to his feet and walked up to Christina. ¡°Is the food enough?¡± he asked. Although the table is piled up with dishes, the food might not be enough. ¡°Of course! I don¡¯t think we can finish the food.¡± Christina smiled in response. Nathaniel must think I¡¯m a glutton. As soon as those words fell, Nathaniel shot her a dubious nce and sat her down. After that, he removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves as if he was ready to gobble the dishes up. In the end, Christina ate most of the food prepared, and they managed to finish everything, When the chef came in to clear the table, he brought long some ice cream. Seeing that, Christina quickly waved dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m filled to the brim!¡± she uttered. Gosh! Does he take me for a pig? ¡°Leave the ice cream here. You can eat itter,¡± Nathaniel said. Hence, the chef left the ice cream and exited the office. After lunch, Nathaniel went back to work right away. Meanwhile, as Christina rested on the couch, she saw the ice cream melting and didn¡¯t want it to go to waste, so she carefully reached out her hands to grab it. With her back turned to Nathaniel, she started eating the ice cream. When Nathaniel eventually lifted his gaze, he saw Christina sitting motionless on the couch and approached her. Only then did he realize that she was asleep. She looked absolutely like a doll with her long and dark eyshes, fair skin, and exquisite facial features. At the same time, there was an ice cream stain on her rosy lips. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t bear to wake her when he saw her sleeping soundly. Hence, he wiped the ice cream stain off her lips, put his coat over her, and lifted her into his arms. Right then, Sebastian walked in and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, regarding the meeting at two this afternoon- Nathaniel cut Sebastian off with a re and ordered, ¡°Cancel it.¡± Sebastian was stunned, and he immediately became wary. When he lowered his gaze, he noticed a person sleeping soundly in Nathaniel¡¯s arms. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sebastian replied softly. Afraid that Christina would wake up, Nathaniel hurriedly carried her to the lounge. Christina ended up sleeping the entire afternoon. When she woke up, she noticed it was getting dark outside. As she scrambled to her feet, she grumbled, ¡°I have work to do! Why didn¡¯t you wake me up?¡± In response, Nathaniel pulled her into his embrace. Before she could struggle out of his arms, he uttered tly, ¡°I applied for a leave of absence for your ¡°Oh¡­¡± Christina stayed. At least I won¡¯t get a penalty if he already applied for leave for me. I need to save as much money as I can now. Christina thought she wouldn¡¯t fall asleep again after taking a nap in the afternoon. To her surprise, she felt sofortable lying in Nathaniel¡¯s arms that she dozed off momentster. Seeing that Christina had fallen asleep once again, Nathaniel got up from the side, pulled the nket. over her, and tucked her in. Upon leaving the lounge, he received a phone call from Madison. In a gentle tone, Madison said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, the contract has been signed, and we can officially start. working next week.¡± As though he weren¡¯t paying attention to what she had just said, Nathaniel sat in his chair and kept mum for a while before humming an acknowledgment. At that moment, Madison was standing in front of a ss window in her hotel room. While looking at the lit-up scenery outside, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be returning so soon. I¡¯ll only be leaving after the work has started sessfully.¡± Again, Nathaniel only hummed an acknowledgment after being quiet for a while. M Madison was actually testing Nathaniel. If he didn¡¯t agree to have her back, she wouldn¡¯t dare return to the country. She had thoroughly infuriated Nathaniel when she exposed Christina¡¯s identity thest time around. If not for the fact that she had been working for him for a long time, she would¡¯ve been sacked by Hadley Corporation. ¡°That¡¯s all, then. I better not take up too much of your time,¡± Madison said. Nathaniel hung up the phone as soon as she finished her sentence. Seeing how things had yed out, Madison felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment. After going through what happenedst time, I now know how much Nathaniel cares about Christina. If I keep going after him openly, he¡¯s only going to hate me more. Even if I could destroy their rtionship by doing that, it wouldn¡¯t do me any good. From now on, I¡¯ll need to rely on Francis to help me out. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 A Dangerous Game Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Christina heard back from Francis at around noon the next day. Francis texted: I¡¯ve already sent you the contact details. Don¡¯t forget to buy me a meal this weekend. Christina called the customer after replying to Francis: Sure. +15 Bonus The customer was a woman with a sweet voice. Since Francis had already told the customer about the deal, Christina had a simple conversation with her before agreeing to meet each other during the weekend. The customer was rather generous because she immediately transferred half of the payment to Christina after the phone call. Seeing that she finally had some money in her bank ount, Christina felt a sense of security. The weekend came in the blink of an eye, and Christina arrived at Yeatder Vi. The moment the door opened, Christina was stunned when she saw the pretty woman standing before her. I know her! She¡¯s Linda, Charlie¡¯s dance partner that night! It turns out Francis has referred his mother to me. Why would he do this when he knows exactly who I am He has ulterior motives, doesn¡¯t he? ¡°You¡¯re Ms. Steele, right? Please,e in.¡± Linda recognized Christina right away. Thisdy attended the reception with Nathaniel that night. Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t like her, right? After leading Christina into the vi, the housekeeper served her a pot of tea and said, ¡°Please have some, Ms. Steele.¡± Meanwhile, Linda was sizing Christina up. She¡¯s a beautiful girl. No wonder Nathaniel likes her. ¡°Is it true you designed the gown Mrs. Hadley wore that night?¡± Linda asked. Christina nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I want a gown that looks exactly like hers. I¡¯ll pay you the same amount she paid you.¡± Linda uttered excitedly. Linda had been filled when jealousy when she caught Charlie looking at Julia when thetter wore the gown. Back then, Julia was the most popr socialite in Jadeborough, and she had plenty of men pursuing her. Now, however, Charlie ended up staying in Yeatder Vi instead of the Hadley residence. With that knowledge in mind, Christina couldn¡¯t help but think there was a conflict between Julia and Linda. Why does she want the same gown as Mrs. Hadley even after she has already gotten her hands on Mrs. Hadley¡¯s husband? ¡°Mdm. Macall-¡± ¡°Oh, please. You can either call me Ms. Macall or Mrs Hadley.¡± Linda smiled. Mrs. Hadley? Does Linda want me to acknowledge her identity? If Mrs. Hadley had a good rtionship with Linda, I wouldn¡¯t mind. However, it¡¯s a fact they don¡¯t see eye to eye with each other. In order to avoid crossing anyone, Christina smiled and replied, ¡°Ms. Macall, I designed that gown for Mrs. Hadley based on her 1/0 12:58 Mon, May Chapter 130 A Dangerous Game personal characteristics. Since everyone is unique, what suits her might not suit you.¡± +15 Bonus Linda¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m not as charming as she is, and she¡¯ll look better than me in that gown?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. I¡¯m saying that you both have different styles. Mrs. Hadley is elegant, but you¡¯re younger. Hence, you should try wearing brighter and more colorful outfits,¡± Christina exined calmly. Linda¡¯s mood was lifted when she heard Christina calling her young. ¡°You¡¯re right! Design a gown with bright colors on it, then. I can pay you however much you want.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already negotiated the price with Francis, so you don¡¯t need to pay anything more,¡± Christina uttered. I would never raise the price as I wish. ¡°No. I need to pay more for the quality. I¡¯m sure the quality of the gown will bepromised if I pay you less.¡± Linda continued in a more serious tone, ¡°I¡¯ll pay as much as Mrs. Hadley paid you. You must produce an exquisite gown for me.¡± It was clear Linda was afraid of being inferior to Julia. Christina nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Macall. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± With that, Christina took out a measuring tape and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get your measurements. I¡¯lle to you again once I¡¯m done with my design drawing. If you¡¯re okay with it, I¡¯ll proceed to make the gown.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Linda was very satisfied. Although thisdy is young, she¡¯s very efficient. I like her. Christina left after having a chat with Linda. When Christina arrived at Scenic Garden Manor, Raymond weed her home and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley said you should go ahead with ditiner without him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina went to the study, took her drawing board, and listed all the design elements she could think of. The more detailed the elements were the easier it would be for her to draft the design. When she was done with that, she went downstairs for dinner. That night, after sitting on the chair for a few hours and going through a few sitting postures, she finally came up with a design. As Linda had requested, Christina designed a red gown. Linda wanted an extravagant gown, so Christina designed a shawl as well. However, Christina hadn¡¯t decided on the material she was going to use to make the gown. With the drawing done, she kept everything hidden. That was how she kept her part-time job from Nathaniel. After that, she went to bed and fell asleep. 1 Nathaniel had irregr working hours. At times, he had to review and solve the problems concerning the projects at hand. Therefore, he would have to go back to work in his off-hours if he were to receive an emergency call. By the time he arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor, it was already the wee hours of the morning. The moment he opened the door to the bedroom, he caught a whiff of her scent. The moon was clear, and the bed was covered in a silver glow. With Christina sleeping on her side, her beautiful curves were rather apparent. Upon seeing that, Nathaniel grew excited right away. Loosening his necktie, he removed his coat and unbuttoned his shirt before going into the bathroom. Christina was woken up by the sound of watering from the bathroom. At that moment, the masculine scent of Nathaniel was all over the room, and it wafted into her nose. When she turned toward the bathroom, she saw a blurred figure under the dim lighting, so she went to the closet to fetch a bathrobe. Right as she was about to knock on the bathroom door, a mischievous idea popped up in her mind. Christina grinned and hid behind the door. A whileter, she stopped hearing the sound of watering from the bathroom. The bathroom was filled with steam when Nathaniel came out. As he was drying his hair with a towel, his gaze suddenly darkened because he felt someone closing in on him. He grew tense at once and grabbed the neck of the figure in the darkness. Christina gasped for air and hit him with the bathrobe as she asked, ¡°Are you trying to kill your wife?¡± Hearing that, Nathaniel quickly retracted his hand and patted her back. He could fight like at professional fighter, so that was purely a reflex action. ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that again. It¡¯s a dangerous game.¡± Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Gwh Is Difficult Nathaniel gazed at Christina as she red at him with clear, sparkling eyes. A faint blush tinged her checks. I didn¡¯t have the heart to rouse her from her sleep earlier, but now she has woken up by herself¡­. He walked over, asking, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Of course it does!¡± she retorted huffily before flopping down onto the bed. ¡°Let me blow on it and make it better.¡± Holding her shoulders, he tilted his head and leaned close to Chapter 150her slender neck. Then, he blew lightly on her neck. His breath felt hot against her skin, and her blood began pumping wildly. A sudden gust of wind brought wisps of cloud that shrouded the silver moon, and the two intertwined. figures in the room melted into the darkness. The following day was the weekend, and Christina emailed thepleted design drawing to Linda. Soon after, she received a call from thetter. ¡°Oh, Christina, your design is simply too beautiful! I like it a lot. However, I still want to embellish it with diamonds and add a fringe to the hem. It has to be a golden fringe to look good. Also, we should use a vintage pattern around the neckline,¡± Linda said, giving a long list of ideas. Christina had been jotting down the additions Linda mentioned on her tablet. However, when she heard thatst part, she could not refrain frommenting, ¡°There¡¯ll be a lot going on already if we incorporate diamonds and a fringe¡­ Are you sure you still want to include another pattern? And it has to be embroidered on it?¡± If we do as she says, what was an elegant dress before will suddenly look overlyplicated andck a clear focal point. Although all those details are exquisite, they¡¯ll take away from the beauty of the dress. At that moment, she suddenly felt that despite Julia¡¯s frostiness toward her, at the very least, Julia did not criticize her designs. On the contrary, the always smiling and friendly Linda was insufferably picky. Linda could hear that Christina sounded slightly displeased. After a pause, she said even more sweetly. ¡°To be frank, I didn¡¯t like Mrs. Hadley¡¯s dress. It was too bare. All it had were a few jasmine flowers on it. What¡¯s so pretty about that, right?¡± She thought Julia had asked Christina to stint on the dress because she had no taste for embellishments. After all, how could a dress costing several million have just that little bit of embroidery? That¡¯s too expensive! Despite what she said, Christina was reluctant to give in. With so many additional elements, it¡¯ll surely result in aplicated and busy design. s, the customer is always right. After failing to convince Linda, Christina had no choice but to relent. ¡°I know what to change. I¡¯ll work as quickly as possible to let you have a look at the design by this afternoon.¡± ¡°All right. Don¡¯t tire yourself too much.¡± With that, Linda hung up. Christina felt the beginning of a migraine as she stared at the notes she had written. She sat there until the evening, doing her best to tweak her design based on Linda¡¯s requests. After Linda received¨¢t, she expressed her satisfaction and asked Christina to have the dress ready by the following week. 12:59 Mon, May 15 Chapter 131 Gwh Is Difficult 76% +15 Bonus After agreeing to it, Christina went online to purchase the necessary pieces. ording to her calctions, the embellishments would arrive once she had finished making the dress. Radiant Corporation released itstest designs for the season on Monday afternoon, so Gina took Christina to the mall to see the collection on disy. After that, they browsed several nearby shops and took photos for research. ¡°I¡¯m a little tired after walking for so long. Let¡¯s take a break at a nearby cafe,¡± Gina suggested. ¡°Sure.¡± They found seats at a caf¨¦, and the waiter rmended them an afternoon tea set for two. The midday sun shone brightly, casting its rays onto the ss window. Gina was wearing a ck, off- shoulder knit top with a light blue denim jacketyered over it. However, since the caf¨¦ had heating, and she had been walking for a while, she half-shrugged her coat off so that it hung around her elbows. Her light makeup paired with a red lipstick was very eye-catching. Christina could not resist whipping out her phone, pointing it at Gina, and secretly snapping a few photos. Just as she set aside her phone, she heard footsteps approaching. ¡°Were you secretly taking photos of me?¡± demanded a woman with sunsses and long, wavy hair. Although she did not raise her voice, her tone was sharp. Her question left Christina momentarily stunned. After a while, she finally noticed that while taking those photos of Gina, she had angled her phone directly toward the side. No wonder this woman misunderstood what happened. Quickly pulling up the photos, she showed them to the woman. ¡°I wasn¡¯t taking photos of you. They were only of my colleague.¡± She thought the matter would end there, but to her surprise, the woman did not believe her and tried grabbing her phone. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not keeping other photos on your phone? I want to check it myself.¡± Even though Christina dodged to avoid her, the woman continued reaching out to snatch the phone. Why is she still being so unreasonable when I¡¯ve already clearly exined what happened to her? Is she trying to steal my phone? Meanwhile, Gina sprang to her feet to stop the woman. ¡°Is there a problem, ma¡¯am? My colleague has already exined that she was taking photos of me.¡± The woman became more aggressive after several failed attempts to snatch the phone, and amid the chaos, Christina identally knocked off the sunsses from the woman¡¯s face. When they saw the beautiful face that was now exposed, Christina was dumbfounded. ¡°Gwh?¡± Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man, who had been sitting unmoving, get up suddenly and hurry out. The man appeared to be just an ordinary person, yet he behaved as though he was worried someone would see him. He got into a Jaguar parked on the side of the road and left. He¡¯s the guy who was having afternoon tea with Gwh. They¡¯re probably a couple and don¡¯t want anyone to know about the rtionship. That must be why Gwh is so nervous. Christina picked up the sunsses from the floor and handed them to Gwh. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were on a date. I promise I didn¡¯t take any photos of you and your boyfriend.¡± Nheless, Gwh did not trust her. We argued thest time we met, so if she did take photos of us, there¡¯s no way she¡¯d admit to it. ¡°Go on, then. How much do you want? I¡¯ll give you three times the amount.¡± Christina could not help wondering why Gwh did not seem to understand what she said. In a somewhat impatient tone, she uttered, ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit back down at that table? I¡¯ll take a couple of photos of you and let you delete them.¡± ¡°Why, you¡­¡± Gwh was so enraged that she was bereft of words. However, worried that people. would be watching her, she had no choice but to suppress her anger. ¡°Just you wait. If you dare to release those photos of me. I won¡¯t let you off the hook just like that!¡± With that, she turned and flounced out of the cafe. Christina sighed. It¡¯s not easy being a celebrity. They even have to worry about others spotting them when they¡¯re dating. ¡°Christina, how do you know Gwh? She¡¯s an A-list celebrity! However¡­ she always seemed cute and approachable on screen.¡± If Gina had not witnessed the exchange earlier, she would not have believed Gwh to be such an unreasonable person ¡°We met at an event, but it¡¯s not like we really know each other,¡± Christina exined. We¡¯ve met twice and argued on both asions, so I suppose we count more as enemies. The waiter served them their food, and Christina showcased her photography skills by taking many photos of Gina. Then, they left after finishing their afternoon tea. It was a busy week for Christina, and on Friday after work, she delivered the dress she had made to Yeatder Vi. The maid who opened the door for Christina recognized her immediately and ushered her warmly N?velDrama.Org owns all content. into the house. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Get Lost From My Sight The fragrance of the chamomile tea wafted in the air. +15 Bonus Christina took a small sip. The tea was indeed very delicious, with a tinge of sweetness mingling in the fragrance of the tea. ¡°This is Charlie¡¯s favorite tea. Since he has a weak stomach, he drinks chamomile tea sometimes. It tastes nice, right?¡± asked Linda in a friendly manner. Christina smiled. ¡°It is When she shifted her gaze toward the chamomile on the table, she suddenly remembered the chamomile bushes all over Julia¡¯s backyard. She had seen the housekeepers plucking them sometimes. Back then, she had been curious why Julia wanted to grow chamomile in the backyard. However, she seemed to have some clues now that she thought about it. ¡°I¡¯ll try out the dress. You rest here for a while.¡± All Linda could think about was the dress. She tried them on and was very pleased. After receiving the remaining payment, Christina refused Linda¡¯s invitation to stay for dinner. She left the house, then went to the hospital and paid the bill for the next month. Christina walked into the hospital ward. Sharon was lying quietly on the bed while the IV drip flowed into her body through the tube. As she looked at her mother, who was bing frailer each day, her heart ached. She brought a basin of water over to wipe Sharon¡¯s body and face. Holding her hand, she started to talk to her. Although Sharon was unconscious, Christina believed that she could still hear her. ¡°Mom, you must recover quickly. I¡¯ll work really hard and buy a humongous mansion for I¡¯ll bring you and Granny over to live together. Let¡¯s live a happy life, okay?¡± you. Then, It was already veryte when Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor from the hospital. After taking a bath, she copsed onto the bed and fell asleep. Since no one woke her up during the weekends, it was almost noon when Christina woke up. After lunch, Nathaniel returned from the office. The moment he entered, he saw Christina lying on the couch in her cartoon pajamas and watching the television. Nathaniel walked over and carried her from the couch. ¡°There¡¯s a family gathering at night. Change your clothes and go back to the Hadley residence with me.¡± ¡°Back to the Hadley residence again?¡± Christina stared at Nathaniel with her huge, watery eyes. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We¡¯lle back after dinner. You don¡¯t need to eat too much. I¡¯ll take you to eat something delicious after we leave.¡± Christina burst outughing. ¡°Sure.¡± 1/2 12:59 Mon, May Chapter 132 Get Lost From My Sight +15 Bonus When they arrived at the Hadley residence, there was a ck Lincoln parked at the entrance. Upon getting out of the car, the two of them saw Julia and Lawrence chatting on the grass patch in the courtyard. The wind sent her dress fluttering as a whiff of jasmine fragrance floated in the air. Christina stared at the gown that Julia was wearing in disbelief. It was the jasmine gown that she had designed when she was pretending to be Ada. Isn¡¯t Mrs. Hadley mad at me? Why is she still willing to wear those gowns? Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand as they walked in together. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Since it was their second formal meeting after their fight, Christina felt very nervous. ¡°Mm,¡± came Julia¡¯s reply. Compared to mean words, this curt response sounded pleasant to Christina. Lawrence recognized Christina. ¡°So this is your daughter-inw. She¡¯s gorgeous. You¡¯re so lucky.¡± Feeling embarrassed by thatpliment, Christina returned a faint smile. Just when they were chatting happily, a limited-edition vintage car drove in. Charlie and Linda got out of the car. They were dressed so formally that they looked as though they were visiting someone¡¯s house as guests rather than returning to their home. When Charlie spotted Lawrence, the faint smile on his face disappeared instantly. He reprimanded Julia, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Why did you bring another man to my home?¡± Charlie sounded as if his wife had betrayed him. The atmosphere was tense as if they were stuck in the middle of a ferocious battle. However, Julia was not intimidated in the slightest bit. With a cold scoff, she said, ¡°You still know that this is your home? Since I¡¯m the woman of the house, I can invite whoever I want.¡± Charlie¡¯s face flushed in fury. ¡°This is my house too. I don¡¯t want to see him here!¡± Even though he had spent a long time away from the Hadley residence, it did not mean that he had abandoned it. Everything there still belonged to Hadley Corporation, so he was not happy to see his love rival there. Julia showed no signs of backing down. Staring daggers at Linda, she said, ¡°Sure. However, this woman must get lost from my sight. I don¡¯t want this b*tch to taint my eyes.¡± When she said that, Linda¡¯s expression changed drastically. That sent a cold shiver down Christina¡¯s spine. Was Mrs. Hadley awyer in the past? Why is she so sharp with her words? Christina suddenly thought that although Julia did not like her, thetter was not so harsh to that extent. 13:00 Mon, May Chapter 132 Get Lost From My Sight +15 Bonus Charlie was so angry that he was at a loss for words. Yet, Julia pressed on mercilessly, ¡°You can¡¯t do that? Then don¡¯t stop me from hosting my guests too. With that, she looked at Lawrence. ¡°Let¡¯s go and look at the jasmine flowers in the backyard. I grew them with much care.¡± Lawrence extended his hand out in a gentlemanly manner and left with Julia. This intense battle finally died down with Julia¡¯s departure. While Christina had unknowingly broken out in a cold sweat, Nathaniel remained calm as if he had seen this too many times. After all, he had heard them argue far too many times over the years. The argument that they just had was nothing inparison. Not daring to yell at Charlie, Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and entered inside. Christina thought that they seemed more like strangers than father and son. They did not even greet each other. Tugging Nathaniel¡¯s shirt, she said, ¡°I want to take a look at the backyard.¡± Nathaniel nodded and apanied her there. A gust of wind blew past. The smooth fragrance of jasmine and chamomile mixed together to form a unique smell. Looking at Julia, who took everything so seriously, Lawrence could not help but say. ¡°You care about him. Why must you turn every meeting with him into a fight?¡± Since they had grown up together, he knew Julia¡¯s personality well. She was too stubborn and refused to admit defeat. Julia snorted coldly. ¡°He started it by bringing back that filthy thing.¡± She did not even want to refer to Julia as a woman. ¡°You¡¯ll only worsen the misunderstanding between the two of you. Not everyone understands what you¡¯re thinking like I do,¡± Lawrence said. It was uncertain if he was referring to Julia or himself Julia¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I don¡¯t need anyone to understand me. Let¡¯s not talk about these unpleasant things since you¡¯re here. When are you nning to go back?¡± As Lawrence¡¯s family business was overseas, he had barely returned in the past few years. ¡°I may not go back after returning this time. I¡¯ve been overseas for so many years. Perhaps I¡¯m getting old, but I want to return to my origins.¡± A-look of surprise and delight crossed Julia¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s great! We can meet more often.¡± After a slight pause, Lawrence stared at her and mumbled to himself, ¡°Say, would things between us be different now if you had agreed to leave with me back then?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 sh Between Father And Son At that time, Julia became discouraged and depressed when she realized what Charlie had done, while Lawrence med himself for being unable to protect Julia. Lawrence suggested to Julia that they leave Jadeborough behind and start a new life overseas before he left the country. Julia, however, turned him down. Julia sighed. ¡°These are memories from a long time ago. Why are we mentioning it again?¡± The past was in the past, and nothing could be done about it. A disappointment shed in Lawrence¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes. We should value the present and the people we love.¡± His words inadvertently revealed the thoughts that were going through his mind. Julia looked into the distance, her eyes darkening. But whether the woman had taken Lawrence¡¯s words to heart remained a mystery. Just then, a ringing phone interrupted their thoughts, Lawrence picked up his phone, and it was a call from his assistant asking him to return to sign his documents. ¡°I¡¯m not free. Let¡¯s talk about thister,¡± Lawrence replied. ¡°Wait, Mr. Phelps. You muste here quickly. We need this document immediately¡­¡± The assistant was so distraught he wanted to cry. He wouldn¡¯t have called Lawrence if it wasn¡¯t something important. Lawrence was about to hang up the phone when Julia snatched it from him. Her voice was soft as she spoke into the receiver. ¡°Do not worry about it. Mr. Phelps will be heading back now.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you.¡± After that, Julia dropped Lawrence¡¯s phone into his pocket and advised softly, ¡°You should go back Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. now.¡± Dissatisfaction appeared on Lawrence¡¯s face. ¡°They will try to annoy and anger you again if I¡¯m gone!¡± At least Julia has me on her side if I¡¯m here, and I can help her annoy Charlie too! Julia smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been through many things these few years, okay? Let¡¯s meet again. But for now, your workes first.¡± Lawrence, aware of Julia¡¯s persistence and determination to do things her way, sighed and promised to meet with her the next time before he left. Meanwhile, Christina linked arms with Nathaniel as they headed toward the backyard. They discovered housekeepers carefully picking chamomile in arge empty field. Christina asked curiously, ¡°Does Mrs. Hadley like to drink chamomile tea?¡± Nathaniel tried to recall the information. ¡°I¡¯ve seen her pick it but never seen her consume it.¡± Christina walked over and observed the housekeepers fill the chamomile into a special clear ss jar with the logo of an old trademark, ¡°Hearty,¡± printed on the front and a packet of desant on the bottom to ensure freshness. 76%1 Chapter 133 sh Between Father And Son +15 Bonus She pulled out her phone to do a background search on the brand. There she discovered their website with detailed information but no address or online store, which Christina found bizarre. Since there was still time before dinner began, the two returned to the living room after their walk in the garden. Linda and Charlie sat on the couch in the middle, drinking tea and chatting happily. If one had no idea of the situation, one would think Linda was the real Mrs. Hadley. No wonder Mrs. Hadley had spoken so harshly to them! Who in their right mind would joyfully ept a mistress into their rtionship? Charlie has gone overboard with that he did! Christina snorted coldly to herself. She found Charlie¡¯s behavior despicable, even though he was her father-inw. At that moment, Christina saw Charlie pouring chamomile from a clear ss jar filled with the flower into a pot to make chamomile tea. ¡°Wow. That tea smells great. I¡¯m thirsty. Why don¡¯t we have a cup?¡± Christina pulled Nathaniel into the living room without waiting for him to say yes. A reluctant Nathaniel sat near the chair¡¯s armrest while Christina sat in the middle. Linda enthusiastically poured them two cups of tea after the couple sat down. ¡°Come,e. Try the tea. These chamomiles are carefully selected and are superior to those you buy outside. That¡¯s why it smells better than all the others!¡± Christina picked up the cup and took a small sip while gazing at Charlie. ¡°Yes. It tastes fantastic!¡± On the other hand, Charlie surveyed Christina. He was pleased with what he saw as he ticked off her qualities, from quick-witted, beautiful, and graceful to polite, mentally. He looked at Nathaniel and realized that their rtionship had deteriorated to the breaking point. ¡°You two should start a family soon. Besides, you should act more mature and reasonable.¡± Nathaniel, who was no fan of Linda, got even more upset when he saw Charlie returning home with her. He snorted icily. ¡°May I know what the definition of being mature is? Are you a good example of that?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude of yours?¡± Charlie fumed, mming his palm angrily onto the coffee table while veins popped up on his forehead. Although he was no longer a member of Hadley Corporation¡¯s executive team, he was still well respected by many of thepany¡¯s shareholders. Therefore, Charlie was the final decision maker in appointing the next CEO, making him the biggest threat to Nathaniel¡¯s career. ¡°Calm down, calm down. Nathaniel, please don¡¯t speak to your dad with that tone.¡± Linda realized things had gone wrong and wanted to defuse the situation by showing her caring and tender side. Christina looked at Linda¡¯s pretentious face and felt that the other woman was actually fueling the fire. And just as Christina had expected, Nathaniel¡¯s eye glinted angrily the next moment as he replied, ¡°You have no right to speak my name!¡± Linda¡¯s expression darkened. She lowered her head, not daring to look into Nathaniel¡¯s piercing eyes. Meanwhile, Charlie was trembling with rage. ¡°You uncouth son of a b*tch! Did your mom teach you to talk to your elder this way?¡± ¡°She is not an elder.¡± To him, an elder was someone he respected, not hated. The memories of Linda being the woman who ruined his family¡¯s blissful life and destroyed his peaceful childhood were etched deeply into his mind. But why? Why can this woman be happy with my dad while my mom has to cry and live sadly daily? I will never forget how their affair depressed my mom while I stood by as a young man. That is why I hate them! Charlie felt his blood boiling. He was about to end the conversation and leave when Christina tugged at his shirt. ¡°Dad, can I talk to you in private?¡± The respect Christina showed him caused Charlie¡¯s anger to fizzle. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to be angry with her. ¡°Of course.¡± Christina breathed a sigh of relief when Charlie agreed to her suggestion. It seemed that Charlie harbored no animosity toward her. ¡°Shall we go for a walk outside?¡± Christina proposed. ¡°All right.¡± With that, they went out, one by one. In the meantime, Linda stared at Christina¡¯s back, not understanding what thetter was trying to do. She did not believe that Christina would speak on behalf of Julia since the two women did not get along well. The pleasant scent of jasmine was in the air as Christina and Charlie walked through the garden one after the other, with the woman taking the lead. When they were about to arrive at the spot where Christina had seen the housekeepers picking chamomile, she asked, ¡°Dad, chamomile teas benefit one¡¯s health. Where do you usually get your supply?¡± ¡°My friend bought it for me. Why? Do you want to get some for yourself?¡± Charlie stared at Christina in confusion. Didn¡¯t she say she had something to say? If so, why did she stay quiet? And why is she asking me about those cheap chamomiles? Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Staying Behind +15 Bonus Christinamented curiously, ¡°This jar looks really special. I have not seen this sold anywhere before.¡± Even though Charlie didn¡¯t know what she had in mind, the keen look on her face was enough for him to exin. ¡°An old friend made this at home and only sold it to close friends.¡± Christina nodded in acknowledgment before a cold gint shed across her eyes. She then pointed at another jar by the side and asked, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this one look a lot like yours?¡± When Charlie¡¯s gaze trailed the trajectory of her finger, his eyes suddenly darkened, for he could recognize the jar anywhere. Why is it being used here at the Hadley residence for drying chamomile flowers? Given that the signature on the jar was exactly the same, there was no way he would be mistaken. All of a sudden, an indescribable emotion filled Char. Not many people knew that the doctor had. advised him to drink chamomile tea for his stomach problems. He immediately understood why there were so many chamomile nts in the backyard. There were enough clues around for him toe to that conclusion. Noticing the slight change on Charlie¡¯s face, Christina stopped with her questions. By the time they returned to the living room, the housekeeper informed them that dinner was ready. to be served Upon walking in, Julia nced at Linda, who was still sitting on the couch, and remarked, ¡°This is a family gathering. Outsiders should leave.¡± From her speech, there was no mistaking that she was talking about Linda. The proud Julia would never tolerate Linda joining them at the dining table. Without any hesitation, Helen walked over to Linda and suggested in a regretful tone, ¡°Please show yourself out.¡± Despite being humiliated by the order, Linda was unfazed, for she was confident of Charlie taking her side. Standing up in defiance, she met Julia¡¯s gaze brazenly. Now that you¡¯re kicking me out, let¡¯s see who¡¯s going to have dinner with you! With that thought in mind, Linda walked up to Charlie and remarked in a pitiful voice, ¡°Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t want me to stay back for food.¡± Her voice broke as she spoke. A nce at Linda¡¯s feigned victimized look was enough for Julia to roll her eyes. As this wasn¡¯t the first time Linda yed the victim, everyone could clearly see through her charade, all except Charlie. Sniffling softly, Linda snuck a nce at him from the corner of her eyes. He would usually stand up for her the moment her tears flowed. Chapter 134 Staying Behind Why isn¡¯t he reacting today? I must have failed to make it dramatic enough. +15 Bonus As Linda bit her lips, tears began to well up in her eyes. ¡°I know that you don¡¯t wee me, Mrs. Hadley, but ¡± Before she could finish, Julia scoffed, ¡°So why do you insist oning? Is there something wrong with your sense of judgment?¡± Stung by the retort, Linda felt as if she had been pped twice in the face, to the extent she could even feel a burning sensation in her checks. Unable to resist herself, Linda gave Charlie¡¯s hand a tug. D*mn it, can¡¯t Charlie see how she¡¯s trying to rip me apart? Why isn¡¯t he fighting back on my behalf? Linda¡¯s tears were already at the brink of flowing. ¡°Charlie, I¡­¡± Seemingly distracted, Charlie turned around and said ¡°I¡¯ll get the driver to send you home.¡± Linda was already on her way out, and the realization of what he had said stopped her in her tracks. She gave Charlie a look of disbelief. ¡°A-Are you asking me to go home alone?¡± Is he nning to have dinner with that unreasonable woman? I must¡¯ve misheard him. ¡°I¡¯ll head home once I finish the meal. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Aplicated expression emerged on Charlie¡¯s face. It was hard to tell from it what was going through his mind. Linda subsequently gave Christina a suspicious look. That brat must have said something to him. Otherwise, why would he seem like a different person aftering back from outside? Nevertheless, Linda had no choice but toply with Charlie¡¯s decision. Meanwhile, everyone was shocked by the sight of Charlie telling the woman he had doted on all this. while to leave. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Julia, who was in equal disbelief, maintained herposure as she became the first to stride into the dining hall. As the meal began, the four of them ate in silence, as if they were just four strangers sharing a table. Even though Nathaniel was busy with his cutlery, he was filling up Christina¡¯s te instead of eating. Christina gave Nathaniel¡¯s sleeve a discreet tug underneath the table before ring at him with her widened eyes andining softly, ¡°Stop serving me food. It¡¯s too much for me to finish.¡± ¡°He just wants to make sure that you don¡¯t get hungry at the Hadley residence,¡± Julia remarked tly. Christina responded with an awkward smile. Why does she need to make it sound so crude when he clearly just wants me to eat more? Truth be told, after spending some time with each other, Christina could tell that Julia meant no harm on the inside despite her sharp tongue. Her character naturally became her undoing. Otherwise, there was no way Linda could actually stop Charlie froming home. Chapter 134 Staying Behind Once dinner was over, Christina felt as if her stomach was about to burst from overeating. +ID BONUS When she mentioned that she felt like having chamomile tea, Charlie hesitated briefly before proceeding to make it. Thereafter, Nathaniel went to his study to deal with work, while Julia, who was seated on the couch, didn¡¯t say a word nor drink tea. In the end, Christina had to make conversation to break the awkward silence. Charlie would either chime in when he heard something interesting or hum in acknowledgment at other times. Before they knew it, it was gettingte. Christina had noticed Linda calling a few times during the entire period. In the beginning, Charlie would answer and have a brief conversation. However, when the incessant calls became a nuisance he silenced his phone and ignored them instead. As both of them continued to chat, Christina began to burp after filling herself with tea. In the meantime, Julia gave the two of them a suspicious look from the corner of her eyes. She noticed that Charlie was avoiding Linda¡¯s call while Christina was wearing a cunning smile on her face. What is Christina up to? Is she stalling for time? ¡°It¡¯s time I go back.¡± When he saw that it was close to midnight, Charlie got up and prepared to leave. Julia, who had no intention of asking him to say, instructed the butler, ¡°Get the car ready.¡± Unexpectedly, the butler informed her, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the car has been sent for servicing today, so we don¡¯t have any avable at home.¡± At that moment, Nathaniel wasing down the stairs and happened to see them gathered at the door. Coincidentally, it also began to rain outside, as if fate itself wanted Charlie to stay. The rain¡¯s intensity increased rapidly and soon turned into a full-blown thunderstorm. Just as an awkward silence descended upon the scene, Christina came forward and asked in an earnest tone, ¡°Dad, isn¡¯t this your home? Where else are you going back to?¡± Her words caused Charlie to freeze. Isn¡¯t it obvious where I¡¯m going? Why is she asking me such a question? She must be trying to get me to stay. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Leaving So Soon As indecision set in upon Charlie, the sight of the heavy rain outside did make him feel like staying. ¡°Can¡¯t you just call the driver to pick you up?¡± Juliamented abruptly, plunging the warm atmosphere that had just begun to build into an icy abyss. Her response caused cold sweat to break out across Christina¡¯s forehead. Shouldn¡¯t she be trying to get him to stay? Why is she trying to kick him ost? ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to drive in such inclement weather,¡± Christina advised softly. Seemingly adamant about being uncooperative, Julia disagreed, ¡°He no longer has a room here. If he wants to stay, he¡¯ll have to sleep in the living room.¡± The hostile attitude she disyed dampened the spirits of everyone present. The infuriated Charlie let out an exasperated snort. Do you really want me to leave that much? In that case, I¡¯ll stay just to spite you. ¡°This is the Hadley residence. I cane and go as I please. The master bedroom is mine.¡± With that, he headed upstairs directly. Watching the fuming silhouette disappear, Christina suddenly felt as if her n had strangely seeded. At the same time, Julia gave Christina aplicated look, one that thetter couldn¡¯t decipher. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Nathaniel took Christina¡¯s hand and headed for the door. He knew that she wanted to mend his parents¡¯ rtionship but was also aware of what a thankless task it was. Cognizant of her good intentions, he gave her head a gentle tousle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them.¡± The next day, Charlie emerged from the master bedroom and had breakfast before going back to Yeatder Vi. The moment he returned, Linda weed him excitedly. ¡°Charlie, why didn¡¯t you call ore home last night?¡± She almost wanted to barge into the Hadley residence and bring him back out of desperation. Charlie, who was in a good mood, was annoyed at being questioned by her. ¡°My phone¡¯s battery went deadst night. The rain was also too heavy for me to leave.¡± ¡°Did you spend the night at the Hadley residence?¡± Linda felt as if the fortress she had built around her was under attack. D*mn it. All these years, Charlie would not stay overnight at the Hadley residence even if he went back. Was it something Christina said or some trick Julia employed? ¡°That¡¯s my home. What¡¯s the big deal about staying the night there?¡± Charlie snapped. His displeasure reminded Linda that she had overreacted. Suppressing her temper at once, she leaned into his arms. ¡°I was scared when you didn¡¯te homest night. Do you know how terrifying the thunder was?¡± Charlie was slightly stunned before patting her on the shoulder. ¡°It was only for one night.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. I trust you. I¡¯m sure you haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. I¡¯ll get the kitchen to prepare something.¡± Linda suggested with a smile as she headed toward the kitchen. Regardless of the burning questions she had, she knew that asking them would be futile. Men hated it when women didn¡¯t trust them. Even if Charlie had rekindled his feelings for Julia or felt guilty the night before, Linda was confident that behaving sensibly was the way to win his heart. Julia still has to step up her game if she wants to take my man away from me. Nheless, it was clear from the incident that Christina wasn¡¯t on her side. As thetter had been putting in good words on Julia¡¯s behalf, Linda knew she couldn¡¯t drop her guard against her. With that thought in mind, Linda gave Francis a call. Francis, Christina isn¡¯t one to be trifled with. You had better stay vignt against her.¡± She proceeded to rte what happened the night before and twisted some of the facts. Regardless of what Christina¡¯s intention was, Linda described her as someone who was trying to ruin their family. Meanwhile, Christina entered thepany¡¯s tailor room and packed up the wedding gown she had prepared for Renee. Now that the wedding gown Renee had been waiting with anticipation for waspleted, she invited Christina to meet at the caf¨¦ below thetter¡¯s office. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Christina proceeded downstairs once she was done. As the caf¨¦ was members-only, it was not crowded at all, allowing Christina to spot Renee by the window immediately. Thetter didn¡¯te alone, for there was a handsome man sitting right beside her. Both of them were having a delightful conversation until Renee saw Christina. She then introduced the latter, ¡°This is my designer, Christina Steele. I love her designs for their unique style.¡± Thereafter, Christina handed Renee the wedding gown and two sets of men¡¯s suits. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to put them on,¡± Renee eximed in excitement. The man beside her held her by the cheeks and nted a kiss on her lips. ¡°You should save such a beautiful gown for your wedding day.¡± The sight of how brazenly the couple was kissing in public caused Christina¡¯s eyes to widen in shock. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about betraying Francis?¡± Isn¡¯t she getting married? Why is she still kissing another man? I can¡¯t believe how liberal people in the entertainment industry are. Renee¡¯s brows furrowed in curiosity as she asked, ¡°Betray Francis?¡± What has our kiss got anything to do with Francis? Blushing intensely, Christina gave them an awkward look. ¡°You¡¯re about to be married. Yet you¡¯re kissing another man. Wouldn¡¯t Francis be angry if he finds out?¡± Renee and her husband were both stunned by the words. When they saw the embarrassed look on Christina¡¯s face, it quickly dawned upon them what was going on. Upon exchanging nces with each other, both of thein burst into heartyughter. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m sure idea.¡± you must have gotten the wrong ¡°Huh?¡± The smiling Renee exined. ¡°Mr. Headington here is my husband. Don¡¯t you know him? The famous actor, Hansel Headington?¡± As Hansel usually acted in historical dramas, he looked different in a modern-day setting. On top of that, Renee had never disclosed Hansel¡¯s identity or picture during her wedding announcement. Therefore, it was understandable for Christina to be confused. ¡°Francis is my best man. Since you know him, you shoulde and attend our wedding together with him.¡± Hansel invited. The revtion dumbfounded Christina. Just a moment ago, she was worried that Francis would be sad about what happened. It turned out that it was all a misunderstanding on her part. Just as her concerns were eased, her heart suddenly felt tense again. The fact that Francis isn¡¯t Renee¡¯s husband means I¡¯ve been ricked. No wonder Francis asked me to make two sets of suits. It turns out that one was for Hansel. Renee subsequently asked, ¡°Christina, what¡¯s your rtionship with Francis? Why do you look so concerned about him?¡± ¡°We¡¯re just friends.¡± Christina¡¯s cheeks were burning out of embarrassment. At that moment, she just wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole, ¡°I¡¯m going back to the office first. Feel free to let me know if there are any issues.¡± With that, Christina got up to leave. Upon arriving at the door, a figure came out of nowhere and blocked her view. The faint scent of ambergris that the man exuded quickly dominated the area he was in. ¡°Leaving so soon?¡± Francis gave Christina a look of amusement. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Why Did You Lie To Me Christina¡¯s clear eyes were filled with rage. Francis was struck by a wave of guilt when he saw the mild-mannered woman ring at him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not Rence¡¯s fianc¨¦. Why did you lie to me?¡± Christina questioned. Francis had wanted to take the opportunity to exin to her, but as it turned out, she had already found out about it herself. ¡°You didn¡¯t ask me properly about it. I wanted to exin to you.¡± Exin to me? You had so many opportunities to exin to me, but you decided to only tell me about this after I exposed your lie? With a scoff, Christina began walking toward the doorway. Francis ran after her. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad! I was worried that you¡¯d ignore me if you found out that I wasn¡¯t Rence¡¯s fianc¨¦. That¡¯s why I hid the truth from you.¡± Even though Christina did not slow down, she was much shorter than Francis, who soon caught up with her and stood in her way. Forced to halt in her tracks, she then snapped, ¡°Thats not a good reason.¡± With that. Christina shoved him aside and strode off Francis did not run after her this time. He knew that not only might he fail to console her, but she might even attack him. As he watched her leave, he could not help butmen about how it would be wonderful if she were not Nathaniel¡¯s woman. In her anger, Christina blocked Francis¡¯ contact. For the next few days, she focused on finishing Coco¡¯s appearance. It was a personal project, and Francis¡¯ studio was going to transfer the fee to her ount at the end of the month. Soon, Coco¡¯s new album was released. The moment it was released, it garnered over five million views. Not only was the audience praising her incredible dance moves and beautiful singing voice, but they were also praising the stunning attire showcased in the music video. A number ofpanies noticed that, and plenty of people started trying to find out who was the stylist for the music video. As Coco proudly disyed her photo with Christina, she unknowingly unveiled the secret that Christina had been working on a personal project. Not long after, someone in thepany wrote an anonymous letter to thepany. In the afternoon, Gina received a message about the matter and summoned Christina to her office. Christina knew that she had gone against thepany rules, so she was nervous. After all, she still needed the job. Chapter 136 Why Did You Lie To Me +15 Bonus As Gina watched the music video on herputer screen, she remarked, ¡°You¡¯ve made good choices. in the matching. You seem to be talented in this area¡± Christina had braced herself for a scolding from Gina, but to her surprise, instead of a warning letter, Gina began to praise her. ¡°Ms. Tanner. 1-¡± Gina cut her off. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to take on personal projects in the future. However, thepany has also implemented a new rule. From now on, all employees of thepany will receive eight percent of the remuneration for personal projects.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The employees were concealing their personal projects from thepany in order to earn some extra ie. Once thepany became aware of this, they decided to amend the rules. Just as Christina stepped out of the office, the employees received an email about the new rules. It made those who anonymouslyined about Christina pale. Their intention was for thepany to reprimand Christina, but their n did not unfold as expected. Instead, it had the unintended consequence of making other designers appreciate Christina even more. After all, she was the reason others no longer needed to hide their personal projects from the As it had been a long time since Christina had seen her grandmother, she went to the supermarket for a grocery trip after work before heading home. Nathaniel had gifted Evelyn with a dance studio, and as a result, she began inviting her friendly neighbors to dance together on a daily basis. When Christina entered the house, she kept the groceries she had bought in the fridge. It was only after she cooked dinner did she head to the dance studio to look for her grandmother. Upon entering the dance studio, she realized the building had a far better environment than the outside. Even though Evelyn was old, she still loved dancing enthusiastically. That day, she was wearing a bright floral skirt, and it twirled as she danced gracefully to the music with a young man. Christina stared at the young man curiously and realized that the man seemed familiar. Meanwhile, the middle-aged women around them were all talking about the handsome young man. They were thinking of asking for his number to introduce him to their daughters. Right as the song ended, Christina walked over to say ¡°Granny, let¡¯s go home to eat.¡± However, Evelyn pulled her dance partner over and eximed, ¡°Christina, let me introduce you to my new friend.¡± The young man, who was wearing a white shirt, caught everyone¡¯s eyes as he stood under the light. He was dazzling. ¡°Francis? Why are you here?¡± Christina questioned with a frown. Why is he Granny¡¯s dance partner? ¡°Oh, so the two of you know each other. What a coincidence. Come on, let¡¯s go home to have a meal together. It seemed as though Evelyn did not notice the frown on Christina¡¯s face, for she chuckled and led Francis away. In the end, Christina had no choice but to follow them. Nevertheless, before Francis could enter the house, Christina stopped him and asked, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± A cynical smile grew on Francis¡¯ lips before he replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any nefarious n. I¡¯m a representative of the neighborhood elderly care project, so I¡¯ll spend some time on charitable work every year.¡± Dressed in a thin shirt, he nonchntly slipped his hands into his pockets, emanating an effortless charm infused with a subtle touch of mischief. At the sight of that, Christina thought, No wonder others think of him as the most attractive male celebrity the second he debuted. Still, Christina did not believe his words. How could he possibly encounter her grandmother by coincidence while doing charitable work? Just then, Evelyn called out to them, ¡°Why are you lingering by the entrance? Come inside already!¡± ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± Francis answered before entering the house. When his gazended on the scrumptious dishes on the table, he praised, ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to prepare such delicious-looking food besides being a great designer.¡± Christina shot him a re and whispered, ¡°Hush and start digging in instead.¡± After dinner, Francis insisted on leaving with Christina. Before he left, he even told her grandmother, ¡°I¡¯ll come and dance with you again when I have the time.¡± It seemed like Evelyn was enamored with him, for she was all smiles as she sent them both off. Once they were in the car, Christina said to him, ¡°Just take me to the nearest junction.¡± Francis ignored her words and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back to the city.¡± Christina did not answer him. She looked out of the window instead, clearly still angry about the incident. When she was quiet, she was as cute as a kitten, and he would feel the urge to hug her. Still, Francis sent her to a junction with a nearby bus station. Without hesitation, Christina got out of the car and left. It was only when Christina was out of Francis¡¯ sight did he finally drive off. By the time Christina arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor, it was alreadyte. The dishes on the table remained untouched, but there were already two clean, empty tes on the table. Christina guessed that Nathaniel was home. When she tiptoed into the study, she found Nathaniel by the table, working as usual. There was even a pile of folders on a corner of the table. It seemed as if he had endless documents to go through. When Nathaniel caught a whiff of the faint scent Christina had, he said, ¡°Come in.¡± Christina chuckled. ¡°You haven¡¯t had your dinner despite thete hour.¡± Nathaniel lifted his head to look at her. ¡°Where did you go?¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 The Competition Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Christina bit her lower lip for a while as she stepped into the room. ¡°I went to visit Granny.¡± Nathaniel hummed in response. +15 Bonus As Christina came to a stop by the chair, she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me if you were waiting for me for dinner?¡± She would havee home earlier if she had known that Nathaniel was waiting for her. Nathaniel put down the file in his hand and reached out to pull her into his arms. Lowering his head, he whispered to Christina, expressing understanding and reassurance, ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to have time to visit your granny. It¡¯s okay.¡± Hearing that made a wave of guilt swell in Christina¡¯s chest. ¡°Should I get the kitchen staff to heat up the food for you?¡± At this rate, his dinner was his supper. Nathaniel hummed in response again! After a peck on his cheek, Christina straightened up and left. Once the food was hot again, Nathaniel came downstairs. Christina apanied him for the meal before returning to her room to rest. Late into the night, Nathaniel remained immersed in his work within the study room. asionally, the silence would be interrupted by the sound of coughing. When Sebastian went into the room to pass him more documents, he worriedly asked, ¡°Mr. Hadley, why don¡¯t you take a break?¡± Nathaniel had been working non-stop for seventy-two hours. Even a machine would need a break every once in a while. But Sebastian could not tell if Nathaniel had registered his words, for what Nathaniel said to him in response was, ¡°I¡¯ll be signing a contract with a Ferropenianpany tomorrow. Show me the contract so that I can go over the details again.¡± The coboration project the next day was worth a billion and three hundred million; it was definitely a project Nathaniel had to be meticulous about. Sebastian hummed in agreement before digging out a thick folder from the stack, but he hesitated. when he was about to pass it to Nathaniel. By the time Nathaniel went through the folder, it would bete into the night. Noticing that, Nathaniel shot him a re and took the folder before instructing, ¡°Go downstairs and get your rest.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± s, there was nothing Sebastian could help Nathaniel with, so he nodded and left. Early in the morning, before the sun rose, Christina woke from the cold. Chapter 137 The Competition +15 Bonus As it turned out, she had kicked her nket off the bed in her sleep. When she turned, she realized that the spot beside her was still empty. Nathaniel isn¡¯t still working sote at night, is he? With that thought in mind, Christina got out of bed, put on a jacket, and went out. Unsurprisingly, the lights in the study were still on. After a moment of hesitation, Christina went downstairs to get a cup of milk before returning to the study. As she ced the hot cup of milk in front of Nathaniel, she said. ¡°Have a drink and rest.¡± Nathaniel did not even realize that she was in the room. Just as he raised his head, the cup of milk was already by his lips. When he took a sip of the milk, he felt his body warming up. Christina watched him finish the drink before putting down the cup, feeling contented. ¡°Why are you awake? You should go back to sleep,¡± Nathaniel said, ncing at the time and realizing that it was two in the morning. However, Christina raised her chin and pouted as she muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go back to the room. I¡¯m going to stay here with you.¡± At that, she burrowed her head into his arms. Christina was wearing a thick white jacket, and in his arms, she felt like a warm little bunny. Nathaniel had no choice but to let her stay there at her insistence. She was petite, and it really felt as if he had a small animal in his embrace. Nathaniel returned his focus to his work and attempted to wrap up his work quicker so that he could bring her back to the room to sleep. The lights shone on them from above and cast the couple¡¯s ovepping shadows on the carpeted floor. When Christina woke again, she was already on the bid in the master bedroom. Still, she could feel the warmness of the spot beside her, so that meant that he had been sleeping as well. After a stretch, she got out of bed. When she went downstairs, the butler told her that Nathaniel had gone out. It seemed like he had something important to attend to that day. Once she had her breakfast, she went back to herpany. Right as she stepped into thepany, she overheard her coworkers discussing the contents of a magazine as if they had spotted something interesting in it. ¡°Francis has been chosen as the Outstanding Youth of the Year again. He¡¯s been doing charitable activities every year, and he¡¯s even helping out the elderly.¡± ¡°I know, right? I heard that he¡¯s been organizing a dancepetition with the Elderly Dance Society.¡± Chapter 137 The Competition +15 Bonus ¡°Wow I¡¯m jealous! I wonder which elderlydy¡¯s got to be fortunate enough to be his dance partner¡± When Christina overheard that, she paused in her traks and walked over to the chattering group. ¡°May I take a look at the magazine?¡± she asked. One of them passed her the magazine as the others red a confused look with each other. Their group leader had never been one for gossip, big strangely, she seemed interested in this news. Francis¡¯ photos were on the front page of the magazine, including the one where he was receiving his award. The man¡¯s smile was enchanting, and he appeared angelic in the photographs. So he was telling the truth when he said he met Granny while doing charitable work. A wave of embarrassment washed over her when she recalled herself rolling her eyes at him back then. After returning the magazine to her coworker, she thanked them and returned to her office. Right as she stepped into the room, her phone rang. I was a call from her grandmother. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m going to be joining the dancepetition on the weekend. Will you be able toe and support me?¡± Evelyn asked, her joy tinting her words. It had been a long time since Christina heard her grandmother sound so happy, so she answered unhesitatingly, ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make a dress for you to wear for yourpetition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s amazing! Thank you, my darling Christina,¡± Evelyn joyously answered. After ending the call, Christina began designing her grandmother¡¯spetition outfit. With the design drawing, Christina spent the rest of her days after working hours making the dress. She managed to finish it when the weekend arrived. Before the start of thepetition, she brought the dress to the television station. Evelyn proceeded to don the dress, which was crafted from delicate nylon adorned with shimmering glitter and sequins. The sleeves also showcased two blossoming floral embroideries, and they effortlessly stood out against the ck velvet fabric. The second Evelyn stepped forward, she caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you look gorgeous today,¡± came a man¡¯s gentle voice. It was Francis, who was wearing a formal ck suit with a red bow tie. When he ambled over to Evelyn, Evelyn confidently said to her granddaughter, ¡°Allow me to introduce to you my dance partner.¡± Christina chuckled. So Francis is Granny¡¯s dance partner today. ¡°I look forward to your performance. I hope you¡¯ll be able to score well.¡± Francis beamed and turned to Evelyn. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be difficult to lose with an excellent dance partner like you, ma¡¯am.¡± That coaxed augh out of Evelyn¡¯s mouth, and the stage fright she felt dissipated. In no time, thepetition began, and Christina took a seat below the stage. After the opening speech, the host began introducing the participants. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 The Competition Begins Thepetition had started, and it was soon Evelyn¡¯s turn to take the stage as the third performer. Christina instantly became a fan girl, recording Evelyn¡¯s performance on her phone. Seeing her grandmother¡¯s radiant smile made Christina realize that the trip had been worthwhile, regardless of whether she won a prize or not. After thepetition, Christina even helped Evelyn aid Francis take a lot of photos. Francis appeared even more amiable than usual, and his good looks made him the center of attention at the event. Even those who did not dance with him also sought the opportunity to take photos with him. After spending some time backstage, the three teams made their way back to the stage just as the host was about to announce the results. The host held the name list and announced clearly, ¡°The winner of the night is team number three!¡± The spot light then hit on Evelyn and Francis. Evelyn beamed with a glorious smile, exuding confidence that surpassed those of her peers. Her self- assurance alone made her the center of attention. After announcing the runner-up and second runner-up, the host invited all the winners to the stage to take a group photo, capturing the moment as a cherished memory. When it was time for the champion to take the photo, Francis walked down the stage and held his hand to invite Christina. ¡°Shall we?¡± The crowd turned their attention to Christina. She hesitated and wanted to decline his offer. However, when she caught a glimpse of her grandmother¡¯s eager gaze, she made up her mind and stood up. Christina stood next to Evelyn, trying to maintain a distance from Francis. Francis gave her a baffling look before responding with a smirk. ¡°Can we have the champion team look into the camera? We¡¯re going to take a photo now,¡± the photographer said. Standing in the spotlight for the first time, Christina filt her nerves kick in. Her heart raced, but she still managed to maintain a polite grin on her face. Since thepetition was being live-streamed, viewers had the opportunity to watch the event in real- time both on television and online tforms. Meanwhile, Nathaniel returned to Scenic Garden Manor after finalizing a contract, but to his surprise, Christina was nowhere to be found. He took a seat in his study, focusing on attending to his paperwork. His gaze was drawn to the trending topics that appeared on the screen. He clicked on the link and was directed to a live stream where he saw Christina, Evelyn, and Francis standing on stage, epting their award. 13:01 Mon, May Chapter 138 The Competition Begins 70% +15 Bonus Since Christina and Francis were approximately the same age, their presence together in the frame was a perfect match, radiating youthfulness and charm. Evelyn¡¯s position in the center also added a hint of warmth to the scene. Sebastian, who stood next to the desk, started to break out in cold sweat. He knew Nathaniel rushed all the way back to Scenic Garden Manor after signing the contract because he wanted to spend more time with Christina. Little did he expect to return to an empty house and be greeted by such news. Sebastian could tell a storm was brewing inside Nathaniel, and anyone who dared to speak would have to be prepared to face his fury. ¡°Ahem¡­ Ahem¡­¡± Suddenly, Nathaniel started coughing violently. He knitted his brows, and his eyes darkened. ¡°Are you okay, Mr. Hadley? Should I call the family doctor over to check on you?¡± Sebastian asked with genuine concern. ¡°No.¡± Nathaniel regained hisposure and turned off the screen. It was hard to tell the emotion behind his indifferent expression, and that sent chills down Sebastian¡¯s spine. Nathaniel was not one to wear his heart on his sleeve. Beneath those deep gazes, a world of mysteries. was concealed. Instead of bringing that matter up, Sebastian turned around, poured Nathaniel a ss of warm water, sat next to him, and continued sorting out the documents. Nathaniel¡¯s incessant coughing broke the silence in the room. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As his coughing became intensified, Sebastian could not help but find an excuse to slip away. pretending to refill his cup with warm water. He quickly dialed Christina¡¯s number. Sebastian called her twice, but she did not answer the phone. In the end, he texted her to exin. Nathaniel¡¯s situation briefly. Christina cares about Mr. Hadley, so she¡¯ll rush home if she knows he¡¯s not feeling well. Meanwhile, after thepetition, Senior Care and Support Association organized another gathering for all the contestants. When Christina was helping her grandmother change clothes, she left her bag on her seat. The phone in her bag rang, catching Francis¡¯ attention. He peeped at the screen and saw a familiar name. The phone rang several times without being answered, and then a message came through. Francis picked it up and nced at it. Since the screen was locked, he could only read a portion of the disy. A hint of wickedness gleamed in his eyes as he stared at those words. He gently swiped his finger across the screen and tapped the delete key. 13:01 Mon, May 15 Chapter 138 The Competition Begins 76% +15 Bonus When Christina came out of the dressing room, the phone remained quiet inside her bag, as if it had never been taken out. Grandma had a vibrant personality and quickly struck up friendships with fellow members of the association. Christina was pleased to see her grandmother¡¯s heartfelt smile. ¡°Francis is a great kid. Not only can he act well, but he¡¯s also an excellent dancer. You should invite him home for dinner more often.¡± Evelyn could not stop praising Francis. Awkwardness was written all over Christina¡¯s face when she heard that. ¡°Granny, I¡¯m already married. Remember?¡± She wondered if Evelyn had forgotten about Nathaniel since she had not brought him home for quite some time. Upon hearing that, Evelyn knocked Christina¡¯s head gently. ¡°What are you talking about? I only think of him as a friend. Of course, I remember Nat is my grandson-inw.¡± She had a fondness for Francis, simr to how an elderly person was fond of someone younger. On the other hand, even though Nathaniel was not particrly talkative, she could tell he had a deep respect. for the elderly. Above all, Nathaniel cared for Christina deeply, and that was all that mattered. Christina heaved a sigh of relief. She was concerned that Evelyn, who had a fondness for Francis, might try to y matchmaker between them. After returning to her seat, she turned to Francis and spoke sincerely. ¡°Thank you, and I¡¯m sorry for misunderstanding you.¡± Francis¡¯ lips curled into a smile. ¡°Is the invitation to have dinner with you still valid?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Christina replied. A dark glint flitted across Francis¡¯ eyes when he received the answer he had been eagerly anticipating. Christina powered on her phone and noticed several missed calls from Sebastian. However, when she tried to call him back, she was greeted with a busy line. She knew Sebastian would not have called her multiple times without a good reason. Did something happen to Nathaniel? Christina dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number, but no one answered either. A sense of unease started to grow inside her. After thinking it over, Christina decided to return to check on Nathaniel. ¡°Francis, could you please send my granny home? There¡¯s something urgent I need to attend to.¡± She left after bidding Evelyn farewell. Just when Christina was about to leave, Francis¡¯ phone rang. ¡°Hey, Mr. Busy, how did you manage to make time for a charity event? Have you set your sights on a new prey?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t assume I do charity work with any hidden agenda,¡± Francis scoffed coldly. Chapter 138 The Competition Begins At that moment, his gaze toward Christina became deep and mysterious. +15 Bonus The man on the other end of the phone snorted. ¡°Yeah, right. I might believe that from others, but not from you. Are you done? I¡¯ll wait for you at the club. He knew Francis like the back of his hand. Every action Francis took was with purpose. After all, Francis had entered the entertainment industry with the sole intention of seeking revenge against someone. ¡°You¡¯re going to get yourself into hot water for picking a fight with someone you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Francis responded with a wicked smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t mind getting into trouble as long as I can aplish my objective.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Nathaniel Is Sick When Christina arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor she was just in time to see the family doctor driving away. She quickened her pace and strode upstairs. At once, she scented the bitter smell of traditional medicine wafting out from the study. At that moment, Sebastian was holding a bowl of traditional medicine and urging carnestly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the doctor has said that it¡¯s best to consume the medicine while it¡¯s hot.¡± Coughing softly, Nathaniel inexorably frowned as he eyed the bowl of inky-ck medicine. ¡°Take it away.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley¡­¡± Sebastian wanted to persuade the man further, but a frosty re had him tactfully swallow all the words on the tip of his tongue. When he turned around dejectedly with the bowl of medicine in hand, he saw Christina heading. toward him. At once, his eyes lit up as though he had seen a ray of hope. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, quick, talk some sense into Mr. Hadley. He keeps coughing, yet he refuses to take the medicine,¡± he whispered. Having said that, he handed the bowl in his hand to her and left the study. Christina walked over with the bowl of medicine. In a sh, the smell pervaded the air. A frown marred Nathaniel¡¯s countenance, and he appeared exceedingly averse to that medicinal smell. ¡°Take it away.¡± He had always loathed such an odor, finding it bitter and foul. Thus, he had rather take modern medicine. Christina was worried that the medicine in her hand would go cold, causing its efficacy to be reduced. significantly. Hurrying over, she coaxed gently, ¡°You¡¯re not feeling well, but you¡¯ll be fine after drinking the medicine. Putting up with it isn¡¯t good for your body.¡± Nathaniel lifted his gaze arrogantly, his eyes brimming with disdain. ¡°I¡¯m not sick. I don¡¯t need to drink. this¡­ Ahem, ahem¡­¡± Biting her lower lip, Christina glowered at the man¡¯s stony face. Hah! It¡¯s clear as day that he¡¯s under the weather, but he¡¯s as stubborn as a mule! Like a crafty squirrel, she leaned close to him with wide eyes and asked, ¡°You¡¯re really not drinking it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nathaniel answered resolutely. Christina narrowed her eyes mysteriously. ¡°If so, I¡¯ll pour it down the drain. Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Nathaniel affirmed with all the conviction in the world, not the least bit perturbed. I¡¯d be more than d for her to take away the bowl of bitter medicine before me. The reek of it alone is making me sick! 13:01 Mori, Chapter 139 Nathaniel Is Sick ¡°Okay, then,¡± Christina replied sinctly. +15 Bonus ¡°What are you doing, Christina?¡± In the next heartbeat, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes widened as he watched her pick up the bowl and take a gulp of its content. Before he could figure out what she was trying to do, he had already sealed her lips over his and fed the medicine to him. The expected bitterness faded in no time. On the heck of that, Christina¡¯s fragrance washed over him. It felt as though he was swallowing a mouthful of cotton candy. He was promptly stunned. Christina then fed him the medicine a second time in the same manner before the bowl was emptied. With their lips meshing together, their scorching breaths melded together. All the blood in their bodies shot up to their heads, swiftly overtaking their reason. Christina felt as though her heart was moments from pounding out of her chest even as her vision blurred from the blood hazing up her eyes. Subsequently, she was pulled against a warm chest. The next day, the morning sunlight prated the curtains to be reflected sharply on the carpet. Christina went downstairs for breakfast before going to the office. As soon as she stepped into the building, her colleagues surrounded her. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Francis Fernando, Ms. Steele?¡± ¡°Can you please get us his autograph?¡± It was not until then that Christina learned that the photos of her attending the event with her. grandmotherst night made the headlines. Consequently, many people saw the photo of her with Francis. Seeing that they saw the photo, Nathaniel must have also seen it. But ever since I went homest night, I hadn¡¯t sensed any reaction from him regarding this matter. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Therefore, she did not take it to heart. She promised her colleagues that she would certainly get them Francis¡¯ autograph if the opportunity arose. Then, she went to her office and worked for the entire morning. At noon, she received a call from Coco. ¡°Put a halt to the gown I asked you to make for me yesterday, Christina. I might not need it anymore,¡± Cocomented despondently. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Coco? Didn¡¯t you say the awards ceremony next month is exceedingly important?¡± Christina inquired in concern. There hadn¡¯t been any negative press about her recently. Besides, she¡¯d been constantly receiving positive reviews and is incredibly popr. In response, Coco heaved a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. I¡¯ve no idea who I have offended. Actually, it isn¡¯t just me. All celebrities attached to Francis¡¯ studio have been affected, and most of our work has been Chapter 139 Nathaniel Is Sick 76% +15 Bonus suspended. The studio has also been asked to move out within a certain time. Oh well, we¡¯ll talk another time. I¡¯ve got to help with the lifting and carrying.¡± Right after that, she hung up the phone. Christina¡¯s fingers tightened around her phone. Inwardly, a hunch seemingly niggled at her mind. Could it be that Nathaniel is mad? And is all this his doing? When it was time for her lunch break, she went to Hadley Corporation. The receptionist at the front desk recognized her, granting her smooth ess to the CEO¡¯s office. Sebastian was reporting work matters to Nathaniel when he caught sight of Christina and hurried out. ¡°Is something the matter that you came to seek Mr. Hadley out, Mrs. Hadley?¡± he queried in concern, sounding distinctly apprehensive. It was as though he was aware of something yet dared not give voice to it. Cutting straight to the chase, Christina demanded, ¡°Was Nathaniel behind everything that happened to Francis¡¯ studio?¡± Regretfully, Sebastian¡¯s worry ultimately came to past Their rtionship was perfectly finest night, but they¡¯re going to be at odds today because of an irrelevant person. This just isn¡¯t worth it. ¡°As you know, Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley saw your photo with Francis. As such, it¡¯s only natural that he¡¯s angry,¡± Sebastianmented kindly. He did not want to see Nathaniel in a bad mood, so he was saying that for everyone¡¯s good. Upon noticing that Christina was unmoved, seemingly intent on barging in to question the man about the matter, he could not help but speak further. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be mindful of Mr. Hadley¡¯s way of doing things, Mrs. Hadley. Infuriating him will only make those around you suffer even more. It would be far worse if you were affected as well. Please show us some mercy by not angering him any further.¡± That¡¯d be for her good and ours, for none will be spared when Mr. Hadley is in the throes of his fury. Right now, he¡¯s already being merciful. He merely suspended the celebrities attached to Francis¡¯ studio and took the studio back. The fact that he could force Francis into leaving the public eye when the man was an A-list celebrity back then was evidence that the influence behind it was no match for the average person. At longst, Christina¡¯s impulsivepulsion abated. Even if I were to barge in and question Nathaniel about the matter, would he listen to me and stop making life difficult for Francis when he¡¯s always been high and mighty As Sebastian said, it¡¯d possibly drive him to drag even more people into this mess. Lifting her hand, she rested it on the door handle. She then hesitated for a moment before pushing open the door. The temperature in the room was cial, and it had her feel like she had stepped into a freezer. The instant Nathaniel raised his eyes to her, a chilly aura assailed her from all directions, enveloping her entirely. Each step she took was beyond cautious, and she acted as though she was going to hit a minefield with the slightest misstep. Heading over, she kept her lips curved into a smile and brought her face close to him before asking softly, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Nathaniel held back the urge to pinch her puffed-up cheeks and muttered cidly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Have the cafeteria send some food up, then. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s unfathomable eyes narrowed a fraction. You came all the way here for no other reason but to have lunch with me?¡± His voice was tinged with a hint of skepticism, making it appear that he had long since seen through her. Christina bit her lower lip before admitting, ¡°Of course not. I have an ulterior motive.¡± The moment her words rang out, Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face tensed imperceptibly. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Time To Have Medicine Outside the door, Sebastian, who was eavesdropping on Christina and Nathaniel¡¯s conversation, panicked and broke into cold sweat. Hadn¡¯t I reminded her to be careful? Yet, she¡¯s frankly admitting to having an ulterior motive. Does she intend to make Mr. Hadley burst a blood vessel before she¡¯d quit?. In the room, the temperature abruptly plummeted. Christina marched to Nathaniel¡¯s side and stuck her hands on her slender waist before dering, ¡°You must behave when you take your medicer instead of having me feed you again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Nathaniel questioned coldly. Christina nodded firmly and pulled him up from his seat. When the two of them had finished eating lunch, Sebastian came in with a bowl of traditional medicine. ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s hot, Mr. Hadley.¡± Something unique about traditional medicine was it had to be drunk while it was hot. Otherwise, its efficacy would be affected when the aroma had dissipated. Picking up the bowl, Nathaniel threw his head back and downed the medicine. ¡°Wow, how amazing! Here¡¯s a piece of candy as a reward.¡± As though performing a magic trick, Christina whipped out a strawberry-vored candy from her bag. After unwrapping it, she stuffed it into the man¡¯s mouth. ¡°Well? It doesn¡¯t feel bitter anymore, does it?¡± she eximed, beaming from ear to ear. Under the lights, her innocent smiling face was revealed in its full glory. Sheer vitality was reflected in her limpid eyes and rosy lips. It was the first time Sebastian had seen Nathaniel being so cooperative. Sure enough, he¡¯s different when Christina is here! Rejoicing inwardly, he left the room with the empty bowl in his hand. Meanwhile, Nathaniel returned to his desk and continued working. Christina was in no hurry to leave. She moved a stool over and sat by his feet quietly, flipping through a magazine. The magazine in her hand was thetest fashion publication with the currently trending celebrities and singers who were rtively popr. She behaved remarkably well, resting a hand against Nathaniel¡¯sp while flipping through the magazine with great interest. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Look, Nathaniel, the styling I did for Coco made it into this magazine! The editor evenuded it for being wildly creative!¡± She spread the magazine in front of the man. ¡°Look. Isn¡¯t it beautiful?¡± Nathaniel indifferently swept a gaze over it. ¡°Yeah.¡± 13.02 Ma Chapter 140 Time To Have Medicine ¡°Am I incredible or what?¡± Christina boasted proudly. ¡°Yeah.¡± Nathaniel murmured. 76% ¹þ +15 Bonus All of a sudden, the woman who was all enthusiastic previously slumped against the man¡¯s shoulder like a deted balloon. Shemented, ¡°Unfortunately, Coco told me all her work has recently been suspended. Even if I¡¯ve got new ideas, I can¡¯t put them into practice. Oh well¡­¡± 56 Having said that, Christina raised her bright eyes and blinked them at Nathaniel pitifully. Her innocent look made Nathaniel¡¯s heart soften. If she had asked for the moon in the sky at that very instant, he would have been willing to get it for her. ¡°What do you want?¡± In the end, he caved in. Following that, Christina jumped for joy. ¡°Don¡¯t make things difficult for them anymore, okay? Restore their work. Then, I can also continue mine.¡± There were at least a dozen celebrities attached to Francis¡¯ studio. Once their work was suspended. everyone around them would be affected. Nathaniel ced his massive palm on her delicate wrist. With a forceful tug, he yanked her right into his arms. He lowered his head, brushing his thin lips against her fair and exquisite neck. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to meet him anymore henceforth.¡± Like an order, his words held no room for negotiation. Christina immediately realized the man was still fuming about the incidentst night. ¡°I didn¡¯t go there for the express purpose of meeting him.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than his teeth mped on her neck. Her heartbeat promptly sped. up. ¡°Ouch, it hurts¡­¡± Wrapping a hand around her slender waist, Nathaniel lifted her chin with the other hand. His scorching breath brushed against the back of her ear. ¡°You¡¯ll never learn unless it hurts.¡± After he had said that, he stered his cool lips against the back of her ear once more. When Christina returned to the office, she wore a scarf around her neck. The man¡¯s ck scarf on her neck appeared very much out of ce with her professional attire. Her colleagues cast strange looks in her direction, but she steeled herself and ignored them all. Within seconds of stepping into the office, she received good news from Coco. ¡°My jobs have been resumed, Christina! The gown has to be on schedule as I need to wear it next month!¡± The corners of Christina¡¯s mouth turned up. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll definitely do my best and make you the limelight on the red carpet.¡± 13:02 Mon, May 15 Chapter 140 Time To Have Medicine ¡°I love you to the moon and back! See you then!¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina started busying herself with work matters. +15 Bonus As the group leader, her workload was several times higher than it was previously. Hence, she only settled everything when it was almost time to get off work. Ever since thepany came up with the new rule, she had her schedule packed. She openly epted. themission from Coco, going to the tailor room after the workday to work on it. The gown she designed was golden in color, and the curved seam design rendered the hem stunningly beautiful. The gilt design was superimposed with golden rhinestones. With that, a perfect gown took shape. Before leaving, she took the gown off the hanger and put it into her bag. There were too many people in the office, and she could not allow the gown¡¯s design toe to light too early. Otherwise, things would be bad if someone were to imitate it. When she arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor, she locked herself in the tailor room specially prepared for her. The room was fully equipped with everything she might need. It was prepared on Nathaniel¡¯s orders, mainly to entice her into spending more time at Scenic Garden Manor. Christina was the kind of person who would forget the time when she got absorbed in work. She only returned to her room to restte at night. The next day, she again continued working without a moment¡¯s dy. At longst, shepleted the gown before the film festival. On the day of the awards ceremony, Coco had her assistant pick Christina up and drive her to the venue¡¯s dressing room. As soon as Christina stepped in the door, she was greeted by the sight of Coco waiting without any makeup on. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Christina! I can only rest easy with you doing my makeup.¡± By then, Coco was exceedingly dependent upon Christina when it came to the issue of her dressing and styling, having no confidence in allowing others to do her makeup. Christina had Coco change into the gown before she started doing thetter¡¯s makeup. Then, she wrapped up with the overall styling- After more than two hours of hard work, aplete set of looks were presented to the staff. ¡°Ms. Coco¡¯s gown is truly breathtaking!¡± ¡°She¡¯ll undoubtedly be the center of attention tonight!¡± ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t wait!¡± Coco stared at herself in the mirror. Wow, I can¡¯t believe this In all the years I¡¯ve been in the entertainment industry, the most fortunate thing that happened to me is making Christina¡¯s acquaintance. She helped me create my image, rendering me the darling of the industry time and again! Grasping Christina¡¯s hands, she gushed, ¡°Although I might not necessarily win tonight, I still wish for yourpany. Shall we go for supper together after the awards ceremony?¡± Christina nodded in assent. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you. Good luck!¡± Subsequently, Coco left the dressing room under the staff¡¯s arrangements. Christina and her assistant, on the other hand, slipped into the auditorium backstage and took their seats. When Coco walked the red carpet in her elegant dress, countless lights shed, and all cameras were focused on her. ¡°Coco is drop-dead gorgeous!¡± ¡°Look here, Coco!¡± ¡°Are you confident of receiving an award tonight, Coco?¡± Coco greeted the media with a smile on her face, taking the spotlight. Behind her, many female celebrities were inevitably envious to see that she was the center of attention. The dress she¡¯s wearing is not from a luxurious brand. Why is it so beautiful though? Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Emilia Causes Trouble The result of the awards ceremony was no surprise as the coveted best female lead went to Gwh. She was an A-list actress with impable manners, but that was only skin deep. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Those who loved her, loved her, but her haters only seemed to increase in number. Unexpectedly, the best supporting female lead of the year went to Coco. Despite being a fresh face in the industry, she had already gained a sizeable fanbase due to her poprity among audiences. As Coco took to the stage to ept her award, all eyes were on her dazzling dress-its gorgeous, flowing linesplemented her slender figure. She had never really caught the director¡¯s attention before, but at this moment, she had made asting impression on many people. ¡°Where did Coco get her dress from?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s from any high-end fashionbel. The most exclusive dressmakers always contacted us first.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± Soon enough, Christina¡¯s name came up. It was rare toe across a fashion designer with such remarkable skills. When news of Christina¡¯s exceptional talent circted, a throng of female celebrities, including up-anding actresses and A- listers, lined up outside Radiant Corporation the following day, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Gina arranged for Christina to be in the conference room to speak with her potential customers. She spent the whole morning taking notes on their requirements so that she could start working on their designs. Before long, Christina found herself booked with jobs until the next month. As the work orders piled up, she began to feel overwhelmed. Gina patted her on the shoulder andforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll arrange for two assistants to help you with the orders.¡± In general, group leaders didn¡¯t have assistants, and all the work had to be shared among colleagues. But since Christina was overloaded with work, Gina decided to make an exception for her. When Christina exited the conference room, her colleagues from Team B swarmed around her. ¡°Ms. Steele, I heard that Ms. Tanner wants to assign you an assistant. Will you please pick me?¡± one colleague pleaded. ¡°Choose me! I hope to learn from you!¡± another chimed in. ¡°I¡¯m hardworking. I¡¯ll definitely be of great help!¡± Christina was pleasantly surprised as it was the first time her colleagues showed such enthusiasm. She had been striving to earn their respect for so long, and it seemed like her hard work had finally paid off. Chapter 141 Emilia Causes Trouble +15 Bonus But no matter who she chose as her assistant, it would inevitably cause resentment among the others who didn¡¯t make the cut. In an attempt to diffuse the tension, Christina said, ¡°Ms. Tanner will be selecting the assistants. I wee anyone who wants to lend a hand.¡± Her colleagues took the hint and returned to their positions. Later that afternoon, Gina arranged for Anna and Xenia Darby from Team B to assist Christina. Anna had been performing welltely, so Gina hadn¡¯t nned to assign her as Christina¡¯s assistant. However, she offered to assist Christina. s, Gina epted Anna¡¯s offer. As soon as Anna entered Christina¡¯s office, the two embraced tightly as if old friends reuniting after a long time. ¡°We¡¯re back to working together!¡± Anna eximed. ¡°Given your skills, you don¡¯t have to be my assistant, Christina said sheepishly. They used to work together and knew each other¡¯s capabilities. However, Anna didn¡¯t see anything wrong with the antingement. After all, she felt it was an honor to be Christina¡¯s assistant. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I saw Coco¡¯s outfit and style yesterday, and it was really beautiful!¡± Anna said as she ced the freshly brewed coffee on Christina¡¯s desk. After a short pause, she added, ¡°I think you¡¯re incredibly talented, and I want to learn from you,¡± Christina didn¡¯t reject Anna¡¯. She understood that declining her now would be taken as being insincere. ¡°All right, thank you for your efforts,¡± said Christina. Just then, Xenia entered the room. It seemed that Gif had handpicked her as she wanted to give one of the top performers at Team B a chance to learn and grow. However, Xenia was not particrly fond of Christina, who was around her age. In her opinion, Christina was not that talented because she had graduated from an average design. school. Xenia went as far as to specte that Christina¡¯s wealth and fame were attributed to the rumored support from a wealthy businessman. Christina did not notice the strange look from Xenia The trio then sat down and started to discuss work. The first task was to design a dress for the popr actress Orlena Willen who was well-known for her vintage style. Halfway through the discussion, Gina notified Christina that an important guest had arrived and instructed her to attend to the guest personally. When Christina entered the conference room, she was surprised to see Emilia. The woman¡¯s outfit was oozing with sophistication and wealth. Even the gemstone ring she was wearing was worth a fortune. I haven¡¯t heard any recent news about the Steele family. Why is Emilia able to dress so extravagantly? Emilia wasted no time in mocking her. ¡°Look at you Christina, dressed like a pauper, while I¡¯m dressed like a queen. I mean, can¡¯t you see the difference¡±. Christina, who usually dressed in a simple and casual style on workdays, was a far cry from the girl¡¯s morous appearance. ¡°I heard you¡¯re supposed to be the best designer in Raliant Corporation. I¡¯m not that impressed,¡± Emilia sneered. ¡°There are many talented designers in thepany. You can always choose someone else,¡± Christina replied coolly. Without another word, she began walking toward the door. Angered by the woman¡¯s tant disrespect, Emilia stood up and yelled, ¡°Did I say you could leave, Christina Steele? Get back here!¡± Christine stopped in her tracks and spoke to Emilia with her back turned. ¡°If you have something to say, make it quick. My time is precious.¡± Emilia climbed the socialdder so that she could show off to Christina. She wanted to prove that she was just as capable as Christine by marrying a wealthy husband and living a life of extravagance,plete with an endless array of dresses and jewelry. ¡°I want to make a dress, and I want you to make it,¡± she demanded. Christina ced her hands on her hips and scoffed, Sure, what style do you want?¡± As expected, Emilia had a long list of demands for her dress. However, Christina made no effort to jot them down. ¡°It needs to be done by this week,¡± Emilia stressed, even going as far as to specify the exact time she wanted the dresspleted. However, Christina refused to give in to her unreasonable demands. ¡°I have a customer to attend to, so you¡¯ll have to wait in line,¡± she stated firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to wait. Why don¡¯t you prioritize my dress?¡± Emilia hissed. Gina, who had been observing the exchange, decided to intervene. Given their shared surname, she was able to deduce their rtionship. ¡°Christina, the boss has instructed us to handle her order,¡± she whispered. Christina was initially hesitant, but she had a sudden lea and readily agreed to the task. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll work on it over the weekend.¡± Gina was surprised at how easily she had given in, considering the heated argument earlier Satisfied with Christina¡¯s answer, Emilia got ready to leave. However, before she left, she delivered a parting threat. ¡°Make sure you do it perfectly, or else I¡¯ll ask your boss to lire you,¡± she snarled. With that, Christina marched back to her office, her eyes zing with fury. She sat down at her desk and began sketching out the designs that Emilia had requested. To anyone watching, it would seem like she was simply hard at work, diligently creating the requested design. But in reality, Christina was secretly developing a ploy. Over the week, she delegated some of the more mundane tasks to Xenia to focus all of her attention on the dress design for Emilia. Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Thank Your Sister Since joining the entertainment industry, Emilia only managed to take on small advertising gigs and minor roles. Most of the characters she yed were tasteless roles that emphasized showing off her body. When she made headlines, most words used to describe her were bold and revealing. Rumor had it that she had recently met a wealthy businessman, and the two were preparing to get married after dating for a few months. Christina set off to deliver the dress. As she approached the mansion, a maid greeted her at the door and ushered her inside. The vi was decorated with luxurious furnishings and opulent decorations. ¡°It¡¯s no lesser than Scenic Garden Manor, right?¡± Emi strutted down from the second floor. She had demanded Christina deliver the dress in person so that she could unt her residence and belittle her rival. After all, Emilia was convinced she was just as good as Christina, if not better. Christina nonchntly slid her hands into her coat pockets and said in a rxed tone, ¡°Here¡¯s your dress. So long as you haven¡¯t put on any extra pounds in the past few days, it should fit just fine.¡± With that, Christina turned to leave. Emilia¡¯s intention was never to collect the dress. Rather, she sought to unt her wealth and undermine Christina. However, Christina¡¯s nonchnt attitude caught her off guard. It even seemed she was mocking her, which made Emilia feel foolish. Refusing to ept this, Emilia rushed after Christina and grabbed her hand. ¡°Are you jealous of my sess? Are you afraid that I¡¯ll see your despondent look? Is that why you are in such a hurry to leave?¡± Christina stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Emilia. ¡°You don¡¯t need others to decide whether you¡¯re happy or not. Are you seeking my validation because material possessions can¡¯t fulfill your innermost desires?¡± Although her voice was gentle, her bright eyes gleamed with an icy coldness that seemed to prate the hearts of those around her. Christina¡¯s words caught Emilia off guard. Her eyes widened with fury as she pulled out an invitation. ¡°If you¡¯re not envious of me,e to my engagement party tonight,¡± she said, thrusting the card into Christina¡¯s hand. it proves that you Emilia shot her sister a provoking look and continued. ¡°If you don¡¯t dare to show up, it can¡¯t bear to see me seed. Don¡¯t pretend that it doesn¡¯t bother you.¡± Christina snorted derisively and epted the invitation. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll be there on time and steal the spotlight from you.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Before Emilia could finish her sentence, Christina had already walked out of the door. 13:03 Mon, May Chapter 142 Thank Your Sister +15 Bonus When Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor, she changed into a new outfit and did her makeup. Even though she didn¡¯t know why Emilia was so insistent on her attending the engagement party, she had already agreed to it. Hence, she had to show up. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As Christina was about to leave, she heard footstepsing down the stairs. Quickly, she grabbed a nket from the sofa and covered herself, leaving only her head visible. Nathaniel entered the room; his chiseled and handsome features, deep ck eyes, andmanding eyebrows emanated a powerful aura. Sebastian followed behind him; they looked like they had some errands to run. ¡°You¡¯re going out?¡± Nathaniel stopped next to her. ¡°Nope!¡± Christina immediately responded with a faint smile. She nned to show up at Emilia¡¯s party for a short while and then return. Hence, there was no need to trouble Nathaniel. Moreover, she didn¡¯t think there was a need to ask for Nathaniel¡¯s help to deal with someone as insignificant as Emilia. Nathaniel, being observant as always, couldn¡¯t help but notice that Christina had put on makeup today. Upon removing her nket, he observed that she donned a ck gown that entuated her well- defined corbones. Her tousled hair was pulled back into a messy bun, giving her an alluring and seductive look. Christina flushed and uttered, ¡°I¡¯m attending Emilia¡¯s engagement party. I won¡¯t stay there for long, so there¡¯s no need to worry about me.¡± A frosty glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he stared at her fair, snow-like skin. ¡°Cancel tonight¡¯s meeting and get the car ready.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sebastian answered, before leaving to retrieve the vehicle. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apany me if you have work to do¡­¡± Christina began, but Nathaniel cut her off and pulled her toward the door. Sebastian then promptly drove the car to the venue mentioned on the invitation. White Sky Hotel had a century-old reputation in Jadeborough, and it was known for hosting many historical figures, including royalty like the Queen of Ustrana. For most people, booking a banquet here was a nearly impossible task. Hence, Emilia was determined to invite Christina to Her engagement party, as she wanted to show off her sess to thetter. Christina held on to Nathaniel¡¯s arm as they made their way into the opulent hall. The interior design. was so luxurious that it resembled a pce. ¡°I heard that White Sky Hotel has a floor especially reserved to showcase photographs of all the prominent guests who came here. I would love to see it,¡± Chapter 142 Thank Your Sister +15 Bonus Christina eximed. ¡°What¡¯s so interesting about some old photos?¡± Nathaniel murmured. ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Christina exined, her bright eyes shining with excitement. ¡°White Sky Hotel only hosts the cr¨¨me de cr¨¨me of society, so the clothing and jewelry on disy in those photographs are likely reflective of thetest fashion trends of the time. It could even provide inspiration for my designs!¡± Even if it didn¡¯t help my designs, it would still be an enjoyable experience to broaden my horizons. Christina¡¯s smile faltered slightly as she continued, ¡°Unfortunately, I heard the exhibit only opens once a year, so it¡¯s not easy to get ess.¡± ¡°If you want to see it, I can make arrangements for you,¡± Nathaniel said nonchntly, as though it were a trivial matter. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I don¡¯t want you to owe anyone any favors. Pretend that I never spoke about it.¡± Christina shrugged. At that very moment, Emilia made her grand entrance in the magnificent red dress created by Christina. The stunning dress drew countlesspliments, leaving everyone in awe of Emilia¡¯s breathtaking appearance. While the dress was undeniably stunning, she knew deep down that her own natural beauty was what truly made it shine, and not Christina¡¯s design skills. Emilia¡¯s gaze was immediately drawn to Nathaniel. Hur heart skipped a beat as she eagerly eximed, ¡°Nathaniel, I am truly honored by your presence!¡± In contrast, the man¡¯s reply was devoid of any warmth. ¡°You should thank your sister.¡± He intended to emphasize that his attendance at the engagement party was solely due to Christina¡¯s presence. Emilia¡¯s lips twitched, and her eyes shifted to Christina. It was supposed to be her engagement party, but it seemed her sister had outdone her, stealing the spotlight yet again. Nheless, Emilia had no intention of letting Christina off the hook so easily. She had been plotting. her revenge since the moment she invited Christina to the engagement party, carefully setting up a trap within the venue. Emilia stared at Christina and sneered, ¡°You should enjoy yourself tonight. My engagement may be an unforgettable event for you.¡± After speaking, she disyed a sly grin before striding away to wee other guests. Christina pondered over Emilia¡¯s smile and felt that things were not as simple as they looked. Numerous celebrities and dignitaries at the engagement party were acquaintances with Nathaniel. Some were eager to make a good impression on him and began discussing business deals. However, Christina had no desire to participate in such conversations. Hence, she chose to walk away; alone, leaving the crowd behind. Just then, Miranda spotted Christina and walked over to pinch her hand. ¡°Brat, go clean up the ce!¡± Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Not Here To Serve You Christina turned around and saw Miranda¡¯s face which was filled with disdain, as if a vulture waiting to pounce on her. She coldly declined the woman. ¡°I¡¯m here for the wedding, not to be your servant.¡± ¡°A lowlife like you is better suited for this kind of work. The Steele family doesn¡¯t need you anymore. My daughter, Emilia, is capable enough of marrying a wealthy man and bring honor to the farmily.¡± Miranda sneered smugly. A proud and conceited look filled Miranda¡¯s face. After all, her daughter had married a rich tycoon and brought glory to the Steele family. Even without Nathaniel¡¯s help, they could still move up the socialdder. Hence, Miranda had the cheek to openly mock Christina. ¡°Congrattions on your family¡¯s rise to the top.¡± Christina¡¯s clear eyes shed with a cold glint as she turned and walked away. Miranda smirked smugly, only to realize that she had been mocked by the girl and livid. grew That brat¡¯s smart mouth will be the end of me! Not far away, Emilia was instructing an assistant, ¡°Add this packet of good stuff into her drinkster on. Make sure you watch her finish it. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The assistant nodded. It was obvious that they had done this before. Emilia¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. The thought of Christina being in apromised situation alone pleased her. ¡°Aplish this mission, and you¡¯ll be rewarded.¡± The assistant nodded again and walked out after changing into a waitress¡¯ uniform. She put the drugged drink on the tray and pretended to casually walk past Christina. With a smile, she asked, ¡°Miss, would you like some champagne?¡± Christina nced at her and took a ss. ¡°Thank you The assistant¡¯s lips quirked into a smile when she saw that the n was working and left after muttering her thanks. Emilia had been carefully observing Christina and became excited when she saw thetter drink the champagne. The drug would soon make Christina lose control and embarrass herself in front of everyone. Feeling humiliated by Christina, Nathaniel might even divorce her. That way, she would be reduced to her former state-a despised trash. Emilia picked up the ss of champagne handed to her by the waiter, took a sip, and continued to watch Christina intently. Chapter 143 Not Here To Serve You +15 Bonus However, before she could witness Christina embarrassing herself, she began feeling strange. sensations. A hot me surged from the soles of her feet to her head, and she knew exactly what was happening. When she lifted her head, Christina was already in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Emilia? Feeling at little under the weather?¡± Emilia widened her eyes in disbelief at Christina. ¡°Why are you all right? What did you do to me?¡± ¡°Tit for tat. I simply did to you what you did to me,¡± Christina said coolly. ¡°A word of advice, though. Next time you do this again, get a stranger to do it.¡± Christina recognized the disguised assistant in a heartbeat since she had been present in many photos of Emilia that appeared in the headlines. Hence, Christina was suspicious when the assistant deliberately served her champagne. She then switched the drugged champagne with another ss and passed it on to Emilia through another waitress. ¡°Christina, how dare you plot against me! You are despicable!¡± Emilia felt extremely ufortable as if she was being bitten by countless ants. A cold glint flickered across Christina¡¯s eyes as she uttered, ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a taste of your own medicine.¡± If she hadn¡¯t fought back, she would be the one kneeling on the grass, weeping bitterly right now. To be kind to one¡¯s enemy was to be cruel to oneself, Emilia scurried to leave with wobbly feet. Christina returned to the hall and found Nathaniel still engaged in a conversation. At this moment, a short and chubby man, looking less than one hundred and sixty centimeters tall came over and introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Emilia¡¯s fiance. I feel so honored that we¡¯re going to be family soon.¡± Christina blinked her eyes in disbelief. This man who looks like a potato is Emilia¡¯s fiance? No wonder she never talks about her fiance¡¯s appearance and only focuses on his money. I can see she¡¯s ashamed of his looks. Then, Christina turned to Nathaniel and said, ¡°I¡¯m tired. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel held her hand in his, and they prepared to leave. Suddenly, passionate sounds of a man and a woman came from the loudspeaker¡­. The sound appeared to being from a confined space, and thepping sounds of skin-on-skin. contact echoed throughout the vast room. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that your fianc¨¦ will find out?¡± the man¡¯s mocking voice was clearly audible. Emilia sneered, ¡°How will he find out? He thinks I love him so much. He doesn¡¯t have a clue that I feel Chapter 143 Not Here To Serve You sick every night lying next to him!¡± Then why are you marrying him?¡± +15 Bonus ¡°For the money, of course. He¡¯s dumb and loaded. Once I get the money. I¡¯ll dump him.¡± Emilia said smugly. Her arrogance was evident in her tone. Everyone at the venue turned extremely awkward. After all, the way in which the betrayal unfolded was a huge p to the groom-to-be¡¯s face. They were at a loss of what to do next. Miranda was dumbfounded, shook by what she heard She frantically rushed up the stage, searching for the switch to turn it off. However, the sound system kept broadcasting the sounds of the man and the woman engaged in a passionate exchange. Nathaniel covered Christina¡¯s ears and mumbled. ¡°Not for kids.¡± Then, he dragged her to leave. Emilia had essentially dug her own grave. Christina let out a soft sigh and exited the venue. When Emilia came out of the private room, she took the time to touch up her makeup before heading back to the venue. However, all the guests had left, leaving only Miranda and Gideon, who were kneeling on the ground. begging for forgiveness. ¡°Mom, Dad, what are you guys doing?¡± Emilia walked over and asked with a puzzled look on her face. Furious, Gideon shot up and pped her hard across her face. Emilia¡¯s head buzzed from the impact. ¡°You¡¯re so shameless! What have you done with the man backstage?¡± he roared. ¡°You all heard it?¡± Emilia asked incredulously.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. I drank the drugged champagne and hooked up with an old me. How did they find out about this? ¡°If you don¡¯t fix this, don¡¯t bothering home. Otherwise, I¡¯ll break your legs!¡± Gideon had always indulged in his wife and Emilia, but he couldn¡¯t bear to suffer such disgrace. Everyone is going tough at me because of this insolent girl How will I be able to maintain my status in the city now? After saying that, Gideon left in a huff. Unwilling to give up. Miranda grabbed her future son-inw¡¯s hand and begged for forgiveness. ¡°Emilia is still young. She doesn¡¯t know any better. Could you forgive her this time? She wouldn¡¯t dare to do this again.¡± Emilia clung to the man who used to treasure her and sobbed. ¡°Darling, I was framed. You have to help me get justice¡­¡± Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Chapter 144 An Upset Xenia The man snorted icily. ¡°Stop putting up an act. I¡¯ve heard everything clearly! You are obviously after my money. I will withdraw the investment I gave Steele Group!¡± Miranda panicked when she heard he wanted to withdraw his capital. Losing both the rich son-inw and his funds would be catastrophic for their family. She immediately went after him. ¡°Please forgive Emilia. I promise she won¡¯tin again no matter what you want her to do.¡± The man ignored her, and his bodyguards came forward to stop Emilia and Miranda from getting any closer to him. Emilia¡¯s hurried pace caused her high heels to catch on the hem of her dress, and the fabric tore with a loud rip. A sizable gap opened up behind her, leaving her feeling exposed and embarrassed. She climbed to her feet and staggered to the door. She couldn¡¯t afford to let him leave. It was hard for her to find a rich and foolish man like him. She really thought he was the one who could provide for her. No matter how hard she yelled, the man refused to look back. He hopped onto his vehicle which was worth tens of millions and drove away, Emilia halted in her tracks to discover that her body felt chilly. Looking down, she was shocked to see that the gap in her dress had widened as she ran out, and her body was almost naked. At the entrance, people were staring at her lecherously. Emilia let out a horrified scream and fled back into the hotel. Her reputation and image as a graceful socialite were instantly ruined. Back in the dressing room, Emilia flung her arms around Miranda and wailed, ¡°Mom, it was all Christina¡¯s fault! She has destroyed my wedding! My husband ran away, and Dad yelled at me! Christina wanted me to suffer! Look at my dress. She must¡¯ve done it on purpose to humiliate me!¡± Emilia¡¯s loud wails filled the air and her resentment was palpable. Miranda was boiling with anger. She was convinced that Christina had plotted everything against her daughter so that she wouldn¡¯t get to marry a wealthy husband. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Emilia. It wasn¡¯t your fault. You¡¯re still young and pretty, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find more opportunities to get to know more men in the future sheforted Emilia. Emilia bobbed her head and threw herself into Miranda¡¯s arms to seekfort. ¡°Mom, you must take revenge on my behalf. I hate her!¡± Miranda patted her head in aforting manner and vowed, ¡°I won¡¯t let Christina off the hook!¡± Christina thought Emilia would show up to seek revenge the next day, but to her surprise, she stayed under the radar. The scandal that happenedst night was kept under the lid. It was most probably Emilia¡¯s fianc¨¦ who Chapter 144 An Upset Xe did it as he didn¡¯t want his reputation to take a tow. The incident had been so humiliating that Emilia should have been hiding at home, away from the nosy crowd. Christina didn¡¯t pay any attention to that as she was entirely focused on her work. Anna and Xenia were capable enough to handle most of the day-to-day tasks efficiently. Once she finished the design draft, she would need assistance with the intricate details of the production process. The three of them were tied down with work. During their lunch break at noon, Xenia took a break to make some coffee in the pantry. A few colleagues were gathered in the pantry, chatting with each other. When they noticed Xenia, they approached her and praised her, ¡°You¡¯re so fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from Ms. Steele.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve actually seen a few final products. You¡¯re more talented than Ms. Steele in sewing!¡± ¡°Ms. Steele¡¯s designs are just ordinary. It¡¯s Xenia who is talented enough to create final products that are prettier than the ones she designed!¡± Xenia felt pleased upon hearing their praises, especially since even Gina hadplimented her handiwork recently. Lately, Xenia noticed that her colleagues were subtly trying to tter her. Whenever she wanted a cup of coffee, someone would always offer to make it for her and bring it to her. ¡°Thanks. I need to get back to work.¡± Xenia held her coffee-smugly and left the pantry. Back in the tailor room, Christina and Anna were discussing the details of the design. Xenia discovered that Christina would discuss work-rted matters with Anna, which made her suspect that Christina had deliberately chosen to do so. Christina happened to look up and saw her walking into the room. ¡°Xenia, have youpleted the embroidery work I assigned to you?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°There¡¯s a lot, so I can¡¯t finish everything on my own¡± Xenia huffed. I always get assigned the most demanding tasks like embroidery, while Anna only gets to sew simple stuff. I keep pricking my fingers until they bleed, and the most upsetting thing is that Christina never seems to care about me. She only cares about whether the fabric has been stained with my blood. Christina might be young, but I think she¡¯s quite snobbish. No wonder she became the group leader at a young age as she¡¯s good at trimming her sails to the wind. She disys her abilities at work and leaves theplicated stuff to unknown assistants like us. Seeing the displeased expression that crossed her face, Christina replied calmly, ¡°I know embroidery can be demanding work. You¡¯ll be responsible for the curve of the pannier while I handle the rest.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Despite feeling aggrieved, Xenia had no choice but to give in. The three of them remained in the tailor room for the entire afternoon. When they finally looked up, they felt sore all over. Christina nced at the clock and realized they had been working over for over an hour. She told them, ¡°You can get off work now.¡± ¡°Oh, finally it¡¯s time to get off work. I¡¯ve been sitting the entire day!¡± Xenia grumble. She packed up swiftly and left without looking back. Anna stretchedzily as her gazended on Christina¡¯s unfinished embroidery. ¡°Do you need me to stay back and help you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can do it myself,¡± came Christina¡¯s answer. Embroidery was aplex task, particrly when there were multiple colors involved. It required complete concentration toplete the job to a high standard. Anna wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave. Instead, she came closer to Christina with a smile as though she needed a favor. ¡°Working hours are over, so can I ask you for some tips?¡± A smile nudged Christina¡¯s lips. ¡°Go ahead. What is it?¡± Anna¡¯s face lit up at her answer. ¡°Please take a look at my design and let me know what you think, Christina,¡± she said, handing over the design. Christina¡¯s guess was right, for Anna wanted her opinion regarding design drawing. Anna sought Christina¡¯s opinion on her design when they were in the same industry, which showed that she valued Christina¡¯s expertise. Christina took her design and scrutinized it carefully. A whileter, she provided her opinion. Anna nodded eagerly. ¡°You¡¯re so d*mn right. I can¡¯t believe you pointed out the problems I didn¡¯t realize!¡± Christina chuckled aloud. ¡°Are you already preparing your design for the next internalpetition, which is over a month away?¡± ¡°I might get a promotion if I perform well this time. Thank you so much, Christina!¡± Anna gave her an excited hug and nted a kiss on her cheek. Anna felt honored to work with Christina. She was her second mentor in the industry and someone who had influenced her a lot. She believed there was still so much to learn from Christina. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Resentment It waste when Christina came out of thepany. She spotted a familiar car parked nearby the entrance once she exited the building. Recognizing Nathaniel¡¯s car, she walked over to it. She opened the door and got into the car. Sebastian started the engine and drove back to Scenic Garden Manor. In the car, the sparkling chandelier shone down on them, casting a beautiful glow. Nathaniel¡¯s woody scent filled the car, creating a cozy atmosphere. ¡°Is Zachary so demanding on his employees? Why do you get off workte every day?¡± Nathaniel asked icily. Christina behaved like an employee who was being lectured. Then, she replied meekly, ¡°No. I was the one who chose to work overtime. My decision has nothing to do with anyone else.¡± She was afraid that Nathaniel would file aint with Zachary out of anger to cut down her workload. w This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. If her workload was reduced, it meant that her pay would also decrease. She had to bear her mother¡¯s medical bills recently, so money was extremely important to her. Nathaniel furrowed his brows, and displeasure was written over his face. He appeared quite intimidating, almost as if he had just finished reading a document that didn¡¯t meet his standards. Christina could sense the tension in the air. She pulled out her phone and started tapping on the screen quietly, ignoring Nathanielpletely. Sebastian noticed their interaction through the rearview mirror and promptly broke into cold sweat. Christina is usually very astute and knows how to lift Mr. Hadley¡¯s spirits whenever he¡¯s upset. It¡¯s unusual for her to ignore him like this. Even if she doesn¡¯t feel like talking, she could at least sit there quietly and show some respect. It¡¯s uneptable for her to be on her phone while ignoring Mr. Hadley. Christina¡¯s gaze remained fixated on her phone as the tension in the car gradually reached its boiling point, ready to erupt at any moment. The car rolled to a stop when the light turned red. Nathaniel¡¯s dark gaze was trained on the ground. The sunlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his chiseled features and adding to his imposing presence. He looked exceptionally cold and indifferent. Suddenly, Christina held his arm and pressed her soft figure to his. A sweet scent attacked his nostrils. Lifting her chin, Christina blinked innocently and potted her lips. ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve ever gone shopping together before. Why don¡¯t we watch a movie and go shopping this weekend?¡± Chapter 145 Resentment Nathaniel frowned as a glint shed across his eyes. However, he didn¡¯t reply to her immediately. Watch a movie? Go shopping together? Sebastian thought he was hearing things. Mr. Hadley¡¯s schedule is packed, and he rarely has any free time. Even if he¡¯s free, he won¡¯t waste his time watching movies and shopping. That¡¯s so boring. Christina has used the wrong approach this time! As Nathaniel said nothing, disappointment flooded Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re not free, forget it.¡± Perhaps Nathaniel couldn¡¯t stand seeing her disappointment, for he replied without hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m free.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Christina asked incredulously. They had been in a rtionship for a while now, but their time together was mostly spent at Scenic date. Garden Manor. It just urred to her that they had never really gone out on a proper Nathaniel grunted in affirmation, sounding both affectionate and amodating. ¡°Great! I just saw on my phone that a new movie has been released. How about we go shopping first. and then watch the movie?¡± Christina suggested eagerly. As she continued talking about her n, her excitement grew, and she wished that Saturday could Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled involuntarily when he saw how delighted she was. He ced an arm on her waist gently and pulled her into his embrace. The terrifying tension in the car disappeared into thin air when he smiled. When they arrived at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina had already fallen asleep on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. Sebastian opened the door, allowing Nathaniel to step out with Christina in his arms. Behind them, Raymond shot them an envious look seeing how attentive Nathaniel was. Mrs. Hadley is indeed lucky. I¡¯ve never seen Mr. Hadley being so attentive to anyone else. When the morning sunlight filtered into the room, Christina stretchedzily and woke up. She caught a whiff of Nathaniel¡¯s woody scent, indicating that he had just left a while ago. For the next few days, Christina rarely saw Nathaniels they were both busy with their respective work. Radiant Corporation¡¯s recent designs were pretty well received. Christina had made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, so female celebrities would visit thepany from time to time to request her services in creating custom-made gowns for them. She would sometimes even receive visits from male celebrities. Lately, the employees at Radiant Corporation made it a habit to carry a notebook and pen with them wherever they went as they never knew when they might run into a celebrity. They didn¡¯t want to miss the chance to get an autograph. The employees often gossiped in the pantry. One day when Xenia entered the pantry, she heard them talking about Christina. Xenia was surrounded by a group of colleagues from Team B, who were all curious to know more. ¡°Xenia, you must have gotten a lot of benefits from working for Ms. Steele, haven¡¯t you?¡± they asked eagerly. Despite recently receiving a pay raise, Xenia found herself with an increased workload that left her with little time for sleep. As a result, she had pricked her fingers several times while working. She forced out a smile. ¡°Work is as usual. There are no special benefits.¡± Her colleagues gave her sympathetic looks. ¡°Really? Iheard that she mentored Anna on her design. Anna has a good chance of getting promoted in the next round of voting.¡± After themotion, everyone in thepany found out that Anna won first ce previously as she had received Christina¡¯s guidance. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get anything from working for Ms. Steele?¡± a female colleague mocked. As Xenia¡¯s gaze had changed, another colleague chimed in, ¡°Well, Anna and Christina are close, so it¡¯s natural for Christina to favor her and give her all the benefits first.¡± With that, they shed a wicked grin and left the pantry. After getting herself a cup of coffee, Xenia entered the tailor room to see Christina and Anna chatting with each other pleasantly like they were the best of friends. The sight immediately made Xenia feel like she had been ostracized by them deliberately. Could my colleagues be right? Christina gave Anna all the benefits and never care about me. The more Xenia thought about it, the more upset she got. Christina made me do all the rough work. How could she be this biased? What right does she have to be my superior? Despite her resentment, Xenia dared notsh out at them. She returned to her seat silently and continued her embroidery. After chatting with Anna briefly, Christina went back to her desk to continue working. The sun slowly went down the horizon, and it was soon time to get off work. Christina allowed the other two girls to get off work, while she remained in the tailor room to catch up with work. Everyone on their level had already left when she finally wrapped up work. By the time she returned to Scenic Garden Manor, she was so exhausted that she fell asleep right away. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Watching A Movie As the sunlight hit Christina¡¯s fingertips, sending a jolt of warmth through her, she woke up suddenly and sat up in bed. It¡¯s Saturday. Nathaniel and I have agreed to go shopping today. She nced around the room hastily, but Nathaniel was nowhere to be seen. Has he forgotten about our date as he¡¯s too busy? Feeling dejected, Christina had decided to change her clothes and head back to the office to work when she heard a gentle knock on the door. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel appeared at the door, dressed in a sharp suit that was impably pressed. A ck jewel adorned his crisp white shirt, making him look like a prince. Hismanding presence quickly filled the room. ¡°Are you not ready yet?¡± His lips curled as something glinted in his gaze. Christina was momentarily stunned by Nathaniel¡¯s dashing appearance. It took her a few moments to regain herposure, and then she asked hesitantly, Nathaniel, are you nning on wearing that on our date?¡± Nathaniel knitted his brows. ¡°Anything wrong with my outfit?¡± He usually wore suit jackets, and his wardrobe consisted mostly of them. As for essories, he tended to favor expensive watches. Christina assessed Nathaniel¡¯s outfit from head to toe. ¡°You look tall and handsome in that outfit, but we¡¯re going shopping, and it¡¯s a casual day out. So, you don¡¯t have to wear something that formal.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s presence was already imposing, and if they were to go shopping together, he would undoubtedly attract attention wearing a suit. Most importantly, she wanted a casual day out instead of a formal date. Seeing how eager she looked, he asked, ¡°What do you think I should wear?¡± As he had acquiesced to changing his clothes, Christina perked up and replied confidently, ¡°I¡¯ll pick your outfit!¡± Half an hourter, they both reemerged in fresh clothes. Christina¡¯s hair was tied into two ponytails, giving her a youthful and lively appearance. She had on a blue vest and a white skirt that revealed her fair calves! Nathaniel, on the other hand, was dressed in a way that was different from his usual style. He had on white cks, a white shirt, and a dark blue checkered jacket that matched Christina¡¯s vest. Hiszy gaze was icy and indifferent, making him look like a fairy who had descended on earth identally. People would stare at him from afar as he seemed untouchable. The housekeepers nearly failed to recognize Nathaniel in this particr outfit. However, it was clear by the color choice that they were wearing matching outfits. Chapter 146 Watching A Movie +15 Bonus Mr. Hadley maintains his usual cold demeanor, but Mrs. Hadley¡¯s innocent and charming appearance perfectly bnces his intimidating presence. Together, they make a perfect couple. Christina blinked and shed a sweet smile. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go. I¡¯m going to eat all I can today!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s face was devoid of expression as he allowell Christina to drag him out of the house. The ck Maybach soon came to a stop in themercial district. After parking the car by the street. Sebastian turned his head over his shoulder. It still felt strange to see his employer dressed in a casual outfit. Mr. Hadley still looks handsome, but I just can¡¯t get used to it. He¡¯s a ferocious beast, but Christina gave him an outfit that makes him look like a docile mastiff. It feels like Tn dreaming. In a low voice, he asked, ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you sure I don¡¯t have toe along?¡± Christina was exasperated to see how worried Sebastian looked. We¡¯re just going shopping. Is he worried that I¡¯ll kidnap Nathaniel? A cheeky expression crossed her face as she suggested, ¡°Sebastian, it must¡¯ve been ages since you last went shopping, right? Come on, join us.¡± Sebastian felt a chill run down his spine when he saw her expression. It was obvious she was up to no good. When Christina dragged Nathaniel out of the car, he followed behind them. The sun was shining high in the sky, and the air seemed like it was filled with a sweet, almost sugary scent. Christina¡¯s heart raced as she held Nathaniel¡¯s hand tightly. It was their first official date, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel giddy with excitement. Compared to the other pedestrians, Nathaniel stood out with his confident stance, drawing attention. from passersby. However, he seemed uninterested in the scenery around them as his gaze was fixed solely on Christina. Christina was like a bird freed from its cage, flitting around excitedly. She bought every snack she saw, taking a single bite and leaving the rest to Nathaniel. Behind them, Sebastian was stunned. What does Christina think Mr. Hadley is? Her recycle bin? It was only a short distance, but Sebastian had been forced to watch their PDA several times. He promptly regretted tagging along on their date. It seemed like a waste of his weekend. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll wait for you in the car. Have fun!¡± Christina stretched her hand out. ¡°Give us the car keys, and you can leave.¡± Sebastian gave the car keys to her readily and turned to leave. They both strolled along the street like any other ordinary couple before heading to the top floor of the shopping mall to watch a movie. Christina clicked on the cinema¡¯s webpage and showed it to Nathaniel. ¡°Which movie would you like to Chapter 146 Watching A Movie +15 Bonus watch?¡± Nathaniel rarely watched movies, so he told her, ¡°Any movie will do.¡± Christina stared at her phone intently for a while before picking a newly released local thriller movie. As they stood in line to purchase tickets, passersby couldn¡¯t help but stare at the couple. Nathaniel¡¯s striking good looks and confident demeanor attracted attention from all around, leaving many gazing in admiration. Nathaniel stood behind Christina, ignoring the gazes directed at him. His eyes turned to blocks of ice when he noticed someone was trying to take photos of him secretly. Christina¡¯s lips curled into a polite smile as she spoke up. ¡°I understand my boyfriend is handsome, but please refrain from taking photos of him. It¡¯s not appropriate,¡± she reminded the crowd, making it clear that she expected theirpliance. The person who tried to take photos of them awkwardly pocketed his phone. No wonder Nathaniel hates visiting crowded ces. If I face the same problem, I would hate leaving my house. Soon, it was their turn to purchase tickets. Christina informed the ticket seller of the movie they wanted to watch, and the seller disyed the seating chart for them to select their seats. ¡°I¡¯ll reserve the entire hall,¡± Nathaniel dered coolly as he pulled out his ck card. The cashier was stunned, for it was the first time she had ever met someone who was rich enough to reserve the entire cinema hall. After a pause, she said hesitantly, ¡°Mister, I¡¯m really sorry, but we¡¯ve sold some tickets, so you can¡¯t reserve the entire hall.¡± Christina held her head in exasperation. Even though he wasn¡¯t wearing a suit, Nathaniel still acted and looked like a CEO. She wanted to watch a movie just like any other ordinary couple. ¡°I¡¯ll take the rest-¡± Christina covered Nathaniel¡¯s lips before he could finish his sentence. She told the cashier, ¡°I¡¯ll get these two seats in the middle.¡± After getting their tickets, Christina dragged Nathaniel away from the ticket counter. A few minutes before the hall was opened for seating, Christina bought soda and popcorn before heading into the hall. The hall wasn¡¯t crowded. Not long after they sat down, the lights dimmed. Right before the movie began, two figures entered through the back door discreetly and settled down in the seats in front of Christina and Nathaniel. Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Conflict As the movie began, the atmosphere inside the cinema was filled with a sense of ceriness because of the suspenseful nature of the film. Christina had chosen that movie because of the cast. Coco yed the second female lead in the film. Christina heard some interesting anecdotes that happened during the filming, which piqued her interest to watch that movie. Although she knew it was just a movie, Christina couldn¡¯t help but shrink her neck and lean against Nathaniel¡¯s arm when she saw some intense scenes. ¡°Nathaniel, what do you think about this film?¡± she asked, trying to distract herself and make herself feel less nervous. Poker-faced. Nathaniel replied indifferently, ¡°The crime scene setup is full of ws. The victim¡¯s throat was slit when killed, but the blood on the wall was clearly dabbed on. If the blood had sttered, there should¡¯ve been a gradient to the arc. They had tantly neglected the details.¡± Christina sighed softly. Oh, no¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have asked. Their conversation ended abruptly at that point. Sitting in the front row, Francis and Coco were dressed inconspicuously and wore masks and baseball caps, revealing only their eyes. Although only the movie¡¯s sound reverberated inside the cinema hall, Francis felt he heard a familiar voice. He turned around confusedly and narrowed his eyes. It¡¯s really them? When Coco saw her scene in the movie, she tugged on Francis¡¯ arm excitedly. ¡°Mr. Fernando, do think my acting skills have improved?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems you have the potential to participate in thriller movies,¡± Francis whispered. you Coco¡¯s smile widened. Getting Mr. Fernando¡¯s acknowledgment is more valuable than winning any award. Initially, they were working nearby, but due to a dy at the filming set, they could only start working at night. Hence, the two went to the shopping mall to watch a movie to kill time. Coco added in an undertone, ¡°Who do you think is the murderer?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably the victim¡¯s boyfriend. They started building the character¡¯s persona from the start, but his behavior is wed.¡± Francis analyzed. Hearing that, Coco gave him a thumbs-up. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. I had to read the script before finding that out.¡± While the two chatted, Christina noticed them and immediately recognized the well-disguised Francis and Coco. This is such a coincidence. How can we bump into each other at a movie? When Francis looked back again, Christina instinctively picked up the box of popcort next to her to block Nathaniel¡¯s face. Chapter 147 Conflict +15 Bonus Nathaniel nced at her impassively. His expression was even more spine-chilling than the hair-rising ambiance created by the movie. Christina shed a sheepish grin. ¡°Do you want to have some popcorn?¡± At that moment, she clearly caught sight of Francis staring at them from the corner of her eyes. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes glinted coldly as he lifted his hand to pinch her chin and kissed her. She instantly lost herself in his domineering advance. As Christina was holding the popcorn and beverage, she had no choice but to stay still and let him kiss. her. Sensing her soft lips being nibbled by him, she felt her cheeks burning up and thought the pounding of her heart was even louder than the movie¡¯s volume. After a long while, Nathaniel finally released her. He felt amused, watching her shy expression with his gleaming eyes. When the movie finally ended, Christina, having drunk too much water, immediately rushed to the restroom. While Nathaniel stood in a corner waiting for her, a tall figure approached him from behind. Francis crossed his arms and uttered mockingly, ¡°What magical powers does Christina possess to convince the busy Mr. Hadley toe out and watch a movie?¡± Nathaniel turned around. His sharp gaze flickered frostily. Meeting Nathaniel¡¯s gaze, Francis recalled the scene when Nathaniel deliberately kissed Christina in front of him inside the movie theater earlier. A hint of difort surged within his chest. ¡°Nathaniel, Christina is not a tool for you to show off to me.¡± The two had been secretly opposing one another for some time. Francis knew Nathaniel didn¡¯t like him to show himself in public, but he insisted on bing a celebrity, frequently appearing before the media and winning various awards. In just a few years, Nathaniel had been steadily garnering the loyalty of Hadley Corporation¡¯s employees, clearly trying to pressure Francis with his influences. Their rivalry wasn¡¯t new. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve said this before. Quit dreaming about taking any more things away from me, including my people. Just stay in your corner, and don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± What he hated the most what seeing Francis and his mother showing up before him. How can people like them who have stolen from others live so carefreely? Francis curled his lips into a wicked smile and drawled, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried to take anything from you, nor do I want to. But¡­¡± His eyes suddenly shone with determination. ¡°Since you always think I¡¯m stealing. won¡¯t I be disappointing you by not living up to the usations you¡¯re pinning on me?¡± They exchanged hostile looks as the atmosphere between them grew tense, Nathaniel swung his fist forcefully at Francis¡¯ eye. Thetter staggered backward and retaliated, not 13:04 Chapter 147 Conflict wanting to back down either. 75%! +15 Bonus They started exchanging blows like children fighting over a piece of candy. Themotion drew a crowd, but no one dared to get close to them. When Christina exited the restroom, she saw the two brawling. They threw punches and kicked one. another with all their might, showing no regard for their surroundings. Her heart instantly clenched. She jogged forward and stood between them, wrapping her arms tightly around Nathaniel. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Nathaniel. A lot of people are watching.¡± Perhaps out of fear of hurting Christina, they finally stopped trying to hit each other after getting separated. She tried pulling Nathaniel away, but he remained rooted to his spot. The two men continued ring at each other. If glowering at one another could cause physical damage, they would¡¯ve suffered innumerable wounds each. Nathaniel and Francis remained unmoving, acting as if the first one to move would lose, even as the crowd around them grewrger. Christina red at Francis angrily and warned in an undertone, ¡°Hurry up and leave, Francis.¡± Is he not aware that he¡¯s a public figure? The rumors have finally died down. If Nathaniel cklists them again, it will be those innocent artists who will ultimately suffer again. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Francis¡¯ mood suddenly brightened up after he heard Christina¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± He snorted before turning around and leaving. Themotion finally concluded after one of the parties involved left. Only then did the crowd disperse, realizing the show had ended. However, no one knew that the fight had actually been between a popr star and a billionaire CEO. Otherwise, they could¡¯ve taken photos and made a fortune by selling the story to any media outlets. Christina dragged Nathaniel away. Subsequently, they got into the car and returned to Scenic Garden Manor. After going upstairs and closing the door, she examined Nathaniel¡¯s wounds. There were bruises on the corner of his eyes and mouth. Obviously, the two men didn¡¯t hold back their punches when brawling earlier. She figured Francis must¡¯ve suffered significant injuries too. you Christina brought out the first aid kit and scolded him in a soft voice, ¡°Are you two kids? Don¡¯t feel embarrassed fighting in public?¡± The grievances between them stemmed from the previous generation, so why can¡¯t they choose to get along peacefully now? Wouldn¡¯t it be better for them to be strangers than enemies? Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 The giarism Case Nathaniel looked up, his dark eyes burning with anger once again. ¡°He should consider himself unlucky for setting his eles on you.¡± His tone was cold and resolute, but there was a hint of concern. It struck a chord within Christina, stirring her emotions. She dipped a cotton ball in disinfectant and gently cleaned his wound before speaking. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about others because I have no interest in them.¡± The girl leaned in closer, and her pleasant scent wafted into his nose, subtly diminishing the sharp smell of the disinfectant. A corner of Nathaniel¡¯s lips quirked up. He extended his manly palm, wrapped it around her delicate waist, and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Is that so?¡± Christina¡¯s understanding of his part, particrly the experience of his father¡¯s remarriage when he was young, gave her some insights into his inner struggles. That was why Christina could understand Nathaniel¡¯s intense animosity toward Francis. His reaction just reflects his vulnerability. She understood him well, but she would never say it out. She raised her delicate fingertip and gently stroked Nathaniel¡¯s cheek before speaking with a mix of tenderness and determination. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not blind. There is no one in the world more outstanding than you, isn¡¯t it? As she cradled his handsome face in her hands, her affectionate gaze locked onto his. ¡°You look handsome even in casual attire. That¡¯s how my boyfriend should look.¡± While others might perceive him as a mature and authoritative figure, to Christina, he was just a grown- up boy yearning for love. In that fleeting moment, her words thawed the ice in his gaze. He delicately lifted her chin and tenderly pressed his lips against hers. His searing breath swept into Christina¡¯s lungs, and the heat that permeated her body ignited her blood like a sudden me. Her rationality and thoughts were all consumed by the intoxicating sensation. As the indoor lights gradually dimmed, the intertwined figures of the two moved from the couch to the large bed. As the lights went out, the air between them grew thick with an escting sense of intimacy. As the morning light poured into Radiant Corporation, Christina stepped into the office. A cluster of colleagues had gathered, engrossed in gossip. Their conversation abruptly ceased when they heard footstepsing in. They all dispersed after casting peculiar nces at her. As Christina walked past the entrance, she was promptly summoned into Gina¡¯s oflice. 13:05 Mon, Chapter 148 The giarism Case +15 Bonus Gina wore a grim expression. Thest time Christina had seen that expression was during the clothing factory incident. Concern washed over Christina as she could not help but feel worried. ¡°Did something happen, Ms. Tanner?¡± she asked. Gina turned on her tablet and showed her the headline of a news story. ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Christina picked it up and read the story about the red carpet event during Bazaar Charity Night. Two female celebrities wore the same dress but still looked beautiful in their own ways. Christina¡¯s eyes immediately fell upon Henrietta¡¯s dress, the one-and-only creation she had meticulously crafted for the star when she visited Radiant Corporation. She only handed the dress to Henrietta three days age so it was impossible for someone to replicate the dress in such a short period. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. In other words, there was a traitor among the three of them! The leaked design could be attributed to either Anna or Xenia. Otherwise, this would not have happened. Celebrities were willing to pay a hefty price for bespoke dresses to avoid the nightmare of wearing the same outfits as others on the red carpet. Just as they were contemting how to address the situation, Gina¡¯s assistant rushed into the room, her voice filled with anxiety. ¡°Ms. Tanner, Henrietta is throwing a fit in the conference room. She insists on seeing both of you!¡± Gina and Christina exchanged nces. They had no choice but to meet her, even though they did not have a solution. The atmosphere inside the conference room was tense. Henrietta crossed her hands, her eyes burning with fury. ¡°What is the matter with you two? Running a bigpany like this and resorting to giarism?¡± She had always harbored doubts about thepetence ofpanies like that. Just when I thought I was impressed by their design, this happened. In the end, the dress isn¡¯t even their original idea! What a bunch of copycats! Gina¡¯s expression darkened, but she would not want anyone to falsely use Christina before getting to the bottom of the matter. ¡°Ms. Lane, we have yet to conduct an investigation, and I assure you that our designer will never engage in giarism.¡± Seething with anger, Henrietta stood up. ¡°Never? Then why did Gwh Lawson wear the exact same dress as mine on the red carpet?¡± Christina was at a loss for words, as she had no idea how her design was stolen. ¡°Please calm down, Ms. Lane. I¡¯ll investigate the matter thoroughly and give you a proper exnation.¡± ¡°What do I need a proper exnation for? I wanted you to customize a dress for me for the red carpet, but you ruined it!¡± Henrietta grew increasingly agitated as she spoke. She walked up to Christina and questioned her. ¡°I was willing to spend a fortune just to stand out from 13:0 §Þ§à§Ý, 75% Chapter 148 The giarism Case +15 Bonus the crowd. And now, I¡¯m being constantlypared to Gwh Lawson byizens. They even dare to use me of wearing a counterfeit dress! It¡¯s driving me insane!¡± Christina could not refute it because what she said made sense. She had no choice but to ept the me for the design theft as it was her responsibility. We actually made this dress toplement your poise. No one in this world would carry it better than you.¡± Hearing that did not uplift Henrietta¡¯s spirit, as she was already in a foul mood. Does she expect me to believe her words? ¡°I don¡¯t care. I demand a full refund. And I also want a public apology from you, admitting that you giarized and deceived me by making me wear a counterfeit product,¡± she demanded. Christina¡¯s eyes widened. What? A public apology and admitting I giarize? If I were to do that, it would be the end of my career as a designer! No one would dare to hire a designer who openly admits to engaging in giarism. No, I can¡¯t do that! She had worked so hard to realize her dream and would not allow this obstacle to get in her way. With determination, Christina said, ¡°Please give me a few days to prove I didn¡¯t giarize anyone¡¯s work, Ms. Lane. And I¡¯m willing to refund you the money you paid for the dress aspensation for my mistake.¡± Henrietta¡¯s discontent was evident, but when she observed the unwavering resolve on Christina¡¯s face, she hesitated briefly before reluctantly saying, ¡°Fine. Three days.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll give you an exnation in three days,¡± Christina assured her. With a disdainful snort, Henrietta put on her sunsses and stormed out of the conference room. The atmosphere at that moment hung heavy like the aftermath of a fierce battle, with the scent of smoke and gunpowder lingering in the air. Gina hadplete trust in Christina¡¯s integrity and knew she would never resort to giarism. Moreover, she had personally reviewed all the original drafts and was confident that they reflected Christina¡¯s distinct style. She approached Christina with a worried expression Christina, besides us, did any of your assistants ever get a chance to see your drafts?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°They must have seen it since we work together, but¡­¡± she replied while nodding. If the leak originated from within thepany, Nenia and Anna are the likely suspects. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Is Anna The Traitor Christina was unwilling to assume bad things about others. However, this time, she must investigate and find the truth. ¡°Ms. Tanner. I¡¯ll go and settle some things. I¡¯m sorry for troubling you in handling the rest of this maner.¡± Gina nodded. She believed in Christina and allowed her to proceed with what she needed to do. ¡°Go ahead¡± At that moment, everyone in the office knew what had happened as they gossiped about it. Some trusted Christina, while others were against her. Christina hurried back to her office after she left the conference room, making it seem like she wanted to suspend Xenia and Anna from work If either one of them had turned their backs on her, it was also possible that they might have leaked her other design drawings. Next, she started up herputer to check the designer who designed Gwh¡¯s dress, Eugene Zeller. Eugene made his entrance into the industry much earlier than she did. He was also quite famous in the fashion world. Many female celebrities would look for him to customize gowns for red-carpet events. Why would an experienced and seasoned designer like him copy a design from a newbie designer like me? Christina thed her luck to make an appointment to meet him, but his assistant replied that his schedule was full It seemed like she had hit a dead end. Knock Knock She heard a knock on her office door before Xenia and Anna walked in. *Ms. Steele, we heard someone copied our design for the evening gown. Are you going to return all the fees for the production of the gown back to Henrietta Xenia asked in concern. Anna red at her angrily. ¡°Christina won¡¯t do such a thing as giarizing someone else¡¯s design! You e leaked the design draft, didn¡¯t you?¡± Xenue, who was reprimanded, immediately turned red as anger bubbled within her. ¡°What proof do you have to say that about me? I was about to say the same thing about you! You might¡¯ve been the one to beak at instead! You and Ms Steele are friendly with one another. It¡¯ll be much easier for you to take her deugh draft Ms Steele, hurry! Call the cops on her!¡± Anna found no words to retort. After all, she would definitely not do such a thing as to hurt Christina. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it. Christina! You believe me, right?¡± Christina¡¯s thoughts were already a mess Her patience wore thin as she listened to their argument. ¡°Both of you keep quiet. I won¡¯t wrong any of you when there is no proof that either of you did it.¡± Kenia and hans were taken aback by her words. Under the immense pressure from the higher-ups, Christina could¡¯ve easily pushed one of them to Chapter 149 Is Anna The Traitor take the me so she could settle the matter quickly, but she did not She was unwilling to believe that either of them had done something behind her back. +15 Bonus ¡°Pause your work andy low for the next few days. We¡¯ll talk again after I thoroughly investigate this matter Christina rearranged the stationery on her desk before she got up and left, leaving Xenia and Anna to then thoughts News of the giarism issue had spread throughout Radiant Corporation. By break time, all the employees of thepany were huddled in groups as they discussed it.. The employees of Team A headed to Team B to share the news. The group of people had different opinions about the issue. Some supported Xenia, while others supported Anna. ¡°We¡¯re worried about you. Xenia. Think about it. Ant and Christina have such a close rtionship. Even if Anna did it. Christina definitely wouldn¡¯t me her.¡± ¡°She might even name you as the traitor!¡± Xenia¡¯s colleagues crowded around her and fanned the mes. Her expression turned grim from all theirments. Anna, who sat opposite her, was looking at her with a look full of disdain, as though Anna was sure that she was the traitor. Xenia balled her hands into fists and felt cold sweat beading on her forehead, an uneasy feeling pounding at her chest. The employees were chattering about the matter non stop. Christina could not be bothered to listen to any of it. She left Radiant Corporation and immediately went to Eugene¡¯s studio. The receptionist used an excuse saying that Eugene was busy to shoo Christina away. Christina was not discouraged by that. She waited by the entrance, confident that Eugene would either. enter or leave the studio at some point. After some time, she finally saw a stylishly dressed young man walk in with several assistants following behind him. ¡°Hello, Eugene. I want to discuss something with you regarding the evening gown¡± Christina¡¯s melodious voice echoed in the air. Eugene stopped in his tracks as he turned to look at her and said, ¡°Come with me.¡± With that, he strode into the studio. The atmosphere in Eugene¡¯s office was tense as Christina stared skeptically at the carefree man before ber. Eugene studied the woman before him. What a bright and beautiful woman. 13:05 Mon, May Chapter 149 Is Anna The Traitor She is very creative. In fact, she is a talent who is also mypetitor. 75% +15 Bonus ¡°You¡¯re the one who copied my design, but I didn¡¯t go look for you. Instead, you carne to look for me?¡± Eugene scoffed. Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I think you and I are fully aware of who was the copycat.¡± How dare he use me of giarism when he¡¯s the one who copied my exact design for the evening gown? What a thick-skinned man! Eugene remained nonchnt, seeming to haveplete confidence that Christina was at fault. On the other hand, Christina could note up with anything else to rebuke him. He crossed his legs, and an amused smile tugged at his lips. ¡°If we¡¯re both fully aware, what was the need for you toe here and make a fool of yourself? Perhaps you thought I would publicly admit to giarizing your design and make a formal apology? Of course, Christina was not that naive. She was only there to fish for information. She had hidden a recording device in her back to get proof. What surprised her was how easily Eugene admitted to copying her design. Everything seemed to be going too smoothly, making Christina feel like something was off. ¡°Did someone order you to do it, or did you already join hands with my assistant and ask her to give you the design draft? I only want to know the truth.¡± Eugene got up from his seat. A mischievous glint shed across his eyes as he said, ¡°Your assistant was the one who sold me the design draft. I believe her name was Anna.¡±All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Christina was dumbfounded. She turned pale as paper when she heard the name he uttered. It was Anna? The friend I ced the most trust in? Eugeneughed in amusement when he saw the grim expression on Christina¡¯s face. ¡°She said your design was trash and did not look beautiful. She also said it was a waste of her talent if she remained as your assistant.¡± ¡°No. That¡¯s impossible. Anna would never say that.¡± Christina was in shock. Her grip on her bag tightened as she tried to calm herself down. Just then, several bodyguards entered the room and grabbed her bag without saying a word. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Christina wanted to snatch her bag, but the bodyguard had already ripped it in half, causing the stationery and recording device to fall out. The bodyguard picked up the recording device and checked through its contents before giving it to Eugene. Christina wanted to grab the device but was stopped by the bodyguard from getting closer to Eugene. ¡°You bast*rd! Give that back to me!¡± Eugene scoffed. A dangerous glint shed across his eyes before he threw the recording device on the ground, smashing it into pieces. ¡°Were you recording me so you could reveal the truth? How naive of you!¡± Eugene smirked. He scrunched his eyebrows in annoyance and anger as he instructed, ¡°Kick her out! If she gets even a foot closer to the entrance, call the police!¡± Christina could not go against those buff bodyguards with her small and slender body. Thus, she had no choice but to ept her fate as they dragged her out of the studio. They stared at her in disgust before turning around and leaving. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Nathaniel Steps In ¡°Get lost. Don¡¯t evere back here. Otherwise, I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± The bodyguard, who had ripped her bag, threw her belongings on the ground before he left. Christina was in shock. No wonder Eugene admitted to the giarism issue so quickly. He was prepared for me toe and confront him. Christina breathed a heavy sigh when she thought of how she had messed things up. It would be harder for her to seek justice now. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Is what Eugene said true? Could it be Anna who sold my design draft? Anna waspetitive and focused on her work, but she knew where to draw the line. While Christina was feeling glum thinking about what Eugene had said, the sky turned gloomy and soon started to rain. She picked up her phone from the ground. The screen was shattered, and she could no longer make calls. She clumsily picked up the rest of her belongings and ced them in her ruined bag before walking down the sidewalk. As long as she could find a bus stop, she would be able to leave first and avoid getting drenched in the rain. Christina had walked for quite some time but saw no bus stops nearby. Unfortunately, the rain was getting heavier. I can¡¯t be this unlucky, right? I¡¯m obviously the victim here. Shouldn¡¯t God strike Eugene, who was at Zeller Studio, with lightning? A ck BMW drove past on the opposite road. Francis saw Christina walking in the rain through the car window. With that slim figure of hers, it looked like she would be blown away by the wind at any moment. ¡°Turn around.¡± The driver stared at him through the rearview mirror in confusion. ¡°Mr. Fernando, won¡¯t we be going in the wrong direction if we turn around?¡± Francis shot him a look, causing the driver to shut his mouth as he turned the car around. Francis asked the driver to stop the car when they drove near Christina. He lowered the window, attracting the attention of the woman. In the car, Francis wore a white shirt and white dress pants. His eyes were dark and mysterious as he said, ¡°Get in.¡± Christina was hesitant. She had wrapped her arms around herself to warm herself up since she was drenched from head to toe and trembling non-stop. 3:05 MO Chapter 150 Nathaniel Steps In +15 Bonus She was suddenly reminded of her promise to Nathaniel and did not take a step forward. She quickly averted her gaze after meeting eyes with Francis¡¯ darkened ones. ¡°No, thanks. You should leave.¡± With that, she strode off. At that moment, the rain got heavier, so Francis could only make out Christina¡¯s blurry figure as she walked away. His eyes darkened as he stared at her retreating figure and felt a tinge of jealousy. What a stubborn teoman. It was raining cats and dogs, and barely any cars were on the road. The scene looked depressing coupled with Christina¡¯s lonely figure. Other cars did not even notice her as they drove past her. Christina felt as though she had been submerged in ice-cold water. All of a sudden, she felt a strong tug on her arm. She jumped in shock and turned to look at the person grabbing her. It turned out that Francis had run out of his car. He stood tall before her as he said, ¡°Get in the car with me.¡± ¡°Are you crazy? I told you I won¡¯t get on! Hurry up and leave!¡± Christina scoffed in annoyance and tried to struggle out of his tight grip. Francis¡¯ hold on her was firm as he forcefully dragged her toward the car. ¡°Christina, if you keep on struggling. I¡¯ll pick you up and carry you into the car. I¡¯m sure you know what I¡¯m capable of.¡± His warning proved effective as Christina sighed and stopped her struggle. The two of them got onto the car. Francis took out a dry towel from apartment and ced it on her head. ¡°Wipe yourself dry.¡± Christina looked like a drenched kitten. Her hair wast and matted to her face, and her eyshes had tiny beads of rain resting on them. Her nose was tinted red from the cold, and she looked as pale as a ghost. She looked pitiful yet attractive. With one nce, no one would have the heart to hurt her. Francis took out another towel to wipe his hair. The driver sted the heater, allowing warm air to flow throughout the car. Christina sneezed a few times, which seemed like the symptoms of one catching a cold. She used the towel to cover herself, her face reddening in embarrassment. Her clothes were wet and clung to her body. She could imagine how indecent she looked at the moment. Francis took out some clothes from a differentpartment and picked a thick coat to ce on her shoulders. ¡°Keep yourself warm. You¡¯ll be having a hard time if you fall sick.¡± Christina bit her lip and kept silent as she tugged the coat tighter around herself. ¡°I¡¯ll return it to you after cleaning it.¡± ¡°No need. Nathaniel will get angry if he finds out about this.¡± Francis scoffed. The ce Nathaniel had 13:05 Mon, Ma Chapter 150 Nathaniel Steps In hit him a few days ago was still sore. Christina felt her heart skip a beat, but she did not reply. She felt like everything was a mess, unable to wrap her head around the giarism issue. +15 Bonus ¡°Did you get into trouble? Is it something I can help you with?¡± Francis asked in concern. He knew Christina was not that dumb to walk around in the rain without an umbre. ¡°No. Thank you for the kind offer.¡± Christina looked out the window at the roads and noticed that Radiant Corporation was a turn away. ¡°You can drop the off here.¡± Francis noticed that she was unwilling to tell him anything. Hence, he did not pursue it further and asked the driver to stop the car. Before she got off the car, he reminded her, ¡°Remember to drink something hot to warm yourself.¡± It was hard for Christina to rebuke him seeing that he was concerned. She hummed a reply and hurried down the car. Christina got drenched again when she returned to the office. She borrowed some cash from Gina and changed into a new set of clothes before taking a taxi back to Scenic Garden Manor. She ced the coat she borrowed from Francis into the washer before retreating to her room and sinking deep into her thoughts. She was exhausted from trying to find a solution. Feeling drowsiness take over her, she eventually drifted off to sleep. That night, Nathaniel was reading through some documents in the office when he received a call from Gina. Although Gina believed Christina did not copy someone else¡¯s work, the current situation was not in Christina¡¯s favor. Hence, Gina felt the need to exin everything to Nathaniel. They talked for quite some time before ending the call. Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned grim. He checked his phone to see if Christina had sent him any messages, but there were none. He immediately asked Sebastian to investigate the matter. Half an hourter, he was notified about the incident with Christina at Eugene¡¯s studio earlier in the day. ¡°Make an appointment with Eugene Zeller. I want to meet with him.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian turned and left Nathaniel¡¯s office. He brought several bodyguards from thepany with him and went to Eugene¡¯s studio. At that moment, Eugene was oblivious that he had stepped on someone¡¯s toes. Hence, he was ted when he heard that the CEO of Hadley Corporation wanted to meet him. Could it be that Mr. Hadley knows of my talent and wants me to customize a suit for him? If that¡¯s the case, then I¡¯d have struck gold! After all, everyone knows that any suit of Mr. Hadley¡¯s is worth millions! He dared not even imagine how much profit he would earn just by epting a customization order from Nathaniel. When they arrived at the office, Sebastian shot a look at Eugene before pushing him into Nathaniel¡¯s office. The cold air from the air conditioning intensified the domineering aura that Nathaniel exuded. All the happy imaginations that Eugene had immediately disappeared from his mind. One look at Nathaniel, and he knew that thetter did not call him to the office to customize a suit. It looked more like Nathaniel had got him there for a confrontation, ¡°Mr. Hadley, may I know¡­ what I can help you with? Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Messing With The Wrong Person The temperature in the room abruptly dropped by several degrees. +15 Bonus Nathaniel¡¯s menacing aura filled the room. If looks cold kill, Eugene would have died on the spot. Nathaniel demanded. ¡°Not only have you giarized my wife¡¯s creation but are also falsely using her How do you think I should react to all that Eugene¡¯s gaze flitted nervously at he mulled over a response. The meaning of Nathaniel¡¯s words finally hit the designer, who stammered. ¡°W-Wife Did you say Christina Steel is your wife!¡± Didn¡¯t Christine just graduate from design school! He could the already be married? And to Mr. Hadley, no less? Ick! I¡¯m doomed. His body trembled with fear, but still, he willed himself to calm downI He would not admit to any wrongdoing if there was no damning evidence Otherwise, his design career would be as good as over ¡°Im not falsely using anyone. Mr. Hadley. That is hy original design Eugene insisted rather weakly Nathaniel shot the stubborn designer a withering ne before scoffing A momentter, Sebastian threw a stack of document before Eugene ¡°These are all evidence of your giarizing habits. You used to pass off intern designs as your own all the time. A leopard never changes its spots¡±merned Sebastian The documents sent Eugene into further panic He had spent a lot of money and connection to keep his dirty past buried, and he was naturally astonished that someone had recovered the evidence It was clearer than ever that he had to plead innocence till the end. Admitting to giarism in the past would only make him seem more guilty now. Eugene broke into cold sweat before insisting. ¡°I really didn¡¯t giarize her design, Mr. Hadley. How about this? I can release a statement announcing that Christina obtained my permission before using my design¡± Sebastian was appalled by the man¡¯s brazenness. He oriously giarized Mrs. Hadley¡¯s work! But if he simply refuses to plead guilty to any wrongdoing, things are going to getplicated, In contrast, Nathaniel gracefully sat on a couch and seemed unperturbed by Eugene¡¯s persistent denial. He stared at the designer coolly and said. ¡°Youundered plenty of money from the money you last coborated with Your studio will close down once make the call and report you to the authorities.¡± Eugene went wide-eyed in shock. The worst a giarism scandal could do was to put him out of work, but a corruption scandal could land him in jail. Even a fool knew which was the easier way out. Chapter 151 Messing With The Wrong Person +15 Bonus Mr. Hadley¡¯s connections in the industry are vast. I should¡¯ve known digging into my dirty past was nothing but child¡¯s y to him. Eugene¡¯s legs gave out beneath him. He knelt and pleaded for mercy. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Mr. Hadley. I giarized your wife¡¯s design. I know how to fix this, so please don¡¯t report my corruption matters to the authorities.¡± Satisfied with the confession, Nathaniel shot the security guards a knowing look, ordering them to lead Eugene away. Meanwhile, Christina slept soundly the whole night. She was dismayed to realize it was already bright outside by the time she awoke. Oh no! I haven¡¯t thought of a way to prove my innocence. She jumped out of bed and changed into fresh clothes before hastily leaving the house. Christina checked her phone on her way out. It was ringing with dozens of news notifications. Every headline she clicked into discussed her giarism scandal. It turned out that Eugene had released an official statement around dawn, admitting to giarizing Christina¡¯s work. In the statement, he shared that he had purchased Christina¡¯s design draft from Xenia Darby, a designer at Radiant Corporation, before reproducing it stroke by stroke. At the same time, he expressed his utmost apologies to Christina and his supporters over the trouble he had caused and announced his permanent departure from the design industry. Christina¡¯s grip on her phone tightened subconsciously. I have only been knocked out for a night. What happened in that short span? Why did Eugene suddenly confess to his wrongdoing? Still, what infuriated her more was the fact that he lied about Anna selling him the design. She had worried herself to exhaustion over the lie the night before, knowing she would be devastated if she were betrayed by the person she trusted most. After calming down considerably, Christina began worrying about Xenia. News of the giarism scandal must have spread like wildfire, which exposed Xenia to the public¡¯s me. Christina tried to call Xenia several times but to no avail. Once she arrived at Radiant Corporation, she was immediately pulled aside by Gina, who muttered anxiously, ¡°We¡¯ve got a situation on our hands, Christina. Xenia says she wants to take her life.¡± Christina stiffened, her body filled with dread. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°On the roof of the building.¡± Many colleagues had crowded the rooftop entrance by then, though no one dared to approach the lone figure perched on the edge of the roof. 13:06 Mon, May 15 Chapter 151 Messing With The Wrong Person Xenia¡¯s face was wet with tears. She hated Eugene with a vengeance. 75% +15 Bonus Why did he have to suddenly admit to giarizing someone¡¯s work? Even then, he didn¡¯t have to rat on me as his aplice! Didn¡¯t we agree that my involvement would be kept secret? She whipped out her phone and called someone. Much to her relief, the line connected almost immediately. Xenia wailed. ¡°You¡¯ve got to save me, Eugene. The whole world is calling me an ingrate. You promised me you would find me a design director job abroad if I stole the design draft for you. I can get on the next ne out of here right now. Just tell me where to go.¡± Eugene¡¯s mood soured further on the other end of the line. He was already brooding over the end of his lucrative career. His poor mood spurred him to retort, ¡°Do you think you can be a design director with your subpar skills? Dream again. Perhaps you can find work as an odd-job worker.¡± Xenia exploded in anger. Her hands shook as she spat ¡°Are you breaking your promise?¡± ¡°You¡¯re useless, you know. You couldn¡¯t even get such a small task done properly, and you¡¯re expecting me to help you? Dream on,¡± Eugene replied in a very cold tone. He only approached Xenia because she was Christina¡¯s assistant, which ced her in the best position to steal the design draft. Now that his crimes had been revealed, he neither had the mood nor time to spare on a woman who was now useless to him. The revtion was too much for Xenia to bear. She would not have stolen the draft for him if she had not believed that he loved her. She nearly roared, ¡°You lied to me! You heartless b*surd! I hope you rot in h*ll! I¡¯ll expose all your dirty dealings!¡± Eugene only scoffed, wholly unaffected by her threats. Instead, he countered, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I still have your intimate photos. We¡¯ll see who¡¯s more ashamed once I send them to the tabloids.¡± He hung up without giving her a chance to reply. Only then did Xenia realize that she had been discarded like a dirty rag after serving its purpose. s, she could not even protest the injustice of it all, not when Eugene still had incriminating photos of her. Tears of despair rolled down her face. She was on the verge of an emotional breakdown. She had just been abandoned by the man who used her, and behind her, her colleagues were mocking or humiliating her. Xenia had never felt lonelier at that very moment. Worst of all, she had put herself in that situation. Meanwhile, Christina and Gina finally arrived on the rooftop. Everyone turned to stare at them, eager to see the drama unfold. ¡°Xenia, what are you doing? Get off of there!¡± yelled Christina. She strode toward the sobbing woman resolutely. The familiar voice caused Xenia to cry a fresh wave of tears.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She turned around and noticed Christina¡¯s approach. Hatred swelled in Xenia¡¯s chest as she spat, ¡°Why are you here? To see how Inded in such a predicament?¡± Christina froze in her tracks. Pity and confusion flitted through her gaze as she denied Xenia¡¯s usations. ¡°No. Why would Ie here to do that?¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Your Skirt Is Too Short Xenia shot daggers at Christina and sniped, ¡°Stop acting all innocent. I¡¯m the one who got you caught up in the whole giarism scandal. Now that the truth is out, you can¡¯t wait to see me jump,right? Not only had she taken photos of Christina¡¯s design daft when thetter was not paying attention, but she had also deliberately gone online and incitedizens to have Christina kicked out of Radiant Corporation. Now, she had to bear the consequences of her actions. My colleagues are calling me ungrateful and a traitor for double-crossing someone from the same company. They¡¯re also telling me to get out of Radiant Corporation and to go to hell! Christina bit her lip. Then, she asked, ¡°With your incredible talent for embroidery, are you going to give up just like that?¡± I¡¯ve observed her work closely. Her needlework is excellent, he can even give her embroidery a three- dimensional effect. Anna also stepped forward to help with persuading Xenia. ¡°Xenia, don¡¯t do something stupid. Hurry up and get down from there. Haven¡¯t you read the announcement yet?¡± In truth, Xenia had not dared to read any of thepany¡¯s posts as thements were flooded with insults and call for her to get lost. Seeing the pair singing the same tune made her feel even more upset. ¡°Both of you should stop pretending. Christina is biased. She always delegates the easiest work to Anna while leaving the most laborious tasks like embroidering to me. I¡¯ve lost count of how many times I¡¯ve pricked my fingers on the needles. Whenever my fingers bleed, she only carts about the clothes and not me. You two are responsible for the state I¡¯m in today!¡± She blurted out all her grievances all of a sudden, wanting to let the others know just how Christina abused her power. Even though Christina was on the receiving end of those usations, Anna felt a burst of anger when she heard that. She shouted, ¡°Xenia Darby, so it¡¯s true what they said when they called you utterly All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. heartless!¡± Christina felt as though she were about to lose her head. Now is the time to talk sense into Xenia and calm her down, but why is she stoking the fire? Even though she grabbed Anna¡¯s arm, thetter¡¯s fury did not subside in the slightest. All Anna could think of was to rush forward and p Xenia. Christina sighed, ming herself for not exining things clearly previously. ¡°I put you in charge of embroidery because you¡¯re very talented. I also rmended you to one of the top ten embroidery companies in the country. I was nning to tell you after we finished this batch of dresses¡­¡± s, this happened before we could finish making the dresses. When Christina held up her phone to show the offer letter, Xenia was utterly shocked. Everything she thought was true came crumbling down around her in an instant. Christina¡¯s kindness and sincerity made her feel ashamed of her actions. Burying her face in her Chapter 152 Your Skirt Is Too Short hands, she started crying bitterly. +15 Bonus Seizing the chance when Xenia was momentarily distacted, the security guard standing to one side. swooped her up in his arms and brought her down. After that, Xenia fainted from the shock and had to be sent to the hospital. More than anything, themotion left others heartbroken. Christina returned to the sewing room, feeling terrible. She sent the offer letter to Xenia¡¯s phone, hoping the unpleasant incident would merely be a minor hup that did not affect her future. Just then, Anna walked in with a cup oftte. ¡°Drink this. It¡¯ll help to calm you down.¡± Forcing a smile, Christina held the warm cup to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes were slightly lowered, seemingly lost in thought. Anna patted her shoulder gently and continued tofort her. ¡°You¡¯re just too kind. What happened isn¡¯t your fault at all.¡± Actually, I was also guilty of harboring prejudice toward Christina in the beginning. Through our interactions. however, my admiration for this young yet responsibledy gradually grew. Others say she climbed thedder by riding on someone¡¯s coattails, but she genuinely has what it takes. Xenia¡¯s hubris is to me for this incident. Christina finally snapped out of her daze and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s get back to work.¡± After the scandal blew over, Christina insisted on returning Henrietta her money andpensated the company for the cost of the materials for the dress out of her own pocket. Henrietta¡¯s attitude toward her shifted considerably upon learning that she had not copied another¡¯s. work and even suggested engaging her again in the future. Christina did not refuse, and the two exchanged contact information. Although Gina had nned to arrange for another assistant for Christina, thetter declined the offer. With all the work falling onto Anna and her, they were busy practically day and night in the following days. Hence, Christina took the opportunity to sleep in at Scenic Garden Manor when it was finally the weekend. After waking up, she changed into a casual outfit and went for a stroll in the front courtyard after breakfast. Since it was the start of winter, the winds were stronger and faster. While sitting on a wooden bench and enjoying the breeze, she took out her phone and took a selfie. Then, she sent it to someone. A secondter, Nathaniel received the message on his phone. He was in a conference room, and the atmosphere was serious as the director of the market development department was giving a report. He checked his vibrating phone and tapped to view the message. The photo immediately popped up. 13:06 Mon, Chapter 152 Your Skirt Is Too Short +15 Bonus Christina was wearing a white sweater paired with a short red skirt. She had on nude-colored stockings. over her long, fair legs, and her bare face appeared radiant. Her lips were curved into a slight smile, and there was a tender look in her beautiful eyes. She looked absolutely charming. He could not help smiling at the sight of such a sweet photo, and he tapped on the photo to save it to his phone before replying with a message. Meanwhile, the director had finished giving his report and was staring at his CEO in bewilderment. The other executives also looked toward the head of the table in shock, hardly daring to breathe. They had never seen Nathaniel smile in a meeting or get distracted by his phone. As for Sebastian, he did not show any surprise at the scene. If that expression appears on his face, it can only mean he¡¯s chatting with Mrs. Hadley. ¡°Mr. Hadley, that¡¯s the end of my report. Is there anything you think needs to be improved?¡± the director enquired softly. Nathaniel looked up, his gaze icy. ¡°Start from the top again.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The director broke into a cold sweat as he began his hour-long report a second time. Upon receiving his message, Christina read it out under her breath. ¡°The skirt is too short. You¡¯re not allowed to wear it out of the room next time.¡± She studied her skirt carefully. How is this too short? The hem falls right to my knees. It¡¯s the perfect length for a short skirt! I can sense his jealousy even on this side of the screen. Just as she was about to go back into the house, a ck Lincoln drove up. Immediately recognizing the car te number, Raymond had the guard at the gate let the vehicle. through. The person who got out of the car was Hannah. ¡°Ms. Christina, Mrs. Hadley would like to invite you to the Hadley residence.¡± Even though she was a housekeeper, she spoke in a steady tone. After serving Julia for many years, she had honed an aura that was neither obsequious nor supercilious. Christina¡¯s heart lurched when she heard that Julia wanted to meet with her. However, since Julia had made the request and even sent a car to pick her up, she had no reason to decline. As Christina stood up, Hannah scrutinized her outfit¡¯s a young and innocent style. However, it¡¯s unsuitable for a meeting with the inws, especially someone like Mrs. Hadley, who is a stickler for etiquette. Hence, she said to Christina, ¡°Please change into another outfit. I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± Looking at her casual clothes, Christina thought it was not quite suitable indeed. She smiled and said, ¡°In that case, please wait for a moment.¡± With that, she turned and went upstairs. After changing into a beige suit, she tied back her long hair and added a rhinestone-encrusted hair clip in the shape of a bow on the right side. Then, she went downstairs, got into the Lincoln, and returned to the Hadley residence with Hannah. Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Olivia Shows Up The fragrant aroma of tea filled the living room of the Hadley residence. +15 Bonus Julia was not the only one there, though. Christina had also heard the sweet voice of a young woman when she came in. ¡°Is there something you wanted to see me about, Mrs Hadley?¡± Christina asked calmly and confidently. The woman sitting on the couch was in her early twenties and looked full of energy. Olivia Stone leaned closer toward Julia and asked curiously, ¡°Why isn¡¯t she addressing you as ¡®Mom,¡¯¡± Aunt Julia?¡± Married women would usually address their inws as ¡°Mum¡± and ¡°Dad.¡± The fact that she doesn¡¯t do so means Aunt Julia doesn¡¯t even see her as a daughter-inw. That¡¯s probably why Aunt Julia refuses to let her address her as ¡°Mom.¡± Instead of answering the question, Julia simply let out a soft chuckle and shifted her gaze toward Christina. ¡°Take a seat,¡± she said in amanding tone, which reflected her high social status. Christina knew it would take a lot more than a few favors to change Julia¡¯s mindset, so she didn¡¯t mind it one bit. In fact, she could clearly feel that Julia was slowly warming up to her. Olivia shed Christina a sweet smile and handed her a cup of tea. ¡°You must be Christina, right? I¡¯m Nathaniel¡¯s cousin. My name is Olivia Stone!¡± Those who are suddenly nice to you usually want something from you. This woman¡¯s smile looks kind of fake. It¡¯s almost as though she¡¯s smiling simply because she has to. Hmm¡­ Now that I take a closer look at her face, she looks kind of familiar¡­ Have I seen her picture in some entertainment news article before? With that in mind, Christina pursed her lips and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°I hear you¡¯re a designer. Is that true?¡± Olivia asked. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Christina replied. She had yet to touch the cup of tea that Olivia handed her. Olivia did her research on Christina beforeing over that day. Christina had risen to fame as a designer within the entertainment industry, and countless people have flocked over to Radiant Corporation to have her design dresses for them. Olivia heard Julia casually mention having a designer as a daughter-inw. It wasn¡¯t until she did some digging that she found out Christina was her cousin¡¯s wife. Naturally, she wasn¡¯t about to let such a valuable connection go to waste. ¡°I¡¯m going to attend a wedding soon. Could you help design a unique dress for me?¡± Olivia asked with a giggle. 75% Chapter 153 Olivia Shows Up +15 Bonus Ha! I knew she wanted something from me! Who will ask someone they¡¯ve just met to make them a dress? With that in mind, Christina politely declined by saying. ¡°If you need a dress, you could head over to Radiant Corporation and schedule an appointment with me. Company policy forbids us from epting orders in private.¡± Olivia froze and shot Julia a sad look without saying anything It was obvious that she didn¡¯t want to go through all that trouble. Not only would Radiant Corporation charge its clients a high price for custom orders, but she would also have to get in line like everybody else. The look in Julia¡¯s eyes gradually grew cold when she heard that. ¡°She¡¯s your cousin. Why can¡¯t you make an exception for her?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. She made an exception for me back then, didn¡¯t she? ¡°Don¡¯t put Christina in a tough spot, Aunt Julia,¡± Christina said with a pitiful frown. She then turned toward Christina as she continued, wouldn¡¯t have troubled you like this if I weren¡¯t in such a hurry. I¡¯m sorry, Christina.¡± Christina furrowed her brow in displeasure, but she remained calm and red coldly at Olivia without saying a word. Is Olivia trying to paint me as the bad guy for declining her request? Hmph! Let¡¯s see how long she can keep this up! Julia knitted her eyebrows together. She went through severe blood loss while giving birth to Nathaniel, so she couldn¡¯t fulfill her wish of having a daughter. As such, Olivia was the closest thing she had. That was why she had always liked Olivia and spoiled her like her own. She had summoned Christina specifically because she wanted her to help Olivia out. ¡°Can¡¯t you see how much she wants to wear a dress that you designed? Just find some time to make her one. It won¡¯t take very long.¡± Julia paused for a few seconds before continuing, ¡°Tll pay you three million for that dress. There, will you help her now?¡± Money was not the reason Christina declined Olivia¡¯s equest, though. Thepany had received so many orders that her schedule waspletely packed, so epting Olivia¡¯s order would require Christina to work without rest just to keep up with the orders. No amount of money could ever be more important han taking good care of one¡¯s health. Christina felt as though she was being forced to the edge and struggled to make a decision. ¡°This isn¡¯t about the money. You can find a lot of beautiful and well-made dresses online. How about I buy you a dress of your choice instead?¡± Christina asked. Chapter 153 Olivia Shows Up 75% +15 Bonus She was willing to dig into her own pockets and buy Olivia a dress as it would be so much more. convenient. However, Olivia was not satisfied with the solution offered. ¡°But those aren¡¯t going to fit me perfectly! They won¡¯t look good on me!¡± Because of her pretty face and mellow voice, she made it sound as though she was the one being bullied. Julia was about to say something, but Olivia stopped her again. ¡°Don¡¯t make things difficult for Christina, Aunt Julia! I¡¯ll figure something out on my own.¡± Julia felt really bad for Olivia, but she didn¡¯t want to say anything further when she saw how firm Christina was. Olivia let out a sigh and shifted her gaze back toward Christina as she eximed, ¡°But I¡¯m new to Jadeborough, and I didn¡¯t bring a lot of stuff with me. I don¡¯t know where to shop for dresses, nor do I know how to pick one that suits me.¡± She wasn¡¯t from Jadeborough and had onlye over because her job required her to. Seeing as Olivia had traveled this far all by herself, Ju felt the need to look after her. Since it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for a woman like her to go shopping with Olivia, she decided to have Christina do it instead. ¡°Take Olivia shopping and help her pick out a nice dress. I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± Christina¡¯s face clouded over when she heard that. She knew she couldn¡¯t keep declining Julia¡¯s requests, so she had no choice but to agree to them. ¡°All right,¡± Christina replied with a nod and headed out the door. Olivia said goodbye to Julia before leaving the house and getting into the car. As Christina remained silent throughout the entire drive, Olivia kept talking about herself. It wasn¡¯t until then that Christina found out Olivia was a small-time celebrity. She had debuted a few years ago, but the roles she received were all mediocre, which made it hard for her to boost her poprity. Christina brought Olivia to Radiant Corporation¡¯s gallery where all the dresses that were deemed the best would be mass-produced and sold. They all looked very pretty and sold for really high prices. ¡°Which one of these would look good on me, Christina?¡± Olivia asked while handing Christina three dresses that she had the salesperson pick out for her. They were all unique in design, but they were not exactly suitable for a wedding. ¡°I think these would be a bit loud if you wear them to a wedding. For weddings, one should wear dresses that are simplistic yet modest and graceful in appearance,¡± Christinamented as those dresses were more suited for catwalks and banquets. She then picked out a pink dress and a champagne-colored one. ¡°These two would suit you better. Which color would you prefer?¡± Olivia didn¡¯t like either of them, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to express her dissatisfaction either, so she nodded and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ve got such great taste, Christina! I¡¯ll take the champagne- colored one!¡± Olivia then wrapped an arm around Christina¡¯s as she continued, ¡°But I also like the ones I saw earlier! How about we buy them too? That way, I¡¯ll be able to wear them in the future!¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 She Was Adopted +15 Bonus Christina nodded with a smile and had the salesperson put the dresses into a bag However, she handed Julia¡¯s credit card back to Olivia and had her return it to Julia. After paying for the dresses with her own money, Christina breathed a sigh of relief as she had finallypleted her task. She was about to have the butler drive Olivia back to the Hadley residence when Olivia clung tightly to her arm. ¡°It has been forever since Ist visited Jadeborough, and I don¡¯t know anyone of my age here. Could I spend the night at your ce, Christina? I have work tomorrow and will leave after attending the wedding the day after. Will you please take me in for one night? Pretty please?¡± ¡°A-All right, then¡­¡± Since Olivia was a young girl all by herself in Jadeborough, Christina couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no to her. She then brought Olivia over to Scenic Garden Manor. They had just gotten out of the car when two bodyguards came over and stopped them. ¡°Mr. Hadley has specifically mentioned that strangers are not allowed in Scenic Garden Manor, Mrs. Hadley,¡± ¡°She¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s cousin, so it¡¯s okay to let her in,¡± Christina exined. ¡°No can do. We are not allowed to let anyone else in without Mr. Hadley¡¯s permission,¡± the bodyguard said firmly and refused to budge. Christina had wanted to exin herself further, but the bodyguards simply stared straight ahead and stood there like statues. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina! Am I causing you trouble?¡± Olivia had never seen anything like this, so she was on the verge of crying out of fear. I brought Olivia over myself, so they have no right to stop her from entering! With that in mind, Christina asked, ¡°I¡¯m thedy of this house. How dare you two defy me?¡± The bodyguards froze up as it was the first time they had seen Christina behave like this. Having seen how Nathaniel treated Christina in the past, they knew he would definitely say yes if she gave him a call. As such, they decided not to stop her and let them both in. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. After bringing Olivia into the house, Christina had the butler prepare the guest room on the first floor for her. Since Christina still had some work to do, she went into the study upstairs. Renee gave her a video call and said while trying on a wedding gown. ¡°This wedding gown looks amazing, Christina! I¡¯ve taken lots of pictures carlier. Ill hang them up in the gallery during the banquet!¡± 13:06 Mon, May 15 Chapter 154 She Was Adopted +15 Bonus Christina also saw Renee¡¯s husband, Hansel Headingten, standing behind her. They were both wearing. outfits that Christina had personally designed and created, which made them look perfect for each other. ¡°You have got to attend my wedding the day after tomorrow, Christina!¡± Renee said with her hands on her hips. She only behaved like that because the two of them were very close friends, though. Christina nodded with a smile. ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll be there¡± She wanted to be present at the wedding to experience the grandness and feel the heartwarming. ambiance of watching her friend get married. After getting off the phone, Christina went back to concentrating on her design drawing. Due to the recent high amounts of workload, she had no choice but to work overtime. A few hours soon came to pass, but she was so absorbed in her work that she didn¡¯t even realize the sky had turned dark. The manor was so grand that even the guest room was incredibly huge. Olivia had always known since she was little that she had a wealthy cousin brother. Despite his excellence and good looks, however, he was also very cold and prideful. It got to a point. where he wouldn¡¯t even y with the other kids of his age. She then retrieved a nightgown from her suitcase. The nightgown looked rather cute and sexy, so it would appeal to almost every man out there. She had just taken a shower and changed into the nightgown when she heard the sound of a car pulling up outside the manor. That must be Nathaniel! Olivia quickly untied her hair and ruffled it a little before heading out the room. Wait a minute¡­ Would Nathaniel get angry if I just walk up to him like this? I don¡¯t want to upset him or anything! Unsure of what to do, Olivia quickly ran toward the stairs when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. ¡°Christina?¡± Nathaniel called out to her. Because Olivia had her back turned, all Nathaniel saw was her slender figure from behind. Olivia froze when she heard what he said. Did Nathaniel just mistake me for Christina? Well, Christina and I do have simr figures, so it¡¯s no surprise if he mistakes me for her. Honestly, though, I think I¡¯m rauch smarter and better looking than Christina! At the very least, I wouldn¡¯t just bring another woman home¡­ Nathaniel had walked up to Olivia while she was still lost in thought. 13:06 Mon, May Chapter 154 She Was Adopted +15 Bonus His huge figure cast a tall shadow on the ground, and Olivia could feel his domineering aura without even looking at him. A perfect man like Nathaniel has got to be the man of every woman¡¯s dreams! Nathaniel was about to ce his hand on Olivia¡¯s shoulders when Christina called out to him from upstairs, ¡°Wee home, Nathaniel!¡± The air felt as though it had frozen around them. Nathaniel¡¯s brow knitted into a frown as he shifted his gaze between Christina, who wasing down the stairs, and the slender woman standing in front of him. Olivia trembled slightly when she felt an icy-cold auring from behind. She then slowly turned around and said, ¡°Hi, Nathaniel. It¡¯s me, Olivia.¡± As they hadn¡¯t seen each other in a very long time, Olivia wasn¡¯t sure if Nathaniel would still remember her. Nathaniel¡¯s frown deepened as he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± As Christina reached the floor they were on, she noticed a hint of shyness in Olivia¡¯s expression. Wait a minute¡­ A girl would only make that face when shes around her crush! They¡¯re cousins, aren¡¯t they? Why would she make that face around him? With that in mind, Christina walked up to Nathaniel and wrapped her arms around his. ¡°She¡¯s your cousin, Nathaniel. Do you not know that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± Nathaniel replied coldly as though Olivia was aplete stranger to him. Things got so awkward that it felt as though the air had stopped. Olivia let out an awkward chuckle and exined softly, ¡°We have only met a few times in the past, so it makes sense that you wouldn¡¯t remember me.¡± They never greeted each other during those few times they met, so it was no different from being total strangers. ¡°She¡¯s the daughter of Mrs. Hadley¡¯s cousin sister, though. How could you forget her?¡± Christina asked with a frown. I thought these two would at least know each other, but that clearly isn¡¯t the case here. They¡¯re acting as though they have never met each other! How odd¡­ Their conversation was interrupted when the butler came over and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, dinner has been served.¡± ¡°Hearing that makes me hungry. Come on. Let¡¯s go and have dinner!¡± Christina said while dragging Nathaniel over by the arm. Olivia felt jealous when she saw how intimate they were with each other. When all three of them were seated at the table, she tried to gain Nathaniel¡¯s attention by talking in detail about their past encounters in hopes of him remembering her. Olivia was delighted when Nathaniel ced his utensils down all of a sudden, only to hear him ask, ¡°So, you¡¯re that girl my aunt adopted?¡± Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 This Is Our Home Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere soon grew awkward. Christina turned to Olivia in surprise, feeling as though she had been lied to. Wait, so these two aren¡¯t rted by blood? Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me this before? +25 Bonus She shifted her gaze toward Nathaniel, wondering if Olivia had romantic feelings for him given the shy look she had just given him. Olivia appeared visibly ufortable, but it was unclear if it was due to guilt from withholding the truth from Christina or from being exposed. She put down her fork and gave Christina a pitiful look. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Christina,¡± Olivial said. ¡°Mom has always treated me like her own, and Aunt Julia and I are as close as family.¡± Christina narrowed her eyes. When did I mention misunderstanding anything? Isn¡¯t Olivia giving herself away by saying that? ¡°Let¡¯s just cat,¡± she said, brushing aside the unpleasant interlude. After dinner. Christina and Nathaniel went upstairs to retire for the night while Olivia remained downstairs in the living room on the pretext of watching television. The house fell into an eerie silence as the housekeeper turned off all the lights around midnight. Olivia stole a nce at the stairs, then scanned her surroundings before making her way toward them. She had been paying attention to themotion upstairs and knew that Nathaniel was probably still in his study. Olivia poured a ss of warm milk and made her way upstairs. The second floor was expansive and dimly lit, except for the study, where a soft silver light spilled into the hallway. Olivia felt nervous as she approached the door with the ss of milk. Before entering the study, she tugged at the cor of her pajamas and bit her lip, trying to make herself appear weak and pitiful. ¡°Nathaniel, have a ss of warm milk. Take a break,¡± she said softly as she entered the room. Nathaniel looked up, fixing his deep, dark eyes on her Olivia froze, intimidated by his piercing gaze. He exuded a regal air that was enough to unnerve anyone. ¡°Get out,¡± Nathaniel said coldly, dismissing her before she could even approach him. Having expected the rejection, Olivia was determined not to give up just yet. She clutched the ss of warm milk and walked over to Nathaniel, staring at him with innocent eyes. ¡°Nathaniel, please don¡¯t get me wrong¡­¡± 13:07 Mon, Ma Chapter 155 This Is Our Home 75 +25 Bonus Smack! Nathaniel, however, was having none of it. He smacked the ss from her hand, spilling the milk all over the floor, causing Olivia to cry out in shock and fall to the ground. Christina, who had been tossing and turning in bed in the adjacent room, was jolted awake by Olivia¡¯s scream. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As she entered the study, she immediately sensed the tension in the room. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face was filled with a cold expression, and his anger was palpable, threatening to burn the whole study. down. Olivia broke into tears when she saw Christina. ¡°Christina, I just wanted to serve Nathaniel a ss of warm milk¡­¡± Raymond hurried over when he heard themotion. He immediately caught on to Olivia¡¯s deceitful intentions and knew she had no business being in Nathaniel¡¯s study when he saw the spilled milk all over the floor. ¡°Who gave you permission to enter Mr. Hadley¡¯s study?¡± he demanded, repulsed by the youngdy¡¯s actions. Meanwhile, Christina approached Olivia, who was still trembling on the ground. Her attention was momentarily diverted by Olivia¡¯s revealing pajamas, which left little to the imagination. From that angle, she could see almost everything beneath Olivia¡¯s cor. Her eyelids twitched, and her chest tightened at the sight, but she quickly regained herposure and helped Olivia up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault,¡± she apologized. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Christina,¡± replied Olivia, putting on a piteous act while hiding her glee. Christina is so gullible. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage and even get to sleep in the master bedroom if I y my cards right. With that thought in mind, Olivia leaned on Christina for support and said softly, ¡°I brought in the ss of milk over for Nathaniel since you fell asleep. I was so scared wandering around downstairs, all alone.¡± Raymond couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes at Olivia¡¯s obvious attempts at maniption. Even I can tell that Olivia has ulterior motives, so why can¡¯t Mrs. Hadley see through her act? It¡¯s so frustrating! Raymond sighed and walked over to clean up the spilled milk. Meanwhile, Christina gave Olivia a cold stare and pulled her cor up. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. None of this would have happened if I had turned down your request. Nathaniel doesn¡¯t like being approached by strangers,¡± she said icily. Olivia was still mulling over how she could convince Christina to let her sleep in the master bedroom when Christina¡¯s words hit her like a bolt of lightning. She felt stunned and wondered if she had misheard. ¡°Christina, please don¡¯t me yourself. It was my fault. I¡¯ll be more careful next time.¡± 13:07 Mon, May Chapter 155 This Is Our Home Next time? Christina frowned. She wants to stay? +25 Bonus Her lips curled up, but the smile was devoid of warmth. ¡°Raymond, please arrange for Ms. Stone to be sent back to the Hadley residence.¡± Raymond perked up at the request and quickly agreed. ¡°Sure thing, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll take care of it right. away.¡± ¡°Christina, I don¡¯t want to leave. I want to stay here with you. Please let me stay,¡± pleaded Olivia, her voice trembling as she gazed at Christina in disbelief. s, Christina¡¯s determined expression made it clear she was not joking. Raymond grabbed Olivia¡¯s wrists and dragged her out of the study. The butler who would usually get tired from doing chores effortlessly brought Olivia down the stairs. Scenic Garden Manor returned to its peaceful state as the car took off. Christina walked over to Nathaniel and sat on hisp. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted. ¡°Are you still mad?¡± she asked. Nathaniel remained impassive as he stared at her ingratiating smile. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be angry. I promise I won¡¯t bring anyone home without your permission in the future. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll have the housekeeper disinfect the entire house to eliminate any lingering smells. This is our home, and no one cane in here, okay?¡± Christina¡¯s soft voice was sweet as honey. Nathaniel broke into a smile as she spoke. He tapped her nose affectionately and replied, ¡°Go to bed.¡± He stood up, carrying Christina in his arms and taking her back to the master bedroom. Olivia never dared to bother Christina again after getting kicked out of the manor. Meanwhile, Christina had been so upied with her work at Radiant Corporation that she had. completely forgotten she had a wedding to attend until Renee called the next day. She quickly changed into a white evening gown at the office, styled her hair in a simple updo, and applied some light makeup before heading to the hotel where the wedding was taking ce. Christina had to present her invitation card to the guards when she arrived before being escorted to the top floor since the wedding wasn¡¯t open to the public and only close family and friends were allowed entry. When Christina entered the grand hall, she felt like she was attending an A-list event with recognizable celebrities filling the room. However, she didn¡¯t have much time to gawk as her main duty was to doll up Rence and ensure she looked stunning- Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 The Mistress +25 Bonus Christina found the dressing room and was about to enter when she heard amotion from within She swallowed the words of congrattions that almost escaped her lips. Rence was dressed in a pristine white dress, yet the joy which a bride should have was absent from her face. She red at her father with resentment in her eyes. How could you bring that woman along when today is my wedding day? Are you doing this to upset me on purpose?¡± ¡°How rude of you, Rence! She¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± Edward¡¯s expression was inexplicably indifferent ¡°Have you considered Mom¡¯s feelings? Imagine how ashamed she¡¯d feel when she sees you appear with a girlfriend my age!¡± Rence was so exasperated that her eyes shone with unshed tears. She could ept her parents¡¯ separation after a divorce, but her father bringing another woman to such an important asion was off-limits. The worst part was that her father¡¯s girlfriend was also part of the entertainment industry. Renee was worried about what her friends might think of her if they found out about such a scandalous affair. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bring her with me, but she insisted on tagging along. There¡¯s nothing I can do about that.¡± Edward carefully enunciated his words, not knowing how to exin. ¡°There are only two options. Either she gets lost, or you leave together with her. I have no desire to see her at my wedding ceremony,¡± Renee announced with finality as she sat before the dressing table Edward wanted to say something further, but upon seeing the stubborn look on his daughter¡¯s face, he sighed and left. He met Christina¡¯s gaze as soon as he stepped out of the doorway. Realizing that their conversation was so loud that Christina had overheard everything, he sighed once more before striding away. Christina entered the dressing room, where Renee sat gloomily before the dressing table. Thetter heard footsteps and hurriedly collected herself, stering a smile. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re here¡± Christina was taken aback by how swiftly her mood changed. She had been raising her voice just a moment ago but was now greeting Christina with an amicable smile. As expected from an A-list actress. She¡¯s capable of handling any situation with grace and finesse. Indeed, she¡¯s born to be a star in the entertainment industry. ¡°Your wedding venue is decorated stunningly! I¡¯m sure everyone can¡¯t wait to see what a gorgeous bride you¡¯ll be.¡± Christina approached Rence and carefully admired her glowing skin. They chatted while Christina helped Rence change into her bridal gown and apply make-up that entuated her outstanding features. Finally, Rence wore her wedding veil with Christina¡¯s help. 13.07 Chapter 156 The Mistress +25 Bonus Rence was a natural beauty. Her high brow ridge gave her a regal air, while her delicate jawline added a touch of feminine softness to her features. A dash of rouge was applied to her delicate lips to add a touch of color to herplexion. Her make-up was justpleted when the host came to inform her, ¡°Renee, we¡¯re starting soon. Pleasee outside and get ready.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Rence got to her feet. At that moment, she was transformed into a magnificent bride. ¡°You go on ahead. I¡¯ll clean up the dressing table,¡± said Christina as the host led Renee out. She made her way out only after tidying the dressing table. While passing by a balcony on one side of the corridor, she overheard a conversation. ¡°You should head back first. I¡¯ll meet you at the hotel once the wedding ceremony ends,¡± Edward persuaded. ¡°Why are you so worried when I¡¯m not? I wish to give your daughter my blessings on her wedding. too,¡± replied a young woman with a meek and pitcous voice. ¡°She dislikes you. Your presence would only upset her and create unnecessary trouble.¡± This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯d have manymon interests since were around the same age. How are you so sure we won¡¯t get along?¡± Christina was not nosey, yet she couldn¡¯t help pausing in her tracks when she heard the woman¡¯s meek. tone. She craned her neck and saw that the young woman was wearing an extravagant gown and thick makeup. It seemed like she was here to vie for attention instead of attending the banquet. Christina immediately recognized her to be Olivia. It turns out she¡¯s referring to Renee¡¯s wedding when she mentioned attending a friend¡¯s wedding! What¡¯s even more surprising is that she¡¯s in a rtionship with Renee¡¯s father! I can¡¯t believe such an innocent-lookingdy like her is the mistress of a man several decades older than her! ¡°That¡¯s enough. Please, just leave now.¡± Edward quickly turned to leave for he was afraid he might relent if he lingered any longer. Christina hurriedly hid in an inconspicuous corner to avoid running into Edward. It¡¯d be extremely awkward if that happened. Only after his footsteps faded away did she emerge from her hiding spot. The wedding ceremony had begun. Taking her seat among the guests, Christina gazed up at the stage and whipped out her phone to record a video of her surroundings before pointing the camera at herself. She sent the video to Nathaniel once she was done. Chapter 156 The Mistress +25 Bonus The wedding photographer took advantage of the interval before the next segmentmenced to invite the guests to take a photo with the newly-wedded couple. Christina sat aside and watched as many celebrities with charming features lined up to take a photo with the couple. She was lucky to enjoy such a feast for the eyes just by sitting there. Looking at the celebrities¡¯ attire, she couldn¡¯t shake off her professional habit and began sizing up their outfits. The photographer turned in her direction shortly after and asked if he had left anyone out. Christina had just stood up when she felt a warm hand gripping her wrist. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together.¡± As soon as she raised her head, Francis¡¯ well-sculptured features came into view. His lips curved upward to form a charming smirk. He pulled her forward, and they posed for the photo with Christina and Thomas between them. ¡°Say cheese,¡± said the photographer as he captured a shot of them. At that moment, a slender woman made her way over It turned out to be Olivia, who was wearing a bright smile. ¡°Renee, why don¡¯t we take a photo together?¡± she asked. She was behaving amicably with Renee, and those who were oblivious to their rtionship would definitely be fooled to think they were close friends. Renee¡¯s face fell as she lowered her voice and hissed. Who said you were allowed here? Get lost.¡± She stared daggers at Edward, who was seated at the main table. I told him to get this woman to leave! Why is she still here? ¡°You¡¯re the bride, so you shouldn¡¯t get mad. I¡¯ll leave after we take a photo. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Olivia uttered. showing no intention to leave as told while urging the photographer to take the picture. Only the most influential individuals and celebrities were invited to the wedding ceremony. Olivia would gain clout if a photo of her as one of the guests was posted online. Thomas ushered Renee away when he saw that she was on the verge of losing her temper. After all, it would be embarrassing if they made a scene in front of this many distinguished guests. Unwilling to give up, Olivia was about to follow them when Christina intervened. ¡°It¡¯s Renee¡¯s big day today, so please don¡¯t ruin it for her. Please leave.¡± ¡°Christina, you seem to be on friendly terms with Renee. Why don¡¯t you act as the intermediary and help us get to know each other better?¡± Olivia still hadn¡¯t given up on following Rence. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 It Is Embarrassing To Know You Christina dared not say that she knew Olivia as it was too humiliating. +25 Bonus ¡°If she refuses to get to know you, you can¡¯t change her mind easily. I think you should leave.¡± Not wanting to waste time talking to her, Christina tumed to leave, but Olivia grabbed her arm. Despite her slender build, she had enough strength to prevent Christina from leaving. ¡°Christina, are you still upset about what happened to Nathanielst night?¡± she asked, almost on the verge of tears. ¡°I know it was my fault. Can you please not leave me alone here?¡± Christina had never met someone who could act as well as Olivia. I¡¯m leaving her alone? Why does she make me sound so evil? ¡°All right. Let¡¯s leave together, then.¡± Christina gripped her hand tightly and led her out. No matter how reluctant Olivia was, she had no reason to stay behind. D¡±mn it! I still haven¡¯t gotten to take a photo with Rence and Thomas! I don¡¯t want to leave yet! As soon as they exited the hotel, Christina shook Olivia¡¯s hand off and asked, ¡°Does Mrs. Hadley know you¡¯re doing this?¡± Olivia had wanted to continue her pretense but was forced to drop the act when faced with Christina¡¯s questioning. Folding her arms across her chest, she directed an icy re in Christina¡¯s direction. ¡°Aunt Julia adores. me. I bet you¡¯re nothingpared to me in her eyes. Aunt Julia and Christina¡¯s rtionship is strained, to say the least. Christina and Nathaniel are married, but Aunt ¨C Julia still forbids Christina from calling her ¡°Mom.¡± She clearly hates her. Olivia was well-behaved in the presence of Julia, but in reality, she spent a lot of money and couldn¡¯t keep relying on thetter for financial support. Edward was the owner of a filmpany, so she ended up currying favor with him. Words eluded Christina as she looked at Olivia¡¯s coy manner. ¡°You¡¯d better behave yourself.¡± With that, she spun on her heels and left. It¡¯s unfortunate that a young woman like Olivia is unwilling to work hard and instead looks for shortcuts. She doesn¡¯t realize that her actions could lead to the destruction of her life if she isn¡¯t careful enough. It was evening when Christina finally returned to Scenic Garden Manor. She walked into the manor to discover that there was a new couch in the living room. Nathaniel was lounging on it, reading a document on his tablet. He ced his tablet aside when he spotted her. ¡°Has the wedding ended?¡± he asked. Christina hummed in affirmation but didn¡¯t tell him what transpired earlier. 1/4 Chapter 157 It Is Embarrassing To Know You Her phone rang. It was a call from Julia. +25 Bonus Christina had a bad feeling. She was about to answer the call when Nathaniel took her phone from her and put the call on loudspeaker. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, is there anything I can do for you?¡± Julia¡¯s angry voice pierced through the phone as she confronted Christina, ¡°How could you spend so much money? You bought thirty million worth of branded goods using my card!¡± Her bank ount had just alerted her about the extravagant purchase made with her supplementary card. ¡°What are you talking about? Thirty million? I never even used your card!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes turned as wide as saucers. Afraid that Olivia had twisted the truth to frame her, she exined, ¡°I paid for Olivia¡¯s dresses and told her to return your card to you.¡± Did Olivia use her card behind her back? ¡°Thirty million is nothing to me. If you¡¯ve used my card, just admit to it. Why would Olivia use you falsely for no reason?¡± Julia snapped. Without waiting for any reply, she ended the call abruptly. Christina was disgruntled to be used of something she didn¡¯t do. Staring at her phone, she whined helplessly, ¡°Nathaniel, I didn¡¯t use Mrs. Hadley¡¯s card. I swear! I actually used my own card to buy five gowns for Olivia. They cost a bomb!¡± J Christina felt aggrieved. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn¡¯t have paid for her purchases. Despite my kind deed, I was wrongly used. Nathaniel scowled. ¡°You bought a gift for her?¡± ¡°Yeah. I bought five gowns,¡± Christina replied with a leng face, feeling distressed about wasting her money. Displeasure crossed Nathaniel¡¯s face as he gave her a dark look. She usually spends her money wisely and keeps track of her expenses at all times. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s generous enough to buy dresses for someone else. Christina btedly realized he was upset and pinched his checks cheekily. In an attempt to cheer him up, she offered, ¡°Why don¡¯t I buy a gift for you the next time I get paid?¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Christina grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll head upstairs to continue working. I still have many pending design drafts to complete.¡± Nathaniel ruffled her hair adoringly and grunted in acknowledgment. After Christina went upstairs, he pulled out his phone to call Sebastian. ¡°Run a thorough background search on Olivia Stone.¡± Sebastian responded in affirmation, and the call ended. A few dayster, Nathaniel brought Christina to the Hadley residence after she got off work. 13:07 Mon, May 15 Chapter 157 It Is Embarrassing To Know You 75% +25 Bonus After yelling at Christina over the phone previously, Julia didn¡¯t bother being nice to her when they met this time. Christina had no idea why Nathaniel would bring her here to get mistreated. Julia was ring at her so hard that her eyes were practically zing with fire. Olivia, on the other hand, was diligently making tea and giving Julia a massage, winning the older woman¡¯s favor. ¡°Christina, have some tea,¡± Olivia offered cheerfully as though their previous altercation had never happened. Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel that she would be out of ce in the entertainment industry as she lacked the ability to put on a perfunctory act. She wordlessly epted the tea without responding to Olivia¡¯s polite greeting. Upon observing Christina¡¯s behavior, Julia immediately assumed that she was being arrogant, looking down on others because Nathaniel adored her. The air was tense and neither of them spoke, creating an ufortable silence. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, Nathaniel broke the silence by saying, ¡°I¡¯d like to watch TV¡± Christina pivoted her head to stare at Nathaniel in confusion. He never watches TV. Hannah retrieved the remote control to switch on the TV. ¡°The entertainment channel, please,¡± Nathaniel instructed. Hannah tuned in to the entertainment channel as told. The news being reported was fairly routine, with updates on a recent release of a historical drama and a movie featuring popr actresses, but nothing particrly noteworthy. Christina was baffled. Is Nathaniel nning on investing in a project rted to the entertainment industry? A whileter, everyone stopped paying attention as neither was interested in entertainment news. Suddenly, a piece of gossip news attracted their attention. The news anchor reported the scandal involving a D-list actress who allegedly seduced the owner of Olson Group, leading to Renee Olson¡¯s decision to terminate all coborations with thepany. The actress was said to have spent the night with the man at a hotel and subsequentlynded the lead role in a new drama produced by Olson Group. A few HD photos were disyed, showing the D-list actress in action. Everyone immediately recognized that it was Olivia. ¡°Olivia, you¡­¡± Julia was gobsmacked upon seeing the news. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that the obedient girl would be the mistress of a middle-aged man! Her face turned grim as she stared at the photos in disbelief. The truth was blindingly clear now. ¡°Aunt Julia, I did nothing of the sort. That man tricked me, and I innocently fell for his lies. It wasn¡¯t. my fault¡­ Olivia¡¯s pupils narrowed in shock. I¡¯m extremely careful and vignt whenever I head out. How did the paparazzi catch me in the act? Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 A Gift From Madison Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. +25 Bonus Julia noticed that the branded bag in the photo Olivia was holding was one of the items purchased using her credit card. Olivia had told her that Christina brought her to Radiant Corporation to buy some inexpensive gowns, but had mentioned nothing about buying a branded bag. Julia reasoned that if Olivia really liked the bag, she wouldn¡¯t mind buying it for thetter. However, the fact that Olivia lied through her teeth about it indicated that she had a defective personality. The photos apanying the news made it impossible for Olivia to deny her involvement. Olivia felt cold sweat drenching her back when she noticed Julia¡¯s expression turning dark. Her voice was trembling as she exined, ¡°Aunt Julia, that was fake news. Photos can be photoshopped, so don¡¯t trust that!¡± Christina was certain that the photos were not fabricated, as she recognized the man in the pictures as Edward Olson. The snapshots of the two of themughing and chatting couldn¡¯t have been photoshopped. However, she wasn¡¯t about to chime in right this moment. After all, she knew Julia wasn¡¯t a fool to be tricked by Olivia¡¯s lie. Julia shot Olivia an exasperated re. ¡°You¡¯re a youngdy in your twenties, but you¡¯re having an affair with an old man! I¡¯m not going to believe any of your excuses. How could you be his mistress? Aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡± Julia¡¯s marriage was destroyed by a homewrecker, so she despised immoral women. Olivia¡¯s actions had struck her sore spot. ¡°I wonder how your mom educated you over the years. You might be adopted, but you¡¯re still part of the Stone family. If word gets out, the Stone family won¡¯t let things slide easily,¡± Julia warned. Tears rolled down Olivia¡¯s cheeks as she sobbed, ¡°Aunt Julia, listen to me. It was a misunderstanding!¡± Her tears were merely part of her act, and no one sympathized with her. Julia rose to her feet, looking both indifferent and disappointed. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin anything to me. Save your excuses for the Stone family. Raymond, give her a ride home.¡± Raymond nodded readily and got the housekeeper to pack up Olivia¡¯s stuff swiftly. ¡°Ms. Stone, this way please.¡± Olivia paled as she dropped to the ground to grovel at Julia¡¯s feet. ¡°Aunt Julia, please don¡¯t kick me out. My mom will kill me if I return. Please, Aunt Julia¡­¡± Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried miserably. Julia hesitated before prying her hands off firmly. She then pivoted around and strode up the stairs. Chapter 158 A Gift From Madison Raymond and the help dragged Olivia out and got her into the car. When silence was restored in the living room, Christina snapped out of her reverie. +25 Bonus On the way back, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did you arrange for the news to be reported on TV?¡± She found it strange that he asked to switch on the TV right after their arrival. He then requested to tune in to the entertainment channel, and Olivia¡¯s news was reported shortly. after. She refused to believe that it was purely a coincidence. Sitting in the passenger seat, Sebastian was inwardly pleased. Mrs. Hadley finally discovered one of the many things Mr. Hadley had done behind her back for her sake. Nathaniel leaned against the car window, propping his arm up and resting his chin on his palm in a suave andmanding pose. His calm gaze swept over Christina¡¯s curious expression and replied, ¡°As the saying goes, ¡®He who is unjust is doomed to destruction: What she did will be exposed sooner orter.¡± All he did was expedite the matter and reveal the truth to the public ahead of time. Christina remembered that the branded items Olivia used in the photos were quite conspicuous. Some. of them were even erged, making it easy to see the branded bags and scarves she was carrying. The person who took the photos must¡¯ve done that on purpose so Julia could see clearly that it was Olivia who used her card to buy the branded items. As realization dawned upon Christina, she grinned and rested her head on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. Whenever she leaned on his broad shoulder, she felt safe and secure, just as he always made her feel. He never boasted about the things he did but was still able to give her a sense of security. Back in Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel returned to his study to work. Christina prepared home-cooked dishes for dinner that night, and Nathaniel had a hearty appetite, cating more than his usual amount. Nevertheless, Christina thought he ate his usual portion. In thete hours of the night, Nathaniel was engrossed in reading a contract in his study while Sebastian busied himself with organizing documents on a corner of Nathaniel¡¯s desk. Right then, Madison¡¯s call arrived. She was still abroad. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ve finished work here, and I¡¯ll be back tomorrow. Do you have any other orders for me?¡± Madison asked in a soft voice. She gripped her phone tightly, waiting for his reply. ¡°Mm.¡± Nathaniel grunted in response. Knowing Nathaniel was consenting to her return, Madison was inwardly delighted. Chapter 158 A Gift From Madison +25 Bonus Despite sounding calm, she couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°It¡¯ste, so I won¡¯t take up your time anymore. Sleep early.¡± For over two months, she had been working overseas. Every night, as she returned to her hotel room after work, Nathaniel would upy her thoughts. She couldn¡¯t shake off the image of Nathaniel working seriously, reading contracts, and talking to her. After the call ended, Madison poured herself a ss of red wine before texting Francis: How are things going on your end? A whileter, Francis sent her a photo of him attending Renee¡¯s wedding with Christina. Madison observed the photo and brushed her fingers across their figures, covering the newly-wedded couple standing between Christina and Francis. They look like a great match. Radiant Corporation was focusing on developing Epean-style sweet but sexy female clothing brand for the second half of the year. Zachary called for a meeting early in the morning, gathering the directors and group leaders of the design department with the directors of the PR department to discuss the research and development program for the market, as well as its feasibility. Christina listened along as she made notes. Being employed in argepany had its pros and cons, and one of the downsides was that she didn¡¯t have the freedom to design whatever she pleased. The designers were obligated to create appropriate designs in line with thepany¡¯s chosen style. After spending the entire morning in the meeting, Christina felt like her ears were buzzing. At noon, she left work to have lunch with Nathaniel. The receptionist at the front desk of Hadley Corporation recognized her, so Christina took the elevator and went straight to the CEO¡¯s office. She pushed the door open and walked in. Madison turned over her shoulder and gave her a smile. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m d you¡¯re here. I have a gift for you.¡± She retrieved a petite leather branded bag from her luggage, which shimmered under the light. Christina had seen the bag being featured in thetest fashion news and knew it cost at least six figures. Though the gift was expensive, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject it. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I think this bag is cute and suits your style a lot. I hope you like it,¡± Madison said, wearing a kind smile. Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 The Birthday Of Grandma +25 Bonus For a moment, Christina wasn¡¯t sure if the Madison who used to plot against her was the same person. as the one standing before her. Madison was currently all smiles. However, her smile was devoid of emotions, which made Christina feel rather strange. ¡°I love it. You¡¯ve got great taste.¡± It was only right to express gratitude after receiving a gift. Such basic etiquette wasn¡¯t lost on Christina. Following that, Madison ced a beautiful ck gift box on Nathaniel¡¯s table. ¡°This is yours, Mr. Hadley. I¡¯ve brought you a gift, too, so don¡¯t call me biased.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze fell on the gorgeous brooch in the box. One could tell it was a meticulously chosen gift. In fact, it was obvious that Madison¡¯s main objective was to give Nathaniel a gift. Christina¡¯s gift was just a cover. Without ncing at it, Nathaniel simply hummed in acknowledgment and picked up the document by the side. Madison could not tear her eyes away from his charming face. After all, she missed working with him. after not seeing him for two months. However, she would never tell him her feelings. Madison smiled and picked up her luggage. ¡°I shall not disturb you two anymore. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± She would not show her emotions, no matter how disgruntled she felt. After all, she had already been punished for her actionsst time. All she could do at that moment was to take things a step at a time and wait for the right moment. The thick atmosphere of jealousy that filled the air in the room was palpable, but it wasn¡¯t from Nathaniel. Rather, it came from Christina. She held the brooch and felt bitter when she thought of Nathaniel wearing a brooch gifted by another Woman. Although it looked ordinary, an essory like this represented the thoughts of the gift giver. The recipient would be reminded of the giver whenever he or she put it on. ¡°It¡¯s pretty,¡± Christinamented sourly as she put the box down. Hearing that, Nathaniel looked up at her with a frown. The woman was pulling her cheeks and pouting her lips, her sparkling eyes glinting with jealousy. Nathaniel cast her a puzzled look. Just then, Sebastian knocked on the door and entered with some documents. ¡°Mr. Hadley, these Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 159 The Birthday Of Grandma documents are urgent. Please deal with them first.¡± +25 Bonus As soon as he put the documents down, a ck box appeared out of nowhere in his line of sight. Before Sebastian could even ask about it, Nathaniel said inly, ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Picking up the box, Sebastian muttered, ¡°Madison has already given me a brooch, but it¡¯s not as nice as this one.¡± Nathaniel threw Sebastian a re, exuding an icy aura ¡°Thank you. Mr. Hadley. I really like it.¡± With that, Sebastian turned around and left with the box. The corners of Christina¡¯s lips curled upward slightly. He¡¯s getting smarter these days. After lunch, Christina took a nap in the lounge before going to work at Radiant Corporation in the afternoon. There was another meeting in the afternoon. Once it ended, Christina went to the tailor room to continue working on the gown that was close to its due date. The new project was very important to Zachary, hence Gina was involved in designing as well. It was almost nine o¡¯clock in the evening by the time Christina exited the tailor room. Almost all of her colleagues had left at that time. Seeing Gina¡¯s office was still brightly lit, Christina. went to the pantry to get two sses of warm water. ¡°Ms. Tanner, will I disturb your work?¡± asked Christina while standing at the door with two sses of water. Only then did Gina look up from the paper she was working on and smiled. ¡°No. Come in.¡± ¡°It¡¯ste now. It¡¯s better to just drink water,¡± exined Christina. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. could refresh one¡¯s mind, but they could also keep one awake the whole night, causing one to lose sleep. While Christina ced the ss on the table, she spotted the design draft presented on the tablet from the corner of her eye. It was iplete, but one could tell it was drawn by someone with a great foundation. As expected from someone who holds the position of a director. Christina¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°You sure are great at hiding your skills, Ms. Tanner. I can¡¯t wait to see your work when it¡¯spleted.¡± Smiling, Gina responded, ¡°You¡¯re pretty impressive yourself, too. Keep up the good work.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ms. Tanner. I¡¯ll let you continue with your work.¡± Christina walked out and shut the door behind her. Gina¡¯s eyes glimmered as she watched Christina leave. At first, it was Nathaniel who asked Gina to look out for Christina, who was a newbie. After a few interactions with Christina, however, Gina began to realize the former was not as weak as 13:07 Mon, May Chapter 159 The Birthday Of Grandma she expected. 75%1 +25 Bonus In fact, Gina believed Christina could ovee every difficulty on her own, even without Nathaniel interfering and helping her behind the scenes. After having worked like a dog for a week, Christinay in bed during the weekend to read up on the latest fashion news. Right then, a housekeeper knocked on the door. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley would like you to get changed and wait for him.¡± Hearing that, Christina sat up and picked up her phone that was charging on the side. To her surprise, the screen was flooded with notifications of missed calls from Nathaniel. She could picture his scowling face even though they weren¡¯t together at that moment. ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll get ready.¡± With that, she put her phone down, scurried into the changing room, changed into a light pink dress, andbed her hair in front of the mirror. The moment she went downstairs, she saw Nathaniel car parked in front of the entrance. As she walked over, Sebastian opened the door. She hopped into the car and smiled sweetly. ¡°Where are we going, Darling?¡± She spoke ingratiatingly, for she knew she had angered him. Nathaniel tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing her youthful and innocent face under the light. She looked radiant and adorable. ¡°It¡¯s Grandma¡¯s birthday today. We¡¯re going to Yorknd,¡± he said inly. It¡¯s Old Mrs. Hadley¡¯s birthday? As far as Christina remembered, the olddy had always lived in seclusion. Rumor had it that she had an unpredictable temper. Christina red at him,ining. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say sooner? I prepared nothing. It¡¯ll be so awkward if I go there empty-handed. Sebastian, turn around and go to the mall now. I need to buy at gift for her. I¡¯m sure Grandma has everything she needs, but it¡¯s not right for her granddaughter-inw to show up without a gift.¡± Nathaniel smiled upon seeing her serious expression and tousled her hair affectionately. The next thing she knew, she felt a warm and soft sensation on her forehead. Nathaniel kissed her gently, his warm breath enveloping her. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I¡¯ve already prepared the gift for you. You just need to say it¡¯s from you.¡± Christina nodded obediently. Nothing would go wrong since Nathaniel was the one who prepared the gift. ¡°Get some sleep. It¡¯ll take a while for us to arrive at Yorknd,¡± Nathaniel said softly while embracing her. Hearing that, Christina curled up like azy kitten and nestled against his chest while humming softly in acknowledgment. Listening to his powerful heartbeat and feeling his slender arms wrapped tightly around her waist, Christina felt as if she had all the best things on earth. A few minutes into the peaceful drive, she fell asleep. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Hurt Animals It was already evening when the car arrived in Yorknd and stopped in a vi. When Christina opened her eyes, all she saw was a bamboo forest. +25 Bonus To be more specific, it was an outer courtyard filled with bamboo. There was a pebbled path leading toward the two-storied vi. When she exited the vehicle, a gust of fresh air swept past her, carrying a faint bamboo fragrance. I¡¯ve lived in the heart of the city for so long that I¡¯ve gotten used to all the dust and gas carbon. It feels like I¡¯ve stepped into a new world here. As that thought swirled in Christina¡¯s mind, a gust of cold wind blew at her, making her feel both refreshed and chilly. A ck coat settled on her shoulders as Nathaniel¡¯s unique sandalwood scent enveloped her, making her feel warm. He then took her small hand and led her inside. Meanwhile, Sebastian followed them while carrying the gifts. They weren¡¯t the only visitors. When Christina ventured deeper into the courtyard, she saw around seven luxury cars parked outside. Ever since Abraham Hadley passed away, Felicia Carson had been living alone in that peaceful vi. She usually wouldn¡¯t ept visitors all year long except on her birthday. Naturally, her friends and families wouldn¡¯t miss a once-in-a-year opportunity to visit her. Everyone knew Felicia was religious, so the guests brought paintings and antiques rted to her. religion as gifts. When Christina entered the building, she saw a kindly old woman sitting in the middle of the living room. Felicia was wearing a quaint, in-colored attire, appearingposed. Even though she was nearly seventy years old, she could still sit up straight. Meanwhile, Julia was d in a gown with vividly embroidered jasmine. Her hair was tied-up into a bun, and her makeup was light, giving her an air of dignified elegance. Charlie was right next to her, donning a ck suit. Hi refined vibe matched Julia, and they looked like the perfect couple while standing together. Nathaniel brought Christina over to his elders and greeted, ¡°Grandma.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Felicia nodded as her gazended on Christina. She looks beautiful. I like her small face and bright eyes. It was Christina¡¯s first official meeting with the old woman, so she was feeling extremely anxious, even more anxious than when she went for a job interview. Smiling, she uttered, ¡°I hope you¡¯ll live a long and healthy life, Grandma. Happy birthday.¡± +25 Bonus Chapter 160 Hurt Animals The solemn atmosphere was instantly shattered by the young woman¡¯s sweet voice. Felicia nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± Nathaniel spoke. Regardless of the asion, he always acted indifferently. He escorted Christina to the seats at the side. The three generations of the Hadley family had assembled, generating an atmosphere too overpowering for ordinary people to handle. Felicia turned to Julia. ¡°Your gown is unique, Felicia. The embroidery is beautiful.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡± Julia nced at Christina. Her indifferent gaze made it challenging to tell what she was thinking. 1 Considering how much she dislikes me, I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll necessarily be delighted by thatpliment. Christina thought. ¡± ܇ Promptly, Julia answered, ¡°Your granddaughter-inw was the one who sewed it by hand.¡± F¨¦licia nodded. ¡°I can tell she¡¯s skilled from her work. Not bad.¡± Upon obtaining the elders¡¯ approval, Christina felt proud. As a joyful glint shed past her eyes, she covertly tugged Nathaniel¡¯s hand. Even though Mrs. Hadley still hasn¡¯t epted me despite my efforts, at the very least, I can tell she doesn¡¯t hate me as much anymore. Madison, who just entered the building, overheard the conversation. Mrs. Hadley was praising Christina? Even Old Mrs. Hadley, who usually doesn¡¯t pay attention to anything, praised her! I only left for two months. How did she impress both of them in such a short amount of time Her abilities exceed my expectations! After recollecting herself, she smiled and stepped toward Felicia. ¡°Happy birthday, Old Mrs. Hadley. I wish you the best of health in many years toe! My parents are busy, so they asked me to bring you their gifts.¡± When she presented a traditional painting to the old woman, the butler at the side epted it. Felicia nodded. ¡°I¡¯m happy the Taggart family still remembers my preference after all these years.¡± It was thanks to Abraham that the Hadley family and the Taggart family always shared a strong rtionship. The Taggart family was also a prominent family in Jadeborough with an established family business in the city. Even though Madison was the eldest daughter of the Taggart family, she worked for Hadley Corporation instead of helping her family. Her intention to approach a certain someone was apparent to the elders. Back then, both families were interested in pairing the two together. Unfortunately for them, Nathaniel was married before it could happen. So, the idea was scrapped. Chapter 160 Hurt Animals ++ +25 Bonus Felicia spoke. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you youngsters to stay here. Feel free to walk around outside.¡± Upon obtaining the old woman¡¯s approval, Christina and the others left the living room. It was Christina¡¯s first time there, so she was intrigued by everything she saw. Nathaniel apanied her on a stroll. Meanwhile, Madison followed behind them, staring at them. with jealousy. When Christina wasn¡¯t around, I was always by Nathaniel¡¯s side. Even though we didn¡¯t have any physical contact, we were still together. Now, I can only watch them enviously. As she tightened her fists, she tried calming herself down in her mind. I must be patient and wait for an opportunity to strike¡­ Momentster, Christina and Nathaniel entered the bamboo forest that was part of the vi. A white rabbit hopped past them when they entered the forest through the pebbled path. Christina gasped in surprise and chased after it. The adorable rabbit eventually stopped next to a bamboo. As she carefully approached the creature, she noticed the rabbit¡¯s foot was injured, its blood tainting its white fur. She examined the wound in detail. It seems like the rabbit was hit by someone with a blunt object. Suddenly, a series of footsteps approached her, apanied by a voice. ¡°Where did the rabbit go?¡± When Christina raised her head, she saw a skinny figure appearing in her view. It was a young woman wearing a pink dress and holding a slingshot. The arrogance in her eyes was clear as day. When she noticed Christina, she questioned assertively, ¡°Hey, did you see a rabbit?¡± ¡°I did. Is it yours?¡± asked Christina. The woman, Elizabeth Be, snorted. ¡°As if I¡¯ll keep such a smelly thing. I¡¯m bored, so I¡¯m looking. for fun.¡± Suddenly, she saw the fluffy white ball moving in her view. Immediately, she raised her slingshot and aimed it at the innocent animal. Christina¡¯s pupils constricted as she blocked the woman¡¯s line of sight. ¡°I won¡¯t allow you to hurt it.¡± However, Elizabeth ignored her and readied her slingshot. Coldly, she spat, ¡°If you don¡¯t move away, don¡¯t me me when I hit you!¡± Then, she intentionally loosened the rubber band, shooting a rock straight toward Christina¡¯s face. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Falling Into The Water Together The rock zipped through the air but was caught by arge hand instead of hitting its target. ¡°You have some nerve to hurt her,¡± Nathaniel growled. The surrounding temperature dropped rapidly as he red at Elizabeth viciously, startling the young girl. From her perspective, he looked like a bloodthirsty demon who emerged from the darkest of nights, so malicious that he could swallow the entire bamboo forest whole. If looks could kill, she would¡¯ve died at that moment. In response, she directed her frustration toward Christina. ¡°It¡¯s her fault for standing in my way! I warned her already, so it¡¯s not my fault!¡± She¡¯s doing this intentionally! It¡¯s disgusting that she¡¯s trying to act like a saint in front of him. Christina didn¡¯t want to cause a scene on Felicia¡¯s birthday. So, she whispered, ¡°Forget about it, Nathaniel. Don¡¯t make a fuss about it.¡± Scowling, Nathaniel barked, ¡°Scram!¡± His aura was too overwhelming, and he resembled the Grim Reaper, who had just ambled out of hell. It was as if thick ck smoke was rising from his body, and he was capable of changing the weather with a wave of his hand. Elizabeth was so frightened that she teared up. As the Bet family¡¯s pampered daughter, she had never suffered such a grievance before. Nathaniel¡¯s domineering aura rendered her incapable of refuting him. Thus, she shouted furiously, choking back tears. ¡°You better remember this, b*tch! Hmph!¡± With that, she ran away. Madison witnessed the whole scene. I can¡¯t believe Nathaniel¡¯s willing to offend the Bet family for an ordinary woman like Christina! Not everyone can afford to mess with the Bet family in Yorknd! ¡°Ms. Bet seems frightened. I¡¯ll check up on her,¡± said Madison before she chased after Elizabeth. Christina had no idea the arrogant youngdy from earlier was the Bet family¡¯s daughter or that she would be walking straight into a brewing scheme soon. After she lifted the rabbit into her arms, she grabbed a small handkerchief from her handbag to stop its leg from bleeding. She gently caressed its head and said, ¡°Be good and get out of here. Stay in the forest and don¡¯te out again. The outside world is a dangerous ce, so don¡¯t be too adventurous.¡± As though the rabbit understood her words, it blinked before slowly jumping into the bamboo forest. Felicia, who just so happened to be passing by, witnessed that. The bamboo forest was filled with life. asionally, small animals would pop out, stroll around the forest, and leave. Sometimes, they would stay for a while. It was said that if and was inhabited by creatures, it was proof that thend was a valuable one, at least from a geomancy perspective. That was why Felicia never hurt the animals that visited the forest. In fact, she would ask the housekeepers to prepare fresh water around the area for the animals to drink. Therefore, when she saw Christina¡¯s kind act, her belief of Christina being a good,passionate woman was further strengthened. A variety of scrumptious dishes was presented on the dining table during dinner. However, the host¡¯s table only had vegan dishes. That was because Felicia was vegan, and she would never break her habit of not eating meat, not even on her birthday. After dinner, Nathaniel went to the study to sort out some documents. Madison invited Christina to take a stroll in the outer courtyard. The vi was so huge that there was a small bridge, which the duo crossed. Then, they saw a water spring. The vi¡¯s geographical location was fantastic as it was surrounded by nature. Anyone would feel rxed and refreshed just by staying there. ¡°There are a lot of fishes here. What do you say we take a look at them?¡± suggested Madison. Christina nodded. Suddenly, Madison¡¯s phone rang. ¡°I have to take this. It¡¯s probably rted to work.¡± Upon ending her sentence, Madison ambled away and answered the phone. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Christina stood on the bridge and enjoyed the view. Her shadow was cast on the water¡¯s surface as the silver moonlightnded on her. The carefree fishes swam quietly in the water. Momentster, Christina recorded a video of the beautiful scenery with her phone. As she aimed the camera at herself, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath to relish in the quiet moment. Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching her. Frowning, she opened her eyes and saw a pair of vicious eyes before her. Reflexively, she sidestepped the assault. As a result, her attacker missed and fell directly into the water spring behind her. She was stunned as a chill ran down her spine. Someone was trying to push me into the water! If I didn¡¯t dodge quickly, I would¡¯ve been the one down there! ¡°Help! Save me! I don¡¯t know how to swim!¡± the person in the water yelled. Hastily, Christina turned around. Thanks to the lunar glow, she was able to see who the person struggling in the water was. It¡¯s thedy who tried to shoot me with the slingshot earlier! Elizabeth struggled to stay afloat as she shouted, iling her arms about. Her countenance was turning pale. Crap! It seems like she really doesn¡¯t know how to swim. Without dy, Christina called Nathaniel. ¡°Come to the spring in the front yard as quickly as possible. Someone fell in the water, and she doesn¡¯t know how to swim.¡± Nathaniel bolted toward the entrance as soon as he heard that and spoke into the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere else. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just stand here and do nothing. She can¡¯t hold on anymore. I need to save her,¡± replied Christina. As Elizabeth¡¯s cries for help grew weaker, Christina couldn¡¯t stand by and watch any longer. She hung up, ced the phone and her bag aside, removed her shoes, and leaped into the water. Christina didn¡¯t really know how to swim. After falling into the pool in the Hadley residence previously, she was forced by Nathaniel to learn how to swim. Once she mastered the basics, she imed she was too busy with her work to continue her lessons. I really should¡¯ve continued with my swimming lessons. I regret giving up halfway now. Upon jumping into the water, Christina held Elizabeth¡¯s neck above the water so thetter could breathe. Additionally, she kept kicking her legs to prevent them both from sinking. Now, I¡¯just need to hang in there and wait for Nathaniel toe to our rescue. I think I can hold on for a few more minutes. Once Elizabeth could breathe again and saw Christina was the one who rescued her, rage burned in her heart. It¡¯s this woman¡¯s fault! If she didn¡¯t dodge earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have fallen! She¡¯s in the wrong, yet now she¡¯s pretending to rescue me. Is she waiting for the whole world to praise her? When her train of thought ended there, Elizabeth grabbed Christina¡¯s clothes and pulled her deeper into the water. ¡°What are you doing? Let me go! If you do this, we¡¯ll both drown!¡± Christina panicked and identally swallowed mouthfuls of springwater while speaking. The edges of Elizabeth¡¯s lips curved upward smugly. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. The only person drowning is you!¡± She then kicked Christina with all her might and shoved thetter¡¯s head into the water. ¡°No one gets away with bullying me! You should¡¯ve minded your own business!¡± As Christina struggled, she held onto Elizabeth¡¯s cor. ¡°You¡¯re a sickening human being! I shouldn¡¯t have tried to rescue you!¡± I should¡¯ve expected this from someone willing to hurt an animal for fun. If I¡¯m going to drown, she¡¯s going down with me! As the two women struggled in the water, their bodies sank deeper. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 The Bet Family By the time Nathaniel arrived, he saw Christina¡¯s belongings sitting on the bridge and two unconscious women floating on the water. Sebastian instantly recognized one of the women. ¡°It¡¯s Mrs. Hadley-¡± Before he could react to the situation properly, he saw Nathaniel jumping into the pool. Momentster, the security guards of the vi rushed toward the bridge upon hearing themotion and dove into the water to rescue the unconscious Elizabeth. News of the incident immediately spread to the rest of the vi like wildfire. Upon learning the matter, Felicia asked Julia and Charlie to send the guests away, except for the Bets, who were involved in the incident. It wasn¡¯t until midnight that Elizabeth woke up. When she saw her parents next to her bed, she sobbed. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, I almost died¡­¡± She was still haunted by her near¨Cdeath experience earlier. I almost died and was this close to never seeing my family again! This is all Christina¡¯s fault! The Bet family had three children, two sons and a daughter. As the daughter was the youngest, the Bet couple doted on her since she was a child. Therefore, when the Bet couple saw that their daughter almost drowned, they were worried and infuriated. Molly was heartbroken as she held her daughter. ¡°What happened? Why did you and the Hadley family¡¯s granddaughter¨Cinw fall into the water?¡± I heard that Christina isn¡¯t even acknowledged by the Hadley family. Even though she has married into the family for so long, Mrs. Hadley refuses to ept her because of her pathetic background. Apparently, Nathaniel kept her around because she was a novelty to him, and he may chase her away once he¡¯s sick of her. I can¡¯t help but feel angry when I think about that poor b*tch talking back to me! She sniffled, threw herself into her mother¡¯s embrace, andined, ¡°It¡¯s Christina. I had an argument with her in the bamboo forest earlier, but I chose to back down. I didn¡¯t expect she¡¯d go crazy and push me off the bridge when we met again. I even asked her why she did it, and she said it was because she just didn¡¯t like me. She even told me she¡¯s the Hadley family¡¯s daughter¨Cinw, so she¡¯s more powerful than me and can bully me however she wants.¡± The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she sounded as tears streamed down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m so scared, Mom. Is she going to bully me againter?¡± Her parents were instantly enraged after listening to what their daughter said. Elizabeth¡¯s mother, Molly, hugged Elizabeth tightly and promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m around, I won¡¯t allow anyone to bully you!¡± Carl Bet, Elizabeth¡¯s father, was even more incensed. ¡°Hmph! Who does the Hadley family think they are? They may be powerful in Jadeborough, but Yorknd is our territory! Don¡¯t worry, Elizabeth. I¡¯m definitely going to seek justice for you from Old Mrs. Hadley!¡± A cold and smug look swirled in Elizabeth¡¯s eyes as she nestled in her mother¡¯s embrace, still putting on a piteous pretense. What are you going to do now, Christina? Hmm? Meanwhile, in another room, Christina was still unconscious. The doctors had examined her and imed that she was fine, just that she was rendered temporarily unconscious due to shock. Nathaniel remained by her side. Her face had gone pale, her eyebrows were slightly knitted, and her eyshes were still wet. At that moment, she looked like an injured, adorable animal that garnered pity. As he held her small hand, a frigid expression settled on his tense, handsome face. The room was freezing cold as if it was located at the north pole, and the atmosphere that enveloped it was oppressive as well. When Sebastian stepped in, he was taken aback by Nathaniel¡¯s demeanor. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen his expression this frosty. It feels like he can snap a man¡¯s neck with that look. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I was asked to inform you-¡± He was cut short by Nathaniel¡¯s re. I know he won¡¯t do anything to me, but I still can¡¯t help but feel goosebumps crawling all over my skin when he aims his sharp, hostile look at me. ¡°What did they say?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded sinister. In response, Sebastian ryed the Bet family¡¯s message. ¡°The Bets said Mrs. Hadley pushed Ms. Bet into the water, so they want her to grovel before Ms. Bet until she¡¯s forgiven by Ms. Bet.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s countenance clouded over, and a cold glint shed across his narrow, deep eyes. The atmosphere in the room grew tenser than before. After a brief moment of hesitation, Sebastian continued, ¡°They also said that they want Mrs. Hadley to be carried outside even if she¡¯s still unconscious.¡± The moment Sebastian ended his sentence, Nathaniel stood from the side of the bed. As he strode out of the room, he ordered, ¡°Make sure no one enters this room!¡± The guards at the entrance replied resolutely, ¡°Understood, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian followed behind Nathaniel. There¡¯s definitely going to be a snowstormter. Honestly, I can¡¯t me Mr. Hadley. I bet the Bets are tantly bullying Mrs. Hadley because they heard she doesn¡¯t have a prestigious background. However, they have no idea just how much Mr. Hadley loves her. A grim atmosphere descended upon the living room. The elders from both families sat on opposite sides in the center of the room. Felicia, as thedy of the house, had most of the authority. The Bets wore a grimace as if they were waiting for justice to be served aftermenting their grievance. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. On the other hand, the Hadleys seemedposed. Felicia sat in the middle as a housekeeper poured her a cup of coffee. Casually, she took a sip, as though she couldn¡¯t detect the serious atmosphere. Suddenly, they heard heavy footsteps approaching the room before Nathaniel stepped in. At that moment, it was as if the air was frozen. Carl was displeased by Nathaniel¡¯s tardiness. ¡°Your grandson¡¯s here now, Old Mrs. Hadley. Can you ask him to hand that woman over yet?¡± The Bets were pushy and indignant, looking as if they were ready to start a fight if things didn¡¯t go their way. It was then Madison approached the room. I didn¡¯t expect things would get this messy. Although, there¡¯s no doubt Christina¡¯s doomed since she offended the only daughter of the Bet family. Considering she doesn¡¯t have a distinguished background, it¡¯s pretty clear how things will end. Still, I¡¯m jealous that Nathaniel¡¯s standing up for her like this! She whispered, ¡°Since this is Mrs. Hadley¡¯s fault, why don¡¯t you just ask her to apologize, Mr. Hadley?¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°The Hadley family and The Bet family have a lot of business dealings. There¡¯s no need to let thepany¡¯s profits suffer over such a minor matter.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s a mature and considerate man. Undoubtedly, he has helmed a corporation as massive as Hadley Corporation as its CEO for years. As such, I¡¯m sure he knows sacrificing Christina is his best choice to protect Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Impossible A deathly silence ensued in the living room. Nathaniel stepped toward Carl, red at thetter coldly, and stated firmly, ¡°No one is allowed to touch my woman!¡± Everyone present was stunned. Feliciaid her coffee cup aside and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m d my grandson knows how to protect his wife! Not bad.¡± Meanwhile, Julia was sweating profusely as she tugged the old woman¡¯s sleeve and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t fan the mes, Mom.¡± We shouldn¡¯t jump to conclusions before we investigate the matter. ¡°I believe in Christina,¡± asserted Felicia. Julia couldn¡¯t understand why her mother¨Cinw believed in Christina so much. Of course, the Bets were understandably enraged. They didn¡¯t expect Nathaniel to love Christina so much that he was willing to sacrifice thepany¡¯s interests for her, even though her background couldn¡¯t be any more ordinary. ¡°So, it seems the reason your wife acted haughtily and bullied our daughter is that she has your support. Hmph, I wonder if she¡¯s a disgrace to your family,¡± mocked Carl coldly. Upon hearing Nathaniel¡¯s words, Molly gritted her teeth angrily. ¡°Are you saying you won¡¯t ask the culprit to apologize?¡± I won¡¯t allow the person who hurt my daughter to go unpunished! If he refuses to relent, then he better not me us for ignoring the rtionship our families share! It¡¯s a piece of cake for us to drag that woman out of her room! I¡¯ve already asked all of our family¡¯s bodyguards toe here. When the time arrives, I¡¯ll haul her into the living room and force her to apologize! The grim atmosphere turned tense. No one dared to lower their guards as they prepared to strike. Nathaniel ced his hands behind his back and stood tall, looking like an immovable snowy mountain. A dangerous look swirled in his dark eyes. Composedly, he dered, ¡°Elizabeth was the one who pushed Christina into the pool, so she should be the one apologizing!¡± The crowd gasped in shock when they heard that. He wants the victim to apologize? What kind of joke is this? This is ridiculous! He has no respect for the Bet family at all! Exasperated, Carl roared. ¡°How dare you im that Elizabeth¡¯s the one who pushed her! Do you have evidence?¡± I won¡¯t let this slide unless he has a convincing argument! Nathaniel appeared to havee prepared as he snapped his fingers confidently. Momentster, Sam emerged from a corner and disyed a few photos on a tablet. He identally took pictures of the environment back then while they were on the way to meet with Christina after receiving her call. The photos clearly showed Christina¡¯s clothes, shoes, and phone neatly ced on the side of the bridge. Coldly, Nathaniel exined with animosity, ¡°Let me ask you all something. Who would set their belongings aside before pushing someone into the water when they themselves have no intention of also SIDE falling into the water? Obviously, Christinaid her belongings on the bridge because she nned to save Elizabeth after seeing thetter falling into the water! Christina tried to rescue Elizabeth out of kindness, yet she was used as the culprit! None of you are leaving this building until you apologize to her!¡± The people in the living room exchanged nces with each other. He makes a solid argument. ording to Elizabeth, she met Christina on the bridge before thetter shoved her into the pool. As she did, she grabbed Christina¡¯s hand, causing them both to fall. If that¡¯s true, how did Christina have enough time to ce her belongings neatly on the bridge? The Bets were rendered speechless as they winced. At that moment, Elizabeth limped out of her room with a pale countenance. She looked so weak that the wind could topple her. Resentfully, she refuted, ¡°He¡¯s lying. They could¡¯ve purposely ced those items there afterward.¡± I wouldn¡¯t have needed toe out here and argue with him if he wasn¡¯t threatening to ruin my n! I¡¯m so close to seeding! Feeling sorry for her daughter, Molly walked over and held her. ¡°Why did youe out here, Elizabeth? Your father and I can handle this. You¡¯ll have the justice you deserve.¡± In response, Nathaniel swept his deadly gaze past Elizabeth, causing her to shudder and avoid his eyes. Once again, the situation grew tense. Both families were in a stalemate because they wanted to prove they were right, but neither side had concrete evidence. After brief contemtion, Carl suggested, ¡°For old times¡® sake, I¡¯m willing topromise and settle for a simple apology.¡± It was obvious the Bet family had capitted. If Nathaniel epted the suggestion, then the conflict between the families would be resolved. However, he instead raised his chin pridefully. ¡°Apologize? That¡¯s impossible.¡± His hostile demeanor made him appear like a demon who just strode out of hell. No one dared to approach him. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, a skinny figure emerged from the crowd. ¡°Nathaniel.¡± When Christina woke up, she was informed by the bodyguards that the Bets were making things difficult for the Hadleys. Expeditiously, she bolted toward the living room and overheard the conversation within. Upon turning around, Nathaniel saw Christina staring at him with watery eyes. She was like a lost deer that mistakenly barged into the castle of a dangerous hunter, tempting those whoid eyes on her to protect her. When his line of sightnded on her bare feet, he frowned and approached her. Without dy, he picked her up in front of everyone. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t run around barefooted.¡± As his warm breath brushed past her face, she widened her eyes and met his tender gaze, stunned. Before she could react, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. Thank goodness. She didn¡¯t catch a fever. Momentster, Nathaniel carried Christina to his seat and kissed her cheek. Holding her icy hands, he exhaled a puff of breath to warm her hands. ¡°Are you cold? Do you want to return to your room and rest? I can handle the situation.¡± She was dumbfounded as hisnguorous tone made her blush. There are so many people watching us¡­ Can¡¯t he wait untilter to kiss me? Meanwhile, Molly couldn¡¯t stay silent any longer. She just wanted to wrap the matter up and leave. Hugging Elizabeth, she eyed Christina and spoke in a sarcastic tone. ¡°It¡¯s just an apology. It¡¯s not like she doesn¡¯t know how to do that. Don¡¯t all peasants grow up saying sycophantic things like that? She must be used to it.¡± Christina was promptly angered. They don¡¯t have the right to look down on peasants! I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why should I apologize? Felicia, who had been staying silent, spoke up. ¡°A person¡¯s nature has nothing to do with their background. I can tell Christina¡¯s a kind child because she can¡¯t even bear to hurt animals. Those unable to bring themselves tomit such an act have apassionate heart.¡± Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Proof Once again, everyone was dumbfounded. Even Felicia was standing on Christina¡¯s side. Christina was extremely touched. At the very least, no one in the Hadley family would believe that she would do something like that. Since everyone had so much trust in her, she must not let them down. ¡°I have proof that Elizabeth fell after failing to push me over and I jumped into the water to save her.¡± What? She has proof? Elizabeth felt confused when she heard that, though that feeling was eclipsed by that of nervous guilt. Christina instructed Sam to bring her phone over. She had deliberately left her valuable items aside before jumping into the water so her phone would not be damaged. She unlocked her phone, scrolled through her photo album, and clicked on a video. In the video, Christina was taking a selfie. Her beautiful face and watery eyes looked extremely pretty on the screen. She had gone to the bridge to take pictures of herself. At that moment, a series of footsteps sounded. In the video, Christina¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she dodged subconsciously. Even though the camera was shaky, it clearly captured how Elizabeth suddenly emerged to push Christina. After Christina evaded her, Elizabeth fell into the water. There was nothing that Elizabeth could say in the face of solid evidence. When those from the Bet family saw the video, their expressions turned grim. Previously, they kept demanding an apology. All they could feel now was acute embarrassment. Elizabeth¡¯s face turned pale from fear. She shot a pleading look at Madison, asking her for help. Madison stood at the side with her back straight, her fingernails digging into her palms as she clenched her fist. She was so angry that her body trembled. Nathaniel actually defended Christina in front of everyone. His actions proved that his feelings toward Christina had transcended mere affection. Instead, he loved her deeply. She was so jealous and unhappy that she could not utter a single word. When Madison noticed Elizabeth¡¯s gaze, she stared back at Elizabeth coldly before walking away. Elizabeth was fuming. Even though Madison was the one who instructed her to do all that, the former left without taking any responsibility now that something bad had happened. However, even though Elizabeth was displeased and wanted to expose Madison, thetter had ckmail material on her. Hence, she did not dare to act recklessly. Christina noticed all the interactions between Madison and Elizabeth from the moment they exchanged a look with each other. She had a feeling that things were not that simple. Why did Madison bring me to the bridge? Why did Elizabeth appear the moment she left to take a call? Why didn¡¯t Madison appear after Elizabeth and I fell into the water for so long? Felicia stared at Carl coldly. ¡°Now that everything¡¯s clear, you¡¯ve used my dear Christina. Who¡¯s supposed to apologize now?¡± The atmosphere in the living room was charged with hostility, as if a battle was going to break out at any moment. Even though Felicia was old, she was still extremely intimidating when she had to take action. If you want to bully my people, you¡¯ll have to see if you¡¯re capable enough! It was impossible for Carl to rebuke the results. However, he could not bear to lower himself due to his dignity. ¡°My daughter also got injured because of this. Let¡¯s forget it.¡± Thinking that the bodyguards had already reached the entrance, Molly thought that they could leave the house even without apologizing. Nathaniel smirked coldly. ¡°Forget it? Why didn¡¯t you say that when you were being so aggressive and demanding? I refuse to just let this matter slide.¡± Felicia agreed, ¡°Since both of our families have been friends for so long, I¡¯ll let this matter slide if your daughter apologizes.¡± The Hadley family was not one to be trifled with. Clinging to her sense of superiority, Molly was unwilling to do that. She showed no signs of letting Elizabeth apologize as well. At that moment, an assistant ran in from outside and reported anxiously, ¡°Mr. Bet, our men got surrounded by those from the Hadley family the moment they arrived at the entrance. They¡¯ve been tied up and brought to the backyard.¡± ¡°What?¡± His face turning pale, Carl felt like he was on the verge of fainting. They had over a hundred people, yet all of them ended up being subdued. In that case, they would not be able to leave the mansion without apologizing. Even though Carl was unwilling to, he knew that he did not have the upper hand. Hence, he had no choice but to steel himself and apologize, ¡°Excuse my daughter. Let¡¯s just forget about this, then.¡± His apology, devoid of any sincerity, was not enough to appease the Hadley family¡¯s fury, especially Nathaniel. He did not even spare a single nce at Carl. The ce waspletely silent. The Hadley family pretended not to hear that insincere apology. Elizabeth was furious. How can such a powerful person like Dad apologize to a b*tch like Christina? Biting her lips, she walked toward Christina. ¡°I was wrong. Sorry about that.¡± When Christina nced at Elizabeth calmly, she could see the fury raging in Elizabeth¡¯s eyes. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. She did not want to press the issue further, nor did she feel the need to care too much about it. Even if she had another chance, she would still choose to save Elizabeth. She said coldly, ¡°I ept your apology. Leave.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s eyes were filled with anger. She felt like her dignity had just been trampled by a mere I¡¯ll definitely take revenge for this! Turning around, she returned to her parents and stomped away briskly. After everyone from the Bet family left the mansion, peace finally resumed. Nathaniel carried Christina. Her soft body remained motionless in his arms. He approached his grandma. ¡°I¡¯ll bring Christina back to rest.¡± ¡°Go on then,¡± said Felicia. Christina¡¯s face flushed red like an apple. There are so many people around! Doesn¡¯t he know how to act in a presentable manner? Upon that thought, she buried her face into Nathaniel¡¯s chest, not daring to utter a single sound. They returned to the room. It was furnished in a ssical style, with exquisite patterns carved on the walls. One would feel extremelyfortable in an elegant and simple room like that. Christina stretchedzily. ¡°It feels so good at Grandma¡¯s ce. I feel so rxed. It¡¯s like all my worries have disappeared.¡± The moment shey down, she felt something pressing on top of her. As Nathaniel stared at her coldly, the atmosphere in the room became heavy. Christina felt like a tiny prey being targeted by a huge cat. Panicking, she did not even dare to blink, afraid that she would be devoured if she were to be distracted for even a second. Nathaniel asked coldly, ¡°Who allowed you to save her? You¡¯ve got guts, huh?¡± Thinking that swimming lessons were useless, Christina hade up with all sorts of excuses to avoid attending them. Yet, she still dared to jump into the water to save Elizabeth. Does she not care about her safety at all? Only then did Christina realize that he was angry at her for saving Elizabeth. Cowering, she defended herself softly, ¡°I saw that she was in danger. I can¡¯t live with watching her drown to death without doing anything weighing on my conscience.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t do that no matter what. What if you end up putting yourself in danger?¡± Nathaniel frowned as a hint of fury appeared in his eyes. Sensing that he was getting angry, Christina kept thinking of how to coax him. Unexpectedly, she wrapped her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s strong neck. Staring at him with watery eyes, she lifted her chin and nted a kiss on his lips. ¡°I was wrong. Don¡¯t be angry, okay?¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Married Couples Can Sleep Together Nathaniel froze as Christina¡¯s breath and the sound of her alluring voice encapsted his ear. The coy manner in which she was behaving disarmed him immediately, causing the anger he harbored inside to dissipate. He was attracted by her smarts, but it was her coy demeanor that made her irresistible to him. As they locked gazes with each other,¡® sparks could be seen flying in every direction. Lifting her chin with his fingers, Nathaniel broke into a devilish smile before nting his lips on hers. His warm breath subsequently enveloped her, heating up the atmosphere around them. The next day, rays of the morning sun flooded the room. The warmth it brought gradually woke Christina, while its light entuated the beautiful silhouette of her body. As Nathaniel had already gotten out of bed, she decided it was time for her to do the same. The early winter breeze that blew felt particrly refreshing. After Christina got herself changed and left the room, the housekeeper had already prepared breakfast for her. As for Felicia, her routine was to rise early and have breakfast after her morning meditation. Once Christina was done with her food, the housekeeper led her to a small pavilion in the courtyard. Felicia was enjoying her coffee there. The sight of her relishing her golden years brought a sense of stability to anyone who saw her. However, there was anky figure right beside her. ¡°Good morning, Grandma,¡± Christina greeted respectfully. Felicia nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Please have a seat and make yourself at home.¡± Uponing forward, Christina saw the figure who had his back facing her turn around. The moment he saw her, a smile emerged across his face. Francis poured a cup of hot coffee for her. ¡°Today¡¯s coffee is excellent. Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± The sight of him took Christina by surprise. Why is Francis showing up now instead of Felicia¡¯s birthday yesterday? After Christina took a seat beside Felicia, thetter and Francis continued their chat. Francis was telling her interesting stories from the entertainment industry. The eloquence in his storytelling naturally delighted her. Despite the peace in the courtyard, the atmosphere in the house was anything but that. Linda stormed into the room in her red gown. When her gaze fell upon the bed, it was clear that two had slept in it. Holding Charlie¡¯s wrist, sheined, ¡°Did you sleep with herst night?¡± Julia, in the midst of tidying up her hair, snorted in response. ¡°We¡¯re a married couple. Sleeping together is well within our legal rights, unlike someone else.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Linda¡¯s eyes widened in rage. ¡°Charlie, she¡¯s mocking me. You have to stand up for me.¡± Charlie had been in a good mood since the night before. While spending time with Julia, he realized how elegant and genuine she was. Truth be told, he liked the manner in which both of them interacted. Inparison, Linda¡¯s demanding behavior triggered a sense of resentment from him. Not wanting to spark another argument, Charlieforted her softly, ¡°Enough. Since you¡¯re here, why don¡¯t you spend some time with Mom.¡± The mention of Felicia caused Linda¡¯s expression to darken. ¡°Your mom doesn¡¯t like me. Talking to her is just asking for trouble. Every year, she would forbid me from showing up on her birthday. I would only be allowed toe once it was over and all the guests had left. Do you know how miserable that makes me feel?¡± Felicia never epted Linda for all these years, resulting in their dysfunctional rtionship. Thetter was not allowed to attend her birthday and all other family gatherings. It was clear from her actions that she would never approve of Linda. Cognizant of the fact and not wanting to anger his mother, Charlie would always choose to console the latter. However, in recent years, he grew increasingly frustrated with her every time she brought the matter up. Upon putting herb down, Julia got to her feet. She looked particrly elegant in the gown she was wearing. ¡°You are indeed asking for trouble. Since you know Mom doesn¡¯t like you, you shouldn¡¯t havee in the first ce,¡± Julia asserted with her arms on her hips, unting her authority as thedy of the house. Linda¡¯s eyes reddened in response. Despite the fact that Charlie had spent more time with her, she would always be humiliated on special asions. On top of that, she was unwilling to continue living under Julia¡¯s shadow. She wanted to stand by Charlie¡¯s side in public, weing guests with him and being acknowledged by everyone. Unfortunately, Charlie never had the intention of providing her such recognition despite the many years they were together. Thereafter, Julia walked toward the door. She threw Linda a nce and mocked her, ¡°Your striking red outfit shows how clueless you are to protocol. I think Charlie must have been blind to fall for an imbecile like you.¡± Just like that, she strede out the door and subsequently heard Linda¡¯s exasperated voice behind her. ¡°Charlie, look at how she insulted me. You have to say something!¡± Linda whined as tears rolled down her eves. With his hand holding his forehead, Charlie now found Linda¡¯s usually melodious voice to be particrly jarring. Sometimes, he would question himself on who he actually liked, for there was a need to make a decision. Spending time with both women had begun to grow tiresome. Linda looked up at him with her eyes brimming with anticipation. ¡°Charlie, I have been by your side for so many years. Didn¡¯t you promise to officially recognize me?¡± Even being a second wife was eptable to her. She just didn¡¯t want to stay a mistress who was kept from the public eye. The growing frustration within Charlie caused his eyes to darken. ¡°Come out first. We¡¯ll talk about that some other time.¡± With that, he walked out of the room, leaving Linda dumbfounded inside. The sight of his disappearing silhouette made her feel as if she was being abandoned. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Whenever she raised the issue previously, he would always reassure her. However, he paid her no heed this time. From the way they interacted with each other recently, she could sense that Charlie had changed. He was no longer as gentle and patient with herpared to the past. Julia is the one behind this! Upon collecting herself, Linda walked out to the courtyard. The entire family was sitting at the pavilion, enjoying coffee. As she approached, she ordered the housekeeper to bring over the gifts she had prepared. ¡°Old Mrs. Hadley, these are the gifts I prepared for you. Even though I can only present them to you after your birthday, my sincerity is not diminished in any way,¡± Linda exined in an obsequious tone. Nheless, she insinuated the fact that she wasn¡¯t allowed to attend Felicia¡¯s official birthday dinner still. As Felicia nced at the golden embroidery on Linda¡¯s striking red dress, she broke into a faint smile. ¡°Thank you. You woulde dressed to the nines every year. For those not in the know, they might think that we were celebrating your birthday.¡± Thement elicited a snigger from Julia. When her gaze fell upon Linda¡¯s gown, she could tell that the tailoring was outstanding. Unfortunately, the design was just too mboyant. The striking red fabric used made Linda look like a gaudy vase. Despite the gown¡¯s gorgeous design, it simply looked terrible on Linda. Felicia¡¯s words naturally caused Linda¡¯s expression to darken. Yet she didn¡¯t dare retort for fear of sounding rude. After the housekeeper behind Felicia epted the gift, everyone continued sipping their coffee. After that, Julia would shut Linda down every time thetter attempted to make conversation. Both of them would stare daggers at each other whenever they made eye contact. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, isn¡¯t it rude for you to interrupt me all the time?¡± Julia raised her coffee cup with elegant poise. ¡°There¡¯s no way you can participate in anything w Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 The Dessert As Linda wasn¡¯t a cultureddy in the first ce, she couldn¡¯tpare herself to Julia, who came from an illustrious family. The verbal sparring between the twodies didn¡¯te as a surprise to Felicia too. She then turned her attention to Julia and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re aware of your difference in status, you should be more forgiving of others.¡± Even though she sounded as if she was standing up for Linda, Felicia was clearly taking Julia¡¯s side. As a woman herself, she empathized with the humiliation Julia had suffered all these years. Linda¡¯s face lost all color in her rage. Felicia had never shown her any respect and would always favor Julia over her. As tears of aggrievement welled up in her eyes, she informed Charlie, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. Please send me home.¡± She couldn¡¯t care less about the words of those who didn¡¯t respect her. All she needed to do was ensure that Charlie¡¯s heart was hers. While speaking, she leaned against Charlie¡¯s shoulder and pretended to swoon. However, Felicia responded with a look of disdain before getting up to leave. As for Charlie, he pushed her aside with an awkward expression. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, I¡¯ll get the driver to send you home.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t youing with me?¡± Linda wondered if she had misheard. All this while, Charlie would return to Jadeborough with me on the second day. Is he nning to this time? way back with Julia ¡°It has always been a rush every year. I never get to spend time properly with my family.¡± When Charlie threw Julia a nce, his darkened expression brightened up a little. ¡°I¡¯m going inside first.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Upon getting to his feet, he strode back into the house. ¡°Charlie¡­¡± Tears of exasperation almost gushed out of Linda¡¯s eyes. With a frosty gaze, Julia relished in schadenfreude when she saw the dejection on Linda¡¯s face. ¡°Men will leave you the more you want them. If you let them be, they¡¯ll return when it¡¯s time to do so.¡± Linda didn¡¯t miss the sarcasm in Julia¡¯s words at all. ¡ªOnce Charlie was out of sight, she dropped her civil facade and snapped, ¡°He¡¯ll return to my side regardless of whether I tell him to. That¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t have any feelings for you at all!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I cared about him having feelings for me,¡± Julia sneered. ¡°You might have been able to rely on your looks to attract him in the past, but time has been unkind to you. I¡¯m afraid it will be difficult for you to hold onto him. One day, when you no longer mean anything to him, he¡¯ll return to my side. I¡¯ll always be Mrs. Hadley to him, while you¡¯re nothing but a piece of garbage he can easily be rid of!¡± +3 Bonus That was the reason why Julia refused a divorce back then. She didn¡¯t see why she should give up her ce to Linda. She had wanted to let Linda waste away her youth, for it was too early to know who would be thest oneughing in the end. Even without Julia pointing it out, the fact wasn¡¯t lost upon Linda. In front of the former, Linda would have to behave like a coward, someone who could never hold her head up high in public. As Linda gave the calm Julia a piercing re, she questioned her, ¡°Why do you insist on not letting Charlie go when you clearly don¡¯t love him? I can¡¯t believe how vicious you are.¡±. If Julia had been willing to back out back then, she wouldn¡¯t have had to suffer a lifetime of ridicule. ¡°Me? Vicious? I definitely can¡¯t beat you in that department. For breaking up my family and causing my son to miss out on fatherly love, I¡¯m not going to let you off easily!¡± Thereafter, Julia got to her feet as she exuded the authority of thedy of the house. After scowling in Linda¡¯s direction, she turned around elegantly and entered the house. Linda¡¯s eyes burned with rage, as if they could sear Julia¡¯s silhouette to a crisp. ¡°Julia, I beat you once in the past, and I¡¯ll beat you again now!¡± She figured that if she were to leave, she would only be giving Charlie and Julia the opportunity to rekindle their rtionship. With that thought in mind, she decided to stay. Narrowing her eyes cunningly, she thought of an idea to finally capture Charlie¡¯s heart once and for all. Upon entering the kitchen, Linda brought out a bowl of dessert. She encountered Christina on her way out and almost bumped into her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Macall. Did I get it on you?¡± Christina asked in a concerned tone as she brought out a tissue to help Linda clean up. With her bad mood worsened by Felicia¡¯s mockery of her gown, Linda vented her frustration on Christina by pping thetter¡¯s hand away. ¡°I can¡¯t believe how crafty you are. You gave my gown a mboyant design so that Mrs. Hadley could embarrass me to my face.¡± Christina froze as she was confused by the usatory words. ¡°I¡¯ve already told you about it. It was you who insisted on this design.¡± Why is she ming me now when I clearly highlighted the problem to her back then? The mere thought of Christina taking Julia¡¯s side infuriated Linda. ¡°Am I the designer or are you? Why did you follow my instructions when you clearly know that they were wrong? Don¡¯t you have an opinion of your own?¡± Christina suddenly felt as if a boulder was weighing down on her chest. The sense of suffocation it brought rendered her speechless. As someone younger, it would be rude for her to talk back. All Christina could do was let out a sigh before walking off. However, Linda grabbed her hand and gave her a look of displeasure. ¡°Did I say that you could leave?¡± She then ced the tray in Christina¡¯s hands and instructed, ¡°Take this dessert to Charlie¡¯s room.¡± Throwing the dessert a nce, Christina didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Okay.¡± As Christina went upstairs with the dessert, Linda watched on with an insidious smile. Now that Charlie was angry, he might not ept the dessert from Linda. However, it was a different matter if Christina was the one who served it to him. A whileter, inside the room, Charlie was going through the documents on his desk with an empty dessert bowl ced in the corner. Linda¡¯s eyes glistened smugly, as she had added something special into it. After putting on leopard print pajamas, she sat in front of the mirror to put on makeup. While doing so, she watched Charlie discreetly. What¡¯s wrong? Why isn¡¯t Charlie reacting after consuming the dessert? Feeling distracted, Linda quickly sprayed some perfume on herself before going over to his side. ¡°Charlie, why don¡¯t you stay in my room tonight?¡± Amidst the scent of heavy perfume, Linda sat on Charlie¡¯sp and broke into an inviting smile. Stung by the sudden onset of Linda¡¯s perfume, Charlie furrowed his brows and sneezed continuously. ¡°I had better not. It would upset Mom.¡± He cooked up a random excuse before pushing her away. After that, he walked to the door, seemingly to avoid her. ¡°I¡¯m going back there to rest.¡± His response surprised Linda. Why isn¡¯t he reacting to it? Has the effects not kicked in yet? Refusing to give up, Linda hugged Charlie from behind and began peppering his face with kisses. ¡°Darling, stay with me. You can go backter.¡± Charlie¡¯s face was soon covered with lipstick. In his annoyance, he pushed her aside and reprimanded her, ¡°Stop fooling around.¡± Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 The Incident The butler rushed over to them the moment the door flew open. Nervously, he announced, ¡°Mr. Hadley. something bad has happened! Old Mrs. Hadley, she¡­¡± Upon hearing the butler¡¯s words, Charlie immediately tensed up and hurried out of the room. When Linda heard that something had happened to Felicia, she immediately thought it was her chance to show off her filial piety. There was no way she was going to allow Julia to show her up. Thus, she hurriedly threw a coat over her pajamas and ran after Charlie. Charlie looked worried as he strode toward Felicia¡¯s room. Wiping the lipstick that was smeared across his face with one hand, he said, ¡°What in the world happened?¡± ¡°We currently do not know, but we have already sent for the doctor. She had a slight fever initially, but faintedter on,¡± the butler reported truthfully. It was unclear what was the matter with Felicia as it was also the first time they had seen the former in such a condition. Charlie¡¯s uneasiness grew heavier. ¡°Did she eat something that did not agree with her?¡± ¡°She was fine after the meal earlier. Nothing was out of the ordinary.¡± It was all so strange. Since nothing could be done by merely talking about it, they made haste and hurried toward their destination. At that moment, everyone was gathered outside Felicia¡¯s room. Julia looked uneasy, and clenching her fists did nothing to abate the worry she felt. Charlie went over and asked in concern, ¡°How is Mom doing?¡± The old woman had always been quite healthy. She was a vegetarian and often exercised. She had never experienced anyplications throughout the years. Thus, it was strange that she would suddenly faint. Julia¡¯s eyes fell on the lipstick stain that Charlie had failed to wipe from his face. She snorted coldly in response. ¡°The doctor is with her at the moment.¡± Her aloof manner made Charlie feel ufortable. Just then, Linda arrived and went to stand next to Charlie. ¡°How is Old Mrs. Hadley doing?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°We¡¯re clueless at the moment. We¡¯ll have to wait for the doctor¡¯s verdict,¡± Charlie said as he rubbed his face. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand as they, too, rushed over. When they saw their elders waiting outside the door, they subconsciously fell silent as they waited with the others. Half an hourter, the doctor finally came out of the room. Concerned, Julia immediately asked, ¡°Doctor, how is Mom doing?¡± The doctor wore a peculiar expression. His gaze deepened as he surveyed the crowd that was gathered there. ¡°Old Mrs. Hadley is¡­ Can we talk in private?¡± The hearts of the people present lurched when they heard the doctor¡¯s reply. Is something seriously wrong with Old Mrs. Hadley? Charlie, Julia, and the doctor went into the study nearby to speak in private. When Linda tried to barge in, she found herself shut outside. The doctor¡¯s expression did not lighten even after they entered the study. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Mom? Say something!¡± Charlie panicked. Sighing, the doctor replied, ¡°Old Mrs. Hadley seems to have consumed some drug that would ¡®liven things up. It made her body be hot and ufortable, as it is the kind of drug that speeds up a person¡¯s heart rate. As you know, she¡¯s quite old, so her heart couldn¡¯t quite withstand it. That was the reason she fainted. I gave her an injection so she should be fine now. Make sure she has ample rest. You must also make sure not to subject her to this sort of stimtion again.¡± The doctor was too embarrassed to inquire as to how Felicia had identally taken such a drug. With that said, he left. Silence descended in the study as Julia and Charlie exchanged nces of disbelief. They were shocked to find out that Felicia had identally taken that sort of drug! The more they thought about it, the grimmer their expressions became. Felicia¡¯s food was normally prepared by the butler and housekeeper. Thus, they both deduced that the help must have done something to the old woman¡¯s meal. Charlie exited the study and summoned everyone to the living room. A heavy atmosphere hung over the spacious and quiet living room. No one else knew what had transpired, but they knew that Charlie¡¯s and Julia¡¯s anger had coalesced after the doctor departed. ¡°Who was the person in charge of Old Mrs. Hadley¡¯s meal today?¡± Charlie inquired icily. Terrified, the butler¡¯s body began to tremble when he heard Charlie¡¯s stern tone. ¡°It was me, Mr. Hadley.¡± Charlie red at the other man with frigid anger. ¡°Were you the one who drugged her food?¡± The butler fell to the ground and waved his hands in distress. ¡°No! It wasn¡¯t me! I have served Old Mrs. Hadley faithfully every single day. How dare I try to poison her food?¡± Those not in the know all assumed that Felicia was suffering from food poisoning. The old woman was a kind person, and she treated the help well. Also, they had all worked in Yeatder Vi for over ten years. They had a good rtionship with their employer and would never dream of harming Felicia. All of a sudden, a maid came forward and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, I saw Ms. Christina serve Old Mrs. Hadley dessert in the evening. Perhaps it was¡­¡± the maid trailed off as she turned her gaze to Christina. Immediately, everyone turned to look at her. Christina stood there in a white dress, looking soft and pliant. She looked as if she could not even hurt a fly. However, one should never judge a book by its cover. There was a chance that she was the culprit. Christina was stunned when the doubtful gazes fell upon her. Why are they suspecting me? Just as Nathaniel was about to say something, Christina tugged at his hand, indicating that she wanted to speak for herself. ¡°I did serve Grandma a bowl of dessert in the evening, but it was actually meant for Dad. She spotted me when I was walking down the corridor and told me she wanted it. Hence, I gave the bowl to her and went into the kitchen to grab another portion for Dad. There was nothing wrong with the dessert. Nathaniel and I both had it as well. As you can see, we¡¯re both perfectly fine.¡± After exining herself, Christina turned to Nathaniel for affirmation. Nathaniel nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes. Christina and I both ate some of the dessert too. We feel fine.¡± Charlie fell into contemtion. That¡¯s right. I also had a bowl of dessert, but my body feels fine. What¡¯s going on? Why was Julia the only one who had an adverse reaction to the dessert? They were at a standstill as everyone fell into deep thought. At that moment, Linda, who stood at the fringe of the group, began sweating profusely. Her face turned incredibly pale, and she felt as if she was suddenly thrown into a bone¨Cchilling snowfield. So, the reason Charlie did not touch me despite eating the dessert was that Old Mrs. Hadley had eaten the drugged portion! D*mn you, Christina! Why can¡¯t you even do such a simple thing? Stupid wench! Now that the matter of the drug had been revealed, Linda could not afford to let anyone find out that she was the person who spiked the dessert. Just then, Francis arrived. The man hade to visit when he heard that Felicia was not feeling well. In the end, they did not manage to uncover anything, even after a round of questioning. ¡°Mom, you don¡¯t look too good¡­¡± Francis said in concern. Linda felt dizzy, and she had turned pale with fright. However, she dared not voice her thoughts. Holding onto Francis¡® hand, she murmured, ¡°I feel dizzy. Francis, I want to go back to my room and rest.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Francis said as he helped her toward the door. The further Linda got, the more rxed she became. No one would know that she was the culprit if she managed to get away from there. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Enraged ¡°Stop right there!¡± A stern voice sounded from behind all of a sudden. Linda shuddered all over as if she had fallen into an icy pool, not daring to turn around. Francis thought something was off with Linda¡¯s facial expression. He turned around and looked at Julia, who exuded an imposing aura, with slight difort surging within him. Considering her status as his elder, he patiently uttered, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, my mom isn¡¯t feeling well, so I wish to bring her home now. Let¡¯s talk againter if there¡¯s anything else.¡± Julia stood up from her seat. She felt Linda¡¯s reaction was a little abnormal since just now. Usually, if something like that had happened at home, Linda would¡¯ve been eager to step up and put on a dutiful pretense. However, since Christina started speaking earlier, Linda¡¯s countenance began turning pale. Julia walked up to Christina. ¡°You mentioned the dessert you served Old Mrs. Hadley was given to you by Linda?¡± Christina nodded. Suddenly, her eyes widened as if she had realized something. She nced at Linda, whose visage was ashen. Instantly, rity washed over her. ¡°The dessert that was supposed to be Dad¡¯s was given to Grandma. That¡¯s why¡­¡± At that point, Christina caught herself because she didn¡¯t dare to finish her sentence. That dessert wasn¡¯t adulterated with poison. Instead, it was some kind of aphrodisiac. Charlie also figured out what had happened. No wonder she was pestering me to stay. She thought I drank that bowl of dessert! A furious look shed across his face. He staggered backward in a fury and slumped into the chair before finally steadying himself. Immediately afterward, all the housekeepers in the hall were dismissed. Julia instructed solemnly, ¡°You youngsters should leave as well. Let the adults handle this matter.¡± Nathaniel despised such confrontational situations, so he dragged Christina out of the hall with him without saying another word. Although Francis was worried, his fate of being born into such aplicated family and his status in the household rendered him powerless to help his mother. When Charlie, Julia, and Linda were left alone inside the hall, a long¨Cbrewing storm finally erupted. Julia glowered at Linda and chided coldly, ¡°How shameless! We cannot control how you two fool around outside, but the least you could do was not disgust us with your despicable behavior at home!¡± Tears brimmed in Linda¡¯s eyes. Her legs gave out, and she fell to the floor on her knees. ¡°Charlie, i didn¡¯t do that on purpose. I just wanted to improve our rtionship. I never thought this would cause harm to Old Mrs. Hadley.¡± +5 Bonus Felicia was never her target. Linda had let Christina serve the dessert to Charlie, thinking that if there were any repercussions, she could me Christina by mentioning how the youngsters sought amusement. Unexpectedly, she miscalcted. Julia trembled with anger. ¡°You know your intention better than anyone else! I can¡¯t believe you even tried to frame Christina. I¡¯ve never met anyone as revolting as you!¡± Linda crawled to Charlie¡¯s side and hugged his leg tightly. ¡°Charlie, I meant no harm. Can you please forgive me?¡± Shock and wrath overwhelmed him, rendering him unable to utter a word. Linda made a grave mistake this time! At that moment, hurried footsteps were heard. The housekeeper came to convey the message that Felicia had awakened and demanded to see Charlie. Charlie hastily got up and left. Inside the room, Felicia grimaced as fury filled her eyes. I can¡¯t believe I had to suffer such humiliation at this advanced age. At that thought, exasperation churned within her chest. She wanted to get off the bed and personally teach Linda a lesson with her walking stick. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Charlie approached her and said, ¡°Mom, you just recovered. Why are you getting up?¡± His eyes reddened at the sight of his mother¡¯s fragile appearance. Felicia snorted. ¡°You¡¯d rather I didn¡¯t get up, right? That way, you can be with that vixen after I¡¯m gone.¡± In the past, Charlie and Julia had repeatedly argued and talked about getting a divorce, but Felicia had been adamant about preventing that from happening. Now that Felicia had reconsidered her decision, she realized she had done the right thing. If I had allowed Linda to marry into the family, she would¡¯ve taken everything away from me. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t say that. Why would I ever think that way?¡± Charlie was utterly disappointed in Linda. Even the final hint of affection he held for her had vanished. If I didn¡¯t fight for her and let her stay in Yeatder Vi in the past, perhaps this incident wouldn¡¯t have happened. Sensing Charlie¡¯s resolve, Felicia let out a sigh of relief inwardly. ¡°Linda cannot stay. You¡¯ll have to thoroughly end this rtionship with her when you return.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± He hesitated. Felicia didn¡¯t give him the chance to refuse. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you still intend to keep her around?¡± She gazed at her son angrily, feeling rather frustrated. As he remained silent, Felicia¡¯s temper, which had just subsided, rose again. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you want to keep her around, but I¡¯ll cut all ties with you. From now on, you¡¯ll have nothing to do with all the matters rted to Hadley Corporation. Hand over all the shares your father left you, as well as all the properties in your possession. I¡¯ll be contented having my daughter- inw and grandson keeping mepany in the future!¡± Felicia¡¯s tone was resolute, and she didn¡¯t sound like she was kidding at all. Not to mention, she was a woman of her word. ¡°Mom!¡± Charlie¡¯s determination wavered. He knew he was left with no other choice. Felicia uttered firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t address me as your mother. If it weren¡¯t for Francis, I would¡¯ve forced you two to end your rtionship back then. What happened today proved that I made the wrong decision in the past. I will not repeat the same mistake. You can get out now. Cough! Cough!¡± Agitated, Felicia coughed violently and even spat out a mouthful of blood. The housekeepers hastily stepped forward tofort her. Charlie was also in distress. He clenched his fists as if he was pondering on an important decision. A few momentster, he made a promise to his mother at the bedside. ¡°Okay, I promise, Mom. Don¡¯t be mad. Take a good rest.¡± ¡°I got it. You can leave now.¡± Felicia felt dizzy and utterly exhausted. The next day, the first thing Christina did upon waking up was pay Felicia a visit. F?rtunately, Felicia recuperated well, and they avoided mentioning what had happened the day before, Oddly enough, Charlie and his party had already left Yeatder Vi. Christina and Nathaniel stayed for lunch before leaving. As they were about to depart, Felicia handed Christina a hefty mary gift. ¡°Christina,e over and visit me more often when you¡¯re free.¡± Christina received the weighty mary gift. ¡°Thank you, Grandma. Will I be receiving this from you every time Ie here?¡± Eyes sparkling with excitement, her innocent mien appeared endearing. Felicia chuckled in amusement. ¡°Of course! You¡¯ll be receiving an increasing amount, too, each time!¡± As shrewd as Christina was, she made up her mind to visit Felicia more often in the future. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll be here all the time.¡± She hugged Felicia with warmth filling her chest. On their way back, she gazed longingly at Yeatder Vi as the edifice grew smaller and finally disappeared from her vision. A sudden twinge crept into her heart. During their few days together, Felicia showered Christina with affection, prompting thetter to feel reluctant to leave. She buried her head in Nathaniel¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯m starting to miss Grandma already.¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Live Own Lives Warmth spread within Nathaniel¡¯s chest. He gently stroked Christina¡¯s head and coaxed, ¡°Be good, and I¡¯ll bring you there again on the next holiday.¡± Christina wiped her tears away and muttered her acknowledgment. On the way back, she fell asleep, leaning against Nathaniel. By the time she woke up, she was already back in the Scenic Garden Manor¡¯s master bedroom. Charlie had promised his mother he would end his rtionship with Linda. To repay Linda for her years ofpanionship, he took out a check and set it on the table. Linda¡¯s gaze skimmed through the amount on the check, and panic struck her. ¡°Charlie, are you really breaking up with me?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe the man who had promised her the title of his wife was breaking up with her. Refusing to exin further, Charlie casually said, ¡°I understand you¡¯ve sacrificed a lot over the years, so this amount should be enough to guarantee you a carefree life.¡± Over the years of being with Linda, he had given her plenty of things. He had never treated her unfairly when they were together. Hence, he didn¡¯t feel much guilt or burden when he decided to leave. ¡°I don¡¯t want money! I want you! Charlie, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve learnt from my mistake now. Please don¡¯t leave.¡± Tears began to stream down Linda¡¯s face. She balked at the thought of him returning to Julia¡¯s side. Charlie had no intention to be a part of her act. He rose from the couch and stated, ¡°You can just throw my stuff away. I¡¯m toozy to pack them. Let¡¯s live our own lives from now on. As for Francis, he¡¯ll always be my son.¡± With that, he walked straight to the door. Linda hurriedly chased after him and sped onto his arm. ¡°Charlie, please. I¡¯m begging you. Please don¡¯t leave me. I won¡¯t do something like that ever again.¡± Charlie sighed, but since he already made a decision, there was no reason for him to drag his feet. He flung her hands away and strode through the front door. Seeing her auempt at stopping him fail, she cast a look at her housekeeper and then pretended to lose consciousness. She crumpled to the floor. That was the cue for the housekeeper to race over to Linda¡¯s side and shout, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mdm. Macall has fainted. Mr. Hadley¡­¡± < Charlie¡¯s steps halted, but he didn¡¯t look over his shoulder. Noting his pause, the housekeeper began yelling louder, ¡°Mr. Hadley, please call for the ambnce! Mdm. Macall has fainted! Her face is so pale!¡± Charlie clenched his fists tightly and continued leaving, not sparing even a glimpse at the urgent calls of the housekeeper. When his car had driven away, the housekeeper said resignedly, ¡°You can quit the act, Mdm. Macall. Mr. Hadley has left.¡± Linda¡¯s eyes snapped wide open as she got up from the floor and stretched her neck to peer at the front door. The housekeeper¡¯s right. He and his car are both gone! Immense regret flooded Linda, but the feeling of bitterness from losing was stronger. She balled her fists from anger. Julia Hanks, do you think you can snatch Charlie away like this? I won¡¯t give up until the final moment! After a few days of rest, Christina was feeling great again when she returned to the office. She poured all her heart and focus into her work, but clearing all the umted tasks took her the entire day. At lunchtime, a few employees were enjoying their coffees in the breakroom when Gina walked in. Her sexy, trendy design would soon hit the shelves. Everyone was anticipating her work. ¡°I heard thepany has invited a new celebrity to be the ambassador! I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s E. Recently, one of her songs trended on the music charts.¡± ¡°Should we go ask for her autograph during her shoot?¡± ¡°I wonder what deals she has gottentely. I¡¯m sure someone is backing her since she hasn¡¯t stopped receiving endorsement deals.¡± The employees gossiped fervently, and only Christina was silent as amb. She never had much interest in celebrities. The ones she did pay attention to were people she was close with. Break time ended, and the employees returned to their seats. Gina approached Christina. ¡°Christina, apany me to the shooting site to monitor the progresster.¡± Christina was part of the new project, but her role was mainly supporting Gina. However, she was aware of the photography style required. ¡°Sure, Ms. Tanner.¡± Christina set down her work at hand and rose to follow Gina out of the office. When the two arrived at the location, E had already gotten her makeup done, changed into her costume, and started the photoshoot. She was a professional. Both her movements and expression were fluid. Her appeal was her young age. She was spirited yet had a cold personality. It suited the concept of being sexy yet sweet¨Clooking at the same time. asionally, the photographer would teach her how to pose, and Christina and Gina would look at the result on the monitor. They were satisfied with the unedited photos. Suddenly, an argument cut through the silent site. With her arms crossed in front of her chest, E red hatefully at the photographer. ¡°When you tried to teach me how to pose, you touched my arm and leg inappropriately! It¡¯s disgusting!¡± Disgusting men like this are the worst! I hate them! They think models are their property to touch and feel whenever they feel like it just because they have a bit of skill behind the camera. I¡¯ve met quite a few photographers like him, and every time I would call them out. ¡°Are you insane, miss?¡± the photographer retorted with a flushed face. ¡°I just touched you gently. The contact didn¡¯t evenst for two seconds. Who do you think you are? Your expressions are stiff, and your poses are so exaggerated!¡± E¡¯s eyes widened instantly at hisment. Returning his re, she pointed at his camera and scolded, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s bad at your job! How dare you me me? I wonder where the organizers found such a rubbish photographer like you!¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Hearing the fiery dispute, Gina hurried over and separated the two. Eined about the inappropriate touching by the photographer, then went inside the dressing room to sulk, refusing toe out. The staff began gossiping about the incident. E was beautiful and dressed sensually. Most of her costumes either revealed her shoulders or her thighs. Moreover, the photographer was an adult man. Would it be possible that it was unavoidable for him not to control his urges? Those in the photography industry knew not to touch the models¡® bodies during a shoot because that would make them even more stiff and unnatural. However, when a model¡¯s pose was too rigid, they could tap the model¡¯s shoulder to make their pose more natural. s, in the eyes of amateurs, that would make the photographer look like he was taking advantage of the model. Christina did pay attention to the proceedings of the shoot, and the photographer merely used a finger to touch E¡¯s shoulder. That was all he did. There was no other bodily contact aside from that. Yet, at that time, Gina had already decided to fire the photographer and employ a female photographer to continue the shoot. Christina figured the male photographer was innocent and tried to plead for him. ¡°I think we should reevaluate our choice. The photos taken by this photographer are excellent. Plus, he didn¡¯t do anything inappropriate to E.¡± ¡°Christina, we need to send out the photos by tonight, or the factory won¡¯t make it, and we¡¯ll have no poster.¡± Gina¡¯s present goal was to get the photos edited to avoid dy. Justice for the photographer was the least of her concern. ¡°Our rivalpany and our new store are rolling out new items on the same day. I got a call from the boss and he said that we must be open for business three days earlier than scheduled. We don¡¯t have much time.¡± With a grim expression, she demanded, ¡°I think I don¡¯t have to tell you the rules again. Go tell the photographer to leave.¡± Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Something Obscene Christina had no choice but to walk over to the photographer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I think we¡¯ll need to change photographers. We¡¯ll still pay you for your time.¡± The man was tall and skinny, and he had a ck baseball cap that covered most of his features. Even when he saw Christina walking over to him, he did not lift his head¨Che just continued packing up his things. It was as if he was determined to leave, even if Christina did not say a word to him. ¡°Okay. I got it,¡± was all he answered her. Christina was in no rush to leave after telling him that. She watched the man clean the lens of his camera before taking apart his camera and carefully keeping it in his bag as if it was his most precious item. Only after that did he realize that Christina was still standing in front of him. He then lifted his head to look at the young woman with his dark eyes. Christina finally realized that she was being rude with the staring. ¡°To be honest, I think your photos look nice. I hope we¡¯ll have a chance to work together again next time.¡± A faint light shed past the man¡¯s gloomy eyes, but he did not reply to her as if he had heard nothing from her. Once his assistant was done packing everything up, he passed Christina a card before he left. ¡°Contact me if you want my services, but they won¡¯t be cheap.¡± Christina took the name card and read the name on it: Photographer. ze. This man is called ze? He has such an icy attitude, though. He should have been named Frost instead. After a while of rest, the new photographer arrived, and the shooting continued. This time, E was cooperative with the shooting. By the time the shooting was wrapped up, it was already midnight. When Christina walked out of Radiant Corporation¡¯s entrance, she spotted a ck Maybach parked at the side with a familiar te number. Immediately, she ran over. As she opened the door and got in, she asked, ¡°How did you know that I was still at work?¡± Nathaniel put down the tablet he was holding and gave her a loving look. ¡°How can I possibly not know?¡± He seemed confident and proud, as if it was natural for him to possess that knowledge. Amused, Christina chuckled and burrowed her head into his arms. ¡°Aw! I¡¯m super tired today. Please massage my shoulders for me.¡± She had been standing and sitting the entire day; she was sure she was about to stiffen into a statue. Meanwhile, Sebastian, who was in the front passenger seat, was startled as if he had heard something obscene. Mrs. Hadley¡¯s harebrained! I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s asking Mr. Hadley to give her a massage. He¡¯s the one being served most of the time, so she¡¯ll have to keep dreaming! Right as those thoughts appeared in his head, he heard Nathanielzily saying, ¡°Which part of you is sore? Is this good enough?¡± Christina was sprawled on Nathaniel¡¯s thigh as she cooed, ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s the spot. It hurts so much. You¡¯re too gentle. Use a little more strength. A little more to the right. Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Nathaniel massaged her back and shoulders as he listened to her instructions. It was as if he was ying with a tiny pet of his. Sebastian was speechless. He never thought that he would see his employer giving someone else a massage. All he could think about was how sweet the couple seemed. Nathaniel¡¯s massage felt toofortable for Christina. By the time they reached Scenic Garden Manor, she was already asleep, still sprawled on him. Nathaniel could not bring himself to wake her, so he carried her inside. The guard outside discreetly took a photo of them and sent it to Madison. Pleasant music was ying in the upscale bar. Madison was by the bar, pouring herself a ss of whiskey. Nights like these were often sleepless times for her. She would need to tempt sleep toe to her with strong alcohol and drink coffee the next day to keep herself awake. As she looked at the photo on her phone, a dark look shed past her eyes. The photo of Nathaniel carrying Christina made jealousy stab her heart. Why is Christina the lucky woman instead of me? This world is so unfair! I¡¯m the one who has been by Nathaniel¡¯s side all along! With those thoughts in mind, she downed a few more mouthfuls of wine. Yet, the alcohol could not wash away her frustrations. As a matter of fact, she grew more and more irritated. Just then, a woman walked over to the bar. She was dressed fashionably, and when she nced at Madison¡¯s phone, she noticed the photo on the screen. ¡°Do you know Christina Steele?¡± The one who was speaking was Emilia, who still held a grudge against Christina for sabotaging her engagement. The man had only covered up the matter because he was afraid that the news of him getting cuckolded would spread. That was why no one dared to speak of the matter in the industry. At the moment, she was stuck near the bottom, and her opportunities were only worsening. To get minor endorsements, she even had to entertain businessmen. She med all the suffering she experienced on Christina. ¡°That has nothing to do with you, no?¡± Madison warily kept her phone and studied the other woman. Emilia curled her lips and moved closer to her. ¡°Have you never heard of how an enemy of my enemy is my friend?¡± A look of surprise danced across Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t like Christina too?¡± ¡°Who can possibly like that darn woman?¡± Emilia hissed. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. When the two of them locked eyes, they realized they shared the same hatred for Christina. Madison finally let down her guard and icily said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why don¡¯t we work together to get rid of her?¡± What Emiliacked was someone to back her up, so she answered, ¡°Deal.¡± Early in the morning, Christina rushed to the mall with her coworkers to decorate the new store. All of the decorations were in pastel pink, creating a lively and vibrant theme suited for girls. Christina did not take any breaks as she worked from morning until the evening. Sometimes, the concept of time would elude her whenever she was busy. Once they were done decorating, they began putting up the clothes, but she left those minor chores to her coworkers. When she sat down, Gina passed her a bottle of water. ¡°It must have been tiring for you the past few days. You¡¯ll get to rest when the new store opens, but we¡¯ll soon have to make preparations for the events.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I can handle them.¡± Christina felt that the best thing she had gained from working at Radiant Corporation was learning how to handle matters. With Gina, she got to learn many things that she could not from an educational institute. While Christina was taking a break, her coworkers unpacked all of the clothes and hung them up. By then, it was midnight. As the mall was closing, the security guard came over to urge them to leave. Christina picked up one of the ttened cardboard boxes and said, ¡°You should leave through the front entrance. The back entrance is more convenient for me, so I might as well throw these away on the way out.¡± Christina saw herself as equal to her coworkers¨Cshe never felt that she was superior to them just because she was a designer. Therefore, she did not dwell on who had a bigger workload. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Steele. We won¡¯t need to make the extra trip then,¡± her coworkers answered. They then went their separate ways. After putting the ttened boxes into the trash can, Christina went to the main road to hail a cab. It was a starry night. All of a sudden, a ck MPV sped over, and before Christina could react to it, a few people leaped out of the car and towed her inside. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Kidnapped Christina tensed up as she screamed in panic, ¡°Who are you people? Let go of me!¡± What¡¯s going on here? Are these people muggers or something? The car stopped right in front of me, though. Were these people waiting for me? Christina was snapped out of her train of thought when a pungent smell filled her nose. The next thing she knew, her vision went ck, and she passed out. ¡°This woman sure looks hot!¡± said one of the men with a leer. ¡°Cut the chit¨Cchat! Let¡¯s get her out of here!¡± said another man. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. The car then sped off and disappeared behind a corner. The employees of Radiant Corporation were preparing to open the new store up for business the next morning. It wasn¡¯t until they started working that they realized Christina was absent. ¡°Ms. Tanner, I can¡¯t get through to Ms. Steele, What should we do?¡± asked one of Christina¡¯s colleagues. Gina got worried as she knew Christina wasn¡¯t the type to go absent without leave, especially on such an important day. This is the new store¡¯s first day of operation, so there¡¯s no way she¡¯d miss out on it! ¡°I¡¯ll try calling her. You guys stick to the n and carry on as usual.¡± Having assigned everyone their tasks, Gina stepped aside and called Christina a few times. However, all of her calls went unanswered. Fearing that Christina could be in danger, Gina hesitantly called Nathaniel to inform him of the situation. She then went back to check on the work progress after ending the call. Nathaniel, who was busy handling some urgent documents from overseas, phoned Scenic Garden Manor after hanging up. The butler answered the phone and told him that Christina had not returned sincest night. When he heard that, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes filled with anger, and he realized Christina was in trouble. The look on his face turned incredibly gloomy as he ordered, ¡°Check the footage from all of Radiant Corporation¡¯s surveince cameras and find out what happenedst night!¡± Sebastian had never seen Nathaniel look that scary his entire life. ¡°I¡¯m on it!¡± He didn¡¯t dare waste another second. Meanwhile, a man easily carried Christina, who was still unconscious, into an old and abandoned warehouse. Christina groaned in pain when he tossed her onto the floor. Her mind was still a little foggy as she slowly came to her senses, but the sight of the thugs standing in front of her shocked her so much that it cleared ? O < 1/4 her head instantly. The thugs were all eyeing her from head to toe with disgusting, lecherous grins on their faces. ¡°Whoa! Her skin is milky smooth!¡± ¡°She¡¯s got a really pretty face too!¡± The guys snickered as theymented on Christina¡¯s body, much to her disgust. It became clear as day what the thugs wanted to do to her. Christina got so scared that she was trembling all over. Stay calm! Don¡¯t panic! You need to figure something out as quickly as possible! You can do this, Christina! Christina clenched her fists tightly in an attempt to calm herself down. One of the men reached out to grab her by the shoulder. Christina tried to move out of the way, but he still managed to tear a piece of her jacket off, revealing the silky smooth skin of her slender shoulder. ¡°Please don¡¯t hurt me! I¡¯ll pay you guys any amount of money you want!¡± she eximed in an attempt to negotiate with them. The man leading the group let out a disdainful snort. ¡°Hmph! An office worker like you can¡¯t possibly have a lot of money! I doubt you even have a few thousand in your bank ount!¡± The person who sent the thugs had told them that Christina was a nobody, so they didn¡¯t have to worry about any repercussions. Having initiated a conversation, Christina calmed down a little and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys do your research before kidnapping people? I may not be rich, but my husband is!¡± Noticing that she had piqued their curiosity, Christina continued, ¡°My husband is Nathaniel Hadley, the CEO of Hadley Corporation. You guys can ask him for any amount of money you wish. However¡­¡± She then narrowed her eyes and imitated Nathaniel¡¯s displeased gaze as she continued, ¡°If you guys so much asy a finger on me, then you can forget about leaving Jadeborough alive!¡± The men exchanged nces as they realized she could be telling the truth. Although these thugs were from the lowest ss in society, anyone from Jadeborough would have heard of Hadley Corporation¡¯s CEO and his reputation. They knew that nobodies like themselves could not afford to mess with someone as powerful as Nathaniel. The person who hired them had only paid them a little over a hundred thousand, and that money was definitely not worth offending Nathaniel over. Fearing Christina was just bluffing, the man leading the group hesitated briefly before asking, ¡°Is that true?¡± Christina nodded confidently. ¡°Absolutely!¡± The man then handed her an old phone and said, ¡°Call him. If you turn out to be lying about your husband¡­ Hmph!¡± That short was a threat in itself. Christina quickly punched in Nathaniel¡¯s phone number, and the warehouse fell intoplete silence as everyone waited to see what would happen. Christina was anxious as Nathaniel had a habit of rejecting calls from unknown numbers. Fortunately for her, the call got through after a few rings. ¡°Hello?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s icy¨Ccold voice echoed throughout the empty warehouse. As though she had found her savior, Christina yelled, ¡°Nathaniel! It¡¯s me, Christina!¡± The man quickly snatched the phone over and exchanged surprised nces with the other thugs. My goodness! It really is Mr. Hadley of Hadley Corporation! After taking a moment to think about it, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°So, you¡¯re Mr. Hadley? Your woman is in our hands. You¡¯ll have to pay us five million if you want her back!¡± The other thugs were beaming when they heard that. Five million? We could never make that much money even if we worked the rest of our lives away! Nathaniel snorted in disdain. ¡°Five million? I¡¯ll pay you guys fifty million!¡± Christina froze up and broke out in a cold sweat. What? This has got to be the first time I¡¯ve heard a victim offer to increase the ransom The men¡¯s eyes lit up with joy when they heard that. ¡°If any of you darey a finger on her, however, I will be sure to kill each and every one of you!¡± Nathaniel threatened in an icy¨Ccold voice. For a second there, it felt as though he was the one who held all the cards. The man leading the group quickly read out an address for the delivery of the ransom and hung up the phone immediately after. The thugs then nced at each other, feeling relieved that they had not raped Christina, as it would have gotten them killed. ¡°You¡¯re a lucky one, woman! We won¡¯t hurt you as long as you don¡¯t try to escape!¡± said the man leading group as he whipped out a rope and had his men tie Christina up. the ¡°We¡¯ll let you go once we receive the money, so just behave yourself!¡± said the thug as he tightened the rope around her wrists. Phew¡­ Looks like they¡¯re not going to hurt me anymore. After all, fifty million is worth a lot more than a momentary pleasure. It sure is great having someone I can count on! Hmm¡­ Now that I think about it, these thugs did not know my identity when they kidnapped me. It doesn¡¯t look like they grabbed me at random, either. They were clearly aiming for me, so they must¡¯ve been acting upon someone else¡¯s orders. With that in mind, Christina mustered her courage and asked, ¡°Who sent you guys after me?¡± The thugs froze in surprise as they weren¡¯t expecting her to figure out that much. The man leading the group said with a vicious expression. ¡°I suggest you not ask questions you shouldn¡¯t know the answer to. It won¡¯t do you any good.¡± That confirms it! These thugs were indeed acting upon someone else¡¯s orders! Who could it be, though? Who would want to do this to me? Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 You Are Safe Now Since those thugs were greedy for money, Christina decided to use it to her advantage. ¡°If you guys tell me who sent you, I¡¯ll have my husband add ten million to the ransom.¡± What? We can get ten million simply by answering such a simple question? One of the thugs asked excitedly. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! My husband is filthy rich so paying an additional ten million is nothing to him!¡± Christina replied confidently, The thug¡¯s eyes lit up with glee when he heard that. He was about to say something when the phone started ringing again. As Xander was the man leading the group, he answered the phone, ¡°How are things?¡± asked the person who hired them. The rest of the thugs simply nced at Christina, who waspletely unharmed. None of them dared say anything. ¡°We¡¯ve done what you told us to do,¡± Xander replied with a snort. ¡°Good! Send me some pictures of her! I want to see that b*tch suffer! I¡¯ll pay you guys another fifty thousand once this is over.¡± Fifty thousand? What a cheapskate! Even so, Xander didn¡¯t say no to her. ¡°No problem.¡± The other thugs waited until he hung up the phone before gathering around. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to lie to that person like that?¡± That woman sounded incredibly arrogant and imed to have someone powerful backing her up. On top of that, she told them to go after Christina without worrying about the repercussions. That led them to assume she was not someone to be trifled with. Xander narrowed his eyes and said coldly, ¡°This woman nearly got us all killed!¡± Had they abused Christina like they were instructed to, Nathaniel would probably have them all chopped into pieces. The mere thought of that potential oue sent shivers down their spines. Xander was not in the mood to entertain the woman who hired them. ¡°Just send her a few pictures.¡± One of the thugs then whipped out his phone and made his way toward Christina, who was still bound in the corner. Nathaniel had someone prepare the money immediately after ending the call. He then dropped the money off at the designated location and walked away. A few suspicious¨Clooking men showed up some timeter and found the ck suitcases filled with cash. ¡°Whoa! I¡¯ve never seen this much cash in my entire life!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just grab the money and get out of here! Hurry!¡± The men then grabbed a suitcase each and were about to leave when bodyguards came swarming in from all directions. In just a matter of seconds, the bodyguards had the thugs surrounded like fishes in a. Nathaniel exuded a terrifying aura as he made his way through the middle. ¡°W¨CWe had a deal, Mr. Hadley! You deliver us the money, and we hand your woman over to you safely, remember? You¡¯re not going back on your word, are you?¡± Xander stammered in his state of panic. The other thugs were so scared that they trembled all over while holding the suitcases. One of the bodyguards walked up to Xander, snatched the phone from him, and handed it over to Nathaniel. The look in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes grew cold and vicious as he replied, ¡°I never take back money that I give away. You guys had the audacity to kidnap my woman, so you should not expect to just get off scot¨C free.¡± While Nathaniel did promise to pay the ransom, he did not say anything about letting them off without punishment. The thugs¡® legs gave out beneath them as they tossed the money aside and pleaded, ¡°Please forgive us, Mr. Hadley! We don¡¯t want the money anymore! Please just let us go!¡± At that very moment, all they wanted was to stay alive. There was no point in keeping the money if they wouldn¡¯t live to spend it. Unfortunately for them, they had messed with the wrong person. ¡°As I said, I never take back money that I give away,¡± Nathaniel repeated coldly with a disdainful snort. He had so much money that he didn¡¯t even want it back. All he wanted was to get his revenge on those who wronged him. After all, it would be bad for his reputation if people could get away with attacking his woman. ¡°Break an arm and a leg each!¡± Nathaniel turned around and left after saying that. The bodyguards then rushed forward and rained blows upon the thugs despite their pleas for mercy. All they could do was scream in pain and agony as their blood sprayed all over the ground. The bodyguards were vicious and ruthless, but they were careful to cripple the thugs without killing them. After what seemed like forever, the bodyguards let go of the thugs, who copsed to the ground like ragdolls. ¡°Mr. Hadley says you guys can use the money to pay for your medical bills. You guys won¡¯t be so lucky if you mess with him again,¡± said one of the bodyguards before they left the scene. Xander¡¯s heart was filled with rage as he nced at his broken arm and leg. This is all Emilia¡¯s fault! She tricked us into kidnapping Nathaniel¡¯s woman! She¡¯ll pay for this! Christina was sitting there with her arms and legs bound when they found her. She looked just like a helpless chicken waiting to be ughtered. Nathaniel quickly untied her and held her in his arms. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± he asked with a pained look on his face. Christina shook her head and clung to him tightly without saying a word. Although the thugs did not hurt her in the slightest, she was still traumatized by the incident. As Nathaniel carried her in his arms, she buried her face in his chest like a scared kitten. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. Everything is going to be all right. I¡¯m going to take you home.¡± It wasn¡¯t until Christina took a shower and changed into a fresh set of clothes in Scenic Garden Manor that she finally calmed down a little. Her slender figure still looked as though it would topple over at any moment, and her hair was still dripping wet from the shower. Nathaniel ced a huge white towel over her head and gently wiped her hair before blow¨Cdrying it. A faint fragrance filled the air as he ran his fingers through her hair. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault for not protecting you well enough,¡± Nathaniel said while holding her face with both hands. His heart felt as though it had been pierced by needles. Ever since he witnessed his own family fall apart, he became incredibly possessive toward anything that he liked. Christina shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Those people were targeting me.¡± Nathaniel whipped out a pendant with a dragon carved onto it. It looked really exquisite and intricate. ¡°This is a charm my mother gave me when I was little. It helps keep me safe from harm. I want you toAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org. have it. Hopefully, it will keep you safe as well,¡± he said while putting it around Christina¡¯s neck. Christina felt a warm sensation fill up her heart when she touched the pendant, and whatever feelings of insecurity she had were gone in an instant. She got on her tiptoes and kissed Nathaniel on the chin. Christina had wanted to kiss him on the lips, but she realized she wasn¡¯t tall enough after getting on her tiptoes, so she gave him a mischievous nibble on the jaw instead. Nathaniel grabbed the back of her head and sealed her lips with his. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 I Am An Investor Christina didn¡¯t suffer any serious injuries, and her mental state recovered as well. Nheless, Nathaniel still requested that she rest at home for two days before returning to work. In order to apany her, he had arranged all hispany affairs to be taken care of at home. As a stream of yellow light illuminated the study, Christina could be seen sitting next to Nathaniel, taking up one¨Cthird of his desk. Holding a tablet in her hand, she browsed through the news website, asionally taking notes of useful information she came across. Just then, a light knock sounded on the door, and Madison walked in, holding some files. ¡°These documents contain the key points for the next meeting. I have organized them all.¡± It was evident she was aspetent as Sebastian in terms of efficiency. Coupled with the fact that she had more experience, she was able to produce more thorough work. As Nathaniel skimmed through the files, he simply gave a slight hum in respons¨¦. Madison¡¯s gaze finally fell on Christina, and she noticed that the young woman was propping her chin with both hands. Leaning slightly forward, the pendant on her neck had slipped out and was dangling in the air. With the help of the light, Madison could recognize that the pendant belonged to Nathaniel. Even though she had only seen it a few times, she had heard that it was a pendant that Julia had obtained from a temple to protect Nathaniel¡¯s safety. Nathaniel has always cherished the pendant, so why is Christina wearing it? Those people really are a bunch of idiots. I can¡¯t believe they can¡¯t even handle a woman. Tamping down the jealousy that was surging within her, Madison asked in concern, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I heard you were in danger. Did you get hurt?¡± Christina turned around, and with a distant look in her eyes, she replied softly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thanks for your concern.¡± ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that.¡± Madison squeezed out a smile. Although she had put on her most dazzling smile, Christina thought that it looked insincere. Why is she suddenly asking about this? Still propping up her chin, Christina¡¯s gaze shed with curiosity as she said, ¡°You know, I think I heard the kidnappers saying that there were two people who instructed them to do this, and they also said that their backer is very influential.¡± She narrowed her eyes and continued, ¡°Ms. Taggart, you¡¯re knowledgeable and a person of high status, aren¡¯t you? Would you know who would have the ability to order those kidnappers to abduct me?¡± Guilt swirled within Madison when she heard that. She didn¡¯t expect the young woman, who looked to be of average intelligence, toe up with so many thoughts. Those ipetent fools¡­ I can¡¯t believe they let so much slip. As various thoughts and emotions flooded her mind, she forced herself to keep her calm and replied, ¡°There are a lot of powerful and influential people in Jadeborough, so I can¡¯t think of anyone who would fit that description. Perhaps it¡¯s someone who has a connection with Hadley Corporation. Or maybe they just said that in the heat of the moment. In any case, I heard the people who did it have already been severely punished. Besides, everyone in Jadeborough has heard about this incident, so I doubt anyone will dare to harm you again in the future, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Trying to stop Christina from delving into the matter further, she added, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you don¡¯t have to worry about your safety, and I think it¡¯s better for you to stop dwelling on it.¡± Stop dwelling on it? Christina raised her brow, surprised that Madison could say something like that. The oue would have been different if I hadn¡¯t been quick¨Cwitted at the time. Christina had been deliberately probing Madison from the beginning, and the way thetter kept shifting the focus of the conversation had undoubtedly raised her suspicion. However, since she had no substantial evidence, and she didn¡¯t want to tip Madison off yet, she could only smile and say, ¡°You¡¯re right. Thank you for your input on this, Ms. Taggart.¡± Relieved to see that Christina believed her words, Madison uttered, ¡°Well, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head back to thepany first.¡± After saying that, she turned around and left. Nathaniel gave a sidelong nce to the young woman beside him. ¡°Are you really going to let the matter go?¡± He was aware that those people were intending to kill her. Christina got to her feet, her doc¨Clike eyes shining with a hint of slyness. ¡°Of course not. I want revenge, but I¡¯m going to need your help.¡± Nathaniel smirked and rubbed her head in response. In a tone thick with adoration, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll help you in any way I can.¡± Sitting in the dressing room doing her makeup, Emilia was cursing under her breath as she stared at some heavily photoshopped pictures on her phone. A single nce was enough to tell her that those pictures were spliced with Christina¡¯s head. Those b*stards lied to me! Not only did they take my money, but they didn¡¯t even deliver what they promised! Just then, her phone rang. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. -The moment she answered the call, she was greeted with angry cursing on the other end, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you know people who could handle this matter properly? Well, those people you found were all beaten up by Nathaniel¡¯s men!¡± Emilia eximed, ¡°What? Are you saying that Christina was rescued?¡± Now it makes sense why those thugs haven¡¯t been replying to my messages since yesterday. And here I thought they simply took the money and ran. ¡°With how stupid you are, I don¡¯t think we should work together anymore. You¡¯d better keep your mouth shut. If you leak any information about me, I won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡± With that, the caller ended the call. Infuriated, Emilia felt like she should not be the only person to me for how things turned out. After all, she was upset that the n had failed as well. She angrily deleted the number. A momentter, her assistant knocked on the door before saying, ¡°Emilia, it¡¯s time for your audition.¡± Emilia had received an invitation from the production team and came to audition for the role after signing the contract. She thought that it was the perfect opportunity for her to rise to fame again. Putting away her phone, she got up and left. When she arrived at the audition room, she could see two directors sitting in the front. An assistant handed her the script and said, ¡°You can start in one minute.¡± After taking a quick nce at the script, Emilia was stunned. I have to y the role of a viinous second female lead who instructed some bad guys to kidnap the female lead? Without giving her much time to think, a minute soon passed. The director called for her to start, leaving her with no choice but to cooperate and y the role as written in the script. As Emilia got into character, a vicious look soon spread across her face. ¡°I want you guys to grab that brat and teach her a lesson using the most brutal means. Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s a nobody. Once the job¡¯s done, I¡¯ll pay the remaining amount to you. Oh, make sure to tear her clothes and take pictures for me as well!¡± The fierce expression on her face was so intimidating that even the crew members present felt frightened. When Emilia was done saying her piece, a slender figure walked in through the door. pping her hands, Christinamented with a tone full of mockery, ¡°That is some ster acting for a performance that¡¯s less than two minutes.¡± ¡°What are you doing here? Get out!¡± Emilia¡¯s expression darkened, her face twisting with rage. What the hell is Christina doing here? Did she overhear the words I said when I was reenacting the phone call with the kidnappers? Christina¡¯s eyes were cold, and her delicate face was giving off a chilling aura as if she could see through Emilia¡¯s act. ¡°Director, I think Emilia did a great job for this role, so let¡¯s give it to her,¡± she said. Emilia¡¯s expression turned grim when she heard that, and she growled, ¡°Who the hell do are to be ordering people around here? You need to leave immediately.¡± you think you The director stood up and exined, ¡°Ms. Christina is an investor in this show and has the right to decide who will y which role.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re an investor?¡± Emilia felt a chill run down her spine. She then red at Christina and snorted. ¡°So what if you¡¯re rich? I¡¯m not going to act in this show anymore!¡± Christina sneered, ¡°Didn¡¯t you already sign the contract beforehand? It¡¯s just that the role you are going to y has not been determined yet. Well, now that it¡¯s been decided, you¡¯re going to have to pay for breach of contract if you refuse to y the role.¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Who Told You To Sit There Emilia was stumped. When she returned to her senses, she uttered through gritted teeth, ¡°Christina, you¡¯re so vicious. How dare you set me up?¡± B*tch! What gives her the right to have dealings with such a huge production team? Nathaniel must be behind this. Christina looked annoyed and snorted. ¡°This is nothingpared to what you did to me!¡± She was lucky to have narrowly escaped that incident. It was a major grudge, so there was no reason why she should just let it go. ¡°Christina, what the heck do you want?¡± Emilia started to look frightened¡­ Christina was not of good breeding, so Emilia did not expect the former to be any better than her. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything. Seeing that we are sisters, I will tell the director to give the show more fight scenes!¡± An icy smile appeared on Christina¡¯s face before she continued, ¡°The type that will get you a few ps!¡± When the director heard what she said, he chimed in, ¡°I will do as per your instruction.¡± ¡°Christina, why are you only targeting me?¡± Emilia was caught between a rock and a hard ce. If she terminated her contract, she would have topensate. If she continued filming, she would have to put up with Christina. It was Madison¡¯s idea to kidnap Christina and not hers. All she did was take the money and execute the deed. Yet, Christina put all the me on her and her alone. That thought alone upset her. A dark glint shed across Christina¡¯s eyes as she asked, ¡°So, are you telling me that there are more people involved in my kidnapping? Do you have any aplices? Speak!¡± She knew things were not as simple as they appeared to be. Recently, the Steele family encountered a number of difficulties, so how did Emilia get the money to hire people? ¡°I don¡¯t know what aplices you are talking about. You¡¯re sick. Go and see a doctor!¡± With that, Emilia ran away guiltily She did not expect to be questioned by Christina in that manner even after the incident had been exposed! Most importantly, she could not disclose that the mastermind was Madison because of ack of evidence. Madison had transferred the funds from abroad, so there was no evidence linking Madison to the incident. If she attempted to expose Madison, she would only suffer in the end. Therefore, she had no intention of giving Christina the chance to ughter her like amb. Even though Emilia did not say anything, her panicky expression told Christina everything. When she left the set, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s car waiting at the front entrance. Christina got in, and the car drove off. The ambiance in the car seemed a little gloomy. Christina inched closer to him and asked, ¡°I thought you had a meeting. How do you have the time to come and fetch me?¡± ¡°The meeting has been postponed,¡± replied Nathaniel. Christina acknowledged softly before leaning on him. Thezy way in which shey on him made him look like a pillow. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Cold sweats were running down the back of Sebastian, who was sitting in the front passenger seat and looking through the meeting information. Mr. Hadley was worried that Mrs. Hadley wouldn¡¯t be able to handle being bullied. That¡¯s why he personally came to fetch her. He doesn¡¯t even care about the meeting. They drove to Hadley Corporation. Once they were in Nathaniel¡¯s office, Christina found a ce and sat down. Just then, Madison walked in with some important documents. It was obvious that she had something to discuss with Nathaniel. ¡°Who told you to sit there?¡± said Nathaniel with a grumpy face to the person who was sitting about ten feet away from him. Christina was taken aback and stood up immediately. She looked at the couch. I usually sit here, though. With a distant gaze, Madison turned around and said coldly, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we will be discussing some important matters of thepany. It¡¯s not ideal for outsiders to know about it. I hope you can understand¡­¡± that we We will be going through some of the most important projects for the second half of the year. There is no way can allow Christina to know about them. No matter how well Nathaniel treats Christina, there are some things that he does not want her to know. Madison was secretly thrilled. Finally, there were things that were sacred between Nathaniel and her, even though they were only work¨Crted matters. Christina was not interested in their work, but she was ufortable when Madison stared at her warily. ¡°Come over here.¡± Just as she was about to leave, she heard Nathaniel¡¯s deep voice ring out. confusion Christina turned around and looked at him in confusion. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± A while ago, he was questioning me on why I was seated on the couch, no? When Sebastian got the gist of the situation, he stepped in. What Nathaniel meant was that Christina was seated too far away from him! He quickly got a chair and ced it next to Nathaniel. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley wants you to sit next to him. Pleasee over here. The meeting is about to start.¡± Nathaniel stared at her and beckoned, ¡°Come here now.¡± Christina acknowledged briefly before going over to him. When that slender body of hers was on that spacious chair, she looked like a cute, furry pet. Madison was embarrassed. It felt as though Christina had given her an invisible p. Earlier on, she had told her to leave. Right now, Christina was seated in front of her. The atmosphere felt tense at that instant. Sebastian took out the documents and began reporting. Atst, the tense atmosphere in the room eased. The three of them had a professional discussion on a few critical issues. There were still some aspects of the project that needed solutions. When Nathaniel heard the problems, he came up with the solutions on the spot. He even resolved the issues that had been overlooked. Nathaniel had a deep and powerful voice, and he was quick in his thinking. Sebastian was busy typing the minutes of the meeting. As for Madison, she was also very focused. If she got distracted, she would fall behind in the discussion. Looking at Nathaniel¡¯s serious face, her heart was beating very fast. It was difficult for her not to fall for such an outstanding man. While Madison was mesmerized by her boss, Christina was observing her. Christina could tell from her instinct that Madison admired Nathaniel. When the meeting was over, Madison said as she was tidying the documents, ¡°Mr. Hadley, why don¡¯t we go to Shelby Restaurant for a meal? It has been quite some time since west went there.¡± In the past, the three of them used to go there to take a break. However, ever since Nathaniel came back from abroad and started seeing Christina, things had not been the same. He did not spend as much time with them anymore. Other than work, they had no other interaction. Christina was curious. ¡°Is the food at Shelby Restaurant good? I haven¡¯t been there.¡± ¡°Do you want to go?¡± asked Nathaniel as he looked at her. From his height, it looked as if he was looking at her like she was some kind of small furry animal. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Threaten Christina blinked. ¡°I would like that.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, then.¡± Nathaniel said. Noticing the exchange, Sebastian felt a tinge of admiration. Mr. Hadley did not want to go just a second ago. A mere word from Mrs. Hadley was sufficient to change his mind. Nobody spoils their wife as he does. Madison, too, managed to deduce the reason. ¡°I¡¯ll make the reservations,¡± she said with a small smile. Later that evening, the four of them were seated in a private room. The table was filled with various delicacies, many of which Christina had never seen before. Curious about the new, unfamiliar food, she ate most of it. Halfway through, Madison ordered the manager to open a bottle of red wine. ¡°You must try the wine. here, Mrs. Hadley. It¡¯s sweet and tangy.¡± She poured Christina a ss as she spoke. Although she was not particrly fond of drinking, Christina did not decline the offer. After a few sips, she found it delectable. Madison poured her another ss, smiling as she did so. ¡°You must not drink very often, Mrs. Hadley.¡± ¡°Almost never,¡± Christina admitted. Madison smirked. One who does not drink often will behave most interestingly when drunk. Suddenly, she was seized by an impulse to see Christina drunk. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After several sses, Christina began to feel dizzy. Intoxication by wines of that nature would start off slow as the aftereffects built up into a powerful kick. She sipped less than half of another ss, then handed Nathaniel the rest. ¡°I can¡¯t drink¨Chic¨Canymore.¡± Christina¡¯s voice was soft. Her ruddy cheeks were puffed up, and herrge eyes were slightly red. She looked adorable. Nathaniel took the ss from her and set it aside. ¡°That¡¯s enough for tonight.¡± She had downed the wine as if it were grape juice. He was worried for her, as it had only taken three sses to get her drunk. Christina stood up and stumbled toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to thedies¡® room.¡± Still worried, Nathaniel ordered a female server to apany her. Then, he turned to Sebastian. ¡°Get the bill.¡± ¡°Right away,¡± said Sebastian before exiting. Suddenly, only two people were left in the private room. Madison gazed at Nathaniel. She was unable to discern any emotion in his cial features. She downed her ss and, mustering her courage, stood up. She was a young woman of about twenty¨Cfive. Her consistent self¨Ccare and training regimes had whipped. her figure and confidence into excellent shape. Madison thought she deserved to stand beside Nathaniel as his equal, given what she had to offer. She leaned closer. Her voice lost some of the professionalism it had in the office and instead sounded meek like Christina¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little dizzy after the drinks. Could you send me home?¡± To remain close to Nathaniel, Madison had moved to a luxury condominium in his vicinity. ¡°Sebastian will send you,¡± Nathaniel replied bluntly. Even during a casual meal, Sebastian, the consummate professional, never drank on the job without permission. Madison was disappointed. I could not have hinted any less subtly, yet Nathaniel still turned me down. ¡°A man with your sess will need a woman who helps you instead of one who burdens you for everything, Mr. Hadley.¡± With my skills, I can provide Nathaniel with all the assistance he needs to take his legacy to greater heights. Why would he lower himself for Christina, who doesn¡¯t know a damn thing, than to even spare me a second nce? Nathaniel¡¯s chiseled features remained cold and unmoving. ¡°I like her, and that¡¯s all that matters.¡± It doesn¡¯t matter how capable she is or what she looks like. Madison stared at the cold and handsome face. Just like that, he rejected all of my love in the cruelest manner. There is nothing more I want than to leap into his arms, kiss him, and tell him I love him, but I cannot. Another mistake and I¡¯ll be out of the position by his side for as long as I live. Christina returned that moment. She was quite drunk. She could not even walk straight. After a short stumble, she fell ungraciously into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. The fall made her even dizzier. Clenching her fists, she pounded his chest and grumbled, ¡°What are your muscles made of? Steel? They hurt like hell!¡± Nathaniel gazed at the demure woman in his arms and caressed her hair. ¡°You¡¯re drunk. I¡¯m bringing you home.¡± Bending over, he picked Christina up and left. Madison watched the pair depart, her gaze filled with envy. Her heart seared painfully as if it had been stabbed. Suddenly, her phone rang. She picked up, irritated. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to never call me again?¡± In her dressing room, Emilia was holding a bag of ice to her swollen right cheek, tears streaming down her face. ¡°Christina found out what we did. Because of her, I have taken a dozen ps to the face tonight.¡± Her face wasically swollen. It pained her to even talk. After mulling it over, she decided she would not suffer the indignity alone. Madison sneered, ¡°So what? I told you, don¡¯t ever contact me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a part of this too. Don¡¯t you dare think you can dismiss me so easily.¡± Then, Emilia decided to go all in. ¡°If you hang me out to dry, I will see Mr. Hadley tomorrow and tell him everything about you! I¡¯ll tell him what a vicious woman his assistant is. We¡¯ll see if he keeps you by his side!¡± Emilia projected the pain of her humiliation onto Madison. If I¡¯m going down, I¡¯ll drag you with me! Madison shook with anger. How dare this goddamn woman threaten me? Even if Nathaniel won¡¯t believe the words of a nobody, his suspicions will undoubtedly be roused. ¡°What is it that you want?¡± she asked after thinking it through. Emilia smiled. She had gotten what she wanted. ¡°I know about the new beverage Hadley Corporation is preparing tounch, and I want to be its ambassador. I¡¯m sure such a small request is easy for the assistant to the CEO.¡± Madison thought scornfully of the scheming woman but did not turn her down. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for your good news.¡± Emilia hung up in satisfaction. Madison, on the other hand, was livid. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± she fumed. ¡°A third¨Crate actress trying to be a spokesperson for Hadley Corporation?¡± She put her phone away, deeply regretting her choice of her partner. After getting the bill, Sebastian returned to the private room to send Madison home just in time to hear every word she said from outside the door. Although he did not know who Madison had spoken to on the phone, he was certain they had something on her; she would not have given in to the demand otherwise. He had once heard Madison suggest making Simone Taggert, a cousin of hers in the entertainment industry, the spokesperson. Madison walked out when the servers entered to clear the table. As their eyes met, Sebastian began, ¡°Mr. Hadley asked me to send you back.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I did have too much to drink. It would not be safe for me to return home on my own. The pair entered the car, and Sebastian drove off. Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Overthinking Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke. Aside from the necessary conversations from their jobs, they never discussed their private lives. Sebastian knew Madison was the heiress to the Taggart family. Rumor has it that she came to Hadley Corporation for a job just to get close to Mr. Hadley, but I know that for a fact. Just before they arrived, Madison spoke. ¡°There are still a few slides I need to put together on the project we have discussed today. I¡¯ll send them to you once I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°No hurry. Look at the time! You don¡¯t have to stay up to do it,¡± Sebastian said. She is a hard worker who can easily start apany on her own. Madison rested her chin in her hand. Her gaze was fixed on the night sky. ¡°Mr. Hadley is concerned about this project. I would like to get it done quickly.¡± Everything concerning Mr. Hadley is a priority to her. Soon, the car pulled up outside her home. ¡°Thank you for the ride back.¡± Madison alighted from the vehicle and left without another word. Sebastian gazed at her departing back, a strange feeling arising in his chest. Given how fond Madison is of Mr. Hadley, I don¡¯t think she will do anything to harm him. I must be overthinking. Several dayster, Christina saw Emilia¡¯s beveragemercial on TV. Having thought that nobody would approach Emilia to endorse their products anymore after thest time, she wondered what measures Emilia had employed to gain Hadley Corporation¡¯s support. Somehow, Emilia managed to restore her fame with a singlemercial. Nobody knew why she had suddenly been cklisted a while ago, but the change in her persona made her much more likable. That day, Emilia took on another gig to convey the youthful appeal of a new store under Radiant Corporation. Many within the department were tasked to be onsite for the photoshoot. Having gone out to survey their newpetitors, Gina left managing the design department to Christina. After a mere nce through the shots, Christina deemed the quality unsatisfactory. The brand was going for a certain vivacious charm, which Emilia¡¯s photos seemed tock. Christina sent the photographs to Gina, who also felt dissatisfied with the oue. Atst, they agreed to redo the shots. Upon hearing the news, Emilia refused. She was under the impression that Christina was deliberately making things difficult for her. The staff¡¯s cajoling fell on deaf ears. Left with no other choice, they sought Christina¡¯s help. ¡°We did all we could, Ms. Steele, but Emilia still won¡¯t cooperate. Her manager, in particr, is very pushy. She looks down on us.¡±Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that her colleagues could not handle it, Christina went over personally. As soon as she pushed open the door, she was greeted by a billow of cigarette smoke. Caught off guard, she choked and coughed a few times. Her gaze fell on Emilia, who was exhaling in her direction. Scowling, she said in a warning tone, ¡°Our product is trying to convey youthful innocence. Please watch your image during the period of your endorsement.¡± Emilia¡¯s gaze darkened with disdain. ¡°On the contrary, my image is well suited for the brand¡¯s vision.¡± Rising to her feet, she arrived before Christina. ¡°Isn¡¯t the basis of these apparel to act sweet and innocent to hide your true, wicked nature?¡± Christina turned crimson, although she looked more disappointed than angry. ¡°As an ambassador, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s inappropriate to disparage the brand like this?¡± Emilia shed a disdainful smile. Instead of replying, she blew another puff at the other woman. Christina was choked with anger. She found it challenging to contain her emotions at the tant provocation. I want to give her a tight p, but the job remains a priority. It¡¯s the easy way out to throw a tantrum. I know what I must do. I need to solve the problem instead of starting a fight. Christina collected herself and suppressed her anger. ¡°Put that cigarette out, then get your makeup done and finish the shoot.¡± Emilia ignored her. Instead, she answered coldly, ¡°It is past the hours we agreed on. I¡¯m not working overtime. We¡¯ll shoot tomorrow.¡± Without another word, she led her manager out of the studio. Fraught with worry from having witnessed Emilia departing beforepleting the shoot, the crew filed in to ascertain the situation. As soon as they opened the door, they detected the lingering acrid smoke. It was obvious that the previous upant had lit up half a pack there at the very least. ¡°I wonder how Emilia got the job. Her image doesn¡¯t suit our product at all,¡± a colleague grumbled. ¡°I think so too. Well, such is the entertainment industry.¡± Another colleague sighed. With the departure of the star, the matter was put on hold and deferred to the following day. Early the following morning, the film and makeup crews arrived on time to begin shooting preparations. Then, they waited for three hours. The star only arrived after the staff tasked with contacting her left several urgent calls. Emilia plopped down on the makeup chair the moment she arrived. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap. We¡¯ll do myshester.¡± Feeling helpless, the makeup artist could only listen to her. After everything was ready, Emilia awoke to change and headed to the shooting location. The photographer only realized something was wrong after taking several shots. ¡°Your makeup doesn¡¯t lookplete, Emilia. Would you like to touch it up?¡± Already in a foul mood, Emilia became so angry that she pped the makeup artist in the face when she got a glimpse from the mirror she had her assistant bring her. ¡°What is wrong with you? Look at how awful you made me look!¡± Emilia¡¯s eyelids had not been drawn as she had been asleep earlier. The dark circles around her eyes were. particrly obvious. She looked haggard and dispirited, like the female lead of a horror film. The makeup artist clutched her cheek, her tears falling unbidden. ¡°I did mention we have to touch it up but you went out in such a hurry!¡± ¡°Are you saying it¡¯s my fault?¡± Emilia raised her hand again to strike, but somebody caught her by the wrist. ¡°This is a tiny matter. There¡¯s no need to resort to violence, is there?¡± Having dashed over after a meeting. Christina had arrived just in time to witness the scene. Without another word, she stepped out to block Emilia. The atmosphere grew awkward. The crowd exchanged nces but nobody said a word. Loosening her grip, Christina announced, ¡°Stay on schedule. Give Emilia a touch¨Cup.¡± The makeup artist hurriedly dried her tears. Although she felt indignant, she did not utter a word. She took out her tools and redid Emilia¡¯s makeup carefully. Then, the photoshootmenced. The photographer still could not find the energy he was looking for, so he had Emilia make increasingly exaggerated poses. After two more hours of shooting, the effect still fell short of demand. Emilia grew impatient. ¡°Working with other photographers doesn¡¯t take this long. Do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± The photographer scowled. Emilia is the one who fails to convey the feeling we need, and she¡¯s ming me? ¡°Please cooperate with me. I want to go home too.¡± Emilia¡¯s manager appeared and whispered something in her ear. ¡°I¡¯ve given you two days¡® of my time for a job that was supposed to take one. Use something from the shots you have already taken.¡± As she spoke, Emilia removed her head essory and prepared to leave. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 You Will Not Leave The photographer lowered his dignity and implored, ¡°Please work with me here. I¡¯ll do everything else. Let¡¯s try another set?¡± Although there were two days¡® worth of photographs, none were remotely usable. Furthermore, shots that were overly edited looked awkward. The greatest taboo of fashion photography was inauthenticity. ¡°It¡¯s toote for you to start taking things seriously. I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m leaving.¡± Emilia said coldly. She changed back into her own dress, flung the apparel aside, and prepared to leave. The crew looked angry yet did not dare say a word. Christina stopped her. ¡°Before the day¡¯s work is done, Emilia, you will not leave.¡± It¡¯s because of her that we are behind schedule. Emilia sneered, ¡°I insist on leaving. What are you going to do about it?¡± I¡¯ve signed the contract and received the endorsement fee. What can she do about that? Christina¡¯s gaze remained steady, ¡°I¡¯ll rece you if you leave.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± With a contemptuous scoff, Emilia turned and left without a backward nce. The studio fell silent. In the aftermath of the confrontation, the crew was left uncertain. The photographer returned to his workstation and turned on hisptop to search for any satisfactory photographs, but every single one failed to achieve the desired effect. The entire department felt utterly deted. ¡°What do we do, Ms. Steele? Tonight is thest night to send the photographs to the printing house, or we won¡¯t be able to meet the deadline.¡± ¡°Even if we renegotiate everything, we won¡¯t be able to start work quickly enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. We might not have the time even if we looked for somebody else.¡± At aplete loss, the female colleagues took turns to offer their thoughts on their predicament. They turned their pleading gazes at Christina as they awaited her verdict. Christing bit her lip as she tried to think of something. An instantter, she ordered, ¡°Set everything up here. I¡¯m going to make a phone call.¡± As if receiving a jolt of energy, the crew leaped into action at hermand. Christina gave Coco a call. She thought the person most embodying the youthful spirit they were looking for was Coco. As soon as Coco heard about the job, she immediately had her assistant check her schedule. ¡°I¡¯m still on set, but we¡¯re finishing up soon. I can spare two hours for your shoot before I rush back here.¡± Despite her packed schedule, Coco still made time for Christina at her request. ¡°Thank you so much, I have everything prepared here. We can start shooting as soon as you arrive.¡± After ending the call, Christina had the photographer set up a new backdrop¨Ca pink wall¨Cand put out some essories in the style of young trendy women. The makeup artist was stunned when Coco arrived. ¡°A¨CAren¡¯t you Coco Lynch, who recently starred in some television series?¡± Upon hearing that, the crowd flocked over for a glimpse at the famous face. Coco was dressed simply. She removed her cap to reveal a pixie¨Clike face. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry. Thank you all for the trouble.¡± ¡°No trouble at all. This way, please.¡± The makeup artists and stylists were starstruck and giggly. Christina was about to lend a helping hand but knew she had nothing to worry about upon seeing how weing they were. Soon. Coco¡¯s shoot officially began. There was practically no need for the photographer¡¯s instruction, as she grasped the concept quickly. Possibly due to the charisma she exuded, in addition to the entuation of her essories, she instantly became the subject on everybody¡¯s lips. The shoot went so smoothly that it was evenpleted half an hour ahead of schedule. Taking advantage of the window of opportunity, the crew stood in line to take pictures with Coco As she had to rush back to continue shooting her series, she departed after changing and bidding Christina a hasty farewell. After Coco left, Christina¡¯s crew surrounded her. ¡°What a lovely person Coco is. She was smiling and chatty the whole time,¡± they said with sly smiles, hoping to unearth further information. ¡°She¡¯s better than Emilia, yet even more polite.¡± ¡°How are you so close with Coco, Ms. Steele?¡± They huddled around Christina so tightly that she could not move. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. We go way back.¡± She remembered when Coco was a rtive unknown, with a gig only as a second female lead, and when she was still fresh in the industry. They had begun their careers together, which was why they treasured their friendship. ¡°You got Coco toe over really quickly, Ms. Steele. Didn¡¯t you discuss the endorsement fees?¡± a female colleague asked curiously. Christina had not thought that far. She had been more preupied with solving the problem. ¡°Leave that to me. Enough chitchat. Let¡¯s finish up here.¡± Judging by her response, her crew surmised that their rtionship must be close for them toe to agreements so candidly. Thus, they headed off to handle their respective tasks instead of asking further. Coco¡¯s shots debuted at the malls the following week and on Radiant Corporation¡¯s blog. Sweet and ebullient, Coco was undoubtedly the idol of many young women. In a few short days, almost all her fans had made her their screensaver. Due to the excellent promotional shots, the products under Coco¡¯s endorsement sold like hot cakes. Sales of the other series were not too bad, either. It was a new record for thepany. During a morning meeting. Zachary praised Christina for her decisiveness. After the shoot, an agreement was negotiated with Coco¡¯s manager, resulting in an endorsement fee surpassing the initial estimated amount. As for the agreement with Emilia, Radiant Corporation was nning on asking for eighty percent of their expenditures back. Before they could issue the letter to do so, Emilia¡¯swsuit arrived. It imed a vition of their agreement by not using her photographs. Zachary dismissed the executives of the other departments with the exception of Gina and Christina to discuss the matter. ¡°Emilia¡¯swsuit is giving me a headache. They actually want us to pay them for damages! This is a hell of an endorsement fee.¡± He massaged his brow. Christina felt puzzled by the extent of his dilemma. He looked as if he was afraid of something and did not wish to displease Emilia. If we were to further investigate this. Emilia would undoubtedly be found at fault. After a moment¡¯s silence, Christina asked, ¡°May I ask how you arrived at having Emilia be the spokesperson. Mr. Shetti?¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She was rmended by a good friend of mine, Madison Taggert. I thought she was a good fit, so I went with it. I never expected something like this to happen! It¡¯s tough to be stuck in the middle.¡± Unaware of the matter between them, Zachary told the full story. At that moment, he was worried about burning that bridge by being too demanding, as Madison¡¯s rmendations were mostly powerful, well¨Cconnected people. Frowning, Christina fell deep in thought. How did Madison get involved with Emilia? Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Party For now, the most important thing to do was to deal with thewyer¡¯s letter from Emilia. No one would hope for the situation to spiral out of control. Besides, it wouldn¡¯t be advantageous for one to waste money on that matter. As the boss, Zachary prioritized his interests by saying, ¡°I will make my decision before the meeting tomorrow morning.¡± Gina and Christina walked out of the office. They had thought that the small matter could be solved. internally. Never had they expected the drama to spread like wildfire on the inte Emilia¡¯s fans were angrily bashing Coco for her underhanded trick to snatch Emilia¡¯s endorsement deal. That was why Emilia¡¯s promotional photos could not be published. Such a dirty trick of Coco to get her hands on Emilia¡¯s endorsement deal was something that the public could not tolerate. Emilia had also posted a video of her shooting for Radiant Corporation on her social media ount. Seeing that, everyone naturally picked her side and believed in her. What surprised Christina the most was seeing theizens swarming thements section of Coco¡¯s social media ounts with insults. I feel so sorry for her. She was kind enough to lend me a hand. I didn¡¯t expect to drag her into this mess. She gave Coco a call and was relieved to know that her jobs weren¡¯t affected by the online feud. ¡°The nastyments are mostly from ghostwriters. I have more fans than her ghostwriters, anyway. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡±forted Coco. Coco officially debuted long ago. She had never had any scandals over the years, and she believed that the small drama wouldn¡¯t have much impact on her. Coco had the n to dispel the rumors in due course. Now that I¡¯m in the limelight, it¡¯s best for me to remain silent now. Or else, I might be giving Emilia a chance to chase the clout. Worried that the situation would spiral out of control, Christina said, ¡°I will rify the matter for you.¡± With that, she ended the call. Coco wanted the stop her. After all, Christina was an outsider. There was nothing much she could do. Before Coco could return the call, the filming was about to start, so she went off to get busy. Christina feturned to the office. She turned on herputer and saw the drama being stirred up on the inte, It was at that moment she recalled Emilia leaving in a hurry after answering a call that day. If I¡¯m not mistaken, she seemed as if she was going to attend a party that day. Everyone¡¯s using Coco of her bad reputation. Perhaps I should prove to the public that Emilia is the one who has a bad image. After work, Christina called for a taxi and waited outside the Steele residence. The sky was turning dark. Emilia went out wearing a sexy ck dress while carrying a branded bag. Christina ordered the driver to tail Emilia¡¯s car. Shortly after, they arrived at a bar in a remote area. I have to capture her photos inside to show the world her bad side so that I can help Coco rify the scandal. Upon seeing Emilia enter the bar. Christina alighted from the taxi and followed her. However, she didn¡¯t expect to be blocked by the security guard outside. ¡°Minors are not allowed to enter.¡± Huh? Minors? I¡¯ve been married for years! That rendered Christina speechless. Feeling exasperated, Christina fished out her ID card to prove her identity. The security guard took the ID card and scanned it over a machine for verification. His expression suddenly turned solemn as he uttered, ¡°You still can¡¯t enter. We only allow our members to go in.¡± How private of the bar to only serve its guests? No wonder Emilia doesn¡¯t have to worry about getting photographed when she¡¯s outside. Christina was determined to exercise her n that day. ¡°How much is it to be a member? Can I not just spend money inside?¡± The security guard shot her an aloof nce and replied, ¡°No, you can¡¯t do that. The only way to get in is through a member referral.¡± After saying that, he shooed Christina out. A vortex of anger immediately swirled inside Christina. What ame bar! Did he just chase away a potential customer? This bar won¡¯t survive long! Despite her fury, Christina had to think of a way to go in. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Knowing that it was impossible for her to enter through the entrance, she started thinking of another n. Christina had experience working in a bar before. Putting her experience to good use, she found the back door soon. The door was left open as the workers were moving some frozen food. She quickly sneaked into the staff changing room and got changed into waiter¡¯s clothes. After getting changed, she put on a mask. As soon as Christina walked out of the room, she thought of checking Emilia¡¯s room number through the ¡°Hey! You there, where are you going? Hurry and help out in the kitchen!¡± She was interrupted by the manager behind her as she walked in the corridor. The manager furrowed his brows. Why are the newbies so dumb? They just can¡¯t recognize the way here. Reluctantly, Christina turned around to follow the manager to the kitchen. It was fortunate for her that the manager did not recognize her. Upon preparing the dishes, Christina pushed the small cart and walked out. The rooms were arranged in an ordered fashion. It didn¡¯t take her long to find the room. After circling the entire ce, Christina was astounded by the surrounding. I get it now why they only allow members here. This ce is specially reserved for those famous people and celebrities. It¡¯s scary how they party so wildly here. She was almost done delivering the dishes on the cart, but Emilia was still out of sight. Unable to find her target, Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. Where is Emilia? If I can¡¯t find her, it will be a huge loss for me! I don¡¯t want to be a freeborer here! ¡°Newbie, send this bottle of wine to VIP Room 9,¡±manded the manager. Hearing that, Christina had no choice but to grab the wine from him and head to the second floor. She found the room, knocked on the door, and entered straight away. That room was simr to the other rooms. It was filled with smoke in the air. She pul down the wine bottle. As she nced up, she finally spotted Emilia. At that moment, Emilia was sitting on top of a middle¨Caged man. They were chatting andughing. The atmosphere in the room was noisy beyond words. Christina tried to eavesdrop on their conversation but to no avail. Nheless, the suggestiveness in their interaction inexorably sparked spection. No wonder I couldn¡¯t find her. She¡¯s here on the second floor all this while. She pushed the cart to the corner, then took out her phone to snap a photo of Emilia. Just when Christina was about to leave with the evidence, someone approached her and blocked her way. ¡°Are you dumb? Why didn¡¯t you open the wine bottle for us?¡± The man spoke in a loud voice and reeked. of alcohol. To avoidplications, Christina said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do it now.¡± She turned around to the bar table and poured the wine as told. The next moment, the man raised a ss of wine and grabbed her neck. ¡°Come and have a drink with me!¡± Everything happened so suddenly that panic swamped Christina. Just when her mission was almost completed, she got interrupted by an alcoholic. ¡°I don¡¯t drink. Let go of me.¡± The man expressed his intrigue as he curled the corner of his lips into a malicious sneer. ¡°Drink it. I¡¯ll tip you.¡± At once, he pulled down Christina¡¯s mask and poured the wine into her mouth. Christina almost choked on the drink. Her eyes turned red as she started coughing. After catching a breath, she gave the man a hard p across his face and pushed him away. The man crashed straight onto the ground, letting out an agonized scream. The noise attracted the others¡® attention and they swarmed over in curiosity. Christina widened her eyes in shock. She wanted to pick up the mask from the ground, but it was impossible. A crowd was starting to gather around them. Worried that Emilia would notice her, Christina swiftly lowered her head. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Dust Settling Suddenly, a man with long arms shoved the crowd aside, took off his coat, and put it over Christina. He wrapped his arm around Christina¡¯s shoulders and brought her out of there. The people in the private room dispersed after she left. The man brought her out of the club, and they arrived at the parking lot. He took away the coat, and she saw the man¡¯s handsome features right away. Christina wasn¡¯t surprised to see Francis because she knew who he was when she caught a whiff of his perfume. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve helped you again. Don¡¯t you think I deserve something in return?¡± Francis smiled. I didn¡¯t even want to join the gathering tonight, but my friends forced me toe. Who would¡¯ve thought I would run into such an interesting incident? Christina also thought she needed to do something to express her gratitude. ¡°What do you suggest?¡± she asked. Francis thought about it for a while and replied, ¡°Have supper with me. Get in the car.¡± Francis brought her to a beach. Prior to that, he had already ordered takeout, so they were both eating under the night sky and enjoying the sound of waves on the beach. Since it was dark at the beach, Francis wasn¡¯t worried about getting spotted by the passersby. Christina had headed out in a rush earlier that day without having a meal beforehand. She was famished. As she was chomping on her supper, she looked like a hamster with her mouth filled with food. Francis felt inexplicably satisfied when he saw her cat. For some reason, watching her eat made him feel calm. He opened a can of beverage and passed it to her. ¡°Eat slowly. Is Nathaniel such a cheapsk¨¢te? Has he not been feeding you?¡± ¡°As if! I¡¯ve been eating well and sleeping well at Scenic Garden Manor. My life is rather blissful.¡± Christina red at him and gulped her drink. After she was done eating, she leaned backward andy on the beach. As the wind swept past her, she felt as rxed as she had ever been. ¡°How did you know about this ce?¡± Francisy next to her and answered, ¡°When I was younger, I used to quarrel a lot with my mom due to my identity. Whenever I felt moody, I would leave home. I actually found this ce by ident. Now, I¡¯ll juste here and enjoy the wind whenever I¡¯m unhappy or want to rx.¡± He shut his eyes. Due to how close they were lying next to each other, he could smell Christina¡¯s scent. She smells amazing. Christina didn¡¯t know how to respond to that. Although I¡¯m not an illegitimate child, the treatment I got from the Steele family is as cruel as how Francis is treated by his family. Essentially, we¡¯re the outcasts. For the sake of money, Gideon had given her away to the Hadley family without batting an eyelid. The two left the beach after a while. Christina was eager to get out of the car as Francis was approaching Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°Did we do anything wrong? Why are you so afraid?¡± Francis shed a faint smile. Christina unbuckled her seatbelt and uttered, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I just want to avoid being misunderstood.¡± She knew exactly how jealous Nathaniel could get. ¡°You¡¯re acting so guiltily as though we were out on a date without Nathaniel knowing about it,¡± Francis said. firmly. Christina blushed, and she seemed to have also realized something was wrong with the atmosphere in the car. ¡°Thanks for helping me out today. Bye.¡± She jumped out of the car and ran toward the entrance of the manor. In the car, Francis stared at Christina¡¯s retreating figure, wishing he could stop her from leaving. The next day, Coco became a trending figure on the inte. Needless to say, theizens were using her of snatching someone¡¯s endorsement deal. Although some were ghostwriters, most of theizens actually felt bad for Emilia. In a fit of anger, Radiant Corporation¡¯s Public Rtions Department uploaded the promotional photos Emilia had taken in the past. Once those photos werepared to the ones Coco had taken, the differences were night and day. Those photos caused another stir on the inte, and theizens were quick to point out how ugly Emilia¡¯s photos were. At the same time, they thought Radiant Corporation was right to change their ambassador. Besides, they said they wouldn¡¯t have bought the outfits if Emilia¡¯s photos had been used instead. Those photos were uploaded in the morning, and Emilia yed the pitiful card by uploading a video of herself on the inte. She said she had given her best during the photo shoot, but the photographers had intentionally made her look ugly. ording to her, Radiant Corporation had nned to nder her since the beginning. She also told theizens how she hadn¡¯t been eating well and had lost a lot of weight due to the matter. At the end of the video, she said she would never cooperate with Radiant Corporation again in the future. Emilia was very emotional in the video, so theizens were quick to show sympathy for her. In the digital age, sympathy and anger were the best tools for influencers to gain attention. Emilia knew that very well and used it to her advantage. Just like that, theizens took her side. The matter was the talk of the town, and it showed no signs of subsiding. A lot ofizens would show their support in thement section of Emilia¡¯s social media ount before condemning Coco on Coco¡¯s social media ount, Emilia was over the moon when she saw how theizens heavily criticized Coco. How dare you snatch the endorsement from me? You¡¯re regretting it now, aren¡¯t you? In Radiant Corporation, Christina was fuming as theizens were throwing baseless usations at Coco. These people have no idea what¡¯s going on! How could they insult Coco? Soon after that, Christina contacted a mediapany and sent the video she recorded in the club to a reporter named Gary Chambein. Gary was stunned when he saw the video. I was Emilia¡¯s supporter just a second ago! Christina said over the phone, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for much. I just want you to reveal the truth and clear Coco¡¯s name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ve given me such an exciting video. I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Gary promised. With that, he hung up the phone and started writing his article. Uponpletion, he uploaded it on the inte right away. The moment the video was uploaded, it garnered hundreds of thousands of views within minutes. Before long, the video was viewed by tens of millions ofizens. The scene of Emilia sitting on a man¡¯sp and flirting with him was all over the inte. If the two were single, they could im to be a couple. However, theizens were quick to notice that the man in the video was a rich and married businessman. He was an influential individual in the entertainment industry because of his wealth. Emilia was doomed. She had used Coco of being a scheming and greedy woman. After the video was uploaded, however, those usations seemed to fit her like a glove. There and then, everyone could tell who was in the right. All of a sudden, Radiant Corporation¡¯s photographers and makeup artists went public with the fact that Emilia had always been acting haughtily during the photo shooting sessions and preventing those sessions from going smoothly. When theizens saw those statements, they immediately deleted the insultingments they wrote on Coco¡¯s social media ount. social After all, it was a crime to nder others on the inte. Despite the chaos, Coco had been graceful enough to avoid getting caught in the arguments on the inte. Consequently, her fanbase grew exponentially, and her new show was bound to be well¨Creceived. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Struck By Lightning Emilia didn¡¯t expect the tables to turn so drastically, and she was surprised to learn that someone had recorded a video of what she was doing in the club. The endorsement deals she had just signed were canceled shortly after the fiasco, and Radiant Corporation also demanded she returned eighty percent of the endorsement fee she received. To Emilia¡¯s dismay, the deals she had worked so hard for were all gone. Enraged, Emilia sobbed and called Miranda toin, ¡°Mom, Christina doesn¡¯t give a hoot about me! She took an outsider¡¯s side and bullied me!¡± At that moment, Miranda was panicking because she had just seen the news on the inte. Emilia was so close to stardom, but Christina just had to mess things up! ¡°It took me quite an effort to calm your dad down, so it isn¡¯t wise to cause a ruckus now,¡± Miranda said helplessly. ¡°What am I supposed to do, then? Are you asking me to swallow this anger?¡± Emilia thundered. If even Mom is too afraid to oppose that brat, she¡¯ll only be even more arrogant! Miranda¡¯s gaze darkened, and she said cunningly, ¡°No. I¡¯ll avenge you this time!¡± Christina arrived home that night and browsed the news while sitting on the couch. Although she wasn¡¯t in the entertainment industry, she enjoyed watching celebrities on the red carpets to see the gowns those celebrities wore. Obviously, as a designer, she was very intrigued by the gowns. Right then, she heard the sound of a car engine from outside. Christina¡¯s eyes lit up, and she immediately got up from the couch and ran out. The moment Nathaniel alighted from his car, she threw herself at him. Christina¡¯s scent warmed his heart at once. While leaning against his chest, Christina said coyly, ¡°You¡¯re back, Darling!¡± They had both been hard¨Cpressed recently, so they hadn¡¯t seen each other in five days. Nathaniel¡¯s hostile and frightening demeanor faded instantly when Christina appeared. He wrapped his arm around her slender waist and led her into the house.. ¡°Have you had your dinner?¡± he asked in an alluring tone. Christina shook her heard aggrievedly. ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± Upon hearing that, Nathaniel shot Raymond a cold look. Raymond was so frightened that he felt his knees going weak. ¡°Mrs. Hadley said she wanted to have dinner with you. The cooks have already prepared the dishes, but Mrs. Hadley said she wanted to wait for your return. The chefs also made some snacks to prevent Mrs. Hadley from going hungry. Mrs. Hadley has just finished a te of macaroons a few minutes before your arrival,¡± he quickly exined. As soon as those words fell, Christina burped and red at Raymond. Why did he say that? I¡¯ll be too embarrassed to eat more for dinnerter! However, there was nothing Raymond could do. If he didn¡¯t exin himself, Nathaniel might me them for not looking after Christina. Upon hearing the exnation, Nathaniel caressed Christina¡¯s check and said, ¡°Tell the chefs to prepare whatever you want to cat. If you don¡¯t eat more, you¡¯ll be skinny.¡± Silence ensued in the living room right away because everyone was staring at Christina. Others might not know it, but Rayniond and the housekeepers were all aware of Christina¡¯s appetite. Mrs. Hadley never had trouble eating full meals, and we¡¯ve also stocked up the living room, study, and bedroom with snacks. Does she really need more food? Everyone here knows how much Mr. Hadley pampers Mrs. Hadley. Heck, they¡¯re always disying their affection for each other publicly! After dinner, Nathaniel went to the study. The project they had was about to get started, so all the necessary documents must be prepared before the start of construction. It was undoubtedly taxing to go through the thick stack of documents. Sebastian had two cups of coffee beforehand, but he was dozing off in thete hours of the night.. ¡°You can leave first,¡± Nathaniel said. Sebastian shook his head in response. ¡°I¡¯m all right. We still have so many documents to-¡± He was interrupted by Nathaniel¡¯s warning gaze, He knew Nathaniel well enough to know that Nathaniel didn¡¯t want him to stay if he couldn¡¯t focus. If he were to stay, he could end up making a mistake instead. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go home first, then,¡± Sebastian said. After Sebastian left, Nathaniel remained in his seat as he went through the documents. He only went back to the bedroom to take a shower at the break of dawn. Standing under the hot running water, he felt refreshed once his muscles were rxed. When Nathaniel was walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, Christina bumped into his muscr chest. ¡°Ouch¡­¡± Christina whimpered. Nathaniel grabbed her hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist immediately. ¡°Where did it All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. hurt?¡± Christina was still half asleep. When she saw his muscr chest the moment she opened her couldn¡¯t help but gasp. She caught a whiff of his masculine scent. The air was filled with steam, so her vision was rather blurry. Isn¡¯t it a bit too early for such a sensual atmosphere? Christina¡¯s cheeks reddened. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Perhaps you should put on a shirt first.¡± eyes, she Nathaniel hummed in response and left. When Christina came out of the bathroom, Nathaniel already had a shirt on. He was wearing a tailored and slim¨Cfitting shirt, and he was answering the phone with one hand and buttoning the buttons with the other. With the sunlight shining in from the opposite direction and falling on his body, he looked utterly handsome. Christina walked up to him to help him button his shirt and put on a tie that matched his trousers. ¡°Got it,¡± he said to the person on the other end of the call and hung up the phone. ¡°Are you leaving already?¡± Christina stood on tiptoe and folded his cor for him. ¡°Yes. The driver will send you to your officeter.¡± Nathaniel brushed her fringe aside and kissed her forehead. Christina nodded. Before she could say a word, she was kissed on the lips. Upon arriving at Radiant Corporation, Christina prepared her documents as usual and attended the meeting. Since Zachary had already settled the issue concerning the endorsement deal, thepany¡¯s performance was on track to meet that year¡¯s target. It was estimated that the target could be reached by the end of the year. In order to reward the employees, Zachary wanted to hold an outing to help everyone loosen up. The Public Rtions Department would be responsible for deciding on the location. After the meeting, Christina went back to Team B to find Miranda sitting in her office. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Christina frowned. I bet something bad is about to happen. Miranda snorted coldly and walked up to Christina to size her up. ¡°You¡¯re doing well, aren¡¯t you? Have you been doing so well that you¡¯ve forgotten about your mother?¡± Miranda sneered. This brat was merely a server in a bar back then! Yet, she has her own office now. She deserves none of this! Christina narrowed her eyes and shot Miranda a cold nce. ¡°Do you really consider yourself my mother? You¡¯ll get struck by lightning for saying such nonsense!¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 So What Miranda¡¯s face contorted in rage as she yelled, ¡°How dare you speak to me in that tone?¡± Christina merely let out a snort in response. I don¡¯t get it. She used to abuse me all the time. Why does she have the cheek to lecture me? Miranda¡¯s voice was trembling when she fumed, ¡°Is that how you should talk to me? I raised you! You ungrateful brat!¡± Miranda¡¯s eyes widened, and she looked as scary as a witch. With that scary look, Miranda walked up to Christina and warned, ¡°You¡¯d better give the endorsement deal back to Emilia, or I¡¯ming after you!¡± Evidently, Miranda was there to get Emilia the endorsement deal. Amused, Christina mocked, ¡°Do you think the Steele family owns Radiant Corporation? What makes you think you can decide who gets the endorsement deal?¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but think Miranda was out of her mind. Does she think the earth revolves around her? ¡°Leave now, or I¡¯m calling the security.¡± Christina went back to her seat. I don¡¯t have the time to entertain this insane woman. Seeing that Christina had picked up her phone, Miranda snatched it away and thundered, ¡°Since you¡¯re not giving the endorsement deal back to Emilia, I¡¯m going to make your life in Radiant Corporation a living hell!¡± Christina didn¡¯t know how Miranda would achieve that, but she knew the oue would be bad. Before Christina could react, Miranda stormed out of Christina¡¯s office and yelled, ¡°Listen up and judge for yourselves, everyone! Don¡¯t you guys think Christina is an evil woman? She doesn¡¯t care about her own- sister!¡± Baffled and shocked, the employees lifted their heads and stared at Miranda. Why is this well¨Cdressed woman acting like a maniac? Miranda was determined to humiliate Christina, so she pointed at Christina¡¯s office and continued, ¡°Despite not being Christina¡¯s birth mother, I was the one who raised her! I even paid for her education back then. Now that she¡¯s rich, she disregards me! She doesn¡¯t even acknowledge her sister, Emilia!¡± What? Ms. Steele¡¯s sister! We thought it was just a coincidence they both share the same surname! It turns out is The employees started murmuring among themselves. Right then, Christina came out of her office with a grim expression. Why is she telling everyone that? She¡¯s out to make me look bad! So this is how she ns to make my life in Radiant Corporation a living hell! Needless to say, Miranda knew nothing was more embarrassing than public shaming. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Miranda. Leave!¡± Christina warned softly.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re scared, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m not someone you can afford to mess with!¡± Miranda was pleased to see Christina getting anxious. Christina didn¡¯t want to exin herself because she knew that would only make things worse. All of a sudden, the situation in the office turned chaotic. Some of the employees were calling Christina ungrateful, while some said she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. As for those who were closer to Christina and those who were present during the photo shoot, they couldn¡¯t help backing Christina up. ¡°We were present during the photo shoot. Emilia was being very uncooperative, and she left the scene after she threw a tantrum. Ma¡¯am, perhaps you should get a rification from Emilia.¡± ¡°Ms. Steele is a nice person. She¡¯s nothing like what you¡¯ve just said.¡± ¡°Ms. Steele always shares her interactions with her grandmother and mother on her Instagram. She¡¯s a filial daughter and granddaughter!¡± Miranda panicked when those employees showed their support for Christina. ¡°You guys have no idea-¡± Christina held her hand over Miranda¡¯s mouth before Miranda could finish her sentence. Just then, the security guards arrived to drag Miranda out. Miranda was unwilling to leave, and it took the security guards a huge deal of effort to drag her toward the alley behind the building through the back door. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll ruin your reputation if you ever dare to harm me!¡± Miranda roared. This brat is out of line! How dare she do this to me? Christina suppressed her anger and ordered coldly, ¡°You¡¯d better leave before I get angry.¡± Despite the humiliation Miranda had brought upon her, Christina didn¡¯t want things to spiral out of control. Seeing that Christina was about to leave, Miranda grabbed Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re not getting rid of me so easily, Christina! I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside the building every day! You won¡¯t be able to work in peace!¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, a p rang out. A clear handprint could be seen on Miranda¡¯s cheek. Stumped, Miranda stared at Christina nkly and stammered, ¡°D¨CDid you just p me?¡± ¡°So what if I p you?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes looked vicious. She took me for a weakling because I had been going easy on her! How dare she keep challenging my patience? I bet she¡¯s only like this because no one has ever stood up to her before! Christina was livid. I¡¯ve worked so hard to achieve a stable life. Why do they keeping back to haunt me? ¡°Stop provoking me! Otherwise, I¡¯m going to p you every time I see you here. Let¡¯s see if you ever dare to show your face here again! I can also ask Nathaniel to cut off all of Emilia¡¯s resources, and she¡¯ll never get to film ever again!¡± Christina shouted and left. After that, the back entrance was locked from the inside. Still shocked, Miranda almost copsed to the ground as her knees went weak. She stood rooted to the spot, and her expression was utterly grim. Somehow, she made her way back to the Steele residence with a stinging sensation on her cheek. She only snapped out of her reverie when she heard someone approaching. She burst out crying and threw herself into Gideon¡¯s arms. ¡°Darling, Christina has gone way out of line! I went to see her to talk to her about Emilia sincerely. Not only did she refuse to help, but she also delivered a tight p across my face!¡± Gideon furrowed his brows when he heard those words. Recently, thepany hasn¡¯t been doing well financially. I was going to ask Miranda to be nice to Christina and ask Christina if she could get Nathaniel to lend us a hand. Who would¡¯ve known that Christina could be so cruel? Ever since the previous fight, she has never been home once. Now, Emilia isn¡¯t even capable of helping me. Did I ce the wrong bet back then? ¡°Did she sound determined?¡± Gideon asked. Miranda nodded aggrievedly. ¡°Christina also said she would never help the Steele family. That brat thinks she has already made it in life, so she¡¯s disregarding all of us!¡± I must find a way to save thepany. Otherwise, the Steele family is doomed. Gideon¡¯s gaze darkened. He was thinking about something else when Miranda was talking to him, so he didn¡¯t hear a word she said after that. That weekend, Christina was free, so she went to see Sharon. Sharon had been recuperating in the hospital for quite some time, and the medical fees had finally been lowered. In fact, she had been transferred from the high¨Crisk ward to the ordinary ward. When Christina arrived, she saw someone else next to Sharon¡¯s bed. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Chapter 182 What Goes Around Comes Around Christina stood at the door and looked inside in disbelief. At that moment. Gideon was sitting next to the bed with a bowl of oatmeal in his hand. With a tender look in his eyes, he said, ¡°Christina should¡¯ve told me you got sick.¡± With that, he fed Sharon a spoonful of oatmeal. Christina went into the ward and asked in a cold and surprised tone, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Gideon chuckled and said, ¡°Oh,e on. Your mom is sick. There¡¯s nothing wrong with me visiting her.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. After saying that, Gideon sized Christina up. She¡¯s wearing decent clothes and carrying a branded handbag. It seems that Nathaniel has been taking good care of her! Christina was having none of it, and she let out a cold snort. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you here when we needed to pay, for the medical fees. You¡¯re only here to act like a nice guy now that Mom is healthier. Why are you doing this?¡± Gideon felt awkward upon hearing that. Miranda was right. This brat has a sharp tongue now, and she¡¯s so cold- hearted. However, I came here for a reason. I can¡¯t afford to kick up a fuss. In the end, Sharon, who was lying on the bed, eased the tension by saying, ¡°It¡¯s so rare to see your dad here. Stop arguing with each other, okay?¡± Christina didn¡¯t reply because she was worried about agitating Sharon. She approached the bed and took out a thermos sk to feed Sharon a spoonful of soup she brought. Gideon saw the expensive ingredients in Christina¡¯s soup, but he didn¡¯t feel defeated. Instead, he was even more sure about how well Christina was doing financially. She must have a lot of extra cash at her disposal! When the visitation hours ended, Christina packed her things and left. The two entered the elevator one after another. In the elevator, Gideon chuckled and asked, ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve been getting along with Mr. Hadley, right?¡± Christina merely hummed in response. Gideon was displeased when his daughter treated him like a stranger. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Is that how you should talk to your father?¡± he grumbled. Christina looked as calm as ever, and she didn¡¯t even bother responding. What did he expect? Has he forgotten how he wanted to let an old man sleep with me? Has he forgotten about the fact that he gave me to the Hadley family for money? Vrelied on myself to get to where I am today. I don¡¯t owe the Steele family anything. Seeing that the elevator was reaching the ground floor, Gideon held Christina¡¯s wrist. In a polite tone, he pleaded, ¡°I know you¡¯re still angry at me, Christina. Still, I raised you back then. Could you please help me out? Thepany is in trouble now. If you don¡¯t help me, it¡¯s going belly up. To be fair, I was the one who supported you financially before you became an adult. Would you just help me?¡± Fortunately for him, Christina wasn¡¯t a heartlessdy. Well, I used to stay under the Steele family¡¯s roof back then. That thought melted her heart immediately. ¡°How much do you need?¡± she asked. Gideon whipped out a contract he had prepared earlier and passed it to Christina. ¡°As long as Mr. Hadley signs this, the Steele family will be safe!¡± Christina took the contract without even looking at it. Right then, she recalled how Miranda had gone to her office that day and caused a scene. ¡°Fine, but you must tell Miranda and Emilia to stop messing with me again,¡± Christina said. ¡°Sure! That won¡¯t be a problem. When I return, I¡¯ll tell them to leave you alone!¡± Gideon agreed readily. ¡°Feel free to bring Mr. Hadley home for dinner when you have the time for it.¡± Gideon knew he needed. the powerful Hadley family to turn things around. Christina narrowed her eyes and replied, ¡°Sure, but you must kick Miranda out of the house beforehand because I don¡¯t want to go home to see someone I hate.¡± Gideon froze upon hearing those words. Before he could utter a word, the elevator doors opened. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the contract to you once it¡¯s signed,¡± Christina said and got out of the elevator. A ck Rolls¨CRoyce was waiting for Christina at the entrance of the hospital, and the driver drove off after Christina got into the car. Gideon saw how great Christina was doing and regretted it. I picked the wrong girl! When he arrived at the Steele residence, Miranda was waiting for him on the couch. ¡°Darling, was I right? Christina isn¡¯t helping us, is she?¡± Miranda went up to Gideon. That brat thinks she¡¯s all that. Why would she help us? Gideon snorted and looked at his wife in disgust. Right then, he thought about what Christina said. ¡°The Steele family owns a mansion in the suburb. You should move out tomorrow and stay there.¡± Miranda was still thinking about ways to badmouth Christina when she suddenly heard Gideon chasing her out of the house. Miranda was dumbstruck. ¡°D¨CDarling? W¨CWhat did you say? Did you just ask me to move out?¡± At that point, Gideon couldn¡¯t be bothered about Miranda and Emilia anymore. Since neither of them. could help him, he didn¡¯t think there was a reason to keep them around. ¡°Christina told me if she¡¯s free, she¡¯lle here for dinner and bring Mr. Hadley along. However, they don¡¯t want to see you guys here. I need you guys to move out for a while. Once mypany recovers financially, I¡¯ll let you guys move back in,¡± Gideon said. ¡°Are you seriously chasing us out because you want to please Christina? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s too much? Emilia and I are the people closest to you, while Christina is an illegitimate child!¡± Christina snapped. As soon as those words fell, Gideon pped Miranda across the face and roared, ¡°I don¡¯t need advice from you! If you want to keep your position in the family, stop making my life difficult!¡± Miranda was livid because she had been pped once again. Tears flowed down her cheeks, and her heart shattered. ¡°Fine! We¡¯ll leave! I hope you don¡¯t regret this!¡± Miranda went upstairs to pack and brought her trusted housekeeper with her out of the Steele residence. Upon exiting the house, she realized no one was there to send her. Right then, a ck Rolls¨CRoyce came to a halt in front of her, and the car window was rolled down. Christina sounded aloof and distant when she asked, ¡°What are you doing outside at this hour? Did Dad kick you out of the house?¡± During the conversation she had in the elevator with Gideon, Christina had said those words out of anger. Butter, she wondered if he would really do that to please her, so she asked her driver to drive her to the Steele residence to observe the situation. To Christina¡¯s surprise, she saw Miranda leaving the Steele residence with her luggage. Miranda shouted, ¡°You¡¯re evil, Christina! This is all your fault! You¡¯re just a b*tch like your mother!¡± Christina¡¯s gaze turned cold right away. ¡°Don¡¯t insult my mom. You picked on us because we have been too kind over the years! What goes aroundes around! You kicked my mom out of the house back then, right? Now, Dad is doing the same to you!¡± Christina chuckled coldly and instructed the driver to drive away. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Do Not Let Me See You Again The car sped away at an rming rate, causing the two suitcases next to Miranda to topple over. She almost lost her bnce, but luckily the servant behind her caught her just in time. ¡°Are you all right, Mrs. Steele?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Miranda¡¯s face contorted in rage as she yelled, ¡°That darn brat. I won¡¯t rest until I get my revenge! Just wait and see!¡± Christina knew that the driver did it on purpose, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of satisfaction at the sight of Miranda¡¯s enraged expression. ¡°Well done! I¡¯ll make sure Nathaniel gives you a raise when we get back!¡± she said to the driver. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina took out the contract. She had promised to help Gideon, and she had no intention of backing out now. This was her final chance to pay back all the favors she owed. If Gideon didn¡¯t cherish their father¨Cdaughter rtionship from now on, she wouldn¡¯t force them to reconcile. Christina went to the study and found that Nathaniel was in the middle of a video conference call. She entered the room tiptoeing, like a sneaky little mouse trying to steal a snack. Her bright eyes were locked onto his serious and handsome face as she drew near. Nathaniel¡¯smand of Ferropenian was wless, and his enigmatic gaze gleamed with intelligence. The intery of light and shadow emphasized the exquisite contours of his face. Since Christina did not know how long his meeting wouldst, she decided to return to the room and take a shower. When she returned to the study again, she brought a cup of warm milk. She wore a cotton pajama with cartoonish prints that hugged her slender figure, while her long ck hair cascaded down her delicate shoulders like a waterfall. Her skin was as fair as snow, and her eyes sparkled with crystal¨Cclear rity. By then, Nathaniel had finished his meeting and was reading documents. Christina ced the milk in front of him. ¡°Are you still busy?¡± she asked. Nathaniel didn¡¯t pick up the cup. Instead, he reached out to pull her into his embrace. A faint fragrance wafted over him as he buried his chin in Christina¡¯s slender shoulder. His lips almost touched her fair skin as he murmured, ¡°Do you need anything from me?¡± As soon as Christina heard his question, she knew she couldn¡¯t hide anything from him. With a slight grin, she said, ¡°I guess I can¡¯t keep anything from you, can I?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± His lips inched closer, and his warm breath tingled her skin. Christina felt a ticklish sensation in her neck and shyly handed him a file lying on the desk. ¡°When I visited my mom at the hospital today, 1 bumped into my dad. He said hispany is in trouble and asked if you could help him.¡± After a short pause, she continued, ¡°If it¡¯s too troublesome, we can just drop the matter¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, a warm sensation enveloped her earlobe, followed by the gentle sensation of his teeth nibbling on it. Nathaniel said calmly, ¡°I already looked at it and signed it.¡± ¡°Wait, you signed it?¡± Christina eximed in surprise, taking the file from Nathaniel and quickly flipping to the final page, where she saw his signature. At the same time, she noticed the amount was thirty million. That¡¯s arge sum of money. It¡¯s almost the entire value of the Steele family¡¯spany. My father is so greedy. ¡°Thank you,¡± Christina said, feeling embarrassed. ¡°What are you thanking me for, silly?¡± Nathaniel patted her head gently before carrying her to the bedroom. After the storm, Christina finally had peace for the next couple of days. She was fully focused on preparing for her new job and would often monitor the overseas high¨Cend fashion brands¡® runway shows. Although Radiant Corporation was considered a rtively high¨Cend brand in the country, it was not well- known abroad. While watching the fashion runway videos, Christina observed that almost every designer wanted to create their own brand in the fashion city and design the most beautiful dresses in the world. Organizing a fashion runway show was the fastest way to increase their brand awareness. Zachary had a keen sense of fashion and aimed to establish Radiant Corporation as a high¨Cend brand from the very beginning. In order to solidify thepany¡¯s position, he would hold a runway show every year to continuously elevate the brand. Therefore, the team leaders were tasked with submitting their design sketches. Gina would review them. and choose the ones that met her expectations. Then, she would proceed to design two sets of runway shows. Christina¡¯s work for a brief luncht her busy round the clock, leaving little time for anything else. Finally, she had time for a brief lunch break one day and arranged to meet Nathaniel for a meal. As she was preupied with her phone, Christina didn¡¯t realize she had pressed the wrong floor button. When the doors opened, she was still focused on scrolling through her work group chat. Suddenly, Christina heard murmurs from a nearby corner. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Get me thetest endorsement deal from the Hadley Corporation,¡± said Emilia, sporting a pair of sunsses and bright red lipstick. ¡°I wish I could help you, but you caused aplete disaster at Radiant Corporation. I can¡¯t even exin it to my friend properly. Your reputation is in tatters now, and if I rmend you, everyone will question my judgment. I don¡¯t want the others to misunderstand our rtionship,¡± Madison spat. In other words, she was hinting to Emilia that she would not help her with any future job opportunities. Emilia¡¯s lips curved into a sinister smile. ¡°It¡¯s not a misunderstanding. We are in close ties. You don¡¯t have to help me, but¡°-she took off her sunsses, revealing a pair of eyes glinted with menace-¡°pay me a hush fee.¡± Infuriated by her threat, Madison stepped closer and hissed, ¡°Why should I give you money? Aren¡¯t you in on this too?¡± Who does she take me for? A cash machine that she can extort at will? Madison strode toward Emilia in her high heels, emanating a chilling aura. ¡°Don¡¯t even think of trying to intimidate me,¡± she threatened, her eyes filled with malice. ¡°I can crush you with just a snap of my fingers!¡± Her demeanor had changed entirely from graceful to sinister. Emilia retreated with each step Madison took, her voice shaking with fear. ¡°You¡¯re the daughter of the Taggart family. Money means nothing to you. I promise to leave you alone if you give me a sum of money.¡± It wasn¡¯t untilter that Emilia learned about Madison¡¯s formidable background and immense wealth. However, Madison¡¯s anger only grew as she forced Emilia toward the window and raised her hand to grip. her by the neck, pushing her body out of the window. Emilia¡¯s entire body hung outside the window. Her face turned pale as she screamed, ¡°Ah! What are you doing?¡± ¡°Hmph! You want money?¡± Madison¡¯s eyes zed with fury. ¡°People like you who are greedy and poor only have unlimited demands. The most effective way to deal with you is to shut you up for good!¡± ¡°No! No, please!¡± Emilia pleaded desperately, her voice trembling with fear. ¡°I know I was wrong. I won¡¯t bother you again. Please, spare me¡­ I don¡¯t want to die!¡± Madison smirked as she watched Emilia crying and begging for mercy. She released her grip on the woman¡¯s neck and forcefully threw her to the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t let me see you again!¡± she warned before walking to the elevator. Meanwhile, Christina remained seated at the staircase, still trying to process what she had just witnessed. The memory of Madison¡¯s vicious behavior kept ying over and over in Christina¡¯s mind, leaving her in shock and disbelief. It was difficult for her to reconcile the refined and elegant Madison she knew with the vicious and brutal person she had just witnessed. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Discharged From The Hospital During the meeting previously, Christina had suspected whether Emilia had something to do with Madison. From the look of things now, their rtionship isn¡¯t all that great. Why did Emilia ask her for hush money? Did they do something vile? Could it be that they were the ones who nned the kidnapping? Questions lingered within her, but she knew that she would undoubtedly rm them if she were to make a move to confront them. After mulling the matter over, she decided that it was safer to investigate things secretly. Leaving from the back stairwell, she went into the office. Right then, Madison was discussing work matters with Nathaniel with a document in her hand. When she saw Christina entering the office, her lips curved into a smile. ¡°Since Mrs. Hadley is here, I¡¯ll excuse myself first and leave you two to it.¡± Her graceful and understanding attitude made it seem as though she was an entirely different person from when she was on the top floor carlier, striking much fear into Christina. As Madison brushed past her, the woman shed her an icy smile that made her shudder. Only after the office door mmed shut did Christina snap back to reality. She breathed a soft sigh of relief. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing the ashen look on her face, Nathaniel lifted his hand and rested it against her forehead lightly to take her temperature. Hmm, she¡¯s not running a fever. Why does she look so pale? Christina gathered her wits about her. She raised her chin and pouted. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have the cafeteria deliver some food up.¡± A few minutester, a feast was spread across the coffee table. Without standing on ceremony, Christina started eating. Nathaniel helped her peel the prawns and filled her bowl with food. Seeing the sheer amount of food in her bowl, she huffed, ¡°Stop taking food for me. We¡¯re the only ones eating here, so there¡¯s nopetition.¡± It was not until then that Nathaniel stopped taking food for her. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± After they finished eating, the chef served dessert. Eating a bowl of hot dessert, Christina found herself suffused with warmth. There was still some time before it was time to start work, so she rested on the couch while leaning against Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. When Christina got off work, she took time out of her schedule to visit her mother. Upon arriving at the hospital, she was informed by the doctor that Sharon was recovering well due to the timely medical intervention and having recuperated for two months. V4 She could be discharged from the hospital anytime. It so happened that it was the weekend tomorrow. Christina decided toe over the next day and handle the discharge procedures for her mother. Sharon agreed as well. Early the following morning, the driver was already waiting at the door by the time Christina wanted to leave the house. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has given the order that I¡¯m to drive you personally no matter where you go today.¡± That aside, I¡¯m to report your whereabouts to him. Christina did not refuse the offer. Getting into the car, she instructed the driver to head to the hospital directly. After settling the discharge procedures, she left with Sharon. Coincidentally, Miranda, who was visiting the hospital, witnessed that scene. ¡°That damn girl is actually picking that b*tch up from the hospital in a Rolls¨CRoyce!¡± she snarled through gritted teeth. As she recalled the few ps she had suffered courtesy of Christina at Radiant Corporation the other day, she felt her face stinging hotly even then. Emilia supported Miranda, likewise green with envy. ¡°Why is Christina so lucky? What¡¯s so great about her?¡± I was the one who enjoyed the best of everything since young. Why have things turned the other way around now that we¡¯ve grown up? I¡¯ve failed to secure both acting and endorsement deals. Worse still, I¡¯ve even been cklisted by allizens. The movies I acted in previously have been taken off the shelves, and all my peers are condemning me for dragging them down with me. Absolutely no one is willing to work with me! The instant Miranda remembered that it was because of Christina that she was kicked out of the house, fury brewed within her. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely have my revenge one day!¡± Someday, my chance wille! Emilia¡¯s gaze darkened frightfully. Well, there¡¯s always a way out. Taking out her phone, she called a woman she was previously acquainted with. She made the woman¡¯s acquaintance when she went to a clubhouse to have some fun. The woman specialized in being a middle person who arranged for introductions between willing parties. In the past, she was reluctant to be part of such vulgar transactions since she was a celebrity. At that moment, however, it was her only way out. As soon as the call went through, she stated, ¡°I agree to the terms you proposed back then, Mdm. Gail.¡± On the other end of the phone, the woman was over the moon that she had obtained someone new. ¡°You should¡¯ve listened to me earlier. Docile and dainty types like you are very much in demand.¡± Meanwhile, Christina drove Sharon back to the old house. No one had upied the space for a long time, so ayer of dust nketed the furniture. The moment Sharon stepped into the house, the dust made her cough several times. ¡°This won¡¯t do, Mom. The air here is too bad. How are you going to live here with dust everywhere?¡± When Christina spoke, she felt as if she had choked on a few mouthfuls of sand. Even Sharon sported a frown, thanks to the dust in the air. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Everything will be fine after I¡¯ve wiped things down.¡± Christina swept her gaze over the dust littering the entire house. Considering the poor environment and air, coupled with the fact that her mother had just been discharged from the hospital, she simply could not help worrying. Taking Sharon¡¯s hand, she led her toward the door. ¡°How can I allow you to live in such an environment? Go back to Scenic Garden Manor with me first. Even if you want to live here, wait until I¡¯ve hired a cleaning service to clean this ce before returning.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. I can¡¯t possibly abandon her in such a dust¨Cfilled house when she¡¯s recovering right now. That had Sharon very much conflicted. ¡°That won¡¯t do. Mr. Hadley¡­ will probably mind, no?¡± Christina had been married for years, but the first time sheid eyes on Nathaniel was when she saw his photo on a youth magazine cover. Although Nathaniel had dropped by to visit her when she was sick, she was drained after the surgery back then and had little to no recollection of the meeting. Verily, that son¨Cinw of hers was too much of a stranger to her. Discerning her mother¡¯s concern at once, Christina reassured confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nathaniel is a great man. He¡¯d never mind your presence but wee you with open arms!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Still, Sharon turned her down. Christina heaved a sigh. To better convince her mother, she took out her phone and gave Nathaniel a call. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nathaniel answered the phone in no time. Keeping things short, Christina started, ¡°Your mother¨Cinw has just been discharged from the hospital today, but the house hasn¡¯t been dusted in a long time. Can she stay a few days at Scenic Garden Manor?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll go over and pick her up personally,¡± Nathaniel offered. Christina could hear someone reporting to him at the side and reckoned that he was having a meeting. Yet, he promptly put his work aside following her words. A wealth of warmth suffused her. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. My mother was worried about intruding on you and insisted that I call you to inform you about it,¡± she exined in gratification. In a sh, her meaning dawned upon Nathaniel. ¡°Hand her the phone.¡± Christina cooperatively ced the phone on loudspeaker before bringing it to Sharon. ¡°Mom, my house with Christina is also your house. You¡¯re wee to visit anytime.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s low voice sounded incredibly pleasing to the ear, tinged with a rare hint of gentleness. pping a hand over her mouth, Christina stifled a giggle. This is the first time I¡¯ve heard him uttering such polite words! Pleasure flooded Sharon, and she replied with a chuckle, ¡°All right, Nathaniel.¡± Subsequently, Christina retrieved her phone. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bring my mother back to Scenic Garden Manor first, then. Are youing home for dinner tonight?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Nathaniel answered. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina brought Sharon downstairs. Then, they headed back to Scenic Garden Manor. No sooner had they stepped in the door than Christina introduced Sharon to Raymond. When the help at home learned that Sharon was Christina¡¯s mother, they were also exceedingly respectful toward her. Raymond had the kitchen brew some nourishing soup and cook a few more dishes. That evening, Nathaniel came home earlier than usual. Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 The Nasty Aunt Nathaniel stepped forward to greet Sharon. ¡°Mom.¡± He might not be a man of many words, but his actions spoke volumes about his demeanor. Christina linked arms with her mother and Nathaniel, leading them to the dining table. ¡°Let¡¯s dig in. I¡¯m starving.¡± The three of them sat at the table and began eating. Christina was the only one chatting away during the meal. The household kitchen knew of her love for shrimp, and the chef would always prepare shrimp scampi when Christina was dining at home. Nathaniel dutifully shelled the shrimp for her while she nattered away. She made quick work of the shrimp and shot Nathaniel a doe¨Ceyed look of anticipation. Sharon watched on in disbelief as Nathaniel shelled each shrimp carefully and handfed Christina. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Is this really the proud, distant Mr. Hadley that everyone speaks of? I thought he would be some aloof man, but he¡¯s so sweet toward Christina! Back then, Sharon had been bedridden for several days after learning that Gideon had married Christina off to the Hadley family for money. Sharon cleared her throat and said, ¡°Christina, shell your own shrimp. Don¡¯t dirty Nathaniel¡¯s hands.¡± A CEO¡¯s hands are meant for more important things like holding a fountain pen and signing contracts. Christina pouted and defended herself, ¡°I¡¯d love to shell my own shrimp, but Nathaniel won¡¯t let me. He likes to do it for me. Isn¡¯t that right, Nathaniel?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He followed up with his brief reply by feeding Christina another freshly shelled shrimp. Sharon cringed internally at their public disy of affection. Although the butler and the help were usually immune to the couple¡¯s sappy behavior and Nathaniel¡¯s penchant for romantic and cringeworthy gestures, they happened to let down their guard then and squirmed. So¡­ cringey. After dinner, Christina apanied Sharon for a stroll in the front yard. The night breeze was rather chilly, so Christina draped her jacket over her mother¡¯s shoulders. She also held her mother¡¯s hand tenderly, just like in old times. The pair talked for a long time. Christina took the opportunity to thank Sharon for being with her while she worked through the rocky parts of her life. Sharon stroked her daughter¡¯s face gently and uttered apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry my illness has caused you so much trouble all these years.¡± The mention of her past always filled Sharon with a wave of guilt. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Mom. You¡¯re my mother. As my family, you¡¯re my pir of support,¡± Christina replied. reassuringly before enveloping Sharon in a hug. Sharon continued to stroke Christina¡¯s hair as tears welled in her eyes. ¡°Christina¡­¡± She had been concealing the truth about Christina¡¯s background for a long time. Is it time for me to come clean? But will she be mad at me and ignore me if she knows I¡¯ve been lying to her? I can¡¯t afford to lose this precious rtionship with her. Before she could utter a word, Christina piped up. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. The wind¡¯s getting stronger too. You should get some rest.¡± Christina settled her mother in a room on the second floor and even poured her a ss of warm milk. She only left the room once Sharon was asleep. When she returned to the room, Nathaniel was already out of the shower. He was scrolling the financial news on a tablet while sitting on the couch. ¡°You¡¯re not sleeping yet?¡± asked Christina while eyeing the contents on his tablet. He spends the daytime poring over documents and attending meetings. In his free time, he reads through more Anndurn and numbers. Aren¡¯t his eyes tired? Nathaniel looked up at her. A pair of sses sat neatly across his nose bridge. He exuded both elegance and austerity. ¡°Is Mom asleep?¡± he asked. Christina curled into hisp and mumbled, ¡°Mm¨Chmm. Fast asleep.¡± His fingertips massaged her head gently while his dark eyes red with desire. ¡°I have a business trip tomorrow and will only be back the day after. Take good care of Mom while I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°I know.¡± She smiled after their conversation and traced his handsome features tenderly. His features were angr but not too sharp like an Epean¡¯s. It made for an attractive face that could never bore Christina no matter how long she stared at it. She hooked her arms around his neck, nning to give him a peck on the lips. s, things heated up more quickly than she had expected. When Nathaniel left for work the next morning, Christina was still sound asleep in bed. As he was getting dressed, he noticed a few hickeys across his shoulder. That cheeky minx. Nathaniel did not forget to kiss Christina softly on her cheek before leaving the room. When Christina awoke hourster, she freshened up quickly and apanied her mother to do some shopping. The pair rarely had a chance to shop together and concluded their trip with a decent haul. It was afternoon by the time they returned to Scenic Garden Manor. The air in the house felt off the minute they entered. Christina thought she recognized the aroma of Earl Grey tea. In the living room, avishly dressed, middle¨Caged woman perched elegantly on one of the couches. The butler said to Christina cautiously, ¡°She is Mr. Hadley¡¯s aunt.¡± The woman in the living room was none other than Charlie¡¯s younger sister, Sierra Hadley. Christina strode into the living room and greeted their visitor politely, ¡°Hello, Aunt Sierra. I¡¯m Christina.¡± Sierra¡¯s disdainful gaze traveled up and down Christina¡¯s body. She scoffed and spat, ¡°I know who you are, you uncultured woman. I seriously question Nathaniel¡¯s taste.¡± Her words dripped with mockery. She did not bother to hide her disgust. Society often likened marrying into a wealthy family to taking a leap into the unknown depths of the ocean. Christina¡¯s own experience of internal feuds in the Steele family could notpare to the amount of infighting among the Hadleys. Sharon was even more concerned over her daughter¡¯s well¨Cbeing in the Hadley household after hearing Sierra¡¯s nasty remarks. Meanwhile, Sierra¡¯s gazended on the shopping bags held by the butler. They all had the logo of an eye- catching brand. It only convinced her that Christina was nothing more than a gold digger. Christina already noticed that the visit from Nathaniel¡¯s aunt was brimming with hostility. Worried that her words would agitate Sharon, Christina asked the butler to escort her mother upstairs. That did not stop Sierra from snarling. ¡°What a waste of money it was saving the failing Steele family. Does Nathaniel have any idea what kind of woman he married? He¡¯s too young and doesn¡¯t have our family¡¯s best interests in mind. Allowing a woman like you into our family will only disgrace the Hadley name!¡± Each merciless insult struck Christina like an unyielding brick. Are all the Hadley women born with such foul mouths? Haven¡¯t they heard of basic courtesy? Perhaps they¡¯re behaving so obnoxiously because they think my dignity is worthless. Christina brushed off thements and settled herself on a couch. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I paid for all these clothes. with my own money.¡± She had used her debit card instead of the ck card Nathaniel had given her. I can afford to shower my mom with pretty clothes and jewelry! Sierra was unconvinced. The money Christina spent was hardly more than a penny for the Hadley family. In her eyes, no amount of hard work on Christina¡¯s part could qualify her as a fitting addition to the Hadley family. Sierra raised her voice and said bitingly, ¡°I¡¯vee bearing a warning in the capacity of a family elder. You¡¯ve married into the Hadley family for nearly three years. If you still can¡¯t give us a grandchild, you can expect some divorce papers soon!¡± The living room plunged into silence. The butler and the help felt nervous for Christina. Ms. Sierra is a force to be reckoned with! Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Sierra Hadley Of all times, Mr. Hadley had to be away from home now. If Christina was bullied, they honestly did not know how to exin it to Nathaniel. Before leaving the house. Mr. Hadley has given precise instructions not to let any members of the Hadley family in¡­ He was worried that his mother woulde looking for trouble, but who knew that it was Ms. Sierra who came instead. I wonder who the person tending the door today is. How unassertive¡­ Christina picked up her cup and took a sip of coffee before saying, ¡°I appreciate your concern, Aunt Sierra. As for when to have children, it¡¯s a matter between Nathaniel and me, so you need not worry about it.¡± Old Mrs. Hadley didn¡¯t even hurry me in this matter. Isn¡¯t this aunt of Nathaniel too bored and looking for trouble? Sierra glowered at her. How dare this brat talk back to me! Who does she think she is? With a scoff, she lifted her cup of coffee and doused the younger woman. The scalding coffee sshed across Christina¡¯s body, leaving a red and burning mark on her fair cheek. ¡°Ms. Sierra, what are you doing? If Mrs. Hadley is scalded, you will be in big trouble. Mr. Hadley will surely question us when he returns.¡± Raymond and the housekeepers were dumbfounded and quickly went to get a towel to wipe Christina¡¯s face. Sierra red at Christina as if she was the source of all misfortune. ¡°Have you no manners? Do you know who you¡¯re talking to? People will think badly of our family!¡± The whole living room fell silent. Despite feeling anxious, none of the housekeepers dared to confront Sierra. Sierra had always had a reputation for being unruly. Even Charlie had to give in to her, let alone Nathaniel. She had recently taken a business trip abroad and missed Felicia¡¯s birthday party, so she had made a special trip home to make up for it. Madison had told her everything about Christina. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. She¡¯s a scheming little girl. I don¡¯t know what Nathaniel sees in her, but he¡¯spletely besotted with her. Unless she¡¯s reborn into a family of great power and influence, a woman like Christina can never establish a rtionship with the Hadley family in this lifetime. ¡°Mrs. Hadley is pretty nice and well¨Cbehaved. Please be more forgiving toward her,¡± Raymond defended Christina from the side. He was also standing in front of Christina, worried that Sierra would ssh coffee on her without warning again. As Sierra¡¯s gaze darkened, she pointed her finger at the butler and snapped, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can forget who you work for just because you¡¯ve been in Scenic Garden Manor for a long time. I was the one who brought you back to the Hadley residence back then, yet now you¡¯re defending this brat? Do you still know who you¡¯re working for? Get out of my sight now!¡± Only then did Raymond realize that he was in trouble. ¡°I just wanted to speak for Mrs. Hadley. I have no intention of disrespecting you. Could you please not dismiss me?¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Sierra did not bother to show any kindness. Christina stepped forward and clutched the butler¡¯s hand. As thedy of the house, she would not let ant outsider dismiss them. ¡°Raymond works in Scenic Garden Manor, so he¡¯s considered Nathaniel¡¯s employee. Aunt Sierra, you can¡¯t Before she could finish her sentence, she was doused with another cup of coffee. She showed no emotion when the scalding coffee sshed on her face, but her clear eyes gradually turned hostile. Bullying seems to be all I get in return for my repeated tolerance, isn¡¯t it? Without saying another word, Christina picked up her own cup of coffee and poured it on Sierra¡¯s body. ¡°Nice to meet you, and thank you for treating me to two cups of coffee, Aunt Sierra. This is my gift in return!¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Sierra was so angry that her face turned scarlet. It was the first time the housekeepers had seen her in such. a state of embarrassment. Her attractive face was coated with drips of coffee, and she also had coffee trickling from her drenched clothes and jewelry. Sierra was so angry that she wanted to hit someone, but having been raised well, she would not allow herself to act in a way that went against her upbringing. She held her breath and cast the other woman a vicious re. ¡°How dare you, Christina! I¡¯ll make you regret this!¡± With that, Sierra grabbed her bag and left in a hurry. Christina felt helpless as she stared at the older woman¡¯s retreating figure, which radiated resentment. I didn¡¯t wish to upset her, but she wouldn¡¯t listen to me. Forget it. I¡¯ll exin the situation to Nathaniel when hees home. In reality, Christina did not even need to say anything as Sierra headed straight to the Hadley residence. upon leaving the former¡¯s house. The moment she walked through the door, she grabbed her sister¨Cinw¡¯s hand and whined, ¡°Julia, your daughter¨Cinw is truly a shrew. She¡¯s so vicious! I merely went to talk her into giving you a grandson sooner, but I can¡¯t believe she sshed me with coffee! Don¡¯t you think she¡¯s awful?¡± She talked nonstop from the minute she walked into the house, giving Julia no chance to speak at all. In the past, Julia would have believed Sierra¡¯s words without any doubt. After all, she had also despised Christina. However, she gradually changed her opinion of her daughter¨Cinw over a time of interaction. In fact, she even felt that Christina had a steady temperament. Julia pulled Sierra to sit down andforted her softly, ¡°I don¡¯t think Christina will do such a disrespectful thing to her elder without any reason. Is there some sort of misunderstanding between you two?¡± Sierra looked as if she had seen a ghost. Are my ears deceiving me? I can¡¯t believe Julia said that I¡¯ve misunderstood Christina. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you, Julia? Have you been possessed?¡± Sierra ced her hand on her sister¨C in-w¡¯s forehead to check her temperature. She doesn¡¯t have a fever. Julia knew that her attitude was different from before, but she did not know how to exin it. Just then, footsteps sounded from the staircase. Sierra turned to look and eximed in surprise, ¡°Charlie? Why did you return to the Hadley residence instead of staying at that b*tch¡¯s house?¡± She had always been well aware of the rtionship between her elder brother and sister¨Cinw. He had not returned home in years and had been living in Linda¡¯s house. Charlie¡¯s initial joy at seeing his younger sister instantly vanished when he heard her question. ¡°How are still so easily startled at your age? This is my home. Where else should I go?¡± you Sierra returned to her old house and heard that Linda had been driven out of the family. However, due to the poisoning incident being so humiliating, everyone in the family kept it secret. Sierra did not know the reason for that, but judging from the current situation, she could tell that Charlie¡¯s return to the family was true. ¡°Aren¡¯t you two going to do something about your daughter¨Cinw? Do you know what the prominent families outside think of our family? She¡¯s a brat who acts like a dignified youngdy and isn¡¯t willing to bear children. Does she think she¡¯s a celebrity or a princess?¡± Charlie remained unfazed. ¡°And here I was wondering what made you so anxious. That¡¯s a matter between the youngsters. We can¡¯t rush it.¡± Julia also quickly tried to smooth things over. ¡°It¡¯s rare for you toe back, Sierra. Stay here so we can chat more.¡± With that, she instructed the help to rece the mattress in Sierra¡¯s room. Then, the two of them went into the room and chatted happily. Sierra finally calmed down after that. The next day, Sierra attended the morning meeting as a shareholder. After the meeting, she asked Madison to meet her outside. Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 A Meal With Aunt Sierra ¡°Ms. Hadley, why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing back? I could¡¯ve picked you up at the airport,¡± said Madison with a smile. Madison¡¯s mother, Luna Lancester, and Sierra were best friends. In fact, thetter practically watched Madison grow up. Unlike Julia, Sierra wished Nathaniel could marry an outstanding woman like Madison. Madison¡¯s words put Sierra in a good mood. ¡°It¡¯s been six months since west saw each other. You¡¯re getting more beautiful and looking more like a matriarch now.¡± ¡°Stop teasing me, Ms. Hadley,¡± Madison said shyly, The two chatted happily for a while. The more they enjoyed their time together, the more Sierra found it a pity that Madison was not married to Nathaniel. ¡°If only you were the one Nathaniel married, I would be ted.¡± Madison was pleased to find Sierra sided with her.. It proved that she could easily take over Christina¡¯s ce in the future. Naturally, Madison seized the opportunity to criticize Christina in front of Sierra. She evenined to thetter that Christina constantly visited Nathaniel¡¯s office and interrupted his work. Sierra already despised Christina in the first ce. Hence, everything thetter did, no matter how insignificant they were, sounded like heinous crimes. Snorting coldly, Sierra said, ¡°That brat is being all arrogant just because she has Nathaniel backing her. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely make you his wife as long as I¡¯m alive.¡± In the meantime, Sharon said she wanted to return to her condominium after cleaning Scenic Garden Manor. She would not stay, no matter how Christina persuaded her. ¡°I¡¯m used to living alone. You and Nathaniel can visit me when you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll send you back, then.¡± Hence, Christina applied for a day¡¯s leave to send her mother back. The condominium looked brand new after it was cleaned. After helping to arrange the furniture, Christina prepared dinner and ate with Sharon before returning to Scenic Garden Manor. Christina went straight to her room to sleep. Wisps of moonlight shone on the bed in the middle of the night, revealing the nket that was kicked off the bed by Christina. The way she slept on her side lookedzy yet attractive, as if she was a kitten. Nathaniel had just arrived and still had the car¡¯s conditioning emanating from his body. Walking over, he ced the nket over her and kissed her gently on the forehead. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Christina murmured and turned around to continue sleeping. Nathaniel gazed at the woman, who smiled in her sleep, before taking a shower and leaving. Rays of the morning sun flooded into the room the next day. Christina turned around and pulled the nket into her embrace. It felt warm. Hmm? She had the habit of kicking her nket away when she slept. Hence, she would always be woken up by the cold. Why is the nket tucked firmly over me? I think I dreamt of Nathanielst night. Is he back? When she went to the bathroom to wash up, the sight of his suit in theundry basket confirmed her suspicion. He must be busy. He came home sote from work and left after only taking a shower. Soon, she arrived at Radiant Corporation. That day, Christina wanted to survey the stores and prepare a report. Coincidentally, Christina bumped into Sierra at one of the stores under her care that sold high¨Cend gowns. The two parted on bad terms previously, hence they did not look too happy upon meeting each other. Sierra¡¯s gaze was frosty as she said, ¡°Christina, you¡¯re a member of the Hadley family and have everything you need at Scenic Garden Manor. Why do you need toe out here to do such a lowly job?¡± -Looks like Nathaniel doesn¡¯t treat her as well as I thought. She believed Nathaniel was not the kind of person who would let his woman show herself in public. However, Christina had no intention of exining anything. After all, people who did not understand would never get it. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Even so, Sierra was an elder and Nathaniel¡¯s aunt. Christina did not want to make things awkward between Sierra and Nathaniel. ¡°Please take your time to choose, Aunt Sierra. I¡¯ll take care of the bill as an apology for the other day¡¯s incident,¡± Christina offered. She then turned to the store¡¯s salesperson and said, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for Ms. Hadley¡¯s gowns.¡± Before the salesperson could even respond, Sierra rejected the offer coldly, ¡°Do you have any idea how much the gowns here cost? Do you even have any money to pay for it? Hmph. You¡¯re still going to use Nathaniel¡¯s money, anyway.¡± What a joke. How dare a mere server offer to pay for my gown? Right then, the salesperson piped up, ¡°Ms. Steele¡¯s an internal employee, so she¡¯ll be given discounts. Besides, many of the gowns here were designed by her.¡± Every gown in the store cost at least hundreds of thousands, while the premium ones went up to millions and above. The ones designed by Christina cost several million and had the highest sales per month. Thus, her 2/4 gown. Regardless, Sierra still looked down on Christina. She¡¯ll never get into the Hadley family, no matter how great her skills are. Suddenly, a hint of slyness shed past Sierra¡¯s eyes. She randomly picked a few gowns and asked the salesperson to pack them up. When the two were left alone, Sierra said, ¡°Since you¡¯re paying for the gowns, I¡¯ll forget about what happened. Let me treat you to dinner tonight.¡± Christina was surprised, but she did not refuse. ¡°Sure. Where would you like to eat, Aunt Sierra? I¡¯ll book table.¡± Putting on an arrogant air, Sierra said, ¡°I said it¡¯s my treat, so I¡¯ll make the reservation. Don¡¯t bete.¡± With that, she saved Christina¡¯s number and left with the gowns. Dinner that night was held at Maple Hotel. It was one of the best hotels in the city and was famous for its desserts. Christina arrived at the private room by following the address. Food was already served, and several bottles of wine were opened. ¡°Sit.¡± Sierra ordered. Christina took a seat and scanned the table full of expensive dishes such as crabs, foie gras, and caviar. I didn¡¯t know Aunt Sierra could cat so much. Sierra¡¯s gaze was cold, and her tone was a pitch higher. ¡°Eat.¡± It left Christina feeling puzzled, and she wondered what Sierra was up to. That was when Sierra¡¯s phone rang. a After answering it, she said, ¡°I¡¯m stuck in a jam, so I¡¯ll arrive a littlete. Please help me entertain the guest first.¡± Sierra ended the call as soon as the caller acknowledged her orders. A jam? But she¡¯s having a meal with me. Christina was perplexed. Seeing Christina had stopped eating, Sierra urged. ¡°Carry on. I heard you¡¯ve got quite an appetite.¡± The truth was, Sierra had looked into Christina and learned that thetter had a shockingly huge appetite. Hence, Sierra figured Christina did not control her food intake because she never had enough to eat when she was younger. An awkward smile formed on Christina¡¯s lips. Who leaked this information? Nheless, she simply smiled shyly and continued enjoying the dessert. A glint shed past Sierra¡¯s eyes, and she cussed at Christina in her heart despite looking calm on the outside. ¡°Carry on without me. I need to go to the restroom for a while. Make sure you open that bottle of wine, too.¡± When she finished speaking, she got up and left. At the same time, Nathaniel and Madison were having a meal in the private room next door. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 She Gets Jealous Too The atmosphere seemed harmonious under the dim warm light. Madison was dressed in an elegant gown with her gaze pinned on Nathaniel, who sat across from her. They rarely had dinners alone, so she was thankful to Sierra for purposely making such an arrangement. I must make good use of this opportunity. ¡°Nathaniel, shall we have some wing?¡± Madison suggested. cing his utensils down elegantly, Nathaniel responded, ¡°As you wish.¡± Madison¡¯s heart surged with joy, and she quickly got a waiter to serve them a bottle of wine. She had prepared a lot for their date that night. For example, she had picked a strong wine that could liven things up. Meanwhile, Nathaniel nced at his phone screen to find that Sierra was now thirty minuteste. Hence, he did not think it was necessary for him to wait anymore. He wiped his lips with a napkin and rose to his feet. ¡°Nathaniel, where are you going? The wine isn¡¯t here yet,¡± said Madison in confusion. ¡°You can have it while waiting for Aunt Sierra.¡± He then strode to the door and opened it to find Sierra exiting the other room. Immediately, his gaze darkened, for he had a bad feeling.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Sensing he was about to leave, Sierra quickly put on a smile. ¡°Oh, my darling nephew. Did you miss me?¡± Apart from his parents, Sierra was the only rtive who kept himpany all year round. His parents were always busy with work when he was younger. Thus, Sierra was the one who attended most of his parent¨Cteacher conferences. Naturally, he still respected his aunt. ¡°Yes,¡± answered Nathaniel robotically. Sierra smiled satisfactorily and brought him back to the private room. ¡°Let¡¯s continue eating. I¡¯d like to chat with you.¡± The look of dejection on Madison¡¯s face vanished the moment she saw Nathaniel return. After bringing him to his seat, Sierra poured him a ss of wine. Just like that, Christina was left alone in the room next door for one hour while the trio chatted happily. She wanted to go home, but she did not think it was polite to leave without informing the older woman. Besides, she did not stay idle since there was a waiter who kept bringing in new dishes. Right then, she identally ate a piece of pepper, which made her tear up from the spice. She felt better only after taking 1/4 several gulps of wine. After that, Christina tried calling Sierra, but thetter did not pick up. Don¡¯t tell me Aunt Sierra forgot all about me and went home already? At that thought, Christina decided not to wait anymore. It was only when she had exited the room did she remember she had forgotten about her handbag. The wine was getting to her head, making her lose her sense of direction. Without realizing it, she opened the door to another room, only to meet three pairs of Silence hung in the air, and the atmosphere gradually became awkward. Christina¡¯s eyes went wide instantly; she even sobered up a little. eyes. All that traffic jam Aunt Sierra was talking about was just an excuse to stall for time. Her objective was to dump me here so she could bring Nathaniel and Madison together! Christina¡¯s face grew hot in an instant. She stared at the trio, feeling tricked and aggrieved. However, Sierra simply frowned without feeling the slightest bit guilty. Instead, Sierra cursed inwardly, wondering how Christina knew she was there. ¡°Who told you toe here? Go back to your private room,¡± ordered Sierra. She¡¯s interrupting our conversation. Feelings of anger and injustice flooded Christina¡¯s heart while her eyes and nose reddened. Nheless, she was feeling bolder after having the wine. ¡°Aunt Sierra, are you able to digest all that food from two separate rooms?¡± ¡°You brat! How dare you speak to your elder like that?¡± Sierra was enraged. At the same time, Nathaniel, who was sitting in the corner, had a grim look on his face. He approached Christina and examined her flushed face. She looked like a poor animal that had gotten lost. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to not simply take alcohol when you¡¯re outside?¡± His maic voice wasced with affection and concern. Christina merely sniffled and said nothing. I¡¯m such an idiot. I can¡¯t believe I got tricked by Aunt Sierra. Knowing how awful she felt, Nathaniel bent over and picked her up. Before leaving, he turned around slightly and warned, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t pull such tricks in the future, Aunt Sierra.¡± With that, he marched off with a drowsy Christina in his arms. Sierra was wholly stunned. She couldn¡¯t believe Nathaniel would speak to a woman with such a gentle tone. More importantly, Sierra never expected him to speak to her so threateningly. To Sierra, Christina was like a vixen who ruined her nephew. After all, the Nathaniel she remembered could never show emotions like that. Of course, Madison seized the opportunity to insult Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Ms. Hadley. It¡¯s normal.¡± ¡°How is this normal? Christina¡¯s going to ruin Nathaniel¡¯s life in the future!¡± Sierra sighed, feeling angry and exasperated. Meanwhile, Christina pressed her face against Nathaniel¡¯s chest in the moving car. His scent was comforting to her. If she had known that Nathaniel was right next door, she would have gone over instead of letting Madison take advantage of the situation. After all, Madison was someone Christina vowed to be wary of. Christina knew full well Madison was not that simple. Thetter was a scheming and dangerous woman. There was no guarantee nothing would happen, even if Christina knew Nathaniel would never fall for Madison. Right then, Christina tugged at his tie and narrowed her bright eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to be alone with Madison in the future, understand?¡± After giving it some thought, she added. ¡°Not even at work or any other asion!¡± Nathaniel lowered his gaze a little, noting the jealousy on her face. The aroma of alcohol intertwined with her natural fragrance was a captivating blend. Nathaniel raised a brow and smirked. ¡°My wife gets jealous, too, huh?¡± Christina pouted, her silence a tacit confirmation. Seeing she refused to give in, Nathaniel teased, ¡°I wonder who let other women enter my room back then. And now, she isn¡¯t admitting she¡¯s jealous.¡± This is an old story already. How does he still remember it? Tsk. How petty. Biting her lip, Christina snapped, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m jealous. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m getting jealous of someone else. I¡¯m jealous because of my husband, and that¡¯s only right!¡± Her defiant expression made Nathaniel chuckle. He gently grabbed her chin and stared straight into her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say, okay?¡± Christina nodded, pleasantly surprised by his words. For some reason, she felt as if she was losing herself in his charm. At that, Nathaniel lowered his head and nted a kiss on her lips. The next day, Nathaniel purposely dropped Christina off at the office¡¯s entrance. Her colleagues who arrived for work in the morning witnessed the scene and were green with envy. Christina got to work as soon as she arrived at the office. The product needed to be created once the design drawing waspleted, and all those were demanding tasks. She was so busy that she only had a simple lunch before returning to the tailor room. It took two rings before she answered Gideon¡¯s call. ¡°Christina, I bought some custard tarts for you. I¡¯m at yourpany building now. Should I send it up to you?¡± Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Do Not Visit Without A Reason Christina paused whatever she was doing immediately. Ever since the contract was signed and arge sum was invested into the Steele family¡¯spany by Nathaniel, Gideon never came looking for her once. Right then, she had a hunch that Gideon was up to something. Afraid Gideon might cause trouble at the office like Miranda, she said, ¡°Hold on. I¡¯ll head down.¡± She quickly hung up the phone and took the elevator to go downstairs. Even from afar, she already saw Gideon holding a box of custard tarts. Could he be concerned about me and Mom because he¡¯s gotten older? She approached him and greeted softly, ¡°Dad.¡± A grin formed on Gideon¡¯s face. ¡°Here you go. Your custard tarts.¡± Christina took the tarts that were still warm. They seemed to warm her heart, too. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d bring Mr. Hadley back for a meal? Why haven¡¯t you been home for so long?¡± asked Gideon with concern. He stared at her with a crafty look in his eyes. s, Christina was too focused on relishing the custard tart that she did not notice it. ¡°He¡¯s busy these days. Maybe he¡¯ll be free tonight.¡± This girl¡¯s so easy to trick. Secretly delighted, Gideon asked with a chuckle, ¡°Can you invite him for dinner at Laguna tonight?¡± Seeing the genuine look in his eyes, Christina said, ¡°Okay.¡± With that, she returned to thepany with the custard tarts. After taking a few steps, she turned around to nce at Gideon, wondering if her father, who had a poor reputation, was still worth trusting. Maybe I¡¯ll find out after tonight. That night, Gideon booked a private room and ordered plenty of delicious food that filled the entire table. Gideon did not want to be too stingy in treating Nathaniel to a meal. After all, he needed to rely on the latter in the future to live afortable life. That night, Christina showed up on time. ¡°Why are you alone, Christina? Where¡¯s Mr. Hadley?¡± Gideon could not spot the person he was hoping to see, no matter how hard he craned his neck. ¡°He has something going on, so he can¡¯t make it,¡± said Christina while stepping into the room. Truth was, she did not inform Nathaniel, for she wanted to check out the situation. Gideon was displeased, but he did not show it. Following that, the two sat down to begin the meal. Before Christina had even served herself the food, Gideon pulled up a document and ced it in front of her. ¡°Christina, this is my new agreement. I need you to bring it back and have Mr. Hadley sign it,¡± he said. The atmosphere changed all of a sudden. Christina frowned, surprised to find that he was revealing his intentions so soon. It has only been two months since Nathaniel invested in Steele Group. Why is he asking for money so soon? With a bright smile, Gideon said, ¡°Once this agreement is signed, I¡¯ll bring you and your mom to Horbah for a trip. What do you think?¡± Christina flipped the agreement open and stared at the numbers on the paper. Fifty million? Rage surged within her. He¡¯s really a ruthless person! She shut the folder curtly. ¡°You can enjoy this trip to Horbah with Emilia instead. Mom and I won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± When she finished speaking, she stood up and walked to the door. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Gideon hurried after her and grabbed her hand, failing to put up with the act thanks to her indifferent attitude. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? I¡¯m just asking you to do me a favor by getting the agreement signed. It¡¯s not like your husband¡¯s penniless!¡± Why is this brat so dense? Christina lowered her gaze, making her eyshes conceal the disappointment in her eyes. Just when I thought he had turned over a new leaf. Turns out he takes me for a cash cow. Turning around, she chided, ¡°Can you not be so selfish and think of me for once? How am I supposed to stay in the Hadley family if the news about our family shamelessly asking them for money were to spread?¡± She had been criticized for her background and identity ever since she joined the Hadley family. Julia disdained her; Sierra looked down on her; even the surrounding people insulted her. And now, her father was also trying to force her to her lowest. Unfortunately, Gideon did not register a single word she said. He shoved the agreement into her arms, saying, ¡°What are you yapping about? It¡¯s just a signature. The money he wired back then was used to fix the losses. These are thetest ounts. They¡¯re different.¡± Christina steeled herself and pushed his hand away. ¡°Go get it signed yourself if that¡¯s what you want, but don¡¯t you ever use my name.¡± Having said that, she stormed out of the room without turning back, no matter what Gideon yelled behind her. As Gideon watched the young woman leave, the idea of thetter not helping him anymore sank in, and his face turned red with fury. ¡°What a heartless brat. I can¡¯t believe she refused a tiny favor.¡± He was stumped. Previously, he had finally patched up thepany¡¯s losses. However, he recently lost a huge sum from failed investments, so they were back to being in the red again. This time, he had no idea where to get the money to salvage the situation. ¡°Are you Christina¡¯s father?¡± A woman appeared from the private room behind him. Her gaze that was pinned on him was cold. Eyeing the stranger before him, Gideon asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Madison Taggart, the assistant of Hadley Corporation¡¯s CEO,¡± Madison announced. Gideon¡¯s eyes instantly lit up. He could not believe his luck at being able to meet such a big shot. ¡°I need to see Mr. Hadley for some matters. Can you help me with it?¡± Having heard the conversation between the father and daughter earlier, Madison knew exactly what he was trying to do. Her lips curled into a malicious smile. ¡°Yes, but you need to cooperate with me.¡± Gideon agreed without hesitation, for he did not care what the woman had in mind. All that mattered was that she could help him with what he wanted. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± At first. Christina thought Gideon would keep pestering her as Miranda did. Surprisingly, he never showed up for the past two weeks. Perhaps he¡¯s not pestering me because he knows I won¡¯t help him anymore. After work that night, Christina went over to Hadley Corporation as usual to wait for Nathaniel. On days when Nathaniel was busier, she would upy the table at the side to work on her designs or do her own stuff. They shared a space where they could look up and see the other person working seriously. It gave them at feeling that could not be expressed with words. Sebastian and Madison were present when Christina arrived at Nathaniel¡¯s office. The two had grim expressions, and their gazes were filled with guilt. Did something happen at thepany? Nathaniel¡¯s expression was stern, his brows were frightfully knitted, and his straightened back made him look even colder. ¡°This matter must be taken care of properly. Get out.¡± Sebastian and Madison gave a brief answer. Just as they were about to leave, Christina noticed the document on the table. Immediately, she froze. It was the same agreement she saw when she met Gideon the other day. How did it still reach Nathaniel when I¡¯ve already rejected him? ¡°Hold on. Don¡¯t leave,¡± Christina called out. She then picked up the document and asked. ¡°Who gave this document to Nathaniel?¡± The other two halted in their tracks and exchanged nces before Madison admitted, ¡°It was I who delivered it. Right then, everything seemed to slow to a halt. Anger shed in Christina¡¯s eyes as she questioned, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about it? Why did you deliver my father¡¯s document? Are you the Steele family¡¯s daughter?¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Loss Of Thirty Million Madison froze. As the expression on her face shifted, she exined, ¡°Mr. Steele came to me with the document, and I only brought it to Mr. Hadley for him to sign it because Mr. Steele was your father, Mrs. Hadley. How would I have known that Mr. Steele would provide such shoddy quality materials, let alone know that your rtionship with him was bad? I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d look for an outsider¡¯s help instead of going to his own. family.¡± In other words, she was putting all the me onto Christina and also implying that Christina was not a good daughter. When Christina figured that out, she curled her lips into a sneer. ¡°I¡¯d like to ask if you¡¯re doing this out of personal desires or if you¡¯re just doing your job.¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m just doing my job,¡± Madison said, albeit a little weakly. What is this woman trying to say? Staring at Madison, Christina uttered, ¡°So you were just doing your job? Then why couldn¡¯t you follow up on this matter and make sure that there weren¡¯t any errors before passing the documents to Nathaniel? Despite being the CEO¡¯s assistant, you¡¯re not all that capable, are you?¡± Christina had sessfully forced Madison to take responsibility for the matter again. D*mn it, why is this b*tch so hard to deal with? Madison was already panicking. She had been preupied with the thoughts of how she should set Christina up, so she had not dwelled on Gideon¡¯s matter at all. ¡°I just thought that Mr. Steele was your father, so¡­ I¡¯m sorry. This was my mistake. I¡¯ll make up for the loss.¡± Madison had decided to admit to her mistake instead of ruining her reputation in front of Nathaniel. Seemingly satisfied with Madison¡¯s answer, Christina dropped the matter. She then walked over to Madison and said firmly, ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to make up for the loss, but I hope you won¡¯t let your feelings meddle with your work so that you won¡¯t cause any loss to the company again. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± The more words Madison heard, the darker her expression became. ¡°Of course,¡± was all she could say before turning to leave¡­ Who does she think she is to order me around? I¡¯m going to make her pay the price for humiliating me like this today! The atmosphere in the office was tense. Christina then picked up the document to stare at the numbers on the paper, feeling frustrated and troubled. Thirty million. How am I going to get this much money? I wouldn¡¯t feel bad if I was using this on my mother or grandmother, but if it¡¯s scum like Gideon I¡¯m giving the money to¡­. ¡°Let me repay you ten percent of this total first. I¡¯ll repay the rest to you every month- Before she could finish her sentence, a bony hand grabbed her. As Nathaniel¡¯s sharp gazended on her face, he said, ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours. You don¡¯t need to draw such a clear line between our finances.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, can you please don¡¯t hide the fact that you¡¯re helping Gideon from me from now on?¡± Christina somberly asked. She did not want to owe any favors on Gideon¡¯s behalf. Nathaniel squeezed her cheeks and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, in the next second, Christina was kissed by a pair of warm lips. It felt as if her entire body was set on fire. Her gaze turned unfocused. Right then, a set of footsteps sounded by the doorway. Christina shyly pushed Nathaniel away, her face red and her voice hoarse. ¡°We¡¯re in the office. Mind your image. I¡¯m going to go back first.¡± She took her bag and turned to leave. Nathaniel bit his lip, seemingly mulling over what just happened. Just as Christina returned to Radiant Corporation, Gina led a fashionably¨Cdressed woman over to her. ¡°Christina, this is Shelley Jansson. She¡¯s new to thepany, and she¡¯ll be your assistant from now on.¡± Sure enough, they were busytely, and Christina could not deal with everything by herself. Still, Christina realized that it was impossible for Shelley to be a nobody if she could be the group leader¡¯s assistant right as she joined thepany. Even Gina had personally assigned Shelley her work. Once Gina introduced them, she left to go back to her office. ¡°Ms. Steele, is there anything I can help you with?¡± Shelley asked with a smile. Christina then assigned some tasks to her. Once Shelley received her instructions, she headed off to work on her tasks. Christina found herself rather content with Shelley after a week of working together. Shelley seemed like a daughter of a rich family, but she did not have the temper of a socialite, and she was capable of finishing her work on time. Most of the preparations for thetest show had beenpleted. The site was decoratedvishly, and it was clear that the employees in the Public Rtions Department had put much effort into the design. At noon, Christina and Shelley busied away backstage. From the start to the end of the show, the runway remained a morous ce while the backstage turned into a battlefield. Nevertheless, it was a scene that most experienced staff was used to. In the afternoon, the models arrived early for the practice. Christina and Gina were preparing the runway outfits¨Chigh¨Cquality dresses meant to be wearable for social events. It was a few hours before the start of the show. It seemed like some of the models were already exhausted, for they were asleep on the chairs.. When night came, the wealthy women arrived. A merry tune sounded out as the models dressed in luxurious dresses began walking on the Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Each dress had a unique design, and they were at the peak of their beauty under the lights. Half an hourter, the runway show ended, and the models reappeared on the catwalk. There were over a hundred dresses to disy, and the models were all wearing masks to let the wealthy women focus on the designs of the dresses. The wealthy women began to study the dresses. As there was only one dress for each design, each dress would belong to the one who was quickest to get it. In the meantime, Christina and Anna stood at the side and watched the scene. ¡°I¡¯m jealous. I hope I¡¯ll be able to buy clothes in this way in the future. I can simply choose the most expensive clothes after seeing the models in them.¡±¡± Anna¡¯s jealousy was evident on her face, and she was starry¨Ceyed. Christina was amused by her eagerness. ¡°Hiring models might not be as cheap as now by the time you¡¯re old.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I have to work hard to earn more,¡± Anna said with a chuckle. All of a sudden, an argument sounded out in the area. ¡°I was the first to fall for this dress!¡± ¡°So what? I¡¯m richer than you, so I should be the one to buy it!¡± Two wealthy women started arguing about their family histories andpany assets. The rest of the wealthy women merely watched them as if they were performing clowns. It was embarrassing for them to argue in public, especially since they were reputable, wealthy individuals. Hence, this was a rare asion to happen at the show. Unfortunately, both women were people that a rare few could afford to cross, so no one dared to step forward to intervene. Just then a tall figure stepped out from the crowd. Shelley walked to the middle of the two women and said with a smile, ¡°Ladies, please don¡¯t argue. If you both like this dress, you can order another one from thepany.¡± The staff was dumbfounded by how the rookie had gone over to y mediator. And how is thepany supposed to make another dress from the same design if these dresses are supposed to be one of a kind? Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 me Your Daughter For This When Christina realized that things were going south, she quickly walked over and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we discuss this backstage about whether or not this dress can be duplicated.¡± The point of the dresses was their uniqueness. If a duplicate dress were to appear, the prices of the other dresses would be affected. Shelley¡¯s usually smart, but why is she making a foolish mistake like this? It was only then Shelley realized she had said the wrong thing- However, when the two wealthy women saw the troubled look on Shelley¡¯s face, they abruptly stopped their argument. In fact, they started backing down and being polite to each other. The argument ended as abruptly as it started. Christina¡¯s role as a designer had allowed her to see all kinds of people, and wealthy women like those two were the hardest to convince. Yet, it seemed like they had changed their attitude because they did not want to put Shelley in a tight spot. Hence, Christina wondered, Who really is Shelley? Despite the minor unpleasant interlude, the show still ended smoothly. By the time everything ended, it was already past midnight. Right as Christina stepped out of the office, she spotted Nathaniel¡¯s car. After her kidnapping ordeal, Nathaniel always picked her up. Even if he was not free, he would send a bodyguard he trusted to fetch her. ¡°Ms. Steele, I¡¯m really sorry about what happened earlier. I know I nearly caused major trouble. Please don¡¯t be mad.¡± Shelley apologetically said. Christina patted her shoulders, not intending to berate her since she was a rookie who had yet to grasp all the rules of the workce. ¡°It¡¯s okay, but you should pay more attention to details like this in the future. Time to head home.¡± With that said, Christina walked toward the Maybach. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. In the car, just as Nathaniel put down a file, Christina handed him another. ¡°Send this to Gideon on behalf of Hadley Corporation and get the money back from him.¡± Christina had been contemting the matter the entire day, and she felt that this was the best way to deal with the issue. It was a hefty sum, and regardless of who would have to bear the cost¨Cher or Nathaniel¨Cshe would be livid. She had already done plenty for the Steele family; she was not going to let Gideon keep scamming her. What she was worried most was that Gideon woulde after them even more frequently if he got his way this time. Nathaniel nced at the document before turning to look at Christina¡¯s serious expression. He knew that she was not going to change her mind, so he agreed to it by passing the document to Sebastian and saying. ¡°Deal with this.¡± The next morning, someone woke Gideon, who was hugging a woman in his arms in a hotel suite. ¡°Mr. Steele, you¡¯ve spent three million herest night. This is the bill,¡± the manager calmly stated. The day before, when Gideon received a sum of money from Hadley Corporation, he immediately paid. off his debt before spending arge sum on entertainment. After a quiet curse, he took out his card and said, ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Swipe this.¡± The manager gingerly took it before swiping it with his card terminal. However, the screen told him that there was not enough credit on the card. As cold sweat coated his forehead, he said, ¡°Apologies, Mr. Steele, but this card has been declined.¡± At the same time, he thought, Please don¡¯t tell me I¡¯ve bumped into a fraud. My bonus for this month is at stake! ¡°Nonsense. My son¨Cinw transferred money into this ount, so how can this card be declined? Your machine must be malfunctioning!¡± The manager did not dare to cross him, so he changed to a different card terminal. However, the results were the same no matter which card terminal he used. In the end, Gideon was beaten up for his inability to pay the bill. The owner of the hotel only released him after forcing him to write an IOU. If Gideon could not clear his debt in three days, they were going to go to hispany to demand payment instead. Thus, Gideon rushed to the bank and started hurling insults at the bank staff, only to ultimately find out that Hadley Corporation was the one who froze his ount. Furthermore, Hadley Corporation was asking for him to return the thirty million. Gideon had already spent most of the money, so how could he possibly return that sum? Furious, he called Madison, ¡°Ms. Taggart, didn¡¯t we agree that my job is done after delivering a batch of scrap metal to the work site? Why is my ount frozen now?¡± Madison, who was in her office, had an icy look on her face as she replied, ¡°You¡¯ll have to me your daughter for that. She¡¯s the one who told Mr. Hadley to terminate your contract. She¡¯s also the one who wants to take you to court to get the entire thirty million back.¡± Madison never thought that Christina would be that cruel. It seemed like her decision to use Gideon to put Christina in a difficult position had been the wrong decision. Right as Gideon was about to say something else, Madison ended the call. Infuriated, he threw his phone. Christina, that d*mn girl! Not only is she not helping me, but she¡¯s even sabotaging my ns! Just as Christina wrapped up her work, she received a call from Sharon, who told her to take a trip home. Christina did not dwell much on it. It was only when she reached home did she realize Gideon was there as well. ¡°You¡¯re home, Christina. Come quickly. It¡¯s time for dinner,¡± he greeted as if he was the owner of the house. Christina was upset to see him. She could guess what he wanted, but she did not want to say anything when her mother was around. Once she entered the house, the three of them sat down and started having their dinner. ¡°Christina, this is your favorite dish. I bought this from Maple Hotel,¡± Gideon said, trying to butter Christina up. The smile on his face was so wide it was threatening to split his face in half. However, Christina pushed his hand away. ¡°You¡¯ve remembered wrongly. I don¡¯t like this dish; this is Emilia¡¯s favorite.¡± What she liked had never been served on the Steele family¡¯s dining table. Left without a choice, she only ate whatever was on the table. Gideon froze before letting out an awkward chuckle. This d*mn girl doesn¡¯t care that she¡¯s embarrassing me. huh? ¡°I should¡¯ve spent time with you more often. I¡¯lle back as often as I can from now on,¡± he continued. Christina ignored him. Sharon knew that the father and daughter were not on good terms. She wished that their rtionship would improve over the years, but her wish had nevere true. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of taking your mother back to the Steele residence. What do you think about it?¡± Gideon tentatively asked. ¡°I disagree with it. It¡¯s no longer our home there,¡± Christina promptly answered. Gideon had been downright ruthless back then, and Christina no longer had any hope for him. The constant rejection made Gideon red in the face from rage. ¡°We¡¯re a family. You can think of what happened in the past as my mistake, but can you please ask Mr. Hadley to not be angry anymore so that he won¡¯t ask me to pay him back the money?¡± As expected, this is why he¡¯se. ¡°You were the one who gave scrap iron to Hadley Corporation for thirty million. It¡¯s not something I can help you with. I¡¯d say you better pay them back as quickly as you can to avoid jail time,¡± Christina nonchntly said as she continued eating her food. Unable to stand it any longer, Gideon swept his tableware to the ground and bellowed, ¡°How dare you act in this way? Even Mr. Hadley dismissed the matter, but you just had toe after me for the money? You¡¯re an ungrateful girl!¡± This brat is outrageous! Christina¡¯s expression darkened as anger seeped into her eyes. ¡°If you want to throw a tantrum, do it in the Steele residence, and don¡¯t get me and Mom involved. We¡¯re not punching bags for you.¡± With that said, she discreetly messaged the bodyguard downstairs. ¡°You¡± Gideon was seething with rage. Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Miranda And Her Devious Scheme ¡°Oh,e on. You have no real intention of living with us. You should¡¯ve thought about these consequences when you insisted on divorcing Mom all those years ago,¡± Christina snapped, a hint of resentment in her voice. Does he have any idea how I survived my childhood? Does he know what it feels like to be down and out? With no home to go back to? ¡°Aren¡¯t you very good at exploiting your daughters?¡± she added wryly. ¡°Since you still have one unmarried daughter, why don¡¯t I introduce you to a wealthy family in the city? Their eldest son is notorious for abusing women.¡± Needless to say. Gideon was seething with rage. ¡°Y¨CYou se*mbag! How can you be so cruel toward your own sister?¡± Christina, however, remained unperturbed. Ha! What a joke. He didn¡¯t have a problem selling me away back then, yet he can¡¯t bear to do the same to Emilia¡­ Why is there a double standard? Aren¡¯t I also his flesh and blood? Just as Gideon was about to say something else, Christina¡¯s bodyguard rushed upstairs after receiving her text. ¡°Throw him out. I don¡¯t want him ruining my meal with my mother,¡± Christina said coldly. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Gideon cursed at the top of his lungs as the bodyguard dragged him away, and within seconds, the condominium was quiet once again. Christina hurriedly grabbed a broom to clean up the broken ceramic pieces before mopping the floor thoroughly with water. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Christina. He¡¯s not worth it,¡± Sharon coaxed, though deep down, she was also emotionally overwhelmed. Judging by how Gideon and Christina were always jumping down each other¡¯s throats, it wouldn¡¯t take a genius to figure out that thetter must have suffered a lot at her parents¡® hands. Christina gently clutched her mother¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯ve finallye to your senses, Mom. I was so worried you¡¯d tell me to listen to him.¡± As far as she could remember, Sharon had always been weak and never had the guts to speak up for herself. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I know it¡¯s unfilial of me, but L¡­¡± Christina added before her voice trailed off. Her actions might be harsh, but she had no other option. After all, Gideon had gone from bad to worse, and if she didn¡¯t stop him, there would undoubtedly be dire consequences. That said, if he saw the error of his ways and stopped making mistakes, he should still be able to bounce back from the setback. Sharon, however, felt horrible knowing that Christina was ming herself. Fine. I suppose it¡¯s time to reveal the secret I¡¯ve kept all these years¡­ The next second, she led her daughter into the bedroom and retrieved a metal box from the wardrobe. Upon opening the box to reveal a gorgeous emerald pendant, she promptly ced it around Christina¡¯s neck. ¡°Mom, when did you stash away such a valuable emerald pendant?¡± thetter eximed. Wow. This is an imperial emerald and a small piece of it easily costs a fortune! Unfortunately, after much contemtion, Sharon decided against sharing the truth with Christina. I might lose my beloved daughter if she knew the truth. I really can¡¯t bring myself to do this¡­ ¡°This is a family heirloom, so you must keep it safe and never lose it. Understood?¡± Sharon finally said as she hugged her daughter. Even when I die, Christina can use this emerald pendant to track down family members rted to her true parentage. That way, she won¡¯t be lonely anymore¡­ For now, though, I shall be selfish and have her all to myself. Thankfully, Christina couldn¡¯t understand the look in her mother¡¯s eyes and merely thought the older woman was reminiscing the past. Later that night, Christina waited until Sharon had fallen asleep before doing the dishes and taking her leave. By the time she returned to Scenic Garden Manor, it was alreadyte. Christina headed straight to the bathroom, and as soon as she was done with her shower, the sounds of a car engine rang out from the courtyard. Knowing Nathaniel hade home, she darted down the stairs and threw herself into his arms. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re back!¡± Christina shouted gleefully as she clung to the strapping man and basked in hist powerful aura. For some reason, hugging him made her feel safe. As Nathaniel caressed Christina¡¯s head, his eyes fell on the pendant around her neck. ¡°Did you buy this?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s a family heirloom from Mom,¡± Christina proimed. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s gorgeous?¡± With that, Nathaniel took a closer look at the pendant. Imperial emeralds like this are a rarity, and it does look old enough to be an antique family treasure¡­ Why do I find the phoenix emblem on it so familiar, then? s, before he could ponder further, Christina stood on her tiptoes and beamed. ¡°Oh, I have good news to share. The press conference was a big sess, and thepany decided to bring the team¨C building program forward!¡± Nathaniel met the woman¡¯s gaze. Team¨Cbuilding program? Is that the kind where everyone takes part in activities together? Sebastian has mentioned it before, but I¡¯ve never been one to participate in such large social gatherings. ¡°What¡¯s so fun about activities like that?¡± Nathaniel muttered with a raised brow. Christina shrugged. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good way for us to bond. Besides, do you know how boring it is to be in the office day in, day out? We¡¯ll be leaving this weekend for two days and one night. Since you¡¯re the big boss of Radiant Corporation, will you be joining us?¡± Before Nathaniel could reply, Sebastian interrupted, ¡°Mr. Hadley has never participated in these activities.¡± Christina nodded in understanding, though there was no hiding her disappointment as she sighed. ¡°I was nning to stargaze with you if you coulde along¡­ Oh, forget it. Get on with your work, then. I¡¯m heading back to rest.¡± As Nathaniel watched the woman¡¯s retreating figure, a glint shed across his eyes. Meanwhile, Gideon¡¯s face was littered with bruises after being beaten up by debt collectors. Since it was impossible to avoid them at home, he had no choice but to look for Miranda in the suburbs.. ¡°Darling, have youe to take me home?¡± Miranda asked cheerily when she saw the man. However, it didn¡¯t take long for her to notice the bruises on his face and figure out that something had happened back home. ¡°I¡¯vee to see you,¡± Gideon replied tersely as he marched into the house. ¡°Give me whatever jewelry and properties you have. I need to sell them to tide me over.¡± After all, he had given Miranda plenty of expensive jewelry over the years, so he was sure she must have stashed quite a bit of money away. ¡°You gave those items to me, and I even have them in my name. How can you sell them just like that?¡± Miranda retorted, her voice tinged with sadness. It¡¯s bad enough that he isn¡¯t here to take me home, but it¡¯s even worse that he¡¯s asking me for money! Annoyed and frustrated, Gideon decided toe clean to Miranda, ¡°I lost money in the stock market and ended up gambling even more away. I¡¯m neck¨Cdeep in debt, yet Christina refuses to help me! What a brat!¡± he exined beforeunching into an angry tirade about his daughter. Just then, Miranda¡¯s eyes lit up. Ah! I just thought of the perfect idea to deal with Christina¡­ She has given me so much grief, and I can finally seek revenge on her! With that thought in mind, she leaned into Gideon¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Darling, calm down. I know how to get Christina to hand you the money willingly!¡± ¡°How?¡± Miranda curled her lips into a smirk before giving Gideon the rundown. After hearing it, thetter flinched slightly. ¡°T¨CThat¡¯s not good¡­ What if Christina flies into a rage?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem. What matters is that she won¡¯t dare to go to the police or refuse to hand over the money!¡± Knowing that beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers, Gideon had no option but to give Miranda¡¯s n a go. When the weekend came around, Christina packed her bags and boarded the bus with her colleagues for their destination¨CWind Valley. Upon arriving at the site. Christina, Anna, and Shelley promptly dropped off their bags in their shared room and went downstairs for their team¨Cbuilding activities. Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Five Thousand Dors Spending long hours in the office would tire anyone out. It was a rare opportunity to let loose and have some fun. The vibe was lively, as the crowd consisted of young people who knew how to have a good time. The emcee called out for participants to join in on a game. ¡°Ms. Steele, shall we y too?¡± Without waiting for Christina¡¯s response, Shelley pulled her toward the stage. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to y,¡± Christinamented. She had never been one forrge, lively crowds. However, Shelley wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer. ¡°Come on, let your hair down and enjoy yourself a little.¡± The host took the mic and began exining the rules of the game, ¡°The guys have to pick up their female partners, and whoever drops their partner first loses. The winner gets a grand prize of five thousand dors!¡± The lure of the prize money was irresistible; Christina¡¯s colleagues, who had been hesitant earlier, were now frantically searching for partners. Soon enough, the pairs of contestants were ready topete. There was still one middle¨Caged finance manager without a partner. Hence, he walked over and asked, ¡°Ms. Steele, shall we team up?¡± ¡°Umm, L¡­¡± Christina was reluctant to be intimate with a stranger. It was a difficult choice to make. If she rejected him, she risked hurting his feelings. But if she epted, she would have to get too close forfort with aplete stranger. Just as she was struggling to decide, a tall figure walked up from behind her. ¡°Sorry, but she¡¯s taken,¡± the man said. ¡°My apologies, Mr. Hadley.¡± The finance manager paled with fear and hurriedly left the stage. Although the prize money of five thousand dors was very tempting, offending Nathaniel would be a career¨Cending move. Christina blinked her eyes in surprise and asked, ¡°Nathaniel, why are you here?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t let you hug and cuddle with other men, could I?¡± Nathaniel snorted. Just then, the host announced the start of the game. Christina immediately jumped into Nathaniel¡¯s arms like a cute little bunny. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and her hands curled around his neck. ¡°I want to win the first prize. Don¡¯t you dare let me down!¡± Christina instructed confidently. With Nathaniel¡¯s impressive muscles, we have a sure win. The prospect of iming first ce and a cash prize of five thousand dors is simply exhrating! Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but smirk at how seriously Christina was taking thepetition for just a few thousand dors. He tightened his grip around her slender waist. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t lose.¡± Both of them stood close, their warm breaths wafting in a thin mist that settled on Nathaniel¡¯s nose. Due to their height difference, Christina spent most of the time looking up at him. However, her current position ced her higher, and the feeling of looking down on someone was quite pleasant! Christina took the opportunity to stare closely at Nathaniel¡¯s cold and stern face. His dense brows veiled profound and imprable eyes. The contour of his chiseled nose and the curve of his slender lips drew a perfect line, resembling a striking oil painting by a skilled artist. ¡°So handsome,¡± Christina muttered and blushed shyly. Meanwhile, several contestants on the stage were unable to continue due to their limited physical strength. Only a few pairs remained, and it seemed that the winner would be decided soon. All of a sudden, a phone rang, and all eyes turned toward the direction of the sound. It was Nathaniel¡¯s phone. Without hesitation, he reached out to answer the call. Christina had to rely on her strength to stay suspended on his body, like a ko clinging to a tree. The audience below the stage began discussing the matter. ¡°How can Mrs. Hadley be so light?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Mr. Hadley¡¯s strong abdomen muscles!¡± Several people took out their phones to capture the moment. It was a picture¨Cperfect disy of romance. The two remaining pairs had no choice but to give in, unable to withstand the strain of standing for nearly half an hour with the weight of another adult. In the end, Christina and Nathaniel emerged victorious. The woman hopped down excitedly. ¡°We won! I¡¯ll treat you to a fancy dinner tonight.¡± Nathaniel gave her a yful pat on the head. ¡°You go have fun. I have something to take care of first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She then rushed over to the host to im the prize. Her face lit up with joy as she held the envelope in her hands. There were still more activities taking ce, but Christina wasn¡¯t interested in them. Instead, she dragged Anna away to take photos. After all, the setting was picturesque, ideal for capturing moments in photographs. Christina snapped away with her camera as Anna struck pose after pose. ¡°Your photography skills are impressive, Christina. We don¡¯t need to hire a photographer for the company from now on. You can handle it all,¡± Annaplimented as she nced at the photos. ¡°I just learned it on my own,¡± Christina replied with a smile. When she was a designer, she thought customers would purchase the clothes as long as it was well- designed. Since joining Radiant Corporation, she realized that marketing,unching new products, retaining customers, and promotional activities were all important in generating sales. ¡°How¡¯s your assistant doing?¡± The duo sat on a bench and chatted for a while. ¡°She¡¯s doing okay but not as proactive as you were,¡± Christina answered. V Although Shelley could manage her tasks effectively, Christina sensed ack of enthusiasm in her work. Nevertheless, she had noticed that Shelley enjoyed standing quietly behind her and observing as she sketched. There were several times when Shelley startled Christina as thetter was too immersed in her drawings. ¡°I¡¯m nning to quit my job and start my own studio. Do you want to join me?¡± Anna proposed. ¡°Why the sudden decision?¡± Christina was surprised. ¡°I¡¯m still young, and I need to challenge myself more. I don¡¯t want to work for others forever,¡± Anna exined. For a few years now, she had been working at Radiant Corporation. She had joined thepany with the goal to learn as much as she could and pave the way for her future. But after all these years, she felt that she had learned everything she could. Moreover, she had gained valuable connections over the years. Hence, she decided that it was time for her to take the leap and start her own business while she still had the energy and drive. Christina was no stranger to the daily grind of the working ss, so when Anna expressed her yearning for freedom, Christina understood all too well. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re capable. How about we open a studio together?¡± Anna¡¯s eyes were filled with sincerity. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Christina replied. She had been in Radiant Corporation for almost a year and had gained invaluable experience and knowledge. The only downside was that she had to follow thepany¡¯s rules. ¡°Take your time to think it over. I¡¯m going to get a drink.¡± Christina strolled through the expansive area, marveling at the lush greenery that surrounded her. Despite its beauty, she couldn¡¯t help but notice that some parts of the valley still remained untouched and undeveloped. Lost in thought, Christina wandered aimlessly for a while before realizing she was surrounded by darkness. She looked back and saw only a narrow path of stones extending into the darkness. As she turned around, the streetlights flickered and went out, leaving her in utter darkness. The sound of the howling wind cut through the silence, making her feel like she was in a horror movie. Sweat trickled down Christina¡¯s face, and her heart pounded wildly. She started to run for her life. Suddenly, a deep male voice growled, ¡°Stop running!¡± Christina screamed and ran faster. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was a ghost or a thief. All she knew was that she had to keep running. The sound of chasing footsteps echoed behind her, and her panic intensified. Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she plummeted down into the abyss. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 What A Blunder A dull thud echoed through the silence. Christina fell heavily into what seemed like a pit, with the smell of dirt filling her nostrils and making her cough. She realized her ankle was injured as soon as she moved. Before she could react, she heard the sound of something heavier falling in beside her. ¡°Christina, are you hurt?¡± A man¡¯s low maic voice came through the darkness, followed by the faint moonlight revealing the man¡¯s face. ¡°Francis?¡± Christina was so angry that she hit him on the head. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me it was you earlier? You scared me!¡± Francis rubbed his head. He wasn¡¯t angry; instead, he simply chuckled. ¡°I told you not to run, so how could you me me?¡± He added, ¡°This area was rented out to a film crew for filming, and many areas are still under construction. You¡¯re bound to get hurt if you run around.¡± Christina rolled her eyes in frustration. No wonder the streetlights suddenly went out. The film crew had finished filming and left. What an embarrassing blunder I¡¯ve made! ¡°You need to call for help. I sprained my foot and can¡¯t move now,¡± Christina said, looking up at Francis. Judging from the length of time she had been falling, the pit was not shallow and was actually very deep. Climbing up without tools or assistance was impossible. Francis patted both his empty pockets helplessly. ¡°I was filming just now and didn¡¯t bring my phone. What about you?¡± Christina had brought hers, but it had fallen out when she fell. She sighed lightly, feeling as if even the heavens were ying a trick on her. They could only wait until someone noticed they were missing and came to look for them. ¡°It¡¯s just my bad luck,¡± Christina said, sighing. ¡°Don¡¯t be so down. So many people want to spend a night with a big celebrity like me, yet they never get the chance to. Yet, you sigh?¡± Francis sat next to her as he said that in a teasing tone. He added with a snort, ¡°I didn¡¯t evenin about you, but you¡¯re alreadyining about me?¡± Christina was amused by his teasing andughed. ¡°You¡¯re never serious,¡± ¡°Why bother being serious? Nobody cares about me anyway.¡± Francis said with a scoff. His father had not returned to his mother¡¯s vi recently, so she cried every day. He didn¡¯t know how to comfort her. He knew from a young age that some things were only temporary. One day they would have to leave, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold on to anything. Coincidentally, a director found him and offered him a job, and he epted it simply because he thought it would be a fun thing to do. Francis, who was usually carefree, was suddenly emotional, leaving Christina at a loss for words. The two sat together, not knowing how much time had passed until Christina started to feel sleepy. The cold wind kept blowing, making her feel even colder and more exhausted. Suddenly, warmth spread from her shoulders. Francis was dressed in an ancient costume for the film. Right now, he had taken off his cloak and draped it over Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t give me your clothes. You¡¯ll catch a cold and me meter,¡± Christina said, trying to return the cloak to him. In fact, she had a sweater on underneath, so it wasn¡¯t too cold for her. ¡°No need. I¡¯m wearing an ancient costume, so there are quite a lot ofyers.¡± Francis said, holding her small hand. Her hand was so cold that it felt like a block of ice. Christina gently pulled her hand back, wrapped the cloak around her, and stopped arguing. The night seemed endless, and they didn¡¯t know when someone would realize they were missing. They watched as the darkness gradually faded into light grey, then to pale blue¡­ Christina¡¯s eyes were already sporting dark circles. When it was a little brighter outside, the film crew, who had arrived early for the filming, finally discovered that the two of them had fallen into a pit. ¡°Francis, how did you fall in?¡± Several people brought a rope and pulled the two up. Christina¡¯s clothes were all dirty from the soil, and she found her phone next to the pit. When she picked it up and checked, she saw that she had more than a dozen missed calls. She hadn¡¯t returned to her roomst night, so Nathaniel must have been worried. With that thought in mind, she quickly returned the call and exined the situation. However, she didn¡¯t mention that Francis had also been there. After hanging up the phone, she thanked them and was about to leave. ¡°Your foot is injured. Shall I carry you back?¡± Francis said worriedly. Christina waved her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Nathaniel wille to pick me up.¡± If Nathaniel saw them, it would only lead to misunderstandings. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve been through adversity together, but you¡¯re now acting like you¡¯re trying to avoid me,¡± Francis said with his hands in his pockets and a hint ofint in his tone. ¡°Consider it as me owing you a favor.¡± After Christina finished speaking, she hobbled away on one foot. Her clothes were covered in dirt, and her hair was somewhat disheveled. Moreover, she was hopping away like a rabbit, so seeing her from the back was quite amusing. Christina hopped for quite some time and finally saw Nathaniel¡¯s anxious figure. The man¡¯s cold and handsome face was full of displeasure as if he wanted to question her harshly. Christina immediately pouted aggrievedly. ¡°My foot hurts so much¡­¡± Nathaniel¡¯s angry words were immediately dispelled as he gazed at her injured ankle with a look of concern. It was visibly swollen and red. He bent down slightly and picked her up. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see a doctor.¡± Back in the room, the doctor had just rushed over from the city center. After examining Christina¡¯s foot, the doctor provided some anti¨Cinmmatory treatment and prescribed some medication for her to take. ¡°Be careful and don¡¯t aggravate the injury, or else you won¡¯t be able to wear high heels in the future.¡± The doctor smiled. Although it was just a sprain and there was no major problem, if she didn¡¯t rest properly and caused her ligaments to be injured, she wouldn¡¯t be able to manage vigorous movements again in the future. After the doctor left, Christina dug out her pajamas from her luggage and prepared to take a shower. She had just taken a few steps when her body was lifted up. ¡°The doctor said not to move around too much,¡± Nathaniel said with half¨Clowered eyes. ¡°But I want to take a shower.¡± Christina blushed. Her clothes were covered in soil, and she needed to change before she could sleepfortably. ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± As he spoke, he carried her into the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, Christina was ced in the bathtub, and Nathaniel helped her take off her coat and sweater. Christina¡¯s delicate curves were faintly visible beneath her thin blouse. He lowered his head gently and kissed her thin lips as the smell that was uniquely hers entered his nostrils¡­ Christina pushed him away and lowered her head shyly. ¡°You go out. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Nathaniel stared at her reddened face and couldn¡¯t bear to tease her. ¡°Then call me when you¡¯re done with your bath.¡± Due to her ankle injury, Christina couldn¡¯t participate in any activities for the next two days. Since she could only rest in her room, she decided she might as well follow Nathaniel back. After she rested for a few days at Scenic Garden Manor, her foot finally fully recovered without any lingering effects. While Christinay in bed reading a magazine, Gideon called again. Although she had asked Nathaniel to pressure Gideon to pay back the debt on behalf of thepany, it was just a show of force, and no threats were actually carried out. They had given Gideon enough time to repay the debt. Was he calling to plead not to pay back the money? Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Christina hesitated for moment, but she still answered the call. ¡°Christina, I brought your mother to the Steele residence. If you want to see her,e and visit in person.¡± It was Miranda on the other end of the call. Her voice was sharp and grating. ¡°Why did you take my mother there? If you dare to harm her, I will not let you go!¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Threaten Christina Christina rushed to the Steele residence as fast as she could. They¡¯re too much! How dare they take my mom away while I¡¯m not around? Mom has just recuperated. She won¡¯t be able to take any more torment! As soon as she stepped into the house, she saw Gideon and Miranda sitting on the couch, leisurely sipping away at their tea. At the sight of the anxious look on Christina¡¯s face, they broke into a wicked smile. ¡°Where did you two trick my mother into going?¡± Christina cut to the chase and questioned them at once. Putting the coffee cup down, Miranda lifted the corners of her lips into a scornful smirk. ¡°What are you talking about? We are a family. Your mom hasn¡¯t been quite in the right mind recently. Your dad and I were concerned about her condition, so we sent her to a better ce for treatment.¡± Hearing her mention the word ¡°concern¡± is utterly disgusting. They¡¯ve never cared about Mom. There¡¯s no way they¡¯d change so suddenly. Fury zed in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Bring my mom back at once, or else I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± Gideon took out a psychiatric assessment report and threw it over. ¡°Your mom has been diagnosed with a mental disorder. You can¡¯t get her discharged as you wish. She can only be discharged after the doctor deems she¡¯s recovered.¡± Christina grabbed the test report, ripped it to shreds, and threw them at Miranda¡¯s face. ¡°You can fake the results. Don¡¯t think I can¡¯t find out where she¡¯s at, even if you all keep your mouths shut. I¡¯ll definitely report you two to the cops.¡± When she was about to turn away and leave, Miranda took out her phone and passed it to her. ¡°You can leave, but I doubt she¡¯ll still be alive when you find her.¡± It was hard to tell the exact location from the phone. All Christina could see was a sick bed in a ck, empty room and a metal chain secured around Sharon¡¯s ankle. Thetter¡¯s face was so pale she looked like a person on the verge of dying. ¡°Mom!¡± Even though Christina knew Sharon could not hear her, she still yelled out loud. Tears streamed down her face uncontrobly. It pained her heart to see her mother in that state. Miranda knew she had a hold over Christina when she observed how thetter reacted. ¡°Go ahead and call the cops! So what if they catch us? Your mom won¡¯t survive anyway!¡± Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes as she gritted her teeth. It¡¯s obvious she has already bribed the person on the other side. Even if I call the cops now, she¡¯ll still have the upper hand as it only takes seconds for her to make a call. That¡¯s why she¡¯s so confident and fearless. Christina figured she could only endure it for the time being. It won¡¯t be toote to settle scores with them after I ensure Mom is safe. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± she asked. That was the response Miranda had been waiting for. She exchanged a smug look with Gideon. See. I told you my n would work for sure. ¡°You brat, why do you sound so formal? We¡¯re a family. If you treat us well, we¡¯ll treat you the same way. Ask Mr. Hadley to give up pursuing legal action against your dad and unfreeze his bank card.¡± Miranda immediately changed her attitude and said ingratiatingly. Christina red at her coldly. ¡°Fine.¡± A smile crept up Miranda¡¯s face when she heard that. Brat! You won¡¯t be able to escape my clutches this time round! Before Christina left, she grimly warned, ¡°But my mom is in poor health. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll let you all off the hook if anything happens to her.¡± With that, she turned and strode out of the Steele residence. Sensing the forbidding aura radiating off Christina¡¯s body as she left, Gideon could not help but shudder. ¡°Will she go back and ask Mr. Hadley for help? We¡¯ll be in trouble if he takes his anger out on us.¡± Miranda snickered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. That brat values her mother more than her own life. She won¡¯t dare to take any risks.¡± She fished out her phone and dialed the ward¡¯s number. ¡°Take good care of that crazy woman. Nothing must happen to her.¡± Of course, since Sharon was still of value, Miranda had to take good care of her, at least until the day when she was no longer of use¡­ Soon, Gideon received a notification from the bank informing him that his bank card had been unfrozen. There was also a revocation of thewyer¡¯s letter, removing all legal actions against him. ¡°That¡¯s great. You¡¯re the best, Darling.¡± Gideon hugged Miranda. ¡°Now you know how great I am, huh? If you dare chase me out next time, I¡¯ll leave with other men,¡± Miranda threatened. ¡°No, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll even buy you the most dazzling gem when I have money.¡± Meanwhile, Christina sat on her office chair, feeling unsettled. She had no idea how Sharon was doing, yet at the same time, she dared not call the cops. Just then, her office door was pushed open, startling her. ¡°Christina, why are you in a daze? Did you forget that there¡¯s amercial shoot today, and you¡¯re supposed to go over to do styling?¡± Gina asked in confusion. Had the staff not called Gina earlier, she would not have known that Christina had not gone out yet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll head over there right now.¡± Christina grabbed her stuff and left. It was a deal she and Coco had agreed upon two weeks ago. Christina would be in charge of the makeup and styling for all of thetter¡¯s photoshoots. Upon arrival at the shoot location, she started bustling around and temporarily took her mind off Sharon¡¯sAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org. matters. After the shoot ended, Coco said with satisfaction, ¡°The styling you do is the best in this world, Christina. Wait till I¡¯m rich, and I¡¯ll hire your whole team to work only for me.¡± Then again, it was extremely costly to hire the entire team. Generally, it would easily cost hundreds of thousands for a highly skilled team to do one styling. Coco¡¯s current ie was substantial, but it was still insufficient for her to hire the entire team. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± While Christina was packing her stuff, the studio¡¯sdy boss approached her and handed her a name card. ¡°I see that you have a pretty solid foundation. The styling you did is very fashionable and aesthetically pleasing. I look forward to working with you again.¡± All that was on Christina¡¯s mind was Sharon¡¯s matters. She merely thanked thedy boss as she epted. the name card from her, then packed her stuff and left. -For the next few days, Miranda went increasingly overboard with her requests. First, she asked Christina to find some endorsement deals for Emilia. Then, she said she wanted a condominium in Baykeep. She had boundless demands, just like a bottomless pit. Christina mainly used her own savings to satisfy Miranda¡¯s requests. However, her savings were nothing but a drop in the ocean when met with Miranda¡¯s greed. If this continues, I¡¯ll go bankrupt even before I find Mom. It¡¯s a little tough to deal with that woman by myself. Amidst her contemtion, she decided to look for Nathaniel and discuss the matter with him. Christina arrived at the CEO¡¯s office, but before she could step in, she spotted Sebastian carrying a pile of documents heading inside. ¡°Are these everything Nathaniel has to deal with?¡± Christina was slightly shocked. ¡°This is the workload for the day. It¡¯s almost year¨Cend. It¡¯s expected that there are more matters to handle,¡± Sebastian exined. Christina¡¯s face sank. Nathaniel is already so busy¡­ I guess it¡¯s not a good idea to disturb him, right? With that thought in mind, she decided to back out. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Lifting his gaze, Nathaniel noticed Christina standing rooted to the spot, appearing restless. ¡°It¡¯s nothing important. I was just wondering if you could let Emilia get thetest endorsement deal for Hadley Corporation¡¯s shampoo?¡± Hearing her request, Sebastian cast her a strange look. What¡¯s wrong with Mrs. Hadley? Did her rtionship with her enemy suddenly get better? Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Find Out What Happened Nathaniel, too, felt something was amiss about this. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because she is my stepsister, and I don¡¯t want to strain my rtionship with my family,¡± Christina replied with a wry chuckle. Even she found that excuse hard to believe. Oh? She won¡¯t tell me the truth, huh? Nathaniel arched an eyebrow at her and said, ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± Christina felt relieved when she heard that. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll take my leave now so as to not disturb you any further,¡± she said and walked out of his office. Sebastian stared at Nathaniel with a confused look on his face. ¡°Is it just me, or is Mrs. Hadley acting a little strangetely?¡± Why would she ask Mr. Hadley to not take legal action against Gideon? ¡°Go investigate and find out what¡¯s going on,¡± Nathaniel ordered with a gloomy expression. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± After leaving Hadley Corporation, Christina made her way over to Radiant Corporation. She was walking past a store when she bumped into someone who happened to be leaving. Because Christina was a little absent¨Cminded at the time, she lost her bnce and staggered backward. ¡°Hey! Watch where you¡¯re going, you- Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Christina paused herself mid¨Csentence when she realized who it was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have a cold, and I¡¯m struggling to stay awake,¡± said Francis, whose voice sounded a little muffled because he had a face mask on. Oh no¡­ He must¡¯ve caught a cold that night! Christina¡¯s face was beet red as she helped him pick up the cold medicine that had scattered all over the floor. While doing so, the two of them noticed a camera pointed in their direction. Realizing that they were being followed by a paparazzo, Francis grabbed Christina by the wrist and led her into an MPV parked by the road. The driver quickly started the car and drove off. Christina was still struggling to catch her breath when her phone started ringing again. She reluctantly answered the call when she saw Miranda¡¯s name on the caller ID. ¡°I heard you¡¯re pretty close with Mr. Fernando. He¡¯s about to start filming a new show soon. I want you to 1/4 get Emilia a role in that show. It has to be an important role, okay?¡± Christina¡¯s expression slid into a frown when she heard that. Miranda had asked her to get Emilia a few advertisement jobs in just one week. Christina sounded a little angry as she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know Mr. Fernando, and I¡¯ve done more than enough to help Emilia! Stop asking me for more favors!¡± Honestly, you give these people an inch and they¡¯ll take a mile! ¡°You are in no position to refuse, Christina! Do as I say, or I will have the nurses feed your mother with hogwash!¡± Miranda yelled desperately. Christina exploded with anger when she heard that. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? I¡¯ll even send you a video of it!¡± Miranda snapped back at her and hung up the phone. She was certain that Christina wouldn¡¯t dare disobey her as long as she threatened the younger woman with Sharon. Unless, of course, Christina wanted to watch her mother eat hogwash. Christina got so mad that she wished she could p Miranda through the screen of her phone. How would I bring myself to ask Francis for such a favor? Maybe I could ask Nathaniel if he is sponsoring any films and get Emilia into one of them? She was snapped out of her train of thought when Francis whipped out his phone and called the film crew. ¡°You¡¯re looking for a fourth actress, right? I have a candidate to suggest. Her name is Emilia Steele. All right; you can save her that spot, then. Thanks.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes went wide the moment she heard that. Francis must have heard my conversation with Miranda earlier! That¡¯s probably why he¡¯s helping me out! ¡°I don¡¯t know how I could ever thank you enough,¡± Christina said with an embarrassed smile. Francis cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes as he replied, ¡°Then tell me why you have to obey that person¡¯s orders.¡± He could tell that Christina was extremely reluctant but had toply for some reason. What could possibly force this headstrong woman into absolute obedience? ¡°You¡¯re no match for Miranda when ites to schemes and trickery. I might be able to help you out if you tell me what you¡¯re up against,¡± Francis added. Christina hesitated for a bit before giving him a brief summary of the situation. Miranda was holding Sharon captive somewhere, so she had toply with Miranda¡¯s demands because she feared for Sharon¡¯s safety. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you find your mother,¡± Francis said confidently. Christina felt somewhat touched to receive help from someone during such a difficult time. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone help track her down right away. This is what I have in mind¡­¡± Christina then leaned in close and whispered her n into Francis¡® ear. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll y along and help you find your mother.¡± Christina returned to work at Radiant Corporation as usual after getting off the car. Little did she know, her strange behavior from earlier had aroused Nathaniel¡¯s suspicion. The men in charge of tailing her reported their findings to Nathaniel, and his face clouded over almost instantly. Why did Christina get into Francis¡® car? What were they talking about? ¡°Continue to keep an eye on her,¡± Nathaniel ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian had a bad feeling in his gut when he saw Nathaniel¡¯s icy¨Ccold expression. What would Mrs. Hadley be doing with Mr. Fernando? She knows how much Mr. Hadley hates him! Mr. Hadley treats everyone associated with Mr. Fernando as enemies! ¡°I have looked up Mrs. Hadley¡¯s recent activities. While I did not find anything out of the ordinary, I heard that her mother, Sharon Zapler, has gone missing after being brought back to the Steele residence.¡± It¡¯s likely that the Steele family is threatening her with her mother, but why would she not tell Mr. Hadley about this? Judging by the way she was hesitating earlier, I¡¯m guessing she had wanted to tell him about it. Maybe she just didn¡¯t know how to bring it up. ¡°Go find out where Sharon is.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Christina went straight to the Steele residence after getting off work. Gideon was out while Miranda was trying on andparing a few pretty dresses after returning from a shopping trip. ¡°There¡¯s no need topare those dresses. You¡¯re nothing but a disgusting homewrecker no matter what you wear.¡± Christina¡¯s icy¨Ccold voice ruined Miranda¡¯s mood instantly. The smile on her face slowly faded as her expression grew cold. ¡°I¡¯m simply spending the money that your mother refused to spend. I was able to rece her because she didn¡¯t know how to secure her position in this household. Instead of wasting your energy insulting me, you should ask your father to spend his money on your mother!¡± Miranda retorted with a gleeful smile on her face. It was as though she wanted to brag to the whole world about how she tore the family apart, forced Sharon out of the picture, and took over thetter¡¯s position. ¡°All you did was buy some good¨Clooking clothes. That¡¯s nothing to gloat about. The Steele family¡¯s prized possession is an emerald pendant that has been passed down for generations. It is worth tens of millions, ¨Cand my father gave it to my mother. He never asked her to return it even though they have been divorced for so many years now. That means you¡¯re not the one he truly loves!¡± Christina stated coldly. The look on Miranda¡¯s face changed the moment she heard that. I have indeed heard about the Steele family owning an emerald pendant that¡¯s worth a lot of money, but I¡¯ve never seen it after forcing my way in. I can¡¯t believe Sharon has been holding on to it all this while! Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Christina Confronts Miranda Christina could tell Miranda was really mad when she saw thetter¡¯s face turn bright red, She kept her feelings of glee suppressed and maintained a calm expression as she continued, ¡°The fact that my father was able to kick you out back then shows that you¡¯re not that important to him. When my mother was sick and had to be treated in the hospital, my father looked after her and fed her oatmeal. Has he ever treated you that well?¡± Christina even showed Miranda a picture she took the other day just to prove her point. Miranda was clenching her fists so tightly that she crumpled up the handkerchief in her hands. This b*tch is actually right! I never did receive such treatment from Gideon! He¡¯s spoiled because he always had someone around to serve him, so it is unlikely that he would feed another woman oatmeal! Even so, he did it for Sharon! He never looked after me whenever I was sick! All he did was drink and phnder his nights away! A huge wave of jealousy surged through Miranda, and she hurled the dress at Christina in a fit of rage. ¡°Get lost, you b*tch! You and your mother are unworthy of the Steele family¡¯s fortune!¡± Christina knew she had achieved her goal when she saw Miranda lose her temper. ¡°Why would we care about the Steele family¡¯s money when its prized possession is already in my hands?¡± she said with a disdainful sneer and strutted out of the Steele residence. Miranda¡¯s expression grew incredibly vicious after being taunted and provoked like that. She needed a way to vent all of that anger and frustration. mother¡¯s Having realized how little the pretty dresses were worth inparison to the emerald pendant, Miranda tossed the dress aside, stormed out of the house, and had her driver prepare the car. About half an hourter, Miranda arrived at an old psychiatric hospital. Sharon, who was curled up in a corner, got so scared that she trembled all over when the door to her room. opened. She had been locked up in there for seven days. Those people hurt her during the first few days and kept giving her injectionster on. Whenever Sharon felt sleepy and began to forget who she was, she would recite Christina¡¯s name in an attempt to jog her memory. She feared that she would someday wake up and not even remember her own daughter¡¯s name. ¡°Give me the emerald pendant, Sharon!¡± Miranda yelled as she walked up to her and pped her across the face. A woman like Sharon does not deserve such an expensive emerald pendant! Sharon¡¯s face turned red from the p, and the wound looked all the more obvious on her pale skin. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± All she got from the Steele family when she left was an old condominium unit. Naturally, Miranda assumed she was lying because she didn¡¯t want to hand over something so valuable. 1/3 She then had two nurses hold Sharon still while she pped her repeatedly across the cheek. Sharon¡¯s face was bleeding after about a dozen ps, and she had passed out from the pain. Still unsatisfied, Miranda had the nurses wake Sharon up with icy¨Ccold water. Sharon shuddered the moment the cold water hit her, and she was starting to break down mentally from the abuse. She felt really dizzy, and her memories were slowly fading away like sand in an hourss. ¡°I want Christina! Give her back to me¡­¡± Miranda snickered as she stared at Sharon, who was starting to lose her sanity from the torture. Knowing that Sharon was concerned about Christina instead of the Steele family¡¯s fortune helped quell, her anger a little. ¡°Christina isn¡¯t even your daughter! She has nothing to do with the Steele family! You sure are shameless for wanting someone else¡¯s daughter as your own!¡± Sharon shook her head and screamed at the top of her lungs, ¡°No! Christina is my daughter! She¡¯s my daughter!¡± Feeling dissatisfied that her question regarding the emerald pendant¡¯s whereabouts was still unanswered, Miranda grabbed a vase and smashed it against Sharon¡¯s head. However, she used too much force and ended up knocking Sharon unconscious again. The nurses grew a little worried when they saw that. ¡°How about we stop this here? At this rate, she could very well end up dead!¡± They were fine with holding Sharon prisoner, but they didn¡¯t want to kill her. Fine! If I can¡¯t get my answers today, then I¡¯ll just keeping back until she tells me what I want to know! Let¡¯s see how long Sharon can keep that little secret of hers¡­ With that in mind, Miranda let out a disdainful snort and let go of Sharon. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash, Christina.¡± Francis wanted to find out what was going on inside before taking action, but Christina refused to listen. She opened the car door and ran straight into the psychiatric hospital. After calling the police, Francis was about to head inside as well when a few ck sedans pulled up outside the entrance. A group of bodyguards then came out of those cars and charged into the building. Francis was surprised when he recognized Nathaniel¡¯s license te. What? Nathaniel? How did he find this ce so quickly? After hesitating for a bit, he told the driver, ¡°Take us back to the set.¡± Meanwhile, Christina had rushed into the office and looked up the patient records. After finding out that her mother was being held in a solitary ward on the ninth floor, she quickly rode the elevator upstairs. She was greeted by a dark and gloomy sight when the elevator doors opened. Screams and cries from the patients echoed throughout the hallway. After making her way toward the ward where her mother was locked up, Christina was about to reach for the doorknob when someone opened it from the inside. ¡°Christina?¡± Miranda eximed in shock. She was not expecting to see Christina there at all. ¡°Where is my mother?¡± Christina asked coldly while shoving her inside. She then saw Sharon lying unconscious on the floor before Miranda could say anything in response. Her mother¡¯s clothes were drenched, and her skinny face was all bloody and swollen up. It was truly a horrific sight to behold. ¡°Mom!¡± Christina cried out angrily. Her heart felt like it was being stabbed with a sharp knife when she saw her mother injured and shivering in a puddle of water. This is all my fault! I¡¯m sorry for letting you suffer like this¡­ Christina¡¯s tears kept flowing as rage filled her bloodshot eyes. She then grabbed a scalpel from the table next to her and began making her way toward Miranda menacingly. ¡°I¡¯ve done as you asked. You promised you wouldn¡¯t hurt my mother! You f*cking liar! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± The look on Miranda¡¯s face changed instantly. It was the first time she had seen Christina The younger woman looked like a vengeful spirit that hade to im her soul. get that angry. ¡°I¨CIt wasn¡¯t me who hit her! It was the nurses! I only came here to rescue her!¡± Miranda stammered as her legs gave out beneath her. She was willing to tell any lie in order to save herself. The nurses were just as terrified when they saw the scalpel in Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t us! She was the one who hit her!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! She had us hold the patient still while she beat her up! The patient kept mumbling the name ¡®Christina¡® before she passed out!¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Christina became even angrier when she heard that. The mes of anger in her eyes burned brightly as she stepped forward and grabbed Miranda by the hair. ¡°Tell me what you¡¯ve done to my mother!¡± she screamed while cutting Miranda¡¯s hair with the scalpel. Miranda was scared out of her wits at that point. Had she known Christina would show up like this, she wouldn¡¯t have beaten Sharon up so badly. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 The Wrath Of Nathaniel Miranda curled up into a ball and eximed with her hair in a mess, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina! Will you please forgive me? D¨CDon¡¯t kill me!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You two, hold her still!¡± Christina ordered coldly. Fearing for their lives, the nurses quicklyplied and grabbed Miranda on each side. Christina then proceeded to give her a taste of her own medicine by pping her repeatedly across the face. ¡°No! Stop hitting me! Stop it, I¡¯m begging you!¡± Miranda pleaded desperately, but Christina showed mercy whatsoever. d no Because she was hitting Miranda on both checks, it wasn¡¯t long before thetter¡¯s face was all swollen. Not only was she bleeding profusely, but she could also barely breathe. 1. up. Miranda was weakened so much by the beating that she slumped to the ground the moment the nurses let go of her. ¡°You b*tch! My cousin owns this psychiatric hospital! If you kill me, he¡¯ll definitelye after you!¡± she yelled weakly. Oh, that exins why the medical staff here would obey hermands. It¡¯s because she has connections with the person running this ce! Not that I care, though! Anyone who daresy a finger on my mother will pay twice as much! With that in mind. Christina gave Miranda a hard kick before picking Sharon up. Suddenly, Christina felt a sharp sting on the right side of her neck and saw the world around her start to spin. Oh no! I let my guard down! Thest thing Christina saw upon turning around was a middle¨Caged man in a doctor¡¯s coat leering at her before she passed out. ¡°You sure are bolding here all by yourself!¡± That middle¨Caged man was none other than Miranda¡¯s cousin, whom she had mentioned just now. He frowned when he saw the state Miranda was in and had the nurses send her back to the Steele residence. He then waited until everyone had left the ward before shifting his gaze toward Christina. She has got pretty face, fair skin, and rosy lips¡­ Heh, looks like I¡¯ve struck gold today! He then carried Christina onto the bed and tore open her shirt cor to expose her sexy corbones. The man then quickly took his white coat off and began unbuckling his belt. Bam! The door was kicked open all of a sudden. A group of bodyguards came rushing in a secondter and restrained him on the spot. ¡°Who are you people? I own this ce! Get out of here right this instant!¡± the man yelled angrily, only to have one of the bodyguards punch him in the face. The man fell to the floor with a loud thud and spat out a broken tooth. ¡°Y¨CYou thugs! I¡¯m calling the police!¡± the man screamed even louder than before. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you have the audacity to say that after what you¡¯ve done!¡± the bodyguards snapped back at him as they stepped forward and beat him up. The ward was filled with the sounds of his anguished screams and bones snapping. The first thing Nathaniel did upon entering the ward was have the bodyguards take Sharon to a hospital. His eyes filled with rage when he saw Christina lying there unconscious with her shirt ripped open. Nathaniel then covered Christina up with his coat before scooping her into his arms. The bodyguards stopped their beating and waited for his orders. The man had several broken bones and was bleeding from his mouth. ¡°Break his bones and get rid of this hospital.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Hadley.¡± The bodyguards continued the beating after Nathaniel left. Some of them did some digging in the office and found some dirt on the psychiatric hospital. Apparently, the hospital had locked up perfectly sane individuals and used prohibited drugs on them. Either one of those crimes was enough to get the hospital shut down for investigation. Christina was lying in a hospital bed when she woke up. ¡°Mom!¡± she called out while getting off the bed. Her blood pressure was still low due to the sedative, so she lost her bnce and fell down after taking a few steps forward. Nathaniel, who was taking a call outside the ward, rushed in when he heard themotion. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± he asked in concern while helping Christina to her feet. ¡°Where¡¯s my mother, Nathaniel? I want to see my mother!¡± Sharon¡¯s bleeding and swollen face was thest thing Christina saw before passing out, so she was incredibly anxious about her. ¡°The doctor says she¡¯s still unconscious due to the sedative, but the wounds on her face have already been treated. I¡¯ll take you to her right away,¡± Nathaniel replied as he led her to a solitary VIP ward. They could see Sharon through the ss window from outside. The swelling on her face was gone, but the blood vessels underneath the skin were still visible. She was connected to an IV drip, and there was a multitude of equipment beside her. Did the doctor say when my mother will wake up?¡± Christina choked out with her eyes red. Nathaniel pulled her into his arms and whispered. ¡°She¡¯ll probably wake up when the sedative wears off. You need to stay strong and have faith in her, okay?¡± Christina nodded and wrapped her arms tightly around Nathaniel¡¯s waist. She still remembered what happened before she passed out just now. I can¡¯t imagine what would happen to me had Nathaniel not shown up in time! I thought he would scold me for that stunt I pulled, but he¡¯sforting me gently instead¡­ That thought filled her heart with a warm sensation. ¡°Im sorry for not telling you about my n. I was too impulsive. From now on. I will be sure to discuss everything with you.¡± Nathaniel gently caressed her head as he said, ¡°I won¡¯t stop you from doing what you want. I just want to make sure that you¡¯re all right.¡± He didn¡¯t care if Christina wanted to plunge the world into chaos or start a global war. All he wanted wast to ensure that she was safe and sound. Good thing I chose not to reprimand her this time. That way, she¡¯ll stop hiding her problems from me in the future. ¡°I heard your stepmother is also being treated in this hospital. Would you like to go pay her a visit?¡± Nathaniel asked while draping his coat over her shoulders. Still furious about what Miranda did to Sharon, Christina replied coldly. ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Meanwhile, Miranda was lying on the bed inside a regr ward. Her cheeks were so swollen that she could barely speak. Gideon rushed over the moment he heard what had happened. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to mess with Sharon? You should ve just left her in the psychiatric hospital where we have her at our mercy!¡± he shouted angrily. Not only did she get herself beaten up, but she also let Christina rescue Sharon! We won¡¯t be able to threaten her anymore! Miranda¡¯s mouth was still aching really badly as she sobbed. ¡°You have to help me, Darling!¡± Their conversation was interrupted when Christina kicked the door open and red furiously at them. ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything about this, Christina! She¡¯s the one behind all this, so you can me it all on her!¡± As Gideon needed the Hadley family¡¯s help just to survive, sacrificing a useless pawn like Miranda was the most rational thing to do. Miranda gritted her teeth and red daggers at him. ¡°Gideon, you heartless b*stard!¡± Christina felt a shiver down her spine when she saw them turn against each other. These two are nothing but heartless monsters! I won¡¯t show them any mercy this time! Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 A p From Christina ¡°Have thewyer get ready, Nathaniel. I want Gideon arrested if he doesn¡¯t pay up in three days. Cancel all of Emilia¡¯s advertisement jobs, and take back all the money invested in the Steele family. From now on, I am no longer associated with the Steele family!¡± Christina said coldly as she turned around and started walking toward the door. ¡°This was all Miranda¡¯s idea, so you should only hold her ountable! Please don¡¯t take your anger out on me, Christina! I¡¯m your father!¡± Gideon pleaded. I will be truly done for if the Hadley family takes their money back! Noticing that Christina was still adamant about taking action against them, Gideon continued, ¡°If you¡¯re still angry at her, I could divorce her so you won¡¯t have to see her ever again!¡± What? Divorce? Miranda was so enraged that she fell off the bed while hurling abuse at Gideon. She looked so miserable. and wretched that one would not have guessed she used to be a wealthydy. ¡°What happens between you two is none of my business,¡± Christina replied as she brushed Gideon¡¯s arm aside and dragged Nathaniel out of there. Gideon had wanted to chase after her, but Sebastian blocked his path. As such, he had no choice but to take his anger out on Miranda instead. ¡°You b*tch! Look what you¡¯ve done! You¡¯ve ruined everything! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°I want a divorce, Gideon!¡± As the two of them were being really loud, those who passed by the ward were able to hear them arguing. Christina made sure that Sharon was well taken care of before returning to Scenic Garden Manor. She med herself for everything that happened. Nathaniel felt his heart ache when he entered the room and saw her sitting on the couch all by herself. He walked up to her andforted her by saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ve already hired the best doctors to look after your mother. She¡¯ll be fine.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have gotten hurt if I had spent more time with her.¡± ¡°Thewyer has already sent out the documents requesting Steele Group to pay us, but you can still take it back if you want to.¡± Nathaniel knew she wasn¡¯t a cold¨Chearted. person. ¡°No, I won¡¯t!¡± Christina said firmly. Those who dare hurt my mother must pay! Gideon tried to contact Christina about a weekter to beg for mercy, but she blocked them all. He then tried to talk to Christina in person, only to be stopped by Nathaniel¡¯s security guards. With people showing up every day to collect money, Steele Group dered bankruptcy shortly after, and the Steele residence was seized by the bank as well. 199 A p After that, Christina stopped paying attention to them and focused on her work and looking after Sharon. She felt relieved when she saw that Sharon¡¯s condition was improving with each passing day. One day, Radiant Corporation had Gina and Christina attend a somewhat grand fashion event. Quite a few hugepanies were also attending the event, so they saw lots of well¨Cdressed people upon. arrival. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. One of the main reasons Radiant Corporation sent them over was to find out what the otherpanies were up to. As they were all in a simr industry, it would prove beneficial to know what thepetitors were nning. After mingling around for a bit, Christina realized that most of the people there were more interested in Radiant Corporation¡¯s ns instead. Although Radiant Corporation¡¯s sess came muchter, it was close to bing the leading company in that industry. There was a gathering after the fashion event ended. Gina saw a few of her friends, who had just ventured into that industry, and began chatting with them. As Christina was not used to prolonged conversations, she excused herself shortly after. A man approached her from behind and asked in a flirty tone, ¡°Why are you here all by yourself, beautiful? How about I join you for a drink to keep youpany?¡± Turning around, Christina cyed the man warily. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± The man felt a strong attraction toward her when he saw her exquisite facial features. He grabbed Christina by the arm and said, ¡°I am Wulfric L, the general manager of Vogussey. What is your name, miss?¡± Vogussey was the best fashionpany in the country at the time. While others were still working on improving their sales locally, Vogussey was already expanding its business overseas. That showed just how powerful they were in terms of financial capability. However, Christina wasn¡¯t the least bit interested in him. She brushed his hand off and left without saying anything. That was the first time Wulfric had encountered a woman who treated him coldly even after hearing his name. Having taken an interest in Christina, he ran up to her and said, ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t get all cocky simply because I treated you with respect, woman!¡± Although Christina had made it to a more crowded area, Wulfric was still shamelessly trying to flirt with her. Christina shot him a fierce re. ¡°You need therapy!¡± ¡°How dare you behave so arrogantly toward me? Who invited you here?¡± Wulfric snapped at her angrily. His wealthy friends would usually invite promiscuous women whenever they held parties, so he assured Christina was like those other women. Is this an unlucky day for me or something? How did I end up running into this guy? ¡°Name your price, woman! I can afford it!¡± Smack! The next thing Wulfric knew, he had been pped across the face. ¡°Shame on you!¡± Christina said and stormed off. As the p had sobered Wulfric up a little, he nced around and realized he was not on the floor where his friend was throwing a party. He had gone to the wrong venue. Even so, he was still furious at the fact that he was pped in public by a woman.¡± The look on his face was incredibly gloomy as he stormed out of the event hall. Madison, who had recorded everything on her phone earlier, quickly edited the video and sent it to a wealthy guy she knew. It wasn¡¯t long before the video went viral among the upper ss, and everyone knew that Wulfric of the L family was pped by a woman in public. Most of them believed he had iting. Naturally, Wulfric did not take kindly to the humiliation he received. ¡°F*ck! I must catch this woman and teach her a lesson!¡± he yelled angrily while smashing up a few bottles in a private room. Madison¡¯s lips curled into a gleeful smile when she entered the private room and saw how angry Wulfric was. Yes, that¡¯s right! Get angry! The angrier you are, the better! ¡°I know this woman, Mr. L. She¡¯s a designer from Radiant Corporation. Her father has recently dered bankruptcy, so she¡¯s quite poor.¡± Wulfric felt even more humiliated when he looked up and saw Madison. ¡°Hmph! A meremoner like her dares reject me?¡± Madison stepped forward and added fuel to the fire by saying, ¡°Some people just love to act all high and mighty. There was no need for her to p you even if she didn¡¯t feel like talking to you. It¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s deliberately using you to boost her poprity. That way, any guy who tries to court her in the future would add on to your humiliation.¡± Those words had undoubtedly hit Wulfric¡¯s ego where it hurt most. If she rejects me and dates other men, then that would mean I¡¯m inferior to them! No, this won¡¯t do! I can¡¯t let this slide! Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Nathaniel Is Being Cheated On Madison saw the anger in Wulfric¡¯s eyes and finally revealed Christina¡¯s true identity. Wulfric was surprised. ¡°She is Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife? Well¡­¡± No wonder that woman was so bold and dared to hit me. It turns out that she has a powerful backer behind her. Madison whispered in his car. ¡°Mr. L, don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s just amoner. If you were to do something dirty to her¡­ Will Mr. Hadley stille after you for revenge? Who in their right mind would want others to find out they¡¯ve been cheated on? When the timees, Christina will be a dirty stain on his reputation, and even if he wants to retaliate against you, he will be hindered by his own reputation and will have no choice but to suppress the matter.¡± Madison¡¯s n sounded reasonable to Wulfric. I get to have my revenge and vent my anger at the same time! However, he became worried again in the next instant. ¡°But she has many bodyguards around her, so it¡¯s difficult to get close to her.¡± Madison had already thought of a solution. ¡°That¡¯s easy. You just need to find someone to go to her on your behalf¡­¡± As Wulfric listened to the n, his eyes lit up while a confident smile appeared on his face. Nathaniel had arranged for bodyguards to escort Christina to and from work. At first, she refused, but after a few close calls, she agreed. When she returned to Scenic Garden Manor, she saw several unfamiliar cars parked outside. Upon entering the house, she saw Sierra and an elegant woman close to Sierra¡¯s age sitting together, talking. As soon as Christina walked in, Sierraunched a verbal attack on her. ¡°Come over here and apologize to Mrs. L by serving her tea!¡± Christina was confused and looked at the woman in front of her, feeling like she had seen her before. ¡°Aunt Sierra, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why should I apologize?¡± she asked. Sierra¡¯s lips curled into a sneer. I can¡¯t believe the damn brat made a mistake so soon and gave me the perfect opportunity to humiliate her. ¡°You hit Mr. L. It¡¯s only right for you to apologize,¡± she said. I hit someone? Christina quickly recalled the man she met at the fashion showst week. She realized then that the woman in front of her was his mother. No wonder they look so alike! It was pure coincidence that Abigail Cooper saw the video and learned that her son had been pped by Christina. Even if Christina was from the Hadley family, it was still wrong to hit someone. Abigail snorted coldly. ¡°You will apologize to my son at the L residence and let him p you Then we¡¯ll call it even.¡± If I don¡¯t teach this brat a lesson, how will I be able to maintain my status in the city? back. Christina now understood the whole situation. She turned to Sierra and said, ¡°Aunt Sierra, you jumped to conclusions before understanding the whole situation. Don¡¯t family members help each other?¡± Sierra¡¯s expression changed slightly. Is this brat implying that I¡¯m helping outsiders instead of my own family? ¡°I saw with my own eyes that you hit someone. There¡¯s video evidence. You¡¯re in the wrong, and I¡¯m just being reasonable,¡± Sierra retorted. Christina couldn¡¯t help but sneer, ¡°Mr. L was the one who was rude and spoke disrespectfully to me first. Didn¡¯t his mother teach him any manners?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You insolent brat! Who are you calling rude and disrespectful?¡± Abigail was so angry that she threw the teacup in her hand at Christina. Christina deftly dodged it, her expression swiftly turning grim. Abigail stood up angrily and red at her icily. ¡°Grab this girl and take her back to the L residence!¡± Several bodyguards immediately rushed toward Christina. ¡°How dare you!¡± Christina shouted furiously. How dare they arrest me at Scenic Garden Manor? Don¡¯t they have any respect for Nathaniel? Suddenly, a strong fragrance filled the air. Christina frowned, and then everything went ck. She had passed out. Abigail ordered her men to take Christina away. Before leaving, she thanked Sierra. ¡°Ms. Hadley, I will remember your help today.¡± Sierra smiled lightly. ¡°Make her apologize and teach her a lesson, but don¡¯t go too far.¡± After all, she still had to exin things to Nathaniel. Abigailughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle it well.¡± Sierra couldn¡¯t take action herself, so she was actually relying on the L family to teach Christina a harsh lesson. Both Abigail and Sierra knew this very well. Abigail and her men left. Raymond and the servants had been sent to the backyard to work earlier. When they returned to the house, they saw Sierra sitting alone on the couch, drinking tea and in a good mood. However, the observant Raymond noticed Christina¡¯s handbag beside the couch. ¡°Ms. Sierra, did you see Ms. Christinae back?¡± Sierra didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t see her. She¡¯s probably workingte and hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± It would be best if no one found out that Christina was missing. Raymond nodded and didn¡¯t ask any more questions. He could tell that Sierra was lying. After heading to the kitchen, he secretly called Nathaniel to inform him of Christina¡¯s disappearance. In his office, Nathaniel answered the call and was shocked to hear that Christina was missing.. He immediately called the bodyguards, who said they had safely taken her back to Scenic Garden Manor. Yet, Christina was nowhere to be found in Scenic Garden Manor¡­ Suddenly, Raymond remembered something and continued, ¡°I saw Mrs. L from the L familye to visit earlier. I¡¯m not sure if the L family has anything to do with this matter.¡± Nathaniel hung up the phone and immediately sent Sebastian to investigate the matter. In the basement of the L residence, the chilly air quickly woke Christina up. She opened her eyes and saw nothing but darkness. I was at Scenic Garden Manor just a moment ago¡­ Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat, and she sat up in shock. Then the door opened. Wulfric walked in, his eyes scanning Christina¡¯s shocked face as he revealed a wicked smirk. Christina was now his captive, and he could do whatever he wanted with her, depending on his mood. ¡°What do you want? Let me go!¡± Christina retreated warily. This was the first time she had ever encountered such awless person. Wulfric sneered, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Hadley to have such poor taste as to fall for a brat like you.¡± He had no idea that she was a member of the Hadley family until he heard it from Madison. However, there was no way the Hadley family would go against the L family for a nobody like her. Hence, he was sure that once she became his ything, Nathaniel would give up on her for the sake of his reputation. The final oue for Christina was to be a discarded pawn of the Hadley family. ¡°How dare you touch me, even though you know who I am?¡± Christina red at him with fury. be so Wulfric approached her step by step. ¡°Once you belong to me, Nathaniel won¡¯t want you anymore. Don¡¯t naive to think that he¡¯ll still want you back! You¡¯ll be mine to keep, so you¡¯d better behave. Don¡¯t worry. Since you look so pretty, I¡¯ll take good care of you.¡± He eagerly moved closer, but Christina widened her eyes and delivered a swift kick to his groin. Wulfric screamed in pain. ¡°You vile woman! How dare you kick me?¡± Christina seized the opportunity and grabbed objects in the room to throw at him. In just a few minutes, Wulfric went from cursing to begging for mercy, and he ended up beaten to a pulp by Christina. ¡°You won¡¯t get out of the L residence.¡± As this was the first time Christina had used violence against someone, she had a hard time controlling her strength. Thus, she identally broke Wulfric¡¯s leg with a chair, causing him to pass out from the pain. Seeing the man faint from excessive bleeding, Christina became frightened. Oh no! He can¡¯t be dead, can he? As Christina stood there, unsure of what to do, the basement door opened again. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Apologize Quickly At that moment, the gates of the L residencey in tatters. A group of men in ck barged in. The man in the lead emanated a menacing aura that resembled a king going to battle. His imposing air alone had people backing away from him in fear. ¡°Who are the lot of you? How dare you trespass on the L residence?¡± The L family¡¯s bodyguards wanted to stop them, but they were severely outnumbered. Worse still, the other party¡¯s bodyguards were all well¨Ctrained. They were not their match at all. After a few rounds of fighting, all the bodyguards of the L family wereid out on the ground. Nathaniel led his men right into the house. Seizing the butler, he demanded coldly, ¡°Where is Christina. confined?¡± The butler was scared out of his wits. ¡°In the basement.¡± As though discarding a piece of trash, Nathaniel flung him away and headed toward the basement. The butler instantly phoned the head of the family, Dagon L, to inform him about the situation. ¡°It¡¯s bad, Mr. L! Someone broke into the house to rob and vandalize!¡± ¡°Who is that audacious person? I¡¯ming back right away!¡± It so happened that Dagon was having lunch with a few friends from Jadeborough with ties to the underground circles. When they heard that trouble had transpired at the L residence, they promptly offered to follow him back to help him teach the intruders a lesson. Readily epting their support, Dagon rushed home with three or four big shots. Nathaniel found the basement in no time. The instant he pushed open the door, the coppery stench of blood hit him in the face strongly. His brows creased, and unease swamped him. ¡°Christina?¡± Christina was huddled in a corner. It was not until sheid eyes on the man that she trotted over. ¡°I think I killed someone, Nathaniel.¡± She could not be sure of that, but Wulfric had been bleeding incessantly. Nathaniel went over and checked the man over before remarking impassively, ¡°He isn¡¯t dead.¡± He would not be worried even if Wulfric were dead since it was entirely self¨Cdefense. Shrugging off his suit jacket, he draped it over Christina¡¯s dainty shoulders and scooped her up. ¡°It¡¯s all right. We¡¯re going home.¡± Christina nodded nkly, never having expected him to force his way in to save her. Just as they left the living room, they unwittingly bumped into Abigail, who had just returned. ¡°Why are you out and roaming about, b*tch?¡± She had nned on imprisoning and starving Christina for a few days. When thetter had no strength left to put up a fight, she would then torture her. Ayer of frost nketed Christina¡¯s eyes. She¡¯s the woman who brought me to such a ce! Nathaniel¡¯s expression was chilly and stony. Radiating a wintry aura that reminded one of a snowstorm, he barked furiously, ¡°The L family has got some guts to make a move against my woman!¡± ¡°It was your woman who hit my son first! You¡¯re being wholly unreasonable!¡± Abigail found nothing wrong with her actions. That b*tch is at fault for making the first move! ¡°Save me. Mom¡­¡± A weak voice drifted into the air. It was Wulfric, who had crawled out on his broken legs. His face was swollen beyond recognition, and his limbs were injured. He looked just like a toy that had been wrecked. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. At the sight of her son, Abigail swiftly threw herself at him in anguish. ¡°What happened to you, Wulfric? Why are you wounded so severely?¡± ¡°It was Christina. It was all her doing. Mom, you must help me¡­¡± Before Wulfric could finish speaking, he passed out from the excruciating agony battering him. Seeing red, Abigail immediately ordered someone to take Wulfric back to his room to rest. At that precise moment, the rumble of an engine sounded outside the house. When Abigail heard that her husband had returned, glee flooded her like a tidal wave. I¡¯m never allowing Christina to leave today even if it means going to blows! Dagon stormed into the house with three big shots from the underground circles. ¡°Whoever dared break into the L residence today will have his leg forfeited!¡± he roared as soon as he stepped into the house. The instant he spotted the tall figure before his eyes, however, he was dumbstruck. Although he had not met Nathaniel much, the man¡¯s icy and terrifying aura was unforgettable. Mr. Hadley? Why is he here? At once, Abigail stepped forward and took his arm, wailing, ¡°It was Mr. Hadley here who forced his way into our house, Darling! He even threatened to burn this ce down! Hurry up and seek justice for us!¡± Having said that, she shot Nathaniel a cold re. ¡°Do you know that the elders of the Hadley family used to be exceedingly close with us back then? Do you really want to sever the friendship between the two families to kick up a fuss today?¡± -He wasn¡¯t even born when we fostered ties with the Hadley family! Yet, he dares to make such trouble for us now? ¡°You should¡¯ve expected this since you dared to hold my wife captive.¡± Nathaniel did not budge an inch. With Christina in his arms, he walked toward the door. Unfortunately, Dagon took a step forward and stopped him. ¡°Kid, I know you young people are ignorant, but you¡¯re not leaving unless you apologize today.¡± Ignoring him, Nathaniel continued striding ahead. Dagon had wanted to have the three big shots behind him step in and back him up. Unexpectedly, they had gone silent ever since they saw Nathaniel. In fact, their expressions had changed imperceptibly. If we¡¯d known beforeing that the person he offended was Mr. Hadley, we would never have tagged along to join in the fun! Following that turn of events, they tactfully pushed theirckeys, who were blocking Nathaniel¡¯s path, away. ¡°Move side! Don¡¯t block Mr. Hadley¡¯s way!¡± Theckeys were all geared up to fight, only to be shoved away by their leaders unbidden. The crowd parted to open up a path, none daring to make trouble. Such rage zed within Dagon that he almost burst a blood vessel. They promised to seek justice for me. Why have they now gone back on their word and helped Nathaniel instead? The look on Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face remained imperious. Carrying Christina in his arms, he walked out of the house. He got into the car and went straight back to Scenic Garden Manor. Only when the man and his party had left did the three big shots kindly urge, ¡°Mr. L, you¡¯d best apologize quickly for whatever wrong youmitted. The Hadley family today isn¡¯t an existence you can afford to offend. It isn¡¯t that we¡¯re snobbish, but even the three of usbined can¡¯t afford to offend Mr. Hadley, considering his current status.¡± After saying that, they left with theirckeys. Dagon was shocked to the core. Never had he imagined that the three prestigious big shots in the underground circles would actually back down at the sight of Nathaniel. Could it be that the Hadley family has had other businesses all these years, and their development has already surpassed that of stable prominent families like mine? Abigail seethed inwardly upon seeing that Nathaniel and Christina had left without incident. ¡°You¡¯re allowing them to leave just like that, Darling?¡± Dagon¡¯s temper spiked. ¡°This is all your fault for not educating our son well. Look at the heir of the Hadley family. He has already expanded his family¡¯s power and influence. What else can our son do other than create trouble all the time?¡± The L family has indeed suffered a disgrace this time. Nothing can change that fact. Right now, I only hope Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t pursue the matter. At Scenic Garden Manor, Christina¡¯s mood improved significantly after she took a hot bath. She carefully cast her mind back. Why did a video of me hitting Wulfric leak out? Was someone secretly filming me at that time? After she finished bathing, her mind started whirring again. Hmm, surely, some people took photos at such a party. Perhaps I might discover some clues if I were to go through them. She contacted Gina and asked for the photos taken that day. Of course, one person¡¯s album would be limited. For that reason, she obtained the contact of a fewdies who were also in attendance that day and asked them for their photos. Coincidentally, one of them had taken a good deal of photos. As Christina flipped through the photos, she soon caught sight of a familiar figure. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Stabbed In The Heart Madison? It was her? Neither Christina nor Madison was the focus of the photo. However, it happened to capture Madison filming Christina with her phone in a corner. Don¡¯t tell me she was the culprit who orchestrated things behind the scenes again. Christina had known that Madison had been intentionally targeting her all along, but she had never expected thetter to resort to such petty means. If Nathaniel hadn¡¯t arrived in time and saved me the L family would be tortured me to no end. I¡¯m never going to let this slide so easily! She hid the photo, for she had no ns to go head¨Cto¨Chead against Mar Just then, the door was pushed open. Nathaniel came in with a cup of hot chocte¡± ¡°Have some hot chocte. It has a calming effect.¡± ¡°Who said that? Why have I never heard of it?¡± After taking the cup of hot chocte from him, Christina took a sip. It was sweet and steaming, suffusing her with warmth. Clueless about it. Nathaniel admitted. ¡°I don¡¯t know. That¡¯s what the help said.¡± I told her that Christina suffered a fright, and she made a cup of hot chocte, iming itd work wonders His bumbling concern amused Christina, and she gizzled. Putting down the cup, she went over to him. She tugged at his hand and murmured. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten my sry. How about I get you a gift!¡± ¡°Sure!¡± She took out her tablet and tapped open the shopping app on it. ¡°This brand specializes inple¡¯s watches. Choose one you like.¡± The watches cost tens of thousands at the very least, but they were dirt cheappared to those he usually wore, which were priced at millions. This is all I can afford at the moment. I¡¯ll buy you an expensive one when I¡¯ve made more money,¡± Christina added with a smile, her crystalline eyes curving into crescents. Nathaniel paired her on the head. ¡°I¡¯ll buy instead. You keep your money.¡± ¡°Hmm, okay, then Christina had wanted to buy a gift as a token of love. But on second thought, she nixed the idea since it was indeed unfitting for him to wear such a watch in light of his status. ¡°It¡¯ste now. You should go to sleep.¡± Nathaniel scooped her up. Her feminine fragrance wafted into the air, perfuming the air with a sweet aroma. Having been carried back to the bed in his arms, Christina slept huddled against him like a kitten. Early in the morning, Sierra came to Scenic Garden Manor. She had learned about everything that had happenedst night. It was evident that Nathaniel was truly enraged as he had barged into the L residence and taken Christina away. ¡°Nathaniel usually has breakfast at eight o¡¯clock on the dot. Why is he not down yet at this hour?¡± Sierra could not help asking that question when she saw, that it was almost nine o¡¯clock then. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Just when Raymond was about to reply to that, he heard footsteps from the staircase. Nathaniel descended the stairs with Christina hand in hand. The sight of the couple acting so intimately irritated Sierra. s, she was there to intercede for the L family that day, and she could not leave without aplishing that task. ¡°Nathaniel, about the incident with the L family, can you let the matter slide?¡± she asked calmly. After all, Abigail had had her approval when she took Christina away. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand, his palm giving her a strong sense of security. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be asking me that. Instead, you should be directing that question to my wife.¡± Immediately, Sierra¡¯s expression changed. He wants me to lower myself and make peace with her? This¡­ is absolutely impossible! Clocking the man¡¯s forbidding expression with no room for discussion, however, she had no choice but to shift her gaze to Christina. ¡°It¡¯s my bad this time. Let it go for my sake.¡± Needless to say, Christina was irked deep within, but regretfully, the woman was Nathaniel¡¯s aunt. She did not want to strain the family¡¯s rtionship. As such, she begrudgingly relented, ¡°I¡¯ll let it slide, but please don¡¯t hand me to others before getting to the bottom of things next time, Aunt Sierra.¡± I¡¯m not a saint, and I can¡¯t take it lying down every time someone else hurts me. Sierra¡¯s expression stiffened, making it clear that she was vexed. Argh! I¡¯ve never imagined I¡¯d get lectured by a little girl at my age! Chagrin ricocheted within her, but she was undeniably in the wrong. She left with a grim look on her face. To Christina, there was no point targeting Sierra. After breakfast, the couple left home. Having driven Christina to Radiant Corporation, Nathaniel went straight to Hadley Corporation. He had someone order a pair of couple¡¯s watches that were trendy and stylish without being ostentatious. At noon, Nathaniel was going to meet a business partner. Madison had prepared all the documents beforehand. Upon arriving at the conference room, Madison wondered why the other party had not arrived when it was already the agreed¨Cupon time. She nced at her watch. ¡°Oh, it turns out that my watch isn¡¯t working. It has stopped.¡± The meeting was scheduled for three o¡¯clock, but it was only half past two right then. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hadley. I got the time wrong,¡± she apologized softly, unconsciously brushing her fingers across the face of the watch. Nathaniel got to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Call me when it¡¯s time.¡± After saying that, he went back to his office. Madison put everything away. She took off the malfunctioning watch, nning to take it to the watch shop for repair. That watch was a gift from Nathaniel during the sixth¨Canniversary celebration. Although Sebastian had one as well, it still held a special significance to her. When the meeting ended in the afternoon and she handed thepiled documents to Sebastian, she inadvertently glimpsed a receipt on his desk. Curiously, she picked it up, only to see that it was for the purchase of a pair of couple¡¯s watches. Could it be that Mr. Hadley is buying me a new watch because he knows that mine has stopped working? Her heart pounded wildly. Well, he does care about me, after all! A grin split her face when she imagined the thrill of receiving a gift from Nathaniel. cing the receipt back where she found it, she whirled around and left. For the next few days, she was in a great mood, so much so that those who did not know better might assume that she had hit the jackpot. She counted the days. The watch should¡¯ve arrived by now. Why hasn¡¯t Mr. Hadley gifted it to me? That afternoon, she went to the CEO¡¯s office with somepiled documents. By chance, Christina came to look for Nathaniel. She wore a fluffy white sweater, her long ck hair cascading down her back to her waist. Her long and slender legs were bared below her pink pleated skirt. Her eyes were crystalline, and her skin was as white as snow. All that rendered her like an impish goddess. from heaven. ¡°Hurry up! You promised to go out and have fun with me today.¡± Christina huffed with a hand at her waist. Madison walked in with the documents in hand, fuming as she stared at the woman kicking up a fuss. Have fun, have fun! That¡¯s all she knows! Doesn¡¯t she know Mr. Hadley is busy and has plenty of work to do? Even he¡¯s free, he has got to rest. She isn¡¯t considerate of him at all! ¡°There are still some documents you need to review, Mr. Hadley,¡± she remarked softly after approaching the man. ¡°Just put them there.¡± Nathaniel replied detachedly. Displeasure swamped Madison, but still, she remained calm and unruffled on the surface. Out of her peripheral vision, Christina glimpsed a dark look flitting across the woman¡¯s eyes. She¡¯s hiding it really well. No wonder I never noticed it in the past. She strolled over and lifted her hand to reveal the new watch on her wrist. ¡°What do you think of my watch, Ms. Madison?¡± At a single nce, Madison recognized the watch to be of the same brand she had seen on the receipt that day. Huh? It turns out that Nathaniel wasn¡¯t buying a watch for me. Instead, it was for her! She felt as though she had been stabbed in the heart, the pain so excruciating that she could hardly breathe. Yet, she had to suppress those feelings of her Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Her Retaliation Madison examined Christina¡¯s wrist andmented, ¡°It¡¯s a nice watch, but it seems more fitting for higher¨Cups in thepany. Considering how often you work with scissors and fabrics, I don¡¯t think it would be very practical for you to wear such a bulky watch.¡± Christina pretended to nod in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s fine, though. I can remove it when I work. This is my first couple¡¯s watch with Nathaniel.¡± Madison found her sweet and gorgeous smile to be rather annoying. She was so angry that she couldn¡¯t find any words to say. Christina knew she had achieved her goal as she observed Madison¡¯s contorted expression. It brought her a small sense offort. This was nothingpared to what Madison had done to her previously. Nathaniel strode over to hold her hand. ¡°The amusement park is going to close if we stay here any longer.¡± ¡°Oh, let¡¯s go now!¡± Christina replied sweetly. Madison¡¯s gaze lingered on the departing couple. Their backs disappeared into the distance as they engaged in cheerful conversation. The sight of their backs only added to her misery. The amusement park was aglow with dazzling lights, and cheerful music filled the air. Christina gleefully rode all the amusement park attractions with Nathaniel, feeling as carefree as a child. In the end, they rode on the Ferris Wheel. As their cabin ascended slowly, Christina gazed at the buildings growing smaller beneath them and sighed. ¡°When I was younger, I used to envy Emilia. Miranda often took her to the amusement park to have fun, but they never took me with them.¡± Her voice was melodious and clear. Nathaniel looked at her slender figure silently. Her mother fell severely ill when she was young, and her father never showered her with love. She must¡¯ve suffered a lot. Gently, he cupped her cheeks as though she was a valuable jewel. ¡°You don¡¯t have to envy anyone. From now on, I¡¯ll give you the whole world.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Christina burst into giggles upon hearing his words. She yfully narrowed her eyes and hooked her little finger with his. ¡°Remember what you said. Don¡¯t you dare lie to me.¡± She appeared immensely satisfied, like a child whose deepest wish had been granted. Nathaniel leaned in and gently pressed a kiss against her cheek, trailing his lips to her nose, and finally meeting her mouth in a tender embrace. A sweet scent spread in the air, surrounding them both. As their cabin reached the peak of the Ferris Wheel, a spectacr disy of fireworks burst into the night sky, casting a radiant glow over the couple locked in each other¡¯s arms. Back in the luxury condominium, Madison was downing alcohol in an attempt to soothe her fury. As she drank, the image of Nathaniel and Christina became clearer in her mind. She pulled out her phone to call Francis. ¡°It has been ages. Why have you not taken action yet?¡± Francis was in the middle of shooting a drama and happened to be on a break. He reclined on a bench. with his gaze fixed upon the night sky, deep in contemtion. It reminded him of the night he had spent with Christina as they waited for the sun to rise. He might have had a few chances to sow discord between them but ended up doing nothing at all. ¡°We have the photos, so calm down. I¡¯ll take action when the time¡¯s right,¡± he replied calmly. Christina snorted icily. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re showing mercy because you can¡¯t bring yourself to hurt that brat¡¯s feelings.¡± If Francis refuses to take action, I¡¯ll have to step up. Francis¡® voice grew cold. ¡°Of course not. To me, profits and survivale first.¡± Having faced hardships from a young age, Francis had learned to employ hical methods to survive, and this experience served him well in the ruthless entertainment industry. A mere woman won¡¯t affect my judgment. Naturally, Madison had trust in him. ¡°Okay, then. Hurry up, though. I can¡¯t wait any longer!¡± ¡°You need to be patient in order to get what you want. Take it easy. If you expose your true colors in front of Nathaniel, you¡¯ll get kicked out of Hadley Corporation,¡± Francis reminded her before ending the call. He scrolled to the photo he had taken with Christina. The sight of the innocent smile ying on the youngdy¡¯s lips made him hesitate to hurt her feelings. As usual, Christina went to work on time. She had cleared most of her work and wouldn¡¯t be that busy anymore. Suddenly, Shelley rushed into her office and said, ¡°Ms. Steele, I have two outfits that need to be delivered, but they coincidentally have the same delivery slot. The rest of the team is upied with their tasks and unable to assist me.¡± Seeing the pleading look on her face, Christina let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°Give me the address. I¡¯ll help you deliver one of them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Ms. Steele. I promise I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± Shelley quickly gave the item and delivery address to Christina, and they both left to deliver the outfits. Christina reached the event venue ording to the address provided to her. After exining the purpose of her visit to the security guard, she was allowed to enter the venue. She went to the dressing room with the gown and found a few well¨Cdresseddies there. ¡°Christina? So, you¡¯ve found a job to deliver outfits now?¡± A mocking voice echoed in the air. Christina turned her gaze toward the voice and locked eyes with Emilia. It had been quite some time since theirst encounter, and Christina couldn¡¯t help but notice the changes in Emilia¡¯s appearance. Thetter wore heavy makeup and so much jewelry that it made her look tacky. Looking around, Christina discovered that the other women were also dressed in the same manner. It didn¡¯t take long for her to realize what their job was. ¡°I heard that the Steele family has dered bankrupt. Did you change careers after failing to stay in the entertainment industry?¡± Christina sneered. The Steele family provided Emilia with the best of everything. She had the opportunity to attend ballet sses and music sses. She only wears the most beautiful clothes. It¡¯s surprising to see her working here as an adult. Miranda did an excellent job raising her daughter, didn¡¯t she? Emilia felt deeply humiliated about her family¡¯s bankruptcy. She was unable to control her temper, so her anger red up instantly when Christina provoked her. ¡°Christina, it was your fault that my parents got a divorce! You¡¯re nothing but a jinx and b*tch!¡± Her eyes turned red as she bit back the urge to rip Christina into shreds. It was all Christina¡¯s fault that I ended up here! ¡°My fault? I don¡¯t think so. What goes aroundes around. Back then, your mother and you destroyed my family, and now you¡¯re getting a taste of your own medicine,¡± Christina retorted coolly, her wordsced with a hint of satisfaction. She wasn¡¯t about to waste her time arguing with Emilia. The sight of Emilia throwing away her self- respect only reaffirmed Christina¡¯s belief that the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. Emilia and Miranda¡¯s past cruelty, almost taking her life on several asions, had left a deep scar. Christina knew better than to have any sympathy for them. After putting the bag down, she asked the recipient to sign on the delivery sheet and turned to leave. Suddenly, Emilia recalled something and marched up to block her path. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry to leave? There are some of us who would like you to design a gown. Come, assist us with taking our measurements,¡± Emilia said, her toneced with mockery. Christina frowned. She¡¯s suddenly being nice? Clearly, she¡¯s up to something. ¡°If you are interested in a custom gown, please make an appointment with mypany, and we will be happy to assist you from there. I¡¯m afraid I cannot ept private bookings,¡± Christina responded with polite firmness. Without a word, Emilia inched nearer to Christina. She pulled out a diamond ring and stuffed it into Christina¡¯s bag discreetly. -A vicious grin yed on her lips when she saw the ¡°stolen item¡± falling into Christina¡¯s bag. Christina spun on her heels, ready to leave, when the woman who bought the gown grabbed her arm. ¡°My diamond ring is gone. No one is allowed to leave this room!¡± the woman shrieked, clearly Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Lost Diamond Ring The woman had borrowed the diamond ring worth tens of millions from a ¡°client,¡± so she would be doomed if she were to lose it. Christina wrenched her hands away and retorted sharply, ¡°What does your lost diamond ring have to do with me? I never even went near your dressing table.¡± Seeing that, Emilia swiftly summoned their manager and instructed them to call the police. It was evident that she intended to create a scene and attract as much attention as possible. ¡°udia, don¡¯t trust her. She has a history of stealing things since we were young. I remember she even stole one of my bracelets,¡± Emilia said, trying to discredit Christina. Christina¡¯s anger red. ¡°Nonsense!¡± It was Emilia who had cunningly slipped the bracelet into Christina¡¯s bag when they were young, making it seem as if Christina was the one who stole it. After that, Emiliained to Miranda, who locked her up in the dark for a few days. Christina was breathless with anger when she recalled the past incident. Right then, the hotel manager and police arrived. ¡°Officer, this woman has stolen my colleague¡¯s ring! You must arrest her immediately. If Radiant Corporation discovers that you¡¯re a thief, they will terminate your employment. The entire design industry will shun you, and finding work with a criminal record will be impossible!¡± Emilia swiftly stepped forward, using Christina of theft. Emilia¡¯s goal was to destroy Christina¡¯s reputation. Christina¡¯s gaze turned dark. ¡°Why am I the only one being singled out for a search? Everyone present should be subjected to a search,¡± she insisted, refusing to be singled out for the search. Soon, the police officer got a female officer to pat them down. Christina was forced to be the first one to get patted down. Emilia fixed a gloating gaze on her, prepared to give a scathing remark when the ring was found in her bag. The female police officer diligently rummaged through Christina¡¯s bag and thoroughly patted her down, but to everyone¡¯s surprise, the ring was nowhere to be found. Emilia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Impossible! That ring was in Christina¡¯s- Christina shot her an icy re and grinned. ¡°In my what? Did you intentionally put it in my bag? Just so you know, framing someone else is also a crime!¡± No matter what evil deed Emilia did, she¡¯ll be punished by thew. A baffled look crossed Emilia¡¯s face. I put it in her bag myself. Why isn¡¯t it there? Is Christina capable of magic? Or did she¡­ A chill ran down Emilia¡¯s spine as she froze in her tracks in fear. The female police officer proceeded to pat her down. Cling! A sparkling diamond ring dropped onto the ground from Emilia¡¯s body. As everyone¡¯s attention turned to the diamond ring, udia, the person who had lost it, quickly walked over and picked it up from the ground. She screamed, ¡°Emilia, you shameless bitch! I knew you were jealous of me. I can¡¯t believe you stole my ring!¡± Emilia paled instantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal it. It wasn¡¯t me!¡± udia dered furiously, ¡°The ring fell down from your body! We saw that with our own eyes!¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Emilia was rendered speechless. How did Christina manage to return the ring to me? She couldn¡¯t exin herself, so the female officer decided to bring her back to the police station to question her further. Themotion was over, and Christina turned to leave without looking back. Back when Emilia stopped her from leaving and came closer to her on purpose, she had already had her guard up. Emilia¡¯s trick was pretty obvious as she didn¡¯t zip Christina¡¯s bag after unzipping it. It didn¡¯t take Christina long to discover there was a diamond ring in her bag. Christina then took the chance to return the ring back to Emilia when they were chatting. Emilia never knew she¡¯d reap what she sow, huh? Christina didn¡¯t tell anyone about themotion when she returned to Radiant Corporation. When it was almost time to get off work, she received a call from Julia. ¡°Christina,e for dinner at the Hadley residence with Nathaniel tonight.¡± Christina was pleasantly surprised, as it was usually Julia who informed Nathaniel, who would then ry. the message to her. ¡°Certainly, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Julia grunted in response and ended the call without saying anything else. It had been some time since Christina hadst paid a visit to the Hadley residence. After getting off work, she went to a nearby shopping mall to buy some gifts. The Hadley residence was well¨Cequipped, but she couldn¡¯t show up every time empty¨Chanded. She carefully selected several high¨Cquality herbs, including ginseng, and proceeded to pay for her purchases using Nathaniel¡¯s credit card. After that, she headed to the exit to see Nathaniel¡¯s car parked outside. He had been waiting for her. Sebastian got out of the car to help her put the shopping bags in the trunk. He then opened the door, gesturing for her to get into the car. When they arrived at the Hadley residence, Christina grabbed her shopping bags from the trunk. Helen quickly approached and offered to take the bags from her. With a smile, Helen said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, look at what Christina brought! She always brings such thoughtful gifts. She¡¯s such a well¨Cbehaved young lady.¡± Christina and Nathaniel entered the house after her. Sierra was also there. It was an awkward encounter, but Christina still greeted them politely, ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hadley. Hello, Aunt Sierra.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Sierra folded her arms and let out a cold snort. ¡°How amusing. You address me as Aunt Sierra but refer to Nathaniel¡¯s mother as Mrs. Hadley. One would think wee from separate families if they didn¡¯t know. any better. Christina¡¯s cheeks turned pink. Julia didn¡¯t allow her to address her as Mom, so she didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself by doing so. Julia ced her cup down gracefully and spared Christina a look. ¡°You should call me Mom from now on.¡± ¡°Julia, that is¡­¡± Sierra gaped in disbelief. She had wanted to embarrass Christina instead of helping them. mend their rtionship. A smile nudged Julia¡¯s lips. ¡°You said we sound like different families, right? Changing her form of address will avoid that kind of misunderstanding.¡± Christina btedly understood Julia¡¯s intention and quickly called, ¡°Mom¡± ¡°Good. Come, let¡¯s have dinner.¡± As Julia led Sierra to the dining room, thetter asked, ¡°Julia, how could you ept that brat?¡± ¡°Why not? She doesn¡¯t have any evil intentions.¡± Julia¡¯s original aspiration was for her son to marry a high¨Csociety woman, but now her only wish was for him to find happiness in his personal life. Despite her displeasure, Sierra said nothing else. Not long after they sat down, Charlie came home. Sierra turned to look at him. ¡°Charlie, where have you been?¡± ¡°I went to meet a client.¡± As Charlic entered the dining room, Christina stood up and greeted him politely. At that moment, she caught a whiff of a woman¡¯s perfume that filled her nostrils. Clearly, the perfume didn¡¯t belong to Julia. Charlie gave her a curt nod and told her to sit down for dinner. During dinner, the conversation was sparse, with the exception of Sierra, who chattered on as usual. The rest remained rtively silent. Once the meal concluded, Julia and Sierra decided to take a stroll together. Charlie went to the balcony to talk on the phone. ¡°Charlie, my head feels dizzy. I feel horrible. Can youe over and keep mepany?¡± Linda whined. on the other end of the line. Charlie might¡¯ve moved out of Yeatder Vi, but she still held hopes that he woulde back to her. She had clung to him for years and refused to give up just yet. Charlie was stumped. Linda might be at fault, but he wasn¡¯t that heartless. ¡°I visited you at the hospital this noon, right? The doctor said you should get some rest. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Linda insisted. ¡°Charlie, but my stomach hurts a lot. You know how that feels, right? Can¡¯t youe and visit me now?¡° Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Backfired Linda appeared to have consumed something bad, causing her stomach to ache, so she went to the hospital. She had no rtives in Jadeborough, so Charlie rushed to the hospital to check on her after hearing the news. Heforted her for a while before returning horne. After finishing his meal, Linda called again, urging him toe over. Charlie had already promised Felicia that he would never see Linda again, but he couldn¡¯t help but be concerned when he heard that his ex¨Clover was ill. ¡°Dad, I bought a lot of fruit. Do you want to have some with us?¡± Christina¡¯s sweet voice sounded. Charlie turned his head around. ¡°Sure.¡± Then, he said a few more sentences to the person on the other end of the phone before hanging up. He exited the living room and sat down with Christina and Nathaniel to eat some fruits. Julia and Sierra happened to return from a walk, and they all sat down together to have some coffee. During that period, Linda called a few more times, but Charlie rejected the calls. His actions caught Julia¡¯s attention. She had caught whiffs of a feminine scent on him when he entered the house, and now his phone was ringing nonstop. Julia¡¯s facial expression gradually darkened.) Christina, who was munching on some snacks, casually asked with feigned curiosity, ¡°Dad, why aren¡¯t you answering the phone? Is it Ms. Macall looking for you?¡± She figured Linda was a scheming woman and wouldn¡¯t want to admit defeat. Charlie sighed softly. ¡°Linda has no rtives here, and Francis has gone to film. It¡¯s inconvenient for her to stay alone in the hospital when she¡¯s sick.¡± In fact, he didn¡¯t have any ulterior motives. He merely wanted to care for Linda since they had a history together. Sierra, sitting at one side, sneered, ¡°I think you¡¯re just reluctant to let go of that vixen.¡± She knew very well how many years Charlie had left home for Linda. ¡°How can you say that?¡± Charlie red at his sister. Why is she adding fuel to the fire at this time? Noticing the hints of angercing Julia¡¯s visage, Charlie swiftly added, ¡°I won¡¯t break my promise to Mom, so you can quit doubting me.¡± He had already knelt by his mother¡¯s bedside and promised her that he wouldn¡¯t spend his life with Linda anymore, but he couldn¡¯t ignore her current plight. Christina could sense his dilemma, so she took the initiative and said, ¡°How about this, Dad? I was acquainted with Ms. Macall before, so why don¡¯t I go to the hospital to take care of her from now on? That way, you can focus on your work.¡± Charlie nodded in agreement. This daughter¨Cinw of mine is so sensible, helping me resolve this problem in no time. ¡°All right. Please help me care for her in the future. That way, I won¡¯t have to travel back and forth and can spend more time at home.¡± Christina shed a dazzling smile. ¡°Okay. Leave it to me, Dad.¡± Naturally, Julia fathomed Christina¡¯s intention. The expression in her eyes turned significantly gentler. After dinner, the family saw Christina and Nathaniel off, watching them leave in the car. It was only after the car had disappeared from view that Sierra expressed her dissatisfaction. ¡°Julia, is it worth it for you to treat Christina that well? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve really epted her as your daughter¨C in-¡± Sierra knew for a woman from a prestigious family like Julia, finding a partner with matching family background for her son was of utmost importance. Julia watched the car disappear in the distance in silence. A pensive look shed across her countenance. Let¡¯s hope Christina won¡¯t disappoint me. Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the car was inexplicably tense. Christina could clearly sense Nathaniel¡¯s gloominess despite his poker face. He usually wouldn¡¯t let his emotions show, but after spending a long time together, she could tell whenever he was mad because his aura would intensify. She looked up and leaned closer to him. ¡°Nathaniel, are you angry?¡± He was fine before hearing that question, but once she asked, his expression instantly turned a few shades darker. Nathaniel gazed down and saw her innocent face. He stretched out his long arm and gently scooped her into his embrace. ¡°Why did you agree to take care of Linda? Is it because you want to meet with Francis?¡± Listening to his steely tone, Christina finally understood why he was enraged. He thinks I want to get in touch with Francis¡­ Christina was initially a little infuriated to be misunderstood, but at the sight of Nathaniel¡¯s exquisite facial features, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to stay mad. She pouted and exined, ¡°You¡¯re falsely using me. Didn¡¯t you see Mom getting upset when Dad wanted to visit Linda?¡± That was why I volunteered to undertake this ¡°responsibility.¡± Didn¡¯t Nathaniel notice my ¡°great sacrifice¡°? Nathaniel snorted indifferently. ¡°Nope.¡± She eyed him begrudgingly. I shouldn¡¯t have ced so much hope in him. He has never been able to grasp the subtle changes in others¡® emotions when ites to romantic rtionships. She had no choice but to expound her intentions to him. Finally, Nathaniel wrapped his mind around the situation. Nheless, he also gave her an order, forbidding her from staying more than half an hour. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll listen to you. Can you stop being angry now?¡± Christina replied sulkily. Hearing the satisfactory answer, he curled his lips into a smile. ¡°Good girl.¡± Nathaniel pinched her chin and lifted her face. Then, he lowered his head slightly and kissed her soft lips. Christina had always felt he was assertive and even a little domineering at times, but it was precisely that character of his that captivated her, making her infatuated. After work, Christina went to the hospital ording to the address given to her by Charlie. When she pushed open the door to the VIP ward, she didn¡¯t smell the usual scent of disinfectant. Instead, the fragrance of perfume wafted into her nose. Does a sick person still have the mood to wear perfume? Linda thought Charlie hade, so she hastilyy on the bed and pretended to be weak. Christina almostughed in amusement at the sight of herical actions. ¡°Ms. Macall, it¡¯s me.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Linda furrowed her brows and was instantly disappointed. She immediately sat up on the bed, showing no sign of a patient¡¯s fragility. ¡°Why are you here? Where¡¯s Charlie?¡± Linda was beside herself with rage when she saw Christina. She suddenly felt her chest tighten, and even her breathing becamebored. Her voice was filled with disdain when she spoke. Christina ced the fruit basket on the bedside table. ¡°Dad and Mom are busy, so they asked me to visit you on their behalf.¡± Hearing that, Linda flipped out and shoved the fruits to the floor. Wrath churned in her eyes as she red at Christina and snorted. ¡°I don¡¯t need you toe and visit me. If you hadn¡¯t deliberately framed me, would I need to pretend to be sick now, you damn brat!¡± Since the incident at Felicia¡¯s residence, Charlie had be utterly disappointed in her. In the past, he would stay by her bedside when she was sick, but now everything had changed. Linda couldn¡¯t ept it. Christina chuckled and replied casually, ¡°Ms. Macall, you¡¯re being unreasonable. I didn¡¯t frame you at all. It¡¯s more like your n backfired!¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Younger Sister Linda was livid. I¡¯ve underestimated this brat. She looks innocent, but she¡¯s not a fool. Christina picked up the fruits on the ground and returned them to their original ce. ¡°Since you appear to be in good health and don¡¯t seem like a patient, Ms. Macall, I can go back now.¡± Seeing that the younger woman was about to leave, Linda girl could not help but scoff. ¡°Don¡¯t think that Julia will ept you simply because you helped her. Don¡¯t be naive.¡± Christina froze in her tracks. Her reaction told Linda that she was right on the money, and she continued, ¡°Do you know why I couldn¡¯t officially enter the Hadley family even after so many years? It¡¯s because I¡¯m from a lower social ss. Juliaes from a prominent family, and what they look down on most are people from the lowest ss of society. If she did ept you, why hasn¡¯t she brought you to any of her circle¡¯s events? She still doesn¡¯t acknowledge you as her daughter¨Cinw at the end of the day. You and I are the same, Christina. Like me, you¡¯ll never be epted by them!¡± Christina was a little upset by her words, but she quickly put on a smile. ¡°You¡¯re wrong. We¡¯re not the same.¡± Linda¡¯s pupils dted slightly. She could not understand Christina¡¯s words, but by the time she regained her senses and wanted to inquire further, thetter had already left the room. The blinding sunlight outside seemed as if it could dispel one¡¯s innermost thoughts. Christina knew she was different from Linda. Everything thetter did was geared toward marrying into an affluent family, whereas she did it for Nathaniel. All she wanted was for him to have aplete family and to make him happy. My own family is so shattered that none of its pieces can be reassembled. I know how painful it is¡­ Upon returning to Radiant Corporation, Christina began working and did not think of anything else. Shelley knocked on the door before entering. ¡°Ms. Steele, Ms. Tanner would like you to revise these designs. The new collection will be released soon.¡± The release of new collections in Radiant Corporation¡¯s stores was the fastest in the industry. Since Christina was in charge of the design drawing for the uing season, she had to create a temte before the textile factory could ship it. She took the design drawing from Shelley, picked up her pencil, and started revising it. Shelley stood beside her and observed her work. While watching intently, she voiced her thoughts curiously, ¡°Ms. Steele, I find that some design points and elements between you and Ada are very simr.¡± Ada? Christina put her pencil down and looked at Shelley. ¡°You know Ada?¡± ¡°Of course. She¡¯s an incredible designer. She previously worked in a studio but left for some reason.¡± Shelley said. Her eyes sparkled when she spoke of Ada, the typical expression of an admirer. The corner of Christina¡¯s mouth quirked up, and she said in her melodious voice, ¡°I remember that her works are very few. How have you seen her designs?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because the owner of the studio is my aunt, so it¡¯s easy for me to see them. I keep every design draft Ada created in the studio,¡± Shelley said confidently. Christina¡¯s gaze darkened when she heard that. I see. So Hannah gave my design drawings to someone else behind my back¡­. Christina felt as if someone had stabbed her in the chest. She had once thought that Hannah was very good to her. When thetter invited her to join her studio, she had sworn to keep her identity a secret and even stated that her design drawings would be exclusively hers. ¡°Are you also a fan of Ada, Ms. Steele?¡± Shelley asked curiously. Christina snapped out of her reverie with a faint smile devoid of emotion. ¡°You could say that. She is a good designer.¡± ¡°Those are my collection. I¡¯ll send them to you when I go back.¡± With that, Shelley walked away cheerfully. Christina let out a soft sigh. She decided at that precise moment not to create any further work under the name Ada. Just before getting off work, Christina received a call from Charlie. ¡°Linda said that she¡¯s feeling unwell. Can you go to the hospital again and check on her?¡± Christina knitted her brows. Wasn¡¯t she still energetic when I went to see her in the morning? ¡°All right, Dad. I¡¯ll head over now.¡± She packed her things and went to the hospital. In the ward, Linda¡¯s demeanor was drastically different from the morning. She was lying on the bed, dressed in a hospital gown, and looked displeased when she saw that the person who came was Christina. ¡°Hurry up. Take a picture of my sickly appearance and show it to Charlie. I¡¯m seriously ill.¡± Christina gave her an incredulous stare. ¡°You seem quite well to me. You don¡¯t appear to be sick at all, Ms. Macall.¡± She truly could not stand Linda. Why does she bother doing this when Charlie no longer wants to look after her? After a while, a nurse came in and called Linda to go for an MRI scan. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Linda immediately put on an act. ¡°Come here and help me there.¡± There¡¯s nothing wrong with her body, yet she had to put on such a show. Christina had no choice but to assist Linda and wheel her to the examination room as though she was attending to a spoiled youngdy. Linda kept her busy until night. After the examination, Linda would not let Christina leave as she wanted thetter to apany her. ¡°If you dare to leave, I¡¯ll call Charlie and tell him that you¡¯re not doing your job at all.¡± At that moment, Christina profoundly empathized with Charlie¡¯s helplessness. A bedeviling person like her is indeed troublesome. There was nothing she could do but stay until Linda had fallen asleep before leaving. In the end, it was Christina who fell asleep instead of Linda. Linda took out her phone and snapped a photo of Christina sleeping by the bed. This brat isn¡¯t stupid. IfI have her on my side, I can surely get back together with Charlie. At that thought, an idea popped up in her mind. Immediately after, her lips curved into a sly grin. Only after he was done filming the drama did Francis rush to the hospital in the wee hours of the morning. He spotted Christina¡¯s slender figure sprawled on the hospital bed as soon as he entered the room. Why is she here? Linda had not seen him in a long time, so she immediately got out of bed and approached him. ¡°My darling son, you¡¯re finally here. I¡¯ve missed you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not sick?¡± Francis noticed that his mother was in good spirits and could even smile. She was nothing near seriously ill as he had heard over the phone. Linda smiled slightly. ¡°If I didn¡¯t say that, would you havee over? Would your dad have cared about me? I can¡¯t let him go back to Julia.¡± ¡°Mom, you and her have fought for Dad for so many years, and you still can¡¯t stop?¡± Francis held his mother¡¯s hand. ¡°I can make money now and also give you a good life. You need not live at the mercy others.¡± of There was a period when the Hadley family ruthlessly suppressed him and Linda when they discovered his existence in the past. That painful experience remained vivid in his memory. Nathaniel grew up not acknowledging his existence and had discreetly given him pressure when he appeared on¨Cscreen. Nathaniel doesn¡¯t want people to know that he has an illegitimate younger brother. It¡¯s a stain in his otherwise glorious life. Linda had a gloomy look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve sacrificed so much. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m giving up like that. Don¡¯t forget how your unborn younger sister died!¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 The Cause Of Death That year, Francis was barely ten. His mother, Linda, heavy with child, had just returned home from a prenatal checkup. Julia bribed the butler and managed to enter the house. The wife and mistress engaged in a heated argument the moment they saw each other. Julia stood at the top of the staircase and admonished Linda, ¡°You¡¯re truly shameless. Do you really think bearing a child for Charlie is enough for you to take my ce?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to force you out of the family. The fact that Charlie chooses to be with me is all that matters,¡± the heavily pregnant Linda said, a hint of smugness dancing in her eyes. What could possibly wound Julia more than snatching her man away? Linda reveled in the sight of the Hanks family¡¯s once high and mighty daughter crumbling under the insult delivered by amoner such as herself. At this moment, she realized that titles didn¡¯t matter at all. Julia trembled, the rage boiling within her evident in her quivering gaze. ¡°Linda, to think I once considered you a good friend. Had I known this would happen, I would never have defended you against those insults. I would have allowed those ruffians to ravage you. Then you wouldn¡¯t dare to act all high and mighty in front of me,¡± Julia spat. Her eyes then darkened as her tone turned frigid. ¡°Do you think you can be a part of the Hadley family just like this? I could take your illegitimate child back to the Hadley family and separate you from your child. Don¡¯t worry. I will take good care of your son and make sure he grows up just fine!¡± Her words made Linda¡¯s heart skip a beat, for Linda knew that Julia was taunting her. How could Julia, who loathed her so, possibly treat her child well? In a panic, Linda grasped Julia¡¯s shirt and yelled like a mad woman, ¡°I will never hand my son over to you! You will not separate us!¡± ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Let me go!¡± Julia shouted. Standing by the staircase, the young Francis observed the two quarreling women. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the house, and Linda tumbled down the stairs, blood seeping from her body. Although she was rushed to the hospital, her unborn child couldn¡¯t be saved. Having suffered the physical trauma, Linda would never be able to conceive again. This tragedy had been a constant source of pain for Linda, and she was willing to endure the condemnation rather than let Julia enjoy her life. Francis stayed silent for a while. A cold gust of wind stirred him from his thoughts. Bending slightly, he lifted his mother into his arms. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should rest.¡± Christina heard the sound, opened her eyes, and saw Linda with tears clinging to hershes. ¡°Ms. Macall, are you not feeling well?¡± Christina asked with concern. ¡°Mom wants to rest. Let¡¯s not disturb her,¡± Francis said, tucking the nket around Linda before leading Christina away. Francis drove along the city streets. Patches of silvery moonlight filtered through the branches, casting a mncholic glow on his handsome face. His androgynous features, strikingly cold yet enticingly soft, had been a boon to his acting career. The recent film release was met with rave reviews, and as if by magic, his worth had multiplied overnight. In a soft voice, Christina said, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t see me off. Why don¡¯t you head back early and catch up on some rest?¡± ¡°Concerned about me, are you?¡± Francis¡® lips curled into a faint smile. Christina huffed, avoiding his gaze, and crossed her arms over her chest. ¡°You¡¯re reading too much into it.¡± Is it necessary for our casual conversation to beced with such ambiguous tension? Francis was charmed by the sight of her flustered state, especially when her face flushed a delicate rosy hue, like a ripe little apple. Suddenly, the car came to an abrupt stop. Christina lurched forward, nearly colliding with the windshield. She was about to voice her irritation when she caught sight of Francis¡® handsome features turning deathly pale as an agonized frown creased his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. ¡°My heart hurts,¡± Francis said, grimacing in pain. ¡°Really? A few harsh words, and you¡¯re clutching at your chest? Can you be any more delicate?¡± Christina teased, not realizing the gravity of the situation. Why do both the son and mother like to feign illness? Francis clutched at his chest, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. ¡°There¡¯s a bottle of medicine in the glovepartment. Get it for me,¡± he muttered in pain. Christina finally noticed the rming pallor of his face and the purplish hue on his lips. Only then did she realize that he wasn¡¯t just being dramatic. She quickly opened the glovepartment to look for his medicine, and there was indeed a bottle of metoprolol, It was a medication used for treating heart conditions. Christina opened the bottle, to which Francis immediately popped a few pills into his mouth. ¡°Drink some water,¡± Christina said, offering her thermos sk. -It took some time before Francis finally returned to his normal self. ¡°Did I frighten you?¡± he asked. His pallorplexion was now reced by a mncholic look. Christina was truly startled. Who could have guessed that the enigmatic and charismatic Francis suffered from a heart condition? She had seen him perform demanding stunts in films. Wouldn¡¯t that affect his healthy All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How did youe to have a heart condition?¡± Christina asked. Francis turned to regard her and spoke with an air of resigned eptance. ¡°When I was young, I trained. alongside Nathaniel. Once, during a physical training session, I was pushed and I fell, injuring my heart. I¡¯ve had this condition ever since.¡± After all, for some time, he had also been trained to be the heir of Hadley Corporation. Christina was stumped by this revtion. She wouldn¡¯t have believed that Francis had a heart condition if she hadn¡¯t just witnessed his attack firsthand. She felt a pang of guilt for having misunderstood him earlier. Gently ruffling her hair, Francis reassured her tenderly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not about to drop dead.¡± Christina wavered. The sincere look in his eyes had moved her. She averted her gaze and swatted away his hand. ¡°If you don¡¯t take care of your own health, who will?¡± Francis¡® lips curled into a smile. ¡°You will. Ever since spending that night with you in the pit, my heart condition has been acting up more frequently.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me me on this. I¡¯m not covering your medical expenses,¡± Christina retorted, her voice faltering slightly. Francis chuckled. The sight of her never failed to lighten his mood. Shaking off his thoughts, he started the car and drove away. It was already midnight when Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel had yet to return, likely entangled in work affairs. After a soothing bath, Christina nestled into the weing embrace of her bed and drifted off to sleep. Morning light streamed through the window. Christina awoke to find herself nestled against a comforting warmth. She shifted slightly, and a rush of warm breath caressed her ear. Christina opened her eyes and took in the sight of the man¡¯s wless handsome visage. She couldn¡¯t help. but be stirred by the enticing sight as a flurry of emotions flooded her heart. Turning over, she cuddled deeper into his arms. ¡°When did you get back?¡± Nathaniel gently stroked her hair, his voice a soothing baritone. ¡°When you fell asleep. His work had been demanding ofte, often keeping him out until midnight. Christina traced a finger gently over the dark circles under his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been staying up toote recently. I¡¯m off today, so why don¡¯t we sleep in a bit more?¡± As she finished, she buried her head deeper in his chest, hugging him tightly as though afraid he would get up to work again. Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Illegal The two of themy in bed until it was almost noon. Christina had to attend a cocktail party held by designers after the meal, so she went upstairs to get changed after telling Nathaniel about it. The cocktail party was held on the highest floor of a high¨Cend hotel in Jadeborough. Right as Christina stepped into the area, she noticed many familiar faces. Anna, who was in a champagne- colored dress, walked over to Christina. She held Christina¡¯s hand and said with a smile, ¡°Quite many designers havee today. Let me introduce you to Ms. Timeton.¡± Heidi Timeton was the daughter of the Timeton family, and she had recently taken over her father¡¯s clothingpany. Timeton Clothing was rather well¨Cknown in the industry. Thepany had managed to steady its businesses despite the turmoils in the industry, and that was a sign of its capability. However, Christina did not think too well about it. Still, Anna seemed enthusiastic about the introduction, so Christina did not stop her. ¡°This is Christina Steele. She¡¯s the one behind the trending clothing and dresses of Radiant Corporation,¡± Anna proudly introduced. A few people began studying Christina. She¡¯s young, but the young ones are truly impressive nowadays. Christina responded with a small smile before her attention was attracted by Heidi. Heidi was wearing a customized fur coat that was worth millions, Christina immediately deduced that Heidi had to be someone of significance. After a brief small talk, Christina left. Those people were managers in thepany, and they did not click that well with the designers. Anna hooked her arm around Christina¡¯s and chuckled. ¡°Christina, Ms. Timeton, seems nice, doesn¡¯t she? To be honest, she was thinking of asking you to join herpany, and she¡¯s offering a sry several times more than what Radiant Corporation offers you now.¡± Christina had already deduced that those people she had talked to a while ago were no ordinary people. She asked Anna, ¡°When did you be a headhunter instead?¡± Anna let out a sheepish chuckle. ¡°Ms. Timeton told me that she¡¯s going to open a studio for me as long as I canplete the tasks she assigns me every month. She won¡¯t even forbid me from taking personal projects. For an entrepreneur, the opportunity of getting paid while obtaining a studio without any costs was something one should not let slip by. However, instead of getting tempted, Christina reminded, ¡°You¡¯ve been working in this industry longer than me. You should have heard of the Timetons¡® business style. Ms. Timeton is a businesswoman, and craftiness is her second nature. How could she possibly give you such good terms without asking for anything in return? Moreover, the Timetons are always stealing other people¡¯s designs and pushing the me on their designers if anything goes wrong. A handful of their designers have already been imprisoned because of this. I¡¯d say it¡¯s best to stay away from someone like her.¡± That was why the Timeton family had been able to keep theirpany afloat even after the storm. Their favorite move was to steal otherpanies¡® best¨Cselling designs, change the branding and make slight edits before selling those designs as theirs. Many smallerpanies that were not as influential as they ended up getting kicked out of the fashion industry because of this. As a designer, Christina looked down on sly people like them the most. Anna¡¯s expression darkened a little. ¡°That¡¯s in the past now. Ms. Timeton is an understanding woman, and she definitely won¡¯t do something like this. Moreover, she just said that she appreciated original designs most than the others.¡± Knowing that she could not persuade Anna otherwise, Christina muttered, ¡°Well, just mull over this yourself. I won¡¯t be joining herpany.¡± After a while of chatting, Christina left. To each their own. It was up to Anna to choose whether to change apany, and all Christina could do as her friend was to give her a piece of advice. While Christina was chatting with a designer she had just met, she heard someone crying out, ¡°You¡¯re the mysterious Ms. Ada?¡± The name Ada caught Christina¡¯s attention. Did someone just figure out my identity? Right as she turned around in confusion, she spotted a few designers huddling around a woman in a ck dress, talking to her with admiration bright in their eyes. Christina curiously walked over to them. The closer she walked to them, the clearer she heard their conversation. ¡°Ms. Ada, I really like your work!¡± ¡°May we please have your autograph?¡± ¡°Will you being up with a new design? I¡¯m waiting to worship yourtest design!¡± The woman smiled shyly. ¡°I¡¯m almost done. You¡¯ll be able to buy it in Radiant Corporation¡¯s gship store when it¡¯s released.¡± Christina took a few steps closer and finally recognized who the self¨Cproimed Ada was. It was Shelley. Shelley was showing off Christina¡¯s design drafts on a tablet. Christina could not believe that someone would have the guts to show off what they had stolen, and it was her first time encountering someone that shameless. ¡°You¡¯re Ada?¡± she questioned. Shelley froze. It was her habit to make Ada¡¯s works as her tablet and phone wallpapers. She had never thought one of the designers would recognize Ada¡¯s works and ask for her autograph and mistake her for Ada. < ¨± Shelley had momentarily been dazed by thepliment. It had been a long time since she studied design, and she had been working hard to gain someone¡¯s recognition. In her prideful daze, she had decided to not correct the designer¡¯s mistake and ept thepliment. Then, when she saw Christina, she stiffened in guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have something to attend to, so let¡¯s talk another time.¡± With that, she rushed off. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Christina ran after her. The two of them tugged each other and struggled for a while before entering the stairwell. When their gazes met, the air turned awkward. ¡°Why did you lie to them? You know you¡¯re not Ada,¡± Christina said. Flying into a rage out of humiliation, Shelley said, ¡°Who told you I¡¯m not Ada? Are you Ada? Why don¡¯t you get Ada to confront me instead?¡± Shelley had memorized Ada¡¯s design style, and she was capable of replicating her style in design drawings. After a moment of hesitation, Christina decided toe clean to Shelley about her identity. However, just as she was about to speak, a janitor came in and interrupted their conversation. With a scoff, Shelley lifted the ends of her dress and left. Christina wanted to call out to Shelley, but thetter was already gone. Christina did not mind someone impersonating her. She just did not wish to see Shelley, who was only at the start of her career, walk down the wrong path. Stealing another designer¡¯s identity was illegal. Those who relished in others¡® achievements would only end up losing their own identity. Christina thought that Shelley would stop the chaos after that night, but something else happened the next day. Early in the morning, Gina came into Christina¡¯s office after her meeting. ¡°You need to pause your designs for the current season. The higher¨Cups said that they were going to let Shelley take over the season¡¯s designs. From now on, she¡¯s no longer your assistant.¡± Christina was taken aback, but she soon asked, ¡°What kind of rtionship does Shelley have with Mr. Shetti?¡± She had to be someone important to be able to skip the probation period in less than three months to be the designer of thetest season. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Cousin Gina did not hide anything from her as she said, ¡°Shelley¡¯s Mr. Shetti¡¯s younger cousin.¡± Christina arched a brow and realized what was going on. ¡°So she was the one who decided to work with me?¡± ¡°Yes. The higher¨Cups told me to arrange for her to work with you.¡± Gina seemed exasperated, for she had not expected Shelley to switch roles so quickly. Christina seemed unfazed, however. ¡°Time can¡¯t restrain those who can work well. You were just doing your job.¡± Meanwhile, chaos was unfolding outside the office. Shelley had to have a powerful background to rise to such heights despite only being a simple assistant. What the people were focused most about at the moment were Shelley¡¯s designs. As the people crowded around each other, they began chatting. ¡°Aren¡¯t her designs too much like Ms. Steele¡¯s?¡± ¡°They¡¯re even using the samemon elements.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Shelley just copying her?¡± Just then, Shelley entered the office, her heels cking behind her. She seemed haughty as she raked her gaze across the office as if she was searching for the perfect product in a luxury goods store. In the end, her gazended on Anna. ¡°You. Be my assistant.¡± Anna was livid. She was an old employee in thepany and had a rtively high position among the designers. How could she possibly be an assistant¡¯s assistant? ¡°I have a handful of work I need to deal with recently. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to do the job well, Anna rejected icily. To her surprise, Shelley was ruthless. ¡°Stop acting all high and mighty. You used to be Ms. Steele¡¯s assistant too. Weren¡¯t you buttering her up all the time? You should appreciate the opportunity I¡¯m presenting to you.¡± Shelley even deliberately dragged herst word in mockery. Anna¡¯s face turned bright red, and she jumped to her feet. ¡°What are you trying to say, Shelley? I¡¯m willing to work for Ms. Steele because she¡¯s capable, but are you as capable as her to make others willing to follow you?¡± She had decided to work for Christina because she wanted to find out the limits of Christina¡¯s capabilities. After that, it was because she felt that Christina was someone worth working for. On the other hand, Shelley only wanted Anna to work for her to assert her dominance in the office. People who resorted to trickery were people Anna looked down upon. Anna¡¯s responses made Shelley¡¯s expression change. ¡°Just wait and see if I¡¯m capable or not. The latest season¡¯s clothing is about to go on the market, and my designs will sell as well as Christina¡¯s. But if you dare to reject me now, I¡¯m going to get Ms. Tanner to deliver you a warning letter!¡± Right as Christina was about to intervene in the argument, Anna, who was livid, took off her work identification pass and threw it on her desk. ¡°You don¡¯t need to hand me the letter. I quit!¡± Having said that, she stormed out. Christina dashed after her. ¡°Anna, you don¡¯t need to do this. I¡¯ll exin this to Ms. Tanner.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Christina. I¡¯m d to have a coworker as sweet as you. I¡¯ve already been thinking about changingpanies. This is just thest straw.¡± A relief look crossed Anna¡¯s face. ¡°I wanted to humiliate her and let her know that taking shortcuts will only make others look down on her. Take care of yourself and be careful now that I¡¯m no longer in Radiant Corporation.¡± Anna felt that Christina was far too naive. She was always worried about others, and she always forgot to take care of herself. Despite the reluctance, Christina could not find any reason to make Anna stay. She could only give her blessings to Anna for her departure from Radiant Corporation. After Anna¡¯s incident, Shelley picked another person as her assistant and left with her new assistant. A weekter, Shelley¡¯s designs entered the market. However, her designs were far too simr to the designs Christina had released a few editions before, and that included the elements and style. The sales were not great, but it was not terrible. Nevertheless, Radiant Corporation¡¯s staff knew what the situation was¨CShelley had simply designed by combining Christina¡¯s previous designs. How could that be considered an original design? Still, no one dared to voice a word about it. They had to keep theirments inside them, for Shelley was Zachary¡¯s cousin. Zachary was rather satisfied with the sales, however. Recently, Radiant Corporation and Timeton Group had jointly organized the next season¡¯s dress exhibition, and Zachary had given Shelley the role of lead designer. ¡°Good job, Shelley. Keep up the good work,¡± Zachary said with a smile and patted her on her shoulder. Blinded by her slight achievement, Shelley began thinking that she was on par with Christina in terms of design. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zachary. Leave this to me. I¡¯lle up with the design drawings in less than a week.¡± When Christina saw Shelley¡¯s design on the official website, she was not at all threatened. She thought Shelley was going to present something far more impressive, but as it turned out, Shelley could only copy her ideas. Before getting off work, Christina received a call from Linda. ¡°I¡¯m going to be at a cocktail party. Change into some nicer clothes ande with me.¡± ¡°I just got off work. I¡¯m not free.¡± Right as Christina was about to end the call, Linda hastily said, ¡°If you¡¯re not free, I¡¯m going to have to get Charlie to keep mepany instead. I¡¯m sure he has all the time in the world right now.¡± This again? ¡°Send me the address, and I¡¯ll be there as soon as possible.¡± Having achieved her goal, Linda could not help but chuckle. ¡°You better hurry.¡± Once the call ended, Christina received the address. She could not wrap her head around why wives of wealthy men were so free to hold cocktail parties all the time. Christina changed into a fitting ck dress with a mermaid tail. It entuated her figure so wlessly that she almost looked like the messenger of the goddess of beauty. After that, Christina headed to the location. The second she stepped inside, Linda came over to tow her inward. Christina uttered, ¡°Ms. Macall, didn¡¯t you just recover from your illness? Why don¡¯t I apany you home to rest instead?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck in the hospital for such a long time. If I stay there any longer, my health is going to deteriorate for good!¡± Linda protested. Christina was led into the event hall. The second Linda spotted someone, she started introducing Christina to them. ¡°This is my daughter¨Cinw. She¡¯s a famous designer.¡± The wealthy women could not help but shower Christina with praises. After all, Christina was an elegant and pretty woman. However, Christina felt ill at ease hearing her introduction. ¡°Ms. Macall, I don¡¯t think your introduction is quite right.¡± Christina did not mind someone introducing her as their daughter¨Cinw topete with other families¡® daughters¨Cinw, but Linda¡¯s introduction would create misunderstandings. Furthermore, Lind¨¢ had been hostile toward her back in the hospital. Christina had no idea why Linda now seemed like apletely different person. What is she trying to do this time? Linda patted her hand and said in a sweet tone, ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m Charlie¡¯s second wife, and in the past, my husband¡¯s children should all be mine. Therefore, you are my daughter¨Cin¨C law.¡± Linda seemed to make sense, but not at the same time. Christina retracted her hand and stiffly rejected, ¡°Ms. Macall, I still don¡¯t think this is a good idea. It¡¯s best if I go back now.¡± ¡°Why are you so stubborn? Julia doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge you as her daughter¨Cinw, but I do!¡± Linda grabbed Christina, not wanting her to slip away. With the excuse of wanting to introduce Christina to the others, she pulled Christina over to her side. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of people snatching other people¡¯s partners, but I¡¯ve never heard of someone snatching another¡¯s daughter¨Cinw. Linda Macall, is there anything and anyone you have that you didn¡¯t acquire through underhanded means?¡± The second Julia¡¯s stern voice echoed in the area, the atmosphere turned tense.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Looking For Design Drawings Linda looked so pretty that no matter where she went, she was the center of attention. Not only was she in good shape, but she also had a beautiful smile. Besides, she looked very elegant because she was a cultured woman. However, she was nothingpared to Julia, a woman from a prestigious family. That evening, Julia was wearing a graceful gown, and she was the embodiment of style and grace. That was definitely something Linda could only wish to have. It was a face¨Coff between a wife and a mistress. The atmosphere was extremely tense. ¡°Come here, Christina!¡± Julia demanded coldly. Linda crossed her arms and sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t go to her. She doesn¡¯t even respect you, and she doesn¡¯t acknowledge you as her daughter¨Cinw. It would be shameless of you to do as she said!¡± Linda was using Christina to provoke Julia. Christina gave Linda a troubled look before making her way toward Julia. Linda saw red when she looked at Christina¡¯s back. It was a ss reunion event that evening, so their ex¨Cssmates all swarmed over.) In truth, the feud between Julia and Linda had started ever since they were in school. Now that the women. were both adults, they somehow became love rivals. Before that, Julia had never bothered to attend such events because she didn¡¯t want to see Linda and listen to others gossip about them. That year, after enduring silently for so many years, Julia made an appearance as a victor. ¡°When you didn¡¯t have money for food, I shared my lunchbox with you. I even lent you my skirt when you ripped your school uniform. I treated you with kindness as though you were my sister, but you ended up seducing my husband. And now you¡¯re even trying to lure my daughter¨Cinw away from me. Do you have no shame, Linda?¡± Julia roared. Having endured years of getting badmouthed, Linda was unperturbed when she heard those words. She red at Julia and argued, ¡°Julia, stop pretending to be high and mighty. I was very grateful to you when you sponsored me financially back then. However, you promised you wouldn¡¯t tell others about it. You told me you wouldn¡¯t embarrass me and let others make fun of me.¡± Linda¡¯s eyes were brimmed with tears. past. ¡°In the end, you told our teacher about it! The teacher then told everyone how generous and kind you were. From then on, I became the butt of everyone¡¯s joke in school!¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. when she recalled the Linda could never forgive Julia for how Julia had humiliated her back then. After thaj, Linda left school to work instead of finishing her studies. As time went by, she met Charlie, learned that he was Julia¡¯s husband, and everything was history. Linda swore to ruin Julia¡¯s life because she couldn¡¯t bring herself to see Julia happy. Julia¡¯s gaze darkened immediately. Back then, that teacher read my diary, told the principal about it, and requested tomend me. I didn¡¯t n to humiliate her in public! ¡°Still, you shouldn¡¯t havee after me. A petty person like you will always me others for everything that goes wrong in your life.¡± Julia threw Linda a disdainful nce before leading Christina out of there. Linda was left in a daze and staring into the void with a glint in her eyes. In the car, Christina was sitting uneasily because she didn¡¯t know if Julia was mad at her. ¡°Mom, what happened tonight was-¡± With an elegant sitting posture, Julia interrupted in a casual yet stern tone, ¡°Keep a close eye on your husband. I don¡¯t want my grandchild to grow up the same way Nathaniel did,¡± It was dark in the car, so Christina couldn¡¯t see the emotions in Julia¡¯s eyes when Julia gave her advice. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, Mom,¡± Christina answered. She acted like an obedient and respectful child, which was why Julia was fond of her. After their conversation, silence filled the air once again as they made their way back to Scenic Garden Manor. Before Christina got out of the car, Julia said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the church this weekend to pray. Come with me.¡± Christina was ttered because Julia had never invited her along before. ¡°Sure, Mom. I¡¯ll be on time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get the butler to fetch you from Scenic Garden Manor.¡± ¡°Okay, then. I¡¯ll go home now.¡± Christina alighted from the car and waved goodbye in the direction of the car. Helen, who was in the passenger seat, turned around and said to Julia, ¡°It seems that Christina has won your heart.¡± Julia¡¯s gaze darkened, and with a calm expression, she answered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that, but I know she¡¯s a nice girl.¡± A nice girl? Christina has finally gotten Mrs. Hadley to like her. It¡¯s so nice to see them living in harmony. Helen was beaming within. Christina was humming a tune as she sat on the couch and blew her hair dry, clearly in a good mood. The hairdryer was loud, so she didn¡¯t hear the door being pushed open. Nathaniel grabbed her hairdryer from behind, and she turned around to smile at him. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± Nathaniel asked. Sebastian told me Christina was robbed of her position as lead ¨C designer at Radiant Corporation. What could possibly turn her mood around? ¡°Mom invited me to go to church with her on Sunday. Say, do you think she no longer hates me?¡± Christina asked curiously. Nathaniel was stunned for a while, but he returned to his senses almost instantaneously. ¡°Most probably.¡± 2/3 Nathaniel knew Julia had the habit of going to church to pray, and she would only let the people closest to her keep herpany. Since Mom is willing to bring Christina along, it¡¯s highly likely that she¡¯s starting to ept Christina. ¡°I think so, too!¡± Christina giggled adorably. Once her hair was dried, Nathaniel carried her in his arms and walked toward the bed. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should go to sleep.¡± Christina felt Nathaniel¡¯s hot breath on her forehead. Why did that feel as though he was building a barrier to keep me safe and sound? When Christina entered her office the next day, she saw someone flipping through her belongings. suspiciously. The documents and design drawings had been flipped through, and her desk was in a mess. With a chilly look in her eyes, Christina asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shelley jumped in fright and gazed back at Christina anxiously. ¡°I left a document in your office, so I came to retrieve it.¡± ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± Christina walked up to Shelley. It doesn¡¯t look like she was looking for a document. Instead, it seemed like she was looking for design drawings. She discovered that I kept my design drawings in my drawer when she was my assistant. Shelley pretended to remain calm and answered in a slightly hostile tone, ¡°No. Forget about it.¡± Upon leaving Christina¡¯s office, Shelley returned to her office, shut the door, and vented her frustration. Prior to this, I told Zachary I would give him my design drawings in a week! One week has gone by, and I still haven¡¯t started drafting my design drawings! Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Apany Me To The Church At that point, Shelley was panicking. What should I do? I¡¯m supposed to give the design drawings to Zachary soon! If I fail to do that, the others will surely make fun of me. They are already jealous of me. If I can¡¯t deliver as promised, I¡¯ll lose my dignity in Radiant Corporation! She lowered her gaze and saw the picture on her phone screen. All of a sudden, a dark look shed her eyes. This is it! I¡¯ll submit Ada¡¯s designs! At ten o¡¯clock sharp, Shelley submitted the design drawings. Gina¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw the design drawings. ¡°The gown design looks so pretty with jasmine. flowers on it. If the end product has the same effect, it¡¯ll surely sell well.¡± past Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I told you I wouldn¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Shelley smiled. It¡¯s just a gown. I can alsoe up with the same design. ¡°Well done. Proceed to make these five gowns and get them ready by the end of the month,¡± Gina reminded. It was a tight schedule because one might need to alter the design halfway through the production. Hence, that could end up dying the process. ¡°Should I get Christina to help you? She¡¯s very skillful in embroidery and sewing,¡± Gina suggested. ¡°No. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Tanner. I¡¯llplete my work on time,¡± Shelley quickly rejected Gina¡¯s suggestion. I can¡¯t let Christina help me. What if she copies Ada¡¯s design? ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll let you get back to your work.¡± Shelley held the design drawings against her chest and turned around to leave. I¡¯m good at embroidery and sewing as well. Why would I have a problem making a few gowns? Meanwhile, Christina finished her work at the office earlier than she had expected. Since she had a few sets of clothing toplete, she went to the tailor room. The moment she entered the tailor room, she saw Shelley and her assistant cutting the fabrics. She also saw them hiding the fabrics and design drawings the second she walked through the door. Christina was rendered speechless. Are they worried about me stealing their designs? I¡¯m not even interested! Christina found a spot to sit down with her back facing them. The light fell on her delicate figure, and one could see what Christina was doing through the reflection in the ss mirror. At that moment, Christina was seen spreading out the clothes in her hands and embroidering them quickly and precisely. The way she moved her slender fingers was so smooth that it was as if she was ying the piano. Upon seeing that, Shelley¡¯s assistant gaped in disbelief. I¡¯ve heard about how skillful Christina is, but I¡¯ve never seen her work in person. She¡¯s in a different league! We need half an hour to finish what she can do in around ten minutes. ¡°Should we ask Ms. Steele for help?¡± the assistant whispered after Christina left. These design drawings rely heavily on embroideries. Embroidering these jasmine flowers is going to be tough! Shelley was a prideful woman, so she wasn¡¯t willing to ask Christina for help. ¡°No! How are you a designer if you don¡¯t even know embroidery?¡± The assistant didn¡¯t dare to utter a single word in response. Back at Hadley Corporation, Madison received a call from home. ¡°Maddy, would you like to apany me to the church during the weekend?¡± Madison¡¯s mother asked. ¡°I have a lot of unfinished tasks, though. I¡¯ll go with you next time,¡± Madison rejected. Since I can see Nathaniel at the office. I would rather stay in the office than go anywhere during the weekend. Moira Taggart, Madison¡¯s mother, went on to convince Madison by saying, ¡°Well, I heard that Mrs. Hadley is also going to church. Don¡¯t you want to see your future mother¨Cinw?¡± Everyone at home knew what was on Madison¡¯s mind. Since they couldn¡¯t talk her out of it, they ended up helping her instead. Madison hadn¡¯t seen Julia in a long time. Back then, she used to have tea with Julia all the time, but recently, Julia seemed to prefer Christina¡¯spany. If I don¡¯t do something about it, I¡¯ll eventually lose Mrs. Hadley¡¯s support. With that in mind, Madison replied. ¡°All right, then. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°I heard that Mrs. Hadley trusts one of the priests in the church a lot. I¡¯ll get the priest to prophesy for you.¡± Moira was thrilled. If we can get Mrs. Hadley to like us, it¡¯ll be easier to convince Nathaniel. When the weekend came around, Christina woke up early and changed into a casual outfit. Since she was going to the church, she chose to wear a in¨Ccolored outfit. She even tied her long hair up to reveal her innocent¨Clooking face. Christina¡¯s mesmerizing eyes were so eye¨Ccatching that they could outshine jewelry pieces. When she arrived downstairs, the butler was already waiting for her in the car. Nathaniel stopped her from exiting the house and asked, ¡°Have you had breakfast? Where are you going?¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect the butler to arrive so early. She didn¡¯t want to keep Julia waiting, so she replied, ¡°The butler is already here. I¡¯ll just eat a slice of bread.¡± With that, she walked toward the door. However, Nathaniel went up to her and carried her toward the dining table. ¡°Eat your breakfast,¡± he uttered domineeringly. There was a huge bowl of food on the dining table, and Christina had no choice but to empty the bowl. She finished the food within a few minutes and asked, ¡°I¡¯m done. Can I go now?¡± Nathaniel nodded in satisfaction when he saw the empty bowl. ¡°Sure.¡± Only then did Christina leave the house and get into the car to go to the church. Throughout the years, Julia would visit the church on a particr day every year to pray. Christina prayed with Julia first before she went to light up some candles with Helen. ¡°Ms. Christina, you ought to give Mr. Hadley a child soon so that no one can challenge your status in the family.¡± Helen advised. ¡°I know.¡± Christina smiled awkwardly. I thought we should let nature take its course. Besides, I¡¯m not even ready. Nathaniel and I are still so young. We can afford to wait a few more years. The two chatted for a while more before Julia called out to Christina to see the priest. The priest was known for his gift of prophesying. He was very famous among the people. This time, Julia had brought Christina to the priest to see if Christina was a good fit for the Hadley family. Coincidentally, they bumped into Madison and her mother. They were dressed up in luxurious but modest clothing. At a nce, one could definitely tell they were from a wealthy family. At that moment, the priest said, ¡°This youngdy will surely bring wealth and luck to her future husband.¡± A tad embarrassed by the high praise, Madison blushed deeply. Right then, Moira shot the priest a look. The priest noticed it and shifted his nce toward Christina. All of a sudden, his expression changed, and he said, ¡°On the contrary, this youngdy is anything but that! She¡¯s bringing neither wealth nor luck, and she¡¯s a jinx. Also, she looks so hot¨Ctempered with her gigantic eyes. She¡¯ll be unfilial in the future. Mrs. Hadley, if you keep this daughter¨Cinw of yours around, she¡¯ll bring bad luck to the Hadley family! You should get someone who brings you good luck instead!¡± Those words caught Christina by surprise. The priest¡¯s gaze is so hostile, and it¡¯s so obvious he¡¯s intentionally targeting me. Mrs. Hadley believes him, though. She¡¯ll surely think I¡¯m no longer suitable for the Hadley family. Christina felt anxious. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Liar Seeing Julia¡¯s expression turn grim, Madison could not help but chuckle inwardly. Aware of Julia¡¯s unwavering faith in the priest, Madison anticipated that Julia would perceive Christina as a source of misfortune in the family and ultimately evict her from the house. Julia staggered backward, and her face turned ashen. Helen immediately went up to hold her. ¡°Are you okay, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Helen was terrified. Christina had the intention of going up and assisting Julia, but Madison intervened and forcefully pushed her aside. With a sarcastic tone, she said, ¡°Did you not hear the priest call you a jinx? Can you please get out of here?¡± Christina felt a sense of injustice. Based on the current situation, it appeared that Madison was colluding with the priest. Christina even noticed them exchanging knowing nces with each other. But will she believe me if I tell her this? After steadying herself, Julia cast a serious nce at the priest. ¡°You seem quite confident in your assertions, but I have never disclosed to anyone that Christina is my daughter¨Cinw.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Uh¡­¡± The priest was at a loss for words, ming himself internally for his slip of the tongue. Julia¡¯s face, typically known for its amicable nature, now burned with an unusual fury as she cast a sharp nce at her surroundings. ¡°Christina has been with us for years, and Hadley Corporation has been doing exceptionally well. Our business even reaches new heights. So, your usations hold no ground! Someone must have paid you to utter such nonsense. I trusted you, but you let me down. Don¡¯t expect me to step into this church again!¡± Christina might not be the daughter¨Cinw of her choice, but Julia would never allow anyone to defame her. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy and tense. No one anticipated Julia¡¯s outburst of rage to this extent. Madison¡¯s expression changed as she realized her attempt to leave a good impression on her had backfired. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the priest must have simply made that up. Let¡¯s not listen to him.¡± Madison spoke in a gentle voice, trying to get in the woman¡¯s good books. She also distanced herself from the priest, fearing that Julia would suspect her involvement in the situation. Moira, too, chimed in, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, let¡¯s not pay attention to that deceitful priest. How about we head over to Luna Delights and have a cup of coffee? It¡¯s been a while since we had a good chat.¡± She held onto Julia¡¯s arm, pushing Christina to the back. Christina felt a sense of bewilderment at Moira¡¯s action. Frustration lingered within her as she was unsure if Julia¡¯s words were merely a show of courtesy or a genuine attempt to support her. Walking up to the front and agitating Julia would only make the situation more awkward, so Christina thought it was better for her to stand behind. As the group walked toward the entrance, Madison cast a gentle nce at Julia, her nerves slightly on edge. In fact, it was not their first time employing such a scheme. When Nathaniel was about to get married, they also bribed a priest to speak ill of Christina in front of Julia, Back then, when the priest said all sorts of malicious things, Julia wholeheartedly believed him without a hint of doubt, epting his im that Christina was a harbinger of misfortune. It was a stark contrast to the attitude she was disying now. Madison was surprised that the same trick failed this time. As they exited the church, Julia stopped in her tracks and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well today, so I won¡¯t join you for the afternoon coffee.¡± Madison, who was still contemting ways to win Julia¡¯s favor, could not hide the disappointment on her face when she heard that. Moira, quick on her feet, shed a warm smile and stepped forward to ease the tension. ¡°All right. Take a good rest, Mrs. Hadley. We¡¯ll visit you again when you feel better, all right?¡± Julia hummed nonchntly. She turned around to look for Christina, who stood by a corner. ¡°Christina, come. Help me to the car.¡± Christina looked up in disbelief and walked out from the corner. Julia extended her hand to grasp Christina¡¯s, and Christina called out, ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Julia red at her. Why is she still calling me Mrs. Hadley? Christina came to her senses and said softly, ¡°Mom, watch your steps.¡± Julia nodded in satisfaction and got into the car. Once Christina had taken her seat in the car and Helen had settled into the front/passenger seat, the driver started the engine and drove off. A pang of jealousy filled Madison as she watched the car disappear. ¡°Mom, did you see that? Mrs. Hadley¡¯s attitude toward Christina haspletely changed!¡± Knowing Julia¡¯s usual demeanor, Madison understood that she would only allow individuals she acknowledged to sit next to her. Not only am I not making any progress with Nathaniel, but I also seem to be losing control over Mrs. Hadley! Seeing the panicked expression on her daughter¡¯s face, Moira sighed gently. ¡°If you can¡¯t keep your composure under such circumstances, you won¡¯t be able to handle the pressure even if you have the opportunity to rise to power. Did you notice Mrs. Hadley¡¯s attitude toward Christina?¡± ¡°Yes. Very clearly,¡± Madison responded while gritting her teeth. Moira tapped her hand gently and said, ¡°What Mrs. Hadley values the most is her reputation. Reputation means everything to her in our circle. She probably doesn¡¯t want to embarrass Christina in front of us. You just need to keep observing. Who knows, you might be pleasantly surprised with a different oue. Meanwhile, Christina did not dare to speak or look at Julia while they were traveling in the car. It was as if she had done something wrong, anticipating a reprimand. She thought what the priest said earlier was definitely not something he randomly uttered. Madison must have arranged for him to spew that nonsense. Christina was angry, especially when he used her of not caring for her family. She had always cared about her mother and grandmother, and she vowed to repay their kindness. Meanwhile, Christina and Helen had the same reaction on their faces as they had no idea what was going through Julia¡¯s mind. They stole nces at her from the corners of their eyes, studying her for a moment before quickly shifting their gaze elsewhere. The fear of meeting her eyes was evident in their actions. Upon noticing the looks on their faces, Julia asked, ¡°Why are you two so quiet? Did something happen?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡­¡± Christina, could not help but fidget, not knowing what to say. The priest¡¯s earlier words lingered in her mind, causing her great difort. Julia could read her thoughts easily. ¡°Do you think I believe the things the priest said? You expect me to buy the story he made up? Helen could not help but think to herself. Well, you used to believe what the priest said, didn¡¯t you? Not only did you believe his words, but you even thought of Ms. Christina as a jinx. Christina lowered her eyes, not knowing the right thing to say. Given her typical demeanor, she would have believed what the priest said, wouldn¡¯t she? Julia was growing increasingly frustrated with the silence of the two individuals and pressed on, ¡°Do you both think I¡¯m so gullible that I would blindly believe anyone?¡± As she spoke, she clenched her fists, and a hint of anger shed across her eyes. Christina narrowed her eyes and replied with a reassuring smile. ¡°Of course not, Mom. You are wise and discerning. Why would you easily believe the words of a temple priest who was likely paid to mislead you?¡± Upon noticing how Christina defended herself before Julia, Helen chimed in and praised Julia. ¡°I agree with Ms. Christina. We¡¯re people living in the modern era. How can we believe such words? You seem to be getting better and better in discerning truth from deceitful lies, Mrs. Hadley!¡± Their praises uplifted Julia¡¯s spirit, and the anger in her eyes gradually dissipated. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Messed Up ounts The car finally arrived at the Hadley residence. While getting out of the car, Julia reminded Christina, ¡°Remember toe home with Nathaniel for a meal tomorrow.¡± It was Thanksgiving the next day¨Ca day for families to gather. Christina felt her heart expanding with warmth. ¡°Okay, Mom.¡± After Julia and Helen had gotten out of the car, the driver brought Christina back to Scenic Garden Manor. Documents were disyed on Nathaniel¡¯s table in the study. Meanwhile, Christina poured a ss of warm milk before heading upstairs. After all, she heard from one of the kitchen staff Nathaniel skipped dinner and went straight to the study. to deal with some matters the moment he got home. Christina could not bear to let him go hungry. ¡°Why are you still working when it¡¯s sote?¡± she asked as she pushed the door open, only to be greeted by a strong stench of blood. Her stomach churned. Before she could even do anything, the scene stunned her. Several fierce bodyguards were beating a man up. It was a scary sight, for the man was covered in blood, barely breathing, and unrecognizable due to his swollen features. Madison looked over and red at Christina from an angle where Nathaniel could not see it. Disdain filled Madison¡¯s heart when she saw the shocked expression on Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Please excuse us, Mrs. Hadley. We¡¯re handling some official business.¡± What kind of business requires torturing people? Christina¡¯s fingers that held the ss of milk trembled. She hesitated for a moment and entered the room. Before she could even steady herself, Nathaniel pulled her into his arms. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. His firm chest emanated a warmth that seemed to surround her. Nathaniel nced over at his subordinates. ¡°Take care of this. Send him to the police station.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Hadley.¡± The bodyguards quickly brought the man out of the study. Before leaving, the man pleaded, ¡°Please forgive me, Mr. Hadley. Don¡¯t-¡± As soon as he was brought away, the housekeeper promptly entered and cleaned up the study. No blood traces could be found on the sparkling clean floor. 1/4 Only then did Christina ask with concern. ¡°What were you guys dealing with earlier?¡± Things looked quite serious earlier. Otherwise, they would not have beaten the man up. Nathaniel lifted the ss of warm milk and took a sip while his right hand remained wrapped around Christina¡¯s waist. Sebastian chipped in, ¡°The finance department¡¯s data had a few problems that messed up all the current ounts. It was a serious matter that required Mr. Hadley to take care of it himself.¡± It turned out that apetitor bought over an employee from the finance department. Thetter changed a part of the financial data, which messed up the ounts. In fact, the matter was so serious that all the employees of the finance department had a hard time trying to resolve the problem, despite working overtime. Jealousy bubbled in Madison¡¯s heart as she watched Christina lean into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. Christina looks so clueless. I bet she doesn¡¯t even know what a data table is. That was when Madison was even more determined to make Nathaniel know Christina could not help him when he needed it. Only I can help relieve him of his troubles. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯ve contacted an experienced data engineer, Mr. Darian Jarrett. I can get him to help with Hadley Corporation¡¯s ounts,¡± said Madison confidently. Sebastian¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Can you really get Mr. Jarrett¡¯s help? It¡¯s not easy to invite him over, you know?¡± Anyone with experience in the business industry would have heard of that name before. If he could help Hadley Corporation with the financial data, the data could be recovered in no time. Madison smiled, feeling proud of herself. ¡°Of course. I just have to call him.¡± She stared at Nathaniel seriously, ¡°I can get him as long as you give me the green light.¡± After saying that, she cast Christina a look of disdain. However, Nathaniel put down the ss and pondered about it before saying, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. It¡¯s inconvenient for a stranger to get involved now.¡± Hadley Corporation¡¯s financial data was in a mess. The consequences would be unimaginable if someone were to do something to it. Sebastian understood Nathaniel¡¯s concerns, but the finance department¡¯s ounts were too messed up. It would take a lot of time to take care of it. ¡°How about I give it a try?¡± Christina¡¯s sweet voice broke the silence, causing the other three to turn to her in disbelief. After all, she made it sound as if it was a simple matter. Madison rolled her eyes inwardly. What a joke. Does she think she can simply give it a try like it¡¯s a piece of clothing? With a questioning tone, Madison said, ¡°It¡¯s not that we don¡¯t believe you, but a part of the data is messed up, and some are missing. Even a professional data engineer might not be able to recover it. Do you still want to give it a try?¡± Christina could sense the mockery in Madison¡¯s words. Regardless, she could not be bothered to entertain the scheming woman. Madison¡¯s hatred for Christina had reached the point where she would throw shade at thetter behind Nathaniel¡¯s back. The more Madison did not let Christina try, the more thetter wanted to try. Casting Nathaniel a gentle gaze, Christina asked, ¡°Can I give it a go, Nathaniel?¡± Nathaniel patted her head and agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Madison felt as if her heart were crushed by a huge rock the moment she heard his answer. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the data is no joke. It¡¯ll only make it harder to recover once it¡¯s messed up.¡± She had no ns to let Christina shine. The study was instantly filled with a tense atmosphere. Not knowing who to side with, Sebastian simply kept quiet and waited for Nathaniel¡¯s answer. Meanwhile, Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Christina¡¯s delicate face and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. ¡°Give it a go. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t know how to solve it.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve informed the kitchen to prepare dinner. Go have your dinner first. I¡¯ll work on it in the study.¡± Before Nathaniel could answer, she added, ¡°Don¡¯t skip your meal. I¡¯d be worried if you starve yourself.¡± Her words put Nathaniel in a good mood. ¡°Okay.¡± Christina then turned to the other two. ¡°I¡¯ve asked the kitchen to prepare your portions, too. Go on and enjoy it together.¡± Sebastian was touched. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley.¡± On the other hand, Madison did not want to ept the kind gesture, but she did not want to miss out on having a meal with Nathaniel, either. When the three left the room, Christina picked up the documents on the table and flipped through them. It took her a short while to finish reading them before turning on theputer to check which data was incorrect! Not long after, she found a breakthrough. In the meantime, Nathaniel quickly finished his meal and went upstairs to his room. Madison, on the other hand, kept thinking about Christina. Suddenly, her eyes gleamed as an idea popped into her mind. After finishing her food, she went into the kitchen, poured a cup of coffee, and added some powder to it. Christina will surely be hospitalized once she drinks this. Then, I can rmend Mr. Jarrell to Nathaniel again. All the credit will then belong to me! Madison could not help but smirk at the thought of that, and she headed upstairs with the coffee. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Spiked Coffee Christina was typing away on the keyboard in the study when the door was pushed open. She stopped what she was doing and looked up to find Madison cing a cup of coffee on the table. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m about what happened earlier. I was just worried about thepany¡¯s data. Are you still mad at me?¡± Her attitude had taken a hundred¨Cand¨Ceighty¨Cdegree turn. sorry Naturally, Christina noticed the woman¡¯s awkward smile. What¡¯s this woman up to this time? Smiling, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Madison broke into a rxed smile and pushed the cup of coffee to Christina. ¡°Will you drink this cup coffee to ept my apology?¡± of She had prepared that medicine beforeing that day. One serving was all that was needed to make the consumer have diarrhea. No one else will get in my way once Christina¡¯s gone. Christina eyed the cup of coffee in front of her. For some reason, she had a feeling that Madison was up to something fishy. Just as she was about to reach for the cup, a figure suddenly rushed in. The cup of coffee was snatched and finished by Sebastian before the two women could react. Christina was lost beyond words. What¡¯s Sebastian doing? Meanwhile, Madison was livid. That fool! Has he lost his mind? Why would he take that cup of coffee? Sebastian gulped the entire coffee, leaving not a single drop behind. He was still panting as he ced the cup down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Hadley. I was too thirsty. I hope you won¡¯t mind it.¡± Earlier, he had noticed Madison adding something to the coffee, but he was not sure what it was. He simply guessed it was Madison¡¯s medicine. The moment he saw her entering the study with the cup coffee, something clicked in his mind. Worried Madison might cause trouble, he quickly snatched the coffee and drank it. Sebastian¡¯s unusual behavior made Christina suspicious. He¡¯s always been a steady person who¡¯s rarely this reckless. I¡¯m sure he knows something. of Christina responded calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯ste, anyway. I don¡¯t want to drink any coffee.¡± Smiling sheepishly, Sebastian said, ¡°We shall not bother you anymore, then. We¡¯ll be going back first.¡± 1/4 With that, he dragged Madison out of Scenic Garden Manor. While Madison drove the car to the hospital, she questioned, ¡°Are you an idiot? Do what that was? How could you drink it just like that?¡± Ugh! This idiot is so frustrating! you have any idea A frown appeared on Sebastian¡¯s forehead. ¡°You¡¯re the idiot here. How dare you make a move on Mrs. Hadley? You¡¯ll lose your position as an assistant once Mr. Hadley finds out about it.¡± Madison gripped the steering wheel tightly as the cold air entered her lungs, allowing some of her rationality to return. If something happened to Christina after taking the coffee, Madison would be the first to get kicked out by Nathaniel. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Hence, she would lose her chance to handle the finance department¡¯s matters. I¡¯ve always been a calm person. How could I panic and make such a mistake? If Sebastian did not interfere¡­ the consequences would¡¯ve been terrible. At that moment, the medicine¡¯s effects kicked into action. Sebastian paled and frowned. The pain in his stomach was so intense that he felt like crying. ¡°What did you put into that cup of coffee?¡± Sebastian was on the verge of tears. Madison hit the steering wheel and snapped. ¡°Laxative. Why did you drink it? You could¡¯ve just poured it away.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore.¡± The situation earlier was too urgent that he downed the coffee. without thinking it through. They soon arrived at the hospital, but it was still toote. Sebastian was given a gastricvage and an IV drip. At the end of it, he had already passed out. Meanwhile, at Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel had just finished showering when he remembered he had a few documents to take care of. Hence, he called Sebastian. However, it was Madison who answered it. She briefly exined the situation and hung up to settle the medical bill. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Sebastian?¡± asked Christina with concern. Putting down the phone, Nathaniel answered inly, ¡°He¡¯s not feeling well.¡± He was all right earlier. Did he eat something wrong? Suddenly, Christina frowned. Could it be the coffee? As she carefully recalled Sebastian¡¯s unusual behavior from moments ago, she understood something. Madison tried to drug me! Right then, the light in front of her was blocked out as Nathaniel massaged her forehead with his finger. ¡°Is it too difficult? Don¡¯t think about it, then.¡± Snapping back to her senses, Christina looked up and smiled innocently. ¡°It¡¯s not. I was thinking you should sleep early tonight while I stay up to work. That way, I can experience what it¡¯s like when you work alone.¡± What¡¯s it like spending countless nights dealing with data at the office table? Hearing that, Nathaniel kissed her forehead, her lower lip, her nose bridge, and her cheeks. Christina felt his soft, warm lips seal her airway. At the same time, she felt as if she had fallen into a gorgeous sea of roses. Momentster, she tiptoed, ced her hand on his shoulder, and pushed him to the door. She was not strong enough, so she struggled to push Nathaniel, who had a muscr body. Noticing how much she was struggling, Nathaniel had no choice but to walk to the door. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should rest.¡± Christina smiled smugly as if to warn him not to disturb her while she was working that night. ¡°Okay, then. Good night,¡± said Nathaniel. Christina quickly shut the door and returned to the desk to continue working. Christina was still seated in front of theputer even when the sun slowly lit up the night sky and poured dazzling rays into the study room. Her eyes were glued to the dense data on the screen for a final check. Suddenly, the door was pushed open urgently, and in came Sebastian. He looked as pale as a sheet. ¡°Mrs. Hadley?¡± His heart lurched. As soon as he recovered, he got discharged and rushed back to check on the finance department¡¯s matters, which he had been worried about. Christina looked upzily. ¡°Thank you for drinking that cup of coffee on my behalf. It must¡¯ve been hard on you.¡± She did not give him the chance to lie about it. Sebastian¡¯s lips quivered. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, can you please don¡¯t look into this matter? Madison won¡¯t do it again.¡± Christina snorted. Won¡¯t do it again? She¡¯ll definitely do it again, if not worse. Noting the protective look in his eyes, Christina narrowed hers and guessed, ¡°You like her, don¡¯t you?¡± Sebastian froze, and he panicked under her gaze. He could not believe he was frightened of a woman who was much younger than her. Still, her piercing gaze was too much like Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I just don¡¯t want you to be hurt, and this will only make Mr. Hadley worry. Madison and I have been working together for many years. She¡¯s helped me a lot. That¡¯s all.¡± He just did not want to lose a good colleague. Christina was simply testing Nathaniel. If he was a sentimental person, perhaps it was not a bad thing to have him around Nathaniel. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Data Recovery ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Nathaniel walked in, donning a brand¨Cnew suit. The sharp cutting of the suit emphasized his figure as a dark and mysterious aura emanated from him. Sebastian did not reply because he was not used to lying to Nathaniel. Christina grinned. ¡°I told Sebastian that I¡¯ve sorted out all the data. Do you want toe and take a look?¡± It¡¯s only been one night, yet she¡¯s already done arranging all the messy financial data worth months? That sounds kind of absurd. I just hope she didn¡¯t make it messier than it already was. Nathaniel strode over and bent down to look at the data disyed on the screen. The look in his eyes darkened within a short span of a few minutes. Sebastian noticed the grim expression Nathaniel was wearing. Did she mess it up even more? He walked over uneasily, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. ¡°Mr. Hadley, don¡¯t worry. We can hire people to arrange these data.¡± As soon as he said that, his gaze identally fell onto the numbers on the screen. The next second, his mouth fell open in shock. From transactions to exchange rates, everything was neatly arranged in a spreadsheet. He was so shocked that his eyes were as wide as saucers. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, did you do all these by yourself?¡± Christina shed him a smug smile and chuckled, pleased with herself. Someone didn¡¯t believe I could process datast night, huh? What¡¯s so difficult about simple ounting? It¡¯s nothing but a piece of cake for a mathematics genius like me! Sebastian beamed. The messed¨Cup figures that gave him a headache yesterday were now arranged andpiled neatly in a spreadsheet. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, when did you learn ounting?¡± he asked in curiosity. Christina giggled. ¡°I¡¯ve been good with numbers ever since I was young. I earned my own tuition fees for university, and if I didn¡¯t have good number sense, I would¡¯ve been swindled by others.¡± The expression in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned grimmer when he heard that. Just what kind of life did she live back in the Steele family that caused her to be so calctive? He gently caressed Christina¡¯s cheek. ¡°Good job.¡± Sebastian agreed with Nathaniel. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Mrs. Hadley. We¡¯ll feel at ease to let you handle the ounting for Mr. Hadley in the future.¡± Christina smiled bashfully, her face flushing red. Sebastian tidied up the documents on the desk and said, ¡°Well, then. I¡¯ll be returning to thepany to settle some work matters first.¡± The people in the finance department still didn¡¯t know that the issue with the data had been settled. Sebastian couldn¡¯t wait to hurry back and tell them the good news. He closed the door as he exited the room. Christina stretchedzily. The morning light fell onto her slender figure and illuminated her porcin- white skin. Nathaniel massaged her temples as he asked, ¡°What kind of reward would you She¡¯s so lovable. I want nothing more than to give her all the best things in the world. like?¡± Christina wrapped her arms around his slim waist and leaned on his chest. Snuggling up against him, she answered, ¡°I¡¯m lucky enough to have such a handsome husband. No reward can bepared to you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward into a smile as he carried her in his arms and walked toward the door. ¡°You must be exhausted. Go and take a rest. I¡¯ll have the chefs prepare some dessertster.¡± When Christina heard the word ¡°desserts,¡± she was reminded of what she had promised Julia and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s Thanksgiving today! We have to return to the Hadley residence for lunch.¡± After a whole night of sorting out financial figures, such an important issue almost slipped her mind. Nathaniel furrowed his brows. ¡°You¡¯re not going to take a nap anymore?¡± ¡°Nope. Returning to the Hadley residence is more important than taking a nap. Wait for me downstairs. I¡¯ll go change.¡± Like an agile little bunny, Christina hopped out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms and ran toward the bedroom. She freshened up, changed into a new set of clothes, and left with Nathaniel. Warmth enveloped Nathaniel and Christina almost as soon as they stepped into the Hadley residence. Helen brought some coffee for the duo and whispered. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are in the kitchen cooking. and baking. They get along much bettertely. Mrs. Hadley is smiling more often too.¡± Speaking of which, Christina deserved some of the credit for Charlie¡¯s return to the Hadley r¨¦sidence. No wonder it did not work when the priest ran his mouth in front of Julia. Christina thought that as long as Linda didn¡¯t stir up trouble, Charlie and Julia¡¯s rtionship would be smooth sailing. Nathaniel and Christina sat and chatted for some time before it was time for lunch. That was the first time Christina experienced familial warmth and what it was like tough and chat over a hot meal with loved ones. To her, such a prosaic asion was all she could ever ask for. After lunch, Julia and Charlie went to the backyard to nt some vegetables. Christina returned to the bedroom to rest, while Nathaniel busied himself with work in the study. It was dinner time when Christina woke up. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. As she got out of bed, she muttered, ¡°Why do I feel like I¡¯m spending this whole day doing nothing but sleep and eat?¡± Nathaniel tousled her hair affectionately. ¡°Isn¡¯t that nice? You¡¯re too skinny. I want to fatten you up.¡± The couple made their way downstairs, chatting and exchanging smiles. The four of them had just sat down around the dining table. when Charlie¡¯s phone started ringing. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out it was Linda calling. She and Charlie still had each other¡¯s contact numbers even though they had already broken up. After all, a rtionship thatsted years couldn¡¯t possibly be severed just like that. Julia¡¯s expression turned grim. Her keeping mum about some things didn¡¯t necessarily mean she could turn a blind eye every time. In the end, Charlie still answered the call after much hesitation. Linda¡¯s alluring voice could be heard from the other end of the call. ¡°Charlie, I made your favorite osmanthus pudding. We used to have it for Thanksgiving every year in the past. I miss you.¡± The woman¡¯s captivating voice could be heard clearly through the phone, causing the hairs on Christina¡¯s back to stand on end. This woman sure knows how to coax a man. Christina carefully turned her gaze toward Charlie, wondering if he would start to waver. Julia ced her fork down and spoke while wearing a frosty expression. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since you two met. You must miss her an awful lot. Go ahead if you want to meet her.¡± She would never beg for love and attention and would not settle for insincere love acquired from piteous imploration. Christina knitted her brows into a frown when she noticed the attitude Julia gave Charlie. She¡¯s basically pushing her husband away by talking like that. It¡¯s better to talk nicely and ease the tension. But,e to think of it, Mrs. Hadley has always been a prideful woman. She¡¯d never give in so easily. Linda¡¯s voice traveled from the other end of the phone. ¡°Charlie, juste over since she¡¯s already agreed to let youe. I¡¯ll make the table and wait for you.¡± At that moment, Linda thought to herself, I know how stubborn Julia can be. As long as I push her to her limits, she might even let me have Charlie. The heartwarming atmosphere that filled the dining room slowly slipped away as silence enveloped the air. Nathaniel was the only one who remained calm and expressionless, as if he had gotten used to such scenarios! To him, Charlie¡¯s absence or presence didn¡¯t make a difference. Just as everyone was waiting for Charlie to leave, he finally spoke after moments of silence. ¡°I¡¯ve told you we shouldn¡¯t meet anymore. Have a nice dinner with Francis. Bye.¡± With that, he hung up without a single ounce of hesitation. His reply exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. Even Christina wondered if her ears had deceived her. Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 The Rules Of An Influential Family Charlie handed his phone to Helen. ¡°If she calls again, tell her I¡¯m busy.¡± Helen hastily took the phone from him and answered, ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Charlie then gazed at Julia and asked, ¡°Can I start eating now?¡± He was now more certain of what his heart desired after going through so much for the past few years. Julia couldn¡¯t stop smiling. ¡°I never said you can¡¯t.¡± The couple exchanged nces and smiled wordlessly, not saying anything else since Christina and Nathaniel were around. Christina couldn¡¯t help beaming upon seeing their harmonious interaction. She then ced some food on Nathaniel¡¯s te. ¡°Here. You should eat more.¡± Nathaniel leaned closer and whispered into her ear, ¡°Are you happy?¡± Christina seemed to care a lot about him and his family. All the feelings she harbored in those few minutes were clearly disyed on her face, ranging from worry, disappointment and finally, happiness. She seemed to treat his family like her own, for the smile on her face looked genuine. Her watery, gleaming eyes narrowed into slits as she grinned. ¡°Of course. It feels great to spend Thanksgiving together as family.¡± After dinner, the four of them sat on the couch in the living room to watch television. They were watching a soap opera. During an advertisement, an interview was shown. The reporter curiously asked, ¡°Ms. Ada, since you¡¯re representing Radiant Corporation to attend the Thanksgiving g, would you mind answering a question? I heard that you¡¯re the one who designed the clothes for the fashion show. Is that true?¡± Shelley appeared to be glowing as she smiled brightly at the camera. ¡°That¡¯s right. Those are all my designs. I¡¯m honored to represent thepany and meet everyone.¡± The g was hosted in Jadeborough. Zachary had been the one to invite Shelley to the event. Obviously, the Jansson family was very supportive of Shelley¡¯s career and was helping her secure a stable position in the industry. Julia stared at the unfamiliar face on the screen and frowned as she asked Christina, ¡°That is Ada?¡± Shouldn¡¯t Ada be Christina? Why was she reced by someone I¡¯d never seen before? Christing chuckled as she met Julia¡¯s concern¨Cfilled gaze. She did not seem to be bothered by that. ¡°It¡¯s just an alias. If she likes it, she can have it.¡± She couldn¡¯t care less, for she was never interested in the fame and fortune that came with that name. Ada was merely an alias. The real question was whether the person using that name could produce a signature work that impressed others. The truth would be revealed sooner orter. Julia stared at the youngdy sitting beside her with surprise. Looks like she¡¯s aware of this but chooses not to expose that imposter. Does she not care about her fame and fortune at all? She might be young, but she sure knows what¡¯s truly important in life. Julia returned her gaze to the television and scoffed inwardly upon seeing the woman on the screen facing the camera with a smile. A discreet glint shed past her eyes. It waste after they had supper. Hence, Christina and Nathaniel stayed the night at the Hadley residence. The faint silver moonlight shone into the room, covering the entire carpet. Christina stood beside the bed and untied her long hair. Her slender figure that was coated by the moonlight made her look like a mischievous but elegant fairy that trespassed into the mundane world. Nathaniel approached her, smelling a faint fragrance when he ran a hand through her hair. Christina turned around and narrowed her eyes as she leaned closer to him. ¡°I won¡¯t let you off the hook so easily if you have an affair like your father in the future.¡± She was quite sensitive toward issues like infidelity, for she was once the victim of a broken family: Her experience had caused her trauma and darkness which she knew she would never be able to ovee. Nathaniel flicked her forehead and said lovingly, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? I would never do something like that.¡± All I want is to care for her and shower her with unconditional love. I would never hurt her. Early the next morning, Nathaniel left for thepany. Christina went for a walk in the garden after breakfast, and not long after, Helen came to inform her that a guest hade to visit. She was met with Moira and Julia chatting in the living room when she entered the residence. They seemed to have a close rtionship. The gifts that Moira brought were ced at the side and were all high¨Cquality supplements. Christina turned around and was about to head upstairs, not wanting to join in on their conversation, when her name was called. ¡°Christina,e here.¡± Sighing, Christina had no choice but to make her way over. She respectfully greeted them and forced a smile. Moira scrutinized the youngdy before her. She looks to be in her twenties, young and immature. She¡¯s nothing like the heiress of a wealthy family. How can shepare to Madison? ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re such a nice person. Your daughter¨Cinw doesn¡¯t even greet you when she sees you, nor does she show you respect. She only does so when you call her over. How spoiled!¡± Moira was clearly picking on Christina, indirectly criticizing her for being disrespectful, arrogant, and insolent. Julia froze and fell silent. The atmosphere in the living room immediately tensed. The look in Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. We¡¯ve only just met, yet she¡¯s already picking on me. Noticing she was gaining the upper hand, Moira continued, ¡°My daughter¨Cinw, on the contrary, would get up at six in the morning every day to pay her respects to me. She must watch her manners, or else, I would punish her.¡± Pay respects to her? Who does she think she is? The empress dowager or the emperor? Is she still living in the past or something? Christina rolled her eyes inwardly at Moira. Julia, on the other hand, smiled elegantly and upheld her demeanor as the matriarch of a noble family ¡°Of course, such etiquette is important for influential families. However, I believe it¡¯s more important for family members to feel at ease and get along with each other. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t force those rules on her.¡± Hearing that, Moira shed an awkward smile. ¡°That¡¯s why I said you¡¯re a nice person!¡± Christina stood beside them silently and didn¡¯t take Moira¡¯s words to heart. ¡°I heard you have a garden in your backyard. Why don¡¯t we go for a walk?¡± Moira suggested. The Hadley residence was as huge as four sports fields, and the backyard used to be an open space. was transformed into a garden with lots of flowers. Many of the Hadleys¡® friends wanted to visit the phenomenal garden. Julia happily agreed to her friend¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± She purposely came here to have a look at the garden? Christina had a gut feeling that Moira had ulterior motives but could not quite put her finger on it. The trio made their way outside and headed toward the garden. that Various kinds of flowers were nted in the garden, and as they ventured further in, the garden seemed like a maze with its tall hedges that provided shade from the zing sun. They soon got exhausted from all the walking and stopped to rest at a nearby gazebo. Moira shot a look at the housekeeper behind her as soon as she sat down. The housekeeper seemed to have gotten the message as she quietly left. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Mrs. Hadley, should I bring some tea and snacks?¡± asked a female housekeeper of the Hadley family. ¨C Julia nodded. ¡°Yes. Go ahead.¡± The three women were the only ones left at the gazebo. As the two older women chatted, a pungent smell wafted into Christina¡¯s nostrils all of a sudden. She scanned her surroundings and did not find anything abnormal. Was that my imagination? After some time, the scent got so strong that even Julia sensed something was wrong. ¡°Why do I smell something burning?¡± At that moment, Moira stood up and pointed in a certain direction. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s a fire!¡± Christina turned to where Moira was pointing and saw mes. Her heart sank. Why is there suddenly a fire? Did someone start a fire on purpose? Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Fire In The Garden There was not the time to think about anything else. There¡¯s mmable timber all around us. If the fire spreads, we¡¯re done for. Christina grabbed Julia¡¯s arm. ¡°We should get going before it gets out of control,¡± she said nervously. The trio ran back the way they came. Fortunately, only a small patch was aze; the rest of the garden. remained unharmed. As soon as she emerged from the backyard, Christina told Raymond everything. The servants dashed off to fetch water and subdue the mes after hearing about the fire. As the garden consisted mostly of timber, the consequences would be dire if it started burning. Having heard the news, Charlie hurried over. ¡°Are you hurt, Julia?¡± Upon ascertaining that no harm came to the two, he heaved a sigh of relief. Then, he summoned the servants on duty that day and questioned them, but none could provide a satisfactory answer as to how the fire hade about. Moira¡¯s countenance grew grim. ¡°The priest proimed Christina to be a cursed person the other day. Could she have caused the fire?¡± At those words, everybody turned toward Christina. Mrs. Hadley has never been fond of Ms. Christina. Could she have done it? The servants had doubts but none dared voice it aloud. Christina found the im ludicrous. Somehow I get the me for the fire? The consequences would be catastrophic if Mrs. Hadley bought her nonsense. Cold anger began to rise within Christina upon thinking of Moira¡¯s me. There it is. Her true colors have shone through quicker than expected. Mrs. Taggart is targeting me, I see. Before Christina could say a word, Julia redirected her frosty gaze. ¡°Nonsense. How is Christina involved? She was next to me the entire time. How could she have started the fire?¡± Christina did not expect Julia to jump to her defense. Her cold wariness began to give way to a fuzzy warmth. Nothing else matters as long as Mrs. Hadley believes me. Charlie thought so too. ¡°Christina would never do such a thing.¡± Moira was taken aback at how vehemently the couple defended Christina. Still, she did not panic. ¡°I didn¡¯t say Christina was the one who started the fire,¡± she said coolly. ¡°Think about it. There must be a reason why the garden suddenly caught fire.¡± Then, her tone changed. ¡°Odd things happen when a curse befalls a family,¡± she continued, suddenly 1/4 unctuous. ¡°Nothing like this had ever happened before Christina came here, am I right?¡± She has a point. That does seem to ring a bell. ring at Moira and the brazen manner with which she told lies, Christina felt the urge tombast the former. I want to jab my finger at that woman¡¯s nose and suggest that she is the curse instead! However, she would not bring herself to speak to an elder like that. Instead, she said, with feigned nonchnce, ¡°You have a point, Mrs. Taggart. Nothing strange ever happened before you came. Is it possible that you are the curse instead?¡± turned Moira froze. Her expression turned sour. She red at Christina. Does this little brat know who she¡¯s shooting her mouth at? ¡°I am not a member of the Hadley family. Naturally, my presence won¡¯t affect the harmony within the Hadley residence. You, on the other hand, are different.¡± Though Moira¡¯s tone made it clear that it was an usation, the younger woman was still trying to defend herself. What a na?ve b*tch. Christinaughed, more innocently than ever. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mrs. Taggart. As this concerns the Hadley family, you don¡¯t have the right to speak.¡± ¡°You¡­!¡± Moira choked as she was livid. Her cheeks flushed a deep, humiliating shade of crimson as if they had been given a tight p each. Her eyes grew bloodshot from their bulging vessels, giving her a murderous look. It was her first time she was retorted and rendered speechless. She has a point. Whatever else I say will make my intentions obvious. Seeing how Moira was at a loss for words, which was a rare urrence, Julia saw a sh of Christina¡¯s potential to lead the household. After managing to subdue the fire in time, the servants returned. ¡°The burnt area had been doused with gasoline, Mr. Hadley¨Cthat was the cause of the fire.¡± The report was proof that it was a deliberate, calcted act. Julia¡¯s gaze turned steely. She never allowed somebody to stir up trouble under her nose. ¡°Those of you who entered the garden today, step forward!¡± The servants grew wary at Julia¡¯s sternmand. They did not even dare breathe. Thus, those who had entered the garden stepped forward as ordered whereas the others scurried away to their respective tasks. Moira became uneasy. If this matter is pursued, it will only involve¡­ Her icy gazended on one of the maids. Though the two did not speak, Christina noticed the terse exchange between them. Could Mrs. Taggart have something to do with the garden catching fire? Julia swept her stern gaze over her employees. Shemanded coldly, ¡°Come clean or you will all lose your jobs.¡± The servants exchanged panicked nces at each other after hearing those words. The Hadley family treats their employees well. In fact, most of us have been serving them for years. It isn¡¯t worth being fired over something like this. They began questioning each other in interrogative whispers. ¡°Whoever did this should just step forward.¡± ¡°Just confess. Don¡¯t cause the rest of us our jobs!¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, Julia began once more, ¡°Very well. If nobodyes forward, you are all relieved of your duties. Raymond, please-¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It was me, Mrs. Hadley.¡± A slightly elderly maid stepped forward. Her eyes glinted with resolve despite the tremor in her voice. Her gaze flitted toward Moira, who averted it at once. I¡¯m not going to be implicated in this. The maid was aware that the scheme was exposed and fell to her knees. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Hadley. Please forgive me.¡± Julia scoffed imperiously. ¡°How dare you start a fire in my garden! Has my kindness made you think of me as a pushover?¡± Julia was well known for her benevolent treatment to the servants. That doesn¡¯t mean they can do as they please. The remaining servants fell back as none of them dared to utter a word. They merely gazed sadly at their colleague and sighed. Julia¡¯s gaze turned stony. ¡°Who ordered you to do such a thing?¡± There must be a reason for her to start a fire out of the blue. Christina watched the maid closely, unable toprehend what could possiblypel thetter to do such a thing. Her gaze fell on Moira, who had visibly lost her cool. As if having just heard her sentence pronounced, the maid quivered. ¡°My husband has racked up a bunch of debt, so I thought I would try to score some points by putting out the fire before asking you for money. I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Hadley. Spare me just this once, please?¡± Julia¡¯s gaze hardened. ¡°That is not a valid reason. Call the police, Raymond!¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Raymond made the call at once. Julia turned a deaf ear to the maid¡¯s anguished pleas and ordered the body Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 My Daughter In Law Designs This Thus, the matter was deemed resolved. Julia then turned her attention to Christina. ¡°Are you hurt, Christina?¡± Instinctively, Christina hid her wrist behind her back and gave an easy smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± However, her subtle gesture did not escape Julia and her hawklike eyes. She strode over. ¡°Let me see,¡± she said, her voice ringing with authority. Forced to oblige, Christina held her wrist out. Her skin bore scratches caused by the bramble, and her white sweater, torn by the branches, was stained red from blood. Poor girl! Her fair, unblemished skin is all scratched! Julia grimaced with pity. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say something, child? Come inside with me at once,¡± While they were running earlier, Christina had been shielding her from the whipping barrage of branches, which was how she had emerged unscathed. Charlie, too, grew worried after taking a glimpse of the scratches on Christina¡¯s arms. As the three of them. turned to enter the house, the trio did not pay Moira, who was frozen to the spot, any attention. Her scheme to paint Christina as a curse failed. The indignity of the failed scheme rose up within Moira. Despite having promised to stay for dinner, she had lost her appetite. Hence, she departed after giving them an excuse that she would visit another day. Raymond summoned the doctor, who quickly dressed Christina¡¯s wounds and reported that they were not very deep and would most likely not leave scars, but she was not allowed to let theme in contact with Water. Julia felt a surge of gratitude. ¡°Does it hurt? You shouldn¡¯t have done that. At this age, I¡¯m used to getting battered. Your skin, however, is so delicate.¡± Christina was bbergasted upon hearing those words. How is it possible for such thoughtful words to part from Mrs. Hadley¡¯s mouth? She even once mentioned that I am rough and uncouth. Now she feels bad for me? Christina felt a warm, fuzzy feeling well up within her. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s all right as long as it doesn¡¯t affect my work.¡± Good thing it was my arms and not my wrists that were hurt. Injuries on my arms won¡¯t affect the work that I do daily. Unable to argue with her, Julia sighed. ¡°You silly girl¡­¡± Christina intended to go to work, but Julia stood firmly against that idea. Instead, she forced the former to stay for dinner, then had her chauffeur send her home to Scenic Garden Manor. ¡ª Radiant Corporation had a slew of activities lined up for its anniversary; so the employees found 1/8 themselves swamped. Soon, the day of the gown exhibition arrived. The highlight of the show was Shelley¡¯s new designs. Once it gained recognition, it would secure her ce within thepany. Many wives of rich men received an invitation to the exhibition. All of them were Radiant Corporation¡¯s VIP clients while the rest were women with higher social status too. When it was time, the venue was packed. With its recent releases, those wealthy women regarded Radiant Corporation as the voice of authority in the fashion industry. That was why the gown exhibition that night was a highly anticipated affair. Standing in the corner, Christina, Gina, and their colleagues were gazing ahead of them with rapt attention. Cued by the music, the models emerged from backstage. The first few gowns looked rather in to the discerning eyes but the subsequent exhibits mesmerized the crowd from the moment of their appearance. They were a series of ck gowns adorned with jasmine flowers at the front, sinctly encapsting the beauty of Oriental culture. The audience below began to chatter. ¡°What a lovely design!¡± ¡°I want that!¡± ¡°I love them too. Call thepany to reserve one before they get sold out.¡± ¡°Radiant Corporation¡¯s new designs never disappoint!¡± All five of the jasmine¨Cthemed designs were well received. After the show, Shelley went on stage for the final curtain call and basked in the apuse. She reveled in the crowd¡¯s adoration. Her smile was as beautiful as her designs. All rights ? N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the audience and fixed her with a severe re. ¡°I have a question. Are the ck gowns shown tonight a design of Ms. Ada¡¯s?¡± Shelley was brimming with confidence. Another fan? With a smile, she answered, ¡°Indeed. Please contact the staff if you wish to make a reservation.¡± My designs are going to sell like hot cakes! As soon as Shelley¡¯s response came, Julia sneered. ¡°I do want to contact the staff, but not to reserve a dress -I¡¯m going to sue you.¡± -At once, every head in the crowd turned at the promation. 2/3 Under the stage lights, Julia¡¯s silhouette looked just as slender as the models¡®. Maintaining her determined gaze, she went up the stage. Then, she undid her cloak and exposed the exquisite ck gown underneath. The crowd was stupefied. How is Mrs. Hadley wearing the same gown as the one exhibited on the stage? However, Julia¡¯s had more intricate workmanship. The embroidered jasmine upon it seemed alive, looking as though it was about to bloom at any moment. There was also a faint, sweet scent in the air that seemed to emanate from the gown. Given this juxtaposition, it¡¯s obvious that Mrs. Hadley¡¯s gown is the real deal. Does that mean the ones that were just shown were fakes? That makes no sense. Aren¡¯t the dresses on the show new designs? Could it be a coincidence? Gaping at the gown on Julia, Shelley looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Ada¡¯s design had already been in production when she had gotten her hands on the draft. Despite her reservations, she realized she didn¡¯t have to fear even if the original turned up because Ada¡¯s design had been sold to only one individual. Now that they¡¯re side by side, however, the differences are worlds apart. Though it was of the same design, the effects produced by the finished products were vastly different. Faced with the crowd¡¯s suspicious stares, Shelley clenched her fists, and dared not speak. I cannot admit it, or my career as a designer will be over. Instead, she smiled. ¡°Simrity in designs is a verymon urrence within the industry. There are many elements to jasmine flowers as a theme after all. You can¡¯t use me of being a copycat over a coincidencel¡± ¡°use you? Hah!¡± Julia¡¯s scoff sounded capable of turning the entire venue into ice. ¡°The piece I¡¯m wearing is custom designed for me by Ada, whose expertise I have sought with a handsome reward. She has blended her design very creatively with my favorite flower, jasmine. Furthermore, much thought and effort have gone into the production to achieve such a perfect result. As a copycat, you have not only taken it as your own, but you¡¯re also challenging me of using you?¡± Unable to utter a word in her defense, Shelley could not rebut. Her pallor became increasingly worse. The wealthy women in the crowd recognized Julia in an instant. Given her status and influence, most were more inclined to believe her. With that, they threw usatory stares at Shelley. Julia sneered, ¡°The actual designer of this gown is my daughter¨Cinw, Christina Steele¨Cthe legendary genius designer, Ada!¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Withdraw usation Whoosh! Everyone nced in the direction that Julia was pointing, only to notice Christina¡¯s trembling gaze. Christina was surprised that Julia would publicly admit that she was the Hadley family¡¯s daughter¨Cin¨C law. What shocked her more was that Julia actually defended her after finding out that someone else had pretended to be Ada. She felt a sense of security, having been defended by an elder. Walking to the stage, Christina looked at the confused audience and exined, ¡°It¡¯s true that I designed. this Jasmine series!¡± Undeniably, she admitted that she was Ada. Shelley gaped at her in disbelief. Christina¡¯s actually Ada? Why didn¡¯t she say it from the beginning? Why has she been concealing it from me? Did she do it on purpose to humiliate me in front of everyone? ¡°You¡¯re so cruel, Christina. You¡¯ve already thought about how to sabotage me right from when I used Ada¡¯s name, right?¡± With her face filled with fury, Shelley wished for nothing more than to rip the skin off Christina¡¯s face to vent her anger. Christina raised her brows, a look of disdain flitting across her eyes. Is Shelley acting all indignant even though she¡¯s the one who stole my designs? She then nced upward coldly, not making any concessions anymore. ¡°Firstly, anyone can use the name. Ada. I don¡¯t have special rights over it. Second, if you haven¡¯t stolen my designs, would you be in this pathetic state now?¡± Having asserted the truth so firmly, Christina dismantled all excuses that Shelley could possibly fabricate. As if someone had just skinned her alive, Shelley red at the other woman furiously and bellowed, ¡°Let me tell you this. It¡¯s not over between both of us!¡± She¡¯s the one who has done something wrong. How dare she speak in such an arrogant tone? Snorting coldly, Julia said, ¡°Yeah, it isn¡¯t over. I bought the designs for the gowns, so the design rights belong to me too. Since you¡¯ve stolen the designs that I¡¯ve bought, you¡¯vemitted the crime of theft. Please head to the police station now and exin yourself!¡± The police had already arrived at the scene by then. After finding out what had happened, they immediately surrounded Shelley. ¡°Ma¡¯am, someone has sued you for infringement. Please follow us to the police station.¡± As if she had just been electrocuted, Shelley felt her mind gopletely nk. When she returned to her senses, she was dragged off the stage and pulled away in front of everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t! I¡¯m not going to the police station. Let go of me!¡± Shelley struggled with all her might to break free. If she went to the police station, it would stay on the records. There would be a taint in her life then. 1/43 Yet, no matter how loudly she dered her innocence, no one stepped forward to help her. Looking at Shelley being dragged away, Christina felt a sense of pity. When she had seen the same designs, she felt uneasy too. Just when she was about to demand an exnation from Shelley, Julia intervened unexpectedly. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After that dramatic ordeal, Julia brought Christina down the stage and introduced Christina as her daughter¨Cinw to her friends. She had never realized that Christina was such a capable woman. It was quite an honorable thing to have a famous designer as her daughter¨Cinw. News about this spread like wildfire. Soon, everyone in Jadeborough knew that Christina was Ada, and everything she designed was of the utmost quality. Julia sent Christina back to Scenic Garden Manor at night. ¡°Your designs are amazing. Don¡¯t hide in the future. If you¡¯re capable, you should show off your skills to the world.¡± Christina felt extremely touched, for Julia used to look down on her upation. ¡°Thanks, Mom. I¡¯ll do my best!¡± There was nothing that could make her happier than having her family support her career. Julia nodded. ¡°Very good. Consider resigning and starting your ownpany. Nathaniel can afford the funds needed for you to do so. If it¡¯s insufficient, you can ask me for money.¡± Start apany independently? Christina had such a thought before. However, she was worried that she might not manage the company well due to her inexperience¡­ Noticing her silence, Julia seemed to be able to read the worries in her mind. ¡°Believe in yourself and your husband. He¡¯s an elite who has ruled the business industry for years. He¡¯ll help you bring the company to sess.¡± Christina could not help but burst outughing. Looks like Mrs. Hadley has high praise for Nathaniel¡¯s abilities. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll tell him.¡± After the car arrived at Scenic Garden Manor and Christina alighted, Julia returned to the Hadley residence. Meanwhile, Shelley sat beside the cold concrete wall in the police station, her heart as heavy as a stone that had fallen down a bottomless well. Her makeup waspletely smudged due to her tears, making her look extremely pathetic. ¡°Someone¡¯s here to bail you out, Shelley Jansson.¡± Shelley mbered to her feet and hurriedly dashed out. The ce, which was filthy and dark, scared her to her wits ends. She did not want to stay in a ce like that for any longer. F*ck Christina! This is all thanks to her. I definitely won¡¯t let this slide easily. Shelley jumped into Betty¡¯s arms after exiting the lobby. ¡°Mom!¡± Tears instantly streamed down her cheeks. Zachary had rushed out the moment he heard the news. When he saw how dejected Shelley was, he felt upset too. He did not understand why Shelley would copy Christina¡¯s works for no reason. Yet, since both of them hail from important connections, it was hard for him to handle the situation. Zachary consoled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m quite familiar with Christina. I¡¯ll ask her to withdraw herwsuit against Shelley.¡± Betty, who had no idea what happened, was filled with anger when she saw how devastated her daughter was. ¡°Shelley will never giarize someone else¡¯s work. Christina definitely wronged her! I won¡¯t let this slide so easily. I¡¯m going to counter¨Csue her!¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Having seen all the details and ample evidence, Zachary knew that Christina definitely was not defaming Shelley. When he nced at Shelley, her gaze flitted. She then looked awaypletely, as if attempting to escape from the problem. The few of them left the police station after finishing all the paperwork. Shelley stopped her act of crying upon reaching home and called a private detective. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you five hundred thousand for all the information you have regarding Christina!¡± Soon, a thick document of information regarding Christina was sent to Shelley¡¯s inbox. She would not let this slide so easily, nor would she admit that she had giarized. Instead, she would dig out some dirt on Christina, for she did not believe that Christina, who came from. such an ordinary family, would have a clean background. She must have spent a lot of effort to climb to this position. As expected, Shelley managed to find something interesting from that stack of information. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina was wiping her hair with a towel in the master bedroom. As she gazed at the moon outside the window, she started to get distracted by her thoughts. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a call from Zachary, Since Shelley was Zachary¡¯s cousin, she knew that he had called to plead for leniency. Although she was furious, she did not want to press the matter further for Nathaniel¡¯s sake. When she epted the call, Zachary¡¯s friendly voice rang out. ¡°Have you slept, Christina?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± she replied. ¡°I know that you¡¯re here to speak on Shelley¡¯s behalf. However, the person suing her isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll try to sneak in some good words tomorrow and try my best to convince her to withdraw thewsuit.¡± Zachary did not expect Christina to be so direct and generous. He had already prepared to bribe her through Radiant Corporation¡¯s shares. However, Christina was so straightforward and didn¡¯t even ask for anything in return. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Nathaniel Is Even Jealous Of Women Zachary was filled with gratitude. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll definitely educate her.¡± After a moment of silence, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯d like to resign, Mr. Shetti.¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Having heard what Julia said earlier, she was very inspired. Perhaps, it was time for her to be courageous enough to take the first step. On the other hand, Zachary fell silent. Christina was an extremely talented designer. No matter what, he was unwilling to let her go. For her to mention it now, it was evident that she still felt a sense of alienation. ¡°I¡¯m willing to give you ten percent of Radiant Corporation¡¯s shares. You can respond to me after some careful consideration.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina ended the call. She still had to ask for Nathaniel¡¯s opinion about starting her ownpany. However, she did not wish to use the Hadley family¡¯s money. Her current savings were already enough to start a small¨Cscalepany. After the incident on the runway, Shelley never appeared at Radiant Corporation again. Christina would finish her work early every day and spend the remaining time in the tailor room to complete the designs for thetest seasons. Even though she had already decided to resign, she would still take her work seriously. The gossip mill at the office started early in the morning that day. An awkward look appeared on everyone¡¯s faces the moment Christina walked into the room. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why do all of you look like that?¡± Her colleagues quickly turned off theirputer screens and shook their heads, indicating that everything was fine. Confused, Christina entered her office. Without even deliberately searching for it, she saw that the entire screen was filled with headlines about her. Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife spends all her time at the bar. She used to be auctioned off to men! This woman who married into a wealthy family used to be a huge flirt! She yed around with men for years at bars. A detailed ount of how Mrs. Hadley became famous. The look of Christina¡¯s delicate visage immediately turned icy. Spending all my time at the bar? A prize auctioned off to others? I was just working part¨Ctime there! Someone had made a huge deal about how she had reced Peacock at the auction. Those articles were unimaginably obscene. Each article even had a photo of her attached, with the descriptions sounding extremely convincing and realistic. Moreover, the views that each article had were insanely high, and thements section was flooded with insults. Christina was furious. Is this just bad faith or is someone deliberately trying to seek trouble with me? Her phone rang, indicating a call from Bailey. Thetter sounded worried over the phone. ¡°You¡¯ve offended Shelley, Christina. She spent a lot of money hiring others to defame you! Women like her are so vicious!¡± As a highly experiencedizen, Bailey managed to find out the culprit behind all the gossip immediately. A hostile look shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. As expected, it was all Shelley¡¯s doing. ¡°She¡¯s trying to provoke me after she got exposed for impersonating Ada.¡± Since Bailey had seen the news, she knew what had happened well. ¡°They are all ghostwriters. I can erase them quickly. Don¡¯t worry,¡± said Bailey furiously. Even though she could not help much in the real world, the digital realm was her forte. ¡°Thanks, Bailey!¡± Christina felt extremely moved. Although they were usually very busy with their own lives, Bailey would help her immediately even if a minor thing happened. Baileyughed. ¡°Why are you being so courteous, given our friendship? I¡¯m going to get pissed.¡± The gloomy mood that loomed over Christina dissipated. Within a few seconds, Bailey eximed, ¡°I was just about to cklist those haters¡® ounts for you when I realized that someone was faster than me! The person has already deleted all the headlines that were defaming you!¡± Not surprised, Christina smiled. ¡°Nathaniel has probably acted.¡± She used to feel worried upon encountering something like that. After all, it was impossible to rify the fabricated news online. People would believe that news upon seeing them. However, every time such news cropped up, Nathaniel would suppress them straight away. ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s amazing! He managed to delete all the articles within minutes. I don¡¯t even have a chance to prove myself nowined Bailey, though she was relieved that her good friend had a husband who doted on her so much. Bailey continued, ¡°I received news that Shelley wanted to target you. I¡¯ve decided to protect you for your safety.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been ages since I¡¯ve seen you. Come here quickly! I can design two new outfits for you too.¡± All Christina could think about was the fun stuff that they could do together. They agreed to meet at noon. When work was almost ending, Nathaniel called Christina and asked her out for lunch. ¡°I¡¯m with Bailey now. If you don¡¯t mind, we can eat together. If you do, you can eat alone,¡± said Christina sweetly. Nathaniel frowned. Is she ignoring me? Although he was reluctant to have someone interrupt their alone time, he agreed. ¡°We can eat together.¡± When it was noon, Nathaniel was already waiting at the restaurant. After a while, he spotted Christina and a tall person enter. The person beside her had short hair and was wearing a cap, concealing the handsome face underneath. Wearing a ck athletic suit, the person looked extremely bubbly. The two of them were very close together. asionally, that handsome face would lean toward Christina¡¯s ears, whispering something to her. Nathaniel jumped to his feet and strode over. Shoving the person aside, he shielded Christina in his arms. ¡°Which arm did you use to hug her waist? I¡¯m going to break it!¡± His intimidating aura emanated across the ce, causing the atmosphere to suddenly feel heavy. Christina walked over hurriedly to support Bailey. ¡°Are you okay? Why did you push Bailey, Nathaniel?¡± she asked with a tinge of worry in her tone, Although Nathaniel had a weak impression of Bailey, he remembered that she was female. Is this man in front of me Bailey? Bailey stood up and took off her cap, revealing her face. ¡°Mr. Hadley, did you think I was a man and got jealous of me?¡± How can he be jealous over something like this? ¡°That¡¯s because you dress in such an androgynous manner,¡± rebuked Nathaniel curtly. He then pulled Christina to the dining table. Christina¡¯s face was filled with embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s just a misunderstanding. Eat moreter, Bailey. Don¡¯t stand on ceremony with him.¡± Having been shoved away, Bailey was feeling quite displeased. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll eat more!¡± However, she did not eat much at all. Most of her time was spent peeling prawns and cutting the steak for Christina, snatching everything that Nathaniel was supposed to do. Looking at Nathaniel, who was unable to do anything despite his jealousy, Bailey finally felt satisfied. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m going to buy somethingter. Come with me after you¡¯re done eating,¡± invited Bailey as she leaned against Christina, staring at the woman¡¯s exquisite face. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Why don¡¯t we go now?¡± ¡°Okay then.¡± ¡°Take your time eating,¡± said Christina to Nathaniel before walking out with Bailey, hand in hand. Being abandoned just like that, Nathaniel was so furious that he wanted to punch the wall. ¡°Sebastian, check if Bailey likes women. Dig out all her past rtionships!¡± Sebastian barely had time to react. Is Mr. Hadley jealous of a woman? Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Chapter 221 I Am Not Selling It had been a long time since Christina went shopping. Since it was also rare for her to go out with Bailey, her mood lifted considerably. No matter where she went, the people around her would subconsciously walk away. When Christina turned around, she discovered that Nathaniel was following her with a team of bodyguards. No wonder the customers around us keep evading us! That huge group of intimidating¨Clooking people looked really frightening. Christina turned her head around, her face adorably innocent. ¡°Nathaniel, why don¡¯t you go home first? I¡¯ll look for you after I¡¯m done shopping.¡± It was too pressurizing to have all those people walking behind her. Observing that it had been some time since she was in such a good mood, Nathaniel caressed her head gently. ¡°Okay. Come look for me at Hadley Corporation after you¡¯re done shopping. Christina nodded obediently and agreed. After leaving two bodyguards behind, Nathaniel left with the others. ¿ª Bailey raised her hand and blocked Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s already so far away. Why are you still staring at him?¡± Revealing a shy smile, Christina pulled Bailey into an essories shop. It was a store exclusively selling goods of a luxurious brand. A salesperson stepped forward and asked her what she wanted to buy. After inspecting everything carefully, Christina chose a pink crystal bracelet and passed it over. ¡°Pack this ne up for me.¡± Just when the salesperson was about to take it, a hand suddenly emerged and snatched the bracelet away. Emilia gazed at it and dered gleefully, ¡°This bracelet looks good. I¡¯m getting this!¡± Silence immediately descended upon the ce. When Christina¡¯s and Emilia¡¯s gazes met, there was a look of anger in their eyes. Having gotten herself a rich man, Emilia had been shopping everywhere with her gold card. When she coincidentally bumped into Christina at the shopping mall, hatred surged within her, and she decided that she should vent her anger properly this time. Christina raised her eyebrows. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom teach you to respect whoever came first?¡± At the mention of Miranda, Emilia¡¯s face contorted in fury. It¡¯s all Christina¡¯s fault that Mom and Dad are in the midst of divorcing. He doesn¡¯t even allow us to live in the Steele residence! She¡¯s to be med for all the misfortunes that the Steele family has experienced. ¡°My mom has only taught me to fight with all my might for what I like,¡± replied Emilia with a cold snort, gripping the bracelet tightly. She thought the bracelet was quite ordinary, but she wanted to snatch anything that Christina liked. Before Christina could say anything. Bailey could not hold herself back anymore. Stepping forward and scrutinizing Emilia disdainfully, she chuckled coldly. ¡°A turtle can only survive in the water no matter what. It can never grow to anything significant.¡± ¡°Who are you to act so high and mighty in front of me?¡± roared Emilia, widening her eyes. Christina stared at her, thinking that she looked just like a crazy woman who would start a fight at the drop. of a pin. Even though Miranda spent so much money to nurture her daughter, Emilia ended up being so uncultured. How hrious! At that thought, Christina pulled Bailey toward her. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s ask the salesperson to get another. bracelet.¡± Seeing that Christina was unable to snatch the bracelet from her, Emilia smirked in delight. If you want topete with me, you should see if you¡¯re capable enough first! At that moment, the salesperson whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the bracelet is a limited edition. There¡¯s only one in the shop.¡± Emilia passed the bracelet over andmanded, ¡°Pack it up for me now!¡± ¡°Why should we give it to you? Christina set her sights on it first!¡± Bailey was still reluctant to concede to Emilia. She just could not get used to how annoyingly gleeful Emilia was. Seeing the stalemate that both sides were in, the salesperson did not dare to pack the bracelet, afraid that she would be implicated in their argument. Emilia took out her phone and threatened the salesperson, ¡°I know the shop manager. If you have the guts to not sell it to me, I¡¯ll make him fire you instantly!¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The salesperson shot a conflicted look at Christina. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Although she was unwilling to, it was important for her to secure her job. Emilia sauntered to the counter victoriously, whipped out her gold card, and passed it over. At that moment, the salesperson received a call. A minuteter, she said solemnly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, ma¡¯am. My boss just called and said that he won¡¯t be selling the bracelet.¡± An ugly expression crossed Emilia¡¯s face before a grin spread across her cheeks. ¡°Fine! Don¡¯t sell it to both of us, then!¡± If she could not get her hands on it, Christina must not as well. Christina felt disappointed because she had intended to give the bracelet to someone else as a present. Unexpectedly, the salesperson ced the bracelet into an exquisite box and passed it to Christina. ¡°My boss said that this bracelet is a gift for you.¡± Christina was stunned. What? A gift for me? ¡°But I don¡¯t know your boss. Are you mistaken?¡± rified Christina. A bracelet from such a luxurious brand would certainly cost a pretty penny. If the salesperson made a mistake, it would cost her a few months of her sry. Emilia¡¯s face flushed red as she widened her eyes in anger. She suspected that the salesperson was deliberately refusing to sell it to her. Grabbing the salesperson¡¯s hair, she started to curse, ¡°You shameless b*tch! Are you not selling it to me on purpose? I¡¯m going toin about you. Kneel and apologize to me now!¡± Pulled by the ends of her hair, the salesperson begged for mercy, ¡°I really didn¡¯t! My boss called and said to give it to Ms. Christina! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can call him yourself.¡± The boss actually knows Christina¡¯s name. Looks like the bracelet is really for her. All rationality left Emilia¡¯s body, for she felt like her dignity had just been trampled on the ground. A humiliated expression appeared on her face. Channeling her anger to the salesperson, she raised her hand for a p. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault. Go back home. if you don¡¯t know how to be a salesperson!¡± When Emilia¡¯s hand was raised mid¨Cair, a forceful grip stopped her. Christina¡¯s eyes glinted coldly. ¡°She already said that she¡¯s not selling it to you. Get lost now!¡± She then shoved Emilia out of the store. The thing that she could not bear to watch the most was people bullying others on the basis of their power. Having lost the upper hand, Emilia red at her stepsister with bloodshot eyes. Despite the hatred engulfing her, she could not do anything to Christina. Before she left, she spat viciously, ¡°Remember this, Christina!¡± On the other hand, Christina ignored her. It was useless to waste any more words on people like Emilia. Turning around, she handed the salesperson the money for the bracelet. ¡°I don¡¯t know your boss. Since I¡¯m buying this bracelet for someone else anyway, you should keep the money.¡± The salesperson was at a loss for what to do. Since her boss had personally instructed her to give the bracelet to Christina, she dared not ept the money so casually. Sensing the salesperson¡¯s hesitation, Bailey could not help but interrupt, ¡°Just take it. I¡¯ll inform my brotherter.¡± Christina was shocked. ¡°Your brother owns this shop?¡± No wonder the boss knows my name! Bailey has been manipting the events all along! Although they had known each other for a long time, Christina only had a basic understanding of Bailey¡¯s background. That brand, which had branches all over the nation, was worth tens of millions on the market. If her brother had such a strong background, she could deduce that Bailey¡¯s family was not that simple too. ¡°I know a ce that has really yummy cake. Should we try it out?¡± Bailey held Christina¡¯s hand and left the shop. Having bought too many things that day, Christina handed her shopping bags to one of the bodyguards and asked him to bring them back to Scenic Garden Manor. The two women left on a car afterward. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 She Likes Women The cake shop was located in a secluded area and was found by Bailey on a food app. As there wasn¡¯t any parking avable nearby, both of them had to stop further away. Thereafter, Christina and Bailey looked for the shop with the directions shown by the app. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was busy working in his office when Sebastian entered with Bailey¡¯s biodata. With an awkward expression, he reported, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Bailey¡¯s real name is Gabrielle Cook. She¡¯s the youngest daughter of the Cook family and works as a voice actor.¡± Everything sounded normal so far. However, Sebastian hesitated before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s highlighted here that she likes women.¡± A crack was heard when the pen in Nathaniel¡¯s hand stopped moving. The next moment, dark clouds seemed to gather in his eyes as he got to his feet. ¡°We¡¯re heading out.¡± Sebastian felt a chill down his spine. ¡°Got it.¡± When Christina and Bailey walked into an alley, the sound of footsteps suddenly rang out behind them. Turning around, they were greeted by the sight of a few men dressed like punks. It was clear that they were nothing but neighborhood hoodlums. The insidious looks in their eyes caused Christina¡¯s heart to drop as she pulled Bailey behind her n reflex. ¡°They must have been sent here by Shelley. Leave now and call Mr. Hadley.¡± Staring at the approaching men, Bailey knew that neither of them could escape if both of them fled together. However, Christina tightened her grip on Bailey¡¯s hand. ¡°They¡¯re here for me. You should be the one to leave.¡± Thest thing she would do was flee and leave her friend behind. The group¡¯s leader snapped, ¡°There¡¯s no escape for you. Boys, attack!¡± When his subordinates dashed forward to surround the girls, Bailey unleashed a kick at them. Despite the difference in strength between genders, Bailey¡¯s kick was extremely powerful. It forced one of the men to fall to his knees and drop the club he was holding. Christing scrambled to pick it up before swinging it with all her might for the first time in her life. In the midst of the chaos, a few ck Maybachs burst into the scene and rammed the men to the ground. Nathaniel¡¯s appearance brought a hellish atmosphere to the surroundings. Before the hoodlums realized what was going on, blows rained down upon them until the air was saturated with the stench of blood. 1/4 ¡°Nathaniel, take Bailey to the hospital. She¡¯s hurt!¡± Christina¡¯s worried voice was on the brink of crying. After ncing in Christina¡¯s direction to make sure she was unhurt, Nathaniel replied, ¡°All right.¡± Christina subsequently helped Bailey into the car before all of them headed to the hospital. Inside the emergency room, the doctor was treating Bailey¡¯s wound. When he applied antiseptic to it, Bailey hugged Christina while howling in pain. ¡°It hurts! I¡¯m not going to forgive those men. I want all of them arrested!¡± The sympathetic Christina stroke Bailey¡¯s head. ¡°There, there. I know a cream that you can use so that it doesn¡¯t leave a scar, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Bailey responded by nuzzling her face against Christina¡¯s chest. ¡°To have you apply medication for me is worth getting wounded for.¡± Christina¡¯s heart was warmed by the former¡¯s words. As Nathaniel watched how Bailey brazenly leaned into Christina¡¯s arms, jealousy shed across his eyes. He didn¡¯t want to see both of them being physically close to each other but had no choice on the ount that Bailey was wounded while saving Christina. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Soon, the doctor finished bandaging Bailey¡¯s wound. Bailey leaned into Christina as if she couldn¡¯t support herself. ¡°Christina, please help me. Why don¡¯t I¡® sleep with you tonight?¡± -Sleep with her? Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed intensely. She clearly has ulterior motives! Without any hesitation, he pulled Christina into his embrace and warned. ¡°Is it really necessary to be so dramatic over such a small wound?¡± Bailey snorted with her arms folded. ¡°Why do you care?¡± Christina didn¡¯t understand why Nathaniel was jealous of a girl, especially when Bailey was really wounded. Just as she wanted to support thetter, Nathaniel stopped her. ¡°Let the bodyguard help her.¡± Just as an awkward atmosphere filled the room, the door to the emergency room opened, and in walked a middle¨Caged woman. ¡°Gabrielle, how did you get hurt? Who was it that harmed my daughter? I¡¯m going to kill him!¡± The sudden appearance of her mother shocked Bailey. She had arrived after being notified by the hospital as part of their procedure. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Bailey stopped fooling around. The only person who could put her in her ce was her own mother who was someone that wasn¡¯t easily 2/4 convinced. ¡°How can I not worry when you disappeared without a trace? I have been looking all over for you. Now, come home with me at once.¡± As Bailey was the only girl out of the Cook family¡¯s four children, she was naturally the one whom. everyone worried about the most. Left without a choice, she turned toward Christina. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll be heading home for now. Call me if you need me.¡± Christina had not expected to meet Bailey¡¯s mother, Beatrice, under such circumstances. er to feel Thus, it was unavoidable for her to feel bad. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Cook. I too am responsible for what happened.¡± Nheless, Bailey waved her hand as she beamed in pride over her heroic act. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Those men were paid. Don¡¯t worry now, Mr. Hadley will tie up loose ends from here.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows cocked at the mention of his name. Since when did she have the audacity to order me around? ¡°You should hurry home now. I¡¯m sure Mrs. Cook will definitely keep you busy after this.¡± Beatrice walked over to express her gratitude. ¡°Mr. Hadley, thank you for helping me find my daughter. She¡¯s a naughty one and loves to roam all over the ce.¡± The Cook family was also a prominent family in Jadeborough and had business ties with Nathaniel¡¯s family. Thetter had contacted Bailey¡¯s family immediately after learning her true identity. His goal was simple¨Che just wanted to stop Bailey from clinging onto Christina. ¡°It¡¯s no problem at all. You should take her home to rest, Mrs. Cook. Also, do arrange more blind dates for her. Perhaps meeting more men will ignite her interest in them. Also, don¡¯t let her see Christina that often, as she has designs on my wife.¡± From Nathaniel¡¯s jealous words and wary expression, Bailey immediately realized what was going on. Here I was wondering how Mom found me when I¡¯d covered my tracks so well. It turns out that Nathaniel told on me just to keep me away from Christina. It isn¡¯t true that I like women. I just added the detail to stop my mom from arranging blind dates for me. How would I know this would turn into a huge misunderstanding? However, the sight of Nathaniel¡¯s jealous expression sparked her curiosity as to how much he actually loved Christina. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m going home now. Remember to call me.¡± Christina nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Sure, have a good rest at home!¡± Before she left, Bailey kissed the back of Christina¡¯s hand on purpose, causing Nathaniel¡¯s face to turn red in exasperation. Nevertheless, Christina waspletely unaware of the tension between the two. The gesture was, after all, mon between girls. 3/4 Once Bailey left, both of them returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Chapter 233 The First Order Christina arched a brow at Gwh and challenged, ¡°You¡¯re wee to find another designer if you don¡¯t trust me.¡± Christina would never jeopardize her reputation by putting out a subpar design. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not in a rush, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll work on the design until I¡¯m satisfied, yes?¡± came Gwh¡¯s response. She had witnessed Christina¡¯s talent in the past, or she would not have approached thetter. Plus, I can¡¯t find a better designer now¡­ Christina replied, ¡°Then don¡¯t fret about it. I feel obligated to remind you, though, that the design is going to take some time.¡± The process of designing a dress did not merely stop at the sketching stage. After rounds of editing and the client¡¯s stamp of approval, there was still the final step of sewing the dress from scratch. Back when she still worked for Radiant Corporation, Christina had always felt as though she was sacrificing quality for quantity. Things were different now. She could nitpick at every aspect of the design until she was satisfied instead of leaving it to another department or colleague. ¡°I¡¯m not in a rush.¡± Gwh surveyed the empty studio and added, ¡°And since your studio just opened, I suppose I¡¯m your only customer at the moment.¡± Christina shot her a sheepish smile. In fact, there was still a pile of work to get through before her studio¡¯s operations were in full swing. Before she could utter a reply, Gwh smirked amusedly and offered, ¡°If you need some extra publicity, I¡¯m happy to shoot a couple of promotional photos for you. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± Delight flitted through Christina¡¯s gaze. No wonder she¡¯s such a popr celebrity. Gwh¡¯s shrewdness was impressive. Christina surmised that Gwh must have recognized her talents because of Coco¡¯s dress and wanted to build a close working rtionship with her. Christina propped her jaw on one arm and muttered thoughtfully, ¡°As you know, my studio just opened. There¡¯s still a pile of expenses to get through¡­ Coco actually offered to let me take her photos for free.¡± ¡°Coco can hardly be considered in the same tier as me, can she?¡± The retort masked Gwh¡¯s panic and frustration at the mere possibility of someone else swiping her des and poprity in the film industry. Still, she had her pride and would not admit defeat so easily. That¡¯s the whole reason I¡¯m here buttering Christina up! ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. You¡¯re more experienced since you¡¯ve been in the industry longer than her,¡± answered Christina truthfully. The ttery worked. Gwh was in excellent spirits as she left the studio. She even promised, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do my publicity shots for free if you want me on the job.¡± Her expression implied that Christina had snagged herself a great deal. Christina hurriedly saved all the information. She was grateful to Gwh for the celebrity¡¯s support on her first order. Then, she registered herpany¡¯s official website and Twitter ount. She spent the morning glued to herputer and got the social media channels set up. It was now time to create some content. Words alone would struggle to capture public attention without any photos. Christina could not use any of her past designs from when she worked at Radiant Corporation. While photos of Coco¡¯s dress were a viable option, the material was depressingly scarce. She decided to put out some original designs as showpieces for her new studio. Inspiration struck her soon enough, and she began sketching furiously at her desk. A phone call in the evening snapped her out of her work¨Cinduced trance. Christina answered the phone absent¨Cmindedly. A woman¡¯s gentle voice drifted over the receiver. ¡°Hello, is your studio hiring an assistant? I have relevant work experience.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Yes. Let me send you the address. Come over for an interview when you¡¯re free.¡± As she spoke, Christina looked up and appraised her messy studio. The floorboards were in need of a good scrubbing. I really need an assistant, pronto. ¡°I cane right now,¡± replied the caller. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll wait for you in the office.¡± Christina hung up and texted the other party her studio¡¯s address. After putting down her phone, she promptly returned her attention to her draft sketches. She was exceptionally motivated to work because she was creating the designs for herself. A series of exquisite evening gown sketches materialized on her desk that night. The colors and cutting of each design were wless; the gowns were gorgeous enough for a major runway show. Christina stretched out her sore muscles just as the doorbell rang. She opened the door to a slim, tall woman in casualwear. The visitor did not appear dressed for an interview. The woman asked, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Rayne Maguire. I called earlier about the assistant job. Are you the boss of this studio?¡± It felt odd being called a boss by someone for the first time. Christina chose not to dwell on that and replied, ¡°Yes. Do you have a r¨¦sum¨¦?¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± Rayne handed some documents to Christina. Christina read through the r¨¦sum¨¦ and realized the applicant had a wealth of experience in assistant jobs. She asked, ¡°Your sry will be ten thousand after probation. However, you won¡¯t be able to take most. public holidays off. Is that okay for you?¡± ¡°Of course. I never got public holidays off at my old jobs,¡± replied Rayne. There were no red gs that Christina could see, and a permanent hire still hinged on Rayne¡¯s work performance. She dered, ¡°Great. You can start work tomorrow.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you, Boss.¡± Rayne left shortly after confirming several details about the job. All in all, Christina thought her entrepreneurial career had been off to a good start. Still, she never expected to receive as many visitors as she did that day. A strong, floral fragrance filled the studio then. Christina looked up and saw a tall figure entering through the doorway. Francis strode into the studio, dressed in a ck suit and looking as bewitching as ever. With his dark gaze, a cross¨Cshaped earring on his right earlobe, and a bouquet of blood¨Cred roses in his hand, he looked like a vampire prince straight out of a medieval castle, ¡°Congrattions on founding your own studio!¡± Christina received his flowers and repliedckadaisically, ¡°Thank you.¡± -She knew he followed her Instagram profile and definitely saw the new updates on her feed. As such, she was simply surprised that he had shown up personally at her studio. She paid some attention to developments in the entertainment industry and knew Francis had signed on to many projects. He should be drowning in work now. Francis brushed her nose with his finger andughed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem rather unhappy to see me?¡± Panic flitted through Christina¡¯s eyes, and she averted her gaze like a frightened kitten. She sputtered, ¡°Of course not. How did you find the time to visit?¡± Christina busied herself looking for a vase and rearranged the roses inside. The flowers were in full bloom and looked absolutely splendid. ¡°I missed you, so I came.¡± Francis approached her and picked up the vase. After cing the vase in an eye¨Ccatching spot in the studio, he crossed his arms across his chest and admired his gift. Good. This spot is excellent. She¡¯ll see my roses every time she looks up, and then she¡¯ll think of me. Meanwhile, Christina was reminded of the spy¨Ccatching incident in the private room as she stared at Francis. Her well¨Cburied doubts from before resurfaced. She jumped on the opportunity to ask, ¡°You¡¯ve got plenty of other people to miss, so you won¡¯t necessarily miss me. What about Madison?¡± Though Francis wasn¡¯t around when the incident happened that night, he heard what had happened from others. Is Christina suspecting me? Francis turned around and narrowed his eyes. His gaze was affixed to Christina¡¯s innocent expression as he exined, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drag you into this mess. I already warned her after what happened that night.¡± said I would handle it and told Madison not to stick her nose into this. Conflicting emotions warred in Christina¡¯s heart. She did not wish to get into a fight with Francis, nor did she wish to endanger Nathaniel. Eventually, she said usatorily, ¡°I knew you were in the same boat! Madison¡¯s a bad person, and so are you!¡± I¡¯m no fool. Does he think I¡¯m blind to Madison¡¯s character? Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 A New House Excitement filled Bailey in an instant. ¡°Christina, are you going to get a divorce?¡± Her question rendered Christina helpless. ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m just buying a house.¡±a ¡°That¡¯s right. You¡¯re buying a new house even when there¡¯s already a big one avable. That means you¡¯re separating from your husband, right?¡± Christina was nonplussed at Bailey¡¯s insistence. There was really nothing wrong between her and Nathaniel. ¡°Contact a reliable real estate agent for me. I¡¯ll exin to you afterward,¡± Christina said. Shortly after the call, Gabrielle sent over the contact details of a real estate agent. Christina then got into a taxi and headed for the hospital. Even though she couldn¡¯t be there every day, she called the doctor daily to ask about her mother¡¯s situation. This was the main reason why she wanted to resign¨Cshe wanted to spend more time with Sharon. Lately, she had saved quite a bit of money. The first thing she did upon gaining financial capability was to improve Sharon¡¯s and her living conditions. Upon arriving at the hospital, Christina found the attending doctor to inquire about Sharon¡¯s condition. ¡°Although Ms. Zapler has regained consciousness, she suffered trauma to the brain. Since her hippocampus was injured, her memories might be fragmented. You should prepare yourself for that.¡± When Christina heard that, she felt a piercing pain in her heart. ¡°Can I bring her home?¡± The doctor could tell that Christina was only in her twenties, but she looked more mature than her peers with that firm look in her eyes. ¡°Yes. In your mother¡¯s case, her family¡¯spanion will be helpful for her condition.¡± After a while, Christina entered the ward, where Sharon was sleeping peacefully. She prepared a warm towel and wiped thetter¡¯s face before tucking thetter in. Christina stayed by Sharon¡¯s side for a long time. It was only when the visiting hours were over that she left the hospital. As she came out of the building, she received a text from the real estate agent from earlier, telling her that there was a vi that fitted her requirements perfectly. She asked for the address and traveled there right away. The house was a mini two¨Cstory vi with a courtyard. It spanned an area of three hundred square meters, which was just right for three people to live in. ¡°I won¡¯t dare to fool you since you were referred by Ms. Cook. This is a new house that has never been rented out. The owner is an interior designer, so the furniture and decorations are very tasteful. He emigrated after purchasing this vi and rarely returns, so he decided to sell it.¡± Christina was quite satisfied with the vi. ¡°How much is the asking price?¡± ¡°Five million.¡± Having looked into the housing market prices, Christina knew this amount was reasonable. She immediately agreed, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s make the deal.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . They arranged to meet at thew firm the next day to sign the papers. Once Christina sent the the house could be transferred under her name. After the meeting with the agent, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. It was already past dinner time, but the food on the dining table was untouched. This was a little unusual considering how Nathaniel¡¯s car was parked in the courtyard. Like a kitten, Christina nimbly tiptoed upstairs and walked to the study. payment, Nathaniel was sitting by the table, holding a ss of whiskey. The light shone on his face, his side profile wless. Despite his silence, his presence stood out with his elegant and distant aura. He looked like an oil painting as he sat there quietly, capturing one¡¯s attention at first nce. When Christina walked in, she noticed the hint of displeasure in his eyes. She rarely saw Nathaniel in such a despondent state. Taking away the wine ss from his hand, she voiced. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten, yet you¡¯re drinking something so strong. It¡¯s bad for your stomach.¡± Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and, without much effort, pulled her slender body into his embrace. His sudden action startled Christina and elicited a gasp from her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked, wide- eyed. Nathaniel¡¯s tall figure blocked the light from Christina¡¯s vision. As he stared at her with profound, unreadable eyes, her breath stilled. ¡°Why are you moving out?¡± his deep voice asked. Christina frowned and soon realized what was going on. ¡°You sent someone to tail me?¡± Otherwise, how did he already find out that I¡¯m buying a house? -secret Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. ¡°I was just worried about your safety, so I asked someone to protect you in To his surprise, Christina bought a house behind his back. Does she find it so difficult to live with me? Christina¡¯s mild annoyance dissipated almost instantly when she heard Nathaniel¡¯s words. She knew that he was concerned about her. There was no reason for her to get mad at him when her safety mattered the most to him. Holding Nathaniel¡¯s face gently, she told him, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. Mom is going to be discharged soon, so I brought an independent vi so she could rest in a better environment.¡± In fact, Christina had spent almost all her savings to purchase that vi. Nathaniel¡¯s furrowed brows visibly rxed. ¡°Just let me handle such matters,¡± he said. He had countless mansions under his name, all of which were more spacious than the vi Christina had purchased. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I want to do this for Mom and Granny. Let me be a good daughter and granddaughter to them, all right?¡± Observing how firm her attitude was, Nathaniel didn¡¯t press on. He knew that Christina was a docile, gentle girl. Earlier, he had lost his temper out of worry that she wanted to move out again. Christina heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that he was no longer angry. ¡°Can we have dinner now? I purposely didn¡¯t eat so we can eat at home together.¡± Immediately, Nathaniel carried her and bit her cheek yfully. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s gq now.¡± Though Christina had already resigned, she did not rush to find another job. She used to work like there was no tomorrow, so she wanted to take this opportunity to rest. Following breakfast the next day, Christina dressed up and got ready to head to thew firm. Nathaniel led her into the car and offered, ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± ¡°But you have work.¡± Knowing that Nathaniel was swamped with work every day, Christina did not want to disturb him. Once the car door was closed, the driver drove off. Nathaniel rubbed Christina¡¯s head as he gazed at her dotingly. ¡°Spending time with you matters more than work.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips. She liked having hispany. On the way, Nathaniel¡¯s phone rang nonstop with messages rted to work. However, he managed to deal with everything before they got to their destination. After arriving at thew firm, Christina quickly signed the papers and sealed the deal. While she felt a sense of loss after transferring the money, she did not regret it since it was for the sake of Sharon and Evelyn. When Nathaniel sensed Christina¡¯s mood, he felt a little envious. He suddenly leaned in, arched his brow and questioned, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve ever gifted me anything. have you?¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Chapter 225 A Unique Belt ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Christina blinked in confusion. ¡°Do youck anything?¡± Almost everything Nathaniel wore was prepared by professional tailors. Every season, his dressing room would be replenished with thetest items timely. Christina did consider giving Nathaniel something before, but he already possessed everything she could afford. With a smirk, Nathaniel stated, ¡°I do. I want a new belt.¡± ¡°All right, then,¡± Christina readily agreed. It¡¯s just a belt, anyway. I can afford it. The two came out of thew firm and headed straight to a mall. ww In one of the boutiques among the row of luxury brand shops, Nathaniel picked up a newly arrived belt and studied it before announcing. ¡°I want this.¡± One nce at the price tag stunned Christina. ¡°A hundred thousand? Is this belt ted with gold? How could it be so expensive?¡± Being a designer herself, she knew that the cost of a belt, no matter how well¨Cmade, would not exceed a few hundred. Nevertheless, it wasn¡¯t strange for the belt to be priced as such, considering how it was disyed among other luxury items with simr prices. Christina grinned sheepishly and pointed out, ¡°You have hundreds of belts in your wardrobe. You don¡¯t need another one, do you?¡± ¡°Those are different. I want one from you.¡± Nathaniel obviously knew that his wardrobe was overbrimming with belts, but he wanted a belt gifted by Christina. In a way, he was asking for her attention. It seemed that Nathaniel had no ns of leaving the store until he got what he wanted. At that moment, he was like a child who wanted a new toy. Christina had no choice but to hand the belt to the salesperson. ¡°Please wrap this up for me.¡± After she settled the bill, her wallet, which was already depleted in the first ce, became practically empty. As Christina gave the gift box to Nathaniel, he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. ¡°Put it on for me.¡± His warm breath hit her nose and fanned across her face, bringing a blush to her cheeks. Christina had no idea where he got the courage to request something like that when they were in public. She lowered her head and protested softly, ¡°No. There are people everywhere.¡± Because of Nathaniel¡¯s identity, he would constantly catch the public¡¯s attention. Things would be troublesome if someone snapped a photo of them and brought it to the news, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I need to buy something from the flower market.¡± Without further ado, Christina pulled Nathaniel out of the boutique, got into the car with him, and asked the driver to drive away. At around dusk, they reached Christina¡¯s new vi with the things she had bought. Christina had specially ordered a customized sign with the words Sharbrook Manor carved on it. The name was after her mother, Sharon. This was a fulfillment of Christina¡¯s promise to herself of giving her mother a home. As Christina stared at the sign on the gate, she felt a strong sense of belonging. ¡°You were with me the entire day. Are you sure you don¡¯t need to head back?¡± Christina asked while they walked into the courtyard. She was going to decorate the ce, so it would bete by the time she was done. ¡°No. Let me help you.¡± Nathaniel got into action instantly, removing his suit jacket and passing it to Sebastian. In contrast to Nathaniel, Sebastian felt like a cat on a hot tin roof. Does he have any idea how many piles of documents are stacked on his table? Not only that, all his scheduled meetings today are postponed! At the office, Madison finally lost it after waiting all day and gave Sebastian a call to inquire about what was going on. Sebastian gave her a brief update and let her know that it was likely Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t return to work that night. After hanging up, Madison couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°Christina is such a troublemaker! How could she make Mr. Hadley put his work on hold and nt with her instead? All she does is hinder his progress in business! She has to leave his side.¡± As night fellpletely, the stars rose and shone on two busy figures. Nathaniel took out nails from the bag and fixed them on the wall before hanging the creeper nts on them. With his height, the work was a piece of cake for him. Christina helped him from the side by securing the lights around the edges. It took them quite a while to finish decorating. When everything was done, they stood side by side and admired the wall with sparkling lights. -A.breeze blew by, blurring the shadows of the grass. At that moment, even the air tasted sweet. Recently, Coco gained attention and became viral for a movie she starred in. Along with her poprity, her worth skyrocketed. With the movie receiving nearly twenty nominations,izens predicted that she might bag the next best actress award. On this day, Coco gave Christina a call expectantly. ¡°Sweetie, you have to style me for the film festival this time! I want a custom¨Cmade gown. You¡¯ll be rewarded handsomely!¡± Coco had actually tried tomission Christina a few times before, but thetter had to turn Coco down because she was loaded with work at Radiant Corporation. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll be there on time.¡± As they were basically best friends, Christina was d to take on this job. Seconds after the call ended, Coco texted her an address. They set a meeting, where Christina took Coco¡¯s measurements. Christina then doye into work and began making the gown. A weekter, Coco¡¯s evening gown was ready. On the day of the event, Christina prepared the things she needed and proceeded to the venue. Upon arriving at the dressing room, she swiftly dressed Coco in the gown and applied for thetter that make her look stunning. When Coco¡¯s look waspleted, her assistant couldn¡¯t resist but exim, ¡°Wow! Ms. Coco, you¡¯re going to be the center of attention tonight.¡± Coco examined her beautiful self in the mirror, her lips curving into a proud smile. ¡°Of course. My stylist. is the legendary Christina, after all.¡± She was convinced that Christina¡¯s hands were magical. Thetter highlighted her best features and concealed her ws, bringing out the most perfect side of her. Soon, it was about time to walk the red carpet. The moment the assistant opened the door, a pail of red paint rained down on them. In spite of the assistant¡¯s efforts to shield Coco with her own body, the front hem of Coco¡¯s gown was stained with uneven blobs of paint. Her exquisite gown was ruined just like that. ¡°My gown!¡± Coco screamed, her eyes quivering. It was almost her turn to walk the red carpet. She had no time to borrow a gown now, let alone have a new one made. However, there was no way she could wear a dirtied gown to the red carpet, or she¡¯d make a fool of herself. Who did this? Who schemed this against me? Meanwhile, a worried frown marred Christina¡¯s face when she saw what happened. She had to quicklye up with a way to resolve the issue. The sound of high heels approached them just then. Gwh appeared like an alluring rose in her haute couture gown, creating a stark contrast to Coco. ¡°Oh no, why do you look so disheveled? You¡¯re a B¨Clist celebrity now. You should pay more attention to your image!¡± Gwh¡¯s mockery felt like a dagger to the heart. Coco knew that she had to grab every chance to expose herself to the cameras so the public could remember her face. Yet now, she was about to lose the golden opportunity. Clenching her fists, she was unable to utter a word. Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Promise Coco knew that she had stolen the limelight from Gwh with her supporting role in that movie. To Gwh, it was considered a form of oppression, which definitely upset her. Her assistant reminded in a hushed voice, ¡°Ms. Lawson, it¡¯s almost time. We¡¯re the first ones in.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Gwh walked away with her assistant in an arrogant inanner. After they left, Coco¡¯s assistant could not help but say, ¡°It¡¯s obvious that Gwh¡¯s assistant is the one who sshed the paint. Her fingers are still stained with paint that hasn¡¯t been washed off!¡± How despicable! She actually got her assistant to do such a nasty thing in order to prevent Coco from walking down the red carpet. Clenching her fists, Coco felt an unprecedentedly strong desire to win growing in her. ¡°I¡¯m going to the red carpet even if I don¡¯t wear a dress!¡± What a shame. The dress that Christina made for me has to be discarded even before I can show it to the world. Christina held Coco, who was acting on impulse, back. ¡°Calm down. I won¡¯t let you embarrass yourself.¡± ¡°Do you have a n?¡± Coco¡¯s cyes lit up again. When Christina worked on that dress in the beginning, she had considered making it short and giving it a long train. But after some deliberation, she still went with a traditional maxi dress. With a calm look in her eyes, Christina took out a pair of scissors and cut off the part that was stained with paint. The dress became even less of a dress. ¡°It would have been better not to cut it. Now it looks even more like a piece of rag.¡± Coco¡¯s assistant could not help butin. She might as well appear in a casual outfit. At least that way, she could exin that she was too busy filming and didn¡¯t have time to get changed. With the current state of this dress, she will definitely be laughed at if she wears it out there. However, there was nothing Coco could do now other than go along with it. She believed in Christina¡¯s ability and that thetter would not take her red¨Ccarpet outfit lightly. After Christina cut off the hem of the dress, she took out a needle and thread to alter the dress. She was finished in just a few minutes. ¡°Hurry up! Ms. Coco, it¡¯s our turn.¡± Coco did not even have the time to take a look at the dress after the alteration as she hurriedly walked out in her high heels. After waiting on the red carpet for a minute, the reporters outside finally saw Coco. Coco¡¯s short hair made her facial features look delicate and exquisite. She wore a pink ombre dress that showcased her fair skin and defined corbones. The short length of the dress, coupled with a long train, highlighted her fair long legs, adding to her poise and elegance. The reporters pointed their cameras at her and snapped away. ¡°Coco¡¯s dress is so beautiful. Itpletely put all her strengths on disy.¡± ¡°What brand is that dress? I¡¯ve never seen it before.¡± ¡°Coco, you have a good chance of winning the Best Actress tonight. Do you have confidence in yourself?¡± Coco¡¯s face seemed to be glowing as she replied confidently and calmly, ¡°Of course I do. I believe that awards are given based on strength.¡± As soon as the red carpet ended,ments about Coco¡¯s dress were immediately trending on the Inte. At the event hall, Coco was sitting next to Gwh. The former crossed her slender legs and immediately stole the limelight. Seeing that Coco did not change her dress and even stole the limelight from her, Gwh could not hide. the look of resentment in her eyes. Just then, the most exciting moment of the awards ceremony had arrived. The host announced the winner of the best actress award, ¡°Congrattions, Coco Lynch, for winning the best actress!¡°.. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. As the camera was pointed at Coco, she got so excited that she sshed the water that she was about to drink on Gwh, who was next to her, and then made a surprised expression. Gwh was well aware that Coco had done it on purpose, but she could not show her displeasure in front of the camera. She could only pretend to be happy and congratte Coco with an obviously awkward expression. D*mn you, Coco! You must have bribed someone! Coco went to the stage to ept the award. Her dress got as much attention as she did herself. Some professional stylists became even more curious when they could not find out the brand of her dress. That was because there were very few independent designers who could produce such craftsmanship. They were dying to find out the person who had such good craftsmanship. After the awards ceremony, there was a celebration party. Christina, who did not like crowds, left early. It was veryte by the time she returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Upon entering the bedroom, she saw Nathaniel reading his documents on the couch with a cold expression on his face. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Christina had promised him that she would be home by nine o¡¯clock, but it was almost eleven now. Was it any surprise that he was angry? ¡°Yes.¡± Walking to the couch, Christina took off her coat and gently threw herself into his arms. She rubbed her head against Nathaniel¡¯s chest and drawled, ¡°What could be morefortable than. nuzzling in my husband¡¯s arms after a long, tiring day?¡± Nathaniel had wanted to scold her, but Christina¡¯s sweet and coy behavior made him give up the n. Her adorable face and doe¨Clike eyes had easily quelled his anger. Ruffling her hair, he looked down at her and said dotingly, ¡°We should go to bed early. We need to pick up Mom from the hospital tomorrow.¡± Christina immediately sat up with wide eyes. She had spent the past couple of days making the dress in her room, so she had forgotten such an important matter. She nted a kiss on Nathaniel¡¯s cheek. ¡°Oh, thank you for reminding me. Otherwise, I¡¯d have forgotten about it. You¡¯re the best, Darling. I don¡¯t know how I¡¯d live without you. Things would definitely slip my mind if I didn¡¯t have you.¡± Amused, Nathanielughed. There was not a single trace of anger left on his good¨Clooking face. ¡°So you should just stay by my side. I¡¯ll give you all the best things in the world.¡± His words sounded like a promise to Christina. He lifted her into his arms. When they were both in bed, he fell asleep hugging her tightly. Early in the morning, Nathaniel apanied Christina to the hospital to bring Sharon back to Sharbrook Manor. Sharbrook Manor had a good environment, and almost all the furniture was brand new. There were five bedrooms, which were more than enough for them to live in. Sharon¡¯s condition was not bad. When she entered the front yard, she was attracted by the green vines on the wall. In order to make taking care of Sharon more convenient, Christina hired a housekeeper named Catalina to help take care of Sharon¡¯s daily needs. While Christina was exining matters needing attention to Catalina in the house, Sharon, who was looking at the green vines in the courtyard, suddenly screamed. Christina ran out immediately upon hearing the scream. Sharony on the ground with her arms protecting her head as she begged for mercy in a panic, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me, don¡¯t hit me!¡± Some memories of her time in the psychiatric hospital had suddenly shed through her mind, inducing an automatic defensive response from her. Seeing that, Christina immediately guessed that her mother¡¯s sickness was acting up. She hugged Sharon in distress andforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Mom. I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll protect you, Mom.¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Overly Friendly Nathaniel hung up the phone and went to help carry Sharon into the house. Christina trod on his heels. Her heart clenched when she took in her mother¡¯s pale face, which resembled a piece of crumpled white paper. She didn¡¯t expect her mother would be so severely traumatized after getting locked up by Miranda. Her anger toward Miranda intensified. Sensing Sharon¡¯s deteriorating condition, Sebastian immediately contacted the family doctor. The trio returned to the bedroom, and Nathaniel carefully ced Sharon on the bed. Christina held Sharon¡¯s hand tightly by the bedside. Glistening tears welled up in her eyes as she sobbed, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be scared. All the bad people have been driven away. You¡¯re safe now.¡± Sharon gradually calmed down upon hearing her daughter¡¯s tender voice. Despite that, her breathing. remainedbored. However, she quickly became agitated again, but this time, instead of panicking and losing her mind, Sharon grasped Christina¡¯s hands and refused to let go, as if the most important thing in her life would. slip away if she loosened her grip. Christina consoled her in a soft voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Mom. I¡¯m here now. No one can bully you.¡± A few momentster, the doctor arrived. After assessing her condition, he gave her a sedative injection. ording to the doctor, medications weren¡¯t very effective in treating such conditions and could even harm her body and nerves. The best therapy would bepanionship, which could help her stabilize her emotions and prevent rpse. Once the medication kicked in, Sharon drifted off to sleep. Still, she continued clutching Christina¡¯s hand and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Christina, my daughter. Please don¡¯t be mad at me. I didn¡¯t mean to keep you in the dark. I was worried you would leave¡­ Don¡¯t leave me, Christina. Don¡¯t go¡­¡± Christina knitted her brows, listening to her mother¡¯s murmurs. What did she mean by don¡¯t leave her and don¡¯t go? She gently patted the back of Sharon¡¯s hand and whispered into her car, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯m right here by your side, and I won¡¯t leave.¡± Hearing Christina¡¯sforting words, Sharon felt a huge weight lifted off her chest and fell into a deep slumber. By the time Christina exited the room, it was almost midnight. Nathaniel had left the room when he received a phone call earlier. At that moment, the lights in the study were still on. The lights on the ceiling cast shadows on the floorboard. Nathaniel moved his fingertips gracefully across the keyboard. His handsome face made him look like a fashion photography model from any angle. Christina entered and uttered in an undertone. ¡°I¡¯ll stay here to keep my mompany. Why don¡¯t you return to Scenic Garden Manor first?¡± She knew Nathaniel had mysophobia and wasn¡¯t fond of living in unfamiliar ces. He also had high standards for his quality of life. The bedding and pillows he used were custom¨Cmade by renowned craftsmen from overseas with many years of experience in the field. Even his towels and toothbrushes were specially customized and weren¡¯t avable for purchase anywhere else. Hence, Christina didn¡¯t want to force him to stay. Nathaniel stopped typing and turned to look at her. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked Sebastian to bring over the daily necessities from Scenic Garden Manor, so it¡¯s fine even if I don¡¯t go back.¡± He spoke nonchntly as if it was a trivial matter. Warmth surged within Christina¡¯s chest and spread toward every part of her body. She knew he was very amodating to her and cared deeply about her, constantly putting in effort to maintain their rtionship. Those small details caused her to grow fonder of him with each passing day until she became head over heels in love with him. ¡°I¡¯m worried you won¡¯t befortable here. You don¡¯t have to stay here just for my sake. When my mom is feeling better in a few days, I¡¯ll return to Scenic Garden Manor,¡± said Christina, wearing a calm expression. Under such circumstances, she simply couldn¡¯t leave her mother alone. Nathaniel grabbed her wrist with his warm palm and pulled her into his embrace. When he lowered his head slightly, he could smell her faint body fragrance. That was a scent that could put his mind at ease. Nathaniel slowly parted his lips and kissed her fair neck, uttering in his deep, maic voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be comfortable anywhere as long as you¡¯re with me.¡± He figured what he really couldn¡¯t get used to was her absence rather than an unfamiliar environment. Right then, Sebastian returned as the sound of his vehicle rang out in the front yard. Christina leaned over and kissed Nathaniel on the cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll go set up the bedroom so you can sleep when you¡¯re done with work.¡± Then, she bounded out of the room happily like an agile rabbit. As she got downstairs, she received the hefty bag of daily necessities from Sebastian. Christina waved her hand. ¡°All right, you can get off work now. I¡¯ll take care of Nathaniel.¡± Sebastian nodded before adding worriedly, ¡°Mr. Hadley has a meeting at nine o¡¯clock tomorrow morning. Please remember to remind him. Also, there are a few documents that are still pending his signature- Christina felt sorry for Nathaniel upon hearing that. It¡¯s already close to eleven o¡¯clock, yet he has so much work left to do. Not to mention, he needs to wake up early tomorrow. Will he be getting any sleep tonight? Even a robot would feel tired if overworked to this extent. ¡°Hurry up and go back. We¡¯ll deal with the remaining work tomorrow morning.¡± Without waiting for him to reply, she walked up the stairs. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and turned around. ¡°Remember to close the door behind you when you leave.¡± With that, she continued heading upstairs while carrying the big bag. Sebastian couldn¡¯t help curling his lips into a contented smile as he watched Christina get busy. Mr. Hadley and Mrs. Hadley¡¯s rtionship seems to grow stronger by the day. If things can continue progressing like this, it would be great. Christina swiftly prepared everything. I mustpliment Sebastian for his fastidiousness. He even packed Nathaniel¡¯s pajamas. Obviously, he often prepares Nathaniel¡¯s luggage for business trips. I should learn more about what to prepare from Sebastian. That way, whenever Nathaniel goes on business trips in the future, I can make the preparations for him since this should be part of my duties as his wife. After making the bed, she copsed from exhaustion and dozed off. Nathaniel gently pushed open the door. As soon as he stepped into the room, he noticed the slender girl, who was lying on the bed and bathed in moonlight. She was hugging the pajamas he usually wore and sleeping serenely like a cute little animal. He picked up the nket and tucked her in before hugging her to sleep. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. The next day, the couple woke up in each other¡¯s arms. After having their breakfast, Sebastian showed up on time at the door to drive Nathaniel to work. Christina took advantage of her free time to go to a nearby supermarket to buy some groceries. After grocery shopping, she went to a mall to buy a scarf for her mother. Looking at all the various patterned scarves, she selected a in¨Ccolored one. This scarf looks elegant. Are you buying it as a gift for an elder?¡± A woman¡¯s voice rang out beside her. Christina turned her head sideways and saw a woman who looked to be in her thirties, dressed in at business suit. Judging by her appearance, Christina figured she might be a high¨Clevel executive in some Christina thought the woman was also there to pick out a scarf, so she grinned politely. ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m buying it for my mom.¡± The smile on the woman¡¯s face widened, and she even deliberately leaned closer to Christina when she spoke. ¡°You¡¯re such a good daughter.¡± Christina nodded before turning around and leaving. Isn¡¯t she a little overly friendly? Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Nothing But Trouble Christina approached the cashier and paid before leaving. Inside Sharbrook Manor, Catalina came forward to take the shopping bags from Christina. and prepare food now.¡± ¡°Ms. Christina, you bought so many things! I¡¯ll go After Christina passed the shopping bags to Catalina, she headed upstairs to see her mother. Sharon had an elegant gown on and was reading on the couch. She didn¡¯t have the tired expression she had the day before. Christina walked into the room quietly and took out a newly bought scarf from the gift box she was holding. ¡°Look, Mom. This is the new scarf I bought for you. Do you like it?¡°. She carefully wrapped the scarf around Sharon¡¯s neck before admiring it. The clean, blue color entuated Sharon¡¯s gentle aura. ¡°I like it. I like whatever you buy for me,¡± Sharon replied with a smile as if she was a child receiving a precious gift. This is how things should be. I hope Mom will always be this happy in the future and forget all the unhappiness she experienced in the past. At this moment, her phone rang. Christina answered the call and heard Madison cry out anxiously, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley left an important document at home. Can you help to deliver it?¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bring it over now.¡± Christina hung up and went to the study. After finding the documents Madison had mentioned, she headed to the designated address. Christina pushed open the door to a private room at Seasons Hotel and discovered that only a woman was in it. ¡°Ms. Christina, you¡¯re here. Why don¡¯t you sit and drink a ss of red wine with me?¡± The woman. narrowed her eyes, and a devilish smile appeared on her face. A sense of foreboding rose within Christina when she realized it was the woman she met when buying the scarf. The woman¡¯s overly enthusiastic smile looked unnatural.. ¡°I don¡¯t know you, right?¡± Christina stared at the woman in confusion. Did Ie to the wrong ce? The woman walked toward her, still smiling. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you know me or not. You can leave after you pass the documents to me.¡± She wanted to obtain the confidential real estate development n that Christina was holding onto. Once she got it, her mission would be aplished. 1/4 Christina turned on her phone to check the message she received. Didn¡¯t Madison¡¯s message say it was the private room number eight? Did I see it wrongly? Upon checking her phone, she was surprised to see that Madison¡¯s message had disappeared. There¡¯s something strange about this! Seeing that Christina wasn¡¯t moving, the woman approached her impatiently. ¡°Just hand the documents to me.¡± She reached out to grab the documents from Christina¡¯s hands. Christina instinctively took a step back and held the documents tightly to her chest. ¡°I don¡¯t even know you! Let go!¡± At this moment, someone opened the door, and several men strode into the room. ¡°Let go of her!¡± Nathaniel ordered coldly. He approached Christina, and his incredibly aggressive aura filled the room with tension. The woman didn¡¯t expect Nathaniel to appear. She nced nervously at Madison, who was standing by the door. This wasn¡¯t what they had nned. The two deliberately avoided eye contact as though they were strangers. Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s hand with a darkened expression, saying, ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t know her.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know her, why are you here?¡± Madison stepped forward, as she didn¡¯t want Christina to get a chance to exin herself. Although she didn¡¯t expect Nathaniel to appear here, she could still control the situation. ¡°Why did you guys appear here, then?¡± Christina retorted. She didn¡¯t know the rtionship they had with this woman, but she needed to know what was happening first. Sebastian nced at Christina¡¯s bewildered expression and couldn¡¯t help but feel exasperated. Can¡¯t she see how serious this situation is? ¡°We are here to apprehend a spy. We recently received an anonymous tip¨Coff that someone was going to sell my real estate development business n to a rivalpany, so we came here specifically to catch the person.¡± Apprehend a spy? Christina furrowed her brows as she stared at Madison. Did Madison purposefully lead me here so that I get used as the spy? She¡¯s really calctive. All the evidence pointed to Christina being the spy who betrayed Hadley Corporation. Madison scoffed coldly. ¡°Ms. Lopez here is one of the executives of our rivalpany. Aren¡¯t you guys meeting toplete your transaction?¡± Before Christina could exin, Madison continued, ¡°Why did you do this? Mr. Hadley treats you so well. Why did you betray him? Don¡¯t you know how important those documents are to Hadley Corporation? We spent so much time on it.¡± Faced with a series of usations, Christina remained silent, staring at Madison coldly. After a moment of silence, she turned to look at Nathaniel and asked, ¡°If I said I didn¡¯t do it, would you believe me?¡± ¡°I believe you.¡± From the moment Nathaniel walked into the room and stood in front of Christina, his stance was evident. He knew that Christina had no reason to do something like this. Madison¡¯s expression stiffened. The truth wasid bare before Nathaniel¡¯s eyes, but he¡¯d rather believe Christina. She felt as if her attacks against Christina had all bounced off without harming thetter. ¡°However, all of this is evidence. Mr. Hadley, you can¡¯t just trust Mrs. Hadley based on her words alone. It¡¯s unfair to all of us who have worked so hard for thepany.¡± To exacerbate the situation, Madison had brought in senior¨Clevel shareholders of thepany who held positions of power within Hadley Corporation. It would be hard for Nathaniel to suppress the situation and cate the crowd with so many people witnessing this. Sebastian¡¯s back was covered in a cold sweat. This matter seemed moreplicated than it looked, but at least Christina had no motive to do this. However, it would be difficult to present evidence to prove that Christina wasn¡¯t the spy. Soon, several shareholders stepped forward and demanded an exnation. After all, if Nathaniel helped a potential spy, how could they still wholeheartedly trust him with thepany? ¡°Mr. Hadley, we need an exnation. Why did Mrs. Hadley meet with an executive of our rivalpany with confidential documents?¡± ¡°Could it really be as Ms. Taggart said? Did Mrs. Hadley really try to sell ourpany¡¯s information?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we insist on reporting it to the authorities!¡± Madison was pleased to see that the shareholders were supporting her. Even if Nathaniel wants to protect Christina, it would be hard for him to do so with so many shareholders opposing him. Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°She belongs to me. If you don¡¯t trust Christina, it would mean you ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . trust me!¡± Everyone present was stunned upon hearing this. don¡¯t Nathaniel chose to stand by Christina when there was a possibility that she was a spy. Everyone thought that beautiful women were nothing but trouble. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Chapter 229 I Have Evidence Hearing Nathaniel¡¯s words, Christina felt a warm sensation in her heart, and she was deeply moved. If it weren¡¯t for the crowd, she would have wanted to give him a kiss. Apart from Christina, the faces of everyone present looked grim. To them, Nathaniel¡¯s words still carried a lot of weight, and openly opposing him was like digging their own grave. If this matter was simply ignored, however, they would feel a sense of unease and difort in their hearts. ¡°You want evidence? I have it!¡± Someone broke the silence. Christina¡¯s slender figure appeared from behind Nathaniel. Her pure smile showed no hint of worry, and her crystal¨Cclear eyes suggested an air of innocence and naivete. Those present began to wonder if Christina had any idea how serious the situation was. They wondered if she was naturally foolish or if she really thought she could act recklessly because she was under Nathaniel¡¯s protection. Christina handed the documents she had been holding in her arms to Sebastian with confidence. ¡°You used me of sellingpany secrets of Hadley Corporation, right? This is the one, isn¡¯t it?¡± She then continued, ¡°Open your eyes and look clearly. If you have evidence, feel free to call the police.¡± Christina¡¯s resolute expression caused everyone¡¯s faces to darken even more. Sebastian hurriedly checked the documents. His eyes suddenly widened in surprise before he eximed happily, ¡°These are safety instructions on how to use a product. There isn¡¯t any important confidential information!¡± He knew all along that Christina wouldn¡¯t betray Nathaniel. It just didn¡¯t make sense. In disbelief, Madison snatched the documents and started flipping through the pages. None of them were rted to important documents but were instead instructions for a massage chair. How could this be? She couldn¡¯t believe that Christina just turned the tables on her. Christina shouldn¡¯t have had enough time to swap out the documents in her hands from when she entered the room. Madison wondered how Christina managed to see through her scheme. With her hands on her hips, Christina lifted her chin and said proudly, ¡°Can you see now that I¡¯m innocent?¡± Her shimmering gaze fixed on Madison¡¯s frozen expression, and a teasing smirk curled up at the corner of her lips. Sebastian nodded and showed the documents to the shareholders present. ¡°Now, take a good look, everyone. Mrs. Hadley doesn¡¯t have any confidential information in her hands. Are you satisfied now?¡± 1/4 With the evidence presented before them, everyone stared at each other in silence. The shareholders gave Madison a reproachful look as if she had embarrassed them. The shareholder who had spoken first a while ago made his way to Christina and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we misunderstood you. Please ept my apologies.¡± Seeing this, other shareholders followed suit and apologized to Christina, ¡°We were wrong to suspect you. Mrs. Hadley, please forgive our ignorance.¡± Upon hearing the apologies, Christina was somewhat satisfied. She waved her little hand and said, ¡°I understand that you were misled by despicable people. It¡¯s just a small matter. You may leave now.¡± Upon hearing her words, a few shareholders were momentarily stunned before giving a wry smile and leaving the private room. Seeing Chloe Lopez trying to slip away, Christina stopped her and asked, ¡°Excuse me, miss. Who was it that asked you toe here and tarnish my reputation?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes shimmered with a cold glint. Now that she had the chance to catch the culprit red¨C handed, she wasn¡¯t going to let it go so easily. Chloe¡¯s face froze and turned pale in an instant. Her eyes were like those of a thief caught in the act, looking incredibly guilty. She nced at Madison and didn¡¯t say a word. To prevent Chloe from escaping, Christina had two bodyguards stationed at the door, and then she ordered, ¡°No one is to leave until we sort out this matter.¡± Christina¡¯s icy stare froze Chloe in ce. ¡°Tell me. Who told you toe here and nder me?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡­¡± Chloe¡¯s face became even uglier. Cold sweat broke out on her palms as she hesitated to speak. Madison stepped forward with a calm expression, but there was an obvious hint of difort, Strictly speaking, there wasn¡¯t really a transaction. Let¡¯s just forget about it.¡± She just wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible. Christina raised an eyebrow, not happy with the suggestion. ¡°Forget about it? Weren¡¯t concerned about this matter, Ms. Taggart?¡± you really Madison¡¯s face became even more grim. ¡°Mr. Hadley, what do you think we should do?¡± Nathaniel shifted his gaze to Christina. Upon seeing her resolute expression, he said, ¡°It¡¯s up to Christina to decide.¡°/ If Christina wanted to pursue the matter, he would just let her do it. Sebastian¡¯s forehead was covered in a cold sweat. He wondered when Nathaniel had be so indecisive. Christina had a thoughtful expression as she said, ¡°We have to investigate this matter. This is crucial in finding out who the spy in Hadley Corporation is.¡± 2/4 She narrowed her eyes and fixed her icy gaze on Chloe. ¡°You¡¯d better speak up now. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be exining yourself to the policeter.¡± If Hadley Corporation decided to look into the matter, one wouldn¡¯t be able to run away from it Chloe started to panic. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you now. Please don¡¯t involve the police.¡± Her situation was like standing on the edge of a cliff, and in order to protect herself, she had no choice but to reveal the person who had sent her. ¡°It was Francis who sent me. He had already arranged everything and all I had to do wase and collect the documents and pay the money. As for who the spy in Hadley Corporation is, I have no idea.¡± At this point, she had no reason to lie. There had been rumors circting for a while that Francis had been trying to gain ess to the inner workings of Hadley Corporation. Thus, it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise if he had ced his own people in high- ranking positions. That was why Nathaniel was so concerned about the issue of spies. The expressions of those present all became slightly awkward, and almost everyone knew that the rtionship between Nathaniel and Francis had reached the point of no return. Just then, someone¡¯s phone rang- Chloe picked up the phone and put it on speaker. A low, maic voice came from the other end. ¡°Have you obtained the documents?¡± Christina could recognize the voice. It was definitely Francis. Did he really nt a spy in Hadley Corporation? Or was there some special rtionship between him and Madison for him to step up and help Madison? ¡°Mr. Fernando, the n is ruined. I didn¡¯t manage to get anything,¡± Chloe said. Francis hung up the phone without saying a word. Chloe put away the phone. At that moment, she felt as if she was a trapped animal. ¡°Can I leave now?¡± Nathaniel gave a signal to the bodyguards at the door, and they both moved aside, creating a clear path. Without hesitation, Chloe turned around and walked out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hadley. We will do our best to find the spy that Francis has ced in thepany.¡± Sebastian assured him. He knew that such a person was a ticking time bomb to Nathaniel, not enough to harm him physically but enough to harm thepany¡¯s interests. Nathaniel said calmly, ¡°You guys may leave.¡± He then took Christina out of the private room. Madison watched as the two figures disappeared, knowing that Nathaniel was no fool and had probably already picked up on something. It was a close call that night¨Cshe almost got exposed. Fortunately, she had discussed it with Francis beforehand. Otherwise, Christina would have turned the situation against her. That little girl was much harder to deal with than she imagined. Sebastian fixed his gaze on Madison. His doubts about her were still unresolved. ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t go looking for trouble anymore. Mr. Hadley won¡¯t give you another chance!¡°This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Chapter 230 You Will Not Christina flipped open the documents on the table in the study of Sharbrook Manor and brought them to Nathaniel. She asked, ¡°Are these the important documents you guys were talking about?¡± Nathaniel gave it a quick nce and hummed in response. ¡°You left such an important thing lying around. Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯d steal your documents and sell them?¡± Christina edged half a step toward him with narrowed eyes. Fortunately, she had taken caution when she left earlier.¡± Logically, Nathaniel would never forget to bring such important documents, and Sebastian would have reminded him even if he did. Christina had sensed that something was amiss, so she purposely did not touch the document. Instead, she used the instruction manual of a recently purchased massage chair to pass it off as the documents. Nathaniel nced at her coldly and spoke. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± Nathaniel spoke with certainty as if he were living inside her head and could read her mind. Christina shed him a thumbs¨Cup in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s for sure. Do I need to go through all that trouble when I can just get what I want from you by asking directly?¡± Christina¡¯s chubby checks and her slightly curved lips made her look like a cute porcin doll. ¡°It¡¯s veryte now. I¡¯m going to sleep. You should go and rest early too.¡± Christina tiptoed and gave Nathaniel¡¯s expressionless face a peck before saying softly, ¡°Good night.¡± She stretchedzily before turning and leaving the study. Christina felt shielded from those icy¨Ccold, sharp eyes of his after shutting the door. Nathaniel¡¯s asionally made her feel uneasy despite having spent a lot of time with him. gaze I know very well that Madison had devised tonight¡¯s scheme. I think Francis and Madison have some sort of rtionship because of this. Could they be working together to scheme against Hadley Corporation? Christina did not stay idle despite being at home. After checking on her mother in the morning, she contacted a real estate agent to look at some studios. The studios in remote areas were too far from home. Christina did not want to spend so much time driving every day, as it would be a waste of time. However, she was not sure if she could afford the high rental costs in the city. The agent took her to an office building in the city center after driving to various locations. If one looked toward the south of the building, one could see the ocean. The ce was facing the bustling city center, and Hadley Corporation was right across the street. Why are we back here after going to so many ces? Christina looked in the direction of the city center in confusion. ¡°I can¡¯t afford to rent such an expensive office. Isn¡¯t the market price for a ce like this at least forty to fifty thousand a month?¡± 1/48 In truth, she really liked this ce. It had a great location and was spacious. The agent stated with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not expensive at all. Thendlord is a wealthy nouveau riche with countless properties. He rents them out at a reasonable price, but the only requirement is that make a mess of the ce.¡± you don¡¯t He had purposefully driven Christina around aimlessly in the morning before finally taking her to the intended ce. He thought that Christina would definitely be exhausted from checking out so many locations, and she would now undoubtedly be tempted by this spacious andfortable environment. Christina nodded in assurance and uttered, ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem. I¡¯m a designer. At most, I¡¯ll do some sewing. I won¡¯t be working with paint.¡± Furthermore, Christina was a neat person and liked a tidy environment. The agent pped his hands in excitement. ¡°That¡¯s great! Let¡¯s sign the agreement right away. The rent will be eight thousand a month. This mustn¡¯t be an issue for you since a dress designed by you is worth way more than that.¡± ¡°Eight thousand? Is it really that cheap?¡± Is this a scam? Christina felt doubtful. How can it be this cheap? The agent patted his chest and assured firmly, ¡°I¡¯m absolutely not lying to you. The rent won¡¯t go up. for the next three years as long as you sign the contract. You can rest assured.¡± The agent felt his argument was not convincing enough, so he continued, ¡°You can trust me completely. For Ms. Cook¡¯s sake, I wouldn¡¯t dare to deceive you even if you gave me the guts. I¡¯m telling you this because of our friendship. There¡¯s a lot ofpetition for such an affordable ce. If you don¡¯t sign the lease, other tenants will, you know.¡± Christina thought about it, and she felt that his argument made sense. Christina had a smooth experience buying Sharbrook Manor before. Therefore, she trusted this agent. She signed the documents after giving them a thorough reading and making sure there were no mistakes. Christina was convinced she had a stroke of luck that day for managing to rent a great studio in such a good location for such a low price. The agent looked at the signature, overjoyed. ¡°Okay, here¡¯s the key. I can get off work now that my job here is done.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± The agent/walked out and got into the elevator before calling the behind¨Cthe¨Cscenes wealthy backer. He said, chuckling, ¡°Mr. Hadley, everything has been taken care of. Mrs. Hadley has already signed the contraet. Nathaniel¡¯s calm voice rang out from the other end. ¡°Excellent. Themission will be transferred to your ount.¡± Mr. Hadley genuinely cares about Mrs. Hadley. He rented out such an expensive office for the lowest price possible. I guess it¡¯s true when they say some people were born to be happy. 10/20 ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hadley. I won¡¯t disturb you then.¡± The agent hung up the phone and was so happy that he almost jumped. Wealthy people are so generous. This deal alone is what I make in half a year. On the other side, Nathaniel stood by the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling ss window at Hadley Corporation. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . He nced at the office building across the street, and he could clearly see Christina¡¯s studio from there. Christina was taking a photo with her phone. Very soon, he received a message on his phone. It read: Isn¡¯t the new studio I rented pretty? Does it look nice? Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled up as he looked at the photo on his phone. I can just stand by the window whenever I want to see her in the future. Nathaniel typed a reply on his phone: It looks nice. Soon, Christina sent a message in response with a smiley face emoticon: It¡¯s across Hadley Corporation. We can go to work together in the future. A faint smile appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s countenance as he sent: Sure. He would have built Christina a studio with transparent ss walls next to the CEO¡¯s office if she was willing. This way, Nathaniel could see Christina whenever he raised his head. That would be truly wonderful. Nevertheless, Nathaniel had to proceed slowly and not rush, or else she might be upset again. Sebastian knocked on the door and came in. ¡°Mr. Hadley, it¡¯s almost time for the meeting with a business partner. Can we head out now?¡± Why is Mr. Hadley smiling at a ss window? What¡¯s so fascinating about it? Nathaniel retracted his gaze and hummed in response. He walked out of the office. There was the smell of tobo and alcohol mixed in the air in the private room. The temperature of the atmosphere dropped by a few degrees the moment Nathaniel walked in and sat in his seat. Nathaniel sat next to Aldrich Anderson, the man with the most assets in the area. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Another Allergic Reaction ¡°Mr. Hadley, it¡¯s been a while. Let¡¯s have a drink first.¡± Aldrich had coborated with the Hadley family previously. Their meeting this round was because their contract had expired. For the five years that the two had coborated, they had a considerably fruitful coboration since their profits had been increasing. The Anderson family was in the business of dried fruit exportation and subsequently expanded to exporting various goods. They mainly relied on the Hadley family¡¯s ships for their exportations. Nathaniel lifted his wine ss and took a sip. His unfathomable eyes darkened. Not bothering with superfluous words, he went straight to the main point. ¡°I heard you wanted to extend the contract date, Mr. Anderson. I want a zero¨Cpoint¨Cfive percent increase in profit.¡± Even though a zero¨Cpoint¨Cfive percent increment sounded little, it would be a difference of tens of millions forrge¨Cscale projects. Hugging a woman with his right hand and holding onto a wine ss with his left, Aldrichughed. ¡°That¡¯s not a big issue. We have been working for so long. I know you¡¯re a fair man, Mr. Hadley.¡± The Anderson family still had to depend on Hadley Corporation to earn money, so naturally, he did not want their rtionship to turn sour. Moreover, the increment was considered reasonable. Aldrich nudged the woman in his embrace. ¡°Are you not going over to thank Mr. Hadley?¡± The woman stood up. She had a tall and slender figure and a pretty face. Her makeup was so thick she looked like a saucy vamp as she walked toward Nathaniel. Aldrich had especially brought her along to offer her to Nathaniel. She did not know Nathaniel was so handsome prior to seeing him. One nce was enough to make her heart thump wildly. Before she could get anywhere near Nathaniel, she was stopped by Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Hadley isn¡¯t interested. Please step back.¡± Mr. Hadley can¡¯t touch other women. He¡¯ll be in danger. Besides, this woman isn¡¯t Mr. Hadley¡¯s type at all. That woman¡¯s expression changed slightly. I haven¡¯t even done anything. How does he know he won¡¯t like it? I¡¯m such a perfect woman. Any man would fall for me! Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face gradually turned grim. Even though he remained silent, his gloomy expression was equivalent to a tacit rejection. To butter up to Nathaniel and forge a good rtionship, Aldrich basically gave up a woman and offered her to the former. Little did he imagine that the former was not pleased with it. Nheless, Aldrich did not appear awkward. After all, he had met many men who would find excuses to reject him the first time. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. 11/8 That¡¯s merely all on the surface. Which man in this world isn¡¯t into good looks? ¡°Mr. Hadley, Ms. Taylor isn¡¯t like any other woman. Perhaps you¡¯ll know once you give it a try. There¡¯s not need to reject my offer. We¡¯re all men; we understand.¡± Many liked offering women to build rtionships in the business circle because that was the fastest way to forge a connection. It gave off the vibe that they would be in the same boat since they sinned together. That way, no matter what coboration it was, all negotiations would be smooth sailing. Nathaniel abruptly rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll get my assistant to send the contract over tomorrow. As for that woman, I¡¯ll leave her to you, Mr. Anderson.¡± Behind him. Aldrich wanted to say something else, but the tall figure had already walked toward the door. It was that woman¡¯s first time being heartlessly rejected. That man never even tried. How would he know he doesn¡¯t like me? With a darkened gaze, she passed by Sebastian and strode toward the exit. Before long, she caught up with Nathaniel¡­ She took a gentle leap and wrapped her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Mr. Hadley, why are you leaving so quickly? Are you shy to see me? Why don¡¯t I apany you for a while longer? Or I can follow you back too¡­¡± Then, she insolently nted a kiss on Nathaniel¡¯s ear. A gush of searing heat surged through the man, and he began to disy allergy symptoms. -It almost felt like he had lost control of his heart, and his breathing became extremely difficult. He forcefully swung the woman off him. ¡°Get lost!¡± His voice was deep and hoarse, a sign that he was having an allergic reaction. Frustration overwhelmed Sebastian. Does this woman not understand what I said? I told her not to get close to Mr. Hadley. How dare she pounce on him? He quickly went up to support Nathaniel. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not keeping an eye on this woman, Mr. Hadley. Let¡¯s head back first.¡± The whites of Nathaniel¡¯s eyes became blood¨Cred, and his breathing gradually grew difficult. With great difficulty, he coldly ordered, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian followed Nathaniel out of the private room, leaving behind the utterly stumped Aldrich. Rumor has it that Mr. Hadley stays away from women. I always thought it was because the women weren¡¯t pretty enough to catch his attention. So it turns out the real reason is that he can¡¯t touch women? Soon, at Sharbrook Manor, the sound of a car¡¯s engine rang out from the courtyard. Christina, who was lying on the couch, jumped to her feet like an agile cat and ran outside in small steps. 2/3 ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re back-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, a tall figure leaned on her slender shoulders. A cloying scent of perfume wafted into Christina¡¯s nostrils. She narrowed her eyes slightly as she grew wary. ¡°Where did you go? Why do you reek of perfume?¡± A jealous expression crossed her face. ¡°You were out till this hour and stink of alcohol. Don¡¯t tell me you went to look for women!¡± she grudginglyined. Following behind Nathaniel, Sebastian was nonplussed yet amused. Mr. Hadley will experience an allergic reaction all over his body when he touches women and might even need to visit the hospital for emergency treatment if it¡¯s too severe. How is it possible that he¡¯d go and find women? ¡°That¡¯s not it, Mrs. Hadley. A business partner tried to offer Mr. Hadley a woman. Mr. Hadley firmly rejected it at once, but who knew that the woman would actually pounce on him. That¡¯s why there¡¯s a perfume scent on Mr. Hadley.¡± Christina looked at Sebastian quizzically. ¡°Then why is he burning hot all over as if he is having an allergic reaction?¡± There were many small, red bumps on Nathaniel¡¯s neck area, and it was apparent it was an allergy symptom. Just as Sebastian wanted to respond, Nathaniel shot him a warning look. ¡°T¨CThat¡¯s because Mr. Hadley ate mushrooms. He can¡¯t eat mushrooms; otherwise, he¡¯ll have an allergic reaction¡­¡± Christina furrowed her brows in doubt. Why haven¡¯t I heard that Nathaniel is allergic to mushrooms before this? ¨C¡°Mrs. Hadley, bring Mr. Hadley to the room to rest first. I¡¯m worried that he¡¯ll feel unwell.¡± Sebastian was so anxious he was about to burst into tears. If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Hadley refusing to go to the hospital, I would¡¯ve sent him there to get a shot. At least this is the safest and most reliable way to deal with his symptoms. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll call you if there¡¯s anything.¡± Like a small bunny supporting a giant beast, Christina held onto the towering man. That sight was, in fact, somewhat bizarre yet heartwarming. After heading upstairs, she brought a towel moistened with warm water to help Nathaniel wipe his face. Under the lighting, there was a dazed look in Nathaniel¡¯s usually hostilityced gaze. A frown marred his countenance slightly, and under his high nose bridge were his alluring lips. He exuded an immense masculine aura from head to toe, leaving one mesmerized by his good looks and charm at a nce. ¡°Oh¡­ Why do you have that many red spots on you? Why don¡¯t you go to the hospital to have it checked?¡± Christina was undoubtedly stunned by the sight. She initially thought he was only showing symptoms around his neck. Only after unbuttoning his shirt to reveal his defined chest did she realize that the signs. were showing on his body too. This looks pretty serious. He can¡¯t stay at home any longer. ¨CAs she reached for her phone to call Sebastian, a hand seized her wrist with immense strength. Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Get Even Christina felt as if the world was spinning around her. Before she realized it, she was already pinned on the bed. Nathaniel fixated his sharp gaze on Christina¡¯s terrified face. It looked as if a powerful individual was intimidating the vulnerable. ¡°What¡¯s wrong. Nathaniel? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Are his allergies causing neurological confusion now? Why is he ring at me like I¡¯m his enemy? He looks rather scary¡­ ¡°Nathaniel¡­¡± Christina called his name gently. As Christina¡¯s gentle voice traveled into his ears, Nathaniel felt a ripple effect in his heart. He felt as if he were being burned by fire. It had been so long that he had almost forgotten about his allergy. Otherwise, he could have avoided being taken advantage of by the woman just now. Cradling Christina¡¯s head, Nathaniel gently kissed her on the forehead. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need a good night¡¯s rest,¡± he reassured. Then, Nathaniel tightened his grip on Christina¡¯s slender waist and lifted her up along with the nket below them, enveloping her in his embrace. At dawn, sunlight gradually illuminated the sky. A sweet scent lingered inside the warm sheets.. Nathaniel gave Christina, who was still asleep, a gentle kiss and woke her up. ¡°Time to get up breakfast. We don¡¯t want you to feel hungry.¡± and eat Christina mumbled something inaudible in reply. Then, like a newborn kitten, she pounced on Nathaniel and checked for the red spots on his body. ¡°Your allergy symptoms have subsided,¡± she eximed. ¡°What happenedst night? Is it really just because of some mushrooms?¡± Christina¡¯s tone was filled with curiosity and confusion. A dark look shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes. Please remember not to give me any mushrooms.¡± He did not want Christina to know about his problem or, even worse, misunderstand him. Christina had no doubt upon hearing his confirmation. ¡°Okay. To be honest, I don¡¯t like mushrooms too.¡± The two indulged in some extra sleep before finally getting up. Sharon fely contented watching the couple during breakfast. Nothing in the world could bring her more joy and contentment than seeing her daughter happy. After Sharon asked Catalina to serve them a bowl of oatmeal each, she asked, ¡°Christina, when are you Nathaniel going to have a baby?¡± and Christina choked on her food. What baby? She wasn¡¯t ready for the topic yet¡­ Nathaniel, on the other hand, responded calmly, ¡°That depends on Christina. We¡¯ll have a baby when she This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. 1/4 decides the time is right, no pressure.¡± In truth, Nathaniel enjoyed the time spent alone with Christina because he could cuddle with her all night without any interruptions. Christina red at him. What do you mean by saying that it depends on me? Christina knew that Nathaniel didn¡¯t want a child either. Yet, he shifted the responsibility entirely onto her. ¡°My career is just starting to take off, and Nathaniel is busy with his work too. We don¡¯t have ns for a baby as of now,¡± Christina replied. Sharon felt worried upon hearing that. ¡°You can pursue your career any time. It¡¯s not like Nathaniel cannot afford to take care of you! You can continue your career after having a child.¡± Sharon believed that it was important for Christina to bear children while she was still young. Isn¡¯t it a wonderful thing to have a husband and a child? ¡°I¡¯m going to decorate my studio today, Mom. I won¡¯t be apanying you then.¡± After gulping down the oatmeal, Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s hand and hurried out of the house. Sharon felt even more nervous when she saw the couple dashing off. After letting out a sigh, she turned to Catalina. ¡°Look at those two. I have no idea what¡¯s going on in the minds of the younger generation. Christina has such a good husband. Why doesn¡¯t she want to have children as soon as possible?¡± ¡°I have something to tell you, Mdm. Zapler. I found this in Ms. Christina¡¯s bedroom.¡± She took out a bottle of contraceptive pills and handed it to Sharon. ¡°I saw her taking these behind Mr. Hadley¡¯s back this morning! Seems like she doesn¡¯t want children yet.¡± Sharon almost fainted from anger when she saw the pills. ¡°That brat¡­ Seriously? No wonder. Given Nathaniel¡¯s physique, it seemed improbable for there to be no sign of good news after they had been together for so long. As it turned out, Christina had been avoiding pregnancy deliberately. This girl is always thinking about her career and making money. She doesn¡¯t even care about her family¡­ Christina was lucky to have Nathaniel, who would dote on her and amodate all her needs. Sharon was staring at the bottle of pills when she suddenly had an idea. ¡°Bring me the vitamins in my room, Catalina.¡± Catalina was confused because it wasn¡¯t time for Sharon to take her supplements yet. Nevertheless, she went upstairs and brought down all the vitamins and supplements on the table. Previously, the doctor prescribed Sharon a bottle of folic acid because she had hyperchlorhydria. Coincidentally, the folic acid pills had the same color and shape as the contraceptive pills. 2/4 Sharon poured out the contraceptive pills and reced them with the folic acid pills before closing the lid. It was impossible to notice that the pills had been swapped. Women who had given birth were well aware that folic acid was not only beneficial for the development of fetuses in the womb but also useful for pre¨Cpregnancy preparation. Sharon took the bottle of swapped pills and put it back in Christina¡¯s bedroom. Don¡¯t be mad at me, Christina. I¡¯m doing this for your own good. Meanwhile, it was a hectic day for Christina. After spending a considerable sum of money at the furniture store, she finally got all the office supplies. she needed. Since that was settled, Christina needed to look for some employees next. She had to recruit an assistant because she could not possibly deal with everything on her own. She posted a recruitment notice for a designer and an assistant online. Shortly after announcing the start. of her own studio on Instagram, her first customer arrived at the door. How is Gwh my first customer when she¡¯s not even following me on Instagram? Gwh was going for a ck casual look that day. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail, and she was wearing a mask to shield her face. The first thing Gwh did upon entering the studio was observe the interior of the studio. Well, well. She¡¯s not too bad after all. ¡°I want a custom¨Cmade gown by the fifth of next month,¡± Gwh said as she flicked out her gold card. There was no reason for Christina to reject a customer who walked in moments after she opened her studio. She was just surprised. Why would Gwhe all the way to support her business when she didn¡¯t like her all along? ¡°What is your budget? The minimum price of a gown is three million.¡± Back when Christina was working at Hannah¡¯s studio as Ada, each of her gowns cost at least five million. The pricing that she gave now wasmensurate with her professionalism, at least. Gwh propped her chin up and thought for a while. ¡°Show me the design draft first. I¡¯ll decide after looking at it. I want the most stunning gown you can make. It¡¯s for my ex¨Cboyfriend¡¯s engagement party.¡± Gwh smirked. She was obviously going to seek revenge at the party. As a designer, Christina¡¯s responsibility was to create gowns for customers. She couldn¡¯t care less if the order was a result of a personal grudge. Plus, it would be beneficial for her if her first order waspleted sessfully. Christina took out her tablet. She had the habit of jotting down her customers¡® information, especially their heights, weights, and body measurements, to ensure that her designs fit them perfectly. 3/4 ¡°Please fill in your contact information. I¡¯ll show you the draft once I¡¯m done designing your gown.¡± After leaving her personal phone number, Gwh said, ¡°I approve of you because your previous designs Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 The First Order Christina arched a brow at Gwh and challenged, ¡°You¡¯re wee to find another designer if you don¡¯t trust me.¡± Christina would never jeopardize her reputation by putting out a subpar design. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not in a rush, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll work on the design until I¡¯m satisfied, yes?¡± came Gwh¡¯s response. She had witnessed Christina¡¯s talent in the past, or she would not have approached thetter. Plus, I can¡¯t find a better designer now¡­ Christina replied, ¡°Then don¡¯t fret about it. I feel obligated to remind you, though, that the design is going to take some time.¡± The process of designing a dress did not merely stop at the sketching stage. After rounds of editing and the client¡¯s stamp of approval, there was still the final step of sewing the dress from scratch. Back when she still worked for Radiant Corporation, Christina had always felt as though she was sacrificing quality for quantity. Things were different now. She could nitpick at every aspect of the design until she was satisfied instead of leaving it to another department or colleague. ¡°I¡¯m not in a rush.¡± Gwh surveyed the empty studio and added, ¡°And since your studio just opened, I suppose I¡¯m your only customer at the moment.¡± Christina shot her a sheepish smile. In fact, there was still a pile of work to get through before her studio¡¯s operations were in full swing. Before she could utter a reply, Gwh smirked amusedly and offered, ¡°If you need some extra publicity, I¡¯m happy to shoot a couple of promotional photos for you. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± Delight flitted through Christina¡¯s gaze. No wonder she¡¯s such a popr celebrity. Gwh¡¯s shrewdness was impressive. Christina surmised that Gwh must have recognized her talents because of Coco¡¯s dress and wanted to build a close working rtionship with her. Christina propped her jaw on one arm and muttered thoughtfully, ¡°As you know, my studio just opened. There¡¯s still a pile of expenses to get through¡­ Coco actually offered to let me take her photos for free.¡± ¡°Coco can hardly be considered in the same tier as me, can she?¡± The retort masked Gwh¡¯s panic and frustration at the mere possibility of someone else swiping her des and poprity in the film industry. Still, she had her pride and would not admit defeat so easily. That¡¯s the whole reason I¡¯m here buttering Christina up! ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. You¡¯re more experienced since you¡¯ve been in the industry longer than her,¡± answered Christina truthfully. The ttery worked. Gwh was in excellent spirits as she left the studio. She even promised, ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do my publicity shots for free if you want me on the job.¡± Her expression implied that Christina had snagged herself a great deal. Christina hurriedly saved all the information. She was grateful to Gwh for the celebrity¡¯s support on her first order. Then, she registered herpany¡¯s official website and Twitter ount. She spent the morning glued to herputer and got the social media channels set up. It was now time to create some content. Words alone would struggle to capture public attention without any photos. Christina could not use any of her past designs from when she worked at Radiant Corporation. While photos of Coco¡¯s dress were a viable option, the material was depressingly scarce. She decided to put out some original designs as showpieces for her new studio. Inspiration struck her soon enough, and she began sketching furiously at her desk. A phone call in the evening snapped her out of her work¨Cinduced trance. Christina answered the phone absent¨Cmindedly. A woman¡¯s gentle voice drifted over the receiver. ¡°Hello, is your studio hiring an assistant? I have relevant work experience.¡± ¡°Yes. Let me send you the address. Come over for an interview when you¡¯re free.¡± As she spoke, Christina looked up and appraised her messy studio. The floorboards were in need of a good scrubbing. I really need an assistant, pronto. ¡°I cane right now,¡± replied the caller. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll wait for you in the office.¡± Christina hung up and texted the other party her studio¡¯s address. After putting down her phone, she promptly returned her attention to her draft sketches. She was exceptionally motivated to work because she was creating the designs for herself. A series of exquisite evening gown sketches materialized on her desk that night. The colors and cutting of each design were wless; the gowns were gorgeous enough for a major runway show. Christina stretched out her sore muscles just as the doorbell rang. She opened the door to a slim, tall woman in casualwear. The visitor did not appear dressed for an interview. The woman asked, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Rayne Maguire. I called earlier about the assistant job. Are you the boss of this studio?¡± It felt odd being called a boss by someone for the first time. Christina chose not to dwell on that and replied, ¡°Yes. Do you have a r¨¦sum¨¦?¡± ¡°Here it is.¡± Rayne handed some documents to Christina. Christina read through the r¨¦sum¨¦ and realized the applicant had a wealth of experience in assistant jobs. She asked, ¡°Your sry will be ten thousand after probation. However, you won¡¯t be able to take most. public holidays off. Is that okay for you?¡± ¡°Of course. I never got public holidays off at my old jobs,¡± replied Rayne. There were no red gs that Christina could see, and a permanent hire still hinged on Rayne¡¯s work performance. She dered, ¡°Great. You can start work tomorrow.¡± ¡°All right. Thank you, Boss.¡± Rayne left shortly after confirming several details about the job. All in all, Christina thought her entrepreneurial career had been off to a good start. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Still, she never expected to receive as many visitors as she did that day. A strong, floral fragrance filled the studio then. Christina looked up and saw a tall figure entering through the doorway. Francis strode into the studio, dressed in a ck suit and looking as bewitching as ever. With his dark gaze, a cross¨Cshaped earring on his right earlobe, and a bouquet of blood¨Cred roses in his hand, he looked like a vampire prince straight out of a medieval castle, ¡°Congrattions on founding your own studio!¡± Christina received his flowers and repliedckadaisically, ¡°Thank you.¡± -She knew he followed her Instagram profile and definitely saw the new updates on her feed. As such, she was simply surprised that he had shown up personally at her studio. She paid some attention to developments in the entertainment industry and knew Francis had signed on to many projects. He should be drowning in work now. Francis brushed her nose with his finger andughed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem rather unhappy to see me?¡± Panic flitted through Christina¡¯s eyes, and she averted her gaze like a frightened kitten. She sputtered, ¡°Of course not. How did you find the time to visit?¡± Christina busied herself looking for a vase and rearranged the roses inside. The flowers were in full bloom and looked absolutely splendid. ¡°I missed you, so I came.¡± Francis approached her and picked up the vase. After cing the vase in an eye¨Ccatching spot in the studio, he crossed his arms across his chest and admired his gift. Good. This spot is excellent. She¡¯ll see my roses every time she looks up, and then she¡¯ll think of me. Meanwhile, Christina was reminded of the spy¨Ccatching incident in the private room as she stared at Francis. Her well¨Cburied doubts from before resurfaced. She jumped on the opportunity to ask, ¡°You¡¯ve got plenty of other people to miss, so you won¡¯t necessarily miss me. What about Madison?¡± Though Francis wasn¡¯t around when the incident happened that night, he heard what had happened from others. Is Christina suspecting me? Francis turned around and narrowed his eyes. His gaze was affixed to Christina¡¯s innocent expression as he exined, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drag you into this mess. I already warned her after what happened that night.¡± said I would handle it and told Madison not to stick her nose into this. Conflicting emotions warred in Christina¡¯s heart. She did not wish to get into a fight with Francis, nor did she wish to endanger Nathaniel. Eventually, she said usatorily, ¡°I knew you were in the same boat! Madison¡¯s a bad person, and so are you!¡± I¡¯m no fool. Does he think I¡¯m blind to Madison¡¯s character? Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Take Back What Is Mine ¡°I¡¯m not like her. I¡¯m just taking back what¡¯s mine. Francis muttered as his eyes darkened, seemingly talking to himself. Then, he looked up and said. ¡°That¡¯s something between the both of us You don¡¯t have to bother about it.¡± How do you expect me not to bother! That¡¯s my husband. You guys are plotting to harm someone important to me Christina¡¯s gaze was steely Hore can poubly then a blind eye? However, all I can do is be on my guard until I have some concrete evidence Upon hearing her reply, Francis felt as though he had been stabbed in the chest with a dagger, and he found it hard to breathe for a moment. I don¡¯t know when it started, but Christina¡¯s delicate face would constantly appear in my mind. s, the only has eyes for Nathaniel. He and I are both part of the Hadley family, yet why is he the only one who deserves to have the Hadley surname? At that moment, the sound of footsteps could be hearding from the corridor. Francis¡¯ heart sank a little. Then, an evil thought sprouted in his mind. He slowly walked forward until he was standing right in front of Christina. Holding her gently by her chin, he whispered, ¡°Christina, if therees a day when you realize he¡¯s not as good as you thought, remember that I wee you into my arms at any time.¡± She pped his hand away. What nonsense is he spouting now? ¡°You should hurry up and go back. If I find you two plotting against Nathaniel, I won¡¯t hesitate to expose you.¡± Christina was very clear about where she stood now. She was on Nathaniel¡¯s side and still at odds with them. The footsteps grew nearer. Then, a sharp voice barked, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°What you see is exactly what¡¯s going on. What¡¯s there to ask?¡± Francis had no intention of moving aside. He stood ufortably close to Christina, his breath lingering in the small space between them. From behind, they appeared to be standing very close. It was the sort of proximity that would only ur between lovers. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze clouded over immediately and turned stormy. Rushing forward, he grabbed Francis by the cor and jerked him backward. In the blink of an eye, the two men of simr height were grappling with each other. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you to stay away from what¡¯s mine? Why do you insist on looking for trouble?¡± Without wasting his breath to say anything more, Nathaniel swung a punch toward Francis. There was a loud thud, and the sound of his fist hitting its target reverberated throughout the spacious. office. Francis immediately started bleeding at the corner of his mouth. However, he showed no sign of backing down and retaliated with a punch. ¡°What do you mean yours? She¡¯s just yours for the time being. Who¡¯s to say she won¡¯t be mine in the future?¡± ¡°You asked for it!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Just like that, a brawl broke out between the two men. Nathaniel had practiced boxing before, so his blows Take Back What Is Mine were hard and powerful. It was clear at a nce that Francis was no match for him Shocked to see them trading punches, Christina quickly shouted for them to stop ¡°Stop fighting Why can¡¯t you talk things out in a civilized manner Her words fell on deaf ears Instead, the fight grew even more intense Neither one was willing to let go of the other, and they were seemingly determined to fight to the death. Meanwhile, Sebastian broke into a cold sweat as he watched the scene. He wanted to break up the suffle but did not dare to be meter seen Mr. Badley fight in fiercely. It¡¯s as though he¡¯s not nning to stop until he opponent is down for the count. Now that I think about hose much strength he user when I practice with him at the baring gym, I realize he has been going eaty on me. Otherwise, I¡¯d have gotten beaten to a pulp by none¡­¡­¡­¡­. A shiver ran down his spine as that thought came to his mind. ¡°Stop fighting! Someone¡¯s going to get hurt if you keep this up!¡± Suddenly, there was a streak of crimson, and the scent of blood filled the air. It was unclear whose blood it was Christina rushed to wrap her arms around Nathaniel, using her back to shield him. Although Francis wanted to strike back, he was worried he would hurt her and lowered his fist. There were bloody bruises on the corners of his lips and eyes. He had also been punched twice in the chest, which caused him to break into a coughing fit and spit out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Sebastian, quick! Take him to the hospital!¡± Christina eximed, startled when she saw that. As an A- list actor, how could he let himself get into such a fight? Can he still film looking like that? Nathaniel really didn¡¯t hold back at all! ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to take him. Why should my assistant take him to the hospital? He¡¯s not worthy!¡± Nathaniel uttered with a snort. He also had a bruise at the corner of one eye, and the bloodshot eye looked terrifying. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to let Sebastian send him to the hospital. I¡¯ll do it,¡± she said in exasperation. No matter how you look at it, Francis injuries are much more severe. How could they go at each other just because of a minor disagreement? They¡¯re full-grown adults, yet they still act like elementary school children! ¡°Get him out of my sight at once. Hurry up,¡± Nathaniel instructed Sebastian while holding Christina¡¯s wrist. tightly as though worried she would leave. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d let her take Francis to the hospital. That guy is as sly as a fox. Helping Francis walk, Sebastian quickly brought him away from the scene. He was worried that if he dyed for even a second, the two men would start exchanging blows again because of another argument. Although it was not his first time seeing the two of them fight, it was the most ferocious brawl he had ever witnessed. Francis wiped away the blood on the corner of his mouth before saying coldly. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, Christina. A violent man like him is not the right person for you.¡± As he spoke, a look of determination shed in his eyes like never before. She quickly waved her hand at Sebastian, motioning for him to take Francis away immediately. Does he think his injuries are not severe enough? If they get into another fight, we won¡¯t need to send him to the hospital anymore. We can just call for an ambnce. Take Back What Is Mine After they left, tranquility was restored in the studio. 125 Nov Christina took out some antiseptic solution and bandages from her handbag, then used cotton swabs to treat Nathaniel¡¯s wounds. His injuries were not as severe as Francis, but one of his eyes was red. ¡°Bear with it. This might sting a little.¡± She blew gently on his wound, then put on a bandage for him. ¡°There, all done. However, everyone will see it when you go to your meeting tomorrow,¡± she huffed. Ife¡¯s not a kid anymore. Why does he still use violence to resolve problems? Nathaniel stretched out his arms and drew her into his embrace. The dark look in his eyes grew more intense as he said, ¡°He¡¯s not as harmless as you think. Don¡¯t get into contact with him anymore.¡± ¡°All right. He was the one who came looking for me, but I¡¯ll be more careful in the future,¡± she responded,forting him as though she was appeasing a child. Suddenly, she felt him grab her wrist. ¡°You really didn¡¯t meet with him behind my back?¡± His icy tone sounded as though he was interrogating her. She shook her head, then answered calmly, ¡°I told you I didn¡¯t. Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± ¡°believe you, but remember never to lie to me.¡± He hugged her close without letting go, his words sounding like a warning and a restriction. ¡°You¡¯re worrying too much. Why would I lie to you?¡± Christina pressed a palm to her forehead, furrowing her brows slightly. In her opinion, one should express loyalty through actions and self-control and not merely pay lip service.. Not getting the reassurance he wanted, he felt what seemed like a surge of anger bubble inside him, and the redness in his eye became even more pronounced. He lifted a hand and grasped her chin forcefully, deliberately causing her pain. She grimaced and grumbled, ¡°Let go. It hurts.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s cold gaze darkened as the thought of Francis standing so close to her when he opened the door shed across his mind. It was as though they were kissing¡­. ||| Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Chapter 235 The Punishment Of Possessiveness A surge of anger welled up in his heart, and he lowered his head slightly to bite her lip. Christina¡¯s fragrance was untainted by the scent of any strange man. At that, Nathaniel finally felt somewhat relieved. However, his possessiveness became uncontroble He didn¡¯t give Christina any chance to resist, and he didn¡¯t even care that he had hurt her. 25 Bonus She let out a whimpering protest, her small fists pounding against his muscr chest, but her strength was too weak to push Nathaniel away. ¡°Let go of me¡­¡± The metallic scent of blood filled her nostrils. Christina could only surrender as if she was prey being captured by a fierce beast. After some time, Nathaniel finally released her. Under the light, tears filled Christina¡¯s eyes. Did I hurt her, or is she sad? At that moment, Nathaniel felt his heart ache. ¡°Does my kiss make you so upset?¡± ¡°You hurt me, and you still think you¡¯re right?¡± Christina puffed her cheeks. How dare he act so righteous when he is wrong in the first ce? ¡°It¡¯s your punishment for not listening to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an object for you topete for and show off. I have the freedom to make friends!¡± Am I not allowed to interact with others in the future? Am I only allowed to interact with women? I¡¯m a designer and will meet various people in the future. Is Nathaniel going to control all of it? ¡°Do I have to submit an application to you for every person I meet and every project I take? Can I only interact with them if you agree, and I should refuse if you don¡¯t?¡± What kind of person does he think I am? Nathaniel was at a loss for words. He was only concerned and worried about her. ¡°Get out! I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± Christina turned her back to him, not wanting to look at him. There was a moment of silence as if they were the only people left in the world. After quite some time, the sound of receding footsteps rang out, and the office fell quiet. The following week, everything returned to normal. Sharon¡¯s condition improved, and her mood stabilized considerably, but she often cried out in her dreams, ¡°Christina, forgive me! I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you¡­¡± Christina thought Sharon was talking in her sleep. Hence, she didn¡¯t pay much attention to Sharon¡¯s words. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After all, Sharon seemed stable during the day. A phone call came in while Christina was organizing documents in the office. Sierra¡¯s tone was reproachful as she said, ¡°How long has it been since you returned to Scenic Garden Manor? Is this still your home? Not only are you noting back, but you¡¯re also encouraging Nathaniel to live with you in that shabby little hease! Are you even his wife? You bettere back to Scenic Garden Manor right now!¡± Christina was stunned. She had beenfortable living in Sharbrook Manor, and upon counting the days, she realized she had indeed not returned in a long time. Sierra would go to Scenic Garden Manor every few days. Hence, she knew Christina and Nathaniel were staying at Sharbrook Manor temporarily. She continued, ¡°I have guests to entertain this afternoon. You bettere home right now and clean up the house.¡± With that, she angrily hung up the phone. Christina could only sigh softly after hearing Sierra¡¯s words. She handed over her work to Rayne and left. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, the once tidy house looked messy, as if no one had cleaned it while she was away. Sierra stood with her hands on her hips andmanded, ¡°Look at how you manage this house. Things are all over the ce! You have two hours to clean everything up. I have guests to entertainter.¡± Christina was furious. I¡¯m not a housekeeper. Why should I clean up? ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Hadley. Ms. Sierra didn¡¯t allow us to clean up¡­¡± The housekeepers and butler felt uneasy. It was their responsibility to do all those tasks, yet now Christina had to clean everything herself, which made them feel guilty. Christina felt that it was pointless to argue with Sierra. Since she only needed to clean up the house, she would pretend to do so for a while and then leave. ¡°All right.¡± Sierra was satisfied to see her so obedient. ¡°Hurry up. None of you are allowed to help her.¡± With that, Sierra walked away. Christina picked up a cloth and started cleaning while the housekeepers secretly helped her when Sierra wasn¡¯t looking. Momentster, the sound of a car was heard outside. Sierra¡¯sughter could be heard from the living room. 2/4 Chapter 235 The Punishment Of Possessiveness ¡°Ms. Hadley, these seafood delicacies are gifts from my nom¡± A sweet, ented female voice sounded. Sierra led a woman of simr age to Christina into the living room. That woman was na Hernandez, the daughter of a famous schrly family in the city. Sierra had observed Christina carefully and deliberately found a woman with a simr appearance and age to introduce to Nathaniel After all, differences would only beiceable when there wereparisons. Nathaniel likes his women young, right? There are countless youngdies in the city around Christina¡¯s age. There will definitely be one that could surpass her. ¡°Christina, go and pour me a cup of tea.¡± As soon as they entered, Sierra started giving orders without hesitation, putting her status as Christina¡¯s elder to full use. While holding a cleaning cloth, Christina nced at both of them. In an instant, she could guess Sierra¡¯s intentions. She scoffed in her heart. Will Aunt Sierra ever stop? Heading to the kitchen, she soon brought out a pot of tea and ced it in front of the two. Seeing the dark expression on Christina¡¯s face, Sierra couldn¡¯t help but smile with satisfaction. Infuriating Christina made her happy! na looked around the surroundings, observing the unique decorations and numerous valuable paintings. She had heard that Nathaniel was very handsome. It would be great if they hit it off. na picked up the teacup, but right as she was about to take a sip, she put it down with a disgusted. expression. ¡°Ms. Hadley, your housekeeper doesn¡¯t seem to pay attention to hygiene, does she? The cup smells like a cleaning cloth.¡± Housekeeper? Christina¡¯s eyes widened instantly. Which part of me looks like a housekeeper? Sierra smirked as she said mockingly, ¡°Don¡¯t mind her. She¡¯s just an uneducated housekeeper, nothing like you, na. You are educated and well-mannered, a truedy from a good family!¡± na smiled shyly, ttered. That was what she thought too. Seeing Christina¡¯s expression bing even grimmer, Sierra continued to add fuel to the fire. ¡°The more I look at you, the more I think you¡¯re a perfect match for Nathaniel!¡± ¡°Ms. Hadley, don¡¯t tease me. Mr. Hadley has high standards. He might not like me.¡± na blushed shyly. How could Mr. Hadley not like me when I¡¯m so perfect? After all, Ie from a schrly family, and my grandparents are both professors. Which other girl in the city canpare to me? Christina didn¡¯t hesitate to roll her eyes at the two. ¡°You¡¯re right. Nathaniel indeed wouldn¡¯t like you. Just one look at you, and it¡¯s obvious how scheming you. are! What a pretentious woman!¡± na¡¯s smile froze, and she red at Christina angrily. ¡°You¡­!¡± The harsh words she wanted to spit out stopped at the tip of her tongue. She realized she couldn¡¯t lose herposure in front of Sierra. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Refusing To Serve Them Sierra shot her an icy look. ¡°What was that all about? It was incredibly rude of you to say such a thing. You¡¯ve brought humiliation upon the Hadley family!¡± How did I humiliate the Hadley family? I¡¯m married to a Hadley, and you¡¯re asking me to act like a servant. You¡¯re the ne humiliating the family! Christina refused to pay them any heed. They can get anyone to wait upon them, but that won¡¯t be me! As she turned abruptly to head upstairs, the distinct sound of a car engirie shutting off reached her ears from outside. Nathaniel entered the house with a purposeful stride, his tall figure exuding amanding presence. Though there was no spotlight illuminating him, he naturally emitted an irresistible charm while his expression remained cold and distant. His gaze narrowed when he noticed Christina was dressed in a maid uniform. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy hue, and herrge eyes,plemented by her porcin skin, gave her the appearance of a delicate doll. It was the first time he had seen her dressed in such an outfit, and he could feel something stirring in hisher regions. Sierra¡¯s grin widened as Nathaniel approached. ¡°You¡¯re back, Nathaniel. Come, have a seat. Allow me to introduce you to a friend.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s just like any other man, so na¡¯s pretty face will definitely captivate him. na inched closer to Sierra shyly as her heart began to race wildly. Oh, the legendary Mr. Hadley is indeed handsome! In fact, he¡¯s hotter than I expected. With his handsome looks and wealthy background, he¡¯s the perfect match for me! Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and came into the living room. Instead of sparing na a look, he went to Christina and sat down beside her. ncing at Christina¡¯s furious expression, he shed a charming smile and said, ¡°I could use a ss of water.¡± They had parted on a sour note after a heated argument previously. Upon calming down, he realized that there was no need for them to fight over Francis. She should be content now that I¡¯ve taken the first step to initiate a conversation with her. To his surprise, Christina folded her arms and ignored his request. ¡°If you want some water, get it yourself!¡± He¡¯s perfectly healthy but wants me to wait upon him? Dream on! Nathaniel knew she was still upset, and his expression tensed up. Arching a brow, he gazed at her so intently as though he was about to pull her into his embrace, forcing her to stop being mad at him. na couldn¡¯t help but grow curious. Why is this maid so rude? I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s bold enough to talk back to Mr. Hadley! ¡°Ms. Hadley, I think this maid is terribly rude. Why don¡¯t you fire her?¡± na suggested. If she stays, she¡¯ll continue being an eyesore to me. Christina¡¯s temper finally red after she was provoked time and again. ¡°No one dares to fire me in this household!¡± If I were to leave, a certain someone might set up severalyers of walls made out of iron outside the mansion to prevent me from escaping! Never in na¡¯s life had she met such a rude maid. ring at Christina, she dered, ¡°You¡¯re just a lowly maid, trash at the very bottom of the social order! How dare you yell at me?¡± If she had been working for the Hernandez family, I would¡¯ve kicked her out ages ago! Christina let out an icy snort. She¡¯s showing her true colors this soon, huh? Her eyes narrowed with a sharp gaze as she fired back. ¡°So maids are nothing but trash to you, huh? Ms. Hernandez, how dare you im to be born into a schrly family? Have you never learned the basic principles of respect? Is this the exemry behavior the Hernandez family instills in you?¡± ¡°Hey!¡± na was too young and inexperienced to match Christina¡¯s wit. Her face twisted in anger, and she stood up abruptly, her fierce expression in contrast to her cute dress. How dare the maid mock me for being rude? I want to tear her mouth off! Christina had no interest in engaging in further conversation with them. Her purpose for visiting the house was to gather her usual tools. As it was gettingte, she left them both in an ufortable silence and made her way up the stairs. Nathaniel was amused at how fiery Christina¡¯s attitude was. He got to his feet and followed her up the stairs. Sierra forced out a nervous chuckle. Christina knew na¡¯s my guest but didn¡¯t bother being nice to her. Clearly she wants to embarrass me. She gently patted na¡¯s hand, offeringfort. ¡°na, don¡¯t let her words upset you. You¡¯re refined and cultured, so don¡¯t take her remarks to heart. Let me go to the kitchen and have them prepare some desserts for you, okay?¡± Sierra rose to her feet and made her way to the kitchen, feeling disappointed that Nathaniel didn¡¯t show much interest in na and that Christina seemed unaffected by na¡¯s presence. Why is Christina so difficult to deal with? na could sense the change in Sierra¡¯s attitude, but she wasn¡¯t a pushover either. She fished out a tiny bottle from her bag, inside of which contained some yellow powder. Those who smelled it would lose their minds. A friend had given it to her when they went out for some fun previously. That maid went upstairs, right? I need to teach her a lesson before I leave. na tiptoed upstairs. The bedroom door was ajar, and she could see Christina packing up her stuff through the gap in the door. She pushed the door open and strode in, gripping the bottle tightly. Her gaze fell on Christina¡¯s nose. It will only take a second¡­ Hearing the footsteps, Christina turned over her shoulder to see na inching nearer with a malicious expression on her face. This is the master bedroom, so you can¡¯te in.¡± She made it clear that Al¨¢na wasn¡¯t wee. na wasn¡¯t even paying any attention to her. She held up the bottle and hurled the contents at Christina¡¯s nose. A sweet and spicy scent filled the air, and na¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. She was told that the drug¡¯s effects couldn¡¯t be neutralized easily.. Anyone who sniffed the drug would lose their mind temporarily, singing and dancing like a madnian. They would even pounce on any avable man. Ha! You¡¯ll be utterly humiliated. Let¡¯s see if you dare to mock me again. Christina stood rooted to her spot as she locked gazes with na icily. Why isn¡¯t she talking or moving? Is something off with the drug? ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± The moment na spoke, she realized the scent in the air was wafting toward her, She took one step forward to investigate, but as soon as her footnded, her mind became muddled. Christina¡¯s gaze turned icy as she swiftly turned around to open the windows and let the fresh air flow in, dispersing the lingering scent. ¡°How could you be okay?¡± na was shocked to discover that Christina was fine even after sniffing the drug. After all, the drug¡¯s effects would kick in with just one whiff Christina let out an icy snort. ¡°Trying to drug me, huh? You should improve your skills!¡± As she used to work at a club, she had encountered all sorts of people and drugs. Christina was quick to realize na¡¯s scheme upon noticing the menacing look in thetter¡¯s gaze. When na hurled the contents of the bottle at her, she promptly held her breath to avoid being affected by the drug. She only started talking after opening the windows wide. ¡°B*tch, how dare you trick me?¡± na demanded angrily. Before she could express her anger, she suddenly felt as though her body was being lifted into the air, causing her to burst into uncontrobleughter like a drunk stripper in a club. Hearing themotion, Nathaniel walked out of his study to see na dancing and twirling around like a madwoman along the corridor Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Darling Seeing that, Nathaniel ordered the bodyguard to drag her away. Meanwhile, Sierra hade upstairs as she couldn¡¯t find na anywhere downstairs. To her utter disbelief, she saw na clinging to the bodyguard and dancing in a sl¡¯tty manner. It was an appalling sight as she seemed like a stripper on the dancefloor. Sierra¡¯s face turned as dark as thunder. ¡°What is wrong with her?¡± With all her belongings packed up, Christina emerged from her room, casting a calm nce at na. ¡°She sought to harm me, but now she¡¯s experiencing the consequences of her own actions. Karma has caught up with her.¡± Sierra¡¯s eyes turned as wide as saucers as she had no idea na would be this despicable. I was only trying to get on Christina¡¯s nerves. If she were to truly get hurt, Nathaniel would be furious with me. Nathaniel¡¯s face contorted into a scowl, his silence speaking volumes about his anger. Grabbing Christina¡¯s arm, he urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Go home? Sharbrook Manor is my house. Since when did it be our home? Christina bit back her annoyance and followed Nathaniel down the stairs, leaving Sierra to deal with the culprit who caused themotion. Dead silence ensued in the car. Nathaniel cast a quick nce at the packed carrier bag Christina had with her. Looks like she¡¯s determined not toe back, huh? He shot the passenger seat a frosty look and ordered. ¡°Sebastian, make sure to go to Scenic Garden Manorter and bring my suits and essential belongings to Sharbrook Manor.¡± Sebastian¡¯s lips twitched. Is he moving out? ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t contain her frustration any longer. She turned around and met Nathaniel¡¯s icy gaze with her own. ¡°Sharbrook Manor is too small to amodate your countless suits. Why are you acting so childish?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay with me, can¡¯t I move there to stay with you?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was captivating, drawing her in like a powerful whirlpool and pulling her deeper into his eyes. The atmosphere became awkward once again. Christina felt a rising resentment in her chest. Who is being unreasonable and demanding here? Suddenly, the car veered sharply, causing the sound of the tires screeching against the asphalt to fill the air. Christina crashed into Nathaniel¡¯s chest, feeling his warm breath on her face as her heart raced within her ribcage. At the same time, Nathaniel¡¯s instinctive reaction was to reach out and secure her waist in a protective grip. His brows furrowed with concern as he inquired. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± His voice carried a gentle tone, and Christina felt aforting warmth envelop her heart. She blushed prettily. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The anger that had consumed Nathaniel throughout the night dissipated upon hearing her coy voice. Despite his hardened exterior, he was ready to shed his armor to embrace Christina in a warm and comforting hug. He gently stroked her hair with hisrge hand and spoke in an affectionate tone. ¡°All right. Stop being mad at me, hmm?¡± Christina was no longer mad at him. She took his hand and told him. ¡°I¡¯m not mad anymore. You don¡¯t have to move your clothes over. My carrier bag is full of cloth and tools.¡± As it turned out, she had only gone back to retrieve her sewing tools, plus two jackets that she nned on leaving at the studio. The weather was getting colder, so she wanted them on hand in case she needed them. She never had any intention of moving out. As the tension in the air dissipated, the driver and Sebastian exchanged a knowing nce. I¡¯m d Mr. and Mrs. Hadley made up. Otherwise, it feels agonizing to be in the same space as them. Christina returned to her studio. Rayne had cleaned up the studio and arranged a few files neatly on her table. Christina was pretty pleased at how efficient her assistant was. As soon as she powered on herptop, Christina was greeted with an invitation to participate in a prestigious designpetition in Hallsbay. This international event would take ce at the heart of the city, and invitations had been extended to the most aplished designers in the country. She began reading the details carefully. Winning it would give others more confidence in my abilities. Back in university, I was primarily focused on earning money and missed out on participating in design competitions. Despite my extensive industry experience, Ick the recognition and trophies that often apany such des. Thispetition will present an opportunity to showcase my talent and prove my worth to others. After making up her mind, she filled in her details on the webpage and sent in her application. ¡°Rayne, we have a business trip tomorrow. Can you make it?¡± Christina asked, a hint of concern in her voice. The trip hade up rather suddenly, so she was unsure if Rayne would be able to amodate it in her schedule. ¡°Of course I can. Where are we heading, Ms. Steele? Do you need me to reserve the flight tickets for us?¡± Rayne sounded calm. Christina nced at her watch. ¡°You can book the flight tickets. Just make sure we arrive tomorrow. Send me the flight details after you¡¯ve reserved our tickets.¡± With that, Christina headed out again. She went to a dessert shop to buy a few desserts before heading to Hadley Corporation. When she arrived, Nathaniel was in the middle of a meeting. Christina ced the desserts on the coffee table and waited patiently for Nathaniel to finish his meeting. As she waited, she pondered the best way to inform him about her uing business trip. I¡¯m not sure how long I¡¯ll be gone as it will depend on how long it takes to find a suitable ce to stay. The filming might also take a while. Nathaniel didn¡¯t make her wait for long. He returned to his office right after his meeting ended. Christina bounded over to Nathaniel, her movements resembling that of a nimble rabbit. She shed a bright smile at him and spoke in a cheerful tone. ¡°Hey Nathaniel, I brought over some afternoon tea for you. Does that make you happy?¡± Nathaniel swept his gaze over the desserts on the table and turned to look at Christina, who was obviously waiting eagerly for hispliment. ¡°Do you need my help for something?¡± ¡°Of course not. I came here to enjoy afternoon tea with you. Are you moved?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m happy and moved,¡± Nathaniel replied, his face devoid of emotion. As they settled down into their seats, Christina started babbling about irrelevant stuff. Her melodious voice was calming and rxing. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t care less about what she said as long as he could hear her wonderful voice. Christina chatted animatedly, her words flowing until her throat felt dry. Sensing that the moment was approaching, she decided to reveal her intention. ¡°You know, Nathaniel, I¡¯ve been seeing some of my friends on Instagram who have been winning numerous designpetitionstely. It got me thinking about how I used to be so focused on work. I never really took part inrge-scalepetitions. I can¡¯t help but feel a twinge of envy toward them.¡± She then sneaked a nce at Nathaniel, who seemed unperturbed and unaware of her underlying message. Christina rested her head on his arm and swung it gently. ¡°Do you think I have what it takes to win first ce in apetition?¡± she posed a coy question. Nathaniel finally understood her underlying message and gazed at her calmly. ¡°Where are you going to join thepetition?¡± Is this why she brought me afternoon tea and acted coyly? ¡°Hallsbay. It¡¯s not too far from here. You¡¯ll let me go, won¡¯t you?¡± Christina lifted her head, her innocent eyes sparkling like the night stars. ¡°Please, Darling? Pretty please?¡± she pleaded, oozing adorableness. Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Design Competition Her voice melted Nathaniel¡¯s heart. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear that clearly. Say it again.¡± Christina blinked innocently. I wasn¡¯t whispering. Why didn¡¯t he hear me clearly? She clung tightly to his arm, drawing herself closer to him. Raising her chin, she delicately brushed her lips against his ear, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine. ¡°Pretty please, Darling?¡± she whispered. Nathaniel held her chin and tilted his head to capture her lips in a kiss. His warm breath subsequently enveloped her, heating up the atmosphere around them. Sometimeter, Christina felt her eyes watering while her throat was parched. Nathaniel brushed his finger across her check. ¡°Got it. You can take Hadley Corporation¡¯s private helicopter there. Let me know when you arrive safely.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The New Horizon Design Competition was being hosted at a luxurious five-star hotel in Hallsbay. Christina and Rayne arrived in style as their helicopternded on the helipad on the rooftop. After alighting from the helicopter, Christina went to register her name ording to the instructions. The organizer had reserved an entire floor, and Christina was assigned to a room with a sea view. ¡°Hello, Ms. Steele. There will be a gathering tonight at seven to allow all designers to get to know each other. Please attend the event on time,¡± the receptionist said while handing her an invitation card. Christina epted the invitation card and shed a smile before closing the door. Rayne proved to be an exceptional assistant as she efficiently unpacked Christina¡¯s luggage upon arrival. Among the bags was one that had been given to her by Nathaniel¡¯s assistant before they boarded the helicopter. It was filled with a collection of luxurious branded clothing. their Mr. Hadley must have been worried that Ms. Steele¡¯s wardrobe would not be sufficient for the competition, which is why he arranged for a luggage full of branded clothing and bags for her. Many are limited-edition items that I¡¯ve never even seen before! ¡°Ms. Steele, it¡¯s clear that Mr. Hadley adores you,¡± Rayne blurted out, her voice tinged with envy. Christina walked over and picked out an outfit for tonight. Biting her lip, she praised. ¡°He¡¯s a thoughtful person, isn¡¯t he?¡± She knew that designers lovedparing themselves with others. Even though she didn¡¯t have this habit, that didn¡¯t mean others wouldn¡¯t do that. At seven that night, Christina changed into the new outfit she picked earlier. It was her first meeting with the other designers, so she put on some makeup to show her respect for the event. As Christina entered the event hall on the second floor, she noticed that there were more than a dozen designers gathered there Some of them the recognized from their online presence, while others were unfamiliar faces to her As the door closed behind them, the designers participating in thepetition started observing other¡¯s confirs Right then the spotlight shone on the stage in the middle of the hall A woman in a stunning red ballgown made her way into the room. She appeared to be middle-aged, but i was difficult to tell due to her well-maintained appearance. Her makeup was wless, and her long. straight hair added to her overall elegance Her entrance captured the attention of everyone in the room. ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Selena¡±¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s her! I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s the organizer of thispetition!¡± ¡°I feel privileged to be a participant in thispetition. With Ms. Selena as the judge. I have no doubt that It will be fair and impartial.¡± Selena had already shot to fame as a designer in the eighties Her illustrious background was the talk of the town. Rumored to have been raised in a wealthy family, she showcased her innate talent in design from a young age. With numerouspetition victories under her belt, she ventured overseas to expand her business. crafting stunning outfits for renowned female leads in ssic movies. Her remarkable achievements and multiple des solidified her status as a legend in the design industry. Everyone else underneath the stage started screaming excitedly at her presence. Christina¡¯s ¡®s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the legendary figure onstage She felt honored to be able to participate in thispetition. Selena waved her hand, and the crowd immediately quietened down. ¡°Hello, everyone. I want to express my gratitude for your epting the invitation to be part of this momentous designpetition. I have taken the time to thoroughly research each one of you before extending this invitation, and your presence here today is a testament to your remarkable design The room was filled with excitement and joy as the participants realized that Selena had personally selected each and every one of them instead of extending random invitations. They felt fortunate that they hadn¡¯t turned down the chance to be here. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°I expect nothing but your very best in every round. Remember that we¡¯ll be eliminating five participants each time, so thepetition will be intense: Give it your all!¡± Selena might be smiling, but her gaze was determined. ¡°The first round starts now. You have three hours to design or redesign the gown you¡¯re currently wearing and create a new outfit. I will carefully assess your designs, and at the end of this round, I will select the best designer while eliminating five participants who didn¡¯t meet my expectations. Good luck to all of you!¡± Selena announced, setting the stage for the intensepetition ahead. Thepetition starts now? And we have to create a new outfit using our gown? This is going to be extremely challenging! Some designers quickly regained theirposure and got to work. Chaos ensued in the hall as participants frantically started cutting apart their gowns, changing their designs and styles. They were racing against time, but Christina was doing the exact opposite. Christina stood before the mirror, carefully examining her form-fitting white gown that elegantly showcased her figure. She took note of its ssic design and began contemting how she could transform it into something extraordinary. Soon, an idea urred to her. +25 BonusWith a sense of urgency, Christina scanned the hall for materials that could enhance her gown. Spotting at luxurious curtain nearby, she hurried over to it. She swiftly retrieved a pair of scissors and cut off a section of the fabric before sewing on it. After that, she also picked out some eye-catching essories toplement her new design. As the bell rang, three hours of frenzied designing came to an end. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to Selena, who appeared once again. Thetter solemnly instructed the designers to line up and present their designs for evaluation. ¡°I noticed that you were wearing a long yellow gown when you came in. However, your design simply involved cutting away the hemline without any other changes. I don¡¯t find anything unique or special about your design,¡± Selena critiqued. The designer stood there, stunned by Selena¡¯s evaluation. She thought her gown¡¯s design was sufficient and that any changes she made wouldn¡¯t enhance its beauty, Consequently, she had simply cut off the hemline without making further modifications. She never expected Selena to see through herck of effort so quickly. Back when the participants entered the hall, Selena had scanned their original gowns,mitting their designs to memory. Now, as she surveyed the transformed gowns before her, she could easily discern the changes each designer had made. Everyone was in awe of how attentive and capable Selena was. She continuedmenting on the other gowns. Some designs she was extremely satisfied with, but others disappointed her. A designer¡¯s skill set should include the ability to redesign. Often, the design had toplement the wearer, which meant that designers had to know how to design and edit their creations ordingly. In the end, Selena came to a stop before Christina. Her eyes lit up as she said, ¡°Your design¡­¡± All eyes were on Christina. Some cast mocking nces her way while others looked at her with admiration. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Victory The young woman¡¯s dress had undergone a style transformation. The lower part of the dress took on a mermaid-tail shape, made from folded wine-red curtain cloth, while the upper part was revamped into a strapless design with added embellishments. Her elegance had been changed into seductive charm. Selena was delighted. ¡°I love your design. The victor of the night shall be Christina Steele!¡± Of course, if there were winners, there would be losers. Five designers had been asked to quit the competition teams. All designers present were stylistic individuals. Some felt that Christina¡¯s design was great, but others felt that it was just average. Still, no one was going to refute Selena¡¯s choice. One would think that it was a simple gathering, but as it turned out, it was a trap. Selena asked the designers to introduce themselves. ¡°Hello, everyone, I¡¯m Margaret Lester, a designer.¡± ¡°My name is Nancy Sallis, and I believe in my capabilities. You¡¯ll have to do your best during the competition because I¡¯m wonderful at my job. You might end up losing to me.¡± Right as the two introduced themselves, they both turned to look at a specific someone. Christina noticed that their gazes hadnded on her. Both Margaret and Nancy were the apprentices of a famous designer named Zele. They were also Christina¡¯s schoolmates, but they were on opposite sides. Christina¡¯s master was Laurel Shaw, a reputable designer. + Coincidentally, Laurel and Zele were archenemies, and Christina had witnessed firsthand the animosity Laurel and Zele had for each other. Therefore, if the two met again, Christina was certain that Laurel and Zele would definitelypete against each other in the shadows. After the event, Christina returned to her room to rest despite her growling stomach. The next morning, the phone rang, and its ringtone woke her. Once she picked up the call, she heard her master cry out, ¡°Christina, I heard you bumped into Zele¡¯s apprentices. Did you?¡± Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Shaw, aren¡¯t you supposed to be in Bellridge? How did you know what happened on my side?¡± Christina queried as she stretched. Laurel confidently continued, ¡°Of course I¡¯d know. I have my ways! You have to take this opportunity to crush those two and avenge me!¡± Christina paid much attention to the news of the fashion industry, and she had found out a long while ago that herpetitive master had started another fight overseas. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best and won¡¯t let you down.¡± Laurel had discovered Christina¡¯s talent just as Christina started her course, so Laurel had been patiently guiding her all this while. Christina felt that she was lucky, too. Other than having a competitive streak, Laurel was a great master. When Laurel needed to head overseas for her activities, she had invited Christina along. s, Christina rejected her because she was worried about leaving her mother alone. ¡°As expected of my apprentice. I¡¯ve sent you some wonderful tools, so I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news!¡± There was a gleeful smile on Laurel¡¯s face. How could she not be delighted at the thought of how her apprentice was going to avenge her? ¡°Of course, Ms. Shaw.¡± By the time the call ended, Christina was fully awake. After getting out of bed, Christina led Rayne downstairs for breakfast. Rayne was meticulous as she took photos of Christina. ¡°Ms. Steele, I¡¯ll take more photos of you to upload on your social media ount. I need to update your profile more frequently so that more people will discover you.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll leave these to you.¡± Christina was toozy to update her own social media ount. Most of the time, she would enter the application just to read the news. Rayne worked hard. She took a lot of photos of Christina, and she was careful when she wrote the captions for Christina. Since Christina was pretty and talented, a few of her photos soon caught theizens¡¯ attention. Once Rayne was done, she eximed, ¡°Look, Ms. Steele! The video of the dress you modifiedst night. has been uploaded on the tform, and there are almost a million views already! You¡¯re going to be the next big thing soon.¡± Before joining the program, Christina had already found out that the program would make clips of the show to upload, but she never thought that the staff members would be this quick. It seemed like Selena had put much effort into the program. For both Laurel¡¯s and her own sake, Christina could not be careless for the rest of thepetition. When it was close to the end of breakfast, more people appeared in the dining room. Upon hearing a few shrieks, the people in the room turned toward the source of the sound. As it turned out, a few young men who had been trending recently had appeared. Are they here to join the show? The designers would no longer be surprised by anything Selena came up with after what happened the night before. Right then, a handsome man abruptly appeared in front of Christina, though his face was preceded by a rose. ¡°We meet again.¡± Half of the man¡¯s face was hidden behind the rose, but Christina still took in the dark color of his eyes, his defined nose, and his seductive lips curled into a smile. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a demon who came to seduce the people. ¡°Francis, you¡¯ve recovered?¡± Christina asked as she looked at his wless face. He had been severely beaten up by Nathaniel the other time, and she had been sure that he was not going to recover any time soon. Francis raised his brows as he uttered in his maic voice, ¡°Not yet. Why don¡¯t you find out for yourself?¡± With that said, he grabbed her hand and ced it on his face. Rayne¡¯s eyes were bright. Her heart was pounding, and she could hardly breathe. The people around her were equally dumbfounded. Isn¡¯t he the best actor? He¡¯s so handsome! The people had heard that a big shot was going to make an appearance, but they never thought that a man like Francis would actually appear in their line of sight. Noticing the gazes of the crowd, Christina blushed and smacked Francis¡¯ hand away before shooting him a warning re. ¡°We¡¯re in public, so stop that.¡± Francis wanted to stop too, but when he saw her flushed checks, he could not help but tease, ¡°But I like messing with you, my cutie pie.¡± Oh my god. Please don¡¯t flirt with me like this! Christina could even feel the steaming out of her ears. She wondered if Francis was genuinely unafraid that Nathaniel would pop up and beat him up again. Meanwhile, Selena was asking the staff to lead the assistants out, leaving behind the designers and the guests. ¡°Everyone, do you see the handsome fellows beside you?¡± Selena asked, beaming confidently. ¡°Yes!¡± The young women were on cloud nine. The men in the crowd were either fashion models or trending stars, so how could they not be excited? Their time there was worth it. Selena then announced, ¡°Now, please utilize your imagination to design a themed attire that fits your partner. Simr to the previouspetition, five designers will be eliminated this time. Good luck!¡± Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Changing Partners That night, the designers saw a clip of thetest episode. With male stars and models joining the show, the view count soared. The designers in the show also gained more followers, and Christina noticed the followers of her social media ount exponentially growing. If the clip is online, then Nathaniel must have seen it. A wave of worry washed over Christina as she stared at her phone. She could already imagine the scowl on Nathaniel¡¯s face once he saw the video. After a moment of contemtion, she decided to be honest with him, so she made a video call to him. The man picked up fairly quickly. Christina noticed that he was still in his office, and the sky outside the room was dark. Stars dotted the sky, but nothing was as radiant as Nathaniel himself for Christina. ¡°Nathaniel, are you still working?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he heard her voice. ¡°Mhm. How are things on your side?¡± he asked. Christina was confused by his calm demeanor, for he was usually upset if she interacted with Francis. Could it be that he hasn¡¯t seen the video? With that thought in mind, confidence fled her. ¡°Did you see thepetition video? I¡¯ll be partnering with Francis for the next round.¡± ¡°I saw. So, what do you want to tell me?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened almost imperceptibly, but she could sense the murderous aura he exuded even through the screen. Christina howled miserably in her mind. Why did it feel like he was asking her to write a reflective essay after she made a mistake? She was at a loss as she stared at his stern face. It felt as if the two were fighting an invisible battle. Christina¡¯s heart was in her throat. She feared that he would demand her to go home if he became upset. Hence, she had no choice but to attempt to salvage the situation. Lifting her chin, she buffed and said, ¡°But this isn¡¯t my fault. It¡¯s yours!¡± Nathaniel furrowed his brows and gazed at the puffy-cheeked woman on screen questioningly. In an irked tone, he said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault?¡± Sebastian, who was right beside Nathaniel¡¯s desk, discreetly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. Is Mrs. Hadley trying to make Mr. Hadley mad? Can¡¯t she have called him after I¡¯m done with my report? At this rate, I¡¯m going to suffer the brunt of Mr. Hadley¡¯s wrath! If Mr. Hadley is furious, we, his employees, are going to be miserable¡­ Feeling conscious of Nathaniel¡¯s angry re, Christina sniffled and bit her lower lip. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re too outstanding, and the show can¡¯t afford to invite someone as prominent as you. That¡¯s why they hired all these random people. I¡¯d say that they¡¯re boring. To stay in thepetition, I had to think about you all the time to get my inspiration. You have no idea how much I miss you¡­¡± The roaring tidal waves in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes calmed down and turned into gentlepping waves as a smile grew on his face. # Staring at her, he muttered, ¡°Focus on yourpetition, then. I¡¯lle and visit you when I¡¯m done with work.¡± Meanwhile, Sebastian was thinking, God, this is the first time I¡¯ve been blinded by PDA in my twenty- and-more years of living. Mrs. Hadley¡¯s great at brainwashing others. Did she just say that the best actor right now is one of the random people? Amazing. Who could stand the bombardment of sweet nothings from her but Mr. Hadley? I have to say that I¡¯m truly impressed. No wonder people say that she¡¯s a sweet girl. No one can hold their ground after her attacks! Nathaniel felt that Christina had taken his soul with her as he heard her say, ¡°All right. Remember to come. and visit me when you¡¯re free. I love you!¡± She then gestured a heart to him while beaming brightly. ¡°Okay.¡± Even though Nathaniel seemed calm, he was screaming internally. He wished he could pull her out of the phone, kiss her, and hold her tightly. Christina then gave him a flying kiss. ¡°Good night, Darling!¡± ¡°Good night.¡± Once the call ended, Christina let out a sigh of relief. She had finally cajoled Nathaniel enough that he was happy, and that felt like the hardest thing she had had to do in her life. It was much more challenging than having to sew her designs, for she was terrified of upsetting him by saying the wrong words. As shey on the bed, she mulled, I wasn¡¯t lying about myck of inspiration, though. Since Selena said that we need to design a new style for them, that means I have to transform Francis¡¯ style instead of sticking to his current one. Chapter 240 Changing Partners Designing a themed attire for the partner beside us? Christina grumbled under her breath, ¡°Can I change my partner?¡± Her work efficiency was going to be affected if a man like Francis was going to stare at her. +25 Bonus ¡°How can you say that? People are scrambling over each other to be in a team with me,¡± Francis protested. His desire to take revenge was visible in his eyes. ¡°You should appreciate your chance to work with me. After all, the majorbels are allpeting against each other to convince me to wear their clothes when I walk down the red carpet.¡± Francis was over a hundred and eighty centimeters tall with an unbelievably alluring face. He had no excess fat on his waist, and he had the perfect body proportion. In other words, he was wless, and the suits he wore always sold out. Unable to find any excuses to reject him, Christina said, ¡°Hah! I just hope you won¡¯t be in the way.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. For case of shooting, Selena had even rented a mansion for the cast to rest in, and she even made sure that each designer had their own room. Moreover, the studios were stocked with different kinds of equipment and fabrics to ensure that they could reach their maximum potential. After sending them there, the photographers stayed behind to take photos of their daily lives and working schedule before uploading them on the inte. Christina¡¯s room was on the third floor. She had no idea whether or not the staff knew about her master¡¯s history with Zele, but Margaret and Nancy turned out to be staying opposite her. What a small world, Christina scoffed internally. On the other side, in the conference room, the executives of the program were staring at the results of the viewership, which had exceeded their expectations. ¡°This is a brilliant program! We have over a hundred million for the first episode. Our station won¡¯t fall from grace!¡± ¡°This is all thanks to the CEO inviting Ms. Selena here. Her appearance was what caught the people¡¯s attention.¡± The CEO of the station was shaking his leg as he smirked. Pulling the director aside, he uttered, ¡°You need to keep the viewership high by creating highlights. You know what I mean, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll give it my all, but Ms. Selena¡­¡± the director hesitantly answered. Back when they invited Selena to the program, they had promised her that things would be fair and square. If Selena were to find out that they had pulled underhanded tricks, things might go south. Still, a businessman only cared about the viewership and profits that a television program could rake in. With dark eyes, the CEO uttered, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to alter the ranking. Selena can have whatever she wants, but you can do whatever you want behind the scenes too.¡± Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Group Competition Francis had always gone with the sexy style, as was apt, considering his strongest point was his good looks.¡± Changing his style is going to be easier said than done. Exhausted from all the thinking, Christina fell asleep. The whole night, she kept dreaming of Nathaniel, either of him walking out of the bathroom after taking a shower or him looking all elegant in a suit. Her wonderful dream was eventually disrupted by her morning rmi They were going to start working on their outfits today. In order to get more footage, the director invited some of the participants to do an interview on the first floor of the mansion. Margaret, Nancy, and two other designers were talking about their daily lives and where they usually drew inspiration from. Anyone who was in the industry knew that their words meant nothing. Inspiration was something that no one was able to express properly. Christina immediately headed to the studio after breakfast. To prevent giarism, each tailor station was hidden from view by wooden panels. Apart from the public area, no one knew what everyone else was doing. Christina drew several designs but was still unsatisfied with them. Ultimately, shebined all the elements she had been thinking about and finally came up with a draft she was happy with. Now that she had a concrete idea, she could begin working on it. When Christina went to select the fabrics, she realized that they were merely of ordinary quality. Everyone else who came after her also realized the same thing. Logically, Selena wouldn¡¯t provide them with fabrics of such low quality. Just then, the director announced through the broadcast system that all designers were to gather on the first floor of the mansion.. Amidst their confusion, the designers shuffled to the first floor and saw that the living room was filled with the highest quality fabric one could get along with all kinds of beautiful gemstones. All these materials would help them take their designs to the next level. ¡°Designers, I¡¯m sure all of you have already noticed that the fabrics in the tailor room are not up to par. Now, you¡¯ll be ying a game. The winning team will get to choose their fabrics first, and the losers will have to make do with the leftovers.¡± Isn¡¯t this a proper fashion designpetition? Why does it feel like we¡¯re in a variety show? No one was willing to participate in such a ridiculous game, but if they refused, they wouldn¡¯t be able to get the fabrics. Only a designer would know how important the quality of the material was to the outfit. The director continued, ¡°Now, please form into groups of two. Once you¡¯re done, go to the courtyard and wait for the game to begin!¡± With that, the staff members all left the house and started to set up. Margaret and Nancy immediately paired up with each other and went out. The remaining participants started to look for partners as well, with the taller ones being favored as they were able to run faster. Standing at a hundred and sixty-two centimeters, Christina was not considered tall and thus was quickly. left out. On the other side of the living room, some of the participants were fighting over their partners. One woman-an influencer-pushed a man to the ground and spat, ¡°How are you even going to take part in the race with that low stamina of yours? Don¡¯t go making a fool of yourself by huffing and panting after running a few steps.¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The man stood up and retorted, ¡°She already agreed to team up with me, yet here you are, screaming at me after snatching my partner.¡± With single eyelids, a tall nose, and thin lips, he wasn¡¯t very good-looking, but he carried himself pretty well. There had been several male participants at the start of thepetition, but they had been eliminated over thest few rounds, leaving him the only one. Hence, the female participants ostracized him. ¡°It¡¯s utterly humiliating to have a graduate from an unknown college like youpete with those of us who attended the most prestigious design schools!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you get eliminated in this round!¡± They say that segregation is bound to happen when humans gather. Well, that saying is true. Those female designers were graduates from prestigious fashion design schools, so it was natural that they looked down on those who were not. However, proiming that they were superior to others was a clear sign of their vanity. Having the capability was what mattered most. Christina approached the man and tugged on his arm. ¡°We can be partners if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Of course I don¡¯t mind. My name is Benjamin. What¡¯s yours?¡± He didn¡¯t seem to be affected at all and spoke with her gently. ¡°Christina.¡± The two of them walked to the courtyard to see that several cameras were already set up. The area marked out for the race was filled with acupressure tes, and the participants were required to run across them barefoot. The order of picking the materials would be determined by the final ranking of the race. Hence, the pair to cross the finish line first would get the first pick. After all the pairs were ready, the staff members tied their feet together with a rope. Winning a three- legged race would require seamless teamwork. ¡°Ready, get set, go!¡± At the director¡¯smand, everyone huddled together with their partners and ran forward. +25 Bonus Christina and Benjamin were working pretty well together. Margaret, who was about to catch up to them, grew indignant as she watched them advance. Margaret and Nancy were gunning for the top spot. They exchanged nces and immediately gave Christina a hard shove. Christina lost her bnce and copsed to the ground, scraping her palms and forehead on the uneven surface of the acupressure tes. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Christina whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. Benjamin red at Margaret and Nancy. ¡°Why did you push her?¡± ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± They shot Christina a smug smile and headed to the finish line together. Benjamin was so furious he wanted to cuss them out. Those two women are so shameless for resorting to dirty tricks! ¡°Are you okay, Christina?¡± he asked worriedly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Christina endured the pain and got up just as the pairs behind them caught up. The crowd of people hindered their movement, which resulted in them getting fourth ce. This meant they could only choose whatever was left over from the pairs before them. By the time Christina and Benjamin returned to the house, there were only scraps of essories and fabrics left. The three pairs before them must have done it on purpose. There was no way they could use up all the material they had taken. Taking all of the beautiful fabric left Christina and Benjamin with a severeck of choices. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dragging you down with me,¡± Christina said a little guiltily as she lowered her eyes to hide. her turbulent emotions. She knew that every single round in thepetition determined if they were able to stay on. Benjamin chuckled lightly. ¡°We still have some to choose from. Let¡¯s make the most of it.¡± Once they picked all suitable materials from the pile of scraps, they returned to the design studio. Those who finished after them grew annoyed when they saw the undesirable materials. ¡°How are we supposed to use these scraps?¡± The people before us are so selfish for taking all the nice fabrics.¡± ¡°What do we do now? Are we going to lose thepetition just like that?¡± They were extremely exasperated. As all of them had graduated from prestigious design schools, they weren¡¯t willing to lose to those who attended obscure ones. ¡°Let¡¯s just put on a show and pick what we can. I¡¯ll deal with the rest!¡± They randomly grabbed some of the fabrics before heading to the tailor room. Meanwhile, the director was watching the footage with a satisfied smile on his face. This is precisely the result I wanted. ¡°Let¡¯s go and edit this. Once this airs, I¡¯m sure the views will break a new record.¡± He took some personnel with him and left while the remaining staff members stayed in the mansion to continue monitoring the designers¡¯ activities. Creaking noises could be heard from the tailor room as the designers bustled about. They were to present their final product the day after tomorrow, so they had to speed up their processes. Everyone only realized they hadn¡¯t eaten for the entire day when night fell and the delicious smell of food wafted from the kitchen. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Mannequin Christina halted her task and stretched her body. Anyone would feel tired after sitting for the entire day. Then she thought about finishing a meal quickly before returning to work. When everyone went downstairs, they realized their male models were sitting in the dining hall. The director was standing in the middle of the hall with a smile. ¡°In order to better facilitate your inspiration. I invited everyone¡¯s model here. After sharing dinner together, you all are free to do anything you want in the mansion.¡± The designers thought the director was doing that for the show, They didn¡¯t seem to care much because they had gotten used to the director¡¯s antics. Only the designers who graduated from prestigious schools were more particr about how they appeared on camera. Thus, every time they showed up, they were seen dressed fabulously. Christina was so hungry that she could only think about food. The director requested the designers to sit next to their male models to encourage them to interact more. Promptly, Christina headed to her designated spot next to Francis. Even though he was merely sitting quietly, it was enough to draw many people¡¯s attention, especially because he was very well-dressed. Only the bottom three buttons on his white shirt were fastened, so the upper half was left open. As a result, everyone could see his fair, muscr chest. Furthermore, he had a velvet zer as well as a rose ne on his slender neck. When all that paired with his cold yet elegant countenance, he looked like a demon who walked straight out of a fairy tale. Even with Christina¡¯s beauty standard, she had to admit he was a very charming man. It seems it¡¯s not an exaggeration for the inte to call him the most beautiful man in the entertainment industry. Francis pulled the chair next to him backward and lifted his eyebrow, ¡°If you stare any longer, you¡¯re going to drool.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I¡¯m famished.¡± As Christina sat, she shifted her line of sight to the food on the table. A variety of scrumptious dishes were prepared for dinner by the production crew for the sake of filming. When the other designers sat down, they would bashfully chat with the male models first or take small bites of pastry to maintain their graceful image. Meanwhile, Christina didn¡¯t care about any of those. Instead, she just focused on eating. The nearby cameraman filmed her ravenously eating the drumstick in her hand before devouring her pasta. The other designers cared about their image immensely, which made her stand out, though Francis was unfazed by her actions. Those who weren¡¯t in the know would think she was in an eating competition. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Christina was eating so quickly that she identally choked on her food and coughed. She was thinking about returning to her work as soon as possible because many tasks were still waiting for her, even though the deadline was in two days. Her mind was upied by her worries as she ate, which was why she choked. Caringly, Francis delivered her a ss of lemon juice and gently patted her back. ¡°No one¡¯s fighting with you for food. Just cat slowly. You look like you¡¯ve been abused here.¡± Since the moment she sat down, the only thing she cared about was the food. She didn¡¯t even pay attention to me, a superstar, as though my handsome face wasn¡¯t as alluring as the te of pasta ced before her. I have to admit that I do feel a little hurt by this. ¡°I didn¡¯t eat the whole day. It¡¯s only normal that I¡¯m starving.¡± Christina pouted. ¡°You should eat too. Later. I want you to try out the shirt so I don¡¯t need to modify anything in the future.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said Francis as he gently wiped the oil stain on the edge of her mouth. She was stunned by the beauty before her eyes and dodged backward. Using tissue paper, she wiped her mouth. ¡°I can do it myself.¡± Nancy, who sat across from Christina, witnessed that scene. I¡¯m Francis¡¯ fan! I¡¯ve loved him for five years. Why is Christina so lucky? He should be my partner sitting next to me, not her. Rage bubbled in her heart as a sinister look swirled in her eyes. As she was quite far away from Christina, thetter didn¡¯t notice the former¡¯s malicious look. After dinner, Christina brought Francis upstairs. Upon entering the studio together, she showed him the outfit she had designed. ¡°Give it a try. The size should be right.¡± He nced at the ck shirt. While he disliked ck because he thought the shade was too dark, he didn¡¯t express his opinion. Instead, he unbuttoned his shirt, allowing the light to illuminate his impressive muscles. His body emitted the fragrance of Clive Christian¡¯s 1872 cologne. The sandalwood aroma blended with his body¡¯s scent, and made him smell wonderful. Christina didn¡¯t notice it earlier because she was focused on her food. However, she could no longer pretend she saw nothing after he removed his shirt beside her. In response, she shifted her view away from him, pretending to look for a needle. Francis wore the shirt and whispered, ¡°The sleeve cuffs are a bit too wide, but everything else is fine.¡± I can¡¯t believe she still remembers my measurement. The edges of his lips curved upward automatically. ¡°Ah,¡± replied Christina. I designed the shirt with Nathaniel¡¯s measurements. So, it seems Francis has thinner wrists. Secondster, she took out a measuring tape and made a mark on it. I have two days left. I need to complete it as soon as possible. Francis watched Christina focus on her task at the sewing machine, looking as if she had forgotten he was at her side. Upon approaching her, he leaned toward her. ¡°Are you putting in so much effort because you¡¯re making it for me?¡± His sudden words startled her, making her heart skip a beat. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. In my eyes, you¡¯re just a mannequin, but the difference is that you can speak.¡± In other words, she saw him as a tool. +25 Bonus Francis snorted slightly. ¡°Then you¡¯ll be incapable of producing a piece of masterful work. I attend fashion. events too, and I know designers need to pour their heart into their design if they wish to create the perfect piece. You need to inject your heart and soul into me in order to design something magnificent.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t feel anything, perhaps I can help you?¡± The moment he ended his sentence, he held her chin. and leaned his lips closer to her. As he took in Christina¡¯s fragrance, he thought, What a refreshing floral scent. I like it. Also, it seems she¡¯s not rejecting me this time. Good. Just as his lips were about to touch Christina¡¯s, a wooden board appeared between them. ¡°I think you¡¯ve been filming too many television dramas. Even if I¡¯m to inject my soul into something, it¡¯d be into the clothes and design draft, not you.¡± Christina pushed Francis away. ¡°All right, you should return now. I¡¯m busy.¡± In an instant, Francis¡¯ demonic, handsome face turned icy. I intentionally dressed well tonight, yet she still stubbornly rejected me. Is she not moved by my charm at all? Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Give Me A Call Francis watched Christina focus on her work at the sewing machine. Guess I¡¯ll leave her be. ¡°I¡¯ve been filming in Hallsbay recently. If you need anything, call me.¡± In response, Christina gestured an ¡°OK¡± sign at him. ¡°You should return quickly.¡± I doubt I¡¯ll need anything from him, considering I¡¯m so busy at the sewing machine every day that I don¡¯t even have time to drink water. Before Francis left, he couldn¡¯t help but caress her head. She¡¯s like a docile kitten who¡¯ll asionally bite someone when cornered. I really want to bring her to a ce where no one can disturb us, so there¡¯s no need to think about revenge. Won¡¯t it be nice if we¡¯re the only people on the? Irritated, Christina pped his hand. ¡°Stop disturbing me and leave.¡± No one could focus on their work if such a handsome man stood beside their desk. After Francis exited the room, someone behind him shouted, ¡°I¡¯ve been your fan for a long time. Francis. Can I get your autograph?¡± Upon turning around, he saw Nancy holding a pen and paper. She had been waiting for him since after dinner. As a public figure and a superstar, he was used to having fans asking him for autographs. If he weren¡¯t in a hurry, he would stop to give an autograph or take a picture with his fans. ¡°All right.¡± He grabbed the pen she handed him and signed his name beautifully on the paper. Staring at the autograph, Nancy was so ted that she beamed. It was her first time doing that, which was why she was indescribably excited. Just as Francis was preparing to leave, she called out to him again. Upon gathering her courage, she proposed, ¡°I know you¡¯re interested in joining Mr. Valentine¡¯stest movie, Francis. He¡¯s actually my uncl¨¦. If you¡¯re willing to be my model. I¡¯ll immediately help you obtain the role of the male lead in that movie. What do you think?¡± Her family was a prominent entity in the entertainment industry. Thus, she could handily make someone the male lead in a movie. This is a great deal, no matter how one sees it. He only needs to be my male model for a while to be hired as a movie¡¯s male lead and get paid eighty million. I doubt he¡¯ll reject my offer. As she thought, she was excited by the thought of spending time with him. In response, Francis faced her again. With a frigid countenance, he studied her and spat, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll be a male model for any woman? What kind of a joke is that?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression shifted. I¡¯ve never seen him looking this terrifying before. ¡°Mr. Valentine called me a few times about the movie already. I reluctantly agreed to ept the role, but now I¡¯m regretting my decision now.¡± A dark look settled in Francis¡¯ eyes as he gazed coldly at the panicking Nancy. ¡°Let me warn you. Don¡¯t even try to hurt Christina. I won¡¯t let you off the hook if you do. With that, he left. His frigid expression reyed in her mind as her body trembled. What is his rtionship with Christina? Why is he biased toward her? After dinner, nearly all designers returned to the tailor room to continue their work. None of them wanted to lose such a significantpetition. Everyone worked until early in the morning. All that was left in the quiet room was the sound of sewing machines in operation. Eventually, some couldn¡¯t stand the exhaustion anymore and returned to their room to rest. As for Christina, it wasn¡¯t until almost dawn that she stopped working. When she left the room, she took her clothing with her. After all, one of the many people inside might intentionally destroy her work. Upon returning to her room, she typed a very long message to Nathaniel. After sending it, she was so tired that she fell asleep before waiting for a reply. She had no idea how long she had slumbered. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was busy taking care ofpany matters in his office. There was a pile of documents sitting at the side. He was going to leave for a while, but so many matters required his attention that he couldn¡¯t. It took a while before he even had time to check out the message he had received on his phone. Christina¡¯s message read: I was busy the whole night, though I wasn¡¯t very efficient because I spent half of my mental energy missing you. Rest early. Love you. The edges of Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward as his eyes glinted. When Sebastian saw the expression on Nathaniel¡¯s countenance, he knew thetter was reading a message from Christina. It¡¯s obvious why he¡¯s been working day and night over the past few days. As the director continuously updated thepetition¡¯s status on the inte, more and more people paid. attention to the event. The clip of Nancy and Margaret intentionally pushing Christina to the ground during the three-legged race attracted lots of attention online. Clearly, unfair behavior, such as intentionally shoving someone in order to win, was seen as uneptable by many. The more people talked about it, the more popr the show became. In less than a week, the television station was raking in the dough. Nevertheless, the contestants ignored matters like those. Soon, two days passed in a blink of an eye. On the day of thepetition, the production team rented arge venue for the contestants¡¯ models to show off their designs. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Meanwhile, the backstage was so chaotic that it was as if a war was happening. Christina called Francis multiple times, but he didn¡¯t pick up his phone. If he screws up at this critical moment, who¡¯ll wear the shirt I designed? I don¡¯t know anyone in Hallsbay, and it¡¯s toote for me to find another model. If only I knew another way of contacting Francis aside from calling his number. If he doesn¡¯te, won¡¯t that mean I¡¯ll drop out of thepetition? No, I won¡¯t allow it. I¡¯m okay with getting disqualified, but I refuse to admit defeat without even stepping onto the battlefield. With no other choice, Christina was forced to make a decision she didn¡¯t want to. ¡°There¡¯s no time left. Rayne, I need you to find a male model at least one hundred and eight centimeters tall. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do that right away.¡± Rayne immediately left toplete her task upon receiving Christina¡¯s call. Christina could do nothing but watch the other designers help their male models put on makeup and change into the clothing they designed. It made her stick out like a sore thumb. To make things fair, the director asked the contestants to draw lots to determine the order of their appearance on stage. Christina hoped she would get one of thest few spots, even if it only granted her a few more minutes. Unfortunately,dy luck was not with her. She took the fourth spot. Despair flooded her heart. After drawing the lots, the crowd dispersed to prepare for thepetition. It was then a figure arrived in front of her. ¡°I gotst ce. How about I switch mine with yours?¡± Upon raising her head, Christina saw Benjamin holding a piece of paper with thest number written on it. That was the best he could do to help her. ¡°Thank you, Benjamin.¡± She epted his aid graciously. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Late Meanwhile, Selena was wearing her brand¡¯s high-end gown outside the stage. When she appeared, she instantly attracted the cameras¡¯ attention. Thepetition would be broadcasted live. Hence, the production team wouldn¡¯t tolerate any mistakes. Also, they allowed the audience to vote through an online poll. However, the ultimate decision was still up to Selena. She would pick the top five contestants before the audience would vote for who they thought was the best designer. After Selena¡¯s fashion show was over, the host stepped onto the stage. Once the opening speech was delivered, the music yed, and the male model of the first designer entered the stage. Before thepetition started, the director told the models to amble on stage to increase the voting time.¡± After the modelpleted his walk, the designer would be summoned on stage to receive Selena¡¯s Meanwhile, Christina had called Francis hundreds of times, but he still didn¡¯t pick up the phone. He¡¯s not ying a trick on me at this crucial moment, right? He should know how important thispetition is to me¡­. Ugh, I feel like I¡¯m standing on a razor¡¯s edge. As she hugged the shirt she designed silently, she felt a sense of helplessness that she never experienced bombarding her. The music continued to y while the designers made their appearances on stage one by one. Just as she thought she had run out of time, a tall figure barged into the room. Francis bolted toward Christina, panting and sweating. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte!¡± He didn¡¯t seem well, looking as if he had justpleted a marathon. At that moment, Christina snapped back to reality. Of course, she was furious. She was eager to scold him, questioning him where he was and why he waste. However, she resisted the urge to do so because she cared much more about thepetition. A starry look swirled in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re notte. Just change into this quickly.¡± Christina stuffed the shirt she had prepared into Francis hand. ¡°Change your pants in the dressing room first.¡± Upon ending her sentence, she went looking for a makeup artist. However, since thepetition had started, all the backstage crew had already left. Thus, she returned to the room without locating anyone she needed. After Francis changed his pants, he noticed a few scars on the checkered design. Before he could ask Christina about it, she leaned toward his face. ¡°All the makeup artists have left, so I¡¯ll apply them for you She received plenty of makeup training during her time at Radiant Corporation. Additionally, Francis was already attractive, so she applied cosmetics on him based on the effect she had in mind. In the end, she removed a limited-edition lipstick from her bag and applied it to his lips. ¡°Perfect. It¡¯s showtime.¡± -The secondst team had already entered the stage. Therefore, it was Francis¡¯ turn next. Under the spotlight, he stepped onto the stage as stylishly as possible. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The crowd¡¯s attention was glued to him. Their impression of Francis was that he was a seductive, androgynous man because that was how he often. appeared in magazines. In other words, everyone was familiar with his typical mesmerizing appearance. Hence, when they saw him rocking a different style, they were intrigued by his new look. He wore a ck shirt with a cor that disyed his Adam¡¯s apple and a fringe jacket with visible cuts and tassels. His pants were unconventional as they had holes in them. It was like he was a manly, distinguished general from the middle ages, breaking through a dangerous siege to appear before the crowd. In less than a minute, the polling website showed his attire was the highest votedpared to the rest. Without a doubt, Christina won, even though she was thest to appear. Selena couldn¡¯t stop praising Christina¡¯s design because she didn¡¯t expect thetter could change Francis¡¯ image so sessfully. After all, the more good-looking someone was, the more challenging it was to change their style. The reason was that they would easily outshine any clothing they were wearing. ¡°This design is incredibly creative, Christina. I¡¯m willing to buy it from you.¡± It was Selena¡¯ first time proactively extending such an offer to a designer. Christina felt honored and agreed immediately. Theizens cheered for her. Everyone adored her design. The spotlights were all gathered on her while the other designers were ignored. After thepetition, Christina sessfully moved on to the next round with Margaret, Nancy, Benjamin¡¯s designer, and a few others who graduated from prestigious academies. Once the result was out, Selena allowed the contestants to rx for two days after they had worked so hard. The theme for the third round of thepetition would be announced on Saturday. While the group talked about celebrating their sess, Christina slipped away when no one was watching because she felt exhausted. Francis had already returned backstage and changed into his own clothes. His assistant handed him at bottle of water. While approaching him, she recalled how anxious she felt waiting for him to arrive and remarked, ¡°I was scared to death earlier. I thought you weren¡¯t going toe and that I was going to lose the competition. I feel so unlucky to be paired up with you.¡± Staring at his expression, she thought, Why does he look aggrieved, as if I misunderstood him?Heh, he really is an actor. He sure knows how to y pretend After she packed her stuff and was preparing to leave, Francis¡¯ assistant, Parker Spencer, blurted furiously. ¡°How can you say that to Mr. Fernando? Did you know he came here even though he¡¯s injured? He promised to head to the hospital after thepetition but didn¡¯t leave immediately because he was worried you would figure it out. Despite that, you kept chiding him. He should be the one to feel unlucky. working with you!¡± Does she know how expensive it is to hire Mr. Fernando for an hour? Can she even afford it? With a darkened expression, Francis spoke. ¡°Stop it, Parker,¡± ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth. We should visit the hospital right now. You can¡¯t dy the treatment of the wound on your back any longer.¡± Francis is hurt? Christina was stunned. A momentter, she inquired, ¡°Where are you hurt? Why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± assured Francis. For some reason, the look in his eyes softens my heart. Christina replied, ¡°You could¡¯ve told me beforehand if you didn¡¯t have time. It¡¯s not like it has to be you.¡± I shouldn¡¯t have said those hurtful things earlier. He came here with an untreated wound to help me, yet I didn¡¯t show him any appreciation. Biting her lip, she uttered in a small voice, ¡°Where are you hurt? Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± Raising his hand, Francis gestured for her to approach him. She didn¡¯t know what he was trying to do but still did as he asked. As he hugged her, his unique cologne propelled into her nose. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Hurt Christina was slightly startled before she reflexively tried to push Francis¡¯ head away. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. However, when she lifted her hand, she saw,blood dripping down Francis¡¯ back. She was stunned, and her hand stiffened. I don¡¯t have the heart to push him away. In order to prevent the rowdy group outside from noticing what was happening, the three of them left. through the backdoor. Then, Francis was driven to a hospital. The doctor was a woman, so when she saw the patient was Francis, her line of sight was affixed to him. Never would she expect to meet a superstar on a boring night. Christina was a little amused by the doctor¡¯s reaction. After waiting for a while, she couldn¡¯t help but remind, ¡°Doctor, can you treat his wound?¡± If she continues staring at him, he¡¯ll bleed to death. That snapped the female doctor back to her senses. Without dy, she turned around to grab the tools to staunch the blood. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but can you please remove your clothes?¡± When Christina heard that, she wanted to leave, but Parker stopped her. ¡°I need to move the car. Please. take care of Mr. Fernando.¡± Before she could say anything, he left. Concurrently, Francis removed his coat, revealing a shirt underneath. When Christina saw his back, she gasped. During the ride to the hospital, Parker mentioned Francis was injured by a sharp object during a stunt. It was a severe wound that required treatment at the hospital. However, he asked the doctor on the scene to stop the bleeding expeditiously so he could make it to thepetition for Christina in time. His wound was likely reopened when he moved around. Francis was thinner than Christina expected, as she could see his beautiful vertebrae when he bent slightly. ¡°The wound is deep. He¡¯ll need stitches. Should I administer anesthetic for you?¡± the female doctor inquired professionally as she put on a mask. Staring at his wound, she frowned. He must be in immense pain. Francis shook his head with a darkened look. ¡°No. I¡¯m a little allergic to anesthetics, and I still have work to do tomorrow. It¡¯ll affect my performance.¡± He¡¯s still thinking about his work, even though he¡¯s this injured? Christina was tempted to agree on his behalf but hesitated and ultimately chose to stay quiet. The female doctor asked Francis to lie on the bed before treating his wound. ¡°Fortunately, you don¡¯t scar easily, so you only need to pay slight attention to prevent that from happening.¡± Half an hourter, Francis was sent to a VIP ward to rest. He was on the verge of falling asleep due to exhaustion andck of anesthetic during the treatment. His eyes were half opened, and his countenance was as pale as snow. He looked incredibly fragile at that moment. Before he passed out, he whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Christina was slightly taken aback as she saw him gripping the edge of her shirt, looking like a puppy hoping that its master wouldn¡¯t leave. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, but I can¡¯t keep standing here either. I¡¯m going to grab a chair.¡± There¡¯s no way I¡¯m standing for the rest of the night. I¡¯m drained after working for days on end. Francis inched his body to the side, leaving a space beside him on the bed. With a smirk, he said, ¡°My bed¡¯s pretty wide. You can lie next to me. I¡¯ll warm you up.¡± It was as though he could lure someone into his embrace with just a look, even though his well-defined face was leaning sideways. Christina¡¯s temples throbbed. Ugh, I wish he¡¯d stop using his pretty face to seduce me. ¡°I¡¯m going to say no to that. You should be resting instead of trying to be naughty.¡± She brought a chair and settled it far away from the bed as though she was putting her guard up against. someone dangerous. In her mind. Francis was a thousand-year-old demon fox, so she couldn¡¯t lower her guard around him completely. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t going to leave, Francis slumbered. The night wasn¡¯t that long. When sunlightnded on Christina¡¯s slender body, she appeared like a sleeping. angel who had fallen from the heavens.. Suddenly, a nurse entered the room to refill Francis¡¯ anti-inmmatory medicine. I heard a superstar is staying in the hospital. They must be referring to Francis Fernando! Swiftly, she performed her task silently. Seeing that the two people in the room were still asleep, she took a photo of them with her phone. There aren¡¯t any scandals about Francis, even though he debuted a long time ago. It must be because he hid his dirty secrets well. He must have a close rtionship with this woman since she keeps himpany all night. I may be able to earn a pretty penny with this picture. After that, she left the room. The door was pushed open again when the sun was high in the sky. The loud bang woke both Francis and Christina up. A powerful, domineering aura enveloped the room like a web. Christina¡¯s body felt sore after she slept in a chair for a night. She opened her dry eyes and saw the towering man before her. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± She realized her voice was hoarse after the word slipped from her mouth. Crap, I¡¯m feeling a little dizzy too. Am I sick? Nathaniel¡¯s intimidating presence, enhanced by the ck suit on his tall figure, the darkened look in his eyes, and the handful of bodyguards behind him, was impossible to ignore. He stepped toward Christina and pulled her slender body up. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Christina nodded, thinking she should leave as soon as possible to avoid any misunderstandings. However, Francis didn¡¯t bother reading the room. He leaned against the headboard as his soft, fluffy bangs. rested on the side of his face. Narrowing his eyes, he intentionally uttered in a suggestive tone. ¡°I¡¯m so touched by Christina¡¯s willingness to stay by my side for the whole night. I must have a special ce in her heart.¡± Nathaniel was already incensed, yet Francis intentionally poured more fuel into the fire. Without dy, Nathaniel stepped toward Francis and lifted thetter by his cor, which was immediately torn slightly. Christina hastily approached the men to stop the fight as if Nathaniel would punch Francis if she were a secondte. Hugging Nathaniel¡¯s waist, she exined. ¡°Of course, I do because Francis is your little brother. Won¡¯t you say it¡¯s normal for his older brother and sister-inw to take care of him?¡± The two men were astonished by her words. ¡°It¡¯s only natural we take care of our family, right, Darling?¡± Christina smiled. If I frame this matter as family members caring for each other, everything makes sense. At that moment, she changed her ambiguous rtionship with Francis to a familial one. Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Chapter 246 A Caring Sister In Law The anger brewing in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes dissipated significantly. He pulled Christina into his embrace as if they shared the same stance while gazing at Francis. ¡°My wife is right. She¡¯s just caring for you like an elder in the family expressing concern for a younger member of the household. I¡¯ll hire two more caregivers to attend to your needs so you won¡¯t have to trouble your sister- inw.* With that, he dragged Christina along and left the ward. After leaving the hospital, the two arrived at the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. Christina didn¡¯t know how Nathaniel had found out her whereabouts, but judging by his usual temperament, she figured he must be angry. He remained silent along the way, causing Christina¡¯s guilt to intensify. Nothing happened, yet it had caused a misunderstanding. ¡°Nathaniel, 1¡ª¡± Before she could speak, Nathaniel pushed her into the bathroom. The warm hazy air lingering in the air added a hint of ambiguity to the atmosphere. Christina riveted her big, charming eyes at the handsome man before her, not knowing what he was nning to do. He dominceringly pinched her chin. A pensive and inscrutable look shed across his eyes as he lowered his head to kiss her lips. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Recalling the scene at the hospital earlier, he felt difort churning within his chest. Nheless, he turned calmer after learning Christina didn¡¯t harbor any romantic feelings toward Francis. His heart softened further when he took in her frightened mien. When he noticed the fair skin of her neck when her chin was lifted, his libido was swiftly roused. ¡°Take a shower to wash off the disinfectant smell on you¡± After saying that, he suppressed his lust and exited the bathroom. Christina¡¯s face flushed crimson. Why did he kiss me for no reason and leave just like that? Anyway, it seems like hr not mad After taking a shower, Nathaniel had someone send over a high-end gown for her to change into. Although Christina wasn¡¯t tall, the dress perfectly fitted her one-hundred-and-sixty-two-centimeter stature. The slightly split design on the side revealed her fair, slender legs. Under the light, her bare and clean face shone like a piece of wless emerald, evoking within anyone whod their eyes on her a desire to protect her. Subsequently, the two went downstairs. When they entered the VIP private room on the third floor, she saw several people sitting inside Christina recognized those people, all of whom were well-known designers in the industry. She had seen them at a few gatherings previously. ¡°Did you purposefully arrange this for me?¡± She turned to look at Nathaniel. 6 A Caring Sister In Law At times, it was hard for her to imagine how a proud man like him would be so considerate and meticulous in helping her with career-rted matters. ¡°They happened to have worked with Hadley Corporation before, so I thought we could have a small and casual gathering, no pressure.¡± Nathaniel led Christina into the room and asked the waiter to open a bottle of their finest red wine. The designers had heard in advance that Nathaniel¡¯s wife was also a designer, but designers tended to have strong personalities and were not easily swayed by men of power. They sized up Christina, noticing she was good-looking and dressed in an ordinary manner. However, the expression in her eyes was unique, as they seemed to shine with confidence. The designer sitting to the right was Lime, and she wasn¡¯t one to judge others by their appearance. ¡°Mrs. Hadley. I heard you¡¯re also a designer. Do you have any representative works?¡± Representative works were the fastest way to get to know each other. As designers, they preferred to be acquainted with others through their works. Christina didn¡¯t mention her secret identity, Ada. Instead, she merely talked about her achievements during her time at Radiant Corporation. Lime had been paying attention to Radiant Corporation¡¯s development recently. ¡°So, Radiant Corporation¡¯s significant improvement in style happened because of you?¡± In fact, Radiant Corporation¡¯s clothing design was among the top in the country but was still far from being a ster brand internationally. The design circle wasn¡¯t exactly expansive. Any talented designers were bound to be noticed by their peers. Christina shed a faint smile. Although she no longer worked at Radiant Corporation, she was not in the habit of badmouthing her formerpany. After chatting briefly about design-rted matters, Nathaniel, being uninterested in that topic, left to deal with some work in the next room when he saw Christina could handle the situation rather well. By the time he reentered the private room after finishing his work, Christina and the other designers were engaged in a pleasant conversation. They even exchanged contact information before leaving. To be able to pick the brains of more experienced designers was a meaningful experience for Christina. When they learned Christina was starting her own studio, all of them promised to attend the opening ceremony to show their support. ¡°Thank you for deliberately arranging this session for me.¡± Christina realized expressing her gratitude verbally was somewhat inadequate. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. This is my obligation.¡± Nathaniel curled his lips into a smile, exuding his innate confidence and elegance. Then, the two returned to the suite to rest. It had been more than a week since they hadst seen each other. Christina sat on the couch while nestling in his embrace Countless sparks of affection flew between them. as they gazed into each other¡¯s eyes. She was wholly captivated by his exquisite facial features. +25 Bonus ¡°I have to go back tomorrow morning. I¡¯lle to pick you up after thepetition is over.¡± There was still plenty of work pending at Hadley Corporation. He had barely squeezed out some time to be there for her. ¡°Okay.¡± Since they returned from the hospital, Christina had been unnerved by Nathaniel¡¯s unusually calm demeanor, fearing he might flip out and drag her back to Jadeborough or deliberately restrict her in some way. However, he remained gentle and tender as if he hadn¡¯t taken to heart her staying overnight at the hospital with Francis. He¡¯s finally not acting petty for once. Should I reward him? Christina leaned in and took the initiative to kiss his lips, feeling the warmth of his skin. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. He was rarely passive when they were together. He raised his slender arms and wrapped them around her thin waist, feeling the softness of her skin on his palm. Their intertwined shadows were cast on the carpet as the ambiance inside the room turned ambiguous. The next day, sunlight filtered into the room through a crack, enveloping the fingertips of the girl lying at the edge of the bed with radiance. Nathaniel requested the hotel to deliver the breakfast to their room. When they enjoyed their meal together, his phone rang. In fact, his phone had been ringing sincest night. He instinctively wanted to silence it, but Christina picked up the device and answered the call. The video call connected, and before the person on the other end of the line, wearing a smile, could speak, her visage gradually stiffened. ¡°M-Mrs. Hadley?¡± Madison expression froze. She thought Nathaniel had gone to work. Unexpectedly, he actually went to meet up with Christina. The unattended files are already piling up on his office desk, yet Nathaniel, a man who values hispany so much, left a mountain of work behind to meet with Christina? Christina picked up a strawberry with her fork and put it in her mouth before drawling, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ms. Taggart?¡± Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Cheating And Elimination Madison held her phone so tightly that she was close to crushing it. Despite the anger that surged in her veins, she kept a smile on her face aimed at the camera. ¡°There are a few meetings to attend today. It¡¯s close to the end of the year, so Mr. Hadley will have many things to attend to. Mrs. Hadley, I hope you can understand that.¡± Hearing that, Christina furrowed her brows. Why does it sound like she¡¯s trying to make me into a bratty woman who refuses to let Nathaniel work? At that, Christina put on an innocent expression and said, ¡°An assistant¡¯s job is to prepare for the company. I don¡¯t think you need to worry about anything else, do you?¡± Madison paled as if someone had embarrassed her on the spot, and the shift in her expression was evident to all. Her gaze flicked toward Nathaniel on the side. The man in a suit had an apathetic look on his face, and upon squinting, she noticed a hint of red on his white shirt. Her heart ached, and she squeezed out, ¡°If that¡¯s the case. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer, Mr. Hadley.¡± With that, she hastily ended the call. Madison did not know how much longer she could keep it a secret. Every time she saw Christina and Nathaniel together, her heart hurt as if a rusted knife had been dragged across it. The bleeding would not stop. After breakfast, Nathaniel sent Christina to the entrance of the mansion. ¡°Don¡¯t overwork yourself,¡± he softly said to her. Christina blinked and reassured him. ¡°Rx. I¡¯ll take good care of myself. Once I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll go back by myself. Just focus on your work and don¡¯t worry.¡± She knew that Nathaniel hade all the way here for her, and her heart melted at that thought. Once again, she felt motivated. Giving her a light kiss on her forehead, Nathaniel then said, ¡°Go on.¡± Christina exited the car and turned around to give him onest bright smile before heading inside. The two-day holiday was over, and the other designers were returning to the mansion too. As the number of participants dwindled, the slots avable to go to the next round became lesser. For the next round-the finals-only the top seven among the ten of them would be able to stay. At night, Selena appeared and gathered the designers in the living room. Her expression was dark and tinged with anger. The designers began wondering what had infuriated her. As Selena put one of the attire from a designer who survived thest round on the table, she said, ¡°This attire is designed well, but the fabric isn¡¯t what we¡¯ve supplied. In other words, this is cheating.¡± The designers all stiffened. Indeed, the fabric was important for thest round. Christina recognized the attire and figured out who the designer was. Things had been chaotic the night before, and Christina had been too preupied with her work to notice the details. Selena then solemnly uttered. ¡°Phillipa Fisher, please step forward. You¡¯ve used fabric that has not been provided to you, and that is unfair to the otherpetitors, so you¡¯ve been removed from the competition.¡± Phillipa¡¯s face was paler than a sheet. How did I found out? I clearly used something with a simr color to the provided fabric. Then, her eyes drifted toward Holly Jenson. Back then, Phillipa had been in the front and was able to choose a rtively good fabric. Holly was in the back, so she was left with no great options. Hence, Holly used a high price to buy another fabric from the outside and offered to trade with Phillipa. But what am I going to do now that things have gone south? It seemed like Holly had realized how serious the matter was, for she shot Phillipa a re, warning her not to say anything about the incident. What was done was already done. There was no way she was going to get kicked out of the competition with Phillipa-she felt that sacrificing Phillipa was more than enough. However, there was no way Phillipa would let the matter go so easily. She kept her eyes fixed on Holly as she thought. If I say nothing. I¡¯m definitely going to be cklisted from now on. But Holly¡¯s family is powerful, and I can¡¯t afford to cross them¡­ In the end. Phillipa fell to her knees and started bawling, not at all like her earlier arrogant demeanor. She cried out, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ms. Selena! Can you please give me another chance?¡± Dignity did not matter anymore. Phillipa¡¯s eyes were red, and she was filled with rage and resentment. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. If I give you another chance, then I¡¯m being unfair to the designers who have been eliminated,¡± Selena replied without hesitation. She was a reputable woman in the industry because she had been a fervent supporter of original works. Holding thepetition was for the sake of giving designers from ordinary backgrounds a chance too. If she were to be biased toward Phillipa at this moment, then what right would she have to im to be a woman of principles in the future? ¡°Staff, please take her out of here and not let her disturb the rest of the show,¡± Selena uttered, her expression steely Hearing that the staff member stepped forward to escort Phillipa out. The resentment in Phillipa grew, and yet, there was nothing she could do but slink away in defeat. The room fell silent. No one dared to speak. If the act of cheating went unpunished, who would ever follow the rules? Holly was ill at ease, but her anger was targeted toward Christina. She med Christina for standing in their way to advancement. Selena then took out a card and read the rules. ¡°For the next round, you will design an evening gown for me. The first step will be to look at the design drafts, and we¡¯ll pick three excellent works from there. Do your best, and don¡¯t giarize.¡± That was what hurt Selena most. It was one thing to lose thepetition, for that meant that they still had room for improvement. However, giarizing meant that they had lost their confidence. ¡°Of course, Ms. Selena.¡± ¡°You only have one day. I hope you put your all into this.¡± With that said. Selena left the mansion. Designing a draft was easier on the physique than creating the finalized product. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Once Christina was back in the room, she started brainstorming with her tablet. The evening gown was going to design for Selena could not possibly be low profile, but it could not be too eye-catching either, or else she would risk having Selena seem too vain. Right as she was stuck in an art block, someone knocked on the door. When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Holly. ¡°Is there something I can help you with?¡± Christina queried. she Unlike her usual demeanor, Holly had a smile on her face. ¡°We¡¯re all designers here, so I¡¯ll be honest with you. I¡¯m feeling stressed out by thepetition. Do you mind having a drink with me?¡± She had two bottles of wine in her hand, and the smile she had on her face was stiff, almost unnatural. Holly was the leader of the group of designers who graduated from prestigious institutes, and they had always excluded Christina and the other designers who graduated from normal institutes. Moreover, Holly always talked about her social status, so her abrupt change in attitude toward Christina was baffling. Christina nced at the wine bottles in her hand. If it was another time, perhaps she would have indulged. Holly, but she was currently in apetition. What she needed was a sober mind. How else was she going toe up with her piece without it? Furthermore, Holly always scowled at her. Holly could not possibly expect Christina to respond in a friendly manner just because she had a sudden change in attitude. Thus, Christina said, ¡°No thanks. Why don¡¯t you spend more time on your draft instead.¡° With that said, she made to close the door. The rejection was like a stab to Holly¡¯s pride. She quickly extended her foot to stop the door from closing before forcing another smile onto her face. ¡°You¡¯re right. Why don¡¯t we have a drink and talk about the design, then? Have youe up with any ideas yet? What about the theme?¡± Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Stealing Her Design Christina smirked internally. From those words, she knew that Holly was only here to take a look at her design. Couldn¡¯t she havee up with a better excuse? Does she think I¡¯m stupid? Like I¡¯d show her my design just because she asked for it! ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m going to bed. Let¡¯s talk another day.¡± With that, Christina mmed the door shut. Holly stood outside in a daze before cursing to herself. ¡°Godd mmit, Christina! Who do you think your are? The fact that I¡¯d even ask to look at your design shows that I actually deem you worthy!¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. If it wasn¡¯t because you had some somewhat decent designs in the past few rounds, I wouldn¡¯t even look at you! What makes you think I¡¯d stand next to someone who graduated from a lousy school? The contestants were given only one day, so everyone stayed in their rooms and worked on their designs except for when it was time for meals. Christina had spent the night drafting her design, and things were going well for her. Suddenly, a growl from her stomach reminded her that she hadn¡¯t had breakfast. Hence, she grabbed a jacket, put it on, and headed downstairs. The dining area was full of ingredients, but contestants were required to cook their own food. Christina made herself a dish with tomatoes and beef, spending less than twenty minutes to fill her tummy. Recalling that her design was stillcking color, she rushed back upstairs so she could finish her draft. Then, she noticed that her door was slightly open. Her gaze darkened as an ominous feeling rose within her. She was sure she had closed the door before leaving. However, contestants would leave their doors unlocked while outside as they didn¡¯t have the keys to their rooms. Christina entered just in time to see Holly leave, and the two stood in front of each other, face to face. ¡°What are you doing in my room?¡± Christina asked icily. She made her intentions clearst night, and now she snuck into my room while I was out. Isn¡¯t it obvious what she¡¯s after? A look of panic shed in Holly¡¯s eyes as she rushed to hide whatever she was holding behind her. She had not expected to bump into Christina. In a split second, the woman pretended to scan the room¡¯s interior before responding. ¡°I thought this was my room.¡± Christina smirked. Our rooms are just across each other¡¯s, but mine is right next to the stairs! There¡¯s no way she could¡¯ve gotten our rooms mixed up. Stealing Her Design ¡°You¡¯re already drunk before even having a sip of alcohol this morning?¡± she sneered, Insulted by her frankness, Holly turned beet red. Even so, she knew she was in the wrong and could say nothing to retaliate. Christina stepped forward to block her way. ¡°What¡¯s that you¡¯re holding behind you? Is it my design?¡± It was my mistake for not carrying my draft with me. I¡¯d be in big trouble if she actually found it. Scowling, Holly took a step back and held her phone even more tightly. ¡°Oh, please! Why would I steal your design? Have some self-awareness about the difference between us, would you? I wouldn¡¯t bother looking at your design even if it were right in front of me!¡± She gave Christina a shove and fled with a hint of guilt on her face. Then, she mmed her door shut and locked it upon returning to her own room. Christina turned around to check her notebook. Thankfully, it appeared untouched and remained where it originally was. She then locked her door and carried on as though nothing had happened. After toiling the whole night, she finally filled in all the colors for her design, and she went to bed near dawn. The next day, the crew summoned every contestant to the studio for filming. The first segment involved contestants showcasing their designs ording to the assigned order. Christina wasst, whereas Benjamin went first. He confidently presented his design drawing. From the color coordination and smoothness of the lines, it was evident that the man had a solid foundation. Selena¡¯s lips curled in satisfaction. Margaret and Nancy were up next. Given that they were both apprentices of a well-known designer, their standards were certainly above average. It was Holly¡¯s turn next, and everyone on the scene was taken aback as soon as she unveiled her work. Her design drawing was certainly tonight¡¯s best. Even the staff members who weren¡¯t involved in fashionplimented her design and expressed that she would surely win tonight. Holly was secretly pleased as she heard the people around her gasping in awe. Yet, before she could say anything, Selena asked, ¡°Is this your work?¡± Holly eyed Christina briefly. Seeing the look of astonishment in thetter¡¯s eyes made her gloat internally. ¡°Yes,¡± she answered confidently. ¡°I spent a really long timeing up with this design-¡± ¡°Unbelievable. You have the audacity to im it as yours?¡± Selena cut her off. Holly grew bewildered. ¡°What are you talking about, Ms. Selena? This is my design!¡± Stealing Her Design She nced at Christina anxiously as a dreadful feeling began to stir within her. Today¡¯s the day we officially unveil our designs, and there¡¯s no way she¡¯s seen Christina¡¯s work yet. Even if she has, I can just say this is all pure coincidence. The audience members stared at one another, clueless as to what was happening. Did she giarize someone¡¯s design? Selena¡¯s expression turned even more grim as rage filled her eyes. ¡°You practically redrew my design. without even changing the colors, and now you¡¯re iming it as your own? I¡¯ve never met someone as shameless as you!¡± The crowd was stunned. What? This is Ms. Selena¡¯s design? How reckless could Holly be? If she wanted to giarize, she should¡¯ve at least stolen the work of some random designer that no one knows. Did she do this on purpose to challenge Ms. Selena, or does she think everyone else is in stupid? Holly felt a chill run down her spine as her fingers grew cold. ¡°This is your design, Ms. Selena? But it¡¯s obviously Christina¡¯s¡­¡± Her whole body had turned numb by now. But I found this design in Christina¡¯s room! The drawing had caught her attention at first nce, and she was sure she¡¯d win tonight. Yet, who would¡¯ve thought? Christina! She set me up! Holly felt even more humiliated than if she had been outright berated. Her eyes gleamed with panic and terror. Well, if I¡¯m going down, I may as well take her down with me! With that in mind, she pointed at Christina. ¡°I found this design in Christina¡¯s room, so whatever she¡¯s about to show us will definitely be the same as what I¡¯ve just shown you! Take a look at her design drawing if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± She had searched Christina¡¯s entire room and found only one drawing book. There were many designs in it, but only this one was meant for Selena. That¡¯s why I¡¯m sure she wanted to giarize Ms. Selena! It¡¯s just too bad that I was up first, so now I look like the bad person! The audience turned to Christina disdainfully, their hearts filled with skepticism. So, who giarized who? Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Satisfactory Work ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Selena trained her gaze on Christina. Thetter was thest one whose design draft she hadn¡¯t seen yet. ¡°Christina, I need you to submit your design now.¡± The atmosphere was tense, especially since this matter had something to do with Christina. After all, she had been under a lot of attention since the beginning of thepetition and was also a contestant who Selena had high hopes for. Selena did not wish to see any problems with Christina¡¯s work. In an anxious tone, Holly spluttered, ¡°Well? Why aren¡¯t you showing your draft? Hurry up and show it to us, Christina. I bet you also copied your design from someone else!¡± Looking like a nervous wreck, her actions and words were akin to someone desperately trying to pull another down with them to feel better about their misery. As a hint of coldness flickered across Christina¡¯s eyes, the corners of her mouth curled up in a slight smirk before she said. ¡°Since you¡¯re so eager to see it, why don¡¯t we let everyone have a look as well?¡± With that, she removed the sun visor, revealing a design drawing with strong contrasting colors that caught everyone¡¯s attention. It was obvious that Christina¡¯s design drawing was an original one, showcasing a unique design style that waspletely different from Holly¡¯s. There was no trace of giarism in her work at all. The moment Selena saw the draft, her gaze was glued to it. It wasn¡¯t until she repeatedly examined the design drawing that she finally snapped out of her astonishment and eximed, ¡°This is the most satisfying piece of work I have ever seen!¡± With a slight smile tugging at her lips, Christina epted the praise in a confident and graceful manner. ¡°Thank you for your recognition, Ms. Selena.¡± Even if the crowd were not professional fashion experts, they could still perceive the differences between the two works. All the color drained from Holly¡¯s face as she stared at Christina¡¯s design drawing. Obviously, this is not a case of giarism. That design drawing is apletely original creation! Holly was painfully aware that, at that moment, she was the one who had giarized someone¡¯s else work. Stumbling forward as if she had lost control, she then lunged at Christina, yelling. ¡°This is impossible¡­ I clearly saw Ms. Selena¡¯s design in your sketch. Are you deliberately trying to frame me?¡± No wonder I saw that design sketch on the table as soon as I entered the room that day. It turns out it was intentional. It was a trap! She tugged at Christina¡¯s clothes and shouted frantically. ¡°You¡¯re a vile woman, Christina! You deliberately used Ms. Selena¡¯s design to deceive me and make me look bad, didn¡¯t you?¡± As Holly tightened her hold, Christina¡¯s cor was forcefully torn open in the midst of their struggle, exposing her fair corbone. Under such circumstances, even the most easygoing person would get angry. As such, using the self-defense skill she had learned, Christina shoved Holly away, causing the other Satisfactory Work. woman to lose her bnce before falling to the ground. She then exined, ¡°I didn¡¯t have any inspiration at that time, so I looked through Ms. Selena¡¯s previous works for inspiration. As for the design drawing you mentioned, it was a perfect piece of work in my eyes, so I printed it out to keep it in my collection. You, on the other hand, have been trying to giarize my work from the beginning, which is why we find ourselves in this situation now. You¡¯re the one who has -issues here, and yet, you¡¯re trying to me it on someone else?¡± The string of undeniable facts hit Holly like a barrage of stones, and she couldn¡¯t believe she was being used of giarism in a live broadcast. This is the same as telling the whole world that I am a shameless giarist! This is all Christina¡¯s fault! It¡¯s all her fault¡­ Benjamin looked at Holly coldly, recalling how she had once shamelessly imed that she looked down on designers from inferior schools and even mocked him by asking if designers from such a trashy school. could even be considered real designers. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to ask her if a giarizing designer could be considered a true designer. Meanwhile, the designers who usually had a good rtionship with Holly instinctively stepped aside, wanting to avoid any association with her. Selena scoffed, and with a tone filled with a mix of pity and anger, she criticized, ¡°You should at least do some research if you want to copy off someone else¡¯s work. It¡¯s hrious how you don¡¯t even recognize my own works.¡± She then turned her gaze toward the staff and ordered, ¡°Remove this person. Since this is your first offense, I won¡¯t pursue legal action against your infringement. However, I demand that you leave this sacredpetition venue immediately.¡± The staff quickly approached and escorted Holly out, ensuring that the progress of thepetition wouldn¡¯t be disrupted. With reddened eyes, Holly bit down on her trembling lip and vowed, ¡°Mark my words, Christina, the grudge between us is far from over!¡± The look that Christina gave her in response was one of indifference, her eyes showing no signs of emotion. She simply watched as Holly was escorted away by the staff Losing apetition may not be a big deal. After all, for some people,petitions were just a starting point, while for others, they served as turning points. Leaving doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that one has lost.pletely. That being said, one should leave with dignity, at the very least. Now that the whole fiasco was over, Selena proceeded to announce the seven finalists, which included. Benjamin, while Christina secured first ce in this stage of thepetition. As for her prize, it was the opportunity to coborate with Selena¡¯s studio. It was the kind of golden opportunity that almost every designer craved for. Benjamin approached Christina and congratted her excitedly, acting as if he was the one who had won the prize himself. ¡°Christina, do you know how scared I was earlier? I was afraid you would present a Satisfactory Work design drawing that looked just like Holly¡¯s.¡± Thank goodness Christina is as capable as I think she is. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. No matter how bad I am, I would never do something like that,¡± came Christina¡¯s reply. The reason why she looked through Selena¡¯s works was purely due to one of the designers she met that night having mentioned it, which piqued her curiosity and led her to take a look. What she didn¡¯t expect, however, was that Holly would enter her room and even sneak a look. She clearly shot herself in the foot this time. Benjamin chuckled and said, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s not dwell on those unhappy things any longer and have a celebration tonight!¡± We really need one after the series of demandingpetitions. Not to mention staying up all night to work on designs has been quite torturous. Perhaps it was because the two of them came from humble backgrounds, for they naturally betame friends after facing numerous obstacles on their journey. The footage for that night¡¯spetition was unedited, showcasing the most authentic moments of the competition and attracting countless people to pay attention to Christina. It even got to the point where someone had already dug up her studio¡¯s ount, which, when coupled with Rayne¡¯s careful management of the ount by posting attractive photos and captions, sessfully made the ount gain millions of followers. The moment Rayne saw the news, she immediately called Christina and eximed, ¡°Boss, our studio has gained millions of followers, and we¡¯re about to reach six million!¡± I can¡¯t believe all the hard work I had put into posting before didn¡¯t have much effect, but a single live broadcast managed to skyrocket our poprity. Christina chuckled lightly when she heard that. She had never been too concerned about these things, but she had to admit it was indeed a good thing to have people paying attention to her. ¡°Fortunately, I have a lot of your photos saved on my phone. I¡¯ll choose one and post an update, thanking the fans for their support,¡± Rayne suggested. Christina had no objection to that. ¡°All right. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Rayne replied, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. After all, while you¡¯ve been busy with thepetitiontely, I don¡¯t really have much to do at the hotel.¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Gossip The next day, a fresh piece of news ignited heated debates. A photo showing Christina dining with several renowned designers had gone viral. The apanying caption suggested her consistent victory was due to their guidance. Those seasoned within the design industry would recognize these designers as influential figures. Anyone, regardless of talent, would undoubtedly seed under the tutge of such masters, which led to a flurry of rumors and conjectures spreading across the inte. Netizen A: Is being able to afford to hire multiple designers to tutor her considered cheating? Netizen B: It¡¯s not cheating. She just has an unfair advantage over other contestants. Netizen C: Even someonepletely clueless about design would excel under such guidance, making thepetition unfair for other contestants. Netizen D: This is so unfair to the other contestants! We call for Christina Steele¡¯s disqualification! Christina felt bitter as she read through the derogatoryments online. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Although she did meet with the designers that night, their conversation revolved around recent developments in the fashion industry, not about herpetition. Christina was no stranger to such online mudslinging. She consoled herself with the thought that as long as she was innocent, the rumors would eventually die down. Ever since Holly was disqualified from thepetition, resentment festered in her heart. Seeing these online allegations, she concocted a n to exploit the situation and amplify the rumors. Let¡¯s see how long you can stay smug. Christina! Then, she pulled some strings to get her vindictive n going. She would never reveal herself to be the mastermind behind this. After all, she only had to pay others to do her bidding. Meanwhile, thepetition was still ongoing. Upon seeing the false rumors online, Selena immediately retweeted them in Christina¡¯s defense, rifying that the contestants weren¡¯t allowed to leave the vi during thepetition, thus ruling out any possibility of cheating. The designers in the photo also shared the disparaging articles and rified that their meeting with Christina was merely an academic discussion. They expressed high praise for her performance and even dered that Christina could be the next fashion trendsetter, urging the public to pay more attention to her. Rayne immediately showed her support for Christina online. The ensuingmotion online was swiftly doused, but the situation took a turn for the worse on the following day. A group of self-organized protestors barricaded the vi¡¯s entrance, shouting, ¡°Christina Steele cheated. and doesn¡¯t deserve to take part in thepetition! She should withdraw immediately!¡± The mor grew louder with each chant. Themotion woke everyone in the vi. Margaret and Nancy, upon hearing that the protestors were ¨C targeting Christina, excitedly urged other designers to join them at the window to watch the spectacle unfold. Christina joined them, listening to the resounding cries from outside. The protestors were perfectly synchronized, and their leading figures even held signs bearing the word ¡°Withdraw¡± in red. Margaret sneered at the sight of the moring crowd. ¡°How embarrassing. I would have packed my bags and left if it were me.¡± Nancy added insult to injury by saying, ¡°Why aren¡¯t they doubting the rest of us? Obviously, they must. have found something wrong. Anyone with dignity wouldn¡¯t have continued to stay.¡± Then, she threw a side-eye at Christina. Two other designers beside her also cast disdained looks at Christina and said, ¡°I know, right? Hurry up and withdraw already.¡± Infuriated by their audacity, Benjamin came to Christina¡¯s defense and chided, ¡°You¡¯re all petty trash who are envious of Christina. That¡¯s why you¡¯re all so eager for her to withdraw.¡± He couldn¡¯t stand watching them ostracize Christina. The uing round was the final that would decide the top three rankings. Driving away one more contestant would undoubtedly be advantageous for them, especially one as formidable as Christina, who posed a threat to their rankings. I bet they are even thinking about eliminating Christina in their dreams. In Margaret¡¯s eyes, there was no one else she looked down upon more than Benjamin. There were men among the ranks of designers, but none possessed such effeminate qualities as he did. Every look she cast. in his direction would bring a disapproving frown on her face. ¡°This is none of your business. This is a women¡¯s conversation!¡± Margaret retorted. ¡°You¡­¡± Benjamin boiled with fury at her admonishment. He was merely stating the truth. What does that have anything to do with gender? Benjamin turned around and tugged at Christina¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We don¡¯t need to pay heed to these people.¡± Christina threw a frigid look at the group and replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing impressive about glib talk. We¡¯ll see who¡¯s the best during thepetition.¡± Substance would always trump style. The two of them went back to the room. Benjamin let go of Christina right away. He had only tugged at her sleeve to lead her away from the gossip. As a matter of fact, he didn¡¯t have experience in any form of physical contact with women, despite his age. ¡°Christina, let me make you some good coffee. Don¡¯t let the pettiness of others dampen your mood. Gossip. Maintaining a positive outlook is the key to designing beautiful work,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°I¡¯m all right.¡± Christina chuckled. She had shrugged off the ill wishes of others with ease. Deep inside, however, she was genuinely touched by Benjamin¡¯s warm gesture. At least there was someone willing to stand by her side when others cast side-eyes at her. Benjamin rummaged through his luggage. After a round of fervent searching, he finally found two packets. of coffee beans. ¡°This is a special treat I brought back from my overseas stint. You¡¯re in for a delight today!¡± As he brewed the coffee, they fell into easy conversation. It was during this exchange that Christina discovered Benjamin¡¯s mother had been a tailor. The world of fashion and design was deeply embedded in his upbringing, nurturing his passion, which eventually led him to study the same. They also found shared ground in their academic journey. Both of them had gained admission to prestigious universities for acing the entrance examinations, but they had to opt for less expensive institutions due to financial constraints. ¡°Who knew we shared such a bond? I¡¯m a year older than you. From today onward, consider me your elder brother,¡± Benjamin said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. However, his demeanor was serious, suggesting the sincerity of his proposition. ¡°Sure.¡± Christina smiled. Just then, a phone rang. Upon seeing the caller ID, Christina held up a finger to Benjamin, signaling for silence before answering the call. ¡°All the online rumors have been dealt with. Are you still at the vi? Has anyone been bothering you?¡± Nathaniel asked. ¡°Of course not. No one is allowed in or out of where I¡¯m staying. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Christina reassured the person on the line. Nathaniel was concerned that she might be facing a situation simr to before. Hence, he called to make sure she was all right. ¡°Okay, remember to contact me if anythinges up.¡± Hearing Nathaniel¡¯sforting words felt more reassuring than anything else. It felt like a warm firece in the midst of a cold winter. A feeling of warmth spread through Christina as her lips curled into a smile. ¡°Of course, I will. Get some rest. Good night.¡± Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Intensifying Public Opinion Christina breathed a sigh of relief only after she hung up the phone. ¡°Was that your boyfriend?¡± asked Benjamin. Uh¡­ That was my husband.¡± Christina flushed, feeling a little shy. She rarely mentioned Nathaniel to outsiders because he attracted too much attention. Besides, she did not want to attract the attention of people with ulterior motives. As if discovering an interesting fact, Benjamin said, ¡°D¡±mn. I thought you were still underage. Turns out you¡¯re married.¡± It was understandable that he saw her that way since she had fair skin and smiled in a way that charmed everyone. It would not be an exaggeration to say that anyone would fall in love with her at first sight. ¡°The details of the next round of thepetition will be announced tomorrow. You should rest early.¡± Christina put down her empty cup and got up to leave. Seeing that. Benjamin opened the door and gestured to the door. ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± Upon reaching her room, Christina stopped thinking about the protest. They¡¯ll leave when they¡¯re tired. Everyone¡¯s got to work, anyway. They can¡¯t possibly starve themselves and hang around the gate to protest. Christina got into the bed and soon fell asleep. At midnight, unified shouts from the outside traveled into the room. ¡°Withdraw from thepetition, Christina! Withdraw!¡± They shouted in unison, and their voices grew louder with each shout. Soon, everyone in the house was awakened. Several designers rushed to Christina¡¯s door and scolded, ¡°You¡¯re a jinx, Christina! Get out now!¡± ¡°Open up, Christina! Deal with your problem now!¡± ¡°How are we supposed to sleep with all this noise?¡± The moment Christina opened the door, she was met with several pairs of eyes that were ring at her as if they wanted to gobble her up. Nheless, there was nothing Christina could do about the protestors out there. It was not like she asked for this. Standing in front of the crowd, Nancy threatened, ¡°Get rid of those people now or withdraw from the competition.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Your problem is affecting us!¡± Margaret uttered in an unpleasant tone while ring at Christina. The two women¡¯s exaggerated words made the rest of the designers agree that Christina had to either withdraw from thepetition or get rid of the people out there. Intensifying Public Opinion. The criticisms made Christina feel suffocated, but she could not just ignore the matter. After all, she was. the cause of all this. ¡°Let me check with the security guards.¡± Christina put on a coat and went downstairs. As soon as she found the security guards on duty, she asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you guys chasing them away? The noise is affecting the others.¡± How are these people standing in the middle of the road for an entire day when it¡¯s so cold? Are they being paid to do this? s, the guard said exasperatedly. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. Everything outside of the mansion is public property. There¡¯s no use calling the police as long as they do nothing illegal in public areas.¡± In fact, the security guards would have driven the crowd away instead of just looking at them if they had the authority to do something about it. Christina sighed, feeling helpless as she watched the group of people shout louder than before. I guess I should give Nathaniel a call. He¡¯s my husband, after all. Trivial matters like this should be resolved as long as I ask for his help. Hence, Christina turned around and approached the door. To her dismay, Margaret had roped in the other designers to lock the door. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re not getting in if you don¡¯t deal with those people.¡± ¡°You jinx! You have no right toe in!¡± Christina stared at the locked door in shock. In the next second, fury bubbled in her heart. They¡¯re too much! What gives them the right to lock me out? Even if they wanted to do that, they should at least give me my phone. ¡°Open up! You can¡¯t do this. Open up!¡± Christina fumed. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be as strong as Hercules so she could smash the door open. Have these women lost their minds? They should give me my phone if they¡¯re not letting me in! The women inside the mansion smiled from ear to ear when they heard Christina¡¯s panicked voice. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. They were going to lock her outside in the cold for the entire night. It¡¯s her fault for being so aloof all the time. Tonight, we¡¯re going to let her experience what it¡¯s like to be ostracized. Meanwhile, Benjamin was infuriated by their actions. He rushed downstairs and berated, ¡°How could you do that to Christina? Open the door now!¡± Benjamin was the only person among them who stood on Christina¡¯s side. Of course, the women would not give up so easily when they had finally found a chance to bully Christina. ¡°Lock Benjamin in his room!¡± yelled someone. Immediately, the others began shoving Benjamin up the stairs before he could arrive on the first floor. Intensifying Public Opinion ¡°What are you crazy women trying to do? Let me go!¡± With no one helping him, the women managed to force him upstairs with just a few pushes. They ignored. everything he said as if they were zombies who lost their sense of rationality. After shoving him into the room, Nancy grabbed a mop and slipped it through the door handle to lock him from the outside. ¡°Have you women lost your minds? Open the door now!¡± Benjamin yelled at the top of his lungs while pounding on the door. Even his eyes were bloodshot. He could not be bothered about himself. All he was worried about was how cold Christina must be from being outside in those thin pajamas. I promised to be like a brother to herst night. And now, I can¡¯t help her when she¡¯s in trouble. The women on the outside high-fived each other as if they were the victors. ¡°Nicely done, girls!¡± With that, Nancy brought the others downstairs. She could not be happier now that the two people she hated the most were locked up. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go to the kitchen and have a drink to celebrate this peaceful and wonderful night,¡± Margaret suggested. Hearing that, the rest headed toward the dining area. All of them had a sense of pride for being in the same boat. Soon, the beers in the refrigerator were taken out and uncapped. With that, each of them held up a bottle. and clinked them. They exchanged gleeful nces. After all, they had formed an alliance after having eliminated a common enemy. While they were enjoying themselves, they did not notice the camera that was secretly capturing every moment in the corner. The cold night breeze blew incessantly outside, causing Christina¡¯s fingers to feel stiff in just a short while. The worst thing about all this was not that she was out in the cold in her pajamas-it was not having her phone with her. Feeling helpless, she had no choice but to approach the security guards to borrow a phone. The guards felt sorry for her when they saw her frozen face. However, three minutes ago, they had just received a call from the director and were told that the director was live broadcasting the scene. They were not allowed to lend her their phones for the sake of the show. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We¡¯ll be fired if we lend it to you.¡± ¡°Sorry. This is being live broadcast, so we can¡¯t lend it to you.¡± Nonsense. This is all for the show again? This director doesn¡¯t even care about my well-being. The current temperature was almost sub-zero. Even though Christina was wearing fleece pajamas, it was still cold without any heaters around. Given no choice, Christina strode back to the door and eyed it coldly. Intensifying Public Opinion They¡¯re causing such a ruckus. I¡¯m sure Benjamin will learn Chapter 252 Selena Saves The Day Chapter 252 Selena Saves The Day The number of viewers watching the live broadcast had reached several million and was still increasing. Angryments flooded the show¡¯sments section. Aizen wrote: At first, I thought Christina was not all that great. But now, I have realized those female designers are the disgusting ones. Someonemented: It¡¯s so cold out there. I¡¯d tear apart anyone who would dare lock me out in that weather. Another added: Someone, help her! I can¡¯t bear to watch this anymore! The nextment read: The leaders of the movement are clearly Nancy and Margaret. These immoral designers should be the ones withdrawing from thepetition. Christina had been standing out there for an indefinite amount of time, yet no one seemed to have any intentions of opening the door for her. The outside was filled with protestors, while the mansion was locked from the inside. Christina was stuck in between and could go neither in nor out of thepound. After scanning her surroundings, she spotted a set of badminton rackets. Hence, she walked over without hesitation. Although the rackets were not sharp objects, she still mmed one against the door. She did not use all her strength during her first try, yet the racket was already bent out of shape. The door did not budge from that. Naturally, Christina realized she did not use enough strength the first time. Thus, she gathered all her might and brought it down on the door again and again, with each strike fiercer than before. Soon, the door handle was broken, and so was her racket. Forcing someone into a corner was extremely easy. All that was needed was to make that person lose their patience. Christina¡¯s expression turned colder, and her gaze grew more piercing as she picked up the other perfect badminton racket and continued hitting the gap in the door. When the banging sounds rang out, theughter in the house came to a halt. Their expressions changed as they exchanged nces. Nancy grew flustered when she saw Christina smashing the door with something on the outside. After all, Christina seemed weak under normal circumstances. Nancy had never imagined the former would be stronger than she thought. Is she trying to break the door? A person from the group was so shocked that her beer bottle slipped from her hand as she remembered. seeing the news of a usually calm woman beating up people violently. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°What do we do? Will Christinae in and hurt us?¡± Margaret raised her brows slightly, scoffing at their worried looks, ¡°What are you scared of? There¡¯s no need to be afraid of her when there are so many of us.¡± They had around six people on their side while Christina was alone. Moreover, Margaret believed they would not lose to someone who looked so fragile. The women¡¯s worries were reduced when they thought about that. After all, they had only chased her out of the house. It was nothing major. An apology was all that was needed if Christina wanted to pursue the matter. The sound of the door being pushed open brought the women back to their senses. At the same time, a gush of cold wind rushed in. The women froze and shifted their gazes to the door. Christina emanated a frosty air, her eyes bloodshot and the tip of her nose pink from the cold. The look on her face gave off an unfamiliar and distant vibe. She still had the broken racket in her hand as if she would throw it at them anytime. Some were so frightened that they hid behind Margaret. No one dared to say a word. Margaret, too, was afraid, but she did not show it. ¡°What do you n to do, Christina? It¡¯s illegal to hit others!¡± I¡¯ll call the police if she actually hits us. Let¡¯s see how she¡¯llpete when she¡¯s arrested. Christina scoffed, ¡°Do you people think you¡¯re worth it for me to make a move against you?¡± Despite saying that, she never let go of the badminton racket. Instead, she kept closing the distance between her and the women. Someone shrieked in fright, ¡°It¡¯s not our fault. They were the ones who made us do it.¡± Finally feeling scared, huh? What were you doing earlier? The urge to hit them with the racket gripped Christina. The atmosphere was extremely tense. Everyone simply gazed at each other without speaking. Suddenly, the sound of high heels cking on the ground sounded behind them. ¡°All of you are full of nonsense!¡± A stern voice suddenly rang out, and everyone turned in the voice¡¯s direction. It was Selena. As if having seen their savior, Nancy and the others rushed toward Selena andined, ¡°Christina¡¯s gone mad! She¡¯s trying to kill us!¡± ¡°Exactly. Just look at her eyes, Ms. Selena. She looks as if she¡¯s going to eat us alive. She¡¯s definitely gone mad. We need to call the police now!¡± ¡°Ms. Selena-¡± Selena Saves The Day ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡± Selena¡¯s tense and stern expression stunned everyone at the scene. She spun around and threw Nancy and the others an icy look. ¡°How could you people leave a young lady out there in the cold?¡± The women were stupefied, for they thought Selena was there to help them. How did Ms. Selena find out about what happened earlier? They could not think of a better exnation than Benjamin telling on them. Nancy stepped up to exin, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Benjamin¡¯s nonsense, Ms. Selena. He¡¯s in it together with Christina. He helped her nder- ¡°Wow. Not only are you not admitting your mistakes, but you¡¯re also twisting the truth, huh?¡± Selena¡¯s expression tensed up again, with her eyshes fluttering. Clearly, she was infuriated. Nancy and the others fell silent again, feeling conflicted and fearful at the same time. Will the uing rounds of thepetition be affected if Ms. Selena gets involved in this? Immediately, some regretted listening to Nancy. Selena had rushed over the second she received a call from Benjamin. While in the car, she watched the broadcast through her phone. That was how she learned about the outrageous acts of Nancy and the others. ¡°Apologize to Christina now!¡± Margaret¡¯s gaze wavered. They still did not understand why Selena was so mad. After all, it was just a prank. No matter how reluctant they were, they had no choice but to say, ¡°Sorry, Christina!¡± s, Christina eyed the women coldly. ¡°Do you think an apology will solve everything?¡± Did they think they¡¯ll be forgiven for leaving me outside in the cold for almost three hours with a mere apology? Dream on! The women¡¯s expressions changed instantly. They looked uglier than someone who got punched several times in the face. They were more worried about Christina taking legal action against them rather than feeling guilty. Things would get messy if the police report messed with their records. ¡°What do you want, Christina?¡± Margaret frowned angrily, unwilling to admit defeat. Nancy, too, piped up. ¡°Exactly. We¡¯ve already apologized to you. Can¡¯t you just let it go?¡± She¡¯s fine, anyway. Besides, we¡¯ve already lowered our dignity to apologize to her. How ungrateful. They did not understand why an easygoing person would suddenly be so stubborn. Anger shed in the women¡¯s eyes. They would have broken into a fight if Selena had not been there. Chapter 253 An Eye For An Eye Chapter 253 An Eye For An Eye ¡°Your actions earlier put me in danger, so I¡¯m going to file a police report. I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re not given punishments.¡± Christina paused momentarily, her eyes gleaming when she looked up. ¡°What matters the most is that you guys will have criminal records for causing trouble.¡± The others grew flustered in an instant.. Thepetition was extremely important to both Nancy and Margaret. They would be in deep trouble if the police got involved and their mentor were to look into it. Their mentor, Zele, was someone who valued her dignity. If she learned about their embarrassing act, their apprenticeship could be revoked. All of a sudden, the other designers panicked. Having a criminal record could affect their future. More. importantly, Christina¡¯s serious expression told them she was not joking. No one would be willing to risk their careers over a trivial matter. Given no choice, Nancy tried getting Selena¡¯s help. ¡°Ms. Selena, I think Christina¡¯s going a little overboard. There¡¯s no need to go that far and make a police report, right?¡± We¡¯re still in the middle of thepetition. It¡¯ll get dyed if a police report is made. Ms. Selena cares a lot about thispetition. Surely she¡¯ll say something to make thepetition go smoothly. ¡°She¡¯s right, Ms. Selena. Don¡¯t you think Christina¡¯s going a little too far?¡± Margaret chimed in. She must want to resolve this matter as soon as possible. Christina said nothing. Her expression darkened as her gaze turned icy. Looking as calm as ever, Selena smiled. ¡°How could I speak on behalf of Christina when I¡¯m not the victim? I¡¯m not the one you should be asking if you don¡¯t want to go to the police station. You should be asking for Christina¡¯s forgiveness instead.¡± I have no right to decide for Christina. Meanwhile, Christina¡¯s gaze glimmered when she heard Selena¡¯s words. Never did she expect the latter to stand on her side. Now that Christina had Selena¡¯s support, she was even more determined to pursue the matter. Several designers shuddered, frightened and at a loss for what to do. At that moment, they felt like their future was hanging by a thread and could be ruined at any time. Margaret balled her fists so tightly that her fingernails almost snapped. ¡°Tell us, Christina. What do we need to do so that you won¡¯t report us?¡± The people behind her gazed at Christina, nodding earnestly. At that point, they would do anything as long as they did not have to go to the police station. Narrowing her eyes, Christina stared at the women who gazed at her eagerly. ¡°I was locked outside for over two hours. In return, you should stay out there for three hours. That way, we¡¯ll be even.¡± What? Stand out there for three hours? We¡¯ll freeze! Nancy¡¯s heart flooded with anger, for she thought the demand was outrageous. ¡°Don¡¯t push it! You were only out there for over two hours.¡± It¡¯s freezing outside, and we¡¯re in our pajamas. We¡¯ll catch a cold from the strong wind. She¡¯s deliberately making things difficult for us. Christina¡¯s brow twitched. ¡°I¡¯m not forcing you to do it. It¡¯s up to you.¡± If they don¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll make a police report to have these vicious women arrested. After hesitating for a moment, the others turned and exited the mansion. None of them wanted to get arrested. At the same time, both Nancy and Margaret exchanged nces before biting the bullet and walking out. They inhaled sharply as the icy wind blew. It made them shiver. In an instant, their body temperature dropped drastically, as if they were covered in ice. ¡°It¡¯s so cold. How did Christina stay out here for so long?¡± Nancyined, her voice bing softer¡­ They were finally suffering the consequences of locking Christina out of the mansion in such cold weather, and that did not feel good. The women¡¯s faces flushed with embarrassment. s, the production team treated them equally and provided them with no help. The former simply broadcasted the scene with a drone. The sight of the skinny figures standing in the courtyardte at night with the freezing wind blowing against their bodies made them look rather pitiful. However, everyone in thements section only said the women got what they deserved. Onement read: Nice one, Christina! That¡¯s how you should take revenge! Selena, on the other hand, did notment on the oue. She simply looked at Christina calmly. saying. ¡°Get some rest. You¡¯re entering the finals tomorrow morning. I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Christina was still shivering from the cold, but her eyes were sparkling with determination. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Ms. Selena. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Selena¡¯s gaze on the youngdy was filled with admiration. After shing a smile, the former walked away. As she walked out of the mansion, she noticed the shivering women. To their dismay, she merely sighed. and walked away. Upon arriving at the second floor, Christina removed the mop from the door handle. The moment she pushed the door open, she saw a flustered-looking Benjamin, his eyes brimming with tears. He looked pitiful. Perhaps it was his behavior that leaned more to the feminine side that made Christina regard him as someone of the same gender. ¡°Are you okay, Christina? Those women are crazy. They locked me inside and stopped me from opening the door for you,¡± Benjamin exined in a panic. After all, he had been locked up for over two hours. He could not help but wonder how Christina survived the weather. Chuckling, Christina assured him, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°How are you fine? Your nose is red!¡± Benjamin found a random fancy scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Only then did he scan the surroundings. ¡°Where did those crazy women go?¡± That was when Christina roughly exined the entire situation. ¡°They¡¯re still out there in the cold.¡± After listening to the story. Benjamin pped and cheered, ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Christina. I¡¯ve got to take a picture of their pathetic looks.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of taking such pictures? I¡¯m going to get some sleep.¡± Christina let out a few yawns. After the torturous hours, all she wanted to do was bury herself under the covers and sleep until she was satisfied. Benjamin turned around to grab a coat before pushing her into her room. ¡°I must take a picture of this so I can look at it whenever I¡¯m feeling down. Go get some rest and don¡¯t bother about me.¡± After pushing her into the room, he hurried downstairs. One would think he had a deep grudge against those women if they saw the gleeful smirk on his face. Shutting the door, Christina climbed into bed and fell asleep with no care in the world. In the meantime, the broadcast went viral. In fact, the number of viewers did not drop even after midnight. Madison, who was in the office in Jadeborough, was ted to see Christina kicked out of the mansion. She supported the other women inwardly, hoping Christina would fall sick from their prank. However, the more Madison watched, the more she realized something was off. Not only did Christina break the door down, but those women were also chased out of the mansion. How stupid! Madison¡¯s gaze then shifted to the protestors outside the gate. Why are they still out there in the cold? Is there another reason for that? Just as she was trying to figure it out, her phone rang. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Come to my office.¡± Chapter 254 I Could Use Holly Chapter 254 I Could Use Holly Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded so seductive that Madison wished she could record it and listen to it every night before sleep. ¡°Okay, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel hung up the phone immediately after she said that. Madison saw Nathaniel sitting at his desk with an icy-cold look in his eyes when she entered his office. ¡°Take care of these people,¡± he said while showing her a video. Madison recognized those people as the ones who were protesting against Christina. Did someone hire those people to do this, or what? They were so dedicated that they stood out there all night in the freezing temperatures! ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this right away,¡± Madison replied with a nod and left the office.. Nathaniel then looked at the picture that he had set as his phone¡¯s screensaver. It was a picture he had secretly taken of Christina while she was sleeping on his chest. He didn¡¯t like taking pictures, nor did he like people pointing cameras at him. Whenever the media interviewed Nathaniel, Sebastian would provide them with pictures that were taken beforehand. Christina was sleeping soundly when the golden rays of the morning sun fell upon her fair skin. Unable to resist her beauty, Nathaniel whipped out his phone and secretly took a picture of her to capture that moment. He had seen the incident fromst night on the news. Just because Christina did not ask for his help did not mean he would sit by and do nothing. After returning to her office, Madison kept making phone calls to follow up on the situation. It didn¡¯t take her long to find out what was going on. So, Hollyes from a wealthy family, and she got mad at Christina for getting her kicked out of the competition. That¡¯s why she hired those people to protest against her. Heh¡­ Does Holly really think she could win against Christina by doing this? It didn¡¯t even do any actual damage to her whatsoever! Hmm¡­ Wait a minute¡­ This gives me an idea! I could use Holly to get rid of Christina! That way, it will be her who takes the fall if things go bad! With that in mind, Madison began putting her n into action. Meanwhile, everything was quiet inside the mansion. Margaret and the others had been standing at the door in the cold for three hours straight. It got so cold that they nearly became human popsicles when dawn was near. After entering the house, -they all grabbed their heating pads and went to bed. There were hidden cameras in every corner of that mansion. The footage would then be edited ordingly and included in the show. The number of viewers had increased significantly since the show was in its final season. It wouldn¡¯t even be an overstatement to say that practically everyone in the country was talking about the competition at that point. With the incident fromst night being the main focal point of the show, anyone with a smartphone would stay tuned for thetest news on Christina. The film crew waited until everyone was fast asleep before repairing the broken door. The protesters who were demanding Christina withdraw from thepetition had all vanished without a trace. Those who didn¡¯t know what happened would assume that they had left after being humiliated by what happenedst night. Things were incredibly peaceful at the mansion. A gentle breeze blew at the nts, causing them to sway gracefully in the wind. It was as though themotion fromst night had never even happened. Selena¡¯s assistant. Min Jablonski, headed over to the mansion at noon to wake them up. With the exception of Benjamin, everyone was practically half asleep when they dragged themselves out of their rooms. Margaret¡¯s eyes had gotten all swollen up. As Christina had more time to sleep, she was feeling slightly better than the others. Even so, she still had a gloomy look on her face. Oh, no¡­ I know this feeling all too well. This is what happens before a cold! One¡¯s body feels weak and lethargic! As though they had all fallen ill after waking up, some of them kept sneezing as they went down the stairs. A few of them had even developed a fever at that point. Min ced a box of cold medicine on the table and said, ¡°Ms. Selena is genuinely concerned about. your well-being. The finals takes ce tonight, so please head over to the venue immediately after you are done eating.¡± She then turned around and left after saying that, leaving the group feeling speechless as they stared at the cold medicine. Given their current state, they didn¡¯t even know if they were fit to participate in thepetition. Benjamin picked up a packet of cold medicine and dragged Christina aside as he whispered, ¡°Have a seat, Christina. I¡¯ll prepare the medicine for you.¡± Christina didn¡¯t feel like doing anything at the time, so she was grateful that he would help her prepare the cold medicine. It wasn¡¯t long before Benjamin came over and served up a ss of cold medicine solution. Christina took the ss over and chugged the solution in one go. ¡°How are you feeling? I could get you some cough syrup or something if you still feel unwell. It won¡¯t make you drowsy, but it might taste slightly unpleasant,¡± Benjamin asked worriedly. Christina shook her head. She knew it would leave her feeling tired after its effects wore off, and she still had apetitionter that evening. Seeing as she did not want to take the cough syrup, Benjamin decided not to push her any further and continued eating his breakfast beside her. After they were done eating, everyone left the mansion in vehicles that the staff had prepared for them. The venue for thepetition was a huge, enclosed studio. In order to add to the mood, the director had the staff decorate the entire ce. The contemporary design went well with the bright lighting and made the stage look really grand. Everyone froze in awe when they got out of the cars and saw the sight before them. It was probably the dream of every designer to showcase their work on that stage and win first ce in thatpetition. Christina felt a lot better as she recalled the main reason behind her participation, and she was determined to give it her best shot regardless of the oue. Behind that grand stage was a tailor room for them to work on their designs. All designers then entered the tailor room and waited patiently for further instructions. The next thing they knew, seven people, who were covered from head to toe in ck rags, entered the room. Oh, no¡­ What kind of tough challenge is Ms. Selena going to give us this time? The designers were snapped out of their train of thought when Selena entered the room. She was dressed in an elegant traditional gown, which formed a huge contrast with her usual contemporary look. Her long hair, exquisite makeup, and graceful posture really showed her status as ady from a wealthy family. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Ladies, what is the main reason for which you design clothes?¡± Some people became designers because they liked the fame it would bring them, while others liked the fortune they could make out of it. The designers simply stood there and stared nkly at Selena in silence. ¡°Clothes are meant to be worn by everyone, not as a status symbol nor a fashion statement. They are. supposed to help one discover one¡¯s true self!¡± Everyone found themselves stunned, or, rather, they were confused by what she said. Help others discover their true selves? Chapter 255 Discovering Oneself Chapter255Discovering Oneself None of them understood the meaning of those words. Selena knew she had achieved her goal when she saw the confused looks on their faces. ¡°I want each of you to pick one out of these seven random strangers and help them discover their true selves.¡± So, those people behind her are our models? Those ck rags are covering their bodies entirely, so we can¡¯t even see their faces, let alone their figures! What if we end up picking a model with an unpleasant body shape? That could easily cost us thepetition! This is way too risky! With that in mind, Margaret decided to speak her mind even if it would sound offensive. ¡°This isn¡¯t very fair, Ms. Selena. We¡¯re designers, so we should design clothes that look unique and contemporary instead of giving random strangers makeovers.¡± We went to prestigious schools and spent day and night in tailor rooms so that our designs would be famous all over the world! How could they judge our capabilities using random strangers they picked off the street? This is unfair to us! ¡°That¡¯s right! Could you please change the theme, Ms. Selena? Maybe make it a retro theme or something?¡± Nancy added. The rest of the designers agreed with Margaret and Nancy. These people might not even know how to do a catwalk, which would render our designspletely useless! There¡¯s no point in working hard to make the best outfit if the model can¡¯t bring out the best in it! How could Ms. Selena toy with us like this? Could it be that she has secretly selected a good¨C looking model for Christina to help her win? The mere thought of that was enough to put a displeased frown on their faces. However, Selena showed no intention of changing her mind. ¡°Thepetition is about to begin. Those of you who do not wish to participate in it may leave now!¡± The designers were stunned by her decision to stand firm. Having ovee so many difficult obstacles just to get into the finals, there was no way they would give up so easily. Min then walked up to them with a box and said, ¡°To ensure that the process is fair for everyone, we will have you draw lots to choose your model.¡± Drawing lots, huh? That seems fair. At the very least, no one would be able to cheat or fake the results. With that in mind, Margaret stepped forward and picked out a card from the box. Upon examining her card, she saw it had the number seven written on it. Realizing that it was impossible to change the rules of thepetition, the other designers followed suit and hoped that they would get a decent model. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Christina and Benjamin were thest ones to draw lots from the box. The model numbers they got were four and six, respectively. After being assigned to a model each, they walked up to their respective models without even knowing what they looked like. Christina ripped off the ck cloth on her model after a brief moment of hesitation, only to freeze in shock when she saw the person in front of her. Wait a minute¡­ She looks more like a homeless person than a random stranger from the streets! Her clothes are tattered, and her fingernails have turned purple from the cold! How does she even survive the freezing temperatures in those thin pants of hers? She looked so terrifying that some of the designers screamed upon seeing her. One of the designers¡® legs gave out beneath her, causing her to slump weakly to the floor. ¡°What the f*ck? She looks so scary!¡± Nancy eximed in terror and crawled backward on all fours. Everyone else removed the rags from their models as well. Sure enough, the models were all homeless men and women in their twenties. The clothes they had on were filthy and tattered. Some of them were held in ce with stitches, but holes could still be seen on them regardless. They looked no different from beggars on the streets with their worn¨Cout clothes and filthy appearance. In fact, they looked so dirty that one would feel soiled simply by breathing the same air as them. Due to their being homeless, they had long since gotten used to people viewing them with disgust. Even so, seeing the look of fear and disgust in the designers¡® eyes still made them feel incredibly ufortable. Only those who had experienced such treatment would understand how they felt. As the designers had never seen such people in their lives, they were all scared out of their wits and ran crying toward Selena. ¡°These people could be carrying diseases, Ms. Selena! We don¡¯t want to go near them!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Ms. Selena! Just look at how filthy their clothes are! It¡¯s so disgusting!¡± ¡°Could you please get us another batch of models?¡± Selena¡¯s expression slid into a frown as her face clouded over. ¡°What are you girls saying, huh? Do you really think I wouldn¡¯t have the models undergo a health screening beforehand?¡± she snapped at them sternly. The designers all fell silent when they heard that. ¡°It¡¯s true that these models are homeless people, but I have put them all through aprehensive health screening and got them all to clean themselves thoroughly in the shower. As for the clothes, we wanted to keep them on the models so that you girls could understand the models better. You have four hours to give them aplete makeover. Thepetition has begun, and it will not stop for any one of you. I will not change any of the rules either, so those of you who would like to forfeit may do so now. Otherwise, proceed to work on your model!¡± Selena continued with an authoritative voice. All the designers in the room remained silent. None of them dared protest any further as they made their way back to their respective workstations. The cameras installed in all four corners of the room captured everything on video and streamed it online. The director couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Selena¡¯s brilliant idea. He didn¡¯t know why Selena chose to use homeless people as models, but her decision had helped him achieve the desired effect, so he didn¡¯t mind it one bit. It wasn¡¯t long before the livestream garnered millions of viewers, all of which were expressing their shock in thements section. Ament read: Whoa¡­ Using homeless people as models? This is way too scary for me! I¡¯d have forfeited thepetition if I were them! I wish I had half the courage of those designers¡­ Is Ms. Selena doing this to punish them for what they didst night? Good luck, Christina! After taking a moment to regain herposure, Christina lifted her head and took a good look at her model. She appears to be twenty¨Csix or twenty¨Cseven years old. Because she has been out in the sun for prolonged periods of time with no skin care at all, there are a lot of spots on her skin, and her lips have a few deep cracks on them. Putting those aside, however, she does have a decent figure. She¡¯s slim and has hardly any excess body fat anywhere. Noticing that the woman felt a little insecure and awkward from her staring, Christina shed her a smile and said, ¡°Hi, my name is Christina Steele, and I will be your designer for today. I¡¯m going to take waist measurement, okay?¡± The woman was stunned when she saw Christina¡¯s beautiful smile. How long has it been since someone smiled at me like this? ¡°Okay,¡± she replied awkwardly with a nod. Christina then pulled out her measuring tape and noted down the woman¡¯s waist measurement. Chapter 256 Competition Chapter 256 Competition Meanwhile, Benjamin was matched with a male model. Without any ado, he took up the measuring tape and began taking notes. ¡°Do you mind taking off your coat? I think the measurement will be more urate without it,¡± Benjamin suggested. The man was confused, for his rugged and unkempt appearance had warded off many. They were afraid and disgusted by him, but the designer before him was behaving differently. Despite the initial shock in his eyes when they first met, heposed himself quickly and seemed unperturbed at that moment. From howfortable Benjamin was around him, the model felt he was treated as Benjamin¡¯s equal. ¡°It¡¯s dirty, though,¡± the model blurted. Benjamin looked up from the design board and rested his hands on his waist, saying casually, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Ms. Selena said we have nothing to worry about hygiene. Don¡¯t tell me you feel self¨Cconscious.¡± Now that Benjamin put it that way, the model felt his reluctance made him seem petty. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± he replied as he took off his coat, revealing his muscr body since that was the only thing he was wearing. Benjamin was impressed by how well¨Cbuilt the slovenly¨Cdressed man was. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking,¡± Benjamin uttered, ¡°I don¡¯t understand how a homeless man like you maintain such a good body. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re a real model Ms. Selena sent just to test us.¡± Well, I guess I¡¯m lucky to get a real model while others don¡¯t. The chances of winning will be higher for me. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. I¡¯m here because they said they were paying three hundred just for me to stand here,¡± the man replied. Oops, I guess I¡¯m not that lucky after all. Collecting his thoughts, Benjamin observed that man and began drafting a design for him. On the other side, Margaret was also working assiduously. Her goal was to win thepetition, although it was no mean feat to dress a beggar up presentably. In fact, she felt upset by the woman¡¯s unsightly face, so she went ahead to cover the beggar¡¯s face with a paper bag. Now that she could only see the woman¡¯s body, she felt she could finally work on the design without being distracted. As for the female beggar, she felt disrespected when Margaret put a paper bag over her head, but she remained quiet since the rules required her to follow the designer¡¯s lead. As time ticked by, the live broadcast ended, with the next live stream scheduled for nine at night when the final round of thepetition would be aired. Once the drawings were ready, the designers began hurrying to make the clothes. In a time¨C constrained circumstance like that, they could only present the rough idea of their designs instead of being too detail- oriented. While the designers worked, their models stood beside them and removed their clothes before putting on the freshly¨Cmade pieces. If the designed clothing did not fit, the designers would make alterations directly on the clothing while the models had them on. The atmosphere of thepetition venue became tense as the designers worked away industriously without even taking a breather. They were like athletes running on the track, afraid of being overtaken once they let down their guard. Four hours went by in the sound of the whirring sewing machines, and the grey sky had already turned utterly dark without the illumination of any stars, making the indoor lights unusually painful to look at. The audience was already waiting eagerly for the live stream. In fact, the streaming server almost crashed when the show went live at the beginning. The camera focused on the emcee, who was smiling brightly on the stage. After a simple word of introduction, the showcase began. The first designer to present was Nancy, whose model was a tall woman dressed in a fringe dress. The neat trims on the fashion piece showed how fine Nancy¡¯s artistry was. After putting on some makeup and wearing the exquisite dress, the homeless woman looked as though she had a major makeover. Her aesthetic appearance won many votes from the audience online. Likewise, the second and third models, who failed to make an excellent first impression, surprised everyone with the contrast they made after putting on fashionable clothing. The fifth model to walk the runway was Margaret¡¯s. With a gold piece as the inskirts underneath a dress with a flounce hem, Margaret¡¯s design was considered high¨Cend clothing. Everyone could feel the model¡¯s powerful and captivating aura as she walked the runway. Yet, despite all the impressed gazes thrown at the model, no one could tell from her cold expression if she liked what she was wearing. Soon, it was time for Christina¡¯s model to appear. All the spotlights were cast on a woman in red at that moment. She had a sheer detailed top ornamented with red feathers and shiny pieces of diamonds, as well as ayered gauze fabric as a skirt, making her look like a blossoming flower. From the design, it was evident that the designer had a tutu in mind. With an equally red headscarf which made her look like a mingo, the tall model walked down the runway just as a ballerina would. While ck and white swans weremon, the audience was amused when the model¡¯s attire reminded them of a red swan. Just as the model assumed her position on the stage, the lights suddenly went out. In the darkness, cries of astonishment pierced through the air. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°This is spectacr!¡± The audience was blown away when they saw the model¡¯s dress glowing in the dark. Glistens of red shone vividly as she danced gracefully until she reached the end of the stage when the lights turned on again. Ending her show with a pirouette, the model smiled confidently at the audience. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Everyone was so impressed that their jaws dropped. Selena¡¯s eyes glimmered with amazement as her lips quivered. Superbly done, Christina Steele. You didn¡¯t let anyone who look highly on you down. The other designers who were also watching could not believe the model they had just seen was a homeless woman. They had never thought someone like them could dance ballet. Shepleted the dance with an immacte fifth position, and her spin was incredible. From how shaken up the audience was by the sight, it went without saying that they voted for Christina, propelling her position to the first on the chart after the humbling number of votes in the beginning. ¡°This is insanely good!¡± the staff eximed. ¡°The outfit really brought out the best in the model.¡± Thesepliments were not well¨Ctaken by the designers standing on the other side, for they were confident that the model Christina had been assigned was explicitly chosen by Selena. To them, there was no way a beggar would know ballet. Chapter 257 She Earned It Chapter 257 She Earned It The truth was many others were confused by how a homeless woman could dance ballet too, but since thepetition had not ended, they decided to keep their questions forter. Finally, it was Benjamin¡¯s model¡¯s turn. With a jacket over an open¨Cneck sweater wrapped around his strapping body, the model strode down the aisle with his long legs, giving off an assertive vibe. On a closer look, one could not help but realize that the man had exceptional features which made him look mixed¨Crace.. In fact, no one would have guessed the man was homeless if no one had told them about it. This went to show how well a job the designer did in revamping everyone¡¯s impression. Now that every participant had showcased their work, the audience began casting their votes. However, their votes ounted only for half of the overall score since Selena¡¯s vote contributed to another fifty percent of the final result. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. As the voting session took ce, all the designers assembled backstage while they waited for the results. At first, everyone seemed relieved that the presentation was over and was chatting about how staggered they were initially by their models. However, everyone became edgy as time passed. Thepetition had yet to end, and the results were about to be revealed. Having worked with each other over the past month, the designers had mixed feelings about parting. They hade a long way from not liking one another at first sight. But regardless, all of them wanted to leave the program as the winner. They began guessing who would emerge as the champion. Given how Margaret¡¯s model had completely changed people¡¯s first impressions, the designers believed that Margaret could be the winner. As for Nancy, everyone thought things could have been better if not for the earlier fallout between her and the model. Repulsed by her model, Nancy had earlier refused to go too close to the beggar when she was altering her clothes, so she ended up pricking the model a few times with her scissors. Feeling offended, the model did not cooperate with Nancy and simply walked half¨Cheartedly down the runway, which upset Nancy beyond measure. Faced with that thorny situation, Nancy had made up her mind that she would appeal the results if she did not end up being top three. ¡°There¡¯s no point guessing, guys. Christina will turn out to be the winner for sure. Didn¡¯t you guys see how nice Ms. Selena was toward her?¡± ¡°We did. We all got some homeless people as models, but she got a ballerina!¡± ¡°I know, right? What¡¯s the point of thispetition? Ms. Selena should have just given her the prize.¡± Those snarkyments were uttered loudly so Christina could hear them clearly from another side. She felt hurt when she heard their remarks, but her phone kept ringing as new messages flooded in, distracting her from the sourments. Who is it? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s just some spam messages. She realized Nathaniel had been bombarding her with messages. Nathaniel: Is it cold there? Don¡¯t catch a cold. Nathaniel: Should I go and get you now? I can host apetition here in Jadeborough if you want to attend one. Why do you have to go all the way there? What if you get into trouble? Nathaniel: Are you eating well? Nathaniel: I saw you on the live stream. Remember to take a water break even if you¡¯re busy. Nathaniel: I¡¯m picking you up after thepetition. Nathaniel: Wait for me. Christina felt a weight on her heart when she read his messages. Toward the end, a tear dropped on her phone screen without her even realizing it. It finally dawned upon her why she felt her phone had been unusually quiet the past few days. She had been so preupied withing up with a design that a cold could not even stop her from working. In fact, she had forgotten entirely about Nathaniel. She felt guilty and touched when she finally had time to read the messages and realized how concerned and upset Nathaniel was at first and how he eventually softened his tone. Deep down, she med herself for not letting him know she was doing fine. At the same time, she felt fortunate that Nathaniel did not just appear at thepetition venue to bring her back, or else the situation would have been awkward. Checking the time she received thest message from him, Christina figured it was about time Nathaniel arrived. Just then, the production assistant entered and called for everyone. At the announcement, everyone stood up, knowing it was time they revealed the results. On the stage, they could not help but feel nervous as they looked at Selena¡¯s calm and stern face. ¡°I believe each and every one of you has gone through a lot from the beginning of thispetition, but I hope no matter what happens, you guys will never forget why you became a designer in the first ce.¡± Selena¡¯s words put everyone into deep thought, for no one could read between her lines. No one responded. ¡°All right. We¡¯ll move on to the result now. The second runner¨Cup goes to¡­ Margaret Lester.¡± All eyes were instantly on Margaret. Some felt happy for her, while others thought she deserved better. Margaret forced a rigid smile as she processed what she had just heard. Despite having told herself getting third ce was the bare minimum, she still felt the result was unfair, but she put on a poise front since all the cameras were pointed at her. Then, they moved to announce the runner¨Cup, which turned out to be Benjamin. The designers around him showed faces of disbelief when they learned that Benjamin had won second ce. What? That sissy got second ce? They were obviously disgruntled with the result. There¡¯s nothing unique about his art. Ms. Selena should know well enough to realize that. Of all the designers, Christina was the only one who smiled at Benjamin. ¡°Congrattions. It was a job well done!¡± Benjamin was moved by the kind gesture. While others were second¨Cguessing the legitimacy of his achievement, Christina was the only one who congratted him earnestly. ¡°Thank you, Christina.¡± However, disapproving voices grew more severe as the designers uttered increasingly scathing remarks. In fact, Nancy even rolled her eyes at him. For now, her only hope was getting first ce. Well, my work is better than Margaret¡¯s, so I won¡¯t be surprised if I¡¯m the champion. Everyone held their breath in wait for the final revtion of the result. ¡°And the first ce goes to the best design tonight by Christina Steele! She earned it!¡± Selena went on stage to give her the award personally. The announcement came as a bombshell for Christina, who felt her heart skip a beat and the blood in her body rage. She turned emotional as she recalled how hard she had worked over the past month to pass the evaluation. No one could understand how helpless and alone she had felt when the others chased her out of the mansion, but she managed to pull through the toughest time. Sometimes, she felt tempted to call Nathaniel to bring her back to Jadeborough, but in hindsight, she was d she persevered, for the result was all worth it. Apuse resounded around Christina, and she snapped back and smiled at the crowd, but before she could even savor the moment of sess, people started throwing words of mockery. ¡°I bet the winners were selected internally beforehand. There¡¯s no way someone like her could get a pr¨ªze for that kind of work.¡± Chapter 258 The Truth Chapter 258 The Truth Christina¡¯s victorious moment was short¨Clived when everyone began casting doubtful nces at her. Her face fell, and a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes. No one would feel good in a situation like that, but Nancy could not be bothered when she stood forward and questioned unapologetically, ¡°Ms. Selena, please exin why all of us got homeless beggars as models while Christina got a ballerina. This is tant partiality!¡± Since she did not win any awards, Nancy figured she had nothing to lose, so she challenged Selena outright about Christina¡¯s special treatment. This is so unfair! Faced with Nancy¡¯s interrogation, Christina felt the urge to confront Nancy and divulge the truth about the models, but Selena beat her to it. ¡°Watch your tongue. Who gave you the right to challenge me? Zele?¡± Selena fumed. She was defensive because Nancy had challenged her despite her specifying that thepetition would be carried out fairly. ¡°I¡­¡± Nancy was suddenly stumped. She participated in thepetition because Zele had asked her to and even requested that she bring home an award. Now that things had turned out like that, she would only fall out of Zele¡¯s favor, and the thought of it made Nancy detest Christina even more. Her dissatisfaction was so strong she felt like throwing Christina off the stage and snatching her award from her. It was apparent that other designers were on her side from the discontent written all over their faces. They could not see why Christina¡¯s work was better than theirs. Reading the room, Selena addressed all of them without the slightest hint of pity in her voice. ¡°I told all of you never to forget why you became a designer in the first ce, didn¡¯t I?¡± Perplexed, the designers looked at one another, trying to guess what Selena was trying to get at. ¡°Do you want to know why you lost?¡± Selena asked with her face darkened. ¡°First, you guys are not as capable. Second, none of you took it to heart to get to know your models. I¡¯ll show you who your models really are now.¡± As the music began ying again, all the designers found themselves dumbfounded, except for Christina, who seemed cool as a cucumber, as if she had seen through everything right from the beginning. The next thing everyone knew, a group of professional models appeared on the stage one after another, moving down the runway with the perfect catwalk. Their strides were swift, and their gazes were firm. From how finely toned their bodies were, it was not hard to tell that they had put in some hard work to maintain them. However, despite all these telling signs that they were professionally trained, the designers had mistaken them for homeless people because of their shabby clothes. More importantly, out of all the models assigned to the designers, only Christina¡¯s was not a professional model but a ballerina. That was why she had danced her way through the show. On that note, the other designers had had the upper hand over her but they had still lost because of their carelessness. The revtion left the designers ashamed of themselves. Looking at the experienced models walking in their skilled steps, the designers felt their egos getting trampled on. ¡°Is it clear now why you lost?¡± Selena asked coldly. ¡°Not only are all of you not cut for it, but you are also narrow¨Cminded. All of you are sore losers. You all need to learn to be a human before being a designer.¡± Her words left the designers feeling embarrassed, but one of them went forward immediately and apologized to Christina, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. You won because you deserve it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Christina replied, nodding slightly in surprise. One after another, the designers took turns congratting her before going off the stage. The truth was all of them had known that Christina was the best among them, but blinded by jealousy, they had joined those who wanted to tear Christina down. Now that Selena¡¯s words spoke sense into them, they realized they should celebrate others¡® achievements instead of wallowing in jealousy. Likewise, Margaret realized she had won third prize merely because she had put in rtively more effort than the rest out of her desire to win, not because she had paid any attention to her model. Still, she felt disgruntled that that was the reason why Christina won. Just like that, the meaningful event ended amidst the audience¡¯s praises. While Selena was famed as an extraordinary designer, that was the first time everyone had witnessed for themselves what was so special about her. With everyone going home, the film crew began a celebration for the winners, but Christina seemed distracted with her gaze wandering in the crowd, trying to locate Nathaniel. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s your big day today. Why don¡¯t we go to the party together?¡± Selena asked warmly. She had not forgotten about her promise to recruit the champion of thepetition to her studio and was looking forward to working with Christina. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. However, Christina was not as enthusiastic. She had looked around a few times but still could not find Nathaniel. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Selena. I have something on tonight, so I might not be able to make it to the party. What about we do a rain check? It¡¯ll be my treat.¡± Knowing far too well what the look on Christina¡¯s face meant, Selena replied, ¡°Of course. Happy moments should be spent with the people you love. We can always meet up next time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ms. Selena. I promise I will make it up to you. I¡¯ll definitely get back to you.¡± Just as she spoke, Christina spotted a familiar figure in the crowd. Although the surrounding was dim, Christina recognized him at first sight. There was no way she would overlook his tall build and dark eyes that reminded her of the sparkling stars in the night. His charming face had never failed to catch her attention among all the other men. ¡°I got to go, Ms. Selena. See you.¡± With that, Christina turned and walked away. Somehow, she hoped she had longer legs which could bring her to Nathaniel faster. Just as she was going closer to him, a few crews blocked her way, pushing their equipment through and forcing Christina to stop where she was. She waved her trophy at him excitedly, dying to close the distance that made him seem so far apart. Nathaniel¡¯s face lit up in a smile when he saw her. His smile was so warm Christina felt it could melt the winter snow. Luckily for the couple, the crew went past quickly. Christina¡¯s walk broke into a run as she went to Nathaniel, but because she was too focused on him, she tripped over the wires on the ground and fell forward. Chapter 259 Christina Injured Chapter 259 Christina Injured ¡°Are you all right?¡± A gentle voice entered Christina¡¯s ears as she plunged into his warm and solid chest, her heart pounding uncontrobly. She looked up, blinked, and shed a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Nathaniel held her up, gently massaged her cheeks with his fingers, and looked at her affectionately. ¡°You lost weight.¡± Her face was round and chubby, akin to fluffy cotton candy, tempting him to steal a pinch of sweetness at every passing moment. Christina tilted her adorable face, defending herself. ¡°I eat well every day, so it¡¯s impossible for me to lose weight due to hunger. I guess I lost weight because I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Nathaniel burst intoughter and stroked her head. ¡°Come, let¡¯s head back to the hotel.¡± It was gettingte, and he did not want Christina to feel exhausted, knowing that ate-night journey would undoubtedly take a toll on her energy. ¡°All right. Give me a moment. I need to pack my things first.¡± Christina left her belongings backstage as she rushed over to meet him. Just when Nathaniel thought of apanying her, he received a call from Madison. Upon noticing that, Christina said, ¡°You should take the call. It could be something important that she needs to discuss with you. I can handle packing my things myself.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll wait for you here, then.¡± After Christina nodded in agreement, she turned around. Nathaniel proceeded to answer the call. In a soothing voice, Madison said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, there¡¯s a minor issue with the production of a batch of leather materials at the factory. The suppliers we agreed upon for the raw materials are nning on increasing their prices. I¡¯ve already emailed you the information of several suppliers. Please let me know once you¡¯ve decided which supplier you want to go with.¡± Nathaniel muttered a response before hanging up the call. Just when he was about to walk into the studio, a crew member ran out and eximed, ¡°A designer is injured! Call the ambnce!¡± All the designers who participated in thepetition had left the studio, whereas the director, Selena, Benjamin, and Margaret were at the celebration party. Those who stayed back were crew members tasked to clean up the premises. When the other crew members were still in a daze, a tall figure charged into the studio like a fierce beast. The crew member continued shouting, ¡°Stop looking. Call the ambnce! The designer suffered a severe loss of blood.¡± Another crew member came to his sense and called the ambnce on his phone. The others put aside their work and went to check on the designer. Nathaniel hurriedly made his way backstage, only to find a slender figure sprawled on the ground amidst a cluster of sewing machines. The floor was covered in blood. ¡°Christina!¡± he bellowed with all his might, his throat instantly overwhelmed by the faint scent of blood. Disregarding everything else backstage, he lifted Christina from the pool of blood. Her face was devoid of any color, and she felt fragile in his arms, like a feather that could easily be blown away by a breeze. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Like a wild lion, Nathaniel roared, his eyes bloodshot and his body emanating a strong aura of fury. At that moment, everyone instinctively stepped aside. Before they could take a closer at who the injured designer was, the dark figure shed by in their line of sight, disappearing without a trace. Nathaniel carried Christina into the car and thundered in a deep voice. ¡°To the hospital now!¡± ¡°All right!¡± Sebastian started the engine and pressed down the gas pedal. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. While he was speeding on the road, Sebastian took a nce at the rear mirror and was struck dumb when he saw the blood-soaked Christina lying in Nathaniel¡¯s arms. Just a few moments ago, he received the news of Christina winning the award from the live stream, and now she¡¯s injured and unconscious. How did that happen? He did not dare to inquire about what had happened. The somber expression on Nathaniel¡¯s face sent shivers down Sebastian¡¯s spine. It was as if he was prepared to unleash hell at any moment. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s fragile body tightly, still feeling the warmth emanating from her. The attack had clearlye from behind, as the back of her head on the right side continued to bleed profusely, staining Nathaniel¡¯s white shirt crimson. You wouldn¡¯t have been injured if I had gone in with you. But you¡¯re going to be okay, Christina. You¡¯ll be fine. Nathaniel¡¯s heart was overwhelmed with guilt. He could feel as if someone was squeezing his heart tightly, causing him unbearable pain and suffocating him. Whoever hurt you, I¡¯ll skin their skin and break their bones! Soon, the car pulled up next to the hospital entrance. With Christina in his arms, Nathaniel hastily got out of the car and sprinted toward the emergency room, heedless of the still-open car door. ¡°Doctor! Go and get the doctor!¡± Nathaniel eximed. Upon hearing the urgent call, the doctor in the emergency ward swiftly moved toward the scene. With a sense of urgency, they promptlymenced the examination of her wounds as theyid eyes upon the pale-faced girl, her body enduring the torment of profuse bleeding. The nurse beside them immediately prepared the gauze and other tools needed to stop the bleeding. ¡°We¡¯ll need you to leave the ward and let us do our work.¡± The atmosphere in the emergency room instantly became tense. Several nurses swiftly coordinated with the doctor while Nathaniel tightly clenched his fists, stealing another nce at the unconscious Christina. He could only stand by the corridor like a guardian angel. ¡°We¡¯ve made a police report, Mr. Hadley. They¡¯re now at the scene to collect evidence.¡± After getting down the car, Sebastian gathered as much information as he could. However, all he could ascertain was that Christina had been assaulted. Beyond that, he remained completely in the dark. When the incident happened, all the crew members were upied with their respective tasks. Furthermore, most of them were part-time employees who were unfamiliar with each other, so they did not pay attention to any suspicious individuals. This would make the investigation even more challenging. ¡°I don¡¯t care what methods you use. We must get to the bottom of this before tomorrow!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. Like a dragon whose scales had been touched, he emitted a terrifying aura that made the surrounding air heavy and oppressive. ¡°All right, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian then ordered his men to search for more clues. As he was walking out of the hospital, he cussed inwardly. The person who injured Ms. Christina is doomed! Nathaniel stood still outside the emergency room, his eyes locked on Christina as she received care from the medical team. The doctor felt an intensified pressure as Nathaniel¡¯s prating gaze bore into him. Even though he understood the man was only concerned about the patient¡¯s condition, his overwhelming presence made it difficult to ignore. Thankfully, that did not hinder the doctor from carrying out his duties efficiently. After half an hour, the wound was properly treated. Luckily, the injury wasn¡¯t deep enough to necessitate stitches. Once the bleeding was controlled, the nurse helped transfer her to a ward. Inside the private room, the air was filled with a strong scent of disinfectant. The nurse prepared the necessary medications and provided Nathaniel with some instructions. She could not help but steal a few extra nces at the man with a cold and impably handsome appearance. Nevertheless, the man merely hummed in response as he did not pay attention to her. The nurse left after providing him with instructions on the necessary care. Under the soft silver light, Christinay quietly on the bed, her right hand connected to an IV drip. Her pallid face bore a striking resemnce to a radiant moon, while her slender frame exuded a fragility that tugged at the heartstrings of those who beheld her. Chapter 260 The Wrath Of Nathaniel Chapter 260 The Wrath Of Nathaniel Nathaniel sat by the bed, watching over Christina intently while his hand held onto hers. ording to the doctor, her injury wasn¡¯t too serious, and she would wake up once the anesthesia wore off. Still, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but worry. Christina would surely be terrified if she were to wake up and not see him next to her. Outside the window, the pitch-ck sky began to glower in what felt like a blink of an eye. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . As the morning rays seeped into the room at dawn, Nathaniel finally realized he had remained seated there the whole night. The door to the ward was pushed open, and Sebastian walked in. Seeing Christina lying in bed made him inexplicably upset. ¡°We¡¯ve got the culprit, Mr. Hadley, but we¡¯re waiting for the police to interrogate them before we can move on to the next step,¡± he leaned into Nathaniel¡¯s ear and reported. Thetter¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his wrath instantly permeated the air in the entire room. ¡°Follow the police closely. I want to know every single detail.¡± There¡¯s no way they¡¯d attack her without reason. They wouldn¡¯t do that just because they wanted to steal her work. Someone must be behind this whole incident. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sebastian answered and left right away. A nurse came in to rece Christina¡¯s bag a whileter, and she couldn¡¯t help but nce at the man sitting nearby. He was extraordinarily handsome but looked so icy that one might get frostbite just from being gazed at by him. ¡°Ah! It hurts¡­¡± A meek voice cried out softly. After a long slumber, Christina finally opened her eyes only to shut them immediately due to the ring sunlight. A wave of pain came from the back of her head, causing her to nearly pass out again ¡°I¡¯ll get the doctor!¡± the nurse announced hastily upon seeing her wake up. After her eyes had adjusted to the light, Christina opened them once again to observe her surroundings. Then, it dawned on her that she was in a hospital ward after seeing the white walls. Her chest tightened momentarily before easing up. ¡°Christina! You¡¯re awake.¡± Nathaniel rushed over to the bedside and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She¡¯s not feverish. Thank goodness. Like azy kitten, Christina leaned into his arms, appearing as though she hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock. ¡°Does it hurt anywhere?¡± Nathaniel asked, holding her by the shoulders. ¡°Yeah. My head hurts so much. Is it bleeding? I remember someone hitting me from behind¡­¡± Christina tried to remember what she saw before losing consciousness. She felt as if she had seen that man before. I think he was one of the guys who tried to hurt me back at the mansion. Are these people for real? They came all the way to thepetition just to look for me? What did I ever do to make someone try to get back at me like this? Nathaniel caressed her head as he gazed at her tenderly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve caught the guy, and the police are interrogating him now. We¡¯ll be sure to get something out of him.¡± Christina scoffed. ¡°Those guys are crazy. We can¡¯t let him off no matter what.¡± She was supposed to celebrate her joyous victory with Nathaniel today, but now, everything had been ruined. As the two exchanged a few more words, the doctor entered and gave Christina a full-body check-up. Although the woman wasn¡¯t in any serious condition, the doctor suggested she remain hospitalized since her injury hadn¡¯t healed. She didn¡¯t need stitches, but there was a risk of the wound tearing by ident, so it was best if she stayed for a few days and left only after a scab had formed. The nurse returned at noon to change Christina¡¯s dressing, and thetter yelped in pain. ¡°Oww! It hurts!¡± How she wanted her assant to be struck the exact same way so he could feel how much pain she was in now. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened each time she cried out. ¡°Be more gentle,¡± he even warned. The nurse was at a loss, for she was already being as gentle as she could. It was just a simple task that she had practiced countless times, but for some reason, it suddenly began to feel a little foreign to her. ¡°I¡¯m being as gentle as I can, but there are nerves everywhere around the wound. I can¡¯t do this in a way that wouldn¡¯t hurt at all. If it¡¯s too much to bear, shall I get the doctor to give you some anesthesia?¡± The mere thought of getting anesthetized threw Christina off. While the drug would ease her pain, it would also make her head spin all day, and she really didn¡¯t want that. ¡°No¡­ No. I don¡¯t want anesthesia,¡± she whimpered. ¡°Keep going. I¡¯ll bear with it.¡± The nurse continued, but no matter how gentle she was, the pain remained. Thankfully, it didn¡¯t take her long to finish. Letting out a sigh, Christina realized how much sweat had gathered on her palm while gripping Nathaniel¡¯s hand. There was a huge scowl on the man¡¯s face, too, as though he was the one who had gone through all that pain. Christina touched the gauze covering her wound. She didn¡¯t have the courage to look into a mirror and had no idea what she looked like with a head full of bandages. -The thought of her current appearance made her swear at her assant internally. That b*stard! The police should really lock up a dangerous guy like him. A rumbling noise rang out inside the quiet room, and the woman clutched her stomach like a puppy needing care. ¡°I¡¯m hungry, Nathaniel.¡± Feeling sorry, Nathaniel stroked her head. ¡°Sebastian¡¯s on the way with some food.¡± ¡°Thank goodness my mouth isn¡¯t injured,¡± Christina grumbled, puffing her cheeks. ¡°I might starve to death if I can¡¯t eat-¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that,¡± Nathaniel cut her off, cing a finger on her lips. Despite the man sounding stern, Christina sensed a hint of warmth in his voice-something she hadn¡¯t feling from him before. She reached out with both arms and grabbed his hand tightly, cing her cheek against it to feel that same warmth. ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming. You really are right next to me. Did you know? Right before I passed out, all I could think of was you.¡± As her mind began to buzz, the only person she believed could help her was Nathaniel. That was the exact moment she realized how important he was to her. The woman sniffed, and as soon as she nced up slightly, a warm pair of lips engulfed hers. In that instant, Nathaniel¡¯s scent infiltrated every part of her body-from her lungs to her head, cells, and event nerves. She hugged the man¡¯s slender waist tightly, feeling a sense of security swirling within her as she leaned into his firm chest. Suddenly, the door opened, and a bright light shone into the room. Christina shoved Nathaniel away in fright and hid under her nket, her cheeks feeling as though they were on fire. This is so embarrassing! Is it a doctor who came in? Oh, God! What would he think if he saw me acting like that even though I¡¯m injured? What if he thinks I¡¯m tacky? Chapter 261 The Scapegoat Chapter 261 The Scapegoat Sebastian stood awkwardly at the doorstep with his hands full of food containers. He wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and bury himself in it. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯ve finished packing the food.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s stern countenance was icy, and his jaw was stiff. ¡°Right.¡± Sebastian robotically ced all the food and arranged them before promptly excusing himself. The room fell back into silence once the door was shut. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were hungry? Come on out and eat.¡± Nathaniel directed his words at Christina, curled up in a ball. She gingerly stuck her head out once she¡¯d confirmed no one else was around. Her stomach grumbled even more at the sight of the table arrayed with her favorite delicacies. Christina was positively famished. She¡¯d lost her appetite since being down with the flu during the competition. Moreover, she¡¯d cked out for an entire day due to the incident after that. As such, it would have been almost two days since she¡¯dst eaten. Christina stuffed her mouth full of meat and gobbled it down, appearing to be sating her hunger instead of savoring the taste of the food. ¡°Darling, you should stop staring at me and dig in.¡± She paused mid-chew and cocked her head at Nathaniel. Nathaniel had never left her side for the past few days and ate far less than she did. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I¡¯m fine watching you enjoy your food.¡± Nathaniel surveyed the food before him and contemted whether or not it was enough for Christina. Christina served him a piece of meat she¡¯d bitten into. ¡°Eating alone is so meaningless. The food tastes so much better when we¡¯re eating together. Your presence even seemed to make my injuries more bearable.¡± She winked at him impishly. Christina felt energized after her meal with Nathaniel. She could even move freely as long as she didn¡¯t identally prod her wounds. The police called the following day, asking her to make a trip to the police station to confirm the suspect¡¯s identity. Nathaniel gently smoothed her hair, exuding a calming presence. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll apany you.¡± His eyes darkened at the thought of the man who¡¯d hurt Christina. If only I could dismember him and dispose of his body in the abyss. The bloodthirstiness in his eyes was fleetingly reced by a serene look on his chiseled face. Christina looked at the ground and made a muffled sound of agreement. She failed to notice the subtle change in his expression. As a victim, she still felt shaken just thinking of the assant¡¯s twisted features. Nathaniel pulled her into his embrace while she was caught up in her thoughts. The side of her face rested against his sturdy chest, and she could feel his strong heartbeat that somehow managed to chase away all her fears. Christina consideredpleting the necessary procedures to get discharged since she would be leaving the hospital either way. Nathaniel initially disagreed. He believed she needed to rest for several more days. Since her work schedule was flexible, she didn¡¯t need to be in a rush to return to work. Christina held onto his arm and pouted. ¡°I dislike the scent of the disinfectant and can¡¯t get used to the bed here. Let me go home, please?¡± She brushed her face against his arm pitifully. The hopefulness in her eyes was as if she believed he could pluck the stars from the sky as long as she said the word. Nathaniel had no choice but to agree. They made their way to the police station once Christina was discharged. The police efficiently arranged for her to identify the suspect once they stated the reason for their visit. They were led into a room divided into two sections by arge ss pane. The police bid Christina to point out the suspect freely as the ss was a one-way mirror. She would remain invisible from the other side. Nathaniel stood beside Christina, his solid presence keeping her guard. Christina¡¯s heart was in her throat as she lifted her gaze and immediately identified a man wearing a yellow jacket as the one who assaulted her that night. ¡°Are you certain?¡± the police queried. ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± Christina replied firmly. When she¡¯d been bludgeoned that night, she could still recall the final panicked look the man gave her before escaping. The memory of it caused her head to ache. She turned to Nathaniel, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. ¡°Can we leave?¡± Christina was not timid, yet it was impossible to remain poised when facing someone who attempted to murder her. The police gave them the green light. ¡°Both of you are free to go.¡± Christina pulled Nathaniel along with her and departed without a backward nce. The entire ce was so grim and oppressive that she hoped never to step foot in there ever again. ¡°Please proceed to the hall to sign out before leaving.¡± Just then, several police brought a woman into the hall as they were finalizing the procedures required before departing. The woman¡¯s hair was mussed up, and her thick makeup barely concealed the anxious look on her face. ¡°What right do you have to arrest me? Do you have any idea who I am? Have you considered the consequences of simply apprehending the daughter of the city¡¯s tycoon, Mr. Jenson?¡± ¡°Ms. Jenson, we are backed up by eyewitnesses and real evidence before issuing arrest warrants, including theplete history of all your transactions.¡± The policeman beside her issued cially. Holly began screaming uncontrobly as she was shoved into the building against her will. ¡°Let me go! I want to hire awyer. This is uneptable!¡± Christina turned at themotion and saw Holly being led away by the police. She whispered, ¡°What crime did that womanmit that she needed to be sent here?¡± ¡°She was the one that instigated the cyber-bullying that happened to you and is also guilty of protesting and inflicting injury,¡± the police responded. Christina was taken aback. We might have had differences during thepetition, but it shouldn¡¯t warrant her wanting me dead! Women were undeniably terrifying when they set their minds to it. Holly refused to enter the interrogation room no matter what. Just then, she caught a glimpse of Christina from the corner of her eye, and their eyes met across the hall. The air crackled with tension as she stared down Christina. Holly had still been a promising designer then. Little had she foreseen the irony of bing a criminal sentenced to prison while Christina was awarded on stage a weekter. Holly flew into a rage out of humiliation and lunged at Christina like a madman. ¡°How shameless can you be for ndering me? If I truly wanted you dead, you would not be here now, filing awsuit against me!¡± Before Christina could react, Nathaniel had already taken a protective stance in front of her as he gripped her hand tightly. The warmth of his palm steadied her significantly. Holly was held back by the civilian police and subdued before reaching Christina. They gave up being civil and carried her off straight away.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Christina, you libeler! I never instructed anyone to harm you..¡± Holly¡¯s screams echoed throughout the corridor. Nathaniel¡¯s face was stormy, and his dark eyes shed with an indiscernible look. Nheless, he was asposed as ever when he turned to face Christina. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Christina nodded. She was confounded while seeking confirmation from the police once again. ¡°Has the case been thoroughly investigated? Is it confirmed that Holly was the one behind it?¡± Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Suspicious Transaction Christina felt Holly had no reason to lie. She wondered if the incident was really unrted to thetter. ¡°Ms. Steele, don¡¯t worry about getting taken revenge on. Normally, such an attempt to injure others is considered a criminal case, and the suspect won¡¯t be allowed to leave once the case is filed.¡± The police officer thought Christina was afraid of suffering vengeance, prompting her to soften her stance. Otherwise, why would a victim doubt if the perpetrator was actually guilty? Christina immediately waved her hands, indicating he had misunderstood her. ¡°I¡¯m not concerned about that.¡± The police officer nodded before pointing at thest nk space on the paper. ¡°You can leave after you sign here.¡± After signing the paper, she thanked the police officer before turning around and leaving. When the two exited the police station, Sebastian was already waiting for them at the entrance with the car. They got into the vehicle, and Sebastian drove off. Christina sat in the backseat and appeared lost in thought as she recalled the events of the past month. Complicated emotions churned within her. She couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that things weren¡¯t as simple as they seemed. Holly firmly denies she hired someone to hurt me, and if she¡¯s really the mastermind, she would have no way to defend herself in the face of evidence. The only exnation is that she might not be the mastermind but just the nderer in the cyberbullying and defamation incidents. In that case, does that mean someone else hired that man to harm me? In the end, she figured she didn¡¯t need to trouble herself with the spection because she believed the police would uncover the truth and provide her with an exnation. Christina¡¯s mind buzzed, and the tingling pain of his wound intensified. She inhaled sharply in frustration. Suddenly, someone ced a warm palm on her head and gently patted her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Does your wound hurt?¡± Christina hummed coyly in agreement, rubbing Nathaniel¡¯s hand beside her right cheek. She was fond of the scent of his palm. Leaning her body against him, she nestled into his arms. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going home,¡± he replied indifferently, allowing her to snuggle down in his embrace. ¡°My head is injured, so I don¡¯t want to return to Sharbrook Manor. Let¡¯s go back to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± She pouted. ¡°By the way, don¡¯t tell our elders about this to avoid distressing them.¡± He caressed her cheeks and agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Christina fell silent and shut her eyes, drifting off to sleep while breathing in Nathaniel¡¯s familiar perfume scent. Meanwhile, inside the detention room, Holly¡¯s bank card transaction was being investigated. She had indeed used the card to pay the group of actors. The matter of hiring trolls to carry out cyberbullying was also confirmed. The punishments formitting those two crimes wouldn¡¯t be too severe even if she were proven guilty. However, Holly didn¡¯t hire someone to harm Christina, so she would never admit the criminal charges. The current evidence included the attacker¡¯s confession and a suspicious payment from an international bank transfer. The police couldn¡¯t ascertain if the person who made the international fund transfer was Holly, so they couldn¡¯t convict her yet. Nevertheless, the evidence was not in her favor. The Jenson family hired the bestwyer to defend her. When meeting with her father, Holly cried miserably. ¡°Dad, you must believe me. I didn¡¯t hire anyone to hurt Christina.¡± ¡°I know you¡¯ve been wronged, and I will definitely seek justice for you. I won¡¯t allow you to be falsely used.¡± Grief and anger filled Robert Jenson¡¯s eyes. Although my daughter is willful, she isn¡¯t malicious enough tomit such a heinous act! Who dared to frame my daughter? I¡¯m going to find the person responsible for this and make them pay dearly! When Christina opened her eyes again, they were already back at Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel carried her into the house and stepped into the dimly lit bedroom. She immediately stretched her body after he ced her on the bed. ¡°My back hurts, having sat in the car for so long.¡± ¡°Where does it hurt? Do you want me to massage it for you?¡± Christina took up his offer with crity. She rolled over on the bed and drawled, ¡°Sure, but remember to be gentle because you¡¯re too strong.¡± Nathaniel wasn¡¯t adept at taking care of others. He lifted her shirt, revealing her smooth, wless skin. He casually rubbed her back in an untrained manner, causing Christina to giggle as it was itchy. ¡°Don¡¯t just knead at random. You should start from the top and slowly work your way down.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± Nathaniel pressed her back with his palms, following the contour of her figure. Subsequently, Christina finally quieted down as she thoroughly enjoyed his ¡°service.¡± Perhaps due to the sedative effect of the anti-inmmatory medication, Christina grew drowsy and drifted off to sleep. The morning sunlight flooded into the room through the ss window, heralding a new day with its warm glow. When Christina opened her eyes, she could feel the wound on her head was recovering well, but it still hurt when she touched it with her hand. She got up, freshened up, and changed into a pair of fresh clothes before exiting the room. Raymond approached her with breakfast. A ss of milk and a bowl of oatmeal were ced on the tray. Normally, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t go downstairs to have breakfast whenever he was busy. ¡°Let me bring it in.¡± Christina reached out to take the tray from Raymond¡¯s hand. ¡°All right. Should I bring up another serving?¡± he asked. She replied, ¡°That¡¯s not needed. I¡¯ll go downstairs to have my breakfastter.¡± With that, she entered the study while holding the tray of breakfast. Christina widened her eyes at the sight of the pile of documents neatly arranged on the right corner of the polished desk and eximed, ¡°No way. You have so many documents to deal with?¡± Sebastian, standing at one side, shrugged and chimed in resignation, ¡°Usually, no matter how busy Mr. Hadley was, he would find time to check the documents and address some urgent issues. However, he spent all his time keeping youpany recently. That¡¯s why all the work has piled up.¡± Christina carefully recalled her time in the hospital. Nathaniel did devote himself to taking care of me, not looking at his phone or answering any calls. There were so many times when the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes after the anesthesia wore off was his handsome face¡­ She felt warmth surging within her chest as those sweet memories shed across her mind. ¡°You must eat your breakfast regardless of how busy you are.¡± Christina took away the documents before Nathaniel and ced the tray in front of him. Then, she turned to look at Sebastian. ¡°You must be tired too, Sebastian. Go downstairs and have some breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sebastian cleared his throat and tactfully turned around to leave the room. Christina picked up the ss of milk and held it close to Nathaniel¡¯s lips. There were sparkles in her eyes, giving her an adorable appearance. He stretched out his slender arm to pull her into his embrace. Christina lost her bnce and almost spilled the milk on him. She finally steadied her arm with much difficulty. ¡°Hurry up and drink. It¡¯s bad for your stomach when the milk turns cold.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel received the ss and took a few sips of the milk. ¡°You took care of me for the past few days, so it¡¯s my turn to serve you today.¡± She lifted the bowl of oatmeal and fed him spoon by spoon. While the two were enjoying their breakfast, a knock sounded at the door, followed by Madison¡¯s entry. As soon as she stepped into the room and saw Christina snuggling in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, jealousy crept into her heart. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, how¡¯s your injury? Did they catch the culprit?¡± Christina was slightly taken aback. She thought Sebastian had told Madison about what had happened to her. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor injury, and the police have caught the person who harmed me. Evil people get what they deserve, right?¡± The expression on Madison¡¯s face stiffened. Then, she chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re always right, Mrs. Hadley.¡±ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Signing The Contract Christina chuckled and got up from Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. ¡°Carry on with your discussion. I shall head downstairs.¡± After clearing up the tes and cutlery, she then left the study. As she was passing Madison, Christina could sense that Madison was smiling very unnaturally. It seemed that she did not mean what she said. Once downstairs, the butler took the tes and cutlery from Christina and prepared breakfast for her. Sebastian already had his breakfast, and he went back to thepany to get some documents because Nathaniel would not be going to the office for the next few days. In fact, he would even be holding all of his meetings online. As noon approached, both Sebastian and Madison had already made quite a number of trips. Christina was seated on a single¨Cseater couch in the study and drawing her designs. Recently, she learned to use the tablet for design drawing and found many functions on it. It would take her quite some time before she learned everythin. While she was focusing on the various functions, their conversation caught her attention. Christina stopped whatever she was doing and looked up. Sebastian was holding onto a folder and frowned. ¡°How did I miss this one out?¡± ¡°A few days ago, I couldn¡¯t get in touch with you or Mr. Hadley, so I left a few documents aside. Both of you have no time to look through them. That¡¯s why you know nothing about it.¡± To that, Sebastian nodded and sighed with deep emotion. ¡°That¡¯s right. We were trying to find out the truth and had no time for work¡­¡± He paused and realized that he should not be talking about the unhappy incident. ¡°Right, I¡¯ll deal with these documents.¡± There was also a slight change in Madison¡¯s expression. Then, she too took some documents and left with Sebastian. As she was passing Christina, she took note of her expression, but there was nothing strange about her. Christina was looking as calm as ever, and she was concentrating on her tablet. Madison heaved a sigh of relief secretly. Hopefully, Christina didn¡¯t notice anything amiss. The moment the study door shut, Christina recalled Madison asking her about her injury that morning. She wanted to know if they had caught the person who did it to her. That incident did not make it to the news. Also, Madison had no contact with Sebastian during those days. How does she know that I¡¯m injured? Even if she has seen my injury, she should have asked me how I got it instead. How is it that Madison seem to know everything? Christina¡¯s head started to hurt as she pondered on the matter. She inhaled deeply. By the time she returned to her senses, someone took the pen away from her. ¡°If you aren¡¯t feeling well, take a rest.¡± Christina looked up and blinked. She then stretched out her arms and said, ¡°Then carry me to the bed, so I can take a nap.¡± Although her wound was almost healed, she had taken some anti¨Cinmmatory medicine as a preventive measure, and the medicine made her tired easily. For someone who had always been fine, she had been feeling sleepy for the past few days. Nathaniel pinched her nose and said, ¡°Lazy bum.¡± He scooped her light body up from the couch as if she was a small and cute animal. Nathaniel stayed with Christina until she fell asleep before he left the room. Just as he walked out of the bedroom, his phone rang. It was Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mr. Larson says he is free to discuss the Yeringham project tonight. Shall I make arrangements for it?¡± The Yeringham project was something that Nathaniel had been looking forward to for a while now. That project involved a huge amount of funds, so a simple phone call would not suffice. There were lots of details that required constantmunication from both parties. Nathaniel gritted his teeth lightly before replying, ¡°Set up the meeting.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sebastian acknowledged before setting up the meeting time. They were meeting that night at eight o¡¯clock in the private room at Seasons Hotel. Nathaniel got out of his ck Maybach in his fitted suit, and his tall figure exuded an air of elegance anc austerity. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Sebastian closed the car door for him and followed Nathaniel in. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mr. Larson is the one wh decides this venue. I¡­¡± Nathaniel would not touch simply any women, but there were lots of women there. Sebastian was worr that Nathaniel would not like it. Usually, they were the ones who arranged for the venue, and they would pick somewhere with less crow ¡°Have you brought along all the documents?¡± Nathaniel cut him off. It did not matter where they discussed work¨Crted matters. Some people loved to do it while ying round of golf while others liked to drink and have the discussion. Nathaniel did not care about the venu as long as the parties involved were interested. To that, Sebastian replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Nathaniel acknowledged lightly before quickening his pace. Once they were in the private room, they could catch the smell of alcohol and tobo. A man wearing limited edition shirt was seated in the middle of the room with beautiful women surrounding him. The moment the man saw Nathaniel walk in, he shooed the women away and stood up to greet Nathan ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯rete. Come. Have a drink first.¡± The two men had worked together in the past and made quite a handsome profit. It was a great coboration, and the two men were considered to be good friends in the business circle. Nathaniel epted the drink and sat down next to Luke. Luke was a generous and straightforward man. He was one of the wealthier and more intelligent ones in their social circle. As such, their conversation flowed smoothly. He seemed very serious when they were discussing the project and looked nothing like the man who was surrounded by many women earlier on. After close to two hours, the discussion wasing to an end. However, there were still some details on the contract that needed to be changed before they could sign it. Nathaniel suggested that they signed the letter of intent first, and Luke was fine with that. Since Sebastian did not prepare the letter of intent, he walked out of the private room to phone Madison and got her to prepare the letter and sent it to them. Half an hourter, Madison arrived in a hurry and handed the document to Nathaniel. When Luke saw Madison, he smiled. ¡°Nathaniel, your assistants are all very good¨Clooking. Is that why people say that no woman is good enough for you?¡± Nathaniel looked down, took out his pen, and signed the documents. Sebastian sensed that something was amiss. Everyone in the business industry knew that Nathaniel would not go near any woman, but they did not know why. Only they knew the real reason. Luke looked at Madison and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a pen with me. Can I borrow yours?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Madison took out a pen from her briefcase. Luke epted her pen. After signing the documents, he handed both the papers and the pen back to Madison. He then nced at her in an ambiguous manner, ¡°What¡¯s your name? I have never seen you before. Why don¡¯t youe over here and have a drink?¡± It was quite clear what Luke meant. He wanted to chat with her to see if he could take things further with her. Before Madison could reply, Nathaniel got up. ¡°Come to my office tomorrow, and we¡¯ll finish discussing the rest of the details. I shall not disturb you then. Enjoy yourself.¡± Luke was taken aback and chuckled to cover up the awkwardness. He stood up and saw Nathaniel to the door. ¡°See you tomorrow. Once we have signed the contract, we will meet up for another drink.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± With that, Nathaniel left with his assistants. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Unrequited She was greeted by a gust of cold air upon exiting the private room, dampening the warmth that had arisen in her. Walking behind Nathaniel, Madison reyed the incident of him spurning Luke for her. Mr. Hadley cares about me. He rejects another man¡¯s advances toward me as soon as he sees his intentions. Lowering her head, Madison smiled surreptitiously to herself. As soon as they emerged from the hotel entrance, Sebastian sent Nathaniel home. Madison stared until the ck Maybach disappeared into the distance before looking away reluctantly. It waste at night when he arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel pushed open the door and found Christina on the couch, exploring an illustration software on her tablet. She wore her hair in a ponytail and was dressed in a long sleeping gown. She wore a pair of white socks, and the way her feet swung idly looked endearing. Hearing the footsteps, Christina turned around. She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Have you been smoking, Mr. Hadley?¡± The stench of alcohol and burnt tobo was especially pungent against the faint fragrance of the room. Only when he sniffed his jacket did Nathaniel realize it stank. ¡°I had business to discuss earlier.¡± Like an agile kitten, Christina leaped off the couch and arrived before him in several quick strides. ¡°At a karaoke lounge? Or a private room? Were there pretty girls to drink with you?¡± Beautiful women are a dime in a dozen in ces like those, with one to light one¡¯s cigarette and another to pour one¡¯s drinks. They¡¯re all the same. Nathaniel is handsome. Surely there will be women who would throw themselves at him even without being paid to. That thought made her feel uneasy. As there were scarcely any women by his side before, she had never considered that a problem. This appears to be something I should keep an eye on. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened momentarily. He caressed Christina¡¯s hair as if he wasforting a small, furry creature. ¡°There are asions when I¡¯m forced to be at such a ce, but I will never interact with them.¡± Christina cupped her cheeks in her hands. Her gaze twinkled like a curious child¡¯s. ¡°What makes you so sure that you wouldn¡¯t talk to them? What if you meet someone vivacious and beautiful? Wouldn¡¯t you want to speak with her at all?¡± Isn¡¯t it human nature for men to stare at beautiful women? Even I will do a double¨Ctake when I see handsome movie stars or models at work. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. His beady eyes seemed to consume her. ¡°I promise I wouldn¡¯t. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± As he spoke, he loosened his tie and exposed his Adam¡¯s apple, which bobbed attractively. He had some alcohol and his skin was flushed pink which made him look as if he smelled like a dish. Christina turned her gaze away from his muscr chest peeking out from his shirt and gave a cough to mask her insecurity. ¡°Hurry up.¡± Humming in assent, Nathaniel entered the bathroom. Christina was back in bed by the time he emerged from his shower. Hey down beside her. Her sweet body scent calmed him. In fact, nobody else made him feel that way. His lithe arm wrapped around Christina¡¯s waist, pulling her tiny body close to his. It was in this manner the couple savored each other¡¯s heartbeats until dawn broke. Luke appeared at Hadley Corporation with an assistant first thing the following morning. Entering with freshly brewed coffee, Madison prepared the documents and theputers on which they could make immediate amendments to any term they would go over during the meeting. As soon as the details were ironed out, they could then print the agreement and sign it. Seated around the meeting table, the five of them spent the entire morning going over the finer points of the agreement, going through several cups of coffee as they did so. Most of the discussion was conducted by only two people¨Cexemplifying the juxtaposition between business and war. Seemingly irrelevant details contained a calcted division of benefits, which could be taken advantage of by the opponent at the slightestpse in vignce. The terms, spanning several pages, were only finalized that night after much revision. Then, Sebastian left to print the recorded documents. Luke rose from his seat and straightened his suit. ¡°We¡¯ve finally ironed out everything. Come, let¡¯s have a drink.¡± ¡°I have a bar in my office.¡± Nathaniel, too, stood up. It¡¯s not an unreasonable request to have a drink afterpleting the negotiations. In single file, the two men headed for the bar in the office. Madison made them drinks. Resting an arm on the bar, Luke allowed his gaze to linger on Madison¡¯s exquisite figure. ¡°I never knew how talented your secretary is, Mr. Hadley.¡± He had heard long ago that Nathaniel¡¯s secretary was the heiress to the Taggart family, who cast aside her birthright to do something so tantly obvious that everybody knew her intentions. Nathaniel gave a slight smile but did not respond. Madison ced two sses of a mix of her own creation, yboy, on the table. Luke picked one up and took a sip. ¡°Not bad.¡± Madison shed a confident smile. She had sought the tutge of a professional to mix drinks. Then, she turned her expectant gaze to Nathaniel and awaited his feedback. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Nathaniel took a sip, but his cid features did not express anything beyond that. It looked as if he had drank nothing more than water. ¡°You should give ament, Mr. Hadley,¡± Luke teased as he kept his gaze fixed on Madison. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to treasure you at all. Work for me, and I¡¯ll double your sry. What do you say?¡± Madison stiffened up. Is money what I need? No. It¡¯s Nathaniel. Since I¡¯m getting hit on, there¡¯s no harm in ying along to see if Nathaniel cares about me. She gave a courteous smile. ¡°Mr. Hadley is good to me. I have no intention of jumping ship for now.¡± ¡°For now. Does that mean you might tomorrow?¡± Luke produced his card and ced it on the table. ¡°Call me any time you change your mind.¡± If she takes the card, it means she¡¯s interested. If she doesn¡¯t, it means she is not. She was in no hurry to turn him down. Instead, she looked toward Nathaniel. I wonder if he would get me to stay if I ever considered another job. For some reason, Madison grew nervous. It suddenly urred to her that she had been in Hadley Corporation for over five years. Everything else aside, they had known each other for a long time, and her work had always been impressive. Furthermore, she had been responsible for the coboration of the Hadley family and the Taggart family on many projects. Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t let me go, would he? The room was so silent that the atmosphere became slightly tense. Nathaniel set his ss down casually. ¡°Not everybody has the good fortune of being offered Mr. Larson¡¯s card. Take it.¡± Madison¡¯s fist tightened around her sleeve. She could not hide the disappointment in her eyes at those words. I thought he would reject the offer on my behalf to get me to stay. Obviously, I expected too much. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Get Your Blood Flowing Madison was beginning to regret not rejecting the offer earlier. She stared at the card, suddenly realizing it was causing more trouble than it was worth. On the other hand, she could not reject Luke to his face. After considering it for a moment, she thanked him and pocketed the card. At that moment, Sebastian returned with the freshly printed agreements. He ced one on Nathaniel¡¯s desk and handed the other to Luke¡¯s assistant. ¡°I¡¯ll let mywyer take a look before I sign it.¡± ¡°Very good. See you again soon.¡± After exchanging several more words of courtesy, Luke departed with Sebastian seeing him off. Remaining in his office, Nathaniel opened the agreement and perused the details they had just negotiated. Being meticulous by nature, he never allowed any mistakes to slip past his cyes. As she tidied up at the bar, Madison threw asional nces at the office. The rays of dusk filtered through the windows and over Nathaniel, casting the silhouette of his strapping figure onto the glossy floor. With a sense of unease, she arrived before his desk. ¡°I do not intend to work elsewhere, Mr. Hadley. Please don¡¯t misunderstand! I only took it because I did not want to embarrass Mr. Larson.¡± By that point, she wanted nothing more than to get rid of Luke¡¯s card. Sh*t! I was careless. I shouldn¡¯t have done that or I will be doomed if it angered Nathaniel. Nathaniel raised his cid gaze that was still as water. His chiseled features were expressionless like the cold steel of a machine. ¡°Your contract with Hadley Corporation is ending soon. I won¡¯t stop you want to work elsewhere. In fact, you don¡¯t even need to pay the penalty for breach of contract if you¡¯re in if you a hurry to leave.¡± ¡°I do not intend to leave, Mr. Hadley. I want to remain by your side,¡± Madison cried, revealing her heart¡¯s desire in a moment of panic. After a pause, she continued, ¡°There are many things to learn by working alongside you.¡± She wanted nothing more than to cut her heart out and show Nathaniel how much she loved him. However, she was forced to suppress that feeling and lock it away in the deep recesses of her heart. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze remained as still as a frozenke. ¡°I see. Get back to work, then.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Madison picked up the documents. It was only after she turned around that she felt the searing pain in her heart. After the office door closed, the space regained its solemn air. Sebastian knocked and entered. After casually turning the lock shut, he arrived before the desk to report, ¡°There¡¯s news from Hallsbay. Our private investigator has found more dirt on the guy. He has stolen and conducted armed robbery. All of this information has been dropped anonymously into the precinct¡¯s mailbox.¡± ¡°Have somebody take care of him.¡± A dark glint rose in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes and he looked like he wanted to murder that man. His knuckles crackled menacingly at the thought of the man who harmed Christina. I want to teach that f*cker a lesson with my bare hands. ¡°Have you ascertained who the mastermind is?¡± he urged. Though Sebastian knew that Nathaniel¡¯s rage was not directed at him, the hairs on his back stood on end at the sight of the hatred pouring forth from his employer. ¡°It¡¯s most likely Holly,¡± he answered hastily, ¡°but she¡¯s not going to admit it because it¡¯s a more serious crime¡­¡± As long as she remained adamant, the Jenson family could still rescue her, given their influence. That was why Holly refused to admit it. Nathaniel stood up, a dangerous air emanating from his hulking figure. ¡°Investigate all the factories under the Jenson family, and send every bit of dirt you find to the police.¡± Sebastian grew nervous upon hearing that. This is going to keep them busy and up all night. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened further like the heart of the jungle. ¡°Keep an eye on Jenson Group¡¯s share price in the paper starting tomorrow. Buy it up when it begins to fall.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Sebastian was not surprised by that decision. Mr. Hadley has always been this cruel. Without exception, those who incur his ire will be crushed. Seated on the couch, Christina was exploring her illustration software. Having figured out many new features, she was well on her way to mastery. At the same time, she had her phone between her ear and her shoulder. She was also having a conversation with Bailey. ¡°Didn¡¯t you mention that Gwh hasmissioned a custom¨Cmade gown? Is it done?¡± Bailey asked curiously. It was only upon being reminded that Christina remembered with a start. Due to her attention being upied by thepetition, she had forgotten all about it. ¡°Oh, no. I¡¯d forgotten all about it!¡± Christina checked the calendar on her phone and found that she had less than a week to go. Gwh has not followed up with me because she had been busy on set, which is why I have forgotten all about it. Having taken the deposit, I¡¯ll get into trouble if I cannot produce the piece on time. ¡°You used to remember everything. What happened?¡± Bailey teased, chuckling. Christina did not tell anybody about her mishap, which had finally healed over the past few days. The scar, concealed by her hair, was not visible. ¡°How lucky of me to have you around. I¡¯m heading back to the studio tomorrow, or I wouldn¡¯t be able to deliver the piece on time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never been in your studio! What don¡¯t I go visit you tomorrow?¡± Bailey suggested. Though Mom has grounded me, I can use Christina as an excuse to slip out. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll send you the addresster.¡± ¡°All right. See you tomorrow.¡± Christina sent her the studio¡¯s address immediately after hanging up. Making use of the time on her hands, she scrolled through her phone to see what Gwh had been up to. There was activity practically every day on her Twitter feed. Some were posts of work, and some were emotional quotes against the backdrop of mncholdscapes. Most of them were sad. In thements section, her fans were asking if she had broken up. Christina remembered during theirst encounter that Gwh said the gown was to be worn to a wedding. Unable toprehend it, she gave up thinking about the love lives of celebrities. Instead, she began researching her client¡¯s style for daily outfits and red¨Ccarpet events. Soon after, inspiration struck. With her tablet, she began sketching the draft she wanted on the software and did not stop even after the sky had turned dark. Suddenly, the dark room lit up, and Nathaniel entered. ¡°It¡¯s bad for your eyes to work in the dark.¡± This little girl will lose track of time as soon as she gets into it and forgets her meals. She can¡¯t seem to rid herself of that stylus. Christina looked up. Her eyes were rather dry. ¡°What time is it? I think I am hungry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s almost seven. Come downstairs. I have the kitchen prepare some dinner.¡± Nathaniel snatched her tablet and ced it on the desk. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Christina rose from the couch and held her arms out meekly. ¡°Carry me downstairs, please. I¡¯m exhausted from sitting all day.¡± She looked like a coy child. Her head swayed, and he was mesmerized by her watery eyes. Chuckling, Nathaniel stood before her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you get your blood flowing after being on your butt for the whole day?¡± he asked after a light scoff. Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Holly Seeks Help Christina reached out to circle Nathaniel¡¯s neck, shing him a charming smile. Then, agile as a bunny, she hopped onto him, her legs wrapped around his waist as she burrowed her head into his chest. She snuggled up against him, inhaling his faint sandalwood scent, and cooed with anguid sweetness. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You have to carry me.¡± Her soft, mellow voice curled around Nathaniel¡¯s senses, eliciting a tender smile. He bent down, leaving a fond kiss on her forehead. Christina raised her head and pressed a kiss on his jaw, her nose gently brushing against his stubble. Her warm breath stirred him, and his gaze darkened in response. Like a wild animal escaping its cage, Nathaniel could no longer contain himself and silenced her breath with a passionate kiss. Their mingling scents filled the room as their reflected shadows on the carpet intertwined with each other. The following day, Nathaniel called in their family doctor to check on Christina¡¯s wounds. He had only agreed for her to return to work when the doctor confirmed that she hadpletely healed. Their workces were quite close, and Nathaniel dropped her off at her studio before heading to Hadley Corporation. When Christina pushed open the door, she was greeted by the sight of Rayne tidying up the ce. The latter turned around at the sound and a glint flickered in her eyes. ¡°Ms. Steele, are your wounds healed? How can you be back at work so soon?¡± Rayne had heard about Christina¡¯s injury from Sebastian, but they hadn¡¯t let Rayne visit Christina at the hospital, so she returned to Jadeborough first. ¡°I¡¯m all right. There¡¯s an order that still needs to bepleted. Can¡¯t afford to waste time,¡± Christina said. She nced at the clock, relieved that she had previously ordered a batch of high¨Cquality fabric. One whole wall of her tailor room was covered in various fabrics. ¡°I¡¯m going to work. Unless it¡¯s something important, please don¡¯t disturb me,¡± Christina added. ¡°Of course, Ms. Steele.¡± Rayne took out her phone and snapped a few pictures of Christina before uploading them online with a catchy caption. Christina¡¯s studio was gradually gaining some recognition, at least within the industry. She also had quite a number of followers on social media tforms, and each picture of hers would garner at least tens of thousands of likes. Meanwhile, Christina was engrossed in picking out fabrics and began sewing after she had made her choices. As she worked, she pushed all other thoughts to the back of her mind. By the time Bailey arrived, it was nearly lunch time. Rayne had never seen Bailey before and greeted her enthusiastically, assuming that she was a customer seeking to customize a gown with Christina. ¡°Miss, are you here to have our boss design a dress? She¡¯s quite talented and just won a championship recently,¡± Rayne praised with a gleam in her eyes. Bailey was impressed by the excellent service and said, ¡°I¡¯m Christina¡¯s good friend. Don¡¯t me. Just help me put away the things I¡¯ve brought.¡± ¡°Apologies for my forthright manners. I should have asked first.¡± Rayne blushed, realizing that she had been too busy talking to even check who Bailey was. ¡°It¡¯s all right. Go about your work,¡± Bailey said with a smile. Following that, the door opened again. It was the delivery of some custom¨Cmade art pieces. Bailey asked Rayne to arrange them while she went to look for Christina in the tailor room. The morning light filtered in through the window, illuminating Christina with the vibrance of sunshine. Bailey pushed open the door and chimed, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon. I bet you haven¡¯t had lunch. I really can¡¯t understand why you and Mr. Hadley are both workaholics. Who¡¯s going to take care of your children in the future?¡± Christina nced up at her, a yful smirk teasing her lips. ¡°Why are you so worried? Would you like me to entrust them to you?¡± Bailey¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. I quite like children. If you do have a child, I¡¯ll be the godmother!¡± Christinaughed, amused by her friend¡¯s enthusiastic manner. She wasn¡¯t nning on having children any time soon, as she wanted to focus her attention on developing her studio for the next few years. As for the rest, she reckoned that she would think about that further down the road. The two women chatted andughed, losing track of time until well past lunch. Bailey suggested promoting Christina¡¯s work through her own social media ount and proposed that Christina should open her own fashion boutique. The profits from one¨Con¨Cone services were plentiful, but they couldn¡¯t beat the potential earnings of a retail outlet with bulk sales. Christina had considered this idea herself. If it weren¡¯t for the affordable rent, she might have stopped the business due to the high cost. However, she didn¡¯t know how to go about setting up a retail outlet. It would involve a lot of procedures and wasn¡¯t something that could be solved in a day or two. ¡°Why don¡¯t Ie and help you?¡± Bailey proposed. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything better to do at home anyway.¡± Christina paused her work, propped her chin on her hand, and chuckled. ¡°Are you sure you want to help me? Would you like to invest in the venture or work for me? Well, I can¡¯t really afford to hire you, though¡­¡± Bailey was quite well¨Cknown in the voiceover industry. A single job she undertook could earn her several months of Christina¡¯s current ie. Plus, Bailey¡¯s secondary job was also very sessful. She had recorded many theme songs for various animation productions. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. We¡¯ll see.¡± Bailey was simply looking to kill some time. She had actually majored in business management back in university. Hence, she thought it would be nice to be able to put her knowledge into practice. After all, she had promised her mother she would take over the family business someday. Bailey recorded several videos and even intended to ask Rayne topile some data. It was already evening when she finally left the studio. Rayne had also finished her work by then, leaving Christina alone in the tailor room, workingte into night. After having received so much money from Gwh, Christina didn¡¯t wish to rush her work or deliver subpar product. Hence, she worked tirelessly until nearly ten o¡¯clock, only pausing her work when Nathaniel repeatedly called her. Christina locked up the studio and turned around to find a dark figure in her line of sight. Startled, she l out a shriek. ¡°Ah!¡± She shivered, her keys ttering to the ground. The woman before her looked haggard, devoid of her once overbearing aura. Yet, Christina recognized her. ¡°Holly?¡± Due to insufficient evidence, Holly was released on bail as the recipient of the bank transfer couldn¡¯t be tracked. She had paid a small sum to find the location of Christina¡¯s studio, hence her visit. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Retreating step by step, Christina took in the woman¡¯s disheveled appearance. A wave of unease washed over Christina. The woman before her looked like a cornered animal, desperate and ready to lash out at any moment. Just as Christina was contemting her escape, Holly suddenly copsed to her knees and broke down into tearful sobs. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m begging you. I apologize. Please, stop targeting the Jenson family!¡± I¡¯m targeting the Jansson family? Christina remembered some gossip she had heard from Benjamin a while back. Holly¡¯s family was well- respected in Hallsbay, which exined her demanding and overbearing temperament. ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Christina responded, feeling incredulous by her usation. ¡°I¡¯m just a designer. How could I possibly harm the Jenson family? They must have offended some other powerful figure.¡± Holly¡¯s face was streaked with tears, her lips pale as she exined, ¡°There¡¯s no point denying it. I¡¯ve done my research. The one pressuring the Jenson family¡¯s stocks is Nathaniel Hadley, your husband. If it wasn¡¯t for you, why would he target my family?¡± Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Please Spare My Family Holly was overwhelmed with regret. Had I known from the start that Christina had a powerful husband backing her up. I wouldn¡¯t have dared to cause any trouble for her. It wouldn¡¯t matter if I¡¯m the only one suffering from my actions, but how will I ever make it up to my family for ruining the reputation we¡¯ve painstakingly built over the years? I admit that I deeply despise this woman to the point that I want her dead. However, the moment I realized she was someone I couldn¡¯t afford to cross, I rued everything I did. ¡°Christina. I¡¯m begging you! I was behind those malicious online attacks against you and rounded up people to stage a protest, but I didn¡¯t get someone to harm you!¡± She wiped her tears while apologizing pitifully. Her frail figure seemed as though it could be blown away by the wind at any time. She looked utterly pathetic. Christina¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. It never urred to me that Nathaniel would do something like that behind my back¡­ ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Her mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts and emotions. Although she had not expected the situation to blow up like that, the recollection of getting hit in the head still made her head throb painfully. ¡°It¡¯s no surprise that you¡¯d deny your wrongdoings now that trouble has knocked on your door. Do you think a few words is enough to absolve you from what you did to me?¡± Christina said with a chilly glint in her eyes. I¡¯m not a saint. I¡¯ve no obligation to forgive those who¡¯ve hurt me. She made to leave, but Holly grabbed her by her leg. ¡°Please spare my family! What do I need to say to make you believe me?¡± I have to get her to forgive me! Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to withstand Hadley Corporation¡¯s spiteful attack on ourpany¡¯s stock prices, and everything wille crumbling down. If that happens, everyone in the family will get dragged into this mess. Holly¡¯s pale face contorted as she continued, ¡°I truly have no idea who is trying to shift the me to me. However, I swear I didn¡¯t hire anyone to harm you. If I¡¯m lying, I deserve to get struck by lightning and die a horrible death!¡± If possible, she was even willing to die to prove her innocence! A hint of doubt rose in Christina¡¯s heart as she watched Holly sob bitterly. If she did do it, she wouldn¡¯t have this anger that only a victim would have. Could there be a deeper mystery to this incident? At that moment, her conversation with Madison that morning shed across her mind, and she fell silent. Then, she heard a ringing inside her bag and guessed that Nathaniel was calling to urge her to hurry up. ¡°You should go back. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this. You won¡¯t be able to get away with it if you¡¯re the culprit, and if it wasn¡¯t you, then you won¡¯t be falsely used.¡± With that, she shook off the hand that grasped her ankle with cold indifference. Seeing what seemed to be a glimmer of hope, Holly could not care less about wiping the tears from her face as she asked, ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll ask Mr. Hadley to spare my family?¡± Christina paused for a moment before going into the elevator without replying. Once outside, she saw a Maybach parked on the side of the road. She walked over to it and immediately. Inside the car, Nathaniel passed her a sk of warm milk. ¡°Your injuries haven¡¯t healed yet, so be sure not to overwork yourself.¡± She nodded. Even in the dim space, she could see his sparkling eyes shining like stars. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± As she took the milk from him, she continued fixing her gaze on him. I didn¡¯t notice anything strange about him these few days. He has been working and spending time with me like usual. It never crossed my mind that he was taking down the Jenson family. Suddenly, she realized she had gotten so used to Nathaniel¡¯s elegance, calmness, and maturity that she had forgotten concealed beneath the suit was a man with a beast¨Clike nature, ruthless and determined. If someone hurts me, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d stand by and do nothing instead of turning that person¡¯s life upside down. Then, the image of Holly with tears streaming down her face popped into her mind. Although what she did to me was despicable, having thew deal with her for her actions is punishment enough. Noticing that she was staring at him intently, Nathaniel turned and saw a brief look of panic on her face. ¡°Do you have something to say to me?¡± Caught red¨Chanded for staring at him, she could not even deny it if she wanted to. She hesitated before asking. ¡°Nathaniel, are you taking action against the Jenson family?¡± Instead of them being secretive, she thought it better to ask him directly and rify the situation. His dark eyes glinted dangerously as he narrowed them, ¡°Are you thinking of pleading for mercy on her behalf?¡± His question hit the bullseye. It was as though he could read minds or knew some witchcraft that allowed him to see through a person. She had not revealed anything, yet he knew everything! Clutching the corner of her shirt discreetly, she exined, ¡°I¡¯m not pleading for mercy. It¡¯s just that I was thinking perhaps she¡¯s not the real mastermind. If it was someone else, but we used her as a scapegoat, wouldn¡¯t that mean the real viin would still be atrge?¡± Rather than thinking of it as helping Holly, it¡¯s more about the fact that I don¡¯t want to let the real mastermind get away with it. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that there¡¯s something we still don¡¯t know. Who knows? The real mastermind could¡¯ve even used Holly as a smokescreen to impair our judgment. Meanwhile, Nathaniel frowned slightly. So, she thinks it might be someone else? Indeed, the police haven¡¯t been able to identify the mastermind until now. ¡°What are you nning to do, then?¡± His low voice echoed in the confined space, and the air seemed to be thinner. She bit her lip. ¡°Could you stop what you¡¯re doing to the Jenson family? After the police confirm the true culprit, I won¡¯t stop you no matter what you want to do.¡± I¡¯m not someone with greatpassion. I just don¡¯t wish to make false usations. That¡¯s all. Nathaniel cradled her face gently as though he were holding the world¡¯s most precious treasure in his hand and replied softly. ¡°Okay. As you wish.¡± Christina broke into a smile, and she gave him a thumbs up. ¡°I knew my husband wasn¡¯t some barbarian but a reasonable gentleman.¡± Her heart was full, and the fear she felt toward him earlier instantly disappeared without a trace. She leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, looking as pleased as a kitten that had stolen a bite of delicious food. The following day, Hadley Corporation stopped all hostility against the Jenson family. Although the family could finally breathe a little easier, they had also suffered heavy losses after what happened in the past week. Nheless, they could only endure their vexation stoically. After all, it had been their fault for provoking a formidable figure in the business world, and they were lucky they were not swept clean. Christina worked tirelessly over the next few days and finallypleted the dress on the specified date. Gwh was in the middle of filming, so she gave Christina an address and asked her to send the dress over. At first, she had thought of asking Rayne to run the errand. However, thetter had followed Bailey out to do market research. Hence, after cing the dress into a beautiful gift box, she went to deliver the dress herself. Upon arriving at the filming site, she saw many people bustling about. No one paid any attention to her. After tracking down the production assistant and exining why she was there, thetter merely pointed in a direction and told her to find the way herself. Finally, Christina walked over to a door and saw the sign stating that the room was exclusively for Gwh¡¯s private use. Since there was no answer after knocking, she opened the door. The room was strangely quiet. As the door swung open, her gaze fell upon a couple locked in a passionate embrace. When Gwh¡¯s eyes met hers, it suddenly struck her that she had stumbled upon a scene she should not have, and she rushed out in shock. I recognize the man in there. He¡¯s the guy with Gwh at that cafe thest time. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Turn An Enemy Into A Friend Tightening her grip on the gift box, Christina wondered if she should knock on the door or just stand there and wait. No matter which option she chose, it would still seem weird. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to have a door and run away from the current awkward situation. All of a sudden, Christina felt a strong force on her arm. Her irises shrank in shock. Before she could react to it, she had been pulled away. The loud thud of the door reached her ears, and the next second, she was held against the back of the door. Francis charming face filled Christina¡¯s vision. His eyes were so alluring that they could seduce a person¡¯s soul. Curling his lips, Francis stretched out his slender arm and pressed it against the door, keeping Christina within his reach. ¡°Don¡¯t you think this is fate? I¡¯m only starting to miss you, and you¡¯re here.¡± Christina was calm as if she had gotten immune to his sweet nothings. Holding up the gift box, she said, ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence. Don¡¯t think too much about it.¡± After they parted ways in Hallsbay, they had never seen each other again. Francis had gotten hurt because of her at the showst time. On the other hand, she was swamped with work after that, so she felt slightly guilty that she had almost forgotten about that matter. Fixing his eyes on her head, he asked with concern, ¡°Have you recovered from your head injury?¡± Christina blinked her eyes. ¡°How did you know I was hurt?¡± Before Francis could exin anything, she came to the realization and asked. ¡°You had someone stalking me?¡± At the thought that someone had been keeping an eye on her, Christina was extremely displeased that she stamped on his shoe. Francis let out a muffled sound and released her arm. ¡°I didn¡¯t, nor do I need to do so. I have my ways of knowing your matters.¡± Christina suddenly thought of the ambiguous rtionship between Madison and Francis. Perhaps it was Madison who told him about what happened to Christina. Thinking about that, Christine was even more disgruntled. Madison and Francis were her enemies. Holding the gift box in her arms, she scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get close to you when you¡¯re with that crafty woman Madison.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Francis folded his arms across his chest and grinned evilly. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± My foot! Christina couldn¡¯t help cursing inwardly. How could she possibly be jealous of her brother¨Cin¨C law? ¡°I don¡¯t care what¡¯s your rtionship with Madison. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t like being aroundplicated people. You¡¯d better not think about hurting Nathaniel, or I won¡¯t let you off!¡± She didn¡¯t tell Nathaniel about it because she felt that everything was just her guess at the moment. If it happened for real one day, she would not watch them hurt Nathaniel and do nothing. Francis had expected it. However, upon hearing how Christina was so defensive of Nathaniel, he still felt his heart sting. His eyes glinted, but he pretended like he didn¡¯t care about what she said. ¡°I told you that I¡¯m just friends with her. Oh, yea. I want to ask you to make my mom a gown.¡± That was a sudden diversion of the topic. Christina didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment. She didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with Linda. Francis seemed to guess what was on her mind. He curled his lips in a hostile manner. ¡°I¡¯ve helped you even when I was hurt thest time. You should return the favor to me, shouldn¡¯t you? Moreover, you¡¯re my sister¨Cinw.¡± The way he said ¡°sister¨Cinw¡± was filled with ridicule. Christina had no reason to refuse him. ¡°Okay. I have the address. I¡¯ll go there tomorrow.¡± Bobbing his head in satisfaction, Francis said, ¡°Make it red. Next month is my mom¡¯s birthday.¡± He would send several gifts to his mother every year. Previously, he had heard her saying that Christina¡¯s designing skills were good. ¡°All right. Take the gown as my gift to her.¡± Christina¡¯s expression softened a little. She didn¡¯t do that to please Linda but to return Francis the favor. Right then, she heard the next door open. Looks like the man who is dating Gwh has left. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. I need to send the dress.¡± With the gift box in her hands, she turned around and left. Francis watched Christina slowly walk out of his sight. The amiable expression on his face turned cold in an instant. When Christina entered the room, she saw two additional assistants helping Gwh with the clothes. Luckily there was someone else. If she were there alone with Gwh, the atmosphere would be awkward. ¡°Ms. Lawson, your dress is ready. Please take a look and see if everything is all right.¡± Christina put the gift box on the table. Gwh side¨Ceyed her and thought that Christina wasn¡¯t someone with a big mouth. Hence, she didn¡¯t need to worry even if Christina had seen the scene earlier. She took out the slim¨Cfit, high¨Cslit dress that was designed ording to her request. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty. I can¡¯t wait to wear it for the wedding ceremony,¡± Gwh said with a charming smile while fixing her eyes on the dress. She was beautiful. Her eyes were big and her face was delicate. With makeup on, her charisma was exactly that of a superstar. Such an alluring beauty was born to be in the entertainment industry. The design of this dress is very bold. If Gwh were to wear it for the wedding ceremony, she would definitely outshine the bride. ¡°If there¡¯s no problem, please drop your signature,¡± Christina took out a receipt and handed it to her. After signing it, Gwh told her assistant to give Christina a check to settle the rest of the payment. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s a pleasure working with you.¡± Looking at the amount written on the check, Christina was a little pumped up. After all, that was her first sry in her name. Gwh smiled. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t refuse to cooperate with me next time.¡± Her motive was simple. She wanted to cooperate with her again. Back then, Gwh was jealous of Christina¡¯s talent, but she acknowledged Christina¡¯s skillster. As someone who paid attention to trends, if the other party could bring benefits to her, she wouldn¡¯t see them as enemies. Instead, she would turn them into friends. Christina understood her. ¡°Of course. The price you offer me is very good. How will I refuse to earn big bucks?¡± Gwh was delighted. ¡°I like your shrewdness.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Christina smiled faintly. Her sweet face resembled a flower that had received an abundance of sunlight. After leaving the film crew, Christina told Bailey about the happy news right away. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal to pay you back for going everywhere for me.¡± ¡°At least you have a conscience.¡± When she was done speaking on the phone, Christina hailed a taxi to head over to meet up with Bailey at the pizza joint. Recently, Bailey had been a great help to her when it came to the details of the studio. Bailey suggested. adding a special logo to the gift boxes to enhance their exclusiveness. After a round of discussion, they made up their minds on the design of the gift box. Bailey even chose a coffee brewing kit for her to entertain the customers. Moreover, she also bought a couch and some work desks. With that, the studio finally looked more like one. Customers would feel amazed by its stunning ambiance. When Christina was working on the design drawing in her studio during the day, her phone rang. She picked it up without checking to see who it was. ¡°Christina, I heard that you¡¯re injured. Are you okay now?¡± Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Chapter 269 A Call From Laurel Upon hearing the gentle voice from the other end of the line, Christina was surprised. ¡°Ms. Shaw, how did you know I was hurt?¡± Christina didn¡¯t tell anyone around her that she was injured. Although she had been back for almost a week, she dared not tell her family about it. Laurel chuckled faintly. Listening to Christina¡¯s energetic voice, she could tell that Christina was all right. ¡°Ms. Selena is my best friend. She will surely give me a call if something happens to you. I called you too, but you didn¡¯t answer. I thought that you were recuperating, so I didn¡¯t want to disturb your rest.¡± Christina was warmed by her words. ¡°I¡¯ve been feeling dizzy these few days and have missed out a lot of messages. I¡¯m fine now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Laurel smiled. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t affect you from designing.¡± Laurel had spent a lot of time and effort training Christina. If someone hurt Christina, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let the person off the hook so easily. Christina understood the kind of person Laurel was. Although Laurel didn¡¯t express her concern too much verbally, deep down, she cared about Christina. In short, Laurel might sound harsh at times, but she was a softie at heart. ¡°Since you¡¯re fine, let¡¯s have dinner together at Seasons Hotel. I¡¯ve booked a private room. We can talk about work too,¡± Laurel said. ¡°When did youe to Jadeborough, Ms. Shaw? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? I would have gone to pick you up personally.¡± Christina tightened her grip on her phone, wanting nothing more than to appear beside Laurel right away. Laurel curled the corners of her lips. She knew Christina was being filial. ¡°Silly girl, see you tonight.¡± ¡°All right, Ms. Shaw.¡± After ending the call, Christina was full of beans. Come to think of it, it has been more than a year since Ist met Ms. Shaw. Looking at the way she was dressed, Christina felt it was a little simple and in. Considering that Laurel was an independent woman who paid great attention to her appearance, Christina knew she couldn¡¯t be too sloppily dressed when meeting her mentor. Christina called Raymond and told him to get someone to send her a few sets of clothes and essories. As soon as Raymond received her call, he reported it to Nathaniel right away. Scenic Garden Manor had no secrets. Whatever happened there would eventually reach Nathaniel¡¯s ears, including Christina¡¯s matters. Even though Christina had stayed in Scenic Garden Manor for a long time, it was the first time that she made such a request. Nathaniel hung up the phone and immediately contacted the mall to send over thetest clothes and essories to Christina¡¯s studio. In less than half an hour, a clothes rack filled with clothes was delivered to Christina. Raymond is so efficient! Christina chose some suitable clothes and matched them with a bag and shoes. Then she applied light makeup to her face. After taking a look at how well¨Cdressed she was, Christina went out, feeling satisfied. During dinner, sounds ofughter kepting from inside the private room. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The waiter helped Christina open the door and invited her in. A fair¨Cskinned, slender woman was standing in the middle of the private room. Her long hair was blond. and her makeup was delicate. There was a mole at the corner of her eye. ¡°Christina,e over quickly.¡± she said, curling her red lips. ¡°Ms. Shaw, I miss you.¡± Christina entered and handed Laurel the gift she had prepared for her. ¡°Ive specially made this for you. Hope you like it.¡± Laurel took it over and opened the box. It was a beautifully crafted rose brooch. Judging from the fine workmanship. Laurel could tell at first nce that Christina had poured a great deal of effort into doing it. Feeling delighted upon receiving such a gift, Laurel pinched Christina¡¯s cheek. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get hurt? Why did you still have the time to make me a brooch?¡± ¡°Of course, it wasn¡¯t done recently. I¡¯ve spent a lot of time working on it. I kept it aside and thought of giving it to you when we meet again.¡± Christina smiled. Laurel caressed her head. ¡°Thank you. Come and have a look at who is here today. Only then did Christina notice that there were two more figures in the private room. She had been too focused on Laurel earlier. ¡°Ms. Selena? Why are you in Jadeborough? Sorry that I was in a hurry to go back¡­ Christina felt embarrassed. At that time, she couldn¡¯t be bothered about anything else. Selena heard that Christina didn¡¯t attend the celebration dinner that night, but it had never struck her mind that Christina would be assaulted. Luckily, Christina was fine. Otherwise, Selena would also feel guilty because of it. ¡°I understand. That¡¯s why I deliberately brought along our contract for you to sign,¡± Selena said. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Selena.¡± That was her reward for winning the first ce. She managed to get a chance to coborate with Selena¡¯s studio. Laurel tugged at her to sit down and said calmly. ¡°Why are you so polite? She has been yattering at me all day long that she wants to see you.¡± Amused by that, Christina chuckled lightly. Her nervousness when she first entered the room had also dissipated. She had long heard that Selena and Laurel shared a good rtionship. Seeing them happily chatting with one another, Christina felt that it was a blissful thing to be able to find a close friend in the industry. Right then, Zele, who had been neglected by them, was a little unhappy ¡°It¡¯s just a small injury There¡¯s not a big deal about it Hearing that, Laurel became displeased at once. She raised her brows and said sarcastically, ¡°Well, my apprentice has won first ce. Of course, she needs to be taken great care of, unlike yours. Not only did your apprentice get third ce, but she also lost to a random designer. What a shame.¡± ¡°You!¡± Zele¡¯s expression changed in an instant. The atmosphere was quite harmonious a while ago. However, it became tense in an instant. It had been a long while since Christina had encountered anything like that. Back then, Laurel¡¯s face would always fall whenever she heard Zele¡¯s name, let alone meeting her in person. Christina wondered what was the grudge between them back then that made them be at odds with each other for more than ten years. By the time everyone knew that something had happened to them, their rtionship had already reached the point of no return. Selena propped her head in her hand. ¡°Can you not get into a dispute as soon as you meet?¡± It wasn¡¯t until Selena spoke that they finally stopped their argument unwillingly. During the meal. Laurel and Zele didn¡¯t have any interactions at all. They gave each other the cold. shoulder, with Christina sitting in between them. Christina could sense that Zele was looking at her the whole time. When they were done eating. Selena told Christina that the specific cooperation project hadn¡¯t been arranged yet. She would contact Christina again when it was set.. Christina could understand that. After all, a cooperation project needed time to be carefully nned. Having a chance to work with Laurel was already a contentment for Christina. Before parting ways, Zele stealthily passed her phone to Christina when Laurel when to the restroom. ¡°Give me your number. ¡°What?¡± This doesn¡¯t seem appropriate. Christina was hesitant. After all, Laurel and Zele had a grudge against each other. If she were to give her phone number to Laurel¡¯s enemy, it would be equivalent to betraying her. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 I Am Her Husband Zele knew what Christina¡¯s concern was. ¡°It¡¯s also my first time in Jadeborough. I barely have anyone I know here. Give me your number just in case I need help with anything.¡± ¡°O¨COkay¡­¡± Christina couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse, so she took Zele¡¯s phone over and keyed in her number. If Zele asked about things like the directions to certain ces, Christina would surely help her. However, if she had an ulterior motive, Christina would have no choice but to turn her down. After saving Christina¡¯s number, Zele went back to her seat. Just then, Laurel came back from the restroom. She chatted with the two of them for a while more. Then she brought Christina to her room. When Christina stepped into the nearly two¨Chundred¨Csquare¨Cmeter presidential suite, she could barely find a spot to stand. ¡°Ms. Shaw, are you nning to stay here for a long time?¡± The shoes were casually ced, and at least twenty shopping bags were scattered across the floor. Looks like she went on a shopping spree again. Christina was aware of the kind of shopper Laurel was. She once apanied Laurel on a business trip abroad. At that time, Laurel almost bought everything in the store. ¡°No. I¡¯m leaving in a few days. I have a show in Bellridge, and I¡¯ve long prepared for it. I deliberately made some time out to see you before going there.¡± Walking in from the hallway, Laurel gracefully took off her earrings and got changed. Christina fixed her eyes on the woman who was in her forties. Looking at how good her body shape was, Christina felt envious. Laurel had always paid attention to her diet, and she would control her calorie intake. Unlike her, Christina would just eat whatever when she was hungry. Christina picked up the boxes on the floor and put them into the suitcase, which was full of things. She looked at them with great interest. Sipping the red wine she poured for herself. Laurel looked at Christina busying around. ¡°You¡¯re a champion now, and you have made a name for yourself in the industry too. Don¡¯t you pack up you¡¯re my assistant? What a waste of your time!¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of you that I managed to make such a great achievement. Moreover, there¡¯s nothing wrong with an apprentice taking care of the mentor.¡± Christina didn¡¯t find it embarrassing at all. When she first helped Laurel to pack the suitcase back then, she randomly stuffed everything inside without organizing them. That time, it felt as if they were opening blind boxes. After opening seven to eight suitcases, they still had to look for the items. Everything was everywhere, and they were rushed off their feet backstage. Christina remembered that she was in a blue funk. If Laurel still scolded her after all the torment, perhaps she would give up and run away. Little did she expect Laurel to spend the whole night teaching her how to organize the items. Christina felt touched whenever she harked back to that part of her memory. Since then, Christina had learned to arrange things in an organized manner. Laurel smiled, feeling d that she had chosen the right person. ¡°Thank you, champion.¡± While they were chatting, someone suddenly knocked on the door. ¡°Ms. Shaw, did you order supper?¡± Christina noticed that Laurel didn¡¯t eat anything earlier but only drank some wine. ¡°I didn¡¯t. Let me take a look.¡± When Laurel opened the door, she saw a tall man in front of her. He was wearing a high¨Cend white shirt and an expensive custom¨Cmade suit. His looks were hundreds of times better than those of a male model. On top of that, he was way more debonair than ordinary people. ¡°Hi, who are you looking for?¡± Laurel asked while sizing him up. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. It was rare to encounter someone as handsome as him. How could Laurel not take a proper look at him? Nathaniel was a little displeased for being stared at. ¡°I¡¯m here for Christina.¡± Listening to his deep, alluring voice, Laurel felt that it was unfair that the man was blessed with drop¨C dead good looks and a maic voice. Hold on. He¡¯s looking for Christina? Before Laurel coulde to her senses, Nathaniel had already walked into her presidential suite. ¡°Hey, why are you barging into my ce? I didn¡¯t allow you to enter.¡± Laurel frowned slightly. It wasn¡¯t until Nathaniel stepped in that she realized he had a group of bodyguards behind him. He seems to be a big shot. Could it be that Christina has offended him, so he¡¯s here to catch her? Laurel trotted over and stood in front of Christina. Keeping her behind her back, she said. ¡°What do you want to do? Christina is a decent woman. Although you look good, you still can¡¯t force your way on her!¡± When Christina raised her head in doubt, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s cold and handsome face. He was staring at her deeply. She looks very beautiful today. The yellow dress on her matches her fair skin well, giving off the vibe that she¡¯s innocent and bright. She even has light makeup on. However, when she goes out with me, she doesn¡¯t even want to apply makeup to her face. Why did she dress with fastidious care to meet this woman? A pang of jealousy aroused in his heart. ¡°Who is she?¡± Nathaniel asked coldly. Laurel felt that she should be the one asking about his identity first, not the other way around. Before she could say anything, Christina¡¯s gentle voice came through. ¡°Nathaniel, this is my mentor, Laurel Shaw.¡± Laurel was stunned. They knew each other? Her eyes flitted to his face again. Although he looked cold, there was a different emotion in his eyes. Is he¡­ jealous? Christina walked over and tugged at Nathaniel¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t pull a long face. This is my mentor,¡± she said softly. ¡°Christina, is he your boyfriend?¡± Upon realizing what was on his mind, Laurel was a little amused. Nathaniel frowned. ¡°I¡¯m her husband!¡± He pulled Christina to his chest as if he were staking his im on her. Christina felt that her face was burning hot. What is he doing? Why is he getting jealous of Ms. Shaw? She¡¯s not even a man! Laurel widened her eyes in shock. ¡°Christina, when did you get married?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe she had no idea that her apprentice had gotten married. Christina felt her head throb, not knowing how to respond to their conversation. ¡°It¡¯s a littleplicated. I¡¯ll exin it to you some other day. It¡¯ste now, so I won¡¯t disturb your rest anymore. I¡¯lle over and help you sort these things out tomorrow.¡± As she spoke, she pulled Nathaniel toward the door. Knitting his brows, Nathaniel spared a nce at the messy floor. What a bold woman! How dare she boss my wife around? ¡°Who told you to help her pack her things?¡± Hearing that, Laurel was bent out of shape, ¡°What are you talking about? Don¡¯t think that I won¡¯t tell you off just because you¡¯re handsome. What¡¯s wrong with asking my apprentice to help me pack my things? Seeing that they were about to get into a fight soon, Christina immediately pulled Nathaniel out of the room and closed the door. ¡°Rest early. Ms. Shaw. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight.¡° Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Famished Lost Soul. Christina folded her arms and gazed at Nathaniel resentfully in the car on the way back. ¡°How did you locate me at the hotel?¡± I clearly remember I didn¡¯t tell him about this. Did he arrange for someone to keep an eye on me secretly? Nathaniel came clean, not intending to hide anything. ¡°I have your best interest at heart. What if you run into trouble again like before?¡± His response rendered her speechless for a moment. When he reached out his slender fingers to touch her face, she instinctively dodged, causing him to miss. She blinked her eyes at him in displeasure and grievance. ¡°Still, you shouldn¡¯t have done that. You could¡¯ve called me. I don¡¯t feelfortable being monitored like that.¡± Who would like to be watched all the time? It feels like I have no freedom at all. Nathaniel lowered his eyes, meeting her clear, sparkling eyes. His heart softened instantly when he saw her innocent expression resembling a helpless little animal being bullied. ¡°I know you don¡¯t like it. I¡¯ll tell them to stop following you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Her eyes shone. ¡°Yes. Can you not stay mad at me now?¡± Nathaniel raised his hand again to cup her face while speaking gently. Christina didn¡¯t avoid him this time, allowing his fingers to brush across her cheeks. She could feel him gripping her jaw and tenderly lifting her head. He kissed her passionately, arousing her desire within a second. The spacious car suddenly felt cramped as he leaned closer. The next second, their breaths became entangled. A faint fragrance permeated the air inside the car. The next day, Christina got up early to buy breakfast and visited her mentor. Laurel upheld a rather discipline lifestyle, getting up early to do yoga. When she saw Christina, she smirked at thetter. ¡°Your jealous husband is finally allowing you to leave the house ¡°Ms. Shaw, don¡¯t mind him. He¡¯s just a little overly cautious of my safety,¡± Christina grinned sheepishly. She put down the breakfast and continued to pack the luggage she hadn¡¯t finished sorting the night before. ¡°I won¡¯t mind it. I¡¯m happy for you because he must really like you for being so concerned about you,¡± Laurel said leisurely with a facial mask on. ¡°By the way, have you been following the news?¡± ¡°I watch news rted to the industry every morning.¡± Christina answered honestly. She paid close attention to the fashion industry¡¯s trends, Perhaps that was something every designer would do. ¡°Margaret has been in the limelight recently, even holding a solo exhibition overseas. I heard that for my uing exhibition, the organizers invited her to be my model.¡± Laurel snorted. ¡°Does she think she deserves to wear the clothes 1 design?¡± Mockery filled her words. Difort surged within her whenever she was reminded of that matter. ¡°The happenings we can observe in the fashion industry are only the overt side of things. The covert dealings are unknown to us, and we can¡¯t influence them either. Isn¡¯t this what you taught me, Ms. Shaw?¡± Christina shrugged. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She had to admit Margaret had been making headlinestely. When she viewed the fashion industry- rted news daily, she would see Margaret on the front page almost every day, whether it was news of her attending banquets, holding various exhibitions, or coborating with some celebrities. In a short period, she rose to the status of a renowned designer. That was a testament to how good publicity could allow a person¡¯s fame to skyrocket. There were many designers of that sort in the circle, prominent butcking capabilities. They could easily earn a fortune by hosting an exhibition. Christina, do you feel resentful? Even the second runner¨Cup is more famous than you now?¡± Laurel arrowed her eyes at Christina. Every designer yearned to be sessful and celebrated Some designers even strove for fame their whole lives. Christina focused on her task at hand and replied haltheartedly, ¡°Nope. We chose to walk down different paths from the start.¡± She was devoted to design, not poprity. Christina firmly believed that people would eventually notice her as long as she produced high¨Cquality designs. ¡°That¡¯s right. As expected of my apprentice to have an extraordinary mindset,¡± Laurel uttered confidently. She was very particr about the individual¡¯s character when selecting an apprentice. Those with talent but questionable intentions would never be chosen by her. ¡°Let me tell you a secret. Actually, Margaret is able to progress so rapidly in her career solely because of Zele¡¯s tactics. Anyway, you need to bear in mind not to get too close to Zele.¡± Christina recalled the night when Zele asked for her phone number. ¡°I got it, Ms. Shaw.¡± Laurel only stayed in Jadeborough for two days before taking a flight to Bellridge. She mentioned she was going to discuss a coboration and help Christina host a solo exhibition overseas. She would contact Christina once the details were finalized. With much reluctance, Christina sent her mentor off at the airport. On her way back, she received an nexpected call from Zele. ¡°Christina, Ms. Romina is holding a solo exhibition in Jadeborough tonight. Only those with connections can get the tickets. What do you say? Are you interested in going?¡± Romina could be considered the pioneer for people like them, and everyone in the fashion industry looked up to her. Each of her solo exhibitions was magical, capable of setting new trends within a month. Everyone referred to her as the Fashion Witch. Her exhibitions were not open to just nyone, as one must be well¨Cconnected to secure the tickets. Christina became excited upon hearing that name. Who wouldn¡¯t want to see Ms. Romina¡¯s exhibition? ¡°Really? How much are the tickets? Can I buy them from you?¡± Christina didn¡¯t dare to casually ept the invitation without contributing something in return. Not to mention, her mentor had frequently mentioned Zele¡¯s various misdeeds in the past to her, so she had to practice caution. ¡°I wanted you to join me for the exhibition because I like you. If you haggle over money, can I assume you¡¯re reluctant to befriend me?¡± Zele had no intention of selling the ticket. Besides, the tickets to Romina¡¯s exhibition weren¡¯t avable for purchase even with money. It was obvious Zele was trying to establish a good rapport with Christina by doing thetter a huge favor of inviting her to the exhibition. Christina felt conflicted like she was a famished lost soul being offered an apple by a cunning witch. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Zele. Count me in.¡± A sneer shed across Zele¡¯s visage. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the timeter. Remember not to bete.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up the call, Christina was weighed down by the guilt as if she had done something wrong behind her parents¡® backs. It¡¯ll be fine if I only go and watch the show and avoid interacting too much with Zele. Soon, she received a message from Zele about the time and venue of the exhibition. Christina deliberately searched the inte but found no new updates about Romin Romina¡¯s studio would only release some behind¨Cthe¨Cscene footage and promote their new products after the exhibition ended every time. The show was scheduled at night, giving her a whole day to work. Christina decided to return to the studio to get some work done while waiting for the exhibition at night to start Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Frank Emerson The organizers had clearly put much effort into the setup of the evening fashion show. To ensure that she would not miss any of the sessions. Christina had prepared herself well in advance and, arrived promptly at the location provided by Zele. When Zele saw Christina, who was dressed to her nines, she could not help but study the young woman in front of her. Her fair skin was smooth and dewy, and even though she was not tall, she had perfect body proportions. Her delicate features made her look like a doll, and despite her watery eyes, she gave off a sense that she didn¡¯t belong there and looked almost surreal. Even a woman would be stunned by her beauty, let alone a man. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Zele curled her lips. ¡°You¡¯ve dressed up well you won¡¯t be embarrassing me by walking by my side.¡± Hearing that, Christina lowered her head to look at her outfit. She had spent a hefty amount on the outfit, for it was a new design by Romina. She even had to ask her mentor to buy it for her. Even though Laurel said that she could give it to Christina as a gift, Christina was capable of bearing the cost, so she did not wish to take advantage of her mentor. It was not as if her money was getting poured down the gutter for this outfit would not embarrass her in public. ¡°Come on. The show is about to start.¡± Zele then led Christina in with the entrance tickets. The decoration starting from the entrance wasvish, for the ce was filled with best¨Cselling items designed by Romina. Even now, the items seemed trendy. There were two people Christina looked up to¨CLaurel and Romina. Romina¡¯s designs were unique, and yet, they epassed a hint of her own style. For example, the tassel rose clip she designed had been trending for years, and some celebrities still used it now. Christina enthusiastically took numerous photos, capturing the intricate details of the items. Zele nced at her and said. ¡°Can you stop taking photos everywhere as if you¡¯re a hillbilly? Has your mentor never brought you to another designer¡¯s show?¡± Christina retorted, ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s because it¡¯s¡­¡± It¡¯s Romina¡¯s show, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m so excited! Zele did not intend to listen to her exnation, however. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the news, right? Margaret is now more popr than you, and that¡¯s because I gave her opportunities.¡± Christina was not a fool; she immediately grasped what message Zele was trying to give her. Nevertheless, she did not care about opportunities. If not for Romina¡¯s show, Christina would not have wanted to interact with Zele unnecessarily. Unfortunately, I owe her a favor. Thus, she had to bear with it. Zele continued, ¡°To be honest, you¡¯re talented. What you¡¯re missing is an opportunity. Why don¡¯t you mull over bing my apprentice instead? I can give you opportunities and squeeze you into the upper- ss social circle.¡± As she spoke, she deliberately showed off the watch on her wrist. It was thetest model of a luxury brand. and Christina knew that it sold for millions. Fame and achievements. Those seemed like everyone¡¯s ultimate goals in their careers. Christina only wished to get to the top with hard work instead of relying on her connections. While she was thinking of how she should give an inoffensive reply to Zele with a smile, the music in the room interrupted their conversation. The opening music was an upbeat Anndurn song. When the first model went on stage, everyone turned to look at them. Christina quietly took photos of the scene, soaking up every moment of the show with delight. No wonder Romina doesn¡¯t sell her tickets to outsiders. Her works are on a different level, and the individuals who can get her tickets are people of higher social status who¡¯ll understand her works. When Christina scanned her surroundings, she noticed that the guests consisted of well¨Cknown celebrities. and socialites. Evidently, the show was a grand event. Christina feasted her eyes on the show. She even found several interesting elements that she found beautiful. As expected of a giant in the fashion industry. I feel enlightened. By the time the show came to an end, it was almost ten. When Christina was about to leave the venue. Zele invited her to the event¡¯s celebratory banquet. Christina did not like to socialize, but she felt it would be rude to leave right after she watched a free show. so she epted Zele¡¯s invitation after a moment of hesitation. The people chatted away at the venue of the celebratory banquet. Zele had a wide socialwork, so the moment she entered the venue, someone came over to greet her. She was in her element as she conversed with the others in the least offending gentle manner. Christina watched Zele chat away with her friends. Every once in a while, she would take a ss of champagne for Zele as if she was Zele¡¯s assistant. After walking around the venue, Zele grew tired, so the two of them went to rest in a corner. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. You¡¯ve performed well. I never thought you¡¯d be wittier than Margaret, Zele said, recalling how Christina had helped her receive name cards that the guests passed to Zele. Christina had even updated the others about the studio¡¯s progress. Undoubtedly, Christina excelled over Margaret in social settings. ¡°Ms. Zele, you speak too highly of me,¡± Christina muttered with a sheepish chuckle. She had gotten a free ticket, so she did not see any issue with her being Zele¡¯s assistant temporarily. Right then, a voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°Zele, it¡¯s been a long while. You¡¯ve grown even more beautiful.¡± Christina lifted her head to see a plump man in his forties. The smile on his face told Christina how frivolous he was, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Mr. Emerson. It¡¯s been a while!¡± Zele greeted enthusiastically before hooking her arm around the man¡¯s shoulder. There were all kinds of prominent figures at the event, but Christina had yet to see Zele greeting anyone with such passion. Hence, she deduced that the two had to know each other well. As Frank fixed his gaze on Christina, he asked. ¡°Is she your apprentice? This is my first time seeing her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a designer. Christina, do greet him. He¡¯s Mr. Frank Emerson, the editor¨Cin¨Cchief for the top three fashion magazines. Zele shot Christina a look, motioning her to greet him. Christina hastily greeted, ¡°Hello, Mr. Emerson.¡± Frank chuckled before putting his hand on Christina¡¯s shoulder without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re such a young designer. The younger ones are formidable indeed VIS is nning to have a designer column for its next edition. I¡¯d like to invite you to be my main guest.¡± Christina was too distracted to hear what Frank had said as she was too preupied with moving back to avoid his hand. If not for Zele, she would have pped him. Frank froze, and the atmosphere turned awkward. Zele smiled and quickly salvaged the situation. ¡°Mr. Emerson, please don¡¯t take this to heart. She¡¯s young and foolish. You can just talk to me about the column.¡± As she spoke, her smile turned sickly sweet. The way Zele was trying to butter Frank up disgusted Christina. Zele seems sessful, but is it possible that she achieved it by currying favor with others? It can¡¯t be, right? Frank¡¯s expression lightened up a little at that. ¡°Christina seems fine. Let¡¯s agree on a time and talk when we¡¯re free again.¡± ¡°Sure, just leave this to me,¡± Zele answered. Before Frank left, he spared another nce at Christina. It was a lecherous gaze that Christina found revolting. Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Improvement In Designing Just as Frank left, Zele¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Christina, what was that? Mr. Emerson only invited you because he saw your value. Learn to be grateful.¡± The corner of Christina¡¯s lips twitched. She could truly care less about the invitation. The ugly man earlier clearly has ill intentions. Why would he be so nice to a woman he doesn¡¯t even know? Clearly, he wants something in return! After all, there is no free lunch in this world ¡°Just think of me as ungrateful then,¡± Christina replied with a shrug, unfazed. Upon hearing that, Zele hissed angrily. ¡°Do you know how good are the sales of VIS magazines? Do you know how much fame you¡¯ll get by being on an edition of VIS? This is an opportunity that many designers dream of but can¡¯t get, and yet, you don¡¯t want it?¡± Those words made Christina ill at ease, and she said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give Margaret this chance instead? It seems like she needs this opportunity more than me.¡± Christina did not want to gain an opportunity via means like these. Zele froze. Christina was barely known in the design industry despite working in it for such a long time. Moreover, she did not manage to capture the attention of arge crowd in the previouspetition. Logically speaking, if she wanted more people to know about her, then she should be holding onto this golden opportunity In the end, Zele scoffed and said, ¡°Christina, you won¡¯t be getting opportunities this good all the time. 1 hope you¡¯ll think long and hard about this before giving me your final answer. With that said, Zele walked off alone. You¡­ don¡¯t actually need to wait for my answer. I can give it to you now, and it¡¯s a no. Ultimately, Christina shrugged and left the event. A ray of orange spread across the morning sky. Christina stretched when she woke, but she was in no rush to get out of bed. Instead, she began using her phone. The first thing she saw when she logged onto her fashion application was Margaret. However, they were not talking about her work this time; they were gossiping about her. As it turned out, a reporter had captured photographs of her at avish cocktail party for wealthy businessmen, cozying up to some influential heirs. Christina proceeded to check a few more posts before exiting the application, finding the news boring. Noticing that it was still early, she got out of bed and went downstairs to her kitchen in her pajamas. It was almost time for breakfast when Nathaniel came back from thepany, and he headed straight for the room upstairs. After taking a shower, he changed into his pajamas, only to realize btedly that the bed was empty just as he was about to wake Christina. She¡¯s out this early? Still, Nathaniel did not dwell on it. He changed into a suit before going downstairs. Right then, the sound of footsteps traveled into his cars, and a slender figure came out with a te of sausages. In the next moment, the woman turned back into the kitchen before re¨Cemerging with a bowl of oatmeal. Christina had dedicated her entire morning to working in the kitchen. Her silky hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail, with a few stray strands delicately grazing her neck. When the light illuminated her, her skin. appeared to radiate a gentle glow The cartoon¨Cthemed pajamas she had on exuded a touch of coziness and familiarity. Raising her head, her watery eyes met Nathaniel¡¯s gaze, and she implored, ¡°Come and join me for breakfast.¡± She then passed him a bowl with her slender hand. ¡°I made a fruit cocktail too. Give me a second.¡± As Nathaniel stared at the piping hot breakfast on the table, he found his heart melting in bliss. Soon, the two of them were having breakfast together. When Christina bit into the sausage, she beamed, satisfied with the sauce she added. ¡°Where were youst night?¡± Nathaniel asked. A wave of guilt hit Christina when she heard his question. ¡°I was at a show with Ms. Zele¡± She easily excluded the upsetting encounter the day before. It was not as if she nned to meet Zele again. The thrill of the show the night before had yet to fade away, so after taking two more bites of the sausage. Christina continued, ¡°It¡¯s Romina¡¯s show. You might not know about her since you don¡¯t pay attention to the design scene, but she¡¯s a big cheese in the industry.¡± The upsetting moment was worthwhile since I had the opportunity to witness Romina¡¯s captivating show. Nathaniel stiffened for a second before lifting his head to face her. ¡°You can do the same in the future¡± His determined gaze warmed Christina¡¯s heart, and a smile bloomed on her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Every day, Rayne would arrive earlier than Christina at the studio to tidy up the ce for her. On that day, Christina was going to design a dress for Linda. Once she was done with the design drawing, she sent it to Linda. All the other woman replied was: Just let my son decide this for me. Christina was bewildered, for Linda was usually meticulous about her dresses. At that very moment, a tall figure emerged at the doorway. The man was wearing a mask and a baseball cap, but anyone could see the shine in his eyes. Despite being d in casual sportswear, the man retained his charming allure. When Rayne saw the man, she enthusiastically weed him in. ¡°Mister, are you here to order a sui The designer we have here is excellent.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯d like to make five orders, Francis said as he took off his mask to smile at Rayne, Rayne¡¯s eyes widened into saucers. I¨CIsn¡¯t this man Francis Fernando the celebrity? There¡¯s no way I¡¯d mistake someone else for him. I¡¯ve seen his face stered everywhere! ¡°Francis Fernando?¡± Rayne shrieked once she came back to her senses. There was no way Rayne was going to calm down any time soon. Francis was ustomed to responses simr to hers. Hence, he shifted his attention toward the window, where he could catch sight of Christina¡¯s silhouette through the ss. Christina was wearing a light¨Ccolored dress, and despite the dress¡® thick material, she still seemed slender. Walking into the tailor room, he put a cup of coffee on her table and teased, ¡°The early bird gets a cup of coffee.¡± Christina chuckled. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Nevertheless, she took the cup without hesitation as she showed him the design drawing on her tablet.. ¡°This is a dress for Ms. Macall She said it¡¯s up to you to finalize the design, so is there anything you want to change?¡± Francis took the tablet and carefully studied the design. ¡°Your designs have improved. I think adding a few more tassels with pendants will make this dress look even better.¡± With that said, he started drawing crystal pendants on the drawing. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Designers disliked others altering their designs, but Christina was not irked by his action. As a matter of fact, she was fascinated by the drawing when he was done. ¡°I never thought that you¡¯d be good at designing. All right. I¡¯ll make the dress the way you want it.¡± Enhanced by the tassels with crystal pendants adorning the waist, the wearer of the dress would exude an even more ethereal aura With Linda¡¯s well¨Cmaintained figure, a dress in this style would undoubtedlyplement her beautifully. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Living In Your Harem ¡°Since I¡¯m so talented, why don¡¯t you take me as your disciple?¡± Francis arched his brows before esponding with a smirk. It¡¯ll be nice to be able to spend time with her every day. ¡°You¡¯re a renowned celebrity. Why would you want to delve into the world of design? It seems like a waste of your talent¡± Christina nearly choked on her coffee. He makes more money standing there compared to what I nake designing a skirt. Francis nonchntly took a seat on the single couch. Tilting his head back, he leaned against the backrest and allowed the warm sunlight to cascade down upon him. As he sat by the window, he seemed to embody the image of a lost angel who had descended upon the human world. It was a scene so serene that one dared not disturb its tranquility, fearing to awaken the angel while also not wanting to disrupt the beauty of the moment. ¡°Well, I got tired of being a celebrity, It¡¯s not a career I enjoy anyway. I only decided to step into the limelight to spite Nathaniel,¡± he said honestly. Nathaniel, determined to conceal Francis¡® identity as the illegitimate child, tried his best to keep him from the public eye, but Francis, against all odds, insisted on standing in the spotlight. He wanted the world to know his existence. He had worked tirelessly to achieve poprity, but bing a household name did not make him happy. Nevertheless, being in the same space as Christina brought him a sense offort and ease. Christina, who was working on the details of her draft on her tablet, nced at him. ¡°Why would I risk putting myself in danger by taking you as my disciple? Who knows if you¡¯ll conspire with Madison to plot against me.¡± The thought of Madison caused her to put her guard up. Though the incident that involved Holly hade to an end, the mastermind behind it remained a mystery. It¡¯s challenging to judge the true nature of a person. Who knows what thoughts lie behind their actions? Silence ensued after Christina finished speaking, and when she turned to look in Francis¡® direction, she noticed he seemed to have fallen asleep. He tilted his head askew as he nodded off, the angle entuating the curve of his neck. His Adam¡¯s apple appeared particrly defined, emanating a strong and alluring sense of masculinity. Netizens are right. He truly deserves the title of the entertainment industry¡¯s most enchanting beauty. As Christina immersed herself in selecting materials and was engrossed in her work, she became oblivious to her surroundings. It was only when noon approached that she realized Francis was still there. He remained lying on the couch, peacefully sleeping throughout the entire morning. Clearly, the couch was not the mostfortable sleeping arrangement for someone as tall andnky as Francis. Christina walked over. ¡°Francis, go home and sleep. I¡¯ll update you once I¡¯m done with the suit.¡± The man seemed to still be in deep slumber. Christina was at a loss for words. He¡¯s a famous celebrity, for goodness¡® sake. Why is he sleeping in my office? This i not a hotel. He should go home and sleep! ¡°Francis, wake up. I¡¯m going to leave soon.¡± She tried waking him up several times but to no avail. He remained unresponsive, as if his ears were plugged with cotton. ¡°Wake up. Francis¡± Finally, she had no choice but to poke his shoulder to try to wake him up. Why does his body feel hot, though? It was only then she noticed a faint blush on Francis checks. Initially, she thought it was his makeup from filming, but now, it seemed more like a feverish flush. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Christina was at aplete loss. He should have gone to consult a doctor if he doesn¡¯t feel well. Why did hee here? ¡°Get up. Francis. You¡¯re running a fever. I¡¯ll call you an ambnce.¡± Christina said. Knowing that it was impossible for her to carry a man that was more than six feet tall, she took out her phone and was ready to make a call. Suddenly, a hand that exuded burning heat grabbed her wrist. Had she not recognized it as Francis¡® hand, she would have thought it was a scorching stove or something. Francis¡® heart was spinning. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t call if you don¡¯t want to cause amotion. Or have you figured out how to exin to Nathaniel why I ended up in your studio?¡± Christina¡¯s fingers froze for a moment. Did he just threaten me? She was not afraid of exining to Nathaniel, but she was worried that Francis fans might appear around her office every day if they found out about this. That would disrupt her work. After hesitating for a moment, she dismissed the idea of calling an ambnce. ¡°There¡¯s a lounge in my office. You go over there and take a rest. I¡¯ll buy you some medicine.¡± Christina dragged Francis off the couch. One would experience weakness and fatigue whenever one was ill. Thus, Christina had to gather all her strength to move Francis from the couch to the bed in the lounge. The bed was only five feet long. With the tall Francis lying on it, the entire space appeared cramped. After covering him with her tiny pink nket, Christina went out to get some medicine for him. The medicine she purchased had a potent effect. Francis would recover more quicklgafter taking it, but it would make him feel extremely tired. As Christina was on her way back after buying the medicine, she received a call from an unknown caller. ¡°Hi, is this Ms. Steele? I¡¯m Mr. Fernando¡¯s assistant. Is Mr. Fernando with you?¡± The man sounded nervous. It was not difficult to understand why he was panicking. After all, Francis, a renowned celebrity, had missing. Knowing Francis well enough, the assistant was aware that the only person he cared about was Christina. Francis had even attended the fashion show previously despite being injured. The assistant could never forget that harrowing incident that left asting impression on him. ¡°Yes. He has a fever. Can youe over and get him as soon as possible?¡± Christina looked at the medicine in her hand and sighed helplessly. The assistant paused for a moment before responding. ¡°I can¡¯t leave right now. Since Mr. Fernando doesn¡¯t have anything on his schedule today, can I leave him in your care? Oh, by the way, his wound hasn¡¯t healedpletely yet because he has been involved in a few action scenes recently. Please take good care of him. I¡¯lle to pick him upter.¡± He then ended the call right away, as if he was afraid Christina might cling to him for assistance. Christina let out a sigh. When Fraincis got injuredst time, she did not pay much attention to him because she was busy with thepetition. It was time for her to bear the consequences of her actions. Carrying a tray with warm water and medicine, Christina stepped into the lounge. The confined space was infused with the delicate aroma of sandalwooding from Francis himself. He appeared visibly unwell and was sound asleep. His delicate jawline added a touch of elegance to his aura ¡°Francis, take your medicine first. Christina handed him the medicine and a ss of water. Francis gradually opened his eyes in a daze. Upon spotting the genuine concern in the woman¡¯s eyes, he sneered. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m living in your harem.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the wealth to keep an A¨Clist celebrity like you in my harem. Take your medicine and leave once you feel better. Christina huffed. Francis shed a faint smile, his paleplexion exuding a fragile yet enchanting allure. It was an irresistible sight that could captivate anyone. He reached out and grabbed Christina by the wrist, guiding the medicine from her hand into his mouth. While he was at it, he even intentionally brushed his lips against her skin, nting a kiss. ¡°What are you doing¡­¡± Christina blushed right away. Why does he still have the energy to tease me when he¡¯s ill? Startled, she quickly withdrew her hand, but she could still feel the lingering warmth left by the man¡¯s touch. After taking the medicine and drinking some water, Francis said, ¡°Thank you for the medicine. You still care about me, don¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Thanks For Your Concern Christina took two steps backward and responded matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? As your sister¨Cinw, it¡¯s only right for me to look after you. After all, we¡¯re family. We should stick together and look out for each other.¡± Yes, that¡¯s right. It wasn¡¯t as though she harbored any pity or affection for him. Francis gazed at her delicate face, a dull look swirling in his eyes. ¡°Thank you for your concern, my dear sister¨Cinw. I¡¯m rather cold now. Maybe you could warm me up a little with a hug and make me feel more at home?¡± At that instant, it was as if a bomb had gone off in her mind, slowing her thinking down That sounds¡­ wrong. Troubled by the man¡¯s suggestive words, she felt an impending headache. ¡°You¡¯re cold, huh? I¡¯ll turn on the heating for you. The room will feel as warm as a sauna in no time.¡± After turning on the room¡¯s heating, Christina made a hasty retreat Stepping out of the lounge, she was greeted by a gentle breeze. It was only then that she realized her checks were flushed red. Francis was indeed a born charmer, and it took her some serious willpower to resist his tantalizing allure. Back in the lounge, Francis watched as the door closed behind her. He picked up the small, pink, cartoon- patterned nket thaty on him and pulled it up to his nose. Lying down with the nket covering half of his face, he felt as if he was cuddling Christina in bed. A while after taking the medicine, he drowsily fell asleep. As the brightness outside the window gradually gave way to dusk. Francis woke up to find the room¡¯s heating turned off and the sweat on his forehead wiped away. The nket that had been covering his face was now ced on his stomach, probably a precautionary move by Christina to prevent him from suffocating. Lying in the lounge, surrounded by Christina¡¯s scent, Francis felt strangely content. Just then, the door creaked open. Upon seeing him awake, Christina, who was holding a bowl of pasta, was taken aback. ¡°You must be famished. Eat up,¡± she said. ¡°You made this?¡± Francis was stumped. His voice came out hoarse, and it took him a while to realize it was his own voice. He was probably dehydrated from sweating, and his throat felt extremely dry. Christina ced the pasta on the bedside table. ¡°Your voice is all raspy. You should hurry up and eat some food.¡± The pasta was covered with cut¨Cup strips of carrots arranged into the words ¡°Happy Birthday¡± with a side of lettuce. The hearty dish seemed to have been prepared with great care. Francis gazed at the pasta, an enigmatic glint flickering across his eyes. Worried that Francis might misunderstand his intention, Christina hurriedly exined. ¡°Your assistant called me earlier to tell me it¡¯s your birthday. Why didn¡¯t you go back to spend your birthday with Ms. Macall She had only just found out it was his birthday, and she whipped up the pasta in the pantry in haste. As such, it looked quite in. ¡°She doesn¡¯t remember my birthday, and besides, I don¡¯t enjoy celebrating it,¡± Francis replied with a faint smile that masked his emotions. Christina nodded absentmindedly, feeling a little foolish for having made an effort. But who wouldn¡¯t enjoy celebrating their birthday? It¡¯s an important day that honors one¡¯s birth in this world. Francis held up the bowl and picked up the carrot strips that formed the words ¡°Happy Birthday¡± with a fork. ¡°Your craftsmanship leaves much to be desired. How unsightly,¡± he mocked. ¡°Don¡¯t eat it then!¡± Christina huffed. He¡¯s so ungrateful! I feel so silly for even trying! She pivoted on her heels and stalked toward the door, saying, ¡°Get lost once you¡¯re feeling better. This isn¡¯t a shelter.¡± Her words echoed in the room after she left and shut the door behind her. Francis pulled out his phone and took a picture of the pasta before giving it a taste. It had been a while since anyone had celebrated his birthday. He was harked back to his tenth birthday when his mother and father threw a celebration for him. Julia. barged into their ce with her entourage that fateful day. Chaos erupted as a fierce argument broke out, and he was knocked down. His beautiful cake also toppled over and fell on the floor. The scene of his chaotic birthday party, the day he was denounced as an illegitimate child, was forever etched in his memory. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Since then, he had avoided celebrating his birthday, and over time, everyone else hade to ignore the day as well. A strange sensation prickled at his cheeks, and as he reached up to brush it away, he gralized he had shed tears. A single glistening droplet fell onto his lips, mixing with the sauce of the pasta, filling his empty heart with a warmth he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Meanwhile, Christina was back in the tailor room, engrossed in her work. Once she finished the task at hand, she would be able to devote some time to managing her studio. Her marketing was stillcking, soshe needed to devise a better strategy. When it was almost ten o¡¯clock, she wondered if Francis fever had subsided. Rayne always left work on time, and as Christina was tidying her desk, the tightly shut door creaked open. Thinking it was Francis since there was no one else left in the studio, she didn¡¯t even look up as she asked in an impassive tone, ¡°Is your fever gone?¡± A tall figure cast a shadow over her as steady footsteps approached. ¡°Who¡¯s having a fever?¡± A cold, emotionless voice rang out. That voice¡­ It¡¯s Nathaniel. Christina lifted her head, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes. She had assumed it was Francis. How am I to exin that I¡¯ve been sheltering a sick Francis in the lounge? As if that isn¡¯t bad enough, he¡¯s even lying on my pillow, covering himself with my nket¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Nathaniel would beat up Francis, who had just recovered, if he found out about it Christina cleared her throat. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s my assistant, Rayne. She has a fever, so I sent her home early. I thought she was still here¡­ It amazed her how quickly and naturally the lies escaped from her lips. Since when am I so good at lying? Nathaniel simply grunted in acknowledgment. ¡°If she¡¯s sick, she shouldn¡¯te to work.¡± *I¡¯ll check in on her tomorrow. You could have called beforeing to pick me up,¡± Christina said, her eyes darting nervously toward the lounge. Her heart pounded in her chest. She silently prayed that Francis would stay in the lounge. Otherwise, she would be done for. If Nathaniel were to discover she was hiding Francis in the lounge, a simple, kind gesture would escte into aplicated situation. It would be difficult for her to exin herself. With that thought in mind, she could feel her palms sweating within a minute. Nathaniel picked up her bag. ¡°I thought I¡¯d swing by to pick you up after work. Let¡¯s head back.¡± Christina nodded, trailing behind him toward the door. As they walked, Nathaniel held her hand and frowned. ¡°Why are you so sweaty?¡® ¡°It¡¯s quite warm inside because I turned the heating on,¡± Christina murmured absentmindedly. In that short span of a few minutes, she felt she had lied more times than she ever had in her entire life. with each lie sliding off her tongue more easily than thest. Thankfully, Nathaniel didn¡¯t dwell on that matter. Once the door was closed behind them, they headed for the elevator. The studio fell silent once again, and after a moment, Francis emerged from the lounge. Once again, he felt like an abandoned child, a superfluous existence. In the Hadley family, he was singled out. He was akin to a lone figure adrift in the expansive universe with no ce to truly call home. However, that bowl of pasta just now seemed to have given him a new direction Taking a nce around the empty studio, Francis eyesnded on the tailor room. He ventured inside. retrieving a tiny surveince camera. Carefully, he affixed it to a miniature tower ornament. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Chapter 276 A Visit From Frank Needless to say, the camera was aimed straight at Christina¡¯s desk. With that. Francis called his assistant to pull up the car downstairs. To his surprise, he had only just hung up the phone when he heard footsteps outside the office, followed by the door opening. As it turned out, Rayne had received Christina¡¯s call to sign for a fabric delivery back at the office and to put them away neatly. After waiting around for a while, however, there was still no sign of the delivery man, and all she saw was Francis stepping out of the tailor room. ¡°Hey, Francis! Why are you still here?¡± Rayne eximed. I thought he had left early since I hadn¡¯t seen him the entire day, but who knew I¡¯d bump into him thiste at night? To top it all off, he¡¯s so dreamily handsome! Oh, dear¡­. I¡¯d probably be too excited to sleep tonight! Thanks for returning to open the door for me. I¡¯ll be making a move first. Francis repliedzily before putting on his coat and striding out of the office. Meanwhile, Christina gave Rayne a check¨Cin call once she was back at Scenic Garden Manor. Upon learning that Francis had left the studio, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. That night, the light of the stars illuminated the velvet ck sky. By the time Nathaniel stepped into the bedroom, Christina was already asleep in bed, all freshly showered. and dressed in cartoon¨Cprinted pajamas. Like a kitten exhausted from ying too much, shey sprawled across the bed, looking so rosy¨C cheeked and tender that the man wanted to nibble on her. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. As Nathaniel undid his tie and swallowed the lump in his throat, he bent down and gently scooped the sleepingdy into his arms. She instantly melted into his embrace, and Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how soft and delicate she Just then, Christina opened her eyeszily, only to wrap her arms around the man¡¯s neck and kiss him on the chin. Gazing at the woman¡¯s alluring countenance, Nathaniel chuckled. ¡°Liar. You weren¡¯t asleep yet, huh?¡± ¡°How else would I get you to carry me?¡± Christina replied as she yfully fluttered her eyshes. In actuality, she had fallen asleep earlier but was woken up when she heard the footsteps at the door. Nathaniel¡¯s smile grew wider by the second. Well, well, well. When did this innocent bunny of mine be such sly little for? The next second, he gently flicked her nose and kissed her forehead. Before long, the moonlight shone through the windows, casting shadows over the couple lying intertwined on the carpet. Christinapleted Linda¡¯s dress in less than a week, and the final touch was to embroider the floral patterns onto it. Thankfully, she was very patient with hand embroidery, so it was a task she did with confidence and ease. Sometimeter, a few delivery men dropped off severalrge flower bouquets, each with a congrattory message on the grand opening. Thinking that the flowers were from Christina¡¯s friends, Rayne promptly ced them near the entrance. As soon as the delivery men left, a portly figure strode into the office. ¡°Hello, sir!¡± Rayne greeted politely. ¡°Are you here to order custom¨Cmade clothes?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Get your designer here.¡± Not wanting to risk offending a man who seemed like a big shot, Rayne quickly called for Christina. Needless to say, thetter was surprised. After all, it hadn¡¯t been long since the studio opened, so only a handful of people knew about it. Christina walked out into the lobby and instantly met the man¡¯s gaze. ¡°Mr. Emerson?¡± Huh? What¡¯s he doing here? How did he find out about my studio? Frank¡¯s eyes went wide like saucers the second he saw the young, attractive woman. ¡°I heard you have excellent craftsmanship, Christina. I¡¯d like you to make a few suits for me,¡± he said as he looked her up and. down, admiring her slender figure. He had such a lecherous gaze that even Rayne knew something was amiss. Oh gosh. This man is up to no good! Christina, on the other hand, forced a smile. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject Frank directly, but at the same time, she knew better than to get involved with a man who had ulterior motives. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve taken on a fewrge custom orders recently, so it might be a while till I can start on yours. Why don¡¯t you look for another designer, Mr. Emerson? I can rmend you some good ones.¡± A look of displeasure immediately washed over Frank¡¯s face. He had taken the initiative to support Christina¡¯s business, yet she had the gall to turn him down. ¡°That¡¯s okay. There¡¯s no hurry,¡± he replied with a dry chuckle. ¡°I can wait,¡± With that, Christina had no choice but to relent since she couldn¡¯t find another better reason to turn him down. ¡°All right. Let me take your measurements first, then. Please follow me to the tailor room.¡± Satisfied, Frank got up from his seat and strutted into the room. Rayne, however, was much too worried to leave Christina alone and quickly followed behind. Unsurprisingly, her presence didn¡¯t sit well with Frank. ¡°Do you guys have coffee here?¡± he said while clearing his throat. ¡°Can I get a cup?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll get you one,¡± Rayne replied as she exchanged nces with Christina and left reluctantly. Hmph. Based on my experience, Mr. Emerson must be pulling rank to get his dirty pates on Christina. Argh! It doesn¡¯t help that she looks so delicate and helpless. What if he seeds? Oh, gosh. I¡¯m so worried.. Now that only Frank and Christina were left in the tailor room, the man broke into a leering smile and straightened himself, lifting his arms for Christina to take his measurements. ¡°Sorry to trouble you¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Christina muttered, her gaze darkening ever so slightly. Determined to avoid as much direct contact with the man as possible, she had opted for a tailoring ruler instead of her usual soft tape measure. The nearer Christina got to Frank, the more thetter could smell the light floral fragrance wafting through the air. It was, without a doubt, a most tititing moment for him. D*mn¡­ She has such a pretty little face and wless skin. How can anyone not take a liking to her? ¡°Christina, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Frank asked curiously. Oh, I¡¯m sure she does. Why else would she reject my invitation to the shoot? Besides, an attractive woman like her must have many suitors. ¡°No,¡± Christina replied with a muffled snort. Ha! Is he about to reveal his true colors? Upon hearing that, Frank became even more excited and tried to grab the woman¡¯s hand. Unfortunately, he had barely touched her skin when he felt a needle pierce his fingertip. ¡°Ow, that hurts!¡± Frank hastily withdrew his hand, only to realize his finger was bleeding. Christina, however, feigned ignorance and gasped. ¡°Are you okay, Mr. Emerson? I must¡¯ve identally pricked you with my needle.¡± A frown instantly creased Frank¡¯s brow. My, my. This girl has kept her guard up pretty well, huh? Seemingly having lost his patience, he waved his hand in frustration. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, and it was rare that he¡¯d take the initiative to pursue one. To make matters worse, Christina had rejected him countless times, so how could he not be annoyed? The next second, Frank took a bank card from his pocket and mmed it on the table. There¡¯s three million in this card.¡± Christina merely frowned and said nothing. ¡°I¡¯ve already discussed it with Zele,¡± Frank added. ¡°If you be my woman, not only will this card be yours, but you¡¯ll also be featured on the magazine cover for the next three issues. Not even Margaret has these perks.¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Responding In Kind Christina¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot. He¡¯s already discussed it with Zele? What does he think I am? It¡¯s disgusting that he even put a price on me! A frosty expression descended upon Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Emerson, I think you must have the wrong I don¡¯t belong to Zele. Whatever you agreed with her has nothing to do with me, so please leave.¡± Frank was exasperated by her response. ¡°Oh, just drop the act. This is a really good price. So what if you won first ce? Without anyone to support you or give you an opportunity, there¡¯s no way you can seed outside this studio.¡± Even if she¡¯s my type, it doesn¡¯t mean that she can y hard to get! Initially, Christina had wanted to ask him to leave politely. Little did she expect him to cross the line. Thinking that she probably didn¡¯t make herself clear enough, Christina picked up the bank card on the table with a piercing glint in her eyes. Thereafter, she snapped it in two right in front of Frank. ¡°Get out!TM It was evident from her grim tone that there was no room for discussion. If only she had a broom in her hands, she would definitely chase Frank out with it. ¡°D¡°mn you, b*tch!¡± Frank glowered in response. This was the first time in his life he was humiliated by a young woman. With an insidious look in his eyes, he lunged at Christina. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll pay more for you since that¡¯s what you really want. Now, y along with me!¡± ¡°y along my a¡°s!¡± A fearsome re shed across Christina¡¯s eyes as she stabbed Frank¡¯s hand with the needle in her hand. Thetter squealed like a pig ¡°My hand¡­ Argh!¡± Before he could recover his senses, Christina grabbed all the needles on the table and stuck them all into his body. ¡°You b*stard! How dare you take advantage of me! Now, die!¡± By the time Rayne ran back from the pantry upon hearing themotion, she was greeted by the sight of Frank¡¯s clumsy body copsing onto the ground. He was grimacing in pain with his face all swollen. ¡°Boss, what happened?¡± With both hands resting on her hips, Christina exined in disgust, ¡°He was trying to take advantage of me, so I responded in kind.¡± As Frank stumbled back up to his feet, he yelled in a trembling voice, ¡°How dare you hurt me? I¡¯m going to call the police!¡± When Rayne realized that it was Christina who assaulted Frank, she knew that getting the police involved. would spell trouble. ¡°You were the one who harbored ill intentions toward my boss first. The police might not take your side even if you go to them. You¡¯d better leave!¡± Rayne said without much confidence, for they didn¡¯t have evidence that Frank was the one who started it. ¡°Leave? No way!¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. With blood all over his face, Frank made a call at once. In contrast to Rayne¡¯s panicking expression, Christina was a sea of calm. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was going through his documents inside his office, while Madison was making a progress report While doing so, she maintained eye contact, as her heart would flutter every time she spoke to him in close proximity All of a sudden, Sebastian entered the room and interrupted them. He walked up to Nathaniel¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Mr. Hadley, the police called, saying that Mrs. Hadley assaulted someone- Before he could finish, Nathaniel cut him off. ¡°Get the car ready. Sebastian was startled momentarily but regained his senses at once. ¡°Right away.¡± Subsequently, Madison felt as if she was invisible as she watched both men leave one after another. The only person who could elicit such an anxious reaction from Nathaniel was none other than Christina. After taking a deep breath, she hurried after them. ¡°Mr. Hadley, what happened? I¡¯ll go with both of you.¡± At the police station. Frank pointed at the slender figure by his side and ranted incessantly, ¡°Officer, this crazy woman stabbed me with more than ten needles. You must lock her up!¡± Frank was someone who would destroy anything he desired but couldn¡¯t get his hands on. Unable to tolerate listening to his load of crap any further, Rayne sprang to her feet and retorted with her arms on her hips. ¡°How shameless can you be? Just look at how gentle my boss is. Isn¡¯t it obvious you¡¯re the one who¡¯s trying to take advantage of her?¡± ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯m a decent man! I won¡¯t do such a thing!¡± With fire raging in his eyes, Frank red at Christina and felt the urge to crush her in his hand. ¡°This woman knows that I¡¯m the boss of the threergest fashion magazines and wants to use me to elevate her position. When I refused, she attacked me with her needles!¡± Hearing his nonsense, Christina arched her brow and smirked disdainfully With such superb acting skills, it¡¯s such a shame that he isn¡¯t an actor. And now, he dares to make a false usation against me? Sheesh, what a thick¨Cskinned jerk! Equally outraged, Rayne swung her bag at Frank, striking him on the head. ¡°Stop twisting the facts, you liar!¡± With the situation getting out of control, the officer barked at them to settle down. By then, Rayne was already overwhelmed by anxiety. ¡°What are we going to do? What if Mr. Emerson ends up maligning us instead?¡± Seated on the wooden bench, Christina was focused on sketching her design on her tablet. ¡°Calm down and have a seat. He will withdraw the police report in a short while.¡± Christina behaved as if the matter had nothing to do with her at all and that Rayne was just making a mountain out of a molchill. In the midst of having his statement taken, Frank received a phone call that triggered a drastic change in 1 his expression. The call subsequently ended in less than a minute. Just a moment ago, he was eagerly describing how Christina was trying to seduce him. Now, the words seemed to be stuck in his throat, unable toe out. When the officer taking his statement looked up and noticed the pale look on Frank¡¯s face, he even thought thetter had seen a ghost. ¡°Why are you stopping?¡± Cold sweat had broken out across Frank¡¯s forehead. The call he received was from his assistant, informing him that someone had threatened to send evidence of hispany¡¯s tax evasion to the police if he were to continue spewing lies. All the factories under his name would consequently be shut down. On top of that, the CEO of Hadley Corporation had even expressed interest in taking over hispany. That was obviously a threat. Since when did I offend Hadley Corporation? Why are they warning me not to speak indiscriminately? Frank¡¯s gaze subsequently fell upon Christina¡¯s slender figure. Ever since they entered the room, she seemedpletely unfazed and merely focused on working on her tablet. Is it because she is under the protection of someone powerful? This doesn¡¯t make sense. Rumor has it that Mr. Hadley stays away from women. I¡¯ve also never seen any woman by his side before. Faced with the uncertain situation, Frank didn¡¯t dare put all his assets at risk for such a trivial matter. After a brief hesitation, he asked meekly, ¡°Officer, can I withdraw my report? What I told you just now isn¡¯t True. Is that all right?¡± No sooner had he spoken than the officer mmed his pen on the table. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this? What sort of ce do you think the police station is? Do you think you can just walk in here and file a Ectitious report? Let me warn you, doing so is a crime in itself!¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Can You Not Punish Me With his face reddened in embarrassment, Frank didn¡¯t even know how to exin himself. He dared not utter a single word after stuttering for a long while. Thereafter, a flurry of heavy footsteps could be heard entering the room. Following that, a man stepped into the room with an entourage of professional bodyguards behind him. As Nathaniel¡¯s towering figure cast a long shadow in the room, his frosty expression and clenched jaw exuded an air of hostility. His imposing presence immediately filled the room with an icy tension. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll discuss the paperwork needed with the police,¡± thewyer informed Nathaniel before heading off. After that, Nathaniel shifted his deep¨Cset eyes toward Christina as he walked over to her. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Christina looked up and blinked innocently. ¡°I¡¯m not, but- That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t care less about those who had nothing to do with him. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Paying no heed to everyone else in the room, he wrapped his arm around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace protectively. Christina couldn¡¯t help but blush upon noticing the look of surprise on everyone else¡¯s faces. ¡°Nathaniel, we¡¯re not alone.¡± We¡¯d better keep a low profile with so many people watching. She tried pushing Nathaniel away, but her efforts were futile due to the huge gap in their strength. There was no way she could move him unless Nathaniel willingly let her go. Meanwhile, Rayne was stunned by what she saw, her mind overwhelmed by the sudden revtion. Why is Mr. Hadley here? I didn¡¯t see Christina make any calls just now. On top of that, the atmosphere within the room changed the moment he entered. It instantly dawned upon her why Christina was so calm¨Cshe had the backing of a powerful protector. Meanwhile, at the sight of the pair hugging each other, Frank understood why Nathaniel had threatened him despite theck of bad blood between them. It turns out that Christina is his woman! No wonder that youngdy¡¯s so arrogant! Despite the boiling rage within him, Frank didn¡¯t have the guts to show it. All he could do was seethe as he asked, ¡°Christina, didn¡¯t you say that you didn¡¯t have a boyfriend? Why did you lie to me?¡± Poking her head out of Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, Christina fumed, ¡°It¡¯s true that I don¡¯t have a boyfriend. This is my husband!¡± What? Husband? Frank suddenly felt as if he had been struck by lightning as his eyelids twitched. Recalling how he had framed Christina earlier, he realized that he had signed his own death warrant. If only he had known that Nathaniel was Christina¡¯s husband, he wouldn¡¯t have had the courage to make a move on her. Unfortunately, it was now toote for regrets. If Nathaniel was to hold him responsible, he didn¡¯t dare imagine the consequences that would follow. Even his entire wealth wouldn¡¯t be enough topensate for his mistake. With tears welling up in his eyes, Frank grabbed the police officer¡¯s hand. ¡°Officer, can I report? Please let me do it. I beg of you!¡± The officer shot him a look of displeasure. ¡°What do you think this ce is? Does it look like somewhere you can mess around? If you want to withdraw your report, the opposing party might hold responsible for making baseless usations!¡± From the beginning, the officer was skeptical about Frank¡¯s story that Christina had tried to seduce him for the sake of fame and fortune. After all, she looked like a kind and decentdy who would never do something so immoral. If it weren¡¯t for the wounds on Frank¡¯s face, there was no way anyone would believe that he was the victim. ¡°Once I withdraw my report, she won¡¯t pursue the matter. Wouldn¡¯t it all work out, officer?¡± Frank pleaded piteously like a criminal begging for forgiveness. At that moment, Nathaniel¡¯swyer entered the room with a grim look on his face and a bunch of documents in his hand. ¡°Mr. Emerson, Mr. Hadley wants to know if you¡¯re going to continue filing the police report. He¡¯s prepared to fight it to the end.¡± In contrast to his aggressive behavior earlier, Frank shed a sycophantic smile. ¡°I¡¯m withdrawing the report. This is nothing but a misunderstanding. I¡¯m the one who has made a mistake¡± ¡°If you¡¯re not going to file the report, please sign this document. Thewyer ced a settlement agreement in front of Frank. ¡°I will. I¡¯ll sign it right now.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Frank picked up a pen and put his signature down. After handing the document over, he whispered into thewyer¡¯s ear. ¡°Please tell Mr. Hadley that this is nothing but a misunderstanding. I¡¯ll never show my face in front of Christina ever agin Thewyer took the settlement agreement away with a solemn expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but you had better speak to Mr. Hadley directly with regard to such personal matters.¡± With that, he walked out of the room. After taking Frank¡¯s statement for over an hour, the officer wasn¡¯t going to let the matter slide just because the former withdrew his report. ¡°Even if the opposing party doesn¡¯t pursue the matter, you¡¯ll be detained for five days and fined five hundred for filing a false report. Your sentence starts this very moment!¡± On the brink of tears, Frank almost copsed to his knees. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Can you spare me from any punishment?¡± ¡°Do you think the police station is a ce where you can do whatever you want? Take him away!¡± Regardless of Frank¡¯s pleas, the officer dragged him out without fear or favor. Satisfied with the oue, Christina even praised the officer for doing a good job upholding justice. Upon leaving the police station, Christina got Sebastian to send Rayne home. As a result, Madison, Christina, and Nathaniel shared the same car on the way home. Madison turned around from the front passenger seat. ¡°I¡¯m d that you¡¯re unharmed, Mrs. Hadley, Fortunately, there weren¡¯t any reporters around. Otherwise, Hadley Corporation¡¯s reputation would be ruined if word of this got out.¡± Despite the concerned expression on her face, she was insinuating that Christina almost created problems. for thepany Thetter obviously knew of the consequences, but there was no way she would allow herself to be taken advantage of Turning around, Christina leaned against Nathaniel. ¡°I was just defending myself when Mr. Emerson made advances on me. Even if news of the incident spread, I¡¯m definitely not in the wrong, isn¡¯t that right, Nathaniel?¡± After humming in agreement, Nathaniel shot Madison a reprimanding look. Naturally, Madison didn¡¯t darement any further, for she was well aware of how Nathaniel hated hearing anyone speak ill of Christina. Thus, she changed the topic ¡°Mr. Hadley, I have yet toplete my report on the contract just now. Do you want to continue, or shall I meet you in your office tomorrow morning?¡± Before their arrival, they were discussing details of an important project where negotiations with their partner were to be held the next afternoon. That was why they had to be prepared beforehand. After ncing at his watch, Nathaniel tly replied, ¡°We¡¯ll talk at Scenic Garden Manor.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel and Madison entered the study. As for Christina, the first thing she did was get a hot shower after an exhausting day. The warm water helped her tense muscles to rx. After she emerged from the bathroom, she noticed that the study¡¯s lights were still on. Hence, she prepared some desserts and brought them into the room. When she saw the two in a serious discussion. Christina ced the desserts by the side, as she didn¡¯t want to interrupt. Just as she was about to leave, she felt a warm palm wrap grip her wrist. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Ruthless Linda Exerting minimal force using his fingers, Nathaniel effortlessly pulled Christina into his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so you can head back now. We¡¯ll discuss the rest tomorrow morning¡± Madison felt somewhat upset as she stared at the contract that they had yet to finish discussing. Back then, Mr. Hadley would insist on finishing his work before taking a break. Now, he¡¯s going to leave his work aside just to be with Christina. I¡¯ve lost count of how many exceptions he has made just for her¡­. As displeased as Madison was, she had no choice but to suck it up. ¡°Understood,¡± she said as she retrieved the documents from the desk and left. Christina was feeling a little sleepy at the time. Seeing as there was nobody else in the study, she muzzled against Nathaniel¡¯s muscr chest and enjoyed the warmth that enveloped her. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Carry me back to the room.¡± Having gotten used to being spoiled, Christina would have Nathaniel carry her around at every opportunity she got. Of course, Nathaniel didn¡¯t mind it one bit. He gave her a light pinch on the nose and carried her back to the bedroom. Linda¡¯s birthday was just around the corner. She had been calling Charlie many times, but she couldn¡¯t seem to get through to him no matter what. It was as though he had blocked her number, and that did not sit well with her at all. Unable to ept being dumped like that. Linda was determined to turn things around. Christina delivered the dress she had made to the doorstep. Thinking that Christina would be able to help with her situation, Linda instructed the housekeeper to have Christina stay for a bit. Christina assumed Linda wanted to try on the dress, so she decided to stick around as she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to leave. ¡°Here you go. Ms. Steele. Have some tea while Mdm. Macall tries out the dress.¡± Christina picked up the cup of chamomile tea and sipped on it. Mm, it tastes good. It wasn¡¯t until she finished the tea about ten minutester that Linda came out wearing the dress. ¡°You did an amazing job, Christina. It fits me perfectly, so there¡¯s no need for alterations at all,¡± she said with a satisfied smile on her face. Christina had sewn some floral patterns on the dress, which gave it an elegant and dignified air. ¡°I¡¯m d you like it. Is there anything else I can help you with? If not, I will be taking my leave now,¡± she replied while getting to her feet, only to feel dizzy all of a sudden. Hmm, this is weird. Am I dizzy because of low blood sugar? Linda stepped forward and grabbed her by the hand as she asked, ¡°It¡¯s my birthday tomorrow. Will you please stay and celebrate it with me?¡± Her voice was so gentle that it felt as though she had be apletely different person. ¡°I could just drop by tomorrow. I still have work to do, so I need to get going now,¡± Christina said and tried to brush Linda¡¯s hand off, only to realize she couldn¡¯t muster up much strength to even do that, Of course, Linda didn¡¯t care if she wanted to stay or not. She insisted on dragging the younger woman into the room. ¡°Your work can wait. Just stay here and be my guest. I¡¯ll be sure to take good care of you!¡± As long as I can get Christina to stay here, Charlie will surelye looking for her! It wasn¡¯t until Christina felt her dizziness worsen that she realized something was amiss. I was just fine earlier this morning, so it must be the tea! I can¡¯t believe Linda would resort to spiking my drink just to keep me here! A few of the housekeepers then dragged Christina¡¯s limp body into the guest room. ¡°Let me go! What you¡¯re doing is illegal!¡± Christina eximed while they shackled her to the bed. At that very moment, Linda seemed like a terrifying monster that would eat her up at any moment. Christina was usually very cautious when out and about, but she let her guard down due to her rtionship with Linda. She genuinely did not expect Linda to pull such a dirty move on her. The look in Linda¡¯s eyes grew icy¨Ccold as she crossed her arms and said. ¡°Come to think of it, it was your fault that Old Mrs. Hadley kicked me out of the Hadley family. Charlie won¡¯t even see me anymore! This is all your fault, so I am going to keep you here until youpensate me for my loss!¡± The mere thought of what happened caused hatred to surge in Linda¡¯s heart. Linda then turned around and stormed out of the room while a cold shiver ran down Christina¡¯s spine. Her brain was spinning as if she was on a roller coaster. How is Linda going to make mepensate her? She¡¯s a lot more cunning than I expected. A woman who hogged someone else¡¯s husband for dozens of years is definitely up to no good! Ugh, I can¡¯t believe I let my guard down! The only reason I would even deal with Linda is because she¡¯s Francis¡® mother! I just hope she won¡¯t hurt Nathaniel¡­ After returning to the master bedroom, Linda felt incredibly depressed when she recalled the moments she and Charlie used to have in there. Having made up her mind, she sent him a picture of Christina lying on the bed. He may have blocked my calls, but he can still receive text messages from me! Sure enough, her phone rang in less than a minute. Linda felt excited when she saw Charlie¡¯s name on the caller ID. Ha! I knew this method would work! ¡°What have you done to Christina?¡± Charlie asked anxiously. Linda¡¯s lips curled into an icy¨Ccold sneer. ¡°Don¡¯t worry; I won¡¯t hurt your precious daughter¨Cinw! It¡¯s my birthday tomorrow. You would always prepare a nice present for me and blow the candles out with me. Will you do that for me tomorrow as well?¡± She wasn¡¯t about to give up on Charlie. I¡¯ve been by this man¡¯s side for dozens of years and spent my entire youth on him! How could he abandon me just like that? I refuse to spend the rest of my life feeling lonely and depressed! Charlie let out a sigh as he knew she was threatening him. ¡°I told you, we¡¯re old friends at best. I do not want to get back into a rtionship with you.¡± His life had improved significantly after he left Linda. At the very least, he no longer had to worry about. I know I¡¯ve wronged Linda, but there¡¯s nothing else I can do! His harsh words cut at her heart like a knife. ¡°I don¡¯t care! I want to see you today! You¡¯d better not draw any unnecessary attention if you want Christina to be safe!¡± Linda then hung up the phone immediately after saying that. She was certain that Charlie would not do anything rash because he cared about Christina¡¯s safety. In the meantime, Charlie tried calling her back, but Linda ignored his call. Threatening me with Christina¡¯s life, huh? I can¡¯t believe she¡¯d go that far to make me get back with her! How did I not realize back then that Linda was such a ruthless woman? He mmed his fist on the table as his forehead throbbed violently in anger. Not wanting to waste any more time, Charlie quickly left the office without any hesitation. The sky looked incredibly beautiful in the evening with the clouds tinged red by the evening sun. Linda put a lot of effort into dolling herself up. Not only did she apply a blush to her cheeks, but she also put on a fitting gown thatplimented her amazing figure and tied her long hair up in a neat bun. She did not look like a fifty¨Cyear¨Cold woman at all. In order to ensure that she did not lose to Julia, she worked really hard to maintain her appearance every. single day. Even so, the man she loved still left her regardless. Linda had a conflicted feeling in her heart as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. It wasn¡¯t until the servant came in and informed her of Charlie¡¯s arrival that she snapped out of her train of thought. A faint smile formed on Linda¡¯s lips as she got up and headed down the stairs. Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Chapter 280 End Things Once And For All ¡°Where is Christina? Let her go first!¡± Charlie said coldly the moment the two of them met. He was clearly angry at Linda for using such underhanded means to force him toe over. As Linda only wanted Charlie to show up, she couldn¡¯t care less about anything else. She then nonchntly walked up to him and said, ¡°Tomorrow is my birthday, I want you to cut the cake with me when the clock strikes twelve tonight. Do that, and I will let you both go.¡± Charlie got even angrier when he saw her casual demeanor. ¡°You¡­ There is no point in you doing this at all!¡± He had onlye over because of Christina, so it was pointless for Linda to threaten him like this. Doing so would only worsen their rtionship with each other. Linda felt her heart ache when she saw how determined he was. Of course, she knew that it was pointless as well. However, it wasn¡¯t easy getting Charlie toe over, so there was no way she would let him leave before she got what she wanted. Acting as though they never broke up, Linda rested her head on Charlie¡¯s shoulder and said in a gentle voice. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a lot. All I want is for you to keep mepany until midnight and cut the cake with me. You can leave right after that.¡± Charlie was hesitant as he didn¡¯t want to do it, but he was worried about Christina¡¯s safety. ¡°I won¡¯t force you to stay or anything, so you don¡¯t have to worry about that. Christina is fine too. You see this dress I¡¯m wearing? She delivered it to me today as a birthday gift,¡± Linda continued softly. She was great at acting meek and gentle, especially in front of Charlie. ¡°Just keep mepany for the night, and I promise Christina will be safe. If you show me any sign of reluctance, then I will take it out on her. We would never have ended up like this if it weren¡¯t for her sowing discord between us,¡± she added. Charlie did not want Christina to get hurt as she had nothing to do with this at all. He was in an awkward rtionship with Linda where they were neither enemies nor a couple, so their rtionship would still have ended badly regardless of whether that incident took ce. ¡°All right; I¡¯ll stay until twelve and leave after cutting the cake.¡± Linda got happy when she saw him agree to it. ¡°You would always make me pasta for my birthdays. Could you do it for me this time as well?¡± she asked while dragging Charlie into the kitchen. Charlie reluctantly put on an apron and started preparing the pasta. Unbeknownst to him, the housekeeper had been secretly recording their interactions from afar. The sky was already dark by the time Christina woke up in the guest room. Her body was still weak from the drug¡¯s effects, so shey on the bed for quite some time before getting up. I can¡¯t believe I was out for so long! Just what did Linda spike my tea with? The first thing Christina did upon regaining consciousness was to look for her phone. She switched on the light in the guest room, only to see that the room contained nothing but some simple furniture. Her personal belongings were nowhere to be found. Linda had wanted to keep Christina trapped there, so it was only natural that she would do everything to prevent Christina from contacting people and getting help. What do I do? How will I contact Nathaniel to let him know I¡¯m here? Upon hearing amotion from outside the door, Christina ran up to it and tried the doorknob, but the door had been locked from the outside. As such, all she could do was press her ear against it and listen. In the meantime, the tension in the living room was through the roof. Julia couldn¡¯t get through to Charlie, and he wasn¡¯t at the office either. Since it was already Jate, Julia asked Charlie¡¯s driver where he was and found out that he hade over to Linda¡¯s house. Back then, Julia would just ignore such things because she believed he woulde back to her if they were meant to be together. This time, however, she refused to sit by and do nothing. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Linda has no right to mess up our rtionship! With that in mind, Julia decided to head over and question them in person. On her way there, Julia recalled that it was Linda¡¯s birthday and wondered if Charlie still had feelings for her. If that were the case, then Julia would rather end her rtionship with him once and for all. Her anger boiled over the moment she entered the house and saw them having pasta together. Charlie was surprised as he did not expect to see Julia there at all. He put his fork down and ran up to her as he asked, ¡°Julia? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°How else would I know what you¡¯re doing behind my back?¡± Julia retorted with tears glistening in her eyes. I thought the time we spent together would have changed him. I thought things could finally go back to the way they were before, but it was all just a lie¡­ This man can treat other women just as well as he treats me! Linda was in a bad mood at the time as Charlie had been really cold toward her all night. However, she felt all better after seeing how upset Julia was. ¡°You saw it yourself, Julia, Charlie still loves me, so why don¡¯t you just divorce him and give us your blessings instead?¡± Linda said with a gleeful smile. Julia¡¯s heart felt as though it had been stabbed by a needle dozens of times. Her eyes were filled with anger and hatred as she red at the two of them. Charlie felt conflicted as he didn¡¯t know what to say to her. ¡°That¡¯s not true! Please don¡¯t get the wrong idea, Julia! I have my reasons foring over today He only agreed to stay so Linda wouldn¡¯t hurt Christina, and he was nning to leave with Christina after midnight. Julia showing up out of the blue was not within his expectations at all. Oh, no¡­ Nothing I say will clear up this misunderstanding now! ¡°What reason, huh? Tell me, or we will get a divorce!¡± Julia shouted with a determined look in her eyes. I¡¯ve been fighting with Linda over this rtionship for dozens of years, and what do I get in return? I¡¯m too old to deal with such messy love triangles now Not wanting to give Charlie a chance to exin, Linda quickly stepped forward and showed Julia a montage on her phone. Those were pictures of the sweet moments Charlie and Linda had, including one of them making pasta together. Each of those pictures stabbed at Julia¡¯s heart like a knife. It was the first time her heart had hurt this badly. ¡°See, Julia? Charlie looks a lot happier when he¡¯s with me, doesn¡¯t he?¡± Noticing that the look on Julia¡¯s face was getting gloomier by the second, Linda knew that everything she did was working as intended, and that made her feel even more pleased with herself. ¡°Charlie doesn¡¯t even care about you! I mean, why else would hee to celebrate my birthday with me without telling you? He promised you that he would never see me again, and yet, he broke that promise today. He wouldn¡¯t have done that if he really cared about you! When will you finally understand that you don¡¯t matter to him at all?¡± Linda continued with a malicious look in her eyes. At that moment, she resembled a cruel witch who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Smack! Julia¡¯s palm was stinging after pping Linda, but she was able to knock Linda downto the floor. ¡°H¨Chow dare you hit me? Did you see that, Charlie? She just hit me! I bet she has mania or something! You would never be happy if you were with her!¡± Linda eximed pitifully while rubbing her swollen cheek. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 I Do Not Want To See You Ever Again Linda clung to Charlie¡¯s legs, tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°Charlie, can you truly be happy with. someone as hot¨Ctempered as her? I can make you happier, can¡¯t I? I love you more than anyone else, and I¡¯ve never lost my temper at you¡­¡± Julia¡¯s anger boiled within her, causing her eyes to well up with tears. However, her pride prevented her from shedding them in front of her love rival. She refused to stoop so low as to seek her husband¡¯s sympathy through such a despicable tactic. The tension in the living room was palpable, thick with an impending sense of explosion. The air crackled with intensity as if it were on the verge of igniting into an inferno. Inside the room. Christina¡¯s desperation grew as she frantically pounded on the door, hoping to draw someone¡¯s attention. s, the escting fight in the living room drowned out the pounding sounds she made, rendering her efforts futile. Christina¡¯s heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat as she finally understood what Linda¡¯s words. meant. Linda used me to trick Dad intoing here. Christina pounded on the door with all her might. She persisted in her attempts to break down the door, pounding on it relentlessly until her wrists grew swollen and painful. However, despite her best efforts, the door remained unyielding, not even showing a hint of damage or giving way. Christina felt an overwhelming urge to rush out of the room and caution Julia against believing Linda¡¯s words blindly. Dad came here for my safety. He didn¡¯te here to celebrate Linda¡¯s birthday. Who can ry this message to Mom? Christina¡¯s gaze swept over the room andnded on a small wooden chair. She hesitated briefly before heading over to pick up the chair. Charlie extended his arm to hold Julia, but the moment he reached out, she pped his hand away icily. ¡°Charlie, it must¡¯ve been hard for you to put up an act in front of me!¡± Linda raised her hand to wipe away her tears as a smug grin yed on her lips. Yes, that¡¯s it. Fight. As long as Julia doesn¡¯t want Charlie anymore, I can take the opportunity to strike. Inwardly, she was pleased by how things turned out the way she wanted. Charlie was stumped as he was stuck between both women. He nced at Linda, and then at Julia who looked disappointed with him. It felt like his heart had been stabbed both ways. He realized that if he didn¡¯t rify things with Julia that day, her trust in him would be irreparably damaged. ¡°Julia, listen to me. I came here because Linda kept Christina confined here. I had toe here to investigate and resolve the situation,¡± he exined, feelingpelled to reveal the truth in order to clear up the misunderstanding- Julia froze in her tracks and gave him a baffled look. She still seemed doubtful despite hearing his exnation. Realizing that the situation was slipping out of her control, Linda tightly gripped Charlie¡¯s arm and pleaded, ¡°Charlie, why won¡¯t you tell her the truth? Using Christina as an excuse seems feeble, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Julia¡¯s confusion heightened when she heard Linda¡¯s attempt to drive a wedge between them, and her distrust for Charlie merely grew. ¡°It¡¯s true. I have a photo of an unconscious Christina,¡± Charlie exined as he pulled out his phone. To his shock, the message he received earlier was gone! This is strange. It was still there a while ago. Why is it missing now? With the most concrete evidence gone, Charlie found himself unable to provide any further exnation. Linda was gloating inwardly. Back when they were cooking the pasta, she stole his phone without him realizing it and deleted the message. Her scheming abilities were unparalleled, leaving everyone else in the dust. As Charlie couldn¡¯t provide any other evidence to support his im, Julia let out an icy snort. ¡°Charlie, let¡¯s file our divorce tomorrow and go our separate ways!¡± She no longer wanted to see the disgusting cheating couple anymore. Julia nced at Linda¡¯s swollen cheek, feeling as though she didn¡¯t p her hard enough. I should¡¯ve pped her harder until she fainted from the pain. Charlie extended his hand toward Julia, but unexpectedly, he received a stinging p across his face, He could have easily dodged the iing p, but he chose to stand still, allowing her p tond on his check. As her palm came into contact with Charlie¡¯s cheek, a resounding p echoed through the room. Julia¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Charlie wordlessly. They had been married for over two decades, and throughout their entire journey together, they had never resorted to physical confrontation. Julia knew Charlie could¡¯ve dodged away, so her heart skipped a beat when her palmnded on his cheek. It was as if time hade to a standstill, and the world was plunged intoplete silence. Charlie held onto Julia¡¯s hand tightly and pleaded, ¡°I understand that it¡¯s hard for you to believe me now, but I swear I didn¡¯te here for her. If pping me will make you feel better, then go ahead.¡± Linda felt like a fool when she heard his words. Her intention was to destroy their rtionship, but she ended up pushing them together instead. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Charlie to get pped willingly by a woman, especially since he was used to being in control. Although Linda wasn¡¯t the one who had been pped, she could sense that the incident had created even more distance between her and Charlie. Suddenly, a pounding sound caught their attention. It soon urred to them that the sound came from the guest room on the first floor. Linda¡¯s expression changed abruptly as that was the room Christina was locked in. I gave her enough drugs to make her unconscious for the whole day. How did she regain consciousness so quickly? Charlie red at the butler. ¡°Open the door.¡± The butler hesitated, his gaze shifting to Linda before he cautiously responded, ¡°Mr. Hadley, um¡­¡± Charlie fixed an icy stare on him andmanded, ¡°Open the door right now.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Pressured by Charlie¡¯s intimidating aura, the butler heeded the order and hastily pulled out his key to unlock the door. The moment the door was unlocked, Christina ran out of the room. The first thing she did was to exin to Julia urgently, ¡°Mom, it was Ms. Macall who locked me here and forced Dad toe over. Don¡¯t be angry with him.¡± Christina¡¯s face was as pale as a sheet, likely due to the lingering effects of the drug. She appeared utterly miserable, her body covered in a cold sweat, probably from her desperate attempts to stay awake. Julia¡¯s heart was filled with agony as she shot Linda a withering look. ¡°How could you sink so low and use a youngdy to aplish your goal?¡± ¡°I¡­ You can¡¯t me me for doing this! You were too heartless to begin with!¡± Linda protested, her entire being trembling profusely. Yet, she didn¡¯t believe she did anything wrong. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Christina, we wouldn¡¯t have broken up!¡± She still thought Christina was the reason Charlie chose to break up with her. Charlie¡¯s eyes were bloodshot from anger, his gaze turning icy as he spoke with a firm voice. ¡°Stop ming Christina. This has nothing to do with her. In fact, I intended to break up with you before all of this happened, but I couldn¡¯t find the right opportunity to tell you¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Linda¡¯sshes trembled as though she had heard something frightening. Charlie added darkly, ¡°From today onward, I never want to see you again!¡± With that, he left with his wife and Christina. Linda stood in silence, her heart feeling as cold as ice as she watched the family of three leave her house. The emptiness and istion settled upon her, enveloping her like an icy igloo. She felt numb, unable to feel anything at all. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Sweet The car made its way back to Scenic Garden Manor. In the car, the three of them stared at each other as a heavy silence hung in the air. Charlie let out a soft sigh. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m sorry for my inability to handle this situation properly.¡± If I had made myself clear from the very beginning and told Linda to give up, this wouldn¡¯t have happened to her. Christina shook her head gently and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t tell Nathaniel about this.¡± Her voice remained calm. Julia¡¯s expression turned grave as she contemted the consequences of Nathaniel discovering this incident. She was well aware that her son would not let the matter slide easily. Christina is so thoughtful it makes me feel sorry for her. ¡°We¡¯ll handle it. You should get some rest back at home! Julia told her. Christina parted her lips to say, ¡°Good night, Dad and Mom.¡± She opened the door and got out of the car to head into the house. The drug¡¯s side effects had worn off, but Christina felt herself getting drawn to the bed. Her mind was muddled, and her footsteps felt burdened as she made her way to the bed. Exhausted and drained, she copsed onto the mattress, sumbing to the embrace of sleep without even realizing it. In the middle of the night, she found herself stirring as someone called her name repeatedly. ¡°Christina? Christina¡­¡± A warm breath tickled her ear, seemingly draining away the moisture in her body, leaving her feeling parched and dry. Christina forced her eyes open and saw Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face in front of her. His hair was wet; it seemed that he had just stepped out of the shower. A few strands of his disheveled hair dangled above his forehead as he fixated his intense gaze on her. His jaw tensed as he spoke, emitting an intimidating aura. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer your phone?¡± Nathaniel asked nonchntly. Christina reached out for her phone instinctively and realized she had missed at least a dozen of calls. My phone was taken away from me when I got locked up, so I didn¡¯t get to answer his calls. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Before she could reply, Nathaniel ced the back of his hand on her forehead and furrowed his brows. ¡°You¡¯re running a temperature. Why didn¡¯t you say anything about that?¡± Christina let out a weak grunt. ¡°No wonder I felt so sleepy earlier. It¡¯s fine. I just need more sleep.¡± She didn¡¯t feel like exining things and ended up not revealing how Linda kept her captive to Nathaniel. Nathaniel pulled a face and began to me himself. ¡°I had no idea you were ill the entire day. Let me get the doctor to check on you.¡± He pulled out his phone to summon the doctor. Christina studied Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face, which was now only inches away from her. It was a rare sight to see him with such a serious expression. A deep furrow formed between his brows as he emanated a dark and unapproachable aura. He¡¯s angry and worried because of me. With that thought in mind, Christina felt warmth and bliss spread all over her heart. Soon, the doctor arrived and checked her thoroughly. He then prescribed her some traditional medicine before leaving. Christina fell asleep a whileter.. Her peaceful slumber was abruptly interrupted by the repulsive odor of a medicinal concoction the following morning. With a grimace of difort, she reluctantly opened her eyes, her face contorted in anguish. ¡°What on earth is this? It stinks!¡± ¡°It¡¯s traditional medicine. Be good and take it so you can recover,¡± Nathaniel coaxed her gently. His deep and charming voice was music to Christina¡¯s ears. ¡°Can I not drink it and take some pills instead?¡± Christina replied, not daring to open her mouth wide. ¡°Traditional medicine is good for your health and won¡¯t burden your stomach,¡± Nathaniel exined. He gently supported her, allowing her to rest against his chest as he carefully fed her the concoction like she was a child in need of care. ¡°Be a good girl.¡± he whispered soothingly. ¡°Once you finish the medicine, rest at home. I¡¯lle back as soon as I finish my work to keep youpany.¡± Christina had to pinch her nose to finish the concoction. The liquid stained her lips as sheined, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s so bitter¡­¡± Before she could finish her words, Nathaniel held her nape gently and raised her chin to give her a kiss. His fresh breath spread across Christina¡¯s mouth, chasing away the horrible medicinal aftertaste. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how soft his lips were. Christina pushed him away and asked, ¡°It¡¯s so bitter. How could you stand it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty sweet to me,¡± Nathaniel replied, giving her a pointed look.. His intense gaze captivated her, stirring feelings of admiration and affection within her. Christina felt her cheeks warm up under his intense gaze. As the subtle heat spread to her ears, she instinctively pulled the covers up. ¡°You should go to work now,¡± The intensity of his stare made her feel as if he could burn two holes right through her with his prating eyes. Nathaniel gave her head a gentle pat. ¡°I¡¯ll head to work now.¡± He then left the bedroom. Meanwhile, the housekeeper was cleaning the kitchen. ¡°Should I throw away this pot of medication?¡± she asked. Raymond swiftly intervened, stopping her from discarding the medication. ¡°Wait! That¡¯s the medicine prescribed by the doctor to aid in Ms. Christina¡¯s recovery and enhance her chances of conceiving. She needs to take it twice a day, so please make sure to bring it to her.¡± The housekeeper nodded profusely and put the lid on the pot. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll bring it to Ms. Christina on time.¡± Christina slept soundly and only woke up in the afternoon. She felt much better after getting some rest. Feeling bored, she packed up and headed to her studio. Rayne was organizing the fabric in the tailor room. No one was there to supervise her, but she didn¡¯t ck. She was surprised to see Christina showing up at work. Ms. Steele, I thought you won¡¯t being today as you¡¯re feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I feel much better now. I¡¯m here to prepare our uing collection,¡± Christina told her. Running a studio was no easy feat. With her brand being rtively unknown, releasing a new collection. would likely go unnoticed by the public, When she was working at Radiant Corporation, the designs she produced didn¡¯t belong to her. Right now, Christina had to create a collection with her own unique style to attract the public¡¯s attention. Her phone rang with a call from Francis. As the call connected, his deep and melodious voice resonated. ¡°Christina, regarding what happened yesterday¡­ Are you okay? My mother didn¡¯t mean to harm you. Allow me to apologize on her behalf.¡± Christina did not expect Francis to personally call her to apologize. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s already in the past. However, I want to make it clear that I won¡¯t be designing any clothes for her anymore.¡± The thought of how extreme Linda was still sent shivers down her spine. Francis fell silent for several moments before rasping out, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Christina hummed in affirmation. ¡°I ept your apology. If there¡¯s nothing else, Fll end the call.¡± Francis sensed that Christina¡¯s eptance of his apology was only out of obligation as she owed him one. and it weighed heavily on his heart to hear her cold tone. ¡°By the way, I left my ring at your studio that day. I¡¯ll drop byter to get it.¡± Christina was perplexed. I didn¡¯t see his ring when I cleared up the lounge that day. ¡°Why don¡¯t I deliver it to you once I¡¯ve found it? It might not be appropriate for you to visit in considering your identity,¡± she suggested tactfully, implying that she preferred him not toe by. ¡°I happened to be shooting in an office nearby. It won¡¯t take long. I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± With that, Francis ended the call. Christina ced her phone aside and got to work. She became so immersed in her work that she lost track of time, only lifting her head when someone took her tablet away from her. It was Francis, who had showed up with dessert. ¡°You have caught a cold. Here, have some ginger tea and take a short break.¡° Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Chapter 283 Not Behaving Christina took the dessert from him and asked, ¡°Why do you have time to buy me ginger tea? Are you very free?¡± Feeling rather cold, she thought some hot tea could help warm her up and make her feel much better. Francis sat down across from her, his handsome face wearing a smile. ¡°Did you catch a cold because you took care of me thest time around? If that¡¯s the case, I must take responsibility and look after you in return.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, and this has nothing to do with you.¡± Christina took a sip of ginger tea and urged, ¡°You should hurry and look for your ring.¡± She suspected his true purpose ofing here and was wondering if he had really left his ring behind. "Sure.¡± Francis rose to his feet and went to the lounge. Christina continued working on her design draft after finishing the tea. She was soser¨Cfocused that she couldn¡¯t hear anything around her. denly, a figure appeared before her and cast a shadow over her. She frowned lightly and asked. ¡°Did manage to find- The words got caught in her throat the next second as she widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°Nathaniel? Why are you here?¡± A stern and indifferent expression filled the man¡¯s handsome countenance as he trained his eyes on her pale face. Worried that her cold had worsened, Nathaniel ced his palm on her forehead. She doesn¡¯t have a fever, but why is her face so pale? Last night, the doctor said she had anemia. Is she feeble because she has just recovered? I¡¯ve been feeding her and taking care of her every day, so why is she still so weak and skinny? Meanwhile, Christina¡¯s heart was racing wildly. Francis is in the lounge! He just had toe over at this time, of all times. I should¡¯ve just rejected him just now! How am I supposed to exin why Francis is around at thiste hour? Even if nothing had happened between us, Nathaniel gets jealous easily. He won¡¯t listen to my exnation. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Christina asked and nced in the direction of the lounge from the corner of her eye. The moment that door opens, all hell will break loose! How I wish I could just lock the door to the lounge now! In response, Nathaniel pinched her chin and stared into her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not behaving, so I have no choice but to keep an eye on you.¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t need you to keep an eye on me.¡± Christina was sweating bullets, and she could feel chills. running down her spine as she was overwhelmed with guilt. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Just then, Nathaniel noticed the empty paper cup at the side. That store is a long way away from here, and it¡¯s out of delivery range. They can¡¯t have delivered their drinks here. Christina also noticed what Nathaniel was looking at, so she threw the empty cup into the trash can and exined, ¡°Rayne bought this for me before she left work.¡± Every time she lied, her heart raced even faster. At that point, she didn¡¯t even dare to look Nathaniel in the eyes. Due to how quiet the room was, Christina couldn¡¯t hear anything but her pounding heart. ¡°Um¡­ Perhaps we should head home,¡± Christina suggested. I can feel that something bad is about to happen at any second! Therefore, we must get out of here. As soon as she stood up, however, Nathaniel pressed her back down and said, ¡°You came all the way here. to work, right? I¡¯ll stay here and keep youpany. With that. Nathaniel sat down beside her. Sebastian then ced a stack of documents on the desk, and it seemed as though Nathaniel was ready to start working as well. Left without a choice, Christina sat down and looked at her tablet absent¨Cmindedly. From time to time. she would steal a nce at Nathaniel, who was focusing on his work. With his gaze cast downward at the documents he was sorting out, his calm and serious countenance was so perfectly handsome, as if he were a statue carved by God. Sebastian handed Nathaniel a document and reported, ¡°Mr. Hadley, these are the paperwork concerning the approval of Hadley Corporation¡¯s investment in Crystalwood Corporation. The deal will be announced in two days¡® time.¡± In other words, Crystalwood Corporation¡¯s share price would increase exponentially in two days¡® time. If one were to buy Crystalwood Corporation¡¯s share before then, one would earn a fortune. The two sat working in silence for more than an hour, making for a peaceful and tranquil scene. Christina, who was initially distracted, continued focusing on her design drawing shortly afterward. In thete hours of the night, the temperature in the room dropped by a few more degrees. Nathaniel put his documents aside and asked Christina, ¡°Where¡¯s your coat?¡± ¡°In the lounge,¡± Christina blurted out nonchntly while altering the details of her design. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch it for you.¡± Christina immediately remembered something when she saw Nathaniel standing up and exiting the office. Oh no! Francis is still in the lounge! Those two men are surely going to end up fighting if they see each other! With that in mind, she chased after him and said, ¡°Nathaniel, let¡¯s just go home. I don¡¯t need to wear- s, there was no way she could catch up to Nathaniel. Nathaniel had already pushed the lounge door open before she could finish her sentence. He turned around to look at her, but she couldn¡¯t stop in time and ran into his chest. ¡°Ouch! My nose¡­¡± she cried out in pain as tears welled in her eyes. Nathaniel furrowed his brows and caressed her reddened nose to help her ease the pain. ¡°Why are you so lumsy?¡± With that, he nced at the empty lounge dubiously. There was nothing inside except a bed, a chair, and a few coats. Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the sight. I clearly saw Francis walking into the lounge just now. When did he leave? Is he a magician instead of an actor? Anyway, I¡¯m d he¡¯s gone. Upon heaving a sigh of relief, Christina said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I feel like going home now.¡± Nathaniel was weirded out by Christina¡¯s flustered look. He then hummed in response, grabbed the coat, and went home with Christina. Two dayster, Crystalwood Corporation¡¯s share price skyrocketed, while Hadley Corporation¡¯s share price also increased after the announcement was made, Nathaniel was browsing the data analysis and noticed that someone had acquired arge number of Crystalwood Corporation¡¯s shares the day before. That person made a profit of at least tens of millions after the announcement was made. Logically speaking, no one would¡¯ve found out about Hadley Corporation¡¯s investment in advance. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened, and he ordered Sebastian, ¡°Find out who bought the shares,¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Sebastian went to investigate, and the broker¨Cdealer soon replied with a name. Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned gloomy instantly when he saw the buyer¡¯s name. Francis? Prior to this, he was only active in the entertainment industry. Why did he suddenly get involved in the business world? What is he ying at? How did he know about Hadley Corporation¡¯s deal with Crystalwood Corporation? Madison, who was standing nearby, saw the text. I was the one who told Francis about Hadley Corporation¡¯s inside information before this, but I didn¡¯t say anything this time. Puzzled, she told Francis to meet her after work at the condominium. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Chapter 284 None Of Your Business The moment they met each other, Madison asked straightforwardly. ¡°How did you know Hadley Corporation was investing in Crystalwood Corporation?¡± With a hand in his pocket, Francis lowered his gaze, his long eyshes concealing his emotions. ¡°I have my ways, of course, but it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Francis sounded songuid and nonchnt as if he was not interested in conversing with Madison. Madison frowned slightly and questioned, ¡°What about what we agreed upon? Does that still count?¡± Madison still needed Francis¡® help to deal with Christina. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about the investment, then? All you care about is Nathaniel, right? What makes you think you can take advantage of me?¡± Francis scoffed. Madison kept mum for a while, for she could clearly sense the change in Francis attitude. ¡°Have you fallen for Christina, Francis?¡± she asked in disbelief. Otherwise, why would there be such a drastic change in his attitude? He¡¯s acting like he can¡¯t bear to see Christina get hurt! Francis¡® gaze darkened at once, and he replied coldly. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business.¡± His ambiguous reply confirmed Madison¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Have you gone mad, Francis? She¡¯s your sister¨C in-w! Are you seriously into her?¡± she asked. He¡¯s supposed to help me deal with Christina! How could he suddenly decide to take Christina¡¯s side? Why is everyone on Christina¡¯s side? What¡¯s so good about herf Francis began exuding a wave of cold aura, and his tone became even more indifferent when he uttered. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to harm Christina in the future. Also, if you want to work with me, show me the leverage you have over Nathaniel. I¡¯m still willing to help you as long as you prove to me you have what it takes to bring him down.¡± With that, Francis turned around and left without even looking back. The next morning, a powerful stench of traditional medicine woke Christina up. She would knit her brows whenever she caught a whiff of the disgusting smell. ¡°I¡¯ve already recovered, no? Why do I still need to take medicine?¡± Christina grumbled, puffing up her cheeks. I¡¯ve already been taking this medicine for almost a week. ¡°You¡¯re still weak, so you need to drink this to get your health back on track. Be good, okay? Drink it Nathaniel picked up the bowl of medicine and attempted to feed Christina. Seeing that, Christina backed away as if she had just seen a ghost and frowned deeply. With a pitiful expression, she said reluctantly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink that. It¡¯s so bitter¡­¡± No matter how uncooperative she was, Nathaniel remained patient and coaxed her by saying. ¡°There, there. Finish this today, and you won¡¯t need to drink any tomorrow.¡± Christina had no choice but to give in. Pursing her lips with displeasure, she said, ¡°You better not lie to me! ¡°When have I ever lied to you?¡± Nathaniel tousled her hair and took a piece of candy from his pocket. ¡°You can eat this to get rid of the bitter taste in your mouth.¡± Under Nathaniel¡¯s watchful eyes, Christina pinched her nose and finished the medicine. Nathaniel then unwrapped the candy and put it into her mouth. ¡°Good girl,¡± he praised. The housekeepers would always smile from the bottom of their hearts whenever they witnessed how Nathaniel patiently coaxed Christina to take her medicine. The sight of Nathaniel and Christina¡¯s sweet interaction never failed to fill their hearts with blissful warmth. Recently, Christina found an advertisingpany to make a signboard for her studio. She had already sent the advertisingpany a design drawing, but there was a wide selection of materials to choose from. Hence, she had to go over to thepany to pick the materials she wanted in person. She left the office after giving Rayne some instructions. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. It was around noon, so the sunlight was ring. When she arrived at the traffic light, she stood by the side of the road along with the crowd. The red light was stinging to the eye. While some were staring at the light, waiting for it to turn green, some were absentmindedly looking around them. In the meantime, Christina was texting Nathaniel with her head lowered. All of a sudden, someone pushed her shoulder from behind. She was caught off guard, and she ended up stumbling onto the road. Coincidentally, a car wasing right at her, and she had to shut her eyes due to the ring light. At that moment, she felt as though her heart had stopped beating. The driver of the iing car panicked when he saw a slender figure appearing out of nowhere on the road. In the end, he managed to avoid running into her by mming his brake and swerving to the side. When the driver regained hisposure, he red at Christina, who was sitting on the ground, and roared, ¡°Are you crazy? Go somewhere else if you want tomit suicide! Are you trying to get me in trouble?¡± Christina tensed up right away. Although the driver was shouting at her, she couldn¡¯t bother to attend to him. Instead, she turned around to nce at the crowd behind her. The people standing in the front row looked battled, and the people behind them know what just happened. Just then, the red light turned green, and the crowd started crossing the road. Christina didn¡¯t see anyone suspicious in the crowd. I don¡¯t know any of them, and they all look so indifferent¡­ However, I know someone pushed me intentionally. That person wanted me dead! I don¡¯t even know if the perpetrator targeted me or randomly picked his victim. Nevertheless, I can sense a pair of eyes staring at me intently, and that only mean danger is just around the corner. ¡°You foolish girl! Tell the police that you were the one who caused this ident by suddenly rushing onto the road, forcing me to steer the car to the side!¡± The driver red at Christina lividly, Apparently, the sudden urrence just now had caused the car behind the driver to suffer a rear¨Cend collision due to braking suddenly. Christina rose to her feet to pick up the phone that she dropped. After that, she apologized and exined herself to the police. Fortunately for everyone, the incident didn¡¯t cause anyone any harm. The police said they would check the surveince cameras to see if they could find the person who pushed her onto the road. If they could locate the perpetrator, they would take legal action against him. Christina appeared distracted when she was giving the police her statement. Evidently, she was still traumatized. Instead of telling Nathaniel what happened, she recollected herself and went to the advertising company. With that out of the way, she went back to the studio. Rayne was shocked to see the wretched state Christina was in. Seeing that the sleeves of Christina¡¯s sweater were ripped, Rayne asked. ¡°Did you hurt yourself, Boss?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Christina shook her head. Rayne grew even more worried. ¡°Your sleeves are ripped! Did someone rob you?¡± she yelled. Christina regained her senses when she heard Rayne screaming. ¡°I fell. I¡¯ll just get changed.¡± With that, Christina entered the lounge. Who pushed me just now? Could it be Madison? She¡¯s been very hostile toward metely. Does she want me dead? The look in Christina¡¯s eyes turned grim as her train of thought ended there. In the end, she decided to visit Hadley Corporation to get to the bottom of the incident. She quickly got changed and left. When she arrived at Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel happened to be in the middle of a meeting. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Buying All Christina waited for him in the office. While she hesitated whether to tell Nathaniel about that matter, the tightly closed office door was pushed open. Madison entered with a few documents. A hint of surprise shed across her eyes when she saw Christina. ¡°Mrs Hadley, you may want to go back first. It¡¯s always hard to tell how long Mr. Hadley¡¯s meetings willst. If some unexpected situations ur, we may have to work overtime. Just the night before, we worked until three in the morning. Ah, forget it. You won¡¯t be able to experience them firsthand even if I tell you these things.¡± At that point, a prideful look spread across Madison¡¯s visage as only she could work alongside Nathaniel. Looking at Madison¡¯s smug expression, Christina had a strong feeling that Madison could truly be the culprit who tried to harm her. She gently put down the cup in her hand and uttered nonchntly. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right. It¡¯s just like how I¡¯m the only one who can take care of Nathaniel when he gets home. That¡¯s something you¡¯ll never experience in your whole life.¡± ¡°You¡± Madison¡¯s face flushed crimson. Her boiling anger caused her heart to palpitate as she subconsciously clenched her fists. Christina narrowed her eyes and met Madison¡¯s gaze coldly. The atmosphere inside the office was instantly filled with hostility and tension. At that moment, the door to the office was pushed open again, followed by Nathaniel¡¯s entry. Noticing Nathaniel walking in, Madison immediately wiped away her frosty expression and rposed herself to her usual calm demeanor. ¡°Since you rarely drop by, you must try the new coffee ourpany recently procured. Mrs. Hadley. Let me prepare a cup for you.¡± With that, Madison left with a smile. Christina was amazed at how swiftly Madison could alter her mien. When she was about to speak, her phone rang. She noticed it was a call from the police station. Nathaniel nced at her. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± His piercing gaze unnerved her, prompting her to pick up her phone and answer the call. ¡°Ms. Christina, we¡¯ve apprehended the suspect who pushed you onto the road. He¡¯s an individual with an antisocial personality disorder. Through our thorough investigation, we ascertained this man has never crossed paths with you in his life. The suspect has now been detained.¡± Subsequently, Christina¡¯s doubts were cleared up. ¡°All right. I¡¯m d that everything is fine.¡± ¡°If you need any help, please don¡¯t hesitate to contact us.¡± ¡°Okay. Thank you,¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina felt fear lingering in her chest when she recalled that frightening scene earlier. If that driver hadn¡¯t swerved in time, the consequences would¡¯ve been dire Taking in her distracted demeanor, Nathaniel asked concernedly, ¡°Who called you?¡± She deleted the call log and put away her phone. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The delivery time of a batch of fabrics I ordered got dyed. This is just a random ident anyway, so there¡¯s no need to rm Nathaniel. In that case, does that mean this matter is unrted to Madison? Have I been overthinking? Nathaniel noticed Christina had been a little absent¨Cmindedtely. He found it difficult to figure out the secrets she was hiding from him as if there was some kind of invisible barrier between them. ¡°Work is important, but so is your health.¡± Christina collected herself, walked up to him, and pinched his nose. ¡°I got it. You¡¯re still so young, yet you¡¯re already starting to nag me.¡± He pulled her into his embrace. ¡°I know your studio will be organizing its first exhibition soon, so I¡¯ve already helped to reserve the central space in the mall for you He couldn¡¯t stand seeing her working so hard. Therefore, he would provide her full assistance regarding tasks within his capabilities. Christina wrapped her arms around his neck and beamed at him. ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡± She was indeed preparing for her studio¡¯s first show, and there simply wasn¡¯t enough time in a day for her to finish her work. At that moment, Madison, who was holding a cup of freshly brewed coffee, witnessed the scene of Nathaniel and Christina cuddling. Intense jealousy and rage overwhelmed her. She turned around and returned to her office with fury surging within her. At that moment, she wanted to expose all the photos of Christina and Francis on her phone to let the public judge if a woman like her deserved to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side. Unfortunately, after Francis decided not to join forces with her, he warned her not to disclose those pictures. As a result, Madison had to deal with Christina alone, which wasn¡¯t an easy feat. All of a sudden, Madison thought of someone. That person was her good friend from her university days, Jewel Lacroix. Christina was focused on preparing for her studio¡¯s first showtely and soon forgot all about the incident of her being pushed onto the road. She worked tirelessly for nearly a month toplete all ten sets of gowns. Christina even invited Bailey to model for her. On the night of the show, many socialites and heads of major fashionpanies attended. Christina could guess that those esteemed figures in the industry were willing to show up because Nathaniel had helped her promote her studio¡¯s exhibition behind the scenes. As the music began, everyone turned their attention to the unique show. Initially, the members of the audience were merely there to fill the seats, but when they saw Christina¡¯s designs, all of them widened their eyes in astonishment. ¡°As expected of a brand sponsored by Mr. Hadley. The designs are avant¨Cgarde and trendy!¡± ¡°You know what? I¡¯m actually interested in a few of those gowns.¡± ¡°If you like them, you should hurry up and ce an order. I heard these are limited editions, with only one piece avable for each design. If you¡¯re slow, they¡¯ll be sold out.¡± A figure in a ck, slim¨Cfitting dress sat in the middle of the seats below the stage. She wore a hat that covered most of her countenance, making it difficult to discern her facial features. She turned to her assistant and said, ¡°This series of gowns are quite nice. Inform the designer that I¡¯ll buy all of them.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Lacroix. The assistant went backstage and found the person in charge, Rayne, and spoke in a haughty manner. ¡°Ms. Lacroix said she wants to purchase all ten gowns in this series. Upon hearing that, Rayne was slightly taken aback, and a glimmer of surprise flickered in her eyes. Taking in Rayne¡¯s shocked expression, the assistant added impatiently, ¡°After the models take the outfits offter, send the clothes directly to- Just as she was about to mention the address, Rayne regained her senses and interrupted the assistant, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but all our gowns have already been bought by someone else.¡± I was astounded because I didn¡¯t expect Boss¡® designs to be in such high demand. This is the fifth customer I¡¯m turning down who wanted to purchase all the gowns. The assistant¡¯s expression froze. She wondered if her ears were ying tricks on her. As far as she was concerned, the gowns featured in the show that day were just the works of an insignificant designer, yet all the outfits were sold out so quickly. Rayne took out a business card and handed it to the assistant. ¡°Here is our studio¡¯s contact information and address. You can contact us after this event to ce your orders for the gowns.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The assistant received the business card and left dejectedly. When Jewel noticed her assistant¡¯s downcast demeanor, she asked in bafflement, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ms. Lacroix, this designer¡¯s gowns have all been bought by other guests,¡± the assistant exined. Jewel arched lier brows, not expecting an obscure designer¡¯s works could be so popr. She got up and went backstage to confront Rayne. Tell the designer toe out here and meet me. By hook or by crook, I willy my hands on those gowns today!¡± Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Dared To Refuse Me Following Jewel¡¯s shrill voice, the entire backstage plunged into silence. Striding over, Christina studied the woman in front of her. ¡°Thank you for liking my designs, miss. But a client has already reserved the gowns. As such, I can¡¯t sell them to you.¡± It was a good thing that people loved her designs. For that reason, she did not take offense to the fact that the woman came backstage without permission. However, Jewel merely snorted coldly before slowly removing her top hat. Without the cover it provided, her beautiful countenance came into in view of everyone there. Isn¡¯t she the female celebrity who¡¯s exceedingly popr recently and has even been nominated as one of the top ten beauties by a magazine? From her figure and looks to her aura, she was indeed outstanding. Noticing the astonished gazes all around, Jewel was inwardly smug- ¡°Let me tell you the truth¨Cyou¡¯re lucky I took a fancy to your designs. I want to buy your dresses to be used during the filming of my new movie. You have no idea how many prominent brands are vying to sponsor me for free, but I turned them all down. Now that I¡¯m giving you an opportunity, you should cherish it!¡± She sounded as proud as a peacock. It was as though she was someone high and mighty who was being very much charitable. Everyone there was well aware that if a movie star were to wear a designer¡¯s creations during filming, it would definitely boost the brand¡¯s poprity and attract immense attention. Such a golden opportunity could be considered a windfall, which anyone would rush up to grab hold of Unexpectedly, Christina held Jewel¡¯s gaze calmly and declined cidly. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but someone has already reserved the gowns in this series. That aside, this batch¡¯s gowns are limited editions, so I can¡¯t sell any extra.¡± ¡°How impudent of you!¡± In a sh, Jewel¡¯s eyes zed scarlet. How dare this woman turn me down? She felt as though she had suffered a p in the face by her own doing, and her blood boiled. Fine! Since she wouldn¡¯tply even when I was being amicable, there¡¯s no need for me to be courteous to her! Ayer of frost nketed her eyes. ¡°Who do you think you are to reject me? With a single word from me, I guarantee you that no one will dare ce an order from your studio henceforth!¡± Verily, Christina could not fathom what the big deal was that the superstar before her was on the warpath. Is this just because my gowns were already reserved by someone else? If so, isn¡¯t she a bit too extreme? Not wanting to ruin her good mood, she turned to Rayne and ordered evenly, ¡°Please see thisdy out.¡± Right then, everyone present could sense the tension in the air. Rayne timidly murmured in acquiescence. She walked over to the two women and made a sweeping gesture. ¡°This way, please. Ms. Lacroix.¡± p! A crisp p split the air. Rayne¡¯s face stung painfully. She gaped at Jewel in disbelief. Never had she imagined that thetter would get physical with her. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She seemed easygoing and friendly on television. So, it was all an act? At the sight of her assistant being assaulted, the temper Christina had been suppressing promptly erupted. ¡°Why did you hit her?¡± She stalked over and shielded Rayne behind her. Utter mortification swamped Rayne after having been pped across the face. After all, anyone would be embarrassed to be subjected to a smack in public. Nheless, she did not want Christina to get into trouble because of her. Thus, she whispered. ¡°Forget it. Boss. I¡¯m fine.¡± Although she never had any contact with the entertainment industry, she knew all too well that celebrities had hot tempers. Meanwhile, Jewel wore an unrepentant expression on her face. In fact, she stared at Christina with provocation brimming in her eyes. The look in her eyes seemingly dared thetter to do something about it. Hmph! Serves her right for being so ungrateful and rebuffing me! All sound in the air seemingly screeched to a standstill. The staff members were wholly dumbfounded. It was probably also their first time seeing a celebrity striking someone because she could not get to buy the gowns she desired. Whoa! She shouldn¡¯t be putting the me on the designer. If she has the guts, she should go and seek out the person who bought the gowns! If Christina were to allow Jewel to leave without incident, she would also be losing her pride alongside that p. In truth. Jewel pped Rayne on purpose to embarrass Christina. Well, we shall see whether she¡¯d be so bold next time to refuse my request! Christina¡¯s eyes narrowed a fraction. She was not infuriated because of her pride then. Instead, it was due to the fact that her assistant had been struck without reason. ¡°You must apologize today, Ms. Lacroix!¡± Her tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. A smirk curved Jewel¡¯s lips. She wants me, a superstar, to apologize to an insignificant assistant? What a pipe dream! Beside her, her assistant stepped forward and inserted herself between the two women. ¡°Who are you that you dare speak to Ms. Lacroix in such a manner?¡± Christina¡¯s face was stretched taut, and she did not budge an inch. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are! If you don¡¯t apologize, I¡¯ll lodge a police report! Don¡¯t think that pping someone is a trivial matter. If this matter esctes to the authorities, not only will you have to apologize, but you¡¯ll also need to write me an apology letter!¡± None of those present had ever expected the woman who appeared as docile as a kitten to stand her ground suddenly. Furthermore, it seemed that she was not someone to be trifled with. Jewel¡¯s expression changed imperceptibly. She wants me to apologize? No way! At that precise moment, a series of steady footsteps rang out. Nathaniel¡¯s tall figure approached, his powerful aura rendering him the center of attention. The instant Christina saw him heading toward her, she was just about to speak when Jewel at the side beat her to it. Thetter rushed up to the man. ¡°Someone is picking on me, Nathaniel! Since we¡¯re family.e and help me!¡± As soon as her words rang out, shock flooded everyone there. Why did she say that they¡¯re family? Christina had no idea when Nathaniel had gotten himself a family member who was a celebrity. Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s some distant rtive or something A frown marred Nathaniel¡¯s countenance, He went to Christina straight away. ¡°What happened here?¡± A trace of suspicion showed on Christina¡¯s impassive face. She briefly exined the matter, saying. Thisdy here wished to buy the gowns used during the fashion show, but Mrs. Jillings has already reserved them. She insisted on having them and even hit my assistant.¡± I don¡¯t care how big of a fuss she wanted to kick up, but hitting my assistant was out of line. She¡¯s simply unreasonable! Still. Jewel felt that she had done nothing wrong. This is the Hadley family¡¯s territory, so what even if I was in the wrong? Now that I¡¯ve got someone backing me up. I can even have this designer apologize! ¡°It¡¯s your honor that I wanted to buy your gowns! Yet, you dared to show such impertinence and refuse me?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened a shade. ¡°Cut it out. Go out first.¡± Jewel felt as though she was hearing things. He¡¯s actually siding with the designer? Am I hearing him correctly? ¡°I¡­ Nathaniel!¡± It was her first time losing an argument, and chagrin inundated her. Argh! I haven¡¯t gotten her to apologize to me yet! Regretfully, she did not dare say anything further when she glimpsed the icy look in the man¡¯s With a harrumph, she spun on her heel and stormed off. eyes. The staff members backstage no longer dared tarry to watch the show. They dispersed and went about their respective tasks. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Chapter 287 A Sense Of Danger Everyone standing around dispersed. Rayne also left while cradling her red and swollen face. Nathaniel turned his gaze to Christina, whose eyes were slightly red. ¡°The fashion show is over, so let¡¯s go. home first.¡± Suspicion lingered within Christina, but she did not want to ask too many questions in public. Hence, she merely grunted in acquiescence. When the two of them had gotten in the car, a strained atmosphere hung in the air. ¡°Why did that woman earlier im that the two of you are family?¡± The look in Christina¡¯s eyes was grim, marred with obvious displeasure. Nathaniel could distinctly sense that she was agitated. It was rare for him to see her in such a state, so he reached out and seized her chin, lifting her head up. Her crystalline eyes shimmered like diamonds, beyond mesmerizing. Perturbed by his stare, Christina urged huffily, ¡°Well?¡± A snort ofughter escaped Nathaniel, and he chuckled aloud. Well¡­ she looks pretty adorable when she¡¯s jealous. ¡°That was my paternal uncle¡¯s daughter. They reside abroad and rarely return to the country, so you know about them.¡± If she¡¯s his paternal uncle¡¯s daughter, that means she¡¯s his paternal cousin, Following that, Christina was skeptical about his im. ¡°Then, why isn¡¯t herst name Hadley but Lacroix?¡± This doesn¡¯t make sense at all. Cradling her face with a single hand, Nathaniel answered, ¡°Because she took her mother¡¯s family name.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Even then, Christina was dubious. ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot of family members.¡± ¡°You can call and ask Mom if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Taking out his phone, Nathaniel made to ring Julia up. However, Christina snatched the phone from him. ¡°It¡¯ste, so don¡¯t disrupt their rest.¡± I¡¯m not going to make a call because of a trivial matter and alert her to it. That would make me look awfully petty. Nathaniel¡¯s expression remained calm and unruffled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Nothing matters as long as you believe me. It¡¯s not a big deal to disrupt them for a while since they¡¯re the only ones who can rify this familial rtionship. Rendered speechless, Christina locked the phone and stuffed it back into his hand. ¡°Never mind, I believe you.¡± She was dead on her feet and did not want to waste her energy on such a matter. Just as she was about to lean against the window to rest for a bit, a forceful collision hit the car without warning. Thrown out of her seat, she mmed forward against the back of the passenger seat. A loud crash pierced the air. On the heels of that, a wave of dizziness assailed her, the pain so excruciating that she almost passed out. ¡°Are you hurt. Christina?¡± Gathering her into his arms, Nathaniel roamed his eyes over her face worriedly. He glimpsed a red mark on her unblemished forehead. At once, his heart clenched. His imperious aura instantly pervaded the entire car, and he roared at the front, ¡°What happened?¡± The driver was still reeling, his voice quivering as he spoke. ¡°A car came barreling over out of nowhere earlier, and I couldn¡¯t avoid it at all¡­ The scene a moment ago was simply horrific. The other driver hurtled into their path like a manic wild wolf. If he had not turned the steering wheel quickly enough just now, the situation at present would likely have been worse. Sebastian had also hit the corner of his forehead, resulting in a gash. He could clearly sense blood trickling down his face. Enduring the stinging pain, he turned around to check on the situation in the back. ¡°Are you okay, Mr. Hadley?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression was as ck as thunder. He ordered through gritted teeth, ¡°Go and see what¡¯s going on. ¡°Understood.¡± Murmuring an acknowledgment, Sebastian swung open the car door and climbed out of the vehicle. The front of both cars was severely dented. At a single nce, one could tell that the other party¡¯s car was, driving along a secondary road before rushing out right away. If they had not gotten out of the way in the nick of time earlier, their injuries would have been even more grievous. After inquiring about the situation, Sebastian returned to the car and reported, ¡°The other party is responsible for the ident. Also, I reckon that the driver was driving under the influence. Let me make a police report first.¡± In the backseat, Nathaniel wound the car window down an inch. With the illumination of the moonlight, one could see the raging anger zing in the man¡¯s hawk¨Clike eyes. Grunting in agreement, he wound the car window back up. The ident transpired in an area that was rtively busy. Therefore, a crowd gathered around the scene in no time. Shortly after, the ambnce arrived. Nathaniel led Christina over for treatment. Christina was still feeling a touch dizzy. When she alighted from the car, she abruptly sensed a sharp and sinister gaze watching her. It was the exact same feeling as when she was pushed into the road the other day. Her face promptly went deathly pale. Scanning her eyes over the crowd, she tried to figure out who was staring at her. s, every single pair of eyes was unfamiliar and suspicious. It felt as though someone was watching her in secret. Didn¡¯t the police say the perpetrator has been arrested? Was this incident really an ident, or was it orchestrated by someone? Noticing her distracted state, Nathaniel lowered his head and asked in concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Christina?¡± ¡°Nathaniel, I¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± Christina swallowed the doubt on the tip of her tongue. She followed the man to the ambnce. A medical staff inquired about her injuries before doctoring the bruise on her forehead. She could not shake off the feeling that someone was watching her, yet she had no idea who it was. Such a feeling was exceedingly oppressive. It felt like she had been targeted by some monster, and someone might shoot out a hand from within the vast sea of ckness anytime and grab her leg, dragging her into the darkness. The coppery stench of blood saturated the air, making her nauseous. When the medical staff was done doctoring her wounds, he walked away. By then, the police had arrived at the scene. As the driver responsible for the ident was unconscious, they could not take his statement and wanted. to take Nathaniel and Christina¡¯s statement instead. As for the subsequent investigation, they would contact the couple further. After everything had been settled, it was already nearing midnight. Many of the onlookers gathered around had left. Christina spaced out as she stared at the spacious street. Was I too paranoid just now, or was it real? Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, she slept in the next day. When she woke up, the red mark on her forehead had faded significantly, only leaving a faint trace. Feeling a tad hungry, she headed downstairs after washing up briefly. Before she reached thending, she heard a mocking voice reverberate in the living room. ¡°This daughter¨Cinw of yours is dreadful, Aunt Julia. She isn¡¯t even up yet when it¡¯s already past ten o¡¯clock. She¡¯ll never take care of you when she¡¯s sozy.¡± Recognizing the voice, she knew that it was Jewel. She failed to have thest wordst night, so she came over early in the morning to create trouble? Christina bit her lower lip. Keeping her expression unchanged, she descended the stairs. ¡°The corners of Julia¡¯s mouth remained upturned. There was not even a glimmer of displeasure on her face. ¡°Christina is a designer, and she often works until the wee hours of the morning before going to bed. It¡¯s okay for her to sleep in.¡± While going down the stairs, Christina stilled for a moment. A wealth of warmth suffused her, filling her with a sense of security. She walked over to the two women. Fortunately, she had changed before heading downstairs. Thus, she 1 would not embarrass herself in terms of her appearance. ¡°Good morning, Mom. I didn¡¯t know you¡¯de over so early. Have you had breakfast? I¡¯ll have the help cook something.¡± Her smile was sweet, and her crystalline eyes were captivating. Her dainty and docile look rendered her just like an obedient daughter¨Cinw. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Carrying Out Orders. Jewel rolled her eyes dismissively, huffing. ¡°She¡¯s just a mediocre designer. What¡¯s so special about that? She¡¯s only making a name for herself by riding on Nathaniel¡¯s coattails.¡± Then, she turned to Christina and said, ¡°The woman who ordered your clothesst night was obviously trying to curry favor with Hadley Corporation. Who would be interested in your stuff otherwise?¡± Christina was no pushover and wouldn¡¯t tolerate this impertinent youngdy. With a cold smile ying on her lips, she retorted, ¡°Let¡¯s not forget who threw a fit backstagest night after failing to get a few dresses. I wonder who it was who hit and yelled at people?¡± Jewel¡¯s face turned ashen, her eyes ring at Christina as if she wanted to devour thetter whole. Just who does this woman think she is? Does she actually believe her position as Mrs. Hadley is already secure? How dare she talk to me like this! Noticing the imminent quarrel between the two, Julia cast a pacifying gaze at Jewel. Jewel was seething. She was her parents¡® treasured child, pampered since her childhood. Even after debuting in the entertainment industry, she was catered to by many influential figures in the industry, all because of her ties to Hadley Corporation. This was the first time she had been so humiliated. Suddenly, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. ¡°I have a partyter today, with all the biggest stars attending. Why don¡¯t youe too, Christina?¡± Christina was suspicious of Jewel¡¯s seemingly kind invitation. She was sure that there was some ulterior motive. Hence, she began to contemte a way to decline the offer. Seeing Christina¡¯s silence, Jewel continued, ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t look out for you. This isn¡¯t just any party. You could hand out a few business cards and attract many customers.¡± Her tone was boastful, as if she was doing Christina a huge favor. Christina had no interest in attending any party. She was about to decline when Julia intervened. ¡°You two are of the same age, and we¡¯re a family. It¡¯s good for you to interact more.¡± ¡°Aunt Julia has already said so. Are you still going to refuse?¡± Jewel¡¯s gaze held a hint of contempt. What a hypocrite for looking all reluctant! I bet she can¡¯t wait to attend a party full of big shots. Now that Julia had spoken, Christina felt it would be impolite to refuse. ¡°All right, let me call Nathaniel first.¡± Jewel snatched Christina¡¯s phone away as she was about to pull it out. ¡°We¡¯re just going out for a bit. What¡¯s there to tell? Besides, Nathaniel isn¡¯t such a petty person¡± Christina¡¯s brows knitted together. Not petty? Does she truly know Nathaniel? ¡°Aunt Julia, we¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± With that, Jewel pulled Christina toward the front door. The butler approached Julia worriedly. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you sure about this?¡± Julia calmly sipped her tea. ¡°Rx Jewel knows her limits. It¡¯s good for them to spend more time together.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The butler felt relieved at Julia¡¯s words and was happy for Christina at the same time. Mrs. Hadley must approve of Ms. Christina for her to say so. Soon, a bright pink sports car stopped at the gate of a mansion nestled halfway up a hillside. Jewel, with a firm grip on Christina¡¯s wrist, ushered her toward the grand entryway. ¡°This is a gathering of A¨Clist celebrities, something I wager you¡¯d never have the chance to attend in your lifetime. What a pity that amoner like you only gets to enjoy shabby activities as your pastime,¡± Jewel condescendingly remarked. Christina frowned slightly, but she chose not to engage with Jewel¡¯s belittlingments. As they ventured further in, the pulsating beats of music echoed around them. Every passerby was a familiar face, and Christina recognized them to be famous celebrities. ¡°I¡¯m going to catch up with some friends. Feel free to explore.¡± Jewel casually tossed the words over her shoulder before sauntering off, leaving Christina all alone. Christina stood there, the unfamiliar surroundings unsettling her. She felt like an unwanted extra on a grand stage. Disinterested in partaking, she opted to sit in an unupied corner, waiting for Jewel¡¯s return so she could make a quick exit. Meanwhile, Jewel, concealed within the mansion, surreptitiously observed Christina. Christina¡¯s delicate silhouette seemed out of ce, a lone figure detached from the boisterous party. Jewel couldn¡¯t fathom Christina¡¯s actions. Shouldn¡¯t she seize this opportunity towork with industry bigwigs? Hah, she¡¯s acting all high and mighty again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± A friendly voice interrupted Jewel¡¯s thoughts. It was her close friend, Jamie Carlson. Jewel pointed at Christina with a cold look on her face. ¡°See that woman over there? Get some people to have a bit of fun with her.¡± ¡°No problem, leave it to us,¡± Jamie assured her. In every social circle, there would be cliques. Jamie was Jewel¡¯s sidekick, always the one to carry out her orders without question. Back in the courtyard, Christina was contemting a quick escape when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find three young celebrities about her age standing behind her. ¡°Whichpany are you from? You look unfamiliar,¡± Jamie said, her lips curling into an insincere smile. Christina blinked, a little taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m not an artist.¡± Jamie¡¯s smile faltered slightly. Given her good looks, this young woman does have the potential to be an artist. Well, she only has herself to me for crossing Jewel. I don¡¯t care who she is. I have a mission toplete. Then, Jamie stepped forward to grab Christina¡¯s hand and cheerily said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Since you¡¯re here, you¡¯re a friend. Come join us over there.¡± Another girl grabbed Christina¡¯s other arm. Startled by their overly familiar advances, Christina tried to pull away. ¡°I need to leave. You guys carry on.¡± She tried to wriggle out of their grasp, but they held on tenaciously. ¡°Come on, the swimming pool is huge. Let¡¯s have some fun in the water!¡± Jamie suggested, pulling Christina toward the poolside Christma¡¯s expression hardened, her voice filled with warning. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me! I don¡¯t want to swim! Her attempts to break free were futile, as the two girls had overwhelmed her. I don¡¯t know these people. Why are they harassing me for no reason? Then, Christina caught sight of Jewel in the crowd. Thetter had her arms crossed, and a hint of smugness was evident in her eyes when her gaze met Christina¡¯s. The pool¡¯s edge loogned closer as Christina was jostled and tugged by the two girls nking her. Jamie firmly pushed Christina¡¯s slender waist and said, ¡°In you go!¡± With that, Christina¡¯s lithe figure tumbled into the water. But just as a triumphant smile crept up Jamie¡¯s face, Christina¡¯s hand shot out, gripping her shirt. In a surprising turn of events, all three girls plunged into the pool. With a resounding ssh, the icy water felt like a thousand needles piercing Christina¡¯s skin.. She was not particrly good at swimming to begin with, so she struggled for a few moments before she managed to find her footing. Christina¡¯s hair and body were thoroughly soaked. A gust of cold wind swept the pool, causing her to shiver uncontrobly. The other two girls weren¡¯t faring any better. Falling into icy waters in the dead of winter was far from pleasant. ¡°Look, someone¡¯s shirt is torn!¡± An eruption of snickers echoed across the courtyard. Only then did the onlookers spot a piece of fabric resembling a section of a torn shirt floating on the surface of the water. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Your Intention When Jamie fell into the pool, her thin tank top was torn, and the ripped fabric floated on the water. Waves ofughter echoed in the area, and Jamie¡¯s face flushed red in an instant. She shot Christina a death stare as if she was going to rip thetter into pieces. When Christina panicked just now, the only thought in her mind was not to be the only person falling into the pool. She just did not expect to yank Jamie¡¯s clothes. She also shot Jamie a cold nce. If the two had not tried to pull such a prank, Christina would not have ended up in the water. With everyone surrounding them now, if she were to get out of the water, the wet clothes would cling to her body tightly. It would be such an alluring sight to behold. However, she could not just stay in the water, for her boily might not be able to take it. At that point, Christina could already feel her body numbing. If there¡¯s no other choice, I¡¯ll just get out of the water first. Otherwise, I might catch a cold. Just then, Jewel stepped out of the crowd. She was holding a towel in her hands, and her gaze fell upon Christina. ¡°Christina,e up here.¡± As Christina saw the worried look in Jewel¡¯s eyes, she had a feeling that thetter was harboring ulterior motives. Beside her, Jamie called out pitifully, ¡°Jewel, hand me a towel too!¡± I don¡¯t get it. Jewel was the one who told us to mess with her, yet the former is trying to help her now! Christina could tell from Jamie¡¯s words that the two girls must have been sent to her by Jewel, and they pushed her into the pool on purpose. What is Jewel¡¯s intention? Christina shivered as she climbed up thedder. Jewel swiftly covered her with the towel and pretended to ask in concern, ¡°Christina, are you okay?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try experiencing it yourself?¡± Christina¡¯s tone was cold. Does she possibly think that I¡¯d be fine after falling into the icy water? I only hope that I won¡¯t fall sick. Jewel¡¯s face darkened slightly. She then brought Christina back into the house, paying no heed to Jamie, who was calling for help.. Both of them went into a bedroom, and it was warm inside. Christina could feel her body slowly bing warm again. There were only two of them in the room at that moment. Christina cast a sidelong nce at Jewel and asked, ¡°Just say it. What are your intentions?¡± Just not too long ago, jewel was still acting haughtily, but she seemed so docile now. Such a drastic change in her attitude made Christina wonder if Jewel was plotting something again. Jewel¡¯s face grew more sullen. She was not good at pleasing others, so it seemed like she was being forced to do it when she spoke in a rtively good manner. ¡°Christina, why do you sound like you¡¯re questioning your enemy? We¡¯re family. However, Christina did not buy it. ¡°Family? Yet you told someone to push me into the pool?¡± Jewel¡¯s delicate face became contorted. This b*tch! Who does she think she is? Why do I need to humble myself in front of her? Both of them fell silent for a while. The air around them seemed to freeze when their gazes met, It took Jewel a while to calm down and stop herself from cursing. She then took the gift bag next to her and handed it over. ¡°Your clothes are all wet. Get changed and leave. Nathaniel is waiting for you at the entrance¡± As soon as she finished her words, she left in a huff. Nathaniel had called Jewel earlier to warn her that he would break her leg if something happened to Christina. Jewel had always been fearless, but she was always afraid of infuriating Nathaniel. Behind the closed door, Christina stared at the clothes in her hands and finally fathomed the reason behind the dramatic change in Jewel¡¯s attitude. It was all because of Nathaniel. Christina swiftly got changed and walked out of the room with her wet hair. Her phone also fell into the water just now, and it had basically stopped working. Having to suffer the loss of a phone for no reason, Christina was utterly upset. Meanwhile, Jewel was guarding the door. She immediately ran over when she saw Christina ¡°Christina, let¡¯s talk about thister and keep it between us only. Please don¡¯t speak ill of me to Nathaniel.¡± Although Jewel was making a request, her tone made it sound more like a threat. It was as though Christina was the one who had done something wrong. Christina was ufortable, feeling as though she had been threatened. She nced at Jewel apathetically and ignored thetter¡¯s words before she strode toward the entrance right away. After stepping out of the ce, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s car at the entrance. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The window rolled down, and the man¡¯s perfect¨Clooking face came into sight. His eyes looked exceptionally dark and unfathomable under the dim light. The ck suit on him enhanced his steady and calm temperament. It was no wonder the arrogant Jewel would be so cautious in front of him. Before Christina got into the car, Jewel tugged her again and whispered, ¡°Christina, please. Don t tea Nathaniel about what happened just now.¡± Christina merely wore an indifferent look. She certainly did not take that matter seriously at all. Of course, she did not want to grant Jewel¡¯s request so easily, either. Otherwise, Jewel would definitelye up with other ways to trick her again next time. Christina pulled her shirt from Jewel¡¯s grip and got into the car. Once the car door was closed, the driver drove off As Jewel watched the car slowly disappear into the distance, she scoffed. Do you think you¡¯re so great? I¡¯d like to see if you could still behave this arrogantly when Nathaniel gets sick of you. I just don¡¯t get it. I thought Nathaniel couldn¡¯t go near women¡­. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, and her body tensed up. She had not met Nathaniel for a long time, and she had forgotten about that matter. Nathaniel was not interested in women, and he could not go near them. Once, she held his arm out of excitement, and rashes started forming all over Nathaniel¡¯s body in less than a minute. He only recovered after he was put on a drip in the hospital. That was the time when she found out that Nathaniel could not get close to women. Since he would feel unwell whenever he got close to women, how did he manage to go near Christina? They were leaning close to each other and interacting like a loving couple. This is strange. Jewel decided to look into it. Inside the car, the tension in the air was almost suffocating. Christina¡¯s hair had not driedpletely. She could not help but sneeze. As she was rubbing her nose, her head was covered by a handkerchief. Nathaniel¡¯s unique scent instantly drifted into her nose.. The atmosphere felt strange at that moment. She had no idea if Nathaniel was displeased because she had attended the party. Sometimes, he would abruptly appear aloof like this, and no one knew what was going through his mind. ¡°Nathaniel, are you mad?¡± Christina turned to look at him. Her bright eyes sparkled, and her voice was soft as if she was frightened. There was no towel in the car, so Nathaniel covered her head with the handkerchief. Her features appeared exceptionally delicate. With the ends of her hair still wet and her widened round eyes, she looked even more captivating than before, Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 I Do Not Have A Say Nathaniel¡¯s displeasure faded significantly as he looked at her innocent face. He wiped her hair using the silk handkerchief. ¡°Why did you attend a function like that?¡± She¡¯d still be soaking in water if I hadn¡¯te over because I was worried. She knows very well that she¡¯s physically weak. What if she falls sick? After hearing what he said, Christina felt aggrieved. Her eyes reddened instantly. ¡°I didn¡¯t turn her down because she¡¯s your cousin. It¡¯s not like I wanted to attend a party like that.¡± She was already thinking of leaving and never expected something like that to happen. Nathaniel¡¯s expression remained tense. ¡°So what if she¡¯s my cousin? You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to. Also, did I give you permission to go?¡± His low and steady voice was tinged with dissatisfaction. Christina sighed helplessly, not knowing how else to exin herself. He¡¯s making it sound like it¡¯s my fault! Nathaniel, who was used to being a lone wolf that did things his own way, never had to worry about others¡® feelings, let alone bother about maintaining rtionships. However, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to turn down a family member¡¯s invitation, for it would make her seem too cold and distant. ¡°Forget it. You won¡¯t understand it even if I exined it to you,¡± said Christina sulkily. The slight anger in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes intensified. After telling her to dry her hair, he started reviewing the documents. On their way back to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina rested her head against the car window and fell asleep. A ray of light shone in, illuminating her side profile. Her long eyshes cast shadows beneath her eyes, making her look as gorgeous as an oil painting. Nathaniel carried her down the car, disturbing her sleep. She stirred before burrowing deeper into his embrace. Upon entering the bedroom, Nathaniel ced her on the bed gently before tucking strands of her hair behind her ears, admiring her charming face. He then used the back of his hand to stroke her smooth cheek, and in response, she subconsciously nuzzled against him. Blinking slightly, Nathaniel bent down and hugged her. The stars, shining brightly in the night sky, witnessed the passionate scene that unfolded in the room. Christina woke up groggily the next morning, feeling sore all over. She ced her hand against her forehead and was relieved that she wasn¡¯t running a fever. Seeing that it was already past nine in the morning, she struggled to sit up and rummaged through her bag for that pill bottle. She opened it and popped a white pill into her mouth,pletely ignorant that the pill had already been. swapped. Now that her career was on the rise, she did not want it to be impeded by pregnancy. It was not toote to think about that after her career stabilized. Nathaniel pushed the door open and walked in with breakfast. Coincidentally, he witnessed Christina cing that pill bottle into the drawer. A grim look shed across his eyes. ¡°Come here and have breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay¡± replied Christina before walking over. The two of them had breakfast in silence. She nced upward silently and observed Nathaniel¡¯s expression. The look on his face changed when he spotted the pill bottle. Am I overthinking or does he actually want a baby? After thinking about it for a while, she didn¡¯t say a word and went to the studio after finishing breakfast. Christina saw a thin figure sitting on the couch the moment she entered the studio. The thick scent of perfume lingered in the air, causing her to sneeze when she walked in. Jamie, who was sitting on the couch, walked over and asked gently and ingratiatingly, ¡°Ms. Christina, you didn¡¯t catch a cold yesterday, right?¡± Feeling disgusted by how touchy¨Cfeely she was, Christina pulled her arm out of Jamie¡¯s grasp. ¡°Can I help you?¡± These people in the entertainment industry seem to be born with the ability to change their attitudes on cue. She had just pushed me into the pool yesterday, and here she is, smiling and acting all friendly with me. Her cold attitude made Jamie feel somewhat awkward. The corners of her mouth twitched, but she quickly concealed the displeasure she felt. She then took out a rectangr box from her bag, which evidently contained a phone. ¡°I had too much to drinkst night and made a foolish mistake. Can you be generous enough to forgive me?¡± Her expression wasced with guilt, looking as if she would be willing to kneel and beg for forgiveness if Christina asked her to. She could do anything as long as Christina would forgive her, but she felt extremely uneasy upon seeing. how quiet and indifferent Christina was. There was no telling what Christina wanted. Christina nced at the box in Jamie¡¯s hand. It was a new phone that had just been released, so it was definitely quite pricey. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She replied nonchntly, ¡°I dragged you into the water too, so we¡¯re even. You can go back now.¡± With that, she headed toward the tailor room. As she had been rushing to meet deadlines recently, she did not have time to clean the room. The scissors, needles, and cloth remnants were lying everywhere. Christina cleared the things and tidied the ce, not intending to pay any more attention to Jamie. Jamie awkwardly kept the box. Right, Christina¡¯s married to Mr. Hadley. How would she possibly need a phone? She felt as though she was making a fool out of herself. However, if she did not manage to gain Christina¡¯s forgiveness, her days ahead would be miserable. Taking in a deep breath, Jamie walked into the tailor room. Her tone was as tender as before. ¡°Christina, if you¡¯re truly not mad at me, can you please call Mr. Hadley and ask him to forgive me and not cklist me?¡± Christina paused in her tracks. She already had an idea about what was going on the moment she saw Jamie in the studio. She continued tidying the table expressionlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t have a say in that. You should ask Jewel to help you instead.¡± A conflicted look crossed Jamie¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. She¡¯s unwilling to help because she¡¯s afraid that Mr. Hadley would be mad at her¡­¡± She was drowning in regret. I was cklisted because I wanted to help Jewel, and now Jewel, the culprit, is leaving me to fend for myself! I wouldn¡¯t havee here to shamelessly beg for forgiveness if I could secure a meeting with Nathaniel¡® Jamie walked past the table and grabbed Christina¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry for what I did. I didn¡¯t have anyone supporting me when I joined the entertainment industry, and I managed to be a C¨Clist celebrity relying on my own hard work. But now, all of my past efforts had gone to waste because of one word from Mr. Hadley.¡± Christina was momentarily stunned and didn¡¯t immediately shrug her off this time. Perhaps since she, too, had once spent much effort trying to work her way up from the bottom, she could empathize with Jamie. However, a troubled look shed across her eyes when she thought of Nathaniel¡¯s cold face. Christina pulled her hand out of her grasp. ¡°Go back. I¡¯ll help to slip in some good words for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Jamie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your updates!¡± Christina ignored her. Silence ensued after the chattering youngdy left. Rayne walked over with a ss of juice. ncing around, she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s that celebrity who has been waiting for you? Has she left?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± replied Christina. Rayne ced the ss of juice in front of her. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. Boss. The newly¨Cdesigned gowns were bought instantly. I received a lot of orders over the past two days.¡± Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Back To Her Usual Self The studio¡¯s turnover reached its pinnacle after dys Jillings purchased all the gowns that night. As a result, Christina no longer had to rush with her work during the following period. She could take orders first and then work leisurely, which was the preferred working style for designers. Christina chuckled lightly. ¡°Stop calling me Boss. It makes us sound distant.¡± She had previously expressed to Rayne to change the way she addressed her. She keeps calling me Boss, which sounds way too formal. Rayne shrugged. She was used to addressing her superiors in that manner in her previous workce. ¡°Why don¡¯t I call you Ms. Christina, then? Even though you¡¯re younger than me, you¡¯re still my boss, so it isn¡¯t appropriate for me to address you by your first name.¡± ¡°Very well. At least it sounds better than Boss,¡± Christina said approvingly. The images of the gowns from that day went viral on the inte, drawing a lot of attention to Christina¡¯s studio. Numerous people had already messaged her privately on her social media ount, requesting an appointment to have her customize a dress for them. Rayne was in charge ofmunicating with the customers as she was quite experienced in that area. Only when it was almost time to get off work did Christina pack her things and head over to Hadley Corporation. She reflected on what Jamie had said to her that morning and concluded that Nathaniel¡¯s actions were, in fact, not at all surprising. All this time, Nathaniel had always presented himself as a calm, elegant, and refined elite before her. However, she realized that he was not as amicable as he appeared to be when she recalled the time when they first met On top of that, whenever he was angry, his deep gaze would be as intimidating as a terrifying beast¡¯s. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. The next thing she knew, she had arrived outside Hadley Corporation. Jewel was seated on the couch in Madison¡¯s office, where the two were enjoying a bottle of 1982 Lafite red wine worth tens of thousands per sip. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Maddy. You¡¯re treating me to such exquisite wine, unlike Christina, who acts high and mighty the second we meet.¡± Jewel¡¯s expression was filled with hostility as she thought of Christina. Madison was pleased to hear that. In fact, she loved it when others expressed dislike toward Christina. However, she still maintained her elegant demeanor in front of Jewel. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Christina is the woman Mr. Hadley chose, and she¡¯s also your cousin¨Cinw.¡± Jewel sighed softly andmented, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you my cousin¨Cinw?¡± If only Madison is my cousin¨Cinw, I¡¯ll have one more person siding with me in the Hadley family in the future. Despite being overjoyed when she heard that, Madison merely smiled faintly in response, not daring to show her feelings too obviously in front of outsiders. ¡°By the way¡­¡± Jewel suddenly thought of something and leaped to her feet. ¡°Is Nathaniel finally cured of his weird phobia of women?¡± she asked in concern. Nathaniel forbade anyone from discussing that matter, and not many people knew about it either. Hence, if the slightest bit of information leaked, he would immediately know who disclosed it without having to investigate. All this while, Madison lost count of how many times she had wanted to mention that to Christina but ended up swallowing her words instead. Her pupils dted slightly as a malicious thought shed across her mind. What if¡­ someone else told Christina about this? If that¡¯s the case, Nathaniel can¡¯t me it on me even if he got angry¡­ Madison feigned a troubled visage. ¡°No. Mr. Hadley¡¯s phobia of women isn¡¯t cured yet. Also, his body is extremely sensitive to women, so much so that he can¡¯t even touch them.¡± Jewel¡¯s eyes widened noticeably, and she eximed, ¡°Are you serious? How is Christina able to touch Nathaniel, then?¡± Even I and Aunt Julia, couldn¡¯t touch Nathaniel in the past. I assumed that he had ovee his phobia when I saw his intimate interaction with Christina. Madison¡¯s expression turned grim when the same thought came into her mind. ¡°I¡¯m not sure either. Anyway, I can¡¯t find out the specific reason for Mr. Hadley not having any symptoms whenever he comes into contact with Christina.¡± She lifted her head and nced at Jewel. I can tell by her look of utter disbelief that she is also shocked by it. ¡°Nathaniel¡¯s phobia doesn¡¯t act up when he touches Christina¡­ Does that mean he¡¯s with her because he has no other option?¡± Jewel looked as if she had learned a shocking secret. I knew it. How could Nathaniel, a man standing on top of the world, be attracted to an ordinary girl? It turns out that he had no choice because she¡¯s the only woman he¡¯s not allergic to. That¡¯s why he had to settle for her. ¡°Nathaniel is such an outstanding man. Why does he have to settle for someone like Christina? What a waste!¡± Jewel sighed, feeling angry and frustrated at the same time, How I wish I can tear Christina apart to vent my frustration! Madison approached Jewel and held thetter¡¯s hand in constion. ¡°All right, calm down now. Remember to never tell Christina about this. Mr. Hadley has been keeping it hidden as he doesn¡¯t want her to find out.¡± Nathaniel must¡¯ve hidden the truth out of consideration of Christina¡¯s feelings, At that moment, Jewel was feeling disgruntled. If Nathaniel had chosen Christina because he loved her, I would¡¯ve tolerated it. However, the thought that he had no choice but to be with Christina made her feel terrible as if a boulder was weighing down on her heart Jewel let out a soft sigh before replying, ¡°Got it. I won¡¯t tell her.¡± She was well aware of Nathaniel¡¯s temper. Going against his wishes will only anger him. He isn¡¯t someone I can afford to cross. ¡°I¡¯ll head back now. I have a dinner appointment with Francis. Let¡¯s talk some other time, Maddy ¡°All right. Go ahead¡± Madison saw Jewel to the door, and after thetter¡¯s figure disappeared from her sight, a solemn and vicious expression descended upon Madison¡¯s face. I must think of a way to make Jewel tell Christina about this! At that instant, Sebastian walked in. ¡°Mr. Hadley wants this document reprinted and the contents of the previous meetings sorted out as soon as possible. They will be used in the next meeting,¡± he instructed. Madison snapped out of her reverie and hummed in acknowledgment before getting to work. Christina headed upstairs in the exclusive elevator for executives and bumped into Jewel. The two nodded. to one another, but neither spoke. Just as Christina was exiting the elevator, Jewel could not help but whisper sarcastically. ¡°What¡¯s with that haughty attitude? You¡¯re just luckier than ordinary people.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for her special physique, Nathaniel would¡¯ve ignored her like how he treats other women. Christina furrowed her brows slightly. Will she ever stop? She was begging me just yesterday, but now, she¡¯s back to her usual self. ¡°Yesterday¡¯s matter isn¡¯t over yet. If you have nothing better to do, I can create a little conflict for you to keep you busy.¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Chapter 292 The Advice Of Sharon Jewel¡¯s face swelled with anger while a frustrated glint shed in her eyes. Christina was a cmity- bringing, evil person in her eyes. Jewel sensed Christina would speak ill of her in front of Nathaniel if she insulted the cruel woman. ¡°Christina Steele! Let us see who will have thestugh, okay? I am betting on the day you get chased out of the Hadley residence!¡± Jewel sneered. Christina scoffed. Her voice became icy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll still have a firm grip on my title as Mrs. Hadley even if you get kicked out!¡± With that, she turned and walked toward the CEO¡¯s office. Jewel¡¯s entire being flushed with anger. Urgh! What can I do to get rid of Christina? Nathaniel was in the middle of a meeting when Christina arrived. She was used to his routine, though, because he was either in a meeting or leafing through documents when she came over every time. Meanwhile, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes fell on Christina outside through the transparent ss door. She was staring at him with a pair of bright, sparkling eyes. He interrupted Madison, who was talking about her quarterly report. ¡°We¡¯ll resume after a five¨Cminute break.¡± Silence fell in the conference room as Nathaniel¡¯s subordinates gazed at him in puzzlement. They could not understand why Nathaniel, who would never interrupt a meeting, asked for a break that day. It was not until Nathaniel left for his office with Christina in tow that realization dawned on his colleagues. Nathaniel¡¯s abnormal behavior became exinable when it came to Christina. Meanwhile, Madison watched them walk side by side as jealousy grew within her. It doesn¡¯t matter how long I stare at Christina. Nathaniel will never be interested in me. Nathaniel pulled Christina into his embrace right after they stepped into his office as his deep, husky voice sounded next to her ear. ¡°You have your affairs in order already?¡± Christina rested her head against Nathaniel¡¯s chest. ¡°There¡¯s a fashion show tomorrow at the stadium. Do you feel like going with me?¡± She had been swamped with worktely, and the fashion show offered her a rare opportunity to rx. Nathaniel had no idea what his schedule was for the next day. But he knew he would cancel or postpone those unimportant appointments for her. The man replied, ¡°All righ After all, the couple had been very busy with their affairstely, and Nathaniel wanted to spend some precious time with Christina now. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Christina smiled and slipped a ticket into Nathaniel¡¯s pocket. ¡°I¡¯m returning to Sharbrook Manor tonight, so I¡¯ll meet you at the entrance tomorrow. Don¡¯t bete, okay?¡± The woman wanted to visit Sharon and Evelyn after not meeting with them for a long time. Nathaniel knew that Christina was a filial person. He stroked her head and gave her an affirmation. ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s a deal!¡± Christina blinked her eyes yfully Just as she spoke, Nathaniel ced his palm on the nape of Christina¡¯s neck and leaned toward her. His hot breath blew into her face as his chiseled face grew closer before her eyes. Although Nathaniel informed his subordinates that they would take a five¨Cminute recess, he only rejoined the meeting in the conference room after half an hour. Then they continued their discussion for another two hours. After the meeting. Nathaniel and some executives stayed behind to finalize the details. At the same time, Madison was bringing her report into CEO¡¯s office when she saw Nathaniel¡¯s coat draped over the office chair. So, she walked over to help Nathaniel hang up his clothes. While Madison was doing that, a ticket fell out of Nathaniel¡¯s pocket. Intrigued, Madison picked up the ticket, opened it, and found that it was a ticket to a fashion show that would be held the next day at seven o¡¯clock in the evening It¡¯s for a fashion show¡­ Hmm¡­ This is definitely Christina¡¯s idea. Are they going on a date tomorrow after work? Envy and jealousy overcame Madison as she imagined Nathaniel and Christina being intimate. The woman narrowed her eyes as she put the ticket back in Nathaniel¡¯s coat pocket and pretended not to know about the couple¡¯s n for the next day. When Madison returned to her cubicle, she logged into Nathaniel¡¯s schedule with her ount. Usually, Nathaniel did not manage his appointment calendar because Madison and Sebastian were in charge of it, and they informed bim of his uing schedule on that particr work day. Madison reviewed Nathaniel¡¯s schedule and discovered he was free the next day. Her eyes darkening. Madison filled Nathaniel¡¯s empty schedule with meetings and appointments, Christina went on a shopping spree to replenish supplies at Sharbrook Manor because she had not been there in a long time. The housekeeper stepped forward to help her with the heavy bags while praising Christina before Evelyn. saying. ¡°Oh, your granddaughter is so kind and obedient. She loves you so much that she buys all these supplements!¡± Dressed in her dance outfit, Evelyn danced in the living room when she learned of Christina¡¯s return. Immediately a grin crept onto her face. ¡°Of course! Christina has always been a considerate and thoughtful girl!¡± Christina immediately hugged Evelyn as she walked in the door. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much, Granny!¡± No matter how tiring or busy Christina felt outside, she was always rxed when she returned because, in her home, she didn¡¯t have to scheme and ster a fake smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll cook you a full meal tonight!¡± Christina promised confidently. On the other hand, Evelyn¡¯s heart ached when she noticed Christina had lost weight. ¡°No. Let the housekeeper do her job. It¡¯s a rare asion for you toe home, so don¡¯t concern yourself with all these things.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult task to cook. Ask Mom toe down since we will start dinner soon!¡± With these words, Christina hurried into the kitchen. Christina served her best dishes on the table as Sharon descended the stairs. She looked refreshed and healthier after resting for a while. ¡°Christina,¡± Sharon¡¯s soft, gentle voice called out. Christina took off her scarf and walked over to the stairs with a smile. ¡°Mom,e on. Let us have dinner together. I¡¯ve prepared your favorite fish dish today!¡± ¡°Great! I adore your cooking.¡± Christina supported Sharon to the table, and the three ate. Dinner was a heartwarming affair with the sounds of theirughter and chatter. After that, Christina went to Sharon¡¯s room to give her a massage. While enjoying the soothing sensation of a massage, Sharon couldn¡¯t help but be concerned. ¡°Christina, how are things going between you and Nathanieltely? Are you nning on having children soon?¡± In Sharon¡¯s mind, Nathaniel¡¯s current age was the perfect time for them to start a family. After all, the couple had been together for quite some time. Cold sweat beaded Christina¡¯s forehead. No matter how much she wanted to avoid this question when she got home, her efforts would be in vain. Christina smiled. ¡°We are in no hurry to have children now. We¡¯ll talk about it in the future.¡± Now it¡¯s Mom¡¯s turn to urge me to have kids! Abruptly, Christina recalled the disappointment that shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes this morning when. she swallowed her morning¨Cafter pill. Sharon patted Christina¡¯s hand gently. As someone who had been through the same thing, she said, ¡°Even though Nathaniel does not wish to start a family now, I¡¯m sure this is weighing on Mrs. Hadley¡¯s mind.¡± Trying to fathom another person¡¯s thoughts was like a riddle, so Christina had no idea what Julia was feeling. She only knew that the older woman always urged her to start a family. But now Julia had more consideration for Christina¡¯s feelings and no longer imposed her intentions on her daughter¨Cinw. ¡°I will rest much easier if you can secure your title in the Hadley family,¡± Sharon added. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Crossed The Line Christina felt her heart skip a beat. She grasped Sharon¡¯s hand and eximed, ¡°Mom, what are you saying? You¡¯ll always be young in my heart!¡± As she spoke, she leaned her head on Sharon¡¯s shoulder. Sharon massaged her daughter¡¯s shoulder and tamped down the guilt in her chest. Sometimeter, she uttered meaningfully. ¡°Take good care of that emerald pendant I gave you. It¡¯s very important.¡± ¡°Is it? Isn¡¯t it just a piece of emerald jewelry?¡± Christina asked while lifting the pendant around her neck for a closer look. The pendant gleamed resplendently under the light. Anyone could tell that it was carved from the finest jade. An inexplicable emotion flitted through Sharon¡¯s gaze as she stared at the pendant. She repeated herself, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very important. It¡¯s proof of your identity. You need it to trace your heritage. When you have your own child next time, pass it on to them.¡± And one day, when the pendant¡¯s real owner returns for his possession, this will serve as the foundation for their reunion. Christina was puzzled by Sharon¡¯s cryptic words. Trace my heritage? She suddenly remembered Gideon¡¯s words from the past. What if I¡¯m really not a child of the Steele family? ¡°Mom, are you hiding something from me?¡± questioned Christina curiously. Sharon¡¯s heart sank with dread. She hastily collected herself and feigned exhaustion. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Help me to my room, would you?¡± Her acting was convincing enough. Christina dropped the topic and helped her mother to her room. She tucked a nket around Sharon after thettery in bed. ¡°Good night, Mom.¡± The next day, Christina spent a good amount of time dolling up for the fashion show. She picked a pink knit set for the asion. The midi skirt ttered her slim calves, and shepleted the outfit with a pair of white Doc Martens. It was elegant and cheeky at the same time, and it entuated her youthfulness. She even put on some light makeup for the event. When she checked herself out in the mirrorter, she smiled in satisfaction. Christina checked the time and realized it was almost time to set off. Meanwhile, Nathaniel remained in Hadley Corporation¡¯s CEO¡¯s office. He had been busy visiting business partners or in and out of meetings since the morning. He suddenly remembered his appointment with Christina in the evening and turned toward his assistant. ¡°Cancel the rest of my meetings tonight.¡± Sebastian briefly lifted his gaze from the documents he was poring over and replied, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll cancel them now.¡± He pulled up Nathaniel¡¯s schedule and spotted an important note. Cautiously, he said, ¡°Mr. Hadley¡­ I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t skip one of the meetings¡± Nathaniel frowned and shot his assistant a sharp stare. Sebastian barely repressed his shudder and exined, ¡°We went through a lot of trouble locking down a meeting with Arrow Corporation. It¡¯ll be difficult to set something up if we postpone today¡¯s meeting. The deadline for our contract renewal with them is fast approaching. If we don¡¯t sign a new contract with them soon, it will surely dy our coboration.¡± After all, the CEOs of both corporations were busy men with demanding, near¨Cinflexible schedules. Sebastian checked the meeting date and wondered out loud, ¡°That¡¯s strange, though. I clearly remember arranging the meeting with Arrow Corporation tomorrow. Why is it suddenly happening today?¡± The contract renewal was extremely important to thepany, so Sebastian had memorized the meeting date. Beside him, Madison paled slightly and offered, ¡°I changed the timing. Arrow Corporation informed me that their CEO was only avable today because he¡¯s going on a month¨Clong business trip to Horbah tomorrow. I didn¡¯t want to dy our contract renewal, so I brought the meeting forward.¡± She observed Nathaniel¡¯s expression carefully and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hadley. That, was my fault.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened, and he instructed tly. ¡°Get the materials ready. We¡¯ll head to the meeting soon.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley,¡± replied Madison and Sebastian. Nathaniel¡¯s ringtone red, slicing through the silence of his office. He answered the phone, and Christina¡¯s sweet voice drifted through the receiver. ¡°Have you arrived, Nathaniel?¡± Christina¡¯s gaze roved over the celebrities milling about the venue of the fashion show. She could not wait for the show to begin. Granted, the fashion show was not a high¨Cprofile event for globally renowned designers, but it would give her a decent amount of national exposure. Her excitement deepened Nathaniel¡¯s guilty. After a pause, he said. ¡°I have a contract renewal meeting later. I don¡¯t think I can make it in time,¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. His response instantly doused her enthusiasm. Christina was silent for two seconds beforeposing herself and uttering. That¡¯s fine. Your work is important. You¡¯re not a fan of these fashion shows, anyway. I¡¯ll enjoy the show more when I¡¯m alone.¡± She yed down her disappointment at his absence, making it sound as if it did not bother her at all. Nathaniel clenched his fingers around his phone and offered, ¡°Call me when you end, then. I¡¯ll send a driver to pick you up.¡± ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t keep you on the line longer. It¡¯s time to head inside.¡± Christina chuckled good¨Cnaturedly and ended the call. Meanwhile, Nathaniel put down his phone and red at the two employees who were still in his office. The air in the office felt positively stifling, thanks to his ill mood. Madison, on the other hand, was secretly delighted that Nathaniel had to blow Christina off. Does Christina think everyone¡¯s as free as she is? Mr. Hadley¡¯s so busy every day. He doesn¡¯t have time to attend some random fashion show with her! Even if he has spare time, he should be spending it on his work instead of Christina. She tried her best to avoid revealing her celebratory mood. Beside her, Sebastian picked up the documents on the desk and announced, ¡°We¡¯ll head out and the documents, Mr. Hadley.¡± With that, he and Madison left Nathaniel¡¯s office. Once the door closed. Sebastian immediately dragged Madison into an adjacent office. He demanded. ¡°You already knew Mr. and Mrs. Hadley had a date today, didn¡¯t you? You deliberately changed the meeting date so it would sh, right?¡± Sebastian prioritized the meeting with Arrow Corporation and called thepany beforehand to double- check their CEO¡¯s schedule. He knew better than anyone else that Arrow Corporation¡¯s CEO was only meant to travel to Horbah next month. Madison was clearly lying. Madison¡¯s face reddened with anger as Sebastian exposed her plot. Still, she challenged. ¡°So what? Are you going to tell Mr. Hadley about it? If you do. I guarantee the meeting with Arrow Corporation will never happen!¡± She knew Sebastian would never do anything to risk a business deal falling apart. s, Sebastian could only re at her angrily and reproach her, ¡°You¡¯ve gone overboard, Madison. You have no right to control or influence Mr. and Mrs. Hadley¡¯s rtionship. In fact, you¡¯re in no state to continue working for Mr. Hadley He was more upset at Madison for her work ethic than the specific act of ruining Nathaniel¡¯s date. Mr. Hadley will not hesitate to fire anyone who crosses the line. An unrepentant Madison sneered and said, ¡°That¡¯s not up to you to decide. And what about you? What does your protective behavior toward Christina say about your feelings toward her?¡± She simply could not stand seeing everyone supporting Christina. Her words struck a nerve, and Sebastian bellowed, ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous!¡± He spun on his feet and stalked out of the office, leaving Madison alone. Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Tense Atmosphere Although Sebastian was furious, he did not want to disturb Nathaniel¡¯s work. Hence, he kept quiet about Madison. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was reviewing some documents in his office. All he could think of was how he could settle the negotiation as quickly as possible. He nced at the time printed on the ticket and saw that it ended at ten. I can probably rush over¡­. Meanwhile, Christina stared at the ticket in her hands disappointed! Music sounded from within the venue as the people crowding at the door started to head in. ¡°Hi! What a coincidence! Are you here to watch the fashion show too?¡± A man¡¯s gentle voice rang out beside her car. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. When Christina raised her head, she saw Francis handsome face. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Francis waved the ticket in his hands and replied with a chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m here to watch the fashion show.¡± What a coincidence! As it was quite a small and niche fashion show, people who were not so involved in the industry would not watch it. ¡°Let¡¯s go! The show is about to start. Before Christina could return to her senses, Francis grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the venue. They sat down at a suitable spot after entering. Soon, the fashion show started. It was obvious how creative the designers were. With the singer who was specially invited to perform, the atmosphere was extremely lively. Christina thought that Francis would merely attend the show briefly and leave after uploading a few pretty pictures on social media. As they watched the models strut past them, he said coolly. ¡°The design elements of this model¡¯s outfit are quite decent. If it¡¯s designed as an individual product, it¡¯ll look nice with a white shirt.¡± For some reason, Christina suddenly felt that he was a like¨Cminded friend who had eye for the highlights at the fashion show. Nodding, she replied, ¡°I like the design and styling of the third outfit. Thebination of navy blue with dark orange is really ssy. It¡¯s good for professional outfits.¡± As the two of them chatted happily, the initially boring fashion show became intriguing. When the fashion show ended, they walked toward the exit together. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be so knowledgeable about fashion,¡± remarked Christina with a smile. The corners of Francis lips lifted as a confident gaze appeared in his eyes. ¡°Well, I¡¯m the trendiest celebrity, after all¡± While other celebrities might not make the cut, Francis definitely deserved to be considered one of the top celebrities. Not only did he have an alluring face, but he also had fair skin and narrow dark eyes that sparkled like obsidian. With his strong build and long legs, it was like heaven had blessed him with those good looks. Francis suggested, ¡°There¡¯s a spring fashion show by a famous brand at the central exhibition hall next month. Are you interested in watching it together?¡± ¡°Sure! I was just thinking of having a break recently,¡± agreed Christina. As there were a lot of people exiting at the same time, someone bumped into Christina identally. Losing her bnce, she toppled into Francis¡® arms. He subconsciously shielded Christina¡¯s head and warned hostilely, ¡°Look where you¡¯re going The person turned around and nced at Francis. As he was wearing a mask, all that was revealed was that cold gaze of his. ¡°Sorry, mumbled the person before striding away. Christina regained her bnce and gently left his embrace. ¡°I¡¯m fine. You should hide yourself! that others won¡¯t discover you¡± It was lucky that the man earlier did not take a closer look. Otherwise, he would have discovered Francis identity. If someone spotted such a famous celebrity, it would attract huge crowds and lead to a lot of congestion. By then, it would be impossible for them to leave. Narrowing his eyes, Francis asked with a smile, ¡°Why? Are you worried about me?¡± ¡°Nonsense! I just don¡¯t want to appear on the news and be attacked by your fans.¡± Christina sighed helplessly. As an avid reader of entertainment news, she would regrlye across articles regarding Francis. As long as he had a coboration with a female celebrity, his fans would unleash a barrage of attacks on her online. Regardless of how gorgeous the female lead was, Francis fans would never concede easily. Hence, there were many instances of wars breaking out between the fans of both parties. If someone snapped a picture of her attending a fashion show with Francis, someongwould definitely wreck her the next day. It was terrifying to even think about it. Francis raised his hand and stroked her head gently. With his eyes filled with affection, he said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t let such things drag you down.¡± This little girl looks so adorable when she¡¯s anrious. Her cheeks are puffing out like little buns. I really want to bite them. While the two of them stood at the exit, the streemps shone on them, casting two long shadows that were so close to one another that it seemed quite romantic. Christina shrank back to avoid his hand. Before she could say anything, a ck shadow appeared in front of her. Soon, a fistnded heavily on Francis¡® face. Even though he had trained before, Francis still got the full blow of the punch, having been caught off guard. Losing his bnce, he fell onto the ground. Francis red at the person who hit him and roared, ¡°Are you out of your mind, Nathaniel?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already warned you. You brought this upon yourself.¡± Nathaniel wiped his hands with a handkerchief before tossing it onto Francis body as if it was a piece of trash. His sharp gaze was like daggers piercing Francis¡® flesh. Themotion between both of them attracted quite a few curious nces from others. Christina quickly returned to her senses. Afraid that someone would recognize Francis, she stretched out her hand to help him up. ¡°Don¡¯t create a ruckus in public. It¡¯ll be bad if someone takes a picture of us.¡± The moment Francis hand touched Christina¡¯s fingertips, someone pped his hand away. ¡°Who allowed you to touch her?¡± Nathaniel pulled Christina behind him. Her thin body almost toppled over before she managed to regain her bnce. He had rushed over after finishing the discussion. To his surprise, he caught the two of them acting so intimately. There was no way he would not be angry. Christina could sense the tense atmosphere. It was as if there was gunpowder scattered in the air, threatening to explode at the drop of a pin. She tugged the corner of Nathaniel¡¯s shirt and said in the gentlest tone possible. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Nathaniel. We bumped into each other coincidentally at the fashion show.¡± Their rtionship had always been quite tense. Every time they met, a fight would always break out. It was more serious this time, with Nathaniel actually throwing a punch. Francis stood up. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, and his mask had dropped to the side. There was a tinge of blood at the corners of his lips, his bloodshot eyes making him look like a wild wolf about to go on a rampage. Aplicated look appeared in his eyes when he nced at Christina. Her watery eyes sparkled as if she had just suffered from a huge shock. Francis frowned. ¡°What do you take Christina for? There¡¯s nothing between us. Are you so anxious because you aren¡¯t confident in yourself or because you know that she doesn¡¯t like you at all?¡± His words of provocation immediately ignited Nathaniel¡¯s fury. Their expressions were equally cold, with neither of them willing to take a step back. Nathaniel clenched his fists, feeling like all the blood in his body was boiling. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing between you two, why did you put your hand on her head? Why are both of you standing so close to each other? Don¡¯t use your tricks from the entertainment industry on her!¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Cannot Afford To Bear The Consequences Feeling like his territory was being coveted by someone else, Nathaniel just wanted to hide Christina so that no one, especially Francis, would set their eyes on her. Upon hearing his vicious remarks, Francis smirked coldly. ¡°Just admit it, Nathaniel. You don¡¯t take Christina seriously at all. To you, she¡¯s just an object that you own.¡± It seemed like he was speaking to Christina instead. No one would feel good in her shoes. Although Christina also thought that Nathaniel was overreacting, she lowered her voice and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Nathaniel¡± She really did not wish to stand there and listen to their argument, for she was implicated in everything that they said. It was as if it was her fault that they were arguing. When Nathaniel stepped forward and grabbed Francis cor, the atmosphere around them became extremely tense. ¡°If you infuriate me, you can¡¯t afford to bear the consequences.¡± Even though he did not intervene in Francis entering the entertainment industry back then, it did not mean that he was unable to stop it. With his sphere of influence, it was a piece of cake for him to make a celebrity disappear. An icy look appeared in Francis¡® gaze. While he would subconsciously give in slightly every time he met. Nathaniel, he seemed like a ferocious beast today. ¡°Don¡¯t threaten me, Nathaniel!¡± Since young. Nathaniel¡¯s presence had been a threat to him. He could only live in Nathaniel¡¯s shadow, prohibited from provoking or offending Nathaniel. There were no limits to the things that he was not allowed to do. Nathaniel¡¯s voice was as icy as the piercing wind. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon enough if it¡¯s a threat or not.¡± After uttering those words, he pulled Christina into the car. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. When she closed the door, Christina could see a lonely figure standing under the streemps from the corner of her eye. Remembering that unpleasant scene from before, she could not help but sigh secretly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You can¡¯t bear to leave him?¡± demanded Nathaniel in a displeased tone, as if he was interrogating her. His words made Christina unhappy, for he sounded like he had already convicted her of doing something wrong. ncing downward and concealing the unhappy look in her eyes, she asked, ¡°Can you stop saying such mean things?¡± Although Nathaniel knew that his words were quite harsh, he felt extremely anxious when he saw Christina standing with another man. All he wished was to hide her and prevent any other man in the world from longing for her. Suppressing his anger, he rebuked coldly. ¡°If you weren¡¯t standing beside him, I would¡¯ve just let it never been on good terms with him.¡± Christina became furious when she heard that. ¡°Are you ming me now? Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re the one who stood me up. I merely bumped into Francis at the fashion show.¡± Although he was the one who failed to keep his promise, he was now cing the me on her. Christina was in a bad mood because Nathaniel did not show up. While she had already dismissed those negative emotions, the incidents earlier made those feelings of unhappiness resurface and engulf her. A tense atmosphere filled the car. The lights outside the window shone into the car, illuminating Christina¡¯s face. A solemn look hung on her face while her eyes sparkled, though with a distant look. Her fair skin and thin shoulders gave her an aura of fragility that would invoke an urge to protect her among others. Nathaniel took a closer look at her. She was wearing a ssy suit that she rarely wore. With her light makeup and hair cascading to her waist, she looked rxed with a hint of arrogance¨Cjust like a proud cat. Judging from how much she dressed up, she must have been looking forward to watching the fashion. show with him. Indeed, he was wrong first for standing her up. However, fury engulfed him the moment he imagined the scene of her sitting with Francis at the show. Not uttering a word,to each other, the two of them returned to Scenic Garden Manor with solemn expressions. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, have you eaten dinn-¡± Before Raymond could finish his sentence, Nathaniel stomped to the second floor gloomily. What¡¯s going on? Usually, Mr. Hadley would be in a good mood if he returned with Mrs. Hadley. It¡¯s my first time seeing such a grim look on his face. It looks like he¡¯s going to devour someone alive. The atmosphere in the living room was extremely strange. Although all the housekeepers were dumbfounded, none of them dared to say anything. Watching as Nathaniel disappeared around the corner, Christina felt bitter as well. He¡¯s throwing a tantrum for no reason! Averting her furious gaze, she said coolly, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten. Cook something and send it to the study. She did not know if Nathaniel had eaten. However, since he was rushing so much, hedefinitely did not have time for a meal. I¡¯ll stop being angry eventually now that the incident is over. There¡¯s no need for me to keep being at odds with Nathaniel Sighing silently, she headed upstairs. Sebastian followed her up and called out to her at a ce where the housekeeper could not see them, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley did not stand you up on purpose. It¡¯s really hard to fit anything in his schedule, so he.. ¡°All right. You don¡¯t need to say anything else. Otherwise, it¡¯ll mean that I¡¯m at fault,¡± interrupted Christina, her gaze concealing the plethora of emotions that she was feeling. Having seen that, Sebastian thought that it was inappropriate to continue talking. ¡°That¡¯s not what I mean. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve understood. With that, she ignored his attempts at appeasement and went upstairs. After entering the master bedroom, she closed the door. Sebastian sighed, not knowing what else he could have said. They have been doing quite well all along. Christina returned to her room and took a bath. Only then did she finally feel rxed. Lying on the couch, she rested her head gently. Her hair flowed down the side of the couch casually The pale moonlight illuminated the dim room. As a gust of wind blew in, the tips of her hair swayed. Staring at the ceiling, Christina spaced out. She had no idea what was up with her earlier. While she would usually just tolerate something like that, she was unable to hold herself back this time. Since Nathaniel had tried his best to rush over and pick her up, it meant that he still cared for her deeply. Feeling exhausted from all that thinking, she turned around and fell asleep on the couch. Nathaniel was working in the study till midnight. Although he was staring at the documents, he could not absorb anything at all. The image of Christina and Francis standing together and staring into each others¡® eyes kept surfacing in his mind. asionally, the image of their shadows together would appear as well. Every image invoked such fury in Nathaniel that he wanted to shred Francis into pieces. Francis¡® entire family just likes to steal other people¡¯s things! Nathaniel¡¯s gaze turned cold as he picked up his phone and made a call. The person on the other end of the line said some pleasantries, though Nathaniel was in no mood to listen to them. He interrupted the person, ¡°I want to cklist someone. I want him gone from the screens. Tomorrow! The person broke out in cold sweat, feeling the man¡¯s frosty aura even through the call. ¡°I wonder who¡¯s dumb enough to offend you, Mr. Hadley.¡± ¡°Francis Fernando,¡± spat Nathaniel coldly, enunciating every syble harshly. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Leave The Medicine Nathaniel wanted to return to his roomst night, but it was locked. He¡¯d never been locked out before, and he calmly endured his rage in the study for the entire night. It wasn¡¯t until the following morning that he went to Raymond to get a spare key to open the door. With a click, the door finally unlocked. The morning light poured into the bedroom, highlighting the objects in the room. Christina was sleeping soundly on the couch. Her slender body curled into a ball. Nathaniel walked over, his eyes filled with anger. Upon seeing Christina, the anger brewing in his eyes dissipated significantly. He was furious because of Francis. There was no reason for him to throw a tantrum at Christina. As a result, he didn¡¯t sleep well all night. He walked over to the couch and carried Christina in his arms gently as though he was afraid of identally hurting her. Christina had gotten plenty of rest the night before, so she immediately felt Nathaniel¡¯s warm embrace. and familiar scent lingering around her nose. She groggily opened her eyes to see Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face, apanied by his loud heartbeats near her ear Sensing movement in his arms, Nathaniel lowered his head and saw Christina looking at him with watery eyes. Time seemed to stand still as the two stared at each other without saying anything. Although they couldn¡¯t bear looking each other in the eyes the night before, they were now in an embrace. Nathaniel cleared his throat to case the tension in the air. ¡°You might get sick sleeping on the couch.¡± His tone was so cid that it was impossible for one to discern any of his emotions, Christina felt slightly ufortable from his stare and replied. ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping anymore, as I still have many work matters to settle in the studio.¡± Nathaniel hummed in acknowledgment and put her down on the ground. The two had never quarreled, so Christina felt uneasy in such an atmosphere. This is obviously Nathaniel¡¯s fault. If I apologize first, won¡¯t that be too pathetic? Christina felt an inexplicable sense of danger when she remembered his enraged demeanor the previous night. Worried that they might get into another argument, she uttered unemotionally, ¡°Tll head downstairs to eat breakfast,¡± Then, she left the room before Nathaniel could say anything. Nathaniel¡¯s face darkened as his temper red once more. However, as he watched her retreating figure. he felt helpless. I have already made the first move to try and reconcile with her. What else does she want from me? When Christina reached the studio, Rayne excitedly ran over to her as she hadn¡¯t been to work for the past two days. ¡°Ms. Christina, we are fully booked for this week! It¡¯s really different once the brand gets a show in the city center! All the rich women in Jadeborough are in a hurry to have you design their dresses!¡± Only the most established brands were able to book suchrge venues in the city¡¯s high¨Cend shopping malls. Christina was well aware that she received such treatment because of Nathaniel¡¯s connections. She hummed in response before walking toward her office. ¡°What¡¯s the agenda for today? Rayne opened the schedule application on her phone and followed Christina into the office. ¡°We have two clients in the morning and one in the afternoon. I didn¡¯t schedule anything during the evening as I¡¯m afraid you will get too exhausted.¡± Christina sat by the desk and opened herptop to look at the information. ¡°Three clients in one day. should be enough. It will get overwhelming if there are too many.¡± Private custom¨Cmade gowns typically took a long time and were exorbitant. It would be disastrous if they did not serve their clients well. ¡°Okay. We have a clienting around nine o¡¯clock. I¡¯ll go out to prepare first.¡± With that, Rayne smiled and left the room. Christina immersed herself in the design drawings, pouring her heart and soul into them. Even though most of her work involved custom designs, she still needed some dresses disyed in the showroom. Otherwise, clients might think it was unprofessional if they walked in and saw an empty room with no finished pieces. She was either meeting her clients or working on her design drawings the entire day. She would sometimes stay in Sharbrook Manor after ending workte because it was closer to her workce. Nathaniel hadn¡¯t contacted her these past few days because he was probably still angry. Christina felt it was pointless for them to continue arguing over such a trivial matter, so she returned to Sharbrook Manor after finishing her work in the morning. She went into the kitchen to make herself a scrumptious lunch before packing it to take to Hadley Corporation. The receptionist at the front desk of Hadley Corporation recognized her, so Christina took the elevator and went straight to the CEO¡¯s office. Inside the office, Jewel and Julia were seated on the couch. There was a thermos sk filled with traditional medicine on the side. Jewel opened the thermos sk, and the room was immediately filled with the powerful stench of traditional medicine. She enthusiastically handed a cup to Nathaniel and said, ¡°Nathaniel, I heard this medicine is very effective. You will definitely get better after drinking this medicine.¡± Once Nathaniel¡¯s health improves, he won¡¯t have to pay all his attention to Christina anymore! Julia had no idea Jewel had ulterior motives. She was only aware that Jewel knew a well¨Cknown traditional medicine practitioner, so she decided to give it a try She wished for her son¡¯s health. Once, when she inadvertently reached out to support Nathaniel, he had to receive an IV drip the whole night to recover. Since he would go into shock upon touching any females, Julia had to protect him and hide his condition throughout all these years. Once someone with ill intentions found out about Nathaniel¡¯s condition, the consequences would be dire Nathaniel nced at the traditional medicine in front of him as the strong scent hit his nostrils. ¡°I have seen so many doctors over the past few years. The results are always the same, so there¡¯s no point in wasting your efforts.¡± Jewel and Julia froze momentarily. They knew Nathaniel didn¡¯t want to drink the traditional medicine, but they didn¡¯t dare to force him. Julia shot Jewel a look. ¡°You can leave for a while. I want to talk to Nathaniel alone.¡± Jewel understood Julia¡¯s intentions and stood up. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll go next door and chat After she left, Julia and Nathaniel were the only ones in the office. with Madison¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Nathaniel, don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m not trying to treat your condition because I¡¯m against Christina.¡± Even though he remained silent, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes glistened. Julia realized she had urately predicted his thoughts. Julia smiled and continued. ¡°Your condition has always been a weakness. If someone with ill intentions knows about it, it could threaten your life. No matter what, you should try to cure this condition.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned cold. He used to worry about this problem until Christina appeared. She made him feel as though he was an ordinary person. His gaze fell on the cup of traditional medicine. After a moment of silence, he said, ¡°I understand. Leave the medicine here.¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Watch A Movie Julia beamed and nodded eagerly. ¡°Remember to drink it while it¡¯s still hot, I¡¯ll head back now.¡± Nathaniel nced at the thermos sk in front of him and picked it up. At once, the strong scent of traditional medicine hit his nostrils. His allergic reaction caused by misogyny was a vulnerability, a weakness he had to keep hidden. If news of his condition were to spread, it would pose a significant threat to him. He downed the herbal concoction in one go. The elevator doors slid open. Christina was heading to the office with the lunchbox when she ran into Jewel, who had juste out of Madison¡¯s office. They couldn¡¯t stand the sight of each other. Christina stared straight ahead, refusing to look at Jewell When they walked past each other, Jewel couldn¡¯t stop herself from grabbing Christina¡¯s hand. She cast a contemptuous look at the lunchbox and sneered, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re a five¨Cstar chef? How dare you cook for Nathaniel?¡± Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. Christina swiftly pulled back her hand, knowing that the more Jewel grew furious, the calmer she needed to be. ¡°Nathaniel adores my cooking. He always polishes off the dishes I prepare for him.¡± Jewel finally grasped the unsettling sensation of witnessing someone speak with the utmost provocation in the calmest demeanor. Christina might appear gentle on the surface, but beneath her fa?adey a person armed with sharp thorns. Her eyes nearly popped out of her sockets as she flushed in anger. ¡°Stop acting all smug. When Nathaniel gets better, he¡¯ll discard you and get a better, prettier, and more efficient wife!¡± Christina didn¡¯t understand what she meant. She couldn¡¯tprehend the meaning behind Jewel¡¯s cryptic statement. Nathaniel had always been in good health, or so she believed. Why was Jewel insinuating. otherwise? Her words seemed like nonsensical ramblings to Christina. Has she lost her mind after I angered her? Jewel tamped down the urge to reveal the truth and turned around, fleeing the scene. Christina ignored her words and walked into Nathaniel¡¯s office. The office was spacious and brightly lit, with the air conditioner running constantly. However, the pungent aroma of the traditional medicine still lingered in the air. As their gazes met, Christina felt herself blushing shyly. They had parted on a sour note that morning, but after she calmed down, she realized Nathaniel must¡¯ve gotten upset as he cared about her a lot. Christina dug her nails into her palms as she blinked at him innocently like a child who had done something wrong. She looked so adorable that Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help forgiving her no matter what she did. ¡°I prepared lunch for us. Shall we eat together?¡± she asked softly like a kitten that had just woken up from its nap. ¡°Sure.¡± The gloom in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes faded away a little. Christina went over to the coffee table. Suddenly, she frowned and asked, ¡°Nathaniel, why does your reek of herbal concoction?¡± ¡°Oh. Mom brought some for me earlier, came Nathaniel¡¯s reply. His expression stiffened. He wasn¡¯t good at lying. ¡°I see.¡± Christina was oblivious to his strange reaction. She unpacked her lunchbox and smiled, for him to join her. ¡°Come, let¡¯s eat.¡± Nathaniel put the file he was holding aside and went to join her at the table. He shrugged out of his suit jacket, revealing a ck vest and crisp white shirt that showcased his muscr body. Christina¡¯s gaze instinctively gravitated toward his sculpted muscles, causing her heart to quicken its pace. Nathaniel sat beside Christina and began eating in an elegant manner. He loved Christina¡¯s cooking. The love and care she had put into preparing the simple, home¨Ccooked dishes made him appreciate them more. ¡°What time will you get off work tonight? I¡¯ll go pick you up,¡± he offered. Christina¡¯s mind was still reying the scene of him shrugging out of his suit jacket, so her cheeks were still crimson. ¡°I¡­ have to meet a client at eight tonight, then I¡¯m free to get off work.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After they had lunch, Christina settled on the couch to rest. Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her slender waist and pulled her into his arms. His hot breath fanned her nape as he asked. ¡°Should we watch a movie tonight?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± Christina blinked adorably, pleasantly surprised. In the past, she had often suggested going on a movie date or spending quality time together. However, Nathaniel¡¯s identity and demanding work schedule made it difficult for them to do so. By the time he could finally leave the office, it was usually past ten at night, making it impractical to catch a movie at the cinema. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Gradually, Christina had stopped making this suggestion. Nathaniel pressed a kiss at the back of her earlobe and drawledzily, ¡°I¡¯m not tired. Let¡¯s pick a time, and I¡¯ll reserve the tickets.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s warm breath gently brushed against her neck, causing her to recoil instinctively like a frightened kitten. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s make it at nine¨Cthirty. You can choose the movie¡­¡± she trailed off, her voice getting softer. The burning sensation on her nape spread all over her body, igniting her nerves instantly. Nathaniel ced one hand on the back of her neck and nibbled on her neck as though he wanted to devour her whole. Christina was forced by Nathaniel to take an afternoon nap in his office. She only got to return to her studiote in the afternoon. Rayne noticed that Christina felt much better after making the trip to Nathaniel¡¯s office. Christina spent the rest of the afternoon holed up in the tailor room, focusing on her designs. As evening approached, Rayne delivered unexpected news¨Cthe client had canceled their appointment at thest minute. As they had nothing to do for the night, Christina allowed Rayne to get off work while she waited for Nathaniel to finish work ande pick her up. The room was silent, save for the rustling sound of her pen. The light bathed Christina¡¯s figure, casting a captivating shadow on the floor. Right then, a knocking sound snapped her out of her reverie. Looking up, she saw Francis step into the room He was wearing a ck outfit and looked mysterious. When their gazes locked, he removed his mask. His handsome face was illuminated by a smile that had the power to leave one breathless. Francis strode into the room with the dessert in his hands. ¡°Supper¡¯s here. Are you moved by my gesture? Anyone would be moved by a delivery made by a popr celebrity, right? Christina chuckled softly. Instead of answering his question, she asked, ¡°How do you know I¡¯m still at the studio?¡± It was alreadyte, and she could¡¯ve already gotten off work like usual. Francis¡® gaze turned dark, but the darkness disappeared as soon as it appeared. He responded in a rxed manner. ¡°I merely guessed that you¡¯re still here.¡± His slender fingers looked captivating as he opened the box to reveal the dessert. Pushing the box to Christina, he urged, ¡°Take a bite. I read online that the shop is pretty popr.¡± ¡°Did you buy it yourself?¡± Christina took a bite of the dessert. She had to admit that it was indeed delicious. A smile nudged Francis¡® lips as he replied. ¡°Of course not. Do you want me to cause a traffic jam?¡± He had noticed Christina was alone in her studio through the surveince footage. Afterpleting filming for the day, he told his assistant to get the dessert for her. ¡°Should I give you a ride back after you wrap up work?¡± he asked nonchntly as though they were just friends. Christina¡¯s hands paused midair. ¡°Nathaniel and I are going to watch a movieter. You must be busy recently, huh? You should head back and get some rest. Upon hearing her words, Francis felt a sudden pang in his heart as if she were pushing him away. His pirits plummeted, sinking to the depths of his stomach, leaving him with a lingering ache of sadness. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Your House Is On Fire Francis lowered his gaze momentarily and looked up soon. He teased, ¡°You¡¯re going on a date? Do you mind if 1 tag along?¡± Christina was taken aback to hear that. Both men were at odds every time they met and wouldn¡¯t stop until a winner was determined. His words made her shudder in fear. ¡°I was joking. Why do you look so serious? Christina heaved a sigh of relief. After they finished the dessert, it was almost time for her to leave. Christina cleared the empty boxes and said, ¡°You go ahead. I need to pack up.¡± Francis knew she didn¡¯t want Nathaniel to see them together. Clearly, she had made up an excuse to make him leave. Strangely, he felt as though he had to hide so others wouldn¡¯t see him, just like he did as a child when he was regarded as the illegitimate child of someone else. The feeling of his dignity getting crushed overwhelmed him instantly. Suddenly, a horrible idea surfaced in his mind. Francis nced at the pinhole camera hidden in the potted nt and strode over to hug Christina from behind. Her body was soft and smelled so great, and he had the urge to indulge in her presence. Christina curled into a ball in shock and chided, ¡°Francis, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Christina, the back of my waist is hurting. I think it¡¯s the side effects from my previous injury.¡± Francis comined, feigning pain as he furrowed his brows, Christina had her back to him and didn¡¯t notice his calm expression. She felt slightly guilty as he had to dy getting treatment because of her. ¡°What should we do now? Should I get the doctor toe here?¡± Christina panicked and reached into her pocket to get her phone. Francis embraced Christina tightly, leaning on her for support. He greedily breathed in her scent and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Let me hold you and take a brief rest.¡± Christina had no choice but to stand still like a log, allowing him to lean on her. Their tender embrace reflected on the translucent window, creating a romantic tableau reminiscent of a scene from a movie. ¡°Isn¡¯t it tiring to stand? Why don¡¯t you take a seat?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Christina escaped from his arms when he wasn¡¯t paying attention and got him an armchair to sit in. A flicker of disappointment passed through Francis¡® eyes as he felt the warmth from Christina¡¯s body dissipate. Swiftly masking his emotions, he responded, ¡°That¡¯s all right. My assistant is waiting for me downstairs, so I should be going now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± When Christina turned around, the tall figure was already gone as though he had never been here in the first ce. She nced at her watch and assumed Nathaniel would be here soon. Christina cleared up her table and settled on the couch to read a magazine, wondering what movie they would be watchingter. As time ticked by, she slowly fell into a deep slumber without realizing it. Some timeter, her phone rang, jolting her awake. She opened her eyes, only to be greeted by a ring light. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. My meeting endedter than expected. Should we go watch a movie now?¡± Nathaniel sounded calm, but he could be heard walking quickly. Christina nced at the time and realized it was already half past ten. ¡°It¡¯s prettyte, though. Let¡¯s go another time. I was thinking of spending the night at Sharbrook Manor so I can have breakfast with Mom and Granny tomorrow¡± The ding of the elevator could be heard as Nathaniel replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. After watching the movie, we can head back to Sharbrook Manor together and spend the night there. We¡¯ll both have breakfast with Mom and Granny tomorrow morning It was obvious he really wanted to watch a movie with Christina instead of going against his word yet. again. Christina¡¯s lips curled up involuntarily. ¡°All right. I¡¯lle downstairs now.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Nathaniel gazed at his watch and gauged the time. ¡°Come down two minutester. I don¡¯t want you. to wait for me. Christina chuckled aloud. ¡°Sure.¡± After the call ended, she waited for exactly two minutes before grabbing her bag and locking her studio to head downstairs. She walked out of the building to see the familiar Maybach parked by the road. His chiseled form was illuminated by the moonlight, entuated by the bespoke supthat gave him an air of refinement and sophistication. With his striking and enigmatic features, he looked as impable as ever Nathaniel held a bouquet of red roses as he walked over to her. Behind him, the stars sparkled brilliantly. ¡°This is for you,¡± he said in his husky voice. Christina epted the bouquet and inhaled its captivating scent. The fragrance of the roses enveloped her senses, leaving asting impression. While flowers may wither and fade, the emotions she experienced upon receiving them would forever be etched in her heart. ¡°Thanks. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel opened the door to the passenger seat so she could get into the car. After that, he entered the driver¡¯s seat and drove off. They selected a romantic movie. It was almost midnight, so the cinema wasn¡¯t crowded. Immersed in the rare opportunity to rx, Christina devoted her full attention to the movie. In contrast, Nathaniel appeared unfazed as ever. To the casual observer, it would seem as though he was focused on a business meeting rather than enjoying a movie. When the movie ended, Christina couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°If you don¡¯t like such movies, why don¡¯t we pick another genre next time?¡± ¡°I never said I don¡¯t like such movies. There were just a few scenes which weren¡¯t logical, that¡¯s all.¡± Nathaniel exined with a straight face. Christina was rendered speechless, feeling as if she had to work on her holiday. They were about to leave when Christina¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from the hospital. ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Christina Steele?¡± ¡°Yes, this is her,¡± Christina replied, her heart clenching in her chest. ¡°Your house is on fire, and your mother and grandmother have been taken to the hospital. You need to get to the hospital immediately¡­ Christina felt as if her soul had been ripped from her body, leaving her in a state of shock. Her ears were filled with a deafening buzz, and her heart seemed to have stopped beating. However, in an instant, her senses kicked back in, and she mustered a resolute response, ¡°I¡¯ming right away!¡± The hospital was filled with the pungent scent of disinfectant and blood. When Christina arrived, she nearly stumbled and fell in her haste. Nathaniel supported her from behind and reminded her. ¡°Christina, calm down-¡± ¡°Let me go.¡± Christina wasn¡¯t going to pay anyone¡¯s advice attention now. The police officer was conducting an investigation, so she hurried over and demanded, ¡°Officer, what happened? Why did my house catch fire?¡± As she spoke, she choked and nearly lost her voice. ¡°The firefighters have managed to extinguish the fire. It was caused by a burning candle in the living. room. Thankfully, no one sustained burns, but the victims inhaled a significant amount of smoke and lost consciousness. They are currently in the emergency room.¡± ¡°Candle? My family doesn¡¯t use any candles!¡± Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she realized there was something suspicious. Did someone sneak into my house on purpose to light up the candle, causing the house to be on fire? Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Danger In The Bathroom ¡°We¡¯ll continue investigating the fire. You should go check on your family now,¡± the police officer said before leaving- The nurse led Christina into the ward. Sharon was still unconscious, while Evelyn¡¯s condition was more severe. Thetter was undergoing treatment in the operating room. Sharony in bed, her frail figure looking as if each breath could be herst. Christina¡¯s heart ached at the sight. She was overwhelmed with concern for her. Her eyes turned red, and she felt a tightness in her chest, causing her to feel breathless. ¡°Mom¡­¡± Christina¡¯s fists balled up as anger filled her heart The nurse reminded her gently, ¡°Ms. Steele, your grandmother is still in the operating room. Do you want to head there first?¡± Usually, one would ce priority on the more severe patient. Christina pulled herself together and nodded, then followed the nurse out The red light outside the operating room filled Christina with anxiety. She had never experienced such a level of unease before, not even during her toughest times when she struggled to afford food or pay her bills or when she was left homeless after Miranda¡¯ste¨Cnight eviction. This current situation surpassed them all in terms of worry and apprehension Right at that moment, she was afraid to receive bad news regarding her grandmother. Christina had no idea how long she stood at the door or when Nathaniel had dragged her to the chair so she could sit down. Her mind was torn between conflicting emotions, alternating between reassuring herself that everything would be all right and fearing that Evelyn¡¯s advanced age might make her recovery difficult. She was about to go crazy as two conflicting thoughts tortured her mind. Nathaniel held her hand tightly. Knowing that saying anything at this point would be pointless, he kept herpany without saying a word. Some timeter, the red light disappeared. Christina snapped out of her reverie and rushed to the door. ¡°Doctor, how is my granny doing? ¡°The patient¡¯s condition is still unstable, so we can only tell after she makes it past the critical period,¡± the doctor said sternly before striding away. The nurse pushed a still¨Cunconscious Evelyn out of the operating room. ¡°Evelyn¡¯s guardian, please come with me.¡± The nurse guided the bed into the ward while providing Christina with instructions on Evelyn¡¯s care. As she observed Evelyn¡¯s pale face, Christina felt her eyes welling up with tears once more. After making the necessary arrangements, the nurse left the ward. Christina took a seat between Sharon¡¯s and Evelyn¡¯s beds. They were both the most important people in her life. The door to the ward swung open softly, and Nathaniel entered, approaching Christina. He gently patted her shoulder and reassured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already reached out to the best doctor in this hospital, Professor Adrian Langston. He¡¯ll being tomorrow to assess their condition.¡± Christina shot him a grateful look and bobbed her head. Three hours had passed since the fire, and Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed by Christina¡¯s strength. She remained the resilient young woman he had fallen in love with, even in the face of such adversity. Christina couldn¡¯t sleep that night. She sat beside their beds and kept a watchful eye on them. It was only when dawn arrived that exhaustion finally took its toll, and she eventually fell asleep in Nathaniel¡¯s arms. The nurse caused a ruckus when she arrived to do her rounds that morning. Nathaniel shot her a displeased look. ¡°Has Professor Langston arrived?¡± ¡°Professor Langston is changing his clothes. He¡¯ll be here soon.¡± The nurse felt a chill travel down her spine and fled the ward after saying that Nathaniel only woke Christina up when the doctor showed up some timeter. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. After conducting a thorough examination, Adrian Langston carefully assessed Sharon¡¯s and Evelyn¡¯s conditions before providing his diagnosis. ¡°Unfortunately, your grandmother¡¯s condition is not favorable at the moment. We will need to monitor her closely and wait for her to pass this critical period before making any decisions regarding medication. As for your mother, she lost consciousness due to excessive smoke inhtion. We have sessfully cleared her lungs, and we expect her to regain consciousness soon.¡± Christina¡¯s anxiety persisted as she received a diagnosis that echoed the one she had heard the previous night. After Adrian left, there wasplete silence in the ward again. Sebastian had made his way to the hospital with breakfast for Nathaniel after he heard about the incident. Christina had no appetite, and Nathaniel had to coax her for a while before she agreed to take a few bites. She then remained in the ward for the entire day. Nathaniel¡¯s concern deepened as he witnessed Christina¡¯s growing exhaustion and haggard appearance. Two dayster, Adrian finally announced that Evelyn had made it through the critical period and was getting better. The good news allowed Christina to heave a sigh of relief. ¡°You¡¯ve been at the hospital for three days,¡± Nathaniel gently reasoned with Christina. ¡°Even if you want to take care of them, it¡¯s important for you to go home, take a shower, and clean up. You need some rest too.¡± Christina btedly realized that she hadn¡¯t taken a shower for three days and had been deprived of proper sleep. I must look all disheveled and haggard ¡°All right. I¡¯ll head home to take a shower beforeing back to the hospital.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive you back home,¡± Nathaniel offered. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for bodyguards to stay here and keep watch. They¡¯ll inform us immediately if anything happens.¡± Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina immersed herself in the soothing warmth of the bathtub. The hot water cascaded over her body, relieving the tension in her muscles and washing away the burdens of the past few days. Finally able to let go, she leaned back against the edge of the tub and unintentionally drifted off to sleep. Unaware of her surroundings, she slipped deeper into the water, her long, ebony hair fanning out around her. Her porcin skin seemed ethereal against the rippling surface. As the water gently filled her nostrils, she remained undisturbed, slipping into an even deeper slumber. Nathaniel was in the study. Work had piled up since he hadn¡¯t worked for three days. ¡°Mr. Hadley, this contract is needed tomorrow. I¡¯ve ced the urgent documents in the red file for your immediate attention.¡± Sebastian said to Nathaniel as he got busy organizing the documents. Nathaniel read the document carefully before penning his signature. After going through a few documents, he felt his heart constricting for no reason. His gaze turned dark at that realization. Has something gone wrong with my health as I haven¡¯t had any rest for the past few days? A deep line appeared between Nathaniel¡¯s brows as he ced his pen down. Without warning. Christina¡¯s face popped into his mind. An ill premonition brewed in his heart. Suddenly, he stood up and marched out of the study. When Sebastian looked up from organizing the files, he realized he was alone in the study. Nathaniel pushed the bathroom door open to see Christina¡¯s entire body soaked in the water. Her face was pale and lifeless, and she seemed to have ceased breathing. ¡°Christina¡°¡± He rushed over to the bathtub and picked her up. Under the lights, she looked as pure and frail as snow. With her delicate eyebrows and lips tinged with a shade of purple, she resembled a dehydrated mermaid on the verge of perishing at any moment. ¡°Christina!¡± Nathaniel howled in desperation, but she didn¡¯t respond as though she had lost consciousness. Nathaniel felt his blood going cold as he ran out of the bathroom with Christina in l arms. cing her gently on the bed, he proceeded to administer cardiac massage and artificial respiration to revive her. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Chapter 300 The Best News Ever After several rounds, Christina spat out mouthfuls of water and finally regained her heartbeat. ¡°Christina, how are you feeling?¡± Christina did not respond. She merely opened her eyes slightly before she passed out again. The muscles on Nathaniel¡¯s arm grew taut. Even though he did not utter a word, the hostility radiating off his body was so immense it filled the entire atmosphere. He turned on all the heaters in the room. After helping Christina change out of her soaking¨Cwet clothes, he ced hisrge hand over her smooth forehead. Her body had started to feel hot, and her cheeks were flushing deep red. Nathaniel¡¯s frown deepened into a scowl. Realizing Christina was running a fever, he picked up his phone and called their family doctor. ¡°Be here in ten minutes.¡± After concluding the call, he threw his phone onto the couch. About ten minutester. Raymond brought the family doctor to the room. Anxiousness clouded the latter¡¯s face. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the traffic was bad¡­¡± Catching a glimpse of the icy re that Nathaniel shot him, the doctor swallowed his words and hastily walked inside. On the bed, Christina was running a high fever. Her brows knitted slightly, and her face was burning bright red. From her looks, it was evident she was extremely unwell. The doctor took Christina¡¯s temperature and gave her some medicine and an IV drip. ¡°Mr. Hadley, do you know how to change the drip?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As the heir of Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel had received all sorts of first aid skills from a young age. ¡°After she¡¯s done with this bottle, change to the yellow one. Thenstly, the glucose drip.¡± The doctor left after giving a thorough exnation. The bedroom was so quiet it felt almost as if time had stopped. A warm, golden light lit the room up dimly. The two nuzzled against each other, with Nathaniel sitting by the bed and holding onto Christina¡¯s burning¨Chot body. A faint scent lingered in the air and swirled around Nathaniel¡¯s nose. Breathing in the fragrance, the man felt as if Christina had filled up every cell in his body. The following day, rays of the morning sun saturated the room, lighting up every corner. Christina had received all doses of drip. There was still a bandage on the back of her hand, and she was still woozy She was overly exhausted the night before and passed out in the bathtub. While she drifted in and out of sleep, she opened her eyes and saw how worried and anxious Nathaniel looked. She could tell it was a genuine disy of emotions from the bottom of his heart. A warm sensation surged within her, and she lifted her pale lips into a weak smile. Christina wanted to get up, but her slightest movement woke Nathaniel up as she was in his arms. The man locked her tightly in his embrace with his long arms and ced his chin on her slender shoulders. In a sluggish yet deep voice, he uttered, ¡°Can¡¯t stay still the moment you recover?¡± Christina was briefly taken aback and turned to look at him. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m¡­ thinking of visiting Mom and Granny.¡± The sunlight brightened Christina¡¯s soft and pure face, and her shimmering eyes were tender and warm, making one feel deeply in love with her. Lafting his hand, Nathaniel cradled the back of her head and domineeringly pulled her to him, so close that their noses were touching The man felt his heart soften when his eyes met with her innocent¨Clooking gaze. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll send you there.¡± Christina beamed in delight and lightly left a peck on the man¡¯s cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Arriving at the hospital, Christina did not let Nathaniel apany her. ¡°Come and pick me up after you. get off work.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Nathaniel still had ruatters to attend to at work and could not stay for long Evelyn¡¯s and Sharon¡¯s conditions had stabilized after a few days. Sharon finally regained consciousness after taking nutrient shots for the past few days. The moment she saw Christina, she was so overwhelmed by emotions that she let out a few coughs. ¡°Christina¡­.¡± ¡°Mom, you just woke up. Don¡¯t get too agitated.¡± Christina poured Sharon a ss of water and patted her chest. ¡°Mom, did you see who entered the house, and set the fire?¡± Sharon inhaled a deep breath. ¡°Someone deliberately set the house on fire?¡± Christina recounted what she knew to Sharon. It definitely did not make sense that the candle got lit. However, the police investigated and found no signs of someone breaking into the house. Since there were no surveince cameras in the house, things became so much more bizarre. Sharon paused for a good few seconds. ¡°Then did our house get burned to ashes? Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s easier for me to earn money these days. I¡¯ll be able to buy you a new house in no time¡± Even though Christina felt disheartened, she did not want to show her emotions in front of her mother. She knew very well that only by appearing calm andposed would it lessen Sharon¡¯s guilt. Sharon knew that Christina had saved the money for a long time before she managed to buy her that house. Now that it was destroyed, she felt her heart ached for what happened but was even more heartbroken at the thought of Christina¡¯s efforts going to waste, At that point, Sharon seemed to remember something essential and held onto Christina¡¯s hand nervously. ¡°The family heirloom I passed you, did you keep it well?¡± ¡°You mean that pendant? Yeah, I¡¯ve been wearing it.¡± Christina pulled the ne out from her cor. She could not understand why Sharon would be so anxious over a ne at a time like this. Sharon reminded earnestly, ¡°You have to keep it well. Don¡¯t let others know about it.¡± ¡°I got it, Mom,¡± Christina assured. After Sharon¡¯s condition stabilized, Christina shifted her focus back to work again. She reckoned she had to earn more money quickly to buy Sharon a new house. Perhaps because she carried faith in her, Christina soon regained her fortitude. She even hustled between the studio and the hospital every day. Meanwhile, in the CEO¡¯s office of Hadley Corporation, Christina hastily finished her lunch in the lounge and prepared to head to the hospital. ¡°Let Sebastian send lunch over instead. You haven¡¯t had a good rest for the past few days.¡± Nathaniel was worried that she might fall sick again like the other time. No matter how tired she was, she had never grumbled in front of Nathaniel. She could have sought help from him to resolve the problems when the house burned down, yet she had chosen to be self¨C reliant instead. The more strong¨Cwilled and independent she was, the more his heart ached. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll head over to apany Mom since I have to return to the studio in the afternoon. Christina grabbed her backpack, walked up to Nathaniel, stood on tiptoe, and quickly nted a kiss on him. ¡°Bye.¡± Before Nathaniel could even reminisce about the kiss. the figure before him left in a hurry. Right then, Sebastian entered and put a new proposal on the table. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the report on the new clothing brand you intend to establish is ready¡± Nathaniel had spontaneously decided to establish a new brand targeted at the younger female styles. He invested in Christina to create a new brand and make a name in the industry within one to two months. That was estimated to cost several billions. ¡°Contact Christina¡¯s studio, but don¡¯t let them know I invested in it.¡± Sebastian plunged into a dilemma. That is such a huge investment, and yet he¡¯s not intending to tell Mrs. Hadley about it? He¡¯s probably worried that Mrs. Hadley will not want to ept his kind intention after she learns about it, huh? That night, when Christina returned to the studio, Rayne excitedly carried her up as soon as she stepped inside. ¡°Christina! Good news! It¡¯s the best news ever!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Put me down first.¡± Christina was grasped tightly in Rayne¡¯s arms. Rayne picked up the document she had just received. ¡°Look. A businessman saw your contest design draft and wants to work with you to start a new brand. This is an opportunity! We¡¯ll be able to build our own brand!¡± Christina took the document and gave it a thorough look. After ensuring there were no issues with it, she took a deep breath and asked, ¡°Did they mention when we can have a detailed discussion with them?¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Coco Rayne quickly said. ¡°They¡¯ll being to discuss the details with you tomorrow at nine.¡± ¡°Okay. Look into thepany¡¯s background and ensure that they¡¯re trustworthy,¡± said Christina. We have to check carefully before proceeding. What if they¡¯re scammers? After work, Christina brought the contract with her back to Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel had finished work early that day. The first thing he did upon arriving home was ask Raymond if Christina was back yet. Raymond replied with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Hadley returned home early today. She is waiting for you in the study. ¡°All right.¡± Nathaniel immediately ascended the stairs and headed to the study. He opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Christina in a white nightgown, curling up in his ck. office chair. The bright lights in the room highlighted the stark difference between the two colors. She seemed to have nodded off while waiting for him. Her dark and long eyshes cast shadows under her eyes, making her look like a cat that was taking a nap on its owner¡¯s chair. At the sound of the man¡¯s footsteps, Christina opened her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± She waddled over to Nathaniel, tugged on his arm, and sat him down in the chair. After taking his suit jacket from him, she handed him a ss of warm milk. ¡°You¡¯ve had a tiring day. Darling. Have some milk and rx.¡± Nathaniel broke into a smile as he watched her fuss over him. Tapping her on the nose, he said lovingly, ¡°You¡¯re clearly up to something. Out with it. Is there something you want my help with?¡± Christina was a little embarrassed that he saw through her act right away and grinned sheepishly. ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Darling.¡± She pulled out the contract and said proudly. ¡°Look! There¡¯s apany that wants to work with me. I¡¯m afraid they might be scamming me, so I want you to help me examine if there¡¯s anything wrong with this contract.¡± Decipheringplicated contracts like this wasn¡¯t her strong suit, but it was Nathaniel¡¯s. With years of experience in reading such documents, he would definitely be able to spot any issues. The corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled to form a smile as he pulled Christina into his arms. ¡°Letting me peruse the contract for you is a smart move. With that, he nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°This is your reward.¡± Blushing, Christina buried her face in his chest. ¡°Hurry and help me read it.¡± Nathaniel opened the file and scanned its contents. There was nothing wrong with the uses, but he read it one more time just to be sure. When he was done, he went online and looked for any information on thepany. Christina poked her head out of his embrace and joined him in reading them. He tore his eyes away from theputer and gazed at Christina. ¡°Everything in the contract looks fine. You can sign it without any worries.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! Now, I¡¯ll be able to earn enough money to buy a new house in no time,¡± she eximed happily, her dark eyes twinkling with joy. She had been worrying about finding a ce for her mother to recuperate after she was discharged from the hospital. With this amount of money, she would have no problem purchasing a condominium for Sharon. Nathaniel squeezed her cheeks. ¡°You¡¯re buying a house? In that case, would there be a room for me?¡± ¡°Of course. My room is¡­ yours too, right?¡± Christina answered him seriously. Nathaniel was very important to her, and there would always be a spot for him in her heart. ¡°That¡¯s a good girl.¡± The passion in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes was almost palpable as he lifted Christina¡¯s chin and sealed her lips with his. Their breaths mingled, turning the atmosphere in the room suggestive. Christina¡¯s cheeks were bright red, and a dazed look surfaced in her eyes. The intense desire transformed into mes that overwhelmed her entire being. Time seemed to freeze at that very moment. Their shadows ovepped and formed a dark mass that was reflected on the rug. Early the next morning, Christina went to the studio with the contract. At nine on the dot, the CEO of Bona Fide Company arrived with a few assistants in tow. He was a polite and elegant young man who did not speak much during the entire meeting His name was Christopher Lockhart, and he practically let Christina and the nning director do all the talking.Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He would asionally rake his eyes over Christina¡¯s body, admiring her pale skin and adorable face. Seeing how beautiful she looked when she was engrossed in work, he wasn¡¯t surprised that even Nathaniel, a man who kept his distance from women, couldn¡¯t resist her charms. To think that the aloof and condescending Nathaniel would ask me to invest in his wife¡¯s work just to make her happy¡­ They spent practically the entire morning ironing out the contract¡¯s details. Christina was responsible foring up with the design drawings, liaising with the factory to produce the clothes, taking promotional photos, and designing the store. Everything else would be handled by Bona Fide Company. They nned to set up a store in the city center before gradually expanding into the neighboring cities. Once the details had been settled, all that was left was to sign the contract. Christopher¡¯s gazended on the lower right corner of the contract. Christina¡¯s penmanship looked as zealous as she was. He could tell from her writing that she was a courageous and determined woman. After signing the contract, Charles reached out to shake Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°Here¡¯s to a fruitful coboration. I look forward to seeing your final products soon.¡± ¡°Likewise. The first drafts of my design will be out within a week,¡± Christina replied confidently. ¡°Excellent. I like working with efficient people.¡± After seeing them off, she immersed herself in her work, full of determination to quickly make a name for herself so that she could prove to her mother that she was capable. Christina spent the entire week working on her design and was so busy that she didn¡¯t even have time to cal Her efforts paid off, and she was able to finish the final product within the week. A satisfied smile appeared on Charles¡¯ face when he saw the clothes disyed on the mannequins. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toplete it so quickly. I¡¯m very happy with these designs.¡± ¡°I took inspiration from the sunny disposition and spunk of young women whening up with the designs. ording to my estimations, the first batch of clothes will hit the stores within two weeks.¡± Christina took out the n she drafted and exined to him, ¡°I think we can use these pieces as promotional photos before putting them up for pre-orders. This way, we can reduce the amount we need. to stockpile.¡± This was something she had learned from the marketing department¡¯s manager when she worked at Radiant Corporation. Charles apuded her. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. Contact the ambassador and start getting to work right away.¡± ¡°I have someone suitable in mind. Can we make this decision internally?¡± Christina suggested. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Coco¡± Her pretty face immediately appeared in Christopher¡¯s mind. Christina enthusiastically rmended her, ¡°I¡¯ve worked with her several times and have a good impression of her. She¡¯s very professional and fits what we want in our ambassador.¡± ¡°All right, deal.¡± Christopher epted her suggestion. That night, Christina called Coco to confirm that thetter was going to be the ambassador. Coco was ecstatic upon receiving the news. ¡°I missed you so much, Christina! I¡¯m looking forward to working together!¡± It would not be an exaggeration to say that Christina was the reason Coco achieved her current fame in the entertainment industry. Every single time she became the talk of the town, Christina was the one who designed her outfits. That propelled her career to greater heights. As such, she agreed to be the ambassador without hesitation. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Wish The Ground Would Swallow Me Up Christina styled Coco personally ording to the shooting team¡¯s instructions the next day. The shoot went smoothly, and a few dayster, the promotional photos were officially posted on cutebaby¡¯s official website. The website had a feature for pre-orders, and each piece of clothing received thousands of orders in less than half an hour. Coco also posted these promotional photos on her social media ount, which garnered much attention. from her young fans. The clothing brand quickly went viral among the upper ss. Jewel delivered traditional medicine to Hadley Corporation for Nathaniel. Thetter was still in a meeting when she arrived, so she decided to organize the messy documents on his desk while she was waiting for him. Suddenly, a document caught her eyes, and she opened it to read its contents carefully. ¡°Who allowed you to go through my documents?¡± A chilly voice rang out. Nathaniel then walked into the office. Jewel was startled. She had always known Nathaniel was a serious and unapproachable person since childhood, so she had to be extremely cautious when interacting with him even as his cousin. However, she was more concerned about the information she had just seen. She put down the document and ran over. ¡°Nathaniel, you invested in cutebaby?¡± Nathaniel furrowed his brows, as he didn¡¯t intend to disclose this information to anyone else. He didn¡¯t reply and walked toward his chair. Jewel followed behind him, her face filled with anticipation. ¡°I love the clothes from this brand, but they only ept pre-orders online. Can you do me a favor and help me get the store to send me a series of ready-to-wear clothes?¡± The brand wasunched only three days ago, and almost every girl in the city was waiting for their pre- orders to get shipped. If she could get her hands on this brand¡¯s collection in advance, she could show off in front of her friends. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Do you really want them?¡± Nathaniel nced at her. ¡°Yes, please,¡± Jewel pleaded with puppy-dog eyes. ¡°All right.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice turned cold as he warned her, ¡°But you can¡¯t tell anyone, especially Christina, that I invested in this brand.¡± Jewel blinked, thinking Nathaniel had invested in this brand because he was skeptical of Christina¡¯s skills. Delighted by the fact that Nathaniel chose to invest in another designer instead of Christina because he looked down on her. Jewel nodded fervently. ¡°No problem, Nathaniel. I¡¯ll keep it a secret.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you can head back now.¡± Nathaniel lowered his head to peruse the documents nonchntly. Jewel left his office in a joyful mood. That evening, she received cutebaby¡¯s collection of newlyunched clothes. She immediately began applying makeup and photographing herself in these outfits. Then, she edited the photos and posted them online. She knew that many people would be jealous of her for obtaining the clothes so quickly since they were limited-edition items. Her post garnered tens of thousands of likes in a few minutes. Jewel was overjoyed as she admired her photos. Someizens even said that she looked better in those outfitspared to Coco. She agreed with thoseizens and thought she was indeed more photogenic than Coco. If she had known Nathaniel was cutebaby¡¯s investor in the first ce, she would have tried to be its spokesperson. This brand¡¯s designer is foolish for not choosing me as their spokesperson. Christina carned a sizable sum of revenue in less than a week because of the pre-orders. The factory worked overtime, coborating with the other manufacturers to rush the shipments. On the other hand, the clothes in the physical stores were sold out almost as soon as they were disyed. Christina met with a real estate agent in a caf¨¦ one day to discuss purchasing a house. She wanted to settle everything before her mother was discharged from the hospital. ¡°I think this three-story mansion is pretty nice. I¡¯ll go with this one,¡± Christina said after scanning through the documents. ¡°Okay. Please sign here and transfer the deposit to me,¡± replied the real estate agent. ¡°Okay.¡± Christina picked up the pen and was about to sign when she was sshed by a ss of cold water. The real estate agent and the documents were drenched, too. The two of them exchanged bewildered nces. They couldn¡¯t react in time as everything happened in the blink of an eye. The sound of footsteps approached them, and Jewel emerged wearing cutebaby¡¯s signature pink skirt. looking absolutely stunning. She was apanied by several of her friends, who were all smirking mockingly behind her. ¡°You want to buy a house? Do you even have money to buy one?¡± She looked at Christina disdainfully. Christina was infuriated since she couldn¡¯t sign the contract now that it was wet. She stood up and retorted, ¡°What does this have to do with you? What are you doing? Jewel flushed crimson. She didn¡¯t want to look foolish in front of her friends, so she shot daggers at Christina and said. ¡°You are definitely using Nathaniel¡¯s bank card. How shameless! How could you use his money to buy a house for yourself Il¡¯ho does Christina think she is? Isn¡¯t she just the abandoned daughter of a bankruptpany¡¯s boss? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that she¡¯s the only woman who doesn¡¯t trigger Nathaniel¡¯s phobia, she would never have been able to get married to Nathaniel! In Jewel¡¯s eyes, someone of Christina¡¯s standard wasn¡¯t worthy of joining her family. In fact, she even thought someone like Christina would only lower their family¡¯s status. Christina met Jewel¡¯s gaze fearlessly and sneered. ¡°I¡¯m Nathaniel¡¯s legitimate wife. There¡¯s nothing wrong with me using his money to buy a house. What right do you have to interfere in this?¡± ¡°Y-You- Jewel was so angry she was at a loss for words. She would have given Christina a p across the face if she didn¡¯t have to protect her image as a celebrity and the heiress of a wealthy family. Christina swept a nce at Jewel¡¯s friends, and a trace of disdain shed in her eyes. ¡°The brand cutebaby represents cheerful and pure young girls who are independent and unique instead of rude and unreasonable jerks. Can you at least watch your actions when wearing these clothes? Please keep in mind. that you guys are public figures.¡± Jewel was surprised that Christina knew of the brand. But Nathaniel still invested in another designer instead of Christina, so her designs are probably subpar. Jewel inched closer to Christina and mocked, ¡°Aren¡¯t they beautiful? You will never be able to design such beautiful clothes! Please don¡¯t mention you¡¯re a designer in public. You might be okay with embarrassing yourself, but you shouldn¡¯t bring shame to our family!¡± Christina furrowed her brows before smiling gracefully, ¡°Jewel, if you like this brand, you should at least find out who the designer of this brand is. If I were you, I¡¯d wish the ground would swallow me up. Stop making a fool out of yourself.¡± With that, Christina grabbed her bag and left. Jewel stood rooted to the spot, rendered speechless. What does Christina mean by that? She immediately unlocked her phone and visited cutebaby¡¯s official website. To her surprise, she saw Christina¡¯s picture immediately after clicking into the designer section. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Chapter 303 The Photos Even Jewel¡¯s friends were shocked by the revtion. ¡°So, thatdy just now is the designer of cutebaby! ¡°If I¡¯d known earlier, I would¡¯ve watched my mouth and asked for her number.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve missed such a great opportunity. Oh, man¡­..¡± ¡°Is she your cousin-inw, Jewel? That¡¯s amazing! You should quickly build a good rapport with her so that we won¡¯t have to worry about getting our hands on new collections in the future.¡± Jewel felt as if she was struck by lightning and wondered why Nathaniel had invested in Christina without telling her. She was well aware that Nathaniel wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would go to such great lengths for a Woman. The only exnation for everything Nathaniel did for Christina was that he had truly fallen for her. Jewel was jealous of the special treatment Christina got from Nathaniel. She could not understand why a distinguished man like Nathaniel would fall for a woman like Christina. At that instant, Jewel wanted nothing more than to have Christina disappear from the earth¡¯s surface. Since things fell through, Christina had no choice but to ask the real estate agent to bring the contract to her studio another day. She made a trip to the hospital and was told that Sharon¡¯s condition had improved and that she could be discharged the following week. As for Evelyn, she still had to remain in the hospital for her condition to be monitored. It was only after visitation hours ended that Christina left the ward. Unexpectedly, she felt light-headed after only taking a few steps. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Her appetite had been poortely, and she didn¡¯t feel like eating. She wondered if it was because she was too busy and exhausted due to overworking. Noticing that she seemed unwell, a nurse walked up and asked with concern, ¡°Miss, you look pale. Should I bring you to see the doctor?¡± At first, Christina wanted to refuse her suggestion. However, a wave of nausea hit her after the dizziness subsided, causing her immense difort. The nurse helped her to the Department of Gynecology. After a brief inquiry, the doctor made her undergo a series of check-ups. Half an hourter, Christina brought the test reports to the doctor. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. You should probably discuss with your family if you want to keep the baby¡± The doctor looked at the youngdy before her, surmising that she must only be in her early twenties and didn¡¯t have much experience in life. Christina¡¯s eyes widened in surprise when she heard that. She wondered if her ears had deceived her. ¡°Doctor, there must be a mistake. H1-How can I be pregnant?¡± There must be a mistake. Maybe the medical staff who examined me earlier did something wrong or gave me the wrong test report. After adjusting his sses, the doctor said solemnly. ¡°Every test report here indicates you are pregnant, so there¡¯s no way it can be wrong. Think about it carefully. Have you been experiencing morning sicknesstely? A poor appetite and a bloated stomach? Also, do you often feel exhausted?¡± I do have all these symptoms! Unexpectedly, Christina found herself rejoicing inwardly when she realized she was indeed pregnant. However, the next second, she grew worried She quickly took a bottle of pills out of her bag and showed it to the doctor. ¡°But I¡¯ve been taking birth control pills all this time. Will the baby be fine?¡± Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes. She suddenly regretted taking contraceptive pills and felt like crying when she thought of the possibility of losing her child. The doctor opened the bottle, poured out some white pills, and chuckled after a careful examination. ¡°These are only vitamins, not contraceptive pills, you silly girl.¡± ¡°What? Vitamins? But I¡¯m sure I bought¡­¡± Christina picked up one of the pills and examined it closely. The imprint on the pill clearly showed that it was a vitamin tablet, but it was so faint and unnoticeable that one would easily overlook it. Could Nathaniel have changed my pills? On second thought, she doubted it since Nathaniel had promised to respect her decision. The doctor sent Christina to do an ultrasound scan, and fortunately, the fetus was fine. They even found out she was pregnant with twins. ¡°You¡¯re underweight, so you need to take some nutrition supplements. Get plenty of rest, too.¡± Later, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor with her test report and some supplements. After taking a bath, she sat on the couch and ced the report in a pretty box. The corners of her lips curled unwittingly as she imagined Nathaniel¡¯s reaction after knowing she was pregnant. I¡¯m sure Nathaniel would be ecstatic to hear that he¡¯s going to be a dad. Although she was against the idea before this, an inexplicably amazing feeling filled her when she discovered she was now a mother-to-be. That night felt like an eternity for her. After a long wait, Christina, who had dozed off, was awakened by a loud bang when the door swung open. A strong stench of alcohol wafted into the air. Nathaniel¡¯snky figure approached unsteadily. Seeing how he was staggering, Christina hurried over to support him without even bothering to put on her slippers. ¡°Why did you have so much drink, Nathaniel: She seldom saw Nathaniel drink alcohol, let alone be so inebriated. Filled with excitement, Christina picked up the box with her report and said, ¡°I have something important to tell you, Nathaniel.. Thud! A crisp sound rang out. The pink box in Christina¡¯s hand flew out andnded at the bottom of the couch. At that moment, Christina looked like a confused child. Her heart thumped wildly and almost jumped out of her throat as she looked at Nathaniel¡¯s face which was filled with hostility. ¡°What¡¯s wrong. Nathaniel?¡± The anticipation and joy from a second ago were instantly reced by fear and confusion. She was bewildered, and the grin on her face froze. It took just a second for her to experience falling straight from heaven to hell. Nathaniel threw the pile of photos in his hand at Christina and enunciated, ¡°Christina, since when did you hook up with Francis behind my back?¡± Under the dim lights, Christina could tell the two people captured in the picture were her and Francis. Every single interaction they had, from their first encounter to all those times that followed, was recorded. All those pictures were taken from misleading angles to make it seem as though the two were standing close to each other, and some even portrayed them as though they were kissing. A few photos were taken in the studio when Francis leaned on her andined that his waist hurt. ¡°This is a misunderstanding. I did not hook up with him. These photos were taken from angles that could cause misunderstandings,¡± exined Christina carnestly, grabbing the man¡¯s sleeve. Heartbroken, Nathaniel sneered, ¡°A misunderstanding? It could be a misunderstanding if there is only one photo, but there are too many photos here for this to be a misunderstanding. Does she take me as a fool? Nathaniel inched closer, put his hand on Christina¡¯s neck, and pinned her frail body against the wall. A dangerous glint shed in his eyes as he said, ¡°You were the one who told Francis about my investment, weren¡¯t you? So that he could make a fortune through me! What a crafty person you are, Christina!¡± He recalled the time when they attended the fashion show together and realized maybe it wasn¡¯t a coincidence after all. All this while, he had been kept in the dark. He wondered how long more would he be fooled if he hadn¡¯t received these photos today. Christina felt like her heart was pierced by sharp des. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she frantically tried to exin, ¡°No, it¡¯s not what you think¡­ I don¡¯t know where these photos came from, but there¡¯s nothing between Francis and me!¡± Nathaniel had always considered Francis a thorn in his flesh. Despite being half-siblings, he never thought of Francis as family. Thus, Christina could imagine and understand Nathaniel¡¯s rage when looking at these photos. ¡°I¡¯ve never been unfaithful to you!¡± Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Confined mes of anger burned in Nathaniel¡¯s chest, and his reason was clouded by anger. He didn¡¯t know if he should trust the photos or Christina¡¯s words. ¡°Let me go¡­¡± Christina was in so much despair that it felt like she was pushed to the edge of a cliff and would fall into the depths of doom the next second. Nathaniel eventually released his grip on the woman¡¯s neck when he saw her reddened face turn pale from suffocation. Without support, her frail body copsed and slumped on the carpet instantly. Christina coughed and took a while to catch her breath. Her eyes were bloodshot as she said weakly, ¡°These photos must¡¯ve been taken by someone with ill intentions¡­ At that moment, the room felt like a scorching hell to Christina. It was as though hotva covered every inch of the floor, leaving her with no way to escape. After what felt like an eternity, Nathaniel finally broke the silence by speaking emotionlessly, his expression grimmer than ever. ¡°These photos wouldn¡¯t even exist in the first ce if the two of you weren¡¯t so intimate.¡± Christina¡¯s sobs echoed in the room. The faint sound was magnified when it traveled into Nathaniel¡¯s ears. triggering an intense pain in his heart. After some time, he exited the room resolutely. Tears blurred Christina¡¯s vision. She didn¡¯t understand why Nathaniel didn¡¯t believe her when they had been together for so long. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was speeding down the empty road in his car. Eventually, he returned to thepany. His identity was too prominent and would attract unwanted attention, so he couldn¡¯t vent his emotions freely in public. As such, he could only do so in his office, behind closed doors. Nathaniel grabbed several bottles of whiskey from the wine rack. Sometimes, people drank to savor the fragrant aroma of alcohol, while others drank just to get themselves intoxicated to escape from reality. Clearly, Nathaniel was thetter. He uncapped the bottle and downed the whole bottle of whiskey without even using a ss. Why did she lie? When did they get together? She even hid Francis in her dressing room. So, all my suspicions turned out to be true. Frustration surged in his heart as if no amount of alcohol could dispel it. Just then, the door was pushed open. Madison walked in and saw Nathaniel sitting on the carpet with his back against the counter. His ck suit jacket was left at the side. One of his slender legs was bent, while empty wine bottles were scattered on the floor beside him. Nathaniel had always been a disciplined man. Under normal circumstances, he would never allow himself to get drunk. Madison could tell from his current state that the photos she had someone sent to the office anonymously in the morning had worked their magic. She walked over to Nathaniel and observed his charming countenance which was covered in a drunken reddish hue. Influenced by alcohol, he appeared to be somewhat befuddled. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mr. Hadley. Don¡¯t drink too much.¡± Then, she took the wine bottle away from his hand. In response, Nathaniel merely red at her without a word. Should I send you home, Mr. Hadley?¡± Madison asked tentatively. ¡°No¡­ Leave¡­¡± Nathaniel gave a dismissive wave before he closed his eyes. After a while, he waspletely knocked out. Madison¡¯s heart palpitated heavily as she watched Nathaniel sound asleep. The man she had fallen head over heels for was right before her. Unable to control herself, she leaned closer to Nathaniel, and the lingering scent of perfume on his body enveloped her along with the smell of alcohol, intoxicating her further. Gawking at his handsome face. Madison muttered. ¡°Why bother about Christina, Nathaniel? You are an outstanding man. Other women should be the ones doing everything they can to pursue you, not the other way around.¡± Then, she removed her coat and took out her phone to take intimate photos of the two of them together. Looking at the pictures, she was pleased with herself as a smug grin spread across her face. Christina, you don¡¯t stand a chance against me anymore, Rays of the morning sun shone into the lounge the next day, gradually illuminating Nathaniel¡¯s charming face, muscr chest, and exquisite corbones. Upon opening his eyes, he realized he was shirtless. As a sharp headache assailed him, he ced a hand on his forehead and touched something warm beside him. The thick perfume he smelled did not belong to Christina. He swiftly lifted the quilt covering him, and the moment he saw who was in bed with him, his heart sank, and he gasped in horror. Jumping off the bed at the speed of lightning, he stared at the woman on the bed in disbelief. ¡°What are you doing here, Madison?¡± Madison¡¯s heart leaped to her throat as she perceived Nathaniel¡¯s reaction. Stammering, she exined, ¡°Mr. Hadley, you¡­ you were drunkst night and threw up all over yourself. Then, you asked me to stay with you¡­ Nathaniel scrutinized Madison and was relieved to see that though her clothes appeared wrinkled, she was still wearing thein neatly, which indicated that they didn¡¯t do anything out of linest night. After calming down, he said coldly, ¡°Leave.¡± Wearing a somewhat peculiar expression, Madison got out of bed, smoothened her clothes, and left the lounge. An assistant who came to deliver documents bumped into Madison when thetter opened the door. The assistant¡¯s eyes widened in shock when she saw Madisoning out of the CEO¡¯s lounge looking disheveled. There were even wine bottles lying around on the floor. Everything she saw overturned Nathaniel¡¯s image in her heart. ¡°Put the documents down and leave,¡± Madison said indifferently. ¡°Okay.¡± The assistant returned to her senses and left after dropping off the documents. After a change of clothes, Madison returned to the office and cleaned up the wine bottles. She even sprayed the room with an air freshener to cover the reeking smell of alcohol. Soon, Nathaniel stepped out of the lounge. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. He was dressed in formal attire, and his short hair wasbed neatly with a few strands of bangs scattered on his forehead. Taking a seat on his ck chair, he looked dejected. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we have a project to discuss in Horbah. Should I postpone it?¡± Madison asked, concerned ¡°No. We will do as nned.¡± At first, Madison was worried he would return to Christina. Now that he had agreed to go to Horbah, she was delighted. ¡°Understood.¡± Meanwhile, at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina woke up feeling cold. She opened her eyes only to find that her eyelids were so swollen that she could barely open them. Looking at the empty bed, she felt like a lost little sailboat, drifting aimlessly on the ocean. After changing into a set of fresh clothes, she walked out of the room but was blocked by the bodyguards at the door. With furrowed brows, Christina showed displeasure on her face. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley instructed us not to let you leave without his permission,¡± the bodyguard truthfully replied. Hearing that, Christina widened her eyes in disbelief. ¡°Who gave him the right to confine me?¡± The two bodyguards froze and fell silent. They could not do anything except carry out the orders given to them. Enraged, Christina returned to her bedroom. She took out her phone and called Nathaniel, but every single one of her calls went straight to voicemail. Clearly, he was avoiding her calls on purpose. Without a choice, Christina left him a voicemail. Can we talk about this, Nathaniel? Call me. We¡¯ve been together for so long. Why don¡¯t you trust me?¡± hen, Christina hung up and sat helplessly on the couch in a daze, waiting for him to call back. The housekeepers delivered meals to her door on time for two consecutive days, but Christina ate very little. Nathaniel had rejected all her phone calls no matter how many times she called him. On the third day, she could not take it anymore and started smashing everything in the room that she could get her hands on. Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Evelyn On The Verge Of Death Christina grew frustrated and agitated after suppressing her feelings for three days straight. Raymond felt sorry for her upon entering the room with her lunch and seeing her skinny build. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, it¡¯s time for lunch.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not eating. Take it away.¡± Christina hadn¡¯t eaten anything sincest night, She couldn¡¯t be confined to her room all the time. There were still a lot of things that she needed to deal with ¡°Mrs. Hadley, please don¡¯t be angry. Mr. Hadley will let you out once he¡¯s no longer angry,¡± consoled Raymond earnestly. Once he¡¯s no longer angry? I am not his pet! Oh, so now I need his permission to be taken for a stroll outside? Christina¡¯s gaze darkened as she lifted her hand and knocked over the tray of food before her. Raymond was startled when the dishes fell to the floor, spilling everywhere. ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡­ I¡¯ll prepare a new set for you.¡± Christina¡¯s expression clouded over. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. I will still knock it over no matter how many times you bring me a new set.¡± ¡°But Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Feeling helpless, Raymond left after cleaning up the floor. As soon as he went downstairs, he immediately made a phone call. It went through quickly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley refuses to eat and got so skinny. Why don¡¯t you stop confining her?¡± he said, concerned about Christina¡¯s condition. Stop confining her? So that she can go out and meet Francis? ¡°Let her starve, then Nathaniel lowered his gaze expressionlessly, his demeanor no different from his previous cold and arrogant self. On top of that, those eyes of his had lost their brilliance. ¡°But-¡± Before Raymond could say anything further, Nathaniel hung up on him. Nathaniel didn¡¯t return to Scenic Garden Manor although he was back from his business trip to Horbah. He sent Sebastian to buy him some new clothes and toiletries while questioning himself why he refused to go back. In the end, he concluded that he was perhaps afraid that he would relent upon seeing Christina¡¯s innocent, puppy-dog eyes. However, Nathaniel hated Francis the most. Francis had stolen his father away from him when he was still young, and now, the former even set his sights on Christina. The mere thought of that once again triggered mes of resentment which had already died down. After knocking on the door, Sebastian entered and asked in a low voice, ¡°Mr. Hadley, you have an appointment tonight. Are you going?¡± ¡°Yes. Bring me the proposed n of Wander Garden,¡± Nathaniel said tonelessly as if he were an emotionless robot. ¡°That¡¯s next week¡¯s work. It¡¯s not urgent, so you don¡¯t need to do it now. You haven¡¯t been back to Scenic Garden Manor for several days. Shall I get the driver to send you back to rest?¡± Sebastian asked cautiously. Nathaniel spared him a cold nce. ¡°Since when do I need you to arrange my schedule for me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean. Then¡­ I¡¯ll take my leave first.¡± Sebastian trotted away in a hurry, not wanting to get himself in trouble. Although Nathaniel didn¡¯t say anything. Sebastian could still sense the slight changes in his emotions. Mr. Hadley has been particrly grumpytely, so much so that the atmosphere in the office is tense every day. When the employees in thepany heard that the project manager was sacked because of a minor mistake, they began walking on eggshells. The executives who were in charge of sending the reports to Nathaniel were especially careful, afraid that they would be fired for the same reason. Although the atmosphere in thepany was gloomy, that didn¡¯t stop the rumors from spreading. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. The assistant told her colleagues about what she saw at the office that morning, and soon, rumors about Nathaniel and Madison being in a rtionship began spreading like wildfire. Though the department executives tried to stop everyone from spreading baseless rumors, the situation still spiraled out of control. The news soon reached Madison¡¯s ears. She was delighted upon seeing everyone addressing her as ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡± and singing her praises in the group chat. Some evenmented that she must¡¯ve already been in a rtionship with Nathaniel since a long time ago and was merely keeping a low profile instead of publicizing it. Madison exited the group chat interface, feeling satisfied. In fact, she had purposely asked the assistant to send the documents to the office at that particr time that morning so that thetter could witness that scene. Her purpose was to use these people to spread rumors about her dating Nathaniel, Right then, her phone pinged. It was a message that read: Come to the pub downstairs. Madison instantly did as told without a single ounce of hesitation. After all, she was well aware that the person who sent her the message woulde looking for her in the office even if she didn¡¯t go to meet him. She went to the pub nearby Hadley Corporation. There was hardly anyone inside during working hours. As soon as she entered one of the private rooms, a tall andnky figure stormed toward her angrily. ¡°Madison, why did you steal my photos and what did you do with them?¡± Francis asked coldly. Since you have such a wonderful collection of photos, you should share them with others instead of keeping them to yourself! I took it upon myself to share them with Nathaniel. He loves them!¡± She purposely emphasized the word ¡°loves.¡± Francis flew into a rage at once. ¡°Who told you to do that? Are you crazy?¡± Nathaniel hated him to the core, so he was sure Nathaniel would take his anger out on Christina upon seeing those photos. Looking at how flustered he was, Madison was filled with rage and jealousy. Why does everyone care so much about Christina? Madison shoved him and asked, ¡°Why are you angry? Isn¡¯t this what you want? Didn¡¯t you keep so many photos of you and Christina just to anger Nathaniel? You have achieved your goal, so why are you interrogating me? Don¡¯t tell me you have fallen in love with Christina!¡± Francis was stumped by Madison¡¯s question. He had to admit that initially, his purpose for approaching Christina was to deal with Nathaniel, but following their interactions, he found himself falling in love with the pure, innocent, and sincere young Woman. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to hurt Christina. However, now that things hade to that point, there was nothing he could do to salvage the situation. Clenching his fists, Francis finally broke the prolonged silence. ¡°You told me that you would give me Hadley Corporation¡¯s secrets if I helped you achieve your goal.¡± Since they were in the same boat, it was only natural for Madison to contribute now that Francis had done his part. Madison took out a portable hard drive from her bag and said, ¡°From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Let¡¯s not get in touch unless absolutely necessary.¡± After saying that, she walked out of the pub without looking back. Francis tightened his grip on the hard drive. There¡¯s no turning back now. Christina was already frail to begin with, and her stubborn act of starving herself only served to make things worse. Initially, she was nning on giving Nathaniel the silent treatment to see who would give in first, but if she continued doing so, she would affect the babies in her tumm The thought of Nathaniel ignoring herpletely these few days made her heart ache as though it was stabbed by daggers. Every ounce of her being was filled with anger and resentment. Is he really not going to care about me? How can he be so heartless? Right then, her phone rang. It was a call from the hospital. Ms. Steele, your grandmother¡¯s condition is deteriorating! Her life may be in danger. Please hurry over to the hospital right now! This might be thest time you see her!¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank. Panicking, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be there right away!¡± As soon as the call ended, she could no longer keep herself calm. A wave of indescribably intense emotions surged up in her heart, and she was having trouble breathing. Raising her hand, she smashed the closed door forcefully as if she had a deep-seated grudge against it. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Blooming Red Flower Hearing themotion, Raymond immediately rushed into the room with the housekeepers. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Christina¡¯s face was wet with tears. ¡°I need to go to the hospital¡­ My grandmother is dying!¡± It was as if a huge boulder was weighing down on her heart, suffocating her. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll call Mr. Hadley now. Raymond took out his phone nervously, wanting to ask Nathaniel for instructions. ¡°Do you not perceive the gravity of the situation? Why are you still thinking of calling Nathaniel? Does that mean I can¡¯t leave without his approval?¡± Christina was bent out of shape. Her sparkly eyes had lost their brightness and were currently filled with rage. Raymond was troubled. They were working for Nathaniel, so they dared not go against his words. Christina snatched the phone over and dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. However, nobody answered the call. Meanwhile, Nathaniel was in his office. It had been almost a week since hest talked to Christina. The thought of her adorable face inevitably swayed his resolution. At the end of the day, he still needed to deal with the issue no matter what. All of a sudden, his phone pinged, and a piece of trending news popped up on the screen. Pausing for a moment, he clicked into Twitter. What he saw made his blood run cold. Francis had posted a picture of himself hugging a woman on his official Twitter ount with a caption that read: Pleasee to my side. No matter what happens. I¡¯ll keep you protected. That post of his caused chaos in an instant, and in less than a day, the number of views had hit tens of millions. Theizens erupted into a heated discussion upon finding out that their prince charming had gotten a girlfriend, and they couldn¡¯t stop guessing the identity of the lucky woman. The reporters naturally wanted to take advantage of the trending topic. They tried looking for any information in the photo regarding the woman¡¯s identity but to no avail. Francis used his body to cover the woman¡¯s face in the photo, and only her petite figure could be seen. Nevertheless, that photo looked familiar to Nathaniel. It was one of the photos of Francis and Christina that he received. I can¡¯t believe Francis decided to publicize the matter after it was exposed! Nathaniel had never been so furious in his entire life. All this while, he had been yed like a fool by the person he hated the most and the woman he loved the most. His blood was boiling, and he was on the verge of losing control. If he had a knife at that moment, he would have stabbed it into Francis body without a hint of hesitation. Suddenly, his phone rang. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley¡¯s grandmother is dying in the hospital. She wants to head out¡­¡± Raymond said nervously. Nathaniel let out a sarcastic snort. His heart hurt so much that he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. She¡¯s going to meet Francis after seeing the news on Twitter, huh? How dare she use her grandmother¡¯s illness as an excuse! She¡¯s been lying to me all this while! How can I possibly trust her? ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you there?¡± Raymond asked. ¡°Close the door. Make sure she doesn¡¯t leave the bedroom, or you¡¯ll be in trouble!¡° His frosty voice traveled through the speaker before the call abruptly ended. The temperature in the quiet bedroom seemed to have dropped below freezing point. Nathaniel¡¯s words resembled a knife that pierced through her heart, making her bleed profusely. Refusing to give up, she took out her phone and called Nathaniel again. However, his phone had been switched off. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you could try asking the hospital to give Mr. Hadley a call. He will surely.. Christina was disheartened. What¡¯s the use of that? His phone is turned off. The calls won¡¯t go through. ¡°I¡¯m going out! Move aside! I want to go and see my grandmother!¡± Christina ran in the direction of the entrance. Raymond and the housekeepers chased after her but didn¡¯t stop her, for they were worried they might end up hurting her inadvertently. Moreover, they believed Christina wouldn¡¯t lie about her loved ones safety just to get out of the house. However, she was stopped by the bodyguards when she ran out of the corridor. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you can¡¯t leave without permission from Mr. Hadley.¡± The bodyguard blocked her. Christina iled her limbs about and kicked the bodyguards, but her amateurish attacks were useless. She was soon subdued by them. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, please don¡¯t give us a hard time. The bodyguards were helpless. They didn¡¯t want to do that to her, but they didn¡¯t have a choice. After struggling a few times, she realized that she was no match for these burly men at all. Desperately, she pleaded, ¡°My grandmother is on the verge of death. Please, let me out to see her¡­ Thest time she had an emotional breakdown was when her grandmother was in the operating room. However, no matter what she said, they still locked her back inside the room. Raymond stood by the door anxiously, but he couldn¡¯t do anything to help Christina. Christina pounded the door with her hand, wanting nothing more than to get rid of this annoying obstacle before her. However, there was nothing she could do except fume. Grabbing whatever she could, she threw it at the door in an attempt to break it down. ¡°Open the door. Open it!¡± s, the door didn¡¯t budge despite her efforts. Christina didn¡¯t stop smashing things until she was drained of all energy. Her right hand went numb and 1 drooped by the side as she flumped on the floor. She felt so alone, as if she were the only person on the. Only then did she realize how fragile one¡¯s heart could be. All it took was one blow to make it break. She curled up in a corner. The helplessness and resentment she was experiencing engulfed her whole as tears coursed down her face non-stop until she no longer had the energy to cry. ¡°Ms. Steele, are youing?¡± ¡°Ms. Steele, we tried our best, but your grandma didn¡¯t make it¡­¡± ¡°Are you there, Ms, Steele?¡± Silence ensued in the room. When Raymond pushed open the bedroom door the next morning, he couldn¡¯t help sighing upon seeing the broken items scattered across the floor. How did Mr. and Mrs. Hadley end up like this? Christina, d in a white dress with her fair ankles exposed, was curling in the corner of the room. Her face was covered in tear stains, making it obvious that she had cried herself to sleep. The housekeeper carefully approached her with the food. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, it¡¯s time to eat.¡± Thump! The hot dishes spilled all over the floor as the tray was knocked over. Startled, the housekeeper took several steps back. ¡°Get lost! All of you!¡± All the agony and sorrow that slipped into slumber along with her seemed to have awakened the moment she opened her eyes and began consuming her. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, don¡¯t be angry. Mr. Hadley¡­ Raymond tried to put in some good words for Nathaniel but didn¡¯t quite know what to say. It¡¯s reasonable for Mrs. Hadley to be angry. After all, that was herst chance to see her grandmother¡­ At that moment, leaving Scenic Garden Manor was the only thing on Christina¡¯s mind. Though she didn¡¯t manage to see her grandmother for the veryst time, she needed to deal with her grandmother¡¯s funeral affairs. It would be impossible for her to escape relying on her physical strength. All of a sudden, a cruel glint shed across her frosty eyes. Looks like I have no choice but to give it a shot! Pushing the housekeeper away, she picked up the ss shard on the floor and sliced her wrist with it. Fresh blood dripped from her wrist to the floor, forming a tiny puddle that resembled a blooming red flower. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Up To You Whether To Believe Or Not Mrs. Hadley, what are you doing? Don¡¯t harm yourself!¡± Raymond was scared out of his wits. Pulling out is handkerchief, he frantically used it to apply pressure to her wound. However, the cut was too deep. A handkerchief simply wasn¡¯t enough to stop the blood. As blood continued seeping out from her wound, her figure which was already as thin as a rake swayed unsteadily, seemingly ready to copse any time. ¡°Get out! Stop acting like you all care about me! Whether I am dead or alive has nothing to do with you all!¡± At that moment, it dawned upon Christina that humans would lose their desire to live whenever they experienced emotional breakdowns. She was wallowing in utter despair and exhaustion. Christina shoved both Raymond and the housekeeper away. Afraid that they would end up hurting Christina, they backed away and got pushed out of the room. Following a loud thud, Christina locked herself in the room. The housekeeper was shaking like a leaf. She asked tearfully, ¡°What should we do? Mrs. Hadley¡¯s hand is still bleeding.¡± ¡°Call Mr. Hadley. Quick!¡± The atmosphere in the conference room was heavy. Cold sweat covered the forehead of the finance director, who was presenting the annual report. Nobody in the room dared to make a single sound. Everyone present wore solemn expressions, especially Nathaniel, who was in the main seat. The man¡¯s face appeared slightly gaunt after days of tireless working, making his distinctive features stand out even more. His rigid jawline gave off an aloof aura that sent chills down people¡¯s spines. Nathaniel had been in a bad mood for the past week. The HR department would issue notices from time to time, announcing that certain executives had been fired. All the employees panicked. Right then, someone¡¯s phone rang. Everyone exchanged nces in fear. Which idiot didn¡¯t turn off his phone during a meeting? Does he have a death wish? Just as everyone was confused, the man sitting in the main seat took out his phone and answered it. ¡°Mr. Hadley, something terrible has happened! Mrs. Hadley cut her wrist out of anger and locked herself in the room. There is blood everywhere¡­¡± Raymond was so anxious that he couldn¡¯t even speak properly. Nathaniel frowned. No matter how angry he was, he couldn¡¯t possibly sit still when he heard that Christina was in danger. He shot up from his seat at once and headed toward the door of the conference room without saying anything else. Madison chased after him. ¡°Mr. Hadley, where are you going? We are still a meeting. In the past few days, Nathaniel kept himself busy with work and ignored Christina. Madison was overjoyed, thinking that Nathaniel would no longer care about Christina now that his phobia toward women was cured. Little did she expect that he would walk away like that as soon as he heard Christina was in trouble. Nathaniel turned around and shot daggers at her. ¡°You¡¯re in no position to meddle in my affairs.¡± After saying that, he left. Everyone in the conference room turned to look at Madison with contempt. Soon, they began murmuring among themselves. ¡°Didn¡¯t the rumors say that Mr. Hadley is having an affair with Ms. Taggart recently? ¡°But he¡¯s treating her like they¡¯re strangers.¡± ¡°Compared to how Mr. Hadley treats Mrs. Hadley, it seems like his rtionship with Ms. Taggart is just that of a superior and a subordinate.¡± ¡°I think the rumors are fake. Mrs. Hadley is the only apple of Mr. Hadley¡¯s eyes.¡± Madison was rendered speechless. Those words of mockery hurt her like arrows that prated her heart. Madison was so angry that her eyes turned red. Why does Mr. Hadley still care about someone who has betrayed him? Nathaniel pushed open the door to the master bedroom upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor. The golden rays of sunlight perked in through the window and shone on Christina, who was lying on the bed, Her face was pale, and there was a deep gash on her left wrist. The man inhaled sharply, feeling as if his heart had been mutted. Christina betrayed me first. Why am I in so much pain when I see her injured? Nathaniel opened the first aid kit and tended to her wound cautiously. He could imagine how desperate. she was when he saw the deep cut on her wrist. This is ridiculous. She was the one who betrayed me first. Why does it seem like I¡¯m the one at fault Francis sure knows how to hit me where it hurts. He seeds in Instead of leaving after dressing her wound, he sat by the side of the bed and fixed his gaze on her pale Lace. To think that I love her so much, and this is what I get? How ridiculous, As time ticked by, neither Christina nor Nathaniel moved. After what felt like an eternity, the figure on the bed finally moved When Christina opened her eyes, she saw that her wrist was bandaged, but her wound was still aching. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. However, the pain in her wrist was nothingpared to the pain in her heart. You¡¯re awake. I thought you were dead.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was as cold as ice. Christina couldn¡¯t muster any energy. Looking at the man¡¯s frosty countenance, she was surprised by how calm she was. She thought she would wail in despair and lunge at Nathaniel, questioning him why he was so heartless. However, never in her wildest dreams did she expect herself to remainpletely unfazed. Looks like it¡¯s true that a heart filled with despair would stop beating. Regaining herposure. Christina remembered that she still needed to head to the hospital. She struggled to sit up and forced out the words. ¡°I want to go out.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was cold as a surge of anger welled up in him. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere without my permission.¡± ¡°You have no right to confine me.¡± A pang of anger finally rippled Christina¡¯s calm heart, but soon, she could feel that her body was just too weak for her to do anything. Nathaniel reached out to grab her by the cor and easily overpowered her. Despite so, he had no intention to go easy on her. His tone growing colder by the second, he asked, ¡°Let you out so that you can be together with Francis?¡± Dream on! Christina couldn¡¯t understand why he would believe those misleading photos. They were clearly taken from suggestive angles to create confusion. In actuality, she wasn¡¯t even that intimate with Francis, Lowering her eyes, she asked coldly. ¡°You don¡¯t trust me? Nathaniel showed her the Twitter post that Francis had published. ¡°Fine, I believe that the photos are fake, But what about Francis post? If there is nothing between you and Francis, why did he publicize his rtionship with you?¡± Staring at the exceptionally high number of likes and retweets for that post, Christina fell into despair. Why is everyone driving me into a corner? Tears flowed down her cheeks. Looking at Nathaniel seriously, she enunciated every single word with sincerity. ¡°Throughout the time we¡¯ve been together, my feelings for you have always been true. I¡¯ve never once betrayed you. It¡¯s up to you whether to believe it or not!¡± Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Unforgivable Her soft, yet determined voice left Nathaniel stunned, but soon, his anger quickly overtook his rationality, ¡°Now that things havee to this, do you think I will believe in your words and pretend nothing has ever happened?¡± He then grabbed Christina¡¯s jaw with his hand, forcing her to lift her head. Her glimmering eyes beneath her fluttering eyshes made her look somewhat piteous. Staring at her delicate face, Nathaniel spoke after a brief pause. ¡°You can¡¯t afford to bear the consequences of fooling me, Christina!¡± Christina wanted nothing more than to rip those photos to shreds. Even though her heart was filled with hatred, she was too exhausted to do anything about it. ¡°Either you let me go, or just strangle me to death!¡± She would not have gone against Nathaniel like that if she had not been forced into a corner. A frosty and menacing look surfaced in his eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t let you go, nor will I let you die.¡± This woman sure doesn¡¯t know how to back down, huh? She used to love putting on an innocent and adorable act before me, but now that her true colors have been exposed, she doesn¡¯t even bother pretending anymore. How ridiculous! ¡°Let me go, Nathaniel¡­¡± Christina coughed as Nathaniel unknowingly tightened his grip on her neck, almost suffocating her. He hastily released her and got up to leave, worried that he might do something unthinkable to her if he lingered there any longer. Nathaniel didn¡¯t intend to hurt Christina, but he couldn¡¯t restrain himself from overthinking whenever he saw her face. The door mmed shut,pletely isting the bedroom from the outside world. Christina inhaled sharply and copsed limply on the bed as if wholly drained of all strength. Tears streamed quietly down her face Despite the immense pain in her heart, she was not hysterical or enraged. Instead, she merely cried in silence. It was as if her heart had been frozen, devoid of any emotion. She eventually fell asleep in a daze, but there seemed to be an invisible weight crushing her heart, causing her utter difort. In her dream, she was running across a vast desert when a baby¡¯s voice rang in her car. ¡°Mommy, please stop running. I¡¯m so hungry. I have no more strength. Don¡¯t cry, Mommy. I will feel sad 100,¡± Meanwhile, Nathaniel stayed the night in his study. The next morning, he freshened up and changed into a crisp, clean suit, looking dashing and regal. Even so, his eyes were filled with thick gloominess that could never be dispelled. As he approached the master bedroom, he nced at it with an inexplicable expression. At that moment, Raymond and the housekeeper brought some breakfast over and asked, ¡°Would you like to have some breakfast, Mr. Hadley?¡± Nathaniel retracted his gaze and replied, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°As a servant, I know it¡¯s not my ce to pry, but married couples ought to bemitted to love and respect for one another. Regardless of what happened, you should not hold a grudge against Mrs. Hadley.¡± Raymond¡¯s voice was soft and meek, but he sincerely hoped the both of them could reconcile. Upon hearing Raymond¡¯s words, Nathaniel frowned. After a brief silence, he said, ¡°Get the bodyguards to guard the main entrance, and let here out from the room.¡± With that, he turned around and went downstairs. Raymond let out a soft sigh and led the housekeeper into the master bedroom. Despite having been cleaned once, the room appeared cold and empty, without its previous sense of comfort and coziness. The housekeeper walked toward the bed. The room was brightly lit, which made the tear stains on Christina¡¯s apparent ¡°It¡¯s time for breakfast, Mrs. Hadley,¡± said the housekeeper, gently waking Christina ¡®up. Christina opened her bloodshot eyes in response. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and she looked extremely weak. She seemed to have heard her children calling out to herst night in her dream and realized that her bad mood would also affect the fetus. The dream was too surreal, as she could still feel that her eyshes were wet with tears. It¡¯s said that emotional instability during pregnancy will affect the development of the baby in the womb. The body must¡¯ve issued a warning to me because I¡¯ve been going through a lot of emotional turmoil lately. A hint of concern filled Christina¡¯s eyes as she ced her hand on her stomach. I can¡¯t go on like this. I must be strong for my babies! As soon as Christina lifted her hand, the housekeeper hurriedly stepped back, assuming that Christina would once again smack the tray of food out of her hands. However, Christina simply took the food tray from the housekeeper and walked toward the coffee table before slowly eating her breakfast. Raymond was stunned upon seeing that. As he watched Christina eat her food calmly, he could not believe this was the very same woman who was screaming hystericallyst night. It was eerie how calm and reserved Christina seemed right now. ¡°A-Are you all right, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Her odd behavior unsettled Raymond and made his heart ache at the same time. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I want protein dishes for lunch.¡± Her health was deteriorating since she hadn¡¯t been eating properly for a whole week. The look in Christina¡¯s eyes was devoid of emotions. She waspletely apathetic after experiencing utter disappointment. The only thing on her mind right then was to replenish her strength so that she could leave Scenic Garden Manor. However, Raymond thought she had thought things through. ¡°All right, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll have the chef prepare more dishes for lunch.¡± Christina said nothing as she focused on finishing her breakfast. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has permitted you to remain in the courtyard, but you¡¯re not allowed to leave the house.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Raymond was greatly relieved to see that she had calmed down. After finishing her breakfast, Christina sat down on the couch and flipped through the news. Francis¡¯ tweet was still trending on Twitter. Although countless people tried to find out who the woman in the photos was, no one was able to identify her. Christina found the news andments utterly ridiculous. Just then, her phone rang. ¡°How are you feeling, Christina? D-Did he give you a hard time?¡± Francis¡¯ voice sounded deep. For the past week, he had made numerous phone calls to Christina, but her phone had always been left unanswered.Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Christina¡¯s tone was indifferent. ¡°What he did to me is nothingpared to what you did.¡± The photos of us together, and the confession on Twitter. He is just using me as leverage to deal with Nathaniel, isn¡¯t he? To think that I¡¯ve always treated Fruncis like a friend. I should¡¯ve heeded Nathaniel¡¯s words and kept my distance from him. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you on purpose, Christina¡­¡± Francis, too, was furious when he learned Madison had stolen his photos and given them to Nathaniel. However, the damage had already been done, and he couldn¡¯t turn things around anymore. Christina was not in the mood to determine who was at fault. Things had already happened, so it was toote for him to say anything. Since what he said wouldn¡¯t be able to turn back time, he should just save his breath. ¡°As far as your apology goes, my answer is that I cannot forgive you. I¡¯m hanging up now.¡± Francis felt as if his heart had been stabbed with a knife when he heard her cold rejection. ¡°I will help you with whatever you ask for, Christina.¡± Christina froze for a moment before hanging up the call. She forced herself to stop being emotional for the sake of the babies in her womb. After all, she wouldn¡¯t want her children¡¯s health to be affected by her mood swings. Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Humiliate It had already been almost a week, yet Nathaniel had not returned to Scenic Garden Manor. After everything, things seemed to have returned to its peaceful state. Christina asked Rayne to stop epting jobs, and she felt unsure about the future. She tried her best to avoid negative thoughts while leading a repetitive daily routine. Raymond sent Nathaniel the photos he secretly took of Christina. The photos showed Christina sitting and sunbathing in the front yard, taking walks, drawing, and listening to music. She seemed to have lost her former liveliness and innocence, though. Her eyes, especially, seemed clouded and devoid of light. Christina ate her breakfast in the dining room, wearing a simple white dress. The sound of someone striding in high heels came from the outside. ¡°Oh, how pitiful. Are you having breakfast alone?¡± Jewel took pleasure in her misfortune, looking at Christina like looking at a loser. Christina nced at hernguidly and continued eating her breakfast. Jewel felt as if she had just punched into nothing as she did not receive the response she expected. ¡°I heard. Nathaniel hasn¡¯t been back for almost a week. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being shameless by continuing to remain here? A woman like you who likes flirting around only ruins the reputation of the Hadley family! You continue to involve yourself with Francis despite knowing how much Nathaniel despises him.¡± Christina remained unfazed in the face of Jewel¡¯s usations. She appeared as cool as an icyke and did not even bat an eye. ¡°Are you done speaking? Get out if you¡¯re done.¡± Christina gently wiped the corner of her mouth and stood up. Jewel was infuriated from seeing her unaffected look. After all, she came prepared that day, and her goal was to see Christina devastated and miserable. Jewel grabbed Christina, who was about to head upstairs. She mocked. ¡°Do you know why Nathaniel keeps you by his side?¡± Christina stiffened. Looking up, she met Jewel¡¯s scornful look. Christina felt like she was kept in the dark, and all she could hear was the mockery of others, but she did not know what was being said. ¡°What do you want to say?¡± Jewel grew smug upon seeing Christina getting emotional. ¡°Nathaniel can¡¯t get close to women since a long time ago. He¡¯ll have an allergic reaction all over his body whening into contact with women, his life would even be in danger. Strangely, his allergy doesn¡¯t act up when he touches you. Madison has been carrying this burden for years and covering up for Nathaniel to not let anyone find out about this secret.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she was thunderstruck. Nathaniel can¡¯t go near women? Memories from the past gradually shed across her mind. Christina recalled when Nathaniel was sent to the hospital after being touched by a peacock. There were no other women around Nathaniel apart from her and Madison. Nathaniel was very cautious in his interactions with other women, even in mandatory social settings. Oh, it seems like there was a reason for that¡­ ¡°However, Nathaniel¡¯s condition has improved recently. There isn¡¯t any allergy reaction when he touches women now.¡± Jewel then shoved her hard. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t you understand? It¡¯s time for you to leave!¡± Christina staggered a step back, and she held the handle of the stairs to support herself. She knew nothing about this even though they had lived together for so long. The feeling of being deceived and tricked began to emerge in her mind. It felt as if a dagger was poking a hole in her heart, causing blood to ooze out. Jewel got closer to her and continued in a grim tone, ¡°Nathaniel only chose to be with you because he had no other option, but he has other options other than you now. He can easily get women with looks like yours.¡± Christina felt a burning sensation in her nose, and her eyes instantly reddened. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. You¡¯re making things up!¡± Jewel unlocked her phone and erged a photo for Christina to see. Nathaniel and Madison were shown lying on a bed in the office. Nathaniel¡¯s upper body was covered with a sheet, and Madison was leaning on his shoulder. It did not take much imagination to piece together what was going on between theng from the scene. Christina¡¯s face was instantly drained of all colors. Her chest felt like a heavy stone was crushing against it, making it difficult to breathe. Christina felt deceived, and Jewel even humiliated her like a fool. ¡°I can send it to your phone so you can take a good look at it if you didn¡¯t see it clearly.¡± Jewel beamed as if she was unting some kind of trophy. The worse Christina felt, the happier Jewel was. ¡°Madison and Nathaniel have always been a match made in heaven. It¡¯s not like it has to be you now that Nathaniel has recuperated.¡± Jewel drew closer to Christina¡¯s pale face, and she sneered mockingly, ¡°You were just a temporary substitute for Nathaniel, and you¡¯ll be abandoned when you have no value.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Christina suddenly found the strength to push Jewel forcefully away. I want her to shut up! It¡¯s so revolting to be humiliated like this. Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let her tears roll down her cheeks in front of this woman, who was degrading her, Christina turned and went upstairs quickly, in hopes that she could use some sort of magic to disappear and never return. After being startled, Jewel snapped out of her daze. I was actually shoved to the ground by this frail woman. I guess her usual weak demeanor was all an act. It¡¯s so fun to see Christina in such a distraught state! This incident would always remain an issue between them, regardless of whether Nathaniel would be with Christina in the future. Though Christina¡¯s bedroom door was tightly shut, it could only shut out the light and not the pain. She was leaning against the cold wall. No one could see her expression at this moment, but her expression was exposing her true emotions. Why did Nathaniel hide this from me? Was I only Nathaniel¡¯s temporary stand-in when he had no other option all along? Christina¡¯s throat grew hoarse from weeping, and she cried to the point where she could not even make a sound. Her palmnded on her lower abdomen. I¡¯m sorry, my child. I don¡¯t want to cry, but I¡¯m feeling really terrible. You¡¯ll understand me, won¡¯t you? Christina fell asleep on the carpet after exhausting herself from crying. She was awakened by the cold the next morning. Her head was spinning as she woke up, and she felt ufortable. Christina had a feeling that she had caught a cold. She forced herself to stand up, and she took out a thermometer to measure her body temperature. Her condition was not terrible. After all, there were no other symptoms aside from feeling a bit dizzy. The maid who brought breakfast into the room saw Christina using the thermometer. She took it over and eximed, ¡°Oh my. Mrs. Hadley, you have just recovered. Getting upset is making your condition worse. You can eat your breakfast first, and I¡¯ll get the doctor for you.¡± Christina stopped her. ¡°No need.¡± ¡¤ Nathaniel would know she was pregnant if she called for the doctor. Moreover, she could not take any medication at the moment. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Divorce After breakfast, Christina drank a few sses of warm water so that she would sweat. She returned to her bed and quickly fell asleep. In her bleary state, she felt a warm palm on her check. She mumbled something under her breath and opened her eyes. Nathaniel was sitting by the bed. He had removed his suit jacket, and Christina could tell he had lost some weight in his white shirt. He looked as though he hadn¡¯t slept for a while because of his poorplexion. The dark circles under his eyes gave him a mncholic look. His gaze was gentle. ¡°You¡¯re awake. Raymond said you were unwilling to see the doctor. How can you treat your body so poorly?¡± Hearing his worried voice, which she had not heard in an entire week, left Christina with a strange feeling. She lowered her head, hiding her expression. The atmosphere became awkward as she remained silent. Nathaniel felt a pang of difort when he saw her cold expression. ¡°Christina, I know you didn¡¯t lie that day. I have already handled your grandmother¡¯s matters and have chosen a good ce for her to rest in peace.¡± After calming down in the past few days, he had sent Sebastian to the hospital to check on the situation. Christina¡¯s grandmother had passed away that night. He felt guilty for not letting Christina see her grandmother for thest time. Therefore, he was willing to humble himself and give in to show that he was regretful. Christina stared at him coldly and retorted, ¡°Rest in peace? When she was in the most pain and wanted to see her granddaughter, she could only stare at the white walls as she drew her final breath. Do you think she can rest in peace?¡± Christina¡¯s heart started pounding hard when she thought of Evelyn. However, she felt a pang of stabbing pain with each heartbeat. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress her emotions. ¡°Leave. I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Her voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotions. Christina didn¡¯t care whether Nathaniel went to find Madison or other women. She just didn¡¯t want him to disturb her anymore. ¡°Christina, I know this is my fault, but you can¡¯t me me. If it weren¡¯t for the photos with Francis¡­¡± When Nathaniel brought up the matter of the photos, he became emotional again, and his eyes reddened. He tried to suppress his emotions and grabbed Christina¡¯s hands. Then, he uttered patiently. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the past anymore. Let¡¯s turn the page on these matters and not bring them up again. Can we start over?¡± He was used to being in control, so it was rare for him to behave like this. Nathaniel was willing to forget Francis matter as long as Christina didn¡¯t contact thetter in the future. The photo Christina saw on Jewel¡¯s phone yesterday shed across the former¡¯s mind. The image of Nathaniel and Madison lying together sent a pang of pain into Christina¡¯s heart. She felt heartbroken and betrayed. Perhaps the pain would only disappear after being deeply hurt. She recalled how they used to bicker like a couple deeply in love. They had never crossed the line, even when they had conflicts. She was utterly disappointed and exhausted from all the lies and betrayals. Christina remained silent for a long time before calmly saying. ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± Even though her voice wasn¡¯t loud, it was eerily clear in the silent atmosphere. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Nathaniel clenched his fists as an unruly tide of anguish overwhelmed his reason. A weight settled in his chest, and he grabbed her shoulders. ¡°Christina, do you know what you¡¯re saying? Christina tried to avoid his touch. However, she couldn¡¯t break free from his grasp. She could only turn away to not look at him. Nathaniel noticed Christina¡¯s evasive expression, and his heart clenched in pain. The woman who acted adorably in front of him was gone. He couldn¡¯t believe the woman who once loved him so much would make such a request. Nathaniel lifted his head to reveal his cruel and cold expression. Even though he knew it wasn¡¯t wise to say such impulsive words, he couldn¡¯t control himself from saying. ¡°Are you asking for a divorce so that you can get together with Francis?¡± Upon hearing his words, Christina was disappointed. Didn¡¯t he just mention he was willing to start over? Yet, he¡¯s the one bringing this matter up again. She pushed Nathaniel¡¯s hands away and looked at him indifferently. ¡°You can touch other women now. Why are you refusing to let me go?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes widened as he immediately understood what she was implying. ¡°Who told you?¡± Who dared to reveal my secret to Christina behind my back? Christina¡¯s expression darkened as she replied, ¡°Jewel. It was your beloved cousin who told me. I really have to thank her for that.¡± Since Jewel wanted to turn her life into a wreck, she would make sure Jewel couldn¡¯t live peacefully too. Nathaniel¡¯s brows rxed, and he took a deep breath. He tried to suppress his emotions, as he knew it was useless to exin anything at this point. Although Nathaniel wanted to exin himself, Christina¡¯s eyes were cold and soulless at the moment. She was exhausted and clearly didn¡¯t want to continue this topic with him anymore. After hesitating for a moment, he said, ¡°I won¡¯t divorce you.¡± Then, he left. It was Christina¡¯s first time feeling this exhausted. She didn¡¯t want to quarrel and think about it anymore. No matter what reason Nathaniel had for not divorcing her, she had made up her mind. She woke up in the evening and felt better, so she picked up her phone and dialed a number. ¡°Christina, are you okay?¡± Francis voice rang out from the other end of the line. He hadn¡¯t slept well these past few days as his thoughts were filled with Christina. He knew how much Nathaniel hated him, so he could only imagine how much Christina suffered because of her rtionship with him. Christina didn¡¯t answer his question. ¡°You said you would help me.¡± ¡°Of course. Whatever it is, just say the word and I¡¯ll help you,¡± Francis promised as he tightened his grip on the phone. ¡°I want to leave, but I can¡¯t as there are bodyguards guarding Scenic Garden Manor¡¯s entrance. After you¡¯ve made the arrangements, you cane and pick me up.¡± Christina had made up her mind, so she didn¡¯t leave any room for her to back away, ¡°Okay, wait for my message. Just as she hung up the phone, the door was pushed open. Nathaniel frowned and queried coldly, ¡°Who were you on the phone with?¡± ¡°Francis.¡± Christina felt there was no need to hide it. She wasn¡¯t someone who liked to lie. Nathaniel¡¯s chest felt ufortable, and he tried to control his emotions. ¡°What will it take for you to cut off contact with him?¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Distance Christina looked up coldly. ¡°If you want me to cut off all contact with him, I can do it. But can you do the same and cut off contact with all women? You can¡¯t talk to your female clients too!¡± She also wanted Nathaniel to experience how suffocating it felt to be in such a controlling rtionship. Due to the nature of her work, she had to coborate with male models, but Nathaniel was never pleased about it. Even talking to male designers would piss him off. Nevertheless, she had never expressed anger over such matters. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and his expression grew cold. How do I possibly fulfill such a condition? He had made an effort to avoid having any women in his life, but it was unavoidable. Nevertheless, all of the interactions were routine and devoid of any emotion. ¡°Christina, please don¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice turned cold. Christina took in a sharp breath and frowned. She questioned, ¡°You find this unreasonable? Then, why didn¡¯t you find it unreasonable when you enforced this on me in the past?¡± In an instant, silence befell them. Nathaniel lifted his hand, trying to touch Christina, but she avoided it. His outstretched hand froze in mid-air before he retracted it and left the room. Before he left, he instructed to have more bodyguards guarding Scenic Garden Manor. The next day, Christina noticed many unfamiliar faces in Scenic Garden Manor. Previously, she could still see the entrance unguarded during shift changes, but now there were always people stationed there. Leaving through the front door directly seemed impossible now. Francis called her to tell her that he had made the arrangements. He was going to get her out first before helping her go abroad. ¡°Christina, I have already taken a break from work. I¡¯ll leave with you,¡± Francis said solemnly. Christina felt a mix of emotions when she thought about being able to leave this ce soon. She paused momentarily before saying, ¡°Scenic Garden Manor is filled with bodyguards now. It will be difficult for me to leave, especially since Nathaniel has refused any visitors froming.¡± When Julja heard of the news a few days ago, she called Christina, telling thetter she wanted to come and see her. However, she was stopped by Nathaniel at the entrance. She could only go back home in the end. 1/4 Francis thought about it for a while and replied, ¡°Then, you have to find a way to leave so I can pick you up. If all else fails, I will force my way in. I¡¯ll make sure you leave that ce.¡± He sounded as if he was going to charge into the manor now, Christina didn¡¯t approve of his approach. ¡°Forcing your way in is too dangerous and unrealistic. It will be harder for me to escape if he is alerted. Just wait for my message.¡± After that, she ended the call. She sat on the swing and leaned her head against the rope. The swing swayed slowly as she felt the evening breeze. She no longer felt any attachment toward anything in the vast mansion. Perhaps she only liked the mansion before because of Nathaniel, but now that she no longer loved him, everything seemed boring. Lately, she had been feeling rather drowsy. When she woke up, she found herself on the bed in the bedroom. The room was dim, and the light entuated the figure sitting by the bed. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were closed as his hand supported his check. He wasn¡¯t in a deep slumber, so he instantly opened his eyes when he heard movement on the bed. Nathaniel passed her two tickets for a fashion show. ¡°Since I couldn¡¯t make it to thest one, I won¡¯t be late this time.¡± Christina was taken aback when she saw they were tickets to the show of the renowned designer, Alice. She felt her eyes welling up with tears. She took the two tickets and realized they were also front-row tickets. These tickets were not avable for sale as they were reserved for distinguished guests. Christina knew that Nathaniel had pulled some strings to obtain these tickets. If it were before, she would probably have been touched. Yet, at the moment, all she could think about was using this opportunity to leave Scenic Garden Manor. Christina lowered her head, her eyshes hiding her emotionless eyes. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like this. If you don¡¯t want to go, you don¡¯t have to force yourself.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. ¡°I like what you like. Rest well. I¡¯ll go to the study to do some work.¡± Nathaniel stood up and wanted to pat her head, but Christina avoided him like he was the gue. His hand stilled for a moment. Then, he let out a soft sigh and walked out of the room. Nathaniel didn¡¯t intend to let them continue this conflict. Therefore, he requested Alice to hold a fashion show. He selected the best seats to make up for what he had done previously. He hoped to mediate their conflict, as Christina looked listless every day. Although they were living in the same space, they were behaving as if they were strangers. It was driving him nuts. In thete hours of the night, Nathaniel walked out of the bathroom wearing a set of ck silk pajamas. Coupled with his strong physique, he looked especially tall and mysterious in his clothes. As hey beside Christina, they could feel each other¡¯s hearts beating. Nathaniel felt the warm and soft body in his embrace, giving him a sense offort. The next morning, Nathaniel left for work. At six in the evening, an unexpected guest appeared at Scenic Garden Manor. Madison hade to grab some documents. She also knew Nathaniel had made ns to take Christina to a fashion show in the evening. Did their conflict only go on for less than a month? Didn¡¯t it end a little too soon? They¡¯ve already patched things up and are going on a date now. I feel like a fool, causing such a big ruckus for nothing. She was d that she didn¡¯t see Christina for the past month, but she didn¡¯t expect her happiness to be so short-lived. She couldn¡¯t ept it. In the bedroom, Christina took her passport from the safe in the closet. Before leaving, she checked all the necessary identification documents. 1 After confirming everything was in order, she pushed open the bedroom door. At this moment, Madison walked out of the study with the documents and saw Christina, who was dressed 1. Christina was dressed in a pink dress. Her ck hair was tied in twin braids, and her fairplexion gave off the impression of a princess from a fairy tale. She appeared detached because of theck of a smile on her face. She resembled an angel lost in the mortal world. The two exchanged nces, and Madison smiled. From Christina¡¯s perspective, Madison was trying to provoke her. She couldn¡¯t smile at a woman who slept with her husband. It was all thanks to her remarkable self-restraint that she didn¡¯t rush over to yank Madison¡¯s hair. Christina ignored her and turned to head downstairs. ¡°Christina, let¡¯s talk,¡± Madison said as a devilish thought appeared in her mind. Christina stopped in her tracks but didn¡¯t turn to look at her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for us to talk about.¡± Hatred shed in Madison¡¯s eyes as she walked over to Christina. ¡°It¡¯s better to clear up some things between us. After all, we¡¯re going to be a family in the future.¡± A family? Christina turned around, confused. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± The three of us have differentst names, so what is this about being a family? Does she think she¡¯s a female streamer who tells everyone this? Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Chapter 312 She Would Not Back Down Madison smiled and said calmly, ¡°We will be taking care of Nathaniel together in the future, so I wanted to talk to prevent any conflicts.¡± Christina¡¯s expression darkened as if she had heard something incredibly absurd. Madison continued. ¡°The photo you saw on Jewel¡¯s phone was real. Nathaniel and I are in a rtionship, but he won¡¯t ask for a divorce from you since he cherishes the time you had spent with him before. I don¡¯t mind it, either. In the future, I¡¯ll take care of Nathaniel in thepany, and after work, he will be with you in Scenic Garden Manor. I don¡¯t mind who gets to spend more time with Nathaniel. I just hope we can live harmoniously together.¡± With that, she extended her hand warmly. Anyone not in the know would have thought she was making an important business deal. Christina was utterly disgusted by Madison¡¯s enthusiasm. She felt as if she had fallen into a snake pit, and Madison¡¯s gaze was like fangs, ready to sink into her defenseless skin. Although she saw the photo that day, she still held a glimmer of hope that things weren¡¯t as they seemed. However, she couldn¡¯t think of any excuses for Nathaniel now. The truth was a nightmare to her. Christina swatted Madison¡¯s hand away and bellowed, ¡°Even if you are willing, I still find it disgusting! Go and find other women to share a husband with you. Get lost!¡± Madison was pushed to the ground, and she was shocked by Christina¡¯s strength. However, satisfaction welled in her heart when she saw Christina¡¯s enraged demeanor. It seemed she believed in Madison¡¯s words. She got up and said, ¡°With your temper, Nathaniel probably won¡¯t be able to stand you for more than two days. It¡¯s no wonder he has been staying over at my ce recently. I advise you to put on a smile. It¡¯s not like Nathaniel needs you!¡± With that, she rolled her eyes and left in a hurry with her documents. Every word of Madison¡¯s was like a dagger cutting into Christina¡¯s heart. She felt like crying as anger and sadness flooded her, but she tried to stop herself from shedding tears. When Madison finally disappeared from her line of sight, Christina fell to the ground. She sobbed silently. After some time, a housekeeper who came upstairs to clean was startled by her distraught appearance. At this moment, the driver walked in. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley asked me to pick you up.¡± Christina snapped out of her daze and realized her face was covered in tears. She asked the housekeeper to bring a wet towel for her to wipe her face. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you look unwell. Why don¡¯t you stay at home and rest for a while?¡± No, I have to go. Christina had never had such a strong urge to leave Scenic Garden Manor. She stood up with great effort and shook her head. ¡°No need.¡± With that, she headed downstairs. At the entrance of the fashion show, colorful lights and lively music filled the venue. People entered the ce one after another, posing in front of the prominent logo for photos. Christina was the first to arrive. Without the bodyguards beside her and Nathaniel¡¯s overwhelming presence, Christina finally felt a sense of freedom. She took out her phone and messaged Francis, sending him her location. Nathaniel got out of the car. He was wearing the suit Christina had customized for him. He had kept the suit in his closet all this time and wore it specifically for this day. ¡°I have an urgent meeting today, so I arrivedte. Sorry! Nathaniel¡¯s voice rang out from beside her. She opened her eyes and hummed in respon ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± The two showed their tickets and took their seats in the front row of the show. response. ¡°This is one of your favorite designers. You said her style leans toward being spirited, which was simr to your style.¡± Nathaniel spoke softly beside her. Christina was surprised that he remembered something she casually mentioned. s, this no longer meant anything to her. Christina hummed in acknowledgment and didn¡¯t continue the conversation. Right then, the music started ying, and the models walked out from backstage, moving toward the front with each step synchronized with the rhythm. Christina wasn¡¯t paying much attention to the show. She gripped her phone tightly as thoughts flooded her mind. A fashion show usuallysted no more than twenty minutes, so she was worried that there wouldn¡¯t be enough time for Francis¡¯ arrangements. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you watching? Do you feel ill?¡± Nathaniel noticed Christina was distracted. Her gaze was distant and unfocused. ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing.¡± Just as Christina was about to say something else, her phone vibrated. Francis had replied. to her. She didn¡¯t rush to check it and instead raised her head to scrutinize the outfits worn by the models. Her focused gaze wasn¡¯t on the designs, as her mind was racing with ideas on how she could leave without. being noticedter. When Nathaniel wasn¡¯t paying attention to her anymore after two models passed them, Christina opened her phone to read the message. The text message wrote: Restroom. Christina quickly nced at it and deleted the message. As the fashion show neared its end, Christina gathered her courage and leaned toward Nathaniel. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Her faint fragrance wafted into his nose, instantly capturing Nathaniel¡¯s attention. Christina whispered in his ear. ¡°I want to go to the restroom.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Nathaniel raised his hand and wrapped it around her waist. He couldn¡¯t help but nt a kiss on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± As Christina couldn¡¯te up with a reason to refuse, she responded, ¡°Okay.¡± She could only go with the flow. When the two arrived at the entrance of the women¡¯s restroom, Nathaniel stopped following her. Christina walked in and noticed there was no one. At that moment, Francis emerged from behind the door. He was in disguise from head to toe, making it impossible to see his features. Also, his eyes were adorned with thick and alluring makeup. It was difficult to differentiate his gender from his makeup. ¡°Nathaniel is right outside. We can¡¯t go out,¡± Christina uttered anxiously. Francis smiled devilishly. ¡°Who says we are leaving through the door?¡± Then, he pointed at the window. The window was wide open, about sixty centimeters in width. Christina¡¯s figure was tiny, so it would be easy for her to crawl out of it. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate. Let¡¯s go.¡± Francis grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the window. Christina had made up her mind. She hade this far, and she refused to back down now. Nathaniel waited at the door for a while. Soon, the fashion show ended. Women who wanted to enter the restroom saw a handsome man standing at the door and felt too embarrassed to pass by. Nathaniel walked toward them and asked one of them, ¡°My wife has been inside for a long time, and I¡¯m worried something might have happened to her. Could you go in and help me take a look?¡± The woman felt like she had hit the jackpot and agreed, ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll go in and check right away.¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Chapter 313 She Is Back Four Years Later The woman entered the restroom and immediately came back out. ¡°There¡¯s no one in there. Maybe she already left, but you didn¡¯t notice.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression immediately darkened. The restroom¡¯s empty? Oh no! He strode past her and entered the restroom to find that it was indeed empty. He raised his head and saw that half of the window had been taken apart. A chilly breeze blew through the window, yet it was like a spark that ignited Nathaniel¡¯s rage. His temples throbbed as a sense of foreboding rose within him. He dashed out of the restroom, called Sebastian, and ordered the security guards to seal off all exit points and search for Christina. At least several hundred people hade to attend the fashion show, so it was rather difficult to look for her. Nathaniel looked through the surveince footage in the security office. Christina had not left his side from the moment they entered and only disappeared after going to the restroom. When he recalled how cold she had been to him the past several days, he realized that she wasn¡¯t angry at him but had given up on him. That was the moment he was certain that Christina had run away. This was not done on a whim but nned in advance. Nathaniel punched the wall angrily. A reddish dent in the shape of a fist was left in the wall as kes of paint fell off. ¡°Deploy every single personnel. I don¡¯t care what method you use as long as you get Christina back!¡± Just as he was feeling lost and frustrated, Madison informed him that thepany was in trouble. It was as if God didn¡¯t want him to find Christina. Thepany had spent a long time establishing a new brand. They had nned on releasing it in the later half of the year, but the information got leaked somehow. In fact, everything rted to the project was circting on the inte. The team had spent countless days and lots of effort researching andpiling information for this project. Now that it had been exposed on the inte, it gave thepany¡¯spetitors a huge advantage. Moreover, such details were considered thepany¡¯s ssified information. No ordinary person should be able to get their hands on it. The shareholders immediately rushed down to thepany, demanding an answer from Nathaniel. They put all the me on him and even used Charlie¡¯s name to attack him. ¡°Mr. Charlie Hadley never allowed such a rookie mistake to happen when he was in charge.¡± ¡°You must deal with this situation right away. If there is a huge fluctuation in the stock price, it will result in losses for thepany.¡± For an emergency to happen at thepany at a time like this was clearly a premeditated attack on Nathaniel. Who on earth had the power to steal thepany¡¯s ssified information? Quelling the chaos was the most important task at hand. After that, Nathaniel was going to find the mastermind and skin him alive. The best and only solution was to bring forward the n and release the new brand as soon as possible. Even if theirpetitors got hold of the project¡¯s information, they wouldn¡¯t be able to get everything ready right away. For the next month, Nathanielpletely immersed himself in working on the project and released the brand ahead of time. He managed to keep the damage under control. The silver lining from all this was that Hadley Corporation had received a huge amount of free marketing due to the leak. Nathaniel did everything he could to save thepany from this crisis. After a month of hard work, he finally returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Hearing the sound of a car driving in, Raymond quickly went out to greet him. The usually confident and energetic Nathaniel was now a cold and dispirited man who had visibly lost a lot of weight. Ever since Nathaniel and Christina had left the house together that night, they never returned. Raymond heard from one of the bodyguards that Christina had run away. He didn¡¯t dare to ask Nathaniel a single question about it for fear of agitating him. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you haven¡¯t gotten any proper rest recently. I¡¯ll get the kitchen to prepare dinner for you.¡± Nathaniel gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and went upstairs. The bedroom was kept tidy, and the d¨¦cor had not been changed. The only thing the was missing was Christina¡¯s bubbly energy. Now that it was gone, the room felt cold. His busy month had helped him temporarily forget about her. But now that everything had calmed down, the pain he had locked away burst forth. It felt like daggers were piercing his heart. Nathaniel dejectedly sat on the rug with his back against the wall. His deep and dark eyes had no light in them. Suddenly, he noticed something shiny under the couch. It was the tin box that Christina wanted to show him on the day they had argued. However, he had been so enraged at the time that he wasn¡¯t in the mood to listen to her. He walked over and reached under the couch to take the box out. There was atch on the front of the tin box. Knitting his eyebrows, he lifted it carefully, and the cover opened. In it was a folded piece of paper. For some reason. Nathaniel¡¯s heart started aching. He fished the piece of paper out of the box and opened it to see that it was an ultrasound report. It indicated that Christina was ten weeks pregnant with twins. He recalled how she had gazed at him expectantly with the box in her hands as she was about to tell him. the good news. He inhaled sharply as his shoulders started to shake, I can¡¯t even imagine how Christina felt when I locked her up and was so distrustful of her. It¡¯s no wonder she wanted to leave¡­ After a long time, Nathaniel finally gathered his thoughts and pulled out his phone to call Sebastian. ¡°I don¡¯t care how you do it or where Christina has gone. You must find her!¡± Four years had gone by in the blink of an eye. Lightspring was a city where tourism drove its economy. In recent years, many investors put their money into the city¡¯s businesses, and the area¡¯s economy improved. There was avender field and a red windmill in the south of the city. The two rows of seats there were filled with people. Staff members bustled about the two-meter runway. Several cameras were set up below the stage and angled to capture the uing show. ¡°Okay, everything¡¯s in order. Start the music and send the models to the stage!¡± The tall models strutted down the runway wearing the new designs for the spring season. Each outfit had its own unique and distinctive features. Christina was wearing an orange suit jacket that cinched at the waist and a id skirt of the same color. Her hair fell in waves behind her shoulders, and her bare skin was practically glowing. She looked like the epitome of a fashionista. This was the tenth fashion show she had organized after establishing her brand. She paid special attention to all the details of every show and ensured that every product was exactly as she had intended it to be. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Night fell, and the fashion show was a sess. After wrapping up the show, her colleagues invited Christina to go out, but she turned them down and went back to the hotel. When the taxi she had called reached the downtown area, the driver informed her that he couldn¡¯t turn around at the hotel¡¯s entrance, so she had to get off and walk. Christina paid him and got out of the car. As she walked down the street, she pulled out her phone and checked her messages. All of a sudden, a man, who smelled strongly of alcohol, blocked her way and pressed a knife against her. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Give me all your money.¡± Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Throwing A Tantrum This area was newly developed, and there were very few pedestrians around. Not a single person could be seen within a ten-meter nce. Getting someone to help was unlikely. Despite the dilemma, Christina remained calm, her eyebrows slightly furrowing. ¡°I can give you money, so please don¡¯t hurt me.¡± all my The man impatiently urged, ¡°Stop wasting my time. Hurry up.¡± The woman in front of him was half a head shorter than him and appeared frail, which gave him the courage to rob her. Christina removed all the cash and jewelry from her person and handed them to him. ¡°Here, take all of them.¡± ¡°Give me your phone too,¡± the robber urged impatiently. Her phone had a considerable amount of information, and losing it would be highly inconvenient. Christina hesitated for a moment before she reluctantly handed over the phone. The robber took her belongings with a smile on his face. His eyes gleamed with delight as he examined the windfall in his hand and began counting them. By the time he noticed a figure sprinting toward him from the side, it was already toote. He had already been struck by a swift kick from the approaching person. The six-foot-tall man was sent hurtling through the air by the force of the kick. He tumbled andnded face-first on the ground, scraping his elbows in the process. The robber cursed under his breath, rose from the ground and quickly rushed toward his attacker while brandishing a knife. In the darkness, two towering figures engaged in a fierce fight. The man¡¯s eyes were cold as he unleashed a series of precise punches, swiftly overpowering the robber. By the time Christina regained herposure, she realized that the robber had already left her belongings behind and fled the scene. She hurried over to thank the man, ¡°Thank you, sir¡­. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Their eyes locked momentarily, and in the next second, it felt as if the air itself had frozen in ce. Christina felt as though her heart had been pierced, as a faint wave of pain radiated throughout her body. Nathaniel! Why is he here? Is it merely a coincidence, or was he stalking me? Nathaniel¡¯s deep gaze bore into her with intensity, gripping her like a fierce beast sinking its teeth into her neck, leaving Christina struggling to catch her breath. With swift agility, she snatched the phone from Nathaniel¡¯s hand and swiftly turned, fleeing from the scene. Run faster. Don¡¯t let him catch up¡­. Nheless, outrunning Nathaniel was an impossible task. In a matter of moments, he caught up with her, firmly grasped her arm, and forcefully dragged her into an empty alleyway. ¡°Let go of me¡­ Mmph¡­ The sound of her struggle vanished into thin air as Christina¡¯s thin lips were sealed shut. Her hands were restrained, leaving no room for resistance. Amid the nibbles and bites, her thin lips were soon wounded. The overpowering and deranged breath of the man filled her lungs. From the moment they engaged in this duel, she was destined to be at a disadvantage and deemed the weak one. After an indeterminate period. Nathaniel finally released her, his narrow and deep eyes bloodshot, resembling a giant beast on the verge of going berserk. It was only after a long period of silence did he say, ¡°Where are the children?¡± Christina widened her eyes. He knows the existence of the children¡­ Is he chasing me relentlessly for the sake of the children? But isn¡¯t he with Madison right now? Why did hee here to torment me instead? ¡°What made you think I would give birth to your children? I terminated the pregnancy four years ago! Isn¡¯t your body in good shape now? You can have a dozen children with other women. Let¡¯s make a deal to never see each other again, all right!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s anger surged uncontrobly, his jaw clenched, and his furious gaze seemed capable of drilling a hole right through Christina. He had been tirelessly searching for Christina¡¯s whereabouts all these years, and as soon as he received the news, he swiftly rushed over here. The moment heid eyes on her, a surge of emotions awakened within him, rendering him unable to resist the urge to approach her. He was willing to let go of everything that had transpired in the past, on the condition that Christina returned with him. ¡°No! Four years¡­ That¡¯s one thousand four hundred and sixty days. You need to repay what you owe me with the rest of your life!¡± His voice reverberated in Christina¡¯s ears like an angry incantation, leaving an indelible mark in her heart. It was as if a seed had been nted, taking root and growing incessantly from that moment onward. Christina forced herself to calm down despite the immense mental stress. Her angry eyes darkened again, and she said coldly, ¡°Let go of me, you have no right to do this.¡± Given Nathaniel¡¯s temperament, it was highly unlikely that he would let go of the person he had been searching for over the course of four years. He bent down slightly and hoisted-Christina onto his shoulder. ¡°Fine, I will release you if youe back with me and bear my child. Once the baby is born, I will set you free!¡± Believing such words would be foolish. Where do you want to take me? Let me go! Help¡­¡± anicked, Christina screamed toward the deserted road, but her cries were met with silence in response. Vill I be brought back after four years of running away? She couldn¡¯t fathom epting such a fate. Christina nced at the hotel located just across the road, where a few people were awaiting her return nside. f she vanished without a word, they would undoubtedly be concerned and worried about her. The subsequent scene intensified the tension coursing through Christina¡¯s entire body. Nathaniel carried her while marching directly toward the hotel across the street. As they walked, he dialed Sebastian¡¯s number. ¡°Arrange a flight for tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel ended the call and strode into the hotel with Christina still on his shoulders. Despite depriving her of her freedom with force, he audaciously ventured into a crowded ce. Christina relentlessly struck his back, her entire body struggling to break free from his constraint. ¡°Help! He kidnapped me! Please call the police¡­ The woman¡¯s plea immediately captured the attention of those around her, and all eyes turned toward the origin of the sound. Among them, several tall men strode forward and positioned themselves in front of Nathaniel. ¡°Who is thisdy to you? Why are you carrying her?¡± Sir, since you look decent, you surely do notckpanionship. Forcing a woman against her will is illegal. I strongly advise you to release her immediately,¡± one of the men dered sternly. Facing the questioning gaze of onlookers, Nathaniel remainedposed and spoke with an affectionate tone. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. This is my wife.¡± ¡°You say she¡¯s your wife? Do you not hear her cries for help? Let her go,¡± the passerby retorted. Gradually, a crowd began to gather around Nathaniel, and the hall soon filled with people. As the crowd grew, Christina sensed a glimmer of hope for escape. Thoughts of a potential escape route began to form in her mind. On the other hand, Nathaniel remained calm andposed, a mischievous smile ying on his lips. He reached into the pocket of his windbreaker and retrieved two small books. ¡°This is our wedding photo, officially stamped at City Hall. If you doubt my words, feel free to call the police and verify it yourself.¡± The red stamp and the wedding photo provided undeniable evidence to support his ims. The passerby remained skeptical and questioned, ¡°If she is indeed your wife, why does she not want to go with you?¡± Nathaniel chuckled and gently set Christina down, wrapping his arms around her. ¡°She¡¯s just throwing a tantrum. We¡¯ve visited several tourist spots today, and she still doesn¡¯t want to return. I¡¯m exhausted, so I decided to carry her back.¡± The passerby, now convinced by Nathaniel¡¯s exnation, smiled. ¡°Ah. I see. Let¡¯s give them some privacy. veryone.¡± Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Chapter 315 You B*stard Seeing that the crowd was dispersing, Christina immediately tried to call them back. ¡°I¡¯m not his wife. I¡­¡± Nathaniel raised his hand and pinched her chin. ¡°Darling, stop fooling around. I¡¯ll bring you out again tomorrow, okay?¡± 1 Despite being in public, he directly locked her thin lips with his to stop her from saying anything more. Christina was stunned. With her hands held tightly by him, she had no choice but to ept the kiss reluctantly. It was supposed to be romantic, but the way they did it seemed like they were having a fight with each other. Only after the surrounding onlookers went away did Nathaniel enter the elevator with her in his arm. In the elevator, Christina was a lot quieter. Nathaniel thought she had epted the fate that she could never escape. When the elevator stopped on the twentieth floor, Christina finally had a trace of emotion on her calm face. Although she seemedposed, Nathaniel didn¡¯t let his guard down along the way. His grip on her kept tightening. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. It wasn¡¯t until the door was shut that Christina withdrew her fair hand from his palmh; her wrist was red. ¡°What is it that you need to let me go?¡± She sounded depressed. That surprisingly made Nathaniel feel that he was a heinous person. In the past four years, whenever he received any news about Christina, he would put down his work and rush over at once. As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he would never give up. Lowering his head, he snickered and loosened his tie in frustration. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say it just now? You¡¯re going to pay back for aborting my child.¡± Nathaniel moved closer to her, resembling a fierce beast that was cornering its prey. The atmosphere gradually became oppressive as his hot and heavy breath enveloped her like danger was approaching. Nathaniel scooped her up and threw her onto the bed. Christina felt her head spin. Before she could recover from the shock, the light in front of her had been blockedpletely. Nathaniel¡¯s cold and handsome face filled her sight. When he caught a sniff of her fragrance that he had been longing for, his eyes glinted. ¡°I remembered that there were two, so you would have to give me back. four!TM ¡°Rascal! What do you take me as?¡±¡±Christina panicked, her eyes widening. She pounded hard on his chest, trying to push him away. Right then, Christina¡¯s phone that fell out of her coat rang. When she spared it a nce, her heart skipped a beat. She couldn¡¯t conceal the panic on her face. Nathaniel frowned slightly. ¡°Why are you so nervous?¡± He let go of Christina and picked up the phone at the foot of the bed. The moment his eyes fell on it, his gaze darkened. Sweetheart? ¡°Give it back to me!¡± Christina tensed and immediately shot up from the bed. However, she was way too short. She was nowhere close to snatching her phone back. Nathaniel held her tightly in his arms, not giving her a chance to move around. Then, he answered the call and turned on the speaker. ¡°Hello?¡± His voice was cold. Christina fixed her eyes on the phone, breaking into a cold sweat. She felt like her heart had nearly stopped. Please don¡¯t say anything. Please¡­ After a moment of silence, the voice of a mature man came through from the other line. ¡°Christina, didn¡¯t your show end a long time ago? Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± Christina¡¯s breathing was getting ragged. Holding tightly onto Nathaniel¡¯s slender arm, she was on the verge of breaking down. She tried her best to sound as normal as she could. ¡°Yosef, I went out to celebrate with my colleagues.¡± ¡°Do you need me to pick you up?¡± Yosef asked concernedly. ¡°I-It¡¯s okay.¡± Nathaniel, who was behind her, nibbled her ear. Her skin seemed as if it had been burnt when his scorching breath brushed past it. ¡°I met an old friend of mine. I think I¡¯ll be backte tonight. Go ahead and sleep first,¡± she said cautiously in fear. ¡°But your two poodles are looking everywhere in the house for you. They usually can only fall asleep when you¡¯re back.¡± Yosef was slightly worried. He keenly sensed that Christina was in a troubled situation at the moment. ¡°My poodles are good. Prepare them milk, and they¡¯ll sleep after drinking it¡­¡± As she spoke, Nathaniel slid his hand into the back of her shirt, Christina gasped. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± There was a slight tremble in her voice. After saying that, she hung up the phone at once. Before she could do anything, Nathaniel pressed her under him. His bloodshot eyes seemed as if they could swallow up a person. ¡°Since when did you get close to Yosef?¡± Gritting her teeth, Christina said stubbornly. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± When she left four years ago, she didn¡¯t want to stay in touch with Francis. It so happened that she bumped into Yosef, who was on a business trip in Epea. It was because of Yosef¡¯s help that she managed to adapt to the new environment quickly. ¡°Christina, how far have you gone with him in the rtionship?¡± Nathaniel increased his voice, and tension filled the room in an instant, Back then, he felt that Yosef had taken a fancy to Christina. That was why he secretly sent Yosef on a business trip abroad. It had never struck his mind that he had created a chance for them to be together instead! At the thought of that, his rage mounted even more. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s head, forcing her to look into his eyes. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t say, I can still find it out. You¡¯d better not have any romantic rtionship with him, or else I¡¯ll skin him alive!¡± His furious voice sounded as if it came out of hell. Christina¡¯s shoulder ached from being squeezed by him. Every cell in her body was resisting his approach. ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re a b*stard!¡± Her heart was bleeding to the extent that she could hear the drips. Nathaniel ripped her thin coat off, and some of the buttons on her shirt fell off too. Soon, the fair body of hers filled his sight. ¡°B*stard? I¡¯m nothingpared to you and Francis! One is doing everything she could to leave me, and the other is trying his best to set me up. You two don¡¯t ever think about having a good time!¡± Then he bit her slender shoulder, wanting nothing more than to swallow her alive. The cooling air from the air conditioning brushed past her skin. She shuddered, feeling like she was lying on a snowynd. No matter what she said, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t believe her. She sensed pain, and the view in front of her shook to the extent that she saw double. Her head felt heavy. She didn¡¯t even know how she passed out. After having a steamy night that felt like an eternity, Nathaniel finally fell asleep with her in his arms. The first light of dawn was gentle, resembling a fresh start. When Christina woke up, it took her a while to organize her thoughts. Nathaniel already had his clothes on. He was sitting on the couch while speaking on the phone. ¡°Is it ready? Come and pick me up now.¡± After ending the call, he raised his eyes and stared at Christina deeply. I¡¯ll never let you escape this time. Right then, an ear-piercing siren came through from the corridor outside. ¡°There¡¯s fire! Everyone, run!¡± eyes Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Chapter 316 About To Get Caught Not long after the fire rm went off, they heard a series of footsteps outside the room. Startled, Christina immediately put on her clothes. Just as she stood up, Nathaniel draped his suit over her thin shoulders. ¡°Wear it.¡± Having extra clothing for protection was a good thing under such circumstances. Christina was slightly moved. She was extremely reluctant to ept his kind act. However, thinking that someone was still waiting for her at home, she still took it. When she was done wearing it, Nathaniel pulled her with him and went toward the door. Those in the rooms had no idea what was going on. As soon as they opened the door, they ran out and headed toward the staircase in a fit of panic. The corridor was packed with people. Nathaniel held Christina in his arms and followed the crowd to the backstairs. Noises were everywhere. Someone anxiously increased their pace and cut the line, pushing away those at the side. Christina tripped and fell from Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. Somebody caught hold of Christina and pulled her into the crowd. Before Nathaniel could take a clear look, the figure had gone away. ¡°Walk quickly! Don¡¯t block the way!¡± urged the people behind him. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re admiring the scenery here? Faster! We are running for our lives!¡± Nathaniel tried his best to push the crowd away, but Christina was nowhere to be seen. It seemed like she had vanished into the thin air. ¡°Christina, Christina!¡± His deep voice was unpleasantly piercing. The people around only wanted to flee for their lives. They couldn¡¯t be bothered about him. Nathaniel took out his phone and called Sebastian. ¡°Check the surveince cameras. T want to know where Christina went!¡± Earlier, Yosef had taken advantage of the chaotic situation and brought Christina to the room. That was why she managed to get away from the corridor in a hurry. ¡°Mommy!¡± Two adorable voices came through from the wardrobe. ¡°Mommy, why didn¡¯t youe back yesterday?¡± The children¡¯s cute and innocent faces were full of worry. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you obediently in the room.¡± Furrowing her brows, Christina held the two kids in her arms. Her heart was still thumping loudly. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Four years ago, she didn¡¯t go for an abortion. Instead, she used her own savings to raise the children. In order to avoid Nathaniel, she had been staying overseas and dared not return to the country. This time, she had deliberatelye back for the show. She thought of leaving with her children right after she was done with it. However, Nathaniel still found her. ¡°A fire has broken out! We need to get out immediately!¡± Christina wanted to carry the children up to leave, but Yosef stopped her. ¡°Christina, calm down. There¡¯s no fire. I did that to save you from Nathaniel.¡± Christina¡¯s phone had a GPS tracker. It would be easier to find out where she was if her children wanted to look for her. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the crowd outside disperses before we leave.¡± Yosef already had a n in mind. ¡°Mommy, you must not have eaten your breakfast. Your stomach is going to get ufortable because of this.¡± The cute little girl blinked her crystalline eyes while staring at Christina. Despite being angry, the little girl still looked so sweet and lovely. Bending down her body, Christina met Cam Steele¡¯s eyes and caressed her head. ¡°Good girl, Cam.¡± Lucas Steele, the elder brother, stood on the chair and gave Christina a bowl of oatmeal. ¡°Mommy, you said that our health will be affected if we don¡¯t eat our meals on time. Taking care of Cam alone is enough for me. Please don¡¯t add yourself to the list.¡± Looking at how sensible Lucas was, Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. Stroking his head gently, she said, ¡°Thanks, Luke. I¡¯ll eat now, okay?¡± ¡°Be careful. It¡¯s hot. Let me cool it down for you.¡± ¡°I want to blow on it too.¡± ¦§ Just like that, the two lovely children blew on the oatmeal in front of her. Christina felt warm. Under the children¡¯s gazes, she finished up the oatmeal quickly. ¡°We should n our way out.¡± Yosef walked over with a gentle gaze. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous for you to leave with the children now. If Nathaniel sees you, he¡¯s going to find out about them. So you need to take a different route.¡± Christina agreed with him. She had kept the children hidden for a long time because she didn¡¯t want Nathaniel to know. If they were exposed, all her previous efforts would be in vain. Yosef had downloaded a copy of the hotel¡¯s escape route on his phone in advance. ¡°Later, you¡¯ll be taking the A route to leave. The children and I will use the elevator. Then we¡¯ll meet up at the airport.¡± ¡°All right. Please take care of them for me.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes were filled with gratitude. At that moment, she felt that Yosef¡¯s presence was like a glimmer of hope to her. Soon, everything was ready. ¡°Be obedient and listen to Mr. Gunther, okay? Don¡¯t run around,¡± Christina said to the children before leaving. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mommy. We will be good.¡± The cute children winked their eyes at Yosef yfully. When they were abroad, Yosef would always help Christina to take care of the children if she was busy. Hence, Lucas and Cam trusted him a lot.. When the crowd in the corridor had dispersed, Christina disguised herself by putting on sunsses and tying her hair up in a bun. Then she walked out of the room. She couldn¡¯t help trembling in fear as she walked. Bodyguards were looking for her everywhere in the hotel. Fortunately, they didn¡¯t know Christina, and they only had a photo to refer to. Hence, they weren¡¯t able to recognize her after she disguised herself. After getting into the taxi, Christina let out a silent sigh of relief when she looked in the rearview mirror and saw that the hotel was getting farther away from her. Since she could get out sessfully, her children should be fine too. What she needed to do next was to wait for them at the airport. Meanwhile, the two children looked cool and adorable with the sunsses on. ¡°Lucas, Cam, are you ready?¡± Yosef pulled arge suitcase with the two children sitting on top. ¡°Mr. Gunther, let¡¯s go!¡± After checking out of the hotel, the three of them headed directly to the airport. They would be able to meet up with Christina once they boarded the ne. ¡°Lucas, Cam, wait for me in the lounge, okay? I need to go and check ourselves in.¡± Yosef said. ¡°All right.¡± Taking the necessary documents and tickets, Yosef went out hurriedly. ¡°Lucas, who is the bad guy? Why does that person want to catch Mommy?¡± Cam asked curiously. Lucas pouted with his eyes filled with anger. ¡°He must be a devil! Not only does he want to catch Mommy. but he also wants to catch us! Humph!¡± If I meet him, I¡¯m going to teach him a lesson! Right then, they heard a harsh voice outside. ¡°Quick! Check every lounge. Inform Mr. Hadley right away if you find the woman with the name of Christina!¡± ¡°Noted!¡± Lucas immediately jumped down from the couch. ¡°Cam, the devil has called someone to catch. Mommy. We need to run!¡± ¡°But Mr. Gunther told us to wait for him in the lounge.¡± Lucas pulled Cam down from the couch. With the bags on their backs, they hurriedly ran away. ¡°It¡¯s going to be more troublesome if they find us!¡± Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Give The Children Back To Me Like two little rabbits, Cam and Lucas trotted out and went to a VIP lounge. It wasn¡¯t a ce where ordinary people could enter. They were in a hurry, so they didn¡¯t notice that there was a person in front of them and bumped into him. Nathaniel frowned slightly. He flicked his nce across the space and didn¡¯t see anyone. When he lowered his head, his eyes fell on the two children. They had cartoon masks on. Raising their heads, they stared at him with their bright eyes. This man is so handsome, but¡­ he seems so scary. ¡°Sorry, mister. We didn¡¯t do it on purpose,¡± Cam said absentmindedly while fixing her eyes on him. Why does he look so much like Lucas? Nathaniel was uptight. The GPS tracker showed that Christina hade to the airport. However, although the bodyguards had looked for her everywhere in the lounges, she was still nowhere to be found. Hence, he entered the VIP lounge to check it out. To his surprise, it was two kids who he saw. Looking at their sparkling eyes, which resembled a gxy of stars, Nathaniel felt that they were somewhat simr to Christina¡¯s. Withdrawing his gaze from them, he said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t run around.¡± Then he walked past them and went further inside the lounge. It wasn¡¯t until the bodyguards outside went away that Cam and Lucas finally felt relieved. ¡°Lucas, let¡¯s go and find Mr. Gunther. He¡¯ll be worried if he doesn¡¯t see us when hees backter.¡± Cam pulled Lucas and walked toward the door. ¡°I think Mr. Gunther haspleted the check-in procedures. We¡¯ll look for him in the check-in area.¡± The VIP lounge was quiet. Although their voices weren¡¯t loud, Nathaniel could hear them clearly. Nathaniel¡¯s ¡®s steps paused from moving forward. He turned around and blocked the children¡¯s way instead. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with Yosef?¡± Not knowing what was going on, Cam moved closer to Lucas. ¡°Lucas, did we encounter a bad person?¡± She was frightened by the cold expression on Nathaniel¡¯s face. Holding Cam in his arms, Lucas bravely raised his eyes. ¡°Mister, please move aside. We don¡¯t know you.¡± Although he was still a kid, he knew he should keep his younger sister protected at all times. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. He reached out to pull down the boy¡¯s mask. What came into his sight was a face that was extremely simr to his. The little boy¡¯s brows and unswerving gaze were exactly like his. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. A thought struck Nathaniel¡¯s mind out of the blue. He was certain that Christina had lied to him. ¡°You¡­ Mommy has said that those who take off our masks without permission are bad people! Lucas put his guard up. Letting go of Cam¡¯s hand, he dashed forward and hit Nathaniel¡¯s private parts with all his might. Nathaniel had yet toe to his senses when he was hit. Veins popped out on his forehead in an instant. D¡¯mn it¡­ ¡°Cam, run!¡± Lucas grabbed his sister¡¯s hand and ran toward the main entrance. Nathaniel drew in a sharp breath. He chased after them and managed to catch them in the corridor not far away from the entrance. ¡°Let us go! Kidnapping children is a crime!¡± Lucas struggled to break free. However, he was just a kid. There was nothing much he could do. Cam was frightened to tears. ¡°You¡¯re a bad person. Let go of me and my brother! My mommy won¡¯t let you off the hook when she¡¯s back!¡± ¡°I look forward to seeing your mother!¡± Nathaniel carried the two children on his shoulders and continued to walk ahead. As long as the children were in his hands, he believed that Christina would definitely show up. Just as Nathaniel stepped out of the entrance, he heard hurried footsteps from the back. ¡°Nathaniel, give the children back to me!¡± Yosef chased after him. Little did he expect them to be found by Nathaniel just because he had gone to deal with the check-in procedures. Nathaniel gave the children to Sebastian to be carried into the car. Then he dashed over to Yosef and kicked him hard. ¡°Who do you think you are to be asking for my children?¡± Yosef fell to the ground and clutched his stomach in pain. So he has found out the kids¡¯ identities. ¡°Let them go. Christina has nothing to do with you anymore. You have no right to take them away.¡± ¡°Do you have, then?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s face was as ck as thunder, and his eyes were bloodshot. At that moment, he resembled a demon who hade from hell. He took his anger out on Yosef. Just like that, the two men didn¡¯t care about the fact that they were in public and broke into a fight. However, it was clear that Yosef was no match for Nathaniel. He could only return an attack after being punched twice. Soon, Yosef could hardly get back on his feet. When Nathaniel tried to throw a punch at Yosef¡¯s forehead, a slender figure came over and stood in between them. His fist hovered in the air. ¡°Stop fighting! I¡¯ll leave with you!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes reddened in an instant. Her gaze was filled with stubbornness and disgruntlement. She had waited in the airport for a long time. She gave Yosef a buzz, but she couldn¡¯t reach him. 1 The moment she walked out of the restroom, she saw Nathaniel heading outside with Cam and Lucas in his arms. Having no time to think about anything else, she directly rushed over. However, Yosef was faster than her and even got into a fight with Nathaniel. After receiving several heavy punches, Yosef was in too much pain to move around. He took several deep. breaths and said, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t go with him¡­¡± Looking at how his beloved woman was protecting another man in front of him, Nathaniel felt like his heart had been stabbed. Nathaniel stared at Christina¡¯s fair face with his eyes slightly narrowed. She helped Yosef up. ¡°Go back first. You don¡¯t have to take care of me anymore. I have to make things. clear with him.¡± Yosef had been a great help to her in recent years. He didn¡¯t have to bring trouble upon himself anymore. It took her some effort to help him get back on his feet. There were some bruises on the side of his thin. handsome face. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t go with him. We can call the police.¡± His mouth was filled with the tang of blood. Nathaniel pulled Christina to him. ¡°We don¡¯t need an outsider to meddle in our affairs,¡± he warned with a frosty gaze. Then he got into the car with Christina. Several bodyguards were blocking Yosef from approaching them. As soon as the door was closed, the car drove away from the airport. ¡°Mr. Hadley, where are we going? ¡°To the private airport to return to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± Cam curled herself up in Christina¡¯s embrace, and Lucasy in Christina¡¯s right arm. They flitted their eyes to the side from time to time. ¡°Mommy, have we been caught by the big gray wolf?¡± ¡°Lucas, will the big gray wolf eat up children?¡± Cam nestled in Christina¡¯s arms. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m scared.¡± Christina was worried that her children would be frightened, so she gently caressed their heads and said softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. As long as I¡¯m here, the big gray wolf won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Back At Scenic Garden Manor Again Nathaniel furrowed his brows. The big gray wolf? Are they referring to me? Although the backseat of the car was quite spacious, the three of them squeezed into the corner like fish hiding from a cat. The two adorable kids stared at him with vignt eyes as if he were a menacing viin about to pounce on them. His gaze fell upon Lucas¡¯ little face. Between the clean features and delicate eyebrows of the boy, there emanated an aura ofposure, which was quite simr to Nathaniel. On the contrary, Cam¡¯s gaze toward Nathaniel was one of fear. With just a few more nces from thetter. Cam was so frightened that she nestled into Christina¡¯s embrace. Nathaniel raised his hand to massage his temples and redirected his focus to the tablet he held in his hand. Due to the long travel time, the two adorable little ones soon leaned against Christina¡¯s body and peacefully fell asleep. A tinge of yellowish evening sun poured in as three peaceful sleeping faces quietly rested against each other, exuding a serene and nostalgic ambiance. Nathaniel took out ¨¤ nket and gently ced it over them. He was very cautious as he did not want to disturb their sleep. At that very moment, the priority was for Christina and the kids toe back to his side, and the rest could be dealt withter. When the car came to another stop, they were back at Scenic Garden Manor. As the car door opened, Christina reluctantly stepped onto the ground. A gust of wind swept by, and she couldn¡¯t help but perceive a subtle air of oppression around her. It was the first time Cam and Lucas had seen such arge courtyard. Deep inside their hearts, there was a mixture of fear and curiosity toward the unfamiliar surroundings. Mommy, where are we?¡± Cam couldn¡¯t hold back and asked. Nathaniel drew closer and said, ¡°This is your home.¡± Just then, Cam appeared frightened, as if she had encountered a fearsome beast. Iter little hands reached out to climb onto Christina. ¡°Mommy, hug me Nathaniel¡¯s attempts to get closer were met with rejection by Cam. With an irritated look, Christina shot a warning nce at Nathaniel, signaling him not to approach the kid. She held Cam close to her chest and tenderly caressed her little head. ¡°Cam, be good. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here.¡± With a determined cool face, Lucas stood beside Christina, acting like a guardian angel and constantly on guard against Nathaniel¡¯s approach. Nathaniel had no choice but to give in. ¡°Christina, take the kids inside first. It¡¯s not good to stand here and be exposed to the wind.¡± No matter how stubborn Christina might be, she would never risk her kids¡¯ health out of spite. Despite her reluctance, Nathaniel had already brought them back. Escaping was an unrealistic thought. She pulled Lucas and whispered. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside first. Are you guys hungry? Cam nodded and spoke with an innocent voice. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Lucas didn¡¯t want to enter the big gray wolf¡¯s house. However, as soon as he said that, his stomach growled. Noticing how sensible Lucas was, Christina¡¯s heart ached. ¡°After all the traveling. I¡¯m hungry too. How about we secretly eat up all the food in the big gray wolf¡¯s house so that he has nothing to eat?¡± Upon hearing that, Cam and Lucas blinked their watery eyes and gave a nod of agreement. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± said Christina. She knew that the more she resisted, the more her kids would resist. She didn¡¯t want to burden them with her negative emotions. As they walked in, they were weed by Raymond. It had been four years since Raymond and Christinast met. Christina appeared to have developed a sense of calmness and sophisticationpared to before. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re finally back. I¡¯ve been waiting for you for four years since you left¡­¡± Raymond looked down and found two adorable kids who looked exactly like Nathaniel did when he was a child. ¡°Are these two Mr. Hadley¡¯s children?¡± he then asked. Christina silently acquiesced and said. ¡°We¡¯ve been on the road for the entire day, and the kids are hungry. Can you arrange for the kitchen to prepare some food?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley called back earlier and made the arrangements. The food is still steaming hot,¡± Raymond replied. There had not been many changes in Scenic Garden Manor. It looked the same as when Christina left four years ago. Christina led the kids into the dining room. Upon seeing the abundant food, both Cam and Lucas couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°Come and have your meal¡± Christina served rice and dishes to the two kids. Although she asionally took them out for meals, their appetites were small, so she usually refrained from excessive spending and wastefulness. However, for the two kids, they found it fascinating, and all sorts of desserts were their favorite. After finishing their meal, Christina took them upstairs for a bath. After putting on clean pajamas, the three of themy down in the guest room to sleep. The brother and sistery on Christina¡¯s sides, leaning their little heads against her shoulders. ¡°Mommy, are we going to stay here from now on?¡± Christina fixed her gaze on the ceiling and got lost in her thoughts. ¡°Do you both like it here?¡± ¡°Kind of, but not really,¡± Lucas answered sincerely. ¡°If you both like it here, we¡¯ll stay. If not, we can find somewhere else. It¡¯s all up to you, okay?¡± Christina said softly. There wasplete silence in the room. Christina lowered her head and realized that the two adorable little ones had fallen asleep from exhaustion. She breathed a soft sigh, tucked them in with the nket, and nted a gentle kiss on their peacefully sleeping faces. Inside the study, Nathaniel sat by the desk and went through the documents, with piles of files in the corner forming a small mountain. A slender figure walked in. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting at thiste hour?¡± Nathaniel looked up, and his eyes were as calm as a frozen lake. There was no trace of emotion in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°What exactly do you want? To confine me like in the past?¡± Her tone was frosty as well. Nathaniel stood up and walked toward her. His tall figure enveloped her fragile figure. He then delicately ced his hand on her slender shoulder and said meaningfully. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t run away, I won¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Have you ever thought about why I wanted to run away?¡± Christina¡¯s questioning voice was like a sharp knife piercing him deeply. Why doesn¡¯t he think about who drove me away back then? Nathaniel responded, ¡°We both made mistakes in those matters, and I don¡¯t want to dwell on them. Can you also-¡± ¡°No,¡± Christina refuted. Her heart was not a ckboard, and memories were not like chalk marks that could be easily erased. ¡°So what do you want? I¡¯m willing to do anything as long as you stay with me.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s temples throbbed vigorously on both sides. Nathaniel, who had encountered all kinds of problems in life, found himself utterly helpless in front of this young woman. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Christina thought for a moment and said, ¡°I want you to move out of Scenic Garden Manor. I don¡¯t want. to see you anymore.¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t believe his ears. Christinazily lifted her gaze. For Nathaniel, Scenic Garden Manor was his home. He had mysophobia and couldn¡¯t sleep well outside. However, she realized that after four years of running,ing back here was the only choice, and escaping again seemed meaningless. Christina replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about anything else yet, so for now, this is the only condition.¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll move out tomorrow,¡± Nathaniel agreed immediately. Christina withdrew her shoulder from his grasp and turned around to leave. Nathaniel reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his embrace, and slowly walked toward the door. Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Apologize ¡°W-What are you trying to do?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened, and her heart pounded uncontrobly. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I¡¯ll be moving out tomorrow? That means I can stay here for another night. It¡¯s been a long time since you slept in the bedroom. Don¡¯t you miss it?¡± A low maic voice sounded, causing Christina to blush again. She protested, ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I know you do.¡± As he spoke, Nathaniel was already on his way to the bedroom with her in his arms. He shut the door gently, leaving only their breathing to fill the quiet room. Silently, Nathaniel held Christina in his arms. She was just as frail as she was before. It felt as though the wind could lift her off her feet. However, this petitedy before him would run away and leave him without a word. Nathaniel wrapped his arms around Christina¡¯s slender waist, hugging her tightly in his embrace as he breathed hot air down her neck. They remained quiet. The moonlight shone brightly, illuminating their figures that were cuddling together. Early morning the next day, Christina woke up to the morning sun. When she opened her eyes, the man beside her had already left. She opened the wardrobe and found half of Nathaniel¡¯s clothes gone. Upon a closer look, she noticed sometest women¡¯s designer fashion pieces hanging in there. Did Madison stay here while I was away? Just then, someone knocked on the door. A housekeeper entered the room to clean. When she saw Christina looking at the wardrobe in a daze, she quickly exined, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, even when you weren¡¯t around, Nathaniel would still ask people to fill the closet with thetest women¡¯s designer fashion every season. I guess he was worried you wouldn¡¯t have new clothes to wear when you¡¯re back.¡± In doubt, Christina checked thebel on the clothes. They were indeed the size she usually wore. Madison had arger frame than her. Hence, these clothes wouldn¡¯t fit her. Suddenly, her mood turned brighter. After changing into a new set of outfits, she went to the study. ¡°Mommy, can we y ser at thewn?¡± Cam walked over and made a request using her cute voice, making it hard for others to reject. ¡°Go ahead. I have something to work on now. Luke, please take care of Cam,¡± Christina said. Scenic Garden Manor belonged to her now, and she could do whatever she wanted to. ¡°Okay, Mommy.¡± Lucas grabbed Cam¡¯s hand and hurried down the stairs cheerfully. They had always loved ying ser. Being too busy with work, Christina couldn¡¯t bring them to the ser field. Most of the time, they would y at Christina¡¯s studio. However, her studio was too small for them to y ser. Lucas felt like he could finally y a real game with Cam now. Under the sunlight, the two little figures ran as much as they wished on the Lucas kicked the ball and sent it flying in the air. With a thud, it hit Madison, who just got off a car. ¡°D*mn it! Who did this?¡± Her dress was wet with mud. Lucas quickly ran over. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. It was an ident.¡± grass. ¡°Where did this kid¡­¡± Madison¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she looked at the little boy before her. The little boy looked about three years old but already bore a strong resemnce to Nathaniel. An ill premonition suddenly brewed in her heart. w Lucas didn¡¯t like thedy before him and only thought she was a scary and fierce woman. He picked up the ball and wanted to leave but was stopped by Madison. She grabbed his slender arm and asked, ¡°Who is your mom?¡± ¡°Let me go. It¡¯s none of your business who my mommy is.¡± Since they were young, Christina had taught Lucas and Cam not to disclose family information to strangers. Lucas instinctively thought the woman before him was an evildy. ¡°You witch, let go of my brother.¡± Cam picked up a small stone and threw it at Madison. Madison gasped in shock before she looked at her. ¡°Another one!¡± The little girl and the little boy looked so simr that anyone could tell they were fraternal twins. Taking advantage of the situation, Lucas broke free and took Cam¡¯s hand. ¡°Run, Cam!TM With their small steps, the two ran into the house together. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Run, Raymond! A witch is chasing after us!¡± Anxious, Lucas and Cam cried out, and their voices echoed to the second floor. Upon hearing their cries, Christina came down from the study and met Madison, who was wretched. Four yearster, these two rivals in love finally met, tensing up the atmosphere. Madison gasped and asked in disbelief, ¡°Christina, why are you here?¡± Although Nathaniel had been persistently inquiring about Christina¡¯s whereabouts these years, the news all turned out to be false. Despite his efforts in looking for Christina, nothing worked out. A few days ago, Madison heard from Sebastian that there was news of Christina. Naturally, she thought it would be a dud. She never expected Christina to return. With an icy re, Christina said, ¡°This is my turf. I should be the one asking why you were here.¡± After Madison heard the response, her expression grew dark. Her eyes were filled with disdain as she asked, ¡°Who is their father?¡± I remember her stomach was t when she left. When did she get pregnant? Crossing her arms, Christina replied firmly, ¡°It¡¯s Nathaniel.¡± Upon hearing that, Madison¡¯s eyes quivered. When did she get pregnant? Before she left? She forced herself to remain calm and said sarcastically, ¡°Well, who knows who their father is? Back then, you had an ambiguous rtionship with Francis. Maybe, he¡¯s the father? Or maybe you had them with some other man out there. Don¡¯t try to make Nathaniel their father!¡± After she spoke, she deliberately looked at the kids with disdainful eyes. Cam frowned slightly before she hid behind Lucas. ¡°Nonsense! We¡¯re not some kids that were born out of nowhere. We¡¯re Mommy¡¯s precious kids,¡± Lu retorted as he shielded Cam. Seeing her kids¡¯ frightened expressions, Christina was angered. She walked to Madison and raised her hand, pping thetter on her face. Her palm print was clearly printed on Madison¡¯s face. ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± Madison¡¯s pupils were ferociously red and bloodshot. ¡°So what?¡± This was something Christina wanted to do four years ago. Now that she had done it, she felt satisfied beyond words. The pain on Madison¡¯s face couldn¡¯tpare to the humiliation she felt. Furious, she lunged at Christina. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hit Mommy, you witch!¡± Lucas pounded on Madison, who came charging at Christina. Taken aback, Madison staggered and fell backward. However, she was caught by someone in time and didn¡¯t fall. ¡°What¡¯s happening here?¡± Nathaniel looked at them coldly as he asked. ¡°This evildy here said we were b¡±stards, so Mommy got angry and hit her!¡± Lucas furrowed his brows, and his eyes shed with anger. ¡°The kids attacked me first. Look how dirty my clothes became. Even my forehead is grazed¡­¡± Madison felt wronged.. Gritting his teeth, Nathaniel breathed through his teeth coldly. ¡°Apologize.¡± Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Chapter 320 A Change Of Heart Lucas clenched his fists. Disgruntlement was written all over his delicate face. Christina would not stand to see her son endure such a grievance. Picking her children up, she was all ready to head upstairs. Then came Nathaniel¡¯s grim gaze. ¡°I said, apologize.¡± Seeing the man¡¯s sharp, menacing re. Madison felt a shiver run down her spine. ¡°Nathaniel! You¡¯re asking me to say sorry?¡± she snapped back in disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t make me repeat it for a third time,¡± uttered Nathaniel through gritted teeth. His words pierced Madison like a sword. No matter how hard she gnashed her teeth in resistance, she eventually caved in and apologized. That was when a sense of warmth rose in Lucas¡¯ heart. Maybe this big gray wolf¡¯s not that loathsome after all. The boy turned around and made a face at Madison. ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you, you witch!¡± On that note, Madison red daggers at the boy, which frightened thetter andpelled him to cower in his mother¡¯s embrace. ¡°Nathaniel, hear me out- ¡°You should go back first.¡± Nathaniel trod on Christina¡¯s heels to the second floor upon dropping the statement. The only thing Madison could do was watch the family of four head upstairs together. Jealousy flooded her heart. Christina has already been gone for a good four years, so why didn¡¯t she stay away for good? Why must shee back? I¡¯ll never let her set foot in here! I¡¯ll need to think of something to drive that woman out once more! Christina took a moment tofort Lucas and Cam. Luckily, the children had not been affected. Otherwise, a tight p would never have been enough for her to let the matter slide. ¡°Mommy, I want to draw.¡± Cam had a gentle personality and had always enjoyed spending some quiet time on her own. Drawing was her favorite hobby. She seemed to have inherited the passion for doodling from her mother. Nathaniel heard the exchange when he stepped inside the room. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to make the arrangements right away.¡± In less than ten minutes, the vacant room next door was decorated as an art room, fully equipped with all sorts of paints. A nce over the newly designed art room immediately calmed Cam¡¯s nerves, and her bubbly eyes lit up. ¡°Wow! There are so many different paints!¡± ¡°Do you like it?¡± Nathaniel inched closer to the little girl. Instead of shying away from him that time, Cam simply bobbed her head in response. Her flushed. checks made her look all the more endearing. ¡°I love it!¡± Moreover, her mellow voice was music to Nathaniel¡¯s ears, melting his heart altogether. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to send a set of Montnc paintbrushes over to you first thing tomorrow.¡± Cam¡¯s crystalline eyes widened like saucers the second she heard that. She, for one, was aware that those paintbrushes of the said brand were worth a fortune. Thank you¡­¡± With a faint grin ying about his lips, Nathaniel raised his hand to caress Cam¡¯s head. Surprisingly, the little girl did not dodge the man¡¯s reach that time around. On the sidelines, Christina was baffled at that sight. Since when did Nathaniel learn how to win over a child? ¡°Cam¡¯s tricked by the big gray wolf. A few paintbrushes are all it takes for him toy his hands all over her head,¡± said Lucas, pouting the entire while. ¡°Oh? So, you wouldn¡¯t?¡± A chuckle apanied Christina¡¯s question. ¡°Definitely not,¡± answered Lucas with resolution as he crossed his arms. Seeing Nathaniel fast approaching, he forced himself to turn his head and looked away. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room to study.¡± He went on his way as soon as he said his piece. Christina, in turn, nodded in approval of her son¡¯s character. That¡¯s my son! I¡¯m d he showed some backbone. Right then, her phone that was left in the study rang. She spun on her heel to answer the phone. It was a call from the real estate agent. s, Nathaniel was one step ahead of her. He grabbed the phone and hit the answer key. ¡°Hello, Ms. Christina. I¡¯vee across two condominiums that are quite in line with your requirements, When will you be free to go check them out with me?¡± asked the agent enthusiastically. Nathaniel¡¯s countenance was as grim as death. ¡°She doesn¡¯t need any of it. Don¡¯t ever call this number again.¡± He hung up the phone right after finishing the sentence. ¡°What have you just promised mest night?¡± He looked up at Christina, his tone frosty. The woman wavered at his stare. ¡°Random people are in and out of here all day long. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be staying in a ce like this.¡± That property was not under her name, after all. She figured that Nathaniel could go back on his word any day and take back whatever he had offered at any time. Besides, she had been fending for herself and the kids for the past four years. Even she would deem herself worthless should she have to resort to living off a man. ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll have all the rights in the world to kick any outsiders out.¡± ¡°That includes you, correct?¡± Christina arched a brow. In fact, he was the person she wanted out the door the most at that juncture. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°No, not really. At most. I won¡¯t spend the night here.¡± Christina then snatched her phone back from Nathaniel¡¯s grip. Nevertheless, the man locked her by the waist, and just like that, their bodies drew so close to each other. Their warm breaths quickly permeated 1 the air in the already cramped space between them. ¡°Remember what you said.¡± Christina broke free from the man¡¯s arms like prey escaping from its predator. Looking at the retreating figure, Nathaniel heaved a soft sigh. At least I get to keep her by my side for now. As long as she doesn¡¯t run away from me, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll have a change of heart sooner orter. The next day, Nathaniel engaged an interior designer to transform those two rooms beside the master bedroom into independent kid¡¯s rooms. One of them was decorated in pink, giving off a princess-like vibe any girl would adore. Not only did it house a Barbie-designed bed made out of crystals, but it also came with a pinkish wardrobe filled with myriads of cute dresses. Simply put, every nook and cranny of the room was a nod to Barbie¡¯s style. ¡°Do you like it, Cam?¡± Nathaniel might have crouched down to speak to his daughter, but he was still way taller than her. ¡°Are these all for me? But Mommy said I shouldn¡¯t ept things or candies from strangers!¡± Cam sounded serious. She had already made an exception the day before and epted quite a few paints. A tinge of pain assailed Nathaniel deep down. He held Cam¡¯s hand and proimed, ¡°I¡¯m not a stranger. I¡¯m your daddy. Cam shook her head and retracted her hand. ¡°Mommy told me Daddy¡¯s already six feet under, so how could you be my daddy?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s visage clouded over at that. I¡¯m still very much alive, okay? He was bent on building a good rapport with the children and winning them over. Once both of the kids. took his side, they could help him convince Christina. As a matter of fact, Cam was all sweet and lovely. If anything, her adorable appearance could easily melt anyone¡¯s heart like cotton candy. At first, he thought that he could get Cam to befriend him with ease. Never in his wildest dreams did he anticipate himself being stumped by such an assertioning from a little girl like her. The next thing he did was fish out a strawberry lollipop from his pocket. ¡°So, would you like to have a daddy to be by your side?¡± What he said struck a chord with Cam¡¯s heart. She nodded in bewilderment. It went without saying that she had longed to have a father, for she had always seen ouer their fathers beside them except for her and Lucas. Nathaniel was ted to see that reaction. ¡°Then, is it okay for me to be your daddy?¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Cam eyeballed the man without even blinking once. Not a word escaped her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush things. We¡¯ll take it one step at a time. You can call me ¡®Daddy¡¯ whenever you¡¯re ready. But before that, could we just be friends first?¡± exhorted Nathaniel gently as he stretched out his hand. Cam said nothing. Can I really be friends with this big gray wolf? ¡°You won¡¯t hurt Mommy, will you?¡± the little girl questioned timidl ¡°I won¡¯t, for sure. I¡¯ll only dote on all of you with all my heart.¡± Nathaniel curled his lips slightly upward as he spoke. It was as though Cam saw a glimmer of hope emanating from the man. She epted the lollipop in Nathaniel¡¯s hand and said. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Should we do some drawing together? ¡°Sure!¡± With that, the father-and-daughter duo made their way to the art room hand in hand. Meanwhile, Christina finally finished her work in the study. She checked the time, only to find that it was time for Cam to have an afternoon nap. Cam won¡¯t stop drawing once she picks up the paintbrush. I wonder when she¡¯ll shake off that bad habit of hers. She entered the art room and prompted softly, ¡°Cam, it¡¯s nap time¡­¡± Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Visit Grandpa And Grandma Christina had wanted to return to the study, but Nathaniel had yet to release his grip on her wrist. Fearing that she would wake Cam up if she yelled, Christina lowered her voice to a whisper as she protested. ¡°Let go of me!¡± However, her protest was so soft that it simply reminded Nathaniel of how she used to call out to him. yfully while in his embrace. A scorching passion filled up his heart and surged through his entire body. ¡°Let-¡°Christina was cut off when Nathaniel kissed her all of a sudden, sealing her lipspletely with his. As she was caught off guard, Christina¡¯s mind went nk, and she pounded against his chest with her fists. As much as Nathaniel did not want to let go of her, he forced himself to do so when he sensed that she was mad at him. Given the way things were between them, he did not dare get on Christina¡¯s bad side at all. Despite her usually being a gentle and meek person, she had no issues upping and leaving whenever she got angry ¡°I will have you banned from this house if you do that again!¡± Christina said while ring furiously at himThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. That was when Nathaniel caught a whiff of her unique, faint fragrance. He then ignored herpletely as he lifted his hand and wiped his lips with his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up tonight.¡± Julia had been waiting excitedly at the front door of the Hadley residence the moment she heard about her grandchildrening over. You were never this excited, even when Nathaniel came over,¡± Charlie said while tidying up her somewhat messy hair Their conversation was interrupted when a Maybach pulled up outside the front gate. Julia then ran forward and opened the car door excitedly, only to frown in disappointment when she saw that it was Nathaniel She then mmed the door shut, made her way around the car, and opened the door on the other side. Julia felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the exquisite facial features of the two kids Oh my goodness! They look just like Nathaniel when he was little Julia was so excited that it took her quite a while to calm down before she could speak normally ¡°Come here, my darlings¡¯ Let me give you two a hug?¡± Christina felt her heart melt when she carried the kids out of the car and saw the excited look in Julia¡¯s It felt as though she was meeting a family member whom she had parted ways with for a long time. Lucas Cam, say hello to your grandma Cam nced at Lucas as the two of them said in unison, ¡°Hello, Grandma!¡± ¡°Oh, you two are so sweet! Come on, let¡¯s head inside!¡± Julia said as she picked the kids up. Although Cam was a little ufortable being around strangers, she kept quiet when she saw the look. in Christina¡¯s eyes. The housekeepers quickly gathered around the moment they entered the house. They were all curious as to how Lucas and Cam looked. ¡°Come here; let me take a look at you! So, which one of you two is the elder sibling?¡± Charlie asked while holding Lucas in his arms. ¡°I am!¡± Lucas replied proudly. As Cam was the quiet type, she looked like a pretty doll when she sat there without saying a word. Just like that, the two kids had instantly be the stars of the house. The atmosphere was really harmonious as Charlie and Julia yed with the kids. After having dinner, Charlie brought the kids to his study so he could show them his antique collection. It was the first time they had seen such rare antique items, so they were both incredibly curious. Charlie even told them interesting stories about each item as he showed them around. Julia brought Christina out for a stroll in the courtyard. ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re back, Christina. Please don¡¯t run away like that again. Julia had no idea what had happened between Christina and Nathaniel back then, but she figured it was definitely serious if it drove Christina to run away from home. ¡°I won¡¯t run away again, but¡­ I might get a divorce,¡± Christina said as she saw no reason to keep it a secret, While she was okay with letting Nathaniel visit the kids, she felt that they could no longer go back to the way they were. The look on Julia¡¯s face turned gloomy instantly. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t care about yourself, you should at least care about the kids. Please think about the damage you¡¯d be doing before saying such hurtful things.¡± But what about my feelings? Who would care about me? Christina clenched her fists and tried her best to suppress her negative emotions. ¡°You two are way too simr in terms of your stubbornness. That can easily lead to a lot of misunderstandings.¡± Julia added while giving her a gentle pat on the hand. ¡°Mom, I- Julia cut her off, ¡°The fact that you are calling me ¡®Mom¡¯ shows that you acknowledge me as your mother- inw. I, too, will only ept you as my daughter-inw.¡± Christina had a conflicted look in her eyes as a warm sensation filled up her heart. She kept thinking about Julia¡¯s words on the drive home that night. Thristina was so distracted by her thoughts that she didn¡¯t even notice when they had arrived home. wasn¡¯t until Nathaniel carried the kids out of the car that Christina snapped out of her train of thought. Here, let me carry Cam,¡± Christina said as she walked up to him and reached her hands out. s the two of them were standing very close to each other, Nathaniel saw her thin corbones the homent he lowered his head. Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Sign This Oblivious to his gaze, Christina took Cam over from him and made her way into the house. She then went into deep thought when she saw the kids sleeping soundly. The kids and I have been roaming around for far too long. It¡¯s time for us to settle down. Nathaniel¡¯s tall figure could be seen standing in the corridor when she stepped out of the kids¡¯ bedroom. The white light hanging above him gave him a cool look as it highlighted his masculine features. My goodness¡­ He looks amazing from every angle! I bet countless women would willingly throw themselves at a perfect man like him! With that in mind, Christina made her way over and asked with an emotionless look on her face, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± If there was one thing Nathaniel feared the most, it was her being cold toward him. He then walked up to her and wrapped an arm around her slender waist, forcing her to make with him. eye contact Christina narrowed her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you trying to force yourself on me again?¡± Nathaniel lifted her chin with his other hand and leaned in close. Their noses were almost touching each other, and she could feel the warmth of his fingertips on her bare skin. ¡°You need to bring the kids over to the kindergarten tomorrow morning, so you should get some rest,¡± he said while staring intensely into Christina¡¯s eyes. The next thing she knew, Nathaniel had let go of her and went downstairs. The golden rays of the morning sun shone through the bedroom window and filled it with a warm glow. Christina had adopted a habit of getting up early in the morning. She was watching the news in the study when Sebastian knocked on the door and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to retrieve the documents, Mrs. Hadley.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christina replied with a nod. While searching the cab for the documents, Sebastian identally knocked some over, causing them to scatter all over the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll clean it upter,¡± he said with an awkward smile. Christina didn¡¯t give it much thought and decided to help him pick them up. She froze when her gaze fell upon the stack of ne tickets and train tickets that Nathaniel had bought while searching for her in every city. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to imagine a man like Nathaniel showing up at crowded train stations. Having found the documents he hade for, Sebastian was about to start cleaning up the mess when he noticed the tickets in Christina¡¯s hands. ¡°These are proof that Mr. Hadley had been searching for you. Whenever he received information on your whereabouts, he would insist on searching that area for you in person. Sometimes, he would get so impatient that he¡¯d buy tickets at thest minute and rush there overnight. The ones you are holding in your hands are only a part of his journey.¡± At that very moment, Christina felt as though the tickets in her hands weighed a ton, and her eyes started tearing up all of a sudden. She was so shocked that she just stood there like a statue for what seemed like forever. She didn¡¯t even realize when Sebastian left the study. It wasn¡¯t until her legs began to hurt from the prolonged standing that she snapped out of her dazed state. That was when she realized her heart was starting to waver. Nathaniel went back to Scenic Garden Manor as soon as he was done with work at the office. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ve already contacted the kindergarten. We¡¯ll bring the kids over and have a look at the ce today. We¡¯ll only proceed with the enrolment if you¡¯re okay with it.¡± Christina simply stood there in silence after hearing that. Nathaniel panicked when he got no response from her. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Christina?¡± I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s thinking about unless she tells me! ¡°Christina?¡± Nathaniel reached out to pat her on the shoulder, but she brushed his hand aside and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± The kindergarten that Nathaniel had chosen was the best one in the city. Its school fees alone cost up to fifty thousand per semester. It was obvious that a lot of effort had been put into the design and renovation of the kindergarten. The sinks in the restrooms were made of marble, and professional instructors could be seen teaching their respective sses inside the art studios and dance studios. ¡°It¡¯s too expensive,¡± Christinamented the moment she heard about the price. ¡°My children shall receive nothing but the best. Of course, they are the ones who will decide if we enroll them here,¡± Nathaniel said. The kindergarten teacher had just returned after taking Lucas and Cam on a tour. ¡°Do you two like this kindergarten?¡± Nathaniel asked while picking them up. ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°They even have a programming ss here! I love it!¡± Lucas eximed with a smile. ¡°Would you two like toe to school here?¡± Nathaniel asked. The two kids nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Yes!¡± Nathaniel then motioned for Sebastian to take care of the enrolment procedure. ¡°You two can starting to school here tomorrow,¡± he said while carrying the kids out the front gate. You¡¯re the best, big gray wolf?¡± Lucas eximed excitedly, only to cover his mouth when he realized he had said something he shouldn¡¯t. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be calling him ¡®Daddy?¡± Cam asked with a wink. Nathaniel simply stared at them without saying a word. He didn¡¯t want to pressure them into calling him ¡°Daddy.¡± It wouldn¡¯t mean anything if they didn¡¯t acknowledge me from the bottom of their hearts. Lucas couldn¡¯t bring himself to call Nathaniel ¡°Daddy¡± just yet. Instead of forcing him, Nathaniel simply gave him a pat on the head and said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s Christina contacted Yosef as soon as she returned to the study. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. go home.¡± ¡°Christina, are you all right?¡± He hadn¡¯t been able to contact her ever since they went their separate ways. The bruise on the corner of his forehead had yet to healpletely, and his handsome face looked somewhat pale. Christina¡¯s eyes were filled with guilt as she said apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m fine, and I¡¯m sorry about your wound. You only got injured because of me¡­¡± Yosef had helped her a lot over the years, but she didn¡¯t contact him after returning to her country for fear of angering Nathaniel. ¡°I¡¯m fine! It felt quite satisfying to punch him a few times, so it¡¯s all good!¡± Yosef replied jokingly. He was not bothered by their conflict at all. Christina felt a lot more relieved after hearing that. ¡°I probably won¡¯t be able to head back anytime soon, so you guys will have to take care of things at the studio.¡± Two years ago, Christina, Yosef, and a Ferropenian friend of theirs set up a studio that mainly focused on haute couture products. As Yosef was the most popr among the three, Christina would often assist him whenever she was free.. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You don¡¯t have a lot of work on your hands anyway, so just think of it as going on a long vacation or something.¡± ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Christina, I can help you out anytime if you feel like leaving¡­¡± That was thest thing Yosef said to her during that conversation of theirs. Christina hung up without giving him a reply. Nathaniel had recently beening home on time every day. He would have dinner at Scenic Garden Manor and visit Christina in the study afterward. Christina looked incredibly beautiful with the golden rays of the evening sun shining on her. She had her head held low, which revealed the fair skin on her nape. No one would ever have guessed that she was a mother of two. Nathaniel walked up to her and got her attention by waving a document in her face. Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Back To The Studio Christina picked up the offer letter and scanned it. ¡°Are you offering me a job as the owner of Christina¡¯s Studios?¡± You¡¯ll be getting a higher sry than what your studio is currently paying you. You have no reason to turn it down.¡± Nathaniel knew her very well. She would be restless if she were away from her work for longer than two days. Since she wants to work, why not let her work under my nose? That way, I can keep an eye on her too. ¡°Christina¡¯s Studios is mine. Since when did it be yours?¡± Christina scowled, feeling as though the fruits of herbor had been stolen from her. ¡°Well, it¡¯s mine now. If you refuse, I¡¯ll just hire another designer. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you if they make a mess of it.¡± Though Nathaniel employed a tone ofzy nonchnce, his gaze remained fixedly on her face. Christina¡¯s expression turned sour. He¡¯s forcing me into a corner to present me with a choice he has plotted for a long time as the only option. Nathaniel knew how misleading her meek demeanor was; she was more stubborn than anybody he knew when it came to principles. Even the prospect of money would not tempt her otherwise. In that case, why not have a written contract bind her by my side? Christina did not speak. The atmosphere around there turned tense. Nathaniel walked over and ced a fountain pen in her hand. ¡°You are going to need a job. It¡¯s the same wherever you work, so you might as well work for me. You get decent benefits, and the boss doesn¡¯t ask for much.¡± Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. Before Christina realized what was happening, he was already holding her hand and signing her name with the patience of an adult teaching a child to write. Momentster, Christina¡¯s signature appeared, fully formed and irrevocable, on the agreement. ¡°From today on, you are my employee. You can start work immediately.¡± Nathaniel brought Christina to Hadley Corporation. Her office was on the twenty-first floor. ¡°Since when did my studio move here?¡± ncing about, Christina had the distinct feeling of somebody pulling one over on her. Nathaniel opened the door and led her in. ¡°Given Hadley Corporation¡¯s recent acquisition of Christina¡¯s Studios, I don¡¯t see a reason for your office not being in this building Theyout of the twenty-first floor had been recreated to her specifications at the prior location. When she entered, the sight of the familiar decor and the unused fabrics in the tailor room sent her into a nostalgic reverie. ¡°Christina!¡± a familiar voice sounded. It was Rayne. Having not seen one another for four years, the pair embraced like old friends while exchanging comments on the changes they had gone through. Nathaniel stood quietly by. He noticed the smile finally breaking over Christina¡¯s face. This is the first time she has smiled so genuinely since her return. The faint morning rays illuminated her face. Her eyes, having turned to slits in her joy, shone wonderfully. Her smile struck him like a bullet through his heart, from which a dull throbbing began. When Christina turned around after her chat, she realized Nathaniel had left. Rayne told Christina that Nathaniel had been footing the bill for the studio and keeping her on. Over the past four years, she had been faithfully updating the social media ounts of Christina¡¯s Studios. The photographs they used, however, were old ones taken long ago. ¡°Good thing I took many pictures. Also, I have been maintaining and our online presence with the help of the archives. Now that you¡¯re back, I don¡¯t have to use the old pictures anymore.¡± Christina sat down. What surprised her the most was that the clients who hadmissioned pieces four years ago did not cancel their orders. She tasked Rayne with contacting the clients on the waitlist, intent onpleting the unfinished pieces. Soon, Rayne was put through to the first client on the list-Karen Singer. They quickly agreed on a time to meet, but the client wanted Christina toe to her house. She even offered to pay extra. Christina did not hesitate when she heard the offer and agreed on the spot. After ascertaining the location, they took off. Karen lived in a luxurious residential area on the east side of the city. It was rather deserted, with greenery as far as the eye could see. Karen weed them warmly when they entered her house. ¡°Are you Ada, the designer?¡± To promote Christina¡¯s photographs, Rayne had included a card with Ada¡¯s name on it. As the name held particr esteem in the design industry, their wealthy clientele held on to their orders. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Singer. What style would you like for your gown? May 1 get your measurements?¡± ¡°Could you have it done for me by the end of the month? I heard I am your first client upon being back in business. Thedies would be green with envy when I show up to a banquet in one of your dresses!¡± Karen chuckled, her eyes alighted with glee. ¡°It would be doable, but I must trouble you to decide on a design as soon as possible.¡± Christina produced a tape measure and got to work while Rayne took notes. Halfway through, Rayne received a call from home, so she took a cab back. Katen was pleasant. She obliged Christina with everything thetter wanted and helpfully described the style she was after. Over the years, Christina had developed the ability to sketch quickly. Guided by Karen¡¯s request, she soon produced a draft. Karen did a twirl of excitement. ¡°Yes! That¡¯s the look I¡¯m after! I can¡¯t wait for the finished product. When the timees, I will show off your design, Ada.¡± In her tion, Karen chattered on with Christina until the sky grew dark. When it was time to leave, Christina tried to hail a taxi several times, but because of the remoteness of the area, none took her on. Helpless to do much else, she decided to walk out and take a bus home. With the map on her screen as a reference, she began her trek. As a result of the darkness, she suddenly found herself quite lost. After a quick scan of the surroundings, Christina cursed when she realized she could no longer identify the route she hade from. Thus, she produced her phone to call for help. After scrolling through listlessly, she finally called the police. Christina sat under the streetmp and waited. She produced her phone to send Nathaniel a text but realized there was no signal. Suddenly, the roar of motorcycle engines cut across the deste night. It was a duo of bikers who hade to an isted mountainous stretch to race. Along the deserted stretch, they noticed the figure, slender as a willow tree. The two motorcycles screeched to a halt. After an exchange she could not quite discern, they turned around and stopped before her. ¡°Are you lost, youngdy? How about we give you a ride out of here?¡± Christina looked up. leave.¡± Her discerning gaze flickered beneath the orangemps. ¡°No, thank you. You should The man descended his bike and leered at her. ¡°Hah, you seem to be a stubborn one, aren¡¯t you? Interesting!¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Do Not Think About Leaving Me Christina took a step back. Her gaze darkened warily as they regarded the approaching man. ¡°The exit is very far from here. You would be nowhere near out of here even by daybreak.¡± The thinner of the two men suddenly stepped forward to pull Christina onto his bike. Christina had learned to make the first offensive move in the face of danger-she kicked him in the groin. The man fell to his knees with a howl. Her defiance drew the ire of the other biker. ¡°How dare you attack. him, you b*tch?¡± Without waiting for him to finish, Christina turned and ran. The footsteps of her pursuers sounded behind her. Though her heart clenched painfully, she did not dare slow down. The footsteps drew closer. Just when Christina felt as if she could no longer take another step, a dazzling beam of light ahead blinded her. The wail of the police siren reverberated across the skies. Christina¡¯s legs gave way, and she slumped onto the ground. The police emerged and, after ascertaining the situation, brought her and the bikers back to the precinct. A few cops escorted the bikers into the interrogation room. Fortunately for the police¡¯s timely arrival, the hooligans were apprehended before they could do anything. Christina remained on the steel chair by the wall and was only allowed to leave afterpleting the procedure by signing her name. She nced at the clock. It was already ten at night. Shaken, all she wanted was to get through the procedure as quickly as possible so she could go home. Christina kept her gaze down at her feet. Suddenly, she was yanked out of her reverie by the stampede of impatient footsteps. A hulking figure dashed through the door. It was Nathaniel in his pajamas. His hair was dripping, and he had a pair of fluffy slippers on his feet. His chiseled features looked encased in an icy gloom. With vessels bulging in his bloodshot eyes, he looked deranged. Having received exceptional lessons in etiquette from a young age, Nathaniel would never leave the house in pajamas unless the situation was dire. Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org. She could tell from his attire that he had been in a great panic. Christina felt like a guilty child being caught red-handed by her parent. At the moment, she wanted more than anything the ability to disappear at will. With a sheepish hunch of her shoulders, she lowered her gaze, not daring to meet his. ¡°You can leave with Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley. I will deal with the remaining procedure.¡± Without another word. Sebastian led thewyer in. Christina did not recall Nathaniel stuffing her into the passenger seat. He sped all the way home. Though the car was hermetically sealed, the roar of the wind whooshed past her ears. Only before a set of traffic lights did Nathaniel finally slow to a halt. Christina turned to examine him. His exquisite features were taut. Every line on his face looked as if it had been carved from a de. His rage, too, had a tangible form. It expanded within the space between them, and the air became dangerously thin. Even the sound of their breathing in the ensuing silence was amplified. ¡°Are you upset?¡± she asked gingerly. It was the first time she had spoken to him with such a gentle tone since her return. However, Nathaniel remained unmoved. ¡°Don¡¯t you have my number?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Christina squeaked. Nathaniel tightened his grip around the steering wheel. The veins on his hands bulged rmingly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me at once?¡± After arriving back at Scenic Garden Manor from the office, he noticed that Christina had not returned, so he ate with the children. Later, at nine, he called to ask about Christina¡¯s whereabouts. Rayne informed him they went to see a client but did not leave together. It was then he began to feel that something was awry. Just as he was about to look for her, Lucas and Cam ambled over, reluctant to have the housekeepers bathe them. Thus, he called Sebastian to find out where Christina was while he left to bathe the children. Ending up soaking wet from the endeavor, Nathaniel took a shower after tucking the children in. As soon as he emerged from the bathroom, Sebastian called to tell him that Christina was at the police station; she had gotten lost and had a run-in with some bikers. Before Sebastian finished his sentence, he had dashed out. Only he knew how anxious he was then. It felt the same as the time when he found out Christina was leaving-like he was falling from a building and having his heart shattering into indiscernible oblivion. It was a pain he did not wish to endure again. Only after seeing Christina unharmed did he regain his calm. ¡°I was lost, with no idea where I was. It would have been pointless to call you,¡± Christina mumbled. I did nothing wrong, yet I¡¯m getting told off. I did not know where I was. How was I supposed to let him rescue me? Furthermore, their history had driven a wedge between them; even if she were to face it all over again, she would not have called Nathaniel. She did not have to say it. He could see the coldness in her nk, distant expression and knew he wanted nothing more than to push him as far as possible away from her. Though she is back, her heart is further than it had ever been before. Nathaniel gave a self-deprecatingugh, feeling like a fool who was powerless to change how Christina was feeling. The light turned green, but as his mood was foul, he showed no intention of starting the car. Instead, he remained fixated on wrestling with the negative emotions within him and keeping them at bay. Unfortunately, he was never adept at managing his emotions. With them all jumbled up together, he was even more helpless to calm himself. Christina watched him. Her gaze dimmed with a sense of foreboding. Suddenly, an ear-piercing honk sounded. They had stopped for too long, and the driver in the car behind them was bing impatient. The series of honks lit Nathaniel¡¯s fuse. No longer concerned about not having an outlet to vent, he cursed under his breath before exiting the car. A cold gust of wind entered the door, which had been left open. Christina shuddered. She knew all too well where Nathaniel was going. Having just departed the police station, she was in no hurry to go back. Christina opened her own door and hurried after him. Nathaniel was already arguing with the driver behind them. Staring daggers at each other, the two men looked as if they wereing dangerously to blows. Christina ced herself between them both. Despite her slight figure, she stood resolutely before home.¡± Nathaniel, who was about to lunge forward. ¡°Don¡¯t start a fight. Let¡¯s go -Who gives d*mn if you¡¯re rich? Is this whole stretch made for you and your Maybach?¡± The other driver was also livid. His wife, in the passenger seat, quickly exited the car to hold her husband back, coaxing him not to get involved as she did so. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. to the car. We¡¯ll go.¡± Christina wrapped her slender arms around Nathaniel¡¯s waist and pushed him back Nathaniel felt the tenderness around his midsection. Along with her familiar scent, it brought him back to his senses. ¡°Enough, Nathaniel. We¡¯ll talk about this at home.¡± Christina forced him into the driver¡¯s seat. Then, she returned hastily to her side. After urging him several more times, he started driving back to Scenic Garden Manor. Twenty minutester, and with a stylish drift, the car slid into the garage. With the engine switched off, the air gradually solidified. Soon, the deafening silence grew disquieting. The pair stared at each other without saying a word. The atmosphere grew tense. Nathaniel adjusted his seat back until it was wide enough to fit two people. Then, he grabbed Christina¡¯s arm. Before she could react, her vision spun, and she found herself relocated from the passenger seat to the driver¡¯s seat. There was horren apo te th The dighing me Nathaniel die n speak ??????? ?, Chiriering Aered in some great we would real in their bodies touching to opined by wrapping and band wound her wat snd the other on 1 still ages Helmight all I will dis my best to have you secept me Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Let Daddy Stay His domineeringmand, tinged with reluctance, rang in Christina¡¯s ears. Her heart skipped a beat, though she could not put a finger on the sensation. Either as a consequence of exhaustion or from the prolonged kiss, she passed out without even realizing 1. When she next awoke, she found herself lying in her bed. The housekeeper knocked gently and entered with breakfast. ¡°Are you awake, Mrs. Hadley? Mr. Hadley left after sending you home yesterday. He also made a special call this morning to instruct us to prepare breakfast for you.¡± Christina massaged her temples. She rose, washed up, got dressed, then left the house. As soon as she arrived at the office, Rayne asked if something had happened the night before. Nathaniel had called her veryte. From his tone, she deduced that Christina had not arrived home. Christina did not tell Rayne about the fright she had the night before. Instead, she gave an evasive answer. ¡°I want to start working on Mrs. Singer¡¯s gown, so I won¡¯t be taking on any new customers.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Christina got to work as soon as she entered the tailor room. She drew, cut, and sewed. Though each step looked simple, all of them amounted to an extraordinarilyplicated project. Madison dropped by close to noon. She knew that Nathaniel had moved Christina¡¯s studio to their building. Though she found it a thorn in her eye, there was nothing she could do to stop it. Madison sauntered into the tailor room. The sight of Christina reminded her of the p she had endured. at Scenic Garden Manor the other day. Her check throbbed at the memory. She entered, ced a set of car keys on the desk, and pulled a face in disdain. ¡°Not bad for getting a nice car from Nathaniel so quickly.¡± Her tone sounded as if she was the wife appraising the mistress. Christina did not deign to look up. Her sharp eyes remained unperturbed. ¡°What about you? What did you get?¡± Madison¡¯s expression shifted slightly. It had been four years, yet nothing came of her and Nathaniel. Even without Christina¡¯s interference, she would still be his assistant with no prospect of being anything more. However, she was not going to back down. ¡°I have gotten plenty. Would you like to hear about some of them?¡± Christina fell silent. Ayer of frost zed over her glittering eyes. Madison knew her words had seeded in aggravating the other woman, so she pressed on, ¡°You think yourself so great for bearing Nathaniel two children, do you? I have borne him a child, too.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She had considered many possibilities, but Nathaniel having an illegitimate child had never been one of them. Just like that, her wound, newly healed, was cut open again. A fresh torrent of hurt poured anew. Madison was filled with glee at the sight of the other¡¯s disappointment. ¡°My kid is a little younger than yours-almost three this year. Come for the birthday party, will you?¡± Christina was sickened by those words. The mistress wants the wife to attend her kid¡¯s party? What a joke. Madison¡¯s expression grew even more smug. ¡°Take as much as you can before the divorce. Don¡¯t wait too long, or you might find yourself empty-handed.¡± After her speech, she smiled derisively. Christina picked up the car keys. Her gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°How sure are you that we will end in divorce? If Nathaniel really liked you, he would have separated from me, and in two years, the court would have granted us a divorce without me having to sign a thing. Besides, he hasn¡¯t mentioned a divorce since I came back. It looks like you were only a ything to him once upon a time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. Which one of us getting thestugh remains to be seen.¡± Madison red, baring her teeth, but she did not dare do anything to Christina out in the open. Atst, she stormed out of there in a huff. Christina looked down and found a bent needle in her hand. The tip had pierced her fingertip, drawing large droplets of bright red blood. They even have a child together. What was Nathaniel¡¯s ingratiating act about then? Does he want both of us? Returning to Scenic Garden Manor after work, Christina was greeted by the squeals of delight from the living room as soon as she crossed the threshold. ¡°Are you ready? We¡¯re taking off!¡± ¡°Slow down, Daddy! Slow down!¡± With Cam on his shoulders, Nathaniel held her by the arms and jogged about the vast living room. They appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. Lucas was envious. ¡°Are you done, Daddy? It¡¯s my turn now! I want to ride the airne!¡± Daddy¡¯s shoulders are so strong. It would be fun to sit on them. I want a ride, too! Nathaniel took Cam for several spins, then plopped her down onto the couch. ¡°Held on, Cam. It¡¯s Lucas turn now.¡± Before he finished his sentence, Lucas had already jumped up onto Nathaniel¡¯s muscr back. He wrapped his little hands tightly around his father¡¯s strong neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Daddy! Take off!¡± His stubby httle legs swung excitedly as he urged, his voice shrill with delight. ¡°All right, we¡¯re taking off!¡± Lifting Lucas, Nathaniel began running. He was fast but stable, always ensuring the safety of the children when they yed. ¡°Haha, how fun! Faster, Daddy! Faster!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Christina watched the children y, and the heartwarming scene pricked her heart. The children had never known their father, so they never knew what it was like to have one. However, things have changed; they have now established a rtionship with him. If I were to force them apart at this juncture, their psychological trauma would be catastrophic, Christina felt her heart race and sear with white-hot pain. It caused tears to well up in her eyes. Cam dashed over when she caught sight of her mother. ¡°You¡¯re home, Mommy! Join us, would you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You should be having your meals and baths, then doing your homework!¡± Christina said, beaming as she caressed her head. The children were so obedient that they heeded her instructions at once and followed her meekly to their bedroom for their bath. Holding on to Nathaniel¡¯s thigh, Lucas gazed up, his cheeks ruddy. ¡°Could you bathe me, Daddy?¡± He usually had to wait while his mother bathed his sister before his turn. ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go!¡± Nathaniel took him by the hand and headed toward the bedroom. Christina was seized by an impulse to stop them. She did not wish Nathaniel to be around the children, as it would be easier to leave if it ever came to that. Gazing at the departing figures of both father and son, the words that had risen to her lips fell away, unuttered. After their baths, the children implored Nathaniel to tell them a bedtime story. It waste at night when it ended. Lucas tugged at Christina¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I want Daddy to put me to sleep. Mommy, but look at the time! Can Daddy stay tonight?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mommy. Our teacher told us that it¡¯s dangerous to drive at night. Let Daddy stay, please?¡± Chapter 325 Let Daddy Stay His domineeringmand, tinged with reluctance, rang in Christina¡¯s ears. Her heart skipped a beat, though she could not put a finger on the sensation. Either as a consequence of exhaustion or from the prolonged kiss, she passed out without even realizing 1. When she next awoke, she found herself lying in her bed. The housekeeper knocked gently and entered with breakfast. ¡°Are you awake, Mrs. Hadley? Mr. Hadley left after sending you home yesterday. He also made a special call this morning to instruct us to prepare breakfast for you.¡± Christina massaged her temples. She rose, washed up, got dressed, then left the house. As soon as she arrived at the office, Rayne asked if something had happened the night before. Nathaniel had called her veryte. From his tone, she deduced that Christina had not arrived home. Christina did not tell Rayne about the fright she had the night before. Instead, she gave an evasive answer. ¡°I want to start working on Mrs. Singer¡¯s gown, so I won¡¯t be taking on any new customers.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Christina got to work as soon as she entered the tailor room. She drew, cut, and sewed. Though each step looked simple, all of them amounted to an extraordinarilyplicated project. Madison dropped by close to noon. She knew that Nathaniel had moved Christina¡¯s studio to their building. Though she found it a thorn in her eye, there was nothing she could do to stop it. Madison sauntered into the tailor room. The sight of Christina reminded her of the p she had endured. at Scenic Garden Manor the other day. Her check throbbed at the memory. She entered, ced a set of car keys on the desk, and pulled a face in disdain. ¡°Not bad for getting a nice car from Nathaniel so quickly.¡± Her tone sounded as if she was the wife appraising the mistress. Christina did not deign to look up. Her sharp eyes remained unperturbed. ¡°What about you? What did you get?¡± Madison¡¯s expression shifted slightly. It had been four years, yet nothing came of her and Nathaniel. Even without Christina¡¯s interference, she would still be his assistant with no prospect of being anything more. However, she was not going to back down. ¡°I have gotten plenty. Would you like to hear about some of them?¡± Christina fell silent. Ayer of frost zed over her glittering eyes. Madison knew her words had seeded in aggravating the other woman, so she pressed on, ¡°You think yourself so great for bearing Nathaniel two children, do you? I have borne him a child, too.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She had considered many possibilities, but Nathaniel having an illegitimate child had never been one of them. Just like that, her wound, newly healed, was cut open again. A fresh torrent of hurt poured anew. Madison was filled with glee at the sight of the other¡¯s disappointment. ¡°My kid is a little younger than yours-almost three this year. Come for the birthday party, will you?¡± Christina was sickened by those words. The mistress wants the wife to attend her kid¡¯s party? What a joke. Madison¡¯s expression grew even more smug. ¡°Take as much as you can before the divorce. Don¡¯t wait too long, or you might find yourself empty-handed.¡± After her speech, she smiled derisively. Christina picked up the car keys. Her gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°How sure are you that we will end in divorce? If Nathaniel really liked you, he would have separated from me, and in two years, the court would have granted us a divorce without me having to sign a thing. Besides, he hasn¡¯t mentioned a divorce since I came back. It looks like you were only a ything to him once upon a time.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. Which one of us getting thestugh remains to be seen.¡± Madison red, baring her teeth, but she did not dare do anything to Christina out in the open. Atst, she stormed out of there in a huff. Christina looked down and found a bent needle in her hand. The tip had pierced her fingertip, drawing large droplets of bright red blood. They even have a child together. What was Nathaniel¡¯s ingratiating act about then? Does he want both of us? Returning to Scenic Garden Manor after work, Christina was greeted by the squeals of delight from the living room as soon as she crossed the threshold. ¡°Are you ready? We¡¯re taking off!¡± ¡°Slow down, Daddy! Slow down!¡± With Cam on his shoulders, Nathaniel held her by the arms and jogged about the vast living room. They appeared to be enjoying themselves immensely. Lucas was envious. ¡°Are you done, Daddy? It¡¯s my turn now! I want to ride the airne!¡± Daddy¡¯s shoulders are so strong. It would be fun to sit on them. I want a ride, too! Nathaniel took Cam for several spins, then plopped her down onto the couch. ¡°Held on, Cam. It¡¯s Lucas turn now.¡± Before he finished his sentence, Lucas had already jumped up onto Nathaniel¡¯s muscr back. He wrapped his little hands tightly around his father¡¯s strong neck. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Daddy! Take off!¡± His stubby httle legs swung excitedly as he urged, his voice shrill with delight. ¡°All right, we¡¯re taking off!¡± Lifting Lucas, Nathaniel began running. He was fast but stable, always ensuring the safety of the children when they yed. ¡°Haha, how fun! Faster, Daddy! Faster!¡± Christina watched the children y, and the heartwarming scene pricked her heart. The children had never known their father, so they never knew what it was like to have one. However, things have changed; they have now established a rtionship with him. If I were to force them apart at this juncture, their psychological trauma would be catastrophic, Christina felt her heart race and sear with white-hot pain. It caused tears to well up in her eyes. Cam dashed over when she caught sight of her mother. ¡°You¡¯re home, Mommy! Join us, would you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough for today. You should be having your meals and baths, then doing your homework!¡± Christina said, beaming as she caressed her head. The children were so obedient that they heeded her instructions at once and followed her meekly to their bedroom for their bath. Holding on to Nathaniel¡¯s thigh, Lucas gazed up, his cheeks ruddy. ¡°Could you bathe me, Daddy?¡± He usually had to wait while his mother bathed his sister before his turn. ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go!¡± Nathaniel took him by the hand and headed toward the bedroom. Christina was seized by an impulse to stop them. She did not wish Nathaniel to be around the children, as it would be easier to leave if it ever came to that. Gazing at the departing figures of both father and son, the words that had risen to her lips fell away, unuttered. After their baths, the children implored Nathaniel to tell them a bedtime story. It waste at night when it ended. Lucas tugged at Christina¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I want Daddy to put me to sleep. Mommy, but look at the time! Can Daddy stay tonight?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mommy. Our teacher told us that it¡¯s dangerous to drive at night. Let Daddy stay, please?¡± Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Helpful Kids The kids called Nathaniel their daddy. That means they have finally acknowledged him. Christina hesitated. Right then, Cam pleaded in a cute tone, ¡°Mommy, let Daddy sleep here tonight, okay? Otherwise, we¡¯ll be worried about him¡­¡± Christina couldn¡¯t resist the kids¡¯ cute voices and their teary eyes. Hence, she held up a finger and uttered warily, ¡°Fine. However, he can only sleep in the guest room.¡± Nathaniel then grabbed her finger and responded, ¡°Anything you say.¡± At that moment, his eyes were filled with intense emotions. If the kids weren¡¯t there, he would¡¯ve made a move on Christina on the spot. ¡°In that case, you¡¯ll be responsible for putting the kids to bed.¡± Christina didn¡¯t want to be in the same room as him. ¡°Sleep early, Cam, Lucas!¡± ¡°Yes, Mommy!¡± the kids agreed obediently. Nathaniel was impressed by her ability to coax the kids. The little ones behave themselves well in front of Christina. As soon as Christina left the room, Cam and Lucas turned toward Nathaniel at once. ¡°Daddy, you promised to bring us horseback riding during the weekend if we could convince Mommy. You must keep your word!¡± The kids were very interested in horseback riding. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Nathaniel carried the kids to the bed and replied in a gentle tone, ¡°Why would I lie to you? In fact, I¡¯ve already made a call to reserve the venue. We¡¯ll go there with your mommy this weekend, okay?¡± Cam and Lucas gave each other a high-five and cheered, ¡°You¡¯re the best, Daddy!¡± ¡°All right. It¡¯s time to sleep. I¡¯ll read you guys a story.¡± Under the dim lights, Nathaniel sat by the bed, held a storybook in his hands, and read them a story in a coaxing tone. While looking at Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face from the side, the kids felt utterly blissful. After she was done taking a shower, Christina put on a ssic Victoria¡¯s Secret pink nightgown with a silk belt in the middle, and her long hair fell like a waterfall down her back. She then read her emails while sitting cross-legged on the couch. A whileter, she felt tired, so shey on the couch and cleared her mind with her eyes shut. Just then, the room door was pushed open, and Nathaniel came through the door. Christina didn¡¯t know Nathaniel was standing right in front of her until he carried her up in his arms. Upon hearing his strong and loud heartbeat, she opened her eyes abruptly. She saw his handsome face right away. His chin was slightly raised, and he was exhaling minty breaths. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Taken aback, Christina almost jumped in rm. Nathaniel maintained a calm and subdued expression. I¡¯m just doing what I¡¯ve always done. I would gently carry her to bed every time she fell asleep on the couch. However, she never looked at me this way. ¡°I¡¯m carrying you to bed,¡± he replied. Christina blushed immediately. While kicking her legs aggressively in mid-air, she protested, ¡°Let me go! I don¡¯t want you to carry me!¡± Nathaniel ignored her and carried her to the side of the bed. ¡°Let me go!¡± Christina struggled even harder to free herself. No one knew if Nathaniel had lost his bnce or had naughty intentions, but they both ended up onto the bed. ¡°Why are you lying in my bed? Go away! Go away!¡± Christina kicked Nathaniel repeatedly. falling Nathaniel was kicked in the shoulder, abdomen, and chest. Her feet are so small, but she¡¯s so aggressive with her kicks! She thennded her final kick on his head and gritted her teeth. ¡°Get out of my bed.¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t bear to get angry when he saw Christina puffing up her cheeks angrily. If someone else were to kick his head, he would¡¯ve broken the person¡¯s legs. However, Nathaniel remained unfazed, and he traced his gaze along her legs. Christina saw the weird look he had in his eyes and realized she was wearing a nightgown. She then quickly retracted her legs and wrapped herself up with the nket. ¡°Pervert!¡± she fumed. In response, Nathaniel rubbed his forehead and muttered, ¡°How could you say that after you kicked me? I¡¯m in pain¡­¡± He pretended to be in pain and rubbed the spots that were reddened as a result of her kicks. With her head poked out of the nket, Christina uttered with her watery eyes, ¡°Get out! You¡¯re sleeping in the guest room.¡± ¡°My chest hurts¡­ I can¡¯t move.¡± Nathaniely down on the bed with his brows furrowed and lips pursed. He looked like he was in a lot of pain. Ha! He¡¯s ying tricks on me¡­ Christina wrapped the only nket in the room around herself and rolled. over to the other side of the bed. With that, she created the most distance she could between herself and the man. Nathaniel was happy to learn that she wasn¡¯t chasing him out of the room anymore. I don¡¯t mind not having a nket. In fact, I would even sleep on the floor. Time ticked off, and the room became silent. ¡°Are you asleep, Christina?¡± Nathaniel voiced but heard nothing in response. ¡°Christina?¡± Still, Nathaniel didn¡¯t get a response. Hence, Nathaniel inched toward her and carefully wrapped his arm around her waist. He foundfort as soon as he felt her tender body. As he inched closer, he eventually rested his face on her head. When he caught a whiff of her pleasant smell, he couldn¡¯t help pulling her into his embrace. The following day, the morning sunlight flooded the room through the ss window, and the curtains. swayed in the wind. Christina had a pleasant sleep as she felt as though she was sleeping in a room with a firece. Upon hearing the rm ringing, she opened her eyes and wanted to stretch her back. That was when she realized that she was in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. At that moment, Nathaniel¡¯s dashing face was inches from hers, and she could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. We¡¯re so close to each other that it¡¯s as if we¡¯re one! ¡°Let me go, Nathaniel.¡± Christina pushed him and tried to free herself. With his eyes shut, Nathaniel gritted his teeth lightly before replying, ¡°Don¡¯t move. I haven¡¯t had a good night¡¯s sleep in a long while.¡± Little did Christina know that Nathaniel had been thinking about her before he went to bed every night. Hence, he could only sleep soundly whenever he was dog-tired. Needless to say, he wasn¡¯t a fan of those tormenting days. Christina was having none of it, though. She tried pushing his arm away and biting it, but her efforts were futile. ¡°If you move again, I¡¯m going to kiss you,¡± he warned. Hearing that, Christina had no choice but to stay still and let him hug her. After some time, Christina fell asleep once again. When she woke up, Nathaniel was no longer there. Therefore, she got out of bed, got changed, and went to her office. The moment she entered her office, she saw a familiar silhouette she had missed dearly. Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Reunion Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°Christina!¡± Coco took off her sunsses to reveal her exquisite facial features. Evidently, she became more beautiful than she was four years prior. Coco had made a name for herself over the past few years and had be so popr that most people 1. could recognize her on the streets. ¡°What are you doing here. Coco?¡± Christina yelled in surprise and hugged Coco. Back then, Coco left in a rush and didn¡¯t say goodbye to her friends. After they stopped contacting each. other all of a sudden, Christina thought Coco had forgotten about her. ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping tabs on your studio! When I learned that you were back, I came back as soon as I could!¡± Coco giggled. The two had a catch-up session there and then. Coco only remembered an important matter she wanted to tell Christina about after they had finished two pots of tea. ¡°Recently, my studio wanted me to take a collection of retro photos wearing clothes from the eighties. The major brands will provide the outfits, but I need a professional to guide me on how to match and wear them. Therefore, I told them I wanted you to be my stylist because I knew you¡¯d make me look fabulous. I came to look for you specifically, and I¡¯ll only need two days of your time. You won¡¯t reject me, right? Coco asked coyly while grabbing Christina¡¯s hand. Christina was amused. With her status in the entertainment industry, Coco can afford any of the best stylists in the industry. Yet, she came to look for me specifically. How can I possibly turn her down? With that in mind, Christina replied, ¡°Sure! Please inform my assistant beforehand, and I¡¯ll definitely show up. ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡± Coco hugged her. ¡°Obviously, I¡¯ll pay you handsomely. See you!¡± Christina sent Coco out and went to the tailor room. I need to finish Mrs. Singer¡¯s gown quickly. Since I¡¯ve already told her she would have the gown ready by the end of the month, I ought to keep my word. Christina had her schedule fixed, and she nned to stay in the entire second half of the month. If she were to go out, she would have to make time for it. That afternoon, she called and instructed Raymond to fetch the kids. After that, she told the kids she was working overtime. ¡°Mommy, you can work overtime, but you must promise to bring us out during the weekend¡± Lucas didn¡¯t reveal the activity nned for the weekend because Nathaniel told them to keep it a secret to avoid Christina bailing out ¡°No matter where we want to go, you muste along!¡± Cam chimed in. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll bring you to wherever you want, Christina promised. Well, bringing the kids out every weekend is already a norm Upon getting Christina¡¯s assurance, the kids promised to have lunch and take their nap in the afternoon. With that, Christina hung up the phone and continued working. By the time sunset arrived, the lights in the room lit up, and most employees had left the office. Christina was left sitting in the tailor room alone and embroidering a piece of chiffon material. Embroidery was a unique skill possessed by designers, but not all designers could embroider well. In other words, one had to rely on personal skills to produce a splendid product of embroidery. Embroidery pieces were usually the hardest toe by among all the high-end clothing in the market. Right then, Madison deliberately passed by Christina¡¯s office with a confidential document. She wanted to hide the document in the office and get someone to bust Christina the next day. However, she didn¡¯t expect Christina to still be working at that hour. Madison quickly hid somewhere and devised a better way to trick Christina. Madison then took the elevator back to her office, kept the document aside, and went to the security department. Five security guards were working at that time. When they saw hering in, the leader of the security guards approached her and asked. ¡°Is there something I can do for you, Ms. Taggart?¡± Generally speaking, administration workers were rarely required to visit the security department unless something urgent arose. ¡°Please check the elevators because when I was in the elevator carlier today, I noticed something was amiss,¡± Madison answered. The leader frowned slightly and said, ¡°If we were to check the elevators, we would need to cut off the power supply to the elevators. Unfortunately, we nned to upgrade our surveince system tonight. Hence, we might need to cut off the power supply to the entire building.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem with that? After all, everyone had already gone home. Shouldn¡¯t you guys solve the problem before Mr. Hadley arrives tomorrow?¡± Madison questioned. ¡°In that case, please leave the building. We¡¯ll upgrade the security system, inspect the elevators, and rectify the issues regarding our power supply,¡± the leader replied. Madison was thrilled when she thought about how Christina would be trapped in the office the entire night. Before she left, she added, ¡°By the way, please crank up the air-conditioning after you guys inspect the elevators. The pungent smell of paint has been overwhelming after they repainted the corridors on every floor. Let¡¯s use the air-conditioning to get rid of the smell.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Since the power supply to the air-conditioning was separated from the power supply to the entire building, the security guards could definitely do as they were told. A meaningful smile appeared on Madison¡¯s face as she made her way out of the security department. Eager to leave the building, she went to the garage as quickly as she could. Shortly after she started driving, she received a call from Nathaniel. ¡°Bring me the contract between Xenos Corporation and us,¡± Nathaniel instructed. Madison didn¡¯t want to return to the office, so she coughed lightly and asked, ¡°Do you need it in a hurry, Mr. Hadley? May I bring it to you tomorrow instead? I think I¡¯ve fallen sick, and I¡¯ve only gotten into bed¡­¡± ¡°Rest well, then.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hadley.¡± Meanwhile, all the lights in the office were switched off at once, and the entire ce was inplete darkness. Christina gasped and pricked her own finger with the needle. What just happened? Christina then turned on the shlight on her phone and checked if she had made a mistake with her embroidery the moment the lights went out. Fortunately for her, she was skillful enough to avoid that from happening. She then put aside the embroidery she had alreadypleted by one-third and exited the tailor room. before vigntly locking the door behind her. Is this a power outage? Why wasn¡¯t I informed? Christina left the office and wanted to take the elevator to go downstairs. However, she found out that the elevators were all out of service. Suddenly, the air-conditioning was cranked up to the highest fan setting, and she felt like she was standing in the middle of a winter storm. A deep line appeared between Christina¡¯s brows as she tried making her way toward the back stairwell. To her dismay, nothing seemed to be going her way that night because she found that the door to the back, stairwell was locked from the other side. I¡¯m stuck here¡­ Left without a choice, Christina went back to her studio. The central air conditioning system continued to blow gusts of chilly wind in her face, and she ended up sneezing a couple of times. I don¡¯t know if thepany is undergoing some maintenance operation, but I can¡¯t possibly sit here and let the air- conditioning make me sick. I might catch a cold soon! With that in mind, Christina turned on the phone. Luckily, my phone still works. I need to call someone for help. Who should I call, though? Upon seeing her call log, she hesitated for a while before calling someone. The call got through fairly quickly. ¡°Christina¡± the person on the other end of the call called out. Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Protected By Him ¡°Nathaniel, I have a problem,¡± whispered Christina. She sounded desperate. A sh of delight flitted across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°What happened?¡± He then added. ¡°No matter what it is, I will resolve it for you.¡± Christina had a feeling that Nathaniel would strip naked and run around the streets if she asked that of him right now. ¡°I¡¯m being trapped in the office, and the elevator has stopped. The stairwell door has been locked, and the aircon keeps getting colder.¡± She breathed in deeply and felt that the air was colder than before. Nathaniel looked angry. ¡°Wait for me. I¡¯m heading there right away.¡± ¡°All right.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina felt a lot better. After all, she was at the office, and her life was not in danger. All she had to do was wait for Nathaniel to arrive. Madison said she was not feeling well. As for Sebastian, he had already gone home to deal with his work. Nathaniel wanted to look through some documents, and that was why he had to rush to the office. He did not expect to receive a call for help from Christina while he was on the way. Nathaniel sped up, and very soon, he arrived at the office. He phoned the security and asked them what was going on. The head of security was surprised to see all the important members of thepany showing up that day. He gave Nathaniel his report but did not mention anything about Madison. Nathaniel instructed coldly. ¡°Resume all operations and shut off the air-conditioning.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ It¡¯s not possible because the system is currently undergoing an upgrade. We¡¯ll have to wait for three hours before we can resume operations.¡± The head of security did not know what to do. ¡°Mr. Hadley, if there¡¯s anything, I can do it on your behalf.¡± Nathaniel was furious. ¡°No need. When the upgrade is done, resume operations. Turn off the air- conditioning immediately.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Since the elevator was not working. Nathaniel decided to climb up the stairs to the twenty-first floor. Someone had definitely locked the back stairwell from the other side. Luckily, it was not a deadlock. After turning the knob, Nathaniel was able to open the door. He opened the office door and found a skinny figure curling up on the couch. Nathaniel rushed up and covered her slender shoulders with his jacket. ¡°Christina, are you all right?¡± She caught the familiar sandalwood scent of his as the jacket covered her shoulders. Christina shuddered and looked up at Nathaniel¡¯s sweaty yet handsome face. He was breathing heavily because of the exertion. The buttons on his shirt were opened, and his muscr chest was visible. Although he appeared pretty wretched, Christina felt sorry for him, knowing that he had suffered because of her. ¡°I¡¯m all right. Just feeling a little cold. That¡¯s all.¡± Despite what she said, she coughed for a while. Even though the air-conditioning had been turned off, the air was still as cold as snow frost. ¡°Come. Let me take you home.¡± Nathaniel tried to pull her up from the couch. Christina frowned because the blood in her body was about to freeze, and she could barely move. She felt like an ice sculpture. ¡°My legs are numb. I can¡¯t walk,¡± she whispered ever so softly, There was no hesitation on Nathaniel¡¯s part. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± He turned around with his back facing Christina before saying resolutely, ¡°Get on my back.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired? Why don¡¯t you rest for a while?¡± He has just climbed up twenty-one floors. Now, he wants to carry me down. Does he think that he is a robot? Christina stared at the sweat-soaked shirt of his and did not move an inch. Seeing that she did not climb on his back. Nathaniel turned around and teased her, ¡°Why? Are you feeling sorry for me?¡± ¡°You think too much. I¡¯m just worried that you aren¡¯t strong enough. It may be dangerous if you carry me and walk down the stairs.¡± Christina then looked away. A smile appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s face, and he sat down next to her on the couch. They were so close to one another that they could almost feel each other¡¯s warmth. ¡°The security says that it will take another three hours before things can resume back to normal. After a short rest, I will carry you down.¡± Christina was thinking that her legs would be able to move in a short while. By then, she would not require his help to carry her down. The two of them sat there in silence. Gradually, the cold air dissipated, and the atmosphere in the room began to ease up. The room was dark as there was no light. Christina found it better that way. At least they would not have to look at one another. It would have been embarrassing. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Unfortunately, it was also quite scary in the darkness. juddenly, lightning shed across the sky, followed by a loud boom. It looked as if the lightning was about o cut the office into two. Christina was looking out the window at that time, and she got a fright. ¡®Ah!¡± she screamed before taking cover under the most reliable ce instinctively. Her hands were covering her ears, and she was trembling. Nathaniel pulled her into his arms andforted her gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± His words calmed Christina down immediately. Every time she got scared, Nathaniel would hold her in his arms and calm her down in that manner. As time passed, all she could hear was the sound of the raindrops and Nathaniel¡¯s heartbeats. With his arms around her, Nathaniel muttered, ¡°You are still afraid of lightning and thunder. Every time, you will bury yourself in my arms. There were a few times when you banged so hard against my chest that it hurt, but I dared not tell you for fear that you would not hide in my arms again¡­¡± Christina bit her lip and said nothing even though she heard what he said. All of a sudden, the lights came on. She looked up in relief and noticed how close his gorgeous face was to hers. Her eyshes flitted. In fact, their faces were so close that they were about to touch, Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she instinctively moved backward. However, Nathaniel did not give her a chance. He grabbed the back of her head and sealed her lips with his. His kisses assaulted her senses like a storm. This time around, Christina could not hear any raindrops or Nathaniel¡¯s heartbeats. All she could hear was her own heartbeats that were getting quicker by the second. It was after some time before Nathaniel released her. The two of them nced at each other while they were catching their breaths. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He stood up and pulled Christina out of the office. Christina refused to let him carry her. In the end, they held each other¡¯s hands as the together. Nathaniel¡¯s palms were sweating, but he refused to let go of her hand. walked down! Looking at his back, Christina found her determination wavering. She did not seem to hate him as much, and she certainly did not care about the things that happened in the past¡­ However, the thought of Madison annoyed her still. After getting in the car, Nathaniel put on the seatbelt for her before getting into the driver¡¯s seat. Christina thought that he would send her back to Scenic Garden Manor, so she closed her eyes for a while. By the time she woke up, the car had stopped in front of a luxury condominium and not Scenic Garden Manor. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Slept Together ¡°Where are we?¡± Christina asked suspiciously. ¡°It¡¯s raining so heavily. I don¡¯t want to risk driving in this weather. We¡¯ll stay in the condominium tonight! Nathaniel got out of the driver¡¯s seat and walked over to open the passenger-side door with an umbre to shield Christina from the rain. She recalled that Madison lived in a condominium. Did he bring me back to their home? Christina was immediately filled with disgust at that thought. She did not want to be near Madison. ¡°I won¡¯t go in. If you refuse to drive. I¡¯ll drive myself home.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be difficult. There was an announcement on the radio just now that a thunderstorm wasing. It¡¯s very dangerous to be driving now. If you get in an ident, how am I going to exin it to the two kids?¡± Nathaniel held out the umbre to Christina. His own body was entirely drenched in the rain. Christina got out of the car reluctantly, promising herself that as soon as the rain eased, she would leave immediately. Upon entering the condominium, Christina realized that the unit was enormous, and the interior was clean, spotless even. Most interestingly, there was no trace of a woman living in that space. ¡°You live alone here?¡± Christina asked, doubt creeping into her voice. ¡°Well, you refuse to let me step foot in Scenic Garden Manor. What else can I do but live here alone.¡± Nathaniel slipped the umbre into the stand by the door. The rain was relentless, and his clothes were ¡°Make yourselffortable. I¡¯m going to take a shower and get myself changed out of these wet clothes.¡± Christina¡¯s clothes had not escaped the rain either. Although Nathaniel had tried his best to shield her with the umbre, only her hair had remained dry. Nathaniel noticed that she looked no better than himself. He worried that she would catch a cold sitting in her damp clothes. ¡°I don¡¯t have any spare women¡¯s clothing for you, unfortunately. You¡¯ll have to make do with my baggy workout clothes.¡± He disappeared into the bedroom and returned with a white tracksuit set. ¡°Take a shower and change into these dry clothes. I don¡¯t want you to fall sick.¡± Christina stared at the tracksuit in distaste. She really did not want to spend the night in his condominium, let alone put on his clothes. Seeing her reluctance, Nathaniel said in a rather threatening tone. ¡°Do you need me to help you with Christina turned deep red and red at him. ¡°Okay, why not? Let¡¯s go, then Nathantel grabbed her arm and steered her toward the bathroom in the guest room Christina yanked her arm free Her heart was hammering in her chest. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help. I can do it myself.¡± She snatched the tracksuit from him angrily and stalked into the guest bedroom, mming the door shut and deliberately turning the lock loudly. Nathaniel stared at the closed door with a helpless smile. He locked the front door before going into the bathroom. After a beat, he decided to bring his car keys into the bathroom with him. Now, I can shower in peace. After a hot shower, Christina put on Nathaniel¡¯s tracksuit. Although the set was too big for her, it was otherwisefortable. Then, she dried her long hair with a hairdryer. The hot air made her feel dehydrated. She wandered into the kitchen for a ss of water only to realize that it waspletely devoid of furnishing. There was no cutlery to be seen, let alone a kettle for her to boil water. It seems that he has never eaten a meal in this house. Christina had no choice but to head over to the bar for a drink. She searched for non-alcoholic options. among the various bottles of liquor and finally found a bottlebeled Anndurn fruit juice. She twisted the cap open and took a deep sniff of the strong, fruity aroma. Satisfied, she poured herself a full ss. She was so thirsty that she immediately downed the entire drink in one gulp. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. The juice tasted delicious. Christina poured herself another one but sipped this one slowly to savor it. Nathaniel emerged from his shower and immediately searched the room for Christina. He breathed a sigh of relief when he caught sight of her slender figure on the bar stool. The tracksuit was loose on her small frame and kept slipping off her shoulders, revealing tantalizing glimpses of her milky white skin. Her long dark hair hung casually down to her waist, and she seemed to be lounging in rxation. ¡°Why did you open this bottle?¡± Nathaniel asked when he saw the bottle that she was drinking. Her cheeks were flushed. She blinked up at him, her vision unfocused. She seemed to be already intoxicated. Christina propped her chin in her hand, parted her pretty lips slowly, and drawled, ¡°Why are you being so petty? It¡¯s just a bottle of juice. I¡¯ll pay you back for it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the money.¡± It¡¯s about the high alcoholic content of this bottle of fruit liquor! Nathaniel was worried that she would wake up with a horrible hangover the next morning. ¡°Stop drinking. It¡¯s the weekend tomorrow, and you promised that you¡¯d take the kids out.¡± Nathaniel pulled the bottle from her grasp. Christina began to see double visions as her consciousness slipped away. Suddenly, she felt light-headed, as if she were lying on a cloud in the sky. She stretched out her hands and ran them through Nathaniel¡¯s jet-ck hair. Then, she caressed his cheeks and ran her fingers along his jawline. ¡°Darling¡­ Christina called out in a soft voice. She sounded almost coquettish. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened. He stared at Christina with hope and joy. ¡°What did you call me?¡± She called me ¡°darling.¡± Does this mean that she has forgiven me? Christina¡¯s checks flushed crimson red. They looked like ripe cherries against her milky-white skin. Nathaniel had to resist the urge to take a bite. ¡°Darling, you look like my darling Lucas¡­¡± Christina whispered absentmindedly. Nathaniel¡¯s face darkened. She mistook me for her son! Christina was oblivious to Nathaniel¡¯s annoyance with her mistake. She wrapped her arms around his neck and reached up toward him. ¡°Come on¡­ Give me a kiss!¡± Nathaniel reluctantly allowed her to press her lips to his cheek. He thought that was the end of it, but he identally brushed against her lips as he was setting her down. on the bed. He could taste the sweet aroma of the fruit liquor on her breath. It set his blood on fire with desire. However, he had always considered her feelings, and he knew that she was unwilling to be intimate with him. So, he did not dare to make a move, It was Christina who threw herself at him. The electric blinds lowered themselves, throwing the room into darkness, and Nathaniel gave himself overpletely to Christina¡¯s embrace. The next morning. Christina was awakened by the pain in her back. Her head was throbbing in pain. She gasped. Her entire body felt sore. It seemed a miracle that she was even alive. Nathaniel was lying beside her. He was sleeping soundly with an expression of utter peace on his face. Scratch marks ran down his back. The memory ofst night was fuzzy, but even so, Christina could guess what had happened between them That¡¯s crazy! She had been thinking about divorcing Nathaniel recently. But now, we actually¡­ Christina pped her own forehead in frustration. Had I gone crazy? Why did I do such a thing? She did not how she was going to face Nathaniel that day She slipped out of bed and quietly put on her clothes Then she grabbed the car keys Irom the bedside Cable and quickly fled the condominium Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Daddy Is Amazing When Christina returned to the Scenic Garden Manor, the two kids had already woken up. ¡°Mommy, you promised to keep uspany today. Don¡¯t lie to us!¡± Cam pouted. ¡°Mommy never lies to us. Don¡¯t worry, Lucas!¡± Christina was so exhausted that all she wanted to do was to lie down and have a good sleep. However, when she saw the look of anticipation in the children¡¯s eyes, she could not bear to refuse them. ¡°Where do you want to go to y?¡± Lucas walked up to Christina and spun around. ¡°Mommy, what outfit do you think I¡¯m wearing?¡± Cam walked over too. ¡°Mommy, look at me too! I¡¯m wearing the same thing as Lucas. It¡¯s a set!¡± When Christina took a closer look, she saw that the two kids were indeed wearing the same outfit. Alongside a white shirt with a ck vest thrown over it, they also wore ck tapered pants and ck boots, looking like a little prince and princess. ¡°I know! A riding outfit!¡± Cam leaped in happiness. ¡°You¡¯re so smart, Mommy! We¡¯re going to ride horses today!¡± ¡°But the stable needs to be reserved beforehand if we want to enter it. I didn¡¯t make any reservations,¡± revealed Christina in a troubled tone. Lucas snapped his fingers. ¡°Daddy has already reserved it beforehand. Go and change quickly!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Christina let the two kids drag her upstairs to change. Thest person she wanted to see right now was Nathaniel. After she changed her clothes, she wanted to leave with the kids first. However, as soon as she got downstairs, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s car parked in front of the door. ¡°Daddy, we are ready! We can set off now!¡± dered Cam proudly as she raised her head. Nathaniel bent down and pulled the iparably adorable girl into his arms. ¡°Good job! Let¡¯s get into the car.¡± He let the children enter the car one after the other before turning his gaze to Christina, who had changed. into a riding suit. Her long hair was all tied up, revealing her delicate and lovely face. Christina intentionally avoided his gaze. Just when she was heading toward the passenger seat, someone grabbed her arm. ¡°Are you avoiding me?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s clear voice sounded beside her car. Pretending to be calm, Christina met his gaze. ¡°No, there¡¯s not enough space in the back. How about you sit in the front?¡± Nathaniel did not respond. He stuffed her into the back seat and then got in himself. It was quite a bit of a squeeze with the four of them sitting in the back seat, especially with Nathaniel¡¯s tall build. It became hard to breathe beside him. Nathaniel could smell the fragrance of Christina¡¯s hair when he lowered his head. It smelled like his shampoo at home. However, when mixed with Christina¡¯s scent, the aroma was much better than usual. The ride was bumpy when the car turned around the corners. Christina instinctively protected Lucas and Cam with her hand while Nathaniel¡¯s hand was wrapped around her waist. ¡°Be careful!¡± Lucas and Cam were so busy looking at the scenery outside that they responded without turning around, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy. We¡¯re fine.¡± Christina tried to push Nathaniel¡¯s hand away, but he was so strong that she was no match for him. Left with no choice, she could only let him hug her throughout the ride. Soon, they arrived at the stable, which Nathaniel had already reserved. He used to have a hobby of horse riding and owned several good horses. The trainer led two horses out as instructed. However, as Lucas and Cam were too young, they could not ride such big horses. ¡°I will take you for a short ride first before arranging for you to ride the ponies, okay?¡± Nathaniel suggested. ¡°Yay! Let¡¯s y together, Daddy!¡± Cam happily tugged Nathaniel¡¯s clothes. Nathaniel mounted the horse first. The trainer lifted Cam and Lucas one by one. After adjusting their positions, they were ready to set off. Although Christina did not have much experience riding horses, Nathaniel had taught her a little bit. before. Hence, she could still handle a simple trot. She mounted the horse. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel gently squeezed the horse¡¯s nk, prompting it to start moving. Christina followed behind slowly at the speed of a leisurely walk. The wind blew against her face, causing her loose hair to flutter in the air. The golden sunlight shone on her face, refracting against her delicate and smooth skin. It was as if she was one with the light. People often said that nature had a magical power that could heal one¡¯s heart. That was quite true, for Christina¡¯s gloomy mood was dispersed by the wind. After getting used to the slight bumps while sitting on the horseback, Cam and Lucas asked Nathaniel to speed up. Nathaniel elerated within a safe range, causing the horse to start trotting lightly. Finding it particrly exciting, the two kids giggled with joy as the wind blew against them. ¡°Wow! This is so fun!¡± ¡°Daddy¡¯s amazing!¡± After the three left, Christina was left behind. Her horse walked forward slowly. Behind her, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached. Christina, who was not familiar with riding. instinctively tried to avoid it. However, the person behind her seemed to be intentionally rushing toward her. The rider zooming past deliberately pped the back of her horse. Startled, the horse neighed and bolted forward, suddenly going out of control. Terrified, Christina gripped the reins with her thin hands, afraid of being thrown off by the horse. She thought that as long as she held on for a while more, the horse would provocation. stop without any further Every second that Christina spent on the horseback felt like being on a cliff¡¯s edge. There was a constant sense of imminent danger as if she might fall and break all her bones should she let her guard down. After a moment, cold sweat began to form on her forehead. Still, the horse showed no signs of slowing down. It was as if the ground beneath it was scorching its hooves, preventing it from stopping in its tracks. Suddenly, the horse flicked its tail, flinging Christina off its back. Christina closed her eyes tightly. Instinctively protecting her head with her hands, she prayed that the impact would not be too severe when she crashed onto the ground. However, the expected pain did note. Nathaniel caught her, his strong body serving as a cushion from the hard ground. Apart from feeling the impact on her body, Christina did not sustain any significant injuries. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. On the other hand, since Nathaniel had cushioned her fall, his back scraped against the rocks and started bleeding. Upon hearing that something dangerous had happened, the staff at the stable immediately rushed over and sedated the unruly horse with a tranquilizer. The trainer suggested that it might have been agitated as it had not been ridden for a long time and was throwing a tantrum. However, Christina knew very well that it was not the case. Someone had deliberately frightened the horse¡­ Although she only caught a glimpse of the person¡¯s figure, the silhouette resembled @meone from her memory. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t tell the kids. I¡¯ll go change first,¡± said Christina to Nathaniel briefly before hurrying away. Nathaniel was still sitting on the ground, his back stinging in pain. A gloomy expression crossed his cold fare. She didn¡¯t show any concern even though I got injured. How can she just leave like that? Christina entered the changing room and heard the sound of a door closing. Christina could tell from the silhouette that it was a woman. Since the person was wearing a casual riding outfit, she had to change out of her clothes before leaving Otherwise, Christina would recognize her based on the patterns on her clothes. When Christina approached the closed door, she heard the rustling of clothes, indicating that someone was changing inside As the door opened, the two of them locked eyes, Chapter 331 Chapter 331 Chapter 331 The Wounds Will Bleed ¡°Christina?¡± ¡°Madison!¡± Both their voices echoed in the spacious space. A while ago, Christina had thought the silhouette looked familiar, and her suspicion had led her to probe further. Little did she expect to catch the person red-handed. Madison was certain that the former had no solid proof, so she uttered cidly. ¡°What a coincidence! You¡¯re here for horseback riding too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a coincidence. You came looking for me on purpose,¡± Christina stated confidently. She knew it was a piece of cake for Madison to use her identity to check Nathaniel¡¯s schedule. I haven¡¯t seen this woman for years, and she¡¯s now smarter than before. ¡°I took the weekend off and came here for horseback riding¡± Madison pressed her lips, refusing to admit her real agenda, ¡°Whatever it is, you can exin that to the policeter.¡± A sharp glint shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. She had already called the police before walking in. Madison frowned and asked diffidently, ¡°What evidence do you have that I was the cause of your fall?¡± Christina was riding a horse just now. She couldn¡¯t have had a spare hand to hold her phone. That¡¯s impossible! Moreover, the racecourse doesn¡¯t have any surveince cameras installed indoors because they want to protect the privacy of their guests. She can¡¯t have any proof. Christina smirked coldly. This is just the beginning of my questions, yet she can¡¯t wait to give herself away already! ¡°There was a couple taking pictures and videos nearby when you passed me by just now. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ve captured the evidence of your crime.¡± At that instant, Madison¡¯s face turned as white as a sheet. Christina continued, ¡°Do you want toe clean and admit to the police that you¡¯ve hurt me? Or should I get the photo evidence and then reveal it to the whole world?¡± ¡°Are you threatening ine?¡± Madison fumed, finding it hard to breathe. The worst thing that could happen to me if I were to turn myself in was to be detained and Nathaniel would never find out about this. On the contrary, if Christina reports the incident to Nathaniel and submits the proof to the police. I¡¯ll be kicked out of Hadley Corporation. I¡¯m being cornered by Christina¡¯s ruthless n! Her move practically left me with no choice. ¡°Were you concerned about my safety when you made me fall from the horse?¡± Christina snapped back at her, her eyes bloodshot. Madison was rendered speechless once more. ¡°Since you couldn¡¯t care less about me then, you have no right to ask me now. I¡¯ll give you three seconds to decide. One¡­ Two¡­¡± ¡°Ill confess to the police that I hurt you,¡± Madison said through gritted teeth. Christina¡¯s lip curled up into a smile. Her shimmering gaze was as pure as snow, and not a tinge of feigned expression could be found on her countenance. ¡°Mywyer will arrive shortly. I bet you¡¯re well aware of the consequences if you go back on your words.¡± With that, she turned and strode out of the changing room, leaving a resentful Madison behind screaming and yelling out of anger. Meanwhile, Lucas and Cam had just returned afterpleting a round of horseback riding. ¡°Let¡¯s head home. I¡¯m so tired,¡± Christina said to her two children. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home.¡± It was almost evening, and the children were quite tired too. Lucas and Cam turned around and scanned the ce for their father. Once they spotted him, they waved at the towering figure and shouted, ¡°Hurry up. Daddy! We¡¯re leaving.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s clothes were neat and tidy. No one could tell that he had just fallen. However, his hair was slightly messy by the strong wind. A few strands of hair covered his brows, making his eyes look deeper. The children were exhausted during the journey home. Having used up all of their energy, they could not wait to eat upon arriving at Scenic Garden Manor. After dinner, Christina bathed the children, and they fell asleep before she could finjsh telling them. As she looked at the two adorable faces, she wished that the blissful moment wouldst forever. Christina pecked the children on their cheeks before leaving the room. She then went to change into her nightgown in the bathroom inside the master bedroom. Only then did she feel more rxed andfortable. As soon as the door was pushed open, a strong masculine scent instantly filled the entire room. Nathaniel ced a medical kit in front of her and said indifferently. ¡°Apply the medicine for me.¡± It was then that Christina recalled how she had managed to escape the ident unscathed. Nathaniel had been there to cushion her fall. She mumbled reluctantly, ¡°Can¡¯t you get the butler to help you?¡± ¡°The one who caused me to get hurt should be responsible.¡± Nathaniel had just taken a shower in the guest room and was wearing his pajama. Swiftly, he raised his arm and pulled off his shirt. The man¡¯s burly frame and toned back muscles could be clearly seen under the lighting. There were also several open injuries caused by pebble abrasion on his back. Those wounds looked rtively more serious because they were not treated in time. When Christina saw his wounds, her heart of stone was immediately reced with a heart of flesh. ¡°Sit down.¡± Nathaniel obliged and sat down with his back facing her Christina took the alcohol swab and disinfected his wounds. The very high concentration of alcohol gave Nathaniel a tingling sensation the moment it came into contact with his skin. Normally, Nathaniel would have kept silent. However, he wanted to attract Christina¡¯s attention at that moment. ¡°Ouch! Not so hard,¡± he muttered. Christina was rather upset when she stared at those horrible wounds because she had channeled all her attention to settle scores with the culprit in the afternoon and neglected Nathaniel I dyed it for so long, causing his injuries to be so serious¡­ ¡°Bear with it for a while. That¡¯s how disinfecting a wound feels like. If the wounds are not cleaned. thoroughly, you may run a temperature and get sick easily.¡± Christina became more gentle. She blew at the wounds right after applying the medicine with the hopes. that she could lessen his pain. Thest step was to bandage the wound with gauze to prevent it from sticking to the clothes. ¡°All right, you can go out now,¡± Christina said indifferentlywhile packing the medical kit. When she recalled what happenedst night, she became so annoyed that she wanted to pull her hair out. She would never allow the same incident to happen again. Nathaniel did not want to leave at all. He gently hugged her waist from the back and asked, ¡°I¡¯m very tired today. Could you please let me stay here for one night?¡± His voice was thready, making him sound like a beast that had just woken up from a good sleep, meek and harmless. Christina tried her best to break free from his embrace. ¡°There are tens of rooms in Scenic Garden Manor. You can sleep in any one of them if you like. Now, please leave.¡± She was resolute, leaving no room for discussion. Nathaniel was puzzled. When did she be so cold?In the past, Christina would have stayed up in the study to apany me, and she would have ended up dozing off on myp by the time I finished working. Back then, she was very gentle, obedient, and clingy. Conversely, we¡¯re like two mas of the same poles now. The closer I get, the farther she stays away from me. Nathaniel disregarded her, then shamelessly carried her and strode to the bed. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°Let go of me! Are you trying to be a jerk again?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s embrace grew tighter when they fell onto the bed. Christina could hear his heart thumping loudly while her heart raced rapidly alongside his. Nathaniel buried his head in her neck and said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t move. My back hurts, and the wounds will bleed¡­¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Fiasco A raspy voice sounded in Christina¡¯s ears like a calm string being plucked. Shey quietly on the bed, unable to move a muscle. Like a cat returning to its den after hunting for food, Christina curled herself up and let Nathaniel hug her. As the wind blew outside the window, the clouds moved briskly while the moonlight beamed on the bedroom carpet, creating a picturesque scene. Nathaniel shut his eyes and enjoyed the familiar scent, his lips curling up instinctively. When Christina woke up in the morning, he was no longer in bed. However, the lingering warmth did not dissipatepletely. She got herself changed before heading downstairs. When Raymond saw her, he smiled and announced, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, breakfast is ready. Mr. Hadley has just left to send Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam to the kindergarten.¡± Raymond felt that the duo had returned to old times when Nathaniel requested the kitchen to prepare Christina¡¯s favorite cakes early in the morning. ¡°Okay.¡± After breakfast. Christina left for the office. When she was about to enter the elevator, she ran into Madison. What a small world! Thetter looked awful. The dark circles under her eyes were so obvious, and she seemed lethargic. Madison had spent the whole ofst night at the police station. She was only released in the morning afterpleting a series of procedures. She went home, hurriedly got changed, and rushed to the office without blowing her hair dry. ¡°I thought you¡¯d disappear for a few days.¡± Hostilityced Christina¡¯s voice. An exasperated Madison clenched her fingers and gritted her teeth. Yet, she stered a smile on her face and responded, ¡°I don¡¯t need to be detained. After all, I can still afford awyer.¡± ¡°I see. I¡¯m not surprised that some people can speak against their conscience in this day and age.¡± Then the elevator reached the twenty-first floor, and Christina walked out nonchntly when the door opened. Madison fixed her eyes on Christina¡¯s back. At that moment, she secretly wished she could push Christina down the stairs and get rid of her once and for all. Christina¡¯s return was clearly a threat to Madison. How could thetter not turn green with envy at someone who could easily tug at Nathaniel¡¯s heartstrings and affect his emotions all the time? Madison pondered deeply over the matter the entire night. She thought about two guaranteed ways to easily defeat that woman with children. One way is to let her find out about her husband¡¯s affair with another woman, but this alone would not suffice in sending Christina into a frenzy. Another way is for her to discover Nathaniel¡¯s illegitimate child¡­ A vicious look shed past Madison¡¯s eyes. In the blink of an eye, it was the weekend again. Christina promised to bring her children to the amusement park. The trio happily donned their matching outfits-a red striped shirt. Christina and Cam paired their tops with a white skirt, whereas Lucas wore it with a pair of casual white shorts. When they arrived at the amusement park, Christina bought them a lollipop each before getting the entrance tickets. Cam held the lollipop that was bigger than her puffy little face and asked, ¡°Mommy, why don¡¯t we ask Daddy toe with us?¡± Christina chuckled and feigned nonchnce. She did not want to see that man, but she would never say that in front of her children. ¡°It¡¯s because Daddy is busy working. He¡¯s got no free time, so we have to be more understanding toward him, okay?¡± Right then,prehension dawned on the children, and they nodded in response. ¡°We totally understand. It¡¯s the same when you were working and couldn¡¯t apany us in the past.¡± Relieved, Christina patted them on the head. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go in and have fun!¡± The lively music reverberated through the vast skies. Everyone who entered the amusement park had cheerful smiles on their faces. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Before they knew it, the three of them had had a go at all the rides in the park. ¡°Mommy, there¡¯s an animal show. Let¡¯s go and take a look!¡± Cam and Lucas ran toward the performance venue while holding Christina¡¯s hands. They got the front seats because they arrived early. Soon, spectators started to flock to the venue as the opening time approached. ¡°Hey, you guys go sit at the back and vacate the front row. An arrogant woman¡¯s voice sounded behind them. Christina and the children turned their heads, only to see Madison holding the hand of a three-year-old boy dressed in luxury clothes. ¡°Come on! Get up and give us your seats.¡± Christina furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Why should we do that?¡± Madison¡¯s purpose was not to watch the show but to let Christina discover the little boy. She whipped out a five-hundred note from her purse and handed it over. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to give me yours. I¡¯ll buy it as I wish.¡± At that moment, even the blind could tell that Madison¡¯s intention was to humiliate her. Contemptuous gazes were shot at her, one after another. Christina¡¯s face darkened immediately. She took out even more cash than Madison. ¡°Here, take my money and leave at once. Don¡¯t ruin my mood.¡± Good vibes and a good mood were hard toe by. She did not mind resolving the problem with some money. Madison¡¯s expression changed, and she was rendered speechless. The little boy standing beside her red at Cam and yelled, ¡°You lot should vacate your seats for us and leave at once. Otherwise, I¡¯ll ask my daddy to kick you out.¡± The boy then lifted his chin. ¡°My daddy is the CEO of this amusement park!¡± A dark glint flitted across Christina¡¯s eyes. The amusement park is owned by Hadley Corporation. In other words, this boy is the son of Nathaniel and Madison? No wonder she brought him here on purpose. Is she trying to assert dominance and intimidate me? Even though Christina had expected that the rtionship between the two was not that simple, she had never thought that Nathaniel and Madison would have a child together. Instantly, Christina felt her heart sear with pain as though it had been stabbed, and the intensity of it made her gasp for air. ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother teach you some manners? We got these seats because we came here first. What will be of this ce if everyone acts unreasonably just like you?¡± A hint of angerced Cam¡¯s voice. Her temperament was like Christina¡¯s. They both spoke calmly and logically; they would not get exasperated easily when things happened unexpectedly. Lucas, on the other hand, was not an easygoing character. He pursed his lips and reprimanded, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the saying that the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, right, Madam? The proverb. describes exactly what runs in your family. If the adult behaves poorly, the child will tend to inherit. characteristics from his bad parent ¡°You little rascal!¡± Madison was furious. If there were not a lot of people around, she would have taught him a hard lesson. Just then, the showmenced, and the crowd shifted their gazes to the stage. Madison stood right at the front and blocked the view of many others. Within seconds, the audience at the backined about her, and she was driven away by voices of dissatisfaction. The look on her face was incredibly gloomy as she stormed out with the little boy, Thankfully, Cam and Lucas were not bothered by the fiasco. They focused their attention on the stage performance. It was already veryte when the animal show ended. Hence, the kids agreed with Christina¡¯s suggestion to head home right away, and the three of them strode toward the exit happily. There were not many people leaving the venue at the same time as them. Christina waited at the entrance for her driver from Scenic Garden Manor to pick them up. Suddenly, Cam noticed a familiar figure. She pointed at the back profiles of an adult and a child, eximing, ¡°Lucas, look! Isn¡¯t that thedy who requested us to get up from our seats? Why did they get into Daddy¡¯s car?¡± Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Exhausting Lucas looked in the direction Cam was pointing at. Sure enough, the two figures had gotten into a Maybach. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Madison was holding a boy in her arms as she sat beside Nathaniel. Her gaze was tender as she nced at the man. ¡°Thanks for picking me up. My car broke down, and it¡¯s quite difficult to hail a cab here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re heading the same way anyway.¡± Nathaniel kept his eyes on the documents on his tablet, not really minding the woman sitting beside him. Madison had known that Nathaniel would be going to the amusement park for his meeting at this time. That was why she had deliberately called him and told him her car had broken down. She had been tailing Christina the moment she left the performance venue, counting down the exact time to have them see her getting into Nathaniel¡¯s car. ¡°Daddy.¡± The boy who spoke was Norman. He really liked Nathaniel and saw him as his idol. Nathaniel hummed in response and patted the boy¡¯s head. Norman reminded him of the two childish kids in Scenic Garden Manor. I suddenly miss them so much. ¡°Drive, Nathaniel said coldly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± As the car slowly drove away, Lucas nced at the car te number, and disappointment shed across his naive-looking face. ¡°That¡¯s Daddy¡¯s car¡­ Why did that woman get into his car with a boy?¡± Disappointment and confusion were written all over both children¡¯s faces. Upon seeing that they were waiting for an answer, Christina felt her heart sink. How should I exin to them that the boy earlier is their little brother from a different mother? Just thinking of it made her feel horrible. Christina couldn¡¯t bear to hurt her children. She found the strength to force her anger down and tried her best to act calm. ¡°That woman is Daddy¡¯s assistant. Perhaps they bumped into each other coincidentally, so they¡¯re going back together. Soon enough, a driver from Scenic Garden Manor arrived, and Christina said gently, ¡°The car¡¯s here. Let¡¯s head back!¡± Cam and Lucas were still confused, but they didn¡¯t continue asking questions when they saw their mother wasn¡¯t keen to exin much. They got into the car and went back to Scenic Garden Manor. It took about half an hour to travel to the manor, and the children were feeling drowsy by the time they arrived. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± Nathaniel was sitting on the couch, looking absolutely perfect from every angle. Upon seeing them, he put down the tablet he was holding elegantly. Lucas¡¯ eyes lit up the moment he saw his father. He ran up to Nathaniel and asked, ¡°Will you put us to bed.ter, Daddy?¡± Cam walked over as well. ¡°I want you to tuck me into bed too, Daddy,¡± she said adorably. The corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips tilted upward. He carried both children in his arms and said, ¡°All right. I¡¯ll help you two shower first.¡± Christina went over to them, trying to take Cam back from him. Nathaniel would purposely shower the children and wet his clothes each time. Then, he would use that as an excuse to stay the night. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll shower them.¡± Right when she reached out to carry them, Nathaniel quickly headed up the stairs with the children in his arms. Christina felt ufortable as she watched him walk away. I didn¡¯t know he was so good at time management. He was with Madison earlier, yet he¡¯s found the time toe here already. Nathaniel helped to dry the children¡¯s hair after bathing them, then carried them to bed. Hey down in their bed after putting them to sleep, slowly letting out a breath as he did so. It turns out that caring for children is so tiring. ¡°What story do you want to listen to today?¡± Cam and Lucas were like two little kos as they climbed onto their father¡¯s chest. They blinked and said to Nathaniel. ¡°We don¡¯t want to listen to stories today, Daddy. Let¡¯s y some question games!¡± The man chuckled when he saw the serious look on their faces. ¡°All right, but lie down first before you ¡°Okay!¡± Cam and Lucas answered in unison before lying down obediently. After that, Lucas asked eagerly, ¡°How many babies do you have, Daddy?¡± Nathaniel was confused by his question.. Cam quickly exined, ¡°How many little babies like us do you have?¡± ¡°Three!¡± Nathaniel answered with resolution while holding up three fingers. ¡°What? You¡¯ve got three babies, Daddy?¡± Lucas whined. A bitter look appeared on his face as if someone had snatched his favorite candies away from him. That means the boy we saw earlier, the one who got into Daddy¡¯s car, is also his baby! Cam¡¯s eyes reddened. She pouted and looked like she was about to burst into tears. It looks like Daddy has another baby other than Lucas and me, I¡¯m so sad¡­ Nathaniel had no idea what they were thinking about at all. ¡°That¡¯s right. One¡¯s your mommy, one¡¯s Lucas, and one¡¯s Cam.¡± Lucas¡¯ disappointment instantly vanished when he heard that. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to us, Daddy!¡± Nathaniel rubbed his head affectionately. ¡°Of course, I will never lie to you.¡± Cam and Lucas jumped up and down when they heard how certain he was when he answered. ¡°Yay! Daddy¡¯s the best!¡± Their father could not understand how their moods could change so drastically. Are all children like this? ¡°All right. Both of you should sleep now. Otherwise, your mommy is going to criticize meter.¡± Nathaniel tucked them in again, only managing to get them to sleep when he read them a story. Later, he finally walked out of their room. The lights in the corridor shone from above, elongating his shadow as he walked into the bedroom. Christina walked out of the bathroom right then. She had taken a bath with hot water to wash away all her frustrations. Her tense muscles from earlier seemed to have finally rxed after the shower. Christina was drying her hair with her towel when she saw Nathaniel walking in. ¡°You should go home now,¡± she said, making it clear he should leave. Nathaniel felt as though he was ying a video game. He had spent so much time and energy to clear a level but was sent back to the starting point the next day and needed to start again. Every night when he felt that his rtionship with Christina had improved, she would go back to being cold to him the next day. However, Nathaniel felt as if he had been put under her curse. No matter how much shade she threw at him, he was still more than willing to get closer to her. He walked over. Taking out the hairdryer, he plugged it in and began drying Christina¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t need your help,¡± she said, reaching out to grab the hairdryer. As she leaned in, Nathaniel conveniently wrapped an arm around her waist. His eyes instantly met with her cautious ones the moment he lowered his head. ¡°You must be tired from taking care of the kids all day. Let me do it.¡± He pressed her down so that she was seated on the couch and turned on the hairdryer again. Nathanielbed through Christina¡¯s hair with his fingers in gentle strokes. The woman looked up and could vaguely see his reflection through the ss windows. No one would ever get tired of watching him while he was so engrossed inpleting the task at hand. ¡°I only realized how tiring it is to take care of children after experiencing it myself in the past few days. It¡¯s so exhausting, even more so than reading documents.¡± Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Check In On Daddy Nathaniel spoke to himself, disregarding whether Christina was listening. ¡°You must¡¯ve been exhausted, wandering around with the children all these years. Don¡¯t leave again now that you¡¯re back. I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡± Christina discreetly clenched her fists. Recalling the scene she had witnessed at the amusement park, she felt as if someone had dug out her heart and shattered it. Is he nning to make it up to me by getting back together with Madison behind my back? If I hadn¡¯t seen it with my own eyes, I would¡¯ve believed his lies, rity washed over her at longst. Nathaniel wanted to have his cake and eat it too. ¡°I apologize for all the wrong things I¡¯ve done in the past. Will you forgive me and stop being angry?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice suddenly sounded particrly clear after he turned off the hairdryer. Christina¡¯s palm was almost bleeding from her digging her fingernails into her flesh. A dark glint flitted across her eyes as she remained silent. Nathaniel found her thoughts even more elusive. He suddenly squatted down and gazed sincerely at Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Will you give me another chance?¡± No one would have expected Nathaniel, one of the most elite people in society, to speak in such an obsequious tone. Christina¡¯s eyebrows twitched. A hint of emotion shed across her eyes. ¡°I haven¡¯t made a decision yet. Can you not pressure me?¡± Not having made a decision means she¡¯s not refusing. Nathaniel nodded. Compared to her previous attitude, her current demeanor was much better. He thought to himself that as long as she was by his side, she would eventually ept him again. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you back to bed.¡± With his sturdy arms, Nathaniel effortlessly picked up Christina and walked toward the bed. After cing her down, he also climbed into bed. As usual, he held her in his arms, and they drifted off to sleep together. The next day, Christina was woken up by the rm clock. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s handsome and serene sleeping countenance. He usually gets up early, so why isn¡¯t he up yet today? She felt nothing was more awkward than that moment. Christina moved slightly, intending to get out of bed. Just as she sat up, Nathaniel pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°It¡¯s the weekend. Let¡¯s sleep in.¡± His hoarse voice sounded beside her ears. Christina flinched. ¡°I want to get up already¡± Still, he showed no intention of letting go and merely asked indifferently, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In fact, she wasn¡¯t. She just didn¡¯t want to snuggle in his embrace while she was sober, reinforcing their wonderful memories together. ¡°All right,¡± Nathaniel drawled before reluctantly loosening his hold on her. Christina immediately sat up like an animal escaping a hunter¡¯s trap. She grabbed her clothes from the wardrobe and rushed into the bathroom. When she came out. Nathaniel had woken up as well. One of them sat at the dressing table while the other changed his clothes at the side, carrying out activities of daily living like a typical couple. Nathaniel donned a new suit and stepped out of the room. He saw Lucas waiting by the door like a sentinel. ¡°Daddy, it¡¯s the weekend. Aren¡¯t you staying home?¡± Nathaniel bent down slightly, lifting Lucas into his arms. ¡°Daddy has to work.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Lucas pouted in disappointment. ¡°Well, no one will be keeping mepany today, then. Hmph.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Mommy apanying you?¡± Nathaniel rubbed his son¡¯s puffed-out cheeks. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°On weekends, Mommy usually apanies Cam to painting lessons. I don¡¯t like to draw, so I don¡¯t tag along. Still, it¡¯s so boring staying at home alone.¡± Lucas lifted his head and sighed. ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll be a lonely child with no one to care for me today.¡± Taking in Lucas¡¯ troubled expression, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°If you have nothing to do, why not follow me to the office?¡± ¡°Really? I can go to your office?¡± Lucas¡¯ sorrowful expression was swiftly wiped off and reced by a look of delight. The change was so abrupt that it took Nathaniel by surprise. ¡°Of course.¡± Nathaniel carried Lucas downstairs to have their breakfast in the dining hall. Lucas wrapped his arms around his father¡¯s neck and uttered coyly, ¡°Since you¡¯re so keen on having me apany you, I suppose I can go along with your request.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first, you cheeky boy.¡± After their meal, Lucas happily got into the car before anyone else and followed his father to the office. Twenty minutester, the car slowly pulled up at the front entrance of thepany. The receptionist¡¯s eyes shone when she noticed the CEO¡¯s car. At the thought that she could see Nathaniel¡¯s exquisite visage, she felt it was worth it even if she had to work overtime during the weekend. As the car door opened, a small figure emerged. Lucas was dressed in a children¡¯s suit, a white shirt paired with a ck bow tie. He wore custom-made Irushean leather shoes, and his hair was neatlybed. His dark eyes gleamed, and he exuded an aura of grandeur, giving him the appearance of a little prince. Nathaniel held Lucas¡¯ hand as they walked through the main entrance. ¡°Oh my, is that little boy Mr. Hadley¡¯s son?¡± ¡°He¡¯s so handsome, and his facial features are identical to Mr. Hadley¡¯s. He even inherited Mr. Hadley¡¯s bearing!¡± The sound of the women¡¯s exmations prompted Lucas to nce back curiously. The smitten expressions on their faces caused him to think that women could actually be quite frightening. Isn¡¯t Mommy worried since Daddy is so popr at the office? They took the elevator up to the CEO¡¯s office. As soon as they entered the room, Lucas took ap around the spacious office like a bird let out of its cage. ¡°Wow! Daddy¡¯s office is huge!¡± ¡°Do you want to y around by yourself, or should I have my assistant buy you some toys?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s work for the day was no lesser than usual. Lucas shook his head and uttered earnestly. ¡°That¡¯s not needed. Just give me a tablet.¡± He actually had online sses, too, and needed to hand in his homework using a tablet. I¡¯ll buy you a new tablet.¡± Nathaniel texted Sebastian to purchase one. Lucas chuckled mischievously. ¡°Mommy said I¡¯m not allowed to use electronic devices. I can only ept it if you can persuade her otherwise.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t catch what Lucas was implying. Soon, Sebastian bought the tablet and walked into the office. ¡°Mr. Hadley, is your tablet not working? Do you need me to help you transfer the data?¡± ¡°Mr. Taggart, it¡¯s not that Daddy¡¯s tablet isn¡¯t working. He just bought one for me to use temporarily.¡± Sensing someone tugging at the hem of his clothes, Sebastian looked down and saw the clever Lucas standing before him. He crouched down and said, ¡°I see. If I had known this tablet was for you, I would¡¯ve gotten a cartoon case Nathaniel preferred simplicity, so Sebastian didn¡¯t consider getting any essories earlier. Lucas received the tablet. ¡°That¡¯s not needed, Mr. Taggart. I¡¯m just using it temporarily for online sses. Mommy forbids me from ying with tablets.¡± Sebastian smiled. Kids these days really do have a lot of homework. Inside the quiet office, Nathaniel and Lucas were both upied with their respective tasks. Lucas stole a nce at his father, who was absorbed in work, and secretly snapped a picture to send to Christina via WhatsApp. Hehe! He sent her a message: Mommy, I¡¯m helping you check in on Daddy. He¡¯s doing well, working hard to support us. Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Chapter 335 It Is Entirely Possible As noon approached, Nathaniel intended to take Lucas to a nearby restaurant for lunch. Just as they were about to leave, Sebastian rushed in, a rare look of urgency etched on his usually composed face. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we have a problem. Someone is attacking our security system, and all of ourputers have frozen, he reported. ¡°What did the technical department say?¡± Nathaniel immediately rose from his seat. If their clients¡¯ information and business arrangements were to leak out, it would spell disaster for the company. Sebastian¡¯s face paled. ¡°The technical department can only resist the attack for now, but they won¡¯t be able to hold off for long.¡± Four years ago, when thepany¡¯s data had been leaked, Nathaniel had taken measures to strengthen thepany¡¯s cybersecurity. Hence, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t fathom how the hacker could have breached their enhanced system. A cold glint appeared in his eyes. ¡°What use is the technical department if they can¡¯t even stop a hacker?¡± He made his way toward the elevator, only to notice that Lucas was following him. ¡°I want to go check it out too,¡± Lucas said innocently. Sebastian was rendered speechless. We¡¯re going to work not to y house. Perhaps Mr. Hadley is only letting him tag along simply because he doesn¡¯t want to leave the child alone in his office. The technical department had descended into chaos. Several technicians were frantically working to fend off the intrusive malware, but even the three of them couldn¡¯t hold off the single hacker¡¯s attack. Suddenly, they received an email from the attacker demanding thirty million in exchange for ceasing the assault. Otherwise, they threatened to make all of Hadley Corporation¡¯s data public. A data leak of such scale would be akin to stripping Hadley Corporation naked and throwing it into the street. It would be a devastating blow for anypany. Clearly, the hacker was after money. Nathaniel walked in and his stern expression intensified as he took in the sight of his staff struggling helplessly against the invasion. ¡°Mr. Hadley, should we pay? If the hacker leaks thepany¡¯s information, the repercussions are going to be¡­ dire, the director of the technical department suggested in a small voice. Thirty million in exchange for their data¡¯s security seemed like a good deal. Nathaniel furrowed his brows, anger simmering beneath his cool fa?ade. Agreeing to the hacker¡¯s ckmail would only encourage them to strike again to demand more money from Hadley Corporation in the future. Nathaniel would never agree to it. ¡°Find the best programmers no matter the cost. We must get them here,¡± Nathaniel said. The programmers in the department were experienced seniors with annual sries of over five million. If even they couldn¡¯t handle this issue, it was hard to imagine who else could do so. All they could do was lower their heads in shame. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a Trojan horse? You guys are acting like it¡¯s the end of the world.¡± A childish voice broke the tense silence in the department. The programmers turned to find a small figure standing beside them. He was only slightly taller than the chair beside him. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. The boy bore an uncanny resemnce to Nathaniel. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was their boss¡± ¡°Boy, don¡¯t talk nonsense when you don¡¯t know anything,¡± one programmer responded. They had never seen a Trojan horse malware this vicious. Even their director was at a loss. Lucas pushed the programmer from his chair disdainfully and pouted. ¡°You¡¯ll see if I¡¯m talking nonsense,¡± he retorted. ¡°Mr. Lucas¡­¡± Sebastian¡¯s voice quivered with anxiety as he reached out to take the boy off the chair. However, he was stopped by Nathaniel¡¯s firm grip. The next sequence of events had everyone at a loss for words. In a state of disbelief, they observed the little boy¡¯s tender, rosy hands dancing across the keyboard wi astounding speed. His nimbleness was such that his keystrokes remained invisible, with only the resounding cks of the keys echoing in the room. As he worked, it was shown on theputer screen that over eighty percent of the malware had been removed. Within the span of half an hour, the hacker¡¯s malware had been removedpletely, and the company¡¯sputers all resumed normal operations. The director of the technical department gasped in shock as though his mind had just survived a storm. A problem that had stumped more than a dozen of their finest programmers had just been solved by a child. The realization filled them with mortification. ¡°Problem solved. Your firewall is far from impressive. Otherwise, the hacker wouldnt have been able to hack into your system so easily,¡± Lucas remarked casually. He hopped down from the chair, pping his hands merrily. Nathaniel didn¡¯t know that Lucas was proficient withputers. Christina had never mentioned it.. Sebastian scooped Lucas into his arms excitedly. ¡°Mr. Lucas, you¡¯ve been hiding your talents so well!¡± The programmers flocked around, their eyes gleaming with admiration. ¡°Mr. Lucas, how did you do that? Could you teach us?¡± Acquiring even a fraction of such impressive skill would be a fortune. Lucas blushed at thepliments. A small smirk on his face revealed his pearly white teeth as he said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing impressive, really.¡± ¡°Mr. Lucas, when will you be able to guide us in our work?¡± a few programmers asked, regarding the little boy as if he were a national treasure. They were eager to get closer to him. ¡°I¡¯lle over during my weekend off.¡± Lucas promptly agreed. He had only readily agreed to the request as he thought his father¡¯spany¡¯s cybersecurity was lacking. and there were many vulnerabilities that he wanted to fix. The trio returned to Nathaniel¡¯s office soon after. Madison was tidying up documents on a desk. She saw Nathaniel holding a little boy in his arms, and she instantly recognized the boy to be Lucas. I¡¯ve intentionally shown the boy to Christina the day before. Isn¡¯t she supposed to be angry? Why would she let the boy follow Nathaniel? Madison had been confident that her actions yesterday had struck Christina¡¯s pride, but she was now puzzled as to why her n was not working. Sebastian poured a ss of juice for Lucas as he attempted to curry favor with the little boy. ¡°Mr. Lucas, your programming skills are really incredible. Could you possibly help me recover some data?¡± Lucas took over the ss of juice and took a sip before answering. ¡°Sure!¡± ¡°That¡¯s fantastic! Four years ago, someone breached our internal system, stole data on a project, and published it online. The intruder erased all traces of the breach, and to this day we still can¡¯t find the culprit,¡± Sebastian said. As he recounted the incident, he gritted his teeth furiously. They had no choice but to fast-track the project to minimize thepany¡¯s losses. Those few months had them working so hard that it had caused a significant toll on their health. The most frustrating part was their inability to identify the perpetrator. ¡°How can you possibly find anything after four years?¡± Madison asked. Lucas¡¯ eyes fell upon the woman, and his first impression was anything but favorable. However, he had heard from his mother that this woman was his father¡¯s assistant. Why would Daddy employ such a morally questionable character? Lucas had noticed the way Madison looked at Nathaniel. It was akin to a cat hungrily eyeing a fish. It was obvious that her gaze was filled with ill intent. ¡°Others may not be able to do it, but I assure you, in my hands, it is entirely possible,¡± Lucas countered her dismissivement with a huff. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Inconsiderate Madison started panicking. ¡°We got rid of all theputer equipment back then. Theputers we¡¯re using now are all new, so there¡¯s no way you can check on that.¡± They had reced all of theirputers with new ones for security reasons after they failed to find out who had stolen thepany¡¯s information back then. ¡°How could a young kid know anything about something asplicated asputer programs?¡± Madison mocked in a low voice while quietly clenching her fists. I recall that at the time, not even the director of the technical department could figure out what had happened. Sebastian turned to her and replied solemnly, ¡°You don¡¯t know this, but Mr. Lucas just helped the company resolve a crisis. Also, I didn¡¯t get rid of all theputers back then. I¡¯ve been keeping one at home. I hoped we might one day meet an expert who could help us find the mastermind, but I never expected the expert would turn out to be Mr. Lucas!¡± At that time. I remember feeling as though getting rid of theputers was equivalent to destroying evidence. Hence, I asked to take one back and hid it at home. Madison was shocked as she had always thought theputers had been destroyed. It had never urred to her that he might have taken one back with him, and she could not help cursing inwardly, Damn it! Why did he have to keep something that shouldn¡¯t still exist? ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ll definitely help you find out who did it. Lucas promised while patting his chest. Nathaniel patted the boy¡¯s head. ¡°Wait here for a while. Once I¡¯ve finished up some work, I¡¯ll take you to get something to eat.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lucas blinked yfully, his dark eyes shining as brilliantly as though they hid thousands of stars in their depths. As Nathaniel went to do his work, Lucas wandered the corridors out of boredom. Daddy¡¯s office is so big that I could y ser here. The next time Ie, I should bring a ser ball to kick around. When Madison saw him walking about alone, she could not help thinking how much his appearance took after Nathaniel, especially his eyes. His calm gaze had a maturity that went beyond his years. However, his delicate chin resembled Christina¡¯s, and the more Madison looked at it, the more intense her hatred became. She walked over and said, ¡°Mr. Lucas, you shouldn¡¯t be wandering about like this.¡± Raising his head, Lucas looked at her with a hint of contempt. ¡°This is my daddy¡¯spany. I can go wherever I want.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re his only son. You saw that I was holding the hand of a little boy the other day, didn¡¯t you?¡± she asked while narrowing her eyes, her gaze sinister. Lucas was momentarily taken aback. I remember that rude little boy, of course. Madison moved closer and continued frostily, ¡°He¡¯s also your daddy¡¯s son, so don¡¯t be so cocky. If you don¡¯t behave yourself, your daddy will abandon you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Children are not as good at controlling their emotions as adults. Lucas red at her and shouted hotly, ¡°He said there are only three precious people in his life-me, Cam, and Mommy! It doesn¡¯t include that little boy you¡¯re talking about!¡± Seeing him angry filled Madison with glee. ¡°Well, your daddy lied to you. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go home and ask your mother.¡± As he recalled how Christina had seemed evasive while answering his question the previous day, his confidence wavered. ¡°You¡¯re a bad person. I don¡¯t believe you!¡± Fuming, he pushed her aside and ran into the office. Madison¡¯s lips curved into a slight smirk. As expected, it¡¯s easier to deceive children. When Nathaniel finished his work and returned to his office, he saw Lucas sitting on the couch with his cheeks puffed out in anger. He walked over and caressed Lucas¡¯ head. ¡°Are you angry because I¡¯ve kept you waiting for very long?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lucas looked away, refusing to meet Nathaniel¡¯s gaze. He was a jumbled mess of emotions and did not know whether to continue believing thetter. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve reserved a table at a kids¡¯ restaurant. We¡¯ll pick up Cam and have a meal there together.¡± Carrying Lucas in his arms, Nathaniel noticed the boy¡¯s mood showed no sign of lifting. ¡°You¡¯re a boy. You can¡¯t be so petty.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not being petty!¡± Lucas retorted. I just don¡¯t want to share my daddy with others! Lucas sighed, not knowing what to say. When they arrived, Christina led Cam, whose ss had ended, into the restaurant. The two children were distracted by all the interesting toys and started ying in the spacious ball pit. Nathaniel had ordered the dishes in advance. No sooner had they sat down than the waiters brought out all their food. As he cut his steak, he asked, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you ever mentioned that Lucas is aputer whiz?¡± Christina¡¯s heart lurched violently. She looked up at him and asked, ¡°How do you know he¡¯s good with. computers?¡± I¡¯ve been hiding this matter very well. In fact, to ensure Lucas¡¯ safety, I don¡¯t allow him to touch any electronic devices, I even monitor him whenever he needs to use the tablet. Seeing how strongly she reacted, Nathaniel knew she was aware of Lucas¡¯ talent. ¡°Learningputer skills isn¡¯t something dangerous. It won¡¯t be harmful as long as we monitor his screen time.¡± I know that exposing children to electronic devices for extended periods can be bad for the eyes and brain development. However, if we set reasonable limits, it won¡¯t be a big problem. Christina¡¯s expression immediately turned as cold as ice. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about that. Did you know his exceptional skills caused him to be pursued bywless criminals?¡± The memory of what they had gone through while abroad still made her shudder. After a pause, she continued, ¡°I admit he¡¯s very talented. However, that was also what brought him trouble. Just after he turned three, he became a well-known figure on the hacker list due to his incredible skills. He cracked many Trojan programs that many adults could not. Not long after that, a local organization. wanted him to hack into a major corporation¡¯s system to gain profit from it. I had to take the kids and flee from city to city to escape from those people. Did you know that?¡± Her eyes instantly reddened as she recounted the harrowing incident. Those people wanted to use Lucas¡¯ skills to make money illegally. How could I stand by and watch my son get involved in something so horrible? In order to protect him. I¡¯ve never revealed his talent to others. All I want is for him to have a normal childhood. An invisible force seemed to grip Nathaniel¡¯s heart. He had a suffocating sensation in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. I knew they had a difficult time overseas, but I never thought their lives had also been in danger. No wonder Lucas said she doesn¡¯t allow him to use electronic devices. So, this is the reason. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s my fault for being inconsiderate, Nathaniel said, deeply apologetic. I¡¯ve been doing a pathetic job, carelessly upsetting them at every turn. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Christina lowered her gaze and did not look at him. ¡°I¡¯m not ming you. I don¡¯t ask for much. However, since you insist on forcing your way into our lives, I ask that you maintain an image a father should have in front of the kids. I don¡¯t want them to get upset because of you.¡± During this period, I¡¯ve finally gotten over what happened. Lucas and Cam like him a lot, and I¡¯ve no reason to deprive them of their right to need a father. Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Chapter 337 No Longer Interested In You Okay, I promise you.¡± Nathaniel had never sounded more determined. Christina did not want to mention anything about Madison to him, nor did she want to bother herself with the two of them. Being able to provide a warm home for the kids was enough. Since a long time ago, she had already felt like a stranger in this marriage. After lunch, the two kids fell asleep on the way home. Looking at how peaceful the kids were when they were sleeping, Christina felt that everything she had done was worth it. On Monday morning. Nathaniel took Lucas and Cam to the kindergarten. Cam¡¯s hair was tied into two small braids. She asked with a smile, ¡°Daddy, will youe to pick us up after ss today?¡± ¡°If you want me to, I will.¡± Lucas eximed with joy, ¡°Of course we want you toe!¡± A faint smile formed on Nathaniel¡¯s lips. ¡°If you want me toe, I¡¯ll be here. I¡¯ll even be the first one to pick you up, okay?¡± Lucas and Cam were so excited that they were jumping up and down. ¡°Okay! You¡¯re the best, Daddy. Remember to be the first to arrive!¡± For some reason, every child believed that having their parents be the first ones to fetch them home was something to be very proud of. ¡°All right, go in now.¡± Nathaniel kissed their foreheads. ¡°Bye, Daddy!¡± said the two cute kids in unison. Lucas held his sister¡¯s hand and walked into the kindergarten. Nathaniel shed a small smile as he looked at their adorable backs. The scene was like a heartwarming painting that moved him greatly. Lucas and Cam entered the ssroom. The teacher brought in a little boy, who had a handsome face and was dressed neatly. ¡°Hello, everyone. We have a new ssmate in our ss today. His name is Norman. Let¡¯s wee him together!¡± All the students turned their gaze toward the little boy who was standing on the stage and smiling toothily. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Lucas and Cam recognized the little boy as the child of the meandy from yesterday. Lucas, why is this rude little boy in the same ss as us?¡± Cam asked in confusion. Recalling what the meandy had said to him at the office yesterday, Lucas instantly shot a disdainful look at the boy. ¡°Let¡¯s ignore him. We shall not y with him¡± He did not want to y with someone who had stolen his father from him. After he greeted his ssmates, the teacher asked Norman to find a seat by himself. As there were no fixed seats in kindergarten, the children could sit wherever they wanted. Norman deliberately walked to Lucas¡¯ side and dered in an arrogant tone, ¡°I want to sit here. ¡°This is my brother¡¯s seat. You can sit somewhere else,¡± said Cam with a disdainful look in her eyes. ¡°The teacher said we can sit anywhere, so I want to sit here. Otherwise, I won¡¯t leave!¡± Norman sat on Lucas¡¯ small chair, forcibly pushing him aside. Cam, who was normally quiet, could not help but extend her arms out and shove Norman. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to bully my brother!¡± Norman ran to the teacher and used his cuteness to win her over. Due to his fair skin and delicate features, the teacher immediately took a liking to him. The teacher brought out an extra chair. ¡°Lucas, Norman says that he wants to sit with you. Since you¡¯re the little leader of the ss, please take care of your new ssmate.¡± Once the teacher walked away, the obedient look on his face disappeared and was reced by a look of contempt. He sat down gloatingly Lucas immediately pulled Cam away. ¡°Let¡¯s sit over there.¡± The two kids intentionally avoided Norman. They simply refused to sit with him. When the kids were given some free time, a few of them were ying ser Norman ignored the rules completely. After Lucas stole the ball from him a couple of umes, he got angry and shoved Lucas. Lucas fell to the ground and scraped his palmis. The pain made him inhale sharply. ¡°You¡¯re cheating! You deliberately pushed me!¡± Norman sheered, ¡°You¡¯re as skinny as a stick. Don¡¯t me me for not being able to and still Lucas stood up from the grass and roared angrily at Norman, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s like a stick! You¡¯re as aly and annoying as your mother At that moment, the teacher walked over ¡°What happened Norman immediately put on a puful look when he saw the teacher approaching him. He threw himself into the teacher¡¯s arms and said with a sufle, ¡°Its Lucas 1 identally bumped into him and he scolded With the tears streaming down his cheeks, he yed the part of the victim well. The teacher quickly felt sorry for Norman Frowning she looked at Lucas ¡°Lucas, you shouldn¡¯t bully your new ssmate.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t! Hmph! You¡¯re all bad people. I don¡¯t want to y with you anymore!¡± Lucas wiped his sweat and ran off the field angrily. Cam quickly caught up to him andforted him. Taking out a small handkerchief from her backpack, she gently wiped Lucas sweat. ¡°Lucas, don¡¯t be angry. I don¡¯t like Norman either. I¡¯ll only y with you!¡± Lucas hugged his sister, feeling upset. He refused to admit defeat. There was no way he would lose to Norman, who only knew how to put on a pitiful act. That was not how a real man should behave. Suddenly remembering what the meandy had said, Lucas stared at his sister seriously and asked, ¡°Cam, if Daddy has another little baby, and that baby is Norman, will you ept it?¡± Cam did not understand why her brother was suddenly saying such things. ¡°Norman is Daddy¡¯s baby? No¡­ Daddy said that he only has us and Mommy!¡± Is Lucas so angry that he lost his mind? He¡¯s talking nonsense! Lucas did not want it to be true either. Pursing his thin lips, he said angrily, ¡°It¡¯s what the meandy said! She imed that Norman is her and Daddy¡¯s child. She said we can ask Mommy if we don¡¯t believe her!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go back and ask Mommy!¡± Cam¡¯s eyes were filled with determination. After ss, Nathaniel came to fetch them home. Norman, who was standing at the back of the group, saw Nathaniel smiling while carrying Lucas and Cam. It was his first time seeing Nathaniel smile. When the three of them returned to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina had not returned. The two kids reluctantly went to the dining table and sat down after Nathaniel told them to. As soon as they finished eating, they stood at the door and waited for their mother. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you guys ying?¡± Nathaniel came down from his study and saw two small figures squatting at the door like little puppies. ¡°We¡¯re waiting for Mommy!¡± ¡°We have something very important to ask her!¡± Nathaniel apanied them. The three of them looked up and gazed at the stars in the sky. They waited. for quite a while before they finally heard the sound of a car entering the gate. When the car stopped, Christina looked out the window and saw the three figures sitting in the front yard. Two of them were tiny while the remaining one was tall, resembling a lion guarding the entrance with its two cubs. As soon as she got out of the car, she saw two cute faces eagerly staring at her. ¡°Mommy, can you spend the night with us today?¡± They wanted to seek rification from her. ¡°Of course!¡± Chrema carried the two adorable kids and walked toward the house. While doing so, she turned around and teased Nathaniel. ¡°Looks like your novelty has worn off. The kids are no longer interested in you Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Chapter 338 The Brutal Truth Looking at the backs of the three individuals, Nathaniel felt a deep sense of loss. He wondered when they would ever fully ept him. Christina took the kids upstairs. After taking a bath, the two of them sat on the bed wearing adorable cartoon pajamas. ¡°Why are you so well-behaved today?¡± Christina asked. Lucas was usually an energetic child. She rarely saw him in such a dispirited state, like a sunflower without sunlight. Lucas lifted his crystal-clear eyes. He seemed to be waiting for Christina to realize his unusual behavior. ¡°Mommy, you mustn¡¯t lie to me.¡± He didn¡¯t believe in Nathaniel, but he trusted Christina a lot. Christina waspletely clueless about the kids¡¯ secret. As she absent-mindedly wiped the water droplets off Cam¡¯s hair with a towel, she replied casually, ¡°Sure. Go ahead and ask.¡± Lucas and Cam exchanged a nce. His gaze seemed to be saying. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask?¡± Cam shook her head. You ask. Lucas bit his thin lips. He knew it was his responsibility as the elder brother at times like this, so he asked solemnly. ¡°Does Daddy have any other kids besides us?¡± The kid¡¯s innocent voice was soft, yet it struck Christina¡¯s heart like a ringing bell. Christina stopped what she was doing, wondering if Lucas knew something. She endured the wrenching pain in her heart and asked, ¡°Who told you that? Your daddy?¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°No. We¡¯re just curious.¡± Christina gazed at their pure and innocent faces. Her slightly anxious face was reflected in their clear eyes. How heartbreaking it would be if the kids were to find out about that¡­ She really didn¡¯t want such young kids to be burdened with the conflicts of the adult world. In less than three seconds, Christina hid the pain within her heart. She raised her hand to pinch Lucas¡± cheek and said jokingly, ¡°Silly boy, what are you saying? Your daddy and I only have you two little sweethearts.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lucas and Cam eximed excitedly at the same time. With her head held high, Christina smiled and said, ¡°I never tell lies to little kids.¡± ¡°Yay! Mommy is the best!¡± After getting a positive answer from their mother, the two kids joyfully jumped on the bed, just like two delighted little bunnies. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s gettingte. Time to sleep. Otherwise, we¡¯ll bete for kindergarten tomorrow.¡± Christina tightly embraced the two little figures, feeling the warmth emanating from their soft bodies as if it could drive away the coldness in her heart. ¡°Well sleep right away Lucas and Cam obedientlyy down on the bed. Christina pulled the nket over them, gently covering their little bodies. Her gaze was tender as she looked at their small faces, and before she knew it, her vision became blurry. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell the kids the brutal truth. At that moment, she felt as if she was walking a thorny path. Even she herself didn¡¯t know how far she could go. Aftering out of the kids¡¯ room, Christina took a deep breath and turned to walk toward her bedroom. The moment she nced up, she immediately noticed the imposing figure of Nathaniel standing at the doorway. He seemed to be waiting for her. ¡°Are the kids asleep?¡± he asked with concern. ¡°Yeah,¡± Christina said casually and stretched out her hand to open the door. Her figure was delicate and slender, so she could gently avoid Nathaniel as she walked inside. Seeing that she was avoiding him like the gue, Nathaniel felt his heart sink. He turned around and walked in as well. The air seemed to have frozen because of his formidable aura. ¡°Get out,¡± Christina said coldly. Nathaniel gazed at her slender back. She appeared fragile and delicate yet disyed a greater determination than anyone else. Even though Christina was not willing to let him stay these past few days, she didn¡¯t use such a hostile tone to drive him away. He could sense that something was off with her. ¡°Christina, what¡¯s wrong with you? Christina snorted. How dare he ask me that? When did he learn to put on such an act? ¡°I don¡¯t want to interfere with what you do outside, but once you step into Scenic Garden Manor and acknowledge the kids, please take on the responsibilities of a father.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned gloomy. ¡°It¡¯s my first time as a father. Just tell me if there¡¯s anything I need to work on.¡± Christina tightened her fists, and her eyebrows twitched slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with you. Leave and don¡¯t disturb the children.¡± It waste at night, so even the slightest sound of breathing was amplified. She worried that she would be too worked up and wake up the two kids in the next room. Time passed quietly. Christina grew impatient when she saw that Nathaniel did not move. ¡°Get out.¡± Once again, her icy-cold voice echoed in the room. The atmosphere in the room instantly became thick with tension. Despite sensing her frustration, Nathaniel remained rooted to his spot. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. He wouldn¡¯t leave as long as he could be in the same room with Christina. He wouldn¡¯t let go if he could. hug her, and he wouldn¡¯t shift his gaze if he could look at her a little longer. Christina suppressed the urge to push him out. She knew that even if she were to train in martial arts for several more years, she wouldn¡¯t be a match for Nathaniel in terms of strength. In the end, her rationality prevailed. Since she could not chase him away, she just let him be. She took off her coat, leaving only a in white nightgown on her body. After that, she lifted the covers and settled into bed. Before she could even settle down, she felt movement beside her. By the time she realized it, her hands and feet were already restrained by Nathaniel. ¡°Nathaniel!¡± Christina shouted. Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself over and over again! Nathaniel rested his handsome face on her slender shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ve had a long day at work. Let¡¯s not talk anymore. Be good and go to sleep.¡± Christina felt suffocated. Her rightful authority had been instantly snatched away by him. However, this time, Christina didn¡¯t spoil him. ¡°There are so many rooms outside. Can¡¯t you sleep there? If not, you can go find your-¡± Before she could utter the word ¡°Madison, Nathaniel sealed her lips. Christina¡¯s indifference and anger had left Nathaniel feeling anxious, and she wouldn¡¯t listen to anything. he said. He decided to simply silence her. The scorching breath poured relentlessly into Christina¡¯s lungs. She felt as if her entire body had been engulfed by that domineering aura. The next day, the morning sun shone into the room. Lucas and Cam energetically hopped off the bed. The housekeepers entered to help them get dressed neatly before taking them downstairs for breakfast. The butler reminded the housekeepers, ¡°Remember toplete your tasks well. I¡¯ll return in the afternoon.¡± He was carrying a red basket in his hand that contained incense, some wine bottles, nkets, and fruits. After saying that, he prepared to leave. Lucas was curious, so he approached Raymond and asked, ¡°Mr. Patel, where are you going?¡± ¡°Are you going back home with the fruits?¡± Cam asked innocently. Raymond exined cheerfully, ¡°I¡¯m not going home. I¡¯m going to pray.¡± The two kids seemed as if they had stumbled upon something intriguing. They held onto him and wouldn¡¯t let him go. ¡°Going to pray? What does that mean?¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Not Fit To Be A Teacher ¡°Well, praying means going to the church and telling your wishes to God. Then, God will fulfill your wishes,¡± Raymond exined. Lucas and Cam stared at him incredulously because they couldn¡¯t believe such an incredible ce that could grant people¡¯s wishes existed. ¡°Mr. Patel, could you please tell us where this church that you are going to is?¡± Lucas asked eagerly. ¡°It¡¯s located at Dawson Lane in the north of the city. I find God to be the most responsive there!¡± Raymond put on a hat and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going off now, Mr. Lucas, Ms. Cam.¡± Then, he turned and walked out of the front gate. The housekeeper led the two children into the dining room for breakfast before taking them to the kindergarten. After entering the ssroom, Lucas and Cam immediately noticed Norman, who was dressed in branded clothes. He was holding a new model airne and surrounded by many children who wanted to have a closer look at the new toy. ¡°My daddy bought this for me. It¡¯s a limited edition! None of you have it,¡± Norman eximed proudly He deliberately spoke loudly to catch Lucas¡¯ attention. Lucas held Cam¡¯s hand and found seats for both of them. Since there was some free time before ss, they chose a storybook and began reading it attentively. Cam tilted her head and looked at Lucas. ¡°Does God really exist, Lucas?¡± ¡°I think He does. Mr. Patel will never lie to us,¡± Lucas replied confidently. Propping her chin up with her chubby little fist, Cam said with anticipation, ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing that wish cane true? I really want to go to the church and pray too!¡± Lucas felt the same deep down. ¡°Me too.¡± Their innocent thoughts were soon interrupted by the ringing school bell. Their day at the kindergarten was packed with activities, but they were allowed to spend their time freely in the afternoon. While Cam was having an art lesson, Lucas remained in the ssroom. Lucas was reading a book halfway through when a model airne suddenly blocked his sight. He was slightly taken aback and recognized it as the toy that Norman had been showing off that morning. Lucas stared at Norman warily as he raised his delicate chin. ¡°Take it away.¡± ¡°This is thetest model airne, and it¡¯s remote-controlled. It even makes realistic sounds. I didn¡¯t let the ¨Cother kids touch it even if they wanted to, but I¡¯ll let you feel it,¡± Norman said arrogantly. The reason he had brought the airne to the kindergarten was to show off in front of Lucas. However, he didn¡¯t expect Lucas not to nce at him at all the whole day. Lucas impatiently shoved the airne in front of him aside and turned sideways with his book, rejecting Norman¡¯s offer. Norman¡¯s face instantly became pully with anger. After picking up the airne, which was shoved onto the ground, he smashed it onto the floor again. The model airne was instantly reduced to pieces. Lucas stared at the scattered pieces of the airne on the ground with his eyebrows furrowed. Why did he smash the airne for no reason? The next moment, Norman started wailing. Pointing at Lucas, he sobbed, ¡°Ms. Jacobs, Lucas broke my airne¡­¡± Feeling anxious, Lucas jumped from his seat and refuted, ¡°You¡¯re lying! I didn¡¯t break your toy!¡± ¡°It was you! I didn¡¯t want to lend you my toy, so you broke it!¡± Norman red at him, his anger convincing enough for people to believe him. At that moment, Stacy Jacobs, their teacher, walked over to ask about the incident after hearing the commotion. Pretending to be aggrieved. Normany on Stacy¡¯s shoulder and tearfully recounted what had happened. After putting the me on Lucas, he pretended to be forgiving and said, ¡°Ms. Jacobs, I don¡¯t think Lucas. did it on purpose. As long as he apologizes to me, I won¡¯t hold a grudge against him.¡± Lucas had never seen anyone better at pretending than Norman. ¡°Apologize to you? Dream on!¡± Why should I apologize when I haven¡¯t done anything wrong? ¡°Lucas, what happened to you? You never misbehave like this. You damaged a ssmate¡¯s toy, yet you refuse to apologize.¡± Stacy was already convinced that Lucas was the one at fault. ¡°Go stand outside the office as your punishment!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t break Norman¡¯s toy airne, Ms. Jacobs!¡± Lucas yelled, his eyes widening in anger. Stacy was livid. ¡°You are so disrespectful to your teacher! You will stand outside the office, and I¡¯m going to call your parents!¡± ¡°Ms. Jacobs¡­¡± ¡°Go!¡± Stacy grabbed Lucas¡¯ hand roughly and pulled him out. Watching as Lucas was taken away, Norman couldn¡¯t help snickering triumphantly. Lucas was frustrated, but Stacy wouldn¡¯t listen to his protests because she believed Norman, who had yed the victim well. After ss, Christina received a phone call from Stacy and rushed to the kindergarten. As she turned the corner and entered the hallway, she saw Lucas standing outside the office with his head. hung low. It pained her heart to see him so disheartened. Beside Lucas was Cam, who was holding a drawing board in her hand and tightly gripping her brother¡¯s hand with another. Christina quickly picked up her pace and walked over to them. Squatting down in front of the kids, she asked with concern, ¡°What happened, Lucas? Why did the teacher punish you?¡± Lucas could no longer hold back his emotions the moment he saw Christina. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± One thing that Christina couldn¡¯t bear to see the most was her kids crying. Patting Lucas gently on the back, sheforted. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lucas. Can you tell Mommy what happened?¡± Lucas took a while to stop crying. Then, he told Christina about everything that had happened. ¡°Who is Norman? Why would he do that on purpose?¡± Christina couldn¡¯t understand Norman¡¯s intentions despite knowing that he was framing Lucas on purpose. ¡°He said he¡¯s Daddy¡¯s son with another woman. Cam and I don¡¯t like him, but he always bothers us. Mommy, I don¡¯t want to be in the same kindergarten as him. Can we transfer to another kindergarten?¡± He didn¡¯t want to face Norman every day, who was hypocritical and full of lies. Norman is Madison and Nathaniel¡¯s child. No wonder Lucas and Cam asked if he has another child with another woman¡­ Christina clenched her fists tightly. Did Nathaniel intentionally arrange for Norman to be in this kindergarten? Christina had thought it was fine as long as they didn¡¯t see each other because she wanted to stay out of Madison and her child¡¯s affairs. However, this arrangement of them was intolerable. Just then, Stacy came out of the office and approached Christina. ¡°Are you Christina Steele, Lucas¡¯ mother?¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Christina looked up in anger. ¡°Ms. Jacobs, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s unfair that you didn¡¯t listen to Lucas¡¯ exnations before reprimanding him?¡± Stacy felt pressured by Christina¡¯s domineering aura, but she couldn¡¯t lose her authority in front of a parent. ¡°I have understood the situationpletely. Lucas disrespected his ssmate and showed no sign of remorse. There¡¯s no problem with me punishing him¡± Looking down at Lucas, Stacy maintained her calm demeanor as she asked, ¡°Do you admit your mistake now?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t admit it because I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± Lucas clenched his fists and red at Stacy. ¡°My brother will never break someone else¡¯s toy!¡± Cam added, defending Lucas. If Lucas said he didn¡¯t do it, he definitely didn¡¯t. Cam believed in himpletely. Christina stepped in between the two of them. ¡°It seems like this kindergarten is only respectable on the surface but not on the inside. You are not fit to be my son¡¯s teacher with that attitude of yours!¡± Chapter 340 Running Away From Home Chapter 340 Running Away From Home Stacy¡¯s expression darkened as if she had been pped. This was a prestigious elite kindergarten. Among all the prestigious kindergartens, they ranked first. All of the teachers who were hired had high qualifications. Having been a homeroom teacher for so many years, Stacy was filled with a sense of superiority. She couldn¡¯t tolerate others tarnishing her reputation like that. ¡°I can now see why Lucas doesn¡¯t know how to respect his teachers. It¡¯s because you don¡¯t know how to educate your child. The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree!¡± Stacy retorted, her voice echoing through the long corridor. There was no way Christina would allow her son to be mistreated like that. It could potentially cause psychological harm that would affect him for a lifetime. Anger filled Christina¡¯s eyes as she took a step closer. ¡°We will never apologize. You, however, should apologize to my son right now because you used him without understanding the situation fully. If not, I will lodge aint about you by writing a ten-thousand-word letter to the Ministry of Education!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are toin about me?¡± Stacy immediately retorted and attempted to overpower Christina. ¡°Both of you are expelled. There¡¯s no need for you toe to ss tomorrow!¡± Christina couldn¡¯t care less about the kindergarten from the start. ring at Stacy, she said, ¡°Lucas and Cam are not expelled by you. We¡¯re leaving on our own. I¡¯m not interested in letting my kids study in such a ce!¡± The color drained from Stacy¡¯s face. ¡°Leave¡­ now!¡± Christina carried Lucas in her arms. A second ago, her anger was still visible, but her expression. immediately softened when she faced Lucas¡¯ innocent face. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Lucas. Mommy believes in you.¡± Lucas and Cam wrapped their arms around Christina¡¯s shoulders. ¡°The teachers here bullied Lucas. I don¡¯t like them. Let¡¯s leave quickly, Mommy,¡± Cam said aggrievedly. The three of them left the kindergarten. Still furious, Christina exploded the moment she saw Nathaniel when they reached Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°Into the study, now.¡± Nathaniel, who had just returned home from work, had no idea why Christina was looking at him like the enemy. He followed her into the study. As soon as the door closed, the facade of amiability on Christina¡¯s face immediately fell apart. ¡°I will find a new kindergarten for the kids tomorrow,¡± Christina stated, her firm tone an indication that it was an announcement rather than a discussion. Her tone was so icy that it could freeze the air. Nathaniel took out his phone and messaged Sebastian to ask him to find out what had happened. ¡°Why? We¡¯ve already paid the fees.¡± Christina turned around and looked daggers at him. ¡°You can take their ce, then. I¡¯m sure the kindergarten will be perfect for someone with such a low emotional intelligence like you,¡± she mocked. To think that he arranged our son with his illegitimate son in the same kindergarten. Is it because it¡¯s more convenient for him to pick them up? ¡°Can we talk about this properly?¡± Nathaniel noticed that her temper had worsened over the years. Even her retorts had be more ruthless than before. At the thought of Lucas being mistreated at the kindergarten that day, Christina felt even angrier. She regretted listening to Nathaniel and sending their kids to that kindergarten. Otherwise, the incident that day wouldn¡¯t have happened. Nathaniel walked over and tapped her slender shoulder with his fingertips gently. ¡°Okay, we can find. another kindergarten if you don¡¯t want the kids to attend this.¡± Repulsed, she flung his hand away. ¡°Get away from me. You said I¡¯m the master of this house if I stay here, and you can¡¯t stay overnight without my permission. I¡¯m asking you to leave now. Otherwise, I¡¯m leaving with the kids.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened instantly, and he said nothing. Lucas and Cam were leaning against the door and listening to their parents¡¯ argument. They couldn¡¯t help but feel dejected. ¡°What do we do now, Lucas? Daddy and Mommy are fighting.¡± Cam¡¯s eyes were teary. Lucas didn¡¯t know what to do either. He had always considered himself clever, but now he couldn¡¯t think of a brilliant n to stop them from arguing. A man should always be courteous to ady. Daddy really doesn¡¯t know how to appease Mommy. His emotional intelligence is indeed worrying¡­ Suddenly, Cam¡¯s eyes lit up. Raising her index finger in excitement, she eximed, ¡°I know what to do! We can ask God for help!¡± Mr. Patel said that God is capable of anything and can fulfill people¡¯s wishes. If we go to pray to God, maybe Daddy and Mommy will stop fighting. Lucas strongly agreed with Cam¡¯s suggestion. However, he became worried again in the next instant. ¡°Daddy and Mommy will never agree to let us go and pray. What do we do, then?¡± ¡°We can go secretly without Mommy and Daddy finding out!¡± Cam whispered, recalling a few asions. when she and Lucas had secretly eaten cookies without Christina noticing despite Christina saying that they couldn¡¯t have cookies at night. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do it, then.¡± That night, Lucas and Cam went to bed early. After tucking them in, Christina returned to her bedroom. As shey on the bed, her gaze drifted toward the moon outside the window. The soft silver glow from the moon reflected her current state of mind. Just like when she thought she would be agitated to see Nathaniel again and yell at him for keeping her under house arrest, the pain had healed before she even realized it. However, although the scars appeared to be healed on the surface, the damage was already done. Emotions would stili creep up on her in the middle of the night every now and then. Back in the children¡¯s room, Lucas was sleeping soundly when he was woken up by an rm clock that he had deliberately set before going to sleep. Lucas had been thinking about going to pray the whole night. He immediately got up and woke up Cam, who was sleeping beside him. ¡°Wake up, Cam. It¡¯s time to go, Cam opened her eyes and stared at Lucas nkly because she wasn¡¯t fully awake yet. ¡°Why not you stay at home, Cam? I can go and pray by myself.¡± Lucas suggested with concern. As soon as Cam heard the word ¡°pray,¡± she became alert. ¡°No. I have to go too! This is such an important thing!¡± She quickly got out of thefortable bed and changed into a casual outfit. Before leaving, she didn¡¯t forget to put her favorite hairpin on. Lucas carried a small backpack and took out his watch. After activating the map function on it, he keyed in the address of the church. Soon enough, the watch disyed the distance to their destination and the avable modes of transportation. After checking the emergency supplies in his bag, Lucas confirmed with Cam again, ¡°We can only walk there. Are you sure you will be okay, Cam?¡± Cam put on a hat and made an ¡°okay¡± gesture to Lucas. ¡°When have you be so talkative, Lucas? Hurry up, let¡¯s go.¡± Since they had been living in Scenic Garden Manor for quite some time, they were already familiar with the routes there. No one noticed two small figures sneaking out of the children¡¯s room as the butlers and housekeepers in Scenic Garden Manor were fast asleep in the middle of the night. Lucas held Cam¡¯s hand and quietly slipped out through a small gate, Since Scenic Garden Manor was located in a wealthy district, it would take at least half an hour to reach the nearest bus stop. However, the idea of such a long distance didn¡¯t stop Lucas and Cam, who were fearless. Filled with excitement, they began to embark on their first adventure which started with running away from home. Chapter 341 Incompetent Chapter 341 Ipetent From the dead of the night until the early hours of the morning, two tiny figures could be seen walking down the illuminated streets. ¡°Lucas, how much longer does it take to get there? I¡¯m tired¡­¡± she trailed off as she sank to the floor. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she tried to catch her breath. Lucas nced at the map on his watch and noticed there were a few more kilometers before they reached their destination. Walking for two hours without stopping was considered difficult for the two children. However, they did not mind it. As long as their parents would stop arguing, they were willing to do anything. Lucas took out two water bottles from his backpack. He handed one to Cam and said, ¡°Drink some water to replenish your energy!¡± The brother-sister duo gulped down a few mouthfuls of water as they sat side by side. After some time, Lucas moved to squat in front of Cam. With his back facing her, he said, ¡°Hold on a little longer. We¡¯re almost there. Come on, I¡¯ll give you a piggyback ride.¡± His mother had taught him well since he was young. She always reminded him that Cam was a girl, and as her elder brother, he had to take good care of her. Cam wiped the sweat off her forehead. Exhausted and sleepy, she climbed onto her brother¡¯s back. without any hesitation. Since Lucas was not used to giving people piggyback rides, he almost fell when he got up. It took him a while to regain his bnce. Because of that, the two tired children, who were feeling miserable about the journey,ughed. ¡°Don¡¯t drop me, Lucas!¡± Cam wrapped her arms tight around Lucas¡¯ neck as she giggled. Lucas tightened his grip on her thighs. ¡°Cam, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t grab on so tight! L¡­ I can¡¯t breathe!¡± Cam quickly let go and hugged Lucas¡¯ shoulders instead as she leaned against his back. ¡°Lucas, hurry up. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be home in time.¡± Lucas hummed in response. He took tiny steps forward and resumed their journey to their destination. ¡°Cam, have you gained weight recently? Why do you feel much heavier than before?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. ¡°Lucas, it¡¯s not nice to tell a girl that she¡¯s heavy. Your emotional intelligence is so low. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to find a wife in the future. Haha!¡± Lucas was rendered speechless, The sky was hazy. It was drizzling, apanied by gusts of cold wind. The chilly weather jolted Christina awake. She yawned and stretched in bed. She slowly opened her eyes and turned to nce at the window to see rain streaking down the panes. It¡¯s raining. I wonder if the kids are tucked in warmly. Still groggy, she struggled to get out of bed. She grabbed her robe from the couch before leaving the bedroom. Christina pushed open the door to the children¡¯s room. It was close to dawn, and there wasn¡¯t much light. in the room. She could see the nkets were folded neatly on the bed, and the bed was empty. She quickly approached the bed and noticed the children were nowhere to be found. All the drowsiness Christina felt left her body in an instant. Her heart sank as she yelled, ¡°Lucas? Cam?¡± Where did they go? Christina frantically searched through each bedroom on the second floor but could not find them. In a panic, she rushed down to the first floor and woke up all the housekeepers and the butler. Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes. Her voice trembled as she asked. ¡°Has anyone seen Lucas and Cam?¡± Raymond pushed his sses up the bridge of his nose and shook his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen Mr. Lucas or Ms. Cam¡­ All the doors and gates are locked. They shouldn¡¯t have been able to leave the manor.¡± A bodyguard from Scenic Garden Manor was panting as he hurried over to report to Christina. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we couldn¡¯t find Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam.¡± Christina was horrified. She quickly took out her phone to call the police. ¡°I remember there are surveince cameras in the manor. Quick! Pull up the footage for me!¡± ¡°Right away, Mrs. Hadley!¡± Christina could feel her adrenaline flowing as she bit her lip nervously. Various scenarios of her children being kidnapped shed through her mind. All of a sudden, the sound of a car stopping in the courtyard could be heard. The sound of heavy footsteps walking down the hall echoed through the manor. The cold aura emanating. from Nathaniel¡¯s body instantly caused the atmosphere in the room to tense up. He approached Christina and asked, ¡°How did the children go missing?¡± All the emotions Christina had tried to suppress suddenly erupted as she grabbed the cor of Nathaniel¡¯s shirt and questioned him. ¡°Was it you? Did you take the kids away? Just because I don¡¯t want to be with you anymore, it doesn¡¯t mean you can use such a dirty method to take my kids away from me!¡± Take the kids away? Nathaniel was taken aback by her sudden outburst of anger. He tried to understand how she felt as he exined patiently. ¡°Why would I kidnap my own children for no reason?¡± Am I such an unscrupulous person in her eyes? He felt aggrieved by Christina¡¯s doubts. However, he felt more hurt by her distrust. Christina noticed how serious Nathaniel was and felt her doubts slowly dissipate. She was silent for some time before she muttered to herself, ¡°Could it be Madison?¡± ¡°What does this have anything to do with Madison?¡± Nathaniel stared at her in confusion. Christina looked up at him, her eyes filled with anger. How dare he take her side when things have come down to this? She had been trying her best not to discuss with him about his shameful actions. After all, her heart had been shattered to pieces by him. There was no need for her to add to those scars. However, she could no longer control herself at that moment as she eximed. ¡°Isn¡¯t she always worried that I would steal you away from her and that my two kids would threaten her and Norman¡¯s position? There¡¯s a good chance she could have done something to Lucas and Cam! Please! I beg of you! Bring my kids back. I promise to keep my distance from you, Madison, and Norman.¡± Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. Because this matter concerned the safety of the two children, Christina, who had always been calm and collected, was in a panic. ¡°Christina, stop panicking. Let¡¯s calm down and wait patiently. The bodyguard has gone to check the surveince footage. We¡¯ll know what happened soon.¡± Nathaniel took her hand as they went to the children¡¯s room. He switched on the lights before stepping inside. ¡°The nkets are folded neatly, and the decor in the room doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯ve been messed with. There¡¯s a huge possibility that the children could¡¯ve left the manor themselves. There are also bodyguards situated at every corner of Scenic Garden Manor. Outsiders cannot enter that easily. It¡¯s unlikely that they were kidnapped.¡± Christina slowly calmed down. They weren¡¯t kidnapped? They left on their own? Why would Lucas and Cam run away from home? They were all right before they went to bed. They even told me they wanted to eat breakfast I preparedter in the morning. It¡¯s raining right now. What if they¡¯re met with danger¡­ Just then, a bodyguard approached them and reported, Mr. Hadley, the surveince footage shows that Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam left through the side gate at three in the morning¡±. All the side gates of the manor had locks on them, and there would always be people standing guard. There was a possibility that the children had taken advantage of the time when the guards changed shifts to escape. ¡°Check the surveince outside immediately. I want to know where they went.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Christina felt her heart sink when she heard the news. ¡°Why would they suddenly run away from home in the middle of the night?¡± She suddenly felt very ipetent as a mother. I can¡¯t even figure out what my children are thinking¡­ Chapter 342 I Will Never Leave You Chapter 342 I Will Never Leave You Nathaniel wrapped his arms around Christina and said softly. ¡°Perhaps they left the manor because they were being yful. I¡¯m sure nothing will happen to them. Let¡¯s go check the surveince footage.¡± Christina forced herself to stay calm. Perhaps they really were being yful. The most important thing right now is to look for them. If I keep panicking. I can¡¯t concentrate, and it¡¯ll be more challenging for us to find them, After leaving the gates of the manor. Nathaniel took off his suit jacket and ced them around Christina¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± The deep voice ringing in her ears snapped her out of her daze. She nodded and got into the car. They hurried to the police station. After thoroughly exining the situation, the police brought them to check the surveince footage. Fortunately, surveince cameras were ced everywhere on the street past the manor. The police adjusted the time to when the children left the manor, and two small figures appeared on the screen before them. Even though it waste at night and no people were around, Lucas and Cam obediently followed traffic rules and walked on the right side of the road. They traveled from the gates of Scenic Garden Manor to the bus stop before heading north. Christina felt her heart clench as she stared at the two figures on the screen. Nathaniel grabbed her cold hand and assured her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± At that moment, words of assurance to Christina did not have much effect, but at least they could calm her down. The two children on the screen understood traffic rules well. Even if there weren¡¯t any cars, they waited. for the light to turn green before they crossed the road. There were no dangers along the way, but the children seemed to have stopped beside the road at some point. They watched as Cam sat on the floor and stared up at Lucas cutely. The surveince camera was too far away, so it could not catch the children¡¯s words. After the children drank some water, Lucas had Cam climb onto his back before they continued their journey. The two figures looked tinypared to the long and wide road. The people watching the footage unknowingly felt touched by the children¡¯s determination. After that, the footage showed the two children entering a church. All footage after that showed no signs of them leaving the ce. ¡°Why did they go to a church?¡± Suspicion filled Christina. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s head over now.¡± It was already daybreak when Lucas and Cam arrived at the entrance of the church. The bright morning light hit their backs as they entered the church. Because of the rain, their hair was stuck to their faces, making them look smaller than they actually were. ¡°Lucas! Put me down! We¡¯re here! Yay!¡± Cam eximed excitedly as she tried to jump off her brother¡¯s back. Lucas was exhausted. He bent down to let Cam climb down before he sank to the floor, panting as he sat cross-legged. Cam had rested for some time and was now more energetic. She pulled Lucas¡¯ arm and urged. ¡°Lucas,e on! We need to say our prayers!¡± Seeing that Lucas was tired and did not want to move, Cam took a bottle from her backpack and gave it to him. Lucas drank some water before getting up and staring at the cross. His heart thumped in excitement as he turned to look at Cam and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and say our prayers, Cam.¡± It was early in the morning, so there were not many people. Those in the church were busy with their own things and could not be bothered by the presence of the two children. The children watched and learned from the people who prayed before them. They kneeled before the cross and sped their hands. Sincerity was written all over their faces as they stared up at the cross. Cam was about to say something when she stopped and turned to look at Lucas. ¡°Lucas, what should we say?¡± Lucas pondered over it momentarily before replying. ¡°Just say what you want. I¡¯m sure God will hear our prayers!¡± Cam nodded despite not understanding what Lucas said. She was silent for some time before saying, ¡°I want to eat a lifetime of choctes. I also want many pretty dolls¡­¡± Lucas held his forehead, then reached over and flicked hers. ¡°Ask Him for the important things. Stop talking about food.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t He make my wishes for foode true?¡± Cam pouted. ¡°You can make one wish. Don¡¯t ask for more.¡± Lucas was speechless. They didn¡¯t travel far to pray for good food. Cam rubbed her forehead. It wasn¡¯t easy for us to find Him. I can¡¯t waste this chance. Of course, I would try to ask for everything I want. ¡°If that¡¯s so, dear God, I wish Daddy and Mommy will be together forever!¡± Lucas sped his hands together. His eyes were filled with sincerity, and his voice was loud and clear as he said, ¡°Dear God, Cam and I have never had a daddy would always be bullied by Peter from next door. He would alwaysugh at us and call us orphans. It since we were born. When we were younger, we wasn¡¯t easy for us to have a daddy, but Daddy is stupid. He always likes to make Mommy angry.¡± Cam nodded earnestly in agreement. ¡°Lucas is right. Since young, we only had Mommy¡¯s love. Mommy is always tired from taking care of us. We don¡¯t want Mommy to be angry, but we also don¡¯t want to lose Daddy.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes as she said that. Lucas sniffled as he continued, ¡°Dear God, Mr. Patel told us that You would make our wishese true. Please make sure that Daddy and Mommy stay together. In exchange for that, I¡¯ll give you my favorite toy.¡± Tears fell from Cam¡¯s eyes as she pleaded. ¡°Please, God, I wish Daddy and Mommy would stop arguing. I¡¯ll give you my favorite chocte and dolls in exchange. If Daddy and Mommy break up, we¡¯ll be pitiful orphans. Don¡¯t You think we¡¯re pitiful?¡± Cam could not control her emotions as she leaned against Lucas and started crying. Lucas wrapped his arms around Cam and hugged her as tears streamed down his face. He did not forget. tofort Cam despite crying himself. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Cam. I¡¯ll always be by your side.¡± The two children were wrapped in a tight embrace. The sounds of their sniffling and crying echoed across the hall. Christina had arrived at the church not too long ago. She could not help but burst into tears herself as she watched the scene unfold before her. The rollercoaster of emotions she had felt since she woke up hit her like a truck as tears fell from her eyes. She and Nathaniel had arrived just a few moments ago and seen the children enter the church and followed after them. Christina wanted to know the reason for the children¡¯s difficult journey to the church. Instead of confronting them immediately, she stood behind the door and eavesdrop on their conversation. It turned out the children had overheard her and Nathaniel fighting. To them, the overwhelming fear of hearing their parents arguing was far scarier than watching the monsters and witches on TV. How can I bear to put them under such pressure at their young age¡­ Christina rushed forward. She hugged Lucas and Cam, apologizing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m so sorry¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. It¡¯s all my fault for not taking good care of my two babies. Nathaniel hurried over and joined in on the hug. At that moment, the four of them were wrapped in a tight embrace. ¡°Good boy, Lucas. Good girl, Cam. I promise you. I will never leave you!¡± Lucas and Cam immediately stopped crying. When did Daddy and Mommy arrive? Chapter 343 Regret Chapter 343 Regret ¡°Daddy, Mommy, we¡­¡± Lucas was at a loss for words as she stared at them both nkly. Cam looked up, hershes wet with tears. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, have you made up? You won¡¯t fight anymore, right?¡± It took Christina a while to calm down and stop crying. She gazed at her daughter¡¯s innocent expression and patted her head gently. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve stopped fighting. We will never fight again.¡± ¡°Daddy and Mommy won¡¯t be apart,¡± Nathaniel said, his voice firm. Cam¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Wow! Look, Lucas. God is amazing. Daddy and Mommy aren¡¯t fighting anymore!¡± Mr. Patel really didn¡¯t lie to us! Lucas broke into a grin. ¡°Yes, Cam. We did it!¡± Christina was left speechless as she felt a surge of emotions upon realizing that her children had prayed for her. Feeling bad, she gazed at them both and said, ¡°Your hair and clothes are wet. Let me bring you home.¡± The children had been caught in the rain and werepletely drenched. They were oblivious to their soaked state until Christina pointed it out to them. A sudden chill ran down their spines as they became aware of their sopping-wet clothes. ¡°Achoo!¡± Cam rubbed her nose and threw herself into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. ¡°Daddy, hold me. Mommy is going to hit our butts soon!¡± Lucas and I loved ying in the rain. Every time, Mommy would scold us and make us stand as a punishment, warning us about catching a cold from being drenched. It had been some time since I had done that, but today I had no choice but to do so. Nathaniel pressed a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Good girl, Mommy won¡¯t hit your butt today. Let¡¯s head home.¡± Christina cradled Lucas in her arms, while Nathaniel held Cam close as they walked out of the church together. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina gave Lucas and Cam a shower. The children, exhausted from their long walk, quickly sumbed to sleep. They had drained their energy from walking for hours and fell into a deep slumber. Christina kissed their foreheads lightly before leaving their bedroom. In the corridor, Nathaniel seemed to be waiting for her. They locked gazes, and his tall figure was as intimidating as usual. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Instead of replying to him, Christina walked into the bedroom and left the door ajar, a clear signal that he shoulde in. Nathaniel strode into the room and closed the door. ¡°I want to talk about Madison and Norman,¡± he started. Due to the emergency earlier, he didn¡¯t have the chance to exin things to Christina. Christina lowered her head, her eyshes shielding her emotions. ¡°I don¡¯t want the children to experience any more heartbreak. Whatever you decide to do with Madison is up to you, but I won¡¯t allow their actions to affect me and our children-¡± Before she could finish, Nathaniel abruptly pulled her toward him with force. His eyes glinted with an icy intensity as he dered, ¡°I am not in a rtionship with Madison. She has always been my assistant, and nothing more!¡± The atmosphere at the scene grew tense as Nathaniel felt his anger building. He was furious as Christina didn¡¯t even care about him at all. -Who would sleep in the same bed with their assistant? If you insist, then tell me who Norman is. If you want to lie to me, at least make up a logical lie!¡± Christina snapped. Every questioning word she uttered felt like a stab of a knife, tearing apart her dignity and pride and leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable. She deeply regretted her decision ofing back as she was now forced to face the memories that filled her with frustration. A deep line appeared between Nathaniel¡¯s brows as he pulled out his phone to call Sebastian, ordering thetter to show up right away. Upon receiving the order, Sebastian quickly ran into the house. He pushed the door open and immediately sense the tension in the air. ¡°Mr. Hadley, what can I do for you?¡± he asked, his heart pounding in his chest. His palms were growing sweaty¡­ Nathaniel¡¯s face was dark as hemanded coldly. ¡°Tell her who Norman is.¡± Unaware of the situation, Sebastian responded honestly, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Norman is an orphan whom Mr. Hadley sponsors. He is quite introverted, so Mr. Hadley often asks Madison to take him out for walks and ensures he receives a good education.¡± ¡°Orphan?¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. Her voice was filled with disbelief as she responded, ¡°Madison told me Norman is her child. Norman even imed that Nathaniel is his father.¡± Sebastian wore an awkward expression as he exined, ¡°Norman adores Mr. Hadley, so he often tells others that Mr. Hadley is his daddy. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can show you his file.¡± He pulled out his phone and clicked into a folder containing photos of Norman at the orphanage, along with evidence of Nathaniel¡¯s sponsorship of the orphanage. Nathaniel had signed a sponsorship agreement,mitting to providing Norman with the best living arrangements and ensuring regr outings for fun. This was the reason he had agreed to Madison¡¯s suggestion of sending Norman to an expensive kindergarten. s, his kind intention had allowed Madison to twist the truth. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I swear Madison and Mr. Hadley are not in a romantic rtionship.¡± Sebastian added. Christina furrowed her brows. ¡°What if you¡¯re lying to me?¡± Sebastian was speechless. ¡°Uh, if that¡¯s a lie, I will never find a wife this lifetime. I¡¯ll be single forever.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t believe he was bold enough to make that vow. Nathaniel shot Sebastian a look. I didn¡¯t treat him well over the years for nothing. Look how he proves himself useful now. ¡°All right, you can leave now,¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian hastily made his exit, relieved that he had spoken the truth. The thought of being single forever was indeed a daunting prospect. Nathaniel fixed his eyes on Christina as though he wanted to burn two holes right through her with his prating eyes. ¡°What else do I have to do to exin my innocence? A pity I cannot dig my heart out to show you that you¡¯re the only person in my heart.¡± Christina btedly realized that Madison had been fooling her all this time. If she had a knife, she would use it to stab Madison¡¯s mouth without hesitation. They stared at each other for some time before Christina broke the silence. ¡°I¡¯m tired. I need to rest.¡± She needed some time to calm down. Nathaniel went over and picked her up. ¡°I¡¯ll keep youpany when you rest. Christina¡¯s attempts to free herself only seemed to exacerbate the intensity of Nathaniel¡¯s grip. The pressure on her shoulders intensified, causing pain to radiate through her body. Her slender figure seemed to embody the agility of a nimble squirrel as if it could slip away unnoticed at any given moment. ¡°Be good and stay put, Nathaniel said softly. As theyy in bed, Christina felt her body molding against his muscr body. Chapter 344 Careless Chapter 344 Careless The room was so quiet that even the breathing in the ensuing silence was amplified. Christina could feel the rhythmic pounding of her heart, synchronized with Nathaniel¡¯s steady breathing. His palms, warm and intense as always, seemed to be burning against her waist. She nestled into a slightly curled position, her gaze cast downward. The tension and exhaustion of the day finally caught up with her, lulling her to deep sleep. It was already noon when she woke up. Christina realized she was alone in bed, the empty space beside her holding only a fading hint of warmth. Rayne had sent her a few concerned texts reminding her of the uing deadline end of this month. She didn¡¯t have a lot of time left. Christina had been busy with Karen¡¯s gown recently, so she would always make sure to carry her reliable sewing kit wherever she went. She walked into the study and bumped into Nathaniel, who was working there. When their gazes met, Christina felt like a rabbit barging into a wolf¡¯s den by mistake. She pointed at her tool kit aside and exined, ¡°I¡¯m here to work.¡± She behaved as if she was afraid Nathaniel would misunderstand she was there for Him. Nathaniel merely grunted in acknowledgment and returned his attention to the files in his hands. Christina settled on the couch and got her needle and gold threads. With focused determination, she began sewing intricate phoenix motifs onto the waist of the gown skillfully. Her fingers flew across the fabric deftly. Suddenly, the needle pricked into the tip of her finger, causing her to gasp in pain. Even though she was pretty familiar with sewing, she would asionally get pricked sometimes when she wasn¡¯t paying any attention. Christina pur the needle aside and was carefully observing her wound when someone grabbed her wrist. It was Nathaniel, who had made his way over without her realizing it. ¡°Why are you so careless? Does it hurt?¡± His voice was tinged with concern. Christina shook her head softly and watched as he ced her finger into his mouth and sucked on it lightly. Right then, the door was pushed open, and in came the kids. Cam¡¯s eyes widened in curiosity as she asked, ¡°Mommy, did you give Daddy candy in secret? I want some, too!¡± Christina¡¯s cheeks turned pink in embarrassment as she quickly pulled her finger out. ¡°Your daddy finished all the candy.¡± Lucas tilted his head to stare at Nathaniel. ¡°Daddy, is the candy delicious? What vor is it?¡± The blush on Christina¡¯s cheeks deepened. Nathaniel shot her a pointed look. ¡°It¡¯s a sweet strawberry vor.¡± Both kids squeezed into Christina¡¯s arms and whined, ¡°Mommy, I want some candy, too!¡± Christina¡¯s cheeks flushed even more as she hoisted them up and hurried to the door. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go downstairs to get some candy. Nathaniel chuckled softly when he saw how shy she got. After what happened at the kindergarten, Christina made it clear that they wouldn¡¯t attend it anymore. For the next few days, Lucas and Cam didn¡¯t have to attend any sses. Christina and Nathaniel barely went out and spent all their time at home with the kids. The head of the kindergarten, Kitty Parkins, soon learned about the incident and paid them a visit. Raymond knew nothing about the incident, so he led her into the house. Christina was d in casual clothes, ying football with Lucas and Cam in the courtyard. Prior to her arrival, Kitty had perused the file containing information about the twins. She discovered that their surname was Steele and that the Steele family had faced bankruptcy some time ago. Currently, there were no prominent figures associated with the Steele name. Their mother looks attractive, so she must be some rich man¡¯s sugar baby, making the twins illegitimate children. I¡¯ve never seen their father pick them up from school. If the chairman hadn¡¯t insisted that I apologize to her, I wouldn¡¯t havee to her house. ¡°Are you Lucas Steele and Cam Steele¡¯s mother?¡± Kitty asked. Her voice had an unsettling quality that evoked difort in those who heard it. Christina halted in her tracks to gaze at the middle-aged woman curiously. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the head of the kindergarten, Kitty Parkins. I¡¯m here to talk about the children¡¯s suspension,¡± Kitty exined. Christina told Raymond to bring the kids into the house. When they left, her smile that was directed at the kids quickly faded away, giving way to a stern and serious expression. *Please be mindful of your words. We chose to withdraw, so it was not you who suspended us,¡± she stated, expressing her frustration with the haughty behavior of the kindergarten. Kitty had shown up to apologize, albeit reluctantly, so she couldn¡¯t contain her response upon hearing Christina¡¯s mocking words. ¡°Our kindergarten is the most prestigious kindergarten in this city. Only those born into wealthy and influential families have the privilege to enroll here. People like you should seize the opportunity to ingratiate yourselves,¡± Christina immediately understood the underlying meaning of her words. The presence of such elitist and materialistic educators is exactly why the education industry has be chaotic. As she refused to budge, Kitty dered, ¡°If you insist on pulling out, we won¡¯t stop you.¡± ¡°You can get lost now,¡± Christina snapped. The parents had always sucked up to Kitty. It was the first time she had met someone who didn¡¯t bother showing her any respect. Infuriated, she taunted, ¡°You must have used your looks to find a wealthy sugar daddy, didn¡¯t you? It¡¯s unbelievable how arrogant you can be. You look down on us when you¡¯re using the same tactics!¡± Thud! Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Christina kicked the football in Kitty¡¯s direction. Anyone who had the guts to insult her would have to face the consequences. ¡°You crazy b*tch! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Kitty promptly forgot the reason for her visit and rushed toward Christina like a mad woman. The plump Kitty easily grabbed hold of Christina¡¯s shoulders, preparing to push her to the ground. However, before she could execute her n, a tall figure emerged and swiftly intervened by supporting Christina¡¯s waist. ¡°Nathaniel Christina blinked in surprise. Nathaniel¡¯s icy gazended on Kitty. ¡°How dare you hurt her?¡± ¡°You are¡­ Mr. Hadley?¡± Kitty was dumbfounded. She had only encountered Nathaniel once at a charity event, but hismanding presence had left an indelible impression on her. Did I just call Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife a sugar baby? Don¡¯t tell me the kids are his. No wonder the chairman tasked me with the mission of convincing her to reconsider and allow the children to return to our kindergarten. Nathaniel shot his bodyguard a look, not wanting to waste time with her. The bodyguard immediately knew his intention and stepped forward. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please leave right now.¡± Kitty panicked and quickly pleaded, ¡°Ms. Steele, that wasn¡¯t what I meant. It was a misunderstanding. I¡¯m sincere in inviting the kids back to our kindergarten! We can offer you a fifty percent discount on the fees!¡± Christina¡¯s face was dark as she responded coolly, ¡°Even if you offer to take them in for free, I still won¡¯t agree!¡± Chapter 345 Made Nathaniel Come Personally Chapter 345 Made Nathaniel Come Personally The bodyguard quickened his pace and dragged the principal out. Only then did the noise finally die down. When Christina came to her senses, she noticed that Nathaniel¡¯s hand was still on her waist. Blushing, she jumped away like a little rabbit. Without waiting for him to speak, she turned around and walked into the house. Lucas and Cam had already changed into clean clothes, their innocent and cute faces filled with joy. ¡°Mommy, can you take us out to y tomorrow?¡± asked Cam in a soft and adorable voice. Lucas agreed from the side, ¡°We¡¯re kids! We naturally like to run around and explore new things. It wouldn¡¯t be good to confine us like this, right?¡± After the incident, Christina scolded them for sneaking out and punished them by grounding them in Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°I¡¯ve chosen a new kindergarten. You¡¯ll start school tomorrow. Without any hesitation, Christina punctured the children¡¯s hopes of going out to y. She brought the two of them to the study, turned on theputer, and logged into the kindergarten¡¯s website. The form teacher had contacted her earlier, informing her that each new student had to log in to the website and fill in their details. The two kids stood at the side and watched their mother fill in the information. Thest section was to upload a photo. Christina connected her phone to theputer¡¯s Bluetooth. She had close-up photos of the kids in her photo album. There was also an option to choose if they were a single-parent family. If they were, they would just need to upload a photo of the guardian. Otherwise, a photo of the child¡¯s parents would be required. Since it was a regr kindergarten, most parents came to pick up their children. The photos helped the teachers recognize each parent¡¯s appearance to avoid any confusion during drop-offs and pick-ups. Without any hesitation, Christina ticked the option for the single-parent family. ¡°But we aren¡¯t a single-parent family, Mommy!¡± Cam¡¯s face scrunched up in an aggrieved look when she saw Christina¡¯s choice. Christina smiled awkwardly. ¡°What does it matter? We¡¯ve always chosen that option.¡± The key issue was that she did not have a photo of Nathaniel, but she did not want to take one with hinr either¡­ Pouting, Lucas exined to Christina, ¡°That¡¯s different. We thought that we didn¡¯t have a dad previously. Now that we do, we don¡¯t want to be mocked for being fatherless by our new ssmates!¡± They had a particrly strong aversion to that word. Before Christina could react, Cam dashed out and quickly dragged Nathaniel into the study. ¡°Daddy, we need your photo to fill in the kindergarten application. Can we have your photo?¡± Cam sped her hands together, her watery eyes full of anticipation. Nathaniel ruffled her hair. ¡°Okay.¡± Feeling like she was being pushed into a corner, Christina had no choice but to sit on the couch with Nathaniel. Lucas held her phone and took a picture of them together. Lucas nced mischievously at Cam, who immediately understood. ¡°Oh no, the light¡¯s behind you here. Mommy, Daddy, why don¡¯t you sit on the single-seater couch over there where the lighting is better?¡± Christina was currently sitting on a double-seater sofa, on which she could maintain some distance between her and Nathaniel. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. How can two people fit on a single-seater couch? Doesn¡¯t this mean that we¡¯ll practically be in each other¡¯sp? Christina looked up, thinking that the light was indeed a bit ring. ¡°Hurry up, Mommy! Sit over there,¡± urged Lucas softly. Nathaniel sat on the single-seater couch first. Since he was naturally tall and muscr, he already took up two-thirds of the already cramped space. ¡°Scoot over!¡± whispered Christina. Nathaniel ignored her words. Instead, he directly pulled her wrist and made her sit on hisp. ¡°This is good enough,¡± he said. Christina¡¯s ears felt warm as a feeling of nervousness and anger surfaced within her. However, she could not possibly lose her temper in front of the two children. With her back pressed against Nathaniel¡¯s chest, she could feel the rhythm of his heartbeat even through their clothes. Lucas took several photos with her phone. After reviewing them and still feeling dissatisfied, he remarked, ¡°Mommy and Daddy, you¡¯re sitting too far apart. Move closer. Otherwise, the teacher might mistakenly think that both of you are on bad terms.¡± Cam walked over and pushed Christina¡¯s head closer to Nathaniel¡¯s. She only felt grisfied after seeing their heads leaning against each other. ¡°That¡¯s much better.¡± Cam shot Nathaniel a subtle nce, to which he responded with a wink. What a thoughtful daughter! Christina clenched her fists tightly. Hurry up and take the photo! Lucas aimed the camera at them and pressed the shutter a few times. He then handed the phone to Christina. ¡°Done!¡± Christina heaved a sigh of relief, as if a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. She quickly stood up left with her phone to upload the photos. Soon, shepleted the kindergarten enrolment procedures and for both children. After breakfast the next morning. Christina nned to take the two children out. During her time overseas, she had obtained a driver¡¯s license to make it more convenient to travel around. When Nathaniel came downstairs from the study and saw that the three of them were about to leave, he said. ¡°I¡¯ll send you all there.¡± Since he was used to settling urgent documents first thing in the morning, he still had not eaten anything. ¡°You need to have breakfast, don¡¯t you? Besides, we¡¯re going to bete.¡± In other words, Christina was implying that she could not wait for him. Straightening his suit, Nathaniel walked over and picked up Cam¡¯s school bag. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll eat at the office.¡± He bent down slightly and carried the kids. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s the kids¡¯ first day of school. Naturally, I have to send them there personally.¡± Since he had not sent them to school before, the kindergarten teachers did not recognize him. Hence, he would have to make time to send the kids whenever he was free in the future. That day, Lucas and Cam walked proudly with their heads held high. Watching the two kids holding the teacher¡¯s hand and entering the kindergarten, Christina felt relieved and headed off to work. When it was around noon, Christina had alreadypleted most of the dress Karen had commissioned. After instructing Rayne to invite Karen to the office to try on the dress, she went downstairs to buy coffee. The owner of the cafe, who had seen her a few times, said with a smile, ¡°Sorry, but the staff from the security department ordered seven cups of coffee. You¡¯ll have to wait a bit.¡± Returning a smile, Christina stood at the counter and used her phone to pass the time. The security guards were wearing navy uniforms. Asrgepanies always had the best quality uniforms, they looked extremely smart wearing them. Probably on their lunch break, they were standing in a circle andughing. ¡°Ms. Taggart is really nice. We helped her upgrade the system and turn on the air-conditioning to remove the odor the previous time. It wasn¡¯t much work, but she treated us to coffee for a month.¡± ¡°Yeah. Mr. Hadley rushed back in the middle of the night that day. I heard that a colleague was trapped inside the office.¡± ¡°I wonder who¡¯s so important that Mr. Hadley personally came back.¡± Christina froze in the middle of scrolling through her phone. Recalling the elevator maintenance the night before, she wondered if the increase in air-conditioning strength was actually not a coincidence. Could it be someone did it on purpose? Christina walked over. ¡°Does the Ms. Taggart you all are talking about refer to Madison?¡± The security guards recognized her. However, since they were neers, they did not know Christina¡¯s true identity. They only knew that she had exceptional privileges and that Nathaniel had deliberately cleared a floor for her to have her office there. ¡°Yes, it was Madison who treated us to coffee. Chapter 346 Only Christina Chapter 346 Only Christina It was really Madison¡¯s doing! Christina discreetly bit her lip as anger surged within her. Only when the barista finished making her coffee and called her over did she snap out of her thoughts. Christina paid for her coffee, received the beverage, and left. Meanwhile, Madison had just learned from the kindergarten teacher that Christina had withdrawn the two children from school. Feeling triumphant, she praised Norman for doing a good job. ¡°Mommy, when will you take me out to y next time?¡± Norman spoke meekly. Madison had told him to address her as Mommy and Nathaniel as Daddy, and since he yearned for parental affection, he felt their rtionship was real the more he called them in that manner. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. ¡°I¡¯m very busy with work, so I don¡¯t have time to take you out to y. Don¡¯t we have a nanny at home?¡± Madison sounded a little impatient. Norman¡¯s voice grew more obsequious. ¡°The nanny isn¡¯t Mommy.¡± ¡°All right, fine. I¡¯ll take you out this weekend.¡± Madison figured Norman still had some value to her, so she wanted to appease him to prevent him from being disobedient in the future. Madison had to go to the warehouse to check on a batch of materials. Hence, she hung up the call after saying that. There were several warehouses, mainly for the storage of goods. Wearing high heels, she strode inward. After checking the materials and preparing to leave, she found the door she had left open upon entry was now locked. Madison knocked on the door. Usually, no one woulde to the warehouse. Since the warehouse door was locked with a code and generally inessible to outsiders, no one was tasked to guard it. At that moment, the air conditioning suddenly turned colder. Chilly air continuously blew out from the vents like water gushing out from a broken dam, spreading- throughout the warehouse. The temperature swiftly dropped, causing Madison to shiver. Realizing something was wrong, she quickly pulled out her phone to call Sebastian for help. Upon unlocking the device, she noticed there was no signal. Madison cursed and banged on the door a few times in frustration. Unfortunately, only pin-drop silence. ensued. Initially, she still had some energy left, but after knocking a few times, she lost her strength and could only curl up in a corner. Warmth gradually dissipated from her limbs, and her hands and feet eventually turned stiff. An indeterminate time passed before the tightly shut door was slowly opened. A slender figure walked in. Christina gazed coldly and disdainfully at the almost frozen Madison, revealing a meaningful smile. ¡°It¡¯s you! You did this on purpose¡­¡± Madison¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. She wanted to get up and p Christina, but she couldn¡¯t move. Christina had used a signal jammer to block themunication signal of the warehouse to prevent Madison from establishing contact with the outside world. That night, she had endured the biting air-conditioning for over half an hour. Now, she merely let Madison suffer the same way she did for an hour. Just the thought of that prompted Christina to feel she was being benevolent. Christina strode up to Madison and regarded thetter with a frosty expression. ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel good being trapped somece with the freezing air, does it?¡± She wanted Madison to have a taste of her own medicine. Madison widened her eyes in astonishment. How did she find out? ¡°Madison, it¡¯s been five years, yet your tricks haven¡¯t improved.¡± The look in Christina¡¯s eyes turned icier. ¡°Whatever harm you try to bring to me in the future, I¡¯ll repay you in folds! I hope you don¡¯tmit such foolish actions again!¡± With that, Christina turned around and exited the warehouse. Madison¡¯s eyes reddened as she watched Christina¡¯s retreating figure.. When Christina entered the elevator, she ran into Sebastian, who appeared troubled and was carrying a takeout bag. ¡°You¡¯re having your meal sote?¡± Christina had a good impression of Sebastian, so she made a polite. inquiry. Sebastian replied, ¡°It¡¯s not for me. This food is for Mr. Hadley. He didn¡¯t have breakfast this morning, and now he¡¯s having gastric pain, so he can only eat some oatmeal.¡± Christina remembered that Nathaniel had skipped breakfast that morning to send the kids to kindergarten. She slightly lowered her eyes. I didn¡¯t forbid him from having his breakfast, so his gastric pain is none of my Sebastian scratched his nose. ¡°Actually, after you left five years ago, Mrs. Hadley, thepany¡¯s confidential information was leaked. It was during that period that Mr. Hadley started having health issues for constantly pulling all-nighters.¡± After moving abroad, Christina had stopped following domestic news, so she was naturally unaware of Hadley Corporation¡¯s situation. She wondered what ssified information rted to Hadley Corporation was disclosed-five years ago. Sensing her indifference, Sebastian added. ¡°The doctor mentioned he had been overworking and enduring too much stress, and along with his long-term inconsistent mealtimes, he developed a gastric condition.¡± Christina didn¡¯t know what to say. She merely tapped her fingertips and uttered, ¡°In that case, you should hurry up and deliver him his meal.¡± At that moment, Sebastian¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Madison? You passed out in the warehouse? Okay. I¡¯m coming right now.¡± At the same time, the elevator arrived at Christina¡¯s office floor. Sebastian was worried about Madison¡¯s condition, but he was still holding the oatmeal. ¡°I¡¯ll help you to deliver this.¡± Christina reached out to grab the takeaway. Sebastian was extremely grateful. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll take another elevator to check on Madison.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± After Sebastian exited the elevator, Christina stayed inside and continued moving upward. Meanwhile, inside the CEO¡¯s office, sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating a tall man¡¯s figure and casting long shadows on the floor. Christina entered. Her movements were so gentle that it seemed she had materialized from thin air. She scooped a small bowl of oatmeal and set it in front of Nathaniel. ¡°Have some food first.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze remained fixated as he focused on his work on hand. ¡°I¡¯ll eatter.¡± She pouted. Does he think his body is robust? It¡¯s almost afternoon, and he hasn¡¯t even had lunch. She replied with amanding tone, ¡°No. The oatmeal will get coldter.¡± The air conditioning in the office was set at a low temperature. Hence, the food would turn cold in no time. Only then did Nathaniel put down the document in his hand and gaze at her in amusement. ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to care about me.¡± Christina¡¯s ears flushed as she stammered. ¡°Sebastian is busy, so I¡¯m just helping him out.¡± His intense stare unnerved her. She turned around to leave. ¡°Since you¡¯ve brought the food here, why don¡¯t you feed me too?¡± Nathaniel grasped her wrist, not only stopping her from walking away but also pulling her into his arms. The faint fragrance wafting into his nose made him feel rxed. Christina blushed. Ever since she showed less resistance toward him in front of the kids, he had been pushing his luck further around her. ¡°When did your hands be crippled? Howe I know nothing about it?¡± He held her tighter and uttered hoarsely. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to take care of me, I don¡¯t mind having my arms crippled. Christina¡¯s checks turned a few shades redder. She struggled to free herself but to no avail. Having no other choice, she bit his arm mercilessly and broke free. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve gotten into plenty of rtionships with other women in the years we haven¡¯t seen each other, Mr. Hadley. Even your flirting skills have improved.¡± She rolled her eyes at him in annoyance. ¡°Unfortunately, your sweet talk is not effective on me. If you don¡¯t want to eat, just starve to death for all 1 care. This may even work in my favor since no one willpete with me for the children.¡± With that, she left the room, leaving him with the sight of her retreating figure, Nathaniel grimaced slightly. Even though he had recovered from his aversion to women, he had never fallen for any other woman in all those years. Christina was the only woman he loved. Just like before, his feelings for her remained unchanged. Chapter 347 Give Daddy A Kiss Chapter 347 Give Daddy A Kiss After Christina returned home from work, Lucas and Cam ran to her. ¡°Mommy, Daddy fetched us today! You should kiss Daddy as a reward!¡± Whenever the two children did something praiseworthy, Christina would reward them with a kiss. Christina nced at Nathaniel awkwardly. ¡°Daddy is an adult. He doesn¡¯t like this kind of reward.¡± The two kids turned to look at Nathaniel in confusion, hoping to get a definite answer. ¡°I want the reward, but if your mommy is unwilling, we can¡¯t force her, okay?¡± Christina harrumphed inwardly upon hearing his words. This pitiful approach will only fool children. Lucas and Cam looked at Christina expectantly and uttered in unison, ¡°Mommy, please give Daddy a reward. Don¡¯t be so stingy.¡± Christina¡¯s ears flushed. Nathaniel is threatening me now that he has the kids¡¯ support. She quickly kissed Nathaniel on the check before she fled from the scene, rushing to the second floor. Nathaniel patted the kids¡¯ heads. ¡°I¡¯ll fetch you guys from school every day from now on. In return, you guys have to get Mommy to reward me, okay?¡± Lucas narrowed his eyes, exuding a maturity that surpassed those of his peers. ¡°Daddy, will you bring lollipops for me and Cam?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Cam and Lucas cheered joyfully and gave Nathaniel a high-five. ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡± In the study upstairs, Karen¡¯s gown was finished. Karen was satisfied with the piece and wanted to order an even grander one next time. Christina¡¯s work progress exceeded her expectations, so she had an extra day to set up her preparations. The theme of Coco¡¯s photoshoot this time was vintage style. Christina opened her tablet to look at relevant information and carefully analyzed the fashion styles and characteristics of the eighties. She felt that the vintage style had both an elegant and trendy appeal. Two hours passed by in a sh. After Nathaniel put the children to bed and walked into the study, he found her asleep on the couch. The tablet in her hands had dropped to the side. Her long eyshes rested delicately on her lower eyelids, giving her a doll-like demeanor. Nathaniel walked over and carried her in his sturdy arms. She¡¯s still as light and soft as before. If only she would let me hug her when she¡¯s awake. During the weekend, Christina followed Coco to a photoshoot outside the city. Thus, Nathaniel was in charge of looking after Cam and Lucas. The photoshoot was a sess. However, there were many things to do, from setting up equipment to preparing the outfits. The team only managed to finish half of their work when night arrived. Due to poor lighting conditions at night, the photographer suggested continuing the next day. In such circumstances, the team would have to stay overnight at this ce. Christina was busy the whole day. The first thing she did was to shower when she reached the hotel. The hot shower washed off her fatigue. When she walked out of the bathroom, her phone started ringing. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She could hear Nathaniel teaching the two kids to speak. ¡°Quick. Ask Mommy when she¡¯sing back. It¡¯s gettingte, and it¡¯s dangerous outside.¡± Cam followed Nathaniel¡¯s words and uttered them to Christina in an adorable tone. Upon hearing her kids¡¯ voices, Christina finally rxed. She exined that she might only be able to return home the next day due to her work. She had asionally stayed overnight outside due to her work, so her children were used to it. After bidding farewell to them, she hung up the call. Nathaniel¡¯s body took up much space in the small bed, but the two children were willing to squeeze together to sleep with their father. Suddenly, lightning shed across the sky, followed by a loud boom. The two kids instinctively burrowed. themselves into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. ¡°It¡¯s thundering outside, and we aren¡¯t beside Mommy to keep herpany. What should we do?¡± Cam looked outside the window anxiously. ¡°Is your mommy very scared of thunder?¡± Christina¡¯s scared expression shed across Nathaniel¡¯s mind. Lucas nodded his head fervently. ¡°We heard it from Mr. Gunther. When Mommy gave birth to us, there was lightning and thunder. She even fell down and almost lost us. From then on, she became terrified of thunder.¡± ¡°Daddy, can you go and find Mommy? She definitely needs your hug more than us!¡± Cam said firmly. Nathaniel¡¯s heart sank. He found it hard to breathe, as though someone was suffocating him. After he put Manor. the two children to sleep, he headed downstairs, started the car, and left Scenic Garden Christina curled into a ball near the edge of the bed as she listened to the rumbling thunder. She hugged her knees tightly, and her pale face was drenched in cold sweat. The frequencies of the thunder and lightning were too simr to the night four years ago. The image of her driving to the hospital with a big belly shed across her mind. Fresh red blood slid down from the base of her thigh, and the waves of pain kept getting worse. She clenched her palms tightly, leaving five red marks on her knees. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. However, no one answered the door. Then, the sound of the door being opened was heard. Nathaniel walked into the room. He saw a familiar figure curled in a ball on the bed, a terrified expression. on her face. She looks so weak and fragile, as if she needs someone to protect her. He walked over to her side quickly and hugged her. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m here.¡± Christina didn¡¯t say anything, merely gripping his shirt tightly. The hotel staff asked in concern. ¡°Is he your husband, ma¡¯am?¡± As the man had just stated that his wife might have had an ident in the hotel room, the staff opened the door without consent to prevent dangerous circumstances from urring. Christina nodded and thanked her. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, the staff left. The two didn¡¯t speak a word that night. Nathaniel hugged Christina silently so that she could sleep in his embrace peacefully. Eventually, the thunder faded away, and the exhausted Christina finally fell asleep in his embrace. Early in the morning, Christina woke up and found herself covered with a nket on the bed. There was still a hint of warmth beside her. If she hadn¡¯t woken up several times in the middle of the night and seen Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face, she would have wondered ifst night was a dream. She got up and changed her clothes. Then, the hotel staff came in with a luxurious breakfast. ¡°I don¡¯t recall ordering breakfast service?¡± The hotel breakfast was usually much more expensive. Although Christina wasn¡¯t short of money, she didn¡¯t like to splurge. The hotel staff pushed a cart in and set the breakfast on the coffee table. ¡°Mr. Hadley ordered this, and the bill has already been settled.¡± After cing everything down, the hotel staff left. Christina walked over and realized there was a note on the table. The elegant handwriting wrote: Remember to eat breakfast. I¡¯ve gone home to send our kids to school. Chapter 348 Official Business Chapter 348 Official Business After breakfast, Christina went to the shooting location to get ready for work. Since it had rained the day before, the amount of sunlight was perfect for the shoot. Hence, the job was completed right before noon. Coco took a few selfies with her and uploaded the photos online to let everyone know that Christina was her stylist. The two had known each other since they were at the bottom of the corporate hierarchy, and they had been working hard to prove themselves. Therefore, Coco was more than willing to share her connections with Christina. Christina, on the other hand, would also make time to personally tailor new gowns for Coco. Although they were both established individuals in the industry now, they were still eager to help each other out. Christina finally arrived downtown when it was close to the afternoon. Having worked for the past couple of days, Christina went back to Scenic Garden Manor to freshen up. She then went downstairs after showering and changing into a new set of clothes. Raymond saw hering down the stairs and asked, ¡°Have you had lunch, Mrs. Hadley?¡± ¡°No. Is Mr. Hadleying back to eat?¡± she asked. Nathaniel isn¡¯t used to eating out, so he¡¯ll normally eithere back to Scenic Garden Manor to eat or get Sebastian to pack food from home. ¡°Mr. Taggart informed me Mr. Hadley has to attend to some clients, so he told me not to prepare food for Mr. Hadley,¡± Raymond reported. ¡°All right, then. You may go back to work,¡± Christina answered. If that¡¯s the case, Nathaniel is most probably skipping lunch and drinking wine on an empty stomach. Does he not know how bad that is for his stomach? Since he drove over an hour for my sakest night, I should return the favor. With that in mind, Christina went to the kitchen and started cooking. Around ten minutester, she packed up the food she made and drove to the office. Upon arriving at the office, Christina took the elevator to the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor. At that moment, Nathaniel was in the middle of a meeting with the executives from several departments. Christina didn¡¯t know what they were talking about in the conference room, but she saw how solemn their expressions were. In fact, she could even feel the tense atmosphere despite standing on the other side of the ss panel. Indeed, the atmosphere in the conference room couldn¡¯t be any more tense. Due to a mistake, someone almost leaked thetest technology thepany was developing. Thus, the executives from the three major departments had to exin themselves. At the moment, those experienced executives were going through their apology letters repeatedly to make sure they got everything right before submitting them. The senior executive of the research department was seen wiping the sweat off his forehead repeatedly after giving a lengthy exnation. Just then, Nathaniel lifted his gaze and saw Christina standing by the door. Upon noticing the lunchbox in her hand, Nathaniel knew what she was there for. ¡°Let¡¯s take a half an hour break,¡± Nathaniel uttered. ¡°Mr. Hadley, this is an important meeting. We can¡¯t afford to take breaks.¡± Madison¡¯s expression changed slightly. Nathaniel is pausing the meeting because of Christina! That woman is disrupting Nathaniel¡¯s work! Does she do anything else apart from eating and pleasing Nathaniel? Nathaniel rose to his feet and uttered coldly, ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. You should worry about yourself.¡± Madison clenched her fists and teared up a little as she watched Nathaniel leave the conference room, bring Christina to his office, and lock the door behind them. Initially, Christina wanted to leave after giving Nathaniel the lunchbox. However, he had already locked the door, so she put the lunchbox on the coffee table and opened it. ¡°Have you had your lunch?¡± ¡°No.¡± Nathaniel answered. Hearing that, Christina poured him a bowl of soup and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know you have gastric problems? Why are you doing this to yourself?¡± ¡°Well, no one is reminding me to eat.¡± Nathaniel took the bowl from her and unintentionally touched the back of her hand. ¡°I¡¯m sure Sebastian is more capable than anyone to remind you to eat on time.¡± Everyone in thepany knew howmitted Sebastian was to his job. As a matter of fact, he was a meticulous assistant who would pay the utmost attention to every single detail. Nathaniel couldn¡¯tin about Sebastian¡¯s efficiency, so he merely lowered his head and drank his soup. After drinking a few mouthfuls of the hot soup, Nathaniel looked a lot more at ease. ¡°Do we have a new chef at home?¡± ¡°No¡± Christina sat opposite him. ¡°The taste is different from usual. Nathaniel arched a brow and looked at her. Christina blushed and admitted, ¡°I cooked.¡± Nathaniel shed her a smile and continued drinking his soup. Evidently, his appetite was good that day, and although he couldn¡¯t finish all the food Christina brought over, he finished the soup. Christina cleared the table and walked toward the door with the lunchbox in her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand any intentions. The meal was merely a token of appreciation for yourpanyst night.¡± With that, she left in a hurry, Nathaniel broke into a smile as he watched her leave. This means she has finally acknowledged my feelings for her. Cam and Lucas were waiting at the entrance for Nathaniel to return home from work that evening, and they rushed out immediately when they saw a ck Maybach pulling up into the driveway. Nathaniel saw the kids running toward the car and instantly ordered the driver to stop the vehicle. He picked the kids up immediately after exiting the car while uttering. ¡°Don¡¯t ever do this again. It¡¯s dangerous.¡± Cam and Lucas couldn¡¯t wait to see Nathaniel because they had something important to tell him. ¡°Daddy, go upstairs right this instant! Mommy is leaving to look for Mr. Gunther!¡± Cam yelled. Nathaniel furrowed his brows in response. Wasn¡¯t everything all right at noon? She even sent me lunch! That was only a few hours ago. Why is she leaving all of a sudden? Seeing that Nathaniel was in a daze, Lucas shook his father violently. ¡°Daddy! Talk to Mommy!¡± Nathaniel carried the kids into the house and assured them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go upstairs to check things. out.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± In the master bedroom upstairs, Christina had just finished packing lightly. She then grabbed her passport. and was about to leave. As soon as she stepped out of the bedroom with her luggage, she bumped into Nathaniel. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Nathaniel asked in a deep voice. Christina bit her lip and answered, ¡°I need to go back to the studio abroad. It¡¯s urgent.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. She was in a rush, so she didn¡¯t have time to chat. Therefore, she wanted to walk past Nathaniel after pushing him aside. Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and asked in an even colder voice, ¡°Are you going there for business or to see someone?¡± Prior to that, Nathaniel had already gotten Sebastian to do some digging. Apparently, Francis was taking part in an exhibition abroad, so Nathaniel thought Christina could be meeting up with him to run off together again. After going through what happened thest time around, Nathaniel was determined to keep Christina by his side. Christina¡¯s face turned grim when she heard those words. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. If I¡¯m leaving the kids here, doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m surelying back? Why are you so worried?¡± she refuted in annoyance. Nothing in the world was more important to her than Cam and Lucas. Hence, it was clear that she had an urgent matter to deal with and would return as soon as she could. However, Nathaniel was still gripping her wrist tightly. ¡°All right, then. Where are you going? I¡¯ll tag along!¡± Chapter 349 An Old Friend Chapter 349 An Old Friend ¡°What are you getting at? Do you not trust me?¡± Christina froze momentarily. I¡¯m already leaving the children behind at Scenic Garden Manor, so it proves I have no choice but to leave for a while. If I were to leave and not return, I would bring the children with me. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes shone with determination when he answered, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust you. I¡¯m just worried about you¡­ Also, I want to help you.¡± Christina stared at him dubiously. Nathaniel was worried about her, but that was only one of the reasons he was refusing to let her leave. The other reason was that he couldn¡¯t trust Francis or Yosef. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to worry about me. If you want to help, please help me look after Cam and Lucas while I¡¯m away¡± Christina wanted to leave with her luggage in her grip. However, the man before her wouldn¡¯t budge. Christina then bit her lip lightly and grumbled. ¡°If you stop me, you¡¯ll only remind me of the time when you kept me in Scenic Garden Manor against my will! Do you want me to recall how domineering, ruthless, and annoying you were?¡± Christina¡¯s words were as sharp as daggers. Although they had already cleared up most of the misunderstandings between them, Christina was still brooding over the things he did to her back then. Nathaniel knew Christina was angry, but he was worried about letting her travel abroad on her own. After mulling over it for a while, he said. ¡°You can go, but you must let me assign you a bodyguard to keep you safe. He won¡¯t stop you from doing anything. His only job is to protect you.¡± Is he really sending someone to monitor me? Christina wasn¡¯t pleased. Before Christina could utter a word in response, Nathaniel said authoritatively. ¡°If you don¡¯t let me do that, I won¡¯t let you leave.¡± Christina checked the time and noticed that she waste by almost half an hour. Since she couldn¡¯t convince him otherwise, she had to give in. ¡°Fine. I need to leave now,¡± Christina responded. Well, I guess it¡¯s good to have someone protecting me. After all, dangerous situations might arise when I¡¯m abroad. ¡°I¡¯ll get the driver to send you to the airport and arrange a private ne for you,¡± he said. ¡°Okay.¡± Christina was in contact with Yosef when she was at the airport. Apparently, plenty of imitation model products were found in their studio. Since they were making. high- endmissions for their clients, they had all signed non-disclosure contracts. Hence, the appearance of imitations could be considered as them breaching the contracts. If that were the case, they would be forced topensate their clients. Due to the enormous amount of money involved, the studio could be forced to go belly up. Suddenly, a deep and maic voice of a man rang out. ¡°The ne is ready, Ms. Steele.¡± Christina lifted her gaze and saw a tall man standing before her. The man was wearing ck casual clothes, a mask, and a pair of sunsses. He was almost all covered up and had short yellow hair.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°A-Are you the bodyguard Nathaniel sent to protect me?¡± Christina queried. The man nodded slightly. ¡°Yes. Is there a problem?¡± Christina had seen most of Nathaniel¡¯s bodyguards, but she had never seen one looking as entric as the man before her eyes. Is there some kind of mistake? Upon noticing the dubious look on Christina¡¯s face, the man whipped out his employee ID and gave it to her. ¡°This is my employee ID. If you don¡¯t trust me, feel free to call Mr. Hadley.¡± Even though the man was wearing a pair of sunsses, Christina could still sense his sharp gaze. Nevertheless, she took the employee ID from him, and it read: Yael Grealish. While standing before the man, Christina texted Nathaniel for confirmation. Soon, she received a text saying that the man before her was the most experienced bodyguard Nathaniel had. Christina heaved a sigh of relief after receiving the confirmation. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said. The man hummed in acknowledgment, took her luggage, and followed her onto the ne. Upon arriving in the cabin, Christina sat in the single seat in the front row while the bodyguard sat behind her. Christina checked the texts she had received on her phone and noticed that Yosef had sent her a series of texts. In response, sheforted him in her replies. Yosef has never been an emotional man, but judging from the texts he sent me, he seems to be preparing himself for the worst. He invested so much of his effort in this studio. If something like this were to destroy the studio for good, it would be such a pity. ¡°Have a ss of milk, Mrs. Hadley.¡± The maic voice rang out again. Stunned, Christina turned around to see a ss of hot milk being served to her. Christina took the ss of milk from the man and sipped it. This bodyguard has a strong aura. Although he¡¯s all covered up. I can still feel the intense aura he¡¯s eruding. The only person I know that has this kind of aura is Nathaniel. Despite having that thought in her mind, she couldn¡¯t help but strongly resist the possibility of Nathaniel being the bodyguard when she nced at him and saw his yellow-colored hair. Nathaniel would never dye his hair yellow. It would be absurd if he did. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, I¡¯ve never seen you before. Do you normally not work?¡± Christina asked tentatively. The man stiffened at those words, but the pair of sunsses he was wearing sessfully concealed the panic in his eyes. ¡°Yes, I only work when I¡¯m required to protect people who are important.¡± Christina had heard about how the top bodyguards would be away on sabbatical unless their services were required. Convinced, Christina gave the empty ss to the man. ¡°I¡¯m taking a nap. Don¡¯te near me unless I tell you to she ordered. Mr. Bodyguard¡¯s qura is as intimidating as Nathaniel¡¯s The man hummed in response and stepped away with the empty ss in his hand. Under the dim lighting in the cabin. Christina dozed off in no time. The air-conditioning was rather strong in the cabin, but she was merely wearing a thin knitted jacket. Seeing that, the man took out a nket and put it over her. Afterward, he removed his sunsses to reveal his sharp. dark eyes. The bodyguard was none other than Nathaniel himself. Under the dim lighting, everything, apart from the yellow hair, was still the same as how Nathaniel would normally look. Needless to say, his expression was also void of any emotions, Nathaniel knew Christina would never allow him to tag along, but he thought no one could protect her as well as he could. Hence, he came up with the idea of disguising himself as a bodyguard. He even went the extra mile to dye his hair yellow, which was the color he hated the most. A whileter, he put his sunsses back on, sat next to Christina, and silently watched her sleep. By the time Christina woke up, the ne had alreadye to a halt. Only then did she notice that she was sleeping under a nket. No wonder I felt so warm. The second she rose to her feet, the bodyguard approached her with a woolen coat and put it over her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s cold outside.¡± An inexplicable feeling rose within Christina when she sensed the bodyguard¡¯s care for her. With the wool coat on, Christina stepped out of the cabin. A gust of chilly wind swept past, but she didn¡¯t feel cold at all. ¡°Christina!¡± Yosef quickly walked up to her when he saw her in the arrival hall. Like a pair of old friends meeting each other after a long time, they were very concerned about each other. Yosef then reached out his arms, intending to pull Christina into a hug. Chapter 350 He Would Never Do That Chapter 350 He Would Never Do That In the blink of an eye, a tall figure had stepped between Christina and Yosef. ¡°Please keep your distance,¡± growled Nathaniel in a deep voice. Yosef was shocked as he did not recognize the tall, blonde man standing in front of him. ¡°Who are you? Embarrassed, Christina stepped forward and pulled the bodyguard away. ¡°He was sent by Nathaniel. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Her expression darkened. The bodyguard was clearly trained by the Hadley family since his mannerisms reminded her of Nathaniel. Yosef had been surprised to hear that Christina was allowed to go abroad. From what he had heard about Nathaniel, it seemed unlikely that he would have agreed to it. It turns out that he has sent a bodyguard with her instead. Seeing the bodyguard¡¯s unfriendly and rather hostile demeanor. Yosef did not want to create a conflict, so he changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ve booked a hotel for us. Let¡¯s go check in.¡± He walked over to Christina, intending to offer his help, but the bodyguard was one step ahead of him. The bodyguard even threw him a warning nce. Yosef was taken aback by his hostility. Isn¡¯t he a bit too much? The atmosphere turned awkward. At that moment, the bodyguard said in a cold voice, ¡°Mr. Hadley has already booked a hotel. There¡¯s no need for you to trouble yourself.¡± Yosef could not recognize Nathaniel because thetter had deliberately lowered his voice. Christina looked mortified. Again, she stepped between the two men to break their stare and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go then.¡± When the three of them exited the airport, the hotel staff were already waiting for them at the gate, and they hurried over when they saw the three of them appear. Soon, they arrived at the hotel and got themselves checked in. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, could you help me carry my luggage up to my room? I¡¯d like to have a chat with Yosef,¡± said Christina. Nathaniel frowned. I followed her all the way here, and now, she wants me to leave so she can have a private chat with Yoseff He lowered his voice and replied, ¡°Mr. Hadley ordered me to stay by your side at all times, Mrs. Hadley.¡± What he really meant was that there was no way he would agree to leave the two of them alone to talk. His words confirmed to Christina that the bodyguard had been sent by Nathaniel to keep an eye on her. The thought filled her with disdain. However, she could not berate the bodyguard out in public. Sighing, she resigned herself to her fate. The three of them walked over to the hotel¡¯s restaurant to have a meal. Christina was concerned about the situation at the studio. As soon as she sat down, she asked, ¡°Our designs have been kept strictly confidential. How can there be so many imitations?¡± There were several types of imitation goods. Currently, the ones in the market were high quality and had copied every little detail, save for the manual needle embroidery. Yosef¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I checked the design drawing, and it was indeed stolen. That¡¯s how the imitators managed to make such a close replica.¡± ¡°Who stole it? Did you manage to catch the culprit?¡± Christina asked. Just as Yosef was about to reply, a waiter approached their table bearing tters of food. ¡°Eat,¡± said Nathaniel in amanding tone. She hasn¡¯t rested or eaten anything after getting off the ne and has been busy with Yosef up until now. What right does this punk have to cause Christina so much concern? Christina frowned. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, if you¡¯re hungry, you¡¯re wee to start eating first.¡± Didn¡¯t he see that I was in the middle of an important conversation? How rude of him to interrupt! Nathaniel ignored Christina¡¯s protest. He piled a te with food and set it down in front of her. He did not say a word and merely angled his head toward the te, urging her to take a bite. Even through his dark sunsses, Christina could feel his sharp gaze boring into her. In truth, she had been on the ne all day and had not eaten in thest six hours, so her stomach was beginning to grumble, Thus, she picked up her fork and fed herself a bite. Nathaniel watched her eat and breathed a sigh of relief. At the quiet table, only Yosef noticed that all the dishes ordered were Christina¡¯s favorite foods. How could a mere bodyguard know what she likes to eat? Nathaniel scooped an extra helping for Christina, filling up her te to the brim. Christina looked at the mountain of food in front of her andined, ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, this is too much food. I can¡¯t finish it all! Stop giving me more!¡± She had a simple rule when it came to food-she did not like wasting food. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Hadley¡¯s orders,¡± the bodyguard said simply as an exnation. Hearing that name, Christina choked on her food. After a moment of silence, she looked at Yosef. ¡°So, has the design thief been found?¡± Yosef paused for a moment and nced at the bodyguard by Christina¡¯s side, directly in front of him. The man¡¯s bright blonde hair stood out. However, he wore dark sunsses and a face mask, so his facial features were hidden away. There¡¯s no way Nathaniel would dye his hair this bright color, right? The thoughtforted Yosef. He dropped his eyes to meet Christina¡¯s. ¡°Yes, it was Laura who stole the drawings.¡± Laura was Yosef¡¯s secretary. She did not know anything about fashion design. Christina¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Could Laura have done it for money? Ah, it really is impossible to be on guard against everyone.¡± Yosef hesitated and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Although it is terrible of Laura to steal the design drawing for the sake of money, it¡¯s even more terrible that someone bribed her to do it.¡± Bribery? Christina raised her eyebrows and asked in a puzzled tone, ¡°Someone else is behind this theft?¡± Is it one of ourpetitors? These things happen in our line of business, but I didn¡¯t expect it to happen to us! Yosef¡¯s eyes turned icy, ¡°When Laura was arrested, she tried to plead with me. She said that someone had given her a big sum of money to steal the design drawing and sell it to the garment factory.¡± ¡°Who offered the money?¡± Christina said. A feeling of dread settled over her. ¡°Nathaniel Hadley, Yosef replied. Christina was stunned. She felt as if she had been pped. Nathaniel is behind this? A silence descended over the table. The three of them were caught up in their own thoughts. Nathaniel gripped the handle of his knife so tightly that his knuckles turned white. This Yosef is bing more and more daring! How dare he nder my name in front of me? Who does he think he is? How dare he move against me? He shot a sideways nce at Christina. Her delicate skin was silky smooth, and her long hair, tucked behind her ears, shone in the light. Her thick eyshes shaded her eyes as she delved deep into her thoughts. Noting her reaction, Nathaniel tensed up. He did not care about Yosef¡¯s usation, but he cared deeply about what Christina would think of him. Will she believe his words? She has never had a good impression of me. What can I do about it if she really does believe him? It¡¯s not like I can cover her ears and insist that it¡¯s all lies, can I? The longer the silence dragged on, the more awkward the atmosphere at the table became. ¡°Nathaniel would never do that,¡± said Christina calmly, breaking the silence. Yosef¡¯s eyes narrowed. If it were not for Nathaniel¡¯s absence, he would have suspected that Nathaniel was controlling Christina. ¡°Yosef, you may think that I¡¯m saying this to defend or protect Nathaniel, but I¡¯m very sure that he would never do such a thing¡± Chapter 351 Retaining Christina Chapter 351 Retaining Christina Nathaniel¡¯s emotions, which had just been in turmoil, resumed peacefulness. Behind his shades, his eyes narrowed at the inexplicable sense offort spreading within his heart. Yosef sighed lightly. ¡°There¡¯s no reason for me to nder Nathaniel. Christina, I¡ª ¡°I don¡¯t doubt you. It¡¯s Laura¡¯s words I don¡¯t trust. Perhaps someone¡¯s just trying to shift the me,¡± Christina interjected lightly. While her voice was soft, the message she hoped to convey was clear enough. Yosef had not foreseen Christina mistrusting him and was about toe up with a retort when a tall figure stood and pulled Christina¡¯s wrist to leave. ¡°Rest.¡± From the way he spit out that one word, it was as though speaking more would cost him. Yosef¡¯s expression was back to its cid state. ¡°You should get some rest since it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll drop you off at the studio tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°I still remember the route to get there. I¡¯ve only been gone for a few months.¡± Christina declined his offer inadvertently. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°All right, then. See you tomorrow.¡± Christina was not surprised by how luxurious the presidential suite turned out to be since Nathaniel had been the one to arrange for it. Before stepping into the room, Christina inquired, ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, where will you be staying?¡± ¡°Right opposite you.¡± His voice was deep and husky. Christina¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°A bodyguard staying in a presidential suite? You sure are living the high life.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your ordinary bodyguard.¡± Christinaughed drily. You are almost as unique as your employer at this point. ¡°Get some rest. Feel free to call me if you need anything.¡± This was the longest sentence Nathaniel had uttered for the entire day. Christina nodded. She entered the room, not forgetting to lock the door behind her. Once inside, she was not in a hurry to shower as she whipped out her phone to video call Lucas. His smart watch connected to the call promptly. Two adorable faces appeared on Christina¡¯s phone screen. They called out sweetly, ¡°Mom, we missed you so much!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve missed you two as well. Have both of you been obedient at home?¡± Christina felt the day¡¯s exhaustion dissipate into thin air upon hearing the voice of her children. Lucas radiant eyes shone like diamonds, and he pouted his rosy lips proudly. ¡°Of course! We woke up early before our rm clock rang to practice calligraphy and arrived at school on time!¡± Christina gave them a thumbs-up. ¡°Take good care of Cam, Lucas. I¡¯ll be back the minute I¡¯m done with work.¡± It waste at night where Christina was and morning at Scenic Garden Manor due to the different time zones that they were in. She hung up the call shortly as she began feeling fatigued. At the same time, Nathaniel had removed his sunsses and face mask in the room opposite her. The mirror reflected the impassive expression on his chiseled face and his jet-ck eyes that seemed to pull one into its endless depths. He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Investigate who exactly was the one who leaked the design draft of Yosef¡¯s studio.¡± Sebastian replied, ¡°Right away, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel considered for a moment before continuing. I¡¯d like to acquire Yosef¡¯s studio. Come up with at price for it tomorrow,¡± Christina wouldn¡¯t have a reason to remain here once the studio was gone. ¡°I¡¯ll get to it as soon as possible tomorrow. By the way, I¡¯ve already sent the documents you need to handle to your email.¡± Sebastian paused before querying worriedly, ¡°Mr. Hadley, why don¡¯t I head over there? Someone should look out for you instead of you being alone. Should I disguise myself as a bodyguard to protect Mrs. Hadley together with you?¡± Nathaniel was used to Sebastian being around whenever he worked outstation and would most likely be unustomed to dealing with the nitty gritty work due to his absence. Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed. Won¡¯t Sebastian¡¯s appearance expose my true identity? He refused Sebastian¡¯s offer curtly and ended the call before retrieving hisptop from his luggage to go. through the documents at the work desk. Christina woke up early at dawn the following day as she did not want to be trailed by her bodyguard. She left her long hair down, donning a pink knitted coat on top of a simple floral dress. After slinging on. her handbag, she crept out of the room silently. When opening the door, she tried to do so stealthily to reduce as much noise as possible from reaching the hotel room opposite her. ¡°Heading out?¡± A low, maic voice sounded from behind her. Christina almost jumped out of her skin in surprise and turned around to the sight of the disguised Nathaniel, who seemingly appeared out of nowhere. He was dressed in the same outfit as the day before, which consisted of baggy ck attire that concealed his physique. The mask and sunsses hid his features perfectly as well. The imposing air around him filled up the space around him. Christina chuckled awkwardly like a child that had been caught red-handed by their parents. ¡°You¡¯re up early, Mr. Bodyguard.¡± Nathaniel made a sound of agreement. ¡°Shall we go?¡± ¡°All right.¡± Christina¡¯s original n was to wake up early to get breakfast and then take a stroll before heading to the studio When she exited the hotel with her bodyguard behind her, there were scarcely any pedestrians on the street since it was still early at seven in the morning The passers-by they came across couldn¡¯t help stealing several extra nces at them as the contrast between Christina¡¯s petiteness and the bodyguard¡¯s powerful build called too much attention. Christina stopped at a bakery and directed her sparkling gaze to her bodyguard. ¡°Would you like some bread for breakfast, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± No thanks Nathaniel rejected without hesitation, as eating would require him to remove his mask. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, hold on a second while I grab something for myself¡± Christina headed into the bakery by the street and bought two pieces of toast and two cups of hot coffee despite her bodyguard¡¯s refusal. They found an empty bench before sitting down with a great deal of distance between them. Christina handed the bodyguard his portion, which he epted but did not dig into. Christina enjoyed her toast while sipping her coffee. The image of the breeze lifting her hair so that it artfully obscured her limpid eyes was heart-wrenchingly beautiful. With her head bowed, she seemed to be deep in thought. ¡°You truly doubt that it¡¯s him?¡± The bodyguard¡¯s voice was ridiculously maic and lush Christina was stunned for a moment but quickly recovered once she realized that he was referring to the conversation from the night before. She took a sip of coffee. ¡°It¡¯s more like Nathaniel¡¯s style to buy over the studio on a whim.¡± Nathaniel despised beating around the bush and wouldn¡¯t bother spending so much effort on pirating. Behind his ck mask, the corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips lifted at how well Christina understood him. On the other hand, he was rarely so thoughtful of Christina. It was no wonder she¡¯d stormed off in a rage back then. ¡°It¡¯s almost time. Let¡¯s go to the studio. You should stand quietly in a cornerter and refrain from speaking¡± Christina noticed she could nevermunicate effectively with others whenever her bodyguard was by her side. Although his eyes and features were shielded, his intimidating aura could not be suppressed. Chapter 352 That Is Not What I Want Chapter 352 That Is Not What I Want The studio was on the fifteenth floor of an office building in the city center. An enthusiastic Granatanndy was at the reception counter when Christina walked in. As soon as the former lifted her gaze, she recognized thetter. The woman politely weed Christina and greeted her in fluent Granatann, ¡°Where did you go, Christina? I thought you wouldn¡¯te back again.¡± Everyone at the studio knew Christina was back in her home country to hold a fashion show. However, she did not return to the studio even after several months had passed, and neither did anyone manage to reach her. Naturally, everyone thought she had found a new job. Christina smiled. ¡°How can that be? This studio is partially my blood, sweat, and tears too.¡± Having stayed abroad for many years, she had ced almost her entire fashion career in that studio. She was not someone who would give up easily. ¡°Where¡¯s Yosef?¡± she asked. ¡°Mr. Gunther is inside. You can head in.¡± ¨C Christina walked into the studio with Nathaniel. The furnishing and decorations inside radiated artistic vibes, and she even spotted her own artwork. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Yosef was in the middle of a meeting with a famous designer in the conference room. However, the atmosphere was not too great. As Christina knocked on the door and entered, she met with the grumpy gazes of the two who had just argued. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. The famous designer loosened his floral necktie. ¡°Ask Yosef yourself. He says he wants to sell the studio.¡± ¡°What? You want to sell the studio?¡± Christina¡¯s face fell almost instantaneously. When they first started the studio, they promised each other they would be the most renowned brand in the fashion industry. We¡¯ve put so much effort and energy into it. How can we possibly bear to sell it just like this? A grim look clouded Yosef¡¯s face. From the way he pursed his lips and scrunched his brows, it was evident. he was worried over the matter. Christina stood between the two and remarked, ¡°I know our studio¡¯s reputation has been negatively affected because of the imitation clothing incident. But we can rify the truth, release a statement, or move the hearts of our customers with higher quality works, isn¡¯t it?¡± She did not see the need to sell off the fruit of their many years of hardbor just because of a minor setback. Yosef turned to the other designer and asked thetter to leave as he had something to say to Christina privately. Before that designer left, he lightly patted her shoulder and spoke in less fluent Chanacan, ¡°Try to convince him.¡± As the door shut, Christina shifted her gaze toward Yosef. ¡°Can you tell me the reason now?¡± Yosef¡¯s brows furrowed together. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m in a dilemma too. I received a call from Sebastian this morning saying that he wants to buy the studio. I objected, but he used my parents¡¯ safety to threaten me.¡± That news struck Christina like a bolt from the blue, leaving her utterly bewildered. Before she even uttered a word, a series of loud noises rang out in front of her. When Christina finally registered what she just heard, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s punch hadnded on Yosef¡¯s lower jaw. Howling in pain, thetter staggered a few steps back and clumsily leaned on the desk to stop. himself from falling. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Bodyguard!¡± Christina regained her senses and immediately went up to push Nathaniel aside. ¡°That¡¯s nder!¡± Nathaniel spat through gritted teeth. True enough, he had instructed Sebastian to work on the acquisition, but he would never use someone¡¯s life to threaten Yosef. It was clear that Yosef was lying. Christina ignored him and turned to look at Yosef. ¡°Are you all right? Let¡¯s go to the hospital and have a check.¡± The metallic scent of blood spread in Yosef¡¯s mouth, and streaks of blood asionally seeped from the corner of his mouth. Wrath was apparent in his eyes as he glowered at the blonde man before him. Why does this man feel more and more like Nathaniel the longer I look at him? Christina ced Yosef¡¯s arm on her slender shoulders and supported him as they walked toward the door. The two were almost leaning on each other. The anger deep inside Nathaniel earlier turned into jealousy at this point. ¡°You can¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of hitting him again, I won¡¯t let you follow me anymore. I have tons of ways to run away from you.¡± Christina whipped her head around, her wordsced with annoyance. She thought it was wrong to hit people, regardless of the reason. Nathaniel clenched his fists tight discreetly. His chiseled knuckles were giving off cracking sounds because of his tightened grip. The eyes behind his shades had turned bloodshot, and his aura was as terrifying as a demon. Rage overwhelmed him. Yet, he knew well that if he made a move again, he would not be able to stay by Christina¡¯s side till she returned to the country. Watching their retreating backs, Nathaniel suppressed his burning fury and trailed behind them. He quickened his footsteps, and when he got nearer to the two, he reached out and pulled Christina and Yosef apart. Having been pushed aside, Christina shot him a fierce re. Is this Mr. Bodyguard thinking of hitting Yosef again? To her surprise, she saw Nathaniel cing Yosef¡¯s arm around his shoulders and helping him walk out. Yosef was equally shocked. Nathaniel was so close to him at that moment that his formidable aura was made more apparent. Even though Nathaniel was wearing sunsses, Yosef could still vividly sense his sharp gaze. Nathaniel nced at Christina coldly. ¡°Not leaving?¡± He was a man of few words. Only then did Christina follow after them. What exactly is Mr. Bodyguard doing? He¡¯s the one who injured Yosef. yet he¡¯s sending him to the hospital? A whileter, the three arrived at the hospital. The doctor sent Yosef to do an X-ray, eventually confirming a fractured lower jawbone. Upon learning of the news, Christina was dumbfounded. It only takes Mr. Bodyguard one punch to break one¡¯s lower jawbone?Is there some personal grudge between them, or does he have violent tendencies? After a series of checks, Christina requested the doctor to arrange a single ward for Yosef to rest at. On the bed, Yosef had a cast over his injured lower jaw. Since that was the case, he had to be careful of what food he consumed during that period. Christina forbade Nathaniel from getting anywhere near Yosef. She even instructed him to stand far away while in the ward. Staring at Yosef, who had gotten injured because of her, Christina felt extremely bad. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Yosef. It¡¯s fault for not handling things well.¡± Yosef¡¯s dashing face appeared rather gaunt because of how pale it was. A faint glimmer shed in his eyes. ¡°Have you thought things through yet, Christina? Are you sure you want to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side?¡± Christina fell silent as she did not know how to respond. Yosef held onto her hand. ¡°Look at how violent he is. Who knows if he¡¯ll lock you up again if he¡¯s unhappy one day? Did you forget who brought you the pain and torment for the past four years?¡± He would never forget how difficult it was for Christina to take care of the two kids back then. It pained him to see how gloomy she often was because of Nathaniel. Images of the past began to emerge in Christina¡¯s mind, but she hid the difort and cidly muttered, ¡°About this matter, Yosef, I¡¯ll definitely give you an exnation. No matter if Nathaniel was the one who did it, I¡¯ll help restore the studio¡¯s reputation.¡± ¡°Christina, that¡¯s not what I want¡­¡± Yosef got too agitated and hurt his injured muscle, causing him to inhale sharply. A frown marred Christina¡¯s countenance. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You should focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me.¡± Chapter 353 Is He Ugly Chapter 353 Is He Ugly Yosef could no longer contain the secret he had been hiding all this while. He had always admired Christina, but hecked the courage to express his feelings because he was worried that he would end jeopardizing their rtionship and making Christina distance herself from him. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. However, he began to panic when he witnessed Christina getting back together with Nathaniel and growing closer to him. Meanwhile, Nathaniel followed closely behind Christina after she left the hospital. He did not ask where she was going or what she nned to do. Instead, he merely remained by her sid like a guardian angel. Christina returned to the studio and went straight to the fabric storage room. Some rare fabrics were hard toe by, so they would usually stock them up. She wanted to bring son back to the hotel. As she carefully selected the fabrics, her mind started to envision the designs, meticulously choosing among the assortment of materials. Christina picked up several rolls ofce fabric, each measuring ten meters in length. Her slender figure posed a challenge as she struggled to hold the towering rolls of fabric. Suddenly, a tall figure approached from behind and took the rolls of fabric from her hands. Christina felt a significant weight lifted off her body. ¡°Let me.¡± Nathaniel took over all the rolls of fabric. I was just standing right there, yet she refused to ask me for help. Why is she so stubborn? Christina wanted to retrieve another two pieces of indigo fabric, but they were ced on the top shelf. Without hesitation, she found a chair and stepped on it. Before she could steady herself, a cold voice resounded. ¡°Stop right there. What are you doing?¡± Christina paused for a moment and blinked her watery eyes before pointing at the two rolls of fabric on the top shelf and saying, ¡°I want to get those fabrics.¡± She used to do that herself almost every time while she was working. What¡¯s wrong with that? Nathaniel noticed the chair was at least fifty centimeters tall. She might get hurt if she falls. As such, he walked over. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Before Christina could say anything, both her arms were grabbed by Nathaniel, and she was lifted off the chair. Widening her eyes, she froze as he carried her like a child and ced her back down on the floor. Despite standing at a decent height of a hundred and sixty-five meters, Christina appeared particrly petite next to the towering figure of over one hundred and eighty meters. Nathaniel walked over and effortlessly grabbed the fabric rolls by standing on tiptoes. Christina then packed all the tools she needed and left the studio with Nathaniel, who was carrying all the fabric rolls. Back at the hotel, Nathaniel followed closely behind Christina as they entered the room. ¡°You can just ce the items on the table and then go about your own business,¡± she said as she entered the room, tidying up her tools and cing them on the desk. She then took out her tablet and began working. After setting down the rolls of fabric, Nathaniel did not rush to leave. Instead, he found a couch in the corner and sat down. The two of them shared the same space but maintained a distance from each other. Christina lifted her head and saw the towering figure standing there, resembling a perfect statue. ¡°You can go back and rest now, Mr. Bodyguard,¡± Christina reminded him deliberately. Yet, the man stood still. ¡°I can rest here.¡± Christina wondered if he had caught her trying to sneak out in the morning. Is that why he¡¯s worried? She cleared her throat. ¡°I won¡¯t run away from you, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already done that once.¡± His maic voice carried a hint of indifference. ¡°Fine! Whatever!¡± Christina massaged her temples. He¡¯s indeed keeping an eye on me. Christina took out a stylus pen and started sketching designs on the tablet. The fastest way to restore the studio¡¯s reputation was toe up with a new design that could capture the market¡¯s attention. Immersed in her work, shepletely forgot about time. The mouthwatering aroma of food made her stomach growl when dinner was ced in front of her. Christina lifted her gaze and saw only a single serving of dinner. ¡°Are you not eating, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± Nathaniel, who sat right opposite her, shook his head wordlessly, preferring to remain quiet whenever possible. Unable to resist the tempting aroma of the steak before her, Christina set aside her stylus pen and took a bite of it, savoring its vors. She had not seen the man eat the entire day. He had not had breakfast and had been busy since noon, hardly having any food. Christina remembered how she lost her appetite due to the change in environment when she traveled abroad for the first time. She wondered if Nathaniel was experiencing the same thing. Despite her unfavorable impression of him, she felt it would be too cruel of her if she was too indifferent. In a gentle voice, she asked, ¡°Are you not hungry, Mr. Bodyguard? Or are you not feeling well?¡±¡± Through his sunsses, Nathaniel gazed at the woman¡¯s innocent face. He remained silent and shook his head. Christina knitted her brows. Why wouldn¡¯t he eat if he¡¯s not feeling unwell? Or is he too embarrassed to show himself? She then arrived at a conclusion. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, are you too embarrassed to take off your mask and eat because you¡¯re ugly?¡± That question rendered Nathaniel speechless. I¡¯m ugly? Sensing his silence, Christina became even more convinced of her assumption. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make fun of you. Feel free to take off your mask and have your meal.¡± As she spoke, she lifted her hand and reached for the bodyguard¡¯s mask. The two of them sat in close proximity, and as Christina extended her hand without warning, her fingertip hooked the edge of Nathaniel¡¯s mask. Despite Nathaniel managing to pull himself away in the nick of time, the strap of the mask still snapped. He held the mask before it could fall off and grew vignt as he stared at Christina. Looking at the mask¡¯s strap in her hand, Christina awkwardly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Nathaniel turned around and went into the bathroom. A few momentster, he emerged from the bathroom, wearing two masks on his face. Christina felt like she was shunned by Nathaniel when he sat on a couch far from her desk. Nathaniel took out his phone and checked messages while attending to some paperwork. Though working on a phone was not the most convenient, he felt more at ease staying by her side. If I don¡¯t stay here, Yosef mighte and bother her. Time silently passed, and before they realized it, midnight had arrived. Afterpleting the paperwork, Nathaniel raised his head and saw Christina¡¯s slender figure curled up on the chair with her knees drawn close to her chest like anguid cat. Gripping the stylus pen between her fingertips, she was still sketching on her tablet. He nced at the phone and realized it was gettingte. Christina had been working for over five hours. Her unwavering focus indicated that she was not ready to stop. He got up and walked over. Christina looked up and saw a masked face looming over her, blocking the light. The man kept mum and showed him the time on his phone. It was two in the morning. Christina arched her brows slightly. Is he reminding me to get some rest? ¡°I just need to touch up a little. It won¡¯t take long,¡± she said. Seeing that she had no intention to stop what she was doing, Nathaniel frowned, reached out, and snatched the tablet from her, saving her work and then turning it off. ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± Chapter 354 Strange Bodyguard Chapter 354 Strange Bodyguard Nathaniel pointed at the time on the screen and said coldly, ¡°Rest.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll restter¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Mr. Hadley instructed.¡± Those words of his instantly shut Christina up and made her swallow all her excuses. At the mention of Nathaniel¡¯s name, Christina suddenly realized that they had not been in contact for a long time. Thest conversation she had with Nathaniel was before boarding the ne. Given Nathaniel¡¯s temperament, it was impossible for him to not contact her at all. Drowsiness overwhelmed her as soon as her mind stopped running. She could not be bothered to snatch. the tablet from the bodyguard. After all, she would never win. As such, she puffed her cheeks and reluctantly stomped her way toward the bed like an angry little bunny. Nathaniel didn¡¯t follow her. He was a man, after all, so he should know to keep his distance. After crawling onto bed, Christina took out her phone and sent a message to Nathaniel. Are you asleep? Just as she sent the message, a notification ringtone rang out in the quiet room. The sound was faint, but she still heard it. Why did Mr. Bodyguard receive a new message right after I sent the text? What a coincidence. Right then, her phone buzzed, indicating that she had received a new message. Nathaniel: No. I¡¯ve been busy these past two days. It¡¯s been so long already. Has everything been settled? It¡¯s been so long? Is it, though? Apart from the time I spent on the ne, barely thirty hours have passed since I reached. Christina: No. Are you nning to acquire Yosef¡¯s and my studio? As soon as her message was sent out, another ping sounded in the quiet space. Christina had always had good hearing since she was young, and she was especially sensitive toward tiny sounds. Confused and suspicious, she quickly sat up from the bed, perking up her ears and zeroing in on the sound. Meanwhile, Nathaniel sent a response: Yes. Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she recalled what Yosef had said at noon. Did Nathaniel really coerce Yosef to sign by threatening to harm his parents? She felt an indescribable sense of difort. Nathaniel sent another text message: It¡¯s a legitimate acquisition. Christina felt at ease upon reading the message. Nathaniel had no reason to deliberately hide such matters from her. After all, the truth could not be kept under wraps forever. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Knowing very well that she hated being deceived, Nathaniel had no reason to get himself in trouble. Christina paused for a moment and replied: There¡¯s no need for an acquisition. I have already decided to withdraw. She immediately heard another faint ping after sending the message. Growing even more suspicious, she rushed out of the room and approached the couch in the spacious living room. The bodyguard¡¯s blonde hair was especially eye-catching amidst the dark space, and the loose casual outfit he was wearing concealed his figure, only exposing his fair skin. Lying on the couch, the bodyguard was sleeping under a nket he had taken from his room. Even while sleeping, he did not remove his mask and sunsses. What a peculiar guy. At this moment, Christina received another new message from Nathaniel. It read: When are youing back? Christina thought for a moment and replied: The matter hasn¡¯t been resolved yet, but it will be soon. Take good care of the kids at home. She missed Lucas and Cam an awful lot. Nathaniel responded: If you miss them,e back earlier. Forget about those trivial matters. Those words of his reflected his arrogant character. What did he mean by trivial matters? So his matters are crucial, while others¡¯ matters are insignificant? Christina replied: Got it. Rest early. As she put down her phone, her gaze lingered on the sleeping man. The bodyguard¡¯s phone did not ping again. Given how he was sleeping so peacefully, what happened earlier seemed like a mere coincidence. Christina quietly returned to the room and locked the door before finally going to sleep. She woke up very early the next morning. After freshening up and changing into a new set of clothes, she continued working. The design drafts were almostplete but it would take a lot of effort to turn them into prototypes. If she was doing it alone, she would have to work tirelessly for a month before the finished product could bepleted. After thinking about it for a while, Christina decided to call her former assistant, Ginny. A designer with a lot of potential, Ginny was Christina¡¯s assistant before she went overseas. Her cutting and sewing skills were good enough to have gained Christina¡¯s approval. Christina quickly called her and invited her to finish the outfits that would be showcased at the fashion show. After hearing that, Ginny agreed without hesitation. As soon as Christina finished breakfast, Nathaniel thoughtfully ced a cup of coffee next to her on the table. These few days, she had already gotten used to having someone bring her meals and make her cups coffee while she was working. Nathaniel was quiet. In order to avoid disturbing her, he would sit on the couch far away while she worked. He was rarely on his phone and would just sit silently most of the time. Following the address Christina provided her, Ginny arrived at noon. She gave Christina a big hug when she entered. ¡°Christina, I thought you¡¯ve left the world!¡± Does she have to make it sound like I died? Christina smiled awkwardly. Ginny, who was in her twenties, had picked up some Chanaean from Yosef. However, her vocabry was still somewhat limited, and her usage of words was sometimes inappropriate. ¡°I really need your help. It¡¯s quite urgent too. Do you understand?¡± Christina went straight to the point the moment Ginny entered. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. After all, I am your most capable assistant.¡± Ginny walked in and immediately noticed a tall and imposing figure. ¡°Wow, Christina! Is this your boyfriend?¡± Ginny checked the man out. Although he was dressed like a street thug, his aura surpassed that of ordinary people. Instead, he had a regal demeanor. Christina¡¯s ears turned red as she looked away bashfully. ¡°No. He is the bodyguard I hired.¡± Since the area wasn¡¯t safe, Ginny didn¡¯t think too much about it. But this bodyguard does look quite handsome. Christina led Ginny to the office. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work quickly.¡± Ginny, who was skillful, instantly figured out how to cut the fabric just by looking at the design drawings. After Christina finished sketching the remaining two designs, she and Ginny started cutting and sewing the fabric together. The process was rather tedious. Even after working from noon to evening, the two of them only managed toplete a half-finished garment. The needle suddenly snapped while Christina was focused on sewing some essories onto a piece of Teather. Its broken tip hurtled toward her face, startling her and causing her to quickly dodge to the side. However, she still felt a pang of pain in her face, which was pricked by the sharp needle. When Christina returned to her senses, she saw Nathaniel striding toward her. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± His slender fingers gently cradled her delicate and fair face, as if he was holding the most precious gem in the world. Although Christina could not see the bodyguard¡¯s eyes behind the sunsses, she could still feel his piercing gaze on her. Her face instantly flushed red and her heart started pounding rapidly. The aura he¡¯s giving off¡­ feels just like Nathaniel¡¯s. Nathaniel noticed the look of suspicion in Christina¡¯s eyes and quickly released her. He reacted instinctively when he thought that she got injured Chapter 355 An Order From Nathaniel Chapter 355 An Order From Nathaniel ¡°Mr. Hadley ordered me to keep you safe.¡± Christina paused upon hearing that. So he was worried about failing toply with Nathaniel¡¯s order? He¡¯s so devoted to his job. No wonder Nathaniel doesn¡¯t even bother giving me a call. Mr. Bodyguard is probably reporting my whereabouts to him at all times. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s time for dinner,¡± Ginny piped up, stretching her body. As she rotated her waist, her bones cracked. Christina looked out of the window and noticed the night had fallen. Ferropenians usually had dinner at ater time, so now was the perfect time to eat. ¡°Shall we eat at the hotel¡¯s restaurant downstairs?¡± she inquired. If Ginny weren¡¯t around, Christina would probably be toozy to even walk out of the room. However, Ginny opposed, ¡°What¡¯s there to eat at the hotel restaurant? Let me bring you to a restaurant nearby. I¡¯ll treat you.¡± ¡°¡± Despite Christina¡¯s objection to Ginny¡¯s offer to treat her, thetter took her by the arm and pulled her out of the room. Nathaniel followed closely, his gaze focused on Christina. After filling their stomachs with a hearty dinner, Ginny suggested walking back to the hotel. The restaurant was only two streets away from the hotel, making it perfect for a postprandial stroll. At almost ten in the evening, the streets were practially empry. It was much colder at night. While Christina was walking, she suddenly felt a jacket being draped over her shoulders. The warm scent of sandalwood immediately enveloped her, chasing the cold away. Christina tucked her neck slightly as her glistening eyes lit up with delight. ¡°Thank you.¡± In response, her bodyguard simply let out a hum of acknowledgment. When they reached an intersection, they came across a gang of riders who were speaking anguage Christina couldn¡¯t understand. One of them passed by Christina and threw her a few lewd remarks, to which Ginny immediately responded with harsh words. Unexpectedly, her statement angered them. After driving past, the thugs turned around and began encircling the trio. Christina instinctively reached out for Ginny¡¯s hand and persuaded, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She could tell at first nce that these men were no righteous characters. The thugs with colorful hair and tattooed bodies dismounted their motorcycles and set their eyes on the twodies. They continued to provoke the trio verbally, while Ginny stepped forward and cursed them in return, yelling at them to get lost. However, the thugs did not take her seriously. Without further ado, the man who seemed to be their leader grabbed Ginny by the cor. His ferocious expression intimidated Christina, who hurriedly called out, ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, help her!¡± With a calm countenance, Nathaniel shielded Christina behind him. ¡°Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Then, he stepped toward Ginny before throwing out a punch from behind the woman. Ginny could clearly hear his fist slicing through the air. The next moment, the man holding Ginny by the cor yelped in pain and copsed to the ground, unable to move. At the sight of theirpanion being hit, the other men were vexed. They cursed loudly and charged toward Nathaniel. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, be careful!¡± Christina¡¯s body was taut with nervousness as she nced at her bodyguard worriedly. Although he looked quite burly, she wasn¡¯t sure if he could handle so many men at once. Nathaniel was a strong fighter. As the heir to Hadley Corporation, he had learned to fight since he was young; this was a fact unknown to the outsiders. In no time, thest man was beaten to the ground. Ginny turned into a total fangirl after witnessing the scene. She eximed, ¡°Christina, your bodyguard is incredible!¡± Under the streetmp, his tall and muscr figure looked extremely mysterious. Christina walked over and gave him the once¨Cover. ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± she asked with concern. Nathaniel shook his head, his eyes also scanning her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± What had just happened shocked Christina a little. She was surprised that the man could defeat six men on his own, but then again, he was the Hadley family¡¯s best bodyguard. On their way back, Ginny couldn¡¯t stop giving him heart eyes. His slender and agile figure earlier kept shing in her mind, making her heart race. Upon arriving at the hotel, Nathaniel went straight into his room. Ginny, on the other hand, grabbed Christina¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Does your bodyguard have a girlfriend?¡± Christina narrowed her eyes at that. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± From what she knew, the Hadley family had strict requirements for their bodyguards. They had to train even during their breaks to maintain physical fitness. ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Ginny chirped, her admiration for Nathaniel growing. Christina nudged Ginny and asked tentatively, ¡°Have you fallen for him? He might return to the countr very soon.¡± With a bashful smile, Ginny replied, ¡°So what? I¡¯d be happy enough to spend one night with him.¡± Christina shrugged, expressing her nonchnce. She returned to her seat and got on with work, but Ginny approached her again. ¡°The scene earlier was straight out of a movie. I just can¡¯t help falling for him!¡± Her words evoked a giggle out of Christina. ¡°Please finish your work before you fantasize about him,¡± thetter quipped. Christina then lowered her head and went back to work, while Ginny joined her. They worked together for two hours until midnight when Christina asked Ginny to go ahead and rest and return the next morning. With that, Ginny put down her work and headed back to her room. Meanwhile, the whirring of the sewing machine continued to echo around the quiet room. After taking a shower and changing into a fresh set of clothes, Nathaniel walked into the room. He prepared a ss of hot milk at the bar and brought it to Christina before pointing at the time on the tablet. Even though he said nothing, Christina knew he was urging her to sleep. ¡°I still have a lot of things to do today. I can¡¯t push this back any longer,¡± she exined. Pulling an all- nighter was a normal part of a designer¡¯s life. Thest time her studio received a big order, she even lost track of time and fainted from exhaustion. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help furrowing his brows. She¡¯s not listening again. He cleared his throat and began, ¡°Mr. Hadley ordered that you- ¡°If you say another word, I¡¯ll kick you out,¡± warned Christina while shooting him a re. She found the bodyguard even more annoying to be with,pared to Nathaniel. They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds. Then, Christina lowered her head and continued to sew the fabric in her hands, determined toplete the work that night. The sewing machine only ran two rounds when it suddenly stopped working. Just as Christina thought it had broken down, she raised her head, only to see that the machine¡¯s plug had fallen into the man¡¯s hand. ¡°W¨CWhat are you doing?¡± Christina was so infuriated she could barely speak. She knew that the bodyguard was authorized by Nathaniel to do all this. Despite the fact that they were oceans apart, Nathaniel managed to hold control over her and made sure she ate and slept on time. It was truly impressive of him. With a smug expression, Nathaniel raised the plug in his hand and stated, ¡°Go to rest.¡± One thing that irritated Christina the most was when someone disrupted her during work. She leaped up from her seat and zoomed over to the man, her cheeks puffing out in anger. ¡°Hand me the plug,¡± she demanded. Chapter 356 Progress At The Venue Chapter 356 Progress At The Venue Nathaniel lowered his gaze. Even through his shades, he could tell the woman¡¯s fair skin was almost glowing. Leaping up, Christina tried to snatch back the plug from him. Nathaniel promptly raised his arm. Given the difference in their heights, all he had to do was hold the plug at an angle Christina could not reach. ¡°Don¡¯t push it, Mr. Bodyguard! I¡¯m an adult, and I deserve the right to work up to whatever time I please.¡± Folding her arms, Christina red at him with wide, unblinking eyes. I am not a child. Why should I abide by set hours? Nathaniel hesitated upon hearing her words but still insisted that she took a break after giving it some thought. She has been up since dawn working without any breaks. It is now midnight, and she still wants to keep going. Even worse, it¡¯s for Yosef¡¯s studio. If I had known, I would have bought that damned studio and decimated it on the spot. That way, Christina wouldn¡¯t have anything to meddle in. Christina folded her arms. Her beady gaze remained fixed on him, a hint of anger flitting across it. ¡°Consider this yourst warning to give it back, or I¡¯m going to be nasty.¡± She looked like a kitten rearing to strike. As she did not look the least bit threatening, Nathaniel was unaffected. Christina becamepletely enraged at his nonchnce. Lunging suddenly, she bit the back of Nathaniel¡¯s hand and red at him. ¡°Give it to me.¡± His brows creased. The kitten even knows how to bite when angered. He gazed down at Christina. Though she bit down as hard as she could, it felt like the sting of an ant. Christina was still intent on retrieving the plug. When he did not look as if he was going to cooperate, she mped down harder. She thought he would relent, but a warm, gentle palm stroked her head. He ran his scorching fingertips through her hair like one would caress a beloved pet. Starting off as the aggressor, Christina suddenly found herself his captive. Hold on. What happened? She blinked. Upon regaining her senses, she jumped away as if she was electrocuted before fixing him with a wary re. What did he just do? Did he treat me like a child? Nathaniel had forgotten who he was supposed to be; he could not help touching her when he noticed how charmingly innocent she looked. ¡°I¡¯m going back to bed.¡± Without another word, Christina bolted. She ran into the bedroom and flipped the lock shut with a deft flick of her wrist. Then, she threw the covers over herself, feeling most annoyed. The following day, Nathaniel brought breakfast and set it down on the desk in the office. He gently rapped on the table by way of alerting Christina, who was still working furiously. A knock came from the door, and Nathaniel strode over to open it. Dressed in a ck, breezy¨Clooking dress, Ginny was holding some scrumptious breakfast in her hands. ¡°Have you had breakfast, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± she asked pointedly. Nathaniel grimaced at the overwhelming scent of her perfume. He took several steps backward, shook his head, and turned back into the room. Ginny¡¯s smile froze on her face. She felt as if her enthusiasm had been rudely doused. However, it did not ¡®extinguish despite his indifference. She followed him in. Afterying down the meal, she turned to the tall figure. ¡°Which would you like to eat, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± Nathaniel did not answer. Instead, he sat down on the couch in the corner. Christina frowned. ¡°Ginny, do you really¡­¡± Ginny nodded in earnest. ¡°What¡¯s there to like? He¡¯s like a block of ice!¡± Christina could notprehend how the heroic act from the night before had managed to capture Ginny¡¯s heart, making her head over heels for the man. Ginny patted Christina on the shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t date. You never even noticed Yosef having a crush on you after all this time. What would you know about love?¡± The tips of Christina¡¯s ears grew red. She chided the other woman to get back to work as there was plenty to do. ¡°Have you booked the venue, Christina?¡± Ginny asked. Usually, it was the assistant who would deal with matters like finding a venue. Schwei? ¡°Yes, I have, which I have relegated to the nning team. We¡¯ll head over to check out the site in a while.¡± Christina kept her attention fixed on her needlework. ¡°After we deal with the matter of the venue, we still need some famous names to make and¡­ that remains a big problem,¡± Ginny said, worried. Christina froze in her work. ¡°Leave that to me.¡± Ginny nodded, then went about with her duties, appearance, That afternoon, Christina contacted the person in charge of the nning team to examine the venue. Situated in arge field in the middle of the city, the venue did note cheap. However, Christina deemed the location satisfactory, When she exited the hotel, Nathaniel followed closely behind as though she was a child in need of constant parental surveince. It was as if he feared the possibility of her going missing. By the time she arrived, Christina realized that the contractors had done nothing else at the venue other than clear out a space. Aside from several rows of seats, the field was vacant. In its emptiness, it served her no better than an abandoned ruin. ¡°What is the problem here?¡± Christina interrogated the contractor hired to set the stage. ¡°I contacted you three days ago, and you don¡¯t even have something as basic as the scaffolding put up!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not our fault! We¡¯ve been getting too many orders, and we can¡¯t cope,¡± the contractor exined in rapid Ferropenian. Noticing that he was dealing with a tiny Aplothian woman, he did not bother to take Christina seriously. The contractor knew very well that Christina was doing a fashion show. He scanned the petite woman up and down and told her in a voiceced with scorn, ¡°The famous designer, Menair, is organizing a fashion show close by. I would reschedule if I were you.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Christina grew irate, and her expression darkened. It was because of the prejudice of the contractors that they opted to handle ater job despite receiving Christina¡¯s first. However, it was a decision the contractor would instantly regret. The woman, no taller than his shoulder, brought over a stool, stood atop it, and directed her warning re at him. ¡°I don¡¯t care how many jobs you¡¯ve taken on, you promised me you would get this done within five days. You will meet your deadline. Otherwise, I¡¯ll sue yourpany for breach of contract!¡± It was not Christina¡¯s first encounter with something of this nature. After some prior experiences, she would add the use to penalize her partners for breaching the contracts they had agreed upon by paying a hefty fee if they were to fail to deliver their goods or services on time. The contractor froze in surprise at her promation, having initially nned to dy her job and finish the work contracted by others first. Dubiously, he produced their agreement and realized that there was such a use. Christina fished out her phone and dialed the number of the owner of the contractingpany. ¡°Are you going to get to work, or do I have to call your boss and turn you in?¡± The contractor flushed crimson, Staring daggers at Christina, he made up his mind to warn her fiercely not to meddle. He took a step closer but found himself stopped by the towering figure behind her. Chapter 357 I Owe Him Chapter 357 I Owe Him The man had a head of dazzling straw¨Ccolored hair and emitted a fearsome aura. Nathaniel removed his shades to regard the contractor with an icy re as if to warn thetter that he would not hold back against another word of disrespect against Christina. The contractor was not afraid of the tiny woman, but he was concerned about breaching the contract, incurring the me of his employer, and worst of all, receiving the fist of the man with the straw¨C colored hair. Swallowing his anger, he slipped the contact back into his pocket. ¡°I have another three and a half days. I guarantee we willplete the job.¡± Christina descended from the stool, satisfied. She was in no hurry to leave. As a preventive measure to dissuade them from procrastinating, she remained behind to keep a watchful eye. ¡°Let¡¯s get some coffee, Mr. Bodyguard.¡± She turned around to address the hulking figure. Nathaniel noticed Christina¡¯s smile. For once, she was notining about him tailing her, and it cheered him up. In single file, the pair entered a narrow alley, where time seemed to have slowed down. Christina suddenly felt conspicuous, as if a tail had grown out of her; she was attracting attention wherever she went. At the window¨Cside caf¨¦ beneath a red and white striped tent, Christina bought two cups of coffee and handed one to the man. Nathaniel took it. The pair then headed back and settled into the seats at the venue. A slight breeze tugged at the strands of her hair that were tucked behind her ear. Beneath her fluttering lashes, her eyes twinkled. Her delicate features, outlined against the sun¡¯s overcast re, made her look like the subject of a dreamy painting. Christina¡¯s gaze fell on the workers. Watching their gradual progress, she felt a little more at ease. Then, she went through her list of contacts for some popr models and influencers¨Cartists she had once worked with. She made three phone calls and received three rejections. They either imed not to have the time or were tentative tomit. ¡°Your studio is embroiled in a scandal. People would think I condone the distribution of counterfeit goods if I attended your event,¡± said one influencer scathingly before she hung up. Christina lowered her phone and sighed softly. ¡°Giving up already? Looks like nobody will be attending your fashion show. It wouldn¡¯t matter how hard you try,¡± quipped Nathaniel, who had remained silent the entire time. Christina turned to regard him. His cold and proud demeanor seemed to exert a force field that kept others at bay. Despite the proximity the pair shared over the past few days, every interaction with him felt strange. Christina ignored him. Instead, she kept making calls. All of those, in turn, ended in more rejections. Nathaniel could no longer bear to watch her getting beat down. ¡°Why are you putting in so much effort? It¡¯s just a design studio. I believe Mr. Hadley would open a hundred studios for you if you would just say the word.¡± Just then, Christina¡¯s contact picked up. As soon as they heard her voice, however, they hung up immediately. It was curt and brisk. Still ignoring him, Christina continued perusing her list of contacts. Mr. Bodyguard is chattier than usual today. I prefer him silent. Nathaniel grabbed her hand holding the phone. ¡°Nobody would show up for your fashion show. To them, doing business with an insincere brand is a p to the filce.¡± That was the biggest taboo in the fashion industry. No matter the size of the brand, the slightest taint to its reputation would be met with the same disdain by the celebrities, and even more so for a tiny studio like hers As she studied him, Christina uttered the name that sprang to mind: ¡°Nathaniel.¡± Nathaniel froze, his grip on her wrist tightening. Have I exposed myself? Christina narrowed her eyes at him. ¡°You look like him Do you bodyguards working for the Hadley family share a temperament with your boss?¡± All of them equally bossy and gloomy. ¡°Even if I were to leave, I won¡¯t be leaving a mess for Yosef to clean up. Besides, this studio is important to him.¡± the woman added. Christina¡¯s exnation caused Nathaniel¡¯s envy, which had just subsided, to rise again. ¡°Are you doing this for Yosef?¡± he asked, lowering his hoarse voice. ¡°Yes. I have the responsibility to restore the studio to what it once was before I leave.¡± I wouldn¡¯t feel good leaving otherwise. Nathaniel bit his lower up. She stays upte for Yosef. She picks a fight with a man several heads taller than her for Yosef. She puts in so much effort for Yosef. What about him is worth her efforts? Christina nced at the time and stood up from her seat. At once, her wrist was grabbed. She could sense the intensity of the man¡¯s piercing gaze even through his shades. ¡°Is it your responsibility to leave children behind in Scenic Garden Manor for a man?¡± The grip around Christina¡¯s wrist began to hurt. She frowned, displeased. ¡°This is my personal business. It¡¯s not your ce to speak.¡± With the hostile tone, she snatched back her hand. Nathaniel stood up suddenly, his hulking frame giving her a sense of oppression. ¡°Do you like Yosef? Do you love him?¡± When he posited the question, Nathaniel felt his heartthrob. If Christina said yes, I will kick Yosef¡¯s ass. Christina was nonplussed by the question. A mix ofplex emotions rose within her, and she chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions about something you have no idea about. Yosef has been of great help to me. I owe him that much.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. ¡°How much exactly? Mr. Hadley can pay him back for you.¡± Christina froze in her act of taking off. She regarded him with a hint of annoyance on her countenance. **Somebody extends a helping hand to pull you out of a difficult predicament. Can this kindness be measured with money?¡± She had been alone with two children, and it had been Yosef who had helped her. She could not leave without regard for Yosef. Worried, Nathaniel followed suit. Christina stopped and turned around to re at him. Tell Nathaniel that he¡¯d better not do anything to harm my friend, or I will never forgive him.¡± Without another word, she hailed a passing cab and entered the vehicle. Nathaniel hurried in after her. He had even less of a reason to allow Christina out of his sight after that. The pair returned to the hotel. Christina was truly angered. Throughout the journey, she scowled at him and busied herself with work the moment they entered the room. Upon her return, Ginny asked after her in concern. At noon, Ginny brought her lunch over to Nathaniel as he intended to eat with him. Nathaniel was irritated. She did not seem intent to leave him alone after his hints, so he sought refuge in his own room. Christina reveled in secret satisfaction when she saw him leave. He appeared afraid of Ginny approaching. Christina worked through the day, and the product was almostpleted. However, she still failed to secure the attendance of a single model or guest. Without them, the show would not go on. It means everything I have done would have been in vain. When Ginny went out to buy dinner that night, Christina sprawled on the desk to take a short break. The room door swung open, admitting Nathaniel. The ball of rage that had developed earlier that day subsided at the sight of the tired woman. Chapter 358 Let Me Do It Chapter 358 Let Me Do It Christina¡¯s phone was face¨Cup on the table, and the screensaver was a photo of her, Lucas, and Cam standing beneath a Ferris wheel. All three of their adorable faces were beaming with joy. Nathaniel picked up her phone and opened the call log before snapping a photo. He then sent it to Sebastian along with a text that read: Invite them to participate in Christina¡¯s fashion show, whatever the cost. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Sebastian texted back: Understood, Mr. Hadley. Nathaniel then ced the phone down. Even if he tried, he could not get angry seeing her sleeping face. He walked up to the bed and draped a nket over Christina, doing it very gently for fear that he would wake her up. Christina was not in deep slumber, so she opened her eyes as soon as she felt her body warming up slightly, just in time to see the bodyguard covering her with a nket. The distance between them was so small that she seemed to be able to see the pair of deep eyes behind the sunsses. Christina was slightly taken aback, her surprise evident on her visage. I thought Mr. Bodyguard was angry because of our quarrel just now. Why would he still drape a nket over me? Her gaze made Nathaniel feel somewhat nervous and even more worried that she would recognize him. Thus, he quickly straightened his back and exined. Mr. Hadley instructed me to take good care of you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly dedicated to your job,¡± Christina remarked, chuckling lightly. Nathaniel merely hummed before walking over to the couch to take a seat. They basically maintained this distance when Christina was not moving about. She continued working until Nathaniel promptly reminded her to go to bed at midnight. After the previous night¡¯s embarrassment, Christina did not bother arguing with him, simply rising from her seat and returning to her room after saving the data She was still worrying about the fashion show as shey in bed. The guests aren¡¯t confirmed yet. Is there no choice but to call it off¡­. Just then, her phone rang. Who is calling me at this hour? Christina picked up her phone to find that the iing call was from the supermodel who had rejected her earlier that morning. Is rejecting me once not enough? Must she do it again? When Christina answered it, she found that the caller had apletely different attitude than earlier in the day. ¡°Christina, regarding your invitation this morning, I checked my schedule, and I happen to be free, so I can attend your opening show,¡± the supermodel stated cheerfully. For a brief moment, Christina thought that her ears had deceived her. ¡°Are you absolutely sure?¡± she asked. ¡°Of course. Please have your assistant send me an invitation and a contract.¡± ¡°Will do. I¡¯ll send them over momentarily.¡± Christina clutched her phone tightly. ¡°Would you be able to attend the rehearsal and fitting tomorrow?¡± she inquired. ¡°No problem. What time?¡± ¡°Nine o¡¯clock,¡± Christina replied. ¡°See you tomorrow, then.¡± Christina sprang out of bed in excitement as soon as she got off the phone. She felt as if she had been hit by a ray of light while trapped in a bleak abyss. The kind of emotion she was experiencing was truly indescribable. Desperately needing to share her feelings with someone at that very moment, Christina opened the door and ran to the bodyguard. ¡°The model who rejected me this morning has agreed to attend our fashion show.¡± After hearing that, Nathaniel chuckled lightly. Sebastian is pretty efficient. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great.¡± His calm demeanor was a stark contrast to her excitement. Suddenly, her phone rang numerous times in a row. Everyone who had turned her down earlier that morning changed their minds and agreed to attend her fashion show. Having them on board would surely help the studio regain its reputation. ¡°All right¡­ See you tomorrow at nine for the rehearsal By the time Christina ended thest phone call, her confidence level was at an all¨Ctime high. She promptly broke the good news to Ginny. They the discussed the next day¡¯s rehearsal and agreed to exin the imitation clothing issue after the show. Ginny decided topile all the information into a video that evening to make it easier for people to understand when the time came. It was almost two in the morning by the time they finished discussing all the details. If I don¡¯t end the call now, Mr. Bodyguard will probablye over and take my phone away. The next morning, Christina got up early. She intended to move all the clothes and tools to the backstage of the venue. Now¡¯s the time for Mr. Bodyguard to reach his full potential. It would be a waste not to have such a big guy help me move things. Christina got to work as soon as she reached the venue, Since there was nothing Nathaniel could help out in terins of needlework, he found an empty seat not far from Christina and sat down. He then observed her slender figure weaving in and our backstage. Christina¡¯s hair was casually pulled back into a ponytail, the pink hair tie adding a touch of softness to her profile. Her waist was even thinner than that of some of the models. She stood in ck Yves Saint Laurent high heels, her figure forming a graceful curve from head to toe. At some point, she exuded an added sense of intellectual maturity, and she struck the perfect bnce of seeming yful yet ssy, giving people the impression that she was strong and dependable. Christina set up a rehearsal for the models to try on the outfits for the show, and there were still necessary alternations to be made to the clothing¡¯s looseness. She worked till nighttime, only stopping when she was certain that everything was in order. Tomorrow night is the opening of the show. This is the first battle for the revival of the studio. I can¡¯t afford to make any mistakes and mustplete it well. After work, she bought dinner and headed to the hospital to visit Yosef. Nathaniel was reluctant to go, but he still went along with hier. Later at the hospital, the doctor stated that Yosef was recovering well and could go home to rest since he was fine. However, he was still wearing a ster cast over his jaw so he had to be extremely cautious when eating. Worried that he might injure himself if he moved too much, Christina offered, ¡°Let me feed you.¡± Yosef gazed at her sweet and innocent face and responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel, who stood nearby, was displeased and stepped forward to stand between the two of them. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Christina stared at him dubiously. ¡°Don¡¯t you take action again.¡± The scene of him hitting someone was still reying in her mind. The vicious manner in which he threw those blows was terrifying. Nathaniel would probably be simr to him if he got angry. Tsk. Why did I think about Nathaniel again? Christina opened the takeout container and handed Nathaniel the bowl of oatmeal inside. Thetter took it with disdain in his heart. What right does Yosef have to let me feed him? However, the image of Christina feeding Yosef intimately irritated him even more. Nathaniel scooped up a spoonful of oatmeal and shoved it into Yosel¡¯s mouth. It was so hot that thetter yelped and hurriedly spit out the oatmeal in his mouth, ¡°Are you trying to kill me? It hurts¡­¡± Yosef¡¯s jaw jerked as he spoke agitatedly, triggering a pain so intense that he dared not speak anymore and could only re at Nathaniel in anger and frustration. I¡¯m certain this man had a grudge against me in his previous life. Otherwise, why would he hurt me repeatedly? Christina rolled her eyes in exasperation. ¡°Let me do it! She stepped forward to take the bowl of oatmeal, but Nathaniel dodged her hand and would not give it to her. Yosef¡¯s heart was in his throat as he observed the bowl of piping hot oatmeal wobbling in front of him. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop fighting over the bowl. I¡¯ll eat it myself!¡± he eximed. Chapter 359 Live Fashion Show Chapter 359 Live Fashion Show Yosef hastily picked up the bowl of oatmeal as if his life depended on it. Narrowing his eyes, Nathaniel red at the other man coldly. He should¡¯ve done this from the very beginning. Then, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten scalded. Meanwhile, Christina took advantage of the lull and told Yosef about her n to organize a fashion show. When Yosef heard that, a wealth of warmth suffused him, and his gaze softened significantly. ¡°How would you manage by yourself? Let me get discharged and help you.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. This isn¡¯t my first time organizing a fashion show.¡± Guilt swamped Christina at the sight of his face, which was still swollen on one side. At that, Yosef chuckled. ¡°I remember how you were so panicked the first time you organized a fashion show. You were practically on the verge of tears as you forgot to prepare the music. Haha¡­ It feels as though all that has just happened yesterday.¡± Christina¡¯s checks flushed bright red. She recalled her anxiousness in the past before she came to the point. where she could remain calm and unruffled at present. Indeed, he¡¯d helped me a lot. In the blink of an eye, all those memories vanished into thin air. ¡°Have a good rest. I¡¯lle over with good news after the fashion show tomorrow.¡± In truth, she still had something to say to the man. However, she decided that she would only voice it tomorrow after the fashion show. Nathaniel watched as they both chatted happily. Why was she never in such a good mood when she talked with me usually? ¡°I remember that you love the ice cream from Mauve Avenue. I¡¯ll buy it for you when you¡¯re discharged from the hospital. Also¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Nathaniel stepped forward and grabbed her hand before heading out with great strides. The green-eyed monster was the root of rashness, and Nathaniel understood the meaning of that saying all too well at that moment. Like a rabbit being dragged away by a lion, Christina struggled to keep pace with the man. Jealousy pervaded Nathaniel. Why does she see other people¡¯s goodness alone and not mine? After leaving the hospital, they got into the car. During the drive back, Christina nced sideways and studied Nathaniel¡¯s expression. His face was seemingly concealed in shadows, yet his gaze still radiated an authoritative aura through his sunsses. She lowered the car window, allowing the cool breeze to enter the vehicle. ¡°When I go back, I¡¯ll definitely. tell Nathaniel to give you a bonus. You¡¯re really loyal to him and dedicated to your job.¡± Parting his lips a fraction, Nathaniel replied, ¡°Mr. Hadley loves you beyond words. Please also empathize with him and understand him.¡± Her words felt like a stab in the heart to Nathaniel. ¡°He only acts in such a manner because he cares about you.¡± ¡°He sent someone over to keep tabs on me because he cares about me? Am I his prisoner or trophy?¡± Christina shifted her gaze to the scenery outside the window. Despite the wind in her face, she felt that she had no freedom at all. Is love confinement? No, it should be mutual respect. Regretfully, he¡¯ll never understand that. Nathaniel stared at her, but words eluded him. It had never crossed his mind to keep tabs on her. Instead, he was merely worried about her safety. The atmosphere remained strange the entire drive, with neither of them saying a single word. It was alreadyte by the time they arrived back at the hotel, and only then did Christina realize that they had not eaten dinner. ¡°Would you like to have Western or Oriental food?¡± Christina asked, ncing back over her shoulder at the man. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything,¡± Nathaniel answered. ¡°Let¡¯s have Western food, then. It¡¯s nearer.¡± Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. As Christina walked along the street with him, it was as though she was in thepany of a wild beast. Everyone around instinctively dodged away at the sight of them. Turning onto a street, they went into a Western restaurant. Christina chose a table by the window and sat down before ordering a te of spaghetti and a ss of orange juice. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating, Mr. Bodyguard?¡± She held the menu out to him. After taking it, Nathaniel promptly handed it to the server. ¡°No.¡± He would be made the instant he took off his mask, after all. Since he had said as much, Christina did not press the issue. Shortly after, a server served the food. A candle burned in front of the ss window, illuminating her profile. The gentle light added to her allure. She cast her gaze out the window every so often, making for a beautiful sight with the moonlight in the background. Throughout it all, Nathaniel had his eyes fixed on her. After dinner, the two of them strolled back to the hotel. Out of the blue, Christina snapped her head back. ¡°Can you stop walking behind me all the time, Mr. Bodyguard? It¡¯s strange.¡± Since I can¡¯t get rid of him, it might be a good idea to coexist in peace. The next day, Christina had to begin doing the preparations at noon, although the fashion show was at night. She was as busy as a beaver. Conversely, Nathaniel held his phone in hand and secretly snapped a few photos of her at work. Her facial features were exceedingly gentle, and her nose was at the perfect height, giving others a strong yet reserved sense of tenderness. Every single photo looked as though they were paintings. Before the fashion show, a local fashion channel turned up and asked for a coboration with Christina for a live broadcast. Christina agreed right then and there, knowing that a feature on television would boost the studio¡¯s reputation significantly. Soon, the sky darkened gradually as night descended. As the strains of music drifted into the air, the models started stepping onto the catwalk, one after another. Each set of clothing was unique. The live broadcast¡¯s host used all the adjectives in her repertoire to describe the splendor of the fashion show. The fashionable and unique clothing, coupled with their disy by supermodels and the attendance of renowned celebrities, were undoubtedly the highlight of the event. The number of viewers for the live broadcast had been soaring since the very beginning. When the live broadcast finally drew to an end, it broke the fashion channel¡¯s viewership record. Ecstatic, the host hugged Christina and congratted her fervently. On top of that, she asked thetter to say a few words about her experience organizing a fashion show before the cameras. It was almost midnight by the time the curtain fell on the entire fashion show. After they had packed everything, Ginny proposed visiting a nearby bar to celebrate their sess. That was a customary practice after a fashion show. Christina concurred since everyone, including the staff, had been working hard for the past few days. As such, it was time for her to reward them. Nathaniel, on the other hand, detested such a crowded ce. Yet, he could not bring himself to crush her mood when she seemed incredibly excited. When they all arrived at the bar, Christina reserved half the ce and ordered a lot of liquor. Nheless, she was resolved to keep to her limit. She was well aware of her alcohol tolerance, and five bottles were the most she could drink. If she drank further, she would be inebriated. For that reason, she usually drank only a bottle. That would ensure that she was still sober despite being a touch tipsy When they were all having fun. Ginny pushed Christina up the stage in the bar, urging her to sing a song. Caving into her colleagues¡¯ cheers, Christina randomly selected an Anndurn song. In no time, the music started, apanied by a cheerful voice. ¡°Na-na-na, na-na-na.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no beauty queen, I¡¯m just beautiful me.¡± ¡°Na-na-na, na-na-na.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got every right to a beautiful life.¡± The strobe lights illuminated Christina¡¯s crystalline eyes, and her profile was stunningly beautiful with her head tilted. Standing on the stage, she shed Nathaniel a smile. That mesmerizing smile hit the man squarely in the heart like a bullet. She was all that remained in his mind and blood. At three o¡¯clock in the morning, Christina decided to leave since it waste. Just then, Ginny whispered. into her ear. She merely looked at thetter with a conflicted expression on her face without responding in any way. ¡°I beg you, Christina. Please help me.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t help you. If you like Mr. Bodyguard, seck him out by yourself and confess your feelings to him.¡± Chapter 360 The Man In Dark From That Night Chapter 360 The Man In Dark From That Night Ginny seemed stumped. ¡°But Mr. Bodyguard keeps following you. I don¡¯t have a chance to be alone with him.¡± Christina understood what she meant. ¡°When hees backter, tell him I¡¯ve returned to the hotel.¡± Ginny perked up and said gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Christina. You¡¯re indeed my best friend!¡± Christina chuckled softly but didn¡¯t say anything else. She packed up her stuff and left the bar. A short whileter. Nathaniel ended his call and returned to the bar. Ginny threw herself into his arms and clung to him like glue. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, I really like you¡­¡± Nathaniel frowned and pushed her away. Is she drunk? He looked around the area, but Christina was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Where is Christina?¡± His voice had turned cold in rage. Ginny¡¯s pride took a blow when he pushed her aside. I¡¯m attractive and have a great figure. I¡¯ve made advances toward him, but he rejected me. Is he blind?! She reached out to p Nathaniel¡¯s sunsses away so he could get a good look at how attractive she was. The moment she raised her arm, Nathaniel instantly grabbed her wrist and pinned her with a withering look. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask this onest time. Where is Christina?¡± ¡°You only care about Christina. Do you like her? Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re just a bodyguard her husband. hired to protect her!¡± Ginny eximed in frustration. She was so flustered that her eyes had turned red. Nathaniel was getting impatient. He noticed Christina¡¯s bag wasn¡¯t in her seat, so she had most probably left. He refused to waste time with Ginny and strode to the exit. Ginny went after him. ¡°I won¡¯t ask you to take any responsibility, so don¡¯t worry. Should we spend a wonderful night together?¡± Nathaniel pried her arms off him. He was so forceful that Ginny nearly tumbled to the ground. As he strode away in determination, Ginny¡¯s cheeks flushed crimson. Why is he so stubborn? Christina wandered along the deste street, wondering if the bodyguard was currently in a dark corner. with Ginny. I can¡¯t imagine that. Someone as indifferent as him wouldn¡¯t be able to resist a passionate and hot youngdy, right? No man would resist a woman who throws herself at him. Suddenly, the loud revving of a motorcycle reached her ears, snapping her out of her daydream and even sobering her up. Several motorcycles screeched to a halt nearby, and a group of young Ferropenian men dismounted, unleashing a barrage of insults in her direction. Christina recognized one of them as the thug who caused trouble for them previously. Ugh, what a small world. The leader stepped forward and raked a lecherous gaze over Christina. Thetter appeared vulnerable, so he reached out boldly to touch her face. +5 Bonus Christina knitted her brows as she threw her bag at the man¡¯s head. She also kicked his groin when he wasn¡¯t paying attention. The man¡¯s anguished yell caused the other thugs to put their guards up. They had no idea that the slender and meek-looking youngdy could be this harsh. By the time they regained their senses, she had already fled the scene. ¡°Get her!¡± The men discovered Christina across the street and immediately went after her. Christina ran with all her might and soon distanced herself from them. However, the thugs were way too familiar with the area. They disappeared for a moment and soon emerged from another alley. Christina was surrounded on both sides, unable to escape. ¡°You won¡¯t get to escape now!¡± At once, Christina hurled her bag in the man¡¯s direction, but this time, he had expected her moves. As a result, he grabbed her bag and tossed it away. Christina lost her bnce and crashed to the ground, twisting her ankle in the process. Gasping in agony¡­ she clutched her injured ankle. The men¡¯sughter grew increasingly raucous when they heard the sounds she made out of fear. As one of the thugs reached out eagerly to grab Christina¡¯s waist, an icy chill suddenly engulfed him from behind. His vision blurred, and before he couldprehend what was happening, a searing pain shot through his wrist. The metallic stench of blood wafted into the air. The rest of the thugs froze, their smiles fading when they noticed theirpanion was hurt. When they finally got a good look at the neer, they felt a chill go down their spines. It¡¯s the man in ck from that night! After getting beaten up badly that night, they knew better than to provoke him yet again. Without hesitation, they dragged their woundedpanion up and ran for their dear lives. Finally regaining herposure, Christina took deep breaths, her heart pounding in her chest. As her gaze focused, she saw a tall figure standing in the dark night, looking like a true hero of the night. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, why aren¡¯t you with Ginny?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze turned dark. She knows Ginny is after me. How could she ignore this? He was so furious that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to utter a word. Striding over, he extended his hand to help Christina up ¡°Oh, it hurts. I can¡¯t move,¡± Christina said, furrowing her brows in pain. Her pitiful expression tugged at one¡¯s heartstrings, evoking an instant sympathy. ¡°Did you sprain your ankle?¡± Nathaniel asked, his eyes trained on the wound on her leg. It wasn¡¯t swollen. or red, indicating that she had likely pulled a muscle. That discovery merely added to his foul mood. Cold sweat beaded on Christina¡¯s forehead. ¡°I need some anti-inmmatory medicine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital.¡± Nathaniel bent down and picked her up before striding away. His arms were strong, making her feel oddly secure. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. The moonlight illuminated their figures, casting long shadows on the brick-paved road. It was especially quiet, so Christina could hear his heart thumping clearly. Her cheeks turned pink as she asked, ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, why weren¡¯t you with Ginny?¡± A scowl buried itself in Nathaniel¡¯s forehead as he didn¡¯t want to recall the crazy woman. ¡°I don¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°Huh? You don¡¯t like women?¡± Christina gaped in disbelief upon hearing his answer. She quickly remembered that the bodyguard was indifferent to her. He would sit as far away from her as possible and actively avoid any unnecessary contact. Oh, so it turns out that Mr. Bodyguard doesn¡¯t like women. No wonder Nathaniel isn¡¯t worried about a man protecting me in a foreign country. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze flickered toward the woman in his arms, her eyes gleaming with a sense of delight as if she had stumbled upon a profound revtion. I wish I could open her head and see what¡¯s inside. Since she had misunderstood everything, he found himself toozy to exin to her. Nathaniel waited a while by the road before managing to hail a taxi to head to the hospital. The doctor examined Christina and got Nathaniel to pay her medical bills before they tended to her wound. He also advised Christina to spend the night in the hospital to be observed closely. If everything went well, she would be able to get discharged tomorrow. After making herselffortable in her ward, Christina gave Lucas and Cam a call. She didn¡¯t want the children to see her lying in a hospital bed and chose not to video call them. The call soon connected, and the kids¡¯ voices scrambling to call her ¡°Mommy¡± filled her heart with warmth. Chapter 361 Doubt Me Chapter 361 Doubt Me ¡°Are you being good children back at home?¡± Christina asked, her voice gentle. Both Lucas and Cam missed her a lot, so they began whining. ¡°Mommy, we miss you a lot! Since you¡¯re not at home, no one can put us to bed.¡± Christina frowned upon hearing that. ¡°What about your daddy? Didn¡¯t he put you to bed?¡± Before departing the country, she agreed that Nathaniel¡¯s bodyguard would apany her on the condition that Nathaniel would remain at home to care for their children. Yet, to her confusion, it seemed that he hadn¡¯t made much effort to fulfill his parental responsibilities. Lucas and Cam suddenly realized that they had unintentionally revealed the truth, despite their promise to their father that they would keep it a secret. Nathaniel felt a surge of panic as he realized how close the kids hade to exposing the truth. If Christina discovers that I¡¯m here in ce of the Hadley family¡¯s bodyguard. I¡¯m doomed. ¡°No, Mommy, Daddy is always busy. He workste into the night in his study. It must be tiring for him.¡± Cam exined softly. In an attempt to disguise their guilt, Lucas quickly added, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry. Daddy is taking great care of us!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Be good, and I¡¯ll bring you your favorite chocte as souvenirs,¡± Christina told them. Lucas and Cam were afraid of making more slips. ¡°Okay, Mommy. We¡¯re looking forward to your return! Bye!¡± Christina was about to bid them goodbye, but before she could utter a word, the children ended the call hurriedly. She stared at the dark screen, utterly confused. The children are usually talkative. Why did they hang up so quickly this time? Christina was still worried. She pondered about it for a while before giving Nathaniel a call. It took a while for the call to be answered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Christina?¡± The familiar charming voice rang out, albeit sounding a little hoarse. ¡°Why is your voice hoarse?¡± she asked. Did he catch a cold from workingte every day? Nathaniel walked to thewn outside the hospital, where it was quiet. Worried that Christina might recognize his voice, he intentionally spoke in a hoarse tone. He clenched his fist and brought it close to his mouth, clearing his throat. ¡°I¡¯m doing okay.¡± Christina fell silent. She held her phone, not knowing what to say next. Nathaniel informed her, ¡°I have investigated the issue you mentioned. Yosef¡¯s parents are safe in the country. They are not facing any immediate danger.¡± It was obvious that Yosef had lied to her. Christina frowned and said nothing. She seemed to be deep in thought. Nathaniel paused, allowing her to process the information. ¡°Regarding the imitation at your studio, I have discovered that the assistant was bribed by Yosef, not by me. She colluded with him to falsely implicate me in the situation.¡± Christina¡¯s earlier suspicions were confirmed by Nathaniel¡¯s revtion. His words provided her with a clear understanding of the situation. A short silenceter, Christina said calmly, ¡°I understand now. Thank you.¡± Nathaniel had no idea she would sound this calm. She came all the way here for Yosef. Will she seriously believe me? ¡°Don¡¯t you doubt me?¡± Christina¡¯s voice remained icy as she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t need to doubt you.¡± A wealth of warmth suffused Nathaniel when he heard her reply. He marveled at Christina¡¯s unwavering trust in him, realizing that his efforts to show his affection had not been in vain. Before ending the call. Christina added, ¡°I¡¯m not like you. You have little trust in everyone.¡± With that, she ended the call. Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned cold. When have I not trusted others? Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. He pocketed his phone and put on his mask before entering the hospital. When he returned to the ward, Christina had already fallen asleep. Her long ck hair cascaded to the side, framing her delicate face. The soft glow of the lights entuated her porcin skin, giving it a translucent quality. Shadows formed beneath her captivating eyes, and she appeared as though she had stepped out of a fine painting. Right then, the nurse came in with some medicinal oil to rub Christina¡¯s ankle. Nathaniel was worried that her force would hurt Christina and got the medicinal oil from her, intending to apply it himself. After giving him the once-over, the nurse handed the medication to him and left. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell upon the medication, realizing that it was modern medicine rather than traditional remedies. While it could provide temporary relief for her swelling, he knew that its effects would be short-lived. He carefully rolled up the hem of Christina¡¯s pants, revealing her red and swollen ankle. As he examined the injury, a flicker of anger and determination shed across his eyes. The following day, Christina woke up and realized the bodyguard wasn¡¯t in the ward. He must we returned to the hotel as there toas nowhere for him to sleep here. She sat up in bed and tried moving her leg Her ankle felt much better. Right at that moment, the nurse walked into the room andmended in fluent Ferropenian. ¡°Your boyfriend has been incredibly considerate. He applied a hot water bottle to your ankle and massaged your leg throughout the entire night. You¡¯re a lucky girl, huh?¡± Christma was stunned to hear that. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of warmth and gratitude toward the bodyguard for his considerate actions. No wonder my leg healed this quickly. After examining her condition, the nurse helped her with the discharge procedures. Right after the nurse left, Nathaniel came in with her breakfast. Christina lifted her head to gaze at him adorably. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, thank you for your helpst night.¡± *I was just doing my job,¡± Nathaniel replied calmly. He ced the breakfast he had bought, consisting of oatmeal and milk, on the table to serve to fier. Christina spoke in a tiny voice. ¡°Thank you.¡± Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and left the ward to take care of her discharge procedures. After Christina finished breakfast, she was able to walk on the ground. Just in case, Nathaniel bandaged her wounded ankle to cut down its external pressure. After leaving the hospital, Christina received a few phone calls from several magazine outlets requesting a coboration. Having watched the live streamst night, they now had their eyes set on several designs, aiming to feature them prominently on their magazine covers. Excited by the news, Christina wasted no time in calling Yosef to share the positive update. Yosef¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing the news, yet his gaze revealed a mixture of emotions. He felt a sense of helplessness as the very thing he had intended to discard was returned to him, safe and sound. Gripping his phone, he said softly, ¡°Christina, thank you. Actually, I-¡± ¡°Yosef. I need to tell you something. The studio is back on track, and the children are waiting for me at Scenic Garden Manor. I can¡¯t stay here for long,¡± Christina cut in. She knew some words had to be said sooner orter. Her lips curled as she continued, ¡°Back when you established the studio, you were driven by the ambition. to make a name for yourself and rise to the pinnacle of the fashion industry. Have you forgotten all about that?¡± A dark look appeared in Yosef¡¯s gaze as he muttered, ¡°But you¡¯re no longer here¡­¡± After spending time with Christina, he knew how important the studio was to her. ¡°I¡¯m not withdrawing my shares. I¡¯m just working elsewhere,¡± Christina rified. She had dedicated her time and effort to building the studio and had no intention ofpletely abandoning it Yosef chuckled bitterly. ¡°All right, then. As long as you¡¯re willing to stay, there will always be a ce for you here.¡± Chapter 362 A Call From Francis. Chapter 362 A Call From Francis. Christina hung up, feeling beyond rxed. She assigned the remaining tasks to Ginny, entrusting her with the responsibility of handling the subsequent arrangements. ¡°Can we head back now?¡± Nathaniel asked when they arrived at the hotel. Christina nodded. ¡°My work here is done, so it¡¯s time to leave.¡± As they stepped into the elevator, two guests with a considerable amount of luggage joined them. struggling to maneuver the trolley inside. The elevator was quite spacious, but with the arrival of the neers and their luggage, it became packed. Afraid that the others would bump into Christina, Nathaniel opened his arms wide to protect her. Before the doors slid shut, two tall men hurried into the elevator, making it jampacked. They were standing so close to each other that they could sense each other¡¯s breath. A subtle blend of floral and woody fragrances emanated from the bodyguard¡¯s figure, intriguing Christina¡¯s senses. Knowing that he had no interest in women, she felt more at ease in his presence. She lifted her gaze and locked eyes with him, only to be met with the enigmatic allure of his sunsses and ck mask. He looked really mysterious. We¡¯ve spent some time together, but I still haven¡¯t seen Mr. Bodyguard¡¯s real face. Won¡¯t it be strange if I bump into him at the Hadley residence one day but fail to recognize him? I was initially weary of him and never got to observe him carefully. Now, she finally got a chance to take a closer look and realized he resembled Nathaniel. Their scents were also simr, so she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if it was a coincidence. She took a look at the bodyguard¡¯s blond hair. Nathaniel will never dye his hair this color, right? With that thought in mind, Christina reached out discreetly to pull his mask away. Before she could touch his mask, the bodyguard grabbed her hand. Caught off guard, Christina couldn¡¯t help but sh an awkward smile. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to recognize you if we happen to meet again. Could I please take a look at you? I promise not tough, even if you¡¯re ugly. Pretty please?¡± Her plea carried a soft, earnest tone. That was the second time she called him ugly. Feeling a sting to his pride, Nathaniel bit his lip and snapped, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. We won¡¯t cross paths again.¡± He then released his grip on her. Christina was taken aback by his response. Initially, she had wanted to maintain some distance from the bodyguard, but as she spent more time with him, she realized he was a kind-hearted person. He would always be the first to step forward and protect her in times of danger. The elevator doors opened, and someone stepped out, Nathaniel instinctively distanced himself from Christina. This time, it was his turn to be wary of Christina. When the elevator arrived at the top floor, they stepped out of the elevator. Nathaniel barely had to pack as he only brought a small suitcase with him. After packing up, he went to Christina¡¯s room. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, please find out the next avable flight back to our country,¡± Christina told him. Christina didn¡¯t bring a lot of stuff with her. With a fresh change of clothes in hand, she headed to the bathroom for a shower since she hadn¡¯t had a chance to shower after getting drunk the previous night. N?velDrama.Org holds ? this. Nathaniel could see her figure through the frosted ss of the bathroom door and felt his heart racing at the sight.. He averted his gaze and pulled out his phone to arrange for his private jet. After sending the time, he received a reply: Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll arrange for it right away. Standing before the window, Nathaniel gazed out at the bustling city below, lost in his thoughts. Despite spending a few days with Christina, he came to the realization that he still didn¡¯t know her very well. No matter how far apart they were, he would close the distance until there was no gap between them. Suddenly, the phone on the table began vibrating. Nathaniel strode over to realize it was a call from an unknown number. It stopped vibrating after a while. When Christina stepped out of the shower, the phone began vibrating once again. She nced at the iing call number and then at Nathaniel before stepping aside to answer the call. ¡°Christina,¡± a charming but indifferent voice greeted her. Even though Christinast heard the voice four years ago, she immediately recognized that it was Francis. ¡°I said, don¡¯t bother me ever again.¡± Her voice was icy cold. It had been four years, but Francis had never stopped trying to find Christina. However, she was deliberately avoiding him. Francis let out a soft sigh. ¡°I know you¡¯re at Ferropene. I¡¯m nearby, so let¡¯s meet up.¡± He had watched Christina¡¯s fashion show through the live stream the previous night and had made some effort to obtain her number through a model from the event. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you ever again or keep in touch with you. That¡¯s it,¡± Christina snapped harshly, about to hang up. Francis was scared that she would cut off allmunication once the call ended, so he quickly said. ¡°Do you want to know who leaked the ssified information about Hadley Corporation¡¯s project four years ago He was ready to go all out in order to meet Christina. Christina halted in her actions of ending the call. Narrowing her gaze, she asked, ¡°Do you know who it was?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s meet up at the cafe on 87th Street. Come alone. Il be waiting for you there.¡± With that, Francis ended the call as though he was afraid she¡¯d refuse to meet him. Christina ced her phone down and stared ahead, her gaze frosty. Her thoughts remained a mystery to the others. A short whileter, Nathaniel picked up her luggage and went to her. ¡°We should leave now.¡± Christina ignored him as her gaze turned dark. She had made numerous attempts to investigate the incident surrounding the ssified file leak at Hadley Corporation four years ago. However, the case had been tightly sealed, leaving little trace to follow. Only a select few individuals were involved, and one of them happened to be Madison. Madison was one of Nathaniel¡¯s most trusted subordinates. If she had betrayed Hadley Corporation, she might end up threatening Nathaniel one day. Christina knew Francis was aware of who the culprit was, so she feltpelled to meet up with him. After regaining her senses, she said calmly. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, I have to meet a friend. I can¡¯t leave just yet.¡± ¡°Is this person that important until you¡¯re willing to reschedule your flight?¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t know who she talked to on the phone, but there was only one person capable of influencing her emotions so dramatically. Christina looked away. ¡°He isn¡¯t that important, but there¡¯s something important that I¡¯d like him to tell me.¡± Her vague answer merely served to confirm Nathaniel¡¯s suspicion that it was Francis. ¡°I¡¯ve already reserved the flight tickets, and they cannot be rescheduled. Otherwise, we¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow to leave,¡± Nathaniel said as he reached out to take her hand, intending to lead her out. A frown creased Christina¡¯s forehead, and her tone grew icy. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard, it¡¯s quite annoying how you insist on dictating my actions¡± Nathaniel froze in shock. It was extremely hurtful to hear her say that he was annoying. ¡°You can either wait for me here or fly back without me.¡± With that, Christina tied her hair up in a ponytail quickly and donned an orange jacket. The vibrant color entuated her already translucentplexion. A few loose strands of hair delicately framed her face, lending an air of effortless beauty. Without hesitation, she then marched out of the room Chapter 363 Whistleblower Chapter 363 Whistleblower Nathaniel watched as her slender figure disappeared from his vision. Who is this person she has to meet? Without spending much time pondering, he followed her. The cafe on 87th Street served only members, so ordinary people couldn¡¯t enter. Upon arrival, Christina mentioned Francis name, and the waiter led her to a table by the window. A soft glow illuminated the cafe¡¯s interior space. The man dressed in cool-toned casual attire to obscure his exceptional presence. His gray-blue hair and chiseled, profound facial features gave him an aloof and mysterious vibe. When Francis looked up, his sparkling dark eyes shimmered slightly. ¡°Christina.¡± Reunited after four years, he found her radiant and captivating as ever. Christina sat down. A cold and distant expression filled her amber eyes as she held his gaze, ¡°Who leaked the information back then?¡± She cut to the chase. Francis¡¯ heart ached slightly as he stared at her. ¡°Christina, can¡¯t we just chat like old friends, as we used ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I just want to know who the whistleblower was,¡± Christina responded indifferently. Her body emanated a faint floral fragrance, which smelled refreshing and pleasing, like the morning air. His heart skipped a beat when he met her gaze. ¡°Are you still mad at me for what happened back then?¡± Scenes from the past shed across Christina¡¯s mind, prompting a prickling pain to creep into her chest. Nathaniel held her captive in the past, but Francis posting those photos on Twitter was no different from pushing her to the brink of desperation. ¡°Would being angry allow me to see my granny onest time? Will staying mad make up for anything?¡± Her tone was heartbreakingly calm. No one knew how devastated she felt at that time. It was as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss where only darkness reigned. It was onlyter that Francis learned about the death of Christina¡¯s grandmother. He was merely focused on provoking Nathaniel during that time and neglected Christina¡¯s situation. He regretted it afterward and wanted to find a chance to make amends with her. They were supposed to leave ording to the n, but halfway through, she vanished without a trace. Time ticked by. Meanwhile, outside the caf¨¦, Nathaniel stood under a streetmp. His eyes were fixated on the window. The sunlight at noon was dazzling. He narrowed his pensive, dark gaze, standing rooted to his spot expressionlessly like a perfectly sculpted ice statue. It turns out the person Christina has to meet is Francis! So, he¡¯s the unimportant person she has to discuss an important matter with? What exactly is the matter? I¡¯ve yet to settle the score with him for helping Christina escape from me! Nathaniel clenched his jaw. If it weren¡¯t for his current status, he¡¯d have rushed in to teach Francis a lesson. His eyes darkened as he quietly observed the situation inside. At the same time, inside the shop, the waiter served a cup of cold brew coffee on the table. Christina took a sip before uttering. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to reveal who the whistleblower is, I think we have nothing more to say.¡± She ced down her cup of coffee and was about to leave. ¡°I know who that person is, of course.¡± Francis stopped her. Taking in her fair, wless countenance and overly impassive gaze, he felt a great distance between them. Realizing Christina was there to meet with him because she wanted to help Nathaniel, Francis had to admit he was jealous of Nathaniel at that moment. Instead of responding, she bored her eyes into his impable handsome face, waiting for him to finish his sentence. She had deliberately dyed her flight to acquire that information, so she hoped her effort wouldn¡¯t be in vain. He furrowed his brows and hesitated briefly before saying, ¡°It was Madison.¡± Christina¡¯s pupils constricted. As I expected, it was her! ¡°Why? Doesn¡¯t she like Nathaniel a lot?¡± She speaks of how much she loves him, yet why did she mercilessly stab him in the back? Francis sighed. ¡°She wanted to cause trouble back then to keep Nathaniel from finding you, so she leaked thepany¡¯s confidential information.¡± At that time, Nathaniel was indeed unable to divert his attention elsewhere because of that predicament, providing Christina the chance to escape. Therefore, when he knew what Madison was nning to do, Francis chose to stand by and watch. Christina had her suspicions, but she just needed confirmation. When she got to her feet to leave, someone grasped her wrist. Unlike Nathaniel¡¯s warmth, Francis¡¯ touch was cold. Thetter was like a chilled child with no clothes to wear, causing his body to be always cool.. ¡°Are you leaving already? We¡¯ll meet again, won¡¯t we?¡± Francis¡¯ initially calm emotions were stirred, and his amber pupils constricted slightly. He grabbed her slender wrist tightly as if fearing he would lose her if he rxed his grip. Christina cast him a sidelong nce. ¡°We don¡¯t need to meet again if there isn¡¯t a necessity.¡± She tried pulling her hand free, but he held her tighter. Christina looked him in the eyes and sensed his dejection. The exquisite countenance, which was usually filled with confidence and pride when featured on screens. now showed a never-before-seen vulnerability before her. ¡°Christina, why are you so biased?¡± Disappointmentced his hoarse voice. Christina frowned, not understanding what he was talking about. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. He questioned her resentfully, ¡°Why can you forgive Nathaniel but not me?¡± Francis had already found out that Christina had returned to Scenic Garden Manor. He thought she would never set foot in that mansion for the rest of her life. Christina gazed downward, concealing the expression in her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s my freedom. I don¡¯t need to exin it to anyone.¡± At that point, the people around them were all looking in their direction. Those who weren¡¯t aware of the circumstances might think they were a couple having an argument. Christina didn¡¯t like others regarding her with peculiar gazes. She warned Francis in an undertone, ¡°Let go. You¡¯re hurting me.¡± Francis hesitated and was about to loosen his grip when a shadow suddenly showed up in front of him in at sh. By the time he regained his senses, he had already been punched. A loud crash reverberated, startling Christina. Isn¡¯t this Mr. Bodyguard standing before me? Why is he here? Francis steadied himself by holding onto the table, shaking his head to regain his bearings. The metallic scent of blood filled his oral cavity. He glowered at the man with bright blonde hair. Even with his facial features hidden from view, that man¡¯s aura and height somewhat ovepped with Nathaniel¡¯s regal image in Francis¡¯ mind. Nathaniel red at Francis with sunsses on. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t able to vent his anger with that single punch. Is Francis trying to incite Christina to leave me again? An eerie atmosphere spread inside the caf¨¦ as the trio stared at each other. Francis asked frostily. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°His identity isn¡¯t important.¡± Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s wrist, pulling hard to get him moving. The two hastily exited the caf¨¦. She finally let go of him when they were outside. I seriously suspect that Mr. Bodyguard is possessed by Nathaniel. Why must he throw punches at any men who came close to me? Chapter 364 Played A Bodyguard Well Chapter 364 yed A Bodyguard Well ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to follow me?¡± Christina knitted her brows. The reddened mark left by the tight grip on her porcin-white wrist was easily noticeable. When Nathaniel held up her hand to take a closer look, his eyes-hidden behind his sunsses- brimmed with sympathy As one of her fringes fell to her cheeks from behind her ear, she looked like a lost pet that was perpetually in need of protection. Faced with his silence, Christina couldn¡¯t bring herself to reprimand him any further. Thus, she retracted her hand and remarked, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s head back now.¡± She was worried that Nathaniel would go off and confront Francis instead. However, before they could get far, Francis came up from behind and yelled for them to stop. He then grabbed Christina by the wrist. ¡°Christina, we aren¡¯t done talking yet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything more for us to talk about. I just want to go home.¡± When Christina struggled to free her hand, she felt another painful sting on her wrist. Meanwhile, Francis red at the towering figure in front of him. He somehow found the aura exuded by: the young man to be familiar. ¡°Christina, how can you ept Nathaniel¡¯s repeated lies yet be unwilling to forgive me?¡± Raging jealousy had caused Francis¡¯ blood to boil. If Christina refuses to forgive me, what makes Nathaniel, who started all this, deserving of her forgiveness? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll make all of us suffer together. Underneath the light, his pale whiteplexion made him look sickly, while the amber tint in his seemed to be burning through thest of his rational mind. Christina gave him a puzzled look. ¡°Why do you say that Nathaniel has lied to me repeatedly?¡± At that moment, Nathaniel figured that Francis had seen through his disguise. Under those circumstances, it made sense for Francis to probe further, even if the bodyguard wasn¡¯t Nathaniel. Hidden behind his sunsses, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes narrowed. His palm subsequently balled into fists while his biceps tensed up as if he was ready for battle at any moment. As memories of the past yed through his mind like a rolling tape, Francis was reminded that both of them would always like the same thing and fight each other for it. Neither was ever willing to back down. The winner would always leave with the spoils; the loser could only watch on helplessly. Upon regaining his senses, Francis pointed at the tall figure. ¡°He¡¯s Nathaniel, not some bodyguard at all.¡± Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she gave Nathaniel a suspicious look. ¡°He isn¡¯t. He just resembles him.¡± After spending time with each other over thest few days, she never managed to confirm it despite her suspicions. Amidst a sudden silence, a gust of wind brought a chilly sensation to the scene. It was then that Francis broke into an abrupt smile. As the corner of his mouth was cut during the violent beating carlier, any slight movement would cause blood to ooze out of the wound. ¡°Christina, you don¡¯t understand Nathaniel at all. Ever since he was a child, he has been possessive. He would rob me of anything I fancy or destroy it if he couldn¡¯t have it. In the past, he kept you by his side out of lust, but now¡­¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Francis gaze shifted to the ck figure before dering in a mocking tone. ¡°He wants to have you simply because of my feelings for you.¡± Francis¡¯ words were like a knife that cut through the beautiful facade of Christina¡¯s world, forcing her to face the cruel reality behind it. Blinking her eyes, she was unable to stay calm, as if her heart was suspended in mid-air. Having struck an emotional chord, Francis grabbed Christina¡¯s hand again as he peered into her eyes with all the sincerity he could muster. ¡°Leave him, Christina He doesn¡¯t know how to love someone Other than hurting you, he can¡¯t give you anything else! The moment he finished, the towering figure lunged at him.. Nathaniel pinned him to the ground and rained blows upon him again and again. Unlike in the caf¨¦ where he was holding back, he went all out this time. The two figures descended into a brawl where both parties seemed adamant about killing the other. The stench of blood saturated the air while the sound of pounding fists echoed in the surroundings. Shocked by the brutality of the scene, Christina screamed, ¡°Stop fighting, both of you. Stop!¡± Her cries fell on deaf ears as both men fought with increased intensity. When it came to physical strength and battle experience. Francis was no match for Nathaniel. The former started out with the ability to counterattack, but toward the end, he lost the ability to fight back. After absorbing consecutive punches, he seized upon an opening to rip Nathaniel¡¯s mask off. When his solemn-looking face was suddenly exposed, Nathaniel¡¯s fist froze in the air. Having seized the initiative, Francis didn¡¯t waste it as he pped aside his opponent¡¯s sunsses. Finally, Nathaniel¡¯s face was fully revealed to Christina. ¡°Mr. Bodyguard¡­ Nathaniel?¡± The rude awakening Christina experienced almost caused her to lose her bnce. Now that the answer to her suspicions was clear, everything clicked in her mind. When she didn¡¯t allow him to tag along, he ended up disguising himself as a bodyguard. The realization triggered a self-deprecatingugh from Christina. Despite knowing Nathaniel for such a long time, she felt as if she had never understood him at all. Standing still and watching both men quietly, she felt as if her heart was a piece of paper that was inserted. into a shredder. All that was left of it were unrecognizable pieces. The sight of Christina¡¯s disappointed expression brought a smirk to Francis¡¯ face. He then gloated victoriously, ¡°Nathaniel, the blond hair suits you. It looks so much better than your gentlemanly facade.¡± Without further hesitation. Nathaniel¡¯s suspended fist continued its downward trajectory toward Francis face. The sound on fists smashing against bodies rang out again. As a listless look descended upon Christina¡¯s eyes, she turned around and walked in the other direction. Her footsteps were floaty as if she was walking on clouds, putting her at risk of falling onto the ground at any given moment. It finally dawned upon her that she had been made to look like a fool. If things hadn¡¯t turned out the way they did that day, she might have never known the true identity of Bodyguard,¡± as Nathaniel would definitely keep it from her perpetually. Thereafter, Nathaniel caught up from behind and grabbed her hand. ¡°Christina, let me exin.¡± Despite the gentle look in her eyes, the disappointment that culminated in them was unmistakable. She looked just like a fragile ss doll that would shatter upon a single touch. Christina shed a mocking smile at him. ¡°Nathaniel, I never knew you had a fetish for roleying.¡± He understood the reason behind Christina¡¯s anger, but he was left with no choice back then. ¡°I just wanted to protect you.¡± However, the matter was worsened by a series of unfortunate coincidences. His n was to keep the matter of his disguise a secret. Little did he expect to be found out in the end. An icy glint shed across Christina¡¯s moistened eyes. ¡°You were really convincing as a bodyguard. The next time you n on disguising as someone else, do tell me, as I have no interest in ying along! Chapter 365 Turbulence On The Plane Chapter 365 Turbulence On The ne The worried Nathaniel ran up to her. ¡°Christina, listen to me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to! Your actions speak louder than your words.¡± As Christina glowered at him, the look in her eyes resembled a shattered mirror where a whole reflection would never form. Nathaniel had never felt so pathetic before, as he didn¡¯t know what to say to assuage her anger. The few seconds of silence felt like an eternity to him. With an expression that was as icy as a frozenke in winter, Christina turned around and stormed off to the hotel. She couldn¡¯t believe how she was yed by Nathaniel like an idiot. As Nathaniel followed quietly behind her, he maintained a cold yet intent stare on her slender silhouette. Once Christina returned to the hotel and walked into her room, she mmed the door shut behind her. Inside, she took out two bottles of cold mineral water and finally calmed herself down after gulping them down. Even though the current situation simply felt awful to her, Lucas and Cam were still waiting for her return at Scenic Garden Manor. Not wanting to waste any more time. Christina packed her bags and opened the door. Standing there was a towering figure whose muscr chest was so wide that it blocked the entire entrance.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel had put his face mask back on, leaving only his eyes exposed. He stood there motionless, just like a statue. In fact, he didn¡¯t dare move aside for fear that Christina would disappear in an instant, a repeat of what happened four years ago. The fleetingness of how she came and went was a bane to his sense of security. When Christina noticed his empty hands, she figured that he didn¡¯t return to his room to pack. Even if I were a prisoner, there¡¯s no need to watch me so closely. From her perspective, she was treated worse than one. With her luggage in tow, Christina walked past Nathaniel and ran the wheels of her bag over his shoe as if to demonstrate the dissatisfaction within her. Upon arriving at the airport, both of them boarded the ne after going through the security check. Each of them took seats as far from each other as possible-one in the extreme front and the other in thest row behind. Christina always stood out from the crowd wherever she went. Having secured a window seat, she looked out at the clouds that dotted the clear blue sky. The manner in which she gazed out the window had a therapeutic effect on anyone who saw her. As the rolling clouds were only separated from her by a ss window, she felt as if she could touch their softness simply by reaching out with her hand. Once she had enough of the scenery, Christina closed her eyes to get some sleep. Meanwhile, Nathaniel had his eye on her the entire time. After watching her fall asleep, he got the flight attendant to get him a nket. Subsequently, he walked over and gently covered her with it. With her head tilted to the side while she was sleeping soundly, her disarming beauty was entuated by the sunlight that illuminated her face. The slight curl on her lips would melt the hearts of anyone who saw her. However, if one were to assume she didn¡¯t have a temper just from her demure appearance, one would be making a big mistake. When it came to it, she could be as stubborn as a mule. The thought of how their recent reconciliation was now ruined filled Nathaniel with frustration. Instead of returning to his seat, he sat down beside Christina, separated by the aisle. It wasn¡¯t until a long whileter that Nathaniel closed his eyes after going through a document on his phone. All of a sudden, both of them were jolted awake by the air turbulence the flight went through. After having her head smashed onto her seat repeatedly. Christina caught her breath to steel herself through the pain. For someone who didn¡¯t fly often, her first reaction was panic. Just as she stood up from her seat, air turbulence caused her to lose her bnce and fall to the ground. A stinging pain shot through her palm, which she had used to break her fall. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Upon realizing what had happened, Nathaniel hurried to her side to help her up. ¡°The ne might have flown into an air pocket. I¡¯ll help you back to your seat¡± When Christina felt his warm palm on her hips, she turned around to be greeted by an attentive gaze, one that brought a sense offort to her. At that moment, the flight attendant¡¯s voice rang out from the public announcement system. ¡°The ne is currently experiencing turbulence. Please return to your seats and put on your safety belts.¡± Feeling terrified, Christina leaned against Nathaniel¡¯s arm and didn¡¯t resist him helping her up. Just as both of them managed to steady themselves, a second jolt that was more forceful than the first struck the ne. Christina was once again thrown off-bnce, causing her heart to skip a beat as she fell backward. In the midst of her screams, she crashed onto the aisle butt-first. Before she could regain her senses, her body began to slide backward due to the ne¡¯s sloping gradient. At the same time, the drinks cart had also dislodged itself from the ground and was crashing toward her. Given the cart¡¯s weight and speed, severe injuries would result from the impact. The moment the cart started rolling. Nathaniel lunged in Christina¡¯s direction. Upon shielding her with his body, the cart smashed right onto his back. The powerful crash triggered a groan from Nathaniel, who furrowed his brows and began to breathe heavily. Christina was shocked by the harrowing scene. Wrapping her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s waist by reflex, she could feel her vision fog up with tears. ¡°Nathaniel, are you all right?¡± The frown on his face remained. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Even if he had to redo it a hundred times, Nathaniel would still dive toward Christina to protect her. He was not going to allow her toe into any harm. Christina¡¯s eyes reddened as the danger of what just happened wasn¡¯t lost upon her. Cam and Lucas are still waiting for me at Scenic Garden Manor. What if something happens to me and I don¡¯t make it back? The more she thought about it, the more fearful she became. As her fingers balled into fists, she felt a burning sensation in her eyes and blinked when her eyshes were finally moistened. Lowering his head, Nathaniel was greeted by her misty eyes. She looked like a deer that had lost her way. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Everything will be fine.¡± Just as he spoke, he tightened his arm and shielded her within his embrace. In the meantime, the ne continued to shake violently amidst the turbulence, one tremor more frightening than the other. Both of them hugged each other tightly as if they were dolls that were glued together. Christina tried to distract herself by counting along with Nathaniel¡¯s heartbeat. When she felt the warmth of his chest, the fear within her gradually dissipated. After an indeterminate period of time, the ne finally steadied itself once the turbulence was over. Upon emerging from the cabin, the flight attendant almost had a heart attack when she saw the toppled cart and the two of them locked in a tight embrace on the ground. ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you all right? Were you hurt?¡± The flight attendant hurried over to help Christina back to her feet. Looking up, Christina made eye contact with Nathaniel¡¯s abyss-like gaze. When she attempted to show him some concern, she realized that the words just wouldn¡¯te out. Nathaniel¡¯s frosty demeanor subsequently returned. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± He was a sea of calm as if the turbulent episode never happened. His gaze fell upon Christina as he instructed the attendant, ¡°Bring her a ss of warm water.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± The flight attendant turned around and left. Thereafter, Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and led her back to her seat Chapter 366 Dye His Hair Back Chapter 366 Dye His Hair Back Christina sat in her seat, her vacant gaze fixated on the space ahead of her. It seemed that she had yet to regain herposure fully from the earlier shocking events. Nathaniel gently tapped her on the shoulder. ¡°Everything¡¯s fine now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± As he could sense her uneasiness, he attempted to say more things to console her. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable for a ne to encounter strong air currents. Sometimes, one can experience two or three episodes of turbulence in a single flight.¡± Fluttering her long eyshes, Christina watched him with the curiosity of a child listening to an exciting story. Once Nathaniel noticed her interest had been piqued, he continued, ¡°There was another time when I was flying overseas with Sebastian for a business trip and the ne we were in encountered strong air currents, more severe than the one we experienced earlier. I remember there was a problem with the ne¡¯s engine, and Sebastian held my hand tightly, asking me what we should do. While going through a document, I told him an airne has two engines, and the captain would choose to dump fuel and then descend. Normally, there would be a fifty-percent chance of a safe oue. His face turned pale after hearing what I said. It was Sebastian¡¯s first encounter with such a critical aviation situation, and he was so frightened that he vowed that if wended safely, he would immediately get a wife.¡± Christina chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s truly hard to imagine someone as serious as Sebastian being in a state of panic.¡± Nathaniel was relieved to see the smile on her face. He gently stroked her head. ¡°Get some rest. We should be arriving shortly.¡± Christina was slightly resistant to his intimate gesture. She instinctively pulled back, tucking her neck and averting her gaze to the other side. The weight of her earlier emotions had somewhat lifted, and she took the opportunity to close her eyes and rest. Observing Christina turning her head away, Nathaniel could not help but feel a twinge of disappointment. However, he understood that rebuilding trust would require patience and time. Being able to remain by her side and apany her was all that mattered to him. Half an hourter, the nended safely. Nathaniel and Christina exited the aircraft together through the VIPne and soon spotted Sebastian waiting at the gate. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Sebastian approached the duo and assisted them with their luggage, and the three of them walked out of the airport together. At the exit, Christina noticed that Nathaniel had arranged for two cars to pick them. up. ¡°I¡¯ll get Raymond to send you home first. I¡¯ll head backter, Nathaniel said tly. Puzzled, Christina asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t we return together? The kids knew we left together, so they would be suspicious of us if we returned separately.¡± Having gone through the incident where one of their children ran away from home, Christina promised. the children that she would no longer argue with Nathaniel. He did not want to appear in front of his children with his hipsterish hairstyle, as it would undermine his. image as a father. Christina darted a nce at Nathaniel¡¯s blonde hair, and she could not help but draw aparison to the lively and fashionable boys she had seen on television. His usualposed and rigid demeanor seemed to be reced by a newfound sense of freshness. If he had not been wearing a mask, his appearance alone would have caused a sensation among the crowd. Christina could not help but cuss inwardly. Serves him right for going through the trouble of dyeing his hair to hide his identity. She did not want to return to Scenic Garden Manor and be bombarded with questions from the children. about their father¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. We¡¯ll return to Scenic Garden Manor after your hair is. dyed.¡± The joy in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes could not be masked. ¡°Okay.¡± He walked over and opened the car door for Christina before getting into the back seat with her. Sebastian noticed how Nathaniel¡¯s face lit up from Christina¡¯s words, which made him realize that Nathaniel¡¯s feelings for her had deepened during their trip. He took the driver¡¯s seat and immediately drove off. After half an hour, they arrived at a high-end hair salon. The salon looked spacious and bright, resembling more of an upscale lounge than a typical hair salon. A stylish male hairstylist approached them and asked respectfully, ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯re dyeing your hair back to ck, right?¡± Nathaniel grunted an acknowledgment in response. He turned to Christina and asked, ¡°Do you want to have your hair washed? I heard the service here is not bad.¡± Christina, thinking that she would be sitting there waiting anyway, epted his suggestion. ¡°Sure.¡± The hairstylist assigned a youngdy to attend to her. ¡°Hello, miss. This way, please,¡± said the youngdy, who seemed somewhat inexperienced and appeared to be in her early twenties. Christina followed her to a separate room for hair washing. After preparing Christina for the hair wash, the youngdy began gently washing her hair, periodically checking if the water temperature was to her liking and if the pressure was just right. Once the session waspleted, Christina returned to the main salon area and immediately noticed Nathaniel sitting in front of a mirror. With his short hair dyed back to ck, Nathaniel¡¯s clean and fair skin seemed to radiate under the lights, showcasing his impableplexion an attribane that Christina greatly admired. While the blonde hair gave him a somewhat ethereal allure, Christina still found his natural ck hair to be more pleasing to the eve Under his well-defined eyebrows, his deep and mesmerizing eyes sparkled like shining stars Lucas and Cam had mherited those same captivatingly deep and enchanting eyes, leaving an indelible impression on anyone who looked into them After a brief moment of eye contact, Christina was the first to look away. Knowing that they came together, the youngdy casually arranged for them to sit in neighboring seats ¡°Miss, please take a look at the magazine for a moment. I will get the hairstylist toe and blow-dry your hair. The youngdy handed her a magazine that showcased different hairstyles before leaving. Christina found herself intrigued by the makeup and hairstyles presented in the book and began flipping through the pages,pletely absorbed in her world. The female hairstylist, who had a somewhat androgynous appearance, walked up and inquired. ¡°Miss, is this your first visit? Do you have a particr hairstyle in mind?¡± Christina, who usually sported long ck hair with soft air bangs, responded, ¡°No, just a simple trim of the ends and bangs will do.¡± ¡°All right.¡± The hairstylist smiled gently and proceeded to take out ab, attentively trimming Christina¡¯s hair. The sociable hairstylist struck up a conversation with Christina about various hairstyles. Christina pointed to a photo of a male celebrity in the magazine and analyzed his hairstyle, saying. ¡°I think this hairstyle looks fantastic. It can be styled up or left with some bangs; it looks great from any angle.¡± ¡°Ipletely agree with you. You have great taste! Can I ask for your opinion on something?¡± The hairstylist quickly turned into an enthusiastic fangirl upon learning about Christina¡¯s profession. She told Christina she would be participating in a stylingpetition next month and was desperate for professional advice to refine herpleted design drawing. ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be delighted to help.¡± Christina responded, readily offering her expertise to a fellow enthusiast. Once the hairstylist finished trimming Christina¡¯s hair, she invited her to her office to review her design. drawing. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯re done,¡± the hairstylist informed Nathaniel afterplying with his customary request for a short haircut. Nathaniel did not reply to him. Instead, his indifferent gaze was fixed on the magazine Christina had flipped through earlier. The male celebrity in the magazine was indeed good-looking but with a good touch of femininity. That did not align with Nathaniel¡¯s preference. Does this hairstyle really look good? Chapter 367 Pull Your Weight Chapter 367 Pull Your Weight When Christina left the hairstylist¡¯s office, Nathaniel was already done with his haircut. Usually, Nathamel would have lus bangs cut short, but he intentionally kept them slightly longer that time. The hairstylistbed up the left half of Nathaniel¡¯s bangs, leaving the other half down where his eyebrow was visible. With his fair skin, his features looked refreshing yet solemn. The current Nathaniel gave off a different feeling to Christina. Why did he suddenly change his hairstyle? Don¡¯t tell me he heard what I said to the hairstylist earlier about this type of short hairstyle would look nice. When their gazes met, Christina broke the silence. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We should head back now.¡± Nathaniel followed her out of the salon. By the time they reached Scenic Garden Manor, it was already close to ten. Lucas and Cam knew their parents wereing back that night, so they refused to return to their room despite it being bedtime. With her favorite doll in her arm, Cam rested her head on her brother¡¯s lean shoulder. Her eyelids fought to stay open. Then, the sound of a car engine echoed outside. As footsteps neared, Lucas¡¯ and Cam¡¯s eyes snapped wide open at the sight of Christina and Nathaniel. The children then hurriedly got up and skipped toward them like rabbits. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, we miss you both so much!¡± ¡°Why did you only get back now? I almost fell asleep waiting for you,¡± Camined. The children clung to Christina and Nathaniel like little ko cubs. Christina ruffled the children¡¯s heads and gently said, ¡°It¡¯ste. Both of you should be in bed now. I¡¯ll prepare breakfast for you tomorrow morning. How about that?¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy, can you carry me upstairs?¡± Lucas wrapped his arms tightly around his mother¡¯s neck, burying his face into her nape. A sense of security washed over him as he breathed the familiar scent. I really miss Mommy, but I¡¯m also sleepy¡­. Christina carried him up the stairs while Nathaniel followed them with Cam in his arms. ¡°Daddy, you changed your hairstyle! You look so handsome!¡± Beaming at her father, Cam looked like the purest gem. With such an adorable daughter, Nathaniel felt that he would do anything for her. Even if she asked for the stars, he would fly up into the sky to get them for her. He pressed his lips against her forehead and said, ¡°Thank you for your praise, Cam.¡± She blinked cheekily at him in return. ¡°Daddy, did you protect Mommy properly? Was she surprised?¡± ¡°Of course I did. I protected her like how I protect you.¡± He pecked Cam on the cheek again and gazed at her lovingly. Cam smiled sweetly at him, then rested her head on her father¡¯s strong shoulder. I really like Daddy. He smells nice and is the most handsome dad in the whole wide world. After the family of four entered the children¡¯s bedroom, both children were tucked into bed. Christina was ready to lie down next to Lucas, but he stopped her with his small hands. ¡°Mommy, shouldn¡¯t you sleep with Daddy in your room?¡± She was taken aback by his remark. Don¡¯t they usually love it when I sleep by their side? ¡°I want to sleep here with you two,¡± she said. Cam sat up in her bed and blinked at Christina. ¡°Did you two get into another fight?¡± The smiles on the twins¡¯ faces immediately dropped as they stared at their parents with worry evident in their innocent, big eyes. Christina shed them a troubled smile and exined. ¡°Of course not. Then¡­ you two should go to sleep. now since you have to wake up early tomorrow for breakfast.¡± The children¡¯s mood instantly brightened at the sound of their mother¡¯s affirmative answer. ¡°Okay, Mommy! Good night!¡± ¡°Good night, Daddy!¡± the twins then said to Nathaniel. Lucas blinked his eyes at his father and whispered in his ear, ¡°I already helped you this much. You have to pull your weight too!¡± Nathaniel chuckled at Lucas¡¯ words and pulled the covers up around them. ¡°Good night, kids.¡± Christina only left the room after the children had fallen asleep. One after another, the two adults made their way back to their bedroom. After the door was closed, their gazes met amid the awkward silence. Christina immediately turned around, took her clothes, and went into the bathroom to shower. She did not want to speak to him since she was still mad. While they were in front of the twins, she would do her best to put on an act, but there was no need to do so when it was just her and Nathaniel. She was no actress, after all. In the bathroom, hot water rained from the shower head, relieving the umted fatigue in Christina¡¯s body. After her shower, she stood in front of the mirror and carelessly blow-dried her hair with a hairdryer. Too many things had happened that day, so her senses began to dull as she winded down. Lacking the patience to blow-dry her hairpletely, she set the hairdryer down. Like an exhausted rabbit, she pulled the covers back and slid into bed. Nathaniel watched her climb into bed and fall asleep the minute her head touched the pillow. Her thick long hair was spread across the pillow, and her longshes lined her eyelids as she slept soundly. He then walked over and whispered in her ear, Christina, your hair isn¡¯t dry yet. How about you go to sleep after you blow-dry it?¡± Christina had that habit from way back. She would sleep before her hair waspletely dry and woke up with a cold the next day. ¡°Hmm¡­¡­. Got it¡­..¡± she mumbled before continuing to doze off. Nathaniel reached for the hairdryer and set it to the lowest speed, helping her blow-dry her hair without waking her up. His fingers brushed her hair in gentle strokes as though he was caring for a baby. Once her hair was dry, he pulled the covers up around her and went to take a shower. After the shower, he changed into loose pajamas, got into bed, and wrapped his arms around Christina¡¯s slim waist from behind. With his cheek pressed against her head, he fell asleep to her scent. The sun was shining brightly the next day. Christina could feel how bright the rays were the minute she opened her eyes. It was the weekend, so Nathaniel did not have to work in the morning. Usually, he would be up on the dot, but shockingly, he slept in that day. When Christina looked up, his handsome yet aloof face came into view. She wanted to get up before he woke. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Just as she moved, those gem-like eyes snapped open. Their gazes met, and Christina could feel a hot flush spreading from her ears to her cheeks. With their faces only inches away, they could feel each other¡¯s breath on their faces. Christina got the sense of being a fierce monster¡¯s prey. At that moment, a series of knocks sounded on the door. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, are you guys sleeping in?¡± Lucas and Cam were the ones who rapped on the door. Christina tensed up. The next second, she shoved Nathaniel away and got up from bed to open the door. The children had already freshened up and were standing in the doorway with clean faces. ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go have breakfast.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cam craned her neck to look into the room and was relieved to see that Nathaniel was still asleep in bed. She and Lucas were worried that their father would get thrown out of bed by their mother again. The tro then went downstairs for breakfast. Sebastian stepped into the dining room with an overstuffed briefcase. After greeting Christina, he went up to the second floor. Noting his heavy briefcase, Christina reckened Nathaniel would have another busy day ahead of him. A few minutester, Raymond carried a tray of food to the second floor. Chapter 368 Happiness Chapter 368 Happiness Christina yed with the children in the front yard. Then, she drew pictures with them oon drew close Lucas and Cam grew tired of ying. Hence, Christina instructed the nanny to take them back to their room for an afternoon nap. Later, Nathaniel worked in the study, Sebastian arranged some documents, and Christina lounged on the couch, drawing on her tablet A knock on the door interrupted the quiet atmosphere of the room. The door swung open, and Madison walked in The women¡¯s eyes met, and Christina recalled what Francis said the day before yesterday. It was Madison who had leaked the secret back then. However, without any evidence, it was just her word against Madison¡¯s. She would achieve nothing and just put Madison on her guard if she were to confront her. Then, a thought suddenly crossed Christina¡¯s mind. She looked at Sebastian and asked, ¡°Hey, Sebastian, you told me before that you still have theputer that was hacked four years ago, right?¡± Yes, that¡¯s right. Mr. Lucas said he would help me restore the data and identify the thief,¡± replied Sebastian in a serious tone. He had kept theputer in good condition with that hope in his heart. Madison tensed up. Why did Christina bring up this matter all of a sudden? No, I must not let her bring up this matter! ¡°It¡¯s been so long. Back then, the best hackers were hired to crack it, and all had failed,¡± countered Madison in a deliberately calm voice. ¡°No harm trying again.¡± Christina¡¯s steely gaze pierced right through Madison. ¡°What are you scared of?¡± ¡°I¡­ No, what I meant was, the virus was very powerful. I¡¯m just afraid that an information leak might happen again.¡± Madison looked away to hide her guilt. The corners of Christina¡¯s lip lifted in a small smirk. She gave Madison a loaded look but said nothing. Ever since Sebastian had asked Lucas for help without prior authorization, Nathaniel had been worried about Lucas¡¯ safety, so he had forbidden anyone from mentioning Lucas¡¯ skills. Sebastian nced at Nathaniel, seeking his input. ¡°Bring theputer over tomorrow,¡± said Nathaniel casually. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Madison¡¯s heart dropped to her stomach. Although she was unaware of Lucas¡¯ abilities, she knew that she would be at risk of being exposed if the matter were to be investigated. She had to figure out a way to stop any investigation. A silence descended over the study once again, and Madison left after handing over her work. She bumped into Christina in the corridor In fact, Christina had been waiting for her. Christina wore a long chiffon dress which she had cinched at the waist with a belt to show off her figure. Standing there quietly, she looked beautiful in an ethereal and otherworldly way. Madison had never really bothered with thoughts of Christina, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you waiting for me?¡± ¡°Hand in your resignation, Madison, and I¡¯ll consider not exposing what you¡¯ve done to Nathaniel. I¡¯ll allow you to leave with your dignity intact,¡± said Christina in a calm and measured voice. In just a few seconds, Madison had been judged and punished for her evil deeds. Madison felt as if Christina had stripped her bare. ¡°There¡¯s nothing for you to expose! Do not simply use me!¡± ¡°Nathanic] has never even touched you. That child is not his! How long are you going to keep this up?¡± Christina did not allow Madison the chance to defend herself. Her voice turned icy as she added, ¡°If you still refuse to admit it, we can go confront Nathaniel now. How about that?¡± There was only one wall separating the corridor where they were standing and the study where Nathaniel was working. Although the women were not speaking loudly, every word still felt like bullets shooting through Madison¡¯s ears. If Nathaniel knew what she was doing behind his back, he would be angry, and he would definitely cut her off. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Madison clenched her fists, ring at Christina angrily, Madison was bing agitated while Christina had be more rxed and confident. She crossed her arms and drawled, ¡°What I want is simple. I want you to p yourself twice. Then, I won¡¯t say a word to Nathaniel.¡± What? p myself twice? Rage darkened Madison¡¯s eyes. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re asking for too much. Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m nobody. There¡¯s nothing special about me, but¡­¡± Christina narrowed her eyes at Madison and continued, ¡°Nathaniel listens to me now. Even if I told him to fire you without any reason, he would do exactly as I say without any hesitation.¡± Christina had spoken the truth. She truly had Nathaniel wrapped around her finger. There was no need for her to struggle for anything. Whatever Nathaniel had was as good as hers. She was not angry with Madison¡¯s deceit, but she did want to be bullied so easily. She could not just let it happen without fighting back. Madison¡¯s eyes were wide with disbelief and fear. She knew she had no choice. If all her lies were to be exposed, she would face dire consequences. Madison felt her throat tighten She choked, ¡°Okay, you¡¯d better keep your word.¡± Christina smirked and leaned back to watch Madison carry out her part of the bargain. Before Madison had even started, she added, ¡°If you p yourself too lightly, I will help you out.¡± Madison gasped. She was boiling with rage. She had never before been humiliated in such a way. She bit her lips and raised her hand to p herself hard on the cheek. Smack! A sharp snap sounded. The imprint of Madison¡¯s own palm could be seen clearly on her check. Her body was shaking, and her face was burning with pain. She stared directly at Christina with bloodshot eyes. All her anger and resentment were burning within her. Christina admired Madison¡¯s ruthlessness. She felt no remorse at watching the woman in pain. After all, this was no more than what Madison deserved. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this hurt your conscience, Christina?¡± Madison felt like a silly clown performing for Christina. Her confidence crashed to the ground. Christina sneered, ¡°Why should it hurt? I feel righteous. It ispletely justified for me to watch you atone for your sins.¡± Madison drew in a deep breath and pped herself one more time. The p was hard enough to knock the breath out of her. The iron taste of blood flooded her mouth, and every cell in her body exploded with rage. Madison gritted her teeth and said. ¡°There! I¡¯ve done as you asked. You¡¯d better hold on to your promise.¡± Christina shrugged. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m satisfied with those two ps. Thank you for punishing yourself! You may go now.¡± Nevertheless, Madison would be fired from Hadley Corporation for sure. She had done a terrible thing and betrayed thepany. Nathaniel would never let her get away with it. What Christina wanted was to recover all the profits before Madison left thepany. Madison¡¯s right cheek had swollen to twice its size. Her face was nowpletely out of shape. It even hurt for her to draw in a breath. She shielded her face with her hands and ran downstairs. Christina watched her leave with a gleam in her eyes. The lies had been repeating in her mind like a bad, broken record, causing her many nightmares. Chapter 369 Madison Exposed Chapter 369 Madison Exposed There was only a wall separating the two groups of people, so, of course, those inside the study could hear the conversation between the two and the ps. Sebastian was slightly stunned. Mrs. Hadley sure is a ruthless woman. She intentionally said those things in the corridor so Mr. Hadley would know about it. At the same time, she hinted at the fact that she had solved the issue by herself Meanwhile, Nathaniel didn¡¯t expect Madison to instigate Christina behind his back. A cold look swirled in his dark eyes. Sebastian stated, ¡°I think Madison might¡¯ve cared too much about you, Mr. Hadley- ¡°Bring me all of Madison¡¯s work-rted information from four years ago, demanded Nathaniel. ¡°Roger.¡± Sebastian immediately knew Nathaniel had started to suspect Madison. Madison left in a car with a swelling cheek. On her way back, she parked the car at the side of the road. Then, she turned on her phone and search for the number of a hacker, who she had contacted before. ¡°I want to buy a virus that can erase all data on aputer but doesn¡¯t destroy it.¡± If I destroy theputer, it¡¯ll only rouse more suspicions. I only need to wipe away all data and traces of use. The hacker spoke with a voice modtor. ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of software, but I know a skilled hacker who may be able to help you.¡± Madison lifted her eyebrow. ¡°Give me their contact number.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The moment she ended the call, she received the contact number. Not long after, she chatted with the new hacker and bought a Trojan program worth five hundred thousand. Once installed in aputer, it would scrub all data inside its target clean. If I strike first tomorrow, no one will be able to restore the data, even if they have a god by their side! A grin settled on Madison¡¯s countenance. The next day, Sebastian exited the condominium with aptop. When he spotted Madison at the entrance, he suggested. ¡°Get in the car. We¡¯ll go together.¡± Upon entering the vehicle, he ced theputer beside his leg. Madison started the engine and casually asked, ¡°Have you have breakfast yet?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t either. Why don¡¯t you buy some for us?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Yeah¡± For people like them, who were so busy that they couldn¡¯t stick to a routine meal schedule, breakfast was very important. Madison parked next to a diner. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± asked Sebastian. ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Thus, Sebastian left the car and sauntered toward the diner. Once he was far enough from the vehicle, Madison expeditiously brought out theptop, turned it on, and installed the virus into the device. Less than three minutester, her n was sessfully executed. Slickly, she turned off the device and returned it to its original position. Minutester, Sebastian returned with two sets of breakfast. Madison ate a little before driving to Scenic Garden Manor. Inside the study, Lucas, in casual attire,bed his short, tidy hair. He then sat on the couch with his arms folded. A look of maturity beyond his age was present in his eyes. ¡°Just do your bestter,¡± encouraged Christina softly ¡°No need to worry, Mommy. This is just a minor restoration task. It¡¯s easierpared to Cam¡¯s toy blocks,¡± Lucas assured. Cam loved stacking toy blocks. Whenever the castle she built with them was destroyed, she would ask her brother to put it back together. Momentster, they heard a car arriving in the courtyard. Then, Sebastian entered the building with at laptop. ¡°Here¡¯s theputer, Mr. Lucas. Thest time I turned it on was years ago,¡± informed Sebastian. Lucas nodded as his fingers danced on the ck keyboard. The sound of his typing echoed in the quiet ¡°It¡¯s been years. It won¡¯t be surprising if the data can¡¯t be found,¡± Madison remarked. ¡°How would you know about that? Feeling guilty, are you?¡± spat Christina coldly while staring at Madison. The handprint on Madison¡¯s cheek was still visible. While she sessfully covered the red mark with a thickyer of liquid foundation, one side of her face was still swollen. Stifling her emotions, she squeezed out a fake smile. ¡°You sure know how to crack jokes, Mrs. Hadley.¡± While sitting at the disk, Lucas continued to work his magic on theptop skillfully. The others stood behind him and gazed at the screen with anticipation. Promptly, Nathaniel pulled up a record of all the login attempts. Thepany¡¯s confidential documents could only be essed by logging in with one¡¯s ount. So, he only needed to check thest name on the list to discover who the culprit was. Secondster, a name appeared on the screen. Nathaniel glowered at Madison coldly. ¡°What do you have to say about this, Madison?¡± When Madison saw her name, she sweated profusely. Her face twitched slightly as she suppressed her guilt. How did this happen? The hacker told me the program would wipe all data on theptop, so how is it restored? Ugh, it doesn¡¯t matter. I don¡¯t have time to think about that right now. Her eyes reddened as she spoke chokingly. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, too. I¡¯ve been working by your side for years. There¡¯s no reason for me to do this.¡± Sebastianmented, ¡°I think there may be something else going on, Mr. Hadley. This doesn¡¯t definitively prove that Madison is- Christina couldn¡¯t listen any longer and interrupted. ¡°Don¡¯t let your biases blind you, Mr. Taggart.¡± Her words spurred him to stay silent. With a frigid expression, Nathaniel ordered, ¡°You¡¯ll be temporarily suspended starting tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley!¡± Madison teared up. While she wanted to clear herself of suspicions, she couldn¡¯te up with any reasonable exnation. An eerie atmosphere settled inside the study. ¡°Everyone out,¡± stated Nathaniel expressionlessly. ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian hastily pulled Madison out of the room. Christina was carrying her children toward the exit when Nathaniel eximed, ¡°Lucas, Cam, leave the room first. I have something I want to speak about with Mommy.¡± ¡°Roger, Daddy.¡± The children obediently left their mother¡¯s embrace and scampered away. They also didn¡¯t forget to close the door, signifying they paid attention to their etiquette ss. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Christina spoke with her back facing him. ¡°Did you already know Madison was responsible for the leak?¡± questioned Nathaniel in a deep voice. ¡°Does it matter? It¡¯s only a minor mistakemitted by an excellent employee. She deserves to be forgiven,¡± she replied inly. I thought he would fire Madison on the spot, yet he only temporarily suspended her. Then again, it¡¯s to be expected that she¡¯d only receive a warning at most. Madison has stayed by Nathaniel¡¯s side for years, after all. Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her slender waist and pressed his chin on her head: ¡°This matter will be dealt with by professional staff from thepany. Once Madison is confirmed to have leaked the secrets, I¡¯ll fire her.¡± Chapter 370 Mysterious Message Chapter 370 Mysterious Message The edges of Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward as he kissed her hair. ¡°You¡¯re jealous.¡± Christina remained silent as he continued to hug her. I¡¯m not jealous. I just think Madison¡¯s a cunning woman. She was willing to leak importantpany secrets to keep Nathaniel around. Who knows what other crazy thing shell do next! ¡°Have you hugged me enough? I¡¯m heading downstairs.¡± Upon removing his arms from her waist, she left. the study. Displeased, Nathaniel watched her cold, stubborn figure leave. The couple scarcely interacted in the following days. Christina would appear gentle when the children were around, but she would keep herself busy if Nathaniel didn¡¯t talk to her. Soon, the weekend arrived in a blink of an eye. Julia showed up at Scenic Garden Manor so she could bring the children to the Hadley residence to y there. -When the kids heard y time was waiting for them, they delightfully went upstairs to pack their clothes. ¡°You should sit first, Mom. I¡¯ll help the children pack their clothes.¡± Christina followed behind Lucas and Cam. Meanwhile, Julia turned to her son. ¡°How are you and Christina recently?¡± ¡°Nothing out of the ordinary,¡± replied Nathaniel casually while he read an email on his tablet. The edges of Julia¡¯s lips curved upward. She quickly noticed the couple had rtionship issues because she had been through that before. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Momentster, the children returned downstairs with a backpack full of their daily necessities. Like adorable rabbits, they hopped toward Julia. ¡°We¡¯re ready, Grandma!¡± ¡°All right, my darlings.¡± She beamed. After she asked Raymond to bring the kids out, she delivered two invitations to her son. ¡°A friend opened an amusement park recently, and they sent me these invitations. Your father and I aren¡¯t interested, so you can have these. If you have the time, you should bring Christina there to check it out.¡± Nathaniel epted the invitations. ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡± Christina blushed slightly, knowing Julia was trying to improve her rtionship with Nathaniel. ¡°You two have fun, okay?¡± Upon patting the back of Christina¡¯s hand, Julia returned to the Hadley residence with the children. Nathaniel nced at the time on the invitation. ¡°It opens tomorrow at ten. Do you have the time for it?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Christina didn¡¯t want to waste Julia¡¯s effort. Upon ending her sentence, she returned upstairs. The next day, at ten in the morning. Christina put on a white dress with flower prints. The sunlight was intense, so she wore additional thin, sun-protective clothing over her short-sleeved dress. She braided her hair, though a few strands remained at the side of her face. Under the sunlight, she seemed exceptionally gentle. After descending the stairs, she saw Nathaniel in a suit, His expression was cold and somber. ¡°You¡¯re not wearing that to an amusement park, are you?¡± Christina arched her eyebrow. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± That was how he was usually dressed. ¡°If you think it¡¯s fine, then it¡¯s fine.¡± Without further dy, they headed to their destination in a car. Half an hourter, they arrived at the amusement park entrance. Nathaniel frowned after exiting the car because he saw a sea of people. ¡°How lively! It must be fun inside.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes glinted. It¡¯s been a long time since I have a vacation. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside, then.¡± Nathaniel resisted the urge to leave immediately and stood in line behind her. Christina felt her cheeks burning after standing under the scorching sunlight for a while. There were plenty of umbre chairs at the side of the entrance that came withrge fans. Hence, many people sat there. ¡°You should rest at that spot. I¡¯ll stay here. You can join me when we¡¯re about to enter.¡± Nathaniel pushed Christina out of the line. It feels weird to have the CEO of Hadley Corporation stand in line for me. ¡°I think I should do it,¡± replied Christina. ¡°Just go.¡± As he spoke, he shoved the ticket into his pocket. Hence, Christina sat in the nearest chair and gazed at the long line. Everyone there wore casual outfits except for Nathaniel. His expensive suit made him stick out like a sore thumb. While the people in front and behind him waited nonchntly, he stood straight, exuding a prideful vibe. More than ten minutester, it was finally Nathaniel¡¯s turn to enter. Christina approached him before he gestured for her to join him. Once their tickets were scanned, the couple entered the amusement park. The amusement park was brimming with a joyous and romantic atmosphere, further enhanced by lighthearted tunes. Like a curious child, Christina scanned her surrounding. ¡°We should grab an information pamphlet so we don¡¯t get lost.¡± What¡¯s that Nathaniel followed her into a shop. Upon seeing the free pamphlet on the counter¡¯s shelf, Christina picked one up and flipped through it to see where to go first. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen Christina this attentive, aside from when she¡¯s working or taking care of the children. It looks like bringing her here is the correct choice. Meanwhile, Nathaniel noticed a pair of female tourists strolling into the shop and putting on cartoon hairbands. Interesting. He swept his gaze past the colorful hairbands before spotting one with cat ears on it. Meanwhile, Christina had finished nning their route. We¡¯ll end the day by watching fireworks at the castle entrance at seven in the evening! Perfect! Just as she lifted her head, she saw a hairband with cat ears atop her head in the mirror. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°It looks great. You should keep it,¡± uttered Nathaniel before he ambled toward the cashier to pay for it. The couple then exited the store and followed Christina¡¯s route. She tried everything sheid her eyes on in the motorized zone while Nathaniel apanied her. However, he disliked partaking in exciting activities like those because he¡¯d get dizzy. To prevent that, he asked Sebastian to buy a bottle of motion sickness drugs for him beforehand. He didn¡¯t want to ruin the mood as it was rare for him to spend time with her outside. After they tired themselves ying, they rested in a mushroom-shaped chair. Christina bought two bottles of water and handed one to him. Subconsciously, Christina leaned on Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. With a soft tone, she proposed, ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. Let¡¯s rest for a bit before we head to the big stage over there. The pamphlet says there¡¯ll be performances and even fireworks at the end.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel sipped while letting her rest on his body. Once the tourists heard the announcement of the performance starting, they strode toward the big stage. Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand tightly as they traveled through the crowd, worried she might get lost. Abruptly, Christina received a text message on her phone: If you want to know why your home was set aze four years ago, look for me behind the stage. Chapter 371 Drive Me Crazy Chapter 371 Drive Me Crazy ¡°Wait for me at the front, Nathaniel. I want to visit the restroom.¡± She clutched her bag and peered at him. ¡°Mmm, be careful.¡± Nathamel didn¡¯t suspect anything. Without dy, she left in the opposite direction, trekked through the crowd, and arrived backstage. However, she didn¡¯t see any familiar faces, only a few staff members preparing for their performances. She continued ambling forward. The staff were so preupied with their tasks that they ignored her. Suddenly, the door next to her was opened, and she was pulled into the room. After the door was shut tight, she was pinned to it. Right before she was about to scream, she recognized the person before her. ¡°Francis?¡± Christina lifted her eyebrow. ¡°Were you the one who sent me the message?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± replied Francis. He never stopped chasing after the truth for Christina. Finally, after years of effort, he found a reliable lead. ¡°Tell me who¡¯s the culprit.¡± Rage swirled in her eyes. While he was happy about his guess, he was disappointed she was only interested in seeing him because of the information he had. Gazing at her, he proposed, ¡°Let¡¯s trade, Christina.¡± ¡°What?¡± Christina knitted her eyebrows.. Francis pinched her chin, speaking to her in a threatening tone. ¡°Why should I provide you urate intel without receiving anything in return every time?¡± ¡°I can discover the truth myself. And if I can¡¯t, Nathaniel can.¡± Without hesitation, she shoved his hand away furiously and prepared to leave. ¡°It took me years to discover the truth. Furthermore, that ne of yours hides another mystery.¡± He stepped closer to her like he was a demon from hell. With a devilish smirk, he spat icily, ¡°Sure, you can discover the truth by yourself, but your search will take years. Are you sure you don¡¯t want the intel that is already in my possession?¡± No expressions were visible on Christina¡¯s fair countenance as she stayed quiet. Leaning even closer to her, Francis persuaded in a provocative tone. ¡°Let me help you. I¡¯ve never given you a tough time before.¡± Compared to Nathaniel, he was a lot gentler. At the very least, he wouldn¡¯t trap and monitor her in a house. ¡°What¡¯s your condition?¡± She relented. ¡°I founded an entertainmentpany recently, and I want you to be my stylist there.¡± Francis scrutinized her, attempting to locate a trace of emotion on herposed countenance. It was a condition she found eptable as it was within her capabilities. ¡°Fine. Can you tell me the truth now?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know once you sign a contract at mypany tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Christina promptly turned around, preparing to leave. However, Francis grabbed her wrist and presented a keychain to her. ¡°I think this souvenir that is based on the amusement park¡¯s mascot suits you.¡± Without warning, the door was kicked open by Nathaniel, who glowered at the two of them with hellish wrath. The humiliation of being deceived felt like a p to the face for him. He strode forward and punched Francis¡¯ face. Francis dodged the attack as he didn¡¯t want his countenance to be injured before his performance. Worry flooded Christina¡¯s heart as she knew how violent the battle between the two men could be. There are too many people outside right now. If they cause too much of amotion, news about their conflict will spread Hence, she stood between the two men and hugged Nathaniel. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t be rash, and listen to me.¡± Nathaniel ceased his movements, though he still red at Francis. Meanwhile, Francis felt as though he just received a blow to the head upon seeing Christina¡¯s tender body. pressing against Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°Let¡¯s leave here first. Then, we¡¯ll talk.¡± Christina started pulling Nathaniel out of the room by his hand. Before she seeded, Francis blurted. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s fun restricting her like this, Nathaniel?¡± It was difficult to tell if he said that out of jealousy or resentment. That spurred Nathaniel to halt his steps and turned his wrathful scowl at Francis again. ¡°Stop talking. Francis.¡± While Christina wasn¡¯t sure what Francis was nning, she was confident it wasn¡¯t anything good. The look in Francis¡¯ eyes turned gloomy. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell him how much you hate staying with him. Christina? Express your disdain for everything about him and the constraints he imposed on you!¡± Christina was taken aback. I thought about those things before, but I never said it in front of Nathaniel because I knew I wouldn¡¯t achieve anything even if I did. We¡¯ve been avoiding the topic during our recent time together, but Francis just has to bring it up, as though he¡¯s forcing us to confront the issue. Standing before Francis, Nathaniel almost lifted the former by the cor. ¡°Are you going to hit me? I won¡¯t let you off this time.¡± While Francis¡¯ wound had mostly subsided, he still had to cover the bruise with a liquid foundation. It was his fault I couldn¡¯t attend the fashion show. If he touches me again, I¡¯m going to sue- ¡°Can you shut up, Francis?¡± Christina scowled at him. Did he forget what happenedst time? Separating the two men was a massive undertaking for her. When the people outside heard their argument, they entered the room to check out what was going on. Francis¡¯ assistant immediately sensed something was wrong and informed him. ¡°It¡¯s about time for your performance, Mr. Fernando. You mustn¡¯t get into any ident right now.¡± More and more people gathered at the entrance while the production assistant outside shouted for the staff members to enter the stage. Hastily, Christina dragged Nathaniel out of the room by his hand. After that, Nathaniel led her to a fake mountain, which wasn¡¯t as crowded as the other locations. ¡°It seems you enjoy going to the restroom with Francis.¡± They disappeared in the restroom four years ago, too. He pushed Christina to the fake mountain too quickly, causing her pain. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. 1-¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, Nathaniel pressed his lips on hers. domineeringly, making breathing difficult for her. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. He was so forceful that he likely would¡¯ve crushed her shoulders if he used a little more strength. ¡°Let me go¡­ It hurts¡­¡± Christina smashed her fist onto his shoulder, but it was no use. Momentster, she heard tearing sounds and felt her shoulders getting chilly. Her coat had been ripped __apart. As though her brain was struck by lightning, her body froze. She couldn¡¯t believe Nathaniel would do such a thing in public. Most tourists had gathered at the stage, though some still asionally passed them by. What if someone sees us? Christina whimpered, ¡°Are you crazy, Nathaniel?¡± Nathaniel gazed at her sharply and growled, ¡°Yeah, I am, and it¡¯s all because of you! Whenever I see you with him, I wish I could kill him! Why must you keep clinging to him?¡± Chapter 372 You Have Disappointed Me Chapter 372 You Have Disappointed Me ¡°I¡¯m not clinging to him! You have misunderstood the situation!¡± Christina red at Nathaniel, infuriated. Do I look like the type of woman who would cling to men whenever I feel like it? The excellent impression he left on her earlier vanished inn an instant. The scene of Francis and Christina standing close together repeated in Nathaniel¡¯s mind as he peered at her with stifled emotions. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t see him again.¡± This is herst chance! ¡°No. I¡¯m not your belonging or your puppet!¡± The resolution in Christina¡¯s eyes stung him. It was as though a ball of fire was burning his body and rationality from the inside. Once again, he clutched Christina¡¯s neck tightly while he shoved his other hand to her back. She was thin, so he could feel her spine as he brushed his fingers over her fair, tender skin. ¡°You¡¯re a lunatic! An animal! Release me!¡± Christina glowered at him. Unfortunately, he had transformed into a beast of rage, unable to listen to even a word she said. ¡°You forced me to do this!¡± Without hesitation, Nathaniel shredded her thin coat apart. When a cold gust swept through her dress, she trembled. Powerless as an ant, she could do nothing to escape him. ¡°I¡¯m disappointed in you, Nathaniel.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ll never have any hope for me no matter what I do, I rather not waste my efforts anymore!¡± Nathaniel bit her neck, causing her to release a muffled grunt and weep. He paused as her sobbing kept plucking on his nerves. Suddenly, Christina heard people approaching them and was emotionally stung by theirughter and chatter. At that moment, she only had a thin dress on her. Additionally. Nathaniel had lifted her skirt to her thigh. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder what others would think if they saw her messy hair, torn coat, and teary countenance. ¡°Leave,¡± Nathaniel barked coldly just as the approaching group was only a few steps away from the fake mountain. The group of strangers promptly halted their steps. It wasn¡¯t difficult to guess what a man and woman. were doing at an obscure corner. Therefore, they rapidly left. Nathaniel covered Christina¡¯s body with his ck coat, nced at her, and left. When a gust of wind passed her by, the sandalwood scent on his coat entered her nose. Christina was very tempted to throw the coat away. Afterposing herself, she ambled toward the gate. Even though fireworks were going off in the sky, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to enjoy them anymore. Her depressive mood was a stark contrast to the gorgeous scenery behind her. The driver had been waiting for a while when Christina arrived at the car. If Nathaniel hadn¡¯t snatched her bag away, she would¡¯ve taken a taxi back home instead of spending more time with him. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was very tense as the couple didn¡¯t speak a word to each other on the ride back. Even the driver could feel the uneasy vibeing from the back. They seemed happy when they left the residence earlier. Did they not enjoy their time in the amusement park? Back in Scenic Garden Manor, Christina was the first to enter the building. ¡°Did you have fun today?¡± inquired Raymond. ¡°Ask him,¡± she replied before rushing upstairs. Puzzled, Raymond turned back and saw Nathaniel walking in with a scowl. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you and Mrs. Hadley- ¡°Send her supper upstairs,¡± requested Nathaniel without slowing his steps while ascending the stairs. Christina bathed in hot water, which caused her pain when it touched the bite wounds on her shoulder. That b*stard! Is he a dog? Why did he bite me? After changing into a long-sleeved nightgown and drying her hair, she heard the housekeeper knocking on the door. ¡°I have prepared supper, Mrs. Hadley. Would you like some?¡± The housekeeper was instructed not to mention Nathaniel was the one who gave the order. ¡°Sure,¡± answered Christina. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The housekeeperid the bowl of food on the table and left. When the fragrance of food traveled into her nose, Christina recalled she hadn¡¯t eaten anything for the day as she spent the whole day ying in the amusement park. Sitting before the coffee table, she finished the oatmeal before returning to her bed. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the scene at the fake mountain as shey on the bed. A wave of humiliation washed over her, which brought a flood of rage into her heart as she slept. At midnight, Nathaniel sneakily opened the door and strolled into the room. He stared at Christina, whose body curled up at the corner of the bed like a cooked prawn while her ck hair rested on the side like seaweed. In his eyes, she was as pretty as Sleeping Beauty. The nket that was previously on her body had been kicked off the bed. The bedsidemp faintly illuminated her furrowed eyebrows. She looked quite pitiful as if she had been insulted. Nathaniel pulled up the nket and covered her body gently. Then, he smoothened her eyebrows tenderly. Once calmness returned to her countenance, he left. I doubt she wants to see me right now. The morning sunlight pierced through the clouds andnded in the bedroom. Christina felt much better after a good night¡¯s sleep. After washing up and changing her clothes, she headed to the dining room. She received an address and a message from Francis on her phone: Meet you here at nine. Don¡¯t be late. I wonder if Nathaniel will forbid me from leaving after what happenedst night. When her train of thought. ended there, she asked probingly, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Hadley?¡± The housekeeper served her a bowl of oatmeal. ¡°He went to the office very early in the morning. He said you should ask the driver to take you anywhere you want to go.¡± Christina was stunned for a moment, surprised. ¡°Ask the driver to get the car up.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After breakfast, Christina requested the driver to take her to the address Francis sent her. Half an hourter, she arrived at her destination.. Francis¡¯pany was located in a mansion. There was a courtyard with a pond in it. The whole ce looked more like a recreational center. The door was not locked, so Christina strode right into the building. When the employees noticed her, they thought she was just a random stranger. ¡°Who are you? Leave now.¡± Christina stopped. ¡°I¡¯m the new stylist.¡± A sexy woman approached her, examined her, and smirked. ¡°How dare you pretend to be the stylist! Get out of here, phony!¡± Christina¡¯s eyebrows trembled slightly as she gazed at the woman. ¡°You can ask Francis if I¡¯m a phony. If he said I am, I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Chapter 373 Reuniting With Bailey Chapter 373 Reuniting With Bailey ¡°The fact that you know Mr. Fernando is here just goes to show you¡¯re an obsessive fan! Wee across people like you far too often!¡± ¡°Penelope is the only stylist here in thispany, so she must be lying! We should kick her out!¡± Just like that, Christina was swarmed by the group of staff who surrounded her. Penelope Lacefield reached out and shoved Christina amidst the chaos, causing her to lose her bnce. and fall backward. Her palms were instantly cut open the moment they hit the sandy ground. ¡°Get lost, all of you!¡± a man shouted coldly from behind. Everyone froze and turned around, only to see Francis making his way toward them. Despite his gloomy expression, he looked like a foreign prince with his white dress shirt, puffy cuffs, jewel nes, and curled hair that had been dyed into a bluish-green color. The icy-cold look on his face changed the moment he saw Christina¡¯s bleeding palms. ¡°Are you The staff realized they had made a huge mistake when they saw how Francis treated Christina. With a gloomy look on her face, Christina pulled her hands back and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think the work culture¡± here is suitable for me.¡± Given her current status, there were plenty of people out there who would willingly get in line just to hire her. As such, she had no need to put up with such nonsense at all. ¡°It was her fault for not making that clear. None of us intended for this to happen. There have been far too many obsessive fanstely, so our response was perfectly justified,¡± Penelope protested.. Christina shot her an icy-cold re. Wow¡­ This woman sure knows how to twist the facts! ¡°Apologize to her,¡± Francis ordered coldly. The looks on the staff¡¯s faces turned gloomy when they heard that. However, as reluctant as they were, none of them dared disobey Francis¡¯ orders. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± they muttered through clenched teeth. ¡°Come with me,¡± Francis said as he grabbed Christina by the hand and dragged her inside. The staff beganining the moment the two of them left. ¡°Who the f*ck is that woman? How dare she behave so arrogantly?¡± Francis then retrieved a first aid kit and carefully treated Christina¡¯s wounds. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s my fault for not briefing everyone beforehand.¡± ¡°If you feel guilty for what happened, then how about you tell me what I want to know before we sign this contract?¡± Christina asked calmly. After treating her wounds, Francis handed her a contract that he had prepared in advance and said, ¡°You¡¯ve be a lot smarter than before. I¡¯ll tell you after you sign the contract.¡± Christina took the contract over from him and read through every term in great detail. Apart from the penalty for breach of contract, which was billions, it looked no different from any other contract ¡°Did you make a mistake with the penalty amount for breach of contract?¡± she asked. ¡°Nope That amount is inclusive of the money for the information I¡¯m selling you. I don¡¯t know if you would bail on me, so I¡¯m going to need some insurance Nathaniel can totally afford to pay for this, so you don¡¯t have to worry about a thing. If you do breach our contract, I can use that money to go after Nathamel. I¡¯ll be honest with you here. I¡¯ve been saving up a lot of money over the past few years, and 1 have quite enough to go against him.¡± Francis said nonchntly with his arms crossed. Christina kept her gaze fixated on him as she hesitated. ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t have to sign the contract if you don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m not going to force you into doing anything.¡± Francis continued and reached out to take the contract back. Christina quickly pulled the contract away from him and proceeded to sign her name on it. ¡°There, can you tell me what I want to know now?¡± she asked while handing it over to him. Francis¡¯s eyes lit up slightly when he saw her name on the contract. He was about to say something when a staff knocked on the door and reminded him, ¡°All preparations areplete, Mr. Fernando. We can start the shoot anytime.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Francis put the contract away and shifted his gaze back toward Christina as he asked, ¡°Do you mind if we get this job done first?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t,¡± Christina replied. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Francis then exined the procedure to her. They were going to shoot amercial for a skincare product, and Penelope had already prepared the outfits and hairstyles beforehand. ¡°I want you toe up with new designs and hairstyles in five minutes,¡± Francis said before walking off to get his makeup done. Christina nced at the outfits that Penelope had prepared, but she did not find any of those to her liking- Instead, she spent one minute looking up information on the product and themercial¡¯s concept before selecting the clothes for her outfits. ¡°I heard you graduated from some lesser-known institute. I wouldn¡¯t embarrass myself here if I were you!¡± Penelope warned her. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to judge my professionalism,¡± Christina replied with her expression as cold as ice. She was so calm with her response that Penelope had no idea how to counter her at all. Eventually, all Penelope could do was shoot her a vicious re before storming off. Christina picked out a suit jacket with no lining on the inside and paired it with a pair of casual pants matching color. She then presented the outfit to Francis and said, ¡°Here¡¯s, your first set of outfit. Go ahead and put it on.¡± The makeup artist standing next to them felt really displeased with the way she spoke to Francis. Reuniting With Bailey Ugh! How dare she talk to our dream man like that? Francis simply picked up the clothes and made his way into the changing room without saying anything Everyone else around them got mad at Christina when they saw that. What an insolent woman! Mr. Fernando is a nice guy who hardly scolds his subordinates, but that doesn¡¯t give a stylist the right to be disrespectful toward him! After changing into the outfit. Francis made his way over to the spot that had been decorated beforehand. The photographer then took a few pictures and confirmed that the lighting was okay. After that. Christina walked up to him with a scarf and carefully wrapped it around his neck. The ck scarf had white letters in Anndurn printed on it, which helped form a bit of contrast against his fully-ck outfit. The outfit revealed his delicate corbones, which made him look all the more sexier. The photo shoot went by rather smoothly, and the sky was already dark by the time they were done with Christina decided she woulde to see Francis the next day to continue their discussion, so she packed her things and got ready to leave. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride home.¡± Francis didn¡¯t have time to change out of his outfit, so he still had the scent of perfume on him. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. My car is here.¡± Christina had contacted the driver earlier toe and pick her up. ¡°It¡¯ste, and you probably won¡¯t have dinner waiting for you at home. How about having dinner with met before heading back?¡± Francis asked as he followed behind her. ¡°No, thanks. I have an appointment.¡± Christina said as she walked out the door and got into Raymond¡¯s car. Francis let out a sigh as he watched the car leave the set. ¡°Will you be going home, Mrs. Hadley?¡± the driver asked. ¡°No. Take me to the bar in the city.¡± Christina was supposed to meet Bailey there. Besides, she was in a bad mood, and the kids weren¡¯t home, so she didn¡¯t feel like going back to Scenic Garden Manor at all. Half an hourter, the car pulled up outside the entrance. Christina could hear the sound of people chatting andughing the moment she entered the bar. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much, Christina! I can¡¯t believe you just upped and left for four years! That was so uncool!¡± Bailey eximed as she wrapped her arms around Christina and clung to her like a ko bear. Christina had left in a real hurry back then. Fearing that Nathaniel would be able to track her down, she did not contact Bailey at all. Chapter 374 Nathaniel Burns Up With A Fever Chapter 374 Nathaniel Burns Up With A Fever ¡°Why would you want to meet me in a ce like this? Have you be a party girl during my absence?¡± Christina asked while pinching her cheeks. Bailey gave her waist a tight hug and replied with a smile, ¡°Of course not! This bar belongs to a friend of mine. I just came over to support his business. That¡¯s all! Now, enough talk about me. Do you have any idea how much I¡¯ve missed you? Tell me where you¡¯ve been throughout the past four years!¡± Christina proceeded to give her a brief summary of the events that took ce. Bailey got so mad at Nathaniel after hearing her story that she wanted to chop him up into pieces. ¡°Unbelievable! I thought he loved you, but he turned out to be a possessive control freak! As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, he even had the audacity to use the kids to threaten you into staying with him!¡± she shouted while mming her fist on the table. Christina felt d to know that she had someone who actually cared about her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle it. I¡¯ve managed to survive all these years, and he isn¡¯t really giving me a hard time now. Anyway, let¡¯s not ruin the mood by talking about such sad things. Cheers!¡± In the mean time, Raymond had called Christina several times using thendline at Scenic Garden Manor, -but she never answered her phone. ¡°How is it? Is Mrs. Hadley still not picking up?¡± Sebastian asked anxiously. The butler put the phone down and shook his head. ¡°Mrs. Hadley would usually pick up if we call her using thisndline. I¡¯m assuming she and Mr. Hadley got into a very huge fight this time.¡± Sebastian, too, had no idea why things had gotten worse between them after they returned from the amusement park, The doctor came down from the second floor. ¡°How is Mr. Hadley doing, doctor?¡± Sebastian asked anxiously. ¡°Things are not looking good. The wound on his back has gotten inmed because it wasn¡¯t treated in time, so he¡¯s at risk of getting an infection. On top of that, he is also burning up with a high fever. If this goes on, he could catch pneumonia. I have suggested Mr. Hadley seek treatment at a hospital, but he refused and wouldn¡¯t even take his medication,¡± the doctor replied with a stern look on his face. Mutual cooperation between patient and doctor was necessary for a treatment to be sessful, so there wasn¡¯t much the doctor could do in this situation. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the medication here. Please send Mr. Hadley to a hospital immediately if his condition worsens,¡± the doctor continued and left the house. The butler¡¯s expression slid into a frown. ¡°Mrs. Hadley is the only one who can persuade Mr. Hadley.¡± Having recalled something, Sebastian asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mrs. Hadley leave the house in one of the drivers¡¯ cars?¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right! We could try asking the driver about her whereabouts,¡± Raymond replied as he whipped out his phone and punched in the driver¡¯s number. ¡°Where is Mrs. Hadley right now? What? A bar? Hurry up and tell her that Mr. Hadley is very sick. We need her toe home immediately!¡± Gosh! I can¡¯t believe Mrs. Hadley is out there partying while Mr. Hadley is burning up with a high fever here! Sebastian¡¯s expression turned extremely gloomy at the thought of that. Having downed two sses of cocktails, Christina was feeling a little tipsy even though the drinks were fairly low in alcohol content. ¡°Mr. Hadley is sick, Mrs. Hadley! Please return to the manor immediately!¡± said the driver. Christina had a little furrow between her eyebrows as she replied, ¡°He should see a doctor if he¡¯s sick. I¡¯m no doctor, so I wouldn¡¯t be able to treat him anyway.¡± Because the driver had yet to hang up the phone, Sebastian and Raymond were able to hear what she said. Since when did Mrs. Hadley be so cold and heartless? ¡°But Mr. Hadley is-¡± ¡°Go wait outside. I¡¯m hanging out with my friend right now,¡± Christina cut him off. ¡°All right, then.¡± The driver turned around and walked out of the bar without saying another word. Bailey wrapped an arm around her shoulder and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is that heartless monster sick?¡± Christina gritted her teeth in anger when she recalled what Nathaniel did to her at the amusement park. Hmph! Serves him right! She then downed another ss of cocktail in an attempt to drown her negative emotions. ¡°He has doctors who will tend to him if he¡¯s sick, so there¡¯s no point in me rushing home now.¡± Bailey gave her a thumbs up when she saw how determined Christina was. ¡°Well said! You can¡¯t let him control you like that!¡± The two of them had a few more rounds of drinks before finally leaving the bar. ¡°My driver will send me home. Make sure to text me when you get home, okay?¡± Bailey said while waving. goodbye. ¡°All right.¡± Christina then got into her driver¡¯s car, and the driver floored the elerator all the way back to the manor. After he parked the car outside the front door, Christina got out and casually made her way into the house. Sebastian ran up to her and said anxiously, ¡°Mrs. Hadley! Please go have a look at Mr. Hadley! He¡¯s very sick and refuses to take his medication!¡± Mr. Hadley¡¯s life is in danger! This cannot wait any longer! Nathaniel Burns Up With A Fever Christina simply shot him a cold nce and replied nonchntly. ¡°That just means his condition isn¡¯t really all that serious. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll take his medicine if his condition gets really bad.¡± Nathaniel never cared about me when I refused to eat out of anger! Eventually, I gave up and started eating when I got too hungry. No one would actually try to kill themself like this! Sebastian had assumed that Christina¡¯s mood would have improved by the time she returned, but that was clearly not the case here. ¡°It¡¯smon for married couples to get into arguments every now and then, Mrs. Hadley. Will you please coax him into taking his medication? You can go back to being mad at him. after that.¡± Christina¡¯s face turned red with anger almost instantly. ¡°Why should I coax him and submit to him?¡± she snapped at Sebastian coldly. ¡°Mr. Hadley isn¡¯t exactly good at expressing himself. Please forgive him if he has done anything to offend you.¡± Sebastian replied with a helpless expression. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. Nathaniel is very good at expressing his feelings. He locks people up whenever he gets angry and forces himself on them whenever he gets mad. I have never seen anyone who is more expressive than him,¡± Christina said and went straight upstairs. Sebastian could only let out a helpless sigh as he watched her walk away. Just how did their conflict get worse after the trip to the amusement park? Christina sobered up a lot after taking a hot showerte at night. Hmph! I don¡¯t care what happens to Nathaniel! I just want him to stay away from me and the kids! She was snapped out of her train of thought when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Mrs. Hadley? The doctor said Mr. Hadley¡¯s fever is caused by an inmmation of the wound on his back. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to go see him?¡± The butler waited for a bit, but there was no reply, so he could only turn around and walk away. The wound on his back? Oh, that¡¯s right! I remember him getting injured when he shielded me from the cart. I thought he would¡¯ve had someone treat him upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor. Turns out, he has left that wound untreated ever since! Wait a minute¡­ Doesn¡¯t that mean he was injured while spending the day with me at the amusement park? It¡¯s no wonder his wound got inmed! I don¡¯t want to care about him, but¡­ Do I really just leave him be? Ugh¡­ I am partly responsible for his fever, though¡­ After rolling around in bed and hesitating for a bit, she gave in to the soft spot in her heart and tiptoed toward the study. Chapter 375 The Gibson Family Might Be Involved Chapter 375 The Gibson Family Might Be Involved Nathamel¡¯s tall figure could be seen lying on the couch with his feet dangling off the armrest. The atmosphere in the room felt incredibly tense as though he were a sleeping lion. The medicine was neatlyid out on the coffee table, and the ss of warm water on the side had turned cold. ¡°What¡¯s he trying to aplish here? Gain sympathy?¡± Christina muttered under her breath with a pout. She then brought in a jug of warm water, opened the box containing the medicine, and read its instructions. Take two tablets orally, huh¡­ ¡°Wake up, Nathaniel. It¡¯s time to take your medicine,¡± Christina called out to him in a somewhat soft voice. Like a statue made of stone, Nathaniel showed no response whatsoever. Christina tried patting him on the cheek, only to realize his skin was as hot as boiling water. Oh, my goodness! This high fever will probably damage his brain if we don¡¯t treat it in time! My kids are definitely going to beughed at for having a dimwit as a father! She was hesitating about whether she should have Raymond feed Nathaniel the medicine when Madison. stormed into the room. ¡°Christina, you heartless b*tch! Are you trying to get Mr. Hadley killed?¡± she yelled while grabbing the ss of cold water on the coffee table and sshing it all over Christina¡¯s face.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Infuriated, Christina sshed the hot water on Madison¡¯s face in retaliation. Christina showed no emotion whatsoever as she ced the ss, which was still somewhat warm, down on the table. ¡°Who let you in here? You have been suspended from Hadley Corporation, so who are you to show up here like this?¡± The tension in the room intensified instantly. As Christina was the woman of the house at Scenic Garden Manor, she had every right to confront Madison. ¡°By entering this house without a legitimate purpose, you are technically trespassing on private property. I could call the police and have you arrested for this!¡± Christina continued with a look in her eyes as cold as ice. ¡°You have no right to abuse Mr. Hadley like this, Christina!¡± Madison hade rushing over the moment she heard about Nathaniel¡¯s condition from Sebastian. Her heart felt as though it was stabbed by a million needles when she saw Nathaniel lying on the couch. with his face all pale.. She hated Christina to the bone for toying with the man she had loved and protected for almost eight years. It¡¯s all Christina¡¯s fault that I got suspended! I would never have let things get this bad if I knew about Mr. Hadley¡¯s condition! Christina¡¯s tone was dripping with sarcasm as she said with a snicker, ¡°I enjoy abusing Nathaniel, and he enjoys being abused by me. If you¡¯re able to make him leave me, do it. Otherwise, f*cking leave us alone! The look on Madison¡¯s face turned incredibly gloomy, but there was nothing she could do except re daggers at Christina. Christina then whipped out her phone and gave Raymond a call. A few bodyguards came marching into the room a few momentster. ¡°Who told you guys to let her in? I¡¯ll have you all fired if something like this happens again!¡± Christina shouted angrily. The only reason the bodyguards did not stop Madison from entering the house was because they knew her as Nathaniel¡¯s assistant. ¡°Understood, Mrs. Hadley.¡± The bodyguards then walked up to Madison and said with conflicted looks on their faces, ¡°Please leave, Ms. Taggart. Don¡¯t make this any more difficult for us.¡± Madison was seething with anger, but she could only leave with the bodyguards as she had no valid reason to stick around. Just like that, the study fell intoplete silence once again. Christina wiped the remaining water droplets off her face with a paper towel before shooting Nathaniel a cold nce. ¡°See this? You¡¯re the reason I have to put up with all this crap.¡± She then fetched him another ss of warm water from the kitchen. This time, she also brought a bowl and a spoon with her. Christina ced the pill in the bowl and crushed it with the spoon before dissolving it in a small amount of water. After preparing the medicine, she lifted Nathaniel¡¯s head slightly and fed him the medicine using the spoon. The pill tasted bitter after being crushed and dissolved in water, causing Nathaniel to frown slightly in response. It was already in the wee hours of the morning by the time Christina was done feeding him the medicine. and tucking him in. ¡°Honestly, why do I keep putting up with your crap?¡± Christina mumbled to herself as she nced at Nathaniel, who was sleeping soundly before leaving the room.. She woke up ratherte the next morning. Nathaniel was having breakfast at the dining table when she came downstairs. ¡°Here you go, Mrs. Hadley. Enjoy your breakfast!¡± One of the housekeepers served up Christina¡¯s breakfast the moment she sat down at the table. ¡°Thank you for looking after Mr. Hadleyst night,¡± said Raymond with a chuckle. The Gibson Family Might Be Involved. Nathaniel paused and shifted his gaze toward Christina when he heard that. He knew that someone was looking after himst night, but he thought it was Raymond instead. Christina shot Raymond an annoyed nce. ¡°If you¡¯re so free, then why don¡¯t you go weed the courtyard Raymond stopped talking after that. The courtyard was as huge as a ser field, so an old man like him would probably die of exhaustion if he were to weed the entire courtyard. Christina was getting ready to leave the house after breakfast when Nathaniel called out to her, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know where I¡¯m going once you ask my driverter,¡± Christina replied coldly. Hmph! Don¡¯t think our rtionship has improved simply because I took care of youst night! A deep frown creased Nathaniel¡¯s brow when he heard that. Christina¡¯s sudden change in attitude had truly caught him by surprise. Raymond and the housekeepers kept their heads low when they sensed the tension rising at the dining table. Christina then ignored him and walked right out of the house. A few minutes after the car left the house, Nathaniel received a message from the driver that read: Mrs. Hadley is meeting a famous celebrity named Francis Fernando. Nathaniel got so mad when he saw Francis¡¯ name that he almost crushed his phone to bits. Having witnessed what Christina was capable of doing yesterday, none of the staff dared insult her when she arrived at the mansion. Penelope watched on as Christina rode the elevator straight to the third floor.. Mr. Fernando¡¯s office is on the third floor! None of us would dare go there without his permission! ¡°What¡¯s so great about Christina anyway? Why is she allowed ess to the third floor?¡± ¡°She¡¯s being far too arrogant! We should teach her a lesson!¡± Penelope pulled those staff close and said with a vicious look in her eyes, ¡°I have an idea that¡¯ll make her think twice about messing with us¡­¡± The windows in the spacious living room on the third floor provided a clear view of the scenery outside. Francis had on a white dress shirt with the first button undone, which revealed his sexy Adam¡¯s apple and exquisite corbones. His outfit matched the ck and white color theme of the living room, which gave off a somewhat solemn vibe. ¡°Would you prefer milk or orange juice?¡± Chapter 376 On One Condition Chapter 376 On One Condition ¡°Are you saying someone intended to kill Granny and Mom?¡± Christina, whose brows were furrowed, plunged into deep thoughts. ¡°Or is it because your family had offended someone?¡± Francis was also baffled by the matter, ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± answered Christina with resolution. She knew very well what kind of person Evelyn and Sharon were. They certainly wouldn¡¯t be on bad terms with someone. ¡°If we want to get to the bottom of this, we can only investigate the Gibson family.¡± Francis gazed at the calm look on her face and couldn¡¯t figure out what was on her mind. Suddenly, Christina raised her eyes and saw him staring at her with nted eyes. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all I managed to find out,¡± stated Francis honestly. Christina mocked, ¡°This little information is certainly not worth me signing a contract.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve signed it anyway and can¡¯t change your mind now. We¡¯ll start working after fifteen minutes, You can rest for a while.¡± A half-smile hung on his face. After saying that, he stood up and walked away. It must be because Christina didn¡¯t sleep wellst night that she seemed slightly deprived of sleep now. Music started ying in the quiet room. She fell asleep while leaning on the couch while listening to the slow melody. When she woke up, she realized she had overslept. Why didn¡¯t Francis wake me up? After going downstairs, Christina saw Francis, who had put on make-up but had yet to change his clothes. ¡°No need to hurry. Take your time.¡± Several people around Christina turned to her and began to b*tch about her. How dare she let Mr. Fernando wait for her. I¡¯ve never seen a stylist so full of herself She¡¯s simply taking Mr. Fernando¡¯s patience for granted to act as she pleases. Christina had no intention of exining anything and scowled at Francis. She walked over to the wardrobe, picked the outfits to match them, and worked until nighttime. ¡°There will be a fashion showter. Come with me so I can introduce you to some famous people in the industry.¡± Francis appeared behind Christina without making a sound. ¡°I still have things to do. Besides, there¡¯s no term in the agreement saying I must apany you to social events Christina declined his request frankly. For some reason, she felt very tired today. ¡°All right. Head home early to rest after you finish work After the staff hastily packed the stuff, they swarmed around Francis and left with him. After tidying the clothes he had worn earlier, Christina ced them in the storeroom and walked out the door Nathaniel¡¯s car was waiting for her at the entrance instead of the car she rode here this morning. It was difficult to hail a taxi in the high end residential area. Thus, Christina had no choice but to get into the car. Then, the car drove away. Nathaniel¡¯s hand was propped against the car window. He rested his temple on the back of his hand while reading the document in his hand with his eyes lowered. ¡°Put these on.¡± It was not until then that Christina noticed the branded shopping bag containing a dress and high heels beside her foot. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°A banquet.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± Nathaniel put away the documents in his hands while his gaze shifted to the stubborn look on her small face. ¡°Get changed, or I¡¯ll help you do that.¡± His tone was very firm, leaving her no choice. Christina regretted so much for taking care of himst night. Now that he has recovered, he is giving me a hard time. Seeing her remain unmoved, Nathaniel simply raised his hand to remove her coat, exposing her fair and tender shoulder. His gesture made Christina¡¯s hair stand on end like a frightened cat. Panicked, she uttered. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Only then did Nathaniel was willing to let go of her hand. The driver then rolled up the partition. Half an hourter, they arrived at the banquet¡¯s entrance. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯re very honored to have you attend tonight¡¯s dinner,¡± said Frank, who organized the event He ran a fashionpany that owned several famous clothing brands nationwide. ¡°May I know who is thisdy?¡± A woman who came with Mr. Hadley must be high-status. I must get to know her. ¡°She¡¯s my wife.¡± A glint shed in Frank¡¯s eyes. ¡°So you¡¯re Mrs. Hadley. What a coincidence. Some fashion designers are also here today. Why don¡¯t I introduce you to them?¡± Nathaniel nodded faintly. Frank left to look for the designers while Christina red at Nathaniel from the side. Did he bring me here today so that I can make new connections? After a short while, Frank returned with two famous designers in the industry and introduced them to Christina. As designers who shared the same interests, they got along well and got acquainted quickly, saved each other¡¯s contacts, and even agreed to go to an exhibition together. ¡°We¡¯ve invited a new ambassador to showcase thetest menswear tonight. Please let me know if there is any to your liking, Mr. Hadley.¡± What mattered the most to Frank now was a coboration with Hadley. Corporation. If Hadley Corporation invested in hispany, the business would surely boost. ¡°I will keep an eye out,¡± said Nathaniel calmly. Right then, music started ying on the stage at the front while some tall and slender male models. dressed in thetest menswear walked out. Everyone had their gazes fixated on the stage. The menswear collection had pretty decent tailoring and design, while the outfit matching looked stylish. ¡°Look. It¡¯s Francis Fernando.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really him. Let¡¯s ask for his autograph backstageter!¡± ¡°Oh, my dream man¡­¡± Hearing the familiar name, Christina shifted her gaze to the front. Francis¡¯ appearance on the stage instantly outshined the other male models. It turned out that the event Francis mentioned earlier happened to be here.. They exchanged nces. When he saw her, the surprised look in his eyes was apparent, but it quickly disappeared. After Francis finished cat walking and got off the stage, many women surrounded him, requesting to take pictures with him and have his autograph. He fulfilled their wishes. After taking some pictures, the people around him dispersed. Francis walked up to Christina. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were tired? Why didn¡¯t you head home after getting off work?¡± Before Christina could say a word, he shot Nathaniel a provocative look. ¡°Someone must have forced you here against your will.¡± ¡°Stop it, warned Christina with a low voice. Lately, every time Nathaniel and Francis met they always almost get into a fight. Unaware of the rtionship between the three of them, Frank grinned at the side and kept bringing up the cooperation. ¡°Mr. Hadley, what do you think about the new menswear collection? Is it worth the investment?¡± ¡°They look nice, but the ambassador is awful. We¡¯ll do business together on one condition-you someone else,¡± stated Nathaniel coldly. hire Caught in a bind, Frank looked at the charming Francis. Everyone thinks he looks stunning. Howe Mr. Hadley is still displeased? Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll do as you wish.¡± ¡°Come to my office with the contract tomorrow.¡± After saying that, Nathaniel grabbed Christina¡¯s hand and added. ¡°We¡¯ll take our leave first.¡± ¡°Okay. Goodbye, Mr. Hadley.¡± As they walked toward the door, Francis ran after them. Chapter 377 No One Takes Care Of Daddy Chapter 377 No One Takes Care Of Daddy As the car door opened, Nathaniel swiftly lifted Christina off her feet and carried her inside. The closing of the door reverberated in her ears as she found herself pressed against the car window. Without hesitation, Nathaniel forcefully kissed her, his fiery and intense breath engulfing her like a raging fire, consuming herpletely. Instinctively, she tried to evade his overpowering presence. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside the window. It was at that moment she understood why he did that. Nathaniel intentionally used her to provoke Francis. Outside the car, a chilling gust of wind slipped into Francis¡¯ cor, yet his handsome face remained remarkablyposed. The figure pressed against the window and their entwined hands appeared to be signaling to him that something was happening in the car. He felt as if someone had ripped his heart out and dropped it from a great height, shattering it into pieces. As the car drove away, only the solitary figure of the man remained on the empty ground. Inside the car, Christina pushed Nathaniel away, her icy face showing no reaction. ¡°You¡¯ve achieved your goal. Can you let go now?¡± The wrist Nathaniel gripped onto throbbed with a faint pain. Nathaniel slowly released his grip, appearing calm as if nothing had happened. He admitted he did that to provoke Francis. Seeing the disappointment and frustration on Francis¡¯ face gave him a sense of satisfaction. Christina rubbed her wrist before mouthing the word ¡°childish.¡± ¡°I can be more childish than this if you insist on keeping in touch with him,¡± Nathaniel said, unfazed by her disdain. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina was the first to get out of the car and went upstairs. Observing her visibly irritated expression, the butler deduced that another argument had ensued between the couple. Nathaniel, too, ascended the stairs and retreated into his study. Engrossed in his work, he pushed himself until thete hours of the night, but his exhausted body sumbed to a fever. The butler brought a ss of water upstairs and noticed the medicine on the desk had only been taken once. ¡°You still need to continue taking your medication. Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel responded with a faint hum and paid no further attention to his reminder. The butler knew he could not persuade Nathaniel further. Saying more will only annoy him. The following day, Christina woke up and left the house without having breakfast. She agreed to take on the role of stylist for Francispany. In other words, she would not only be serving him but the entirepany as well. Today, there was a retro-themed eyewear advertisement shoot for one of the artists in thepany, and the location was in an area in the old town. Since she assumed the position, Christina was assigned Penelope as her assistant, and thetter found it difficult to ept it. Upon arriving at the set, Penelope made little effort to assist her. She spent most of her time either chatting with others or taking photographs. After the shoot, they returned to thepany in the evening. ¡°Please tidy up the clothes.¡± Christina was ready to depart to the Hadley residence to pick up the children. ¡°Why should I? It was you who messed up the clothes,¡± Penelope retorted, crossing her arms and showing no intention of taking any action. Christina casually put the bag of clothes aside and said, ¡°It¡¯s up to you whether you want to tidy them up or not. My job here is done.¡± She then turned around and walked out the door, leaving behind an ashen-faced Penelope and a bag of clothes. Christina got into the car and instructed the driver, ¡°The Hadley residence.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley,¡± the driver responded and drove off When Christina arrived at the Hadley residence, the two children were ying ser in the courtyard with their grandparents. ¡°Mommy!¡± Cam and Lucas ran over when they saw Christina from a distance. They hugged her legs, their happy faces beaming with delight. ¡°Join us for dinner before you leave,¡± Julia said with a grin. Being with her grandchildren brought her so much joy. She could not bear to part with these two adorable little ones. ¡°All right, Mom,¡± she responded. Nothing could escape Julia¡¯s eyes. Even though Julia did not live in Scenic Garden Manor, she knew Christina had a fight with Nathaniel. As they were walking back to the house, Julia talked about random household matters before finally shifting to the topic of the couple¡¯s rtionship. ¡°Nathaniel has always been reserved and has had difficulty expressing his emotions since childhood. But everything he does, he does it with your best interests in mind.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina responded, ¡°There are many ways to be nice to someone. Acting dominant and selfish is not one of them¡± After enduring the silent treatment for two days, the thought of divorce resurfaced in her mind If it were not for the children¡¯s sake, she would have already handed Nathaniel the divorce papers. ¡°It¡¯s important for the husband and wife tomunicate with each other. He wouldn¡¯t know what¡¯s on your mind if you don¡¯t voter your dissatisfaction.¡± Julia said, gently patting Christina¡¯s hand with anticipation in her eyes. Christina bobbed her head in acknowledgment, realizing there was no need to make the elders in the family worry. After dinner, Christina brought the children back to Scenic Garden Manor. As soon as the butler saw Christina, he hurriedly walked up to them. ¡°Good to have all of you home.¡±Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Yet, his hesitant demeanor caught the attention of the two children. ¡°You seem worried, Mr. Patel. Did something happen to Daddy?¡± Lucas looked up, his clear eyes sparked with curiosity. The butler grew agitated. ¡°Mr. Hadley is having a fever again, and he refused to take his medicine.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened, but she had no intention of responding. Doesn¡¯t he know how to take his medicine? He¡¯s an adult, yet he expects me to spoon-feed him? She felt she had done her best and was not guilty about it. At that moment, Sebastian came downstairs with a serious look. When his gaze met Christina¡¯s calm face, he said, ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s condition has worsenedpared tost time. ording to the doctor, the anti- inmmatory medication he took once wasn¡¯t sufficient to fully reduce the inmmation resulting in the recurrence of symptoms. The doctor may have given him a jab, but he still needs to take his prescribed medication.¡± After speaking, Sebastian looked at Christina, subtly hinting at her to do something. The others, too, turned their attention to Christina. In a nonchnt voice, she finally responded, ¡°If he can tough it out and refuse to take his medication despite how serious his condition is, it just goes to show he can handle it. So, there¡¯s really no need to worry.¡± Sebastian¡¯s and the butler¡¯s expressions darkened. How can we not worry about him? In the end, Cam and Lucas took the initiative to go upstairs as they were worried about their father. ¡°We want to go see Daddy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so sad that Daddy is sick, and there¡¯s no one to take care of him,¡± Cam said, her concern shining through. Sebastian found sce in the fact that the children still cared about Nathaniel. Witnessing the distress on the faces of the two little ones, Christina quickly caught up with them. ¡°Daddy is ill, so you kids should stay away from him. We wouldn¡¯t want you to catch it too.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll stand far away and just observe, don¡¯t worry. We won¡¯t get infected.¡± Lucas held Cam¡¯s hand and walked in the study¡¯s direction. Feeling a sense of resignation, Christina closely trailed behind the pair and stepped into the room. ¡°Daddy, are you sick? Do you feel ufortable?¡± Lucas walked to the couch, his eyes filled with genuine concern as he gazed at Nathaniel¡¯s pale face. ¡°Get well soon. Daddy!¡± Cam expressed her concern in an innocent tone. Nathaniel tenderly caressed their heads, finding sce in the smiles that adorned their faces. It brought him a slight sense of relief amidst his difort. Christina went up and pulled the children away. ¡°It¡¯s just a minor flu, don¡¯t worry. Come, let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 378 You Have A Guest Chapter 378 You Have A Guest ¡°Daddy¡¯s sick, so we want to take care of him¡± Lucas blinked innocently. ¡°We took care of you when you were sick, too,¡± Cam chimed in to express her agreement. Christina was baffled, not knowing how to exin the situation to the children. ¡°It¡¯s different. Daddy¡¯s condition is more serious. I¡¯d be worried if you two fell ill, too.¡± Lucas and Cam fell silent immediately because their mother had a point. The two children considered awhile before uttering in unison, ¡°We¡¯ll leave the responsibility of caring for Daddy to you, then.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Christina almost choked. She carried the children to their room and said, ¡°I can just leave him to Raymond and Mr. Taggart. I still need to take care of you two.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. Daddy¡¯s a part of our family. It¡¯s only right for family members to take care of him. Mommy, why do you not want to take care of Daddy?¡± questioned Lucas with his arms crossed like an adult. Cam¡¯s lips were pursed into a line as she pinned a dubious gaze on her mother. ¡°Do you not see Daddy as one of us?¡± Christina was amused by their persistent questions. ¡°It was you who said family members should love one another. Was it all a lie?¡± Lucas pressed on with his head tilted, appearing confused. ¡°No. Mommy never lies,¡± Cam stated confidently. Their conversation dumbfounded Christina. They won¡¯t stop if I don¡¯t go over to take care of Nathaniel today. Given no choice, she agreed, ¡°All right. I promise to go over to take care of him.¡± It was not until they heard Christina¡¯s promise did they feel at ease. With that, the children followed the housekeeper to take their showers. Christina was in no hurry to visit the study. Instead, she returned to her room after leaving the children¡¯s room. It was not until she had taken a shower and changed into her pajamas did she head to the study. Nathaniel was in an unconscious state. The weight loss made his charming features look more chiseled. The way Christina saw it, he was like an injured lion that would attack her even if she approached him with good intentions. She had not forgotten the naughty act he did at the banquet¡¯s entrancest night. He bit my lips. Just then. Raymond walked in with a ss of warm water. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mr. Hadley will take his medicines now that you¡¯re here, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Raymond, who usually worked leisurely, was exceptionally efficient that day. It did not take long for him to set all the things on the coffee table and leave the study. After feeding Nathaniel his medicine, Christina wiped him down with a towel. That was when she recalled Sebastian mentioning the unhealed wound on Nathaniel¡¯s back. It was what caused thetter¡¯s fever to recur. Expending much effort, Christina finally flipped Nathaniel around. Immediately, the white shirt smeared with blood came into view. The crimson stain was as striking as a blooming red flower in the snow. Sebastian wasn¡¯t lying. Nathaniel¡¯s condition is really serious. The mottled wound was a shocking sight. Nheless, Christina fetched a bottle of anti-inmmatory medicine and carefully cleaned his wound. Soon, a mountain of gauze and used cotton swabs was stacked beside her. There was an hour left until the next round of medicine intake after dealing with his wound. Hence, Christinay on the couch and scrolled through her phone to kill time. In no time, she fell asleep on the armrest, and her phone slipped from her hand to the carpet.. The pitch-ck sky slowly turned grey as midnight approached. As Nathaniel¡¯s eyes fluttered open, he felt a heated sensation by his legs, as if a heater was sitting on them. ncing over, he saw a curled-up figure hugging his thighs like they were a bolster. Nathaniel sat up in response. As he was worried that Christina might catch a cold from the way she slept. he carefully lifted her into his arms. Deep in her slumber, she opened her eyes drowsily and let herself be carried upon recognizing the familiar face. ¡°Let¡¯s go to our room to sleep.¡± Christina drowsily murmured a response and continued sleeping in his embrace. Nathaniel was feeling more energized after getting some sleep. Rising to his feet, he carried her in his arms and walked to their room. The two had not shared a bed in a long time. After all, Christina had been treating him coldly ever since he returned. Now that the opportunity presented itself, Nathaniel happily hugged her slender body and kissed her hair, taking in her scent as he dozed off. Rays of the morning sun flooded into the room the next day. Christina woke up to find herself in bed with a sturdy arm resting on her waist. Looking up, she saw Nathaniel sleeping soundly beside her. She instinctively felt the man¡¯s forehead. Great, his fever has subsided. Letting out a sigh of relief, Christina quietly slipped out of bed, got changed, and left the room. Lucas and Cam were having their breakfast on the first floor when they saw their mother descending the stairs. Immediately, they asked, ¡°Mommy, is Daddy feeling better?¡± shing them a faint smile, Christina replied, ¡°He¡¯s much better, but he¡¯s still sleeping. Well, we mustn¡¯t disturb him. I¡¯ll send you to the kindergarten when you¡¯ve finished your breakfast.¡± The news of their father¡¯s recovery almost sent the children leaping with joy. ¡°Okay!¡± After breakfast, Christina left the house with Lucas and Cam. By the time Nathaniel was awake again, he was feeling much better. Even his back did not hurt anymore. When Nathaniel reached the first floor, Raymond had already ced his breakfast on the dining table. Nathaniel took his seat to find a box of medicines and a note beside his cutleries.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The writing on the note was squiggly, which was clearly written by children. It read: Daddy, remember to take your medicine, Love, Lucas and Cam. ¡°Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam are really caring.¡± Raymondmented softly. Good thing they persuaded Mrs. Hadley. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have gone over to take care of Mr. Hadley. Nathaniel had a simple breakfast and left the house with the box of medicines. In the CEO¡¯s office at Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel perused the documents in his office while Sebastian sorted them out. At noon, someone knocked on the door and pushed it open. Madison entered with some homemade dishes. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you shouldn¡¯t exert yourself too much when you¡¯ve just recovered. Come here and have something to eat first.¡± With that, she began spreading out the dishes on the table. Sebastian could neither chase nor scold her. Hence, he walked out and left the door ajar to avoid unnecessary gossip. ¡°Put the things down and leave,¡± hissed Nathaniel, his gaze still fixed on the documents. Regardless, Madison walked over with a bowl of soup, paying no heed to his words. ¡°Mr. Hadley, please have some soup. I¡¯ll leave when you¡¯ve finished your meal.¡± All she wanted was to see Nathaniel recover. That was enough to satisfy her. Right then, the sound of footsteps came from outside, causing the two in the office to turn their heads. Christina walked in at that very moment. She was worried Nathaniel might forget to take his medicine, which could result in his fever recurring. Whether or not he might have a fever was the least of her concern. Rather, it was the possibility of the children contracting the bacteria that worried her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you have a guest,¡± stated Christina as she continued making her way into the office. Madison rolled her eyes inwardly, annoyed by her words. Why don¡¯t you leave then? Why did you come in to Christina passed Madison by and leaned against the office table on her side ¡°Isn¡¯t it rather mappropriate for you to show up at the office now?¡± Chapter 379 What If I Cannot Make It Chapter 379 What If I Cannot Make It Madison¡¯s face tightened into a forced smile. ¡°I¡¯m only here as a friend. Does my presence pose a threat to you?¡± That only applies to enemies. Your presence isn¡¯t powerful enough yet.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze had a tinge of iciness, expressing the indifference on her face. Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her slim waist and gently pulled her into his embrace. As a result, she fell naturally into hisp and leaned against his chest. ¡°Are you hungry? Have some,¡± prompted Nathaniel while lifting the bowl of soup to feed her. Watching Christina being fed the lunch she prepared with care sent a rush of resentment into Madison¡¯s heart. Even breathing became a chore to her. ¡°It tastes okay, but it doesn¡¯t suit my taste. Why don¡¯t we go to a restaurant instead?¡± Christina wiped the corners of her mouth. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes lit up as if he had heard a piece of good news. He put the bowl down and walked toward the door with Christina¡¯s hand in his. The moment the door was opened, Sebastian, who had been standing guard outside, came into sight. ¡°Clean up the office, and don¡¯t simply let anyone enter in the future,¡± ordered Nathaniel before marching away with Christina. Madison clenched her fists. It would be a lie if she said the scene did not hurt her pride. When the couple arrived at the underground parking lot, Christina was ced into the passenger seat. As Nathaniel was afraid that she might escape, he pressed on her shoulder while fastening her seatbelt. ¡°Where shall we eat?¡± he asked when he got into the driver¡¯s seat. Christina merely made that suggestion to provoke Madison. Never did the former expect him to take her words seriously. ¡°Anything. You decide.¡± Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and drove the car out of the parking lot. The weather that day was pretty splendid as rays of sunlight that had a tint of warmth shone through the windows. Christina rolled down the window, allowing the breeze to rush in and flutter her lustrous hair. Her dark eyes carried a dazed look as she stared at the scenery. Just then, light reflected off the corner of the rearview mirror. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a camera. Christina¡¯s body jolted, the feeling of being watched engulfing her. ¡°Nathaniel, do you spot any cars tailing Nathaniel instinctively nced at the rearview mirror but found nothing abnormal. ¡°Nope. Can you take a closer look and identify the car?¡± What If I Cannot Make It s, the car had disappeared by the time she did as instructed. Where did it go? I¡¯m sure I saw a camera aimed at me from the car¡¯s passenger seat. Could I be hallucinating because I did not sleep wellst night? ¡°Do you need me to pull over to check out the situation?¡± Nathaniel asked as he looked at her. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, Christina scanned the surroundings and still found nothing out of the ordinary. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Maybe I was too nervous.¡± Noting her disturbed expression, Nathaniel took her hand with concern and assured her, ¡°I¡¯m here. Everything will be fine.¡± Sure enough, the warmth his hand exuded helped her calm down as though it had magic, Momentster, they arrived at a private room in a restaurant. To Christina¡¯s surprise, the dishes were already prepared beforehand. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of dishes. We can¡¯t possibly finish them.¡± Christina was conflicted, for she hated wasting food. ¡°You can treat it as a reward for taking care of mest night,¡± said Nathaniel. He helped her into her seat and served her a bowl of soup. ¡°Apparently, this helps to boost the immune system.¡± Christina quickly lowered her head to drink the soup in order to avoid his scorching gaze. Her great appetite allowed her to take in a lot of food. At the same time, the way she kept her head lowered like a hamster eating its food lifted Nathaniel¡¯s spirits. On their way home after their meal, Christina subconsciously trained her eyes on the road. This time, however, she found nothing unusual. Hence, Christina put the matter out of her mind. Before the car arrived at the office, Christina¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Where are you?¡± came Francis¡¯ aloof voice. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to listen to you if you¡¯re going to lecture me for not tidying the clothesst night,¡± Christina responded in a simr tone. ¡°There¡¯s an awards ceremony tonight. It starts at six o¡¯clock. Don¡¯t bete.¡± With that, Francis ended the call. Christina checked the time and noticed it was almost three o¡¯clock. Considering she had to prepare pre-styling work in advance, she had to head over immediately. After checking the traffic, she realized the venue was closer to where she currently was. ¡°Pull over here. I¡¯m not going to the officeter.¡± ¡°Where are you going?¡± Returning Nathaniel¡¯s gaze, Christina answered, ¡°Granite Avenue. It¡¯s just nearby. I can walk from here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you there.¡± What If I Cannot Make It Nathaniel turned the car around as soon as he finished. The sunlight streamed in through the window. outlining his dashing yet stoic face. He looked as if he was emitting light at all times. Twenty minutester, the car pulled up at the entrance of the venue. The red carpet was spread, and stern-looking bodyguards were already in their positions. ¡°Thank you for the ride-¡± Nathaniel reached out to unbuckle her seatbelt as soon as the car came to a stop. His majestic figure leaned over from the driver¡¯s seat, blocking out the light that shone on Christina. With their bodies drawn closer, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Christina turned her head slightly to avoid his gaze. Meanwhile, Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on her fair neck. In the next second, he lowered his head and bit her without hesitation. Realization dawned on Christina the moment she felt a warm sensation spread over her neck. ¡°Nathaniel, let me go!¡± She struggled and hit his shoulders a few times, yet her attacks merely shook his body. The car windows were tinted, hence one could not look in from the outside. Nheless, the puzzled bodyguards eyed the luxury car parked at the entrance. Why isn¡¯t anyone getting out? Nathaniel remained in that position for some time until he was willing to release her. Her face had turned. as red as a cooked lobster. ¡°Nathaniel, how dare you! That was a childish move!¡± Christina glowered at the man. I shouldn¡¯t have let him send me here. I knew he¡¯d be up to no good. Nathaniel simply twitched his brow in amusement. After all, he had mastered the ways to tolerate her temper. He could make peace with her, regardless of how she felt. However, he would not allow Francis to push the boundaries or even have the slightest bit of wishful thinking. ¡°You can get out of the car now-¡± The door mmed shut with a bang before he could finish his words. Just like that, Christina entered the venue without looking back. It did not take her long to find Francis¡¯ room thanks to the staff¡¯s instructions. He refused to be touched by the makeup artists who were supposed to take turns applying makeup on him. Chapter 380 Delete It All Chapter 380 Delete It All ¡°If I go on stage without any makeup, I¡¯ll rant on Twitter about how irresponsible you were so my fans can criticize you.¡± Francis crossed his arms and hummed gleefully. ¡°Hah I didn¡¯t ask you to wait for me, anyway While saying that. Christina cleaned her hands with a wet wipe and began applying skincare products on Francis face. Pre-makeup skincare routines were a vital step. They could even affect the oue of the touch-ups. After inspecting his face meticulously, Christina realized he had amazing skin. Unlike normal people, he did not have uneven skin tones. When she had finished applying the foundation on his face, she instructed, ¡°Wait here.¡± Putting down the applicator, she cleaned her hands again with another wet wipe before picking out his outfit. An artist¡¯s outfit was usually borrowed, but in the case of well-known celebrities like Francis, the brands would naturally sponsor the celebrities¡¯ clothes upon learning about their attendance at the event. It did not matter whether the clothes were used, but the brand would get free advertisement if the celebrities wore them. Christina picked a suit, a white shirt, and two royal blue pins. A simple outfit would suffice for events like that. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring something from the studio? I can wear them if they¡¯re suitable.¡± Francis sat with his legs crossed, casually staring at Christina¡¯s back as she worked. Herportment was naturally graceful. In fact, her back alone exuded an elegant poise. ¡°We don¡¯t have any male outfits in stock. Besides, we don¡¯t have your sizes,¡± Christina pointed out as shepared two shirts of different styles with the suit. ¡°I¡¯ll go to your office to get one made when I¡¯m free,¡± said Francis inly. Christina merely tried to match the outfits instead of answering him. When she was happy with her choice of clothing, she set them aside and continued putting on the setting. powder for Francis. ¡°Why do you need to wait for so long before putting on the powder?¡± asked Francis, trying to find common ground. Their scents were apparent to one another, considering how close they were to each other. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m waiting for the foundation to set. It¡¯s a little trick I use. After that, I¡¯ll apply the powder before your face secrets any oil. That way, the foundation will stay. Most makeup artists don¡¯t know this trick.¡± Christina felt a little proud to share her secret. Seeing her smile, Francis, too, did the same. Suddenly, his smile stiffened, and his gaze was fixed on the red mark on Christina¡¯s neck. Wow, it even has traces of dark purple. Just exactly how hard does one need to kiss to make that color appear? The view was like daggers that shed at Francis¡¯ heart. It ached terribly, even though there were no wounds. ¡°Why are you still staying in Scenic Garden Manor? That¡¯s where you were imprisoned¡ª¡± Christina stuffed his bbering mouth with the applicator before he ended his sentence. 5 Bonus A terrific amount of powder went up to his nose, leaving him panting even after coughing several times. ¡°Are you trying to kill me, Christina?¡± he screeched in panic. ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t you dare bring up my rtionship with Nathaniel in public ces like this.¡± Christina threw him a re to make her warning clearer. Hearing that, Francis wound his fingers around her bony wrist and stared intently at her wless face. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s not talk about him.¡± Rolling her eyes at him, Christina freed her hand to continue putting on his makeup,pletely unaware of the prying eyes in the distance that witnessed her ¡°outrageous acts.¡± How could she treat Francis like that? To the otherdies, Francis was like royalty. They could not believe he was getting bullied by a mere makeup artist. Infuriated by what she saw, Penelope saved the pictures she secretly took so she could send them into the fan group chat when the time came. Hmph! Christina might not like Francis, but he has many admirers. His precious fans would never tolerate someone bullying their dream man. Looks like someone will help me deal with her this time. An evil smirk crept to Penelope¡¯s lips as she stared at the photos. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and in came a woman in a red gown who sat on Francis¡¯p without hesitation. ¡°Fran, I didn¡¯t know you were attending the banquet. Why didn¡¯t you say hello?¡± ¡°I was busy,¡± Francis answered tly. He did not push the woman away, but his gaze was fixed on Christina,nguidly observing thetter¡¯s expression. Christina calmly applied the lipstick on him using her finger, for it gave the best result. Hence, Francis could feel the softness of her finger. No matter how much the celebrity rambled. Francis did not register a single word. Instead, his attention was fixed on Christina. At that point, Christina was done with his makeup. ¡°It¡¯s done. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you need to stay to fix my makeup?¡± Francis¡¯ pupils constricted to express his dismay. ¡°I¡¯m the one who did the makeup. It won¡¯t get messed up. Don¡¯t worry. Penelope will be here,¡± said Christina while continuing to pack her tools on the table. When she turned around, Francis gripped her hand again. ¡°The banquet will end early tonight. Why don¡¯t Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. we go out and celebrate it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I need to go home to attend to my kids.¡± She retracted her hand and continued packing. The scene of Christina turning him down again infuriated the eavesdroppers. She made five disrespectful gestures and gave him three eye-rolls in just two hours! More importantly, she¡¯s actually a mother! Suddenly, Christina sensed an ufortable feeling at her back. As she turned around, she met the contemptuous eyes glowering at her. They stared at her with such intense resentment as if they wanted nothing more than to wipe her off the earth. ¡°Fran, is this your makeup artist?¡± The female celebrity narrowed her eyes at Christina. ¡°Yes. She¡¯s the one who did my recent makeovers.¡± ¡°No wonder you¡¯ve been looking more stylish,¡± the female celebritymented with a chuckle. Turning to Christina, the former asked. ¡°Can I have your contact details?¡± Of course, no one would refuse a business opportunity. Christina handed the woman her card-the new version Rayne helped to print. The woman put on an amused smile after casting an eye over the details. ¡°Your office is at Hadley Corporation?¡± ¡°Yep. Feel free to contact me whenever there¡¯s a need.¡± Christina returned the smile out of politeness and left with her things. The driver Nathaniel had assigned was already waiting for her by the time she exited through the building¡¯s back door. When she settled into the car, the driver drove straight to Scenic Garden Manor. It was alreadyte by the time she arrived for Lucas and Cam were already asleep. Still, she tiptoed into their room to give them a goodnight kiss before leaving their bedroom to take a shower. In the meantime, her phone rang nonstop on the dressing table. The first text read: Have you reached home? The next read: You must be exhausted today. Have a good rest. I¡¯ll treat you to lunch tomorrow. Finally, thest one read: What perfume do you use? It smells great. Use that tomorrow. Goodnight. They were all from Francis. Nathaniel read and deleted them all. When Christina came out of the bathroom, she met his bloodshot eyes that were staring intently at her He exuded an aura that gave her an immense sense of threat. They exchanged gazes while an unbearable tension started building in the air. Chapter 381 Moving Out Chapter 381 Moving Out Just as Christina was about to hide, the strapping man before her swiftly blocked her way. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± she muttered warily, brows knitted into a frown. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at the woman like a hunter zeroing in on his prey. ¡°Have you forgotten who you are?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Has it slipped her mind that we¡¯re husband and wife because I haven¡¯t reminded her in a while? Is that it? ¡°Does that matter? You treat me the same no matter what role I y in your life,¡± Christina replied, looking calm, cool, and collected. Whether I¡¯m his wife or not, all he does is rob me of my freedom and keep a constant watch on me¡­ Nathaniel gripped the woman¡¯s shoulders tightly, to the point where it seemed like he could break her bones at any time. ¡°Can¡¯t we sit and talk about it? Why must you keep fighting with me?¡± In response, Christina pulled her hair aside to reveal the red marks on her neck. ¡°Look at what you¡¯ve done. Is this what you mean by talking things through?¡± If he had even an ounce of respect for me, our rtionship wouldn¡¯t have be this bad! By then, Nathaniel could feel the fury in Christina¡¯s eyes as they burned into him. The next second, he gently caressed thetter¡¯s face and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t get close to Francis, I¡¯ll respect all your opinions,¡± Nathaniel said, a lot calmer and softer this time as he attempted topromise with her. Christina furrowed her brows. The man¡¯s hands were warm against her skin, and she had to admit her heart was softening. That said, it was still not reason enough for her to give in. ¡°Listen. The problems between us didn¡¯t arise because of Francis or Yosef. Do you understand that?¡± ¡°In what ways are they better than me, then?¡± Nathaniel retorted. If looks could kill, his scowl would¡¯ve in Christina on the spot. ¡°You¡¯re better than them in every way, but you don¡¯t seem to be able to respect me the way they have. Please just let me go¡­. Even though Christina¡¯sst sentence was almost a whisper, Nathaniel felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, extinguishing all hope he had left. He lowered his head andughed at himself, the fire in his eyes long gone. With that, he grabbed Christina¡¯s chin and kissed her. The next day, the morning sun gradually flooded the bedroom, chasing away the loneliness of the night.. When Christina woke up, she could still feel a lingering warmth beside her in bed. She was sore all over as she sat up, and it was only when she was taking off her clothes that she realized her body was littered with red marks. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, she headed downstairs for a quick breakfast and left the house. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you going to the entertainmentpany?¡± the driver asked. Christina leaned against the window and stared coldly at the scenery outside. ¡°No. Take me to the city. center first.¡± Meanwhile, Nathaniel was working on some documents in his office when Sebastian entered with a knock on the door. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Ljust heard from the driver that Mrs. Hadley has bought a condominium in the city center.¡± Oh, dear¡­ Is Mrs. Hadley thinking of moving out? Why is this fight of theirs getting worse by the day? Nathaniel froze in his tracks as a cold glint shed across his eyes. Huh? Is she moving out? What about the kids? Can she bear to leave them behind? ¡°There¡¯s one more thing¡­¡± Sebastian muttered hesitantly, prompting Nathaniel to re at him and sending chills down his back. ¡°Mrs. Hadley also visited aw firm to consult about divorce matters¡­ However, none of thewyers dared to take on the case when they realized you¡¯d be involved.¡± ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Christina, on the other hand, was feeling good about her purchase. Not only did the luxury condominium have excellent security, but it was also near the city center, thus making it convenient to get around town. More importantly, it was close to the kindergarten. Since Christina was no longer the naive girl she was ten years ago, she knew it was up to her to dictate her future. If she wanted a divorce, she¡¯d first have to have her own amodation. Thankfully, she could easily afford the condominium with her current sry, so the property agent wasted no time finalizing the sale after showing her around. Once that was done, Christina headed to thew firm for a consultation. s, thewyers turned her down almost immediately when they heard that Nathaniel was her husband. Then again, such a reaction was hardly surprising. After all, who in their right mind would want to go against someone like Nathaniel? Wouldn¡¯t that be akin to digging a grave for themselves? Christina, too, didn¡¯t mind that one bit. She had only wanted to learn more about the divorce process, so even if she couldn¡¯t hire awyer, she¡¯d represent herself in court. Afterposing herself, she finally returned to her studio. As soon as she stepped into the office, she came face to face with a beautifuldy. Ah, I recognize her¡­ She¡¯s the actress fromst night, Adeline Summers. She shot to stardom because of hertest role in a web drama. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for Nathaniel, I suggest you go to hispany,¡± Christina said without breaking her stride. ¡°I came here to order a custom-made dress from you. In attending a web drama awards show next month, and there¡¯s a good chance I¡¯ll win an award!¡± Adeline eximed. The next second, she approached Christna gingerly. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the rtionship between you and Nathaniel?¡± ¡°We work together,¡± Christina replied tly before turning to Rayne. ¡°Could you check my schedule to see if I¡¯m free?¡± Upon hearing that, thetter whipped out her phone and looked through the work calendar. ¡°We¡¯re fully booked for these two months. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t ept any more orders.¡± Christina quickly turned her attention back to Adeline. ¡°My schedule¡¯s packed. How about I rmend some other designers to you?¡± Adeline, however, felt somewhat slighted by the rejection. ¡°Hmph. Aren¡¯t you just a designer? What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Christina merely nced at the woman before walking to her office. ¡°See our guest out, Rayne.¡± Even when Adeline began shouting and cursing behind her, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue back. After closing the door, Christina sat at her table and browsed through her files on theputer. With that done, she moved to the cutting table and got down to work. Since she was dressed in a white V-neck shirt, the emerald pendant around her neck would hang out whenever she lowered her head. The pendant was crystal clear, and given that it was made from the rarest imperial emerald, even a tiny piece of it would¡¯ve cost a fortune. As time slowly ticked away, the warm afternoon rays shone through the windows and onto Christina¡¯s face. Just then, an unusually bright light red down on her, prompting her to move away instinctively. When her vision was finally back, she realized that what hit her couldn¡¯t have been sunlight. Without further ado, she took out her phone and zoomed in on the spot where the light hade from. Huh? There¡¯s an open window in the opposite building, but I don¡¯t see anyone¡­ How odd. I could have sworn someone was secretly taking photos of me. Christina was about to rack her brains over it when her phone suddenly rang. ¡°We¡¯re holding a meeting this afternoon. Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± Francis said brusquely when the call was answered. ¡°Aren¡¯t I just a stylist? Why would I be needed at the meeting? Don¡¯t bother me unless it¡¯s work- rted,¡± Christina muttered, somewhat distracted as she craned forward to look at the opposite building. ¡°We¡¯re discussing a new script, and it¡¯s about the journey and growth of a female designer. That¡¯s why we need your input. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll head over now.¡± After ending the call, Christina picked up her bag and left. Meanwhile, in one of the offices in the opposite building, a private detective was hiding behind a wall with a camera in hand, not daring to look in the direction of Christina¡¯s studio. Chapter 382 Necklace Photo Captured Chapter 382 Ne Photo Captured ¡°Be careful. Our efforts will be in vain the moment she starts feeling suspicious, another man warned The one holding the camera looked grim I want being careless. She¡¯s just way too alert With a faint sigh, he checked the camera gallery. Every photograph contained Christina as the main subject While going through his shots, the man¡¯s eyes widened after he came across one image in particr Tve got a picture of her ne!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Hurry up and send it to Mr. Gibson!¡± The man couldn¡¯t contain his smile. Their employer had told them that they would be paid double as long as they took a picture containing Christina¡¯s ne. Meanwhile, everyone was already gathered around arge, round table by the time Christina arrived. She received many res for beingte. Every seat at the table was already upied, so the woman dragged a stool and was about to sit down when Francis patted the vacant seat next to him. ¡°Sit over here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can hear everything from here.¡± Christina sat behind a photographer, looking calm with a hint of austerity. In the eyes of others, turning down Francis¡¯ offer was an unforgivable act, but to Christina, this was nothing unusual. An air of hostility engulfed the room in an instant. ¡°Let¡¯s move on,¡± Francis announced. The screenwriter snapped back to reality and continued speaking while ncing at the script, which was iplete because she didn¡¯t have enough knowledge of the costumes involved. Just as she was about to turn around and ask the stylists for their opinions. Francis ended the meeting. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. We¡¯ll meet again this weekend, so do your best to finish up all your tasks,¡± he instructed. After that, Christina stopped by the dressing room containing arge array of branded clothes, most of which were given to Francis through sponsorships. Thepany only had a few artists now, so all its resources practically came from Francis. Christina figured she would pick a few outfits and hand them to the screenwriter so that thetter could write the script ording to the descriptions of the outfits, Suddenly, the sound of the door closing came from behind. ¡°Christina, please resign,¡± Penelope demanded, walking in. ¡°I want to leave this job more than you want me to, so if you have the power to ask Francis to fire me, ¡°Be careful. Our efforts will be in vain the moment she starts feeling suspicious, another man warned. The one holding the camera looked grim. I wasn¡¯t being careless She¡¯s just way too alert With a faint sigh, he checked the camera gallery. Every photograph contained Christina as the main subject. While going through his shots, the man¡¯s eyes widened after he came across one image in particr. Tve got a picture of her ne!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Hurry up and send it to Mr. Gibson!¡± The man couldn¡¯t contain his smile. Their employer had told them that they would be paid double as long as they took a picture containing Christina¡¯s ne. Meanwhile, everyone was already gathered around arge, round table by the time Christina arrived. She received many res for beingte. Every seat at the table was already upied, so the woman dragged a stool and was about to sit down. when Francis patted the vacant seat next to him. ¡°Sit over here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can hear everything from here.¡± Christina sat behind a photographer, looking calm with a hint of austerity. In the eyes of others, turning down Francis¡¯ offer was an unforgivable act, but to Christina, this was nothing unusual. An air of hostility engulfed the room in an instant. ¡°Let¡¯s move on,¡± Francis announced. The screenwriter snapped back to reality and continued speaking while ncing at the script, which was iplete because she didn¡¯t have enough knowledge of the costumes involved. Just as she was about to turn around and ask the stylists for their opinions, Francis ended the meeting. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. We¡¯ll meet again this weekend, so do your best to finish up all your tasks,¡± he instructed. After that, Christina stopped by the dressing room containing arge array of branded clothes, most of which were given to Francis through sponsorships. Thepany only had a few artists now, so all its resources practically came from Francis. Christina figured she would pick a few outfits and hand them to the screenwriter so that thetter could write the script ording to the descriptions of the outfits. Suddenly, the sound of the door closing came from behind. ¡°Christina, please resign,¡± Penelope demanded, walking in. ¡°I want to leave this job more than you want me to, so if you have the power to ask Francis to fire me, please do that. I¡¯d be eternally grateful,¡± Christina replied nonchntly without turning around. To her, Penelope¡¯s antics were nothing more than child¡¯s y¨Cboring and without substance. With a huff, Penelope took out her phone and showed some pictures of Christina doing Francis makeup ¡°Don¡¯t you think fans would start digging up your dirt if I uploaded these photos online?¡± The smug grin on her face widened as she continued to provoke Christina. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll spread some rumors of you trying to seduce Francis¡­ Oh! I almost forgot that you have kids. What would they say if they saw these pictures? I look forward to that!¡± Christina nced at the photos, her expression clouding over as she noticed how every photo had been taken from suggestive angles. She then walked over, raised an arm, and swung it. p! A red mark appeared on Penelope¡¯s cheek at once, and her phone fell to the floor. ¡°Christina! How dare you hit me?¡± Christina icily picked up the device, went through every photo inside it, and deleted them one after another. After some thought, she then reformatted every image on the phone and tossed the phone aside. as though it were trash. ¡°How could you delete all my photos?¡± Penelope was so infuriated that she could kill. ¡°You took all of them secretly. I deleted them so you wouldn¡¯t risk getting sued by Francis.¡± Christina¡¯s expression remained frosty. All the pictures had been taken while Francis was working. Some images were of him topless, which made things look especially ambiguous. ¡°You b*tch! How dare you delete my photos? I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Like a rabid animal, Penelope lunged at Christina, who had already read her movements and dragged the clothing rack over, causing the former to trip and crash onto the ground face-first. Blood trickled on the floor as Penelope began to wail in pain. It was a pitiful sight. Other employees who heard themotion from outside rushed into the dressing room. From the way Penelope had a face full of blood and Christina was merely standing upright, those who didn¡¯t know better would automatically assume that Penelope was the victim. The staff members who were close to Penelope targeted Christina right away. ¡°You¡¯d better not think you can pick on others just because Mr. Fernando favors you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so selfish, Christina! Apologize to Penelope right now before you think about stepping out of this room.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the one who should be apologizing,¡± Christinamented ndly, crossing her arms. That only sounded like pure haughtiness in the ears of everyone else. She hurt someone, but she¡¯s asking for an apology? ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, Christina! How could you say such things?¡± a coworker scoffed. The employees stood on Penelope¡¯s side, ostracizing Christina. At that very moment, Francis walked in. Mr. Fernando! Please fire Christina. Her stuck up personality makes it really hard for her to get along with others!¡± ¡°We¡¯re begging you, sir. Please fire her.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t want to work with her anymore.¡± With several employees ganging up against Christina, it would likely be difficult for her to keep her job now. Penelope clutched her nose in pain. She may have gotten injured, but she felt it was worth it as long as it meant seeing Christina leave, Francis turned to Christina. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin yourself?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to exin here. You can just do as they ask.¡± Christina shrugged, showing no intention of borating. Yet, just as she bent over to pick up her fallen purse and walked toward the door, Francis grabbed her wrist. ¡°Fine. If you¡¯re not going to exin yourself, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± All the employees at the scene were stunned. Is Mr. Fernando still going to side with her after everything that¡¯s just happened? This could cause outrage! Francis calmly took out his phone, the screen showing whatever that had just happened inside the dressing room. ¡°Isn¡¯t the surveince camera broken?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been fixed long ago. We¡¯ve got so many branded clothes in here, so of course we¡¯ll need surveince.¡± Penelope¡¯s expression took a turn for the worse upon hearing her coworker¡¯s words. She hade looking for Christina and messed with her on the belief that the surveince cameras. weren¡¯t working. Everything from their conversation to the way Penelope had jumped at Christina first-was now being shown loud and clear. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Penelope should be the one apologizing,¡± Francis ordered coldly. Christina raised her head slightly, her eyes looking cier-like. Everyone else exchanged nces, not daring to speak up for Penelope anymore. Those who had openly sided with her felt even more ashamed, as one would feel after wrongly using the innocent.. Yet, one of them refused to back down. ¡°You did this on purpose, didn¡¯t you, Christina?¡± she questioned. stepping forward. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you try to exin yourself or prove your innocence? Do you enjoy causing scenes like this?¡± Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Christina snorted. ¡°Did you give me a chance to exin myself?¡± The female coworkers¡¯ faces turned glum. They couldn¡¯t defend themselves. ¡°Who used me of being the perpetrator and demanded I apologize the moment they walked in?¡± Christina added. Their faces reddened out of sheer embarrassment. There¡¯s no way I¡¯m going to apologize. This is just too humiliating. With that in mind, Penelope continued to pinch her bleeding nose and whimpered, ¡°Ugh¡­ My head¡¯s spinning¡­¡± Then, she inhaled sharply and copsed onto a coworker. ¡°Quick! Take her to the hospital!¡± ¡°Call an ambnce!¡± A few staff members carried the ¡°unconscious¡± Penelope and left in a hurry. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The rest of the crowd dispersed like the wind. ¡°Tell me if they mess with you again,¡± said Francis when he and Christina were left alone. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not a child,¡± the woman replied and walked out of the room. Francis watched her leave, his heart swirling with inexplicable emotions. He knew she was being forced to stay, but he didn¡¯t want her to leave either. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor and taking off her shoes, the two children ran straight into the living room. ¡°Mommy! You¡¯ve beening back from work sote these days.¡± Cam wrapped her arms around Christina¡¯s waist. ¡°You haven¡¯t slept with me for so long.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll sleep with you both tonight, okay?¡± The woman picked her children up and pecked them on the cheek. ¡°Get into bed and wait for me. I¡¯ll be right there after my shower,¡± she said as they walked up the stairs together. ¡°Okay, Mommy!¡± With that, the toddlers ran back to their room, hand in hand. Christina smiled faintly before walking into the bathroom.. She felt much better after putting on her nightwear. Then, she walked into her children¡¯s room. With a child in each arm, she felt as if she had the whole world. ¡°Will you sing to us and tell us a bedtime story. Mominy?¡± Laicas requested, brushing his nose against her neck and making her chuckle. ¡°Of course. Once upon a time, there were two siblings whom their daddy and mommy loved very much One day, their daddy had to go far, far away to hunt, leaving the mommy and children to live their happy lives.¡± Christina felt the best way to break it to her children was through storytelling. I should talk to them like this every night from now on, Cam¡¯s eyes began to water. ¡°Are you talking about us, Mommy?¡± The woman caressed her children¡¯s heads. ¡°Daddy¡¯s really busy with work, so we might not get to see him. very often. But he loves you both very much, okay?¡± The toddlers blinked with curiosity. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°It¡¯s time for bed now. You still have school tomorrow.¡± Christina kissed their foreheads and tucked them in before falling asleep with the two in her arms. Meanwhile, Nathaniel stood outside the door with a darkened gaze. He had heard every word that came out of Christina¡¯s mouth. There was absolutely no logic to the story she had just told. All she could do was to deceive the children. The mere thought of her tricking the children into leaving him caused the gloominess in his eyes to intensify. Christina woke up the next morning, feeling much more refreshedpared to when she had shared a bed with Nathaniel. ¡°Wake up. Lucas. It¡¯s time for school!¡± She gave Lucas a smooch. The little boy pouted and turned over. ¡°Let me sleep just a bit longer, Mommy.¡± Who could he have gotten his sleeping in tendencies from? Christina picked him up and nibbled on his fingers. ¡°If you don¡¯t wake up, the big bad wolf will bite you!¡± Children were usually afraid of the big bad wolf, and Lucas was no exception. ¡°No! I don¡¯t want the big bad wolf to bite me!¡± he yelped. his eyes widening in an instant as he jumped up in fright. ¡°Go wash up and get ready for breakfast, then,¡± the woman coaxed, pinching his tiny nose. He got out of bed and dashed into the bathroom. Christina turned around and gazed at Cam, noticing how soundly she was sleeping. The little girl got up obediently upon hearing her mother¡¯s voice. After getting dressed and having breakfast, the three of them headed out the door. When she had dropped the children off at kindergarten, Christina stopped by a bookstore and bought a book on marriagew. She couldn¡¯t wait to do her research at the office The woman didn¡¯t want any money or assets, all she wanted was her children. Besides, even if they were to get a divorce, she had no ns to stop Nathaniel from seeing the children He shouldn¡¯t have a problem with these terms, but what can I do to make him sign the contract? Christina had racked her brains all morning but to no avail. Divorce had been on her mind since four years ago, but she could never find a solution to this problem. When noon came, Rayne knocked on her door to invite her to lunch ¡°Hey, Christina! Shall we go grab lunch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really feel like heading outside.¡± ¡°Do you want me to bring something back, then?¡± ¡°Okay. Thanks, Rayne.¡± Upon closing the door to her office, Christina immersed herself in the book titled ¡°Civil Marriage.¡± As the midday sun shone onto her back, she closed the curtains, walked into the lounge, andy small bed to continue reading. The quiet environment andpact text of the book made her feel especially sleepy, and she nodded off. before long. A knock came on the door to her office. Hearing no response, Nathaniel opened the door and walked right There was no one at the desk, but the door to the lounge remained ajar. He headed into the lounge and instantly spotted the slender woman fast asleep with a book over her face. Civil Marriage? Nathaniel picked up the book, noticing a few markings Christina had carefully made. She¡¯s really putting a lot of thought into this, huh? It was afternoon by the time Christina woke up. Her book was now ced on the bedside desk, and there was a nket covering her. It must¡¯ve been Rayne. Thinking that while getting up and walking back into the office, she was then surprised to see Rayne return with a takeout container. ¡°Sorry I¡¯mte. I was stuck in traffic.¡± Thetter ced the container on the table and opened it up before handing Christina some cutlery. ¡°Did you juste back?¡± Christina asked. ¡°Yeah. You must be hungry. Eat up while the food¡¯s hot.¡± Then who put the nket over me? The answer dawned on Christina quickly. It had to be Nathaniel. Does that mean he saw the book? Oh, well. He¡¯ll find out my intentions sooner orter anyway. After lunch, Christina figured she would take the children to the condominium during the weekend. She had already ordered a two-meter double-decker bed online a couple of days ago, and it was expected to arrive by this afternoon. Hence, the woman headed to the supermarket to grab some daily necessities before returning to the condominium. Upon walking in, she began to sort out the groceries, but the doorbell rang not long after. Thinking it was the workers in charge of installing the new bed, she opened the door without a second thought. Yet, an ominous feeling rose in her chest as soon as she saw tworge men with menacing-looking eyes. standing in front of her. Chapter 384 Not That Simple Chapter 384 Not That Simple ¡°Are you here to do the instation?¡± Instinctively, Christina attempted to shut the door, but the other party managed to stop her in time with his foot. ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Christina took two steps back and stared at the two strange men who just strode in. The first man took out a military knife and threatened, ¡°Shut up. We are here for money. Do as we say, and you won¡¯t get hurt.¡± Christina steadied her breathing and retreated further in order to calm herself down. ¡°You should be able to tell that I have just moved here. There¡¯s nothing valuable.¡± The man eyed Christina before ordering her, ¡°Give me everything that is of value.¡± Christina handed him her phone. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± The man widened his eyes in disbelief. He seemed dissatisfied with the phone. Christina felt helpless. ¡°In today¡¯s modern world, nobody has any cash with them anymore.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wearing something around your neck. Give it to us!¡± shouted the other guy impatiently. Christina¡¯s heart sank. Her ne was well hidden underneath her clothes. There was no way it could be seen. How do they know that I am wearing a ne? ¡°My mom left me this ne. It isn¡¯t worth much. Why don¡¯t I transfer some money to you instead?¡± With her hand on her chest, Christina whispered, ¡°I promise I won¡¯t pursue the matter or inform the police. Is that okay?¡± ¡°No. If you don¡¯t want to get hurt, hand over the ne right now.¡± The man waved his knife and appeared very determined to have the ne, Seeing that Christina had no intention of handing them the ne, the man signaled to his partner. The other man went forward and tore open her cor when he saw a hint of the ne.. Christina was so shocked that she took a few steps back and bellowed, ¡°Get lost!¡± Before her mother became unconscious, she had told Christina to take good care of the ne. She could not afford to lose it. The younger man became anxious. ¡°Give me the ne!¡± When he got closer to her again, Christina raised her leg and gave hisher regions a hard kick. The guy fell to the ground and howled in pain. His face was pale as he began to break into a cold sweat. ¡°This b*tch¡­ Stab her!¡± Seeing that the older man was getting closer, Christina turned to flee. All she could think of was to hide in a room. Christina located the nearest bedroom and made a run for it. Unfortunately, it was not long before someone grabbed her wrist. The man was overwhelmingly strong, and almost instantly, she was flung to the floor. When her body hit the ground, it was so painful that tears were about to flow out of Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hmph! It seems you won¡¯t give up until the veryst moment.¡° The man strode toward the small figure. It would not be a surprise if he could break her bones with just a twist of his hand. Just as he was about to snatch her ne, a figure appeared out of the blue and gave him a hard kick. The burly man flew like a housefly that had been swatted. Christina blinked in shock, visibly still in a daze. ¡°Christina, are you hurt?¡± The grim-looking Nathaniel helped her up. She shook her head. That was close. Just then, a few bodyguards appeared at the door and proceeded to apprehend the robbers. ¡°Send them to the police station,¡± ordered Nathaniel coldly. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± The bodyguards then dragged the two robbers out of the condominium. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The two criminals were so focused on their task that they had forgotten to lock the front door. Most likely, they had no experience in robbing people. Nathaniel checked Christina¡¯s body for wounds. Thankfully, she sustained no injuries. However, her cor was torn, and a patch of her fair skin was visible. He turned around to give Sebastian a call and asked him to bring a new set of clothes. Nathaniel then put his own jacket over Christina¡¯s shoulders. The familiar sandalwood scent made Christina feel safe once again. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± Nathaniel retorted, ¡°How difficult can it be for me to obtain information on what you do?¡± To that, Christina said nothing. She was not happy about it but did not me him. Nathaniel grabbed the newly-bought kettle on the dining table and went into the kitchen to pour a ss of hot water. ¡°If you knew, why didn¡¯t you put a stop to it?¡± asked Christina. Nathaniel looked around. They could overlook the entire city from there. There was also a supermarket and a mall downstairs. ¡°It¡¯s nice to have a change of scenery once in a while.¡± What? So, he thinks this is one of the ces where he can rx and unwind. ¡°I think you are sorely mistaken. This isn¡¯t a ce for you to relieve yourself of stress. It belongs to me and me alone!¡± Christina looked as though she was worried that her territory would be taken away and became very alert. The corners of Nathaniel¡¯s lips curled upward, but she could not tell what he was thinking. He just looked scary. As he got nearer to her, Christina retreated backward. In the end, her back was against the wall. He lifted her chin and looked at her with his cold eyes. It was as though he wanted to freeze her to death with them. ¡°Buy whatever you like. They belong to you once you have bought them. But, remember this -you belong to me!¡± He then sealed Christina¡¯s lips with his. ¡°Mmph!¡± Christina widened her eyes in shock. She tried to push him away, only to be held more tightly. Nathaniel wanted nothing more than to savor every inch of her body. Time passed by. Just as Christina was about to pass out, he released her. Worried that she might faint due to ack of oxygen, she took a deep breath. ¡°Take your time preparing. The driver will be waiting for you downstairs.¡± With that, Nathaniel left. Christina ced her hands on her temples. Their inexplicable rtionship was giving her a headache. She got up, took the ss of water, and realized that it had turned warm. After drinking the water, someone knocked on the door again. It was Sebastian with the clothes for her. After opening the door, he handed her the clothes before saying, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley is waiting for you downstairs.¡± ¡°All right. I got it.¡± Christina epted the clothes and was about to close the door. ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± Sebastian called out. Christina paused and looked up. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley says that if you need any furniture, just leave it to me.¡± Nathaniel was always extremely caring toward Christina. Unfortunately, Christina did not appreciate his kind thoughts. ¡°No, thanks.¡± This time around, Christina shut the door for good. She looked at the clothes and sighed. What exactly is this? I feel like a child who has run away from home but still epts money from their parents. Christina changed her clothes. She then went downstairs and got into the car. The driver took them to Scenic Garden Manor. On the way there, she asked, ¡°Have the two robbers given their statements?¡± ¡°Yes. They said they followed you from when you were at the supermarket. It was a random attack,¡± answered Nathaniel. ¡°No way. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s as simple as that.¡± Chapter 385 Hard Time Chapter 385 Hard Time Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at her, signaling for her to continue. ¡°Even if they did follow me home from the supermarket, how could they be sure that I had anything. valuable on me? Let¡¯s assume that their exnation was the truth. Their target still didn¡¯t seem to be my valuables but was my ne instead.¡± Christina¡¯s intuition was telling her that the two robbers were after her ne. The thought of what just happened made her feel anxious. Nathaniel ced his hands on her and gently massaged her temples. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of this.¡± The faint fragrance on him could instantly calm her mind. By the time the car arrived at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina had fallen asleep. Her petite figure was nestled in his arms like a child. When they got out of the car, Nathaniel carried her into the house. A sliver of morning sunlight streamed into the room. When Christina woke up, she realized she had overslept. She got up and briefly freshened up before heading out. Rayne was organizing some information when Christina reached the office. Seeing thetter, Rayne trod over in her heels and reported that day¡¯s work, ¡°Old Mrs. Taggart had requested a custom-made gown a while ago. She called earlier and asked when you would be free to discuss the details.¡± ¡°Check my schedule to see when I would be free.¡± Christina entered her office. ¡°You only have free time today. At other time slots, the customers wille here to meet with you.¡± Maggie Taggart had paid extra to be served at her residence. ¡°Send the time to my phone. You can go out and do your work if that¡¯s all.¡± Christina switched on herputer and began working. Some trivial work needed to be done, and they were particrly time-consuming to deal with. Nevertheless, her actions were rtively quick. Once she had organized the information, she instructed. the driver to wait for her at the main entrance. Half an hourter, she arrived at the Taggart residence. Christina got out of the car and introduced herself to the guard, who promptly opened the door. Upon entering the living room, she noticed Maggie had made the preparations to receive her, having brewed a pot of coffee and served some snacks to await her. At the sight of Christina¡¯s arrival, Maggie shed an elegant smile. ¡°Ms. Steele, you¡¯re indeed very sessful at such a young age. I¡¯m fortunate to have you custom- make at gown for me.¡± ¡°Hello, Old Mrs. Taggart. The honor is mine too.¡± Christina thought they just happened to share the samest name, but when she saw Madison¡¯s portrait and family photo hanging on the wall, Christina was certain that Maggie was Madison¡¯s grandmother. Usually, wealthy families like them had a regr, trusted tailor who would make custom-made outfits for them. Hence, Christina was sure that Maggie was targeting her. Nheless, she wasn¡¯t going to expose Maggie¡¯s intention before thetter did. Christina took out her measuring tape. ¡°May I measure your sizes, Old Mrs. Taggart?¡± Maggie responded with a kind smile before gracefully getting to her feet. As Christina took measurements, she asked, ¡°Old Mrs. Taggart, what are your style preferences and preferred colors?¡± ¡°Dark blue, violet, and plum. I haven¡¯t decided which color I want yet. What do you suggest, Ms. Steele?¡± Maggie asked her in return. Christina silently noted the measurements and jotted the numbers down in her notebook. ¡°Dark blue allows one to look more steadfast, violet gives a more festive vibe, while plum is suitable for everyday wear. Which asion do you n to attend with this gown, Old Mrs. Taggart?¡± Maggie grinned. ¡°I haven¡¯t made up my mind yet.¡± She was deliberately making things difficult for Christina, wanting to assess how thetter would handle. the situation and, at the same time, observe her working attitude. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll sketch three design drawings in those colors for you to assess so you can decide which one you¡¯re most satisfied with,¡± Christina replied calmly, Maggie responded indifferently, ¡°But I want to see the designs today. Is that possible?¡± Without waiting for Christina¡¯s answer, she turned to instruct a housekeeper, ¡°Prepare the study for Ms. Steele to sketch her designs.¡± Feeling it was rude for her to decline, Christina uttered, ¡°I¡¯ll have to trouble you to prepare the study, then.¡± Soon, the housekeeper cleaned up the study. Christina sat at a wooden desk, opened the design page on her tablet, and started working. Maggie came in several times to request changes to the designs, demanding amendments to be made each time Christina was almost done with the sketches. Evidently, she was making things difficult for her on purpose. After a while, the sound of footsteps approaching rang out. At the sight of Christina¡¯s serious demeanor, Madison was enraged. ¡°Christina, can you carry out the tasks you should be doing instead of drawing all day?¡± ¡°What should I be doing?¡± Christina didn¡¯t even bother to look up ¡°Why don¡¯t you care about Mr. Hadley¡¯s health at all Don¡¯t you know he¡¯s still sick?¡± Despite not being in thepany, Madison seemed to care about Nathaniel more than anyone else She couldn¡¯t return to thepany until they notified her of the results. Madison was on the verge of breaking down from not being able to see Nathaniel Christina nced at Madison coldly. ¡°He¡¯ll take his medications if he¡¯s sick, and Sebastian is there to take care of him Regardless of the scenario, it isn¡¯t your ce to worry about him as an employee on suspension I am Mrs. Hadley, no matter what. I don¡¯t need an outsider to worry about my husband. ¡°Y-You¡¯re upying the position of Nathaniel¡¯s wife by force without fulfilling your duties. If you don¡¯t like him, you should let him go and give others who truly love him a chance to treat him better!¡± Madison glowered at Christina like a mother duck whose eggs had been stolen. ¡°Please get your facts straight. It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not letting him go. It is he who¡¯stching onto me. If you are so capable, why don¡¯t you talk to him about this issue?¡± Irritated by Madison, Christina lost her mood to continue working on her sketches. Subsequently, she left the study with her tablet. The female housekeeper came out of the study and whispered beside Maggie¡¯s ear, ¡°Ms. Steele isn¡¯t in the study anymore. She may have left because she couldn¡¯t stand you giving her a hard time.¡± Maggie snorted and leisurely sipped her tea. ¡°Youngsters nowadays are too impatient. They give up and walk away at the slightest inconvenience. Since she¡¯s so quick to get upset, Maddy may still stand a chance.¡± Her granddaughter had been infatuated with Nathaniel for years, holding on to her one-sided affection until she was close to thirty. Madison¡¯s family members relentlessly urged her to get married, but she was hopelessly in love with Nathaniel. Therefore, Maggie decided to side with her granddaughter to aid thetter in her rtionship by gathering more information. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Maggie wanted to see what kind of person was impeding her granddaughter from being with Nathaniel. After the pot of coffee was brewed, Maggie lifted her coffee cup and saw Christina standing before her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave?¡± ¡°The study was a little noisy just now, so I moved to the pavilion in the courtyard to finish my designs.¡± Christina showed Maggie the threepleted designs on her tablet. ¡°Old Mrs. Taggart, please have a look. Is there anything else you¡¯d like me to change?¡± The three design drawings were exquisite, each outfit having its own unique pattern and color. Maggie felt a sense of incredulity. Those parts she had forcibly nitpicked were reced with even more tasteful patterns, rendering her unable to find any fault. ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied with the designs. Please make all three of these gowns.¡± ¡°All right, but since we initially agreed on making one gown, the expectedpletion date will be dyed since you¡¯re ordering three outfits now.¡± ¡°Okay. I look forward to seeing the final product.¡± Maggie chuckled. The butler will escort you out.¡± Following Christina¡¯s departure, Madison descended the stairs from around the corner. ¡°Grandma, didn¡¯t you promise to give her a hard time? Why did you let her leave?¡± Chapter 386 Give Up Chapter 386 Give Up ¡°Maddy, I have examined that woman for you. You can¡¯t beat her, so you should just give up,¡± advised Maggie. One look at Christina was sufficient for Maggie to tell that the former was a calm and graceful person. Earlier on, she was nitpicking and trying to test Christina¡¯s patience. However, Christine did not panic at all. Instead, she came up with excellent designs. Judging from her character, Christina was clearly aposed person who would never act recklessly. ¡°Grandma, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re defending an outsider instead of helping me!¡± Madison was so angry that her eyes turned bloodshot. Maggie patted the back of her granddaughter¡¯s hand. ¡°If he isn¡¯t married, I will definitely help you. now that things havee to this, you should just give up.¡± Give up? How could I possibly give up? She had been pining for him for so many years. There was no way she was going to give him up. ¡°If I can¡¯t marry Nathaniel, I¡¯d rather not get married at all this lifetime.¡± Meanwhile, Christina did not return to the office. Instead, she went to the supermarket and bought a few different vors of candies before heading to the kindergarten to pick up the children. Christina stood at the entrance, waiting for the children when school was over. However, there was still no sign of Lucas and Cam even after all the children had left. In the end, the two kids came out with their teacher, Stacy. ¡°Hi, you must be Lucas¡¯ mom. There¡¯s something about Lucas that I would like to talk to you about.¡± Stacy appeared upset. Christina nodded and told the children, ¡°I have bought you some candies, and they are in the car. Why don¡¯t the both of you wait for me in the car?¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy!¡± With that, Lucas grabbed his sister¡¯s hand and ran to the car. The driver opened the door for them to get in. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Stacy brought Christina to an isted corner before saying in a serious manner, ¡°You see, Lucas is a bright child, but he doesn¡¯t like learning. That¡¯s not good. He neverpletes the homework I assign them. Cam, on the other hand, will finish all her homework!¡± Cam, being obedient and adorable, was well-loved by all the teachers. Though they were fraternal twins, there was a vast difference between their characters. One was docile and obedient, while the other was mischievous and naughty. ¡°Howe I don¡¯t know there¡¯s homework?¡± Christina would ask about the children¡¯s studies once in a while, but they would always tell her that there was no homework. ¡°That¡¯s because Lucas doesn¡¯t like doing homework. Every day during lessons, he would impatiently ask us to skip to the next question and im that he already knew the answers.¡± Stacy sounded exhausted and frustrated as she recounted Lucas¡¯ antics. ¡°Also, he loves to fool around. When the kids are lining up, he will stand at the back and cause trouble. He¡¯d even get his ssmates to join him in messing around and ignoring the rules Stacy put her hand on her forehead and sounded helpless ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Jacobs. I will go back and have a talk with him.¡± apologized Christina, embarrassed. Being a mother was no easy feat. She had to be the one apologizing for her child¡¯s mistake. Stacy sighed. She didn¡¯t want to make things difficult for Christina upon seeing how sincere thetter was ¡°Actually, Lucas is an outstanding boy. He¡¯s just a little too mischievous. Though it¡¯s not a big problem, he still has to watch his manners andplete his homework.¡± ¡°Thank you for your concern, Ms. Jacobs. From now on, I will make sure to keep an eye on him.¡± Christina lowered her head sheepishly, so embarrassed she wished the ground could swallow her up. After listening to Stacy¡¯sint, she felt that she was partially responsible for Lucas¡¯ misdeeds. Christina left the kindergarten after speaking with Stacy. Back in the car, the twins had already opened up the candies and made a mess. ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go home.¡± Lucas pouted his colorful lips and wanted to kiss Christina. She carried the boy and ced him on herp. Looking at the boy¡¯s face that resembled Nathaniel¡¯s, she asked solemnly, ¡°Tell me. Did Ms. Jacobs assign any homework for you?¡± Lucas¡¯ heart skipped a beat. Please don¡¯t tell me Mommy has found out that I have been lying. Seeing how he remained silent, Christina was quite sure that he was hiding something from her. ¡°Give me your school bag.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing inside my bag.¡± Lucas immediately hugged his bag tightly and looked wary. Christina¡¯s face clouded over. ¡°Cam, give me your school bag.¡± Cam dared not say anything in response. Stealing a nce at her brother, she obediently handed Christina her bag. Christina unzipped the bag and found the girl¡¯s workbook. Neat rows of numbers and some simple phonics and words were written on the pages. Stacy had given Cam full marks on almost every page and even smiley stickers as well. On the contrary, Christina almost fainted when she checked her son¡¯s workbook. The teacher wrote the following on the nk pages: Pleaseplete your work. There were over twenty nk pages in the workbook with only the teacher¡¯s warning written in red. Apparently, he didn¡¯tplete any homework for almost half of the semester. ¡°Mommy¡­¡± All of a sudden, the candy in Lucas¡¯ mouth lost its vor. Smiling amicably, Christina looked at her son with as much love as she could muster. She let her expression do the speaking. That night, Nathaniel walked into Scenic Garden Manor with Sebastian and the technical director trailing. behind him. The trio entered the study with grim faces. They had been working on the system for such a long time but were unfortunately forced to pause work because they suddenly encountered unforeseen challenges. ¡°Mr. Hadley, why don¡¯t we hire a better technician? That way, I¡¯m sure we¡¯d be able toplete the system. in less than a month¡¯s time,¡± said the director. In truth, the system was onlypleted on a superficial level. They still had no idea about the core content. Sebastian was the one who rmended the technical director to join in on the system¡¯s development. Now that there was a problem with the system, he, too, wanted to do everything he could to help solve the issue. ¡°If we hire one more person, it will increase our costs. We have already invested a huge amount of funds before this.¡± Sebastian gave his analysis. After working with Nathaniel for so many years, he could more or less guess what was on Nathaniel¡¯s mind. The director¡¯s eyes lit up suddenly. ¡°We can ask Mr. Lucas to help us. I¡¯m sure he can help us resolve this tricky issue.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s face darkened. ¡°If the both of you are audacious enough to get Lucas to help, you might as well get your resignation letters ready. Get lost.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± In less than three seconds, the two men disappeared from Nathaniel¡¯s sight. In the corridor, the technical director looked at Sebastian, troubled. ¡°Do you think Mr. Lucas will help us?¡± ¡°I doubt so because Mrs. Hadley has forbidden Mr. Lucas from dabbling in information technology.¡± Sebastian was not hopeful. At present, Christina was unrestrained and could do as she pleased. Even Nathaniel could not keep her in check, let alone them. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try. Otherwise, I will lose my job.¡± When the technical director and Sebastian passed by the children¡¯s study, they instantly recognized the tiny figure sitting inside. The technical director¡¯s eyes practically lit up like a cat¡¯s in the dark. He pushed the door open and cautiously walked up to Lucas. ¡°Mr. Lucas, what are you doing?¡± he asked in an ingratiating tone. Lucas snorted. ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see?¡± The technical director felt awkward. Mr. Lucas sounds just like his father¡­. Lucas was puffing his cheeks andpleting his homework with a pencil. He had been doing his homework ever since he finished his dinner. Christina had told him that he was not allowed to go out and have fun unless he hadpleted his backlog of homework. How unfortunate! Is this considered child abuse? Chapter 387 Everyone Has One Chapter 387 Everyone Has One ¡°Mr. Lucas, this is very urgent! Would you please help a brother out?¡± The technical director tried to get in good with Lucas. To the technical director¡¯s surprise, Lucas replied nonchntly, ¡°I know I have a sister, but I never knew I had a brother.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I¡­¡± The technical director was tongue-tied. Sebastian, who was standing nearby, was holding back hisughter. ¡°Mr. Lucas, I can offer to do your homework for you. I just need you to analyze something for me and give me an idea of how I can find a solution,¡± the technical director said. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The technical director continued trying to convince Lucas, but all Lucas cared about was what the technical director said about helping him with his homework. ¡°Can you really do my homework for me?¡± Lucas looked surprised. Right then, Sebastian tugged at the technical director¡¯s shirt. ¡°Hey, stop it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to fix the issue for me, Mr. Lucas. I just need you to tell me what to do,¡± the technical - director uttered. Lucas was sick of doing his homework and dealing with all those words. Seeing that there was still a lot left toplete, he scoffed and said, ¡°That¡¯s easy. You have a deal.¡± For the next half an hour, Lucas was busy studying the program¡¯s issue on the couch while the technical director focused on doing the boy¡¯s homework at the desk. Lucas soon found all the problems, and he used Sebastian¡¯s phone to list down all the problems in the form of an audio recording. ¡°Fix the program ording to the steps I listed in the audio recording. Feel free toe and ask me tomorrow if you have difficulties understanding them,¡± Lucas said. Sebastian was keeping a close eye on Lucas when thetter did the audio recording, and he was astonished. Although I don¡¯t quite understand some of the words Mr. Lucas said, his thought process is spectacr. I forgot how talented Mr. Lucas is ever since Mrs. Hadley banned him from using technological devices! ¡°Understood. Thank you, Mr. Lucas,¡± the technical director said. ¡°No worries.¡± Lucas waved his hand casually. Afterward, Lucas walked toward the desk and saw the messy handwriting on his homework. Annoyed, he said, ¡°What¡¯s with your handwriting? It looks worse than a child¡¯s! Have you never attended school before?¡± ¡°Mr. Lucas, I didn¡¯t write tidily because I was worried Mrs. Hadley might catch us red-handed. What if she thinks someone did it for you?¡± The technical director looked troubled. Lucas then rolled his eyes at the director and mocked, ¡°I think you¡¯re dumber than a child. Your handwriting is so bad that I think my mommy will ask me to redo my homework.¡± With that, Lucas chased the two men away and continued working on the rest of his homework. In thete hours of the night, Christina entered the study and found Lucas sprawling on the desk. sleeping. The sight melted and broke her heart at the same time. I want the kids to take their time growing up and enjoy their childhood, but I don¡¯t want them to waste their time. Christina then checked Lucas¡¯ homework. Not bad! I knew he could do it. She then carefully carried Lucas into her arms and felt his tender body pressing up against hers. The young boy¡¯s sweet fragrance enveloped her. Christina brought Lucas back to the kids¡¯ room and tucked both of her children in. After nting a light kiss on their foreheads, she exited the room. Before the kids went to school the next day, Christina warned Lucas against fooling around in the kindergarten. ¡°I know, Mommy. I¡¯ll be a good boy.¡± Lucas winked mischievously. Christina smiled, amused by the boy¡¯s adorable manner. She only left after watching the twins step inside. Upon arriving at thepany, Christina started working. During her free time, she shopped for new furniture. After experiencing the horrific incident thest time around, she decided to get a fingerprint lock just to be extra safe. She even resorted to superstitious methods and bought some candles and sea salt that would bring good luck. As soon as she received the things she had ordered, she rushed out of her office. However, since she was in too much of a rush, she ended up bumping into someone on her way out. Nathaniel swiftly held her slim waist. ¡°Why are you in such a rush? Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m going back to the condominium.¡± Christina gripped the bag in her hand tightly. ¡°I¡¯lle with you,¡± he said. Fifteen minutester, they both arrived at the condominium. Christina changed into her indoor slippers and ced another pair of men¡¯s slippers in front of Nathaniel. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy them for you. They were given as gifts when I shopped at the mall,¡± she exined before entering the condominium. Nathaniel changed into the slippers, which fit his feet very well, and walked in after her. Shortly after, Christina began lighting the candles she bought and sprinkling sea salt on the floorboards, walls, and furniture. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Nathaniel asked in puzzlement. Why is she acting like a cult member? ¡°I¡¯m repelling bad luck. I haven¡¯t done this after moving in,¡± Christina muttered. Nathaniel chuckled in response. ¡°If you think there¡¯s bad luck here, why don¡¯t you just move out? Scenic Garden Manor is big enough, no? If you don¡¯t like staying there, you can move to another property. After all, I have plenty of properties under my name.¡± Christina wasn¡¯t interested in his offer. I like this condominium. Although there¡¯s been a tiny u. it¡¯s nothing! can¡¯t resolve. Once she was done sprinkling sea salt all over the condominium, the went into one of the rooms to tidy things up. Nathaniel, on the other hand, sat on the couch and worked on his phone. Later that afternoon. Nathaniel went in to check on Christina, who was still busying about in the room Christina was decorating the children¡¯s room. There was a bunk bed, a pink desk, a blue desk, and a wardrobe. She also hung up some paintings that Cam and Lucas liked. ¡°What is this?¡± Nathaniel pointed at a yarn ball. ¡°I¡¯m using that to knit scarfs for the kids. It¡¯s getting cold out there.¡± Christina made clothes for the children all the time, but she had never knitted them a scarf. ¡°Does everyone get one?¡± Nathaniel asked, implying that he wanted one as well. In response, Christina shrugged and replied, ¡°I only have pink and blue yarn. Neither suits you.¡± With that, she kept the yarn ball in the wardrobe. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the office.¡± The couple arrived at the office and went their separate ways upon exiting the elevator. At that moment, Rayne was seen serving someone a cup of coffee in the office. ¡°Sir, here¡¯s your ck coffee. Would you like some sugar to go with it?¡± ¡°No, thank you.¡± The man was wearing a ck suit, his demeanor elegant and polite. In response, Rayne smiled bashfully and took a few steps backward. However, she kept her gaze fixed on the man¡¯s handsome face. He looks even more charming than celebrities! Right then, Christina entered the office and met the man¡¯s gaze. For some reason, she found the look in his eyes somewhat unsettling. ¡°Who is this?¡± Christina asked. ¡°This gentleman here said he came to see you, but¡­ I forgot to ask about the purpose of his visit.¡± Rayne shed an embarrassed smile. Evidently, Rayne was too focused on the man¡¯s looks, so she forgot to ask the important questions. The man then put his coffee aside and rose to his feet. ¡°May we have a conversation in your office?¡± he asked Christina. ¡°Sure.¡± Christina walked into her office and sat in her office chair. ¡°May I know your name, Sir?¡± ¡°Gibson. Yerek Gibson,¡± the man answered. Christina knew that name. I investigated Gibson Corporation after Francis mentioned that name to me. Yerek is the CEO of Gibson Corporation and the Outstanding Youth of the Year. ¡°How may I help you, Mr. Gibson?¡± Despite wearing a smile, Christina found herself growing wary and cautious. Yerek whipped out a document and put it on Christina¡¯s desk. ¡°I know you¡¯re a famous designer, Ms. Steele. Gibson Corporation would like to coborate with you.¡± Chapter 388 Mastermind. Chapter 388 Mastermind. Christina picked up the document expressionlessly in order to conceal her emotions. This looks like a good deal. We¡¯ll split the profit in half, and it says Gibson Corporation wille up with the capital. ¡°Interesting terms. However¡­¡± Christina lifted her gaze to meet Yerek¡¯s gaze. ¡°There are so many designers in the country. Why did you pick me?¡± Gibson Corporation was an influentialpany, so it was safe to assume that plenty of designers were eager to work with them if they so much as asked for it. ¡°Well, I like your designs. Your designs are unique, innovative, and full of personality.¡± Yerek shed a smile. Christina couldn¡¯t refute his words. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Christina smiled. ¡°Sure. I¡¯lle another time.¡± Yerek stood up and left right away instead of lingering any longer. After seeing Yerek out, Rayne came rushing back to the office and asked curiously. ¡°What did that man want from you? Is he courting you?¡± Rayne thought Christina was a charmingdy. Prior to that, Rayne even joked that if she were a man, she would want to court Christina, too, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? He wants to coborate with me,¡± Christina revealed. ¡°Did you say yes?¡± Rayne asked concernedly. ¡°I told him I would think about it. If hees again, remember to call me beforehand,¡± Christina ordered. ¡°Understood.¡± Rayne left and closed the door behind her, leaving Christina to stare at the contract and plunge into deep contemtion. Christina went to fetch the kids after work. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. After teaching Lucas a lesson the night before. Christina was d to hear the teacher say Lucas had improved. The boy sat at his desk and did his homework after dinner while Cam was drawing at the side. Needless to say, it was a peaceful and heartwarming sight. Meanwhile, Christina was in the study, looking into Gibson Corporation on herputer. Thepany is doing well financially, and I don¡¯t see any problems. As far as I know, the Steele family has nothing to do with the Gibson family, so I doubt Yerek Gibson can gain any benefit from me. Christina fell into deep thought and was so focused that she didn¡¯t even realize someone was standing behind her. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s maic voice rang out from above her head. Before Christina could utter a word in response, Nathaniel picked up the contract nearby and asked, ¡°Are you coborating with Gibson Corporation?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still thinking about it.¡± Christina switched off herputer. I don¡¯t know if I should coborate with Gibson Corporation. Hearing that, Nathaniel held her hand and warned with an icy glint in his eyes, ¡°He¡¯s a cunning and evil man. Don¡¯t work with him.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Do you know him?¡± Christina asked curiously. I would like to know more about Yerek ¡°This man is filled with bad intentions. Trust me,¡± Nathaniel replied. Christina merely stared at the document silently. Nathaniel kept mum for a while before turning around to leave the study. The next day, Christina went to Francis¡¯ office in his mansion. Since their previous discussion on the script regarding urban fashion wasn¡¯t fruitful, they ended up having a meeting thatsted the entire morning. Fortunately for them, the meeting this time around went better, and they had decided on a framework. After the meeting, Francis called out to Christina and said, ¡°Come upstairs with me.¡± ¡°I need to go back to the studio to work. I don¡¯t have time to chat with a superstar like you.¡± Christina kept her belongings and got ready to leave. In response, Francis approached her, bent down, and whispered in her ear, ¡°I have information. concerning the fire. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to know?¡± Christina froze momentarily and gave him the side-eye before following him upstairs. The record yer was ying light music in the living room on the third floor. Francis took out a thick stack of documents and said, ¡°The two thieves admitted the fact that Sean Xenos had paid them to start the fire. Sean is Yerek¡¯s personal assistant.¡± Christina looked through the documents and noticed how detailed the reports were. ¡°This is concrete proof, no? Why didn¡¯t you report it to the police?¡± She gritted her teeth in anger. Those two b stards killed Granny and caused Mom to fall into aa. They also destroyed the house Mom bought with her hard-earned money. ¡°The thieves are long gone, and these pieces of information were collected illegally. They won¡¯t be useful in the court ofw,¡± Francis replied helplessly. If I could, I would love to help Christina. Christina¡¯s gaze turned vicious when she said, ¡°Well, on the bright side, at least now we know Yerek was the mastermind.¡± There weren¡¯t any surveince cameras on the streets or inside the house back then. Therefore, the authorities couldn¡¯t figure out anything regarding the case. From that day onward, however, Christina was determined to avenge her grandmother. ¡°Yerek is a tricky man to deal with. I heard about his way of doing things in the entertainment industry long ago. Don¡¯t take on Gibson Corporation alone,¡± Francis reminded. Yerck¡¯s elegant smile popped up in Christina¡¯s mind. ¡°What if hees looking for me first?¡± ¡°What? He came to you?¡± Francis¡¯ pupils shrank. ¡°It¡¯s none of your concern. Stay out of it. Thank you for telling me these.¡± Christina got up from the couch with a grim look in her eyes. ¡°How am I supposed to stay out of it? Christina, hear me out- Christina cut him off by saying. ¡°My granny died in that fire. I didn¡¯t even get to see her before she died. Are you expecting me to let the matter slide? I¡¯m not an emotionless animal.¡± With that, she flung Francis¡¯ hand aside and left. Christina was filled with exasperation on her way home. Coincidentally, Bailey invited her out, so she went to meet Bailey. The two met at a caf¨¦, and Christina felt energized after having a cup of ck coffee. After that, Bailey brought Christina to the mall. While shopping in a daily necessities store, Christina stopped in front of a pile of colorful yarn balls and fell into deep thought. Nathaniel¡¯s belongings are all in ck, right? With that in mind, she took a yarn ball and went to pay for it. ¡°Why are you so moody?¡± Bailey pinched Christina¡¯s check. Even Bailey can tell I¡¯m not in the mood. Christina shed a sheepish smile in response and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s time for me to fetch the kids. See you!¡± ¡°Cheer up, okay? Here. I bought this, especially for you. Bailey passed Christina a paper bag. ¡°What is this?¡± Christina asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s something fun. Check it outter tonight. Bye!¡± Christina picked up the kids and went back to Scenic Garden Manor. She left the gift on the desk in the bedroom and went downstairs for dinner. After dinner, Christina yed ser with Cam and Lucas in the courtyard. She was a dreadful ser yer, but she wanted to spend time with the kids. ¡°You broke the rules, Mommy! You¡¯re bad at this. I want Daddy to y with us!¡± Lucas puffed up his cheeks. Although such activities were purely for entertainment purposes in adults¡¯ eyes, the kids saw them as seriouspetitions. Right then, the gates opened, and a Maybach drove into the residence. The moment Nathaniel exited the car, the kids immediately dragged him to the courtyard to y ser with them. Chapter 389 Yerek Courts Christina. Chapter 389 Yerek Courts Christina. Casually, Nathaniel undid his suit jacket and covered Christina¡¯s face with it as he walked past her. A hint of an alluring scent of sandalwood enveloped her, tugging at her heartstrings with its faint fragrance. She removed the jacket to see Nathaniel and the two children ying happily. Lucas and Cam were soon tuckered out after all the exercise. They took a bath and immediately fell asleep after getting in bed. When Christina came out of the children¡¯s room, she bumped into Raymond, who was carrying pain medication on a tray. ¡°Is that for Nathaniel?¡± ¡°Yes. Mr. Hadley asked me to bring it to him before going upstairs.¡± ¡°Give it to me.¡± After taking the medicine from the butler, she remembered that Nathaniel had yed with the children immediately after reaching home and had skipped dinner. ¡°Get the kitchen to prepare some food.¡± ¡°All right, Mrs. Hadley,¡± Raymond said before turning around and leaving. Christina detected the faint scent of soap when she entered the bedroom. The sound of the hairdryer stopped, and Nathaniel stood there under the lights. He was d in ck pajamas and exuded a gloomy aura. ¡°Here¡¯s your medicine, but you should eat some food before taking it. Taking medicine on an empty stomach does more harm than good-¡± Before she could finish speaking, Nathaniel wrapped his long arm around her waist and kissed the back of her neck. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to have you.¡± For a moment, Christina couldn¡¯t find the words to respond to that. A momentter, Raymond knocked on the door, prompting Christina to pull away from Nathaniel. ¡°Eat some food, and take the medicine after that. I¡¯ll head to bed first.¡± After saying that, she went to lie down on the bed. Smiling, Raymond ced the tray of food on the coffee table and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley was worried that you would go hungry and told me to get the kitchen to prepare some food. She cares about you very much.¡± Christina¡¯s voice sounded from the bed. ¡°Raymond, you¡¯re quite chatty today.¡± Smiling meaningfully, Raymond exited without saying another word. The next day, Christina hitched a ride to thepany in Nathaniel¡¯s car. When she walked into her office, she saw an enormous bouquet of roses on the desk. She picked up the card that came with the bouquet and read its contents. It was an invitation to have lunch together, and it was signed by Yerek. Christina recalled the conversation she had with Francis yesterday. First, he set my ce on fire, and now he¡¯s here proiming his love. What is his motive? Though, since he came to me himself. I see no reason to reject his invitation. Rayne came into the office. ¡°Mr. Gibson is such a romantic person! He actually sent you a hundred and forty-three roses! Maybe he¡¯s confessing to you!¡± The underlying meaning of such a specific number wasn¡¯t lost on Christina. Christina¡¯s gaze turned cold. She crumpled the card and tossed it into the bin. ¡°Take the flowers out of my office. Do whatever you want with them.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Rayne responded. Just as she grabbed therge bouquet and turned around, she was frightened by a figure that suddenly appeared. Giving a start, she dropped the bouquet on the floor, and the scent of roses wafted in the air. Christina turned around to see Nathaniel staring at her with his gaze filled with hostility. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I was about to throw these flowers away, Mr. Hadley. Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± Rayne picked up fallen bouquet and scurried away timidly. Expressionlessly, Christina sat down on the chair. ¡°Do you need something?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I already have ns with someone else,¡± Christina declined him.. Nathaniel knitted his brows, his tone immediately turning cold. ¡°Is it Yerek?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to inform you who I¡¯m having lunch with.¡± Christina casually picked up her schedule and began poring over it seriously, paying Nathaniel no mind. ¡°I told you, he¡¯s not a good person. You shouldn¡¯t interact with him,¡± Nathaniel enunciated. Christina detected a hint of anger in his voice. Lifting her gaze apathetically, she said, ¡°If that¡¯s all you want to say, you can leave now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my wife. I have the right to know who you¡¯re meeting with.¡± Nathaniel clenched his fists, his frown so deep that his brows were practically pressed together. ¡°What about you? Are you going to tell me your whereabouts in detail too?¡± Faced with Christina¡¯s query, Nathaniel fell silent. His schedule and trips were often rted to the company¡¯s confidential developments. It was not something he could easily divulge. Apart from Sebastian, there wasn¡¯t anyone who knew his schedule in detail. ¡°I need to get back to work. Please leave.¡± Seeing that she had made up her mind, Nathaniel could only retreat for now. That afternoon, in a luxurious restaurant in the city center, Yerek presented a bouquet of pink roses to Christina. ¡°I think pink suits you better. The color is delicate and not too shy¡° ¡°Mr. Gibson, is this how you usually woodies?¡± Christina epted the flowers and set them next to her seat. ¡°Of course not. I just felt like doing it after meeting your Since Yerck had ordered the dishes in advance, their food was brought out soon after they were seated. They chatted a bit before getting down to business. ¡°Ms. Steele, have you given thought to working together? Our coboration will certainly help you shine in the fashion industry.¡± Christina had no such desires. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Okay, there¡¯s no rush. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± After lunch, Christina brought the bouquet of pink roses with her as she returned to Hadley Corporation. She encountered Nathaniel just as she stepped into the elevator. Thetter had just returned from a business meeting outside. Nathaniel grabbed the bouquet of pink roses and shoved it into Sebastian¡¯s arms. He ordered, ¡°Throw this away.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel closed the elevator doors behind Sebastian and swiftly strode over to Christina, cornering the latter. ¡°Does he want to work with you to start a clothing brand?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me if you already know about it?¡± Christina asked impassively. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face clouded over. ¡°How much is he investing? I¡¯ll pay double, so don¡¯t work with him.¡± He was willing to pay the price if he could solve the problem with money. Christina sighed softly. ¡°This isn¡¯t about money.¡± How do I exin this to Nathaniel? Just then, the elevator doors slid open with a ding to reveal several female colleagues standing outside. They were just about to get in. When they saw the scene before them, they eximed in surprise. From the angle they were standing at, it looked as if Nathaniel had pinned Christina to the wall. They certainly dared not interrupt such an intimate moment. Christina¡¯s expression darkened as she shoved Nathaniel aside and strode out. When the others saw that Nathaniel¡¯s expression was equally grim, they scampered away in fear. Yerek¡¯s phone call came just as Christina returned to her office. ¡°Are you back at the office?¡± ¡°Yes, I just got back. Thanks for your concern.¡± ¡°I know a wonderful stretch of beach. Would you like to go there for a walk tomorrow night?¡± Christina frowned. I have no idea what¡¯s going through this man¡¯s mind. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°See you tomorrow night.¡± Christina lowered her gaze as she hung up. Since the enemy¡¯s not going to strike, I won¡¯t, too. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s up to. Later that afternoon, just as she was about to go and pick the children up, she received a phone call from Julia. Julia informed Christina that she had brought the kids to the Hadley residence. Christina had no reason to prevent Julia and Charlie from spending time with their grandchildren. As such, she returned to the condominium after she got off work. The condominium was already newly refurbished when she bought it, and after she arranged the new furniture she ordered, the ce felt more like home. Chapter 390 Marry Her Chapter 390 Marry Her Christina enjoyed her leisure time alone a lot. After perusing the book on marriagew she had bought, she realized it was useless and randomly remembered the yarn ball she purchased a few days ago. With that, she grabbed all the necessary tools and started knitting casually on the couch. Knitting required a lot of effort. Nheless, it had a soothing effect on an agitated mind. As the night grew darker, she grew tired and eventually fell asleep on the couch. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The next day, she woke up with a cold, sneezing continuously. She opened her wardrobe to take out a trench coat and wore it before heading to work. As Christina arrived at the office, she spotted a bouquet of roses and already knew who the sender was. ¡°Christina, Mr. Gibson seems to be serious about you. I think you should find time to make things clear with him.¡± Rayne held the flowers, preparing to throw them away. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Christina had always thought that Yerek behaved that way out of courtesy. Never had she expected him to be that serious. Christina finally got off work in the evening, and Yerek was waiting for her at the entrance in his car. After getting into his car, the two of them headed to a beach. The gentle sea breeze blew as colorful light bulbs adorned the beach¡¯s surroundings. It was a particrly romantic atmosphere there. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to have someone to walk on the beach with me, to have someone who could be by my side as we feel the sea breeze and gaze at the beautiful stars in the night sky. A moment of tranquility like this makes me feel extremely peaceful.¡± At the end of his utterances, Yerek fixed his attention on Christina. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that many women are willing to apany you, Mr. Gibson,¡± replied Christina calmly. There was a faint glimmer in his eyes, and hers remained as calm as still water. ¡°I can only experience this feeling with someone I like.¡± Hearing that, Christina merely responded with a faint smile without replying anything. Yerek didn¡¯t rush her further. ¡°I¡¯ve reserved a table at a seaside restaurant. Let¡¯s have some dessert there before heading back.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As they strolled along the beach, someone pushed Christina abruptly from behind. Losing her bnce, Christina staggered before falling on her buttocks. ¡°What a shameless woman! How dare you seduce someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡± Christina gazed up, and her face darkened immediately when she saw the woman who had just pushed her. Judging from the trendy get-up of the blonde, Christina could tell that she was a minor celebrity. Meanwhile, that woman stared at her with a murderous gaze. Thisdy must have misunderstood us. Yerek froze, seemingly caught off guard by the sudden appearance of this woman. ¡°Are you out of your mind! What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Then, Yerek stepped forward to help Christina up before asking with concern, ¡°Are you injured?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, but your girlfriend seems troubled. Shouldn¡¯t you be more concerned about her?¡± Christina dusted off the sand from her body. ¡°She¡¯s not my girlfriend. We only yed around a little.¡± Yerek red at the woman furiously, signaling her to leave. His heartless words caused fury to rise in the blonde like a tide. She yelled, ¡°How dare you, Yerek? Do you remember gifting me flowers persistently when you pursued me? Are you thinking of dumping me now? Dream on!¡± Not wanting to argue with her, Yerek turned around and shot his bodyguards a knowing look. Soon, his bodyguards went up to sandwich the blonde and brought her away. ¡°Christina, I hope you don¡¯t get the wrong idea. There¡¯s nothing going on between us anymore,¡± Yerek exined nervously. As Christina stared into his deep yet mesmerizing eyes, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that the man in front of her was both dangerous and frightening. Despite that, Christina chuckled lightly, not taking it to heart. It was never her intention to get close to Yerek from the start. On the contrary, she had always seen him as her enemy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no misunderstanding here, but I wish to rify that I¡¯m already married,¡± stated Christina solemnly. Yerek¡¯s gaze remained unfazed as if he had already expected that. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Also, I have two children,¡± added Christina. ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Christina was silenced by his retort. ¡°Regardless of what you have in mind, I want to make it clear that I don¡¯t like you. If you¡¯re nning some ulterior motive by coborating with me, I advise you to stop while you still can.¡± The two of themid everything out on the table, and Yerek had no choice but to face it. The edges of Yerek¡¯s lips curved upward as he voiced, ¡°I want to coborate with you for the sake of developing the fashion industry. I hope that you won¡¯t reject my proposal even if you choose to reject me.¡± ¡°I still need time to consider the coboration. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± With that, Christina turned around and left. As Yerek watched her walk away, he heaved a deep sigh of relief. The next moment, his assistant approached him and whispered, ¡°What should we do about that celebrity? She wants to meet you.¡± ¡°Give her some money and get her an endorsement deal. Ask her to stop bothering me.¡± A hint of gloom shed across his eyes. After all. Yerek¡¯s ultimate target was Christina. He reckoned that if much nicer tactics were ineffective, he would have to start being more aggressive. Thinking that rushing would be useless, he nned to find a way to make the situation stable before proceeding with his n. ¡°I can tell that Ms. Steele is a loyal person. I don¡¯t think she would agree to your proposal, Mr. Gibson,¡± his assistant expressed his concern. Yerek stuffed his hands in his pocket, and the muscles on his face grew taut. I have to marry Christina within a year. Or else I would lose my eligibility to be the heir of the Gibson family. No matter what, I have to get Christina! Right after Christina returned to her condominium, she saw a familiar and tall figure in the corridor. Nathaniel could be seen standing straight at the entrance waiting for her. Christina strode over to unlock her newly-changed fingerprint door lock. She scanned her fingerprint at the lock several times but was unable to unlock it. Nathaniel swept an indifferent gaze at her and raised his hand to enter the passcode. With a beep, the door unlocked. Christina scowled at him and asked, ¡°Since you know the passcode, why didn¡¯t you just enter?¡± ¡°If I did so, you would say that I¡¯m disrespecting you again,¡± Nathaniel said expressionlessly as he walked inside. His words sounded somewhat ironic. Upon entering the house, Christina took off her trench coat and walked to the coffee table to pour herself a ss of water. ¡°Why are you here thiste?¡± ¡°Since you are not going back to Scenic Garden Manor, I have no choice but to look for you here.¡± Nathaniel sat on the couch and noticed something. ¡°Did you knit this for me?¡± It was at that moment Christina noticed her halfpleted scarf on the corner of the couch. Walking over, she hid the unfinished scarf behind her back. ¡°No. Why would I knit this for you?¡± There was no way she would show him the unfinished scarf just like that. It would be a different story if it were finished, though. Christina knitted the scarf groggilyst night and made a few mistakes. Therefore, she had to redo a part. Nathaniel beamed without uttering a word, standing up to take off his suit. He looked like he was going to stay overnight. Putting her guard up, Christina asked worriedly. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Christina walked up to him and blocked his way. ¡°I don¡¯t have any of your clothes here. You should go back to Scenic Garden Manor and rest.¡± Right when she finished her sentence, the doorbell rang. Nathaniel carried her before cing her right in front of the door. ¡°Please get my clothes for me.¡± Two minutester, Christina had a bag of his daily necessities in her hands. Nathaniel had clearly nned to stay overnight at her ce. Chapter 391 Do Not Make Me Hate You Chapter 391 Do Not Make Me Hate You Nathaniel¡¯s deep voice rang out from the bathroom. ¡°Bring the pajamas here.¡± Christina pulled out his ck pajamas from the bag and walked over. ¡°I¡¯ll hang them just inside the door for you to take.¡± However, as soon as she opened the bathroom door, he grabbed her hand and pulled her inside with the pajamas. Thick, hot steam hung in the air in the bathroom. Droplets of water slid down Nathaniel¡¯s forehead toward his high nose bridge, and his dark eyes seemed to draw her in. She held up his pajamas between them and avoided his gaze. ¡°You should take a shower too. Your body must feel sticky after being out in the sea breeze.¡± he said slowly. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. He followed me again! Christina pushed him aside and uttered, ¡°Let me out.¡± The push caused his back to bump into something, and he inhaled sharply in pain. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Does your back still hurt?¡± Turning around to check, she saw that the angry, red marks on his muscr back had yet to heal. The sight of them was somewhat shocking. ¡°Why haven¡¯t they healed yet? It¡¯s been so long. Haven¡¯t you been applying the medicine?¡± she asked, unable to hide the worry in her eyes. Gazing at her gloomily, he answered, ¡°That¡¯s because you didn¡¯t help me with it.¡± She snorted in annoyance. ¡°Are you a child who needs someone to help them with everything?¡± Only children would behave like that. It¡¯s just like how Lucas and Cam needed me to lie next to them to fall asleep in the past. He arched an eyebrow. ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°In that case, hurry up and put on your pajamas. I¡¯ll help you do it lest you me me if something happens to you while you¡¯re at my house.¡± Christina walked out of the bathroom, then went downstairs and bought some anti-inmmatory medicine. She made him lie on the couch and carefully applied the medicine. It was clear that the wounds had healed but split open again fromrge or sudden movements, so they looked particrly unsightly. After tending to his wounds, she stored the remaining medicine in a box. ¡°I¡¯m hungry,¡± he remarked casually. It¡¯s as though a member of royalty has graced my humble abode. I¡¯ve been busy waiting on him hand and foot all this time! ¡°All I have are noodles. Do you want that or not?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll eat anything you cook,¡± came his reply. She got up and went to the kitchen to boil some water. donned an apron, and her from behind, she cut a gentle andforting figure. Soon, she ced two piping hot bowls of instant noodles on the dining table. They sat opposite each other and began to eat. ¡°This pendant light is a little dim,¡± he observed, ncing at the hanging light in the middle. Judging from its color, it must¡¯ve been put in to match the original interior decoration. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she agreed. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of getting a new one.¡± ¡°Would you prefer a round one or a square one?¡± ¡°A round one. I suppose. It¡¯ll have more of that cozy vibe,¡± she replied. However, she immediately regretted saying that. Why should I discuss these things with Nathaniel? It¡¯s my house. If I want to change the light, I can do it myself. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Enjoy your meal.¡± With that, she set down her fork and got up to return to her bedroom. Christina felt much better after taking a hot shower, but when she walked out of the bathroom, she saw Nathaniel lying on her bed. ¡°What are you doing in my bed? Go and sleep in the guest bedroom.¡± She reached out and grabbed the corner of the nket at the foot of the bed. Like a puppy whose territory had been upied by others. she had an indignant look in her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s only one nket,¡± he drawled. Huh? When he asked Sebastian to bring over his daily necessities and clothes, Sebastian had even prepared a toothbrush. So, how could it just so happen that the only thing he forgot was a nket? What a sly old for. Feeling helpless, she climbed into bed andy to one side with only a corner of the nket covering her midriff. Suddenly, a long arm reached over from under the nket, wrapping around her slender waist. With one effortless motion, he pulled her straight into his embrace. Nathaniel cuddled her close as though she were a kitten, seemingly worried she would slip away if he let Since it had been a long night, she was exhausted. Hence, she let him hold her, and the pair fell asleep together. When the first rays of dawn started peeping out, Christina sensed something nudging her neck in her sleep. She furrowed her brows and pushed it away. A secondter, she felt a rush of warm breath sweep over her, awakening her senses. Finally fully awake, she realized Nathaniel was the one nuzzling her neck. ¡°Go away. Don¡¯t-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, he had sealed her lips with his He was so strong that she had no way of resisting. Nathaniel was like a trapped beast who had broken free of its cage, desperate to pounce on its prey. His hot breath against her neck was driving her crazy. ¡°Nathaniel Hadley, let go! Do you hear me?¡± she insisted furiously. However, that did nothing to stop his advances. A thin veil of tears appeared in her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t make me hate you.¡± Hearing that, he finally stopped moving and stared at her teary eyes, forcing himself to calm down. They locked gazes for a while. Then, he climbed off the bed and went into the bathroom. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the sound of running water. Getting out of bed, she got changed and left the room. By the time Nathaniel opened the bathroom door and walked out of the bedroom after changing into a brand-new suit, the living room was empty. However, there was a steaming bowl of noodles on the dining table. She still made me breakfast, so she¡¯s probably not that mad. When Christina got to her office, she was relieved not to see any roses lying around like an eyesore. However, there was a box of exquisite pastries. It looks like Yerek hasn¡¯t given up. Even when she saw him calling her on the phone, she did not answer any of his calls the whole morning. To her surprise, he showed up at her office with his assistant at noon. ¡°Did you like the chocte pastries I sent?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t eat them. You can go and ask my assistant,¡± she replied with a shrug of her shoulders. Her reply did not appear to anger him. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the coboration then, shall we? I n to hire. models to take photos for publicity as soon as you finish the designs. My estimation is twenty million for the first drop. What do you think?¡± Christina rested her chin on her hands and did not respond. ¡°You¡¯ll only be responsible foring up with the designs and collecting the money. I¡¯ll handle the rest. All the profits will be yours. Why are you still hesitating when such an amazing deal has fallen into your lap?¡± he continued with an amused smile. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s something so good that popped up out of the blue that necessitates a thorough consideration. What if it turns out to be harmful?¡± she countered in a meaningful tone. A dark glint flitted across both their eyes. After a while, Yerekughed. ¡°You¡¯re such a cautious person. I like that a lot. Why don¡¯t youe to the party I¡¯m throwing at my mansion this Wednesday? I¡¯ll introduce you to the third coboration partner. After we meet, you won¡¯t be as wary anymore.¡± ¡°Is it someone I know?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when youe over, won¡¯t you?¡± With that, he got up and left. Chapter 392 Someone Familiar Chapter 392 Someone Familiar That night, Christina arrived on schedule. She sensed the mansion¡¯s busy and boisterous vibe as soon as she stepped out of the automobile. There, she noticed many elegantly dressed folks chatting with wine sses in their hands among the loud music Underneath the light. Christina saw a familiar face. The other person spotted her, too, and they walked over. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Christina¡± ¡°Ms. Tanner, you¡¯re right. It¡¯s been a long time.¡± Christina grinned while her eyes gleamed. They gave one another a brief embrace before pulling away. Gina scrutinized Christina. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even tell you were the same person-you look so different from before!¡± ¡°The same goes for you. You have be more feminine and dignified.¡± They got engrossed in their conversation, for they had not seen each other since Christina left Radiant Corporation. Yerek suddenly appeared in a whitece shirt with a golden logo embroidered on it. He wore ck. trousers, lengthening his figure¡¯s curves and giving him a slick yet menacing appearance. ¡°You know each other?¡± Realization dawned on Christina. ¡°She¡¯s the third partner?¡± ¡°Yes. Gina has changed her profession. She helps me a lot now that she is a nner.¡± Yerek exined. Gina shared Christina¡¯s astonishment. ¡°Oh. Christina was the talented designer you described. Even though I had my doubts initially, Ipletely agree with you now that I know it¡¯s Christina.¡± She turned and held out her hand to Christina. ¡°I¡¯m excited about our uing coboration!¡± Christina shook Gina¡¯s hand with a smile. She had a lot of questions for Gina, so she suggested, ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we met. Can I talk to you privately?¡± Yerek knew it was his time to take his leave. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll excuse myself then.¡± The women opened up more after the third party was gone. ¡°Ms. Tanner, what¡¯s your rtionship with Yerek? Do you know what he is like?¡± Christina was clearly hinting at something. She alluded to the information that Yerek¡¯s reputation was poor due to widespread discussion of his cruelty and ruthlessness. Gina naturally grasped Christina¡¯s underlying meaning. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink this, Christina. I changed jobs a few years ago, so I believe in my judgment. I¡¯d worked with multiple designers before Mr. Gibson discovered my work, and since then, I¡¯ve coborated with him multiple times.¡± ¡°Besides that?¡± Christina probed. ¡°Our rtionship is purely professional,¡± Gina stated. The two shared a short conversation before Gina spotted an old friend of hers and left Christina¡¯s side. Hmm, it¡¯s real, then. Gina is indeed only responsible for the nning. I heard many details about the nning process from her just now, and they weren¡¯t something ayperson coulde up with. At this moment, Christina didn¡¯t feel that the purpose of this coboration with Yerek was motiveless just because someone she knew was involved. Rather, she felt like she was currently caught in a conspiracy that she was in the dark about. So why did Yerek involve a person I know in this? He went through a lot of trouble simply to work with me, but I don¡¯t think it is worth it at all. Perhaps I¡¯ll have to delve further into this while on the job to understand more. Christina was ready to leave the event even though it hadn¡¯t ended. Yerek showed up and followed her to the entrance. ¡°Let me send you back home.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the host today. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate for you to leave halfway through the event. It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll return home by myself,¡± Christina rebuffed him. The duo noticed a ck Maybach when they stepped out of the door. Surprise shed across Christina¡¯s eyes as she immediately recognized the car owner. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to take me home. My husband has arrived to pick me up.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll talk with you about the specifics of the coboration tomorrow at work.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes were frosty when she replied, ¡°Sure.¡± The driver opened the car door for her and shut the door after she entered the car. Yerek abruptly felt a pointed, probing gaze on him through the dark car window. As he watched the car leave his line of sight, his eyes darkened. On the way back, Nathaniel turned his head to look at Christina¡¯s attire. She wore a short dress with thin straps, emphasizing her cuteness and vivacity. She pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and tied a pink ribbon around it. Thanks to her perfect side profile, Christina appeared to be a princess who had just stepped out of a fairytale. Christina¡¯s heart had been pounding since she entered the car. I didn¡¯t inform Nathaniel about tonight¡¯s schedule. Did hee because he was mad? Christina was considering what to say when Nathaniel¡¯s deep, velvety voice called out to her from the side, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Yes.¡± Christina had gone to the event right after she finished work, so she didn¡¯t have time for dinner. ¡°Would you prefer to eat at home, or should we go out to eat?¡± Nathaniel asked. ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal at home. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± When Nathaniel heard this, he pulled Christina into his embrace. ¡°Rest up if you¡¯re tired.¡± Christina was shocked by his reaction. He¡¯s not angry? She was too tired to think any further. Instead, Christina snuggled against Nathaniel and breathed in his body¡¯s soothing, woodsy aroma. After that, she fell asleep. They had already arrived at Scenic Garden Manor when Christina came to. The couple stepped into the living room, only to be greeted by the pleasant smell of a delicious meal. Right then. Christina¡¯s stomach growled with hunger. As she turned to face Nathaniel, her face took on a reddish hue. ¡°I had a bit of food carlier at the event but I think I¡¯m still peckish.¡± ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you something to eat.¡± The couple took their seats at the dining table. Christina had no qualms about showing her true self before Nathaniel. She started stuffing food down her throat. Soon, her mouth was full of food. It puffed up her cheeks, making her look like a smug hamster. ¡°Are you sure you want to work with him?¡± Nathaniel spoke abruptly. There was no reason for Christina to keep the truth from Nathaniel. ¡°Yes. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll review the contract. I¡¯ll sign it if everything goes as nned.¡± If she wanted to delve deep into Yerek¡¯s motive for approaching her, Christina had to drop her guard and give the man a chance to reveal his true intention. Christina hastily stood up after setting down her fork as though she was worried Nathaniel might stop her from carrying out her n. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Enjoy your meal!¡± Nathaniel watched her walk away briskly, feeling like he was being left out on purpose. Does she think I¡¯m just going to sit by and watch while she goes ahead with her n? I have ways to solve this, even if she doesn¡¯t want to listen to what I have to say. While Nathaniel stayed up until midnight for work, Christina slept soundly. Because he didn¡¯t want to wake her up, he didn¡¯t go back to the bedroom. The woman descended the stairs the following day, only to be met with an assortment of antiques disyed in the living room. At the same time, Raymond and the housekeepers were carefully wiping these antiques clean. ¡°What¡¯s the asion? Why did you guys put these items on the floor?¡± Christina questioned curiously. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we repeat this routine every half a year,¡± Raymond said. ¡°Oh? But I¡¯ve never seen you guys do this before though?¡± Christina was confused. She had never seen them handling these antiques so extravagantly. Raymond chuckled without replying to Christina. He instructed the housekeepers, ¡°Please be careful! Do not scratch or break Mr. Hadley¡¯s antiques. They are costly!¡± The housekeepers gave a serious nod. Evidently, they would take additional care around these antiques. because, should they identally damage them, there was no way they could find the money forpensation. Chapter 393 Women Go Bad When They Are Rich Chapter 393 Women Go Bad When They Are Rich Christina wanted to head to the dining room, but there were too many antiques along the way. Ancient, mysterious patterns were delicately carved on them. ¡°There¡¯s a cockroach!¡± someone shouted. Right then, several female housekeepers screamed. The peaceful atmosphere turned chaotic at once. Christina was startled too. Seeing the cockroach crawling to her at lightning speed, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from hopping in ce. Then, the sound of something shattering floated into her ears. ¡°It¡¯s gone now. Calm down, everyone!¡± The gardener got rid of the cockroach with a broom. Just as they let out a sigh of relief, they heard Raymond¡¯s terrified voice. ¡°Who broke Mr. Hadley¡¯s antique?¡± Those at the scene flitted their eyes to the shard in the corner. A carved vase was broken, and it didn¡¯t seem like it could be mended. At the sight of that, the housekeepers were so scared that they almost cried. ¡°What should we do? This looks expensive.¡± ¡°We¡¯re doomed. I don¡¯t think I canpensate for it even if I pay with my pension.¡± ¡°Who broke it? Hurry up and admit it. I¡¯ll talk to Mr. Hadley on your behalf,¡± Raymond persuaded. They exchanged nces with one another. Everyone was scared out of their wits earlier. How were they supposed to know who broke the vase? Perhaps someone identally broke it after all the pushing and bumping. ¡°What happened?¡± A deep voice rang out, making the living room fall into silence in an instant. Raymond walked to the stairs and said hesitantly, ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡­ We identally broke your treasured vase just now.¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Sebastian asked at the side. Instead of saying anything, Raymond pointed to the broken vase. He didn¡¯t know much about antiques, so he had no idea what it was called. Casting a nce at it, Sebastian said, ¡°That is an antique from the seventeenth century that is worth fifty- seven million.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that expensive?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, that¡¯s the minimum price for all the antiques here. We have those that are much more expensive than the vase,¡± Sebastian said with some pride. So the vase is considered cheap? Raymond¡¯s lips trembled. Women Go Bad When They Are Rich The female housekeepers fell to their knees at once. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s too pricey. We can¡¯t afford to pay for it.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, please don¡¯t send me to the police station. The housekeepers pleaded, each sounding more pitiful than thest Seeing how desperate they were, Christina couldn¡¯t bring herself to let them bear the consequences. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m also responsible for the broken vase. I¡¯ll take full responsibility, so please let them go.¡± Nathaniel raised his brows. ¡°You¡¯ll be fully responsible for it? The entire sum?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That was arge amount. Her heart ached at losing so much money, but she couldn¡¯t be asking the housekeepers to pay for it. On top of that, she was also startled earlier. It was hard to tell who broke the vase amidst all the chaos. ¡°All right, then. Everyone else may leave,¡± Nathaniel agreed. The housekeepers and Raymond exchanged a look before leaving. They walked to the courtyard. It wasn¡¯t until they were sure those inside the house couldn¡¯t hear them that they spoke. ¡°Raymond, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s inappropriate for us to cooperate with Mr. Hadley to set Mrs. Hadley up?¡± One of the housekeepers, whom Christina had helped before, said guiltily, ¡°That¡¯s right. Mrs. Hadley has always been nice to us.¡± Raymond sighed softly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Hadley won¡¯t give Mrs. Hadley a hard time.¡± Meanwhile, Christina was at the dining table, gulping down a ss of milk to calm her nerves. She was calcting the remaining bnce on her bank card in her heart. The condominium that she boughtst time cost her more than half of her savings. She didn¡¯t have much. money left. She could not even afford to pay for the vase. Although Nathaniel¡¯s expensive vase had been broken, he didn¡¯t look upset at all. On the contrary, he seemed a little contented. Raising his cold eyes, he asked, ¡°How do you n topensate me?¡± Christina lost her appetite in an instant. ¡°You can pay me cash or transfer the amount to me via PayPal. If not, other ways are fine too,¡± he continued. Christina was stunned again. Nathaniel wasn¡¯t in a hurry. He cut the egg on his te elegantly and put it in his mouth. His appetite seemed better because of his good mood. After a moment¡¯s thought, Christina said, ¡°I don¡¯t have that much money at the moment. Can I owe you the money and slowly pay it back?¡± ¡°No.¡± It was a direct refusal. Frowning. Christina bit her thin lip. ¡°Why not? You¡¯re not in need of money.¡± Standing at the side, Sebastian cleared his throat. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the one being owed money has the right to decide whether or not to let you pay the debt in installments. He can also ask you to pay it off within at certain time limit if he wants.¡± Christina was bent out of shape. However, she was in the wrong, so she couldn¡¯t refute his words. ¡°But I don¡¯t have that much money with me. Are you going to send me to the police station, then?¡± Since it was so expensive, why did it need to be taken out willy-nilly? Even if it was to clean the house, he didn¡¯t need to fill up the living room with antiques. It was practically a field ofndmines! Thinking about that, Christina even suspected that he had done it on purpose. Setting down the fork and knife in his hands, he said, ¡°I won¡¯t do that. We are a married couple, after all. If you have any criminal records, it¡¯s going to affect Lucas and Cam¡¯s future.¡± It wasn¡¯t until she heard what he said that she realized how dangerous her thought was earlier. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. But I don¡¯t have that much money. What should I do? Nathaniel gave Sebastian a look. Sebastian took out a contract from the document holder and put it in front of Christina. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is the cooperation agreement that Mr. Hadley wishes to have with you. You¡¯ll be an employee of Hadley Corporation after you¡¯ve signed it. From then onward, your sry and all your ie will have to be handed over aspensation for the vase. The remaining twenty percent of what you earn will be for your living expenses. Also, Mr. Hadley can ask you for the money at any time.¡± Christina was confused. What kind of cooperation is this? This is literally an indenture! In other words, she was going to be Nathaniel¡¯s money-making tool until she paid off her debt. ¡°That amount of money is barely enough for me,¡± Christina huffed. Grabbing a tissue to rub the corners of his mouth, Nathaniel replied, ¡°You¡¯re in the house most of the time. Why do you need so much money?¡± He curled his lips upward. ¡°Women tend to go bad when they have money. ¡°Nonsense! I¡¯m not like that,¡± Christina argued. ¡°Who was the one who secretly bought a condominium to move out of here?¡± He looked at herzily. Christina was rendered speechless. ¡°If you have no objections, drop your signature.¡± Nathaniel was mysterious and dangerous, just like a powerful lion. How could she not have any objections? Women On Bad When There Are Rect She Bo Bon Boner than die pastiri gong gu bha In the end render wadone¡¯s per t?unidas ook de exact drippet har viguings in de tuisun rightes of de Anme Late trans offer rating. You estary vill ko dating of bus Chapter 394 Something Happened To Nathaniel Chapter 394 Something Happened To Nathaniel ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be managing all your work.¡± Nathaniel flipped through Christina¡¯s schedule. Her work arrangement wasn¡¯t too packed. She still had time to apany her children on weekends. ¡°You want to stop me from coborating with Gibson Corporation?¡± Christina was slightly worried. Judging from Nathaniel¡¯s means of conducting things, he would definitely do that. ¡°You¡¯re bonded to me now. You don¡¯t have the power to decide on any cooperation.¡± Nathaniel arched his brows, looking at her like he was looking at the document in his hands. Thinking about the contract she had signed in the morning, Christina suddenly felt weak. She pursed her lips and didn¡¯t say anything more. After they arrived at thepany, they went straight to the office. Yerek was sitting on the couch. The moment he saw Nathaniel, his eyes glinted. ¡°Christina, can we talk about the coboration now?¡± Yerck stood up and approached her. Walking behind Nathaniel, Christina was like a child who had done something wrong. At the moment, she had no say in anything like that. ¡°She¡¯s under me now, so I¡¯ll be handling all her matters, Nathaniel said. Yerek was slightly startled but soon regained hisposure. ¡°Which means it¡¯s a coboration with Hadley Corporation?¡± Hearing that, Christina was also shocked. ¡°Stop kidding. Why is Hadley Corporation being pulled into this?¡± In the beginning, she thought her work wasn¡¯t worth that much. Hence, she felt she wouldn¡¯t bring much trouble upon herself even if something went wrong with the coboration, just like her heart wouldn¡¯t ache if she lost a few hundred in a gamble. However, if the stakes increased, she couldn¡¯t afford to take that risk anymore. ¡°You can leave if you find it displeasing.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s words were straight to the point. If Yerek left at such a time, it was going to prove that his purpose for the coboration was to get close to Christina. Yerek sneered. ¡°Why would I give up on the chance to coborate with Hadley Corporation?¡± He picked up the proposal on the desk. ¡°Let¡¯s have a talk in the office.¡± Nathaniel clenched his jaw slightly and pulled Christina to the office. The three of them sat facing one another. There were several assistants at the side, taking minutes of the meeting. It merely sounded like a simple matter. However, it became extraordinarilyplicated when they got into the details. Something Happened To Nathaniel Christina voiced her opinions from time to time. Coming to an agreement for such a big project was going to take a while. As noon approached, both parties felt tired. Only Nathaniel looked like he was still full of energy. ¡°How about we take a break? Let¡¯s continueter in the afternoon¡± Christina couldn¡¯t hold on anymore. She had been sitting for five hours listening to information that she wasn¡¯t familiar with. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s have a break.¡± Nathaniel agreed. Only then was the meeting adjourned.. ¡°What do you want to eat? You want to have it here or outside?¡± Nathaniel asked. ¡°Are you serious about cooperating with Gibson Corporation?¡± Christina¡¯s gaze was serious. ¡°Yes.¡± Nathaniel took a sip of the warm water at the side and let Christina have the rest. ¡°You don¡¯t have to meddle in this. It¡¯s between me and Gibson Corporation.¡± Christina said worriedly. She didn¡¯t want Nathaniel to get involved with others unnecessarily because of her. ¡°I¡¯ll get involved just because you don¡¯t want me to.¡± His expression was solemn. Christina face-palmed, not knowing how to respond to his words. ¡°Don¡¯t starve. Think about what you want to cat.¡± Nathaniel unfurled her brows with his fingertips. That surprisingly made her feel better somehow. ¡°Anything will do.¡± After she finished saying that, she organized the documents on the desk. In less than half an hour, the coffee table was full of various delicious dishes. ¡°Come here and eat.¡± Christina was hungry. She put down the documents and went over to him. As soon as she sat down, a shrimp was stuffed into her mouth. Christina was moved. Perhaps it was because of that that she had temporarily forgotten about her conflict with Nathaniel. After eating, Christina felt slightly sleepy. Seeing that she was a little lethargic, Nathaniel said, ¡°Take a nap. I¡¯ll wake you up when it¡¯s time for work.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m not that sleepy.¡± Christina carefully read the conditions stated in the document. It was indeed a coboration n involving two greatpanies. Every part was written cautiously and in detail-even the punctuation marks were impable. If Nathaniel didn¡¯t join her in the negotiation, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t have been so detailed. All of a sudden, the document in her hand was pulled away. Then, she was scooped up by Nathaniel. His arms were strong. It felt like he was her most reliable harbor. ¡°Take a rest. Your body is also mine now,¡± Nathaniel said domineeringly. When she entered the lounge with him, the faint floral fragrance in the air floated to her nose. Christinay on the bed, saying that she couldn¡¯t sleep. Yet, two secondster, she fell asleep on Nathaniel¡¯s body. Who wouldn¡¯t have a good sleep on a muscr chest? They held each other in their arms, and it seemed like time had stopped. When Christina woke up in the afternoon, she rubbed her eyes. Under the light, she looked like a sweet princess, with her fair and delicate skin glowing. Walking out of the lounge, she thought of getting the materials ready for the meetingter. She soon saw Rayne frantically writing the minutes. ¡°Get ready for the meetingter.¡± Christina sat down and picked up the documents. Rayne was a little surprised. ¡°It¡¯s already over. Mr. Hadley said that you weren¡¯t feeling well, so you wouldn¡¯t be joining us for the meeting. He even told me not to disturb your rest after the meeting. Christina let out a sheepish smile. Did I sleep that long? She was warmed by Nathaniel¡¯s consideration. ¡°What a good rtionship you have with him. It makes people envious,¡± Rayne said. ¡°Mr. Hadley must have wanted to stay with you, which is why he moved Christina¡¯s Studios to Hadley Corporation. By the way, did you know that the studio we rented back then also belonged to Mr. Hadley?¡± Christina¡¯s pupils shrank in shock, but she regained herposure soon after. There was nothing Nathaniel could not do. He could have control over anything as long as he wanted it, and that included her. After work, Christina returned to her condominium. She continued working on the scarf that had yet to bepleted. It was taking her a lot of time to finish knitting it. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she had a good nap in the afternoon, for she was full of energy at night. As the wee hours approached, she was finally feeling a little tired. When she walked over to the dining table and poured herself a ss of water, her phone rang. Christina answered it, and Sebastian¡¯s weak voice sounded from the other end of the line. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we have met with an ident on our way home. Can youe to the hospital-¡± ¡°Which hospital!¡± ¡°Caring Hospital¡­¡± Without waiting for Sebastian to finish speaking, Christina immediately slid on her slippers and dashedBelonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Chapter 395 Be A Secretary For Nathaniel Chapter 395 Be A Secretary For Nathaniel When Christina reached the hospital, she hurried over to the station and asked the nurse. ¡°I would like to know which consultation room Nathaniel Hadley is in She was extremely on edge. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my husband,¡± Christina answered without hesitation. Seeing how anxious she was, the nurse didn¡¯t doubt her and instantly checked the name on the computer. A whileter, she raised her head. ¡°There¡¯s no one by that name here.¡± ¡°Did you type it wrongly?¡± Christina took a pen and spelled Nathaniel¡¯s name. The nurse keyed in the information again. ¡°We don¡¯t have his record here. Did youe to the wrong hospital by any chance?¡± People often went to the wrong hospitals due to extreme worry. Christina¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡°Impossible. Have you checked it properly?¡± ¡°I did, but his name is not registered here.¡± Christina hurriedly walked into the nurses¡¯ station. ¡°Let me check.¡± ¡°Miss, you can¡¯t do this¡­¡± The nurse wanted to pull her out, while Christina didn¡¯t want to make a scene. ¡°Christina. I¡¯m here!¡± When Christina heard the deep voice, she was immediately stunned. It wasn¡¯t until she saw Nathaniel standing perfectly fine in front of her that she realized how she had lost herposure a while ago. ¡°Nathaniel, you¡­¡± Didn¡¯t he meet with an ident? Reaching out to pull Christina to him, Nathaniel said to the nurse, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. My wife was just worried about me.¡± He looked so happy that even the nurse was feeling awkward just from ncing at him. Nathaniel brought Christina to an empty corridor. ¡°Why are you here?¡± If he hadn¡¯t gone to the counter to pay the fees earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have seen how worried Christina was about him. Christina was still thinking about how she had lost her cool just now. ¡°Sebastian said you were in the hospital. I thought something had happened to you.¡± ¡°It was Sebastian who got hurt, not me,¡± Nathaniel exined calmly. Be A Secretary For Nathaniel Hearing that, Christina let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you for worrying so much about me.¡± Nathaniel fixed his eyes on her with a slight smile. Christina blushed so hard that her face was as red as a tomato. Lowering her head in shyness, she realized that she was wearing cotton slippers. With Nathaniel staring at her like that, she felt so awkward that she could literally wear the slippers out with her toes. ¡°Let¡¯s leave.¡± As soon as Christina raised her eyes to urge him to leave the corridor, her lips were locked by his. Enveloped by his masculine scent and muscr physique, Christina felt a rush of adrenaline surge through her body. She closed her eyes subconsciously, indulging herself in his domineering presence that was filled with warmth. In the dimly lit space, the intimate atmosphere between them continued to grow. After stepping out of the corridor, they headed to the emergency room. Sebastian had hurt his leg and needed to rest for a few days. At that moment, he was sitting in a wheelchair with his calf bandaged. That lonely figure of his looked what pitiful. Why isn¡¯t Mr. Hadley back yet? Could it be that he doesn¡¯t know how to pay the bill? Just as he was thinking about whether to go out to look for him, two figures appeared before him. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not able to drive in such a condition, which was why I called you to send Mr. Hadley back.¡± ¡°You look like you were hurt pretty badly.¡± The bandage on his leg was thick. ¡°Just now, the drunk driver swerved the truck over in our direction. Luckily, I managed to dodge quickly. or things would have been much worse,¡± Sebastian said, terrified by what had happened earlier. He managed to avoid a severe collision, but small injuries were inevitable. ¡°I can get to work tomorrow. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hadley, he assured. Even if I have to use crutches, I¡¯ll never bete. Christina was touched by his dedication. ¡°Take two days off,¡± Nathaniel said. Sebastian shook his head violently. ¡°No. I¡¯m your only assistant now. If I take a break, who is going to help you with your work?¡± All of a sudden, Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on Christina. He changed his attitude at once and started to act pitifully. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I think I have sprained my waist too. How about you take over my job for two days? I¡¯ll return to work once I get better.¡± ¡°Huh? But I¡¯ve never been a secretary before. I don¡¯t think I can handle it. Why don¡¯t you get someone from thepany to help instead?¡± Christina refused, waving her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. Not everyone is reliable enough to be Mr. Hadley¡¯s secretary. Please help me, Mrs. Hadley,¡± Sebastian pleaded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. A secretary¡¯s job is simple.¡± Nathaniel said. Christina hesitated for a moment before agreeing. ¡°Okay, then.¡± Standing behind her, Nathaniel curled up his lips. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The next day, Christina dressed professionally and walked into the office with a stack of newly-printed documents. Being a secretary is easy? Liar! Christina put the documents on the desk. ¡°Deal with the ones at the top first. Settle everything in the blue folder by noon.¡± The color blue meant that the documents weren¡¯t urgent. Normally, he would only work on them at night. ¡°Why?¡± Resting a hand on her waist and putting the other on the table, she replied matter-of-factly, ¡°Because I have to send the documents before I get off work and then go back to the Hadley residence to pick up our son.¡± At the mention of their son, Nathaniel curled his lips slightly and held her chin. ¡°All right, Darling.¡± With that, he moved his lips over in her direction. When Christina sensed that his lust had reached a certain point, she pinched his handsome face and dodged the kiss. ¡°Thepany doesn¡¯t allow office romances. Please hold yourself back, Mr. Hadley.¡± After saying that, she left without hesitation. Christina was so tied up that she was having a tough time dealing with it. Fortunately, Sebastian managed to help her a lot by working from home. She brought the materials she had organized to the marketing department. The director of the marketing department was a powerful woman in her thirties. Her makeup was heavy, and her aura was formidable. ¡°Ms. Rockfort, the budget document for the advertisement has been cross-checked and approved. Please take a look at it again.¡± Suzanne Rockfort took it and sized Christina up. Although she knew Christina was Nathaniel¡¯s wife, she Be A Secretary For Nathaniel didn¡¯t find Christina impressive. ¡°All right. Thanks.¡± After Christina walked away, Suzanne opened the document and caught sight of an obvious mistake amidst the dense text. Right then, the assistant entered. ¡°Ms. Rockfort, the endorsement contract will be needed for the meeting with the entertainmentpanyter. Has it been approved?¡± Sparing a nce at the document on the desk, Suzanne handed it over without a second thought. ¡°Yes. Go ahead and deal with it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Then, the assistant left with the document. Chapter 396 Unforgivable Chapter 396 Unforgivable As the end of working hours approached, Christina walked up to Nathaniel¡¯s desk and gently knocked on the surface with the back of her hand. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to get off work now. Please put your unfinished work on hold.¡± Nathamel looked up. His brows twitched slightly. Christina wore a white blouse with the hem of her clothes tucked into her skirt. The edge of her skirt sat just above her knees, giving her a sensual yet dignified appearance. Her long, ck hair fell to her waist, making her figure seem exceptionally slender. He wondered how terrific it would be if she dressed like that daily and worked for him as his secretary. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Noticing theck of response, she strode over. ¡°What are you daydreaming about? It¡¯s time to go back to the Hadley residence and pick up our son.¡± Nathaniel reached out and wrapped his arm around her slim waist, pulling her into his embrace. ¡°I¡¯m tired. Give me a massage,¡± he drawled in his maic and enticing voice. Her mind was upied with the task of picking up her son, so she had no choice but toply and give him a quick massage. She exerted just the right amount of strength with her fingertips, and thebination with the faint fragrance emanating from her wrist invoked greatfort within him. Nathaniel felt significantly rxed. Only then was he willing to put down his work and leave. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Cam held Christina¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Mommy, can I learn dancing?¡± Cam was almost four and was beginning to show interest in girly things. ¡°Sure. What kind of dance do you want to learn? Mommy will sign you up.¡± Christina lifted Cam in her arms and kissed her face. Cam smiled sheepishly. ¡°I want to learn ballroom dancing, can I?¡± ¡°Of course you can,¡± Christina agreed. Cam was delighted. She slid down from her mother¡¯s arms and ran into the dining room. Stepping on a stool, she poured a ss of water and trotted back to Christina. ¡°Here, Mommy.¡± Christina received the ss of water and took a sip. Even if it was just in water, it tasted good because her daughter had poured it for her. Even at such a young age, Cam knew how to please others. Christina figured there was some truth to the saying that spending effort on children was better than on men. Early the next day, Christina brought Cam to the ballroom dance section of the kindergarten. ¡°I want to sign Cam up for the lessons.¡± ¡°Sure. Please follow me to make the payment. The teacher led the two to the cashier. ¡°That will be fifty-eight thousand for a month¡¯s fee,¡± said the teacher. Christina paused while taking out her bank card. ¡°A month? It¡¯s that expensive?¡± She found it barely eptable if the fee was for one semester. ¡°Not at all. We hire the most professional tutors to provide the lessons, so it¡¯s absolutely worth the price.¡± The teacher shed a dazzling smile¡­ Although Christina felt her heart ache to have to spend that hefty sum, she didn¡¯t hesitate after seeing the anticipatory look in Cam¡¯s eyes. She took out a ck card with gold letters from her bag. ¡°Please charge my card for a year¡¯s fees.¡± ¡°All right. No problem.¡± The teacher took the card. After a few beeps, the fees were paid. Afterward, the teacher handed Christina a new dance dress and shoes. ¡°She would need to change into this outfit, and we can start the lesson now.¡± ¡°Mommy, hurry up. I want to put them on.¡± Christina chuckled. She¡¯s getting more and more fond of looking pretty. She helped Cam change into the dance outfit and shoes. Christina also tied up her daughter¡¯s hair, revealing thetter¡¯s fair and smooth visage. ¡°You look so beautiful.¡± Cam twirled in her dress and uttered sweetly, ¡°Mommy is beautiful too. That¡¯s why you gave birth to such a beautiful me!¡± What a honey-tongued girl! Christina led Cam into the dance studio. The front row was almost filled with girls around Cam¡¯s age. Behind them were little boys in shirts and trousers. The group of adorable children formed a line and swayed to the music, following the tutor¡¯s guidance. Christina captured Cam¡¯s cute moments with her phone and watched her daughter for a while before leaving. By the time she reached the office, it was time for a meeting. Christina got busy as soon as she got to the office due to the shortage of time. After finally organizing the necessary documents, she rushed into the meeting room without even having the time to take a sip of water. The atmosphere inside the conference room was tense and gloomy. The finance director ced an agreement on the table. ¡°Ms. Rockfort, do you take your work seriously? Can you exin how an eight million endorsement turned into eighty million? This doesn¡¯t match the amount Mr. Hadley approved. Are you going to take responsibility for the difference in sum?¡± Usually, a mistake in pricing would never happen at this stage. The other executives in the room opened the copies of the document and browsed through the content. ascertaining what the finance director said to be true. The advertising director, Suzanne, stood up. ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s assistant personally handed this document to me, so how could you pin the me on me?¡± Everyone exchanged nces, clearly fathoming that the assistant might have made the error. Christina¡¯s face changed slightly. She picked up the file and read the content. It was indeed the one she had given to Suzanne yesterday. She had to review dozens of files daily, so it wouldn¡¯t be unusual tomit an oversight. Still. Suzanne should¡¯ve also double-checked such a crucial document. Evidently, someone knew about the error but didn¡¯t report it. ¡°This is indeed my mistake.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t avoid shouldering the me for the error. Suzanne smirked. ¡°Therefore, she should be held ountable.¡± Everyone instantly shifted their attention to Christina. Eight million and eighty million was a tenfold difference, which would be a massive sum topensate. ¡°How much is the difference? I¡¯ll help her cover the amount,¡± Nathaniel piped up coldly. The temperature inside the conference room immediately dropped below freezing point. Chills traveled down everyone¡¯s spines as they all held their breaths in fright. Everyone present could figure Nathaniel was mad. They condemned Christina inwardly for screwing up such a significant matter. If she isn¡¯t up to the task, she shouldn¡¯t have been an assistant in the first ce. It is only expected for Mr. Hadley to be mad since he has to clean up the mess for her after she makes a mistake. Christina clenched her fists as difort churned within her. Still, that was undoubtedly and irrefutably her fault. Taking in Christina¡¯s deted expression, Suzanne secretly felt triumphant. At that moment, Nathaniel connected his phone to the projector. The scene of Suzanne signing the agreement with the celebrity¡¯s agent was disyed on the screen. ¡°Ms. Rockfort, the figure stated in your contract is wrong. Do you want to reprint it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. The other details are correct, so just sign it.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Just sign it.¡± Grasping the look in Ruzinne ? eyes, the spent picked up the pens and affixed his The sir seemed to end will inode the conference roth Those who watched the clip were in shocked that they couldn¡¯t speak As the advertising director, Suzanne noticed the error but deliberately ignored it Hence, the should be the one to be held liable and would need to reimburse for the difference. Cold sweat drenched Suzanne¡¯s back as colors drained from her face Shock filled her eyes. How could this happen? y tras the process filmed ¡°Mt. Hadley, let me exin. It¡¯s not like that. Imagining the consequences, terror overwhelmed Suzanne, causing her voice to tremble as she tried to defend herself ¡°Professionally, you knowinglymitted an error, disregarding thepany¡¯s interest. Personally, you bulled my woman, which is even more unforgivable! Nathaniel uttered solemnly, freezing the air inside the room with his menacing aura. Everyone grew wary. Mr. Hadley wasn¡¯t furious because of the mary loss. Instead, he was enraged because someone had bullied his wife! Chapter 397 You Are Fired Chapter 397 You Are Fired ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hadley. It¡¯s all my fault. I was blinded by jealousy and had evil thoughts. Please forgive me just this once-¡± Before Suzanne could finish her sentence, the conference room door was pushed open. ¡°We are the police. You¡¯re suspected of intentionally damaging the interests of Hadley Corporation. Pleasee with us to assist in the investigation.¡± No matter how Suzanne pleaded, Nathaniel stood rooted to the spot expressionlessly like a perfectly sculpted ice statue, unmoved by her outburst. Sadly, among the executives present, no one dared to intercede for her. ¡°The meeting is adjourned.¡± With that. Nathaniel rose to his feet, held Christina¡¯s hand, and made his way out of the room. The entire office plunged into silence as soon as the door was shut. ¡°How did you manage to get that video?¡± Christina asked curiously. Did he know beforehand that I have made a mistake? That¡¯s why he did all this to help me? If that¡¯s the case, Nathaniel is more ruthless than Suzanne. ¡°It was given to me by the peeps from the advertisingpany because they¡¯re worried about offending Hadley Corporation.¡± Nathaniel looked down and was met by the woman¡¯s dubious gaze. ¡°Thepany works with them on a dozen projects throughout the year. Stepping on my toes will mean burning their own bridges.¡± His exnation seemed reasonable and logical. Clearly, nobody would want to spoil the ship for a ha¡¯porth of tar. Christina nodded. In retrospect, she was still a touch fearful upon recalling what happened earlier. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink things. It¡¯s not your fault. Anyone who notices an error on the document shouldn¡¯t ignore it.¡± Nathaniel massaged her forehead gently. ¡°I should bear half the responsibility for this matter, so please don¡¯t hold her ountable.¡± Christina grabbed his hand instinctively as she spoke, her eyes gleaming. ¡°I can¡¯t let this slide. At most, I¡¯ll forgive her and reduce her punishment, but she should be removed from her position,¡± said Nathaniel. Christina nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can handle your job well. Why don¡¯t you get Sebastian toe back and help you out?¡± Even though he is sitting in a wheelchair, it shouldn¡¯t hinder his work. ¡°You¡¯re doing very well. Don¡¯t stress yourself out, okay?¡± Nathaniel proceeded to pick her up. He was so busytely and felt that she had lost some weight. She¡¯s getting lighter. The two walked over to the bar, and Nathaniel poured a ss of fruit wine for Christina. ¡°This has very low alcohol content, so it won¡¯t affect your work.¡± The pine and sipped it easy, pou like elementary whool decking the trachus a hack durmg -Ise A faini fruity aroma wafted through the air as she felt weet taste of escrose on her tongue, making her Atirii feel tipy ¡°Vermy dse drawled like azy kitten. Her slightly dued face was charming and alluring at the came time Nathaniel became more cheerful when he saw her smile Then the door opened. Madison walked in like a green-eyed monster. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know you guys were¡­¡± She then shifted her gaze and continued. Thepany¡¯s senior executive called me today and told me that the final decision has been made. Therefore, I came here specifically to hear the news. However Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Madison¡¯s eyes were fixed on the man¡¯s icy cold countenance. ¡°They said that Mr. Hadley¡¯s words can affect the decision.¡± In other words, if Nathaniel allowed her to stay, she could remain in thepany. Christina¡¯s heart clenched when she heard that No matter how she looked at it, she did not want Madison to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side, but the final decision was for Nathaniel to make. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, may I speak with Mr. Hadley in private?¡± Everyone in thepany knew that Madison had feelings for Nathaniel. Needless to say, she probably wanted to seize the opportunity and put on a show ying the victim. When Christina left the bar counter and was about to head out, someone grasped her wrist tightly all of a sudden ¡°You don¡¯t have to excuse yourself. There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t hear.¡± Nathaniel held her in a vice-like grip. As he spoke, a look of determination shed in his eyes. He had no intention of being alone with Madison. His words made Madison feel as though she had been stabbed in the heart. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ve been working alongside you for more than a decade, and I really want to continue working for you. Please, I beg you. Please let me stay.¡± A decade flew by in the blink of an eye. Images of the past began to emerge in her mind. Madison still remembered how nervous she was when she first became his assistant, and how she grew to be more composed and unflinching over the years. Nathaniel whipped out his tablet and clicked on the results page to check the verdict. Without any hesitation, he dered, ¡°Madison, you¡¯ve worked hard and contributed to thepany all these years, even though you haven¡¯t performed any meritorious deeds. Thus, thepany has decided not to hold you legally responsible for leaking trade secrets. Nheless, you¡¯ve been fired.¡± His sinct expression instantly crushed all of Madison¡¯s hopes and dreams. ¡°Is there no more room for discussion!¡± ¡°Thepany will grant you the most reasonable dismissalpensation based on your case,¡± he responded coldly. Madison felt that her heart was about to break apart with crimson blood dripping profusely. After all, she had spent so much time at thepany. It was ten years of her prime! In the end, she was given a ruthless dismissal letter. ¡°I appeared in his life first. What gives¡­¡± Sorrow and anger filled Madison¡¯s eyes. She wanted to get rid of Christina so badly. ¡°I came first! How could you steal him away from me?¡± Christina thought that Madison looked so pathetic and pitiful at the same time. Who said that the firste-first-served rule is applicable in love? Who said a rtionship would surely bear fruit if one sticks around long enough? ¡°You¡¯ve invested so much time in a man, and yet you can¡¯t see through him. I bet it¡¯s the same even if you stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side for another decade. You won¡¯t get anything. If I were you, I¡¯d let it go before that happens.¡± After saying so, Christina strode out of the room. Nathaniel thought she was upset, so he tried to chase after her, leaving Madison behind. Thetter froze to the spot and fell into a daze. When Madison returned to the Taggart residence, she numbed herself with alcohol, refusing to ept the reality. What¡¯s so good about Christina? Nathaniel hasn¡¯t seen the true me, and that¡¯s why he chose Christina. If we could be together¡­ even if it¡¯s just for a night¡­ things will surely change! Her eyes shone with determination at that thought. After resting for several days, Sebastian resumed work as usual. Christina ced a thick stack of documents on the desk and said. ¡°Thanks to you, I¡¯ve got an endless list of work piling up every day. I pray that you¡¯ll never need me to stand in for you again.¡± With that, she scurried away. Subsequently, Sebastian cross-checked the documents one by one, only to realize that Christina¡¯s workload was very little. In addition, what she did were merely tasks that would be assigned to the entry- level secretary, whereas tasks that were more challenging had beenpleted by Nathaniel. That means Mr. Hadley has been covering the workloads of two people these days! ¡°Stay back and work overtime to process all these documents today,¡± instructed Nathaniel before walking straight out of the office. Sebastian checked the time and realized that it was only noon. ¡°You took a day off today, Mr. Hadley. Is there something special going ¡°I¡¯m going on a date.¡± With that, he headed toward the elevator gleefully. When he got to the parking lot, Christina was already there, waiting for him beside his car Nathaniel walked up to her, opened the door, and ushered her into the car like a gentleman. He then took the driver¡¯s seat and drove off. ¡°Shall we go for a movie first? Then pick up the kids thereafter.¡± Chapter 398 Save My Wife First Chapter 398 Save My Wife First Christina felt that it was time to rx after being busy for several days in a row Hence, the couple headed to the movie theater, which was located on the fourth floor of the mall. Nathaniel learned his lesson from his previous dating experiences and took the initiative to queue up to buy tickets this time. Im going to get some popcorn and soda.¡± Christina went to the counter and purchased the ssic must- have movie snacksbo. ¡°We can go in now.¡± Nathaniel went up to her, took over the items in her hands, and they entered the theater together. A momentter, the movie began to y. Christina stuffed the popcorn into her mouth like a hamster. When something interesting showed up on the screen, she would tilt her head toward Nathaniel and whisper into his ear. As the distance between the two drew closer, he could smell the sweet popcorn scent from her body. ¡°I think this outfit fits the temperament of the heroine very well, and it features the uniqueness of women¡¯s fashion during that era. These clothes were all designed by Midas.¡± ¡°Everything you say is right.¡± Nathaniel had his eyes fixated on her face. ¡°You thought so too, right? How I wish I had the chance to work with Midas, the designer!¡± Christina expressed her thoughts openly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get that opportunity.¡± He looked intently into her eyes as he spoke. Christina bowed her head shyly upon sensing the man¡¯s burning gaze. She grabbed a handful of popcorn. and stuffed them into her mouth. Suddenly, her phone in her handbag started vibrating. She took it out and saw that it was a text message from Bailey. Thetter invited her to attend a Dubbing Conference the following day. Dubbing! That¡¯s how we got to know each other. At that thought, Christina agreed and replied to Bailey right away. As they were getting ready to leave after the show had ended, Nathaniel noticed that someone was following them from behind. He had learned some techniques about stalking others before. Thus, he suspected something was off when a figure deliberately appeared around him a few times. He slowed down his pace to allow the crowd behind him to move to the front and eventually increased the distance between them and the stalker. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Nathaniel?¡± Christina turned around and held his hand instinctively. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± He remained calm and walked out of the movie theater, holding Christina¡¯s hand. It was a long movie. By then, it was almost time for the children to be dismissed from the kindergarten ¡°Well save desserts for next time,¡± she said. Nathaniel nodded, and they walked hand in hand into the elevator. He then drove the car out of the underground parking lot and onto the main road. Meanwhile, Christina was typing a movie review on her phone. At the same time, she also saved a couple of beautiful scenes from the movie. Suddenly, a loud noise resulting from a collision was heard. The pressure felt was so great that Christina¡¯s cars started buzzing before she could react to the situation. The mobile phone in her hand fell onto the carpet. She knocked her head, and her world began to spin in an instant. ¡°W-What happened?¡± Did a car just hit us from behind? A menacing glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. His arm muscles were tensed up as he clenched tightly on the steering wheel. A hostile air filled the entire car. Nathaniel nced in Christina¡¯s direction worriedly and was relieved that she was unhurt. ¡°Sit tight. I¡¯m going to check what happened.¡± He was just about to get out of the car when another mega crash wrecked the entire car trunk damage. The passers-by immediately called the police. Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org. Christina became very dizzy the second time she was hit by a strong air current. She felt like a thousand pounds of weight were weighing her eyelids down as she experienced nausea. ¡°Christina!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s temples throbbed as he stared at her with his eyes wide open. He hastily unbuckled his seatbelt and jumped out of the car. He did not bother to settle the score with the culprit but rushed to the passenger seat to carry Christina. out of the vehicle. ¡°How are you feeling, Christina? Any difort?¡± Frowning, Christina breathed heavily. ¡°It¡¯s painful. My chest¡­ hurts¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here. I¡¯m right here¡­¡± He hugged her slender body tightly. His whole body was trembling. He had never felt so fearful before, and that dreadful feeling kept ying tricks with his mind. Shortly after, the police arrived but not the ambnce. The policeman walked up to Nathaniel to inquire about the ident. After a brief conversation, the poheeman approached his colleagues to discuss the details of the incident. Momentster, an impatient Nathaniel called the hospital. ¡°The ambnce is already on its way, but it could not go over to the other side due to the obstruction on the two main roads caused by the ident just now,¡± a cold and deep voice answered ¡°Where¡¯s the hospital?¡± Nathaniel asked. ¡°No. 50, Yaleview Street. Actually, it¡¯s just a few blocks away from the ident scene- Before the other party could finish his sentence, Nathaniel ended the call. He then searched the map on his phone and memorized the route. Next, he called Sebastian and instructed him toe over to manage the situation. Without further ado, Nathaniel stuffed the phone into his pocket and carried Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m taking you to the hospital now.¡± He stood up, braved through the crowd, and started running toward his destination. The entire street was blocked, and no car could pass by. The onlookers cast curious nces at Nathaniel, who was sweating profusely. Although he looked a little ufortable, his footsteps kept going faster and faster. The ruckus raised in their surrounding soon attracted Christina¡¯s attention. She opened her bleary eyes and saw Nathaniel¡¯s handsome but worried face. His breathing was rapid, and she could feel his breath on the tip of her nose. Gradually, her vision became blurry. She was uncertain if that was caused by her difort or that she was moved by his actions. Ten minutester, Nathaniel arrived at the emergency room with Christina, who was about to pass out. ¡°Doctor¡­ save her. There was an ident, and¡­ sheined her head hurts¡­¡± Nathaniel was experiencing shortness of breath after the running, and his face was as pale as a sheet. Several doctors surrounded Christina and started examining her. A nurse hurriedly bring a chair for Nathaniel to sit down and said, ¡°Speak slowly, Mister. Are you injured? Any difort?¡± Nathaniel shook his head. ¡°Mister, your head¡­¡± eximed the nurse in shock. There was an abrasion on Nathaniel¡¯s right forehead, and blood was dripping down from the open wound, forming a stark contrast to his ghastly face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Check on my wife first. She says she¡¯s in pain.¡± His voice was soft but resolute. The nurse brought about some tools to treat his wounds. ¡°Not to worry, Mister. There are a few medical staff here, and they will treat your wife as soon as possible.¡± Save My Wife First Nathaniel fell silent upon hearing that and let the nurse treat his wounds Around ten minutester, the doctor came out of the emergency ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my wife!¡± Nathaniel could not be bothered by the half-treated wound on his head and dashed across the room at once. ¡°Ms. Christina is fine. She just suffered from a light concussion due to a strong impact. We¡¯ll let her rest tonight and continue with another check-up tomorrow. She may be discharged if everything¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°Thank you, doctor.¡± The nurse wheeled Christina out and reminded Nathaniel, ¡°Please proceed with the admission procedure.¡± Nathaniel made sure that Christina¡¯s condition was stable before going away to make payments. Once the admission procedure was settled, Christina was sent to a private ward. Chapter 399 We Should Go Home Chapter 399 We Should Go Home The crescent moon hung in the sky as Christina twitched her brows. She opened her eyes, feeling a throbbing pain in her head. The door to the ward was pushed open, and two figures walked in. Sebastian whispered. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ve discovered that despite the other party¡¯s im of drunk driving, it is evident that the two collisions were intentional. It seems that the person had a deliberate motive to¡­¡± He hesitated to utter the word ¡°kill¡± ¡°I suspect that the side collision we experiencedst time was not an ident either¡­¡± Sebastian¡¯s voice grew softer. Being involved in two consecutive car idents was too much of a coincidence. Who on earth wants us dead ¡°Keep this a secret for now, Don¡¯t tell Mrs. Hadley about it. I don¡¯t want her to worry,¡± Nathaniel said icily. His voice was deep. It sounded even more suppressed in the dimly lit room. As footsteps neared the bedside, Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face came into view. ¡°Nathaniel¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Nathaniel took a seat by the bed, carefully assisting her in leaning against the headboard. ¡°Is your head still hurting?¡± His gentle voice provided Christina with a sense of security. ¡°I feel much better now, but I¡¯m just feeling a bit nauseous.¡± ¡°The doctor said you can only eat thirty minutes after you wake up.¡± Nathaniel reached out to massage her temples gently as if he was massaging an infant. Christina nodded. ¡°What happened earlier?¡± ¡°The driver behind us was drunk, but the police have taken him away. Everything is fine,¡± Nathaniel exined casually. Christina¡¯s face darkened. That¡¯s not what Sebastian said earlier. Who could be behind this? Why didn¡¯t he inform me about such a dangerous situation? Christina held his hand. ¡°If there¡¯s any danger, you have to let me know. Even if I can¡¯t be of much help. I can at least be there with you.¡± Images of Nathaniel carrying her and running on the road filled her mind. The genuine concern in his eyes was unmistakably sincere. Knowing how deeply Nathaniel cared for her, Christina felt a warm sensation surging through her heart, embracing her with aforting warmth. Hence, she wanted to give their rtionship another chance. Nathaniel gently held her face in his hands and tenderly caressed it. ¡°You silly girl. What danger could possiblye my way? Furthermore, people always say that good fortune would follow after we survive a great peril. From now on, everything will go smoothly.¡± Christina could not help but chuckle, her eyes blinked like an adorable kitten. Sebastian could not believe his eyes. He never expected to witness the usually serious Nathaniel cracking jokes to bring a smile to Christina¡¯s face Hi¡¯ only they could stay like this forever. ¡°Prepare some oatmeal and bring it over half an hourter,¡± Nathaniel ordered in a deep voice. Get out of here. Sebastian. Only then did Sebastian realize that he was intruding on their private moment. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll see to it right now.¡± After closing the door behind him. Nathaniel held Christina even tighter. ¡°Your head¡­¡± After catching a strong scent of antiseptic, Christina finally noticed the bandaged wound on Nathaniel¡¯s head. A white gauze was faintly stained with traces of red blood. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± The thought of Nathaniel carrying her all the way despite his injury weighed heavily on Christina¡¯s heart. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t. I¡¯m a man with thick skin.¡± Nathaniel gave a rather official exnation. Once again, Christina could not help but let out a chuckle. His skin is not thick at all. In fact, it¡¯s so delicate. His features are well-defined, and he¡¯s handsome beyondparison! ¡°It¡¯s good to finally see youugh. I was so worried about you,¡± he said. Christina immediately stoppedughing. She stared at Nathaniel with wide eyes. Their gazes met, filled with indescribable emotions blossoming between them. Nathaniel held her hand. ¡°Christina, let¡¯s stop fighting, shall we? I like you so, so much.¡± ¡°Well, will you respect me and not repeat the same mistake from now on?¡± Christina¡¯s concern remained. deep-rooted. What if his disy of affection is just a fleeting impulse? What if he eventually reverts to his domineering nature again? How should I handle him if that happens? ¡°If I ever make you angry again, I¡¯ll give you full custody of our child and never fight with you,¡± Nathaniel vowed, raising his hand as if taking an oath to demonstrate his determination. That was what concerned Christina the most. She lifted her pinky finger, pointing it at his nose, and issued a gentle warning. ¡°Remember, you that vow yourself. I didn¡¯t force you into it.¡± Nathaniel gently sped her tiny hand and said, ¡°Yes. For the sake of our future staying together as a family, I¡¯ll do my best not to upset you again. If you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll get thewyer to draft an agreement tomorrow.¡± Christina shed a faint grin in response as a surge of warmth filled her heart. She blushed and smiled, feeling an instant surge of energy coursing through her body. ¡°Of course, I trust you-¡± Before she could finish speaking. Nathaniel gently held her chin, tilting it up, and lowered his head to kiss her delicate lips A scorching breath enveloped her, igniting a spark within her like a fire spreading across the grasnds. In that tender moment, the door swung open. Mrs. Hadley, I have prepared some snacks and oatmeal for you. What would you like to eat?¡± Upon entering the ward, Sebastian¡¯s gaze fell upon them, seated at opposite ends of the bed. This is weird. What¡¯s going on? ¡°Just put them aside.¡± Christina smiled faintly, trying to mask the lingering awkwardness on her face. Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned cold and stern. ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day. Go back and rest.¡± ¡°Um¡­ alright, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sebastian replied, feeling a bit lost for words as he was not ustomed to Nathaniel showing him concern. He quickly exited the ward, taking a step back as Nathaniel gave him another menacing re. After Sebastian left, Christina could not help but giggle softly. Nathaniel reached out to pull her over, and she willingly nestled in his embrace. The morning sun bathed the hospital room in a warm glow. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The doctor made his rounds and performed a routine examination. ¡°Ms. Christina, if you¡¯re feeling well with no other difort, you can be discharged anytime.¡± ¡°Thank you, doctor. I¡¯m feeling better now,¡± she replied. The doctor nodded and left with the nurse. After Sebastianpleted the discharge procedure, the three of them left the hospital. Just as they were about to step out of the elevator, they saw Madison looking flustered. ¡°Nathaniel, are you all right?¡± she eximed, reaching out to hold Nathaniel¡¯s hand. Christina instinctively nced over and saw Nathaniel coldly retracting his hand. Then, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Whenever there was news about Nathaniel, Madison would always show unwavering concern and promptly appear before him. It was evident that Madison had deep feelings for Nathaniel. Although Christina did not view Madison¡¯s affection as a threat, she did not particrly wee it either. No wife will appreciate another woman persistently bothering her husband. Upon noticing the change in Christina¡¯s expression, he held her hand and said, ¡°Come, let¡¯s go home.¡± They then walked out of the hospital. Tears welled up in Madison¡¯s eyes. The simple utterance of ¡°let¡¯s go back¡± became an unbridgeable chasm for Madison, a distant dream that seemed out of reach ¡°You see that, Madison? It¡¯s time for you to give up and move on. Stop wasting your time on Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian consoled her. Madison clenched her fists, her eyes turning bloodshot. ¡°No way!¡± Chapter 400 Decorating The New Place Chapter 400 Decorating The New ce The two of them returned to the condominium. ¡°Did you tell the children about my injury?¡± asked Christina worriedly. She did not want the children to worry about her. ¡°No I only told them that you are decorating the new house and will be giving them a surprise in a couple of days time.¡± Nathaniel smiled and continued, ¡°They are looking forward to it.¡± Christina had ordered a lot of paintings, curtains, and lights, but she had yet to open the parcels. Thus, they were all piled in a corner. She looked perplexed when she looked at the pile of decorative items. ¡°How can I get it done in two days¡± Given her speed, it would probably take her around a week. ¡°Let¡¯s do it together. It will be faster.¡± Nathaniel removed his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and removed the expensive watch from his wrist. Let me open the parcels first.¡± ¡°In that case, I shall cook lunch for you. Later, we can install them together.¡± With that, Christina went into the kitchen. There were only some basic ingredients in her fridge. She knew that Nathaniel did not like greasy food, so she made something simple. Nathaniel began to feel hungry when he smelled the aroma of the food. He stopped working, went to the dining table, and saw the delicious-looking chicken. ¡°It smells so good.¡± ¡°Have a taste.¡± Christina then fed him a piece of the chicken. ¡°It¡¯s tasty. If only I can have it every day.¡± Nathaniel hinted at Christina. Christina ced her hands on her waist and flicked his nose. ¡°Are you trying to trick me into bing your chef? Can you even afford to hire me?¡± Nathaniel chuckled and said, ¡°I will give you all my money. From now on, you will manage everything.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Christina went into the kitchen and brought out all the food. The two of them sat down for their meals. ¡°Eat more. You have lost so much weight after staying in the hospital for a day.¡± Food was piling on Christina¡¯s te, and it began to look like a small mountain. ¡°I can¡¯t finish all of this.¡± Nathaniel did not seem to hear her. He wanted so badly to fatten her up in one meal. After eating. the two of them began to decorate the house. During that period of time. Sebastian went to purchase some items needed to hang the paintings. Christina was telling Nathamel where the paintings should be hung and where the television should be ced. It was the first time Sebastian saw anyone ordering Nathaniel around, but Nathaniel seemed very happy about it Initially. Sebastian wanted to stay and help, but Nathaniel turned him down. In the end. Sebastian left. That night, the decoration of the condominium was finallypleted. Looking at the beautifully-decorated home of hers, Christina¡¯s heart was filled with happiness. They had hung lots of LED lights on the balcony. When they turned them on, it looked as if the stars were right in front of their eyes. ¡°Lucas and Cam will surely love it here,¡± said Christina. Nathaniel looked at her and said, ¡°I like it too.¡± When their eyes met, it felt as if time stood still. Their lips touched, and the temperature of the room went up a notch. The two of them hugged and wanted to regain lost time. In the beginning, Christina weed his kiss. Gradually, she began to run out of air, and her body was hanging onto Nathaniel¡¯s. Under the starry sky, the couple held onto each another. The following day in the conference room at Hadley Corporation, they were having a meeting with Yerek. Christina was dressed in her suit with half her hair tied up. She exuded an ethereal look with that exquisite tiny face of hers. Sebastian ced the stack of photocopied documents on the table. Nathaniel said, ¡°For the first season, we will like to coborate with Midas.¡± When Christina heard that, she nced at him. She had mentioned the designer¡¯s name while they were watching a movie and did not expect Nathaniel to remember it. Yerek¡¯s assistant whispered something in his cars and exined the situation to him. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll get my assistant to contact him. You will get work with him for sure.¡± Yerek began to read through the document. It was the same as per theirst discussion ¡°If there is no issue, shall we sign it?¡± Yerek crossed his arms and looked at Christina. Nathaniel opened up the folder. The contract had been done up by hiswyers, so he was sure that it would be all right. Both parties signed the contract, and that was the start of their coboration. Yerek was pleased. ¡°I look forward to working together. Shall we have a drink?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± said Nathaniel. ¡°There is a restaurant nearby. Why don¡¯t we go there and celebrate the signing of this contract?¡± Yerek smiled as he looked at Christina¡¯s calm expression. ¡°I¡¯ll go there and wait for both of you.¡± With that he left, whistling. Half an hourter, the table wasid with various kinds of food and red wine. ¡°Mr. Gibson, why do you bother to spend so much effort? Doesn¡¯t working with Hadley Corporation mess up your n?¡± asked Yerek¡¯s assistant. Yerek took his wine ss and gave it a twirl. An insidious glint shed across his eyes. ¡°We have no idea what is going to happen.¡± The door was pushed open, and in came a tall figure. In that instant, the atmosphere of the room became tense. When Yerek saw Nathaniel walking in without Christina, his smile was gone. ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Steele? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± Yerek sounded disappointed. Nathaniel had one hand in his pocket. ¡°I have never said that Ms. Steele will be joining us, have 1? Or perhaps, Mr. Gibson doesn¡¯t want me here?¡± ¡°Of course not. Please have a seat.¡± Yerek waved his hand, but there was no expression on his face. Nathaniel sat down and said, ¡°Gibson Corporation has several businesses. I heard that you own a tile factory. How is the quality? Hadley Corporation builds residential areas on a frequent basis. Maybe we can work together.¡± To that, Yerek replied. ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯ll be an opportunity.¡± After chatting for a while, Nathaniel left. The moment he left, Yerek¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Mr. Gibson, something has happened. Someone has reported that our tile factory is making poor- quality tiles and that we are giarizing. The factory manager has been arrested, and the workers go on strike. What should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Nathaniel had taken action behind his back. Well wait and see who the bigger lower is Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. When Nathaniel returned to the office, he received the good news that Yerek¡¯s factory had been shut down. Even though they had yet to find out the mastermind of the ident, he was sure Yerek had something to do with it. He could not allow others to threaten his life. Moreover, that incident involved Christina. That was why he must not waste any more time. ¡°Check out the businesses owned by Gibson Corporation.¡± Nathaniel looked even more grim. One look and he could tell that Yerek was not aw-abiding person. Therefore, it would not be difficult for Nathaniel to spot problems with anyone of his projects. Sebastian had not seen Nathaniel so angry in a long time. Looks like things are about to get serious! By afternoon, Sebastian ced the documents on the table. ¡°Mr. Hadley, they¡¯re all here.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Look through them. I want to know about every problematic business that is owned by Gibson Corporation.¡± Chapter 401 Must Wear It Chapter 401 Must Wear It After work, the two of them returned to Scenic Garden Manor Lucas and Cam ran up to them ¡°Mommy, are you done renovating the new home?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done I can take you to see it during the weekend Christina stroked their heads. When Nathaniel saw how Lucas and Cam were trying to climb onto Christina like little kangaroos, he bent down and carried them ¡°That condominium is so small. It¡¯s not even as big as thewn in front of our house. There¡¯s nothing fun about it¡± ¡°Mommy bought a bunk bed! I want to go!¡± Cam¡¯s eyes crinkled when she smiled. She looked so adorable that others would buy anything she wanted without hesitation. ¡°We¡¯ll go together during the weekend,¡± Christina promised. Christina sent her kids to the kindergarten early in the morning. ¡°Monimy, I have a ballet performance at five in the afternoon. You muste on time to watch me. okay?¡± Cam blinked expectantly. Christina kissed her little forehead. ¡°Okay, my little princess. I promise.¡± ¡°See you in the afternoon.¡± Holding her brother¡¯s hand, Cam entered the kindergarten happily. After breakfast, Cam was summoned to the dance studio by her ballet teacher. The woman gazed at her with a gentle look. ¡°Cam, you are going to perform with meter. Have you remembered the dance moves?¡± Cam smiled faintly, revealing her cute dimples. ¡°I¡¯ve remembered them all, Ms. Taggart.¡± The sunlight poured into the spacious office while Christina sat at her desk and sketched some design drafts. As she had a habit of getting lost in her work, she set an rm in advance to remind herself to pick up the kids from kindergarten before five. When lunchtime approached, someone pushed the office door open. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going for lunch?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s charismatic voice sounded above her head. Christina was so focused on her work that she did not even look up. Sounding asnguid as a cat bathing in the warm sun, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to watch Cam¡¯s performance in the afternoon, so I need to quickly finish today¡¯s work first.¡± ¡°You still need to eat regardless of how busy you are.¡± Nathaniel reached out and took the tablet in front of her. Like a cat whose food had been stolen away, Christina whined and stood up from her seat. She grabbed the tablet back and saved the document before putting it down ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch in my office.¡± A satisfied smile appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s face as he held her hand and walked out. When they reached the office, Christina barely had time to react before she was pinned against the wall. A passionate kiss then greeted her. Hugging her slender waist with one hand, Nathaniel slipped his other hand into his pocket, which contained a small velvet bag with a diamond ring. It was the ring he had specially bought after Christina left. At the time, he had bought it with the thought of putting the ring on her finger after finding her to tie her to him so that she could never leave him again. Arching her head, Christina met his kiss. Suddenly, she felt him grip her wrist and restrain it. A cool sensation then descended upon her fingertip. When she lowered her head, she spotted a ring on her finger. The five-carat diamond ring shone dazzlingly underneath the light. ¡°I wanted to buy a bigger one. However, since I was afraid it would inconvenience you during work, I chose a more casual style.¡± Nathaniel stretched out his hand, revealing that he was also wearing a matching wedding ring on his ring finger. Taking off the ring without any hesitation, Christinained softly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to wear a ring. Besides, how is a five-carat diamond ring casual?¡± He just wanted everyone to know that she was a married woman. Nathaniel ced his hand over her hand, stopping her. ¡°If you don¡¯t wear a wedding ring, others will think you¡¯re single. Those new male colleagues are looking at you like hungry wolves seeing a tender little rabbit.¡± Christina did not know how to react. Is it necessary to be this nervous just because a new male colleague spoke a few words to me in the elevator this morning? ¡°There¡¯s no need for this, right?¡± ¡°You must wear it.¡± Nathaniel hugged her slender waist and pressed her against the ss window. Lowering his head, he pressed his lips on hers, taking her breath away. Just when Christina becamepletely defenseless, he slipped the wedding ring over her finger again. Christina found the huge diamond extremely dazzling. ¡°The five-carat diamond is blinding me. Let¡¯s pick a ring that doesn¡¯t stand out too much another day.¡± One without diamonds A satisfied smile formed on Nathaniel¡¯s lips when he saw that she was no longer resisting ¡°Okay¡± He lowered his head slightly and kissed her lips. She could feel the warmth of his breath spreading across her body. Although there was no one in the spacious office, Christina¡¯s heart was constantly gripped with fear. She felt anxious, as if she had smick into someone¡¯s house to steal something. ¡°Stop fooling out! We¡¯re in the office now.¡± She pushed Nathaniel away, her lipstick smudged from his kisses. Nathaniel raised his hand and gently wiped the lipstick off the corner of her mouth, a faint smile appearing on his lips. Christina¡¯s face was flushing from his kisses. Because of what the man did, she said that she was returning to work immediately after eating a bowl of food for lunch. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. When she went to her office downstairs, Rayne noticed her smudged lipstick and reminded softly. ¡°You¡¯re going to meet a clientter. Do you want to touch up your makeup?¡± Christina¡¯s face turned even redder. ¡°Thanks for reminding me. I¡¯ll do it now.¡± She walked into the office and closed the door behind her. The scene of her kissing Nathaniel circled her mind repeatedly. Taking a deep breath, she opened her bag and took out apact mirror. She then powdered her face. and reapplied her lipstick. Her phone¡¯s rm went off on time. Christina tidied up her desk quickly and hurried out. When she was heading there, she received a call from Bailey. They arranged to meet at the kindergarten gate. Bailey was even more excited than Christina. ¡°I¡¯m going to take the best photos for Camter!¡± Soon, the homeroom teacher walked over and led them to the dance studio in the kindergarten. Many parents hade to watch the performance that day. Bailey and Christina soon found some random seats adjacent to each other and sat down. Bailey raised her phone, ready to start filming. At the drop of the music, a little girl wearing a pink, fluffy ballet dress emerged. With her adorable and innocent face, Cam swayed with the melody, earning a round of enthusiastic apuse from the audience. At this moment, another figure in a pink ballet dress twirled toward Cam¡¯s side. Holding hands with each other, both dancers-one taller than the other-gazed at each other with wide smiles. It was a very heartwarming scene. The moment the female teacher appeared on the stage, Christina recognized her to be Madison. Why is she Cam¡¯s ballet teacher? When their gaze met, an invisible tension filled the air, Bailey also sensed something was odd. She had seen Madison before and heard Christina mention her. A grim expression immediately crossed her face as she stopped filming on her phone. Chapter 402 Mad Chapter 402 Mad ¡°Madison. She can¡¯t get close to Nathaniel, so she¡¯s targeting a child. How despicable!¡± Bailey couldn¡¯t stand that contemptible behavior. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. With that, she was about to move forward and confront Madison. Christina grabbed her hand and whispered, ¡°Cam is performing. Be patient.¡± She didn¡¯t want to involve her child in the adults¡¯ business. Looking at Cam¡¯s innocent face on the stage, Bailey could only grit her teeth and suppress her urge to step forward and p Madison. Those few short minutes felt more unbearable and lengthy than a century. Some parents nearby praised obliviously, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see a teacher and student perform together.¡± ¡°That little girl is very talented.¡± ¡°They look like mother and daughter.¡± Hearing that, Christina felt a little ufortable. She grimaced and remained quiet. Bailey, on the other hand, restlessly turned around and snapped. ¡°The little girl¡¯s mother is here. If you don¡¯t know anything, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± ¡°Bailey, that¡¯s enough.¡± Christina pulled her over, noticing the displeased expression on those parents¡± faces. After all the performances ended, there was a group photography session. Bailey dragged Christina onto the stage and deliberately raised her voice when she spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s take a photo of you mother- daughter duo!¡± Delighted to see her mother, Cam wrapped her arms around Christina tightly. ¡°Your performance today was perfect, Cam.¡± Christina pecked Cam on the check as encouragement. ¡°Thank you, Mommy.¡± With a grin, Cam held the hem of her dress, crossed her legs, and slightly bent her knees, looking exactly like the princesses in a cartoon. After the group photo was taken, Madison walked over. Seeing that, Bailey immediately gave Christina a look. ¡°Cam, your performance was great today. I prepared a gift for you. Let¡¯s go retrieve it.¡± She held Cam¡¯s hand and strode outward as she spoke. Madison stared at Christina with a triumphant smile. ¡°Cam likes me a lot. Next time, I n to bring her to participate inpetitions.¡± ¡°Children will like any toys that can please them. You are no different from an object to her,¡± Christina uttered straightforwardly and coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not the same as a toy. As long as I spend more time with her, I¡¯ll make my way into her heart.¡± Madison said firmly. Her earnest expression was met with Christina¡¯s scoff ¡°Have you aplished that after staying by Nathaniel¡¯s side for so long?¡± Madison¡¯s face darkened at once. That matter had be a permanent thorn in her flesh. ¡°I thought Nathaniel had already clearly expressed his stance with his attitudest time. It seems like you still don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ll have him call you to rify this confusionter With that, Christina turned around and left the dance studio. Meanwhile, Bailey exited the kindergarten with Cam. ¡°Cam, do you know who the person dancing with you just now was?¡± Bailey asked with all seriousness. Cam looked up naively. ¡°Ms. Taggart is a ballet teacher! Why are you asking such a simple question?¡± She felt that her godmother wasn¡¯t that bright that day. Bailey stomped her foot in exasperation. That despicable Madison is so adept at deceiving children! ¡°She¡¯s not a ballet teacher. She¡¯s a bad woman who wants to snatch your daddy away from you and your mommy!¡± Cam suddenly widened her sparkling eyes as if she had done something wrong. ¡°No way! No one can take my daddy away!¡± Bailey nodded and gave the little girl a thumbs-up. ¡°That¡¯s the right attitude. So, you should steer clear of Madison, that bad woman, got it?¡± At that moment, she noticed Christinaing out. Bailey ced a finger on her lips, gesturing at Cam to keep it a secret. ¡°Don¡¯t tell your mommy about this. Let¡¯s keep this a secret.¡± Cam blinked and mimicked the silence gesture. ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± Christina approached them. Cam rearranged her facial expression and spread her hands. ¡°Aunt Bailey, didn¡¯t you say you have a present for me? Where is it?¡± ¡°I forgot to bring it. Let¡¯s go buy one together.¡± Bailey quickly took Cam¡¯s hand and got into the car. Christina trailed behind them and got into the car too. Then, they headed to the mall. Bailey bought many floral dresses for Cam, purchasing all the garments she found pleasing to her eyes. ¡°Bailey, these dresses are nearly a thousand each. Aren¡¯t they too expensive?¡± Christina looked at the price tags and felt it was too costly. It wasn¡¯t that she couldn¡¯t afford it, but she felt there was no need to waste money like that. After all, kids grew up very fast, and the clothes wouldn¡¯t fit them soon. Bailey took the dress from her. ¡°How is it a waste if the outfits look good on her? I¡¯m buying them for Cam.¡± Cam tugged at the hem of her godmother¡¯s clothes and blinked. ¡°Aunt Bailey, you¡¯ve already bought a lot of dresses for me. Daddy also purchased plenty of dresses for me, and they¡¯re all custom-made.¡± The corner of Bailey¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°I got it. You¡¯re hinting that the dresses I bought are not custom- made and not as expensive as the ones your daddy bought ¡°Aunt Bailey, you shouldn¡¯tpare yourself to Daddy. The dresses Daddy bought for me are indeed. pricier, and you should ept that,¡± Cam remarked carnestly. She paused briefly before continuing. ¡°No matter if the dresses are expensive or cheap,fort takes precedence, and above all is your love for me.¡± Bailey chuckled in amusement and reached out to pinch Cam¡¯s check. ¡°You¡¯re such a sweet and likable child!¡± She lifted Cam and kissed her several times. ¡°How great would it be if you were my daughter? I really don¡¯t want to part with you.¡± Christina smiled. ¡°If you two keep showing off your affection like this, we don¡¯t even have to eat dessert.ter because I¡¯ll be getting diabetes from watching your interaction.¡± At the mention of dessert, Cam turned serious. ¡°Aunt Bailey, we can skip buying clothes, but having dessert is a must!¡± ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go.¡± That night, Cam returned home with all kinds of delicious sweets. Lucas jogged up to Christina and hugged her thigh. ¡°Mommy, why didn¡¯t you take me shopping? I¡¯ve be a left-behind child now. Hmph!¡± The bodyguard had picked him up and brought him home after school. Nathaniel wasn¡¯t home, while Christina and Cam had gone shopping. As a result, no one kept himpany at home. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask Daddy to pick you up?¡± Christinaforted Lucas while patting his head. ¡°Mister bodyguard mentioned Daddy had to attend a meeting,¡± Lucas grumbled with his arms crossed. The consequences will be dire if I get mad! Cam took out a piece of candy and handed it to her brother. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Lucas. Let me treat you to sweets. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Cam. Let¡¯s go upstairs and y with Legos.¡± Lucas received the piece of candy, unwrapped it, and put it into his mouth. Then, he grinned widely. The two kids held hands and cheerily went upstairs. Christina curled her lips into a smile, watching their petite retreating figures. ¡°What are you so happy about?¡± Nathaniel entered from behind, naturally wrapping his hand around her slim waist. Catching whiffs of Nathaniel¡¯s faint fragrance, Christina took a few steps forward to avoid his touch. ¡°Where were you? Why did youe back sote? You didn¡¯t even pick up our son at school.¡± Chapter 403 We Never Had Meals Alone Chapter 403 We Never Had Meals Alone ¡°I had to hold a meeting because something cropped up before the end of the workday,¡± Nathaniel exined, his tone devoid of confidence, Christina narrowed her eyes. ¡°Is that so? Howe I was not aware of it?¡± As Christina had worked as his secretary for a few days, she could track his schedule on her tablet. ¡°It was ast-minute meeting, so it wasn¡¯t on the schedule. There¡¯ll be more meetings for me to attend in the next few days,¡± Nathaniel said. Christina shrugged, understanding that work matters could be unpredictable. She decided not to make a big deal out of it. Upon hearing that, Sebastian whispered in Nathaniel¡¯s ear, ¡°Mr. Hadley, should we cancel Mrs. Hadley¡¯s assistant ount?¡± He understood no man would enjoy being constantly monitored by their wife. ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Nathaniel firmly declined. ¡°You can go home now.¡± Sebastian froze for a moment before agreeing and leaving Scenic Garden Manor. Christina refrained from mentioning Madison in front of Nathaniel. Even though it was not in their best interest to allow Cam to have frequent interactions with Madison, it would not be fair to remove Cam from the ballet ss solely based on her skepticism toward Madison.. After all, Cam had a deep passion for ballet. When Christina went upstairs, thinking of a way to exin things to Cam, her room door was pushed. open. The petite Cam stepped out, gazing up at Christina with her eyes twinkling like a princess in a fairytale ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t want to attend ballet sses anymore.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Didn¡¯t you enjoy performing today?¡± Christina squatted down and asked out of curiosity. Cam bit her lip. ¡°Because I don¡¯t like Ms. Taggart.¡± Christina took a deep breath. Bailey must have said something to Cam. ¡°You should continue if you enjoy dancing. Don¡¯t worry about the teacher, okay?¡± Christina stroked her head, her eyes brimming with tenderness. Cam nodded, seemingly understanding her mother¡¯s advice. ¡°Mommy, please sign me up in a different dance studio then. My friend Shannara told me her mommy has also signed her up in a dance studio.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll definitely hire a professional teacher for you,¡± Christina agreed. Cam inched closer and wrapped her hands around Christina¡¯s neck. ¡°Thank you, Mommy.¡± Christina felt a wave of relief knowing that Cam could still participate in ballet sses without having to interact with Madison. Sebastian walked over with a stack of documents, cing them on the desk. ¡°Mr. Hadley, these are the documents about all the assets under Gibson Corporation¡± Nathaniel picked up the top document and began scanning through the pages, his eyes gradually growing darker. He inquired. ¡°So Gibson Corporation has a tile factory? And it seems they have had a business coboration with Hadley Corporation in the past.¡± Sebastian retrieved the file, took a closer look at the factory name, and searched for more information about it. ¡°Yes, we did, a few years ago. I¡¯m surprised you still remember it, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian was taken aback. It was umon for someone to remember something that had happened so long ago. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he spoke in a deep voice. ¡°That¡¯s because the tiles Hadley Corporation used from thatpany in one of ourmercialplexes led to multipleints from tenants. We had to rece the tiles to resolve the issue.¡± The incident made asting impact on him as Hadley Corporation had always upheld a strong reputation throughout the years. He recalled how he had to deal with the procurement manager and issued an order that Hadley. Corporation would not engage in any future coborations with that manufacturer. Sebastian found himself caught in a dilemma. ¡°But holding them ountable now would be difficult since so many years have passed.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say I want to hold them ountable,¡± Nathaniel replied, crossing his arms and stroking his chin with one hand. A cold glint shed in his eyes. ¡°If they could make such profits once, they¡¯ll surely continue.¡± Realization dawned on Sebastian right away. ¡°I¡¯ll investigate more about the factory now.¡± Nathaniel responded with a deep hum. Yerek had been trying to cause trouble for him, so he decided to give the former a taste of his own medicine. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. At noon, Nathaniel took Christina to a nearby restaurant for lunch. They chose a less crowded spot by the window that offered a view of the outside scenery. Christina ordered several dishes she often enjoyed, while Nathaniel opted for only a few and added a bottle of fruit wine to go with their meal. Soon, the dishes were served. Christina looked at the foie gras in front of her and asked, ¡°Did we order this?¡± ¡°Did they bring us the wrong order?¡± Nathaniel confirmed that he had not ordered it either. When Christina was about to call the waiter to rify the situation, a stunning figure appeared before them. ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking the waiter. I ordered the foie gras for Nathaniel.¡± Madison walked over, dressed in at sexy cocktail dress, with heavy makeup and a hostile gaze. Christina lowered her gaze. Why does this woman keep showing up everywhere? Madison¡¯s lips curled into a slight smile. ¡°Nathaniel has always enjoyed pairing his red wine with foie gras. We¡¯ve been to this restaurant together before.¡± She wanted to assert her dominance right there, but Nathaniel¡¯s indifference made her feel out of ce. Nathaniel¡¯s face became increasingly tense, and his anger became more apparent. Before he could say anything, Christina shed a faint grin. ¡°Thank you for your foie gras, and thanks for introducing such a wonderful restaurant to us. We¡¯re going to enjoy our meal now.¡± With that, she calmly shifted her gaze away and ced the te of foie gras in front of her. She delicately cut a piece with her knife and fork and took a bite. Madison wanted to teach Christina a lesson, but to her surprise, Christina remained unfazed. She even graciously epted it as Madison¡¯s act of kindness. Nathaniel and Christina continued giving Madison the cold shoulder. Madison, who was on the verge of crying, had no choice but to leave the restaurant in frustration. Once she left, Nathaniel said, ¡°Sebastian was around when I had dinner with her. We were never alone.¡± Christina paused for a moment. What¡¯s with the exnation? I didn¡¯t even question him. She lifted her eyes and blinked. ¡°All right. Got it.¡± Nathaniel let out a subtle hum. Upon realizing she was genuinely unbothered by Madison¡¯s remark, he resumed his meal. After leaving the restaurant, Madison drove back to her apartment, her emotions spiraling out of control. She resorted to drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face kept popping into her mind. What is it about me that he doesn¡¯t like? What does Christina have that I don¡¯t? Why won¡¯t Nathaniel even spare a nce at me? The image of Christina¡¯s sweet, innocent face only intensified Madison¡¯s jealousy. She yearned to expose the falseness of that innocent fa?ade, tearing it off without hesitation. Suddenly, her doorbell rang. She set down the wine bottle and went to answer it. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The look of disappointment was written all over Madison¡¯s face as she turned. around and walked back in. Sebastian followed right behind and entered the house. He did not want to be there either. ¡°Mr. Hadley sent me.¡± Madison spun around with anticipation in her eyes, gripping his arm. ¡°He wants me to return to work at Hadley Corporation, right? Or does he want to see me?¡± Chapter 404 I Will Carry You Chapter 404 I Will Carry You Sebastian appeared cold and austere ¡°Madison, actually Mr. Hadley asked me toe because he wants you to stop getting in the way of his life.¡± ¡°Stop talking¡± Madison felt as if someone had sprinkled salt on her wound. She could not take it anymore. At that moment, she had lost all her pride and dignity. Tears kept flowing down her face, and she was trying very hard to catch her breath. Sebastian sighed and advised her, ¡°Madison, I never thought you were such an irrational person.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to judge me for that.¡± Madison gritted her teeth and refused to show others the weaker side of her. Sebastian¡¯s advice fell on deaf ears. Having been working together for so many years, he knew Madison well enough to know that she was a proud person who would only listen to Nathaniel. ¡°Please remember what I have said today.¡± With that, he left. As the door shut, the anger within Madison intensified. You want to get rid of me?No way! I will find a way to stay by Nathaniel¡¯s side again! Christina had made a reservation at a famous restaurant that weekend. The two of them were to go there for dinner after work. Before leaving the office, Nathaniel phoned her. ¡°There¡¯s a meeting that I have to deal with. I will most probably bete.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Anyway, it¡¯s still early. I will go and order the dishes first and wait for you.¡± Christina began to tidy her things and nned what she was going to do next. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll be quick,¡± said Nathaniel with a grim voice. Christina chuckled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Go ahead with what you have to do. If you can¡¯t make it, I will pack the food and bring it home. We can eat together when you¡¯re back.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll call youter.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina took her bag and left the office. When she arrived at the restaurant and saw the top-notched d¨¦cor and surroundings, she knew why the restaurant was named the best online. She sat down and began to order the dishes. If Nathaniel waste, she could eat first. Christina ordered the famous Earl Grey tea that the restaurant was known for. She took a sip and found that it tasted lovely. Suddenly, the door of the private room was pushed open. Christina looked over and frowned. ¡°Mr. Gibson, what a coincidence.¡± Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t eat out these days. I keep bumping into people I don¡¯t wish to see. ¡°I heard that this restaurant serves good food, so I came to give it a try.¡± Without any invitation, Yerek sat down in front of Christina. Christina eyed him coldly. Yerek wore a striped dark orange suit with an indigo tic, and his hair was slicked back. He looked better than most people, but his heart was not right. She looked up and said. ¡°You don¡¯t look like someone who enjoys this type of cuisine.¡± ¡°Well, I normally don¡¯t, but I can make a change for the person I love,¡± said Yerek as he sat opposite her. Christina gave him a perfunctory smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Gibson, but I¡¯m meeting someone.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. In other words, she was telling him to get lost. Even though he had been turned down, Yerek was not angry. Instead, he said mockingly, ¡°I think the person you are meeting may not be able toe after all.¡± He shed a half-smile. ¡°What is Mr. Hadley doing? Why isn¡¯t he here with you?¡± Christina got annoyed. ¡°Must I report this to you?¡± ¡°I suppose you have no idea. How about I tell you?¡± Yerek took out his phone and showed her a photo. In the photo, Nathaniel and Madison could be seen holding a ss of red wine. It was obvious that they were in Nathaniel¡¯s office. Didn¡¯t he say he has ast-minute meeting? Why is he with Madison? Why is he lying to me? When Yerek saw that she looked a little upset, he knew that the photo had worked its magic. With his hand holding his chin, he said sarcastically, ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry that your husband lied to you? If 1 were you, I would divorce him right away!¡± Christina red at him. ¡°Why do you have this photo? How are you rted to Madison?¡± That photo was taken in Nathaniel¡¯s office, and it was impossible for anyone to take it secretly. Yerek admired the way she maintained her calmposure in such a situation. ¡°Well, someone must have sent it to me.¡± Christina snorted, not knowing what he meant. Just then, the waiter brought the freshly-cooked food. At that moment, Christina had lost her appetite. ¡°Please pack all the food for me.¡± The waiter thought he had misheard, so he asked. ¡°Pack everything?¡± Christina nodded, and the waiter took all the food away. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not the one who affects your appetite.¡± Yerek was gloating even though he could not tell if she was angry or not judging from her calm demeanor. There were things that Christina wanted to question Yerek, but she knew now was not the time to do so. She had no choice but to control herself. ¡°I just want to pack the food home and enjoy them with Nathaniel. You can have this private room.¡± She got up and left. She went to the cashier and made her payment before leaving the restaurant with her food. It was midnight when Nathaniel returned to Scenic Garden Manor. He saw two bags full of food on the dining table, and the food was still untouched. He went upstairs and opened the bedroom door. Next to the bed, there was an aromatherapymp. Thevender scent in the air was very rxing. Nathaniel walked to the bed quietly and saw Christina lying sideways with her hands holding onto the nket like a cute animal looking forfort. He caressed her face and felt the warmth from her smooth, tender skin. Christina opened her eyes and mumbled groggily. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t had your dinner too?¡± Earlier on, Christina had sent him a message saying that she had already gone back. He thought she had already eaten beforeing back home. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Christina¡¯s voice was soft like a puppy¡¯s. ¡°How did your meeting go?¡± ¡°Everything has been settled,¡± replied Nathaniel tly. Christina appeared calm as she recalled the photo. He was meeting Madison just now. Why won¡¯t he just tell me? Seeing no response from her, Nathaniel continued, ¡°Have something before you sleep. I¡¯ll get the kitchen. to heat up the food.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like moving.¡± Christina hugged the nket even tighter. ¡°Then I will carry you.¡± Nathaniel pulled the nket away. With his long arms hooked around her neck and calves, he lifted her up with ease. Chapter 405 Dismiss Chapter 405 Dismiss In the dining room, the chef served the prepared food on the table. Even though the texture was somewhat affected after the food was reheated, the taste was still good. Christina took a bite and said, ¡°It¡¯s not sweet enough.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s quite nice. I¡¯ll book a private room tomorrow to make it up to you.¡± Nathaniel picked up a piece of meat and delivered it to Christina¡¯s mouth. He seemed to be apologizing to her judging by how sincere the expression in his eyes was. Christina parted her lips and ate the meat. She chewed on the food while boring her eyes into him. ¡°I¡¯m not free tomorrow. I need to go to Gibson Corporation¡¯s clothing factory to check the condition of the products and bring the samples for the new orders to the factory for processing.¡± Now that she thought about it, she realized she would be swamped with work from tomorrow onward. Nathaniel fed her another piece of meat. ¡°We¡¯ll do it next time, then. I¡¯ll see if I can arrange it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina¡¯s mouth was filled with food as she chewed on the second piece of meat. Her cheeks, were puffed out, making her look like a cute hamster. ¡°Did you meet with anyone special today?¡± Christina asked casually, concealing her thoughts by masticating. ¡°No,¡± Nathaniel answered calmly. She riveted her eyes on his countenance the whole time. Nathaniel didn¡¯t seem to be lying because he didn¡¯t avert his gaze when he replied. What about the picture I saw, then? While Christina was wondering, the sound of footsteps came from behind her. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, you¡¯re having a scrumptious supper without calling us?¡± Lucas crossed his arms, feeling aggrieved as if discovering someone had stolen his candy. The two petite figures agilely climbed onto the dining table, staring at the food on the table with their sparkling eyes. ¡°Mommy, we want to eat too!¡± ¡°Sure, but you must brush your teeth before you sleep after eating.¡± Christina picked up a piece of snack and brought it to Lucas¡¯ mouth. Lucas covered his mouth and leaned backward, reacting as if the food before him was a bitter medication rather than dessert. ¡°I just brushed my teeth, so I¡¯m not eating.¡± He climbed down the table as he spoke. Christina smiled and pulled him into her arms. Catching whiffs of her son¡¯s body fragrance, she felt a sense of security fill her chest. ¡°Let me carry you upstairs and tuck you in.¡± ¡°I love Mommy the most.¡± Lucas hugged his mother. The two then headed upstairs. Cam held on to Nathaniel¡¯s thigh. ¡°Sleep with me tonight, Daddy¡± ¡°Okay¡± Nathaniel carried Cam upstairs as well. The next day. Christina woke up with Cam in her arms. She kissed thetter¡¯s tender face and said. ¡°Cam, it¡¯s time to wake up.¡± ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s the weekend. I want to sleep in,¡± Cam coord while hugging the nket. Christina patted her small buttocks. ¡°You littlezy pig. I¡¯m going to work now. Sleep a little longer, and I¡¯ll call Mrs. Fullerton to wake you up.¡± Cam mumbled a few words and dozed off again. Christina returned to the master bedroom and saw two figures lying on the bed. She tiptoed into the room, picked out a set of clothes, and walked out. She got dressed and headed straight to the factory. At Christina¡¯s arrival, the factory manager hurriedly came forward and greeted her, ¡°Ms. Steele, why are you here?¡± Yerck had brought Christina there once before, and she had also visited a second time to send over the samples. The two had met on several asions. ¡°I came to check the progress. Let me see those samplester. We need to start working on the second batch of clothing soon,¡± she said. The factory manager nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the office.¡± Upon entering the office, the secretary prepared and served her a cup of coffee. ¡°Please have some coffee.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After sitting for a while, the factory manager brought a few samples and put them aside. ¡°These are some randomly selected end products. Please take a look.¡± Christina picked up the samples and examined them. After ascertaining the quality was up to par, she put them back down. Then, she took out a new outfit from her bag. ¡°This is thetest edition. We need to manufacture the first batch within two weeks.¡± ¡°All right, no problem. Mr. Gibson instructed us that we should adhere to the clothing production schedule that you decide,¡± the factory manager said. Christina bobbed her head and reminded, ¡°You must use Rainbow Factory¡¯s fabrics because the quality of their textile is guaranteed to be good.¡± Rainbow Factory was the only fabric factory Christina approved of the most thus far. ¡°Of course. You can rest assured.¡± Christina left after finishing all she had to say. On her way back, she couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of how smoothly her recent coboration with Yerek was. Did Yerek really spend so much money just to cooperate with me? Christina couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Still, she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it By the time Christina returned to Hadley Corporation, it was already close to noom. She reckoned Nathaniel surely hadn¡¯t eaten yet, so she stepped into the elevator and headed straight to the CEO¡¯s office She pushed the door and entered, and saw a few people sitting inside, one of which was exceptionally. ring. Why is Madison here? When they locked gazes, Christina could sense the trace of smugness in Madison¡¯s eyes. As she had directly strode into the office, themotion instantly prompted an awkward silence to fill the air inside the room. The few individuals sitting with Madison figured Christina¡¯s identity must be extraordinary since she had dared to barge in. No one had the courage to question her aloud. Silence lingered in the air as everyone froze. Christina felt self-conscious. Under such circumstances, should I walk in confidently or retreat? ¡°Ms, Steele, don¡¯t you have the most basic etiquette of knocking?¡± Madison¡¯s mocking voice shattered the stillness. The others immediately regarded Christina with disdain. Christina discreetly clenched her jaw as hints of anger shed across her eyes. ¡°It was I who taught her that. Do you have a problem with that, Ms. Taggart?¡± Nathaniel rose from his chair. His towering figure emanated an icy aura as his frosty expression darkened. Madison¡¯s expression froze at once, and the arrogant look on her face dissipated. ¡°That¡¯s it for today¡¯s meeting. All of you may leave.¡± After saying that, Nathaniel swiftly approached Christina. Madison was naturally reluctant to leave, but she knew her insistence to stay would only displease Nathaniel after he had asked them to clear out. She cast a look at the executive and assistant beside her before getting to her feet. ¡°We¡¯ll be taking our leave, then.¡± The air inside the office felt fresher following the party¡¯s departure. Although they were gone. Christina¡¯s face was still contorted. With her hands ced on her slim waist, she moved inward step by step. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were discussing business with Madison. When did you rehire her?¡± Nathaniel was about to exin, but Christina interrupted him, ¡°If you miss her so much, why did you dismiss her in the first ce?¡± ¡°Listen to me-¡± Nathaniel wanted to rify that matter, but he caught himself upon meeting the angry glower on her face. Christina snorted coldly. ¡°Nathaniel, don¡¯t forget what you promised me! I hope you¡¯ll keep your word. You can¡¯t fight me for custody if we get a divorce!¡± Chapter 406 Nathaniel Is Right Chapter 406 Nathaniel Is Right Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened as he took in the serious expression on Christina¡¯s face Silence ensured, drowning out all sound. Sebastian broke into a cold sweat as he piped up. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯ve misunderstood. The piece of land that Mr Hadley is interested in has been taken away by Taggart Group Madison is using it to seek cooperation with Hadley Corporation. The negotiation is still up in the air Mr. Hadley hasn¡¯t decided anything yet.¡± Christina frowned slightly. ¡°So you met up with Madisonst night for this?¡± They met up for work matters? Before Nathaniel could say anything, Sebastian hurriedly said, ¡°We didn¡¯t call her overst night. She came with the rest of the real estate agents. Mr. Hadley didn¡¯t meet her one-on-one.¡± Sebastian was like a cat on a hot thin roof. Mr. Hadley is so slow-spoken. He is only going to make Mrs. Hadley misunderstand. If they break into a fight, I¡¯m the one who ends up suffering. It¡¯s as he said,¡± Nathaniel said. He didn¡¯t know that Madison would show up too. Christina fell into silence again. What should I do? Looks like I¡¯ve misunderstood him. With her eyes glistening, she secretly took a look at the cold and handsome face in front of her. ¡°How am I supposed to know? You didn¡¯t even make yourself clear¡­¡± Why is he acting mysterious? This is clearly his fault. Nathaniel raised his brows slightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even given a chance to exin.¡± She started ming me as soon as she entered. Judging from his past experiences, Sebastian had a hunch that something was going to happen between them. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I have a few more documents to deal with, so I¡¯ll get going first.¡± He left and closed the door right after he finished speaking. The air was still again. Christina shed an embarrassed smile. ¡°The misunderstanding has been cleared up. Everything is fine now.¡± Her innocent eyes seemed to have the power to melt anything, including Nathaniel¡¯s heart. ¡°How did you know I met Madison yesterday?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was calm. His anger had dissipated. Christina pouted. ¡°Yerek came to see mest night. He even showed me a photo of the two of you.¡± She felt ufortable thinking about the photo. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes The air around him turned cold. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me about it?¡± Christina could sense that he was angry from his questioning tone. She flinched, not sure what she had done to tick him off ¡°Perhaps you didn¡¯t want me to know, which was why you didn¡¯t say anything. That, or because it wasn¡¯t important.¡± ¡°It indeed wasn¡¯t important. But as my wife, shouldn¡¯t you ask for an exnation when you see such a photo?¡± Nathaniel grew all the more livid as he spoke, He had thought their rtionship had gotten better. However, it seemed to be the same for Christina. She didn¡¯t care about him at all. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to know who he was with or why he waste for the date. When he thought of this, he felt as if a heavy rock hadnded on his heart. He¡¯s ming me now? At once, Christina¡¯s temper sparked. ¡°What do you want me to do, then? You said you were having a meeting. If I asked anything more, you would only find me annoying.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. It was still the same. They would still get into an argument at the drop of a hat. Even if there weren¡¯t external factors, they would still get into a fight. Tension started to grow in the atmosphere as they engaged in a round of staredown. Christina could sense the hostility in the air. ¡°I¡¯ve still got other things to do. Goodbye.¡± With that, she turned around and left. Christina walked out of Hadley Corporation, feeling down. It happened that Bailey was looking for her, so she went over. Bailey usually stayed in the luxury condominium by herself. They could talk nonstop as soon as they met. Bailey pulled Christina inside and asked, ¡°Did you have a fight with Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Christina asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s written everywhere on your face.¡± Bailey chuckled. ¡°I think there are still too many problems between us. I can¡¯t get along with him any longer,¡± Christina said, not intending to keep it from her. That was what she felt the most at that moment. If it weren¡¯t for the two children, she would¡¯ve left Nathaniel a long time ago. Bailey sighed softly. Deep down, she knew Christina wouldn¡¯t part ways with Nathaniel. However, she didn¡¯t reveal her thoughts to Christina. ¡°Tell me what happened. Did he bully you? I¡¯ll go and teach him a lesson!¡± Bailey said angrily, looking as if she was going to deal with Nathaniel the next second. Christina gave her a brief ount of what had happened earlier, thinking Bailey would side with her. However, taking in a deep breath, Bailey pped the table and said, ¡°Nathaniel is right. Why didn¡¯t you question him when you saw a photo like that?¡± Christina was stunned. ¡°Huh? What was I supposed to do?¡± Christina didn¡¯t find her way of handling the situation wrong. Staring at the serious expression on Christina¡¯s face, Bailey said, ¡°You should¡¯ve kept the photo and sent a hard p across his face the moment you saw him, then ask him about the photo. If his exnation doesn¡¯t make sense, only then you should get angry.¡± Christina was startled. ¡°Seriously? But it¡¯s not good to use violence.¡± ¡°It¡¯s natural for you to get angry when you see a photo like that. If you don¡¯t, it simply means that you don¡¯t care about him,¡± Bailey said matter-of-factly. Christina was indeed angry back then. However, rationality took her over in the end. She didn¡¯t like to solve problems in the way Bailey had said earlier, but she admitted that it was her fault for not asking Nathaniel about the matter. Bailey gently patted her shoulder and said. ¡°Give me a second. I¡¯ll make you something delicious to eat. Let¡¯s have a drink tonight and forget about all the unhappy stuff.¡± As she spoke, she got up and entered the kitchen. Soon, a spread of delectable dishes wasid out on the coffee table. Bailey handed Christina a ss of red wine. ¡°Here, cheers to our friendship.¡± Christina epted it and took a sip. The rich taste of grapes in the wine slowly diffused across her taste buds, making her tipsy. After they had three rounds of drinking, the sky had turned dark. Bright and twinkling stars were scattered everywhere in the sky. When Christina came out of the bathroom, the doorbell rang. ¡°Who is it at this hour?¡± Christina opened the door, only to be greeted by the cold face of a man. Her startled expression was clearly reflected in his eyes. ¡°Nathaniel, how did you find your way here?¡± Chapter 407 An Extremely Important Client Chapter 407 An Extremely Important Client with Madison¡¯s pungent perfume scent. It took over the pleasant fragrance on Christina¡¯s body in an instant. ¡°Nathaniel is definitely going to cooperate with us. We¡¯ll be meeting a lot in the future,¡± Madison said while looking at Christina disdainfully. ¡°You sound pretty confident.¡± Madison narrowed her eyes slightly. Her gaze was tinged with determination. ¡°Of course. Taggart Group is a capablepany. If Hadley Corporation works together with Taggart Group, the future will be ours. Nathaniel won¡¯t refuse any chances that will bring hispany to greater heights. And you, Christina, what can you give Nathaniel?¡± Christina looked her in the eye. She used to have some admiration for Madison for being a capable and independent woman. However, at that moment, she only felt that Madison was a love-struck fool who had no sense of self-worth. At the thought of that, Christina suddenly snickered. Herugh instantly made Madison lose herposure. ¡°What are youughing at?¡± Madison felt insulted. ¡°You¡¯re too pathetic. I¡¯mughing at the fact that you¡¯re brainless despite having a degree,¡± Christina mocked. Madison¡¯s eyes were filled with fury. Her curledshes made her seem particrly scary. Christina was unfazed. ¡°Don¡¯t you find yourself ridiculous that you have to use material possessions to attract a man¡¯s attention? Have you ever thought that if you lose your money one day, you will have no worth in that person¡¯s eyes?¡± The elevator doors opened. Christina stepped out, leaving Madison, who was ashen-faced, behind. Madison watched as Christina walked out of the elevator. At that moment, she felt as if her eyes had been stabbed with ten thousand needles. It was so painful that she couldn¡¯t breathe. She clenched her fists tightly. Even if she got together with Nathaniel out of interest, she wouldn¡¯t regret it. All she wanted was to be with him. As soon as Christina entered the office, she saw Rayne serving an elegantly dressed woman a cup of coffee. ¡°Mrs. Williams, this is our designer, Christina Steele.¡± Then, Rayne said to Christina, ¡°Christina, this is our extremely important client, Mrs. Williams.¡± Christina shed a polite smile. When did we have an extremely important client? Rayne went forward and brought Jocelyn into the office. ¡°Mrs. Williams, pleasee with me to our designer¡¯s office. Kindly let us know your requirements. Ms. Steele is amazing. She has won a lot of awards before. A few years ago, she participated in a designpetition in the country and got first ce.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that the designs by Christina¡¯s Studios are impressive, so I came here for that,¡± Jocelyn said. ¡°Please have a seat here for a while.¡± Rayne walked out and said to Christina, ¡°That woman has paid ny-nine thousand to skip the queue, so she is an extremely important client. You have to treat her well.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened ¡°Since when did we have such a rule? I have no idea at all.¡± ¡°The bookings we received have been arranged until next year. We¡¯ll deal with those urgent clients first.¡± Rayne chuckled. ¡°How did you know that that client is urgent?¡± Christina didn¡¯t know how to react to that. I¡¯m already swamped with work and barely have the time to breathe. Now, I have to deal with urgent clients as well? Rayne dragged Christina in the direction of the office. ¡°She has paid extra, so it¡¯s urgent. You should get to work now, Ms. Steele.¡± As soon as she finished saying that, she pushed Christina into the office. Christina spent all morning attending to Jocelyn. It wasn¡¯t until she sent Jocelyn away that she let out a sigh of relief. Seeing that lunch break was approaching. Christina wondered if she should have a meal with Nathaniel. She gave a call to the restaurant she had been tost time, thinking of booking a table. However, the other party told her that the entire ce was booked for the day. Christina hung up the phone and heaved a sigh. Looks like I¡¯m not destined to dine in this restaurant. The first experience was unpleasant, and this time, I was turned down by them. Oh well, let me see if Nathaniel is free first. She walked out of her office and headed to the CEO¡¯s office. At the entrance of the conference room, she saw Madison walk out in dissatisfaction. Tension grew in the air as they met each other¡¯s eyes. Madison rushed over to her and huffed. ¡°You¡¯re really good, Christina. You actually made Nathaniel refuse to cooperate with me! You¡¯ve been acting all high and mighty. In actuality, you¡¯re afraid that you can¡¯t win. against me, so you used such a lowly method to drive me away. How disgusting!¡± ¡°Please have a seat here for a while.¡± Rayne walked out and said to Christina. ¡°That woman has paid ny-nine thousand to skip the queue, 16 she is an extremely important chent. You have to treat her well¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Since when did we have such a rule? I have no idea at all.¡± The bookings we received have been arranged until next year. We¡¯ll deal with those urgent clients first.¡± Rayne chuckled. ¡°How did you know that that client is urgent?¡± Christina didn¡¯t know how to react to that. I¡¯m already swamped with work and barely have the time to breathe. Now, I have to deal with urgent clients as well? Rayne dragged Christina in the direction of the office. ¡°She has paid extra, so it¡¯s urgent. You should get to work now, Ms. Steele.¡± As soon as she finished saying that, she pushed Christina into the office. Christina spent all morning attending to Jocelyn. It wasn¡¯t until she sent Jocelyn away that she let out a sigh of relief. Seeing that lunch break was approaching, Christina wondered if she should have a meal with Nathaniel. She gave a call to the restaurant she had been tost time, thinking of booking a table. However, the other party told her that the entire ce was booked for the day. Christina hung up the phone and heaved a sigh. Looks like I¡¯m not destined to dine in this restaurant. The first experience was unpleasant, and this time, I was turned down by them. Oh well, let me see if Nathaniel is free first. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. She walked out of her office and headed to the CEO¡¯s office. At the entrance of the conference room, she saw Madison walk out in dissatisfaction. Tension grew in the air as they met each other¡¯s eyes. Madison rushed over to her and huffed. ¡°You¡¯re really good, Christina. You actually made Nathaniel refuse. to cooperate with me! You¡¯ve been acting all high and mighty. In actuality, you¡¯re afraid that you can¡¯t win. against me, so you used such a lowly method to drive me away. How disgusting!¡± Chapter 408 No Difference Chapter 408 No Difference Christina was slightly confused. ¡°You¡¯re saying that Nathaniel didn¡¯t agree to cooperate with Taggart Group?¡± Madison¡¯s rage intensified when she saw the clueless Christina. ¡°Stop pretending in front of me!¡± Madison pushed her out of anger. That caught Christina off guard, and she almost fell to the floor. As soon as Christina raised her eyes again, her expression had darkened. She had never thought about stopping them from coborating from the moment she learned about it. Seeing that she wasn¡¯t saying anything, Madison added, ¡°Stop acting innocent. You were worried that I would snatch Nathaniel away from you, so you did everything you could to ruin our cooperation!¡± The air was thick with tension. A series of steady footsteps echoed across the air, and Nathaniel appeared behind Christina. His filled with hostility. gaze was This is my decision. It has nothing to do with others.¡± Every word he said resembled a knife stabbing ino Madison¡¯s heart. Madison¡¯s eyes misted over as she looked at him in disbelief. ¡°Nathaniel, you were obviously interested in our cooperation¡­¡± ¡°If the cooperation will make you misunderstand our rtionship, then I don¡¯t think it¡¯s necessary.¡± Nathaniel grabbed Christina¡¯s hand and headed to the office. ¡°Sebastian, send her out.¡± Everyone could sense Nathaniel¡¯s displeasure and even his fury. The executives didn¡¯t say anything more and immediately left the ce. Soon, the corridor was empty. In the office, Nathaniel pressed Christina down on the couch. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± He sized her up. Christina shook her head. ¡°Is it because of me that you refuse to cooperate with them?¡± ¡°No. Hadley Corporation has a lot going on. Cooperating with them or not is not going to make any difference.¡± Nathaniel said calmly as if he was talking about a trivial matter. That was reasonable. There were hundreds of designers in the design department, which proved that the workload was indeed heavy. Christina didn¡¯t say anything more, knowing Nathaniel would deal with such things properly. All of a sudden, her stomach growled. Nathaniel fixed his eyes on her. ¡°You¡¯re hungry?¡± ¡°I came here to have lunch with you.¡± Christina looked like a kitten who hade over to look for food. ¡°I¡¯ve booked a ce. Let¡¯s go.¡± He stood up and left the office with Christina. Twenty minutester, they arrived at a restaurant. The waiter brought them to a private room. ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Earl Grey, Nathaniel said tly. Christina came to a realization. ¡°So it¡¯s you who booked the restaurant?¡± ¡°To make up forst time,¡± Nathaniel said with a sincere gaze. Christina curled her lips slightly. One couldn¡¯t help but be attracted to her because of her delicate face. ¡°I didn¡¯t take it to heart. Why did you book the entire restaurant when it¡¯s only the two of us?¡± ¡°I was worried that you would get angry and want a divorce again.¡± He sounded calm, but he spoke from the heart.. Looking at his serious expression, Christina felt her cheeks flush. ¡°I¡¯m not an unreasonable person.¡± Her voice grew softer as she spoke. ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re not. Let¡¯s order.¡± Nathaniel poured a cup of tea and passed it to Christina. ¡°It¡¯s only us today. The food will be served quickly.¡± ¡°Is this why you booked the entire restaurant?¡± Nathaniel raised the corners of his lips. ¡°You know me well.¡± Not long after Christina ced her order, the dishes were served. As she looked at the spread of food, her appetite was stimted. ¡°If you like it, I can bring you here every day.¡± Nathaniel smiled and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of her lips with a tissue. ¡°I¡¯ll get sick of it if I eat it every day.¡± Christina took a sip of her tea. She looked like azy pig who had. eaten to its heart¡¯s content. Nathaniel paid the bill, and they went back. As soon as they reached the parking lot, they saw Sebastian waiting at the side while holding a briefcase. After the car came to a stop, Sebastian went over to the car window and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, we have to meet a business partnerter at three in the afternoon.¡± Christina unbuckled her seatbelt. ¡°Go and get busy. I¡¯ll go up first.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Nathaniel looked at her. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up after work.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Christina got out of the car and entered the elevator. When the elevator reached the first floor, it stopped. A few people stepped in It seemed that they wereing back for work after their lunch break The elevator continued to go up. All of a sudden, the voice of a woman talking on the phone was heard in the quiet space Tm in the clevator now. ¡°Of course I can order in advance. I¡¯ve paid extra to cut the queue I¡¯m going to order ten high-end growns to make the wealthydies envious of me. ¡°How can she not make the gowns for me? I have plenty of money. A designer like her can¡¯t possibly reject 1. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived. Talk to youter.¡± The woman hung up her phone and put it in her branded bag. When the elevator doors opened, the woman went out, and so did Christina. Rayne had been waiting at the entrance. When she caught sight of a woman who was dressed morously, she hurried over at once. ¡°You¡¯re here, Mrs. Williams.¡± Jocelyn nodded. She entered and sat on the couch. Her hands were full of jeweled rings. Under the light, they sparkled with pride. Last time, she had left earlier because she had something to attend to all of a sudden. She hadn¡¯t finalized the style of the dress she wanted. A whileter, Christina entered. Rayne went to make tea. ¡°Mrs. Williams, what kind of dress do you want?¡± Christina¡¯s voice was deep,ced with a hint of indifference. ¡°I want one with white color, ck color¡­ It¡¯d be best to make my gowns out of the best colors,¡± Jocelyn said excitedly. Frowning slightly, Christina said. ¡°You can¡¯t go with white. It will expose the ws of your body.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? When I shopped for clothes, the salesperson said that I looked elegant in white. I don¡¯t care. I¡¯m going with white.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s face fell at once. Silence ensued, and a strange atmosphere surrounded them. Looking at Jocelyn¡¯s pear-shaped body, Christina said seriously. ¡°That¡¯s because they wanted you to buy the clothes so that they could getmissions. They didn¡¯t mean what they said. I¡¯m a designer. I know exactly the colors that fit each body shape best.¡± Chapter 409 My Professional Opinion Chapter 409 My Professional Opinion Enraged, Jocelyn mmed the table and rose to her feet. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Christina ced her hands on her hips and did not reply. She merely stared at Jocelyn with certainty Jocelyn got even angrier upon seeing that. ¡°Are you making fun of my body?¡± Jocelyn was a woman from a rich family, after all. She wasn¡¯t going to let a designer make fun of her. However, Jocelyn wore a white dress that day, and her bulging tummy was there for everyone to see. Faced with Jocelyn¡¯s anger, Christina remained as cool as a cucumber. She said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for people to gain weight when they reach a certain age. I wasn¡¯t picking on you. I was merely giving you my professional opinion. I¡¯m not expecting you to take it, though.¡± Christina put on an indifferent look and did not change her mind just because Jocelyn was outraged. Right then, Rayne came out with tea and sensed the awkward atmosphere in the room. Something¡¯s off¡­ She put the tea aside and asked Jocelyn cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mrs. Williams? Feel free to tell Ms. Steele what you have in mind.¡± ¡°Hmph! Ms. Steele doesn¡¯t even respect me! She said I look bad in white!¡± Jocelyn spat, her eyes widening in anger. Rayne sized Jocelyn up and noticed that Jocelyn indeed did not look good in white. The dress makes her skin look so dark, and the color exposes the ws of her body. She cleared her throat and exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Ms. Steele is known for voicing her opinions directly. However, her opinions aren¡¯t unfounded. How about trying a new style?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s rage burned even more intensely. ¡°No way. White symbolizes purity and elegance. You talking nonsense! I don¡¯t want you guys to design my dress anymore.¡± guys are Hearing that, Christina stood up unhesitatingly and said, ¡°Rayne, give Mrs. Williams a refund.¡± She then walked back toward her office. Jocelyn didn¡¯t expect such arrogance from a designer. ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude? I¡¯ll tell all my friends to stoping here to make their clothes. We¡¯ll see if your business can survive.¡± Christina ignored her and closed the door behind her. Rayne was sweating bullets when she saw how harsh Christina was. Our clients are mostly from upper-ss society. Christina¡¯s straightforwardness will offend our clients! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Williams. We¡¯ll refund you the full amount,¡± Rayne apologized. ¡°Hmph!¡± Jocelyn grabbed her bag and stormed out. Rayne brought the tea into the office and said, ¡°Christina, I beg you not to speak so frankly next time because that¡¯ll offend our clients. Our clients pay us to get their dresses made instead of getting irritated.¡± Pretending not to hear a word Rayne said, Christina picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. Enraged, Jocelyn mmed the table and rose to her feet ¡°What do you mean?¡± Christina ced her hands on her hips and did not reply. She merely stared at Jocelyn with certainty. Jocelyn got even angrier upon seeing that, ¡°Are you making fun of my body?¡± Jocelyn was a woman from a rich family, after all. She wasn¡¯t going to let a designer make fun of her. However, Jocelyn wore a white dress that day, and her bulging tummy was there for everyone to see. Faced with Jocelyn¡¯s anger, Christina remained as cool as a cucumber. She said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for people to gain weight when they reach a certain age. I wasn¡¯t picking on you. I was merely giving you my professional opinion. I¡¯m not expecting you to take it, though.¡± Christina put on an indifferent look and did not change her mind just because Jocelyn was outraged. Right then, Rayne came out with tea and sensed the awkward atmosphere in the room. Something¡¯s off¡­ She put the tea aside and asked Jocelyn cautiously, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mrs. Williams? Feel free to tell Ms. Steele what you have in mind.¡± Hmph! Ms. Steele doesn¡¯t even respect me! She said I look bad in white!¡± Jocelyn spat, in anger. her eyes widening Rayne sized Jocelyn up and noticed that Jocelyn indeed did not look good in white. The dress makes her skin look so dark, and the color exposes the ws of her body. She cleared her throat and exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Ms. Steele is known for voicing her opinions directly. However, her opinions aren¡¯t unfounded. How about trying a new style?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s rage burned even more intensely. ¡°No way. White symbolizes purity and elegance. You guys are talking nonsense! I don¡¯t want you guys to design my dress anymore.¡± Hearing that, Christina stood up unhesitatingly and said, ¡°Rayne, give Mrs. Williams a refund.¡± She then walked back toward her office. Jocelyn didn¡¯t expect such arrogance from a designer. ¡°What¡¯s with that attitude? I¡¯ll tell all my friends to stoping here to make their clothes. We¡¯ll see if your business can survive.¡± Christina ignored her and closed the door behind her. Rayne was sweating bullets when she saw how harsh Christina was. Our clients are mostly from upper-ss society. Christina¡¯s straightforwardness will offend our clients! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Williams. We¡¯ll refund you the full amount,¡± Rayne apologized. ¡°Hmph!¡± Jocelyn grabbed her bag and stormed out. Rayne brought the tea into the office and said, ¡°Christina, I beg you not to speak so frankly next time because that¡¯ll offend our clients. Our clients pay us to get their dresses made instead of getting irritated.¡± Pretending not to hear a word Rayne said. Christina picked up a cup of tea and took a sip. ¡°Why can¡¯t we just make the dresses ording to our client¡¯s requests?¡± Rayne grumbled. What¡¯s important is making money for the studio, no? Christina lifted her head slightly to reveal her alluring side proble. ¡°I¡¯m a woman of principles. Didn¡¯t your see the ws in Mrs. Williams¡¯ body? If she wears white, she¡¯ll only appear even chubbier From now on. please tell our clients about my requirements before we ept their orders,¡± she said while putting her cup of tea aside. ¡°Yes, Ms. Steele.¡± Rayne knew there was nothing she could say to convince Christina otherwise. She flipped through the memos on her phone and reminded, ¡°Oh! We have a designerworking banquet to attend tonight.¡± ¡°Huh? Can I not work overtime? How about you go on your own?¡± Christina wasn¡¯t a fan of such events. Ill have to starve myself and wear a dress. How tiring is that! ¡°No. You¡¯ve just rejected a huge deal. You must make up for it tonight,¡± Rayne said assertively, acting like Christina¡¯s manager. Christina let out a groan upon hearing that. Why did I find myself such a dutiful assistant? That evening, Christina wore a ck dress that Rayne had modified into a high-slit dress. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Christina lowered her head and noticed that most of her thighs were exposed when she walked. ¡°Um¡­ Don¡¯t you think this is a bit much?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the trend now! We must keep up with the times because our dresses represent Christina¡¯s Studios!¡± Rayne also wore a sexy high-slit dress with tassels at the bottom of the dress. ¡°Yours looks so shy!¡± The corners of Christina¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Rayne held Christina¡¯s hand and walked toward the entrance. ¡°Not only will there be a lot of rich women at the event, but there will also be plenty of rich heirs.¡± She winked at Christina and led her into the venue. The venue had beautiful chandeliers hanging off the ceiling, making the ce look rather romantic. All sorts of people were gathered there, and they were all dressed up and chatting away happily. Rayne was responsible for socializing with the others, while Christina was just nodding and smiling all the way. Christina whispered in Rayne¡¯s ear. ¡°When can we leave this ce?¡± Her face was on the verge of bing stiff due to the constant smiling. Rayne¡¯s smile, however, still looked as natural and pleasant as usual. ¡°Hang in there. We still have plenty of business cards to hand out.¡± Suddenly, Christina saw one of her business cards lying on a field nearby. She also saw a few wealthy women tossing her business cards onto the ground. A wealthy woman dressed in a sequined dress sneered, ¡°I have never heard of this studio. How did they get invited to such a grand event?¡± Next to that woman was another woman wearing a mink coat. She mocked, ¡°How dare an unknown studio offer to make dresses for us? I wouldn¡¯t wear anything they make!¡± ¡°Haha! You¡¯re right!¡° Christina¡¯s expression turned grim when she heard those women mocking her studio. Rayne was also wearing a scowl on her face, but there was nothing she could do to those women. ¡°They¡¯re so mean! They were all so friendly when they talked to us moments earlier. Now, they¡¯re making fun of us!¡± Rayne gritted her teeth angrily. She wanted to confront those women, but she couldn¡¯t afford to ruin the studio¡¯s reputation. Unperturbed, Christina smiled faintly and said, ¡°That¡¯s just how things are in this society. It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve never attended simr social events before.¡± She bent down and picked up quite a few of her business cards from the ground. As she was about to pick up thest one, a woman in high heels stepped on the card. That woman had even intentionally stepped on the part of the card that read: Christina¡¯s Studios. Chapter 410 This Is How I Apologize Chapter 410 This Is How I Apologize ¡°I teach you a lesson¡± Rainelda raised her palm and swung it toward Christin¡¯s cheek. p A crisp sound rang out, and the air stilled Everyone looked over There, they saw a red handprint on the cheek of a woman in a tassel dress ¡°Are you okay, Rayne?¡± Christina asked Rayne concernedly as soon as she returned to her senses Rayne had somehow appeared before Christina in the nick of time and received a tight p across her face On the verge of tearing up. Rayne held her cheek and answered. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± No one would want to embarrass themselves in an event like that. ¡°How are you fine? Your check is all red!¡± Christina was livid when she saw the handprint on Rayne¡¯s cheek. Rayne was worried about the studio¡¯s reputation, so she pulled Christina¡¯s hand and whispered. ¡°Forget about it, Christina. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± Rainelda was thrilled when she heard Rayne telling Christina to leave. An unrecognized designer like her shouldn¡¯t have the audacity to offend me. She grinned and shouted haughtily, ¡°Buzz off! You¡¯re embarrassing yourselves!¡± It had been a while since Christina had met someone as despicable as Rainelda. She said to Rayne, ¡°We¡¯re not leaving until she apologizes to you.¡± At that moment, she seemed like apletely different person. Instead of behaving sheepishly like before, she became as fierce as a lion. Someone nearby recognized Christina and approached Rainelda cautiously. ¡°Perhaps you should apologize. She¡¯s Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife? I¡¯ve never even seen her attending social events with Mr. Hadley!¡± ¡°I bet Mr. Hadley finds her status humiliating, so he never bothered bringing her out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? Christina hasn¡¯t even been in the fashion industry that long. Why should Rainelda apologize to her?¡± Upon hearing thosements, Rainelda didn¡¯t feel the need to apologize to Rayne. A woman next to Rainelda said to Christina and Rayne in a cold tone, ¡°Get lost! No one¡¯s apologizing to you!¡± Everyone at the scene was on Rainelda¡¯s side, and Christina and Rayne were left to fend-for themselves. Some at the scene even whipped out their phones to take photos of Christina and mock her on Instagram. Rainelda was secretly delighted when she saw how things had turned out. ¡°You scolded me just now, didn¡¯t you, Christina? Apologize to me before you leave!¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. How could she ask us to apologize to her when she was the one who pped me? Rayne¡¯s check seared with pain, and her eyes were brimmed with tears. ¡°This is ridiculous! They¡¯re a bunch of bullies!¡± Christina exuded a cold and terrifying aura. She shed a smirk and said, ¡°Oh, so you want me to apologize, huh?¡± Rainelda crossed her arms across her chest and said arrogantly. ¡°Do you still not get it? You can¡¯t leave without apologizing to me.¡± Seeing the calm expression on Christina¡¯s face, Rainelda thought she had Christina in her hands. Christina is merely an unknown tailoress. How dare she challenge me? Suddenly, Christina started walking toward Rainelda. Not only did the lights in the area outline her alluring and slender figure, but her dress also became even more apparent. Although it was a simple design, her fair skin added a sense of mystery to her style. With her long hair draped over her shoulders and partially exposed thighs, she looked like a ruthless witch. Needless to say, all eyes were on her at that moment. When she arrived in front of Rainelda, she lifted her palm and pped Rainelda across the face. The p rang louder than the one before. ¡°This is how I apologize. Are you satisfied?¡± Christina utterednguidly and turned around. Rainelda and the others at the scene were stupefied. She just hit someone! ¡°Stop right there! How dare you p me?¡± Rainelda screamed at Christina. Chapter 411 Save Your Lies. Chapter 411 Save Your Lies. In an instant, silence descended over the entire ce. It was so quiet one could hear a pin drop ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted me to apologize Christina retorted Rainelda widened her eyes, staring at her incredulously, and said hotly. ¡°So you pped me?¡± Christina narrowed her eyes slyly. ¡°Mm-hmm¡± Her arrogant attitude struck a nerve in Rainelda ¡°Christina Steele, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± She lunged toward Christina as though she had lost her mind. Christina¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and her breath hitched. She dodged aside nimbly. Swiping at empty air. Rainelda tumbled heavily onto the grass. When those behind her saw her fall, they rushed forward in concern. ¡°Are you okay!¡± ¡°It hurts¡­¡± The fall had ruined her makeup, and there was a searing pain in her knees. ¡°Whoever helps to avenge me will receive a ssic Hermes bag tomorrow as a reward!¡± That bag was notoriously difficult to obtain even if one had money and was very valuable. The eyes of some in the crowd went as wide as saucers when they heard that. Almost all at once, they turned to Christina with vicious gazes as though they had spotted a fat, juicy prey. Sensing something off about the atmosphere, Rayne stepped protectively in front of Christina immediately. ¡°You should think carefully about just who is standing before you. Are you sure she¡¯s someone you can afford to offend?¡± The other¡¯s gazes mellowed a little in the blink of an eye. Even though she¡¯s not favored, she¡¯s still Nathaniel Hadley¡¯s wife and isn¡¯t someone we should offend. The situation became tense again, and an awkward atmosphere hung in the air. ¡°What a bunch of good-for-nothings!¡± Rainelda climbed to her feet. I¡¯m going to salvage my reputation. whatever it takes! Her gaze was ferocious. There was no trace of the elegant air befitting a fashionable socialite she had disyed earlier. Christina furrowed her brows in concentration, watching closely as Rainelda charged toward her. Just as thetter was about to deliver a blow to her face, Christina lifted a leg and kicked her straight in the chest. Rainelda let out an agonized cry, and the crowd gasped. Rainelda¡¯s body curled forward, and she fell to her knees in front of Christina ¡°You hit me. I¡¯m going to report this to the police.¡± Rainelda broke into a cold sweat from the excruciating pain. Upon raising her head, she saw Christina¡¯s frosty expression. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Christina responded. With her lips curled into a slight smirk, she looked like a cold and proud angel. Her aura was so strong and intimidating that the others around them became even more afraid of intervening. Even those who had defended Rainelda carlier did not have the courage to go and help her to her feet. Just then, the banquet¡¯s organizer came over to check on the situation after hearing themotion. The organizer was someone Rainelda was on good terms with, so when Rainelda saw hering over, she rushed forward immediately and started ying the victim. ¡°Mrs. Williams, this woman had the audacity to hurt me at your event. You must stand up for me!¡± Jocelyn and Rainelda were usually very friendly with each other, and thetter never failed to tter the wealthy woman. Based on their rtionship. Rainelda was confident Jocelyn would take her side. When Rayne saw the woman, the color drained from her face. Isn¡¯t this the same Mrs. Williams we offended this morning? Even the gods are against us this time! ¡°What should we do, Christina? Mrs. Williams will surely use this opportunity to make things difficult for us,¡± she said worriedly. Christina¡¯s expression remained as calm as still water, and her cold eyes showed no sign of fear. ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything, so what¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± She looked toward the two women with a wintry gaze and spoke in aposed and confident tone.. Gritting her teeth. Rainelda uttered, ¡°Just listen to how arrogant she is, Mrs. Williams. You should teach, her a lesson.¡± No sooner had she said that than a loud p resounded through the space. The entire venue fell silent, and no one dared to breathe. Everyone, including Christina, had a look of shock in their eyes. Rayne clutched at Christina¡¯s hand, blinking. Everything had happened so quickly that she could not help suspecting that her eyes were ying tricks on her. ¡°Christina, does Mrs. Williams have a problem with her eyesight? Is that why she pped the wrong person?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Christina replied. Opposite them. Rainelda felt her cheek tingle painfully. It was as though someone had sprinkled salt over a wound that had yet to heal. She stared at Jocelyn in disbelief, bereft of words. Has she gone mad? Why did she hit me? ¡°Are you telling me what to do? Do you know the position you¡¯re in now?¡± Jocelyn asked, shooting her a cold, sidelong nce. Rainelda¡¯s breathing became slower, and her spirits slowly sank. ¡°You said I looked good in white, so I bought a closetful of white dresses and outfits. However, whenever I wore them out, everyoneughed at me behind my back for looking like a big, clumsy elephant with a white cloth over it. How can someone with no sense of style like you be a fashion buyer or endorse a famous brand?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s booming voice felt like a hammer to Rainelda¡¯s head. Indeed, I did tell her white clothes looked good. Worn on a figure like hers, however, the effect is too hideous for words. I only lied because I wanted to get closer to her. I thought no one would ever discover this secret. No wonder she wore a burgundy dress today. I didn¡¯t think anything of it. However, I now realize that she has already seen through my lie. sping her hands together, Rainelda pleaded, ¡°Listen to me. White is truly beautiful. It¡¯s a clean color. It¡¯s the most suitable for someone as distinguished as you.¡± pure and ¡°Save your lies for fools,¡± Jocelyn said with a cold snort. Then, she turned and instructed the bodyguards. behind her. ¡°Escort this woman out. I don¡¯t want to see her at any of my events in the future.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Williams.¡± With that, several bodyguards led Rainelda out in full view of everyone present. Although she looked utterly pathetic as she left, she did not deserve an ounce of pity. Jocelyn walked over to Christina. In a soft and concerned tone, she enquired, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, did that startle you?¡± Christina was surprised by the abrupt hundred-and-eighty-degree shift in her demeanor. It was just this morning that she was at loggerheads with me about my opinion! ¡°Wanting to prove that what you said isn¡¯t true, I deliberately chose not to wear a white dress today. To my surprise, everyone praised me for looking absolutely stunning. They alsomented that when I wore white in the past, the color would highlight the ws in my figure. That¡¯s when I realized Rainelda had tricked me!¡± Taking Christina¡¯s hand, Jocelyn continued softly, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to proceed with my order for custom dresses from you. I¡¯ll follow your advice for everything.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re willing to take my advice, it¡¯ll definitely be my pleasure to design the best dress for you,¡± Christina answered with a smile, her eyes shining Christina and Rayne left after the banquet ended. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is your face okay? Why did you shield me?¡± Gazing at her assistant¡¯s slightly reddened cheek, Christina. could not help feeling a little guilty. Rayne rubbed her cheek gently. ¡°I saw she wanted to hurt you and was afraid you¡¯d get hurt.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a bonus at the end of the month. We¡¯ll count it as a work-rted injury.¡± ¡°In that case, I don¡¯t mind that I got pped,¡± Rayne responded with a grin,pletely forgetting about her earlier embarrassment. When the pair walked out, they saw a ck Maybach pull up right in front of them. The car window wound down halfway, and the lights illuminated a man¡¯s cold and resolute profile. ¡°Get in.¡± Chapter 412 Overprotective Chapter 412 Overprotective Even from a distance, one could feel the chilling atmosphere emanating from inside the car. ¡°Come on, get in,¡± Christina urged Rayne. She did not want to keep the man in the car waiting. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve booked a cab. You can leave first.¡± Rayne opened the door for Christina to get in before staying away from the vehicle. The journey back home was marked by silence inside the car. ¡°You came to pick me up on purpose?¡± Christina asked in a rxed tone. ¡°Yeah. I was passing by anyway.¡± Nathaniel replied tly, his eyes darkening slightly as he looked at the photos on the tablet. Sebastian¡¯s lips twitched. Passing by? We clearly took a detour toe here! A heavy atmosphere permeated the car. The man¡¯s sandalwood scent blended with the cool air, creating an enchanting ambiance. ¡°I was impressed by what you did earlier,¡± Nathaniel said with a smirk, his eyes enigmatic. Christina¡¯s cheeks turned crimson. Nathaniel was always aware of everything she did as if he had installed a tracking device above her head. ¡°She started it first. She even wanted to hit me. I was just protecting myself,¡± Christina muttered, defending her action. Nathaniel rested his chin on his hand, casually ncing at her flushed face. ¡°You did what was necessary. Don¡¯t ever let anyone walk all over you.¡± Christina widened her clear eyes, tapped her chest, and reassured him, ¡°I won¡¯t. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Sebastian was baffled by their conversation. Did Mr. Hadley just praise Mrs. Hadley for getting physical with someone? That¡¯s a clear sign of him being overprotective of her. At that moment. Sebastian¡¯s phone rang, and he answered the call. After a short pause, he turned around and informed Nathaniel, ¡°Mr. Hadley, I suppose the Liuteguards. called me because they couldn¡¯t reach you.¡± H ¡°Answer the call, then,¡± Nathaniel replied with an icy re. Sebastian picked up the call, and Lincoln Liuteguard¡¯s sincere voice came through. ¡°Mr. Taggart, I would like to speak to Mr. Hadley. Could you do me a favor?¡± Sebastian was well aware of Nathaniel¡¯s attitude toward the Liuteguard family earlier. ¡°Mr. Hadley is busy at the moment. If you have something to say, you can tell me, and I¡¯ll convey it to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m prepared to relinquish an additional twenty percent of our initial agreement to appease Mr. Hadley.¡± Lincoln proposed. They did not sign the agreement earlier because they could not reach a consensus on the profit distribution. This time, it appeared Lincoln was genuinely seeking reconciliation with Nathaniel. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll convey your message to Mr. Hadley. I¡¯ll call you if I have any updates.¡± After speaking, Sebastian ended the call without hesitation. Christina, who did not have aprehensive understanding of the negotiation, asked out of curiosity. ¡°Is it because of me that you decided not to partner with the Liuteguard family?¡± She wondered if she had ruined Nathaniel¡¯s cooperation. Suddenly, a handnded on her head, gently rubbing it, as if caressing a furry pet. ¡°It depends on you, I won¡¯t work with them if you¡¯re still mad at them,¡± Nathaniel said calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not, and don¡¯t let my emotions influence your decision,¡± Christina replied in a serious tone while shaking her head. She had already vented her grievances on Rainelda earlier. Moreover, she refused to let a stranger get the best of her. Nathaniel remained silent and pulled her closer to his chest. They stayed in each other¡¯s embrace as they made their way back to Scenic Garden Manor. When the car came to a stop. Christina had already fallen into a deep sleep in Nathaniel¡¯s arms. Unaware of when she had kicked off her high heels, she curled up like a little cat, exuding an adorable charm. Instead of waking her up, Nathaniel carried her in his arms and stepped out of the car. The butler came out to greet them when he heard the sound outside the manor. ¡°Wee back, Mr. Hadley. Have you taken your dinner? And this is¡­¡± Nathaniel responded with a hush, shooting a piercing gaze at the butler. When did he be such a busybody?¡± Upon noticing the serious look on his face, the butler immediately zipped his mouth. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As the light illuminated the scene, the butler finally realized the woman in Nathaniel¡¯s arms was Christina. Due to the dim lighting earlier, he could not see clearly, leading him to mistake Nathaniel for holding at small pet in his arms. ¡°I¡¯m taking her up.¡± Nathaniel carried Christina upstairs. Inside the bedroom, a faint glow emanated from the yellow lights. Nathaniel gently ced Christina on the bed. When he was about to pull away, his tie clip got caught in her dark hair. A sharp sensation coursed through Christina, causing her to gasp. She opened her eyes and found herself staring at the man¡¯s throat. ¡°Your hair¡­¡± Nathaniel fumbled to fix it but only made it more disheveled. Upon noticing how messy her silky, long hair was, Christina responded, ¡°I¡¯ll fix it myself.¡± She tilted her head, removing the tie clip with her fingertips, and her hair naturally came undone. As Christina tousled her disheveled hair, the air in the room instantly became quiet. She could clearly feel a burning gaze fixated on her. She lowered her eyes, her cheeks inexplicably flushing. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower?¡± she asked, trying to distract him. The intense, charged atmosphere in the room made her feel on edge. Nathaniel lifted her wless, fair face with his delicate hand. The two of them locked eyes, their features mirrored in the depths of their gazes. Lost in their intense gaze, Christina had no idea who initiated the first move. As the fiery breath enveloped them, permeating their skin and igniting a warmth within her, it seduced her senses and consumed her awareness. At that moment, all she could remember was themanding presence of that breath gradually. overwhelming her. The next day, Christina showed up at the office on time. Rayne rushed toward her, holding her phone as if she had won the lottery. ¡°Christina, take a look at this!¡± Christina took the phone and read the text on the screen. Rainelda had penned an apology article, which had been shared on multiple social media tforms the previous night. She had also gone the extra mile by recording a personal apology video. Christina had, in fact, considered the matter settled since she had delivered the p. Someone must have pressured Rainelda to do so. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on such tabloid news. Get back to work.¡± Christina returned her phone and walked straight into her office. As noon approached, Yerek invited Christina for lunch over a phone call before heading to the physical store to check on the renovation progress. ¡°I already have ns for lunch. I¡¯ll head straight to the store to check on the situationter,¡± Christina responded calmly. ¡°All right, then.¡± Yerek promptly ended the call. Christina did not have any lunch ns with anyone. She opted for a simple takeout meal in her office before heading out. The first physical store was located in a shopping mall under Hadley Corporation. The store was located on the third floor, sharing the same space as several prestigious brands. When Christina arrived, she noticed several workers were busy installing lights in the store. The remaining areas were furnished ording to the design n. ¡°So what do you think? Are you satisfied with the progress?¡± Yerek asked with a grin. Christina did not smile in return. Her tone was light-hearted as she responded, ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s just as 1 expected.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and take a closer look, shall we?¡± Yerek stepped aside, gesturing for Christina to enter. Chapter 413 Is It Because Of Love Chapter 413 Is It Because Of Love Christina walked in and noticed that the shop was well-renovated. Once they put up the clothes, the store would be ready. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the factory some other days to check on the first batch of goods. They should be ready by now,¡± said Christina seriously. Although the initial purpose of their coboration was to find out Yerek¡¯s intention toward her, she was still very serious when it came to the designs of the clothes. ¡°I¡¯ll make a move first since there isn¡¯t any problem.¡± Just as Christina was heading out of the store, the light of the signboard fell in her direction. A dark figure pushed Christina in the nick of time. The fallen lightbulb hit Yerek¡¯s arm. He groaned in pain. The very next moment, they saw blood seeping through his white shirt. Christina did not expect Yerek to save her. She ran over guiltily and asked, ¡°Are you all right?¡± The workers also went over and took a look. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Perhaps the ss cut me when the lightbulb hit me. Just send me to the hospital to get it bandaged,¡± said Yerek calmly. Christina removed her jacket and did a simple bandage for him to stop the bleeding before the two of them left the mall. As they were on the way to the hospital, the bleeding did not stop. When Christina saw that, she sped up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m fine,¡± said Yerek. Christina turned to look at him and frowned. ¡°Your face looks pale.¡± ¡°If a little blood can gain me your concern, it¡¯s worth it,¡± said Yerek weakly. ¡°I¡¯m not moved by your action. Whatever the medical fee is. I will double it and pay you back.¡± If Christina did not know about the bad deeds that Yerek had done in the past, she might have been moved by his heroic act. After all, she was only human. Yerck looked at her grim face and those mesmerizing eyes of hers. He leaned in his seat, kept his eyes on her, and said. ¡°You were away for so many years. Why did Nathaniel still wait for you?¡± Christina nced at him and said nothing. I can¡¯t believe he knows that I was away for so many years. What else does he know about me? ¡°I suppose he wants something from you. That¡¯s why he is unwilling to let you go,¡± said Yerek as he looked at her. He seemed to know something, but he did not say it on purpose. His gaze made Christina feel ufortable. Does Nathaniel know something and didn¡¯t tell me about it? Then again, she did not believe Yerek A whileter, they arrived at the hospital. #5 Bonus The two of them went to the emergency department. When Christina was registering, she sent Nathaniel a message, Once she returned, she saw that the doctor was treating Yerek¡¯s wound. It was not a huge cut, but it was deep and required stitches. ¡°Do you want anesthetic?¡± The doctor had to ask because there would be extra charges. Just as Yerek was about to answer, Christina cut in, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Mr. Gibson is a strong man. This is nothing to him.¡± Slightly stunned, the doctor looked at Yerek When Yerek heard what she said, he went along with it. ¡°Just stitch it up.¡± Without another word, the doctor began disinfecting the wound. When the antiseptic fluid touched Yerek¡¯s skin, it made a sizzling sound. It was so painful that Yerek nearly fainted. Christina stood there and watched without any expression. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. In fact, there was a hint of iciness in her eyes. Once the doctor was almost done, they could hear footstepsing from the corridor. Nathaniel walked in and looked at Christina. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Christina shook her head, but she looked exhausted. Yerek was displeased when he saw how caring they were for one another. He looked sideways at them before saying, ¡°Christina, thank you for bandaging my wound with your jacket earlier on. Once I have it cleaned, I will return it to you.¡± Nathaniel looked at him and said, ¡°Just keep it for the next time when you¡¯re injured.¡± He was so mean that it rendered Yerek speechless. Yerek chuckled and picked up Christina¡¯s jacket. ¡°Then I shall keep it. It has Christina¡¯s scent. It smells so good.¡± Just as he finished talking, Nathaniel clenched his fists. Christina rolled her eyes in exasperation. He sounds just like a psycho. In fact, she felt like taking her jacket back. Just then, Yerek¡¯s assistant arrived. ¡°Mr. Gibson, are you all right?¡± asked his assistant. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The doctor has just finished stitching up my wound. I will have to stay in the hospital for observation.¡± Yerck nced at Christina as he was talking. His lips looked a little pale. No matter what, he was injured while he was trying to save her. She could not bring herself to be harsh. ¡°I have already paid the medical fees. Take a good rest.¡± ¡°Will youe to see me tomorrow?¡± asked Yerek. From the time Yerek mentioned her jacket till now, Nathaniel¡¯s face had darkened so badly that he looked as though he was going to turn the emergency department upside down. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± With that, Christina dragged Nathaniel out of the ward before he blew his top. Once they got into the car, the driver drove off It was eerily quiet in the car as they made their way back. Christina recalled what Yerek had said about Nathaniel. Why did Nathaniel wait for me after so many years? Is it because of love, or is there other reasons? All of a sudden, a strong palmnded on her shoulder. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± asked Nathaniel in his deep voice. ¡°Nothing.¡± Christina looked up and met his cold eyes. His eyes seemed to have the ability to make one lose their senses. Nathaniel moved closer and asked, ¡°Are you thinking about him?¡± Isn¡¯t it true that women are attracted to the men who heroically saved them? Sensing his jealousy, Christina immediately exined herself. ¡°Of course not. In fact, I suspect Yerek was the one who tampered with the lightbulb. Even if he didn¡¯t, he has still set fire to burn my house down. I can¡¯t wait to send him to prison with my own hands.¡± Unfortunately, she had no evidence no matter how furious she was. Nathaniel lifted her chin and sealed her lips with his. The gentle kiss and his subtle warmth excited Christina. She wrapped her hands around his neck and weed his kiss. She did not want to question his feelings for her. The following day, Christina went to the factory to check on the clothes. The manager asked his assistant to bring out the goods for her to check One touch and Christina knew that the fabric came from Rainbow Factory. The quality was good, and the style was what she wanted ¡°Get someone to send the goods to the mall in two days, instructed Christina. ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll deliver the goods on time.¡± After leaving a few more instructions, Christina left the factory. On the way back, she received Yerek¡¯s call. ¡°Are you calling to ask for medical fees?¡± Chapter 414 Prove That You Love Us Chapter 414 Prove That You Love Us ¡°You¡¯ll never give me what I ask for.¡± Yerek said pitifully. Christina snapped, ¡°Then don¡¯t ask.¡± After all, nothing good can evere out from his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re so heartless!¡± Just when Christina was about to hang up the phone, thenguid voice from the other side of the line piqued her curiosity. ¡°You¡¯re not interested in my stuff, but I suppose you want to know more about Nathaniel?¡± Her silence confirmed that Yerek was right about her. ¡°Nathaniel has long known about the secrets of your identity and background, but he didn¡¯t tell you.¡± ¡°What is it about?¡± Christina¡¯s expression darkened as she gripped her phone. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you if youe over to see me.¡± With that, Yerek ended the call and plunged into deep thoughts while staring at his phone in the ward. His assistant waspletely baffled. ¡°Mr. Gibson, do you really want to tell her something so important?¡± This is the best way to sow discord between Christina and Nathaniel,¡± Yerek muttered as he narrowed his eyes. He waited in the ward for a very long time. When the doctor informed him that he could be discharged, Christina still did not show up. Christina hated the feeling of being threatened. She went back to Scenic Garden Manor instead. If Nathaniel knows something. I can ask him directly. As she was entering the manor, she noticed Nathaniel¡¯s car in the garage, so she strode toward the second floor. The study was so quiet that only the sound of light tapping on the keyboard could be heard. Nathaniel lifted his head upon hearing footsteps approaching. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± She stared at the serious-looking Nathaniel and remembered Yerek¡¯s words. She was about to say something, but she held herself back. Yerek isn¡¯t a trustworthy person. What if he lied to me? Then I would¡¯ve fallen into his trap! ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± The man¡¯s enthralling deep voice rang out. Christina snapped back to her senses. Her eyes gleamed as she spoke. ¡°Nothing. I was just thinking about theunch of the new brand.¡± Nathaniel approached her, grabbed her hands, and led her to the couch to take a seat. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Just leave it to the assistant.¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Christina chuckled Although half of the investment came from Yerek, we¡¯ve also contributed an enormous sum of money It¡¯s better to keep an eye on it.¡± Usually, the designer had to check the apparel several times before they were shipped from the factory to the disy shelves. That was to ensure that the quality of the clothes and its logo were all meeting stipted requirements. In fact, Christina did not have to care so much if it was not for Nathaniel, who insisted on getting involved for no apparent reason. She could have stood aside and watched the progress. ¡°How about I get the kitchen to prepare some supper for you?¡± Nathaniel ced his fingertips on her temples and massaged them gently Christina shut her eyes and merely hummed in response. She could feel the warm yet tender touch of his fingers. It was like a gentle breeze in the summer, making her feel very rxed. She grew from resisting Nathaniel¡¯s touch to gradually bing fond of it. His soft whispers, coupled with the way he gently massaged her temples, made her lose herself in the moment. The following day. Bailey wanted to meet up with the two adorable munchkins, so she made an appointment with Christina to meet at the shopping mall. Bailey gave the children a big hug the moment she saw them. ¡°Lucas, Cam, did you miss me?¡± ¡°Of course! I want you to buy me ice cream. Aunt Bailey.¡± Lucas was all smiles as he spoke, his eyes gleaming with delight. Not to be outdone, Cam lifted her fair and sweet face and said, ¡°Me too! I want you to buy me candies, Aunt Bailey!¡± Bailey pinched their checks. ¡°I think the two of you miss my candies and ice cream more.¡± ¡°We think of you whenever we eat the candies you bought. We miss you and your gifts. Lucas¡¯ mien and his gift of the gab appeared endearing. ¡°In that case, I must buy you lots of them.¡± Bailey was fully convinced by the cheeky fellow. She held their little hands and led them into the mall. Christina had to check on the store first, so she left the two children for Bailey to babysit. Bailey took the kids shopping and bought them snacks and clothes. They also went for all the rides at the children¡¯s amusement park. The trio only stopped when they felt tired. ¡°How are things between your daddy and mommytely?¡± Bailey tried to fish some information from the children. Lucas and Cam folded their arms and replied solemnly, ¡°Mommy told us not to share our family situation with outsiders.¡± The two children looked absolutely lovely when they got serious. Bailey giggled. ¡°How can I. your godmother, be considered an outsider? After all, I want to help your daddy and mommy improve their rtionship.¡± Prove That You Love Us The little ones thought she made sense. Lucas leaned toward Bailey and whispered, ¡°There¡¯s nothing special going on between Daddy and Mommy¡± ¡°What do you mean exactly?¡± Bailey asked. Cam cupped her cheeks in her hands and thought for a while. ¡°Their days are neither exciting nor boring. Sometimes, Mommy is already sleeping when Daddy gets home. They don¡¯t talk.¡± ¡°This simply won¡¯t do!¡± Bailey started getting worried because rumor had it that Madison still had feelings. for Nathaniel. Besides having internal conflicts, Christina is also facing external threats, She¡¯s in a risky situation! Lucas blinked and asked in curiosity, ¡°Aunt Bailey, what do you think we should do?¡± A mischievous grin crept up on Bailey¡¯s face. ¡°Wait for me here.¡± She turned around and entered a branded store. Within two minutes, she came out with a small shopping. bag. ¡°This bag is for your daddy, and this card over here is for your mommy¡­¡± Bailey whispered her n into the cars of the two little ones. Lucas and Cam widened their eyes. They nodded profusely and asked. ¡°Aunt Bailey, are you sure we can help spice up Daddy and Mommy¡¯s rtionship by doing that?¡± ¡°For sure!¡± Bailey was very confident that her n would not backfire. ¡°All right. We¡¯ll do whatever you say, Aunt Bailey.¡± The cute children were filled with confidence. Afterpleting her work, Christina met up with the trio at a juice shop outside the mall. She brought her kids home upon bidding Bailey goodbye. On the way home, Cam and Lucas dozed off in the car. They did not even know they were carried upstairs to their room when they got back to Scenic Garden Manor. Since they were fast asleep, Christina proceeded to the study to continue her work. It was almost evening when the two children woke up and dashed to the study to look for her. The kids looked like two elves who had lost their way home when they suddenly popped their heads out beside the desk. Their eyes were huge and sparkly, Cam asked adorably, ¡°Mommy, do you like us?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± It was one of those questions that Christina had to answer several times a day. Little children like to ask questions that are important to them repeatedly. Lucas seized the opportunity and said, ¡°Mommy, words alone are not enough.¡± Christina was amused. She stopped working and lightly brushed the tip of his nose. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes lit up as he passed her a nk card. ¡°Express your feelings in words and write them on this card to prove that you love us the most!¡± Chapter 415 Feedback Chapter 415 Feedback Christina could not reject the adorable kids. She reached for the card and removed the cap of the pen. ¡°All right. Tell me what I should write.¡± Lucas cast a nce at Cam. I¡¯ll leave the artistic side of things to Cam, Cam started eloquently. ¡°My sweet darling, you¡¯re the most important person in my life. I want to hug you, kiss you, and never let you go.¡± Christinaughed at her cringy words. Lucas hurriedly reminded, ¡°Don¡¯tugh, Mommy. Focus on writing it down.¡± Christina stoppedughing and gave him an okay before writing down Cam¡¯s words. A whileter, she handed over the written card to Cam. ¡°I¡¯m done. Shouldn¡¯t you both be going to bed now?¡± Cam took the card and skimmed through it in detail. She then gave Christina a tube of lipstick. ¡°Mommy, stamp it.¡± ¡°How?¡± Christinaughed so hard that her shoulders trembled. Lucas pursed his lips and made a smooching sound. Christina was amused by his charming side. Comprehension dawned on her as surprise filled her. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡± ¡°From the movies. All of them stamp their cards with a kiss.¡± Without much choice, Christina applied ayer of lipstick on her lips, then gently pressed them on the card, leaving a red mark. ¡°Done. Here you go!¡± Lucas and Cam checked the card and were satisfied with the mark. ¡°This is perfect. Continue with your work, Mommy. We¡¯ll return to our room to finish our homework.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± Christina didn¡¯t notice the kids n and buried her head in work. Once Lucas and Cam returned to their study, they slid the card into the gift bag. With all the preparations done, all that was left was to wait for Nathaniel toe home. The two went to their room after taking a shower. One was drawing, while the other was stacking blocks. Their eyes nearly fell shut but snapped open when they heard the heavy footsteps going up the stairs. The sleepy kids immediately bolted upright and ran out of their room. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Lucas clung onto Nathaniel¡¯s leg. Cam lifted her arms, gesturing for Nathaniel to carry her. ¡°Daddy, carry me.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel carried the kids in each arm and strode to their bedroom. ¡°Why aren¡¯t the both of you asleep? It¡¯s already sote. Are you waiting up for me?¡± Usually, they would have fallen asleep in Christina¡¯s embrace before I even got back. Since when do I have such an important ce in their hearts? Nathamel stopped by the children¡¯s bed and gently set them down. ¡°Here you go. This is Mommy¡¯s gift for you.¡± Lucas took an exquisite-looking red bag out of thin air. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she give it to me herself if it¡¯s from her? Nathaniel asked curiously. Lucas was at a loss for words. It¡¯s not good when Daddy is too smart. However, the wheels in his brain turned quickly, and he came up with a response. ¡°Because she¡¯s shy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Mommy is also a girl. She¡¯s shy about giving it to you, so she asked for Lucas¡¯ and my help.¡± Cam was terrible at lying, so she repeated Lucas¡¯ lie with her puppy dog¡¯s eyes. Nathaniel took the small, red gift bag. Its size was only slightly bigger than his palm. As it was sealed with tape, he couldn¡¯t peek inside it. Recalling Bailey¡¯s advice, Lucas immediately added, ¡°Mommy said you have to tell her if you like the gift.¡± ¡°She said so?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed. What kind of gift needs feedback? That¡¯s right. Daddy, hurry up and open it and find Mommy. We¡¯re going to sleep now.¡± Cam couldn¡¯t fight the drowsiness lulling her to sleep. Seeing the sleepy looks on the kids¡¯ faces, Nathaniel tucked their nkets around them, then pressed his lips to their foreheads. ¡°Okay. Go to sleep¡± The kids were exhausted. They mumbled, ¡°Good night, Daddy.¡± Watching as they fell asleep, Nathaniel shed a rare, gentle smile. He got up and left the room, shutting the door softly, On the way back to his bedroom, he opened the gift bag, reached inside, and took out a piece of small pitiful-looking cloth. The smooth red cloth was so thin he could see through it. No wonder she¡¯s shy about giving such a gift. Christina walked out of the bathroom in a pair of thin pajamas. Thin wisps of steam radiated from her back. The warm glow from overhead shone down on her, shrouding her in a misty yet alluring atmosphere. Tilting her neck to the side, she wiped the water droplets from her hair with a towel. Her unconscious movement was enchanting. Only the person looking at her at that moment would know how beautiful she looked. ¡°What are you standing there for? Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower?¡± Christina looked at him with clear eyes. Nathaniel took out the card with the red lips mark and read its contents while approaching her. ¡°My sweetest darling¡­¡± Christina recognized the card at once. Hasn¡¯t that the card I wrote for the kids? Why is it in Nathaniel¡¯s hands? Before long, she guessed it was the kids¡¯ prank. It looks like they¡¯re itching for a beating. Blushing, Christina wanted to snatch the card out of his hand. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Nathaniel raised his arm slightly and continued, ¡°I want to hug you, kiss you¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting angry, Nathaniel! Give it to me!¡± He wasn¡¯t fazed in the slightest and slid the card into the inner pocket of his suit. Christina¡¯s face was red like a tomato. ¡°I wrote that for Lucas and Cam. How immoral of you to steal the children¡¯s stuff!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved into a small smile at her cute reaction. He wrapped an arm around her thin waist. and waved the red cloth in front of her. ¡°Is this also your gift?¡± His hot breath warmed her cheek. The minute she saw the tiny piece of cloth, the color of her cars and checks turned redder. ¡°No! Throw it away!¡± Bailey must be behind this! What is she teaching my kids? I can¡¯t let her be alone with them anymore. Nathaniel bent his knees slightly and carried her to bed. ¡°That won¡¯t do. I still have to give you the feedback.¡± ¡°Nathaniel, you b*stard-¡± He covered her lips with his. His ragged breath fanned her face repeatedly, making her unable to resist. A ray of sunlight streamed into the room. By the time Christina woke up, it was nearly nine in the morning. She could still feel a bit of warmth on the other side of the bed, but Nathaniel had already left for work. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a call from Rayne asking about the disy in the store. They had already brought the ready-to-wear clothing to the store but needed Christina¡¯s help with the disy arrangements. ¡°I¡¯ll be there in thirty minutes. Sort them ording to their colors first.¡± After leaving Rayne with a few instructions, she dragged her tired body out of bed. Half an hourter, she arrived at the mall and spotted Yerek with bandages wrapped around his right hand. Looking personable in a suit, he was talking to a few female colleagues. Chapter 416 Different Paths. Chapter 416 Different Paths. If Christina didn¡¯t know about the heinous things Yerck had done, she might¡¯ve been misled by that hypocritical man before her, thinking he was a gentleman. Seeing Christina approaching, the few people he was talking to dispersed to go about their business. ¡°I waited a long time for you yesterday.¡± Yerek lifted his hand and twirled a lock of her hair with his fingertips, gazing intently at her as he spoke. Christina unceremoniously swatted away his hand. She was overwhelmed by the urge to purchase a bottle of disinfectant to sanitize the hair he had touched. ¡°What matter do you have in mind? We can talk about it now too.¡± She was curious about what he had to discuss but didn¡¯t want him to fathom her intention. Instead ofing clean, he uttered profoundly, ¡°Nathaniel is keeping you by his side because you¡¯re valuable to him, and he wishes to use you. You two aren¡¯t meant to be together.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze darkened as she remained rooted to her spot. Yerek moved a little closer to her. ¡°We are supposed to be a couple.¡± Hearing that, Christina scoffed, ¡°You can give that idea up. We walk different paths.¡± She strode into the shop to handle the arrangement of the disys. By the time she was done with work, it was alreadyte. The shop¡¯s official opening was set for Saturday. Upon returning to her office, Christina and Rayne verified the information about the models for the fashion show, checking several times before finally implementing it. After finishing all the tasks, she sat in front of herputer to rest. Suddenly, a piece of financial news. popped up on her screen. A new plot ofnd Nathaniel invested in had encountered a development n-rted issue, leading to a dispute and a dy in construction. The resumption of work had to depend on the situation. A professional analyst estimated that a single day of dy could cost Hadley Corporation millions, and the longer the dy, the greater the loss. After reading the news, Christina was overwrought. She hastily left the room and went to the CEO¡¯s office. Meanwhile, inside the conference room, Nathaniel was holding a meeting with the other senior executives to discuss strategies to tackle that predicament. Looking in through the ss window, she could sense the heavy atmosphere inside the conference room. Christina waited anxiously inside the CEO¡¯s office. She didn¡¯t really understand business, but she had a feeling that crisis could have a significant impact after reading the news. An indeterminate time passed before the tightly shut door was pushed open. Nathaniel entered, his extraordinary temperament entuated by the extravagant ck suit. His emotionless handsome face showed no warmth. Noticing Christina, he walked over and ced down the documents in his hand. Then he leaned closer to her and uttered gently. ¡°Are you waiting for me to go home? I need to work overtime tonight¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t mention anything about his work, which made Christina feel even more distressed ¡°Nathaniel,¡± she called out softly, her voice filled with the utmost tenderness. ¡°I saw the news about thepany. Is it serious? Unfortunately, I don¡¯t understand these things and can¡¯t provide you with any help¡± Christina spoke like a child who had made a mistake Nathaniel¡¯s dark eyes glinted as he pulled her into his arms. ¡°Silly girl, what are you talking about? This kind of thing happens often. Don¡¯t worry. I can manage. Feeling his warmth seeping into her skin through their clothes, she was no longer as perturbed as before Saturday arrived in the blink of an eye. The shop attracted a crowd as soon as it was opened. Moreover, with Coco making an appearance, her fans alone already filled the entire first floor. Coco was dressed in the main fashion piece, which was a pink and graceful suit that matched her image perfectly. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. She sang and danced on stage and even interacted with her fans after finishing her performances, invigorating the crowd and lifting the atmosphere to its liveliest state. The sales on the opening day exceeded expectations as almost all the stock in the store was sold out. At the end of the day, Rayne enthusiastically reported the sales performance to Christina, ¡°All the clothes in the shop were almost sold out today. As expected of the quality products by you.¡± ¡°Did you remember to restock? The factory should have alreadypleted the order,¡± Christina reminded. ¡°Yes. The stocks should¡¯ve arrived by now.¡± Rayne made a call to confirm the delivery. However, when the call connected, her smile gradually froze. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Christina sensed something was off. ¡°Something terrible happened at the shop!¡± As ten o¡¯clock approached, the mall was cleared, and almost all the other shops had closed. Ten minutester, Christina and Rayne reached the shop in a hurry. Christina furrowed her brows at the sight of the low-quality, unevenly colored clothes that emitted a foul smell. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The shop manager wore a grim expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know. The stocks arrived in this condition. We reported this issue immediately.¡± ¡°What should we do? Our shop has to open for business tomorrow. What should we do if we don¡¯t have any clothes to sell to the customers? This will definitely tarnish our brand¡¯s reputation!¡± Rayne paced in front of the store in a panic. In contrast, Christina remained level-headed andposed. She took out her phone and dialed the number of the textile supplier. ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve been ordering fabric from you for so long. Why is the fabric you provided this time of such poor quality?¡± Since the production faced no issue, Christina figured the material was problematic. She immediately suspected the problem stemmed from the fabric supplier. Upon hearing that, the other party quickly exined. ¡°Don¡¯t wrong me, Ms. Steele. I¡¯ve never delivered substandard goods in all our dealings. The factory you introduced to me only ordered high-quality fabric from me once during the start of our coboration. I never heard from them since.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying the factory hasn¡¯t been sourcing materials from you afterward?¡± Christina probed further in disbelief. I paid the production factory the cost of procuring textiles from Rainbow Factory. That means the factory manager has been pocketing the difference. ¡°That¡¯s right. They never ordered any fabric from us after that. My textiles are priced ording to the quality, and since theyined our goods are too expensive, I didn¡¯t insist.¡± ¡°All right, I got it.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze darkened as she hung up the call. No wonder the factory manager never brought me to inspect the situation at the production area whenever I went to check on the end products. He feared I would find out he had secretly switched the fabrics. Christina didn¡¯t expect the other party to be so audacious. ¡°Should we inform Mr. Hadley?¡± Rayne asked worriedly. ¡°Don¡¯t say anything.¡± Christina uttered indifferently while sweeping her eyes across the others present. ¡°Keep this a secret for now. This matter must not be made known to others.¡± ¡°We got it,¡± the other employees replied obediently.. Christina turned around and left, intending to confront the clothing factory manager about the situation Rayne chased after her. Christina entered the car, and the door to the passenger side was also opened. Rayne got in, closed the door, and buckled her seat belt. ¡°I¡¯m worried about you going alone. It¡¯s better if there are two of us to watch each other¡¯s back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina started the car and drove off. Twenty minutester, they arrived at the factory. The security guard recognized Christina¡¯s vehicle and let them in. Christina walked in and headed straight for the garment production workshop, only to find the ce deserted. A foul smell, identical to that of the clothes that were just delivered to the shop, lingered in the air. Frowning and pinching her nose, Christina scanned her surroundings and finally rested her gaze on the source of the odor. She saw a heap of dirty, gray fabric piled up in the corner of the room. Chapter 417 Crisis. Chapter 417 Crisis. Christina immediately called the factory manager to ask about the situation. Despite her calling three times in a row, no one answered the phone. ¡°Where did the factory manager go?¡± Christina asked the security guard coldly. ¡°He hasn¡¯te to work since a few days ago. I don¡¯t know where he went,¡± replied the security guard truthfully. With how things had turned out, it was obvious that the factory manager had nned all along to take the money and run away. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Rayne asked, worried. ¡°Don¡¯t call the police for the time being. We can¡¯t alert the media. Otherwise, it will have a great impact on the brand.¡± Frowning, Christina narrowed her eyes, which gleamed icily. ¡°What should we do? We don¡¯t have the stocks. We can¡¯t possibly shut down the store after one day of opening, can we?¡± Rayne said in dejection. Christina wore a look of concentration in her eyes, appearing calm. Taking her time, she stood where she was and thought for a moment before making up her mind. ¡°Rayne, do as I say.¡± She then whispered her instructions to Rayne, telling her what to do about the store. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll see to it now.¡± After that, Rayne turned around and hurriedly walked out of the factory. Christina called Rainbow Factory and ordered a batch of fabrics from them, but she exined in advance, ¡°I¡¯m currently short on money and can¡¯t fork out that much for now. Can you deliver the goods first? I will pay in full after a month.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll say no if it¡¯s others, but considering that we¡¯ve worked together for so many years, I trust you,¡± the owner of Rainbow Factory agreed readily. ¡°Thanks for your trust.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina felt that things were finally going a little smoother. Afterward, she asked the security guard to get all the employees of the clothing factory toe over. As it was the early hours of the morning, many of them were still sleeping. After being woken up, they arrived at the factory from the dormitory in their pajamas. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for waking everyone up sote, but this is an emergency. I hope you can help me with the delivery of a batch of clothing.¡± Christina pleaded with sincerity. There were murmurs ofints from the employees. Then, voices of dissatisfaction arose from them. ¡°Seriously? Are you asking us to work overtime when you haven¡¯t even paid usst month¡¯s sry?¡± ¡°No way. I won¡¯t work overtime. How can you expect us to work without pay after you¡¯ve owed us wages for so long?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll only work after you give us our wages fromst month.¡± The employees were furious. Walking up to a conspicuous area, Christina raised her megaphone and shouted, ¡°The factory manager took my money and ran away!¡± Upon hearing the shocking news, the employees gasped in shock. The factory manager ran away? From whom should we ask for the money that has been owed to us for over two months? I¡¯m doomed. Where am I supposed to get the money to send back to my parents in my hometown if I don¡¯t get my sry? After giving them some time to discuss among themselves, Christina added, ¡°Work now if you don¡¯t want to lose your job. I¡¯ll pay you for the overtime ordingly. Moreover, I¡¯ll pay the wages owed to you after the manager is caught.¡± After a moment of deliberation, the workers exchanged looks. ¡°Last month, we were given a pile of stinky fabrics to work with, causing several people to faint. They¡¯re still lying in the hospital now!¡± So another persones here to make a scene after the manager ran off huh? Taken over by rage, someone picked up a piece of old dirty cloth on the ground and threw it at Christina. A scream pierced above the noise. Christina dodged the dirty cloth, feeling shocked and disquieted. These people are too rude. They don¡¯t listen to exnations at all¡¯ There was a burst of mockingughter from the employees. Then, the person who threw the cloth questioned loudly, ¡°Why should we trust you? We don¡¯t know you. If you don¡¯t pay us for the work done and run away, from whom should we ask for the money? I think it¡¯s better to sell the stuff in the factory to get back some of our wages, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right. Don¡¯t listen to that woman¡¯s nonsense!¡± Irritated, Christina shouted, ¡°As long as you promise to deliver the goods on time, I¡¯ll definitely pay the wages!¡± However, all of them ignored her. Someone even took the lead to head to the workshop and started to dismantle the things inside. Just as Christina was feeling helpless and troubled, the sound of a car engine came from the factory entrance. The car came to a halt with the headlights on. Everyone turned to look over and saw a man walking in against the light. His tall and slender silhouette exuded an air of aloofness. He looked even more handsome than the male models on posters. As everyone watched in puzzlement, the deputy factory manager emerged from behind the man. ¡°This factory has been acquired by the CEO of Hadley Corporation. No wages will be owed to you as long Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. as you manage to deliver the goods.¡± Hearing the deputy manager¡¯s words, the workers stopped what they were doing All of them knew that Hadley Corporation was a rich andrgepany. Now that the factory was owned by Hadley Corporation, they no longer needed to worry about not being paid The deliveryman of Rainbow Factory soon delivered the high-quality fabrics. Under the arrangement of the deputy factory manager, the workers started working as instructed. The sound of machines running on the assembly line echoed in the middle of the night. Christina let out a sigh and stepped down from the stage. Based on the current progress of the workers, they should be able to deliver the first batch of goods within a month. Christina was relieved that things had stabilized for the time being. Dragging her tired body out of the factory, she saw the man standing beside the car, waiting for her. The pitch-ck sky above him was littered with brilliant stars. The faint light illuminated his stern side, profile, making his eyes look like abysses. Christina did not want to alert Nathaniel in the first ce, but unexpectedly, he showed up. Walking over, she rubbed her hands uneasily. ¡°You came all the way here despite being so busy. You must be tired, aren¡¯t you?¡± Her voice was so soft and gentle that it was like a whisper to Nathaniel. Nathaniel was a little displeased with her for hiding this matter from him, but his heart softened at the sight of her dejected expression that made her seem like a child who had done something wrong. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Opening the door, he let Christina slip inside the car before he did. While on the way home, a deafening silence filled the air inside the car as Nathaniel was reading documents with a tablet in his hand. When the car made a turn, Christina¡¯s body moved to the side slightly, and she knocked her head on Nathaniel¡¯s firm arm. As the physical distance between them was shortened, his faint woody fragrance filled her nostrils. The wonderful scent had a calming effect on her. After a while, the car was back on the straight road, Hence, Christina positioned herself so as not to be too close to Nathaniel and disturb him while he read documents. Before she could move, her head was pinned down by Nathaniel so that she was leaning on his shoulder. ¡°Stop moving around,¡± he said in amanding tone. Chapter 418 Something More Important Chapter 418 Something More Important When Christina woke up, she found herself lying on the bed in the bedroom of Scenic Garden Manor Feeling much better after a good night¡¯s sleep, she changed into a new set of clothes and went out. When Christina woke up, she found herself lying on the bed in the bedroom of Scenic Garden Manor. Feeling much better after a good night¡¯s sleep, she changed into a new set of clothes and went out. Meanwhile, a well-dressed youngdy was trying out clothes at the store in the shopping mall. After finding out the size that fitted her, she said to the salesperson. ¡°I¡¯m buying everything I tried just now.¡± The salesperson said with an apologetic look. ¡°All of our ready stock was sold out yesterday. The clothes here are only for fitting.¡± The youngdy became displeased. ¡°So I can¡¯t buy anything?¡± ¡°Of course not. We ept reservations. You can pay a deposit and pick them up in three days,¡± exined the salesperson. Everyone thought that the store would be closed down today since there was no more ready stockst night. Luckily. Ms. Steele came up with this idea to save us the embarrassment of having an empty store. The youngdy was satisfied with the clothes she tried on earlier, so she thought about it for a while and agreed. ¡°You should¡¯ve stocked up if your business is good.¡± ¡°We will report this issue to our superiors.¡± The youngdy left after paying the deposit and leaving her information. The salesperson looked at therge number of orders and mumbled with mixed feelings, ¡°Fortunately, we didn¡¯t clear all the stock. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have received so many orders if customers couldn¡¯t try on the clothes.¡± The first thing Christina did every day after she left home was go to the factory to check on the progress. She could only be at ease after making sure that there was no problem with the quality of the clothes. After leaving the factory, she had a more important thing to do, which was to find Yerek Ten minutester, she got out of the car that had stopped outside the branch office of Gibson Corporation. Taking the elevator, she headed straight to the floor where the CEO¡¯s office was located. While she was thinking about whether to call ahead first, she heard a man¡¯s voiceing from the conference room beside her. ¡°Mr. Gibson, this matter has been exposed, so you have to help me. Mr. Hadley has acquired the factory. They¡¯ll certainly take legal action against me next!¡± The man¡¯s hoarse voice sounded familiar to Christina. She cautiously approached the conference room and saw through the crack of the door that the man. inside was the clothing factory manager. The person talking to him was none other than Yerek. Could it be that I was set up from the very beginning? ¡°I¡¯ve asked my assistant to make the necessary arrangements. You should lie low for now and only come back after things calm down,¡± replied Yerek with a frown. Something More Important ¡°Okay,¡± the factory manager responded helplessly. When he turned around to open the door, he bumped into Christina. ¡°You-Ms. Steele?¡± Horror was written all over the man¡¯s face. With a cold smile, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯ve had a hard time finding you. Don¡¯t leave in such a hurry. The police are already downstairs.¡± She had called the police immediately after hearing his voice. Her words caused a change in the factory manager¡¯s expression. ¡°I have nothing to do with this matter!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Exin that to the police.¡± The factory manager¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He promptly made a run for it using the fire escape. Christina ignored him as he was merely a pawn. Instead, she walked straight into the office. ¡°Yerek, what¡¯s the point of doing this?¡± ¡°All the money for the deposit and fabric you paid to the factory manager ended up in my pocket. I didn¡¯t need to spend a penny in this investment, and I even got dividends.¡± A wicked smile appeared on Yerek¡¯s face. From the very beginning, he was certain that Nathaniel would step in, so it had all gone ording to his n. Clenching her fists, Christina only realized then that Yerek¡¯s target was Nathaniel and not her. He used me! ¡°I¡¯m going to call the police to get you arrested!¡± Christina said through gritted teeth.. Yerek snorted. ¡°Go ahead, if you can find evidence.¡± Christina¡¯s heart sank. He had it all nned out, so there¡¯s no way that he would leave evidence behind. As the tension reached a peak, the door of the office was pushed open. It was Yerek¡¯s assistant, who said, ¡°Mr. Gibson, you have a meeting to attend.¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting back to work. You can stay and sit for a while if you want.¡± With that, Yerek left the office with brisk steps. Christina was filled with indignance, but she could not find any evidence now. At that moment, she was feeling utterly deted, like a balloon without air. How am I going to tell Nathaniel about this? She was so absorbed in her thoughts that by the time she came to her senses, she found herself back in her office. After sitting in the chair for a while, she decided to go to Nathaniel to exin everything clearly. +5 Bonus She rposed herself and went upstairs, Coincidentally, she ran into Nathaniel, who had just left the conference room after a meeting. ¡°Nathaniel, there¡¯s something I need to-¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got something important to tell you.¡± The two of them spoke at the same time. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Christina looked up at him. ¡°You go first.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take you to meet someone.¡± Nathaniel held Christina¡¯s hand and left after handing over the documents in his hand to Sebastian. Half an hourter, the car stopped in front of a premier private hospital. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± Christina asked, baffled. Turning off the car engine, Nathaniel looked at her. ¡°I transferred your mom to this hospital after you left. After so many years of treatment, the doctor called me today and said that she has woken up.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Christina felt a lump in her throat. She had looked for her mother when she returned. The hospital told her that Sharon had been transferred. to a branch hospital for treatment. It turned out that Nathaniel had secretly transferred her there. The two got out of the car and walked to the hospital. Holding Christina¡¯s hand tightly, Nathaniel said gently, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you before because I didn¡¯t want you to worry. I only let you know now because she¡¯s regained consciousness.¡± Christina nodded and held his hand tight as ayer of cold sweat formed in her palm. When they reached the ward, Nathaniel let go of her hand. ¡°Go on in. She probably misses you too,¡± said Nathaniel in a soft voice. ¡°Okay.¡± Christina pushed open the door of the ward and walked in. The smell of disinfectant in the air was off- putting, and there were various instruments around the bed that she did not know the names of There was a skinny figure lying on the hospital bed. The sight of Sharon¡¯s haggard and pale face made Christina¡¯s heart ache. ¡°Mom.¡± When she spoke, she realized that her voice was hoarse. ¡°Christina.¡± Sharon¡¯s voice was feeble. Christina hurried toward Sharon and held her hand. The coldness from thetter¡¯s hand gave her mixed feelings, making her feel horrible. The two chatted for a long time, with Christina doing most of the talking. After the nurse brought dinner, Christina fed Sharon her food. When the visiting hours were almost over, the former asked, ¡°Mom, do you know a man named Yerek Gibson?¡± Sharon, who looked calm at first, suddenly widened her eyes and asked instead, ¡°Do you know him?¡± ¡°I looked into it. He was the one who ordered people to set fire to our house, but I have no evidence. Now he deliberately showed up in front of me and even set me up. I don¡¯t know what exactly he¡¯s up to.¡± While speaking, Christina carefully observed Sharon¡¯s expression. Looking uneasy, Sharon furrowed her brows deeply. After a long silence, she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the ne? Are you wearing the ne I gave you?¡± Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Yes, Christma said as she pulled out the emerald pendant she had been wearing around her neck. After seeing the exquisite, glittering imperial emerald, Sharon gradually calmed down. ¡°You have to keep that safe I can¡¯t stress enough how important it is.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯ve said it¡¯s a family heirloom, so don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll guard it with my life,¡± Christina reassured. However, just as she was about to probe further, a nurse entered the ward and interrupted their chat. ¡°It¡¯s time for the patient to rest. Please leave.¡± ¡°Rest well, Mom,¡± Christina said, gently patting Sharon¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll bring the two little ones along on the next visit.¡± Knowing she¡¯d see her adorable grandchildren soon, Sharon couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°All right, then.¡± When Christina stepped out of the ward, her gaze immediately fell upon the tall andnky Nathaniel standing by the window. Dressed in a tailored ck suit, there was no denying he looked exceptionally suave and steady Christina approached the man and held his arm, appreciating how she could feel his toned muscles even through his clothes. ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡± Before long, the couple was back in the car and on their way home. ¡°How was the chat with your mother?¡± Nathaniel asked softly. ¡°It was pretty good. However, when I asked if she knew the Gibson family, she evaded the question and enquired about my pendant instead,¡± Christina replied. Come to think of it, that was rather odd. Moreover, I also noticed how anrious Mom became when I mentioned the Gibsons. It seemed as though she was hiding something important from me¡­ With that, she looked up at Nathaniel. ¡°I have this nagging feeling that Mom¡¯s keeping something from me. Are you also doing the same?¡± The man flinched a little as his fingers instinctively stiffened. ¡°No.¡± Just like that, his simple one-word reply dispelled all of Christina¡¯s worries. ¡°You head home first. I have a cocktail partyter, so I¡¯ll attend it for a while before returning.¡± Nathaniel added. As much as he hated such events, there were still receptions and parties where his attendance was necessary. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Christina spoke up. ¡°Would you like me to apany you?¡± ¡°It¡¯d be best if you can.¡± Christina chuckled as she looked down at the in suit she was wearing. ¡°My clothes aren¡¯t very appropriate, though. Why don¡¯t you send me home to change before we attend the party?¡± How can I not dress more formally at these fancy events when the way I present myself is a reflection of Nathaniel¡¯s social status? I have to look my best for him! ¡°We¡¯ll just buy a new outfit now,¡± Nathaniel replied while driving toward the city center. Ten minutester, they arrived at a luxury dress shop. ¡°Go on ahead. I need to give Sebastian a call first.¡± As soon as Christina entered the shop, she was greeted by a vast selection of expensive gowns, with the cheapest one already boasting a six-figure price tag. Most of the gowns were carefully kept in dust covers, and only those on disy were revealed in their full glory. Even though the salespeople were all busy with their work, one of them couldn¡¯t help but look Christina up and down. My goodness¡­ That outfit she¡¯s wearing can¡¯t be worth more than a thousand. I can¡¯t believe she still has the guts to waltz into a luxury dress shop. The rest of the staff exchanged nces at one another until a short-haired shop manager, Sally, reluctantly approached Christina. ¡°Hello, miss. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Christina could hear the distaste in the manager¡¯s voice and figured thetter wasn¡¯t too keen on serving her. Despite that, she chose not to call her out. ¡°Do you have the smallest size for this burgundy gown?¡± ¡°No.¡± Sally replied curtly. Christina arched a brow. Huh? How can she be so sure without checking the stock? The next second, she walked to a champagne dress. ¡°What about this one?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have it, either,¡± Sally muttered, a trace of impatience in her voice. Once again, Christina held herself back and walked into another section of the shop, where every gown was gorgeous and intricately made. ¡°What about this?¡± she said after picking out another gown. ¡°This gown costs two hundred and eighty thousand. If you have no problem with the price. I¡¯ll get it for you,¡± Sally said. Ha! I¡¯ve purposely revealed the price, so here¡¯s hoping she¡¯d take the hint and leave without embarrassing herself. ¡°Sure. Let me try it on,¡± Christina replied calmly. Try as she might, Sally couldn¡¯t find a trace of surprise on the woman¡¯s face. Hmph. She sure knows how to put on an act¡­ ¡°The one you¡¯re holding is the smallest size.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the changing room?¡± Christina added, still not showing any signs of losing her temper. s, her magnanimity failed to earn Sally¡¯s respect, and thetter merely pointed to the right. ¡°It¡¯s over there. You can go by yourself.¡± Christina furrowed her brows and silently walked to the changing room. +5 Bonus Gowns sizings usually ranrge, so for someone with a petite frame like Christina, choosing the smaller sizes was the way to go. She wasted no time changing into the gown, but since the back zipper got stuck halfway, she had no choice but to step out and ask for help. However, just as she met Sally¡¯s gaze and was about to speak, thetter intentionally looked away and busied herself with work. Needless to say, Christina was peeved. Are all salespeople so snobbish these days? Thankfully, another saleswoman came along and saved the day, a smile on her face. ¡°Miss, do you need any help?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without further ado, the saleswoman fixed the zipper and pulled out a full-length mirror. Under the illumination of the bright lights, Christina was a portrait of ethereal beauty as the long gown she wore perfectly entuated her waist and curves. ¡°You look gorgeous, miss,¡± the saleswoman praised. Christina smiled, looking ever so graceful and elegant. ¡°I¡¯ll just wear this out. Can you get the bill for me?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± the saleswoman replied cheerily, knowing she could get a one percentmission from every gown sold. ¡°This way, please.¡± s, just as Christina was about to pay for the gown at the counter, Sally hastily walked over to the saleswoman. ¡°This is my customer. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°I only took over because you ignored her, yet you¡¯re now insisting on closing the sale? That¡¯s against the rules¡­ Sally red at the woman. ¡°One more word from you, and I¡¯ll tell our boss you¡¯re stealingmission sales.¡± Ha. Doesn¡¯t she know that our shop¡¯s rule is never to steal sales in front of customers? Christina, however, calmly turned to the saleswoman who served her. ¡°I want this staff to help me.¡± Upon hearing that, Sally flew into a rage and walked away in a huff, intentionally bumping into the saleswoman as she did. Thetter failed to keep her bnce and knocked against the table, causing a cup of coffee to spill over and onto the hem of Christina¡¯s gown¡­. ¡°Oh, no! That¡¯s the only piece for this dress!¡± the saleswoman sputtered. Sally ced her hands on her hips and scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s none of my business. You were the one who tripped. Either youpensate the customer or pay the shop for the damages.¡± Christina frowned What? That gown costs more than two hundred thousand, for goodness¡¯ sake! How can an ordinary salesperson afford to pay for it Chapter 420 My Hand Slipped Chapter 420 My Hand Slipped ¡°Where would I have the money to pay for this gown when it¡¯s so expensive?¡± the sales assistant eximed in fear, a stunned look in her eyes. ¡°Regardless, you were the one who knocked over the cup of coffee,¡± Sally drawled with a shrug, washing her hands of the matter. Christina¡¯s crystalline eyes darkened a shade. Calmly taking out a ck card, she held it out. ¡°Bill, please,¡± she stated coldly. The two women gaped at her with incredulity brimming in their eyes. As soon as Sally saw the ck card, her expression changed drastically. If I¡¯d known that she had a ck card, I would¡¯ve treated her with a better attitude just now and rmended her an even more expensive gown! She promptly put on an ingratiating smile. ¡°Miss, we can¡¯t possibly have you pay when you weren¡¯t the one who dirtied the gown.¡± Radiating a chilly aura, Christina parted her lips a fraction. ¡°I like this gown very much. And I don¡¯t want to repeat myself.¡± At her adamance, the two women had no choice but to keep their opinions to themselves. After the sales assistant had helped to swipe her card through the machine, Christina asked her for a pair of scissors. Shortly after, a pair of sewing scissors was brought over. Christina took it from her. With deft movements, she trimmed the maxi gown stained with coffee into at mini version in no time, baring her fair and slender legs. Compared with earlier, she appeared more impish and exquisite then. Returning the pair of scissors, she thanked the sales assistant, who wore an expression of amazement on her face, before spinning on her heel and walking out of the shop. No sooner had Nathaniel alighted from the car than his gaze was riveted by the alluring figure in front of him. As his eyes traveled downward, a pair of snow-white legs entered his line of sight. Hmm, this gown is a bit too short. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Murmuring in acknowledgment, Nathaniel swung open the car door and ushered her into the vehicle. Then, he drove away. The cocktail reception was at a private clubhouse. The design of the entrance was exceedingly stylish, with two mighty phoenixes on each side. The words ¡°Blue Night¡± were clearly indicated on the signboard. As the couple stepped in, a server came forward. He briefly asked a few questions before leading them further in. ¡°Mr. Forrester is waiting for you inside.¡± The server opened the door. Linking arms with Christina, Nathaniel strolled into the room. In a sh, the initially boisterous private room went noticeably silent. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. Nat.¡± A tall figure strode over. The man emanated a strong sandalwood fragrance and was dressed in a high- end suit from a renowned brand with his hair slicked back. His watch was a ssic Rolex, and his mature way of dressing gave others the impression of him being older. For once, a warm smile bloomed on Nathaniel¡¯s stony face. ¡°When did youe back?¡± ¡°I was dragged here the instant I touched down.¡± The corners of Julian Forrester¡¯s mouth turned up, and they shared a hug. After they had greeted each other, Julian noticed the beautifuldy beside Nathaniel. ¡°Who is this?¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°This is my wife, Christina Steele,¡± Nathaniel introduced Christina briefly. At once, Julian¡¯s eyes lit up. After all, he knew quite a bit about Nathaniel¡¯s matters. ¡°I finally get to meet the mysterious woman who tamed you.¡± Hearing that, Christina burst into giggles. He looks mature, but he¡¯s humorous when he speaks! Subsequently, the three of them sat down. Separated by Nathaniel, Julian poked his head out. ¡°What would you like to drink, Christina?¡± Christina swept her gaze around, only to see all kinds of prominent wines. ¡°T¡¯d like an orange juice, please.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you right away!¡± Julian then ordered a server to get a ss of freshly-squeezed orange juice. Many people came over to toast Nathaniel and talk about the recent stock market with him. Under the dim lights, their casual conversation inevitably revolved around business. While they spoke, their gazes were fixed on Nathaniel. At the same time, they took in Christina beside him. Nathaniel¡¯s long eyshes were lowered slightly, masking the emotions within his frosty eyes. He gently swished the wine ss in his hand, his long and slender fingers beyond mesmerizing. Out of the blue, his hand slipped, and the wine in the ss spilled out. At that moment, Christina had her head lowered. She was reading a text from Rayne when she suddenly sensed a chill on her thighs and noticed a wet patch on her gown. It would seem that this gown is really not meant to be mine tonight. This is already the second time something spilled on it. Nathaniel nonchntly cast a gaze at the wet gown. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ve got to leave. Let¡¯s meet up another day, Julian.¡± With that said, he took Christina¡¯s hand and got up to leave. They just happened to be talking up a storm, but no one dared to persuade him to stay when he wanted to leave. ¡°Was Mr. Hadley dissatisfied with the environment tonight? Why did he leave so early?¡± a wealthy heir at the side wondered. Having a great interest in the new energy project, they were just short of discussing investing in it. Following Nathaniel¡¯s departure, however, the subject screeched to a halt. Julian¡¯s lips curved into a grin. ¡°It had nothing to do with the environment. He was jealous.¡± While they were talking earlier, they inexorably stared at the figure beside Nathaniel. Not only is Christina pretty and charming, but her fair thighs were even bared for everyone to see. It¡¯d be a miracle if he weren¡¯t jealous! In the master bedroom at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina snagged a wet tissue and dabbed at the wine stain on her gown. Unfortunately, the fabric of such a gown could note into contact with water. Once it was washed, it would lose shape. Seeing that she seemed fond of the gown, Nathaniel frowned imperceptibly. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new one since I dirtied it.¡± I¡¯ll buy her the maxi version. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay.¡± Christina was wholly oblivious to his petty trick, merely feeling rather distressed that the gown she had just bought had been ruined in less than three hours. As she stared at the wine stain, realization dawned upon her btedly. Narrowing her limpid eyes, she bore them into Nathaniel. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you deliberately spilled the wine on my gown?¡± He¡¯s never been in the habit of swaying his wine ss, yet he purposely did it before me a while ago. Could there be such a coincidence that he identally spilled the wine on my gown? ¡°My hand slipped,¡± Nathaniel fibbed. ¡°Hah! You know very well whether that¡¯s really the case.¡± Christina eyed him suspiciously, giving up on wiping the gown. Nathaniel leaned closer to her, closing the distance between them. A thick tension hung in the air. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you the maxi version.¡± A smirk yed on his lips. ¡°That¡¯s an admission, all right. You simply don¡¯t like seeing me in a mini gown. You¡¯re downright domineering and old-fashioned,¡± Christina huffed, ring at him with wide eyes and hands on her hips. She appeared incredibly adorable in her fury. ¡°Okay, I admit I deliberately dirtied it. As punishment, I¡¯ll help to clean you up.¡± Wrapping an arm around her waist, Nathaniel locked her in his embrace and tugged at the zip with his. other hand. As the zip lowered, the back of the gown parted into two, revealing an expanse of her snow-white skin. The heat of his fingers seared her skin, setting fire to the blood within her like a me.. ¡°I don¡¯t need you-¡± Before Christina had finished speaking, a pair of domineering lips captured her mouth in an intense kiss. It felt like she had tumbled into a steamy hot spring that gradually robbed her of her breath and resistance. When she opened her eyes again, ring light stung them. Her mind cleared, and she dragged her limp body out of bed. Within minutes, she finished washing up and changed before going downstairs. Nathaniel was seated at the dining table, drinking coffee spiritedly. He looked just like an elegant prince in a pictorial. Chapter 421 Azure Lazuli Chapter 421 Azure Lazuli The housekeeper served Christina a bowl of hot soup ¡°What is this Christins & brows were knitted together as she regarded the inky-ck soup in front of her in aversio ¡°Mrs Hadley specially sent this over for your negishment Youll feel better after drinking it, and you might even be able to give Mr. Hadley a baby soon. My Christina¡± the housekeeper replied, grinning from ea to rai Immediately. Christina¡¯s face flushed bright red. For my nourishment? More like prepping me for prepmency? ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink this Give me something else she declined A conflicted look showed on the housekeeper¡¯s face Trm afraid that isn¡¯t possible. Mr. Hadley has drunk a bowl, and this is yours. Mrs. Hadley gave the orders to watch you finish it. Why don¡¯t you y along since she means well. Ms Christina?¡± At that, Christina heaved a sigh. ¡°Leave it here, then Make me a bowl of oatmeal, please.¡± Acquiescing smilingly, the housekeeper whirled around and went into the kitchen. The moment she left. Christina hastily slid the concoction before her over to Nathaniel with light movements. ¡°Drink it for me.¡± Nathaniel threw her a sidelong nce. ¡°It¡¯s not bitter. Try it.¡± I feel sick from the smell alone, yet he¡¯s iming that it isn¡¯t bitter? What a tant lie! Christina gazed at him with teary eyes like a lostmb seeking help. ¡°I¡¯ll throw up after drinking it since it¡¯s so bitter¡± Nathaniel went silent. ¡°Pretty please?¡± That whiny voice rendered the man defenseless. Since he did not turn her down, Christina quickly took off after bidding him farewell. As soon as Christina stepped into the office, Rayne hurried over. ¡°You¡¯ve got an appointment with a premier VIP today, and it¡¯s almost time, Christina. Do make the necessary preparations.¡± ¡°Okay. Buy me some breakfast, please.¡± While saying that, Christina walked into the office. A momentter, Rayne returned with breakfast. Just when Christina had finished eating, the client arrived. She straightened herself up before getting to her feet and going to meet the client. In the conference room sat an elderlydy in a gown with her hairbed neatly and a rare emerald ne on her neck. She held a portfolio of Christina¡¯s past works in her hand, and an assistant stood beside her. Swinging open the door, Christina entered the room. Good morning. I¡¯m the designer, Christina Steele¡± She wore a chiffon shirt with frill sleeves that day, the low-cut design entuating her long and slender neck. Her fair and exquisite skin gave others a sense of detachment. ¡°Good morning. This is Mrs Azure Lazuli. She would like tomission a gown for her seventieth birthday,¡± the assistant beside the elderly woman answered. The instant Christina heard that name, she knew that it was a fake moniker. From the way the elderly woman in front of her dressed, Christina could tell that the woman was either rich or influential. Well, I guess she doesn¡¯t want to use her real name for fear that outsiders would ingratiate themselves with her. ¡°What kind of style would you like?¡± She promptly went into work mode. ¡°Something simple It can be in blue magenta, sepia, or any in color. The pattern will be ink orchid with simplicity being the theme.¡± Still, it was the assistant who responded. Azure turned a calm gaze on Christina, her eyes fixed on the emerald ne on thetter¡¯s neck. While discussing the details with the assistant, Christina suddenly sensed someone staring at her. her eyes, she met Azure¡¯s unfathomable gaze. Lifting The look in thetter¡¯s eyes was kind and gentle. It was as though she was looking at her own child. A sense of unease swamped Christina at being regarded with such a look from a stranger. ¡°The emerald on your ne is really unique, Ms. Steele. May I know where you bought it?¡± Azure asked, her raspy voice carrying a sense of solemnity. Christina instinctively nced at the ne on her neck. ¡°It¡¯s from my mother, who said it¡¯s a family heirloom. I¡¯m not sure about it either.¡± In truth, she had never scrutinized the carving on the pendant, so she felt that it was nothing special. ¡°You have distinctive looks and a regal aura, Ms. Steele. Wearing such emerald suits you perfectly,¡± Azure remarked, her voice soft andposed. ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± Christina felt very much ttered. At the same time, shemented inwardly. This elderlydy is rather strange. Instead of talking about clothing at the first meeting, she¡¯s concerned about the emerald I¡¯m wearing. ¡°Shall I take your measurements?¡± Subsequently, she changed the subject. Next to Azure, her assistant interjected, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli is in a hurry. Please schedule another appointment. and make a house call for that. I hope to see your draft design drawing the next time we meet.¡± Honestly, Christina was not keen on making house calls. s, the client before her offered no room for demurral. Anyway, Rayne will be sure to charge a ¡°reasonable¡± fee if I were to personally make a house call. Following that thought, she relented, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll make another appointmentter.¡± Azure shed her a smile before leaving the conference room with her assistant. ng until the two of them had gone a distance away, Christina turned to Rayne slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that Mrs. Lazuli seemed to be looking at me strangely earlier?¡± ¡°You¡¯re graceful and demure with looks favored by the elderly, so it¡¯s only natural that she eyeballed you.¡± Rayne replied, finding nothing amiss. At her reasoning, mirth bubbled within Christina. Well, perhaps it was out of curiosity that she studied me closely. She thenpiled all the information discussed just now. Before getting off work, she went to the factory to check on the situation. After suffering a loss due to her carelessness back then, she was determined to keep a close eye on the factory this time. The worst part was that Yerek managed to take advantage of the situation, and they presently had to give him dividends from the money they made from their operations. No matter how she thought about it, she found it a huge loss. At that precise moment, the phone rang. Christina answered it. ¡°I¡¯m at Redolent House. Come over right now.¡± Yerek¡¯s voice drifted out of the phone. nning to seek him out to discuss terminating the coboration, Christina agreed. ¡°Okay.¡± Twenty minutester, she entered the restaurant ording to the location given. With a server leading the way, she stepped into a private room. A feast wasid out on the table. Dressed in a white shirt and a fitted ck vest, Yerek held a bottle of red wine. ¡°You came at the perfect time. I¡¯m just about to open a bottle of red wine.¡± Not there to drink with him, Christina stated indifferently with a dark expression, ¡°What do you want before you¡¯d pull out?¡± Yerek threw her a meaningful look. ¡°Look, this ce is pretty good, huh? I bought some shares here with money from you and Nathaniel. The brand is doing well now, and it¡¯s going to be listed soon. I¡¯m waiting to make money, so why would I possibly pull out?¡± Gritting her teeth, Christina snarled coldly. ¡°How cunning and despicable!¡± Half of the investment came from Yerek, but the money embezzled by the factory manager was already more than half the entire sum. Even then, he refused to divulge the money¡¯s whereabouts. As such, Christina could not get the money back. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Yerek was unperturbed and seemingly gave up since he could not gain her favor. ¡°Thank you for the compliment.¡±. ¡°Are you deaf? That¡¯s an insult!¡± After barking that in a harsh tone, Christina made to leave. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say back then you didn¡¯t want to know what exactly Nathaniel is hiding from you?¡± Yerek drawled with a smirk. Christina stopped in her tracks ¡°He¡¯s not hiding anything from me¡± ¡°He¡¯s hiding your true identity, deliberately keeping you in the dark!¡± Chapter 422 Who Is She Chapter 422 Who Is She Christina treated Yerek¡¯s words as if they were a joke. ¡°How could you, an outsider, im to know my identity better than I do?¡± Yerek responded with an amused look and countered, ¡°What if it¡¯s something that has been kept from you?¡± Christina¡¯s e eyes narrowed, and it felt as if time stood still, even though only a few seconds had passed. She had never questioned her identity before this moment. In her mind, she simply had a despicable father figure and had no desire to delve into her past ever again. It was enough for her to live peacefully with her mother for the rest of her days. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly know more about me than I do, especially if it¡¯s something I¡¯mpletely unaware of. so drop it,¡± Christina firmly stated, refusing to entertain Yerek¡¯s ims. She turned around, intending to leave. ¡°Yourst name isn¡¯t Steele, and you¡¯re not the daughter of Gideon and Sharon. You are the eldest. daughter of the Gibson family from Hallsbay.¡± Yerek revealed through gritted teeth. Though reluctant, Yerek saw this as the best way to break her and Nathaniel apart. Christina halted in her tracks and narrowed her eyes as she processed Yerek¡¯s words. Noticing Christina¡¯s hesitation, Yerek handed her a folder he had prepared earlier. ¡°Take a look at these documents. If you find them iplete, perhaps Nathaniel¡¯s study holds the information you¡¯re seeking,¡± he suggested. With a mix of spection and doubt swirling in her mind. Christina epted the folder. She left the hotel and drove back to Scenic Garden Manor. Upon entering her room, Christina wasted no time opening the folder, causing its contents to spill onto the surface before her. However, instead of directly addressing her background and identity, she discovered a newspaper cutting. The article recounted an incident that had taken ce over twenty years ago. It described the copse of a real estate site owned by Hadley Corporation, resulting in a trapped car and the death of one passenger, as well as severe injuries to another. Charlie, who had still been the CEO of Hadley Corporation at that time, had publicly apologized for the tragic event. Confusion washed over Christina as she tried to connect the dots between this incident and her own life, but Yerek¡¯s words lingered in her mind, urging her to delve deeper. Intrigued and driven by her growing curiosity, Christina decided to seek answers in Nathaniel¡¯s study. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. In the spacious study, the table disyed neatly stacked folders and a sleek pen holder housing an expensive pen. Despite her thorough search for clues on the study table, Christina found nothing of relevance. Frustrated, she shifted her attention to the bookshelves, meticulously scanning the books in hopes of stumbling upon something that would shed light on her identity. However, her efforts proved fruitless, leaving her to question if Yerek had once again deceived her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A deep, husky voice startled Christina out of her reverie, causing her to jump in fright. Swiftly regaining herposure, she turned around to face Nathaniel. ¡°I thought I could help organize your shelves since I have some free time,¡± she exined. ¡°Just leave it to the housekeeper,¡± Nathaniel insisted, firmly grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the nearby couch. ¡°Why are your hands so cold?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯m feeling a bit cold,¡± Christina instinctively replied, pulling her hand away. Unaware that Nathaniel had entered the study while she was engrossed in her search, she had broken into a nervous sweat, causing her palms to grow cold. Nathaniel nced around and noticed that the air conditioner was turned off while a refreshing summer breeze filled the room. Perplexed, he couldn¡¯t understand why Christina¡¯s hands were so cold despite thefortable temperature, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s the chilling wind since it¡¯s getting dark.¡± Nathaniel got up and closed the windows. Just then, two small figures-Lucas and Cam-burst into the room. They joyfully ran toward Christina and wrapped their tiny arms around her legs. ¡°Mommy, Grandma had the driver send a huge cake for us,¡± Cam eximed, her head tilted to the side. She looked at Christina with innocent eyes and added, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go downstairs and have some cake, okay?¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s go have some cake. But we should get Daddy toe along too,¡± Christina replied, reaching down to hold Lucas¡¯ hand. Sensing the n, Cam tactfully ran over to Nathaniel and grabbed his hand. She looked up at him with wide eyes. ¡°How could we let Daddy miss out on something so good? Right?¡± she said, punctuating her words with a yful wink. Nathaniel, despite not having a sweet tooth, couldn¡¯t resist his daughter¡¯s adorable persuasion. He scooped Cam up into his arms, and all four of them happily headed downstairs for cake. After enjoying the snack together, Christina took Lucas and Cam back upstairs, bathed them, and tucked them into bed. The following day. Nathaniel left early for work, even though it was a weekend. Meanwhile, Christina engrossed herself in her design draft, basking in the gentle morning light that streamed through the windows. Despite being on holiday. Lucas and Cam chose to stay by their mother¡¯s side rather than venturing out to y. As their restlessness grew, the two siblings began a spirited game of ser right in the study. Before long, the room echoed with the sound of documents and books toppling off the shelves. Startled, Christina looked up from her work, her face etched with worry. ¡°Are you two hurt?¡± she asked anxiously. Lucas quickly shook his head. With a sheepish smile, he admitted, ¡°No, but all the books are on the ground now.¡± Cam, assuming a grown-up demeanor, scolded Lucas, ¡°I told you not to y ser in the study.¡± Christina approached them to make sure they were unhurt. She then instructed, ¡°Go out and y. I¡¯ll clean up in here.¡± Lucas¡¯s head drooped as he pouted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Mommy. I won¡¯t do it again,¡± he promised. Cam, taking charge, seized Lucas¡¯s hand and pulled him out of the room. ¡°You¡¯re always making Mommy work, Lucas. That¡¯s not good. Don¡¯t worry, Mommy, I¡¯ll teach Lucas a good lesson.¡± A smile crept onto Christina¡¯s face as she watched her kids running off. She bent down to pick up the folders scattered all over the floor. As she did so, one of the folders slipped out of her grasp, causing the papers inside it to scatter all over the floor. Christina berated herself for being clumsy as she reached out to retrieve the folder. As the papers settled, Christina¡¯s eyes focused on the words printed on the papers, illuminated by the bright light in the room. It detailed a grave mistake that had urred at the hospital where she was born. A mix-up had resulted in several babies being taken to the wrong homes, a shocking revtion that had been extensively covered by the news media for several days. Amidst the scattered papers, she discovered a document containing a patient¡¯s information, with her mother¡¯s name prominently disyed. However, it bore the devastating news that Sharon¡¯s premature child had tragically passed away. A rush of realization washed over Christina as her mind began swirling with a whirlwind of questions. If Sharon¡¯s child had died over twenty years ago, then who was she? The very foundation of her identity seemed to crumble before her eyes, leaving her in a state of profound confusion. Overwhelmed by the weight of these revtions, Christina sank onto the couch, desperately attempting to gather her thoughts and make sense of this unsettling discovery. Feeling lethargic, she leaned on the couch and eventually drifted off to sleep. After some time, she dazedly became aware that someone had draped a nket over her. The gesture woke her up, as she was a light sleeper. ¡°Did I wake you?¡± Nathaniel had returned during her slumber, and the study now appeared clean and tidy once again. Christina sat up and shook her head. ¡°No. Are you done with work?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze turned icy as he locked eyes with her. ¡°Did you go through my folders?¡± A chill ran down Christina¡¯s spine as she was at a loss for words. She hoped he hadn¡¯t noticed as she had tidied up the scattered folders just now. Just then, Lucas ran into the room. ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t me Mommy! It was my fault I identally knocked the folders off your shelves while I was ying ser in here earlier.¡± Chapter 423 Bad Mood Chapter 423 Bad Mood Perturbation brimmed in Lucas¡¯ doe-like eyes. It¡¯s all my fault. I caused Mommy to be scolded. Dabbing off the sweat on the child¡¯s head with a handkerchief, Nathaniel reminded the former, ¡°Don¡¯t do it again. It¡¯s fine if you had just broken the shelf, but what if the books had hit your head?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Daddy,¡± said Lucas with a pout. ¡°You¡¯re all sweaty. Come on. I¡¯ll give you a shower.¡± Christina got to her feet and pulled Lucas along to the bathroom. After the door closed, Nathaniel¡¯s gaze moved up until it found the shelf¡¯s topmost level. The books were arranged neatly, but the sequence was incorrect. Christina did not sleep well because of what she learned. Hence, she drove to the hospital early the next day. Sharon looked much betterpared to thest time Christina saw her. Clearly, the former had rested well. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m here. Do you want some grapes?¡± Christina approached the hospital bed and opened up the container filled with cleaned fruits. Sharon was delighted to see her daughter, and a smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Okay.¡± Hearing Sharon¡¯s response, Christina peeled the fruit¡¯s skin and popped them into the former¡¯s mouth. The bond between the two was strong after having to depend on each other for so many years. Hence, the news that the woman in front of her was not her biological mother put Christina at a loss. She had no idea how to handle it. ¡°Christina, you dropped a grape. What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± asked Sharon with concern.. Only then did Christina realize the grape had slipped from her fingers. ¡°My hands slipped,¡± exined Christina awkwardly. She then picked up the grape with a piece of tissue and tossed it into the bin. Christina¡¯s strange behavior worried Sharon. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you and Nathaniel get into a fight?¡± Christina¡¯s eyelids drooped to avoid her mother¡¯s gaze. For a moment, she did not know how to answer thetter¡¯s question. ¡°No¡­¡± Sensing the youngdy¡¯s hesitance, Sharon gently patted the former¡¯s hand tofort her. ¡°Is Nathaniel giving you less attention because he¡¯s usually swamped at work? It¡¯s normal since men are the breadwinners. As a wife-¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it, Mom,¡± Christina interrupted, still wondering where she should begin. Will Mom get upset if I go straight to the point? I mean, no mother would want their daughter, whom they raised for over twenty years, to ask if they¡¯re rted by blood. ¡°What is it, then Tell me. Don¡¯t keep it to yourself. Sharon grew more concerned the longer Christina kept her silence Christina fiddled with her fingers and took in a deep breath. Maybe I should just ask her instead of making wild guesses on my oten. ¡°Mom, was ¡­ adopted?¡± Christina locked a nervous gaze on her mother asplex feelings like worry and suspicion sprouted in her heart, making her feel slightly overwhelmed. Sharon was stunned by the unexpected question, and her pupils constricted. ¡°H-How did you know?¡± She subconsciously clenched her fists, her heart beating like a drum. When Christina saw Sharon¡¯s reaction, a guess formed in her mind, roughly confirming the suspicions she had been having for a while. After a moment of silence, Christina took Sharon¡¯s hand and stared at thetter intently. ¡°Mom, no matter what happened in the past, you¡¯re still the mom I love the most.¡± Hearing that, Sharon could no longer hold back her tears. After all, she thought she could bring the secret. she had been hiding for many years to her grave. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years. I can¡¯t believe you found out about it so soon. I didn¡¯t mean to hide it from you. Christina felt her heart tighten at her mother¡¯s words. It was as if the blood in her vessels had solidified from all the anxiety she was feeling. ¡°Mom, what exactly happened?¡± Aplex frown formed between Sharon¡¯s brows as she recalled the past. It was something she did not want to face. ¡°Back then, my child died, but the nurse misunderstood the information and gave you to me. I tried looking for your parents after realizing what had happened, but they were nowhere to be found. At that time, all you had was a ne. I was sure it was from your family, so I kept it, thinking you¡¯ll have a token when you decide to look for your real parents one day. I¡¯m sorry, Christina. I was too heartbroken at that time, so I brought you back to the Steele residence¡­¡± Bewilderment and confusion flooded Christina¡¯s gaze, which was partially concealed by her lowered eyelids. It was taking her some time to process all the information that was dumped on her. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Why didn¡¯t my parents want me? Why did they give me a token and leave just like that? Why did they do this? Christina was too overwhelmed by her emotions that she could notfort her crying mother. All she could manage was, ¡°Rest well, Mom. I don¡¯t me you for it¡­¡± Maybe Mom kept the truth from me for so many years because she feared I might get angry when I found out about it. Soon, visitation hours were over. Hence, Christina left the hospital and traveled home, feeling as though. her mind was going to explode from all the thoughts running through it. Just then, her phone rang. She took one nce at the caller ID and answered it. ¡°Bailey, I feel horrible today. Can you spend some time with me?¡± ¡°What a coincidence! I happened to find a great ce today to have some fun. Let¡¯s go there!¡± Once the call ended, Christma received a text from Badley containing the address. She entered the information into the navigation system and soon arrived at the club-the one Nathaniel had brought her to two days ago. As soon as Christina stepped into the building. Bailey leil her into a VIP room It was rather crowded, and everyone was enjoying themselves. No one realized Christina had entered! An carsplittingbo of sting music and loudughter filled the venue. ¡°Why would a properdy like youe to a ce like this to have fun?¡± The noise was giving Christina a splitting headache. However, Bailey seemed unperturbed. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with this ce? It¡¯s quite fun. Besides, the servers here are more good-lookingpared to other clubs.¡± ¡°How are we going to talk in such a noisy ce?¡± Christina was regretting it. I should¡¯ve asked before coming. I wouldn¡¯t havee if I knew it¡¯d be so crowded A helpless sigh escaped Bailey¡¯s throat. ¡°I¡¯ve been cooped up at home for many days, and my mother pressures me to get married every day. Believe it or not, she has more documents on blind dates than a king!¡± Ihat¡¯s so great about getting married? It¡¯s better to be single and free. ¡°There are too many people here. It¡¯s too noisy.¡± Christina was in an equally bad mood. She needed someone to analyze the situation for her or even just hear her out. ¡°The lobby¡¯s quieter. Let¡¯s talk out there.¡± With that, Bailey took Christina¡¯s hand and walked out. Sure enough, it was quieter outside. The two women sat by the bar and ordered two sses of whiskey. Christina took a sip of the hard liquor and coughed violently, for it stung her throat. ¡°Is this even for humans?¡± The two had just taken their seats when several rich, fashionably-dressed men approached to strike conversation with them. up Christina was in no mood to entertain strangers. All she wanted was to rant to her friend. Bailey, on the contrary, turned into a chatterbox after having a few sses of alcohol. Just then, Christina¡¯s phone pinged with a text from Nathaniel. It read: Where are you? Christina stared at the text for some time before replying: I¡¯m meeting a client. I¡¯ll be home a littlete. She made up a random excuse so as to avoid any misunderstandings from happening. s, her phone vibrated again with a message from Nathaniel: Look up. Forty-five degrees to your right. The text caused Christina¡¯s brows to tighten into a puzzled frown. Regardless, she slowly lifted her head and did as told.. Her eyes went wide the moment they met a familiar pair of eyes. Chapter 424 Different Species. Chapter 424 Different Species. Standing by the full-length windows of a private room on the second floor was Nathaniel. His hands were in his pockets, and he stared at her with such intensity as if he was a devil in the abyss. Christina felt a chill run down her spine. At that moment, she felt like an unfortunate rabbit that was spotted by the hunter after escaping his trap. Serious consequences awaited her. ¡°Bailey. I¡¯m going to the second floor.¡± ¡°What for?¡± asked Bailey quizzically. ¡°Look for yourself.¡± Christina jerked her chin in the direction of the room so her friend knew where to look. Bailey got the shock of her life when she looked up and met Nathaniel¡¯s fiery gaze. She felt as if her heart almost exploded. ¡°I-I¡¯ll go with you.¡± The two braced themselves as if they were about to confront a fearsome enemy and made their way to the room on the second floor-its door was already open. Other than Nathaniel, there was another tall figure sitting on the couch in the room. It was Julian; he shed Christina a polite smile. Christina gave Julian a nod of acknowledgment and slowly walked over to Nathaniel like a little girl who had made a mistake, hanging her head and waiting to be scolded. ¡°So, you were working overtime here?¡± Nathaniel interrogated. As any loyal friend would, Bailey stepped forward and pulled Christina closer as if to protect thetter. ¡°It¡¯s not her fault. I was the one who brought her here. If you¡¯re going to harm her, you should do it to me instead.¡± Nathaniel twitched his brow, half amused and half baffled. Harm her? Just what exactly does Christina say to others about me? Christina tugged at Bailey¡¯s sleeve discreetly, hinting at thetter to shut up. However, her friend shed her a look that seemed to say. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here.¡± To make herself look more domineering and confident, Bailey ced her hands on her hips and snorted. ¡°Did you bully her? She was in a bad mood and came to me for a chat.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s prominent brows wrinkled in confusion as he studied Christina even more intently. ¡°You¡¯re upset?¡± Why didn¡¯t she tell me? Why did shee to a bar with a friend to vent instead? Christina had yet to arrange her thoughts to tell Nathaniel of her troubles, but Bailey had already poured all of her secrets. And before Christina could even speak, Bailey scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t be so bossy. What makes you think you¡¯re the only one who cane out to enjoy yourself? Christina can, too!¡± Nathaniel eyed Christina in amusement ¡°Of course, she can You can do whatever you want¡± The corners of Christina¡¯s lips twitched when she heard that. I never meant that.Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Nheless. Nathaniel¡¯s answer pleased Bailey, Grinning mischievously, she called for the server ¡°Ill get your most expensive set meal¡± ¡°All right. Ill make the arrangements now,¡± responded the server with a subtle nod. Soon, five bottles of premium whiskey, wine, and delectable dishes wereid out on the table until there was no space left. Christina twitched her lips, baffled by the absurd amount of food before her. ¡°Why order so much alcohol? How are we going to finish it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s ¡®s a different matter. I ordered it to maintain an impression,¡± Bailey dered proudly. As Christina¡¯s friend, the former would not let Christina be humiliated. Following that, Bailey picked thergest bottle of hard liquor and was about to uncork it when a deep, rich voice sounded. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t be drinking alcohol.¡± The voice made Bailey turn around, only to find a man in a retro-style suit and a burgundy tie that added. a hint of mysteriousness to him. His dark, solemn eyes were like an endless sea, leaving Bailey breathless when their gazes met. This man¡¯s simply too ravishing! Fortunately, the room¡¯s dim lighting caused her blushing face to be unnoticeable. ¡°Who says I¡¯m a child? I¡¯m an adult, mister!¡± Bailey refuted defiantly. Julian chuckled. The woman standing in front of him behaved like a teen going through a rebellious. phase, slightly arrogant and gutsy. She was the most interesting woman he had met so far. Right then, Christina picked out a bottle of white wine that had lower alcohol content. ¡°Let¡¯s drink this instead.¡± Subsequently, the server uncorked it and poured the clear liquid into four sses. Christina picked one up and took a sip, allowing the sweet and mellow taste to flow down her throat. It took only a few sses for the alcohol to get to her head. ¡°Bailey, it¡¯ste. We should go back.¡± Christina put down the ss and massaged her temples. The alcohol¡¯s aftereffects were surprisingly strong. Waving her hand in disagreement, Bailey said, ¡°I¡¯m not going back. It wasn¡¯t easy for me to get out of there.¡± Although it was clear that Bailey would not leave, Christina did not trust leaving her friend alone at a ce like that. ¡°You can¡¯t keep being upset at your mother. Come on. I¡¯ll send you home, okay?¡± With a look of utter reluctance, Bailey gave Christina a push into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. ¡°You two can leave first. I¡¯ll get home on my own in a while. The driver¡¯s waiting right outside the bar.¡± Chapter 425 Different Species Chapter 425 Different Species Bailey¡¯s words did not help ease Christina of her worry. ¡°What if you encounter some bad people here With that, Christina reached out to grab Bailey¡¯s hand. It would not harm anyone to let thetter stay the rught at Scenic Garden Manor if she did not want to go home ¡°Go on home. I¡¯ll take her home.¡± Julian piped up. That suggestion sounded feasible to Nathaniel. ¡°Take good care of her. Just make sure she doesn¡¯t go missing While Christina hesitated, Bailey swatted the former¡¯s hand away and groaned. ¡°I¡¯m a grown woman. What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± Despite getting rejected, Christina reminded Bailey before leaving, ¡°Remember to call me.¡± Bailey waved her hand impatiently and urged Christina to leave. Even so, the arrangement left Christina slightly uneasy. ¡°Mr. Forrester won¡¯t do anything to Bailey, right?¡± Bailey was a woman with a sweet-looking appearance, while Julian had a calm andposed demeanor. Regardless, a book should not be judged by its cover. What if he¡¯s a yboy? As if reading her mind, Nathaniel assured her. ¡°He came back to the country this time to get married. Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t be interested in your friend.¡± Julian was a reliable person. Hence, Christina felt much relieved after hearing his answer. When the two were finally out of Bailey¡¯s sight, she turned around to head to the restroom. She sshed cold water onto her face, for she often fluctuated from sobriety to grogginess when she was tipsy. That was when her phone rang. When she saw the caller ID was ¡°Queen Mother,¡± she ignored it and stuffed the phone into her pocket. Then, she stepped out into the hallway and identally bumped into a passerby. The two recognized each other after exchanging gazes. The passerby was one of her many blind dates. Sizing her up, the man sneered, ¡°Why did you block my number after our date?¡± ¡°There was no need for us to continue talking to each other,¡± she answered inly and ignored him. She had only taken a few steps when he grabbed her wrist and pinned her against the wall. ¡°I thought you were a goody two shoes. Who would¡¯ve thought you were this wild? I think we¡¯re quite suited for each other.¡± Bailey scoffed. ¡°Humans and animals arepletely different species. How could we be suitable for each other?¡± The man¡¯s face flushed red with anger. ¡°Who are you calling an animal? What¡¯s with the act? From what I can see, you¡¯re the type to fool around.¡± With a smack, Bailey pped the man, followed by a kick. 3/4 < Chapter 421 Different Species The pain was so intense that the man stumbled to the ground with a cry, his face flushed bright red. ¡°B*tch, how dare you hit me? You¡¯re so dead!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being so foul-mouthed. Looks like no one taught you manners, so let me teach you a lesson on behalf of your parents.¡± With that, Bailey gave him another kick. Merciless, Bailey kicked hard as she cursed, ¡°Do you think you can scold me as you like? Do you ever look in a mirror at yourself?¡± Bailey was already drunk, so she wasn¡¯t aware of her strength and how many times she had kicked. Suddenly, she was lifted into the air. She was picked up and ced over a man¡¯s shoulder. Shocked, Bailey turned her head and realized it was the man from the private room. As Bailey threw punches into the air, she eximed, ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m not done!¡± ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t fight. Beware of getting punished.¡± Julian spoke softly and sounded pleasant. Bailey struggled to break free. Since she was being taken further away, she warned the person lying on the floor, ¡°Walk away when you see me next time, or I¡¯ll kick your ass!¡± After she was carried out, she was thrown into the passenger seat of a Jaguar. Without dy, Julian started his car and asked, ¡°What¡¯s your address?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going home.¡± Bailey had gotten too agitated earlier, so now she felt dizzy, like the world was spinning around her. She leaned back in her seat, lookingpletely inebriated. Julian felt like he was tending to a rebellious child. Exasperated and left with no choice, he brought her back to his mansion. He nned to let her stay overnight at his mansion before he sent her home the next day after she regained her senses. As Julian drove, he suddenly felt a warm touch on his chest. He lowered his head and saw Bailey boldly putting her hand on his shirt. Then, she took it a step further and groped him. Taken aback. Julian instinctively stepped on the brake and swerved to the side of the road, stopping the carpletely. With a frosty gaze, he shoved her hand off. ¡°What do you think you are doing, girl?¡± In distress, Bailey rubbed her reddened hand and muttered indistinctively, ¡°Didn¡¯t you get buff so that people would touch you?¡± Julian took a deep breath and decided not to take offense from the youngdy. However, he was worried she would act recklessly again, so he said solemnly, ¡°Stop messing around. I won¡¯t shrug it off just because you¡¯re young. If you continue this. I¡¯ll throw you out of the car.¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re getting off the car, mister? If that¡¯s the case. I¡¯ll take the wheel.¡± Mishearing Julian¡¯s words, Bailey got up and tried to climb into the driver¡¯s seat. Julian¡¯s temples began to throb, and he stretched out his hands, wanting to stop her. However, Bailey was too swift and was already sitting in his embrace in no time. ¡°You smell so good, mister.¡± Bailey leaned in and took a sniff of Julian¡¯s scent. They were so close that Bailey¡¯s faint fragrance, mixed with the smell of alcohol, rushed into Julian¡¯s nostrils. At that moment, her vision was blurry. Still, Bailey stared at the handsome face before her and couldn¡¯t help but lean in to kiss him as if she had just seen a tasty dessert. The woody scent that Julian gave off captivated her. Inevitably, she was charmed by him. Inside the car, under the dim streetlights, their breaths filled the cramped space. Meanwhile, it was alreadyte at night when Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. The two kids were fast asleep. She dared not enter their room since she reeked of alcohol. Once she took a shower, the smell of alcohol from her body dissipated tremendously. Sitting on the couch, she dried her hair while sorting out her thoughts. If I¡¯m not Mom¡¯s biological daughter, who are my birth parents? Does the copse of Hadley Corporation have something to do with my identity? Why didn¡¯t Nathaniel say anything when he¡¯s known my identity all along? What exactly happened? Who can answer my questions? ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± Nathaniel approached Christina when she was in a daze. He took the hairdryer. from her and gently dried her hair. ¡°N-Nothing¡± Christina¡¯s mind was buzzing. Her thoughts were jumbled up as she listened to the sound of the hairdryer. After Nathaniel turned off the hairdryer, he picked her up from the couch. Compared to Nathaniel, Christina had a petite body frame. Hence, it was somewhat easy for him to carry her. Nathaniel ced Christina gently on the bed and said softly, ¡°Get some rest. I have a video conference at the studyter. Go ahead and sleep without me.¡± With that, he nted a kiss on her forehead and got up to leave. Christina was finally able to rx after hearing the door shut. She turned on her side, wrapping herself in the quilt tightly. Her thoughts were like a ball of hemp rope, unorganized and chaotic. After she got tired of thinking, she dozed off. The morning sun bathed the bedroom in a warm glow. As the sunlightnded on Christina¡¯s body, she woke up. She could feel a lingering warmth on the other side of the bed, but Nathaniel had already left. Climbing out of bed, she washed up. While having breakfast, she sent a text to Bailey. She texted: Bailey, did you go homest night? Nothing happened between you and Mr. Forrester, right? I heard from Nathaniel that he came back to get married, so don¡¯t get involved with him. However, she didn¡¯t get any replies after sending the text. On her way to work after breakfast, Christina finally received a reply. Bailey replied. I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t be silly. I wouldn¡¯t like a guy much older than me. Don¡¯t worry. Christma felt relieved when she saw the reply. After Christina arrived at the studio, she started working non-stop. When it was about time to clock out, Rayne pushed open the door and entered her office.Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Christina, Mrs. Lazuli said she¡¯s avable now and asked if you have time to take her measurements now?¡± Christina checked her schedule and decided it wouldn¡¯t take long to take measurements. Thus, she replied. ¡°Sure, please make the arrangements. I¡¯ll show her my draft too.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll make the arrangements right away.¡± At three in the afternoon, Azure arranged a car to pick up Christina from her studio. After packing the necessaries, Christina went down. The car drove away from the urban area and gradually headed toward the affluent neighborhood. Passing through an open area, the car stopped at the door of a spacious mansion. Christina subsequently got off the car and walked into the house. Various famous paintings were hung on the wall in the brightly-lit living room. A faint fragrance of Earl Grey tea came from the coffee table, lending a grandeur vibe to the whole atmosphere. Azure was in a gown and had her hair up in a bun, looking elegant. ¡°Please, have a seat ¡°Should we take your measurements now?¡± Christina asked as she put down her bag of tools. ¡°Yes, sure. By the way, I¡¯d like to invite you to my birthday banquet next month,¡± Azure said with a faint. grin. Christina could see tranquility on thedy¡¯s face. ¡°Are you sure?¡± It was not in Christina¡¯s blood to socialize. Christina knew clearly that the people invited to Azure¡¯s birthday banquet would be of high social status, and it would be the perfect opportunity for her to make connections. However, social events were a bane to her. ¡°Please don¡¯t refuse Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s invitation. Ms. Steele.¡± The assistant on the side appeared with an invitation card. Given the circumstances. Christina could only ept the invitation card after ncing at it. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Lazuli.¡± A gentle glint appeared in Azure¡¯s eyes when she saw that Christina had epted the invitation card. After Christina took Azure¡¯s body measurements, she showed thetter her design drawing, ¡°It looks good. I love it. Please make three sets of this,¡± Azure said softly. Chapter 426 Ulterior Motive Chapter 426 Ulterior Motive After taking the measurements. Christina asked Azure some questions about the design details and clearly noted the requested specifications ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Azure shed a faint smile. ¡°Okay. The driver is waiting at the entrance.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± That ce was rtively remote, so cars would rarely show up there. Christina got to her feet, nodded slightly, and turned to leave. Following her departure, the assistant off to the side took out a transparent bag and ced the cup. Christina had drunk from inside it. ¡°Once we conduct a DNA test, we¡¯ll be able to confirm Ms. Steele¡¯s identity.¡± Azure rested her gaze on the cup. It¡¯s necessary to rify the matter of her identity before I acknowledge her to avoid encountering someone harboring ulterior motives. After arriving downtown, Christina asked the driver to stop the car and took a taxi back to Scenic Garden Manor. She entered the study and sorted out the documents in her hands, The sun outside the window gradually set. Exhausted, she rested her head on the table and took a nap. A whileter, she was abruptly woken up by a phone call. ¡°Ms. Steele, I know you¡¯re very busy, but don¡¯t forget you¡¯re still under contract with mypany.¡± Francis¡¯ deep and maic voice sounded from the other end of the line. Christina had been swamped with work recently and hadn¡¯t been to Francis¡¯ ce much. Sometimes, he would send her some selected sets of clothes to ask which ones he should wear. After she gave her opinion, he would heed her decision without hesitation. ¡°Is there any important event? If not, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Christina sounded groggy as she had just woken up. Francis feared she would end the call, so he hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s a very important red carpet event tomorrow, so you muste in person.¡± ¡°What time?¡± ¡°Come over at five in the afternoon for preparations.¡± Christina muttered an acknowledgment before hanging up the phone. She massaged her temples and nced at the time. The kids should being back from school soon. With that thought in mind, she went downstairs to wait for them. Not long after, the driver escorted the two children to the front door. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Lucas and Cam were dressed in their kindergarten uniforms. One wore a little suit while the other a dress. She thought their faces looked adorable no matter how she looked at them. ¡°Mommy, look. This is the flower I drew for you. Do you like it?¡± Cam impatiently took out her masterpiece from her bag. She inherited Christina¡¯s drawing talent, and her skills surpassed that of her peers despite her young age. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll get it framedter.¡± Christina kissed her daughter. ¡°Mommy, I want a kiss too.¡± Christina gave Lucas¡¯ handsome face a peck as well. Holding the two kids in her arms, she felt utterly contented. ¡°It¡¯s time to wash your hands and have your dinner.¡± She brought them into the dining room. Then, the housekeeper led them to the sink to wash their hands. Nathaniel didn¡¯te home for dinner every night. He would only return when he wasn¡¯t busy. When he was upied by work, Christina didn¡¯t want to disturb him either. Under normal circumstances, if he didn¡¯te home for dinner by mealtime, Christina would eat with her children first. At night, Christina told the two kids bedtime stories and sang them nursery rhymes. Only when she saw they were sound asleep did she get up to leave the children¡¯s room. Just as she was closing the door, she came face to face with Nathaniel, who was walking up the stairs. The corridor was dimly lit, partially illuminating his exquisite countenance. His slender figure cast a long shadow on the floor as he exuded an authoritative aura. ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± Christina remarked indifferently. Her nonchnt attitude caused him to feel a sense of estrangement. He hummed softly in acknowledgment. Whenever Christina saw him now, she couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the document in his study. Did Nathaniel find out something? If so, why hasn¡¯t he mentioned anything to me? That feeling made her ufortable. She couldn¡¯t shake the sensation that a vast gulf now stood between them. ¡°Rest early.¡± With that, she strode toward the bedroom. Nathaniel was worried that talking in the hallway would wake the children, so he followed her into the bedroom. Pin-drop silence ensued after the sound of the door closing reverberated. Even their breathing seemed to turn shallower. Hearing his approaching footsteps, Christina hastily moved to the bed as if a vicious ghost was chasing her. Before she could lie down, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?¡± Nathaniel asked with a slight frown. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I¡¯m just a little tired from work.¡± She gave a perfunctory response. Seeing that, Nathaniel didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he took out two tickets for an art exhibition from his pocket. ¡°This emerging artist has be quite popr recently. He has an exhibition tomorrow night at eight Let¡¯s go together¡± He wasn¡¯t asking her to go with him-he was telling her she was going Christina looked at the two tickets and hesitated briefly before saying. ¡°I have work tomorrow afternoon. I¡¯m not sure if I can make it in time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll wait for you. You cane over after you¡¯re done with work. Give me a call if you can¡¯t make it. His voice wasced with a hint of gloominess. Given the circumstances, she had no reason to refuse. ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel ced the tickets on the table and motioned for her to lie down. ¡°Go to sleep.¡± As Christinay down, Nathaniel switched off the bedsidemp. Subsequently, her surroundings turned quiet, and she drifted off to sleep soon after. The next afternoon, Christina packed her tools and went to Francis¡¯pany. When she entered, the staff present regarded her with distant expressions. It was understandable since she had been missing in action for days on end, even though she was a highly paid stylist. Therefore, it was only natural for others to be unfamiliar with her.. Striding inward, she spotted Francis lounging on the couch. His shirt was sloppily worn, with only one button fastened, revealing a swath of fair skin on his chest and firm abdominal muscles. His shoulder-length hair hung loosely on either side. His feather-like eyshes were long and dense, and his prominent nose and thin lips were so exquisite that it was hard to distinguish his gender. No wonder he holds the title of the most handsome man in the entertainment industry. This is indeed a well-deserved title. Christina walked over. Taking in hiszy appearance, as if he had just woken up, she let out a sigh. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you changed yet?¡± He looked up at her and smirked. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you to decide what I should wear. The clothes at the back were provided by the sponsors. You need to pick out two sets of outfits,¡± ¡°Two sets?¡± she asked. ¡°That¡¯s what the sponsor requested. I¡¯ll be entering with their representativeter,¡± he uttered casually. Francis was already used to that kind of thing since it was part of his job. That night¡¯s red carpet show had been organized by a coboration of various clothing brands. Christina figured most of the major brands probably invited celebrities. She moved toward the two long rows of clothing racks and examined the avable options. Her expression darkened the longer she inspected the garments. ¡°What brand is this?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know Parf?¡± Francis ambled over as well and stood behind Christina. He used his slender finger to lift a lock of her long hair, brought it up to his nose, and took a whiff. ¡°Smells nice.¡± She looked at the clothes and contemted briefly before saying. ¡°Half of these designs are giarized from a well-known brand. Are you sure you won¡¯t be called out for wearing these?¡± Christina disdained those designs thatcked genuineness. ¡°Who is badmouthing mypany¡¯s clothes!¡± A shrill voice rang out as a figure appeared in everyone¡¯s sight. Chapter 427 Out Of The Frying Pan Chapter 427 Out Of The Frying Pan Surprise flitted across their faces when the two locked gazes. Christina had not expected to meet Elizabeth under such circumstances. Not bothering to conceal the disdain in her eyes, she said, ¡°It was me.¡± ¡°What do you know? I was the one who made the designs. Moreover, I¡¯ve won an award for fashion design before. What right do you, a designer who hasn¡¯t seen much of the world, have to critique my work?¡± Elizabeth retorted. Anger simmered in the depths of Elizabeth¡¯s eyes. She had chosen this path precisely because Christina. was a designer. She wanted to beat thetter at her own game. it was the most brutal method she could think of to exact retribution. Elizabeth wanted to shame Christina so badly that thetter would be too afraid to show her face in public again! tanistina scoffed and replied. ¡°You should have some self-awareness. You can¡¯t just use someone else¡¯s De designs and try to pass them off as your own. Moreover, adding retro elements to a punk design is akin to mising random elements and turning them into a chimera. It has no sense of cohesiveness at all fer my word was seathing and disdainful. When in the staff around them caught wind of themotion, they abandoned their tasks at hand and rotected daround to watch the show. Truth be textuld, they had thought the clothing bizarre when they were hanging them up earlier. However, heyako tu mard that the sponsor had invested arge sum in Francis¡¯ new show. Thus, they had not dared o vote cocinarovonons, Inexpectedin Christa had uttered the words that they had kept in their hearts. Rendered specios os be the scathing remark, Elizabeth felt as if her self-esteem was under attack. Thristmas destens eneseta big deal. Why does she get to be so critical and picky? Elizabeth went of er to be franas and attempted to throw her weight around. ¡°Francis, can you please control our staff better: intmentres to apologize to me!¡± nstantly, the room: pi menden u to stience The staff who had gathered to watch themotion instinctively held their breaths. Everyone knew that heir opinions qui i otter on in the tice of the sponsor. After all, the sponsor got to have the final say. Otherwise, why would celebritiesometeres be caught in ludeous clothes on camera? It was a choice that was out of their hands. Without waiting for Francis to reply christni dered coldly. ¡°I will not apologize f peaking the truth.¡± You expect me to apoolseite Dream on Elizabeth¡¯s expression instantly darkened a and she had to resist the urge to stomp her fee ponsor! Watch your words, or cive I conner er conceding the contract!¡± I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s fraid that the sponsor will withdraw the item, it Christina looked as if she had just heart a joke uit, then Withdraw your investment. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m nt the one on the receiving end,¡± Even if Elizabeth wanted to invest in her, she had no intentions of working with such a tasteless brand. Elizabeth was so livid that she could barely breathe. She tugged at Francis¡¯ clothes, demanding. ¡°Fire this stylist immediately! I¡¯ll leave if you refuse to do so!¡± She did not invest a hundred million only to be insulted like this. Christina arched her brow coolly. ¡°Agreed. Sacking me to keep the investment is a wise decision.¡± Languidly, Francis sped his hands before his chest. ¡°I wasted a lot of effort to hire Christina. I am not going to fire her.¡± ¡°Francis, do you understand what you¡¯re saying?¡± Elizabeth thought her ears were ying tricks on her. Francis¡¯ eyes were calm as he responded, ¡°Yes. My stylist deemed your clothing unfit for me to wear. Hence, this is where our cooperation ends. Please leave.¡± He had just rejected an investment of a hundred million! The staff was bbergasted. Although they knew what the investment meant to Francis, it was a completely different matter whether he rejected it for personal reasons or if he rejected it because of Christina. Elizabeth clenched her fists tightly, imagining crushing Christina between her hands. She would not feel. appeased until she had utterly crushed thetter. ¡°Previously, it was Mr. Hadley, and now it¡¯s Francis. Christina, you¡¯re quite a willy one. Just you wait!¡± After shooting Christina onest re, she turned around and flounced out angrily. Francis reached out and gently cupped Christina¡¯s jaw, his fingertips massaging her tender skin yfully. Shocked, Christina instinctively pped the man¡¯s inappropriate touch away. ¡°Since you drove my femalepanion away, shouldn¡¯t youpensate me by taking her ce?¡± Francis smiled faintly. Christina¡¯s lips twitched faintly as she btedly realized his motives. So that¡¯s why Francis stood on my side. Out of the frying pan into the fire¡­ ¡°Your new femalepanion is only a phone call away. It doesn¡¯t have to be me.¡± Francis stared at her with mesmerizing yet cold eyes. It was as if he intended topletely submerge her into his gaze. ¡°The show is about to start. If you can convince Ms. Bet toe back, I¡¯ll let you off.¡± Christina knew that was a futile endeavor. There¡¯s no way I would beg Elizabeth for anything. ¡°The event begins in two hours. Hurry, get your outfit and makeup on.¡± Without giving her time to think it over, Francis dragged her into the dressing room. Inside, the racks were filled with the season¡¯stest designs. It was not difficult toe up with two looks from the selection avable. Christina sighed softly, feeling as if she was being forced into a corner. What had appeared to be a simple job took way more time than it looked. Christina¡¯s head spun as she hurried to get ready her makeup and clothing. Meanwhile, the sound of a Maybach could be heard outside the exhibition¡¯s entrance at eight o¡¯clock. The temperature in the car was cold as its air conditioning was sting at full power. With a tablet in his hand, Nathaniel sat in the backseat while going over some work documents. Since he knew that Christina was currently at work, he made no attempt to call her. Prior to this, they had agreed that she would call him if she could not make it. Seated in the passenger seat, Sebastian went over Nathaniel¡¯s schedule on his own tablet. The next thing he knew, half an hour had passed. It was the first time Sebastian had seen Nathaniel waiting for someone so patiently. What on earth is Mrs. Hadley doing? Why isn¡¯t she calling if she can¡¯t make it? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. All of a sudden, several headlines popped up on the tablet screen. They all discussed Francis¡¯ matching outfit with hispanion on the red carpet. Many of the consecutivements were all about the same topic. Sebastian tapped in, and the images that caught his eye immediately made him feel as if he had seen a ghost. Christina and Francis were photographed together, and they both wore outfits that had simr colors and designs. It was no wonder the headlines were hailing them as matching outfits. The two of them were simr in age, and their aurasplimented each other. Hence, they looked good together. Sebastian sucked in a cold breath. So, Mrs. Hadley is currently with Francis, and yet poor Mr. Hadley is here, waiting for her like a fool. How can she do such an awful thing? Afterposing his emotions, Sebastian turned around and stammered, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley may be swamped with work. Should we go back?¡± Pausing the work at hand, Nathaniel checked the time and saw that it was already nine o¡¯clock at night. He checked his phone again, but there were no new messages. Sebastian hesitated for a moment before adding. ¡°The exhibition will still be on tomorrow. Shall I book two new tickets?¡± Without bothering to reply, Nathaniel immediately called Christina. The phone rang twice, but no one picked up. As Nathaniel put away his phone, his gaze was attracted by the trending headlines, thus prompting him to tap in. Instantly, the expression on that handsome face turned thunderous. Through gritted teeth, he uttered. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 428 A Terrible Sensation Chapter 428 A Terrible Sensation Christina only apanied Francis to the event as a mere formality. She left the ce not long after she entered. She only realized that it was almost ten at night when she was on the way home. She quickly dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number, but there was no answer. She breathed a heavy sigh before. returning to Scenic Garden Manor. The lights in the living room were switched off. The ce was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. However, there was an overwhelming pressure emanating from the room. Christina jumped in shock when she saw the tall figure seated on the couch. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you turn on the lights?¡± She immediately noticed Nathaniel¡¯s angry expression when the lights were switched on. There was a murderous look in his eyes. It looked like he was a predator in the mountains waiting to attack. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. Through clenched teeth, he asked, ¡°You looked beautiful with the makeup on. Why did you remove it?¡± The makeup¡­. Christina left after showing up for appearance purposes. Before she went home, she removed her makeup and changed out of her outfit. Biting the bullet, she exined, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand. I only apanied him to go through the motions. I tried calling you on the way home, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s aura was terrifying, causing Christina to break out in a cold sweat. He stood up and made his way toward her. ¡°Is it your job to apany Francis?¡± With an authoritative voice and eyes reddened with anger, it was evident that Nathaniel was livid. Just his aura alone caused Christina to feel a strong sense of suffocation. Nathaniel wrapped his hands around her neck and tightened them with just enough pressure so that she wouldn¡¯t choke. ¡°I was waiting for you, but you were with Francis.¡± That was something he could not ept. He hated other people touching his things. He especially hated it when Francis was the one who did it. ¡°I was working. If I didn¡¯te, don¡¯t you know how to go back first? Are you stupid?¡± Christina never expected that Nathaniel would be this patient. ¡°Christina! Won¡¯t you return to how you were no matter how much I amodate or try to please you?¡± Nathaniel asked, his voice slightly trembling. He did not want the version of Christina before him. She was cold and emotionless, and he could not figure out what she was thinking. He wanted her to return to the version of herself that was gentle and would act cute in his arms. Christina felt her heart break into two when she heard that. ¡°You were amodating to me? You were trying to please me?¡± He was just temporarily hiding his true nature. If a problem arose, he would return to his usual unreasonable and possessive self. Christina pushed away his hands and coughed. ¡°Don¡¯t act all affectionate with me. What¡¯s inside the file in your study? What secrets are you hiding from me? Have you told me about them?¡° The secrets in my study¡­ Nathaniel widened his eyes. Did she see them? Anger danced behind their eyes as they red at each other. Nathaniel coldly said, ¡°You will regret angering me.¡± With that, he turned and walked out the door. A few momentster, the sound of a car driving away could be heard from outside. It was only after he left that Christina finally rxed. It felt like all the energy had left her body as she stumbled backward, her knees weak from pretending to be strong. Perhaps Christina¡¯s emotions were unstable because she woke up early the following day. She washed up and changed before sending Lucas and Cam to kindergarten. The two children were in the backseat of the car. They stared at their mother through the rearview mirror and noticed her gloomy look. Lucas pursed his lips and asked, ¡°Mommy, did you argue with Daddy?¡± Christina tensed up. Were we too loud in the living roomst night? Did the children hear us? She did not want their familial matters to affect the children. She scolded herself inwardly before shing them a smile and said, ¡°No, we didn¡¯t.¡± Cam innocently asked, ¡°Why is your neck red?¡± Christina reached up to adjust the rearview mirror so she could see herself. Only then did she notice the red handprint marks around her neck. She did not expect it to be such a dark shade of red, She touched her neck guiltily before exining, ¡°I identally scratched it.¡± Lucas and Cam exchanged nces. If Mommy doesn¡¯t want to tell us, it¡¯s no use if we keep asking her. However, the children were confident that Christina had not scratched herself. The markings were long. It looks like Daddy¡¯s handprints. Soon, they reached the kindergarten. Christina ced a kiss on each of the children¡¯s foreheads. ¡°Be good and study hard. I¡¯lle early to pick you up!¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy!¡± The children kissed her cheeks before trotting off to kindergarten. Christina went back into the car and took a scarf from her bag. She wrapped it around her neck to cover the markings on her neck before she started the car and drove to thepany. Throughout the day, she could not focus on her work. When it was time to get off work, a deliveryman. came. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Rayne signed to ept the parcel before bringing it to Christina¡¯s office. ¡°Christina, you have a parcel. Do you want me to open it for you?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Christina replied nonchntly as she twirled her pen between her fingers. ¡°It¡¯s a lipstick. There¡¯s also a card with a message saying that this color suits you best,¡± Rayne read off the card before handing it over to her, along with the lipstick. Christina nced at the lipstick. Isn¡¯t this the lipstick I took an interest tost night? She immediately knew who had sent her the lipstick. She rearranged the things on her table, grabbed her bag, and stood up to leave. ¡°Throw it away.¡± Rayne hurried after her. She was confused. ¡°But this is a limited edition lipstick. It¡¯s such a pity to throw it away. While Christina was not paying attention, Rayne quickly stuffed the lipstick and card into Christina¡¯s bag. Christina overlooked her actions as she walked out of her office. The elevator doors opened. Christina was about to enter when she noticed Nathaniel and Sebastian were inside. The atmosphere immediately tensed up. She hesitated to enter. Justst night, their conversation had ended on a bad note. Neither of them was in a good mood. Sebastian broke the silence and said, ¡°What a coincidence, Mrs. Hadley. Let¡¯s take the elevator together, Christina hummed a reply before walking in. Soon, they arrived at the underground parking lot. Christina and Nathaniel sat on different ends in the car. It seemed like there was an invisible border separating them. Christina rested her hands atop her knees, looking like an obedient child. Nathaniel caught sight of her neck from the corners of his eyes. The scarf moved when she gulped, and he noticed the red marks that the scarf covered. I was agitatedst night. Was I too rough when I grabbed her? He felt his heart soften as he nced at her delicate appearance. All of a sudden, the car swerved. The duo seated in the back could not help but lean sideways to stabilize themselves. After stabilizing the car, the driver turned to exin, ¡°My apologies. Mr. Hadley. Just now, a car cut to ourne without any signals.¡± Nathaniel scrunched his eyebrows in annoyance, but he remained silent. Suddenly a tiny tube-like item rolled to the side of his leg. There was also a card beside it. Christina immediately recognized what those things were. Isn¡¯t that the lipstick I asked Rayne to thr Why was it in my bag? She reached forward to grab the things, but Nathaniel beat her to it. A frown appeared on his handsome face. His tone was icy as he asked. ¡°What? He couldn¡¯t wait to send you his token of love?¡± ¡°I asked my assistant to throw it away. I have no idea how it ended up in my bag.¡± Christina exined. unhappily. Nathaniel grabbed Christina¡¯s wrist and dragged her closer to him. He questioned her. ¡°Do you think T11 believe such a stupid expe It was useless for Christma to exin further. When she heard the words ¡°roken of love¡± from Nathaniel. she knew he would not ept any more exnation from her It feels terrible to be misunderstood. Chapter 429 Leaving With The Children. Chapter 429 Leaving With The Children. The atmosphere in the car immediately tensed. A knife could not even cut through it Christina felt like she was about tobust. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to believe me, then don¡¯t ask me. Think whatever you like. As long as you¡¯re satished-¡± Before she could finish, Nathaniel roughly gripped her chin and pushed her backward, causing her head to hit the window. She felt a stinging pain on her lip and tasted the metallic taste of blood. She had difficulty breathing, with Nathaniel¡¯s lips pressed tight against hers, Instead of saying that it was a kiss, it felt more like a punishment, It felt like he was punishing her because she went to meet Francis. It also felt like a punishment for doing many things without first getting his opinion. Christina furrowed her brows and endured the pain. She did not know how much time had passed before Nathaniel finally let go of her. Their breathings were uneven as they stared at each other heatedly like opponents in a fighting ring, neither willing to let the other win. Christina¡¯s gaze was locked onto Nathaniel¡¯s. His lips were painted red with blood, and his eyes were sharp, looking like a hungry wolf staring at its prey. ¡°Nathaniel! What do you take me for? Your pet? Or an emotionless robot? Or perhaps you think I¡¯m the kind of woman who would engage in sexual acts with any man? You keep saying you would respect me and my space, but look at what you¡¯ve been doing. When have you ever shown me respect?¡± Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. The car fell into silence. Each sentence Christina said felt like knives stabbing into Nathaniel¡¯s heart. They were looking at the faces they were most familiar with, yet they seemed more like strangers than lovers at that moment. Christina regretted ever meeting him. After so many years, she thought Nathaniel would change, but reality proved her wrong. Why would a high and mighty CEO that has people flocking to him understand what respect means? I don¡¯t ask for much. He should at least trust me. The way he got angry over such a small matter makes it seem like Francis and I are in some sort of forbidden rtionship. The car came to a stop at the entrance of Scenic Garden Manor. Christina got off first and entered the manor. Lucas and Cam ran from the second floor excitedly when they heard the sound of the car. ¡°Mommy. are you back? We¡¯ve missed you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve missed you too.¡± Christina bent down to wrap her arms around Lucas and Cam before kissing their checks. She breathed a sigh of relief when the faint yet familiar scent of her children wafted through her nose. Despite that, she did not want to stay in a ce that made her uneasy. Christina softly asked, ¡°Lucas, Cam, I want to stay at the apartment. Do you want to go with me? Or do Leaving With The Children you want to stay here with Daddy?¡± Lucas and Cam widened their eyes in surprise. Sure enough, they had guessed correctly. Daddy and Mommy are fighting! The children were silent. Not wanting them to sense the emotional turmoil she was going through. Christina asked in a gentle tone. ¡°Don¡¯t think of any nonsense. I just want a change of environment for work and stay there for the time being.¡± ¡°Just for the time being?¡± Lucas pretended to be surprised. ¡°We¡¯ll stay with Mommy at the apartment!¡± Although the two children spoke simultaneously, Nathaniel clearly heard what they said since he stood close to them. His expression turned grim, and he felt his mood turn sour when he saw the three of them in a hug. She¡¯s running away from home just because she¡¯s angry? Christina could not be more sure of her decision when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching them from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll go upstairs to pack our things. Wait for me here.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lucas answered. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t forget my kitty doll. I want to hug it to sleep.¡± Christina was touched to see the two children were on her side. The long hours of pain andbor to give birth to them were worth it. Theyll stand by me no matter what. Christina had just gone upstairs when the two children hurried to Nathaniel and asked, ¡°Daddy, how did you make Mommy angry?¡± Faced with the usation from the two, Nathaniel wanted to say, ¡°I was wronged.¡± He frowned and bent down to instead ask them, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you stop Mommy from leaving?¡± Lucas crossed his arms across his chest and scoffed. ¡°Mommy asked us to choose. Of course, we would choose Mommy. She gave birth to us and brought us up. We¡¯re not that heartless to betray her!¡± Cam nodded in agreement. She took a step forward and whispered in Nathaniel¡¯s ear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Daddy. If I follow Mommy, I can tell you everything about her.¡± After all, she did not want Nathaniel and Christina to separate. Nathaniel felt a sense offort when he heard that. He gently patted her head. ¡°Then you must keep telling me about Mommy. I¡¯ll reward you with delicious food when youe home.¡± Cam giggled. ¡°Deal!¡± Lucas was worried that Cam would be easily swayed and believed Nathaniel¡¯s words when he saw them. huddling close and whispering to one another. ¡°Cam, whose side are you on?¡± Lucas asked as he pulled Cam to stand behind him. He stared at Nathaniel warily and said, ¡°Daddy. I really like you, but if you bully Mommy, I won¡¯t like you anymore!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Nathaniel sighed in exasperation. He wanted nothing more but to teach the little brat a lesson. ¡°I saw the red marks on Mommy¡¯s neck! I won¡¯t forgive anyone who bullies Mommy!¡± Lucas eximed in a firm tone. There was nothing Nathaniel could do to persuade the young boy. Trying to exin to him would be useless too. He was silent momentarily before saying. ¡°Take good care of your mommy.¡± Just then, Christina came down the stairs after packing her and the children¡¯s belongings. On her back was arge-sized limited edition backpack that was filled to the brim. Nathaniel narrowed his eyes at her. Is she nning on nevering back? Christina was fuming when she approached them. ¡°You told me before that you won¡¯t fight for custody of the kids, so I¡¯ll take them with me today. Besides, they also agreed to follow me.¡± Her assertive statement rendered Nathaniel speechless. His expression darkened. I indeed told her that. However, since I can¡¯t go back on my words, I have no choice but to agree with her. Christina was satisfied with his silence. She grabbed the children¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± The three of them walked out the door. After some time, the sound of a car engine starting and driving off could be heard. It did not take them long to reach the apartment. Christina had been there to clean the ce not too long ago. Hence, everything was prepared, and the furniture wasplete. It would not be a problem for them to stay there for some time. As for Lucas and Cam, they quickly took an interest in the change of environment. They ced their school bags in the living room and started ying hide-and-seek. Christina put down her bag and went into the kitchen to cook them some pasta. When she was done, she yelled, ¡°Come and eat! You need to sleep early after dinner.¡± The children were very obedient. They immediately stopped chasing each other and went to the dining room to have their meal. ¡°Mommy, the pasta you make smells delicious!¡± Lucasplimented before eating. Cam took a bite and tried to imitate an adult sighing in exasperation. ¡°What a pity that Daddy isn¡¯t here. He can¡¯t taste the yummy food Mommy made.¡± She turned to look at Christina with her big doe-like eyes after that. She knew her mother was soft-hearted and won¡¯t really be angry with her father. Lucas yfully smacked Cam¡¯s head. ¡°We¡¯re eating right now. Why are you talking about Daddy?¡± Chapter 430 Deliberate Chapter 430 Deliberate The atmosphere was initially tense, but Christina broke intoughter after hearing Lucas¡¯ words. ¡°Lucas is right. Don¡¯t mention that ever again.¡± As Christina didn¡¯t want to talk, Cam fell silent. After finishing the meal, the kids brushed their teeth and washed their faces before going to bed. The next morning, Christina rose early and dressed in a stunning pink tweed ensemble. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she looked gorgeous as ever. ¡°Wow, Mommy! You look so pretty!¡± The kids had already put on their uniforms. They poked their heads into her room and gazed at her in awe. ¡°Thank you, my darlings,¡± Christina replied with a smile, feeling uplifted by the early morning praise. Lucas nced at the clock and urged, ¡°Mommy, hurry up. It¡¯s gettingte!¡± Christina put on some pale mauve lipstick and grabbed her bag. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± She dropped the kids off at the kindergarten before heading to work. At the office, as Christina approached the elevator, its doors opened to reveal Nathaniel standing inside. His expression was impassive, resembling a statue. There were dark circles framing his eyes, a clear sign that he hadn¡¯t been getting much sleep. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. As they didn¡¯t move an inch, Sebastian felt like he was about to suffocate in the elevator. Right then, Christina¡¯s phone began to ring. ¡°You can head upstairs first,¡± she told them calmly. She then turned on her heels to answer the call. After the elevator doors slid shut, she got into another elevator to head upstairs. When she walked into the office, Rayne lunged at her happily. ¡°Good news, Christina! Good news!¡± Christina was taken aback by how eager she was. ¡°Can you talk after calming down?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Sebastian could remainposed at all times while her own assistant was often jumpy. Rayne swiftly regainedposure and rified, ¡°I became overly enthusiastic when Mr. Hadley called me to announce that Mr. Midas would be coborating with you for the uing collection!¡± ¡°Midas? I can¡¯t believe he was able to contact Midas this soon!¡± Christina was ted. Back when they signed the contract, one of the conditions was to invite Midas for a coboration. Coborating with a renowned designer in the industry was a dreame true for every designer. A half smile nudged Christina¡¯s lips. ¡°Hurry, prepare the stuff needed for the meeting.¡± She left the office hurriedly, clearly m a good mood. At ten sharp, Christina and Rayne showed up at the conference room. ¡°Hello, Mr. Midas. It¡¯s an honor to have the opportunity to work with you,¡± Christina greeted Midas in fluent Anndurn. Midas¡¯ lips curled into a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you. You¡¯re a designer with a unique style.¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± Christina was delighted to hear that. A series of footsteps sounded behind her. Christina turned over her shoulder to see Nathanieling into the room with Sebastian. ¡°Can we begin the meeting now?¡± Nathaniel asked, his voice deep and hoarse. ¡°Sure. Midas, please have a seat.¡± They took their seats, with Nathaniel intentionally choosing one closest to Christina, positioning them closer to each other than anyone else in the room. Christina¡¯s gaze was fixed on Midas the entire time, and she didn¡¯t look at Nathaniel. Midas was an Ustranasion with well-defined features and a square jaw. He had a great sense of humor, but when it came to discussing design, he waspletely focused. As Christina engaged in conversation with Midas, diligently taking notes in her notebook, an unexpected surge of heat emanated from her thigh, threatening to scorch her skin. Her heart skipped a beat as she nced down, only to find Nathaniel¡¯s hand resting on her thigh. Christina gave him a warning look. What is he doing? We¡¯re in the middle of a meeting, and people are staring at me! Nathaniel remained unfazed, his gaze fixed on the document in front of him. No one would expect Nathaniel to pinch Christina¡¯s thigh with a nonchnt expression in the middle of a meeting. Christina¡¯s warning gaze was futile. Feeling exasperated, she tried to shove him away but was no match for his strength. ¡°Ow!¡± Christina let out a sudden scream when Nathaniel pinched her thigh forcefully. The conference room fell intoplete silence as everyone turned to look at her. At once, Christina¡¯s cheeks burned in embarrassment. She wanted nothing more than to bury herself in a hole. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her exnation, but she couldn¡¯t tell them that it was Nathaniel who pinched her leg, could she? Christina cleared her throat, attempting to alleviate the awkwardness of the situation, and swiftly composed herself. ¡°Oh, I apologize. There was a bug that startled me momentarily, but it was nothing to worry about. Let¡¯s continue our discussion.¡± Everyone shared a look and chuckled lightly before they continued with the topic they were discussing carlier. Christina¡¯s back was drenched in sweat as she whirled around to re at the culprit. Nathaniel seemed unfazed despite what he did and even shot her an amused look. Christina was seething at his actions. Ugh, I can¡¯t believe he did this to me in public! Bonus The meeting went on without any hups, and after two hours of discussion, they reached a consensus on the tentative proposal. Christina and Midas agreed to discuss the next step afterpleting their design drawing, as it would usually take a long time toe out with designs for an entire collection. After the meeting ended, Rayne was tasked with sending Midas off. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll go upstairs to prepare the files needed for the next meeting. Sebastian said and left in haste. When the door clicked shut behind him, Christina¡¯s expression turned as cold as ice. ¡°Can you move your hand now?¡± Nathaniel retracted his hand slowly, not bothering to exin his actions. He rose to his feet and dered, ¡°I¡¯d like to return to my office to work now.¡± Christina arched a brow. Is he nning on leaving after teasing me just now? She chased after him and embraced him tightly, drawing herself closer to him. Her delicateplexion, petite nose, radiant eyes, and stunning visage entranced himpletely. As her fragrance wafted through his senses, he found himself momentarily lost in a haze. As Christina inched nearer to him, she whispered in his car, ¡°If you touch me without warning next time, I¡¯ll poke you with a pen.¡± With that, she spun on her heels and stalked out of the room. Nathaniel snapped out of his reverie as his lips curved into a smile. Her prickly demeanor, like that of a cactus, added an intriguingyer to her personality, piquing his curiosity even further. He strode out of the conference room and returned to his office. Sebastian soon came in with a cup of coffee. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll leave your coffee here.¡± Taken aback by the sight that greeted him, he put the coffee down wordlessly and walked out of the office. Nathaniel took a sip of the coffee and read some documents. When it was time, he switched on hisputer to start the conference call As the call connected, the managers from the overseas branch were prepared to greet Nathaniel. However, what they saw on the screen left them speechless, their jaws dropping in disbelief. At the same time, Nathaniel noticed a red lipstick stain on the cor of his white shirt through the camera. The color was the same color as Christina¡¯s lipstick today. It turns out she approached me on purpose earlier. Chapter 431 Bad Guy After Mommy Chapter 431 Bad Guy After Mommy Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned dark as he switched off his camera instantly. Without hesitation, he went into the changing room to get changed into a fresh suit before rejoining the conference call. At the same time, Christina was humming pleasantly in her office downstairs. It would certainly be quite a surprise for the employees to witness Nathaniel attending a meeting with a visible lipstick stain on his cor. The typicallyposed and indifferent CEO would be exposed as a hypocritical pervert in secret Let¡¯s see if he ever dares to take advantage of me again in the future. Christina was in a great mood, so work progressed smoothly for her. When it was almost time to get off work, Christina packed her things and left earlier than usual to pick the kids up from kindergarten. She missed the kids terribly after being apart from them the entire day. The three of them hugged each other tightly, and Christina kissed their fluffy cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare a spread for you tonight!¡± ¡°Yay! Mommy is the best!¡± The kids eyes sparkled with delight when they learned that Christina would be bringing them to the supermarket. The supermarket is full of delicious snacks and candy! The kids quickly offered, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯ll help you carry the stuff.¡± ¡°Im going to help, too!¡± ¡°Okay, both of you can help,¡± Christina told them as she buckled them up. After getting into the driver¡¯s seat, she drove away. She went to the nearby supermarket to buy the ingredients to prepare a spread for her children. At the supermarket, she bought many fresh seafood and ingredients. Naturally, she didn¡¯t forget to buy various snacks for the children. It was a fruitful trip for the three of them. In the underground parking lot, Christina told the kids to get into the car before getting two candies for them. ¡°Sit tight. I¡¯ll bring you home after putting the stuff we bought in the trunk,¡± she told them. Christina shut the door and went to the trunk with her shopping bag. Suddenly, she felt a sharp knife pressing at the back of her waist, and a man¡¯s hoarse voice rang out. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Otherwise, I won¡¯t hesitate to kill you.¡± A shiver ran down Christina¡¯s spine as she realized that her parking spot was secluded, making her an easy target for the thief. The kids were still inside the car. Not wanting to alert them, she yed along. ¡°Sir, I can give you my money. Please don¡¯t hurt me!¡± She dared not look back as she retrieved all the cash in her bag and ced it on the hood of the trunk. ¡°Here is all the money I got.¡± The lights in the parking lot were dim, so the sparkling diamond on her finger was pretty obvious. It captured the thief¡¯s attention. ¡°Take off your ring.¡± he urged. Christina covered the ring instinctively. ¡°It¡¯s costume jewelry that isn¡¯t worth much¡­¡± ¡°I said, take it off? Hurry!¡± the thief snapped impatient The children, alerted by themotion, huddled by the back window, their faces filled with panic as they witnessed the thief¡¯s menacing actions toward their mother. Christina motioned for the kids to stay put and slowly pulled out the ring from her ring finger. Right then, a tall figure appeared out of nowhere and kicked the thief away. The thief let out an anguished cry before crashing to the ground. He quickly fled the scene in fear. ¡°Christina, are you okay?¡± Christina swiftly turned her head, but to her dismay, the thief had vanished into thin air by the time she regained her senses. She met Francis worried gaze. He was wearing a mask that concealed half of his face. Tilting her head, Christina asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I was shooting in the studio upstairs and spotted you when I was leaving,¡± Francis exined nonchntly. Christina bobbed her head. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Just saying thank you isn¡¯t enough. Shouldn¡¯t you invite me to dinner at your house?¡± Francis¡¯ lips curled as he inched nearer to her. ¡°You won¡¯t be that ungrateful, right?¡± Christina¡¯s lips twitched in exasperation. ¡°Fine, then.¡± Francis shed a satisfied grin and hopped into the passenger seat. After putting on her ring. Christina kept her cash before returning to the driver¡¯s seat. Once she got into the car, the kids swarmed over to her. ¡°Mommy, are you okay?¡± ¡°Mommy, did you get hurt?¡± Not wanting them to worry, Christina turned over her shoulder to give them a reassuring smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The bad guy has been chased away.¡± Francis took the chance to get into their good books. ¡°I was the one who chased him away. I was capable. Lucas shot him a frosty re. ¡°The thief escaped right after he saw you. Were you in cahoots with him?¡± Francis lips twitched as he let out an icy snort. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Before he could exin. Lucas added. ¡°You didn¡¯t even take action. He ran away the moment he spotted you. It seemed like an act Christina had her back to the thief the whole time and couldn¡¯t see anything. Hearing Lucas words, the started suspecting Francis. Francis wore a pained expression as he bitterly voiced his thoughts. ¡°Maybe he got intimidated by my strong presence. Or perhaps he¡¯s just a coward who only preys on women and not men. Either way, I did manage to save your mommy. It would be nice if you could at least say thank you. Isn¡¯t that a bit rude of you to question me?¡± Lucas couldn¡¯t refute his words and settled back into his seat wordlessly. Christina also felt that it wasn¡¯t right to suspect Francis. She didn¡¯t have any proof to connect him to the matter. #hy would Francis act this childish, though? She started the engine and drove back to the condominium. Around ten minutester, they arrived at their destination and went upstairs. ¡°Come on in.¡± The kids ran into the house with the shopping bags. After entering the house, Christina removed her shoes and opened the shoe cab to realize there was only one pair of men¡¯s slippers. She nced at it before taking out her own slippers. Shutting the door, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any slipper) for you. Come in after taking off your shoes.¡± Francis didn¡¯t mind and walked into the living room after taking off his shoes. Christina went straight to the kitchen. She didn¡¯t forget to remind the kids, ¡°Get Mr. Fernando a ss of water.¡± ¡°Got it, Mommy!¡± Lucas and Cam exchanged a look before shing knowing smiles. Soon, Lucas ced a cup of water in front of Francis. He had used a disposable cup. Cam tilted her head to ask, ¡°Lucas, why didn¡¯t you use a washable cup?¡± Lucas said solemnly. ¡°Mr. Fernando is a guest, and he¡¯ll be leaving soon. Only Daddy gets his own cup.¡± ¡°Oh, Lucas. That¡¯s amazing!¡± Cam praised. Through their conversation, it was clear that the kids were mocking Francis, wanting him to leave their house as soon as possible. s, they had underestimated Francis, unaware of his experience in the entertainment industry. Francis didn¡¯t get upset or angry. In fact, he even gave them a warm smile, ¡°Next time, I¡¯ll buy a set of five cups. That way, I¡¯ll get my own cup when I visit next time.¡± Both kids couldn¡¯t help but wonder how this handsome man could be so thick-skinned. Right then, the doorbell rang. Cam¡¯s eyes lit up as she grabbed a stool and ran over to the door. Hopping onto the stool, she unlocked the door and opened it. ¡°Daddy, a bad guy is after Mommy. Hurry,e on Chapter 432 Our Daddy Is More Handsome Than You Chapter 432 Our Daddy Is More Handsome Than You Nathaniel rushed over when he received the update from Cam. The indifferent expression on his face softened when he saw his child. Cam held Nathaniel¡¯s hand and pulled him in. Daddy¡¯s here now. No one can take advantage of Mommy anymore. She opened the shoe cab and took out Nathaniel¡¯s slippers. ¡°Daddy,e on in.¡± Holding a bag in his hand, Nathaniel walked in, exuding an air of authority as he assumed the role of the master of the house. From the corners of his eyes, he cast a re at Francis and remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t A-list celebrities have more important matters to attend to?¡± The air between them grew tense, thick with unresolved tension. Francis scoffed. ¡°I suppose I should thank you for canceling my sponsorship. Now, I get to spend more time with Christina.¡± Nathaniel narrowed his eyes and stared at him. Apany? Who needs his apaniment? ¡°In fact, Mr. Hadley, I hope you can use your connections to cancel all our endorsements. Not only will I receivepensation, but I¡¯ll also have plenty of time to be with Christina every day,¡± Francis said with a Triumphant smirk, hisughter filled with provocation, Christina, who was standing behind the kitchen door, could feel the tension in the living hall. She had no choice but to separate the two men. ¡°Nathaniel, could you pleasee to the kitchen and help me?¡± Fury surged inside Nathaniel. She wants me to cook for him? Dream on! Observing his steadfast stance, Christina took hold of his hand and pulled him into the kitchen. Once they got to the kitchen, Lucas ran up to Francis and said. ¡°Mr. Fernando, do you have a phone? I¡¯d like to borrow it to capture some pictures of Daddy and Mommy cooking in the kitchen.¡± ¡°They look so sweet together. Could you please take their pictures and print them out? We want to disy them on the wall,¡± Cam added in an innocent voice. The children¡¯s words pierced his heart like a dagger. With a somber expression, Francis rejected their request. ¡°My phone is out of battery, and there¡¯s nothing worth capturing since your daddy isn¡¯t photogenic.¡± Cam widened her eyes and stared at him. ¡°Nonsense! Our daddy is much more handsome than you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk to him anymore. Come, let¡¯s go back to our room.¡± Lucas held her hand and ran back to their room. Christina did not assign any tasks to Nathaniel after pulling him into the kitchen. As the sound of water from the sink trickled down, Christina turned her head and instructed, ¡°Wash the grapes.¡± ¡°He expects my wife to cook for him and wants me to wash fruits for him? Over my dead body! With his hands in his pockets, Nathaniel snorted. He should consider himself lucky I restrained myself from getting physical with him! < 1/3 Chapter 432 Our Daddy Is More Handsome Than You Christina inched closer and whispered. ¡°These are the imported grapes 1 bought. Wash them and eat them before you go out.¡± Concerned that he might be agitated and confront Francis if he had nothing to upy his time. reluctantly sacrificed the expensive grapes she had purchased. she Nathaniel¡¯s anger dissipatedpletely, leaving him filled with an overwhelming sense of joy, much like a child who had just received heartfeltpliments. Opening the refrigerator, he revealed a neatly arranged assortment of fresh ingredients, including a box of grapes After washing them, Nathaniel picked one and gently fed it to Christina. ¡°Try it. It must be extra sweet because I washed it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s extra sweet because it¡¯s expensive.¡± Christina chewed the grape, and her gaze filled with tenderness. As she continued cooking. Nathaniel stood by her side, gently feeding her grapes. No longer bothered by who was right or wrong, they embraced the serenity of the moment, cherishing the warmth that enveloped them. ¡°Could you grab a few eggs from the refrigerator?¡± Christina asked. Nathaniel, having already consumed more than half of the grapes, opened the refrigerator door but failed to locate the eggs. Without making an effort to search, he casually responded, ¡°I don¡¯t see them.¡± Knowing it was futile to ask him for help. Christina turned off the me and walked over. With a nce, she spotted the box of eggs ced beneath the vegetables. She reached out to take it andined. ¡°What did you say just now? You didn¡¯t see-¡± Before she could finish her sentence. Nathaniel abruptly leaned in and captured her lips, silencing her words and enveloping her in a passionate kiss. Her mouth exuded a tantalizing aroma, brimming with the sweet fragrance of grapes. Nathaniel, consumed by desire and forsaking his initial intention, surrendered to an insatiable longing to explore further. Their breaths entwined, merging as one, as if Nathaniel¡¯s essence enveloped Christina¡¯s very soul. The partially ajar refrigerator door obscured the upper halves of their bodies, but the closeness between them left little to the imagination of what they were doing at that moment. Half an hourter, the dining table was adorned with a delectable spread of six dishes. The tantalizing aroma wafted through the air, drawing the two little ones out of their bedroom with excitement. The five of them gathered around the table, and Christina diligently served the children, their faces lighting up with pure happiness. Cam proudly approached her father, her head held high, and fearlessly shared the news. ¡°Daddy, we encountered a robber in the supermarket parking lot earlier. He took Mommy¡¯s money and wanted her ring too. But Mommy refused to take it off because she treasured it so much.¡± Lucas chimed in. ¡°It¡¯s because Mommy cherishes her wedding ring and values her rtionship with Daddy, isn¡¯t it?¡± Christina cleared her throat, cautioning them to be mindful of their words. Since when did they be so talkative? ||| < 2/3 C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 432 Our Daddy Is More Handsome Than You Meanwhile, Nathaniel knitted his brow, his expression inscrutable, making it difficult to discern his thoughts. Christina shifted the tes closer to the children and reminded them, ¡°No talking during the meal.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± The two little ones acknowledged and began eating quietly. The atmosphere at the table was starkly divided. On one side, Christina¡¯s interaction with the children. exuded warmth and affection, creating a heartwarming scene. On the other side, the tension between Nathaniel and Francis lingered throughout the dinner, casting a palpable sense of unease. After the meal, Christina took the two adorable children to bathe and tucked them into bed,pletely disregarding the presence of the two grown men. They can do what they want as long as they don¡¯t start a fight. Once Christina had put the two children to sleep, it was already past nine in the evening. They should be leaving by now, shouldn¡¯t they? As Christina stepped out of the dining area, she observed the two men still seated, their postures rigid and unmoving, resembling frozen sculptures. Nathaniel¡¯s icy gaze fell upon Francis. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± Francis maintained his cautious demeanor, acutely aware of Nathaniel¡¯s nature. He knew that if Nathaniel were to offer him a drink, it would undoubtedly beced with poison. ¡°Don¡¯t consider yourself a true man if you can¡¯t even handle a simple drink,¡± Nathaniel provocatively taunted. ¡°Sure. But I don¡¯t think there¡¯s wine here, right?¡± Francis took a sidelong nce but did not find any wine bottle in the new condominium. A corner of Nathaniel¡¯s lips quirked up. He pulled out a few bottles of wine from his bag and said, ¡°Christina, bring us two sses, please? Christina rose from her seat and made her way to the kitchen, retrieving two sses. She unfastened the cork and poured the wine into the sses, filling them to the brim. The table was filled with an eerie silence as the two of them sat, consumed by their drinks without uttering. a word. What should have been a leisurely moment of sipping wine turned into a battle of wills, as if they harbored a personal vendetta against the alcohol itself, each determined to outdrink the other. Before long, they emptied a bottle of wine to thest drop. Nathaniel remainedposed, his face showing no signs of intoxication. He sat firmly in his seat, as if unaffected by the alcohol. On the other hand, Francis¡¯ face flushed crimson, and the skin on his neck began to redden. He anxiously scratched his neck and asked, ¡°What wine is it?¡± ¡°Rum-infused with juniper berries. Isn¡¯t it especially tasty?¡± Nathaniel raised his cold gaze, his voice falling like a sharp de. Francis¡¯plexion instantly turned pale and then red. He eximed with a hoarse voice. ¡°You know well that I¡¯m allergic to juniper berries. You did this on purpose!¡± Chapter 433 Mommy Is Kind Chapter 433 Mommy Is Kind Nathaniel frowned. ¡°Is that so? How would I remember what you¡¯re allergic to? Rum is made from juniper berries, don¡¯t you know that?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Francis looked thunderous. ¡°You did that on purpose. Nathaniel!¡± Nathaniel had pranked him with juniper berries more than once in their youth, even slipping them into his food just to watch him swell up. Once the symptoms kicked in, he would feel as if he was on fire. Even his breathing would be labored. Christina became rmed when Francis began wheezing. ¡°Allergic reactions are no joke. I¡¯m calling you an ambnce.¡± She picked up her phone, and Francis grabbed her hand and shot her a murderous look. ¡°Don¡¯t call an ambnce. I can¡¯t be on the news.¡± In her anxiety, she had forgotten who Francis was and the kind of attention it would garner if he were hospitalized. Nathaniel flung Francis hand aside impatiently. A cold look of disdain rose in his eyes. How dare he touch her in front of me? Christina was not in the mood to be bothered by that. ¡°I have no antihistamines here. What shall we do?¡± We can¡¯t let his reaction continue. He¡¯s going to go into anaphctic shock if it gets worse. Nathaniel frowned and gazed at Francis as if thetter¡¯s fate was in his hands. The room became so quiet that even their breaths were deafening. The doorbell sounded at that moment, causing Christina¡¯s heart to leap to her throat. Curiously, she left to answer the door. It was Francis¡¯ manager. ¡°Is Francis here?¡± He had rushed over as soon as Nathaniel called him. Christina nodded. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s inside. He had an allergic reaction.¡± Turning pale at the news, he hurried forward to examine Francis, who was by then writhing in agony. ¡°How¡¯re you feeling. Francis? Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±¡° In no shape to and having no reason to stay. Francis allowed his manager to help him to his feet. Christina walked them out. She felt sorry for Francis-as a friend would be-when she saw how much he was suffering. Suddenly, the door mmed shut. ¡°You couldn¡¯t seem to tear your eyes off him, huh?¡± Nathaniel asked in an icy tone. His fury was palpable. In addition to that, his voice ringing with anger made Christina very ufortable. ||| 1/3 Chapter 433 Mommy Is Kind She turned and headed back to the dining table. ¡°Is it fun to be pulling such pranks? He never cares about how anybody else is feeling. I¡¯m wasting my breath. Back then, she would at least fight back, but now she deemed hum a lost cause. To her, the endeavor was akin to expecting a lion to be a meek, docile kitten ¡°Are you feeling sorry for him?¡± Nathaniel was not quite done with Francis. Christina rolled her eyes inwardly. He¡¯ll twist and turn any exnation I provide. I¡¯m better off not saying a word After putting away the dishes, she emerged to find Nathaniel still seated in his chair. ¡°You should be getting home,¡± Christina reminded him, trying to suppress her temper. Nathaniel did not budge. ¡°I can¡¯t drive after drinking,¡± he replied breezily Christina was so angry that her brows quivered. She had a vague suspicion that Nathaniel had nned it from the start as an excuse to remain at her ce. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m going to bed.¡± She turned and entered the master bedroom. When she tried to shut the door, she found it held fast by a powerful arm. Before she could process what was happening, the figure who had blocked the door strode in. Turning around, Nathaniel locked the bedroom door, With a gasp, Christina staggered backward, like a rabbiting face to face with the lion that had invaded its burrow. An oppressive aura began to fill the room. ¡°This is my bedroom,¡± she announced pointedly. Nathaniel tilted his head to the side. His strapping figure remained rooted in front of her. ¡°I know,¡± he said. quickly. Then why aren¡¯t you leaving? Christina realized that she was no match for him once he began acting like that Thus, all she could was remain patient. ¡°This is a three-bedroom ce. The guest room is the one on the right. The bed has fresh sheets on.¡± I couldn¡¯t be any more explicit than this! Nathaniel exhaled through his nose by way of answering. He undid his jacket and then his tie while tilting his neck sideways. His strong, sinewy hands, pure white shirt, and pitch-ck belt were the epitomes of forbidden desire. The light fell on his slender neck and illuminated its sharp angles. His masculine scent spread brazenly through the room like a gust of cold wind. Christina flushed red in an instant. Averting her gaze, she said severely. ¡°You can spend the night next door, or you can head back to Scenic Garden Manor. This is my room.¡± 2/3 Chapter 433 Mommy Is Kind The atmosphere seemed to condense in the wake of her words. Nathaniel undid his belt, then his shirt buttons. Then, turning toward Christina, he closed the distance between them with every stride. Soon, he had drawn so close that she could feel his breath. He did not appear to have heard a word of what Christina had said. Wrapping his slender arms around her waist, he scooped her up with the slightest exertion. cing her on the bed, he smothered her in his vast frame, rendering her meek and helpless as a lamb. ¡°Did you not hear a word of what I said?¡± Nathaniel lowered his chin and ced his lips beside her ear. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. Go to sleep.¡± His low and gentle voice felt like the first breath of spring flitting over Christina¡¯s cars. The panic she felt crupting within her was instantly subdued. Noticing that she was no longer moving. Nathaniel held her closer. The moon was cold and deste that night, but it did nothing to hamper the warmth in the room. Christina felt unnaturally stiff when she awoke the following morning as the rays of dawn streamed in through the blinds, having been forced to remain in the same position all night. Gazing upward, Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face swam into vision. Though his eyes were closed, his expression was peaceful like a sleeping lion¡¯s; it did not affect his majesty in the slightest. Christina gently pried Nathaniel¡¯s arms apart and wriggled out of his embrace. Perhaps due to the state of his intoxication from the night before, he was sleeping soundly. Christina got dressed, then snuck out of the bedroom to prepare breakfast. Upon waking, the children washed up and got smartly dressed in their kindergarten uniforms on their own ord before exiting their bedroom. Like radars, their gaze scanned the living room. ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy, Mommy? Cam asked, rather crestfallen. Lucas pursed his lips. ¡°Mommy must have kicked Daddy out.¡± Cam was disappointed. She med herself for sleeping too early to have assisted her father in spending the night. The children sat at the dining table. Their despondency, while adorable, invoked her pity. Against her better judgment, Christina informed them, ¡°He¡¯s sleeping upstairs. Hurry up and finish your breakfast. I have to send you to school.¡± As if having struck the lottery, Cam almost leaped to her feet with joy. ¡°I knew you wouldn¡¯t have been so cruel to have kicked Daddy out, Mommy.¡± Lucas chimed in. ¡°Well, Mommy couldn¡¯t help being a kind and beautifuldy.¡± Chuckling. Christina stroked the child¡¯s nose. ¡°Sweet talker.¡± Chapter 434 A Foolish Gift Chapter 434 A Foolish Gift Christina led the children out as soon as they finished their breakfast. After dropping the children off at the kindergarten, she returned to the studio and found her desk. spotless, save for a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Christina took a sip and remarked to herself that Rayne¡¯s skills as a barista had improved. Just then, her phone rang: it was Midas, the designer. When she picked up, a suave voice announced, ¡°My friends are having a wee party for me, Christina. Come and join us tonight, would you?¡± Midas spent most of his time abroad. On his asional trips to Chanaea, he would get together with some of his friends. The pair had gotten along well during theirst meeting about design. ¡°Sure. Send me the address,¡± Christina said with a politeugh. ¡°See you tonight.¡± After hanging up, Midas sent an address. Setting her phone aside, Christina turned her attention back to work untilter that afternoon, when she called the butler and tasked him to pick the children up as she had matters to attend to After relegating her instructions, Christina exited her office and went to a mall owned by Hadley Corporation. She headed to a branded store selling apparel for men, picked out a tie clip in the essories section, and had the store assistant gift wrap it. Nathaniel happened to be passing by in the corridor outside the store during an inspection of the mall. He was nked by a group of executives d in suits. Beside him, Sebastian was giving a report on the mall¡¯s annual performance. Nathaniel¡¯s footsteps suddenly came to an abrupt halt. Following his lead, his entourage staggered. The ones at the back nearly lost their footing. Turning around, he caught sight of her familiar silhouette. He saw her paying for something at the counter, and the shop assistant handed her a gift bag. With her purchase, she walked out of there without noticing him. Nathaniel nced up at the shop¡¯s sign and found that it was a store selling men¡¯s apparel. Could she have gotten me a gifi? She must have realized that she was wrong and wants to apologize to me. In a much better mood, Nathaniel smiled to himself before continuing his patrol around the mall. Christina got dressed in a long, red gown. She let her hair down and applied a lip gloss of a faint pink color on her lips. That was the only makeup she wore. Then, she drove to a club in the city and entered the venue after parking. When she arrived, bursts of song and raucous conversation were already sounding from the private room. Midas got up to greet Christina when he saw her enter, then introduced her to his designer friends. < 1/3 Chapter 431 A Foolish Gift Christina enjoyed chatting with the designers. Savoring the jovial atmosphere, she downed several of alcohol ¡°I brought you a gift, Midas. I hope you like it.¡± Christina handed him the bag. Though it¡¯s my first time attending a wee party. I¡¯m sure it¡¯s proper etiquette to bring a gift Midas smiled as he received it. ¡°What a lovely tie clip! I¡¯ll be sure to wear it for my next press conference¡± The value of the gift was not as important to him as the intention of the giver. The private room door slid open to admit a well-dressed figure. Elizabeth strode straight toward Midas, who was engaged in conversation. ¡°Here I am! Sorry for beingte¡± Upon having his conversation interrupted, Midas resumed his usual solemn air as he greeted politely. ¡°Nice to see you. Ms. Bet. Looking up, Christina met Elizabeth¡¯s gaze. The pair did not speak, but the gaze they exchanged was saturated with an explosive tension. Elizabeth caught sight of the gift in Midas hand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you embarrassed to be giving Midas item as a gift?¡± such a tiny She produced her own gift as she spoke. A gold-colored logo attracted the crowd¡¯s attention at once. ¡°Hey, this packaging is this brand¡¯s newest line of products! I heard it isn¡¯t on the market yet!¡± ¡°Well done on getting your hands on it so quickly. Ms. Bet!¡± ¡°Open it! Let¡¯s see what the new product is.¡± Looking immensely pleased with herself, Elizabeth extracted a small, exquisite box from the bag. ¡°I hope you like it. Midas.¡± Initially excited with anticipation, the crowd cringed upon getting a good look at the contents of the box¡­ How could Ms. Bet give something like that as a gift? With his hands on his hips, Midas rolled his eyes. Elizabeth looked as if she had been pped across the face. ¡°Midas¡­¡± Furious, she grabbed Midas¡¯ assistant and demanded, ¡°Isn¡¯t it rude of Midas not to even spare a nce at the expensive gift I bought? Lest you forget, I have hired him at great expense for design works for mypany The assistant appeared conflicted ¡°This isn¡¯t Mr. Midas fault. Ustranasions hate more than anything being gifted ties with diagonal stripes. To them, it is an act of utmost disrespect.¡± Elizabeth froze. She turned even paler. Christina chuckled. ¡°As if not knowing isn¡¯t bad enough, don¡¯t you do your research before buying a gift?¡± Out of all the designs, she has to pick one with diagonal stripes. Dumb*ss. Elizabeth¡¯s rage tightened every line on her face. She looked as if she would lunge forward. Only for the sake of her reputation did she hold back. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. 2/3 Chapter 434 A Foolish Gift Midas¡¯ mood had turned sour. He made no move to ept the gift. Instead, he turned away in a huff. ¡°I still have things with the design to consult you about. Christina. Let¡¯s talk over here.¡± Without sparing Elizabeth another nce, he stepped aside with Christina. The crowd dispersed while exchanging ufortable chuckles. Perhaps due to the pleasantpany they found themselves in, Christina and Midas drank a lot during their conversation. Having realized that she had stayed too long, she departed after bidding the others a hasty farewell. As it waste and she had quite a lot to drink, Christina did not pick up the children. Instead, she hailed a cab back home. Her thoughts were upied with Elizabeth and her idiotic stunt. She was deeply amused by thetter¡¯s indignant embarrassment. Lamenting the wasted opportunity for not remembering to take a picture, Christina unlocked the door. crossed the threshold, and changed into her slippers. Before she took a step toward the living room, the lights came on Christina froze. Her gaze found the figure on the couch. ¡°You gave me quite a fright.¡± Nathaniel was seated on the couch. His hulking frame was as erect as a cial peak. He studied Christina. who was visibly tipsy. ¡°Where have you been? Why are you back sote?¡± I¡¯ve been waiting for almost an hour. Since when is she so fond of gallivanting about? Christina sauntered in. ¡°You can ask my assistant if you would like to be informed of my activities,¡± she said coolly. ¡°Besides, my people are avable to give you a report on my whereabouts any time you like.¡± She poured herself a ss of water. As soon as she set it down. Nathaniel grabbed her wrist. He was scowling like an overbearing parent. ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± ¡°I have a life, and I shouldn¡¯t have to answer to you.¡± Christina wrenched her wrist out of his grasp, displeased. Nathaniel¡¯s patience ran out when she freed herself. Once more, he grabbed her waist and pressed her against the table. From his great height, he surveyed her ruddy cheeks imperiously. ¡°I am your husband. I have a right to know where you are.¡± Chapter 435 You Bought Another Man A Present Chapter 435 You Bought Another Man A Present Christina rolled her eyes at him in response. ¡°You always use that excuse!¡± she protested softly with a pout ¡°All is fair in love and war¡± Nathaniel made no attempts to hide his glee after gaining the upper hand. The two of them were so close to each other that he could feel her breath on his face. Christina couldn¡¯t even tell if it was the alcohol or her anger that made her face burn bright red. ¡°Let go of met It hurts!¡± Nathaniel found himself unable to resist her when he heard those words. Fearing that he was actually hurting her, he quickly released his grip on her. After taking a moment to stabilize herself, Christina red at him cautiously as though he were a burr in her house. Thinking that she had gone to buy him a present, Nathaniel decided to drop the topic and reached his hand out. ¡°All right; let¡¯s put this matter aside for now. Where is it? Give it to me¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Christina asked with a confused frown. ¡°The present. I saw it,¡± Nathaniel replied with a snicker. Still trying to put up an act, is she? Christina massaged her forehead as she exined, ¡°That was a gift I got for Midas.¡± The look on Nathaniel¡¯s face changed as soon as he heard that. ¡°You bought another man a present?¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but be amazed by his ability to get jealous at any given moment over anything at all. The two of them then stood there and stared at each other inplete silence. As Christina had to wake up early for work tomorrow, she decided not to waste any more time arguing with Nathaniel. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. The kids aren¡¯t home tonight, so don¡¯t even think abouting into my room.¡± Christina said as she made her way toward the bedroom She had just stepped through the door when Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and spun her in circles before pinning her down on the bed. Christina didn¡¯t dare move a muscle when she felt his warm breath on her face. Nathaniel then kicked her slippers off and rolled over, pulling Christina into his arms as he saidzily. ¡°I waited over an hour for you, only to find out that you were giving another man a present. I can¡¯t believe you have the audacity to make me sleep in the guest room, Christina! Since when did you be so heartless?¡± Christina was physically weaker, so she didn¡¯t even bother resisting because she wouldn¡¯t be able to break free anyway. All she did was pull her arm out from between them and get into a morefortable position. It didn¡¯t take long for them to both fall asleep that night. Nathaniel was nowhere in sight by the time Christina woke up the next morning. His side of the bed was still slightly warm to the touch, though, Realizing that she was still wearing the gown fromst night. Christina washed up and changed into at 1/3 Chapter 435 You Bought Another Man A Present. fresh set of clothes before leaving the room. The breakfast that Nathaniel bought her had already been laid out on the dining table. After grabbing a quick bite, Christina returned to the studio and got to work. Upon booting up herputer, she saw an email from Azure¡¯s assistant reminding her to pick up the pace. Christina replied to that email with a picture of her design drawing so that they could have a look. The assistant gave her a call shortly after. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli is very satisfied with your design. She even prepared a gift for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just doing my job. My designs cost quite a lot, after all,¡± Christina was rather confident in her own capabilities. ¡°Please ept Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s token of appreciation,¡± the assistant said in a professional tone. Realizing that he was simply trying to do his job, Christina decided not to decline the offer. ¡°All right, then. Please give my thanks to Mrs. Lazuli¡± Feeling satisfied, the assistant then hung up the phone after saying goodbye. Momentster. Rayne entered Christina¡¯s office with an exquisite-looking box ¡°Hi, Christina! The deliveryman said this is for you!¡± Thinking it was probably the present from Azure, Christina nodded and stepped forward to open it. Inside the box were a gorgeous pink dress and crystal shoes. It was incredibly well made in terms of craftsmanship, and the materials used were top-notch as well. Rayne¡¯s eyes went wide instantly. ¡°Is it from Mr. Hadley? He sure is thoughtful?¡± Christina was not expecting Azure to gift her something so expensive. ¡°You seem to have gotten a lot nosiertely,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s in a woman¡¯s nature to be nosy!¡± Rayne stuck her tongue out at Christina before returning to her desk. Christina then ced the box in her dressing room and got back to work. I only have two more weeks left to get this done, so I need to pick up the pace! Julia called when it was almost time to get off work and asked her to bring the kids over for dinner at the Hadley residence. Naturally, Christina did not decline her invitation as she didn¡¯t want her quarrels with Nathaniel to affect his parents and the kids. She packed her stuff and left the office shortly after ending the call. Christina had just reached the elevator when her phone started ringing again. She decided not to answer it when she saw Nathaniel¡¯s name on the caller ID. Christina had just put the phone back into her handbag when the elevator doors opened, and she saw Nathaniel standing in front of her. The air froze with awkwardness when the two of them made eye contact. Nathaniel had a little furrow 2/3 Chapter 435 You Bought Another Man A Present between his eyebrows as he put his phone back into his pocket. ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? Get in.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Christina stepped into the elevator with an icy-cold look on her face. ¡°I¡¯m making a trip to the mall¡± It had been a long time since she visited, so she didn¡¯t want to show up empty-handed. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. Sebastian, pick up the kids from the kindergarten,¡± Nathaniel said. ¡°Understood, Mr. Hadley.¡± The three of them then split up upon arriving at the parking lot. Christina and Nathaniel went to a nearby mall and bought tons of stuff before heading over to the Hadley residence. Their car pulled up outside the house about twenty minutester. Christina saw Julia ying with Lucas and Cam in the courtyard the moment she got out of the car. Cam motioned at Julia to lean in close as she whispered, ¡°Mommy has moved out of Scenic Garden Manor, Grandma! We¡¯re living in a condominium now!¡± Julia gasped in shock when she heard that. What? Since when did the two of them start living separately? This simply won¡¯t do! Lucas quickly stepped forward and exined. ¡°That¡¯s because Daddy made Mommy angry. It¡¯s not her fault¡± I don¡¯t want Mommy and Daddy to live separately either, but I won¡¯t take Daddy¡¯s side unless he learns to treat Mommy right! Julia¡¯s expression slid into a frown. Those two must have gotten into a fight. After giving it some thought, she turned toward the butler and whispered something into his ear. The two kids ran toward Christina the moment they heard the car pull up outside. Christina handed the stuff she bought over to the housekeeper before greeting Julia, ¡°Hi, Mom! Sorry to keep you waiting!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it! Come on in! Dinner is ready!¡± Julia replied as she led Christina and the kids into the house,pletely ignoring Nathaniel. After they were seated at the dining table, the butler ced two bowls of traditional medicine in front of Christina and Nathaniel It had a really strong smell, which was the same as the one the housekeeper served her back at Scenic Garden Manor There¡¯s just no running away from this, huh? Chapter 436 Spiting Christina On Purpose Chapter 436 Spiting Christina On Purpose Chrung had awkward look on her face when she saw the bowl of ck liquid in front of her ¡°Tll have char you guys are having Mom Nathaniel has been working really hardtely, so he needs this stuff more han I do Hek. So the or what it takes for her to think of met Nathaniel arched an eyebrow in response as he lifted his bowl and drank it all in one go. Julia shed him a satisfied smile and patted Christina on the back of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t be silly. Christina! This is good for you!¡± As such, Christina had no choice but to pinch her nose and down her serving of traditional medicine in one go. Despite its awful smell, it actually tasted somewhat sweet. ¡°Why don¡¯t you two stay the night here instead?¡± Julia suggested. ¡°Yay¡¯ We want to stay the night here and listen to Grandma¡¯s stories!¡± Lucas and Cam eximed excitedly before Christina could even respond. Seeing as the kids were incredibly enthusiastic about staying over, Christina agreed to it as well. The two kids then had Julia read them stories after dinner. Since she didn¡¯t get to spend time with them very often, she was more than happy to oblige. Christina spent the rest of the evening editing a design drawing on her tablet. She was so engrossed in her work that it was already night before she knew it. Suddenly, Yerck sent her a text message that read: Have you taken a look at the file I sent you? The look in Christina¡¯s eyes grew cold when she saw his message. Had he not brought it up, she would havepletely forgotten about the news she saw a while back. She then replied coldly Just get to the point. I don¡¯t have time for your riddles. Yerek texted almost instantly: Why don¡¯t you ask Nathaniel? Christina fell into deep thought after reading that message of his. Suddenly, Nathaniel opened the door and entered the room. Christina quickly closed the chat window and put the tablet away. ¡°Why are you still up?¡± Nathaniel asked. Christina propped her chin up with one hand and gave it some thought before asking. ¡°One of Hadley Corporation¡¯s buildings copsed about twenty years ago. Do you know anything about that incident?¡± As the lighting was di where Nathaniel stood, half of his body was obscured by the shadow. ¡°Yes, I do. One of our contractors was cutting corners, and the poorly-constructed building copsed as a result. Hadley Corporation paid for thepensation afterward, he replied calmly as though it wasn¡¯t something worth mentioning at all His statement matched the information that Christina had found on the inte. ¡°Oh, I see. I read an article about it online, so I just thought I¡¯d ask you about it. Good night.¡± She shoved her tablet into her handbag and climbed into bed after saying that. ||| 1/3 Chapter 136 Spiting Christina On Purpose The look in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned gloomy as he watched her from where he stood. The bed was empty by the time Christina woke up the next morning. The butler told her when she went downstairs that Nathaniel had left the house very early that morning to take care of some business at work. After having breakfast, Christina brought Lucas and Cam back to their condominium. Nathaniel would head back to the condominium for lunch and dinner whenever he was free, but he would return to the office immediately after. He was so busy with work that he hardly stayed over. Christina, on the other hand, worked on the gown that she needed toplete before the end of the month. She contacted Azure¡¯s assistant and offered to bring the gown over so Azure could try it out. It didn¡¯t take long for the assistant to make the arrangements and send a car over to pick her up. The car pulled up outside Azure¡¯s mansion about twenty minutester. Apart from Azure and the assistant, Christina saw a third person in the living room with them. The woman seemed to be about the same age as Christina and had wavy hair thatplemented her exquisite facial features. She was dressed like a princess and sat right next to Azure, ¡°I heard you ordered a new gown, Grandma! I came all the way here today just to help you judge it!¡± Anya Gibson said coquettishly. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll try it on in a bit, Azure replied with a chuckle. Christina stepped forward and greeted them politely before presenting the three gowns she made, The high-quality silk appeared somewhat shiny under the bright lighting of the living room. Despite the fabric being rather thick, it was very lightweight and felt extremelyfortable to the touch. The unique patterns on the gown were hand-sewn by Christina herself. Anya walked up to the gowns and shot them an icy-cold re before saying disdainfully. ¡°These gowns are far inferiorpared to the ones Grandma owns! In fact, you could probably get these off the inte for less than a few hundred!¡± Christina¡¯s face clouded over the moment she heard that. What? How could you possibly find something of such high quality for less than a few hundred? That wouldn¡¯t even be enough to pay for the materials! Azure ignored Anya¡¯sment and stepped forward to take a closer look at the gowns. ¡°It looks a lot better than I expected, she said while admiring their unique patterns. The assistant nodded in agreement. ¡°Would you like to give them a try?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As soon as Azure left the living room, Anya eyed Christina from head to toe and said with a sneer, ¡°It¡¯s just as I had expected. You look just like any other ordinary woman.¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± Christina asked in confusion. ||| < 2/3 57% Chapter 435 Spiting Christina On Purpose 15 Bonus ¡°There are tons of scandals about you and Francis online, so it¡¯s not that hard to look you up. Have you no shame?¡± Anya replied disdainfully after a brief pause. As Christina¡¯s gaze fell upon Anya¡¯s phone case, she noticed that it had a picture of Francis on it. Is she trying to spite me because of the scandals she saw online? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Their conversation was interrupted when the assistant came over and said, ¡°Ms. Steele, Mrs. Lazuli would like to see you in the study.¡± Christina nodded and followed the assistant up the stairs. The decor in the study had a vintage look to it. The curtains made of satin gave it an elegant look, and the reed diffuser in the background exuded a soothing aroma that filled the room entirely. Azure changed back into her casual clothes after trying on all the gowns. ¡°The measurements are all correct. My assistant will wire you the rest of the money afterward.¡± She then retrieved an invitation card from her drawer and handed it to Christina. ¡°I forgot to give you this when I sent you the gown the other day. I hope you will attend my birthday banquet.¡± Azure exuded a gentle and elegant vibe when she said that. l be there for sure. Since the gowns do not need alterations, I¡¯ll be heading back now,¡± Christina replied while receiving the invitation card. She was about to head down the stairs when she bumped into Anya, who happened to be going upstairs. The look on Anya¡¯s face was frozen in shock when she saw the invitation card. ¡°You are unworthy of attending Grandma¡¯s birthday banquet!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for you to decide,¡± Christina replied with an icy-cold look in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m her granddaughter, so I have every right to make that decision! Give me the invitation card!¡± Anya retorted and reached out to snatch the invitation card. ¡°Please stop this nonsense, Ms. Gibson,¡± Christina said while moving out of the way. ¡°Do you think you can make it into the upper ss by buttering up my grandma? Dream on!¡± Anya shouted while giving Christina a hard shove on the shoulder. Although Christina had instinctively grabbed the railing to reduce her backward momentum, she still ended up falling down the stairs. A sharp pain shot through her body as her wrist got twisted from the fall. Christina red coldly at Anya at the bottom of the stairs. She definitely did that on purpose! Azure and the assistant came running out of the study after hearing themotion. ¡°What happened here? Hurry up and call an ambnce!¡± she eximed in panic when she saw Christina sitting on the floor. Chapter 437 Carrying You Is Faster Chapter 437 Carrying You Is Faster Jute w the first to rush to Christina¡¯s side and ask worriedly. ¡°Where are you hurt, Christina! I¡¯ll send you to the hospital right away¡± My hand hurts a lot Christina felt like she had a pulled hand tendon, her hand immobilized by the excruciating pain Azure¡¯s assistant promptly told the driver to prepare the car while several housekeepers helped Christina back to her feet Anya stared at Christina condescendingly. It¡¯s just a few steps. The fall didn¡¯t even cause her much harm. What a phony¡¯ She leisurely walked down the stairs before faking concern and inquiring. ¡°Are you all right. Ms. Steele? Why didn¡¯t you watch where you were going?¡± Christina, who had just been helped up from the floor, had a frosty expression as she replied tly. ¡°Anyone who is pushed all of a sudden is surely to fall, don¡¯t you think?¡± She had no intention of brushing the matter off. Even if she¡¯s Ms. Gibson, I still won¡¯t show her any mercy. Azure inhaled sharply as she stared at her granddaughter in disbelief. ¡°Anya, why did you push Christina?¡± Anya returned her gaze with an aggrieved look, tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, Grandma! Why did you wrong me, Ms. Steele?¡± Azure was immediately put in a difficult position. Just then, her assistant walked in hastily and informed her. ¡°The car is ready. We¡¯re taking Ms. Steele to the hospital first, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With that, Azure and her assistant escorted Christina out. Jealousy raged within Anya when she saw how much her grandmother cared about Christina. Her aggrieved expression faded only when no one was left in the living room. She coldly wiped her tears. before following them. When Christina arrived at the hospital, the doctor immediately had her take an X-ray. Fortunately, she did not have a fracture, but she did have a sprain, so she had to rest for some time. The doctor applied some ointment and bandaged the injured joint before advising her, ¡°Remember not to use force on this hand when you go back. You must rest it for more than a week before using it.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Christina replied. Worry appeared on Azure¡¯s face when she heard that, ¡°Doctor, will this keep her from drawing?¡± Christina could not afford to hurt her hand as a designer. Anya grabbed her grandmother¡¯s hand and brought the elderlydy to her side, saying aggrievedly. ¡°She hurt her left hand, Grandma. How can that keep her from drawing¡± Christina¡¯s expression darkened, showing her displeasure. Even if it wasn¡¯t the hand I used to draw that was injured, I still can¡¯t let it go. O < 1/3 Chapter 437 Carrying You Is Faster Only after the doctor had left did Azure ask the two younger women about the incident. Anya spoke first anxiously. ¡°Ms. Steele missed a step by ident. I kindly went to her aid, but she used me of pushing het¡± After saving that, she sobbed aggrievedly on Azure¡¯s shoulder once more. Christina let out a snort Shes so good at twisting the truth She should just be an actress, Since the living room had no surveince cameras, Anya could say whatever she liked. She even smiled smugly at Christina from an angle where no one could see her. Christina furrowed her brows slightly as her tone turned frosty. ¡°Why should I wrong you when we don¡¯t know one another? Do you have a persecutory delusion disorder, Ms. Gibson? Or amnesia after doing something bad?¡± The air seemed to freeze around them, and just as Azure was lost in a dilemma, the emergency room door burst open. Christina lifted her gaze and was greeted by the sight of Nathaniel walking toward her anxiously. He pushed aside everyone around her before sitting beside her. ¡°Where are you hurt?¡± he asked worriedly. A strong sense of oppression filled the emergency room the minute his tall figure appeared. Anger was written all over his stern face, and his deep gaze was like a bottomless abyss. A single look from him could. strangle someone in that darkness. The imposing aura he exuded made the people present hold their breaths. Christina lifted her injured hand andined, ¡°I sprained it.¡± The gauze emitted a sharp medicinal scent. Nathaniel appeared even angrier than when he was injured. and asked through gritted teeth, ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°Ms. Gibson.¡± This time, Christina did not give Anya a chance to speak. Azure was aware of Nathaniel¡¯s identity and surprisingly felt a sense offort when she saw how concerned he was for Christina. Anya was so startled by the aura of the man before her that she hid behind her grandmother as if she was the one who was hurt earlier. ¡°I¡¯m scared, Grandma.¡± Christina found her reaction amusing. Finally feeling scared, huh? Weren¡¯t you still acting arrogant just now? She had never liked arguing about right or wrong, but she would not let herself be bullied either. Azure did not wish to exacerbate the situation, so she opted to calm things down before making a decision. ¡°This matter hasn¡¯t been sorted out yet.¡± Nathaniel raised his emotionless gaze and responded in a chilly tone. ¡°My wife was injured at your house. It¡¯s not something that can be resolved with just a simple sentence. How will I know if you won¡¯t harbor the wrongdoer?¡± As he spoke, his frosty gaze fell on Anya. 2/3 Chapter 437 Carrying You Is Faster An elderlydy like Azure could stay calm in any situation, much less when the person facing her was a man in his thirties. Belonging to N?velDrama.Org. Il investigate and provide you with a reasonable exnation,¡± she promised calmly. With her grandmother¡¯s support. Anya felt more at ease. Grandma will never send me out to be punished. ¡°Ill ept that. You only have three days. If you don¡¯t give a clear exnation, don¡¯t me me for being ruthless, Nathaniel said in a warning tone. With that, he lifted Christina into his arms and strode out. After they left the emergency room. Christina suddenly tugged on Nathaniel¡¯spel. ¡°I forgot to collect the medicine,¡± she uttered. ¡°I¡¯ll get it. Wait for me here. He ced her on a chair in the corridor before taking off his suit jacket and draping it on her thin shoulders ¡°Ill be quick. With that, he strode away. Christina felt a rush of warmth inside her as she stared at his retreating back. Due to her petite figure and being covered by a jacket, it was hard to spot her if one was not paying attention. Suddenly, a ck figure walked past her. The man¡¯s hurried footsteps caught Christina¡¯s attention. She was surprised when she looked up at him. Isn¡¯t that Yerek? She watched as he walked briskly and bumped into Anya when he arrived at the intersection of the corridor. They exchanged nces and said something to one another before entering the elevator together. Christina was puzzled. Do they know one another? They have the same surname, so could they be rtives? Just as she was pondering about that, Nathaniel returned with the medicine. ¡°I can walk by myself.¡± Christina stood up as soon as she said that, but the next moment, her feet had left the ground. Nathaniel lifted her into his arms, pressing their bodies so close that the warmth and sound of his heartbeat thundered in her ear. ¡°It¡¯s faster if I carry you.¡± After leaving the hospital entrance, Nathaniel carried Christina into the car. ¡°Go back to Scenic Garden Manor,¡± he instructed. The driver quickly started the car and drove off. He held her hand and inquired with his brows furrowed slightly, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He could not hide the worry in his gaze, as if his precious treasure had shattered into pieces. Chapter 438 Not Forever Chapter 438 Not Forever Christina nodded. What happened earlier had been shocking to her, too; she had never expected Anya to push her. ¡°Can you find out what¡¯s the rtionship between Yerek and Anya?¡± Christina asked, not at all concerned about her injuries. Nathaniel furrowed his brows before answering. ¡°They¡¯re cousins.¡± No wonder they acted like they knew each other. Christina felt as if her mind was fogged up. It was as though she had figured something out, but not at the same time. All of a sudden, a warm handnded between her eyes and rubbed the bridge of her nose. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Rest for a while.¡± Then, Christina¡¯s shoulders were held by a pair of hands, and she was pulled closer to Nathaniel¡¯s chest. On the other side, the second Yerek and Anya returned to the room, they locked the door and went straight to the topic. Yerek frowned and said. ¡°Anya, you¡¯re too rash. If they¡¯re to settle the score, you¡¯ll be crushed.¡± ¡°Yerek, whose side are you on? Didn¡¯t you know that Grandma invited her to the birthday party? How can you ask her toe on such an important day? Maybe they¡¯re trying to reveal the fact that Christina¡¯s the daughter of the Gibson family,¡± Anya gritted out, wishing that she had crippled Christina earlier, The look in Yerck¡¯s eyes darkened as disappointment seeped into his voice. ¡°That¡¯s a fact, and there¡¯s nothing we can do if Grandma wants to acknowledge her identity.¡± What happened back then could not be kept under wraps forever. Every cell in Anya hated the idea. ¡°I don¡¯t want Christina to join the Gibson family. The mistake of her being brought to the wrong family should have just continued. Why does she have toe and disrupt. our lives?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mad about it anymore. Instead, we should think about how Nathaniel can be dealt with. He¡¯s not an easy man to get rid of,¡± Yerek said, changing the topic. Anya folded her arms and scoffed. ¡°Is there really a need to be afraid of him? Grandma will surely help us. Christina only had a short nap before she woke. More urately, she woke because of the pain in her wrist When she thought about the abruptness of her injury, she told herself that she had to hold Anya. ountable for the incident. Just then, Nathaniel opened the door and came in with oatmeal. ¡°Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± After all, Christina had hurt her left wrist; it would not impede her from taking care of herself on a daily basis. ||| 1/4 15:56 Fri, Jun 2 Chapter 438 Not Forever 15 Bonus As Nathaniel sat beside her, he lowered his head and gently scooped a spoonful of oatmeal before lifting the spoon to her lips. ¡°If you feel shy about me feeding you, you can do the same to me next time Amused. Christina chuckled and parted her lips to eat it. Her stomach was empty, so just as the first scoop of warm food entered it, she began feeling hungry. In no time, she finished the oatmeal. Putting down the bowl, Nathaniel then cleaned her lips with a napkin. ¡°Have a rest, but take your meds. before you go to sleep¡± His gentle tone was unlike his usual icy voice. For the first time, Christina realized he seemed like a good caretaker. If he was less aggressive on other days, she might not hate him as much. Three days went by in the blink of an eye. Christina¡¯s injuries recovered faster than she imagined. She had been living at Scenic Garden Manor recently, so Lucas and Cam thought that their parents finally stopped fighting. On the weekend, while she was having her breakfast, Christina sat in the courtyard and watched the two children y ser. As the breeze blew and the sun shone on them, Christina noted the way the children¡¯s shadows were cast on the grass. A momentter, Cam ran over andined, ¡°Mommy, Lucas is being mean to me! He won¡¯t let me y with the ball!¡± Cam was a girl, and she was slower than Lucas, so she had not been able to get the ball the entire morning. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re too slow! You better blow bubbles instead of trying to get the ball from me,¡± Lucas retaliated, sweat beading on his forehead. He was still gripping tightly to his ball. Christina reached out to wipe their foreheads with a handkerchief. Chuckling, she then said, ¡°You¡¯re all sweaty. Don¡¯t run anymore. Go back inside to have a drink instead.¡± The children nodded obediently and went inside with the butler for a ss of water. Right then, engine sounds came from the outside, and an elegant silhouette came out of the car. Behind Azure was a visibly unhappy Anya. Christina walked over to them, sure that they hade because of the pushing incident. ¡°Come on in.¡± Christina then went inside and instructed the butler to bring the children up before asking the maids to brew some tea. Azure said, ¡°Christina, Anya didn¡¯t mean to push you. Please forgive her.¡± As she spoke, she gave Anya a side-eye. Anya was clearly unwilling to apologize, but her grandmother pressured her into speaking. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it the other day. Sorry¡± ||| 2/4 Chapter 438 Not Forever Christina arched a brow when she heard the insincerity in Anya¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you expecting us to forgive you with just that?¡± As the cold voice came from a distance away, a stern Nathaniel appeared by the stairwell. The atmosphere turned tense. Both Azure¡¯s and Anya¡¯s expressions darkened. Looking at them frigidly. Nathaniel cenunued, ¡°Do you think an apology will suffice after hurting my wife¡¯s hand?¡± Forcing away the annoyance in her chest, Anya turned to Christina and uttered, ¡°I¡¯ve already apologized. What else do you want?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina had never seen anyone as shameless as Anya. Thetter had hurt someone else, but she was making herself sound like the victim instead. Hence, instead of answering Anya, Christina looked at her with equal iciness. Nathaniel then walked over to sit by Christina¡¯s side, a silent sign of his support for her. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Leave your hand here.¡± The second the unhesitant words came out of Nathaniel¡¯s mouth, Anya¡¯s heart lurched, and she nearly burst into frightful tears. The man was handsome, but he was one heartless individual. She could not believe that he was asking her to chop off her hand. Azure¡¯s face darkened. How dare Nathaniel speak such bold words while I¡¯m still here? In her fury, she smacked her hand on the table and demanded, ¡°Mr. Hadley, have some mercy. While it¡¯s good for young ones to have bravery, it¡¯s another story if they¡¯re ignorant.¡± The Gibson family was powerful; they did not need to fear the Hadley family. Nheless, the cial hint in Nathaniel¡¯s gaze only turned even more intense. A beatter, Azure put the invitation letter on the table and turned toward Christina before speaking in at softer tone. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a proper exnation. Pleasee on time.¡± Christina bobbed her head. ¡°I will.¡± With that, Azure stood up and turned to leave. Anya hurried after her, fearing that Nathaniel would skin. her alive if she were a second too slow to leave. It was only after the two were far from them did Christina pick up the invitation letter to look at it. She wondered, Mrs. Lazuli has been insisting on my attendance at the birthday party. Is there something important she wants to tell me? Meanwhile, on their way back, Anya held Azure¡¯s hand and queried, ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re not thinking about announcing Christina¡¯s identity, right?¡± Azure¡¯s gaze darkened. She questioned, ¡°Have you already found out that Christina¡¯s the eldest daughter of the Gibson family? Is that why you pushed her?¡± Chapter 439 Christina Is Part Of The Gibson Family Chapter 439 Christina Is Part Of The Gibson Family Azure¡¯s expression clouded over as she remarked sternly. ¡°Anya. I know this may be hard for you to ept at the moment, but Christina is part of the Gibson family. She¡¯s my granddaughter, and this is an indisputable fact.¡± Having been lectured by her headstrong grandmother, Anya dared not retaliate. I¡¯ll just go along with her for now. So what if Christina ends up being part of the household? I have my ways to kick her out. With that in mind, she concealed the displeasure on her face and put on a well-behaved demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re right, Grandma. I¡¯ll be sure to get along with Christina.¡± Hearing that, Azure nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯m d you understand where I¡¯ming from. Be nice to each other.¡± ¡°Anything you say!¡± Anya replied cutely, cing her head on the elderly woman¡¯s shoulder. Azure¡¯s birthday arrived in the blink of an eye. Christina put on a stunning gown that was tailored to fit her perfectly, and it had a slit that revealed her slender legs. With the dress and a pair of heels on, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale, The woman grabbed the present she had prepared, left her office, and headed straight to Azure¡¯s mansion by car. Guests had filled the entire front yard by the time she arrived, and the ce was filled with sounds of chattering andughter. Even so, everyone¡¯s gazes fell on Christina as soon as she walked in. Anya, who was in the middle of talking to her friends, instantly looked grim as she saw the woman. She¡¯s actually wearing thetest high-end gown and limited edition heels? Everything she has on costs more than what I¡¯m wearing! Why is she dressed as if she¡¯s the host? She¡¯s just a guest! ¡°Christina Steele? What is she doing here?¡± Elizabeth thought she was seeing things. ¡°You know her?¡± Anya asked in return, not mentioning Christina¡¯s true identity. ¡°I don¡¯t just know her. I despise her.¡± Elizabeth stated matter-of-factly. ¡°What a coincidence! I hate her too.¡± A smirk crept across Anya¡¯s face. The mere thought of Christina embarrassing her made her blood boil. Then, she leaned into Elizabeth¡¯s car. ¡°How about we think of a way to mess with her?¡± The two women exchanged nces and smiled, clearly having the exact same idea in mind. As Christina walked into the living room and spotted Azure in the middle of a conversation with other guests, she stood nearby and waited patiently. Before long, the old woman noticed her and exchanged a few more pleasantries with the guests before walking over to her. ¡°Christinal You look so gorgeous today.¡± ¡°Thank you. I wish you the happiest of birthdays. May you always be in good health,¡± Christina responded. while handing her gift over. 1/3 Chapter 439 Christina Is Part Of The Gibson Family ¡°That¡¯s so thoughtful of you. It¡¯s almost time to cut the cake. I want you next to me when that happens.¡± Azure requested with a smile so tender that one couldn¡¯t bear to turn her down. ¡°Sure, Mrs. Lazul¡± Christina was slightly puzzled. Does the like me just because she¡¯s proud of the dress I made for her, or is she trying to be nice hoping that I wouldn¡¯t dwell on Anya¡¯s little antics? Well, I guess I¡¯ll find out by the end of this party Christina didn¡¯t enjoy socializing, so she found a spot and sat down. Then. Anya and Elizabeth approached her and took a seat at the same table. Elizabeth ced a ss of red wine in front of her. ¡°What a coincidence seeing you here! Let¡¯s have a drink together.¡± Christina merely eyed the ss. ¡°We¡¯re not so close that we¡¯d drink together, are we?¡± she asked frostily. There was no way she would drink the red wine when these two women had such malicious looks on their faces. Anya tensed up. ¡°Are you seriously going to turn down someone¡¯s generosity, Christina?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Who does she think she is? She¡¯s already snubbing me before even joining the family. How worse will things getter on? I¡¯m going to teach her a lesson today. Christina rolled her eyes internally. ¡°That also depends on who¡¯s being generous to me.¡± Unable to hold her temper, Elizabeth picked up her ss and swung it at Christina. Yet, thetter swiftly evaded her, grabbed the ss of wine in front, and sshed its contents at her. Elizabeth couldn¡¯t react quickly enough, and before she realized it, she had already swallowed a few sips of the wine and was now in tears after choking. Her gown was also ruined, and she looked as though she had just crawled out of a sewer. The woman grew livid at once. ¡°Christina, you b*tch! How dare you do this to me? I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± she screamed, mming a palm onto the table and jumping up in fury. Then, she lunged at Christina. Bodyguards who had overheard themotion rushed over and stopped her from nearing Christina. ¡°Please calm down, Miss!¡± they kept advising. Christina hurriedly got up from her seat and stepped back, distancing herself from Elizabeth. This girl¡¯s such an uncultured nutcase. Anya stared at Elizabeth, her face turning pale. ¡°Stop it,¡± she whispered. ¡°We have to get out of here! That ss of wine-¡± Before she could finish, Elizabeth suddenly stopped clenching her teeth and turned around, throwing herself into a bodyguard¡¯s arms. Her cheeks were red and her eyes had turned bloodshot, making her look like a crazed feline. She would tug at her own clothes before grabbing onto the bodyguard¡¯s suit. 2/3 ||| O < 15 56 Fri, Jun 2 Chapter 139 Christina Is Part Of The Gibson Family ¡°Wow, Mister Your chest is rock-hard. How about we get a room and have some fun?¡± she suggested coyly, her eyes in a daze The guard was terrified by her sudden behavior. ¡°Please behave yourself, Miss!¡± Even so, the woman felt as though her body was on fire. It didn¡¯t take her many attempts to unbutton his clothes, and she began to giggle while caressing his toned muscles. Other guests walked over upon hearing all the noise, and they were bewildered as soon as they recognized Elizabeth She¡¯s the precious daughter of the Bet family! How could she behave in such a vulgar manner in front of everyone? Seeing the crowd grow, Anya hastily walked up and grabbed Elizabeth by the arm. ¡°Stop it, Elizabeth! Everyone¡¯s watching you!¡± s, how could someone who had lost her mind still be mindful of her actions? Elizabeth was now in her own world and had no idea what she was doing. ¡°Hurry! Take her to the hospital!¡± Anya instructed security. With that, the guards took the crazed woman away immediately. Christina¡¯s brows furrowed as she watched the scene. Why did she go mad all of a sudden? It¡¯s as if she ate something she shouldn¡¯t have. Then, she gasped as realization dawned on her. It was the wine! She started going crazy soon after I sshed some of it in her mouth. That exins why they tried to make me drink it! Chapter 440 Kill Her Chapter 440 Kill Her It was only then did Christina realized what was going on. They¡¯re so evil! Anya and Elizabeth tried to use such a despicable trick to make me humiliate myself in public! With that in mind, Christina lifted her gaze and met Anya¡¯s. She then approached thetter and sneered, ¡°That¡¯s a taste of your own medicine¡± ¡°Just you wait, Christina. This is not over¡± Anya grumbled and left. After themotion, the main event started. With a birthday song ying in the background, the crowd slowly moved toward Azure.. Right then, Azure¡¯s assistant said to Christina, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli is asking for you. Please go to her.¡± Christina nodded, walked toward Azure, and stood beside her. Once the birthday song ended, the crowd urged, ¡°Make a wish! Make a wish!¡± Azure smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me, everyone. I¡¯m thrilled because not only is today my birthday, but I¡¯ve also found my biological granddaughter!¡± The crowd was puzzled. We never heard anything about Mrs. Lazuli having another granddaughter. Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Azure in baillement. Right then, Azure shifted her gaze toward Christina and said, ¡°My granddaughter is standing next to me. She¡¯s Christina!¡± Everyone at the scene was stupefied. What? That girl is so lucky! Who knew she could be an heiress of the almighty Gibson family? She¡¯s set for life! Meanwhile, Christina was utterly stunned. Is this a joke? ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, could there have been a mistake?¡± Christina asked in disbelief. Since when have I be an heiress of the Gibson family? However, the elderlydy replied firmly and calmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t make a mistake. I did a paternity test, and it¡¯s true. You¡¯re my granddaughter!¡± Not only did Azure do a paternity test, but she also looked into what had happened back then. Christina was definitely her granddaughter. Before Christina could question Azure further, the crowd congratted the older woman by saying. ¡°Congrattions, Mrs. Lazuli! That¡¯s another good news to celebrate today! From now on, you¡¯ll have another granddaughter to share the happiness of your life with!¡± Azure smiled brightly and told her assistant to distribute slices of birthday cake to the guests. After that, she brought Christina, who was still in batllement, to the study on the second floor. Azure closed the door behind them and locked it from the inside. With a frown, Christina looked at the elderly woman puzzledly and uttered, ¡°I think I deserve an exnation.¡± 0 1/3 Chapter 440 Kill Her Azure knew Christina wouldn¡¯t believe her, so she took the paternity test report out of her safe and gave it to thetter ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you¡¯re more than wee to have a strand of my hair to conduct another paternity test. The emerald pendant you¡¯re wearing is a family heirloom that belongs to the Gibson family. Back then, I gave it to your mom, and your mom gave it to you.¡± Christina stared at the report and fell into deep thought. Mom said I wasn¡¯t a descendant of the Steele family. and she also told me my pendant had something to do with my family background. Did Mom know I was a descendant of the Gibson family right from the start? Christina took a deep breath and tried to process the information she found hard to believe. After keeping quiet for quite some time, she lifted her head to reveal an inexplicable look in her eyes. ¡°If I¡¯m a descendant of the Gibson family, why have none of you looked for me prior to this? Why have you only found me now?¡± Azure¡¯s gaze darkened, and she uttered tly. ¡°The nurse mistaken your identity back then. In order to not upset your mom, your dad adopted a baby boy from the orphanage. I only found out about this a while. after. Once I learned about what had happened, I searched for you. However, despite years of effort, nothing came up¡­ When I finally found you, I was eager to acknowledge you,¡± Her eyes turned gloomy when she recalled the past. ¡°Where are my parents, then?¡± Mixed emotions filled Christina as she gripped the paternity test report. _tightly. Why didn¡¯t I see them during the birthday banquet? Azure frowned deeply as her painful memories came back to haunt her. ¡°Quite a few years ago, your parents were caught in andslide, and your mom died protecting your dad. Your dad became crippled. and he¡¯s now in a wheelchair. Therefore, he doesn¡¯t like attending social events.¡± Christina¡¯s face went pale when she heard those words. I thought I could reunite with my family, and I pictured a joyful scene. This is not what I had in mind. She stood frozen on the spot for some time. By the time she came back to her senses, her legs had already. gone numb. ¡°So¡­ Where¡¯s Dad now? May I see him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the room on the third floor,¡± Azure replied, her voice in a whisper. Christina hesitated for a while before turning around to leave the study. Although the stairs to the third. floor were only a dozen steps, it felt like forever for her. Memories from the past were shing across her mind as she walked up the stairs. Finally, she arrived in front of a door that was left open. The lights were dim, but she could clearly see the man in a wheelchair inside the room. Instead of looking old and haggard due to his age, the man looked mature and steady. When Christina met the man¡¯s gaze, she couldn¡¯t help gasping. Prior to that, she always thought she didn¡¯t look simr to Gideon or Sharon, but she never thought too much about it. At that moment, however, she was shocked to see how simr her facial features were to the man¡¯s. Timothy Gibson was also stunned. After staring back at Christina for some time, he uttered in his hoarse voice, ¡°Come here, my daughter.¡± ||| 2/3 Chapter 440 Kill Her Christina walked into the room and kneeled next to his legs. ¡°D-Dad,¡± she stammered. ¡°Oh. My beloved daughter¡­¡± The two hugged each other tightly for a long while. Time seemed to slip away unnoticed, and they remained like this until the moonlight grew deeper and hazier. Timothy then wiped her tears away and said, ¡°It¡¯s great I¡¯ve finally found you. I thought I would never see you again.¡± Christina sniffled and nodded. After that, he patted her head and her shoulders before saying gently. ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯ll get the driver to send you home. Would you visit me again tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Christina rose to her feet, wiped away her tears, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a move, Dad¡­ With that, she went downstairs. The driver was waiting for her, and he opened the car door for her to bring her home. Meanwhile, Anya was standing on the balcony on the second floor, staring at the car as it drove off. With a murderous look in her eyes, she grumbled, ¡°Christina is indeed a capable woman. I wonder what she told Grandma. Why did Grandma arrange for a car to send her home?¡± Yerek swirled his wine and replied in a deep and vicious tone, ¡°Well, she¡¯s a part of the Gibson family now, after all.¡± ¡°Yerck, Grandma will kick you out of the Gibson family now that Christina is back. Why didn¡¯t you kill her before Grandma could find her?¡± Anya had thought about that repeatedly. Everything was wonderful in the Gibson family until Christina appeared and messed things up.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Chapter 441 Go Back And Ask Nathaniel Chapter 441 Go Back And Ask Nathaniel Yerek¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Do you think Grandma didn¡¯t know about these things? She¡¯s much smarter than Although their grandmother was getting old, she was a very sensible and reasonable person. ¡°Grandma said that if you don¡¯t marry Christina you will never inherit the Gibson family business and shares. Yerek, I don¡¯t want you to leave the family.¡± At the thought of that, Anya could not conceal the traces of disappointment in her eyes. Christina was someone she loathed, after all. She¡¯s not even that important of a person! Who cares if shees back? Why must Grandma like her so much? Yerck chuckled lightly as an unfathomable glint shed across his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t be easy for Christina to walk away with the Gibson family¡¯s shares.¡± Meanwhile, it was veryte when Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor. Once she entered the house, the dim lights were immediately turned on. Nathaniel sat on the couch, and his gaze fell on Christina¡¯s exhausted expression and wet eyshes, ¡°Did someone bully you?¡± His tone was stern as if he would punish the person who bullied Christina when she replied to him. She paused and replied softly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± For the time being, she could not wrap her head around the fact that she was a member of the Gibson family, so she decided to inform Nathaniel about it at ater time. He beckoned to her with his finger. His toneced with a hint of authority, the man instructed, ¡°Come over here.¡± Christina walked over to him because she didn¡¯t have the energy to argue with him after her exhausting night. When she got closer, Nathaniel reached out to grab her wrist and pulled her into his arms gently. Christina remained still, allowing him to hug her. Perhaps she was too tired, as she fell asleep in Nathaniel¡¯s arms after a while. When she woke up the next day, she found herself lying in her bed, wearing her pajamas. She changed her clothes and headed downstairs to have breakfast. Azure¡¯s assistant also gave her a call. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli is inviting you to her house for lunch. May I ask if you¡¯re avable, Ms. Gibson?¡± The assistant had changed the way she addressed Christina, indicating that the Gibson family acknowledged her identity. Christina pondered for a moment before she replied. ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle over after I finish my work.¡± After hanging up the call, she ate breakfast before returning to her room to work on her design drafts. When it was almost noon, she packed up and left. Not long after, a ck Maybach drove into the manor. ||| 1/3 Chapter 441 Go Back And Ask Nathaniel Nathaniel got out of the car, and Raymond greeted him, ¡°Mr. Hadley, have you eaten lunch? I¡¯ll ask the chefs to make preparations ¡°Is Christina not at home!¡± Nathaniel came back home to apany Christina specifically Raymond replied. ¡°Mrs. Hadley just left a few moments ago before you arrived¡± Nathaniel frowned at the butler¡¯s words If Christina didn¡¯t return to the studio, where did she go? The car stopped in front of the mansion, and Christina stepped out of it. She immediately was greeted by Azure¡¯s friendly smile. Yerek and Anya stood by Azure¡¯s side with stormy expressions stered on their faces. However, Christina didn¡¯t care about them since she didn¡¯te to see them. ¡°Christina, do you have any food allergies?¡± Azure held Christina¡¯s hand and walked into the mansion. Thetter replied with a smile, ¡°I don¡¯t have any dietary restrictions.¡± Anya stared at their backs, enraged. ¡°It¡¯s just a meal. Does Grandma have to be so concerned about it?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± Yerek patted Anya¡¯s shoulders gently. The dishes had already been served by the time the two walked in. Azure and Christina sat next to each other. Azure had picked up a piece of chicken to ce on Christina¡¯s te. The elderlydy¡¯s actions only resulted in Anya fixing a hate-filled gaze at Christina. ¡°Grandma, you usually give me the drumstick.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a drumstick? If you like it, I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to prepare another one,¡± Azure replied before picking another piece of meat for Christina. Anya felt the affection she used to enjoy from Azure had been taken away and was utterly stumped. Christina took the drumstick from her te and ced it on Anya¡¯s te. ¡°Since you like it, you can have ¡°You¡¯re very considerate, Christina.¡± Azure was pleased. Looking at the drumstick on her te. Anya only felt it was dirty. She didn¡¯t want to eat the food that Christina had touched. She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and was about to throw a tantrum when Yerek grabbed her wrist. He shot her a look, advising her to tamp down her anger. They knew very well that Azure didn¡¯t like disputes between siblings. Yerek took the drumstick off her te and said, ¡°Let me eat it.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Anya finally calmed down. However, it was still an unpleasant meal for her. After lunch, Azure brought Christina into the study. ¡°Christina, I want you to live with us from now on. Also, I¡¯ll transfer thirty percent of the shares to you,¡± the older woman uttered. r 2/3 Chapter 44! Go Back And Ask Nathaniel ¡°1- Before Christina could say anything, the door to the study burst open, and Anya pounced into Azure¡¯s arms aggrievedly. ¡°Grandma, how can you transfer so many shares to Christina?¡± If it is thirty percent of shares, Christina would have thergest shareholding after my uncle. I only have five percent If I have an argument with Christina in the future, won¡¯t I get kicked out of the Gibson family? I can¡¯t lose my rightful authority. She stared at Christina coldly and questioned, ¡°Christina, what did you do to Grandma? How can you take so many of her shares? What are your intentions? Did youe back to the Gibson family for money? You¡¯re disgusting!¡± A tinge of anger shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t have any hidden agenda and only wanted to apany Azure since thetter invited her for a meal. On the other hand, Azure¡¯s face was tense, and she grabbed Anya¡¯s hand. ¡°This is what Christina deserves. Don¡¯t cause a scene.¡± Nevertheless, Anya didn¡¯t believe her grandmother¡¯s words. She grabbed thetter¡¯s hand and said slowly, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust her or want to obstruct her from getting the shares she deserves. It¡¯s just that she is married to Nathaniel. What happens if she doesn¡¯t help us after you give the shares to her?¡± Azure was taken aback for a moment, and her expression darkened. She was considering Anya¡¯s point. The study fell silent, and only Christina was perplexed. What does my being part of the Gibson family have anything to do with Nathaniel? when her train of thought ended there, a frown marred her countenance. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Anya looked at the other woman with mockery written all over her face and stated coldly, ¡°I can¡¯t believe. you¡¯re still clueless about this. Don¡¯t you know your father¡¯s legs and your mother¡¯s death were all because of the Hadley family?¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand how you could sleep beside your mother¡¯s murderer every night!¡± she added. Every word of hers was like a sharp knife plunging into Christina¡¯s heart, and Christina found herself struggling to breathe. ¡°It¡¯s impossible! You¡¯re making it up!¡± Anya scoffed coldly. ¡°I¡¯m making it up? If you don¡¯t believe me, ask Grandma or even my uncle. Everyone in this family knows about this. You can even go back and ask Nathaniel!¡± Chapter 442 You Disappoint Me Chapter 442 You Disappoint Me Christina¡¯s breath caught in her throat, freezing her entire body She stared at Azure in utter disbelief. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, tell me, is this true? Azure frowned. ¡°It¡¯s all true, Christina. I was nning to exin it to you at the right time Christina finally preced together the entire story from the fragments of information that she had umted and asked in a trembling voice. ¡°Were my parents amongst the people who died in the copse of the building under Hadley Corporation¡¯s ownership?¡± Anya was satisfied to see the color drain from Christina¡¯s cheeks as an expression of guilt crossed her face. ¡°Yes, it was all because of the Hadley family. They are the mortal enemies of the Gibson family. If you want to inherit the shares from the Gibson family, you must get a divorce first!¡± Azure patted Anya¡¯s hand and said in a rather worried tone. ¡°Stop talking now. Allow Christina some time to digest the information. It¡¯s a lot to take in, after all.¡± Christina was in shock. It was an ident! After a long silence, she turned on her heels and ran out of the study. Anya couldn¡¯t hide her satisfaction as a smug smile yed on her lips. She relished seeing Christina caught in a heartbroken dilemma, knowing that whichever choice she made, would only lead to her unhappiness. Christina did not know how, but she found herself back in Scenic Garden Manor. She obsessed over the matter the entire way back. Finally, she decided that she would ask Nathaniel for rification and stormed into the study, flinging the tightly-shut door open. Sebastian who had been reporting on work matters, was shocked. Who is that? Who dares to throw the door open with so much force? The two men looked up to see Christina stalking over to them with a gloomy expression on her face. Sebastian was startled. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we are- ¡°Leave us,¡± ordered Christina in a voice devoid of any emotion. Sebastian did not dare to protest. He quickly put down the documents in his hands and left the room, the door swinging shut behind him. Christina marched toward Nathaniel, her eyes aze. ¡°Nathaniel, did you already know my true identity?¡± The man looked straight into her eyes and dered firmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what your identity is. You are still my wife.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. His assertive voice made it impossible to argue with him. Christina¡¯s brows pulled together. Her voice became serious and she almost shouted, ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about. You knew who I was! You knew that the copse killed my mother! Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± There was nothing she hated more than being told lies and half-truths. The man who hadin beside her every night was the one who was hiding truths from her. It made her feel so stupid and terrified even. ||| O 1/4 Chapter 442 You Disappoint Me Nathaniel looked at her, conflicting emotions raging in his eyes. ¡°I just haven¡¯t figured out how to tell you¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t figured it out or you had no ns to tell me at all? You knew about this four years ago, and m all those four years, you still haven¡¯t found a way to tell me?¡± Christina asked angrily Disappointment cast a shadow over her. If he had told her instead of letting others break the news to her, no one would have seen her in such an embarrassing state. Christina felt wronged. She felt as if there was no one whom she could trust and rely upon. ¡°You disappoint me,¡± she dered in a quiet voice. Then, she turned on her heels and walked out of the room, mming the door behind her.. Their conversation had onlysted a few minutes, but it felt as if an entire century had passed. Christina exited Scenic Garden Manor and drove away. The further she drove, the darker her emotions grew. With nowhere else to go, she headed back to the condominium. Her phone kept buzzing in her bag, and Christina¡¯s head was throbbing. She fished out her phone and noted Rayne¡¯s name on the screen before she answered. ¡°Christina, why weren¡¯t you at work today?¡± ¡°I had something to attend to. Can you please reschedule this week¡¯s work for me?¡± Christina replied in a tired voice. From the tone of her voice, Rayne immediately realized that something was wrong. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you fight with Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ll talk to you when I get back to the office,¡± said Christina before ending the call. up The kindergarten was about to let out. Thus, Christina quickly went to the bathroom to wash and adjust her emotions before heading out of the door. When she picked up the two kids, Lucas nced around the car and asked, ¡°Mommy, why didn¡¯t Daddye along with you?¡± ¡°Daddy has to work,¡± Christina lied. Cam tilted her head suspiciously. ¡°But Daddy said he would pick us up today and take us out for a nice meal together.¡± Nathaniel never broke his promises to his kids. Christina¡¯s brows furrowed. She stopped the car at the intersection when the traffic light turned red and turned around to face the two kids in the backseat, patiently exining. ¡°Daddy really has something to do. He¡¯lle home once he¡¯s done¡­ Now, who wants seafood for dinner tonight?¡± Christina quickly changed the subject away from Nathaniel. ¡°Me! Me!¡± Lucas and Cam shouted in unison. ? 2/4 Chapter 442 You Disappoint Me ¡°Okay then! Not only will we be having seafood for dinner tonight, but we¡¯ll also be having your favorite dessert and sweets,¡± Christina said with a smile, trying not to reveal herplicated emotions to the children. Lucas shed a thumbs-up sign with his chubby hand and dered. ¡°Mommy is the best Back at the condominium, the two children obediently finished up their homework and took their showers while Christina busied herself in the kitchen. She tried to distract herself with cooking. However, when she opened the refrigerator to retrieve a few eggs, her mind drifted unconsciously to the memories that she had shared with Nathaniel in front of the refrigerator that day. The more she wanted him out of her mind, the more the memories of him surfaced. Christina pulled herself back to reality and resumed cooking dinner. When the two children emerged from their showers, the aroma of food greeted them tantalizingly. They impatiently scrambled up to their seats at the dinner table. Lucas pointed at the king crab sitting on a tter and almost drooled as he said, ¡°Mommy, I want to eat that crab¡¯s leg ¡°Mommy, I want the scallops!¡± Cam reached her tiny hands toward the te of scallops and pulled it towards her. The te was still hot, and she blew onto her little fingers to cool them. Christina separated the crab meat from its shell and ced it in Lucas¡¯ bowl. ¡°Quick, take a bite!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mommy!¡± The young boy scooped a spoonful into his mouth. It was delicious. After the two little ones had filled their tummies, they went to bed early. Christina had been watching the children eat earlier but had not eaten yet. After tucking the children in, she returned to the dining table to have her own dinner. She remembered the bottle of wine Nathaniel had brought over was not finished yet, and she had kept the half-full bottle in the top cab. It was an expensive bottle of wine. Who else is going to drink it, but me? She pulled the bottle out and had it with the seafood. It was such a luxurious meal, and Christian felt. pampered. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Christina ambled toward the door at a leisurely pace. Perhaps it was because the wine was getting to her. head, but she forgot to look through the peephole and instead, immediately pulled the door open. A tall man stood in front of the door. His distinct features carried a frosty aura, making him appear rather unapproachable. After recognizing that the figure in front of her was Nathaniel, Christina quickly tried to shut the door in his face. However, she was toote. He had already wedged his way in and was using his body weight to push against the door. Her strength was no match for his. Within a few minutes, she had lost the fight and was forced to step back to allow him in. Christina¡¯s face turned sullen, her entire body turning rigid and defensive. ¡°I didn¡¯t say you coulde in!¡± With an equally annoyed expression, Nathaniel closed the door behind him and approached Christina. His presence was imposing- ¡°Christina, stop being difficult.¡± Chapter 443 Seeking Sympathy From The Children Chapter 443 Seeking Sympathy From The Children Christina¡¯s anger continued to rise as she dwelled on the situation Me cansing a scene? He deliberately kept thingy from me vet mote he dares to use me ofing a rerne! ¡°Fine Just go ahead and think that I¡¯m causing a scene. Let me go!¡± Christina tried shoving Nathaniel away, but her efforts were in vain. Nathaniel ced his hands on her slender shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you because I was worried you would react this way.¡± Fury surged inside Christina. Does that mean he felt he did the right thing by keeping it a secret? ¡°You¡¯re beingpletely unreasonable! Release me!¡± Christina eximed, finally experiencing what it was like to erupt in rage. Her blood surged, reaching a boiling point, and she felt as if her fury could suffocate her. I wish I could sew his mouth shut with a needle! She impatiently brushed his hand aside and stormed off, determined to find a ce to hide. As she stomped her way toward the room. Nathaniel followed right behind. ¡°Calm down, please. Christina. Let¡¯s talk nicely.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to talk about? You¡¯re just trying to persuade me with your absurd excuses¡± She reached for the doorknob, intending to shut the door, but Nathaniel blocked her way, preventing her from closing it. The couple engaged in a tense stare-down. The air seemed to freeze at that moment, with countless sparks flickering between them. Christina¡¯s eyes zed with rage so intense that it could engulf the whole room the next second. ¡°Let me go.¡± She felt she was running out of patience. Witnessing Nathaniel¡¯s icy and detached demeanor, she boldly sank her teeth into his wrist without a moment¡¯s hesitation. A subtle aroma of sandalwood permeated her nostrils, blending with the heat emanating from his body. As she bit down with more force, he quickly stifled a groan and released his grip on the door. Christina took advantage of the opportunity, promptly pushing him out and firmly closing the door behind him. She did all that in one go and didn¡¯t show the slightest bit of doubt. After that, she leaned against the door, inhaling Nathaniel¡¯s intoxicating scent that enveloped the air around her. Frowning slightly, she exhaled and kicked her slippers away before climbing into bed and pulling the covers over her head. She thought she would lose sleep that night, but surprisingly, she found herself drifting effortlessly into a deep slumber, all thanks to the alcohol. The next day when she woke up. she felt much better. Christina turned the doorknob and stepped out of her room, only to discover that the door to the children¡¯s room was also ajar. Lucas and Cam, still groggy from sleep, rubbed their eyes and softly greeted their mother, ¡°Good morning. Mommy!¡± 1/3 < Chapter 443 Seeking Sympathy From The Children ¡°Good morning. Darlings. It¡¯s time to freshen up. I¡¯ll prepare breakfast for you¡± Christina tousled their hair and walked toward the living room. As Christina walked past the couch, she couldn¡¯t help but notice Nathaniel¡¯s slender figure reclining on it. His coaty aside, and his loosened tie and partially unfastened shirt buttons revealed his taut and muscr chest. Even in his peaceful slumber, his aura remained impossible to ignore. Christina knitted her brows. Why did he choose to sleep in the living room instead of the avable guest room? Whose favor was he trying to gain by this act of sympathy-seeking? Ignoring his presence, she walked directly to the kitchen, retrieved some ingredients, and proceeded to prepare some pasta. After washing up and changing into their kindergarten uniforms, the two little ones walked out and spotted their father on the couch. ¡°Why is Daddy sleeping on the couch?¡± Cam asked with concern. Lucas touched his chin and spoke with a serious tone. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell? Daddy must have made Mommy angry. Just like in television shows, when a husband upsets his wife, this is what happens!¡± ¡°B¨²t Mommy said we shouldn¡¯t sleep without a nket, or we might catch a cold,¡± Cam expressed her worry. She swiftly turned around, dashed into her room to fetch a nket, and ced it over Nathaniel. A surge of warmth enveloped Nathaniel, who was sleeping lightly. He opened his eyes and caught sight of his daughter¡¯s endearing little face which instantly dispelled much of his distress. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re awake! Mommy prepared breakfast. Let¡¯s eat together, okay?¡± Cam¡¯s sweet voice seemed to melt in Nathaniel¡¯s heart like cotton candy. He lifted Cam into his arms and kissed her cheek. ¡°All right.¡± Carrying both kids, he walked straight to the dining table and sat down. Christina walked out with two bowls of pasta and ced them in front of the two little ones. ¡°Dig in!¡± She then returned to the kitchen to bring out her own bowl of pasta. Cam fixed her innocent and shimmering eyes on her mother and asked softly. ¡°Mommy, what about Daddy?¡± Christina¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare anything for him. Hurry up and eat. You need to go to school soon.¡± There was a hint of disappointment in Cam¡¯s eyes. After ncing at Nathaniel, she pushed her tiny bowl to him. ¡°Daddy, let¡¯s share. Lucas, too, did the same. ¡°You¡¯ll get dizzy if you don¡¯t eat breakfast. I can share half of my pasta with you. 100. Nathaniel felt touched by the children¡¯s gestures and realized that all the love and care he showered upon his children were truly worthwhile. He ruffled their hair lovingly and said, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. You two go ahead and eat. ¡°No, Daddy, you should eat too,¡± Cam insisted. 2/3 Chapter 443 Seeking Sympathy From The Children ¡°Daddy, were you cold sleeping without a nketst night¡± Lucas chimed in, showing his concer Their words filled the room with soothing warmth, fostering a sweet and tender atmosphere among the three of them. Paradoxically, Christina became the sole viin in the house. Christina clenched her teeth and red at Nathaniel with a scowl. How dare he manipte the children¡¯ emotions by ying the sympathy card? Now they must think that I¡¯m the one at fault! Christina averted her gaze, bowing her head as she finished her breakfast in silence. Afterward, she got up and made her way to her room to change her clothes. She chose a ck dress with a ne-style design, entuating her delicate corbone and fair complexion. Pulling her long hair up, she revealed her graceful swan-like neck, radiating an enchanting beauty. ncing at the time, she realized it was almost time to leave. As she was walking out, she picked up the children¡¯s bags and said, ¡°Cam, Lucas, we should get going!¡± Approaching them, she paused for a moment and was surprised to see her own bowl in front of Nathaniel,pletely emptied. The man had finished all the remaining sauce in the bowl. He grabbed a tissue and gracefully wiped his mouth before lifting the two little ones in his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll give you all a lift.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary¡­¡± Christina replied. Before she could decline his offer, Cam excitedly waved her hand. ¡°Yay! It¡¯s been a while since Daddy took us to school!¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Daddy, put me on your shoulder! Let¡¯s go!¡± Lucas loved sitting on his father¡¯s shoulder because it allowed him to see far and wide. Nathaniel smiled at the request and walked outside with the two kids in his arms. Christina had no choice but to tag along. Once they reached the parking lot, Nathaniel ced the two children in the back seats. Just when Christina was about to get in with them, Cam stopped her. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s a bit crowded in the back. You should sit in the front seat.¡± ¡°The passenger seat is for you,¡± Lucas echoed. Seeing how persistent the two children were, Christina reluctantly closed the car door and settled into the passenger seat. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile as he ignited the engine and steered the car toward the direction of the kindergarten. Some ten minutester, Christina walked the kids into the kindergarten. Lucas and Cami turned around and waved her goodbye. ¡°Mommy, remember toe and pick us up early!¡± ¡°All right,¡± Christina responded. She only turned to leave after watching the kids step into the kindergarten hand in hand. However, instead of returning to Nathaniel¡¯s car, she started walking toward the road. Chapter 444 Planned In Advance Chapter 444 nned In Advance She only took a few steps before Nathaniel caught up with her in the car. ¡°Get into the car, Christina¡± Wearing a gloomy look, she nced around, searching for a taxi. Although she did not argue with him a moment ago because the kids were present, that did not mean she had relented. Seeing how she waspletely ignoring him, Nathaniel had no choice but to stop the car and chase after her. Effortlessly catching up to her, he grabbed her. His body, which exuded a daunting aura, towered over her. ¡°Be a good girl and get into the car if you don¡¯t want me to carry you into the car in public.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t get in your car even if I have to walk back, snapped Christina, behaving just like a hissing cat whose tail had been stepped on. At that moment, a taxi approached from the left side, and she immediately waved her hand at the vehicle. Nathaniel temples throbbed when he saw how Christina waspletely ignoring her. It would be a piece. of cake for him to lift Christina onto his shoulders, and since she refused to listen to him, he was left with no choice but to resort to force. Before Christina had a chance to react, she was hauled onto Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. Her petite frame posed no difficulty for him to do that at all. In response, she widened her eyes in shock. He opened the passenger door and ced her in the front seat before fastening her seatbelt for her. Exhausted. Christina raised her hand and gently massaged her temples. Since all her efforts were futile, she stopped trying. Nathaniel then got into the driver¡¯s seat and drove back to the office. On the way there, he stole nces at Christina¡¯s attire. Her ck shirtplemented her fair skin well, giving her an attractive yet mysterious aura. The only downside was that the outfit was too revealing Her arms and fair legs were exposed, and he didn¡¯t like that one bit. When they passed a breakfast restaurant, Nathaniel stopped the car and stepped out. Thinking that he was going to buy some breakfast since he hadn¡¯t eaten, Christina paid him no heed. She checked her email on her phone to kill time, and soon, Nathaniel returned with a cup of coffee and handed it to Christina. ¡°Hold this for me.¡± Though reluctant, Christina knew it was dangerous for him to drive while holding the cup. Hence, she took it from him and continued scrolling through her phone. Nathaniel continued driving. The car quickly arrived at thepany¡¯s underground parking lot. However, he mmed on the brakes abruptly when he was reversing, causing both of them to jolt. Half of the coffee sshed out of the cup that Christina was holding. As the liquid dripped down her skirt, the entire car was filled with the smell of coffee. Christina was rendered speechless as she looked at the stains on her new skirt. ||| 1/3 Chapter 444 nned In Advance Nathaniel said calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a new one aspensation.¡± +15 bonus Christina was seething with anger. With the corner of her lips twitching slightly, she handed Nathamel the cup of coffee and got out of the car. The day had barely begun, yet she was already covered in the smell of coffee. In fact, she was starting to wonder if Nathaniel was intentionally taking revenge against her because she did not cook breakfast for him. Luckily, I have a few spare clothes in the office. Christina entered the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors opened, she strode out briskly and saw Sebastian walking out. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ve ced the clothes on your desk. You can request a size change if they don¡¯t fit.¡± Clothes? A confused look crossed Christina¡¯s eyes. The clothes were already delivered the moment I entered the elevator? This is clearly nned in advance, Sebastian left hurriedly before she could respond. Christina entered the office lounge, changed into a different outfit, and ced the stained dress into a bag. Worried that the coffee would stink if left unattended till the end of the day, she asked Rayne to bring the skirt to aundry shop. When she returned to her desk, she spotted the dress that Sebastian had brought and ced it aside. She immersed herself in her work after sorting out the documents on her desk. Time passed quickly when one was fully engrossed in something. It wasn¡¯t until her phone rang and interrupted her that she stopped what she was doing. ¡°I¡¯m at your office building. Let¡¯s talk.¡± Yerek¡¯s deep voice rang out. Christina couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what he had done. She had always been trying to find an opportunity to get the goods on him. If possible, she hoped she could find evidence pertaining to the arson hemitted. As such, she would proactively find ways to approach Yerek even if he did note to her. ¡°Okay,¡± replied Christina before ending the call. Five minutester, Christina walked out of the entrance and saw Yerek¡¯s car parked by the roadside. The car drove off after she walked over and sat in the passenger seat. Yerek appeared rxed as he asked leisurely. ¡°Do you want to eat something or have coffee?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°I didn¡¯te to meet you because I want to eat. Just cut to the chase,¡± replied Christina coldly. Ignoring her words, Yerek said, ¡°But I¡¯m hungry, Let¡¯s eat at the restaurant in front.¡± Soon, the car stopped in front of a restaurant. Yerek turned to look at her as a teasing smile yed on his lips. ¡°What? Are you waiting for me to unbuckle your seatbelt?¡± Christina rolled her eyes in annoyance before opening the car door and getting out. ||| < 2/3 Chapter 444 nned In Advance The two of them entered the restaurant and sat at a discreet spot. The waiter then approached them. Yerck flipped through the menu and ordered a lot of food. Christina, who did not n to stay for long, only ordered a ss of water. The waiter then left with the menu. Instead of beating around the bush, Christina asked directly, ¡°Why did you look for me?¡± Yerck proposed straightforwardly. ¡°Do you want to take back everything that rightfully belongs to you from the Gibson family? Let¡¯s join forces.¡± The Gibson family was quite prominent in Hallsbay, enjoying a status almost as privileged as the Hadley family. Just having over one-tenth of their shares would be enough to ensure that one¡¯s future generations could live a luxurious and worry-free life in the city, Christina scoffed, ¡°You¡¯ve miscalcted. I¡¯m not interested in the Gibson family¡¯s money. Her life was stable now and she could support herself with her own abilities. There was no need for her to get involved in the Gibson family¡¯s mess. Gazing at the man in front of her, she felt somewhat irked. He reced me and grew up showered by love, Having enjoyed a pampered life, he cruded a noble air. Though he¡¯s not the legitimate heir, he has the audacity to se? his sights on the Gibson family¡¯s assets. Yerek did not reveal any signs of displeasure on his face and said calmly, ¡°I did not calcte anything. Dad set some share transfer conditions a long time ago.¡± ¡°Dad set the conditions?¡± A surprised glint shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. Yerek said, ¡°If the two of us don¡¯t get married, Mom¡¯s shares would automatically be transferred to Gibson Corporation. Neither of us would get anything.¡± A frosty look surfaced in Christina¡¯s eyes as her lips curled into a smirk. Marrying Yerck was thest thing she would do. ¡°Transfer them, then. I don¡¯t care about the shares, said Christina with a firm, unwavering look in her eyes. Yerek seemed to have already predicted her reaction and made a n in advance. ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t care about the shares, but have you thought about Dad? The Gibson Corporation was established through his hard work. Yet, after he got injured, Uncle Timothy stole his position in thepany Chapter 445 Suggestion From Yerek Chapter 445 Suggestion From Yerek Christma fell silent and looked at Yerek indifferently. Yerek¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°Can¡¯t you at least put yourself in Dad¡¯s shoes?¡± Although he was adopted, he still cared about his adoptive parents since he grew up under their care. Dad said he won¡¯t kick me out of the Gibson family even though I¡¯m not his biological child. Christina lowered her gaze to hide the emotions in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this now. Enjoy your meal.¡± With that, she got up and walked out of the restaurant, gging down a taxi, she returned to Hadley Corporation. She ran into Nathaniel, who came up from the parking lot, just as she stepped into the elevator. The two made eye contact, and Christina was instantly annoyed. I swear the elevators in Hadley Corporation are cursed. I always run into people I don¡¯t want to see in thepany¡¯s elevators! Nathaniel sized her attire up and noticed it wasn¡¯t the set of clothes he had given her. Instead, it was a short dress that revealed her fair legs. His gaze darkened. When Christina stepped into the elevator, she forgot to press the button as she was deep in thought. The elevator stopped at the floor where Nathaniel¡¯s office was situated. He said indifferently. ¡°I have something to discuss with you Christina nced at him and walked out of the elevator behind him. As soon as they entered the office, Nathaniel pulled Christina into the lounge. A few rays of sunlight crept through the pleated curtains into the dim room. The stuffy and silent room amplified their breathing. Christina immediately became wary and narrowed her eyes. ¡°What do you want?¡± Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her slim waist and pulled a diamond ne from her pocket as if performing a magic trick. Then, he gently put it around her neck. Christina felt the cold weight on her neck and lowered her head to see the sparkling ne. ¡°There¡¯s a banquet tonight. You shoulde with me he informed her, not giving her a chance to refuse. Christina turned away and replied apathetically, ¡°I have ns tonight. I can¡¯t go with you.¡± With that, she reached out to take off the ne. However, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist, his deep voice echoing beside her ear. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to take it off.¡± With that, he pinched Christina¡¯s chin, the warmth from his fingertips so palpable that Christina felt uneasy. 111 1/3 Chapter 445 Suggestion From Yerek As the distance between them narrowed, Christina could feel his breath at the tip of her nose. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, she dodged and pushed him away. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll keep the ne. If there¡¯s nothing else, I have to go back and work.¡± With that, she rushed out the door, leaving Nathaniel behind. The man stood rooted to the spot, watching her leave while wearing a cold expression. Christina switched on herputer and began working immediately after returning to the office. Only when she was working could she temporarily forget about all those troublesome matters. Bailey called her as she was about to get off work. ¡°My family is hosting a banquet. My mom is definitely going to set me up on a blind date. I need you here to keep mepany!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that great? You should seize the opportunity!¡± Christina teased her. Bailey immediatelyined woefully, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re my best friend? Why are you making fun of me too? I¡¯ll be bored to death tonight! If you¡¯re around, I might be able to find a chance to hide. Please, Christina! Pleasee and keep mepany.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina was amused. Since she didn¡¯t have any important matters for the night, she agreed Bailey¡¯s request. ¡°Il send a driver to pick you up. I¡¯ll doll you up after you arrive.¡± Delighted, Bailey was instantly energized. After hanging up the phone, Christina packed her things, and soon, Bailey¡¯s driver appeared at the company¡¯s entrance. Bailey was from a wealthy and prestigious family, different from nouveau riches without any taste. Her walk-in closet was about two hundred square meters and filled with a dazzling array of designer and haute couture items. She even had a Barbie doll model custom-made based on her facial features. That wasn¡¯t something that could be bought with money. However, all those luxury items were just ordinary decorations and essories to her. At that moment, Bailey was focused on finding an outfit for Christina. She chose a few haute couture dresses and held them in front of Christina, imagining how her friend would look in each of the dresses. Her expression showed how serious she was about it Christina randomly picked one dress and asked, ¡°How about this one?¡± Bailey looked at it and shook her head. She pursed her lips and said. ¡°This is pretty, but it¡¯s too conservative. Itcks uniqueness.¡± Christina changed into a ck cocktail dress. ¡°How about this one?¡± Bailey shook her head, dissatisfied. ¡°This one won¡¯t do either. ck is too dull.¡± Christina was confused and said with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯re the protagonist tonight, not me. Why do I need to dress so nicely?¡± Bailey said seriously. ¡°You¡¯re my friend, so you¡¯re representing me! It will boost my ego if you look good!¡± 2/3 Chapter 415 Suggestion From Yerek Not knowing what to say in response, Christina shrugged. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re right¡± In the end. Bailey picked out a pink backless gown. ¡°Try this one.¡± Christina took the dress from her and changed into it in the dressing room. The elegant pink color waspatible with her gentle and sweet temperament. It also entuated the fairness of her skin. Coupled with her long ck hair cascading down her waist, she resembled a graceful and beautiful princess straight out of a fairy tale. The moment she stepped out. Bailey gasped, and her eyes lit up. ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous! If I¡¯m a man. I¡¯ll marry you!¡± Christina chuckled and teased, ¡°Your cheesy way ofplimenting me leads me to believe you really are a man.¡± ying along. Bailey leaned closer to Christina¡¯s face and lifted her chin with her finger. ¡°If I have a beautiful wife like you, I would never get out of bed.¡± ¡°How can you say such lecherous things? You¡¯re a girl!¡± Christina pushed her away and urged. ¡°Hurry up and get ready. Otherwise, people will make fun of you if you appear unkempt at the banquet.¡± In response, Bailey quickly picked out a random dress and entered the dressing room. The banquet started just as they finished dressing up. The melodious sound of the violin resounded across the spaciouswn. Coupled with the sound of chatter andughter, the atmosphere appeared lively. Linking arms with her daughter, Beatrice went around greeting everyone. ¡°This is my daughter, Gabrielle. She¡¯s twenty-four years old and has always been a sensible kid. She¡¯s beautiful and has a good figure¡­ ¡°Mom, who introduces their daughter like this?¡± Bailey¡¯s face flushed crimson. Beatrice snorted. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to take the initiative, I wouldn¡¯t have to say a word here. I¡¯m not forcing you to marry now, but you need to make new friends to be able to meet someone suitable!¡± Bailey didn¡¯t dare to argue with her mother, so she held Christina¡¯s hand instead. ¡°You¡¯re right, but everyone will be too intimidated to approach me when they see you with me. They will feel pressured. Can I walk around with Christina instead?¡± Beatrice felt what Bailey said made sense. ¡°It¡¯s good that you know what to do. Christina, please take good care of her for me.¡± Christina nodded gently. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Cook.¡± With that, Bailey immediately walked away from Beatrice, dragging Christina along. Chapter 446 Are You Jealous Chapter 446 Are You Jealous As soon as Christina and Bailey stepped out to the courtyard, some rich young men walked up and greeted them However, their attention was not on Bailey but on Christina. Christina was supposed to be a foil, but now, she had be the protagonist. She turned her head sideways and whispered into Bailey¡¯s ear, ¡°No wonder you worked so hard at picking a dress for me earlier. Is this your motive? To shift their attention onto me so you could get out of this sticky situation?¡± Since her ruse was seen through, Bailey could only sh an awkward smile. ¡°We¡¯re besties, right? Just do me a favor, will you? I¡¯m tired of getting set up all the time.¡± Christina smiled resignedly. Not wanting to disappoint Beatrice either, she fervently tried to upsell her best friend. ¡°Gabrielle learns business management. If you marry her in the future, she¡¯ll be able to help. you manage your family¡¯s business. Oh yes, she¡¯s also a very famous voice actress. She has a really nice voice. You guys can search for the name ¡®Bailey¡¯ online. The one with the highest number of followers is her ount.¡± Christina got fully engrossed in chatting with those rich young men, but she didn¡¯t forget to mention. - Bailey in almost every sentence. Eventually, Bailey grew annoyed and fled the scene with Christina in tow. ¡°My mort only asked you to keep an eye on me. What do you think you¡¯re doing? Why are you so serious about this?¡± Christina responded with a smile. Lifting her gaze, she was attracted by a towering figure in the banquet hall, and promptly, the smile on her face vanished. So the banquet Nathaniel was talking about is this one, too. Nathaniel was d in a ck suit with neatlybed short hair. His deep, frosty eyes looked like abysses, and his exquisite features made him stand out among the crowd. The elegant and regal aura he was emanating from head to toe was just one of a kind. Another slender figure stood right beside him. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Noticing the change in Christina¡¯s expression, Bailey followed her friend¡¯s line of sight. ¡°Why is your husband with Madison?¡± she eximed in shock. Rage instantly burned in Christina¡¯s gaze. He went to Madison just because I didn¡¯t agree to attend the banquet with him? Right then, Madison also noticed Christina¡¯s presence. Her provocation-filled eyes had a hint of smugness. to them. Pretending to lose her footing, Madison stumbled and clumsily leaned against Nathaniel Groaning in pain, she woefully remarked, ¡°Nathaniel, I think I sprained my ankle. Can you help me to the side to sit down?¡± There were two other guests around, so Nathaniel had no choice but to support her as they walked away. Initially, Madison was merely putting on an act so that Nathaniel would hold her, but she soon went ||| < 1/3 Chapter 446 Are You Jealous All of a sudden, a figure appeared and blocked their way. Following that, the person pushed Madison. causing thetter to almost crash onto the ground. With her hands on her waist, Bailey furiously yelled, ¡°Do you have no shame? How dare you seduce a married man in public!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Bailey.¡± Christina quickly stopped Bailey. It was not because she wanted to help Madison but because she did not want her best friend to be theughingstock of the onlookers in public. When Madison recognized Bailey¡¯s identity, her face paled drastically. ¡°Ms. Cook, you¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Bailey let out a cold snort and mocked, ¡°I didn¡¯t. I saw with my own eyes that you threw yourself onto Mr. Hadley. Don¡¯t you know that he¡¯s already taken? How shameless.¡± Madison¡¯s expression turned ashen. She could not find any words to defend herself. Deliberately putting on an aggrieved look, she exined, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s purely a coincidence that Mr. Hadley and I ran into each other. We engaged in a brief conversation simply because we hadmon interests. I sprained my ankle when I was about to leave just now, and Mr. Hadley merely helped me out of concern.¡± Coincidence? Common interests? Concern? Her concise exnation had made her rtionship with Nathaniel sound ambiguous. Christina¡¯s gaze darkened as she parted her lips and uttered. ¡°That¡¯s true. You¡¯re Nathaniel¡¯s ex- subordinate, and there¡¯s no reason for him to throw shade at you upon running into you again even though you¡¯vemitted an unforgivable mistake. If I were you, as long as I feel a wee bit guilty, I wouldn¡¯t dare to show myself before Nathaniel again. It seems like you¡¯re much more thick-skinned than I thought, Ms. Taggart.¡± Bailey was secretly thrilled upon seeing how Christina retaliated against Madison, leaving Madison at a loss for words. My dear Christina has grown up. She doesn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when she tears her enemy into shreds! ¡°Let¡¯s head inside first.¡± Christina grabbed Bailey¡¯s hand and turned to head inside.. They had only taken a few steps before Nathaniel caught up with them. His cold, handsome face wore an expression way grimmer than earlier. ¡°I want to talk to Christina.¡± Deep down, Bailey obviously was against that idea, but at the same time, she understood that she had to let the couple settle matters between themselves Before leaving, she did not forget to warn the man. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bully her, or else I won¡¯t let Nathaniel¡¯s face was as ck as thunder. you off Once Bailey left, Nathaniel pulled Christina into a guest room. At the sight of the muscr silhouette inching toward her, Christina felt an overwhelming pressure enveloping her from head to toe. ||| 2/3 Chapter 446 Are You Jealous Nathaniel grabbed her chin and lifted her head slightly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you have ns tonight? It turns out you¡¯re here to flirt with others?¡± Flirt with others? Met Christina scoffed as fury shed in her gaze. ¡°Mr. Hadley, when did you see me flirting with others? You¡¯re the one who¡¯s acting all lovey-dovey with Madison!¡± What¡¯s more, he¡¯s doing it in public. There are so many people watching. Talk about the pot calling the kettle ck! Nathaniel shot Christina an amused look. In that instant, he felt his heart thumping with excitement. He almost could not recall thest time he saw her getting jealous. So, shell get jealous when she sees me being together with Madison? ¡°I was just helping her. I have no other intentions, he patiently exined. Christina sneered disdainfully. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether you have other intentions or not. Can you let go of me now?¡± With that, she reached out and smacked his hands off. s, that only made Nathaniel tighten his grip on her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you jealous? You look so adorable when you¡¯re jealous. I love it.¡± Christina¡¯s pupils constricted. What leads him to believe I¡¯m jealous? I¡¯m just angry at how he ndered me earlier! Besides, since when did he be such a sweet-talker? ¡°Whatever you say. Can you let go of me now?¡± Christina snapped in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯ll let you go after you make up for what you owe me earlier today.¡± As soon as he said that, he nted a kiss on Christina¡¯s lips without warning. The man¡¯s domineering and searing breath,ced with a light sandalwood scent, filled Christina¡¯s lungs, leaving her in a daze. Christina was captivated, but the moment she regained her senses, she lifted her hand and smacked Nathaniel¡¯s chest. Is he insane? We¡¯re at the Cook residence. Also, we didn¡¯t lock the door when we came in earlier. What if someonees in and sees what we¡¯re doing? The mere thought of it left Christina wholly embarrassed. Nathaniel grabbed her wrists, and without giving her a chance to say anything, he deepened the kiss. ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Chapter 447 Get The Outsider To Leave Chapter 447 Get The Outsider To Leave The moment seemed like an eternity. By the time Christina was released, she felt a burning sensation on her slightly swollen lips. Nathaniel gave her an insatiable look. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± With that, he walked out of the guest room with Christina in tow. Twenty minutester, their car arrived at the entrance of Scenic Garden Manor. After he opened the door to the front passenger seat, Nathaniel gave her a nonchnt look as he asked. ¡°Do you want to walk, or shall I carry you?¡± However, Christina held on tightly to the safety belt for she preferred to return to her condominium instead. She had, after all, paid for it with her own money and had her name on the title deed. It was a ce where she felt safe and had a sense of belonging After unbuckling Christina¡¯s safety belt on her behalf, Nathaniel carried her in his arms and strode into the house. Given how light Christina was, Nathaniel was able to carry her easily. It was something that he enjoyed doing. To him, it felt just like holding a furry pet in his arms. As it was alreadyte, the quiet surroundings amplified the sound of their footsteps. ¡°Put me down.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel awkward. However, Nathaniel responded in a deep voice, ¡°Go on protesting if you don¡¯t mind waking the kids up.¡± D*mn it, he¡¯s threatening me again! Christina had no choice but to acquiesce to his demand. Once they entered the room and shut the door behind them, she struggled to free herself from Nathaniel¡¯s arms, ¡°I¡¯ll walk by myself,¡± she dered in a cordial tone, just like a wary porcupine that had its quills erected. Sensing her anger, Nathaniel stopped what he was doing and retracted his hands from around her slender waist. He knew that it would be a tant show of disrespect to Christina if he did what he wanted with her when she was angry. After being reprimanded one too many times, Nathaniel was mindful of the fact. Thus, he would no longer force his will upon Christina, unlike in the past. Staring at her slender body, he swallowed the lump in his throat. Christina, who detected the lust in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes, grabbed her pajamas from the wardrobe before heading to the bathroom. O 1/3 Chapter 447 Get The Outsider To Leave Upon turning on the shower, she allowed the warm water to cleanse every inch of her skin. The water temperature was perfect in helping ease the tension within her. Once she was done, Christina emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. She subsequently settled down on the couch to blow it. After that, she swiftly tied her hair into a fishtail braid that rested casually on her shoulder. Meanwhile, her feet were hurting after spending the entire evening in heels. Thus, she bent down to give them a massage, hoping to alleviate the soreness she felt. Soon, a woody scent filled the air, heralding the arrival of Nathaniel. He subsequently sat down and ced her feet on hisp where began to rub them gently. ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± he asked with his head lowered and gaze fixed upon her dainty feet. Christina¡¯s brows knitted slightly. ¡°Everywhere!¡± It was rare for her to wear heels, and every time she did, it felt exhausting to her. On top of that, it didn¡¯t help that she had to spend a long time standing that day. After grunting softly in acknowledgment, Nathaniel continued with his massage. The soreness in Christina¡¯s feet disappeared after a short while as if his hands were capable of magic. It made her decide to lie down on the couch and relish in the special treatment With her eyes closed, her entire body began to rx until a warm sensation crept up from the bottom of her feet. Christina¡¯s eyes widened abruptly as she sat up straight without warning. The shock in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes told her that her reaction had also caught him by surprise. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Christina kicked his palm away grumpily before springing up to her feet from the couch. She then made a dash to the bed as if she was being pursued by a fearsome animal. The moment shey down, she wrapped herself tightly inside the nket. The fearful response she demonstrated brought a sense of disappointment upon Nathaniel. Thereafter, hey down beside Christina and embraced her despite the nket separating them. He hugged her tightly as if she would squirrel away from his arms at any moment. As the dim moonlight illuminated the room, both of them managed to get a good night¡¯s sleep inexplicably. Upon waking up the next morning, Christina put on a casual outfit before heading down Lucas and Cam were ying with wooden blocks in the living room. Their incessant a heartwarming sight. ¡°Mommy, we feel like having your cooking today.¡± ¡°Mommy, I want to have grilled pork ribs, fried fish¡­ Lucas listed out ten dishes at one go, salivating while speaking, as if he was deprived of food for a very long time. ||| r 2/3 Chapter 447 Get The Outsider To Leave Christma lookedpletely nonplussed. ¡°Are you really that hungry?¡± With a dreamy look in her eyes, Cam exined matter-of-factly, ¡°Mommy, we heard Mr. Patel mention that Daddy is suffering from gastric because he hasn¡¯t been eating well. If you cook, he¡¯ll definitely enjoy the good-¡± Cam¡¯s mouth was covered by Lucas before she could finish. ¡°You¡¯re such a fool, Cam. You can¡¯t say it like that. Once Mommy knows the real reason, she won¡¯t cook for Daddy. Do you want him to go hungry?¡± Realizing that she had made a mistake, Cam covered her mouth by reflex and gave her mother a nk stare. The girl¡¯s eyes began to redden as she was worried that Christina would refuse to cook for Nathaniel. Obviously, Christina was unwilling to do so, but the children¡¯s concern for Nathaniel forced her to relent. ¡°Since you want it so much, why don¡¯t youe in and help?¡± The two children raised their hands in joy. ¡°Hurray!¡± Once they stepped into the kitchen, the siblings began washing vegetables. In the meantime, Christina did the cutting and cooking. It wasn¡¯t until two hours had passed that the food was finally ready. After packing the dishes up neatly, she headed to the office together with the children. The moment the elevator doors opened, the siblings pushed open the office door impatiently. ¡°Daddy, we¡¯re here to have lunch with you-¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Cam¡¯s excited voice stopped abruptly. Sitting on the couch was Madison who was well-dressed. She gave the three a look as if they had intruded. upon her space. Jealousy immediately welled up within her when she saw the lunch box Christina was holding. Meanwhile, Christina¡¯s eyes darkened in response. ¡°Since when are outsiders allowed to enter the CEO¡¯s. office without permission?¡± ¡°Ms. Christina, Ms. Taggart is here to deliver some documents. The partnership with Taggart Group hasn¡¯t ended yet.¡± Sebastian exined. Such trivial matters are usually dealt with by assistants. It¡¯s obvious that Madison is here to see Nathaniel for her toe all the way here for something like that. Christina¡¯s shifted her attention to Sebastian. ¡°I¡¯ve prepared lunch. Please get the outsider to leave.¡± Sebastian nodded before looking in Madison¡¯s direction. ¡°Once Mr. Hadley has signed the documents, I¡¯ll gel someone to return them¡± Cognizant that she was unweed, the solemn-looking Madison reluctantly got to her feet. Unexpectedly, a small figure appeared in her way. Chapter 448 I Hope You Will Return To Hallsbay Chapter 448 I Hope You Will Return To Hallsbay Christina was surprised. #hy is Lucas blocking Madison¡¯s teay? In contrast to Christina, Madison¡¯s eyes lit up. If I can get Nathaniel¡¯s son to like me, he might not resent me that much. She then knelt down with a smile. ¡°Boy, do you want me to stay here with you?¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°Madam, you dropped your lipstick on the couch. If you don¡¯t take it with you, the cleaner will throw it away¡± His words drew Christina¡¯s attention to the sofa where she spotted a ck lipstick case stuck in between the gap. It was hard to notice if one didn¡¯t look close enough. This must be one of Madison¡¯s schemes. By leaving her lipstick in the office, she can cook up an excuse toe back here. Madison¡¯s expression froze before she broke into an awkward smile. After picking up her lipstick and putting it back inside her bag, she headed out the door. However, Cam pinched her nose and snorted. ¡°This perfume stuff¡¯s up my nose. Mommy¡¯s scent is so much better.¡± Her words didn¡¯t escape Madison. The moment she stepped out of the office, she lowered her head to give her body a sniff. This is thetest perfume on the market. Is the smell really that jarring? When she turned around to look at Christina, she could see that thetter barely put on any makeup. Christina was wearing a light-colored outfit with her hair draped straight down on her shoulder. In a way, Christina did exude an aloofness that made her inexplicably beautiful coupled with the faint scent she carried. Is this what differentiates us? Meanwhile, inside a conference room, members of senior management were getting reprimanded by Nathaniel for failing to meet the targets he set for them. The worst part was that they had nothing to defend themselves with, for everything Nathaniel said made perfect sense. Once the meeting was over, Nathaniel returned to his office with a scowl on his face. A delicious and smoky aroma made him feel hungry the moment he stepped in. ¡°Daddy,e over quickly. It¡¯s time for lunch!¡± Cam¡¯s gentle voice relieved Nathaniel of the frustration he carried from work. Lucas, with his innocent-looking face, dered smugly, ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat today, Daddy. Mommy has made all these for you¡± Nathaniel gave Christina a look that was filled with anticipation. Since when did she be so thoughtful? Is she apologizing for kicking mest night? ¡°Hurry up, Daddy. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Lucas jumped down from his chair and pulled his father toward the coffee table. With a smorgasbord of dishesid out on top of it, anyone who saw them would definitely salivate. ||| 1/3 Chapter 448 I Hope You Will Return To Hallsbay After serving the children their food, she rolled up her sleeves to peel some prawns for them Nathaniel stopped her immediately and volunteered. Let me do it¡± Just as Christina was about to reject his offer, Lucas-with his entire mouth covered with sauce-dered like an adult, ¡°That¡¯s right. You should leave such menial work to the men, Mommy. Why don¡¯t you dig With that, he stuffed his face with a big mouthful of food. Mmm, Mommy¡¯s cooking is the best After removing his jacket, Nathaniel rolled up his sleeves to reveal his muscr forearms. He then proceeded to peel the prawns with his fingers. Outside, the members of senior management who had just received a dressing down were leaving the conference room one by one. When they passed by the CEO¡¯s office, their eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Are we seeing things? Our cold and aloof CEO is peeling prawns? He has be an entirely different person from the one who scolded us in the conference room. Little did they expect to see their boss peeling prawns for Christina. In fact, he even fed her attentively by hand. All they could do was watch on with envy and hope that one day Nathaniel would be equally nice to them. Inside the office, the children finally had their fill. They subsequentlyy down on the sofa to rest with their mouths still dirty. As Christina headed over with a napkin to clean their mouths, she teased, ¡°It looks like I have raised two pigs. All you do after eating is sleep,¡± ¡°We get to enjoy delicious food every day as your pet pig. It¡¯s a wonderful life actually!¡± Lucas looked particrly adorable as he giggled. Finally, Christina gave his nose a gentle scratch. ¡°It¡¯s time to go home. We shouldn¡¯t interrupt Daddy¡¯s work any longer. Upon walking over, Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her slender waist. ¡°Let them stay if they want to, There¡¯s a room here. I¡¯ll go in with you to rest if you¡¯re tired.¡± When images of what happened thest time in the room emerged in her mind, Christina¡¯s cars blushed. She raised her elbow to give Nathaniel a gentle nudge. Nheless, it was still strong enough to push him a few steps back. She then gave him the side-eye. ¡°Watch the children. I¡¯m going back to work.¡± With that, she turned around and left. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. The moment she stepped into the elevator, she received a call from Azure. ¡°Do you have some time, Christina? Your father would like to see you.¡± Azure probed, as Christina hadn¡¯t kept in touch ever since she left the mansion. Clenching her phone, Christina knew that she couldn¡¯t avoid the issue forever. ¡°I do. I¡¯ll head over right now,¡± < 2/3 Chapter 448 I Hope You Will Return To Hallsbay The answer delighted Azure ¡°All right. We¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± After the call ended, Christina headed straight for the parking lot. +15 Bonus Twenty minutester, her car came to a halt in front of the mansion. The housekeeper immediately opened the main door to let her in. Thereafter, the housekeeper came forward to inform Christina, ¡°Ms. Christina, Mrs. Lazuli is waiting for you in the study on the second floor.¡± Upon nodding in acknowledgment, Christina headed upstairs. Stopping in front of the door, Christina could see two figures in the room. She then called out in a distant tone, ¡°Grandma, Dad.¡± Both of them were slightly jolted at the same time, Azure came over to hold Christina¡¯s arm before closing the door behind them. ¡°We were so worried that you would nevere back.¡± The thought had never crossed Christina¡¯s mind. She just needed some time to digest the new information. ¡°You¡¯re a member of the Gibson family no matter what happens to you. We spent years searching for you and hope that you¡¯ll return to us,¡± asserted Timothy At the end of the day, she was still his child. He was also someone who harbored no bias toward a particr gender. After all, in this modern day, ability instead of gender was all that mattered when it came to inheriting the family business. Christina took a deep breath before replying with a look of conviction. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m happy to be back.¡± Even though she hadn¡¯t had everything figured out yet, there was no question when it came to returning to her father¡¯s side. Moved by her words, Timothy held Christina¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°You¡¯re such a good girl. I was afraid that you would be angry at us. From now on, you¡¯ll never be separated from your family anymore.¡± Christina, too, nodded emotionally. After the warm exchange, Timothy patted Christina on the hand. ¡°Christina, since our family business is based in Hallsbay, we¡¯ll be heading back there now that we have found you. Both your grandmother and I hope that you wille along with us. What do you think?¡± Chapter 449 One Night Chapter 449 One Night Christina¡¯s heart sank to the bottom of her stomach. She had thought about reuniting with her family, but that didn¡¯t mean she nned on leaving this city to move to Hallsbay. If I leave, the kids will have toe with me. What about Nathaniel? Will Nathaniel agree to us moving to another city? She snapped back to reality, realizing she had subconsciously dug her nails into her palms. ¡°I need to take some time to think this through.¡± Deciding to relocate to another city on such short notice was a decision that she was unable to make now. Timothy nodded, acknowledging and respecting her decision. ¡°I understand. Take your time to think it through. However, your grandma and I genuinely want to live with you. As for the shares, I¡¯ve made a decision to transfer half of my shares to you. It¡¯s time for you to learn how to manage Gibson Corporation.¡± Christina towered her gaze wordlessly. Yerek mentioned that Dad had always desired to reim his position at Gibson Corporation. epting his shares isn¡¯t that simple a matter. Personally, I¡¯m not particrly interested in managing the family business. At the same time, Anya stood outside the door and listened attentively, catching every word of their Conversation. With Grandma and Uncle Timothy¡¯s sharesbined, even without the shares her mother left her, Christina will be thergest shareholder of Gibson Corporation. That means she¡¯ll have control over thepany. But she¡¯s just a designer and doesn¡¯t know how to run apany. I¡¯ve worked hard for thepany, and I can¡¯t let her have power over me! With that thought in mind, she dug her nails deep into her palms. Without hesitation, Anya made her way downstairs and drove to a nearby bar. It was a popr spot in the city, located on a bustling street next to a luxurious condominium. The vibrant nightlife in the area added to the lively atmosphere. Anya strode into the bar and scanned her surroundings. Soon, she found the person she came here for. She went straight to the table. ¡°Ms. Taggart, are you drinking out of frustration as you couldn¡¯t win the heart of your beloved man?¡± Madison nced at the neer, a youngdy in her twenties d in a suit. ¡°Who are you? I don¡¯t think I know you.¡± ¡°Who I am isn¡¯t important. What¡¯s more important is that we have amon enemy, Christina Steele!¡± Anya managed between gritted teeth. Madison¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Do you have a way to get rid of her?¡± ¡°Of course. It depends on whether you¡¯re willing to cooperate, though,¡± Anya told her firmly. A cold glint appeared in Madison¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ll say yes to anything as long as you can make sure Christina leaves Nathaniel.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Anya beckoned her toe closer. They huddled together as Anya revealed her n, ¡°¡°We can do 1/3 this¡­¡± After leaving the mansion, Christina returned to the condominium. She still wasn¡¯t ready to face Nathaniel and wanted to be alone. Christina walked out of the elevator to see a tall figure standing at the door. It was Francis, dressed in a ck cap, ck shirt, and casual pants. He appeared to have deliberately concealed himself, blending into the darkness of the surroundings. As Christina approached, her footsteps triggered the lights to illuminate the area. She locked eyes with Francis and noticed a fleeting expression of panic in his gaze. ¡°You startled me there. I thought I had an obsessed fan sneaking up on me,¡± he remarked, letting out a relieved sigh. Christina chuckled aloud at how flustered he seemed. It was funny to see a popr celebrity shaking in fear. She was exhausted after today¡¯s events and didn¡¯t feel like arguing with Francis. Unlocking the door, she went in, and Francis followed her inside. Francis took off his shoes and entered her house like it was his home. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Can you cook something for me?¡± ¡°Do you think this is a hotel?¡± Christina snapped. Francis harrumphed and said, ¡°You¡¯re my sister¨Cinw. Just assume you¡¯re taking care of your younger brother.¡± ¡°Stop it. I don¡¯t have a younger brother who is as old as you.¡± Christina went to the dining table to pour herself a ss of water. ¡°You can do whatever you like as long as you don¡¯t disturb me. Otherwise, I¡¯ll kick you out.¡± She went into the master bedroom and locked the door behind her. After taking a shower and blow¨Cdrying her hair, Christina sat in front of the mirror to put on her skincare products. That was when she discovered a love bite left by Nathaniel on her corbone. Her skin glistened under the lights, entuating the love bite that adorned her neck like a blossoming flower. Its allure was impossible to miss, drawing attention to its captivating presence. Christina let out an icy snort. Is he a dog? Why does he love to bite me? Afterpleting her skincare procedures, she stretchedzily and copsed into bed. Pulling the covers up, she fell asleep. The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in its warm glow. After waking up, Christina walked out of her room to discover that the living room was empty. There was no sign indicating that Francis had spent the night here. Christina had no idea when he left, nor was she interested in when he left. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. She enjoyed a simple breakfast before leaving for work. While waiting for the elevator, she encountered some colleagues who gave her curious nces, making her feel uneasy. Ignoring their stares, Christina tried to maintain herposure and focused on getting into the elevator as quickly as possible. However, her efforts were disrupted by a suddenmotion behind her. A swarm of reporters had gathered, their cameras clicking away, capturing her every move. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, recent reports suggest you were in thepany of Francis Fernandost night. How do respond to these ims?¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, there have been photographs circting of you and Francis Fernando together. Can you rify the nature of your rtionship with him?¡± you ¡°Are there any issues in your marriage with Mr. Hadley that led you to find sce in another man?¡± Unpleasant questions were hurled at her, and her colleagues grew so curious that they forgot to enter the elevator. Christina was baffled. She pulled out her phone and realized the trending headline reported that Francis Fernando spent a night in her condominium and that their rtionship was now revealed to the public. As she clicked on the link, a flood of photos greeted her. There were images of Francis entering her condominium, followed by pictures of them separately entering and Francis leaving in the early morning hours. The article also included past photos of them together in public. The content was sensationalized, portraying their rtionship as mysterious and ambiguous. In the past, reporters had tiptoed around their connection due to Hadley Corporation¡¯s influence. Any mentions of their appearances together were brief and vague. However, this time, the article was filled with malicious nder and unfounded usations. The reporters were about to continue questioning Christina when the elevator doors slid open. Nathaniel stood there with an air of indifference and intimidation. His features appeared cold and impassive, resembling that of a statue. Behind him were a few bodyguards and hiswyer. Marching out of the elevator, he halted beside Christina and pulled her into his arms. His voice was icy as he questioned, ¡°Since when did Hadley Corporation be a source of gossip for reporters?¡± Chapter 450 You Are Not Him Chapter 450 You Are Not Him Upon hearing his words, a hushed silence fell over the crowd. No one dared to provoke him further. The bodyguards took a step forward to disperse the crowd, and the remaining employees swiftly entered the elevator, eager to continue with their work. Within moments, the lobby was once again vacant and quiet. Nathaniel gripped Christina¡¯s hand and pulled her into the private elevator reserved for higher¨Cups. Before the doors could close, he pinned her to the wall. ¡°You must exin yourself,¡± he demanded coldly. Christina furrowed her brows and responded honestly, ¡°I fell asleep in my roomst night. When I woke up in the morning, Francis wasn¡¯t there anymore.¡± She spoke with an air ofposure and indifference as if the situation held no significance to her. Nathaniel narrowed his gaze. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± What does he mean? Does he not trust me? Christina¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°What else do you think happened?¡± She despised being mistrusted by anyone. I don¡¯t care what others think about me. He¡¯s my husband, though. How could he not trust me? As their gazes met, the air around them seemed to freeze. There was no need for him to say anything as Christina could see the doubt in his The elevator doors opened with a ding, breaking the silence. gaze. Christina forcefully pushed his hands away. ¡°If that¡¯s what you believe, perhaps we should reconsider our rtionship,¡± she stated firmly. A couple who had doubts about each other would only tie each other down. With that, she stalked out without looking back. Upon arriving at her office, Rayne rushed over to Christina, having already read about the gossip. ¡°Christina, how did you manage toe up? There¡¯s a crowd downstairs. I texted you earlier, asking you not toe to the office,¡± Rayne eximed. Christina, not wanting to dwell on the frustrating incident, dismissed her concerns. ¡°The security guards intervened, and they dispersed the crowd,¡± she casually replied, brushing off the topic. ¡°Thankfully, this is Hadley Corporation. If it were any other ce, you would have beenpletely blocked and unable to get through,¡± Rayne remarked. Christina told her, ¡°I don¡¯t want to meet with any clients today. Please refrain from disturbing me unless it¡¯s something urgent.¡± With that, she entered her office, seeking a moment of peace and solitude. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a glow on Nathaniel as he read the scandalous news article about Christina and Francis in his office upstairs. As expected, the moment the article surfaced, Hadley Corporation¡¯s stock prices took a hit. Throughout the morning until the market closed at eleven¨Cthirty, thepany¡¯s shares plummeted by thirteen percent. If the prices keep falling, thepany will face significant losses. Furthermore, exining this to the shareholders won¡¯t be an easy task. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze shifted downward, fixating on the screen before him. His expression was inscrutable, making it difficult to discern his thoughts. For the next three days, the matter didn¡¯t settle down like usual but spread like wildfire online, garnering a lot of discussions. Christina found herself at the receiving end of harsh online criticism, asizens condemned her for being shameless and greedy. They even used her of seducing a celebrity despite being married to an esteemed CEO. She became the subject of disdain and contempt among inte users, and some even went to the extent of staking out Hadley Corporation, eagerly awaiting a chance to capture a photo of Christina for the sake of online attention. In stark contrast, Nathaniel was depicted as a devoted and loyal man, receiving admiration from women. Numerousizens expressed their willingness to marry him if he were to get a divorce. Consequently, Hadley Corporation¡¯s share prices stabilized and even began to rise once again, reflecting the positive perception surrounding Nathaniel. Christina grew weary of the constant scrutiny. Every time she ventured outside, the paparazzi would surreptitiously capture her every move, invading her privacy. She resented being pursued like a celebrity and longed for freedom from constant surveince. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Fearing for her children¡¯s well¨Cbeing, she hesitated to visit them, fearful that the relentless paparazzi would intrude on their lives as well. She didn¡¯t care how the media portrayed her, but she refused to drag her kids into the matter. When the doorbell of the condominium rang, Christina opened the door, assuming it was Rayne who came to deliver some stuff to her. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Fury shed in Christina¡¯s gaze, and she didn¡¯t step aside to allow Nathaniel entry. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was dark as he came closer to her, forcing her to either take a step back or bump into him. Christina retreated readily instead of struggling fruitlessly. ¡°If you¡¯re here to say something, say it now.¡± ¡°Christina, why must you talk to me this way?¡± Nathaniel frowned as his voice turned cold. Christina didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with her tone, but as she nced up, she couldn¡¯t help but notice Nathaniel¡¯s icy expression. His tired eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he appeared more dejected than ever. His unshaven stubble added to his somber appearance, suggesting ack of restful sleep. ¡°Just tell me why you¡¯re here. I¡¯m busy,¡± she reminded him. Nathaniel had been consumed with work for the past few days and had rushed over as soon as he had wrapped things up. He didn¡¯t expect to be treated coldly. ¡°I heard from your assistant that you¡¯re considering moving your office. Is that true?¡± he asked. He had come here right after receiving the news. After a few days of cooling down, Christina managed to regain herposure. It wasn¡¯t that she genuinely desired to relocate her office, but rather, she wanted to avoid being the subject of gossip and unwarranted judgment. ¡°Yourpany is raising my rent, and I can¡¯t afford it anymore. That¡¯s why I made the decision to relocate.¡± It sounded like a reasonable excuse, but Nathaniel¡¯s expression merely grew darker. When did I ask her to pay the rental? It¡¯s just an excuse for her to stay away from me. He came closer and put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°The matter will blow over soon. I¡¯ll get mywyer to issue a warning letter tomorrow,¡± he told her gently. The warmth radiating from his palm didn¡¯t reassure Christina. In fact, she found this side of him more unfamiliar than ever. Pushing him away, she responded coldly, ¡°Theizens are praising you as a devoted man while labeling me as an evil woman. This issue has been escting for days, yet you haven¡¯t defended me in any way. Why is that?¡± Nathaniel was stunned by her response. ¡°I wanted to defend you, but I was really busy-¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Christina growled, feeling her heart being torn apart by their usations hurled at each other. ¡°You¡¯re so busy that you couldn¡¯t even find a moment to send me a text? Do you really expect me to believe you?¡± He didn¡¯t bother dispelling the rumor as it would benefit him. Nathaniel scowled and snapped, ¡°Francis was the one who did this. Did he step out to exin things on your behalf?¡± It is highly probable that Francis was behind this scandal. Why didn¡¯t Christina me me instead? Christina¡¯s blood ran cold before it surged into her brain. Her eyes turned red as she stared at him intently. ¡°How can you evenpare yourself to him? He¡¯s nothing to me, but you¡¯re the exact opposite!¡± Chapter 451 Madison Pretending To Be Christina Chapter 451 Madison Pretending To Be Christina Time stood still, and an intense silence filled the space, signaling the gravity of Christina¡¯s words. Her statement acted as a definitive red light, bringing their rtionship to a halt. I don¡¯t mind how others criticize or perceive me, but Nathaniel is different. He¡¯s my husband, and I¡¯m his wife. Shouldn¡¯t we be honest with each other and haveplete trust? This constant doubt, secrecy, and questioning are draining me. I feel emotionally exhausted. Nathaniel lifted his head and reached out to take her hand. His voice had softened considerably. ¡°It was my fault for not handling the situation properly. I¡¯ll address it tomorrow, I promise.¡± Christina let him wrap his arms around her, her body feeling limp like a broken doll. Hershes concealed her unfocused eyes. Despite their tight embrace, they felt like strangers in each other¡¯s arms. After some time, when they got tired of standing, Nathaniel carried Christina into the bedroom. He held her tightly, feeling the rhythm of her heartbeat against his chest. Breathing in her delicate scent, he found sce as if the entire world had gone silent at that moment. At dawn, Christina awoke to find herself alone in the apartment. She rose from the bed and freshened up before getting dressed, ready to find a new location for her office. Christina opened the door to see Madison standing outside. Before she could say anything, Madison entered her house. Without hesitation, Christina blocked her path warily. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± Madison folded her arms and demanded, ¡°Christina, you keep causing Nathaniel pain. When will you put an end to this?¡± Did shee all the way here just to say that? Christina let out an icy snort. ¡°Who are you to intervene in our rtionship? Are you a home wrecker?¡± Madison must¡¯ve contributed to the scandal, huh? Madison scowled. ¡°You¡¯ll only harm Nathaniel by staying with him. Can you leave him?¡± ¡°Do you you think I don¡¯t want that? He¡¯s the one who keeps holding on to me! Even if I leave, I doubt he¡¯ll ever fall in love with you!¡± Christina snapped angrily and stormed off towards the elevator. If Nathaniel harbored any romantic feelings for Madison, he wouldn¡¯t have courted Christina four years Madison went into the elevator after her, refusing to give up. ¡°Christina, you know perfectly well that your mother died in the building copse caused by Hadley Corporation, which also left your father crippled. Your families are sworn enemies. Can you really sleep peacefully knowing you share a bed with your enemy every night?¡± she pressed. Christina¡¯s fists bailed up as she frowned angrily. ¡°What does that have to do with you? Rather than paying attention to me, you should change your appearance so Nathaniel will finally notice you.¡± 19 Al NuC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. The elevator doors slid open, and Christina stalked out. She hopped into her car and drove out of the underground garage. Madison¡¯s gaze hardened as she stared at Christina¡¯s slender back, taking in every detail of her outfit with a cold gaze. That night, in the CEO¡¯s office at Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel sought sce in the bar within his office. Frustration consumed him, causing him to consume more drinks than usual after finishing work. He pulled out his phone to call Christina, but she didn¡¯t pick up despite several attempts. A deep line appeared between Nathaniel¡¯s brows as he refilled his ss with wine and downed it in one gulp. Propping his chin on his palm, he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, his vision bing hazy and distorted. ¡°Nathaniel¡­¡± A soft voice rang out at the door. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze shifted toward the door, where he caught sight of a slender youngdy dressed in a long white gown. Her long, ck hair cascaded down, framing her translucent skin. Is that Christina? He got up and walked to the door, but the person spun on her heels and escaped. ¡°Don¡¯t go, Christina!¡± Nathaniel ran after her and finally pulled her into his arms in the corridor. He held her tightly, inhaling her familiar scent as he tightened his grip. ¡°Christina, please don¡¯t be angry anymore. I may have handled the issue poorly, but I promise I won¡¯t doubt you again in the future¡­¡± Nathaniel was slurring as he spoke. It was evident that he was drunk. All he knew was that he couldn¡¯t bear to see Christina drifting away from him. It felt even more agonizing than when he couldn¡¯t find her four years ago. The woman in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace had a striking resemnce to Christina, from her outfit to her hair. However, she wasn¡¯t Christina. It was Madison, who had intentionally imitated Christina¡¯s appearance. Initially, she was startled when Nathaniel ran after her, Madison felt a sense of relief as he held her tightly. We¡¯ve worked together for over ten years, and Nathaniel had never touched me. I can¡¯t believe changing my outfit would work wonders! Madison reciprocated the hug after she picked up some courage, relishing the sensation of Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. ¡°Nathaniel, forget about Christina. She¡¯s just a promiscuous woman who doesn¡¯t appreciate you. If we¡¯re together, I assure you that you¡¯ll be much happier with me. I¡¯m willing to have many children with you.¡± Right then, the elevator was slowly making its way to the top floor. Christina called Nathaniel several times, but her calls went unanswered. She called Sebastian, who informed her that Nathaniel was in a bad mood and had granted him early dismissal from work. Nathaniel was currently alone in his office. After pondering over the matter, she decided to stop by and pay him a visit. When the elevator doors opened, Christina¡¯s heart sank as she saw two figures locked in an embrace. It was instantly clear to her that the couple before her was none other than Nathaniel and Madison. Madison nestled herself into Nathaniel¡¯s chest, their intimate embrace and whispered words of affection painted a picture of a couple deeply in love. The sight pierced Christina¡¯s heart like a sharp dagger. With each breath feeling like a painful reminder of her shattered heart, Christina turned away and stepped into the elevator. The doors closed, severing thest remaining ties between her and Nathaniel. The first thing Christina did upon returning to the condominium was to call her grandmother. Azure answered the call shortly after. ¡°How are you doing recently, Christina? I read the news.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fake. The reporters made up stuff to garner attention,¡± Christina exined. Azure had unwavering faith in her. ¡°I haveplete trust in you. I know you too well to doubt you.¡± Christina felt a sense of relief and gratitude for being trusted. Her heart warmed as she took a deep breath and made her decision known. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve made up my mind. I¡¯m going to move to Hallsbay and live with you.¡± D ¡°What? Really? Have you made up your mind?¡± Azure gasped incredulously, thinking her ears were ying tricks on her. Christina¡¯s eyes sparkled as she responded in a firm tone, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind. Let me know after you make the necessary arrangements.¡± ¡°Your father will be delighted to hear this. We¡¯ll make the arrangements as soon as possible,¡± Azure promised. After the call ended, Christina breathed a sigh of relief and went to her bed. Naturally, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep as the image of Nathaniel and Madison locked in a tight embrace kept haunting her, reying in her mind whenever she closed her eyes. If she had the power to erase memories, she would eagerly remove that painful scene from her mind, forever banishing it from her thoughts. Just before dawn, Christina managed to drift off to sleep, albeit briefly. When she woke up, a newfound resolve glimmered in her eyes. She printed out a divorce agreement and went straight to Hadley Corporation. Chapter 452 Sincerely Wanting A Divorce Chapter 452 Sincerely Wanting A Divorce The early morning light poured into the room. Nathaniel woke up on the bed in the lounge. He had removed his suit jacket, and he was left with a thin shirt that entuated his well¨Cdefined abdominal muscles. a Nathaniel had a headache from the hangover. He sat up and shook his head gently. Did Ie here to rest when I was drunkst night? He recalled making several phone calls to Christina, but she did not answer any of them. This made feel Nathaniel a sense of frustration. He entered the bathroom to take a shower and changed into a new suit. Nathanielbed his short hair back, revealing his handsome facial features. He walked out after tying his necktie. The office had been tidied up, and the scent of air freshener lingered in the air. Sebastian walked in with a file in one hand and breakfast in the other. He ced them on the desk. ¡°Mr. Hadley, there is a meeting in fifteen minutes.¡± Faintly nodding, Nathaniel sat and ate his breakfast in an elegant manner. He felt much better after filling his stomach. Sebastian was reporting on the work schedule for today when the sound of the door opening cut him off. ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± Christina walked in with a colder expression than usual. ¡°I¡¯ll be quick, so as not to waste your time.¡± She walked up to Nathaniel and threw the printed document she was holding in front of him. ¡°Sign it, Nathaniel!¡± The words ¡°Divorce Agreement¡± could be boldly seen in the brightly lit room. Sebastian, who was standing at the side, saw it clearly. Oh no! Mrs. Hadley is seeking a divorce early this morning. I¡¯ll be the one suffering if Mr. Hadley is in a bad mood. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I shan¡¯t keep you from your work then. I¡¯ll¡­ get back to work.¡± As his words fell, Sebastian could not wait to leave the office. The office was so quiet that not even breathing could be heard once the door closed. Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened, and he grimly fixed his eyes on her. ¡°Christina, do you think it¡¯s fun to repeatedly ckmail me with divorce?¡± Christina found it ridiculous. How am I ckmailing him when he and Madison were the ones who wanted to make vows to each other? I¡¯m letting them have what they want. Madison¡¯s words fromst night were still echoing in her ears. She narrowed her eyes, which were devoid of emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not. I sincerely want a divorce every time I bring it up.¡± She¡¯s saying she sincerely wants a divorce? Nathaniel had never been threatened repeatedly in his life. He got to his feet at once. His strapping figure move toward Christina with an imposing aura. ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Nathaniel uttered those words through gritted teeth. His imposing demeanor momentarily stunned Christina, but she was not scared. She said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind a long time ago.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Nathaniel raised his sturdy arms and grasped her wrists firmly. He did not use much strength, but it was enough to hold her in ce. Nathaniel replied icily, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t dare to divorce you!¡± Christina met his piercing gaze. His rage was like a me trying to burn and reduce her into ashes. Despite her fear and anger, she had no reason to back down. ¡°I wish you would just sign the papers.¡± Nathaniel did not expect her to be so determined and unwavering in her resolve. He gave a self¨Cdeprecating nod. ¡°There are still a lot of details in a divorce agreement. I¡¯ll have the lawyer go over each one with you one by one.¡± ¡°No need. I don¡¯t want anything else besides the two children. I¡¯ll leave without taking a single penny,¡± Christina stated calmly as if she had already thought of all the possible ways to respond. The more determined she appeared; the angrier Nathaniel felt. His aura grew frosty, and he let go of Christina. Nathaniel returned to his desk to pick up the divorce agreement, and he threw it in the trash can without even batting an eye. ¡°The agreement you drafted doesn¡¯t count. I will have thewyer prepare a new one.¡± Christina clenched her fists tightly. She knew rushing this matter was no help at all, but Nathaniel still agreed at the very least. ¡°Please hurry up!¡± With that, Christina walked out of the office without looking back. A surge of irritation seared his thoughts, as Nathaniel watched her walk away. He instantly swept the documents on the desk to the ground. Christina, are you really so desperate for a divorce? I¡¯m not going to let you have your way. i N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Christina returned to her condominium after leaving Hadley Corporation. She slumped down on the door after closing it. Christina seemed to have let go of all her defenses. She wrapped her arms around her shoulders, and mncholy filled her eyes. I need to sort out my emotions quickly. Christina received a definite response this time aspared to thest time she went. She hoped there would be no further entanglement. In fact, it was not bad living in another city. Christina collected herself before heading to the kitchen to start preparing dinner. Christina left her house as the dismissal time for kindergarten approached. She held her car keys and went to pick up her children. The kindergarten was filled withughter and voices when it was dismissal time. The entire atmosphere was enveloped with joy andughter. Christina was standing at the entrance, and she waved at Lucas and Cam, who were lining up inside. ¡°Mommy, look at me! Look at me!¡± Lucas formed a heart shape with his hands and blew a kiss. He looked quirky and adorable. Soon after, Christina drove back to the condominium with her two children. As she drove, Christina asked tentatively, ¡°Lucas, Cam, you haven¡¯t met your granddad and great- granny before. Would you like me to take you to visit them when there¡¯s a chance?¡± It was the first time the two children had heard about their grandparents, and their eyes widened instantly. ¡°Yes! We want to see them!¡± ¡°All the other kids have grandparents. We want to y with our grandparents too!¡± Cam added expectantly. Christina did not expect the two children to be so excited, and she continued, ¡°Okay, but your grandparents live in Hallsbay. Why don¡¯t we travel to Hallsbay since the summer vacation is approaching?¡± This is good. It¡¯ll be easier for them to get along in the future. Lucas and Cam nearly jumped to their feet out of excitement. ¡°Woah! We want to go there!¡± Christina did not expect things to go so smoothly, and her mood significantly improved. ¡°Let¡¯s go home and have dinner first. I¡¯ll y with you guys after I make the arrangements.¡± The two children put away their school bags obediently and went to wash up back at the condominium. Christina prepared the dinner and set the table nicely. The two children sat down at the table as soon as they smelled the food. Christina gave the children each a bowl of pasta. Thanking her, Lucas took it before gobbling it down. Cam ate just as quickly as her brother. Christina was afraid they would choke from eating too quickly. ¡°Eat slowly. Don¡¯t choke.¡± ¡°Mommy, the food you cook is so delicious. It makes the food at kindergarten taste terrible,¡± Lucas exined. Cam nodded in agreement, and she mimicked an adult tone. ¡°Sure enough, with disparity came the damages. Everything else isme after eating the food Mommy cooked.¡± Christina beamed from all theirpliments. After dinner, Christina kept the tableware and tuck the children to bed. Before Christina realized it, three days had passed while she was living life to the fullest. Chapter 453 Divorce Agreement Chapter 453 Divorce Agreement Upon dropping off Lucas and Cam at the kindergarten, Christina got a call from Azure. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ve discussed with your father that we¡¯ll return to Hallsbay next weekend. Are you¡­ good with that?¡± Azure asked warily, worried Christina would turn her down. Christina had been busy with the new office¡¯s renovation for the past few days, so she didn¡¯t pay much heed to the arrangement made by the Gibson family. ¡°Sure, no problem. I don¡¯t have much to pack anyway,¡± she replied casually. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about packing your clothes. I can buy new ones for you once we arrive in Hallsbay,¡± Azure assured her with a chuckle. Nothing is a problem as long as Christina is willing toe with us to meet with the Gibson family. The ardent love from her grandmother¡¯s words filled Christina. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s good. Oh, right. I need a favor.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Azure questioned. I¡¯ll fulfill all of them even if she needs ten favors. Christina sucked in a deep breath and answered, ¡°I want my mom toe with me. She¡¯s the one who raised me all these years. I can¡¯t just leave her here.¡± ¡°Um¡­ Of course, that¡¯s not a problem. After all, we wouldn¡¯t have found you if she didn¡¯t adopt you then,¡® Azure agreed. She would regard Christina as heartless if thetter could ditch the person who¡¯d raised her for over twenty years. Even though she didn¡¯t grow up by my side, I thank my lucky stars for her being raised upright and kind. Joy filled Christina, for she was worried Azure would turn her down. ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± After she hung up the phone, she dropped by the hospital to ry the good news to her mother. Sharon was overjoyed yet sad that Christina had found her biological family. ¡°Christina, I think it¡¯s best that I don¡¯t go to Hallsbay with you.¡± ¡°Why? I don¡¯t want to be separated from you, Mom.¡± Who¡¯s going to take care of her once I leave? A sad expression crossed Sharon¡¯s face. ¡°The doctor said my condition is much better than before, and I would be able to leave the hospital soon. I can rent a house and live the rest of my life leisurely.¡± Christina clung to her arm with a smile. ¡°Can you bear to part with me or even Lucas and Cam?¡± Sharon fell silent at her question. Of course, I can¡¯t bear to part with all of them. I¡¯m the one who raised them, even though they aren¡¯t my biological family. Anyone will develop an attachment to their pet, let alone a human. I haven¡¯t got the chance to hug the adorable kids yet. The mere thought of separating from them hurts me. Christina rested her head on Sharon¡¯s shoulder and assured her, ¡°I¡¯ve made all the necessary arrangements. All you need to do ise with me. You don¡¯t have to worry about anything. Just leave everything to me, okay?¡± Sharon gave in and nodded in agreement. Once Christina left the hospital, she remembered one more important thing she hadn¡¯t settled yet. Why hasn¡¯t Nathaniel given me another set of divorce agreements? It¡¯s been a few days since. I texted him about it, but he never gave me an exact answer. I¡¯ll have to rush him for it since I¡¯ll be leaving here next week. It¡¯ll be troublesome, having to travel back and forth. At that consideration, Christina immediately made a U¨Cturn and drove toward Hadley Corporation. It took only a few minutes from the elevator to the CEO¡¯s office. When Christina arrived, Nathaniel was still in the middle of a meeting. Sebastian came out of the office and greeted her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley¡¯s meeting today might take while. Should I reschedule another time for you to meet him?¡± She doubted him since Nathaniel didn¡¯t reply to her messages nor pick up her calls. It was evident he was avoiding her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll wait for him here. You can continue with your work.¡± With her arms crossed over her chest, she plopped onto the couch. I won¡¯t leave this ce today if I don¡¯t settle this matter. Sebastian let out a resigned sigh since he couldn¡¯t stop her from doing that. ¡°I¡¯ll have the assistant pour you a cup of coffee, and then I¡¯m leaving for a meeting. Before long, the assistant brought in a pot of coffee and set everything down on the table before leaving Christina alone in the office. Christina slowly sipped on the coffee as she waited. Time ticked by, lulling her into sleep, and finally, she fell asleep on the couch. A series of footsteps approached the office. Nathaniel thought she had gone back home but was surprised to find her sleeping in his office. At first, Nathaniel had thought Christina was merely throwing a tantrum when she demanded a divorce. He nned to let her calm down for a few days, hoping the issue would pass. He didn¡¯t expect her toe to his office. The air conditioner in his office was sting cold air. Fearing she might catch a cold, he removed his zer and gently covered her with it. A faint sandalwood scent filled her nose, and suddenly a sense of warmth dispersed the cold temperature from her body. The sudden change woke her up. Opening her eyes, she saw a familiar handsome face close up. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go inside and sleep? I don¡¯t want you catching a cold,¡± Nathaniel offered in a clear voice. The concern in his tone was natural, as though they never fought earlier. Christina didn¡¯t know how to reply to his casual considerate offer. After a short silence, she set the coat aside. ¡°I¡¯m here to ask if the divorce agreement is ready.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s movement paused, thinking he had heard it wrong. With a frown, he replied, ¡°Thepany¡¯s legal team is quite busy ofte, so the papers aren¡¯t ready yet.¡± Christina didn¡¯t believe him. How can a team of over a dozen people not have time to prepare the divorce agreement? It¡¯s been a few days. ¡°I can hire an externalwyer if your in¨Chouse legal team¡¯s schedule is too packed,¡± she suggested coldly. Nathaniel¡¯s tone turned icy. ¡°I don¡¯t trust externalwyers. Besides, it¡¯ll affect Hadley Corporation¡¯s reputation and share value if news about our divorce spread.¡± It was a reasonable excuse, so Christina had no reason to object. Taming her temper, she asked, ¡°How long do you need then?¡± It won¡¯t take as long as six months, right? ¡°I¡¯ll inform you once it¡¯s ready.¡± He grabbed onto her waist and pulled her closer. ¡°A gentle reminder. You¡¯re still Mrs. Hadley before we sign the divorce agreement.¡± Christina snorted at his im. He promised me a divorce but is now intentionally dying the process. Hmph! As expected of Hadley Corporation¡¯s CEO. Schemes and plots are part of his life. I can¡¯t even take a step outside the circle he has drawn. Christina¡¯s face scrunched up in anger as she pushed him away. ¡°If you don¡¯t speed up the process, I¡¯ll file a case in court. We¡¯ll just have to live separately for two years to make it count. It¡¯s not a bad idea if you think finding awyer is too troublesome.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She walked out of his office without sparing him a backward nce when she finished saying that. Creases marred Nathaniel¡¯s forehead as he watched her leave. Why is she acting so differently all of a sudden? Christina went to pick up the kids in the evening, then returned to the condominium. After dinner, Lucas and Cam were reading a storybook in their room while Christina was skimming through a magazine on the couch. When a breeze blew through the living room, the wind chime hanging on the wall would produce a symphony of tinkling. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Christina set the magazine down and went to the door. When Nathaniel¡¯s face appeared in the peephole, her guard went up. ¡°What are you doing here? Leave!¡± She was about to turn around when his cold voice carried through the door. ¡°I have the divorce agreement with me for you to sign.¡± Chapter 454 Forgot To Inform Daddy Chapter 454 Forgot To Inform Daddy Christina stopped in her tracks right after she turned around. She hesitated for a moment before opening the door. Before she could say anything, Nathaniel walked in. Christina followed behind him and realized there was nothing in his hands. I¡¯ve been conned again! Christina stopped him and questioned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you brought the divorce agreement? Why are your hands empty?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows twitched, and he took out a contract from his pocket. ¡°Take your time reading it.¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect him to be so straightforward. Just as she was about to open and read it, she heard Lucas and Cam. ¡°Daddy!¡± The two kids hadn¡¯t seen their father for almost a week, so they immediately climbed up Nathaniel¡¯s legs. Nathaniel bent over slightly, carried them up, and nted a kiss on each of their faces. ¡°Did you guys behave when I¡¯m not here?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Cam blinked confidently. Nathaniel¡¯s heart melted at the sight of that. Lucas pouted. ¡°Daddy, you haven¡¯te to y with us for a long time. Did you forget that this is your home?¡± Nathaniel kissed his forehead. ¡°I have been busy these past few days, so I couldn¡¯t y with you guys. What kind of gifts do you like?¡± ¡°Dolls!¡± ¡°Model airnes!¡± Nathaniel put them down. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll ask my assistant to bring them to you guys tomorrow.¡± Christina walked over and brought the two kids to their rooms. ¡°You guys can draw in your rooms first. I need to discuss something with Daddy.¡± The two children assumed their parents needed some time together, so they went back to their rooms obediently. Christina walked to the dining table and opened the divorce agreement. The requirements seemed normal, but her expression darkened as she read further. She arched a brow. ¡°Why do we still have to live together after getting divorced?¡± Then, what¡¯s the point of having a divorce? Nathaniel¡¯s hands were on his waist as he repliedzily, ¡°Because a divorce will affect Hadley Corporation¡¯s shares. Do you know how much a one percent fluctuation is worth?¡± Hadley Corporation was argepany worth billions, so a small percentage decrease could result in the loss of tens of millions. Christina couldn¡¯t suppress her anger. How is this a divorce? It¡¯s just a change of identity! I can¡¯t ept this excuse. ¡°I can promise not to publicly announce our divorce, but there¡¯s no reason for us to live together.¡± Nathaniel shrugged and responded logically, ¡°Well, that¡¯s just the way it is. These are my requirements for a divorce. If you can¡¯t fulfill them, then there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes turned cold, and she threw the divorce agreement into the trash can. Even doing so couldn¡¯t pacify her anger. What kind of cr*ppy excuse is this? Nathaniel was purposely making things difficult for her. It was clear he was waiting for her to compromise. Nathaniel thought she would give in, so he approached her and patted her slender shoulders. ¡°I didn¡¯t handle things properly, then. Can you forgive me?¡± He had his back to him and didn¡¯t notice her expression. After a moment, Christina said calmly, ¡°Get out.¡± Nathaniel froze as the words he was about to say became choked in his throat. Displeasure was written all over his face. Nathaniel was tired of being rejected despite his repeated attempts to please her. He retracted his hand and walked out. When the door closed with a thud, Christina felt like the whole world had quieted down. Right after Nathaniel left the apartment, a private detective hiding in the shadows reported his whereabouts to Madison.N?velDrama.Org owns all content. At this moment, Madison and Anya were in the condominium. They smiled triumphantly upon hearing the news. ¡°In the past, Nathaniel would definitely spend the night at Christina¡¯s ce, but this time he left in less than an hour. It seems like their rtionship is falling apart!¡± Madison didn¡¯t expect her n to seed after trying so many ways to ruin Christina¡¯s and Nathaniel¡¯s rtionship. Anya scoffed coldly. ¡°We must make them divorce. Then, without Nathaniel as her backing, Christina won¡¯t be able topete in taking over the Gibson family business with me.¡± It was easy for her to deal with Christina, but she couldn¡¯t mess with Nathaniel. Therefore, she must ruin their rtionship first. Christina wouldn¡¯t pose a threat to her if the former wasn¡¯t with Nathaniel anymore. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I have already received news that Christina had asked Nathaniel for a divorce. She even went to the office to make a scene today.¡± Madison didn¡¯t expect Christina to act so quickly. ¡°This is good news! Let¡¯s toast to this!¡± Anya raised her ss and clinked it against Madison¡¯s ss. They exchanged smiles, knowing that their grand n was about to seed. Another week passed in a blink of an eye. After Christina sent the children to school, she went to her new office. She was satisfied with the location of the new studio, which was in the city center, so transportation was convenient. The office building was new, with fewer people and strict management. When Christina arrived, Rayne was unpacking their things. The air was stuffy as the air conditioner was not turned on. ¡°Why did you not turn on the air conditioner?¡± Christina walked in, picked up the remote, and turned on the air conditioner. Immediately, there was cold air, and Christina could breathe again. Rayne put down her work and smiled. ¡°I was worried about the electricity bill.¡± This was amercial building, so the utility bills were charged at a higher rate. Rayne really cared for her boss, so she was even trying to save money for her. Christina smiled and put down the remote. ¡°I¡¯m more concerned about you suffering in the heat.¡± Rayne was touched and ran over to hug Christina. ¡°I¡¯m touched, but we have changed three studios since we started working together.¡± Christina patted her hand lightly. ¡°This is probably thest one.¡± She had already brought the ce, so this would save the trouble of them paying rent. With multiple sources of ie now, she didn¡¯t have to worry about financial issues at all. ¡°That¡¯s great. I¡¯ll make sure to arrange everything nicely so that you can workfortably!¡± Rayne walked away excitedly. Christina also helped in arranging their things. Although she was about to leave for Hallsbay, her studio had always been the fruit of her lifetime¡¯sbor. She stayed in the studio the whole afternoon before picking up her children and returning to the condominium. After dinner, Christina packed her things and asked with concern, ¡°We are about to leave for Hallsbay tomorrow. Have you guys packed your things?¡± They didn¡¯t have much luggage since the Gibson residence had everything they would need. They only net ded to pack some clothes. Cam and Lucas packed a small suitcase each and stuffed it with their textbooks and toys. The two children ran over to Christina and hugged her legs. They were adorable, resembling little furry animals. Lucas asked, ¡°Mommy, has Daddy packed his things?¡± Cam shouted, ¡°We were too busy packing and forgot to tell Daddy!¡± Chapter 455 Leaving You Forever Chapter 455 Leaving You Forever Christina smiled awkwardly. I didn¡¯t forget, but it was never my n to contact him, okay? After formting her response, she exined, ¡°Daddy needs to work, so he can¡¯t go with us!¡± The children crossed their arms and stared at her in unison with suspicion. Cam pouted. ¡°You never nned to bring Daddy along at all!¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t lie to kids, Mommy!¡± added Lucas. Christina¡¯s acting was clumsier when she was in front of her children. ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re staying there for a long time. It¡¯s just a vacation.¡± Her reasoning convinced the children. They nodded, despite not fully understanding the situation. ¡°We¡¯ll return after summer vacation is over?¡± ¡°Of course! When did I ever lie to you before?¡± Christina gently patted their heads. Before the kids replied, she carried them into their room. ¡°Rest well, okay? We¡¯ll take the ne there tomorrow!¡± Cam and Lucas nodded obediently. ¡°Goodnight, Mommy!¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Christina kissed their foreheads before leaving the room. After closing the door, she continued to pack her things, though there wasn¡¯t much for her to pack. Once she was done busying about, she plopped down on the couch and quietly scanned the renovations in the condominium. Even though Nathaniel isn¡¯t here, I can still see traces of him everywhere. Meanwhile, Nathaniel hadn¡¯t slept well for the past two days because his insomnia had returned. After he swallowed a sleeping pill, he slumbered. The phone on his bedside table vibrated for a moment as it had just received a new message from Cam: We¡¯re leaving you forever, Daddy. The next morning, sunlightnded on Christina, waking her up. She didn¡¯t realize she had fallen asleep on the couch. After she got up, she prepared a simple breakfast, changed into a pink dress, and tied up her hair, making her fair countenance seem even cuter. After the three of them finished breakfast, Christina pulled out her luggage. ¡°Let¡¯s head off now!¡± Just as she arrived at the entrance and opened the door, she saw a towering figure blocking her path. Christina lifted her eyes and saw Nathaniel¡¯s terrifyingly intense scowl. Her blood froze instantly, and she was rooted to the spot. ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked, shocked. Promptly, Nathaniel showed her the message Cam had sent him. ¡°Are you trying to hurt the kids?¡± After Christina read the text message, her eyelids twitched. I didn¡¯t expect the kids to snitch on me! Suppressing her rage, she asked, ¡°Why did you send that message, Cam?¡± Cam stuck her tongue out and exined seriously, ¡°Aren¡¯t we spending the summer vacation at Hallsbay, Mommy? Summer vacationsts for a long¨Ctime, and my teacher said ¡®a long time¡® can be expressed as ¡®forever¡®¡± The girl¡¯s words rendered Christina speechless. Nathaniel stepped into the room and lifted the children. ¡°How about you two buy presents with my assistant at the mall, hmm?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. The instant they heard presents, they were immediately delighted. ¡°Yes! I want presents!¡± After Sebastian brought the children downstairs, Nathaniel closed the door. Then, Nathaniel stepped closer to Christina, driving her into a corner. ¡°Where are you nning to kidnap my children to, Christina?¡± The cramped space made her feel as if the air had gotten thinner. She lifted her chin and uttered in a resolute tone, ¡°I¡¯m not kidnapping the kids. I¡¯m bringing them to a fun ce for summer vacation.¡± Does she think I¡¯ll believe such a cr*ppy lie? Upon lifting his hand, Nathaniel gripped her chin. Like a bloodthirsty beast, he peered at her as though she was prey he would swallow whole. ¡°Do you think you can hide the truth from me, Christina? You¡¯re eager to divorce me, so you can return to the Gibson family. Am I right?¡± Despite her effortful attempts, she couldn¡¯t push him away as his strength was overwhelming. Like a powerless doll, she was clutched tightly within Nathaniel¡¯s palm. Christina hated that sense of restraint and knitted her eyebrows. ¡°Release me. I always am a member of the Gibson family. Besides, why should I ask for your permission to go anywhere I want?¡± I¡¯m not an object on disy that will take in anyments from the public! A cold look swirled in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as his scowl intensified, looking as if he was going to gobble up Christina. ¡°You¡¯re mine!¡± His domineering and suffocating tone plunged the room into the darkness of a ck hole. She couldn¡¯t feel her heartbeat as she struggled to breathe. Instinctually, Christina wanted to escape as swiftly as possible. ¡°I¡¯m not yours! Listen-¡± Her mouth was abruptly sealed by Nathaniel¡¯s lips as she felt his hot breath stirring in her mouth. After an unknown amount of time passed, Christina copsed due to ack of oxygen. As her body slid downward, Nathaniel grabbed her thin waist tightly. ¡°You¡¯re mine, so you can¡¯t go anywhere.¡± ¡°Why should I listen to you?¡± She was infuriated. ¡°Are you going to imprison me again for disobeying you?¡± Nathaniel snorted in a bewitching way. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. I¡¯ll take your suggestion.¡± Without dy, he bent down, carried Christina on his shoulder, and strode to the entrance. ¡°Let me go, you b*stard!¡± Relentlessly, she smashed her fists on his shoulder. However, that only felt like a slightly stronger form of massage to him. Upon leaving the room, he stepped into the elevator. Christina was still struggling to escape as she didn¡¯t want to relive a past nightmare. My heart feels like it¡¯s suspended in the air, and I¡¯ve no idea when it¡¯ll drop to the ground and shatter. The more she thought about it, the greater her despair became. No! I don¡¯t want to be confined again! Then, the elevator door opened. Nathaniel stepped in and pressed the button for the first underground floor. Meanwhile, Christina had grown bolder as she struggled. Just before the door closed, she bit Nathaniel¡¯s ear without hesitation. Nathaniel groaned and covered his ear reflexively. Using that opportunity, Christina jumped away from his shoulder and darted out of the elevator. By the time the elevator door closed and he returned to his senses, he was alone, and Christina was nowhere to be seen. As the elevator descended, a frigid expression settled on his icy countenance. He tightened his fists so excessively that it created cracking sounds. Christina! Meanwhile, Christina held her breath and dashed to the back staircase. As she did, she called her grandmother. ¡°Come pick me up, Grandma!¡± When Azure heard her granddaughter¡¯s anxious voice, her expression froze. ¡°Where are you, Christina? I¡¯ll be there right away!¡± Chapter 456 Adapting To New Identity Chapter 456 Adapting To New Identity Fifteen minutester, Azure¡¯s car arrived at a small alley. It wasn¡¯t until Christina saw her grandmother stepping out of the vehicle that she approached the automobile. ¡°Grandma.¡± She threw herself into Azure¡¯s arms, her heart still pounding. That was too close. If I had remained captured, I¡¯d be imprisoned in Scenic Garden Manor again. ¡°Why are you this frightened, my child? Come, let¡¯s talk inside the car.¡± Without dy, Azure brought the younger woman into the vehicle before it drove away. Through the rearview mirror, Christina watched the alley gradually vanish from her sight and sighed in relief. ¡°Why are you alone? Where are the children?¡± inquired Azure caringly. A cold look swirled in Christina¡¯s calm eyes. Tightening her grip, she answered, ¡°We¡¯ll go back first. In the future, we¡¯lle back and pick them up.¡± Azure patted her granddaughter¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you wish, my dear.¡± At the same time, Nathaniel returned to the condominium but couldn¡¯t find Christina anywhere. I see her luggage, which means she left without returning here. Grimacing, he felt as if powerful waves were crashing against his body. Sebastian approached him and reported, ¡°The bodyguards searched the whole ce with me. We can¡¯t find her.¡± Narrowing his eyes, Nathaniel thought, She fled, then? Well, as long as the children are still at my side, she¡¯s not going anywhere. ¡°Bring the children back to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± Meanwhile, a beam of sunlightnded inside the study within Yeatder Vi at Hallsbay. There, Christina received a picture from a private detective. So, Lucas and Cam were brought back to Scenic Garden Manor by Nathaniel. He even transferred them to a different, aristocratic kindergarten. It seems they¡¯re busy with homework every day. She brushed her finger on the screen. Wait for me, Darlings. I¡¯ll grow stronger and bring you two to my side. Suddenly, Azure knocked on the door and entered the room with the share transfer document. ¡°Once you put your signature on this paper, thirty percent of Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares will be yours. With that, you¡¯ll be the biggest shareholder in thepany.¡± Without hesitation, Christina put her signature on the document as she desperately needed money. After all, whoever could provide the children with a better environment was more likely to win their custody. The difference between Christina¡¯s and Nathaniel¡¯s status was too significant. Therefore, if she couldn¡¯t rapidly close that gap, she could never snatch the children¡¯s custody from him. Azure watched Christina sign before handing the document to thetter. ¡°From this moment onward, C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. you¡¯re thergest shareholder in Gibson Corporation. I hope you¡¯ll lead thepany to greater heights.¡± ¡°I will do my best, Grandma.¡± Christina nodded. Abruptly, urgent footsteps disturbed the tender moment in the study. When Anya saw the signed document, her eyes almost popped from her skull. ¡°How can you hand all the shares to Christina, Grandma?¡± Now that Christina¡¯s the biggest shareholder in Gibson Corporation, she can be the CEO! Doesn¡¯t that mean she can do whatever she wants to me in the company? With a serious expression, Azure answered, ¡°This is what Christina deserves.¡± I took Yerek¡¯s shares away, leaving only three percent behind. Anya was upset. ¡°Christina¡¯s just a designer, Grandma. There¡¯s no way she knows how to run a company!¡± How can someone who has never learned a thing about business management helm such a bigpany? Patting her shoulder, Azure replied, ¡°She can learn. With your help, she¡¯ll definitely be able to take good care of thepany.¡± Me? Helping Christina? What kind of joke is that? Then again, so what if Christina¡¯s entering the company? I¡¯ll find a way to kick her out! Anya stifled her reaction so her grandmother wouldn¡¯t notice her true thoughts and narrowed her eyes at Christina. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m very experienced as I¡¯ve been the vice CEO of thepany for almost four years. If you don¡¯t understand anything, you can ask me about it.¡± Christina spotted the cold look in her sister¡¯s eyes. ¡°I will.¡± Meanwhile, Azure was contended to see the sisters getting along with each other. ¡°With you sisters working hard with each other, the Gibson family will no doubt reach a greater height.¡± Christina left the study and returned to her room to read thepany document. I don¡¯t have time to waste. I need to adapt to my new identity as soon as possible. The children are still waiting for me at Scenic Garden Manor. Lucas and Cam were unhappy that their mother disappeared after they were brought to Scenic Garden Manor. They cried for their mother the whole day. Additionally, they refused to drink or eat, worrying Raymond, With no other choice, Raymond sought help from Nathaniel. It¡¯s been twelve hours. Christina didn¡¯t call even once to ask about the kids. Nathaniel narrowed his pursed lips. When did she be that ruthless? I¡¯m really surprised. eyes with Raymond asked in a worried tone, ¡°Will Mrs. Hadley never return?¡± A gloomy vibe enveloped Nathaniel as he stood up. ¡°She¡¯ll return.¡± Then he exited the study and headed downstairs. Lucas and Cam sat on the couch grumpily, believing their father was why their mother disappeared. After all, she was smiling when they went to buy toys earlier. When Lucas saw his father approaching, he leaped from the couch and hugged thetter¡¯s leg. ¡°I want Mommy, Daddy!¡± ¡°Daddy, does Mommy not want me anymore?¡± Cam had always looked adorable. However, when she furrowed her eyebrows with teary eyes, she appeared even more sympathetic. Nathaniel carried the children. ¡°You¡¯re both too adorable for Mommy to abandon you. She¡¯s just busy with worktely. Once she has finished her work, she¡¯ll return.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The kids stared at him earnestly. He nodded. ¡°Of course. You two better eat well, or else Mommy will scold you when she returns and sees how thin you two have be.¡± His words sessfully convinced them. While hugging his father¡¯s neck, Lucas smiled. ¡°We want Daddy to eat with us!¡± ¡°I will.¡± Nathaniel pecked his children¡¯s cheeks and brought them to the dining hall. After dinner, he tucked them in. He then returned to his study to continue his work until midnight. Nathaniel spent his following days busy taking care ofpany matters and the children. A monthter, a red Jaguar drove into Scenic Garden Manor. After the car was parked, the driver opened the door. Madison exited the vehicle in a strapless red gown. Peering at the building, she grinned and stepped into it. When she did, she saw the children ying with toy blocks in the living room. I should improve my rtionship with them so we¡¯ll get along better in the future. She approached them, beaming. ¡°Cam, Lucas, what are you two ying?¡± Chapter 457 Do You Not Like Mommy Chapter 457 Do You Not Like Mommy Lucas dodged backward instinctively and pinched his nose. ¡°Did you smell something nasty. Cam?¡± Promptly. Cam mimicked her brother and pinched her nose too. ¡°I did. It¡¯s so smelly.¡± After the children finished speaking, they turned to Madison warily. Clearly, they were speaking about her. The instant Madison noticed the kids were mocking her, she glowered. ¡°How dare you two make fun of me!¡± This sexily-dresseddy is definitely trying to snatch Daddy away when Mommy is not around! Lucas protected Cam behind his back and pressed his hands on his waist. ¡°You should leave right now! You¡¯re polluting the air in my house!¡± In response, Madison twisted Lucas¡¯ ear. ¡°Your daddy was the one who called me here. Do you know why?¡± As she narrowed her eyes, she resembled a scary witch from a cartoon. The children were frightened by her look and retracted their necks. The edges of Madison¡¯s lips curved upward as she leaned toward them. ¡°It¡¯s because your mommy doesn¡¯t want you anymore. In the future, I¡¯m going to be your new mommy. If you call me Mommy, I¡¯ll give you candy.¡± Cam tossed the toy block in her hand toward Madison¡¯s face. The toy blocks were made of wood and had pointy corners, so it would be pretty painful to be hit by one. Lucas followed his sister and threw the toy blocks at Madison as well. ¡°Ouch! Ouch! That hurts! I¡¯m going to teach you two a lesson today!¡± growled Madison before she charged toward the children. Just as she grabbed Lucas¡¯ arm, she heard a gloomy voice behind her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The air stilled for a moment. Madison¡¯s heart was in her throat as she approached Nathaniel with an aggrieved grimace. ¡°They were hurling those toy blocks at me.¡± Bruises could be spotted on her face, and her lipstick was scuffed. Lucas red at Madison and pouted. ¡°It¡¯s because she said she¡¯s recing Mommy and wants us to call her that!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want thisdy, Daddy! I only have one mommy!¡± Cam hugged Nathaniel¡¯s leg with teary eyes. The kids were really missing their mother recently, so their mood worsened after someone provoked them. The grimace on Madison¡¯s face intensified as she didn¡¯t expect the kids toin about her. Rage was scribbled all over Nathaniel¡¯s countenance as he stared at her with an icy look. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t forget your ce.¡± A chill traveled down Madison¡¯s spine as she tightened her fist. ¡°I know,¡± she uttered in a small voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting outside.¡± Upon ending her sentence, Madison left the building. ¡°Are you really going on a date with thatdy, Daddy?¡± Lucas was disappointed. Cam pulled her father¡¯s hand and inquired with worry, ¡°Do you not like Mommy anymore?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s heart trembled when he saw the anxious look on the children¡¯s faces. He carried them upstairs and assured them, ¡°Of course not. I¡¯m just attending an event with her. Don¡¯t think about nonsense like that, okay? Mommy will surely return.¡± His promise calmed the children. After settling the children down, he left. Madison reapplied her lipstick and waited next to the vehicle. When she saw Nathaniel approaching, her heart raced. He¡¯s always so aloof and cool. I can¡¯t peel my eyes away from his handsome face at all. After they entered the car, they headed to a banquet. Meanwhile, Christina was so busy in Hallsbay that she didn¡¯t have time to take a breather. As she wasn¡¯t used to handlingpany matters, she spent much time every day learning how to deal with various issues. Anya and Yerek didn¡¯t help her during that period. In a way, she was just d that they didn¡¯t stab her in the back. The next day, when she arrived at her office, her assistant, Lina Brown, served her a cup coffee. Lina also ced the documents in her hand on Christina¡¯s desk. ¡°This is the information for the shareholders¡¯ meetingter.¡± Christina epted the papers and read them while drinking coffee. The first thing she saw was a proposal from Anya, which caused her pupils to constrict slightly. She can¡¯t openly attack me, so this is what shees up with? Twenty minutester, the conference room was upied by all thepany shareholders. When Christina entered the room, everyone turned their attention to her. Once she was seated, she announced, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The first half of the meeting was routine reports, so she listened attentively. After that, they discussed thepany¡¯s development ns for the second half of the year. Anya stood and gazed at Christina. ¡°Have you read the new proposal I submitted to you, Ms. Steele?¡± ¡°I did, and I reject the proposal,¡± replied Christina with a darkened look. Anya grinned as though she had expected Christina would object to coborating with Hadley Corporation. Without dy, she asked her assistant to deliver a set of detailed information to every shareholder. Staring at Christina confidently, she borated, ¡°Coborating with Hadley Corporation will greatly benefit Gibson Corporation. Since you¡¯re helming thispany, you must put thepany¡¯s profits before your personal issues.¡± The shareholders read the documents. It stated that Hadley Corporation wished to coborate with Gibson Corporation and invest in a new real estate property. Additionally, thend was already in Hadley Corporation¡¯s possession. Gibson Corporation only needed to contribute fifty percent of the cost to share equal profits with Hadley Corporation. Thend alone would¡¯ve benefited Gibson Corporation. Thus, the shareholders found no reason to reject such a lucrative proposal. Anya watched the shareholders nodding their heads and continued, ¡°Hadley Corporation has already agreed to the coboration. All that¡¯s left is to sort out a few minor issues and sign the contract after meeting with them. You¡¯re fine with that, right, Ms. Steele?¡± One of the shareholders interrogated, ¡°Why are you objecting to a coboration with Hadley Corporation, Ms. Steele? If you can¡¯t provide a reasonable exnation, we¡¯ll question your decision.¡± Christina frowned. If we coborate with Hadley Corporation, I won¡¯t be able to avoid interacting with Nathaniel, which is something I don¡¯t want right now. However, I doubt I have much say in the real matter. I¡¯ve only be the CEO not too long ago, and the situation is still unstable, so I need to shut the shareholders¡¯ negative impression of me Sighing in her mind, she relented, ¡°I discuss the matter with Hadley Corporation before deciding on the coboration. That¡¯s all for today. Dismiss.¡± Upon ending her sentence, she strode out of the conference room. As the shareholders left. Yerck approached Anya. ¡°Why are you trying to make Christina contact Nathaniel, Anya? Didn¡¯t you just split them up?¡± Anya sneered, ¡°I heard from Grandma that their rtionship is rocky, and Christina¡¯s preparing to divorce him. If they interact with each other, they¡¯ll no doubt argue. Once that happens, she¡¯ll be less focused onpany matters that will open up opportunities for us to deal with her¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°You¡¯re amazing. Anya¡± Yerek gave her a thumbs up In response, Anya folded her arms confidently it won¡¯t take long before Christina¡¯s kicked out of Gibson Corporation Just wait and see Chapter 458 Drunken Man Chapter 458 Drunken Man After Christina returned to her office, she saw the news Rayne had shared with her. It was a piece of gossip news. She had been so busytely that she didn¡¯t have the time to check stuff like those. When she pressed on the link, she saw a picture of Nathaniel and Madison attending at banquet together. Both were dressed elegantly, and the article described how perfect a match they were with each other. Is Nathaniel doing this intentionally so I¡¯ll see it? Didn¡¯t he say a marital breakdown would affect his company¡¯s stock? In that case, why is he publicly spending time with Madison? I don¡¯t really care about them, but I am worried that Lucas and Cam may be bullied in Scenic Garden Manor. Christina lifted her eyes and ordered, ¡°Set up a meeting with Hadley Corporation.¡± Lina nodded. ¡°Will do.¡± Hadley Corporation responded quickly and agreed to a meeting tomorrow afternoon at a restaurant near the building. During the afternoon, Christina brought Lina to a meeting about the signing of a contract. When they arrived, the people responsible for the project had been drinking red wine. The moment those people saw Christina, the look in their eyes darkened. One of them jested, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the new CEO of Gibson Corporation to be that pretty.¡± Christina disliked socializing. In the past, when she was just a designer, she could choose to rest and iste herself whenever she felt like it. However, things had changed. Gibson Corporation¡¯s well-being had be her responsibility. Hence, she couldn¡¯t reject some socializing events just because she didn¡¯t want to attend them. Upon entering the room, Christina grinned at the group. ¡°Have you all read the contract? If none of you have issues with it, let¡¯s proceed with the signing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s boring that you talk about business the moment you arrive, Ms. Steele. Also, since you¡¯rete, your punishment will be downing three sses of wine.¡± A male executive poured a ss of red wine for Christina. Christina¡¯s expression tensed up as she didn¡¯t want to drink. Lina grabbed the ss. ¡°Ms. Steele doesn¡¯t really drink, so I¡¯ll do it on her behalf, Mr. White.¡± ncing at her with a raised eyebrow, Pablo White brushed his finger past her cheek. ¡°No need to rush. There¡¯s an order to this. Your boss should go first, so you shouldn¡¯t take her ce.¡± With a begrudging smile, Lina withdrew her hand. Thank goodness I¡¯m not the type to get drunk quickly. A distant look settled in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s all toast to our new friendship¡± She wasn¡¯t stupid enough to drink alone. After consuming three sses of alcohol, Christina said, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve had a few sses, how about we sign that contract?¡± ¡°Sure, but this is our first time working together. How about we exin the rules to you first?¡± Pablo¡¯s giddy grin was abruptly reced by a serious expression. Anya was the one who discussed the coboration with them in the past, so Christina wasn¡¯t aware of what the rules were. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Pablo¡¯s line of sight circled on Christina¡¯s countenance. ¡°Give us an additional twenty percent commission. You can have half of it. Do you have any problems with that?¡± A chill traveled down Christina¡¯s spine. This contract is already highly beneficial to them, yet they still want to take a twenty percent cut as an evenly-splitmission. I can¡¯t imagine Anya has been pocketing money from thepany. If she has been collecting a rebate from every contract, I can¡¯t imagine how much wealth she has amassed. ncing at Lina, she noticed thetter wasn¡¯t surprised. She knows about this, but it¡¯s possible she doesn¡¯t do it as much. ¡°Is it twenty percent as well in the past? Isn¡¯t that a bit too much?¡± questioned Christina with a cold look. Pablo was drunk and didn¡¯t detect anything odd about Christina, so he blurted, ¡°Why would it be? Ms. Gibson did the calction.¡± I see. This is why Anya¡¯s so concerned about my arrival at thepany. It¡¯s because her benefits are being affected! The edges of Christina¡¯s lips curved upward. ¡°We¡¯ll do it as it has always been done.¡± In response, Pabloughed and poured her another ss. ¡°That¡¯s more like it! Everyone¡¯s interested in making money. Once you drink this, we¡¯ll be considered good partners in the future.¡± Christina raised her winess and emptied it. ¡°Can you sign the contract now?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Without dy, Pablo pulled out his pen and signed the contract Staring at the contract satisfactorily, Christina offered, ¡°This meal is my treat. Please enjoy yourselves.¡± She picked up the contract and left immediately. Outside the building, she handed it to Lina. ¡°Take this back, and don¡¯t tell anyone about what happened tonight.¡± ¡°Understood, Ms. Steele.¡± Lina then left. Since Christina had some alcohol, she couldn¡¯t drive. So, she called for a driver. Just as she ended the call, her wrist was grabbed by a stranger. Before she could react, she was dragged into a corner of the hall. ¡°Who are you waiting for, pretty girl?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. The stench of alcohol barged into Christina¡¯s nose, almost causing her to vomit. With a cold voice, she questioned, ¡°Who are you? Did you mistake me for someone else? Let me go!¡± The man stuttered, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. D-Didn¡¯t you promise to take me to the h-hotel across the road? L- Let¡¯s kiss first-¡± Forcefully, Christina stomped on the man¡¯s foot, causing him to scream in pain and release his grip on her. It seems like this drunkard mistook me for someone else. She was rather drunk herself, so after she attacked the man, she felt a little dizzy. In fact, she almost lost her footing. Afraid the man would pursue her, she gritted her teeth and escaped. ¡°How dare a woman hit me! Stop right there!¡± The man chased after her into the parking lot like a maniac. Due to her high heels, she was running a lot slower than she usually would. She felt as though her blood had frozen as she could still hear the man chasing after her. After sprinting for nearly three hundred meters, she didn¡¯t have the energy to run anymore. Her lips paled and her brain nked out due to ack of oxygen. As a result, she dropped to the ground. The man became even more agitated after he saw her copse. Panting, he stopped in front of her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to run anymore?¡± As much as Christina wanted to crawl back up, she was thoroughly exhausted. There wasn¡¯t even energy left for her to sit up. A sense of danger washed over her as she watched the man approach her. Then she cked out. An evil smile settled on the man¡¯s countenance after he witnessed her passing out. The next morning, as sunlightnded on Christina¡¯s body, she abruptly woke up. Immediately, she noticed she was lying on a hotel bed in a clean bathrobe. The first thing she checked was her body, which seemed okay. Thest thing she remembered before fainting was the lecherous man approaching her smugly. Chapter 459 Pay Chapter 459 Pay As Christina descended from the bed, she saw someone staring at her. Holding her breath, she staggered backward, shocked. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± With a frown, Nathaniel dried his hair with a towel. ¡°Why do you seem so disappointed to see me?¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect him to be the one who saved her. While she was touched, his words. immediately extinguished that feeling. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything when I saw you,¡± she spat. In response, Nathaniel tossed the towel away and pushed her back to the bed. His towering figure exuded an overwhelming pressure as he red at Christina frigidly. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten bolder, Christina. You¡¯ve some nerve to drink and socialize with men. If not for me, you would¡¯ve been ravaged by that man!¡± A storm brewed in his eyes when he thought about other men attacking her. It¡¯s his fault for driving me into this corner, yet he has the gall to admonish me! She blushed. ¡°We¡¯re about to divorce each other. How I spend my time has nothing to do with you, Nathaniel!¡± barked Christina in a slightly hoarse voice. At that moment, she was a like amb with its neck bitten, whimpering. Nathaniel didn¡¯t expect her to talk back to him. Hence, he grabbed her chin and kissed her. His hot breath was mixed with the scent of sandalwood. It immediately sobered her However, Nathaniel had just gotten a taste of her, so he wasn¡¯t willing to release her continued to deepen his kiss, preventing her from speaking. A determined look shed past Christina¡¯s eyes as she bit his lip, causing blood to spill into her mouth. He grunted. Using the opportunity, she pushed him away and confronted him. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting, you know that? Even though you attended a banquet with Madison and took pictures with her, you brought me here and kissed me.¡± ¡°Are you jealous?¡± scoffed Nathaniel. She snorted as though she had heard a joke and left the bed. ¡°Why would I? In fact, I¡¯d rather you two get together so you¡¯ll sign the divorce papers soon.¡± I can¡¯t wait to leave him with the children and never see him again. With gritted teeth, Nathaniel roared, ¡°Christina!¡± I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s this cold-hearted! I saved herst night, yet she can¡¯t wait to bring up the divorce! Christina nced at her dirty clothes lying on the ground. As she couldn¡¯t wear it anymore. she was prepared to leave the room in her bathrobe. ¡°If you have anything more to say, do it on the phone. Send me the divorce papers once you¡¯ve drafted them.¡± Just as she arrived at the door, Nathaniel shouted, ¡°You¡¯re just going to leave like that?¡± Christina nced at her bathrobe, which was made for men. It was ugly, but it covered her private parts. Of course, she¡¯d feel embarrassed running around in a bathrobe, but she had to act stubbornly in front of Nathaniel. ¡°So what?¡± While Nathaniel was p*ssed off by her, he couldn¡¯t bear to watch her leave in a bathrobe. He knew nothing was underneath it because he changed her clothesst night. Therefore, he pulled her back. ¡°Stay here. I¡¯ll leave.¡± Without dy, he exited the room. As Christina witnessed his departure, she felt upset. After snapping back to her senses, she was going to call her assistant to deliver her clothes. However, the doorbell rang before she could do that. A female hotel employee stood in front of the entrance and delivered her a bag. ¡°Mr. Hadley asked me to hand this to you, Ms. Steele.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± replied Christina as she took it and closed the door. In addition to a dress, a set of undergarments of her size was in the bag. I can¡¯t believe he still remembers my measurements¡­ Christina couldn¡¯t help but blush as she returned to the bathroom. After changing into the dress, which was a perfect fit for her, she returned to Gibson Corporation. At the office, Anya learned about Christina signing the contract sessfullyst night on the phone. ¡°Remember to send me the proof that she gave you the rebate.¡± ¡°No problem, Ms. Gibson,¡± replied Pablo. They were actually cooperating to drag Christina down. After ending the call, Anya grinned smugly. I¡¯m curious how much longer you can stay as CEO, Christina. Inside the CEO¡¯s office, Christina was reading Anya¡¯s ounting statements. There were so many numbers and conversions involved that it almost overloaded Christina¡¯s brain. ¡°Bring me a cup of coffee, will you, Lina?¡± requested Christina without lifting her eyes the numbers. When Lina saw Christina¡¯s empty cup, she suggested, ¡°You¡¯ve had two cups of coffee today, Ms. Steele. You should let the finance department handle something as draining as this.¡± Christina paused for a moment as a dark glint shed past her eyes. I¡¯ve only been in Gibson Corporation for a while. How many employees here are actually loyal to me? I don¡¯t want Anya to learn that I¡¯m looking through the ounts and be alerted. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can handle this.¡± Upon finishing her sentence, she returned to her calctions. Her major was design, so she was sensitive to numbers because her work also required precise calctions. A whileter, Lina ced a cup of coffee on Christina¡¯s table. ¡°We have a meeting with Hadley Corporation in the afternoon, Ms. Steele.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Christina was still focused on the numbers. The morning passed in a blink of an eye. While Anya¡¯s ounting statements were clean, Christina still spotted a few loopholes. She transferred all her findings to a sh drive and locked it up.. Just as she left the office with Lina to attend the meeting, she encountered Anya, who said, ¡°I¡¯ve decided to join you to prevent you from ruining this coboration.¡± Christina lifted her eyebrow. Is she genuinely worried or just interested in watching me fail? The trio arrived at the meeting location swiftly. Inside the room, Nathaniel wore an elegant suit with a delicate diamond brooch on his chest, slick hair, and an expensive wristwatch. His natural-born noble vibe was impossible to ignore. He didn¡¯t look like he was there for a business meeting but¡­ more for a date. The first to enter the room was Anya, who grew envious when she saw the table full of delicious dishes. Home Best Be bad se bo to anos de co Anos primed will you up to des Chapter 460 Popular Even Though She Is Married Chapter 460 Popr Even Though She Is Married Anya¡¯s expression stiffened at all the food that had to be worth thousands. Me and mouth. Christina¡¯s lips curled slightly. ¡°Thank you for the treat. I shan¡¯t hold back, then.¡± Then, she walked over and took a seat, and the three of them began eating. After sitting down, Anya began to discuss business. ¡°I¡¯m hoping that Gibson Corporation can provide all the materials, Mr. Hadley. That shouldn¡¯t be a problem, right?¡± she asked, handing over a newly-drafted contract. As the saying went, good opportunities shouldn¡¯t fall into the hands of others. A lot of materials were needed to build a residential area, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for real estate firms to have their own constructionpanies too. Christina¡¯s brows creased. We¡¯re already gaining so much from this project, and now she¡¯s asking to be in charge of the materials too. How greedy can you be, Anya? ¡°Gibson Corporation may have invested in this project, but it still falls under Hadley Corporation,¡± she responded, her eyes flickering. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s appropriate to use Gibson¡¯s materials.¡± Anya scowled and turned to her right away. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your ce, Ms. Steele.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°I¡¯m reminding you precisely because I haven¡¯t forgotten my ce,¡± she retorted icily. Does she think Nathaniel is a pushover? She¡¯s going to lose the whole project if she crosses the line and ticks him off. Nathaniel dined elegantly, appearingpletely uninterested in the discussion as there was not even a hint of expression showing in his eyes. Anya turned to the graceful-looking man across her. ¡°I prefer hearing your opinion, Mr. Hadley.¡± He went out of his way to do all this just to get close to Christina, so maybe he¡¯d say yes just for her sake. Nathaniel put down his cutlery and wiped his mouth gently before speaking. ¡°The biggest reason behind Hadley Corporation¡¯s residential area being so popr is that we use the best construction materials avable. There hasn¡¯t been a single quality issue with our houses within the past decade. However, I can¡¯t say the same for Gibson Corporation. Wouldn¡¯t it be bad for our brand if we were to use your materials?¡± Christina breathed an internal sigh of relief. She would surely look down on him if he were to agree to such terms. Anya tensed up at the man¡¯s response. She had thought he would agree to everything she proposed. It looks like he doesn¡¯t actually like Christina that much. Then, Nathaniel suddenly got up. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. Come see me again when you both have thought things through.¡± With that, he left with Sebastian. Christina put down her cutlery too before turning to Anya. ¡°Next time, you¡¯d better use your head before making such an unreasonable request,¡± she warned frostily. It waste night by the time the women returned home. Christina was stopped as soon as she walked into the house. ¡°Hold it right there, Christina!¡± Anya yelled. ¡°If you have something to say, save it for tomorrow at work,¡± the former remarked. She had had a long day and didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with Anya at this point. She continued ahead, only to feel her wrist being held as she arrived at the stairs. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take my side during dinner?¡± Anya demanded with a grim expression. Christina broke free of the other woman¡¯s grasp. ¡°I won¡¯t take your side if you¡¯re being unreasonable.¡± ¡°Christina! You¡­¡± Anya was so exasperated that she couldn¡¯t find the right words to say. Azure walked out at that very moment. ¡°What are you two arguing about?¡± she asked, concerned. Getting a head start, Anya went over to her grandmother. ¡°Be the judge, Grandma,¡± she began, putting on a pitiful act. ¡°Christina doesn¡¯t have thepany¡¯s best interest in mind!¡± Azure turned to Christina. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it, Christina.¡± Thetter then recounted what had happened earlier. ¡°Do you think Nathaniel would be stupid enough to let Gibson Corporation handle the materials?¡± He¡¯s not an idiot! If he was, he would¡¯ve just given us the money too. Anya looked even more aggrieved now. ¡°I was just trying to help Gibson Corporation. Even if you couldn¡¯t agree with me then, you still should¡¯ve sided with me in front of outsiders.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m a person of integrity. I prefer not to rip others off,¡± Christina replied frankly. Unable to retaliate, Anya leaned on Azure¡¯s shoulder and began to sob. ¡°Did you hear what she just said about me, Grandma? I didn¡¯t mean it that way! I just¡­¡± Azure quickly consoled her. ¡°I know you mean well for thepany, but it¡¯s best if you and Christina discussed such a decision beforehand,¡± she advised before turning to Christina. ¡°You¡¯re both sisters, so you have to work together and run thepany well.¡± Feeling smug internally, Christina smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll remember your words, Grandma.¡± Anya sniffed. ¡°I¡¯ll remember them too.¡± Seeing the two sisters made up, Azure nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. Get some rest now that you¡¯re home.¡± Christina headed upstairs and into her bedroom, her mind filled with all those numbers. She knew that Anya was pocketing the funds for her personal use, but more evidence would be required before she could take action. What should I do? She kept pondering over this until sleep took over. The morning rays seeped into Christina¡¯s room the next day, and she got up to dress herself before heading downstairs. Azure had the butler serve up a ss of smoothie. ¡°Drink up. You¡¯ve been working really hardtely.¡± ¡°Thanks, Grandma.¡± Christina beamed. It was all thanks to her father and grandmother that she felt comfortable at the Gibson residence. They made her feel as if she was truly at home. ¡°Tonight, you and Anya will attend Hallsbay¡¯s charity night on Gibson Corporation¡¯s behalf. The donation amount shouldn¡¯t be less than five million,¡± the elderly woman instructed. A huge family like theirs would donate to this charity dinner every year. ¡°I understand, Grandma.¡± Christina went to work after a simple breakfast. Night fell in a blink of an eye, and Christina had dolled herself up for the charity dinner. Dressed in a pure white gown with her long hair in slight curls and cherry blossom-colored. lips, she looked more beautiful than a flower that had just bloomed. Her light makeup made her facial features more exquisite too. A few young men from prominent families surrounded her as soon as she arrived. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you around, miss. Which family are you from?¡± ¡°What a stunningdy you are. May I have the honor of dancing with you?¡± Unable to shake them off, Christina could only smile and greet them. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be so popr even though you¡¯re married,¡± a taunting voice rang out from behind, turning the atmosphere awkward. Christina looked back and saw Anya in a low-neck gown. Thetter¡¯s strong perfume made her nose itch. ¡°Married? Who is she talking about?¡± one of the men asked lightheartedly. ¡°Me,¡± Christina answered cheerily without any hesitation. A few eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go around flirting with other men when you¡¯re already married, Christina. It¡¯s not good for your reputation,¡± Anya remarked while pretending to be concerned, although she couldn¡¯t hide the smug look on her face.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 461 Broke An Auction Item Chapter 461 Broke An Auction Item Listening to her sarcasticments didn¡¯t bother Christina much. After all, bickering with Anya was better than being surrounded by a group of men. However, what surprised her was that the men beside her found her identity even more intriguing. ¡°Where is your husband from? Is he also from Hallsbay?¡± one of them asked. ¡°If he¡¯s from Hallsbay, there¡¯s no reason for us not to know each other, right?¡± another chimed in. Christina¡¯s expression slightly faltered, and she reluctantly exined with a wry smile, ¡°We¡¯re actually getting a divorce, so there¡¯s no need to know his identity.¡± She didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of her current rtionship with Nathaniel. ¡°Getting a divorce? Then it¡¯s even more important for us to exchange contact information, someone said as he took out his phone to ask for Christina¡¯s number. Others followed suit, eager to exchange contact details. Anya wondered if she had misheard those men. Are these people really fighting over Christina¡¯s number? Is she really that attractive? Christina had no choice but to lic, iming that she didn¡¯t have her phone with her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I need to use the restroom.¡± With that, she briskly walked away. Once Christina entered the restroom, she massaged her temples to release her stress. These social engagements were truly testing her patience. A few minutester, she walked to the hall and found that preparations for the charity auction had begun. The auction items were disyed on individual tforms covered in transparent ss cases, making them both visible to the guests and aesthetically pleasing. Christina walked over, scanning for a reasonably priced item that she could win in one go. The sooner shepleted her task, the sooner she could go home and report to her grandmother. Soon, she spotted a diamond ne that caught her eye. Given that there were about twenty carats, Christina believed that a bidding price of five million would be sufficient. Within the exclusive section, a blue and white porcin item caught her eye. It was traditionally utilized for burning sandalwood incense, cherished by esteemed aristocratic households in ancient times for its calming properties. Even today, there remain individuals who adhere to tradition, making it highly probable that this item would be in great demand. Judging by its craftsmanship, the porcin value was estimated to be very high. The starting price was likely to be five million, and one could only imagine how high the final price would be. Suddenly, someone pushed Christina from behind, causing her to lose bnce and fell toward the porcin in front of her. Before she knew what had happened, her waist was caught by a strong arm. The surrounding crowd recoiled in shock and instinctively took a step back. They witnessed something fall off beside the woman¡¯s figure followed by the sound of shattering porcin. The onlookers stood frozen in disbelief as they witnessed the antique crash and shatter into pieces. Should theypensate based on the original price or the market price for such an expensive item? A heightened sense of curiosity swept through the onlookers as they sought to uncover who was responsible for shattering the priceless blue porcin. Despite her disorientation, Christina was aware she was enveloped in a firm embrace. When she smelled the familiar scent of sandalwood, she lifted her head and met Nathaniel¡¯s piercing and unyielding gaze. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. We saw that Christina was about to fall, but she is fine now. So, who actually fell? The crowd once again shifted their gaze to the figure lying on the ground; the woman was trembling slightly as she got up. Christina¡¯s gaze remained fixated on the familiar silhouette, for she was well aware that the woman on the floor was the one to push her moments ago. Had it not been for Nathaniel¡¯s timely intervention, she would have had to bear the wounds from the fall. Anya turned around and red at Christina. If it weren¡¯t for Christina¡¯s quick reflexes to dodge, she would have fallen and shattered the valuable porcin. When Anya noticed many people were watching, she immediately put on a submissive and vulnerable look. ¡°Christina, I saw you were about to fall earlier, so I tried to grab hold of you. I didn¡¯t expect to end up falling myself.¡± Clearly, she had pushed Christina, but now she was iming to be the savior. How ridiculous! However, the incident happened suddenly, and no one had seen it clearly. There were no surveince cameras either. Hence, it was hard to verify if Anya¡¯s words were true. Christina¡¯s expression turned cold as she raised her voice. ¡°Someone pushed me just now. If you hadn¡¯t spoken up, I would have thought it was you.¡± After all, Anya was the only one who stood behind Christina, making her the prime suspect. Anya¡¯splexion turned pale, and she was at a loss for words in her moment of embarrassment. Just then, the event organizer approached and saw the irreversible damage to the porcin. He furrowed his brow and said tersely, ¡°Miss, this is the most valuable item in tonight¡¯s auction. We kindly request that youpensate us double the starting price.¡± Anya shivered inwardly. Oh, sh*t! Double the price would mean tens of millions! It was impossible for her toe up with that much money! Hence, she tightly grasped Christina¡¯s hand, looking like she was on the verge of tears. ¡°Christina, what should we do?¡± Anya swiftly shifted the me to Christina, hoping to make her pay thepensation. A chill ran down Christina¡¯s spine. Anya was known for getting kickbacks from most of the projects. Hence, her wallet must be brimming with cash. Why was she pretending to be destitute in front of her? Since this was a rare opportunity that had fallen into Christina¡¯sp, there was no reason for her not to seize it. Christina withdrew her hand and offered a faint smile. ¡°Anya, everyone should take responsibility for their actions. It¡¯s only right that you pay for the auction itern you broke.¡± Anya¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she wondered what Christina was up to. Next, Christina looked at the event organizer and pointed to the diamond ne she had set her sights on earlier. ¡°I will bid on that item and also cover the cost of the broken one, as you suggested. Is that eptable?¡± A smile appeared on the organizer¡¯s face upon hearing Christina¡¯s words. ¡°Of course.¡± Christina nodded slightly, disregarding Anya¡¯s opinion. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Please have someone clean this up. The show is over.¡± ¡°Everyone, please disperse now. The auction willmence in three minutes,¡± the organizer announced. With that, the guests began to leave the scene. Even though Anya was resentful, she had to remain silent and swallow her frustration. Everyone had seen how she had broken the porcin, so there was no way to deny it. Christina felt a deep sense of satisfaction as she watched Anya begrudgingly follow the event organizer to settle thepensation. Just as she was about to leave, Nathaniel suddenly approached her and firmly grabbed her wrist. Experiencing difort from his firm grip, she furrowed her brows and fixed him with a re. ¡°What is the meaning of this? You¡¯re causing a scene in public!¡± A dark look shed past Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he demanded, ¡°Hand me your phone!¡± Why does he want my phone? Christina averted her gaze and retorted. ¡°This is my personal item. There¡¯s no reason for me to give it to you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take it myself,¡± the man said while reaching for her handbag. The couple¡¯s squabble caught the attention of onlookers, drawing a crowd around them. Christina¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment. ¡°Stop it! Here, you can have it!¡± Reluctantly, she handed over her phone, reasoning that she Chapter 462 Collaboration With Nathaniel Chapter 462 Coboration With Nathaniel As soon as Nathaniel got her phone, he immediately deleted the newly added contact numbers. ¡°Why are you deleting my contacts?¡± Christina saw what he was doing and tried to snatch her phone back anxiously Nathaniel refused. He didn¡¯t even bother looking carefully, as he was deleting any contact name that seemed masculine. ¡°Why? Are you upset that I deleted your potential suitors? Are you having a great time chatting with these guys?¡± She looks tense when she¡¯s with me, but she¡¯s smiling at everyone else. Christina froze momentarily. Was Nathaniel also there? Did he see me chatting with them? It was quite remarkable that he could hold it in until now with his temperament. Christina regained her senses and frowned. She said anxiously. ¡°Those are my clients¡¯ numbers! Don¡¯t delete them randomly!¡± Nathaniel deleted a few more before passing her phone back to her. Christina looked at her phone and noticed that more than half of the contacts were gone, including Francis. Cold sweat began to form on her forehead. She quickly put the phone back into her handbag and zipped it as if she was guarding against a thief. Nathaniel grabbed her hand again and pulled her out of the ce. Then, he dragged her into his car. Once the car door was closed, the driver drove off. ¡°Let go of me! I want to go home.¡± Christina¡¯s voice held a tinge of frustration, and she knitted her eyebrows. Nathaniel remained calm andposed as he looked out of the window. ¡°If you don¡¯t want your two children to start calling another woman Mommy, you¡¯d better behave yourself.¡± The mention of her two children immediately captured Christina¡¯s attention. ¡°Don¡¯t forget what your promised me initially. You said you wouldn¡¯t fight for the children¡¯s custody.¡± Nathaniel turned to nce at her. ¡°I will do that as long as you cooperate with me with the divorce proceedings.¡± Christina snorted inwardly, as she knew he didn¡¯t intend to divorce her. It was nothing more than a strategic dy. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s just a simple matter of putting your signature on a form. Why do you have to make it soplicated?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be the one who decides if it¡¯splicated or simple,¡± Nathaniel left no room for her to continue questioning. Soon, the car stopped by a hotel. Nathaniel dragged Christina up the stairs. When they entered the room, Christina became anxious and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at Nathaniel warily. ¡°What are you nning to do?¡± Nathaniel was amused when he turned around and saw her defensive demeanor. He took out his phone and made a video call. The call quickly connected. ¡°Daddy, where are you? Did you find Mommy yet?¡± ¡°Mommy! Where¡¯s Mommy? I want to see her!¡± The children stared eagerly at the phone screen, trying to see their mother. In reality, they had wanted to call her after she left. However, Nathaniel kept all their electronic devices, iming that his gesture was to protect their eyes. He was only preventing them from contacting their mother secretly. Then, he passed them back their devices before he left for Hallsbay. Nathaniel smiled and passed his phone to Christina. ¡°The children miss you.¡± Christina took the phone. Her longing for them intensified as she looked at the two familiar faces. All of a sudden, she began tearing up. She smiled. ¡°Lucas, Cam.¡± Upon seeing their mother, Lucas¡¯ and Cam¡¯s brows furrowed. They wanted to embrace Christina very badly. Lucasined, ¡°Mommy, there¡¯s a fiercedy who came to our house and wanted us to call her Mommy!¡± ¡°We only have one Mommy! We don¡¯t want her!¡± Christina frowned. She guessed that the woman the children were talking about was most likely Madison. She red at Nathaniel. Lucas asked, ¡°Mommy, when are youing back? Didn¡¯t you promise to take us to see Granddad and Great-Granny?¡± ¡°Mommy, I miss you. Mommy!¡± Cam spoke while choking back tears. She blinked her watery eyes repeatedly, and Christina¡¯s heart melted at the sight. Christina felt a burning sensation in her nose. ¡°I miss you guys too. Mommy will go back to apany you guys soon!¡± ¡°Really?¡± The two kids¡¯ eyes lit up. Christina nodded. She had decided to work with Nathaniel, then go back to see her kids. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you guys. It¡¯s gettingte. Aren¡¯t you sleeping? You might get eye bags, and you won¡¯t look good anymore!¡± Christina had always tried to instill the habit of not staying upte in her children. Cam and Lucas were very obedient. Upon hearing Christina¡¯s reminder, they immediately wanted to hang up the phone. ¡°Mommy,e and pick us up soon. Good night, and we love you!¡± ¡°Good night!¡± Christina blew a kiss at the screen and then hung up the phone. With her children¡¯s encouragement, Christina felt revitalized! When she returned the phone to Nathaniel, she said, ¡°On behalf of Gibson Corporation, I agree to cooperate with Hadley Corporation. We will sign the contract at thepany tomorrow,¡± Nathaniel stared at her intently and hugged her. He whispered in her car, ¡°Why don¡¯t you stay here tonight?¡± Christina¡¯s heart pounded, and she pushed his hands away. ¡°Why don¡¯t you call Ms. Taggart to apany you?¡± With that, she turned around and left Nathaniel still didn¡¯t understand the reason for her cold treatment. In the meantime, Anya started throwing a tantrum the moment she entered her room in the Gibson residence. That Christina! How dare she make me lose tens of millions! That was the capital for her newpany, which she had saved so hard for. Not only did she lose a large sum of money, but she also made a fool of herself. She would never let Christina off easily. The next day. Anya went to see Yerek and told him the n she had thought about all night. ¡°Yerek, you have to help me! We can¡¯t let Christina bully us!¡± Anya bellowed. She wished she could tear Christina apart to vent her anger. Yerek had given Christina an opportunity. Since she was unwilling to take it, she couldn¡¯t me him for what he was going to do. He patted her shoulders lightly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Nothing will go wrong.¡± ¡°I believe you!¡± Christina had a lot of work, so she made ns with Nathaniel to sign the contract in the evening. She was in the office the entire day. As the sun started to set from the window behind her, her colleagues gradually left one after another. Lina brought the revised contract. ¡°Ms. Steele, this is the contract. Do you really not need me to apany you tonight?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. The legal department has gone through the documents, and it¡¯s just a matter of signing them,¡± Christina replied. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Lina nodded and left after cing the contract on the desk. Christina sat in the office, organizing the documents. The room gradually turned colder, and a strong medicinal odor quickly spread. Chapter 463 Ploy Chapter 463 Ploy After a brief moment, Yerek and Anya saw Christina fall unconscious through the translucent ss door. They exchanged a nce and shared a wicked smile. ¡°This drug will knock her out for the whole night,¡± Yerek snickered. Anya smirked and replied. ¡°Has the guy arrived? Get him to do the necessary preparations. We need to make sure everything is wless.¡± ¡°Wait until the drug smell dissipates before letting him in,¡± Yerek instructed. ¡°Just imagine what will happen tomorrow morning when everyonees to work and sees Christina and a strange man in the office, looking disheveled. She will be utterly embarrassed.¡± After pondering all night, the idea suddenly struck Anya. Nothing hits harder than losing one¡¯s reputation. Christina is definitely going to learn the true meaning of humiliation! After the drug smell had mostly dissipated in the office twenty minutester, Yerek had the male model walk into the room. ¡°Remember to make it look real, but don¡¯t make any body contact.¡± While such situations could be fabricated, it¡¯s crucial not to go overboard. The consequences would be severe, especially considering Christina was still married to Nathaniel. The male model nodded and went into the room. To ensure everything went ording to n, Anya took the precaution of locking the door, leaving Christina with no means of escape. Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Christina had agreed to meet at the hotel, but the designated time. had passed, and thetter hadn¡¯t shown up. Based on his understanding of Christina, she was not the type to disregard punctuality. He dialed her number, and though the call connected, there was no response. When he called again ten minutester, she still did not pick up the phone. Sebastian reached out to Christina¡¯s assistant, Lina, who conveyed the situation to both of them. After hearing the details, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but feel that there was more to the situation than met the eye. He immediately stood up and ordered, ¡°Get the car!¡± Sebastian didn¡¯t dare waste another second and did as he was told. The morning light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the office. Early in the morning. Anya summoned the entire staff to assemble at the CEO¡¯s office entrance. She withheld the purpose behind the gathering but issued a stern warning of potential consequences for those who failed toply. Soon, the CEO¡¯s office was filled with people who were bustling with anticipation before the workday began, yet none could decipher the purpose behind their gathering. With a smile adorning her face, Anya approached the crowd. ¡°Did everyone manage to catch a glimpse inside?¡± What¡¯s happening inside? ¡°Ms. Gibson, what are you talking about? We don¡¯t understand,¡± someone asked. They had been called in early in the morning just to see an empty office. Anya walked through the crowd and approached the door. As she looked inside, her eyes narrowed. Why is the office empty? Christina faintedst night, and the door was locked from the inside. There was no way she could have gotten out, right? Could she be inside the dressing room? Excitement surged within Anya once more, prompting her to swiftly retrieve the key. She attempted to unlock the door, only to find the lock resistant to her efforts. Perplexed, Anya frowned and muttered, ¡°This is weird. Is the lock broken?¡± Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind as Christina strode into the room, dressed in a sophisticated business suit and elegant heels. Her eyes locked onto Anya¡¯s face. ¡°Why the early morning greetings, everyone?¡± The crowd¡¯s faces turned pale, equally puzzled by the unexpected summons from Anya. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. They turned to Anya and asked, ¡°Ms. Gibson, why did you summon us here?¡± Anya¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she wondered when Christina managed to slip away. Met with questioning nces, she growled in frustration, ¡°Never mind, everyone, just go back to your offices and get to work.¡± The crowd wore awkward expressions, bewildered by the sudden summons from Anya. Christina approached the door, casting a disdainful nce at the key in Anya¡¯s hand. ¡°Having trouble opening it? I changed the doorst night.¡± A tremor flickered in Anya¡¯s eyes as she struggled toprehend how Christina managed to escape. Christina closed in on Anya with a menacing gaze. ¡°Do you honestly think your tactics are impressive, Anya Gibson? Whatever you¡¯ve done to me, I will repay in full,¡± she hissed. Next, she took out the key and opened the door effortlessly. She made sure to m it loudly behind her as she entered. Once Christina settled into her seat, she found herself unable to shake the memory of the heart- stopping events from the previous night. She had arranged to meet Nathaniel, but she failed to show up. Her absence prompted Nathaniel to be increasingly worried and, ultimately, came to her rescue. Without his help, she would have be theughingstock of the entirepany this morning. In fact, she might have even beenbeled as shameless! A glint of coldness flickered in Christina¡¯s eyes. Initially, she thought Anya would only resort to petty tricks, and she never expected her to be so brazen to make personal attacks. Just then, Lina knocked on the door and entered the room with some breakfast. ¡°How did you know I haven¡¯t eaten breakfast?¡± Christina asked. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. It was delivery,¡± Lina replied before leaving the room. Just then, the phone rang. It was a call from Nathaniel. ¡°You skipped breakfast today and hurriedly went to work. Is work more important than your health?¡± If those words were uttered on any ordinary day, Christina would have felt infuriated, perceiving him as overbearing and irritating. However, today was different. As she listened to his reproachful tone, she found herself unable to muster even a hint of anger. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to finish all the food. Why did you prepare so much?¡± She chuckled and took a sip of yogurt. Nathaniel grumbled with displeasure, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen how much weight you¡¯ve lost? Has the Gibson family been starving you?¡± ¡°Nonsense, they haven¡¯t.¡± It had been a long time since they spoke so lightheartedly. ¡°We¡¯ll have dinner together tonight and sign the contract.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice regained its usual calmness. ¡°Noted.¡± After hanging up the phone, Christina felt arge part of her recent mncholy had dissipated. Bonus She had been busy the whole morning, dedicating almost all her energy to the projects that Anya had previously handled. None of the mary figures in the documents were clearly recorded. Even though Anya had been living off the Gibson family and staying at their residence, she still had the audacity to steal money from them. You aren¡¯t deserving to be a Gibson, Anya. As lunchtime approached, Christina packed up her things and left the office. After staying in Hallsbay for some time, Christina decided to bring Sharon over. In order to keep her mother out of the internal conflicts within the Gibson family, she had arranged an apartment for her to live in. The apartment was located near thepany, and if Christina had free time during lunch, she would go there to have lunch and apany her mother. Christina drove away and soon arrived at the apartment. She unlocked the door with her fingerprint. When Sharon heard the click of the door opening, she rushed over excitedly to pass Christina her sandals. ¡°Mom, I can handle these trivial matters myself. You should head in. Oh, there are guests at home?¡± Christina noticed a pair of men¡¯s shoes, which seemed somewhat familiar. Sharon smiled and replied, ¡°There are no guests. My son-inw is here.¡± As Christina lifted her gaze, she locked eyes with Nathaniel, whose intense ck gaze bore into hers. He wore a smug smile as if asserting his dominance. Chapter 464 Quit Messing Around Chapter 464 Quit Messing Around ¡°Mom, how could you let a stranger into our house?¡± Christina grumbled under her breath before putting on her shoes. ¡°Nathaniel isn¡¯t a stranger, Christina. Don¡¯t be rude,¡± Sharon replied earnestly. Since her mother was around, Christina had no choice but to hide her dislike of Nathaniel. As she walked to the dining table, the sight of a huge spread caused her to feel a pang of heartache. ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t I tell you not to cook so many dishes? You¡¯ve just recovered, so you can¡¯t overwork.¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine. Besides, Nathaniel rarelyes over, so of course, I should be a good host,¡± Sharon responded gently. She was on bed rest for six months, but when she could move freely on her own, Christina forbade her from exercising. As a result, she was itching to get active from being cooped up at home every day. To her, it made sense to cook more dishes since she rarely had two people joining her for a meal. Christina pouted. Truth be told, she loved her mother¡¯s cooking, but she simply could not bear seeing Sharon overwork herself. That was why she only went back for meals a few days. a week instead of every single day. When the three of them took their seats at the dining table, Christina naturally sat down next to her mother, but Sharon stopped her. ¡°Why are you sitting next to me? Go and sit beside. Nathaniel.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I sit with, Mom,¡± Christina said. I don¡¯t want to sit next to him. Sharon nced at her. Sensing her mother¡¯s displeasure, Christina could only stand up and sit next to Nathaniel obediently. The sight of them sitting beside each other brought Sharon great satisfaction. With a nod, she said, ¡°All right. Let¡¯s dig in.¡± As soon as those words fell from her lips, she reached out and ced arge drumstick on Nathaniel¡¯s te. ¡°Have you lost weight recently, Nathaniel?¡± Christina red at the drumstick. That¡¯s my favorite. How could Mom give it to him? Nathaniel was not in a hurry to begin his meal. Instead, he patiently answered Sharon¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯d been busy with work recently and had to apany Christina everywhere, so I had not been eating my meals on time.¡± The second he finished his utterances, he felt someone pinching his thigh harshly. Puzzled, he tilted his head and found Christina ring at him with her lips pressed together. She was clearly warning him to keep quiet. First, he took my drumstick, and now he¡¯s telling on me? He should think about what he did with Madison before being a tattletale! Nathaniel¡¯s reply caused Sharon to furrow her brows. In the beginning, she thought Christinal had only brought up divorce in a temper until thetter suddenly talked about bringing her to Hallsbay. That was when she realized Christina had quarreled with Nathaniel. There were some things that could not be said directly at the dining table, so Sharon simply exhorted her daughter, ¡°It¡¯s normal for married couples to argue every now and then. Talk things out with Nathaniel. He¡¯s not an unreasonable person. You¡¯re an adult, Christina, and you should learn to be the bigger person.¡± Knowing that her mother would take Nathaniel¡¯s side, Christina did not argue and merely bit her lip. While she would agree to anything Sharon brought up to her face, she was free to do whatever she wanted behind her back. ¡°Okay, Mom, I got it. Let¡¯s eat.¡± Christina ced a piece of meat on her mother¡¯s te. Sharon smiled. Even though Christina was not her biological daughter, she was brought up by her. Considering Christina¡¯s gentle and strong personality, Sharon trusted her to do the right thing. After the meal, Nathaniel stood up, his tall figure casting a long shadow over the dining table. Gently, Sharon said, ¡°Go take a seat on the couch, Nathaniel. I¡¯ll cut up some fruits for you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for that, Ms. Zapler. You must be tired from cooking. I¡¯ll wash the dishes, so you can go rest for a bit,¡± Nathaniel replied as he took his suit jacket off and slung it over the back of the chair casually. He then took his watch off and rolled up his sleeves to his elbow. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Nathaniel. I¡¯ll do it,¡± Sharon hurriedly said. She was not about to let the CEO of Hadley Corporation wash dishes for her. That simply did not sit right with her. Christina put down the tableware in her hand and gently pulled her mother in the direction. of the couch. ¡°Mom, you said so yourself that he wasn¡¯t a stranger. Since he¡¯s family, it¡¯s fine if he wants to wash a couple of dishes, right?¡± ¡°You kiddo¡­¡± Sharon could not argue with Christina, so she sat down on the couch. Christina turned on the news channel on television. ¡°Watch some television. I¡¯ll cut up some fruit for you in a second,¡± she said. ¡°All right. Quickly go help Nathaniel with the dishes,¡± Sharon said with a chuckle. By the time Christina walked into the kitchen. Nathaniel had already ced all the used tableware into the sink. Still, it was obviously his first time doing such chores based on how he had squeezed half of the bottle of dish soap onto the dirty dishes. ¡°Wlhy? did add so much soap? Darn, don¡¯t do it recklessly if you don¡¯t know how. Move out of the way. Go and take fruits from the fridge instead.¡± Christina almost had a headache from his haphazard actions. She put on some dishwashing gloves and started to wash the dishes in the sink orderly. Nathaniel was dazed for a second before he turned around and walked to the fridge. There was quite a variety of fruits in it, so he put all of them into a basket and began washing grapes next to Christina. His fingers were long and pretty. They looked almost like marble, and the grapes he was holding almost seemed like jewels against his skin. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina stopped looking at his hands out of the corner of her eye and focused on washing the dishes. Just as she was done arranging the clean tes and cutlery onto the drying rack neatly, Nathaniel finished washing the fruits as well. When she looked over her shoulder, he stuffed a grape into her mouth and asked smilingly, ¡°Is it sweet?¡± ¡°Very,¡± she answered honestly as she relished the taste of the juicy grape. All of a sudden, Nathaniel ced a hand behind her head. He gently bent down to kiss her. then let go of her. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. It is quite sweet.¡± Christina¡¯s cheeks turned bright red, and she warned him in a low voice, ¡°Quit messing around. My mom is outside.¡± After shing her a half-smile, he walked out with a te of grapes in his hand and ced it on the table inside the living room. ¡°Have some grapes, Mom.¡± Sharon turned off the television and chewed on a grape. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s very sweet. Why don¡¯t you have one, Nathaniel?¡± Coincidentally, Christina, too, walked out of the kitchen and met Nathaniel¡¯s burning gaze. With a smile, he replied, ¡°I tried it just now. You¡¯re right; they are very sweet.¡± Worried that Nathaniel would do something embarrassing again, Christina wanted him to leave immediately. A beatter, she acted upon the thought, whisking him away to the door. ¡°I need to go back to work, Mom. Why don¡¯t you take an afternoon nap? I¡¯ll eat with you again tomorrow,¡± Christina said. Sharon wanted to see them off, but Christina had already dragged Nathaniel out the door. before she could stand up. After closing the door and entering the elevator, Christina shoved Nathaniel¡¯s suit jacket and watch into his hands and said, ¡°Put them back on now.¡± Nathaniel shoved his suit jacket back into her arms and wore his watch slowly before finally slipping on his suit jacket. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a ride,¡± he offered. Mildly, Christina replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. I drove here.¡± ¡°Until when are you going to avoid me, Christina?¡± Nathaniel pulled at her hand as his gaze became cold. Christina looked up at him and replied calmly, ¡°Please get this straight. I¡¯m not avoiding you. You¡¯re the one avoiding me. Why is it so hard for you to get your hands on some divorce papers?¡± Chapter 465 An Explanation Chapter 465 An Exnation ¡°I saw you cuddle with Madison that night, so stop ying dumb.¡± Mentioning the incident caused anger to wash over Christina, and she stomped on Nathaniel¡¯s feet. As she intentionally used her heel to step on him, he grunted from the pain and immediately released her hand. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Christina¡­¡± Nathaniel wanted to say something else, but Christina had already gotten in her car and stepped on the elerator, leaving him standing alone in the same spot. But when did I ever cuddle with Madison? When Christina returned to her office, the first thing she saw was the pile of files on her desk. The sight reminded her of how much she truly disliked the daily routine of sitting in the office and going through those documents. What she enjoyed the most was sketching anding up with design drawings in silence. Following behind her, Lina came in and said gently, ¡°Ms. Steele, there are several more documents awaiting your attention. We need to pick up the pace.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Christina replied in a rather defeated tone. At nightfall, she settled all the urgent documents and gathered the files she had prepared before leaving thepany. Upon arriving at Nathaniel¡¯s doorway, Christina knocked on the door gently. Soon, the door opened, but the person standing behind it was Madison instead of Nathaniel. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± The woman positioned herself to block the entrance, seemingly reluctant to let Christina inside. Christina narrowed her eyes and mocked, ¡°When did you be so shameless, Ms. Taggart? Aren¡¯t you afraid of tarnishing your reputation by showing up in a married man¡¯s room in the middle of the night?¡± Madison¡¯s face paled at that, for what Christina said was indeed an irrefutable fact. Naturally, Christina was not about to let the woman off just yet as she continued to make scathing remarks. ¡°Now that I think about it, I guess it makes sense that you have no fear of what others will say about you since you are indeed a shameless woman, to begin with.¡± ¡°Christina, you should stop making a fool out of yourself if you know what¡¯s good for you. Now that I¡¯m here, you¡¯d better leave-¡± Before Madison could finish her sentence, Nathaniel walked out from inside the room and saw the two women standing at the door. The tense atmosphere was akin to a barrel of oil that was ready to ignite with the slightest spark. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left yet?¡± Nathaniel asked, his tone cold and indifferent. In truth, Madison was here earlier to deliver some documents. She deliberately kept Sebastian upied and came to see Nathaniel alone. As an awkward expression spread across her face, she stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze fell on Christina, and he ordered in amanding tone, ¡°Come in.¡± Christina arched a brow. Wearing a half-smile on her face, she remarked, ¡°How can I enter when someone is blocking the doorway?¡± With that, Madison could only step aside reluctantly to allow Christina to enter. The moment thetter crossed the threshold, she shut the door right in Madison¡¯s face. The resounding bang felt like a painful p across Madison¡¯s face. She had thought that her rtionship with Nathaniel had improved, but s, it seemed that she was still a nobody in his eyes. Inside the room, Christina put down her briefcase and immediately picked up the documents that Madison had brought. I wonder why this woman keeps approaching Nathaniel repeatedly. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Nathaniel asked. Since Christina had been reading a lot of documentstely, she could tell at a nce that these were all unimportant files. Did Madison really go through all this trouble just to deliver a few sheets of worthless paper? She set aside the files in her hand and took out the coboration contract with Gibson Corporation. While handing it to Nathaniel, she urged, ¡°If there¡¯s no problem with it, sign it quickly.¡± Her attitude toward Nathaniel was as if he had owed her something. All along, people who approached him for coboration would disy ingratiating behavior to please him. It was the first time he encountered someone who did not treat him with the same deference. Nathaniel furrowed his brow and calmly took the contract before walking over to the couch to sit down. He then pored over the contract attentively. Hisposed demeanor and focused expression made him look like an oil painting. As he remained silent, Christina could only wait by his side. After a few moments, Nathaniel lightly tapped the papers with his slender fingertips ¡°What does this section mean? Do exin it to me.¡± Christina walked over reluctantly and looked at the text before exining its meaning. On the heels of that, Nathaniel asked her another question. At that point, she grew visibly impatient because his queries were all straightforward and could be easily understood at a nce. Yet, he deliberately made her exin them. On his third question, Christina could not bear it any longer and interjected, ¡°Mr. Hadley, since there are so many parts that you don¡¯t understand, I suggest you mark them with a pen, and I¡¯ll arrange for a team ofwyers and assistants to exin them to you in detail tomorrow.¡± With that, she got to her feet. Before she could leave, however, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist and pinned her down on the couch. Staring at the scattered documents on the floor, she felt a surge of anger rise within her, and she growled, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have bothered inviting me here if you didn¡¯t have the intention. of discussing the coboration!¡± With a condescending gaze, Nathaniel scrutinized her delicate face. ¡°I see that you¡¯ve changed now that you¡¯re a CEO. You kept speaking loudly.¡± ¡°My contempt for you remains the same regardless of my position. I¡¯m warning you, get off me right this instance!¡± Christina red at him, her dark eyes shing with fury. Their bodies were almost pressed against each other, and they could clearly feel each other¡¯s warmth. Nathaniel watched her anxious demeanor in amusement. She was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and it was only in moments like these that she would remain calm and quiet. Realizing that he had no intention of getting off her, Christina could not contain her anger any longer. She raised her knee and delivered a precise blow to his abdomen. Nathaniel groaned in pain, and she pushed him away. He fell on the carpet and was in so much agony that his temples started throbbing as well. Giving out a triumphant harrumph, Christina uttered with glee. ¡°Sorry, that was just my natural response to an enemy. You should get some rest, Mr. Hadley. We can continue our discussion in my office tomorrow.¡± It was alreadyte at night by the time she returned to the Gibson residence. The butler approached and asked with concern, ¡°Ms. Christina, have you had dinner? Would you like me to prepare a midnight snack for you?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯m actually quite hungry,¡± came Christina¡¯s reply. She had been so busy with work earlier that she did not even have dinner. After saying that, she went upstairs to her bedroom to shower. Once she was done, she came back downstairs to see Azure and Anya chatting in the living room. Christina then walked over and greeted, ¡°Grandma, it¡¯ste. Why are you still awake?¡± Azure shed her a smile and said, ¡°Come and have a seat. Aren¡¯t you tired from working thiste?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Christina replied before sitting down beside her grandmother. Azure rubbed the back of her granddaughter¡¯s hand gently and asked in a meaningful tone, ¡°Christina, are you really going to divorce Nathaniel?¡± Christina¡¯s brow twitched slightly in response, and she lowered her gaze in contemtion. After a moment of hesitation, she said, ¡°Yes.¡± Why is Grandma suddenly asking me this? She paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. I won¡¯t let my personal feelings affect thepany. I¡¯ve already signed the contract with Hadley Corporation just now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Azure stared at her granddaughter, her gaze solemn and intense. ¡°The Hadley family owes us too much. We must never forgive them.¡± Christina¡¯s chest tightened at that, and she fell silent. Azure changed the topic. ¡°Since you¡¯re determined to divorce Nathaniel, how about apanying me to a gathering tomorrow afternoon?¡± Chapter 466 Shameless Chapter 466 Shameless Christina¡¯s gaze narrowed as she acquiesced, unable to find a reason to refuse. ¡°All right, Grandma,¡± she replied. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Get some rest.¡± Azure gently patted the back of Christina¡¯s hand. With a nod, Christina made her way upstairs. After a warm rxing bath, she slipped into bed. The soft moonlight poured in through the window, casting a tranquil glow in the room. Soon, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted off to a deep, restful sleep. The next morning, the sun¡¯s rays streamed through the windows, gently rousing Christina from her slumber. She stretched and felt invigorated. For the day¡¯s outfit, she had picked out a stylish ensemble, opting for a blouse that elegantly emphasized her slender waist, paired with an over-the-knee skirt that showcased her fair calves. Completing the look with a cardigan, she made her way downstairs. After a satisfying breakfast, she embarked on her journey to work. A domineering aura filled the air as Christina entered her office. Nathaniel exuded an aura of cold austerity as he sat on one of the chairs,manding attention with his mere presence. ¡°You¡¯re not the type to invite yourself without an invitation, Mr. Hadley,¡± Christinamented the moment sheid eyes on him. Nathaniel cast her azy look. His dark eyes seemed capable of piercing her soul. ¡°You should seize this opportunity to discuss the contract since I¡¯m here,¡± he retorted. Christina had no choice but to reschedule her morning meetings to amodate the contract discussions with Nathaniel. Throughout the meeting, Sebastian and Lina diligently documented the corrections. As lunchtime approached, Nathaniel nced at the time and proposed, ¡°Let¡¯s take a break. We¡¯ll continue after lunch.¡± Before Christina could respond, both assistants swiftly packed up and left the meeting room. Unlock seeded Man¡¯spliance was expected. Christina found it puzzling to see Linia, who didn¡¯t directly work for Nathaniel, following suit. It seemed as though they were worried about being called back to resume the meeting if they didn¡¯t leave promptly. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina tidied up the documents on the table. She then picked up another document and began reading it, seemingly disregarding Nathaniel¡¯s presence in the room. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going out for lunch?¡± Nathaniel frowned and asked. Christina remained engrossed in the document, not bothering to raise her gaze. ¡°I still have a lot to do. We can continue our discussion after you¡¯ve had your lunch,¡± she calmly replied, her irises glowing with a warm, amber hue. Without warning, Nathaniel abruptly snatched her documents and callously discarded them, treating them like mere trash. ¡°Are you trying to starve yourself to death by skipping lunch?¡± he questioned. What? Skipping one meal won¡¯t starve me to death. What is he talking about? Anger surged through her veins as she stood up, meeting Nathaniel¡¯s gaze with cold determination. ¡°That is not your concern. Please leave,¡± she demanded, her face flushed and her eyes narrowing with displeasure, reminiscent of a child who had their toy taken away. Undeterred, Nathaniel reached out and firmly pinched her chin, his tone dripping with dominance. ¡°It has everything to do with me. We are still married. I don¡¯t want my kids to lose their mother.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened as she felt like Nathaniel¡¯s concern was more like a curse than genuine care for her well-being. ¡°Please mind your own business. I¡¯ll live longer if you leave me be,¡± she asserted, attempting to push him away. Ignoring her resistance, Nathaniel forcefully pinned her down on the table, causing documents and pens to scatter and tumble to the floor. Christina grunted as Nathaniel pinned her down, his condescending stare making her cheeks flush and her breath hitch. The awkward angle and position filled her with fear of being caught in such apromising situation at the office. She pleaded, ¡°Let go of me. We¡¯re in the office.¡± The intensity of the moment made her feel as if her nerves were on the verge of giving out. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t bring himself to tease her any further as he watched Christina¡¯s neck, face, and ears turn a deep shade of red, resembling a blushing kitten. Hence, he softened his tone and said, ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll go out for lunch, and I¡¯ll let you go, okay?¡± Christina, feeling trapped beneath him, realized the had little choice in the matter. She forced a smile and replied, ¡°Okay, I promise.¡± With that, Nathaniel released his hold on her, satisfied with her response. He picked up her coat and made a sweeping gesture, silently urging her to leave. Realizing she couldn¡¯t win a fight against him. Christina reluctantly walked out the door. knowing she had no other option at the moment. As she reached the door, she ran into Lina, who was on her way into the room. ¡°Ms. Steele. do you¡­ Lina trailed off. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the mess behind Christina, wondering what had unfolded between her and Nathaniel during the brief time they were left alone. Christina sensed Lina¡¯s thoughts through her widened eyes and promptly exined. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think. I identally knocked the stuff onto the ground just now ¡°I understand. Ms. Steele. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t tell a soul¡± Lina even made a gesture of zipping her lips. Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel amused by Lina¡¯s response as if her exnation only fueled further spection. Before she could rify further. Nathaniel intervened firmly grasping her hand and leading her out of the room. ¡°You have a bright assistant there. Remember, what happens here stays here,¡± he stated, reinforcing Lina¡¯s assumptions. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hadley,¡± she assured, almost patting her chest to emphasize her discretion. A faint smile curved up on Nathaniel¡¯s lips as he quickened his pace, leading Christina out of the room. When they reached the car park, he settled Christina in the front passenger seat, fastened her seatbelt, and drove off. Christina had no idea where he was taking her, but she didn¡¯t mind since she wasn¡¯t familiar with the city. After a while, they arrived at a restaurant, only to find it empty. Surprised, she turned to Nathaniel and whispered. ¡°There¡¯s no one here during lunchtime. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good sign. Let¡¯s find another ce. However, before they could leave, one of the servers quickly exined, ¡°Miss, it¡¯s not like that. We don¡¯t have any customers right now because this gentleman here has reserved the entire restaurant.¡± Christina tensed up at that. ¡°Is it really necessary to reserve the entire ce? We¡¯re just having lunch,¡± she stated. Nathaniel simply replied, ¡°I don¡¯t like the noise,¡± as if his decision made perfect sense. The server led them to a table in the center of the restaurant and handed them the menu. Christina ordered a few dishes from the menu, but Nathaniel insisted on adding a few extra signature dishes, feeling that it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°It¡¯s too much. We won¡¯t be able to finish everything,¡± Christina reminded him in a small voice. ¡°No one said you had to finish everything,¡± Nathaniel replied, thinking that Christina could simply take a few bites from each dish to fill her up. Soon, the dishes were served. Chapter 467 Masculine Presence Chapter 467 Masculine Presence Nathaniel washed his hand with clean water, then rolled up his sleeves and began peeling the shrimp. Christina watched as the food on her te gradually increased. At first, she wasn¡¯t bothered by it, but soon she couldn¡¯t keep up with the speed at which he was peeling, and her te quickly became filled with shrimp. Once done peeling the shrimp, Nathaniel reached for the crabs, cing therge, meaty crab legs onto her te. Soon, Christina had a pile of food in front of her. She couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°I can¡¯t finish all this. You can stop peeling now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. My hands are already dirty anyway, so I¡¯ll just peel some more.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he continued removing the crab shells and ced all the meat on her te. ¡°We can take the leftovers home if we can¡¯t finish everything,¡± Christina suggested, as wasting food wasn¡¯t her habit. He snickered. ¡°If you can¡¯t finish it, you¡¯ll have to foot the bill. I don¡¯t take leftovers.¡± He¡¯s right. Since when does the high and might Mr. Hadley take home leftovers? His real intention is to make me eat all the food before me. Christina felt she wouldn¡¯t be able to consume the other dishes after she finished the big te of crab meat. After taking a few bites, she started tasting the other dishes. Upon trying out all the food on the table, she noticed that after Nathaniel was done peeling the shrimp and washing his hands, he had been sitting there, watching her eat quietly without moving or talking. Christina picked up a piece of meat and ced it in her mouth. Her cheeks, bulging on both sides, made her look like an adorable, innocent little bunny. Nathaniel held a napkin and gently wiped the corner of her mouth. ¡°You¡¯re a grown¨Cup, yet you eat like a child, getting food stains everywhere.¡± His doting voice made him sound like an elder caring for someone younger. An unusual hint of warmth filled his eyes as he spoke. Christina swallowed the delicious food in her mouth before asking him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat? It¡¯s wasteful to have so much food left.¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired from peeling the shrimp, so I don¡¯t feel like moving,¡± he replied nonchntly. The corner of her mouth twitched. ¡°In other words, you want me to feed you.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind that.¡± He shed a faint smirk as if everything was going ording to his n. Christina gave him a perfunctory smile and snorted. ¡°Do whatever you like. I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s going to get hungry if you don¡¯t eat anyway.¡± Seemingly determined to challenge her, he remained unmoving. He knew Christina disliked waste and wouldn¡¯t be able to stand seeing all those food go uneaten. She¡¯ll definitely change her mind and feed me! Sure enough, a little whileter, Christina couldn¡¯t eat anymore. She burped and grumbled, ¡°I feel like my tummy is going to explode.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re done eating, shall we ask for the bill?¡± Nathaniel asked. Christina agreed with a poker face, ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s hurry up. We can rest for a while if we go back sooner. We¡¯ll strive to finish discussing the remaining details in the afternoon.¡± Nathaniel called the waiter over to settle the check. Without looking at the bill, he charged the amount to his bank card. After the payment, the waiter brought over eight or nine takeaway boxes. Nathaniel furrowed his brows and rejected, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this.¡± The waiter smiled and exined, ¡°This miss requested these boxes.¡± Christina got to her feet and nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. I requested them. Please help me pack up all these dishes and this half te of shrimp meat.¡± ¡°Okay, miss. Please wait.¡± Then, the waiter neatly packed all the uneaten food. Christina grinned, smiling from ear to ear. Her innocent and naive appearance was extremely adorable. Nathaniel knitted his brows. As he watched the food getting packed into the takeaway boxes, his expression turned a few shades darker. She has been nning this all along. A few momentster, the waiter handed the packed takeaway boxes to Christina. There were eight or nine of them, divided into two bags, which were quite heavy to carry. As a result, she moved slower than usual. In contrast, Nathaniel walked quickly, leaving her in the dust. When he was about to get in the car, he turned around and saw Christinagging behind. He hastily retraced his steps and reached out to grab all the packed boxes from her hands. With her hands empty, Christina suddenly felt much lighter. A hint of embarrassment surged within her as she looked at Nathaniel cing the takeout boxes into the trunk. He spent so much money to treat me to a meal. I¡¯m full now, but his stomach is still empty. Christina got into the car. After Nathaniel entered the vehicle too, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my mom¡¯s condominium first.¡± Sharon¡¯s condominium was very close to Gibson Corporation, so making a detour there wouldn¡¯t take up much time. Around ten minutester, they arrived at the condominium¡¯s entrance. Hearing the doorbell ringing, Sharon immediately answered the door. She was delightfully surprised to see Nathaniel and Christina. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me in advance that you wereing? I could¡¯ve prepared lunch for you.¡± Christina stepped into the house and took the takeout boxes from Nathaniel. ¡°You don¡¯t need to cook, Mom. Just heat these up for him to eat.¡± Sharon received the two hefty bags. ¡°You bought takeout? Should I prepare some home¨Ccooked dishes too?¡± Christina walked toward her bedroom while replying, ¡°That¡¯s not needed. I¡¯ve already eaten. I¡¯m going to take a nap. Once you¡¯ve heated up the food, you can rest. There¡¯s no need to entertain him.¡± With that, she entered the room, removed her outerwear, andy down on the bed. Nathaniel stood at the kitchen entrance and told Sharon, whose back was facing him. ¡°Mom, leave it. I¡¯ll reheat the foodter. I want to get some rest first.¡± ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll heat it up and leave it in the pot. You can eat it when you wake up from your nap,¡± Sharon chirped and closed the kitchen door so that the smell of food wouldn¡¯t bother him. Meanwhile, inside the room, Christina was lying on the bed. Perhaps she was too tired in the morning and felt full now that a wave of sleepiness washed over her. Hugging the nket, she drifted off to sleep in no time. Amidst her grogginess, she felt a warm sensation wrap around her slim waist. She turned her head and saw Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Why did youe in here?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a nap. Stop talking,¡± he drawled like a sleepy lion, his voice powerful yet gentle. D Christina wanted to push him away. Unexpectedly, he held her more tightly. There were differences between their physique in the first ce, so after several fruitless attempts to put up a struggle, she decided to give up and yield. And just like that, the two fell asleep in one another¡¯s embrace. Christina had rarely slept so peacefully. It wasn¡¯t until a ray of twilight filtered through the curtains and layered the entire bedroom with a red glow that she opened her eyes. Christina askedzily, ¡°Nathaniel, what time is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know and don¡¯t care.¡± Nathaniel had not had such quality sleep in a long time, so he didn¡¯t have the slightest desire to wake up. Christina wanted to get up, but he forbade her. Wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he pulled her into his arms and embraced her, resting his cool lips on her forehead. The moment was beautiful, but Christina¡¯s rationality was telling her that she shouldn¡¯t sleep anymore. She sat up abruptly. ¡°Do you know what time it is? Why are you still sleeping?¡± She picked up her phone and nced at the time. It was almost six o¡¯clock. How had I slept so deeply?Content held by N?velDrama.Org. Lina had sent her over ten text messages, but she merely replied: Something came up. Let¡¯s discuss the agreement tomorrow. After putting down her phone, she immediately felt more awake and energized. Nathaniel also got out of bed, methodically straightening his suit. The orange¨Cyellow light from outside outlined his slender figure, filling the room with his masculine presence. Chapter 468 Does It Hurt Chapter 468 Does It Hurt ¡°Have you looked your fill?¡± The seductive baritone of Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded as Christina lifted her eyes and met his intense gaze. She looked away hastily, her face burning. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to thepany.¡± She strode out and was greeted by Sharon, who was heating up the leftover food from lunch. ¡°Christina,e and have dinner.¡± Christina¡¯s stomach felt empty after waking up from her sleep. While she wasn¡¯t particrly hungry, she sat at the table nheless and nned to grab a quick bite before being on her way. Nathaniel stepped out, looking energized in his well¨Cpressed clothing. He seemed to exude an innate sense of superiority. He was as graceful as a prince that emerged from an oil painting as he took the spot next to Christina. Sharon arranged the tableware before him. ¡°Nathaniel, you must be hungry since you didn¡¯t have lunch. Please dig in.¡± With that, she scooped extra servings of food into his te. Christina was full after finishing just one te due to herck of appetite, while Nathaniel had more than his usual portion. They departed for thepany together after dinner. Gibson Corporation was empty as it was already after office hours. Lina had arranged the documents on Christina¡¯s desk before she went off. Christina felt invigorated and ready to get the day¡¯s work done. ¡°You should get back to work for now. We¡¯ll discuss the details tomorrow.¡± Christina sat down. Her gaze never once strayed from the documents before her. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened. Was he being shooed away again? He nted himself opposite Christina. ¡°I don¡¯t have time tomorrow as I¡¯ll be heading home. We¡¯ll talk it over at Scenic Garden Manor if not tonight.¡± Christina paused and mentally calcted the amount of time Nathaniel had spent in Jadeborough. He couldn¡¯t continuenguishing with her here without a care for hispany. Besides, she did not want to dy signing the contract lest Anya takes advantage of the situation. Nathaniel flipped open the documents and continued where he¡¯d left off in the morning. ¡°Pour me a cup of coffee.¡± ( His gaze was lowered, and his chiseled side profile resembled a sculpture that belonged in a museum. His entire being emanated a frosty aura. Even how hemanded others was so stern that itpelled them to do as he wished. Christina stood and made her way to the pantry. She wasn¡¯t familiar with the workings of a coffee machine since she rarely made coffee herself. After cing the cup below its spigot, she waited for some time, yet no coffee was dispensed. The scalding hot coffee was released only when she reached for the cup, causing it to ssh all over the back of her palm. Shocked and in pain, she felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest. She sucked in a deep breath, her mind beginning to register the searing pain on her skin. Christina barely had time to react when she was lifted off her feet. Nathaniel had rushed over at the noise and was surveying her scald moodily. ¡°Is there a medical kit here?¡± Christina pointed at the cab. ¡°My, assistant mentioned it being stored at the topmost section.¡± Nathaniel identified the whereabouts of the medical kit and ced her down on the couch to retrieve it. Christina observed her wound and was relieved that she¡¯d withdrawn her hand in time. She was lucky that the reddish swelling was just a surface wound. A shadow fell over her as Nathaniel sat beside her and extracted the bandage and antiseptic from the emergency kit. He reached for her hand gingerly. Nathaniel¡¯s palm was muchrger than hers. His healthy tan was a stark contrast with her delicately fair complexion. The effect of that image was as jarring as a ferocious lion sitting beside a docilemb. Christina¡¯s heart began speeding up at the thought of him admonishing her. However, all he did was ask, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He blew lightly on the back of her palm. Christina¡¯s mood took a turn for the worse as the ces he¡¯d touched felt like they were on fire. She¡¯d be a liar to deny being moved by his actions, but her past experiences made her uneasy. Who knew whether he¡¯d lock her up again if she ruffled his feathers? He¡¯d broken his promise to her the minute he became furious. She withdrew her hand after shaking free from her reverie. ¡°Not really.¡± Nathaniel did not pursue the matter at the hostile look she leveled at him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do it anymore. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± He ced the medical kit back where it belonged and managed to operate the coffee machine after a cursory nce at the machine. Christina chastised herself for her clumsiness in managing to hurt herself over such a simple task while observing Nathaniel in his element. Two cups of coffee were soon ready on the office table. Christina took a sip and felt energized almost instantaneously. They began discussing the details of the contract, and Christina was astonished at how meticulously Nathaniel went through the terms. Neither of them backed down in their negotiation. However, it was expected that Hadley Corporation would split hairs over other areas after offering such arge plot ofnd from the get¨Cgo. They finally signed the contract well past midnight. ¡°Are you going back to the hotel at such ate hour?¡± Christina checked the time. It was almost three morning. ¡°No. I¡¯ll be heading back straight away.¡± Nathaniel rearranged the documents on the desk and called Sebastian to pick him up after he finished packing. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina stole a nce at him from the corner of her eyes and looked back at her documents quickly avoid being discovered. ¡°You may leave once you¡¯re done.¡± She pretended to speak in an off¨Chanded manner. Nathaniel grunted his acknowledgment as he went through the emails on his phone. Time continued ticking as both of them were engrossed with their respective work. Christina stared at the dense lines of Anndurn words on her documents and decided to rest her eye sheid her head down on the desk, which identally turned into a full¨Con sleep. The sun shone brightly outside the window by the time she woke up. She was now lying in the lounge area of her office with Nathaniel¡¯s coat over her. It had a subtle woodsy fragrance to it. Christina sat up. Nathaniel should be back at Hadley Corporation by now. Her phone rang with a call from her grandmother. Christina had overslept and missed the evening banquet she¡¯d promised to attend with Azure the day before. Azure¡¯s voice dripped with concern after learning she¡¯d been working at the office overnight. ¡°Your work may be important, but so is your body. Be careful not to overexert yourself.¡± ¡°I know, Grandma.¡± Her words offort were a balm to Christina¡¯s weary heart. Azure continued, ¡°Why don¡¯t youe and keep mepany in the afternoon instead of doing work?¡± ¡°Sure, Grandma,¡± Christina replied instantly. ¡°I¡¯ll ask my chefs to prepare your favorite desserts for you to look forward to.¡± Azure chuckled. Christina went back to work after hanging up. She left thepany only when her driver came to pick her up in the afternoon. Chapter 469 Matchmaking Chapter 469 Matchmaking The moment Christina returned to the Gibson residence, she saw an unfamiliar car parked in front. This car doesn¡¯t belong to the Gibson family. Are we having guests today? The butler greeted her when she got out of the car. ¡°Ms. Christina, Mrs. Lazuli is waiting for you in the backyard.¡± ¡°Are we having guests today?¡± asked Christina. The butler smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Once you get there, you will know.¡± When Christina walked to the backyard, she saw three people sitting at the table. Other than Azure, there was also an esteemed¨Clookingdy and a man who was around thirty¨Cfive years of age. The man had slicked¨Cback hair and was wearing a striped ck suit. The cut of the suit showcased his height beautifully. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re back. Come over here,¡± The moment Azure saw Christina, she smiled warmly at her. Judging from the situation, it looked like a matchmaking session. Nevertheless, they had already seen her, so she had no choice but to greet them. ¡°Grandma, why didn¡¯t you tell me that we were having guests today?¡± Azure was worried that Christina would note back if she told her the truth. That was why she hid it from her on purpose. ¡°Christina, this is my long¨Ctime friend, Mrs. Stone. This is her grandson, Sheridan Stone.¡± ¡°Mrs. Stone, Mr. Stone, nice to meet you,¡± Christina greeted them politely. When Sherry Stone saw the delicate and gentle¨Clooking Christina, she liked her instantly. ¡°So, this is long¨Clost granddaughter. What an elegant girl. I have no doubt she is from the Gibson family.¡± As a long¨Ctime friend of Azure, she knew quite a bit about the Gibson family. Azure smiled and nodded. ¡°Christina has a good character. Even though she grew up away from the family, she still turned out fine.¡± Christina was embarrassed because of their praise. She blushed and smiled. ¡°Sit with Sheridan. The two of you are closer in age. I¡¯m sure you have a lot more to talk about,¡± said Azure with a smile. Can they get any more obvious? Christina broke out in cold sweats and did as she was told. The moment she got near Sheridan, she caught a whiff of his woodsy scent, and it smelled different from -Nathaniel¡¯s. Sheridan¡¯s scent was calming. As for Nathaniel¡¯s, it was wilder and stronger. ¡°Christina, what would you like to drink?¡± Sheridan¡¯s deep, maic voice sounded very pleasing to the ears. Christina returned to her senses and noticed that there were two pots of tea on the table. She then replied, ¡°Roselle tea, please. Thank you.¡± Sheridan poured a cup of tea and ced it in front of her. Under the light, she could see his long and slender fingers moving gracefully. He made her feel ratherfortable. After chatting for a while, Christina found out that Sheridan was the CEO of the Stone family¡¯s listed company. Before that, he worked as an ountant. Other than that, he also owned a financepany that did ounting for others. When Azure saw them having a good time, she suggested that they exchange contact numbers. Just as Christina was hesitating, Sheridan handed her his phone and teased, ¡°Are you going to say no?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± said Christina with a smile. She could not think of any reason to turn him down. Furthermore, he was graceful and polite. Perhaps, he was doing so out of respect for the old folks. And so, the two of them exchanged numbers. When evening came, Sherry and Sheridan left the Gibson residence. Before leaving, they even said they would love to meet again. Howeyer, Christina took it as part of the pleasantries. While the family was having dinner, Azure probed, ¡°Christina, what do you think of Sheridan?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a nice and gracious man. I can tell he is quite capable,¡± said Christina. To that, Azure smiled. ¡°Do you think he is a responsible man? I would like our family to be connected through an arranged marriage.¡± In truth, the two families were agreeable to an arranged marriage a long time ago. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the idea was scrapped. Christina blinked her eyes in suspicion and reacted promptly. ¡°I have just met him. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little too soon?¡± Azure nodded and found her reply to be quite reasonable. Christina then continued, ¡°Grandma, if you want an arranged marriage, you should ask Anya for her opinion. She may not like the mature type.¡± The instant she finished talking, Anya burst outughing and mocked, ¡°Christina, are you being silly, or are you just pretending? Anyone can tell that Grandma is introducing the man to you.¡± What? To me? That was why Grandma was asking for my opinion? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina recovered from her shock. ¡°Grandma, I-¡± ¡°Meet up with Sheridan more often and get to know him. I can tell both of you get along,¡± advised Azure as she chuckled. It was obvious that Azure could not wait for the two of them to confirm the status of their rtionship. Christina appeared embarrassed. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m still married. I don¡¯t think this is right.¡± It would be wrong for her to go out with other men behind Nathaniel¡¯s back. The thought of Nathaniel finding out and showing that grim face of his was enough to scare the wits out of Christina. As far as Anya was concerned, it was no big deal. ¡°Why does it matter? Aren¡¯t you going for a divorce? Didn¡¯t you say Nathaniel is refusing to sign the divorce papers? Perhaps, when he sees you with someone else, he will sign it immediately.¡± Once Christina lost Nathaniel as a backer, Anya could do as she pleased. There would be no need for her to be wary anymore. Christina was already upset at being set up for no apparent reason, so she vented all her frustration on Anya. ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my affairs.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Anya instantly red at her and raised her voice. Christina nced at her coldly and uttered, ¡°You¡¯re so young, yet, your hearing is so bad. I said I will do whatever I want. It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Azure opened her mouth. ¡°Anya, stop it.¡± Naturally, Anya would seize the opportunity to cause Christina more trouble. She looked aggrieved and said, ¡°Grandma, I doubt Christina has any intention to go for a divorce! The Hadley family and we are enemies. Christina, do you intend to go back to your enemy and sleep by his side every day? Just think about Uncle Timothy¡¯s leg. How do you live with yourself?¡± Christina¡¯s face darkened. That incident had always been the bane of her existence. Azure could tell that Christina was put in a difficult position and did not want to push her any further. ¡°Enough. Christina no longer has any feelings for Nathaniel. He has already forced Christina to return to Hallsbay. It goes to show that their rtionship hase to an end. I¡¯m sure Christina knows what she is doing.¡± Chapter 470 Problem In The Accounts Chapter 470 Problem In The ounts Christina¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it, Grandma.¡± Azure nodded in understanding and refrained from causing any further difficulties for her. Christina shot up from her seat and said, ¡°I¡¯m full, Grandma. I¡¯m heading upstairs now.¡± She turned around and red at Anya before making her way up. Upon returning to her room, Christina eagerly opened herptop to search for Anya¡¯s financial statements. However, to her surprise, she discovered that all the statements had been covertly altered, leaving almost no trace of any discrepancies to be found. She knew something was amiss with the figures, but there was nothing she could do. Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a text from Sheridan, extending an invitation to have lunch together tomorrow. Didn¡¯t Sheridan exchange numbers with me to appease the elders? Why is he asking me out now? Oh, wait. Isn¡¯t he good at ounting? Maybe he¡¯ll be able to help. Without hesitation, Christina agreed to his invitation. She believed that developing a closer rtionship with him might provide her with an opportunity to seek his assistance. After replying to the text, Christina took a shower and rested for the night. The next day at noon, they met at a caf¨¦. Sunlight streamed through the window as Sheridan sat in his chair, dressed in a sleek suit and a deep blue striped tie, exuding an elegant and modest charm. When Christina approached, he greeted her with a gentle smile and asked, ¡°What would you like to drink? This caf¨¦ serves excellent coffee.¡± Christina ordered atte, and as they engaged in casual conversation, she finally brought up the question. ¡°Sheridan, how does yourpany charge if your client wants to conduct financial investigations?¡± ¡°It depends on the circumstances and the client¡¯s needs. Are you in need of such services?¡± Sheridan¡¯s gaze deepened as he responded with another question. Logically speaking, Gibson Corporation should have a well¨Cestablished ounting team and would not easily grant outsiders ess to examine thepany¡¯s ounts. Christina looked solemn as she spoke. ¡°I need a favor from you, but you must keep it a secret. Can you?¡± Sheridan met her gaze and reassured her, ¡°As a professional ountantmitted to upholding confidentiality, I¡¯ll certainly help if you trust me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Can I meet you after work then?¡± Christina¡¯s eagerness to uncover all the evidence of Anya¡¯s embezzlement was palpable. Sheridan nodded in agreement. ¡°All right.¡± As the evening approached, Christina diligently copied the necessary ounting documents onto an encrypted sh drive. Suddenly, Sheridan called. ¡°Christina, have you taken your dinner?¡± ¡°Nope. I n to meet you first,¡± Christina said while packing her things. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± Sheridan replied. After hanging up the phone, Christina, who was about to leave, bumped into Anya. With a dark expression on her face, Anya questioned, ¡°Christina, why didn¡¯t you reimburse my travel expenses?¡± ¡°You only went on a short business trip to the neighboring city, and it was supposed to be a one¨Cday trip. But you stayed for three days and had an extravagant meal that cost tens of thousands. You¡¯ve worked in Gibson Corporation for so many years, so don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know thepany¡¯s policies.¡± The finance department needed Christina to approve the reimbursement. Anya¡¯s face grew even darker, almost turning purple. ¡°My business negotiations require a great deal of effort. You wouldn¡¯t understand the lengths I have to go to secure those deals. How dare you reject my im application?¡± Confronting her aggressive stance, Christina did not back down. ¡°As a seasoned employee in a leadership role, if you are unable to grasp such fundamental boundaries, perhaps it¡¯s time for me to consider finding a recement for your position.¡± With that, she grabbed her briefcase and walked out. Anya red at her retreating figure, her eyes filled with an intense desire to pierce her body with a bullet. Twenty minutester, Christina arrived at Sheridan¡¯s office with a folder. A colleague of his from the finance department was also present. Christina handed the documents to Sheridan. ¡°I want to investigate these billing issues to see if any money has been misappropriated.¡± ¡°With such a substantial amount of information, it¡¯ll take a considerable amount of time to investigate thoroughly, but we can start by examining a portion of it to get an initial understanding of the problem,¡± Sheridan replied. He handed a portion of the documents to his colleague and said, ¡°Take a look at these ounts and see if you notice any discrepancies.¡± ¡°Please give me a moment.¡± The colleague took the documents and sat down at the desk, carefully reviewing them. To the untrained eye, the data appeared to be in order, but in the hands of an experienced ountant, it could reveal hidden patterns and irregrities. ¡°Christina, let¡¯s go and sit over there,¡± Sheridan suggested. ¡°All right.¡± In the conference room, a spread of pastries and refreshments was arranged. Sheridan exined, ¡°I prepared some light refreshments since I reckon you hadn¡¯t had dinner. I hope you¡¯re okay with this.¡± ¡°Yeah, of course. Thanks for being so considerate,¡± Christina responded with a grin. Sheridan¡¯s gentle and considerate demeanor was a breath of fresh air for Christina. She had never encountered someone so refined and courteous and could effortlessly make her feelfortable in any situation. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. As they settled into their seats, Sheridan offered her a cup of tea. ¡°Give this roselle tea a try. It¡¯s caffeine- free so it won¡¯t disrupt your sleep.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Christina took a sip and was delighted by the pleasant taste. She savored the pastries and enjoyed the tea, a sense of contentment washing over her. Engaging in conversation, time flew by, and soon the colleague finished organizing the ounts. He circled the entries that raised concerns and said, ¡°These are the ones with issues, and some entries involve significant sums of money.¡± Christina¡¯s senses sharpened as she carefully scrutinized the highlighted entries. Despite spending countless nights on them, she could not identify the discrepancies. ¡°It seems I really need assistance from the professionals.¡± After putting all the documents aside, Sheridan turned to his colleague. ¡°You should go home now. We¡¯ll look into them again tomorrow.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll make a move first then, Mr. Stone.¡± The man turned around and left. With only two people left in the office, Sheridan¡¯s expression turned more serious. ¡°Make a copy of the documents and leave a copy for me. Once all the data is organized, I¡¯ll pass everything to you.¡± ¡°All right. Sorry to trouble you.¡± Christina had already made a copy of the documents for storage and handed him the files that needed processing. She knew it would not take long for her to gather all the incriminating evidence against Anya. ¡°If I would have the honor to treat you to dinner, then it¡¯d be no trouble at all,¡± Sheridan quipped, his earlier seriousnesspletely dissipated. Christina found him to be incredibly versatile, going with the flow effortlessly. He seamlessly transitioned from a state of unwavering seriousness during work to effortlessly disying a lighthearted sense of humor in leisurely settings. ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s go then.¡± The two of them left the building and drove to a restaurant. The air was permeated with the enchanting aroma of red wine, while soft candlelight and vibrant flowers adorned the surroundings, creating an ambiance infused with romance and charm. It waste when they had finished their dinner, so Sheridan drove Christina back to the Gibson residence. As the car came to a stop, Sheridan leaned over to help Christina unfasten her seatbelt. The woodsy scent emanating from him made Christina¡¯s cheeks instantly flush. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can do it myself.¡± In a flurry, Christina quickly unbuckled the seatbelt, cautious of maintaining a distance between them. ¡°Thank you for the ride. Rest well and goodnight.¡± With that, she opened the car door and swiftly made her way into the house. Chapter 471 Insignificant Chapter 471 Insignificant Christina went into the house and saw Anya waiting for her inside with her arms folded. She ignored her and walked in. ¡°Stop right there.¡± Christina arched a brow. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Anya¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°The financial department told me you asked them for my recent reimbursement and contracts. What are you trying to do?¡± Christina was momentarily stunned. She did not expect the news to reach her ears so soon. ¡°It¡¯s just a standard cross-checking procedure. Why are you so nervous?¡± ¡°My financial reports are all approved. Why do you need to cross-check them?¡± Anya asked. her eyes narrowed. ¡°In that case, why did youe to ask me about it? Are you guilty of something?¡± Christina scoffed. Anya was bereft of words. Seeing that she had nothing else to say, Christina walked away and went upstairs. Judging by Anya¡¯s reaction, it¡¯s obvious that she¡¯s guilty of something. There must be something fishy going on with those financial reports. Christina only put her guard down after she arrived in her room upstairs. After taking a shower, she went to bed with her damp hair. When she woke up the next morning, she felt her head spinning. Back then, Nathaniel would dry my hair for me before I went to bed. She quickly shook her head. Why am I thinking about him? Christina changed into a dress and walked out of the room. A housekeeper approached her and said, ¡°Ms. Christina, Mr. Gibson is asking for you. He¡¯s in the study.¡± ¡°All right. Thanks¡± Christina went to the study on the third floor. Only one of the windows was opened in the study, and it was quite stuffy inside. He was sitting at his desk and practicing writing, exuding an intimidating and stern aura. ¡°Did you ask to see me, Dad?¡± Christina walked in. Timothy never liked being disturbed, so no one would dare to disrupt his rest on the third. floor unless he asked to see someone. ¡°Christina, how¡¯s work?¡± Timothy asked in a deep voice. Christina walked up to him, got him another pen, and replied, ¡°Not bad.¡± Truth be told, Timothy knew everything that had been going on at the office. He nodded in satisfaction and focused on his writing. ¡°You¡¯re amazing at this, Dad!¡± Christina praised. Timothy put his pen aside and looked at Christina fondly. ¡°Christina, today is your mother¡¯s death anniversary. I think it¡¯s time I bring you to see her.¡± Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat. I mentioned this to Dad plenty of times before. Although he said he would bring me there, he never did. It turns out he¡¯s been waiting for this day. Timothy and Christina left the house shortly after that, and their driver sent them to the entrance of the cemetery. Christina pushed Timothy in, and instead of stopping in one of the quiet corners, they stood. in the open. Weirdly enough, the initially good weather had worsened, and clouds were gathering above their heads. The ck-and-white photo on the tombstone showed the face of a graceful woman with gentle facial features. Christina stared at the photo, and her eyes reddened. She was filled with sadness. Looking gloomy, Timothy piped up. ¡°Christina, I think it¡¯s time I tell you that it was the people from Hadley Corporation who murdered your mom back then. And my leg¡­¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Timothy¡¯s eyes grew grimmer as he spoke. Christina furrowed her brows. After a short moment of silence, she said, ¡°Dad, that was an ident. That wasn¡¯t a-¡® ¡°You¡¯re wrong.¡± Timothy proceeded to reveal a secret he had been keeping to himself for ¡°Gibson Corporation and Hadley Corporationpeted for thend rights of years. Horington back then. The winner would ultimately be stronger in the industry. At that time, Hadley Corporation was having trouble due to the shoddy real estate properties they built. Hence, their reputation took a hit. Theymitted the cruel act when they realized they were losing out to Gibson Corporation. On that particr day, they invited your mother and me to discuss a deal between the two families. Thendslide happened shortly after we arrived at the meeting spot. ording to the experts, thendslide was most probably man-made. Back then, there weren¡¯t any surveince cameras, so no one was ever caught. Years have since gone by, and I still haven¡¯t avenged your mother. I feel so sorry her.¡± Christina could only stare at the photo on the tombstone. She was dumbstruck when she heard about what had happened back then. After a long while, she finally returned to her senses when she felt her legs going numb. ¡°What do you want me to do, Dad?¡± Christina felt an obligation to avenge the Gibson family. Timothy¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°I know Hadley Corporation is bidding for the Beluga Bay Resort project. I want you to find out their reserve price so that Gibson Corporation can win the bidding for the project.¡± He¡¯s asking me to cheat? There was a glint in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll get it done for what they did to Mom, but I don¡¯t want to have anything to do with Hadley Corporation after this.¡± ¡°Okay. You have my word,¡± Timothy assured. When the two were heading out, they bumped into Yerek at the entrance. Wearing a ck suit and sunsses, he looked rather dejected as he held a flower bouquet in his hands. ¡°Hi, Dad,¡± Yerek greeted. Timothy nodded in response. Although Yerek wasn¡¯t his biological son, he loved Yerek just as much. He couldn¡¯t give Yerek thepany¡¯s shares, but he never considered kicking Yerek out of the Gibson family. ¡°Your mom loved you the most when she was around. It¡¯s nice of you to bring her flowers. every year.¡± ¡°What I do is insignificant. Dad, I would like to talk to Christina.¡± Timothy did not stop him and told the driver to push him away. Just then, it started drizzling. Yerek and Christina were standing in a corner, but as the wind blew, droplets of rain fell on Christina. ¡°Hurry up and say what you need to say.¡± Christina hated Yerek to the core. Yerek frowned and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re looking into Anya¡¯s ounts. Almost all the executives in the company are in cahoots with her. You ought to be careful.¡± Anya had won over the executives in thepany, and it would be hard to take them down. However, instead of trusting Yerek, Christina thought he was ying tricks on her. ¡°What made you think I would trust you? Do you take me for a child, Yerek?¡± Yerek heaved a sigh in response. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry at me because of the incident at the clothing factory, but I wasn¡¯t going after you back then. I was targeting Nathaniel.¡± Chapter 472 You Have To Believe Me Chapter 472 You Have To Believe Me Silence ensued. Christina furrowed her brows in frustration, and she was no longer interested in talking to him. Yerek grabbed her wrist and uttered in a deep voice, ¡°If you¡¯re still angry at me for what happened at the clothing factory, I can pay you back all the money. If I do that, will you hate me less?¡± Christina pulled her hand away from his grip and red at him. ¡°You can pay me back the money, but how about the life you owe me?¡± Her tone was so cold that Yerek could feel a chill running down his spine. ¡°What are you on about? I owe you some money, and that¡¯s it. But you want me to give my life to you?¡± Yerek was incredulous. He didn¡¯t know what Christina was talking about. Christina said sarcastically, ¡°Why, it didn¡¯t take you long to forget about the evil act that you had committed.¡± Yerek was still looking at her in puzzlement. Taking in the innocent look on his face, Christina added, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, and don¡¯t think this is over just because I don¡¯t have proof that you burned my house down.¡± ¡°Burn your house down? What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Yerek knitted his brows. Why is she saying that I burned her house down? Christina couldn¡¯t suppress her anger. ¡°You will be punished for this, Yerek!¡± He obviouslymitted all those despicable acts. However, he¡¯s acting dumb and innocent. She wanted to leave after saying that, but Yerek wouldn¡¯t let her go. He pulled her hand and said, ¡°Say something that I can understand! I can¡¯t let you use me of something I didn¡¯t. do.¡± ¡°You investigated me four years ago. You were afraid that I would return to the Gibson family to snatch the right of inheritance from you, so you burned my house down. Did your know my granny died in that fire? Although she wasn¡¯t rted to me by blood, she raised me. I was close to her, even closer than my own family.¡± Christina tried to keep her voice down, but she couldn¡¯t keep her tears from streaming down her cheeks. found your address. But I didn¡¯t start a fire! I was merely collecting your information! I never meant to harm you, Christina. You have to believe me!¡± ¡°Believe you? You teamed up with Anya that night to frame me in the office. Are you going to deny that as well?¡± Christina never said it out loud, but she remembered everything. She was just waiting for the right moment to take revenge. Yerek lifted his hand to massage his temple. ¡°Well, I wasn¡¯t heavily involved in that. I employed those people, but I told them not to hurt you. I even went back to look for you after I left, but you were no longer in the office. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the surveince footage.¡± Christina went silent, not knowing if Yerek could be trusted. After all, she never had a good impression of the man. Yerek heaved a sigh when he noticed her hesitation. ¡°Christina, Hadley Corporation has always been my only target.¡± Suddenly, it stopped drizzling, and the ce became misty. Christina kept mum for a while more before turning around to leave. Upon exiting, she got into the car, and the driver drove off. On their way back, Christina was staring out the window, daydreaming. All of a sudden, she turned around and asked, ¡°Dad, what do you think of Yerek?¡± With a tender look in his eyes, Timothy uttered, ¡°I raised him, so I know he¡¯s a good person. In fact, he never asked me for thepany¡¯s shares.¡± When Timothy told Yerek that Christina would be receiving the shares, Yerek had noints. you ¡°He told me I could only get thepany¡¯s shares if I were to marry him, but how did manage to transfer the shares to me, Dad?¡± Christina asked. Timothy shook his head and exined, ¡°If you were to marry him, he would receive your mother¡¯s shares. Otherwise, the shares would automatically be transferred to you.¡± So he wanted to use this to trick me into marrying him. Luckily, I wasn¡¯t interested in inheriting the shares back then. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve fallen into his trap. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No matter what happens, you¡¯ll always have me.¡± Timothy patted Christina¡¯s hand. Christina was even more determined to help her father get the project when she saw the sincere look in his eyes. By the time Christina arrived at her office, there was a huge stack of documents on her desk. Lina came in with a cup of coffee and put more documents on the desk. ¡°Ms. Steele, you have to go through all of them today. I think you need to pick up your pace.¡± ¡°Sure. Please make three copies of this. I need them for the meeting.¡± Christina flipped open the folders and started working. She had been working intensely recently, so she was a lot quicker than before in going through documents. If she were to go through documents every day, and each document required thirty minutes, that would be all she could do daily. In the blink of an eye, working hours were over, and the ringing of a phone tore her away from her thoughts. It was Sheridan who called her. ¡°We made an appointment to settle the ounts together tonight. You haven¡¯t forgotten about it, have you?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll finish up and meet youter.¡± Sheridan chuckled in response. ¡°Hold your horses. Let¡¯s have dinner after work so that we¡¯ll have the energy to work afterward.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Dinner¡¯s on me!¡± Christina knew he was working overtime for her sake. She felt it was only right to buy him dinner. ¡°As long as we can have a pleasant meal together, it doesn¡¯t matter who pays for dinner. I¡¯ll fetch you after work.¡± ¡°All right. See youter.¡± Christina hung up the phone and lowered her head to think about. something. Right then, Lina came in to fetch some documents. ¡°Ms. Steele, what¡¯s on your mind? You seem happy.¡± ¡°Happy? Me?¡± Christina regained her senses and closed the document she had signed earlier. ¡°I caught you smiling!¡± Only then did Christina realize she was smiling. I guess it¡¯s because Sheridan is easy to get along with. That¡¯s why I smiled when I heard what he said just now.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Uponpleting her tasks, Christina kept her belongings and left her office. Chapter 473 Like Stars In The Sky Chapter 473 Like Stars In The Sky Anya¡¯s gaze darkened at once. She¡¯s really good at pretending. She disyed a tough attitude in front of me, but when she was with Sheridan, she began flirting with him. Sheridan must be blind to like a woman like Christina. Just then, a luxury car stopped in front of Anya, and she got in and left. ¡°Why the long face?¡± The woman in the driver¡¯s seat was dressed like a trendy girl, wearing a short blouse and skirt. She had an expensive diamond ne on her and exuded the elegance of a wealthy heiress. ¡°Do you know Sheridan, the eldest son of the Stone family? He¡¯s already in his thirties. Why isn¡¯t he married yet?¡± Anya asked curiously. The woman¡¯s eyes lit up, and she eximed excitedly. ¡°Of course I know him! I heard he studied. ounting overseas and returned to take over the family business in recent years. He¡¯s still single. Are you friends with him? Introduce me to him.¡± ¡°What? Sheridan studied ounting?¡± Upon hearing that, Anya almost jumped up from her seat. ¡°Yes, he has a double degree and holds a globally recognized ounting certification. He also owns a highly reputable ounting firm in Hallsbay. Our family¡¯s ounts are handled by them. Let¡¯s not talk about that. Are you going to introduce him to me?¡± A dark glint shed past Anya¡¯s eyes. Sheridan is an ountant, so Christina¡¯s intention in getting close to him might not be to seek higher social status but to investigate ounts. Everything suddenly made sense. Anya felt that Christina was indeed cunning for secretly plotting against her. However, she would never give Christina a chance. Meanwhile, Christina and Sheridan arrived at the restaurant. As soon as they took their seats, the waiter served their dishes. ¡°But we haven¡¯t ced an order yet,¡± Christina said in a puzzled tone. Sheridan responded, ¡°I ced the order in advance. Take a look at the dishes. If there¡¯s anything that doesn¡¯t suit your taste, we can add more dishes.¡± Christina nced at the food. They were all her favorites. ¡°You really know what to order. I eat all of these.¡± ¡°Of course. I did my homework in advance.¡± Sheridan chuckled gracefully, disying a refined and gentle demeanor. The two of them dined together. As they got engrossed in conversation, they also opened a bottle of red wine. After having dinner, they both headed back to the financepany. Fortunately, with several individual¡¯s lending their assistance, it was likely that the data would be avable within a week. The moments of the two of them entering and leaving the restaurant, and entering thepany together while chatting andughing were all captured by a private detective hidden in the shadows. Those photos were sent to Nathaniel through the Inte. He stared at the photos on the screen and saw the smile on Christina¡¯s face. It had been a long time since she had smiled at him so gently. That made him very angry.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. I have only just left, and she¡¯s already getting close to another man behind my back? Nathaniel¡¯s brow furrowed, and his face turned grim. He clenched his fist and mmed the table. The people in the office werepletely shocked by that. The director of the marketing department, who was giving a presentation, was especially frightened and had no idea where he had stopped. A few of them stared at Nathaniel in a daze. A whileter, the director of the marketing department asked cautiously. ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you not satisfied with my report?¡± The director of the marketing department felt that his job was at stake, and the expressions of the other directors weren¡¯t any more positive. Despite the exceptional performance of the marketing department, Nathaniel¡¯s dissatisfaction made them tremble as they looked at the reports in their hands, Sebastian¡¯s eyes also widened in surprise. These reports have all met the target. It shouldn¡¯t be a matter of performance that¡¯s making Mr. Hadley angry. He cast a quick nce at theputer. The next moment, his pupils abruptly constricted. Mrs. Hadley is smiling and flirting with another man. No wonder Mr. Hadley¡¯s angry. Nathaniel remainedposed as hezily lifted his icy gaze and instructed, ¡°Go on.¡± Only then did the director continue the presentation, and the tense atmosphere began to ease slightly. Meanwhile, in Hallsbay, it waste at night. As Christina waited in the office, Sheridan walked in with some pastries. The ountant is still sorting out the data. We¡¯ll have the datater in the evening ¡°No worries. They¡¯ve been workingte. When it¡¯s time to settle up, feel free to charge me,¡± Christina said as she picked up her cup of tea and took a sip. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll give you a special discount.¡± Sheridan chuckled gracefully. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s an art exhibition tomorrow evening. Shall we go together?¡± It was a renowned art exhibition, and tickets were hard toe by. Christina felt that she had found kindred spirit. She smiled and asked, ¡°Do you also enjoy visiting art exhibitions?¡± ¡°I do. To be frank, when Ie across a painting I like, I can spend a long time just gazing at it.¡± Sheridan¡¯s eyes were filled with tenderness, like stars in the sky. Just as Christina was about to respond, her phone rang. The moment Christina saw the caller ID, her expression grew solemn. ¡°Lucas, Cam? ¡°Mommy, Cam has a fever, and she¡¯s been crying Mommy, where are you? Can youe back and apany Cam?¡± Christina¡¯s heart seemed to have stopped beating, and her expression froze. She became anxious. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Cam. I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± After ending the call, she swiftly kept her things and got up to leave. Sheridan caught up with her and asked worriedly. ¡°Christina, what happened?¡± ¡°I need to go back to Scenic Garden Manor. I¡¯m sorry, but we can discuss the ountster,¡± Christina said as she continued to walk out of the room. Seeing how worried she looked, Sheridan couldn¡¯t leave her alone. ¡°It¡¯s toote for you to book a ticket. now. Let me send you there.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Christina was taken aback. She felt hesitant to ept his offer, feeling it was too much trouble for him. This time, it was Sheridan who took the initiative to hold her hand and walked toward the elevator. ¡°What are you waiting for? It¡¯s an urgent matter, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°But what about the ounts?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I have reliable professionals handling the ounts, and they are well aware of the need for confidentiality.¡± While speaking. Sheridan took her hand and led her into the elevator. When they got back to Scenic Garden Manor from Hallsbay, it was already past midnight. Sheridan parked his car at the front gate. A hint of fatigue appeared on his handsome face, but he didn¡¯t mind. He helped Christina unfasten her seatbelt. ¡°Hurry and go back,¡± he said. Christina was stunned. She felt a twinge of guilt from his kindness. ¡°Thank you for giving me a ride. How about I book a hotel for you to rest?¡± He had driven her over hundreds of kilometers without a word ofint. Leaving him like this made her feel a bit guilty. Sheridan could tell what she was thinking. He thoughtfully helped her open the car door. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something urgent to handle? I¡¯m a grown man. I can take care of such matters. Hurry up and go inside.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s stay in touch if anythinges up.¡± Christina got out of the car. Her slender and graceful figure soon disappeared into the house. Meanwhile, in the study, Nathaniel was dressed in loose pajamas. His gaze was cold and intense as he stared at the car outside. Suddenly, there was a sharp sound as he shattered the ss in his hand. The cold whisky dripped from his palm, and the air was instantly filled with a strong smell of alcohol. Chapter 474 Think All You Want Chapter 474 Think All You Want Christina entered the house and went upstairs directly. She did not even change into her house slippers. Right before she walked into the room, Nathaniel got hold of her and said in a deep voice, ¡°Cam has just dozed off after taking her medicines. Don¡¯t wake her up.¡± Christina withdrew her hand from the knob but decided secondster that she would make her way into the room discreetly. As she walked closer to the children¡¯s bed and saw them fast asleep, she felt a lump in her throat. She bent her body to gently rub Cam¡¯s forehead and caressed her little face, only to realize just how much weight Cam had lost. Her chubby cheeks had be slimmer. She touched Cam¡¯s face and was relieved that it was not very warm. She gave Cam a peck on the check before going over to check on Lucas. Lucas was sleeping soundly on his side. Christina took in his little round head and thick, longshes covering his eyes and nted a kiss on his cheek. She continued watching them for a while before leaving their room. As soon as she stepped out of the room, she saw Nathaniel waiting there patiently. It was almost midnight, and the dim lights that shone on him made him look imposing and hostile. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a rest in the guest room downstairs,¡± said Christina before heading down. When she walked past him, he held her wrist in a vice-like grip. He was a bit too aggressive that he hurt her a little. Christina furrowed her eyebrows and asked in a low voice, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. He did not reply but immediately carried her up and then strode to the bedroom. ¡°What are you doing? Let go of me!¡± Christina muttered, rejecting him. She was worried about waking the children up, so she dared not speak loudly. She became anxious when he remained indifferent. ¡°Put me down!¡± Nathaniel quickened his pace as he walked toward the bedroom. With a deft flick of his hand, he shut the door behind him and put Christina down. She red at him with wide eyes. Why can¡¯t we talk this out? Must he use brute force? She tried to be patient with him as she said, ¡°Are you letting me have the master bedroom? If so, please leave at once. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. She then turned her head to the other side, refusing to see his expression. Christina¡¯s resistance made Nathaniel lose his patiencepletely. He raised his hand and held her by her chin. ¡°Who¡¯s the man who drove you back just now?¡± Fear shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. It was not because she came back in Sheridan¡¯s car but because she was well aware of Nathaniel¡¯s jealous nature and its consequences. He was the kind of person who would get jealous very easily without considering the actual situation. Christina exined briefly, ¡°It was already gettingte, and I couldn¡¯t catch thest train, so I hitched a ride back with my friend. Is there anything wrong with that?¡± ¡°Oh? A friend?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s menacing aura enveloped Christina¡¯s small frame. ¡°This particr friend of yours had dinner with you, worked with you till midnight, and drove you all the way back to Scenic Garden Manor despite it being a few hundred kilometers away. What a friend you have there!¡± The tension in the room was so thick one could cut it with a knife. At that moment, Christina found it difficult to breathe. She knew that Nathaniel was infuriated. ¡°You can think all you want. It¡¯s none of my business. My conscience is clear. Christina tried to exin to him nicely, yet he purposely twisted her words. There was nothing she could do. Nathaniel¡¯s temples throbbed. He was rendered speechless. Not only was she alone with a guy, but she also didn¡¯t think it was necessary to reflect on herself. He shot her a cold stare and asked, ¡°What do you mean by your conscience is clear?¡± Christina froze and held her breath. ¡°Does being alone in a room count? What about holding hands? Visiting an art exhibition together? Or kissing each other on the lips?¡± Nathaniel closed in on her every time he asked a question. In the end, she retreated all the way from the door to the bed. Christina felt an unknown sense of pressure engulfing her. She began to tremble as she exined herself. ¡°We never held hands or kissed!¡± ¡°Really? Let me check.¡± With that, Nathaniel sealed her lips with a passionate kiss. His warm breath awakened every cell in her body as a strong urge crept up on her and robbed her of her sanity. It was not until the man¡¯s breath fell on her neck that Christina¡¯s nerves tensed up. ¡°Let go of me, Nathaniel¡­¡± He sped her wrist. At that very moment, Christina was like a fragile crystal ball to him. She was exquisite, beautiful, and alluring, and she could only belong to him alone. In the next second, he opened his mouth and bit her neck hard. ¡°Let me go, you jerk!¡± Christina choked out. ¡°Me! A jerk? The moment I left, you went flirting with another man. Who¡¯s the real jerk here, huh?¡± Nathaniel continued biting her jaw like a bloodthirsty wolf who needed to be satisfied with flesh and blood ¡°Let go of me, Nathaniel!¡± Christina snapped at him as tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. ¡°You¡¯re my wife now. No one can do anything to stop me if I don¡¯t let you go!¡± His big palmnded on her sheer skirt. Soon, the sound of fabric being torn rang out as Nathaniel held Christina in his arms. A cool breeze drifted through the open window and made the curtains billow. It was a particrly long night. It was not until the morning sun streamed into the bedroom that Christina woke up. With a frown and an aching body, she dragged herself into the bathroom. After taking a shower, she put on a long-sleeved shirt and casual long pants to cover up the red marks on her body. Then she left the room. As soon as she walked into the children¡¯s room, Lucas and Cam dashed out, shouting, ¡°Mommy. Mommy!¡± ¡°Cam, don¡¯t run so fast. You¡¯ve just recovered.¡± Christina caressed her face. Both her children threw themselves into her arms. Hugging her made them feel very secure. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s so good that you came back. We missed you!¡± ¡°I missed you too. Did you two behave yourselves at home?¡± Christina wanted to carry her two darlings, but she felt a pain in her lower back and started leaning backward. Luckily, Nathaniel came in then and supported her in time. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Steadying herself, she moved away from that detestable figure and ignored him totally. She put the two kids down and brought them downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast, it was time for Cam to take her medicine. Christina was worried that Cam would not be willing, but little did she expect her daughter to finish it in one gulp. ¡°Mommy, quick, candy¡­¡± Swiftly, Christina fed Cam the candy she had prepared in advance, and Cam grinned gleefully upon cating it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of taking medicine? Why are you so obedient today?¡± Cam smiled and replied, ¡°Daddy said I won¡¯t get to see you if I don¡¯t eat my medicine. I want to be with you, Mommy, so I¡¯ll be good and take my medicine.¡± Lucas leaned against Christina¡¯s chest and said in his childish voice, ¡°Please don¡¯t go, Mommy. Could you stay back and apany us?¡± Christina¡¯s heart wrenched. She had had no choice but to leave them thest time. ¡°Rest assured that I¡¯ll bring you two along when I leave this time.¡± She patted their heads gently. Chapter 475 Stomachache Chapter 475 Stomachache As soon as Christina spoke, she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she found herself gazing into Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. What a coincidence! Nathaniel shows up every time we say something about him. Did he put a wiretap in this house? Nathaniel lifted Lucas and slung his schoolbag onto his shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s time to go to school, Lucas.¡± ¡°But Cam is sick. I want to stay and take care of her.¡± Lucas pursed his lips and blinked, trying to appeal to his father. ¡°There are plenty of people at home to look after her. You need to get to school on time.¡± As he spoke, Nathaniel marched toward the door with Lucas in his arms. Having not seen his mother for a long time, Lucas was reluctant to attend kindergarten. Besides, he could recite the sybus with his eyes closed. He was determined to remain by his mother¡¯s side. To that end, he clutched his stomach and yelled, ¡°Ow! My stomach hurts! I don¡¯t think I can go to school.¡± Nathaniel scowled. He was fine earlier, and now he¡¯s having a stomachache at the prospect of going to school. Nice try. ¡°I don¡¯t care what hurts. You will go to school,¡± he insisted, his voice bing dangerously soft. Lucas¡¯ panic grew when his father was about to leave the house with him. ¡°Help, Mommy! It hurts so bad!¡± Watching him gnash his teeth in agony, Christina became convinced that he was telling the truth. Concerned, she ran after the pair and stopped them. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear him say that he¡¯s not feeling well?¡± Christina strode over and snatched Lucas out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms. Like a ko, Lucas clung to his mother. Thank God for Mommy. She loves me more than Daddy does. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Nuzzling against Christina¡¯s bosom, he did not dare meet his father¡¯s gaze for fear of being discovered. ¡°Where does it hurt? Show me.¡± Christina carried Lucas in and sat him down on the couch. Lucas was not in pain, but he pointed arbitrarily nheless. ¡°Here, and here.¡± What kind of illness is this? It looks serious. Christina examined Lucas anxiously. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lucas. I¡¯ll take you to the doctor.¡± Cam grew anxious as well. She trotted over. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Lucas. I¡¯ll bring you some medicine.¡± Christina was deeply amused by Cam¡¯s innocent words. ¡°You can¡¯t share your medicine, Cam. Stomachaches require a different kind of medication, do you understand?¡± Cam nodded nkly. ¡°I understand, Mommy.¡± The children¡¯s personalities differed wildly. Lucas was witty and outspoken, while Cam was delicate and emotional. Nathaniel stepped closer and studied Lucas¡¯ expression intently. ¡°I summoned the doctor. He¡¯sing to examine you and give you a jab if you¡¯re unwell.¡± Like most children, Lucas feared the needle. At the prospect of getting jabbed, he gave a violent start. Going to school is infinitely preferable to getting jabbed! With a sudden sh of inspiration, Lucas jumped up. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, Mommy. I¡¯d better get going to school.¡± Without another word, he got to his feet, looking good as new. Despite looking so sickly earlier, he¡¯s looking much better within a few short seconds. Guessing his motives, Christina held his hand tenderly. ¡°I¡¯ll call in sick for you if you don¡¯t want to attend school, but you must never lie to me again, all right?¡± Lucas nodded earnestly. ¡°I understand, Mommy. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Just then, the family doctor turned up. Christina apanied Cam to her follow-up with the doctor. The girl was well-behaved. She remained in her mother¡¯s arms while she held onto her father¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid with Daddy and Mommy here. with me.¡± It did not take long for the doctor to finish his examination. ¡°She¡¯s doing much better, but she needs to continue taking her medication until her coughing stops. Remember to have plenty of rest.¡± After the doctor left, Christina coaxed Cam to take her medicine and sketched while she stayed with her. Soon after, Cam began to feel drowsy and asked her mother to put her to sleep. Christina nced at the clock and, upon realizing it was their nap time, summoned Lucas. Like old times, the trioy in bed together. Amid the soft lull of nursery rhymes Christina crooned, the children soon fell asleep in her arms. Christina waited until the children were sound asleep before leaving their room. As she silenced her phone upon arriving home, she found that Lina had called her many times and left multiple text messages. Christina entered the study and addressed them one at a time. She asked Lina to send the documents to her inbox, then returned her grandmother¡¯s call. Azure had been deeply concerned to hear that Cam was feeling unwell. After learning via a series of questions that it was nothing serious, she ended the call in relief. Christina switched on theputer in the study. Nathaniel had never changed the password even after all those years. She keyed in the login credentials, and the screen unlocked. A brightly lit photograph greeted her at once, and she froze. Isn¡¯t that the photograph of all of us together when we visited the amusement park? I can¡¯t believe Nathaniel is using it as his wallpaper. It was during a summer¡¯s day several years ago before their fight had escted to its current state. Overwhelmed by the memories, Christina felt a strange mix of emotions rising within her. Nevertheless, she remained seated before theputer and dealt with her files. Just when she was nearingpletion, her phone rang. It was Sheridan. upied by her work, she nearly forgot about him. Christina hurriedly picked up the phone. ¡°Have you found a ce to stay, Sheridan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m in a hotel in the middle of the city with a nice view. It¡¯s been a while,¡± Sheridan said with a light laugh. He did not sound tired at all. On the contrary, it appeared that he had had a good rest. Christina chuckled. ¡°There are many more things to see. Since you hardlye to visit, let me treat you to lunch as a thank-you for the trouble of driving me homest night.¡± ¡°Giving a beautiful woman a ride is never any trouble. However, I won¡¯t say no to a free meal,¡± Sheridan answered with a chuckle. His voice was gentle and elegant and it made her feel at ease. ¡°Send me the name of the hotel, and I¡¯lle to you,¡± Christina said, packing her things as she did so. ¡°All right.¡± After hanging up, Christina headed to the garage. She selected a car less garish than the others and took off. Twenty minutester, Christina caught sight of Sheridan at the hotel entrance. He was dressed casually in a brown suit. He did nothing to his hair and allowed it to fall carelessly over his forehead, emanating a carefree and romantic air. Upon spotting Christina¡¯s car, Sheridan came over and got in. ¡°You look much younger like this.¡± Christina realized she had misspoken again as soon as the words left her lips. Sheridan chuckled good-naturedly. ¡°Maybe I look younger because I spent a lot of time around young people like you.¡± The awkwardness dissipated at once. Christina smiled and started the car. ¡°What would you like to eat?¡± ¡°Something local, please,¡± Sheridan said after a moment¡¯s thought. ¡°Sure.¡± Chapter 476 Too Much To Drink Chapter 476 Too Much To Drink The pair arrived at a nearby restaurant famous for local delicacies. The waiter appeared with the menus, from which Christina ordered several items. Soon after, the table was filled with a myriad of delicious- looking food. ¡°I didn¡¯t order these. Did you get the wrong table?¡± Christina asked curiously. The waiter checked the receipt. ¡°No,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Thest few items were addedter on.¡± While Christina was in confusion, a series of footsteps sounded ahead before heralding the appearance of a tall, strapping figure. The surrounding atmosphere became stern. What¡¯s Nathaniel doing here? How did he know I was having lunch here with Sheridan? Arriving at their table, Nathaniel seated himself casually next to Christina. ¡°Is this your first time here, Mr. Stone? Allow Christina and me to be gracious hosts.¡± Although he was wearing a friendly smile, Christina could not help noticing how insidious it looked. His arrival caused the atmosphere at the table to tense up. Sheridan was no fool. He knew Nathaniel was staking his im. ¡°Then let me thank you in advance, Mr. Hadley. I will be sure to take you up on that offer.¡± Nathaniel picked up his fork and slipped Christina some cod. ¡°You must be tired afterst night,¡± he said. gently. ¡°Have some protein.¡± Christina¡¯s pupils dted. What is he talking about? Why would he mention what we did yesterday while we were eating? There¡¯s someone else here, for God¡¯s sake! Her ears turned red. Hanging her head, she continued eating, not daring to make eye contact with Sheridan. It was not because she cared about what other people thought but because she found it difficult to be frank about that subject. Having achieved his goal, Nathaniel was satisfied. ¡°How long will you be with us, Mr. Stone? Let me make the arrangements for your amodation.¡± Sheridan knew very well what Nathaniel was suggesting. His expression did not change. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading back after the meal.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Christina was certain that Nathaniel¡¯s words must have made Sheridan ufortable. That realization made her feel worse. Unexpectedly, Sheridan was magnanimous about it. ¡°I have matters to attend to at work anyway. There¡¯s also the matter of our secret¡­ I¡¯ll update you when it¡¯s taken care of.¡± At the recollection of the ounts, Christina chided herself for forgetting something so important. ¡°Thank you for the trouble.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression stiffened at their easy conversation and the tant mention of a secret they shared. Do they not see me sitting right here? Sullenly, he summoned a waiter. ¡°I want a ss of freshly squeezed lemonade.¡± Then, his unfathomable gaze flickered toward Christina. ¡°Your throat must be feeling so dry. You should have something sour to soothe it.¡± What the hell is he on about this time? Sometimes he just talks too much! Christina was so angry that she aimed a vicious kick at his shin beneath the table. ¡°Stop running your mouth.¡± she hissed in warning. Frowning imperceptibly, Nathaniel finally fell silent. After their meal, Nathaniel had his driver send Sheridan back to the hotel. Christina¡¯s rage poured forth as soon as her friend was driven off. ¡°Was that fun for you, Nathaniel?¡± she demanded, furious about the way he had conducted himself. ¡°I¡¯m only concerned about you. Why am I getting yelled at?¡± Nathaniel did not think he did anything wrong. Christina raised her eyebrows. Why does Sheridan¡¯s concern make me feel so at case while Nathaniel¡¯s only irritates me? He revealed the details of our affairs in the name of concern. ¡°I heard you loud and clear. I saw what you were up to.¡± At that, she stood up abruptly without deigning to argue with him any longer. Christina strode out. Nathaniel caught up with got into the car with her. Christina scowled. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°This is my car. Besides, why can he get a ride but not me?¡± Nathaniel put on the seat belt. Christina nced at the time and decided she should be getting back as the children would be waking from their nap. Unfortunately, they were stuck in a jam on their way home. Christina became impatient after some time and mmed the honk irritably. ¡°Be patient. This stretch is always congested.¡± As he spoke, Nathaniel yed some music and wound down the windows to allow the afternoon breeze in. Resting her elbow on the window, Christina massaged her temple and hummed along to the upbeat music. She felt slightly better. She nced sideways at the passenger seat. The sunlight poured in through the window and onto the side of Nathaniel¡¯s chiseled face. His heavily-lidded eyes concealed his expression. Still and serene, he looked like a work of art. Right then, the sudden re of a honk yanked her out of her reverie. With a start, Christina hurriedly stepped on the gas when she noticed the car ahead had already be a speck. Nathaniel seemed to have noticed what she was thinking. He smirked at the sight of her flustering. Fortunately, the congestion onlysted a short stretch. After the traffic light, it was smooth all the way back to Scenic Garden Manor. As soon as the couple entered, they were assaulted by two tiny figures. ¡°Where did you go. Mommy?¡± ¡°I thought you snuck away again. Mommy. What a fright you gave me.¡± Christina felt as if the softest recesses of her heart had been struck a heavy blow. She missed the children the most during her time away and was determined to bring them with her this time. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will never be apart from you ever again.¡± The children¡¯s eyes twinkled with delight. They extended their pinky fingers. ¡°Pinky promise, Mommy. You can¡¯t go back on your word now!¡± Amused, Christina pulled them aside and hooked her fingers with theirs. ¡°Pinky promise.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t yed ball in a long time, Mommy. Join us, please?¡± Lucas took out a ball and gazed up at her, his eyes shining with anticipation. Christina took the ball. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± she said enthusiastically. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Christina spent the afternoon running around the yard with the children until they fell, panting, on the lawn. Their backs were drenched with sweat. After a moment¡¯s respite, Christina brought the children indoors for a bath. Having expended a good amount of energy, they were starving and had a lot for dinner. Later, in the depths of the night, Christina settled down before theputer to work. As Gibson Corporation and Hadley Corporation had signed the agreement, the next phase was to execute it. Her trip back could not have been at a better time. She decided to wait for Nathaniel to return so she could discuss matters with him and visit the site to ascertain their situation. The crescent moon hung low in the sky. She realized with a start that it was past midnight. Suddenly, Christina¡¯s phone rang, making her jump. She quickly picked up. ¡°Mr. Hadley had too much to drink at the club, Mrs. Hadley. Could youe pick him up? I have clients to entertain and can¡¯t leave so soon.¡± Chapter 477 An Excuse. Chapter 477 An Excuse. Christina rejected in a low voice, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he have a driver? You could call for a recement driver too. If you can¡¯t do that either, here¡¯s another suggestion for you. Call Madison. She¡¯ll definitely be eager to go.¡± With that, she ended the call without hesitation. Sebastian stared at the nk screen of his phone and broke into a cold sweat. Mrs. Hadley is too ruthless. She hung up after saying she didn¡¯t care! With a grim expression, he turned to Nathaniel and said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley said¡­¡± A scowl appeared on Nathaniel¡¯s face. He had heard everything Christina had said on the other end. What a vicious woman she is. Well, I¡¯ll satisfy her since that¡¯s what she wants. ¡°Call Madison.¡± Nathanielmanded in a deep voice. The corner of Sebastian¡¯s lips twitched. Both of them are at odds with each other because of Madison, Wouldn¡¯t he be adding fuel to the fire by calling her? Nevertheless, he dared not go against Nathaniel¡¯s orders and made the call. Madison rushed over immediately when she received the call. Even though Sebastian said Nathaniel was drunk, thetter didn¡¯t seem that way, nor did he look like he was experiencing any psychological issues. Sebastian opened the door and met eyes with Madison. He was stunned for a second. ¡°Mrs. Hadley? No. Why are you dressed like that, Madison?¡± The woman before him wore a white dress, her dark hair cascading straight down her shoulders. Besides looking a little taller, she looked simr to Christina in other aspects. Madison broke into a gleeful grin when Sebastian had mistaken her for Christina. ¡°What do you think? I look just like Christina, don¡¯t I? I look more beautiful than her, right?¡± Sebastian furrowed his brows. ¡°How do I put it? Mrs. Hadley is a naturally gentle person. You just look weird like this.¡± ¡°Oh, what do you know? Move. I want to see Mr. Hadley Having said that, Madison walked into the room. Nathaniel was sitting on the couch, looking mysterious and elegant under the dim lights. Holding his ss of whiskey with his slender fingers, he gently swirled it around, and a soft clink sounded as the ice hit the ss. His eyes were slightly lowered. He was seemingly lost in thoughts. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes went wide for a second when he looked up, but he soon realized he had gotten the wrong. ¡°Why are you dressed like that?¡± the man asked, his eyes cold and his brows scrunched up. Sensing his displeasure, Madison tugged her hair behind her ears and said. ¡°I dressed this way thest time too. Didn¡¯t you like it a lot?¡± Thest time? A thought shed across Nathaniel¡¯s mind. Content held by N?velDrama.Org. I got drunk the other night and mistook Madison for Christina! He stood up abruptly and handed the car keys to Madison. ¡°Drive us to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes lit up. Does this mean Nathaniel is finally going to acknowledge me? Is he epting me as thedy of the house now? ¡°Right away.¡± Christina worked at her desk for a long time after she hung up, only taking a break after she had taken. care of all the documents piled at her desk. She was quite happy when she thought about how she could spend the next day with Cam and Lucas, Feeling a little hungry when she finished working, she went downstairs to look for food. The sound of a car engine rang out from the courtyard as soon as she arrived downstairs. Is Nathaniel back? Should I go take a look? Christina saw two figures walking in while she was still pondering over whether she should go out. The lights were turned on, and she instantly saw who they were. Her gazended on Madison. She was stunned when she saw how thetter was dressed, but she soon looked at her like how one would view a clown. Madison felt a tinge of guilt from being stared at. However, a smug look appeared on her face when she thought of how she would soon be thedy of Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°Nathaniel, let me help you up to your room.¡± As she spoke, she reached out to grab Nathaniel¡¯s hand, but the man coldly avoided her. Madison was surprised to see that things did not turn out the way she wanted. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± ¡°You can go back now.¡± Nathaniel walked over to Christina when he was done speaking. Christina observed how Madison¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Taggart. Should I have the driver send you back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s only right that I send Nathaniel back,¡± Madison said, trying to force a smile the whole time. ¡°No, that won¡¯t do. You¡¯re not an employee of Hadley Corporation now, and you have nothing to do with Nathaniel. We can¡¯t have your hard work be in vain. Here, take the money. You can treat it reward¡± Christina whipped out some money and handed them to Madison, nipping any idea thetter had in the bud. Madison felt insulted as she stared at the cash. ¡°Nathaniel contacted me right away, so that must mean he sees me as his friend.¡± ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. I didn¡¯t have time to pick him up, so he contacted you. Don¡¯t think you¡¯re so special because of this, Ms. Taggart.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes were cold, and she seemed to have recalled something when she took another nce at Madison¡¯s outfit. She kept the money since Madison wasn¡¯t taking it. ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver send you home. I don¡¯t want you asking us to take responsibility if something happens to you on your way home.¡± Madison swallowed hard when she heard that. How did Christina know what I was thinking? The sound of a car engine was heard right then. The driver had arrived. ¡°Go ahead. Should I see you out?¡± Christina asked, a fake polite smile hanging on her lips. In other words, she would chase Madison out if she didn¡¯t leave soon. Madison¡¯s face darkened, and she turned to leave. The living room fell back into silence. Christina turned to Nathaniel and asked. ¡°Are you satisfied now? Two women werepeting for your attention.¡± Upon saying so, she ignored the tall figure before her and walked toward the stairs. She had already lost. her appetite after all that had happened. Nathaniel grabbed her hand, and Christina stopped in her tracks. Turning to look at him, she was instantly met with his scorching gaze. ¡°I got drunk the other night and called you. I thought the one wearing white was you ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse. Are you going to use the same excuse when the two of you end up in bed together?¡± Nathaniel froze in shock. Christina took this chance and shoved his hand away, quickly making her way upstairs. Christina received Sheridan¡¯s call the next day saying all the problematic ounts had been sorted out. ¡°I¡¯ve already made a copy of all the data. I¡¯lle pick you up now,¡± he said. Christina was feeling anxious at that moment. This information would decide whether or not Anya would stay at Gibson Corporation. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll wait for you. Thanks foring all the way here.¡± She felt a mixture of emotions when she hung up. Right then, two little figures ran into her room. They each hugged her thighs and asked childishly, ¡°Mommy, are you sending us to the kindergarten today?¡± Christina lowered her eyes and was greeted by their cute faces. ¡°Sure! Grab your bags. I¡¯ll drive you guys there.¡± Both kids turned around and showed her their bags. ¡°We¡¯re all ready! Come on, Mommy!¡± Christina sent them to the kindergarten, then waited at a caf¨¦. Chapter 478 What Are You Doing Chapter 478 What Are You Doing A tall figure walked in right after the waiter served her coffee. Christina waved at him, and Sheridan walked over, smiling slightly. It was obvious he had rushed all the way over. ¡°Christina, I think Anya knows you¡¯re investigating her ounts,¡± Sheridan whispered. ¡°Really? That¡¯s fast.¡± Christina was shocked to hear that. She had been very careful while dealing with this issue, after all. Did Yerek say something to her? ¡°Anya came looking for me when I returned one day, trying to find out if I¡¯m helping you take care of the ounts. Don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t say anything. I sent the ounts over immediately when I was done with them.¡± Christina was extremely grateful. Taking the sh drive the man had handed her, shesaid, ¡°Thank you, Sheridan. I can¡¯t thank you enough¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me if you see me as your friend. Perhaps there wille a day when you can help me,¡± Sheridan answered with a smile. Christina nodded as she kept the sh drive. ¡°Send me the bill once you¡¯re back. You¡¯d better not give me a discount. Oh, and make sure you include your travel expenses.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be cheap since 1, the boss, drove to you personally,¡± he teased. Christina burst outughing at that. ¡°Of course.¡± She stared out the window and saw it was almost evening. soon. ¡°Why don¡¯t you take a rest here tonight? I¡¯ll book a room for you¡± ¡°Sure. The hotel I stayed at was not bad. I¡¯ve already booked a room with them,¡± Sheridan said. He didn¡¯t want to put Christina in a difficult spot. It could easily be misinterpreted if other people learned she had booked a room for him under her name. Another wave of gratefulness washed over Christina. Sheridan was always putting others before himself. She didn¡¯t feel burdened when she was with him. They paid for their coffee and left the cafe. They had just stepped out when a motorbike drove toward Christina. It moved fast, and in the blink of an eye, the bike appeared before Christina. The person in the backseat reached out and snatched her purse. Immediately after, the bike sped away from the scene. Shocked, Christina staggered backward, and Sheridan quickly moved forward to steady her. ¡°Are you okay, Christina?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, but my purse was snatched away!¡± Her heart was still thumping loudly as the scene from that moment shed through her mind. It didn¡¯t seem that those two on the bike had decided to rob her then and there. Rather, it seemed that they had been watching her and waiting for the right moment because a woman was carrying a luxury bag beside her. Yet, they had chosen to rob the one with an unknown brand. ¡°They might be targeting the sh drive in your bag. Sheridan suggested nervously, ¡°Fortunately. I didn¡¯t put it into my bag earlier. I was worried I would lose it, so I put the sh drive in the pocket of my pants.¡± Christina instinctively reached down and patted her pocket. Good, it¡¯s still here. She heaved a sigh of relief at that, Could Anya have sent those peoplet ¡°What are you doing?¡± A cold voice sounded, interrupting Christina¡¯s thoughts. Nathaniel saw how Sheridan was holding her. His scorching gaze looked as though it was about to burn Christina Sheridan quickly let go of his hand that was holding Christina. ¡°We encountered a robber earlier. Christina almost got hurt,¡± he exined calmly. Nathaniel grabbed the woman¡¯s hand and pulled her to his side. He looked her up and down before saying, ¡°You must be really free, Mr. Stone. Don¡¯t you have to oversee things at your office in Hallsbay?¡± Christina¡¯s face darkened. Is Nathaniel implying that Sheridan is so free that hees looking for me every day! Does this b*stard know what he¡¯s saying? Has he ever thought about how disrespectful it is to me when he¡¯s speaking like that to my friend¡± She tugged at Nathaniel¡¯s sleeve, implying that he should stop talking. The man¡¯s face was contorted. He looked as if the world had offended him. Sheridan¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you worry about your wife at a moment like this, Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me what to do.¡± Their words sparked a conflict between them, and Christina thought a fire was about to start when she saw how their gazes were burning. Nheless, she didn¡¯t look too good herself. After all, Sheridan hade all the way just to help Even though he didn¡¯t have that kind of feelings toward her, he was still misunderstood. Anyone w feel ufortable if they were in his ce. With an apologetic look, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sheridan. I¡¯ll send you back to the hotel first.¡± She left Nathaniel¡¯s side and walked over to Sheridan. Nathaniel reached out and grabbed her hand again. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡± ¡°Stop it, Nathaniel. We¡¯re in the middle of the street. This is not your house.¡± Christina scowled in response, but she chose to ignore the burning rage she was feeling. How could he get angry without getting an understanding of the situation first? She wanted to pry her hand away from him, but Nathaniel kept a death grip around her wrist, not letting go of her. Sheridan could finally get an understanding of their rtionship. One hoped to be understood, while the other kept chasing after her relentlessly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, being overbearing is not how you should act while in a rtionship. Why don¡¯t you two talk it out?¡± ¡°Mind your own business. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were icy cold. His grip on Christina¡¯s wrist tightened even more as a result. Sheridan furrowed his brows at that. He nced at Christina and said, ¡°Contact me when you¡¯ve taken care of everything here.¡± ¡°Sheridan, "- Christina felt sorry and embarrassed about the situation. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Deal with your problems first.¡± Sheridan nodded, then hailed a cab and left. Christina felt utterly embarrassed. She withdrew her hand and asked, ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened further. She¡¯s ming me now? His voice was low as he said, ¡°How is it appropriate for you to be hugging another man in the middle of the streets?¡± Christina noticed thatmunicating with Nathaniel was harder than climbing a mountain. If he was willing, the most he would do was listen to a few sentences she said. If he wasn¡¯t, nothing she said would get through to him. Back then, she would have taken the time and slowly talked to him. However, she didn¡¯t feel like exining herself anymore. ¡°Get in the car.¡± Nathaniel opened the car door and shoved her in. ¡°Drive.¡± Content held by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I want to go back to Scenic Garden Manor,¡± Christina said. ¡°No. Our coboration has already started, so we should visit the site. There are many things we need to do. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll cooperate with us, right. Ms. Steele?¡± Christina was full of anger and frustration, but she couldn¡¯t find an excuse to say no. Chapter 479 It Is Still Early Chapter 479 It Is Still Early Christina dragged herself near the window, getting as far away from him as possible. After throwing her a nce, Nathaniel picked up his tablet and started working. Soon, they arrived at Hadley Corporation, and the two took the elevator to the CEO¡¯s office. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Have a seat. Let me wrap up some work first. We¡¯ll head to the construction site after that.¡± Nathaniel walked to his desk and sat down. A pile of documents was already waiting for him there. Once Christina took her seat, an assistant ced a cup of coffee and exquisite-looking pastries on the coffee table. ¡°Enjoy the food, Mrs. Hadley.¡± It has been days since I returned, yet he has never mentioned anything about work. He must be using it as an excuse to keep me by his side because he¡¯s worried I might go and meet Sheridan. What difference does this make from being monitored? Meanwhile, when the robbers who stole Christina¡¯s handbag arrived at the agreed ce, they took off their helmets. ¡°We got what you wanted. Now, pay up. The man whipped out his phone and presented a QR code to the woman in front of him. After she took the handbag from them. Anya transferred the payment. ¡°It¡¯s done. Remember, you never saw me.¡± With that said, she turned and left. Anya opened the handbag and rummaged through it, yet she failed to find the item she wanted. How can this be? I clearly saw Sheridan give Christina the sh drive! Since it¡¯s not in her handbag, it can only be on her, right? The furious Anya dumped Christina¡¯s handbag into the garbage bin. I need to find a way to retrieve the sh drive as soon as possible. Christina¡¯s phone rang shortly after she sat down. ¡°Our project with Hadley Corporation is about to start, right? Since I¡¯m the assistant manager, I¡¯ll be joining the site visit as well. I¡¯m already on my way from Hallsbay, so I¡¯ll see you there.¡± At that moment, Anya was in the hotel room, gazing outnguidly at the city skyline. Upon hearing that, Christina furrowed her brows. My handbag has just been snatched, and now, Anya seems impatient abouting over. Could this be a coincidence? ¡°Sure. Let me know where to meet when you arrive.¡± After ending the call, Christina deliberated on what had just happened. If Anya is behind the robbery, she must be meeting up with me because she failed to find the sh drive. It looks like she¡¯s just using the project as a pretext foring over. When night came, Anya sent her address to Christina. Christina responded to Anya¡¯s message, saying she and Nathaniel would meet her at the construction site the next day. After she put her phone down, the kids approached her with fresh flowers in their hands. ¡°Mommy, we got these flowers from the backyard.¡± ¡°Do you like them, Mommy?¡± The refreshing sight of the flowers lifted Anya¡¯s mood. She patted the kids¡¯ heads as she responded. ¡°Of course I like them. They¡¯re from both of you after all. Come, let¡¯s put them in a vase.¡± Getting to her feet, Christina walked out with the kids in tow. They found a beautiful vase to put the flowers in before cing it on the bedside table in the bedroom. ¡°Wow, that looks really nice. Mommy, you¡¯re as beautiful as the flowers,¡± Lucasplimented with a grin. ¡°The flowers are not as beautiful as you, Mommy. You¡¯re the prettiest person in the entire world!¡± added Cam as she threw herself into Christina¡¯s arms. Christina nted a kiss on the children¡¯s cheeks. ¡°It¡¯ste. Let me tuck you in,¡± she said, thinking that the kids would like that. However, as soon as she stood up, she was stopped by two pairs of small hands. With his chest puffed out, Lucas dered, ¡°We¡¯re all grown up now, Mommy. We don¡¯t need you to tuck us in.¡± Cam nodded with a serious expression. ¡°Daddy said we¡¯re big now, so we have to learn to sleep by ourselves.¡± ¡°What? Daddy said that?¡± Christina asked in surprise. They¡¯re only four. Isn¡¯t it too soon for them to sleep by themselves? Kids their age need their parents¡¯ company the most. I should be spending as much time with them as possible. Picking her children up, Christina said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to Daddy. I¡¯ll sleep with you whenever I can.¡± The children, who had behaved like adults just now, turned back into babies as they snuggled up to Christina. ¡°Yay! I want you to sleep with us, Mommy!¡± the delighted Cam eximed as she nuzzled her face. against Christina¡¯s neck. ¡°I want to hear a story about Transformers, Mommy!¡± Lucas added. ¡°No, I want to hear about Princess Elsa,¡± Cam whined. The children fighting for her attention brought a sense of bliss to Christina. Upon returning to the bedroom, Christina hugged the kids in her arms. With the night light on, she told them a bedtime story and gradually fell asleep first. When Nathaniel came back from work, he went to the children¡¯s room. The night light illuminated the bed, revealing three sleeping figures in each other¡¯s embrace. He walked over and gently pried the kids¡¯ hands from Christina¡¯s body and covered them with the nket. Then, he carried Christina back to their bedroom. The rm clock rang just as the morning sun illuminated the room. Opening her eyes, Christina felt something pressing on her body, making it hard for her to breathe. It turned out to be Nathaniel¡¯s hand when she lowered her gaze to look. Due to the deep slumber she was in, she had no recollection of him carrying her back. She moved his hand away before carefully turning on her side to pick up her phone from the bedside. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The icy voice jolted Christina. Before she could steady herself, she slipped right onto Nathaniel¡¯s body. An invigorating scent filled his nostrils, and he allowed himself to relish it. His sudden move caused Christina to blush intensely. Why did he have to scare me like that? Just as she propped herself up, she felt Nathaniel¡¯s arm wrap tightly around her waist. ¡°Let go of me. I need to visit the construction site today, Christina said in a serious tone, indirectly reminding him that it was time to get out of bed. ¡°No hurry. It¡¯s still early.¡± Nathaniel stared intently at her as if he was admiring a masterpiece. Even if she didn¡¯t need to go to work, Christina had no intention of wasting her time on him. ¡°I want to get out of-ah!¡± Nathaniel pinned Christina underneath him. He nted his lips on hers before she realized what was going on. Christina felt her blood course through her veins as if it had been set on fire. She had no choice but to allow Nathaniel to kiss her indiscriminately. He was like a voracious beast that didn¡¯t care for her feelings at all. Christina attempted to nudge him aside but was unexpectedly pushed back down onto the bed. Amidst the rising passion in the air, Christina felt sweat cover her entire body. She subsequently drifted back into sleep as everything before her turned hazy. By the time both of them woke up again, they had clearly overslept. Christina got out of bed and had a quick breakfast with Nathaniel before heading out. Upon reaching the agreed meeting ce, she could see Anya ring impatiently at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯ve been waiting for you?¡± Chapter 480 A Favor Chapter 480 A Favor Christina was amused by Anya¡¯s anxious expression. ¡°You were never punctual to the office, so what¡¯s the big deal about waiting a while for me?¡± Is she just anxious about finding out whether I¡¯m carrying the sh drive? Anya froze. ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯ve never beente to work. I¡¯m not someone without a sense of time like you.¡± Was I making it that obvious? Does Christina suspect something? That would be unlikely. I was wearing a mask when I met with the motorcycle gang. I took every precaution, so there¡¯s no way she would know. Curling her lips into a smirk, Christina added to the mystery with her silence. Soon, the engineers and their workers gathered at the scene. ¡°Now that everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s survey the construction site.¡± As the group entered the site, the engineers began to take measurements with their workers. Christina, while flipping through the documents, came to the conclusion that the residential area would sell like hotcakes uponpletion. ¡°After such an exhausting night, aren¡¯t you tired of standing in your heels?¡± Nathaniel teased in a voice that was only audible to the two of them. Does he not know that sound can travel far on this empty piece ofnd? Does he have no shame? How can he say something so embarrassing in front of this many people? Christina gave him the side-eye. ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern. Just mind your own business.¡± Nathaniel snorted inughter. ¡°I was just showing how much I care about you.¡± Christina rolled her eyes at him before returning her attention to the document in her hand. Soon, afternoon arrived after they worked through the entire morning. Adopting an entirely different attitude, Anya held Christina¡¯s hand and asked. ¡°Christina, since this is my first time here, why don¡¯t you show us around?¡± Christina threw her a suspicious look. She¡¯s clearly up to something. Let¡¯s see what it is, *All right. Where would you like to go?¡± An insidious glint shed across Anya¡¯s eyes. ¡°There¡¯s a resort nearby and I happened to have my subordinates with me. Why don¡¯t we head over there to rx?¡± Christina agreed with a hod, ¡°Sure, tell them we¡¯ll drive there once they¡¯re ready.¡± Thereafter, the satisfied Anya walked off to gather her colleagues. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Are you going out with them?¡± Nathaniel asked in an authoritative tone With one hand ced on her hip and a darkened look in her eyes, Christina retorted, ¡°Should I be writing a report to you about where I¡¯m going¡± The stern look on his face annoyed Christina. I was just kidding. Why does he have to take it so seriously? ¡°We¡¯re done and ready to go now.¡± Anya then looked at Nathaniel. ¡°Nathaniel, are youing with us?¡° ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Christina knitted her brows, feeling somewhat disgusted by Anya¡¯s tone. Anya cocked a brow and pretended to be friendly. ¡°That¡¯s right. Since you¡¯re my sister, doesn¡¯t that make Nathaniel family?¡± As she spoke, she gave Nathaniel an innocent look. Unfortunately, Nathaniel didn¡¯t pay her any heed, so she retracted her gaze. When the driver arrived in front of the two of them, Anya could see that three of her colleagues were already inside the car. Clearly, it would be too much of a squeeze for her to join them. ¡°Christina, since there¡¯s barely any space here, why don¡¯t we go in Nathaniel¡¯s car instead?¡± Realizing that it would be rude to turn down such a trivial request in front of so many people, Christina agreed. ¡°Sure.¡± As Nathaniel led Christina away, Anya followed them from behind with a smug smile on her face. When they arrived at the car, Sebastian opened the car door for Christina and Nathaniel before closing it once they got in. ¡°Are you blind? I haven¡¯t gotten in yet,¡± Anya snapped. Without showing any expression, Sebastian pointed at the car behind. ¡°Your ride is the one behind this, Ms. Gibson. Go on.¡± With that, he walked over to the front passenger seat. The car sped off the moment he got in. ¡°D*mn, that assistant. Why didn¡¯t he let me take the front passenger seat?¡± After her n to ride in the same car as Nathaniel was foiled. Anya had no choice but to get into the car behind. Half an hourter, they arrived at the holiday resort. The entire area was newly developed and designed with a romantic theme. Every subsection had its own unique sights. When the group arrived at the hotel entrance, Sebastian went to check in, then distributed the keycards to Anya and the others. ¡°Five single rooms? That¡¯s really generous. What are you guys waiting for? Hurry up and thank Mr. Hadley,¡± said Anya as if she was the host. The group expressed their gratitude, and the solemn-looking Nathaniel let out an inaudible hum. He took. his keycard from Sebastian before leaving with Christina in tow. Upon entering the VIP elevator, Christinamented softly, ¡°That was rude of you. You should¡¯ve at least acknowledged them¡± ¡°I did.¡± Nathaniel said. Christina was amused by his response. The hum of his acknowledgment was so soft that even she couldn¡¯t hear it despite standing right beside him. Forget it. I should count my blessing that he didn¡¯t just walk off with a scowl. Upon entering the room and hearing the door shut, Christina came back to her senses. She realized that she had walked into the same room as Nathaniel. ¡°I don¡¯t want to share a room with you.¡± She still med him for the soreness she felt in her body for the entire day. Leaning closer to her, Nathaniel asked in a deep and raspy voice, ¡°In that case, who do you want to share a room with?¡± Christina felt a little suffocated with him breathing down her neck. She lowered her gaze to avoid eye contact. Ever since she learned that Madison had pretended to be her in an attempt to trick Nathaniel, her resentment toward the matter had greatly decreased. She pushed him aside and walked into the room. ¡°Fine. If you want to stay, you¡¯ll have to take the couch.¡± A grim look shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. I can¡¯t believe you want me to sleep on the couch for no good reason! He walked to the desk where he turned on hisptop and got to work. He was usually silent while doing so. The only sound that could be heard was the tapping of his keyboard. At that moment, Christina received a call from Anya. ¡°Christina, we¡¯re having dinner at the third-floor restaurant. Come and join us. We¡¯ll be here waiting for you.¡± The call ended right after she spoke. Just as Christina put her phone away and wanted to leave, she retraced her steps and decided to hide the sh drive properly. But where is a safe ce to put it? My bag was snatched thest time, so I can¡¯t put it there. It¡¯s not safe on me either. Anya would be able to steal it easily if she did something to me. This is really frustrating! Just when Christina felt lost, her eyes suddenly lit up. Her gaze soon fell upon Nathaniel. No one is capable of getting close to him, let alone stealing something from him. Christina approached him with a ss of warm water. After cing it beside hisputer, she shed a smile at him. ¡°You must be tired from work. Why don¡¯t you take a break?¡± As she wanted to ask him a favor, she naturally had to set her pride aside. When Nathaniel looked up and saw the obsequious look on her face, he asked tly, ¡°Do you want something from me?¡± Chapter 481 Are You Interested In Women Chapter 481 Are You Interested In Women As expected of Nathaniel, he can always see through someone at a nce. Christina¡¯s lips curved into a begrudging smile as she asked, ¡°Are you someone worthy of my trust?¡± ¡°No one but me is worthy,¡± came his reply. Observing how confident he appeared, she could not help thinking he sounded rather convincing. She handed the sh drive she was holding to him. ¡°This thing is very important to me. You must keep it carefully, okay?¡± Her secretive manner made it seem as though she was entrusting him with some top¨Csecret information. Staring at the sh drive in his hand, Nathaniel asked, ¡°What¡¯s in it?¡± ¡°Some data. Very important data. I¡¯ll need it when I¡¯m back in Hallsbay. Before I return, however, I¡¯m entrusting it to you. If you lose it, you¡¯ll have to be responsible,¡± she replied, forcefully transferring her burden to him. He weighed the small item in his hand, then raised a hand and held her by her chin. ¡°And what about the reward?¡± ¡°A reward? How calctive of you,¡± she scoffed. Why must I give him a reward for keeping such a tiny thing safe? Whatever I can offer are things he has at his fingertips. As for anything that¡¯s not within my means, he can obtain it with just a few words. ¡°I¡¯m a businessman. I don¡¯t do anything that has no value to it. As he spoke, he passed the sh drive back to her. She puffed out her cheeks in exasperation. ¡°What reward do you want?¡± ¡°I want to sleep with you,¡± he replied while pointing at therge bed behind her. That request¡­ seems doable. Without hesitation, Christina handed the sh drive to him again. ¡°Deal. You must keep it safe.¡± With that, she finally felt the weight lift from her shoulders and turned to leave. Over at the restaurant, Anya had ordered a delicious spread and even popped open two bottles of good wine. ¡°It¡¯s my brother¨Cinw¡¯s treat today, so there¡¯s no need to hold back. Drink to your heart¡¯s content.¡± The moment Christina walked in, she saw Anya unting her powerful connections. Sweeping her gaze over the table, she saw that everything on it would cost at least several tens of thousands. ¡°You¡¯re here, Christina! Come and sit.¡± Anya had deliberately left the seat next to her empty for Christina. I¡¯ve already told everyone about my n just now. Everyone will toast Christina one after another, and once she¡¯s drunk, I can use that opportunity to search her and see if she has the sh drive. ¡°You¡¯re always so generous, Ms. Gibson. You¡¯ve even cracked open a couple of bottles of good red wine.¡± Christina picked up the red wine and nced at it. A bottle would set one back several tens of thousands. Anya smiled. She had checked and learned that Nathaniel owned the hotel. That was why she had decided to take advantage of that. ¡°Christina, this is Nathaniel¡¯s hotel. All you have to do is tell him to foot the bill for this meal.¡± Here, she paused for a while. Gazing at Christina with an amused expression, she continued, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you dare not make the call because he doesn¡¯t listen to you.¡± ¡°He¡¯s my husband, so he¡¯s willing to pay for whatever I want to eat, drink, or buy. However, you and the others don¡¯t seem to have that sort of connection to him, am I right?¡± Christina folded her arms in front of her chest, a mocking look in her eyes., As Nathaniel¡¯s wife, I can spend his money anyhow I want. However, these people have nothing to do with him. What right do they have to suggest something so ridiculous? Instantly, a hush fell over the group. Even those who had been cheering enthusiastically looked at each other wordlessly. Only then did Christina pull out the chair and sit down. ¡°However, since we¡¯re here on vacation and this is where I grew up, I suppose I¡¯m considered the host. Hence, this meal is on me. Let¡¯s all enjoy ourselves to the fullest!¡± She broke into a smile, and the atmosphere lightened considerably. The other colleaguesughed as they poured her a drink. The conversation returned to normal after they clinked their sses, but Anya looked peeved. In truth, Christina had deliberately done all that to teach Anya a lesson so that thetter would not dare to take advantage of the situation again in the future. Scowling, Anya cast an icy gaze over the others. They sprang to action immediately and began refilling Christina¡¯s ss while making ingratiating remarks. ¡°Ms. Steele, thank you for your hospitality today. Here¡¯s a toast to you. It¡¯s bottoms up for me, but feel free to drink as much as you wish,¡± one of her colleagues said before tilting their head back and downing the entire ss of wine. Christina did not feel like drinking. However, after hearing what the other party said, she had no choice but to take a sip out of courtesy. Since she held a higher position than the others, and they were not at a social dinner, she had no reason to drink more than that. The others were each more enthusiastic than thest. Although Christine did not drink much each time, their continuous toasting was quickly too much for her. Seeing that the time was almost right, Anya finally said, ¡°There¡¯s rock climbing avable at the nearby resort. Let¡¯s go there together tomorrow. After that, we cane back here for lunch before making our way back downtown. Do you think that¡¯s a good idea, Christina?¡± Christina had seen the nearby recreational area before. Although outdoor rock climbing would be more difficult, she felt it would be beneficial for building physical strength. Hence, she replied, ¡°Okay. That¡¯s decided, then.¡± A strange smile tugged at the corners of Anya¡¯s lips, but it quickly disappeared, and almost no one noticed it. ¡°Why don¡¯t I take you upstairs, Christina?¡± Christina stood up abruptly. ¡°You guys enjoy yourselves. I¡¯ll be heading up first.¡± The two women left the table and headed toward the elevator. Moving closer, Anya ced an arm around Christina¡¯s waist. ¡°Let me help you.¡± After they entered the elevator and the doors closed behind them, Christina pretended to tilt to one side and lean against the wall. She red at Anya. ¡°There¡¯s no one here. You don¡¯t have to act as though we have a close sisterly bond.¡± Anya¡¯s expression was somewhat stiff. If she hadn¡¯t found the sh drive first, I¡¯d never have been willing to touch her. She started searching Christina¡¯s body anxiously. ¡°You must be drunk, Christina. I always care a lot about you.¡± As she spoke, she continued scrabbling about Christina¡¯s clothes. Why can¡¯t I find it? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Christina pushed her hands away somewhat impatiently. Then, she drawled with a hint of an interrogative tone, ¡°Are you interested in women, Anya? Otherwise, why are you pawing at me like that?¡± A look of embarrassment crossed Anya¡¯s face. I clearly saw her drink a lot just now, so why does she still seem so aware? I searched her quickly just now, and I¡¯m sure she doesn¡¯t have the sh drive on her. Could she have left it in her room? However, it¡¯d make sense for her to carry something so important with her, wouldn¡¯t it? After learning that Sheridan was an ountant, Anya guessed that Christina was checking her documents because thetter wanted to look into her ount at thepany. Over the years, I¡¯ve used my position within thepany to siphon off money countless times. If I get found out, I won¡¯t be able to remain at Gibson Corporation. Wanting to investigate further, Anya decided to follow Christina into her room. When the elevator doors opened, she pulled Christina¡¯s hand again. ¡°Why did you get so drunk? Let me help you.¡± I can stand steadily, and I don¡¯t feel dizzy. How am I drunk? Christina wanted to refuse, but Anya had already taken her arm and was helping her walk out. Although she attempted to push Anya away a few times, thetter stopped her each time. At the door to the room, Anya grabbed Christina¡¯s bag to look for the keycard. Suddenly, the door opened with a beep. A tall figure loomed over Anya, blocking out the light from above her head. Chapter 482 Why Are You Avoiding Me Chapter 482 Why Are You Avoiding Me ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Anya was surprised to see the man present, as that meant she wouldn¡¯t be able to enter and search for the sh drive. Nathaniel remainedposed and cold, his eyes sparkling with a concealed intensity. He reached out and drew Christina closer to him. ¡°Why did youe back sote?¡± His tone carried a hint ofint, and upon detecting a faint smell of alcohol, he furrowed his brows. The woman¡¯s face was flushed, and her eyes were glimmering with tears. After all, it was customary to share a meal and enjoy a few drinks with colleagues. Why does he look so displeased, as if I havemitted a mistake? This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Anya wanted to follow them inside, but Nathaniel casually closed the door in her face. As the door mmed shut, she was left standing outside, her frustration mounting. She couldn¡¯t wait any longer. If she failed to find the sh drive, she would be in danger once Christina returned to Hallsbay. As Anya walked away, she called Madison. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Christina was away for so long, so why haven¡¯t you managed to snag Nathaniel yet?¡± With Nathaniel around, it was difficult to go after Christina. Madison had been feeling despondent ever since she dropped off Nathaniel at Scenic Garden Manor as he had been ignoring her calls. Moreover, their coboration with Taggart Group was not renewed when the contract expired. Anya never expected Madison to be so ipetent. If she had known, she would have just found a random woman to get close to Nathaniel and obtain some intimate photos. ¡°We¡¯re at the resort. Hurry over here, and find a way to keep him upied.¡± Madison¡¯s hope ignited once again. ¡°Quick, give me the address.¡± Once Christina was inside the room, the alcohol from the drinks she had indulged in earlier finally kicked in, making her feel increasingly dizzy. She made her way to the bathroom and sshed cold water on her face. When she felt a bit more alert, she proceeded to undress. After clumsily wrestling with her buttons for a while, she finally managed to undo them. As she lifted her head, the movement caused a sensation of oxygen deprivation to wash over her. Her body tilted before she slumped against the wall with a thud. She closed her eyes, lost in a daze. Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Nathaniel had heard the loud thud and feared she might have injured herself. ¡°What happened?¡± Christina could feel the warm palm resting on her delicate shoulder and the support around her waist. She lifted her gaze and met the man¡¯s dark eyes. Her breath hitched slightly as she whispered, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go out first.¡± Nathaniel supported her and tried to lead her outside. ¡°I¡¯m all right. I just lost my bnce carlier. You can go out. I want to shower,¡± Christina said. She did not want to go to bed with the smell of alcohol on her. ¡°How are you going to shower like this?¡± Nathaniel scanned the delicate figure in his arms, the soft illumination entuating her fairplexion. Her clothes were partially undone, revealing her sexy corbones. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without showering.¡± She had even been to the construction site today, so her clothes were dusty. Nathaniel lifted Christina in his arms and pressed her against the washstand. ¡°Should I help you?¡± he suggested. As he spoke, his hands started to lift her clothing. The scorching heat of his embrace ignited her blood like a me, causing her vision to be hazy. Christina¡¯s cheeks turned crimson as she pushed his hand away. Shoving his shoulder, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t need help. You should leave.¡± She had only consumed a few drinks; there was no need for anyone to help her with showering. Moreover, she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to willingly surrender herself to Nathaniel, especially with his hungry, wolf¨Clike gaze. ¡°When are you going to stop avoiding me?¡± Nathaniel tightly held Christina¡¯s hand, but she stubbornly refused to meet his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not avoiding you,¡± she replied, feeling trapped under his scorching gaze. She felt like a helpless animal with nowhere to escape. Nathaniel grasped her delicate shoulders with both hands. ¡°You know it was a misunderstanding that night. Why do you keep giving me mixed signals and ignoring me?¡± His anger seeped through his words, rendering Christina speechless. Despiteprehending that it was merely a misunderstanding that night, she couldn¡¯tpletely embrace their rtionship in her heart. ¡°I don¡¯t want to discuss this issue, okay? I have a headache!¡± Christina pushed his hands away, unwilling to dwell on the matter further. Witnessing her continuous attempts to evade him, Nathaniel was overwhelmed with a sense of remorse, as if he were tormenting a helpless creature. He sighed softly and left the room in disappointment. The bathroom door closed, enveloping the space in a soothing silence. Christina massaged her temples with her fingertips and descended from the washstand, preparing herself for a refreshing shower. The warm water cascaded over her fatigued body, washing away the weariness of the day. When Christina emerged from the bathroom, she found the room devoid of Nathaniel¡¯s presence. However, his faint scent still lingered in the air. She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his absence. Confronting each other would only intensify the already palpable awkwardness between them. Christina settled into the bed and soon drifted off to sleep. The next morning, a knock reverberated through the door, stirring Christina from her slumber. When she swung the door open, she was greeted by a fully geared¨Cup Anya. ¡°We¡¯re going rock climbing today. Hurry up,¡± Anya urged impatiently. Christina grunted in acknowledgment before shutting the door in Anya¡¯s face, causing thetter to scowl. She quickly changed into her climbing gear and shouldered her backpack before heading out. They met their colleagues at the restaurant, had breakfast, and officially set off. After a short ten¨Cminute drive, they arrived at the climbing area. Upon inquiring, they were informed that all the indoor facilities were fully booked, leaving only the outdoor area avable. Anya and the others discussed for a moment before their gazended on Christina. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you, shall we book the outdoor area?¡± Christina was hesitant to venture outdoors because of the unfavorable weather. However, she did not want to dampen everyone¡¯s spirits by returning back to the hotel. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s book for three hours.¡± Anya and a colleague went to purchase the tickets, and soon the staff led them to the outdoor section. After hearing the instructions and safety precautions, they began their ascent. Christina followed closely behind Anya as they climbed together. Their stamina and physique were simr, so their progress was somewhat on par. After reaching the summit, the two of them descended together along the path. The climb had already drained Christina¡¯s energy significantly. As they made their way down, Anya struggled to keep up with her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you have such good stamina,¡± Anya scoffed. Christina cast a wary nce at Anya, uncertain of her motives. She decided to proceed with her descent cautiously. Just then, the sky had turned dark with clouds, indicating that rain would likely arrive soon. As Christina disappeared from view, Anya retrieved a small knife from her pocket, a smirk curling her lips. With Christina out of the picture, she believed that no one would be able to impede her position within the Gibson family. It did not matter if Christina had any leverage on her if the former couldn¡¯t do anything with it. She aimed the knife at the rope securing Christina and began cutting it. Unaware of the danger closing in on her, Christina continued her descent. Chapter 483 Christina Is In Trouble Chapter 483 Christina Is In Trouble As Christina descended slowly, she suddenly felt the rope shaking. This is strange. Why is the rope shaking even when I don¡¯t move? Just as Christina raised her head, the rope lost all support, causing her to plummet down. Her body tensed up, and it took several seconds after the impactfulnding for her mind to regain rity. What just happened? Christina turned her head and saw that her rope had snapped. How could a perfectly fine rope snap? Wait a second, the edges are smooth, as if they were cut. The only person with me just now was Anya. She must have tampered with my rope! Anger ignited deep within her. She guessed that Anya was afraid of the leverage she held, leading her to sabotage the rope. Regardless of the reason, Anya¡¯s actions had posed a threat to Christina¡¯s life. Christina gathered her thoughts and decided it was best to leave this ce as soon as possible. She shifted slightly, relieved that her hands were unharmed, but she experienced a throbbing ache in her body. When she sat up and tried to put weight on her foot, a searing and intense pain surged up her ankle. Oh no, I think I injured my leg from the fall! Christina tried to find her phone in her pocket to call for help, but after searching through all of them, she couldn¡¯t locate her phone. It was highly likely that it had fallen out when she fell. As she surveyed her surroundings, all she could see were trees, leaving her disoriented and unable to find her way. What should I do? I can¡¯t move and don¡¯t have any means ofmunication. I have no idea how to escape the forest¡­ Meanwhile, Anya hadnded safely. She discarded the other half of Christina¡¯s rope, pretending she had never climbed with Christina. Upon returning to the rest area, she exchanged nces with her colleagues and promptly started packing up, getting ready to depart. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, are you sure everyone from your group is here?¡± a staff member asked with concern. They looked at each other, and one of them said with a smile, ¡°Yeah, everyone is here. Did you make a mistake?¡± ¡°Mistake? I remember there were seven of you, but now there are only six. Did I really remember wrongly?¡± the staff member replied. ¡°You must be mistaken. There are only six of us,¡± another colleague confirmed once again. The staff member furrowed his brows slightly but stopped pushing the issue. After all, many people came for rock climbing throughout the day, so it wouldn¡¯t be surprising for him to recall wrongly. ¡°All right then, you should leave now. It¡¯s about to rain, and all outdoor climbing activities will be suspended.¡± The staff member led the group to the tour bus, and soon they were transported back to the hotel. As they stepped off the bus, a towering figure cast a shadow over them. ¡°Where¡¯s Christina?¡± They looked at Nathaniel nervously, hemming and hawing but not replying to his question. It will be disastrous if Mr. Hadley finds out that we intentionally left her behind in the rock¨Cclimbing area. What terrible luck! Why did he have to show up at this exact moment? Anya realized that they could no longer hide the truth. The only way to get out of this was to pretend as though she had only just discovered Christina was missing. She made a show of counting her colleagues before feigning shock. ¡°Oh no, we¡¯re missing someone! It seems like it¡¯s Christina!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s face darkened, and a wave of anger surged through him. His dark eyes narrowed as he grabbed Anya by the cor. ¡°What happened? Why are you guys back without Christina?¡± The man was clearly fuming with anger. When faced with his interrogation, the group fell silent. Beads of sweat started forming on Anya¡¯s forehead as she tried to concoct an exnation. ¡°We didn¡¯t realize it when we left. Christina is always so aloof, and since we¡¯re not close to her, it¡¯s understandable that we didn¡¯t notice she was missing.¡± Luckily, she had thought ahead and prepared her words carefully to avoid being flustered. The staff member who had brought them back refuted her words. ¡°I just reminded you earlier that were missing someone, and you said you weren¡¯t!¡± Anya¡¯s face turned pale, and she red at the staff member for meddling in her affairs. Nathaniel clenched his fists as if he wanted to crush the woman before him. ¡°Where¡¯s the rock climbing at?¡± He had attended an early meeting in the morning, and when he returned to the room, Christina was nowhere to be found. With the sky darkening swiftly, he knew he needed to find her before the impending storm hit! Worried that something bad had happened as well, the staff member promptly offered, ¡°I know the I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Sebastian said anxiously, ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll prepare the car.¡± ¡°Bring our men along. I¡¯ll head there first.¡± Nathaniel boarded the tour bus, his tall figure seeming even more imposing in the confined space. He commanded, ¡°Drive.¡± Within a matter of seconds, the group scattered away. One colleague voiced his concern, ¡°What should we do? Should we exin the situation?¡± As it turned out, they had meticulously nned everything since the previous night. Taking Christina rock climbing was a deliberate ploy to teach her a lesson so she would not dare to offend Anya again in the future. Unexpectedly, she hadn¡¯t returned and was missing. With the weather turning treacherous, what if something terrible happens? Anya maintained a resolute expression. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s head back to Hallsbay first.¡± With that, she swiftly led the group away. Meanwhile, Nathaniel arrived at the outdoor rock climbing area in no time. As he gazed at the towering rockfaces, an ominous feeling washed over him. Without hesitation, he meticulously searched the area from the mountaintop downward, but he did not find any tracks. It became clear that Christina had note down from the mountain. The only remaining possibility was that she had fallen. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened. The sky had already turned gloomy, and if it started to rain, it was impossible to predict the dangers Christina might face. ¡°We¡¯ve already dispatched a support team. We¡¯ll have to wait,¡± the staff member reported on the progress. Nathaniel examined the map, his brows knitted slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no time. I¡¯ll go in first, and you can follow after help arrives.¡± Everyone present was taken aback by his words. Sebastian immediately blocked his way. ¡°Mr. Hadley, it¡¯s too dangerous. We have no idea what the situation is inside. It¡¯s too risky for you to venture in recklessly.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t encountered any danger I can¡¯t handle. Leaving her alone inside is the most dangerous situation,¡± Nathaniel stated firmly. He retrieved an emergency pack, meticulously checking its contents to ensure an ample supply of resources. With the pack securely strapped to his back, he made the final preparations before setting off. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll apany you,¡± Sebastian dered without hesitation, strapping on arge backpack. He couldn¡¯t let Nathaniel face the danger alone. ¡°Stay behind and wait for the rescue team to arrive before entering.¡± If they both entered, there would be no one left outside to coordinate the rescue efforts. Sebastian stood there, filled with hesitation, as he watched Nathaniel disappear into the depths of the mountain forests. Despite the pain, Christina mustered all her strength and slowly stood up, using a sturdy tree branch as a makeshift crutch. She cast her gaze upon the endless stretch of trees, unable toprehend the length of the journey ahead to escape. Chapter 484 Found Her Chapter 484 Found Her As fat raindrops spattered on Christina¡¯s face, she gently wiped them away and fixed her gaze on the road ahead of her. Not only did she have nothing on her, but she was also unfamiliar with the surroundings. Suddenly, a sense of helplessness overcame her, and tears welled up in her eyes. I mustn¡¯t cry or be scared. Lucas and Cam are waiting for me. I must go home in one piece and make Anya pay! With the help of two sturdy branches, she slowly limped forward. As the cliff face was behind her, heading away from it was certainly the correct path. However, her injured leg and the pouring rain hindered her from moving forward. Moreover, Christina did not know if anyone woulde to save her. After all, Anya would inform no one about the former¡¯s disappearance when it was a deliberate attempt to harm her. If no one knew Christina was trapped there, she would have no choice but to walk out of the forest on her own. Thoughts of howrge the forest was and whether wild animals existed there raced through Christina¡¯s mind. The more she dwelled on it, the more hopeless she felt. Despite the nagging pain in her leg, her depleting energy, and the uncertain feeling of what dangers awaited her, she could not just sit there and wait. Gritting her teeth, Christina continued marching forward. She was drenched in no time, and the cold wind made her shiver. Faster. I need to be faster. When she was tired, she leaned against a tree to take shelter from the rain, her body curled up into a ball due to the cold. In fact, she was so cold that she could barely feel the pain in her leg now. Her lips quivered. At that moment, nothing terrified her more than the biting cold. Right then, a figure came to her mind. That person had a charming and familiar face and would appear whenever she was in danger. Unfortunately, she was in a forest, which would take some time for the man to locate her even if he took a ne. There¡¯s no way he would appear out of thin air. Suddenly, a sh of lightning streaked through the sky, making Christina scream with fright. Every slight movement in the forest, like the disturbed birds in trees and rustling leaves, frightened her. Is this some kind of joke? I¡¯m already feeling miserable, and now the birds and leaves are bullying me, too. No longer wanting to stay at that spot, Christina got to her feet with the help of the branches and hurried forward. Her brows were tightly knit, and her jaw was clenched strongly. All she wished was to get out of the forest as quickly as possible. When rainwater rolled down her face, she would lick her lips to quench her thirst. Just then, another crash of thunder sounded. Christina quickly shielded her head with her arms and shut her eyes in fright. Immediately, the strong front she put on earlier came crumbling down. Like the rainwater, her tears streamed down her face until they reached her lips, but they tasted bitter to her. All of a sudden, there was a loud crack from above her head before a mass of branches came falling down. Christina looked up in fear, unable to process what she should do at that moment. Just as the branches were about to crush her, a figure darted toward her. The person wrapped a strong, muscr arm around her waist and shielded her in his embrace. Even though her cold was driven away by the person¡¯s warmth, she still shuddered from the fright. Meanwhile, the branches fell on the man¡¯s back with a thud before sliding to the ground beside them. Christina¡¯s eyes widened with fright, and her body froze. The man¡¯s grave and stern expression, shrouded in the light, hit her squarely in the heart. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± asked Nathaniel with a pained look on his face. Breathing in deeply to recollect herself, Christina shook her head and asked, ¡°H¨CHow did you find me?¡± ¡°Theard your scream and followed the source. Good thing I arrived in time, or you¡¯d be hurt.¡± While exining, Nathaniel unbuttoned his raincoat and draped it over her. ¡°Can you walk?¡± he asked. Christina shook her head. ¡°I fell from the top and injured my leg.¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s find shelter first.¡± With that, Nathaniel scooped her into his arms to move to the abandoned house he had spotted moments ago. It could be their temporary shelter until the sky had cleared. Then, they could continue on their way. ¡°Wait!¡± Nathaniel halted in his tracks and lowered his head to gaze at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Christina covered his head with the raincoat. Their breaths ovepped each other¡¯s in the cramped space under one raincoat. Averting her gaze shyly, she said, ¡°Okay. We can go now.¡± She could not bear to let the man get wet. After all, he had risked his life toe and save her. Smiling subtly, Nathaniel began running until they reached the abandoned house tens of meters away. It must be built for the workers when theye into the forest. Judging by its state, it must¡¯ve been abandoned for quite some time. Regardless, it was better than nothing, for the couple could keep out of the rain there. The moment they stepped into the house, they were greeted by thickyers of dust everywhere. Christina sneezed violently and rubbed her nose. At that point, she could not tell what caused her to sneeze¨Cthe dust or the cold. The fierce wind howled like a ferocious beast, blowing off the thick dust and leaving behind a bone- chilling temperature. Nathaniel put Christina down to pick up some branches from the outside before shutting the door. Since there were no heaters or fires, the temperature in the house continued to drop, even though they were isted from the cold wind. Just then, Nathaniel approached Christina. He held up her leg and examined the wound carefully. ¡°I think there¡¯s a broken bone. Don¡¯t move. I¡¯m going to get you bandaged to fix the bone in ce.¡± Following that, he shrugged off his backpack and rummaged for the relevant medical equipment. ¡°You¡¯ll need to bear with it if it hurts, Disinfection is a must.¡± The grave and serious expression on his face entuated the masculine vibe he gave off. Christina was so lost in his charm that her leg was already bandaged by the time she returned to her senses. Although she was no longer in the rain, her body was feeling cold again. She curled up and hugged her arms to keep herself warm. Meanwhile, the rain outside grew heavier. Looks like it¡¯s going to rain for a few more hours. Even worse, it mightst for the whole night. Being the observant man he was, Nathaniel took out a lighter from the backpack and started a fire with the inmmable materials that were not needed. He then snapped an old chair into pieces and tossed them into the mes. The branches were wet, which made them unsuitable for starting a fire. Fortunately, there were old chairs around, and they were unaffected by the rain. It did not take long for the wood pieces to light up into a blue me. Only then did he throw the branches into the fire. With that, the mes grew stronger. As the house was sealed tight, the warmth from the fire soon reced the cold in the air. Christina, too, gradually felt warmer. Her clothes were still wet, but they would soon dry in the warmth. Just then, Nathaniel ced his coat over her before sitting beside her. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Scooting closer to him, she answered, ¡°Not anymore.¡± In fact, she felt loads betterpared to earlier when she was alone. Chapter 485 Feelings Grow Stronger Chapter 485 Feelings Grow Stronger Christina shared the coat with Nathaniel but dared not get too close to him for fear of making him wet. However, the man simply wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. ¡°Get closer. You¡¯ll feel warmer taster.¡± Christina hummed gently andy her head on his shoulder. Immediately, the faint sandalwood scent on his body entered her nose, filling her with a sense of security. The howling of the wind never stopped, and its blusters shook the house so hard it seemed as if it would copse anytime. ¡°Achool¡± Christina shivered. The cold was bing more obvious thanks to the contrasting temperatures she was feeling, both on the inside and outside. Hence, Nathaniel pulled her closer and rubbed his palm on her shoulder to create friction. ¡°Are you cold?¡± Her paleplexion made him frown with worry, and when his gaze fell on her drenched clothes, he feared she might catch a cold. That was when an idea came to his mind. He gave her a gentle push to make some space and unbuttoned his shirt. Subsequently, he removed his white shirt and handed it to her, saying sternly. ¡°Put it on.¡± As she lifted her gaze, she was blessed by the sight of Nathaniel¡¯s muscr and slender body. At the same time, a strong scent of male pheromones wafted into her nose. ¡°Why are you giving me your shirt?¡± ¡°Yours is wet. You¡¯ll catch a cold if you keep we Nathaniel removed the coat from her shoulders, exposing her beautiful curves under the drenched shirt that clung tightly to her skin. The dancing mes reflected in her eyes while her neat brows emphasized her gentle temperament. Christina sneezed again. It was as if her body was answering on her behalf. She knew there was no reason to go against her body¡¯s needs. After all, she could return Nathaniel¡¯s shirt once hers was dry. Taking the white shirt from him, she said softly, ¡°Turn around. Don¡¯t look at me.¡± Nathaniel chuckled softly when he saw how shy she was, but he obliged. Only when he had turned away did Christina unbutton her wet shirt. Her movements were so swift that it took her only a few seconds to get out of her clothes and into Nathaniel¡¯s shirt. However, the shirt looked like a dress on her petite body. Christina was on the skinnier side, and the shirt could almost reach her knees. After giving it some thought, she decided to take off her pants as well. They were a pair of thin workout pants, which should dry fairly quickly. Feelings Grow Stronger When she was done, she sat down and said shyly, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± That was when Nathaniel turned back to see her curled up like a frightened pet, her figure and long legs entuated by the shirt. He passed her the bottle of water he just got out of the bag. ¡°Have some.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes flickered as she took it from him. ¡°Do you still have any more in your bag?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Only when she had heard his answer did she gulp the water with relief. She was so thirsty that she finished it in one go. After that, Nathaniel took out a packet of biscuits from the bag. He seemed to be well-prepared for the situation. Tearing the package open, he took out a piece of biscuit and brought it to Christina¡¯s lips. ¡°Eat up.¡± The look of worry in his eyes was the most sincere gaze Christina had ever seen. Hence, she ate and drank until the adrenaline in her body gradually reduced. Soon, the sky outside turned dark. As raindrops pattered and the wind howled outside, a cold breeze would asionally enter the house through the gap at the metal door to stir the mes. ¡°Are you still feeling cold?¡± Nathaniel asked worriedly. Christina looked up to meet his passionate gaze, nodding. ¡°Yep.¡± Under normal circumstances, she would not be interested in how much he cared about her. At that moment, however, she hadplete trust in him, and she did not want to lie to a man who would risk his life to save her. Upon hearing her answer, Nathaniel lifted her into his arms and wrapped them tightly around her, like a beast protecting a tiny animal. All of a sudden, everything about him-his firm muscles, the visible line in the middle of his abdomen, his faint woody scent, and his strong heartbeat-became more prominent to Christina. ¡°Looks like the rain won¡¯t be stopping tonight. Get some sleep. Someone should be here to help us in the morning.¡± Nathaniel assured calmly. Christina nodded. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± ¡°Anya said you didn¡¯t go back with them.¡± Nathaniel lowered his gaze, making his expression unreadable. Immediately, Christina¡¯s eyes glinted with hostility. ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t. How could I? She purposely cut my rope. Anya clearly wanted to kill me. I¡¯m going to teach that evil woman a lesson once I get back. Noting the anger in her eyes, Nathaniel massaged her brows. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. You¡¯ll get to make her pay for everything she¡¯s done once we get back.¡± The amount of force he exerted on her brows was just right. Christina was so exhausted that she rxed andy her head on his broad chest. She could still remember the time when she used to love nestling in his arms, and she would get a sense of security from his firm and broad chest. As she thought about that, she gradually drifted off to sleep. The mes continued to dance, creating shadows on the ground of them hugging each other. The weather in the morning was colderpared tost night. No one knew when the fire went out. When Christina opened her eyes, she realized Nathaniel had kept her in his arms the whole night. She looked up and was greeted by the sight of his dreamy looks. The clear sunlight poured in from the windows, illuminating Nathaniel¡¯s face. The slumbering man appeared captivating, with his dense eyshes protruding from his lower lids and his breathing deep and steady. When Christina caressed his face, his eyes suddenly fluttered open. ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Christina instinctively retracted her hand, but it was caught by Nathaniel. With his gaze lowered, he murmured. ¡°The rain¡¯s stopped. Let¡¯s get out of here.¡± N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Okay, You should go out first. I¡¯ll get changed. Nathaniel let out a hum of acknowledgment and ced her arm on his neck, pulling their distance closer. All of a sudden, their bodies¡¯ temperature rose. Christina blinked nervously and held her breath as the man sealed his thin lips on hers. At that moment, her heart palpitated wildly, and she felt a rush of blood to her head. They remained in that position for a while until Christina pushed him, her cheeks as red as an apple. ¡°Go out first.¡± We¡¯d be trapped if another stormes. Only then did Nathaniel let go of her and walk out of the house, leaving Christina alone. She covered her lips that curled into a shy smile. After that, she quickly changed into her dry clothes and returned the shirt to Nathaniel. ¡°Put it on quickly. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Once Nathaniel had slipped the shirt on, Christina helped him to button it up and put the coat over him. Just like that, Nathaniel had returned to his usual cool and aloof self. He grabbed Christina¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 486 Stop Running Chapter 486 Stop Running The warmth of Nathaniel¡¯s palm enveloped Christina¡¯s small hand, instilling an inexplicable sense of security in her heart. The two walked along the mountain road. Not long after, Christina started to feel exhausted, and cold sweat drenched her back. ¡°Are you tired?¡± Nathaniel noticed her pace was slowing, and she wasn¡¯t able to keep up. Christina shook her head slightly. She didn¡¯t want to say it out loud, even if she was tired. Nathaniel had taken care of her the whole night, providing her with all the food and water. Regardless of how fit he was, he couldn¡¯t endure the harsh environment and conditions for so long. Nathaniel let go of her hand, bent over, andmanded, ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°No. You must be tired too.¡± Christina was reluctant to let him carry her. She had drunk a few mouthfuls of water earlier, but Nathaniel hadn¡¯t taken even a single sip. ¡°Hurry up. We don¡¯t have time to waste.¡± Nathaniel grabbed her hands and pulled her close to his back. She leaned against his broad back and crossed her arms around his neck. Their bodies were tightly pressed together. On his way in, Nathaniel had made markings on the road, so they quickly found their way out following the signs. When they were a few kilometers from the main road, they finally met with the rescue team. Sebastian had wanted to search for themst night, but a storm had made it impossible. The rescue team was unfamiliar with the mountain roads, so rushing in unprepared would only increase the risk. At dawn, they immediately went into the mountain as soon as the rain had stopped. Unexpectedly, they encountered the couple so soon. ¡°Are you all right, Mr. Hadley? Are you hurt?¡± Sebastian asked while offering him a bottle of water. The first thing Nathaniel did after receiving the water was offer it to Christina, letting her gulp half the bottle of water before he finished the rest. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Have you arranged the transport?¡± Nathaniel wasn¡¯t injured, but his energy was depleted, so he needed to return to the hotel to rest first. ¡°I¡¯ve made all the necessary arrangements.¡± Subsequently, the party swiftly exited the mountain. Once outside, the doctor examined their conditions and treated Christina¡¯s wounded leg. Only then did the two return to the hotel. After disappearing the whole night, Christina immediately called her kids upon returning to the hotel room, even before she bathed. Lucas and Cam had stayed home and were overwrought when they couldn¡¯t contact either of their parents. ¡°Mommy, where were you? Why didn¡¯t youe home for the entire night?¡± Two childish voices rang out once the call connected. All the fatigue in Christina dissipated at that instant. She apologized to the kids sincerely, ¡°Mommy had too much work to attend tost night and fell asleep in the office. Don¡¯t be mad. How about I treat you to some delicious pudding aspensation when I¡¯m home?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a promise! You better keep your word.¡± The two adorable children mimicked the pinky swear gesture at the camera. ¡°Of course. Be good and go to school. I¡¯ll pick you up in personter. Then, we¡¯ll go and enjoy some dessert.¡± Christina lifted her little finger at the camera too, sealing the pinky promise. ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy? Is he with you?¡± Cam asked concernedly. Nathaniel, standing at one side, felt contented. Daughters care more about their fathers, after all. At least Cam still remembers to ask about me. Christina pointed the camera at Nathaniel. ¡°Your daddy¡¯s here. He¡¯s also tired and needs to rest, so you two be good and wait for us toe home.¡± ¡°Okay, Mommy. We¡¯ll be good. See you in the afternoon.¡± With that, the two kids sent a series of blowing kisses toward the camera. Sweetness brimmed in Christina¡¯s heart as she saw that. Only after ending the call did Christina heave a sigh of relief. She had focused the camera on her face earlier, not daring to let the children see her dirt-stained clothes. so as not to worry them.. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. cing down the phone, she stood up. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower now.¡± Nathaniel blocked her path and rested his hand on her slim waist, uttering gently, ¡°You injured your leg. so it¡¯s inconvenient for you to walk. Let me help you.¡± Looking at her bandaged leg, which was indeed causing her inconvenience when moving around, she allowed him to support her to walk toward the bathroom. Christina let go of his hand upon reaching the side of the bathtub. When she noticed he showed no inclination to leave, she reminded him in an undertone, ¡°You can go out now.¡± Staring at her blushing face and demure appearance, he couldn¡¯t help but tease her, ¡°Your leg is wounded, so it¡¯ll be inconvenient for you to undress. Shall I help you with that too?¡± She frowned and smacked him on the back of his hand. ¡°That¡¯s not needed, Mr. Hadley. I injured my foot, not my hand, so I can still take care of myself. Following your logic, are you going to volunteer to help me take a shower too?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you need, I won¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Well, I do!¡± Christina¡¯s ears turned red in self-consciousness. Difort churned within her as he fixated his passionate gaze on her, prompting her to stretch out her hand to cover his eyes. ¡°Stop looking! Don¡¯t you feel embarrassed!¡± He¡¯s staring at me so brazenly! Nathaniel sped her waist before pulling her close, resting his forehead on hers and enchanting her with the dark abyss that was his eyes. ¡°Why should I be embarrassed for looking at my possession?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a person, not an item. When will you change your arrogant attitude, Nathaniel?¡± Christina grumbled. He raised his head and slightly lifted hers so his lips could touch hers. ¡°Will you stay by my side and stop running away?¡± His voice was filled with the utmost tenderness. Sensing her silence, he leaned closer to her. ¡°Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, I will still pursue you. Therefore, instead of wasting your energy, why don¡¯t you just stay by my sidepliantly?¡± ¡°Nathaniel, why do your pleas of asking someone to stay sound more like a threat?¡± Christina was both amused and exasperated. He¡¯s obviously the one doing all he can to keep me by his side, yet it sounds like I¡¯m the ungrateful one. Nathaniel murmured, ¡°Stop being mad. I promise you I¡¯ll listen to all you say.¡± ¡°Will you really do that?¡± Christina snorted. I know him too well. He¡¯s a straightforward man. He¡¯ll go along with my wishes when he¡¯s in a good mood, but he won¡¯t be so agreeable when he¡¯s in a foul mood. At this moment, he¡¯s like a fierce beast while I¡¯m a defenseless littlemb. No matter how you see it, I¡¯m the one at a disadvantage. Still, after all the ups and downs they¡¯d faced, it was always Nathaniel who risked his life to save her when she was caught up in the most perilous situations. Christina reckoned no one else in the world would love her in that manner-willing to protect her at the cost of his own life. Perhaps a wild beast can also be tamed. Why don¡¯t I give it a try? With great effort, Nathaniel finally managed to kiss Christina. ¡°You could even abandon our children, so how would I dare to make you angry?¡± Christina sighed inwardly. This method is indeed effective. How could one achieve one¡¯s goal without going all out? ¡°At least you¡¯re wise enough to consider the greater good. In that case, we¡¯ve reached a consensus, then. You¡¯re not allowed to throw a tantrum whenever you please from now on. We need to communicate properly.¡± ¡°Yes, I promise.¡± He kissed her as he spoke. ¡°Can we bathe now? I¡¯m covered in sweat.¡± ¡°Be careful. My foot can¡¯t get wet-¡± Before she could finish her sentence, he savagely ripped her clothes Chapter 487 Are You Getting Married Chapter 487 Are You Getting Married Rays of sunlight pierced through the windows and lit up the room. Christinay on Nathaniel¡¯s chest, her smooth back littered with red marks from the night before. The warm glow gradually roused her from sleep, and her eyes fluttered open. Just then, the door opened, and two little figures barged into the room. ¡°Mommy, Daddy. Are you getting married?¡± Cam and Lucas muttered as they stared at their parents with wide-eyed innocence. Needless to say, the duo had no idea what they were looking at. All they knew from ying in school was that family members expressed love by holding hands and hugging one another. Stunned by the sudden appearance of her children, Christina yanked the nket over her head, her heart thumping wildly. The next second, she kicked Nathaniel hard. ¡°Get the kids out! Hurry!¡± Thetter winced at the pain. My goodness. She sure is strong¡­. ¡°Lucas, Cam, why are you guys up so early?¡± he asked calmly. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re attending my ballet recital today, aren¡¯t you?¡± Cam piped up, doe-eyed and adorable as she sported a sequined butterfly pin in her hair. ¡°Ms. Tuffin said I must be there earlier because I¡¯m the principal dancer.¡± As soon as Cam stopped her ballet lessons at the kindergarten, Christina enrolled her in an external dance school, where a public performance would be held after every semester. Upon hearing that, Nathaniel did his best to remain unfazed despite having broken into a cold sweat. ¡°Thank you for the reminder, Cam. I almost forgot about it. Well¡­ Why don¡¯t you guys head downstairs and wait for me? You can grab a candy while you¡¯re at it.¡± Unsurprisingly, the children¡¯s eyes lit up at the suggestion. ¡°Okay, Daddy! You and Mommy had better hurry up if you don¡¯t want us to finish all the candy,¡± Lucas urged before grabbing his sister¡¯s hand and running out of the room. Once the door was finally shut, Christina heaved a sigh of relief under the nket. Argh! That was so embarrassing! I can¡¯t believe the kids caught us in this state. Thank goodness they didn¡¯t see anything too explicit, though. Otherwise, I¡¯d never be able to face them again¡­.. ¡°You cane out now,¡± Nathaniel teased as he pulled the nket away. Christina was already red in the face, but when she noticed the man¡¯s indifference toward the situation, her embarrassment quickly turned into annoyance. ¡°Do you think this is funny? You can sleep on the couch tonight!¡± After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Christina sat at the dressing table and began applying her makeup. With her long hair half-tied, her face looked even smaller and more delicate. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Just as she picked up a light pink lipstick, Nathaniel suddenly grabbed her hand ¡°That color¡¯s too light. This one would look better on you.¡± he said while reaching for a red lipstick and lifting her chin. Christina¡¯s eyes sparkled as she met Nathaniel¡¯s gaze, her lips parting slightly for him. Like an artist painting a masterpiece, thetter carefully applied the lipstick and marveled at how the color had brought out the woman¡¯s beauty even more. ¡°You¡¯re gorgeous,¡± he praised, not once taking his eyes off her. Christina chuckled and stood up. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s head downstairs. Otherwise, our two greedy munchkins will get cavities from all the candy.¡± Sure enough, Christina saw candy wrappers scattered all over the living room when she got to the ground. The closer she got to Cam and Lucas, the more she could smell the candy scent on them. Naturally, she took out several wet wipes and began cleaning their hands. ¡°All right. We can leave now.¡± With that, the family of four got into the car and sped off. After arriving at the performance venue, Nathaniel promptly led Lucas to their seats while Christina apanied Cam backstage to report to her teacher, Winnie Tuffin. Once that was done, Christina helped her daughter change into a beautiful tutu and tied her hair into a neat little bun. Cam then dug out a hairpin from her bag and handed it to her mother. ¡°Mommy, I want to wear this for the performance.¡± ¡°Who gave you this hairpin?¡± Christina asked. Hmm¡­ I remember all the hair essories I¡¯ve ever bought for Cam, and I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve never seen this one before. ¡°Daddy had it custom-made for me!¡± Cam replied, beaming with delight. ¡°Look at all the sparkly diamonds on it. Aren¡¯t they pretty?¡± For a moment, Christina was taken aback. It¡¯s more than just pretty¡­ It¡¯s breathtaking! The feel and craftsmanship of the hairpin are incredible, and it looks nothing like a replica. I can¡¯t believe Nathaniel got genuine diamonds for a kid. He sure is generous, huh? I¡¯ll have to tell him off once we get home! Just then, Winnie walked over and spotted the hairpin in the little girl¡¯s hair. ¡°Oh, that hairpin is beautiful. It looks so good on Cam!¡± Cam held her skirt out and curtsied gracefully. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Tuffin.¡± Afterward, Winnie informed Christina to return backstage only when the performance was over before leading Cam away to make the necessary preparations. Without further ado, Christina headed to her seat and held Lucas in her arms. Soon, the ballei performance started Under the warm aner lighting a small figure camding in the center began dancing to the music. Cam cm ments were smooth and elegant, and there was no doubt the had put in a lot of work to achieve such precision. With the hairpin stop her head shining and sparkling, she looked just like a princess in a fairy tale When Cam¡¯s solo was ever, the other children gradually joined her on stage to begin their group performance The dance was neat and synchronized, and even though the movements didn¡¯t seem particrly complicated, it was still no easy fest for the children to have mastered them. As soon as the performance ended, the audience broke out in thunderous apuse. ¡°Nathaniel, you and Lucas can wait for me outside. I¡¯ll meet you guys once I¡¯ve picked Cam up.¡± Christina said. The ballet ss has more than twenty students, so I¡¯m sure the backstage would be crowded with parents. It¡¯d be better for me to go alone than to have Nathaniel and Lucas jostle with the sea of people too. Nathaniel merely hummed in response and walked out with Lucas in his arms. By the time Christina got backstage, several parents were already happily leaving with their children. However, when she approached the dressing room, she suddenly heard crying from inside. Although it was almost impossible to differentiate between children¡¯s cries, Christina knew there was something familiar with the wailing that wafted into her cars. Upon opening the door and seeing her daughter¡¯s makeup all smudged from the crying, Christina rushed forward and hugged her ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Cam?¡± Wait a minute¡­ Is that a handprint on her face? Did someone p her? There, there, don¡¯t cry,¡± Christina coaxed. ¡°Tell me what happened, Cam.¡± Although Cam managed to calm down a little,rge teardrops continued to trickle down her cheeks. ¡°Mommy, my h-hairpin¡­ the girl muttered amidst sobs and sniffles. Only then did Christina realize Cam¡¯s hair was in a mess, and the diamond hairpin clipped to the hair bun had also gone missing. Needless to say, her heart ached at the sight of her panic-stricken daughter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get the hairpin back for you.¡± Having gently wiped away Cam¡¯s tears, Christina turned her attention to Winnie. ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s going on here?¡± While Winnieforted another crying child, ady standing beside her, dressed head to toe in designer brands, scowled at Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t take your kids out if you don¡¯t know how to teach them. Your daughter was the one who hit my child first. My kid merely acted in self-defense.¡± Chapter 488 Camila Lost Her Hairpin Chapter 488 Cam Lost Her Hairpin For a moment, the room was silent save for the two children sobbing away. Christina nced at the little girl in the white tutu, and sure enough, one of her cheeks was red. I may not know what happened exactly, but Cam¡¯s hairpin has gone missing, and there¡¯s no way I¡¯d let that slide! ¡°Since no one can exin the matter to me, let¡¯s check the surveince footage!¡± Christina said sternly as she hugged Cam even tighter. Upon hearing that, the wealthy woman, L, seemed to flinch. ¡°Hmph. Go on, then. Do you think I¡¯m scared of you? Don¡¯t forget that your daughter hit my daughter. I won¡¯t let that go so easily!¡± Worried that things might get out of hand. Winnie hastily tried to mediate the situation. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, there are no surveince cameras in the dressing room. Besides, it¡¯s just a tiny misunderstanding. Why don¡¯t we have Cam apologize to her ssmate and let that be the end of it?¡± My goodness¡­ These two women are no small fry, and I can¡¯t afford to offend either of them! Hopefully, we can resolve this matter soon without blowing it up further. ¡°Tiny misunderstanding?¡± Christina scoffed. ¡°Cam¡¯s hairpin is encrusted with diamonds. That¡¯s not. something an apology can fix. Furthermore, we¡¯re still not sure who¡¯s truly at fault here. Why should my daughter apologize?¡± So what if Cam made the first move? That doesn¡¯t necessarily mean she¡¯s in the wrong! There has to be a reason behind it. Left with no other choice, Winnie quickly approached L. ¡°Mrs. Cohen, have you seen that diamond hairpin anywhere? If we still can¡¯t find it, you might have to stay behind to aid the investigation.¡± L, however, snorted at the teacher. ¡°Diamond hairpin? What nonsense is that? Fine. Carry out the investigation, then. In any case, they aren¡¯t leaving until they apologize to my Heather!¡± Who in their right mind would give a diamond hairpin worth more than a hundred thousand to a child? Do they not know how easily children lose things? That¡¯s no different from throwing their money away! Even as rich as we are, we wouldn¡¯t buy a hairpin with real diamonds for Heather. I bet it¡¯s just a slightly more expensive hairpin¡­ Must they be 30 arrogant about it? Stuck in a dilemma, Winnie had no choice but to call the police. Meanwhile, Cam hugged Christina¡¯s waist tightly, and it was clear that the little girl felt aggrieved. ¡°Mommy, will I be able to find the hairpin that Daddy gave me?¡± Christina gently caressed her daughter¡¯s head and smiled. ¡°Of course. The policeman will catch the thief gets here!¡± After hearing her mother¡¯s reassurance, Cam felt much better and nodded. ¡°Cam, can you tell me what happened earlier?¡± Christina asked concernedly. Cam might get anxious when the police arrive, so it¡¯d be better if I exined the situation instead. ¡°After our performance ended, I sat on the chair to wait for you. Heather then came over topliment. my hairpin and insisted I give it to her. She tried to snatch it from me when I refused to, so I hit her¡­¡± Cam said before her voice trailed off. Despite her age, she, too, knew very well that it was wrong to hit other people. ¡°What about the hairpin? Did your ssmate take it?¡± Christina added as she clutched her daughter¡¯s hand. s, Cam shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, either.¡± After all, everything had been so chaotic that she didn¡¯t even notice where the hairpin had gone. Instead of probing further, Christina tidied up Cam¡¯s hair and waited patiently with her. Within ten minutes, two police officers arrived at the venue and began their investigation. Unfortunately, the police quickly found themselves in a tight spot once they had questioned all three parties, and even a thorough sweep of the dressing room failed to turn up any hairpin. Everyone had their side of the story, but with no surveince footage to back them up, it was hard to determine who had stolen the hairpin. Just then, L marched angrily up to Christina and Cam. ¡°Officers, this woman¡¯s daughter hit my child, and I want them to apologize to me right now!¡± Hmph. There¡¯s no evidence, anyway. It¡¯s time to show them who¡¯s boss! Terrified by L¡¯s loud and brash voice, Cam hurriedly buried her face in Christina¡¯s chest. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll still need to continue investigating this matter, Mrs. Hadley, why don¡¯t you apologize on Cam¡¯s behalf first?¡± Winnie suggested. ¡°We can all head home for now and settle thister.¡± Christina frowned as she hugged her frightened daughter and met her gaze. Cam then mumbled, ¡°Mommy, I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Heather snatched my hairpin first.¡± With that, Christina felt a renewed sense of motivation. ¡°I don¡¯t agree to this arrangement. Let¡¯s conduct a bag search since there aren¡¯t surveince cameras in the dressing room. Who knows? Someone might have stashed it away.¡± How can an item vanish into thin air? I¡¯m sure someone must have hidden it! Upon hearing that, L¡¯s gaze darkened. D*mn. Why is this woman so relentless? ¡°What gives you the right to search my bag? I¡¯ll have you know that my bag is worth hundreds of thousands! Will you be able to pay for any damages incurred?¡± The next second, a chill ran down her spine as she hid her bag behind her. The police officers, on the other hand, knew Christina had a point. If the situation couldn¡¯t be resolved, they¡¯d have to follow procedures and conduct a manual bag search. Christina immediately ced her bag on the table. ¡°You can check mine first.¡± After pondering for a while, the police finally came to a decision. ¡°To ensure fairness, we¡¯d like to search bothdies¡¯ bags. If we still can¡¯t find anything, well expand our search to cover the areas outside the dressing room.¡± Everyone shifted their gaze toward L almost immediately. Of course, if she continued to resist without a good reason, it¡¯d only make her look even more suspicious. Unsurprisingly, L¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°I didn¡¯t take the item. Why should you search my bag?¡± ¡°It that¡¯s the case, then you shouldn¡¯t have a problem with getting searched. Please cooperate with the police. Christina warned. What an odd reaction¡­¡­.. Given how overbearing she was earlier, shouldn¡¯t she jump at the chance of a bag search to clear her name¡± ¡°Please cooperate with the investigation,¡± the police urged. A strange expression crossed L¡¯s face, but just as she was wondering what she should do, the door to the dressing room burst open. Before anyone could react, Heather ran up to the man and wrapped her arms around his leg. ¡°Daddy. I want to go home. Please take me home.¡± As it turned out, the man was none other than Heather¡¯s father, Andrew Cohen. He had been waiting outside for so long that he was getting impatient. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why aren¡¯t we leaving yet?¡± Andrew asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. L hurried over to her husband and gave him a brief rundown of the situation. After hearing everything. Andrew furrowed his brows. ¡°All this for just a hairpin? I¡¯ll pay you for it, then! Is a hundred enough?¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. With that, he fished out a wad of notes from his designer wallet and waved them in front of Christina. ¡°Go on. Take the money and scram.¡± Christina stared at the paltry amount of money and smirked. ¡°A hundred? That¡¯s hardly enough to buy one of the diamonds on my daughter¡¯s hairpin Andrew paled for a moment as L quickly filled him in. Secondster, his surprise turned into utter contempt. ¡°Why would you give a child such an expensive item? Is there even a need to wear something so valuable? Now that she¡¯s lost it, you only have yourself to me!¡± Chapter 489 Hairpin Found Chapter 489 Hairpin Found Silence ensued. Andrew grinned gloatingly. Children haven¡¯t developed the awareness to protect their belongings yet. Hence, it¡¯s the parent¡¯s fault when the child¡¯s obviously expensive hairpin is stolen! What kind of reasoning is that? The look in Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Based on your logic, are you saying if a person¡¯s expensive handbag or money is stolen, it¡¯s their fault for bringing it with them? In that case, why do we even need police officers?¡± Andrew clearly had no refute for Christina¡¯s questioning. His expression darkened as he remained silent. However, L rebuked with disdain, ¡°Who knows if she was wearing a real diamond hairpin? If it¡¯s a fake, doesn¡¯t that mean the police officers are wasting their time searching for something that costs a few dozen bucks?¡± The atmosphere grew tense. Just then, the door was opened again before Nathaniel stepped in with Lucas in his arms. He ceased his movements, blocking the light with his towering figure, and stared at Christina and Cam. ¡°Who¡¯s bullying you?¡± L Upon spotting her father, Cam pounced toward him and spoke aggrievedly. ¡°It¡¯s Heather¡¯s fault my hairpin went missing, Daddy¡­¡± She felt bad because the hairpin had been given to her by her father. In response, Nathaniel lifted her and wiped the tears on her face away. ¡°Is it the one I bought from an auction for you?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°No. It¡¯s the custom-made diamond hairpin you bought mest month.¡± At the side, Lucas acted as though he just discovered a huge secret. When did Daddy buy so many hairpins for Cam? He didn¡¯t even buy me the limited-edition action figure I asked him to! Isn¡¯t he just ying favorites? The expressions on the assertive couple¡¯s faces shifted the moment they saw Nathaniel. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re the wife and daughter of Mr. Hadley! In that case, he definitely bought a diamond hairpin for his daughter! Thank goodness he didn¡¯t hear what I said earlier. Otherwise, we would¡¯ve offended a prominent figure! Andrew greeted Nathaniel with a smile. ¡°We met at a reception before, though you didn¡¯t notice me because of how busy you were, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel had attended so many social events that he couldn¡¯t remember everything about them. Additionally, he didn¡¯t pay great attention during most of them and usually only spoke with more capable individuals in the business industry. Hence, if he couldn¡¯t recall someone, it meant they weren¡¯t significant enough to be remembered. Ignoring the man, he turned to Christina. ¡°Have you found the hairpin yet?¡± ¡°No. The police officers suggested checking everyone¡¯s bags. However, some people imed they didn¡¯t take it yet refused to cooperate,¡± scoffed Christina. It was then Winnie suggested in a small voice, ¡°Did someone pick it up by ident? If you return it, you probably won¡¯t be punished. Mrs. Hadley is pretty kind.¡± Christina was confounded by Winnie¡¯s words. Does she know who took the hairpin? Or is it because she wants to smooth things over and prevent a fight? After all, we¡¯ll all meet again at the ballet school, so perhaps she¡¯s trying to avoid future awkward situations. If the thief had returned it at the beginning, I would¡¯ve let this matter go. However, after all that was said and done, I can¡¯t pretend nothing happened anymore. Nathaniel turned toward the couple with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re not cooperating?¡± Paling, the man felt awkward. If I can snatch an opportunity to befriend a distinguished figure like him, ourpany will ascend to greater heights! Immediately, he grabbed-L¡¯s handbag. ¡°Of course we¡¯ll cooperate!¡± The woman was shocked and tried to snatch the bag back. ¡°I didn¡¯t steal anything, so why should I let others search my bag?¡± ¡°If you didn¡¯t steal anything, just show it to the officers! What are you worried about? Andrew continued. to tug on the handbag. Neither of them was willing to give up. ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone to see what¡¯s inside!¡± Forcefully, L pulled the bag. Meanwhile, the man was still so eager to please Nathaniel that he didn¡¯t relent. ¡°If you didn¡¯t take the hairpin, just show your bag to them!¡± Suddenly, the bag was torn in half. As a result, everything inside spilled to the ground, including cosmetics, a perfume bottle, a purse, and a shiny hairpin. An ufortable silence filled the air as everyone held their breaths. While Andrew was dumbfounded, L felt embarrassed. Gritting her teeth, she admonished in a small voice, ¡°I told you not to take my bag, but you insisted. Are you happy now?¡± The man replied, ¡°How can you me me? You imed you didn¡¯t steal it¡­¡± Christina found the couple¡¯s actions sad yet amusing. L, who was acting all arrogant earlier, kneeled and hugged Christina¡¯s leg. ¡°I was overtaken by greed. earlier. Please forgive me! I¡¯ll apologize to you!¡± When the children were arguing with each other just now, the hairpin had dropped next to her foot. After realizing there weren¡¯t surveince cameras around, she put it into her bag. She was giddy that she picked up a valuable item and thought no one would notice. Naturally, she didn¡¯t expect things would turn out the way it did. However, her pleading was pointless as there was undeniable proof of her crime. Christina frowned. ¡°Weren¡¯t you mocking us for buying a fake earlier? Isn¡¯t the decision to steal an item made based on its value?¡± What a pathetic woman. Upon pushing L¡¯s hand away, Christina stepped away with disdain. ¡°I don¡¯t need any apologies orpensation. The evidence is solid, so I¡¯ll let the police officers do their job.¡± The police officers took a photo of the mess on the ground before lifting L and picking her belongings. up. ¡°Miss, please follow us to the police station to record your statement.¡± L wailed while Andrew watched, feeling utterly humiliated. Christina picked up Cam and was ready to leave when Heather scampered toward her. ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t take my mommy away. I was only ying around. It has nothing to do with Mommy¡­¡± As the girl spoke, she cried. Christina¡¯s heart softened when she saw the crying child. As she hesitated, she turned to Nathaniel, asking for his opinion. Nathaniel understood her thoughts and whispered. ¡°You should decide.¡± After a brief contemtion, Christina turned to L. ¡°Enroll your daughter in another ballet school. I won¡¯t sue you, but I don¡¯t want to see you again.¡± Disbelief was written all over L¡¯s face. She was stunned for a few moments before she thanked Christina profusely. Christina then requested the hairpin from the police officers. ¡°Sorry for wasting your time, but I won¡¯t be suing her.¡± The police officers nodded, gave L a stern warning, and left. After that, Christina left the building with her children. Perhaps the kids were tired, for they fell asleep in their parent¡¯s embrace soon after boarding the car, Suddenly, the car took a turn. Christina temporarily lost control of her body and bumped into Nathaniel. Chapter 490 Why Are You Being A Stranger Chapter 490 Why Are You Being A Stranger When Christina¡¯s lips bumped into Nathaniel¡¯s cheek, his faint woody scent filled her nostrils and left her in a daze. A few secondster, she jolted back. We should stop fooling around. It would be embarrassing if the children saw us. Ever since the children barged into the room thest time, Christina would always keep a safe distance from him whenever they were out. Meanwhile, Lucas and Cam were already awake by the time the car arrived at Scenic Garden Manor. A short nap was all the kids needed to reinvigorate themselves. After alighting from the car, both of them yed ball in the courtyard. Christina was watching them she received Rayne¡¯s call. She subsequently headed to the study and borrowed Nathaniel¡¯sputer for work. It turned out that there was a problem with one of the design drawings. The design looked good on yet the intended result wasn¡¯t achieved when it was given physical form, creating a need for a change color. Based on the sample Rayne had sent. Christina adjusted the color a few times until she was satisfied. By the time she was finished, night had already fallen. When she suddenly received a call from Azure, she remembered that she hadn¡¯t spoken to her grandmother over thest two days due to work. Thus, she answered without hesitation. ¡°Grandma.¡° ¡°Christina, I was worried when I didn¡¯t hear from you for the past two days. I thought that something untoward had happened,¡± Azure remarked anxiously. Christina¡¯s heart was warmed by the concern shown by her grandmother. She felt the urge to pour her heart out and tell Azure about everything Anya did to her. However, before she could start, she heard Anya¡¯s voice in the background. ¡°Grandma, did Christina say when she¡¯ll be back?¡± Anya is with Grandma? Christina didn¡¯t want to alert Anya of her n yet. Besides, her words wouldn¡¯t carry much impact since she wasn¡¯t by Azure¡¯s side. Holding that thought, she suppressed her anger and decided to hold Anya ountable only upon her return ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve already signed the contract with Hadley Corporation and wille home in the next few days,¡± Christina replied. Azure nodded upon hearing Christina¡¯s calm voice. ¡°All right then. Be careful. Remember to bring the children over with you when youe. I¡¯ll be here, waiting for you.¡± ¡°All right. Grandma. You take care too.¡± Upon ending the call, Christina let out a sigh. Given that she had dirt on Anya, there wasn¡¯t much for her to be afraid of. Eyes narrowed, she began to plot how she could kick Anya out of Gibson Corporation. Although she was only in her twenties. Anya was extremely shrewd. Thus, taking her down was going to be an uphill task. Even if I can¡¯t remove her from Gibson Corporation, this matter alone is enough to threaten her position. All of a sudden, a towering figure blocked off the light. Nathaniel then gave her head a gentle stroke. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°I was thinking of going back in the next few days. Grandma has called to pester me about it,¡± Christina. replied. At that moment, her main concern was whether to take the children with her, for she was worried that any conflict with Anya might affect them. ¡°You should. I¡¯lle with you.¡± While speaking, Nathaniel walked right up to her. He then cornered her by cing his palms down on the table on both sides of her. ¡°It¡¯s not as simple as it seems. I¡¯m going back to confront Anya this time, so bringing the kids along isn¡¯t a good idea. Why don¡¯t you stay here with them instead?¡± That was the best idea Christina coulde up with. However, Azure¡¯s longing for her great- grandchildren caused her to hold her chin in contemtion. Nathaniel turned toward her and suggested in a deep voice, ¡°Why don¡¯t you take Raymond with you? The children will get to have some fun for a couple of days and won¡¯t get in your way.¡± ¡°Good idea. I¡¯ll do that.¡± Just as she spoke, Christina pushed his face away before squeezing her way out from underneath his arm. After she escaped from his grasp, Nathaniel turned around and watched her silhouette slip away like a cat. Soon, the weekend arrived. Before setting off, Cam and Lucas filled their bags with sweets. ¡°Mommy, we want to share these sweets with Granddad and Great-Granny,¡± Cam exined. Christina gave her face a gentle rub. ¡°That¡¯s so thoughtful of you. Let¡¯s get into the car now¡± With that, she carried both of them in. Thereafter, Nathaniel, too, joined them inside and put Cam on hisp. From the looks of it, he seemed to be going with them. ¡°We¡¯ll only be gone for a few days. Are you sure you want to tag along?¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Christina gave Nathaniel a hesitant look. Is he going to ignore his work just like that? ¡°Sebastian has made all the necessary arrangements. There¡¯s nothing for you to worry about.¡± The moment he finished, Nathaniel instructed the driver, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The driver immediately started the car and drove off. Two hourster, their car arrived outside the Gibson residence. Azure was already waiting at the door. The moment she saw two small figures emerge from the car, she walked forward in delight and swept them up into her arms. ¡°Oh, let me have a good look at you, my darlings!¡± The children¡¯s presence warmed Azure¡¯s heart. ¡°Great-Granny, look at what we brought you.¡± Cam couldn¡¯t wait to show her grandmother the sweets in her bag. Azure yed along by feigning surprise. ¡°Wow, they¡¯re sweets!¡± ¡°I deliberately brought them for you.¡± The children subsequently stuffed the bags into Azure¡¯s arms. Breaking into a proud smile, sheplimented the children for their thoughtfulness. Meanwhile, Christina and Nathaniel alighted from the car. Despite the joy her great-grandchildren. brought her, Azure¡¯s expression drastically changed at the sight of Nathaniel. The fact that he was Christina¡¯s husband didn¡¯t ease the animosity between the Hadley family and the Gibson family. ¡°I¡¯m back, Grandma,¡± Christina greeted while holding Nathaniel¡¯s hand. Azure put on airs by reflex. ¡°You should¡¯ve juste by yourself, Christina. Why did you bring the outsider?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s my husband. How can she call him an outsider? Christina shed a conflicted expression at her grandmother. ¡°Nathaniel was worried about meing home alone. Also, he wanted to visit you too.¡± ¡°How thoughtful of him. Come on in now, Christina,¡± Azure tlymented as she turned around and led the children inside. As the group walked into the house one after another, Christina snuck a concerned nce at Nathaniel but was relieved to see the emotionless look on his face. It was hard for her to believe there would be a time when the proud Nathaniel would stay silent after being sneered at. His response told her that he was truly intent on avoiding conflict with the Gibson family. Touched by his gesture, she held Nathaniel¡¯s hand ¡°Come now, let¡¯s head inside¡± Upon entering the living room. they were greeted by the sight of Anya, who had donned an expensive dress. She was sipping coffee on the couch, the air she gave off that of the mistress of the house The moment she saw the couple, she greeted sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you here. Mr. Hadley. The Gibson residence doesn¡¯t wee those who share your surname.¡± With a darkened expression, Christina sneered. ¡°Why are you being such a stranger now? Didn¡¯t you seem to be on good terms with him in Jadeborough?¡± Chapter 491 We Are Scared Chapter 491 We Are Scared Anya¡¯s expression swiftly turned grim. Since when did these two reconcile? She replied softly. ¡°That¡¯s just because I want to keep the peace when we¡¯re in public.¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re only nice in public but not at home?¡± Christina questioned, showing Anya no respect. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Anya could only scowl in response affer being left speechless by the scathingment. ¡°Enough! Stop arguing,¡± Azure ordered in a solemn tone. She didn¡¯t want them quarreling in front of her great-grandchildren. After peace returned to the living room, Azure shifted her attention to Nathaniel. ¡°The Gibson family knows what it takes to be a good host. It would be rude for us to kick you out, so please have a seat.¡± Azure orded Nathaniel due respect on the ount that he was her great-grandchildren¡¯s father. Thereafter, Lucas and Cam brought out sweets of different vors for Azure to try. Thetter reacted with joy upon epting the children¡¯s gifts. ¡°Thank you for bringing me these delicious sweets. I, too, have presents for the two of you. Why don¡¯t youe upstairs with me so that I can show you?¡± Azure asked with anticipation. The children cheered, ¡°Hurray! Let¡¯s go!¡± Their reaction drew a look of contempt from Anya, for she knew how expensive the gifts prepared by Azure were. The moment Azure was gone, Anya sneered, ¡°As if your attempt to im the family assets wasn¡¯t enough. You even brought two more children to get arger share. I can¡¯t believe how disgusting you are.¡± Before Christina could react, a towering figure preempted her by grabbing Anya¡¯s throat. ¡°You!¡± Anya was stunned. This is outrageous! How dare Nathaniely a finger on me in my own home? ¡°When Grandma sees you bullying me, she¡¯ll definitely kick you out of the house!¡± Felicia snarled, her entire face turning red. With no intention of letting go, Nathaniel gave her a piercing look as he warned, ¡°Go ahead and tell her. Remember to mention how you pushed Christina down the mountain too. Let¡¯s see which of us will be kicked out of the house after that.¡± Nathaniel had tolerated her presence the moment he stepped into the house. Little did he expect her to test his patience further. His threat blew Anya¡¯s mind, causing her to tremble in fear and rendering her speechless. After all, she had never expected Christina to survive the fall. ¡°What evidence do you have? Did you capture it on video?¡± Despite the silence that descended upon Nathaniel, he maintained his fiery re on her. His response triggered gloatingughter from Anya. ¡°How can you use me of pushing her when you have no proof whatsoever? You could well be maligning me when it was she who fell by herself.¡± Anya shed a smug smile the moment she finished. Seeing that, Christina came forward to pull Nathaniel¡¯s hand back. She then confronted Anya by shielding Nathaniel behind her. ¡°It appears to me that this was your n since the beginning. You seem confident that I have no evidence at all.¡± When Anya maintained her smirk and didn¡¯t reply, Christina leaned in to whisper in her ear, ¡°I might not have any proof for this crime, but I have plenty in my hands for another one.¡± Cognizant of what Christina was talking about, Anya began to panic. Her desperation was the only reason she chose to harm Christina. With a slight frown on her face, Christina led Nathaniel to the door. ¡°Why don¡¯t you head back to the hotel? I¡¯lle by with the kidster.¡± Christina had gotten Nathaniel to reserve a hotel room before their arrival. After walking him out the door, she watched his car leave before returning to the house. At that moment, Azure came down with the two children holding exquisite toys in their hands. Lucas was the first to run toward his mother to unt his toy. ¡°Mommy, look at this limited edition. ransformer. It¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°I received a Barbie-themed hairclip, dress, and doll. I really love them!¡± Cam showed off the items Azure got her. They were all a testament to her great-grandmother¡¯s love. Christina caressed their soft faces. ¡°Have both of you said your thanks?¡± ¡°Of course. We do know our manners,¡± Cam and Lucas replied in unison. Thereafter, Christina carried Cam and held Lucas by his hand as she walked to the door. ¡°I¡¯ll take you guys out for a stroll. There are plenty of fruit trees in the backyard. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve never seen them. before.¡± ¡°Okay, I can¡¯t wait to see them!¡± Just as Christina walked past Anya, she stumbled forward after being tripped. As cold sweat broke out abruptly on her spine, she staggered forward and crashed to the ground in an attempt to cushion Cam from the floor. Upon witnessing Christina¡¯s fall, the concerned Lucas hurried up to her. ¡°Mommy, what happened?¡± ¡°Mommy, does it hurt? Let me blow it for you.¡± The shock brought tears to Cam¡¯s eyes, while the tip of her nose began to redden. Getting to her feet, Christina could feel the pain from the impact on her knees. Yet, in order to maintain a strong front for the kids, she simply shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± With that, she turned around and shot Anya a re. Her gesture was followed by Lucas pointing his finger at thetter and yelling. ¡°You¡¯re a meanie. How Anya stood up and scoffed, ¡°So what if I did? You all had better get out of this house. You¡¯re not wee here at all!¡± She turned and went upstairs the moment she finished. Infuriated by her words, Lucas puffed his cheeks as he red at Anya¡¯s leaving silhouette. Just as he wanted to run after her, Christina quickly held him back. ¡°No, Lucas.¡± He shot Christina an indignant look. ¡°But she did it on purpose.¡± Christina simply snorted to herself. I¡¯ll definitely not show her any mercy tomorrow. After that, she carried the children in her arms. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go out to the backyard and y.¡± With that, she walked out with the children. When Christina wanted to return to the hotel in the afternoon, Azure invited them to stay for dinner, to which the children readily agreed.. Upon returning from her stroll outside, Anya could hear the sound of gigglesing from inside her room. Realizing that the childish voices belonged to the two children, she picked up her pace and stormed into the room, only to be greeted by the sight of it having been turned into a children¡¯s yground. The walls were covered with doodles, while her limited edition dresses were not spared. Even her jewelry was strewn across the floor in a huge mess. The devastation caused Anya to blow her top. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you b*stards if it¡¯s thest thing I do!¡± Nevertheless, the children shot her a defiant re. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have bullied my mommy, you wicked woman!¡± Whoever tries to harm Mommy will not be forgiven! The children threw their pens at Anya before fleeing from her room. ¡°Stop running! I¡¯m going to kill both of you!¡± The moment Anya emerged from her room in pursuit, she was greeted by the sight of the children peeking out from behind Azure. The two burst into tears immediately. ¡°Great-Granny, we¡¯re really scared! That evil woman is threatening to kill us. After bullying our mommy, she wants to do the same to us. I don¡¯t want toe here anymore!¡± Chapter 492 Things Are Getting Interesting Chapter 492 Things Are Getting Interesting Anya paused in her tracks, her face as ck as thunder. ¡°How dare you little bastards tell on me!¡± She would have taught the two kids a lesson if Azure weren¡¯t present. Lucas and Cam squirmed into Azure¡¯s arms and sobbed piteously, ¡°Great-Granny, save us!¡± Azure protected the two young kids and chastised, ¡°Anya, you shouldn¡¯t be so hard on them. They¡¯re just kids. You¡¯re so much older than them.¡± ¡°Grandma!¡± Anya was so apoplectic that she could almost feel steaming out of her ears. Her room was in such a terrible mess that it had practically be a huge garbage dump. ¡°Grandma, Christina was the one who told them to mess up my room. How could you still take their side?¡± Seeing red, she felt like she was on the verge of a cardiac arrest. Lucas made a face at her and harrumphed, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have messed up your room if you purposely tripped my mommy. You¡¯re the bad guy here. I was merely avenging her.¡± hadn¡¯t ¡°Great-Granny, she intentionally tripped Mommy and almost caused me to fall too. She¡¯s evil, so you to chase her out!¡± Camined with a pout. have Azure frowned upon hearing that. ¡°Anya, you¡¯ve gone overboard. How could you hurt others for fun?¡± Anya¡¯s face turned pale as she was rendered speechless from fury. In an instant, she went from being the victim to being the perpetrator. Azure sighed lightly and carried both children downstairs. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Great-Granny is here. I will protect you. I prepared some delicious desserts for you. Let¡¯s have some, shall we?¡± Lucas and Cam nodded cheerfully with their hands wrapped around Azure¡¯s neck. ¡°Sure! Let¡¯s go and finish all the snacks! We won¡¯t be leaving any for that nasty woman.¡± Anya red at the two rascals and gritted her teeth. I shall see how long that arrogance canst. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Christina brought her two children back to the hotel after dinner. Nathaniel had been working alone in the hotel for the entire day. Lucas and Cam were deadbeat after such a long day and fell asleep promptly after Christina gave them a bath. Christina emerged from the bathroom with her waist-long dark hair hanging loose. Her fair skin, which was scrubbed clean under the warm shower, glowed with a pearlescent sheen under the hotel¡¯s light. ¡°Are you not done yet?¡± She approached Nathaniel after drying her hair. Nathaniel put down his pen and pulled her into his arms. ¡°Just in time.¡± ¡°Did you take good care of the sh drive I passed to you?¡± Christina voiced her concern. Things Are Getting Interesting Nathaniel inclined his head. ¡°Of course. Do you need it now?¡± Christina shook her head. The sh drive will be safer with himpared to me. ¡°This is a good chance for us to gain leverage over Anya. Once we expose all of her crimes tomorrow, I¡¯ll have had my revenge!¡± she uttered seriously. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see everything unfold tomorrow.¡± The following day, the morning sunlight crept into the room through the curtains. Christina got ready to head to thepany after having breakfast with her two children. She entrusted the kids to her reliable bodyguard before leaving. ¡°You may send them to my grandmother¡¯s house. I¡¯ve already informed her of your arrival, so she¡¯ll be waiting by the gate.¡± Lucas and Cam lifted their heads and looked at their mother, asking curiously, ¡°Mommy, aren¡¯t you coming with us?¡± ¡°I have some important matters to deal with. I¡¯ll pick both of you up once I¡¯m done.¡± Christina ruffled their hair affectionately. She took the sh drive from Nathaniel after the children departed with the bodyguard. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t need me to go with you?¡± Nathaniel was rather worried. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be fine with your most trusted bodyguards by my side. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Christina straightened his tie. Her eyes shone with determination and gentleness. Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. ¡°Get this over with quickly so we can have lunch together. It¡¯ll be just the two of us without the kids. I want to spend some quality time with you.¡± Sensing the warmth from Nathaniel¡¯s lips on her forehead, Christina smiled blissfully. ¡°Okay.¡± She then turned toward the elevator with several bodyguards following behind her. One of them sat in the passenger seat of her car while the others got into two other cars. The journey to Gibson Corporation was rather smooth and peaceful. Christina observed how nervous and vignt the bodyguards were and wondered whether Nathaniel had overreacted by insisting on having so many bodyguards escort her. The car came to a stop at the traffic light. Gibson Corporation was only one street away. Suddenly, a sedan abruptly drove toward them against the flow of traffic. Subsequently, several motorcyclists emerged out of the blue and surrounded Christina¡¯s car. The bodyguards tensed up and beganmunicating through their walkie-talkies. ¡°Be on alert. There¡¯s imminent danger. Protect Mrs. Hadley.¡± Things Are Getting Interesting Christina subconsciously gripped her seatbelt tightly and felt her heart rate increase significantly. Just then, one of the motorcyclists used a metal chain to smash the car window. Hairline cracks formed on the window following an car-splitting bang. Sensing danger, Christina yelped in terror. ¡°Get us out of here! Drive!¡± The driver ignored the red lights and stepped hard on the elerator, causing the car to jerk forward at top speed. The motorcyclists were hot on their trails. The bodyguards in the other two cars attempted to throw them off by stopping their cars horizontally in the middle of the street, blocking their way. Several of the motorcyclists got down and began brawling with the bodyguards. Only then did it ur to Christina how dire the situation was. Anya is out of her mind. I can¡¯t believe she went to such extreme lengths just to stop me. Their car lost control without forewarning and began swerving on the road. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked the bodyguard urgently. ¡°The ground is too slippery. I¡¯ve lost control of the car,¡± Cold sweat dotted the driver¡¯s forehead as he grappled with the steering wheel. Christina felt dizzy as the car skidded around uncontrobly. Under the scorching sun, the ck Maybach collided head-on with a stone pir in front of it. The loud noise from the crash attracted the attention of passers-by, who observed as roiling steam rose from the damaged car. Some onlookers immediately called for the ambnce and the police. None of them stepped forward to offer assistance as they had no clue what had transpired. Meanwhile, in the car, Christina¡¯s head was spinning as she felt blood trickle down the side of her face. Her whole head hurt so badly that she couldn¡¯t tell how many injuries she sustained. She unfastened her seatbelt after taking some time to recover. The bodyguard exited the car first and opened the door to help her out. ¡°Are you all right, Mrs. Hadley?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. What time is it? We have to get to thepany.¡± Christina was dizzy and disoriented. All she could think about was getting to Gibson Corporation. However, her feet gave way after she barely took a few steps forward. In the meantime, Anya was on the phone at Gibson Corporation. iled the road just as you instructed, causing Christina¡¯s car to flip over. Although she managed to get out of the car, she cked out shortly after that. Her current condition remains unknown.¡± Chapter 493 You Can Head Back First Chapter 493 You Can Head Back First Christina took a deep breath. She turned to face the project director, a youngdy in her early twenties. ¡°Have you thought things through before owning up to the charges? Once you¡¯re proven guilty, you will not only have to return the money but your license will also be revoked. In the end, you¡¯ll be cklisted by all major corporations.¡± To a young female employee like her, such dire consequences spelled the end of her career. The director had made up her mind to risk everything. Biting the bullet, she said, ¡°I was the one who fabricated all these documents. Ms. Gibson truly had no idea. Whenever I presented the documents for signing. I included the false ounts and secretly withdrew themissions.¡± This project director had been working for Anya for a long time. Christina didn¡¯t expect Anya to abandon the project director to save herself. Christina¡¯s expression clouded over as she immediately called security to bring the project director away. The atmosphere in the conference room couldn¡¯t be any more tense. Actually, everyone knew what was going on, but no one dared to speak up. Christina didn¡¯t expect Anya to have an escape n and let the project director take the me. However, Christina wouldn¡¯t let her get out of this easily. Christina red at Anya and said sternly, ¡°Although consider the mastermind behind this wasn¡¯t you, you were negligent in your supervision, which is considered dereliction of duty. This shows that you¡¯re not suitable Starting today, you¡¯ll be demoted to the position of project group leader. think about getting promoted.¡± for the position of vice presidene standard, don¡¯t e If your performance doesn¡¯t meet With that, Christina looked at everyone and said, ¡°The meeting is adjourned.¡± She then walked out of the conference room. Anya was naturally upset since she had joined thepany as a director and was now demoted to a mere employee. However, she could only bear with it no matter how resentful she was at that moment. In the office, Christina received a name list from the director of the HR department. It was a list of employees that worked under Anya. ¡°They¡¯re all fired.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Steele.¡± The HR department¡¯s director took the list back from Christina and left. Even though she couldn¡¯t remove Anya from thepany, she removed thetter¡¯s closest allies. This would likely prevent Anya from causing any more trouble from now on. After settling everything, she heaved a sigh of relief and reclined in her chair. At this moment, the door was pushed open. Christina was resting with her eyes closed, so she assumed it was her assistant who had to grab the first aid kit. ¡°Just put it down. I¡¯ll take care of it myself.¡± The footsteps approached her and didn¡¯t stop until the person was behind her. Christina immediately grew wary and stood up abruptly. Subsequently, she met the man¡¯s jet-ck eyes. Nathaniel set aside the first aid kit he was holding and inspected the wound on her forehead while wearing an apathetic expression. Upon feeling the warmth from his fingertips, Christina instinctively recoiled. ¡°It hurts.¡± Her voice was so delicate and tender that Nathaniel¡¯s heart almost melted. His movements slowed down as he carefully disinfected her wound and blew on it to ease the pain. ¡°Those people have been caught, but none of them confessed who the mastermind was.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t necessarily tell the truth even if they do confess,¡± Christina added. After seeing Anya¡¯s tactics just now, she was sure Anya hade up with a way to escape unscathed. A dark glint shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t let her get away with it so easily.¡± ¡ª Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. His tone was light, but the chilly aura he exuded was palpable. Christina nodded. ¡°However, she¡¯s my cousin and someone my grandmother treasures. I can¡¯t bring myself to harm her.¡± Sometimes, she hated herself for being so soft-hearted. Even if others were cruel to her, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to hurt them. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Nathaniel carefully bandaged her wound and stopped mentioning this topic. At that moment, Christina¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Sheridan. ¡°Christina, I heard you¡¯re back. Did the information help you?¡± Sheridan¡¯s voice was as gentle as the setting sun. Although Nathaniel and Sheridan were both men, Nathaniel was like a scorching sun at noon, capable of melting the coldest heart. Sheridan, on the other hand, waspletely different from him. ¡°It has helped me tremendously! Thank you! Please send me the bill.¡± Christina smiled. Things wouldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly if she didn¡¯t have Sheridan helping her. Sheridan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked my assistant to send it. Have you eaten lunch? I know a nice restaurant. Shall we go and grab lunch together?¡± Christina hesitated as she nced at Nathaniel, whose expression had darkened. ¡°Of course, but¡­¡± She was about to suggest making ns for another time when Sheridan interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m already downstairs at yourpany. Come down.¡± With that, Sheridan hung up the phone. So fast? He¡¯s already downstairs? Christina shot an awkward nce at Nathaniel. ¡°How about you go back first? We¡¯ll grab dinner together, okay?¡± Chapter 494 Come To Me Anytime. Chapter 494 Come To Me Anytime. Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrow twitched. She wants me to go back while they go on a date? ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. I happen to want to try that restaurant.¡± Christina was taken aback, for Nathaniel and Sheridan had mismatched personalities, akin to oil and water. If they were to have a meal together, the tension in the air would certainly be palpable! A whileter, the couple arrived at the entrance together. Despite hisposed demeanor, Sheridan was rather taken aback to see Nathaniel standing there. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind another person joining us.¡± Christina chuckled in an attempt to ease the awkwardness. Sheridan responded by shing them a courteous smile. ¡°Of course not. Please, get in.¡± With that, he opened the door to the passenger seat. Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed, and he swiftly sped Christina¡¯s hand, swiftly pivoting on his heels and striding in the opposite direction. ¡°No need. We¡¯ll take our own vehicle.¡± A tinge of tension crept into Christina¡¯s expression. She offered a polite smile to Sheridan and suggested, ¡°Please lead the way, and we¡¯ll follow you.¡± Having said that, she turned and red at the man beside her, whispering. ¡°Can¡¯t you talk nicely?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s actions only made things awkward for everyone involved. Fortunately, Sheridan was not a petty person. Otherwise, he might have already left before they even had a chance to eat. ¡°What do you mean I wasn¡¯t talking nicely? Can¡¯t you see the way he looks at you? It¡¯s as if he wants to swallow you whole,¡± Nathaniel hissed. ¡°He lent me a helping hand. Can you please show him some respect?¡± Exasperated. Christina climbed into the car and firmly shut the door behind her. Nathaniel¡¯s expression grew grim as he observed her forcefully shutting the door, his eyebrows furrowing in displeasure. He merely helped you out with the ounts. Who doesn¡¯t know how to do that? Aware of the woman¡¯s obvious discontent, he had no choice but to tamp down his anger and get into the driver¡¯s seat. He then started the engine and proceeded to follow Sheridan¡¯s vehicle. In due time, they arrived at the restaurant. Nathaniel maintained a quiet demeanor, looking slightly displeased, but at the very least, he did not offer any offending remarks. -During the meal, only Christina and Sheridan were chatting away. However, when it came almost time to pay the bill, Nathaniel¡¯s phone rang, and he excused himself to take the call. Hence, when the bill came, Christina jumped at the opportunity to pay, only to be stopped by Sheridan. ¡°How can I let you pay? You¡¯ve been such great help to me, after all. Why don¡¯t you let me treat you to a meal?¡± Christina could not help but sigh as she watched Sheridan hand the waiter money. ¡°You¡¯ll have the chance to treat me to a meal next time.¡± Sheridan grinned, exuding an air of elegance. He paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you two are back together.¡± Watching Christina and Nathaniel interact reminded him of a new couple whose romance was just budding The woman¡¯s face reddened in embarrassment. She and Nathaniel had had their fair share of arguments and was even on the brink of divorce at some point. However, after going through a series of events, they were bound together, tighter than ever. ¡°Well, I hope it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Truth be told, Christina wasn¡¯t certain if it was possible for her and Nathaniel. She was merely going with what her heart yearned for. Since we didn¡¯t separate after all that we¡¯ve been through, perhaps we¡¯re fated to be together. Sheridan shed her a smile. ¡°I wish you two a happily ever after. If he doesn¡¯t treat you well¡­ you can come to me anytime.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes widened in shock, leaving her momentarily speechless. She respond to his unexpected statement. Just then, Nathaniel returned from outside, having ended the call. ¡°Can we leave now?¡± ¡°You guys go ahead. I feel bloated from all the food. I might go on a walk to relieve it,¡± said Sheridan. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s meet again soon.¡± Christina rose from her seat and beamed at him. Nathaniel gently held her hand as they made their way out of the restaurant together, a voice. ¡°The kids are rushing us to head back. We should hurry,¡± he said. On their way back, he asked with feigned indifference. ¡°What did he say to you while I was gone?¡± Despite being engaged in a phone call, Nathaniel had closely observed Christina and Sheridan¡¯s interaction. ¡°Nothing much¡­ Just that I can ask him for help if I encounter any issues with the ounts in the future.¡± Christina lied.. Her intuition told her that if she was truthful, the man would have likely turned the car around and headed back to the restaurant to ¡°reason¡± with Sheridan. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just ounting? Leave it to me next time.¡± Nathaniel scoffed, a hint of disdain present in his voice. Christina was amused by his proud yet jealous attitude. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let you handle it all,¡± she said yfully. On the road, she received a call from the Gibson residence. It was Azure. ¡°Christina,e home for dinner tonight, and bring the kids and Nathaniel along,¡± the elderly woman requested. Christina was rather surprised by her grandmother¡¯s words. To her knowledge, Azure opposed Nathaniel. due to his identity. However, now that she was extending an invitation to him, Christina could not bear to decline. ¡°Okay, Grandma. I¡¯m on my way back to the hotel. I¡¯ll pick up Lucas and Cam before heading over.¡± Azure smiled in satisfaction. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Meanwhile, at the Gibson residence, Azure had just hung up when she was met with the storm brewing in Anya¡¯s eyes. Anya approached her grandmother with a mixture of anger and frustration, questioning, ¡°Grandma, the Gibson and Hadley families are at odds with one another. How could you invite Nathaniel over for dinner?¡± Azure¡¯s face took on a solemn expression. ¡°You won¡¯t understand. Rest assured, I have my purpose for inviting him here.¡± You wish to be the son-inw of the Gibson family, hm? Let¡¯s see if you have what it takes. Anya¡¯s excitement grew as she heard Azure¡¯s words. ¡°Grandma, what is your n?¡± she asked eagerly. ¡°Of course, I must find a way to separate the two of them.¡± Given Christina¡¯sck of awareness about the Gibson family¡¯s true nature, it was understandable that she got involved with Nathaniel. However, now that she was aware of the situation, it only seemed logical for her to separate herself from him. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll understand. Azure rose from her seat and ascended the stairs with a determined stride. Watching her grandmother¡¯s retreating figure, Anya couldn¡¯t help chuckling inwardly, her mind filling with anticipation. With Grandma¡¯s intervention, the rtionship between Christina and Nathaniel is destined to crumble. Grandma is no ordinary person. Her reputation in Hallsbay precedes her, and her instrumental role in propelling the Gibson family to greatness cannot be underestimated. Years of dedicated service at Gibson Corporation have bestowed upon her a wealth of experience and influence, allowing her to hold the highest authority in thepany. Even if she has transferred half of her shares to Christina, her secret holdings still wield significant power. I couldn¡¯t be more thrilled to have Grandma on my side in this battle. In the evening, a Lincoln came to stop at the entrance of the Gibson residence. As soon as the doors were open, Lucas and Cam dashed out of the vehicle. ¡°Oh, my dear great-grandchildren! Come to Great-Granny!¡± Azure eagerly beckoned the children over as she had eagerly awaited their arrival for quite some time. The two little ones were great at acting cute. They trotted over, their tiny steps filled with excitement. With joyful anticipation, they jumped into their great-grandmother¡¯s awaiting arms. ¡°Great-Granny, it¡¯s only been a few days since west saw you, but you look much younger,¡± Lucas remarked as he gazed up at the elderly woman. Cam added, ¡°Great-Granny is in good health, so it¡¯s no wonder she looks young.¡± Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Azure chuckled in amusement before instructing the butler to bring the children inside. Christina and Nathaniel approached Azure, their hands intertwined as they greeted her in unison, ¡°Hello, Grandma.¡± Azure¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she responded, ¡°I¡¯m Christina¡¯s grandmother, so it¡¯s only fitting for her to address me that way. As for you, you should address me as ¡®Mrs. Lazuli.¡± Azure¡¯s desire for Nathaniel to address her formally reflected her reluctance to ept him into the family. At this point, Christina¡¯s expression grew more perplexed, for she couldn¡¯t figure out her grandmother¡¯s intentions. Why did she invite him to dinner if she had reservations about epting him? Is it possible that she purposely wants to make things difficult for him? Nathaniel remainedposed and unfazed by the elderly woman¡¯s request. In a measured tone, he responded. ¡°Of course. Addressing you as ¡®Mrs. Lazuli does make you sound younger.¡± Chapter 495 Gifts Chapter 495 Gifts In an attempt to alleviate the awkwardness, Christina chimed in, ¡°Ah, I wasn¡¯t aware that you preferred to be addressed as ¡®Mrs. Lazuli. Should I start calling you that as well?¡± Azure grinned, yfully and gently tapping her granddaughter¡¯s nose. ¡°Don¡¯t be such a tease.¡± Worried that her grandmother would continue giving Nathaniel a hard time, she released Nathaniel¡¯s hand and instead linked arms with Azure, guiding her inside the house. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside and have dinner. I¡¯m famished.¡± Nathaniel retrieved several bags of gifts from the trunk of the car before joining them and making his way inside. Upon entering the residence, Christina couldn¡¯t help but notice a few unfamiliar faces. They were dressed to the nines, and their gazes were filled with scrutiny when they saw her. She whispered into Azure¡¯s ear, ¡°Grandma, did you invite them here?¡± Grandma didn¡¯t mention that there would be this many guests when we were on the phone earlier. Azure replied softly, ¡°Yes, I did. These are your rtives. They heard that I found my biological granddaughter and expressed their interest in meeting you.¡± Many of them knew of Christina¡¯s existence and had long since wanted to meet her. Christina forced an awkward smile onto her lips. At that moment, she looked like a helpless child who was meeting her rtives for the first time. A housekeeper approached Nathaniel and offered to take the bags from him. With a smile, she remarked, ¡°Mr. Hadley, how courteous of you. The gifts you brought seem to be quite heavy.¡± Azure settled herself on the couch, expressing her disapproval with a scoff. ¡°Hmph. We don¡¯t have space to store such gifts here. Leave them here for now, and he can take them back when they leave.¡± Despite the presence of numerous rtives in the hall, Azure did not bother to hold back with her words. It was apparent that she wasn¡¯t nning on showing Nathaniel any respect. Naturally, Azure was well aware that her words would provoke Nathaniel and fuel his anger. She could not be happier than to watch him lose his temper, as it would provide her with a valid reason to urge Christina to leave him. Hence, she waited patiently for his reaction. On the other hand, Christina¡¯s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and difort. She found herself caught in the middle, torn between her loyalty to Nathaniel and her family ties with Azure. I have no idea what to do if a confrontation breaks out between Nathaniel and Grandma. Given his temper, he wouldn¡¯t sit back and allow these remarks to slide. At that thought, Christina cast a worried nce at the man. Fortunately, Nathaniel remainedposed as he stood beside Christina. It was as if Azure¡¯s words had no power to affect or hurt him. Without a change in his expression, he uttered tly, ¡°I apologize if my gifts are not to your liking, Mrs. Lazuli. However, since I have already brought them here and you find them displeasing, perhaps you can distribute them among the rtives who are present today.¡± He was not the type of person who would take back his gifts once they had been given. Everyone present instantly recognized Nathaniel when he entered and was well aware of his status as the CEO of Hadley Corporation. Thus, they held the belief that any gifts presented by him would undoubtedly be of the highest quality. Christina shared the same sentiments as he did. Since they had already brought the gifts, it wouldn¡¯t be right to retract them. She turned toward the butler and said, ¡°Please unpack the gifts and arrange them on a table for everyone to see. If any of our guests are interested, they are wee to take them. Is that all right with you, Grandma?¡± Azure scoffed, her gaze and tone filled with disdain. ¡°Very well. Though I¡¯m afraid that the housekeepers would be burdened with the tedious task of repacking themter. It would be such a waste of time and energy.¡± Christina merely smiled at her grandmother¡¯s words before shooting a look at the butler, silently conveying her instructions. The butler called over a few housekeepers to help. They then took out the gifts and ced them on the table one by one, per Christina¡¯s orders. As the housekeepers unveiled the gifts, revealing the exquisite contents within, a sense of astonishment filled the grand hall. The room fell silent as eyes widened in awe. The assortment of presents included luxurious emerald bracelets, dazzling diamond brooches, elegant pearl nes, high¨Cquality supplements, delicacies like abalones and sea cucumbers, as well as branded stationery. Nathaniel had prepared everything. Even Christina was taken aback by the sheer extravagance of the gifts. She was not expecting such a grand gesture, considering the limited preparation time, but Nathaniel¡¯s thoughtfulness and attention toThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. detail surpassed her expectations. A few individuals eagerly rose from their seats, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they hastened toward the disy of gifts. One of them couldn¡¯t help butment with admiration, ¡°Mr. Hadley, your generosity knows no bounds. Your dedication to your wife and her family is truly remarkable.¡± ¡°These pearl earrings are so pretty! I want them!¡± ¡°I want that diamond ne!¡± ¡°Give that to me!¡± ¡°Hey! I took it first!¡± In the beginning, a sense of mutual respect permeated the air as the guests gracefully passed the gifts amongst themselves. However, as time wore on, the guests were filled with apprehension and anxiety, fearing that the items they coveted would be taken away. The atmosphere became increasingly fraught with tension, transforming the once cordial gathering into a scene of fervent disputes and heated arguments, as everyone vied to secure their desired gifts. Before long, all of thevish gifts on the table were dispersed among the guests, leaving behind only a set of art paper and a set of stationery. Anya had anticipated witnessing Nathaniel¡¯s embarrassment, but to her surprise, the rtives did not comply with her expectations. Instead, they eagerly seized every gift Nathaniel had presented. Anya¡¯s face turned gloomy, contrasting sharply with the gleeful and satisfied expressions of the other rtives. Azure noticed the remaining things on the table and went to take a look. After thorough observation, she eximed in surprise, ¡°Are these from Yarley Bookstore?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± came Nathaniel¡¯s indifferent response. Anya¡¯sughter echoed through the room, her tone filled with mockery. She seemed to have found an opportunity to undermine Nathaniel as she fired back, ¡°Are you trying to deceive us with knockoffs? Yarley Bookstore only produces its items four times a year, and pre¨Corders must be ced a month in advance. Did you really have enough time to arrange these gifts?¡± The art papers produced by Yarley Bookstore were renowned for their exceptional quality. Manufactured using traditional methods, each paper went through numerous meticulous steps, resulting in a product of great value. If one were not a seasoned artist, one would purchase such costly materials. Even if one did purchase the art papers, the thought of parting with them would be inconceivable. Thus, fueled by her skepticism, Anya remained confident in her belief that the art papers on the table were nothing more than cheap imitations. Hearing this, the rtives who had eagerly imed the gifts from the table began inspecting their newfound possessions with a mix of panic and worry, doubt creeping into their minds as they questioned the authenticity of the gifts. Christina, too, was panic¨Cstricken. Her mind raced as she sought a way to defend Nathaniel and salvage the situation. On the other hand, Nathaniel remained as calm as a millpond, his expression unchanging as he turned a deaf ear to Anya¡¯s usations. Azure¡¯s finger glided across the art paper as she took note of the familiar texture. Indeed, the papers resembled the ones she usually used. Immediately after, she took hold of the remaining items on the table and handed them over to the butler, instructing him to put them away. ¡°These are indeed genuine,¡± she remarked. ¡°I must say, I¡¯m quite surprised you were able to acquire such rare items.¡± Anya¡¯s earlier suspicion echoed in Azure¡¯s mind. The art papers do need to be pre¨Cordered in advance. Did he begin preparing the gifts a month ago? At that realization, Azure¡¯s gaze fixated on Nathaniel with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. The man could not be bothered to exin himself, and hismanding presence silenced any doubts or objections regarding the authenticity of his gifts. After the ordeal, the family members engaged in a brief conversation before eventually taking their leave. It was close to eight at night when the remaining people relocated to the dining room. Everyone settled into their seats at the dining table, with Lucas and Cam sitting on either side of Azure. The housekeepers then served steaming tes of freshly cooked pasta to each person at the table. Nathaniel dined with elegance, but hisposure faltered after he took a few bites of the pasta. A sudden spiciness and lingering pain assaulted his taste buds, leaving him puzzled. Upon closer inspection, he realized that there were finely¨Cchopped ghost peppers mixed into his te of pasta. The ghost peppers shared the same hue as tomatoes, effectively camouging the unexpected heat. It was only after a few bites that Nathaniel¡¯s throat began to burn. Chapter 496 I Will Solve It Chapter 496 I Will Solve It Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed, and he let out a soft cough, instinctively covering his nose with his hands. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Nathaniel?¡± Christina asked softly as she leaned closer to him. ¡°Someone put chili in my bowl,¡± Nathaniel replied in a voice so soft that only the both of them could hear. His brows remained knitted. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t take spicy food at all. If he consumed anything with spice, his throat would be hoarse the next day, and he would experience stomach difort for several days after. Across from them, Anya¡¯s tone dripped with sarcasm as she remarked, ¡°Grandma went through the trouble of having pasta delivered all the way from Irushea because it¡¯s her favorite. Are you saying that the food prepared in the Gibson residence isn¡¯t to your liking?¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but conclude that it was intentional on Anya¡¯s part to instruct the staff to add chili to Nathaniel¡¯s te. There seemed to be no other exnation for why his pasta was spicy while everyone else was enjoying the same dish. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯m fine,¡± Nathaniel told her. He didn¡¯t want to cause a scene during dinner. Christina¡¯s expression turned dark as she grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s te of pasta. While Nathaniel refrained from causing a scene, Christina believed it was her responsibility to address the issue on his behalf. After all, Azure had dered this ce as her home, and it was only reasonable for Christina to bring up any problems that arose during dinner. She took a bite of his pasta before summoning the butler. ¡°Who told you to add chili to this pasta?¡± ¡°It was Ms. Gibson¡¯s order,¡± the butler replied, seemingly hesitant. Christina firmly set her utensils aside and ordered, ¡°Take this te of pasta to the person who instructed you to add chili and let them enjoy it themselves.¡± Her tone carried a resolute authority, leaving no room for argument. The butler shot Anya a stumped look. ¡°Well¡­ I¡­¡± Anya was caught off guard, not expecting Christina to confront her directly during dinner. There was no way she¡¯d eat a te of pasta full of chili. shing an awkward smile, she piped up, ¡°The kitchen staff must¡¯ve heard wrongly. Butler, please get him a new te of pasta.¡± The butler quickly left with the spicy pasta. Soon, a te of non¨Cspicy pasta was ced before Nathaniel. ¡°Mr. Hadley, please enjoy your meal,¡± the butler said politely. Azure was a witness to the entire debacle but didn¡¯t speak up to stop them. As it was a minor matter, she pretended to not see anything, not wanting to appear biased toward anyone involved. After dinner came to an end, Azure went upstairs with the kids while Christina and Nathaniel took a leisurely stroll in the backyard. ¡°I didn¡¯t see your father during dinner. Where is he?¡± Nathaniel asked, showing his concern. Christina¡¯s gaze dimmed at the mention of her biological father. ¡°He¡¯s unwell, so he normally doesn¡¯t come downstairs for meals.¡± She was still uncertain about how to approach the task of informing Nathaniel and her father about the truth. It was tough to be stuck in the middle. Nevertheless, Christina snapped out of her reverie and dragged him back to the house. ¡°It¡¯s getting late, so we should leave.¡± Over an hour had passed since dinner concluded, and Christina wondered what had upied the children¡¯s attention to the extent that they hadn¡¯t asked for their parents. The couple returned to the house and told the butler to bring the kids downstairs. Shortly after, Azure came down the stairs, but the children were nowhere to be seen. ¡°Grandma, where are Lucas and Cam?¡± Christina inquired as a sense of unease grew within her. Azure replied indifferently, ¡°They are asleep. Let them spend the night here.¡± ¡°No need. We¡¯re taking them with us now.¡± Nathaniel suddenly spoke up firmly as his gaze turned dark. Christina swiftly reached out and grasped his hand, urging him to remainposed and avoid creating a scene. In a firm tone, she asserted, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll bring the kids to visit tomorrow. Let me take them home now.¡± ¡°Why go through all the trouble? Let them stay here so I can see them whenever I want,¡± Azure replied with a gentle tone. D ¡°What did you do to the children? Did you hide them somewhere?¡± Nathaniel frowned as his expression turned icy. No wonder they¡¯ve been distant and cold toward me since my arrival. I anticipated them making things difficult for me, but it seems their focus is on the children, not me. Azure¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Do you seriously think the grudge between both families will end if you offer us a coboration and some gifts? How na?ve of you.¡± A heavy silence filled the air, freezing time in its tracks. Feeling flustered, Christina stepped forward, her gaze filled with disbelief. ¡°Grandma, that¡¯s a matter between the adults. Why did you involve the kids?¡± However, the elderly woman remained unfazed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t hurt them, but if the Hadley family wants them back, that won¡¯t be an easy feat.¡± D She relished the thought of the panic and distress that would consume the Hadley family once they discovered the children were missing. It was precisely the reaction she had hoped to provoke. D Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were blocks of ice as he demanded angrily, ¡°What do you want?¡± They hid the kids to get something from me, right? Azure threw a file at him, and itnded at his feet with a thud. ¡°Invest one percent on day one, five on day two, thirty percent on day three, and fifty percent on day five,¡± shemanded. ¡°Once youply, I¡¯ll return the children to you.¡± percent Christina picked up the file and realized it was a contract outlining Hadley Corporation¡¯s investment in a new energy development project by Gibson Corporation. The investment amount was staggering, with fifty percent of it being equivalent to half of Hadley Corporation¡¯s funds. It was unclear whether the project had alreadymenced or if it was just a facade, with Gibson Corporation using it as a means to acquire funds from Hadley Corporation in a seemingly legitimate manner. ¡°Grandma, how could you do this? How could you use my children to threaten the Hadley family?¡± Tears pooled up in Christina¡¯s eyes. D She felt a deep sense of injustice, not wanting her children to be caught in the crossfire of the ongoing feud between the two families. Azure¡¯s face turned grim as she instructed the butler to escort Christina upstairs. ¡°Mr. Hadley, take the file with you and take your time to consider it at home. However, be aware that I have little patience, and I won¡¯t wait for long. I expect to see the signed contract tomorrow, along with the initial investment amount transferred to my ount. If you dare to deceive me in any way, rest assured that you won¡¯t have the privilege of seeing your beloved children ever again.¡± Nathaniel gripped the file tightly until it crumpled up. A thunderous scowl buried itself in his forehead, an ominous ck thundercloud of temper settling over him. The housekeepers quickly sidestepped him, as if he were not a person but a fearsome lion capable of tearing them apart if they did not move out of his path swiftly. Nathaniel was breathless with anger. He had arrived with the intention of resolving their feud, only to be betrayed by Azure and have his children taken away from him. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. How could he not be enraged? Christina gave him a worried look. ¡°Nathaniel, I¨CI didn¡¯t know this would happen¡­¡± Her voice began trembling. She anticipated that things wouldn¡¯t go smoothly, but she never expected Azure to stoop to such a despicable tactic. The repercussions of a head¨Cto¨Chead confrontation between the two families would be dire. Holding Nathaniel¡¯s hand tightly, she couldn¡¯t stop her eyes from turning red as she fought back the urge to cry. Ultimately, Nathaniel¡¯s heart softened when he saw the pitiful state his beloved woman was in. ¡°Stay here and take care of the kids. I¡¯ll solve the problem.¡± Chapter 497 A Man Chapter 497 A Man ¡°Nathaniel, L¡­¡± Christina felt her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach in despair, causing her immense difort. Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her shoulder and massaged her brows. ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine. Leave this to me.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°Take care of the kids. Trust me,¡± Nathaniel asserted. Christina¡¯s brows knitted together. Left with no other choice, she nodded in agreement. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s keep in touch with each other.¡± At that, Nathaniel spun on his heels and left with the file. Christina felt a deep sense of remorse as she watched him walk away. She could tell that he had prepared the gifts with care, knowing the importance of their visit to the Gibson family. s, all of his efforts were in vain, and it pained her to see him hurt in such a way. Christina¡¯s eyes were burning as she turned to look at Azure. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯ve disappointed me.¡± Anya marched over to join Azure and gave Christina a dismissive look. ¡°Don¡¯t be na?ve. The Hadley family is at odds with us. How could you still defend Nathaniel at this juncture?¡± D ¡°He¡¯s my husband. Besides, that ident wasn¡¯t his fault!¡± Christina protested as tears glistened in her eyes. She felt like she had been betrayed by her own family. Despite that, Azure maintained a stern and cold expression, her gaze filled with an icy resolve. She remained silent, showing no signs of remorse for using the kids as leverage to threaten Nathaniel. Biting her lip. Christina demanded, ¡°Lucas and Cam are your grandchildren. How could you use them. as pawns to fulfill your own desires? What will happen when they discover the truth when they¡¯re older? Won¡¯t they be furious with you?¡± Isn¡¯t she afraid the kids will me her when they grow up? Azure scowled. ¡°That¡¯s it. We¡¯ll talk about thatter. For now, he has to fulfill the agreement.¡± She had made up her mind, so no one could persuade her otherwise. Christina quickly ran after her. ¡°Where are Lucas and Cam?¡± As long as the kids were safe, she was fine with everything else. Seeing Christina¡¯s concern, Azure responded darkly, ¡°Rest assured, they are safe. Just be patient and wait. I¡¯m doing this for your own good, youngdy.¡± ¡°Grandma, I know you¡¯re upset, but you cannot- Before Christina could finish her words, Anya shoved her away. ¡°Grandma won¡¯t tell you where the kids are. Just stay here and don¡¯t cause amotion With that. Anya held Azure and helped her up the stairs Disappointment flooded Christina as she watched them walk away Noticing that no cars had left the premises since her arrival, she realized that the children were still inside the expansive house However, finding their whereabouts within the vast residence posed a daunting challenge. Nevertheless, Christina wasn¡¯t about to give up. I have five days to find the children and save them. If I seed. Nathaniel won¡¯t have to make that investment in the project. I can¡¯t let him give away his hard-earned money to the Gibson family. That night, Christina found it impossible to sleep. She spent the entire night tirelessly searching the vast Gibson residence. However, with its numerous sections and locked rooms, her solo search proved challenging The butler had been instructed not to grant her ess to any keys, furtherplicating her mission. Christina¡¯s search proved futile. At dawn, she fell asleep out of exhaustion in one of the guest rooms, deciding to get some rest before continuing with her search. Having learned of Christina¡¯s relentless search, Azure took measures to ensure her n remained undisturbed by arranging for someone to lock the guest room Christina was staying in from the outside. When Christina woke up around noon, she felt a pang of hunger and made her way to the door. To her dismay, it was locked from the outside. I can¡¯t believe they locked me up! Christina pounded on the door angrily. ¡°Open the door now! Open it!¡± s, Christina¡¯s desperate yells and pounding on the door went unanswered, echoing through the building with no one to hear or respond to her helpless pleas. ¡°Open the door! I need to find Lucas and Cam!¡± Meanwhile, Anya was enjoying her lunch alone when the housekeeper reported to her, ¡°Ms. Gibson, Ms. Steele has been locked up. She is crying and pounding on the door. Shall we release her?¡± A smirk yed on Anya¡¯s lips. ¡°Why should we release her? Ignore her and don¡¯t bring her any food. She can starve for today.¡± Christina¡¯s tough. She didn¡¯t die back at the cliff, so she won¡¯t starve to her death this time, too. The housekeeper dared not defy her order and nodded before leaving. After finishing her lunch, Anya strolled out of the house and followed a path that led to the backyard. Her steps carried her to a storage room tucked away from in sight. She fished out the key and unlocked the door to see two kids huddled against each other. They were none other than Lucas and Cam. ¡°Evil woman, let us out!¡± Lucas screamed in fury. two mido ¨¤ prisilia en fed de pi continuity. When theri asike they friend diemelten in the disde condnes of this room Armen who did this to them After petting Ineked up in the dark for the whole night, Cam was trembling as the chung in tightly in Her voice was disoriented as die whispered. Lovas Feared Can you take me to Mommy?¡± Anya shot them a glosting look as an iry grin yed on her lips. ¡°You got locked up as you were naughty Hote dere they treat my room at their yground! Serve them right? Fury shed in Lucas gaze ¡°Evildy, let us go! We want to see our mommy¡¯ If Daddy finds out you¡¯re been bullying us hell definitely make you pay¡±¡± Anya scoffed mockingly, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°Oh, how armusing. Your daddy is too preupied toe to your rescue! And as for your mommy, well, she hasn¡¯t the faintest idea of your whereabouts. She won¡¯t be able to find you?¡± Her terrifyingughter filled the air Cam burst into tears and kept asking for her mother. Lucas did his best tofort his sister, but his efforts seemed futtle in soothing her distress Pleased. Anya spun on her heels to leave. In a sudden turn of events, a small figure dashed toward Anyha, delivering a forceful push that caught her off guard. Taken by surprise, Anya stumbled forward before crashing to the ground, screaming out in anguish. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Ow! Ow, my face hurts! You little b*stards, do you want me to punish you both?¡± Without hesitation, Lucas took Cam¡¯s hand and ran for the door. They both stepped on Anya¡¯s back on the way out in their haste to flee the scene. ¡°Lucas, I¡¯m scared Cam¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, her rosy cheeks turning pale. It was a heart- wrenching sight to behold. Lucas wiped her tears away gently. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Cam. Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll be safe once we find Mommy!¡± Mommy taught me to protect Cam at all times as I¡¯m a man He grabbed her hand tightly and continued running, his voice echoing through the surroundings as he shouted for Christina. ¡°Mommy, where are you? Mommy!¡± Chapter 498 Make A Move Chapter 498 Make A Move Christina, who was locked up in the room, had copsed to the ground from exhaustion. In her daze, she thought she heard the children¡¯s voices, so she opened the window to see two tiny figures running in the corridor. Christina was startled, and she hastily shouted at the two tiny people, ¡°Lucas, Cam, I¡¯m here!¡± Upon hearing their mother¡¯s voice, the children excitedly waved their hands at her. ¡°Mommy, we¡¯ve come for you!¡± Immediately, the children rushed toward Christina¡¯s room. Just as they did that. Anya and the housekeepers ran after them. Christina could no longer remain calm by then, for she knew that if the children were taken away, she would not be able to find them again. After surveying the room, she soon found a chair. Without hesitation, she picked it up and swung it at the lock on the door. With a resounding ng, the lock was evidently loosened. Christina swung the chair at it once more before it finally gave way and fell off. Christina narrowed her eyes and tossed the chair away. With a rough kick on the lock, the door unlocked. Right as she opened the door, the children lunged over and threw themselves into her arms, bawling. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m so scared! She¡¯s a bad person! Slic locked us both up!¡± Cam was sniffling and crying as she spoke, tears filling her eyes. As Christina held them tightly, she softly consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Cam. I¡¯ll take you two away from this ce.¡± The trio hugged each other tightly. Just as they were about to leave, Anya and the housekeepers rushed upstairs. A few of the housekeepers were even standing at the staircase, blocking their way. A wicked grin spread across Anya¡¯s face when her gaze fell upon the three frantic figures. ¡°Grandma said. you have to stay here until the n ispleted.¡± Her expression turned sinister and smug. She regarded them with a gaze akin to a butcher eyeing helpless sheep as if she held the power to do anything to them. Christina took several steps back with the children in her arms. Gently guiding them into an empty room, she reassured them, ¡°Be good. Once I¡¯m done settling this, I¡¯ll take you two away from this ce.¡± Lucas and Cam could only helplessly look at their mother before nodding slowly. ¡°Be careful, Mommy.¡± ¡°All right. Don¡¯te out, okay? I¡¯ll be done with this soon.¡± While saying that, Christina closed the door behind her. Her gaze locked onto Anya¡¯s arrogant expression, and with determination in her voice, she demanded, ¡°Step aside on your ord. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for not showing you any mercy¡± lemess flickered in Christina¡¯s eyes as her delicatece tensed up. Nevertheless, Anya did not heed the woman¡¯s warning and instead let out a mocking Laugh ¡°And let you go? Dream on! You¡¯d better get back in that mom obediently. Perhaps Grandma might show you three a sliver of mercy once this is over and allow you room The only thought consuming Christina¡¯s mind was the desperate need to escape with her children from that ce. ¡°This has nothing to do with us, yet you¡¯re using me and my children as your bargaining chips. You¡¯ve truly let me down.¡± Christina had the Gibsons¡¯ best interest at heart, only to be used as a mere instrument for their revenge If that was how things were going to be, they would no longer hold any significance in her life. A solemn determination shone in Christina¡¯s eyes as she spoke with a firm tone. ¡°Consider this your final chance, Anya.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care for your chances.¡± Anya responded defiantly. With her gaining the upper hand, she had no intention of allowing Christina to escape. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Furrowing her brows, she then turned to instruct the housekeepers, ¡°Take her back into the room. If she puts up a fight, don¡¯t hesitate to use physical force. I¡¯ll take full responsibility for any injuries and report the incident to Grandma.¡± What a cruel woman. I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s even going to hurt me! Christina narrowed her eyes, then tightened her fists in anger. Winning against the numerous people in front of her would prove to be a challenge with her current strength. Determined, Christina knew that she had to make every punch count. She had to take down the housekeepers with a single punch, for it was her only path to victory in this confrontation. Right then, one of the housekeepers approached Christina with hostility in her eyes. It was evident that the housekeeper did not regard Christina as the eldest daughter of the Gibson family. Just as the female housekeeper reached out to grab Christina¡¯s shirt, Christina seized the opportunity to grab the woman¡¯s outstretched wrist. In a swift and decisive move, she pushed her opponent forward and used the momentum tond a powerful punch. Overwhelmed by the impact, the woman let out an anguished cry before falling to the ground. Another housekeeper took a few hurried steps forward in an attempt to aid her fallen colleague. However, she had taken no more than a couple of steps when Christina swiftly stepped on her knee. With a loud thump, she copsed to the ground, now kneeling before Christina. A wave of fear washed over the remaining housekeepers as they witnessed the scene unfolding before their eyes. They had all underestimated her, assuming she was a small and delicate woman who posed no threat to the group of them. However, now it seemed like they had made the wrong assumptions. When Anya noticed how nervous and hesitant the housekeepers were, she grew rmed, her voice trembling with a mix of panic and frustration as she urged, ¡°Why are you just standing there? Move! Attack her together! Why are you all so afraid of one woman when there are so many of you?¡± Left without a choice, the other housekeepers were forced to dash over, and sure enough, Christina could not fend off all of them by herself. In no time, a few of the women had restrained her arms and legs, rendering Christina unable to budge. At that, Anya could not resist cackling in delight, herughter echoing throughout the room. ¡°You can¡¯t escape, Christina. Say, what do you think about this idea? We¡¯ll use you as leverage to force Nathaniel into giving our family more shares. I¡¯m sure he¡¯llply willingly. After all, those shares probably mean nothing to him since he was willing to put his life on the line to look for you in the mountains.¡± Christina was heaving, and hershes were quivering from rage. How dare they control me and use me as a bargaining chip to threaten Nathaniel! The humiliation was making her spiral into an emotional breakdown. In the next second, Christina whipped her head to the side and sank her teeth fiercely into one of the hands that were holding her down. The owner of the hand-one of the housekeepers-was not expecting the attack. In her pain, she let go of Christina, who then took the opportunity to punch another housekeeper. Thedies had never encountered a scene like this before. Christina was like a demon who had emerged from the fiery depths of hell, spreading misfortune to anyone who dared to approach her. Once Christina broke free of her restraints, she advanced toward Anya, looking as if she intended to tear the woman apart from limb to limb. Anya was forced to step back. She attempted to use one of the housekeepers behind her as a shield to impede Christina¡¯s progress, but Christina effortlessly shoved the other woman aside. With no one left standing between them, Christina grabbed Anya¡¯s cor and rammed her toward the wall. Bang! came the loud sound that reverberated in the building. A sharp, scaring pain reverberated through Anya¡¯s head, causing her to lose all sense of direction in an instant. ¡°Ow! It hurts! Let go of me!¡± Christina¡¯s eyes flickered with rage, but Anya was not one to go down so easily. The two women engaged in a fierce battle, tugging at each other¡¯s hair and shirts until the sound of someone tumbling down the stairs captured everyone¡¯s attention. Chapter 499 Escaped Chapter 499 Escaped The crowd on the second floor were stupefied. They heard a loud crash but didn¡¯t know who it was that tumbled down the stairs. A few of them turned around and looked in the direction of the stairs, only to see Christina standing there. This only meant that the person who fell down the stairs was Anya. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. The housekeepers¡¯ expressions darkened in an instant. Then, they hurried over and discovered Anya unconscious, lying at the bottom of the stairs. ¡°This is bad. Ms. Gibson has fainted. Call the ambnce now!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go check on Ms. Gibson.¡± The few housekeepers ran toward the stairs and rushed down. At that point, they couldn¡¯t care less about Christina. After they lifted Anya, they ran out like the wind. It wasn¡¯t until the group of people left in a hurry that Christina finally felt rxed. Earlier, when the two were in the middle of the fight, Anya wanted to push her down the stairs. Fortunately, she swiftly dodged it, causing the other woman to lose bnce and fall instead. Christina came to her senses and ran back to the room. She opened the door and saw the two kids hugging each other tightly. ¡°Come here, Lucas and Cam. We need to leave this ce immediately!¡± The two kids hurried over and threw themselves into Christina¡¯s embrace. Carrying one of them in each. arm, she went downstairs. Soon, they arrived at the garage. Christina found her car, put the kids into their seats, then drove off. At the main door, the metal gate was tightly closed. The man who guarded the door and several bodyguards blocked their way. ¡°Please step out of the car, Ms. Christina. You cannot leave without Old Mrs. Gibson¡¯s permission.¡± The tension in the air was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. The kids looked at Christina worryingly and cried, ¡°Let¡¯s leave, Mommy. We don¡¯t want to stay here!¡± With a faint grin, Christina turned around and said, ¡°Sit tight and buckle up.¡± They were obedient and immediately leaned back into their seat and fastened their seatbelts. Then, they focused their clear eyes on the front. Narrowing her gaze, Christina¡¯s eyes lit up before she stepped hard on the gas pedal without hesitation, mming the car to the metal gate. The impact of the car was so huge that it dented the metal gate at once. Naturally, the collision also caused the car hood to be deformed. However, Christina was unbothered and immediately put her car in reverse and moved back before stepping hard on the gas pedal again. This time, the car instantly sped forth like a rocket. The engine roared as the car elerated, but s it failed to smash the gate open. The bodyguards that tried to stop Christina were stunned. No one dared to step forward to stop her car anymore as they didn¡¯t want to get run over. This was only a job to them, so there was no need for them to put their lives on the line. Subsequently, Christina made another reverse before elerating into the main gate again. Following the collision, the car hood was utterly deformed. However, the good news was that the metal gate was knocked down too. Now that there were no obstacles standing in her way, she sped away from the Gibson residence with the kids. ¡°Where are we going. Mommy?¡± Lucas asked, his eyes filled with worry. At the same time, Cam looked behind them. ¡°Do you think they¡¯lle after us?¡± The children were terrified after being locked up for the past few days. Christina¡¯s expression darkened when she heard her children¡¯s words. ¡°They won¡¯t. I¡¯ll bring us to Daddy.¡± The most important thing weighing on Christina¡¯s mind was to locate Nathaniel at once. It would only take slightly over two hours to return from Hallsbay, and they would be much safer in thefort of their home. Before their car could go far, however, they noticed a few ck sedans driving out of the mansion. The commotion from earlier must have alerted Azure, prompting her to send people toe after the trio. ¡°Speed up, Mommy. Faster¡­¡± Lucas was so anxious he almost jumped. Meanwhile, Cam clung to her brother tightly. ¡°Quick, Mommy. Don¡¯t let the bad guys catch up to us!¡± With tension coursing through her veins, Christina stepped on the elerator and sped down the road. The night sky was dark, with very few dim stars. Nathaniel transferred the investment funds into the project ording to the agreement. Though he was aware that Azure was using a fake project to pull in money, he had no choice but to yield to her demands for the safety of Christina and their children. Suddenly, the sound of a ringing phone came from inside the office. Nathaniel answered the phone, and the anxious voice of the security guard came from the other end. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we saw Mrs. Hadley¡¯s car downstairs. It looks like she had a car ident-¡± Before the security guard could finish speaking, Nathaniel put down the phone and ran out. He stepped into the elevator, fixing his dark eyes on the shing floor numbers. Every second of waiting felt like a century to him. His blood seemed to have pooled in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe. A car with a deformed car hood was parked at the main entrance Christina stood beside the car with the Two kids as they carried a bottle of water each, gulping away. Nathaniel dashed in their direction and pulled Christina into his embrace. ¡°Howe you and the kids are here? What happened to the car?¡± He had too many questions. As he asked away, he tightened his embrace around the woman. Only by feeling her warmth, breath, and heartbeat could Nathaniel be at ease. He was the only one who knew how worried he was for the past two days. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. Let me drink some water.¡± Christina pushed him away and gulped down more water. Seeing her speaking with such strength, Nathaniel realized it was nothing severe. ¡°They said you were in an ident earlier. I thought¡­¡± Christina rushed back without resting and drinking water, so she was exhausted. When they finally arrived. the three bought a few bottles of mineral water and nned to quench their thirst before meeting Nathaniel upstairs. However, the security guard at the entrance must have recognized them, so he called and reported the matter to Nathaniel. Lucas, who stood at the side, put away his empty bottle and tugged at his father¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Stop ying favorites. Daddy. Worry about us too.¡± Hearing that, Cam lifted her head to look at Nathaniel with her innocent and clear eyes. ¡°Daddy, don¡¯t you miss Lucas and me?¡± With outstretched arms, Nathaniel enveloped the kids in a tight embrace. As he gazed upon the two delicate faces, a profound warmth filled his chest, igniting a fire within him. No words could express his feelings at that moment. ¡°Of course, I do. I missed you two beyond words.¡± Having said that, he nted a light kiss on their cheeks. The four of them exchanged nces and smiled, sharing a moment of connection and joy. All of a sudden, the sound of Lucas¡¯ rumbling stomach broke the silence. His face quickly reddened from embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Can we go home now?¡± Cam wrapped her arms around her father¡¯s neck and chimed in. ¡°I want to go home, too.¡± In response, Nathaniel bobbed his head. ¡°I¡¯ll take us home right away.¡± After instructing his driver to bring the car over, he swiftly gave Sebastian a call. ¡°Terminate the investment immediately. Also,pile all of the evidence we¡¯ve gathered over the past few days and make a report.¡±2 r to making the investment . Nahachiel had conducted a thorough background check on thepany onsible for overseeing the proces, cuththerine substantial information on their operations. With zient solid evidence in hand, he was es contdent that they could reim all the investment funds that at stake. lerstood, Mr. Hadley. Fl get on in mmededetely came Sebastian¡¯s response. hen, the driver had already brought over cita car from the garage. s go home.¡± Nathaniel uttered, guiding inanmily into the car. Chapter 500 Pin The Blame Chapter 500 Pin The me On the way back. Nathaniel called in advance to ask the housekeepers to prepare dinner. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Lucas and Cam smelled the aroma of food as soon as they got out of the car. The kids were already famished and could no longer hold back-they were almost drooling. They swiftly entered the house and settled around the dining table. Christina joined them and took a seat as well. The three of them, driven by their hunger, voraciously devoured the food, paying little attention to maintaining aposed demeanor. After satiating their hunger, a wave of fatigue washed over them. The housekeepers quickly took the two kids upstairs to clean up, and they fell asleep immediately after the shower. Meanwhile, inside the bathroom of the master bedroom, Christina was lying in the bathtub, the warm water dispelling her exhaustion. As the steam rose, her vision gradually became hazy. She began to reflect on the events of the day. The close call lingered in her thoughts, and she almost thought that she wouldn¡¯t be able to make it back safely. However, the incident also enabled Christina to learn of the Gibsons¡¯ true intentions. They had deceived her for the sake of financial gain. Christina¡¯s mind raced with thoughts and questions. If that¡¯s the case, then why did Grandma transfer the shares to me? Could it be that it was a calcted move to manipte me into severing my ties with Nathaniel? How can they so easily take advantage of those who are rted to them? The realization of her family¡¯s willingness to stoop to such despicable means for their own gain left Christina disheartened as hatred welled up in her heart. With that in mind, she resolved never to set foot in the Gibson residence again, as they had thoroughly let her down. Christina rxed her body, submerging herself fully in the bathtub. Suddenly, a jolt of surprise coursed through her as arge hand plunged into the water, gripping her wrist tightly and forcefully pulling her out of the water. ¡°Christina, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were filled with shock as though he had just witnessed her doing something dangerous to herself. However, Christina merely wanted to rx her mind. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just¡ª¡± Before she could utter another word, Nathaniel swiftly enveloped her in his arms, holding her tightly as if afraid she would vanish in an instant. ¡°I¡¯m here now. You don¡¯t need to be afraid anymore,¡± he reassured her. Christina¡¯s gaze turned cold as she looked at him. She gritted her teeth lightly as she exined, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid. I just haven¡¯t figured out how to deal with them.¡± Pin The me ¡°No matter your decision, you have my full support.¡± Christina nodded faintly, a frosty glint flitting across her eyes. I vow to seize everything the Gibson family possesses and strip Anya of everything she owns. When her train of thought ended there, she exined to the man, ¡°First, we need to halt the investment for Gibson Corporation. Besides, we only saw¡­¡± Meanwhile, in a hospital room in Hallsbay, Anya regained consciousness and was overwhelmed by a throbbing pain in her head. As she collected her thoughts, the memories of her confrontation with Christina and the subsequent fall down the stairs came rushing back to her. She rang the bell several times, but no one responded to her calls for assistance. Left with no other choice, Anya could only take matters into her own hands and leave the bed by herself. As Anya ventured into the corridor, her gazended on a woman d in a hospital gown who was walking toward her. A fleeting expression of astonishment shed across the woman¡¯s face when she locked eyes with Anya. Overwhelmed by the shock, she appeared on the verge of fainting. Anya furrowed her brows. What¡¯s her problem? Anya made her way to the nurse station where she noticed a nurse on the night shift dozing off. Feeling exasperated, she rapped her knuckles on the table to grab the nurse¡¯s attention and firmly stated, ¡°I want to be discharged.¡± The nurse looked up and gasped in surprise. It took a while before she came back to her senses. ¡°Uh¡­.. may I have your ward number, Miss?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. My name is Anya Gibson. Check for yourself.¡± Perplexed by the peculiar reactions she received, Anya couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease. Is there something terrifying about my appearance? Did the fall deform my face or something? At that thought, she got worried and scanned her surroundings in search of a mirror. Seeing that there was a big half-length mirror in the office, Anya swiftly made her way in. When her reflection came into view, she, too, was filled with shock. Staring back at her was a face marred by a long and jagged scar, stretching from her forehead to the center of her eyebrows. The once familiar features now appeared ferocious and intimidating. ¡°Ah!¡± A shriek escaped her lips. Anya grabbed whatever was within reach and hurled it at the mirror with all her might, continuing to do so with everything that could be thrown. The nurse rushed over, her voice filled with concern. ¡°Please, you need to calm down. Getting so worked up like this will only hinder your recovery.¡± ¡°What happened to my face? Tell me!¡± Anya shouted as she tightly clenched the nurse¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You bumped into something during your fall down the stairs. Luckily, cosmetic procedures have advanced significantly, and your face will heal with time,¡± the nurse offered in aforting tone. Nevertheless, Anya struggled toe to terms with her altered reality. She forcefully pushed the nurse aside, her sobs echoing throughout the room as she hugged her knees. This is all Christina¡¯s fault. This is all her fault! I wouldn¡¯t have rolled down the stairs if not for her. Christina, I¡¯l make sure you pay for this! The next morning, the warmth of the morning sun painted the room in a vibrant glow, gently stirring. Christina from her slumber. Two petite figures dashed into the room, each carrying something in their tiny hands. Lucas held a cup of freshly poured milk, while Cam carefully carried a te of delicious bread. ¡°Wake up, Mommy. It¡¯s time for breakfast!¡± Christina stretched her limbs before sitting up and weing her children into her embrace. Only when she felt theforting warmth of their bodies did a serene tranquility wash over her, enveloping her heart with a profound sense of peace. ¡°Bring these down. I¡¯ll head downstairs after I¡¯m done washing up.¡± With that, she pecked them on their checks. Lucas and Cam exchanged nces. As joyful smiles adorned their little faces, they ran out of the room. each clutching their breakfast treasures. Wasting no time, Christina freshened up and changed into a fresh set of clothes before heading. downstairs. Lucas and Cam were ying ser in the courtyard, while Nathaniel sat at the dining table, engrossed in the documents before him. There were two sets of breakfast on the table. Christina walked over to his side and sat down to have some food. Just then, Nathaniel handed her the documents for a termination of contract. ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± he asked. ¡°There¡¯s no point in pondering. They don¡¯t care about me, so why should I spare them some thought?¡± Christina¡¯s voice held a firm determination as she uttered those words. They don¡¯t care about me, their disregard for my feelings is evident. Thus, I shouldn¡¯t have any reservations either, and if I¡¯m doing this, I¡¯ll show them no mercy. Nathaniel passed the document to Sebastian. ¡°Send it immediately. I suppose the Gibsons will receive it by this afternoon.¡± Thetter took the document and left. It had been a long time since Christina had an off day. That day, she did not intend to go anywhere and wanted to spend the entire day apanying her children at home, savoring the luxury of having some time off. The ever-productive woman re-nned her kids¡¯ study courses for the second half of the year and made some necessary arrangements for her studio. In the evening, Raymond brought her a letter. Christina¡¯s curiosity was piqued when she noticed it was sent from Hallsbay, and she opened it at once. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Nathaniel took the envelope from her hand. It was a letter from Anya. The woman was suing Christina for assault. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°She was the one who wanted to push me but ended up slipping herself. How dare she try to pin the me on me?¡± Christina eximed, furious. Such ims could not be established without evidence. However, she was afraid that the cunning Anya would fabricate evidence to support her argument. The letter mentioned that the assault had caused Anya to sustain an injury on her forehead, and she was demanding totalpensation for treatment expenses from Christina. However, Christina remembered that the woman¡¯s face was not injured from the fall. Anya¡¯s a vain woman, so she wouldn¡¯t hurt herself for the sake of suing me. In that case, where on earth did she sustain that injury? Nathaniel put the piece of paper away. ¡°Just leave such matters to thewyer. Don¡¯t let it affect your mood,¡± he told her. ¡°I¡¯m not in the wrong, so I¡¯m not afraid of her at all,¡± Christina affirmed with a nod.. The following day, Christina woke up early and prepared some breakfast for the kids. After dropping. them off at the kindergarten, she headed to her studio. It had been so long since Christinast stepped foot in the studio that even Rayne wondered if her eyes were ying tricks on her when she saw Christina. Chapter 501 Jealous Of Himself Chapter 501 Jealous Of Himself ¡°You¡¯re back, Christina!¡± The surprise on Rayne¡¯s face gave way immediately to delight. They had not seen each other since Christina¡¯s hurried departure. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Christina replied with a smile. She dropped the purse slung on her shoulder, sat down, and gazed up at Rayne. ¡°How¡¯s the studio? Are there new orders?¡± Christina felt a little guilty at the mention of that. Because of her falling out with Nathaniel, she had left in a fit of anger and abandoned her obligations at the studio. Upon introspection, she thought she was too rash. ¡°No. After you left, Mr. Hadley had me put out a notice that you have gone on holiday,¡± Rayne answered. Christina nodded, silentlyuding Nathaniel¡¯s decision. ¡°Well, the vacation¡¯s over. Tell everyone I¡¯m back and ready to take orders,¡± Christina said as she turned on herptop. Rayne was overjoyed at those words. If Christina is ready to take orders, it means that she would not be leaving again anytime soon. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll get it done.¡± Rayne left excitedly to put out the word. Christina began taking care of work that she had not managed to resolve before leaving. Before she knew it, it was already noon. ¡°What would you like for lunch, Christina?¡± Rayne asked, entering the room when she noticed Christinal was still immersed in her work. There was expectant glitter in her eyes. Christina looked up and gave a start when she realized what time it was. ¡°Sorry, Rayne. I can¡¯t have lunch. with you today. I¡¯m seeing Nathaniel.¡± ¡°All right. Don¡¯t go overboard with the PDA¡± Pursing her lips, Rayne gave the other a knowing look. ¡°We¡¯ll have lunch tomorrow,¡± Christina offered. She was feeling fantastic now that she had resolved the knot in her chest, always wearing a big smile wherever she went. The young girls found their hopes of getting close to Nathaniel under the assumption of him being single. again dashed when they saw Christina¡¯s reappearance at Nathaniel¡¯s office. ¡°What are you doing here, Christina?¡± Nathaniel set aside his work as soon as he saw her. ¡°Let¡¯s go for lunch. I¡¯m starving.¡± Nathaniel is a workaholic. He will forget his meals once he begins working. Nathaniel nced at his wristwatch and found that it was indeed past lunch hour. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I want to bring you to a special ce.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Christina did not pursue further when she noticed how secretive Nathaniel was being. Instead. The couple emerged from the office arm in arm as though the misunderstanding had never happened. That made Christina feel a sense of happiness that was hard to put into words. Nathaniel drove Christina halfway across the city into a tiny alley. Just when Christina was wondering where the restaurant was, Nathaniel led her into a tiny eatery serving aglio olio. ¡°Here?¡± Christina was bewildered. Disregarding Christina¡¯s confused expression, Nathaniel led her directly to a table by the window. ¡°Hello. We would like two aglio olios, please.¡± Nathaniel ordered after they sat down, sounding as if he hade here many times before. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Coming right up,¡± the owner replied, shooting a nce at the two new customers at the same time. Upon seeing Nathaniel¡¯s handsome appearance, she seemed to recognize him. ¡°I see you have brought your girlfriend today,¡± she said, grinning. The patronage of an esteemed customer at a tiny establishment like hers was memorable. ¡°She¡¯s my wife,¡± Nathaniel exined. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± The owner did not expect the handsome man to have settled down. She nodded, then headed to the kitchen. Christina noticed Nathaniel¡¯s interaction with the owner. She scrutinized Nathaniel, her gaze twinkling with delight. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Nathaniel asked, puzzled. ¡°I¡¯m just checking if my husband has changed into someone else,¡± Christina said, her chin resting in her hand. Nathaniel frowned with displeasure. ¡°Who are you expecting then?¡± Well, he¡¯s still Nathaniel. Who else but Nathaniel would be jealous of himself, after all? ¡°Why did you suddenly bring me here? Surely a mighty CEO like you would feel out of ce here,¡± Christina asked, unable to contain herself. She was expecting Nathaniel to say he was seeking novelty. To her surprise, he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you enjoy eating this when you were in university? I found this ce two weeks ago and have tried it once.¡± During Christina¡¯s absence, he had done a lot of thinking and uncovered a lot about Christina¡¯s past. Christina¡¯s fondness for aglio olio had been an unexpected discovery. Thus, he gave it a try. Although he did not feel it was anything particrly special at the time, he was thankful that he managed to stomach it. Christina froze at those words. She had worked part-time to afford her tuition, and as a result, she did not have much money. She did enjoy aglio olio, which was satiating for not much money. ¡°I will try, ept, and enjoy whatever you like, Christina.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s dark eyes twinkled earnestly. ¡°Forget aglio olio. I prefer a buffet.¡± Christina felt her heart swell with pleasure, but she was not going to make things difficult for him. He¡¯s a CEO born with a silver spoon. I can¡¯t make him stoop for me. While they were chatting, the owner appeared with two tes of piping hot pasta. Christina felt a surge of gratitude when Nathaniel did not seem to mind the humble meal. This time, she felt the changes he had gone through for her. Instead of empty promises, he had taken steps to make theme true. After their meal, the couple emerged from the shop. They smelled heavily of food. To dissipate the smell on their clothes, they opted for a stroll. ¡°My alma mater is right ahead. Let¡¯s go over for a look,¡± Christina suggested. Nathaniel nodded. ¡°All right.¡± Hand in hand, the couple drew many envioits stares from other pedestrians. ¡°They closed off the road?¡± Suddenly, they found their path obstructed. We have to take another way to get to the school. Christina lost interest. ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± ¡°Christina, Mr. Hadley.¡± Just when the couple was about to turn around, a chubby man caught up to them. Upon closer inspection, Christina recognized him as Francis¡¯ assistant, Parker. Having not seen him in such a long time, Christina felt a sense of foreboding at his sudden reappearance. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Francis has something important to tell you,¡± Parker answered. Worried that Christina would turn him down, he added, ¡°It¡¯s about your parents.¡± Chapter 502 My One And Only Husband Chapter 502 My One And Only Husband Christina and Nathaniel felt their hearts skip a beat. They exchanged a nce. How would Francis know? ¡°Take us to him.¡± We have to see him to get to the bottom of this. ¡°He says he will only speak to Christina.¡± Parker nced ufortably at Nathaniel. Nathaniel scowled at those words. His displeasure was apparent. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Christina knew how Nathaniel felt about Francis and also thetter¡¯s obsession with her. She was about to reject the request when Nathaniel said, ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll wait here for you.¡± Christina looked at him in surprise and noticed his hands were balled into fists. It was in that he was feeling deeply conflicted. She had never seen him like that before. After all, he was stubborn and dogmatic, especially when it concerned Francis. ¡°No. We¡¯ll go together.¡± Christina took Nathaniel¡¯s hand and gave him a determined look before turning to Parker. ¡°I won¡¯t see him alone.¡± In other words, if Nathaniel could note with her, she would not go. Sensing the warmth radiating from her palm, Nathaniel felt his initial displeasure ebbing away. It was only at that moment that he realized letting go did not mean losing something but holding on too tightly would. ¡°Fine.¡± After considering it, Parker led Christina and Nathaniel to Francis. After all, Francis had only made it clear that Christina¡¯s presence was expected without mentioning any other conditions. As they followed in Parker¡¯s wake, Christina realized the road was closed because Francis was shooting a scene there. No wonder he sent his assistant to intercept us here. It appears that he saw us. ¡°Wait a moment, Christina, Mr. Hadley. Francis will be right over.¡± After leading them to Francis¡¯ minivan, he left to notify Francis. ¡°How do you think he knows about my biological parents?¡± Christina asked, voicing the question gnawing at her as soon as they were alone in the minivan. Nathaniel did not look surprised, but a hint of jealousyced his voice when he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how he knows, but he must still be pining over you and is trying to remain relevant in your eyes.¡± At the thought of Francis having residual feelings for Christina, Nathaniel clenched his fists involuntarily. Christina sensed the rage emanating out of him. Instead of feeling adverse like she used to, she found it My One And Only Husband adorable how he was anxious about her. She stroked his hair. ¡°Oh, cheer up! He can try as much as he wants to gain my attention, but he will never overshadow my one and only husband.¡± Her honeyed words dispelled Nathaniel¡¯s rage in an instant. Gazing at Christina¡¯s thin and shiny lips, he kissed her instinctively. The temperature in the vast minivan suddenly soared. Christina resisted initially, as she was worried about how it would look if somebody came by. However, Nathaniel was relentless. Feeling her head spin from his amorous assault, she fell limp into his arms. ¡°Ahem!¡± Francis, who had been standing there for some time, felt difited at the scene. Aware that he had no right to say anything about it, he could only stand and watch. Unexpectedly, the couple began to entangle themselves with each other. Unable to bear looking at them. another second longer, he was forced to interrupt pointedly. The sound yanked Christina out of her reverie. Leaping out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms, she scratched her head in a daze. Nathaniel, on the other hand, turned his gaze at Francis with a mixture of pride and provocation. How childish. When the awkwardness in the air receded a little, Francis walked over. His gaze fell firstly on Christina. He had not seen her since he left her house to shoot in South Alendor. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Christina.¡± ¡°Spill it. What do you know about my birth parents?¡± Christina asked bluntly. Her stiff tone hurt Francis a little, but an actor of his caliber did not show it. He hid it impably well. ¡°That¡¯s a long story.¡± Francis entered the vehicle and motioned for the driver to do the same. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it somece else, or the reporters will have something to write about if they catch us.¡± Only after returning to the country did Francis learn about all the trouble his stay at her ce had caused her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble I¡¯ve caused by staying at your ce, Christina,¡± Francis said after thinking about. it for a moment. ¡°Since leaving your ce, I was-¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not mention the past anymore,¡± Christina interrupted, trying to spare Nathaniel¡¯s feelings at the mention of the past. Francis understood Christina¡¯s implicit request and tactfully fell silent. Nathaniel took Christina¡¯s hand and saidfortingly, ¡°I¡¯m not as petty as you think I am.¡± Then, he turned his gaze to Francis. ¡°If you¡¯re really as sorry as you im, prove it with something worth our time for havinge here.¡± If he¡¯s going to use Christina¡¯s parents as bait, I¡¯m going to make him pay for it. As he spoke, Nathaniel allowed his rage to pour forth. Francis raised his eyebrows at Nathaniel¡¯s reaction. Although he did not say a word, he was pleased to see the Nathaniel he knew. However, it surprised him very much that Nathaniel had allowed Christina to see him. Before that, he had heard Christina divorcing Nathaniel again, then leaving Jadeborough to the Gibson residence in Hallsbay. It was during that interval when he thought he had another chance, but he only realized the truth when he saw them walking on the street, hand in hand. I was never in her heart. That is why she has never looked for me to ask if I really did those things. She does not care and never did. After several seconds of silence, Christina said solemnly, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me this time, Francis.¡± Although Nathaniel and Francis had been at odds, it seemed to her that it was nothing more than how brothers ufortable with each other would get along. Besides, the many favors she had exchanged with Francis had made her think of him as her friend. After the incident of being used, however, she realized she did not know him at all. ¡°Not this time.¡± Francis¡¯ beady eyes were nothing but sincere. His many mistakes had been to steal Christina from Nathaniel. However, the couple had opted to remain together despite the hurdles they had faced. It was a bond he could not simply break. Furthermore, he had ns to settle down abroad with his mother after taking care of business in the country. Chapter 503 Together Forever Chapter 503 Together Forever Upon seeing the sincere look in Francis¡¯ bright eyes, Christina suppressed her doubts. I¡¯ll trust him one more time! Around twenty minutester, the minivan came to a halt in a quiet alley. This is a secluded ce. If something were to happen to us, no one would hear or see us. Nathaniel, who was always vignt, tugged on Christina¡¯s shirt right when she was about to exit the car. After that, he threw Francis a wary look with his darkened eyes. ¡°There¡¯s a private detective agency here. I got all my information from this agency,¡± Francis exined. Seeing that Nathaniel was still doubtful, Francis got out of the car and led the way. The private detective agency was located on the second floor, deep inside the alley. It was a room with a space of less than eighty square meters. As soon as the door was pushed open, the people inside turned around warily at once. Seeing that it was Francis, Joel Gagher, the private detective, smiled brightly and greeted, ¡°What brings you here?¡± As soon as he finished his sentence, he saw Nathaniel and Christina walking in. Evidently, the atmosphere in the room became tense the moment Nathaniel and Christina entered the room. The smile on Joel¡¯s face froze when he saw them. In fact, he subconsciously wanted to hide himself. Nathaniel and Christina noticed it right away. It seems that this is the private detective who has been secretly taking photos of us. ¡°Let¡¯s talk business.¡± As the instigator, Francis had an awkward look on his face. However, that wasn¡¯t the time to be bothered by that. ¡°Bring out all the information I gave you over the phone. Let Mr. Hadley and Ms. Steele take a look at them.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Joel didn¡¯t know why Francis had suddenly buried the hatchet with Nathaniel, but he knew he didn¡¯t have the right to raise any questions. I¡¯m getting paid, so I should do as I was told. Momentster, the long desk in the room was filled with numerous stacks of documents. Christina, who was sitting on the couch, was stunned. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of information.¡± Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. I started my investigation ever since I found out Christina wasn¡¯t the Steele family¡¯s biological daughter. Yet, I couldn¡¯t even gather as much information. As a matter of fact, due to various reasons. I had to give up on some of the investigations I initiated. Francis, who was standing nearby, handed Christina a document and exined. ¡°This is because most of the investigations here are about the daily lives of your biological parents.¡± Christina was puzzled at first when she heard that. After flipping through the documents, however, she understood what Francis meant. Most of the information here consists of the trivial things my parents did back then, such as their vacations and the friends they made. Nathaniel raised his brows slightly when he flipped through the documents. I see¡­ I almost thought I wasn¡¯t as good as Francis! Christina lifted her head and asked in bafflement. ¡°The events in the documents happened forty years. ago. H-How did you get your hands on this?¡± Francis turned toward Joel when he heard that. Joel smiled and answered. ¡°Well, I interviewed the people they met up with and went to the ces they had been. Humans tend to leave footprints wherever they go.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina knew how good Joel was, and he merely made it sound simple. Joel is so meticulous. She thought so because there was even a photo of Timothy with his friend, and Timothy was smiling brightly in the photo. Now, Dad is always hiding in the room. It breaks my heart to see how he¡¯s doing now. Christina became even more eager to find out what had happened back then. There¡¯s so much information here. I¡¯ll need a long time to finish going through all the documents. Suddenly, Christina¡¯s phone rang, and she whipped it out to see that it was a call from the kindergarten. ¡°Ms. Steele, are youing to fetch Lucas and Cam today?¡± Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s wrist to look at the time on his watch. It¡¯s past five o¡¯clock! sses have ended at the kindergarten. ¡°We¡¯re on our way. Please help us look after Lucas and Cam for a while.¡± Christina said. ¡°Sure.¡± Christina hung up the phone and turned toward Nathaniel. ¡°Lucas and Cam are done with their sses.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel rose to his feet. ¡°How about these documents?¡± Christina nced at the documents she hadn¡¯t gone through yet. ¡°I¡¯ll get Sebastian to bring the documents back to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± With that, Nathaniel went to make a call. Francis took the opportunity to walk up to Christina. With a frown, he uttered apologetically, ¡°Christina, I¡¯m sorry. Before this, 1-¡± Francis wanted to apologize for the things he had done back then, but he didn¡¯t know where to start. Right then, Nathaniel had just gotten off the phone, and he saw Francis standing very close to Christina. Displeased, Nathaniel dragged Christina away and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you jealous again?¡± Christina was amused. Nathaniel snorted coldly and did not deny it. Although he was okay with Christina meeting Francis, he didn¡¯t want Francis to get close to Christina. By the time Nathaniel and Christina arrived on the street. Sebastian had already arrived in a car There was also another car behind Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Sebastian got out of the car and passed the car key to Nathaniel before leading the men at the back into the private detective agency to grab the documents. At the kindergarten, Lucas and Cam were waiting at the entrance with their eyes fixed on the driveway Needless to say, they couldn¡¯t wait to see their parents. As time ticked by, they still hadn¡¯t seen any familiar faces. A dejected look appeared in Cam¡¯s shimmering eyes when she murmured, ¡°Lucas, why aren¡¯t Mommy and Daddy here yet?¡± Lucas looked outside, then lowered his head to nce at Cam. ¡°Be a good girl, Cam. I¡¯m sure Daddy and Mommy will arrive soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Cam nodded obediently. Right then. Nathaniel and Christina arrived. The moment the car came to a halt, Christina hopped out of the car and dashed toward the kindergarten. Christina¡¯s heart melted when she saw the kids leaning their heads on each other behind the gate. ¡°Lucas, Cam!¡± ¡°Mommy!¡± The kids¡¯ eyes lit up when they saw Christina. After the teacher opened the gate, the kids threw themselves into Christina¡¯s embrace at once. While in her embrace, the kids felt safe and at ease. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for arrivingte,¡± Christina apologized and caressed the kids¡¯ heads. Like a little man, Lucas shook his head, indicating that it wasn¡¯t a big deal. On the contrary, Cam was on the verge of bursting into tears. ¡°Mommy, I thought I would never see you again.¡± Christina¡¯s heart broke when she heard Cam¡¯s pitiful voice. Nathaniel, who was standing beside Christina, squatted down and asked Cam, ¡°Why would you feel that way, Cam?¡± ¡°I was afraid that what happened at Great-Granny¡¯s house would happen again.¡± Cam answered. truthfully. Christina and Nathaniel went silent. It seems that Cam is traumatized by what happened at the Gibson residence. Momentster, Nathaniel carried Cam in his arms and said, ¡°Cam, we¡¯ll always protect you and Lucas. We¡¯ll be together forever.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Cam asked. ¡°Yes. I promise you.¡± Nathaniel reached out his pinky to make a pinky promise to Carm. Only then did Cam smile through her tears and feel a sense of security, Chapter 504 Liar Chapter 504 Liar Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina had dinner with the twins. Then, she yed ser with them in the back garden. By the time she put them to sleep, it was already nine o¡¯clock at night. She would be lying to im that she was not tired since she was already yawning away. Naturally, Nathaniel noted all that. Feeling anguished, he gathered her petite and weak body in his arms. ¡°Thank you, Christina.¡± That remark of his carried multiple meanings. Unfortunately, Christina was not in the mood to decipher anything. She merely nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Indeed. I¡¯m dead tired today. I never feel like this usually.¡± She generally had no problems bustling about, but for some inexplicable reason, weariness weighed heavily on her that day. Inwardly, Nathaniel knew that most of her fatigue was psychological in nature. He kissed her on the forehead. ¡°Go and shower first, then have a good sleep.¡± ¡°But I still want to-¡± ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯m here.¡± Despite being aware that Christina still wanted to go through the information, Nathaniel gave her no room to protest. He pushed her right into the bathroom. ¡°Why are you still standing here?¡± The bathroom was initially quite spacious, but with the man there, it promptly appeared rather cramped. Nathaniel stood there without budging. His thin lips curved into a smirk. ¡°Let¡¯s shower together.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± That stunned Christina. Some indecent images popped into her mind, and her face inexorably flushed bright red. Seeing that her face had turned as red as an overripe tomato, Nathaniel tapped the tip of her nose. ¡°What are you thinking? I meant that in the literal sense. Conserving water is a virtue.¡± A frown marred Christina¡¯s countenance. She could not help doubting herself when she took in the serious look on Nathaniel¡¯s face. Hmm, was I really reading too much into it? She again eyed the man suspiciously. It was only when she had ascertained that his gaze was sincere and he did not intend to do anything to her that she lowered her guard. Unexpectedly, after he helped to remove her clothes, his breathing turned rapid, and his gaze zed over. She ended up pinned against the wall. In the face of his domineering restraint, she screeched unceremoniously, ¡°Nathaniel, you liar!¡± When they finished showering, it was already past midnight. Having been put through the wringer, Christina was zapped of all energy. Nathaniel carried her out of the bathroom and dressed her in pajamas. Her fair and exquisite countenance was incredibly alluring under the lights. Nheless, he understood the principle of moderation and knew he could not overtax his wife. He only leaned down and kissed her on the cheek before turning off the lights. He left the bedroom and went to the study. When Christina woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. She groggily rolled over and reach patting the space beside her. The instant she realized that no one was there, her mind cleared significantly. She swiftly opened her eyes, but there were no signs of Nathaniel. Jerking her head over, she saw that it was already gettingte. I promised the twins that I¡¯d send them to kindergarten! She immediately got out of bed and changed before hurrying downstairs. Right then, Nathaniel was having breakfast with the twins. They were talking about something or other with smiles on their faces, so engrossed in conversation that none noticed her approach. ¡°Ahem.¡± Christina cleared her throat since no one was paying her any mind. ¡°Mommy is here!¡± As soon as the twins snapped their heads back, they spotted Christina standing behind. them. However, they did not greet her at once. Instead, they frantically turned to Nathaniel in a panic. ¡°That was a secret, Daddy! Don¡¯t tell Mommy!¡± Can¡¯t you keep your voices down when you¡¯re talking about some secret? I heard that, you know? ¡°What is it that you can¡¯t tell me?¡± Christina pinned her gaze on Nathaniel. Nathaniel rubbed the tip of his nose. Gosh, it¡¯s really difficult to choose between my wife and kids! Meeting the twins¡¯ hopeful gazes, he ultimately decided to be a good father who kept his promises. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t tell you that,¡± he replied. With a quirk of a brow, Christina shifted her gaze to Lucas and Cam. The two of them averted their gazes in concert before eximing, ¡°We¡¯re done eating, and we¡¯re off to kindergarten now!¡± Their movements were surprisingly fast. Not only did they run off, but they even shouldered their bags by themselves. Whipping their heads back, they hollered, ¡°Hurry up, Daddy!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want me to drive you?¡± Christina griped jealously upon seeing that they had forgotten all about her. ¡°Mommy, Daddy said you were too tired from workst night. So, you don¡¯t need to drive us today,¡± Lucas exined. Speaking of the night before, Christina could not help feeling a dull pain at her waist. Ugh! This is all on Nathaniel for pinning me against the wallst night! As that thought urred to her, she shot Nathaniel a re. In turn, Nathaniel shed her an innocent look. The twins were still ignorant of the meaning behind the exchange of gazes between their parents. Out of the blue, Cam recalled that everyone¡¯s parents were already there when kindergarten was over yesterday, but hers only arrived after a long time. ¡°Come earlier to pick me and Lucas up today, Mommy,¡± she said. Christina walked over and crouched down in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about being sote yesterday. Cam. I promise to be the first one in line today.¡± ¡°Yay! That¡¯s great!¡± At the kindergarten, all the children drewparisons with each other in terms of their parents being first in line outside the gates. When Christina saw Cam¡¯s joy, the guilt within her abated slightly. Since Cam and Lucas were insistent about having their father drive them to kindergarten, Christina sat down and had breakfast with peace of mind. After breakfast, she did not hasten to the studio but went upstairs to the second floor and entered the study. Deep down, she still wanted to get to the bottom of the incident back then as soon as possible. No sooner had she pushed open the door and stepped in than she caught sight of the information. Nathaniel hadpiled neatly on the desk. Atop the pile of information was a piece of paper handwritten by the man himself. Picking it up for a look, she saw a list of names and times, some of which she had seen in the information yesterday. It was clear as day that he had spent the entire night summarizing everything for her to spare her from reading through that stack of information again. His consideration moved her to no end. At the same time, it intensified her determination to unearth the truth behind the incident back then so that they could visit her mother¡¯s grave together. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Regretfully, nothing stood out for her even after shebed through the information for a long time. She cast her mind back to everything the Gibson family had told her. She could not shake off the feeling that it was too simple. The Hadley family is deemed suspicious on the mere basis of being contenders for a single project, but the Gibson and Hadley families weren¡¯t the only onespeting at that time. There were still others. But then, it was too much of a coincidence that the car ident urred at the site of the Hadley family¡¯s construction project. After all, the driver served the Gibson family and not the Hadley family! Chapter 505 Unexpected Guest Chapter 505 Unexpected Guest ¡°A penny for your thoughts.¡± Nathaniel came home from kindergarten to see Christina spacing out in the study. She didn¡¯t even realize he hade in. He strode over to gather her into his arms, snapping her out of her reverie. shing an awkward smile, she responded, ¡°Nothing much. I was thinking about how reckless I was.¡± Nathaniel rested his chin on her shoulder and inhaled deeply, taking in the fragrance of her hair. ¡°Hmm? For example?¡± he asked nonchntly. ¡°For example, when I found out about my biological parents, I didn¡¯t take the time to think it through and ended upshing out at you. I wasn¡¯t calm or rational at that moment. But now, upon reflection, I realize that I only heard one side of the story and didn¡¯t consider the peculiar coincidences,¡± she confessed. Deep down. Nathaniel was pleased to hear that. Heforted her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re married, so it¡¯s only right that you vent your frustration at me. I¡¯m your husband, after all.¡± ¡°Thank you, Nathaniel.¡± Christina turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. Nathaniel arched his brow. ¡°Just a simple thank you?¡± Christina pondered over it before standing on tiptoes to give him a light peck on his lips. She was about to inch away when Nathaniel pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. ¡°No,¡± Christina rejected softly when she sensed he was about to go to second base. Her coy voice merely served to heighten Nathaniel¡¯s desire. His voice was hoarse as he said, ¡°I want¡­¡± Christina was pinned to the desk, the warm sunlight bathing her body in a gentle glow. Her skin appeared luminous and ethereal in the light, reminding Nathaniel of an angelic being. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re gorgeous.¡± Christina gazed at him, feeling her heart skip a beat. Knock, knock! They were about to proceed when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Taggart is here,¡± Raymond reported. Christina promptly regained herposure and struggled to sit up, but Nathaniel didn¡¯t move an inch. He furrowed his brows in displeasure and snapped, ¡°Let him wait!¡± Following his roar, not a sound was heard outside. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think that¡¯s a good idea.¡± Having calmed down, Christina offered him some advice. ¡°Sebastian Unexpected Guest must havee here with something important to tell you.¡± Nathaniel carried her elsewhere. ¡°I don¡¯t care. All I want is to be with you right now.¡± No one could trulyprehend the depth of Nathaniel¡¯s emotions as Christina had left him multiple times. The experiences had left him burdened with insecurities, causing a significant transformation from his former self. Even Christina struggled to understand how the once arrogant man had be so clingy. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. However, Nathaniel wasn¡¯t about to let her continue talking. It was one hourter when they finally walked out of the study. Christina¡¯s clothes were crumpled, so she headed back to her room to get changed. Nathaniel descended the stairs and found Sebastian waiting for him in the living room. Upon seeing him, Sebastian handed him a document. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the Gibson family sent us awyer¡¯s letter. They want to sue us for breach of contract.¡± Nathaniel skimmed through the letter and nonchntly discarded it. Raising a brow, he replied, ¡°Let them sue us. Hadley Corporation will stand its ground and fight until the very end.¡± He had anticipated that Gibson Corporation would reject any out-of-court settlement. In fact, he saw it as a positive oue, as it would solidify Christina¡¯smitment to stand by his side. After changing her clothes, Christina went downstairs and happened to overhear the men¡¯s conversation. Her once pleasant mood took a sharp turn, souring with a mix of surprise and disappointment. She had never expected the Gibson family to be so ruthless and indifferent to her feelings. The realization of their callousness reminded her of the suffering Cam had endured during her time at the Gibson residence, intensifying her negative emotions. ¡°You have my full support,¡± she said, walking up to Nathaniel. Nathaniel shot her a grateful look before ordering Sebastian to take care of thewsuit. The Gibson family was not an enemy to be underestimated. ¡°Nathaniel, I think it would be beneficial for Cam to see a psychologist,¡± Christina shared with Nathaniel once they were alone. As a concerned mother, she wanted to ensure that her daughter wouldn¡¯t be adversely affected by the recent events they had been through. ¡°Sure,¡± Nathaniel agreed with a nod. ¡°I have a meeting to attend. Are youing with me? Or do you have other ns?¡± ¡°I need to head to the studio,¡± Christina said. She felt bad to let Rayne handle all the work alone. On her way to the studio, she decided to take a small detour and make a quick stop at a nearby dessert shop to surprise Rayne with a sweet treat. When she stepped into the studio with the dessert, she was greeted by the sight of an unexpected guest sitting on the couch. She frowned and demanded harshly. ¡°Why are you here?¡± It was Madison, dressed in a striking red dress,plemented by vibrant red lipstick and heavy makeup. Her lips curled when she saw Christina. ¡°Christina, is this how you wee a customer? I might consider. taking a video of your rude wee and posting it online.¡±¡± ¡°Christina, I couldn¡¯t stop her,¡± Rayne exined softly. Christina shot her a reassuring look and handed her the dessert she bought. ¡°I got this for you. Enjoy it and concentrate on your work.¡± With that, she strode into her office, ignoring Madison¡¯s presence. However, Madison refused to be ignored. She forcefully pushed the door open and entered the office. ¡°Christina!¡± The angrier Madison was, the moreposed Christina became. She shot Madison a calm look and asked, ¡°Is there anything you need?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Madison found that question weird. Why would Ie all the way here if I don¡¯t need anything from her? ¡°Say it. Despite her reluctance to engage with Madison, Christina maintained her professional demeanor, recognizing that Madison was now a customer in her studio and deserved her attention. Madison¡¯s furious demeanor disappeared and her shoulders slumped. ¡°I¡¯m going to get engaged soon. Satisfied now?¡± Christina was stunned. ¡°What does that have to do with me?¡± She had never intentionally inquired about Madison but had heard about the Taggart family arranging blind dates for Madison. She never knew Madison would get engaged this soon. ¡°I want you to design my engagement gown,¡± Madison requested. Although Christina¡¯sposed expression remained unchanged, Madison couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there was an underlying mockery hidden behind her calm demeanor, as if she was secretly relishing the fact that Madison was no longer her rival. ¡°Are you nuts?¡± Christina wondered if Madison had gone mad.. I can¡¯t believe she wants me to design her engagement gown. Chapter 506 Exchange Chapter 506 Exchange ¡°Christina, enough with the charade. Now that I¡¯m out of the picture, you can finally have Nathaniel all to yourself. Shouldn¡¯t you design a gown for me? You¡¯re making me question whether you truly love Nathaniel at all. It seems he¡¯s fallen for the wrong woman!¡± Madison¡¯s eyes were red as she stared at Christina incredulously. She hadn¡¯t anticipated that her request would be turned down. ¡°Madison, Nathaniel and I are married. We¡¯ll be together forever regardless of your presence,¡± Christina replied slowly. Madison felt a stab in her heart hearing the word ¡°married.¡± She gripped her fists, suppressing the intense surge of anger and jealousy within her. Christina continued, ¡°Besides, many people want me to design their gowns. I get to choose who my customers are.¡± She was quite surprised to see Madison¡¯s reaction. What is Madison trying to tamp down? ¡°Christina, are you saying you choose not to serve me? What right do you have to do that?¡± Madison. exploded. Her sudden outburst echoed throughout the entire studio, causing Rayne to jolt in shock. She feared that a physical altercation had taken ce. She quickly rushed over to the ss walls, pressing her face against them to get a closer look, only to see that Christina and Madison were simply locked in a tense stare-down. ¡°You were the one who came here to my studio.¡± Christina seemed calm andposed. The gentle but firm look in her gaze made Madison tense up. Yes, I was the one who came here in search of Christina. Madison took a deep breath and began to calm down. ¡°If I provide evidence of Anya harming you, will you design my gown in exchange?¡± ¡°You know her?¡± Christina narrowed her eyes in surprise. Madison shed a mocking grin. ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve offended many people who want you dead.¡± Madison was unaware of any details of the deep-seated grudge between Christina and Anya, but she had received a call from Anya the previous night. Anya had proposed another coboration and mentioned her n to sue Christina, hoping to see her behind bars. However, Madison had declined Anya¡¯s offer, as their previous coboration had ended on a sour note. Previously, when she arrived at the resort, she didn¡¯t even get to see Nathaniel. It was all due to Anya¡¯s own mistake, which inadvertently led to Christina and Nathaniel reuniting. ¡°Why would you give me the evidence?¡± Christina pondered the situation for a moment and came to the realization that it wasn¡¯t entirely surprising for Madison to be acquainted with Anya. After all, the enemy of my enemy is a friend Since they both joined hands, tehy did Madisone to my studio to tell me thu? ¡°Never mind, then. If you don¡¯t want it, I won¡¯t give it to you.¡± Madison snapped, realizing she had been too hasty in offering the evidence, which resulted in arousing Christina¡¯s suspicions. Raising her chin, she stalked out of the office and grabbed her bag on the couch to leave. Christina didn¡¯t go after Madison as she knew thetter was ying hard to get. However, she couldn¡¯t figure out why Madison hade to ask for her help to design a gown. After watching Madison stalk away, Rayne came into her office and asked worriedly, ¡°Christina, did she come here to pick on you? Should we inform Mr. Hadley?¡± Christina shook her head and reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Nathaniel about this.¡± Nathaniel was busy handling the Gibson family¡¯swsuit, so she decided to handle Madison¡¯s matter herself. She believed Madison would pay a visit yet again a few dayster. ¡°Okay.¡± Rayne bobbed her head. I need to tell the security guards to deny her entry so she won¡¯t be able toe upstairs. Madison¡¯s visit was a small interlude that didn¡¯t affect Christina at all. Despite not receiving any new orders in the past few days, she remained dedicated to her work. Lately, she had been struck by a wave of inspiration, so she had begun sketching out her new ideas, taking her time to bring them to life. Time passed by swiftly as she was focused on work. In the blink of an eye, it was almost time to pick up the kids from the kindergarten. ¡°Rayne, I¡¯m getting off work now.¡± Recalling the promise she had made to Cam that morning, Christina stopped working and cleared her table before leaving in haste. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Downstairs, she saw Nathaniel¡¯s car parked at the curb. Christina walked over to him, pleasantly surprised. After getting into his car, she asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I miss you,¡± Nathaniel said directly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you¡¯re quite clingy nowadays, huh?¡± Despite feeling delighted inwardly, Christina gave him a look of disdain. Nathaniel had assumed Christina was growing tired of him, but as he observed her more closely, he noticed a mischievous glint in her eyes. It was clear what she meant. Leaning over, he helped her with the seatbelt and said, ¡°I can be clingier if you want.¡± His maic voice rang in Christina¡¯s car, causing her heart to skip a beat. What should I do? I really like it when he acts this way. Clearing her throat, she feigned calmness and replied, ¡°It¡¯s getting hot. Stay away from me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± They had to pick the kids up, so Nathaniel stopped teasing her. In no time, the car rolled to a stop before the kindergarten. Christina¡¯s gaze wandered toward the window, where she caught sight of parents parking their cars along the curb. She remembered promising to be the first to pick up Cam. Without a second thought, she swung open the door and sprinted toward the gate of the kindergarten. As she was running at full speed, the other parents thought something urgent had happened and quickly made way for her. Christina found herself at the front of the line, just as she had hoped. Observing Christina¡¯s flushed cheeks and the rise and fall of her chest, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but smile. affectionately. Around ten minutester, sses finally came to an end at the kindergarten. The first ones toe out were the youngest children. Around a dozen of children lined up and slowly made their way out under the lead of their teacher. Among them were Lucas and Cam. ¡°Mommy!¡± Cam shouted excitedly, her eyes lighting up as she spotted her mother at the front of the line. She had been eagerly waiting for this moment and was overjoyed to see Christina keeping her word. ¡°Cam, Lucas!¡± Christina waved at them. ¡°Wow!¡± The kids shot Cam and Lucas envious looks. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. When Cam and Lucas came out, Christina held them, one in each hand, eliciting impressed gasps from the surrounding parents. That was the first time Christina had ever felt proud as a parent. ¡°Let¡¯s have dinner at a restaurant today. Cam, Lucas, what would you like to eat?¡± Christina asked happily. She decided to make it a special outing by also taking them to the mall afterward, where they could pick out some toys and clothes to enjoy. Christina realized that it had been quite a while since they had gone shopping together as a family at the mall. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Mom called me and told us to head back to the Hadley residence,¡± Nathaniel informed her. It had been some time since Christina hadst paid them a visit, so she nodded and agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Chapter 507 Who Is The Liar Chapter 507 Who Is The Liar Helen had been waiting for them at the door. As their car pulled up outside the Hadley residence, she quickly turned over her shoulder and reported happily, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, they¡¯re here!¡± Charlie and Julia made their way to the door, witnessing Nathaniel and Christina approaching the house. each holding one of their children. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma!¡± Lucas and Cam released their parents¡¯ hands and ran to their grandparents. ¡°Oh, Lucas, Cam.¡± Julia bent down to give her grandchildren a warm hug. It was clear that they adored their grandchildren. Both Charlie and Julia entered the house, each holding one kid. Nathaniel and Christina were left behind, forgotten by everyone else. Silently, they followed everyone into the house. At the expansive dining table. Julia and Charlie positioned Lucas and Cam in the center, ensuring they werefortably seated. Nathaniel and Christina took their ces at the end of the table. An array of dishes were served, carefully selected to cater to the children¡¯s preferences. The elderly couple were fond of their grandchildren. After serving the children, Julia turned to Christina. ¡°Christina, cat up. You¡¯ve lost weight, I see.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom.¡± Christina didn¡¯t feel overlooked or ignored in the slightest. On the contrary, she cherished. the harmonious atmosphere that enveloped the Hadley residence. It was a stark contrast to the tense and ufortable environment she had experienced with the Gibson. family. Nathaniel, who was sitting beside Christina, kept piling her te with food. As the dinner came to an end, she realized that she had consumed more food than she typically did. Christina red at Nathaniel but still gobbled up the food he served her. Charlie and Julia took in their affectionate actions. They were secretly pleased that the old grudge between the Hadley family and the Gibson family didn¡¯t drive a wedge between the couple. Never in their wildest dreams did they know Christina was a Gibson by birth. It was only recently that they had discovered this truth, thanks to Nathaniel¡¯s investigation into a past ident involving the Hadley family. Had it not been for that revtion, they would have remained blissfully unaware of Christina¡¯s true heritage. After dinner, they went to the living room to rx. The TV was ying a cartoon that the kids loved. The ambiance was harmonious. After a while, Charlie spoke up. ¡°Christina, your mom and I are aware of your true identity.¡± Christina was busy ying blocks with Cam when she heard that. Pausing in her actions, she nced at Nathaniel, who gave her a look silently affirming that he did not disclose the information to his parents. ¡°Lucas, Cam,e on. Let¡¯s y hide and seek elsewhere.¡± As they needed to talk in private, Julia summoned the children and led them away. ¡°Sure!¡± Lucas and Cam joyfully trotted after Julia. The moment the kids were out of sight, the atmosphere grew tense. ¡°I was the one who investigated your background. It has nothing to do with Nathaniel,¡± Charlie exined. Christina had no idea what to say, so she stared at him silently. Charlie continued. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what happened to your parents, but it was nothing but an ident.¡± After a brief consideration, Christina decided to be honest with him. ¡°But my grandma and my dad imed it was a ploy.¡± She proceeded to tell him what Timothy had informed her that day. In the face of her question, Charlie fell silent for a moment before getting to his feet. ¡°Come, let¡¯s go to my study.¡± The three of them entered his study together, Charlie reached into the depths of his cab and retrieved a file before passing it over to Christina. ¡°This contains the details of our rivalry with the Gibson family during that time. I must confess that I did arrange to meet your parents on the day of their ident. However, we had a heated argument due to our differing opinions, and I left before they did,¡± he clucidated, recounting the events. Christina was stunned, for it was contradictory to what Timothy had told her previously. Who is the liar here? She flipped the file open with Nathaniel and read that the Hadley family had lost the bid that year. ¡°What is going on?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s brows furrowed together as he shot Charlie a baffled look. ¡°We own the developing rights to Horington, don¡¯t we?¡± Charlie shut his eyes. ¡°That was because I spent more money to get it back three yearster.¡± ¡°Who won the bid back then?¡± Charlie shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing about it. Christina could barely process therge influx of information that she had received that night. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel put the kids to bed and returned to the bedroom to see Christina He approached her, scooping her up gently in his arms and carrying her toward the bed. ¡°It¡¯s getting cold. You wouldn¡¯t want to catch a cold, would you?¡± It was early autumn, so the weather was chilly both in the morning and at night. ¡°I was wondering who was lying, your father or mine.¡± As Nathaniel changed into his pajamas, he said, ¡°You won¡¯t be able to figure it out for the time being. Why don¡¯t you go to bed first?¡± Christina gave him a wary look, not wanting to fall for his scheme yet again. ¡°I¡¯m tired today.¡± As if knowing what she meant, Nathaniel got into bed and hugged her without doing anything else. Christina had assumed it was his trick, but soon, his breathing turned even. She chuckled silently, not expecting him to fall asleep for real. She reached out to touch Nathaniel¡¯s brows before closing her eyes to sleep. The following day, Christina was woken up by amotion. ¡°Daddy, Mommy!¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She blinked her eyes open, only to find Caun and Lucas climbing onto their bed and settling in between her and Nathaniel. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at the kindergarten?¡± she asked, her voiceced with confusion. ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s the weekend today!¡± Cam said happily. Lucas chimed in, ¡°Daddy, Mommy, let¡¯s go to the amusement park today!¡± Christina massaged her temples. It¡¯s indeed the weekend. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s go to the amusement park!¡± Christina woke up and hopped off her bed, eager to please the children. After she changed her clothes and came out, she saw Nathaniel and the kids fooling around on the bed. The room was full of theirughter. That sight warmed her heart. Right then, Christina¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello, Ms. Steele. This is the children¡¯s psychology clinic reminding you that you have an appointment with Dr. Ellie today.¡± It was from the clinic that she had booked an appointment for Cam. Seeing how excited Cam looked, Christina hesitated, wondering if Cam had recoveredpletely. She decided to bring Cam to the clinic just in case. Chapter 508 We Got Divorced Chapter 508 We Got Divorced After hanging up the phone, Christina walked up to them and asked, ¡°Cam, Lucas, Mommy is going to take you two to a different ce first, okay?¡± She wanted tomunicate with the kids beforehand so that they would not react stronglyter on. ¡°What is that ce?¡± Cam looked at Christina curiously with her eyes wide. ¡°Is it fun?¡± Lucas asked. ¡°Yeah. We¡¯re going to meet ady and have a little chat with her,¡± Christina said. Cam tilted her head and gave it some thought before turning toward Lucas. The two kids exchanged nces before arriving at a consensus. ¡°Okay,¡± Lucas said on behalf of them both. Christina¡¯s lips curled into a smile when she saw that the kids had agreed to it. She then got the three of them out of bed and had them get changed. After having breakfast, Nathaniel drove Christina and the two kids over to the psychology clinic. Thinking that Christina was going to get them injections, Cam and Lucas didn¡¯t dare enter the building. ¡°Rx. I didn¡¯t bring you two here to get an injection. We¡¯re just going to meet a prettydy and have at little chat with her,¡± Christina exined when she noticed the look of fear on their faces. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Cam. I will keep youpany,¡± Nathaniel said while picking Cam up. With her big strong father next to her. Cam¡¯s feelings of fear reduced significantly. The receptionist came over and led Christina straight to Ellie¡¯s clinic. She was about to walk through the door when her phone started ringing. ¡°Head on in with the kids, Nathaniel,¡± Christina said. ¡°All right.¡± Christina made her way to an empty corner and took a deep breath before answering the call. ¡°Hey, Grandma.¡± It was Azure who called her. ¡°Christina¡­¡± Azure paused for a few seconds before continuing. ¡°How have you and the kids been?¡± This was her first time speaking to Christina on the phone ever since she had run away from the Gibson residence. Christina was still displeased with Azure for what she had done, so her tone was cold when she replied, ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re all good.¡± Noticing that Christina did not sound very happy, Azure closed her eyes and said, ¡°I found out about what happened between you and Anya. I have given her a warning, so she won¡¯t cause you any more trouble.¡± This was the least she could do for Christina. Having obtained tons of evidence against Anya, however, Christina was not afraid of her in the slightest. ¡°This is between me and Anya, Grandma. You should just stay out of it.¡± Unhappy that Christina had told her to back off, Azure said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re still a member of the Gibson family. What sort of misunderstanding could you two possibly have?¡± Misunderstanding? Anya clearly tried to kill me! In fact, she almost tried to kill the kids too! There¡¯s no way letting this one slide! When Azure didn¡¯t get a response from Christina, she took a deep breath and softened her tone as she asked. ¡°When will youe back, Christina? Your father and I miss you.¡± Had Azure not tried to lock her up the other day, Christina would have felt touched when she heard that. Although she was worried that Azure would try to set her up again, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say no when she thought about her father, who was disabled and depressed. ¡°Probably a few dayster. I still have some stuff to take care of.¡± ¡°All right.¡± As neither of them had anything else to say, they ended the call. Christina took a moment to calm herself down before turning around, only to bump into a middle-aged woman, who was mopping the floor. ¡°Sorry,¡± Christina said. The middle-aged woman looked up at her in response, only to gasp in shock when she got a clear view of Christina¡¯s face. Of course, Christina recognized that middle-aged woman as well. She was none other than Miranda, her former stepmother. Miranda was no longer the elegant, wealthy woman she used to be. Her hair had turned white, and she was practically reduced to skin and bones. The change was so huge that Christina almost couldn¡¯t. recognize her. The two of them proceeded to size each other up. Christina had maintained her charm over the years and was dressed in fancy clothes. That resulted in a huge contrast between them. Not wanting to be mocked, Miranda quickly turned around and tried to leave. However, Christina ran in front of her and blocked her path. ¡°Where¡¯s my dad? Why would he let you do this?¡± Christina had felt a lot better after finding out that she wasn¡¯t a member of the Steele family. Although she had never cared about the Steele family¡¯s affairs, she decided to ask about them since she had bumped into Miranda. ¡°We got divorced. Miranda replied with a wry smile. They had gotten divorced on the day the Steele family went bankrupt. Christina froze in shock when she heard that. I think I heard something about that back then, but I didn¡¯t think they actually got divorced. Seeing as Christina had nothing further to say. Miranda grabbed the mop and walked off. As Christina watched Miranda¡¯s frail body wobbling with each step, her previous hatred for Miranda seemed to have vanished instantly. She regained herposure before turning around. Nathaniel and the kids were walking out of the clinic with bright smiles on their faces. The doctor had conducted a personality test on Cam and Lucas. Christina felt relieved when she saw that their results came out okay. ¡°Next time, please try to keep the children away from simr incidents,¡± the doctor suggested. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Okay,¡± Christina replied. ¡°Come on! Our next stop is the amusement park!¡± Nathaniel said as he led Christina and the kids out of the building. There was a look of envy in Miranda¡¯s eyes as she watched them from afar. I should¡¯ve had Emilia marry Nathaniel back then! After returning to her cramped rental apartment, Miranda nced at Emilia, who was lying aroundzily in bed, and asked with a sigh. ¡°Do you know who I ran into today?¡± Emilia stopped scrolling through her phone the moment she heard that. ¡°Who?¡± she asked with her face all pale. ¡°Christina.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Emilia could not believe her ears. ¡°I said, I ran into Christina today. She even gave birth to two kids,¡± Miranda said with a frown. Emilia¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred as all the unpleasant memories from the past flooded her mind. ¡°Where did you see her, Mom?¡± she asked while sitting bolt upright. Miranda didn¡¯t think much about it and told her everything that had happened earlier that day. Chapter 509 Are You Regretting It Chapter 509 Are You Regretting It ¡°I¡¯ll take over for you at work tomorrow, Mom,¡± Emilia said after a brief pause. ¡°Huh? Why?¡± Miranda asked as she had no idea why Emilia would say that all of a sudden. Emilia didn¡¯t reply and went back to ying with her phone. Miranda had nothing further to say when she saw Emilia, a former celebrity, let herself go like that. All she could do was hide in a corner and weep in silence. Meanwhile, the two kids fell asleep in the car after having a fun day at the amusement park. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Neither of them woke up even when they had arrived home. Christina and Nathaniel had no choice but to carry them into the house. Although their day at the amusement park was an exhausting one, Christina didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all after taking a shower. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you not tired?¡± Nathaniel asked when he came out of the bathroom and saw Christina spacing out in bed. Christina wrapped her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s waist and rested her head against his chest. ¡°I ran into Miranda at the clinic today. She¡¯s working there as a janitor.¡± Nathaniel had to dig deep into his memory in order to recall who Miranda was. ¡°She changed so much that I couldn¡¯t recognize her at first. Her personality has changed a lot as well,¡± Christina continued. Back then. Miranda would have arrogantly insulted her in response. This time, however, Miranda had run off with her tail between her legs. ¡°Life is unpredictable, and people can change.¡± Nathaniel could tell from Christina¡¯s description that Miranda was not exactly living the life. Christina fell silent after hearing that. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you regretting it?¡± Nathaniel asked while caressing Christina on the head. Christina shook her head in response. While she did not regret her decision back then, her experiences over the years had made her somewhat soft-hearted. ¡°By the way, Nathaniel, could you help me get some information on my dad?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Nathaniel replied when he realized Christina was talking about Gideon. When it came to things he had promised Christina, Nathaniel was quick at getting them done. He had Sebastian take care of it the very next day. Instead of leaving immediately, Sebastian told Nathaniel about what he had heard that morning. ¡°The Gibson family has dropped the charges again, Mr. Hadley.¡± Completely unfazed by that news, Nathaniel continued signing the document and handed it over to Sebastian before replying. ¡°Then we will sue them instead.¡± Surprised that Nathaniel had such a n in mind, Sebastian asked, ¡°On what grounds, Mr. Hadley?¡± Nathaniel shot him a questioning look in response. ¡°Are you expecting me toe up with a reason as well?¡± Sebastian quickly averted his gaze. ¡°I will see to it at once.¡± After Sebastian left, Nathaniel massaged his forehead and gave Francis a call. The two arranged a meetup over the phone. Arriving at the meetup location, Francis took his sunsses off and asked, ¡°So, what did you want to see me about?¡± ¡°I need you to help me investigate this person,¡± Nathaniel replied while handing him a file. ¡°Why would youe to me for such a favor? I¡¯m not a private investigator.¡± Francis shot Nathaniel a disdainful look, but he took the file and nced at it anyway. There was a person¡¯s name that Nathaniel had marked with a circle. Francis looked up at him and said, ¡°You want me to investigate this guy? There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special about him, though. He¡¯s a supplier with no private connections nor grudges with Timothy.¡± ¡°Just do as I say and investigate him,¡± Nathaniel replied impatiently. Honestly¡­ is this any way to ask someone for a favor? Although Francis was displeased with Nathaniel¡¯s attitude, he kept those words to himself. ¡°Won¡¯t the Gibson family find out if I investigate him?¡± He had noticed something off about the Gibson family. ¡°Not for a while.¡± Nathaniel had had Sebastian file awsuit against the Gibson family in order to keep them busy. ¡°All right, then.¡± Since this was the first time Nathaniel had asked him for a favor, Francis agreed to his request. Nathaniel whipped out a bottle of red wine and said, ¡°Here, have a drink.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t put hazelnuts in this, did you?¡± Francis asked as he had been deeply traumatized by this sort of thing. Nathaniel rolled his eyes at Francis and replied calmly, ¡°Forget it, then.¡± He then poured himself a ss of red wine and casually sipped on it. After waiting for a bit. Francis couldn¡¯t resist the urge and poured himself a ss as well. For the first time ever, the two brothers sat there and shared a drink peacefully. Neither of them said a word for quite a while. Eventually, Francis got into a morefortable sitting position and leaned against the couch as he said. ¡°I was the one who created the scandal between me and Christina back then I installed surveince cameras in her studio and deliberately acted intimate with her to give you a misunderstanding. It was also due to those surveince cameras that I heard a lot of Hadley Corporation¡¯s secrets. Christina has always loved you, but your controlling behavior can be too much for her at times.¡± Francis had braced himself to be hit by Nathaniel after saying all that, but Nathaniel simply sat there in silence for a few seconds before replying. ¡°You do know her better than I do.¡± Nathaniel hade to realize that after losing Christina a couple of times, His response caught Francis off guard and shocked him to the core. Nathaniel shot him an icy-cold re as he continued, ¡°However, this is no excuse for you to get close to Christina. If I see you meeting her in private again, I will not hesitate to break your legs.¡± And here I thought Nathaniel had changed¡­ Never mind, then! Meanwhile, Christina went into a sneezing fit at the studio. ¡°I bet Mr. Hadley is missing you, Christina!¡± Raynemented. ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Christina retorted. Those words had barely left her mouth when her phone started ringing. ¡°That must be Mr. Hadley!¡± Rayne eximed. Christina wasn¡¯t sure why Rayne was so excited, but she picked up the phone and nced at the caller ID. It was not a call from Nathaniel. She waved the phone at Rayne, prompting thetter to pout in silence after making a wrong guess. As the phone number looked rather familiar, Christina decided to answer the call. ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Christina Steele?¡± a woman asked. Christina felt as though she had heard that voice somewhere before. ¡°Yes, that would be me. Who is this?¡± Chapter 510 Find A Partner Chapter 510 Find A Partner ¡°I¡¯m from the children¡¯s psychology clinic. You¡¯ve been here before. Do you remember?¡± Christina¡¯s doubts instantly dissolved when she heard that. ¡°Yes. Is there something you need?¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling you to make arrangements for your follow-up visit. May I know when you will be avable?¡± Christina knitted her brows as she contemted for a while. ¡°Sorry. We don¡¯t intend to go for follow- ups.¡± Cam was doing great so far, and the incident did not leave a particrly deep impression on her. Christina did not think her daughter needed to be examined again. The words of rejection were like a spark that ignited Emilia¡¯s fury. For a moment, she could not find the right words to respond. As there was no response from the other end of the line, Christina thought the caller had understood her answer and so she hung up. ¡°Christina!¡± Emilia could not help but yell into the phone when she heard the call being hung up. Right then, the receptionist returned from the restroom and witnessed the furious woman¡¯s actions, ¡°What are you doing?¡± she asked in puzzlement. Emilia frantically returned the handset to its original position and picked up the mop beside her. ¡°I was just calling home, but no one picked up.¡± ¡°This is to interact with the clients. You can¡¯t use it so recklessly,¡± was all the receptionist said without thinking much about the situation. Emilia nodded in response, but she was secretly memorizing Christina¡¯s number. I must find a way to make her meet me! Christina chatted with Rayne for a while before getting back to work. She looked beautiful when she concentrated on her work. Rayne couldn¡¯t help but pull out her phone to take a picture of her superior and post it on the Twitter ount of the studio. Ding! Not long after the picture was posted, someone privately messaged her to order a gown. It was the first sale after Christina¡¯s return. Rayne hurriedly broke the good news to Christina. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. It had been a while since Christina had made gowns for her clients, so the news cheered her up. Regardless, confirming the client¡¯s details and signing the agreement were Rayne¡¯s responsibilities. Christina was done with her work for the day when shepleted the underpainting for the design draft. Upon leaving the studio, Christina went to visit Sharon instead of going back to Scenic Garden Manor. Christina did not bring Sharon along when she left Hallshay. Fortunately. Nathaniel had made the arrangements to bring Sharon over and settle her in a high-end residential area. ¡°Christina, why are you here? Where are Nathaniel and the kids?¡± Sharon shed a wide smile when she saw Christina standing at the door, but her smile faded a little when she realized there was no one behind her. That is what happens when people get old. They don¡¯t like to be alone. Noting the change in Sharon¡¯s emotions, Christina stepped forward and hugged her. ¡°Nathaniel has gone to pick up the kids from the kindergarten. They¡¯ll being over in a while. I came here first to help you.¡± Sharon¡¯s spirits were lifted again when she heard Nathaniel and the children would be arriving in a while. Still, she scolded Christina, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you give me a call beforeing? I didn¡¯t buy any groceries.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not guests, anyway,¡± Christina refuted with a pout as she pushed Sharon into the kitchen. Despite Sharon¡¯s words, Christina found the refrigerator to be packed with a variety of meat and vegetables the moment she opened it. ¡°Why are there so much?¡± Christina turned to look at Sharon. Sharon did not answer. Her face was flushed red with embarrassment as she turned around to put on the apron. Of course, Christina was smart enough to realize Sharon had been preparing loads of groceries every day and eagerly waiting for her visit. The thought of that made Christina feel bad. She had been too busy that she had not been spending much time with her mother. Christina moved over and hugged Sharon from the back. ¡°Mom, you should move in with us.¡± Scenic Garden Manor¡¯s huge, anyway. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not so bad here,¡± Sharon declined the offer right away. She did not want to inconvenience Christina. Before Christina could continue saying anything else, Sharon ushered her out of the kitchen with the excuse that the kitchen was too small. Christina had no choice but to sit in the living room, watching TV while keeping an eye on her mother in the kitchen.. After a brief silence, Christina said in a voice that was loud enough for Sharon¡¯s ears, ¡°Mom, I heard Dad and Miranda got a divorce.¡± The chopping sounds from the kitchen did not seem to stop, and the person in the kitchen did not. respond. Christina felt as if her words were like a stone that had been thrown into the bottomless sea. Nheless, she was sure her mother had heard her loud and clear. Since Sharon did not respond. Christina decided against saying anything more. After a moment of silence, Nathaniel finally arrived with Cam and Lucas. Immediately, the house was filled with a lively atmosphere. Everyone enjoyed themselves during the meal. Before leaving, Christina kept her eyes fixed on Sharon¡¯s expression, which showed no signs of sorrow. She had no choice but to take her leave. Nathaniel could tell something was up with Christina during their journey home, but he waited until the children were asleep in their beds before he asked her about it. ¡°I want to find a partner for my mom,¡± Christina said honestly. Sharon was in her fifties, which was still a considerably young age. Christina could not help but think that it was a lonely thing to spend another thirty years alone. Her words did not surprise Nathaniel, for he, too, had the same thought once. However, he had never told her about it because he feared she might not ept the idea. ¡°Mm, I agree with you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s support made Christina feel as if she had half seeded, but she quickly frowned again. After all, looking for an elderly partner was not easy. In fact, Christina could sense that Sharon still had feelings for Gideon. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Momter to find out what she thinks about it.¡± Nathaniel suggested. The creases on Christina¡¯s forehead told him she was having a dilemma. Christina nodded, keeping her doubts to herself. ¡°Okay.¡± As they stood on the balcony, they were warmed by each other¡¯spany despite the chilly autumn breeze. The two were about to get ready to sleep when Raymond knocked on the door. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Taggart is here. She¡¯d like to see you.¡± Ms. Taggart? Madison? Christina quickly changed into another set of clothes and made her way to the door. Nathaniel, too, got up, only to receive a look from Christina. ¡°She¡¯s here to see me. Why are you so excited?¡± Blinking innocently, Nathaniel said, ¡°I¡¯m worried she¡¯ll make things difficult for you.¡± ¡°She¡¯s in my territory. She wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Christina thought Nathaniel was worried over nothing. She¡¯s right. She¡¯s not someone who can be bullied, anyway. He returned to the bed, feeling relieved, while Christina buttoned her clothes and walked toward the courtyard. Chapter 511 Let Us Sleep Chapter 511 Let Us Sleep Ever since Madison was banned from entering Scenic Garden Manor, the Hadley family¡¯s bodyguards. started paying more attention to the woman. Every time she came, she would be stopped outside. The bodyguards would not let her take even a step into thepound. ¡°Ms. Taggart, it¡¯ste. What can I help you with?¡± Right as Madison was staring at the gates of Scenic Garden Manor in mncholy and reminiscing about the time she could go through those gates without anyone stopping her, Christina appeared. Her icy voice snapped Madison out of her train of thought. Madison turned to nce at Christina, who was donning a pink spaghetti-strapped nightgown with a cardigan. Her attireplemented her figure. Then, when Madison saw Christina¡¯s youthful looks, she could not help but feel jealous. She wondered if Christina would have fallen asleep in Nathaniel¡¯s arms now if she had been a little later. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. The thought of Nathaniel hugging Christina to sleep made the jealousy in her grow to the point she scrunched her face in fury. The abrupt change of expression on the silent Madison¡¯s face was a little creepy. Christina frowned and uttered, ¡°If there isn¡¯t anything you want, I¡¯ll be going back inside.¡± Hearing that, Madison jolted back to her senses. For the sake of her n, she forced away the thoughts of murdering Christina. ¡°Christina! This is the evidence of Anya trying to hurt you.¡± As she spoke, she took out a sh drive and passed it to Christina. ¡°What the hell do you want?¡± Christina asked. Instead of taking the sh drive, she stared intently at Madison. She was hoping to read Madison¡¯s mind and find out what nefarious ns thetter had, but besides the frenzy look in Madison¡¯s eyes, she saw nothing else. ¡°I just hope you¡¯ll make a dress for me,¡± Madison said, curling her red lips. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Madison shoved the sh drive into Christina¡¯s hands as if Christina had already agreed to her request. ¡°My engagement is on the fifteenth of the next month.¡± Christina watched Madison drive off as she held onto the sh drive tightly. rm bells were ringing in her head. ¡°Why does she want from you?¡± Nathaniel, who was leaning against the headboard and reading a magazine, asked when Christina came back to the room. Christina turned to look at him. Nathaniel had put on a pair of frameless sses, and his ck hair was softly resting on his forehead. There were a few buttons on his nightshirt unbuttoned, revealing his fair skin. It was a seductive sight she could barely resist. Christina gulped. A beatter, she finally said, ¡°Madison¡¯s going to get engaged soon. Did you know about that?¡± Nathaniel raised a brow. ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Noticing that the surprise on Nathaniel¡¯s face did not seem faked, Christina bit her lower lip and asked. ¡°Why don¡¯t you know about it? Did she not tell you anything?¡± Nathaniel immediately realized that Christina was trying to trick him into admitting something. ¡°Why should I? Why would she tell me about it?¡± Those two questions stopped Christina from continuing her ns to stir up chaos. No longer interested in that topic, Christina climbed onto the bed and showed Nathaniel the sh drive. She told him about Madison¡¯s request. Nathaniel was quiet for a while. ¡°You don¡¯t need to ept it if you don¡¯t want to.¡± He had more than enough ways to deal with Anya. ¡°No, I¡¯ll be epting this.¡± Christina was keen. The more secretive Madison was, the more she wanted to find out what was going on.. Nathaniel cast Christina a loving gaze before answering, ¡°Sure. You have my support for any decision you make.¡± Christina nestled in his arms for a while before trying to mess with Nathaniel again. ¡°What do you think about her uing engagement? Are you disappointed?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s smile froze. Christina¡¯s insistence on making life difficult for him meant that she would not be satisfied with any responses he was to give her.. ¡°What I feel right now¡­ is¡­¡± Nathaniel deliberately stammered. Once he saw Christina letting down her guard, he let his slender fingers sneak beneath her clothes. ¡°Christina, let¡¯s sleep,¡± he whispered into her ear. Before Christina could react to that, Nathaniel had pinned her down on the bed like a beast. The next day, Christina woke with a sore back. Nathaniel was already nowhere to be found. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you feeling unwell? Do you need a doctor to take a look at you?¡± the butler in the living room asked when he noticed Christina rubbing her arm and lower back. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Where¡¯s Nathaniel?¡± she asked, turning to look at the dining room. However, she still did not see Nathaniel, Lucas, or Cam. ¡°Mr. Hadley sent Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam to the kindergarten,¡± Raymond answered. Christina nodded in response and went to have her breakfast. After that, she drove to the studio. Before she could enter the studio, she was startled by the row of bodyguards outside the building. Thinking that she had gone to the wrong ce, she took a few steps back to check the door number. But I¡¯m at the right ce. Right then. Rayne stepped out of the studio, and Christina quickly grabbed her hand and asked, ¡°Rayne, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Before Rayne could reply to her, a woman dressed as an assistant emerged from behind her. She walked over to Christina and said, ¡°Hello, are you Ms. Steele? I¡¯m Coco Lynch¡¯s assistant, Quinn.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard the name she had not heard in ages. Coco was now an A-list celebrity adored by the nation. She was constantly in television shows, advertisements, and variety shows. It had been a long time since the two had met, so every time they met, they would have countless things to tell each other about. Still, Christina wanted to find out why Coco hade to look for her that day. As it turned out, a famous foreign director was fascinated by her talent and was interested to film a show with various cultural elements. Coco¡¯s team had been searching for people who were skilled in making traditional attires. Ultimately, Quinn found Christina¡¯s studio online. When Coco realized that it was Christina her assistant had found, she decided toe and meet Christina herself. Coco wanted to meet her good friend, but at the same time, she also wanted to ask Christina to apany her overseas. Getting an opportunity to show off her work to an international audience through a film made by a foreign director was a golden opportunity for all designers. However, Christina could not help but hesitate when she thought about her husband and children. ¡°I need more time to think about this.¡± Coco nodded and expressed her understanding. Before leaving, she gave Christina her new contact details. ¡°Christina, this is a wonderful chance! Why didn¡¯t you agree to it immediately?¡± Rayne asked, bemused by Christina¡¯s hesitation. Christina sighed. ¡°That¡¯s because I have a family.¡± The trip would take half a year, and she was afraid that Nathaniel could not stand it. Moreover, her children were going to miss her. ¡°Gosh. It¡¯s hard to be a woman. You need to split your attention between family and work,¡± Rayne said. with a sigh, her resolution to not get married getting stronger. Chapter 512 Eighteen. Chapter 512 Eighteen. Augh escaped Christina at that. ¡°All right, tidy up and prep for work.¡± After entering the office, Christina took out a nk piece of paper. From that day onward, she had to start designing Madison¡¯s dress for her engagement. She would have to deal with Anya¡¯s case after designing the dress. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Initially, Christina had designed the dress based on Madison¡¯s preferred style of dressing, ready to face Madison picking a bone with her design. To her surprise, Madison never appeared after the day she met her by the gates. It was as if Madison had forgotten about the matter. Since Madison seemed unbothered by the design, Christina dropped her reservations and started exploring other styles, hoping to make Madison the most eye-catching presence at her engagement. After all, a wedding is a major event for a woman. She was not going to let her feelings get in the way of the design and nor was she going to embarrass herself with a mediocre design. For the following two weeks, Christina made three drafts of dresses in varying styles. One was a traditional sleeveless gown, another was an off-shoulder fitting gown, and the third was a pale purple satin mermaid gown. Every one of the gowns was capable of entuating the best parts of Madison¡¯s figure. Soon, Christina brought those three design drawings to the Taggart residence where Madison was. Madison was delighted to see those designs. All women in the world like pretty clothes, and Madison was no exception. Even though she despised Christina, she could not help but think about how Nathaniel was going to be stunned by her beauty in those gowns. ¡°Okay, these three will do,¡± Madison said as she pretended to force herself to ept the designs. Christina was unbothered by her response, however, for she had mentally prepared herself to hear an onught of sarcasticments from Madison. It came as a surprise to Christina that there were none of that from Madison. Right after Christina was done taking Madison¡¯s measurements and was about to leave, Madison abruptly said. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re going toe to my engagement right?¡± Christina lifted her head to look at Madison but did not answer immediately. After a few seconds of silence, she said, ¡°Of course I¡¯ll be there if you¡¯re inviting me. Ms Taggart¡± She agreed to it so easily It was Madison¡¯s turn to be taken aback. As she took in Christina¡¯s smile, she narrowed her eyes in irritation. ¡°All right, you can leave now.¡± As Madison spoke, her expression darkened. Christina was already used to Madison¡¯s mood swings, so she did not say anything about that and left. Just then, a housekeeper holding a ss of water and a pill bottle walked past Christina. Even though she was already a distance away from Madison, Christina still heard the housekeeper say to Madison. ¡°Ms. Christina, it¡¯s time for your medicine.¡± Christina furrowed her brows at that. Madison¡¯s sick? Forget it. This isn¡¯t my business. After leaving the Taggart residence, Christina called the clothier that the studio was working with. By the time she got the fabric she needed from the clothier, the sky had darkened, so she went straight back to Scenic Garden Manor. When the car stopped by the gates, she looked into the house from the outside. It was dark inside. A power outage? That was the first thing Christina thought.¡± The further she went inside, the more she sensed that something was off. There was no one in the house. Even if there was a power outage, the people inside should have lit candles. ¡°Raymond? Nathaniel? Lucas? Cam?¡± Christina called out. By this time, Cam and Lucas would have already been done with kindergarten. Simrly, Nathaniel would have informed her if he was working overtime. Since Nathaniel did not tell her anything, he should have been home. Yet, the house was empty. Christina¡¯s heart was in her throat. Turning on her phone torch, she scanned her surroundings and muttered under her breath, ¡°Something can¡¯t have happened, right?¡± As she said that, she made to call Nathaniel. Crack! A sudden thunderous sound that rang out beside her ear startled Christina, making her hand shudder and drop the phone. When she whipped her head toward the source of the noise, she saw a ball of me in the dark. Then, the birthday song came. ¡°Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!¡± Christina, whose heart was still racing, froze at the start. In the next second, she smiled. Nathaniel emerged from the dark, pushing a cake cart. Beside the cart were Cam and Lucas. ¡°Happy birthday, Christina!¡± ¡°Happy birthday. Mommy!¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± When the dim lights of the house were switched on, Christina finally saw that Charlie, Julia, Sharon, and Rayne were behind Nathaniel too.. Are they here to celebrate my birthday with me? ¡°Mommy, hurry up and make a wish!¡± Cam reminded Christina when she realized that her mother was not moving. Christina pped her hands together and made a wish.. Once she blew out the candles, all the lights in the house returned. Finally, Christina saw the pink balloons lining the house walls, couch, and stairs. Evidently, they had taken much time in decorating the ce. Surrounded by people she loved and people who loved her back, Christina found herself tearing up. ¡°Did you n all of these?¡± she asked, a little shy as she turned to look at Nathaniel with reddened eyes. Why didn¡¯t he tell me about this? There are so many people here! I nearly made a fool out of myself earlier. Moreover, most of my makeup has run after a tiring day! ¡°It was us!¡± Cam and Lucas quickly pointed out. Surprised, Christina turned to the children. ¡°You two?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! We wanted to give you a surprise, Mommy. Are you happy?¡± Cam was certain that her mother would be delighted, for she herself loved birthday celebrations. Her words reminded Christina of how the trio had been sharing secrets in front of her one of the mornings. So, they were discussing my birthday surprise. Christina smiled, her heart melting. Crouching down, she pulled the children into her arms and said. ¡°I¡¯m overjoyed. Thank you, my darlings.¡± She kissed Cam¡¯s and Lucas¡¯ foreheads. Just then. Lucas thought of something. ¡°Mommy, how old will you be after your birthday?¡± Christina¡¯s heart stopped melting as she began frowning instead. Can I not answer this question? ¡°Lucas, it¡¯s not polite to ask a girl her age,¡± Cam quickly said. Taking a nce at her pretty mother, she added, ¡°Mommy¡¯s going to be eighteen after her birthday!¡± The moment Cam¡¯s words were out of her mouth, everyone burst intoughter. Nathaniel appeared beside Christina and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He whispered, ¡°You¡¯ll always be eighteen to me, Christina.¡± Chapter 513 Something Urgent Chapter 513 Something Urgent Being held by Nathaniel, Christina felt as if she was the happiest woman in the world.. A sweet sentiment filled her heart to the brim. ¡°Oh, by the way, what wish did you make earlier?¡± asked Nathaniel, recalling the moment when Christina had closed her eyes for quite some time to make a wish. He was certain she must have desired something, and he wanted to help her fulfill it. Christina shook her head. With great devotion, she said, ¡°A wish cannot be spoken out loud. Once spoken, it loses its magic.¡± Nathaniel had never believed in such things, but he would not press Christina if she was reluctant to share. He merely held her right within his robust arms. Together, they watched the lively scene within their home. In unison, a shared thought dawned on them. If only this moment couldst forever. That night, everyone indulged in the sweetest dreams. In the ensuing week, Christina was swamped with the task of creating Madison¡¯s dresses, and she practically lived in her studio. She had no spare time to pick up Cam and Lucas from the kindergarten. The children were taken to the Hadley residence for a few days. Work consumed Nathaniel as well. When he wasn¡¯t seated at his desk drowning in documents, he was out visiting various shopping malls and construction projects for inspections. The couple would leave early and returnte, scarcely getting a glimpse of each other. Yet, they did not bicker or grumble about each other. Instead, they encouraged each other, striving to carve out time at the end of the year to take their children on vacation. With that thought in mind, Christina threw herself even more into her work. The first creation shepleted for Madison was avender mermaid gown. Its brilliancey in its cut and stitching, designed to entuate Madison¡¯s perfect figure to the fullest. Madison had a fairplexion, and this color would only enhance her skin¡¯s glossy sheen. The most challenging piece was the vintage gown. Itsmonness often failed to inspire awe Christina put special thought into choosing the fabric and incorporated her unique techniques and insights into the design, ensuring it would inspire amazement without deviating from its traditional charm. For this, she pulled three consecutive all-nighters, with dark circles under her eyes as a testament to herbor. She deliberately concealed these three dresses under a piece of ck cloth to prevent early exposure. Even her assistant, Rayne, hadn¡¯t seen the final look of the dresses. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Christina, did you pull another all-nighter?¡± Rayne asked in concern. She found that Christina was still at the studio when she came to open the door of the studio in the morning. Hearing Rayne¡¯s voice, Christina, who was taking a brief nap on the couch, managed to open asked, ¡°Rayne, you¡¯re here?¡± Then, she immediately drifted back to sleep. Seeing this, Rayne quickly fetched a nket to cover Christina, worried that thetter might fall sick. Indeed, what was feared woulde to pass. Christina had caught a cold. By the time she woke up around noon, she was continuously sneezing and seemed listless. Her usually radiant, fairplexion now appeared pallid, inspiring sympathy in anyone who looked her way. ¡°Christina, let me apany you to the hospital¡± Rayne suggested after noticing Christina¡¯s constant sneezing. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll just take some medicine in a while,¡± Christina insisted, her mind still preupied with work. But this time, Rayne didn¡¯t listen. Ignoring Christina¡¯s objections, she firmly rushed her to the nearby hospital. Rayne queued to register while Christina waited, seated on a chair in the lobby. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you? Are you blind?¡± A harsh, admonishing voice suddenly cut through the noisy lobby. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry,¡± a man uttered. ¡°Do you think a simple apology is enough? Do you know that I¡¯m ill?¡± the other man retorted. What nonsense is he spouting? Whoes to a hospital if they¡¯re not ill? The mor of voices drew spectators, forming rings of onlookers around the arguing duo. They were eager to witness the drama unfold. Christina, however, had no interest in such petty squabbles. She simply yearned for a quick consultation and to return promptly to finish the appliqu¨¦ on her dress. Madison¡¯s engagement party was merely three days away. ¡°Hey! How could you resort to violence?¡± The quarrel suddenly escted, and fists were thrown. The onlookers, fearing for their safety, retreated hastily, Even the security guards were slow to arrive. The two men grappled at each other, and their fight rolled precariously close to Christina. Frowning at the unwanted disruption, Christina rose to leave. Just as she turned, a glimpse of the face of one of the brawling men caught her eye. Recognizing the man caused her pupils to constrict in shock. The man was no stranger. He was none other than Gideon. ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Atst, the security guards managed to pull the two apart. However, the fight had already drawn blood,pelling the hospital authorities to alert the police. Soon, police officers arrived and, after a brief investigation, took Gideon and the other man away. Throughout the incident, Gideon never noticed Christina among the crowd. However, watching Gideon¡¯s blood-streaked face and greying hair, Christina felt an unfamiliar pang of sadness and sympathy. Once, she had loathed Gideon, wishing him destitution. However, now that he was reduced to such a state, the triumph somehow felt hollow. She clenched her fists and stared nkly at the entrance until Rayne returned and pulled her back to reality. ¡°Christina, what¡¯s wrong? You look rather pale,¡± Rayne said, noticing that Christina looked even paler than before. Thetter¡¯s hand also felt cold to Rayne¡¯s touch. ¡°Rayne, I just remembered something urgent. I need to leave,¡± Christina excused herself, not mentioning the incident with Gideon. Before Rayne could persuade her to stay, Christina had already made a swift exit. Sensing something amiss, Rayne dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. ¡°Okay, understood,¡± Nathaniel, who had been touring a shopping mall, responded. He promptly turned around, leaving behind a line of executives to look for Christina. As he drove, he repeatedly dialed Christina¡¯s number, but each call went unanswered. Chapter 514 Girlfriend Chapter 514 Girlfriend Meanwhile, inside the police station, Gideon, bruised and battered, was crouched in a corner when he suddenly heard the police officer¡¯s shout. ¡°Gideon Steele, you can leave now!¡± ¡°Officer, can I really leave?¡± Gideon thought his ears were ying tricks on him. He had been involved in a public brawl, and if nobody came to bail him, he was supposed to spend a night there. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Yes. Someone hase to bail you.¡± The police officer unlocked the metal gate before Gideon as he spoke. Gideon was momentarily dazed before stepping out from behind the gate. He couldn¡¯t guess who woulde to get him. With a palpitating heart, he followed behind the officer. In those few short seconds, he considered everyone possible but never thought it would be Christina. When Gideon saw Christina standing in the hall signing papers, he felt as if all the blood in his body had run cold. He stopped short and was rooted to his spot. After she finished signing the papers and paid the fine, she nced over and coincidentally noticed Gideon staring at her. Aplex range of emotions yed across his face. Evidently, he had never thought she would be there to bail him out of jail. In truth, Christina was also surprised by her decision to do that. After exiting the police station, Christina and Gideon walked one after the other. Neither of them spoke. ¡°Christina!¡± Just as Christina was about to step off the pavement, a Mercedes-Benz SUV pulled up in front of her. When the car window was rolled down. Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face was revealed. However, at that moment, his brows were furrowed, and a worried expression was spread across his countenance. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Christina gazed at him in surprise. Obviously, she hadn¡¯t expected to run into him there. Nathaniel hastily opened the door and got out of the vehicle. He carefully examined her body to check for any injuries, and only after ascertaining she was fine did he breathe a sigh of relief. Still, he couldn¡¯t help but reprimand her, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer my calls?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t hear my phone ring.¡± Christina had on a clueless face. She took out her phone from her bag and found that she had put her phone on silent mode these past few days to focus on work and avoid getting distracted. There were over thirty missed calls on her phone. She tapped on the screen and noticed all the calls were from Nathaniel. Christina stuck out her tongue guiltily. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I won¡¯t do it again next time.¡± Then, she immediately set her phone to ring in front of him. When he saw how she had admitted her mistakes with crity and sincerity, Nathaniel¡¯s grimace slowly dissipated. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Nathaniel was able to track down Christina because of the global positioning system on her phone. He was overwrought when he saw she was nearby a police station. As he asked the question, Nathaniel looked behind Christina and saw Gideon standing not far away. Gideon had his head lowered. At that instant, he was too ashamed to meet Nathaniel. ¡°Did youe here because of him?¡± With a single nce, Nathaniel could tell Gideon was no longer his former self. Christina nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, she walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and got into the vehicle, clearly not intending to bother herself with Gideon anymore. Gideon didn¡¯t chase after her like he used to, begging Christina to pay him attention. Instead, he merely stood in his spot and watched her leave. She gazed at Gideon¡¯s shrinking figure through the rearview mirror before it eventually turned into a blur. An unusually intense gloominess churned within her. She leaned her head against the window while recalling what the police officer had told her earlier. Gideon wasn¡¯t the one who started the fight in the hospital. Moreover, he endured the beatings without retaliating once. A leopard could never change its spots, but Gideon¡¯s actions that day drastically differed from before. Nathaniel drove the car while asionally ncing at Christina. Sensing she was in low spirits, he reached out and grasped her hand, giving her palm a squeeze. ¡°What are you thinking? Talk to me.¡± She hadn¡¯t yet figured out how to deal with Gideon¡¯s issue and didn¡¯t want to burden Nathaniel by sharing. Therefore, she made up a random excuse. ¡°I¡¯m just feeling a little dizzy.¡± Nathaniel could tell she was lying, but he didn¡¯t want to probe further, so he said, ¡°Rest for a while, then.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± she responded softly and closed her eyes. Unexpectedly, she did drift off to sleep just like that. When she woke up, she realized she wasn¡¯t in Scenic Garden Manor. Instead, Christina noticed she was inside the lounge in Nathaniel¡¯s office. A ss of warm water and a pill for colds were ced on the bedside table. Christina took the medication and finished the water in the ss. Only then did her dry throat feel soothed. Just as she was about to open the door to the lounge and exit the room, she noticed through the crack of the door several executives standing in front of Nathaniel. Thetter had a darkened expression. Nathaniel had an imposing presence. When he was enraged, he gave off a vibe no different from a demon, rendering the few experienced executives undaring to breathe before him. Christina pursed her lips. It didn¡¯t seem like the right time for her to go out. Just as she was closing the door, an itch in her throat prompted her to let out an involuntary cough. The sound was just loud enough to reach Nathaniel¡¯s ears. He swiftly looked toward the lounge and saw the slightly ajar door. At once, he knew that Christina had woken up. Nathaniel said sternly to the few people in front of him, ¡°You all may leave.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley.¡± The few executives felt relieved, wearing grateful expressions as they left the room in session. Only after everyone had left did Nathaniel stand up and walk toward the lounge. He pushed the door open and saw Christina sitting on the bed obediently and ying with her phone. ¡°Did I disturb your work?¡± Christina looked up to see Nathaniel approaching and put down her phone. ¡°No,¡± he replied while leaning over to touch her forehead with the back of his hand. Her fever had subsided. Christina also touched her forehead but didn¡¯t feel anything unusual. However, at that moment, her stomach started to growl. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Hearing that, Nathaniel immediately contacted Sebastian. Not long after, Sebastian arrived with some delicious food. Christina was famished, so she picked up the fork and chowed down the food without any care for her image. Nathamel, sitting beside her, reminded her concernedly, ¡°Slow down.¡± Then, he continued putting more food on her te. Watching that scene made Sebastian feel envious. I want a girlfriend too! ¡°Sebastian, are you hungry as well?¡± Christina lifted her head and saw the yearning look in Sebastian¡¯s eyes. She thought he was craving her food, so she suggested, ¡°Do you want to have some too?¡± To Christina, Sebastian wasn¡¯t just an ordinary assistant; he was more like a family member. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, Mrs. Hadley. I have some things to attend to, so I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Sebastian was startled and immediately left. Chapter 515 Blind Dates For Sebastian Chapter 515 Blind Dates For Sebastian ¡°Am I scary?¡± asked Christina with confusion as she watched Sebastian flee. Nathaniel smiled affectionately. ¡°Of course not. You¡¯re too cute to look scary.¡± Everyone loved hearing sweet nothings, including Christina. Satisfied, she consumed two mouthfuls of food. Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind, and she turned her line of sight toward him. ¡°Does Sebastian have a girlfriend?¡± Nathaniel paused his movement and contemted the answer. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Then he doesn¡¯t have one,¡± asserted Christina. Since Nathaniel¡¯s a workaholic, as his assistant, Sebastian is probably also a workaholic. Not to mention Sebastian has to be on standby twenty-four hours. How can someone like him have time to find a girlfriend when he has to serve his boss at a moment¡¯s notice? ¡°Why did you ask that?¡± Nathaniel sent a small piece of beef into Christina¡¯s mouth. While chewing, she answered, ¡°Sebastian¡¯s almost thirty years old, yet he still hasn¡¯t found a partner. I think his family¡¯s probably panicking about it.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t believe it was a serious issue because he got together with Christina after crossing the thirty-year-old mark. When she realized he didn¡¯t register the severity of the issue, she immediately swallowed her half- chewed beef. ¡°You¡¯re such an inhumane boss. How can you not care even a little about your subordinate¡¯s life? It¡¯s as if you¡¯re trying to keep riding a horse without feeding it any grass!¡± Christina turned a casual topic into a serious one after only a few exchanges. Feeling aggrieved, Nathaniel stared at her furrowed eyebrows. ¡°How about I give him a few days of leave so he can find a potential partner?¡± Upon hearing that, Christina rxed her frown. However, when she thought about Sebastian having a blind date in the park¡¯s blind date corner, she predicted it would be a nightmare. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. Hence, she shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not good enough.¡± Seeing that she rejected his idea, Nathaniel didn¡¯t know what else to suggest because he didn¡¯t have much experience on the matter. After an earnest contemtion, Christina eyed him. ¡°Don¡¯t you know plenty of exceptional single women? How about you ask them to attend a blind date with Sebastian?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know any,¡± rified Nathaniel immediately. Christina nced at him skeptically. I know Mrs. Hadley introduced many women to Nathaniel when she still disliked me. As such, he definitely knows a few women. Even though Sebastian is the CEO¡¯s special assistant, he exercises the authority of the vice CEO, and his yearly sry is around five million. From those facts alone, he¡¯s already a lot more outstanding than a small-time entrepreneur In the end, Nathaniel obeyed Christina¡¯s order and arranged a blind date for Sebastian. However, to prevent Sebastian from opposing the idea, no one told him he was attending a blind date. Hence, he initially thought he was only meeting with a female business partner. However, after meeting her, he couldn¡¯t hold his ground against the enthusiasm she disyed. Usually, he would help Nathaniel prevent women from approaching thetter. Therefore, he was quite skilled at dealing with scenarios like that. However, when he had to face flirtations directed at him, he didn¡¯t know what to do. He felt as if he was sitting on needles for over ten minutes. When Sebastian saw the woman stretching her hand toward him, he was so startled that he leaped from his chair and tossed out an excuse. ¡°I suddenly remembered I have something to take care of in thepany, so I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Without hesitation, he turned around and bolted away as if there was a beast chasing after him. ¡°Ah!¡± Just as Sebastian opened the cafe door and strode out of the building, he bumped into a woman holding a cup. The drink in her hand was immediately spilled on both of their clothes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± apologized Sebastian. The woman was wearing a baseball cap. First, she peered at her drink, which was sshed on the ground. Then, she nced at Sebastian. They locked gazes. The woman appeared fair and clean. She had a pair of shimmering eyes and had applied pink lipstick to her lips. The moment they made eye contact, Sebastian felt his heart pound uncontrobly. ¡°Don¡¯t you have eyes, old man? Watch where you¡¯re going!¡± Victoria Lesley frowned at Sebastian. He¡¯s quite handsome, but he¡¯s clearly several years older than me. Old man? Sebastian snapped back to his senses. I can¡¯t believe someone called me an old man. I¡¯m not that old! ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dirtying your clothes. I¡¯llpensate you for it,¡± said Sebastian as he nced at Victoria¡¯s tainted dress. However, Victoria arched her eyebrow indifferently. ¡°That¡¯s an archaic pickup line, old man.¡± Just as she finished her sentence, she hastily strode into the cafe to meet her friend because she worried Sebastian would ask for her WhatsApp. Reflexively, Sebastian nced at her back. Upon returning to thepany, he was distracted while working in the afternoon. Nathaniel, after observing Sebastian¡¯s demeanor, called Christina to inform her of the situation. In response, Christina remarked, ¡°It must¡¯ve been an issue with your taste. I bet you didn¡¯t arrange for a gorgeousdy to meet with Sebastian.¡± Nathaniel refused to believe she was right, so he arranged more blind dates between Sebastian and different types of beauties. Still, every time Sebastian returned, he appeared upset. Upon witnessing his assistant¡¯s reaction, Nathaniel was puzzled. Do I really have awful taste? Just as Nathaniel was deep in thought, Sebastian entered the office expressionlessly and submitted his report as always. Nathaniel listened before rying his orders. After a while, they wrapped up their work discussion. However, Sebastian remained unmoving. Therefore, Nathaniel asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Can you stop arranging blind dates for me, Mr. Hadley?¡± Initially, Sebastian thought he was merely meeting with clients and suffered workce harassment. After he thoroughly thought about his experiences, he spected that Nathaniel had been arranging blind. dates for him. Hence, he steeled himself and confronted his boss about it. Sebastian assumed Nathaniel would make things difficult for him, but thetter simply waved his hand. ¡°All right, then. I understand.¡± Relieved, Sebastian spun on his heel and was about to exit the office when he heard Nathaniel speaking on the phone behind him. ¡°I told you this wouldn¡¯t work, Christina¡­¡± When Sebastian caught that, he knitted his eyebrows. What do my blind dates have anything to do with Mrs. Hadley? Chapter 516 Ready For Another Round Chapter 516 Ready For Another Round By the time Nathaniel returned to Scenic Garden Manor, it was already nine at night. The first thing he did was visit his sleeping children before heading to his bedroom to change his clothes. He didn¡¯t spot Christina in the bedroom, so he assumed she was in the study. As expected, Christina was embroidering flowers onto Madison¡¯s gown in the study. The longer Nathaniel stared at her, the more he found her to be alluring, so much so his heart skipped a beat. She¡¯s likea delicate flower waiting to be picked. However, Christina tended to be absorbed in her work, so she didn¡¯t notice Nathaniel approaching her. It wasn¡¯t until he coughed that she returned to her senses. When Christina raised her head and saw Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face, she beamed. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He nodded and eyed the gown in front of Christina. ¡°It¡¯ste. You should leave it be. It¡¯s not good for your eyes if you keep working on it. As much as I support her work, I don¡¯t want to see her ruining her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll stop afterpleting this section. Oh yeah, have you eaten yet?¡± Nathaniel was very disciplined in many aspects, but he always had trouble maintaining a healthy meal routine. While his stomach had recovered greatly, and he didn¡¯t suffer any pain, that didn¡¯t mean he should be careless with it. Upon meeting Christina¡¯s sparkly eyes, he pursed his lips guiltily. ¡°No¡­ I forgot.¡± She frowned immediately, ready to lecture an adult less sensible than a child. However, she swallowed her criticism when she noticed his brand-new stubble. Fine. I guess he has been incredibly busytely, considering he doesn¡¯t even have time to maintain his image. In a voice filled with heartache, she inquired, ¡°What do you want to eat, then? I¡¯ll prepare it for you.¡± Nathaniel wasn¡¯t in a hurry to answer as he stretched his slender arm toward Christina and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, Then, he lowered his head and pressed his thin lips to Christina¡¯s fair earlobe. ¡°I want¡­ to eat you¡­¡± The warm breath he expelled on Christina¡¯s car made her blush red as an apple, tempting him to take a bite of her. Giving in to his impulse, he lowered his head and kissed her deeply. When Christina opened her eyes again, it was the next morning. She was still lying on the bed while Nathaniel was already eating breakfast with the children downstairs like usual. When she recalled how much Nathaniel exhausted her without dyst night, she felt pissed and resigned. However, as she still had many tasks she needed to performter, she didn¡¯t have the time to ¡°admonish¡± Nathaniel. After breakfast, Nathaniel asked the butler and bodyguard to send the kids to the kindergarten instead of doing it himself. He then went upstairs to rouse Christina but saw she had already awoken and was picking a suitable gown in the closet after freshening up. ¡°Which one do you think suits me the best? The one on my left or the one on my right?¡± Christina was holding two gowns, one with a lighter color, whichplemented her skin tone, and another with a better design. However, Nathaniel didn¡¯t care about the design or color. His primary focus was on the fact that both covered too little of her skin. With a solemn expression, Nathaniel shook his head and said, ¡°Both aren¡¯t good.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± The anticipation in Christina¡¯s eyes turned into shock. She almost questioned her taste until she saw him removing a long dress with long sleeves from a pile of clothing. Then, she understood what he was thinking. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll pick this one. At least I can take a photo at the beach this way.¡± In the end, she chose the gown with the lighter color. While the gown appeared normal from the front, it had a big v-shaped opening on the back. If she stood before the blue ocean in that gown for a photo shoot, she would undoubtedly be exceptionally beautiful and sexy. In that scenario, Rayne would be overjoyed because it meant there would be new material she could use to update their ount. ¡°No!¡± objected Nathaniel because he didn¡¯t want other men toy their eyes on Christina¡¯s seductive back. However, Christina wasn¡¯t epting any of his opinions anymore. Hence, she changed into the gown of her choice without dy and applied makeup while sitting at the dressing table. Additionally, she wore a few essories. With that, the lovely Christina was ready to stand before a camera. ¡°What do you think? Do I look beautiful?¡± Christina struck a pose in front of Nathaniel by touching her shoulder while standing sideways. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but gulp. ¡°Yeah.¡± I think I¡¯m ready for another round. Upon noticing the lustful look in his eyes, Christina panicked and said, ¡°I need to deliver the gowns to Madison.¡± As she ended her sentence, she was ready to step past Nathaniel. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you there.¡± Swiftly, Nathaniel grabbed her wrist. Confused, Christina frowned. Didn¡¯t he say he¡¯s busy today? However, no one could easily sway Nathaniel¡¯s mind when he had made a decision. If he said he was going to drive Christina to her destination, he would do it. After entering his vehicle with Madison¡¯s gowns, he stepped on the gas pedal. The expensive Lincoln flew down the highway. However, Nathaniel wasn¡¯t driving them to the Taggart residence. Instead, he brought them to the suburban bay resort. That day was the day of Madison¡¯s engagement banquet, which was held at a bay resort. Thetest marriage partner that the Taggart family engaged Madison to was from the Lesley family, an industry giant. Hence, all prominent figures in Jadeborough were invited, except for Nathaniel. Back then, Christina was perplexed to learn that Madison had delivered an invitation to the Hadley residence but not Nathaniel. Has Madison truly fallen out of love with Nathaniel? With that question in mind, Christina arrived at her destination. When she descended from the vehicle, Madison¡¯s housekeepers immediately weed her. They helped carry the gowns in her hand and dragged her forward. Before Christina could bid Nathaniel farewell, she was already brought to Madison. Madison was wearing a bathrobe as she sat with her legs crossed on the couch, reading a magazine. Her hair was loose around her shoulders. ¡°Ms. Steele has arrived, Ms. Taggart,¡± the housekeeper informed. Upon hearing that, Madison peeled her attention away from the magazine and nced at Christina. Shock shed past her eyes when she noticed Christina¡¯s outfit. ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver your gowns, Ms. Taggart. Do you want to give them a try?¡± As a professional designer, Christina didn¡¯t leave immediately after handing over the gown. As there was still time, she wanted to see if her work was a good fit for Madison.. If it wasn¡¯t, she could make adjustments on the spot. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. ¡°Okay.¡± Instead of troubling Christina, Madison rose cooperatively. Just as Christina thought Madison¡¯s attitude had improved, her assumption was immediately proven wrong. That was because Madison removed her bathrobe in front of Christina. Madison¡¯s attractive figure was exposed to Christina when the robended on the ground. Like a proud peacock, Madison raised her chin. ¡°What do you think? Mine are bigger than yours, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Chapter 517 Her Choice Chapter 517 Her Choice Christina scrutinized Madison¡¯s chest and answeredposedly, ¡°They are bigger by a bit.¡± During her time overseas, she often interacted with runway models. In a high-stress, time-sensitive environment, those models would wear pasties or nothing before changing. Hence, she wasn¡¯t shocked or weirded out by Madison¡¯s sudden act. ¡°All right, help me wear a gown.¡± When Madison didn¡¯t elicit the reaction she was hoping to see from Christina, she felt displeased. Upon hearing that, the housekeepers scrambled to help Madison put on a gown. Christina couldn¡¯t bear to watch the housekeepers treat the gowns roughly, so she offered, ¡°Let me do it.¡± While the gowns were prepared for Madison, Christina had made each with her own hands. Therefore, she didn¡¯t want to see anyone ruining them. When the housekeepers heard her words, they subconsciously turned to Madison. Seeing that Madison didn¡¯t oppose the idea, they retreated to the side. Christina removed all three gowns from their dust bags. When Madison saw the clothing, she was overjoyed. ¡°I want to try this one first!¡± she uttered with a cheery tone while pointing at a red gown. Of the three gowns, the red one was indeed the most eye-catching. Christina did as Madison requested and handed the gown to thetter. Standing before the mirror, Madison was shocked to see how gorgeous she appeared in that gown. Am I really the person in the mirror? Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Even Christina couldn¡¯t help but be stunned by Madison¡¯s new charm. The gown perfectly illustrated Madison¡¯s figure. Additionally, the red contrasted well with Madison¡¯s slightly sickly pale countenance. The gown was created from a whole cloth cut. Thus, it was extremely pleasant to the eye. Besides that, Christina had embroidered a vivid, golden phoenix with a raised head on the edge of the thigh opening. Moreover, Christina had sown a little bit of gold thread into the neckline, making it seem understated yet fancy. The fastener on the gown¡¯s chest area had also been delicately crafted by Christina, and she had even embedded a tiny ruby there. No matter what, that gown was undoubtedly the best clothing Madison could attend her engagement banquet in. Madison was drawn to her figure in the mirror for a long while. Just as Christina thought Madison would wear that, thetter said, ¡°This looks okay. I want to try out that one.¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect Madison to say that and frowned. Swiftly, the former turned to the light-purple fishtail dress thetter pointed at. Without hesitation, Christina brought the gown Madison asked for to thetter. The gown fabric was smooth thin silk. Therefore, the wearer had to be slim to put it on. Madison had a habit of working out, so it wasn¡¯t difficult for her to wear it. The gown had two notable characteristics. The first was the fishtail design at the bottom of the clothing. while the other was its pearly, opened back. Upon wearing the gown, Madison resembled a beautiful mermaid. However, itcked the elegance of the first gown. Hence, Christina assumed Madison preferred the first gown. To Christina¡¯s surprise, Madison uttered, ¡°I¡¯ll pick this one, then.¡± As Madison had made her decision, Christina swallowed the suggestion dancing on her tongue. Well, this is Madison¡¯s engagement banquet, not mine. She can choose to wear whatever she wants. Afterward, the makeup team began applying makeup to Madison and styling her hair. Meanwhile, Christina left the dressing room to call Nathaniel and ask if he had left already. The moment Christina left the room, Madison interrupted a nearby stylist. ¡°I want my hair and makeup to resemble that woman¡¯s.¡± That woman? The stylist was stunned for a moment before Christina¡¯s figure shed past his mind. While Christina¡¯s hairstyle and makeup were gorgeous, they weren¡¯t suitable for an engagement banquet. Just as the stylist was about to voice his opinion, he was silenced by Madison¡¯s nce. Hence, he said, ¡°Okay.¡± Upon leaving the dressing room, Christina called Nathaniel a couple of times. However, he didn¡¯t answer, which led her to assume it was because he was driving and couldn¡¯t answer the phone. Consequently, she deposited her phone back in her handbag. The dreamy blue decoration of the banquet was stunning. As it was held at a beach, salty ocean wind would asionally sweep across the venue. It made people feel refreshed and rxed. Madison¡¯s engagement wouldmence at noon. Since it was still early, everyone was drinking champagne and chatting with each other. When Christina swept her gaze across the banquet, she didn¡¯t spot many familiar faces. Holding a ss of champagne, she approached a professional photographer to take a set of photos at the beach. ¡°You have an amazing potential to be a model, Ms. Steele,¡± the photographermented as he showed the pictures he took to Christina. ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina grinned. This photographer is really good at taking photos of people. He captured my every move and expression impably. I don¡¯t know much about the art of photography, but even I can recognize what a fantastic job he¡¯s done. An idea suddenly shed past her mind. Perhaps my workshop can coborate with this guy to produce my portfolio. With that thought, Christina exchanged numbers with the photographer. The photographer informed her that it would take a while for him to send her the pictures, which she mentioned was fine. Also, she decided to repay his efforts. After they split up, she transferred a five thousand mary gift to his ount, though he didn¡¯t ept it for a long period. After leaving the beach, she returned to the banquet hall. At that moment, the host was preparing for the start of the event. ¡°Christina.¡± It was then someone called out to Christina from behind. When she turned around, she saw it was Francis. He was dressed fabulously for the event. His towering, slender figure made him stand out in the crowd. Furthermore, he was already a celebrity, and there were many fans among the affluent crowd. However, most of the fans merely gazed at him from afar instead of asking him for photographs and signatures so as not to cause a scene. When the fans spotted Francis approaching Christina, they naturally also paid attention to her. Immediately, they scrutinized her, making Christina ufortable because she disliked people staring at her. ¡°Do you have something you wish to speak to me about?¡± asked Christina. Upon sensing Christina¡¯s indifferent attitude, Francis pursed his lips. ¡°I do.¡± He pointed at an obscure spot and proposed, ¡°How about we chat over there?¡± When she recalled how he proactively provided clues for herst time, she obediently followed behind him. Chapter 518 No Need To Meet Again Chapter 518 No Need To Meet Again ¡°So, what is it that you want to tell me?¡± Christina went straight to the point when they arrived at the distant corner. ¡°I¡¯m here to bid you farewell. I¡¯m leaving,¡± answered Francis forthrightly. Upon hearing that, Christina was stunned and slightly confounded. ¡°You¡¯re leaving? To go where?¡± After all, it was normal for movie stars to travel overseas for filming. When Francis peered at Christina¡¯s expression, he instantly knew she didn¡¯t understand what he truly meant. However, he didn¡¯t provide further rification either. Turning around, he pressed his palms on a waist-high metal railing and gazed at the sea. ¡°I want to ask you a question, Christina,¡± asked Francis slowly and solemnly as the waves crashed into the beach. Christina detected the mncholy in his tone and turned to him, puzzled. Seeing that she didn¡¯t respond, Francis grew silent for a few seconds before asking, ¡°If I had met you before Nathaniel did, would you have fallen for me?¡± He had kept that question suppressed in his heart for a long time, to the point he couldn¡¯t even recall if he had asked her that question before. Maybe he had but refused to give up. Thus, he wished to ask Christina that question again before he departed. Christina frowned, not expecting Francis to invite her to a secluded location for that purpose. The sound of crashing waves traveled into their ears as Francis quietly waited for Christina¡¯s answer, as though he wouldn¡¯t leave until he obtained it. In response, Christina sighed. ¡°There are no ifs in life. Besides, if not for Nathaniel, I wouldn¡¯t have met you.¡± Since I wouldn¡¯t have encountered you, why do we even need to specte about the possibility of us falling in love? That sentence thoroughly killed Francis¡¯ hope as he lowered his head with a bitter smile. ¡°You two really are a couple.¡± Unbeknownst to her, he had asked Nathaniel the same question in the same spot ten minutes ago. Nathaniel had retorted his hypothesis in a simr manner. ¡°You met Nathaniel earlier?¡± Christina was sharp enough to catch the implication in Francis¡¯ words. In response, Francis nodded. ¡°He was just here, yes.¡± Christina was taken aback. Just here? Then why didn¡¯t he answer my calls? ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Pursing her lips, she raised the hem of her dress before searching for Nathaniel. Francis wished to speak further, but Christina had already left, so he abandoned that idea. Meanwhile, she called Nathaniel twice, but he still didn¡¯t answer the phone. Hence, she used the GPS tracking software she had installed on her mobile device to locate his phone. Both of them had willingly installed that app on their own phone for their safety. They would only use it if they couldn¡¯t locate each other in an emergency. ording to the software, Nathaniel wasn¡¯t far from Christina¡¯s position. After analyzing his location, she headed off in search of him. Concurrently. Nathaniel followed a waiter to an isted lounge near the sea. ¡°Ms. Steele is inside. Mr. Hadley.¡± The waiter stopped at the entrance. Nathaniel tried peering into the building, but the tulle at the entrance blocked his sight. The only thing he could barely recognize through the fabric was the hairstyle and figure of a person, which resembled Christina¡¯s. ¡°Mhm.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t suspect the waiter. After thetter left, the former raised the thin fabric and sauntered into the building. The moment he stepped in, he picked up the scent of sandalwood. He had always disliked that scent, so he grimaced and searched for its origin. Nearby, he saw a lit incense. As it was typical for a beach to have many mosquitoes buzzing around, it wasn¡¯t unusual for someone to prepare anti-mosquito incense. Hence, Nathaniel didn¡¯t pay it too much attention. ¡°Christina,¡± he called out to the figure in the distance. It was as though the figure didn¡¯t hear anything as they kept facing the ocean without replying. Without any choice, Nathaniel endured the difort and rapidly approached the figure. Madison¡¯s heart was pounding when she felt someone standing behind her. However, she didn¡¯t have the nerve to turn around as she waited for him to hug her. After a while, she couldn¡¯t resist the urge to turn around when Nathaniel didn¡¯t do anything. When she did, she discovered Nathaniel ring at her coldly, the intensity sending a shiver down her spine. Madison bit her lip and uttered softly, ¡°Nathaniel¡­¡± ¡°What are you trying to do this time?¡± interrogated Nathaniel ruthlessly. Right before he mistook Madison for Christina again, he noticed the trick and avoided making the same mistake twice. Seeing that Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t fall for her scheme, Madison elected not to beat around the bush. ¡°To meet you, of course!¡± ¡°Do you know how much I missed you, Nathaniel?¡± Agitatedly, she attempted to hug Nathaniel, but he shoved her away before she could close the gap between them. Nathaniel¡¯s impression of Madison was that she was a dignified, collected, strong, independent woman. Hence, her crazy demeanor today astonished him slightly. However, he didn¡¯t spare any sympathy for her. ¡°Today¡¯s your engagement with Mr. Lesley, Madison. Don¡¯t embarrass both families.¡± In response, Madison snorted. ¡°Engagement? Did you know I organized this banquet for you, Nathaniel?¡± For me? Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. Believing that it was meaningless to hide her n any longer, she revealed the scheme she had devised over the course of the past three months. Back then, the Taggart family couldn¡¯t stand how obsessed she was with Nathaniel. Consequently, they locked her up in the residence and established an arranged marriage for her. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Initially, she objected to the marriage, but she gradually realized the banquet might be her only way to meet Nathaniel. Therefore, she promised to follow her family¡¯s decision and thusly regained her freedom. The first thing Madison did after she was freed was ask Christina to design gowns for her as an excuse to lure thetter to the banquet. In that case, even if Nathaniel weren¡¯t invited, he¡¯d still follow Christina to the venue because he¡¯d be worried about her. Clearly, everything so far had proceeded exactly ording to Madison¡¯s n. ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± spat Nathaniel instead of being touched. Madison was moved by her efforts when she heard his reproach, which upset her. ¡°How can you say that? I did this all for you. I love you, Nathaniel. There¡¯s no one else in this world who loves you more than me.¡± I wish I could carve my heart out for him to see how sincere I am. Then, she eximed, ¡°That Christina doesn¡¯t deserve to be with you!¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t stand anyone badmouthing Christina, so he rebutted. ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide whether she deserves me or not.¡± Jealousy further festered in Madison¡¯s heart when she saw how vehemently he defended Christina. ¡°What¡¯s so good about her? She doesn¡¯t love you! Don¡¯t you know how many men she-¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± roared Nathaniel as he glowered at Madison. ¡°My patience is limited, Madison. We¡¯re through! I don¡¯t want to see you again!¡± That merciless statement pierced her heart. Just as Nathaniel was about to leave, he suddenly felt dizzy, and his limbs turned weak, which astonished him. Not good¡¯ I was too careless. There¡¯s something wrong with the incense! Chapter 519 Christina Falls Into The Sea Chapter 519 Christina Falls Into The Sea Seeing that, Madison was ted. The incense is taking effect. ¡°Nathaniel, are you all right?¡± Madison feigned ignorance as she came forward to support him. ¡°Stay away from me!¡± Nathaniel barked. This time, it wasn¡¯t that easy for him to push Madison aside. Just like a snake, thetter began to entwine herself around him. She suggested in a seductive tone, ¡°Nathaniel, do you feel hot? Why don¡¯t I take off your jacket for you?¡± Just as she spoke, she reached out to unbutton Nathaniel¡¯s shirt. ¡°Get lost!¡± Nathaniel pushed her away with all his might but lost his bnce and fell to the ground due to his own inertia. The moment she saw him on the floor, Madison¡¯s eyes lit up. Brimming with excitement, she crawled up to Nathaniel like a dog before straddling his hips. If anyone were to take a picture of thepromising position they were in, it would definitely hit the headlines. Obviously, that was what Madison was looking to achieve. When she disguised herself as Christina thest time, she didn¡¯t put in ce any reporters. Therefore, having learned her lesson, she invited over a dozen reporters over this time and even colluded with quite a few of them. Upon checking the time, she expected them to swarm inside at any moment. The thought of everyone knowing that she had slept with Nathaniel and the look on Christina¡¯s face when she learned of it gave Madison an unprecedented thrill. ¡°You¡¯ll be mine real soon, Nathaniel,¡± Madison murmured as she stared at the unconscious Nathaniel. Thereafter, she began to take off his clothes carefully, as if she was unwrapping an extremely expensive gift. Just as she was engrossed in what she was doing, she felt a forceful pull from behind, causing her to topple onto the ground. p! The moment she turned around, a heavy pnded on her face. ¡°Christina!¡± Madison shrieked as she glowered at Christina while holding her cheek. p! Thetter didn¡¯t say a word as she unleashed another devastating p upon Madison¡¯s face. ¡°How dare you hit me, Christina. I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Once she recovered from her daze, the defiant Madison climbed back up to her feet and lunged at Christina. Even though thetter managed to dodge, both of them were soon embroiled in a brawl. Mustering all her strength, Madison dragged Christina to the wrought-iron railings that separated them. from the sea. The railings were waist-high, and a little strength was all that was needed to push someone over it. If one were to look down, one would be greeted by a cliff that plunged right into the sea. ¡°You¡¯ve gone mad, Madison!¡± ¡°Yes, indeed I have.¡± Madison¡¯s eyes were ringly wide, and her twisted expression was extremely terrifying. ¡°Let¡¯s die together, Christina!¡± It was clear that Madison wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but the same couldn¡¯t be said of Christina, who still had parents, a husband, and children. With that thought in mind, Christina flipped Madison around with a sudden burst of strength, switching their positions with each other. In spite of that, Madison maintained a death grip on Christina, preventing her from extracting herself from the dangerous situation. While both of them were locked in a desperate struggle, the railing-meant to only keep tourists away from the edge-could no longer withstand the weight of the twodies. Amidst the blowing wind, indiscernible creaking began to ring out. ¡°Over here!¡± The reporters finally arrived. ¡°You¡¯ll never be able to beat me, Christina!¡± Madison burst out inughter upon hearing the flurry of footsteps outside. Victory is mine! ¡°Ah!¡± No sooner had Madison finished than the screw that kept the railing in ce finally gave way. Caught off guard, bothdies lost their bnce and fell right off the clift The reporters who had barged in coincidentally saw what happened and lunged forward in an attempt to save them. Unfortunately, all they could do was watch the two plunging into the sea with a ssh. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°Oh no, Ms. Taggart has fallen into the sea!¡± As some of them were invited by Madison, they naturally knew that she was one of the two. As for the other, no one had a clue at that time. Soon, news of Madison falling into the sea spread like wildfire, ending the engagement banquet before it even started. The Taggart and Lesley families busied themselves by sending rescue teams to go out to sea while the invited guests gradually left the venue. As for Nathaniel, he slowly woke up in the lounge. The moment his eyes opened, he was greeted by the sight of Sebastian and Francis standing by his bed. ¡°What happened to me?¡± He held his throbbing head as he sat up. ¡°Have some water first, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian handed him a ss of warm water attentively. After feeling better from downing the water, Nathaniel remembered what happened before he lost consciousness. With a tight furrow of his brows, he asked. ¡°How did I get here? What happened after I fell unconscious?¡± He figured that there was more to Madison¡¯s n than just causing him to faint. The two men exchanged nces before Sebastian decided to tell him with a solemn expression. ¡°I¡¯ll exin, Mr. Hadley, but you¡¯ll have to stay calm.¡± As the look on Sebastian¡¯s face was unprecedented. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but be filled with a sense of dread. Hadley Corporation¡¯s stock price must have been affected, but that isn¡¯t something I can¡¯t handle, even if it¡¯s thebined effort of the Taggart and Lesley families.. ¡°Spit it out!¡± ¡°Ms. Christina has fallen into the sea.¡± Nathaniel suddenly heard a ringing in his ears, as it had never crossed his mind that he would hear such a thing from Sebastian. As he stared at Sebastian, the veins on his hands bulged up. ¡°Say that again?¡± Nathaniel almost fainted a second time upon hearing Sebastian¡¯s revtion. Chapter 520 Not Going Home Together Chapter 520 Not Going Home Together Nevertheless, he quickly regained hisposure and flipped aside his nket to get out of bed. ¡°Take me to where Christina fell.¡± Given the gravity of the situation, Sebastian and Francis led him there, as neither of them dared to disobey. Upon arriving at the location where Christina had fallen into the sea, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes twitched. He had to muster all his strength just to stop his urge to jump down. ¡°How long has the search been going on?¡± ¡°More than half an hour,¡± Sebastian replied. A frown descended on Nathaniel¡¯s face, for he couldn¡¯t imagine the condition Christina was in after being lost at sea for that period of time. Turning around, he put on his diving gear to join the rescue team in their search. Driving a speedboat, Nathaniel searched within a five-kilometer radius of where Christina wasst seen before expanding the area to a ten-kilometer radius. He would go on tob every inch of the ocean. Fortunately, the area was a shallow bay that was popr with tourists, and there were also no predators such as sharks. Even then, Christina would likely be injured after falling from such heights. It didn¡¯t help that she was also at risk of being washed away by the waves. As time ticked by, everyone began to fear for the worst. It was then that someone shouted, ¡°We found her!¡± The words were like a light that pierced through the darkness, causing everyone¡¯s eyes to brighten. Having been informed of the development through his earpiece, Nathaniel hurried over at once. However, the sight of Madison being pulled out of the water extinguished the hope he had harbored within him. Meanwhile, the Lesley and Taggart families had also arrived at the scene upon hearing the news, After CPR was applied to her, Madison began to throw up seawater and regained her pulse. It was just that she had yet to regain her consciousness. Maggie, broken-hearted over the state of her granddaughter and having fainted from crying earlier, ordered Madison to be taken to the best hospital around upon learning that thetter was still alive. ¡°Wait!¡± Just as the medical personnel was about to load Madison onto the vehicle arranged by the Taggart family, Nathaniel stopped them. He offered, ¡°Old Mrs. Taggart, I have just made a call and arranged for the best doctors to treat Ms. Taggart. Please let my men send her over.¡± Maggie¡¯s expression changed upon hearing his words. ¡°You don¡¯t have to. The Taggart family can still afford a doctor.¡± However, the look on Nathaniel¡¯s face darkened as he blocked Maggie¡¯s way. He looked like an immovable. mountain in front of her. Pinching the rosary in her hands, Maggie was well aware of what Nathaniel was up to. Everything would be fine if Christina were to be found. Otherwise. Madison¡¯s life might end up being forfeited. ¡°Preston, now that your fianc¨¦e is hurt, shouldn¡¯t you go to the hospital with her?¡± Maggie turned around to look at the Lesley family after giving the matter some thought. If the Taggart and Lesley families were to stand together at this moment, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t be able to forcefully take Madison away regardless of how powerful he was. As for Preston, the heir to the Lesley family, he was naturally a handsome and chivalric man. Nheless, he stillcked the domineering aura which Nathaniel possessed. Fortunately, not only was he rich, but he also had a calm head. Immediately after the incident, he found out that Christina was the other person who fell into the sea with Madison. Using that lead, he began to further his investigations. Consequently, the reporters-pressured by the powerful Lesley family-revealed that Madison had called them there. As Preston was aware that Madison used to be an employee at Hadley Corporation, he could guess why she invited so many reporters over. Therefore, after a brief silence, Preston came forward and said, ¡°Since Mr. Hadley has made the arrangements, thanking him is the least I can do.¡± He didn¡¯t choose to take the Taggart family¡¯s side after learning of Madison¡¯s true intentions. Consequently, it made sense for him to end the marriage alliance on the spot while doing the Hadley family a favor. ¡°What?¡± Preston¡¯s rejection caused Maggie to faint again. Luckily, she was supported by those around her. Nathaniel then gave Preston a look of gratitude before leaving the matter in Sebastian¡¯s hands. Thetter did as he was told by sending Madison to a secret medical facility. Security was tightened all around the facility so that the Taggart family wouldn¡¯t be able to rescue her. Once he had dealt with Madison, Nathaniel dived back into the sea to continue his search for Christina. By the time evening was upon them, they had already searched the area once. Some of the more experienced rescuers were not optimistic about Christina¡¯s chances of survival. Despite their concerns, they still had to find her body to give her family closure. In contrast to their pessimism, Nathaniel firmly believed that Christina was still alive. He refused to ept. any thought of her death. For now, he just didn¡¯t know where she had floated to. Thereafter, the rescue teambed the sea for three days and nights, but they still came up empty- handed. For that same reason, Nathaniel didn¡¯t return to Scenic Garden Manor. When Charlie and Julia caught wind of what had happened, they hurried over together with Lucas and Cam. Coincidentally, they ran into Nathaniel upon their arrival. Thetter was just heading back out to sea. At that moment, Nathaniel¡¯s face looked haggard and unshaven, while his body had clearly lost a lot of weight. It looked as if he had be a different person. Julia¡¯s eyes reddened at the sight of her son as she pushed Lucas and Cam forward. The two children ran up to their father in unison. ¡°Daddy!¡± They tilted their heads back to stare at their father, simr looks of delight on their faces. They were oblivious to what had happened, as their grandparents only told them to tell their father to Cheered up slightly by the children¡¯s presence, Nathaniel gave their heads a tousle. ¡°Lucas, Cam.¡± ¡°Daddy, we¡¯ve missed you. Come home with us, all right?¡± Lucas appealed upon remembering his grandparents¡¯ instruction. Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy? Isn¡¯t she together with you?¡± The children had spent thest few days at their grandparents¡¯ ce. Even though it was fun, it st feel like home. At the same time, they had begun to miss their parents. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Meanwhile, the three adults were stung by Cam¡¯s innocent question. In response, Nathaniel kneeled down to be at eye level with his children. ¡°Lucas, Cam, listen to me. Go home with your grandpa and grandma first. I¡¯lleter together with your mommy.¡± The clueless Cam asked, ¡°Daddy, why can¡¯t all of us go home together?¡± Lucas, too, shot Nathaniel a puzzled look. The question was one that Nathaniel didn¡¯t have an answer to. Not Going Home Together Even though it was rare for a man to cry, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but feel his eyes water. ¡°Come over here, Cam, Lucas.¡± Having never seen his son like this before, Charlie felt his heart ache. He beckoned for the children toe over before having Julia take them away. Sensing something amiss, the reluctant Lucas and Cam cried out, ¡°Daddy¡­¡± Chapter 521 That Is Not Christina Chapter 521 That Is Not Christina ¡°Cam, Lucas, be good. I promise I¡¯ll bring your mommy home.¡± Nathaniel urged his children to stay with their grandparents a little longer. Reluctantly, Cam and Lucas followed Julia¡¯s lead and left. Just then, Francis entered with a somber expression. As if he could read minds, one look was enough for Nathaniel to tell the heartbreaking news that Francis carried. Without wasting a moment. Nathaniel rushed toward the beach. The rescue team had covered the lifeless female body they had just recovered with a white cloth. As Nathaniel approached, the team made way for him. Though each breath felt heavy, he pressed forward until he stood before the shrouded figure. Just as he reached out to lift the white cloth, the team leader intervened, ¡°Mr. Hadley¡­¡± The team leader couldn¡¯t bear to let Nathaniel see the disfigured state of the body as the wildlife had gotten to it first. However, Nathaniel disregarded the team leader¡¯s intervention and proceeded to lift the white cloth. The scent of decay filled the air as the corpse, soaked in water for an extended period, emitted a pungent odor. Its disfigured state made everyone feel uneasy, and even the seasoned members of the rescue team couldn¡¯t help but retch. Nevertheless, Nathaniel remained resolute, furrowing his brows as he carefully examined the body. The height and weight matched. Even the dress¡¯ color and design appeared identical. ¡°It¡¯s not her¡­¡± After a prolonged silence, Nathaniel gently lowered the cloth and made his announcement. Everyone fell into stunned silence. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we understand your grief, but advanced technology will be needed to determine her identity.¡± The truth was that DNA testing was necessary due to the extent of disfigurement, rendering. traditional identification methods impossible. Besides, everyone could understand Nathaniel¡¯s state of desperation and denial. ¡°Nathaniel, are you absolutely sure it¡¯s not Christina?¡± However, Francis thought otherwise. He trusted Nathaniel¡¯s judgment. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not her.¡± Nathaniel nodded firmly as hope reignited within him. He had reason to believe that Christina was still alive until he found concrete evidence that proved otherwise. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°All right then, I¡¯ll join you in the search, Francis offered, following Nathaniel¡¯s lead. Onlookers couldn¡¯t help but question the sanity of the two siblings as they observed the unfolding scene. Nathaniel and Francis geared up once more, ready to dive into the depths of the sea in search of Christina. This time, a significant discovery awaited them. They came across the ne that Christina had been wearing approximately seven kilometers away from where she had fallen into the water. The discovery of the ne brought them a significant breakthrough, leaving no room for doubt that Christina had been rescued. After careful deliberation, Nathaniel and Francis reached a decision to divide their efforts and expand their search. Francis mobilized his team to scour the depths of the sea while Nathaniel dispatched his men tob the coastal viges. Meanwhile, news of Nathaniel¡¯s prolonged absence from Hadley Corporation reached Anya¡¯s ears. ¡°Yerek, do you think something bad has happened to the Hadley family?¡± Anya inquired, her face still scarred despite having been discharged from the hospital. To restore her appearance fully, she would need to undergo multiple stic surgeries. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± Yerek, engrossed in his documents, replied without lifting his gaze. Ever since Azure had entrusted the Hadley family¡¯swsuit against the Gibsons to Yerek, he had been immersed in his work. Anya shrugged. ¡°Call it a woman¡¯s intuition. If it¡¯s not the Hadleys, then something must have happened to Christina.¡± As Nathaniel¡¯s businesspetitor, Anya had thoroughly researched him beforehand. She was well aware. of his reputation as a diligent workaholic who rarely took time off without a valid reason. Moreover, considering how deeply Nathaniel cared for Christina, Anya believed he wouldn¡¯t simply sit idle if something unfortunate had urred. It was with this line of reasoning that she became convinced that something had indeed happened to Christina. ¡°Yerek, I need to go to Jadeborough and find out what¡¯s going on. If Grandma asks, just tell her I¡¯ve decided to go on a vacation to clear my head,¡± Anya dered. With that, she left the study. She was determined to visit Jadeborough and witness firsthand what had befallen Christina. Then, if the opportunity presented itself, she would seize it to seek revenge for the damage done to her face. Yerek remained silent, merely lifting his head to give Anya a look before returning to his work as she departed. Meanwhile, in a humble clinic located in a vige, Christina regained consciousness after being unconscious for three days and nights. As she awakened, a profound sense of thirst engulfed her. Startled, she surveyed her surroundings, finding herself in a small and modest ward. ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± she murmured, her voice barely audible. However, her feeble voice managed to stir the man who had been dozing off nearby. Startled, he nced up and, upon realizing that Christina had regained consciousness, eximed, ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± ¡°She¡¯s awake!¡± The man hastily departed from the ward before Christina could fullyprehend the situation. Coughing, Christina struggled to prop herself up, her body weakened from the ordeal. As fragments of her memory started to resurface, she recalled the terrifying moment when she and Madison had fallen into the sea. Have I been rescued? But where is Nathaniel? Just as Christina was about to remove the intravenous drip from her arm, a doctor who had hurried over intervened, stopping her. ¡°Don¡¯t move, youngdy. You¡¯re still very weak. Lie back down.¡± Christina¡¯s anxiety eased as she found sce in the doctor¡¯s presence. With a hoarse voice, she asked. ¡°Where am I?¡± The doctor replied briefly, ¡°You¡¯re in the clinic of Conch Vige. You fell into the sea. Do you still remember that?¡± Christina nodded in response. The doctor then motioned to an honest-looking man with a darkplexion beside him and said. ¡°This is Vito Seaborne. He¡¯s the one who saved you.¡± Vito bashfully scratched his head as he met Christina¡¯s gaze, unable to find his words. Sensing his difort, the doctor quickly stepped in. ¡°Youngdy, you were unconscious for three days and nights. Your body is severely dehydrated, and you have a few broken bones in your legs. We were nning to transfer you off the ind if you didn¡¯t wake up soon.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Christina expressed her gratitude toward them. She then continued, ¡°By the way, do you have a phone? I¡¯d like to let my family know that I¡¯m safe.¡± She could only imagine Nathaniel¡¯s anxiety since she fell into the sea. The doctor and Vito appeared conflicted when they heard Christina¡¯s request to make a call. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Christina noticed their hesitancy. ¡°On this small ind, only the vige chief has a phone,¡± the doctor exined after a moment of thought. Christina was taken aback by this revtion. She couldn¡¯t believe that such an underdeveloped vige still existed in the twenty-first century. Chapter 522 Where Are You Chapter 522 Where Are You The doctor said, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t be hasty. You can¡¯t get out of bed yet in your current condition.¡± Given Christina¡¯s weakened state, getting out of bed to make a phone call was indeed a little difficult. ¡°In that case, can you help me contact my family?¡± Christina was also aware of her condition, so she contemted briefly and decided to write down Nathaniel¡¯s phone number. Vito received the phone number from Christina and turned around to exit the clinic, heading toward the vige chief¡¯s house. ¡°Vito, where are you going?¡± Halfway there, Vito was stopped by his sixty-something-year-old mother. Miriam Landry. Everyone in the vige knew that Vito had brought Christina back three days ago. Vito replied cheerily, ¡°Mom, she¡¯s awake!¡± Hearing that, Miriam understood that the girl Vito had found had woken up. At the thought that the pretty-looking girl had survived, Miriam was thrilled too. ¡°Since she¡¯s awake, why aren¡¯t you keeping herpany? Why are you running around?¡± Vito honestly answered Miriam¡¯s question by informing her of Christina¡¯s wish to contact her family member. After Miriam heard that, her expression darkened slightly. She pondered briefly before saying, ¡°There¡¯s no rush to contact her family. We live on an ind, so even if we manage to get in touch with them, her family won¡¯t be able to arrive here at once anyway. Why don¡¯t we wait until her condition improves before making the call?¡± Vito didn¡¯t understand why Miriam would say that, but her words did sound logical. Conch Vige was on an ind. Everyone there made their living by fishing. Usually, not many people left or came to the ind. Not to mention, its location was remote and hard to find, requiring one to look for someone familiar with the area to lead the way if one wished to visit the ce. Vito had found Christina clinging to a reef on his way back from selling fish. ¡°Let¡¯s do this instead. Since she¡¯s awake, why don¡¯t you go home and make some soup and oatmeal? She must be hungry,¡± Miriam suggested upon sensing Vito¡¯spliance. Vito nodded and turned around to head home while Miriam made her way toward the clinic. At that moment, Christina was gradually calming herself down as shey on the bed. From the doctor¡¯s words, it seemed three days had passed since she fell into the sea. She wondered how Nathaniel, Camilia, and Lucas were doing. Regrettably, there wasn¡¯t a television or phone in the clinic, so she was entirely cut off from the outside world. While thinking about those things, she saw an elderly woman walk in through the door. ¡°You¡¯re awake, miss? Are you feeling better?¡± As soon as Miriam entered, she met Christina¡¯s gaze and smiled kindly. Being on the receiving end of Miriam¡¯s concern, Christina pursed her lips and asked in slight confusion, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Vito¡¯s mom. You can call me Ms. Landry.¡± My savior¡¯s mom? Christina immediately grinned and said, ¡°Hello, Ms. Landry. Please have a seat.¡± Christina tried to sit up as she spoke. ¡°Lie down, lie down.¡± Miriam quickly stopped Christina from getting up. She dragged the bench near the window over and sat down beside Christina. After taking a seat, Miriam started to chat with Christina, asking thetter about her age, family, and other such things. As the topics were not too personal, Christina answered honestly. However, when Miriam heard Christina. had gotten married at such a young age, her smile abruptly froze. ¡°Ms. Landry, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing something was off with Miriam¡¯s expression, Christina hastily asked as she thought the older woman was feeling unwell. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just that you got married so young, Christina. Were you forced by your family? How¡¯s your husband? Does he treat you well?¡± Christina was taken aback by Miriam¡¯s volleys of questions. She hadn¡¯t expected thetter to delve into those matters. Nevertheless, taking in Miriam¡¯s sincere gaze, Christina figured she was just genuinely concerned about her. Hence, she briefly described her circumstances. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. However, all Miriam remembered was the fact that Christina had been married off because her parents. were in need of money. The rest of Christina¡¯s ount didn¡¯t register in Miriam¡¯s mind. Miriam reached out her calloused hands to hold Christina. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have had a hard life too. The gods are too unfair!¡± Miriam suddenly cried as she uttered those words. ¡°Ms. Landry! Ms. Landry, what¡¯s the matter with you?¡± Christina panicked as that was her first time encountering a situation like that. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± At that moment, Vito, carrying a bowl of chicken soup, walked into the room just in time to witness that scene and quickly rushed over. Seeing her son had returned, Miriam hurriedly waved her hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just feel sympathy for Christina.¡± Miriam¡¯s tears seemed to flow and stop at a moment¡¯s notice. After experiencing that false rm, Christina helped herself to the chicken soup and oatmeal brought over by Vito. Miriam smiled contentedly as she watched Christina enjoy the food. Then, she took the dumbfounded Vito by the arm and led him out of the room. ¡°Vito, listen to me. Christina has had a hard life, so you must take good care of her. Do you understand?¡± Miriam exhorted Vito after they stepped outside the room. Vito nodded. ¡°Also, the phone call she asked you to make, you don¡¯t have to do it for now,¡± Miriam added. Hearing that, Vito was baffled. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve always been so slow on the uptake.¡± Miriam jabbed at her son¡¯s forehead but didn¡¯t borate further. ¡°Anyway, just do as I say.¡± Vito was verypliant toward his mother¡¯s words. Feeling that decision wouldn¡¯t cause any actual harm. to Christina, he didn¡¯t go against Miriam and merely uttered, somewhat troubled, ¡°What should I tell her, then?¡± ¡°Just tell her the phone in the vige chief¡¯s house is broken.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Vito memorized Miriam¡¯s words. At the same time, Nathaniel was searching for Christina in nearby coastal viges with his team. However, after extending their search to five viges, they still found no trace of Christina. Seeing Nathaniel grow more haggard with each passing day, Sebastian couldn¡¯t help but persuade, ¡°Mr. Hadley, why don¡¯t you take a break?¡± Ever since Christina¡¯s incident, Nathaniel hadn¡¯t gotten any proper sleep or eaten much. He was functioning purely on willpower. Even a body made of iron couldn¡¯t withstand such strain. Nathaniel ignored Sebastian¡¯s words. He was utterly despondent, gazing at the vast sea before him. After a long silence, he couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°Christina, where are you?¡± Unfortunately, the only response he received was the sshing sound of waves and whistling of the wind. In the end, no longer able to suppress his frustration, Nathaniel bellowed, ¡°Christina, where are you? Do you know I¡¯m looking for you!¡± He didn¡¯t believe something terrible had happened to her even after so many days had passed. Nevertheless, his hope gradually diminished as he failed to locate her with each passing day. At the thought that he might lose Christina forever, Nathaniel lost control of himself and dashed into the sea. Sebastian was momentarily stunned before he hurriedly gave chase. The tide was high at night. In no time, the water reached their waists. Nathaniel wanted to move further ahead, but Sebastian halted him by grabbing his waist tightly. ¡°Mr. Hadley! Mr. Hadley, please calm down!¡± Chapter 523 Wife For Vito Chapter 523 Wife For Vito ¡°How am I supposed to stay calm?¡± Nathaniel roared. N?velDrama.Org owns all content. It was Sebastian¡¯s first time seeing Nathaniel lose control over his emotions. The thought of Christina dead. made him cry as well, but he still had to say, ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯m sure Mrs. Hadley won¡¯t want to see anything happen to you. Moreover, you have Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam to take care of. What will they do if you¡¯re gone too?¡± Cam and Lucas were thest lifebuoys thrown at Nathaniel, and he finally calmed down at the mention. of their names. When Sebastian saw that Nathaniel had finally stopped struggling, he quickly took the opportunity to drag Nathaniel back to the shore. However, Nathaniel fell terribly ill after returning. He had a high fever, and his fever ramblings consisted of Christina¡¯s name and nothing else. It was as if the couple was connected in mind. In her dreams. Christina saw Nathaniel falling sick during his desperate but fruitless search for her. No matter how loudly she cried out for him, he would not wake. Christina woke up with a start, cold sweat coating her back and forehead. As she wiped away the sweat on her forehead, she nced at the curtainless windows, only to realize that the sun was up. Now, she was staying at Vito¡¯s house. As there was only one room in the clinic, it was usually reserved for patients. After resting a few days on the ind, Christina had recovered much. She had regained most of her strength too, but her leg was still injured, so she could not walk for long. Vito made a walking cane for Christina so that she could walk around without any help for short distances. Miriam was nice to Christina too. She gave Christina some of the clothes she wore when she was younger to change into. When Christina opened the door of the clinic, she was greeted by the scent of salty sea breeze and the sound of chirping birds. It was alreadyte fall, but the cold was gentle on the ind. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re awake?¡± When Miriam, who was fixing the fishing in the courtyard, saw Christina coming out of the building, she hurried to bring the oatmeal out of the kitchen. ¡°Eat up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Once Christina washed up, she sat down to eat the oatmeal. ¡°Did Vito go out fishing?¡± Christina asked when she saw no signs of Vito around. It had been a few days since her arrival on the ind, and she had familiarized herself with certain. routines on the ind. There were few people on the ind, and both men and women made their living through fishing. However, they did not lead lives like city people. They woke when the sun came up and went to bed when the sun went down. In other words, they had few entertainment activities. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. There was a typhoonst night, and a few trees copsed. Unfortunately, they hit the vige. chief¡¯s roof, so the vige chief asked Vito to help out,¡± Miriam exined. A typhoon? Christina was not aware of that, but she guessed she had been too deeply asleep. However, the mention of the vige chief¡¯s house reminded her of how Vito told her that the vige chief¡¯s phone was broken when she wanted to contact Nathaniel the other day. She wondered if it was fixed yet. ¡°Can I go and take a look?¡± Christina asked after a moment of contemtion. Miriam lifted her head in surprise. ¡°What for? It¡¯s not as if you can help them out.¡± Christina frankly replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been missing for a few days. I¡¯d like to borrow the vige chief¡¯sndline to tell my family that I¡¯m safe.¡± A guilty look shed past Miriam¡¯s face. Worried that Christina would notice it, she quickly shifted her stool and said, ¡°You¡¯re such an impatient child. It¡¯s just a typhoon. Allndlines are having issues now. Moreover, we¡¯ll send you back once that motor fishing boat is fixed. It¡¯s just a matter of days, so what¡¯s the rush? Also, can you even walk to the vige chief¡¯s house with this leg?¡± Christina did not suspect a thing, for Miriam¡¯s words were true. Not only was Vito her savior, but she was even staying in Vito¡¯s ce. She was eating his food and wearing his mother¡¯s clothes. She felt bad about it. Earnestly, Christina answered, ¡°Ma¡¯am, once I¡¯m home, I¡¯ll thank you and Vito properly.¡± Miriam did not pay attention to her words, however, for she had her own n. All she did was smile and nod at Christina. Christina had nothing to do after breakfast, so she sat in the courtyard and enjoyed the breeze. Right then, a few women walked past the house and nced inward. The fence was made of wood, so nothing on the inside could be concealed by it. When they saw the beautiful Christina, they paused and began talking among themselves. ¡°Ms. Landry, is this the girl that Vito picked up from the sea?¡± someone yelled. Miriam raised her head to look outside. Everyone on the ind knew about how Vito had saved someone from the sea, and now, these women. were here for the gossip. Afraid that those women would frighten Christina, Miriam mumbled a yes. However, the women did not want to leave so soon. They began chattering instead. ¡°Where did she come from? She looks gorgeous! She¡¯s not the daughter of a god of the sea, is she?¡± ¡°Yes, she looks attractive. Do you see how fair and soft she looks?¡± All women and girls on the ind had tanned skin from the constant sun exposure, so Christina¡¯s fair skin seemed exceptionally unique to them. ¡°Wait a second, Ms. Landry. Your son hasn¡¯t married yet, right? Look, you have the best girl for him right here.¡± Christina, who had been resting with closed eyes, twitched a little when she heard that. Her ns were nearly exposed, so Miriam quickly took a broom to shoo the others away. The others left unwillingly, muttering, ¡°Id say Vito¡¯s mom is keeping the girl around because she wants. the girl to be Vito¡¯s wife.¡± ¡°Yes, I think so too. How many days has it been since then, but she¡¯s still keeping the girl around.¡± ¡°That girl won¡¯t like Vito. Look at her. She¡¯s clearly from a rich family.¡± Once those women were gone, Miriam turned to face Christina. When she saw Christina looking at her, she guiltily and awkwardly said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to them. Vige girls like us like to gossip.¡± Christina frowned. Even though Miriam schooled her features to a neutral look, Christina noticed how Miriam did not dare to look at her. In other words, thetter had to be feeling guilty. Could those women be right? The second that thought popped into her head, Christina nearly jumped in fright. ¡°Ma¡¯am, my head¡¯s hurting, so I¡¯m going back in,¡± Christina lied, pretending to be unwell. Hearing that, Miriam hurried over to her and ushered her in. ¡°It must be the cold! Go into the house to rest quickly!¡± Christina finally felt a tinge of security once she closed the door behind her. Even though Miriam and Vito were nice to her, it was apparent that she could not stay on the ind any longer. No matter what, she had toe up with a way to leave this ce. Chapter 524 Locked Up Chapter 524 Locked Up Night had fallen by the time Vito returned from the vige chief¡¯s house. Standing at the door, Miriam pulled him into the woods outside the courtyard. ¡°How did it go at the vige chief¡¯s house?¡± she asked after making sure Christina wouldn¡¯t be able to hear them. Vito recounted everything truthfully. The vige chief¡¯s roof was severely damaged, but with everyone¡¯s help, all the broken pieces had been cleared out. What remained was for the vige chief to patch his roof with some new tiles. Yet, Miriam didn¡¯t care about that. Thinking about how Christina had asked about the vige chief¡¯s phone today, she fell silent for a moment before asking. ¡°What happened to his phone?¡± ¡°It¡¯s broken,¡± Vito answered. A smile formed on Miriam¡¯s face. Everything was going exactly as she had nned. ¡°Let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time for dinner.¡± While seated, Christina noticed the two return together. ¡°Vito,¡± she called out to him softly. Hearing the woman call his name, Vito scratched the back of his head awkwardly, not knowing where to look. Having interacted with him for the past few days, Christina was no longer surprised by his demeanor. Miriam, on the other hand, gave him a light p on the head in frustration. Then, Vito swiftly began scooping out the food from the pot. ¡°You must be starving.¡± Miriam served Christina¡¯s portion of food on a te. Thetter smiled and shook her head. ¡°Not at all. I haven¡¯t done a lot today, so I didn¡¯t use much en she replied while pushing the te toward Vito instead. ¡°You must be hungry, Vito. You were busy helping out at the vige chief¡¯s ce all day.¡± Miriam took note of Christina¡¯s kind gesture, feeling more pleased. With that, the three of them sat at the round table and ate harmoniously while enjoying the sea breeze. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a walk,¡± said Christina after dinner. ¡°Could youe with me, Vito?¡± The man didn¡¯t say no, but he nced at Christina¡¯s leg out of concern. ¡°Is your leg okay?¡± She knew he was worried about her, but there were some things she had to discuss with him in private. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. We won¡¯t be so far out.¡± Miriam would grow suspicious if they were to wander off too much. Miriam just so happened to hear Christina¡¯s response and agreed that the two needed to spend some time alone. ¡°Take Christina out for a walk, Vito. Just don¡¯t go too far,¡± she chimed in. With his mother prompting him, too, Vito could only apany Christina on her walk outside the courtyard. Christina struggled to walk and could only proceed slowly with the help of a cane. Meanwhile, Vito stayed by her side, ready to help her at any time. The two said nothing to each other and arrived at a slope before realizing it. They could admire the vast sea and sky full of stars from there. Christina found arge boulder and sat on it. Then, seeing Vito remain standing, she invited him over. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, Vito. Have a seat too!¡± With unease written in his eyes, Vito pursed his lips. ¡°I-It¡¯s fine.¡± Clearly, this was his first time talking to a girl alone. He simply didn¡¯t know what to do. Noticing his nervousness, Christina decided not to pressure him. ¡°It¡¯s so pretty out here. I¡¯ve never seen a night sky as lovely as this,¡± she eximed, gazing out into the distance. After a few exchanges, the atmosphere between them eased slowly, and Vito was no longer as tense as before. Christina pouted and lowered her gaze. ¡°I miss home. I don¡¯t even know how my family is doing now.¡± Seeing her pained expression made Vito feel upset too. ¡°Give me a few days to fix the boat, and I¡¯ll take you back.¡± From that, Christina concluded that Miriam and Vito weren¡¯t lying about the boat being broken. Still, she didn¡¯t want to wait any longer. ¡°Is there no other boat we can take?¡± Christina nced up at him. She knew from the start that there weren¡¯t many motorboats on the ind; most boats here could only be rowed with paddles. There was no way she could get home using thetter. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Vito¡¯s fishing boat had been left behind by his father, and the young man was usually in charge of selling the fish they caught with it. Now, the boat had malfunctioned, and that was why Christina remained stuck on this ind for so long. Upon meeting the woman¡¯s dazzling eyes, Vito didn¡¯t know what to say. He bit his lower lip and kept mum as he remembered his mother¡¯s instructions. From that, Christina knew there was definitely another boat that could take her out of this ind. If I¡¯m not wrong, it would be at the vige chief¡¯s house. ¡°You¡¯re a good man, Vito. You saved me, and I¡¯m so thankful for that.¡± Christina began. ¡°It¡¯s just that I¡¯ve been missing for so long, and my family must be so worried about me. If you had gone missing, I¡¯m sure your mother would be bawling her eyes out too.¡± Vito was a simple man. Feeling sorry for her as soon as he heard her words, he couldn¡¯t resist telling her bout the vige chief¡¯s ns to head out to sea tomorrow. ¡®Really?¡± Christina was delighted to hear that. ¡°Will you help me, then?¡± Seeing her smile, Vito froze before turning red and nodding rigidly. ¡®Keep this between us, okay? Don¡¯t tell anyone else about this, including your mom,¡± Christina urged arefully. This peaceful and remote ind¡¯s full of kind-hearted people, but what if they¡¯re a little old-fashioned? I¡¯ll be in rouble if they don¡¯t let me leave. Vito nodded in agreement, and the two headed down the slope. Miriam, who had been waiting outside the courtyard the whole time, watched them return safe and sound. Moreover, Vito didn¡¯t appear as shy as before while walking next to Christina. That made Miriam feel as though good things wereing. Not interrupting their time together, she turned around and headed back into her room to rest. Christina could barely sleep all night. While in a half-asleep state, she kept waiting for Vito to contact her and take her to the vige chief¡¯s boat. s, she didn¡¯t hear a single knock on her door even after the sun hade up for a while.. Sensing that something was amiss, the woman hopped out of bed and went to the door-only to find it locked from the outside. rm bells went off in her head at that moment. ¡°Vito! Vito!¡± No matter how much she cried out, the courtyard remained inplete silence, and no one re her. Chapter 525 Captured Again Chapter 525 Captured Again Christina had a bad feeling in her gut when she did not receive a response. She kept telling herself to calm down as she nced about the room. Since she couldn¡¯t open the door rom the inside, she had no choice but to find another way out. It wasn¡¯t long before her gaze fell upon the window in the corner. The window wasn¡¯t big, but Christina had a slender figure and flexible limbs, so squeezing through it would not be a problem for her. However, the window was over a meter above the ground, and Christina¡¯s leg was injured. Jumping out of the window at such a height would only worsen her injury. ¡°Oh, screw it!¡± In order to return to Nathaniel as soon as possible, Christina clenched her teeth and umped out of the window. Sure enough, an intense pain shot through her injured leg when it hit the ground. Tears came flowing out of her eyes, but she forced herself to bear the pain and propped herself up. She then picked up the crutch she had thrown aside and limped her way toward the ocean. While walking, Christina had been praying for the vige chief¡¯s boat to still be there, The roads were muddy after the typhoon hit the area. Christina was in such a hurry that she didn¡¯t notice a hole in the ground that was covered by water. She ended up tripping and falling face-first into the mud. That was when someone could be heard shouting in the background. ¡°She must be heading toward the ocean! Hurry up and find her!¡± That voice¡­ It sounds like Miriam¡¯s! Fearing that she would be spotted, Christina didn¡¯t dare get back on her feet. Instead, she dragged herself into the bushes beside the road and hid behind a shrub, ¡°Ms. Landry, are you serious about having that woman marry Vito?¡± ¡°Vito saved her life, so it¡¯s only natural that she marries him!¡± Christina shuddered when she heard Miriam say that. As expected¡­ People who live far away from society are bound to have a backward mentality. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. As the sound of footsteps got closer. Christina didn¡¯t even dare breathe out loud for fear of being caught. Unfortunately for her, Miriam had dozens of people help with the search for Christina, so they were able to find her fairly easily. Just like that, they brought Christina back to Vito¡¯s house and locked her up inside the room again. This time, they even made sure to board up the window she escaped through. Miriam dropped her kind attitude and told Christina that she would only give thetter food if she stayed nd married Vito. Otherwise, she would starve Christina until she changed her mind. I won¡¯t marry Vito, Ms. Landry. Also, it is illegal for you to keep me here like this,¡± Christina answered while trying her best to suppress her feelings of fear. Illegal?¡± It was clearly Miriam¡¯s first time hearing such a word. Her eyes were filled with confusion instead. of fear when she responded, ¡°I really like you, Christina, and so does Vito. He¡¯s the one who saved your ife, so why won¡¯t you marry him?¡± Miriam then pulled up a chair, sat down in front of Christina, and tried to talk her into changing her nind. However, no amount of talking would do anything if the person refused to listen. Sure enough, Christina and Miriam¡¯s conversation did not end well. In order to force Christina to submit, Miriam stopped providing her with food and water. Christina simply sat next to the door and watched the yard for movement. Her hearing had be a lot more sensitive during her time in that room, so she could hear almost everything that happened inside that house. She heard Vito returning shortly after Miriam went to bed. As Vito looked like a kind and honest man, Christina figured she would have an easier time getting through to him. She then knocked on the door to gain Vito¡¯s attention without waking Miriam. Vito quickly walked toward the room when he heard the sound. Right as he pressed his car against the door, he heard Christina calling out to him softly, ¡°Vito? Vito, are you there?¡± Vito was about to respond but held his tongue in shame when he recalled himself going against his promise. He had woken up at dawn and tried to bring Christina away, but Miriam caught him in the act. Vito was never good at telling lies, so a little bit of questioning was all it took for Miriam to find out about his ns to leave the ind with Christina. That was what led to the events earlier that day. Vito felt ashamed of himself just thinking about what happened, and he just stood there in silence. Christina had kept her ear pressed against the door, so she knew that Vito was still standing outside the door. He is probably feeling guilty for what happened, but this is no time to be ying the me game! With that in mind, Christina said, ¡°Vito, I don¡¯t me you for what happened today. I just have a few questions for you.¡± Feeling relieved that Christina did not me him, Vito looked up at the door and said, ¡°Go ahead, Christina.¡± Do you like me?¡± /ito blushed the moment he heard that, but his dark skin made it hard to notice. Christina could tell from his silence that he clearly liked her. This is good news¡­ I¡¯ll have a chance at escaping as long as Vito likes me. With that in mind, she breathed a sigh of relief and asked. ¡°Do you know that I¡¯m married with kids?¡± While most men would care about such things, the people in that vige did not. As Vito liked Christina, it was only natural that he wouldn¡¯t mind it either. ¡°I know, I¡­¡± All right, then. I guess this strategy won¡¯t work. Christina closed her eyes and tried to think of another n. She then changed the topic by calling Vito a good man and iming that she kind of liked the life on the ind.. Vito was overjoyed when he heard all of that. He even believed that Christina liked him as well. ¡°Although I think you are a good man, Vito, I cannot ept your mother¡¯s decision to have us get married right away,¡± Christina said. Fearing that she would refuse to marry him, Vito got nervous when he heard that. ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry to leave this ind because I miss my two kids. They¡¯re only five. People say that the hearts of parents and their children are connected. I don¡¯t even know how they¡¯re doing right now,¡± G continued in an attempt to gain his sympathy. She even started sobbing after saying that. Vito anxiously wanted tofort her, but Christina ignored himpletely. Miriam was holding on to the key to that door, and Vito couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask her for it this night. As such, all he could do was sit outside the room all night. Christina tried her best to fall asleep as she needed to conserve as much energy as possible to make her escape. ¡°Vito? Why are you sleeping here?¡± Miriam eximed in shock and heartache when she woke up and saw him lying outside Christina¡¯s room. Her voice was so loud that she woke both Vito and Christina. Christina kept quiet and tried to listen to their conversation. ¡°Good morning. Mom.¡± Vito responded while getting on his feet. Christina up, he then dragged Miriam to the kitchen before saying, ¡°Mom, could you nake Christina some breakfast?¡± Miriam gave him a smack on the head. ¡°You two aren¡¯t even married yet, and you are already taking care. of her?¡± ito scratched his head as he gave Miriam a summary of what Christina had told himst night. She changed her mind?¡± Miriam asked suspiciously. Chapter 526 Vito Delivers The Letter Let her out, Mom. She''s injured, so she can''t go anywhere anyway." Vito grew anxious just thinking about how Christina had sobbedst night. Do you really think I''m that heartless of a person? I''m only locking her up for your sake! If you like her and want her to be your wife, then we have no choice but to keep her locked up." Miriam exined. vito was still single despite being thirty years old. Most of the men on the ind had already be Fathers in their twenties, so Miriam was worried about his love life. As there weren''t many suitable women on the ind, he couldn''t get himself a girlfriend until Christina showed up. "Mom..." Vito was about to say something, but Miriam had made up her mind. "We will keep her locked up for one more day and discuss this tomorrow." I need to break Christina down before making her Vito''s wife! With that in mind, Miriam proceeded to prepare breakfast and made Christina something to eat. She then opened the door and let Vito bring her the food, Christina turned around to look at them in response. Before she could even say a word, however, Miriam urged Vito to put the food down and leave the room so she could lock the door. Oh, well... I had expected her to keep me locked in here for a little while longer anyway. In fact, it would be strange if she let me out so soon. Christina remained in the room after having breakfast and waited for Miriam to collect the tableware. When Miriam finally showed up, Christina told her what she had been thinking about all night. "I''ve thought things through, Ms. Landry. Vito is a decent man, so I am willing to marry him." "Really?" Miriam found it a little hard to believe. She had assumed it would take at least three days for Christina to break. Christina nodded. "As you know, my family had forced me into that existing marriage of mine." Miriam was somewhat displeased when she heard the word "force." Noticing the change in Miriam''s expression, Christina quickly added. "But Vito is different. He saved my life, and he is a capable man. I am willing to marry him." Vito, who was standing outside at the time, felt extremely excited when he heard that. Miriam began to believe her when she heard thest part of Christina''s exnation. My son is famous for being an upright and honest man, so it is only natural that Christina would fall for him! Christina even shed a few tears as she continued, "I just miss my two kids, that''s all. I''d be satished it Vito could help visit them and let me know how they''re doing." That''s it? You just want him to go check on your kids?" Miriam was still on guard against Christina. She feared Christina would pull some kind of trick on them and escape the ind. Christina nodded with her eyes red. "Yes, I just want him to help me check on my kids. I will marry Vito. hen he returns." Miriam''s heart began to waver when she saw how upset Christina looked. You''re a mother too, Ms. Landry. You should be able to understand how I''m feeling, right?" Christina pressed on. She knew that Miriam was not actually an evil person, so she decided to y the empathy card Being a fellow mother, Miriam could indeed understand Christina''s feelings. She liked Christina because of her good looks and kind heart, so she wanted Christina to bear Vito''s children. Unable to hold himself back any longer, Vito stepped into the room and said, "All right, then. I''ll pay your ids a visit." Since Vito had made Christina a promise, Miriam didn''t want to make him look bad by stopping him. As such, she had no choice but to give in. "Write down your message for your kids," Miriam said and pushed Vito out of the room. After giving it some thought, Miriam told him. "You cannot go back on your word now that you have made Christina a promise. However, don''t just recklessly march up to her house. Just have someone else pass them the note while you watch from afar." Since Miriam had given them the green light, things were able to proceed ording to n fairly quickly. All Christina wrote on the note was: I miss you two. May you two grow up safely and soundly. iming that it was a memento for the kids, she then handed Vito the remaining earring that she had on when she fell into the ocean. Miriam was somewhat literate, so she approved of Christina''s message when she saw that it wasn''t a message asking for them to rescue her. The repairs for Vito''s boat wereplete, so he headed over to the address that Christina had provided and searched for her house. Vito finally made it into the city after wandering about for quite some time, only to freeze in shock when he saw the towering skyscrapers all around him. He had assumed that Christina was from a vige like their own, but she turned out to be a city dweller instead. Vito was tempted to head back to the ind, but he had promised Christina he would deliver her message, so he forced himself to go through with it anyway. The sky had turned dark by the time he arrived at Scenic Garden Manor. Vito paused when he saw the guardhouse and the fancy cars that passed by it. He had no idea who he could ask to help deliver the letter. The team leader of the security guards had been keeping an eye on Vito for quite some time. Thinking he was a thief, the security guard yelled, "Hey! What are you doing here?" That scared Vito so much that he panicked and ran away. Naturally, the security guards deemed his behavior suspicious and gave chase. Vito was so caught up in the chase that he didn''t even notice the red sports car heading in his direction. Bang! Vito fell to the ground after being hit by the car. The security guards were so stunned that none of them dared make a move. Anya opened the car door and jabbed a finger at Vito as she yelled angrily. "Hey! What the f*ck is your problem, huh? You got a death wish or something?" As Anya wasn''t driving really fast, Vito did not sustain any injuries from the impact. He then scrambled to his feet and tried to run away, but Anya blocked his path. "You''re not getting away until you apologize!" That was the first time Vito had encountered such a fierce woman. Still overwhelmed with fear and panic. he immediately apologized to her. "I-I''m sorry," Upon catching a whiff of the fishy stench on Vito''s body, Anya frowned in disgust and motioned at him to cave. After Vito had left, however, Anya noticed through the corner of her eye a note and an earring on the ground. Although the earring looked ordinary, she knew it was a limited edition item as each pair had its own unique number. She was unable to snag it in time back then, but she remembered Christina owning a pair. After picking up the stuff on the ground, she opened up the note and gasped in shock. Wait a minute... This is Christina''s handwriting'' I can''t believe I obtained Christina''s caring and handwritten note right after I was forced to leave Scenic Garden Manor! Him... The message on this note sounds kind of old, though. It sounds as though she ran away with someone else or something Oh, I know! I ask that guy who recked of fuh about this! With that in mind. Anya quickly got back into her car and drove after Vito. It didn''t take her long to catch up to Vito, whose legs turned to jelly when he saw here after hum "Do you know Christina?" Anya asked. "N-No, I don''t!" Vito stammered nervously.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Having been in the corporate world for so long, Anya could tell that Vito was clearly lying about not knowing Christina. In order to get Vito to lower his guard, she said, "I''m Christina''s cousin. My name is Anya. We''re really close, but she hasn''t contacted me in a while. Do you know where she is?" Chapter 527 Found Christina Upon thinking of how Christina was still locked away on the ind, Vito became even more tight-lipped. His silence, however, had betrayed him. Instead of probing further, Anya decided to get close to the man to fish for more information. "Anyway, it''s not easy to hail a taxi here. Where are you headed to? I can give you a lift" "N-No. It''s okay," Vito stammered, his voice thick with fear. All he wanted was to disappear from Anya''s sight, so why would he ept her offer? With that, he spun on his heels and bolted as if he had a horde of beasts on his tail. Anya, on the other hand, remained unfazed. As she watched Vito''s retreating figure, she made a call and arranged for someone to follow him. Ha! As long as Christina''s no longer under Nathaniel''s protection, I''ll find a way to get rid of her! After sorting everything out, Anya returned to her hotel. s, she was so caught up in fiddling with Christina''s pearl earring that she failed to see the man approaching her. By the time she realized it, the two had bumped into each other, causing her to drop the earring. "You!" Anya scolded, only to freeze when she came face-to-face with Francis. The next second, she covered her mouth as her eyes lit up with excitement and joy. It was clear that Anya was Francis'' fan, and given thetter''s poprity, it was hardly surprising that he could still be recognized even with shades on. Despite that, Francis remained amiable and gestured for the woman to keep her volume down. "I-I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to bump into you," Anya muttered, looking every bit like a well-behaved child in front of her favorite celebrity. Francis merely responded with a smile, but just as he was about to walk away, he caught a glimpse of the pearl earring from the corner of his eye. He immediately picked it up and couldn''t help but marvel at how prettily it shone under the lights. "Thank you," Anya said as she held her hands out politely, thinking Francis would return the earring to her. That, however, wasn''t the case. A few secondster, Francis finally smiled and spoke up. "This is a beautiful earring. Is it yours?" Anya nodded without hesitation. "Yes. It''s mine." Upon hearing that, Francis scrutinized the woman before him. "In that case, can I have it?" he asked, his tone still warm and gentle. "Of course!" Anya replied, already flustered beyond belief. Oh, my goodness! How can I say no to my idol? Besides, it isn''t my earring, so I dont see why not! "Tll pay you for it,'' Francis added before taking out his phone to transfer the money. Anya initially wanted to turn him down, but after realizing she could get her idol''s contact, she knew she had to seize the opportunity. As a result, she hastily whipped out her phone and provided her QR code for the transfer. Now that she had her idol''s contact information, Anya was too wired to sleep and even bragged on social media about her chance meeting with Francis. Meanwhile, the smile on Francis'' face gradually faded away as he left the hotel and got into his minivan, the pearl earring still clutched in his hand. I''m sure this 1s the pearl earring that Christina wore to the banquet the other day... I can recognize it from a mile away! "Get two people to keep an eye on that woman, he told Parker before dialing Nathaniel''s number. Thetter answered the phone within seconds, and Francis'' excited voice came through. "I have news on Christina!" Nathaniel''s eyes instantly lit up. "I''ll be right over." Before long, the two men met up. Thanks to the surveince footage, Nathaniel could tell with one look that the woman who bumped into Francis was none other than Anya. "Hmm... Could the Gibson family have hidden Mrs. Hadley away?" Sebastian asked. By then, Nathaniel was seething as he stood up and marched to Anya''s room like an enraged bull. Anya wasn''t the least bit afraid when she first opened the door and saw Nathaniel, but when his bodyguards rushed in to tie her toa chair, rm bells began going off in her head. Nathaniel took out the pear! earring and showed it to the woman. "Tell me. Where did you get this from?" Despite the rising panic, Anya managed to rpose herself. "I bought it." "I don''t have the patience for your bullsh*t," Nathaniel warned, his gaze dark and cold. The bodyguards took the hint and pped Anya hard until her face was red and swollen. Needless to say, thetter was boiling with rage. "How dare you treat me like this, Nathaniel Hadley! Wait till my grandmother and father hear of it. There''s no way they''d let you off!" "Let me ask you one more time..." Nathaniel said through gritted teeth. "Where did you get this earring from?" As much as Anya wanted to stay silent, she had no choice but to blurt out the truth when the bodyguards readied themselves to p her again, "I picked it up! I picked the earring up!" Even though she wanted nothing more than to kill Christina, her sense of self-preservation had kicked in, and she needed to protect herself. Within seconds, she had told Nathaniel everything she knew about the pearl earring. "Look into it this instance, Sebastian!" Nathaniel instructed anxiously. Yes! I''m sure Christina is still alive! Efficient as always, Sebastian took less than an hour before he tracked down Vito''s whereabouts. Unfortunately, they were toote; Vito had already left town. Upon hearing that, Nathaniel wasted no time gathering his team and giving chase in their cars. Just as Vito was boarding his fishing boat, Nathaniel and his bodyguards suddenly showed up and stopped him. At that moment, he knew he had made a huge mistake by going ashore. Not only did he have nowhere to run, but he also felt utterly ashamed when he learned that Nathaniel was Christina''s husband. On the other hand, Nathaniel was furious when he heard Vito had rescued Christina and imprisoned her to make her his wife. However, he still needed the inder to show them the way, so he did everything he could to suppress his anger for the time being. Meanwhile, Christina was still locked up in the hut and hadn''t closed her eyes since Vito left.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. There was nothing else she could do but pray for Vito to deliver the items to Nathaniel without a hitch. The early morning light had just fallen over thend when Christina heard noises in the courtyard. As it turned out, Miriam had woken up and was cleaning up the ce while waiting for Vito''s return. A whileter, Miriam''s quavering voice shattered the tranquil peace. "Hey! Who are you guys? What are you doing here?" Immediately after, a loud bang rang out as the door to Christina''s hut was kicked open. Christina quickly turned toward themotion, only to see a strapping Nathaniel standing at the door. "Nathaniel?" she croaked, wondering if the sight before her was just a figment of her imagination. Nathaniel instantly strode into the room and pulled her into an embrace. "It''s me, Christina." Chapter 528 A Novice Dad Chapter 528 A Novice Dad "I''m sorry, Christina." After hugging Christina, Nathaniel cradled her face and inspected her from head to toe. Although it had only been less than ten days, she had lost weight and grown pallid. Worse still, her leg was injured. At that thought of the sufferings she must have endured on the ind, his heart clenched painfully. Inwardly, he hated himself for not finding her sooner. His eyes turned red-rimmed. "This is all on me for not keeping you safe. You must have been through a lot." As Christina stroked the man''s haggard face, she could imagine his panic and fear during the days she had been missing. Usually, he never had any dark circles under his eyes despite staying upte. Yet, they stood out starkly against his skin then. Tears inexorably escaped her eyes. Shaking her head, she countered, "T''m in the wrong for worrying you." Sebastian, who stood outside the door, was deeply moved by the scene of Nathaniel reuniting with Christina. Unknowingly, tears shimmered in his eyes as well. When the couple noticed his presence, they happened to see him taking off his sses and wiping his tears away. Since it was rare to see Sebastian''s sentimental side, Christina could not help bursting into giggles. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley." Mortified to have someone witness him tearing, Sebastian immediately donned his sses and put on a stony expression. That brief interlude alleviated the sorrow in the air. Nathaniel turned to Christina. "Let''s go." Christina nodded in agreement. Following that, Nathaniel carried her out of the hut in a bridal carry. Right then, the interior and exterior of the small courtyard were both crowded. Standing in the courtyard were the bodyguards Nathaniel brought with him. The twenty to thirty men formed a circle, defensively barricading the native vigers outside who held agricultural tools in their hands. Miriam and Vito stood right in front of the group of vigers. The tense atmosphere gave Christina the impression that both parties were geared up to fight anytime. Nheless, the vigers were undoubtedly no match for the trained bodyguards. Anyhow, that was none of her concern. She nestled in Nathaniel''s arm, ignoring the vigers'' scrutiny of her. "Move!" Nathaniel ordered icily upon reaching Miriam and Vito. He was an inherent leader, and the powerful aura around him intimidated everyone present. That went doubly for Miriam, who was terrified after doing something guilty. With her legs shaking, she moved out of his path. Likewise, Vito silently stepped aside. Considering the fact that neither of them was stopping Christina from leaving, the other vigers naturally kept their distance. When Vito saw that Christina was about to leave, he could not resist crying out, "Christina." Unfortunately for him, Christina did not bother turning back. While he had saved her, he almost imprisoned her on the ind because of that. If given a choice to live her whole life there and never see her family again, she found death a far better option. "He saved me, so give him some money,'' she murmured when they had gone some distance away, breaking her silence. "Okay." Nathaniel cast a look at Sebastian beside him. Grasping his meaning, Sebastian lugged out a box filled with a million in cash. He promptly whirled around and made his way back, stopping before Vito. In front of everyone, he opened the box and stated in a moderate volume, "Here''s a million. It''s from Mr. Hadley in thanks for saving Mrs. Hadley." A million? Sheer shock swamped the vigers present when they heard that. Vito took the box in a daze. Beside him, Miriam felt as though she was dreaming. "So much money? We''re rich now!" someone cheered, being the first to gather his wits around him. Thereafter, the rest of the people also snapped back to their senses. As soon as Miriam noticed that the eyes of everyone around her brimmed with greed after seeing the money, she cursed soundlessly, knowing that one should never disclose one''s wealth. She hastily pushed Vito into the house. When the vigers saw her reaction, resentment brewed within them. They all felt that she could never have held Christina captive without their help back then. As such, a share of the money was clearly theirs. Hence, all the vigers surged forward and pounded on Vito''s door. Observing that scene, Sebastian curled his lips. He spun on his heel and left. Although Mr. Hadley never said he wanted to teach these people a lesson, this one million is enough to punish Vito, Miriam, and the ind''s inhabitants. Upon returning to Jadeborough, Christina was sent to the best hospital for aprehensive examination. After going through everything, she was so exhausted that sleep overtook her. Meanwhile, Nathaniel kept watch by her side, refusing to leave for even a second. At that moment, the director of the hospital personally came to deliver Christina''s medical report. "Mr. Hadley, the injury to Mrs. Hadley''s leg didn''t fracture the bone, so she''ll only need to recuperate for some time." Taking the report from the man, Nathaniel started flipping through it.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. "Also..." As the hospital director panted while speaking, Nathaniel''s heart lurched, and he cut his gaze over. The man hurriedly uttered, "Don''t worry, Mr. Hadley. I merely wanted to say that Mrs. Hadley is two weeks pregnant." "Pregnant?" Surprise flooded Nathaniel. "Yes. It''s a miracle that the baby could survive though Mrs. Hadley fell into the sea!" Verily, the hospital director was astounded by the baby who had such vitality. Despite being the father of two children, Nathaniel was not involved in Christina''s pregnancy and delivery in the past. Thus, he was as excited as a first-time father then. No sooner had the hospital director left than he whipped out his phone to search for information on taking care of a pregnant woman and newborn baby. When Christina woke up and turned her head to the side, she was greeted by the sight of Nathaniel wholly focused on a book on the couch. There was a tall stack of books in front of him. "A Novice Dad''s Guide?" Staring at the cover of the book in the man''s hand, she read the title aloud. At her voice, Nathaniel instantly ced the book in his hand down and hastened over to her. "You''re awake? Do you feel any difort anywhere?" In response, Christina shook her head. "What were you reading?" Her gaze pointedly went to the book he ced on the coffee table. A sh of embarrassment flittered across Nathaniel''s face before he dered jubntly, "You''re pregnant, Christina! I''m going to be a father again!" For a moment, Christina was taken aback. "You said I''m pregnant?" Nathaniel bobbed his head. "The doctor said it''s been two weeks." Seeing that he did not appear to be lying, Christina stroked her t belly. Never had it crossed my mind that this little peanut had been in my womb for two weeks and even experienced a fall into the sea with me! That thought struck a sense of bted fear into her. "What did the doctor say? Is the baby-" Aware of the question she wanted to ask, Nathaniel caressed her forehead infort. "Don''t worry, for I''m here" Like magic, his reassurance soothed the apprehension within her in no time. Subsequently, Christina had a few more prenatal tests. From the results, both the fetus and mother were healthy. But for safety reasons, she was still requested to go on bed rest fora month. During that time, she could not do anything. Even when she got out of bed, she was only allowed a bathroom break. "T''d like to work, Nathaniel." By the third day of her bed rest, she was already bored to death. Therefore, she could not help acting coy with the "supervisor" beside her, who was on duty around the clock. Chapter 529 Bailey Is Dating Nathaniel, who was sitting on the balcony and handling work matters on hisptop, said nothing. When Christina saw that the man was ignoring her, she pouted and implored pitifully, "I don''t mind not working, but I can at least have my phone, yes?" Nathaniel shifted his gaze from hisptop and peered over at her. "No." After all, scrolling through the phone also involved a great deal of mental strain. "Hmph! I''m not talking to you anymore." Argh! Everything is prohibited to me! The bottom of Christina''s lip stuck out visibly, but she did not dare go against the doctor''s orders either. All she could do was yank the covers over her head. At the sight of her throwing a tantrum yet remaining obedient, an indulgent smile bloomed on Nathaniel''s face. He put down theptop in his hand and strolled over. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he gently pulled the covers down to reveal Christina''s head. As he gazed into her sparkling eyes, he coaxed in a cajoling tone used with children, "Be good, Christina. When Lucas and Came hometer, I''ll have them talk with you and keep youpany." Lucas and Cam were still at the Hadley residence then, unaware of Christina''s return. The instant Christina heard that she could finally see the twins, a grin appeared on her face. "Mommy! Mommy!" No sooner had Nathaniel''s words rang out than the twins returned and sprinted into the room, one after another. "Lucas, Cam." Under the man''s "monitoring" gaze, Christina did not dare get out of bed. She merely sat reclining against the head of the bed. "We missed you so much, Mommy!" Both Lucas and Cam usually threw themselves into Christina''s arms. But this time, they only stood by the bed docilely. That difited Christina to some extent. "I''ve missed you both, too. Come and let me hug you." Unexpectedly, Lucas shook his head. "You can''t hug us anymore since there''s a baby in your belly, Mommy." Cam seconded that with a nod. "That''s right. You can''t hug us." Astonishment inundated Christina. "You know?" "Mr. Patel told Grandma and Grandpa, who told us," Lucas and Cam answered in unison. "Yeah. Actually, we can still hug like this." Still yearning to hug the twins, Christina spread her arms and gathered their upper bodies into her embrace. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Nathaniel did the same and enveloped all three of them in his arms. The family of four, now five, hugged each other blissfully, banishing all of Christina''s terror during her captivity. In the blink of an eye, a month flew past. After the doctor had performed a series of examinations on Christina, everything was determined to be well with the fetus and mother. At longst, Christina was allowed to get out of bed. Having lied on her back for a month, she was stiff all over. "Can you give me my phone now?" She went to the study in search of Nathaniel. Right then, Nathaniel had just ended a conference call. Ever since Christina stayed home on bed rest for a month, he had also been working from home for the same duration. "Here." Pulling open the drawer near his hand, he took out the phone lying within and handed it to her. He had charged her phone, so she could use it right after getting her hands on it. As soon as Christina tapped open WhatsApp, a flurry of messages came into sight. The ones that snagged her attention most were still the photos of her at the beach sent by the photographer back then. They had been edited slightly, and each wasparable to a shot from a blockbuster. Nathaniel had never gone through her phone. When he noticed that she was flipping through something, his curiosity drove him to crane his neck for a look. The moment he glimpsed the exquisite photos of her, his Adam''s apple bobbed uncontrobly. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he exerted marginal force and pulled her into his arms for a seat. "When were these taken?" he asked, resting his chin against the hollow of her shoulder. "During Madison''s engagement party,'' Christina replied while looking at the photos. At the mention of Madison, Nathaniel''s gaze abruptly turned chilly. Reminded of the woman''s presence, Christina tilted her head and trained her eyes on the man. "Oh yes, where is she?" ifmy memory serves, she also fell into the sea with me. "She''s alive but has gone mad," Nathaniel borated briefly. From the time Madison regained consciousness, her mental state had been unstable. Following consultation with experts, they all concluded that she was mentally ill. When Christina returned safely, Nathaniel had the Taggart family take Madison home. Because Madison was the one who orchestrated everything, the Taggart family did not dare pick trouble with the Hadley family since they were in the wrong. Upon hearing that Madison had lost her mind, Christina sighed.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. However, she could not muster any sympathy for Madison when thetter was only reaping what she sowed. "What do you think of this photographer? I''m thinking of hiring him to take photos of my work to create a portfolio." Once again, the subject reverted to the photos. "That''s fine, but don''t overtax yourself" While Nathaniel wanted her to do nothing and stay home during her pregnancy, he was worried that she would be bored to tears. Having obtained his support, Christina happily gave him a peck on the cheek. Regretfully, that measly kiss had no hope of satiating the desire zing within Nathaniel. He demanded more from her, cradling the back of her head with a massive palm and deepening the kiss. At the same time, his other hand roamed all over her body. When he hit a sensitive spot, a shudder ran through Christina. She hurriedly shot her hands out and pushed him away, huffing, "Cut it out. There''s a baby in me." Jolted back to his senses, Nathaniel pursed his lips. "I know. I''m aware of my boundaries." In truth, he almost forgot earlier. The doctor once specifically told him that he had to abstain from sexual rtions for three months. At first, he assumed it was a piece of cake since he had spent thest few years without any pleasures of the flesh with no problems. But presently, it was difficult for him to remain unmoved with a beautiful woman in his arms. Just then, Christina received a WhatsApp message from Bailey, who asked her out. "All right, we''ll talkter. I have a date with Bailey." Christina could tell that Nathaniel was still frustrated, so she quickly beat a hasty retreat. Nathaniel would never restrict her freedom, but he arranged fora caretaker and two bodyguards to tag along with her. Christina and Bailey agreed to meet at the coffee shop where they usually hung out. Having not seen each other for a long time, they naturally had plenty to tell each other. Bailey divulged that she had epted a job a while ago and had been away from Jadeborough. She had just returned two days ago, upon which she asked thetter out. "You''re sure I''m the first person you meet uponing back?" Christina drawled meaningfully. In response, Bailey nodded. When Christina saw that Bailey still wanted to keep her in the dark, she stared pointedly at the red hickey on thetter''s neck. Finally snapping, she questioned, "Are you datingtely, Bailey?" Bailey was promptly startled. "How did you know that? How could you tell?" She felt that she had already kept it under wraps perfectly. Christina pointed at her own neck while gesturing at Bailey. Immediately, Bailey took out apact mirror for a look. The instant she spotted the red mark on her neck, her face flushed bright red. Ugh! I was in such a hurry when I left home just now that I forgot to look in the mirror! She swiftly rammaged out the Herm¨¦s scarf from her bag and wrapped it around her neck. Chapter 530 None Other Than Julian "Who''s the man? And when are you going to bring him out for me to meet him?" Bailey hardly ever dated, so Christina was exceedingly curious about the remarkable man who managed to bag her. After all, the Cook family previously went all out to arrange for Bailey to attend blind dates with many wealthy and handsome heirs to end her singlehood. s, she did not take a fancy to any of them. At Christina''s questions, a glimmer of shame shed across Bailey''s eyes. Biting on the straw, she admitted in a murmur, "We''re not officially together yet." Christina was stunned for a moment, but sheposed herself in the next second. Well, she''s a grown adult, so it''s understandable that she has some physiological needs at times. The two of them did not continue pursuing that subject. Instead, they talked about the television series Bailey dubbed recently. As they conversed, time flew like an arrow. Out of the blue, the caretaker, who stood a near distance away, walked over and said to Christina respectfully, "Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley just phoned and asked whether you''d be going back to Scenic Garden Manor for lunch, or you''d like him toe over and eat with you." Before Christina could respond to that, such immense shock hit Bailey at the side that her jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? It''s only been a while since I''vest met you, yet Mr. Hadley''s desire for control has gone up another notch, and he''s controlling where you have lunch?" Bursting into giggles, Christina exined, "I''m pregnant, so he''s somewhat anxious." "Pregnant?" Bailey''s eyes went wide. She then nced at Christina''s t belly before ascertaining, "I''m going to be a godmother again?" Christina dipped her head in affirmation. "At that time, don''t forget to prepare a gift." At that thought of an adorable baby calling her "Aunt Bailey," Bailey was over the moon. "Never! That''s for sure! I''ll prepare a houseful of gifts!" Bailey linked arms with Christina before they both got to their feet to leave. At that exact moment, a long and slender hand grasped the door handle of the coffee shop and pushed open the door. Amidst a gust of cold wind, a man strode in with a tall and beautiful woman on his arm. In the narrow aisle, the four of them bumped right into each other. Julian''s unfathomable gaze alighted on Christina, and he greeted cidly, "Christina." Having met him twice, Christina replied with a smile, "Mr. Forrester." In turn, Julian inclined his head a fraction. Then, he led the woman beside him further into the coffee shop. His gaze was so impassive that it was as though he did not notice the presence of another person beside Christina. Christina did not pay that detail much mind, but when her fingers came into contact with Bailey''s hand, her heart lurched. "Why is your hand so cold, Bailey?" As soon as she lifted her eyes, she saw that Bailey was rather pale, making a stark contrast with the person who was all smiles earlier. At once, panic swamped her. "What''s wrong with you, Bailey? Are you feeling unwell?" Christina''s worried voice snapped Bailey out of her thoughts. A faint trace of pain glinted in her eyes. "It''s nothing. I''m just a bit tired, so I feel like sleeping." She''s tired and feels like sleeping? "In that case, I''ll send you home," Christina offered. Shaking her head, Bailey declined, "No, it''s okay. Hurry up and go home. Mr. Hadley is waiting for you." However, Christina was utterly worried when Bailey was in such a state and insisted on sending thetter home. Unfortunately, Bailey was likewise adamant about going home by herself. Failing to convince her otherwise, Christina had no choice but to watch helplessly as Bailey drove away. Upon returning to her condominium, Bailey kicked off her high heels wearily. She dragged her feet to the couch barefoot before throwing herself down on it. As she hugged the soft cushion, her tense nerves gradually rxed at longst. Her memories reyed themselves in her mind on a loop, showing her the picture of Julian pushing open the door and stepping into the coffee shop earlier time and again. The ck windbreaker he wore matched perfectly with his regal and aloof countenance, rendering him like the sunlight during winter, distant and blinding. But above ti all, the sight that blindsided me the most was the smiling woman on his arm who looked elegant and gracious. When that thought hit her, tears escaped her eyes uncontrobly. Indeed, the man whom she was not officially dating yet was none other than Julian. Precisely because it was him that she did not dare tell Christina his identity. Knock! Knock! While she had her head buried in the crook of her arm as she sobbed softly, an untimely knock sounded at the door. Snapping her head up, she demanded in a hoarse voice, "Who''s there?" No one answered outside the door, but the knocking persisted. Irritated by the constant noise, Bailey wiped the tears off her face with her sleeve. She stood up and marched over to open the door. The instant the door swung open, the person outside pulled her into his arms before she even had a good look at his countenance. On the heels of that, a faint scent of tobo wafted into her nostrils. The man kissed her so passionately that she was left powerless to resist. The world spun around, and she was carried from the doorway to the couch. "Let go of me, Julian!" Bailey snarled while struggling away, finally having a chance to catch her breath. Julian, on the other hand, turned a deaf ear to her. Restraining her hands against his chest, he lifted them high and pinned them above her head. Such a posture mortified Bailey to the core. She twisted her waist and kicked her legs. But in the next heartbeat, the man pinned her down forcefully. With that, Bailey lost the ability to put up a fight altogether. Her eyes turned red-rimmed, and she appeared downright aggrieved. Holding her gaze, Julian asked in a guttural voice as he panted heavily, "You''re mad?" Bailey jerked her head to the side. "Aren''t you supposed to be with your fianc¨¦e?" She wanted to remind him that their rtionship was then over. However, when her question reached Julian''s ears, he interpreted it as her being jealous. "I''ve never done it with her." His nicotineced breath hit her, scrambling her mind for a moment. She knew all too well that it was wrong for her to be intimate with Julian, but his remark earlier quelled the jealousy within her substantially. Sensing the gradual rxation of her body, Julian took things a step further.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Under his aggressive advancements, Bailey melted into a puddle shortly after. By the time Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor, a feast was alreadyid out on the table. Scenting the aroma of food the moment she stepped into the house, she grew ravenous. Ever since she got pregnant, she was often hungry. For that reason, she plopped right down and started eating without a second thought. Only when she had finished eating did she realize that Nathaniel had been missing. Gah! He called me toe home, yet he''s nowhere to be seen! "Where''s Nathaniel?" Christina asked, turning to Raymond at the side. "Mr. Hadley had just gone out a while ago," Raymond answered. "Oh, okay." Knowing that Nathaniel must have left to deal with some work matter, Christina did not give it much thought. She started feeling sleepy after the meal. When she woke up after taking a nap, it was already five o''clock in the afternoon. By the time she went downstairs, Lucas and Cam were already home from kindergarten. The twins presently had someone ferrying them around. Although they were still very much clingy, they no longer requested that Christina carry them since she was pregnant. Christina had dinner with them and apanied them as they did their homework before putting them to bed. It was only then that Nathaniel came home. The windbreaker he wore carried the chilly air of the night. "What had you so busy today?" Christina could not resist questioning in curiosity since the usually clingy man did not even give her a call that day. "I went to meet with a supplier," Nathaniel replied briefly while taking off his windbreaker. Sure enough, it was a work matter. As such, Christina did not probe further. Anyhow, Nathaniel did not n on divulging much. After exchanging a few words with her, he went into the study. Chapter 531 Your Junior Chapter 531 Your Junior Having nothing to do and no ns of sleeping yet, Christina took out her phone and scrolled through Twitter. Initially, she nned on checking her studio¡¯s official page to see the increase in the number of followers. Back when Rayne uploaded the photo of her at the beach, her studio gained a hundred thousand new followers. Consequently, the studio¡¯s poprity soared considerably. With followers as a foundation, not only could she continue running the studio, but she could also establish her own brandter. In her mind, she sketched out the blueprint of her career. All of a sudden, her eyes snagged on the topic that ranked top. It read: Shocking news! Francis Fernando leaves the entertainment industry! When Christina saw that it was about Francis, her finger stilled slightly. In the next second, she tapped on the link. It turned out that it was connected to a live broadcast. On the screen, Francis was as handsome as ever. His every single gesture captivated the hearts of countless girls. When he announced his exit from the entertainment industry and said he would not be filming any television series or movies nor appearing on camera, a flurry of mournfulments flooded the screen. Someonemented: Don¡¯t go, Francis! Another fan wrote: The entertainment industry will die without you, Darling! That was followed by anotherment that wrote: What should I do? I feel like I¡¯m about to die. No matter how much his fans pleaded with him, Francis stood by his decision. Soon, the press conference ended. Christina spaced out as she stared at the phone screen that had gone ck. Only then did she understand that such was what Francis meant by leaving. She scrolled through her phone before abruptly recalling that she no longer had the man¡¯s number in her contact list. On that very night, Francis left the country with Linda after the press conference. The next day, Christina told Nathaniel about it, but thetter was not the least bit surprised. In truth, he did not only meet up with a supplier yesterday but also Francis. Francis handed him the information he had previously requested and bid him farewell. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Nheless, Nathaniel did not tell Christina all that. He sensed a far greater storm on the horizon after scanning through the information from Francis, and he did not want her to be hurt by it. Christina did not notice the man¡¯s abnormality. Instead, she felt a touch sorry about Francis¡¯ departure as she had yet to thank him for bustling around tirelessly while she was missing. But on second thought, he was a member of the Hadley family at the end of the day, so they would still meet again one day. The sensation of Francis¡¯ exit from the entertainment industry onlysted for half a month. Following the passage of time, he gradually faded from everyone¡¯s memories. Right then. Christina was three months pregnant. However, she was still so slender that one could not tell that she was with a child. That went doubly true when winter came since she was wearing much more clothes. No sooner had she arrived at the studio than Rayne hurried over. On the one hand, it was to take care of Christina. On the other, she wanted to gripe. ¡°Christina, I really can¡¯t get along with Hector! Why don¡¯t you just sack him?¡± Hector Fendley was the photographer who took Christina¡¯s photos at the beach back then. Impressed by his photography skills. Christina hired him for the studio with high pay. Unexpectedly, Rayne and Hector were like natural enemies, neither liking the other. But in Christina¡¯s eyes, they seemed more like a bickering couple. They always had conflicts due to work matters, but Hector always gave way to Rayne without compromising his principles. ¡°Who¡¯s going to take photos for the studio to increase our followers if he¡¯s gone?¡± Christina countered. ¡°I¡¯ll do it¡­¡± As Rayne spoke, her voice grew increasingly softer. Despite her reluctance to admit the truth. Hector was undeniably a professional. The photos he took looked great and could attract followers, bringing the studiomissions. Thus, the studio¡¯s performance improved, and she also had an increment in sry. ¡°Oh yes, I told you to recruit some staff. How¡¯s it going?¡± Seeing that Rayne was no longer fuming. Christina started talking about work. Speaking of work matters, Rayne turned professional. She ced the few resumes she had screened before Christina. ¡°Looks good. Arrange for them toe for an interview.¡± Christina gave a nod of satisfaction after skimming through them. Since she was currently pregnant, coupled with the fact that the studio¡¯smission had ballooned, it was time to expand their operations. ¡°Will do.¡± Rayne promptly contacted the shortlisted applicants and made the arrangements. In the blink of an eye, it was noon. Usually, Nathaniel came to pick Christina up for lunch together. It was only when Christina had gotten into the car that she discovered it was Sebastian who hade to pick her up that day. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, something suddenly came up for Mr. Hadley, so he had mee to pick you up.¡± Sebastian exined. Christina was unbothered about all that. She studied the man who had his entire focus on driving. Hmm, he¡¯s actually pretty good-looking. Besides, he has acquired some of Nathaniel¡¯s aloofness after working for him for so many years. As she recalled the blind dates she previously arranged for him that had all ended in failure, her curiosity finally got the better of her. ¡°What kind of girl do you like. Sebastian?¡± Wholly focused on driving, Sebastian trembled inwardly upon hearing that question. Fortunately, his hands remained steady, and the car continued advancing steadily. His face flushed bright red. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, about this¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t tell me that?¡± It was Christina¡¯s first time seeing the man blush, and she was inexorably surprised. Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian never had time to pay any attention to girls when he was studying. And once he graduated from university, he joined Hadley Corporation, catching Nathaniel¡¯s eye because he was a fellow workaholic. It had been ten years since then, and he had never been in a rtionship. Hence, Sebastian had no idea how to answer Christina¡¯s question. Luckily, they were not headed for somewhere far. He floored the gas pedal. On the heels of that, he brought the car to a steady stop in front of Lavish Dining. ¡°We¡¯re here, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Christina, who had yet to receive an answer from the man, turned and looked out the window. At once, a sh of puzzlement glinted in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Hadley scheduled a lunch date with the CEO of Lesley Group here,¡± Sebastian rified. The CEO of Lesley Group¡­ Preston Lesley? That¡¯s the person Madison was going to marry back then. Christina¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. She alighted from the car and followed Sebastian to the reserved. private room. The instant the door of the private room was pushed open, she had a clear view of the scene within. Nathaniel sat across from the door with a man and a woman sitting on his left. The man was clearly the CEO of Lesley Group whom Sebastian mentioned. Meanwhile, the woman eximed, ¡°This is great, Christina! I finally get to meet you!¡± Nathaniel had just gotten to his feet to escort Christina over, but little did he expect someone else to act even faster than him. By then, the woman had already reached Christina and greeted happily, ¡°Christina!¡± Christina stared at her somewhat familiar countenance. But at that moment, she could not remember who exactly the woman was. ¡°You are?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Victoria Lesley, your junior!¡± Chapter 532 Remember Him Chapter 532 Remember Him My junior? Christina was puzzled. ¡°Are you the apprentice Ms. Shaw epted in Ferropene?¡± Christina asked. Prior to this, I received a text from Ms. Shaw. She told me that she was residing in Ferropene and that she had epted a new apprentice. She even sent me a photo. ¡°Yes, Christina. I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you ever since I came back to the country.¡± Victoria had heard about Christina long ago, and she admired thetter a lot. Therefore, when she found out Preston was going to meet Nathaniel, the CEO of Hadley Corporation, she asked him to let her tag along. Christina clicked with Victoria the moment she saw thetter. She thought the youngdy was not only bubbly and humble but adorable, too. The two sat down together and chatted endlessly. Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Preston shared a gaze and smiled before they started talking business. Due to the favor the Lesley family did for the Hadley family thest time around, Nathaniel was willing to make the deal more favorable to Preston. Hence, the atmosphere was harmonious during the meal. Preston had something urgent to deal with after the meal, so he couldn¡¯t send Victoria home.. ¡°Sebastian, send Ms. Lesley home,¡± Nathaniel instructed. ¡°This way, please, Ms. Lesley.¡± Sebastian ushered Victoria toward the car. Victoria nced at Sebastian and quirked her brow ever so slightly before getting into the car. After Sebastian got into the car and drove for a while, Victoria tilted her head askew and uttered in a mischievous tone, ¡°We meet again, Oldster.¡± Despite remaining expressionless, Sebastian felt his heart racing. She recognizes me! When Sebastian recognized Victoria right away upon entering the private room earlier, he experienced slight changes in his emotions. However, he thought Victoria didn¡¯t recognize him when he noticed that thetter didn¡¯t even look at him. Momentster, Victoria cupped her face in her hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like going home.¡± She had been kept at home ever since she returned to the country, and she was bored out of her mind. Now that I¡¯m finally away from Preston, I don¡¯t want to go home so soon. ¡°Where would you like to go, Ms. Lesley?¡± Sebastian tried his best to keep his cool. Pouting, Victoria answered, ¡°I want to go shopping.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Sebastian turned the car around and sent Victoria to a mall nearby. Right when Sebastian was about to leave, Victoria stopped him and requested, ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Come with me.¡± Sebastian spaced out when he stared into Victoria¡¯s bright eyes. Our social statuses are too far apart. I must keep a distance from her. ¡°Ms. Lesley, I have work to do,¡± Sebastian rejected Victoria. Victoria was sent abroad to study since young, so she had few friends in the country. To make matters. worse, she ended up arguing with the friends she met up withst time and had a fallout with them. Thus, she didn¡¯t even have anyone to go shopping with. Victoria stubbornly insisted, ¡°I don¡¯t care. I want you to keep mepany.¡± She even stood in front of Sebastian to stop him from leaving. ¡°Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me, Ms. Lesley.¡± Sebastian had been working for Nathaniel for decades, so he had experience in dealing with all sorts of spoiled and pampered girls in the past. At that moment, however, he felt rather helpless. What¡¯s with me today? Why do I think Victoria is adorable? ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m going to do!¡± Victoria didn¡¯t give Sebastian the chance to reject her. As soon as she finished talking, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into the mall with her. In a sh, Sebastian felt his cheeks burning as his heart pounded in his chest. Following Victoria like a puppet, he seemed to have lost control of his body and allowed her to steer him. After they were done shopping, Sebastian sent Victoria home and rushed back to the office. By then, it was almost time to get off work. ¡°Mr. Taggart, there¡¯s a document here requiring your signature.¡± The secretary, who had been waiting for Sebastian for a long time, handed him a document. ¡°Okay.¡± The secretary stole a quick nce at Sebastian after the document was signed and turned to leave. Secondster, Sebastian heard people gossiping about him. One could be heard saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Mr. Taggart skip work before.¡± ¡°Mr. Taggart seems different today. He looks so gleeful. It¡¯s like he has fallen in love.¡± ¡°What? That can¡¯t be, right? My heart would be broken!¡± Evidently, Sebastian had quite a few admirers in the office. Sebastian¡¯s expression darkened when he heard those words. He strode toward them and fumed, ¡°Don¡¯t you guys have work to do?¡± The moment he showed up, everyone went silent and dispersed at once, However, he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about what he heard and recalling the scene of him shopping with Because of that, he had trouble sleeping that night. Meanwhile, upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina called Laurel right away and talked to her about Victoria. Laurel would only take on talented people as her apprentices, and although Victoria had yet to produce any substantial pieces, thetter was clearly talented. As they mentioned Victoria, Christina thought about letting Victoria work at her studio. Not only can Victoria gain some experience working in the studio, but she can also help lessen the workload and alleviate the problems caused by the shortage of staff. It was already eleven at night by the time Christina was done talking to Laurel. ¡°Why are you still awake?¡± Nathaniel came out of the shower and saw Christina scrolling through her phone in bed. Ever since Christina got pregnant, she had been following a strict bedtime schedule. In fact, she would go to bed at half-past eight and fall asleep before ten at night. Seeing that it was past her bedtime. Christina set her phone aside sheepishly and slipped under the nket, exposing only her head. ¡°I¡¯ll go to sleep now.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t behaving yourself. Do you want me to punish you?¡± Nathaniel lifted the nket on his side of the bed and got into bed as well. ¡°No.¡± Christina pouted, putting on a piteous expression. In the next second, Nathaniel wrapped his long arm around her and pulled her into his embrace. His heart started racing when he caught a whiff of the faint fragrance on Christina¡¯s body. ¡°May I?¡± Nathaniel whispered into Christina¡¯s ear, his hoarse voice making her blush instantly. Obviously, she knew what Nathaniel was asking for. However, at the thought of the baby in her stomach, she replied, ¡°No. We ought to follow the doctor¡¯s advice.¡± ¡°All right, then. Let¡¯s do as the doctor said,¡± Nathaniel answered. The doctor said we could start having sex after three months, but we must take it slow. In that case, I¡¯ll take it slow. Christina thought Nathaniel would back off, but to her surprise, she felt her nightgown getting pulled off of her in the next second. After that, she saw her pink silk nightgown getting thrown onto the floor. Nathaniel struggled to control his lustful desires, but he didn¡¯t forget to assure Christina, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle. Darling.¡± Christina, who was initially reluctant, became more at case when she heard what he said. Well, it has been three months. Nathaniel has been suppressing his urges for long enough. Christina slept through the night and woke up naturally the next morning. Having done intense exercise the night before, Christina slumped on the couch to watch television after she had her breakfast. Though Nathaniel told me he would be gentle, things still spiraled out of control. As expected of a man who had been restraining his urge for more than three months. He¡¯s like a scary beast! Christinained inwardly before dozing off on the couch. Suddenly, Nathaniel texted her, and she was woken up by the special ringtone she set for him. Christina picked up her phone and saw the text Nathaniel had sent to her that read: Have you eaten your breakfast? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? I can¡¯t believe he has the audacity to mention that! Christina sat up straight, ready to criticize Nathaniel over text, but an intense pain shot up from her waist as soon as she moved, causing her to hiss in agony. With that, she grew even more annoyed with him. Christina sent him an angry emoji with the caption: Hmph! Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help smiling when he saw Christina¡¯s reply. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The head of the project management department who was reporting his work saw Nathaniel¡¯s smile and almost bit his own tongue. He quickly rposed himself after making sure Nathaniel didn¡¯t notice his slip-up and continued reporting. In response to Christina¡¯s text, Nathaniel replied: Remember to have lunch on time and take a nap. I¡¯ll go with you to the hospital for a prenatal care checkup in the afternoon. After the checkup, I¡¯ll allow you to have a slice of chocte cake. Nathaniel was exceptionally patient with her because he had been asking her to stick to a strict and healthy diet. As a matter of fact, all her meals were nned out by a skilled nutritionist. Christina¡¯s diet was managed so strictly that she felt as though Nathaniel had gone mad. Her eyes were filled with affection as she caressed her baby bump and replied: All right, but you ought to know that I haven¡¯t forgiven you for what you did to me. Needless to say, Nathaniel knew what Christina was talking about, so he replied: I¡¯ll give you a massage tonight, Darling! Christina blushed immediately and responded: You¡¯re pushing it, you hooligan! To which Nathaniel replied shamelessly: Yes, but you¡¯re the only one who can make me lose control. Nathaniel didn¡¯t mind putting his ego aside when teasing Christina. He could be as shameless as a man could be in front of his beloved wife. Christina¡¯s checks burned up, so she put her phone away sheepishly andy on the couch, hugging a pillow. She stared at the handsome actor in the drama showing on the television as shey down, but her mind was filled with Nathaniel¡¯s handsome facial features. Chapter 533 Sudden Turn Of Events Chapter 533 Sudden Turn Of Events Soon, she dozed off once again when drowsiness crept up. By the time she woke up, it was two in the afternoon.. She was roused by the butler. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up sluggishly and asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has sent someone here to pick you up. Mr. Hadley said you could eat something before heading out. There¡¯s no rush,¡± the butler answered. Right then, Christina remembered she was supposed to go to the hospital with Nathaniel for the prenatal care checkup. I slept so soundly that I almost forgot about the appointment! After regaining full consciousness, she got up from the couch and smiled bashfully, ¡°Please tell the driver to wait for me. I¡¯ll head upstairs to get changed.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley said there¡¯s no rush,¡± the butler repeated. ¡°I¡¯ll get the housekeeper to heat up the dishes and serve you lunch.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina didn¡¯t reject the butler¡¯s suggestion. She then went upstairs to get changed beforeing back down to have lunch and getting into a ck car parked in front of the entrance. While the driver was driving slowly, Christina scrolled through her phone. There and then, she noticed that her previous conversation with Nathaniel ended with the teasing text he sent to her. Christina had the habit of reporting her whereabouts to Nathaniel, so she texted: I¡¯ve already left the house. See youter. Upon sending that text, she proceeded to deal with some work matters on her phone. Once she was done, she lifted her head to look out the window and jumped in rm. Why are we in an unfamiliar and secluded area? ¡°Are we not going to Hadley Corporation?¡± Christina asked the driver.. ¡°There¡¯s a car ident downtown, and the traffic there is congested. In order to save time, I took a detour.¡± The driver¡¯s voice was cold and hoarse. Hearing that, Christina had her eyes fixed on the driver¡¯s side profile. There¡¯s a scar on that man¡¯s head, and he looks so fierce. He doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s subordinate! Wait! He isn¡¯t Nathaniel¡¯s driver! With that in mind, Christina inched toward the car door and discreetly ced her right hand on the handle. The man saw what she did through the rear-view mirror, and he sneered, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not that stupid after all. Save your breath. I¡¯ve already locked all the doors, and we¡¯re in the suburbs now. No one¡¯sing to your rescue no matter how loud you shout.¡± Christina forced herself to stay calm. I can¡¯t afford to confront him head-on. I¡¯m pregnant now. I can¡¯t risk endangering the baby. ¡°What do you want?¡± Christina asked in a deep voice. ¡°If you want money, I can give you all the money you want. After that, you may leave. I won¡¯t call the police.¡± She tried to bargain her way out of trouble. ¡°You¡¯ll know once we arrive at the destination.¡± The man seemed reluctant to talk. He then lit up a cigarette and stepped on the throttle before aggressively steering the car into an abandoned factory. Christina reached into her purse, but before she could grab her phone, the driver mmed on the brakes, causing her to m hard into the seat in front of her. Fortunately, she managed to protect her tummy in the nick of time. She felt her head spinning and her vision going ck. Before she could regain her senses, the man opened the car door and dragged her out of the car violently. The man then dragged her toward an abandoned building, leaving her phone and purse in the car. He even put a ck bag over her head as they approached the building. ¡°I¡¯ve brought her here. Where¡¯s my money?¡± the man asked. Worried that she might escape, he gripped her arm so tightly that she was in pain. Christina didn¡¯t hear anyone responding to the man¡¯s question. However, she soon heard a voice coming out of the man¡¯s phone. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. It was a woman¡¯s voice. The woman was talking softly, so Christina couldn¡¯t tell who she was. Shortly after, the man hung up the phone and pushed Christina forward. ¡°Get your a¡¯s inside!¡± He sounded extremely satisfied when he said. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that you would be worth so much money? Your fate will decide whether you can escape from that lunatic and stay alive.¡± Christina almost fell to the ground after getting shoved ahead. Soon after the man finished his sentence, she heard a loud noise of metal doors closing shut. Right then, all she could see was darkness. A whileter, the metal doors were flung open. This time around, the footsteps of the person who approached her sounded a lot lighter than that of the man. Chapter 534 Crossing The Line Chapter 534 Crossing The Line The irregr footsteps made Christina feel even more anxious. A strong sense of impending danger caused Christina to retreat and instinctively ce her hand over her tummy to protect her baby. Little did she know that her action had further irritated the person. In the next second. Christina felt someone yanking her hair and mming her head against something heavy. The intense pain made her feel like her head was splitting open. Apparently, the person had smashed Christina¡¯s head against a steel pole. After that, she mumbled, ¡°You b*tch! You¡¯re a b*tch! You must die! I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± That¡¯s Madison! Christina could never forget Madison¡¯s voice. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Christina scratched Madison¡¯s arm with all her might as pain and confusion flooded her mind. Didn¡¯t Madison go crazy? How would a lunatic know how to pay someone for carrying out their dirty deeds? Countless thoughts were racing through Christina¡¯s mind, but Madison didn¡¯t give her time to register what was going on. Her actions became even more violent. Hence, Christina was so focused on defending herself that she couldn¡¯t think properly. Soon, Madison¡¯s wrists started bleeding due to the scratches. Upon feeling the stinging pain, she let go of Christina. Somehow, the ck bag over Christina¡¯s head was torn apart during the scuffle. Christina could barely see clearly under the dim light, but she immediately noticed how horrible Madison looked. Madison¡¯s tangled-up long hair looked dried and discolored. Her skin was no longer as healthy and fair as before. Instead, it was pallid. Besides, there were blisters all over her lips. As for her eyes, they were bloodshot and filled with viciousness. At that time, she was d in a hospital gown smudged with dirt and bloodstains while wearing a pair of slippers, exposing her scarred legs. Christina couldn¡¯t believe her eyes when she saw Madison¡¯s haggard and disheveled state. Madison was prideful and morous back then. Now, she looks miserable! Who would¡¯ve seen thising? While staring at Madison warily, Christina tried toe up with an escape n. Meanwhile, Madison stretched her neck and opened her bloody palms. After that, she kept looking at her hands in a daze. The gloomy look in her eyes made it hard to tell what was on her mind. We made so much noise, but no one came to check things out. I guess Madison and I are alone in this factory. Suddenly, Christina noticed that the metal door was open, so she took a deep breath and jumped up. bolting toward it. All of a sudden, Madison pounced on Christina from behind. Christina instinctively protected her tummy andnded heavily on her knees. ¡°Argh!¡± Christina turned pale due to the intense pain she felt in her knees. While sitting on Christina¡¯s body, Madison squeezed Christina¡¯s neck with both hands and yelled, ¡°Nathaniel is mine! Once I kill you, he¡¯ll fall for me! I must kill you!¡± Christina, carrying a heavy weight in her tummy, didn¡¯t have the energy to break free from Madison¡¯s restraint. ¡°Nathaniel was never yours! Even if you kill me, he still won¡¯t fall for you. He¡¯ll only hate you even more.¡± Christina dug her nails deep into Madison¡¯s flesh as she was starting to feel suffocated. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m Nathaniel¡¯s beloved woman!¡± Hearing that, Madison went berserk and screamed, ¡°You¡¯re lying! He was into me until you showed up and ruined my rtionship with him! She was right! You¡¯re nothing but a jinx!¡± At that point, Christina was almost cking out, but she managed to pick up on the keywords in Madison¡¯s sentence. ¡°Why would you believe her? What if she was using you? What if she wanted both of us dead?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Madison fell silent all of a sudden when she heard that. Dead silence ensued, and not a single sound could be heard save for their heavy pants. ¡°Ah! That¡¯s not right! That¡¯s not how it¡¯s supposed to be!¡± Madison pounded her own head in a crazed manner, her thoughts in disarray. Christina quickly took the opportunity to push Madison off of her. After that, Madison lifted her head and red maliciously at Christina. ¡°You were lying, weren¡¯t you? You only said that because you wanted to escape! She was right! You¡¯re a scheming woman! I must get rid of you!¡± Christina ran a few steps forward, picked up a wooden nk off the ground, and swung it toward the back without turning around. Bam! The wooden nk broke in two, and Madison crashed onto the ground. While blood was gushing out of her head, she immediately curled up and panted heavily with her head in her arms. Trembling all over, Christina threw the nk aside and staggered out of the factory. However, she stumbled and fell forward. Instead of hitting the ground, she fell into someone¡¯s embrace. ¡°Get lost!¡± Christina reflexively iled her arms about and pushed the person away as her fight or flight response got the better of her. Unexpectedly, the person tightened his arms around her. ¡°Look at me, Ms. Steele. I¡¯m Sheridan!¡± Christina froze and stared at the man before her. Seeing that it was indeed Sheridan, she calmed down and leaned against his chest. ¡°Help me, Mr. Stone,¡± she pleaded. Despite having just escaped danger, Christina didn¡¯t shed a tear. In response, Sheridan looked at the woman lying on the ground nearby and uttered gently. ¡°I¡¯m here to rescue you. Calm down, okay? I¡¯ll bring you to the car so that you can rest. After that, we¡¯ll call the police.¡± Christina nodded anxiously and let Sheridan bring her to his car. ¡°Here. Drink some water.¡± Sheridan gave Christina a bottle of water and took a nket out of the car to put it over her. ¡°I¡¯ll send you to the hospital after I call the police.¡± As he said that, he cast a nce at her belly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no need to go to the hospital first. Could you please borrow me your phone? I would like to make a phone call.¡± Christina took a sip of the water. I had left my phone in the car when the man brought me here. I can¡¯t imagine how anxious Nathaniel was when he found out I got missing. ¡°Sure.¡± Sheridan unlocked his phone and gave it to Christina. ¡°Stay here and make your phone call. I¡¯ll check on the woman inside because it seems like she¡¯s hurt very badly. If she ends up dying, you¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± Before he left, he added, ¡°I observed the surroundings when I came here and didn¡¯t see anyone around, so don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re safe now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina squeezed out a smile and swiftly keyed in Nathaniel¡¯s phone number, which she had memorized. Sheridan then turned around to walk toward the abandoned building. When Nathaniel found out Christina had been kidnapped by someone who pretended to be his driver, he was on the verge of flipping the entire city upside down because he couldn¡¯t track the tracking device he hid in Christina¡¯s phone.. Once his subordinate told him that Madison had escaped from the psychiatric hospital, he brought dozens of men with him to the Taggart residence and surrounded the area. With a frigid look in his eyes, he swept a nce over all of the members of the Taggart family and warned mercilessly. ¡°If something bad happens to my wife, I¡¯ll wipe out the entire Taggart family!¡± Sebastian turned pale when he heard that. However, he didn¡¯t say anything in retort because he knew exactly how much Christina meant to Nathaniel. The Taggarts had only themselves to me for what happened. Enraged, Moira almost broke her cane when she struck it on the ground. ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re crossing the line!¡± Chapter 535 Safe Chapter 535 Safe Everyone was well aware that Nathaniel¡¯s rise to the helm of a new generation of top wealthy families was not only due to the prestige umted by his elders but more because of his ruthlessness. He regarded those he didn¡¯t care about as mere insignificant ants. Nathaniel slightly raised his brow haughtily. ¡°I dare to run rampant on the Taggart family¡¯s territory with my men. Do you think anything is holding me back? All of you should wake up now. I¡¯m notying my hands on you now, not because I have reservations. Instead, it is because my wife has dyed your sentence. Let me ask you again. Where did Madison take my wife?¡± They had no idea that Madison had escaped from the psychiatric hospital in the first ce, let alone that Christina had been kidnapped. If Nathaniel hadn¡¯t stormed into the Taggart residence to question them. they would still be kept in the dark. Among all the Taggarts, the only person aside from Sebastian who was capable of handling such extreme situations was Maggie. However, Sebastian clearly couldn¡¯t be relied upon since he had dedicated half his life to serving Nathaniel. Hence, the Taggarts actually resented Sebastian now that they were caught up in that predicament. ¡°Sebastian, you¡¯re also considered a member of the Taggart family. Now that our family is in crisis, can you really bring yourself to sit by and watch?¡± ¡°Is the Hadley family¡¯s riches so tempting that you would abandon your family¡¯s honor for money and a future?¡± ¡°He¡¯s just an ungrateful wretch. If he had a bit of conscience, Maddy wouldn¡¯t have gone crazy!¡± Sebastian suddenly became the Taggart family¡¯s scapegoat. They vented their anger at him without shame. Sebastian clenched his fists. His heart gradually turned numb as he listened to their hurtful insults. After a while, he looked up and retorted, ¡°The Taggart family was in the wrong first. Madison knew better than anyone the consequences of her actions, yet she didn¡¯t mind sacrificing the entire Taggart family to achieve her goals. Why should I clean up the mess for such a selfish family?¡± His words hit the Taggarts hard. They all gazed at him in shock and were rendered speechless. At that moment, Nathaniel yed his role as an outsider to the Taggart family¡¯s business. He believed Sebastian to have the capabilities to sort out his personal affairs. Nathaniel was only focused on locating Christina as soon as possible. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to entertain anyone or anything else. The agonizing wait was wearing on Nathaniel¡¯s patience. He became more restless and reached into his suit pocket to take out a cigarette, but his fingers ended up touching his phone, which felt hot to the touch. As if sudden realization had washed over him, Nathaniel took out his phone and saw several missed calls from an unfamiliar number. Fingers trembling, he dialed the number. The call swiftly connected, and Christina¡¯s weak and hoarse voice sounded on the other end of the line. ¡°Nathaniel,e and pick me up.¡± Nathaniel lost his cool. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll go over and pick you up right now!¡± He strode outward anxiously while talking into the phone. Seeing that, Sebastian wanted to follow Nathaniel, but Maggie¡¯s stern voice rang out behind him. ¡°Sebastian, if you step out of this house today, you¡¯ll have to bear the responsibility for your choice.¡± His figure froze for only a second before he ran after Nathaniel without sparing another nce at the Taggarts. Soon, he disappeared from everyone¡¯s sight. From the moment Sebastian chose to pledge his loyalty to Nathaniel, the Taggart family¡¯s honor no longer had anything to do with him. The Taggarts would only remember him when they needed him. Christina calmed down significantly after calling Nathaniel. Sheridan hadn¡¯te out of the factory since he went in earlier. Christina grasped the phone and curled up in the chair, waiting for Nathaniel to show up. The subtle aches originating from her abdomen caused her to start panicking. ¡°Nathaniel, why aren¡¯t you here yet¡­¡± Christina clutched her belly as grievances churned within her. Even when she had fallen into the sea previously, she didn¡¯t miss Nathaniel as much as she did now. Nathaniel had be a crucial part of her life, and she could no longer live without him. At that moment, Christina heard the screeching halt of a car amidst her daze. ¡°Christina!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s sound reverberated beside her ears. She jolted awake and stumbled out of the car. Before she could even see Nathaniel¡¯s face clearly, he had swept her into his arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte.¡± ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Nathaniel!¡± Her long-suppressed fear burst forth. Grabbing his shirt tightly, she sobbed hysterically. Sebastian tactfully led the bodyguards into the abandoned factory. Nathaniel¡¯s heart ached severely as he heard her sobs. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry. This is all my fault.¡± Suddenly, a white-hot pain shot up from Christina¡¯s abdomen. Colors drained from her face as she let out a muffled grunt. Her cries swiftly turned into painful gasps. ¡°Nathaniel, my stomach hurts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring you to the hospital right away!¡± Overwrought, Nathaniel scooped Christina up and carried her to another car. Then, he growled at the driver, ¡°Quick. Drive us to the nearest hospital!¡± Christina almost passed out from the pain. Shey in his arms and clung to his cor. ¡°O-Our baby must stay safe!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned red. Ignoring how dirty her fingertips were, he pulled her hand close to his lips. and repeatedly kissed it. His voice trembled uncontrobly. ¡°Nothing will happen to you and our baby. 1 promise.¡± Five years ago, he didn¡¯t get to stay by Christina and the children¡¯s side. He wasn¡¯t going to allow the tragedy to repeat itself five yearster. Christina leaned weakly against him as she drifted in and out of consciousness due to the intense pain. She could hardly perceive whatever Nathaniel said subsequently. All she vaguely remembered was the few seconds that Nathaniel carried her and sprinted all the way, rushing into the emergency room. He was on the brink of losing control of his emotions and breaking Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. down. She had never seen him in that state. For the first time in forever, he was scared and impulsive. Yet, the person who gave Nathaniel that touch of humanity was her, Christina. The emergency room doors opened and closed. Group after group of medical personnel came and went. Finally, after an agonizing hour-long wait, Nathaniel received the good news. Both Christina and the baby were safe. Nathaniel exhaled a sigh of relief. Seeing his tall figure swaying. Sebastian speedily supported him and whispered, ¡°Mrs. Hadley is safe. You can rest easy for now, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel pushed Sebastian away while straightening his back, regaining his usual cold and ruthless. demeanor. ¡°How¡¯s the progress at Madison¡¯s end?¡± Sebastian said, ¡°She¡¯s not in any life-threatening danger, but she took a heavy blow to the head, and her tongue was bitten off. I¡¯ve sent someone to stand guard outside her hospital room while waiting for your further instruction.¡± Observing the changes in Nathaniel¡¯s expression. Sebastian added. ¡°When I led our men into the factory, Sheridan was there. He was the one who tied Madison up. It seems like he rescued Mrs. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened. He adjusted his disheveled cor while training his eyes on Christina, who was being wheeled out of the emergency room by the nurse. ¡°Notify the Taggarts that I will be taking Madison¡¯s life.¡± Chapter 536 Comfort Chapter 536 Comfort Sebastian was not surprised that Nathaniel gave that order. Previously, Madison had set up a trap, causing Christina to fall into the sea Back then, the Taggart family had pleaded with Nathaniel to let Madison off. On ount of their friendship. Nathamel did not pursue the matter. However, instead of being grateful, Madison kept pushing her luck, repeatedly crossing Nathaniel¡¯s boundaries. It was time to put a stop to the woman¡¯s nonsense. ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian hung his head and stood rooted to the spot while watching Nathaniel and Christina leave. A momentter, he turned and left the hospital. Christina slept deeply for one whole day with Nathaniel staying by her bedside the entire time. Nathaniel did not publicize the fact that Christina had been kidnapped. Instead, he lied to his family and the kids that the woman had gone on a business trip. Click. Suddenly, the door to the ward opened. Nathaniel looked over and saw Sheridan entering the room, holding an exquisite fruit basket. ¡°Im here to visit Ms. Steele,¡± the man said. As Christina was indebted to Sheridan, no matter how much Nathaniel disliked his woman interacting with another man, he would not be rude and chase him away. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside. Nathaniel got up and walked toward the door. There was no warmth in his eyes, only a hint of exhaustion. Sheridan put down the fruit basket and took a nce at Christina, who was sleeping soundly, before turning around and leaving the ward. After closing the door, Nathaniel stood right in front of the entrance, as if he was silently asserting his im on the woman. ¡°How¡¯s Ms. Steele doing?¡± Sheridan spoke first. ¡°She and the baby are both doing well. Thanks for asking, Mr. Stone.¡± Pinching a cigarette between his thumb and forefinger. Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Sheridan and asked, ¡°May I know why were you at the scene of Christina¡¯s kidnapping?¡± The Stones were a reputable family that had also umted some wealth, but their influence was nowhere near the Hadley family Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Despite that being the case, unlike the heirs of other wealthy families who were always trying to butter Nathaniel up. Sheridan stood firmly in front of hum and replied calmly. ¡°I had something to discuss with Ms. Steele. When I arrived at the entrance of Scenic Garden Manor, I saw Ms Steele getting into that tried to follow them, but I lost them for a while after their car drove out of the city. Lonly managed to track them down more than half an hourter. When I saw Ms. Steele again, she had escaped after knocking Madison unconscious. You already know what happened after that.¡± Nathaniel stared at Sheridan for a few seconds before asking. ¡°What were you nning to discuss with her?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, since you don¡¯t seem to know anything about it, I guess Ms. Steele has been intentionally. keeping it from you. In that case, it¡¯s better for you to ask her directly,¡± Sheridan replied, matter-of- factly. Taking a pause, the man nced at his watch before continuing with a smile, ¡°Sorry, I have some matters to attend to. I¡¯ll be back to visit Ms. Steele again another day.¡± With that, Sheridan turned and left. Nathaniel fell into deep thought as he gazed at Sheridan¡¯s departing figure. It was already noon when Christina woke up. After staring at the ceiling in a daze for a few seconds, the woman seemed to have suddenly remembered something and put her hands to her stomach. When she felt her baby bump, she heaved a sigh of relief. Holding back the urge to cry, Christina sat up slowly while holding on to the edge of the bed for support. Even though she was staying in a private ward, she was all alone. Just then, the door was pushed open. ¡°Nathaniel Christina abruptly ceased speaking as Nathaniel ran toward her and pulled her into his arms. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake!¡± he eximed in a low voice that sounded like he was trying to suppress his emotions. Nathaniel was hugging the woman so tightly that it seemed as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go of her. Then, he murmured. ¡°I¡¯m so d you¡¯re awake. I was so worried.¡± Patting his back gently, Christinaforted, ¡°Sorry for making you worry again.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be apologizing.¡± Nathaniel said, finally pulling away from the hug. With a self- reproaching look in his eyes, he continued, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have let you go out alone. I should have replied to your message immediately. I shouldn¡¯t-¡± Christina quickly put her hand over his mouth, cutting him off. ¡°What happened was an ident. No one could have seen iting. Nathaniel, it¡¯s not your fault. Most importantly, both our baby and I have returned to you safely. We still have each other in the days toe.¡± She ced her hand on the back of Nathaniel¡¯s hand and inteced her fingers with his before continuing. ¡°Now that we have gotten through the crisis, don¡¯t you think we should cherish what we have even more?¡± Christina keenly noticed that Nathaniel was suffering internally because of what happened to her, and she knew that she was the only one who could cheer him up. Nathaniel instantly felt better after hearing Christina¡¯s words. Holding her hand tightly, he replied. ¡°You¡¯re right. I should stop ming myself. If I continue dwelling on it, I would just be trapped in a dark abyss.¡± Taking a pause, he carried on in a gentle voice, ¡°You have slept for one whole day. What do you feel like cating? I¡¯ll get someone to buy and deliver it here. The doctor said that you have to be hospitalized and kept under observation for another two days to make sure that the fetus is not affected.¡± Christina smiled and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any cravings. I just want you to stay with me.¡± She was aware that she had be more clingy, but she just could not control herself. Even so, Nathaniel was not the slightest bit annoyed. It was a change he weed with open arms. He was d that he was irreceable in Christina¡¯s heart. ¡°I will always be by your side.¡± Nathaniel nted a kiss on the crease between Christina¡¯s brows before taking out his phone to text Sebastian, instructing him to deliver some food over. Looking at the man¡¯s face in concern, Christina said worriedly. ¡°Did you get any rest while I was asleep?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not tired, Nathaniel replied. Not only had he not rested the entire day, but he had also postponed everything in his schedule. He had not left Christina¡¯s side the entire time. Simrly, members of the Taggart family had also spent the day gripped by fear and anxiety. Some of them had tried to visit Christina in the hospital, but their attempts were met with rejection from Nathaniel. The Taggarts knew that they had to bear the consequences of the trouble created by Madison. Moreover, they did not dare to divulge the details of the incident since Nathaniel was intentionally keeping it under wraps. Christina pressed Nathaniel down on the bed and said, ¡°Take a nap here.¡± As the bed was too small, Christina almost fell off the bed after Nathaniely down. Reacting quickly, the man grabbed her waist and said helplessly. ¡°I¡¯m not tired.¡± There was no way Christina was going to believe that after seeing the obvious dark eye circles below his eyes. Pouting, she snuggled into the man¡¯s arms, leaning her face against his chest. ¡°Just treat it as if you¡¯re apanying me.¡± ¡°All right,¡± Nathaniel finally agreed. The tension in Nathaniel¡¯s nerves dissipated as he caught a whiff of Christina¡¯s familiar fragrance. Momentster, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he drifted into a peaceful slumber. A whileter, Sebastian arrived at the ward with the food. When he saw the heartwarming scene inside, he froze for a moment before quietly stepping out. The phone in his pocket rang continuously as he waited patiently outside the ward, but he did not even bother to take a nce at it. Over the past two days, the number of calls he received from the Taggart family was more than the total number of calls he had received from them over the past decade. The Taggart family was thrown into a panic Madison had fallen into Nathaniel¡¯s hands. As Nathaniel was not willing to meet them, they decided to approach Sebastian instead, hoping to persuade him to intercede on their behalf and put in a good word for Madison. However, that waspletely unrealistic! Chapter 537 Trauma Chapter 537 Trauma Nathaniel only managed to sleep for a little over two hours. The unfamiliar surroundings made him feel unsettled, but he foundfort in having Christina by his side. When he opened his eyes, he saw Christina propping her head up with one hand while her delicate fingers lightly pinched his well-defined nose bridge. Their eyes met, and a trace of uneasiness shed in the woman¡¯s gaze; she resembled a mischievous child caught in the act by a parent. While Christina was caught off guard by Nathaniel¡¯s sudden awakening, he stared at her fixedly. Embarrassed, Christina hastily withdrew her hand, her eyes shifting as she attempted to conceal her unusual behavior. ¡°Um¡­ There was a mosquito on your nose, and I was just trying to swat it. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. She felt a pang of regret as she noticed Nathaniel¡¯s peculiar gaze, realizing that her words had only made the situation worse. Just then, Nathaniel grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. ¡°What was I thinking?¡± Her heart started to race when she felt his warm breath brushing against her face; the man¡¯s overwhelming seductive aura was utterly captivating. Nathaniel leaned closer, determined to elicit a response. ¡°Christina, tell me.¡± There was no avoiding the topic any longer. Resigned, Christina briefly closed her eyes, then quickly reopened them. As she gazed into Nathaniel¡¯s slightly fatigued yet stillmanding face, she lowered her eyes and softly confessed, ¡°I simply wanted to touch you. Please, don¡¯t ask anymore- Before she could finish her sentence, Nathaniel unexpectedly took her hands and pressed them against his face. He said gently. ¡°Everything I possess belongs to you. Feel free to touch; there¡¯s no need to do it secretly.¡± After over five years of marriage, Nathaniel could sense the hidden insecurities Christina harbored although she never explicitly expressed herself. Experiencing two consecutive dangers within a month had scared Christina, no matter how strong she appeared on the surface. The warmth emanating from their joined palms traveled through Christina¡¯s body and gave her immensefort. In this world, no one understands my desires better than Nathaniel Her ears flushed with a tinge of embarrassment as she made her confession. ¡°I had a nightmare. You saved me and lost¡­¡± She hesitated, unable to utter those two haunting words. When she recalled the gruesome scenes from her dream, her face turned pallid, and her voice quivered as she continued, ¡°Nathaniel, promise me that no matter what lies ahead, you won¡¯t put yourself in harm¡¯s way. Your well-being must alwayse first.¡± Nathaniel could guess the content of her dreams. He hugged her tightly andforted her. ¡°Dreams. often stand in contrast to reality. Don¡¯t worry too much. Your safety and the well-being of our child are paramount.¡± The nightmare continued to haunt Christina¡¯s thoughts, but she couldn¡¯t allow Nathaniel to worry. She had to appear at ease. Hence, she lifted her head and mustered a smile. ¡°You¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t let my imagination run wild.¡± Her hand gently caressed her growing belly as she yfullyined, ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m famished.¡± Hearing that, he helped her to sit up before replying. ¡°I¡¯ll have Sebastian bring some food. Just wait here, and I¡¯ll fetch you a ss of water.¡± Christina nodded obediently. After sending Sebastian a message, Nathaniel got out of bed to fetch a ss of warm water for her. Soon enough. Sebastian knocked on the door and entered the ward, carrying several packed food boxes. The food Sebastian had brought two hours ago had turned cold and soggy. Upon receiving Nathaniel¡¯s message, he swiftly headed out and purchased a fresh meal. After Christina and Nathaniel finished eating, drowsiness began to overtake her once again. Nathaniel quietly slipped out of the ward after ensuring she was sound asleep. He found Sebastian patiently waiting on a bench in the corridor. ¡°Have they apprehended the person who posed as the driver? What is thetest on Madison?¡± Nathaniel asked. With his focus fully on caring for Christina, there were numerous tasks demanding couldn¡¯t personally oversee. Thus, he entrusted them to Sebastian. However, he promised to settle the score eventually, ¡°They found the person, but he drowned in the river. Madison sustained severe injuries to her to neck. She can no longer speak, and the trauma has driven her to the brink of madness. She spends her time in a state of lucidity, gued by the desire for self-destruction. To stabilize her emotions, she relies heavily on sedatives. It seems unlikely that we¡¯ll get much information from her.¡± Upon hearing Sebastian¡¯s update, Nathaniel fell silent and got lost in his thoughts. The former also kept quiet tacitly. ¡°Arrange for the most renowned psychiatric specialists, both domestic and international, to conduct a thorough psychological evaluation on Madison,¡± Nathaniel dered with an icy tone. ¡°Since she can¡¯t speak, let hermunicate through writing. As long as she¡¯s still alive, we may uncover something.¡± Sebastian¡¯s heart skipped a beat at that. ¡°Are you suspecting that Madison might be feigning insanity?¡± In response, Nathaniel casted him a piercing sidelong nce. Sensing the man¡¯s displeasure, Sebastian hurriedly exined, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hadley. My rtionship with the Taggart family isn¡¯t great, so I typically refrain from involving myself in their affairs. I will investigate Madison¡¯s medical history.¡± A lunatic would never dare to venture into a deste factory on the outskirts and try to harm Christina, unless they were incited or influenced by someone else. If no one was orchestrating the kidnapping. Madison might have been pretending to be insane to evade Nathaniel¡¯s retribution. Regardless of the truth, Sebastian was certain that neither Madison nor the Taggart family would meet a good end. Nathaniel would not allow them to remain as a lingering threat to Christina. ¡°Sebastian, I know you can separate personal matters from business.¡± Nathaniel patted Sebastian¡¯s shoulder and continued, ¡°Do not disappoint me.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± the man replied. With that, Nathaniel turned around and entered the ward. Christina slept soundly until the following morning. When Sebastian delivered her breakfast, he informed her that Nathaniel had to return to thepany and would only be able toe to the hospital in the afternoon. She was well aware of Nathaniel¡¯s busy schedule, so it was quite a sacrifice for him to take care of her in the hospital the whole day. ¡°Sebastian, you can go and attend to your tasks. I¡¯ll be fine on my own at the hospital,¡± Christina said. She didn¡¯t like being constantly watched, and she knew Nathaniel shouldn¡¯t be separated from his entourage. Before Sebastian could refuse, the woman waved her phone in her hand. ¡°I will exin it to Nathaniel myself. I won¡¯t cause you any trouble, so you can rest assured and go back to thepany. The hospital has security guards and nurses, so I¡¯ll be safe.¡± Unable to defy her wishes. Sebastian said, ¡°I¡¯ll head back first. If you need anything, you can call me anytime.¡± Christina smiled faintly. ¡°Okay, get there safely.¡± Once Sebastian left, Christina felt more at ease. She continued eating her delicious, hearty breakfast. Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open once again. Assuming that Sebastian had returned midway, Christina said without raising her head. ¡°Sebastian, what¡¯s the matter?¡± The person entering didn¡¯t answer. After closing the door, she stood by the bedside. As a pair of ck heels caught Christina¡¯s eye, she paused for a moment before looking up at the visitor. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few days, and you¡¯ve managed to get yourself admitted to the hospital. Christina, you truly are a harbinger of disaster,¡± said the visitor with a half-smile. Chapter 538 An Unexpected Guest Chapter 538 An Unexpected Guest Christina¡¯s gaze briefly lingered on Anya, who had arrived unwee, before she casually averted her attention. Then, she continued eating her breakfast as if nothing had happened. Anya felt utterly ignored. With no one else present in the hospital room, she could not be bothered to pretend that she was close to Christina. Whenever Anyaid eyes on Christina, it was like she encountered her prey. She couldn¡¯t go a day without taunting and ridiculing Christina. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you! Stop pretending you can¡¯t hear me!¡± Anya angrily knocked over Christina¡¯s small table. Hot soup and oatmeal sttered all over the bed, while a few slices of toast fell onto the nket, narrowly brushing against Anya¡¯s skirt. Startled, Anya jumped up and screamed in a shrill and piercing voice, ¡°Argh! I went to great lengths to buy this new skirt. What a stroke of bad luck!¡± She grabbed a handful of tissues and attempted to wipe off the oil stains from her skirt. However, she couldn¡¯t resistining. ¡°You always spell disaster! It¡¯s no wonder nothing goodes my way.¡± Christina stared at the toasts which had fallen to the ground, aplex expression crossing her face. She was not full yet. Yet, her favorite toasts were ruined by Anya before she could even take a bite. Christina originally had no intention of engaging with Anya, but after what happened, she couldn¡¯t help but feel angry. ¡°I didn¡¯t invite you here. Not only did you waste my food, but you also disturbed my meal. What gives you the right to criticize me?¡± Fortunately, ayer of nket covered Christina¡¯s stomach. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire had her stomach been scalded. Anya tossed a napkin at Christina and said in disdain, ¡°Do you really think I want to visit you in the hospital? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Grandma can¡¯t really leave the house and Uncle Timothy¡¯s busy with work, I wouldn¡¯t havee even if you begged.¡± Christina¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°The news of my hospitalization hasn¡¯t been publicly disclosed. How did you all find out?¡± In order to protect her, Nathaniel had gone to the extent of renting an entire floor in the hospital so that she could have a quiet environment during her pregnancy. Apart from the doctors and nurses, no outsiders were allowed to enter. How did Anya manage to evade the tight surveince and appear in my ward? Anya¡¯s expression momentarily stiffened, but she quickly found an excuse. ¡°The Gibson family has shares in this hospital. It¡¯s not difficult to learn about your hospitalization. No matter how capable Nathaniel is. he can¡¯t control everything.¡± Leaning against the headboard, Christina reluctantly epted Anya¡¯s exnation. ¡°You can leave now. I need to rest.¡± Naturally, Anya couldn¡¯t be easily dismissed with just a few words. With a cold smile, she said, ¡°All right, I can leave. But first, you need toplete the task that Uncle Timothy entrusted to me.¡± At the mention of Timothy, a trace of impatience flickered in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Say it quickly!¡± ¡°When will you be able to convince Nathaniel to sign the contract that Uncle Timothy asked you to give him? It¡¯s been dragging on for over half a month. Don¡¯t use Nathaniel as an excuse to chase me away. He cares so deeply about you that he will surely agree if you ask.¡± Anya narrowed her eyes. Gripping the edge of the bed, she fixed her gaze on Christina like a predator. ¡°Are you intentionally letting Nathaniel toy with Uncle Timothy from the very beginning? You¡¯ve never nned to seek revenge against the Hadley family, right?¡± Christina stroked her stomach calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not even in a hurry when I¡¯m the rightful heir of the Gibson family. Why is an outsider like you so anxious? Your family¡¯s annual dividends won¡¯t be affected regardless of the Gibson family¡¯s future developments.¡± ¡°Christina, don¡¯t let love cloud your judgment!¡± roared Anya. ¡°The Hadley family had sabotaged the Gibson family so much in the past, even to the point of almost killing Uncle Timothy. With the two families in opposition once again, the Hadley family will undoubtedly do something drastic, especially considering its usual methods. Must we wait until the Gibson family meets its demise before you can wake up?¡± Christina replied coldly, ¡°It¡¯s a grudge between my father and the Hadley family. What does it have to do with you?¡± Anya¡¯s provocations were not effective at all. Christina was right, too. Even if the Gibson family was defeated, it wouldn¡¯t directly impact Anya. Her family had already made substantial profits from their shares in Gibson Corporation. Furthermore, since they had their own independent investments, they wouldn¡¯t be destroyed even if they were implicated in the Gibson family¡¯s demise. Thus, Anya¡¯s involvement in this messy situation seemed quite unnecessary. Christina wasn¡¯t a fool either. She had seen through Anya¡¯s malicious intentions from the very beginning. Anya was simply so jealous of Christina¡¯s marriage to Nathaniel that she would do everything in her power to ruin Christina¡¯s happy marriage. Her ims of acting in the Gibson family¡¯s best interest were merely excuses for her vicious ns. Anya was furious. ¡°You ungrateful b*tch! You¡¯ll regret this one day!¡± She stormed off in a fit of anger. Christina paid little heed to Anya¡¯s words. As long as Christina remained valuable to the Gibson family, they couldn¡¯t possibly push her to death. Pressing the service bell, Christina summoned a nurse to clean the room and rece the bedding with fresh linens. She didn¡¯t want to disturb Nathaniel, so she got food delivered to satisfy her hunger. Even though she could endure some grievances, she would never allow her unborn child to suffer. After she was full, she soon felt sleepy. Meanwhile, Nathaniel swiftly made his way to the psychiatric hospital after finishing his work. The psychiatrist whom Sebastian had hired from overseas was conducting a psychological evaluation on Madison. Nathaniel supervised the entire process, not letting a single detail go undetected. Madison underwent the examination with the aid of sedation and the doctor¡¯s guidance. When the doctor asked her a question, she suddenly exhibited madness. After ripping off the medical equipment on her body, she even punched the doctor. The doctors and nurses nearby swiftly intervened and pinned the agitated Madison against the table. ¡°Kill her! Kill her!¡± Madison shouted vehemently. As she nced toward the ss window, she fell momentarily quiet before erupting into madughter. ¡°He hase to see me.¡± The nurse injected a sedative into Madison¡¯s arm while thetter kept asking, ¡°Am I pretty? Is my hairstyle messy? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve put on makeup. Will he dislike me?¡± The doctors and nurses remained silent, refusing to answer her questions. Nathaniel maintained his stoic expression while he gazed at her. At that, Madison¡¯s anger surged once again. ¡°Why am I inferior to that b*tch? That person is right! She deserves to die. I should have killed her sooner!¡± A flicker of murderous intent shed in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he frowned. Madison¡¯s words unmistakably referred to two individuals: Christina and the mastermind behind the scenes. ¡°There¡¯s no need for further psychological evaluations. Sebastian, I don¡¯t care what methods you employ. but you must find out the identity of the mastermind from Madison within three days.¡± While the words of a madwoman held little credibility, they would still hold some influence. Nathaniel had given Madison ample chances, but she had crossed his boundaries two consecutive times. Their past rtionship had withered away, and Nathaniel wasn¡¯t a saint. He would never do anything that would put him at a disadvantage. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. ¡°If necessary, there¡¯s no need to spare her life.¡± Chapter 539 A Meeting Chapter 539 A Meeting Nathaniel¡¯s notoriety for his ruthlessness was not baseless, after all. Sparing Madison had been his greatest act of tolerance. ¡°I know what needs to be done,¡± said Sebastian. Sacrificing Madison to safeguard the Taggart family was the best oue. Sebastian hoped that the Taggart family would be self-aware enough to stop provoking Nathaniel any further. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Without sparing Madison an additional nce, Nathaniel walked away. +5 Bonus When Madison saw him leaving, she spiraled into further insanity. ¡°Nat, don¡¯t abandon me! I¡¯ll die without you!¡± Sebastian sighed wearily before pushing the door open and gesturing at everyone. The tranquilizer gradually took effect in Madison¡¯s body, rendering her incapable of doing anything even without anyone restraining her. Looking down at Madison, Sebastian said coldly. ¡°Mr. Hadley has left, so there¡¯s no need for you to feign madness any longer. Your pitiful act may work on the foolish members of the Taggart family, but it¡¯s useless against Mr. Hadley and me.¡± Madison stared nkly at the doorway, not saying a single word. Sebastian didn¡¯t expect her to immediately return to normal. When people pretended to be someone else for far too long, they would begin to believe they had sessfully deceived everyone else while gradually transforming into the persona of their imagination. ¡°You¡¯re left with only two options. First, carry your so-called secrets to the depths of hell. Second, sacrifice. yourself to protect the entire Taggart family,¡± Sebastian dered, his face devoid of emotion. ¡°Regardless of your choice, it won¡¯t influence Mr. Hadley¡¯s decision. You sacrificed so much for someone else, yet you gained nothing in return. Don¡¯t you find that pathetic?¡± Madison buried her face in the nket lifelessly. Observing this, Sebastian furrowed his brow. It would be hard to extract a confession from her. ¡°Tie her up and lock her in the istion chamber. Employ all the methods used for mentally-ill patients. Her condition seems severe, so we can¡¯t allow her to escape and harm others,¡± The moment he said that, Madison¡¯s shoulders quivered imperceptibly. Sebastian scoffed mockingly and left. Meanwhile, Madison was transported to the istion chamber. Her agonized screams reverberated in the chamber endlessly. Christina spent several days in the hospital before returning to Scenic Garden Manor to spend her days of pregnancy. After she chased Anya out of the ward, thetter never made another visit. The Gibson family quietened. down, too. Nathaniel insisted on sending the two kids to the Hadley residence, permitting them to return for only two days a week. Thankfully, Lucas and Cam were understanding and well-behaved. Knowing that Christina was pregnant, they did not dare to kick up a fuss at home or constantly pester her. On the other hand, Rayne visited Christina a few times because of work. As the clients¡¯ requirements were too strict, it was impossible to reach their standards even after changing the designers and drafts multiple times. Left with no choice, Rayne could only seek help from Christina. While Christina provided suggestions regarding the designs, she left the execution to the other designers. Nathaniel was slightly dissatisfied about this. However, Christina knew him well. It took some effort, but she managed to appease him. With Nathaniel¡¯s approval, Christina frequently visited the studio. While it appeared to be for supervising. it was actually to alleviate her boredom at home. Nowhere else could make her more engaged than the studio. Toward the end of the work day, Christina received a message from Nathaniel while she was discussingter. the design drawing with the designers. I have a client meeting nearby. I¡¯lle to pick you up She couldn¡¯t ignore Nathaniel¡¯s message. If she took more than a minute to respond, he would show up at the studio. Great! I¡¯m almost done here. I¡¯ll be waiting for you. After sending the text, Christina followed up with several cute stickers. Nathaniel liked all of them, a gentle smile ying on his lips. Sebastian caught onto his good mood, but he continued focusing on his duties professionally. Soon, he noticed Timothy exiting a car outside the shop. He cleared his throat and reminded, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mr. Gibson is here.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± replied Nathaniel calmly. He ced his phone aside and stared at Timothy¡¯s approaching figure frostily. Timothy rolled his wheelchair toward Nathaniel enthusiastically. Having been rejected by Nathaniel a few times, Timothy thought that he would have to keep his ns on hold. Just as he was starting to worry, Nathaniel took the initiative to contact him. Knowing that Christina couldn¡¯t be relied upon, Timothy wasn¡¯t foolish enough to sit and wait for his downfall. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you haven¡¯t been in the best health recently. Actually, you could¡¯ve asked someone else to deal with a minor matter like this.¡± Even though Nathaniel acted politely, his words were filled with detachment. ¡°This is the first time our families have coborated. How can I trust anyone else with it?¡± Timothy smiled and got straight to the point. ¡°You¡¯re a busy man, so I won¡¯t take up much of your time. Since you¡¯ve had a change of heart, let¡¯s sign the contract promptly. The longer the project drags on, the more challenging it bes topleteter on.¡± In response, Nathaniel nced at Timothy and gracefully sipped his coffee. Unable to understand Nathaniel¡¯s thoughts, Timothy felt restless and uneasy. Nheless, he didn¡¯t dare show his feelings or hurry Nathaniel. Just then, Nathaniel spoke up indifferently. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Perhaps my assistant failed to convey my intentions clearly.¡± Timothy¡¯s smile froze. ¡°I prefer not to discuss business outside of work hours.¡± Nathaniel looked at Timothy. ¡°I invited you to meet because I wanted to address some personal matters. It¡¯s nothing important, but it¡¯s hard to talk about it over the phone. So, I thought a face-to-face conversation would be better.¡± Timothy¡¯s heart sank. He and Nathaniel belonged to different worlds. As they barely interacted, they were not on the same page. Although Nathaniel was his son-inw, they both knew their friendliness was just a fa?ade. Aside from theplicated history between the Hadley and Gibson families, Christina was the only topic they could discuss. ¡°Is this about Christina?¡± Timothy asked, his expression neutral. ¡°Yes.¡± A tender look appeared in Nathaniel¡¯s gaze at the mention of Christina. ¡°She¡¯s pregnant now, so I want to ensure that no one will disturb her, especially for insignificant matters.¡± Upon hearing that, Timothy finally realized that Nathaniel had never regarded the Gibson family with importance. Still, he decided to y dumb. ¡°I don¡¯t quite understand what you mean. Christina has only returned to the Gibson family recently. Since we¡¯re all busy with work, we don¡¯t have many opportunities to spend time together. Our rtionship with her may not be very close, but we would never mistreat her. Although you aren¡¯t bad yourself, you don¡¯t meet her grandmother¡¯s standards. While Christina has been having conflicts with the family recently, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that she¡¯s a member of the Gibson family. As she contributes to the family, she will only stand to benefit in the future. I¡¯m doing what¡¯s best for her.¡± Timothy skillfully disguised his ns with kind intentions, while shifting the responsibility onto Christina. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze grew colder. With a cold sneer, he asked, ¡°Does the Gibson family¡¯s kindness toward Christina include condoning its members to assassinate her?¡± Chapter 540 Careful Calculation Chapter 540 Careful Calction Once this usation was proven to be true, the Gibson family would fall from grace. With the fallout between the Gibson family and the Hadley family and the pending court case looming over them. Timothy knew that it was no longer possible to control Nathaniel through Christina. As the Gibson family¡¯s power and influence fell into Nigel¡¯s family, the Hadley family canceled many of their investments in Gibson Corporation. Moreover, Nigel¡¯s failure to address Gibson Corporation¡¯s problems nearly pushed thepany to the brink of copse. Because of that, Timothy¡¯s impression of his younger brother, Nigel fell drastically. To him, Nigel was no longer a man who could take charge, but an incapable blockhead that was beyond help. Gibson Corporation was founded by Timothy. He had poured his heart and soul into thepany, sacrificing even his wife and his own future in the process. Not wanting to surrender to fate, Timothy had been secretly attending rehabilitation sessions. Luckily for Timothy, Nathaniel ran into some trouble after he filed the appeal against Gibson Corporation. With the case at a standstill, Gibson Corporation was given a chance to catch its breath. Even though Timothy was far away in Hallsbay, he was acutely aware of what was happening in Jadeborough. Although Christina was his own daughter, she came second to his need for revenge. As Timothy was contemting ways to get closer to Nathaniel, thetter sent one of his men to escort Timothy to Jadeborough for the two of them to meet. Despite the indisputable fact that Jadeborough was Nathaniel¡¯s territory. Timothy was not the least bit intimidated. He knew that no matter how angry Nathaniel was with the Gibson family, he was still their son-inw and could not bring himself to destroy the family. However, it was worth noting that the Gibson family¡¯s elders had yet to acknowledge Nathaniel as son- inw. It was exactly because of that that Timothy had the guts to pretend nothing had happened. In the name of cooperation, he set aside his enmity with the Hadley family and ignored everyone else¡¯s opinion, coming to negotiate with Nathaniel alone. To his surprise, Nathaniel acted unexpectedly and did not y along with Timothy¡¯s n. He led Timothy around in circles and even insulted the Gibson family. Timothy said in a deep voice, ¡°Nathaniel, don¡¯t talk nonsense. The Gibson family always does business righteously. How could we have ordered a murder?¡± Righteously, huh? That word has nothing to do with the Gibson family at all. Nathaniel tamed the sarcastic me burning in him. He casually twisted the ring on his hand and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t get angry now. I¡¯m just saying that if the Gibson family really is innocent, nothing will happen to the Gibson family even if others are trying to frame you, right?¡± Timothy knew that Nathaniel was covertly trying to set him up. He refused to fall for thetter¡¯s tricks. If it hadn¡¯t been for Nigel and those other idiots who offered to coborate with Nathaniel for the sake of peace, the Gibson family would not be in this position right now, and Timothy wouldn¡¯t have to stay here. and act ording to Nathaniel¡¯s mood. ¡°If you have something to say, just be direct with me. There¡¯s no need to beat around the bushes,¡± Timothy stated. He did not expect himself to be able to resolve the mess or revive the Gibson family¡¯s reputation in front of Nathaniel, anyway. ¡°Ever since you got here, you had not once asked about Christina,¡± Nathaniel pointed out with an empty smile. ¡°Since that¡¯s the way you are, there¡¯s no need for us to carry on. Sebastian, please see our guest out.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s mood changed faster than Timothy could blink. Timothy was certain now that he had been tricked. He gritted his teeth and retorted, ¡°Ever since you brought Christina back, you¡¯ve kept her hidden away. Even if I asked, would you tell me the truth? It would be better for me to check on her myself.¡± To gain the upper hand, Timothy put on the demeanor of an elder of the Gibson family. ¡°Christina is my daughter, the heir of the Gibson family. If anything happens to her, I will not let you get away with it, even at the cost of my own life.¡± Nathaniel stared at him coldly. ¡°I¡¯m the only person in this world who would never harm Christina, On the contrary, it¡¯s the Gibson family who hurts her in the name of love.¡± He got to his feet and red down at Timothy, emanating a domineering and intimidating aura. ¡°You want to prove to everyone how much you care about your daughter, right? I¡¯ll offer you an alternative. Go home and ask Anya about all the terrible things she has secretly done. You can take my words today as a warning, but one day, I will settle our scores eventually. I won¡¯t show mercy to those who want to hurt Christina.¡± After saying all that he wanted to say, Nathaniel walked away without another nce backward, Sebastian followed behind him. D*mn it! How dare he threaten me to my face when he¡¯s younger than me? Timothy was heaving with anger. He only managed to calm the raging fire burning inside him after sipping some water. At that moment, his phone rang. When Timothy saw Nigel¡¯s name on the screen, disgust flitted across his face. However, he could not ignore the call. After all, it was important to uphold the Gibson family¡¯s reputation. There should be no gossip about any strife between the brothers. Timothy was considering taking everything back from Nigel after his legs healed. Although Nigel was not the best person Timothy could use, he sufficed for now. ¡°What is it?¡± Not wanting Nigel to notice that something was off. Timothy restrained his emotions and asked in a low voice. ¡°Timothy, have you met Nathaniel? What did he say? Did you manage to persuade him to withdraw the lawsuit? Is he willing to work with Gibson Corporation?¡± Nigel asked anxiously. ¡°Project payments are due. If news gets out that we can¡¯t secure any investments and that we¡¯ve run out of money, our investors will exit. Gibson Corporation will be finished!¡± Timothy cared more about Gibson Corporation than Nigel did. He directed all the anger he felt from Nathaniel toward Nigel, snapping, ¡°Do you think Nathaniel is a three-year-old boy? Do you think you could tempt him with some candy and get what you want from him? You are too naive!¡± At that, Nigel¡¯s attitude flipped suddenly, and his words took on a harsh edge. ¡°Timothy, if Mom and you had listened to me and refrained from suing Hadley Corporation, Gibson. Corporation would not be in this state today. Christina is the Hadley family¡¯s daughter-inw and the Gibson family¡¯s heir. Since you made a mistake, Nathaniel withdrew his investments. Just think of it as his way of venting his anger. If you let Christina persuade him, won¡¯t the Hadley family¡¯s money flow right back into the Gibson family¡¯s pockets? What I¡¯m trying to say is that you are pushing Christina too hard. I understand that you and Mom want revenge, but you should not have put Gibson Corporation at risk. This entire debacle is your fault. Put down your pride and talk to Christina. Maybe then, we can put this drama behind us.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. On the surface, it seemed as if Nigel was speaking in the best interests of Gibson Corporation. In truth, however, he was simply pushing away his responsibilities. He only wanted a share of the benefits without having to shoulder the burden of the bad times. Timothy couldn¡¯t help ming himself for being so blind as to not see through Nigel¡¯s character from the beginning. He shook with anger as he countered. ¡°What are you talking about? If you think you¡¯re so capable, why don¡¯t youe here and speak to Nathaniel yourself? Why are you hiding in Hallsbay and refusing to show up?¡± With his true intentionsid bare by Timothy, Nigel was rendered speechless. A sudden realization came to Timothy just then, and he asked in a gloomy voice, ¡°Be honest with me. Nigel. Do the things Anya didtely have anything to do with you?¡± Chapter 541 Appealing To Her Emotions Chapter 541 Appealing To Her Emotions Timothy also had no idea what horrible things Anya, the daughter of Nigel, had done. Back when Christina wanted to return to the Gibsons and inherit the family business, Anya was the one who most strongly opposed that idea. If the father and daughter were united in their thoughts, Nigel would inevitably make Anya hurt Christina in order to preserve his interests and power. The question came like a bolt from the blue. Dumbfounded, Nigel misinterpreted Timothy¡¯s meaning and sneered, ¡°Timothy, are you ming Anya for all that has happened to the Gibson family? How could you forgo family ties for the sake of revenge?¡± Timothy only wanted to fish for information from Nigel and had not put as much thought into the matter as thetter assumed. ¡°Recently, Anya came to Jadeborough very often. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s too young and lacks consideration before taking action, and she might have gotten herself into trouble. Otherwise, why would Nathaniel mention Anya to me?¡± Nigel was extremely prideful and protective of his daughter. Naturally, he would say or do anything to defend Anya. ¡°Why don¡¯t you question your own daughter instead? If she was truly capable, there would have been no need for Anya to work so hard and run around to get investments for Gibson Corporation. In the end, Anya didn¡¯t even gain any favor for herself. By the way, I heard from Anya that Christina often makes things difficult for her since the day Christina took over thepany. And here you are, protecting Christina before I can even question her about this. If you can¡¯t convince Nathaniel to change his mind. then just wait for Gibson Corporation to go bankrupt. Whatever it is. I¡¯ve done my best to help. With that.. Nigel showed how selfish he was right before hanging up the call. ¡°D¡±mn b*stard!¡± cursed Timothy as he gripped his phone, his expression ferocious. No way! I can¡¯t sit still and watch Gibson Corporation go bankrupt! As long as Christina is still my daughter, she must bear the responsibility of saving thepany. With that thought in mind. Timothy dialed Christina¡¯s number. At that time, Christina was in her office packing while waiting for Nathaniel to pick her up. A call from Timothy was thest thing she expected. ¡°Do you need something. Dad?¡± Her tone was indifferent. ¡°Christina, are you still mad at your grandma and me?¡± Timothy asked. Christina took a seat on the couch and rubbed her tummy. ¡°What do you want?¡± Timothy could sense that she did not want to engage in a conversation with him and sighed. ¡°Regret washed over your grandma and me when you left Hallsbay with the children the other day. We really shouldn¡¯t have used the kids to force you into doing something) Christina fell silent after hearing that. ¡°Please find some time toe home, Christina. Your grandma misses you very much. Do give us a chance to apologize to you.¡± Timothy appealed to her emotions. ¡°Now that we¡¯re finally reunited, I¡¯m sure your mom wouldn¡¯t want to see us separated again. Your grandma and I won¡¯t force you into doing anything you don¡¯t wish to do anymore.¡± He added, ¡°Things aren¡¯t going very well for the Gibson family. Won¡¯t youe back to visit us? For your mother¡¯s sake.¡± Timothy did not mention a word about his meeting with Nathaniel in Jadeborough. He knew that Christina was a filial and sentimental person who valued rtionships above all else, and she would definitely not refuse Timothy if he used her mother as an excuse. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Christina¡¯s heart wrenched. Although she had be utterly disappointed in the Gibson family, it was not easy for her to draw the line and cut off ties with those she was rted to by blood. ¡°Dad, Lucas and Cam are my bottom line. I can¡¯t bring myself to forgive you all for what you lot have done. Yet, I¡¯m also in no position toment on your ns to get revenge on the Hadley family. I¡¯ve been very busytely, so it¡¯s not feasible for me to go back and forth between two ces. You and Grandma should take care of yourselves, and I¡¯ll find time to pay you all a visit.¡± Christina¡¯s words indirectly indicated her refusal to continue being used by the Gibson family as a pawn in their revenge. She was no longer alone; she had a lover and children. The conflicts of the past generation should not be passed down to the next to bear their consequences, let alone implicate the poor, innocent kids. Christina vowed to uncover the truth about the ident that got both the Hadleys and the Gibsons entangled so that her mother could rest in peace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have allowed your Uncle Nigel¡¯s family to put pressure on you when you were in a quandary.¡± Timothy was thest to know that Nigel had used his name to privately ask Christina to hand over the contract after Nathaniel withdrew his investment. Anyhow, Nathaniel intercepted and stopped the transfer before the contract could reach Christina. When Nigel learned about it, he contacted Nathaniel personally instead of giving it all up. However, his efforts were in vain as Nathaniel ignored him. In the end, Nigel was so desperate that he shifted his target toward Timothy. Christina was under the impression that Timothy was referring to the ruckus raised by Anya at the ward. ¡°Let bygones be bygones. There¡¯s no use crying over spilled milk. I have other matters to attend to. Thus, I shall hang up now.¡± She ended the call decisively while staring at the approaching Maybach. Nathaniel had been working hard to seek justice for her from the Gibson family. Hence, Christina did not want to cause him trouble or embarrass him. Moreover, her disappointment in the Gibson family did not just begin recently. It was caused by repeated hurtful incidents. She could understand Timothy and Azure¡¯s desire for revenge, but she could not tolerate Anya¡¯s despicable deeds. Christina had been kidnapped to the factory and nearly killed by Madison. Therefore, she would never show Anya mercy if she discovered thetter was involved in the incident. The Maybach pulled up right in front of her. Nathaniel then got out of the car to greet her. ¡°Have you been waiting here for a long time? Next time, don¡¯te down and wait. I¡¯ll go up and get you instead.¡± Christina replied, ¡°I¡¯m not a delicate porcin doll. I¡¯ve been sitting for so long in the studio and wanted to move my muscles. It¡¯s good for me to walk a bit.¡± She burrowed into Nathaniel¡¯s arms and blinked her eyes cheekily. ¡°Besides, my staff can never focus on their work whenever you show up at my studio. Their eyes will be fixated on you all the time. Should their tasks be dyed, I¡¯d inevitably make a loss.¡± Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her waist and ushered her into the car. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± he asked softly. Christina scoffed as she shifted to the side and kept a distance from him. ¡°How could I be jealous over such a trivial matter? Am I so petty? Nothing can evere between me and my money-making business.¡± Nathaniel stretched out his arm and pulled her back into his embrace. He coaxed her softly, ¡°Do you not have enough moneytely? Why don¡¯t you tell your darling husband if you need more? He has no lack of money and is especially willing to spend it on you.¡± Christina¡¯s ears turned red when she Nathaniel¡¯s zing gaze, and she immediately averted her eyes. Though she felt warm deep within, she said arrogantly, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I know you are filthy rich, but I don¡¯t need your money, for I can make my own.¡± ¡°All right. You don¡¯t have to use mine, but can I spend my wife¡¯s money?¡± Nathaniel seemed to be very interested in that topic and intent on pursuing it further until Christina gave him a satisfactory answer. ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to be your sugar baby.¡± Chapter 542 I Am Going To Ignore You Chapter 542 I Am Going To Ignore You Upon hearing Nathaniel¡¯s corny lines, Sebastian regretted not winding up the divider before Christina got into the car. He realized that Nathaniel had turned into a totally different person ever since he reconciled. and patched things up with Christina. Not only was Nathaniel an exceptional coaxer, but he also broke new records for doting on his wife time and time again. When the couple in the backseat became more and more inseparable, Sebastian, who was still a single man, discreetly raised the divider after having had enough of their public disys of affection. Christina wrapped her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s neck and rested her full body weight on him, saying, ¡°Everything that I have is yours.¡± Her sweet words wereparable to any vows of loyalty and pledges of love the world had ever heard. Nathaniel¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he pestered Christina for a passionate kiss. He wanted to show through practical actions that he appreciated her and would not let her go back on her words. Right as they were getting a bit too carried away, Christina stopped the wandering hand. underneath her clothes and said, ¡°The doctor says we shouldn¡¯t be too lustful. You¡¯ve used up your quota for this month, and there¡¯s no exception.¡± Nathaniel tried to suppress the burning desire within him as he made a shrewd n in his head. ¡°Then put it down on record first. I¡¯m sure there wille a day when you will pay it off.¡± Christina¡¯s face turned crimson red as she struggled to get off of him. Nathaniel refused to let her go. Conversely, he hugged her even tighter, burying his face in her neck. His tone was pitiful as he said, ¡°Darling, you¡¯ve got to give me something to look. forward to.¡± As he was so persistent and shameless, Christina had no choice but to whip out a ten-dor bill and generously stuff it into the front pocket of his jacket. She patted it and said, ¡°This is a tip for you. Go ahead and spend it. There¡¯s no need to help me save up. I must say that I¡¯m quite satisfied with your performance just now.¡± Nathaniel stared at the bill hungrily. ¡°I can perform even better. All I need is another chance to show it to you.¡± He pounced on her as soon as he said that. Soon, the Maybach pulled up outside the front gate of the Hadley residence. Nathaniel got out of the car, looking rxed, but Christina did not look too well. She tugged on her cor to cover up the marks on her neck as much as possible while ring angrily at the culprit. ¡°I told you not to bite my neck. How am I going to face everyer?¡± Once again. Nathaniel demonstrated his coaxing skills and said, ¡°We¡¯re all a family. Don¡¯t Worry about it like an outsider. I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t mind it at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to ignore you!¡± Christina went ahead and entered the mansion with a flushed face, whereas Nathaniel followed behind her merrily. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, are you here to see us?¡± When Cami turned around and saw Christina, she immediately chucked away the toy in her hand and ran toward the former. The little girl wanted a hug but hesitated to request one because she was worried that she might hurt the baby inside Christina¡¯s belly. Christina sensed her hesitation, so she crouched and flung her arms wide open for her daughter. Cam beamed with joy as she threw herself into Christina¡¯s embrace. ¡°Mommy, your smell so good!¡± She then nuzzled up against Christina like a cute little kitten. After scanning the surrounding and noticing that Lucas was nowhere to be seen, Christina patted Cam¡¯s head and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your brother?¡± Usually, Lucas and Cam were inseparable. Cam blinked her adorable big eyes and whispered into Christina¡¯s ear, ¡°Mommy, Lucas has been very mysterious recently. He locks himself in the room aftering back from school and doesn¡¯t like to y with me anymore.¡± After saying that, she pouted. Nathaniel took Cam from Christina and lifted her in his arms. He pinched her chubby cheeks and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve gained some weight these days, so you can¡¯t keep leaning on Mommy. Do you want to know what Lucas is up to? Come, I¡¯ll apany you to check it out, okay?¡± Instantly, Cam¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sure! I¡¯m a curious child who loves to learn, but Lucas refuses. to reveal it to me.¡± Christina smiled dotingly as she followed the father and daughter up the stairs to the nursery on the second floor. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Cam knocked on the door excitedly, and they heard footsteps approaching from the inside. Soon, the door was opened, and a round head popped out from the gap. ¡°Mommy, Daddy!¡± Lucas happily shouted, but he appeared to have no intention of opening the door completely. ¡°I was changing my clothes. Could you wait out here for a moment, please?¡± Lucas seemed rather shy, which was uncharacteristic of him. Christina and Nathaniel¡¯s parenting philosophy had always been to respect the children¡¯s will. Hence, Christina nodded and said, ¡°Sure, go ahead and put on some clothes.¡± Lucas then shut the door. A few minutester, he opened it and allowed the trio to enter the room. The nursery had not changed much. The only addition was a partially built wooden house made from toy blocks in the y area. Cam struggled to be let down before wandering around the room, seemingly looking for something. Lucas had his eyes fixed on Cam as he followed her every move. ¡°What are you searching for, Cam? I can help you.¡± The young Cam could not hide her concerns and blurted, ¡°Where did you hide precious treasure, Lucas? I want to have a look at it.¡± Lucas rolled his eyes at her and replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bluff! When I came inst night, I saw you hiding it.¡± Cam called him out and added, ¡°The teacher says that children who tell lies aren¡¯t good kids.¡± Lucas shot a nce at Christina and Nathaniel before dering confidently, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t lie to you. If you don¡¯t believe me, you lot can rake through the room and search for it.¡± Finally, Christina spoke when she saw that a fight was about to break out between her two children. ¡°Since Lucas said there¡¯s none, then there¡¯s none. We must believe him and also give him his own space to keep his secrets.¡± Cam nodded even though she was not sure what Christina meant exactly. Nathaniel urged, ¡°It¡¯s almost dinner time. Christina, why don¡¯t you take Cam downstairs? I need to go to the study first.¡± Not suspecting anything, Christina led Cam downstairs, assuming that Lucas would tail behind her. Unbeknownst to her, the little boy chose to stay back and spend some alone time. with Nathaniel. Nathaniel was stricter toward his son aspared to his daughter. ¡°Your teacher said that you don¡¯t like to take naps at noon recently but would always linger around the fence in the garden. Who are you waiting for?¡± Several days ago, Nathaniel received some news from Lucas¡¯ kindergarten teacher. While waiting for the right time to speak with Lucas, Nathaniel continued his observation. discreetly. There was a blind spot in the surveince cameras of the kindergarten¡¯s garden, so Nathaniel could not identify the person Lucas was meeting. He did not tell Christina about it because he did not want her to worry. Lucas had always been a little afraid of his stern father. ¡°I was waiting for the evil woman. She always comes to the kindergarten to look for Cam. I don¡¯t want her to get near to Cam because she¡¯s too easily deceived. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been listening to the woman each time and waiting for her near the fence.¡± Anya was the evil woman that Lucas was referring to. A menacing look shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°What did she say to you?¡± Chapter 543 Intimidating Chapter 543 Intimidating Back when Azure had devised the n of using Lucas and Cam to threaten Nathaniel, Anya had also yed a part in masterminding the plot. Nathaniel had recently discovered that the culprit behind Christina¡¯s kidnapping had something to do with Anya too. However, he did not have sufficient evidence and no way of preventing her from causing any more trouble in the future. On top of that, Anya was a member of the Gibson family. Hence, even though he was capable of going against the Gibsons, it would still stir up plenty of unnecessary trouble if he recklessly used her. It was not difficult for the five-year-old boy to answer Nathaniel¡¯s question. Lucas had an excellent memory, and he was clever. He repeated what Anya had said to him word for word, recounting every detail to Nathaniel. ¡°The evil woman said Great-Granny misses Cam and me. And Mommy, too. She hoped. Cam and I could forgive them, then asked me to persuade Mommy to go back and visit Great-Granny and Granddad together. The evil woman would bring yummy food ande to look for us at the kindergarten. She even got my phone number and would send me photos of Great-Granny and Granddad. Cam and I never ate the food she However, if I didn¡¯t reply to her messages, she said she¡¯d let everyone know about the bad. things Mommy did so that Mommy couldn¡¯t be a designer anymore.¡± When Lucas mentioned Christina, he suddenly became anxious. His small hand clutched the hem of Nathaniel¡¯s shirt nervously. ¡°Daddy, you must teach that evil woman a lesson and protect Mommy.¡± Nathaniel picked him up in his arms andforted him patiently. ¡°Could you let me have a look at the messages she sent you?¡± Lucas nodded solemnly. Climbing out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms, he ran over to h hand under the covers, and felt about for something. Then, he handed his Nathaniel, his innocent eyes shining with determination. Nathaniel stroked his head. ¡°Don¡¯t tell your mommy about this for now, okay?¡± ¡°Okay. It¡¯s our little secret. Let¡¯s make a pinky promise, Daddy,¡± said Lucas, sticking out little finger. Nathaniel hooked his pinky finger with Lucas¡¯ and gave it a gentle shake. ¡°There¡¯s a good boy. Why don¡¯t you head on downstairs and have your dinner first? I¡¯ll be along in a short while.¡± ¡°Hurry up ande down, Daddy.¡± With that, Lucas turned and left the room. The tenderness in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes faded instantly, reced by a piercingly cold look. Since Lucas¡¯ phone did not have its lock screen enabled, he easily found the messages and photos Anya had sent Lucas. Even now, she was still texting Lucas persistently. Her message said: Your mommy has been lying to you all this time. She¡¯s going to divorce your daddy very soon. She¡¯ll have to leave with nothing and be a penniless pauper. Without your granny¡¯s help. she won¡¯t be able to provide for you and your sister. You¡¯ll be motherless wild children. In the future. your daddy will marry someone else and bring home a stepmother for you. After they have children of their own, he won¡¯t want you anymore, and the two of you will end up as little street beggars. That¡¯s why if you can get your sister to help you persuade your mommy toe home and patch things up with your great-granny and granddad, you¡¯ll still get to have a good life even if you¡¯re not with your father. Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was icy as he read the message. Then, he typed a reply into the text box. It read: As an outsider, you¡¯ve no right to make remarks about the Hadleys¡¯ family matters. The Gibson family itself is in dire straits, so you should focus on dealing with your own problems instead. After thinking of another lengthy message. Anya was about to have a sip of coffee and take a break. She nned to wait for Lucas to reply with an emoji like usual before continuing her brainwashing strategy. Unexpectedly, a message that carried a strong, intimidating tone popped up on her screen. She was so shocked that she spat out the coffee in her mouth, nearly choking on it. Picking up her phone with trembling hands, she reread the message no less than ten times. Lucas doesn¡¯t know how to type these many words. That little brat either sends typoden messages or emojis. Or he¡¯ll just ghost me. I¡¯ve been found out! She could not be sure whether the person who replied was Christina or Nathaniel. Either way, things were not looking good for her. The Gibson family was no longer as powerful as they appeared to the outside world. The hidden troubles within the family were enough to bring it to bankruptcy. She had lived in thep of luxury since she was little. If something happened to the Gibson family, the whole family would be affected too. I don¡¯t care for nor want to live a life where I¡¯ll have to think twice before buying a bag that costs a hundred thousand. That¡¯s why I followed Dad¡¯s n and attempted to make Christina return to the Gibson residence. That way, when the family crisis has been averted, Christina can return to wherever she came from while we reap the benefits as usual. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. As that thought crossed her mind, she quickly removed the SIM card from the phone to prevent the Hadleys from tracking her down. As long as my n isn¡¯tpletely busted, I can remain in Jadeborough and think of a way to get close to Christina. Just then, however, her other phone started ringing. It was a call from Nigel. No sooner had she answered the call than Nigel¡¯s angry voice rang out on the other end of the line, threatening to shatter her eardrums. ¡°Come back to Hallsbay right this instant! I¡¯ve something to ask you in person!¡± Meanwhile, Nathaniel deleted all of the chat history after sending that message. He set down the phone, then turned and went downstairs. Julia and Charlie hade back from shopping and were getting the children to try on the cute children¡¯s clothing they had bought while Christina sat on one side and watched. asionally, she would hold up her phone and snap photos of the two little ones. The atmosphere in the living room was heartwarming and harmonious. Nathaniel stood on the steps and watched the scene for a long time. He could not bear to disrupt the moment. When Cam turned around and noticed him, she ran toward him. He walked down the rest of the stairs, stretched out his long arms, and drew her into his embrace. Hugging his neck, she whispered, ¡°Daddy, did you find Lucas¡¯ treasure?¡± ¡°Why are you so certain he hid it?¡± asked Nathaniel. ¡°I saw it with my own two eyes. When Mommy and I came downstairs, you and Lucas were going to talk about something secret.¡± Pouting unhappily, she patted her chest and continued, ¡°Lucas and I are twins. As they say, twins share a special connection, so I can sense his thoughts.¡± Cam and Lucas were together all the time, so they knew each other well. Nathanial gently pinched the tip of her nose. ¡°There was no treasure. It was only a heart-to- heart chat between guys.¡± She murmured an acknowledgment, disappointment etched across her chubby face. Nheless, she did not give up. ¡°But I really did see it. Lucas has a small and pretty red box hidden in his backpack. I secretly opened it and looked inside it before. There was a handmade velvet flower inside, and it had a very nice smell.¡± Chapter 544 I Am Here Chapter 544 I Am Here Lucas had never mentioned that item to Nathaniel. Every day before and after school, a dedicated nanny would check Lucas¡¯ and Cam¡¯s belongings. Nathaniel provided high-quality material support for the children, so he absolutely wouldn¡¯t allow such misceneous items to appear in their lives. Lucas and Cam also had an excellent upbringing and would never take other people¡¯s things without permission. The Gibson family had been restlesstely. Nathaniel had to pay more attention to his children now that Anya had her eyes on them. When Nathaniel was about to probe further, he heard Julia¡¯s terrified shriek. ¡°Lucas, what happened to you? Why are you bleeding so much? Don¡¯t scare me.¡± Julia cried out while holding the unconscious Lucas in her arms. ¡°Hurry up and call an ambnce. Nathaniel,e and take a look at Lucas.¡± Nathaniel immediately put Cam down, rushed over to Julia¡¯s side, and pulled Lucas into his embrace. ¡°Lucas, Lucas!¡± Christina¡¯s face turned pale from the fright. She clutched her tummy and. slumped to the floor, continuously dabbing the fresh blood flowing out Lucas¡¯ nose with tissues. ¡°Why is this happening? Lucas, don¡¯t scare me.¡± ¡°Hurry up and send the child to the hospital.¡± Charlie was the first to regain hisposure. Not having the time tofort Christina, Nathaniel carried Lucas and dashed out of the Hadley residence. Driving to the hospital took precedence at that instant. The unexpected situation left the entire Hadley family in chaos. Christina brought Cam and followed closely behind, along with Charlie and Julia. Lucas was rushed into the emergency room. Nathaniel¡¯s white shirt was stained red with blood. He had always been critical of his appearance, but the slippers he wore added aical sense to his disheveled look. Cam was scared and started bawling, seeking warmth in Christina¡¯s arms. Christina¡¯s heart. jumped into her throat, and her tears never stopped flowing down her cheeks. Nathaniel pulled Christina and Cam into his embrace. ¡°Lucas will be fine. Don¡¯t cry.¡± Christina grasped Nathaniel¡¯s wrist and spoke with trembling lips. ¡°Nathaniel, Lucas¡¯ health had always been well. If something bad happens to him, 1-I won¡¯t know what to do. I¡¯m so scared.¡± She stammered and eventually dissolved into a pool of tears, copsing into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. She riveted her eyes in the direction of the emergency room. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink. You¡¯re pregnant, so you need to control your emotions,¡± Nathanielforted her. ¡°I¡¯m here for you. I¡¯ll have someone arrange a room for you here. Bring Cam with you and get some rest and have some food. I¡¯ll stay here.¡± With Lucas¡¯ life hanging in the bnce in the emergency room, Christina had no appetite to eat. ¡°Let Mom and Dad bring Cam to rest. I want to stay here with you and wait for Lucas. toe out.¡± Christina¡¯s heart ached terribly at the sight of Cam, who almost passed out from crying too hard. Julia and Charlie didn¡¯t want to add to the trouble since they couldn¡¯t do anything to help. Hence, they epted Nathaniel¡¯s suggestion and brought Cam to get rested. Over an hourter, Lucas was out of danger and sent back to the ward for further monitoring. Upon hearing that news, Christina rxed and instantly fainted. When she woke up again, Christina found herself inside the hospital ward. Nathaniel had stayed by her bed all night before finally dozing off in exhaustion while leaning against the bedside. Christina didn¡¯t have the heart to disturb Nathaniel. She carefully got out of bed, eager to visit Lucas. However, she identally bumped into a piece of medical equipment, causing slight noise that startled Nathaniel awake. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Nathaniel hurried over and carried Christina back onto the bed. Only after examining her body and ascertaining she was unscathed did he feel relieved. ¡°Do you feel ufortable anywhere?¡± ¡°Nathaniel, how¡¯s Lucas?¡± Christina was anxious and couldn¡¯t be bothered with her own condition. ¡°This won¡¯t do. I need to see him now.¡± Nathaniel ced his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Lucas is out of danger. His condition has stabilized after a night of treatment and observation. The doctor said he will wake up today and can be discharged healthily from the hospital in a week.¡± Tears streamed down the corner of Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s great. Lucas is safe.¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t bear to see her cry. He wiped her tears away and gently coaxed her for a while. Christina finally managed to pull herself together. ¡°Why did Lucas faint and bleed?¡± A cold glint flitted across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Heavy metal poisoning.¡± Poisoning? Colors drained from Christina¡¯s face as she widened her eyes in astonishment. ¡°Who did it? Who wanted to harm him?¡± ¡°Someone contaminated a handmade velvet flower with heavy metal and packed it as a gift. for Lucas.¡± Nathaniel appeared calm, but towering rage actually churned within him. He did his best to contain his emotions, not wanting to frighten Christina. ¡°There are too many people at the kindergarten, so we haven¡¯t found any clues yet. The only way we can figure out more information is to wait for Lucas to wake up and question him in detail.¡± Nathaniel still didn¡¯t n to tell Christina about Anya visiting the two children at the kindergarten. He also suspected Anya¡¯s involvement but didn¡¯t rush to conclusions. In fact, while Lucas was brought to the hospital to receive emergency treatment, Nathaniel had efficiently arranged for his subordinate to go to the Hadley residence at once to retrieve. the little red box from Lucas¡¯ bag and send it for testing immediately. Nathaniel even extracted the fingerprints left on the little box. When the fingerprint identification test results were out, they could track down the culprit behind the poisoning. ¡°I¡¯ll go and check on Lucas. He needs me.¡± Christina struggled to get off the bed, adamant. ¡°He needs his parents by his side now. I can¡¯t abandon him.¡± ¡°His ward is next door. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t stop Christina, so he picked up a coat and draped it over her before helping her out of the room. ¡°Mom, Dad, and Cam have been keeping him company by his bed. After you¡¯re done visiting Lucas, you must return to the room to have some food and get some quality sleep.¡± Christina nodded. She stayed in Lucas¡¯ ward for over an hour. Ultimately, she couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. having endured the mental stressbined with the fatigue from pregnancy. Nathaniel forcefully brought her back to the ward. She ate a little, then fell into a deep sleep. ¡°Mr. Hadley, there¡¯s news.¡± Sebastian hastened to the hospital to report to Nathaniel after getting the report. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± Nathaniel gazed at Christina, tucking her in properly before getting up and leaving. Once the door to the room was closed, Nathaniel radiated an aura more intense and terrifying than before. Fortunately, Sebastian was used to his imposing presence and wasn¡¯t scared off. Poker-faced, Nathaniel cast a sidelong nce at Sebastian. ¡°Speak!¡± ¡°There are four sets of fingerprints found on the box. Two of which belonged to the kindergarten teachers. I¡¯ve looked into these two teachers¡¯ backgrounds. They most likely helped Mr. Lucas pick up the box without knowing what was inside. Another set of fingerprints is Mr. Lucas¡¯, while thest set belongs to Ms. Gibson.¡± At the mention of Anya, Nathaniel¡¯s eyes glinted with murderous intent. Sebastianposed himself and ascertained Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t lose control before continuing, ¡°ording to the kindergarten teachers¡¯ feedback, Ms. Gibson has given many small gifts to Mr. Lucas before.¡±Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Chapter 545 Excuses Chapter 545 Excuses Sebastian changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve asked someone to run tests on the small gifts, but there were no traces of heavy metals on their surfaces,¡± he informed. At those words, Nathaniel¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he stared at Sebastian¡¯s face with intensity. ¡°Are you sure there¡¯s nothing wrong with the test results?¡± ¡°Every object had been thoroughly tested three times. The results came back exactly the same each time. No traces of heavy metals could be found,¡± Sebastian exined. Frustrated, Nathaniel pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. As the mild smell of tobo stimted his senses, he remembered that they were still at the hospital and quickly put cigarette out. ¡°Investigate Anya¡¯s shopping list. See if there are any records of the purchase of a small box,¡± Nathaniel ordered in an icy tone. ¡°Hire someone to keep a close eye on Anya and keep track of the movements of the Gibson family. When ites to it, we¡¯ll get rid of them once and for all.¡± Sebastian¡¯s heart skipped a beat upon hearing themand. Before he could stop himself, he commented, ¡°But Mr. Hadley, they¡¯re Ms. Christina¡¯s family.¡± Nathaniel scoffed with a mocking look on his face. ¡°Just because Christina thinks of them as family doesn¡¯t mean the Gibson family thinks the same. I¡¯ve given them chances time and time again, yet they still refuse to give my family a break. If I don¡¯t give them a warning, the next thing I know, I could be dealing with a gun pointed at my head.¡± Since the Gibson family wanted to mess with the Hadley family, Nathaniel was not afraid to y along with their games. Whether or not the Hadley family owed the Gibson family a life had still not been. Before the usation could be proven by the truth, the Hadley family would still. be considered innocent.. Sebastian was not in a position to question Nathaniel¡¯s authority. ¡°Noted, sir. I¡¯ll get it done.¡± Nathaniel continued asking, ¡°Any progress with Madison?¡± A torn look appeared on Sebastian¡¯s face. ¡°We¡¯ve exhausted every method that could be used. on her. Madison haspletely lost her mind. We can obtain no information from her. The Taggart family has been going about secretly. ording to word on the streets, they have been secretly gathering information that could be used as leverage against you. They n to report you to the supervisors so that Madison would not be subjected to threat for the rest of her life.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s cold eyes remained unchanged even after he heard the news. ¡°Since the Taggart family doesn¡¯t want to live peacefully but searched for death, I shall fulfill their requests.¡± He turned to look at Sebastian. ¡°Gather all the dark secrets of the Taggart family and post everything online. Don¡¯t bother about holding back. As for Madison, continue to lock her up. and change up the tactics used on her every day. She has to face the consequences of her actions.¡± Sebastian remained silent. Tossing Sebastian a nce, Nathaniel continued, ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, ask someone else to.¡± Snapping out of his daze, Sebastian replied, ¡°I canplete the task you gave me. It won¡¯t be too difficult for me.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Nathaniel gave Sebastian a meaningful look. ¡°I want a break. Cancel all the appointments I have, and send the important documents to Scenic Garden Manor.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± With that, Sebastian left. Being the efficient worker that he was, Sebastian gathered and exposed all the dark secrets of the Taggart family by that day itself. Some of the shocking scandals involved near-illegal activities. The stock price of the Taggart family plummeted. Within just a few hours, it hit the limit. down, experiencing a sharp decline. Netizens began attacking the Taggart family online. The powerful, wealthy family that was previously held in high regard had be more despicable than street rats in a matter of minutes. Reporters of various media flooded the Taggart residence. Some of the reporters even disturbed the mental hospital where Madison was admitted to. For the sake of obtaining a scoop, they had no limits. As Nathaniel¡¯s capable assistant in the past, Madison not only would have the secrets of the Taggart family, but she could also be keeping secrets of Nathaniel that were unknown to the public. Meanwhile, Anya had just returned from her training in Hallsbay. The moment she stepped. out of the ne, she was shocked by the trending news. After finding out what she had done, Nigel lost his temper and reprimanded her harshly. In the end, he warned her sternly not to act rashly and decided to ground her. However, Anya had always been restless. She could not stand being confined inside the house. When Nigel went out business-pitching to gain investments, Anya used that opportunity to slip out of the house and flew back to Jadeborough. As she sat in a taxi, Anya kept scrolling through the shocking headlines of that day¡¯s news. Upon finding out that the Taggart family was going bankrupt, she became overwhelmed by anxiety. With her heart pounding inside her chest, she asked the taxi driver to head to the mental hospital instead. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Disguising herself, Anya sneaked through the hospital hallways to Madison¡¯s ward. Once Madison had taken her medications, she looked no different from a normal person. The only difference would be that she seemed to be constantly in a daze, lost in her own world of thoughts. Even if one were to hold a knife by her neck, she would still not defend. herself. Instead, she might grab the knife and plunge it into her own body. Sneaking into the ward, Anya locked the door behind her from the inside. At that moment, Madison was curled up on the hospital bed, tearing apart a piece of toilet paper in her hand into small pieces. ¡°Madison!¡± Anya called out as she stood by the bedside. After a long while of no response, Anya shoved Madison¡¯s shoulder impatiently. ¡°Stop acting! I know you¡¯re not crazy!¡± Madison¡¯s body hit the headboard. Even so, it was as though she had not seen Anya. Without acknowledging Anya¡¯s presence, Madison climbed back into a sitting position and continued to pick at the toilet paper. As she did so, she kept mumbling to herself, ¡°Tear it to shreds. Tear it to shreds¡­¡± ¡°Hello? There¡¯s no one else here. Are you addicted to acting crazy?¡± With one swift swoop, Anya snatched the piece of toilet paper away from her and tossed it to the floor. ¡°The Taggart family is in trouble. I suspect Nathaniel to be behind this.¡± As Anya rambled on, Madison kept her gaze on the toilet paper on the floor all the while. At the mention of Nathaniel, her dark eyes glinted. ¡°You didn¡¯t expose me, did you?¡± In the meantime, Anya did not notice the change i Madison¡¯s demeanor. All she could think of at that moment was whether or not Madi thrown her under the bus. ¡°I¡¯ve so generously taught Christina a lesson on your behalf! you dare to betray me, I won¡¯t let you get away with it!¡± Just then, Madison turned to look at Anya. Her empty gaze caused a chill to run down Anya¡¯s spine. All of a sudden, a pair of sharp scissors appeared in Madison¡¯s hand. Without warning, she lunged forward and pinned Anya down onto the floor. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Raising her arm, Madison plunged the pair of scissors onto the floor, piercing into the floor right next to Anya¡¯s ear and missing thetter by a hair. Anya was shocked out of her wits. ¡°Madison, you ungrateful b*tch! You¡¯re trying to kill me? In your dreams! So it seems that you are, in fact, just pretending to be crazy!¡± Whenever Madison had one of her psychotic episodes, she somehow obtained the strength. of a bull. Not even ten security guards could hold her down, much less Anya, someone who had never lifted a finger their entire life. The scissors missed Anya again by a few centimeters. Madison had lost all control, stabbing the scissors in all directions within her reach. ¡°You deserve to die!¡± Reaching out for her purse on the floor, Anya grabbed it and hit Madison heavily on the head, causing thetter to wince in pain. In that split second, Anya pushed Madison onto the floor and got up. Not daring to stay a second longer, Anya made a run for the door. At that moment, Madison got up and grabbed Anya from behind. The two of them struggled against each other, crashing against the wall next to the window. ¡°Let me go!¡± Anya was being strangled. As she felt her body getting weaker, she caught sight of the blood-curdling smile that Madison was giving her. ¡°Help me!¡± she screamed. The fear of death consumed her as her instincts overrode her rationale, giving her a surge energy. With a swift move, she kicked Madison¡¯s knees and grabbed thetter by her hair before mming Madison¡¯s head onto the window. St! Fresh blood sttered all over the ce. In an instant, Madison stopped fighting. With her face pointing to the ground and her head leaning against the wall, Madison slowly fell limp onto the ground and ended up in a twisted, kneeling position. Shocked by the scene in front of her, Anya quickly got up from the floor and grabbed her purse. Fishing out her phone, she dialed a number. Her voice trembled as the call connected. ¡°D-Dad, help me! I-I killed someone!¡± Chapter 546 Meticulous Care Chapter 546 Meticulous Care Meanwhile, Christina was in the hospital enjoying Nathaniel¡¯s meticulous care. Nathaniel had ced the nutritious food that Raymond brought onto the table in front of Christina. Each dish looked delicious and smelled wonderful. However, something was weighing on Christina¡¯s mind. She forced herself to eat a few mouthfuls before she put her fork down. Nathaniel frowned and said, ¡°Christina, you should eat some more. Even if you¡¯re not worried about yourself, you should still think of the baby in your womb. I don¡¯t want to see either of you get hurt.¡± He sighed before continuing, ¡°I would go crazy if that were to happen.¡± Nathaniel had been busy for the past two days and seemed to have lost some weight. Though Christina was worried about Lucas, she also felt bad to see Nathaniel like that. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ll do my best to take care of myself.¡± Christina picked up her fork again and divided the food into two portions. She pushed one portion of the food to Nathaniel and said, ¡°I can¡¯t finish all these by myself. You should eat with me.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved into a resigned smile. ¡°Okay.¡± They had just finished eating when they received good news from Lucas¡¯ ward. He was finally awake after sleeping all night. Christina threw herself onto Lucas¡¯ hospital bed and embraced him. Sobbing, she said, ¡°Lucas, you scared me to death.¡± Tears filled Lucas¡¯ eyes when he saw how worried Christina was. ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m okay. Don¡¯t be sad. It¡¯s not good for the baby.¡± Julia hurried to persuade Christina, ¡°Lucas is right. It¡¯s good that he¡¯s awake now. As his mother, you should take good care of yourself and make sure nothing happens to you. Otherwise, Lucas would start to worry about you again.¡± She then shot a look at Nathaniel. Nathaniel approached Christina and stood behind her. He helped her sit on the bed before handing her a handkerchief. ¡°Lucas will recover after some rest. What we should do next is to find the mastermind behind the incident. We can¡¯t let Lucas suffer for nothing.¡± Christina blew her nose and quickly regained herposure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you all worry.¡± Charlie replied, ¡°We¡¯re a family. You don¡¯t need to apologize to us. We¡¯ll leave you to yourselves. Cam is still at home, so your mom and I will go back and apany her. We¡¯lle backter to visit you and Lucas.¡± Julia reminded them of a few things before she left with Charlie.. The two elders of the Hadley family did not n to interfere much, as Nathaniel would handle things on his own. Naturally, if he needed their help in the future, they would not stand by and do nothing. Lucas was the heir to the Hadley family. Since the other party wanted to take Lucas¡¯ life, Charlie would not let the matter go so easily, let alone Nathaniel. Only Nathaniel, Christina, and Lucas remained in the bright and spacious hospital room. Lucas¡¯ wide eyes were filled with anticipation as he stared at Christina¡¯s stomach. ¡°Mommy, can I please touch your belly?¡± It was natural for a child to be curious. Lucas asked the question because he felt Christina¡¯s tummy seemed to have grown bigger. Christina held his hand and ced it on her protruding stomach. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Lucas¡¯ eyes sparkled with determination despite only gently touching her stomach for a few seconds. ¡°Hello! I¡¯m your older brother! I¡¯ll protect you in the future!¡± Christina smiled in response. She held Lucas¡¯s hand and said, ¡°You¡¯re going to be a great older brother.¡± Nathaniel pulled a chair to sit beside the bed. He broke the harmonious atmosphere by saying, ¡°Lucas, I need to solve something, but I need your help to do it.¡± Lucas stared at Nathaniel. He was smart enough to know what his father meant. ¡°Daddy, are you investigating the person who poisoned me? What is it? I¡¯ll tell you everything I know.¡± We¡¯ll respect Christina and Nathaniel exchanged nces before Nathaniel gently said, ¡°If you feel ufortable or don¡¯t want to answer the question, you can ask us to stop. your decision.¡± Lucas replied, ¡°I¡¯m a big boy. I¡¯m not scared.¡± A glint of approval shed across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. He dived right into the topic and asked, ¡°Who gave you the red box in your school bag?¡± Lucas pondered it momentarily before answering, ¡°I don¡¯t know who put it in my bag. When I noticed it, it was already inside. I did ask my ssmates, but they said they didn¡¯t know either.¡± Nathaniel had retrieved the footage of the surveince cameras at the kindergarten and went through them, but he did not find anyone suspicious. Before the incident, no one else touched Lucas¡¯s belongings except his teacher, who ced a water bottle inside his bag. The full-time nanny caring for Lucas and Cam also underwent a detailed interrogation. The footage from the surveince cameras at home showed everything was normal. Who the heck put the box into Lucas¡¯ school bag? Christina and Nathaniel were disappointed at theck of evidence. Suddenly, Lucas yelped in realization as he smacked his head. ¡°I remember now. One day, when Cam and I got off school and were waiting for the driver to pick us up, a bad woman came over to us. She was so mean. She wanted to take me and Cam away, but we didn¡¯t let her. She tried dragging us, which caused me to drop my school bag. She helped me to pick up my things and ran away in a hurry after that.¡± From what Christina knew, Anya disliked Lucas and Cam. With how prideful and arrogant Anya was, it was impossible that she would help others to pick up their fallen belongings. Not taking the opportunity to kick the belongings was already considered Anya being tolerant. Anya¡¯s behavior was clearly unusual. Christina asked, ¡°Lucas, apart from that, do you remember anything else?¡± Lucas nced at Christina and Nathaniel and shook his head. ¡°Nothing else, Mommy.¡± Christina shed him a smile. ¡°That¡¯s okay. You¡¯ve done a great job. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll ask someone to send it here. You need to rest after eating. I¡¯ll stay here and apany you.¡± The effect of the medicine on Lucas¡¯ body had yet to disappearpletely. He was fighting to keep his eyes open since he talked so much after waking up. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. I want to sleep.¡± Nathaniel helped him lie on the bed and pulled the covers over him. ¡°Sleep, then. You can eat when you wake up.¡± Lucas had been receiving IV nutrition drips for the past two days. Hence, he had no appetite. Christina waited for Lucas to fall into a deep sleep before she followed Nathaniel back to her room next door. Christina clung onto Nathaniel as she dered confidently, ¡°Nathaniel, you and Lucas are hiding something from me.¡± Just now, when they were in Lucas¡¯ room, Christina saw through the interaction between She did not ask about it on the spot because she was worried about Lucas¡¯ condition. Nathaniel did not expect to hide it from her forever. He sighed and took a seat on the side of the bed. While he massaged Christina¡¯s calves, he slowly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you about it because I didn¡¯t want you to feel troubled.¡± Christina feltfortable from his gentle massage. She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. ¡°Can you tell me now?¡± Nathaniel pulled the covers over her and continued to massage her through the soft nket. ¡°Before Lucas¡¯ incident, Anya had gone to the kindergarten several times to look for him and Cam. She would asionally give them snacks and gifts, but Lucas wasn¡¯t pleased and threw everything away. However, Anya refused to give up. She hired someone to get Lucas¡¯ phone number. She wanted to use him and Cam to persuade you to forgive all the Gibson family¡¯s wrongdoings and return to the family.¡± Anger bubbled within Christina. She bit her lip and firmly said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to forgive them. I also won¡¯t leave Lucas¡¯ and Cam¡¯s safety in their hands again.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Nathaniel stared at her fixedly but did not respond to what she had said. ¡°I¡¯ve sent the box to theb for verification. Anya¡¯s fingerprints are on it, but it¡¯s not enough. evidence to prove that she¡¯s rted to Lucas¡¯ poisoning.¡± Chapter 547 You Are My Home Chapter 547 You Are My Home Although Christina was anxious to find the mastermind behind the incident, she was not a reckless person. If Anya were the real culprit, she would have a backup n since she dared to do such a thing. The Gibson family would never let it slide if we went to catch Anya without solid evidence. Maybe the Gibson family had been scheming something during this period when they were behaving themselves. Christina did not want Nathaniel to put himself at risk. ¡°Nathaniel, no matter what schemes and plots the Gibson family throws our way in the future, you don¡¯t need to let yourself and the Hadley family get treated unfairly for my sake.¡± Christina snuggled into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. She was disappointed with the Gibson family. ¡°To me, home is where you and the kids are.¡± What Christina gave was not just a promise but also unconditional trust toward Nathaniel. Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved into a smile as he replied, ¡°Okay. I know what I should do. Christina, thank you for entrusting yourself to me.¡± Christina looked up and pecked the corner of Nathaniel¡¯s lips. Her smile mirrored his delighted one as she giggled. ¡°Silly. We¡¯re husband and wife. Who should I trust if not you?¡± Nathaniel felt his heart skip a beat. He held the back of Christina¡¯s head and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. Unfortunately, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned grim when their alone time was cut abruptly. Christina wrapped her arms around his neck and pecked his lips before she backed away. ¡°We¡¯ve got all the time in the world. I¡¯ll make it up to you slowly in the future.¡± Nathaniel feltforted. A confident glint shed across his dark obsidian-like eyes. ¡°Remember what you said. Don¡¯t you dare think of using money to shoo me awayter on.¡± He had stuffed the money from before into the bottom drawer of his study table. Out of sight, out of mind. He would not use the money since he had earned it by himself. Christina beamed and nodded. ¡°I know. I¡¯ll increase your ¡®sry¡¯ depending on your performance.¡± Finally satisfied, Nathaniel let go of Christina and said to the person outside in a deep voice, ¡°Come in.¡± Sebastian pushed open the door and entered. Little did he know that he had narrowly escaped Nathaniel¡¯s wrath. However, the aura that Nathaniel emanated was too domineering and assertive. Sebastian still felt overwhelmed by the tension in the air. Compared to him, Christina was clearly more approachable. ¡°Mr. Taggart, what¡¯s the matter? Why are you looking for Nathaniel?¡± Sebastian stared at Nathaniel, seeking permission to speak. When Nathaniel nodded, Sebastian replied, ¡°Madison is dead.¡± Christina was taken aback to hear such shocking and sudden news. Nathaniel scrunched his eyebrows into a frown and asked, ¡°How did she die?¡± Madison no longer had any value to him, so he locked her in a mental hospital to torture her. He did it to take revenge for Christina. He did not care at all about Madison¡¯s life or death. However, he felt it was strange that Madison died at that juncture. ¡°She received a violent blow to the head. A protruding nail on the window caused the fatal wound,¡± Sebastian answered. ¡°After that, the mental hospital called the police to take care of the matter. The forensic report shows that Madison had fought with someone before she died. The crime scene had been scrupulously handled, but the surveince cameras were broken. The preliminary suspicion of her death is murder.¡± Murder! Who the heck killed Madison? Why did they kill her? Christina¡¯s head ached as she absorbed the information from Sebastian and tried toe up with theories. Nathaniel noticed her unusual behavior and reached forward to massage her temples. ¡°Stop thinking about it. Leave the investigation to the police. This has nothing to do with either of Christina looked into his eyes. Stubborn, she asked, ¡°Do you think it could¡¯ve been Anya who did it?¡± Nathaniel answered, ¡°If Anya had directed Madison to kidnap you, it¡¯s only natural that she is a suspect in Madison¡¯s death.¡± Christina¡¯s instincts told her that Anya was responsible for everything, but she could not find any evidence to prove it. Sebastian knew how to read the situation in the room. He waited for his chance to speak. ¡°After finding out about Madison¡¯s death, the Taggart family wants to find the murderer and teach them a painful lesson. They¡¯d been to Scenic Garden Manor several times, but the security guards had chased them out each time. It won¡¯t be long before they look for you at the hospital. Mr. Hadley, should I arrange for some bodyguards to stand guard outside Mrs. It was understandable that the Taggart family would suspect Christina and Nathaniel about Madison¡¯s tragic end. However, that was not a legitimate reason for them to do as they pleased. ¡°Send some men to protect them in the shadows. Also, return Madison¡¯s body to the Taggart family,¡± Nathaniel coldly instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it immediately.¡± Sebastian acknowledged his orders. However, he did not leave right away. Instead, he stared at Nathaniel, hesitating to continue. Nathaniel red at him. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± He was desperate for Sebastian to leave so he could continue his alone time with Christina. Biting the bullet, Sebastian said, ¡°Mr. Hadley, there are several meetings regarding thepany¡¯s major projects that require your presence. Today is the final deadline. Do you think you coulde to thepany to settle them?¡± Nathaniel was displeased. He raised his eyebrows and stared at Sebastian. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you. that I¡¯ll be taking time off for the time being?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already canceled everything that could be canceled in the schedule, but the directors are present in those meetings. There¡¯s nothing I can do to get you out of them.¡± Sebastian. also wanted Nathaniel to go on vacation peacefully, but he could not. Nathaniel had not been to thepany for the past two days. Hence, those troublemaking directors took the opportunity to assert their power. It took Sebastian great effort to suppress them, but there was a limit to what he could do. The authority he had was useless against the directors. ¡°Moreover, the board of directors has someints regarding the development of Delphina Cove. Because of that, they have broken out into an argument because they find the funds allocated for the procurement of the project are toorge. Most of them hope that we can maximize profit margin with a reduced construction cost.¡± No one knew what Nathaniel was thinking. He nced at Sebastian sharply and said icily, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, ask them to look for suppliers themselves. Once they¡¯ve done that, have the purchasing department conduct a survey and send the finalized list of suppliers to my email.¡± Christina did not understand business. What she did know was the Hadley family had a huge business. She also knew someone else could easily rece Nathaniel¡¯s spot if he were not around to oversee thepany. She tugged on Nathaniel¡¯s sleeve. He lowered his gaze and nced at her. ¡°Nathaniel. I¡¯m all right now. Dad, Mom and I will take care of Lucas. You should go ahead and get back to work.¡± Nathaniel breathed a heavy sigh, obviously unhappy. Christina shuffled closer to him and whispered, ¡°If you don¡¯t go to work, how will you carn money for me and the kids? I can¡¯t work right now because I¡¯m pregnant. At present, I can¡¯t support you financially. I still need to rely on you.¡± Her gentle voice wasced with a hint of coyness. However, that method proved to be of great use against Nathaniel. He held back his hostility and became a loving husband who spoiled his wife. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯lle back to apany you once I¡¯ve finished settling the matters at the company.¡± Sebastian stared at Christina gratefully. He seemed to have found an incredible way to go up against Nathaniel. He could turn to Christina for help if he could not persuade Nathaniel. It was a practical move that would never fail him. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Not wanting to waste any more time, Nathaniel hurriedly left the hospital with Sebastian hot on his heels. Christina could not sleep, so she decided to go next door to take care of Lucas. She opened the door and bumped right into the person standing outside. ¡°I need to talk to you about something. Are you free?¡± Chapter 548 A Life For A Life Chapter 548 A Life For A Life Maggie¡¯s voice was seemingly squeezed through clenched teeth, and her icy, resentful re made Christina¡¯s heart skip a beat. Sebastian was just talking about the Taggart family showing up at the hospital sooner orter, but he never expected anyone to show up so soon. Just then, several burly bodyguards dressed in ck appeared in the corridor. They marched over to Christina and Maggie and stood between the women, looking extremely assertive. ¡°Mr. Hadley has given us the order that no one is to disturb Mrs. Hadley when she¡¯s recuperating. Please leave, Old Mrs. Taggart.¡± Maggie gripped her cane, her gaze still pinned on Christina. ¡°What can an old woman like me do to her? All I did was ask her a few questions. I¡¯ll leave when I¡¯m done. What do you think, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Sure enough, Maggie was alone. All she brought was a single cane; she did not even have a bag. At the same time, Christina was intrigued to find out the purpose of Maggie¡¯s visit. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You guys can wait outside while I talk to her in private.¡± The leader of the bodyguards was hesitant to obey, but he could onlypromise when met. with Christina¡¯s questioning gaze. ¡°Make way,¡± he ordered. Immediately, the group of men opened up a path, letting the smirking elder enter the ward with her cane. Christina left the door slightly open and leaned against it. ¡°Get straight to the point. I¡¯m in a rush.¡± Thanks to Madison, Christina did not have a good impression of the Taggart family. Their overprotectiveness was not rooted in distinguishing right from wrong. ¡°Were you the one who caused Madison¡¯s death?¡± Maggie shot Sophie a piercing gaze. To Maggie¡¯s surprise, Christina curled her lips into a mocking smile and responded with a question, ¡°What do you think?¡± Offended by the response, Maggie thumped the cane on the ground and berated Christina for her ruthlessness, ¡°Madison would¡¯ve stayed by Nathaniel¡¯s side as his assistant if not for you. Sure, she made mistakes, but she didn¡¯t deserve to die. She had already lost her mind. Why couldn¡¯t you forgive her? Why did you have to kill her? Besides, you¡¯re alive and well. Return Madison to me, Christina. The Taggart family will never let you off! We¡¯ll make you pay an eye for an eye!¡± Maggie looked as though she wanted nothing more than to kill Christina when she screamed at the top of her lungs and glowered at thetter resentfully. s, the condition of Maggie¡¯s legs did not allow her to make a move on Christina. Christina threw Maggie an icy nce. ¡°How can both the culprit and the victim be innocent? What was your family doing when Madison was doing everything in her power to harm me? All you know is pass the buck and oppress others who are weaker.¡± Maggie huffed in anger, but she stayed true to her beliefs. ¡°You were the one who messed with her first.¡± ¡°Madison seduced my husband and plotted for me to fall into the sea. After that, she teamed up with other people to kidnap and kill me. Everything she did was to kill me. Don¡¯t you think her tragic end is what she deserved?¡± Christina snorted coldly before continuing, ¡°And even if I wanted to kill her, it¡¯s what she owes me.¡± Maggie seethed with anger after listening to Christina¡¯s speech. As Maggie trembled with anger, a phone fell out of her pocket. Coincidentally, it fell to the ground with its screen facing up, exposing the voice recorder¡¯s interface. There was a slight change in Maggie¡¯s countenance. She bent over to pick up the phone, but her legs moved too slowly that she twisted her waist and slumped to the ground. Subsequently, Christina caught the phone with the tip of her shoe and stomped hard on it, crushing the screen. She then lifted her leg slightly and gave it a kick, sending it flying toward the wall and shattering into pieces upon impact. Her movements were fluid and swift, unlike how a pregnant woman should behave. Maggie¡¯s eyes went wide with horror, and her face flushed as she could not scream to vent her pain. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Ignoring the elder¡¯s reaction, Christina said straightforwardly, ¡°The Taggart family is utterly useless. I can¡¯t believe you guys tried to put the me on me just to guard your reputation. That¡¯s pure foolish thinking. Old Mrs. Taggart, you were a powerful person when you were younger. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen a lot in life. So why are you willing to be deceived and not analyze the pros and cons here?¡± Hitting Christina with the cane was all Maggie could think of at that moment. ¡°I¡¯m the elder here! You have no right to criticize my methods!¡± Christina straightened her back and eyed Maggie condescendingly, articting each word with authority, ¡°Precisely my point. This is between the younger generation. Why would an elder like you intervene? For Sebastian¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll forgive you for being rude this time. If this happens again, I¡¯ll make your family pay the price.¡± This is outrageous! Maggie almost fainted from anger. She red at Christina and pointed her trembling finger at thetter, sputtering, ¡°Y-You!¡± Not wanting to waste her time on the stubborn woman, Christina ordered the bodyguards waiting outside to carry Maggie away. Christina was feeling thirsty after the long conversation. As she made her way to the table to get some warm water, she caught a glimpse of the phone in the corner; it had a few shing red lights. What¡¯s that? Puzzled, Christina kicked the ss pieces away and picked up the device to examine it. It¡¯s a miniature camera! Interesting. Old Mrs. Taggart¡¯s got some skills. The voice recorder was just a cover, but this¡­ This is her true objective. ¡°Christina, are you all right?¡± Christina was about to carefully study the miniature camera when Nathaniel suddenly appeared, interrupting her. ¡°The bodyguards told me Old Mrs. Taggart came looking for you for trouble,¡± he informed. Nathaniel stopped whatever he was working on and rushed to the hospital the moment he received a call from the bodyguards. After scrutinizing the woman from head to toe several times and making sure she was all right, he lifted her and sat on the couch. ¡°I was worried sick about you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s Old Mrs. Taggart who isn¡¯t.¡± Christina pushed him away and recounted the entire incident. Stuffing the miniature camera into his palm, she said, ¡°This camera has a real-time monitoring function. Get someone to hack this and find out the person behind it.¡± Nathaniel handed the miniature camera to Sebastian. ¡°Do as Christina said.¡± Just like that, Sebastian, who had just stepped into the ward, was assigned a task before he could catch his breath. Ugh. All the Taggart family does is create trouble for me. When Sebastian was done cursing inwardly, he squeezed the miniature camera and left. That very afternoon, the Taggart family was informed by the hospital that Nathaniel¡¯s men had confined Maggie in the ward due to her back injury. Since they failed to find Nathaniel himself, they gathered some people to cause a ruckus at the Hadley residence. Unfortunately for them, Charlie had fled the ce with his family long ago. At their wits¡± end, the Taggart family could only shift their attention to Sebastian again. Both Nathaniel and Christina could remain hidden forever, but as the former¡¯s assistant who was in charge of Hadley Corporation¡¯s affairs, Sebastian needed to drop by the office every day. With that knowledge in mind, the Taggart family staked out Hadley Corporation. When the opportunity came, they ced a sack over him and took him away to give him a beating. They were an outrageous bunch. Even worse, they recorded the entire act and sent it to Nathaniel. A text followed, reading: A life for a life, Nathaniel! If you want this loyal dog of yours to be alive, you¡¯d better send Old Mrs. Taggart back to our house! Chapter 549 Lure Chapter 549 Lure So far, no one stayed alive and well after threatening Nathaniel. A cial re settled in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he typed: Deal with him however you want. Old Mrs. Taggart¡¯s life is worth more than an assistant¡¯s. Manuel was annoyed and frustrated by Nathaniel¡¯s reply. I don¡¯t believe this! I¡¯ll find a way to threaten Nathaniel! Manuel ced the phone screen before Sebastian¡¯s eyes and spat, ¡°Open your f*cking eyes and read this carefully. You worked so hard for Nathaniel, yet he doesn¡¯t care about your well-being when you¡¯re in trouble. See? This is what you get for being a loyal dog to this man.¡± Sebastian¡¯s limbs were tied to the chair, his face swollen, and his eyes bloodshot. He was in so much pain that he could only manage to open them a little to read the text. When the blurry words came into his view, he smiled and spat a mouthful of blood at Manuel before laughing maniacally. Annoyed, Manuel wiped the blood off his face and mmed his fist at Sebastian¡¯s head. The impact sent Sebastian toppling to the ground. Like a lifeless fish, hey weakly on the stinking ground, and his eyes stared nkly at the hanging beams on the roof. ¡°D*mn it! How dare you provoke me? You¡¯re asking for it!¡± Manuel rushed forward to give Sebastian a few more kicks, determined to give thetter an agonizing punishment. However, one of theckeys held Manuel back. ¡°Mr. Manuel, you mustn¡¯t beat him to death. It¡¯ll be useful to keep him alive. Maybe it¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s way of stalling for time. Sebastian¡¯s basically the second-inmand for Hadley Corporation. We¡¯ll just have to test it out to see if Sebastian¡¯s valuable to Nathaniel,¡± said theckey. Manuel frowned hard and shoved the man away. ¡°Carry on.¡± Wiping his face with relief, theckey grinned. ¡°Sebastian¡¯s been working for Nathaniel for many years, which proves how much thetter trusts him. I¡¯m sure Sebastian knows many the Hadley family¡¯s secrets. No matter how stubborn he is, he¡¯ll definitely spill everything under torture. I refuse to believe he¡¯s willing to sacrifice his life for such a thing.¡± Manuel was just an arrogant rich yboy who never had opinions of his own, but he was also the only descendant favored by Maggie. More importantly, he had a gang of friends who In fact, Manuel was instigated to kidnap Sebastian and threaten Nathaniel. He did it only because he had not gotten the shares and properties Maggie had promised. Concern and filialness were not what motivated him to do so. If anything bad happened to Maggie, all the assets that were originally Manuel¡¯s would end up getting divided among the rest of the Taggart family. Although Manuel and Madison were cousins, they were not close. In fact, he could not be bothered if Sebastian had something to do with Madison¡¯s death. Even so, her death had given the former the opportunity to take action. Patting theckey¡¯s face in admiration, Manuel teased with a chuckle, ¡°Impressive. Having fun is what you¡¯re usually great at. I never knew you¡¯d have such ideas at such a critical time. Go on. Check if that dude¡¯s dead. Make him sit back up if he isn¡¯t. You¡¯ll be rewarded handsomely when this is over.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Manuel,¡± said theckey. Meanwhile, Manuel walked out of the deserted house, fishing out his phone to give Nathaniel a call. Manuel was prepared to bombard thetter with calls, but surprisingly, it connected. on his first attempt. ¡°Nathaniel, I know Sebastian has been working as yourpdog for many years. Surely he has quite some dirt on you. If you don¡¯t want all that information to be leaked, you¡¯d better do as I say,¡± Manuel threatened. Nathaniel¡¯s eyes were devoid of emotion as he stared at the list of projects on theputer screen. Even his tone was frosty as he said, ¡°Sebastian is indeed an excellent assistant, but he¡¯s also a member of the Taggart family. I can just find another assistant if he¡¯s gone. He¡¯s not worth my effort saving. His well-being is none of my business, so you can do whatever you want to him.¡± Beep! Beep! Beep! Nathaniel hung up on his end and looked up at the assistant. ¡°Did you find the location?¡± The assistant shook his head in dismay. ¡°The other party has hidden their location. It¡¯ll take some time to crack it.¡± There was no response from Nathaniel. He merely tapped on the table as if thinking deeply about something. Naturally, the assistant dared not do anything impulsive. All of a sudden, the silence was broken by Nathaniel¡¯s voice. ¡°I heard the Taggart family¡¯s interested in a medical research project.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s a key project developed by Koandria¡¯s prominentpany. The investors involved in this project are capable and influential people. Basically, it¡¯s a project with an abundance of funds and talents. If the research is a sess, their profit will go up to sixty percent. Ourpany has an intention to participate, too, and so far, we¡¯ve obtained an investment quota. Mr. Taggart has always been in charge of this,¡± the assistant reported all the details that he could remember. A dark glint fleeted across Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°In that case, let the Taggart family have their way. Tell them ourpany is low on funds and has to withdraw our investment so they can rece us. There¡¯s one more thing I need you to do. Look into the details of this medical project.¡± The person in charge of the project had approached Nathaniel before, but he did not give the former an answer right away. Projects with higher returns on investment had greater risks. The said project might look reliable in terms of investment scale and capability, which could deceive those desperate for sess, but the same could not be said for someone as meticulous as Nathaniel. The only reason Nathaniel chose to invest in it was to toy with thepetitors. In fact, he could back out and use the opportunity to make hispetitors suffer a loss. The assistant carried out Nathaniel¡¯s orders to every detail. When Koandria learned that he wanted to withdraw his investment, they called up to investigate but were easily fooled by Nathaniel. On the other hand, Manuel was informed of the exciting news right away, and he immediately used his connections to get the investment quota. Of course, Manuel did not forget to show off his achievement to Sebastian. ¡°Earlier, Nathaniel abandoned you, and now, he threw away the project you spent three years working hard on. He ims that he doesn¡¯t have enough funds, but everyone knows funds are something they have in abundance. It¡¯s because you¡¯re a member of the Taggart family, making the money you earn for him tainted. He finds it disgusting, so he decided to destroy all your hard work.¡± All Sebastian did was scoff; he did not respond to Manuel¡¯s provocations. However, Manuel spared Sebastian of the beatings since he was in good spirits. Instead, Manuel contacted Jadeborough¡¯s most capable paparazzi and instructed them to announce the news of his acquiring the investment quota of Koandria¡¯s medical project as well as leak Nathaniel¡¯s dirt. The shocking rumor of Nathaniel spread on the inte like wildfire, drawing attention and discussion from theizens while Christina was taking care of Lucas in the hospital Christina was sent home to recuperate, and although Rayne was managing the studio, the former would handle some things from time to time. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Rayne¡¯s call came in just as she put Lucas to sleep ¡°Christina, did you see the news? Nathaniel¡¯s in trouble¡± Chapter 550 Public Opinion Chapter 550 Public Opinion Christina felt her stomach lurch. ¡°What happened to him?¡± she asked with a trembling voice. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. The call from Rayne¡¯s end had a lot of background noise, and the signal was bad, making it hard to hear her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to exin it either. You should look up the inte but don¡¯t take it to heart, no matter how horrible thements are. Just trust that Nathaniel can sort it out. I¡¯ve got to keep an eye on the runway now. Call me if you need anything.¡± As soon as the call ended, Christinaunched the browser to find Nathaniel¡¯s rumors as the top ten trending searches. Ament read: The world of the wealthy has always been crazy, but I never expected someone as calm andposed as Nathaniel to have psychotic tricks up his sleeves. He¡¯s totally shattered my worldview. The nextizen wrote: I remember Madison had been working as Nathaniel¡¯s assistant for years on end. She even attended various events as his femalepanion. He¡¯s really cruel for throwing her into the psychiatric hospital just because she did not like his wife. Anotherizen wrote: You guys are outdated. I have a friend working at the psychiatric hospital, and he says Madison¡¯s dead. Apparently, she was abused before she died. In fact, it was a miserable death, but all the evidence was erased. The nextment read: He¡¯s right. I can vouch for him. When Madison was dead, Old Mrs. Taggart went looking for Mrs. Hadley but got carried out of the ward. Rumor has it that Nathaniel locked her up. Onement read: Madison¡¯s death must have something to do with that man. I¡¯m hearing more and more bad things about him this year. The rest of the discussion on the inte criticized Nathaniel for being heartless, drowning out the netizens that voiced their doubts. Christina closed the browser and dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. The call connected almost instantly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Christina?¡± Nathaniel sounded calm. ¡°I saw the news on the inte. Are you all right?¡± Christina was gripped with worry. She couldn¡¯t help it despite knowing Nathaniel would not be affected by the rumors. ¡°Do you trust me, Christina?¡¯ Christina froze for a moment. Although she did not know why Nathaniel would suddenly ask her that, she answered without hesitation, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t read the news or worry about me. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice had a magical effect that calmed Christina¡¯s nerves. Smiling faintly, Christina promised, ¡°All right. I won¡¯t read it. Are youing back for dinner tonight? I¡¯ll get Raymond to make your favorite dish.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from the hospital after work. Take good care of yourself. Don¡¯t tire yourself out,¡± Nathaniel reminded worriedly. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m at a meeting. I¡¯ll call youter.¡± Christina felt bad for interrupting her husband at work. ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t take up your anymore.¡± When the call ended, Christina returned to Lucas¡¯ bed and tucked him in. In reality, Nathaniel was in a chaotic situation, unlike how it sounded in the call earlier. Withdrawing Hadley Corporation¡¯s investment from Koandria¡¯s medical research was like making the company¡¯s millions of investments go to waste. The fact Nathaniel had given up on a potential project and allowed the Taggart family to benefit from it caught the attention of some board members. Displeased by the turn of events, they demanded for a board meeting to get an exnation from Nathaniel. The conference room was in utter chaos, yet Nathaniel looked as if he was watching a movie, totally unbothered. He would either ignore their questions or sidestep the curial details. Even worse, he answered the call in front of everyone with no care for the rules. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the medical project will beunched officially in three days. How could you just withdraw the investment without giving us a call? We were hoping this project would supply us enough funds for the second half of the year. Does thepany¡¯s future look like a joke to you?¡± ¡°Exactly! It¡¯s a sixty percent profit. Sixty percent! Its monthly profit is higher than thepany¡¯s profit in a year. Look at what you¡¯ve done now. The Taggart family has benefitted from this, and they¡¯re happy to show it off to the world, turning Hadley Corporation into the fattest joke on earth.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, you should give up your position sooner if youck management skills. Thepany can¡¯t keep failing because of you. A sessful person should know where to draw the line between work and private matters.¡± A series of aggressivements were aimed at Nathaniel, increasing the intensity of his mocking gaze. ¡°Give up my position? No one here has the ability to take over my position!¡± he sneered. The arrogance he exuded was incredible, and his piercing gaze that swept over the crowd. made the atmosphere tense. ¡°If anyone of you wants to withdraw your investment, I can purchase them at the market. price. However, there¡¯s no turning back once you choose to leave Hadley Corporation. Those who decide to stay will have to do as I say. Please think carefully before making irresponsible remarks.¡± With that, Nathaniel got up and left the room, and the crowd was left looking at each other speechlessly. Those who tantly criticized Nathaniel earlier looked exceptionally pale with fright. Tugging at his tie frustratedly, Nathaniel asked his assistant, ¡°Have you found Sebastian yet?¡± ¡°No,¡± came the assistant¡¯s answer. The response only made Nathaniel stormed to his office. Sebastian had served Nathaniel loyally for many years; he was the person who understood thetter the most. Hence, Nathaniel could not just let Sebastian die like that. In fact, Maggie was not as valuable as Sebastian. Nathaniel was simply creating a farce by not letting her go as requested by the Taggart family. Once the time was right, he could get rid of the entire Taggart family, eradicating any future problems once and for all. The assistant observed Nathaniel¡¯s expression cautiously. ¡°The person behind your rumors is found. His name is Manuel Taggart-Old Mrs. Taggart and the Taggart family¡¯s most favored grandson. Not only that, he even has ns to hold a morous funeral for Madison on behalf of Old Mrs. Taggart. Every influential person in Jadeborough has received an invitation.¡± Nathaniel smirked. ¡°When is the funeral?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be held in three days at the Taggart residence.¡± After a momentary pause, Nathaniel instructed, ¡°Send Old Mrs. Taggart home. I can¡¯t be impolite when the Taggart family has given me such a huge gift. Postpone everything in my schedule for that day.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The assistant turned around to leave. Meanwhile, Nathaniel did not get anyone to suppress the news. He simply let theizens carry on with their discussions. He had just finished his work and was about to pick Christina up from the hospital when he bumped into a police officer who had some questions about the situation. Just like that, Nathaniel was brought to the police station for a few hours of questioning. It was almost midnight by the time Christina received a call from the police to pick Nathaniel up. As they got into the car, Christina immediately threw herself at him and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. ¡°You scared me to death, Nathaniel. I thought they were going to lock you up!¡± Chapter 551 Come Prepared Chapter 551 Come Prepared Nathaniel pulled her into his armsfortingly, ¡°Nothing will happen to me. The police. summoned me to the precinct to talk about Madison, that¡¯s all. By this point, her case is difficult to make sense of. The cops arecking in clues and evidence. Somebody has written an article about her death and posted it online, so the cops are under a lot of pressure. They would not give up any leads they have easily.¡± Christina only knew that Madison was incurably insane and that her family had sent her to a psychiatric institution for treatment. She was unaware that Nathaniel had secretly tortured Madison. Nathaniel was cautious not to leave any trace behind. The torment Madison endured in the psychiatric hospital was standard procedure for treatment for all patients; the severity of the treatment depended on the state of her mental health. Even if somebody were to leak the secret, it would not be traced back to Nathaniel. As a result, it was stupid of Manuel to use Madison¡¯s condition as leverage. Christina was glum. ¡°Everybody on the inte is suspecting you. As Madison had been your assistant for years, and she and I had an altercation, you look like the biggest suspect to an outsider, but you have gotten involved for me. You shouldn¡¯t have to bear the condemnation and the me on my behalf.¡± Nathaniel stroked her back and smiled. ¡°I am your husband. Of course, I will protect you. I don¡¯t care what other people think as long as you trust me.¡± Christina choked back her tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Nathaniel.¡± Ever since she got pregnant, Christina had been emotionally unstable and easily assumed the Worst. Though Nathaniel was fending off a headache dealing with that, he felt sorry for her. ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault. You don¡¯t have to apologize.¡± He sighed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me not to look at the gossip online? You lied to me.¡± Christina did keep her word, but the rumors were so contagious that everybody at the hospital was talking about it, which was how she came to hear of it. ¡°I didn¡¯t lie.¡± Christina pouted. ¡°I heard it from someone.¡± ¡°I have found the person fanning the mes. In three days, this fiasco will be over. Just wait and see.¡± Nathaniel did not tell Christina that the Taggart family had abducted Sebastian. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Christina did not doubt Nathaniel for a moment. Upon obtaining his guarantee, she felt much more at ease. That night was the best sleep she had had in a while. Nathaniel¡¯s name remained trending online for three whole days, after which the Taggart family held a wake for Madison as nned. Sebastian was released that day. They dragged him out to stand before Madison¡¯s memorial portrait to express his remorse. Nathaniel had cost Maggie dearly. She was livid at Sebastian¡¯s inaction and betrayal. Upon finding out that Manuel had kidnapped him to teach him a lesson when she was sent back to the Taggart residence, she pretended not to know and gave him full rein. Punishing Sebastian is indirectly giving Nathaniel a p to the face. The guests who hade to pay their respects were curious about Sebastian kneeling before the deceased, but they did not dare ask about it. Everybody knew about the altercation between the Taggart family and the Hadley family. Sebastian knelt from morning until the afternoon and was denied the opportunity to rest. Furthermore, Manuel deprived him of food and had him beaten during the period of his incarceration. Nevertheless, his back remained tall and proud, though his coarse features were drained of color. Manuel stood beside him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you Nathaniel¡¯s loyal hound?¡± he jeered. ¡°He killed Madison and refused to own up, so you, as hisckey, will take his ce and beg for forgiveness. It¡¯s part of your job and your honor too. This opportunity isn¡¯t given to just anybody, you know.¡± Impassively, Sebastian shot a sideways nce at Manuel, which looked more like a leer. Manuel saw that Sebastian was not taking him seriously. The years during which Sebastian had served Nathaniel were glorious. Manuel left to entertain the guests, but all of them were keen to discuss Sebastian. He, as Maggie¡¯s beloved grandson, became of little interest. Manuel was so angry that his chest throbbed painfully. Gritting his teeth, he was about to swing a fist at Sebastian when ackey tumbled in and fell t on his face before them. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Manuel! Nathaniel brought arge group of people over. They¡¯re almost here. Nobody can stop them! We¡¯d better run!¡± As soon as the warning was uttered, Nathaniel¡¯s figure appeared in the distance. ¡°This is the Taggart residence and my turf. What am I afraid of? Take Sebastian and keep. him hidden.¡± Theckey was about to drag Sebastian away when a dozen broad-shouldered and round- bellied bodyguards dashed in and surrounded the trio. Tactfully, Maggie dispersed the crowd gathered at the Taggart residence. She did not wish to suffer the indignity of having her family¡¯s dirtyundry aired. Sebastian looked up at Nathaniel at once. His eyes shone. Nathaniel did not spare Sebastian a nce. Instead, his icy re fell onto Manuel. As if aware that a venomous snake had noticed him, Manuel felt goosebumps erupting all over his skin. ¡°How dare you show up here, Nathaniel? You¡¯ve got some big balls. Do you not respect us Taggarts at all?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth, Manuel!¡± Maggiemanded as she was wheeled into the hall. In his youthful exuberance, Manuel is no match for Nathaniel. It is in that he feared nothing for coming to the Taggart residence to cause trouble today, of all days. Furthermore, he came prepared. Manuel fell into sullen silence upon being reprimanded, not daring to utter another word. Maggie turned to Nathaniel. ¡°If you¡¯re here to pay your respects to Madison, Mr. Hadley, I wee you with open arms. But, if you have another purpose in mind, I must ask you to leave immediately. People are watching us. Surely you would not want the Hadley family to be ridiculed.¡± Nathaniel chuckled. His gaze was filled with arrogant disdain. In fact, more than half of the paparazzi outside had been there at his request. ¡°The Hadley family¡¯s reputation has nothing to do with anybody else. Thank you for your concern, Old Mrs. Taggart,¡± Nathaniel said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m here today for my assistant. He has been missing for several days, and I have been having his disappearance investigated. Coincidentally, my investigation led us here, to you, the Taggart family.¡± Maggie nced at Sebastian. Only then did she notice he had undergone no trivial abuse. His handsome face was no longer identifiable as before. The wounds on his body, old and new, melded into an indiscernible, bloody mosaic. They looked harrowing. She did not expect Manuel to be so heavy-handed that he had disfigured their captive to such an extent. Nathaniel will not forgive him easily. Maggie said sternly, ¡°There must be some misunderstanding. Youngsters tend to act rashly without consideration of consequences and would inadvertently offend somebody. It happens all the time. I¡¯ve been so upied with Madison¡¯s funeral that I hadn¡¯t noticed what my family members have been up to.¡± Maggie¡¯s attempt to bail Manuel out of trouble with mere words was impossible. She turned her gaze to Sebastian. ¡°Why don¡¯t you exin things to Mr. Hadley, Sebastian? Tell him where you were over the past few days. Don¡¯t put Mr. Hadley and the Taggart family in a bad spot.¡± Chapter 552 Comeback Chapter 552 Comeback The threat in Maggie¡¯s voice was evident, but she had overlooked the most important point. Though Sebastian was a Taggart, he was not raised by them, and he had gotten everything he had through his own means. After his graduation, he began working for Nathaniel. To the Taggart family, Sebastian was insignificant. Sebastian had advised Madison against her reckless endeavors out of courtesy, yet she was undeterred. In fact, she went so far overboard that she dragged her family down with her. In any case, Sebastian did not owe the Taggart family a thing. Even if he did, he had cleared. his debts a long time ago. The Taggart family not only knew about Manuel torturing him, but they also condoned it. I do not deign to align myself with such a selfish family. Sebastian understood Nathaniel. Despite his cold exterior, he values me enough, or he wouldn¡¯t have entrusted me with the mission of setting Manuel up so he coulde to the Taggart residence to cause trouble under the guise of a rescue mission. Sebastian turned his head upward to disy the scars on his cheek beneath the bright lights. His narrow eyes glinted coldly. ¡°You are old, Old Mrs. Taggart, but not senile. You must know that Manuel kidnapped me firstly as leverage to get you back, as he coveted the assets under your name. Before he manages to get them, he could not allow anything to happen to you.¡± Realizing that his carefully veiled plot was about to be exposed, Manuel was livid. ¡°Watch your mouth, Sebastian!¡± ¡°Silence, Manuel!¡± Maggie snapped. ¡°Let him finish.¡± Manuel clenched his fists. Like a venomous snake himself, he fixed his re upon Sebastian. Sebastian smirked. ¡°Secondly, Manuel intended to use me to strongarm Mr. Hadley. Failing to prove himself to lead the Taggart family, he intends to take a shortcut and ckmail Mr. Hadley for some money to show for his abilities.¡± Maggie nced coldly at Manuel. Her eyes seemed to pierce through him and expose his innermost secrets in the merciless spotlight. Manuel grew nervous. ¡°Don¡¯t believe a word they say, Grandma.¡± Maggie clutched her rosary beads. She was so impassive that nobody could tell what she was thinking. Nathaniel thought it was an opportune moment to speak. ¡°If you would like to see the evidence, Old Mrs. Taggart, it can be arranged.¡± As soon as he spoke, the butler of the Taggart family entered hurriedly and stopped before Maggie to whisper something in her ear. Maggie turned pale. ¡°What did you say?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The butler was grave. He cast a mysterious nce at Manuel before whispering, ¡°It¡¯s true. They¡¯re here and are waiting outside.¡± Manuel became increasingly uneasy. Maggie steered her wheelchair and stopped before Manuel, then beat him with her cane. ¡°You little sh*t! How did the Taggart family produce such a degenerate like you?¡± Manuel was stunned by the blows raining down upon him, but he could not avoid them. Instead, he stood there resolutely. ¡°What happened, Grandma?¡± he cried indignantly. ¡°Why are you hitting me?¡± At that moment, a group of uniformed police officers entered. The one in the lead swept at nce around before speaking cordially. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to be turning up under such circumstances, Old Mrs. Taggart, but I¡¯m afraid it cannot wait,¡± he announced briskly. ¡°We have been investigating an international financial. crime ofte, and your grandson, Manuel Taggart, is one of the people involved. Also, he ist implicated in a kidnapping case, of which evidence is right here before us. We must do our duty and bring him back with us to aid in our investigation.¡± Manuel was aghast. The color drained from his face. ¡°Impossible. You must have been mistaken!¡± ¡°Without evidence,¡± the man rumbled, ¡°we would note. Please cooperate, Mr. Taggart.¡± Manuel hid behind Maggie and fell to his knees. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, Grandma,¡± he begged. ¡°You have to help me.¡± Maggie had raised Manuel. Despite his questionable character, she knew he would not daremit a crime. Maggie¡¯s heart ached, but she maintained her scowl. ¡°You mentioned something about an international financial crime my grandson is involved in. The Taggart family has a vast portfolio. You should be more specific if you want your usations to sound more believable.¡± ¡°It is an investment for a medical project in Koandria; I am not at liberty to discuss any more than that. He himself knows whether or not he is involved,¡± the captain said before turning to his men. ¡°Take him away.¡± ¡°How is that possible? Manuel widened his eyes in disbelief. He was about to make a run for it when two officers pinned him to the ground and cuffed him. ¡°There must be a misunderstanding. That¡¯s a large project. Nathaniel is involved too! Why are you only apprehending me and not him?¡± ¡°We are acting based on avable evidence,¡± the captain said coldly without borating further. As ifing to a realization, Manuel turned his bloodshot eyes onto Nathaniel. ¡°It¡¯s you! You set me up. F*ck you, you vicious b*stard!¡± Amidst themotion. the lights outside flickered and soon disappeared. The image of Manuel being escorted away in handcuffs took the inte by storm. Maggie slumped, defeated, in her wheelchair. ¡°What has the Taggart familye to?¡± she croaked. ¡°Seeing as matters are resolved here. I should be leaving with my man. Take care, Old Mrs. Taggart. Turning to Sebastian, Nathaniel added. ¡°Can you walk?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Gritting his teeth, Sebastian rose to his feet and hobbled behind Nathaniel. Throughout it all, Nathaniel did not take a single nce behind him. He sent Sebastian to the hospital and apanied him through thetter¡¯s consultation. Though he had other employees to delegate the task to, Nathaniel remained by his side the entire time until Sebastian entered his ward. ¡°Get well soon. I¡¯m putting you on paid leave.¡± Nathaniel said curtly as he stood by the bed. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hadley. You don¡¯t have to-¡± Nathaniel interrupted, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. Lucas is in the ward next door. I¡¯m just on my way there.¡± Sebastian froze before smiling knowingly. ¡°Indeed, I have misunderstood. How is Mr. Lucas? Is it serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a case of heavy metal poisoning.¡± Nathaniel exined. ¡°By design, it seems. We¡¯re still trying to figure out who did it. He¡¯ll be discharged in a few days. Also, I¡¯ll have people look after you seeing as you¡¯ve hurt your leg to move about freely.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. I can manage on my own.¡± Despite the protests, nobody could dissuade Nathaniel once he made up his mind. Thus, he arranged for an experienced servant from the Hadley residence to attend to Sebastian¡¯s daily needs. When Nathaniel returned to Scenic Garden Manor after dealing with Sebastian, he found Christina sitting on the couch in the living room, savoring the broadcast of the Taggart family¡¯s scandal. Sensing his approach, Christina reached out and pulled him down next to her. ¡°Tell me everything, Nathaniel. I understood the international financial crime Manuel is involved in, but what about the kidnapping charges? Who did he abduct?¡± Chapter 553 That Means You Like Me Chapter 553 That Means You Like Me When Nathaniel saw the edge of her dress pulled up to her calf, he took off his suit jacket to cover her legs. Christina looked at him in confusion. Nathaniel gently said, ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, so don¡¯t catch a cold. Even though the living room is constantly kept warm, it won¡¯t do us any harm to stay on the safe side. Be good, okay? I¡¯ll slowly tell you about it.¡± Christina buried herself in his arms and urged, ¡°Hurry up, Nathaniel!¡± Holding her hands, he slowly rubbed them and said, ¡°He kidnapped Sebastian.¡± ¡°What?¡± Christina gasped. ¡°When was this? Why didn¡¯t I hear anything about this?¡± As Nathaniel stared at Christina¡¯s resentful gaze, he patiently exined what happened. By the end of it, Christina was gritting her teeth in fury. ¡°None of the Taggart family are good people!¡± Realizing who she had just included, she quickly added, ¡°Except Sebastian. They can¡¯tpare to him.¡± Nathaniel was protective and biased toward his people, and Christina¡¯s protectiveness was even more intense than his. Dotingly, Nathaniel pinched her earlobes and said, ¡°The crimes of these two cases are more than enough to make Manuel and the Taggart family pay a painful price for what they¡¯ve done.¡± There were some things Christina could not wrap her mind around, however. ¡°I remember Hadley Corporation getting the chance to invest in Koandria¡¯s medical project, so how did you find out that there was something wrong with the project?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard to look into this, honestly. The person in charge of the medical project has a criminal record. Even though he had spent money to change his personal details, the more perfect it seems, the more suspicious it¡¯ll be. It¡¯s the same concept for the contract of the project. High risk means high return, but ording to the recent market analysis, the market isn¡¯t doing so well. It¡¯s rare for investment returns in medical projects to be more than sixty percent. The few sessful exceptions won¡¯t be enough to stop me from being suspicious about it. While it¡¯s true that Hadley Corporation has gotten the chance to invest in the project, they had not invested much into it. The loss of their funds is only a cover. Hadley Corporation is just a victim to the police, not the main investors. In contrast, Manuel had changed the Taggart family¡¯s assets into cash and signed an investment with Koandria¡¯s conglomerates to be an official investor. To establish his reputation and show off his capabilities, Manuel convinced a few of his friends to join him, and they had signed on with those conglomerates.¡± Hearing that, Christina finally understood what happened. As she hooked her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s neck, she chuckled. ¡°You set up Manuel to avenge Sebastian, didn¡¯t you?¡± Nathaniel did not deny it. ¡°Sebastian is one of my men, and his incident is partially my fault. He¡¯s good at his work. Moreover, it¡¯s not easy to rece him with someone else and train them until they can work well with me. Therefore, I might as well resolve the issue and have him return to work for me.¡± Christina then said, ¡°I¡¯ve asked the kitchen staff to make some chicken soup. I¡¯ll bring some for Sebastian when I visit himter,¡± Christina said earnestly. ¡°As you wish. I have work, so I won¡¯t be able to keep youpany for now. Tell me when you¡¯re about to leave for the hospital so I cane along with you.¡± With Sebastian absent, Nathaniel had more work to do, for he could not be at ease if he were to leave the essential work to the others. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll go and take a look at the kitchen to see if they¡¯re done with the soup.¡± With that said. Christina climbed out of his arms and headed to the kitchen. Nathaniel returned to the study to continue working. In the afternoon, Christina and Nathaniel went to the hospital together. When they opened the door to Sebastian¡¯s ward, Christina greeted Victoria. ¡°Christina, are you here to visit Oldster too?¡± Victoria seemed to be ill at ease when she saw Christina and Nathaniel. In fact, she even seemed like she was trying to cover up something. ¡°I was visiting a friend in the hospital when I heard that Oldster¡¯s injured and in the hospital too, so I came over to take a look at him.¡± Not only was there a fancy fruit basket on the bedside table, but there was also a bouquet of flowers too. It was clear from those two items¡¯ packaging that the person who brought them had made a careful selection of what to bring. Christina knew what was going on, but she made noments about it. As she shoved the thermal food jar into Victoria¡¯s arms, she said with a half-smile, ¡°I¡¯ve brought chicken soup for Mr. Taggart. Mr. Taggart isn¡¯t too mobile at the moment, so please pour out the soup for him. Lucas needs someone to keep himpany, so Nathaniel and I won¡¯t disturb your alone time any longer.¡± The thermal food jar in Victoria¡¯s hands abruptly felt like a hot potato she wanted to throw away. She was at a loss, and she said, ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve misunderstood the situation. I actually¡­¡± That Means You Like Me Christina gave Sebastian a long look before nudging Victoria. ¡°We¡¯re all adults, and we can love whoever we want to. Don¡¯t be shy and just court him if you like him. Otherwise, you¡¯ll regret it in the future. Do your best. I have faith in you.¡± Nathaniel quietly nced at Sebastian and Victoria. After that, Christina towed Nathaniel away, never forgetting to close the door behind her. Sebastian was not expecting Christina to be so straightforward. Clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment, he said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley likes to joke, so don¡¯t take her words to heart. I don¡¯t bear those thoughts toward you.¡± Victoria was shy at the start, but when she heard Sebastian¡¯s words, she turned furious. ¡°Sebastian, do you think I¡¯m not worthy of you?¡± Sebastian hastily exined, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant!¡± Victoria aggressively questioned, ¡°So you mean that you like me?¡± Sebastian had experienced many kinds of scenes and many types of difficult women, but he still could not hold his ground against Victoria¡¯s questioning. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you, but I don¡¯t like in that you way either.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t hate me, that means you like me.¡± Victoria pouted. In a manner akin to a prideful demon, she uttered, ¡°Oldster, you¡¯re not at all an honest man!¡± Sebastian let out a surprised ¡°huh¡± and forgot what he wanted to say next. Victoria¡¯s mood changed quicker than she could blink. Chuckling, she poured out the chicken soup to cool it as she muttered, ¡°But what can I do? I like smooth talkers. At the very least, they know what romance is.¡± Sebastian lowered his gaze and mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t understand romance.¡± Victoria shot him a re. ¡°I don¡¯t need your opinion; I just need mine.¡± As she shoved the bowl into his hands, she huffed and said, ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s hot. I had no one to shop with me while you were gone.¡± A wry smile grew on Sebastian¡¯s lips, but somehow, he felt happy. While he was mulling over the emotion, he did not move to drink the soup. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking it? Oh, I¡¯ve forgotten about how you aren¡¯t that mobile at the moment.¡± Before Sebastian could react to that, Victoria took the bowl from him and brought the spoon to his lips. ¡°Aren¡¯t you lucky? This is my first time serving someone, so don¡¯t you make anyments about it, or else you¡¯re on your own.¡± That Means You Like Me Material ? N?velDrama.Org. A joyous look shed past Sebastian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Lesley.¡± Victoria huffed and began feeding Sebastian patiently. Even though the chicken soup was salty, Sebastian felt a tinge of sweetness seeping into his heart. While Victoria was busy feeding him, she was also busy talking to him. ¡°How can we just let Manuel go? Why don¡¯t you say some nice things to me? If I¡¯m happy, I¡¯ll get someone to teach that man a lesson for you.¡± Chapter 554 Spilling The Beans Chapter 554 Spilling The Beans It would be a piece of cake for Victoria to deal with the waning Taggart family with her family background. Sebastian and Victoria had only met a few times, and they were not even friends yet. It was merely a coincidence that she would visit him at the hospital. Sebastian was a man who was easily satisfied, so he never tried to strive for things he knew he should not have. With a weak smile, he said, ¡°Ms. Lesley, thank you for your kind intentions, but Manuel has received the punishment he deserves, and Mr. Hadley has stood up for me. I don¡¯t wish to trouble anyone else.¡± A wave of frustration swelled in Victoria¡¯s chest when she heard how polite and distant he was. Bam! She roughly ced the bowl on the bedside table and hissed. ¡°So I¡¯m just ¡®someone else¡¯ to you. I thought we were at least friends after how long we knew each other, but it looks like I was making the wrong assumptions. I have other things to do, so goodbye.¡± At that, Victoria stormed out of the room with her bag, mming the door behind her. Sebastian stared at the closed door in confusion. I was speaking the truth, so why did she suddenly get so mad? When Sebastian mulled over his conversation with Victoria, a thought popped into his head. He finally realized why Victoria was so livid. It was not that Victoria had a bad temper but that he was too slow to realize what he had said. Sebastian bitterlyughed before wearily leaning back against the headboard. He closed his eyes. He desperately wished that he was wrong. He was only Nathaniel¡¯s assistant, and it was clear that he was no match for Victoria in terms of status. Although he was not close to the Taggart family, he could never erase the fact that he was one of the Taggarts. The terrible reputation of the Taggart family was going to be a burden he had to bear until the end of his life. With that thought in mind. Sebarrian bec miser import Right then eft clicking end of door opening rang out and Sebastian opened his eyes to look treurd it. It won then be ease Victoria with a frown on her face and ck of hot water in her hande chuffling inward Sebastion asked. Didn¡¯t you Didn¡¯t you leave As Victoria put the ck by the bedside table she huffed and exined. Did you think i wanted toe back? It¡¯s raining outside, but neither did I bring an umbre nor drive here Are you asking me to run in the rain? My clothes are expensive, and this is my first time wearing them. I can¡¯t bear to ruin them¡± The entire time. Sebastian kept his eyes on her as if he could not stop drinking at the sight of her Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Feeling uneasy from his stare, Victoria turned to fill a ss of hot water before putting it on the table ¡°I saw families of patients with sks in their hands when I walked past the pantry earlier. They said that hot water is good for your health, so I got a sk of that for you. I even ended up ruming my clothes while I was doing that¡± As she spoke, she showed Sebastian the hooked edge of her shirt. She then demanded, ¡°1 ruined my shirt because of you, so once you¡¯ve recovered, you ll have topensate me and continue shopping with me. You have no right to reject ine I¡¯ll take this as extrapensation! Sebastian¡¯s eyes were filled with mirth as he consoled, ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll keep youpany with anything you want to do.¡± His bright eyes captivated Victoria and it felt as if a warm nket had wrapped around her heart. A hint of crimson crept to the ups of her cars, and she averted her gaze before huffi ¡°Im d you¡¯re smart enough to answer that You¡¯re forgiven. I guess I¡¯ll let you be my friend The delight in his eyes grew more visible, and he found himself rxing Its my honor to be your friend. Ms Lesley Thank you for giving me a chance to turn over a new leat Victoria¡¯s ears became hotter and hotter Passing the ss of water to Sebastian, she then said. ¡°Drink up and rest quickly. Once the rain stops. I¡¯ll go back.¡± Instead of taking the ss from Victoria Sebastian craned his neck to drink from the ss while she continued holding it Victoria did not seem fazed by that. For the following days, Christina often appeared in Lucas¡¯ and Sebastian¡¯s wards. Victoria was smarter. She often came to visit Sebastian while Christina was away from the hospital, so the two women did not bump into each other for the next few days. Sebastian could keep a secret, so Christina did not know about the matter. However, that could not be said the same about Lucas. When Lucas could get down from the bed to move around and when he heard that Sebastian¡¯s ward was beside his, he started visiting Sebastian every few days to stave off his boredom. Hence, Lucas and Victoria eventually encountered each other. Victoria tried to bribe Lucas to make her visits a secret, and Lucas agreed to it, but on the day of his discharge, he identally spilled the beans when Christina and Nathaniel were around. When Christina and Nathaniel brought Lucas to bid Sebastian goodbye, Lucas scanned his surroundings and curiously asked, ¡°Mr. Taggart, has Ms. Lesley not visited you today? I¡¯d like to have some candies.¡± It was toote by the time Sebastian thought about covering Lucas¡¯ mouth. Christina turned to give him a long look, and Sebastian quickly cleared his throat. ¡°Mr. Lucas, Ms. Lesley has work to be busy with. She can¡¯t possiblye to the hospital every day, but if you want some candies, I can get them for you soon.¡± Lucas blinked and turned to look at Nathaniel and Christina. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, I¡¯m not lying. Ms. Lesley comes to the hospital every day to visit Mr. Taggart. I remember that well. She evenes thrice a day sometimes!¡± Sticking out three fingers, he emphasized. ¡°I¡¯m serious! It¡¯s bad to lie, so I don¡¯t do that.¡± Sebastian wished that he had somewhere to hide at that moment, for the way Christina was looking at him was giving him the heebie-jeebies. ¡°Oh my, no wonder Victoria has been telling me that she¡¯s busy when I try to meet with her. So she¡¯s busying to the hospital to take care of you, Mr. Taggart. I¡¯m surprised that girl knows how to take care of others now. That¡¯s good. If my master finds out that she has changed so drastically, she would be overjoyed,¡± Christina teased. On the other hand, Nathaniel was not that perturbed by Sebastian¡¯s love life, but he felt that he should chime in as well. ¡°Sebastian, you still have a while before your holiday ends, so you should have more meaningful things to do. Being in a rtionship is a good choice to rx.¡± Sebastian had never been as speechless as at that moment. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, Ms. He then pursed his lips before saying, ¡°Ms. Lesley is a serious, meticulous, and empathetic. girl.¡± Sebastian was surprised by how he had blurted out what was in his mind to Christina and Nathaniel. In response, Christina hummed in amusement. ¡°You¡¯re quick to defend her now.¡± Sebastian lowered his gaze and nervously gripped his nket. Dropping the smile, Christina then solemnly patted Sebastian¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Victoria¡¯s temper is due to how others spoiled her, but she doesn¡¯t have a bad nature. Mr. Taggart, you¡¯re a good man too. I think the two of you will make a good couple. You have my blessings.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gazended on the hand Christina had on Sebastian¡¯s shoulder. As he wrapped his arm around Christina¡¯s waist, he grabbed that hand. ¡°Mom, Dad, and Cam are at home waiting to see Lucas. Sebastian needs his rest, too, so let¡¯s head back.¡± Chapter 555 Single People Have Their Dreams Too Chapter 555 Single People Have Their Dreams Too Christina came to her senses abruptly. ¡°I almost forgot in my excitement. Mr. Taggart, rest well. Nathaniel, Lucas, and I will go back first. We¡¯lle to see you another day.¡± Sebastian felt relieved. The atmosphere in the hospital room was too awkward, and for the first time, he wished Christina and Nathaniel would leave quickly. ¡°Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, for your concern.¡± Lucas wanted to say something more, but Christina and Nathaniel took him away. The three of them got into the car before Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s hand. Leaning closer, she asked, ¡°Nathaniel, were you jealous just now?¡± Nathaniel replied seriously, ¡°No, why do you ask?¡± Christina smiled and leaned into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, whispering, ¡°You¡¯re lying. You were holding my hand so hard in the hospital room that it hurt. There¡¯s nothing between Mr. Taggart and me. You¡¯re just too sensitive. Your jealousy will be the death of you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s possessiveness and dominating behavior were only directed toward Christina. He didn¡¯t like it when she got too close to other men. Nathaniel lifted her hand and carefully inspected each finger, asking, ¡°Where did it hurt?¡± Christina yfully shook her head. ¡°I lied earlier. You can¡¯t punish me. We¡¯re even now.¡± Nathaniel smiled indulgently made a soft sound of agreement. Lucas looked at his parents, who were whispering to each other. He caught a few wo squeezed his chubby body between them. Then, he climbed to the spot beside Natha Curiously, he asked, ¡°What does it mean to be jealous?¡± Christina and Nathaniel exchanged a nce, then Christina pinched Lucas¡¯ nose, saying, ¡°That¡¯s an adult topic. Children shouldn¡¯t be curious about it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lucas nodded as if he understood and took out some candy from his pocket before handing it to Nathaniel. ¡°Daddy, you can have my candy. Don¡¯t be jealous. I think jealousy won¡¯t taste as good as candy.¡± Nathaniel was visibly taken aback for a moment. Then, he scooped Lucas into his arms with a pleased smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Clever little rascal, where did you learn these tricks to please people?¡± He put the candy away by cing it in his suit pocket. Lucas giggled mischievously and looked up at Nathaniel with innocent eyes. ¡°Whenever Mr. Taggart upsets Ms. Lesley, he gives her candy to make her happy. I even saw them kissing.¡± Children often spoke their minds without reservations. Christina had known there was something between Sebastian and Victoria, but she didn¡¯t expect things to progress so quickly. Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org. Nathaniel furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Lucas, you¡¯re still a child. You mustn¡¯t imitate them. Some things are only meant for when you grow up. Do understand?¡± Lucas nodded again. ¡°I understand, Daddy.¡± Nathaniel ruffled his son¡¯s hair in response. Soon, the car arrived at the Hadley residence. After the door opened, Lucas ran toward the mansion like an unleashed wild horse. ¡°Grandpa, Grandma, Cam, I¡¯m back!¡± Christina and Nathaniel followed behind while exchanging a helpless smile. ¡°Nathaniel, I want to prepare a wedding gift for Mr. Taggart and Victoria. What do you think?¡± Christina had a feeling that with the way things were progressing, Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s wedding would be soon. ¡°You decide. I don¡¯t have anything in mind.¡± Even if Christina didn¡¯t mention it, Nathaniel would reward Sebastian when the time came. Christina gently grasped Nathaniel¡¯s arm and said with excitement, ¡°I haven¡¯t got a either. I¡¯ll let you know when I figure it out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel nodded. The scandal of the Taggart family stayed on the online trending list for several days, but Manuel¡¯s arrest was merely the catalyst for the beginning of the Taggart family¡¯s downfall. After what happened to Manuel, numerous charges were brought against the Taggart family, and their company¡¯s market value plummeted within a few days. Shareholders withdrew their investments to save themselves, and the once-ttered Taggart family instantly became an object of ridicule. With Nathaniel¡¯s involvement, no one dared to lend a helping hand to the Taggart family. Like a dying flower, the Taggart family wilted overnight and quickly disappeared from the public eye. Maggie fell ill and became bedridden, and her coveted fortune quickly became the target of others. Once Nathaniel had achieved the desired effect, he did notpletely destroy the Taggart family. He handed over the final decision-making to Sebastian and turned a blind eye to any private contact between the Taggart family members and Sebastian. Sebastian had his principles and limits. He didn¡¯t ept the Taggart family¡¯s attempts to win him over and even rejected the multi-million inheritance offered by Maggie. This was equivalent to proving to everyone that he and the Taggart family were no longer associated. The farce with the Taggart family finally came to a quiet end. Christina and Nathaniel didn¡¯t give up on investigating the culprit behind Lucas¡¯ poisoning. The investigation was progressing steadily but slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll return home after the fashion show. Rayne will be with me all the time. You don¡¯t have toe to pick me up, either. Stay at home and spend more time with Lucas and Cam. They¡¯ve been insisting on seeing you when said in a gentle tone over the phone as s¡± were away on your business trip,¡± Christina sat in the car heading to the venue. Nathaniel¡¯s warm and maic voice echoed in her ear. ¡°Then dress warmly. The evening temperature in the suburbs can be quite low. Don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± Christina looked up and saw Rayne signaling her while holding a promotional booklet. She quickly said, ¡°I have something to attend to, so I won¡¯t chat with you for now. See you tonight.¡± After ending the call, Christina took the promotional booklet from Rayne. ¡°Mr. Hadley must be worried that you¡¯ll fall for some handsome man at the fashion show and run away with him. Otherwise, why would he be so clingy?¡± Rayne teased. ¡°Well, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Being single, you wouldn¡¯t understand. I advise. you to find a boyfriend and experience romance instead of burying yourself in work every day,¡± Christina yfully retorted. ¡°Hey, being single is fine too. Single people also have human rights and dreams they want to pursue. Dealing with work-rted matters and John are enough to annoy me. I don¡¯t want to add more trouble to my life,¡± Rayne replied in a dismissive tone. At the mention of John, Christina became curious. ¡°After working together with John for so long, haven¡¯t you two developed any mutual understanding during work?¡± Rayne wore a helpless expression as she leaned weakly against the chair. ¡°Christina, do you think John and I are destined to sh in life? Every time we meet, it¡¯s like we¡¯re enemies. We always try to outdo each other.¡± Christina skimmed through the fashion show promotional booklet absentmindedly and said, ¡°Fighting and teasing each other could be your unique way of flirting and getting along.¡± Rayne looked at Christina in horror with an expression resembling that of seeing a ghost. Goosebumps rose all over her body. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t joke with me. It¡¯s impossible between me and John. I don¡¯t like him, and he doesn¡¯t like me. How could we be flirting? Ah, let¡¯s not talk about these troublesome things. Let me tell you about the fashion show.¡± With lingering fear, Rayne changed the subject. The fashion show was a runway event for international luxury brands, so Christina¡¯s privately-owned brand wasn¡¯t qualified to participate. However, her brand did gain enough recognition for her to receive an invitation to the show as a renowned designer. Christina¡¯s gaze finally settled on the guest list, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips. Chapter 556 Testing The Waters Chapter 556 Testing The Waters Arriving at the venue, Christina and Rayne entered the hall together. The ce was filled with guests who were prominent figures from Jadeborough and influential people who hade from all over the world to attend the show. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°I just saw an acquaintance. I¡¯ll go and say hello. You find a ce to sit and rest, and I¡¯lle back to you soon,¡± Rayne said, getting up and walking toward a foreign woman not far away while holding the skirts of her dress. They greeted each other and exchanged pleasantries. Christina didn¡¯t like socializing with people in such a manner. She casually found a secluded. spot to sit down, then grabbed a bite to appease her hunger since the fashion show was still half an hour away. With her pregnancy, she couldn¡¯t afford to go hungry. Suddenly, Christina caught a glimpse of Anya¡¯s figure weaving through the guests. Anya was heading straight in Christina¡¯s direction. As Anya approached and finally caught sight of Christina, her breath hitched. Feeling panicked, she quickly turned her head and hurriedly walked away in another direction. Christina stared thoughtfully at Anya¡¯s fleeing figure. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that thetter was intentionally avoiding her. Taking out a tissue, she wiped the dessert crumbs from her hands. Then, she got up walked in the direction where Anya had disappeared. As the fashion show prepared to begin, the guests were busy finding familiarpanions to sit with. Feeling restless, Anya held a ss of red wine and drank it while lost in her thoughts,pletely unaware that there was now someone in the empty seat beside her. Christina observed Anya¡¯s peculiar behavior and greeted, ¡°Hello, Anya. Long time no see.¡± Ssh! Startled, Anya lost her grip on her ss and spilled the red wine not only on herself but also Christina. Ignoring the incident, Christina leaned closer. ¡°Anya, you seem afraid to see me.¡± Anya stood up abruptly, ring at Christina. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I be afraid of you? Don¡¯t overestimate yourself!¡± Christina tilted her head, taking in Anya¡¯s pale face with a mocking expression. ¡°If you¡¯re not afraid of me, then why did you run away as soon as you saw me? Even now, I¡¯ve only said a few words, yet you appear as if you¡¯ve seen a ghost. Look, you¡¯re all pale with fright.¡± Anya¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Christina continued in a cold tone, ¡°Anya, could it be that you¡¯ve done something wrong by me, so now you¡¯re so afraid that you¡¯re actively trying to avoid me?¡± ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Anya angrily retorted, trying to leave. However, her wrist was forcefully grabbed by Christina. They were in a rtively remote location, and besides the two of them, there were no other guests at this particr table. Thus, Christina had no need to hold back. Christina looked at Anya coldly. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been visiting Lucas and Cam¡¯s kindergarten frequently ofte and that you¡¯ve been giving them gifts. That¡¯s not something I would expect you to do.¡± Anya¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Do you think I wanted to? Just because you¡¯re not filial and don¡¯t care about family doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m heartless like you. Grandma and Uncle Timothy miss the children. Is it wrong for me to fulfill my duty to them?¡± Her words sounded righteous, and her tone was confident. ¡°You did those things willingly; no one forced you.¡± Christina narrowed her eyes. dangerously. ¡°If you care so much about Lucas and Cam, why haven¡¯t I seen you. Lucas in the hospital?¡± Anya was speechless at those words. At that time, she was busy returning to Hallsbay to seek her father¡¯s help and had no time for anything else. It was only a few days ago when Nigel told her that everything had been taken care of and no one would trace it back to her that she dared to set foot in Jadeborough again. The Taggart family had already been defeated, and there wouldn¡¯t be much attention given. to Madison¡¯s death. It was precisely because of this realization that Anya became so reckless. Anya wasn¡¯t afraid of the Taggart family, but she dreaded Christina. Christina was too clever, and if she suspected anything, Anya¡¯s future would be ruined. Thus, when she saw Christina, she couldn¡¯t control her instincts and desperately wanted to keep a distance from the latter. Christina¡¯s tone became more intimidating. ¡°Are all those things you said earlier just lies? When you privately contacted Lucas and Cam, it was never about being nice to them on behalf of Grandma and my father but about harming the children.¡± Anya looked at her in shock. ¡°I didn¡¯t harm the children. Don¡¯t falsely use me. Your son fell ill and was hospitalized, but what¡¯s that got to do with me? I never harmed him.¡± She was at risk of losing control of her emotions as she continued, ¡°Yes, I gave them gifts, but those were just some small toys. They didn¡¯t even spare a nce and casually threw those gifts away. Since they belittle me and waste my good intentions like that, why should I keep trying to please them? During the time your son was hospitalized, I was in Hallsbay. Why would I fly over just to please an ungrateful brat like him? It¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Anya only gave them some small toys as gifts? Christina seized on that point and fabricated a story to deceive Anya. ¡°You knew Lucas has a respiratory illness and can¡¯t tolerate anything with fragrance. Why did you give him a velvet flower?¡± Anya¡¯s anger surged. ¡°Can¡¯t you understand humannguage? I only gave them a few sets of toys like toy excavators and Transformers. They¡¯re just toys that little boys like. I detest fluffy things the most, so there¡¯s no way I would give them velvet flowers. Maybe it was at promotional gift from the toy store, and the store clerk put it in the bag without my knowledge.¡± She noticed the curious gazes from the surroundings and quickly left, leaving Christina behind. Christina furrowed her brows, deep in thought. Could Lucas¡¯ poisoning be unrted to Anya? Then does that mean I¡¯m at a dead end? No, I still have to confront Anya and rify the situation. Maybe I missed some crucial clues. Thus, Christina stood up to chase after Anya. As she passed through the backstage area, she identally collided with one of the staff members. Instinctively, Christina covered her belly, shielding it. Fortunately, she fell backward onto a soft couch, which cushioned the impact to some extent. She was unharmed, but the other person fell to the ground instead and ended up with a scraped elbow. ¡°Sorry. Are you okay?¡± Christina realized the person was a runway model, and she felt guilty. ¡°Don¡¯t you have eyes? Watch where you¡¯re walking! I¡¯m injured now, so how am I going to go on stage later? Oh, Christina! It¡¯s you!¡± Emilia looked up and recognized the culprit. At that moment, her gaze turned venomous, and she gritted her teeth. ¡°What bad luck to run into you everywhere!¡± The trace of guilt in Christina¡¯s heart vanished instantly when she heard Emilia¡¯s spiteful words ¡°Emilia, this ce is bustling with people. I bumped into you, that¡¯s true, but it doesn¡¯t mean I did it on purpose. You also have your share of responsibility. Was there a need to resort to abusive words?¡± Chapter 557 Plot Twist. Chapter 557 Plot Twist. Even though Emilia was down-and-out, her arrogance andpetitiveness wouldn¡¯t allow her to be treated like a doormat, especially by Christina. She deliberately dusted her gown and said. ¡°The brand has specially invited me to be their model. Do you know the price of this dress I¡¯m wearing? How expensive it is? This is a keepsake from an exhibition. Money can¡¯t buy this. Now, it¡¯s tainted because of you. It¡¯ll be difficult to exin to the sponsor, so you should be d to receive only a few words of criticism from me.¡± Christina looked the gown up and down and noticed the high-quality silk and the medieval royalty style. Other than the diamond brooch pinned on Emilia¡¯s chest, the gown¡¯s value hadn¡¯t reached the level of exhibition memorabilia. The most striking part of the dress was the hand-sewn logo. Coincidentally, Christina was closely acquainted with the designers of the brand. She raised her brow at Emilia¡¯s words. ¡°Emilia, why haven¡¯t you fixed your habit of lying even after all the lessons you learned?¡± Having such an embarrassing side of her exposed in front of the crowd had anger coursing through Emilia. She lost control of her emotions and was unable to stop from raising her voice. ¡°Christina, how dare a wanton b*tch like you say anything about me!¡± Themotion attracted the attention of the staff. Worried the two women would break into a fight, the production assistant immediately. ditched the work at hand and rushed over. ¡°Ms. Emilia, it¡¯s almost your turn to go on the runway. The reporters are right outside. It¡¯ll affect your image if any one of them takes a picture. You can always settle whatever issue you have between the two of you privately.¡± Emilia shot a fierce re at the production assistant, then showed him her injured arm. ¡°This woman hurt me, and the gown is dirtied. How can I walk the runway under such circumstances? Won¡¯t it cast the brand in a negative light?¡± The production assistant nearly cked out when he caught therge ck stain on the back. of the dress. His head throbbed in pain from the stress. All the guests invited to the fashion show tonight might be part of the upper echelon of society, but the production assistant was merely an employee. He would have to bear responsibility if anything happened to the specially invited model. Assuming Christina was a spineless doormat, he immediately directed his anger at her. ¡°Miss, shouldn¡¯t you apologize and take responsibility for your recklessness?¡± Emilia¡¯s confidence grew when the production assistant took her side. ¡°We should take her to the brand manager and exin the situation. Otherwise, things might get out of hand. After all, this dress is extremely valuable.¡± Christina agreed readily, ¡°Sure, Coincidentally, I have something to discuss with the brand manager too. Lead the way.¡± Emilia thought Christina would try toe up with an excuse to flee and had already. thought up ways to deflect them, but all of it went down the drain at Christina¡¯s response. The production assistant demanded, ¡°Follow me.¡± Christina and Emilia trailed after the production assistant and arrived at a makeup room backstage. He had Christina and Emilia wait at the door while he went inside to search for the brand manager. The production assistant spoke humbly with a young woman who appeared to be of mixed- race descent. She frowned with dissatisfaction and followed the production assistant¡¯s gaze to look at the two women who stood at the door. In the next instant, surprise shed across the brand manager¡¯s eyes as she raced toward them. Worried the brand manager would lose her temper and make things worse, the production assistant hurriedly followed her. The minute she caught the brand manager approaching, Emilia opened her mouth to speak, but the former brushed past her and engulfed Christina in an enthusiastic hug and a cheek kiss. Her actions stunned Emilia and the production assistant. After that, Christina and the brand manager conversed in Ferropenian, so Emilia couldn¡¯t join in on the conversation since she couldn¡¯t understand even a lick of it. Uneasiness rose within her. She was scared Christina would badmouth her to the brand manager. The brand manager finally gave Emilia her attention. ¡°You¡¯re the specially invited model for our brand?¡± the brand manager asked with a crease between her brows. Emilia swiftly shot a nce at Christina before nodding. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m employed for three events. with your brand. This is the first one.¡± The brand manager demanded directly, ¡°Take off your gown and hand it over to my assistant. Someone will being over to talk to you about terminating your employment contract. You may leave once you¡¯re done changing. Not any model can walk the runway for Emilia felt as though she had been struck by lightning. Staring dazedly at the brand. manager, she asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least give me a reason for terminating my contract?¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. The brand manager folded her hands over her chest and said, ¡°I¡¯m the brand manager, so I have the authority to choose and decide who walks the runway. That¡¯s my problem, and you don¡¯t have the right toment on my decisions.¡± Emilia¡¯s face paled at her harsh words. A lingering humiliation welled up within her. The production assistant didn¡¯t dare to say a word when he noticed the situation wasn¡¯t in his favor. Christina turned to the brand manager. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking my leave since I still have something to deal with. Pass my greeting to Madam. I¡¯ll visit her when I¡¯m free.¡± The brand manager tugged on Christina¡¯s hand longingly. ¡°We finally get to meet, and this is first time being in charge of a fashion show solo. With your vast experience, why don¡¯t. you stay and give me some pointers?¡± Christina wanted to stay and talk since it was rare to meet an old friend, but Rayne would freak out if she couldn¡¯t find her. Moreover, she still needed to confront Anya about the whole situation. With so many issues pending, Christina had no choice but to turn down. Andy¡¯s offer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Andy. I still have things to do, so I can¡¯t stay here long. Let¡¯s set up a time for a meal once the fashion show ends.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving Jadeborough right after this event ends. Since you¡¯re busy, I won¡¯t hold you. any longer. Let¡¯s talk on the phone.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m leaving. Talk to youter.¡± Christina whirled around and left without sparing another backward nce. In her urgency to keep her job, Emilia didn¡¯t have the time or effort to cause trouble for Christina. ¡°Ms. Andy, although there¡¯s some dispute between Christina and me, you terminate my contract without investigating the issue properly.¡± ¡°You think I terminated your contract to get back at you on Christina¡¯s behalf? You¡¯re right. That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m doing. You should discern who you can and can¡¯t mess with after this incident. Production assistant, take her away already! Do you think someone with no business here should be in the makeup room? Throw her out of here.¡± The brand manager¡¯s tone was dripping with disdain. Sensing the situation had gotten more serious, the production assistant dragged Emilia to the dressing room, ordered the staff to strip her from the dress, and tossed her out of the venue. Shame filled Emilia at the treatment she received. Her mood plummeted. Ignoring the requests from her friends asking for video clips of the event, she swiftly deleted. the post of her dressed in the gown. Suddenly, she caught a hurried figure passing by. After a few seconds of hesitation, she followed the rushing figure. ¡°May I speak with you, Ms. Gibson?¡± Chapter 558 Not Sincere Enough Chapter 558 Not Sincere Enough Hearing the voice, Anya nced over at the owner. It was clear she detested Emilia from the way she looked at thetter. She said impatiently, ¡°You must be Emilia. If you¡¯re trying to borrow money from me because of Christina, forget it. Christina is now more important than me.¡± Emilia appeared embarrassed. ¡°Ms. Gibson, you¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m not here for money. There are just some things I need to know about Christina. Perhaps, we can be friends.¡± When Anya heard that, sheughed with disdain. Her arrogant attitude made Emilia wish. that the ground could swallow her whole. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? What makes you think you are fit to be my friend? I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re a destitute daughter in your family. The fact that you are Christina¡¯s stepsister alone means that there is nothing we have to talk about.¡± Emilia clenched her fists and controlled her urge to hit Anya. Instead, she said with a humble smile. ¡°Ms. Gibson, we can¡¯t be too absolute in our words and decisions. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. You hate Christina, and so do I. Why don¡¯t we work together and deal with her? How about that?¡± Anya considered Emilia¡¯s suggestion seriously. After a long while, she turned her down. ¡°Even if I have beef with Christina, that¡¯s between me and her. I¡¯m not in such a wretched position that I need outside help.¡± Emilia had been defeated by Christina. If she were any good, she would not have fallen that far from grace by going from a popr actress to a frence model. One look and Anya could tell that Emilia was not an intelligent girl. Emilia was the type who was always up to no good but thought she was a smart person. Anya was not interested in someone as lowly as her. Anya mumbled in displeasure, ¡°I thought you were going to tell me something important. It turns out to be something irrelevant. Stop wasting my time.¡± With that, she quickly turned around and left. Emilia felt very embarrassed. Everyone bullied her and looked down on her! This is all Christina¡¯s fault! Emilia¡¯s hatred for Christina became more intense than before. If she had to go down, she would drag Christina with her. Despite searching the whole fashion show venue, Christina still failed to locate Anya. Instead, she bumped into Rayne, who was looking for her. ¡°Where were you just now? You didn¡¯t answer your phone or return my messages. I was about to die of fright.¡± There was still a lingering fear in Rayne¡¯s heart. ¡°If anything untoward happens to you, your beloved will skin me alive.¡± Christina checked her phone before smiling apologetically at Rayne. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I identally put my phone on silent mode. Earlier, I got too tired of sitting down, so I went for a walk.¡± Rayne stared at her tummy and asked, ¡°Are you not feeling well? Why don¡¯t we head home? There¡¯s really nothing spectacr at this fashion show.¡± Christina nodded with a slight smile. ¡°All right then. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Both Anya and Emilia had spoiled her mood. Furthermore, Christina did not like crowded. ces. Since she had already met and chatted with her senior, Andy, it was not a wasted trip. Rayne genuinely thought that Christina was feeling unwell, so she gave the pregnant woman her utmost attention and care on their way home. Christina was flustered by her attention andughed helplessly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You are a very capable staff of mine. Nobody can touch you without my approval. Rayne patted her chest with relief and said, ¡°Because of what you have just said, I¡¯m willing to do anything for you.¡± Christinaughed out loud in response. Soon, they arrived at Scenic Garden Manor. Rayne only left in peace after seeing Christina. walk into the mansion with her own eyes. At that moment, Nathaniel was dealing with some work-rted emails in the living room. When he heard soundsing from the foyer, he put down hisptop and made his way there. ¡°You¡¯re back. Are you tired?¡± He took her bag from her and led her to the living room while holding her waist. ¡°Do you want to eat something? I can get the cook to make something for you.¡± Christina leaned on him and sat down on the couch with him. ¡°I¡¯m not tired. I met Anya at the banquet earlier on. She was behaving strangely.¡± She deliberately did not mention Emilia. Instead, she told Nathaniel everything she had. observed. To that, Nathaniel said, ¡°While investigating Madison¡¯s case, my men did find out something about Anya.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°What is it?¡± Nathaniel tightened his embrace and looked at her with gentleness in his eyes. ¡°Kiss me, and I will tell you.¡± In an instant, Christina blushed, but she was not ufortable. She reached out to hold Nathaniel¡¯s face with both her hands and gave a peck at the corner of his lips. ¡°There isn¡¯t enough sincerity,¡±ined Nathaniel as a sh of delight flittered across his eyes. He then held on to the back of her head and gave her a passionate kiss. It was after a long while before Nathaniel let go of her, contented. Christina was panting slightly, and her eyes were zed over. Nathaniel tried hard to control his urges as he said, ¡°The day something happened to Madison, Anya purchased an air ticket back to Hallsbay less than a couple of hours after arriving in Jadeborough. During those two hours, her whereabouts and what she had done. were a mystery. While she was waiting for her ne, she appeared very nervous, as if she was hiding something.¡± It was then Christina made a bold guess. ¡°If Anya is the one who ordered Madison to kidnap me, then that would exin her strange behavior. After Madison got caught, Anya was worried that she would be implicated. Hence, she decided to kill Madison to silence her.¡± Nathaniel kissed her on the cheek and carried her up the stairs. ¡°Before we have enough evidence, we mustn¡¯t alert the enemy. If the other party can extricate themselves from a murder case, they must have done quite a bit of preparation. It¡¯s gettingte. Washi up and go to bed. You can¡¯t stay upte.¡± Nathaniel finally managed to turn Christina¡¯s attention away from the case. After taking their shower, the two of themy in bed and had a lovey-dovey chat. Very soon, Christina fell asleep. After making sure that she was deep asleep, Nathaniel took his phone and walked out of the bedroom. He then made a call to his subordinate. ¡°Send someone to keep an eye on Anya and pay special attention to the movements of the Gibson family in Hallsbay.¡± Meanwhile, Emilia had gone to the hospital to have her injury seen to. Afterward, she returned to the dpidated rental house in exhaustion. When Miranda heard themotion, she went out and saw Emilia lying on the cold floor like a dead fish. She gave Emilia¡¯s shoulders a nudge and said, ¡°Emilia, don¡¯t sleep on the floor. You will catch a cold¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Emilia opened her eyes and stared angrily at Miranda. p! She smacked Miranda¡¯s hand away and comined with disdain. ¡°You¡¯re so dirty! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Miranda¡¯s face turned pale. Tve already taken a shower. I¡¯m not dirty.¡± That only infuriated Emilia further. She got up and stared at Miranda like thetter were her enemy. ¡°I have had enough of this wretched life! Why can¡¯t you be more useful and do something about it? Since you could seduce Gideon back then, why can¡¯t you go and seduce some other rich and powerful man now?¡± Chapter 559 We Shall See Chapter 559 We Shall See Emilia¡¯s words were like a sharp dagger, stabbing directly at Miranda¡¯s heart. Mortified beyond belief, Miranda couldn¡¯t control herself and pped Emilia right across her cheek. The moment her hand fell, Miranda regretted it. Emilia looked at her mother, her eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°How dare you hit me? What right do you have to hit me?¡± Stricken, Miranda pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Emilia. I didn¡¯t mean to. I was just too angry, and I couldn¡¯t control myself. Please, forgive me just this once.¡± She reached out her hand, hoping to examine Emilia¡¯s cheek, but thetter pushed her away. in disgust. ¡°Get away from me!¡± Emilia¡¯s words cut deeper than her actions. ¡°If you had listened to me back then and allowed me to rece Christina and marry Nathaniel, you wouldn¡¯t have been abandoned by the old rascal Gideon and forced to work as a janitor just to get by.¡± Staring at Emilia, Miranda gritted her teeth. ¡°Emilia, he¡¯s your father.¡± ¡°He doesn¡¯t deserve to be my father. He ruined us. When will you wake up?¡± Emilia retorted, her grip tightening on Miranda¡¯s shoulder as she spat in a vehement tone, ¡°Look at Sharon, then look at yourself. Are you content with being suppressed by that wretched Christina all your life? Today, she attended a grand banquet, looking all glorious. She caused me harm, and yet she made me lose my job and even ruined my reputation. I can never work as a model again!¡± Ovee with emotion, Emilia burst into tears. ¡°I want Christina dead. I want her dead!¡± Her roar echoed through the house, causing Miranda to mp a hand over Emilia¡¯s mouth in fear. ¡°Calm down, Emilia. The walls here are thin. You need to be quiet.¡± Pushing her away, Emilia broke into derangedughter. ¡°My future is ruined. What else do I have to lose? Even if I was in front of Christina herself, I¡¯d say the same.¡± ¡°Emilia, you¡¯re drunk. I¡¯ll help you back to your room to rest. You¡¯ll think clearer after a good night¡¯s sleep,¡± Miranda pleaded. ¡°I didn¡¯t drink. In fact, I¡¯m very clear-headed, and I know exactly what I¡¯m doing.¡± Emilia dered, picking up her purse from the floor and humming a tune as she retreated to her room. Miranda copsed to the floor, unable toprehend how her daughter had changed so drastically in such a short span of time. Earlier in the afternoon when Emilia had left for work, she had seemed normal. The sleepless night dragged on, and by morning. Emilia¡¯s elbow wound had worsened. She ignored the doctor¡¯s orders the previous evening and bathed, exposing her wound to hot water for over half an hour. By then, she was feverish and dizzy. Unable to bear it any longer, Emilia hurriedly got ready and headed to the hospital alone. Miranda had already left for work early, so Emilia had no one else to turn to. Sitting on a bench in the hospital¡¯s corridor, Emilia took a picture of her wound and edited it before sending it to Christina with a message that read: You injured me yesterday, and the wound has be serious. You need topensate me for my medical expenses. I¡¯m at the hospital waiting for you. We shall see what happens if you don¡¯t show up. Startled awake by the pinging notification on her phone, Christina fumbled about to bring the device into her sight. A jarring image of a mangled and bloody wound met her bleary. gaze, snapping her awake instantly. Suppressing a knot of unease welling up in her stomach, Christina replied: What¡¯s the total medical expense? I¡¯ll wire it to you. Emilia let out a scoff and replied: The doctor said the infection was serious and could lead to amputation. They¡¯ve insisted I be admitted immediately. Since you¡¯re responsible for causing this, shouldn¡¯t youe to take care of me? Christina furrowed her brows in displeasure as she texted: Out of a sense of duty, I¡¯ll cover all your medical expenses, but I¡¯m under no obligation to tend to you personally. I could arrange for a nurse instead. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Emilia red at her phone as if intending to bore a hole through it with her gaze alone. Christina remained utterly unresponsive to her bait! Pulling at her hair in frustration, Emilia caught a familiar figure shing by at the end of the hallway out of the corner of her eye. She quickly rose to her feet and followed. Emilia then spotted Sharon queuing at the payment counter. An opportunity had presented itself right when Emilia needed it the most. She smirked triumphantly and decided to seize the opportunity. With her mind made up, she took a photo of Sharon¡¯s back with her phone and promptly forwarded it to Christina with a caption that read: You can be cruel to an outsider like me, but can you truly disregard your foster mother who raised you? Christina, my health and spirit are deteriorating. Under duress, I might act impulsively. She doubted that Christina would still act indifferently after this As expected, Christina¡¯s reaction was intense as the replied Emilia, if you hold any resentment, direct it at me. Don¡¯t resolve the innocent. I¡¯lle over new. Do not act rectly. Emile stopped replying to Christina¡¯s messages Concerned, thetter dialed Sharon¡¯s number several times but to no avail Christina hurriedly changed her clothes and dashed out the door, oblivious to the butler calling out to her After Sharon collected her medicine from the pharmacy, she walked toward the hongeal exa alone with Kilis tailing her from a distance To Sharon¡¯s utmost dismay, she encountered the least person she wanted to see at the hongatal entrance, Gideon Emilie quickly hid behind a paller, watching as Sharon and Gadeon bumped into each other. Their mutual surprise suggested neither had an ipated meeting the other at the bogata ¡°Why are you here at the hospital Gideon noticed the bag of medicine in Sharon¡¯s hommee ¡°Are you ill? Why didn¡¯t Christina apany your Sharon stared nkly at the unfamiliar figure of Caderen, wondering why he had changed in drastically. The man looked a decade older than before, his features bearing traces of sickness the confident and arrogant gaze he once held was repeated with an air of timidity Memories flooded back, and a wave of resentment toward Gideon surged within Shuron of course, she wouldn¡¯t do anything to the man who had once sought her death, but the desired no further interaction with him. She ignored Gideon as if he were a ghost and walked straight past bien. Gideon nervously rubbed the hem of his shurt before he mustered the courage to grasp Sharoni¡¯s wrist. As quickly as he had probbed here, he released her and stammered. ¡°I-I won¡¯t harm you. 1 b-bear no ill will. I just wish to speak with you for a bar¡± Sharon reflexively stepped back, casting an inexplicable gaze at hun ¡°Gideon we¡¯re not even strangers to each other now. I have a new life ease respect that and stop diaturbeng me Gideon paled, and he shifted ufortably He was well aware that has alts were beyond forgiveness, and the person to whom he had let down mone was Shuron He desired to make amends, but he had already lost the right and the ability to do so. ¡°Emilia and Miranda won¡¯t trouble you and Christina anymore. They¡¯re penniless and without any influence, and I won¡¯t let them have the chance to turn their lives around,¡± he assured Sharon. Chapter 560 Both Sides Hurt Chapter 560 Both Sides Hurt Remnants of old love, are you? Let me destroy her face today to vent my mother¡¯s rage!¡± As her words hung in the air, Emilia fished a pen from her purse, yanked off the cover, and charged toward Sharon like a deranged woman. Unustomed to such intense encounters, Sharon was rooted to the spot, paralyzed with fear. Despite his frail and ailing body, Gideon put himself between the two women. During the scuffle, Sharon was forcefully pushed into the nearby flower bed. The tough stems and branches of the nts scratched her bare skin, leaving a bloody tableau that was as horrifying as it was pitiful. ¡°My goodness! That woman has gone mad! Someone call security!¡± An anonymous cry for help drew the attention of Christina who was passing by. Recognizing the figures embroiled in the scuffle, she gasped. ¡°Mom!¡± Closing in, she saw the condition Sharon was in. her body marred by countless wounds. ¡°Let me get a closer look at your wounds.¡± Pale-faced. Sharon weakly shook her head. ¡°Emilia has lost her mind. Leave immediately. Do not go near her.¡± She was concerned about the safety of the pregnant Christina. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re injured. I can¡¯t leave you here,¡± Christina said. As she spoke, Gideon, unable to withstand Emilia¡¯s blows, was toppled over. Emilia etched a deep gash near his eye with the pen. Blood sttered and chaos ensued. Bystanders, realizing the severity of the situation, intervened, pinning Emilia down until hospital security could arrive and prevent a greater tragedy. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to have your wounds treated.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t care less about the other two people. involved in the initial scuffle. Seeing as Gideon was only injured because he was trying to protect her, Sharon couldn¡¯t bear to leave him. alone. ¡°Christina, take him with us. After all, he once cared for you.¡± Casting a cold nce at Gideon, Christina replied, ¡°Someone will help him. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not an ungrateful person. He protected you, so I will cover his medical expenses.¡± Lying on the ground, Gideon was drained from the altercation. His vision blurred, his hearing muffled, and he could only faintly see the receding figures of Sharon and Christina. ¡°This is my family matter, and it¡¯s none of your business. Let me go!¡± Emilia panicked when she heard the head of the security team saying they would send her to the police station. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, go ask him. I¡¯m his daughter.¡± The head of the security team chided, ¡°How could you, as his daughter, beat him up this badly? I would have believed you if you said that he was your enemy. Well, whatever you have to say, say it to the police. You¡¯re at fault for causing amotion in the public.¡± Then, he ordered his team to send her away. Christina was anxiously waiting outside while Sharon was being treated for her injuries in the outpatient. clinic. In her nervous disarray, she contacted Nathaniel. ¡°Nat, Mom¡¯s hurt. She¡¯s bleeding all over, and I¡¯m all alone in the hospital¡­ I¡¯m so scared.¡± Her voice wavered, a trembling note of fear threaded through her words. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle to you right away. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here for you,¡± the man on the other end replied. Nathaniel, clutching his phone, sprang up from his seat and made a swift exit from the conference room, leaving the room full of high-ranking executives exchanging puzzled nces. After sharing her location with Nathaniel, Christina sat on a bench in the long corridor. Her body shivered. from a cold that seemed to seep into her very bones. Then, quite suddenly, she was enveloped in a warm, heavy coat. Theforting scent of Nathaniel wafted up from its fabric. She rose and practically threw herself into his waiting arms. ¡°You¡¯re finally here!¡± she cried out. Chapter 561 Only One Chapter 561 Only One Nathanari gently parted her back and offeredforting words ¡°Don¡¯t cry I¡¯ll be here with you every step of the way while you handle Mom ? situation.¡± Christina clutched at his shirt, her tears tooking through the fabric, Ierring a funny wet stain on his chest. She hareuped and spoke with a shaky voice. ¡°Tm grateful that you re by my side. Otherwise, I would bepletely lost * Nathaniel had spoilt her so much that she was entirely dependent on him. In times of trouble, he was the first person who came to her mind, knowing that he would always be there to lend a helping hand Her reliance on him pleased the man immensely. ¡°Let¡¯s head in and take a look.¡± Christina nodded, allowing Nathaniel to hold her hand and lead her into the outpatient clinic. Sharon¡¯s body was covered in numerous wounds, requiring the doctor and nurses to carefully dress them. It took some time to tend to all her injuries. When the curtains were drawn apart, Christina and Nathaniel saw Sharon¡¯s head and limbs were bandaged up. Unable to move, she could only cast a fleeting nce at them. After reading her report, the doctor told them. The patient is currently running a fever, and her wounds fright cause an infection. I would suggest that she remains hospitalized today for observation. She can go home to recuperate once her fever subsides.¡± Nathaniel said. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the admission procedures. Stay here and keep Mompany.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christina replied with a nod. The doctor then left a few instructions before telling the nurse to wheel Sharon to her ward ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you tell me you were sick?¡± Christina asked, overwhelmed with guilt. The demands of her pregnancy and managing her studio had consumed her attention, causing her to forget about Sharon ¡°It¡¯s not serious, and I can manage on my own. I don¡¯t want to trouble you while you¡¯re pregnant,¡± Sharon rasped weakly. ¡°Nathaniel is busy with work. Why did you ask him toe to the hospital? When he returns, tell him to go back to his office to resume work Christina felt a stab of fear when she recalled what happened earlier. ¡°You were already weak, to begin with, and now you¡¯re injured to the point where you can¡¯t even move. How can you say this is not serious?¡± As Nathaniel entered the ward afterpleting the admission procedures Sharon turned to him with pleading expression. ¡°Nathaniel, please tell Christina not to cry. It won¡¯t be good for her or the baby¡± Nathaniel replied, ¡°Mom, let Christina express her emotions. It isn¡¯t wise for her to bottle up her emotio either.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Well, my injuries are only superficial, and I can manage at home with some fever medication. It¡¯s not a serious situation, so why don¡¯t they discharge me now?¡± Sharon asked hopefully. She had spent a few years in the hospital previously and didn¡¯t enjoy being there. Christina¡¯s voice was hoarse as she spoke with teary eyes. ¡°No, the doctor has advised that you must stay in the hospital for observation as there is a risk of infection.¡± home tonight, it will be difficult for Christina to sleep as she¡¯ll be extremely worried about you.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay here for one night. Christina, you can¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s not good for you to stay up late either.¡± Sharon hastily agreed. Just like that, she was wheeled to the VIP ward by the nurse. After the eventful day, she soon fell into a deep slumber. Nathaniel hired a caregiver to stay with her for the night before leaving with Christina. At the elevator, Christina shook Nathaniel¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Nathaniel, Gideon got hurt while protecting my mom. I would like to visit him before we leave and also cover his medical expenses as a gesture of gratitude.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel brought her to the information desk, where they found out Gideon¡¯s room. They then took the elevator to the floor where the normal wards were located. Gideon was taken aback by Christina¡¯s visit. Just as he started to feel a flicker of excitement, he caught sight. of the man standing behind her. In an instant, fear consumed him, causing him to shrink back instinctively. He was still wary of Nathaniel until that very moment and never wanted to experience Nathaniel¡¯s ruthless tactics ever again. Despite his fear, Gideon was still worried about Sharon. ¡°Christina, how is your mom doing?¡± he asked. ¡°She¡¯s fine, save for some superficial injuries,¡± Christina exined as she sat down on the chair Nathaniel got for her. ¡°I¡¯d like to know what happened, and why Emilia wants you dead.¡± Gideon hung his head and averted his gaze. ¡°It was all my fault. I was the one who brought harm upon. your mom.¡± It was clear that he was reluctant to share, so Christina decided not to push him further. Instead, she took out a check and ced it on the bedside cab. ¡°Here¡¯s fifty thousand to cover your medical and recuperation expenses.¡± Gideon¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the check. In the past, greed might have consumed him. but now he was overwhelmed with anguish and guilt. ¡°Christina, I can¡¯t ept this,¡± he said, his voice filled with helplessness. ¡°I protected your mom because it was my fault she got into trouble. Please take the back. I¡¯m just grateful that you¡¯re here to visit me.¡± Christina got to her feet, making no move to retrieve the check. ¡°Just take it. I know you¡¯ll need it given your current condition. Besides, you know Mom well. She¡¯s kind-hearted and doesn¡¯t like feeling indebted to others. If you refuse to ept the money, it will only make her feel guilty. Considering her current health condition, I don¡¯t want unnecessary worries to consume her over such a trivial matter.¡± Gideon¡¯s hands trembled as he responded in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get going now. You¡¯re on your own.¡± Christina spun on her heels to leave. Nathaniel kept herpany the entire time but didn¡¯t say a word. Both Nathaniel and Christina had different ways of solving problems. If Nathaniel were to take action, things wouldn¡¯t be in Gideon¡¯s favor. It was well-known that Nathaniel was relentless in seeking the truth and uncovering secrets. No one could remain silent or hide information from him for long. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina didn¡¯t feel like moving. She clung onto Nathaniel like a ko bear and nuzzled against his nape. ¡°Nathaniel. I¡¯m sleepy. Are you heading to workter? ¡°I have a busy day at work today due to a quarterly meeting that I must attend. However, I can spare an hour to keep youpany while you take a nap. I promise I will make an effort to return home earlier than usual tonight,¡± Nathaniel assured her. ¡°That must be tiring for you. Nathaniel, am I too annoying?¡± Christina asked worriedly. Nathaniel massaged the back of her neck and replied affectionately, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I love that you depend on me. I¡¯m more than happy to spoil you, and no one has the right to criticize you.¡± Christina rewarded him with a light peck on the cheek. Pleased, she told him, ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re the best husband in the world. You¡¯re mine and mine alone.¡± ¡°Mm. I¡¯m yours, and you¡¯re my one and only.¡± Nathaniel carried her into the mansion and ced her on the couch. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance. ¡°Christina, did you buy a new perfume?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t spray any perfume today,¡± came Christina¡¯s answer. After getting her to remove her scarf, Nathaniel sniffed at it carefully. ¡°Your scarf smells a lot like the scent of the handmade velvet flower,¡± he said. Chapter 562 Stalk Chapter 562 Stalk Christina reached out to get the scarf from him, intending to sniff at it herself, but Nathaniel held it out of her reach. ¡°We don¡¯t know if the scent is harmful, so you better stay away from it. I¡¯ll fill the bathtub with warm water so you can take a bath,¡± Nathaniel told her. Worried about the possibility of the scent lingering on her clothes, he quickly grabbed a bag and ced the scarf inside, tying it tightly. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for the scarf to be tested, and once we have the results, I¡¯ll inform you¡± Christina followed him up the stairs and said thoughtfully, ¡°I didn¡¯t touch anything scented today before leaving home. I hugged my mom at the hospital, but I believe she¡¯s not the culprit given how much she adores Lucas and Cam.¡± Nathaniel assured her, ¡°I, too, believe she wouldn¡¯tmit such an unspeakable act.¡± Christina racked her brains for a while before something urred to her. ¡°That reminds me of something. Last night, I attended a fashion party and crossed paths with Emilia. I believe I detected this very scent on her.¡± Regret washed over Christina as she realized she had been too preupied with catching up to Anya that she overlooked this crucial clue. the ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to investigate Emilia,¡± Nathaniel stated. He then entered the bathroom to fill up. bathtub for her. ¡°Get changed now. I¡¯m going downstairs to get the housekeeper to prepare some snacks for you.¡± Christina padded into the bathroom with her furry pajamas while Nathaniel went downstairs to prepare some snacks for her. After finishing the snacks, Nathaniel took a short one-hour nap with Christina before heading to work. He didn¡¯t forget to hand the package containing the scarf to his assistant, who upied the passenger seat. ¡°Run tests on this scarf and the handmade velvet flower in the box to find out if the scents on both items match,¡± he ordered. ¡°Yes.¡± His assistant didn¡¯t probe further and took the package. ¡°Mr. Hadley, as per your instructions, I¡¯ve sent someone to monitor Anya closely. Her behavior has been quite peculiartely. Since arriving in Jadeborough, she has only ventured out of her house once to attend a fashion party. After that, she has remained holed up in her house, relying solely on food deliveries. Her curtains are always drawn, and there are instances where she doesn¡¯t even bother to switch on the lights.¡± Nathaniel swiftly perused his work emails while remarking. ¡°It¡¯s evident that she¡¯s feeling guilty. I recall that her investigation report didn¡¯t mention any mental illnesses. Continue monitoring her closely and identify the individuals she frequentlymunicates with.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± his assistant replied. The following day, Christina and Nathaniel were having breakfast in the dining room. They nned to go pick up Sharon from the hospital a bitter. Right then, the assistant came in with a file and ced it beside Nathaniel. ¡°Mr. Hadley, this is the report you requested regarding the scent. The results indicate that the fragrance on both the scarf and the handmade velvet flower is from the same perfume.¡± Nathaniel gave the report a quick scan before giving it to Christina. ¡°Go on.¡± Christina attempted to read the report, but the abundance of chemical symbols and technicalnguage made it difficult for her toprehend After a briet nce, she set it aside. ¡°I looked into Emuha¡¯s whereabouts and found that she purchased a handmade velvet flower from a booth at the square. The owner of the booth, who personally designs and creates each item, only has one of each design. Therefore, it should be possible to track down the buyer of the specific handmade velvet flower. Additionally, during her time as a part-time model, Emilia started dating someone who is studying chemistry. It¡¯s usible that she could have obtained heavy metals from him to carry out harm against Mr. Lucas Christina was caught off guard by the plot twist. She could barely wrap her mind around the truth. ¡°If Emilia was the one who brought harm to Lucas, why wasn¡¯t her fingerprint on the handmade velvet flower? How did she ce the box into Lucas backpack?¡± The assistant didn¡¯t have answers to her questions. Fidgeting nervously, he replied, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is all I can find for now. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have answers to your questions.¡± Christina shed a reassuring smile at him. ¡°You¡¯ve done a great job by unearthing many clues. I¡¯ll ask Mr. Hadley to give you a raise as a token of appreciation for your hard work.¡± The assistant beamed happily, finding Nathaniel¡¯s icy expression adorable right this moment. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley!¡± ¡°Please arrange that with the HR department today. I have some other matters to attend to in the morning, but I will be back at work in the afternoon. Kindly reschedule the ten o¡¯clock meeting to the afternoon. Nathaniel instructed indifferently. ¡°Got it!¡± The assistant left in delight, determined to work harder. Christina nced at Nathaniel. ¡°Was that too presumptuous of me?¡± Nathaniel peeled an egg and ced it on her te. ¡°You¡¯re Mrs. Hadley, and thepany belongs to the Hadley family, thus you have a say in it. If you wish, I don¡¯t mind arranging a position for you at the Christina shook her head. ¡°No. I¡¯m only interested in design, not the crafty ways of the corporate world. Spare me from that.¡± Hearing this, the man didn¡¯t pursue the topic either. ¡°You must finish your breakfast today.¡± Christina¡¯s expression scrunched up as she forced herself to finish her nutritious breakfast under Nathaniel¡¯s watch. After that, the couple picked Sharon up from the hospital and drove her home. They initially nned on having lunch together, but an urgent call from Nathaniel¡¯s assistant came, and he had to leave. Thus, Christina stayed behind to keep Sharonpany Christina followed Sharon to the nearby supermarket to buy some groceries, and the mother and daughter chatted pleasantly along the way. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you go upstairs first? I suddenly have a craving for cherries. I¡¯ll run to the fruit shop outside our residential area and buy some beforeing back home,¡± Christina suggested to Sharon as the elevator arrived. She ced the grocery bags she was carrying into the elevator before stepping out. ¡°Be careful.¡± Sharon reminded her. ¡°Got it. See youter!¡± Christina watched as the elevator doors slid shut before turning on her heels to leave, her figure disappearing around the corner. A figure not far away hesitated briefly before hurrying toward the elevator in the lobby. Unbeknownst to anyone, Christina got into an elevator at another entrance and arrived at Sharon¡¯s floor ahead of the stranger. She hid in the corner outside the elevator, gripping her heavy bag and ready tounch an attack. The figure didn¡¯t put their guard up and came directly toward Christina after exiting the elevator. Through the refraction she saw on the tiles, Christina hurled her bag in the direction of the stranger. ¡°Ow!¡± the person yelped and dropped to the ground, covering their face. Christina strode over and flung the person¡¯s cap away. In an icy voice, she demanded, ¡°Gideon, why did you follow us all the way here? What are you nning to do?¡± Gideon gingerly held his bleeding nose and responded timidly. ¡°I didn¡¯t have any malicious intentions. I genuinely wanted to check on your mother¡¯s well-being¡± Seeing Christina¡¯s cold expression, he hurriedly added, ¡°I didn¡¯t intentionally follow you. I just happened to spot you outside the supermarket. It¡¯s the truth, I swear. If I were to lie, I¡¯d deserve a terrible fate.¡± Chapter 563 Feeling Troubled Chapter563FeelingTroubled Christina wasn¡¯t a cruel person. Since Gideon didn¡¯t harm her or Sharon when he followed them, she didn¡¯t see the need to beat him up any further. Staring at his bleeding nose, she asked coldly, ¡°Is your nose all right?¡± Surprised by the concern shown toward him, Gideon frantically shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a little bit of blood. In fact, it doesn¡¯t hurt at all. There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± Christina sneered, ¡°You misunderstand. I¡¯m not concerned about you. As I was the one who struck you, my reputation would be ruined if you were to suffer any after¨Ceffectster on and word of it got out. I¡¯m not someone who likes to owe anyone favors.¡± Just as she spoke, she retrieved the brick from her bag and threw it into the trash. Thereafter, she handed Gideon a packet of tissues and a wad of cash. Staring nkly at what she was giving him, Gideon looked disappointed as he attempted to speak but hesitated in the end. ¡°Wipe away the blood on your face and clothes. Otherwise, people might misunderstand and send you to the police station. As for the money, treat it aspensation for the medical expenses for your nose.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take your money indiscriminately anymore,¡± Gideon dered with a look of conviction in his eye ¡°I know I have been a jerk all this while by using your mom to force you into a marriage just for money. I might be in dire circumstances now, but adversity has allowed me to find meaning in life. Therefore, I¡¯m not going to repeat the same mistakes again.¡± Just when Christina assumed that Gideon was lying, thetter stood up proudly before walking away with an unsteady gait. Briefly stunned, Christina began to pack her things with a sense of dread. She was uncertain if Gideon had really turned over a new leaf, but what concerned her more was the fact that he could see Sharon in her absence. Given how soft¨Chearted Sharon was, she would be in danger if she was taken in by Gideon¡¯s repentant charade. After all, she was a victim of thetter¡¯s insidious methods in the past. Thereafter, Christina returned home feeling unsettled. Upon hearing the door open, Sharon emerged from the kitchen to wee Christina back. However, the sight of thetter¡¯s empty hands caused her to ask quizzically, ¡°Christina, didn¡¯t you say that you were going to buy cherries?¡± Christina quickly reced her troubled expression with one of regret. ¡°I was toote. The cherries were sold out by the time I got there.¡± Sharon consoled her with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. If you still want them, I¡¯ll get some from the market tomorrow. They¡¯ll definitely be juicy and fresh. Now that you¡¯re pregnant, it¡¯s imperative to feed yourself with as much nutrition as possible. We have to make sure the child you¡¯re carrying gets everything it needs.¡± Holding her mother¡¯s arm, Christina replied in a cute voice, ¡°Thank you, Mom. What have you cooked today? It smells delicious! I¡¯m feeling hungry already.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all your favorite dishes. Go wash your hands and take a break. Once the soup is ready, we can have lunch. I¡¯ve also made an extra portion for Nathaniel, so you can bring it back to him tonight.¡± Christina leaned against her mother just like a kitten looking for attention. ¡°There¡¯s no need to wait till tonight. I have something to deal with at the studio at noon. I¡¯ll drop it off to him on my way there.¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll pack it into a lunch box for him.¡± With that, Sharon returned to the kitchen. After washing her hands, Christina joined her mother inside to help. However, she was quickly chased out due to Sharon¡¯s concern about the impact of fumes on the baby. Left without a choice, Christina sat obediently at the dining table and waited. After lunch was done, mother and daughter chatted a while before thetter needed to rush back to her studio. As Sharon handed the lunch box to Christina, she didn¡¯t forget to give her daughter some advice. ¡°Christina, you have to make your child the priority, so don¡¯t focus too much on work. On top of that, Nathaniel¡¯s work isn¡¯t easy. Whenever he goes on a business trip ores homete, don¡¯t be too hard on him. Whatever issues both of you have, it¡¯s important tomunicate them to each other instead of throwing a tantrum. Only by adopting an understanding and forgiving attitude can your marriagest for a long time.¡± ¡°I know, Mom. Don¡¯t worry,¡± Christina didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry at her mother¡¯s words. She then assured, ¡°Did you hear some unfounded rumors from someone? Honestly, the stories of Nathaniel¡¯s phndering ways on the inte are nonsense. Don¡¯t believe any of them. Both of us couldn¡¯t be any happier, and he loves me a lot now. As we n to spend the rest of our lives with each other, we¡¯re not going to act impulsively when ites to our rtionship.¡± D Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nodding in response, Sharon was sincerely happy that her daughter had found her soulmate. ¡°Anyway, be careful while you¡¯re out there. I¡¯ll get you the cherries tomorrow, so why don¡¯t you bring Nathaniel over for a meal? He has done a lot for me while I was in the hospital the day before. I still haven¡¯t thanked him for it yet.¡± After putting on her jacket and scarf, Christina replied with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re family, Mom. Nathaniel isn¡¯t going to mind something like that. That said, we¡¯ll stille to visit you tomorrow. Anyway, you haven¡¯t fully recovered yet, so you don¡¯t have to walk me down.¡± After stepping out with the heavy lunch box in her hand, Christina waved goodbye to Sharon before closing the door and taking the elevator down. From afar, Christina could spot the familiar Maybach waiting at the entrance. The driver¡¯s door quickly opened with Sebastian running out to help Christina carry her stuff. Christina was surprised by the sight. ¡°Mr. Taggart, aren¡¯t you supposed to be recuperating at the hospital?¡± Worried about Sebastian, she quickly scrutinized him from head to toe. Nheless, he replied respectfully, ¡°My injuries weren¡¯t serious, so I¡¯ve more or less recovered after such a long rest. Since Mr. Hadley needs me and I just feel restless not doing anything, I decided to go back to work today. Anyway, Mr. Hadley is bogged down in a meeting, so he sent me to pick you up.¡± Christina remarked in embarrassment, ¡°Have you been waiting for a long time? It¡¯s cold outside. You could¡¯ve given me a call. What if I were to only go home at night? Wouldn¡¯t you have to wait for half a day? It would be such a waste of your time.¡± Sebastian reassured her, ¡°I just arrived, and the car has its heater on, so it¡¯s not cold at all. To be honest, since it¡¯s my first day back, there¡¯s nothing much for me to do. Rest assured that you¡¯re not taking up any of my time.¡± He then opened the backseat door for Christina. ¡°This way please.¡± ¡°Remember to call me directly the next time Nathaniel sends you to pick me up,¡± Christina reminded him after getting into the car. Sebastian nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll do that.¡± Upon closing the door, Sebastian put the lunch box on the front passenger seat before driving off. ¡°Mr. Taggart, I¡¯m not going back to Scenic Garden Manor yet. Send me to the office, as I want to bring Nathaniel lunch. After that, I¡¯ll be heading to the studio for a while,¡± Christina instructed. ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian spun the car around and drove toward Hadley Corporation. Upon arriving at the office, Sebastian followed behind Christina with the lunch box in hand. Just as they emerged from the elevator, they ran into Nathanieling out of the conference room with a pot¨Cbellied, middle¨Caged man. After raising his head to throw Christina a nce, Nathaniel had a quick word with the man before getting the assistant to walk him out. He then approached Christina. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me you wereing? I would have waited for you downstairs.¡± Christina replied, ¡°You already sent Sebastian to pick me up. Besides, you¡¯re busy. You shouldn¡¯t waste time on something like that. I might note here often, but I still remember how to get to the CEO¡¯s office.¡± Nathaniel reached out to hold her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the office. Coincidentally, there¡¯s something I want to ask you.¡± Chapter 564 Incomplete Understanding Chapter 564 Iplete Understanding Nathaniel¨Cnever one to care about the perception of others¨Cheld Christina¡¯s hand in public as he led her into his office. Meanwhile, all the employees in the secretarial department were blown away by the sight of the couple. They subsequently tussled against each other to peek out of their ss door and look in the direction of the CEO¡¯s office. ¡°Did you see that? Mr. Hadley was really gentle. After working here for eight years, I¡¯ve never seen him seem so human before.¡± ¡°This is the power of love, something someone single like you would never understand. Anyway, I can¡¯t believe how handsome Mr. Hadley is when he smiles!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­ I guess Mrs. Hadley is the only one in the world who can stir Mr. Hadley¡¯s emotions. I hope that shees by more often. As long as Mr. Hadley is in a good mood, our days in the office would be peaceful.¡± ¡°Come on,dies. Zip it. All of us will get in trouble if either one of them hears us.¡± ¡°Hmph, Mr. Hadley might be cold, but he isn¡¯t someone petty. You¡¯re just trying to scare me just because I¡¯m easily cowed, but I¡¯m not afraid at all. Worsees to worst, I¡¯ll plead for mercy from Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll save us considering what a kind person she is.¡± Just like a bunch of chirping birds, the secretaries forgot to lower their voices as they got carried away gossiping. Little did they know that every word they said could clearly be heard by Nathaniel and Christina. Even Sebastian couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous for them. Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened as hemented grimly, ¡°If they have nothing better to do, they can help the sales department increase their sales. On top of that, based onpany policy, deduct a week¡¯s sry from them for gossiping in the office.¡± That group of girls would definitely cry their eyes out if a week¡¯s sry was docked from them. Sebastian subsequently gave Christina a pleading look. After throwing Sebastian a reassuring nce, Christina set off to stop Nathaniel from turning into a boss from hell, saying, ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything wrong with what they said. Back then, you would always keep your true emotions bottled up. Whenever you¡¯re angry, I don¡¯t even know how to start pacifying you.¡± She continued earnestly, ¡°On top of that, I like the fact that you¡¯re being more open with emotions in my presence. That way, I can do my best to take them into ount.¡± Meanwhile, Nathaniel stared at her with his eyes aze. ¡°There¡¯s one thing I agree with them wholeheartedly. You do have a mesmerizing smile. Given how much they admire your looks, I shouldn¡¯t lose out too. After all, that¡¯s what I get for having such a handsome husband.¡± From the smile that emerged on Nathaniel¡¯s face, it was clear that he was pleased with Christina¡¯s attempts to pacify him. ¡°Sebastian, put that down and get back to work.¡± With that, Sebastian left the lunch box on the desk before disappearing from the office quickly. Just as expected, getting Christina to cate Nathaniel was the right decision. ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Christina held his face and gave it a rub. ¡°No, not anymore.¡± Nathaniel led her to the couch to sit. ¡°I was just worried that the situation would make you feel ufortable.¡± All of a sudden, Christina found Nathaniel to be domineering yet adorable when he was being protective. ¡°Don¡¯t overreact, as they mean no harm. To be honest, I like how candid they were, especially when they were praising me. It makes me really happy, so I obviously won¡¯t mind. Anyway, I brought the lunch Mom made for you. Eat up while it¡¯s still hot.¡± Christina subsequentlyid the dishes from the lunch box out on the table. ¡°Mom also invited us to lunch tomorrow. If you can¡¯t make it, we can reschedule.¡± ¡°I can spare some time. Go ahead and make the arrangements.¡± Nathaniel picked up a piece of pork rib with his fork and took a bite. ¡°Mom¡¯s cooking has improved a lot again. This is delicious.¡± ¡°Since you like it, I¡¯ll get my mom to teach me so that I can cook for you and the kids.¡± Christina added, ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t you say that you have something to ask me? What is it?¡± Nathaniel put down his fork. ¡°The man you saw in the corridor just now was Winston Labarge. He was the supplier of construction materials to the Hadley and Gibson families back in the day. Do you know him?¡± Winston Labarge? As Christina searched her memories, she concluded that she had never met or heard of him. Thus, she shook her head in disappointment. ¡°No. Despite having returned to the Gibson family for some time now, I¡¯ve never heard anyone mention this man. Nathaniel, is he somehow connected to my parents¡® ident?¡± Nathaniel replied, ¡°Yes. Winston has an amazing talent for business. Back then, he bought a quality factory on the cheap and turned it into a listed construction materialspany, inadvertently monopolizing the entire market. His ability to handle rtionships well also resulted in many other bosses making a beeline to work with him. The property development projects by the Hadley and Gibson families were mostly supplied by him too.¡± Christina asked curiously, ¡°How did the bad blood between Winston and the two familiese to be?¡± ¡°To be precise, why did Winston plot against the Gibson family?¡± Nathaniel borated, ¡°Winston¡¯s and the Gibson family¡¯s businesses were based in Hallsbay, while the Hadley family was based in Jadeborough. The only reason the Hadley family came into contact with Winston as a supplier of construction materials was due to its partnership with the Gibson family. If not for the Gibson family¡¯s introduction, the Hadley family would never have known who Winston was, let alone work on a few major projects together.¡± Overwhelmed by the information, Christina pinched her forehead in frustration. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but sympathize with her. As he helped massaged her throbbing temple, he suggested softly, ¡°Let me take care of the investigation. I just didn¡¯t want to keep this from you since we agreed to be honest with each other. Thest thing I want is for you to feel distraught over it.¡± Grabbing his hand, Christina gave it a peck with a glistening look in her eyes. ¡°I know that you would always have my best interest at heart, but the ident caused me to lose both my parents and became the reason for the Gibson family¡¯s animosity toward you. In fact, they had wanted you to pay a heavy price despite the fact that you were the most innocent party in the controversy. On top of that, I have the right to know everything and the responsibility of unraveling the truth is also mine. There¡¯s no way I can rely on you for everything. Nathaniel, I¡¯m not as weak as you think I am. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t figure out why the Gibson family hasn¡¯t made any progress in their investigation despite being rich and powerful. All this while, they have been stuck with the idea of seeking vengeance on the Hadley family.¡± The issue didn¡¯t escape Nathaniel¡¯s notice, but he didn¡¯t have any evidence to support his supposition. His spection was, after all, just that and wasn¡¯t solid enough to convince anyone yet. ¡°Given howplicated the circumstances surrounding the ident were, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if all the evidence was erased if it was actually a plot hatched by someone. As for the Gibson family, their judgment would likely be clouded by the shock of the event, allowing the real perpetrator to escape.¡° This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Upon hearing Nathaniel¡¯s words, Christina felt a gradual easing of the tension she had been experiencing. ¡°Even then, the fact that the Gibson family has dragged an innocent party into the matter is undeniable.¡± she uttered. Chapter 565 Letting Himself Go Chapter 565 Letting Himself Go Nathaniel knew from Christina¡¯s iparably righteous words that she would not act rashly due to family ties. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. In truth, he did not care if the Gibson family used terrible means to exact revenge on him and the Hadley family. The Gibson family making use of Christina to deal with him was what truly concerned him, as only she and their children were his weaknesses in this world. Christina is my everything! ¡°Christina, although the Hadley family and the Gibson family have long¨Cstanding grudges, and you and I are husband and wife, I don¡¯t want you to let these reasons affect your perception of the Gibson family, let alone choose to be ruthless to yourself out of guilt toward me,¡± Nathaniel said with a clear head. Christina locked her gaze on him and articted each word clearly. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± She stood up and sat beside Nathaniel, pressing in close to the familiar scent of his body. ¡°Do you remember what I said to you? Wherever you and the children are is where I belong. It¡¯s true that I am a member of the Gibson family, and I am willing to do my part for the family, but I am not going to follow their orders blindly. I made a mistake once, and I¡¯m not going down that road again.¡± Christina firmly believed that the Hadley family would never plot against the Gibson family back then, even though there was ack of evidence to support their innocence currently. Someone must¡¯ve deliberately led them astray, resulting in the feud between the two families that continues to this day. ¡°I won¡¯t let down your efforts and dedication. I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it,¡± Nathaniel responded vehemently. Christina felt like she was bathed in the springtime morning sun with warmth enveloping her body. ¡°The food is getting cold. Eat up. I¡¯ll get you a ss of water. Don¡¯t drink coffee all the time. It¡¯s not good for your stomach.¡± Nathaniel nced at the coffee cup at the corner of the table. He had been so absorbed in her heartwarming confession earlier that he had forgotten to instruct Sebastian to put it away. By the time Christina emerged from the pantry, he was done eating. ¡°Thank you for your hard work today, Darling.¡± He took advantage of Christina¡¯s indulgence and affection for him and pestered her as much as he could. In fact, it was more like coercion. ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever reward you want. Should you refuse, you won¡¯t be able to walk out of this door today.¡± D Regardless of his words, he was getting handsy. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his thin lips to her ear, saying the most flirtatious sweet nothing while acting innocent. D His acts caused Christina¡¯s cheeks and ears to burn red as her heartbeat started racing. ¡°We¡¯re at the office, Nathaniel. Don¡¯t go overboard.¡± Not only was Nathaniel doing so without reservations, but he also followed up by blowing into her ear. ¡°Those who are well¨Cfed are prone to lust. I¡¯m a normal man. We haven¡¯t had sex for more than three months, so you must understand.¡± Christina was like an angry cat whose tail had been stepped on. She slipped out of his hold and moved around to the opposite side of the coffee table to re at him in embarrassment. ¡°If you try that again, I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m going to ignore you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s eyes flickered teasingly. Christina kept to her word, picked up her bag on the couch, and turned to leave. Seeing that, he immediately pulled her back into his arms and coaxed patiently, ¡°Don¡¯t get angry. It¡¯s my fault.¡± Christina¡¯s face was flushed, and she could not look him in the eyes. Nathaniel chuckled when he saw that. His low and maic voice seemed to have a magical charm controlling her emotions. ¡°It¡¯s now lunch break. Come with me to the lounge and sleep for a while Christina hummed shyly, not expecting him to dare to do something else. Nathaniel led her into the lounge, taking off his suit jacket before lying beside her with an arm arou slightly thicker waistline. He then closed his eyes and prepared to fall asleep. Christina had long been exhausted, having been kept busy by Sharon all morning and hurrying to c Nathaniel¡¯s lunch in the afternoon. Hence, she fell asleep soon after her head touched the pillow. When the sound of steady breathing reached his ears, Nathaniel opened his eyes and tenderly gazed her features. He then lowered his head and gave her a quick peck on the lips. Christina slept until three in the afternoon. When she woke up, Nathaniel was no longer beside her. She walked out of the lounge and found herself alone in the spacious CEO¡¯s office. Just then, her phone rang, breaking the silence in the office. Suddenly, something came into Christina¡¯s mind. She quickly walked to the couch and took out her pl from her bag. The caller was Rayne, who had sent her no less than ten text messages and WhatsApp messages alone. ¡°Sorry, Rayne. Something came up in the afternoon, and I identally forgot about the studio.¡± Christi ced her hand on her forehead with a remorseful look. ¡°I will bear the consequences.¡± ¡°Pregnant women might be forgetful, so I can understand why your memory is so poor now,¡± Rayr said empathetically. ¡°You are the boss of the studio. No matter what, you still have your husband backing you up. No one would dare to upset you, except for the blind and troublesome Elizabeth, of course.¡± Rayne had requested Christina to go to the studio that day so they coulde up with a perfect solution to resolve the issue of the trouble Elizabeth had created for them andplete the order sessfully. Elizabeth enjoyed causing trouble for the studio because of Anya¡¯s instigation and the enmity between her and Christina. As one of the most popr artists recently, Elizabeth had no shortage of brands offering high¨Cend clothing to her, but she only liked to pick on Christina¡¯s studio. However, this time was different. Even though it was indeed Elizabeth who ced the order, the dress was made for her fellow celebrity, best friend, and heiress¨CAnthea Campbell. Christina hurriedly got down to business. ¡°I didn¡¯t make it to the appointment on time. Did Elizabeth make things difficult for you?¡± Rayne snorted in response. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing you didn¡¯te, or else you would¡¯ve been tricked by them ande all the way for nothing.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Christina asked, puzzled. From her understanding of Elizabeth, thetter would never easily let go of any chance to ridicule her. ¡°Elizabeth and her best friend didn¡¯t even show up after I have reschedule many other appointments. After kicking up so much fuss, they stood us up.¡± Rayne grew angrier as she spoke. ¡°Everyone in the studio. waited for them for several hours. In the end, I contacted Elizabeth¡¯s manager, who was sarcastic and mean. She simply said that she was busy at thest minute and gave me Anthea¡¯s measurements before cutting off all contact.¡± Rayne continued through gritted teeth, ¡°Aren¡¯t they deliberately making things difficult for us by not providing the specific measurements, and the required style? To make things worse, she demanded us to deliver the clothing on time seven dayster?¡± Christina knew that Rayne was fuming with rage. Otherwise, she would never unload her work troubles. on her with thetter¡¯s calm temperament. ¡°Get the other designers to work on other orders first. I bet Anthea ising for me, so let me take care of this and liaise with her.¡± Chapter 566 Not Interested In Your Money Chapter566NotInterestedInYourMoney Rayne rejected Christina¡¯s suggestion decisively. ¡°Since Anthea is targeting you, there is no way I¡¯ll let you have interactions with any of them. Seeing that Anthea is friends with Elizabeth is enough to prove that she¡¯s not a good person either. You¡¯re pregnant right now. If they harbor bad intentions and something happens to you, I¡¯ll never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.¡± She mulled it over and added, ¡°Christina, in the worst¨Ccase scenario, let¡¯s just cancel the order. They deliberately fooled our newbie into clinching the contract, anyway. They¡¯re obviously the unreasonable ones.¡± After some contemtion, Christina insisted on the original n. ¡°Maybe they¡¯re waiting for us to breach the agreement first? In any case, there are no grudges between Anthea and me. She¡¯s probably just a pawn that¡¯s being taken advantage of. I¡¯ll bring someone along with me. After all, she is a public figure and has an image and reputation to maintain. I doubt she¡¯ll dare do anything to me openly.¡± Christina supposed she could deal with an uninvited troublemaker without asking Nathaniel for help. As long as my studio is still open for business. I¡¯ll have to learn to deal with challenges and hardships. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go with you? I know more about this deal than you do. It won¡¯t be difficult for me to handle their unreasonable demands,¡± suggested Rayne. Without hesitation, Christina rejected her offer. ¡°I¡¯ve already troubled you to help me manage this studio. This matter happened because of me, after all. Let me resolve it. I¡¯m only pregnant, and won¡¯t be giving birth so soon. I¡¯m not that fragile.¡± Rayne was never pretentious toward Christina; instead, she was very honest and straightforward with her words. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve paid me such a high sry. I¡¯m more than willing to be your diligent workhorse, Haha¡­¡± The joyous atmosphere Rayne created sessfully shifted Christina¡¯s mind from the matter. The two continued chatting until Sebastian interrupted them with a doorknock. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley is still in a meeting. I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll only end in the evening. Then, he has an important social event to attend in the evening. He¡¯s tied up but is worried that you¡¯ll wait too long, so he wants me to pass the message and find out if you¡¯ll like to head back to Scenic Garden Manor or go to Mdm. Zapler¡¯s ce.¡± Uneasy about leaving Christina alone at home and worried that she would get too bored or her emotions might get out of control, Nathaniel thus thoughtfully nned things out for her. Christina smiled faintly. ¡°Send me back to Scenic Garden Manor then.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll arrange a car to send you back right away.¡± Sebastian then called the driver and instructed thetter to wait downstairs. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we can go now. I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the office. As they passed by the secretarial department, the secretaries averted their gazes toward Christina and remained fixated on her as she walked. When Sebastian shot them a warning look, those secretaries immediately ducked their heads and pretended to be busy with work. Christina had long gotten used to being scrutinized by others anytime and anywhere. It was something she could not avoid after bing Nathaniel¡¯s wife. Momentster, Christina and Sebastian took the elevator down. When the elevator doors opened midway, two morously¨Cdressed young women entered. One of them had a pair of oversized sunsses covering half of her face and was behaving like an arrogant and prideful noblewoman. The other woman was trying to talk sense into the former to stop throwing tantrums lest she messed with the wrong person and ultimately sabotaged her own career. ¡°Natalia, given my current fame and resources, do you think I need to be at the mercy of an inferior director?¡± Anthea Campbell scoffed. ¡°Does he really think I became famous because of his lousy drama? What an id ot! How can someone take such formalities as genuine praises? No wonder he¡¯s still a nobody despite working in the entertainment industry for this long. He¡¯s thinking of using my fame to boost his drama, huh? Sure, as long as he pays me a fee of seventy million ording to the market rate. Otherwise, there¡¯s no room for discussion.¡± Natalia warily glimpsed at Christina and Sebastian, then shot Anthea a knowing look, hinting thetter to keep herself in check and not be someone else¡¯s subject of ridicule. ¡°Anthea, if you have something to say, let¡¯s talk when we return. This is Hadley Corporation, not our turf.¡± Hearing Anthea¡¯s name, Christina gave her a second nce. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Coincidentally, Anthea also turned to look at Christina. It was that one nce she got on thetter¡¯s tail like a lunatic. Right then, the elevator doors opened. As Christina stepped out, Anthea followed closely behind. Suddenly, Christina felt someone pull her hand aggressively from behind. Letting out a cry, she lost her footing and nearly fell onto the ground. Fortunately, Sebastian swiftly held onto her and asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you all right?¡± Oh, my¡­ That was a close one. Christina regained her bnce, and after taking a deep breath, she nced at Anthea, who was staring at her intently. As Anthea¡¯s manager, Natalia was long acquainted with Anthea¡¯s personality. Even though she was unsure why thetter would suddenly find trouble with a stranger, she had enough experience to know she was not supposed to intervene when thetter was teaching someone a lesson. Anthea huffed, ¡°I remember who you are. You¡¯re Christina Steele. This world is indeed small. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯ll run into you here.¡± At this point, it seemed like a thought crossed her mind. ¡°I heard your assistant tried to contact me today but failed to reach me. Don¡¯t tell me you purposely make your way here after looking into my schedule and pretend as if you bump into me out of sheer coincidence?¡± Sebastian stared at Anthea. She¡¯s pretty popr, and with her demeanor and looks, she does fit to be the ambassador for this season¡¯s new product. Then again, many other celebrities are equally outstanding too. How can the advertising department agree to sign her without finding out about her personality? Isn¡¯t this adding unnecessary trouble for thepany?. Unfortunately, Anthea was undoubtedly foolish. Of all the people, she had offended the woman Nathaniel cared about the most. This time, a dramatic change woulde for the advertising department, and so was Anthea¡¯s career. Her career as an artist would probably end here, and it was something even the Campbell family could not do anything to salvage. [1 Christina quirked an eyebrow and retorted, ¡°Ms. Campbell, are you too immersed in your character and think the world only revolves around you?¡± Having been deeply influenced by Elizabeth, Anthea had always held a prejudice toward Christina. Now that she ran into thetter and got brutally ridiculed, she felt anger surge through her whole body at once. ¡°Christina, do you think I willingly engaged your studio to make me a gown? Listen! I have lots of resources and money. Even if you beg me, I won¡¯t wear the crappy gown your studio made to attend any events!¡± ¡°You can always change your mind. I¡¯m not short of customers.¡± Christina was unaffected by Anthea and remained as cool as a cucumber throughout. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not interested in earning your money anyway.¡± Chapter 567 Unreasonable Chapter 567 Unreasonable Anthea couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Despite not being one of the top leading actresses, being the daughter of the Campbell family had its perks. It drew the attention of numerous renowned designers trying hard to be in her good books. If it wasn¡¯t to avenge Elizabeth, Anthea wouldn¡¯t even have known who Christina was. Anthea stepped forward with her arms crossed, her eyes flickering with a venomous glint. ¡°Christina, we have already signed a contract. It clearly states a seven¨Cday deadline for delivery. In the event of a breach by either party, the other party is entitled to treble damages. Given the modest size of your studio, can you afford such a substantial penalty for nonpliance?¡± Natalia added firmly, ¡°The penalty itself is not the focus here. Your studio¡¯s ipetency has disrupted my artist¡¯s schedule, leading to significant damage to her reputation. Ms. Steele, I strongly advise you to carefully consider the consequences before deciding whether to breach the contract.¡± Throughout her years in the fashion design industry, Christina came across a myriad of personalities. Many big shots on the international stage were far more demanding and unreasonable than Anthea. After all, Anthea was merely a pampered heiress from a wealthy family. Dealing with her was as effortless ¨¢s tending to a small, harmless creature ¡°The contract clearly states that for any private orders, the designer must personally take urate measurements. Verbal or proxy measurements are not eptable. Failure to adhere to this use will be regarded as an intentional breach of contract, with the breaching party assuming full responsibility, Christina sneered. Anthea stared nkly at her for a few seconds as if she had just heard the most preposterous joke. Then, she ridiculed, ¡°Are you so desperate for money? How dare you extort money from me without knowing who I am? It appears that you have given up on making a name for yourself in the fashion industry in this country.¡± Although she had heard rumors of Christina¡¯s unscrupulous nature, she never expected the woman to act so shamelessly for the sake of money. Christina scoffed and replied, ¡°The terms are clearly stated in the contract. Did Ms. Campbell forget to read and understand them before signing it? I¡¯ve been informed that she arranged a meeting with the designer but failed to turn up. Instead, she asked her manager to send the measurements to my studio. Despite our efforts to contact them, there was no response. Ms. Campbell¡¯s actions are in clear vition of the contractual obligations. Since you don¡¯t want to work with my studio, I request to terminate the contract. Do you have any problems with that?¡± D Anthea¡¯s deliberate breach of the agreement was not merely an attempt to cause trouble for the studio. She really hoped that the studio would breach the terms first. Then Christina, the studio¡¯s owner, would definitely look for Anthea and plead for her understanding. Even though Anthea anticipated Christina¡¯s arrival, it was not to seek her understanding but to demand compensation. As the crowd around them grew, Natalia spoke sternly, ¡°Ms. Steele, my artist is extremely busy, and she didn¡¯t fail to turn up for the appointment intentionally. I did send someone to inform your studio about this. Perhaps there was a mimunication along the way. This isn¡¯t the best ce for a discussion. Why don¡¯t we arrange to talk in detail another day?¡± Just then, Sebastian¡¯s phone rang, and he nced apologetically at Christina. ¡°Ms. Christina, it¡¯s a call from Mr. Hadley. I¡¯ll answer it ¡°Go ahead.¡± Christina felt guilty for taking up Sebastian¡¯s time with her personal affairs. She knew that Anthea was deliberately stirring up trouble. Feeling exhausted, especially with the burden of her wished to dismiss Anthea and Natalia so that she could return home and rest. It was not worthwhile to be mentally and physically exhausted for an order. Christina¡¯s firm stance against Anthea¡¯s unreasonable demand demonstrated her unwavering confidence in her actions. ¡°I don¡¯t think my studio is fated to work with Ms. Campbell. In fact, you were the one who breached the contract first. Given that neither of us wants to waste any more time, let¡¯s quickly resolve this. We should not impede Ms. Campbell¡¯s search for another custom¨Cmade gown and risk affecting her attendance at the uing event-¡± ¡°You¡¯re being unreasonable, Ms. Steele.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Anthea interrupted Natalia as she felt that she was embarrassing her. ¡°She did it on purpose. Is there a need to beg her? I feel embarrassed having to wear her designs to the event. What¡¯s the big deal about terminating the contract? My family¡¯s team ofwyers is not to be trifled with. Let them handle it. She can¡¯t stay arrogant for long.¡± Natalia was reprimanded on the spot, and it made her somewhat ufortable. Anthea was an arrogant woman who thought highly of herself because of her family background and the blind adoration of her brainless fans. Although she wasn¡¯t a famous celebrity, her absurd behavior had only worsened over the years. Despite her efforts over the years, Natalia had only seeded in shaping Anthea into a popr star. However, she reluctantly yielded to thetter¡¯s demands as she depended on Anthea for her livelihood. Christina scoffed and responded indifferently, ¡°Please send someone to discuss the specific details of the contract termination with my assistant. Her decision will represent mine.¡± After speaking, Christina couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage with Anthea any longer and walked toward the door. ¡°I¡¯m not done speaking, Christina Steele. Did I give you permission to leave? Stop right there!¡± Infuriated by Christina¡¯s arrogant attitude, Anthea stomped her feet and was about to chase after her. However, she was stopped by Sebastian. ¡°Get out of my way! I don¡¯t want to teach you a lesson now!¡± she hissed at the man. As Natalia¡¯s gaze lingered on Sebastian, a sense of familiarity washed over her. Suddenly, a vivid image shed in her mind, prompting her to grab Anthea¡¯s arm with a mix of shock and urgency. ¡°Anthea, that¡¯s Sebastian Taggart! You mustn¡¯t provoke him.¡± However, Anthea furrowed her brow in annoyance and retorted, ¡°Who is Sebastian Taggart? Oh,e on, Natalia, why are you so timid? It¡¯s really embarrassing.¡± Natalia¡¯s heart raced, and she hurriedly whispered, ¡°He¡¯s Nathaniel Hadley¡¯s personal assistant. He holds considerable power within Hadley Corporation. In fact, he can make decisions on behalf of Nathaniel. Anthea¡¯s face turned pale, and shemented, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± This was her first visit to Hadley Corporation for a potential coboration. Not only did she fail to meet Nathaniel, but she also unknowingly stirred up trouble. This is all Christina¡¯s fault. If she didn¡¯t provoke me, I wouldn¡¯t have lost my cool and said the wrong things. Attempting to salvage the situation, Anthea quickly changed her tone and smiled seductively. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was mistaken earlier and failed to recognize you, Mr. Taggart. I hope you won¡¯t hold it against me.¡± Sebastian wouldn¡¯t pay much attention to an artist on the brink of being cklisted in the entertainment industry. ¡°Ms. Campbell, based on the investigation conducted by ourpany¡¯s advertising department, it has been determined that you are not a suitable spokesperson for our new product. Therefore, we have decided to terminate all coborations with you with immediate effect. We will arrange for our staff to handle the administrative details. You may leave now.¡± D Chapter 568 Reap What You Sow Chapter568ReapWhatYouSow The unexpected news left Anthea and Natalia dumbfounded. An hour ago, Anthea and her team were warmly weed by the staff of Hadley Corporation as they entered the manager¡¯s office to finalize the contract. Every use and provision in the agreement had been meticulously customized to meet Anthea¡¯s specific requirements. How could things take such a sudden turn? Hadley Corporation had extremely stringent criteria for selecting its brand ambassadors. To sessfully navigate through their rigorous selection process and secure a contract was a clear indication of a bright and promising future in the entertainment industry. Anthea¡¯s endorsement deal with Hadley Corporation wasn¡¯t solely due to her talent. It was mainly due to the influential forces working behind the scenes. A significant portion of the entertainment industry was under the control of the Hadley family, and any artist terminated by them would face the grim fate of being cklisted from the industry. In short, Anthea was doomed! Nat¨¢lia¡¯s heart raced, her anxiousness soaring. ¡°Mr. Taggart, didn¡¯t we have a fruitful discussion with Ms. Farlin from the advertising department a while ago? Why this sudden breach of contract? It¡¯s so unfair. In the past, Sebastian would issue hismands and silently retreat without providing any exnations. However, Nathaniel¡¯s text message explicitly stated that he should make Anthea understand who she could and couldn¡¯t provoke. Since it was a death sentence, he didn¡¯t mind making it clear to the other party. Sebastian exined with a solemn expression, ¡°Ms. Farlin from the advertising department was dismissed by thepany ten minutes ago on the grounds of abuse of power. A new department manager will officially take over tomorrow, and thepany will reselect its spokesperson. We strive to be fair and impartial.¡± His gaze fell upon Anthea and Natalia, who were overwhelmed with guilt and could not defend themselves. The message had been delivered, and the rest was no longer Sebastian¡¯s concern. ¡°We won¡¯t dy any more of Ms. Campbell¡¯s time. Goodbye.¡± With that, he turned around and entered the lift. Meanwhile, Anthea and Natalia caught wind of the whispers circting among the onlookers. ¡°Oh my! Oh my! Anthea hasn¡¯t been in the spotlight for just a few days, and her face has changed so much. No wonder I didn¡¯t immediately recognize her. She looks much worse in person than on TV. I can¡¯t believe I have been her fan for years. Not only does her appearance not match her acting skills, but she also has a terrible personality.¡± ¡°In her previous live broadcast, she mentioned having a major endorsement deal lined up. Turns out it was supposed to be a coboration with ourpany¡¯s product. Looks like that deal ispletely out of the picture now.¡± ¡°Anthea is unbelievably foolish. Why would she provoke the boss¡¯s wife? Isn¡¯t she just asking for trouble?¡± ¡°Haha! She doesn¡¯t even know the important people around Mr. Hadley. Can we really expect someone with such low intelligence to identify the boss¡¯s wife? It¡¯s time to unfollow her. There¡¯s no ce for her in the entertainment industry anymore.¡±Material ? N?velDrama.Org. As thements grew increasingly offensive, Anthea¡¯s face contorted with anger. Worried that Anthea might stir up trouble, Natalia hastily pulled her away. ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to those gossipers. Let¡¯s leave this ce quickly. It will be even more troublesome if we get caught by the reporters. We¡¯ll figure out a solutionter. The Hadley Corporation will need to show some respect to the Campbell family. They won¡¯t destroy you.¡± Anthea suppressed her anger and got into thepany¡¯s minivan. Once Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor, she received a barrage of calls from Rayne. She pressed the answer button and settled on the sofa. Soon, Rayne¡¯s enthusiastic voice filled the spacious living room through the phone¡¯s receiver. ¡°I have great news, Christina!¡± Rayne chuckled before continuing, ¡°Anthea is paying for her actions. She provoked someone influential and is being cklisted. All the brand partners are busy terminating contracts with her to steer clear. Once she terminates her contract with our studio, she¡¯ll have to pay a hefty penalty fee.¡± Christina let out a half¨Chearted ¡°Ah,¡± her mind sluggish for a moment before realizing who Rayne was referring to. She was on the verge of falling asleep. ¡°Anthea Campbell, right?¡± She yawned, herck of surprise evident. ¡°Oh, then let¡¯s quickly arrange the termination procedures. It¡¯s better to avoid unnecessaryplications.¡± Rayne¡¯s enthusiasm dwindled. ¡°Christina, tell me honestly, are you the influential person Anthea provoked?¡± Christina tilted her head, nced at the clock on the wall, and sank further into the soft sofa. Her eyes were teary and hazy. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. I don¡¯t have the ability to cklist an artist with a strong background.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s not you, then it must be your significant other. I should have realized this earlier. Anthea¡¯s downfall came after the official statement from Hadley Corporation. Thank god you and I are friends, not enemies.. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t know where to hide.¡± D ¡°Rayne, I¡¯m going to sleep for a while. Let¡¯s talkter if there¡¯s something important.¡± Christina¡¯s eyelids were too heavy to keep up. Clutching her phone, she quickly drifted into a deep slumber. After waiting a while, Rayne could only hear the sound of long and steady breathing. She couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and frustrated. Hanging up the phone, she walked out of the office and made an announcement to prioritize the orders of other clients and to ignore any trouble from Anthea¡¯s side. The entire studio became exhrated as they no longer had to worry about doing well on Anthea¡¯s projects to avoid her nitpicking. Meanwhile, Anthea was called back to thepany and reprimanded fiercely. Not only were all the Resources previously assigned to her given to other artists, but she was also ordered to take an extended leave. It was a covert strategy aimed at sidelining her from the entertainment industry and pressuring her into terminating her contract willingly. Of course, Anthea refused to do so. She showed her tantrums in front of many high¨Clevel executives, berating them to her heart¡¯s content. As a result, she undoubtedly offended everyone in the process. As Anthea exited thepany premises, she was subjected to ongoing ridicule and mockery from onlookers. She was always arrogant and full of herself when she was famous. Hence, in her downfall, she encountered no shortage of people eager to ridicule her. When Anthea learned of Elizabeth¡¯s whereabouts, she went straight to her after leaving thepany. Soon, she found Elizabeth resting in the dressing room. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me that Christina is Nathaniel¡¯s wife, Elizabeth?¡± Anthea seethed with anger as she firmly gripped the woman¡¯s cor, her eyes piercing into her. ¡°You conspired against me, intending to steal my resources, didn¡¯t you?¡± Elizabeth feigned ignorance and pleaded, ¡°This must be a misunderstanding, Anthea. Please let go so that we can talk calmly. This is a workce, and there¡¯s no need for irrational behavior.¡± Irrational behavior? Anthea sneered and released her grip on Elizabeth¡¯s cor. Next, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding p to thetter¡¯s cheek. The p sent Elizabeth flying to the ground. The searing pain on her cheek was a clear indication of the humiliating truth¨Cshe had been pped, and this was not a dream! The person who pped her was none other than the very person she had sent out as her loyal henchman! ¡°Elizabeth, I considered you a friend, but you treated me as a pawn. I¡¯ll not forgive myself if I don¡¯t tear you apart.¡± Chapter 569 Karma Chapter569Karma Anthca¡¯s vengeful nature was known to all in the entertainment industry. Even though Elizabeth had someone powerful to back her up as well, it was still not enough in comparison with the Campbell family. Elizabeth knew well that Anthea had crossed Christina under her instigation¨Cthat was the reason Anthea was cklisted by Nathaniel¡­ If news of that were to be exposed, the people supporting Elizabeth would surely give up on her to curb the impending damage they would suffer. Anthea had the Campbell family to back her up, so she had a chance to get back on her feet, but it was not the same for Elizabeth. She was able to enjoy her current status and glory because she had been capable and cunning enough to attain them. The entertainment industry was never short of beautiful and capable artists. If one wanted to continue building their career in that industry, they would need people to back them up. As Elizabeth held onto her swollen cheek, she hid the iciness in her eyes. By the time she lifted her head to look at Anthea, she had a pitiful look on her face. ¡°Anthea, I¡¯ve always thought of you as a good friend, so how can I possiblyugh at you and steal your opportunities?¡± Elizabeth bit down on her pale lower lip. ¡°I didn¡¯t try to hide Christina and Nathaniel¡¯s rtionship from you. I thought you already knew about it. Moreover, I heard that what Nathaniel and Christina have is an unhappy contractual marriage and that they¡¯ve been arguing over divorce recently.¡± If Anthea had not been cklisted, she would have no doubts about Elizabeth¡¯s words. However, reality had taught Anthea a terrible lesson. She was fooled because of her dumb belief in her friendship with Elizabeth. In the end, she was punished for her stupidity while Elizabeth, the mastermind, continued to bathe in glory. Anthea, who was a proud soul, would never let Elizabeth go with the matter. As far as she was concerned, thetter was born with a lower status than her. Anthea mocked, ¡°You seemed obsessed with Christina, Are you telling me these because you¡¯re still trying to use me to take revenge on Christina for you?¡± The look in her eyes was a vicious one as she grabbed Elizabeth by her jaw with her right hand, almost- crushing it. ¡°You have so many ckmail¨Cworthy materials about them, so why don¡¯t you just expose them through the media?¡± Anthea snarled. ¡°It¡¯s not that you don¡¯t want to do it, but you¡¯re afraid. You¡¯re scared that Christina will find out that you¡¯re behind this and ruin your career. That¡¯s why you¡¯re looking for a scapegoat, and I¡¯m the scapegoat you¡¯ve found!¡± Elizabeth held her breath as a wave of shock crashed into her. When did the naive Anthea be so smart? I can¡¯t admit to that or Anthea will never let me off the hook. Thus, Elizabeth quickly rposed herself and pretended to y the fool. As she held Anthea¡¯s hand that had gripped her jaw, she said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Anthea, did Christina tell you something? Don¡¯t believe her words. She¡¯s trying to sow discord between us! She¡¯s trying to provoke you so that you¡¯ll break off the contract andpensate her studio the huge penalty fee. Thepany has only temporarily put your work on hold, but you can rise again with your fame. I have some connections, and I can introduce work to you. Once this blows over, you can still take on roles in movies and endorsement offers.¡± Anthea was disgusted by Elizabeth¡¯s pretentiousness. She let go and Elizabeth fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes. ¡°I don¡¯t need a model who sells her body and looks to climb up the socialdder to help me out. I have my family,¡± Anthea uttered in disdain. ¡°Just you wait, Elizabeth. I won¡¯t let you off this easily.¡± D With that, she spun on her heel and left. Elizabeth climbed to her feet. When she turned to look in the mirror, she saw how much of a mess she looked. The red handprint was a sign of the humiliation she suffered, and she trembled in anger after seeing it. Right then, a soft sound came from the walk¨Cin closet at the side. Elizabeth whipped her head over and red at the spot. The makeup assistant fell onto the pile of clothes, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. She stammered, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to eavesdrop, Ms. Bet! I left something here. I¡­ I heard nothing! I¡¯m leaving now!¡± The assistant looked miserable as remorse flooded her mind. If she had known that she was going to hear such shocking secrets, she would have snuck out of the room when Elizabeth started fighting with Anthea. Elizabeth did not stop the assistant as thetter scurried off, but she red at her retreating figure the entire time. You bl*ody b*tch! I am going to make you pay for eavesdropping! Meanwhile, Christina slept through that night. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a handsome face. Nathaniel had returned to Scenic Garden Manor and hade to her side to watch her. ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Christina habitually moved closer to Nathaniel, the suit jacket draped on her sliding down. to her waist. ¡°You¡¯re home much earlier than usual.¡± Nathaniel ced his arms under her armpit and lifted her to a sitting position on hisp. As he positioned a hand by her waist to prevent her from falling, he said, ¡°I was done with work, so I wanted toe home as quickly as I can to keep youpany.¡± The tint of displeasure in his eyes was palpable. ¡°Christina, have you forgotten that I told you not to sleep in the living room?¡± Christina had been tired and sleepy at that time, and the couch was spacious andfortable. She was used to sleeping on it, so why would she move? ¡°I wanted to see you the second you got home.¡± Nathaniel froze, and the irritation in his eyes dissipated. As he pulled her into his arms, he said the sweetest words in the calmest tone, ¡°If you want to sleep in the living room next time, you need to wear moreyers to keep yourself warm.¡±Christina beamed and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. That was the end of that. Feeling a little hungry. Christina got off Nathaniel, but she identally pressed the remote on the couch, and the television switched on. In the next second, the voice of the news anchor reporting the cklisting of Anthea sounded out in the quiet living room. Worried that she would fall, Nathaniel quickly held her back and said, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± Christina touched the tip of her nose sheepishly and answered, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I was thinking of getting something to eat from the kitchen.¡± Putting her aside, Nathaniel said, ¡°I¡¯ll get it for you. Don¡¯t move around so much. You nearly fell earlier.¡± At that, Christina sheepishly chuckled before waiting for Nathaniel to return with food. Soon, he came back with some snacks and a ss of fresh juice. ¡°Eat up. Have some desserts to stave off the hunger.¡± As Christina dug in, she stared at Anthea on the screen. Anthea was getting surrounded by reporters, and in the end, she dashed into the minivan in haste with her manager and assistant escorting her. Despite that, Anthea could not leave. Fans came from all directions to swarm the minivan. As they smacked the vehicle windows, they cursed and insulted her. Fans of the two female celebrities were cursing at each other. It was a chaotic scene. The ones who started the fight were Elizabeth¡¯s fans, and they were using everything they had in hand to hit the vehicle. Christina was baffled and curious. ¡°Aren¡¯t Anthea and Elizabeth close? Why are their fans fighting?¡± Chapter 570 Sabotage Chapter570Sabotage Christina¡¯s voice was soft, and if Nathaniel did not pay attention to her, he would not have heard what she had said. That was because she was not expecting anyone to give her an answer. However, Nathaniel, who never paid attention to the gossip of the show business, abruptly said, ¡°Anthea¡¯s opportunities were passed onto Elizabeth after her cklisting.¡± The fame of an artiste in the entertainment industry was not merely judged based on their reputation and influence, but also by the number of opportunities they had. While it was nothing unusual to see someone intercept another person¡¯s opportunity, it was a matter that concerned the artiste¡¯s reputation. Most would choose to endure it in silence, but Anthea was a proud woman. Thus, she started going after Elizabeth in public. Anthea had spent quite an amount of money to dig up Elizabeth¡¯s dark past to expose it. Simrly, Elizabeth¡¯s team could not take it in silence either, so they began retaliating. That was how the personal fight between the two celebrities ended up transforming into a fight between their fans as well. The chaos on the inte spread offline, and soon, it became the news that Christina saw¨CAnthea surrounded by Elizabeth¡¯s fans and being cursed at. At the same time, Elizabeth¡¯s film site was constantly getting sabotaged by Anthea¡¯s fans, so the film crew had no choice but to pause work. Everything had urred in the matter of hours. Christina returned to Nathaniel¡¯sp and brought a piece of fruit to him. Nathaniel, who was staring at his document on hisptop, opened his mouth to eat it without averting his gaze. ¡°Nathaniel, you were the one who ordered the cklisting of Anthea, weren¡¯t you?¡± Things had gone south for Anthea right after Christina met her on Hadley Corporation¡¯s turf, so Christina would have to be a fool to think that Nathaniel was not involved. In an icy tone, Nathaniel said, ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have crossed you.¡± A smile grew on Christina¡¯s lips, and she put down the te of fruit before lunging at him. As she nuzzled her head against the crook of his neck like an excited kitten, she remarked, ¡°It feels so good to be under someone¡¯s protection.¡± Nathaniel curled his lips and reached out to pinch her neck. Reaching past her waist to get to his laptop, he then said, ¡°It¡¯ll take some time before dinner is done. Do you want to sleep for a while longer?¡± Christina breathed in the faint pine scent on Nathaniel and mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy. Elizabeth ordered a dress from my studio under Anthea¡¯s name, but I¡¯ve made it known to Anthea that I¡¯ve rejected the order and told her that she broke the contract first. But now that Anthea¡¯s in hot water, I won¡¯t be able to get my penalty fee, right?¡± Anthea had too much work and engagements at hand, so Christina¡¯s studio was not the onlypany she had topensate. What a little money¨Cgrubber. You are always thinking about money. Nathaniel¡¯s expression softened into a doting look. ¡°No. The Campbell family values their dignity. Even if Anthea can¡¯t pay the penalty fee, the Campbell family will still resolve this issue for her. The Campbells can ignore the requests of the others, but they won¡¯t dare to miss yourpensation.¡± Even though Christina¡¯s studio was just a young bud, anyone who did a quick investigation into her studio would easily find out about Christina¡¯s connection to Nathaniel. The Campbell family would not cross Nathaniel just to save a meager amount of money. While Anthea could give up on her career in the entertainment industry easily, the Campbell family could not just pull out of the corporate world. Nathaniel¡¯s reply put Christina at ease about herst worry. While she leaned into his arms, she closed her eyes and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll heed your words. If Anthea really does try to skip thepensation, I¡¯ll come after you.¡± As she spoke, she jabbed her finger on Nathaniel¡¯s chest. Nathaniel grabbed her hand and smiled even wider. ¡°Okay. If she doesn¡¯tpensate you, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Then, he held the back of her head and leaned closer to her. ¡°I¡¯ll give myself to you aspensation.¡°D He sealed her lips and the words Christina wanted to say. That night, not only did she receive Nathaniel¡¯s immense pensation,¡± but she was nearly exhausted by his long pensation process¡°. D It seemed like it was her loss in the end. D The next morning, Christina went down the stairs with a hand on her back with much difficulty. As Nathaniel was worried that she would tumble down, he bent over to carry her. She let out a shriek before grumpily ring at him. ¡°Let me down!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you down in a while,¡± Nathaniel said with a small smile. Ignoring her embarrassed and frustrated gaze, he brought her to the dining table. ¡°I can also provide you with feeding service.¡± Christina¡¯s face turned bright red, and she shoved him away. ¡°My back¡¯s so sore, It¡¯s not as if I¡¯ve broken my hand. You were the one who did¡­ Just stay away from me. I don¡¯t want to see you today.¡± The thought of the passionate night before nearly intensified the burning sensation on Christina¡¯s face until it set her face on fire. If not for the doctor¡¯s orders, Nathaniel would not have held himself back. Nathaniel rejected, ¡°No way. No matter where you hide, I¡¯ll find you.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. He then pulled the chair beside her and sat down on it. Once he took her te, he started peeling the egg. Meanwhile, Christina was telling herself that she had to set a rule for Nathaniel, or she would never leave the house ever again at this rate. After that, she lowered her head and ate her breakfast, ignoring Nathaniel. Nathaniel was not a chatty person, but he did not mind coaxing her. ¡°I¡¯m going to meet Winston today to talk about the coboration. I¡¯ll pick you up from the studio at noon and tell you the details then.¡± Christina froze in the middle of her action and frowned. ¡°You know that something¡¯s up with Winston, so why do you still want to take the risk and work with him?¡± Sure enough, Christina¡¯s attention was diverted by the new topic. As Nathaniel held the egg to her mouth, he said, ¡°Eat first. Then, I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Christina finished the egg unwillingly. When she saw Nathaniel slowly cleaning his fingers with the napkin, she impatiently urged, ¡°Hurry up and tell me, Nathaniel.¡± Nathaniel uttered, ¡°It¡¯s a long¨Cterm n to catch the big fish. If there isn¡¯t a bait that¡¯s good enough to lure Winston. I won¡¯t be able to find out the person behind this. The rtionship between the Hadley family and the Gibson family is worsening. If the Hadley family continues working with Winston, the mastermind will be wary. Winston is greedy. He won¡¯t be able to give up on the lucrative profits that the Hadley family can give him, so he might let history repeat itself.¡± What Christina did not know was that Nathaniel had already gained control over Winston. If not for Nathaniel¡¯s fear of rming the mastermind, he would have destroyed everything Winston had immediately. Winston only had the opportunity to work with the Hadley family because he was still useful to Nathaniel. ¡°I only used a small real estate project to test Winston out. It won¡¯t affect the project¡¯s future development. Those trivial losses won¡¯t matter that much,¡± Nathaniel added. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. No matter how witty Winston is, he¡¯s no match for me.¡± Christina knew how capable and crafty Nathaniel was, but she was still afraid that someone would sneak up on him from the shadows. Nheless, not even Christina was capable of changing Nathaniel¡¯s mind. ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t want you to take risks because of me. Chapter 571 Lose Control Chapter571LoseControl As long as Christina dedicated herself to Nathaniel, he would be willing to sacrifice even his life for her. Nathaniel pulled her into his arms and gave her a kiss. He liked using the most direct and straightforward method to express his affection for her. His barrage of kisses was so intense that Christina found herself suffocating a little. Nathaniel then lowered his gaze and stared longingly at her. She had a drop of tears at the corners of her reddened eyes, and her rosy lips were like a candy that exuded a tempting fragrance. Nathaniel found himself struggling to control his lust when he saw how attractive she looked. Their intimate moment was interrupted when the clock in the living room chimed loudly. The lustful beast within Nathaniel retreated back into its nest, and he went back to his usual self again. ¡°As long as it is for you, anything is worth it. There will be a banquet tomorrow night. I hear they have some amazing emerald jewelry. Attend the event with me, and you can pick out gifts for both our mothers,¡± he whispered and gave Christina a light pinch on her earlobe before letting go of her. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Christina¡¯s earlobes were one of her erogenous zones, so she instinctively reached for her ear, which had turned bright red, when Nathaniel pulled his hand back. Despite being married to each other for a long time, Christina would sometimes blush when Nathaniel flirted with her. Christina gave him a light push and said, ¡°You were going to meet a client, right? Hurry up and get a move on, then. Don¡¯t bete!¡± Although a client like Winston was not significant enough for Nathaniel to prioritize, he needed Winston¡¯s help in order for his n to work, so Nathaniel didn¡¯t mind spending some time ying this game of cat and mouse with him. ¡°Remember to wait for me at the studio if I don¡¯te to pick you up,¡± Nathaniel reminded her before leaving the house. Christina nodded. ¡°Okay. I won¡¯t go anywhere until youe to pick me up. Even if I do need to leave due to an emergency, I will give you a call and inform you about it.¡± Nathaniel shed her a satisfied smile and left the mansion. Christina then went back into her room and changed into a casual dress. Her tummy was getting bigger and bigger over time, so Nathaniel bought her lots of clothes that were tailored for pregnant women. Due to the recent trouble, Christina decided not to let anyone know about her pregnancy as she did not want to draw unwanted attention to herself. Christina had just gotten into the car when her phone started ringing all of a sudden. It was a call from an unknown number. While hesitating to answer the phone, her finger slipped and hit the answer button by ident. Gideon could be heard stammering anxiously, ¡°B¨CBad news, Christina! Y¨CYour mother is injured!¡± Christina tensed up the moment she heard that. ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°At the hospital! We¡¯re at Horizon Community Hospital!¡± Christina quickly hung up the phone and had the driver take her to Horizon Community Hospital. Her hands were sweating profusely as she clutched the phone tightly. As Sharon had finally made some progress with her recovery, the doctors told them not to let her get injured again. Otherwise, it could trigger her illness and result in her death. Christina feared for the worst when she heard how anxious Gideon sounded. Horizon Community Hospital was only a ten¨Cminute drive away from Scenic Garden Manor, and yet, Christina felt as though the drive took ten years to get there. ¡°Could you please go faster?¡± she urged the driver. The driver was already doing his best to drive faster, but there was a traffic jam about one kilometer long in front of them. ¡°There¡¯s nothing much we can do about rush hour traffic, Mrs. Hadley. I will do my best, so please be a little patient.¡± Little did he know, Christina¡¯s patience had been depleted the moment she heard about Sharon¡¯s injury. She then opened the door and weaved through the traffic as she ran toward Horizon Community Hospital. The driver was freaking out when he saw what she did. Fearing that Christina would get run over by some careless road user, he waited until Christina had made it onto the sidewalk before giving Nathaniel a call. ¡°Mr. Hadley? There seems to be a problem with Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± After arriving at Horizon Community Hospital, Christina asked the receptionist where Sharon was and rushed straight toward the operating room. ¡°What happened to my mom?¡± Christina asked anxiously when she saw Gideon slumped weakly against the floor in the corridor. Gideon looked up the moment he heard her voice. He then scrambled to his feet and dusted off his tattered pants as he replied, ¡°She¡¯s undergoing surgery right now. The doctor said things aren¡¯t looking well for her.¡± Thatst sentence was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back for Christina. With reddened eyes, Christina grabbed Gideon by the cor and pinned him against the wall. ¡°My mom had just gotten discharged and returned home yesterday, and yet, she is now undergoing surgery in an operating room. How did she get injured, Gideon? Why were you with her when she got injured?¡± she yelled at the top of her lungs. As Gideon felt guilty toward Sharon and Christina, he did not put up any resistance whatsoever. Instead, all he did was me himself entirely for what happened. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Miranda wouldn¡¯t havee after your mother if it weren¡¯t for my ipetence. Emilia was detained by the police and needed money to pay for her bail, but Miranda didn¡¯t have the money. Miranda thought it was you and your mother¡¯s fault, so she looked up your mother¡¯s address and went after her. The two got into a fierce fight, and Miranda identally stabbed your mother with a knife in the process. I was bringing your mother some stuff and walked in on them, so I quickly sent your mother to the hospital,¡± he sobbed while covering his face with both hands. ¡°identally, huh?¡± Christina asked with a sneer. She then tightened her grip on Gideon as she bellowed in his face, ¡°Miranda clearly wanted to kill my mother! That was no ident, Gideon! How much longer do you n on defending those two? If anything happens to my mother, I will have the three of you killed as well!¡± If looks could kill. Christina¡¯s gaze would probably have killed Gideon a hundred times over by then. Although Gideon had seen Christina lose her temper, this was the first time he had seen her threaten to kill someone. He got so scared that it took every ounce of strength he had just to keep himself standing. Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed throughout the corridor. Christina was so consumed by anger and hatred that she didn¡¯t even notice someone standing behind her. ¡°Let go of him, Christina. You shouldn¡¯t dirty your hands over an insignificant piece of crap like him.¡± Chapter 572 Nightmarish Reality Chapter 572 Nightmarish Reality That gentle yet reassuring voice snapped Christina out of her frenzied state instantly. A warm pair of hands then reached out to hold her arms steady, and a familiar fragrant scent filled her nose. Her body instinctively went limp and fell into the man¡¯s embrace. Suddenly, the look on Christina¡¯s face changed as she clutched at her tummy and panted in pain. ¡°M¨C My tummy hurts, Nathaniel!¡± She was so worried about Sharon¡¯s safety that she ran all the way to the hospital, only to be hit by such shocking news upon arrival. The amount of physical and emotional stress ced on her body was too much for her to bear, and this was its way of giving her a warning. Nathaniel tensed up the moment he heard that. He quickly scooped Christina into his arms and shouted in panic, ¡°Get a doctor over here, Sebastian! Hurry up!¡± Gideon froze as he watched Nathaniel and Sebastian run off in a hurry. It wasn¡¯t until they were out of sight that he slumped weakly to the floor. Oh, no¡­ I think I might have messed up again¡­ With both Christina and Sharon in danger, even Nathaniel struggled to look after them. It wasn¡¯t clear how Julia and Charlie found out about it, but they had ended their vacation in advance and rushed over to the hospital. Julia¡¯s eyes reddened the moment she entered the ward and saw Nathaniel sitting next to Christina¡¯s bed with a lifeless look on his face. ¡°What happened, Nathaniel? How is Christina doing?¡± Charlie wrapped an arm around Julia¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Maybe you should save the questions for later, Julia. I¡¯m sure Nathaniel is worried sick about Christina right now. We can always ask them what happened when she wakes up.¡± Julia nodded and wiped her tears off her face. Charlie shot Nathaniel a nce and let out a sigh. ¡°Nathaniel, your mother and I are going to pay Sharon a visit now. We¡¯ll help look after her, so you just stay here with Christina. Don¡¯t overwork yourself, or she¡¯ll be upset when she wakes up.¡± As Nathaniel did not respond, Charlie couldn¡¯t tell if he had even heard what he said. Charlie then grabbed Julia by the hand and led her out of the ward. Upon arriving at the floor where Sharon¡¯s ward was, they saw a suspicious¨Clooking man peeking inside. ¡°Who are you? What are you doing?¡± Julia yelled at the man, frightening him so much that he turned around and ran off immediately. Julia was about to give chase, but Charlie stopped her and said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother chasing him. This hospital has surveince cameras everywhere, so catching him won¡¯t be a problem. I¡¯ll have someone pull up the footageter. Right now, our main priority is to find Sharon¡¯s doctor and ask him about her condition. We¡¯re here to help Nathaniel and Christina relieve some of their burdens, not create more problems.¡± Julia nodded obediently and did exactly as Charlie said. Christina woke up from a nightmare shortly after Julia and Charlie left her ward. Nathaniel kept calling out to her, but she simply sat there and stared nkly at the ceiling. That drove Nathaniel¡¯s anxiety levels through the roof. ¡°Look at me, Christina! That was just a nightmare! Everything is all right! Dreams are the opposite of reality, remember? Your mother¡¯s surgery was a sess. The doctor said she¡¯s in no danger.¡± Christina turned toward Nathaniel and stared nkly at him for a few seconds before snapping out of her dazed state. ¡°My mother is fine, right?¡± she asked anxiously while grabbing his hand. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s fine,¡± Nathaniel reassured her. As Christina yanked her nket off and tried to jump out of bed, her gaze fell upon her tummy, and she quickly recalled the pain she felt earlier. ¡°My baby¡­¡± she sobbed while rubbing her tummy. ¡°The baby is fine. Hey, stop crying,¡± Nathaniel said. Christina threw herself into his arms and wailed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t take good care of our baby¡­ I had a dream where I lost my mother and my baby! I was so scared, Nathaniel!¡± Nathaniel simply hugged her tightly andforted her. He waited until she had fallen asleep before leaving the ward. Sebastian, who was on standby outside the door, asked, ¡°We have caught the person who hurt Ms. Zapler. Shall we hand her over to the police, Mr. Hadley?¡± ¡°Find a secluded spot and lock her up for the time being. We¡¯ll let Christina deal with her when she¡¯s emotionally stable. How is my mother¨Cinw doing?¡± Nathaniel replied coldly while massaging his aching forehead. ¡°Her condition is stable. If everything goes well, we should be able to transfer her to a regr ward by tonight. Your parents have arranged for the best doctors and nurses to look after her. Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam are still unaware of the situation at the moment.¡± Sebastian replied. Charlie and Julia had taken care of the kids beforeing over to the hospital, and Christina had kept a tight lid on everything, so the kids were still in the dark about Christina¡¯s condition. Sebastian would not be able to handle those kids on his own, especially if they threw a tantrum. ¡°We mustn¡¯t let them find out about this. Have some men watch over my mother¨Cinw in secret. Do not let Gideon anywhere near her. She does not want to see him,¡± Nathaniel ordered sternly. Gideon was more or less responsible for Christina¡¯s hospitalization, and Nathaniel wasn¡¯t exactly known to be a forgiving person. Those who hurt his loved ones would have to pay dearly for it, and Gideon was no exception. However, Nathaniel also knew that Christina would likely prefer to resolve the matter herself. ¡°I understand,¡± Sebastian replied. Having taken care of Christina and Sharon, it was time for Nathaniel to handle the problems at work. Nathaniel had dismissed the board of directors and rushed over to the hospital after receiving the call from his driver. That was not the first time he had done something like this, so it was only natural that the board of directors were not too happy with him. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. As the board of directors were no pushovers, Nathaniel would have to provide them with a satisfactory exnation somehow. As much as Sebastian would like to help Nathaniel out, there was only so much he could do as an assistant. Ultimately, it would be more effective if Nathaniel addressed the issue in person. After all, no one in Hadley Corporation dared argue with him. When Sebastian switched on the camera for the video conference and pointed it at Nathaniel, the directors, who were badmouthing him, all fell silent in an instant. Nathaniel had a gloomy look on his face as he stared them down. Percy Sutton, a chubby¨Clooking man who imed to be the second¨Cinmand at Hadley Corporation was the first to speak up. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the guys from Raveworks Enterprise said you stood Mr. Labarge up for no reason. Because of that, he has decided to coborate with anotherpany instead. This will result in a thirty percent cost increment for our project at the bay.¡± The board of directors was in an uproar after hearing that. Everyone was busy expressing their opinions on the matter. Nathaniel simply let out a cold chuckle and suppressed their outrage by asking, ¡°Who told you we can only have Raveworks Enterprise as our only supplier for the project?¡± Chapter 573 Get into Trouble Chapter573GetintoTrouble Nathaniel raked his icy gaze across the people on the screen. They fell silent, not daring to utter a word. His question was both direct and sharp. The bay project was still in its preliminary phase, attracting numerouspaniespeting for the bid to supply materials to Hadley Corporation. Even if Nathaniel agreed to meet with Winston, it didn¡¯t necessarily imply that their discussion would revolve around this specific project. Hadley Corporation had investments in a wide range of industries and undertook hundreds of projects, while Raveworks Enterprise also dabbled in other industries other than the construction industry. Furthermore, the construction supplier for the bay project had not been finalized yet, so Percy¡¯s insinuation that Nathaniel had already decided to coborate with Raveworks Enterprise seemed dubious and raised suspicions. In a way, Percy had just dug his own grave. Nathaniel despised people who epted bribes and exploited thepany for personal gain, prioritizing their own profits over ethical conduct. Percy quickly reyed Nathaniel¡¯s words in his mind as a bone¨Cchilling sensation ran down his spine. He stammered, ¡°I heard it from someone else. Apany recently signed a low¨Cpriced contract with Winston, and the batch of construction materials provided by Raveworks Enterprise to theirpany happens to be the same batch that Hadley Corporation specifically ordered from them a while ago. Moreover, many people are aware that you¡¯ve been socializing and discussing the possibility of cooperation with Mr. Labarge frequently.¡± Nathaniel remarked pointedly, ¡°Mr. Sutton, it seems that you know my schedule pretty well.¡± Percy strained his mind, desperately searching for a suitable response, barely managing to hold on. He wished he could abruptly end the conference call, but doing so would only reveal his guilt. Nathaniel would never let him off the hook if he did that. The reasons behind Nathaniel¡¯s sudden change remained unknown, but he had recently initiated a restructuring of Hadley Corporation. Along with it came unpredictable reshuffling of the staff, seemingly driven by his mood. The entirepany was gripped with fear due to his erratic and unpredictable decisions. The board of directors was really not amused. In order to exert more decision¨Cmaking power within Hadley Corporation, they not only relied on their shares but also on the trusted aides they strategically ced within thepany. These trusted allies helped bnce the pressuresing from different sides, ensuring the board¡¯s influence and control were maintained. Percy forced a dryugh, attempting to downy the situation. ¡°I¡¯m merely looking out for the company¡¯s profits and gathering information through socializing with others. Mr. Hadley, please don¡¯t take it too seriously.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Nathaniel whirled around and ordered Sebastian, ¡°End the meeting now. We¡¯ll talk when I go back to the office.¡± After the meeting ended, Percy could finally heave a sigh of relief. He sank into his chair and panted, btedly realizing that his shirt was drenched in cold sweat. Feeling frustrated, he entered the adjoining room in his office to change his clothes before discreetly slipping into the restroom to make a call. ¡°That despicable Nathaniel is starting to suspect me. I fear I won¡¯t be able to handle the uing tasks on your behalf any longer. It would be best for you to find someone else for that role.¡± Christina slept through the afternoon and only woke up in the evening. She looked calm by the time she woke up. Nathaniel remained with her at all times, meticulously taking care of her. After dinner, Christina insisted on visiting Sharon. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t persuade her to change her mind and caved in. When the doctor informed Christina that the knife was only one centimeter from piercing Sharon¡¯s heart, a wave of shock and disbelief washed over her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to panic. Ms. Zapler underwent major surgery, but her recovery is progressing well. Although the wound was deep, it did not pose a life¨Cthreatening risk. Just ensure she takes the necessary precautions and she will recover smoothly. As her family, it¡¯s important to be mindful of not allowing her to be too emotionally strained during this time,¡± the doctor advised them with a serious expression. While supporting Christina, Nathaniel shot the doctor a look. The doctor got his hint and made up an excuse to leave. ¡°I want to get discharged right now,¡± Christina demanded angrily as she nced at an unconscious Sharon ¡°Miranda hurt Mom, and I want her to pay for it.¡± Nathaniel frowned. ¡°Considering theplications you¡¯ve experienced during your pregnancy, the doctor strongly rmended that you stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. It¡¯s important not to exert yourself by traveling or engaging in strenuous activities. In the meantime, I¡¯ve instructed Sebastian to keep Miranda hostage. Once you¡¯ve fully recovered, you can pursue your revenge.¡± However, Christina couldn¡¯t wait anymore. Every time she saw Sharon, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from imagining Miranda stabbing Sharon. Christina had once believed that with the Steele family¡¯s bankruptcy, Miranda and Emilia would lose their backing and face the consequences they deserved. She thought their troubles woulde to an end, and they would no longer be a threat to her and Sharon. However, the harsh reality shattered her innocent expectations. As the saying goes, ¡°a rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.¡± Christina had made up her mind not to spare anyone. She was determined to get rid of the rotten apple thoroughly. Christina ced a hand on her stomach, her gaze fixed on Sharon for a moment. After a brief pause, she replied in a soft tone, ¡°Okay.¡± They spent about an hour in Sharon¡¯s ward before Nathaniel escorted Christina back to her own ward. Nathaniel made Sebastian take care of her while he returned to thepany to attend to his mounting workload. Sebastian carried out Nathaniel¡¯s orders thoroughly by ensuring that all her needs were met. Christina had slept for a whole day, so she was invigorated and full of energy, ¡°Nathaniel told me that you kept Miranda locked up,¡± she remarked. Sebastian instantly put his guard up. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hadley instructed me to hand her over to you once you have recovered and are discharged from the hospital.¡± Christina threw the covers away and hopped off her bed. Sporting a chilling smile, she proimed, ¡°Let¡¯s make that happen today, Mr. Taggart. Take me to her immediately. I have no other engagements for the day, and I¡¯m eager to get started.¡± Sebastian was taken aback. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I cannot take on the responsibility if any harm befalls you. It would be better to wait for Mr. Hadley¡¯s return and discuss this with him.¡± He knew better than to attempt to take Christina out of the hospital without Nathaniel¡¯s approval. Christina had decided to teach Miranda a lesson today. ¡°Forget it. Mr. Taggart, you must be busy. Just tell me the address, and I¡¯ll head there myself.¡± Grabbing her jacket, she put it on and strode to the door. Sebastian was caught in a dilemma. He hurriedly blocked her path and blurted out, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Lesley is on her way to visit you. She just found out that you¡¯re in the hospital, and I believe she would be quite upset if she arrived to find that you weren¡¯t here. Those who knew Victoria well were well aware of her temper. Christina nced at Sebastian, clearly considering his words. ¡°Mr. Taggart, it appears that you have a close rtionship with my junior, don¡¯t you?¡± Christina inquired, her gaze piercing. Sebastian couldn¡¯t muster the courage to meet her eyes and replied rather casually, ¡°Ms. Lesley and I are just friends. We¡¯re not romantically linked to each other.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Christina gave him an amused look before shifting her gaze to the figure standing at the door. ¡°Mr. Taggart, I believe you¡¯re in huge trouble.¡± Chapter 574 One Sided Love Chapter 574 One Sided Love Sebastian¡¯s heart sank to the pit of his stomach as he felt a chill go down his spine. He stiffened and followed Christina¡¯s gaze to the door. There stood Victoria, standing with her arms folded and her brows arched. Her gaze was calm, but Sebastian still felt his scalp tingling with unease. shing a calm smile, Victoria dered, ¡°Mr. Taggart, what did you just say? I didn¡¯t hear you clearly. Please say it again.¡± If I knew Victoria would arrive so soon, I wouldn¡¯t have used her as an excuse. Now I have offended two women whom I can¡¯t afford to offend. Oh, no¡­ My life is going to be a living hell Despite thinking that way, Sebastian tried his best to avoid answering her question. ¡°Ms. Lesley, you¡¯re here. I need to return a call, soe on in and chat with Mrs. Hadley.¡± As Sebastian attempted to pass by Victoria, she firmly gripped his shoulders, causing him to feign nonchnce and meet her gaze with a calm expression. Victoria shot Christina a smile. ¡°Christina, please allow me to talk to Mr. Taggart for a few minutes.¡± Without waiting for a response, Victoria mmed the door shut. She grasped Sebastian¡¯s arm and effortlessly pulled him into the emergency stairs, despite him being taller than her. Christina settled into her bed and scrolled on her phone, waiting for Victoria and Sebastian to return to her ward. Obviously, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t let her know where Miranda was, so her only hope was Sebastian. Aware of the futility of extracting information from Sebastian, Christina turned her attention to Victoria, believing that she would be a valuable ally. With that thought in mind, she quickly sent Victoria a message on WhatsApp and proceeded to scroll through social media on her phone, biding her time. The Inte was pretty lively today. The bitter rivalry between Anthea and Elizabeth had spilled over, dragging innocent bystanders into the chaos. Their respective fans took it upon themselves to uncover and mock the celebrities who had coborated with both parties. Despite the uproar, neither team showed any intention of diffusing the situation. It was evident that they wouldn¡¯t relent until one side suffered significant consequences. Anthea cunningly leveraged the Campbell family¡¯s influence to strip Elizabeth of a significant portion of her resources. In retaliation, Elizabeth orchestrated a move with her own backer, resulting in the Campbell family losing a few crucial coboration projects. The unfoldingmotion unmistakably highlighted Elizabeth¡¯s more strategic and scheming nature compared to Anthea. Nevertheless, that was none of Christina¡¯s concern. A few minutester, Victoria sashayed into the room, radiating happiness. Her gaze was filled with love and concern as she looked at Christina. ¡°Christina, are you okay? I was absolutely shocked to hear that you¡¯re in the hospital.¡± Christina yfully pinched Victoria¡¯s chubby cheek and exposed her lie. ¡°Ha! It seems like you got the news mixed up. You must have thought Mr. Taggart was the one who fell ill and was rushed to the hospital. That¡¯s why you dragged him out to give him a good scolding instead of showing concern for me.¡±Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Victoria avoided eye contact with Christina, feeling a bit uneasy. She defended herself, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true! I was upset with Sebastian¡¯s behavior, so I decided to give him a piece of my mind. But why are you upset, Christina? Aren¡¯t you afraid that Nathaniel will find out and get jealous?¡± Christina snorted out loud. ¡°If Nathaniel gets jealous of Mr. Taggart, you should be the one feeling upset. Why would I interfere in your business?¡± Her gaze fell on Victoria¡¯s swollen lips and poked at her belly. ¡°Is Mr. Taggart a good kisser?¡± Victoria¡¯s cheeks flushed red as she gave Christina an embarrassed re. ¡°Christina, if you keep teasing me, I won¡¯t help you ask Sebastian about Miranda¡¯s whereabouts.¡± Christina¡¯s yful demeanor vanished as soon as Miranda¡¯s name was mentioned. Her expression turned serious and determined. ¡°Victoria, I won¡¯t tease you any further. Please tell me where Sebastian has locked up Miranda.¡± Victoria cleared her throat. ¡°Sebastian told me that Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t want you to be there.¡± Rolling her eyes, Christina threw her covers open, ready to go to bed. To her surprise, Victoria gave her a tug. ¡°Hey, even if Sebastian and Mr. Hadley refuse to say anything, that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know where she is,¡± Victoria added, shing a mysterious smile. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal: if you help me out with something, I¡¯ll dly tell you where she¡¯s being kept. What do you say, Christina? Deal?¡± Christina stared at Victoria for a moment, contemting the situation. She understood that Victoria had developed feelings for Sebastian, and for her own sake, Christina had to make a difficult decision to betray Sebastian. After all, Sebastian and Victoria had feelings for each other. She would be doing them both a favor by bringing them together. Sebastian had been a loyal and dedicated employee to Nathaniel for many years, so it seemed only fair for her to assist him in finding a suitable life partner. Despite thinking that way, Christina still felt unsure. She couldn¡¯t make decisions on behalf of Sebastian when it concerned her love life. In the end, she decided to stay out of it. ¡°I can consider other requests, but I won¡¯t entertain anything regarding Sebastian,¡± Christina said directly. Victoria¡¯s face fell. ¡°Why not? Christina, you¡¯re the only one who can help me.¡± Christina¡¯s expression remained stern. No matter how hard Victoria persuaded her, she refused to relent. Victoria clung tightly to Christina, wrapping her arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck affectionately, much like an affectionate pet. ¡°Christina, Sebastian can be so oblivious sometimes. I¡¯ve dropped obvious hints, but he¡¯s still not making a move. I can¡¯t bear going on blind dates or meeting the men my family has arranged for me. Please, help us get together,¡± she whined. Christina offered a suggestion with a knowing smile. ¡°You should take the initiative and ask him out on a date. Spend more time together, get to know each other better, and let your feelings grow naturally.¡± Victoria seemed exasperated. ¡°Every time I tried to ask him out, he turned me down, citing his busy work schedule. Remember the time he was injured? Instead of taking the time to fully recover, he rushed back to work. Could you please talk to Mr. Hadley and request some time off for Sebastian? I can take advantage of that opportunity to make things work, so he won¡¯t be able to avoid me any longer.¡± Hearing her rming words, Christina held her face and joked, ¡°Victoria, are you that eager to get married? Is Sebastian ¡°The One¡°?¡± Victoria nodded shyly. Her cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment, and she didn¡¯t look like her usual arrogant and hot¨Ctempered self. ¡°I like him. I can¡¯t help it. He¡¯s so much more charming than the other guys. Oh, you won¡¯t understand, Christina. Will you help me or not?¡± Christina tapped her forehead. ¡°I¡¯m your senior, so, of course, I¡¯ll help you. But first, you have to tell me where Miranda is. Once we handle this matter, I¡¯ll personally speak to Nathaniel and ensure that your dreamse true.¡± Victoria pounced onto Christina excitedly and kissed her on the cheek repeatedly. Christina shoved her away and wiped away her saliva in disdain. ¡°I¡¯m a loyal married woman, so stay away from me. I don¡¯t want Nathaniel to think that I¡¯ve cheated on him.¡± Chapter 575 Teach You A Lesson Chapter 575 Teach You A Lesson Not fully grasping the gravity of the situation. Victoria remained unfazed. ¡°Why should you be afraid? I can talk to Mr. Hadley and exin everything. He¡¯s being overly protective of you, though. He doesn¡¯t let you do anything or go anywhere. But if you sneak out to see Miranda, will he punish me instead?¡° No matter how bold she was, she would be a coward in front of Nathaniel. She would never go against Nathaniel¡¯s orders. Victoria was Christina¡¯s junior, so naturally Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t spare her. At most, he might subject her to a few minor punishments, making her endure some difort for a while. Naturally, Christina couldn¡¯t be honest with her. ¡°You¡¯re my junior, so he¡¯ll consider you as his junior, too. He won¡¯t harm you. Besides, I¡¯ll protect you, so don¡¯t worry.¡± She pulled Victoria closer and asked, ¡°Hurry, tell me where Miranda is.¡± Victoria still remained doubtful. She nced at Christina and asked carefully. ¡°If Miranda took your mom¡¯s money, just tell Sebastian to get it back for you. Why would you need to see her in person?¡± Christina rose to her feet to put on her coat and scarf. ¡°I need to settle old and new scores with her so she won¡¯t cause trouble for me again. Let¡¯s not waste time. You should drive me there, but before that, let¡¯s Send Sebastian away.¡± Sebastian was engrossed in a phone conversation as he stood in the corridor,pletely unaware of the n concocted by Victoria and Christina. If he had known, he would have never left to get the items Victoria requested. Unfortunately, by the time he received the news, it was already toote to prevent the unfolding events. Victoria drove Christina through the bustling downtown, but her cautious speed made the journey feel agonizingly slow, If Christina hadn¡¯t been pregnant and unable to drive, she would have eagerly gotten behind the wheel to speed up. ¡°Victoria, did you bribe your way to get a driving license? A kid could ride a bicycle faster than you,¡± she comined. ¡°The doctor said your pregnancy is unstable, so I dare not floor the elerator. You¡¯re just a passenger, so shut up. I¡¯m a bit nervous now,¡± Victoria replied. Christina narrowed her eyes and observed Victoria¡¯s expression. ¡°Are you hiding something from me?¡± Victoria liked to do things her own way and hate wasting time. Thus, Christina found her current attitude peculiar. Victoria stated sternly. ¡°Of course not. I still need your help, so I wouldn¡¯t dare to lie to you.¡± Christina urged, ¡°Then please speed up. I know my body well. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Victoria spared a quick nce at Christina¡¯s stomach. Exhaling sharply, she floored the gas pedal, heading toward the dpidated area of the city. Teach You A Lesson After half an hour, Victoria pulled up at the entrance of an alley in a very old residential area. Christina opened the door and got out of the car Her phone started vibrating in her pocket, so she pulled it out and switched it off. Turning to Victoria, she instructed, ¡°Lead the way.¡± As Victoria strode ahead, clutching her bag, she continurd to talk animatedly. ¡°Yesterday, I followed Sebastian¡¯s car and witnessed him locking up an elderlydy in a rundown house, apanied by a few bodyguards. She looked somewhat familiar to me. I believe I¡¯ve seen her a few times near your studio¡± Has Miranda been to my studio? Frowning. Christina asked, ¡°When did you see her?¡± Victoria contemted the question for a moment before responding hesitantly, ¡°I think it was a few weeks ago, but I can¡¯t recall the exact timing. I remember seeing her peering cautiously through the door, looking quite suspicious. Whenever someone approached, she would hurriedly flee.¡± Victoria was aware of the deep-rooted grudge andplicated history between Christina and her adoptive family, but when it came to Miranda and Emilia, she didn¡¯t have much personal knowledge. However, she had heard enough stories to believe that both mother and daughter had a reputation for being vicious. Rayne never told her anything about Miranda. Thus, Christina was sure that no one from the studio was aware that Miranda had lurked outside the studio multiple times. There was a lot of confidential information in the studio, so Christina made the decision to expedite the instation of a security system. She understood the importance of safeguarding the privacy of her clients and her designs. Doing that would help prevent any potential troublemakers from exploiting the situation. and potentially leaking sensitive information. ¡°It¡¯s here!¡± Victoria spoke up, jolting her out of her reverie. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Knock on the door.¡± Christina instructed. Victoria knocked on the old wooden door forcefully a few times and gave it a few kicks. A deafening crash reverberated through the room as the wooden door copsed to the ground. Everyone present was stunned. Victoria stammered, ¡°I-I didn¡¯t do that on purpose. I had no idea the door is this fragile.¡± She¡¯s clearly skilled at fighting. Besides, she also kicked the door in addition to knocking on it! Despite thinking that way, the bodyguards dared not express their displeasure as Christina was around. Christina gazed at the two bodyguards. ¡°I¡¯d like to see Miranda Weaver. I believe Nathaniel has left instructions.¡± She was already here and wasn¡¯t afraid that they would call Nathaniel to get his confirmation. Both bodyguards shared a look. They didn¡¯t receive any orders and weren¡¯t sure what to do. Hence, one of them replied politely, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, let me check with Mr. Taggart. Please wait a moment.¡± Christina gave a dismissive wave and strode toward the rundown house. The other bodyguard dared not stop her and followed behind her. Teach You A Lesson Soon, Miranda¡¯s malicious insults were heard. ¡°That b*tch, Sharon deserves to die. She should¡¯ve died a long time ago. Does she think she can make me submit to her now that Christina has sessfully seduced Nathaniel? The Steeles are all wicked. If you have the guts, just end my life now. If I manage to leave this ce alive, I won¡¯t let you off easily! What right do you have to imprison me? This is illegal! You¡¯re uwfully detaining me and intentionally causing harm. I can have you sent to jail for that!¡± Victoria couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and delivered a forceful kick to the door, causing it to swing open. The insults came to an abrupt halt. Miranda stared incredulously at both women standing at the door, swallowing the words at the tip of her tongue. She choked on air as fear gripped her throat, causing her to cower back. The condition of the house was not great as it was cold and damp with a repugnant stench permeating the air. Suppressing the difort in her stomach, Christina strode into the house, but she chose to stay near the door, where fresh air provided a reprieve. She fixed Miranda with a cold, icy stare. Miranda red at Christina and mocked, ¡°Are you here to avenge that b*tch Sharon?¡± It felt awful to be locked up in such a ce for a day and a night. The people guarding her refused to give her any food. No matter how loudly she yelled, no one would come to her aid. Hunger gnawed at her until exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted into a fitful sleep. In her dreams, Sharon¡¯s menacing presence haunted her, demanding retribution for her past actions. Thebination of mental and physical torment pushed Miranda to the brink of a breakdown. Christina¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. ¡°I¡¯m d you know that.¡± Miranda gazed at Christina¡¯s stomach menacingly as she licked her dry lips. ¡°If you kill me, both you and Sharon won¡¯t live in peace. I shouldn¡¯t have spared your life. Dragging you or Sharon along to hell seems like a better idea.¡± Chapter 576 Make A Deal Chapter 576 Make A Deal Christina could still remember what Miranda was like when she met thetter at the mall half a year ago. Back then, she looked like a lion who has been tamed, and she was fearful and anxious when she met me. Even i Miranda was merely fighting back for Emilia¡¯s sake, the former had always been timid. Miranda wouldn¡¯t dare to act haughtily in front of Christina after hurting Sharon without someone backing her The only logical exnation was that Miranda knew Christina couldn¡¯t harm her because someone else would help her get out of trouble. ¡°Emilia is still locked up, isn¡¯t she?¡± Christina sneered. ¡°Perhaps I should send you there as well so that you guys can keep each otherpany for the rest of your 1 r lives.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Hearing that, Miranda red at Christina fiercely, as though she was venting her anger for someone else while looking at Christina¡¯s face.. Enraged, Miranda spat through gritted teeth. ¡°You don¡¯t have evidence, Christina! I know you¡¯re married to Nathaniel, but you can¡¯t act however you want!¡± Christina shed a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s worth a try to see what I¡¯m capable of doing as Nathaniel¡¯s wife, no? Let me remind you about something. Even if I can¡¯t do or act however I like, I can still send Emilia and you to Prison based on the crimes you guysmitted. I don¡¯t even need to go through the trouble to find - evidence.¡± Upon hearing that, Miranda merely stared at Christina silently. The atmosphere became tense after that. Victoria had mysophobia, so she hated the environment there. Throughout the entire time, she stood outside the entrance with a hand covering her mouth and nose. However, she was worried about leaving Christina there alone, so she stayed. Right then, Victoria noticed that the conversation was going nowhere. Thus, she uttered in annoyance, ¡°Christina, why are you showing them mercy when they have never treated you right? Just do as I say and get someone to beat her up. In fact, you can even torture her. If you torture her, she¡¯ll definitely give in and tell you who the mastermind is.¡± As soon as those words fell, Miranda sized Victoria up. The girl beside Christina is a morous girl dressed in expensive clothes. Seeing how domineering she is, I bet she¡¯s a tough person to deal with. Obviously, Christina isn¡¯t in a good mood. What if Christina takes her suggestion and tortures me to make me talk? Christina was pregnant, so she didn¡¯t want to act violently. Miranda loves Emilia dearly, so I should have leverage over her. If I y it right, I¡¯m sure Miranda will spill With that in mind, Christina uttered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to think about it, Mdm. Weaver. If you don¡¯t tell me who instructed you to find fault with my mother by saying that you wanted to borrow money from her to bail Emilia out, I¡¯ll get someone to send all the evidence to the police station. If I do that, you¡¯ll never see your daughter again.¡± Christina wasn¡¯t lying to Miranda because she could prove the crimes Miranda and Emiliamitted. I didn¡¯t expose them before this because the Steele family had already paid an equivalent price. I had to have a backup n because there was a chance the Steele family would do something unimaginable when they were cornered. Christina wanted to look after herself and Sharon. Yet, Christina¡¯s kindness eventually came back to bite her and Sharon. A look of panic titted across Miranda¡¯s eyes, and she gritted her teeth. However, she was still reluctant to speak. All of a sudden, Christina seemed to have remembered something. In an even colder tone, she questioned, ¡°Wait¡­ Why did you look for my mother when the grudge is between you guys and me? What are you guys nning to do?¡± Miranda chuckled in response, and the look of fear in her eyes was reced by utter arrogance. With a smirk, she stared at Christina and asked casually, ¡°You¡¯re a smart woman, aren¡¯t you, Christina? Why don¡¯t we make a deal?¡± Christina furrowed her brows. Anxious, Victoria urged, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t believe a word she says. There¡¯s a chance she doesn¡¯t know anything. She could be lying to you.¡± Atst, Victoria figured out something about what was going on. Miranda didn¡¯t go to Sharon for money. Instead. Miranda had an ulterior motive. Sharon is Christina¡¯s adoptive mother, so if something were to happen to Sharon, that could be a devastating blow that would cause Christina to crumble. Once that happens, Christina might end up having a miscarriage. They were trying to kill two birds with one stone? How evil! In the beginning. Christina had the same idea as Victoria, so Christina used Emilia to tackle Miranda¡¯s soft Spot However, Christina and Victoria missed out on one thing. Although Miranda was timid, she was a scheming woman. ¡°Get Emilia out, and I¡¯ll tell you who instructed me to find trouble with you and your mother, Miranda said. Christina was unfazed, and she seemed to be thinking about something. Although Miranda was palpitating, she uttered in a calm tone. ¡°That person wants to take down more than just Sharon and you. You and your mother are simply standing in the way of something even bigger. Hence, I thought using Emilia to take down everyone close to you was a good deal¡± ¡°How can I be sure you aren¡¯t lying to me. Mdm. Weaver? You still have less than seven minutes left to think about what to do. I¡¯ll wait for you outside, Christina uttered expressionlessly. With that. Christina turned around and went to the courtyard. After she left, the bodyguard immediately closed the door behind her to stop Miranda from ring at Christina viciously. In the courtyard, Victoria asked, ¡°Christina, should I send someone to investigate the matter? Let¡¯s see who that woman had interacted with.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t find anything. We shouldn¡¯t waste our time doing something that¡¯s pointless. What we need to do now is wait.¡± Christina shook her head. Right then, a series of heavy footsteps rang out from outside. Momentster, Nathaniel and Sebastian were seen walking in. Nathaniel¡¯s expression was gloomy, and the ck coat draped over his shoulders was fluttering in the wind as he made his dramatic entrance. Victoria freaked out when she saw Nathaniel, so she instinctively hid behind Christina. However, she still felt unsafe. As a result, she hurried toward Sebastian and hid behind him Sebastian cast a quick nce at her when she approached him Victoria then tugged at Sebastian¡¯s sleeve and asked softly, ¡°Why are you and Mr. Hadley here?¡± Sebastian silently pulled his sleeve out of her grip and said, ¡°You¡¯re a handful, Ms. Lesley Mr. Hadley is really displeased.¡± Feeling guilty. Victoria scratched her nose sheepishly and responded, ¡°Um¡­ Mr. Hadley might have a lot of things to say to Christina. Should we head out first?¡± Victoria didn¡¯t want to get in trouble. An amused look shed past Sebastian¡¯s eyes when he saw how terrified Victoria was. He even went on to scare her by saying. ¡°Mr. Hadley will most probably settle the score with youter.¡± Upon hearing that, Victoria suddenly squeezed Sebastian¡¯s wrist. With a sincere look in her eyes, she uttered, ¡°Sebastian, what about our rtionship? You can¡¯t sit on your hands and do nothing!¡± Right then, Nathaniel turned around to nce in Victoria¡¯s direction. Frightened, she turned around and fled. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Christina, I forgot I had something important to attend to! Bye!¡± Chapter 577 Agonizing Chapter 577 Agonizing At that moment, Nathaniel seemed terrifying. However, in Christina¡¯s eyes, he was no different from a paper tiger. She was aware that, without Nathaniel¡¯s permission, she wouldn¡¯t be able to meet Miranda, no matter what. As Nathaniel removed his coat and draped it on Christina¡¯s body, she stuffed her frigid hands into his waist with a grin. ¡°Why are you scaring her? If you frighten her, where will you find a wife for Sebastian?¡± Sebastian, who was crossing the threshold, almost slipped and fell. Just as he was about to provide an exnation, he turned around and saw the couple hugging each other lovingly. Hence, he went to a quiet spot for a smoke instead. Unkindly. Nathaniel remarked, ¡°Instead of paying attention to other people, you should worry about yourself first, I won¡¯t be so nice this time after you left the hospital behind my back.¡± Miranda wasn¡¯t an important figure, so he didn¡¯t assign many bodyguards to watch over her. The old residential area was about to be demolished, so all residents in the area had relocated somewhere else. Thus, there would rarely be anyone there, It was still unknown whether Miranda was acting on someone else¡¯s order, so any ident could happen. Upon learning Christina was in the slum. Nathaniel immediately abandoned his heavy workload to pick her up himself. He thought he should secretly assign a few bodyguards to her, whether she wanted to or not. Guiltily, Christina replied, ¡°The longer this matter drags out, the more unfavorable the situation will be to Mom and me. Besides, I didn¡¯te here alone. I brought Victoria with me, and she¡¯s pretty good at fighting. She can protect me.¡± Nathaniel scoffed. ¡°What did you find out?¡± I know Christina¡¯s temper. She won¡¯t give up until the matter is resolved. I¡¯m not angry at her, honestly. Just little annoyed, perhaps, but I¡¯m just d she¡¯s safe. ¡°I can confirm that Miranda visited my Mom, and it¡¯s not just because of Emilia. She¡¯s definitely acting ording to someone else¡¯s order, but she¡¯s very tight-lipped¡­¡± Christina proceeded to tell him about her conversation with Miranda. Calmly, Nathaniel wrapped Christina¡¯s scarf tightly. ¡°Sebastian¡¯s quite skilled at interrogation. Let him. handle this while you and I return to the hospital. It¡¯s windy here, and the temperature drops during the afternoon. I don¡¯t want to see you getting sick.¡± Christina insisted, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. If Miranda still refuses to divulge anything in ten minutes, I¡¯ll -go back with you.¡± In response, Nathaniel respected her wishes and kept herpany in the dpidated courtyard for a few minutes. As expected, Miranda insisted on making a deal with Christina. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t reveal anything. Christina couldn¡¯t stand Miranda¡¯s bad habit, so she left with Nathaniel and allowed Sebastian to handle the rest. After asking someone to bring a chair for him at the entrance, Sebastian sat on it and smoked for a few hours. Miranda¡¯s nerves were frayed. Additionally, she was tired, hungry, and worried about Emilia¡¯s safety. A few hourster, she was reaching her limit. ¡°Feel free to do what Christina asked of you! Even if I die, I won¡¯t reveal a single thing!¡± She barked at Sebastian, who had been staring at her for several hours. Smirking. Sebastian extinguished the cigarette in his hand by tossing it to the ground and stepping on it. Then, he stood, spurring the bodyguard behind him to deliver him a phone. Following that, he squatted and held the phone in front of her. ¡°You may be able to remain stubborn, but your daughter, Emilia, may not withstand her torment.¡± In the video disyed on the screen, Emilia was seen screaming like a maniac while her body was covered in bruises. She clutched onto the metal railing, trudging toward the field to ask for help with a deformed face. However, two burly women dragged her back. The ruthless women ignored Emilia¡¯s pleading and forcefully peeled her fingers from the metal railing one by one. Emilia¡¯s fingers and countenance paled as fear swirled in her eyes as if she had spotted a ghost. Her every agonizing scream pierced Miranda¡¯s heart. ¡°No! Don¡¯t touch my daughter!¡± eximed Miranda heart-wrenchingly. She pounced toward Sebastian in an attempt to snatch the phone, but Sebastian avoided her touch. When her face fell t on the uneven ground, the sharp rocks leftceration wounds on her cheeks. As though she couldn¡¯t feel pain, she begged Sebastian with a sob. ¡°Please, release her!¡± The screaming from the phone continued. Sebastian peered at the woman on the ground coldly, threatening, ¡°I have enough evidence to submit Emilia to a hellish life in prison until the day she dies. You can remain silent if you want because I also have the ability to investigate the identity of the mastermind. It¡¯s only a matter of time.¡± Miranda heaved, like a dog on the verge of drowning. However, Sebastian continued to rub salt on her wound. ¡°There are people from all walks of life in prison. Even though it¡¯s only been a few hours since Emilia was sent there, she¡¯s already reaching her limit. How long do you think she canst based on her willpower? ording to what I observed from the current situation, I don¡¯t think the person you¡¯re protecting ising to save you.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Miranda¡¯s pupils constricted before she abruptly coughed violently, so much so that she vomited a mouthful of blood. Frowning, Sebastian stepped backward. ¡°If this still isn¡¯t enough to persuade you, I have other measures that I can show you one by one.¡± ¡°No! No need! I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know!¡± Miranda couldn¡¯t imagine what horror her daughter would face next if she refused to spill the beans. I¡¯ve regretted my decision. I shouldn¡¯t have allowed hatred to manipte me, and I definitely shouldn¡¯t have coveted those benefits! If Emilia dies, then I¡¯ve no reason to keep living. Momentster, she curled her fingers, creating fresh bloody marks in the dirt with her fingertips. With great effort, she rose and inhaled deeply¡­ Meanwhile, Nathaniel had safely brought Christina back to the ward. The phone in his pocket vibrated endlessly, but he ignored it. He personally ordered a meal for Christina. and watched her finish the food before preparing fruits for her. Indeed, he was a shining example of how a good husband should act. Staring at him, Christinamented, ¡°Your phone has been ringing for a long while. Whoever¡¯s trying to contact you must have an emergency. You should answer it first. I won¡¯t go out again.¡± After Nathaniel tucked her in, he stuffed a cup of warm milk into her hand. ¡°Remember to drink this. I¡¯ll come back and check after the call.¡± Christina nodded obediently. ¡°Go do your thing.¡± With the phone in hand, Nathaniel exited the ward. He didn¡¯t leave far, and the ward¡¯s door was ajar, so his voice asionally slipped into the room. While eating the fruit, Christina gazed at the towering figure outside the door with unbridled affection. Minutester, Nathaniel returned with an even grimmer expression. ¡°I¡¯ve got bad news, Christina. Miranda¡¯s dead.¡± Chapter 578 Strangled In Hospital Chapter 578 Strangled In Hospital Mounia is dead? That news was so shocking that Christina didn¡¯t return to her senses until some time later. The fruits on her te abruptly appeared unappetizing as she settled the te on the bedside table. ¡°How did she die?¡± It¡¯s only been a few hours since west met I never wanted her to die! ¡°Sebastian extracted some valuable information from her before sending her home per the agreement. Half an hourter, he received news that there was a fire at the rented house Miranda was staying in.¡± Sitting on the side of the table, Nathaniel continued, ¡°She was burned alive inside. Before the fire broke out, the doors and windows were locked from the inside. Furthermore, she sent onest message to Emilia before she passed. Hence, the police¡¯s initial spection is that shemitted suicide.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way Miranda would kill herself,¡± asserted Christina Miranda didn¡¯t yield when she was forced to live in difficult conditions after the Steele family went bankrupt. Besides, she loves Emilia who is still trapped in prison the most. I doubt she¡¯ll end her life before ensuring Emilia leaves prison safely Nathaniel shared the same thought as Christina. Something fishy¡¯s going on, and discovering the truth won¡¯t be easy. If possible. I want to avoid having Christina involved in this mess. ¡°Sebastian is a man with principles. He didn¡¯t utilize violence when interrogating Miranda. The video of Emilia¡¯s abuse he showed to her as a means of convincing her to spill the truth was just an act. He hired people to produce that video,¡± informed Nathaniel in a deep voice. ¡°ording to Miranda, someone deposited a stack of cash and a letter under her door. The letter instructed her to cause your mom trouble, indirectly forcing you to release Emilia¡¯ In response, Christina knitted her eyebrow. ¡°Unfortunately, on the day Miranda met your mother, she spotted Gideon spending time with her. As a result, she was furious. That was why your mother was injured after she caused a scene at your mom¡¯s ce.¡± I feel like I¡¯ve taken a turn into an advanced mind game. Even though it seems like I¡¯ve grasped a clue, it disappeared swifily. Christina asked anxiously. ¡°What about the letter she received?¡± If we can obtain that letter, we¡¯ll be able to analyze the handwriting to unearth hints about the mastermind¡¯s identity. It¡¯s better than running around like a headless fly in our search. ¡°Everything inside Miranda¡¯s rented house was burned to a crisp.¡± A frown settled on Nathaniel¡¯s countenance. ¡°It¡¯s possible someone¡¯s attempting to hide certain evidence.¡± Christina paled and her head was pounding. Worried, Nathaniel assured, ¡°I¡¯ll ask someone to investigate this matter, Christina. Don¡¯t overthink it. Your health is more important.¡± ¡°I¡¯m feeling a little tired, Nathaniel. I want to rest for a bit,¡± stated Christina, wincing. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll keep youpany here.¡± Promptly, Nathanielid her body t on the bed and settled a nket on her. ¡°You should return to thepany first, Nathaniel. There are caretakers in the hospital. I can take care of myself¡± Christina merely wanted a quiet moment. Besides, Nathaniel has been very busy and putting aside too much of his work because of me. Hadley Corporation is in the critical stage of its restructuring. As such, I don¡¯t want to be Nathaniel¡¯s burden. Nathaniel nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll leave after you fall asleep.¡± Strangled In Hospital Smiling, Christina lowered her eyelids. Half an hourter, when he heard her steady breathing, he kissed her forehead and ambled out of the ward. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Christina¡¯s slumber was unstable as she had experienced too many incidents for the past two days. As she dreamed, she felt she was suffocating, as though someone was choking her. When she opened her eyes effortfully, she saw a shadowy figure moving above her head. As she was gradually roused from her sleep, the pain she experienced felt more and more real. I can¡¯t die! With all her might, she shoved the shadowy figure away. The figure released a muffled grunt and was forced to let go of Christina. Without dy, Christina leaned toward the bedside table, grabbed the tablemp, and hurled it at the shadowy figure. ng! The tablemp was smashed to the ground as the shadowy figure bolted out of the ward. ¡°What happened?¡± Upon hearing themotion, the caretaker rushed into the room and turned on the lights. She noticed the mess on the ground before turning her sight to Christina, who was panting on the bed. Shocked, she asked, ¡°Are you all right, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Inhaling deeply, Christina eyed the caretaker suspiciously and answered calmly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just had a nightmare and identally broke themp. Please help me clean it up. Thank you.¡± A sigh of relief escaped the caretaker¡¯s lips as a smile formed on her face. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re fine, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll ask a cleaner to clear this mess. You should go back to sleep.¡± Christina was an important figure who came to the hospital for observation. If anything happened to her, they would have a challenging time exining the situation to Nathaniel. Hence, the caretaker took Christina¡¯s well-being very seriously. After the caretaker left the ward, Christina left the bed and strode into the restroom. When she yanked her cor, she saw a clear handprint on her fair neck. I wasn¡¯t dreaming earlier! Someone did barge into my ward to strangle me! When she heard the caretaker speaking outside the room, she tidied her clothes and ambled out of the restroom. Immediately, she spotted the cleaner sweeping the ss pieces away before installing a new lamp on the bedside table. Turning to Christina, the caretaker inquired, ¡°Should I deliver a meal to you, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Christina didn¡¯t have any appetite as she could still feel the burning pain around her neck. Sitting on the bed, she casually asked, ¡°Did anyone visit me while I was sleeping earlier?¡± The caretaker thought about it and shook her head. ¡°No. After Mr. Hadley left, I was the only one who asionally checked up on you. Did something happen. Mrs. Hadley?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± answered Christina expressionlessly. ¡°There was a ten-minute ckout earlier. Perhaps the sound of visitors or doctors passing by the room. Strangled In Hospital during that period confused you.¡± The caretaker smiled. A ckout? That¡¯s too much of a coincidence. Christina nodded. ¡°You may leave now. I want to be alone for a while.¡± In response, the caretaker spun around and left. While deep in thought, Christina picked up a familiar scent in the air. It¡¯s the fragrance of the handmade velvet flower! Was the culprit from earlier Emiliat She was so absorbed in her spection that she didn¡¯t notice Nathaniel had arrived in front of her. When she felt the sensation of warm hands on her cheeks, she reflexively pushed him away. He wasn¡¯t expecting that, so he stumbled onto the couch behind him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Christina?¡± It wasn¡¯t until Christina heard Nathaniel¡¯s voice that she focused her attention on him. She was stunned for a moment before massaging her temples wearily. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to push you. Are you hurt?¡± Striding toward the bed, Nathaniel gazed at her with scrutiny. ¡°You¡¯ve been lost in your thoughts from the moment I stepped in, Christina. I know you¡¯re hiding something from me.¡± Chapter 579 A Sense Of Danger Chapter 579 A Sense Of Danger Christina felt her temple throbbing, feeling as though a sense of danger was wrapping her tightly like a massive web. Opening her arms, she hugged Nathaniel¡¯s slender waist and buried her face in him. ¡°Someone tried to kill me. Nathaniel.¡± His body stiffened momentarily before he anxiously pushed her away and peered straight into her eyes. ¡°Tell me what happened earlier.¡± No wonder I felt a strange vibe when I entered the room. I didn¡¯t ask her about it directly in consideration of her privacy. Pursing her lips, Christina wondered what she should say. Nathaniel perceptively noticed the handprint hidden underneath her shirt and checked her neck. Seeing the harrowing red mark left behind by the strangle pained him. A murderous intent shed past his eyes as he did his best to conceal his most violent persona. ¡°Tell me, Christina. Please.¡± There was a cold touch to his tender voice. Closing her eyes, she suppressed her fear and recounted, ¡°When I was sleeping, someone entered my -room and tried to choke me. There was a ckout here at the time, so the room was too dark for me to make out the person¡¯s appearance. When I was fighting back, I scratched that person, but I don¡¯t know which part of the body part I injured.¡± Regret filled Nathaniel¡¯s voice. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should¡¯ve stayed with you or returned here sooner.¡± Those old farts in the board meeting kept troubling me. Even though I handled them perfectly well, I wasted too much time. To think I almost lost Christina in the few hours I left her unattended! Smiling, Christina reassured, ¡°It happened so suddenly and no one saw iting, so don¡¯t me yourself, Nathaniel. I won¡¯t allow you to do that.¡± Unfortunately, Nathaniel was unable to forgive himself because he thought that such a dangerous encounter could¡¯ve been avoided entirely. ¡°I¡¯ll handle your discharge procedure so you can continue to recuperate at home,¡± stated Nathaniel firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t allow a simr incident to ur again, Christina.¡± However, Christina hesitated. ¡°If I do, it¡¯ll be inconvenient for me to tend to my mother-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hire a professional medical team to care for your mother. Furthermore, I¡¯ll assign a few bodyguards to protect her from the shadows. The culprit¡¯s target is you, but I doubt they¡¯ll strike again soon after the failed attempt.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s not wrong. Since the mysterious assant is injured, I doubt they¡¯ll appear before me carelessly again. Additionally, I¡¯m now carrying a baby. I must be a responsible mother to him. In that case¡­ Christina nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll -recuperate at Scenic Garden Manor.¡± Immediately, Nathaniel arranged for her discharge. Sebastian came to pick them up. Christina entered the automobile with a cup of warm milk Nathaniel had prepared for her. Upon sipping it, she nced at him. ¡°I forgot to mention something. After the assant left my ward, I recognized the smell in the air. It was the same scent as the handmade velvet flower. Hence, I suspect the person who attempted to murder me was Emilia.¡± In response. Nathaniel informed. ¡°The buyer of the handmade velvet flower has been confirmed to be Emilia.¡± Sebastian hesitated briefly. ¡°Emilia was released two hours ago. I¡¯m sorry for not asking anyone to keep an eye on her, Mr. Hadley.¡± In that case, Emilia¡¯s even more suspicious. Christina nced at Sebastian andforted, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Mr. Taggart. We¡¯re merely specting that Emilia was the culprit. There¡¯s no evidence proving that she was the assant, so she has many arguments she can use to defend her innocence.¡± Still, an apologetic smile settled on Sebastian¡¯s face. Even if Christina¡¯s defending me, it still doesn¡¯t erase the fact that I have made a terrible mistake. Instead of reprimanding his subordinate, Nathaniel ordered, ¡°Have someone keep an eye on Emilia, Sebastian. Ask them to find out if she visited a hospital or a pharmacy or if she was injured.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± replied Sebastian. Then, Nathaniel turned to the milk in Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°You should finish it.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t stand the smell of milk, so she usually wouldn¡¯t touch the drink. However, she couldn¡¯t resist Nathaniel¡¯s stare and relented. Hence, she drank all the milk inside the thermos cup. On the way back to Scenic Garden Manor, she started feeling sleepy. After Nathaniel finished handling his work emails on hisptop, he turned his sight to Christina. He noticed she was sleeping with her head pressing against the window. In response, he leaned toward her, gently turning her head toward him. Abruptly, Christina woke up. With her drowsy eyes, she scanned her surrounding. ¡°Are we home?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll carry you out of the car.¡± As Nathaniel spoke, he covered his coat on Christina¡¯s body. Hugging his neck, she let him lift her out of the vehicle. ¡°Am I heavy?¡± I¡¯ve gained quite a lot of weight recently, and my waist has gotten rounder. One more month, and I won¡¯t be able to hide my tummy anymore. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Not at all. I think you should eat more and grow a little chubbier so you feel softer to touch.¡± Nathaniel grinned. I feel like he was making a sexual remark, but I don¡¯t have any evidence supporting that assumption. ¡°Let me down. I want to walk on my own,¡± she protested. ¡°The ground¡¯s slippery. It¡¯s not safe.¡± Christina didn¡¯t respond. After Nathaniel brought her into the building, he let her down. Sebastian followed behind the couple and closed the door. Facing Sebastian, Nathaniel frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Sebastian glimpsed at Christina and steeled himself. ¡°Will you still attend the banquet at nine tonight, Mr. Hadley? The organizer had someone call us a couple of times already.¡± Without hesitation, Nathaniel uttered, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Mr. Labarge of Raveworks Enterprise wishes to discuss the coboration with you face-to-face, though.¡± The mention of Raveworks Enterprise fully awoken Christina. ¡°I want to attend it, Nathaniel.¡± I wish to meet H¡¯inston in person. Nathaniel grasped her intention and nodded. ¡°Handle the arrangement, Sebastian.¡± ¡°Also, please help me obtain a guest list of the banquet, Mr. Taggart,¡± requested Christina. ¡°Sure.¡± Sebastian replied before leaving. Without dy, Christina entered the living room. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin your n, Christina?¡± Nathaniel was seated beside her on the couch. I want to hear it from her. ¡°I want to know what kind of person Winston was and what role he yed in the incident back then.¡± answered Christina. ¡°Back then, his constructionpany was only a small workshop. Meanwhile, the Hadley and the Gibson family were already distinguished entities in the city. If no one introduced him to the families, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to secure their major coboration project.¡± I won¡¯t abandon my investigation until the day I discover the truth. Many possibilities crossed my mind before, and I believe there was a conflict in the family or business. ¡°Winston¡¯s not the only one who wishes to coborate with Hadley Corporation recently. There¡¯s also Nigel, who had someone contacted me many times already.¡± Chapter 580 Weird Chapter 580 Weird Christina didn¡¯t expect Nigel to take the initiative to contact Nathaniel for a coboration. The grudge between the Hadley family and the Gibson family has reached the point of no return. What could possibly be Nigel¡¯s goal but money? ¡°Are my father and grandmother aware of Nigel¡¯s interest in working with you?¡± she asked. ¡°Gibson Corporation is currently helmed by Nigel, and he was always Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s favorite. However, if your father and Mrs. Lazuli learn of this news, they¡¯ll forbid him from doing this, considering how much they detest the Hadley family. I suspect that Nigel hasn¡¯t mentioned it to them yet.¡± When I was first brought back to the Gibson family by Mrs. Lazuli, the people who opposed this notion the most were Anya and her family. Nigel sure knows how to shift the me and y the role of peacemaker in the Gibson family. However, I¡¯m not an innocent girl. Without Nigel¡¯s support. Anya wouldn¡¯t have openly targeted and ostracized me. As such, Anya is merely a tool for Nigel to deal with me. ¡°Will you agree to the conditions Nigel listed?¡± asked Christina. Hugging her, Nathaniel smiled tenderly. ¡°The decision is in your hand, not mine. I can¡¯t possibly enrage my wife in the pursuit of money.¡± Touched, Christina kissed his lips. ¡°Let¡¯s handle Nigel first. I want to see what he¡¯s nning.¡± Without hesitation, Nathaniel agreed. ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll do as you say. Nigel¡¯s asking me for a favor, and the Gibson family isn¡¯t as glorious as it was in the past. Hence, even if he¡¯s eager to execute whatever malicious n he has in mind, he won¡¯t act recklessly.¡± I¡¯ve been paying close attention to the Gibson family¡¯s activities. To gather funds, they have been selling their properties and stocks at a low price en masse. The Gibson family bullied Christina when they were in their glory days. However, now that they¡¯re declining, they reach out to her for aid. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve asked people to block any messages from the Gibson family to prevent them from contacting her. I know Christina is already disheartened by the Gibson family¡¯s actions. If the scandals rted to the Gibson family aren¡¯t serious, she won¡¯t pay attention to them whatsoever. Christina was uninterested in the Gibson family¡¯stest state, so she yawned and asked, ¡°When can we eat. Nathaniel? I¡¯m so sleepy.¡± ¡°Almost. Just a little longer. You can rest after dinner.¡± After forcing herself to stay awake for half an hour, she dined, bathed, and slumbered. At half past eight at night, Nathaniel had to wake Christina, who was sleeping soundly. Christina had a bad temper when waking up and pped his face. However, she didn¡¯t put a lot of strength into it, so she didn¡¯t leave any handprints behind. Consequently, Nathaniel carried her in his embrace and coaxed, ¡°Who was the one who said she wants to attend tonight¡¯s banquet, hmm? If you still don¡¯t wake up, the banquet will end soon, and you won¡¯t be able to meet Winston.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. It was as though the mention of Winston¡¯s name flipped her switch. Abruptly, she forced her eyes open and aimed her dazed look at Nathaniel¡¯s face. Her vision gradually cleared up as she yawned. ¡°Are we going to bete? Why didn¡¯t you wake me up earlier?¡± Christina struggled to leave, looking as if she would leap onto the carpet. Hastily, Nathaniel pulled her back into his embrace. ¡°Be mindful of your baby. How can you still behave like a child when you¡¯re an adult? There¡¯s still half an hour before the banquet starts. Therefore, we have a lot of time to prepare. The stylist is waiting downstairs, so there is no need to hurry.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina became at ease. Shezed in Nathaniel¡¯s embrace like a sloth on a tree. ¡°I don¡¯t want to walk. Can you carry me downstairs instead?¡± Rubbing her hair, Nathaniel replied affectionately. ¡°I¡¯ll call them upstairs. You should finish the juice first.¡± He stuffed a ss of juice into her hand and watched her empty it before asking the stylist to doll Christina up on the second floor. Then, Nathaniel picked a white dress for Christina. Its loose waistline concealed her rounded belly while allowing her to move around easily. The matching couple¡¯s outfits they wore rendered them eye-catching. Once they arrived at the banquet, Christina held Nathaniel¡¯s arm, apanying him as he socialized with the other guests. Since the moment the couple stepped into the venue, some people had been gazing at them in secret, especially Anya and Nigel. Upon perceiving someone staring at her, Christina reflexively turned to the side and caught Nigel peering at her. His eyes were filled with greed and wiles, which disgusted Christina. T As for Anya, the moment she met Christina¡¯s eyes, she fled, as she was still avoiding thetter. Silently, Christina looked away and grinned politely at the enthusiastic guests. ¡°I want to rest at the side, Nathaniel.¡± Her body grew weaker after she was pregnant. Hence, she couldn¡¯t stand around for too long. Otherwise, her legs would swell and grow weary. If not for her desire to meet with Winston, she would¡¯ve been sleeping at home by that point in time. Knowing that Christina disliked socializing in business, Nathaniel whispered, ¡°Go, then. I can¡¯t leave right now. Don¡¯t drink any alcohol, and don¡¯t leave my sight, all right?¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Christina beamed. After departing from Nathaniel, she rested at a quiet spot. There, she leisurely ate some fruits and snacks. Nathaniel¡¯s line of sight asionallynded on her while continued to drink with the guests. Even though Christina seemed carefree, she was actually searching for her target. She was also waiting for either Anya or Nigel to approach her. However, even after the banquet was halfway over, Winston still didn¡¯t show up. Is he noting? Just as Christina felt bemused, Nigel approached her with a ss of wine. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Christina. How are you doingtely?¡± Nigel had been observing her for a long while. He only had the guts to contact Christina after he was certain Nathaniel was busy with the other guests. ¡°Your father and grandmother miss you dearly since you didn¡¯t call home for so long after returning to Jadeborough.¡± It¡¯s so weird to hear such caring words from his mouth. She settled the ss of juice in her hand on a nearby coffee table as her eyes glinted. ¡°Do they truly miss me as a family member, or do they miss the benefits I can bring to the family?¡± Chapter 581 Consequences Chapter 581 Consequences When Nigel¡¯s intentions were exposed, rage colored his countenance. Putting on airs as an elder, he reprimanded, ¡°How can you say that about your father and grandmother. Christina? Even if they did something wrong, they¡¯re still your elders, and you shouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against them. Everything they did, they did it for your own good. In the future, the Gibson family will rest in your hand. As a member of the family, don¡¯t you think you should contribute as well?¡± I¡¯ve been alive for over twenty over years, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen someone phrase their desire for money in such a lofty manner. Christina mocked, ¡°You¡¯re the head of the Gibson family right now. If your words are true, will you willingly hand your position over to me? I know you won¡¯t. After all, you already answered that question explicitly in the past.¡± Nigel¡¯s grimace intensified. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood me, Christina. Back then, I objected to the power transfer because you weren¡¯t experienced enough. Managing a family business isn¡¯t a child¡¯s game. One small mistake and massive issues will surface.¡± Christina refilled her ss of fruit juice and took a sip. Its sweet, refreshing taste washed away the bitterness in her throat. ¡°You may be right, but even with your wealth of experiences, Gibson Corporation is still failing under your leadership. I heard it¡¯s now on the verge of bankruptcy. Even after selling family properties and luxury cars, you still can¡¯t stave off thepany¡¯s ill fate. The way she spoke was nonchnt, as though she was an outsider, and the survival of the Gibson family mattered not to her. Christina¡¯s bluntness embarrassed Nigel further. Nigel was willing to lower himself and seek Christina for help in order to protect his hard-earned throne. glory, and wealth for the rest of his life. He wanted to prove to everyone that he wasn¡¯t any worse than Timothy. The Hadley family was, at that moment, the top dog of the business industry. Hence, they could aid the desperate Gibson family in innumerable ways. For example, granting the Gibson Corporation a project with a multi-billion investment. If thepany could convince Nathaniel to coborate with them, their crisis would be resolved. However, Timothy and Azure were too sly and harsh to the Hadley family back then. It was why Nathaniel held a grudge against the family. No matter how Nigel tried to ingratiate Nathaniel, thetter refused to meet with the former. Therefore, after contemting his options, Nigel decided to approach Christina. She can keep denying my request, but she can¡¯t ignore the fact that the blood of the Gibson family flows in her veins. Suppressing the humiliation, Nigel remarked, ¡°I admit that I¡¯m notpetent enough, which is why Gibson Corporation is in a pinch. However, I¡¯m not solely responsible for this oue. You yed a part in thepany¡¯s downfall as well.¡± Christina arched her eyebrow, staring at Nigel and waiting for him to continue. ¡°If you had offered a few words of advice when Nathaniel canceled all coborations with Gibson Corporation, things would¡¯ve been fine. Gibson Corporation wouldn¡¯t have fallen to its current state. Nathaniel even employed dirty tricks to force otherpanies not to cooperate with Gibson Corporation To deal with the Gibson family to teach us a lesson. As such, thepany couldn¡¯t find any new partners, and its capital chain was severed. That is why thepany has no choice but to beg Nathaniel for help. Christina, the tragedy of Gibson Corporation is Nathaniel¡¯s fault. Your parent¡¯s ident back then is intricately tied to the Hadley family. Stop being stubborn, and don¡¯t allow Nathaniel to continue to fool you! Never forget that romantic love will never be as precious as your mother¡¯s sacrifice! All the glory and wealth you enjoy today was the result of your mother¡¯s death!¡± An icy expression was set on Christina¡¯s face as she squeezed the ss in her hand, so much so that the veins on the back of her hand bulged. Bang! She mmed the ss on the coffee table, drawing attention from many of the guests nearby. However, she ignored them. ¡°Are you threatening me with my mother¡¯s matter?¡± She sneered overbearingly. ¡°The truth about what transpired five years ago still hadn¡¯t been discovered. Do you have proof that the Hadley family is responsible for that incident? You insinuate they are cruel and immoral, yet you¡¯re secretly trying to get their help to make aeback. One mustn¡¯t be too hypocritical. In fact, I suspect you might have a part to y in that ident. After all, you were the one who would benefit the most from my parent¡¯s ident.¡± Nigel¡¯s pupils constricted as he scowled. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about, Christina? I¡¯m your uncle! Your father is my older brother! Why would I harm my own family for personal benefit? If you nder me any further, don¡¯t me me for burning bridges with you!¡± Christina covered her mouth as she chuckled and responded casually. ¡°If you think I¡¯m speaking nonsense, why are you so angry? You¡¯re just making others think that you¡¯re guilty.¡± With reddened eyes, Nigel red at her. ¡°In any case, you¡¯d better consider my words. Even if you don¡¯t care about Gibson Corporation, you still need to think about your parents.¡± He did his best to protect his dignity until the end and retreated swiftly before more people paid attention. to their argument. The smile on Christina¡¯s face slowly faded, reced by amusement and mockery. Nigel had some nerve to mention my deceased mother when he failed to persuade me by using Gibson Corporation. Even if my father had personallye to lecture me, I probably wouldn¡¯t have shown him respect. Yet, Nigel thought he could gain my support. How ridiculous! With a grimace, she emptied her ss of juice. After shaking off the guests, Nathaniel hastily marched toward Christina with furrowed eyebrows. ¡°What did Nigel talk to you about?¡± The edges of Christina¡¯s lips curved upward. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. He was asking me to help him save Gibson Corporation. However, I declined. I disliked people bringing up familial love to threaten me.¡± Even though I avoided mentioning the part about Mom, I doubt I can hide that bit from someone as smart as Nathaniel. Once Nigel is driven to desperation, he¡¯ll find a way to meet with Nathaniel. When the timees, Nathaniel will solve the problem, so I¡¯m not worried. In response, Nathaniel sneered, ¡°Nigel has some nerve to threaten my woman.¡± Christina didn¡¯t want Nigel to ruin her n for the night, so she said. ¡°Let¡¯s forget about him. Where¡¯s Winston? I don¡¯t see him anywhere.¡± ¡°He¡¯s here, waiting for us in the lounge.¡± As she set her ss down somewhere, a sly and excited look shed past her eyes. ¡°We should visit him quickly. I¡¯m almost full from drinking fruit juices for the whole night.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Refireivel, Narbo held br and pressed her atabasen 100 duct need it firmy. There¡¯s only one Windoch attended tongdir e hainguart and rraction material Hadley Campersirina cafene goods. After 1 reposed him. I demanded he pay the exorbitant permatro fee the money to he begged me to spare him. You ran me thik exprenantry na mese lim sch we do anything happens. Chapter 582 I Am Not A Mistress Chapter 582 I Am Not A Mistress The advice Nathaniel offered wasn¡¯t to encourage Christina to confront Winston directly. He simply wanted to let her know he would do whatever it took to fulfill her desires. L Even if he had to pay a dear price, he would safeguard her. Having spent a long time with Nathaniel, Christina had reached a level of tacit understanding with him and was willing to ept his intention. ¡°I know what to do.¡± A hint of haughtiness shed across her eyes as she blinked. ¡°If I acquire important clues from Winston about the past, fail to control myself, and end up crippling him, you have to protect me.¡± Nathaniel scratched her palm lightly with his fingers. ¡°Do as you please. Winston won¡¯t dare to cause you any harm.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the lounge? Let¡¯s hurry over.¡± Christina could hardly suppress her excitement to stir up trouble, yearning to meet the well-known figure. Winston, in person. Nathaniel held Christina in a protective stance while leading her toward the lounge. When the two were passing through a garden, they heard amotion resonating across the night sky. Christina didn¡¯t want to meddle in others¡¯ affairs, but one of the voices sounded too familiar. She stopped in her tracks and turned toward the source of the noise. Nathaniel frowned. ¡°Christina, do you want to go over and watch what¡¯s happening?¡± Now that Christina was pregnant, Nathaniel wasn¡¯t fond of her mingling in crowded and chaotic ces. After all, if there was any pushing or uproar, she might easily get hurt by ident. The high-end banquet venue was filled with members from prestigious families and celebrities. Arguments weremonly seen during such asions as those elites of the society fought to be in the limelight. Bullying others on the spot had be a norm for them to satisfy their desire for victory. Christina uttered, ¡°I think I just heard Bailey¡¯s voice. I have to go over and take a look.¡± She quickly slipped out of Nathaniel¡¯s arms and hastened toward the center of the ruckus. Nathaniel trailed behind her expressionlessly. When Christina arrived, the area around the pool was already crowded with onlookers. Two beautiful women were brawling, one of them straddling the other. The woman on top pulled the hair of the woman beneath her and repeatedly pped thetter while incessantly hurling insults. ¡°Julian is my fianc¨¦, and everyone knows about this. Aren¡¯t you a daredevil for having the guts to seduce my man under -my watch? You even climbed into bed with him. I¡¯ve arranged for someone to follow you for some time now. You could¡¯ve done anything else, yet you chose to be a despisable mistress. Since you¡¯re so adept at seducing men, I suppose you must¡¯ve slept with countless of them all the time. The Cook family has done a poor job raising their daughter. I¡¯ll y you today and help your parents teach you a lesson about dignity. and self-respect, you shameless woman!¡± Christina pushed her way through the crowd, and the sight before her made her gasp. The person being bullied and pinned down was Bailey, Bailey¡¯s makeup was ruined, and there was even a scratch on her face, smearing her countenance with blood. Even worse. Bailey¡¯s dress was drenched in alcohol and torn to shreds, leaving her body barely covered. Nheless, the woman hitting Bailey was unrelenting Her ferocious demeanor appeared no different from a crazy woman. The onlookers were all enjoying the spectacle, and none stepped forward to break up the fight. ¡°Ill kill you?¡± That woman strangled Bailey with all her might using both her hands. Bailey¡¯s face was turning purple. She was absolutely no match for her opponent. ¡°Let¡­ go of me. Help!¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Christina was enraged. She picked up a bottle of wine on the table and flung it at the woman¡¯s back. ¡°Christina!¡± Following Nathaniel¡¯s growl, the wine bottle smashed against the woman¡¯s back, scattering ss shards and sshing wine over the three women. That woman turned around and nced at Christina in bewilderment before her body went limp, and she tumbled off Bailey. The striking red liquid flowed on the greenwn, forming a spine-chilling sight as others failed to discern whether it was blood or wine. ¡°Ahh! It¡¯s murder! Someone hurry up and call security!¡± someone in the crowd suddenly screamed, causing the scene to erupt into chaos. Nathaniel took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around Christina, cradling her in his arms. He kissed her forehead and continuously reassured her in a gentle voice. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. It¡¯s all right. She¡¯s not dead. Don¡¯t look.¡± Christina¡¯s face was pale. Her body and hands trembled greatly. A surreal sense washed over her as her mind buzzed and her brain throbbed painfully. While listening to his soothing constion, she felt a warm andrge palm covering her eyes. ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t look. You¡¯ll have nightmares.¡± Christina sobbed and buried her face in Nathaniel¡¯s chest. Bailey inhaled sharply and gazed at Ze Langford, who was lying in a pool of blood, in stupefaction. She mbered a few steps sideways. Immediately afterward, Julian¡¯s towering figure appeared in Bailey¡¯s line of sight. Taking in that horrifying scene before him, he riveted his astonished gaze on Bailey. The pent-up grievances within Bailey¡¯s chest instantly copsed. Bailey looked at Julian with an anticipatory look. ¡°Jul¡± However, the rest of her words got stuck in her throat when she noticed his subsequent actions. Julian strode past Bailey, carried Ze in his arms, and growled at the security guards behind him. ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up and call an ambnce!¡± Then, he swiftly walked away with Ze in his embrace without uttering a single word to Bailey the whole time. Bailey¡¯s expectations and fear intertwined, forming an imprable and suffocating that ensnared her. Heart-wrenching pain erupted in her chest, and the agony was so intense that she almost suffered an emotional breakdown. Bailey sat in her spot, staring nkly ahead and allowing others to direct mocking and disdainful nces at her. She didn¡¯t retort even as the onlookers besmirched her reputation and berated her. Julian¡¯s appearance quickly pulled Christina back to her senses. ¡°Bailey, let¡¯s leave this ce for now.¡± Christina crouched down beside Bailey, took off the suit jacket on her, and draped it over thetter. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Bailey grasped Christina forcefully, her grip so strong that it left red marks on Christina¡¯s fair skin. Nathaniel received two nkets from a server and handed them to Christina. ¡°There are a lot of reporters outside. We should leave from the side door.¡± Christina shot him a grateful look and took the nkets from him. She wrapped one of the nkets, around Bailey¡¯s body and draped the other over her head, concealing Bailey¡¯s face. Nathaniel had alerted Sebastian in advance to bring the car to the side door. The trio sessfully navigated through the deserted path and got into the ck Maybach parked at the side door. Nathaniel looked at Christina. ¡°You take her to the hospital. I¡¯ll stay here to handle the aftermath. If you need anything, let Sebastian know. I¡¯ll join you shortly¡± He leaned over the car window and kissed Christina¡¯s forehead before indifferently instructing Sebastian to roll up the car window. After that, the ck Maybach slowly moved out of the manor. Christina had seen Bailey in her prime, and she had also seen thetter heartbroken and despondent. However, she had never seen Bailey in such a miserable and helpless state before. Bailey held Christina¡¯s wrist tightly as if grasping herst lifeline. ¡°Christina, you must believe me. I¡¯m not a mistress. I never intended to steal another person¡¯s husband!¡± Chapter 583 He Is All Right Chapter 583 He Is All Right Christina could notment on Bailey¡¯s statement, as she did not know the whole story. Feeling sorry for Bailey, she hugged her and gentlyforted her, ¡°Bailey, let¡¯s go to the hospital to take care of your wounds first. We¡¯ll talk about thister, okay?¡± Bailey buried her face in Christina¡¯s arms as she sobbed. Sebastian nced at the two women through the rearview mirror before averting his gaze. He avoided cavesdropping on their conversation and looking at them. He kept his eyes on the road and focused on driving to the nearest hospital. He chose a hospital that the Hadley family invested in and purposely parked the car in the underground parking. Several doctors and nurses, who had received an order from the higher management, had been waiting for them. They rushed to the car and hurried to help Bailey onto a stretcher before using the elevator to the consultation room. The entire floor had been cleared in advance. Christina sat on a bench in the hallway, anxiously awaiting the results of Bailey¡¯s checkup. Nathaniel¡¯s bloodied zer was draped over her shoulders. asionally, she would look up at the closed doors of the consultation room. She had sent several messages to Nathaniel but did not receive any immediate replies. She was deeply concerned about Nathaniel¡¯s and Bailey¡¯s situations. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, it¡¯ll be a while before Ms. Cook¡¯s checkup isplete. You must¡¯ve been frightened. Why don¡¯t I have you registered so you can get a full-body checkup as well?¡± Sebastian suggested. Christina shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. The blood on me isn¡¯t mine. Bailey¡¯s emotions are unstable. I¡¯m worried about leaving her alone. It¡¯s better if I wait for her toe out. Mr. Taggart, I can¡¯t reach Nathaniel. How are things at his side?¡± Sebastian was also clueless. After all, Nathaniel would usually reply to Christina¡¯s messages first before he replied to others. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, please don¡¯t worry. There is no problem that Mr. Hadley cannot solve. No one would dare to assume airs in front of him either.¡± Sebastian chose his words carefully to reassure Christina. Christina was as pale as paper but still forced a grin on her lips. Suddenly remembering the woman she had smashed with a wine bottle, she asked, ¡°Mr. Taggart, do you happen to know who Ze Langford is?¡± Sebastian felt his head ache when he heard the familiar name. However, he could not lie to Christina about Ze as he feared she would misjudge the situation and stir up even bigger trouble. ¡°Ms. Langford is the only daughter of the richest man in Gerton. She and Julian are engaged. The Langford family and the Forrester family are family friends. Half a year ago, they held an engagement party for Ze and Julian, but their wedding date is yet to be confirmed. The Forrester family prefers to lay low, so the media in the country doesn¡¯t know about the couple¡¯s engagement.¡± I didn¡¯t know that Julian was engaged! But if that¡¯s the case, why is he entangled with Bailey? As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Christina would not push all the responsibility onto Julian without first learning about everything from Bailey. She tightened her fists. But if I find out that Julian was the one who made the first move, I definitely won¡¯t let him off the hook! ¡°It must be hard to deal with the Langford family, huh?¡± Christina asked. ¡°I think I might¡¯ve caused a lot of trouble for Nathaniel¡± Christina was sure she had caused a severe injury on Ze¡¯s back from the amount of blood thetter lost. The Langford family only had one precious daughter. They would not let things slide even if it cost their pride and dignity. However, Christina did not regret doing it for Bailey. Sebastian replied. ¡°The Langford and Hadley families are partners. Both families are equal in terms of power too. However, the Langford family still has to be respectful in front of Mr. Hadley. Besides, you¡¯re not the one entirely at fault, Mrs. Hadley. Even if the Langford family has any dissatisfactions, they will have to consider your identity before doing anything.¡± Although Sebastian¡¯s words were pleasant to the cars, they failed tofort Christina. Feeling tired, she leaned back into the chair and closed her eyes to take a nap. Just then, the doors to the outpatient clinic opened, and a nurse pushed Bailey out in a wheelchair.) Christina immediately approached Bailey. Anxiously, she asked the doctor, ¡°Doctor, how is she?¡± The doctor answered earnestly, ¡°All the wounds on the patient are superficial, so she¡¯s all right. She¡¯ll recover after having some rest at home. However, I suggest you register her to see a psychiatrist and have them run some tests. Her emotions are all over the ce. She needs professional counseling.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Thank you, Doctor. I¡¯ll make sure to take her to see a psychiatrist.¡± The doctor and the nurse turned to leave after that. Bailey stared nkly ahead, ignoring Christina no matter how many times she called out to her. Christina¡¯s eyes reddened. ¡°Bailey, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± A switch seemed to have flipped inside Bailey when she heard that. She wanted to get up from the wheelchair, but Christina beat her to it and pushed her back down. Bailey struggled desperately. Unable to hold her down any longer, Christina switched to hugging her instead. ¡°Bailey, look at me. I¡¯m Christina, not Ze. It¡¯s over. No one is going to hurt you.¡± Bailey smacked her head hard as she cried, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home! I don¡¯t want to go home! I don¡¯t want to go home!¡± Sebastian quickly pulled the duo apart, afraid that Bailey would hurt Christina. He stepped in and held Bailey down. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Cook¡¯s emotions seem to be quite unstable. How about we check her into. the hospital for observation? This hospital has a talented psychiatrist. If you agree, I¡¯ll bring her to the ward and have the doctor inject her with a sedative.¡± Christina held back her tears as she nodded. ¡°All right.¡± She looked at Bailey and gently coaxed. ¡°Bailey, we¡¯re not going home. I¡¯ll stay at the hospital with you while you rest. After that, you cane back to Scenic Garden Manor with me. You can stay as long as you want, okay?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Bailey stared at Christina nkly, tears streaming down her face as she nodded. Sebastian had someone arrange a VIP ward for Bailey. She fell asleep after the doctor sedated her. Christina continued her attempts to call Nathaniel but still could not get through. Sebastian returned with supper afterpleting the hospitalization procedure. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you should cat something.¡± However, Christina did not have an appetite. ¡°Is there any news from Nathaniel?¡± Sebastian replied. ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s bodyguard just contacted me. He said Mr. Hadley¡¯s phone battery is dead. so he isn¡¯t able to reply to your messages. Mr. Hadley and the respective heads of the Langford and Cook families are currently discussing the issue with you and Ms. Cook. He can onlye to pick you up from the hospitalter. Mr. Hadley wanted me to tell you that he¡¯s all right and that you shouldn¡¯t worry.¡± Christina finally heaved a sigh of relief as her tense nerves gradually rxed. She suddenly felt hungry and tired. ¡°I¡¯m d that he¡¯s all right.¡± Christina sighed again before she took the risotto from Sebastian and started eating. As Sebastian was around, Christina did not have to do anything else. After some time, Christina got bored from staying in the hospital room, so she went for a stroll to stretch her slightly stiffened muscles. Not far from where she was, she heard two nurses on duty gossip as though. no one was around. ¡°What is going on with the world today? Their best friend was taught a lesson because she was someone¡¯s mistress, yet they became her aplice without first knowing the truth.¡± Chapter 584 The Death Of Me Chapter 584 The Death Of Me The nurses¡¯ voices were sharp and clear, which made it easy for Christina to listen in on the conversation between them. She pricked her ears and stared at their backs icily. ¡°I¡¯ll bet you a month¡¯s breakfast that the two women online are the ones from Ward 502. Take a closer look. The woman holding the wine bottle is clearly pregnant. The guardian for Ward 502 is also pregnant. Plus, they¡¯re both wearing the same gown.¡± ¡°No way. I¡¯m not going to bet with you. Someone on the inte has already revealed the identities of those two women. Birds of a feather flock together. There must be a certain reason those two are the best of friends. Perhaps the pregnant woman isn¡¯t even pregnant with her husband¡¯s child.¡± The two nurses were immersed in their conversation about the viral video spreading online that they did not realize someone was standing behind them. Christina reached over and snatched the nurse¡¯s phone. ¡°Hey! What are you-oh gosh!¡± The nurse, whose phone had been taken away, held a hand up to her mouth. Her face was drained of all its color as she stared at Christina in shock. Christina withdrew her gaze from the nurses to the phone in her hand. She tapped on the video and watched as it yed. The insults and offensive words in the title of the video were eye-catching. The recording started with Ze insulting Bailey, and Christina soon appeared on the screen. It showed her raising the wine bottle and smashing Ze with it. The angle then panned to show Julian taking Ze away while Nathaniel and Christina covered Bailey. The video ended with the trio leaving the banquet. There was no narration or subtitles throughout the entire video, but it attracted the attention of many and started trending on various social media tforms. The majority of theizens criticized Christina and Bailey. With their identities revealed, the Hadley and Cook families became the talk of the town. Ze, who had been the first to make a move, however, received pity and sympathy from everyone, so much so that they ignored the fact that she had hit and insulted Bailey. Christina was trembling in anger. She mmed the phone onto the table, causing the two nurses to jump in fear and shock. ¡°Let me give you two a piece of advice. Don¡¯t jump on the trend and judge others before the truth is revealed.¡± Sebastian had just returned from throwing the trash when he saw Christina reprimanding the two nurses. He scarcely grasped a few of the words she said and hurried to her side. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, what happened? You must take care of yourself and not get angry.¡± Christina took a deep breath and returned to the hospital ward with a cold expression. Sebastian was not as courteous as Christina. His respectful attitude disappeared the moment Christina was out of sight. It was reced with a domineering and terrifying aura. ¡°The hospital did not ce you in the VIP ward to sit around and gossip. If you feel humiliated and aggrieved, you can voice yourints to the hospital. I¡¯ll have someone new transferred over here.¡± The two nurses responded in a shaky voice, ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Mr. Taggart. We didn¡¯t say those things on purpose. Please forgive us. We¡¯ll be fired if the director finds out about this.¡± Sebastian scoffed. ¡°Leave your exnation to the director!¡± He turned around and returned to the ward without a second nce. The nurses started to push the me on one another as they cried and fought. The hospital soon discovered and immediately dealt with the issue by recing those two nurses with new ones. Sebastian arranged for the Public Rtions Department to remove the trending video and sent people to investigate the person who revealed Christina¡¯s and Bailey¡¯s identities. He worked non-stop for more than an hour before everything was settled. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ve asked them to remove the trending video. We¡¯ve also found the person who revealed your identities.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Anya Gibson.¡± Anya! Why is it you again? If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Christina had been busytely, she definitely would not have let Anya get an opportunity to stir up trouble. The issue with the Gibson family must be resolved as soon as possible. The branch family, especially, is getting more and more unreasonable, each worse than the other. ¡°Are there any developments with Madison¡¯s case?¡± Christina suddenly asked. Sebastian could guess what Christina was thinking. ¡°Nothing as of right now.¡± Christina sneered. ¡°Nothing at all? Then, you should find a way to make progress. Since Anya used public opinion as a tool to bully others, we should let her have a taste of her own medicine. Have the? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. media bring the public¡¯s attention back to Madison¡¯s case and make it a trending topic. It might even bring the police new clues. Hype the case as much as possible and get it to trend for some time. It¡¯d be even better if the Taggart family went to look for Anya.¡± Sebastian¡¯s heart trembled when he heard what Christina said. He hummed in response and left the room. This time, Anya had crossed Christina¡¯s limits. The mess between the four wealthy families-the Langford family, the Forrester family, the Cook family, and the Hadley family-was already chaotic enough. Anya must be seeking death for continuing to stir up trouble. Sebastian was efficient in his work. Within half an hour, the Public Rtions Department had instructed ghostwriters to bump Madison¡¯s case to the top of the trending topics. Severalizens popped out like mushrooms after rain to voice their opinions on the issue. A post mentioned that someone at the mental hospital had seen Anya leaving Madison¡¯s hospital ward in a hurry on the day Madison died. With the publication of that post, other uncertain pieces of evidence also appeared on the inte. Photos and videos were posted, showing that Anya had indeed been at the mental hospital on the day of Madison¡¯s incident. The news of Madison¡¯s case immediately pushed Bailey¡¯s incident to the bottom of the trending list. A sarcastic smirk appeared on Christina¡¯s lips when she saw the effect brought by the trending topic Let¡¯s see how Anya will solve this problematic situation of hers Anya was lying on the massive bed in the hotel, overjoyed that her n had been executed perfectly. However, she felt something was unusual when she noticed her name had reced the video on the trending list. She tapped on the trending list and scrolled to see that aizen had posted a thread about her rtion with Madison¡¯s case. She jumped in shock and threw her phone away as though she had just seen a ghost. Bang! Bang! Bang! All of a sudden, there was a violent knock on the door of the room. ¡°Anya! Open the door!¡± Nigel yelled from outside. ¡°Open up! I know you¡¯re in there!¡± Damn it. Dad must be looking for me because of Madison¡¯s case! Anya paced back and forth anxiously as she bit her nails, her eyes filled with fear. ¡°Anya! If you don¡¯t open the door, I¡¯ll have someone tear it down!¡± Nigel kicked the door in frustration. ¡°Do you not have the nerve to face me after creating such a big mess for me to clean up?¡± Bang! Anya jumped as another loud bang sounded from the door. Her heart was racing, and her ears were buzzing. She took a deep breath before walking to the door and opening it. No sooner had the door opened than Nigel reached forward to p Anya. ¡°You brat! You¡¯re going to be the death of me!¡± Nigel rushed in and closed the door behind him. Anya staggered backward from the force of Nigel¡¯s p, causing her to knock her waist against the corner. of the shoe rack behind her. Tears streamed down her face as pain coursed through her. She dared not make a sound, afraid that it would anger Nigel further. With Madison¡¯s case gaining the public¡¯s attention again, it would only mean Nigel would be exposed for covering up for Anya sooner orter. Nigel was already in a difficult situation. He did not mind that Anya could not help him share his troubles. However, he did not expect her to turn his life into a living hell. ¡°The Taggart family are targeting you like mad dogs. Can¡¯t you just behave yourself and lie low?¡± Chapter 585 I Am Really Stupid Chapter 585 I Am Really Stupid The Taggart family has their eyes on me? Anya waspletely unaware of that. She had registered a new ount and posted it online after recording the video at the banquet. She then continued to attend the banquet with Nigel as if nothing had happened and returned to her hotel after the banquet ended and remained there throughout the night. For more than half the time, Anya was constantly checking if people were viewing her video and did not pay any attention to the newest public opinion. She was the one who killed Madison. Given the Taggart family¡¯s vengeful nature, it would be a lie if she imed that she wasn¡¯t scared of them. After all, if the truth was revealed, not only would she be sentenced to decades in prison, but she would also lose her status, reputation, and freedom. She was not even sure if she would be able toe out of prison alive. She was certain that the Taggart family would not let her off. At the thought of the hopeless situation she could potentially face, Anya dropped to the ground in tears. Hugging Nigel¡¯s thighs, she said, ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve realized my mistake. We can¡¯t let the Taggart family find out the truth. I don¡¯t want to go to jail. Please help me just this once!¡± Seeing Anya¡¯s tears and pitiful expression, Nigel felt his heart ache. He doted on his daughter ever since she was young and had given her nothing but the best. Even though Christina¡¯s presence was an obstacle to his ns, Nigel was still hoping that his children. would be the ones inheriting Gibson Corporation.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Despite her timid nature, Anya had always listened to Nigel. Moreover, she had always lived up to his expectations and had never disappointed him. Nigel simply could not bring himself to give up on the daughter whom he had spent so much effort. raising. ¡°Anya, you¡¯ve reallymitted a huge mistake this time.¡± The man sighed. ¡°The scandal involving the Langford family, the Cook family, and the Forrester family was none of your business. You should have never gotten yourself involved in this mess.¡± Knowing that it was toote for regrets, Anya started to cry even harder. ¡°Dad, I didn¡¯t know Ze has such aplicated background. My intention was to ruin Christina¡¯s reputation. I didn¡¯t expect Madison¡¯s murder case to be brought up.¡± Initially, the discussion online had steered in the direction Anya had predicted. Even if it was revealed that Anya was the one who posted the video, there was no reason anyone would link it to Madison¡¯s case. Suddenly, a thought struck Anya. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s Christina. I¡¯m sure she was the one behind it. She must have gotten someone to expose Madison¡¯s murder. She¡¯s trying to get back at me for posting the video that humiliated her and Gabrielle!¡± As Christina was also a victim, it had never urred to Nigel that she could be the instigator. Realization finally dawned upon him when he heard his daughter¡¯s words, and anger rose in him like a tide. However, what angered him more was that Anya had thwarted his ns. The next moment, Nigel pped his daughter across the face. Anya looked at the man in disbelief and yelled, ¡°Dad, what did I do wrong again? Why did you p me?¡± Both sides of my face are swollen. How am I supposed to meet anyone tomorrow? Nigel red at Anya, appalled by her ignorance. He wondered what she was thinking. ¡°I canceled my meeting with an important customer just to attend the banquet. What do you think my purpose is?¡± Nigel roared in frustration. ¡°I approached Christina and had a chat with her earlier this evening. I was hoping that she would have some conscience and try to persuade Nathaniel to give us a sum of money or let us work on Hadley Corporation¡¯s projects. That would help Gibson Corporation turn things around.¡± It was impossible for him not to be angry, given that all his efforts had gone down the drain because of what Anya had done. Anya widened her eyes in shock. She had thought that the purpose of Nigel attending the banquet was towork with potential business partners and find promising coboration opportunities. Never did she imagine Nigel would ask Christina for help behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s all over. You¡¯ve ruined everything!¡± Nigel had lost all hope and felt as if the world wasing to an end. ¡°Christina has never been fond of the Gibson family, and you should know how protective Nathaniel. is. If he knows that you¡¯re the one who posted the video attacking Christina, he won¡¯t hesitate to destroy Gibson Corporation. I¡¯ve worked so hard my entire life to achieve everything I have. Why did I give birth to such a dumb daughter like you!¡± His head started throbbing as a fresh swell of rage rose in him. Unable to stand the sight of Anya, he kicked her to the ground. ¡°If you¡¯re courting death, don¡¯t drag the entire Gibson family down with you. Clean up the mess you created; otherwise, don¡¯t me me for disowning you!¡± he said in a threatening tone. With that, Nigel stormed out of the room. Anya was so terrified that her stomach started cramping. She hadpletely no idea what to do without Nigel¡¯s help. In a state of panic, she thought of a person. Scrambling toward the bedside table, she picked up her phone and dialed a number she had not dialed in a long while. ¡°Yerek, I¡¯m in deep trouble! You¡¯re the only one who can help me now. Please save me!¡± While Anya was in deep water, Christina was not having much peace either. Bailey had woken up from a nightmare and started crying nonstop. She had thrown a huge tantrum that her wound, which had just been bandaged, started bleeding again. She had also incurred some fresh cuts on her body. Christina patiently let her finish venting before allowing the doctor to inject her with a tranquilizer. She then instructed Sebastian to fetch her a basin of warm water. While she wiped off the bloodstains from Bailey¡¯s face, she said, ¡°Bailey, I know you¡¯re really upset over what happened, but you can¡¯t vent your frustrations by hurting yourself.¡± Staring at Christina nkly, Bailey grabbed her wrist and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Christina, he lied to me. He knows how much I love him. How could he be so cruel to me?¡± It was clear to Christina that the ¡°he¡± Bailey was referring to was Julian. ¡°I know he has a fianc¨¦e, but he told me that they were not officially engaged and that it was just a verbal agreement between their families. He promised he would settle it and marry me.¡± Bailey said bitterly, her voice trembling as she looked at Christina. Trying her best not to let her tears fall, she continued, ¡°He said he would leave the Forrester family for me. He said no one coulde in the way of our happiness, and I trusted him. Haha¡­ I¡¯m really stupid, right? Although everything he said was so cliche, I did not doubt him at all! He took me to banquets and bought me lots of expensive jewelry. He made me so happy. In fact, I have never been happier. But look, his fianc¨¦e tried to kill me.¡± Bailey¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred and regret. She looked over Christina¡¯s shoulders and fixed her gaze on the door to the ward. ¡°Where¡¯s Julian? Why didn¡¯t hee to see me?¡± Chapter 586 Let Her Go Chapter 586 Let Her Go Bailey¡¯s extremely unstable emotional state and tendency to overthink made reading her thoughts really difficult, so Christina didn¡¯t dare agitate her too much. ¡°Julian was here, but you were asleep at the time. I didn¡¯t tell him to stay because I figured you didn¡¯t want to see him just yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying! Julian never came to visit me!¡± There was a hint of despair in Bailey¡¯s smile. She took a deep breath and continued with certainty. ¡°He¡¯s trying to show me that Ze is more important than I am!¡± Christina teared up slightly and found herself at a loss for words. She didn¡¯t know how tofort Bailey. Despite being in a dazed state from time to time, Bailey was actually aware of everything going on around her. With a bright smile on her face, she let go of Christina¡¯s wrist and said confidently, ¡°Christina, Julian and I are over!¡± Bailey felt as though something deep inside her broke when she said that, and the pain was so intense that it could tear her heart apart. Even so, no one could help share that pain of hers, so Bailey would have to endure it all on her own. The light in the corridor flickered, and a chilly breeze came in through the window. Christina felt a shiver down her spine as she sat there and stared at Bailey, who had been venting her emotions for over an hour. Bailey¡¯sst sentence kept echoing in Christina¡¯s mind, and her pained expression was practically etched into Christina¡¯s memory. Because Christina had a simr experience in the past with Nathaniel, she was able to understand Bailey¡¯s feelings. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, Mrs. Hadley. How about I send you home?¡± Sebastian suggested. Christina stood up and stretched her aching legs to relieve some of the pain as she replied, ¡°Have you made the arrangements for Bailey¡¯s protection? She¡¯s emotionally unstable right now, so I¡¯m very worried about her safety. Her caretakers must be very alert and meticulous when looking after her.¡± ¡°Yes, you may rest assured that all the arrangements have been made,¡± Sebastian replied. Christina tugged at her coat and made her way toward the elevator. The elevator doors opened, and her eyes grew cold when she saw the man standing inside. ¡°It sure is ridiculously hard to see you, Mr. Forrester. Are you here to visit Bailey? What if your fianc¨¦e finds out and throws another tantrum?¡± Christina asked, making no attempt to hide her sarcasm at all. Julian was in no position to defend himself, so he simply shot Christina a nce as he stepped out of the elevator. ¡°I heard Bailey is emotionally unstable. I won¡¯t stick around for too long,¡± he said with his fists clenched. Christina let out a sarcastic chuckle as she walked up to him with her arms crossed. ¡°You chose to be with another woman when Bailey needed you the most. Julian. You have lost the right to care for her, let alone stay by her side.¡± Julian¡¯s expression slid into a frown, and the veins in his forehead bulged as he tried to keep his anger suppressed. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is between me and Bailey. You have no right to interfere.¡± Christina red at him. ¡°Gabrielle used to love you with her entire being, but she no longer wants to see you ever again after you abandoned her. It was her who decided that it¡¯s over between you two, not me.¡± Julian¡¯s face was filled with disbelief when he heard that. ¡°S-She wants to break up with me?¡± No, this can¡¯t be true! There¡¯s no way Bailey would do that! Julian shoved Christina aside and ran straight toward Bailey¡¯s ward. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Mrs. Hadley!¡± Sebastian reached out to catch Christina as she staggered to the side. Christina rubbed her aching shoulder and shouted, ¡°Stop him, Sebastian!¡± Given the state Bailey is in, I can¡¯t let them see each other! Sebastian quickly ran after Julian and grabbed him by the shoulder. In one swift motion, he pinned Julian¡¯s huge frame against the wall. ¡°Let go of me!¡± Julian yelled with a vicious look in his eyes. However, Sebastian was trained in hand-to-handbat, so he had the strength and skills to subdue opponents who were much bigger and stronger. Even Julian was unable to break free from his grip. ¡°Unless you want Ms. Cook to take her own life before your very eyes, I suggest you not go visit her, Mr. Forrester,¡± Sebastian said before letting go of Julian. Julian stood rooted to the spot, his lips pale. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Ignoring the look of anguish on Julian¡¯s face, Christina said with a disdainful snort, ¡°I don¡¯t know how much of what you told Bailey is true, but she was so upset that she ended up needing therapy. Even Ze¡¯s actions did not hurt her this much. You should just let her go, Julian. Think of it as making it up to her.¡± Julian turned around and nced at the door of Bailey¡¯s ward. A few secondster, he started making his way toward it. Sebastian was about to stop him, but Christina motioned for him to stay put. I¡¯ve already told Julian everything he needed to hear, so I trust that he understands the gravity of the situation. Christina and Sebastian simply observed Julian as he stood outside the door. Nathaniel arrived at the hospital right as the clock struck two. Christina shed him a sweet smile. ¡°You¡¯re back!¡± Nathaniel held her hands which had turned red from the cold. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte. Dealing with the Langford family turned out to be a lot tougher than I had expected. You must be tired, right? Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Christina remained rooted to the spot and continued staring at Julian.. disgrace himself like that. Besides, the Langford family has agreed to prevent the two from seeing each other.¡± There was a look of surprise in Christina¡¯s eyes when she heard that. This was the ideal solution to the problem, and she had also anticipated this oue herself. However, she still felt bad for Julian and Bailey¡¯s rtionship. This is the first time Bailey has experienced so much pain in a rtionship. She would probably find it hard to fall in love again in the future. Christina let out a sigh and said, ¡°I want to go home, Nathaniel.¡± ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go home.¡± Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked her to the elevator. Christina didn¡¯t know when Julian left the hospital that night, nor was she interested in finding out. Surprisingly, all of the mediapanies practically said nothing about their rtionship. It was as though the entire incident was an absurd farce that gradually got reced by more shocking news. Anya, however, was unable to free herself from Madison¡¯s case. Thanks to Christina pulling the strings behind the scenes, Anya was interrogated by the police and confronted by the members of the Taggart family. When questioned by the police, Anya insisted that the pictures and videos on the inte were fake. She imed that it was the work of someone who wanted to defame her. As the police had yet to obtain any new evidence on her, they released her after she paid her bail. Anya had just gotten into a car that was parked in front of the police station when someone opened the door on the other side. Emilia got into the car and sat right next to Anya. She said, ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Anya. 1 see your situation is as crappy as always.¡± Chapter 587 You Have My Word Chapter 587 You Have My Word Despite being in a horrible situation, Anya still looked down on Emilia. She refused to admit that Emilia, who had lost everything, had it any better than she did. ¡°I don¡¯t recall giving you permission to get in my car! Also, you stink! Get out right this instant!¡± she yelled while ring at Emilia. For added effect, Anya even covered her nose and mouth to emphasize her feelings of disgust. Emilia¡¯s face turned gloomy instantly. Instead of leaving as she was told, Emilia shot the driver a nce. and said with a sneer, ¡°I have something very important to discuss with Ms. Gibson. I¡¯m fine with doing so in front of the police station if she¡¯s okay with them hearing it.¡± That seemed to have struck a nerve. Anya grabbed Emilia by the shoulder and squeezed it hard as she shouted, ¡°What are you ying at, Emilia? Do you think you can threaten me?¡± Emilia arched an eyebrow at her in response and reached for the door handle as she said, ¡°Oh, well¡­ I suppose I should have just minded my own business instead. As difficult as Madison¡¯s case may be. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to handle it, Ms. Gibson.¡± Anya¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. She immediately grabbed Emilia¡¯s arm and eximed anxiously. ¡°You know what? I think we need to have a little chat, Emilia!¡± Anya then turned to the driver. ¡°Drive us to that alley on the side and wait outside the car.¡±¡° Emilia let out a sly giggle and closed the car door. The driver drove the car into a quiet alley and got out for a smoke. ¡°What exactly are you ying at?¡± Anya asked while ncing at Emilia. Emilia whipped out her phone from her handbag, yed a video on it, and tossed it at Anya. ¡°You¡¯ll soon find out.¡± Whatever arrogance Anya had was gone in an instant after she watched the video. She tossed the phone. away in shock and grabbed Emilia by the cor. ¡°Where did you get this video from? How much do you want?¡± Emilia shed her a gleeful grin and patted Anya on the back of her hand. ¡°Let go.¡± As though she had touched something disgusting, Anya quickly let go of her and backed away slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll pay you as much as you want if you delete that video and keep that secret.¡± ¡°Just like with Madison? Listen to your lies, carry out your orders, and get silenced before the truth gets revealed? Or like my mother, whom you used to pit me against Christina and got burned to death in that old house?¡± Emilia asked with a sneer. Anya¡¯s face was as white as a sheet. Miranda did a perfect job, so how could Emilia possibly know it was my idea? Anya swallowed hard and tried to look calm as she replied, ¡°You im that I killed your mother, but do you have proof of it? Your mother and I have nothing against each other, so why would I take the risk and kill a down-and-out nobody?¡± Emilia whipped out a clear stic bag containing a pink diamond earring. ¡°This earring was found in the ruins of the fire. It is custom-made by a certain brand, and it is the only pair in the world. All jewelry products of this brand have their own unique serial numbers and certificates. If I hand this carring to the police, you will be charged with the murder of two people. How long do you think the prison sentence will be?¡± ¡°N-N-No, please! We can work this out. Emilia! You can¡¯t do this!¡± Anya eximed while lunging at the carring, but Emilia was prepared. She opened the car door and jumped right out of the car. Anya grabbed nothing but air and ended up with her upper body dangling outside the car. She even nearly hit her head on the road. Anxious and desperate, she quickly got back up and pleaded with Emilia, ¡°What do I have to do to have you spare me, Emilia?¡± Unbeknownst to Anya, Emilia had never nned on sparing her. However, she didn¡¯t want to get her own hands dirty, so she decided to threaten Anya with evidence of her crimes. ¨C ¡°I need money.¡± ¡°I have money! I can pay you as much as you want!¡± ¡°I also need a new identity, a luxurious house, and a fancy car.¡± ¡°I can give you all of that!¡± A satisfied grin spread across Emilia¡¯s face when she saw how terrified Anya looked. She patted Anya on the head and spoke to her as though Anya were an obedient dog. ¡°As long as you obey my instructions, we will be able to work very well together. After all, who doesn¡¯t want to live a comfortable life of wealth, right, Ms. Gibson?¡± Anya nodded profusely in agreement. ¡°Will you give me that earring in return, then?¡± she asked cautiously while eyeing the earring in Emilia¡¯s hand. ¡°You can think about negotiating after you have fulfilled my requests. I need to make sure you¡¯re not making empty promises here,¡± Emilia replied coldly while putting the earring back into her handbag. ¡°I will definitely keep my promises! You have my word!¡± Anya eximed with tears of desperation in her eyes. Emilia let out a disdainful snort and handed her a business card. ¡°Also, I want to get into the entertainment industry, so I want you to take care of this manager for me. Deliver everything I asked for within two days, or you will be seeing this carring on the table of the police station interrogation room,¡± Emilia added with a gleeful grin before strutting off. Anya waited until Emilia was gone before letting out a frustrated scream. ¡°Emilia, you b*tch! How dare you threaten me?¡± she yelled with bloodshot eyes as she red daggers at the business card. Anya¡¯s violent outburst was interrupted when her phone started ringing all of a sudden. Noticing that it was an iing video call from Yerek, she quickly put on a sweet smile as she answered the phone. ¡°Yerek¡­¡± ¡°Since you have been released on bail, you should hurry up and return to Hallsbay, I don¡¯t have that much time and energy to keep cleaning up your messes, so stop causing the family any more trouble.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. As Nigel had abandoned Anya, she had no choice but to depend on Yerek for everything. After all, the two of them were close. If Christina gives up on the Gibson family¡¯s inheritance, Yerek will be the ultimate winner in all this! With that in mind. Anya replied with a sweet smile, ¡°I know. I¡¯ll pack my stuff at the hotel and head to the airport right away.¡± Yerek had a brief chat with her and hung up the phone shortly after. Anya shifted her gaze toward the driver, who was still puffing away on his cigarette, and yelled angrily, ¡°What are you doing standing there? Hurry up and drive!¡± The driver tossed the cigarette into the trash, got back into the car, and drove the car out of the alley. Noticing that the back seat was way too quiet, he turned around and saw two men carrying a huge sack into a ck van. Someone had just kidnapped Anya. Chapter 588 Do Not See Eye To Eye Chapter 588 Do Not See Eye To Eye Christina was asleep on her soft bed when Nigel stormed into the residence. After Raymond woke her up, she sat on the bed with the nket wrapped around her and spaced out. Her scrunched eyebrows and frown indicated that she was in a bad mood. Everyone in the Hadley residence knew that Christina disliked being woken up. That morning, before Nathaniel left, he had emphasized to Raymond that no one should disturb Christina¡¯s rest. However, Raymond could not carry out his order to the end, as an uninvited guest had shown up at the residence. Raymond observed Christina¡¯s expression and carefully said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the guest mentioned that he¡¯s your second uncle. He won¡¯t leave if he doesn¡¯t get to meet you. He¡¯s causing quite a stir downstairs.¡± Even without Raymond telling her, Christina had already heard the cursing, screaming, and sounds of things being smashed from downstairs. She lifted the nket and got out of bed. She sneered, ¡°I don¡¯t have such an unreasonable rtive. Make sure to list down everything he destroyed and have himpensate for them at their full price. Leave nothing out!¡± This is the Hadley family¡¯s territory. How dare Uncle Nigele and cause a ruckus? Doesn¡¯t this behavior of his show that he has zero respect for me and Nathaniel? Not anyone can call themselves my rtive as they please! Christina wrapped a robe around herself and went to the walk-in closet. ¡°Let him wait. I¡¯ll go down when I¡¯ve washed up.¡± Raymond nodded respectfully. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley.¡± With that, he left. Raymond had just reached thest step of the stairs when a porcin vase was smashed to the ground beside him. He pushed his gold-rimmed sses up the bridge of his nose before calmly taking a notebook and pen from his pocket and recording everything Nigel had thrown. ¡°This porcin vase from the eighteenth century costs twenty million. This costs eight million¡­¡± Nigel stared at Raymond. He had wanted to ask him why it took so long for Christina toe down. However, his heart lurched when he heard Raymond muttering numbers and writing something into his notebook. He yelled in anger, ¡°I asked you to get Christina. Where the heck is she? Why aren¡¯t you doing what I told you to? What are you doing muttering to yourself over there? I want to see Christina!¡± Raymond hastily added thest item to the list before he looked up at a furious Nigel. He replied calmly, ¡°Mrs. Hadley just woke up. She¡¯s upstairs washing up right now. Mr. Gibson, if you can¡¯t be patient and wait for her, you can take your leave. Remember to make an appointment before youe the next time.¡± I haven¡¯t seen her yet, but she¡¯s chasing me away? Nigel shamelessly sat on the couch and said aggressively, ¡°I can leave if you want me to, but you must first ask Christina to release my daughter!¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Christina was halfway down the stairs when she heard what Nigel said. She raised her eyebrows and asked. ¡°So that¡¯s why you barged into my home so early to make a mess? To look for Anya?¡± Without waiting for Nigel to respond, Christina mocked. ¡°Since when did the Gibson family be so useless? Why would you go to other people¡¯s homes to look for your daughter when you can¡¯t find her yourself? Is this how a member of the Gibson family should behave?¡± Nigel¡¯s face contorted in anger. He said through gritted teeth, ¡°Christina, anyone who knows you know that you and Anya are always at each other¡¯s throats. Jadeborough is your and Nathaniel¡¯s territory. It must be you who sent people to kidnap Anya. Who else would make things difficult for the Gibson family if not you?¡± Christina slowly descended the stairs and approached Nigel. She nced at Raymond and instructed, ¡°Mr. Patel, please warm up some milk for me.¡± ¡°Right away, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Raymond turned and left. Nigel was about to explode from anger when he saw how calm Christina was. His daughter¡¯s whereabouts were still unknown, yet Christina still had the time to drink warm milk. ¡°Christina, what exactly do you want me to do so you¡¯ll let go of Anya?¡± Nigel stared at her angrily. ¡°No matter how much you don¡¯t see eye to eye with Anya, the two of you are still cousins. The Gibson family no longer poses a threat to you, so why must you go to such extreme lengths to destroy the family?¡± Christina sat elegantly on the single-seater couch and pulled the fleece shawl tighter around herself. She took the milk from Raymond and slowly drank half before her gaze fell onto Nigel¡¯s haggard face. ¡°You¡¯re right. Now that the Gibson family has fallen and is no longer a threat to me, why would I waste time and energy to kidnap Anya? What benefits would I get from kidnapping her?¡± She shed him a sarcastic smile. ¡°I¡¯m not short of money or power.¡± Compared to the luxurious and extravagant interior of the mansion, Nigel stuck out like a sore thumb with his suit that was worth hundreds of thousands. Christina¡¯s words were like knives stabbing at Nigel¡¯s heart. He suddenly felt embarrassed and remorseful. No one could enter the Hadley family¡¯s territory as they pleased, but he did it. Even if Christina did not want to return to the family, he was still her elder. He refused to believe she would disregard their rtionship and humiliate him. Now that I think about it, Christina can have whatever she wants since she married into a wealthy family. With her ignorant attitude toward the Gibson family, she doesn¡¯t need to kidnap Anya to get revenge. She could¡¯ve just sent some people to kill Anya secretly. Nigel suddenly had the answers to all his doubts. However, he shamelessly ordered Christina, ¡°Well, 1 don¡¯t care. Something happened to Anya in your territory. Even if it wasn¡¯t you who kidnapped her, as one of the indispensable members of the Gibson family, you must take responsibility for it until the very end.¡± When the Gibson family was distributing the family assets, the branch family wanted nothing more but to see her die. Even now, they still acted high and mighty when they were the ones who needed her help. Regardless, Christina was no pushover. She would not let anyone walk all over her. Christina ced her mug on the coffee table before she remarked coldly. ¡°That¡¯s the Gibson family¡¯s matter. Anya¡¯s life or death has nothing to do with me. Nigel, I¡¯ve endured your provocations countless times, but that does not mean that I care about the family. On the contrary, I didn¡¯t grow up in the Gibson residence, so I don¡¯t owe the family anything. If we are to find fault within the family, I only feel apologetic toward my birth parents. I address you as Uncle Nigel in front of others because I respect my parents. Back then, if my parents hadn¡¯t gotten into an ident, you wouldn¡¯t have be the head of the Gibson family. Gibson Corporation is the fruit of my parents¡¯bor. Technically speaking, it should be you, the branch family, who owes us, the main family.¡± ¡°I can save the Gibson family and have Anya return safe and sound if you want me to, but that depends on what you¡¯re willing to sacrifice. If you¡¯re incapable of agreeing to my terms, you should get out of my sight.¡± Having said that, Christina turned to look at Raymond. ¡°See our guest out. In the future, do not let anyone in without my permission.¡± Raymond spoke into the walkie-talkie. Within a few seconds, several muscr bodyguards appeared in the living room. They grabbed Nigel by the arms and dragged him out. Nigel finally snapped out of it and screamed at Christina, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t think you can cut ties with the family just because you¡¯re doing great! I won¡¯t forgive you if anything happens to Anya!¡± Raymond followed them and closed the door behind him when they exited the mansion,pletely shutting out Nigel¡¯s curses and insults. Outside, the two bodyguards threw Nigel into the puddle at the side of the road as though they were throwing trash. Raymond ripped out a piece of paper from his notebook, folded it, and tucked it into the chest pocket of Nigel¡¯s shirt. He remained expressionless as he said. Chapter 589 Whose Idea Chapter 589 Whose Idea Raymond instructed the guards to close the gates. After that, he turned and left without a second nce. Anger bubbled within Nigel. He opened the paper with trembling fingers, and his eyes widened in shock when he saw the number written at the bottom. Those things were worth more than ny million? If I had that amount of money, Gibson Corporation wouldn¡¯t have gone bankrupt. Nigel almost fainted at the roadside when he realized the severity of the situation. It took him a while to snap out of his daze. Shaking, he took out his phone and dialed Timothy¡¯s number. Timothy, please talk some sense into your daughter. She¡¯s so heartless she won¡¯t even let her family members off!¡± Christina had just finished breakfast. She was humming a happy tune as she sat in the living room and waited for the kitchen to finish preparing the nutritious soup she would be bringing to the hospital. Half an hour prior, she had received a call from Sharon¡¯s attending doctor saying that Sharon was awake and she was currently in good health. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Sharon had also borrowed the doctor¡¯s phone to reassure Christina that she was all right. She also mentioned that Bailey¡¯s emotions were stabilizing, and thetter could be discharged in two days. Just then, Christina¡¯s phone rang. She furrowed her brows as she stared at the number shing on the screen. After hesitating for a few moments, she epted the call and spoke in a tone entirely devoid of emotion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Christina, are you still mad at me and Grandma? Timothy¡¯s voice rang through the phone. Without waiting for Christina¡¯s answer, he continued, ¡°We¡¯ll be relocating your mother¡¯s grave in two days. If you¡¯re free,e back so the family can gather for dinner.¡± They¡¯re going to relocate Mom¡¯s grave? What the heck? Why is the Gibson family using such a poor excuse to get me to return? Realization struck Christina as her lips curved into a grin. ¡°I assume Nigel has told you everything.¡± Timothy fell silent momentarily before answering. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll be straightforward since we¡¯re family. Even if you have a grudge against Anya, it¡¯s still considered a family matter. The Gibson family must unite as one. You mustn¡¯t treat her safety as a game. Nigel¡¯s just worried about his daughter. Don¡¯t take it to heart if he said something to upset you. You shouldn¡¯t let outsiders make a fool out of the Gibson family.¡± A gleam of derision gleamed in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care what Nigel told you. If you want me to save Anya, you must agree to one condition. Nigel must return Gibson Corporation. From then on, the company must not have anything to do with them.¡± Christina was not cold-blooded and ruthless, but she could not trust Nigel. He had too many secrets. Just ten minutes before Timothy called, Christina had received several photos and a document from Sebastian. The photos looked old, but they showed that Nigel and Winston had often met in private and gone to high-end ces together. From their behavior, anyone could tell they were more familiar than others portrayed them to be. Hallsbay was arge city. It was normal for businessmen to get together often to socialize or invite each other to ces. However, it was considered unusual for Nigel and Winston to do such things. Nigel had never revealed to anyone that he knew Winston. They had often met in private the month before Christina¡¯s birth parents got into an ident. After that, when Nigel took over Gibson Corporation, he stopped contacting Winston. Coincidentally. Raveworks Enterprise, which Winston founded, progressed significantly within a year and sessfully introduced many products into the market. Before that, Raveworks Enterprise had struggled financially. Winston was from an average family. He did not have a mighty and powerful background or connections. He had alsomitted a crime when he was younger. Because of that, many investors looked down on him and refused to do business with him. For apany to turn its losses into profit within a year, expand the business, and develop new products regrly, it must have a massive amount of funds. Nathaniel had asked Sebastian to investigate Raveworks Enterprise¡¯s new and old ounts. They discovered that most of the data in the new ounts were fake. Most importantly, where did Winston get the money to expand hispany? It wasmon for the members of wealthy families to fight for assets and power. The person who would benefit the most after Timothy got into an ident was Nigel. From the document Christina received, she vaguely connected the dots. Initially, she did not intend to make a move on Nigel that quickly, yet he was persistent in provoking her. No matter how tolerant she was, she could not endure provocation from him repeatedly. Timothy did not expect Christina to push them into a corner. He got angry as he said, ¡°Christina, you weren¡¯t this heartless before. Tell me honestly. Was it your idea or Nathaniel¡¯s?¡± Since it hade to this, the Gibson family should be busy taking care of themselves, yet they were still persistent in going up against Nathaniel. Christina replied icily. ¡°You were the one who said this is the Gibson family¡¯s personal matter. Since you acknowledge me as part of the family as well as the heir, it¡¯s only natural I¡¯ve considered Gibson Corporation¡¯s future development before I came up with my condition. Moreover, with the Gibson. family¡¯s current situation, we still need to ask for the Hadley family¡¯s help, so whose idea do you think it was?¡± Thud! The sound of something heavy falling came from the other end of the call. Timothy huffed, ¡°Christina! The Hadley family killed your birth mother! Their hands are stained with her blood. Even if Gibson Corporation goes bankrupt, I will never receive such dirty money from them!¡± He smacked the table. ¡°Did Nathaniel cast a spell on you or something? Can¡¯t you tell they¡¯re your enemies?¡± Christina¡¯s face fell. She gently rubbed her ear, which hurt from all the screaming, then switched her phone to the other side to alleviate the pain. With a smirk on her lips, she said, ¡°Before you me me for not being able to distinguish between right and wrong, you should look for Nigel and have him confess what despicable things he has done behind your back. He always shows his loyalty to you and Mrs. Lazuli. He also ims to want to take revenge for you and Mom. Then I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t know he¡¯s been contacting Nathaniel desperately for a coboration. As a matter of fact, he even tried to persuade me to use pillow talk with Nathaniel to get Hadley Corporation to invest in Gibson Corporation. The family¡¯s dignity that you are determined to protect will always be weak against anything that benefits the family or thepany.¡± After saying all that, Christina hung up. She had been too agitated that she felt pain in her lower abdomen. Returning to her seat on the couch, she picked up her ss of warm water and downed it. Since Timothy had been going to physiotherapy behind the Gibson family¡¯s back, he must have known about what Nigel had done. However, he had chosen to take things slow and did not confront Nigel about it because he was considerate of their brotherhood. Yet, Christina was not Timothy. She did not mind lending him a hand to let the cat out of the bag since he could not do it himself. Not only was Gibson Corporation the fruit of Timothy¡¯sbor, but it was also Christina¡¯s mother¡¯s. The latter had even exchanged her life for thepany. No matter how heartless Christina was toward the Gibson family, she could not give up Gibson Corporation. It had been some time since her call with Timothy had ended, but she could not calm down. Just then, her phone rang. It was from Nathaniel. ¡°Have you finished reading through the document Sebastian sent you?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was gentle. It seemed to have a magical effect that gradually made Christina rx. Christinaposed herself before she answered, ¡°Yeah, I have.¡± ¡°Winston willingly offered it up as a bargaining chip for the negotiation of a coboration.¡± Chapter 590 Revealing The Truth Chapter 590 Revealing The Truth Christina was bbergasted. It made more sense for one to attempt to conceal their misdeeds instead of exposing them for all the world to see. Nathaniel must have sensed her confusion as he continued, ¡°Nigel possesses shares within Raveworks Enterprise and is itsrgest stakeholder. Now that Gibson Corporation has fallen into a financial crisis, he embezzled a sizable amount of Raveworks Enterprise¡¯s funds to salvage the situation. He even contacted buyers interested in Raveworks Enterprise behind Winston¡¯s back.¡± Winston built Raveworks Enterprise five years ago when it was still a small factory from the ground up to the powerhouse it was today. Five yearster, Nigel now had authority over Gibson Corporation. After bing its stakeholder under the guise of coboration, he began eroding Winston¡¯s efforts and even tricked him into signing a contract to give up his position in thepany. The damage Nigel wrecked in Gibson Corporation began showing itself during thepany¡¯s decline. It wasn¡¯t untilte that Winston discovered thepany¡¯s ounts did not tally. He realized then that Nigel had been nning to sell off Raveworks Enterprise after assigning someone to shadow him. Winston pulled an all-nighter to investigate thepany¡¯s ounts. Finally, it dawned upon him that he¡¯d been set up since Nigel approached him to coborate for the first time. I will drag him down to hell with me! Winston initiated contact with Nathaniel to feel him out cautiously and picked the time when Nigel hit rock bottom to expose part of his crimes. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel went along with the situation and created opportunities for Winston to get close to him. ¡°Winston ns on using someone else to do his dirty work, then im the credit for himself?¡± Christina was amused. ¡°It¡¯s more like he and Nigel are adamant about destroying one another. After all, they are in the same boat. If one sinks, the other will surely follow. Anya¡¯s kidnapping is aplicated matter. Don¡¯t involve yourself in it no matter what the Gibson family members say, understood?¡± Christina made a sound of agreement and asked curiously, ¡°Nathaniel, does Anya¡¯s kidnapping have anything to do with you?¡± Nathaniel chuckled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯d engage in such meaningless activities?¡± Christina was instantly silenced. She apologized sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not mad at all,¡± Nathaniel gently assured her. ¡°When will you be heading to the hospital? I¡¯ll ask Sebastian to drive you there. I don¡¯t trust others to take good care of you.¡± Christina raised her head to check the time. She had almost forgotten about her ns to visit the hospital. ¡°I¡¯ll let Raymond arrange a driver to drop me off. Sebastian¡¯s your assistant. It wouldn¡¯t do for him to leave your side with how much work you need to get done. Besides, it must be tiring for him to travel back and forth. Victoria would not let this slide if she knew of this.¡± ¡°All right, then. Send me a text message once you¡¯ve arrived at the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Raymond was carrying two thermal sks into the living room when Christina hung up the call. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you going to the hospital now? Your soup is ready.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Please ask the driver to get ready.¡± Raymond departed with the two thermal sks. ¡°Just a moment.¡± Christina entered Bailey¡¯s ward with two thermal sks half an hourter. Since no one was inside, she opened the door to the adjacent ward and saw Bailey and Sharon engaged in a lively conversation. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re here.¡± Sharon¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of Christina. ¡°Come on over here and let me have a good look at you. You seemed to have lost a lot of weight.¡± Christina brought the thermal sks and ced them on the side table beside the bed. Sharon gripped her hands and rubbed them before eyeing the slight bump in her belly. ¡°I was right.¡± Christina had no idea how to respond to Sharon. ¡°Contrary to your observation, Ive gained weight instead. Take good care of yourself. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Bailey scooted over and said, ¡°Ms. Zapler, I swear upon my good name that Mr. Hadley is spoiling her. They¡¯re pretty much inseparable. He would have carried her in his pocket if he could. That is how protective he is,¡± Christina cast Bailey a nce. Her rxed stance made it seem as ifst night was a dream, and in reality, the vivacious version of her was the one she was most familiar with. Bailey lifted the thermal sk to her nose and sniffed its contents. ¡°Christina, what did you bring for Ms. Zapler and me? It smells great.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nutritious soup prepared by my chef. Drink it while it¡¯s still hot.¡± Christina reached for the second sk and was about to open it when Sharon interrupted her. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t overexert yourself now that you¡¯re pregnant. Here, sit down and rest. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Sharon took the sk from Christina and scooped out some soup for her. ¡°You should have some as well.¡± Christina shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten at home. Besides, I had this soup prepared specially for both of you. I can¡¯t simply drink this.¡± Bailey¡¯s eyes gleamed with hunger as she was drawn to the aroma of the soup. ¡°Ms. Zapler, can I try if Christina won¡¯t have it?¡± ¡°Go ahead. I can¡¯t finish it myself.¡± Sharon handed the thermal sk to Bailey. Bailey took hold of it and poured the soup into a bowl. She then curled up on the couch in the corner as she happily slurp up her meal. Sharon only took several sips as she did not have much of an appetite. ¡°I heard that Emilia was arrested by the police. Has she been released now?¡± Sharon had just regained consciousness and learned about recent happenings from Bailey. ¡°She has.¡± Christina gazed at Sharon with aplicated look on her face. ¡°But Miranda died in the fire.¡± Sharon¡¯s jaw dropped as she struggled to find words. ¡°Does her death have something to do with me?¡± Christina saw through her at once and held her handsfortingly. ¡°Mom, her death has no rtion to you and is caused by something else. You need not feel an ounce of guilt for someone who intended to harm you.¡± Sharon asked urgently, ¡°How did the fire happen?¡± Christina answered vaguely, ¡°I¡¯m not so sure myself. The police are still investigating the matter.¡± She had no ns of revealing the truth behind Miranda¡¯s death to Sharon. Sharon was an innocent person who ended up suffering because of Christina. Sharon lowered her eyes. ¡°She came to me that day to get money to bail Emilia and came across me talking to Gideon. She began making a scene. I don¡¯t think she meant to push me because she did help me call an ambnce. Her circumstances must have forced her to take such drastic actions, so she isn¡¯t rotten inside. Sharon empathized with Miranda as she¡¯d been in her shoes. Christina was about to speak when she caught sight of a figure at the doorway from the corner of her eye. She brieflyforted Sharon and came up with an excuse to leave the ward. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Chapter 591 Only A Matter Of Time Chapter 591 Only A Matter Of Time Sharon was injured and admitted to the hospital twice in a row. Christina was sure that it had something to do with Gideon, so she was annoyed when she saw him. Gideon was holding an exquisite fruit basket in his hand. After rubbing his sleeves down, he handed the fruit basket over to Christina with a dry smile. His tired eyes shimmered with expectation. It was clear he was trying to please Christina. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I came to see your mother and bought some fruit for her.¡± Worried that Christina might detest his effort, he added immediately, ¡°I bought it with money that I earned myself. It¡¯s clean.¡± Christina studied Gideon without any expression on her face. The clothes that Gideon was wearing were made with cheap material. His shirt was so well-worn that the threads hade off the cuffs. As for his ck pants, there were some fluffs on the knee area. His canvas shoes were clean, but the soles wereing off. He looked old and exhausted, and his head was filled with white hair. The father she remembered used to be so confident and insisted on wearing branded stuff. That man was long gone. The downfall of the Steele family changed him not only in terms of lifestyle but also his character. Christina refused to ept the fruit basket. Gideon did not know what to do. He lowered his gaze and said, ¡°If it¡¯s inconvenient, I wille another time.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you here to see my mom? Go on.¡± Christina moved aside to let him in. ¡°She has just regained consciousness and is looking good this morning. But she can¡¯t take any more surprises. Please watch yourself and don¡¯t hurt her.¡± Gideon was delighted and surprised at the same time. As he spoke, he tried to hold back his tears. ¡°Thank you. Thank you for allowing me to see her!¡± Christina pursed her lips and turned around to open the door for him. When Bailey saw Gideon, she got out of the room while holding a soup bowl, then pulled Christina to one corner. ¡°Christina, what are you up to? I thought you hated Gideon?¡± ¡°This is between the old folks. You won¡¯t understand.¡± To that, Bailey sneered and sat down on a bench. She continued to eat the chicken that was in the bowl. It was then Christina realized she might have said something that caused Bailey to recall some unhappy memories, so she said guiltily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Bailey. I wasn¡¯t referring to anything else.¡± Bailey swallowed her food and looked up at Christina with a bright smile. ¡°Why are you apologizing? You didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡± ¡°I thought you.¡± Christina stopped herself, not knowing what to say. ¡°I just got cheated. That¡¯s all. It¡¯smon to meet a semibag¡± Bailey patted Christina¡¯s hair with her oily hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry If I say that things have ended between me and Julian, then it has ended for good. I won¡¯t go back to him. It has be my past, and I am not ashamed of it. I¡¯m not such a sentimental person.¡± When Christina saw that Bailey was her usual cheerful self again, she smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be difficult for you to find someone better than Julian. If you have any issues, I can ask Nathaniel to help you. I¡¯m sure you will be satisfied.¡± Bailey rolled her eyes and said angrily. ¡°Why am I getting the feeling that you are going to set me up for blind dates?¡± ¡°Are you worried that the guys we choose for you won¡¯t be to your liking?¡± Bailey downed the soup before saying. ¡°I¡¯m not picky. Christina, I¡¯ve thought about it. I want to go abroad for a long vacation. Do you want toe with me?¡± Her scandal with Julian and Ze had caused lots of unhappiness in her family. It would be better for her to lie low in another country. She would return once her family had calmed down. Christina turned her down without any hesitation. ¡°I can¡¯t. I need to take care of my mom, and I am with child. It will be inconvenient for me to go anywhere. Nathaniel won¡¯t agree to it either.¡± Bailey stared at her tummy before agreeing. ¡°You¡¯re right. Nathaniel cares a lot about you. He will never allow you to be out of his sight.¡± All of a sudden, she looked upset. She turned around and gave Christina a hug. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m so envious of your rtionship with Nathaniel. I hope everything will be fine for both of you. If he ever cheats on you, you must tell me. I will teach him a lesson!¡± Christina was not sure if she shouldugh or cry. However, she could not help but say. ¡°If you want to cry. just cry. But please don¡¯t dirty my clothes with oil stains.¡± Bailey snorted and removed herself from Christina¡¯s embrace. ¡°How can you put men before our friendship? Christina, this is the end of our-oh my!¡± Christina was dealing with the oil stains on her clothes when she heard Bailey exim. She looked up to see Nathaniel looking at them. In that instant, Bailey became serious. She jumped up from the chair and said, ¡°Well¡­ I won¡¯t disturb the two of you. I think I haven¡¯t taken my medicine yet. I shall make a move first. See you!¡± Afraid that Nathaniel would want to settle the score with her, she ran away with her head bowed down. I should have watched what I said Now, Nathaniel has heard it all! Batley gave herself a couple of ps and returned to her ward Christina red at Nathaniel ¡°You scared Batley¡± Nathaniel felt wronged ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. Darling she was the one who instigated you, and I heard a bay ident She was obviously guilty That¡¯s why she got frightened¡± He walked up to Christine and frowned after casting nce at the ud stains on her clothes. Christina said helplessly. ¡°Bailey meant no harm. She was just concerned about me¡± ¡°I know¡± Nathaniel pointed to the stains on her clothes Do you need a change of clothes! I¡¯ll get Sebastian to send your clothes over.¡± Christina had slight mysophobia. Besides, she was pregnant and should pay more attention to her hygiene. Christina shook her head. ¡°No need. Bailey was the one who stained my clothes. I will change when I get back. Oh, I thought you have a meeting at thepany. Howe you are here?¡± Nathaniel was adjusting her scarf as he answered, ¡°Everything has been settled in thepany. I heard Mom had woken up, so I decided toe over.¡± ¡°The doctor says that Mom¡¯s doing well, but she will still need to recuperate.¡± Christina thought about it before she added, ¡°Gideon is in Mom¡¯s ward.¡± Nathaniel did not appear surprised. Christina could not help but tickle his palm with her finger and ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Nathaniel grabbed hold of her hand and looked at her lovingly. ¡°What¡¯s there to be curious about? It¡¯s only a matter of time, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chapter 592 Do You Like Me Chapter 592 Do You Like Me When it came to being ruthless and merciless, Christina was no match for Nathaniel. Christina had tested Sharon multiple times after the Steele family¡¯s bankruptcy. From then on, Nathaniel had already guessed that Christina would forgive Gideon one day. ¡°Nathaniel, I can tell that my mom still can¡¯t forget about Gideon even though he mistreated her in the past,¡± Christina said. ¡°Now that so many things have happened and Gideon has changed so much, I believe he truly wants to reconcile with my mom. But I can¡¯t stop feeling afraid. I¡¯m scared that I can¡¯t judge people urately and would burden my mom again.¡± Nathaniel consoled her, ¡°Your judgment isn¡¯t wed, Christina. Your mother loves you dearly and has never held any grudges toward you. Why don¡¯t you have an open and honest conversation with her? Since this is her rtionship, we should respect her choice.¡± Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes as she nodded gratefully. ¡°Thank you, Nathaniel.¡± Nathaniel gently wiped away her tears with his fingers and pinched her cheek. ¡°Give them some time alone. Let me take you back to Scenic Garden Manor first.¡± Smiling through her tears, Christina said. ¡°Okay.¡± On their way back to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina began to feel drowsy again. Suddenly, a car veered from the rightne and crashed toward them. Gritting his teeth, Sebastian turned the steering wheel. The two cars narrowly avoided a collision. The Maybach swerved off the road before finallying to an abrupt halt on the sidewalk. The other car, however, wasn¡¯t as fortunate. It crashed into a nearby shop after colliding with a barricade! Throughout the ordeal, Nathaniel shielded Christina in his arms. However, the inertia caused by the sudden braking had caused her stomach to collide with his abdomen. Christina winced in pain, her face turning pale. She leaned against Nathaniel¡¯s chest and gripped his cor with both hands. Nathaniel¡¯s expression changed as he asked in concern, ¡°Christina, where does it hurt?¡± Clutching her stomach, Christina took a deep breath and squeezed out a strained smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I identally hit my stomach. It doesn¡¯t hurt that much now.¡± Nathaniel insisted sternly. ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital!¡± Sebastian¡¯s immediate reaction upon alighting from the car was to check on both of them. When he heard Christina mention that her stomach hurt, he became worried. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ll call an ambnce right away.¡± Nathaniel carried Christina out of the car. She looked at Sebastian and assured him. ¡°I¡¯m really fine. Don¡¯t worry. After we return to Scenic Garden Manor, just get the family doctor over to conduct a check-up. We should deal with this ident first.¡± As she spoke, she stared at Nigel who was striding over briskly. blocked his path. ¡°Christina, you heartless b*tch! Anya¡¯s your cousin! How dare you extort eight million from your own. family member? You will pay for this!¡± Drawn by the spectacle, the passersby flocked around them and even started to film them. Nigel, who had always been so conscious of his image, was clinging to Christina like a madman. He was doing it on purpose. His aim was to deliberately cause an ident and create trouble for Christina in public. Since he did not know how to deal with Christina, he would pressurize her by unleashing the power of public opinion against her. Once the situation escted, it would not only tarnish the Hadley family¡¯s reputation but also leave Christina with no choice but to unconditionally release Anya. To conceal this scandal, the Hadley family would evenpensate him with arge sum of money. Those strong emotions consumed Nigel, causing him to cast his dignity and reputation aside. Radiating an intimidating aura, Nathaniel firmly protected Christina in his arms and prevented the cameras from capturing her face. ¡°Sebastian, call the police!¡± Realizing they should not stay there any longer, he left in a cab with Christina. When Nigel saw that Nathaniel was leaving with Christina, he shoved Sebastian away with all his might. Dragging his injured leg behind him, he chased after the cab that was zooming away. His furious roars reverberated across the wide street. ¡°Let Anya go, Christina!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mr. Gibson!¡± Sebastian rushed forward and pinned Nigel to the floor. ¡°Think about how you¡¯re going to save yourself.¡± ring at Sebastian, Nathaniel shouted, ¡°Why? Is Nathaniel going to kill me for Christina¡¯s sake? She kidnapped my daughter, Anya! The Hadley family is covering for a criminal! They are the ones who have done me wrong!¡± At that moment, the police arrived. They brought Sebastian and Nigel to the police station. After returning to Scenic Garden Manor with Christina, Nathaniel promptly arranged for the family doctor to conduct a thorough examination. While he anxiously awaited Christina¡¯s examination results, he instructed his subordinates to bail Sebastian out of the police station. Sebastian was soon released after providing his statement. Victoria leaned against the car door, her arms crossed. With a lollipop in her mouth, she stared at Sebastian as he emerged from the police station. Likewise, he spotted her. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Lesley?¡° Sebastian¡¯s heart started pounding Victoria waved the car keys in her hand and said unashamedly. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my boyfriend. You got a problem with that?¡± Sebastian looked at Victoria in surprise. He couldn¡¯t help but think about Nigel, who was being interrogated. He eximed in fury, ¡°What¡¯s great about a bald old man like Nigel? What do you like about him? Why are you willingly submitting yourself to him?¡± Victoria was momentarily stunned. When she realized what he was talking about, her anger surged. Sebastian, that blockhead! Is he suspecting that there¡¯s something going on between Nigel and me? My taste in men isn¡¯t that entric, okay? Nigel doesn¡¯t deserve me! However, when she noticed Sebastian¡¯s fury, she quickly regained herposure. Lifting his chin yfully, she teased. ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Sebastian swiftly swatted her hand away. ¡°You must sever ties with Nigel. He is a maniptive man with questionable ethics. Since he has already crossed Mr. Hadley¡¯s boundaries, he won¡¯t be let off the hook so easily.¡± Victoria beamed with joy, barely able to suppress her urge to hug Sebastian and kiss him deeply. However, she restrained herself. She must seize this rare opportunity and make him reveal his innermost thoughts. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. If I break up with him, I¡¯ll lose a rich boyfriend. Will youpensate me for my loss?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need money given your family background! You¡¯ve got other pursuers too. Why must you. confine yourself by being with this hopeless nutcase?¡° Victoria suddenly grasped Sebastian¡¯s shoulders and pressed him against the car door. Standing on tiptoes, she gazed at him suggestively. ¡°You said that I¡¯ve got many pursuers. Do you like me, then?¡± It was only then that Sebastian realized he had unknowingly dug his own grave. His expression of anger gradually gave way to a look of embarrassment. Victoria¡¯s passionate gaze left him utterly flustered. *1¡­ Victoria felt frustrated. Acting decisively, she ced her hands on Sebastian¡¯s shoulders and kissed his lips. domineeringly. Before she moved away, she even bit his lips. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°You¡¯re so dumb, Sebastian! Why on earth do I like an oblivious blockhead like you?¡± Chapter 593 Verify Chapter 593 Verify Sebastian felt as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning. Even his body had stiffened. Hist consciousness was still immersed in their passionate kiss earlier. I actually misunderstood her! Victoria¡¯s actions were so direct. Regardless of how dumb Sebastian was, there was no way he was still oblivious. He realized that the boyfriend she was referring to was him, not Nigel. Noticing Sebastian¡¯s dazed state, Victoria narrowed her eyes dangerously. She tapped his cheek and demanded in a menacing tone. ¡°Hey, we¡¯ve already shared a kiss. You¡¯re not just looking for a cheap thrill without taking responsibility, are you?¡± Sebastian¡¯s eyes gradually regained their focus. He felt as if he was drowned in scorchingva. Even his cheeks and breath felt warm. ¡°Ms. Lesley, are you being serious?¡± With one hand around his neck, she grasped his tie with the other and tugged him closer. ¡°Do you need to verify it again?¡± Sebastian looked at her beautiful face which was only inches away and could smell her sweet breath. As he stared at her red lips, a dark look flitted across his eyes and he pressed his lips against hers. However, it was a very light peck. Sebastian skillfully grabbed the car keys from her fingers and said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t need any more. verifications. I¡¯ve already given you my answer.¡± Victoria stood frozen in ce. Her heart was brimming with joy. Damn! Sebastian¡¯s so hot when he takes the initiative! She loved this thrilling and electrifying sensation. Sebastian opened the car door and sat in the driver¡¯s seat. A yful smirk spread across his lips as he looked at Victoria. ¡°Aren¡¯t you getting in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting in right away!¡± Victoria, still caught in a state of bewilderment, quickly opened the back door. Realizing her mistake, she closed it and went to the front. She opened the car door of the passenger seat and got into the car. Still, she was so nervous that her limbs felt out of ce. Tsk! What happened to her boldness from when she kissed me? Sebastianined secretly as he leaned over- and buckled her seatbelt for her. He brought Victoria to Scenic Garden Manor as well. When Victoria caught sight of the familiar surroundings, her spirits lifted. She flung the car door open and rushed into the mansion. Hugging Christina, who had juste downstairs, she yelled at Nathaniel, ¡°I¡¯m borrowing your wife for a while, Mr. Hadley!¡± Before anyone could react, Victoria firmly grasped Christina¡¯s hand and dragged her to the backyard. ¡°Christina, I finally have a boyfriend!¡± Christina raised an eyebrow and asked, ¡°Huh? Did you give up on Mr. Taggart and find someone new?¡± ¡°Christina, do you think I¡¯m a woman who¡¯d fool around with any men?¡± protested Victoria unhappily. ¡°I¡¯m a very loyal woman, okay?¡± Christina asked in surprise, ¡°Did you manage to win Mr. Taggart¡¯s heart?¡± Victoria replied proudly, ¡°Of course! I used to think it was only a one-sided love. Turns out that we have feelings for each other. Sebastian really hid it well. If I hadn¡¯t yed some tricks to provoke him today, he wouldn¡¯t have told me that he likes me.¡± She had never set her eyes so fixedly on someone before. Having already thought through all of her options, she would pester him endlessly even if he was still unwilling to ept her. There was no way Sebastian could marry another woman. There was nothing that Victoria couldn¡¯t get. Smiling, Christina said, ¡°Congrattions! Your wish came true.¡± Victoriaughed delightfully. She draped an arm over Christina¡¯s shoulder and said. ¡°As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. After settling everything with Nigel, you should ask Mr. Hadley to give Sebastian a long vacation. I¡¯ll spend more time with him and deepen our rtionship.¡± Christina immediately saw through Victoria¡¯s schemes. ¡°Slow down. After all, your family is a significant obstacle. Have you figured out how to tell them?¡± Victoria put on a look of despair. ¡°Don¡¯t ruin my mood, Christina! I¡¯ve finally escaped singlehood today. Let me indulge in my happiness for a while!¡± Although Christina couldn¡¯t bear to burst her bubble, this was a real issue that Victoria would eventually have to face. The Lesley family was not simple. Even if Nathaniel vouched for Sebastian, it might not be enough to persuade them. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already decided to be with Sebastian forever, you should think on his behalf too.¡± ¡°Got it, Christina. I¡¯ll find a good opportunity to have a serious talk with my family.¡± ¡°Feel free to ask me if you need help.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Christina!¡± Victoria gave Christina a big hug. Nathaniel, who was standing in front of the window of the second-floor study, gazed at the scene in the backyard Jealousy surfaced within him. Why is everyone so clingy toward Christina? Nathaniel nced at Sebastian hostilely. ¡°It¡¯s been so long. Why aren¡¯t there any results?¡± Realizing what he was talking about, Sebastian nced at his feet. ¡°I¡¯ve already tried my best, Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel sat back in his office chair, feeling frustrated. He tapped his fingertips on the desk and said with a serious tone, ¡°We must release Nigel. Otherwise, we with each other.¡± Sebastian frowned and said. ¡°Nigel had caused quite a scene in public, and many people witnessed it. If we let him off the hook so easily, it may be difficult to exin to the public.¡± Although Sebastian hadn¡¯t had a chance to go online, he could already predict what would be on today¡¯s trending searches. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel was already a famous figure. Any news involving him would be the headlines, especially with Nigel publicly using Christina of kidnapping his family member. Nathaniel would be associated with protecting a criminal. Nathaniel sneered, ¡°Since this would affect the Gibson family¡¯s reputation, they¡¯ll do whatever they can to get Nigel out. What we need to do next is wait for him and Winston to have aplete falling out.¡± This time, Nigel had crossed the line. Nathaniel nned to hold Nigel responsible for this incident and indirectly take revenge on the Gibson family. Once Nigel was forced into a corner, he would definitely resort to Raveworks Enterprise as ast-ditch effort to secure his position as Gibson Corporation¡¯s CEO. Winston would then take action against Nigel. Sebastian immediately understood what Nathaniel was implying. Admiring Nathaniel¡¯s intricate n, he said, ¡°I know what to do now.¡± With that, Nathaniel chased him out of the house. ¡°Since you¡¯ve understood, leave with your woman. Don¡¯t disturb Christina¡¯s rest.¡± Sebastian¡¯s lips twitched. Just when he turned around to leave, Nathaniel suddenly stopped him. ¡°Wait! Bring these books home and read them carefully. It¡¯ll be useful for you.¡± When Sebastian walked to Nathaniel¡¯s desk and saw the rtionship guides on it, he wanted to refuse. ¡°Time waits for no one. If you continue to dawdle, the Lesley family will lose their patience,¡± Nathaniel said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian promptly tucked the books into his arms and left in a hurry. As Sebastian descended the stairs, he coincidentally ran into Christina and Victoria, who were on their way back from the backyard. Christina was very observant. ¡°Mr. Taggart, what are you holding? Can you show it to me and Victoria?¡± Chapter 594 First Official Day Chapter 594 First Official Day Sebastian instinctively clutched the stack of love guides tightly to his chest and lied through his teeth, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, thesepany documents are highly ssified and confidential. I¡¯m afraid I cannot grant you ess to them.¡± Christina¡¯s yful demeanor vanished in an instant as she stopped teasing him right away. ¡°I apologize for my impertinence. I¡¯ll let you get back to your work. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye, Mrs. Hadley.¡± With that, Sebastian swiftly exited the vi. He opened the car trunk and hastily stuffed the books into a cardboard box. Having done all that, he heaved a sigh of relief. He had never experienced such guilt before. It wasn¡¯t that he feared embarrassment; he was concerned that Bailey might stumble upon those love guides and misconstrue their purpose. When Sebastian was lost in his thoughts, Victoria suddenly appeared behind him and said, ¡°What are you hiding in the trunk? Are you hiding something from me?¡± Sebastian hurriedly closed the trunk with a resounding thud. ¡°No, it¡¯s just some documents.¡± Skeptical about his response, Victoria raised an eyebrow and tried to pry the trunk open to see for herself. However, the man firmly held the car trunk, overpowering her efforts. Eventually, she conceded. ¡°I¡¯m heading back to the office for work. Let me send you home first.¡± Victoria grabbed Sebastian¡¯s arm andmented, ¡°Today marks your first official day as my boyfriend. Why are you working instead of going on a date with me? I don¡¯t care; you must spend the day with me!¡± Sebastian had a knack for resolving challenging work-rted issues speedily, but he was at a loss when it came to navigating the intricacies of romantic matters. Prior to meeting Victoria, his personal life consisted solely of work and sleep. Within Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel was unanimously recognized as the reigning workaholic, with Sebastian securing the second spot. Sebastian found himself caught in a dilemma. ¡°Ms. Lesley, I really am too busy to spend time with you. today.¡± Victoria red at him, refusing to let the matter rest. ¡°You¡¯re my boyfriend, Sebastian. Why do you continue to address me with such formality? Are you sure you like me?¡± Her eyes welled up with tears as she spoke. Caught off guard, Sebastian panicked and fumbled for words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve just gotten too used to calling you that. Please don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°If you want to make me happy, call me ¡®sweetie¡¯ or ¡®darling¡¯ from now on.¡± Victoria insisted, striking the iron while it was still hot. Sebastian¡¯s ears flushed with embarrassment, and he shifted his gaze away from her. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem appropriate.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Or are you hinting at taking things further? If you¡¯re willing. I don¡¯t mind you calling me your wife. Victoria teased. After a brief moment of contemtion, Sebastian made a firm decision to ward off any further suggestive remarks from her. ¡°Henceforth, I shall address you as Victoria. Let¡¯s agree on that.¡± Knowing she shouldn¡¯t put too much pressure on him, Victoria smiled gleefully and said, ¡°All right, Darling. You can call me whatever you like.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Sebastian carefully pried her off of him and opened the passenger door. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Victoria¡¯s joysted less than three seconds. She rolled her eyes in annoyance and reluctantly got into the car. Just as Sebastian leaned down to fasten her seatbelt, she grabbed his tie and nted a firm kiss on his lips. The man¡¯s face quickly turned crimson, and he swiftly closed the car door to take a deep breath. Victoria found immense satisfaction in Sebastian¡¯s response; she unabashedly gazed at him with admiration. It appeared that her target had fallen right into her trap, with no means of escape. Sebastian pretended as if nothing had happened and drove away from Scenic Garden Manor. Meanwhile, Christina observed their every move from the second floor. A faint smile yed on her lips as she contemted how Sebastian and Victoria were indeed a perfect match. Just then, a pair of strong arms enveloped her waist from behind, and a warm breath brushed against her ear. ¡°Why are you so happy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy for Victoria. She has had a crush on Mr. Taggart for so long, and now they are finally a couple.¡± ¡°Sebastian isn¡¯t good at expressing his thoughts. It may be challenging for him to deal with the Lesley family in the future.¡± ¡°The Lesley family has always wanted Victoria to find a fianc¨¦ from a simr background. What should Sebastian do?¡± Christina asked worriedly. A sly smile crossed Nathaniel¡¯s face as he replied, ¡°Compared to the family background, the Lesley family¡¯s head values individual abilities. Sebastian has been my personal assistant for many years, and I¡¯m considering letting him manage a subsidiarypany on his own. He is more than capable of taking charge.¡± Feeling at ease to hear him say that, Christina shifted the conversation to a more important matter. ¡°Nathaniel, how is Nigel?¡± A frown marred Nathaniel¡¯s countenance, and a cold gleam glinted in his eyes. He was clearly reluctant to discuss the topic. ¡°His actions would undoubtedly warrant several years of imprisonment. However, the Gibson family won¡¯t allow that to happen. Moreover, I require Nigel for my uing ns; his absence would greatly diminish our chances of sess.¡± As soon as the Gibson family was mentioned, Christina¡¯s mood took a sharp dive. They had always been. self-centered and maniptive. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m not good at ying mind games. I¡¯ll need to count on you from now on,¡± she said. apologetically, ¡°I don¡¯t wish for you to get involved. Let¡¯s discuss thister. My parents just called to invite us to dinner at the Hadley residence tonight.¡± It had been a while since Christina saw Lucas and Cam, and she missed them. ¡°I¡¯ll buy some desserts for Cam and Lucas before heading there tonight.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. I have a meeting at the office this afternoon, so you can rest at home. I¡¯ll pick you up after work,¡± he said warmly. ¡°Okay,¡± Christina replied with a smile as she hugged Nathaniel¡¯s arm. ¡°Can you stay with me while I sleep? I find it difficult to sleep without you by my side.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go. I can keep youpany for an hour,¡± Nathaniel replied before leading Christina to the bedroom. He only left quietly after she drifted into a deep slumber. However, Christina¡¯s sleep was far from peaceful. She was abruptly disturbed by the persistent ringing of her phone. All of the missed calls were from Timothy and Azure. Suppressing her annoyance, Christina reluctantly got out of bed. Initially, she had no intention of paying them any heed, but their persistence made it clear that they were not giving up till she responded. ¡°What do you want?¡± Christina hissed. Azure replied coldly. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s been a while since west spoke. I miss you and the children.¡± Christina found Azure¡¯s words hrious. Hence, she snorted and demanded, ¡°Get straight to the point. I¡¯m not feeling well, so I need to rest.¡± Chapter 595 Adding Insult To Injury Chapter 595 Adding Insult To Injury The previous events had severed all ties between the Gibson family and Christina. Azure mastered the art of emotional maniption through years of experience. To rekindle Christina¡¯s concern for the Gibson family, she had to resort to exploiting Timothy and Christina¡¯s biological mother. If it weren¡¯t for desperate circumstances, Azure wouldn¡¯t resort to such measures. Both Timothy and Nigel were her beloved sons, and she cherished them equally. However, the former was disabled and incapable of managing the family business like thetter. However, Azure was displeased by Christina¡¯s indifference. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re still young, and there are many things you don¡¯t understand. Regardless of your current sess, when you hit rock bottom, it is your family who will be there for you, caring for you the most.¡± Feeling repulsed by Azure¡¯s lecture, Christina retorted, ¡°There is some truth in what you say, but not everyone deserves to be called ¡®family. Some use their loved ones for personal gains or tools for revenge. Such family members are better off without.¡± She would never forget what the Gibsons had done to her. If there was anyone in the Gibson family who still had a chance to win her heart back, it would be her deceased biological mother. The Gibsons were well aware of this, which was why they shamelessly exploited the memory of her deceased mother to manipte her. Unbeknownst to them, they had already overstepped Christina¡¯s boundaries. Only then did Azure suddenly realize that she could no longer manipte Christina with familial ties. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t say such spiteful things.¡± Christina merely scoffed at the absurdity of Azure¡¯s words, which left Azure at a loss for what to do. ¡°Your father and I are at Jadeborough, so let¡¯s have dinner tonight. Bring Cam and Lucas along¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but Nathaniel and I will be having dinner with his family tonight. I can¡¯t join you for dinner.¡± ¡°If not tonight, then let¡¯s find another time. There will surely be a time you are avable.¡± Christina knew that the Gibsons were determined to meet with her. She could avoid them for now, but she couldn¡¯t evade them forever. They would always find a way to approach her. ¡°Let¡¯s meet now. Give me your address. I¡¯ll go to meet you.¡± There was finally a touch of joy in Azure¡¯s voice. ¡°All right. We¡¯ll meet in a little while.¡± After ending the call, she promptly sent Christina the address, seemingly anxious that she might change her mind. Christina changed into a loose-fitting dress, concealing her slight baby bump. Before leaving, she informed the butler, ¡°Raymond, I¡¯m going to meet two old acquaintances. If Nathanieles home early. please let him know so he won¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, may I inquire who these two old acquaintances are? Ah¡­ I¡¯m not prying. I simply wish to be able to answer Mr. Hadley if he asks.¡± After all, Nathaniel had repeatedly instructed Raymond to always be aware of Christina¡¯s whereabouts. He also had to arrange for transportation and ensure that the bodyguards apanied her. Since there was no need to keep her whereabouts a secret, Christina decided to speak truthfully. ¡°The Gibsons requested a meet-up. I need to talk to them about something. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to return before Mr. Hadleyes back.¡± The butler carefully took note of Christina¡¯s words as intended to notify Nathaniel in advance. ¡°Would you like me to arrange a bodyguard for you?¡± The Gibson family clearly needed something from Christina, so they didn¡¯t dare to overstep their boundaries on the Hadley family¡¯s territory. ¡°No need. Just arrange a driver for me.¡± Raymond nodded. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± He turned and walked into the vi so that he could inform Nathaniel about Christina¡¯s whereabouts before arranging a driver. Soon, Christina got into the car and gave the driver the address. As she left Scenic Garden Manor, another ckpact car followed closely behind. It was the bodyguard that Nathaniel had instructed the butler to arrange for Christina¡¯s secret protection. Christina showed up at the restaurant as promised. However, she only saw Azure seated at the table; Timothy was nowhere to be seen. She calmly took a seat across from Azure, maintaining a poised posture devoid of any previous deference or decorum. ¡°Your father is feeling a little unwell, so he¡¯s resting at the hotel. I didn¡¯t tell you because I didn¡¯t want you. to worry,¡± Azure said affectionately. ¡°Order whatever you like.¡± Christina had strict dietary restrictions, as Nathaniel forbade her from eating outside indiscriminately. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I¡¯ve had some digestive issues these days, so I can¡¯t eat anything that¡¯s not home-cooked. I came here to discuss important matters with you.¡± Azure ordered a few dishes from the menu and elegantly sipped her red wine. ¡°Christina, I feel you have some misunderstandings about the Gibson family.¡± Christina¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°Have you found Anya?¡± Azure clenched the wine ss tightly, a glint of coldness flickering in her eyes. ¡°Seems like you haven¡¯t found her yet. Aren¡¯t you worried? After all. Anya is the legitimate daughter of the Gibson family,¡± Christina sneered. ¡°Christina, I-¡± Before she could continue, Christina interrupted, ¡°Anya has been kidnapped. Have the kidnappers not demanded ransom from you?¡± Christina chuckled. ¡°Oh, wait. You think that I¡¯m the one who kidnapped Anya. Nigel hase to me twice, and he almost got in a major car ident. He got himself entangled in this.¡± Azure frowned, displeased at Christina¡¯s indifferent and mocking attitude. ¡°Christina, he is your uncle, and Anya is your cousin. Even if you don¡¯t care about them, there¡¯s no need to add insult to their injuries.¡± In response, Christina shrugged nonchntly. ¡°No matter what I do, you all think I¡¯m a scheming and cold-hearted person. So, your opinion of me doesn¡¯t matter at all.¡± In a sudden burst of anger, Azure forcefully mmed the wine ss onto the table. The atmosphere grew tense, hanging heavily between them. However, their intense confrontation was momentarily interrupted as a waiter approached with a serving cart. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. We can talkter,¡± Azure said in an attempt to ease the tension in the air. However, Christina was not one to be swayed easily. She preferred to speak and act of her own ord. ¡°No, I can¡¯t. I have something else to attend to tonight. I can¡¯t waste my time on trivial matters.¡± Rage was visible in Azure¡¯s gaze. ¡°Christina, the Hadleys are wicked. Wake up! They are deceiving you!¡± However, Christina stared at her coldly and retorted, ¡°No matter how high and mighty you Gibsons may think you are, you¡¯re still at the mercy of the Hadley family. You still need to plead with the Hadleys to let Nigel off the hook, right?¡± Azure¡¯s face contorted with a mix of embarrassment and difort as Christina¡¯s words hit close to home for her. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Christina sneered, ¡°But you still can¡¯t let go of your pride, so you are trying to ask me to plead with Nathaniel on behalf of Nigel.¡± Chapter 596 The Negotiation Failed Chapter 596 The Negotiation Failed Azure¡¯s pride ran deep, reaching a breaking point as she could no longer tolerate Christina¡¯s scathing remarks. Angerced her voice as she retorted, ¡°Christina, is this the result of your upbringing? How can you disregard your own family and lick the boots of outsiders?¡± Christina¡¯s gaze turned icy as she responded, ¡°I grew up with my adoptive mother since young. I might not have received formal etiquette training, but she has taught me to discern right from wrong and never sacrifice my conscience for personal ambition.¡± Each word she uttered felt like a stinging p on the Gibsons¡¯ face. Azure was aware of everything that had happened, but driven by her thirst for revenge, she feigned ignorance even when Anya and Nigel schemed against Christina, plotting to kill her. Azure¡¯s expression betrayed her disappointment. ¡°Christina, deep down, you still harbor resentment for the Gibson family¡¯s failure in finding you back. We¡¯ve already exined that we did try to find you. and when you returned to the family, we also did our best to make amends.¡± ! With a self-deprecating chuckle, Christina responded, ¡°Go ahead and me me for not appreciating your kindness. I don¡¯t need you guys to make it up to me. I don¡¯t need it, and I don¡¯t want it.¡± After uttering those words, she pushed her chair back and stood up, casting a disdainful gaze down at Azure. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat this once again. Anya¡¯s kidnapping has nothing to do with me, and Nigel¡¯s confinement in the police station is the consequence of his own actions. When my dear father finally sorts himself out, then you cane to find me.¡± When Christina was about to turn around and leave, Azure stopped her. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll cut to the chase. You can sever ties with the Gibson family if you want, but you must convince Nathaniel not to press charges against your Uncle Nigel. You must also bring Anya safely back to us and help solve the Gibson Corporation¡¯s financial issues. Three conditions were proposed in exchange for Christina¡¯s single demand. What made Azure think Christina would insist on returning to the Gibson Corporation? Christina turned back, her gaze filled with mockery as she confronted Azure. ¡°Do you still believe that the Gibson family reigns over me? Mrs. Lazuli, this isn¡¯t the appropriate way to seek assistance from someone.¡± Approaching the dining table, she ced her hands firmly on the edge, locking eyes with Azure. Her gaze was cold and unwavering. ¡°So, you expect me to fix the Gibson Corporation¡¯s situation and give away more of my assets to Nigel? That¡¯s quite a brilliant idea, but you¡¯ve overlooked one crucial point. Everything Nigel and his family are currently enjoying rightfully belongs to me. Why should I hand over what is rightfully mine to someone else? Even if you insist on a clear division of assets, remember that my mother has a rightful share in the Gibson Corporation. Here¡¯s a proposal: return my mother¡¯s assets, and I¡¯ll let go of everything else. After all, Timothy is still my father, and I won¡¯t abandon him, especially when I have the means to provide for his well-being.¡± Christina¡¯s intention was not to separate the Gibsons. She was aiming to destroy the familial bonds within the family! Azure believed she had unraveled Christina¡¯s plots and maniptions. Instead of maintaining her facade of forced amiability, she exposed her ruthless nature. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re too ambitious! No doubt you¡¯re the rightful heir to the Gibson family, but let¡¯s not forget you have a brother too. If you decide to step aside, he¡¯s more than capable of taking the reins and bing a ster sessor to the family.¡± Christina responded with a faint grin, ¡°Oh, really? And how do you propose he should inherit the family? As the eldest son or as the adopted son?¡± Azure was seething with anger, so the underlying meaning behind Christina¡¯s words waspletely lost on her. It¡¯hat has that got to do with anything? ¡°Does that matter? Yerek will always be the grandchild of the Gibson family,¡± she uttered. Christina withdrew her gaze and said meaningfully, ¡°If that¡¯s how it is, then there¡¯s not much left for us to discuss. I have only one request, and if you¡¯re not willing to fulfill it, I won¡¯t suffer any losses either.¡± She turned around and walked away. Azure¡¯s face contorted with anger as she sank back into her seat, herplexion turning pale. She shot a furious re toward the direction of the folding screen. ¡°So, you heard it all, didn¡¯t you? Your daughter has quite the appetite, more ambitious than you were in the past. Let¡¯s see if she¡¯s capable of fulfilling her grand ambitions!¡± Timothy emerged from behind the folding screen on his wheelchair, wearing a grim expression. ¡°Had you been a little more courteous to her just now, things probably wouldn¡¯t have escted to this point.¡± Azure let out a frustrated chuckle. ¡°So you¡¯re ming me for mishandling the situation?¡± Timothy¡¯s voice remained calm as he lowered his gaze. That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Azure sneered, ¡°You were the one at fault for keeping me in the dark from the beginning. I wouldn¡¯t have been so agitated if you had informed me earlier about Christina¡¯s request.¡± Observing Timothy¡¯s silence and his subsequent withdrawal into a listless state, Azure could not bring herself to criticize him any further. Her tone softened as she spoke. ¡°Timothy, I want you to know that my intentions aren¡¯t driven by favoritism. Even if Christina decides to separate herself from the Gibson family, I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re in a position to guide her in managing the Gibson Corporation given your current condition. It would be better to let Nigel take over for now. Once Yerek bes capable of running thepany, Nigel can hand over the reins to both you and Yerek.¡± Despite the bitterness and mockery surging within Timothy, he managed to maintain aposed. expression, epting his mother¡¯s decision. ¡°You¡¯re right. My health is deteriorating, and Nigel should shoulder the burdens of both the family and thepany. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll not mistreat Nigel.¡± Azure wore a satisfied smile. ¡°You and Nigel are blood brothers, and it¡¯s important for you to support each other. Even when you were younger, Nigel had always thought of sharing everything with you. Now that he¡¯s taking on the heavy responsibility of managing the family business on your behalf, the two of y maintaining a united front will ensure that we can resolve any issues smoothly.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. At this point, Azure feltpelled to offer Timothy a word of caution. To Azure, Christina posed an unpredictable threat. She could not shake off the possibility that Christina could manipte Timothy and sway him to her side. If Timothy were to distance himself from the Gibson family, Azure worried that it would create a challenging situation for herself and Nigel. Timothy responded calmly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯ll go back to the hotel and rest.¡± Once again, Azure emphasized. ¡°Remember to prioritize the urgent matter at hand. You must handle your brother¡¯s situation promptly and continue to persuade Christina. After all, you are her father, and the bond between a father and daughter is unbreakable.¡± Timothy deftly maneuvered his wheelchair and replied softly, ¡°Got it.¡± Azure finally stopped talking. She gracefully picked up her cutlery, savoring the vors of the meal After exiting the restaurant, Timothy approached a ck car parked by the roadside. His former meek and submissive demeanor dissipated, reced by an ominous and intimidating presence. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush to release Nigel from lockup. Allowing him to spend a few more days inside will serve as a valuable lesson.¡± The man seated in the driver¡¯s position nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°All right. How about Ms. Christina? How should we handle her?¡± A spark of derision flickered in Timothy¡¯s eyes. ¡°Since she enjoys her own theatrics, let¡¯s just y along¡± Chapter 597 Staged Chapter 597 Staged Nigel had, without a doubt, robbed Timothy of too many things. Since the day Christina revealed Nigel¡¯s. ploy to Timothy, thetter had be even more guarded toward his brother. The most important thing now, though, was to resolve Gibson Corporation¡¯s financial problems. Only with that done could Timothy concentrate on settling his family affairs. When news of Anya¡¯s kidnapping first spread to the Gibson family, the man Timothy had sent to keep an eye on Christina quickly reported that thetter hadn¡¯t had any contact with Anya for a long time. If that were the case, there couldn¡¯t have been new conflicts between the two women, which meant. Christina wouldn¡¯t have a reason to plot against Anya. Of course, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t have been the culprit, either. After all, anyone who dared mess with him. usually ended up dead. Besides, he couldn¡¯t care less about Anya, so why would he spend that much time. and effort on her? Timothy ordered his subordinates to dig deeper, and it didn¡¯t take long before the truth was finally unveiled; the mastermind was none other than Anya Gibson herself. She had staged the entire kidnapping act, hoping she could kill two birds with one stone by framing. Christina and demanding a huge ransom from her own family. Even though more investigation was needed to find out why Anya wanted the money, there was no doubt. that she was guilty of the fake kidnapping. Timothy stared at his legs, his gaze darkening with every second. ¡°Jasper, take me back to the hotel.¡± Meanwhile, Anya was still blissfully unaware that her n had been discovered as she sat on the couch in the dpidated house and enjoyed a spread of fruits and desserts. Just then, Emilia called, prompting Anya to roll her eyes and grimace. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Ms. Gibson, have you contacted the manager I told you about?¡± Emilia asked. ¡°She only takes one new artist under her wing every year, so if we miss the selection deadline, I¡¯d have to wait another year. You don¡¯t want to continue living in fear, do you?¡± Needless to say. Anya was furious at how Emilia had threatened her and wanted nothing more than to bite thetter¡¯s neck off. ¡°I¡¯m already doing my best. The manager¡¯s very popr in the entertainment industry, and everyone¡¯s trying to curry favor with her. She knows it too, which is why she keeps putting on airs¡­ You have to give me some time.¡± ¡°I want a reply by tomorrow at thetest. There¡¯s a limit to my patience,¡± Emilia snapped before hanging up the phone. ¡°Argh! Emilia Steele¡¯s a b*tch!¡± Anya yelled as she mmed her phone onto the couch and kicked the table before her. s, even after smashing everything around her, she still couldn¡¯t quell her anger and resentment. Her two subordinates merely stood outside the door, not daring to approach her for fear of ending up as coteral damage. Anya, too, wanted to fulfill Emilia¡¯s request as soon as possible, but what could she do when the Gibson family was no longer as influential as before? In fact, the manager wasn¡¯t shy about making snarkyments when she learned that Anya had sought her out. However, she didn¡¯t dare to provoke the Gibsons, either, so she listed out what she wanted in return-an annual sry of five million and a ten percent cut of all of Emilia¡¯s media appearances. Sadly, Anya¡¯s worth wasn¡¯t even worth three million, so the constant thought of failure weighed heavily on her. As a result, she decided to fake her own kidnapping and use the opportunity to extort the Gibsons. Then again, when news of her abduction reached the Gibson residence, her priority wasn¡¯t to call the Gibsons for the ransom. Instead, she had her subordinates spread rumors so she could frame Christina for the crime. That way, even if the kidnapping case had nothing to do with Christina, the nder would be enough to destroy her rtionship with the Gibsons and her reputation. There was no way she¡¯d be epted in the upper-ss circles again! However, now that Emilia was rushing her, Anya knew she couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. ¡°Hey! Where the f*ck is everyone?¡± she yelled. Two men instantly rushed into the house. ¡°We¡¯re here, Ms. Gibson. How can we help you?¡± The next second, Anya grabbed a phone from the table and tossed it at them unceremoniously. ¡°Since you can¡¯t reach my father, try calling my grandmother. Get her to prepare five million¡­ No. On second thoughts, ask for a twenty million ransom, and threaten to kill me if she fails to pay up!¡± It went without saying that Anya had been utterly blinded by greed, and there was no turning back. Meanwhile, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor to meet Nathaniel so they could leave for the Hadley residence together. When Cam saw Christina stepping out of the car, she instantly threw the hose aside and prepared to leap into thetter¡¯s arms. ¡°Daddy, Mommy, you¡¯ve finallye to visit me and Lucas!¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. s, Cam¡¯s n was foiled when Nathaniel held his hands out and scooped her up. ¡°Hmph. I don¡¯t want Daddy to carry me,¡± Cam muttered as she pouted angrily. ¡°Be good, Cam,¡± Nathaniel gently coaxed. ¡°Mommy has a baby in her tummy, so it¡¯s hard for her to carry you.¡± Thankfully, the little girl¡¯s mood came and went quickly, so it didn¡¯t take long for her to wrap her arms around Nathaniel¡¯s neck and nuzzle him. ¡°Hehe¡­ I want Daddy to carry me, then,¡± she coord. With that, Nathaniel lovingly ruffled the little girl¡¯s hair. The sight left Christina feeling warm and fuzzy, but her smile quickly vanished when her gaze shifted to Lucas. ¡°My goodness¡¯ Darling, did you fall into the water?¡± she eximed as she approached her son. ¡°Why are your clothes and shoes all wet? You¡¯ll catch a cold in this weather. Come on. Let¡¯s head into the house so can wash up and change out of these.¡± Lucas immediately gave Cam a reproachful nce. ¡°No. I didn¡¯t fall into the water. I merely got sshed while watering the flowers.¡± It¡¯s all Cam¡¯s fault! She tossed the garden hose aside without looking, so now I look like a drowned rat¡­. Ever the little troublemaker, Cam covered her mouth and snickered. Upon seeing that, Nathaniel lightly pinched her cheek and chided, ¡°Don¡¯t bully your brother. Understood?¡± Thankfully, no matter how naughty Cam was, she¡¯d never have the guts to defy her father. ¡°Yes, Daddy. I didn¡¯t mean to spray water on Lucas. I¡¯ll apologize to himter.¡± ¡°All right. Let¡¯s get into the house first. It¡¯s cold out here¡± Nathaniel said as he strode toward his wife and Not wanting to waste another second, Christina quickly wrapped her jacket around Lucas and led him into the mansion. Charlie and Julia wereing down the stairs when Lucas miserable state caught their eye, causing them to reel in shock. ¡°Oh, you poor boy! How did you get yourself drenched?¡± Julia eximed before turning to re at her husband. ¡°This is all your fault. It¡¯s the dead of winter, yet you insist on letting the kids y outside because you don¡¯t want them to grow up pampered and sheltered. Are you happy now? If they fall sick. I won¡¯t let you hear the end of it!¡± Charlie rubbed his nose sheepishly. ¡°Let the butler give them a warm bath and a change of clothes first. We can talk about other thingster¡­¡± That, however, wasn¡¯t enough to alleviate Julia¡¯s concerns. ¡°I¡¯d better go with you guys,¡± Julia said as she held the children¡¯s hands and walked them up the stairs. Knowing they had gotten into trouble, Lucas and Cam stayed silent and followed their grandmother obediently. Christina and Nathaniel merely exchanged nces, and it was clear neither could bring themselves to me Charlie or Julia. Just then, Charlie broke the awkward silence with a cough. ¡°Take a seat. There¡¯s something I want to talk to you two in private.¡± Chapter 598 Do Something Meaningful Chapter 598 Do Something Meaningful The trio took their seats simultaneously. Christina sat beside Nathaniel, feeling nervous as she did not know what Charlie wanted to talk about. To Julia and Charlie, Christina had already severed ties with the Gibsons and no longer had anything to do with them. Christina did not want Nathaniel¡¯s parents to know that the Gibsons had contacted her again. After all, the Gibsons only had two motives for doing so-vengeance and money. Charlie began solemnly, ¡°I¡¯ve been following the news on the inte for the past two days. Don¡¯t feel pressured, Christina. We believe you have nothing to do with the Gibson family¡¯s predicament. However, they¡¯re still your family, so go ahead and deal with those matters. Don¡¯t shoulder everything on your own. Have Nathaniel help you. If he wouldn¡¯t,e to me for assistance.¡± Nathaniel wrapped an arm around Christina¡¯s waist before his father and dered domineeringly, ¡°Christina is my wife. Of course I will protect and support her.¡± Charlie red at his son before mercilessly exposing him. ¡°You used to be a workaholic. Your mother and I thought you would be married to your work if you didn¡¯t marry Christina and have a child.¡± ¡°Like you said, that was before. I¡¯ve made a great effort to change to be a worthy husband and father.¡± Noticing that the father-and-son duo were about to start arguing. Christina hastily stepped forward to diffuse the situation. ¡°Nathaniel treats me well, Dad. He even puts work aside to care for me. 1, on the other hand, am to me for causing him trouble.¡± Nathaniel tightened his grip around her waist. ¡°I don¡¯t think of it as trouble, Christina. It makes me happy that you trust me and rely on me.¡± His sweet and affectionate words made her heart melt. Blushing all the way to the tips of her ears, she did not dare look up to meet Charlie¡¯s gaze. Can¡¯t Nathaniel read the room before saying sweet nothings? Charlie similed in contentment as he witnessed the young couple¡¯s loving interaction. ¡°Your mother and 1 are d to see how happy the both of you are.¡± When they saw the news, Charlie and Julia were worried that the Gibson family would cause trouble and drive a wedge between Nathaniel and Christina. Knowing how much Nathaniel cared about Christina, they had no doubt that Nathaniel would lose his mind if they were to be forced apart. Thus, the two elders racked their brains and finally scheduled a time to invite Nathaniel and Christina over for dinner so they could sound the young couple out. Christina understood Charlie and Julia¡¯s efforts at once. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for letting you two worry about us,¡± she said, touched by how much the duo cared about them. Charlie smiled kindly. ¡°We¡¯re family. Of course we look out for one another. You don¡¯t have to be so formal with us, Christina.¡± Returning the smile, Christina nodded. ¡°You two make yourselves at home. I¡¯ll check to see if dinner is ready.¡± Charlie rose and headed to the kitchen to give the young couple some alone time. Nathaniel kissed Christina¡¯s scorching ear and earned himself an irate re from her. ¡°What are you doing? We¡¯re in your parents¡¯ house. It wouldn¡¯t look good if they saw us acting all lovey- dovey.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong with me kissing my wife. They don¡¯t have to look at us if it makes them ufortable.¡± Nathaniel leaned in close to Christina¡¯s ear and spoke in a volume that only they can hear. ¡°If I understand you correctly, I can¡¯t kiss you while we¡¯re out, but I can do whatever I want to you at home, right?¡± Christina tried to push him away and stand up, but he kept his arms firmly wrapped around her waist, locking her in his embrace. ¡°Let me go, Nathaniel. Stop it,¡± she hissed, blushing furiously. Nathaniel scooped her up from the couch with a flourish, making Christina squeal. Her limbs iled. wildly beforetching on to him. Nathaniel nted a light kiss on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s not every day that we get to rx, Darling. Let¡¯s do something meaningful.¡± With Christina in his arms, he ascended the stairs and headed to his bedroom. Once they entered his bedroom, Nathaniel pinned her against the bed. Christina pushed against his shoulder with all her might. ¡°We can¡¯t" ¡°I¡¯ve asked the doctor, Darling. We are cleared for some light action after the first three months.¡± Christina was about to say something else, but Nathaniel sealed her lips with his. When Julia brought the children downstairs and did not see Nathaniel and Christina anywhere, she turned to Charlie, who had just emerged from the kitchen. ¡°Where are those two?¡± Charlie gazed meaningfully up the stairs. ¡°Christina must be tired, so Nathaniel brought her upstairs for a nap. Pregnant women need plenty of sleep.¡± Julia did not think much about it. She turned to Lucas and Cam. ¡°Daddy and Mommy are so tired from work that they¡¯re resting upstairs. Let¡¯s not disturb them. Come, we¡¯ll head to the backyard for some games, all right?¡± Lucas and Cam nodded in unison. Julia led them to the backyard and Charlie, who had nothing else to do, tagged along. It was past dinnertime when the couple was finally done. Christina nestled under the warm covers, too tired to move, while Nathaniel voluntarily took up the task of caring for her. He went downstairs to bring dinner up on a tray and fed her. Christina went back to sleep after eating, so Nathaniel went downstairs to y with Lucas and Cam. While the children were kicking a ball around the spacious backyard, Nathaniel and Charlie sat in the corridor and chatted. ¡°Any new leads on that old case?¡± Charlie took a sip of tea, keeping his inscrutably cid gaze glued on the two little ones. ¡°I found something.¡± Nathaniel reported. ¡°Winston and Nigel had a cordial rtionship that they keep under wraps, but there is no evidence to prove that the ident was a coboration between the two. Now that Nigel owns shares in Winston¡¯spany, Raveworks Enterprise, their rtionship is no longer as good as before.¡± Having weathered countless storms in the industry for over half his life, Charlie had seen his fair share of corruption and was able to make an urate guess without Nathaniel explicitly saying so. ¡°Indeed, Nigel is not as capable as Timothy, but he is still a schemer. Obviously, he wouldn¡¯t have worked with Winston if thetter didn¡¯t have a few tricks up his sleeve. Be careful as this implicates Christina. Uncovering the truth is important, but not as important as harmony in your household.¡± Charlie was forcibly reminded of the past when talking about that. He heaved a sigh with remorse. Nathaniel gazed tenderly at the two little ones sprinting happily in the backyard. He said solemnly, ¡°I know what to do. Christina and I will be busier than usual after this. We need you and Mom to look after Lucas and Cam.¡± ¡°Your mother and I are old,¡± Charlie said. ¡°Lucas and Cam¡¯spany adds some much-needed energy and vigor to the house. Take good care of Christina. Nothing can happen to the baby she¡¯s carrying.¡± ¡°I know what to do,¡± Nathaniel repeated calmly. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°You know very well what I mean, Nathaniel,¡± Charlie said with a meaningful look. Chapter 599 Strategem Chapter 599 Strategem Nathaniel had always been independent-minded since he was a child. Nobody could ever influence his decisions. Thus, Charlie had already gotten used to Nathaniel¡¯s aloof response to his advice. Nathaniel caught the ball Lucas had identally kicked in his direction and stood up casually. ¡°I will protect my family.¡± He strode toward the children following that haughty deration. Julia appeared beside Charlie with a tter of fruits. She watched as he took a sip of tea while staring fixedly at his cup, so she asked, ¡°Penny for your thoughts?¡± Charlie sighed. ¡°He¡¯s be more capable than me. My son, indeed.¡± Julia fell silent for a split second as she could make neither head nor tail of her husband¡¯s remark, which came out of nowhere. She thenughed. ¡°Well, of course. I gave birth to him, after all. I think he takes after me.¡± Smiling wordlessly, Charlie wisely refrained from making ament lest he was sentenced to spend the Tight in the study. That night, the Hadley residence was filled withughter and chatter while the Gibson residence was enveloped in an awful, tense gloom. Azure had received a call from the kidnappers demanding twenty million in ransom, which was to be collected by daybreak and sent to a location of their choosing at a predetermined time. Seized by panic, she sought Timothy and Yerek to discuss a strategy: thetter only found out about Anya¡¯s kidnapping that night. After Azure ryed the whole situation, Yerek raised several points of concern. The kidnappers did not immediately demand a ransom after getting their hands on Anya. Instead, they waited almost a full day to call her family. Yerek thought the behavior strange, as kidnappers had no other motives formitting such a risky crime aside from money. Azure had gotten on in years, and Anya was the apple of her eye. As such, she lost her usual cool when she heard the kidnappers would kill the girl if the ransom was not delivered, causing the entire Gibson family to descend intoplete chaos. As she was in no shape to make sense of Yerek¡¯s concerns, he was forced to appease her first. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. Under ordinary circumstances, the kidnappers would not do anything rash before getting the ransom. Anya will be safe.¡± ¡°A ransom of twenty million! It would¡¯ve been easy for us to gather that sum of money in the past, but. with the current predicament that the Gibson family is in, there is no way we can amass this amount.¡± ¡°There will be a way. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Your uncle remains locked up, and your father¡¯s health precludes him from helping Anya can only count on you. Yerck. I have some jewelry. Sell them and get some money in Turn¡± After calming Azure down, Yerek calcted the liquid cash he had on hand which amounted to only at million, which was still a long way off from twenty million If he could resell the shares of Gibson Corporation, he might be able to put together that sum over the next few hours. As the shares he was supposed to inherit were transferred to Christina, only Nigel still had some on hand. A n appeared, fully formed, in Yerek¡¯s mind. He dialed a number. ¡°I need you to head to Jadeborough and do something for me at once.¡± That night, awyer entered a detention center with a briefcase. Nigel looked at thewyer as though seeing his savior. ¡°When can I leave this godforsaken ce?¡± ¡°Mr. Yerek has sent me here to discuss something urgent with you,¡± thewyer announced impassively. He briefly ryed Yerek¡¯s message. When Nigel heard that Yerek wanted to sell his shares in exchange for ransom, he exploded. ¡°No way! I will never have a say in thepany again if I sell my shares.¡± ¡°Please reconsider, Mr. Gibson. Are your shares more important than your daughter¡¯s life? Mr. Yerek will take over Gibson Corporation one day. He will not cast you aside.¡± Nigel copsed onto the icy cold stool, reeling from the devastating news. No matter what Yerek promises me, it will never be as reassuring as the power remaining in my hands. Nigel was not going to give up without a fight. ¡°What about my brother? He still has shares in Gibson Corporation¡¯s subsidiarypany. Besides, he¡¯s always been useless. There¡¯s no point in holding on to those shares if he can¡¯t manage thepany. Why don¡¯t you ask Yerek to convince him to sell his? If that isn¡¯t enough, have him sell the properties under his name. He¡¯s relying on my child to support him until he dies, anyway. The money will be ours sooner orter.¡± Nigel¡¯s greed and selfishness took thewyer by surprise. If he were not Yerek¡¯s right-hand man and if it had been somebody else who had assigned him the case, he would have flung the documents at the despicable man¡¯s face back in his youth. Thewyer frowned. ¡°Even if your brother agreed to sell the assets under his name, Mr. Gibson, there¡¯s not enough time. There¡¯s currently a buyer willing to pay handsomely for Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares. If you would just say the word, the ransom can be put together just like that.¡± Thewyer could tell Nigel was beginning to hesitate, so he employed every tactic of persuasion up his sleeve and in half an hour, managed to convince Nigel to sign the agreement detailing the transfer of his shares. Thewyer put the documents away as he rose, regarding Nigel as he did so. ¡°Mr. Yerek is doing all he can to get you out of here. Be patient for a few more days.¡± Nigel nodded dejectedly. Thewyer turned to leave. k sedan outside the detention center, he passed the document to the man in the back seat. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Everything has been done per your instructions, Mr. Gibson.¡± ¡°Excellent. There¡¯s one more thing I need you to do: contact Mr. Stone.¡± After the Gibson family fell from grace, those who used to do anything to curry favor with Yerek avoided. him. They either ridiculed him to his face or backstabbed him. The only person who is willing to approach me is Sheridan. Sheridan had put him in touch with potential partners and even worked with him on some projects. Thus, it took no time at all for the pair to be fast friends. Sheridan had offered to lend Yerek some money to deal with the crisis Gibson Corporation was facing, but Yerek was too proud to ept his help. Opting instead to solve the problem on his own to make a name for himself among the Gibson family, he rejected the help. However, the overwhelming deficit was not something Yerek could patch up, no matter how capable he Sheridan once again offered to help, but he went about it a different way. He asked to buy Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares and be a shareholder. Yerek thought it was the most practical and effective method so far andmented the absence of shares in his possession to make a decision. Before he managed to discuss the matter with Nigel and Timothy, however. Anya¡¯s kidnapping case arose Improvising along the sudden turn of events, Yerek managed to obtain Nigel¡¯s shares. After making contact with Sheridan, both parties quickly came to an agreement and pulled an all- nighter to finalize the deal. Sheridan readily transferred twenty million to Yerek along with an additional five million. He thought of it as a loan that Yerck would pay back after dealing with the crisis in Gibson Corporation. Yerck epted it gratefully. After taking care of that, he called Azure. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Grandma. I only managed to put together five million.¡± Chapter 600 Mother And Son Chapter 600 Mother And Son Azure was well aware of the predicament the Gibson family was in and thought Yerek did a good job of managing to amass five million. At any rate, it was a better effort than those in their family who only sat back and watched the drama unfold. Out of love and concern, she asked, ¡°How did you manage to put together that much money. Yerek?¡± ¡°I sold a condominium and a car under my name,¡± Yerek responded calmly. ¡°A friend gave me a good price for them.¡± Azure was astonished. ¡°How could you do that? That¡¯s the only property under your name! And a coming- of-age gift from your father, no less.¡± Yerck brushed it off. ¡°Those are all material things. Anya is my sister. I can¡¯t sit back and watch something happen to her.¡± Yerek¡¯s camaraderie stood in sharp contrast with Christina¡¯s indifference. At the reminder of thetter¡¯s. attitude. Azure scoffed. ¡°Though you are adopted, Yerek, you¡¯re a much more decent person. Your father and I were wrong to have thought that Christina was capable of taking the helm, and we have forsaken. you. You wouldn¡¯t hold it against us, would you?¡± Yerek¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. Aware of what Azure liked to hear, he chose his following words carefully. ¡°I can¡¯t even begin to thank you and Dad for raising me, Grandma. How could I hold it against you? Besides, these things never belonged to me. They¡¯re not mine to take. Besides. Christina may have her own reasons. I think you should sit down and talk to her about it. She¡¯s not unreasonable, you know.¡± ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t try to defend her. She no longer gives a d¡¯mn about the Gibson family. Worse still, she¡¯s trying to turn us against one another.¡± Earlier, Azure was even considering calling Christina and demanding payment but at Yerek¡¯s provocation, she decided against it. ¡°I¡¯lle up with something else, Grandma. We can talk about everything elseter.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll await your good news.¡±¡± After hanging up, Azure flung her phone onto the couch. Then, she exited her room and knocked on the door adjacent to hers. ¡°Open up, Timothy. I have something to talk to you about.¡± Several minutester, Timothy opened the door in his wheelchair. He was damp and wrapped in a bathrobe. ¡°What do you need to talk about at this hour, Mom?¡± Azure entered the room and locked the door behind her. After sizing Timothy up, she ventured into the room only to be greeted by the sight of boxes of takeout on the coffee table. She chided, ¡°Yerek and I have been worried sick over putting together the ransom, Timothy, and here you are having supper and preparing for bed!¡± Timothy had not expected his mother, who usually turned in early, to drop by, so he had not had the Having justpleted his physiotherapy, he was drenched in sweat. Due to his slight mysophobia, he had to take a shower. ¡°I¡¯m worried about Anya too, Mom, but who¡¯s going to rescue her if we end up falling sick because of not getting enough rest? Besides, I¡¯m in no shape to help out much, seeing as my mobility is limited.¡± Azure lost her temper and didn¡¯t bother to choose her words as she snapped, ¡°You¡¯re not worried because Anya isn¡¯t your daughter, is that it? Nigel has been running thepany for you over the years, and you won¡¯t even show gratitude.¡± Timothy clenched his fists but loosened them immediately. He turned his wheelchair around to the desk. and produced a card from his wallet. ¡°There¡¯s two million in here. It¡¯s all my savings. Take it.¡± Azure gave a mirthlessugh. She did not bother to conceal her disdain in her gaze and tone. ¡°What good does two million do? Yerek has managed to collect more than you! He even sold the condominium and car under his name for five million, and he¡¯s still trying Timothy gazed coldly at Azure. ¡°Isn¡¯t he obligated to do so since he¡¯s Anya¡¯s brother?¡± he sneered. Azure retorted, ¡°And you are her uncle! How could you bear to sit and watch harm befall her?¡± Timothy shrugged. ¡°This is all I have.¡± Then, he flung the bank card onto the coffee table. Azure felt a sudden sense of foreboding at how calm Timothy was. She sensed a change in him, though she could not put her finger on it. However, she did not want their rtionship to be irreparable. ¡°You have many properties under your name, Timothy. Knowing Christina, she will never acknowledge you as her father again, so you might as well sell some of them to save Anya¡¯s life. You will have her eternal gratitude.¡± Timothy chuckled inwardly as he met Azure¡¯s gaze. ¡°Have you forgotten?¡± he said slowly. ¡°Since Christina returned to the Gibson residence, all of my properties have been transferred to her, including the shares. of all thepanies under Gibson Corporation.¡± Azure¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°Why did you make such a huge decision without first running it by me?¡± Fantastic. Now we¡¯re left with nothing. Christina doesn¡¯t even appreciate Timothy¡¯s efforts to make things up to her! This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. What a waste. Timothy¡¯s tone was colder than ever. ¡°A cripple I may be, but I¡¯m not someone who can¡¯t make my own decisions. Half of the wealth under my namees from Veronica¡¯s hard work, and she would not object to it being given to Christina. Do my wife and I not have a say over how we spend the money we earn?¡± Azure was momentarily struck dumb. She btedly realized she had overstepped her bounds and incurred Timothy¡¯s displeasure. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± she exined sheepishly. ¡°I just feel sorry for you, that¡¯s all. You saw how Christina treated you that day. That girl is an ingrate.¡± Uncharacteristically. Timothy scowled. ¡°I don¡¯t think she did anything wrong. On the other hand, we have wronged her.¡± Azure gaped at Timothy, convinced she had misheard him. ¡°Where do you get such ludicrous ideas, Timothy? I was right. Christina has gotten into your head.¡± She continued. ¡°Anya is in dire need of money now. Even though you¡¯ve transferred everything you own to Christina, they once belonged to you. Make a call and ask her to spare twenty million to save Anya.¡± Azure spoke firmly, as if that was how things should be. ¡°You are her father. She would have even less of a reason to turn you down.¡± Timothy was deeply wounded by Azure¡¯s selfishness and regretted how ignorant he used to be. Why didn¡¯t I see through their true nature earlier? Thus, he rejected her curtly. ¡°It won¡¯t make sense to ask something you¡¯ve given to be returned. Though I am her father, I can¡¯t bring myself to do something so absurd and embarrassing. I forbid any of you to contact her.¡± Azure was beside herself with rage and panic. ¡°What about Anya, then? She¡¯s going to die if we can¡¯t put together twenty million before daybreak!¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired and would like to rest. Please leave.¡± Timothy wheeled himself to the door. His intention could not be any iner. Azure opened her mouth to say something but decided against it. Disappointed, she left. Just as Timothy closed the door, his phone rang. ¡°The results of the paternity test between Mr. Yerek and Mr. Nigel are out.¡± Chapter 601 Emotional Baggage Chapter 601 Emotional Baggage Timothy uttered coldly. ¡°Say it.¡± ¡°Mr. Yerck and Mr. Nigel are indeed father and son Jasper continued, ¡°I¡¯ve asked someone to investigate Mr. Yerek¡¯s identity, and he¡¯s confirmed to be Mr. Nigel¡¯s illegitimate child. Mr. Nigel was wary of Mrs. Gibson¡¯s influential natal family, so he did not recognize Mr. Yerek as a member of his household. However, Mr. Nigel didn¡¯t want his only son to be homeless, so he tricked you into adopting Mr. Yerek.¡± Surely, a moreplex and insidious scheme is involved behind the scenes. It seems like I¡¯ve underestimated my brother. There was no need for Jasper to state it explicitly. Timothy could connect the dots and was quite confident in his guess. Although Nigel was the one who managed Gibson Corporation, it still belonged to Timothy. If thetter could not locate his biological daughter. Yerck, the adopted son, would be the next-in-line to inherit. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. That way, after retiring from Gibson Corporation, Nigel could still stay in power and run thepany through Yerek Consequently, the entire Gibson family would be in Nigel¡¯s control. He could effortlessly enjoy the fruits of Timothy and his wife¡¯s hard work. On the contrary, Timothy would continue to be seen as a useless piece of trash whom others criticize and despise. Bang! Timothy angrily swept a deskmp off the table. The loud crashing noise made Jasper, who was on the other side of the line, fall into a brief moment of silence. Jasper asked worriedly, ¡°Mr. Gibson, are you okay?¡± Timothy asked, ¡°Who else knows about this matter besitles you and me?¡± ¡°Mr. Yerek and Mrs. Lazuli had known this secret a long time ago.¡± Timothy took a deep breath upon hearing that. A determined look shed across his reddened eyes, and he said, ¡°Jasper, help me look into one more thing¡­¡± After leaving Jasper with some instructions, Timothy hung up the phone. He sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, uncapped a bottle of whiskey, and downed almost half of it while looking at the dazzling city lights. At that moment, he recalled what Christina told him. Had I been calm and sober back then, I would have understood the meaning of Christina¡¯s words. Yerek is Nigel¡¯s biological son! Those people bogged me down with emotional shackles and yed me like a fool just because I¡¯m handicapped! Timothy took arge swig of whiskey as he recalled all the outrageous things he had done to Christina together with his family, and it made him want to p himself hard on the face. Christina doesn¡¯t recognize me as her father, and this is the retribution for my actions. It¡¯s karma! ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Veronica. I¡¯m sorry for doing those things to our daughter.¡± Timothy covered his eyes sobbed in pain. That night. Azure could not sleep at all. After calling all her close friends, she managed to collect only a few million. The deadline set by the kidnappers was fast approaching. Left with no choice, Azure resorted to seeking Timothy¡¯s help. She knocked on his room door, wanting to apologize and persuade him to sell the property and raise the much-needed funds. She stood outside his room and rang the bell for quite a while, but Timothy did not answer the door. Then, she tried calling his phone, but no one picked up. Right then, the hotel housekeeping staff came over with a cleaning cart. ¡°Madam, the guest in this room has checked out early in the morning.¡± Azure was shocked. ¡°He has left? When did he check out?¡± The cleaner replied. ¡°Around three in the morning.¡± Azure was extremely displeased with how Timothy acted on his own ord. How dare he leave me behind without saying a word? Does he even respect me as his mother? Fuming, Azure went back to her room and decided to leave Timothy a voice message. ¡°Timothy, it wasn¡¯t very nice of you to leave without telling me first. I know I said something awful to youst night, but that¡¯s the truth, and the truth hurts. I can¡¯t do anything even if you don¡¯t like to hear it. You¡¯re my son, and I¡¯m your mother. Nigel is now suffering in jail, and the Gibson family has a long list of messes waiting to be dealt with. How long are you going to stay mad at me? You¡¯re an adult and should know your priorities. well. Doe back and see me once you¡¯re done wandering about.¡± Azure received Yerek¡¯s call as soon as she hung up. Immediately, her attitude changed faster than she could blink. ¡°How did it go, Yerek? Did you manage to collect some money?¡± ¡°Yes, I did. I¡¯m going to transfer them to you now.¡± ¡°Sure, this is great! As expected, I can always count on you. Anya is finally saved.¡± ¡°Hurry up and pay the ransom, Grandma. When Anyaes home in one piece, we¡¯ll gather as a family and have a reunion meal.¡± Yerek¡¯s words struck a chord in Azure¡¯s heart. He added, ¡°I¡¯ve already made use of my connections to deal with things. Uncle Nigel will be released in two days¡¯ time.¡± She was over the moon, shedding tears of joy. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Nigel didn¡¯t love you for nothing.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to hang up now, for I need to go meet a client. Call me if you need anything. Gibson Corporation needs more investments, so I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t stay by your side all the time. I¡¯m really sorry about that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. I can manage. You go ahead and focus on your work.¡± Azure cared more about Yerek than she did Timothy, viewing Yerek as her savior. After ending the call, she sent a text message to the kidnappers. Upon receiving the money transferred by Azure, the kidnappers promised to release Anya. However, they did not specify the exact time. Hence, Azure could only continue to wait anxiously. Obviously, Anya would not return to see her family right away. After paying two of her subordinates, she carried on and made an appointment with the manager requested by Emilia. Anya then signed a contract with the manager on Emilia¡¯s behalf and paid the person a year¡¯s worth of remuneration. Subsequently, she brought the contract to Emilia. In return, she demanded thetter to delete all the video recordings. She then transferred the remaining sum to Emilia for her to buy herself a property and a car. Emilia was a decisive and straightforward person. She did as Anya said and deleted all the video evidence in front of her before chasing thetter away. Anya pawed at the door and asked dubiously, ¡°You didn¡¯t save a copy of the evidence, did you?¡± Emilia arched her brow and snapped. ¡°Of course not!¡± ¡°Hmph! You¡¯d better keep your word. If I were to find out about a backup copy, that will be the end of I can make you famous, and it goes unsaid that I can ruin you too,¡± warned Anya before leaving. Emilia did not keep any duplicates, but she sold those videos to an experienced reporter, Big V, at an exorbitant price. Whether the other party would reveal Anya¡¯s scandal in the future was no longer something Emilia could control. Last night, Christina and Nathaniel stayed the night at the Hadley residence. After breakfast, Nathaniel left for work, whereas Christina drove her two kids to the kindergarten. She then went back to Scenic Garden Manor alone to collect some soup for Sharon and Bailey who were hospitalized. Soon, the car arrived at Scenic Garden Manor. Raymond greeted Christina as soon as she got out of the car. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, there¡¯s a guest here, and he wants to meet you in person.¡± Christina frowned. She was sensitive about receiving visitors. ¡°Who is it?¡± Raymond answered, ¡°The guest said he¡¯s your father¡¯s personal butler from Hallsbay with the name. Jasper.¡± What did Timothy¡¯s butlere to see me for? ¡°I¡¯ll go inside and take a look.¡± Chapter 602 Bury The Hatchet Chapter 602 Bury The Hatchet When Christina entered the living room, she saw a man in formal attire sitting on the couch. There was also a stack of documents ced on the coffee table in front of the man. Hearing themotion, the man lifted his head to turn toward Christina. After that, he rose to his feet and bowed respectfully. ¡°Ms. Steele, I¡¯m Jasper Miller. I believe we¡¯ve met a couple of times prior to this. I¡¯m here because Mr. Gibson asked me to bring something to you.¡± Christina walked up to him and sat across from him. ¡°Have a seat. However, you ought to make it fast. because I¡¯m heading out in a bit.¡± Jasper nodded and pushed the documents toward Christina. ¡°These are property transfer agreements. Mr. Gibson had already transferred all his assets to you. All you need to do now is sign the agreements.¡± Christina nced at the documents nonchntly and remained unfazed. ¡°I returned him everything, didn¡¯t I? I don¡¯t want his assets.¡± ¡°After serious consideration, Mr. Gibson decided to ept your proposal. The Gibson family will split up. Mr. Gibson thought it was only right for him to let you inherit his assets because you¡¯re his only child. Mr. Gibson wants you to ept this,¡± Jasper uttered. Christina picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them. These are Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares, properties, cars, and whatnot. There are hundreds of million worth of assets here. If I ept this, I¡¯ll be a wealthy woman right away. However, if I ept the money, it¡¯ll mean I¡¯m returning to the Gibson family, and I¡¯ll have to get involved in the intense fight for assets with the rest of the members of the Gibson family. With that in mind, Christina lifted her head to nce at Jasper. ¡°Why didn¡¯t he visit me personally?¡± ¡°Mr. Gibson has returned to Hallsbay to deal with the matter regarding the breaking up of the Gibson family. While he¡¯s at it, he¡¯ll be relocating histe wife¡¯s grave. The day after tomorrow is an auspicious day to visit the grave.¡± Jasper gazed at her intently. Christina knew what Jasper meant and smiled. ¡°As expected of my dad¡¯s trusted aide. You know exactly what¡¯s on his mind, don¡¯t you?¡± she praised. Jasper shed a faint smile in response. ¡°You tter me, Ms. Steele. It¡¯s my job to relieve Mr. Gibson of his troubles.¡± Christina picked up a pen and signed the agreements before passing them back to Jasper. ¡°Now, you can report back to Mr. Gibson.¡± Jasper took the document from her and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll see you in Hallsbay, Ms. Steele.¡± With that, he turned around and left without waiting for Christina¡¯s reply about whether she would be going to Hallsbay the day after tomorrow. Christina then raised her brow and turned toward the butler. ¡°Please help me book a flight ticket to - Hallsbay. I¡¯ll go there the day after tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The butler lowered his eyes. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. After fetching the soup, Christina went to the hospital. However, Bailey was no longer in her ward. ¡°Bailey was dischargedst night, and here¡¯s a letter she told me to pass to you.¡± Sharon whipped out a letter from the drawer and gave it to Christina, ¡°I think she¡¯s recovering pretty well. Considering the ardships the head gene through, perhaps it¡¯s a good idea for her to spend some time abroad.¡± Christna poured tem od soap for Sharon and said. ¡°Mom, please drink it while it¡¯s hot.¡± With the letter in bereana, G, Christina made her way toward the window and read it. The letter consisted (only a few hnes of wind I. Boyley told Christina not to worry about her and that she would return after learing her head. The fetorrer men till Christina to help her feed her fish at the end of the letter bristma then chaledi ba dev¡¯t ex monter, but the call failed to go through. Bailey must¡¯ve written me this letter texted det anny to on en ne her erkenalkutt, erbeinally Julian, Vith that in mind, Gramme nove in the jet er o to preces and dumped them in the bin. Afterward, she hed Sharon i bed and proiect sit as at de nor the giler wOITLED. What did Badley serise in the lervert hing. She merely told on: casked cuntoupil ich ber bour and feed her fish for her.¡± Christina replied. daron didn¡¯t question further Aler ani ke bheid eri the v?i p ircled for her went on to the apple Christina had for so many days mast cost a fortune. ? + hund earned rosters Don¡¯t worry about that Mom tar piraproj n? mes Although Nathaniels facraly in rich, weather fartallics et ei tuunerenus Dou love to be dependem is that you can muke de k¨¦mia hur qeraracet Moan Nathaniel and hos parmo treat me very wet. 1) je demanderstandings is betweess us are all in KHAD SO TO ODC¡¯s bullying me anymore. Chrac?na sand The Listson timaly is splitting up, and I¡¯ve epted Duck offer is take Eins im materialista and a hypocritical person¡± Chrache asked Sharon caressed Christina¡¯s back and smiled gleefully. ¡°You silly girl, there¡¯s no need to thank me. I didn¡¯t do anything to help you.¡± Christina wanted to say something else, but someone suddenly pushed the door to the ward open. Standing at the door with a thermos in his hand, Gideon stared nkly at the people in the ward. He was caught off guard, so he stammered, ¡°I-L¡­ Did I disturb you guys? I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know you were here, Christina. I¡¯ll leave.¡± Gideon still felt awkward around Christina because he knew Christina was only treating him nicely for Sharon¡¯s sake. Sharon wanted to ask Gideon to stay, but seeing that Christina was there, she observed the young woman¡¯s expression cautiously and stayed quiet. Christina noticed the looks on their faces. Hence, she picked up her bag from the couch and said to Gideon. ¡°I¡¯ll be busy over the next few days, so I won¡¯t be able to visit Mom. If you¡¯re free, doe over to keep herpany.¡± Gideon beamed and answered hurriedly. ¡°Oh! Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll look after her. Back then-¡± ¡°Everything is in the past now, so I don¡¯t want to talk about it. However, don¡¯t make the same mistake again,¡± Christina cut him off. ¡°I know! I understand!¡± Gideon responded. I Christina said goodbye to Sharon and left the hospital. After that, she told her driver to drive her to Bailey¡¯s mansion. Christina was stunned the moment she opened the car door and saw the chaotic scene before her eyes. What on earth happened here? Chapter 603 Gone Too Far Chapter 603 Gone Too Far The initially grand-looking mansion seemed to have been ruined by a bunch of debt collectors. The ss windows and walls had red paint all over, and obscene words were sprayed on them. Some ss windows on the second floor were also broken, and the courtyard was filled with rubbish. As soon as Christina opened the main door with her fingerprint, a few men shoved her aside and rushed out of the mansion. As a result, Christina had to hold on to the door handle to bnce herself. Right after those men made their way out of the mansion, they were pinned to the ground by a few men dressed as bodyguards. Meanwhile, the driver quickly ran toward Christina and asked concernedly, ¡°Are you all right, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Christina nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Who are those men?¡± She meant the bodyguards, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The driver wiped the beads of sweat off of his forehead and answered, ¡°Those are the men Mr. Hadley sent to protect you in secret.¡± Christina furrowed her brows, but she didn¡¯t seem vexed by Nathaniel¡¯s decision. ¡°Tie those intruders up and bring them into the house. I need to question them.¡± With that, she entered the mansion. Although the ce was ransacked, it appeared cleaner than the outside. Christina then walked around the house and noticed that a lot of valuable items in the closet were stolen./ and the surveince cameras were destroyed. Bailey has to see this in order to confirm the amount of damages caused. When Christina was making her way back down the stairs, the bodyguards had already brought the intruders back into the mansion. The intruders were a few unruly and insolent teenagers. Though they were caught red-handed, they didn¡¯t show any fear or remorse and started cursing at Christina. Hearing that, the bodyguards immediately pped them across their faces to shut them up. Christina sat down in front of them and asked coldly, ¡°Did you guys do this?¡± A teenager with a buzz cut answered, ¡°No. We were merely here to make some quick money. We thought we could sneak in and steal some valuable items when we saw the windows were broken. Unfortunately for us, you showed up before we could leave.¡± ¡°You better tell me the truth!¡± Christina demanded in a deep voice. The five of them quickly answered at once, ¡°We¡¯ve been nothing but honest! This is our first time stealing. Could you let us go? We¡¯ll return everything.¡± Right then, the driver ran in, followed by a security guard working for the management office. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ve gone through the surveince footage. These thieves weren¡¯t the ones who vandalized ¡°Take them to the police,¡± Christina waved her hand in annoyance and instructed the bodyguards to take the teenagers away. After that, she looked at the security guard and sneered, ¡°What was the management staff doing? Didn¡¯t you guys know the mansion was vandalized?¡± The security guard answered sheepishly. ¡°We didn¡¯t receive anyints, but we called the owner as soon as we found out about it. However, we couldn¡¯t get in touch with her, and we didn¡¯t know who to look for.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t be bothered to question the security guard further. ¡°Where¡¯s the surveince footage? Let me have a look.¡± The driver handed her his phone. The surveince footage showed a car parked in front of the mansion the night before. A few men were then seening out of the car and vandalizing the mansion. Half an hourter, a white luxury car was seen driving past the mansion. Christina paused the footage and zoomed in to see who was sitting in the white luxury car. That¡¯s Ze! I can¡¯t believe she resorted to pulling these lowly tricks despiteing from an affluent family! The Cook family had already madepromises, but Ze still refuses to let them go! She¡¯s gone too far! Fortunately, Bailey is already abroad. If she were to see what had happened to her mansion, she would go berserk. ¡°Send me the surveince footage and get some people to clean and fix the mansion. Make sure to keep this under wraps,¡± Christina ordered in a deep voice. The driver and the security guard grunted in acknowledgment at once. Christina went back into her car and sent the footage to Julian. She also texted him: Your associates made a mess. You¡¯re responsible for wrapping things up. Julian replied fairly quickly, showing his concern: I¡¯ll take care of it. Is Bailey okay? In response, Christina replied indifferently: She doesn¡¯t need you to worry about her. Julian was wise enough to not pester Christina after that. Christina thought the matter was settled, but to her surprise, the management office of the mansion called her in the afternoon. The management told her that someone was trying to burn Bailey¡¯s mansion to the ground. Panicking, Christina rushed to Bailey¡¯s house immediately. At that moment, the mansion was surrounded by onlookers, and the security guards from the management office and the troublemakers were in a stalemate. Meanwhile, clouds of smoke were seen above the mansion, filling the air with the smell of something burning. Through the car window, Christina saw Ze in a white luxury car parked opposite the road. ¡°Come with me,¡± Christina said to the bodyguard in the passenger seat. With that, she opened the car door and strode toward the white luxury car. Ze saw Christina and sized her up, saying provocatively, ¡°Where¡¯s Gabrielle? Where¡¯s that b*tch? Why is she hiding when she¡¯s the one who caused this mess? Did she ask you to clean up after her?¡± With a gloomy expression, Christina red at her and ordered the bodyguard, ¡°Come here and drag her out of the car!¡± Before Ze could figure out what was going on, the bodyguard opened her car door and grabbed her arm before dragging her out of the car violently. Evidently, the bodyguard followed Christina¡¯s instruction to the tee and didn¡¯t bother handling Ze gently. Ze had been pampered since she was little. The only time she had been humiliated before was when her fianc¨¦ cheated on her. Besides, that was also the first time she had been manhandled in public. She wanted to dash toward Christina to beat thetter up as soon as she steadied herself, but the bodyguard stopped her. ¡°You¡¯re Christina, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re Nathaniel¡¯s wife. I¡¯ll remember you!¡± Ze was livid. ¡°This has nothing to do with you, but you just got yourself involved. You¡¯ll regret messing with me. I won¡¯t let you and Gabrielle off easily!¡± In response, Christina red at Ze viciously. ¡°You sent people here to destroy my friend¡¯s house. Now, you¡¯re trying to burn it to the ground! If I call the police now, who do you think will look bad?¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Ze wasn¡¯t intimidated at all. ¡°That b*tch, Gabrielle, seduced my fianc¨¦. I¡¯m merely returning the favor by burning her house down. She¡¯s lucky I didn¡¯t send someone to ruin her face and take her life,¡± she sneered. D After that, Ze continued with a murderous look in her eyes, ¡°You were the one whoined about this to Julian, weren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you know how close the Forresters and Langfords are? Did you think my fianc¨¦ would side with an outsider? Men are like that. They tend to get sick of their wives and enjoy having some fun with other women for a breath of fresh air. As long as those women don¡¯t provoke me, I don¡¯t mind it one bit. However, Gabrielle crossed the line when she tried to take my ce! She¡¯s not worthy! If I don¡¯t teach her a lesson, she¡¯ll never know how worthless she is! You¡¯re just like Gabrielle. Do you think everyone would forget about your nasty history just because you married into a wealthy family?¡± Chapter 604 Not The First Time Chapter 604 Not The First Time Despite admitting that she was not a saint, Christina had no intention of resorting to such vile tactics against others. Unfazed by Ze¡¯s provocation, Christina red at her and responded with a smirk, ¡°If your intention is to employ such extreme and despicable tactics topel Gabrielle to reveal herself, spare your efforts. She¡¯s not interested in being part of a love triangle, she, too, is a victim. If you feel ufortable, go seek out Julian and vent your frustrations to him. Ze, don¡¯t attempt to test my patience or Gabrielle¡¯s. The Langford family may hold influence, but it won¡¯t always serve as a refuge for you after the turmoil you¡¯ve caused.¡± It was Nathaniel who gave Christina the courage to confront Ze. As the dignified wife of the prestigious Hadley family, she carried the reputation of the entire family on her shoulders. Now that she carried the title of Mrs. Hadley, she was resolved to no longer allow herself to be pushed over by others. D Ze red at Christina with intense frustration, her face contorted in anger. ¡°What are you insinuating? Are you dering war against me?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how you choose to interpret it, so be it,¡± Christina responded calmly, her demeanor icy. ¡°But let me remind you, the damages caused to Gabrielle¡¯s property as a result of the vandalism orchestrated by your people will requirepensation. Mywyer will be in touch.¡± D Ze gritted her teeth, and her anger was evident as she observed Christina¡¯s dismissive demeanor. Christina¡¯s eyes gleamed with a hint of danger, and a cunning smile yed on her lips. ¡°Ms. Langford, I¡¯m certain you wouldn¡¯t want all the embarrassing things you¡¯ve done to be front-page news for the entire world to witness, would you?¡± Ze¡¯s eyes flickered with panic, her face turning pale as she clenched her teeth and uttered, ¡°Christina, you¡¯re truly despicable and shameless!¡± Christina responded with a cold smile, ¡°It takes one to know one. I don¡¯t like to waste time, so I hope to receive favorable news from you tonight, Ms. Langford.¡± Just as Christina was about to leave, a silver sports car pulled up in front of her. The doors on both the driver¡¯s and passenger¡¯s sides swung open simultaneously, revealing Julian and Anthea standing before everyone. ¡°Ze, are you all right?¡± Anthea hurriedly approached Ze and whispered, ¡°I received your distress message and came to find you right away.¡± Ze caught the probing gaze from Julian and looked away, a mix of resentment and frustration evident in her expression. ¡°Couldn¡¯t youe alone? Why did you have to bring Julian along?¡± Feeling aggrieved, Anthea replied, ¡°I thought Gabrielle would be here. I just want her to see who Mr. Forrester truly cares about.¡± Since Anthea disliked Christina, the former contemted the idea of letting Ze deal with Gabrielle to teach Christina a lesson indirectly. Unaware of theplex history between Anthea and Christina, Ze naively believed that Anthea had a genuine concern for her well-being. That provided her with a semnce of relief, but deep down, her heart still harbored doubts and uncertainty. With Anthea¡¯s support, Ze approached Julian weakly, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°Julian, my hand hurts¡± Christina raised her brows and stopped in her tracks to watch Ze put on an act She wanted to see how Ze wouldin about her in front of Julian Julian¡¯s face remained cold and devoid of any emotion, treating the woman before him as if she were a mere stranger seeking help, rather than his own fiancee. ¡°If you¡¯re not feeling well, have Anthea apany you to the hospital for a check-up. I have some urgent matters to attend to.¡± Christina burst into haughtyughter,pletely disregarding Ze¡¯s feelings. That mockingughter felt like a p across Ze¡¯s face, leaving her stunned and hurt. Anthea, who was even more hot-tempered than Ze, red at Christina and eximed, ¡°Christina, why are youughing?¡± In an innocent voice, Christina replied, ¡°Iughed because I found something amusing. Do I need your permission, Ms. Campbell?¡± (D) Anthea¡¯s face flushed with anger. ¡°You¡¯re just as shameless as that vixen, Gabrielle!¡± Julian¡¯s expression grew grim, and he bellowed, ¡°Anthea, enough!¡± Taken aback by his sudden outburst, Anthea stumbled backward and sought refuge behind Ze, trembling with fear. Ze¡¯s face contorted with displeasure, but she restrained herself from causing a scene in public. She could not risk tarnishing the image of elegance and virtue she had carefully built in his presence. Ze came to Anthea¡¯s defense, pretending to be kind. ¡°Julian, Anthea was simply speaking her mind. She didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± Christina could not help but admire Ze¡¯s ability to brazenly tell lies. These two cousins are truly cut from the same cloth. Seizing the opportunity to cause further turmoil, Christina interjected, ¡°Mr. Forrester, you see, this isn¡¯t the first time your fianc¨¦e made a mistake. Now that you¡¯re here, you should take a careful look at the trouble your fianc¨¦e has brought upon my friend.¡± Julian turned his head to nce at the smoke-filled vi, his eyes filled with anger. ¡°I apologize for my negligence in not fully resolving the issue. I¡¯llpensate for all the losses incurred.¡± Christina scoffed, ¡°Every crime has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. You¡¯re not the one responsible for causing trouble, but of course, if you want to take up the rightful responsibility on behalf of Ms. Langford, that¡¯s your prerogative. However, whether or not you¡¯re allowed to do so is not for me alone to decide. We¡¯ll have to ask the owner of this vi Julian was surprisingly conciliatory and responded, ¡°You¡¯re right, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll listen to her.¡± Anthea impulsively interjected, ¡°Julian, Gabrielle was the one at fault in the first ce. Why don¡¯t you hear Ze¡¯s side of the story first?¡± The way she questioned Julian sounded like she was reprimanding him. Ze desperately wished she could silence Anthea, but unfortunately, Anthea remained oblivious, believing she was defending Ze¡¯s interests. ¡°If every mistress could be absolved of their misdeeds, how is it fair to the wife?¡± Anthea eximed. ¡°How will this reflect on the Langford family? How will youpensate for the suffering Ze has endured?¡± Ze shifted her gaze to Julian. Julian¡¯s deep voice resonated as he made a decisive statement. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange a meeting with the Langford family elders to call off the wedding and discuss with them the necessarypensation for the damages incurred.¡± The expressions on Anthea¡¯s and Ze¡¯s changed drastically. Ze¡¯s emotions overcame her, and she shook her head vigorously while sobbing. ¡°Julian, you can¡¯t be so cruel to me. I don¡¯t want the wedding to be called off!¡± Julian remained unfazed. ¡°This is inevitable, but I assure you, the cancetion of the wedding will not have any detrimental impact on you or the Langford family.¡± Ze stretched out her hand to grab Julian, but thetter deftly evaded her, leaving her hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. ¡°I¡¯m prepared to face the consequences of my actions. I can even apologize to Gabrielle and will not hold your past with her against you. Julian, we can¡¯t call off the wedding.¡± Anthea was acutely aware of the trouble her words had caused Ze. She stood anxiously in ce, watching Ze plead with Julian humbly. Meanwhile, Christina remained disinterested in their drama. Her sole focus was on resolving the problem swiftly so that she could return home and get some sleep. ¡°Mr. Forrester, Bailey entrusted me with the task of taking care of the house. Once you have a viable solution to address this issue, please contact me immediately.¡± After saying that, Christina left with her bodyguards. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, she went straight to the bedroom to sleep, not at all worried that Julian would pull a fast one on her. If he were not utterly callous, there might be room for him to salvage his rtionship with Bailey after he had seeded in calling off his engagement with Ze: Besides, her observation of him revealed that he was seemingly not a womanizer. He had no feelings toward Ze, and the only thing that could shackle him was the Forrester family. Just when she woke up from her nap, she happened to receive a call from Julian himself. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the Langford family willpensate Bailey tenfold for the loss of her property in apology.¡± A brief pause ensued before Julian ventured, ¡°I can¡¯t get in touch with Bailey. Can you please tell me where she went?¡± Lying on the soft bed on her back, Christina stared at the ivory-white ceiling and chuckled. ¡°She has gone on a vacation to clear her mind. Mr. Forrester, the best apology to her would be dealing with the troubles Ze kicked up fairly and strictly. She¡¯ll never see you again, so neither do you need to go and bother her anymore.¡± At that, the other end of the phone plunged into an awkward silence. Christina broke the silence, murmuring, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, Mr. Forrester, I¡¯ll be hanging up first.. Please inform me when the renovation of the mansion ispleted. I¡¯ll go and check things over.¡± Out of the blue, Julian implored, ¡°Bailey blocked all my contacts. Can you please give me the number she¡¯s currently using? I won¡¯t bother her. I merely want to apologize to her personally.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t get in touch with her either. You¡¯re on your own, Mr. Forrester,¡± Christina enunciated. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. When she hung up the phone, worry about Bailey¡¯s present state niggled at her. She promptly tried callin thetter, but still, she could not get through to her. At that exact moment, Nathaniel pushed open the door and stepped in. Glimpsing the fretful look on her face, he frowned. ¡°You¡¯ve run into trouble?¡± Tossing his suit jacket aside, he loosened his tie and plopped down on the edge of the bed in a swift motion. Christina threw herself in his arms. She buried her nose in his neck and took a sniff. ¡°Did you drink alcohol?¡± ¡°Yeah. There was a socializing event this afternoon. It was a cocktail party organized by Winston.¡± Then, Nathaniel continued, ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡± Ever since Christina got pregnant, her sense of smell became exceedingly sensitive. Averse to the stench on him, she pulled away from him. ¡°It¡¯s not anything major.¡± She briefly told the man about the matter that had transpired between Ze and Julian that day before urging. ¡°Go and shower first. You reek too strongly of cigarette smoke and alcohol Resisting his impulse to kiss her out of habit, Nathaniel stood up and headed to the bathroom. Chapter 605 A Backup Plan Chapter 605 A Backup n Meanwhile, Christina left a message for Bailey. Subsequently, she started replying to the text from the studio. Rayne¡¯s excitement was palpable, and her message read: We¡¯ve received Anthea¡¯s penalty for the breach of contract, and the studio now has an extra half a year¡¯s profit. When are you nning to make time toe over to the studio so show your face? We all miss you, and the newly-recruited employees would also like to meet their employer. Christina stroked her baby bump, her fingers flying across the keypad as she replied: I¡¯m making a trip to Hallsbay tomorrow. We¡¯ll make ns when Ie back. You guys would have to bear the brunt of the work again these days. As for the penalty, use it to give bonuses to the employees. You make the call about the specific amount. Rayne texted back: If they were to learn about this, they¡¯d likely jump for joy. Just focus on dealing with your personal matters. I¡¯ll keep an eye on things at the studio on your behalf. That aside, they can all work independently. Everything will be fine with the studio. Christina: Thank you. No sooner had she sent that message than a warm body stered against her back and hugged her from behind. Noting the ID on the phone, Nathaniel asked, ¡°Did something happen to the studio?¡± ¡°No. Rayne was merely reporting the studio¡¯s current situation to me regrly. Did you find new leads regarding Winston when you attended the cocktail party this afternoon?¡± Christina queried. ¡°These few days Nigel has been in jail gave him room to breathe. He has already secretly investigated Nigel and obtained some dirt and incriminating evidence on the man. Perhaps he wants to use that to threaten Nigel into giving up the idea of selling off Raveworks Enterprise. But he has a backup n. Once Nigel stubbornly refuses to budge, he¡¯ll cash out all the shares and stocks in his possession before injecting the money into his newly establishedpany.¡± Realization dawned upon Christina that there was an irreconcble conflict between Winston and Nigel. Thus, if someone with ulterior motives were to pit them against each other, they would rip off all pretens of civility. ¡°When will Nigel be released by the police?¡± Christina asked further. ¡°That¡¯ll depend on how long your father wants him to stay in jail,¡± Nathaniel answered meaningfully. Christina was startled for a moment. ¡°You mean, my father is already aware of the heinous deeds Nigel committed ndestinely?¡± ¡°He has started arranging for his trusted aide to investigate the ident five years ago. On top of that, he secretly had someone draw a paternity test between Yerck and Nigel. Hence, I reckon he must have learned part of the truth,¡± Nathaniel borated. He knew all about Timothy sending someone over to seek Christina out to have her sign an asset transfe agreement. ¡°I heard from Raymond that you¡¯re going to Hallsbay tomorrow?¡± He proceeded to change the subject t his matter of concern surreptitiously. ¡°My mother¡¯s grave is going to be relocated. As such, I want to go visit her.¡± Getting out of bed, Christina took a dry towel from the bathroom and toweled the man¡¯s hair while standing behind him. She then added, ¡°Starting tomorrow, the Gibson family¡¯s state of affairs is going to change beyond recognition. 1 don¡¯t want my father to face those people alone.¡± After all, she harbored no hatred toward Timothy, merely loathing his obstinacy asionally. The injustice she faced from the Gibson family was nothingpared to him having been deceived by his own family for twenty years. Once news of the Gibson family¡¯s imminent division of family assets came to light, Nigel¡¯s family would never let Christina and Timothy off the hook as they had encroached on Nigel¡¯s interests. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Nathaniel offered. ¡°The Gibsons dislike you, so your appearance will only infuriate them more. Nathaniel, I know you¡¯re worried about me, but I¡¯ll have to face those troubles alone sooner orter. Let me handle things alone, okay?¡± Christina stated solemnly. Nathaniel¡¯s brows knitted together in chagrin. ¡°It¡¯s precisely because the problems you¡¯re going to face are too dangerous that I can¡¯t let you resolve things alone. Christina kissed him on the forehead. ¡°Winston has been ingratiating himself to you frequently, so he probably has something big nned. The Gibson family¡¯s upheaval is a golden opportunity for him to fight back. How about this? You stay in Jadeborough to hold the fort, whereas I bring Sebastian with me to Hallsbay.¡± With Sebastian present, seventy percent of the problems could be resolved. After careful consideration, Nathaniel agreed to that suggestion in the end. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for another person to go with you. His capabilities are on par with Sebastian¡¯s. He was part of a mercenary team abroad, and you¡¯ve met him before. Since the danger of the trip to Hallsbay was an unknown factor, Christina readily epted all the arrangements made by Nathaniel. The following morning. Sebastian came to Scenic Garden Manor with the bodyguard Nathaniel specially arranged for Christina. The bodyguard was none other than the man Christina ordered to drag Ze out of the sports car yesterday. He was known as Lyle, a mixed descent of Chanaca, Remdik, and Granatano. The muscr physique beneath his suit carried immense power, and his rugged countenance exuded a sharp aura, striking terror into others. He was a head taller than Sebastian and was even more well-built than Nathaniel. The arrangement of him being Christina¡¯s bodyguard provided a sense of security. Christina was very much satisfied with him as her bodyguard. Her smile turned even sweeter. She leaned close to Nathaniel¡¯s ear and whispered. ¡°Thank you, Darling,¡± Grabbing her wrist, Nathaniel pulled her onto hisp and wrapped an arm around her waist. ¡°I prefer those who put their thanks into action.¡± At that turn of events, Sebastian and Lyle tactfully exited the living room, leaving space for the couple to spend time alone. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go to the airportter. Don¡¯t take things too far-¡± Christina¡¯s voice abruptly cut off as Nathaniel captured her lips domineeringly. Half an hourter, Christina was carried into the car by the man, her entire body limp. Inwardly, she swore to never again tease him in the morning. Otherwise, she would be the one to suffer and end up drained. Nathaniel sat in the back seat happily and massaged Christina¡¯s fingers. Throughout the drive to the airport, he had her sofortable that she almost fell asleep. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Give me a call as soon as you arrive in Hallsbay. Keep your phone on you at all times. You can¡¯t turn it or ignore my messages. Or else, I¡¯ll worry. When I¡¯m anxious, I tend to act impulsively,¡± Nathaniel instructed gently while straightening her scarf. Christina hastily nodded. ¡°Yeah, okay, I got it. I¡¯m about to bete for boarding. I¡¯ll be leaving first. Hurr up and go back to the office to work as well.¡± Gathering her into his arms, Nathaniel dropped a kiss on her forehead. Then, he dropped his hold on h reluctantly. ¡°Go ahead. I¡¯ll leave after seeing you through the boarding gate.¡± Christina waved at him before stepping through the boarding gate behind Sebastian. After getting onto the ne, she slept all the way to Hallsbay. Chapter 606 The Only Heiress Chapter 606 The Only Heiress When they had disembarked from the ne and walked out of the terminal, they spotted Jasper standing beside a ck car, waiting for them. Jasper immediately went up to them with all the enthusiasm in the world. He wanted to take Christina¡¯s luggage from Lyle¡¯s hand, only to stop short at the sharp look in thetter¡¯s eyes. Christina broke the tense atmosphere. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Mr. Gibson had mee over to pick you up, Ms. Steele. He has already arranged the amodations for you. There¡¯s a storm at the cemetery, and that makes it difficult to relocate the grave. For that reason, he postponed the ceremony for tomorrow morning.¡± Christina had no objections to that since her schedule was rather rushed. With a day to rest, she would have enough energy and strength to deal with all the tricky problems the next day. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank you foring all the way over. I¡¯ve already booked a hotel, and it wouldn¡¯t be wise for me and my father to have too much contact before tomorrow, Christina replied with a smile. Jasper instantly understood her meaning. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll convey your message to Mr. Gibson. Please excuse me, Ms. Steele.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Christina watched as the man drove away. Thereafter, she climbed into another ck car parked by the side of the road. ¡°Does the Gibson family know of my visit to Hallsbay?¡± Considering the fact that she had decided to give the Gibsons a surprise, it went without saying that her whereabouts could not be allowed to leak out beforehand. ¡°No. Nigel has only been released this morning and made it back to Hallsbay an hour ago. Anya is preupied with matters in the entertainment industry, while Yerek is busy finding investment for Gibson Corporation,¡± Sebastian answered truthfully. A frown marred Christina¡¯s countenance, and she asked, ¡°Anya wants to enter the entertainment industry?¡± ¡°No, it isn¡¯t her but Emilia. Being under Emilia¡¯s thumb, she¡¯s using the twenty million in ransom she got from the Gibson family through trickery to pave the way for Emilia,¡± Sebastian rified. Hearing that, Christina gradually grew intrigued. ¡°Oh? Tell me the chain of events in detail.¡± By the time Sebastian finished narrating the entire matter, they had arrived at the hotel. Never had it crossed Christina¡¯s mind that Anya¡¯s kidnapping turned out to be a self-directed show of he If Mrs. Lazuli were to learn that her most beloved granddaughter duped her, she¡¯d likely burst a blood vessel. She on managed to gather that twenty million in ransom by emptying her coffers and calling in all the favors owed her. Yet Anya is using the money on someone else. Worse still, it¡¯s Emilia who¡¯s of questionable character! Taking a step of precaution, she ordered, ¡°Furtively gather evidence of the deal between Anya and Emili It might be of use in the future.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Sebastian noted. Lyle carried Christina¡¯s luggage into the guest room for her before he spun on his heel and left. Chapter 606 The Only Heiress After Christina had taken a shower, she sat at the dining table and ate the nutritious meal specially provided by the hotel. While doing so, she texted Nathaniel about her safe arrival. That night, a storm raged in Hallsbay for the entire night. The next day, the sky cleared up. Christina had just woken up when she saw Timothy and Jasper, who had been waiting for her, in the living room. A long moment passed before her mind fully registered that she was not in Scenic Garden Manor but in a hotel in Hallsbay. It had only been a few days since shest saw Timothy, but he had visibly lost weight. However, his depressed state from the past was nowhere to be seen. That day, he appeared animated, and his hazel eyes shone with energy. Walking over, Christina greeted softly, ¡°Good morning, Father.¡± At that somewhat distant address, Timothy was momentarily disoriented. A wealth of bitterness surged within him. I should be content she¡¯s willing to call me ¡°Father.¡± It¡¯s far better than her refusing to acknowledge me. He swiftly put his sorrow away and remarked smilingly, ¡°It¡¯s still early. Have breakfast first.¡± ¡°Mr. Gibson had me traipsing all over the city at the crack of dawn today in search of breakfast fare unique to Hallsbay for you, so have more, Ms. Steele,¡± Jasper interjected. Timothy shot him a reproachful re. ¡°Zip it.¡± Following that, Jasper automatically stepped back and said nothing further. Christina sat down at the dining table. Gazing at the tableful of delicious breakfast fare, she picked up a fork and suggested, ¡°Come and eat with me. I can¡¯t finish everything by myself.¡± Without waiting for a response from Timothy, Jasper wheeled him to the dining table and even thoughtfully brought him a new set of tableware. Surprised and touched by Christina¡¯s action of inviting him to join her for breakfast, Timothy had not th presence of mind to lecture Jasper for his arbitrary action. Sebastian and Lyle, on the other hand, stood at the side silently. They did not dare act rashly without Christina¡¯s orders. Halfway through breakfast, Timothy started solemnly. ¡°They¡¯re still unaware of your visit to Hallsbay. When you meet themter, ignore whatever they say. You¡¯re the eldest daughter of the Gibson family a the only true heiress, Christina. No one from the Gibson family has the right to disrespect you.¡± Chapter 607 A Brewing Storm Chapter 607 A Brewing Storm If Timothy had said that half a year ago when she had just returned to the fold of the Gibson family, Christina would have likely believed him without a shadow of a doubt. However, she had discerned the Gibsons¡® nature after having experienced so much then and long since realized that her kinship with them was interlinked with interests. She only agreed to Timothy¡¯s request to take over the mess that was Gibson Corporation because she could not bear to see the fruits ofbor for which her mother sacrificed her life destroyed and stolen. Feeling that she should make herself clear upfront to avoid repeating the same mistake, she took a sip of hot milk and stated, ¡°I promised you to resolve the Gibson family¡¯s problems, but that only includes you and my mother. I wasn¡¯t speaking of the current Gibson family. Everything I¡¯ll be doing henceforth will be for the sake of safeguarding my mother¡¯s achievements alone.¡± A bitter smile tugged at Timothy¡¯s lips. I listened to baseless nder and was blinded to the truth, once conspiring with others to plot against her multiple times. I¡¯m unworthy to be her father, much less in any position to reprimand her! He parted his lips in embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s only natural that you hate me, Christina. I don¡¯t me you it. I¡¯m sorry.¡± for In response, Christina threw him a cold look. ¡°I don¡¯t hate you for the mistakes you did, but above all, you have no right to me me.¡± Timothy¡¯s face turned deathly pale, and his shoulders drooped in pain. He waited quietly for her daughter to continue speaking. ¡°Ever since you and Mrs. Lazuli acknowledged me as part of the Gibson family, the two of you merely regarded me as a tool for revenge. Of course, I was also at fault for failing to perceive your intentions right off the bat. Now, I no longer want to be the de of revenge in your hands. Gibson Corporation has reaped what it sowed while I¡¯ve gotten my freedom. The end result of this farce has been very much fair. But I¡¯ll definitely unearth the truth of my mother¡¯s death. No one will be able to stop me from doing so, including you.¡± Christina stared right into his eyes. Like a sharp de, the chilliness in her gaze cut through the air and struck him squarely in the chest. Timothy¡¯s heart abruptly lurched. He lowered his head guiltily, appearing to be deliberately avoiding her gaze so that she could not read his thoughts. A derisive smirk curved Christina¡¯s lips. After finishing the sandwich on the te before her, she ced her cutlery down. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. When are we leaving for the cemetery?¡± Timothy jolted out of his jumbled thoughts. ¡°We can leave right¡ª¡± Before he had finished speaking, Jasper, who had just taken a call, strode over. He leaned down and murmured something into Timothy¡¯s ear. At once, Timothy¡¯s brows creased deeply. A glimmer of rage glinted in his eyes. Sipping at the hot milk, Christina alternated her gaze between the two men. A momentter, Timothy looked at her. ¡°Christina, something urgent came up at home, and I need to make a trip back to deal with it. Rest at the hotel first. I¡¯ll call you in a while. It won¡¯t take much time.¡± Christina gave a dip of her head. ¡°Okay.¡± Jasper then wheeled Timothy away. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Seeing that, Sebastian stepped forward and asked, ¡°Do you have any ns next, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Christina cast a nce at Lyle. ¡°Follow them secretly and find out what happened at the Gibson residence. Ensure my father¡¯s safety. He¡¯s a key character to me right now.¡± ¡°Understood, Mrs. Hadley!¡± Lyle left after receiving his orders. Shifting her gaze to Sebastian, Christina shed him a teasing grin. ¡°As for you, Mr. Taggart, just stay here and chat with me to alleviate my boredom. Talk about your love story with Victoria.¡± Sebastian was slightly stunned. He could not help flushing to the tips of his ears and countering panickily, ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me, Mrs. Hadley. My rtionship with Ms. Lesley isn¡¯t developing as fast as you imagine.¡± At that, Christina quipped with a giggle, ¡°Hmm¡­ why are you still addressing her as ¡®Ms. Lesley¡® when the two of you are already dating officially? Could this be a kink?¡± Sebastian¡¯s face med hotly, and his expression grew increasingly panicked. He wanted to end that mortifying subject immediately, yet he dared not do so. Christina pretended to toy with her phone, but in reality, she pressed the record button and filmed him. Giving in to Victoria¡¯s shameless pestering, she sent the video to her. With her mission aplished, she yawned and ceased teasing the man. ¡°I¡¯m sleepy. I¡¯m going back to the bedroom for a nap. Remember to wake me when there¡¯s news from Lyle.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Relief suffused Sebastian. After leaving the hotel, Timothy sped to the cemetery, Although the entire Gibson family knew of his ns to relocate his wife¡¯s grave, he did not inform them of the specific date. That aside, he decided to announce his decision to divide the Gibson family¡¯s assets on that same day. News of the division of assets had been kept under wraps all along, but for some inexplicable reason, Nigel learned about it and spread the word. Failing to get in touch with Timothy, they all went to the cemetery to demand an exnation from him upon learning that he would be relocating his wife¡¯s grave that day. Timothy did not want them to have a direct confrontation with Christina, so he made up an excuse and came over to settle things first. When Nigel lifted his head and caught sight of Timothy, he pushed the person before him stormed over to thetter. ¡°I¡¯ve only been away from home for a few days, but the entire family has changed, Timothy. You didn¡¯t even bother to inform us about such an important matter as relocating away and Veronica¡¯s grave. You¡¯re really regarding us as outsiders now.¡± Azure snorted coldly. ¡°Putting aside the relocation of Veronica¡¯s grave, Timothy, a division of the Gibson family¡¯s assets is a major issue. Yet, you acted arbitrarily without discussing it with us. I¡¯m still alive, and I¡¯ve got the right to make the calls in matters of the Gibson family!¡± (D Timothy swept a frosty gaze over them. In a calm and even voice, he uttered, ¡°Today is the relocation of Veronica¡¯s grave. Are you all sure you want to kick up a fuss with me here?¡± Noticing that the atmosphere was growing increasingly tense, Yerek intervened and tried to soothe Timothy, ¡°Grandma and Uncle Nigel meant no harm, Dad. Let¡¯s all talk nicely without losing our tempers.¡± Timothy shot daggers at him, snapping, ¡°You¡¯ve got no business interrupting when your elders are speaking, Yerek!¡± While Timothy had never liked Yerek much since thetter was young, he had fulfilled his responsibilities as an adopted father. He had never failed to provide for Yerck, let alone yelled at the latter before. Yerek went silent in humiliation, and his hands hanging by his sides balled into fists. At the side, Anya could not stand watching anymore and griped, ¡°Even if you¡¯re angry, Uncle Timothy, you can¡¯t vent it on Yerek. He didn¡¯t do anything wrong! In the next heartbeat, Timothy¡¯s sharp gaze fell on her. Her heart lurched uncontrobly. Gulping, she surreptitiously inched behind Azure. Azure straightened to her full height and assumed an air of an elder, jerking her chin up a fraction. ¡°Don¡¯t take your anger out on the younger generation, Timothy. This is a grave issue, so you must give me and Nigel a reasonable exnation today.¡± Wheeling himself to his wife¡¯s tombstone, Timothy took out a handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped off the raindrops on the ck and white photo. His voice was cold and hard. ¡°Since the lot of you want an exnation, let¡¯sy everything out before Veronica today.¡± Chapter 608 The Division Of Assets Chapter 608 The Division Of Assets For some inexplicable reason, Yerek¡¯s words had a tidal wave of uneasiness flooding Nigel, Yerek, and Anya. However, they were already close to aplete fallout when they ambushed Timothy without any regard for the situation for the sake of an exnation. Right then, all that was left between them were schemes and wariness. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Azure nced at the photo on the tombstone. Her expression took on a note of difiture, and she tried to smooth things over. ¡°This is a family matter, so let¡¯s talk about it at home. Let¡¯s not disturb Veronica.¡± Hearing that, Timothy scoffed with a sneer, ¡°The lot of you had the audacity to kick up trouble at the cemetery, and now you¡¯re actually considering other people¡¯s feelings? How shameless of you to say something like that.¡± At that tant insult, Azure¡¯s face went as ck as thunder. ¡°Do you still regard me as your mother, Timothy?¡± D Timothy stared right into her eyes and retorted, ¡°What about you, then? Have you been regarding me as your biological son over the years? Or have you been treating me as a piece of trash?¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Timothy? If there¡¯s something you want to say, cut straight to the chase. There¡¯s no need to beat around the bush and make insinuations about me and Mom!¡± Nigel thundered. He had a strong sense of foreboding that the situation had already spiraled out of his control, and Timothy had changed. Timothy¡¯s sharp and icy gaze lingered on everyone there. Subsequently, a feral smirk bloomed on his face. ¡°Jasper, show them the documents for them to have the exnation they want!¡± With that, Jasper opened his briefcase and took out a document before holding it out to Nigel. Nigel snatched it right out of the man¡¯s hand. The instant heid eyes on the contents of the document, shock and fear showed on his face. ¡°What is¡­?¡± Azure shot out a hand and grabbed it. Suddenly, her voice trailed off, and her hand holding the document shook imperceptibly. Standing beside her, Yerek inevitably glimpsed the contents of the document. At the guilty expression on their faces, Anya stepped forward in puzzlement. ¡°Oh, my God! Yerek¡­ is actually my biological brother?¡± she eximed. -Before her voice had even rung out, something abruptly urred to her. She furiously cut her gaze at Nigel and started cursing him out while jabbing a finger in his face. ¡°How dare you cheat on Mom and have an illegitimate child out there!¡± The fact that Yerek was Nigel¡¯s illegitimate child was a secret Nigel could never allow toe to light. Having been hit where it hurt, Nigel backhanded Anya across the face. ¡°Shut up! Have you no conscience left! How dare you criticize me!¡± ( Anya cradled her swollen cheek and red at her father hotly. ¡°Why are you bothered by the truth when you dared do such a thing? Not only am I going to tell Mom about this, but I¡¯m also going to spread the news and let everyone know that your persona of a loving husband is fake!¡± Since she was young, her mother had drilled into her that the entire Gibson family would belong to her in the future. Even Yerek, who had been adopted into the family, had no right topete with her. Christina¡¯s existence already made her situation difficult enough. With another biological brother, her share of the assets would be reduced by more than half. ¡°Anya, don¡¯t forget that it was thanks to Yerek and your father that you managed to survive the kidnapping,¡± Azure chided. Then, she continued, ¡°You seem agitated. Go home and calm yourself down first. You don¡¯t have to be here.¡± With her eyes bloodshot, Anya red at everyone maliciously before she whirled around resentfully and stalked off. Timothy watched the farce before him scornfully. ¡°The lot of you kept me in the dark all these years because you felt that I¡¯m a piece of trash that would never amount to anything, using my hatred toward the Hadley family to force Christina away so that Nigel and Yerek could gain control of Gibson Corporation, no? One is my biological mother, the other my biological brother, and yet another the adopted son I¡¯d raised for years. Sure enough, you¡¯re all a family. Your methods are underhanded, and you¡¯re ck¨Chearted. You went all out to y a fool of me,¡± he drawled, methodically listing the trio¡¯s crimes. D Indeed, Azure felt guilty toward him in that matter. She eased up on her domineering attitude earlier. ¡°Timothy, I didn¡¯t mean to keep you in the dark about Yerek and Nigel¡¯s rtionship. At that time, disaster befell both you and Veronica. The Gibson family urgently needed someone who could hold the fort and an outstanding heir. No matter what, Yerek has the blood of the Gibson family flowing through his veins. It¡¯s far better for him to inherit Gibson Corporation than for thepany to fall into the hands of outsiders.¡± In response, Timothy sneered and riposted bluntly, ¡°Gibson Corporation was the result of my and Veronica¡¯s efforts. It¡¯s something we left for Christina. Others have no right to make any decisions on our behalf.¡± Struck dumb, Azure was at a loss for an appropriate reason to retort. The major contributors to the development of the Gibson family in the present day were Timothy and Veronica. Ever since disaster struck their family, Gibson Corporation started going downhill after falling into Nigel¡¯s hands. As conflicts snowballed and intensified, Gibson Corporation¡¯s problems under Nigel¡¯s management became increasingly evident by the day. When Hadley Corporationter called off their coboration, the dam finally burst. Azure knew Nigel¡¯s capabilities better than anyone else. However, she was convinced that Timothy could no longer¨Ctake the lead and detested Christina¡¯s rebelliousness. Consequently, she blindly believed that Nigel could turn the tide despite being well aware that Gibson Corporation might end up ruined in the man¡¯s hands. In truth, she was the person who had the least right to question Timothy about his decision. ¡°You can¡¯t deny my credit with just a few words, Timothy! If it weren¡¯t for me managing Gibson Corporation wholeheartedly all these years, thepany would¡¯ve gone bankrupt ages ago,¡± Nigel parried loudly. Without backing down, Timothy countered, ¡°Do you not know how Gibson Corporation fell into your hands?¡± It sounded in, yet it sparked a storm within Nigel. Words promptly eluded him. Subsequently, Timothy turned his gaze to Yerek. ¡°Since you¡¯ve already transferred all your father¡¯s shares in Gibson Corporation to your name and sold off part of them to make up twenty million in cash before handing the money to Anya, it¡¯s considered a fulfillment of my previous promise to give you some of Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares.¡± D A sh of nervousness flittered across Yerek¡¯s eyes. Meanwhile, Nigel was utterly confused by Timothy¡¯s words. He looked at Yerek in mystification. ¡°Hadn¡¯t you sold off all the shares I gave you, Yerek? Why had they been transferred to your name? Also, wasn¡¯t the twenty million in ransom handed to the kidnapper? Why was it given to Anya?¡± Azure was likewise wholly flummoxed. I was the one who personally transferred the twenty million in ransom to the kidnapper after Yerek wired it to me. Could it be that there was more to it than met the eye? While his mind whirred, Yerek gradually saw through Timothy¡¯s n. Shock swept over him like a tidal wave. He¡¯s trying to make us suspicious of each other and sow discord between us! Gritting his teeth, he hissed, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the division of assets be the focus of our discussion here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we¡¯re talking about right now. The lot of you took too much away from me, and I¡¯ve got to take them back one by one for Christina,¡± Timothy replied calmly. Chapter 609 Exposed Lie Chapter 609 Exposed Lie Nigel and Yerek paled when they realized what Timothy was trying to do. Not only was Timothy trying to divide the family¡¯s assets, but he was going to settle the score with them too. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. If he were to expose those dirty deeds they had done in private, their reputation would be ruined for good. Timothy was cruelly forcing them down the path of no return. He did not care that they were his family. Since Yerek had deliberately ruined Timothy¡¯s rtionship with his daughter, he was going to do the same thing to Nigel and Yerek, too. ¡°You guys still haven¡¯t found out?¡± Timothy sneered. ¡°Anya¡¯s kidnapping was a show she orchestrated, including the part where she was threatened and needed arge sum of money to resolve the issue. You were all fooled by her. Speaking of which, Yerek¡¯s her aplice. How else would he have managed to convince you to hand over all the shares you owned?¡± D Nigel had nned everything meticulously, but in the end, his downfall was caused by the person he was closest to. Fury surged into his brain and took over his mind. mming his fist onto Yerek¡¯s face, Nigel shouted, ¡°Why did you do that?¡± Azure screamed and grabbed Nigel to stop him. ¡°Let go of Yerek! You¡¯re going to kill him at this rate!¡± However, Nigel no longer had control over his emotions. He pushed Azure away and continued punching Yerek. ¡°I didn¡¯t make the effort to bring you back to the Gibson family so that you can set me up! You ungrateful jerk! I shouldn¡¯t have kept you around!¡± Yerek coughed and saidboriously, ¡°I didn¡¯t set you up. If my friend didn¡¯t offer that high price, those shares you owned wouldn¡¯t have even fetched twenty million. They would¡¯ve ended up getting sold for a dirt cheap price!¡± The news of how the Gibson family had offended the Hadley family and was cklisted by the Hadley family was no secret to the industry. Besides Sheridan, no one else dared to work with them. If not for that, the Gibson family would not have fallen from grace. In other words, Gibson Corporation¡¯s current situation was a result of Nigel¡¯s actions. Nigel froze when he heard that, and Azure took the chance to pull him away from Yerek. As she helped Yerek up to his feet, she asked, ¡°Yerek, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Grandma.¡± ¡°The injuries on your face are quite serious. I¡¯ll send you to the hospital first. We¡¯ll talk about the rest of this at hometer on.¡± Now that the secrets were all out in the air, Yerek no longer had any qualms about anything and didn¡¯t bother putting up an act. He wiped the blood on the corner of his lips before shooting a re at Timothy and Nigel. He then walked toward the cemetery¡¯s entrance as Azure supported him. 1/3 Their falling out relieved Timothy of the pent¨Cup misery and frustration he had been keeping inside him for over twenty years, and he felt much better. ¡°Jasper, it¡¯s gettingte. We can¡¯t waste any more time, Timothy merrily said to his aide, ignoring Nigel, ¡°Of course, Mr. Gibson. I¡¯ll work on it right away.¡± With that said, Jasper walked to a quieter spot to make a call, leaving Timothy and Nigel alone, Having been struck with too much shocking news that day, Nigel turned dispirited, but he continued to re at Nigel furiously. ¡°Is this what you wanted to see, Timothy? What good will you get from fighting with your brother?¡± ¡°Nigel, you started this game. I don¡¯t care that you stole money from me, but I won¡¯t let you go for taking a life from my side.¡± Nigel¡¯s eyes widened, and his heart began to race, hammering against his chest. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about!¡± he yelled before scurrying away. Timothy watched him leave with a bloodthirsty grin on his face. Meanwhile, on his hasty way out of the cemetery, Nigel tripped on a jutted piece of rock and fell. He landed right before a pair of feet. When he looked upward, his eyes met Christina¡¯s which carried a hint of amusement. He swiftly scrambled to his feet. ¡°Why are you here?¡± he questioned. Christina arched a brow. ¡°What a stupid question. My mother¡¯s grave will be relocated today. As her only daughter, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s normal that I pay her a visit?¡± What he had experienced earlier coupled with Christina¡¯s mocking words drove Nigel to the edge, awakening the violent streak in him. ¡°B*tch, I¡¯m going to punch that smile off your face!¡± At that, Nigel swung a fist at Christina. However, Christina did not move and merely watched him in silence. Right then, a hand shot out from behind Christina and grabbed Nigel¡¯s fist. Lyle twisted his wrist, and in the next instance, Nigel¡¯s scream of agony echoed in the cemetery. Then, Lyle effortlessly threw Nigel aside as if thetter was nothing but a wet rag. Nigel collided with the solid te before rolling a few times on the ground. Nigel felt as if his organs had rearranged themselves. The pain made him convulse and curl into a ball as he moaned¨Cin pain. D When Timothy and Jasper heard themotioning from the entrance, they hurried out to find out what was going on. When they saw Nigel on the ground, all they thought was that Nigel had iting. Timothy then worriedly asked, ¡°Christina, are you okay? Was he trying to pick on you?¡± Christina did not even spare Nigel a look. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even have the ability to do that. When is the exhumation starting?¡± Timothy promptly replied, ¡°We can start now. I just asked Jasper to call you; I wasn¡¯t expecting you to come this early.¡± Christina then turned to enter the cemetery while Sebastian followed her with candles and a bouquet of white lilies behind her. She hadn¡¯t been able to fall asleep at the hotel when Lyle came with news of how the Gibsons were kicking up a fuss before her mother¡¯s grave. There was no way she would let that matter slide. However, she was stuck in congested traffic on her way to the cemetery. By the time she arrived, the scene had ended, but she did bump into Nigel. ¡°Get him out of here; I don¡¯t want him tainting the ce,¡± Timothy icily ordered Jasper as a look of disgust sh past his eyes. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll get someone to send Mr. Nigel out of this ce right away.¡± Once Timothy was back in the cemetery, Jasper took out his phone and started making calls. In no time, Azure, who sent Yerek to the hospital personally, came to pick Nigel up. When she turned her head, she noticed an unfamiliar luxury car at the side of the road. Displeased, she asked Jasper, ¡°Is Timothy meeting a client?¡± Jasper replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Steele.¡± That crazy girl is here in Hallsbay? After that, Azure instructed the driver to bring the unconscious Nigel up into the car. While she made to enter the cemetery, she was stopped by Jasper. She furrowed her brows and questioned, ¡°Jasper, I¡¯m your employer. How dare you stop me?¡± ¡°Apologies, but Mr. Gibson told me not to let any irrelevant people in to disturb them.¡± I Azure sneered. ¡°I¡¯m his wife¡¯s mother¨Cinw and his own mother. If he¡¯s going to be relocating my daughter¨Cinw¡¯s grave, as her mother¨Cinw, why can¡¯t I be there to pay my respects?¡± Jasper was insistent. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Old Mrs. Gibson, but Mr. Nigel doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s doing good. Perhaps you should send him to the hospital as quickly as you can instead.¡± Anger surged in Azure¡¯s veins when she thought about the terrible state Nigel was in. ¡°Tell me, did that d*mn girl Christina do this?¡± Chapter 610 Starting From Getting Rich Chapter 610 Starting From Getting Rich Timothy had brought Jasper back from an illegal fighting club. From the moment Jasper decided to work for Timothy, he had made up his mind to only have Timothy as his one and only employer. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. He knew clearly what the Gibsons thought of Timothy, and he was only polite toward them for Timothy¡¯s sake. Now that Timothy had decided to exclude himself from them and divide the family¡¯s assets, Jasper saw no point in continuing to bear with the Gibson family¡¯s arrogance and insolence. As Jasper bodily blocked Azure, he said expressionlessly, ¡°Old Mrs. Gibson, you can ask Mr. Nigel about the details of the matter. Mr. Gibson has already instructed me to keep others from disturbing his wife¡¯s grave relocation, so please leave.¡± In response, Azure pped Jasper twice. However, those ps only made Jasper¡¯s cheeks red; they did not frighten him into submission. Livid, she wanted to continue hitting Jasper, but thetter moved aside to dodge her hand, and she missed. Losing her bnce, she stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground. D Jasper, on the other hand, stood motionlessly and watched her apathetically as if he was watching a clown perform. Azure had never been so ashamed before. She snapped. ¡°Timothy was a fool to have brought a rebellious vermin like you home! Just you wait. I¡¯m going to get Timothy to fire you soon!¡± With that said, she adjusted her grip on her bag and returned to her car. Jasper rubbed his numb face and turned to re¨Center the cemetery. The new cemetery that Timothy was moving his wife to was a private upscale cemetery with tight security. Outsiders were not allowed to visit the grave without permission from the purchaser of the grave. Timothy¡¯s goal in choosing that cemetery was obvious he did not want the Gibsons to disturb histe wife. Once the new gravestone was erected, Timothy stared at the photo and whispered, ¡°Come closer, Christina. Let your mother take a better look at you.¡± Christina walked over to the gravestone and lowered her head. Then, she took the white lilies from Sebastian¡¯s hands and ced them before the gravestone. Timothy then said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re the new CEO of Gibson Corporation and the only daughter of the Gibson family. Everyone in the Gibson family will have to listen to you as their new chief.¡± Christina turned to him. ¡°You won¡¯t intervene no matter how outrageous my actions are, right?¡± -As if he had seen a younger version of himself in Christina, Timothy smiled brightly and said, ¡°Of course. You¡¯re the only heir to the Gibson family.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina suppressed the suspicions she had. Since she had received his affirmation, it was time for her to showcase her abilities. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so I¡¯m going back first. Take care.¡± ¡°Have a safe trip back. Doe and visit your mother more often if you¡¯re free.¡± ¡°I will.¡± With that, Christina left with Sebastian and Lyle. Jasper walked over to Timothy and said, ¡°Mr. Gibson, Mr. Nigel and Mr. Yerek have made their move. They¡¯ve summoned the elders. Apparently, they want to revoke your and Ms. Steele¡¯s inheritance rights.¡± Timothy scoffed. ¡°What a bunch of fools!¡± It had not been a rash move on his part when he transferred all of his assets and shares to Christina. Timothy didn¡¯t even have to do anything. Since they had the audacity to set Christina up, they would have to face Nathaniel¡¯s wrath. D Nathaniel was far more ruthless and powerful than Timothy. To this day, no one had been able to offend Nathaniel and be spared. ¡°Mr. Gibson, are we going to retaliate?¡± Jasper asked. ¡°No need. Christina will deal with them herself. All we need to do is sit back and watch the show unfold,¡± Timothy told him. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. Prepare more of the tea I like. We¡¯ll have more visitors soon, and we can¡¯t embarrass Christina.¡± Jasper inclined his head. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Right as Christina reached the hotel, Timothy delivered arge amount of rare and expensive supplements meant for pregnant women. As she sat on the couch and stared at the table, which was filled with supplements, she turned to look at Sebastian and asked, ¡°You heard what my father told me at the cemetery, right? What do you think?¡± Timothy had been emphasizing one thing the entire time¨Cthat Christina was the one and only heir of the Gibson family. When Azure was younger, she only had two sons¨CTimothy and Nigel. Like the other children, Nigel had the right to be the head of the family as well. ¡°This involves the Gibson family¡¯s secrets,¡± Sebastian said, deliberately making things sound more mysterious to sound Christina out. When he realized that she did not show any signs of displeasure, he continued, ¡°To be honest, Nigel isn¡¯t fully a Gibson. Old Mrs. Gibson had him with another man.¡± D Christina widened her eyes at Sebastian before pursing her lips. ¡°This isn¡¯t the plot of some romance story you heard from someone else that you¡¯re trying to pass off as the Gibson family¡¯s secret, right?¡± Sebastian sighed and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m not lying to you. Mr. Gibson has two paternity test reports. One is Mr. Yerek¡¯s with Mr. Nigel, and the other is Mr. Nigel¡¯s with Old Mr. Gibson. The one in charge of the test is a business under the Hadley family¡¯s name, so it is an entity we can fully trust.¡± Christina could not believe it; she was shocked that Azure, the stickler for rules, would actually cheat on her husband. D Christina intertwined her fingers and tapped the back of her hand as a fanatic look shed past her eyes. ¡°Did Old Mr. Gibson¨Clearn about this when he was still alive?¡± Hesitation appeared on Sebastian¡¯s face. ¡°I heard that Old Mr. Gibson died from a heart attack out of anger after learning about this. However, there¡¯s another rumor about this. They say Mrs. Lazuli secretly killed him to protect her dignity and Mr. Nigel¡¯s birth father¡¯s identity when she found out that Old Mr. Gibson learned about this.¡± D After a moment of contemtion, he added, ¡°That¡¯s because Mrs. Lazuli was the one who arranged everything at Old Mr. Gibson¡¯s funeral. No one else had a hand in it.¡± Therefore, many people had doubts about the real reason behind Oswald Gibson¡¯s death. All of a sudden, Christina realized that there were two reasons behind Timothy¡¯s determination to divide the Gibson family. One was to save Gibson Corporation, and the other was because he was lied to by his family. Christina continued asking, ¡°Who else knows about this secret?¡± ¡°Not many. Within the Gibson family, only Old Mr. Gibson, Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Lazuli, and you know about this.¡± When she heard that, she started formting a n in her head. Standing up, she then paced back and forth in front of Sebastian and Lyle. Right as Sebastian was about to ask her if she was feeling unwell, Christina said, ¡°Mr. Taggart, I need a report of every Gibson¡¯s finances and assets, especially those of Nigel¡¯s family. I need to have this report by the next morning.¡± Sebastian curiously asked, ¡°Have you alreadye up with a n to deal with Mr. Nigel?¡± Christina smiled, her eyes shining brightly in excitement. ¡°Getting rich is the first sign of good fortune.¡± Chapter 611 Greed Chapter 611 Greed Even though Sebastian still didn¡¯t understand, he didn¡¯t persist in his questioning out of professionalism. Instead, he turned around and got back to work. Christina finished dinner and wrapped herself in herfy nkets after a shower. With her phone in hand, she video-called Nathaniel to tell him about her day. Nathaniel was busy, so Christina was the one who did most of the talking. Nevertheless, he would make the effort to reply to everything she said to prove he was listening. After nearly three hours, Christina began to doze off. Nathaniel put on his earphones and set his phone at eye level, then continued his meeting with a softer tone. His gaze asionally strayed to Christina¡¯s sleeping face. The sight of her soundly asleep calmed his irritation, sparing his colleagues, who didn¡¯t do a good job, from a tongueshing. D Waking up the next day, Christina noticed her phone battery had died and recalled how she¡¯d fallen asleep without ending the video call. Sh*t! I¡¯m sure Nathaniel is p¡±ssed that he couldn¡¯t reach me when the video call ended suddenly. She hurriedly rummaged through the drawers for her phone cable, plugging one end into her phone and the other into the charging cube. After waiting a few minutes for her phone to power up, she noticed Nathaniel had texted her good night after the call ended. It¡¯s six something in the morning. Nathaniel should still be in bed at this hour, so it¡¯s probably not a good time to call him and exin. After racking her brain, Christina concluded that the man wasn¡¯t angry and happily returned to her warm.fy bed. She then began tapping away on her phone, exining her ¡°mistake¡± from the night before. Once done, she got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up. Christina purposefully dressed like a wealthydy that day. Every detail, from head to toe, exuded an air of luxury that hinted at her wealth. She had chosen this attire with a specific purpose in mind, for she was about to do something that would send shockwaves through the entire Gibson family. Sebastian wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised by her choice of attire. Given the esteemed status and vast wealth of the Hadley family, it was only fitting for its members to lead lives of extravagance. When Sebastian heard about Christina¡¯s n, he took it upon himself to enhance her ensemble with a limited edition purse worth tens of millions, adding a touch of opulence to her attire. Even her car exuded luxury, perfectlyplementing hervish image. After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast, Christina, apanied by Sebastian and Lyle, headed to the Gibson residence. The atmosphere at the Gibson residence was filled with chaos and tension. Family members were engaged in heated arguments about the division of family property and the selection of an heir. Their faces were flushed with anger, their expressions contorted with a fierce determination to secure the best possible oue for their own families. Guiding the family meeting was a revered elder of the Gibson family, Alistair Gibson. Each member of the Gibson family would have to approach him with the utmost respect and address him as ¡°Uncle Alistair.¡± The family had been embroiled in the same issue throughout the night, engaging in heated debates and discussions. The prolonged arguments had taken a toll on their energy, and weariness had settled in Despite their best efforts, a satisfactory resolution still eluded them. ¡°Even though Christina is Timothy¡¯s biological daughter, she did not grow up within our family and therefore did not receive the necessary education and grooming expected of an heir. Considering her marriage and the strained rtionship her husband has with our family, it is highly likely that she will align herself with his interests,¡± said Alistair. ¡°That¡¯s all the more reason not to let her seed the family.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I agree,¡± someone concurred agitatedly. Timothy sat silently at the side, sipping his tea calmly as though his daughter wasn¡¯t the topic of discussion. Nigel had tried to provoke Timothy a few times already but to no avail. After multiple failed attempts at ruffling Timothy¡¯s feathers, Nigel grew increasingly dissatisfied and confronted him. ¡°Timothy, shouldn¡¯t you say something? This discussion is happening because of you.¡± Timothy continued to stay silent, ignoring Nigel¡¯s attempts to get a rise out of him. Nigel¡¯s temper red up, and he shouted, ¡°How much longer will you keep putting on airs, Timothy? There are so many people here today. Kunning away won¡¯t solve the issue we¡¯re facing¡± Timothy slowly raised his head, his eyes scanning the chaotic room before settling on Nigel, who was shouting at him from across the room. ¡°Were you talking to me?¡± Timothy pinched the spot between his brows. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. I haven¡¯t slept all night, and my health hasn¡¯t been the best, so I identally dozed off.¡± The rest of the family members felt their blood pressure rise, almost to the point of having a stroke, upon realizing that the subject of their intense debate had slept through the entire night without a care. Do me look like monkeys performing to him? Even the typically generous elder couldn¡¯t hide his displeasure with Timothy¡¯s attitude. He addressed Timothy directly, cutting to the chase. ¡°Timothy, let me be clear. I strongly oppose the idea of dividing the family property and changing the heir. While I won¡¯t prevent you from providing some form of compensation to your daughter out of guilt, there must be limits. In the Gibson family, everyone¡¯s voice matters. You don¡¯t have the authority to make all the decisions¡± Timothy¡¯s gaze turned icy as it fell on Alistair and Azure. His voice was curt and filled with determination. ¡°I simply want to reim what rightfully belongs to me ¡°In other words, you intend to les Christina inherit the entire Gibson Corporation. She doesn¡¯t possess the slightest knowledge of running apany or handling business negotiations. In the end, Nathaniel will be the one reaping the benefits, Nigel resorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm Azure nodded in agreement. ¡°Nigel is right¡± Timothy sneered as he forcefully ced the teacup on the table, causing a loud thud that reverberated through the room. The thud resembled the warning bells that were ringing in their minds. Timothy then began, ¡°Perhaps you have conveniently forgotten a crucial detail while indulging in your luxurious lifestyle for the past two decades. The Gibson Corporation, established by my father, faced bankruptcy fifteen years ago. It was my wife and I who painstakingly rebuilt the present-day Gibson Corporation.¡± ¡°We are merely tenants in this building, leasing the office spaces. While the current Gibson Corporation bears the Gibson name, it is my name that resounds throughout thepany. Themissions you receive annually from the Gibson Corporation are based on a contract signed by my father many years ago, a contract that should have long expired and be invalid. However, out of consideration for past familial rtions, my mother and brother chose to extend the benefits stipted in the initial contract. I, personally, did not sign that contract. Therefore, I suggest you discuss the intricacies of the agreement with the individual who did,¡± he continued. Timothy left no room for further debate as he concluded with unwavering determination, ¡°Effective immediately, the Gibson Corporation will be relocating from its current office building, and none of you have any authority to interfere inpany affairs.¡± Nigel¡¯s and Azure¡¯s expressions turned dour. They knew better than anyone else in the room who was the real owner of Gibson Corporation. Nigel stormed across the room toward Timothy, his voice filled with anger as he hissed. ¡°Timothy, you can¡¯t do that. You¡¯re cornering Mom and me with no way out! ¡°The Gibson family dered you as the heir and CEO of Gibson Corporation. But I distinctly recall that I only granted you a power of attorney. Your greed knows no bounds, Nigel.¡± Timothy¡¯s voice grew louder, reverberating with authority. D The entire room erupted into chaos, particrly among those who had relied on the old contracts to reap benefits from Gibson Corporation for years. Panic gripped them as they faced the prospect of potential losses.Owned by N?velDrama.Org. If Nigel¡¯s position as CEO is revoked and Timothy feigns ignorance about all the previously signed contracts, those agreements would be rendered meaningless, akin to mere scraps of paper! The members of the family began turning toward Nigel, demanding an exnation from him. Meanwhile, Timothy continued to drive his message home by saying, ¡°If you wish, you can sell me your shares at the current market price.¡± Nigel figured that he had nothing to lose since things had gotten to this point. Thus, he thundered, ¡°Don¡¯t believe his b*llsh*t! Gibson Corporation wouldn¡¯t be what it is today if he had the financial means. As long as we don¡¯t divide the family property, all of you can still enjoy the current benefits you receive. Dividing the property would be a grave mistake!¡± Just then, Christina entered the hall with a graceful stride, apanied by Sebastian and Lyle. ¡°I was the one who suggested dividing the family property. If anyone has any objections or grievances regarding this, you can address them to me.¡± Chapter 612 The Shocking Secret Chapter 612 The Shocking Secret The noisy scene was interrupted by the sudden entrance of the three hostile figures. Almost two-thirds of those present hadn¡¯t seen Christina before, but all of them quickly recognized Sebastian. He was Nathaniel¡¯s most trusted assistant. As Hadley Corporation¡¯s second-inmand, he wielded considerable power and influence. All this while, members of the Gibson family relied on regr dividends from Gibson Corporation to live a life of luxury and develop their ownpanies. Despite being aware of the bad blood between their family and the Hadley family, they still hoped to leverage thetter¡¯s business for greater profit. Therefore, they only dared to disparage Christina but didn¡¯t have the courage to do the same against Sebastian. ¡°Christina, a junior like you has no ce to speak here!¡± Nigel thundered while staring daggers at Christina. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be mindful of the asion before trying to kick up a fuss?¡± Christina threw Nigel an indifferent nce before walking past him and taking her seat nearby. Azure¡¯s brows furrowed as if to express her disapproval of Christina¡¯s brazen behavior. ¡°Christina, everyone here is an elder. How can you not greet them before sitting down? This is really rude of you. A faint smile emerged across Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, in this modern era, the ways of the old are no longer applicable. Anyway, I didn¡¯te here for a family reunion. Instead, I¡¯m here in my capacity as apetitor. Since when have you ever seen anyone behave submissively to thepetition?¡± Without warning, Azure mmed the table as she sprang to her feet. She then shot Timothy a piercing gaze. ¡°Timothy, aren¡¯t you going to teach your daughter some manners? I¡¯m her grandmother for goodness sake!¡± Timothy¡¯s expression was nonchnt. ¡°Christina is an adult now. I won¡¯t force her to do anything she doesn¡¯t want. She has the right and freedom to do whatever she wants.¡± ¡°You.¡± Infuriated by the response she received, Azure¡¯s words caught in her throat before she was interrupted by Christina. ¡°Calm down, Mrs. Lazuli. Something as trivial as this isn¡¯t worth being angry over. Otherwise, you might burst a vessel after hearing what I have to sayter.¡± Wearing a gleeful smile, Christina spoke in a gentle yet threatening tone. ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste your time. You can still decide whether to divvy up the assets after hearing what I have to say,¡± As her words hung in the air, everyone looked in Alistair¡¯s direction. Given his shrewdness, Alistair could immediately see that Christina wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. If it wasn¡¯t because he had something to gain, he wouldn¡¯t have gotten himself involved in the mess. ¡°Girl, stop with your tricks. They¡¯re not going to do you any good,¡± Alistair warned. Nheless, Christina was unfazed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not the one who¡¯s plotting here.¡± The moment she pped her hands, Sebastian held out a document and walked around with it so that everyone could see. Their eyes widened in shock at the earth-shattering secret that had been revealed to them. By the time he arrived in front of Nigel, thetter seemed to have gone berserk as he tried to rip the document out of Sebastian¡¯s hands. The guilt from his action couldn¡¯t be any more telling. As Sebastian skillfully evaded Nigel, thetter stumbled forward and dropped to his knees from his own inertia. Kneeling on the ground right before Christina and Timothy, Nigel looked as if he was repenting and begging for mercy. 1 Silence descended upon the room as the crowd¡¯s gaze fell upon Nigel in unison. Christina broke into a smirk. ¡°Uncle Nigel, the first person you should be kneeling in front of is Grandpa, not me Nigel shot Christina a burning gaze as he frantically got back to his feet. All this while, Alistair would turn a blind eye to the political machinations within the family as long as the family¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t affected. However, the contents of the document were too explosive and disgraceful to ignore. Thus, Alistair turned toward Azure and shot her a fearsome look. ¡°Whose son is Nigel, really?¡± Azure¡¯s expression drastically changed as she frantically exined, ¡°The paternity test report is fake, Uncle Alistair. Another one was done back in the day.¡± Timothy twisted the knife. ¡°That¡¯s because you paid off the person who did it and got him to tamper with the results. I don¡¯t mind bringing that person here to validate the fact.¡± One by one, gazes of disgust fell upon Azure. Upon being exposed, she felt so helpless that she copsed into her chair. Lips trembling, she just couldn¡¯t find the words to defend herself. [D Thereafter, Timothy calmly recounted the shameful incident from the past. ¡°Back then, Father¡¯s car ident caused him to lose the ability to have children. At the same time, you announced that you were pregnant, and he became a vegetable before dying three yearster. Since Nigel isn¡¯t a member of the Gibson family, he has no right to inherit anything. On top of that, it isn¡¯t difficult for him to make aeback based on his biological father¡¯s position and influence, isn¡¯t it?¡± Upon realizing the underlying implication of Timothy¡¯s words, Christina recalled the rumor about Oswald and Azure. If I understand correctly, he seems to be saying that Azure is connected to Oswald¡¯s death. Given how sharp everyone present was, they had long held suspicions over Oswald¡¯s untimely death. Now that the past had been brought up and Nigel revealed to not be Oswald¡¯s son, the possibility of Azure being a prime suspect increased significantly. Sitting in her chair, Azure was so nervous that she was bereft of words. Alistair asked, ¡°Timothy, from what you¡¯re saying, I gather you know who Nigel¡¯s father is?¡± Jasper proceeded to ce another paternity test report on the table. When Alistair lowered his gaze to look, he picked it up and threw it in Azure¡¯s face, thundering, ¡°It turns out that you did have an affair back then. I should¡¯ve never believed you!¡± When the paternity test report rolled down from Azure¡¯s hand onto the ground, the name on it was there for everyone to see-Barnaby Stone. He was none other than Sheridan¡¯s grandfather. Cocking her brows, Christina gave Azure a mischievous look. No wonder she wants to matchmake me with Sheridan. Since she couldn¡¯t be Barnaby¡¯s wife, she didn¡¯t mind bing his inw. At the very least, they could still maintain some sort of a rtionship and wouldn¡¯t raise any suspicions when they saw each other in secret. The n she has cooked up is truly diabolical! CD Given the circumstances, Azure didn¡¯t bother defending herself. Her and Nigel¡¯s situation had simply be untenable. ¡°No¡­ How can I not be a member of the Gibson family?¡± Nigel was unable to ept the sudden change in his identity. If what was said is true, I¡¯ll be an illegitimate child of the Stone family going forward! He knew better than anyone else how humiliating it was to be one. ¡°Mom, tell me. Am I Barnaby¡¯s son or not?¡± Nigel bored down upon Azure. ¡°Say it!¡± Azure trembled in fear; she didn¡¯t dare look into Nigel¡¯s eyes at all. Alistair roared, ¡°In that case, there¡¯s no need to divide the assets at all. Timothy is the sole heir of the Gibson family. After causing such a big fuss, it turns out that you¡¯re the one who¡¯s an outsider!¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 613 Clearing Obstacles Chapter 613 Clearing Obstacles To Nigel, those words felt like a dagger that was stabbed into his heart. At the same time, it cut off the veryst chance he had to fulfill his insatiable ambitions. After plotting meticulously for more than twenty years to seize power, he didn¡¯t expect fate to y such a cruel joke on him in the end. Instead of being the second son of the Gibson family, he was now a disgraced illegitimate child. Underneath everyone¡¯s scornful gazes, Nigel stormed off without looking back. Alistair, too, felt embarrassed by the turn of events. ¡°This is now an internal matter for Timothy¡¯s family, and my involvement would be inappropriate. Timothy is someone who knows what should be done, so I¡¯ll leave this in his hands.¡± His words made it clear to everyone that the Gibson family would go through a leadership change. With that, the rest of the Gibson family was too embarrassed to stay. One by one, they made excuses and took their leave. Soon, the once noisy hall became empty again. When there were no outsiders left, Azure¡¯s suppressed rage exploded into the open. ¡°Timothy, do you think you can disown your own mother just because you¡¯ve reunited with your daughter and have the backing of the Hadley family?¡± Azure smashed her cup onto the ground. ¡°Who was the one who swore to make the Hadley family pay and exact revenge for Veronica? What good does internal discord within the Gibson family do you?¡± Timothy took a sip of tea before ncing at the spilled drink. ¡°Don¡¯t bring Veronica into this. She is not a tool for you to vent your frustration indiscriminately.¡± Azure caught her breath while her eyes filled with disappointment. ¡°Even though Nigel isn¡¯t your biological brother, he has always treated you as his elder brother. Let¡¯s not forget everything he has done for the Gibson family. You can¡¯t just get rid of him just because you want to seize power.¡± Meanwhile, Christina was staring contemptuously at Azure. Even though the Gibson family¡¯sst skeleton in the closet was exposed, Azure was more focused on mending the brotherly rtionship between Timothy and Nigel than trying to fix the actual problem. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess her objective. If Nigel wasn¡¯t acknowledged by the Stone family, he would at least still have some ce to fall back on. However, Timothy was dismayed by his mother¡¯s words. ¡°Nigel has undoubtedly ¡®done a lot for the Gibson family. In fact, he even tried to kill me for its sake. I have no doubt that he is capable of anything.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Azure gave Timothy a stunned look. When thetter didn¡¯t borate, the sense of dread within her intensified further. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Meanwhile, Christina came forward to end the sensitive conversation between the two. ¡°The Stone family will definitely wee the news of having more grandchildren. I¡¯ve already sent news of the d tidings to them. I believe they will soon get someone to bring you and Uncle Nigel over.¡± Azure asked, ¡°Are you kicking me out of the Gibson family?¡± A smirk emerged on Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Officially, you¡¯re still one of us. Whether you want to stay here or go somece else is your choice. Anyway, it¡¯smon for people to still find loveter in their lives these days. I heard that Old Mr. Stone never remarried after his wife died.¡± As Christina¡¯s words seemingly struck a chord with Azure, she surprisingly didn¡¯t have a retort ready despite the scowl on her face. It was then that the butler came over to inform them that the representatives from the Stone family were waiting outside for Azure. Having no intention to be involved in the drama of the past, Christina grabbed her bag and stood up. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m going off now, I have something very important to do.¡± Timothy reminded her, ¡°Watch yourself out there, ande home for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see. I might be upied tillte at night.¡± Thereafter, Christina left through another door. Once she got into the car, she instructed, ¡°Head over to Nigel¡¯s house. Mr. Taggart, have you engaged the people I asked you to?¡± ¡°They have gone over ahead of us, Mrs. Hadley. By now, the mansion is probably empty.¡± Sebastian replied while looking back from the front passenger seat. ¡°Good.¡± Leaning back into the seat to rest, Christina replied to the messages on her phone. That morning, she had received a list of all the Gibson family¡¯s assets. The mansion Nigel¡¯s family was currently staying in was loaned to him by Timothy and his wife. As for a few random shops and pieces ofnd, Nigel had secretly transferred their ownership to his name over the years. Some of them were actually part of the dowry Christina¡¯s mother had brought with her during her marriage. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t stop Nigel¡¯s greed at all. Moreover, the fake ounts Nigel provided Timothy every year looked extremely genuine. He would make every asset look like it was losing money so that he could buy them over on the cheap. Now that she had in her hands evidence that Nigelmitted fraud, Christina resolved to kick him out of the Gibson family once and for all. When their car arrived at the mansion, they were greeted by a chaotic sight with furniture and items piled up at the entrance. The teary-eyed duo, Anya and Macy, were hitting the movers and screaming indiscriminately at them. When Anya turned around and saw Christina, everything became clear to her. ¡°You¡¯re the one who did this! What right do you have to kick us out of our own home?¡± Macy, whose hatred toward Christina was boundless, gave her a wary look. ¡°Christina, what are you really up to? We live in a society regted by a legal system. There¡¯s no way you can act with impunity.¡± When Christina gave Sebastian a look, he walked toward the mother-daughter duo with a bunch of documents. ¡°This mansion belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Gibson. As of now, its ownership has been transferred to Mrs. Hadley.¡± Sebastian showed them the title deed one by one. ¡°All of the properties that Mr. Nigel had procured by illegal means will have to be returned.¡± Oblivious to what had happened at the Gibson residence, Anya and Macy were devastated by the sight of the documents. Christina had seized everything that belonged to them. ¡°Christina, even if the assets are being divided, my dad is the second son of the Gibson family. Your family can¡¯t possibly usurp everything.¡± Anya was clearly unaware of how grave the situation was. ¡°I¡¯m not going to believe anything anyone says unless my father confirms it!¡± A smirk broke out across Christina¡¯s face when she heard this. ¡°Your father doesn¡¯t carry the blood of the Gibson family. How can you be clueless about such shocking news?¡± As if they had been struck by lightning. Anya and Macy were stunned, standing frozen in their spots. Feeling satisfied by their reaction, Christina turned toward Macy. ¡°Aunt Macy, Anya probably hasn¡¯t told you that Yerek is Uncle Nigel¡¯s biological son and not someone my father adopted. Uncle Nigel brought his illegitimate son brought back into the family¡¯s fold so that thetter can be one of the heirs to the Gibson family.¡± Macy stared at Anya in disbelief. ¡°Is what she said true?¡± There was no way she could ept the idea that the supposedly attentive Nigel had an affair, let alone produced an illegitimate child with his mistress. Faced with her mother¡¯s pressurizing gaze, Anya had no choice but to admit the fact with a nod. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve seen the paternity test report before.¡± Chapter 614 Choose One Chapter 614 Choose One Macy¡¯s eyes went wide as saucers. ¡°No. I don¡¯t believe it. I¡¯ll ask him myself!¡± She took out her phone to dial Nigel¡¯s number, but her call was left unanswered. The shock of so many consecutive bombshells was too much for her to bear, and she fell weakly to the ground. ¡°Mom!¡± Anya shrieked, lunging forward to lift Macy in her arms. As she clumsily called for an ambnce, she hissed at Christina, ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you if something happens to my mother!¡± Christina responded with a sneer. ¡°Bring it on then. I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± With that, she turned around and entered the mansion. Shortly after, the piercing sound of an ambnce siren echoed outside the mansion, filling the air with urgency. Themotion was soon reced by an eerie silence. Christina had offered the movingpany a higher price to quickly remove the belongings of Nigel¡¯s family and rece them with new furniture. As she settled on the couch in the living room, she stared at the family portrait on her phone, asionally ncing at the massive painting on the wall in front of her. It turned out that the mansion was meant for Timothy and Christina¡¯s mother when they got married. However, Azure gave it to Nigel and his family without obtaining prior consent. Taking back the property was only the first step in Christina¡¯s n. Sebastian approached and informed her in a low voice, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, the person you¡¯re waiting for is here.¡± A smile tugged at Christina¡¯s lips as she put away her phone. ¡°Let him in.¡± Hence, Sebastian led Yerek into the living room of the mansion. Its interior was no longer the one the latter was familiar with. He willed himself to not show his surprise as he made his way to Christina. ¡°Christina, I heard you kicked Anya and Aunt Macy out. Why did you do that?¡± He knitted his brows and put on an air of an older brother. However, Christina was having none of it. She pushed the documents on the table toward the man. ¡°You don¡¯t have to put on an act. There are no outsiders here. You¡¯re here to make things clear to me, aren¡¯t you?¡± Embarrassed for having his intentions exposed so easily, Yerek scowled and picked up the documents from the table. Every time he finished reading one of them, his heart grew increasingly uneasy. ¡°Nigel has been kicked out of the Gibson family, which means he lost the right to inherit the family¡¯s assets, and that includes the shares he transferred to you. All of them need to be returned. These documents are evidence that he scammed my father for his assets. In other words, both you and your father worked together to set my father up. You two will be done for once I hand the evidence over to the police.¡± Yerek¡¯s hand trembled, causing the documents to scatter to the ground. Seeing that, he quickly picked them up while pretending to beposed. Christina simply watching him jeeringly. ¡°This is all his doing. I don¡¯t know anything. I¡¯ve nevermitted any wrongdoings against the Gibson family ever since I became a part of it.¡± Yerek stated through gritted teeth. ¡°You hired someone to do it instead of doing it yourself. You¡¯ve always wanted the Gibson family¡¯s shares that are in my possession, right?¡± A smile formed on Christina¡¯s lips. ¡°If you never had the desire, you never would¡¯ve worked with Nigel to be my father¡¯s adoptive son after finding out your true identity. You should be grateful to my father for your being able to live in the glory of the Gibson family for over twenty years. More importantly, you should¡¯ve stopped scheming, but no, your greed didn¡¯t stop at that.¡± It was clear as day, what Christina¡¯s agendas were. The woman in front of Yerek was theplete opposite of what he remembered her to be. Confused, he asked, ¡°Who taught you all these? Was it Nathaniel? Now that he¡¯s ruined Gibson Corporation, is he finally revealing his true colors by using you to acquire thepany? Don¡¯t fall for his tricks, Christina.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze darkened dangerously. ¡°Yerek Gibson, stop deceiving yourself. No one taught me this. In fact, Nathaniel never interferes with my decisions,¡± she snapped. Finally, Christina issued her ultimatum. ¡°It¡¯s either you return the shares or go to jail. The choice is yours.¡± ¡°You¡¯re delusional for wanting to make Gibson Corporation yours. You might be able to force me to leave, but will you be able to make Sheridan back down? He¡¯s already thepany¡¯s third-biggest shareholder!¡± Yerek¡¯s eyes burned with an intense and unsettling gleam as if he had descended into madness. Instead of backing down, Christina looked straight into his eyes. ¡°The matter is not yours to worry about. You have one night to make up your mind. If I don¡¯t see the share transfer agreement tomorrow, I¡¯ll be seeing you at the police station.¡± Yerek curled his fists and shot Christina a furious re before leaving in frustration. ¡°Send someone to keep an eye on him, Mr. Taggart,¡± Christina ordered. Caressing her growling belly, she beamed. ¡°There, there. Just hang on for a little while. I¡¯ll take you for a feast now.¡± Hearing that, Sebastian suggested, ¡°There¡¯s a private dining restaurant nearby that makes good food. Would you like to try it, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Sebastian¡¯s n was so thoughtful that Christina could only nod in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try, then. I¡¯ve got to head to Gibson Corporation to take care of some things in the afternoon, anyway.¡± With that, Sebastian brought Christina to the private dining restaurant, and the server led her to a private room. When the door was pushed open, a look of delight spread over Christina¡¯s face once she saw who was in there. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I had to discuss a project with someone in Hallshay, so I dropped by to see you¡± Nathaniel bright the woman forward and examined her, only to frown in response. ¡°Have you not been eating and sleeping well? You lost weight Christina chuckled. ¡°We have video calls every day, and it¡¯s only been two days since west saw each other. If I had really lost weight, it would take at least two weeks to show Stop overthinking. I¡¯ve been eating and sleeping well. You can ask Sebastian and Lyle if you don¡¯t believe me At the mention of his name, Sebastian piped up tactfully, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley has been following your orders strictly Christina knew full well what Nathaniel was thinking about. In fact, she was sure he did note to Hallsbay to talk about a project. It was just an excuse for him to see her because he was worried ¡°I get a nutritionist to replenish your body once you return to Jadeborough Nathaniel cast her waist one final nce before handing her the menu. ¡°Here. Order your food.¡± Christina took the menu and randomly ordered a few dishes. When she was done, she asked Nathaniel ¡°Any progress from Winston¡¯s side?¡± Her eagerness was evident in her voice. Nathaniel ced the ss of juice that was brought by the server next to Christina¡¯s hand. ¡°Winston has bought all of Raveworks Enterprise¡¯s assets. Nigel doesn¡¯t know about it yet since he¡¯s in Hallsbay Winston¡¯s newpany has brought in many investors. It should be able to grow into a simr scale as Raveworks Enterprise in six months.¡± Christina took a sip of the juice and continued listening to Nathaniel. ¡°Although Winston got his rtive to be an investor and even promised to give him ten percent of the shares, his rtive doesn¡¯t have any power to manage thepany. It just so happened that the same rtive once participated in the construction of the gulf project with Winston himself. In fact, he¡¯s one of the construction materials suppliers for Winston¡¯spany.¡± Christina paused what she was doing ¡°Why would Winston work with that person to set up the company when they have ties? Isn¡¯t he worried about getting targeted?¡± To which Nathaniel exined, ¡°Before your parents got into trouble, Winston¡¯s rtive had already backed out on the coboration and left Hallsbay to start anotherpany. Winston¡¯s still the actual person in charge of hispany, and that includes the one established by his rtive.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 615 Wake Up Chapter 615 Wake Up Christina¡¯s mind failed to grasp the entire situation as quickly as Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°Can you simplify it? I don¡¯t really get it.¡± A look of affection shed in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes, and he uttered slowly. ¡°Their coboration back then was just a cover. In reality, the benefits Winston acquired from the gulf project were his to use openly after it gotundered by thatpany.¡± Realization instantly dawned on Christina, and she pressed on, ¡°If we use that man as our breakthrough, will we be able to find evidence of the transaction between Winston and Nigel?¡± Nathaniel shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s difficult. Winston might look like an honest person with an idiotic personality, but he¡¯s actually really cunning. Then again, it¡¯s not impossible to fool him.¡± The words put a light in Christina¡¯s eyes, and she stared at him enthusiastically. However, Nathaniel pushed the soup to her and urged, ¡°Drink this first.¡± Annoyed by the interruption, Christina quickly took a few mouthfuls and demanded, ¡°Tell me, quickly.¡± ¡°Winston hates betrayals the most, and Nigel has crossed the line by selling off Raveworks Enterprise behind Winston¡¯s back. He won¡¯t let Nigel off so easily, but Nigel is not the type who¡¯d swallow his anger either. If the two solved their conflicts in public, the schemes they secretly worked on together would be a threat to the other party. Exposing Nigel¡¯s true identity will be our perfect opportunity. We can use Winston¡¯s name to make Nigel think it was Winston who secretly exposed his identity as the Stone family¡¯s illegitimate child to your father.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s information birthed a new n in Christina¡¯s mind. ¡°I think this is a perfect n. Let¡¯s do that,¡± she said. ¡°Sebastian¡¯s good at stuff like that. You can let him take care of it so you don¡¯t have to work too hard.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just let Sebastian handle everything. Victoria pays a great deal of attention to Sebastian¡¯s life. She¡¯ll definitely demand an exnation from me when I get back. Besides, it hasn¡¯t been easy for him to get into a rtionship. You should give him more time to spend with Victoria.¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll do as you say and give him a long leave when we get back to Jadeborough.¡± Standing outside the private room was Sebastian. He wanted to decline the arrangements Christina and Nathaniel were making for him. The truth was, he wanted to work more and earn more money because only by doing that would more people approve of his rtionship with Victoria. After lunch, Nathaniel dropped Christina off at the hotel to get some rest while he left to meet a client for a contract discussion. Christina was surprised that he actually meant what he said at the restaurant. Hence, she had no choice but to give up on making him stay. ¡°I¡¯m going to Gibson Corporation in the afternoon. My father invited me for dinner tonight. You should join us.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll pick you up when I¡¯m done. Rest well,¡± said Nathaniel before exiting the guestroom. After a short nap, Christina was dropped off at Gibson Corporation by Sebastian. Ever since the day Christina and Nigel parted on bad terms, Sebastian had hired someone to track Nigel down. Meanwhile, Macy was admitted to the hospital after she passed out, and Anya was left with no choice but to dial Yerek¡¯s number incessantly since Nigel could not be reached. Annoyed by her persistent calls, Yerek barked right after picking up, ¡°I don¡¯t know where he is either! I¡¯m busy, and I don¡¯t have the energy to deal with your business. Don¡¯t me me for what I¡¯ll do if you bother me again.¡± Yerek¡¯s lecture left Anya dumbfounded. By the time she snapped out of her daze, she discovered he had already blocked her on every possible tform. In the end, Yerek found Nigel in an underground boxing ring. At that time, thetter was absolutely wasted and canoodling with a sexydy on the couch of a private room. Yerek barged in and pulled the two apart with a face as ck as thunder before sshing Nigel¡¯s face with the alcohol on the table. Nigel instantly cursed, ¡°Which idiot has a death wish here? How dare you do this to me?¡± When Nigel finished his sentence, he wiped the alcohol off his face and found himself staring at Yerek The disgust in the former¡¯s eyes was unmistakable as he slumped back to his seat. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± all of Yerek chased the irrelevant individuals out of the private room before stating, ¡°Christina has dug up our secrets. She¡¯ll be sending us to jail if we don¡¯t do as she says. How are you still able to enjoy yourself here?¡± Yerek had a reason for wanting to start his own business. While Nigel was ambitious, he was not capable of taking charge. If Yerek and Azure had not been secretly helping him, he would have lost his position as the CEO of Gibson Corporation long ago. Nigel was momentarily stunned, and he hissed, ¡°She isn¡¯t capable of such a thing.¡± The man¡¯s remark elicited a scoff from Yerek. ¡°We were tricked by her. She¡¯s more cunning than we imagined. Nathaniel is undoubtedly her strongest backer, but think about it. How is she able to secure her position as his wife if she wasn¡¯t a scheming person?¡± Nigel fell silent immediately. Exasperated, he took in a long breath with his head hung in dejection. ¡°I¡¯ve lost the Gibson family¡¯s session rights, and I don¡¯t even know if the Stone family will acknowledge me. Just give Christina whatever she wants.¡± Dissatisfied, Yerek questioned through gritted teeth, ¡°Will you really let her get what she wants? Barnaby came looking for Grandma today. He still has a close rtionship with her. If you can convince Grandma to plead on your behalf, Barnaby will definitely ept you into the Stone family. Besides, the Gibson family is useless. Isn¡¯t it better to be the son of the Stone family instead?¡± Thinking he was hearing things, Nigel asked, ¡°What did you say? Barnaby came looking for my mother? What did they talk about?¡± That was what Yerek wanted to know as well. He shook his head, saying. ¡°They won¡¯t let anyone near when they were talking. The next person Barnaby will be looking for is you. Dad, this is our best chance to make aeback.¡± Nigel mulled over it before rising to his feet as if having made a decision. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ve already lost my identity as the second son of the Gibson family. I can¡¯t lose the support of the Stone family, too. That¡¯s it. I¡¯m going to look for Barnaby this instant. Even if he doesn¡¯t acknowledge me, I¡¯ll make him give me some form ofpensation!¡± It pleased Yerek to see Nigel heeding his advice. Thus, the former continued to suggest, ¡°I heard Sheridan and Christina are on good terms. In fact, Grandma once thought of bringing them together. We can make Sheridan the third party to ruin Christina¡¯s and Nathaniel¡¯s marriage. Once Christina is stripped of her support from the Hadley family, our time to take revenge on the Gibson family will be just around the corner. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. As someone who was wary of Nathaniel and what the man was capable of, Nigel started hesitantly, ¡°Nathaniel is no fool. How could he fail to guess our n? This is too risky of a move. If we fail, Nathaniel won¡¯t be the only person we¡¯ve offended, but Sheridan, too. He¡¯s the heir of the Stone family, you know?¡± Yerek knew Nigel¡¯s character well, so he pretended to say tly. ¡°It¡¯ll benefit us greatly if Nathaniel and Sheridan got into a fight. If that happens, we¡¯ll still get a portion of the Stone family¡¯s assets even if we don¡¯t get anything from the Gibsons. Besides, Sheridan¡¯s too busy with other obligations. Isn¡¯t this the perfect opportunity for you to show off your capabilities in front of Barnaby?¡± Chapter 616 Take Charge Again Chapter 616 Take Charge Again Yerek¡¯s words jolted Nigel out of his dejection. Thetter was instantly riled up, and his eyes sparkled with motivation. For the first time, Nigel praised Yerek generously, ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re truly my son!¡± Yerek returned the joyful man¡¯s smile, but his smile never reached his eyes. In the past, Yerek yearned for fatherly love, which motivated him to always do as Nigel asked. Now that he was older, he had thoughts and ideas of his own, no longer needing his father¡¯s approval. Nigel was an awfully selfish person. All he cared for was power, a trait that Yerek had inherited. Now that Christina had reunited with the Gibson family, Yerek was aware that his days in the Gibson residence would be akin to treading on thin ice. The fact that Yerek was Nigel¡¯s illegitimate child would be exposed eventually, hence he began to seek a way out for himself. His original n was to rece Nigel once he got thetter¡¯s shares. Halfway through the operation, Christina and the division of assets happened without warning, ruining Yerek¡¯s n. When both Yerek¡¯s and his father¡¯s identities were revealed, they became the most despised people in the family. Even so, Yerek was unwilling to admit defeat. He wanted to prove to everyone who looked down on him that he could be sessful even after he was kicked out of the Gibson family. ¡°Sheridan and I have quite a good personal rtionship. He once checked on me through a text when your identity was exposed. I think Sheridan still sees me as his friend, so I¡¯ll continue to build my rtionship with him. After all, he¡¯s the heir of the Stone family. It¡¯ll make it easier for us to return to the Stone family if we have his help,¡± Yerek stated confidently. However, Nigel frowned, still unconvinced. ¡°Are you absolutely certain that Sheridan isn¡¯t just being friendly with you to manipte you? How can you be sure that he actually cares for you?¡± Yerek uttered with confidence, ¡°I was the one who sold him Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares at a low price. That puts him in the same boat as us. Christina will definitely kick Sheridan out of Gibson Corporation if she finds out about my rtionship with him.¡± Nigel, uncertain how close the two were, eventually decided to ce his hope in Yerek after careful consideration and deliberation. ¡°We¡¯ll definitely be able to turn the tide as long as we work together in the future. Don¡¯t let me down, Yerek.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Now that a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, Nigel ordered more alcohol and invited Yerek to join him in the private room for a night of fun and enjoyment. Meanwhile, Christina strode into Gibson Corporation, apanied by Sebastian and Lyle. The news about the reshuffling of personnel had spread throughout thepany early that morning, and Christina¡¯s presence at thepany served as confirmation of the news. Following the operational crisis at Gibson Corporation, a significant number of employees chose to resign. Those who remained were primarily the upper management who helped Timothy rebuild the business. Regardless of whether Nigel or Christina held the position of authority, the employees would only listen to Timothy¡¯s orders. That was why Nigel failed to kick Timothy out of thepany, despite being in control for many years. Now that Gibson Corporation was in dire straits, Timothy insisted on having Christina take over the company, even if it meant falling out with his family. That alone was sufficient to prove how greatly he valued and trusted her abilities. Hence, the current senior executives held little concern about who would be the heir of Gibson Corporation. Their primary focus was finding someone capable of revitalizing thepany and steering it toward sess once again. That was why the head of the finance department immediately mobilized his team to gather the necessary financial ounts and documents when the CEO requested them. Christina also summoned the head of the HR department into the office and conveyed her instructions, ¡°Today, there will be internal reorganization within thepany. Temporarily dismiss all employees for the remainder of the day. They can resume their regr work tomorrow. Those who wish to resign should notify the HR department by the end of today, while those who wish to stay will be considered for promotions and sry increases. That will be all for now. You may proceed with your task.¡± The head of the HR department murmured in acknowledgment before leaving. Since Christina did not trust the others to deal with the ounts, she got help from Sebastian and Lyle. Just like that, the trio spent the entire afternoon going through the ounts. It was a fate worse than death for Lyle. He would rather undergo training in the rainforest rather than examine a stack of boring ounts. Sebastian, too, was beginning to feel dizzy from the assignment. No matter how fast they perused the documents, they only managed to go through half of it. The remaining documents would take at least two days to finish. Fortunately for the two men, their misery ended with Nathaniel¡¯s arrival. When Nathaniel entered the office, all he saw was a pile of documents scattered on the ground and the top of Christina¡¯s head behind them. He casually picked up a booklet and leafed through it. ¡°I own a strong ounting firm under my name. and they¡¯re professional in their job. Why don¡¯t we let them take care of this instead? That way, it¡¯ll be done faster.¡± Christina hugged his waist and grumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me this sooner? The sight of these ounts is making me sick.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me you wereing to Gibson Corporation to check their ounts, either,¡± Nathaniel remarked. To avoid gossip, he would never intervene in Gibson Corporation¡¯s internal affairs. However, it was another matter altogether if it was Christina who asked for his help. Sebastian smacked his head hard when he heard Nathaniel¡¯s offer, drawing an odd gaze from Lyle. Of course, Sebastian could not care less about his co-worker¡¯s gaze. The idea of not having to read the boring ounts filled him with joy. How could I have forgotten about the ounting firm? Shooting Nathaniel a look of gratitude, Sebastian said, ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ll make arrangements for them toe to Hallsbay now.¡± The actual reason behind Nathaniel establishing the ounting firm was to take care of his ounts since Hadley Corporation had branches all over the world, but asionally, they would take up requests from otherpanies. ¡°Thank you all for the hard work today. Nathaniel and I are going to have dinner at the Gibson residence tonight. You two are free to make your own arrangements.¡± Letting go of Nathaniel, Christina grabbed her bag from the table and took his arm with a sweet smile. ¡°We can leave now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With that, Nathaniel left with Christina. Afterward, Sebastian arranged for the ounting firm toe to Hallsbay that evening, and he exchanged a meaningful nce with Lyle. ¡°I remember Hallsbay has a good boxing ring. Do you want to go there and have some fun tonight?¡± Eager to stretch his muscles, Lyle agreed without hesitance, ¡°Lead the way.¡± Soon, Christina and Nathaniel arrived at the Gibson residence by car, and the butler weed them warmly into the house. After a day filled with turmoil and upheaval, a deathly silence settled over the Gibson residence. The previous housekeepers had been reced with a new batch, ensuring that no one dared to treat Christina rudely any more. Christina was not surprised to see Azure sitting at the head of the dining table. After all, she was the matriarch of the Gibson family. It would be odd if she was missing. When Timothy caught sight of the couple, he prompted calmly, ¡°You guys are here. Come take a seat, and make yourself at home.¡± Christina alone was enough to make Azure lose her appetite. Now that Nathaniel was here as well, she grew so infuriated that she swept the tableware off the table with no care for her image. ¡°I won¡¯t eat if I have to share the dining table with an enemy.¡± Chapter 617 The Game Chapter 617 The Game Timothy nced at Azure with a dark expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to stay here, you can leave anytime.¡± ording to the original n, Timothy had only invited Christina and Nathaniel to have dinner together in order to mend their rtionship. He chose the Gibson residence because he wanted Christina and Nathaniel to go to the ancestral hall together after the meal. This would send a signal to the outside world that the Gibson family and the Hadley family were about to reconcile. Timothy didn¡¯t disclose to anyone that Nathaniel wasing as a guest. Azure thought it was only Christina, so she had something else in mind. She wanted to seize the opportunity during the dinner to persuade Christina not to destroy Nigel¡¯s family. Even though Timothy and his family were at odds, and Azure had done unspeakable things, she was still his biological mother. Timothy didn¡¯t object to Azure¡¯s proactive gestures, but it didn¡¯t mean he would tolerate her unreasonable behavior. Azure red at Timothy resentfully but eventually held back her retort. She sat quietly at the head of the table and took a big gulp of red wine as if she was venting her frustration. ¡°Father, I brought Nathaniel back with me to have dinner. These are the supplements we bought for you.¡± Christina remained unaffected by Azure. ¡°Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Lazuli, apologies for disturbing you tonight.¡± Nathaniel handed the gift he was carrying to the butler behind him and greeted Timothy without changing his expression. At the present moment, the rtionship between the Gibson family and the Hadley family was rather ambiguous. However, the truth had not yet been rified, and before Nathaniel obtained Timothy¡¯s approval, he wouldn¡¯t neglect Timothy¡¯s previous warning to him and the grudge against him. Addressing Timothy as ¡°Mr. Gibson¡± was also Nathaniel¡¯s way of testing the waters. As for his attitude toward Azure, it depended entirely on Christina. Christina held some resentment toward Azure. After all, this woman knew the truth but chose to conceal it for her own selfish reasons. Nevertheless, Christina hadn¡¯tpletely severed ties with Azure yet. She was willing to sit at the same table with Azure out of respect for Timothy.. Timothy studied Nathaniel. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there. We are a family now. There¡¯s no need to act so restrained in front of me. Please sit down. If we wait any longer, the food will get cold.¡± Nathaniel pulled out the chair for Christina and took a seat beside her. Azure nced at the affectionate couple with disdainful eyes. Soon, the butler instructed the housekeepers to bring the food, filling up therge table. The atmosphere at the dining table was not harmonious, but it was not overly tense either. Halfway through the dinner, Azure asked Christina in a sarcastic tone, ¡°I heard that you went to your uncle¡¯s house today and drove Anya and her mother out of the mansion. Is it true that you want to sue your uncle for illegal appropriation too?¡± Christina put down her fork and looked calmly at Azure. ¡°That¡¯s right. More than half of what their family had been enjoying actually belongs to my family. In the past, when I wasn¡¯t around, my parents took their rtionship as siblings into ount and helped them. Thatsted for over twenty years, so I believe that we have fulfilled our obligations.¡± She continued, ¡°It was Uncle Nigel and his family¡¯s own wrongdoings that led them to this predicament. Now that I¡¯m around, it is only right for me to take back what my family had given them. Besides, regardless of what they had done for Gibson Corporation during the years they managed it, the fact that Uncle Nigel is not a true descendant of the Gibson family gives me the right to make any decisions for the Gibson family.¡± As soon as Christina finished speaking, her gaze toward Azure became sharper and more probing. It was apanied by a cold smile. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Since they can¡¯t get what they want from me and my father, are they targeting you instead? You¡¯re getting on in years and should be enjoying your retirement. Let them deal with their troubles. If they have anyints, they cane to me.¡± Azure was caught off guard by Christina¡¯s countermove. Clearly infuriated, she red at Christina as her chest heaved. ¡°Christina, you haven¡¯t officially taken over the Gibson family, yet now you¡¯re already acting high and mighty in front of me. It seems like you¡¯ve never liked me from the beginning. Have you been nning to kick me out of the Gibson residence along with them?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never said that before. It is up to you whether you want to stay in the Gibson residence or go elsewhere.¡± ¡°Hmph, let me make it clear today. I won¡¯t leave the Gibson residence. This is the property my husband left me. I suggest you leave immediately. You are not wee here!¡± Nathaniel stood up alongside Christina. His gaze was icy as he said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t wee Christina and me, Mrs. Lazuli, we¡¯ll leave first. Mr. Gibson, sorry for the inconvenience. We¡¯ll take our leave now.¡±¡° Just then, the silent Timothy spoke up. ¡°Jasper, go to the ancestral hall and take the memorial urn of my wife with you. Pack up the things in my room as soon as possible and send them all to Rose Gardens.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Jasper walked out from the corner and headed to the ancestral hall in the backyard. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Azure looked at Timothy in disbelief. ¡°Are you abandoning me, your own mother, for this wretched girl?¡± Timothy¡¯s voice was solemn. ¡°It¡¯s you who doesn¡¯t want to acknowledge us. From now on, I will continue to deposit your allowance into your ount. You only need to take care of your own affairs. It¡¯s better if you don¡¯t interfere with anything else.¡± His words contained a subtle but dangerous warning. Seeing Timothy¡¯s resolute attitude, Azure spoke without restraint. ¡°Fine. If you dare to walk out that door with that memorial urn, don¡¯t bothering back in the future. I¡¯ll take it that I never had a son like you!¡± Timothy clenched the armrest of his wheelchair and moved toward Christina¡¯s side. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel moved behind him and reached out to push the wheelchair toward the door, and Timothy didn¡¯t object. The three of them got into the car, and soon Jasper walked over to the back seat of the car with a bundle wrapped in cloth. Then, he passed it to Timothy through the window. ¡°Mr. Gibson, this is Mrs. Gibson¡¯s memorial urn.¡± ¡°Drive.¡± Timothy received it and held it tightly in his arms as if embracing a precious treasure. Christina and Nathaniel then apanied Timothy back to Rose Gardens. Timothy was worried that the two of them hadn¡¯t eaten enough at the Gibson residence, so he instructed the cook to prepare a table full of delicious dishes. Christina enjoyed her meal with delight, while Nathaniel took a few bites and then paused to serve her. Timothy held less resentment toward Nathaniel now. ¡°Mr. Hadley,e with me to the study for a moment. Christina can continue eating.¡± Curiosity sparked in Christina¡¯s eyes as she watched them leave. Timothy exined, ¡°I need to discuss something with him. I won¡¯t do anything to him.¡± Nathaniel said, ¡°Eating too much seafood is bad for you now. Don¡¯t eat too much. Remember to drink the soup and have some bread, or you¡¯ll get hungryter.¡± Christina nodded and watched the two of them enter the study on the first floor. She was curious about their conversation, so as soon as they left, she lost her appetite. She quickly finished the food in front of her, quietly approached the study door, and strained her ears to listen to the voices inside. Timothy¡¯s voice floated over to her through the closed door. ¡°I¡¯m almost certain that Nigel is the mastermind behind the entire conspiracy¡­¡± Chapter 618 The Weight Of A Promise Chapter 618 The Weight Of A Promise The soundproofing in the study was excellent, making it difficult for Christina to hear clearly. Seeing no one around, she discreetly opened the study door just a crack. ¡°I had people investigate the ident from back then. Although Nigel neatly tied up all loose ends, there are still many suspicious leads upon closer inspection. After I established myself and relied on the connections my father had built, I developed Gibson Corporation. At that time, Nigel repeatedly expressed his desire to join mypany in order to gain some work experience.¡° Timothy¡¯s voice continued, ¡°Christina¡¯s mother had always been gentle, but she was particrly firm on this matter. She didn¡¯t agree to let Nigel work at Gibson Corporation. Later, my mother had some comints about her because of this, and Nigel¡¯s family also didn¡¯t like her. The only time Nigel and his wife were good to Christina¡¯s mother was two days before the ident.¡± Regret and anger welled up in Timothy¡¯s eyes, and the veins on his forehead bulged as if he was trying to suppress some emotions. ¡°It wasn¡¯t until recently that I realized why they changed their attitudes so quickly. They knew deep down that something would happen to me and Christina¡¯s mother. Nigel, as my younger brother, could then rightfully take over the entire Gibson Corporation. However, he miscalcted as I didn¡¯t die-I became disabled instead! If it weren¡¯t for Christina¡­ I might have be a disabled and worthless person for the rest of my life.¡± Then, Timothy turned to Nathaniel. Im not telling you all this today to gain your sympathy or help. When Christina takes over Gibson Corporation, her situation will be very dangerous. I hope to obtain a promise from you. Nathaniel, you must promise me that no matter what happens in the future, you will never abandon Christina or harm her in any way!¡± Timothy¡¯s voice carried a hint of ruthlessness, and Nathaniel sensed that if he couldn¡¯t give a clear answer, Timothy wouldn¡¯t let him leave Rose Gardens safely. When it came to Christina, Nathaniel never held back his true feelings in front of others. ¡°Mr. Gibson, rest assured that Christina is the only love of my life. She is more important to me than my own life. Even you cannot harm her in the slightest. In fact, the entire Hadley family will back her up.¡± Finally, Timothy¡¯s face cleared up. ¡°I do trust your character. Christina doesn¡¯t have much experience in taking over thepany, so please guide her whenever you have the time.¡± Nathaniel smiled slightly. ¡°She is smarter than you imagine.¡± ¡°Good, then I can rest assured.¡± Timothy chuckled. His gaze swept past Nathaniel to the person hiding behind the door. ¡°Come in. Don¡¯t eavesdrop outside.¡± Christina hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly pushed open the door. ¡°Um¡­ I wasn¡¯t intentionally eavesdropping on your conversation.¡± Timothy smiled knowingly. ¡°I promised you that I wouldn¡¯t do anything to Mr. Hadley, yet you still don¡¯t Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. trust me?¡± Christina blushed and nced at Nathaniel, who was teasingly looking at her. She quickly averted her gaze and exined, ¡°I wasn¡¯t worried about him. I just ate too much earlier and wanted to walk around so that I can burn off some calories.¡± Timothy didn¡¯t make things difficult for Christina. ¡°I¡¯m actually a bit tired. There¡¯s a garden at the back of Rose Gardens. Let Mr. Hadley apany you for a walk. If you like, you can also stay here tonight.¡± Nathaniel said, ¡°Then we won¡¯t disturb your rest. We have a ce to stay, and it would be inconvenient to stay here at Rose Gardens. Please excuse us.¡± Timothy wasn¡¯t angry for he had already anticipated this. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s best that you have your own arrangements. Since it¡¯s still early, you can go and explore the back gardens. The scenery there is beautiful, and you¡¯ll like it.¡± Nathaniel took Christina¡¯s hand and they left the study. Walking side by side intimately, they headed for the back gardens. Timothy sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in the study, watching the two figures glued to each other. He eximed with a sigh, ¡°Jasper, it seems Christina didn¡¯t marry the wrong person. Nathaniel will be her greatest ally in this lifetime.¡± Jasper replied, ¡°Yes. If Mrs. Gibson knew that Ms. Christina has found such a good man, she would surely be delighted.¡± Timothy¡¯s gaze suddenly became distant. ¡°In order to protect Christina¡¯s happiness, I should do something meaningful for her as her father.¡± Jasper looked up at Timothy in astonishment and then lowered his gaze. ¡°Are you nning to take action now?¡± Arge plum blossom forest was grown at the back of Rose Gardens. A winding bridge traversed through it, and the warm yellow light illuminated the path ahead. In the midst of the chilly breeze beneath the night sky, a sense of destion permeated the air. Christina gazed at the plum blossoms before her, and a few fragments of memories shed through her mind. ¡°These are my mother¡¯s favorite plum blossoms. I vaguely remember that she would always pick a few branches of them and put them in a vase in the room. But I was mischievous and would always mess up the flowers she carefully arranged. She never scolded me for it though.¡± Nathaniel reached up and brushed away the plum blossom petals that had fallen on her head. ¡°Your mother must have been a gentle and beautiful woman.¡± A trace of pride flickered in Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course she was. People in the Gibson family always say that I resemble her.¡± Nathaniel gently and patiently reassured her, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re also gentle and beautiful, my wife.¡± ¡°Nathaniel, you¡¯re bing more and more skilled at flirting.¡± Christina blushed and yfully changed the subject. ¡°I feel a bit uneasy. My father¡¯s words just now seemed like he was entrusting us with something. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I won¡¯t let anything happen to him,¡± Nathaniel promised. ¡°I won¡¯t allow anything that upsets you to happen. Let¡¯s follow your father¡¯s suggestion and enjoy the scenery. Let¡¯s not discuss those unhappy topics anymore. Just rx as you¡¯ll probably be busier after tonight.¡± Christina smiled in relief. ¡°You¡¯re right. I can¡¯t waste this rare and beautiful sight. I think I hear the sound of water. Will you apany me to check it out?¡± Nathaniel apanied Christina as they explored the entire back part of the estate. Then, they bid farewell to Timothy and left Rose Gardens, returning to their hotel to rest. Before falling asleep, Christina received a phone call from Sheridan. She nced in the direction of the bathroom and walked out of the bedroom with her phone in hand. Sheridan¡¯s voice was warm andforting as always. ¡°Christina, I heard that you¡¯ve returned to Hallsbay. When will you have time to meet? Let¡¯s catch up.¡± Considering his current private rtionship with Yerck, Christina nned to meet Sheridan and discuss the acquisition of his shares in Gibson Corporation after examining thepany¡¯s ounts. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have too many things going ontely. I can¡¯t find time to meet with you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. The Gibson family has gone through such a big upheaval, and you¡¯ve just returned to take over. There are indeed many things to handle.¡± Sheridan smiled, feigning how much he cared. ¡°Christina, during the time you were away from Hallsbay, I actually missed you quite a bit.¡± Chapter 619 Tolerant Chapter 619 Tolerant Instead of feeling excited and moved, Christina was unfazed when she heard those words. In fact, she e felt uneasy. Right when Christina was about to utter something in response, Sheridan defused the tension by saying in a joking manner, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand me. I merely missed you as a friend. You¡¯re the only friend who I can talk to openly. Hence, I¡¯ll cherish our rtionship.¡± Christina dly took the opportunity to get out of the awkward situation. ¡°It¡¯s my honor to be such a special friend of yours, Mr. Stone.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going to Gibson Corporation tomorrow. While I¡¯m there, I¡¯ll send you a gift. Christina, treat it as a kind gesture and don¡¯t reject it, okay?¡± Even if Christina wanted to, she couldn¡¯t reject his gift because Sheridan was one of the top three major shareholders in thepany. I¡¯ll eventually need to name my price if I want to regain all the shares. ¡°All right. See you tomorrow,¡± Christina answered. For some reason, Christina felt as though Sheridan¡¯s mood had improved massively after he heard what she said. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Christina,¡± he said. ¡°Goodnight.¡± Coincidentally, Nathaniel was exiting the bathroom, so he heard Christina saying goodnight to someone on the phone. Angered, he approached her and pretended to ask casually, ¡°Who¡¯s calling you thiste at night?¡± Christina didn¡¯t sense his jealousy, so she replied, ¡°That was Sheridan. He¡¯s meeting me at Gibson Corporation tomorrow because he said he wanted to send me a gift.¡± A strong wave of jealousy surged within Nathaniel, and he sneered. ¡°He¡¯s good at flirting, isn¡¯t he?¡± Finally, Christina realized what was going on. Amused, she exined, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli was the one who arranged my blind date with him back then, and that happened so long ago. Sheridan had helped me quite a lot, so we¡¯re friends. Don¡¯t be too harsh on him, okay?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression darkened as he walked toward the countertop to pour himself a ss of wine before downing it. Seeing that, Christina immediately went up to him and snatched the bottle of wine away. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How are you going to get on the flight to Jadeborough on time if you drink like that? Please take care of your health,¡± she urged. In response, Nathaniel stared at her and fumed, ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a tonic rtionship between men and women. He¡¯s definitely into you. How could you ask me to not be harsh on a man who¡¯s after you? How am I supposed to tolerate that?¡± Only then did Christina know how much it bothered him. ¡°Nathaniel, I swear there¡¯s nothing fishy going on between Sheridan and me.¡± In a serious tone, she continued, ¡°I¡¯ll interact with him, but it¡¯s purely work. I need to take back his shares in Gibson Corporation as soon as possible.¡± Nathaniel became domineering and uttered, ¡°I can afford to buy the shares from him!¡± ¡°What if he says no? Are you going to have a fallout with him?¡± Christina frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to put your life at risk for me all the time. Now, we don¡¯t know about the deal between Sheridan and Nigel. 1 need to make sure they don¡¯t link up ande after us.¡± Although Christina was grateful for Sheridan¡¯s help, she couldn¡¯t trust him because Nigel was a descendant of the Stone family. With that, Christina hugged Nathaniel and uttered softly, ¡°Nathaniel, I want to spend the rest of my life with you.¡± Nathaniel calmed down instantly and realized how childish his behavior was. How could I question Christina¡¯s loyalty? ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. I didn¡¯t mean to get angry at you,¡± he apologized. ¡°I know. It¡¯s just that you care about me deeply, so you don¡¯t want men to get close to me.¡± Christina shed a smile. ¡°Are you feeling better now that we¡¯ve cleared the air?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore. Let¡¯s go to our room.¡± Nathaniel looked at her affectionately. I can never get enough of seeing her face. ¡°All right.¡± Christina smiled. The next day, Nathaniel had to go to Jadeborough to attend an important meeting. Christina sent him to the airport and went straight to Gibson Corporation. Within a night, Nathaniel¡¯s team of expert ountants had finishedpiling all the problems with the company¡¯s ounts. Christina felt her heart grow heavier as she listened to Sebastian¡¯s report. It seems like Gibson Corporation isn¡¯t only failing due to external factors. Nigel had been misappropriating thepany funds! He had been siphoning money off Gibson Corporation into Raveworks Enterprise! No wonder Nigel dared to cash out on Raveworks Enterprise behind Winston¡¯s back. ¡°What¡¯s the rtionship like between Nigel and Winston?¡± Christina asked. ¡°Those two are on the verge of having aplete fallout. In fact, they¡¯re both waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike,¡± Sebastian reported truthfully. Christina closed the ledger and narrowed her eyes dangerously. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s make lives easier for them. Get someone to tell Nigel about how Winston exposed Yerek¡¯s real identity. We should let them deal with each other for a while so that Nigel wouldn¡¯t have the time to pester me.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll get on it.¡± As soon as Sebastian finished his sentence, the secretary came in and told Christina that Sheridan had arrived. ¡°Invite him in.¡± Christina instructed. Before the secretary led Sheridan in, Sebastian and Lyle tactfully exited the room. Although they hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, Sheridan still looked the same. If anything, his politeness made him look much more approachable than before. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Christina.¡± Sheridan walked up to her. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t want to meet me today.¡± Christina shed a polite smile and replied, ¡°We made an appointmentst night, no? I wouldn¡¯t ke on you. What would you like to drink? I¡¯ll get the secretary to bring it in.¡± ¡°ck coffee, please. Thank you.¡± Sheridan pulled out a chair and sat down casually. After the secretary served him the coffee, the two got down to business. ¡°I¡¯m returning you Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares that I acquired from Yerek,¡± Sheridan uttered. Christina was baffled, and she was at a loss in the face of Sheridan¡¯s generosity. ¡°Mr. Stone, these shares are worth at least twenty million. I¡¯ll take no reward when I¡¯ve done no merit,¡± she said. ¡°Well, make an offer. I¡¯ll ept it regardless of the price.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t tell what Sheridan was getting at. Pondering for a moment, she asked directly, ¡°Mr. Stone, I would like to know why you¡¯re returning all these shares.¡± Sheridan kept his iprehensible eyes on her and asked, ¡°Christina, we¡¯ve merely not seen each other for some time. Why don¡¯t you call me by my first name? As I¡¯ve said, I need an incredibly capable person like you to be my friend.¡± Chapter 620 Poach Chapter 620 Poach Sheridan concealed his intentions, but Christina wasn¡¯t a fool. Although Sheridan had just made me a generous offer, that doesn¡¯t change the fact that he¡¯s a businessman. He won¡¯t give up on twenty million worth of shares to please a friend. After all, he¡¯s not a man who will act impulsively at will. ¡°Mr. Stone, due to the circumstances of our rtionship, I think we ought to maintain a distance from each other to avoid letting others take advantage of us.¡± Christina then put on a serious expression and added, ¡°Tell me what your motive is.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to prove that although Yerck and Nigel are from the Stone family, that doesn¡¯t change my rtionship with you.¡± Sheridan had a poker face that prevented others from knowing if he was telling the truth. Christina was skeptical, but she couldn¡¯t give up on the chance to acquire the shares. ¡°Here¡¯s my offer, Mr. Stone. I¡¯ll pay you the amount you paid for the shares and top up another five million. If you¡¯re okay with that, we can sign a contract right away.¡± ¡°If you feel bad about it, perhaps you should just pay me the exact amount I paid for the shares. Instead of topping up the amount, why don¡¯t you return me a favor by buying me a meal? I¡¯m easily contented, but there are things that I might insist on.¡± Sheridan smiled faintly and added, ¡°After all, people always long for things they can¡¯t get their hands on.¡± Christina ignored the ambiguous words and went straight to the point by saying, ¡°I¡¯ll get my secretary to draft the contract, then.¡± With that, she called her secretary through the internal line and told her to draft the contract before bringing it into her office. While they were waiting. Sheridan tried to engage in small talk with Christina, but she merely gave him blithe replies. Soon, the contract was delivered to Christina. However, Sebastian was the one who delivered it to her. Sheridan¡¯s smile stiffened when he saw Sebastian. ¡°Have you been poached. Mr. Taggart? Weren¡¯t you working for Mr. Hadley as his secretary?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, Mr. Stone. Mrs. Hadley had just taken over Gibson Corporation, so she might have trouble going through work. Hence, I¡¯m currently her assistant,¡± Sebastian answered politely. Upon hearing that, Sheridan smiled meaningfully and stated, ¡°I see. Still, I know how capable you are. Mr. Taggart. You have the ability to help others achieve sess. If you ever wish to work elsewhere, feel free to contact me. I¡¯m in need of someone as incredible as you, Mr. Taggart.¡± Before Sebastian could answer, Christina reprimanded Sheridan jokingly, ¡°Mr. Taggart is my assistant now, Mr. Stone. Are you trying to poach my assistant right under my nose? That¡¯s rather inappropriate, no?¡± In response, Sheridan said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just that I urgently need an assistant to lessen my burden, and Mr. Taggart here is an excellent candidate. Christina, don¡¯t we have a good rtionship? Would you really hold a grudge against me?¡± Christina signed the contract and pushed it toward him in a friendly manner. ¡°You¡¯ve just solved a problem for me, Mr. Stone. Why would I hold a grudge against you? Perhaps we can even work together in the future. I wouldn¡¯t let something as trivial as that ruin our rtionship.¡± Sheridan quickly signed the contract and lifted his gaze toward Christina. ¡°I feel more at ease now. If you need anything in the future, ring me up.¡± ¡°I still have work to attend to, so I can¡¯t continue chatting with you, Mr. Stone. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal soon.¡± Christina smiled cordially. Sheridan rose to his feet and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± Christina turned toward Sebastian and instructed, ¡°Mr. Taggart, please walk Mr. Stone out.¡± Sebastian nodded and sent Sheridan out. Before Sheridan entered his car, he gave Sebastian his business card and said, ¡°I think you and I hit it off right from the start, Mr. Taggart. If possible, let¡¯s meet and have a conversation privately.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Stone. However, I¡¯m not resigning anytime soon. Goodbye, Mr. Stone,¡± Sebastian uttered in a formal tone. Obviously, Sheridan knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy to poach Nathaniel¡¯s staff. If it were easy, his assistants would have been poached long ago. Yet, I like a challenge as I need loyal employees around me. ¡°It¡¯s okay. My offer to you stands valid for a long time. Even if we don¡¯t end up working together, we can still be friends.¡±¡°¡± With that, Sheridan got into his car. Sebastian watched the car leave and threw Sheridan¡¯s business car into the bin without even taking a look at it before going back into Gibson Corporation. Countless people had tried to poach me, and they would all offer me dozens of times more than what Mr. Hadley is paying me. These people were rich and ambitious, but they could never have Mr. Hadley¡¯s domineering, regal demeanor. Sheridan¡¯s good mood was dampened when he returned to hispany to see Yerek waiting for him. Upon dismissing the secretary, Sheridan walked into the lounge without any expression and sat down. ¡°Why are you here all of a sudden, Mr. Gibson? Is there something important you want to talk to me about?¡± Yerek was eager to tell Sheridan his n, so he didn¡¯t notice Sheridan¡¯s aloofness. ¡°Sheridan, I¡¯m actually here to tell you about something important.¡± Sheridan furrowed his brows but kept his displeasure to himself. ¡°Are you here for Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The Gibson family has gone too far. I don¡¯t mind giving them back their assets, but they took revenge on us by going after apany that belongs to me and my dad. I have no choice but to return the favor. You¡¯re now one of the shareholders in Gibson Corporation, so I was hoping you could help us make life difficult for Christina. That would help ourpany massively,¡± Yerek replied straightforwardly. Sheridan took a sip of the coffee his secretary had served him and asked sarcastically. ¡°May I know who are you to order me around?¡± Yerek froze momentarily before letting out a dry chuckle. ¡°Grandpa had already met up with me and my dad. He told us he would acknowledge my dad. Therefore, we¡¯ll be family in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s Grandpa¡¯s decision, and it has nothing to do with me. Thus, I don¡¯t need to ept it. I¡¯m still in charge of the Stone family, so my decision is the only one that matters,¡± Sheridan sneered. Yerek¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t want to treat me as family, you¡¯ll still help me out as a friend, right?¡± In response, Sheridan answered curtly, ¡°Oh! You reminded me of something. Mr. Gibson. When are your nning to pay me the money you owe me?¡± Yerek was puzzled. ¡°What money?¡± he blurted. I have so much debt to pay, and those debt collectors pester me daily. I don¡¯t remember owing Sheridan any money! ¡°When you sold Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares for twenty million to me back then, you borrowed a few million from me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Chapter 621 Merciless Chapter 621 Merciless Suddenly, Yerek remembered something. I didn¡¯t even ask to borrow that amount of money from Sheridan! He offered it to me willingly and said I could use the money to get myself out of trouble. He even told me there was no rush to pay him back. Ever since Yerek and Nigel got kicked out of the Gibson family, theirpany had run into all kinds of trouble. Although they had already sold off their assets, they were still struggling financially. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. That was why Yerek was willing to humble himself and ask Sheridan for help. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me there was no rush to pay you back? Why are you going back on your word?¡± Yerek was annoyed. With a cunning look in his eyes, Sheridan answered, ¡°I told you that, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can dy the repayment for however long you want. Mr. Gibson, nothinges for free in this world. You shouldn¡¯t take advantage of my kindness.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to act this way.¡± Yerek sighed. He tricked me! No one has ever done this to me. Livid and embarrassed, Yerek fumed, ¡°You tricked me, Sheridan!¡± ¡°Nigel and you are both illegitimate children. You guys were worthless since the beginning. Why should I waste my time and effort on insignificant people like you?¡± Sheridan chuckled. Sheridan was definitely ying Yerek for a fool. Since Barnaby hadn¡¯t officially weed Nigel and Yerek into the Stone family, the father, and son were indeed illegitimate children. Back then, Yerek wouldn¡¯t think twice before buying a car worth a few million. However, he hadnded in hot water at this moment, and he didn¡¯t even have a few hundred thousand to spare, let alone a few million. ¡°You¡¯re into Christina, aren¡¯t you?¡± Yerek asked tentatively. ¡°I can help you get her.¡± Sheridan¡¯s gaze darkened, and he asked in an intimidating tone, ¡°Who told you that I was into her?¡± ¡°We¡¯re both men. Your eyes were filled with desires whenever you saw Christina. Why don¡¯t we work together?¡± Yerek asked. ¡°Do you think my love life is worth a measly few million?¡± Sheridan sneered. I¡¯m a businessman not a phnthropist. Does he really think he can get rid of me with a mere few million? That¡¯s naive of him. ¡°What do you want me to do, then?¡± Yerek gritted his teeth. Sheridan pondered for a while and suddenly said, ¡°I sold Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares to Christina for twenty million.¡± Yerek looked at Sheridan in shock. Sheridan was satisfied with Yerek¡¯s reaction because he had ended Yerek¡¯s dreams mercilessly. ¡°I don¡¯t need help to get what I want, Yerek. You can¡¯t even take care of yourself now. Why should I work with a piece of trash?¡± Sheridan mocked. ¡°Sheridan, you¡¯re crossing the line!¡± ¡°Get your facts straight. You owe me money now, so you¡¯re supposed to pay me back. I want you to pay me back with interest in three days¡¯ time. Otherwise, you¡¯ll face the consequences.¡± Yerek had nothing to say in response because he had an obligation to pay back the money. Sheridan can easily tell the mediapanies about this, and my reputation will be ruined! I¡¯m in no position to bargain with him. However, he was too proud to submit to Sheridan. ¡°Just you wait, Sheridan!¡± Yerck stormed out after saying that. Sheridan¡¯s expression turned gloomy at once, and he called someone on the phone. In a cold tone, he said, ¡°Tell everyone to attend the family dinner tonight. I have something to announce.¡± Meanwhile, Yerek refused to swallow his anger. Sheridan sent me a text yesterday, asking me how I was doing Why did he suddenly turn his back on me today? With that in mind, Yerek narrowed his eyes. Could this be Christina¡¯s doing? I must meet up with Christina no matter what. Yerek drove to Gibson Corporation after that. Coincidentally, Christina had just sent those ountants off, and she was about to walk back into the building. Right then, she saw Yerek arriving in his car from the corner of her eyes. Yerek opened the car door and exited his car. He cared about his reputation, so he had no choice but to suppress his anger when he said, ¡°Christina, we need to talk.¡± Knowing that Yerek was most probably up to no good, Sebastian shot Lyle a look, signaling Lyle to chase Yerek away. However, Christina stopped Lyle from doing so. In a t tone, Christina said, ¡°If you¡¯re here to return something, fine. If you¡¯re not, I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t think we have anything to talk about.¡± It was almost time for a lunch break, so the entrance of thepany was getting packed. The passersby were all looking at Yerek curiously. There have been plenty of scandals involving the Gibson family recently. In fact, Yerek who is also an illegitimate child is receiving even more attention than Ms. Steele. Yerek didn¡¯t want to cause a scene, so he uttered softly, ¡°I came here because of that.¡± Christina stared at him intently before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the coffeehouse opposite the road.¡± For some reason, Yerek breathed a sigh of relief when he heard those words. Nevertheless, when he noticed that Sebastian and Lyle were tagging along, he frowned and asked, ¡°Why are they tagging along? I won¡¯ty a finger on you in public.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t intervene in our conversation. If you mind, perhaps you should also bring some people along. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to ambush you in public,¡± Christina replied coldly. With that, Christina crossed the road. Yerek was angry, but he knew he couldn¡¯t make her change her mind. After all, he was in no position to take control of the situation. Christina picked a table in the corner, and Sebastian and Lyle sat a few tables away. From an angle, they could clearly see what was going on at the table Christina and Yerek were sitting at. Besides, they could also intercede in time if needed. Christina didn¡¯t want to waste her time on Yerek, so she asked, ¡°So? Where are the shares?¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to return everything to you, but I want to bepensated,¡± Yerek uttered firmly. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for much. It¡¯s just thirty million.¡± Thirty million? Yerek has some balls, doesn¡¯t he? Christina sneered, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Well, my dad and I worked hard over the years to build Gibson Corporation. Although it didn¡¯t do well in theter stages, we couldn¡¯t be held responsible entirely. Instead, I think we had strengthened Gibson Corporation quite tremendously. If you were kicked out, you would also ask for something in return, no?¡± In order to increase his bargaining power, Yerek exaggerated the contributions he and Nigel had given to the Gibson family. ¡°Thirty million is the lowest I can go. You have the Hadley family backing you up. No matter how badly the Gibson family is doing financially, I¡¯m sure you can afford my asking price.¡± Chapter 622 Weaknesses Chapter 622 Weaknesses Christina fixed Yerek with a burning gaze, a hint of a sneer on her lips. ¡°Based on the current market conditions, your shares aren¡¯t worth thirty million. I don¡¯t necessarily have to take them back, but I can tell you frankly that no one will want Gibson Corporation¡¯s shares except me.¡± Nearly two-thirds of the Gibson Corporation¡¯s board of directors had relinquished their shares and divested, and she had acquired their shares from them at a low price. Although the rest had adopted a wait-and-see approach, they were the type to be easily swayed. Hence, she did not have to worry too much about dealing with them. However, Yerek held the most shares. Hence, she would not give up voluntarily unless there was absolutely no other choice. ¡°Twenty million, then. You¡¯ve just taken over thepany, so I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to be caught in a scandal,¡± said Yerek, forced to lower his demand. ¡°Once I get the twenty million, I promise that neither my dad nor I will cause trouble for you again.¡± She rose to her feet and looked down at him frostily. ¡°If it¡¯s money that you want, you¡¯ll have to talk to mywyer. Yerek, I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve considered the question properly. I don¡¯t mind letting you ponder it carefully in a different location.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve no right to send us to prison!¡± ¡°That¡¯s your opinion, and it has nothing to do with me. It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t give you a choice. You¡¯re just too greedy.¡± With that, she turned and left. Yerek red at her viciously, then kicked over the tables and chairs beside him. The loud crash sent the shop assistant hurrying over to check on the situation. Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°My apologies. I¡¯ll pay the fullpensation. Please give me a list of the items and how much they¡¯ll cost. The shop assistant heaved a sigh of relief, then turned and went looking for the shop manager. After leaving the caf¨¦, Christina asked Sebastian in a low voice, ¡°How are things between Nigel and Winston?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve done as you instructed and leaked the news. Right after Nigel caught wind of it, he rushed to Jadeborough to ask Winston for an exnation. They must¡¯ve met up already, but we¡¯ll need to wait for our people there to get back to us on what exactly happened,¡± he answered. ¡°Hand over the evidence on Nigel¡¯s financial crimes to the police. Pick some of the minor ones first to give them a hint,¡± she instructed in a low voice. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Understood.¡± After entering the elevator, she suddenly thought of Anya and her so-called aunt. She chuckled coldly. ¡°Oh, right. Back then, Nigel conspired with outsiders to plot against my parents. His wife must know quite a lot of inside information. Think of a way to make here and beg me on her own ord.¡± ¡°Leave it to me, Mrs. Hadley, I know what to do.¡± Christina nodded in satisfaction, then exited the elevator. Meanwhile, Nigel had been waiting in his car for several hours outside the condominium where Winston had suddenly purchased a unit. Not only has Winston been ignoring my calls and messages, but he has even blocked me from contacting him. That¡¯s a sure sign of guilt. Suddenly, a BMW slowly drove past his car and pulled into a nearby parking space. Then, Winston got out of the vehicle with his arm around a beautiful woman. The two were glued together at the mouth, making out without a care about where they were. How delightful. While I¡¯m in dire straits in Hallsbay, he¡¯s thriving in Jadeborough. Had I not taken him under my wing back then, he might not be where he is today! Nigel¡¯s face was as ck as thunder as he opened the car door and climbed out. Grabbing a golf club from the backseat, he brandished it while rushing toward Winston and mmed it onto the back of thetter¡¯s head. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Blood sttered all over the woman¡¯s face. She looked utterly terrified, her knees went weak, and she slumped onto the floor in a limp heap. As for Winston, he had copsed onto the snow. ring straight at his assant while holding one hand up to the gash on the back of his head, he yelled furiously, ¡°Nigel Gibson, are you trying to kill me?¡± Nigel swung the golf club at Winston, continuing to beat up thetter while he was down. ¡°I thought of you as a brother, yet you stabbed me in the back! There I was, wondering why Timothy was suddenly investigating my identity. It turns out it was because of you! Now, I¡¯ve lost my right to the Gibson family inheritance. On top of that, you sold Raveworks Enterprise¡¯s assets to yourpany and gobbled up my share of the money. Be thankful that you¡¯re still of use to me. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to stop myself from killing you!¡± His eyes were bloodshot, looking determined to seek vengeance. Not only did he show no sign of slowing his movements, he now radiated a murderous aura. Scared out of her wits, the woman scrambled to her feet and fled, leaving Winston behind. Nigel smirked and said, ¡°Will you look at that? Even the woman you love the most has abandoned you, so do you think David will be loyal and risk his life for you? Just like that woman, he¡¯s afraid of death.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never met Timothy. The news leak that you¡¯re not a Gibson wasn¡¯t my doing. If you¡¯re looking to vent your anger on someone, you¡¯ve got the wrong person!¡± Winston protested, staring warily at the golf club in Nigel¡¯s grasp. Nigel despised it when others mentioned the Gibson family bloodline. He kicked Winston in the chest and snarled, ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m telling you, even if I¡¯m no longer a part of the Gibson family, I haven¡¯t fallen so low that others can manipte me. If I can head that family for over twenty years, I can carve out a ce for myself in the Stone family. As for thatpany you and David co-founded, I can crush it with just one finger.¡± Staring at him in shock, Winston responded in disbelief, ¡°The Stone family weing back an illegitimate child? Impossible!¡± Nigel bent down and patted Winston¡¯s blood-stained face. His tone was threatening as he said, ¡°You only have two choices before you. The first is to return to me whatever you took from Raveworks Enterprise. The second is to wait for me to exact my revenge and live a life of poverty burdened with massive debts. ¡°That money¡­ I¡¯ve already invested that money into a project. I won¡¯t be able toe up with the money in such a short period. Give me a little more time. I¡¯ll definitely return it to you,¡± Winston replied, gritting his teeth against the throbbing pain in his head. ¡°No way. I want to see the money by tomorrow at thetest,¡± Nigel said firmly. The wheels spun in Winston¡¯s head. ¡°The project I invested arge sum into is actually a real estate development project in coboration with the Hadley family. They¡¯ve pitched in five billion. Just think of it as an investment. Once I receive the returns, I¡¯ll pay you back your money with interest!¡± In his attempt to convince Nigel, Winston deliberately disclosed everything and even brought up past. events to test Nigel¡¯s principles. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because of Nathaniel that you¡¯re in this state? We tricked the Hadley family all those years ago, and we can do it again.¡± ¡°Are you so obsessed with money that you¡¯ve lost your mind? Timothy and Nathaniel have been investigating what happened back then. What¡¯s more, Timothy has already begun to suspect me. Do you think Nathaniel is as gullible as his father?¡± Well, that would be better than letting my life fall into Nigel¡¯s hands. A sinister thought popped into Winston¡¯s mind, and his eyes glinted with a crazed look. ¡°No matter how capable Nathaniel is, he¡¯ll still have his weaknesses.¡± Chapter 623 Restless Chapter 623 Restless Nigel was hesitant. Everyone knew that he was Barnaby¡¯s illegitimate child, but Barnaby had yet to acknowledge him formally. Until now, Nigel had only met Barnaby once behind everyone¡¯s back. Nigel was no naive young man. Barnaby might¡¯ve promised to make it up to him, but he could sense the reservations held by his father. Despite wielding the Stone family¡¯s power to manipte situations to his advantage, Nigel couldn¡¯t shake off his underlyingck of confidence. While he could easily exert control over individuals like Winston, he recognized that his abilities would pale inparison to someone as cunning and ruthless as Nathaniel Curious, Nigel asked. ¡°What is Nathaniel¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel?¡± He has taken the bait! Winston¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as he pushed himself up from the snowy ground, gradually edging closer to Nigel. ¡°His wife and children! Nathaniel has a reputation for being fiercely protective of his children and family back in Jadeborough. If you can exploit that weakness of his and make him work for you, it would yield remarkable results with minimal effort.¡± Winston thought Nigel would heed his advice, so he did not expect thetter to react conversely. ¡°You¡¯re nning to scheme Nathaniel for his money and then backstab him, aren¡¯t you? Do you think Nathaniel is a fool? Perhaps you¡¯re already on his radar.¡± Nigel jeered. ¡°Even if you have a death wish, don¡¯t drag me into your mess. Remember, I expect the money in three days. If you fail to deliver, I¡¯ll ensure you pay the consequences!¡± After delivering the threat, Nigel gave Winston¡¯s chest a forceful kick. Winston failed to dodge in time, and he tumbled headfirst into the snow. Nigel quickly made his way to his car and drove off, leaving Winston fuming in the cold. As he watched Nigel¡¯s car disappear into the distance, Winston clenched his fists and vowed, ¡°Nigel, mark my words. 1 will seek revenge one day!¡± On the way, Nigel received a call from Barnaby. He quickly hopped on a ne to head back to Hallsbay. As they were short on time, Barnaby came to the airport to pick Nigel up, After getting into the car, Nigel greeted him warmly. ¡°Dad.¡± Barnaby nodded with satisfaction and proceeded to address the matter at hand. ¡°Sheridan has organized a family dinner for tonight, and he specifically requested the presence of all Stone family members. Since you and Yerek are part of the family, I will arrange for both of you to join us. As for your wife and Anya, it would be more appropriate for them to join us on another asion. Tonight¡¯s dinner is not suitable for their attendance.¡± Nigel had notid eyes on his wife and Anya since Christina reimed their mansion. In his eyes, they were nothing more than a burden. Considering Barnaby¡¯s obvious disdain for them, Nigel saw no reason to invest any care or concern toward his family When faced with the choice between personal benefits and family, Nigel resolutely prioritized the former without hesitation. ¡°Dad, Yerek and I will do as you say,¡± Nigel replied, his voice filled with delight. ¡°I¡¯ll give him a call immediately so that he can make the necessary preparations. We wouldn¡¯t want to cause any embarrassment, especially since this is our first family dinner with you.¡± Barnaby seemed unfazed. ¡°It¡¯s just a regr family dinner. While Sheridan may be the current head of the Stone family, I still hold considerable influence within the family. And now that I have decided to acknowledge both of you, no one can prevent me from doing so.¡± Hearing his promise, Nigel rxed. That very night, Nigel and Yerck showed up at the Stone family dinner d in formal outfits. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. The seating arrangement for the family dinner was organized based on the number of attendees. The Stone family members were taken aback to see two Gibsons present at their family gathering. Barnaby swiftly instructed the butler to arrange two additional seats, ensuring that they were positioned to his right. It was evident to everyone present just how significant Nigel and Yerek were to him. Different thoughts yed in the minds of all the Stone family members as they exchanged silent gazes. Sheridan finally made his entrance, arriving fashionablyte to the family dinner. As soon as Sheridan entered the dining room, his eyes locked on Nigel and Yerek. Concealing his emotions, he settled into the seat across from them and turned to Barnaby, who sat in the main seat. Raising an eyebrow, he voiced his opinion, ¡°Grandpa, considering this is a family dinner, I believe it would be more appropriate to exclude external guests.¡± Nigel¡¯s and Yerek¡¯s expressions immediately darkened, but they skillfully concealed their emotions, aware of Barnaby¡¯s presence. Putting on a facade of generosity, Nigel forced a smile and responded, ¡°Sheridan, Yerek and I are here to dine with your grandfather and to meet the rest of the family. We have no intention of involving ourselves in your internal matters.¡± Meanwhile, Barnaby seethed with anger as Sheridan publicly humiliated him. He uttered darkly. ¡°Indeed. Am I not allowed to bring someone to our family dinner after I retire without seeking your prior approval? Nigel and Yerek are going to join the Stone family, and you will be seeing them frequently. It would be wise to adapt to their presence as soon as possible.¡± Hearing that, everyone turned to Sheridan, seemingly waiting for his response. After taking a sip of wine, Sheridan shot both Nigel and Yerek a mocking look. ¡°Grandpa, if you insist that they return to the Stone family, I shall resign from my post as the head of the Stone family,¡± he announced. Barnaby¡¯s face scrunched up in anger as he red at Sheridan. ¡°Is this a threat?¡± Sheridan raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m acting in the best interest of the Stone family. As you¡¯re no longer in control, you might not realize the extent to which the rumor about the Stone family¡¯s illegitimate child has affected Stone Group. Thepany¡¯s shares plummeted by ten percent overnight. and the board of directors is furious about it. The PR department did its best to mitigate the situation, but thepany¡¯s value continues to decline. If we don¡¯t take decisive action to address this, even if you were to personally take charge again, I doubt you could halt the downfall of Stone Group.¡± Barnaby was ready to retort, but Sheridan added, ¡°Of course, if you have a more suitable candidate for session, I don¡¯t mind relinquishing my position so you can reunite with your family.¡± The survival of the entire family hinged on Stone Group, and Sheridan had earned widespread recognition for his leadership since assuming control of thepany. Even the typically difficult members of the board of directors held him in high regard. If Sheridan were to step down, it would plunge Stone Group into disarray and uncertainty. At once, Nigel and Yerek became everyone¡¯smon enemies. They grew restless, their initial arrogance all gone. As Sheridan had imed, they were now mere guests of the Stone family. Recognizing himself as Sheridan¡¯s elder, Nigel was ready to voice his opinion, but Yerek, sensing the tension, firmly held his hand down, silently advising him against acting rashly. Recognizing Yerek¡¯s silent warning. Nigel restrained himself from speaking out impulsively, but the anger boiling inside him was evident by the tight clench of his jaw. He remained seated, seething with frustration, while the hostile gazes of the family members bore into them. Sheridan was Barnaby¡¯s most prided heir, and reality refused to allow him to get a win-win solution. After careful consideration of the situation, Barnaby chose to prioritize his dignity and maintain his stance. ¡°Nigel and Yerek¡¯s return to the Stone family does not alter any of the decisions that have been made. My intention is simply to have them rejoin the family.¡± Sheridan remained adamant about not allowing the illegitimate child to rejoin the Stone family. While their presence may not immediately affect the current decisions, he understood that circumstances could change in the future. ¡°Grandpa, I can¡¯t help but think that Grandma would be disappointed if she knew about your decision. Remember the promise you made to her before she passed away?¡± Chapter 624 Biting The Bait Chapter 624 Biting The Bait Hearing that, Barnaby identally knocked over the winess beside him, causing the red wine to spill all over his body. Embarrassment washed over his face, leaving him momentarily speechless.. Throughout the years, the Stone family had witnessed Barnaby and histe wife, Constance Baker, maintain a reserved yet amicable rtionship. They had never engaged in arguments or disputes. However, prior to Constance¡¯s passing, an unexpected shift urred. Constance confronted Barnaby, issuing a stern ultimatum thatpelled him to make a solemn pledge. Barnaby promised her that he would never enter into another marriage after her demise, and regardless of Sheridan¡¯spetence, nobody would have the power to strip him of his rightful position as sessor. Constance¡¯s insistence on Barnaby making that vow in front of the entire Stone family left them pondering the significance behind her request. Following his retirement, Barnaby adopted a more rxed lifestyle, dedicating his time to caring for his beloved nts. asionally, he would indulge in tea sessions and engage in friendly games of golf with his circle of friends. Initially, when the rumor circted about Azure being Barnaby¡¯s old me and that she gave birth to a son for him, the Stone family dismissed it as a fabrication. However, their skepticism was shattered when Barnaby eagerly went to meet Azure, providing undeniable confirmation of the rumor¡¯s authenticity. Sheridan was smart enough to mention Constance, so Barnaby would dismiss his idea. Indeed, Barnaby caved in. ¡°I won¡¯t go back on my word. I¡¯ll go and get changed, so you can enjoy dinner without me. Don¡¯t wait for me. He rose from his seat, abandoning both Nigel and Yerek behind. Sheridan shot them a sarcastic look. ¡°I¡¯m afraid outsiders are not weed at our family dinner. I¡¯ll get someone to see you off.¡± ¡°No need for that. We can see ourselves off!¡± Nigel dered. He had hoped that this family dinner would serve as an opportunity for him to regain his status, but instead, he found himself being treated as a fool. He couldn¡¯t let this slide. Naturally, Yerek saw no reason to stay back either. They came here in Barnaby¡¯s car but had to leave in a cab. The moment Nigel got into the cab, Anya and his wife¡¯s calls arrived in session. He was in a foul mood and rejected their calls darkly. After his phone quietened down, Yerck¡¯s phone began to ring. It was a call from Anya. Yerek patiently answered the call, but Nigel snatched his phone away and roared, ¡°Can you stop being annoying? Don¡¯t you know Yerek and I are busy with work?¡± Anya wailed, ¡°Dad, please save Mom and me! We¡¯re about to get beaten to death!¡± Having tamped down his fury for far too long, Nigel promptly blew his top. ¡°Just die! Don¡¯t drag me into your mess. Stop calling me!¡± After ending the call, Nigel tossed both phones out of the window. Yerek still had to pretend to be a considerate elder brother in front of him. ¡°Dad, Christina had evicted Anya and Macy from the house, and Macy was so distraught that she ended up in the hospital a few days ago. It¡¯s clear they¡¯re struggling to survive on their own. What if something happens to them? We can¡¯t afford to wait until it¡¯s toote to regret our inaction. Let¡¯s find them and see how they¡¯re doing.¡± Nigel let out a sort of exasperation. ¡°Anya is always scheming, even against her own father. This could be another one of her evil plots. Remember when she staged her own kidnapping? And now she¡¯s involved with loan sharks, owing them a substantial amount of money. They keep calling and texting me, demanding that I repay her debts, I refuse to fall for her schemes anymore. She needs to learn her lesson. Let¡¯s just ignore her.¡± The loan sharks were relentless in their demands, insisting on several million from Nigel. However, he found himself in a tight financial situation as he was already struggling to raise funds to save his own Nigel was well aware of his wife¡¯s history as a gambling addict. However, she assured him she¡¯d stop gambling and had stayed away from gambling for over a decade. However, given their bad records, Nigel couldn¡¯t help but have lingering doubts about Anya¡¯s honesty. Due to that, he chose to prioritize his ambitions of gaining recognition from Barnaby and bing a part of the Stone family. Following the humiliating incident at the Stone family dinner, word of Nigel¡¯s and Yerek¡¯s public embarrassment quickly circted. The negative publicity dealt a severe blow to the already struggling company they were desperately trying to keep afloat. Panic gripped Nigel and Yerek as they frantically searched for potential investors and sought loans to navigate through the deepening crisis. In their moment of dire need, betrayed by their supposed friends, Yerek found himself reluctantly turning to Christina, clutching the share transfer agreement in his hands. Intending to teach Yerek a lesson for his arrogance, Christina made a deliberate choice to deny him an audience. She instructed the security guard to promptly remove him from the premises. Yerek didn¡¯t want to further the humiliation and stormed out of thepany in a fit of anger. Right after he left, Macy sneaked into Gibson Corporation and skillfully made her way to the top floor without being detected. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Unfortunately for her, her progress came to a halt as she ran into an employee from the secretary department, who stopped her from advancing. In an instant, Macy caused a scene and adamantly insisted on seeing Christina. The employees of Gibson Corporation were familiar with Macy. They had often seen her visiting the company, usually well-dressed and on the lookout for Nigel. However, on this particr day, her appearance was quite the opposite. Macy was strong enough to shove the secretary out of her way and barged into the CEO¡¯s office. At present, Christina was listening to Sebastian¡¯s report. When he mentioned Anya and her mother, Macy burst into her office, stumbling and crashing to the ground. The secretary hurried in and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Steele. She insists on seeing you, and we couldn¡¯t stop her.¡± Christina told the secretary to leave and leaned back into her soft chair, her loose jacket covering her abdomen. ¡°Why did you cause such a scene at thepany? Isn¡¯t your family¡¯s reputation already tarnished enough?¡± Macy scrambled to her desk but was stopped halfway by Sebastian. ¡°Christina, I know you¡¯re a kind person. It was Nigel who did this to you. I treated you badly, and I¡¯m sorry for that,¡± Macy pleaded. ¡°Please lend me some money. Otherwise, both Anya and I will meet our doom. I¡¯m left with no other options!¡± Actually, it was Christina who instructed Sebastian to take action on Anya and Macy. Exploiting Macy¡¯s gambling addiction, Sebastian orchestrated a n to get someone close to her and lure her into a casino. Unable to resist the temptation, Macy sumbed to gambling once again. When her friends refused to lend her money, she resorted to seeking help from loan sharks, hoping to recover her losses, only to end up losing everything she had. After two days of failing to make any repayment, the loan sharks went to them and threatened to take their lives. Macy and Anya had been ustomed to a life of luxury for years, so they had never encountered such dire and distressing circumstances before. As Macy couldn¡¯t fork out any money, the loan sharks targeted Anya, intending to make her sell her body at sleazy ces to repay the debts. Hearing that, Anya swiftly abandoned Macy, taking with her whatever meager amount of money they had left in order to secure her own survival. Nigel was out of reach, and Macy was reluctant to confide in her own family, so she eventually thought of Christina. Now that Macy had taken the bait, Christina quickly went through with her n. ¡°If you want me to help you, you¡¯ll have to show me your sincerity. I cannot extend my help without receiving something in return, can I?¡± Chapter 625 Lure Chapter 625 Lure Hearing that Christina was willing to offer her help, Macy nodded vehemently without thinking much. ¡°Tell me what you need. I¡¯m willing to do anything within my capabilities. Just remember, you must keep your promise to help me repay my debts!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It won¡¯t be too difficult, Christina reassured Macy, casting her a meaningful nce. ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to put yourself in danger. All I need is for you to answer a few questions truthfully, and I¡¯ll find a solution to your problem.¡± A sense of foreboding rose in Macy¡¯s heart when she heard Christina¡¯s reply. She realized that she might have agreed too hastily to Christina¡¯s offer and now felt a tinge of regret. What if¡­. Before she could figure something out, Christina saw through her reservations and dered, ¡°Of course, you do have the option to back out now.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chuckling icily, she continued, ¡°However, I can¡¯t guarantee that you¡¯ll be able to return to Gibson Corporation and negotiate with meter. As it stands, your debtors frequentlye here looking for you.¡± Christina had made thatst bit up to scare Macy. Even if Macy were to go back on her word, Christina had other ways to make her change her decision. Macy was terrified of the loan sharks. She couldn¡¯t bear to live another day trembling in fear of the loan sharks. I can handle it. I¡¯ll give vague answers and buy myself enough time. By the time Christina figures out the truth. I¡¯ll have found a way to repay my debts and escape this nightmare. Assuming she hade up with a great n, Macy dered, ¡°Let¡¯s sign an agreement so none of us will back out of our deal.¡± Christina¡¯s lips curled as she turned to Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Taggart, please prepare an agreement for us.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sebastian gave Macy a look before leaving the office. For the next ten minutes, Macy sat restlessly in her seat, unable to shake off her mixed emotions of dejection and fury. She couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at Christina, who was fully engrossed in her work. If it weren¡¯t for Christina, my family wouldn¡¯t be in dire states, Christina¡¯s position should¡¯ve belonged to Anya! She¡¯s nothing but a b*tch! Her gaze turned increasingly menacing. Perhaps Macy¡¯s gaze was too intense, for Christina eventually raised her head and locked eyes with her, shing a teasing smile. Macy quickly averted her gaze, feeling utterly helpless at that moment. After signing thest file, Christina idly yed with the pen in her hand. ¡°There¡¯s no need to put on an act, Macy. I can see the thoughts running through your mind. You must be cursing me right now for disrupting your once peaceful and luxurious life and for taking away Anya¡¯s rightful position,¡± she remarked. Macy¡¯s jaw dropped wide open in disbelief. Christina continued, ¡°So what? You took that from me, so why can¡¯t I take it back from you? ¡®An eye for an eye. You were the one who taught me that.¡± Right after her words fell, Sebastian returned to the office with the agreement. Macy¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of the agreement as she swallowed the words at the tip of her tongue. Sebastian gave a copy each to Christina and Macy. ¡°Mrs. Gibson, here you go.¡± Macy had just flipped the first page open. Before she could even finish reading the first term, her phone buzzed in her pocket. An instant wave of anxiety washed over her, causing her body to tense up involuntarily. Gripping the agreement, she urged, ¡°I won¡¯t read it. Hurry, let¡¯s sign this. If I find out that you lied to me, I promise I¡¯ll make your life a living hell.¡± Despite her predicament, Macy remained stubborn until the end. Christina shed a mocking smile and signed the agreement. After watching Christina sign her name, Macy quickly grabbed a pen and signed her name on the document, afraid that Christina might backtrack on her word at any moment. ¡°What questions do you have for me?¡± Macy gazed at Christina nervously. ¡°First question. How much inside news do you know about the ident involving my parents?¡± Macy¡¯s expression changed abruptly as she stammered, ¡°I-I don¡¯t know anything!¡± Clearly, she was hiding something. Christina¡¯s gaze turned sharp as she dered icily, ¡°The first term of the agreement states that if you refuse to answer my question without a valid reason, I have the right to end the agreement. Macy nearly jumped up in anger. ¡°Christina, you tricked me!¡± ¡°I gave you the option to back out, but you willingly entered into this deal with me. You signed the agreement without even bothering to read through it. Remember, it was your choice.¡± Macy quickly flipped through the agreement, her heart sinking further the more she read. None of the terms were in her favor. Even so, Macy would rather submit to Christina than get tortured by her debtors. Christina would spare her life, but her debtors wouldn¡¯t hesitate to end her life. Macy realized the futility of keeping Nigel¡¯s secrets. He had selfishly abandoned both her and Anya in his pursuit to benefit from the Stone family¡¯s influence. His cruelty and disregard made her question the need to risk her own life to protect his secret. Christina shot Sebastian a look, and he promptly retrieved a check for one hundred thousand, pinning it on the desk. She made her offer clear. ¡°I¡¯ll reward you with one hundred thousand for each question you answer truthfully. How does that sound?¡± Macy gazed at the check greedily and instantly made up her mind. ¡°I don¡¯t have much knowledge. Nigel is a paranoid, self-centered, and controlling person, so he rarely confides in me. However, a few weeks before your parents¡¯ ident, I happened to wake up in the middle of the night to get some water and overheard him speaking on the phone. He mentioned something about having a significant sum of money to spend once certain things were taken care of. People used to mock Nigel behind his back,paring him unfavorably to Timothy, who was superior to Nigel in every way. They would say that Nigel was nothing but a useless person who relied on his elder brother for everything. Nigel wanted to change that perception and would often seek out business partners to venture into various industries.¡± Macy paused deliberately, her gaze locked on, the check. Sebastian gave the check to her and pulled out another check worth two hundred grand. Macy gulped as her gaze turned as wide as saucers. ¡°What kind of businesses did he get involved in?¡± Christina asked. ¡°A lot, but most of them were illegal. Nigel experienced significant financial losses, far exceeding his earnings. Unluckily for him, in that particr year, he invested in a firearms business overseas that ended up offending a powerful local figure. This sudden sh led to their business bing a target of the local government. Nigel needed a substantial sum of money to bribe the influential individual. Consequently. he resorted to embezzling funds from Gibson Corporation to resolve the predicament. However, it wasn¡¯t long before Timothy discovered the missing money. Nigel feared that Timothy would uncover his involvement in the crime while the demands of the local figure grew increasingly insatiable. His thoughts were consumed by finding ways to amass wealth each day.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze turned dark. ¡°Nigel wants to gain control of the Gibson family to cover up his crime. Am I right?¡± Chapter 626 There It Is Chapter 626 There It Is The check of two hundred thousand on the desk seemed to be beckoning at her. Powerless to resist, Macy nodded. ¡°Yes. The Gibson family and the Hadley family were partners on arge project. To attain the approval of the board and be the CEO, Nigel worked hard on the project. He was the one who rmended the supplier to Timothy.¡± ¡°What is the supplier¡¯s name?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the third question, Christina. Up the price.¡± Macy was no fool. She guessed that Christina was investigating the ident, which Nigel was inextricably linked to. Despite a couple¡¯s marital vows, each will save themselves when disaster strikes. Besides, Nigel was the one to throw me under the bus first. I¡¯m only repaying the favor. Sebastian produced a check written out for three hundred thousand and ced it on top of the earlier one. Macy reached out to grab them but could not yank them free. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered Mrs. Hadley yet, Mrs. Gibson,¡± Sebastian reminded her. Macy withdrew her hand sheepishly. ¡°Nigel never shared his business dealings with me, so I can¡¯t give you a name. What I do know is that they have formed apany together over the years, with Nigel taking the lion¡¯s share of the profits. He¡¯s even thergest shareholder, wielding absolute power.¡± Christina could tell that Macy¡¯s narrativergely corroborated with what Nathaniel told her. The possibility of Nigel being the mastermind was more or less established, but without evidence, everything they knew could just as easily change. Christina signaled Sebastian to hand over the money. Macy could hardly conceal her greed at the sight of the checks in her hands totaling close to a million. She motioned at Christina impatiently. ¡°Keep going. What else do you want to know? I¡¯ll tell you everything as long as the price is right.¡± Christina realized that Nigel¡¯s marriage was not as perfect as they made it seem to the world. She would not uncover anything important if she persisted with the line of questioning through Nigel. ¡°Does Anya have anything to do with Miranda¡¯s and Madison¡¯s deaths?¡± As though having her tail trodden on, Macy leaped to her feet and wed madly at Christina¡¯s chest. ¡°Watch your mouth, Christina!¡± she yelled in a rage. ¡°I know my daughter. She is no murderer!¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t told you how Miranda and Madison died,¡± Christina said. Panic shed across Macy¡¯s eyes. She quickly suppressed it, clutching the checks in her hand as she did so. ¡°Though I am in urgent need of money, I will not allow my daughter¡¯s name to be dragged through the mud. Our deal is over.¡± She turned to leave, but Christina¡¯s voice, dripping with temptation, sounded in her ear. ¡°Anya has fled and left you here. For all your consideration for her, she does not care whether you live or die. All you have to do to get a million on the spot is just loosen your tongue. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to?¡± Macy¡¯s feet felt like lead. She could not take a step. One million is the lifeline that can drag me out of this mess. She is right. The two people I care most about in the world have left me to die. After struggling for a moment, Macy turned away from the snare and left without so much as a backward nce. Sebastian put away the check. ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re just going to let her leave?¡± Christina smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯ll be back. There is no such thing as ast hand for a gambler. She¡¯ll be back for more.¡± Sebastian understood the meaning behind her words. ¡°I know what to do, Mrs. Hadley.¡± That night, leaning against the headboard of her bed, Christina had a video call with the children, then spoke with Nathaniel on the phone for over an hour, after which she was about to tuck in when Sebastian called with good news. Macy had lost the six hundred thousand she had taken earlier that day. More importantly, her debt. swelled from five million to over ten million. The owner of the casino left Macy with no chance of escape. Before she could do so, he captured her and came dangerously close to skinning her. Following Sebastian¡¯s instructions, however, the casino feigned apse of vignce and allowed Macy to escape sessfully, Everything went ording to Christina¡¯s n. Nigel and Yerek did not fare much better, either. After facing numerous rejections and ridicule, they still failed to gather anything despite having resorted to uwful means. Worst still, the police suddenly turned up and all but forced them back to the precinct to aid in their investigation. Yerek was not privy to Gibson Corporation¡¯s operations and, at most, only provided Nigel with ideas. Without evidence, the police released him after asking him a few questions. Nigel, on the other hand, was not as lucky. As the once omnipotent figure of Gibson Corporation, he had plenty of skeletons in his closet; any single crime of the myriad he was charged with was sufficient to put him away for several years. Yerek wanted to eliminate the obstacle and align himself with the Stone family, but Nigel was indispensable. Thus, when the following day broke, Yerek went to Gibson Corporation with a stack of documents to see Christina. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. By nine, Yerek had been waiting for almost three hours at the entrance to Gibson Corporation when Christina¡¯s car finally appeared. Seeing that the car was entering the underground parking lot, he followed surreptitiously. Just as the car was going down the ramp, Yerek leaped out and blocked its path. Lyle mmed his foot on the brake. The car jerked and woke Christina, who was taking a nap in the back seat. ¡°What happened?¡± Still bleary-eyed, Christina did not see Yerek standing in front of them. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Yerek Gibson, Mrs. Hadley. He came out of nowhere and blocked us in our path,¡± Sebastian exined, turning around. ¡°I¡¯ll have Lyle take care of it.¡± Lyle opened the door, but Christina said, ¡°It¡¯s all right. Let hime. I have to see him, anyway.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Lyle descended the vehicle and dragged Yerek over to the back door with one hand. As soon as the former had gotten down, Sebastian locked the doors at once. Christina wound down the window ¡°You have ten minutes. Yerek. Say what you will.¡± Christina nced at her watch. ¡°It better be something I want to hear.¡± Yerek had not slept and looked like a wreck. Being usually attentive to his appearance, he was at the moment slurring over his words. ¡°Enough, Christina. Let my father out of the precinct, and I¡¯ll return the shares to you.¡± Christina swept an impassive nce over the documents in his hand. ¡°My apologies,¡± she said with a leer. ¡°I no longer have any interest in that crap.¡± Doing his best to ignore the overwhelming humiliation, Yerek continued through gritted teeth, ¡°I promise we will stay well away from the Gibson family and never cause trouble for you again.¡± Christina¡¯s exquisite features remained unmoved as if nothing drew her interest. Driven by desperation, Yerek yed his trump card. ¡°I can give you evidence of your parents¡¯ murder.¡± Chapter 627 Rebirth Chapter 627 Rebirth At those words, Christina¡¯s sharp eyes flicked toward Yerek. Satisfied to have guessed Christina¡¯s innermost desire, he clung desperately to his bargaining chip. ¡°I¡¯ll hand the evidence to you after you get my father out and ensure his safety. As a show of good faith, I will first return the shares to you.¡± ¡°What a wonderful son you are,¡± Christina jeered. ¡°You would rather betray your adopted father, who has cared for you for over twenty years, to protect your birth father. Like father, like son, indeed.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Yerek scowled. He did not feel guilt toward Timothy at all; thetter¡¯s heartlessness hadpletely eradicated any love he had for his adoptive father. It¡¯s human nature to strive for progress. Onward and upward. Having had enough of poverty, he had no desire to go back and so was determined to change his circumstances, thus saw no wrong in the underhanded tactics he employed to attain his goal. Christina and Timothy are to me for pushing me to the edge! At that thought, he regained the courage to stand up to Christina. ¡°Your tactics are not much more ethical than mine, Christina. We are the same, you and I. Just as greedy and ruthless.¡± ¡°You overestimate yourself,¡± Christina said coldly. ¡°I¡¯m not like you. I will never carry out such vile plots against my family.¡± Yerek turned pale with fury. He lost the patience to negotiate. ¡°Do we have a deal or not, Christina?¡± Christina studied him for a moment, then turned to Lyle. ¡°Take the shares transfer agreement. I¡¯mte for a meeting. Take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Understood, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Lyle took the agreement from Yerek¡¯s hands and handed it to Christina before shoving him away from the car. ¡°If you want your father to emerge in one piece,¡± he warned, ¡°you¡¯d better not be heckling Mrs. Hadley.¡± Before Yerek managed to state all his demands, he was forced to watch Sebastian drive off. Lyle had an imposing frame and a fierce-looking face. He was inly somebody not to be trifled with, and Yerek did not intend to be on the receiving end of those fists. ¡°Come with me to the precinct at once,¡± Yerek growled. Lyle scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s not your ce to tell me what to do. Get the hell out of here, and don¡¯t you dare question me, or I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°I will see my father by tonight, or Christina will be-ah!¡± Before Yerek finished speaking, a powerful hand grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and pinned him against the concrete column so hard that he cked out for a second. Lyle¡¯s voice, dripping with malice, hissed in his ear, ¡°If you have no use for your brain, I¡¯ll cut it out and feed it to the dogs.¡± Enveloped in the overwhelming deterrence, Yerck did not doubt Lyle¡¯s words. This man is capable of carrying out his threats. Pampered and delicate, Yerek¡¯s body would not withstand another blow by Lyle. Conceding, he bent double. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have said those things about Christina. Let me go, please?¡± Stony-faced, Lyle loosened his grip. ¡°Get lost!¡± Yerek hobbled away at once. After Christina¡¯s overhaul, Gibson Corporation began to thrive again. Paving the way for her, Nathaniel brought the most lucrative projects he had on hand to Gibson Corporation, causing thepany, which had undergone mass resignations and retrenchment in a disproportionately short period of time, to be severely understaffed. +5 Bonus Nathaniel proposed merging a fast-growing subsidiary under Hadley Corporation with Gibson Corporation, but Christina turned him down decisively after considering every aspect of the maneuver. The consequence of her rejection entailed not only Gibson Corporation being swamped with more work than it could handle but, more importantly, Christina¡¯s failure to reply to Nathaniel¡¯s message after two whole days. She even ended calls with him without so much as taking the time to provide an exnation. Taking on the role of a forsaken husband, Nathaniel was displeased, which did not bode well for every staff under his employ. Without Sebastian¡¯s help in thepany, the chances of them making it through the trough unscathed became dangerously slim, and they were forced to live, for the moment, in dire straits. Nathaniel was concerned for Christina¡¯s wellbeing, so he quietly handpicked exceptional staff under his employ to masquerade as job-seekers in Gibson Corporation. With Sebastian in charge of recruitment, Nathaniel managed to smoothly integrate his people into every department of Gibson Corporation. With the inclusion of the new staff, Gibson Corporation regained its vitality at an rming speed. The profits from a single project rivaled what it made in half a year during thepany¡¯s peak. Within half a month, Christina managed to cultivate an army of trusted executives. With their help, she could finally afford to take a short break. In the meantime, Nathaniel visited Hallsbay several times, but Christina, constantly upied, never found the time to spend with him. As unhappy as he was, Nathaniel never showed it. To allow more time for Christina to rest, he even helped her solve many work problems without being asked to. It was the final workday of the week, and the next item on Christina¡¯s itinerary was to meet with an important client. After that, she would hand thepany over to the care of her aides and return to Jadeborough, where she would manage thepany from afar. The meeting was set at a high-ss restaurant. Christina put on some light makeup and wore a custom-made work dress, of which design ingeniously concealed the bump on her belly. Wearing a coat over that, she managed to conceal everything else. The client was a foreigner called Durkas. He was young and handsome, and his poise attracted the admiring stares of the other female patrons in the restaurant. His manners, too, were charming, and he had a humorous disposition. Christina had a pleasant conversation with him, who was so impressed with her that he agreed to a long- term engagement with a generouspensation package on the spot. Their conversation soon shifted from work to hobbies, with the air of old friends catching up. Watching from afar, Sebastian could not resist a sense of threat on Nathaniel¡¯s behalf. He was deliberating whether or not to snap a photo for thetter when an uninvited guest interrupted the cordial atmosphere between Christina and Durkas Anya sauntered over to Christina. Fancy seeing you here, Christina! Is this your new lover?¡± she sneered. ¡°You have good taste. Does Nathaniel know that you¡¯re meeting men outside?¡± Even Durkas, who was tolerant, grew angry at Anya¡¯s disparaging words. ¡°We did not offend you, miss. Why would you say such awful things?¡± Anya giggled. She bent over and leaned in close to Durkas seductively, with a flirtatious air. ¡°This woman is married. She is not as pure as she appears.¡± Chapter 628 Stir Up Trouble Chapter 628 Stir Up Trouble Anya was clearly there to stir up trouble. Sebastian walked away from Durkas¡¯ secretary and toward Christina. He wanted to chase Anya away. However, Christina waved her hand, signaling Sebastian to step aside. She was in control of the situation. ¡°Anya, the Gibson family has split, so you don¡¯t need to concern yourself with my affairs. It would be better for you to handle your own family troubles first,¡± Christina said coldly. Sensing the tension in the air, Durkas nced at Christina and said, ¡°Since this is Ms. Steele¡¯s family matter, I will take my leave first. We can discuss the project issues in detail next time. Goodbye.¡± Frustrated by her failed attempt to sow discord, Anya anxiously blocked Durkas¡¯ path. ¡°Christina is a despicable woman. Aren¡¯t you concerned about suffering substantial losses if you work with a vicious person like her? She disregards her own family, let alone the lives of others.¡± However, Durkas only believed in what he witnessed and heard. He admired Christina¡¯s exceptional talents and self-confidence. In contrast, he disliked those who dared to question his judgment as it was tantamount to questioning his abilities. ¡°I don¡¯t like others to meddle in my affairs. Get lost!¡± he bellowed. Anya snapped back. ¡°I¡¯m only looking out for your interest. Since you refuse to listen, you¡¯ll regret it later!¡± Undeterred by her threats, Durkas bypassed Anya and walked away. Christina looked at Anya mockingly. Durkas was a client personally introduced by Nathaniel, and their bond was undeniably strong. Even disregarding Nathaniel¡¯s influence, Durkas could discern the truth. At present, Durkas was inclined to choose Gibson Corporation, and he wasn¡¯t inclined to turn his back on them based solely on Anya¡¯s biased words. Furthermore, his upbringing forbade him from behaving in such a rude manner. After sizing Anya up, Christina sneered, ¡°It appears you¡¯re leading quite afortable life. By the way, has your mother¡¯s gambling debt been settled? I¡¯ve also heard rumors of your father¡¯s involvement with the police, and your brother seems to be facing some difficulties as well. Does the Stone family only acknowledge you and not them?¡± Anya, reluctant to delve into the subject, disyed clear signs of embarrassment. Christina possessed a sharp acumen for inflicting emotional anguish. ¡°This is my family matter. What does it have to do with you?¡± Anya red at her. ¡°Ah, so now you understand this principle. Then why do you feel the need to meddle in my affairs?¡± Christina leaned in toward Anya and gave her a contemptuous look. Next, she turned her attention to an elderly man approaching them. ¡°Your sugar daddy is waiting for you.¡± Anya abruptly turned her head to look, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes. ¡°Anya, your taste and judgment are truly deteriorating. Well, I suppose your circumstances limit your choices. Although that person is rather old, he can at least fulfill your needs, right?¡± With that, Christina walked away, leaving Anna fuming in ce. ¡°Christina Steele, go to hell!¡± Anya shed her delicate and dependent facade. Her fierce and resonant voice seized the attention of onlookers in the vicinity. ¡°Anya, what are you doing?¡± The elderly man was taken aback to see the woman losing her composure. It appeared that Anya¡¯s usual docile behavior was nothing but a pretense. When Anya heard his voice, she immediately clung to the man¡¯s arm and acted vulnerable. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, ¡°Mr. Yackley, that woman humiliated me! I was so angry that I just yelled at her. I¡¯m sorry for embarrassing you.¡± Her pitiful appearance tugged at Warren¡¯s heartstrings. She was obedient, well-behaved, and considerate. Anya belonged to him, and if anyone dared to mistreat her, it would be a direct assault on his pride. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll seek justice for you. No one can mistreat you.¡± Even though Anya was secretly delighted, she put on a worried expression. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s best to let it go. That woman has quite a formidable background, and I don¡¯t wish to burden you. It¡¯s merely some harsh words, and I¡¯ll get over it in a couple of days.¡± However, Warren assumed amanding posture and boasted, ¡°No one in Hallsbay dares to defy me. I don¡¯t care if she has strong backing. I¡¯ve made it clear that as long as you¡¯re my woman, I won¡¯t allow anyone to mistreat you.¡± He firmly wrapped his arm around Anya¡¯s waist, his hands restlessly exploring her body. Even though she felt queasy, she still forced a submissive smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Yackley. I truly appreciate it¡± Having disyed his dominance, he proceeded to whisper provocative remarks into her ear, causing her to blush shyly. ¡°Let¡¯s return to our room first. It¡¯s not convenient here.¡± Christina had been residing in a hotel during her time in Hallsbay. During their journey back to the hotel, she sincerely apologized to Durkas, who graciously epted her apology. Fortunately, he mentioned that he had an uing business trip to Jadeborough next month and suggested they meet there. Christina set her phone down and turned to look at the bustling scene outside the car window. Suddenly, an idea struck her. ¡°Mr. Taggart, can you check where Anya has been recently?¡± Her lips curved into a slight smile as she continued, ¡°Macy is in a difficult position. I believe she still misses her daughter. Why don¡¯t I be compassionate and arrange for them to meet? Considering Anya is now living a good life, she might be able to help solve her mother¡¯s problems.¡± Macy Specker was Anya¡¯s mother¡¯s true name. ¡°When do you think would be the most suitable time to arrange a meeting for them?¡± Sebastian asked. Christina gently touched her abdomen and chuckled. ¡°The sooner, the better. Ideally, right now.¡± Sebastian nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements.¡± Within half an hour, Macy received a message that Anya was at Wilton Hotel. To avoid creditors¡¯ pursuit, she had taken precautions and discreetly made her way to the floor where Anya was located. Macy¡¯s gaze darted between her phone and the door number to confirm that she had found the right room. She pressed the doorbell hesitantly and waited anxiously for a response. She waited for a long time, but there was no response from inside. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Was I lied to? Just as she was about to give up and leave, the door finally swung open. There stood Anya, wrapped in a bath towel, their eyes meeting in an instant. Traces of intimacy marked her pristine, slender neck. ¡°Anya, you¡­¡± Macy¡¯s words were abruptly cut off by a deep husky voice from inside. ¡°Anya, who¡¯s there?¡± Both women froze instantly. Anya hastily attempted to shut the door, but Macy, who was fueled by anger, forcefully pushed her way in, leaving the door wide open. Anya didn¡¯t expect her mother to possess such strength. In a momentarypse, she allowed Macy to storm into the room. Macy¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she saw an old man seated on the sofa. The disarray within the room only served to confirm her suspicions. ¡°How dare you, Anya Gibson!¡± Chapter 629 Shattered Dreams Chapter 629 Shattered Dreams Warren Yackley gazed at the uninvited woman, his voice holding an edge of annoyance as he addressed Anya. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with this woman, Anya?¡± Aside from her name, all of Anya¡¯s personal information given to the club was fabricated and cleverly designed to deceive Warren. It was only because of the information that he didn¡¯t investigate her further. The sudden appearance of her mother felt like an impending disaster. ¡°Mr. Yackley, I barely know her,¡± Anya exined while simultaneously trying to drag Macy out the door, rebuking her with an exasperated tone, ¡°We have paid off all our debts to you. Why do you keep bothering me? Do you want me to report you to the police for extortion?¡± Anya kept sending pointed nces at Macy, who was too enraged to catch them. It was inconceivable for her toprehend that her daughter, whom she had devoted her life to raising, had willingly chosen a path of disgrace. Up until then, Macy had been nurturing a hopeful dream of Anya marrying into a rich family and oveing their dire straits. However, her daughter had ruthlessly shattered herst hope. To appease the old man. Anya even refused to acknowledge her mother, treating her as an embarrassment. Macy felt a piercing pain in her chest. She pushed Anya away and shouted, ¡°I am her mother, not the greedy moneylender she ims me to be! You¡¯re nearing the end of your life, but instead of enjoying your twilight years, you have the audacity to ruin my daughter¡¯s bright future. I will fight you to the end!¡± She seized a vase from the table and charged toward Warren. Anya¡¯s face turned ashen. She was too far away to stop her mother in time. Even though Warren was physically fit, he was nheless older. Combined with his recent vigorous activities, he had not fully recovered his strength. The reckless attack from Macy put Warren on high alert. ng! With a loud crash, the vase flew past Warren¡¯s ear and smashed against the wall behind him. In a desperate attempt, Macy grabbed a fruit knife from a tter and aimed it at Warren¡¯s heart. He narrowly dodged the strike by leaping onto the couch. In the chaos, Anya could only think of stopping her frenzied mother. She impulsively grabbed a vase and struck Macy on the back of her head. Macy turned around, her eyes widening in disbelief at her daughter before her eyes darkened, and she copsed into a pool of blood. The horrifying sight paralyzed Anya, leaving her slumped on the ground. After several gasps of air, she found the courage to crawl toward Macy, her trembling hand checking for any signs of life. Thankfully, she was still alive. Warren¡¯s pleasant mood had been utterly ruined by Macy. Now that the immediate danger had passed, he started questioning Anya. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your parents were long gone? Who is this woman, then? Tell me everything. I loathe being lied to the most!¡± he berated. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Anya crawled to Warren¡¯s feet in a flustered manner. ¡°She¡¯s mentally ill. She used to be our neighbor. After her child passed away, she started taking random people as her daughter. Mr. Yackley, before I met you. her family saw that I was all alone. They tried to force me to marry her son. I refused and ran away, never imagining that they would track me down here at Hallsbay.¡± Warren scrutinized Anya, weighing her words with hesitation. Truth be told, everything else about Anya was quite to his liking. Hence, Warren was reluctant to furtherplicate a rtionship that could not be brought into the open. ¡°Should she truly be my mother, how can I possibly raise a hand against her, even when she intends to harm you?¡± Anya wept, tears streaming down her face. The sight managed to evoke a deep sense of pity in Warren. He thought her words made sense and reached out to her, wiping her tears away with a tender hand. ¡°All right, I believe you. But let it be thest time such an incident arises. As for the rest, you need not concern yourself with. I will see to it.¡± Warren said. A After all, Macy was Anya¡¯s mother. With what remained of her conscience, Anya carefully inquired, despite knowing that she was risking upsetting Warren, ¡°Mr. Yackley, what do you n to do with her?¡± Warren chuckled coldly. ¡°I will deal with her as I did with the woman who insulted you-make her vanish completely.¡± ¡°No!¡± Anya cried out, instantly regretting her outburst when she noticed Warren¡¯s eyebrows furrowing in displeasure. Hastily, she added, ¡°Regardless of everything, this woman has helped me through my most difficult times, Mr. Yackley, didn¡¯t the master sayst time that you should perform more good deeds to boost your fortune? She¡¯s seriously injured. Let this be her lesson and spare her life. It will be an act of kindness that will serve you, no?¡± Warren fell into deep thought. It isn¡¯t worth ruining my fortune over a mad woman. ¡°Fine. For your sake, I will let her go.¡± Warren finally said. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Yackley.¡± With a sigh of relief, Anya kissed his cheek. At that moment, a bellowing voice echoed in the room. ¡°What on earth are you guys doing?¡± Both of them turned their heads toward the door. In an instinctual reaction, Warren pushed Anya away, and gone was his gentle andmanding demeanor. Instead, he appeared cowardly as he stuttered, ¡°D-Darling, why are you here?¡± The woman had an air of nouveau riche to her, and Anya couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she truly was Warren¡¯s wife. Of course, Anya was aware that Warren had been married, but he assured her that he and his wife had been living separately for many years, and the divorce procedures were alreadyplete. Warren¡¯s wife paid no heed to him and stomped over to Anya in high heels. Moving swiftly, she pped Anya twice. ¡°You homewrecker! There are so many men whom you could have seduced, yet you had to steal mine? Now that I¡¯ve caught you red-handed, I won¡¯t let you off the hook that easily,¡± she berated. Then, she turned around and yelled, ¡°What are you guys doing standing out there? Get in here and beat up this homewrecker!¡± Several inly dressed women dashed in and started to pin Anya to the ground, tearing away her clothes and pping her. Warren attempted to slip away, only to be pulled back by his wife and suffered several ps across his face. ¡°You think you¡¯re so great, huh? Living in my house, spending my money on your mistress. Don¡¯t challenge me! I can take away everything from you and ruin your reputation anytime!¡± she chided. Suddenly, cameras started to sh at the door. Several paparazzi were taking pictures and filming the entire spectacle. Warren retreated behind a pir and gritted his teeth. ¡°How dare you bring journalists to make a scene here!¡± However, Warren¡¯s wife appeared just as surprised. She had only brought the few women over to help her beat up Anya and quickly denied it, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask them here!¡± She rushed forward to wrestle away their cameras, but they promptly vanished. Warren¡¯s wife immediately closed the door, and the couple resumed their squabble. Sebastian passed the tablet with the photos and videos from the paparazzi to Christina and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, here is the information you requested.¡± Christina skimmed through the photos and videos, Warren and Anya together are really an eyesore. She threw the tablet at the table and said, ¡°Release the photos and videos to the media. Make sure they go viral.¡± Christina wanted to drive Anya and her mother into a corner. Anya¡¯s misconduct and scandalous rumors would inevitably tarnish the reputation of Nigel and Yerek The Stone family, who valued their reputation above all, would surely hesitate to ept Nigel into their family. ¡°Make sure to inform Nathaniel about Warren and Winston. He¡¯ll know what to do,¡± she instructed. Chapter 630 Lucky Time Chapter 630 Lucky Time If Anya had not abruptly gone to the restaurant to stir trouble with Christina, Christina would not have sent men to find out Anya¡¯s recent whereabouts. She would not have had the chance to find out the secret connection between Winston and Warren. After Winston gave up on Raveworks Enterprise, he told David to open up a newpany, and Warren was one of the shareholders. Christina would not say that she was too paranoid. After a few rounds of investigations, she found out that those who had connections with Winston seemed to all have a hand in her parents¡¯ ident. Sebastian said, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent Mr. Hadley the news. Mr. Hadley has always assigned men to keep an eye on Winston. It¡¯s been some time since he started doing that, so I¡¯m sure he has plenty of information to share as well.¡± Christina desperately wished that she could rush back to Jadeborough immediately. The case had stagnated for years, and now, the clues were going somewhere. Finally, she had a chance to clear the grievances of her parents, who had to go through those suffering times. ¡°Book tickets back to Jadeborough tonight, but don¡¯t let Mr. Hadley know about this.¡± Nathaniel was always the one who gave Christina surprises, so Christina wanted to do the same for him this time. Sebastian was infected by Christina¡¯s joyous mood. It had been a long time since he met Victoria. Even though the two of them often made video calls, he was too busy, and Victoria was always the one who initiated contact. ¡°Of course, Mrs. Hadley Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Christina could hear the joy in Sebastian¡¯s voice. When she looked over at him, she noticed that a flower shop¡¯s emerce tform was showing on his phone screen. He was scrolling continuously, seemingly unsure which flower to get. Leaning over, Christina said with a half-smile, ¡°Victoria likes daisies, but of course, as long as it¡¯s from you, she¡¯ll be happy even if you end up picking flowers from the side of the road.¡± ¡°I just want to order takeout; I identally clicked into this,¡± Sebastian hastily muttered as he sheepishly put down his phone. However, the tinge of red on the tip of his ears betrayed his true intentions. ¡°Oh, I see. Well, it looks like Victoria won¡¯t get to be happy. She would love to have her crush get her different kinds of flowers every day.¡± Christina did not expose Sebastian, knowing when to stop pushing. Otherwise, Sebastian might be frightened off, and Victoria would have to be as anxious as her. What Sebastian did not know was how Victoria was clingier in a romantic rtionship. Worried that Sebastian would find her annoying, she started talking to Christina instead, pestering Christina to tell her about Sebastian¡¯s daily schedule, as well as what he ate and who he met. After work every day, not only did Christina video-call Nathaniel and her children at night, but she was also messing with Victoria. She managed to drive Victoria mad every time, making thetter wish she coulde over to meet Sebastian in person instead. At night, Christina invited Timothy to dinner-a farewell meal before leaving Hallsbay. ¡°I hear that the people in thepany are satisfied with you. Gibson Corporation¡¯s return to the right track is something worth celebrating.¡± Timothy¡¯s physiotherapy had been working well. He had shed his usual dispirited demeanor. The peaceful, life after the division of the Gibson family had brought a touch of joy to his face. ¡°I¡¯m not particrly good at managing apany. It¡¯s all thanks to Nathaniel lending me his assistant¡¯s assistance. As of now, most of the major projects Gibson Corporation has been from Hadley Corporation.¡± Christina was not trying to put in a good word for Nathaniel. She just wanted the people around her to know that she had a blissful marriage and that Nathaniel was the only man she would ever want. Nothing would separate them. ¡°What happened back then¡­. Timothy paused and put down his fork. ¡°The Hadleys were victims too. I was fooled by others and could not think for myself. I nearly destroyed your marriage. I¡¯m really sorry about that, Christina.¡± Christina let out a quiet sigh. ¡°It¡¯s notpletely your fault. Nathaniel and I don¡¯t me you for this.¡± Despite her words, Timothy was not all that happy. He turned even solemn as he said, ¡°I know Nathaniel loves you, but you might have trouble exining this to your parents-inw. I¡¯lle over another day, and if they need it, I¡¯ll apologize to them.¡° Christina could sense Timothy changing day by day. His concern for her and the things he did for her was earnest. ¡°Father, they¡¯re nice to me. I don¡¯t need to lie to you about this,¡± Christina said. ¡°Once you¡¯ve recovered more, I¡¯ll relocate you to Jadeborough. Lucas and Cam are eager to meet their granddad.¡± Warm tears welled up in Timothy¡¯s eyes, and in his thrill, he cried out, ¡°Of course! Of course!¡± When he thought about what Azure did to the two children, a wave of remorse crashed into him, for hi had condoned her actions back then. Nervous, he could barely grip his ss. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think Lucas and Cam like me. I wasn¡¯t nice to them at all.¡± Christina smiled. ¡°They¡¯re still young, so they can¡¯t tell too well wrong from right, but they know whether or not people treat them nice or not. Those things are history. They¡¯ve long forgotten about them.¡± The truth was, Lucas and Cam were smart children, but Christina wanted Timothy to let go of the grim past, so she lied to him. After all, the only person the children truly hated was Azure. Timothy had been absent that day, so the children¡¯s impression of him was that he was apathetic. ¡°What do Lucas and Cam like? I¡¯m going to get someone to prepare gifts for them,¡± Timothy said. His eyes were bright as he could not contain his joy. ¡°What they love most is eat and y,¡± Christina uttered. Timothy started forming a n in his head. Without Azure and Nigel¡¯s family disrupting them, the meal was a merry one. As Christina had to go for the night flight at ten, Timothy did not suggest that she stay. When Christina came out of the mansion, she saw Sebastian using his phone torch to search the inside of the car hood. She walked over and asked, ¡°Mr. Taggart, is there something wrong with the car?¡± Sebastian replied apologetically, ¡°Sorry, Mrs. Hadley, there are some issues with the car. It¡¯s functional, but I don¡¯t want to take any risks with your current condition, so I¡¯ve made arrangements for another car to be sent here. I¡¯ll get someone to send this car to the workshop for a closer inspectionter.¡± Timothy then said, ¡°We¡¯re quite far from the airport. Why don¡¯t I get the driver to send you there instead? I don¡¯t want you to miss your flight. Just leave, the car here for now. I¡¯ll have someone drive it to the workshop. It was only a little over an hour left before the ne took off, so Christina nodded. ¡°Thank you, Father.¡± Timothy wryly answered, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You don¡¯t need to be so courteous with me.¡± Christina still refused to call him ¡°Dad, and that was what marked his failure as her father. After that, the three of them got into the car Timothy arranged for them and headed to the ne. In the middle of their boarding, Sebastian received a call. Walking over to Christina, he solemnly said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, ten minutes ago, Mr. Gibson sent his men to take our car to the workshop for servicing, but they ended up getting into a serious ident. The driver involved died at the scene.¡± It was then Christina realized she was so close to having been involved in the tragedy. She was only spared from it because of the impromptu change of cars. ¡°Was it an ident, or was this staged?¡± Chapter 631 To Guard Against The Hidden Evil Chapter 631 To Guard Against The Hidden Evil ¡°This is a well-nned murder.¡± Sebastian donned a somber look on his face. ¡°There aren¡¯t any signs of braking at the scene, and the driver wasn¡¯t breaking any trafficws. Although they found traces of alcohol in his blood, it¡¯s still under limits.¡± He could not imagine what would happen if that car had seemedpletely fine before they left. Christina would have been in the ident, and she would have died with the baby. He wondered if Nathaniel would lose his mind. Meanwhile, Christina started mulling over the matter. She had crossed quite a number of peopletely, with Nigel¡¯s family hating her the most. She had forced them to a dead end, so it would not be a stretch to assume that Nigel might want toe after her. She then asked Sebastian. ¡°Who do you think is the likeliest to be behind this?¡± It was a difficult question, for there were too many suspects he could list. Without clear clues, he could note to a proper conclusion. ¡°Mr. Nigel and his family might be after you,¡± Sebastian started. Then, he added, ¡°Warren Yackley, Anya¡¯s patron, is a suspect too.¡± Warren Yackley! Christina had nearly forgotten about that man. Anya despised her, and she was willing to forgo her principles to get a patron so that she could get out of her troubled situation. However, Anya was also a maniptive woman. It would not be impossible for her to use Warren to get rid of Christina. After a while of rumination, Christina realized that it was likelier that Anya was the one behind the ident. Nigel and Yerek were too preupied with rejoining the Stone family and getting investors for the failingpany. It was unlikely that they would have the time toe after her yet. Christina hummed and said. ¡°Let¡¯s not board the ne.¡± Christina did not find it safe to have Timothy stay in Hallsbay alone. Gibson Corporation had just revived itself, and she could not let anything go wrong. Her survival in this ident meant that there would be another attempt on her life. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯d suggest you return to Jadeborough. It¡¯s the Hadley family¡¯s territory there, so that¡¯ll be the safest ce for you now,¡± Sebastian pointed out. Lyle, who was always silent, chimed in, ¡°I agree with Mr. Taggart. It¡¯s not safe to remain in Hallsbay.¡± While Lyle could go up against three men by himself, no one could tell if there were going to be more enemies than Lyle could handle. It was easy to defend herself from public attacks, but it would be far harder to guard against the hidden evil. Lyle might be able to protect her once, but he might not be able to protect her as well the second time. Ultimately, Christina said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go back to Jadeborough first. Don¡¯t let Mr. Hadley learn about this yet. I don¡¯t want him to worry.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Sebastian and Lyle replied in unison. The several-hour flight was ufortable for pregnant Christina. She felt as if she was in a trance during the flight, and when she alighted the ne, she was as pale as a sheet of paper. Sebastian¡¯s heart was in his throat. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you feeling unwell?¡± Christina shook her head and wearily answered, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I couldn¡¯t rest well on the ne earlier. I¡¯m just tired. Let¡¯s go back to Scenic Garden Manor first.¡± Still worried, Sebastian arranged for the family doctor to wait at Scenic Garden Manor before Christina returned. Upon reaching Scenic Garden Manor, the family doctor did a checkup for Christina. He concluded that it was a mild case of malnutrition and tiredness, so he told Christina to rest and recover until the day of herbor. After Sebastian sent the family doctor away, he instructed the kitchen staff to prepare supper. Christina was slow in eating it. She was deliberately waiting for Nathaniel to return from his social events, but after a long while of waiting, she could no longer keep her sleepiness at bay. So, she sent Nathaniel a message and went back into her room to sleep. In her half-asleep state, she sensed someone hugging her. She tried pushing them away, but the more she did that, the tighter the embrace became. Annoyed, Christina opened her eyes only to see Nathaniel¡¯s handsome face. She froze but soon pushed his head away, remarking. ¡°You smell like alcohol. Hurry up and take a shower.¡± ¡°Darling, it¡¯s been such a long time since we¡¯ve seen each other, so let me hug you a little longer.¡± Nathaniel buried his face in the crook of her neck. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you wereing back? If I knew that you wereing back tonight, I wouldn¡¯t have gone for the event.¡± Christina snorted at his clinginess, but she was the one who indulged him in these episodes: ¡°It¡¯s only been three days and twenty-three hours since west saw each other.¡± ¡°You seem to be well aware of how long it has been.¡± Nathaniel beamed and let go of her. ¡°Go back to sleep. I¡¯m going to take a bath.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christina then watched Nathaniel enter the bathroom. She had sobered up by then, so she went downstairs to make a bowl of hangover remedy for Nathaniel. As she stared at the bubbles in the pot, she thought about the earlier car ident. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± came Nathaniel¡¯s sudden voice. He hugged her from behind and gently brushed his lips past the edge of her car. Reaching out to turn off the stove, he uttered, ¡°I can see that you have something on your mind.¡± It was not a question. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯d like to discuss something with you,¡± Christina began, turning around to face him. ¡°My father¡¯s rtionship with Nigel is now tense. I don¡¯t feel safe leaving him in Hallsbay alone, so I¡¯d like to bring him here. Once Gibson Corporation¡¯s development has stabilized, I¡¯ll move the office here too.¡± Nathaniel responded, ¡°To be honest, you don¡¯t need to ask me this. You have my support in every decision you make. In a while, Hadley Corporation will have an office building constructed. Once you¡¯re ready, you can move Gibson Corporation¡¯s office to that building.¡± An office building was nothing to Hadley Corporation, but Christina did not wish to rely on Nathaniel for everything she wanted. ¡°Why don¡¯t I pay you rent? It¡¯s an office building that Hadley Corporation has invested much money into, but you¡¯re not even getting back your capital. The directors will surely kick up a fuss over this later.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Hadley Corporation was no longer the samepany it used to be. Not only were the Hadleys waiting for Nathaniel to rake in profits for them, but the shareholders of thepany were too. If they were to make things difficult for Nathaniel, they would be challenging their source of ie. ¡°You have a part in thepany, and all the money I spent is our shared asset. They have no right to intervene in this,¡± Nathaniel said with a chuckle. ¡°That building was meant to be yours from the start. When your studio grows into arger-scale business, you¡¯ll have to establish a proper office. I thought it¡¯ll be better to prepare a building for you earlier.¡± Then, he added, ¡°Frankly, I¡¯ve wanted to ask you to move Gibson Corporation to Jadeborough. That way, you won¡¯t need to travel between two cities so frequently.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s consideration moved her. Thank you, Nathaniel.¡± While fixing his burning gaze on her, he said. ¡°I¡¯m so honest with you, so don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time for you to tell me what¡¯s up with that ident in Hallsbay?¡± Christina brought the warm bowl of hangover remedy to him and urged, ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s hot.¡± However, he took the bowl and put it aside. Then, he ced his arms by her sides and trapped her in his arms. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t change the topic. I know everything you do in Hallsbay. I¡¯m curious about why you¡¯re hiding this from me. I want an exnation.¡± It seemed like there was no avoiding the topic any longer. At the end of the day, Christina was no match for Nathaniel in keeping things secret. ¡°I had a conflict with Anya before the ident. I think she¡¯s the one behind this.¡± Chapter 632 Trouble Chapter 632 Trouble A cold look swirled in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he queried, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± He had little interest in the intricacies of it all, but he harbored no leniency for those who dared to harm his people. Out of consideration for Christina, he refrained from taking any action against the Gibson family. He honored her decision and wish to handle matters with the Gibsons personally, but with the stiption that her safety remainedpletely protected. Christina firmly declined without hesitation, stating, ¡°Anya still serves a purpose for us, being Warren Yackley¡¯s mistress, who has a close rtionship with Winston. He, too, was entangled in the events of the past.¡± Nathaniel quickly discerned her intentions and remarked, ¡°You intend to manipte Warren through Anya, don¡¯t you? Share your n with me.¡± At that moment, she recounted the incident, describing how she strategically timed the revtion of Anya and Warren¡¯s affair to coincide with their stay in a hotel room, allowing Warren¡¯s wife to see through his deceit. Warren owed his current status to his marriage to a wealthy family. While he indulged in avish and promiscuous lifestyle outside, he was a submissive and non-assertive man at home. Warren¡¯s wife was a proper and dignified socialite, proud and arrogant due to her privileged upbringing. After marrying Warren, she became increasingly dominant in nature, and her demands of him became more and more unreasonable. Even so, Warren never expressed any discontent. He gained a reputation as a henpecked husband, going to great lengths to fulfill his wife¡¯s almost perverse desires. Indeed, Warren¡¯s wife waspletely fooled by his deception, enabling him to assume control over the family¡¯s business and assets. Those who depended on Warren for their own interests kept his extramarital affairs a secret, as it served their own agendas and ambitions. It wasn¡¯t until Christina exposed the intimate video of Anya and Warren to Warren¡¯s wife that she realized the extent of her husband¡¯s deception. Anya¡¯s provocation of Warren¡¯s wife was akin to challenging a tigress. If she weren¡¯t taught a harsh lesson this time, it would be a blow to thetter¡¯s dignity and reputation. ¡°Warren has been ustomed to a life of wealth and luxury for most of his life. However, his wife will definitely not tolerate this humiliation. Divorce would be the worst oue for them, something he would never agree to. In the end, the one getting the short end of the stick is Anya,¡± said Christina. Here, she paused before continuing, ¡°Her affair with Warren has already be public knowledge, and he once promised to marry her. I know Anya¡¯s personality well. If her demands are not met, she will not give up easily. I¡¯m just waiting for her and Warren to have a falling out. When that happens, his secret will be leverage in Anya¡¯s hands. After some time, I¡¯ll employ some tactics to get her to come and strike up a negotiation with me.¡±¡± Christina had already meticulously nned the entire scheme. She was simply waiting for the right moment-a moment when Anya and Warren would have a falling out. ¡°After you had Sebastian ry the message to me, I sent someone to investigate the rtionship between Warren and Winston,¡± Nathaniel said. ¡°Winston once saved Warren¡¯s life, and Warren, being somewhat superstitious, believed that Winston was his lucky star and recognized him as his godson. Once David Labarge established a newpany, Warren privately introduced projects from his inws company to David. Hence, Warren is the third investor of the Labarge cousins¡¯pany.¡± Her curiosity piqued, Christina questioned, ¡°What¡¯s the name of Winston¡¯s newpany?¡± She had never personally interacted with Winston, and her perception of him was based on Nathaniel¡¯s descriptions. Even Nathaniel regards Winston as a shrewd and cunning individual, so surely he¡¯s not going to be easy to deal with. Nevertheless, it¡¯s better for me to gather more information about the man so that I wouldn¡¯t be caught off guard if I were to encounter him in the future. ¡°Apex Technologies,¡± replied Nathaniel. ¡°Winston was worried that Nigel may pose obstacles for him in the construction materials industry, so on the surface, he made it seem like he abandoned his old business and ventured into online business. However, in reality, he had Warren negotiate the construction materials supply business. Warren had his father-inw backing him, so there was no shortage of orders. If Nigel coborated with Winston, he would be at the mercy of thetter.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. A sudden realization dawned upon Christina as a gleam shed across her eyes. ¡°If Nigel finds out that Winston had been manipting him all along, what do you think he¡¯d do for revenge?¡± ¡°Last time, when the rumors you spread reached Nigel¡¯s ears, he rushed over to Jadeborough and gave Winston a good beating. He threatened Winston to return all of the embezzled money, or else he wouldn¡¯t mind dragging Winston down with him.¡± Christina¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°Do you think Winston willply?¡± she asked. ¡°He won¡¯t.¡± Nathaniel was certain about that much. ¡°Nigel¡¯s status has changed drastically. The Stone family is no longer under Barnaby¡¯s control. With Sheridan in power, Nigel can only be considered an illegitimate son of the Stone family. ording to the family rules, an illegitimate son cannot inherit the family¡¯s assets.¡± Hearing this, the woman felt much more at ease. Nigel was in a precarious position. Having lost his power in the Gibson family and failed to gain recognition from the Stone family, he was not a match for the Gibson family at all. Money yed a crucial role in society, and without it, one could face significant challenges. The threat posed by Nigel to the Gibson family had significantly diminished due to his financial limitations. Nevertheless, Christina still insisted on her initial n of bringing Timothy and Gibson Corporation to Jadeborough. With a smile on her face, she cheerily lifted the lukewarm hangover remedy and brought it to Nathaniel¡¯s lips. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. If it weren¡¯t for you investigating Winston and the others on my behalf, I would¡¯ve taken many detours with my n. The remedy will get cold if you don¡¯t drink it soon. Go ahead and take a sip.¡± After finishing everyst drop of the hangover remedy, the man bent down and scooped her up in his arms, taking long strides toward the second floor. ¡°It¡¯s still early. You should go rest a little longer,¡± he said. Christina lifted her head and nced at the view outside, noticing a faint glimmer of dawn on the horizon. It¡¯s almost dawn. We¡¯ve been chatting in the kitchen for that long? +5 Bonus Christina woke up naturally after a restful sleep, finding that Nathaniel had already left for work. He had thoughtfully instructed the kitchen to prepare a nutritious meal for her and instructed Raymond to ensure that Christina finished the entire meal. He even requested a video of her eating to be sent to him for review. After finishing her meal, Christina sat back in a cozy wicker chair in the courtyard, basking in the sunlight with her pleasantly rounded belly. As the warm sunlight enveloped her body, she began to drift off to sleep. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you asleep?¡± Raymond appeared quietly behind Christina, asking in a tentative tone. ¡°What is it, Mr. Patel?¡± She opened her eyes, sat up, then turned around to look at the man behind her. ¡°Your friend, Ms. Maguire, is here. She has an urgent matter to discuss with you in person.¡± Recently, Nathaniel had implemented several strict rules at Scenic Garden Manor, requiring all visitors to obtain his approval before gaining entrance. The purpose of these rules was to ensure that Christina could rest assured and focus on her pregnancy without worry. Raymond had received Nathaniel¡¯s permission before conveying the message to Christina, and the process took some time. ¡°Let her in.¡± Right after the words left Christina¡¯s mouth, Rayne invited herself in, unable to wait any longer. Raymond did not say anything and served the two women some tidbits before leaving them alone. Having not seen each other for more than half a month, Christina and Rayne were surprised to feel a sense of familiarity that had been absent for a long time. ¡°Rayne, you look like you¡¯ve gotten skinnier, and yourplexion doesn¡¯t look good either. Have you fallen ill?¡± Christina asked, her toneced with concern. Rayne quickly approached her and went straight to the point. ¡°The studio is in major trouble again, and this time it¡¯s not due to any mistakes made by our employees, but rather trouble that has sought us out.¡± Chapter 633 Endless Trouble Chapter 633 Endless Trouble Christina even began to wonder if she was inherently prone to disasters. She had just returned to Jadeborough, and trouble had eagerly knocked on her door. Can¡¯t I have a few peaceful days? Christinamented inwardly. However, that was her studio and her source of ie, so she had to take that matter seriously. Christina supported Rayne and made room for her on the chair. Then, she poured a cup of coffee and handed it to thetter. ¡°Calm down. Have a drink and speak slowly. Rayne was already at her wit¡¯s end. She had no time to leisurely sip coffee and rx. Taking in Christina¡¯s nonchnt demeanor, Rayne grew more anxious. ¡°Christina, the problem this time involves the studio¡¯s survivability.¡± Is it that serious? Christina furrowed her brows. ¡°What happened?¡± Rayne said, ¡°It¡¯s Emilia. She made a debut in the entertainment industry and became acquainted with the locally famous and highly sessful agent, Estelle Channing. Emilia suddenly rose to fame on the inte half a month ago. Estelle somehow managed to whitewash Emilia¡¯s past. Two weeks ago, she copied Elizabeth¡¯s old trick, asking Estelle to approach our studio to customize a set of dresses for attending events.¡± Emilia¡¯s trouble-causing actions were still toe. Rayne organized her thoughts for a moment before she gritted her teeth and continued. ¡°Estelle described to us the ideal requirements for the dress based on the KR brand¡¯s designs from the nies. Three days ago, Emilia wore the dresses we designed to attend an endorsement event for a certain brand, and she happened to run into KR¡¯s director!¡± Christina grimaced. Everyone knew how difficult it was to deal with the KR brand in the clothing design industry. Moreover, that brand had been established for a long time. The designs of their dresses during the brand¡¯s most glorious period were revered by others and were still popr to that day. ¡°Emilia¡¯s team immediately issued a statement, pushing all the responsibilities onto us. She portrayed herself as a victim and garnered a wave of poprity. After the incident, I contact Estelle immediately. She denied that she had put forward the design requirements to the studio and instead used the studio¡¯s previous giarism predicament as a point of argument. Now, KR has sent awyer¡¯s letter to the studio, using us of copyright infringement¡± Christina hurriedly stood up. ¡°Why are you only telling me something so important now? We¡¯ll discuss the rest of the matter when we get to the studio.¡± Rayne felt guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought I could handle this tricky issue well.¡± Christina replied bluntly, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Colors drained from Rayne¡¯s face as she gazed at Christina with reddened eyes in helplessness. Christina exined, ¡°I do not doubt your abilities. Emilia is aiming to ruin my career and reputation. She¡¯s forcing me to step forward and take the me. All of you just got dragged into this mess because of ITIC,¡± That problem needs to be resolved as soon as possible. It was fine if the studio had to shut down, but what was most important was the reputation of the designers. Once they were associated with giarism, their careers would be done for. Rayne uttered sincerely, ¡°Christina, don¡¯t say that. None of us regretted pursuing you, even in the face of this crisis. Everyone is prepared for the worst. Even if we are saddled with the bad name of giarism, we will live and die with the studio.¡± Christina took out a piece of handkerchief and handed it to Rayne. ¡°You¡¯re already an adult. Why are you crying at every little thing? Don¡¯t worry. We can definitely resolve this.¡± She strode over and put her arm around Rayne¡¯s shoulder. Christina¡¯s tone was a mixture of jest and bravado as she spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t you forget that my man is very capable. If I can¡¯t solve this, he will support me. If this studio can¡¯t survive, we¡¯ll pick a good day to set up a new one. My man is filthy rich.¡± Rayneughed through her tears as a rxed expression finally spread across her countenance. ¡°Yes. You¡¯re right. This problem hasn¡¯t spiraled beyond salvation yet. I cannot lose my morale and boost others arrogance. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit. I need your help next, so you better hang in there. I¡¯m pregnant and can¡¯t take charge of most things we need to do.¡± Christina grabbed her coat and put it on. Then, she stuffed her phone and wallet into the coat pocket and called for the butler. ¡°I need to go to the studio and won¡¯t be back for lunch. I¡¯ll inform Mr. Hadley about thister.¡± Raymond nodded. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll arrange a driver for you and Ms. Maguire right away.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Christina and Rayne exited the mansion together and saw Lyle waiting in a car at the entrance. He had changed into a ssic ck and white suit. His aloof aura made his fierce facial features appear even more intimidating. Seeing Lyle¡¯s towering and brawny figure, Rayne subconsciously shrunk behind Christina, tugging at thetter¡¯s sleeve, and whispered, ¡°Christina, where did you hire this driver? He looks like he¡¯s here to cause trouble. What a frightening man.¡± Christina responded, ¡°His name is Lyle. He¡¯s the bodyguard Mr. Hadley hired to protect me. He may seem scary, but he¡¯s actually a nice person. You don¡¯t have to be afraid of him.¡± Lyle nodded at Christina and opened the car door for them. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Maguire, please get in the car.¡± His outward form was forbidding, but his voice was even colder. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chills running down her spine, Rayne felt the experience of getting into the vehicle was no different from stepping into an execution ground. She sat as close to Christina as possible and forced a smile at Lyle, Lyle closed the car door behind them in silence before turning around to get into the driver¡¯s seat and steadily drove the car onto the road. ¡°Christina, what did he do before he became your bodyguard? Why do I feel like he has killed someone?¡± Rayne asked with an undertone. The quiet Lyle suddenly chimed in, ¡°I was a mercenary abroad. Indeed, my hands are stained with blood, but I have nevermitted murder. Besides, I¡¯ve switched jobs to work as a full-time bodyguard now.¡± Rayne didn¡¯t expect Lyle¡¯s hearing to be so sharp. I thought I¡¯d spoken softly enough. She uttered uneasily, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m a timid person. I didn¡¯t mean to target you.¡± Lyle was unfazed. ¡°That¡¯s all right.¡± His appearance had caused him plenty of trouble before, so he was used to people judging him by his looks. Christina said, ¡°Can you rest assured now?¡± Rayne scrunched up her face and nodded. Lyle dropped the two off at the studio entrance and then drove off alone to find a parking spot. Christina and Rayne went into the studio first. After the studio was used ofmitting giarism, their business plummeted. Many new and old customers canceled their orders and demanded the studio topensate for losses and breach of contract. The studio¡¯s designers had it even worse. Their past mistakes, no matter how insignificant, were dug up and magnified by Emilia¡¯s fervent fans, causing them to be mocked and berated by the public. Even the designers mentors and schools were criticized. ¡°Perk up, everybody. Ms. Steele is here to back us up.¡± Rayne pped loudly to rouse the employees¡¯ spirits. ¡°Go get freshened up, and we¡¯ll gather in the conference room in ten minutes. Seeing their pir of strength, everyone was invigorated. Some rushed to the restroom while others approached Christina to ask about her well-being and express how they¡¯d missed her. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed in the room, silencing everyone. Chapter 634 Nightmare Chapter 634 Nightmare The giant floor-to-ceiling window of the studio was smashed before a few sticks of fire were hurled through the hole. In an instant, the studio was set aze. The fire spread rapidly, and its thick smoke stung everyone¡¯s eyes. Christina was the first to react to the situation and shouted, ¡°Run!¡± When the people in the restroom heard themotion, they immediately left to check the situation. The moment they saw the fire, they sprinted outside. ¡°Where are you going?¡± questioned Christina as she grabbed Rayne, who was running into the fire. She was also covering her nose and mouth while coughing. ¡°Many clients¡¯ information is kept on theputer. I can¡¯t let it be destroyed. You should leave first, Christina. I¡¯ll be out soon.¡± Without hesitation, Rayne shoved Christina¡¯s hand away and bolted into the office. Christina couldn¡¯t watch Rayne dove into the fiery ws of death and do nothing. However, after turning back and taking a few steps forward, she felt someone holding her shoulder. Swiftly, she turned around and heard Lyle speaking with a pant. ¡°Forgive me, Mrs. Hadley!¡± Before Christina could react, she registered paining from the back of her neck and cked out. Lyle promptly carried Christina out of the fire and requested the employees send thetter to an ambnce. After that, he jumped back into the burning building. When Nathaniel learned the studio was set ame and that Christina was urgently sent to the hospital, he became frenzied. He ignored all red lights as he sped to this destination. When the car arrived at the hospital, Sebastian practically crawled out of the vehicle. Unlike Nathaniel, he couldn¡¯t just dash off after experiencing that extreme speed because he wasn¡¯t as physically fit. Despite his weak legs, he forced himself to keep up with Nathaniel. Nathaniel ignored Lyle, who was guarding Christina¡¯s ward, and entered the room. At that moment, Christina was sleeping soundly on the bed, though her face was pale, and she was wearing an oxygen mask. Agony struck every part of Nathaniel¡¯s body as he stared at her. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the doctor said Mrs. Hadley and her baby are healthy. She only inhaled a small amount of smoke, so she isn¡¯t in danger,¡± reported Lyle in a small voice upon ambling into the room. His naked arms suffered varying degrees of scald, with some parts revealing the bloody flesh underneath his skin. It was a harrowing sight. His golden hair was singed, producing a faint charred scent in the air. With furrowed eyebrows, Nathaniel nced at him. ¡°You should treat your wounds first. Report to me later.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Lyle nodded. When he left the ward, he met Sebastian, who was still carsick. Sebastian arched his eyebrow in response to seeing Lyle¡¯s wretched state. ¡°It¡¯s only been a few hours. Why did you look like that?¡± Lyle scoffed and retorted mercilessly, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be doing better than me.¡± ncing at the ward, Sebastian changed the topic. ¡°Is Mrs. Hadley doing okay?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine.¡± Pressing his hand on Lyle¡¯s shoulder, Sebastian urged, ¡°Take me to a doctor, too. Quickly. My head¡¯s spinning so hard that I think I¡¯m about to see God.¡± Next time, I would rather crawl to my destination than re- experience the overwhelming fear of staying inside a speeding car! Lyle rolled his eyes and snorted. Although, he didn¡¯t abandon the half-dead Sebastian and dragged the latter to a doctor by the cor. Christina was tormented by nightmares and woke up with a scream. ¡°No!¡± Hugging her, Nathaniel reassured, ¡°It¡¯s me, Christina. Everything¡¯s fine.¡± Christina heaved and felt her throat burning. Focus gradually returned to her dazed eyes. Abruptly, she gripped the edge of Nathaniel¡¯s shirt as though she was clutching onto a beam of light in the darkness and wailed. ¡°Nathaniel!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± reassured Nathaniel softly, patting her lean back with his warm palm. ¡°No need to be afraid. I¡¯ll stay by your side.¡± ¡°I want to drink some water. After collecting herself, she left his embrace and stared at him, ¡°I¡¯ll grab you a ss. Give me a second.¡± Nathaniel stood, poured a ss of water for Christina, and reminded her, ¡°Drink slowly. I can refill it if you want more.¡± She glugged down half a pot¡¯s worth of water before the stinging pain in her throat was relieved. ¡°What happened to the others from the studio? What about Rayne? Is she okay?¡± ¡°The employees are fine, and Lyle saved Rayne from the fire. All of them were slightly injured, but none of their lives are in danger.¡± Christina¡¯s anxiety was finally put to rest as she lowered her head and patted her rounded abdomen. ¡°I had two nightmares earlier. I dreamed of Rayne being burned alive and my mother falling from a skyscraper while I watched¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll bring the culprit to justice. In the meantime, you should cooperate with the doctor to recuperate.¡± However, Christina¡¯s thoughts only journeyed further away from her health. In an agitated tone, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you find this sudden fire familiar, Nathaniel?¡± Clutching Nathaniel¡¯s wrist tightly, she eximed, ¡°Miranda was burned alive!¡± ¡°The police are working hard to apprehend the arsonist. Miranda¡¯s case is closed. Don¡¯t overthink things. It won¡¯t do your baby any good,¡± advised Nathaniel. After the fire, the first thing the employees did was call the cops. Even though the studio was located at a rather remote location in the business district, it was surrounded by surveince cameras. Hence, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to capture the arsonist. Although, Nathaniel had secretly asked people to track the arsonist because he wanted to catch the culprit before the police. ¡°I know,¡± answered Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t let my parents and children know about the fire. I don¡¯t want them to be worried.¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote for that. That inferno was severe, your studio was frequently featured on trending in recent times, and someone uploaded a video of the building burning. Hence, your parents learned of the news and visited you at the hospital half an hour ago. However, Cam and Lucas are still in ss, so they probably don¡¯t know about this incident yet.¡± Even though Nathaniel asked Public Rtions Department to suppress the news, it wasn¡¯t effective. He was too worried about Christina to spare extra energy and time to handle the mess on the inte. However, that didn¡¯t mean he would allow anyone to bully his woman. Besides, Hadley Corporation¡¯s Public Rtions Department and legal team were a force to be reckoned with. ¡°Good¡± Christina yanked the nket away, intending to descend the bed. However, Nathaniel stopped her. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I want to see how Rayne¡¯s doing, she replied. Nathaniel informed. ¡°She¡¯s in the neighboring room. The doctor said she needs to rest, so you shouldn¡¯t disturb her today. In any case, you¡¯ve slept for a few hours. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll ask Sebastian to send the food here.¡± While Christina didn¡¯t have any appetite, she still needed to care for her baby. ¡°Oatmeal.¡± Nathaniel called Sebastian. Not long after, Sebastian entered the ward with two bags of food containers. There were enough light, nutritious dishes to fill the whole table. Instead of leaving immediately after delivering the food, Sebastian nced at Nathaniel, looking as though he had something to say. ¡°Eat slowly. I¡¯ll have a brief chat with Sebastian outside.¡± Upon ending his sentence, Nathaniel rose and left the room. Sebastian followed behind and shut the door. Frowning, Nathaniel inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°The car ident Mrs. Hadley encountered on the night she returned to Jadeborough had a peculiar development. Nathaniel stared at Sebastian coldly. ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡± Sebastian was momentarily stunned by Nathaniel¡¯s intimidating demeanor. ¡°We¡¯ve discovered the identi of the mastermind behind the ident. It was Mr. Nigel. After we captured Mr. Nigel¡¯s subordinate, we employed a few illegal methods to extract valuable information from the thug. ording to the thug, he received orders from Mr. Nigel that night to infiltrate Rose Gardens to tamper with the car. However, when he arrived, the ce was too dark. Hence, he mistook Mrs. Hadley¡¯s vehicle for Mr. Timothy¡¯s. The person Mr. Nigel was attempting to assassinate was actually Mr. Timothy. He didn¡¯t expect the person wi died, in the end, was just a driver of Mr. Timothy¡¯s.¡± After the incident, when Nigel learned the news his brother was alive and that his hired goon almost kille Christina, he sweated profusely. Nigel¡¯s first instinct wasn¡¯t to punish the thug. Instead, he was concerned about Nathaniel¡¯s revenge. Consequently, he couldn¡¯t care less about whether he should eliminate Timothy or not. His assumption about Nathaniel was correct. After Nathaniel finished listening to Sebastian¡¯s report, he fe the urge to murder Nigel. Killing Nigel is letting him off too easy, though. I think torture¡¯s a better revenge. Coldly, Nathaniel questioned, ¡°Was Yerek involved in this n?¡± Sebastian frowned. ¡°ording to what I heard, after the incident at the Stone family¡¯s banquet, Mr. Yerek rtionship with his father grew tense. Both of them wanted to return to their previously luxurious lifestyle as quickly as possible. While Mr. Yerek wasn¡¯t directly involved in the ident, I think he knew something about it. After all, he had someone monitor his father and even installed a surveince device on Mr. Nigel.¡± As Nathaniel digested that information, he theorized, ¡°Timothy paid close attention to Nigel after the latter attempted to harm him. Thus, I don¡¯t think Nigel¡¯s stupid enough tomit a crime at this moment, but I don¡¯t know for sure he didn¡¯t aim to inflict harm and usurp his brother.¡± After Timothy had been hidden in the dark for years, he realized the truth. In order to change Christina¡¯s mind and ask her to save Gibson Corporation, he was willing to burn bridges with Azure. Azure¡¯s bias was clear as day. If Timothy had died in an ident, she would¡¯ve attempted to kick Christina out of the family and allow Nigel to be the head of the family once more. Even if Nigel couldn¡¯t handle the heavy responsibility, Yerek would still be around to act as a substitute. Ultimately, Yerek would be the only winner. Sebastian finally understood the intricacies of the matter and broke into a cold sweat. ¡°Do you mean it¡¯s possible Mr. Yerek used his father¡¯s name to hire the thug?¡± Nathaniel eyed Sebastian with praise. Then, he sneered, ¡°We¡¯ll know soon enough if Yerek¡¯s behind this.¡± Nigel¡¯spany is on the verge of bankruptcy right now. Unquestionably, I can destroy the company overnight with little effort. Since that pair of father and son don¡¯t know how to behave themselves, I don¡¯t mind pouring more fuel on the fire they¡¯re trying to extinguish. ¡°Ask someone to sabotage Nigel¡¯spany and nt clues pointing to Winston. Hopefully, Winston will be spurred to purchase Nigel¡¯spany. We should let them fight first.¡± A cold look swirled in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Afterpleting this n, I want you to turn the Stone family against Nigel.¡± Nigel¡¯s appearance isn¡¯t Chapter 635 Unpredictable Chapter 635 Unpredictable ¡°The car ident Mrs. Hadley encountered on the night she returned to Jadeborough had a peculiar development. Nathaniel stared at Sebastian coldly. ¡°Tell me!¡± Sebastian was momentarily stunned by Nathaniel¡¯s intimidating demeanor. ¡°We¡¯ve discovered the identi of the mastermind behind the ident. It was Mr. Nigel. After we captured Mr. Nigel¡¯s subordinate, we employed a few illegal methods to extract valuable information from the thug. ording to the thug, he received orders from Mr. Nigel that night to infiltrate Rose Gardens to tamper with the car. However, when he arrived, the ce was too dark. Hence, he mistook Mrs. Hadley¡¯s vehicle for Mr. Timothy¡¯s. The person Mr. Nigel was attempting to assassinate was actually Mr. Timothy. He didn¡¯t expect the person wi died, in the end, was just a driver of Mr. Timothy¡¯s.¡± After the incident, when Nigel learned the news his brother was alive and that his hired goon almost kille Christina, he sweated profusely. Nigel¡¯s first instinct wasn¡¯t to punish the thug. Instead, he was concerned about Nathaniel¡¯s revenge. Consequently, he couldn¡¯t care less about whether he should eliminate Timothy or not. His assumption about Nathaniel was correct. After Nathaniel finished listening to Sebastian¡¯s report, he fe the urge to murder Nigel. Killing Nigel is letting him off too easy, though. I think torture¡¯s a better revenge. Coldly, Nathaniel questioned, ¡°Was Yerek involved in this n?¡± Sebastian frowned. ¡°ording to what I heard, after the incident at the Stone family¡¯s banquet, Mr. Yerek rtionship with his father grew tense. Both of them wanted to return to their previously luxurious lifestyle as quickly as possible. While Mr. Yerek wasn¡¯t directly involved in the ident, I think he knew something about it. After all, he had someone monitor his father and even installed a surveince device on Mr. Nigel.¡± As Nathaniel digested that information, he theorized, ¡°Timothy paid close attention to Nigel after the latter attempted to harm him. Thus, I don¡¯t think Nigel¡¯s stupid enough tomit a crime at this moment, but I don¡¯t know for sure he didn¡¯t aim to inflict harm and usurp his brother.¡± After Timothy had been hidden in the dark for years, he realized the truth. In order to change Christina¡¯s mind and ask her to save Gibson Corporation, he was willing to burn bridges with Azure. Azure¡¯s bias was clear as day. If Timothy had died in an ident, she would¡¯ve attempted to kick Christina out of the family and allow Nigel to be the head of the family once more. Even if Nigel couldn¡¯t handle the heavy responsibility, Yerek would still be around to act as a substitute. Ultimately, Yerek would be the only winner. Sebastian finally understood the intricacies of the matter and broke into a cold sweat. ¡°Do you mean it¡¯s possible Mr. Yerek used his father¡¯s name to hire the thug?¡± Nathaniel eyed Sebastian with praise. Then, he sneered, ¡°We¡¯ll know soon enough if Yerek¡¯s behind this.¡± Nigel¡¯spany is on the verge of bankruptcy right now. Unquestionably, I can destroy the company overnight with little effort. Since that pair of father and son don¡¯t know how to behave themselves, I don¡¯t mind pouring more fuel on the fire they¡¯re trying to extinguish. ¡°Ask someone to sabotage Nigel¡¯spany and nt clues pointing to Winston. Hopefully, Winston will be spurred to purchase Nigel¡¯spany. We should let them fight first.¡± A cold look swirled in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Afterpleting this n, I want you to turn the Stone family against Nigel.¡± Nigel¡¯s appearance isn¡¯t necessarily a great thing for the Stone family. After all, an extra family member means each share of the inheritance will decrease. It¡¯s hard to say if uncontroble factors will appear before Barnabypletes his will. What happened to the Stone family proved to everyone that Nigel has the biggest effect on the family¡¯s benefits. ¡°Not long ago, Mr. Stone dered in his family banquet that Mr. Nigel and Mr. Yerek weren¡¯t allowed to return to the Stone family. Currently, the Stone family views Mr. Sheridan as their leader. Without his permission, no one in the Stone family would dare to act recklessly,¡± remarked Sebastian with confusion. ¡°Sheridan is most skilled at having other people do his dirty work in the business industry. The Stone family isn¡¯t as harmonious as outsiders believe. While none of them dared to target Nigel openly, in truth, they won¡¯t forgive him that easily. The edges of Nathaniel¡¯s lips curved upward coldly. ¡°Recently, I heard Barnaby has been contacting hiswyer frequently. I think it¡¯s about time the Stone family is put on the dramatic stage after years of stability.¡± Immediately, Sebastian understood what Nathaniel was implying. Barnaby¡¯s going to change the will, and the best way to stir the Stone family up is to leak that news! ¡°I know now what I should do next, Mr. Hadley.¡± ¡°You may leave now. I won¡¯t be returning to thepany for the next two days, so have someone deliver the documents to my study,¡± ordered Nathaniel before returning to the ward. Christina did her best to consume half of the food disyed on the table, but plenty was still left because she couldn¡¯t eat anymore. Lying on the couch, she peered at Nathaniel. ¡°I¡¯m full,¡± Nathaniel picked up the untouched nutritional soup on the table and settled it in front of Christina. ¡°Drink some. You need your nutrients.¡± Without any choice, Christina obeyed. After all, it was her carelessness that led to her baby¡¯sck of nutrients, causing them to develop slowly. She spent thirty minutes emptying half of the bowl while Nathaniel took care of the rest of the food. Lying on the couch, Christina watched entertainment news. The entertainment channel spent half of its program reporting about Emilia. She appeared beautiful and confident on camera. No matter what event she attended, she would be surrounded by her fans. Suddenly, Christina recalled what Rayne had said in the past. Estelle is definitely utilizing unknown means to whitewash Emilia and turn her into a popr celebrity. This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She gazed at the charming female manager following Emilia around and narrowed her eyes. A malicious thought surfaced in her mind. I wonder how far Emilia¡¯s career will reach if she loses Estelle. When Nathaniel noticed Christina was wholly focused on the entertainment news, he asked, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult for me to cklist Emilia if you want.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina snapped her sight to him. ¡°Emilia¡¯s an unkible cockroach. She¡¯ll find a way to get back to her feet if she wants to. After the trouble she caused for my studio, I won¡¯t forgive her that easily. However, I won¡¯t attack her immediately either.¡± A bloodthirsty grin settled on her countenance. ¡°After all, the higher she ascends, the greater her fall will be.¡± I crushed her once, and I can do it again. Initially, I didn¡¯t intend to eliminate her. However, she just had to Chapter 636 Competition Chapter 636 Competition Nathaniel was always willing to fulfill Christina¡¯s request. ¡°What is it?¡± Sitting in his embrace, Christina hugged his neck. ¡°Apparently, the entertainmentpany Emilia signed a contract with is an entity under the g of Hadley Corporation.¡± I¡¯ve already done my homework and investigated everything about Emilia¡¯s team. Nathaniel waited for her to continue. ¡°Can I borrow the position of thatpany¡¯s CEO for a few days?¡± Worried that Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t agree to her request, she added, ¡°I won¡¯t affect thepany¡¯s operation. Emilia has always been very competitive; she¡¯ll fight over anything with me. Now that she has gained fame, I want to be in control of her career.¡± This is the best way to get even with Emilia. The more she cares about something, the more I¡¯ll trample on and snatch away that thing. It¡¯s about time for us to end the grudge between us, anyway. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Affectionately, Nathaniel replied, ¡°I thought you were going to ask me to search for a rare treasure when I saw you looking all serious. In any case, my answer is yes. It¡¯s just the position of CEO in a mere entertainmentpany. Take it if you want. Even if you bankrupt it, I wouldn¡¯t mind either. That company wasn¡¯t generating substantial profit anyway.¡± Christina thought her request was too outrageous and was nervous about it. After all, she knew nothing about the entertainment industry. She only wanted that position to fulfill her revenge. Also, she had no clue about the entertainmentpany¡¯s status and believed everything Nathaniel said about it. Later on, when she learned the truth, she wished she could invent a time machine to withdraw that ridiculous wish. Nathaniel suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Sebastian to lend you a hand. He used to be the general manager of that company, and he knows about the entertainment industry better than everyone.¡± However, Christina didn¡¯t want to bother Sebastian anymore. ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble Mr. Taggart with this. Rayne used to be a fanatical celebrity fan. There are some affairs inconvenient for Mr. Taggart, a man, to handle. However, Rayne can deal with them.¡± Nathaniel knitted his eyebrow, skeptical. In response, Christina rubbed his eyebrows. ¡°If I encounter any issues I can¡¯t resolve, I¡¯ll ask you for help, okay?¡± Finally, a smile was set on Nathaniel¡¯s countenance. ¡°All right, but I have one condition.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t oppose your decision to work while pregnant. However, you must prioritize your health and safety above your n. If I learn that you¡¯re sent to the hospital again¡­¡± Nathaniel paused before a dangerous look swirled in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll immediately shut down your studio and lock you up in the house. You won¡¯t be able to interact with anyone else but me.¡± His overwhelming possessiveness grew apparent as an intimidating vibe surrounded him. Truthfully, Christina was afraid he would force her to yield. However, she also couldn¡¯t resist his possessiveness. Earnestly, she promised, ¡°I swear I¡¯ll inform you of my destination beforehand, no matter where I go. Furthermore, I¡¯ll bring the bodyguards you assigned me anywhere I go. Will that be enough to ease your worry?¡± Nathaniel replied softly, ¡°You know that I can¡¯t afford to lose you. You and our children are my most precious treasure.¡° Upon hearing his sudden sweet nothings, she blushed. Embarrassed, she pulled his ears and roared, ¡°Did you memorize those romance dictionaries behind my back again?¡± ¡°I used to, but I don¡¯t anymore because when I met you, I¡¯d already mastered the art,¡± bragged Nathaniel. Christina left his body and headed to the bed. ¡°I¡¯m drowsy, and I want to sleep for a while. Talkter.¡± After that, she yanked her nket away and subconsciously nudged to the side, patting the empty space beside her. ¡°It¡¯s a bit cold in the ward. How about you keep mepany for a while?¡± It was a clumsy excuse she devised to spend more intimate time with Nathaniel. After all, a high-end ward would definitely be equipped with a heater. Upon removing his coat, he hugged her andy on the bed with her. Joy danced in his eyes as he wrapped them both in the nket. ¡°Sleep. I¡¯ll be right here with you.¡± With him as her warm bolster, Christina fell asleep expeditiously. Concurrently, Sebastian executed Nathaniel¡¯s n and achieved incredible results in a short period. Nigel didn¡¯t receive his money from Winston as he had hoped. After Winston achieved independence, the sesses he aplished expanded his ambition. When Winston heard Nigel¡¯sstpany was about to go bankrupt, he visited thetter with an acquisition contract In response, Nigel almost shot Winston. ¡°You better think about your current situation clearly, Nigell If you use the money I¡¯m acquiring your company with for investment, perhaps you¡¯ll be able to rise again one day.¡± Winston was almost tempt to carve the words ¡°You¡¯re a piece of trash¡± on Nigel¡¯s forehead. With a mocking tone, he continued, ¡°Y don¡¯t need to dwell on old debts. After all, back then, you secretly pocketed many benefits that originally belonged to me. What I¡¯m doing now, I merely learned from you. If you are dissatisfied with it, well, there¡¯s nothing you can do about it. After all, no one would vomit the delicious food they swallowed.¡± If Nigel¡¯s re could kill, Winston would be dead already. ¡°Keep dreaming! I rather mypany be destroyed under my care than sell it to you!¡± Winston had the gall to show off in Nigel¡¯s territory because he was well prepared. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like I need to have your crappypany. I¡¯m merely proposing you this offer because of our past rtionship so you wouldn¡¯t embarrass yourself too much.¡± Gritting his teeth, Nigel growled, ¡°Don¡¯t get too cocky, Winston! We used to be in the same boat. When I¡¯m not doing well, neither will you. Don¡¯t forget that you¡¯re one of the co-conspirators who set up the Hadley family in the past. How long do you think it¡¯ll take Nathaniel to figure out your connection to that incident?¡± Winston¡¯s smile froze before he glowered. ¡°Are you going to sell me out?¡± Then, he shrugged nonchntly. ¡°If your mother didn¡¯t fuel the mes back then, Timothy wouldn¡¯t have remained crippled after the ident. In the end, our rtionship is a transactional one, and at this point, we¡¯re through. If we do battle, you¡¯ll end up with the worst oue.¡± Nigel thundered, ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t bring up what happened in the past!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you afraid someone will overhear our conversation? I suppose if Timothy and Christina learn what I¡¯ve said, there will be dire consequences for you. Not only will your mother lose her position in the Gibson family, but you¡¯ll also lose the one person who can manipte Barnaby. Should that futuree to pass, you¡¯ll forever be branded as an illegitimate child.¡± Suddenly, the screen behind Nigel copsed, bewildering the men. Chapter 637 Insane Chapter 637 Insane Nigel had no idea when Azure and Timothy arrived at the mansion or how much they heard his conversation with Winston. Glowering at Nigel and Winston, Timothy barked, ¡°Tell me more about what you two said earlier.¡± In the past, Winston would¡¯ve just ignored the crippled Timothy. However, things were different at that moment. He couldn¡¯t afford to offend Timothy any longer when thetter had the support of Nathaniel. ¡°Nigel knows more about this than me. Since this is a Gibson family affair, I, an outsider, shouldn¡¯t interfere. As such, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± Upon ending his sentence, Winston grabbed his acquisition contract and strode away. Scowling. Nigel straightened his back and admonished Timothy for improper behavior. ¡°This is my home! Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re disrespecting me by barging in without my permission?¡± In response, Timothy hurled the phone in his hand at Nigel¡¯s face. Narrowly, Nigel avoided the attack. ¡°Do you want to die, Timothy?¡± Just as he charged toward Timothy to teach thetter a lesson, Azure blocked his path. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Nigel! Compose yourself!¡± As strong-willed as Nigel was, he didn¡¯t have the nerve to disobey Azure¡¯s order. Unwillingly, he backed away and red at Timothy vehemently. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. I must¡¯ve been mad to submit myself to Mother¡¯s brainwashing and follow her here to discuss the company acquisition with Nigel. Timothy thought. After Azure learned Nigel was driven to the brink, she begged for help at Rose Gardens because she couldn¡¯t do anything to aid him. Timothy didn¡¯t want others to call him a despicable, unfilial animal who threatened his mother to kneel before him. Additionally, Nigel¡¯spany ran a business simr to the one Gibson Corporation newly developed. Hence, Timothy nned to absorb Nigel¡¯spany¡¯s employees and clients into Gibson Corporation at a low price. It was done to widen the business path for Christina. Timothy didn¡¯t expect to learn the truth about what happened in the past from Nigel¡¯s conversation with someone else. I can¡¯t believe my family was the one who orchestrated that event! I shouldn¡¯t have showed mercy. With a mncholic and devastated expression, he turned to Azure. ¡°You¡¯ve been lying to me since the beginning!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not what you think, Timothy, I can exin¡­¡± Azure sobbed. ¡°I promise I won¡¯t hide anything from you anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote for that now.¡± There was no warmth in Timothy¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m your son as well. How can you treat me this ruthlessly? What did I do wrong to any of you? So much so that you all tried to murder me?¡± His angry roar echoed in the empty living room. Wailing, Azure kneeled before Timothy and pleaded, ¡°Please, I beg you for thest time, Timothy. Please lend Nigel a hand. You¡¯ve been brothers for decades! Once the dust settles and Nigel has ovee this crisis, he and I will do our best topensate you!¡± Disdainfully, Timothy shoved Azure¡¯s hand away. ¡°How dare you mention my ludicrous rtionship with him! Aren¡¯t you ashamed of even uttering those words? I treated him as my brother, and he tried to kill me! He didn¡¯t hesitate to destroy my family! While you watched me suffer in a living hell, you never thought about lending me a hand, not even once! The only thing you care about is opening up a path for the only son you care about.¡± In response, Nigel approached his sobbing mother and pulled her up. Coldly and arrogantly, he spat, ¡°You don¡¯t need to kneel before him for my sake, Mom. So what if he¡¯s a little better than me right now? He¡¯ll forever be a cripple while I¡¯ll still have a chance to rise again. The only thing he can be in this life is a parasite.¡± Even until that point, Nigel refused to admit he lost horribly to a cripple because it was too embarrassing for him to admit it. ¡°Don¡¯t say stuff like that to your brother and anger him anymore. Your brother has already agreed to invest in yourpany. While both of you aren¡¯t rted to each other by blood, as long as you two are willing to reconcile, outsiders won¡¯t mock you,¡± advised Azure. ¡°Quickly, apologize to your brother. Do whatever he tells you to.¡± When Nigel heard Timothy had agreed to invest in hispany, he was taken aback. After all, the resentment between them was so powerful that even death wouldn¡¯t resolve it. Timothy sneered, ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive you for killing my wife. You must pay for that. I won¡¯t be merciful this time!¡± Without dy, he rolled his wheelchair away from the room. Nigel felt his heart lurch with dread. My instinct is telling me that if I allow Timothy to leave right now, I¡¯m done for! Azure was wallowing in her sorrow. When she snapped out of it, she saw Nigel grabbing a nearby vase, chasing after his brother, and smashing it on the back of Timothy¡¯s head. The sight of blood caused her to scream. ¡°Nigel! What are you doing?!¡± Ignoring Azure, he dragged the unconscious Timothy from the wheelchair to the basement. Azure staggered toward her son to stop him. ¡°Your brother is bleeding badly, Nigel! If you abandon him here, he¡¯ll die! Listen to me. We need to send him to the hospital right now!¡± In response, Nigel snapped violently, ¡°He¡¯s not my brother! If you want to save him. I¡¯m as good as dead! If you release him, you¡¯re basically giving him a chance to take revenge on us! You should¡¯ve foreseen this day when you helped me hide the truth back then.¡± A maniacal look dominated his eyes as he red at Timothy, who was lying in a pool of blood. ¡°It¡¯s better if he dies because then I¡¯ll be able to snatch everything that belonged to me back! Once I¡¯ve made myeback without Timothy, I¡¯ll treat you nicely. Mom.¡± Fearfully, Azure covered her mouth. She appeared wretched after weeping too much. ¡°You¡¯re not my son! You¡¯re a monster!¡± Nigel cackled. ¡°You were the one who taught me everything I know, Mom! What you see in me is your own reflection. In reality, you hated the Gibson family because you lost the love of your life to them! There¡¯s no need to feel bad for Timothy. He¡¯s that man¡¯s son, after all. Everything you did was the punishment the Gibson family deserves! There¡¯s no need to feel bad. It¡¯s what they owed us!¡± Azure was desperate to escape that suffocating basement. I feel like I¡¯m in a dream right now. I refuse to ept that Nigel has transformed into this greedy demon! Hastily, she bolted out of the basement and mansion. When Jasper didn¡¯t spot Timothy, he frowned and inquired, ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Gibson, Old Mrs. Gibson?¡± Azure was stunned for a few seconds and recalled the insane words that leaped out of Nigel¡¯s mouth. Just as the truth arrived at her lips, it morphed into a lie. ¡°Timothy¡¯s discussing the acquisition contract with his brother right now. It may take a while, so he asked you to return home first. We¡¯re having a family dinner tonight.¡± Chapter 638 I Will Not Let Him Die Chapter 638 I Will Not Let Him Die Jasper was Timothy¡¯s trusted aide. He was usually the first person to be informed of all Timothy¡¯s undertakings. As far as he knew, the rtionship between Nigel and Timothy had deteriorated so badly that they likely couldn¡¯t wait for the other to drop dead. It was a little ridiculous and strange that the Gibson family that had stirred up a storm in the city had suddenly decided to let bygones be bygones today. Jasper did not dare let his guard down. Although Azure was Timothy¡¯s biological mother, Jasper did not trust her one bit. ¡°I need to say goodbye to Mr. Gibson personally,¡± said Jasper icily. ¡°This is a rule that Mr. Gibson has set for the people around him.¡± Azure did not know of the rules that Timothy had set for his subordinates. All she knew was that she could not allow Jasper into this mansion under any circumstances. Otherwise, if Jasper broke the news to Christina, she and Nigel would be in a lot of trouble. ¡°Jasper,¡± said Azure tersely, ¡°I know you¡¯re a very conscientious butler. While you have to respect your employer, you must also respect his family. The Gibson family has indeed been through a lot of trouble lately, but most of them were misunderstandings. Timothy has already thought this true. Things are going to go back to the way they were for this family. You¡¯re a smart man. I¡¯m sure you know how to gauge the situation.¡± Jasper knew that Azure harbored ulterior motives, but he did not want to cause trouble for Timothy either. If things turned out exactly as Azure had described, and Timothy had chosen to forgive her and Nigel for their past deeds, then his brashness would only upset Timothy. Jasper lowered his eyes. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± When Azure was certain that Jasper had driven away, she turned and entered the mansion. Timothy was heavily injured and could not die at Nigel¡¯s hand under any circumstances. Although Azure favored Nigel, Timothy was still her flesh and blood. Naturally, she was heartbroken for him too. Jasper circled the nearby area once before driving back to Nigel¡¯s mansion and parking somewhere close. He would not leave so easily without confirming Timothy¡¯s safety. After waiting until midnight, Jasper spotted a car driving slowly into Nigel¡¯s mansion. A man left the driver¡¯s seat and quickly walked to the trunk and pulled out a small white box. It was very dim in the courtyard, but Jasper vaguely noticed a red cross on the small white box. That¡¯s a first aid kit. Someone¡¯s hurt! The first person Jasper thought of was Timothy. He pushed open the car door and got out of the vehicle before making his way to the mansion inrge strides. The whole vi was brightly lit, but it was eerily quiet. Jasper rang the doorbell repeatedly. Just as he was about to lose his patience and kick the door open, someone opened the door. The one who answered the door was none other than Azure. Jasper noticed that Azure, who was a private person and typically paid much attention to her appearances, was still in the same old gown she had worn earlier today. Azure looked like she was having a hard time. Her eyes also appeared red as if she had been crying all night. When Azure saw that it was Jasper at the door, she panicked. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to leave? Why have youe back? It¡¯s midnight! Don¡¯t think you can do as you please just because Timothy regards you highly!¡± Azure was still a woman, after all. No matter how anxious Jasper was, he still could not force his way in. ¡°Old Mrs. Gibson, Mr. Gibson hasn¡¯t taken his medicine tonight. I only realized that he left his medicine in the study when I got home. Is Mr. Gibson asleep yet? I¡¯ll just deliver it to him.¡± Azure blocked the entrance and replied, ¡°Timothy was feeling a little unwell after dinner, so I¡¯ve asked the family doctor to check on him. He has fallen asleep after taking what the doctor prescribed.¡± Timothy was not sick at all and did not need to take medicine. Jasper had deliberately concocted an excuse to test Azure, and it was as he had expected. It was likely that something had happened to Timothy after all. ¡°When I was on my way here, I saw a doctor getting out of a car with a medical kit. Did something happen to Mr. Gibson, Old Mrs. Gibson?¡± asked Jasper. A hint of panic shed in Azure¡¯s eyes as she avoided Jasper¡¯s gaze. ¡°I-It¡¯s me. I-I had a sudden headache. It¡¯s gettingte. You should go.¡± Having said that, she immediately shut the door and let out a deep sigh. ¡°It¡¯s already veryte. Mom. Who was it?¡± Nigel suddenly appeared behind Azure. Azure was taken aback. She turned around to look at Nigel in annoyance and replied, ¡°It¡¯s Jasper! I suspect that he did not leave at all. He has grown wary and wants to see Timothy.¡± Nigel smirked and said, ¡°So it was that loyal mutt of his. If he shows up again, just ask someone to throw him out. There¡¯s no need to be so polite to him. This is my house. It¡¯s not a ce where he can just behave like a barbarian.¡± Azure felt ufortable listening to his rude remarks. Absent-mindedly, she asked, ¡°How is Timothy doing? What did the doctor say?¡± Nigel snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Some of these documents need to be signed by him personally. I won¡¯t let him die so easily.¡± He then turned toward the bar. He picked a bottle of red wine from the wine cab and casually poured himself a drink. Azure sighed, still ill at ease. ¡°I¡¯m going upstairs to take a look. You shouldn¡¯t drink too much. It¡¯s bad for you.¡± Jasper had circled around the perimeter of the mansion a few times. Due to how tight the security was It was alreadyte and dew had begun to form, but Jasper was dressed in just an overcoat. He was so cold that he ended up retreating to the car. After some hesitation, he dialed Christina¡¯s number. The phone rang for some time. Just as Jasper was about to hang up, the call was suddenly connected, and Christina¡¯s slightly hoarse voice could be heard. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jasper, Ms. Steele.¡± Christina was taken aback. After ncing at Nathaniel, who seemed to be sound asleep, she quietly walked toward the balcony. Jasper is not someone with no sense of propriety. If he¡¯s calling me at this hour, then it has to be an emergency. ¡°Did something happen to my father?¡± asked Christina. ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± replied Jasper. He briefly told Christian what had happened earlier and added, ¡°Mr. Gibson is not a soft-hearted person. Based on what I know about him, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d agree to allow Mr. Nigel toe home, let alone invest in hispany.¡± Timothy and Azure were either threatened to meet with Nigel, or they had eyes on a certain condition. ¡°I¡¯m leaving for Hallsbay right now. I want you to have Nigel¡¯s mansion surrounded. Before I arrive, nobody is allowed to leave the premises. ¡°Understood.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. When Christina hung up, she turned around and collided face-first with a wall of flesh. ¡°Why are you so silent when you walk?¡±ined Christina as she rubbed her sore nose and stared at Nathaniel with tears in her eyes. ¡°Did I wake you up because I was too loud? I¡¯m sorry.¡± Nathaniel pulled Christina into the room and carefully examined the bumped area. Apart from some redness in the nose, there was nothing serious. ¡°It¡¯ste. Instead of sleeping, why were you hiding on the balcony and talking on the phone? Who was it?¡± Chapter 639 Go To War Chapter 639 Go To War Christina was well aware that if she wanted to look into Timothy¡¯s situation in such a short time, she needed Nathaniel¡¯s help. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°My father¡¯s personal butler called me and told me that something might have happened to my father,¡± said Christina gloomily. ¡°My father and Grandma went to see Nigel to discuss business today, but he has yet to emerge from the house. Nathaniel, apart from Mr. Miller, my father is very much alone. I need to rush over immediately.¡± Christina felt a deep sense of unease in her heart, and there was a slight tremor in her voice. She was also a little out of breath as she had spoken too quickly. Nathaniel pulled Christina into his embrace and gently stroked her back tofort her. ¡°I¡¯ve secretly arranged for people to keep an eye on him. If Nigel and Mrs. Lazuli want to hurt him, they won¡¯t act until they achieve their goal.¡± Christina looked at him in surprise and asked aggrievedly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you sent someone to protect my father?¡± Nathaniel smiled and replied, ¡°Well, I was worried you¡¯d misunderstand my intentions. You were so busy with work that I never found the right time toe clean about it. Christina, don¡¯t be mad at me.¡± Christina was not an unreasonable person. Instead of anger, she was filled with gratitude. ¡°I¡¯m not mad. I¡¯m just thankful that I have such a caring husband,¡± she said with a smile. However, at the thought of the predicament Timothy was in, she furrowed her brows tightly. ¡°I¡¯m going to get dressed. We¡¯ll still make the final flight to Hallsbay in an hour.¡± Nathaniel held her back and said. ¡°I¡¯ve asked Sebastian to arrange for a private jet. There isn¡¯t any news from Hallsbay for the time being, which means he¡¯s all right for now. There¡¯s no telling if Nigel is waiting for you toe to him of your own ord. You¡¯re now the CEO of Gibson Corporation, after all. He will only get the most benefits from you.¡± Despite the fact that Nathaniel had analyzed the situation tofort Christina, her heart had long been in turmoil. ¡°Nathaniel. I¡¯m terrified. I¡¯ve already lost my mother, so I can¡¯t lose my father too. We¡¯ve only just mended our rtionship, and I¡¯ve yet to bring my mother¡¯s killers to justice¡­..¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯ll be with you all the way.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s words seemed to have the magical powers of putting her at ease. ¡°Just wait here. I¡¯ll get your clothes.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christina nodded and quietly brushed away the tears in the corners of her eyes. Half an hourter, Christina and Nathaniel boarded a private jet heading toward Hallsbay. Nigel and Azure had been involved in a serious disagreement over whether to send Timothy to the hospital. Their argument had reached a stalemate as they both sat on the couch. Nigel wished that Timothy would not survive, but Azure still cared about the fate of her child. Although she favored Nigel, she had never wanted Timothy to die. All she wanted was for Timothy to change his mind and give Nigel a second chance to turn over a new leaf. She also hoped that Timothy could take Gibson Corporation away from Christina. From the bottom of her heart, Azure refused to acknowledge Christina as a member of the Gibson family, If anything, she shifted the me for the disintegration of the Gibson family on Christina alone. To this day. Azure still held on to a shred of hope that the rtionship between the brothers could be mended. As long as Timothy was willing. Yerek could be his son and provide for him until his death. In fact, Azure had only one request. She wanted the Gibson family to belong to the Gibsons alone. Just then, the butler walked over in a frenzy, panting. ¡°Mr. Nigel, something terrible has happened!¡± Nigel was already furious. When he heard that, he red at the butler and snapped, ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, I¡¯ll have your tongue ripped out!¡± The butler looked at Nigel in fear, but the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat. ¡°Well? Get on with it,¡± said Azure coldly, reminding him to pull himself together. The butler looked at Nigel cautiously and said, ¡°The mansion is surrounded by a lot of people who look like fierce thugs. They warned us that anyone with the audacity to leave the mansion would do so at their own risk.¡± Nigel mmed a fist onto the table and got up in a rage. ¡°I¡¯m going to find out who it is who has the audacity to behave like thugs on my turf!¡± Azure hurriedly got up to stop him. ¡°Nigel, don¡¯t be rash. Right now, we don¡¯t know what their motives are. However, we can be certain that it¡¯s you they¡¯vee for. If you go out to meet them, it can be very dangerous. Why don¡¯t you stay inside where it¡¯s safe?¡± Nigel, who was about to turn the doorknob, suddenly pondered over this for a moment. His heart began to race wildly as he said, ¡°Apart from that mutt. Jasper, who else would go to war with me? He wants to threaten me, but he doesn¡¯t have the right to!¡± Nigel pushed open the door and strode out. However, when he saw the number of security personnel blocking the entrance, he immediately went back indoors. He hastily pushed Azure further inside and locked the door. Nigel leaned against the door and sighed deeply as his expression turned grim. Azure had poor eyesight, and she was pushed back indoors before she could see anything clearly. Taking in Nigel¡¯s pale countenance, she asked worriedly, ¡°Nigel, what did you see?¡± ¡°How many underlings does Timothy have?¡± asked Nigel darkly. ¡°That mutt of his has managed to rally up so many people! Mom, we were all deceived by Timothy¡¯s crippled appearance. He¡¯s nowhere near as pathetic as he looks.¡± Azure was at a loss for words when she heard this. She quickly walked up to the second floor, stopped at the spiral staircase, and drew open the curtains to monitor the situation outside in secret. The road outside the mansion was dimly lit, but she could vaguely make out the outlines of ck cars neatly parked around the mansion with their blinkers on. Azure also noticed the movement of shadowy figures outside, Given how densely they moved, she could tell that there were arge number of people gathered outside. Azure had never witnessed such a horrific scene. She was so frightened that she hurried downstairs to see Nigel once more. ¡°Nigel, why don¡¯t you go out and talk to Jasper?¡± Nigel took a deep breath and replied, ¡°On what grounds? If he wants to have a chat, then he can bring that brat Christina along with him. Don¡¯t worry about this, Mom. We¡¯ve already done what we¡¯re not supposed to do. The only thing left is for Christina to beg me.¡± Azure did not agree with Nigel at all. ¡°Christina is not someone you can just get along with easily. On top of that, she has Nathaniel¡¯s support. Do you think you can beat Nathaniel?¡± Once again, both mother and son were locked in a disagreement over their differing opinions. By that time, Nathaniel and Christina had arrived at the mansion. Jasper immediately went up to meet her. ¡°Ms. Steele, I¡¯ve done everything ording to n. The mansion has been surrounded as well. Earlier, I spotted Mr. Nigel opening the door briefly, but I¡¯m not sure why he suddenly turned on his heel and retreated indoors.¡± Christina¡¯s cold gaze was fixated on the tightly-shut security door. ¡°Ring the doorbell.¡± Jasper directed one of his subordinates to ring the doorbell, but there seemed to be no movement indoors. The once-lit living room immediately went dark. ¡°Take that door down!¡± said Christina in a deep voice. Chapter 640 Pay The Price Chapter 640 Pay The Price Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was usually icy. Only when he looked at Christina did it be gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry. Just leave it to Sebastian.¡± Upon hearing Nathaniel¡¯s words, Sebastian walked past Christina and said thoughtfully. ¡°Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, please stand further away in case the situation gets out of hand.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Taggart.¡± Sebastian returned her a faint smile. ¡°You¡¯re too courteous, Mrs. Hadley. This is what I¡¯m best at.¡± Nathaniel said, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside. Let¡¯s wait in the car.¡± Christina didn¡¯t reply. She turned on her heels and returned to the car with Nathaniel. The smile on Sebastian¡¯s face faded as he led a group of men to the entrance of the mansion. ¡°May I ask for you and your men to step back and leave the rest to me?¡± he asked Jasper. Jasper retreated with his subordinates. ¡°Tear down this mansion!¡± At Sebastian¡¯s order, the bodyguards standing behind him immediately raised their baseball bats and began smashing the windows. Loud crashes echoed across the dark sky above the mansion. The neighbors were jolted awake by the noise and hurried out to investigate the source, When they caught the spectacle in front of Nigel¡¯s house, they tactfully returned to their house and peeked through the windows. Nigel was new to the neighborhood. His neighbors didn¡¯t talk to him much after learning about his background and his aloof and unfriendly nature.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. They had no intention of calling the police upon witnessing something happening over at Nigel¡¯s ce. They merely looked on. The bodyguards were efficient. The initially opulent mansion had turned into a scene from an apocalypse movie in a few short minutes. Sebastian led his men into the house. Before long, Nigel was dragged out by two bodyguards and tossed in front of Christina¡¯s car. ¡°Who are you people? Let my son go!¡± Azure shouted, causing a scene as she followed them. ¡°What you¡¯re doing is a criminal offense! I¡¯m going to sue every one of you and make sure you end up in¡ªit¡¯s you?¡± When she spotted Christina getting out of the car, her voice abruptly became shrill. With a men¡¯s coat draped over her shoulders, Christina strode toward Nigel. ¡°Where¡¯s my father?¡± she asked straightforwardly, her eyes filled with contempt. Nigel, who was being held to the ground, raised his head with difficulty. When he met her gaze, a sneer formed on his lips, and he spat at her. A split secondter, a dark figure swung his leg, smashing Nigel¡¯s chin. ¡°Argh!¡± Nigel let out an agonized yelp. Under the dim glow, one could see his chin was deformed. His mouth was wide open, and blood was continuously flowing from it His features twisted in pain. Every vein in his body bulged at the pain. He curled into a ball and writhed on the ground. ¡°Nigel!¡± Azure screamed. The bloody scene nearly caused her to pass out. However, the bodyguards had a tight hold on her, so she merely slumped to the ground and red at Christina. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯ll kill you with everything I have if something happens to my son!¡± Nathaniel wasn¡¯t the least bit intimidated by her threat. With a cold smile, he said, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, I just taught him a lesson since he didn¡¯t know the rules. I have shown him mercy since this is only a light punishment. Be prepared for his funeral proceedings if there¡¯s a next time.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice was cold and sharp like a de. Every word out of his mouth sliced her heart. She knew both she and Nigel were no match for Nathaniel. Christina has found excellent support to back her up! The hatred in Azure¡¯s eyes was palpable as she red at Christina. Members of the Hadley family were well-known for sticking up for their close ones, especially Nathaniel¡¯s generation. There was almost no limit to his affection for Christina. Christina rightfully epted Nathaniel¡¯s protection so that she could focus wholly on interrogating Nigel. ¡°Nigel, this is thest time I¡¯m asking you. Where¡¯s my father?¡± Nigel¡¯s jaw was dislocated, his cheekbones were nearly crushed, and a few of his teeth were knocked out. Even the slightest movement of his facial muscles would send his entire body writhing in pain. ¡°I don¡¯t-ah!¡± Before Nigel could finish, Christina swung her leg at the same spot Nathaniel had kicked. Even though the force from her kick wasn¡¯t as powerful as Nathaniel¡¯s, it was enough to send Nigel halfway into the grave. Nigely silently on the ground. Other than a few convulsions, he looked lifelessly still. Fear and concern for her son flooded Azure. She struggled to break free from the bodyguards and crawled toward Christina. ¡°Target your anger at me if you must and spare the innocent!¡± she pleaded humbly. Nigel is innocent? Christina figured that was probably the funniest joke she had ever heard. Azure was not only blind in her eyes even her heart was blind. The olddy had no conscience. Not wanting to waste another breath, Christina said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten seconds to consider your choices. If you insist on staying quiet. I¡¯ll turn my attention to Yerek and Anya once I¡¯m done with you.¡± Azure stared at Christina as though thetter was a monster. ¡°Even if they did something wrong and the Gibson family had split up, they are still your family. How can you be so cruel?¡± ¡°Cruel? Me?¡± Christina¡¯s eyes turned cial. ¡°They murdered my mother for their own benefit. Why didn¡¯t you consider them cruel when they caused trouble for me and my dad? Now the time hase to pay the price. They can¡¯t just enjoy themselves and not pay for it. This time, you guys were the ones who started I¡¯ve given you a way out, but your inted ego destroyed it.¡± Azure clenched her fists. She couldn¡¯te up with anything to refute Christina¡¯s usations. The truth wasid bare in front of her. It was true that Nigel had harmed his sibling first out of greed. She had thought she could still boss Timothy around just because she was his biological mother, but she had no right to criticize Christina. Christina¡¯s anxiety grew by the minute, yet she kept a calm look on her face as she reminded her, ¡°You stil have three minutes.¡± Azure dropped her gaze and studied Nigel¡¯s terrible injuries. She shut her eyes resignedly, and a sh of conviction flicked across them when she opened them. ¡°I can tell you your father¡¯s whereabouts, but you must promise me one condition.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already lost the right to negotiate,¡± Nathaniel piped up. At that moment, Sebastian led his men out of the mansion and shook his head at Nathaniel. Nathaniel frowned. Jasper clearly said that Timothy and Mrs. Lazuli didn¡¯t leave the mansion after entering the building together. How can a living person disappear into thin air? Where did Nigel hide him? Nathaniel had none of Christina¡¯s scruples, so he did not hesitate to act on her behalf. Also, he could be more ruthless. ¡°Sebastian, bring Yerek and Anya over.¡± Chapter 641 Salvage The Situation Chapter 641 Salvage The Situation Azure, fully aware of Nathaniel¡¯s seriousness, panicked and eximed, ¡°No!¡± Sebastian ignored her and walked past her while she, disregarding her image, clung desperately to his legs. Her eyes turned crimson as she locked her gaze on Christina. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll tell you where your father is if you promise me to spare Nigel¡¯s life. He¡¯s severely injured, and the longer you dy, the greater the danger he will face!¡± At that point, Azure had fully expressed her favoritism toward Nigel. Feeling a painful sensation in her chest, Christina clenched her fists. She feigned nonchnce and responded, ¡°Nigel is not faring any better. I¡¯m certain you called a doctor in the middle of the night to tend to my father¡¯s injuries. Between my father and Nigel, whose life do you think is more resilient?¡± She extended her hand to a nearby bodyguard, who promptlyprehended her intention and respectfully ced a dagger in her palm. Nathaniel arched his brows in surprise but surprisingly did not intervene or stop her. Christina, wielding the dagger, walked up to the unconscious Nigel, her gaze icy and fixed on Azure. ¡°I can easily end Nigel¡¯s life now.¡± A corner of her lips quirked up. ¡°After all, the Stones are already troubled by the existence of an illegitimate son. If I get rid of him on their behalf, I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t come after me.¡± The mention of ¡°illegitimate son nearly gave Azure a heart attack. She had kept this secret hidden for years, even favoring Nigel shamelessly, all because he carried the blood of her beloved man. Even though she could not marry Barnaby, Azure believed she had triumphed over Constance in her own way. Giving birth to Barnaby¡¯s son had been the most joyous experience since she married into the Gibson family, and she had never once regretted it. Now that Christina held Azure¡¯s fate in her hands, thetter had no choice but topromise. Azure¡¯s once proud demeanor seemed to have been stripped away by Christina, and her eyes darkened. ¡°He¡¯s being kept in the basement. The entrance to the basement is hidden behind the study on the first floor, and the switch is a desk ornament in the form of an inkwell. Your father wanted to kill Nigel because he desired to seize control of hispany, Nigel stood his ground and refused, so your father made his move. The injuries he sustained were his own doing. Nigel¡¯s actions were merely acts of self-defense. Christina, if you were to report this to the police, whose ount do you think they would find more credible?¡± Christina¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Everyone in this mansion can attest to that.¡± Azure, having found Christina¡¯s vulnerable spot, continued to exploit her weakened emotional state as she stared at her relentlessly with a cruel smirk. A broad and warm hand reached out from the side, firmly enveloping Christina¡¯s cold and trembling fingertips. Christina knew exactly to whom the hand belonged without needing to look at the person. ¡°She¡¯s lying.¡± Although Nathaniel did not witness the incident firsthand, the inconsistencies in Azure¡¯s words were apparent. The look on her face revealed her murderous intent, and it was Nigel who initiated the assault. ¡°Nigel¡¯spany won¡¯t be able to survive more than seven days, and Mrs. Lazuli has never abandoned her quest to reim Gibson Corporation from you. The fastest way to salvage the situation is by convincing your father to invest in Nigel¡¯spany. With just a few words, Nathaniel quickly exposed Azure¡¯s ulterior motive. Christina, who had already developed an exceptional understanding with Nathaniel, immediately grasped his implication. She was well aware that he was advising her against acting rashly, as impulsive states would often lead to extreme actions. Nathaniel would never allow anyone to harm Christina. That was his unwavering principle. ¡°I know what to do,¡± Christina replied softly before shing a smile to ease his mind. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside.¡± Before this, Sebastian had investigated the mansion, so he could effortlessly guide Christina and Nathaniel to the study. He turned the inkwell and the bookshelf gently moved, revealing a wooden staircase. At the end of the staircase, a faint glimmer hinted at the presence of something sinister. The heavy stench of blood, mingled with the damp and musty air, assaulted their senses, causing a wave of nausea. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Sebastian turned on all the lights in the basement, illuminating the space and revealing a vivid trail of blood that extended from the entrance and disappeared into the depths of darkness. Christina¡¯s heart raced, her urgency overpowering any concern for the safety of the staircase. She hastily attempted to descend into the basement, but Nathaniel swiftly grabbed hold of her. ¡°Christina, let Sebastian take a team of men down there first. I¡¯ll stay with you up here.¡± Irrespective of the potential perils concealed within the basement, Nathaniel would never permit Christina, who was carrying his child, to venture into such an environment Christina took a deep breath, her voice trembled uncontrobly as she spoke. ¡°My dad, he.. I have a bad feeling. Nathaniel. I want to go down. I need to go down there.¡° She was so frightened that she could not articte aplete sentence. Her intuition had always been urate, and as father and daughter shared a deep connection, she suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of despair. ¡°Sebastian!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice carried a hint of sternness. He embraced Christina, ensuring she would not identally fall down the stairs. ¡°The ambnce is already waiting outside.¡± Sebastian and his men promptly descended into the basement, and within those fleeting minutes, Christina experienced an escted agony. Soon, they brought Timothy up from the basement. He appeared as if he had been immersed in a pool of blood, his shirt now drenched in a deep shade of crimson. Blood sttered onto the floor, forming a captivating and vivid pattern akin to the blossoming of red plum flowers. His countenance waspletely obscured, a mass of blood concealing his original features. Amidst the heavy silence, the faint sound of his breath was the only indication that Timothy was still clinging to life. Christina¡¯s pupils abruptly contracted, and she staggered backward. Nathaniel swiftly held her from behind. ¡°Quick, take him to the hospital.¡± A sudden recollection seemed to dawn upon Christina, prompting her to push Nathaniel aside, her steps faltering as she moved toward the exit. Nathaniel had rarely witnessed Christina in such a distraught state. His eyes darkened in concern as he hastened to catch up with her. Nathaniel firmly seized Christina¡¯s wrist, his voice low as he said, ¡°Christina, do you remember the promise you made to me before we came to Hallsbay He had emphasized the importance of prioritizing her safety in every action she took. Christina lowered her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just can¡¯t control my emotions.¡± ¡°I understand how you feel right now. Christina, if you need help, let me know anytime.¡± Nathaniel had no intention of getting deeply involved in the internal conflicts of the Gibson family. However, given the current circumstances, if Christina were to take action against Nigel, Barnaby would definitely not stand idly by. When Christina was about to respond, she caught sight of Azure preparing to leave with the ambnce. She rushed over and gave Azure a forceful tug, causing her to stumble. She stared into her eyes and said icily, ¡°Tell Nigel that he better not die so easily. I¡¯ll settle every score, old or new, with every single one of you!¡± Chapter 642 Permanent Paralysis Chapter 642 Permanent Paralysis At the moment, Christina¡¯s aggressive and ruthless demeanor resembled that of a vengeful demon in Azure¡¯s eyes. She hastily shook the former¡¯s hand off her and got into the ambnce without looking back. Nathaniel stepped forward to support the slightly trembling Christina and looked at Azure¡¯s receding figure. His gaze was cial when he said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital¡± Taking Christina¡¯s feelings into consideration, he did not arrange for Timothy and Nigel to be treated at the same hospital. The moment Timothy arrived at the hospital, he was sent into the emergency room. While Sebastian carried out his task of running errands diligently. Nathaniel stuck close to Christina¡¯s side, and the two of them waited together outside the emergency room for a long time. A sense of unease filled Christina, and she began to regret her harshness toward Timothy, Although the man had done many things to hurt her, he had been trying hard to make amends after learning the truth. Despite so, she couldn¡¯t get past the hurdle in her heart and now found herself caught in a dilemma. Jasper trained his gaze on the distraught woman and hesitated for a long while before approaching her and saying, ¡°Ms. Steele, I have something to tell you. Christina pulled herself together and replied, ¡°Please feel free to speak your mind, Mr. Miller.¡± ¡°I know it may not be the best time to say this now, but I don¡¯t want to see you and Mr. Gibson have any regrets in the future,¡± Jasper said earnestly. Without asking Nathaniel to leave, he continued, ¡°Ever since Mr. Gibson learned that Mr. Nigel was the culprit who killed his wife, he¡¯s been waiting for the right moment to take revenge. The reason why Mr. Gibson agreed to meet Mr. Nigel together with Old Mrs. Gibson is that he wants to acquire the company under Mr. Nigel¡¯s name at a low price, thus paving the way for investment expansion in Gibson Corporation¡¯s new venture.¡± The process of taking over Gibson Corporation hadn¡¯t been smooth for Christina, but she had grown ustomed to swallowing all her grievances and keeping them to herself. In fact, even Nathaniel was not privy to some of her worries. Apart from that, the growing rift between her and Timothy had made it so that she would never consider him as someone she could trust and confide in. It never crossed my mind that Dad has been silently observing me, perceiving the emotions I thought I had concealed so perfectly. Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes. Jasper added, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing Mr. Gibson has never mentioned to anyone. He has been undergoing intensive leg rehabilitation treatment, and the results are quite good. The doctors say there¡¯s a good chance he¡¯ll be able to walk again. Christina was not only Nathaniel, on the other hand, was not surprised by this revtion. for treating Timothy was sent by him. He was well aware of Timothy¡¯s treatment progress, He had two main reasons for taking matters into his own hand. For starters, he wanted to have leverage over Timothy¡¯s life to prevent the Gibson family from harming Christina. Secondly, he wanted to observe how Timothy would react once he learned the truth and whether he would choose to stand on Christina¡¯s side. As it turned out, Timothy did not disappoint Nathaniel. The former had made a resolute decision to stand with Christina. In doing so, Nathaniel was able to resolve a future concern for her. Jasper exined, ¡°Ms. Steele, Mr. Gibson has had a difficult time in the Gibson family all these years. A major factor in the worsening of his leg condition stems from his psychological struggles, However, ever since the Gibson family brought you back, he has undergone a significant transformation. Despite his past extreme actions due to histe wife, he never intended to harm you.¡± Sighing, hemented. ¡°To be honest, Old Mrs. Gibson yed a big role in Mr. Gibson¡¯s suffering. Christina clenched her fists as rage welled within her. She looked at Jasper with determination and said. ¡°Mr. Miller, thank you for telling me all this and for taking care of Dad all these years. I promise you that I will make those who have wronged Dad pay a painful price.¡±¡° She realized she had made a mistake by letting Nigel and his family off the hook. I really should have dealt with them from the day I drove Nigel out of the Gibson family. Sensing the change in Christina¡¯s emotions, Nathaniel furrowed his brows and advised, ¡°Christina, you should calm down first.¡± She was the most cherished woman in his life. He didn¡¯t want her hands stained with blood. Christina tamped down her raging fury and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Nathaniel.¡± In truth, she was anything but fine. Not only was she feeling distressed, but she could also feel her rationality being eaten away by her hatred. The life that she had would never allow her to stay Nathaniel¡¯s protection constantly. Just then, the attending doctor walked out of the emergency room. ¡°Doctor, how is my father doing?¡± Christina hurriedly walked over, her expression filled with concern. The attending doctor cast a fleeting nce at Nathaniel, his face growing solemn. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the patient¡¯s condition is quite concerning. The impact on his head has caused a severe intracranial hemorrhage. While we¡¯ve managed to stop the bleeding, it doesn¡¯t mean that the patient is out of the woods yet. Even if he pulls through, there¡¯s a high likelihood of permanent paralysis. Please brace yourself for any potential oues.¡± Upon saying that, the attending doctor turned and left. Christina copsed weakly in Nathaniel¡¯s arms, her face pale. Nathanielforted, ¡°I¡¯ll get the most renowned doctors in the world to treat him. You have to take care of yourself, Christina.¡± Staring as the nurse wheeled her father out of the emergency room, Christina felt as if the sounds surrounding her had blended into a cacophony of white noise. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Dad.¡± She pushed Nathaniel aside and ran after Timothy. Fearing that something might happen to her, Nathaniel followed after her. Soon, Timothy was taken to the intensive care unit where visitors were not allowed. Left without a choice, Christina could only stand by the window outside the ward and try to catch a glimpse of him. After enduring another three-hour-long wait, everyone present felt nothing but exhaustion. It was obvious that the events of the night had taken a toll on them. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. As dawn approached, Christina¡¯s body couldn¡¯t bear the strain any longer, and she suddenly copsed, leaving Nathaniel to stay by her bedside through the rest of the night. In the hospital restroom, Nathaniel tossed his cigarette into the trash bin and turned on the faucet to wash his hands. Without looking back at Sebastian, who was standing behind him, he asked, ¡°How¡¯s the situation with Nigel?¡± ¡°He has facial fractures and needs to undergo reconstructive surgery,¡± came thetter¡¯s reply. Nathaniel scoffed, ¡°Seems like he got off too easy!¡± I should have kicked him in a way that would have taken his life instead of letting him undergo facial reconstruction surgery and continue causing trouble. Sebastian added in a serious tone, ¡°Dealing with Old Mr. Stone won¡¯t be a walk in the park. He has sent someone to deliver a message requesting to meet with you as soon as possible. If you decline, it could potentially impact Hadley Corporation.¡± Having lived for over twenty years, Nathaniel had seen and faced all sorts of challenges, so he wasn¡¯t overly worried about Barnaby¡¯s threat. ¡°He¡¯ll need to get Sheridan¡¯s approval first if he wants to seek justice for Nigel.¡± A cold gleam flickered in the depths of Nathaniel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Make sure Mrs. Lazuli keeps her mouth shut. I don¡¯t want to hear any unfavorable rumors about my wife.¡± Chapter 643 I Want To See My Son Chapter 643 I Want To See My Son Sebastian looked conflicted. As Nathaniel had not gotten a response after a while, he looked at his assistant through the mirror and frowned in displeasure. ¡°Sebastian?¡± After some contemtion, Sebastian replied, ¡°Last night, the hugemotion we created at Nigel¡¯s mansion had attracted the attention of a number of nearby residents, and someone had posted photos and videos of the scene on the inte. The online discussion had blown up overnight. In addition, someone seemed to be manipting the situation in the dark. The present circumstances are rather disadvantageous to you and Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ve already instructed the Public Rtions Department to take down the photos and the videos, but there are still a couple of them floating around online.¡± Nathaniel wiped his fingers and tossed the handkerchief into the trash can before saying expressionlessly, ¡°Find the mastermind and get rid of them directly. There¡¯s no need to inform me about it.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Sebastian replied. ¡°Mr. Hadley, there¡¯s something else I need to report to you. The arsonist behind Mrs. Hadley¡¯s studio fire has been caught. She¡¯s an ardent fan of Emilia. She¡¯s from an ordinary family and is currently a freshman at Jadeborough University. She set Mrs. Hadley¡¯s studio on fire because of Emilia¡¯s recent scandal. She believed that Mrs. Hadley was the one who sabotaged Emilia, wanting to destroy her career in the entertainment industry.¡± Even though Nathaniel had promised Christina that he would not interfere with matters rting to her studio, he had to do something about Emilia. ¡°Since Emilia doesn¡¯t know how to manage her fans, get her to learn the rules before resuming her activities, Nathaniel ordered. Doing that was as good as cklisting Emilia. There was nock of new talents in the entertainment industry. By the time Emilia found the to debut again, without youthful looks and a strong background, it would be almost impossible for her to opportunity make aeback in the industry. Even though the female fan insisted that she was solely responsible for it and not acting under anyone¡¯s instructions, it did not mean that Emilia waspletely innocent. After giving it some thought, Nathaniel continued, ¡°Leave this matter to the police to handle. Tell the company¡¯s upper management and PR department to just focus on their duties and not meddle in it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sebastian turned to leave, then took out his phone to convey Nathaniel¡¯s orders. Nathaniel, on the other hand, returned to Christina¡¯s ward. Christina had woken up shortly after Nathaniel left. Just as she was putting on her jacket and was about to visit Timothy in the ICU, Nathaniel appeared. ¡°Where are you going?¡± the man asked with a frown Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Christina heard the displeasure in his voice and halted her actions. ¡°I¡¯ve slept for too long. I feel like going for a walk and taking a look at my dad.¡± Nathaniel ced the breakfast that was delivered by his subordinate on the table and said. ¡°Have some breakfast first. I¡¯ll go with you after that.¡±¡° Christina was feeling bad, as she had already brought a lot of trouble to Nathaniel. Besides, she had abso failed to fulfill her promise to him. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll go wash up first¡± Christina quickly put her jacket away before walking into the bathroom After breakfast, Christina and Nathaniel headed to the ICU together to visit Timothy. Timothy was still unconscious. Not only was his condition not improving, but it had also deteriorated further Nathaniel had hired a medical team made up of experts from abroad, but they had yet toe up with a suitable treatment n. Timothy¡¯s attending doctor could only continue to stick with conservative treatment methods. Christina could not stay out for long as her body was still very weak. Nathaniel had scheduled a comprehensive checkup for her that day, so she returned to her ward to take a nap before the nurse came to take her for her checkup in the afternoon. Nathaniel had initially nned to apany her throughout the checkup. However, after receiving an urgent phone call halfway through Christina¡¯s examination, he instructed Lyle to stay and protect the woman and left the hospital with Sebastian. Christina was tired and famished after going through a series of examinations. She took the opportunity when Lyle went to get dinner for her to visit Timothy in his ward. ¡°Ladies, this is a hospital. Please keep your voices down as it will affect the other patients.¡± The moment Christina walked out of the elevator, she heard loud noisesing from the direction of Timothy¡¯s ward. ¡°The patient in the ICU is my uncle. I¡¯m his niece. Why can¡¯t we visit him!¡± It was Anya¡¯s voice. ¡°That man is a murderer. He almost killed my husband. He deserves to die. Why did you guys save him? This is not right!¡± Macy¡¯s cries echoed in the corridor. Christina hurried toward the source of the voices. Anya got into a fight with the medical staff. She grabbed a young nurse by the cor and hurled her to the ground. The others stepped forward to support the nurse at once while Macy joined her daughter in the fight. In an instant, the entire corridor erupted into chaos as the group of them started shoving and pushing each other. Standing in the corner, Azure watched on indifferently as the brawl went on. ¡°Anya!¡± Christina bellowed, casting a cold and sharp nce at the woman. Anya and Macy looked over simultaneously when they heard Christina¡¯s voice. With anger flooding her veins. Anya pushed the person in front of her away and dashed toward Christina. ¡°Christina, you coward! You finally dare to show your face, huh!¡± Anya¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she pointed at Christina. ¡°My dad has to undergo surgery for his broken facial bones. He was almost killed by you and Nathaniel. You have to take responsibility for his injuries!¡± Macy chimed in, ¡°Christina, you evil monster! If something bad happens to my husband, Anya and I won¡¯t let you off.¡± Christina snorted as she cast a mocking gaze at Azure. She cocked an eyebrow and said, ¡°Is that what she told you? It seems you guys are stupid beyond cure. You don¡¯t even know that you¡¯ve been used as pawns. How sad is that?¡± Unwilling to take the hit to her authority, Azure said solemnly. ¡°I told them nothing but the truth. Christina, your father is my son too. I love both of them dearly. I¡¯m not as cold-blooded and ruthless as you. Anyway, I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you here. Get them to move away. I want to see my son.¡± Azure managed to keep a straight face while she pretended to be a loving mother in front of the crowd, and Christina could not help but be impressed with the woman¡¯s strong mental fortitude. What a joke! Christina was worried that something bad might happen to her father if she allowed them to visit her. ¡°None of you are included in my dad¡¯s visitation list. He doesn¡¯t need your fake concern. Also, you don¡¯t have the right toe to me to seek justice. If you don¡¯t wish to see your names appearing in tomorrow¡¯s headlines, you should get out of here right now!¡± Anyaughed in exasperation and red at Christina. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re not going to take responsibility and want us to just suck it up?¡± Chapter 644 A Lousy Excuse Chapter 644 A Lousy Excuse Christina refused to allow anyone to disrupt Timothy¡¯s peace in a public ce like this. ¡°You want to seek justice? Sure, I¡¯ll fulfill your wish today. Let me find another ce and clear things up: with you all.¡± Anya very much wanted to let the whole world know. She fumed, ¡°There¡¯s no need to find another ce. 1 want to reveal everything right here, in front of your father. What is it? Are you afraid I¡¯ll say things that are to your disadvantage? Christina, you shouldn¡¯t have done it if you didn¡¯t want anyone to find out. What¡¯s wrong with letting everyone know about what absurd things you¡¯ve done?¡± Azure silently cursed Anya for being an idiot. Nevertheless, she did not attempt to stop her. To her, Anya was no longer someone of importance that she held close to her heart but a nobody. She thought she had made the wrong judgment back then for assuming that Anya could take on a big responsibility and help Nigel and Yerek in their careers in the future. Little did she imagine that Anya wascking in foresight and could onlye up with petty schemes, just like her vain and materialistic mother. Christina¡¯s back was hurting from standing too long. She was in a loose-fit hospital gown,yered with a men¡¯s coat, her outfit perfectly hiding her baby bump. Worried that she would expose her pregnancy, she dared not exhibit excessive movements in front of them. I must get out of this situation as soon as possible! ¡°Nigel joined forces with Mrs. Lazuli to scheme against my father and kidnap him. His life is still in danger after getting beaten to a pulp by Nigel.¡± Christina looked at Azure, whose expression contorted. ¡°You all better pray that nothing happens to my father. Otherwise, I¡¯ll surely make you pay.¡± Christina¡¯s version of the story was different from Azure¡¯s. Anya and Macy were more willing to believe in thetter. Even if things were like what Christina said, they had to insist that it was Timothy¡¯s fault. They knew they must not let anything happen to Nigel. If not, their n of using the Stone family to make aeback woulde to naught. As long as Barnaby was willing to recognize Nigel as his son, they would have nothing to fear about the Stone family. Anya argued, ¡°Do you have evidence that my dad and grandma were the ones who kidnapped and injured your father? Contrarily, I have a witness to prove that you brought people to my dad¡¯s mansion, and you and Nathaniel eventuallynded him in the hospital.¡± Christina could not care less about the witness Anya had just mentioned. ¡°There are traces of my father¡¯s blood in the basement of Nigel¡¯s mansion. The police can gather evidence at the scene to run further checks. I¡¯ve already made a report. We¡¯ll soon find out who between the two of us is lying.¡± It was Azure¡¯s intention to blow things out of proportion. However, she had never thought of bringing the police into the picture. Anxiety surged within her, and hints of guilt and fear shed in her eyes as she looked at Christina. Without a choice, she quickly tried to intervene. ¡°Anya, since she strives for justice as much as we do, we should patiently wait for the official notice.¡± She then left hastily without turning back. ¡°Just you wait, Christina!¡± Anya grabbed Macy¡¯s hand and strode out. Themotion was finally over. Christina turned to the crowd and said apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for causing trouble to everyone here. This happened because of me. If anyone is affected because of this, feel free to approach me for reimbursement on your medical bills and any losses.¡± Anya was unaware that Christina had used the opportunity to win the hearts of the onlookers. She caught up to Azure and asked, ¡°Grandma, why did you agree to that b*tch¡¯s suggestion? There were so many onlookers. She couldn¡¯t have possibly insisted that her father didn¡¯t attempt to harm my dad, could she?¡± Macy, too, was unhappy about how Azure had chickened out. ¡°Nigel is still in the hospital waiting for us to bring the medical fees. His face is severely wounded, and he will need several rounds of big operations to reconstruct his facial bones. It¡¯ll cost at least a few million for that. We¡¯re no longer as rich as before. If we don¡¯t demandpensation from Christina, where do you expect Anya and I to find that money?¡± Azure¡¯s face flushed with rage as she chastised, ¡°Do you not remember the favors the Specker family received from Nigel back then? It¡¯s time the Specker family repays Nigel¡¯s kindness now that he¡¯s met with difficulties. It¡¯s just several millions of medical fees. Go back and ask them for it. I¡¯m sure your family will be able to raise that amount unless they are all a bunch of ingrates!¡± Azure¡¯s words were directed at Macy as well. In truth, thetter had held a grudge against Nigel after he heartlessly dumped her. She believed it was all retribution that he ended up in such a predicament now, Unlike how obedient and ttering she usually was, Macy raised her voice and refuted, ¡°What right do you have to call us ingrates? Nigel was the one who did evil first. Go and ask that darned man. When something happened, he took that illegitimate son of his and ran away. Did you two ever care about Anya and me?¡± Anya had never seen Macy lose her temper before. Stunned, she remained fixated on the spot as she watched Macysh out at Azure. ¡°Now that you can no longer rely on the Stone family, are you and Nigel trying to y the same old trick from ten years ago to snatch back the power of the Gibson family from Timothy? Do you think you can fool me by finding such a lousy excuse? I know very well that it was Nigel who wanted to kill Timothy. If not for the fact that I can get a sum of money from Christina, I¡¯ll never let you use me as a pawn. Do you really think you¡¯re still the head of the Gibson family? Hahaha! Seriously?¡± Azure pped Macy across her face. ¡°Shut up! Is this how the Specker family teaches you to behave?¡° Misery and hardships had long snuffed out Macy¡¯s mor and manners. The materialistic world had made her turn into a petty woman. Hysteria glistened in her eyes as she spat a mouthful of blood at Azure. ¡°I¡¯ll make things clear today. I won¡¯t go home and beg for any money because of Nigel. I can divorce that heartless b*stard if you want me to, but I want two-thirds of his assets. Otherwise, I¡¯ll wait for you to cling to the Stone family while I retain my position as Nigel¡¯s wife. If any of you dares toy a finger on me, I¡¯ll publicize all the despicable acts Nigel has done all these years. I want the world to know how a well-educated and reputable woman like you have cruelly harmed your eldest son to protect your illegitimate son.¡± Anya¡¯s impression of Azure fell to rock bottom after she listened to Macy¡¯s shocking confession. She had naively thought Azure would truly stand on her side, given how thetter had contacted her and painstakingly persuaded her to return. It turned out that she and Macy were merely just pawns Azure used to hurt others. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Azure had never been threatened in her life. Having been provoked by Macy, she blurted out what she had been hiding deep inside her heart, ¡°Your daughter is guilty of arson and murder. If you do that, I¡¯ll spread the secrets of what your daughter has done!¡± Chapter 645 Inhumane Chapter 645 Inhumane That is a secret that I must keep under wraps! How did she know that I¡­. Suddenly, hints of wariness shed across Anya¡¯s eyes as she fixated her gaze on Azure. She feigned innocence and asked, ¡°Grandma, what are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Since the two hadpletely fallen out, Azure snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can hide those despicable and underhanded things you did from me. I have fully investigated the kidnapping drama you orchestrated last time. If I want to pursue this matter further, what you have done is considered a fraud!¡± Anya was a typical egoist. Once her interests were jeopardized, she wouldn¡¯t show mercy to the other party, whether they were her blood rtives or saviors. Anya put on a calm pretense. ¡°Grandma, did Christina tell you that? That despicable woman is clearly up to no good. She¡¯s sowing discord in the Gibson family and hopes to incite internal strife. You mustn¡¯t fall for her scheme.¡± Anya had spent all the money given out by the Gibson family. Even if Azure could present evidence to prove her guilt, Anya wouldn¡¯t return the money she had swindled. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Azure had finally seen Anya¡¯s and Macy¡¯s true colors. She didn¡¯t expect them to get back on the right path either. At that moment, they needed to establish a mutually beneficial rtionship to snatch the Gibson family back from Christina. ¡°Anya, let¡¯s leave the past behind us. I¡¯m just going to cut to the chase. You¡¯re also well aware of our situation. If we continue to be at each other¡¯s throats, none of us will gain any benefit.¡± Azure¡¯s facial expression changed entirely as if her outburst and the ferocity she had disyed earlier were nonexistent. ¡°Christina wants to put your dad behind bars. If her n seeds, that will greatly besmirch our family¡¯s reputation. Your wish of marrying into a wealthy family will forever remain a dream.¡± Azure¡¯s words struck Anya to the core. Since Anya staged the kidnapping drama and conned twenty million from the Gibson family, she knew very well that once the truth was revealed, she could only rely on herself for the rest of her life. Nigel was selfish and self-centered. He only cared about Yerek. Sometimes, Anya wished that Nigel wouldn¡¯t be able to return to the Stone family. That way, they would all be in the same situation, which would offer her some sce. Macy sneered, ¡°Nigel is just a jerk. We¡¯ve done so much to help him this time, but did he show us any gratitude? No. If you two had a conscience, Timothy wouldn¡¯t have disowned you.¡± Azure was pricked where it hurt. She red at Macy. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯veid out the pros and cons for you. The decision is yours, whether you want to cooperate or not. Your dad and Yerek will be part of the Stone family from now on, and I won¡¯t let him bear the disgrace of being an illegitimate child his whole life.¡± Azure turned to leave and got into a ck sedan parked at the roadside. Subsequently, the vehicle sped off. While Anya was absorbed in her thoughts, mulling over Azure¡¯s words, someone abruptly pped her cheek. She snapped back to reality and stared at Macy in astonishment while stomping her feet in anger. ¡°Mom, why did you hit me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re still aware I¡¯m your mother, you damn brat! How dare you run away after swindling the money. A p in the face is already considered very merciful. You should be grateful that you¡¯re my daughter. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have let you off so easily!¡± Harking back to the miserable period when Anya had run away with that money and left her to dodge the debtors alone, Macy had the urge to strangle Anya. Anya had indeed erred, and she admitted she deserved that p. Nheless, she was ill-tempered and needed Macy¡¯s help at that instant. ¡°Aren¡¯t you alive and well now? If I didn¡¯t run and we were both captured by those people, who would come to save us then?¡± Anya once again yed innocent. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve returned, I won¡¯t abandon you and flee by myself again. You¡¯ve heard that old woman too. She¡¯s threatening us, and we can¡¯t just sit back and wait for our doom. Macy had be ustomed to afortable life. She was never an opinionated person. Recently, she had either been busy avoiding debtors or swamped with matters to make money. As a result, she didn¡¯t have as many ideas as Anya Anya consoled Macy again, causing thetter¡¯s pent-up grievances to dissipate without a trace. She looked at Anya and asked. Those members of the Gibson family aren¡¯t saints. Anya, we can¡¯t pin our hopes on them. We have to live for ourselves. Do you have any ideas?¡± Anya agreed wholeheartedly with Macy. That¡¯s right. We must make ns for ourselves in advance. However, we have nothing now and need to rely on them to make aeback. Still, that old woman is our biggest threat since she knows many of my secrets. Macy shuddered, taking in the cold glint in Anya¡¯s eyes. She asked with a shaky voice, ¡°Anya, don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking of¡­¡± Anya arched her eyebrow and curled her lips into a menacing smile. ¡°Only dead men tell no tales in this world.¡± When Christina returned to the ward, Lyle had already returned with the meals. Due to the requirement of his duty, he had to know about Christina¡¯s whereabouts at all times. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, where did you go just now?¡± Christina sat at the dining table and replied straightforwardly. ¡°The Gibson family members came to stir a ruckus at the hospital, so I went to deal with them. They have already left.¡± Lyle knitted his brows but didn¡¯t probe further. Instead, he fell silent and served the dishes to Christina. Christina had gotten used to Nathaniel¡¯s constantpany. Now that he wasn¡¯t here, she felt bored eating alone. ¡°Do you know what Mr. Hadley went to do?¡± ¡°My duty is to serve as your bodyguard. I have no right to pry into Mr. Hadley¡¯s work matters.¡± Christina nodded understandingly. After finishing her meal, she visited Timothy in the intensive care unit and then went back to her room to sleep until evening. Christina was woken up by Rayne¡¯s phone call. ¡°Christina, have you seen the news online?¡± Rayne yelled, seemingly teetering on the brink of madness, ¡°Emilia¡¯s team is indeed inhumane! The incident has escted to this point, yet all they did was misleading the public opinion and shifting the me. Not only are her fans reveling in our misfortune when our studio was set on fire, but they are also digging up dirt on you on the inte!¡± Rayne didn¡¯t give Christina a chance to speak. Sheined non-stop about Emilia, berating her with insults without repeating the same phrases. ¡°Emilia must¡¯ve leaked the dirt on you online, yet her fans didn¡¯t even bother to find out what happened to those who had tried to sully your reputation.¡± Rayne sneered. ¡°Emilia will eventually be dragged down by her mindless fans.¡± While listening to Rayne¡¯s tirade, Christinaunched the browser and indeed saw many scandals of her trending on the inte. After skimming through, Christina didn¡¯t feel that the information would cause any significant loss to her since they were just some irrelevant old stories. Is this the best Emilia can do because she¡¯s out of tricks now! This strategy does fit her style. Christina said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the rumors online. Someone will handle that matter.¡± Chapter 646 I Need Your Help Chapter 646 I Need Your Help Rayne didn¡¯t pay much attention to the discussions online at first. However, when she saw how arrogant Emilia¡¯s fans were, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of indignation. Rallying the other employees in the studio, she decided to fight back against those fans online. Unfortunately, they found themselves outnumbered and overwhelmed. Not only were they bombarded with criticism from the fans, but their ounts were also reported and banned. Rayne called Christina not just to vent about Emilia¡¯s despicable behavior. She wanted to discuss the uing arrangements for the studio as well. While Rayne managed to salvage all the clients¡¯ data, many orders could no longer bepleted and delivered on time. The studio would need to pay a high penalty fee that amounted to tens of millions. Given the gravity of the situation, Rayne couldn¡¯t make the decision alone. ¡°Christina, we must teach Emilia a lesson. Even though the arsonist is one of her fans and has imed all responsibility, Emilia definitely is involved in some way. I feel that all our previous efforts in the studio are in vain now that we have to pay such a huge penalty.¡± Christina had already mentally prepared herself. ¡°It¡¯s fine. All that matters is that everyone is safe. We can always rebuild the studio. I¡¯ll leave you to deal with what happens afterward. Anyway, I already have ns to find a new studio for us. When you have the time, pick a suitable office space. I¡¯ll head back to Jadeborough after I¡¯m done settling everything in Hallsbay.¡± Rayne admired Christina for maintaining herposure even after losing millions. If she were in the same situation, she would have sought revenge against the person responsible for her predicament. ¡°Christina, are you really not angry? If you¡¯re upset, tell me. Don¡¯t keep it bottled up. I won¡¯t make fun of you.¡± Rayne said, expressing her concern. ¡°Since you¡¯re pregnant now, your mental health is very important. Christina smiled reassuringly. ¡°I¡¯m really fine. Don¡¯t worry. Rebuilding the studio takes time. Just take it that you¡¯re having an extended break¡± ¡°All right.¡± Rayne and Christina chatted for a while before they hung up. Scanning the rumors circting online, Christina couldn¡¯t help butugh mockingly. She closed the webpage and sent a message to a number that had long been tucked away in her contact list. The message read: Emilia, your tactics are as boring as ever. In Jadeborough, Emilia received Christina¡¯s provocative message. Ovee with anger, she threw her phone aside. Melissa, her manager, immediately fell silent as she stared at Emilia in shock. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Melissa frowned. ¡°I was just telling the truth. If you find it disagreeable, just say so. There¡¯s no need to show me such a horrid attitude.¡± Since the beginning, Melissa did not have high hopes for Emilia due to her tainted reputation. If it weren¡¯t for Anya¡¯s generouspensation, Melissa wouldn¡¯t have been so busy now. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Furthermore, Anya¡¯s own situation was precarious. Melissa didn¡¯t give up on Emilia solely because she 1/3 102 Mon Chapter 646 I Need Your Help cared about her own reputation. Emilia was no kind soul either. If Emilia betrayed Melissa and used her of epting bribes, the company¡¯s disciplinary actions alone would be enough to crush her. Emilia dared not offend Melissa, who was very influential in the industry. She smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Melissa. I have nothing against you. I was triggered by some maliciousments I read online and couldn¡¯t control myself. I¡¯m sorry for scaring you.¡± Melissa¡¯s expression softened. She was someone who could judge people¡¯s character well. She had seen many celebrities like Emilia who were hypocrites. ¡°Thepany wants you to take a hiatus until the chaos subsides. They will arrange for you to return at a suitable moment,¡± replied Melissa impatiently. ¡°It would be wise to maintain a low profile and spend more time honing your acting skills during this time. With your gorgeous looks, you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to make it big in the future.¡± Emilia was not dumb. She was well aware of the unspoken rules that governed the entertainment industry. Melissa was merely painting a beautiful but empty picture for her. If she were to halt all her activities at the peak of her poprity, her devoted fans and the media might not perceive it in a good light. If she did not fight for her own interests, she would no longer have a chance to turn the tables. ¡°Melissa, I can¡¯t ept thepany¡¯s decision,¡± she said threateningly. ¡°Ms. Gibson must have told you that in exchange for her highly attractivepensation, you must propel me to the peak of fame. Since you¡¯ve worked in the entertainment industry for so long, you must have a very extensive social network. My sess will undoubtedly bring you a lot of benefits.¡± Melissaughed in fury. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at Emilia contemptuously. ¡°Among all the celebrities I have taken under my wing, you are undeniably the boldest. Until now, nobody has dared to threaten me.¡± Emilia shed her a fake smile. I¡¯m not threatening you. We¡¯re just in a mutually beneficial rtionship. You¡¯re getting old too, Melissa. You¡¯ll have to retire in a few years. If you manage to raise a top actress before you retire, people from the entertainment industry will have to show you respect whenever they see you. What do you think?¡± Melissa¡¯s resolve was evidently shaken. In reality, the past two years had been far from morous for her. As thepany shifted its focus to nurturing new managers, most of its resources had been directed to others. When she first became famous, her arrogance caused her to offend some high-level executives who had been trying to force her to resign. However, relying on her past sess in nurturing top actors and actresses, she remained in thepany and enjoyed the privileges of being a star manager. Driven by self-interest, Melissa nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t decide alone if you can continue to work. I¡¯ll have to discuss it with thepany. Before I give you a definite answer, rest at home and avoid instigating your dumb fans to defame Christina. She¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s wife. The Hadley family won¡¯t just sit idly by.¡± Having achieved her goal, Emilia smiled triumphantly. ¡°Rest assured, Melissa. I didn¡¯t ask anyone to spread those negativements online. My fans did them on their own, so it has nothing to do with me. Even if Christina were to investigate, she wouldn¡¯t find anything linking back to me.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s hope it stays that way,¡± Melissa said coldly and left the condominium Emilia¡¯s smile faded and was reced by a determined look. She reached into a drawer, pulled out a spare phone, and dialed Christina¡¯s number. However, Christina could not be bothered with her. Emilia was seething with anger. She couldn¡¯t bear the thought of being overshadowed by Christina all the time, so she reached for her phone and started making calls. ¡°Find out what that b*tch, Christina, is up to in Hallsbay!¡± instructed Emilia before calling Anya. ¡°Anya, 1 need your help with something.¡± Emilia¡¯s tone made Anya unhappy. After all, she was not Emilia¡¯s subordinate. ¡°Emilia, we¡¯ve got nothing to do with each other anymore. You don¡¯t have the authority tomand me to do things for you!¡± Chapter 647 Daydream Chapter 647 Daydream Instead of anxiously seeking Anya¡¯s agreement, Emilia replied in a cryptic tone. ¡°No rush. You¡¯ll change your mind.¡± With that, Emilia ended the call, leaving Anya feeling increasingly uneasy. That b*tch, Emilia! She found herself a n B! Anya was caught between Azure¡¯s threats and Emilia¡¯s domineering attitude. She couldn¡¯t bear either of these injustices. A wild idea sparked in her mind. What if¡­ What if those troublesome individuals were to disappear? No one would find out about that secret. The thought ignited a fire within Anya. She swiftly devised a perfect n. The night passed without Nathaniel. However, he had called Christina in the morning to remind her to eat and rest, promising to return in the evening to keep herpany. Since Nathaniel didn¡¯t provide any exnation, Christina didn¡¯t press for further details. ¡°Okay, take care. I¡¯ll be waiting for you. ¡°Instruct Lyle if you need anything.¡± Nathaniel quickly hung up. Christina finished breakfast alone. As usual, she visited Timothy in the intensive care unit. After hearing thetest updates on his condition from the doctor, she decided not to return to her hospital ward to rest. Instead, she instructed Lyle to arrange for a car. She nned to visit Gibson Corporation. Lyle secretly asked for Nathaniel¡¯s approval before preparing a sturdy and well-protected car for Christina. After the internal restructuring and with strong support from Hadley Corporation, Gibson Corporation¡¯s development skyrocketed. Everything was gradually falling into ce. Christina made a brief appearance at thepany. After attending to the work that had umted, she was just about to leave when amotion erupted outside her office. ¡°I am Christina¡¯s grandmother! You have no right to stop me! Step aside!¡± Azure¡¯s furious voice prated the office door, reaching Christina¡¯s ears. Lyle consulted Christina, ¡°Shall I ask her to leave?¡± A man of action, Lyle never relied on fancy words when violence could resolve the problem. Christina leaned against her chair. ¡°Let her in.¡± Azure would inevitablye knocking on Christina¡¯s door unless she had found a way out for Nigel. When Lyle walked over to the door, Azure forcefully pushed it open and stormed into the office. The sound of her high heels cking echoed in the room. ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve truly outdone yourself!¡± Azure disregarded the presence of others as she vented her anger at Christina. ¡°Quickly get the police to release Nigel, and I won¡¯t hold you and Nathaniel responsible for injuring him.¡± Christina looked at her mockingly. ¡°It seems that you still haven¡¯t grasped the situation. You need my help now. Nigel was the one who did something wrong first. Why are you twisting the truth by iming that my dad is the aggressor?¡± Azure had enough of Christina¡¯s haughty attitude. She had the urge to p Christina across the face to bring her back to reality. However, upon noticing Lyle ring at her, she felt shivers run down her spine, She swiftly suppressed her hostility. With a stern expression, she addressed Lyle in an authoritative tone, ¡°Leave. I need to talk to Christina about something.¡± Lyle did not budge, and Azure grew angry. ¡°I told you to leave. Are you deaf?¡± Lyle responded coldly, ¡°I only take orders from Mrs. Hadley. You have no right to instruct me.¡± Azure shifted her anger to Christina. ¡°Indeed, one¡¯s followers reflect the nature of their master.¡± Christina sneered, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, please choose your words wisely. You are in no ce to discipline my subordinates. Outsiders have no right to cause a ruckus in my territory.¡± ¡°Your territory? What a joke! If you hadn¡¯t dragged outsiders into your fight for power, you wouldn¡¯t have risen to power in Gibson Corporation. As long as I¡¯m alive, I will forever be your father¡¯s biological mother and I will forever have a ce in the Gibson family. When you see me, you should address me as Grandma too.¡± Christina calmly took a sip of hot milk and said with a half smile, ¡°It¡¯s time for you to wake up from your daydream. Even if you refuse to admit it, I now lead the Gibson family.¡± ¡°You-¡± Christina forcefully mmed her cup onto the table, interrupting Azure¡¯s words. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, if you came to Gibson Corporation just to remind me that Nigel still has a share in it, then I suggest you give up on that hope sooner rather thanter. I would rather see Gibson Corporation go bankrupt and sell thepany at a low price to someone else than let Nigel take advantage of it.¡± Azure¡¯s lips quivered as she red at Christina. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Nigel has a death wish. I¡¯m just making it happen for him. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Christina snickered. *Spending a lifetime in prison is nothingpared to losing one¡¯s life.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t do that!¡± Azure¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°You must release Nigel. If you don¡¯t, neither Old Mr. Stone nor I will leave you alone!¡± Christina could not even be bothered with Barnaby. ¡°If Old Mr. Stone is that powerful, why didn¡¯t he let Nigel return to his real family after his identity has been revealed for so long?¡± Christina exposed Azure, revealing the naked truth. ¡°There¡¯s only one answer -the Stones disagree.¡± Azure grabbed the milk on the table and sshed it onto Christina¡¯s face, catching both Christina and Lyle off guard. Lyle, who saw no value in respecting the elderly, grabbed Azure¡¯s neck from behind and dragged her away from the desk. Feeling that her neck was about to break, Azure gasped for air as fear filled her bulging eyes. Christina calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped the milk stains off her face and clothes. Only then did she look at Azure. ¡°Lyle, let her go. I don¡¯t want to dirty my office.¡± He flung Azure to the ground as though she was a piece of rubbish. Azure continued to tremble in fear. She took a few steps back before scrambling to her feet and leaving the office. It was only when she ran out of Gibson Corporation and into a car by the roadside that she finally heaved a sigh of relief. That was terrifying! That man actually wanted to kill me! Azure took a few breaths and dialed a number on her phone. With her voice trembling uncontrobly, she said, ¡°You must help me this time, Barn. Christina has pushed me to the point where I have no other option!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make Christina beg you.¡± Barnaby¡¯s deep and calm voice echoed in Azure¡¯s ears, calming her down. Chapter 648 One Of Our Own Chapter 648 One Of Our Own Christina¡¯s mood was not ruined because of what happened. She returned to her work instead. Even though Lyle had taught Azure a lesson, he did not eradicate all potential troubles. That was not his style. After contemting for a long while, Lyle asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, do you need me to send someone to keep an eye on Mrs. Lazuli?¡± Christina closed the file and replied, ¡°There¡¯ll be no need to. She¡¯s too busy dealing with Nigel and has no time to cause me trouble.¡± She thought about it before continuing, ¡°We need to keep an eye on Old Mr. Stone. Nigel is his son. For all we know, Barnaby may be helping Mrs. Lazuli. If anyone from the Stone familyes and looks for me during this period, turn them away.¡± Christina had to sort out the Gibson family¡¯s problems and was also preparing to restart her design studio these days. There was no way she had the time or energy to deal with the Stone family. Sadly, it was not up to her as Barnaby showed up that evening. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Old Mr. Stone is here. He says that he has to meet you today. Otherwise, he won¡¯t leave,¡± informed Lyle. At that moment, Christina was watering the nts. She paused and put down the watering can, then turned around and looked at Lyle. ¡°Let him in.¡± Christina had just only moved into the mansion that Timothy had arranged for her that afternoon. She did not expect Barnaby to look for her there. Christina did not think Barnaby would be there so soon. Not long after, Lyle led Barnaby into the living room. Christina was seated on the couch with a pair of scissors in her hand, arranging the flowers. ¡°Lyle, please bring some tea. Christina continued with her flower arrangement. When Barnaby sat opposite her, she looked up and cast a nce at him. Barnaby had on a ck long-sleeve shirt, and his white hair wasbed all the way back. He exuded an awe-inspiring aura despite his expressionless face. Christina noticed that Barnaby resembled Sheridan. However, that was where the simrity ended. Sheridan was a cultured and elegant man, whereas Barnaby was an aloof person. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°No need for tea. Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m not here for casual chit-chat. I don¡¯t want to waste everybody¡¯s time,¡± uttered Barnaby coldly. ¡°I like people who get straight to the point,¡± said Christina as she put down her scissors. ¡°Tell me, are you here to ask me to let Nigel off?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He may be an illegitimate son, but he is still part of the Stone family. Mrs. Hadley, if you have any conditions, feel free to let me know. I¡¯ll fulfill them if they are within my capacity.¡± Barnaby was very generous with his offer. Most people would not reject such an offer from the Stone family. However, Christina could not be bothered with it. She had no need for the support of the Stone family. ¡°Old Mr. Stone, are you aware of the illegal things that Nigel has done?¡± questioned Christina as the smile on her face disappeared. ¡°He nned a murder and passed it off as an ident. He killed my mother and caused my father to be disabled for the rest of his life. These grudges involve human lives. They aren¡¯t something that can be bought off with money.¡± Obviously, Barnaby was well aware of the atrocities that Nigel hadmitted. Otherwise, he would not have humbled himself in front of Christina and allowed her to ask for anything she wanted. Nigel was the closest connection Barnaby had with Azure. No matter what mistakes Nigel had committed, Barnaby had to protect that unique bond. There was a dangerous glint in Barnaby¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, those grudges belong to the older generation. Why must you drag the younger ones into this? If you promise to spare Nigel, I promise you that Nigel will never cause you any trouble again.¡± Christina was relentless. ¡°So, this is how the Stone family handles things. I¡¯ve finally experienced it firsthand.¡± Barnaby was not affected by Christina¡¯s provocation. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, even if you don¡¯t care about the Gibson family, you should think of the Hadley family. In terms of business, the Hadley family and the Stone family have had a number of dealings in recent years. If both families go head-on, it can¡¯t be good for you.¡± Christina raised her brows. The older, the wiser indeed. Barnaby must have done his investigation on me very thoroughly. That¡¯s how he knows my soft spot. ¡°Nathaniel must have turned you down, huh? That¡¯s why you¡¯re here.¡± Christina smiled coldly. Barnaby¡¯s subordinate took out a few documents and two fifty million checks and ced them on the table. ¡°These few contracts are worth a few billion. They are the most popr investment projects for this year. As long as you are agreeable, they will belong to you. Even if Gibson Corporation depends on Hadley Corporation, it will take you ten years before you can earn such an amount. Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re a neer. If you want to sit firmly in your position, you¡¯ll need more than ambition and background. You¡¯ll need to be capable. Your mother is already gone, but you have a long road ahead of you. You¡¯ll have to learn to look forward.¡± Christina nced at the documents and checks and stopped herself from throwing them at Barnaby¡¯s face. She said furiously. ¡°I¡¯m not as forgiving as you are, Old Mr. Stone. Nigel has to pay for what he has done even if it means that I will be an enemy of the Stone family.¡± This is absurd! Barnaby mmed the table, stood up, and red at her. ¡°Christina, you are asking for it!¡± Christina met his gaze without fear and sneered, ¡°You have gone to so much trouble for Nigel, Is Mr. Stone aware of it?¡± Barnaby¡¯s face darkened when he heard that. ¡°This is the family matter of the Stone family. It¡¯s none of your business,¡± To that, Christina retorted, ¡°This is between me and Nigel. I hope you won¡¯t interfere in the future. Even i I don¡¯t talk about my mother¡¯s incident, he has nearly killed my father. Nigel won¡¯te to any good end because of these two incidents.¡± ¡°Christina, you¡¯ll regret your decision.¡± With that, Barnaby walked out. Expressionlessly, Christina instructed, ¡°Lyle, burn all of these and make sure Nigel suffers in jail.¡± She was no pushover. It was time to teach Nigel a lesson. If not, they might think that she was terrified of them. ¡°Understood! I¡¯ll make the arrangements at once.¡± Lyle turned around and left. That night, Nathaniel could not make it back again to apany Christina. Nathaniel¡¯s overseaspany had encountered some major issues. He had to travel abroad to deal with the problems. Nathaniel did not exin in detail, and Christina did not ask too much either. After all, she knew nothing much about business. Since Christina refused to let Nigel off, Barnaby tried to use his connections to get Nigel out of jail but to no avail. Sheridan got wind of what Barnaby was doing. It was seen as a sign of provocation to Sheridan as the head of the household. All of a sudden, Sheridan¡¯s interference made Nigel¡¯s issue even harder to solve. That was the first time Barnaby had an argument with Sheridan. Barnaby questioned Sheridan lividly. Was it Christina¡¯s idea? What did she promise you? Why are you making things difficult for one of our own?¡± Chapter 649 You Know What I Want Chapter 649 You Know What I Want One of our own¡­ Sheridan found those words ironic. Regardless of how hard Barnaby tried, Sheridan would never allow Nigel to join the Stone family, which would be the equivalent of inviting his enemy into his house. This decision is mine and has nothing to do with anyone else,¡± Sheridan said grimly. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯ve already stated my stance clearly at the family banquet. I object to Nigel and his son being recognized in our family. There¡¯s no way the Stone family can tolerate the presence of an illegitimate son. Please don¡¯t put me in a difficult position for your own selfish reasons.¡± Barnaby paced back and forth in front of Sheridan, outraged and frustrated by the response. ¡°They won¡¯t threaten your position in the Stone family. After my death, everything under my name will be yours. What they¡¯re looking for is just official recognition. Is it really too much to ask? Sheridan, I hav always thought that you were a reasonable person. I¡¯m surprised to see that you¡¯re just as stubborn as you father. Christina isn¡¯t suitable for you, and let¡¯s not forget that she¡¯s married to Nathaniel and even has children with him. If you¡¯re looking to settle down. I can find someone who¡¯s much better suited for you. Barnaby¡¯s sincere advice fell on deaf ears. Sheridan knew exactly what he wanted. He only wanted to win something with his own effort and wasn¡¯t interested in any promises regardless of how attractive they were Now that Sheridan had established himself as the head of the family, Barnaby was no longer capable of changing his mind. ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t believe the baseless rumors out there. I don¡¯t deny that Mrs. Lazuli attempted to matchmake both of us and we did meet up a few times. Even though we¡¯re on good terms, I have no romantic feelings for her. What we share is just mutual admiration for each other.¡± A sarcastic glint sher across Sheridan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t mind you finding apanion to spend the rest of your days with, but Mrs. Lazuli isn¡¯t a good candidate. Also, I¡¯m certain that everyone else within the Stone family objects to it Grandpa, I¡¯m sure thest thing you want is to see the Stone family walking down the same path as the Gibson family.¡± Upon having his underlying intention exposed, Barnaby blushed and denied it in a guilty tone. ¡°Sheridan, what nonsense are you spouting? It will be embarrassing if word of this gets out.¡± A smirk shed across Sheridan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re aware of that. It would be inappropriate of me to interfere in the affairs of my elders.¡± Barnaby suddenly felt as if his authority had disappeared. In fact, if he continued to stay, he felt that Sheridan would rip away whatever self-respect he still had left. He returned to his room on the pretext that he wasn¡¯t feeling well. Putting on the frosty look he usually wore, Sheridan gave his subordinate a call and instructed, Tell Nigel that he better shut up if he still wants to live.¡± The next day, the hospital called with wonderful news. Timothy¡¯s condition had improved significantly, and there was a high chance that he would wake up soon. Upon hearing the delightful news, Christina immediately shared it with Nathaniel. She quickly finished her breakfast before hurrying to the hospital excitedly. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Just as she stepped out of the elevator, a man who was heavily disguised almost crashed into Christina. Fortunately, Lyle reacted swiftly bying in between the two and pushing the man back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± The man lowered his cap as he stood in the corner of the elevator. He tried his best to keep a low profile and allowed Christina and Lyle to exit first. Upon hearing the familiar voice, Christina turned around by reflex, but the elevator doors had already closed by then. Noticing that something was up, Lyle asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mrs. Hadley?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Christina retracted her gaze and assumed that it was just a figment of her imagination. There¡¯s no way Yerek would show up at the hospital. ¡°Hurry! Something has happened to the patient in ICU 7. Call the doctor and send the patient to the emergency room!¡± Christina was visibly stunned by the words. All she saw were doctors and nurses swarming into Timothy¡¯s ward before rushing him out in a gurney. Her heart skipped a beat and her face turned pale, and she ran after them from behind. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, be careful.¡± Lyle caught Christina when she lost her bnce. Staring intently at the closed door of the emergency room and desperately trying to catch her breath, Christina held her cramping stomach with one hand and grabbed Lyle with the other. Half an hourter, the attending doctor emerged. ¡°The patient has been poisoned. His condition is deteriorating rapidly. Please be prepared for the worst.¡± Poisoned? Christina felt as if her entire world had copsed. Unable to control her emotions, she snapped, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that he was improving over the phone this morning? How did he end up being poisoned? Did you give him the wrong drug?¡± The doctor was cautious inmenting, just in case it was the hospital¡¯s fault. If the patient were to die from it, it would be a serious case of medical negligence. Given Timothy¡¯s distinguished position, they had to treat the matter with the greatest sensitivity. ¡°Please calm down, Mrs. Hadley. The specialists are already trying their best to save Mr. Gibson. As for the kind of poison within him, we¡¯ll be able to tell from theb results very soon.¡± After the attending doctor was gone, Christina sat down with Lyle¡¯s help. The image of the man in the elevator earlier immediately shed across her mind. ¡°Lyle, check the surveince footage to see who entered my father¡¯s ward today.¡± Christina took a deep breath in an attempt to suppress the pain in her abdomen. ¡°Pay particr attention to the man we ran into earlier.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get you registered so that a doctor can examine you first.¡± Noticing the difort Christina was in and the fact that she was holding onto her stomach, Lyle was worried that there might be issues with he unborn child. Christina shook her head, for she wasn¡¯t bothered by the pain. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I ran too fast and just need to catch my breath. I¡¯ll be okay after resting a while.¡± However, her words failed to convince Lyle, who called a doctor over to examine Christina still. It wasn until Christina and her baby were dered to be fine that he finally left the hospital to do what he was told. The subsequent wait for Timothy¡¯sb results was torturous, and after a while, it showed that Timothy b snake venom in him. Unfortunately, the species of the snake to which the venom belonged was indigenous to Yartran. As the antidote wasn¡¯t avable domestically, Christina had no choice but to purchase it overseas which would take a day to arrive at the earliest. At the same time, Lyle had also found out the mysterious man¡¯s identity. It turned out to be Yerek, just a Christina had suspected. His objective formitting such a deed was undoubtedly to save Nigel Once Christina¡¯s call to Yerek connected, she asked candidly, ¡°Yerek, state your demands for the antidote At that moment, Yerek was standing on top of the pedestrian bridge opposite the hospital. As a chilly breeze blew across his face, he replied in a frosty voice, ¡°You know very well what I want.¡± Chapter 650 Find The Antidote Chapter 650 Find The Antidote Given how greedy Yerek was, Christina wasn¡¯t going to easily let him have his way. ¡°What Nigel has done is a crime and the mess he has created is just too big. He will be investigated soone orter, so don¡¯t ask for the impossible, Yerek,¡± Christina said coldly. Yerek snorted and responded in a nonchnt tone, ¡°Obviously, I¡¯m not doing all this for his sake. My request is simple. Get the Stone family to officially recognize my identity.¡± Just the day before, negotiations between Christina and Barnaby had failed and they had parted on bad terms, and Sheridan¡¯s stance toward Nigel and Yerek was firm. If even Barnaby couldn¡¯t change his mind, Christina didn¡¯t feel that she would stand a chance. Yerek is clearly making life difficult for me. Christina replied, ¡°Change your request. This is a matter of the Stone family which an outsider like me has no right to interfere with. I¡¯m afraid you overestimate my influence.¡±¡°¡± To Yerek, results were all that mattered to him, and he couldn¡¯t care less about the process. ¡°You and Sheridan are close, and he seems to care a lot about you. If you can win over someone as ruthless as Nathaniel, I¡¯m sure you cane up with something to have Sheridan eating out of your hand.¡± Yerek¡¯s words were like a huge p on Christina¡¯s face. She took a deep breath. ¡°Yerek, not all rtionships between men and women are as sleazy as you think they are. If your goal is to upset me, I can unequivocally tell you that you have seeded.¡± Clenching her phone with hatred brimming within her, Christina raised her head to look at her father who was lying in the ICU. ¡°Barnaby came to see me yesterday and offered me a hugepensation with a single condition. He asked that I withdraw mywsuit against Nigel.¡± A crafty glint shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. ¡°If he were to learn that you used my father¡¯s life to ckmail me, how do you think he¡¯d react?¡± Yerek fell into an abrupt silence. The howling wind echoed in his cars, sounding just like the roar of a beast. The defensive move made by Christina was nothing but a gamble. She was betting that money and power were more important to Yerek than Nigel¡¯s life. Sensing that the time was right, Christina began to negotiate with Yerek calmly. ¡°If you give me the antidote, I won¡¯t reveal your ambition to Barnaby. Once Nigel goes to prison, his tainted reputation will prevent him from ever being recognized by the Stone family. However, unlike him, Barnaby isn¡¯t going to give up on taking you in.¡± Christina left it at that. Given that Yerek wasn¡¯t a fool, she was confident that he would make the obvious choice. With Nigel out of the way, Barnaby would be more focused on him, providing him with more opportunities to showcase his capabilities. Sick of living his days being someone unrecognized, Yerek endeavored to seize upon the opportunity no matter what. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could still seed in life even without Nigel¡¯s help. The fantasy of his glorious future caused Yerek¡¯s blood to rush through his body in excitement. ¡°Go to the garden behind the hospital in half an hour¡± Considering how big the garden was, Christina would have to waste precious time looking around withou andmark. It would get in the way of curing Timothy at the right time. Yerek ended the call before Christina could ask further. When she tried to call back, she could no longer get through. Christina remained calm nheless. Truth be told, she was relieved to have concluded the negotiation sessfully despite being at a disadvantage. If Yerek had rejected her proposal, she would have no choice but to have the antidote sent in from overseas. No matter what, there was no way she would put Timothy¡¯s life at risk. ¡°Lyle, get some men to find the antidote that Yerek left in the garden behind the hospital.¡± ¡°Should we arrest him?¡± ¡°No. I still have some use for him. Once Nigel goes to prison, Barnaby will pin hisst hopes on Yerek Pressuring Barnaby now would do us no good at all.¡± With that. Lyle went off upon receiving his orders. Standing in front of the windows, Christina couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious as she watched Lyle searched the garden with his men. Getting their hands on the antidote didn¡¯t mean that Timothy would be saved. Time was still needed to validate its authenticity, Finally, Lyle found a small leather pouch underneath the stone table at one of the pavilions. Inside it was a vial that contained the antidote. With no time to waste, he had it sent to theb to be tested. Once the results were obtained within the shortest time possible, the antidote was handed to the attending doctor. After spending a few tortuous hours waiting, Christina finally received some good news. The poison within Timothy was sessfully neutralized, but he still needed long-term care in the hospital due to his body¡¯s weakened condition. As the stress within her gradually dissipated, Christina heaved a sigh of relief while holding on to the side of the bed. Lyle asked with concern, ¡°Are you unwell, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Christina responded with a gentle shake of her head. After resolving one issue, she still had plenty of problems that awaited her attention. She needed to rpose herself after taking a short break. ¡°Did you hear anything from Mr. Hadley?¡± Christina hadn¡¯t been able to get in touch with Nathaniel sin a few hours ago. As he would always reply to her messages, the only logical exnation was that he had run into trouble overseas. Lyle replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± Christina raised her head and gave him a piercing look. ¡°Lyle, you¡¯re one of Nathaniel¡¯s closest aides. I¡¯m sure you know where he is, so please don¡¯t hide it from me.¡± All of a sudden, Lyle could feel an immense pressure weighing down on his shoulders. The consequence of betraying Christina were significantly worse than angering Nathaniel. Nheless, Lyle knew that Nathaniel must have his reasons for keeping the truth from Christina, causin him to hesitate. Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Forget it. Since you don¡¯t want to talk about it, I¡¯m not going to force you.¡± Lyle lowered his gaze and replied in a solemn voice, ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley.¡± After staying in the hospital until the afternoon, Christina went to her office to deal with the backlog that had piled up. By the time she reached home, it was already at night. She had a simple dinner and was chatting with Rayne on video in the study when the butler barged in with a frantic look on his face. ¡°Ms. Steele, there are two police officers here to see you. They mentioned that they have some questions and are waiting in the living room.¡± Rayne grew nervous upon hearing the butler¡¯s words. ¡°Christina, did something happen to you in Hallsbay?¡± Christina reassured Rayne. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll head down and take a look. I¡¯ll talk to you some other time.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. She then ended the call and headed downstairs. ¡°We¡¯re sorry to disturb you sote at night, Ms. Steele, but there¡¯s a case that requires your cooperation. There¡¯s no need to feel anxious. All we have is just a few questions, a female officer informed her politely. Christina nodded in acknowledgment and replied calmly. ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s going on?¡± Chapter 651 The Calm Before The Storm Chapter 651 The Calm Before The Storm The policewoman exchanged nces with her colleague before revealing. ¡°It¡¯s your grandmother, Mrs. Lazuli.¡± With a light furrow of her brows, Christina asked, ¡°What happened to her?¡± ¡°Earlier tonight, there was a significant car ident near the Gibson residence involving Mrs. Lazuli,¡± the policewoman said solemnly. ¡°Based on the evidence found at the scene, there were no signs of braking. and the driver responsible for the ident has fled. The initial investigation points toward it being an intentional homicide. We understand that there have been some recent unpleasant interactions between you, Ms. Steele, and Mrs. Lazuli. Therefore, we need to gather further information from you to elerate the progress of the case.¡± Azure was a decisive and cautious woman and had a knack for manipting people¡¯s emotions. In her daily interactions, she always maintained an elegant and graceful demeanor. Apart from herself, Christina couldn¡¯t think of anyone else whom her grandmother might have offended in the past. Christina, having done nothing wrong, maintained a calm expression as she looked into the policewoman¡¯s eyes. The rtionship between my grandmother and me deteriorated due to disagreements over dividing the family assets. Although we had a few unpleasant arguments, it never reached a point where I would harm her.¡± The policewoman continued to inquire, ¡°Could you please share your schedule for today?¡± ¡°I was at the hospital visiting my father this morning until this afternoon. There are surveince cameras at the hospital that you can check¡­ Christina meticulously recounted every ce she had been and everything she had done throughout the day to the policewoman, sparing no details. She even called Lyle over to be her witness but deliberately concealed the interaction that took ce between her and Yerek. ¡°Could we look around your garage, Ms. Steele?¡± the policewoman suddenly requested. ¡°Of course. Pleasee with me,¡± Christina responded. Without further inquiry, she personally guided the two police officers to the garage. As they entered the garage, they were greeted by a collection of luxury cars, all acquired by Timothy for Christina. Besides the regrly-used ck Mercedes-Benz, the rest of the luxury vehicles remained untouched, and each car was meticulously covered with dust covers, preserved in pristine condition. Christina instructed the butler to remove all the dust covers, enabling the police officers to inspect the vehicles more easily. The two police officers carefully searched the vehicles but did not discover any significant evidence. They bid their farewells and promptly departed. After instructing the butler to escort the guests out, Christina returned to the living room. There, she directed Lyle, saying, ¡°Find out exactly what happened with Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s car ident. I expect to have all the details within half an hour.¡± Lyle wasted no time and swiftly embarked on his task. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. During the wait, Christina replied to Rayne¡¯s message, reassuring her not to worry. She then proceeded to persistently dial Nathaniel¡¯s phone number but to no avail. His phone remained unreachable, and none of her messages received a response. Christina tried contacting Sebastian instead. While her call did go through, there was no answer from the other end. This heightened Christina¡¯s anxiety even more. She made a firm mental note, resolute in her determination to extract information about Nathaniel¡¯s whereabouts from Lyle as soon as he returned. A popr romance drama yed on the television in the living room, but Christina had no interest in watching it. Her mind was consumed by other concerns, leaving her unable to focus on the show. Half an hourter, Lyle returned with the information. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli had a car ident near the Gibson residence. The car involved in the incident is the same make and model as the Mercedes-Benz you regrly use. Due to the poor lighting conditions at the ident site and the ongoing adjustments to the surveince equipment in that area, the nearby surveince cameras were unable to capture the identity of the hit-and-run driver. However, the police gathered information from individuals who revealed that Mrs. Lazuli had visited you several times, and there were witnesses who saw her being assaulted in your office.¡± Christina tapped the armrest of the couch rhythmically as her thoughts raced. The individuals most likely to harbor ill intentions toward Mrs. Lazuli, aside from Nigel and his son, are Anya and Macy. However, Nigel is in custody, unable to save himself, let alone orchestrate such a plot. Moreover, Mrs. Lazuli is his mother, making it highly improbable for him to be driven to the point of madness where he would hire someone tomit murder. Christina had just reached an agreement with Yerek, and the man wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to create trouble for himself. Therefore, the primary suspect, who not only had the strongest motive to harm Azure but also stood to benefit from framing others, was none other than Anya Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s misfortune is not a mere coincidence. Her rtionship with Anya has changed, and there¡¯s a possibility that Mrs. Lazuli possesses undisclosed knowledge of certain secrets about Anya, which could have led to her being silenced. On the other hand, Macy is simply a woman who enjoys a life of wealth and luxury, and it seems unlikely that she would have the audacity to cause harm to Mrs. Lazuli. With those thoughts in her mind, Christina instructed Lyle. ¡°Find out what Anya has been up to recently.¡± Her eyes were fixed on him unwaveringly as her words hung in the air. As the silence stretched on without any response from Christina, Lyle¡¯s confusion grew, apanied by a growing sense of unease. Lyle, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, mustered up the courage and asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, is there anything else you need?¡± ¡°There is,¡± came Christina¡¯s blunt response. ¡°What are Nathaniel and Sebastian doing overseas? If you can¡¯t provide me with a clear answer today, I¡¯ll simply drag this out and keep you here until I get what I want.¡± She refused to give the man a chance to dismiss the matter. Knowing that this day woulde sooner orter, Kyle carefully considered his words before responding, ¡°The Hadley family is involved in a wide range of businesses overseas, including military and arms trade. Two weeks ago, our shipment was hijacked in Erihal. The perpetrators not only demanded a substantial ransom of one billion in Anndurn currency but also requested for Mr. Hadley to personally negotiate with them. ¡°Erihal is technologically underdeveloped, especially in remote areas wheremunication facilities are often damaged. The chosen negotiation venue is situated in the mountains. Our team experienced a loss of contact with Mr. Hadley due to poor signal.¡± A sudden pang of tightness gripped Christina¡¯s chest, causing her voice to tremble slightly as she anxiously inquired. ¡°And what about now? Did something happen to Nathaniel and Sebastian?¡± Lyle furrowed his brow, remaining silent for a long while before continuing. ¡°Our people who are stationed in Erihal are working diligently to investigate the situation. Please try not to worry too much, Mrs. Hadley. For those who frequent Erihal, no news is often considered good news,¡± It was then Christina finally realized that Nathaniel had kept this from her because of the inherent risks of the mission. ¡°Before leaving, Mr. Hadley instructed me to keep a close eye on you and prevent any interaction between you and Mr. Stone.¡± Lyle pondered for a moment before adding, ¡°Mr. Hadley and Mr. Stone are businesspetitors, and the most evident proof of their discord lies in the rivalry of their respective businesses in Erihal.¡± ¡°Are you suggesting that the issues encountered by the Hadley family could potentially be orchestrated by the Stone family?¡± Christina daringly spected. ¡°We can¡¯t rule out that possibility. After all, if the Stones manage to push the Hadleys out of their position. as the top business in Erihal, the Stones can take their ce,¡± Lyle didn¡¯t provide a definite answer but rather spoke in a vague manner. The newfound knowledge forced Christina to weigh her options. ¡°I can¡¯tpletely cut ties with Sheridan at the moment. If I want to deal with Nigel and Yerek, Sheridan will be of great assistance to me.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley is aware that you intend to use the Stone family to deal with Nigel and his son, which is why he isn¡¯t insisting on you staying away from Mr. Stone. Also, he left you something.¡± Chapter 652 Confident Chapter 652 Confident Christina turned to gaze at Lyle. ¡°What did he leave me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but ording to Mr. Hadley¡¯s orders, I cannot give you the item unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary.¡± Nevertheless, Christina¡¯s focus was not on the item that Nathaniel had left for her. Now that she had uncovered the reason behind his trip abroad, her next course of action was to wait for him to contact her. At this moment, I must prioritize my own safety to protect others. Moreover, I have confidence in Nathaniel, and I¡¯m sure he made a wise decision. Despite Christina¡¯s efforts to convince herself not to worry about Nathaniel, there was no denying that she was unable to fully control her own actions. That night, she couldn¡¯t avoid the restless grip of insomnia. The following morning. Christina appeared in the dining room, visibly worn out. She half-heartedly had a couple of bites of breakfast, declining Raymond¡¯s suggestion to have a doctore and check on her. She then went to thepany and attended a scheduled meeting thatsted until noon before finally coming to an end. Christina,pletely worn out, sank into her office chair, longing for a brief respite. Lyle had gone out to fetch a nutritious meal for her. Thus, she instantly perked up at the sound of footsteps. Warily opening her eyes, Christina recognized the person standing in front of her and said with a hint of annoyance in her tone, ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be here, Anya.¡± The thick-skinned Anya casually plopped herself down on the couch in the lounge area and helped herself to the fruits and snacks on the coffee table. Christina red at Anya but did not call for her secretary to have the uninvited guest removed from her office. After finishing a te of snacks and a te of grapes, Anya turned to regard Christina with a smile on her face. ¡°Your life is bing quitefortable. You even had the gall to reject Old Mr. Stone¡¯s offer of several billion aspensation. When did you be so confident, Christina?¡± The negotiation between Barnaby and me took ce at my mansion, with no more than five people present. Excluding myself and Barnaby, the other people present at the negotiation are our trusted confidantes. How did Anyae to know the details of our conversation Christina rose to her feet and walked over, taking a seat opposite Anya. ¡°Are you here to plead for leniency on Nigel¡¯s behalf?¡± The insincere smile on Anya¡¯s countenance faded, only to be reced by a sneer. ¡°Plead with you? Why would I bother pleading with you? Nigel abandoned me and my mother. Whatever happens to him has nothing to do with me.¡± Even so, Christina was not na?ve enough to believe that Anya hade to see her just for a casual chat. ¡°Get to the point. I¡¯m busy,¡± she said, cutting to the chase. ¡°Grandma was in a car ident. She was in the emergency room all night, and her condition only stabilized this morning,¡± said Anya. ¡°I won¡¯t beat around the bush. She¡¯s your grandmother too, and the uing medical expenses require a substantial amount of money. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re well aware of our family¡¯s financial situation and that we can¡¯t afford those expenses. Right now, you¡¯re the only one capable of covering her medical bills, so shouldn¡¯t you step up and provide the funds?¡± Timothy was still hospitalized. Logically, it should be Christina¡¯s duty to fulfill the filial responsibilities on behalf of her father. Even though she was displeased with Azure, she couldn¡¯t shirk the obligations that were expected of her in this situation. Of course, Christina would provide the necessary funds for Azure¡¯s medical fees, but she absolutely would not entrust the money to Anya. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll send someone to the hospital to take care of the matters concerning Mrs. Lazuli. I¡¯ll also ensure that all the medical expenses are covered. Thank you for making the trip here to inform me.¡± Having been seen through, Anya didn¡¯t bother hiding anymore. She boldly demanded what she wanted from Christina, ¡°Grandma despises you the most. Even though you¡¯re fulfilling your father¡¯s duty on his behalf, I¡¯m sure she wouldn¡¯t be pleased if she were to find out that you were the one who paid for her medical expenses. If your actions end up angering her and bringing her harm, none of us will be able to shoulder that responsibility Christina took a sip of water, her calm gaze seemingly carrying a prating power that struck directly at Anya¡¯s heart. ¡°So, you want me to entrust the medical fees to you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for the best,¡± Anya stated brazenly. ¡°You¡¯re a busy woman, and I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have the time nor the energy to take care of Grandma. Hiring a caretaker isn¡¯t something my mom and I are comfortable with. We¡¯ve already discussed it among ourselves and decided that the two of us will take turns looking after Grandma. If you¡¯re not willing to contribute your efforts, then you should at least contribute the money. Christina didn¡¯t interrupt Anya¡¯s self-righteous speech, prompting thetter to add, ¡°Also, considering the current market rates, hiring a caretaker is expensive. My mom and I can¡¯t work for free. You¡¯ll have to pay us for our services as well. How about starting with a million?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Staring at Anya as if the woman was a fool, Christina said with a hint of mockery in her voice, ¡°Anya. you¡¯ve lived a life of luxury since childhood, and your mother spends her days attending gatherings. shopping, and traveling, yet you¡¯re expecting me to pay you a million aspensation for your services? Do you really think I can entrust you and your mother with taking care of Grandma?¡± Anya had been driven to the brink of madness by her mounting debts. Desperate to make money, she saw Christina as her prime target, and Azure¡¯s medical expenses were merely a convenient excuse for her to approach Christina for money. At that moment, as she realized things weren¡¯t going in her favor, Anya swiftly shifted her stance. ¡°Christina, don¡¯t think I¡¯m unaware that you¡¯re involved in Grandma¡¯s ident. Even the police have come looking for you. I¡¯m sure you had a hand in this!¡± ¡°How do you know the police came looking for me? Did you bug me, or did you nt an informant in my house?¡± Christina asked solemnly. Anya looked away. ¡°I went to see youst night and happened to see the police officers entering your mansion with my own eyes. I didn¡¯te to see you after because I couldn¡¯t leave the hospital.¡± No matter how perfect Anya¡¯s exnation was, Christina didn¡¯t believe a single word that came out of her mouth. ¡°You suspect me of wanting to harm Grandma, but I have reasons to suspect you too,¡± Christina stated matter-of-factly. ¡°In fact, the reason is simple. Grandma found out about your secret, so you wanted to silence her while simultaneously pinning the me on me. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Anya almost leaped out of her seat. ring at Christina, she continued, ¡°I have always been transparent and truthful in my actions. Grandma is so good to me, so why would I ever want to harm her? Christina, you must¡¯ve sent someone to do this. You¡¯re unhappy that Grandma favors my father, so you want to seize her entire fortune.¡± Christina had never been interested in Azure¡¯s assets; her only desire was to seek justice for Timothy. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can clean your hands of everything. Anya. The case involving Madison and Miranda isn¡¯t fully resolved yet.¡± ¡°Madison? Who is that?¡± Anya feigned ignorance, her voiceced with sarcasm. ¡°Oh, I remember now. Isn¡¯t that woman your love rival? What possible gain would I have in killing her? She was after your man, not mine. And as for Miranda, she is even more irrelevant to me. She¡¯s your stepmother, and we all know how much you despise Emilia. After all the abuse you endured from them, your reasons for wanting them dead seem all the more justified.¡± Following the passage of time, despite asional moments of fear when she feared her deeds might be exposed, Anya grew increasingly confident. After all, given theck of concrete evidence, the police would be unable to establish her as the perpetrator. ¡°I have no patience or tolerance for your harassment, Anya. If you continue to bother me, I won¡¯t hesitate to have you reunited with Nigel behind bars.¡± Chapter 653 Direct Confrontation Chapter 653 Direct Confrontation Anya realized that without the backing of the Gibson family, she stood no chance against Christina. She understood that engaging in a direct confrontation with Christina would only put her at a disadvantage. However, Anya¡¯s pride prevented her from acknowledging that Christina was living a more sessful life than her. Before leaving. Anya could not resist leaving some biting remarks. ¡°Christina, you¡¯ll pay for every ounce of humiliation you¡¯ve inflicted on me! I swear, even if it means dragging you down to hell, I won¡¯t rest until you¡¯ve suffered as I have!¡± ¡°You all initiated this cruel game, remember? If you can¡¯t handle the consequences of your own actions, why did you willingly create such an ufortable situation in the first ce?¡± Christina retorted. With a heart full of resentment, Anya stormed out and coincidentally bumped into the secretary who wasing in with a cup of coffee. The coffee spilled all over the secretary, who screamed in pain. Not only did Anya refuse to apologize for her reckless behavior, but she also seized the opportunity to shift the me to the secretary and delivered her usations with a self-righteous tone. ¡°Are you blind?¡± Anya scolded, her voice dripping with disdain. ¡°Why are you staring at me? Do you want me to pluck your eyes out? Consider yourself lucky that the coffee didn¡¯t spill on me. Otherwise, you¡¯d be held ountable and have topensate me with a year¡¯s sry. I highly doubt you¡¯re capable of handling that!¡± The secretary, her eyes red with distress, cast a nce at Christina. Having had several encounters with Anya before, she was well aware that Anya was not an easy person to deal with. Despite her innocence, she found herself unjustly med. Being scalded by hot coffee without any fault of her own was already a distressing experience. However, the false usation added insult to injury. making it impossible for her to overlook the injustice. No matter how forgiving she might be, she could not simply let the usation slide. ¡°You bumped into me. ¡°What did you say?¡± Anya yelled fiercely, instantly silencing the frightened secretary, who did not dare to utter another word. ¡°Apologize to my secretary, Anya,¡± Christina said sternly, her voice filled with unwavering resolve and authority. ¡°Otherwise, don¡¯t even think about walking through that door.¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Anya sneered, casting a disdainful nce at Christina and the secretary. ¡°Just like you, Christina, your employees enjoy framing and deceiving others, ying the innocent victim card. They may be afraid of you because they¡¯re under your employ, but not me. I have no fear of you.¡± With that. Anya arrogantly turned and left, exuding an air of superiority. Christina looked at her departing figure calmly, making no immediate move. As the secretary watched Anya step into the elevator, she prepared herself to swallow her grievances and let the matter rest, but at that moment, Anya suddenly staggered backward in terror. Lyle emerged from the elevator, walking steadily and maintaining aposed demeanor, carrying a bag of takeaway meals from a nearby restaurant. ¡°Lyle, bring her over here,¡± Christinamanded with a cold tone. Lyle¡¯s timely return spared her the need to call security, Lyle approached Anya, who looked at him with a terrified expression as if she had seen a ghost. She continued to back away, desperately wishing she could shrink herself into the crevices of the wall. ¡°Don¡¯te near me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Anya eximed, waving her hands frantically. Unfazed, Lyle calmly grabbed Anya by the cor with one hand while holding the bag of takeaway meals in the other before walking steadily toward Christina. With a casual toss, he let go of Anya and turned to Christina. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you ready to have your meal now?¡± The onlookers were astounded. In the midst of this urgent chaos, only Lyle could remain calm and worry about whether Christina would go hungry. Lyle paid no attention to the others, as he wasmitted to executing and carrying out his superior¡¯s orders wlessly. It was his professional code of conduct. Anyone who interfered with his work would not be spared. To Lyle, ensuring that Christina adhered to her scheduled meals and sleep was a crucial directive conveyed by Nathaniel. Sometimes, Lyle¡¯s rigid adherence to protocols would give Christina a headache. She smiled and said, ¡°Thank you for your hard work. Take the things into the office and keep them there. I¡¯ll have my meal once I resolve the problem here.¡± Lyle frowned and responded, ¡°Mr. Hadley will not be pleased to hear this.¡± Christina did not want to make things difficult for Lyle either. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll leave this matter to you. Make sure she apologizes to my secretary andpensates her for the medical expenses. If she refuses, you handle it as you see fit as long as it doesn¡¯t endanger her life.¡± Anya red at Christina. ¡°Christina Steele, how dare you?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Ignoring her, Christina walked into her office, leaving Anya to publicly unleash a torrent of abusive words at her. Anya was wary of Lyle, her legs turning weak with fear, but her tongue remained sharp, especially when it came to hurling insults without repeating a single word. Lyle handed the takeaway meal to his assistant to take inside, then fixed his cold gaze on Anya. ¡°Apologize, Compensate.¡± Anya red at Lyle and said in a low voice, ¡°It was you. You barged into Warren¡¯s house and left him disabled!¡± The gruesome events of that night had tormented Anya in her nightmares for the following two weeks. Cindee Weyverine, Warren¡¯s mother, pinned all the me on Anya, using her of masterminding the entire incident and influencing Warren to confront Christina. However, their ns hit a snag. The truth was eventually exposed, resulting in a tarnished family reputation and significant financial losses for thepany. Warren paid a heavy price, ending up crippled before the matter was finally resolved. Cindee grew to despise Anya, taking every opportunity to physically attack her and even resorting to public shaming by exposing Anya¡¯s dark secrets through posters stered around the neighborhood where she and lived. Anya and Macy had to endure the constant gossip and judgment from their neighbors whenever they stepped outside. Unfortunately, they could not afford to find a new ce, and their currentndlord refused to return their security deposit. Reluctant to waste their money, they had no other option but to continue living there. Anya and Macy did make efforts to find employment, but Cindee would consistently undermine their job opportunities behind the scenes. ¡°Warren reaped what he sowed. He can only me himself for his action.¡±¡° Lyle¡¯s eyes showed a hint of impatience. ¡°Ms. Gibson, I¡¯ve warned you before not to cause trouble for Mrs. Hadley, but it seems you haven¡¯t taken my words to heart Lyle flexed his fingers, his icy gaze sweeping over Anya¡¯s figure as if he were browsing through a marketce, ¡°Ms. Gibson, would you like me to spare your hands or legs? I¡¯m open to both options.¡± Upon hearing that, Anya felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. The thought of ending up like Warren, confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of her days, terrified her. ¡°F-Fine! I¡¯ll apologize to her and cover her medical expenses, but you better noty a finger on me. I want you to remember that I¡¯m the granddaughter of Old Mr. Stone. If anything terrible happens to me, my grandfather will make sure you pay for it!¡± Lyle¡¯s expression remained impassive as he delivered a cutting remark. ¡°As long as your name is not recorded in the family genealogy, you¡¯ll never truly be one of the Stones.¡± His words added insult to injury, further aggravating Anya¡¯s anguish. Fueled by anger and despair, Anya rummaged through her wallet in a frenzy, forcefully thrusting severalrge bills into Lyle¡¯s arms. She clenched her teeth and begrudgingly muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± before leaving hastily, looking disheveled. Lyle handed the money to the secretary and turned to enter the office, reporting back to Christina. ¡°Did she say anything else before leaving?¡± Christina asked. Chapter 654 Cannot Afford To Offend Her Chapter 654 Cannot Afford To Offend Her Lyle replied, ¡°No. She left after apologizing and leaving behind the money for the medical expenses. Mrs. Hadley, if you have something to ask her, I¡¯ll get her toe back.¡± ¡°No need. It¡¯s nothing important. Just let her be.¡± Christina did not wish to see Anya and had nothing to talk to her about. Whenever they saw each other, they would either insult each other or get into an argument, or the conversation would always lead to a discussion about money. Christina¡¯s money did not appear out of thin air. She had already drawn the line with Anya during the division of the Gibson family¡¯s assets back then. If Anya had even an ounce of self-respect, she wouldn¡¯t be finding trouble with Christina all the time. Christina had to host two meetings that afternoon, and she did not have much free time before that. The only chance for her to rest was after breakfast ¡°Any news from Mr. Hadley?¡± Christina turned to look at Lyle after removing her coat and hanging it on the coat rack. ¡°We have managed to get in touch with Mr. Taggart. Everything is well with Mr. Hadley. Mr. Hadley has also instructed his subordinate to pass a message to you, telling you not to worry. ¡°All right.¡± A rare joyful smile appeared on Christina¡¯s face. Feeling less gloomy, she said, ¡°I¡¯m going to get some rest. Wake me up after an hour.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lyle walked out of the lounge and stood guard outside the door. After Anya came out of Gibson Corporation and got into her car which was parked by the roadside, her phone started ringing. Without looking at the caller ID, she picked up the call and startedshing out at the other party. ¡°Why are you in such a rush? I will return whatever I owe you!¡± ¡°Anya, did you and your mother steal money to gamble again?¡± Anya froze when she heard Yerek¡¯s voice. She nced at the phone screen, and her heart sank. ¡°Yerek, I don¡¯t gamble. I didn¡¯t check who it was before I picked up. I thought it was a previous creditor calling to ask for payment. I wasn¡¯t scolding you,¡± she exined in a humble manner. Yerek let out a cold snort and went straight to the point, saying. ¡°What did Christina say when you asked her to pay for Grandma¡¯s medical bills?¡± Anya would not pass up on any opportunity to criticize Christina. ¡°She didn¡¯t believe me. You should have seen how smug she was just now. She has never treated Grandma as a family in the first ce. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have encouraged Timothy to request a division of the family¡¯s assets. It¡¯s impossible to get her to y her part as a filial grandchild,¡± she said, twisting the truth. ¡°Anya, did you say anything wrong to her and anger her? Is that why she refused to pay for Grandma¡¯s medical bills?¡± Yerek understood Anya very well. She would rather kill herself than humble herself in front of Christina. Nevertheless, Yerck did not care about that. He was not genuinely concerned about Azure. He only had one goal, which was to sow discord between Anya and Christina, turning them against each other. However, Anya was not a useful weapon to him. As she was extremely short-sighted, the most she could do was to make a few superficial cuts on the enemy¡¯s body. She would not be able to fatally wound them. ¡°Yerek, you don¡¯t know how evil Christina is. That b*tch even ordered her bodyguard to chop off my legs. If I didn¡¯t run fast enough, she might have already killed me.¡± Anya was racking her brains to ¡°Think about it carefully. If we fail to get money from Christina, Dad¡¯spany will go bankrupt. If that happens, we will no longer have a chance to turn things around. How are we supposed to convince Barnaby to acknowledge us as part of the Stone family then?¡± Yerek said inly. He was anxious to return to the Stone family, and no matter what Sheridan would do, that desire of his would not be extinguished. As Nigel would not be able to escape going to jail, Yerek knew that he could not rely on him and had to seek a way out for himself. He had approached Anya not because they were siblings or because he thought that two were stronger than one. Rather, there was simply no one else who could help him, and Anya happened to sh with Christina. With just some instigation from him, Anya would be more than happy to create trouble for Christina. He would be able to get rid of Christina without even lifting a finger. If he had known how useless Anya was, he would never have approached her. ¡°Christina can get anything she wants because she has Nathaniel supporting her, but I have nothing. What can I possibly threaten her with? Do you think I enjoy being humiliated by her and letting her step all over me? Do you think you¡¯re the only one who¡¯s frustrated? I am too!¡± ¡°You can snatch Nathaniel away from her and make him your man instead. Isn¡¯t that your forte? Did what happen with Mrs. Yackley scare you?¡± ¡°Me? Scared? What happened to Warren was just an ident. He would have already been mine if his wife had not suddenly shown up. ¡°I found out that Nathaniel¡¯s been going on frequent business trips recently. He¡¯s attending an international business conference in Lostaria next week, and I managed to get you an invitation to the event. You should know what you¡¯re supposed to do next, right?¡± ¡°Of course. Don¡¯t worry, I know what to do. All right, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m gonna drive now.¡± With Yerek¡¯s support, ill intentions started brewing in Anya¡¯s mind once again. The international business conference was one of the most prestigious business events held annually. The invited guests consisted of some of the most powerful and influential businessmen in the country. Even if she failed to seduce Nathaniel, there would still be plenty of other choices for her. Anya bit the bullet and contacted her previous styling team to customize a special look for her. Her goal was to be the most morous woman at the event. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. Christina¡¯s secretary passed her the invitation to the international business conference when she returned to her office after hosting two meetings in the afternoon. Even though Christina had attended fashion shows of various scales, it was her first time attending at business conference. It had been barely a week since she had taken over Gibson Corporation. As she was still not familiar with the ways of business and had yet to be recognized by thepany¡¯s business partners, she did not feelfortable attending the event. ¡°Get someone else to go,¡± she said as she ced the invitation on the table. Just as the secretary was about to reply, Lyle quickly interjected. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has confirmed his attendance at the event. If you go, you will be able to see him.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Make the necessary arrangements. I¡¯m going to Lostaria.¡± ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll book the air ticket and hotel right away.¡± The secretary did not leave immediately after saying that. She remained rooted to the spot while fixing her gaze on Christina, looking as if she had something to say. Feeling ufortable being stared at, Christina asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± After a moment of hesitation, the secretary replied. ¡°The hospital called just now¡­¡± Chapter 655 Proposition Chapter 655 Proposition Christina¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard the word ¡°hospital.¡± She asked anxiously, ¡°What happened?¡± Sensing the tense atmosphere, the secretary quickly exined, ¡°The hospital called and mentioned Old Mrs. Gibson has already umted a huge amount of medical bills. If you do not pay up, they may seriously consider stopping the treatment immediately.¡± Christina had forgotten an important point as she panicked earlier. She had left her own contact information at the hospital. If something did happen to Timothy, the hospital should¡¯ve called her private number. She figured the hospital must¡¯ve contacted her to talk about Azure¡¯s situation because of Anya¡¯s doing. ¡°I got it. You can continue with your work.¡± Christina instantly rxed. She got up and put on her coat while instructing Lyle, ¡°Prepare the car. I¡¯m going to pay her a visit.¡± Naturally, Lyle knew who Christina was referring to by ¡°her.¡± Due to theck of money, Anya had arranged for Azure to stay in the most basic ward. Even though she was the only person staying in that ward, Azure was still unsatisfied. The first thing she did after waking up was to seek assistance from Barnaby, who was on vacation in the mountains. Barnaby had been keeping a low profiletely. Although he couldn¡¯t make it there in person, he expressed his utmost sincerity by sending his personal butler, Chandler Duncan, to attend to Azure. Chandler arranged for her to be transferred to the VIP ward and brought along two experienced caregivers to take care of Azure, providing her with extravagant amodation and meals. Azure had turned her boring hospital stay into a luxury vacation. When Christina arrived at the ward and saw the scene featuring Azure leisurely watching a television show on the hospital bed with two caregivers serving her, she thought she had entered the wrong room. Azure snorted in displeasure when she noticed Christina, clearly not weing thetter¡¯s presence. ¡°What are you doing here? I¡¯m not dead yet. You don¡¯t need toe to collect my body.¡± As that was the Gibson family¡¯s matter, Chandler thought it would be best for him not to get involved. He made an excuse and was about to leave the ward with the two caregivers when Azure stopped him. ¡°She should leave, not you. What do you think you¡¯re doing? Come back here, all of you.¡± Chandler halted in his tracks and exined patiently, ¡°You have something to discuss with Ms. Steele, so it¡¯s not appropriate for us to stay.¡± ¡°I have nothing to talk to her about. If there really is something to discuss, why don¡¯t you ask her why she had someone run me over with a car? rify this matter so you can report back to Old Mr. Stone about what happened, Azure uttered angrily. Although Chandler had been instructed toe over and care for Azure, Barnaby didn¡¯t tell him to do anything else. Besides, he wasn¡¯t Azure¡¯s butler. He felt somewhat reluctant toply whenever she ordered him around condescendingly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Old Mrs. Gibson. The police are still investigating your car ident. Without evidence, I don¡¯t know how to question Ms. Steele either.¡± Chandler evaded the responsibility. ¡°It¡¯s not suitable for me to get involved in these matters, so we shall stand by outside. You can call us anytime if you need anything.¡± With that, Chandler and the two caregivers exited the ward. Azure grimaced and swept the fruit and pastries off the table. Christina signaled for Lyle to leave. Then, she took a few steps forward and stood beside the bed, meeting Azure¡¯s gaze. ¡°It seems your injuries aren¡¯t severe. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have the strength to throw a tantrum. If I had known Old Mr. Stone had paid for your medical bills, I wouldn¡¯t havee. After all, it is quite embarrassing because the hospital called mypany to urge me to settle the bill.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as if I can¡¯t afford to pay the medical fees, so cut that pretense of yours. Do you think that by saying all those things you can have a clean te? Hmph! Dream on!¡± ¡°After you got into the car ident, the police dide to find me, but only to acquire more information. My suspicion has already been ruled out, so your suspicion of me is insignificant.¡± Christina picked up an orange and slowly peeled it with a fruit knife. Azure warily stared at the fruit knife in Christina¡¯s hand, training her eyes on Christina¡¯s every move. ¡°Of course you think you¡¯re innocent with Nathaniel helping you clean up the mess. Still, I don¡¯t believe you. Sooner orter, I will find evidence and expose your nature as a hypocrite.¡± ¡°Whatever floats your boat. As I said before, I didn¡¯t harm you. It is not worth it for me to take that risk for you anyway. Aside from your title as Old Mrs. Gibson, nothing else about you piques my interest. The assets under your name aren¡¯t even as expensive as the limited-edition handbag my husband bought for me.¡± Azure had never been so disdained by others. She was so furious that she could barely catch her breath. prompting her to hastily grab the oxygen mask next to her and take a few deep breaths. ¡°Do you know why Barnaby¡¯s butler didn¡¯t execute your orders?¡± Christina felt inexplicably thrilled to see Azure¡¯s pathetic demeanor. ¡°This is because members of the Stone family are keeping their distance.¡± Azure removed the oxygen mask. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°The Stones are ashamed to be involved with the Gibson family. Undeniably, Barnaby still has feelings for you, but in the face of his family¡¯s interest, both you and Nigel will be the ones to be abandoned.¡± Since Nigel was imprisoned, Azure had been living a life of seclusion. The only person she took the initiative to contact was Barnaby. No wonder Barnaby has been treating me with less affection and passion than before recently! ¡°Christina, why are you telling me this?¡± Azure was skeptical about the change in Christina¡¯s attitude as thetter had suddenly be so concerned about her affairs. ¡°Of course it¡¯s because I want to make a deal with you.¡± Christina ced the peeled orange in front of Azure, having also removed all the orange pith. She curled her lips into a cold, mirthless smile. ¡°It is your lifelong dream to be Barnaby¡¯s wife, right? I can help you make your wishe true.¡± Azure¡¯s pupils abruptly constricted as her usualposure and steadfastness vanished without a trace. ¡°Christina, will you only be satisfied after youpletely ruin my reputation?¡± Christina mercilessly exposed the secret Azure was still desperately trying to keep under cover. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Sheridan¡¯s obstruction, you and Old Mr. Stone would¡¯ve reconciled long ago. Your rtionship has long ceased to be a secret, so you don¡¯t have to fear others bringing it up.¡± Christina¡¯s effort of arranging for her subordinates to keep an eye on the situation in Hallsbay wasn¡¯t in vain, after all. She hadn¡¯t nned on taking action against Azure in her revenge against Nigel¡¯s family, but Azure refused to stay out of that matter. Since Azure insisted on meddling, Christina naturally had to fulfill her wish. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business!¡± Azure began coughing violently. She pointed at the door. ¡°Get out! Get the hell out of this room!¡± Christina tossed the fruit knife into the fruit basket. Her emotionless eyes gleamed without a hint of warmth as she spoke the following words, which sounded like a great temptation to Azure. ¡°Attaining the position as Old Mr. Stone¡¯s wife signifies a higher chance for Nigel to regain his freedom. Consider my proposition thoroughly ande to me whenever you¡¯re ready.¡±Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 656 Killing Two Birds With One Stone Chapter 656 Killing Two Birds With One Stone Azure was skeptical of Christina¡¯s words. To prove she hadn¡¯t made a mistake, she immediately dialed Barnaby¡¯s number, only to find that his phone had been unreachable. Unwilling to give up, Azure summoned Chandler and asked, ¡°Did something happen to Old Mr. Stone? I haven¡¯t been able to reach him on his phone.¡± The butler, who had just spoken to Barnaby, knew that there was only one reason why no one answered the phone: Barnaby was ignoring her on purpose. He replied calmly. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s busy.¡± Since Barnaby was on vacation, he had left Stone Corporation in Sheridan¡¯s hands. No matter how busy Barnaby was, he could definitely still spare a moment to answer her call. Although Azure was almost convinced by what Christina had said, she couldn¡¯t give uppletely without having witnessed it personally first. ¡°Deliver a message to Old Mr. Stone. I wish to meet him in person.¡± ¡°All right. I will convey your message as soon as possible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not enough. I must meet himtest by tomorrow.¡± ¡°I will do my best. I suppose you understand Old Mr. Stone¡¯s temperament well. He dislikes others disturbing him during his vacation.¡± He actually thinks that I¡¯m being unreasonable? Azure¡¯s frustration caused a pang in her heart. However, she couldn¡¯t afford to have a falling out with Barnaby¡¯s subordinates at this point. Once she sessfully met Barnaby, she would have various ways to deal with that annoying butler. ¡°Remove all this food from the ward. I need to rest. Once you¡¯ve tidied up, you may leave,¡± ordered Azure as she turned around andy down. Chandler summoned the caretaker in to clean up the mess on the floor before silently leaving the ward. ¡°Old Mr. Stone, Mrs. Lazuli wishes to meet you tomorrow.¡± The butler called Barnaby in the hospital corridor. ¡°Mrs. Hadley visited half an hour ago. They had a lengthy conversation in the ward. They seemed to have talked about Mr. Nigel¡¯s return to the family. Mrs. Lazuli still has feelings for you.¡± If Barnaby heard that Azure was still in love with him in the past, he would have been so overjoyed that he wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep. However, he felt troubled now. He couldn¡¯t allow a woman he had loved in the past to jeopardize his family¡¯s reputation or undermine his authority in front of the younger family members. ¡°Tell her that I am busy preparing for my mother¡¯s birthday celebration. It¡¯s inconvenient for me to meet her. Let her rest well. If she needs any money, fulfill her requests. Just ignore everything else. When the time is right, you cane back.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± That day, the butler found an opportunity to inform Azure about Barnaby¡¯s refusal to meet her. She threw such a huge tantrum in the hospital ward that news even reached Christina. Christina was not surprised. Azure had masqueraded as a virtuous wife and mother for so many years. Now that everyone knew that Nigel was an illegitimate child, she would be aughing stock should she continue with her act. ¡°Next week marks the hundredth birthday of the Stone family elder?¡± When Christina was browsing her phone, she saw that almost half of the news headlines were dedicated to the uing grand banquet hosted by the Stone family. Suddenly, she had a different idea. ¡°Yes. Mr. Stone has already sent over the invitation,¡± Lyle said, then turned to leave. Shortly after, he returned with an exquisitely designed invitation card. ¡°Prepare a generous gift. The Stone family is quite prominent in Hallsbay. Since I¡¯ve only recently taken over Gibson Corporation, I cannot be absent from this banquet.¡± This was a chance for Christina to expand her socialwork. She would never miss this opportunity. Moreover, something interesting would definitely happen at the Stone family¡¯s birthday banquet. If she attended, she would be able to witness the spectacle too. I hope they won¡¯t disappoint me. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley will be attending the Stone family¡¯s banquet as well,¡± said Lyle, having just received the updates. It had been nearly half a month since Christina hadst seen Nathaniel, so the news filled her with uncontroble delight. ¡°Will he being to Hallsbay ahead of time?¡± Lyle hesitated before responding, ¡°If everything in Erihal is settled without a hup, Mr. Hadley will make his way directly to Hallsbay.¡± ¡°Take some rest for now. I¡¯d like to be alone for a while,¡± Christina dismissed Lyle and immediately dialed Rayne¡¯s number. ¡°Have you picked a new workspace for our studio?¡± She had been so busy caring for Timothy and handling thepany¡¯s affairs that she had no time to ask about the progress of the restart of the studio. Rayne was also overwhelmed with work. As they were unable to meet the project deadlines, she had to personally apologize to the clients, who would sometimes deliberately make things difficult for her. At the same time, she had to prepare for thewsuit. All the responsibilities in the studios seemed to rest solely on Rayne¡¯s shoulders. Although Christina had assigned two assistants to her, Rayne, mindful of the past experiences, preferred to personally oversee certain core aspects of the business. Several days had passed since Raynest contacted Christina. Christina could not help but feel worried. Rayne¡¯s voice sounded weary and weak as if she had just woken up. ¡°Um¡­¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. An awkward silence followed, which was then interrupted by Rayne¡¯s exmation. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ve already found a promising workspace. We were about to sign the contract, but someone sabotaged it midway! The owner of the office building is Emilia¡¯s sponsor. Even though she is unable to attend any events during this period, she frequently apanies the sponsor to various drinking gatherings. This sponsor, who lost his wife a long time ago, has now set his sights on Emilia. He even publicly announced his intention to marry her. This news has spread all over Jadeborough.¡± Rayne couldn¡¯t stop ranting. ¡°And that¡¯s not all! I¡¯ve previously reached an agreement with a client regarding thepensation, but they suddenly backtracked and demanded to increase the amount. If we refuse, they threaten to seek justice through the media and ensure that we¡¯ll be cklisted in Jadeborough!¡± Having suffered significant losses from the devastating fire, the studio had limited funds avable for its operation. They had dedicated so much effort to building a reputation for their brand. If they were forced to close down, all the painstaking work and investments they had put in earlier would go down the drain. To protect the studio¡¯s reputation, Rayne had been tirelessly running around to persuade the clients to honor the original contracts and resolve the issues. ¡°I have thoroughly investigated the backgrounds of those troublesome clients. It turns out that their husbands¡¯panies are desperate to coborate with Emilia¡¯s sponsor. Hence, they have no choice but to curry favor with her,¡± spat Rayne through gritted teeth. ¡°Christina, if our studio wants to reopen, we must deal with Emilia as quickly as possible.¡± Christina said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of incriminating evidence against Emilia. Get someone to release them. Give extra coverage to how she managed to get Melissa to be her manager. Emilia¡¯s rise to stardom waspletely financed by Anya. However, the money came from dubious sources. If Emilia were to get into trouble. Anya would inevitably find herself dragged into a precarious situation. By killing two birds with one stone. Christina could quickly resolve this matter. Chapter 657 Frivolous Past Chapter 657 Frivolous Past Christina sent all the incriminating evidence about Emilia to Rayne, who was astonished after taking a brief scan of everything. If these secrets were revealed, it would be catastrophic for Emilia¡¯s career. Even if she were to secure a sponsor much more powerful than Nathaniel, no one would be able to salvage her crumbling reputation. Not only did Christina intend to cklist Emilia, but she also aimed to drive Emilia to sign her own death warrant. ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°Christina, are you absolutely certain about releasing all this evidence? Our conflict with Emilia is at its peak, so she can easily trace it back to us. Her sponsor is really protective of her.¡± Now that they were actually going to do it, Rayne could not help but feel worried. After all, this was not a joke. Emilia was a utilitarian who wouldn¡¯t go down without dragging a few people down with her. Christina¡¯s safety would be in jeopardy. ¡°Who¡¯s Emilia¡¯s sponsor?¡± Christina was curious about the sponsor¡¯s identity. If Emilia has spent so much effort trying to secure him, he must be quite exceptional ¡°His name is David Labarge. His marriage life is not short of its drama,¡± Rayne shared. ¡°I heard that there¡¯s a hereditary mental illness in David¡¯s family. Apparently, he beat his wife to death. Back then, David wasn¡¯t wealthy, so they lived in a vige that was not quite technologically advanced. The incident remains shrouded in mystery, and nobody knows the whole truth.¡± David Labarge¡­ Why does the name sound so familiar? Christina furrowed her brow, searching her memory until a sudden realization struck her like lightning. David is Winston¡¯s cousin and business partner! She had underestimated Emilia¡¯s abilities. Slowly, she started to grasp Emilia¡¯s true intentions of seducing David. Is this a coincidence or did Emilia seduce David on purpose? I have to find out the answer to this as soon as possible. If Emilia did it on purpose¡­ Christina narrowed her eyes, ¡°Get someone to monitor Emilia and David closely and find out who they usually interact with.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, I suddenly remember something.¡± Rayne said. ¡°I once stumbled upon Emilia and Winston having a date at a restaurant. It was clear that there was something more going on between them. Does David not know that Emilia¡¯s cheating on him?¡± Rayne seemed to have discovered something interesting. ¡°Hahaha! If I were to inform David that Emilia¡¯s two-timing him, wouldn¡¯t things be incredibly exciting?¡± As Christina was all the way in Hallsbay, she could not deal with the problems in Jadeborough. ¡°Rayne, I¡¯ll leave this to you. If you encounter any problems that you can¡¯t solve, contact me right away and we¡¯ll find a solution together.¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll reach out to the media now. Emilia has been acting all high and mighty in front of me for far too long. It¡¯s time for her to face the consequences.¡± Rayne ended the call excitedly. The thought of Emilia¡¯s downfall reinvigorated her. She quickly contacted her friends from the media and exposed all of Emilia¡¯s incriminating materials. While the headlines in Jadeborough were dominated by her scandal, Emilia remained oblivious. In fact, she was fooling around with David at a private mansion. Her manager relentlessly bombarded her phone with calls, but she paid no heed. It was only when David went to bathe that she strolled to the balcony to ept the call. ¡°Emilia, you lied to me!¡± As soon as the call connected, Melissa erupted in a fit of rage. ¡°Do you realize your career is on the brink of ruin? How dare you disappear on me? Had I known that your private life was such as mess, I wouldn¡¯t have chosen you,as my artist even if Anya threatened to kill me.¡± During this period when Emilia was cklisted by thepany, Melissa had not been very kind to her. When she apanied David to social events and encountered other celebrities from thepany, she would face snide remarks. Although Emiliacked a powerful background, it did not mean that she could be bullied and manipted so easily. Furthermore, having gained the support of David and Winston, she became much more confident. ¡°Melissa, I was busy with Mr. Labarge just now. You know his temperament. If I spoil his mood and make him unhappy, he¡¯ll withhold resources from me. How would you be able to profit from me, then?¡± ¡°Resources?¡± Melissa sneered. ¡°Even if I showered you with a bunch of opportunities right now, you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Your scandals have flooded the inte. Everyone knows your frivolous past. Now that your scandals have severely impacted thepany, brace yourself for legal repercussions. You¡¯ll have topensate thepany for breaching your contract. Don¡¯t assume that David will readilye to your aid.¡± Overwhelmed by the mess Emilia had caused, Melissa vented her frustration before cutting off all ties with Emilia. ¡°Emilia, I hope you¡¯ve got nothing to do with the rumors circting online about me. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off. Our coboration ends here. Find another manager. I can¡¯t possibly turn you into a top celebrity now.¡± After Melissa hung up, Emilia remained dazed for a moment. She hastily logged onto the inte, only to be bombarded by a deluge of negative news articles. Each one of them was able topletely ruin her life and career. The most shocking news was how Emilia had managed to skip thepany¡¯s stringent selection process and sign a contract with them after Anya bribed Melissa. In fact, she even had ess to top- tier opportunities. This angered the celebrities who had participated in the selection process. Their fans joined forces and flooded Emilia¡¯s and thepany¡¯s official social media ounts with a barrage of criticism. The entertainmentpany¡¯s hastily published a statement, saying that they would investigate the matter. However, that failed to quell the fans¡¯ fury. The Public Rtions Department¡¯s hotline received so many calls that they almost broke down. The media scrambled to cover and get the scoop. ¡°Who¡¯s behind all this?¡± Emilia red at her phone, wishing she could capture those fans who had insulted her online and make them pay. ¡°Emilia!¡± Suddenly, David¡¯s furious roar sounded from behind. She was so startled that she nearly flung her phone away. Emilia swiftly regained herposure, trying to present her most tender and caring side to the man. When she turned around, she was caught off guard by a sharp p on her cheek. Then, she felt a sharp pang in her scalp. David was grabbing her hair and beating her up on the floor. Emilia stood there, utterly bewildered. She cried out, ¡°David, what did I do? Why are you hitting me?¡± Gripping her hair, David forced her to look up. He looked as vicious as an untamed beast. ¡°You b*tch! Haven¡¯t I been nice to you? How dare you fool around with men after being together with me?¡± Chapter 658 Half Complete Chapter 658 Half Complete Instinctively. Em¨ªlia denied, ¡°I-I never!¡± ¡°Never?¡± David let go of her and took out his phone. He clicked on the message and was close to throwing the phone in her face. ¡°Exin yourself!¡± There were photos of her and Winston behaving intimately in all sorts of ces. The evidence was irrefutable. No matter what Emilia said, she would not be able to downy the issue. ¡°David, please listen to me.¡± Emilia started to put on a pitiful act, and tears began to flow down her face. ¡°He made me do it. If I don¡¯t ede to his request, he will make sure I won¡¯t be able to stay in the entertainment industry.¡± David gave her chin a hard squeeze and said angrily, ¡°Winston and I are cousins. We may be on good terms, but we aren¡¯t so close that we will share the same woman. You can¡¯t lie to me anymore!¡± Emilia was dumbstruck, and her face turned pale. She was a goner. She had thought that she had found a wealthy backer who could assure her that her career as a celebrity would be smooth sailing. If there was no dirt on the inte, Emilia was sure that she would be able to turn things around for herself eventually. Both Winston and David were equally paranoid. During this period, both men had been in a disagreement over an investment project, so David had the intention to set up his ownpany. Their rtionship was no longer as cordial as it appeared to be. Privately, the two men had sent spies to keep an eye on one another. If they could obtain some dirt on the other party, it mighte in handy in the future when they went their separate ways. They would be able to get more benefits from the other person. With that thought in mind, David decided not to let Emilia go. He walked up to her and questioned. ¡°Did Winston send you to get close to me?¡± Emilia was still shaken from David¡¯s act of violence toward her earlier on. She looked at him with a nk expression and shook her head. ¡°No¡­¡± David had nothing to prove that Emilia was Winston¡¯s spy, so he could only let her go. ¡°Remember what you say today. If I ever find out that you¡¯re working with Winston to set me up, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± David grabbed his clothes and left. His good mood had been utterly ruined, and he med it on his luck. It took Emilia a long while before she returned to her senses. Every time something went wrong, she would look for Anya to deal with the aftermath. This time was no different. Before she could dial Anya¡¯s number, Anya¡¯s call came in. Anya said, ¡°Emilia, which powerful man have you offended? You¡¯ve been cklisted on the entire inte. I have spent twenty million on you. Twenty million! Even if I throw this amount of money into the water, I¡¯ll be able to hear something! I¡¯m ruined because of you!¡± That night, the scolding and abuse that Emilia had received was more than she had ever endured in her entire life. She might be down and out, but she would not allow anyone to trample on her. ¡°Anya, you have no right to reprimand me. It was a fair exchange.¡± At the thought of something, Emilia asked, ¡°Are you the one who exposed my dirt on the inte?¡± Anya sneered, ¡°Are you crazy? I have invested so much money in you. Why would I do something like that? What good does it serve me?¡± ¡°We are in the same boat, Anya. You have to help me.¡± Emilia was at her wit¡¯s end and intended to drag Anya down with her. ¡°Help me find out who the mastermind is.¡± Anya had no wish to be involved with somebody as unlucky as Emilia. ¡°What can you do for me if I help you? You are the cause of all my problems right now.¡± ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org. ¡°What do you want?¡± Emilia knew she was not in a position to bargain, so she humbled herself to try to trick Anya. ¡°Get rid of Christina for me!¡± said Anya. ¡°I want all of her wealth. They belong to me!¡± ¡°You want to be Mrs. Hadley.¡± Emilia did not know whether Anya was having wishful thoughts or she was being stupid. ¡°Have you forgotten about Madison? Christina has a way with men. What makes you think you can get Nathaniel to fall for you and marry you?¡± Anya detected the sarcasm in her words. She said confidently, ¡°Just tell me if you¡¯re going to help me or not. Don¡¯t worry about the rest. At the mention of Christina, Emilia seemed to have realized something. Perhaps she had been suspecting the wrong person right from the start. If Anya was not the one who did those things, then it must be Christina. During this period of time, she often instigated others to find fault with Christina¡¯s studio, preventing Christina from making a fortune. In return, Christina ruined her career. It was fair enough. ¡°I¡¯ll help you. In exchange, you continue to help me stay in the entertainment industry. We¡¯ll sign an agreement first. You¡¯ll have to make me famous. As of now, your mission is only halfplete.¡± Emilia had to find a way out for herself. In order to do that, she must have the skills to negotiate first. Anya said contemptuously, ¡°Emilia, you really don¡¯t want to take any losses, huh? I have no more money to hire a manager for you or give you any more high-quality resources, but I can provide a way for you to fight for resources if you are interested.¡± She added sarcastically, ¡°This is something you are good at. Find a rich man and be a gold-digger.¡± Emilia gritted her teeth and agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± Anya knew it. ¡°Then clean up ande to Hallsbay with me. The Stone family is having a birthday banquet next week, and you¡¯ll being with me.¡± Emilia immediately bought an air ticket to Hallsbay. Without a public rtions team to stop Emilia from appearing on the trending topic, she was on it for three whole days and suffered the onught of scolding fromizens. Soon, it was the day of the Stone family¡¯s banquet. Christina brought Lyle with her to the Stone residence. Lots of people knew about the Gibson family¡¯s scandal, but hardly anyone had met Christina. When Christina attended the banquet, she did not attract much attention. She was able to find a quiet ce to rest. She would have left after giving her well wishes if not because she wanted to meet Nathaniel. Such a noisy asion was not suitable for a pregnantdy. ¡°Is Mr. Hadley not here yet?¡± Christina asked Lyle as she scanned the guests. She did not see Nathaniel. Lyle took a look at his watch and replied, ¡°He should be here by now. Perhaps he is dyed because of the traffic condition. Mrs. Hadley, please wait for a while more.¡± The music was giving Christina a headache. She put down her ss of juice and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to the lounge first. It¡¯s too noisy here.¡± ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this way.¡± Lyle led the way to the lounge. After taking a few steps, she noticed two familiar figures from the corner of her eyes. She paused in her tracks and frowned. At the same time, the two women noticed Christina¡¯s presence as well. Anya quickly dragged Emilia and headed in Christina¡¯s direction. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s been a while since we three sisters got together. Why don¡¯t we have a chat?¡± Chapter 659 Two Notes Chapter 659 Two Notes Christina did not want to have anything to do with them. She ignored the two women and turned in another direction. Anya went in front of Christina and tried to provoke her. ¡°Christina, did you do something to Emilia and me behind our backs? Why are you running away? Is it because you feel guilty?¡± When Emilia heard that, she was infuriated. She yanked Christina¡¯s arm, looking very fierce. ¡°Christina, did you reveal my secret on the inte? And those photos! You sent them to David, didn¡¯t you?¡± Indeed, it was Christina who got Rayne to expose her dirt. As for the intimate photos of Emilia and Winston, it was Rayne¡¯s idea to show them to David. Of course, Christina could not admit it. She teased, ¡°Who is David? I don¡¯t know anyone by the name of David. My parents only have one daughter, and I have no sisters. Please don¡¯t behave as if I¡¯m your sister. I don¡¯t want such a misunderstanding.¡± She pushed Anya aside and took a few steps before she added, ¡°Let me correct myself. I don¡¯t have embarrassing sisters like the both of you.¡± Embarrassing! Both Anya and Emilia were furious. ¡°Christina, you b*tch!¡± The music stopped at that moment. Anya¡¯s angry curses reverberated in the air, and all the guests turned to look at them. ¡°Gosh! Today is Old Mdm. Garcia¡¯s hundredth birthday. It¡¯s a festive day. I can¡¯t believe there are people who would dare to cause trouble.¡± ¡°Since when did the Stone family be so low ss? Why do they invite just about anyone? If I were them, I would have chased them out for sure. This is so embarrassing.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Those two women look familiar. Ah! The one in the pink dress is Emilia. She¡¯s been trending for the past two days. Apparently, she¡¯s a promiscuous woman.¡± The crowd¡¯s taunts and mockery struck Anya and Emilia like knives. Emilia found it embarrassing, so she grabbed Anya, and the two women left the ce. Christina¡¯s lips curled into a smile as she watched the two women retreat in misery. She ignored the crowd¡¯s doubtful looks and walked calmly toward the quiet garden, Lyle maintaining an appropriate distance behind her. ¡°Lyle,¡± Christina called out his name softly. The bodyguard went up to her. As she stared at the blood- red roses, an evil thought arose. ¡°Come closer. There¡¯s something I want you to do.¡± Lyle went closer, and Christina whispered something into his ears. He nodded and left. Lyle went to the banquet hall and stuffed two notes and some tips into the hand of a waiter. Please give these two notes to Ms. Emilia Steele and Mr. David Labarge. Remember, don¡¯t let anyone see you. The waiter kept his tips and smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Without any expression, Lyle urged, ¡°Go on, then.¡± He did not return to Christina immediately. Instead, he waited until the waiter had handed the notes over to Emilia and David before walking away in another direction. Lyle looked for Winston in the crowd. When he located Winston, he went behind him and whispered, ¡°Mr. Winston, Mr. David is waiting for you in Lounge 202. He has something to discuss with you.¡± Winston gave Lyle a hesitant look. However, since he had not reached an agreement with David regarding the investment project, he decided to meet him. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll be there in a short while.¡± Lyle turned and left. After finishing up the conversation with his friends, Winston headed toward the lounge. At the same time, Lyle told Christina that everything was in ce. All three of them had taken the bait. Christina put down her juice happily and said, ¡°Come. Let¡¯s go and watch the show.¡± Just as Christina arrived at the hall of the lounge, she heard amotioning from the second floor. The guests started to gather around and looked upstairs. ¡°I was wondering why you refused toe here with me. You lied that you were unwell and couldn¡¯t come to the banquet. It turns out you are fooling around with my cousin.¡± Winston¡¯s loud voice reverberated throughout the hall. ¡°Tell me, how long has this been going on?¡± Next, everyone heard pping soundsing from the room. Emilia came running out, but she was pulled back by Winston in a rough manner. The disheveled David had long sneaked away in the midst of the chaos. ¡°Stop hitting me! Stop!¡± begged Emilia as she wept. ¡°Mr. Labarge, I was wrong. Please¡­ Please let me off.¡± ¡°I told you before to be loyal to me. The moment I find out that you are cheating on me, I¡¯ll make you suffer.¡± Winston had gone crazy when he saw them getting intimate. ¡°You actually disregarded my words!¡± As themotion in the lounge was getting louder, the news soon reached the ears of Sheridan and Barnaby. They had to resolve the matter as soon as possible before they got to Barnaby¡¯s mother, Wendy Garcia. If the scandal got out, it would bring shame upon the Stone family. ¡°Mr. Labarge, stop!¡± Barnaby ordered his men to disperse the crowd and stop Winston. ¡°This is the Stone residence. I invited you here to celebrate the birthday of my mother, not to cause trouble!¡± Winston stopped hitting Emilia. He red at Emilia and straightened his suit. ¡°My apologies, Old Mr. Stone. I lost control of my emotions. Sorry for the trouble. I¡¯ll take her away right now. We¡¯lle and offer our apologies another day.¡± Barnaby could not wait for them to get out of there in case something else happened. ¡°This is your personal matter. I shall not say anything. I¡¯ll get someone to see you out.¡± Barnaby got his butler to see Winston and Emilia out. Winston grabbed Emilia, and the two of them left the banquet hall swiftly. Christina looked away disinterestedly. From the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Anya who had been hiding in a corner. A hint of coldness shed across Christina¡¯s eyes. When Anya noticed Christina staring at her, the hair on her back stood on end. Christina! She must be the one who set Emilia up! Anya looked viciously at Christina¡¯s back and caught up with her. When Christina heard footsteps behind her, she turned around to see a beautiful figure giving her a hard push. ¡°Go to hell, Christina!¡± Chapter 660 No One Can Change The Fact Chapter 660 No One Can Change The Fact There was adder behind Christina, but there was nothing on either side of thedder. It happened so suddenly that she couldn¡¯t react in time. Right as she reflexively held her tummy, someone wrapped an arm around her waist, and she felt a warm and familiar breath on her body. Just like that, Christina fell into the man¡¯s embrace and she heard the voice she had been missing. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Nathaniel asked, then shot Anya a piercingly cold look. Christina nodded, looking pale. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just startled.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze was filled with murderous infent as he red at Anya. Anya¡¯s expression contorted as she argued. ¡°I didn¡¯t push her! She lost bnce on her own. 1-I saw her falling down, so I came to help her.¡± Obviously, that wasn¡¯t true because Christina had been extra careful ever since she got pregnant. Furthermore, Nathaniel had seen Anya rushing forward to push Christina with his own eyes. Nathaniel was determined to teach Anya a lesson. Right then, with Yerek supporting her, Azure appeared before the crowd. As though she had found her savior, Anya quickly hid behind Azure and uttered pitifully, ¡°Grandma" Azure red at Anya in response. This brat is stirring up trouble, but everyone¡¯s watching, so I have no choice but to side with her. After all, everyone thinks we¡¯re a happy family. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s Old Mdm. Garcia¡¯s birthday. Why can¡¯t you settle the matter privately? Must you cause a scene in public? You are too ignorant,¡± Azure said sternly. ¡°Anya tried to harm me. Why can¡¯t I settle scores with her? If that were to happen to you, could you brush it off?¡± Christina sneered. Azure shot Anya an inquisitive look. Anya panicked. Thinking that no one had witnessed the scene, she lied, ¡°She¡¯s lying, Grandma. She almo fell down, and I rushed toward her out of kindness. She framed me.¡± Azure and Yerek knew Anya¡¯s true nature like the back of their hands. They would rather believe Christina¡¯s words. Seeing that the guests were starting to turn their attention toward them, Azure wanted to prevent unnecessary trouble. However, as an elder, she couldn¡¯t let go of her pride. ¡°Christina, consider it a favor to me.¡± Azure suddenly coughed violently, and herplexion turned pallid. ¡°Grandma has just gotten discharged from the hospital today, so she can¡¯t afford to get agitated. Christina, although our rtionship isn¡¯t as strong as it was back then, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s wise to cause a scene in public. You still have to look after the Hadley family¡¯s reputation, Yerek chimed in. ¡°I strongly advise you guys to back off. Also, I don¡¯t need outsiders to worry about the Hadley family¡¯s reputation on my behalf,¡± Nathaniel uttered in a deep voice. Azure¡¯s and Yerek¡¯s expressions turned grim at once when they heard Nathaniel¡¯s threatening words. There¡¯s no way Nathaniel will let me off the hook. Anya quickly realized things weren¡¯t going smoothly for her. Suddenly, she saw Barnaby from the corner of her eyes and shouted, ¡°Old Mr. Stone!¡± Barnaby was trying to avoid Yerek and Azure, so he froze momentarily when he heard that. In the end, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk toward them. ¡°There are too many guests around, so please, forgive me if I appeared inhospitable, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley.¡± Barnaby purposely ignored Azure and the rest. ¡°Please excuse me. I have some things to attend to.¡± The venue was packed with members of the Stone family and other guests. Barnaby wanted to avoid being seen together with Azure and her family. At the same time, Barnaby was rather exasperated because he had clearly told the others he didn¡¯t want to invite Azure, Yerek, and the rest. It seems that they have shown up uninvited. Not only did they come uninvited, but they have alsoe to stir the pot! Feeling frustrated, Barnaby stopped having a soft spot for Azure. What a loser! Anya criticized Barnaby inwardly and felt helpless when she saw that. Meanwhile, Azure¡¯s heart sank, and she started to hate Anya and Christina even more. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll get Anya to apologize to Christina. Would you let the matter slide after that?¡± Azure asked coldly. ¡°Even if you¡¯re unwilling to show me some respect, you should still respect Old Mdm. Garcia.¡± A sarcastic smirk appeared on Christina¡¯s face. Based on Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s words, I¡¯ll look bad if I don¡¯t let the matter slide. Nathaniel only cared about what Christina had in mind. ¡°I don¡¯t get to decide on that. It depends on Christina.¡± Christina let out a cold chuckle and said, ¡°Fine. If Anya kneels before me and apologizes, I¡¯ll forgive her.¡± ¡°Dream on!¡± Anya yelled. Christina turned toward Azure and said, ¡°You heard her. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to respect you. It¡¯s just that she¡¯s unwilling to give in.¡± Christina is taking advantage of the situation. Azure felt that Anya had let her down. She fumed, ¡°Anya, do as she says!¡± Were my ears ying tricks on me? Anya stared at Azure in disbelief. ¡°Grandma, 1-¡± Azure delivered a tight p across Anya¡¯s face and thundered, ¡°Apologize!¡± Anya held her cheek and held back her tears. While biting her lower lip, she lowered her head reluctantly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± With that, she turned around and left, refusing to kneel. Azure said, ¡°If you¡¯re still not satisfied, I¡¯ll bring her to see you another day, and we¡¯ll settle the matter.¡± She then brought Yerck away as though they were the victims. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you somewhere to rest,¡± Nathaniel said to Christina before shooting Sebastian a look. Sebastian understood the signal and went after Anya. Christina didn¡¯t see Sebastian leave as she felt difort in her stomach. While leaning against Nathaniel¡¯s chest, she went to the lounge with him. Nathaniel poured her a ss of warm water. She took a few sips and smiled at him with the ss in her hands. ¡°Thank goodness you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to attend this birthday banquet.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s tone was gentle. He wasn¡¯t ming her. ¡°There¡¯s a reason for this banquet. Old Mdm. Garcia is actually picking a woman here to be Sheridan¡¯s fianc¨¦e.¡± Christinaughed and teased, ¡°Are you worried that Old Mdm. Garcia would pick me? I think everyone knows I¡¯m pregnant and married to you.¡± Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Old Mdm. Garcia has never seen you before, but she knows your mother¡¯s family.¡± Christina held Nathaniel¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Well, that¡¯s the previous generation. Now, everything has changed. No one can change the fact that I¡¯m your wife.¡± Chapter 661 You Must Trust Me Chapter 661 You Must Trust Me If they weren¡¯t in public, Nathaniel would¡¯ve embraced Christina and told her how much he had missed her over the past two weeks. ¡°I know. I trust you.¡± Nathaniel held her hand and looked at her tenderly. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. Suddenly, someone barged in and interrupted the romantic atmosphere. ¡°You¡¯re here, Christina!¡± Sheridan pretended he didn¡¯t know Nathaniel was there. ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t attend my great-grandma¡¯s birthday banquet! After all, you¡¯ve been busy ever since you took over Gibson Corporation¡­¡± Oh? Sheridan is so friendly toward Christina! I wonder how often he looked for her when I was abroad. Nathaniel was overwhelmed by jealousy. ¡°Christina is my wife, so it¡¯s only right for her to attend this birthday banquet with me. As the younger generation, we must show Old Mdm. Garcia some respect.¡± Nathaniel wrapped his arm around Christina¡¯s waist and pulled her into his embrace. Christina smiled politely, allowing Nathaniel to stake his im on her. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re here as well, Mr. Hadley!¡± Sheridan acted surprised. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. You had your back facing me, so I didn¡¯t know you were here. I thought you were the bodyguard Christina had been keeping by her side. One should never be rude to someone who is smiling. I know Sheridan ignored me on purpose, but I¡¯m in the Stone family¡¯s territory now, and I must protect the Hadley family¡¯s reputation. No matter how much I dislike him, I can¡¯t kick up a fuss in front of so many people. If I were to do that, I would seem immature. With that in mind, Nathaniel smiled faintly and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Stone. But you shouldn¡¯t have problems with your eyes since you¡¯re still so young. Luckily for you, I know quite a few optometrists. Perhaps I should introduce you to them Sheridan¡¯s mouth twitched. A hint of resentment shed across his eyes when he responded, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hadley. I¡¯ll attend to my personal matters privately.¡± Although Sheridan was a prideful man, he was taught not to have a falling out with someone in public. Christina noticed the tension between the men, so she stepped forward to defuse the situation. ¡°The birthday banquet is about to begin. I haven¡¯t wished Old Mdm. Garcia a happy birthday. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel arched a brow and looked at Sheridan. ¡°Christina and I have never been to the Stone residence before this, so we don¡¯t know our way around. Would you please lead the way, Mr. Stone?¡± Sheridan¡¯s expression stiffened, and he forced a smile as he replied, ¡°My bad. My great-grandma and my grandpa are entertaining the guests in the main hall. Come with me.¡± While holding Christina¡¯s hand, Nathaniel purposely created a distance between Sheridan and them. He whispered in her ear, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so close to Sheridan. Have you guys been meeting in private all the time?¡± Nathaniel sounded annoyed. Christina blinked innocently and asked, ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°How many times have you guys met behind my back? What did you two do together?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned solemn. Christina chuckled and grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s necktie to pull him in. Her lips grazed his earlobe as she uttered, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between me and him. I still remember every word you said to me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re distancing yourself from him, but he seems to have other ideas in his head,¡± Nathaniel sneered. ¡°Even a blind person can tell he¡¯s into you.¡± All of a sudden, Christina¡¯s expression turned slightly hostile. ¡°I don¡¯t care what other people think. You my husband, so you must trust me!¡± She puffed out her cheeks and widened her eyes in anger. ¡°I was wrong, Darling. There are too many people here. When we get home, you can deal with me as you see fit.¡± Nathaniel would only show Christina his soft side. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. You shouldn¡¯t get agitated.¡± Christina was a rational woman, so she knew when to stop. She moved her hands toward his cors to help him tidy up his shirt. ¡°If you get jealous again, you¡¯ll be sleeping in the study,¡± she warned softly. Instead of getting angry, Nathaniel looked at Christina affectionately and replied. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t bear to do that to me.¡± The couple¡¯s intimate interaction attracted the crowd¡¯s attention. Due to their good looks and graceful aura, plenty of the guests were eager to get to know them. However, Nathaniel was an incredibly handsome man, so he was recognized fairly quickly. A few shameless and daring businessmen brought their wives and daughters with them to greet Nathaniel. Some even tried to introduce him to their daughters. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the woman next to me is my wife,¡± Nathaniel said coldly. ¡°It¡¯s rather inappropriate for you guys to introduce your daughters to me under my wife¡¯s nose. Also, I¡¯m not interested because I¡¯m a loyal man. Now, please excuse us.¡± Nathaniel led Christina through the stupefied guests and arrived in front of Sheridan. ¡°You¡¯re still as popr as always, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sheridan said meaningfully. Nathaniel cast a cold and sidelong nce at Sheridan and asked, ¡°If I were to give this blessing of mine to you, would you want it?¡± Sheridan hated dealing with those who would arrange blind dates for him on their own initiative. That was especially the case when it came to those who approached him with an ulterior motive from the very beginning. ¡°You¡¯re a funny man, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sheridan smiled awkwardly and led Nathaniel and Christina into the bustling main hall. When the trio appeared, the initially boisterous main hall went noticeably silent. Sheridan walked up to Wendy and uttered loudly next to her ear, ¡°Great-grandma, I brought you the person you wanted to see the most. The long-lost eldest daughter of the Gibson family has finally returned. She¡¯s now in charge of Gibson Corporation.¡± ¡°Oh? Where is she? I would like to see her.¡± Wendy was smiling sincerely, unlike the formal smile she had worn when she entertained the other guests. The huge difference in her smile prompted the guests to grow curious about the woman Sheridan was talking about. ¡°Great-grandma, she¡¯s here. Put on your sses, okay? The most beautiful girl you see is Christina Steele, the eldest daughter of the Gibson family.¡± Christina quickly realized something. Nathaniel and I have be the center of attention. She scanned her surroundings but paused slightly in a certain direction. Without the slightest change in her expression, she approached Wendy and told Lyle to bring forward the gift she had prepared. ¡°Old Mdm. Garcia, Nathaniel and I would like to wish you a happy birthday. We¡¯ve never met before, so I didn¡¯t know what you liked. However, I heard that you were into artwork, so I¡¯m giving you a painting. I hope you like it,¡± Christina said. Lyle removed the painting from the box, untied the ribbons, and slowly opened the wrapping. The crowd gasped upon seeing the painting. Chapter 662 Slander Chapter 662 nder The scroll didn¡¯t feature any incredibly exquisite paintings. Instead, only a phrase was written on it in bold letters: Rest in peace. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Wendy stared at the words on the scroll intently. Her mood soured as the kind smile gradually dissipated from her aged countenance. She clenched the armrests with her emaciated and shriveled hands. ¡°Christina, what do you mean by this!¡± Barnaby was the first to snap out of his shock. ¡°The Stone family sincerely invited you to attend this birthday celebration. If you didn¡¯t want toe, you could¡¯ve declined. There¡¯s no need for you to act so maliciously as to curse our family. Do you think the members of the Stone family are pushovers?¡± Christina was also dumbfounded as the antique artwork she had bought for a hefty sum at an international auction had now be an ominous piece of junk. Before leaving the house earlier, Christina had thoroughly checked the painting, and she could firmly say with a clear conscience there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. As for why the painting had been swapped, she reckoned there must be aplicated reason behind it that couldn¡¯t be exined with just a few words. Nathaniel shifted his piercing gaze onto Lyle. ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± That was the first time Lyle had made such a huge mistake. A cold sweat covered his forehead. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, I don¡¯t know what happened. Mrs. Hadley and I carefully examined the painting and ensured it was fine before we departed from the house. I¡¯m certain someone must ve tampered with the gift.¡± Barnaby sneered. ¡°You¡¯re in this together, so you would naturally defend your employer. Isn¡¯t this the Gibson family members¡¯ style, saying one thing and doing another?¡± Any sensible and clear-headed person could tell Barnaby harbored great prejudice against Christina as his remarks were filled with doubts and dissatisfaction toward her. Nathaniel frowned in displeasure. ¡°Old Mr. Stone, no one wishes something as inauspicious as this to ur during Old Mdm. Garcia¡¯s birthday banquet. The Hadley family hasn¡¯t fallen so low as to be unable to present a genuine antique artwork. You can be objective here, but you can¡¯t me us because of your biased opinion and make use of this incident to create unnecessary misunderstandings. Those not in the know might think you and the Hadley family have irreconcble differences.¡± Only then did Barnaby realize that he had disyed his true feelings toward Christina unreservedly in front of everyone. Colors drained from his face as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m merely stating the facts. Although the rtionship between the Stone and Hadley families has remained normal in recent years, we have never stood in one another¡¯s way. ording to you, Mr. Hadley, does that mean the Stone family deserves to suffer this misfortune, and if we wish to pursue this matter, we¡¯re in the wrong?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze darkened as he calmly refuted, ¡°Not once have I stated that I intend to cover up this matter. Just as Barnaby was about to argue further, Sheridan piped up, ¡°Grandpa, there might be more to this matter that we¡¯ve yet to discover. I¡¯m familiar with Christina¡¯s character. She¡¯s not an evil or insensible person.¡± Nathaniel uttered sarcastically, ¡°It seems there is at least still one smart and reasonable person left in the Stone family.¡± His statement had essentially offended the entire Stone family. Nevertheless, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t care less about the insignificant Stone family. He would never allow anyone to bully his woman. At that moment, every member of the Stone family present grimaced. Nathaniel is being too arrogant! As the head of the family, Sheridan, asposed as he was, couldn¡¯t help but feel slightly irked after listening to Nathaniel¡¯s sarcasticment. ¡°That¡¯s too much, Mr. Hadley. Today is my great-grandma¡¯s hundredth birthday celebration. This was supposed to be a joyous event, but it unexpectedly turned south. My family members are displeased, so theirnguage might¡¯ve been slightly harsh. I hope you can be magnanimous and not take it to heart, Mr. Hadley.¡± Sheridan, exuding the poise of the head of his household, attempted to defuse the situation. ¡°Since Christina and her bodyguard are certain there weren¡¯t any issues with the antique painting before arriving at the venue, the gift must¡¯ve been tampered with here. We installed surveince cameras in our residence, so why don¡¯t we review the surveince footage before making further decisions? What do you all think?¡± Christina nced at Nathaniel, and both of them tacitly reached an agreement. She nodded. ¡°Since we¡¯re the guests, we shall dly follow the host¡¯s arrangements. Let¡¯s do as you suggest, Mr. Stone. Nathaniel and I have no objections.¡± Now that Sheridan had personally stepped in to solve the problem, other members of the Stone family naturally had toply. After all, Sheridan held the position of the head of the family. Even Barnaby had to follow Sheridan¡¯s directives. ¡°Retrieve all the surveince footage from the Stone residence immediately,¡± Sheridan ordered. ¡°Yes, Mr. Stone.¡± The butler hastily turned and left. Wendy cast a pensive look at Christina and Nathaniel before getting to her feet. She said in a weary voice, ¡°I¡¯m a little tired, so I¡¯m returning to my room to rest. I¡¯ll let you younger generations handle these things All I want is a reasonable exnation.¡± She departed from the venue with the help of the housekeeper. Since Wendy had mentioned letting the younger generations resolve that matter, an aged member of the family like Barnaby didn¡¯t feel it appropriate to linger. ¡°I¡¯ll go and greet the guests.¡± Barnaby walked away gloomily. As soon as he turned to leave, two people hastily trod on his heels. Christina knitted her brows slightly at the sight of Azure¡¯s and Yerek¡¯s retreating figures as they trailed behind Barnaby. Sheridan politely evacuated his family members and guests in the hall, leaving only four people, including himself, at the scene see her get into trouble. However, some points didn¡¯t add up. Anya and Emilia weren¡¯t on the Stone family¡¯s guest list. Moreover, from their reaction when they saw Christina earlier, the duo apparently didn¡¯t know Christina was attending the birthday banquet. Even if they knew, Anya and Emilia wouldn¡¯t be so foolish as to try something like that at the Stone family¡¯s territory, which had tight security. Azure and Yerek were even less likely to be the culprits since they were clearly focused on targeting Barnaby. Simply put, they wanted to take advantage of Wendy¡¯s birthday banquet to force the Stones to ept Nigel and Yerek back into the funily. Otherwise, Azure and Yerek wouldn¡¯t have clung to Barnaby persistently throughout the event. With all the most likely suspects ruled out, Christina wondered who was trying to frame her. Unable toe up with an answer, she massaged her throbbing temples in frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. No one can nder you. I¡¯ll never allow such a thing to happen to you,¡± Nathaniel reassured her. Chapter 663 Selfish Chapter 663 Selfish Christina was not worried that she would be wronged. Nathaniel was with her, and this wonderful, clever man would definitely not let her suffer. Her confidence in Nathaniel kept her calm as she fended herself against Barnaby¡¯s questions and doubts. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Christina gave him a small smile. Nathaniel shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over Christina¡¯s shoulders. He looked at her with gen eyes,pletely unaffected by the problem at hand. ¡°It may take some time to deal with this issue. Are you hungry? I¡¯ll get someone to bring you some food.¡± he asked her casually. Christina had been snacking on fruits earlier, so she shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°If you start to feel tired, you must tell me. We¡¯ll go home immediately and let Sebastian handle this on his own,¡± Nathaniel said softly into her ear. Christina nodded gratefully. Wrapped up safely in Nathaniel¡¯s love and affection, she really began to feel sleepy. However, she shook off her drowsiness, reminding herself that the problem had been caused by her and that she should not be depending on Nathaniel to clean up her mess. Sheridan felt a stab of envy watching the intimate interaction between the two of them, especially when he saw Christina smiling unabashedly at Nathaniel. He wished he could rece Nathaniel and be the only one in Christina¡¯s eyes and heart. Even though he knew that there was no hope for him to be with Christina, he still allowed himself to indulge in those feelings. By the time he snapped out of it, it was already toote. Perhaps he had been staring too hard, and Nathaniel had sensed his eyes on Christina. Nathaniel raised b head and red back at Sheridan with eyes full of warning. At that moment, the butler, Walter, appeared in the lobby with the records from the surveince cameras Walter projected the recording onto arge nk wall so that they could all watch it together. ¡°I¡¯ve looked through the surveince recording for tonight, and I didn¡¯t see anyone approaching Mrs. Hadley¡¯s car,¡± said Walter. ¡°There are security guards patrolling the parking lot regrly, and they did not see anything unusual tonight either.¡± Christina stared unblinkingly at the recording ying on the wall. Something felt a little off about the recording, but she could not quite put her finger on it. ¡°Is this all the surveince recording?¡± Sheridan asked Walter. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Nothing has been left out, Mr. Stone.¡± ¡°Mr. Stone, you won¡¯t mind me making a copy of all these recordings, will you?¡± Nathaniel asked bluntly. ¡°These things should be looked over by a professional. I have to be sure that these recordings have not been tampered with.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you suspecting that I secretly tampered with the recording?¡± Walter asked pointedly. Nathaniel nced at him. ¡°I don¡¯t mean anything by it. I¡¯m just ustomed to ascertaining facts for myself. This concerns my wife¡¯s reputation, which in turn concerns the Hadley family¡¯s reputation. We do not take lightly anyone besmirching our name. If the situation were reversed, I¡¯m sure Mr. Stone would do the same. He did not even say anything. Why are you, a mere butler, so bothered by my request? Have the recordings actually been tampered with?¡± The butler¡¯s face instantly flushed red. His retort became stuck in his throat, and he could only shake his head vehemently. ¡°That¡¯s quite enough. Since Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are the parties involved here, they have every right to make such a request. Cease talking right now., You¡¯re attracting undue suspicion, Sheridan said coldly to Walter. ¡°You have no business here anymore. Leave.¡± Walter turned and left, looking dissatisfied. Nathaniel instructed Lyle to make a copy of the surveince recording and to have a professional inspect ¡°Mr. Hadley, is there really a need to blow this matter up to such an extent?¡± Sheridan asked in a mocking tone when he saw that Nathaniel had spared no expense in dealing with this matter. ¡°Am I really so untrustworthy?¡± ¡°Mr. Stone, instead of questioning my intentions, why don¡¯t you deal with your family first?¡± Nathaniel stood up. ¡°If you don¡¯t, you may find your position in the Stone family at risk. All right, it¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯m taking my wife home. I hope we¡¯ll be able to reach a mutually agreeable conclusion in three days¡¯ time.¡± Christina had been lost in her own thoughts, so she was startled by Nathaniel suddenly wrapping his arms around her and subconsciously resisted his gesture. When she realized that it was Nathaniel, Christina rxed and leaned into his embrace. ¡°Mr. Stone, I¡¯m so sorry for what happened tonight. Please call if you need to reach me. Good night.¡± ¡°Let me walk you out,¡± Sheridan replied. ¡°No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Stone. We can make our own way out as long as nobody stops us,¡± Nathaniel said pointedly and left with Christina in tow. As soon as the Hadleys left, Walter appeared behind Sheridan and said, ¡°Mr. Stone, are you really going to let them go so easily? It¡¯ll be difficult to exin this to the elders.¡± Sheridan smiled without humor. ¡°No one can stop Nathaniel from doing what he wants. Haven¡¯t you realized that yet by now?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. The butler hung his head in shame. ¡°I apologize, Mr. Stone.¡± Sheridan did not want to waste his time pressing the matter. Instead, he asked, ¡°Where is my grandpa?¡± ¡°I saw him go into the study with two guests,¡± Walter replied. ¡°Go attend to the guests,¡± Sheridan instructed Walter in a t voice. Then, he turned and headed toward the study. In the study, Barnaby, Azure, and Yerek were deep in an unpleasant conversation. Emotions were running high in the room, especially when Azure heard Barnaby refuse to acknowledge. Nigel and Yerek as his blood. ¡°Barnaby, that¡¯s not what you said back then when Nigel¡¯s identity was first revealed!¡± Azure grabbed Barnaby¡¯s cor and screamed into his face. ¡°You swore that no matter what happened, you would grant Nigel and Yerek legitimacy. This wasn¡¯t even that long ago, and now, you¡¯ve already changed your mind!¡± Barnaby tried to pull away from Azure¡¯s ws, but he could not break free. He was not the kind of man who wouldy his hand on a woman, so he merely stared back at her tly. ¡°Let go. This is the Stone family¡¯s home, not the Gibson residence. This is not the ce for you to be acting like this. Don¡¯t you have any dignity?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of having dignity? Your son is about to go to prison. This will affect his future and his children¡¯s future! Even if you deny it, Nigel is still your blood! You wouldn¡¯t want anyone saying that you have a son who has been in prison, do you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t use those words to provoke me! You are also at fault for what has happened to Nigel. If I had known that you were pregnant back then, I wouldn¡¯t have allowed you to have the baby!¡± Azure stared at Barnaby in horror. It suddenly dawned on her that she had loved that man for her entire life, and still, she did not really understand him at all. ¡°Barnaby, you are so selfish!¡± Chapter 664 Wasted Effort Chapter 664 Wasted Effort Yerek¡¯s eyes gleamed slyly. He deliberately tried to dissuade Azure, ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t act so rashly. It won¡¯t solve anything. Let¡¯s calm down and talk this through civilly. Nothing is ck and white. I believe Old Mr. Stone must have his reasons for his decision.¡± Barnaby could not help gaining a little more respect for Yerek upon hearing thetter¡¯s words. In truth, Yerek¡¯s behavior endeared him to Barnaby, but unfortunately, he was neither strong nor willful enough to lead the family. Sheridan was a more suitable heir to the Stone family. If the events that followed had not urred, Barnaby might have considered legitimizing Yerekter on. However, when Azure heard Yerek¡¯s words, she only became even more enraged. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Yerek, stop caring about others! Think about the precarious position that you and your father are in. Haven¡¯t we been oppressed enough as it is?¡± Azure said angrily. ¡°Now, your own grandpa wants to do the same and pour salt on our wounds! I can¡¯t stay calm!¡± Barnaby was not without conscience. After all, Azure was his first love whom he had loved for many years, and she had even bore him a child. ¡°I cannot legitimize them for the time being. Nevertheless, if there¡¯s anything else you need, I¡¯ll do it as long as it is within my control, Barnaby said, capitting partially to Azure¡¯s demands. He had only agreed topromise so that Azure would calm down and stop embarrassing him by appearing suddenly at the Stone family residence. Azure cracked a satisfied smile. ¡°Well, if so, don¡¯t you think you should make it up to Nigel and Yerek since they won¡¯t have the right to the Stone family¡¯s inheritance which Sheridan will be entitled to? Shouldn¡¯t they be treated like the other Stone family members and receive some assets at least?¡± What Azure was asking for was essentially the same as demanding Barnaby acknowledge Nigel and Yerek as his blood. The only difference was their official legitimacy. Barnaby was about to reject her when the door to the study burst open suddenly, ¡°I do not agree!¡± Wendy hobbled in with her cane, leaning heavily on Sheridan for support. Her sharp eyes pierced into Barnaby¡¯s. ¡°Barnaby, you¡¯re the head of the Stone family, but yet, you¡¯re under this woman¡¯s thumb. If people got wind of this, it would bring the Stone family shame!¡± Barnaby stared at the ground as he listened to his mother¡¯s tirade, not daring to deny her usations or defend himself. Wendy was an influential figure in the Stone family. Her word could determine a person¡¯s fate and position within the family. Azure sneered and countered, ¡°Old Mdm. Garcia, this is between Barnaby and me. You should stay out of Wendy looked at Azure indifferently, and her voice dripped with contempt when she spoke. ¡°If you were Barnaby¡¯swfully wedded wife, I would definitely not interfere, but you are not. You are an outsider. Frankly, you are just another gold digger. As the head of the Stone family, I¡¯m merely watching over our family¡¯s affairs. You, on the other hand, are the one who¡¯s meddling in our family matters.¡± Azure was no match for Wendy¡¯s words. Thus, she turned her eyes to Barnaby and demanded angrily, ¡°Barnaby, tell me now, do you agree to my request?¡± Wendy red at Barnaby, the warning look in her eyes a silent order to stand down. ¡°Well, Barnaby, since you seem to be unable to make up your mind, I¡¯ll make the decision on your behalf.¡± Barnaby could not go against Wendy¡¯s words. He nodded and said weakly, ¡°Yes, thank you, Mom.¡± Azure¡¯s hatred for Barnaby burned intensely. She had wasted too many years loving him. ¡°As Sheridan said before, the Stone family does not acknowledge any illegitimate children. We will not allow Nigel to call us his family, and we certainly will not be giving away our assets to any outsiders. You can cause as much drama as you want, but be warned that if you harm the good name of our family, we will not show you mercy. I¡¯ve heard about your family¡¯s nasty habits. To put it bluntly, all you want is money. Well, the Stone family does not care about spending a little money if it means a problem can be solved.¡± Then, Wendy turned to Barnaby and said, ¡°If you want to solve a problem, you must pay the price. You must pay what is due. We must not let people think that the Stones are tight-fisted with our money.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll remember that,¡± Barnaby replied meekly. ¡°Sheridan, let¡¯s go receive the guests. It¡¯s my birthday banquet today. Let¡¯s not allow such trivial matters to ruin the mood.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes were gentle and kind when she turned to Sheridan, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go.¡± Sheridan cast a smug nce at Azure and Yerek, then turned to leave the study with Wendy holding onto his arm. Barnaby quickly set about carrying out Wendy¡¯s instructions. He signed a cheque for fifty million in Azure¡¯s name and pulled out the deed for a property worth several million. ¡°Take this. This is the mostpensation that I can give you. This will be enough to refill the company¡¯s empty coffers. Be more cautious in the future.¡± Barnaby pressed the check and the title deed into Azure¡¯s hands. ¡°Please don¡¯t contact us again if there¡¯s nothing important.¡± Azure felt so self-righteously angry that she wanted to throw the cheque and title deed back in Barnaby¡¯s face, but what he said was the truth. She really needed the money. Nigel wanted to appeal for a lighter sentence. They would have to hire an experiencedwyer to file the appeal, and suchwyers did note cheap. In the past, Azure could have easily afforded the fees, but times had changed. Nigel had drained her private funds to pay off thepany¡¯s debts. She was barely getting by at the moment. ¡°Barnaby, you b¡±stard! Karma wille back to bite the Stone family!¡± Azure cried out angrily. She snatched up the cheque and title deed before leaving in a whirl of grief and anger. Yerek looked at Barnaby sadly. Then, he, too, turned and left without another word. He had thought that Barnaby would step up to his responsibilities as a father and grandfather, but he had turned out to be a spineless worm with no real influence. Btedly, Yerek realized he had wasted too much time focused on Barnaby, He should have learned from Sheridan and curried for Wendy¡¯s favor instead From that moment, Yerek shifted his focus from Barnaby to Wendy After Christina and Nathaniel got home, they sent some men to trail after the Stone family and take note of their movements As expected, Azure and Yerek did not manage to get what they wanted from the Stone family Instead they had only seeded in increasing the Stone family¡¯s dislike for them. Azure had wanted to take advantage of Wendy¡¯s birthday banquet to force Barnaby¡¯s hand. The timing was right, but Azure had made a mistake by overestimating Barnaby¡¯s position within the Stone family and underestimating Wendy¡¯s ways. The Stone family already had an excellent sessor in Sheridan. Wendy would not allow Nigel to retur to the family to avoid any power struggle between the two ¡°Christina, we have the results from the surveince records Chapter 665 The Most Suspicious Person Chapter 665 The Most Suspicious Person Nathaniel approached Christina with a grim expression on his face. ¡°The surveince footage was tampered with. The footage we saw was the final prodiet after being trimmed and edited Christina frowned. ¡°Is it possible to get the original footage ¡°I sent someone to the Stone residence to retrieve the original footage immediately, but it was still too late. All the records in the Stone family¡¯s surveince room were destroyed, Nathaniel replied Despite the serious damage done to the devices in the surveince room, there was no reaction from Sheridan at all. It almost seemed like he was already aware of it Hence, Nathaniel couldn¡¯t help but think that Sheridan was involved in the swapping of the painting Only a member of the Stone family could cause such destruction openly and erase all traces discreetly With that thought, the suspicion surrounding Sheridan instantly increased. Christina was worried because their enemy was operating in the dark and they didn¡¯t know what else they were up to. The current situation was unfavorable to them. The perpetrator behind the scenes surely had motives beyond embarrassing her at the Stone family¡¯s banquet As Christina racked her brain trying to guess the person¡¯s ultimate goal, a sudden thought crossed her mind. Her expression changed slightly. Could it be that the perpetrator is intentionally provoking conflicts among the Hadleys, the Stones, and the Gibsons? Suddenly, she felt a cool hand on her forehead. Startled, she almost leaped off the couch. cing his hands on her shoulders, Nathaniel asked worriedly. ¡°Are you feeling unwell? You look pale Forcing a smile, Christina replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I was just too engrossed in my thoughts. I¡¯m sorry for making you worry.¡± ¡°What were you thinking just now?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Don¡¯t keep it to yourself. Tell me We can solve this together.¡± ¡°At first, I suspected Anya and Emilia because we had an unpleasant incident at the banquet. But when you mentioned the destruction of the surveince equipment at the Stone residence, I ruled out their suspicion,¡± Christina concluded. ¡°Nathaniel, who do you find most suspicious?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s Sheridan, Nathaniel replied frankly Christina¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Why?¡± Nathaniel embraced her from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder as he replied, ¡°Lyle must have told you about my business trip to Erihal. My rivalry with Sheridan is much moreplicated than us vying for your love. In truth, it¡¯s about the intensepetition for the family business. Since the Hadleys and Stones have business coborations, if the Hadleys were to initiate a conflict, it would cause the rtionship between the two families to deteriorate. Sheridan will then be able to seize the Hadley family¡¯s business effortlessly¡± Christina hade to understand the cutthroat nature of the business world over the past month. However, she found it hard to imagine Sheridan as a scheming person when he looked so polite and courteous. Christina recalled every detail of her interactions with Sheridan and pondered carefully. Now that she thought about it, Nathaniel¡¯s suspicion wasn¡¯t entirely without evidence. If Sheridan had approached me with other intentions right from the beginning¡­ A cold sweat broke out on Christina¡¯s forehead. She gulped, saying, ¡°Nathaniel, I should have realized it sooner when you strongly discouraged me from getting close to Sheridan at first.¡° She looked at Nathaniel apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It seems like I¡¯ve caused you trouble again.¡± ¡°Although I don¡¯t like you being friends with Sheridan, it¡¯s not your fault for not knowing the stakes involved. You haven¡¯t caused me any harm.¡± Nathaniel sighed before continuing, ¡°Christina, you don¡¯t have to be afraid of me or tiptoe around me. You know that I can be ruthless and heartless to anyone except you.¡± Christina smiled and pinched his cheek. ¡°I know I married an exceptional husband, but you shouldn¡¯t spoil me too much. I have this bad habit that once I¡¯ve been indulged, I won¡¯t know how to restrain myself. You may be the one suffering in the end.¡± ¡°Well, go ahead then. I don¡¯t consider it a trouble.¡± Nathaniel kissed the corner of her lips affectionately. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We can deal with the rest tomorrow. Go take a shower and rest early Christina rubbed her belly and cooed, ¡°The baby is hungry and wants to eat spicy pasta.¡± ¡°Ill cook some pasta for you in the kitchen, but you can¡¯t have spicy food.¡± Nathaniel replied with an affectionate smile. ¡°Go take a shower first.¡± Christina pouted in disappointment. ¡°Fine.¡± She got up and walked into the bathroom while Nathaniel went downstairs to cook supper for her. When Christina finished showering, Nathaniel had already cooked the pasta. The moment she looked at the sauce of the pasta, her appetite plummeted. She stared at Nathaniel and said, ¡°I want to eat fried eggs, Nathaniel.¡± ¡°Wait for a moment. I¡¯ll make it for you,¡± Nathaniel replied patiently before turning to walk into the kitchen. Christina quickly tiptoed toward the refrigerator. She remembered that the housekeeper had ced several bottles of chili sauce in the refrigerator¡¯s cold storagepartment. However, after searching through the entire refrigerator, she couldn¡¯t find a trace of the chili sauce. ¡°Are you looking for this?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s teasing voice suddenly sounded from behind her. Feeling guilty, she mmed the refrigerator door shut. As she nervously turned around, she saw him waving the bottle of chili sauce in his hand with an amused expression on his face. ¡°I just felt like having some juice suddenly, but it seems we don¡¯t have any in stock,¡± Christina said sheepishly as she walked back to her seat. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been craving spicy food recently and eating recklessly behind the nutritionist¡¯s back.¡± Nathaniel ced the chili sauce on the table with thebel facing Christina. ¡°These are confiscated for now. After you give birth, I¡¯ll let the nutritionist rearrange your diet. Don¡¯t make me worry, Christina. Be a good girl, okay?¡± The way he dragged hisst word carried a hint of threatening yet thrilling danger. ¡°Okay¡± Christina nodded obediently. Then, Nathaniel reached out and caressed her head, soothing her. After Christina had her supper, she leaned against the headboard and waited for the food to be digested. Buze! Nathaniel¡¯s phone, which was ced on the bedside cab, vibrated slightly. As the screen lit up automatically, a message abruptly caught Christina¡¯s eye. She nced toward the bathroom. Nathaniel did not have the habit of setting a password on his phone, so she picked it up and opened his text message app. She then saw Sebastian¡¯s message. Mr. Hadley, the matter has been resolved. She indeed has murderous intentions toward Mrs. Hadley, Attached below the message was a photo of Anya tied to a chair, covered in wounds. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The photo looked like a scene from a horror movie. Startled, Christina identally let the phone slip from her fingers, but a hand reached out and caught it Nathaniel nced at the content on his phone calmly. ¡°Anya harmed you. There¡¯s no way I can let her off easily.¡± Chapter 666 I Will Remember This Forever Chapter 666 I Will Remember This Forever Christina¡¯s office. Since the office building was right next to Hadley Corporation, he would be able to pick her up and drop her off anytime. Only by having her nearby where he could keep an eye on her would he feel asured ¡°I know your fashion studio is looking for a new office space. How about moving into the same office building as Gibson Corporation? When you¡¯re further along in your pregnancy, you won¡¯t have to travel back and forth. By that time, I¡¯ll have Sebastian manage thepany for you and share the workload, Nathaniel suggested. Nathaniel was gradually luring Christina into his n. After a brief moment of contemtion, Christina nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll have the secretary issue a notice about thepany relocation and make the necessary arrangements today.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast first. I¡¯ll drive you to thepany, Nathaniel offered, his eyes glinting victoriously. After breakfast, he apanied her to Gibson Corporation. While it looked like Nathaniel was there to apany her on the surface, in reality, it was a disguised form of supervision. Christina had been busy for less than half an hour when he ordered her to take a break As time went by, Christina¡¯s work fell into Nathaniel¡¯s hands, and he reviewed and handled everything for her. Eventually, all Christina was tasked with was to eat and drink to her heart¡¯s content. Eventually, shey down on the sofa and fell asleep. Nathaniel then brought her to the lounge so she could rest well When a secretary came in to deliver some documents and saw Nathaniel handling work on Christina¡¯s chair, she thought she had walked into the wrongpany. She stared at Nathaniel at the office entrance for a while. When Nathaniel noticed the burning gaze directed at him, he raised his head. ¡°Do you need something?¡±, he asked the secretary. The secretary walked in with the documents, her eyes scanning the surroundings. When she couldn¡¯t find Christina, she opened her mouth to ask, but Nathaniel spoke first. ¡°She¡¯s resting in the lounge. Put the documents down; I¡¯ll take care of them.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The secretary quickly left the documents and exited the office while ncing at Nathaniel warily. In the span of a morning, chaos erupted within thepany. Rumors suggesting that Gibson Corporation was going to have a change in its sessor were all over the ce. More outrageously, there was a rumor about a merger between Gibson Corporation and Hadley Corporation. Christina slept until noon, unaware of everything. After she woke up, Nathaniel took her out for hunch Christina was about to leave the restroom after cleaning her coat when she was startled by Anya¡¯s sudden appearance Anya, who used to be radiant, now looked pale and resembled a vengeful ghost. No amount of delicate makeup could hide the wounds on her face. Her expression was vicious. She looked like she was about to pounce on Christina and bite her neck in the next second. I Will Remember This Forever Christina instinctively took a step back while watching Anya warily. ¡°What do you want?¡± Anya let out a hoarse and unpleasantugh. Licking her dry lips, she said, ¡°I regret not killing you directlyst night, Christina. I shouldn¡¯t have pushed you down the stairs. I should have stabbed your heart with a knife!¡± After being caught by Sebastian and given a painful lesson, she almost didn¡¯t make it back alive. She would remember this grudge forever! ¡°Seems like you haven¡¯t learned your lesson, Anya Gibson. Do you need another one?¡± Christina red at her coldly. ¡°You won¡¯t be so lucky every time.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Anya suddenly looked around skittishly. After ensuring that no one was heading toward the restroom, she closed the door behind her. Step by step, she approached Christina, her eyes locked on Christina¡¯s abdomen beneath thetter¡¯s loose dress. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anya¡¯s eyes flickered with madness. ¡°Tell me, what do you think Nathaniel¡¯s reaction will be if I get rid of the child in your belly?¡± Christina shielded her abdomen with her hands as she continued to retreat. Then, with a jolt, she realized that she had no more room when her back pressed against the wall. ¡°He will definitely kill you.¡± Anya smiled nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s worth dying if I can take someone down with me.¡± With that said, she pulled out a fruit knife from her waist and swung it toward Christina¡¯s abdomen. Christina dodged. As the fruit knife plunged into the spot where she had just been standing, she rushed into one of the cubicles and quickly locked the door from the inside. She patted her pocket anxiously. Oh no! I didn¡¯t bring my phone with me! Bang! Bang! Bang! Anya kicked the door frantically while spewing vulgarities. ¡°Don¡¯t hide from me like a coward, Christina! Let¡¯s settle this face-to-face!¡± Chapter 667 Chapter 667 The bathroom door was forcefully smashed open, and Nathaniel rushed in, swiftly grabbing hold of Anya, who was clinging to the cubicle door. Due to the forceful pull, deep gashes were left on Anya¡¯s neck and chin from being dragged off the door. Nathaniel flung her aside in one smooth motion, causing Anya to crash into the wall. Blood instantly began streaming from the back of her head. Without even sparing a nce at Anya, Nathaniel urgently knocked on thepartment door, saying, ¡°Christina, it¡¯s me. Open the door.¡± Stumbling, Christina quickly stood up and almost lunged at the door, trembling as she opened it and rushed into Nathaniel¡¯s arms. Nathaniel held her tightly, and his aura of hostility dissipated, reced by gentle reassurance. He softly comforted her, saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s over now With a tight grip on his shirt, Christina choked on her words, unable to form aplete sentence. ¡°N- Nathaniel, my stomach¡­ hurts¡­ Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital right away.¡± He lifted Christina in his arms, disregarding Anya, and swiftly rushed out of the bathroom. The car sped toward the hospital, where doctors and nurses were already waiting at the entrance, ready to assist At that moment, Christina¡¯s face was ghastly pale, and the intense pain in her abdomen caused her to gradually lose consciousness. ¡°Save her!¡± Nathaniel grabbed a doctor and urgently eximed, ¡°If you can only save one of them, make sture you save her!¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The doctor swiftly withdrew his hand, maintaining aposed demeanor. ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯ll do everything we can. Please try to remain calm and await the results patiently.¡± With those words, he joined the medical team, swiftly disappearing into the emergency room. Nathaniel¡¯s white shirt was now tainted with the vivid red of blood. He sat forlornly on a bench outside the emergency room, seemingly undisturbed by the disarray of his appearance. Sebastian rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, and for a moment, he struggled to recognize the disheveled man seated in the corridor. ¡°Mr. Hadley, are you all right? Did you sustain any injuries?¡± As Sebastian stared at the horrifying patch of blood staining Nathaniel¡¯s clothes, his heart skipped a beat in shock ¡°It¡¯s not my blood.¡± Nathaniel lifted his head to look at Sebastian with a deadpan expression. ¡°Where¡¯s Anya?¡± ¡°She was gone when I arrived at the restaurant. I¡¯ve sent people to search for her. Given the severity of her actions, it¡¯s likely that Anya is in hiding. It¡¯ll take some time to locate her. Mr. Hadley, please give me a little more time.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s gaze turned fierce. ¡°Sebastian, you¡¯re well aware of my impatience. I don¡¯t care about the methods you employ, but you must bring Anya to me, whether she¡¯s alive or dead. You hear me?¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Hadley,¡± Sebastian replied. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, he added, ¡°But things may be complicated if she seeks help from Old Mr. Stone.¡± Nathaniel sneered, ¡°Barnaby knows what matters most. Unless he wants to offend the entire Stone family. Sheridan will never allow Barnaby to create trouble for himself over an outsider who only causes nothing but trouble¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯ll attend to my tasks now. Do you want me to assign a few people to be on standby for you?¡± Sebastian expressed his concern for Nathaniel¡¯s mental state. He wanted to ensure that there would be someone to restrain his boss if anything went wrong in the emergency room. ¡°No need, Nathaniel replied in a deep voice. ¡°Take Lyle with you. He excels at tracking people down.¡± Sebastian hummed in response and left to carry out his order. Meanwhile, Anya, who had managed to escape from the restaurant, crossed paths with Macy, who was searching for her. ¡°Anya, where did you go? I¡¯ve been searching everywhere for you. I thought someone had kidnapped. you!¡± Macy shrieked upon seeing Anya¡¯s bloodied face, My goodness, you¡¯re bleeding so much! Who did that to you?¡± Anya frantically dragged Macy to a secluded corner. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t ask me questions now. Get a car here quickly. We need to leave this ce as soon as possible.¡± Macy did not fully grasp Anya¡¯s meaning. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Anya yelled, ¡°No, we¡¯re not going to the hospital! We¡¯re heading straight to the airport. I can¡¯t stay in this city any longer. If I do, I¡¯ll be dead. I¡¯ll be dead, I swear!¡± She burst into tears, her entire body trembling. Macy stood frozen, taken aback by her daughter¡¯s words. ¡°Anya, exin yourself clearly. Who wants to kill you? What happened while you were away just now?¡± Earlier today, Macy had apanied Anya to see a psychiatrist. However, during the brief moment when Macy entered a store to buy water, Anya vanished without a trace. Although she had finally located Anya, it was evident that Anya¡¯s mental state had further deteriorated. Anya¡¯s frantic gaze scanned the surroundings, her eyes darting in all directions. Witnessing her distraught state, Macy could not hold back her tears any longer. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s not see the psychiatrist anymore. We¡¯ll head to the Specker residence to seek your grandad¡¯s help!¡± Chapter 668 Distorting The Truth Chapter 668 Distorting The Truth When Macy pressed Anya for the reason behind her injury on the way to the Specker residence, she learned that Anya had gone to cause Christina trouble Anya had even been intending to kill her out of anger. Macy almost fainted at the revtion. However, now that things hade to this point, furtherining and ming wouldn¡¯t solve the problem Macy could only ce all her hopes on the Specker family, so she brought Anya back to them. As soon as the mother and daughter stepped into the Specker residence, Sebastian received the news and immediately brought men there to surround the residence. Upon seeing this situation. dimir felt that the Hadley family had gone too far. He leaned on his cane and personally confronted Sebastian to demand an exnation ¡°You¡¯d better withdraw all the people outside within ten minutes!¡± dimir said sternly. ¡°The Specker residence is not a ce where you can act recklessly like this. If things escte, it won¡¯t benefit Nathaniel in the slightest.¡± Sebastian¡¯s expression turned cold as he replied, ¡°Mr. Specker, your granddaughter Anya wanted to harm Mrs. Hadley. Currently, Mrs. Hadley is in the hospital, fighting for her life. This is not the first time Anya has done such outrageous things. Are you sure you want to protect her?¡± Anya harmed someone? Why is this different from what Macy and Anya told me? Although dimir had heard rumors about Anya¡¯s actions, rumors were still just rumors. They were far from being as reliable and true as what family members said. He didn¡¯t believe the words of outsiders With a stern expression, he said, ¡°Clearly, it was Christina¡¯s bad behavior that started it all. I believe Anya identally injured her in self-defense. On the contrary, you relentless people are hounding her. Go back and tell Nathaniel that if he wants to take Anya away from me, he needs to present evidence.¡± Sebastian never went to a fight unprepared. Upon learning that Anya had sought refuge with the Specker family, he had made preparations in advance. He had been collecting all the evidence of Anya¡¯s crimes andpiling them into a dossier, which he now presented in its entirety to dimir. Lyle handed a stack of thick documents to dimir, apanied by a tablet containing surveince footage. dimir quickly flipped through the stack of documents, his expression bing increasingly grin the further he read ¡°Mr. Specker, all these documents are concrete evidence of Anya¡¯s embezzlement and a series of financial crimesmitted during her tenure as a senior executive at Gibson Corporation,¡± Sebastian coldly remarked with a smirk. ¡°Even if I randomly pick one of the mistakes she made, the Specker family¡¯s power won¡¯t be enough to shield her from the due punishment. Mr. Specker, please don¡¯t make a mistake by helping her.¡± Expression stony, dimir handed the documents to the butler behind him and yed the surveince footage on the tablet. Those videos not only captured the moment when Anya attempted to assassinate Christina in the restaurant restroom but also presented evidence of Anya murdering Madison in the mental hospital and killing Miranda in a fire The tablet slipped from dimir¡¯s hands and fell to the ground as he closed his eyes in disappointment. Macy and Anya have deceived met ¡°I cannot let you take Anya away¡± dimir opened his eyes, his gaze piercing ¡°She has broken thew, so she should be punished by the justice system. I will personally send her to the police station It Anya fell into Nathaniel¡¯s hands, she was as good as dead. He had promised Macy to protect Anya, and he always kept his word. ¡°I cannotply with your request, Sebastian said. ¡°Mr. Specker, please don¡¯t make things difficult for me II Mr. Hadley doesn¡¯t see her when I return, I won¡¯t be able to give him a good enough exnation¡± T ¡°I will seek out Nathaniel myself and exin my reasons. I won¡¯t cause trouble for you. Rest assured dimir said firmly. ¡°The Hadley family might always get their way in Jadeborough, but this is Hallsbay The Hadley family shouldn¡¯t think they can rule everything here!¡± Sebastian saw that dimir was determined to do things his own way, so he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time Nathaniel had given a strict order, and not even dimir himself could protect anyone. Today, even if the king himself came, Sebastian would have to take Anya away. ¡°Mr. Specker, it seems I have no choice. Please forgive me for intruding¡± Sebastian looked at Lyle. ¡®Search the ce!¡± ¡°Sebastian, how dare you!¡± dimir widened his eyes in a re. These men under Nathaniel¡¯s command are simply too insolent! Lyle pushed past dimir and his butler, then boldly rushed into the mansion with his men. dimir was trembling with anger as he said to his buler, ¡°Joe, quick! Call the police!¡± Shooting them an icy look. Sebastian sneered, ¡°Call the police? Well, make sure you hide all the evidence of Anya¡¯s crimes. Otherwise, when the policee here, they will certainly arrest her.¡± dimir hurriedly stopped Joe from making the call, all while gasping for breath. ¡°Don¡¯t call the police!¡± Sebastian¡¯s lips curled into a mocking grin as he looked up at Lyle, who had just walked out of the mansion. His eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°She ran away. There¡¯s a secret passage in the basement of the mansion that leads outside. She must have escaped through there Sebastian nced at dimir and said in a deep voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With hismand, all the bodyguards guarding the Specker residence were withdrawn, dimir let out a sigh of relief and stormed into the mansion. Macy sat on the couch in the living room, looking lost and slow to react. She turned her head slowly toward dimir and asked, ¡°Dad, have they all left?¡± dimir raised his hand and struck Macy with his cane. ¡°You brat! Anya caused such a big mess, yet you actually lied to me and told me it was Christina trying to kill you!¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Macy hid behind the couch, her gaze flickering. ¡°Dad, Christina is full of tricks. Her people are not good people either. Please don¡¯t believe what they say.¡± ¡°They have evidence of Anya¡¯s crimes.¡± dimir suddenly felt utterly hopeless. ¡°Anya killed people. Two lives were lost by her hands. How can the Specker family protect her? A stunned expression crossed Macy¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Anya would never dare to kill someone. She doesn¡¯t even dare to ughter a chicken! The evidence they have must be fabricated. Dad, think about it. If Anya really killed someone, then why haven¡¯t the policee to arrest her?¡± dimir had initially shared the same thoughts as Macy, but Anya¡¯s actions couldn¡¯t withstand scrutiny. ¡°Then you should go and ask your husband, Nigel, what¡¯s really going on.¡± dimir said. Having traveled far and wide, dimir was familiar with even the most despicable methods. Anya was used to relying on her father. He couldn¡¯t possibly bepletely unaware of the terrible things she did. Perhaps Anya¡¯s impunity was a result of his work. ¡°The Specker family can¡¯t keep you around anymore. You should leave quickly.¡± dimir was determined to distance himself from Macy. ¡°Nigel¡¯s biological father is Barnaby Stone, right? Go and talk to him. He won¡¯t ignore your plea for help. I can¡¯t deal with your affairs.¡± Even if he didn¡¯t care about himself, he had to consider the interests of the Specker family. Mary¡¯sst hope shattered, and desperation filled her heart. ¡°Dad, Anya is your granddaughter, and 1 am your daughter. How can you heartlessly abandon us? Anya is my only lifeline. Nothing must happen to her. I beg you, please save us!¡± dimir sighed, appearing as if he had aged ten years in a day ¡°If you¡¯d known this would be your fate, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this situation. Well, why don¡¯t you take Anya to visit Christina and beg for her forgiveness? Perhaps there¡¯s still hope.¡± Chapter 669 A Desperate Situation Chapter669ADesperateSituation Macy would rather someone end her misery with a swift blow rather than beg Christina for forgiveness. ¡°No, I will never beg Christina!¡± Macy shouted. ¡°That old man Barnaby doesn¡¯t even acknowledge Mrs. Lazuli. If he had any conscience, Nigel wouldn¡¯t have ended up in prison. The members of the Stone family are selfish and only care about themselves. They would dly disassociate themselves from Nigel. Dad, considering the help Nigel provided our family in the past, please save Anya. I beg you! I¡¯ll even kneel before you!¡± She crawled over and knelt before dimir, repeatedly knocking her head heavily on the ground. The Specker family was Macy¡¯sst ray of hope, and she would never give up. Joe couldn¡¯t bear to see her like this and interjected, ¡°Mr. Specker, although Ms. Macy has been married for many years, she still represents the Specker family. While the Specker family may not be as wealthy as the Gibson family or the Hadley family, we still hold a certain reputation in Hallsbay. If we let others trample over us, it will only make us appear weak and powerless. Soon, no one will fear us anymore.¡± dimir red angrily at Joe. ¡°You don¡¯t understand. The Hadley family is not to be trifled with. That brat Nathaniel is even more difficult to deal with than his father Charlie. Even if I¡¯m inclined to help, Anya still can¡¯tpare to the greater importance of the Specker family.¡± -Joe wanted to say more but was silenced by dimir¡¯s stern gaze. Macy¡¯s heart sank as her eyes filled with despair. ¡°So, you really don¡¯t care about me and Anya?¡± ¡°Macy, this is the path you¡¯ve chosen, and others can¡¯t help you.¡± dimir sighed helplessly and turned coldly to go upstairs. Joe hurriedly approached Macy and helped her up. ¡°Ms. Macy, Mr. Specker is currently blinded by anger. Why don¡¯t you go find Ms. Anya first? Once Mr. Specker has calmed down, he will naturally handle the trouble for you.¡± Macy sneered, ¡°He won¡¯t help me and Anya. He¡¯s my father, and I understand him. Thank you for speaking up for me just now, Joe. I¡¯ll be leaving.¡± She walked out of the mansion with a deste expression. Joe rushed up to her and handed her a check worth one million. He said, ¡°Ms. Macy, this is what Mr. Specker asked me to give you. With the Gibson family¡¯s scandal making such big waves recently, Mr. Specker has naturally been paying attention. He can¡¯t intervene in- other matters, but at least he can take care of your daily needs.¡± Macy epted it expressionlessly, feeling dead inside. ¡°Thank him for me.¡± Joe watched Macy leave before turning to head back to the mansion. ¡°Mr. Specker, Ms. Macy has epted it.¡± dimir stared at the scenery outside the window, feeling lost. ¡°Anya is just like her father. They¡¯re both too eager for quick sess and instant benefits. The truth will alwayse out. Nigel should have anticipated this day.¡± Joe only partially understood. He stood silently by the side without saying a word. As night fell, Nathaniel remained by Christina¡¯s bedside for several hours without moving at all. Fatigue was evident in his weary eyes. Sebastian slowed his pace as he walked in and whispered a few words in Nathaniel¡¯s ear. Following that, Nathaniel stood up and walked out of the hospital room. He didn¡¯t dare to go too far and deliberately left the hospital room door slightly ajar, ensuring that he could see Christina at all times. ¡°After Anya left the Specker residence, she disappeared. Our men found her discarded phone near the Specker residence, but the street surveince cameras couldn¡¯t trace her whereabouts,¡± Sebastian said quietly. He continued, ¡°Mr. Specker made it clear that he won¡¯t meddle in this mess, while Mrs. Gibson returned to the rented house and hasn¡¯t left home all afternoon. Communication records show that she only contacted Mrs. Lazuli, though without any sess. She hasn¡¯t contacted anyone else.¡± Anya had run out of options. She had almost no one to rely on in Hallsbay, nor did she have anyone backing her up. There was no way she could escape Sebastian¡¯s pursuit. Nathaniel pondered before asking, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with Yerek and Barnaby?¡± ¡°Yerek/has been trying to find ways to use Barnaby¡¯s money to solve thepany¡¯s problems. He¡¯s been on a business trip out of town these past couple of days and is overwhelmed by work,¡± Sebastian said. ¡°ording to the investigation, Yerek and Anya¡¯s rtionship is not harmonious, especially after the Gibson family split. Anya has conflicts with Mrs. Lazuli as well. Old Mr. Stone has been ordered by Old Mdm. Garcia to reflect and meditate in the ancestral hall, so he¡¯s unaware of what¡¯s happening in the outside world.¡± Nathaniel noticed Christina¡¯s fingertips trembling slightly, so he quickly said, ¡°Go investigate Sheridan.¡± The moment he finished speaking, he pushed open the door and hurried to the bedside, grabbing Christina¡¯s hand and tightly holding it. ¡°Christina?¡± Upon hearing Nathaniel¡¯s voice, Christina slowly opened her eyes, her confused gaze gradually finding focus. She suddenly pulled back her hand and touched her belly, wanting to make sure the baby was safe. Then, she breathed a sigh of relief. Christina looked up at Nathaniel. In an instant, she felt aggrieved, and her eyes reddened. ¡°Nathaniel, I¨CI thought we lost the baby.¡± Nathaniel said, ¡°I won¡¯t let anything happen to you both. You had a fright, and the baby was slightly affected. The doctor rmends full bed rest.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± She gently rubbed her belly, feeling lucky that she had not lost the baby. Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Christina, there¡¯s something I want to discuss seriously with you,¡± Nathaniel said solemnly. ¡°From now on, you should focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. You won¡¯t be able to manage both Gibson Corporation and the studio. How about we relocate Gibson Corporation to Jadeborough starting tomorrow? I¡¯ve already asked the secretary to gather opinions from the employees, and they are all willing to move with thepany. The only thing we need is your approval.¡± Every decision Nathaniel made was well thought out and centered around Christina. Christina trusted him wholeheartedly, and she had no reason to refuse. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your arrangement.¡± Christina smiled. Once again, I¡¯m relying on you to handle the troublesome work matters for me, Nathaniel. I find myself increasingly unable to live without you.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s tone was indulgent as he said, ¡°We¡¯re husband and wife, so we¡¯re one entity. You need me, and I¡¯m d to be here for you.¡± He then changed the subject. ¡°What do you want to cat? I¡¯ll have someone bring it over.¡± Christina mentioned a few dishes she liked, and Nathaniel made a call to have them delivered. After eating and drinking to her heart¡¯s content, Christina finally remembered the main issue. ¡°What about Anya? What did you do to her?¡± Upon hearing that name, Nathaniel looked unhappy. ¡°I was in a hurry to bring you to the hospital that day, so she had a chance to escape. Sebastian is searching for her, but she won¡¯t be able to hide for long.¡± While enjoying the fruits that Nathaniel had specially washed for her, Christina furrowed her eyebrows. ¡°If Sebastian catches Anya, what will you do?¡± Nathaniel focused his attention on her and asked in return, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Naturally, Christina wanted to punish Anya severely and make her pay a painful price, but she didn¡¯t want Anya¡¯s life. Nathaniel had said before that Anya wouldn¡¯t be lucky every time, and she might not be able to escape this time. Christina felt conflicted. Should I plead for mercy for Anya? What would Nathaniel think of me if I do? He definitely won¡¯t be happy¡­ Atst, Christina looked into his eyes and said, ¡°You decide.¡± Chapter 670 Lingering Chapter 670Lingering Nathaniel could just deal with Anya without seeking Christina¡¯s opinion, but her opinion was something he valued. Nevertheless, Christina¡¯s answer delighted him. ¡°I¡¯ll give you results you¡¯ll be contented with,¡± Nathaniel answered, his lips curling as a vicious look shed past his eyes. For the next two days, Christina stayed in the hospital to recover. The relocation of Gibson Corporation was left to Nathaniel, and she enjoyed the momentary freedom from her usual tasks. Nathaniel was traveling back and forth between the hospital and Gibson Corporation. Sometimes, he even had to work overtime to deal with Gibson Corporation¡¯s matters. He was exhausted, but he was dly taking everything on. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s sudden, but I need to meet a client. If I don¡¯te back in time, the nurse will apany you for the test instead. Go back to the ward once you¡¯re done with it; don¡¯t wander elsewhere. I¡¯lle and pick you up to take you to the airport tonight,¡± Nathaniel said to Christina. Christina chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry and just focus on work. I¡¯m not a kid. Stay safe on your way there.¡± Nathaniel then made a cup of hot milk and washed some fruits for her before leaving with a lighter heart. After that, Christina took a nap. When the afternoon came, the nurse brought her to another room for her test. ¡°Wait,¡± Christina suddenly said. She turned around to look at the corridor behind her, but she did not see anyone suspicious. There were only medical staff and patients with their families around. ¡°Ms. Steele, is something the matter?¡± the nurse curiously asked her. ¡°Did you leave something behind?¡± Christina looked away and took out her phone from her pocket. As she gave the nurse an apologetic smile, she said, ¡°Sorry, I thought I dropped my phone, but it was actually in my pocket all along. I¡¯m fine now. Let¡¯s go back.¡± The nurse then wheeled Christina into the elevator. With a neutral look on her face, Christina watched the elevator doors close. Yet, the fear that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand lingered. There was no way she was just being paranoid. Ever since she came out of her ward, she sensed a pair of eyes following her wherever she went. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. It was impossible for those eyes to belong to Nathaniel¡¯s guard, for she already had Lyle as a bodyguard. She had sent Lyle out to buy cake, and he would not be back so soon. Moreover, there was no need for Lyle to watch her from the shadows. When Christina returned to her ward, she scanned every corner and everything within her line of sight. Finally, her gazended on the fruits and half¨Cfinished cup of hot milk on the coffee table. All of a sudden, she grabbed her calf as a look of pain manifested on her face. ¡°Ow! My calf hurts! I think it¡¯s cramping!¡± Not daring to risk anything happening to Christina, the nurse quickly summoned the other staff. A nurse aide hurried to the ward, and the two helped Christina onto the bed to lie down before taking turns to massage her calf. Christina felt immensely guilty to watch them busy over her. Nheless, before she could find out who was tailing her, she could not stay in the ward alone. That would be putting herself in danger. She and her baby could no longer bear any more risks. Half an hourter, Lyle returned with desserts, and Christina found an excuse to dismiss the nurse aide. When Lyle put the desserts on the coffee table, he froze. Then, he turned to Christina and asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, did you touch anything on the coffee table after returning to the ward?¡± ¡°No,¡± Christina uttered in a low voice. ¡°Your guess is right. Someone came into the ward earlier and tampered with the things on the table.¡± There were two streaks of milk stain on the saucer. Before Christina left the ward, she had only stirred the milk once, so it should have been only one streak, not two. Christina was strict with her habits. Everything she used would be habitually ced back to its original position. Furthermore, the tip of the small knife on the fruit tter was initially facing the handle of the cab, but now, it was thirty degrees away from its original angle. It felt as if someone had invaded her private space, and that infuriated her. Lyle then removed the items on the table and called two of his subordinates to take the coffee table away After that, he checked the entire ward thoroughly to ensure that no spy cameras were installed while Christina was away. Only when he found nothing did he finally stop. Lyle also sent the tampered items to theb, and sure enough, there was something wrong with them. ¡°There¡¯s poison in the milk and on the paring knife. The one who put the poison was careful and left no fingerprints on any of the items,¡± Lyle informed. ¡°I¡¯ve sent my men to retrieve the surveince footage of the corridor. There was a nurse who entered your room ten minutes after you left, and I talked to the hospital staff about the nurse. As it turns out, she¡¯s not an employee here.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to see the footage,¡± Christina said, putting down her ss. Lyle passed her his phone. The second Christina saw the silhouette, she figured out who it was. It was Anya. Returning the phone to Lyle, Christina told him, ¡°It¡¯s Anya.¡± Lyle furrowed his brows. ¡°She¡¯ll try again. Maybe she¡¯s still hanging around near the hospital to watch you. I¡¯ll send people to look for her right away.¡± Christina grinned icily. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As long as I¡¯m still alive, she¡¯ll be unable to hold herself back and will jump right into the trap.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s hard to keep you safe like this,¡± Lyle hesitantly replied. Christina smiled. ¡°Lyle, have faith in your abilities. I trust you.¡± Lyle averted his gaze shyly. ¡°Thank you for your trust, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Due to the episode, Lyle remained in the ward to protect Christina until Nathaniel was done meeting his client and came to the hospital to pick Christina up. Beforeing to the hospital, Nathaniel even took a shower and had a change of clothes in the hotel so that the scent of alcohol and tobo would not overwhelm Christina. Despite his careful actions, Christina, who was sensitive during her pregnancy, still refused toe close to Nathaniel. It made him crestfallen! After getting on the ne, Christina slept. She did not notice Nathaniel¡¯s low spirits. Once they were back at Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel headed straight for the shower and scrubbed. himself clean. Christina thought that it was another episode of his mysophobia, so she did not dwell on it. Only when Nathaniel returned to her dressed in a bathrobe and smelling like the cologne she had gifted him did she notice something amiss about him. After taking a sniff of Nathaniel, she asked in confusion, ¡°Why are you using cologne at night?¡± As if he was a clingy octopus, he wrapped his arms and legs around her and whined, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t let mee close to you on the ne.¡± Christina rubbed the tip of her nose guiltily. ¡°That¡¯s because the alcohol and tobo smell on you was too strong. I didn¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± Nathaniel pinched her cheeks. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve cleaned myself up, you can¡¯t avoid me anymore.¡± Christina felt that Nathaniel was acting a little childish that night. If not for the hint of his usual icy demeanor seeping out of him, she would have thought that he was an imposter. ¡°Nathaniel, did you encounter something strange when you went to meet your client today?¡± Chapter 671 Sweet Consolation Chapter671SweetConstion Christina¡¯s pregnancy seemed to be affecting her intellect, for she did not immediately realize his actions were because of her. Nathaniel had never let the emotions he had at work carry over into his private life. Moreover, he rarely ever spoke about work when he was with Christina. As Nathaniel gently stroked Christina¡¯s pregnant belly, he muttered, ¡°I think you¡¯ve been a little cold to metely.¡± He sounded miserable, but Christina could hear that he was seeking constion. Augh escaped past her lips, and she asked, ¡°Oh my, are you asking me to reassure you?¡± Nathaniel took the opportunity of her turning around to peck a kiss on the corner of her lips. Glee manifested in his eyes at that. Christina froze, but in the next second, she grabbed his chin and kissed him. Nathaniel was surprised, having not expected Christina to be that enthusiastic. After pulling her into his arms, he wrapped his arm around the back of her neck and deepened the kiss. A long whileter, he finally let go of her. Christina¡¯s breathing was a little shaky. ¡°Do you still think that I¡¯m being cold toward you?¡± Nathaniely them both down on the sofa bed as bright desire kindled in his eyes. ¡°I think you can be a little more passionate with me¡­¡± By the time Christina woke, it was noon. As Nathaniel had spent quite a long while with Christina at Hallsbay, he had umted a mountain of work back in thepany. Thus, early in the morning, Sebastian had summoned him. After three extremely long meetings, he finally had the chance to call Christina during his lunch break. Christina was in the middle of having her nutritious meal when she received his call. As she talked to him, she took out the carrots from her soup. ¡°Don¡¯t be a picky eater, Christina,¡± came Nathaniel¡¯s maic voice, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine. She lied, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Then, as the nutritionist watched on with relief, Christina put the carrot she had taken out earlier into her mouth and scrunched her face in disgust. ¡°I saw the menu for today, and there are ingredients you don¡¯t like in it.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Nathaniel knew all of Christina¡¯s likes and dislikes. In the past, he would ask the chef to cook food that Christina preferred, but now, Christina was pregnant, and she needed a bnced diet. A pregnant woman was prone to inood changes, so Nathaniel did his best to watch out for those and calm her. She muttered under her breath, ¡°You know that I don¡¯t like it, but you¡¯re still making me eat it.¡± ¡°You and the baby need the nutrition. It¡¯s the doctor¡¯s orders,¡± Nathaniel said, having caught her whispered words. ¡°Be good, Christina. Once the baby is born, I won¡¯t force you to do things you don¡¯t like anymore.¡± Christina knew that he was only doing it for her sake. Okay, I got it. I¡¯ll eat everything, and you need to eat on time too. Don¡¯t forgo your meals for your work¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Nathaniel replied, his eyes glued to the screen as he read his work emails. When he saw Sebastian mouthing to him that it was time for his video conference, he said, ¡°Christina, I have something else to attend to now, so I¡¯m going to end the call.¡± When the call ended, Christina asked the kitchen staff to make a set of lunch. When she was done with her own meal, she changed into a dress and took the packed lunch, ready to head to Hadley Corporation. Lyle was the driver, and he was in charge of taking Christina around. ¡°We¡¯re going to take the long route to get rid of the car tailing us,¡± Lyle informed. When they left Scenic Garden Manor, both Christina and Lyle realized that there was another car following them. However, the car had kept a distance from them and had done nothing to harm them yet. Lyle deliberately took the long way at the most traffic¨Ccongested and busy area downtown, and soon, he lost the tail. Christina asked Lyle to drive into the underground parking lot in the building beside Hadley Corporation. When he stopped the car, she got off with the packed lunch. ¡°Keep driving around outside and try to get a chance to find out who they are.¡± ¡°Of course. Please stay safe, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Although Hadley Corporation was right beside the building they were in, Lyle was still worried about leaving her to cover the distance alone. He was afraid that the other party would be tailing her on foot too. Noticing his worry, she reassured him by saying, ¡°There¡¯s a walkway between this building and Hadley Corporation, and it¡¯s quite crowded. There are security guards there too. You should be careful as well. Call me if anything happens.¡± After reminding Lyle about a few more things, she turned and left. Christina¡¯s journey to the CEO¡¯s office was smooth and uneventful. Although it was lunch break, the secretarial department was still busy as ever. Christina was like the rain in a drought. When they saw her, they quickly paused their work and turned to look at her in anticipation. Christina knew what they wanted, and she slightly inclined her head at them before knocking on the CFO¡¯s office door. Sebastian had a dark look on his face when he opened the door, for he thought it was one of the employees who had foolishly picked the wrong time to disturb Nathaniel while Nathaniel was in the middle of berating one of the managers. When he realized it was actually Christina, he froze and swiftly changed his demeanor. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, why are you here?¡± Sebastian asked as he stepped out of the office. ¡°Mr. Hadley is currently having a meeting with the executives. There are some issues with the project, and I¡¯m afraid it isn¡¯t convenient to meet with Mr. Hadley now.¡± Nathaniel was as frightening as the devil that day. Not only did he chide every one of the executives in thepany, but he even rejected all of the proposals that the project and nning department had sent to him. All the employees who had made major mistakes were fired, too. Everyone in thepany was terrified of him as they put more effort into their work, fearing that they would lose their jobs. Christina waved her packed lunch and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to bring lunch for Nathaniel and talk to him about something. Since he¡¯s busy, I¡¯ll wait for him at the lounge.¡± Sebastian would never dare to let Christina wait for Nathaniel in the lounge without Nathaniel¡¯s permission, so he said, ¡°Please wait for me a second, Mrs. Hadley. Let me inform Mr. Hadley about your arrival. I¡¯m sure the meeting is about to end.¡± With that said. Sebastian turned and re¨Centered the room. Nathaniel was in the middle of interrogating the executives about thest quarter¡¯s report, but no one could give him a clear answer. If looks could kill, Nathaniel would have ended their lives. Sebastian¡¯s arrival brought a wave of relief to the executives as they cast pleading looks at the man. Sebastian steeled himself and whispered, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley has brought lunch for She¡¯s standing outside of the office right now.¡°¡± Immediately, Nathaniel closed the folder with a loud smack. The anger in his eyes retreated, giving way to delight. ¡°Let here in,¡± he said before turning to shoot a grim look at the executives. ¡°I want to see a quarterly report I¡¯ll be satisfied with when it¡¯s time for the afternoon meeting.¡± At that, the executives hastily nodded and rushed out of the room. Sebastian then led Christina into the office. When he finally closed the door behind him, he let out a sigh of relief. Upon turning around, he saw the secretaries craning their necks and looking in his direction. They were like birds in a cage, craving freedom. ¡°Please don¡¯t disturb Mr. and Mrs. Hadley before the end of lunch break.¡± His announcement took away the heavy weight of worry on their chests, and they swiftly made themselves scarce for a rare lunch outside. Unlike them, Sebastian did not have it that easy. While the others were on a break, he had to return to his position to work. Right then, his phone began ringing. It was Victoria. Immediately after Sebastian answered the call, Victoria¡¯s sinister voice traveled out of the speakers. ¡°Sebastian Taggart, you stood me up again! Just you wait! I¡¯m going toe after you right now!¡± Chapter 672 Fall Out Chapter672FallOut Oh no! I can¡¯t believe Ipletely forgot my lunch date with Victoria. Judging from Victoria¡¯s seething tone, Sebastian knew she must be furious. That was Sebastian¡¯s first time getting into a rtionship. Aside from what he had learned from books and online about dating, he had no practical experience in that field. He didn¡¯t know how to coax someone. In his panic, Sebastian identally knocked over the cup of coffee on the table, sshing it on the documents and staining the entire tabletop. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m sorry, I¡­¡± he anxiously exined with the phone held in ce between his ear and shoulder while frantically attempting to salvage the documents. However, some files stuck to his pristine white shirt and fell onto the floor, causing the coffee mug at the edge of the table to tter onto his foot. ¡°Ah!¡± Sebastian couldn¡¯t help but let out a suppressed grunt of pain. Victoria heard Sebastian¡¯s somewhat ambiguous groan through the phone as she stepped into the elevator. Her imagination ran wild as she flew into a rage. ¡°Sebastian, who are you with?¡± Exercising her imagination to its fullest extent, Victoria sobbed aggrievedly, ¡°Are you seeing another woman? Did you stand me up to go on a date with her?¡± Sebastian was torn between amusement and exasperation as he was unjustlybeled as a yboy. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink. I just identally hurt my foot.¡± While he spoke, Victoria had stepped out of the elevator and stormed into the secretarial department. Taking in Sebastian¡¯s disheveled appearance, she widened her eyes in disbelief and hastened over to him, examining his condition with an aching heart. ¡°You said you hurt your foot. Is it serious? Let me send you to the hospital.¡± Sebastian replied, ¡°It¡¯s not serious. I just identally knocked over a cup, which hit my foot.¡± As if something had suddenly dawned on Victoria, tears welled up in her eyes as she threw herself into Sebastian¡¯s arms, disregarding whether the coffee stain on his clothes would soil her newly bought white dress. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn¡¯t been so unreasonable, you wouldn¡¯t have made such a blunder,¡± Victoria said self¨Creproachfully. Sebastian replied gently, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I am to be med. I shouldn¡¯t have been so engrossed in work to the extent of forgetting our date. I¡¯m sorry, Victoria,¡± The aggrieved feeling in her chest vanished in an instant. She had thought he didn¡¯t care about her because he had stood her up and that he was with her because she had been the one pursuing him. persistently. It turned out she had been too paranoid. Victoria immediately turned gentle and docile. Looking at the coffee stain on Sebastian¡¯s shirt, she uttered thoughtfully, ¡°I¡¯m not mad at you anymore. Your shirt is dirty. Why don¡¯t I shopping mall next door to buy a new one? We can consider this as you spending time apanying me to go shopping. What do you say?¡± Sebastian had spare clothes in his office, but recalling Victoria¡¯s aggrieved and sorrowful demeanor earlier, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to reject her suggestion. However, noticing the mess on the table out of the corner of his eyes, he caught himself right before he was about to agree. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Victoria. I¡¯m swamped with work these two days. I have another meeting this afternoon. Now that I¡¯ve ruined the documents needed for the meeting, I need to redo them as soon as possible.¡± The smile on Victoria¡¯s face froze. She red at Sebastian resentfully and picked up the folders on the desk to hit him angrily. ¡°Sebastian, why don¡¯t you spend the rest of your life with your work!¡± Upset and enraged, she turned around and left. Sebastian stood rooted in his spot. He stared at Victoria¡¯s retreating figure in bafflement, shocked by how quickly she had fallen out with him. Just moments ago, everything was fine. Why did she flip out all of a sudden? ¡°What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go after her.¡± Hearing themotion in the secretarial department, Christina came out just in time to see Victoria running out of the room. She didn¡¯t need to ask to know that Victoria and Sebastian were having an argument. ¡°Sebastian, if you can¡¯t make it up to Victoria, you don¡¯t have toe back here either.¡± Sebastian swiftly picked up his phone and coat and hastily gave chase. Christina turned to Nathaniel and said in displeasure, ¡°Sebastian is indeed your best assistant. You two have the same type of personality, namely being workaholics.¡± Being dragged into the mess despite his innocence, Nathaniel defended himself, ¡°I¡¯m not. I¡¯ve changed.¡± He was worried Christina would be angered, so heforted her, ¡°I¡¯ll have the HR department hire two assistants for Sebastian to reduce his workload so that he has more time to deal with his personal affairs. What do you think about this arrangement?¡± She snorted. ¡°Sebastian is your employee, and you¡¯re the boss of thispany, so I have no right to interfere in your decisions.¡± Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her shoulder, bending down to whisper in her ear, ¡°You are the company¡¯sdy boss, so your opinion is also mine. There¡¯s no difference.¡± As they were in the office, and Christina was a rtively shy person, she wasn¡¯t ustomed to being intimate with Nathaniel in public. Therefore, she pushed him away. ¡°We¡¯re in the office. Mind your behavior. Gibson Corporation is just in the office building next door. I¡¯ll go take a look and not disturb you from doing your work.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not busy now. Besides, it¡¯s lunch break. I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Nathaniel grabbed her hand and pulled her towed the elevator without waiting for her to respond. ¡°Your fashion studio is still under renovation but will be open for business in a few days. Are you going to host an opening ceremony?¡± Christina, not fond of noisy asions, shook her head. ¡°Let¡¯s skip the hassle. The public opinion about us hasn¡¯t subsided yet, and if I advertise our studio with great fanfare, it¡¯ll only backfire. We¡¯ll just go with the flow.¡± Nathaniel moved toward the elevator while holding Christina in his embrace. ¡°The arsonist has been caught. The wrongdoing was Emilia¡¯s fervent fan. She took all the me onto herself, iming she wasn¡¯t instructed by anyone. The fan mentioned she set the studio on fire because she was dissatisfied with you targeting Emilia and wanted to take revenge against you in Emilia¡¯s stead.¡± Christina didn¡¯t believe Emilia yed no role in the arson incident. After all, using others to do her dirty work was one of Emilia¡¯s frequently used strategies. ¡°Emilia incited someone to burn my studio. In turn, I ruined her career. So, we¡¯re even now¡± Christina snecred. Emilia had caused David and Winston to be embarrassed during Wendy¡¯s birthday banquet. Given Winston¡¯s vindictive nature, Christina figured Emilia¡¯s days ahead would certainly be ridden with difficulties. ¡°I heard someone has been trailing you these two days. It¡¯s actually Anya.¡± Nathaniel and Christina exited the elevator. ¡°Do you still remember what you told me? About how I have the final say in Anya¡¯s fate?¡± Christina stared at the towering figure before her and spoke in an undertone. ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t wish her to enjoy a swift death.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he changed the subject. ¡°Lucas and Cam miss you a lot. I bought a new manor. Once I finish my work for the uing two days, we can go there for a family vacation to spend some quality time with our children. What do you say?¡± At the mention of Lucas and Cam, Christina felt her heart soften. ¡°Sure.¡± Amidst their conversation, sudden shrieks echoed through the crowd. A car drove onto the sidewalk, dashing straight toward Nathaniel and Christina. Chapter 673 Up To No Good Chapter 673 Up To No Good Nathaniel swiftly shielded Christina in response. The car narrowly brushed by him before ramming into the stone barrier with a loud crash, the front bing severely dented. The windscreen also shattered, causing ss shards to scatter all over the ground. The crowd slowly returned to their senses after witnessing the ident. Then, some passersby went up to the car upon noticing that no one had alighted even after a long while. ¡°There¡¯s no one in here¡­ Call the cops! That was terrifying. Who knows how many people this car could¡¯ve killed if it crashed into a crowd? Whoever owns this car is way too negligent.¡± More spectators arrived at the scene, and everyment they made reached the ears of Christina and Nathaniel. The man¡¯s gaze darkened as he looked down at Christina. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Thetter appeared pale and couldn¡¯t stop quivering. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nathaniel scanned their surroundings. Not noticing anything that might lead to a clue, he walked toward Gibson Corporation while still guarding Christina. ¡°We still didn¡¯t get her? Just my luck!¡± Anya emerged from a corner, ring at Christina from behind with gritted teeth. ¡°I won¡¯t let you off, Christina!¡± Unsatisfied, she put her cap back on and strode in Christina¡¯s direction. Standing amid the crowd, she watched Christina and Nathaniel walk into the skyscraper and was about to continue following them. Suddenly, the woman felt a pair of hands on her shoulders. She hastily withdrew her fruit knife and swung it at her assant, causing thetter to grab her by the neck and drag her into a deste corner. ¡°Don¡¯t move. It¡¯s me, Yerek,¡± the man exined immediately, with Anya¡¯s knife right below his throat by now. ¡°Let go of me first,¡± Anya demanded, still in shock. Yerek let her go and took a few steps back to give her some space. ¡°What are you doing in Jadeborough?¡± ¡°What about you? Why are you here?¡± Anya questioned in return. ¡°I¡¯m here to discuss business, Yerek responded with a frown. ¡°I heard you caused a huge ruckus in Hallsbay. Nathaniel¡¯s men have been looking for you. What did you do?¡± ¡°Would you help if I told you?¡± Anya asked, exasperated. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to help, just stay out of my business.¡± Just as she turned to leave, Yerek held onto her. ¡°That¡¯s Christina¡¯s territory. She¡¯s moved Gibson Corporation to Jadeborough. You¡¯re walking straight into a trap if you barge in like that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to pretend to care about me, Yerek. That just makes you look pretentious and disgusting.¡± Anya red at him. ¡°Whether I live or die has nothing to do with you. I¡¯m not you anyway. I don¡¯t fear death!¡± Anya was so filled with hatred that she had lost her ability to reason. Her words pierced into Yerek like a sharp de, breaking the barrier holding back all his insidiousness and releasing the inner beast within him. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have given a d¡±mn about you if it weren¡¯t for my father¡¯spany, Anya.¡± Just to win investors over, the man had attended so many social drinking events until he had to be hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding. He didn¡¯t want all his efforts to go to waste because of Anya. ¡°If your little antics end up affecting my ns, I¡¯ll be the first one toe after you, let alone Nathaniel!¡± he warned, grabbing the woman by the chin. With that, he turned and left coldly, leaving a sulking Anya on her own. Everyone thinks I¡¯m someone they can just pick on however they like. Why? What did I do to deserve this sort of treatment? Then, as though remembering something, she ran up to Yerek and stood in front of him. ¡°You told me back then that Nathaniel would be attending the International Business Conference and that you¡¯d help me gain his favor,¡± she began with a smile, her face pale but eyesced with insanity. ¡°If we work together and I can take Christina¡¯s ce as Mrs. Hadley, all of the Hadley family¡¯s assets worth billions will be ours!¡± Yerek scoffed. ¡°You crossed Nathaniel, and his men are looking for you as we speak. What makes you think you¡¯d be able to win his heart? Why should I join you in a gamble where the odds of winning are practically zero?¡± ¡°I can use a disguise. I know a friend who makes hyper-realistic masks, but it¡¯s going to cost a lot,¡± Anya exined. ¡°We may note from the same mother, Yerek, but we¡¯re still bound to each other no matter what. We either rise or fall together. If Nathaniel manages to get me, he definitely won¡¯t let you off either.¡± Yerek had grown weary of fighting on his own by now. Anya wasn¡¯t worth anything, but she had nothing but revenge against Christina on her mind. If I use this as leverage, she could serve as my sharpest de. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll work together, but you have to act ording to my instructions. You can¡¯t move without my permission. If you can¡¯t follow this, then we¡¯re done with each other.¡± ¡°I ept your terms.¡± Anya was secretly ted. Once I win Nathaniel over, it¡¯ll be a piece of cake getting rid of Yerek In the blink of an eye, both she and Yerek began making ns for their own benefit while thinking of ways to dispose of one another. Christina observed Gibson Corporation with Nathaniel¡¯s apaniment. It didn¡¯t take her long to note that the employees here appeared to revere Nathaniel more ¡°I noticed how my employees seem closer to you. They¡¯re also more afraid of you,¡± she mentioned as soon as they walked into the elevator. She spoke matter-of-factly. ¡°The new employees you hired used to work under one of my subsidiaries, Nathaniel replied earnestly. ¡°That subsidiary doesn¡¯t provide many benefits, and there are ns to merge. Then, you so happened to need some workers here, so I took the initiative to let them join Gibson Corporation instead. I didn¡¯t let any of them in through connections. They all earned it through their own abilities.¡± Christina beamed as realization dawned upon her. ¡°Then, I must thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, Gibson Corporation would¡¯ve lost more employees than it can handle, and thepany wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Nathaniel instantly sighed with relief. ¡°I¡¯m just d you¡¯re not ming me.¡± Christina held him by the arm and leaned on his shoulder intimately. ¡°Of course not. I trust that you have your reasons behind every decision you make.¡± In truth, Hadley Corporation and Gibson Corporation were now practically equal in power. With Christina staying home to focus on her pregnancy, the task of running Gibson Corporation would fall into Nathaniel¡¯s hands. Christina wasn¡¯t interested in managing a business. She was more fixated on expanding her apparel studio and nned to merge Gibson Corporation with Hadley Corporation once everything returned to normal at the studio. Timothy presumably had the same n in mind. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of visiting my dad at the hospital. I know you have a meeting this afternoon, so I won¡¯t interfere with your work. Lyle wille with me.¡± Chapter 674 Meeting Chapter 674 Meeting Nathaniel found it difficult to break free from his obligations, but having Lyle constantly by Christina¡¯s side reassured him. ¡°After you arrive at the hospital, remember to send me a message,¡± reminded Nathaniel softly. ¡°If there¡¯s anything, instruct Lyle to take care of it. Don¡¯t act alone. He didn¡¯t think that the incident at the office building was a mere ident. ¡°I know. I¡¯m not a child. I know how to take care of myself. See you tonight.¡± When the two of them reached Gibson Corporation, Lyle had just driven over. Nathaniel personally saw Christina off into the car before returning to the Hadley Corporation. ¡°Have you found who the person is?¡± Christina asked Lyle in a cold voice. The car that tailed Christina was ck. However, the car that ran out of control beneath Gibson Corporation was white. The model and color of the cars didn¡¯t match. Hence, Christina suspected that those attempting to harm her might not be the same person. ¡°Apologies, Mrs. Hadley. I lost track of the person along the way,¡± revealed Lyle guiltily. ¡°It¡¯s fine. That person will show up sooner orter. Since you have a sharper observation than me, pay more attention to your surroundings. Perhaps, you¡¯ll discover something.¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect Lyle to immediately apprehend the person. Sometimes, all that they needed was patience. If that person was truly capable enough to harm her, the person wouldn¡¯t remain in hiding. Christina arrived at the hospital, where she got thetest update from the medical team regarding Timothy¡¯s condition. After staying in the ward for half an hour, she left. The doctor said that Timothy would soon regain consciousness, provided there were no unexpected complications. ¡°Lyle, secretly assign a few trustworthy people to stay at the hospital and protect my father.¡± Since Yerek failed to harm Timothy, he might attempt it a second time. ¡°Understood.¡± Lyle left to instruct his subordinates. Christina stood by the elevator, awaiting its arrival. When the doors opened, she looked up and met the gaze of the people inside. ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡± When Christina saw Sharon and Gideon appear at the hospital simultaneously, she became anxious. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Sharon and Gideon did not expect to bump into Christina at the hospital. Upon seeing her daughter, Sharon was naturally overjoyed. She eagerly took Christina¡¯s hand and scanned her from head to toe. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Christina. It seems like you¡¯ve lost some weight,¡± remarked Sharon. ¡°Your father and I¡­ I mean, we heard that Mr. Gibson had an ident and was hospitalized, so we wanted toe and visit him.¡± Sharon was worried that Christina might be unhappy, so she continued carefully, ¡°If you don¡¯t want us here, we won¡¯t disturb Mr. Gibson anymore. ¡°I¡¯m not unhappy. On the contrary, I¡¯m d you came to visit him. However, he is still in aa. The doctor said he will wake up soon. You cane and visit him againter, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said Sharon with a nod as she held Christina¡¯s hands. ¡°Christina, it¡¯s been a long time since we had a meal together. Do you have time today? I¡¯ll prepare something delicious.¡± ¡°Your mom learned how to cook a few dishes recently. Recently, she keeps talking about how she wishes that you¡¯ll visit and taste her food.¡± Gideon always seemed so ttering when faced with Christina He had changed significantly. Not only was he much livelier than before, but he also looked younger. Gideon had truly turned over a new leaf. Although he was no longer a dignified CEO, he was genuinely trying topensate for his past mistakes. Christina could tell that he truly wanted to reconcile with Sharon and live a peaceful life. Not only could he keep Sharonpany, but she also liked him. Hence, there was no reason for Christina to prevent her mom from chasing her happiness. ¡°Let me ask Nathaniel. I¡¯m supposed to have dinner with him tonight.¡± ¡°I see. If that¡¯s the case, we can eat another time. It¡¯s rare that you can spend time with Nathaniel alone, so I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± ¡°Tomorrow night, then. I¡¯ll bring Cam and Lucas over. They miss you a lot.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll prepare beforehand!¡± Sharon took the basket of fruits from Gideon¡¯s hands and passed it to Christina. ¡°This is from us. Since we can¡¯t give it to Mr. Gibson, you should bring it back. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be such a waste.¡± Christina took it happily. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± ¡°We¡¯re family, so you¡¯re wee. We¡¯ll go first.¡± Sharon and Gideon turned around and left. Now that the timing was right, Lyle walked toward Christina. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ve made the necessary arrangements. However, there¡¯s one thing that I should inform you immediately.¡± Christina passed the basket of fruits to Lyle. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Anya¡¯s the mastermind who nned the ident that you and Mr. Hadley encountered at Gibson Corporation. After she managed to escape from me, she switched to another car,¡± said Lyle. ¡°The surveince cameras near the road captured her actions.¡± A grim look crossed Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Did you find out where she went?¡± ¡°She met Yerek underneath Gibson Corporation. I can¡¯t find anything else afterward.¡± ¡°Continue searching. She can¡¯t possibly disappear into thin air.¡± Christina strode into the elevator. When Christina informed Nathaniel about having a meal at Sharon¡¯s ce, he did not oppose it. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Hence, they headed to the Hadley residence the next night to pick up Cam and Lucas. When the family of four arrived at Sharon¡¯s, the quiet and empty house became lively in an instant. Sharon filled the dining table with dishes. There were also many desserts afterward. Before they returned. Cam and Lucas were reluctant to leave, dering that they wanted to move into Sharon¡¯s ce. ¡°No. Granny¡¯s health isn¡¯t great, so she can¡¯t take care of you,¡± exined Christina patiently. ¡°Also, we have plenty of chances to visit Granny in the future. You can still eat her delicious food.¡± Blinking their eyes, Cam and Lucas conceded reluctantly, ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll listen to you and not create any more trouble for Granny.¡± They leaned against the car window and waved goodbye to Gideon and Sharon. Cam and Lucas still had school the next day. Since the Hadley residence was closest to their school, Nathaniel decided to send them back. He and Christina stayed there for two more days as well. Time flew past. It was soon time for the international business conference. Christina received the invitation half a month ago. This time, she would be attending the conference as Gibson Corporation¡¯s representative. ording to the n, she would be traveling with Nathaniel. The international business conference would be held on a luxurious cruise ship, which would be out at sea for an entire day. Once it returned to the shore, it signified that the conference had ended. The purpose of the conference was to promote coborations between the international firms. Nathaniel was fully responsible for Gibson Corporation¡¯s and Hadley Corporation¡¯s coboration projects. Hence, Christina would merely show up as hispanion, while taking the opportunity to rx. Even though she was traumatized by cruise ships, she did not reveal it as she did not want Nathaniel to worry. When Christina and Nathaniel boarded the ship, a beautiful woman shoved her aggressively. Chapter 675 Cruise Chapter 675 Cruise Nathaniel¡¯s expression turned frosty as he stared at the woman who bumped into Christina. ¡°Apologize right now!¡± The woman shed them a big smile as she apologized, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to bump into you. I was rushing to get on the ship to look for my friend. Are you okay? Do you need me to find a doctor for you? I¡¯ll take care of the medical expenses.¡± The woman¡¯s gaze and tone made Christina feel uneasy. Since she wasn¡¯t hurt and the other party apologized, she let it slide. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Be careful next time. Otherwise, you might identally hurt yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding. If fate allows it, I hope we can be friends. Goodbye.¡± The woman went ahead and boarded the cruise ship. Christina turned to Nathaniel and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset. She didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Nathaniel hummed a response. Christina did not take the incident to heart. After they boarded the ship, she slept in their guest room until nightfall. A masquerade ball was held on their first night on the cruise ship. Christina and Nathaniel dressed up and attended the ball. She apanied him and met with many influential people. However, she felt overwhelmed after some time. She found an excuse to escape the ball and went to the deck for fresh air. She took off her mask and breathed a sigh of relief. As Christina stared at the vast and dark ocean before her, she felt a sense of fear surge within her. She closed her eyes as painful memories flooded her mind. ¡°Are you unwell?¡± A familiar voice rang from behind her. Christina quickly opened her eyes and instinctively turned around to see who it was. Oh. It¡¯s the woman that bumped into me this morning at the stairs. Seeing that Christina was silent, the woman reached forward and touched Christina¡¯s forehead. Christina flinched and jumped back when she felt the woman¡¯s cold touch. The woman smiled apologetically, seeming to understand that her friendliness might have shocked Christina. ¡°Although something unpleasant happened between us today, I¡¯m not approaching you with bad intentions, so you don¡¯t have to be so wary of me. I¡¯m simply worried about you. Most of the people on this ship are having fun in the hall, yet you¡¯re alone in such a remote area. No one will be able to save you if something were to happen.¡± As the woman slowly approached her, the uneasy feeling Christina felt grew stronger. Her subconscious mind was telling her to stay far away from the woman. Christina tried to keep her distance but remained polite as she said, ¡°Thank you for your concern. I came out to get some air because I felt stuffy inside the hall. I¡¯ll be going back now. Feel free to do whatever you like here.¡± She was about to leave when the woman grabbed her wrist. Christina turned back to look at her. ¡°Is there anything else I can help you with?¡± ¡°For starters, my name is Vera. I told you, I don¡¯t have ill intentions. You don¡¯t need to worry that I¡¯ll do something bad to you.¡± Vera Ludwig¡¯s lips curved into a sweet smile. ¡°It¡¯s fate that we meet again. Why don¡¯t we get a drink together? My best friend got off the ship at thest minute, so I¡¯m left here alone. I wouldn¡¯t have stayed at such a boring ce if I didn¡¯t have to negotiate a project for thepany.¡± While saying that, Vera called over a waiter not far from them. She took two flutes of champagne and handed one to Christina. Christina took it from her politely, but she did not drink it. Instead, she swirled it gently. Vera cleared her throat and tried to find a topic for them to talk about. ¡°Was the man standing beside you today your boyfriend? He¡¯s so handsome!¡± Christina turned sideways and showed off the diamond ring on her right ring finger that gleamed under the light. ¡°He¡¯s actually my husband.¡± Vera nodded. ¡°I see. I can tell that he loves you very much.¡± Christina smiled but did not respond. Most of their following conversation was initiated by Vera, to which Christina replied cautiously. When a sensitive topic came up, Christina would give half-hearted answers. After some time, Christina yawned and felt her eyes were heavy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to cut the conversation short, but I have to go back and look for my husband. I¡¯ve been out for too long. He¡¯ll start to worry.¡± Vera smiled and bid farewell to Christina. ¡°All right. I look forward to meeting you tomorrow. Perhaps there might be other surprises awaiting us.¡± Christina grinned before she went back to the hall to look for Nathaniel. Christina searched high and low in the hall for Nathaniel but failed to find him. She went to a quiet corner in the hall and dialed his number. The call rang a few times before it was cut off. She tried again and again, but all her attempts resulted in the same end. Herst attempt was different-a robotic voice told her his phone was turned off. Christina was worried that something might have happened to Nathaniel. She quickly returned to their room, but no one was there. Not knowing what else to do, Christina resorted to calling Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Taggart, is Nathaniel with you?¡± Sebastian was taken aback. He let go of Victoria, who was in his arms, and replied, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley isn¡¯t here. Did something happen?¡± Christina furrowed her brows. ¡°Nathaniel¡¯s phone is shut off and I can¡¯t find him anywhere in the hall. He¡¯s not in our room either. I saw him drink quite a lot tonight. I¡¯m worried something might have happened to him. Mr. Taggart, can you and Victoria please help me?¡± Sebastian seemed to have realized the seriousness of the situation. He immediately said. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, please wait a moment. Victoria and I will meet with you right away.¡± ¡°Thank you, and I¡¯m sorry to trouble you.¡± Victoria noticed the solemn expression on Sebastian and curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley is missing. I¡¯ll tell you more about it on the way. Let¡¯s go and meet Mrs. Hadley,¡± Sebastian tugged Victoria and ran toward the lounge. Soon, Sebastian and Victoria met up with Christina. With much consideration of Christina¡¯s condition, she and Victoria teamed up to look for Nathaniel on the cruise ship while Sebastian searched alone. Christina and Victoria returned to the hall. When Christina saw a businessman she had chatted with previously, she quickly approached him and asked about Nathaniel. The businessman answered, ¡°I saw Mr. Hadley in the lounge on the third floor. He seems to be quite drunk, but he has his assistant with him. I think he might¡¯ve returned to his room by now.¡± Christina and Nathaniel¡¯s guest room was on the topmost floor of the cruise ship-the VIP presidential suite. On the other hand, the normal guest rooms were located on the third floor. More importantly, Nathaniel had only brought one assistant, Sebastian, for this business trip. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the third floor.¡± With that, Christina turned and left. Victoria, who wore a long gown and high heels that limited her movement, had trouble catching up to Christina. ¡°Jeez, Christina. Slow down.¡± Victoria leaned against Christina¡¯s shoulder to catch her breath. ¡°Please remember that you¡¯re pregnant. Besides, I¡¯m sure nothing happened to Mr. Hadley, so don¡¯t get all worked. up. An ominous premonition crept inside Christina. She grabbed onto the railing and took in a deep breath. Trembling, she whispered, ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m scared¡­ I¡¯m scared of making the same mistake.¡± She did not have the time to exin Madison¡¯s incident on the cruise from back then. At that moment, the most important thing was to find Nathaniel. Victoria was utterly confused. Before she could ask about it, Christina had already knocked on the door of the first guest room on the third floor. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The door opened to a foreign woman. She was wrapped in a bathrobe and was eyeing Christina up and down. She cursed and scolded Christina in Anndurn before mming the door shut. It was obvious what the people in the room were doing. Christina was about to knock on the door of the next room when Victoria suddenly grabbed her hand. ¡°Look over there¡­¡± Chapter 676 A Different Surprise Chapter 676 A Different Surprise Victoria had no choice but to do as she was told. She shot Nathaniel onest vicious re before she went after Christina. Sebastian turned to look at Nathaniel. ¡°Mr. Hadley, you should rest in my room for tonight. Don¡¯t worry. Victoria will stay with Mrs. Hadley. Tomorrow when the two of you have cooled down, it won¡¯t be too late for you to exin to Mrs. Hadley then. She¡¯s not an unreasonable person, so she¡¯ll understand.¡±¡° ¡°All right.¡± Nathaniel massaged his temples to relieve his headache. ¡°Lead the way.¡± He didn¡¯t even spare a nce at the woman in the room as he stepped out. Vera put out her cigarette. She was barefooted as she went forward to grab Nathaniel¡¯s arm. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯m not the only one at fault here. You¡¯re the one who didn¡¯t want to let go of me tonight. It was also you who wanted me to stay behind and apany you. You can¡¯t just turn your back on me after we¡¯ve had our fun. I won¡¯t let you go just like that.¡± She let her eyes roam up and down Nathaniel¡¯s body shamelessly. Regardless of his aura or appearance, they all fit her ideals of a perfect man. Nathaniel was drunk, but that did not mean he was unconscious of his actions. ¡°Apart from my wife, I don¡¯t touch other women.¡± Nathaniel red at her. ¡°Tell me what you want, and I might let you go just this once.¡± Vera¡¯s expression turned grim. She let out a cold snort. ¡°Nathaniel, you have no idea how many men want to spend a night with me because of my beauty and figure. I don¡¯t need to offer myself up to you.¡± Nathaniel shrugged off her hand. His eyes were filled with disgust and hatred as he stared at the woman before him. ¡°Your acting is terrible. Besides, I have no interest in people who have had stic surgery. If you don¡¯t want to die, it¡¯s best you keep your distance from me.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s darkened gaze sent chills down Vera¡¯s spine. She instinctively stepped aside and watched as Nathaniel and Sebastian left. ¡°Did you mess things up?¡± Yerek appeared next to Vera without her realizing it. He looked annoyed as he said, ¡°I created the perfect opportunity for you, yet you wasted my efforts. Anya, you disappoint me.¡± Anya took off the hyper-realistic mask and threwChapter 676 A Different Surprise Christina turned to look at where Victoria was pointing, just in time to see a familiar figure disappearing at the corner of the corridor. It¡¯s Yerek! There¡¯s no way I¡¯d mistake that figure for someone else! Perhaps he¡¯s the one who took Nathaniel away while he was drunk! Christina lifted the hem of her gown and ran after the figure. She stopped him on the deck of the second floor. Yerek was surprised to see Christina. He cocked his brows and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you here to catch up with me? Because we have nothing inmon to talk about.¡± Christina¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Where¡¯s Nathaniel?¡± Yerek chuckled and stared at Christina in disdain. ¡°How should I know where he went? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s funny that you approached me to ask his whereabouts?¡± Christina tried to calm herself down. ¡°Someone saw you take Nathaniel away. Yerek, I don¡¯t have time to talk nonsense with you right now. You must¡¯ve yed a part in his disappearance. I won¡¯t forgive you if anything happens to him!¡± Yerek could care less about what she thought. He provoked her by saying, ¡°Let me repeat myself. I have no idea where Nathaniel went. Even if I did know, I wouldn¡¯t tell you, so there¡¯s no use in you threatening In reality, Yerek was nervous about Christina¡¯s questioning, but he tried his best not to show it on his face. ¡°Perhaps Nathaniel found a new lover and is currently having the time of his life with her-Ahh!¡± Before Yerek could finish his sentence, Victoria pped him. ¡°Shut up. Don¡¯t speak if you can¡¯t say anything nice. Do you want me to rip out your tongue?¡± Victoria knew Yerek and Christina did not get along. Since it was inconvenient for Christina to attack him because she was pregnant, it was natural that Victoria would stand in for her. It was the first time a woman had pped Yerek in the twenty-plus years that he was alive. He red at Victoria and asked through clenched teeth, ¡°Are you seeking death?¡± Victoria was fearless. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare to do anything to me. I know you¡¯ve been wanting to meet my brother and discuss a coboration. One call from me, and your n will fail. Try it if you don¡¯t believe Yerek squinted and finally made out the appearance of the woman with the help of the dim light on the deck. F*ck. Why is Victoria here? ¡°I don¡¯t know where Nathaniel is. Don¡¯te looking for me just because he¡¯s gone missing. I won¡¯t be this tolerant the next time this happens.¡± A gentleman would noty a hand on a woman. For the sake of the Lesley family, Yerek had no choice but to swallow his anger. Just you wait, Christina and Victoria. It won¡¯t be long before I stop being scared of you! Unable to get any valuable clue from Yerek, Victoria suddenly lost her enthusiasm to continue the search. She nced at Christina and asked, ¡°Christina, what should we do now?¡± Christina replied coldly, ¡°Go back to the third floor and continue searching¡± I¡¯ll definitely find Nathaniel! Just then, Sebastian called. Christina quickly answered, ¡°Mr. Taggart, any news on your end?¡± Sebastian was silent for a moment. He hesitated before saying, ¡°I found him, but it¡¯s not what we expected. You shoulde and take a look.¡± He sent Christina a location-room one on the fourth floor. Christina and Victoria hurried over. Christina felt like she had been struck by lightning when she saw the scene before her. Her face drained of its color as she stood at the door. She kept silent as though something was blocking the words from leaving her mouth. Vera was smoking as she leaned against the window. The cor of her bathrobe was opened wide enough to show the love bites littering her chest. Her lips curved into a smirk as her gaze fell on Christina. On the other hand, Nathaniel¡¯s clothes looked crumpled, as though he had put them on in a rush. He sat at the side of the bed with an icy expression. He panicked when he saw Christina standing at the door. ¡°Christina.¡± Nathaniel stood up abruptly and staggered toward Christina. He reached out to touch her, but she pped his hand away. Nathaniel was stunned momentarily before he stared at her bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m drunk, and my thoughts are a mess right now. I don¡¯t know what happened either. Christina, let¡¯s return to our room, and I¡¯ll exin everything to you, okay?¡± Victoria hated men who fooled around the most. She scoffed. ¡°Nathaniel, you just said you don¡¯t know what happened. How do you n on exining things to Christina?¡± Nathaniel gave Victoria a dirty look and replied, ¡°Ms. Lesley, this is between me and Christina. There¡¯s no need for an outsider to get involved.¡±¡° Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is that so? When you were making love to that vixen, did you remember that you were married and had kids?¡± Victoria¡¯s sharp tongue rendered Nathaniel speechless. Christina nced at Vera before she muttered, ¡°That¡¯s enough, Victoria. Let¡¯s go.¡± As soon as those words left her mouth, she turned and left. Nathaniel wanted to go after her, but Victoria stopped him. ¡°Christina doesn¡¯t want to see you right now. You¡¯ll ruin her mood further if you appear before her.¡± Sebastian approached Victoria and whispered, ¡°Victoria, you should stop. Go and take care of Mrs. Hadley. She¡¯s pregnant. It¡¯s not safe for her to be alone.¡± ¡°Do you know how vignt Nathaniel is? He didn¡¯t let me touch him! What could I have done?¡± Chapter 677 Old Wounds Chapter677Old Wounds Nathaniel did consume the drugged ss of wine. He was severely intoxicated when Yerek had him brought to Anya¡¯s room. Even so, Anya did not approach him as they nned. In fact, she was forcibly reminded of the time when Madison schemed against Nathaniel and how simr her predicament waspared to Madison¡¯s. A strange fear suddenly gripped Anya. If he finds out who I really am, I may end up even worse than Madison. At that thought, Anya turned pale., Yerek sneered at her fearful expression. ¡°The n is just beginning, and you¡¯re already chickening out?¡± Anya hated more than anything being looked down upon. She cast a sideways re at him. ¡°If you are as good as you im, how did Gibson Corporation end up in Christina¡¯s hands?¡± Mercilessly, she struck him where it hurt the most. Anya never acknowledged Yerek¡¯s abilities, so when she found out that he was Nigel¡¯s illegitimate son and that Nigel wanted to hand Gibson Corporation over to him, she grew to hate her brother who had taken everything from her. We are now in the same boat. How dare he look down on me? Not content with inwardly ridiculing him, she even needled him on his sore spot. ¡°Let¡¯s call off our partnership if you feel that I¡¯m not good enough for you.¡± After the incident, Yerek lost faith in Anya bing the lethal weapon in his hands the way he thought she would be. He was not going to sit around and wait. If the first n falls through, I can initialize the second. However, Yerek was not nning on letting Anya in on it. Naturally, Anya was unwilling to. She needed him for his financial support to afford the equipment necessary to maintain her fa?ade. We are halfway through the n. Though we¡¯ve had some hitches, we have at least achieved the desired effect. Anya set aside her pride. ¡°You know how reckless I am with words, Yerek. It wasn¡¯t my intention to look down on you. Since the misunderstanding between Christina and Nathaniel did not manage to force his hand, we can act through her instead. It would be a waste after going through all that effort to attend this conference if we were to go our separate ways at this juncture.¡± Yerek remained impassive. ¡°If you want to be Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯d better put aside your petty tricks and stick to the n.¡± Hmph. How dare he order me around like a ve? Despite her inward grumbling, she maintained her meekness before him. ¡°I got it, Yerek. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do as you say from here on out. Dad¡¯s in jail, and Grandma is old and more senile than ever. The only person I have left is you. Please don¡¯t cast me aside.¡± Raising his brows, Yerek sneered, ¡°Isn¡¯t Grandma bing increasingly frail what you want?¡± Anya looked away. Yerek¡¯s prating gaze made her deeply uneasy. She gave a simperingugh. ¡°How could you think of me that way, Yerek? Grandma doted on me, and I love her. How could I harbor such wicked thoughts? I¡¯m not a heartless woman like Christina.¡± Yerek did not care much for Azure, and her fate meant nothing to him. He only brought her up to rattle Anya. Yerek had a copy of the leverage Azure had over Anya. Furthermore, his copy was moreplete and incriminating. I will not go easy on Anya if she dares betray me. ¡°What shall we do next, Yerek?¡± Anya changed the subject and put on a look of humble ingratiation. Before the ship docks tomorrow night, you must get something useful from Nathaniel. It would be best to convince him to ept you.¡± Yerek¡¯s eyes glittered shrewdly. ¡°If he does not, sabotage his project. I don¡¯t think he will be that unfazed when tens of billions are at stake. Yerek was well prepared for that day. He had spent three whole days going over the identities of the important guests of the international business conference and spared no expense to learn Nathaniel¡¯s itinerary for that trip Anya was not as certain. ¡°You saw it yourself,¡± she argued doubtfully. ¡°When I told Nathaniel he should take responsibility for me, I got the sense that he wanted to kill me. To have him change his mind in the span of a day is impossible.¡± ¡°That is your mission to aplish.¡± Yerek did not care about the process, only the results. Anya resigned herself to her fate. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll do my best, but I can¡¯t promise anything.¡± Christina bunked with Victoria that night. Nathaniel left her plenty of calls and messages to exin his innocence, but Christina ignored them and blocked him on every tform. (2) Nathaniel was restless. He rose, intending to speak to Christina, but Sebastian, who was standing guard outside, stopped him. ¡°Are you going to see your wife, Mr. Hadley?¡± Drawing on his experience from reading about romantic advice, he attempted to dissuade Nathaniel. ¡°I don¡¯t rmend it. Women cannot be reasoned with in their fury. It¡¯ll only make her angrier at you if you were to see her right now.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Nathaniel slumped, defeated, back onto his bed. His handsome features were contorted with agony. ¡°She blocked me everywhere. Her hating me is the least of my worries right now.¡± That was his first time he expressed his true concerns. His marriage with Christina had note easy, and they both knew it. Christina is not a woman who can be taken with honeyed words and hollow promises. Once again, Nathanielmented his carelessness during the banquet that night to allow the person scheming against him to gain ess and leverage. ¡°Mrs. Hadley won¡¯t hate you.¡± Sebastian was no expert in deciphering what women thought, so he was at a loss inforting Nathaniel. ¡°You need to give her time to think.¡± Nathaniel rubbed his eyes wearily. ¡°Where did that Verae from?¡± At the mention, Sebastian produced the information he hadpiled beforehand. ¡°Vera Ludwig, the daughter of a jewelry tycoon from Wallera, graduated from a globally renowned school and founded her studio at the age of eighteen. She¡¯s here to attend the conference on behalf of her father to secure some projects, but that¡¯s only one of her reasons for being here. The other is to secure a fianc¨¦. ¡°Here¡¯s the kicker¨CVera disappeared from the public eye for three years when she was twenty, and nobody knew where she went or what she did during the interval. The next time she returned home was when her father died. Even now, she has not managed to im the inheritance left to her. Rumor has it that the real Vera is dead.¡± Nathaniel raised his eyebrows. ¡°Why?¡± The Ludwig family is gued by a hereditary disease¨Cits direct descendants never live twenty¨Cfive.¡± Chapter 678 The Ludwig Family Chapter678The Ludwig Family Rumors are often grounded in truth.. ¡°Who brought me to her room tonight?¡± Nathaniel only remembered fragments during his intoxication. He recalled losing control over his faculties after a sip of the red wine handed to him by a fellow guest and that he seemed to have met Christina when he was on his way up to the suite on the top deck. By the time he regained his wits, the woman in his arms had transformed into somebody else.. Then, Christina caught him red¨Chanded. Endowed with values imparted by his parents, Nathaniel could not tolerate his spouse¡¯s unfaithfulness. Now, however, he had be the person he despised more than anything. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°I went through the surveince cameras on the ship. The person who brought you to Vera¡¯s room is a server who works on the ship, but upon closer investigation, he is no longer aboard.¡± Sebastian frowned. ¡°We have not docked since setting sail, and the lifeboats are all intact, which is why I suspect it is somebody in disguise. He has aplices on this ship and more than one at that. Vera is perhaps one of them. Given Nathaniel¡¯s reputation, they could not eliminate the possibility of her having other ideas when he was delivered to her door, as they were countless women who wanted a piece of Nathaniel. ¡°Focus your investigative efforts on Vera.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s expression was grim. ¡°See if she had any stic surgery in the past.¡± He noticed that Vera¡¯s face was odd, like it had been stuck on. Coupled with the rumors surrounding the Ludwig family, Nathaniel had reason to believe that Vera¡¯s identity was stolen. D ¡°Why couldn¡¯t Vera im her inheritance?¡± he asked suddenly ¡°It is said that her father had ced his will in a safety deposit box with the bank when she turned eighteen as aing¨Cof¨Cage gift. The only way to open it is with her fingerprint, which is not a match. That is why she has not been able to im her inheritance, which is also the source of the rumor surrounding her identity.¡± When Nathaniel heard that, he seemed to havee to a decision. ¡°Find a way to get her fingerprint and a DNA test between her and the Ludwig family.¡± While Nathaniel was doing his best to investigate Vera¡¯s identity, Christina was not grieving. She and Nathaniel were on the same page¨Cthat Vera¡¯s motives for approaching them were deeper than they first appeared. In retrospect, it seemed that Vera¡¯s chance encounter with Christina on the ship had been by design. During my chance encounter with Vera on the gangnk, the surprise she spoke of must have been referring to her and Nathaniel. Christina felt frustrated by how slow she was to realize that. I should have sensed her motives when she came and initiated the conversation. Christina was leaning against the head of the bed. Her uncharacteristic silence disturbed Victoria. After watching her friend for a long time, she drummed up the courage and looked for something to talk about. ¡°Cheer up, Christina. It wouldn¡¯t do the baby any good. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. I think that given Nathaniel¡¯s exceptional qualities, women must flock to him before or after your marriage. He has never had scandals with any women, and he wouldn¡¯t wait until now to be unfaithful.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Christina answered with a nomittal grunt. Victoria could not decipher her friend¡¯s thoughts. Emboldened by the other¡¯s willingness to speak, she continued happily, ¡°If Nathaniel is involved with that woman, he has wronged you, and I won¡¯t forgive him. I¡¯ll teach him a lesson.¡± ¡°Nathaniel is innocent.¡± Christina looked up to meet Victoria¡¯s indignant gaze with her cid ones, as though the crisis she was going through did not bother her at all. ¡°That woman, Vera Ludwig, is the problem.¡± D Victoria ignored thetter half of Christina¡¯s response and gaped, wide¨Ceyed with disbelief. ¡°Are you thinking straight, Christina? There is no man who does not lie. You cant be so blinded by love that you find excuses to forgive his behavior. You shouldn¡¯t lower yourself because you love him. Christina gave a helplessugh. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of what I¡¯m doing. Then, she told Victoria how she met Vera. Victoria smacked herself on her forehead. ¡°No wonder I found that woman familiar when I saw her. I remember now. I¡¯d attended her eighteenth birthday party! During her mysterious disappearance, the other heiresses in her social circle were wondering if she was dead.¡± Christina was grim. ¡°Tell me everything you know about Vera and her family, Victoria.¡± Victoria was raised abroad, so she did not attend the banquets of high society very often. As a result, most of what she knew about Vera was only hearsay. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with the Ludwig family, but my family once worked with theirs. My brother would be the right person to ask. I¡¯ll contact himter,¡± Victoria said apologetically. ¡°If I had known that you would be crossing paths with Vera, I would have taken the initiative to approach her.¡± Christina consoled her friend. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. Being unacquainted with Vera is a good thing because I wouldn¡¯t want you to be stuck in the middle if I were to start a war with her.¡± Victoria scoffed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t befriend somebody who steals my friend¡¯s husband.¡± She nced tentatively at Christina. ¡°Are you really not upset, Christina? Cry it out if you are. There¡¯s no one here, and I won¡¯t make fun of you.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t my first time dealing with something like that,¡± Christina replied. ¡°What you see might not be the truth. From what I know of Nathaniel, he¡¯s not somebody who would be this careless.¡± Christina was skilled in hiding how she truly felt. She was in despair when she saw Nathaniel with Vera. However, she did not make a scene or interrogate him. Not because she thought it was not the right ce to, but because her dignity and remaining wits prevented her from flying into a rage. ¡°The ship will dock tomorrow night. I thought of a way to test her motives, but I need you to y along with me.¡± Christina¡¯s fiery gaze bore into Victoria¡¯s. Victoria felt Christina¡¯s forehead. ¡°Are you ill? One usually avenges themselves when they realize they have been cheated on. Why are you trying to prove Nathaniel¡¯s innocence?¡± Christina smacked her friend¡¯s hand aside. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, exasperated. ¡°This is important, Victoria. Would you help me?¡± Victoria was the only one she had aboard the ship; she could not ask Sebastian for help as he was Nathaniel¡¯s trusted aide. ¡°You are my mentor and my sister. Of course I will take your side. Tell me what I can do to help.¡± Chapter 679 An Act Chapter679AnAct Christina whispered something in Victoria¡¯s car, and thetter immediately shed an evil grin. ¡°ying the role of the antagonist? That¡¯s right up my alley! Christina, watch out for my performance tomorrow. I promise it¡¯ll meet your satisfaction!¡± Victoria proimed, patting her chest with unwavering confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure justice is served on your behalf!¡± Christina pursed her lips into a tight smile. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, so you should go to bed. We have a tough battle to fight tomorrow.¡± Victoria climbed out of bed and said mysteriously, ¡°Christina, feel free to get some rest. I have an important matter to attend to, so I¡¯ll step out to make a phone call.¡± Christina knew who she wanted to call. ¡°Sure, go ahead. Don¡¯t talk too long, though.¡± Victoria¡¯s cheeks turned pink as she spun on her heels to leave the room. The following morning, as Christina and Victoria prepared to make their way to the restaurant for breakfast, Nathaniel arranged for Sebastian to deliver their morning meal instead. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley consumed too much alcoholst night and is feeling unwell today. As a result, he is unable to personally join you this morning. Nheless, he insisted that I bring breakfast to you,¡± Sebastian said, deliberately mentioning Nathaniel¡¯s name. Unfortunately, his words had an unintended consequence, stirring a reaction opposite to what he had hoped for. Christina replied coldly, ¡°Mr. Taggart, why don¡¯t you tell that to Ms. Ludwig? You shouldn¡¯t havee to me. Perhaps he¡¯s more than willing to allow Ms. Ludwig to take care of him.¡± Her eyes drifted past Sebastian, focusing on the trays being held by the two servers behind him. ¡°Take those away. I have no use for his guilt and attempts at making amends. Victoria, let¡¯s go.¡± If she were to ept Nathaniel¡¯s apology, they wouldn¡¯t be able to execute their uing n. Victoria let out an icy snort. ¡°Regret won¡¯t undo his actions now. Merely delivering breakfast won¡¯t magically earn Christina¡¯s forgiveness. If he¡¯s feeling unwell, he should see the doctor. Christina won¡¯t sympathize with him! He probably had a grand time with that vixenst night, and now he¡¯s reaping what he sowed. He deserves every bit of it!¡± Hearing that, Sebastian furrowed his brows and responded, ¡°Victoria, please refrain from making such assumptions. I genuinely believe that Mr. Hadley is not the type of person you¡¯re describing.¡± Anger rushed through Victoria. Directing a frosty re at him, she demanded, ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯ve wrongly used Nathaniel?¡± The conversation had veered off track. Not anticipating being drawn into the tangled situation, Sebastian hastily exined, ¡°That wasn¡¯t what I meant.¡± ¡°You work for Nathaniel, so it¡¯s natural for you to defend him,¡± Victoria snapped. ¡°Christina is my senior, so I¡¯ll definitely side with her.¡± Christina intervened, effectively halting the escting tension. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m starving. Let¡¯s go.¡± Hearing that, Victoria stopped arguing with Sebastian and left with Christina. Sebastian remained rooted to his spot, a mixture of helplessness and embarrassment etched on his face. He gave the servers a dismissive wave. ¡°Take those away.¡± Leaving two significant bills on the tray aspensation, he turned and returned to Nathaniel¡¯s room to report back to him. Victoria anxiously nced over her shoulder multiple times to make sure that Sebastian didn¡¯te after them. She eagerly asked, ¡°Christina, do you think I handled that situation well?¡± It was evident that Victoria was seeking validation. ¡°Mm. Not bad,¡± came Christina¡¯s honest answer. Victoria¡¯s confidence was through the roof. ¡°I think I can enter the entertainment industry and make a mark after I work on my acting skills for a few years. I can sense Sebastian¡¯s displeasure after I said those words. Christina, do you think he¡¯ll see me as a hypocrite and someone that is hard to please, and eventually break up with me?¡± Paranoia took hold of her. Christina replied firmly, ¡°Of course not. Sebastian might be dense in realizing his emotions, but he¡¯s not a reckless man. I can tell he likes you a lot.¡± Victoria held her cheeks, feeling embarrassed. Both Christina and I agree that Sebastian is an excellent and dependable man. I knew I made the right choice. As they spoke, they arrived at the restaurant. The restaurant bustled with activity as it was peak hour for breakfast. Every table was upied, and the air was filled with the lively chatter andughter of dining guests. Victoria immediately spotted Vera, who was helping herself to some food at the bar. Embracing her character with a quick transition, she immersed herself fully and marched purposefully toward Vera, leaving Christina momentarily behind. Vera, who was Anya in disguise, was busy selecting desserts, oblivious to the approaching storm. Victoria grabbed a bowl of hot soup and threw it at Anya without hesitation. As the hot liquid dripped down her body, Anya screamed in pain. Victoria then grabbed another te of food and hurled it at Anya. Unable to react in time, Anya found herself drenched in hot soup and food, the sticky mess clinging to her body. She felt a strong sense of disgust at the ufortable sensation. ¡°Victoria Lesley, what has gotten into you?¡± Anya snarled furiously, her anger burning brightly as she finally caught sight of the person responsible for her distress, unaware of the unintended information her words revealed, Victoria narrowed her eyes dangerously, ¡°How do you know my full name, Victoria Lesley? Vera Ludwig, are you confessing that you intentionally targeted Nathaniel and conducted investigations on those close to him before arriving here?¡± Anya btedly realized what she had done after hearing Victoria¡¯s questions. Maintaining a facade of Victoria tucked her hair behind her cars and flexed her arms. Arrogantly, she dered, ¡°If you are indeed aware of my identity, then you should also know that I have a fiery temper and a protective nature when ites to the ones I care about. It is only natural for me to seek revenge on behalf of Christina after witnessing the way you bullied her.¡± Anya¡¯s anger simmered within her chest, causing it to ache. ¡°Victoria, I¡¯m part of the Ludwig family, and our families have coborated for years. If word reaches your family that you have taken action against me, resulting in trouble for them, do you honestly believe they wille to your defense? Or would they seek my forgiveness to salvage their own interests?¡± Victoria merely chuckled airily. ¡°While coboration partners hold significance, one¡¯s character carries even greater importance. In the corporate world, nobody would want to associate with someone of questionable morals, jeopardizing their own reputation in the process.¡±All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The allure of gossip transcended geographical boundaries, captivating people from all corners of the world. As the unfolding drama between Victoria and Anya captured the attention of the restaurant¡¯s patrons, they fixed their gazes on the two figures in question while whispers and murmurs filled the air. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the youngdy from the Ludwig family? The one who supposedly passed away from an illness three years ago? Is she real, or is it her ghost?¡± pronounced ¡°She is human, but I can¡¯t say for certain if she is truly Vera Ludwig. I was fortunate enough to meet her once, and she was much more beautiful three years ago. Look at this supposed Vera, with her nose and angr chin. While her eyes bear a resemnce to the previous Vera, I¡¯m pretty sure she had undergone stic surgery to alter her appearance.¡± Hearing that, Anya thought something was off with her hyper¨Crealistic mask. She instinctively covered her face and glowered angrily at Victoria. ¡°Victoria, how dare you humiliate me in public? I won¡¯t let this slip!¡± Chapter 680 Deserve A Beating Chapter680DeserveABeating Victoria had already offended the Ludwig family and didn¡¯t mind blowing the matter up. Those who dare to bully my friend will pay the price. ¡°Vera, we haven¡¯t resolved this issue yet, so you¡¯re not going anywhere!¡± Victoria eximed, rushing over to block Anya¡¯s path with a determined stance. Folding her arms defiantly, she lifted her chin and shot Anya a sarcastic gaze. ¡°Did you conveniently forget how arrogant and smug you were in front of my friendst night? You had the audacity to act that way, yet you cowered at the thought of me exposing your actions to everyone?¡± Anya¡¯s fists clenched tightly, her anger bubbling to the surface as she shot Victoria a menacing re. The growing whispers around them seemed to amplify. The onlookers relished the drama and chose to indulge in the show rather than intervene or defuse the situation. Christina¡¯s expression twisted into an evil grin as she dered, ¡°Oh, it seems you were desperate to offer yourself to him, but he rejected you. How pitiful. As a member of the esteemed Ludwig family, you clearly didn¡¯t uphold your position and instead stooped so low as to offer yourself as someone¡¯s lover. Has the once prestigious Ludwig family fallen so far that they are willing to discard their dignity and pride in exchange for money? If your ancestors were to learn of your disgraceful actions as their descendant, they would surely rise from their coffins in righteous fury. Though Anya seethed with frustration, she knew they were currently being watched by a curious audience. She growled softly, ¡°Victoria, let¡¯s not go too far. I haven¡¯t done anything to harm you, and we should both conduct ourselves as adults. Isn¡¯t it childish to publicly use and nder me, tarnishing not just my reputation but also that of my family?¡± Victoria¡¯s confidence remained unyielding as she fired back a retort. ¡°Being a coward is embarrassing. I¡¯m confronting you in public instead of resorting to despicable tricks behind your back. How is it childish to address the situation directly? It seems you¡¯re feeling guilty, and that¡¯s why you find this embarrassing!¡± Clearly, Anya was not Victoria¡¯s match. Humiliation coursed through Anya¡¯s veins, overwhelming her as an instinctive urge to retaliate and teach Victoria a lesson welled up inside her. But before she could act on it, a firm grip closed around her wrist. Surprised, she turned over her shoulder to see Yerek gazing at her darkly. At once, she stiffened. ¡°Ms. Ludwig, don¡¯t be reckless. We are in a public setting, and even if someone else disregards their own dignity, you should be mindful of your own image. Yerek spared Victoria a malicious smile. ¡°Ms. Lesley, resorting to violence will not resolve anything. Perhaps it would be wise for both of you to find another venue to have a discussion. Indulge me by engaging in a civil conversation. Victoria¡¯s goal was to humiliate Anya in public, so she sneered, ¡°And who are you to meddle in our affairs? I have no interest in indulging you. Mind your own business, or I¡¯ll make sure to direct my insults your way as well!¡± It was clear that Victoria was ying dumb. Yerek¡¯s expression turned dark. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Christina standing not far away, wearing an amused smile as she observed their altercation. At that moment, it became clear to him that they had unwittingly fallen into a trap. Yerek¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm as he addressed Victoria. ¡°Ms. Lesley, I can understand if you¡¯re too busy to remember me. However, let me remind you that Ms. Ludwig is here attending the business conference on behalf of her family. She is known for her kindness and generosity, unlike some who target easy victims for their amusement. Such behavior is unbing of a member of the Lesley family, don¡¯t you think?¡± With that, he led Anya out of the restaurant. Christina observed them thoughtfully. Victoria had been in control of the situation, but an unexpected intervention urred halfway. She returned to Christina, seemingly displeased. ¡°That Yerek is far too meddlesome for my liking. I had no idea he was on such close terms with Vera and actually defended her.¡± Christina averted her gaze and replied carefully, ¡°It isn¡¯t safe to speak here. Let¡¯s talk somewhere else.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head to the second floor. There are private rooms there that are only essible to VIP members. We won¡¯t run into any unwanted visitors there,¡± Victoria suggested. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s head there.¡± Christina nodded. There, Victoria and Christina showed their ID cards before they were led to a private room meant for two people. Victoria ordered a spread and proceeded to take care of Christina. ¡°Christina, drink the milk,¡± she urged. Though it may have seemed like an ordinary meal, Victoria was mindful of Sebastian¡¯s reminder. If one observed closely, one would notice that the food she selected was specifically chosen to provide the necessary nourishment for Christina¡¯s well¨Cbeing. Christina didn¡¯t think much and epted the milk, downing the drink in one gulp. They then resumed their earlier conversation. ¡°Yerek and Vera don¡¯t appear to be mere acquaintances who recently met. As I observe Vera¡¯s actions closely, I can¡¯t help but notice a striking resemnce to someone I know.¡± Victoria immediately discarded the bread she was holding and urged excitedly, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Anya Gibson,¡± Christina answered, her memory piecing together fragments of information. ¡°While she was choosing desserts earlier, I notice that she deliberately avoided anything with peaches. Anya has an allergy to peaches.¡± There were plenty of people who were allergic to peaches in the world, but it was no coincidence that both Anya and Vera were allergic to peaches. Victoria¡¯s observation skills weren¡¯t as good as Christina, so she silently listened to Christina¡¯s analysis. ¡°There was talk among the onlookers about Vera Ludwig. They mentioned that Vera was supposed to have sumbed to an illness three years ago, yet here she is, alive and present today. Someone who had encountered Vera in the past even spected that she might have undergone stic surgery, given the apparent changes in her appearance,¡± Christina revealed. ¡°Many socialites have had stic surgery, so it¡¯s not umon.¡± Victoria touched her chin thoughtfully. ¡°However, I couldn¡¯t help but notice that Vera¡¯s skin is absolutely wless. It¡¯s as if she doesn¡¯t have a single pore. I found myself fighting the temptation to ask her about her skincare routine and the beauty treatments she did.¡± Despite her curiosity, Victoria wouldn¡¯t forget what the despicable woman did. ¡°If you want to be sure, I can help you check if Vera Ludwig has undergone stic surgery,¡± she suggested. While uncovering Vera¡¯s true identity was important, Christina felt a stronger inclination to explore the private rtionship between Yerek and Vera. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Can you send someone to keep an eye on both Yerek and Vera? Something tells me they are up to no good,¡± Christina uttered. ¡°Of course!¡± Victoria replied with a smile. ¡°Money makes the world go round. I¡¯ll make the arrangements, and we¡¯ll receive updates soon. Now, let¡¯s not starve your baby. Eat up. Christina patted her belly gently and began munching on her breakfast. Meanwhile, Yerek brought Anya back to the guest room. There was no one else around, so Anya no longer had to put up a pretense. She tore off the dirty hyper¨Crealistic mask and tossed it in the sink. ¡°Victoria is such a b*tch. Why did you stop me from retaliating?¡± Chapter 681 She Is Right Under His Nose Chapter681SheIsRightUnderHisNose Since Yerek personally chose Anya to be on his team, no matter how frustrated or regretful he was, he could not p her to death out of annoyance, ¡°Can¡¯t you see that Victoria was deliberately trying to pick a fight? Haven¡¯t you noticed?¡± Yerek wished he could knock on Anya¡¯s head to see what was going on inside. ¡°Christina was right there watching. It was clearly her idea.¡± Anya was surprised to learn that Christina was present. She was too engrossed in arguing with Victoria that she had not noticed Christina¡¯s presence. ¡°What does Christina want?¡°, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, Christina is starting to doubt your identity. She¡¯s testing you,¡± Yerek deduced in a serious tone. With a ming re, he reproached Anya. ¡°Since you became Vera Ludwig, your actions have been too conspicuous. The spection surrounding the dyed inheritance is also not in your favor.¡± Anya sat on the couch, filled with frustration, and knitted her brows. ¡°The problem is there¡¯s too little information left by Vera. I can¡¯t fully replicate her demeanor. And to make matters worse, that sly old man neyer intended to distribute his inheritance among other family members. That¡¯s why he deliberately set up that d*mn biometric fingerprint lock. Vera Ludwig has been dead for over three years, and her body has long since dposed into a pile of bones. Where am I supposed to find her fingerprints to open the safety deposit box? Even if her body was still intact, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to desecrate a grave.¡± Anya¡¯s face filled with disgust and resistance when he mentioned Vera¡¯s name. Even the astute Yerek could note up with a solution at that moment. Anya¡¯s mind was consumed with thoughts of reiming her reputation and teaching Christina and Victoria a lesson after they had humiliated her in front of so many influential figures and socialites. ¡°The international conference is about to start in an hour. I¡¯ll take a shower and change into clean clothes. Send me the list of projects that Nathaniel wants to discuss so that I can do some preparation in advance.¡± The constant odor of food emanating from her body made Anya feel nauseous. To make matters worse, Victoria actually sshed her with peach¨Cvored soda. She opened the drawer of the bedside table and took out a pack of antihistamines, swallowing two tablets. Then she turned and walked into the bathroom. In any case, with Yerek acting as her mastermind, Anya could simply follow his instructions without having to exert much mental effort. As the international conference was about tomence, Nathaniel dressed himself while attentively listening to Sebastian¡¯s briefing on the day¡¯s itinerary. Nathaniel maintained his impassive expression the entire time. It was only when Sebastian mentioned Christina that a flicker of emotion stirred in his icy eyes. ¡°Victoria sent someone to keep an eye on Yerck and Vera?¡± Nathaniel buttoned up thest button on his shirt cor and turned to face Sebastian. Victoria is known for her casual and carefree demeanor, and she has had limited interactions with Yerek and Vera. It¡¯s unlikely she would look for trouble without a reason. Nathaniel figured it was Christina¡¯s idea. A corner of his lips quirked up, and he sighed lightly. ¡°We truly are a destined pair; two peas in a pod.¡± D Sebastian¡¯s heart was suddenly filled with jealousy. His gaze toward Nathaniel carried a hint of sorrow as he boldly asserted his authority. ¡°Mr. Hadley, she¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± D ¡°What¡¯s with that jealous look? I was referring to my wife,¡± Nathaniel retorted. D ¡°But you didn¡¯t mention you were talking about Mrs. Hadley¡­¡± Sebastian muttered under his breath, at sense of relief washing over him. D Initially, Nathaniel wanted to retort upon hearing that, but upon further reflection, he realized the two of them were in the same situation. This brought a sense offort to Nathaniel, and he decided to give Sebastian a pass, at least for the time being. D ¡°Any updates on Vera¡¯s DNA results?¡± Nathaniel inquired while fastening his cufflinks and adjusting his appearance in the mirror. ¡°We¡¯ve received the report.¡± Sebastian took out a file from his briefcase. The DNAS don¡¯t match. In fact, Vera¡¯s DNA matches with Anya Gibson¡¯s. D Anya Gibson? Nathaniel scoffed. ¡°How bold of her to pull this stunt!¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. After searching high and low for the person, Nathaniel finally realized she had been right under his nose all along. ¡°Let¡¯sy low and not startle her,¡± Nathaniel ordered in a cold voice. Before leaving, he texted Christina as usual, only to receive a red exmation mark in response. Nathaniel¡¯s mood grew even grimmer. He entered the meeting with a stern expression, causing those who wished to cozy up to him during this opportunity to keep their distance, witnessing his unapproachable demeanor. Nathaniel¡¯s scanning gaze circled the vast and opulent hall, but Christina was nowhere to be found. ¡°Call Victoria and ask her what¡¯s happening.¡± After giving Sebastian the instruction, Nathaniel walked to a quiet corner with a ss of champagne. Sebastian stepped aside and dialed Victoria¡¯s number, but her phone only rang twice before being abruptly disconnected. Wait a second. Is she really mad at me? Sebastian froze for a moment before turning around to leave the hall. Meanwhile, Anya and Yerek both noticed Sebastian¡¯s departure, leaving Nathaniel alone. Yerek immediately urged Anya, ¡°Quick, go over. There¡¯s no one disturbing Nathaniel now, so try to get something from him.¡± Anya smiled confidently and said, ¡°As long as Christina and Victoria, those two b*tches, don¡¯t get way, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll be able to spend a night with Nathaniel. The Hadley family cares about their reputation, and even if Nathaniel refuses to acknowledge it, he¡¯ll have to provide me with a substantial amount of hush money.¡± D Anya and Yerek were still immersed in their own fantasies, unaware that Anya¡¯s true identity had been completely exposed. With steady steps and a graceful demeanor, Anya approached Nathaniel¡¯s side, her smile filled with flirtatious radiance. ¡°Nathaniel, why are you here all alone? Can I apany you?¡± she asked, her voice filled with sweetness. Unlike ordinary men who would easily be captivated by such a seductive tone, Nathaniel found it repulsive. Disgust shed in his eyes, and his voice grew dark, carrying a dangerous warning. ¡°We¡¯re not acquainted well enough. You have no right to call me by that name.¡± Anya arched her eyebrows, disying a different allure in her expression. ¡°Mr. Hadley,st night when we were together, you didn¡¯t show such indifference toward me. Moreover, you permitted me to address you by your name. Although our connection was brief, we did share an intimate moment¡­ ah!¡± All of a sudden, Nathaniel¡¯s grip tightened tightly around Anya¡¯s throat, and a chilling gaze emanated from his icy eyes, exuding a menacing aura. Anya¡¯s face turned pale in shock as the pressure on her neck intensified, a sense of impending death creeping over her. ¡°I warned you not to provoke me. Many women have attempted to climb into my bed, and you¡¯re not the first. But they all met the same fate. Anya Gibson, tired of living, are you? Well, then, I¡¯ll do you a favor!¡± Nathaniel raised his voice. Upon hearing Nathaniel utter her name, Anya was stunned, her eyes widening in terror. She fought desperately, like a dying fish, struggling to break free from the deadly that ensnared her. ¡°Mr. Hadley, using force against a beautifuldy in such a public setting is not the behavior befitting a gentleman.¡± A voice emerged from behind. Chapter 682 Seeing Through Anya Chapter682SeeingThroughAnya Out of the blue, the teasing voice of his good friend, Durkas, rang out from behind him. In the next heartbeat, the incredibly handsome countenance of the mixed¨Cdescent man manifested right in front of him, magnified several times. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. With his face devoid of expression, Nathaniel tossed Anya away. Then, he lifted his hand and pushed the man¡¯s face out of his line of sight. ¡°Are you sick of living, Durkas?¡± Durkas clutched at his chest, looking devastated to the core. He did not even bother to nce at the woman who had fallen at his feet, promptly reaching out and draping an arm over Nathaniel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t be so indifferent with me. It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯vest seen each other. How about a drink with Christina when the conference ends?¡± pping the annoying arm off his shoulder, Nathaniel declined gruffly, ¡°No, thanks. She can¡¯t drink, and I have no time to waste with you.¡± Durkas retracted his hand that stung from the smack. He was just about to continue catching up with the man when he glimpsed Anya ring at them hotly out of the corner of his eye. Putting his blithe attitude away, he asked solemnly, ¡°Why are you involved with someone from the Ludwig family?¡± Nathaniel remained as apathetic as ever. ¡°She isn¡¯t of the Ludwig family. He would never voluntarily tell Durkas that he almost reverted to being single because he fell into a trap in a moment of carelessness. Hearing that, Durkas tsked and carefully scrutinized Anya¡¯s countenance. As his brows furrowed slightly, he shot a hand out toward her face without warning. Anya backed up a few steps in fear. ¡°W¨CW¨CWhat are you trying to do?¡± Smiling, Durkas replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I won¡¯t hurt you. There¡¯s something at the base of your ear, and I merely wanted to take it off for you. If you don¡¯t wish to have someone else touching you, you can remove it yourself.¡± After saying that, he gentlemanly retreated a few paces, leaving her sufficient space to feel safe. However, Anya pped a hand over the base of her ear before spinning on her heel and sprinting off without a backward nce. Seeing that, Nathaniel unceremoniously mocked, ¡°When did you be so kind?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t your first time meeting me, but your understanding of me is simply too shallow, Mr. Hadley. I¡¯ve always been a kind person, especially toward my friends. Have you forgotten this? Previously, I sought Christina out to discuss a coboration, as per your orders. For your sake, I gave her all the benefits of the project. Aren¡¯t I considerate?¡± Durkas riposted shamelessly. ¡°You wanted the lion¡¯s share, but youcked the corresponding capability,¡± Nathaniel retorted bluntly. Such fury zed within Durkas that he rolled his eyes, no longer in the mood to entertain the man. Argh! I shouldn¡¯t have mentioned that or sought this cold and aloof man out to catch up for no reason! Having cursed himself out inwardly, he proceeded to get down to business. ¡°Earlier, you said that woman isn¡¯t of the Ludwig family. I believe it, for she was wearing a hyper¨Crealistic mask.¡± Part of Anya¡¯s hyper¨Crealistic mask had detached at the base of her car. While it was inconspicuous and could be easily mistaken as something stuck to the car it so happened that Durkas¡® family was a toy powerhouse. Not only had they created a variety of masks, but they were also involved in the research and development of hyper¨Crealistic masks. The hyper¨Crealistic mask on Anya¡¯s face appeared exquisite and lifelike, but it could only dupe amateurs. It went without saying that the sophistication of the technology could not withstand scrutiny. ¡°You¡¯re sure about this?¡± Nathaniel questioned. ¡°It¡¯s impossible for me to make such a mistake. The number of hyper¨Crealistic masks I¡¯ve used since young far surpasses the sum of beauties I¡¯ve seen. Furthermore, that hyper¨Crealistic mask was of absolutely shoddy workmanship. I could perceive it at a single nce.¡± Durkas was most chagrined to have others doubt his judgment. If he were not totally certain about something, he would never state it as a fact. Nathaniel trusted his childhood friend. But still, he needed a definite answer for prudence¡¯s sake. ¡°Keep this to yourself. I¡¯ve got my own n.¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley, do you mind telling me your rtionship with that woman?¡± Durkas ventured in curiosity. Nathaniel expressionlessly swept a gaze over him. ¡°You talk too much, Durkas. Also, undue curiosity will only bring disaster.¡± Inexplicably, Durkas sensed a chill running down his spine. He shuddered, yet his nosiness persisted. ¡°Isn¡¯t Christina bothered by the many women who flock to your side?¡± If he had not mentioned Christina, Nathaniel might have satisfied his curiosity. Regretfully, the man did not know the meaning of tactfulness in the face of a friend. Nathaniel¡¯s voice turned menacing. ¡°If you feel that you¡¯re too free, Durkas, I can hire you as a director for the entertainmentpany under my name.¡± shing him a sheepish smile, Durkas countered, ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m going to go on a business trip all over the world after attending the international conference today. It¡¯s rare that we get to meet, Mr. Hadley. Are you really not going to have a drink with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got no time for that,¡± Nathaniel rebuffed impassively. His gaze traveled through the crowd before stilling on the beautiful figure by the door. ¡°Then¡­¡± Before Durkas even had the opportunity to speak, the man had already abandoned him and left in a hurry. Hmm, his attitude toward Christina versus others is totally different, at opposite extremes. I¡¯ve known him for more than twenty years, but I¡¯ve never seen him so devoted to a woman. Back when I heard about his marriage abroad, I was so shocked that I almost passed out. If I hadn¡¯t gotten held up by some tricky problems, I wouldn¡¯t have only made Christina¡¯s acquaintance this year! ¡°Can we talk, Christina? I don¡¯t mind waiting if you¡¯re not free now.¡± Nathaniel leashed his authoritative and aggressive aura, his unfathomable eyes sparkling with hope. T Christina¡¯s expression remained cid. Beside her, Victoria stepped out and blocked the matte path ¡°Christina is going to discuss a projectter and has no time for you.¡± All of a sudden, Sebastian zipped out from behind and grabbed her before striding away. ¡°What are you doing, Sebastian? Mmph!¡± Sebastian swiftly pped a hand over Victoria¡¯s mouth and urged softly. ¡°This is a matter between Mr and Mrs. Hadley. Don¡¯t insert yourself in it, okay, Darling?¡± D Darling? The endearment turned Victoria¡¯s head, and she instantly threw Nathaniel and Christina to the back of her mind. D Ceasing to struggle, sheunched herself into his arms and clung to him like an octopus. She nuzzled her head against his chest and purred, ¡°Call me that again, won¡¯t you, Seb? I love hearing it!¡± All the guests surreptitiously cast their gazes over. Flushing bright red, Sebastian hastily dragged Victoria away. Left without Victoria by her side, Christina knew she would have to face Nathaniel sooner orter. As such, she naturally agreed. ¡°Sure. I think there¡¯s a need for us to have a serious talk about the marital crisis between us.¡± Chapter 683 Fate Always Brings Enemies Together Chapter683Fate AlwaysBringsEnemiesTogether Marital crisis¡­ Nathaniel was very much perturbed by those two words. He had been worried sick the whole ofst night, his utmost concern being Christina¡¯s health and thoughts. While he was not a person easily controlled by his emotions, all hisposure shattered before her. Her words cut far deeper than her indifferent attitude. Nathaniel¡¯s nerves, which had been stretched taut for the entire night, finally snapped at that moment. ¡°Listen to what I¡¯ve got to say first before deciding whether there¡¯s a need tomunicate about the marital issues between us, Christina.¡± No longer in the presence of mind to bother about the fact that they were in public, he frantically grasped her wrist and started to exin things. A frownmarred Christina¡¯s countenance as she stared at her wrist, which had gone red from the force of the man¡¯s grip. ¡°You¡¯re hurting me.¡± Immediately, Nathaniel loosened his grip. He held her hand up and examined it meticulously. Distinct marks marred Christina¡¯s fair wrist, evidence of the force of his grip earlier. Guilt and anguish flooded Nathaniel. In¡¯a humble tone, he murmured, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. This is on me. I¡¯ll have the doctore and check you over.¡± Christina¡¯s skin was delicate in the first ce. After sheter married Nathaniel, she had people taking care of her basic needs though her days were not too peaceful. Consequently, she became even more fragile. On top of that, Nathaniel had been treating her like breakable ss since she was confirmed to be pregnant. Surprisingly, Christina did not withdraw her hand but left it in the man¡¯s hold. ¡°Let¡¯s take this to a quiet ce.¡± ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go to the caf¨¦ on the top floor. There¡¯s heating there, and it¡¯s essible via the elevator here. You won¡¯t be exposed to the wind.¡± ¡°Whatever you say.¡± There was another half an hour before the business conference began. The coboration between. Christina and Nathaniel had been decided in advance. Considering the fame of the Hadley family, manypanies rushed over to seek a coboration without the couple having to make the first move. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that they were all targeting Nathaniel. For that reason, Nathaniel and Christina were ¡°besieged¡± by several waves of people as they weaved through the crowd to head toward the elevator nearby. The walk would have only taken a few minutes, but it took them almost ten minutes to close the distance. Nathaniel shielded Christina in the circle of his arms, preventing those around them from identally knocking into her and the child in her belly. At longst, they managed to get into the elevator. They went straight to the caf¨¦ on the top floor. No sooner had they taken a seat than someone inconsiderate came over to disrupt them. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Mr. Hadley? What a coincidence! I didn¡¯t expect to bump into you on a whimsical desire for a cup of coffee. My trip here hasn¡¯t been in vain, then.¡± With an arm wrapped around a shapely woman, Winston walked over to Nathaniel while grinning from ear to ear. Christina lifted her head and nced at the woman, vaguely recognizing her as a rtively renowned model who once modeled her brand. Her deep impression of the model was not due to her professional capabilities or astounding figure and looks. Instead, it was because the woman threw her weight around on the day of the fashion show and demanded to be the final model, threatening a strike otherwise. Each segment of a fashion show was carefully nned in advance, and an issue with any part would lead to the event flopping. Christina loathed people who made trouble at the critical juncture. As soon as she learned that a model threatened to go on strike, she had a recement found. That opening show ended up incredibly sessful, and the model who went on strike lost an opportunity that would have propelled her to fame. Thereafter, the model made various insinuations against Christina¡¯s studio on the inte. Unfortunately, her influence was limited at that time, and attention to that issue faded quickly before she received any response from Christina. In the end, things remained unresolved. At that unexpected meeting then, Christina could not helpmenting inwardly. What a small world! And sure enough, fate always brings enemies together! Nheless, another realization inadvertently dawned upon her. Since Winston now has some other woman by his side, that means Emilia has fallen out of favor. Well, well, well¡­ I¡¯m actually pretty interested to know her current situation now that she has lost the Labarge brothers¡® protection! At the same time, Xylie Nichols was also studying Christina. Since thetter was the one who ruined her future, she recognized her in no time. ¡°It¡¯s you-¡± Before she had finished speaking, Winston, who stood beside her, yanked her over and introduced. Christina enthusiastically. ¡°This is Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife.¡± Christina¨Cis¨CNathaniel¡¯s wife? Xylie was so shocked that words eluded her. Needless to say, she went green with envy. At her extended silence, embarrassment swamped Winston. He chastised in displeasure, ¡°Why are you spacing out? Go ahead and greet them!¡± Sensing that the man was angry, Xylie hurriedly tried to salvage things. She put on a gracious smile. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Hadley. I¡¯m Xylie Nichols, Mr. Labarge¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Subsequently, she shifted her gaze to Christina. A long moment passed before she managed to eke out a few words in a much more detached tone. ¡°Mrs. Hadley.¡± Then, silence reigned. Christina said nothing either, not even bothering to sh the woman a smile. At once, the atmosphere went cold. Xylie¡¯s ipetence at that critical juncture infuriated Winston to no end.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. She was the most observant among his many femalepanions. That was why he chose to attend the international business conference with her. It was so she could help him secure coborations. Indeed, she did not disappoint him. She performed outstandingly after boarding the ship and helped him clinch a few big projects. However, something went wrong that day in the face of a business partner he wanted to ingratiate himself to, Nathaniel. Anyone who was acquainted with Nathaniel knew that he loved his wife greatly. Therefore, it would be far wiser to spend some time winning Christina over instead of attempting the same with Nathaniel D As long as Christina made a request, Nathaniel would definitely agree without an ounce of hesitation. At that turn of events, Winston promptly tried to smooth things over. ¡°Xylie is rather timid with strangers, and she isn¡¯t all that articte. Please don¡¯t take offense at her, Mrs. Hadley.¡± It went without saying that Christina could not bring herself to be amicable toward the culprit who once plotted against her parents. Moreover, the man clearly had something to ask of Nathaniel. Thus, she was all the more fearless. ¡°Really? Back when Ms. Nichols made demands during my fashion show, I found her eloquent and crafty, not at all like what you im, Mr. Labarge,¡± Christina countered mildly. Winston¡¯s expression changed imperceptibly. He realized that there was bad blood between Christina and Xylie. Christina then quipped, ¡°Perhaps she became docile after meeting you, Mr. Labarge.¡± D This time, Xylie was mortified. She knew that the woman was deliberately making things difficult for her, but with Nathaniel and Winston present, she could not snap back at Christina as she did back then. ¡°I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding between us, Mrs. Hadley. I don¡¯t mind apologizing to you,¡± Xylie interjected, casting her ego aside. s, Christina waved a dismissive hand nonchntly, a sneer curving her lips. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ve never liked to force others into doing something they don¡¯t like to do.¡± Chapter 684 Baring Her Soul Chapter684BaringHerSoul At that instant, Xylie experienced regret for the very first time in her life. If she could have predicted that she would offend two big shots at one go when she stepped on Christina¡¯s toes back then, she would never have dared to make trouble at thetter¡¯s fashion show. She bit her lower lip as though she was the person who had suffered immense aggrieve. ¡°Not at all, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯m willing to do whatever you ask of me, so long as it makes you happy.¡± ¡°Put your fake acting skills away. There are many peopleing and going here. I don¡¯t want others to misunderstand that I¡¯m picking on you,¡± Christina drawled with a smirk. Xylie went pale, struck dumb by the woman¡¯s scornful remark. Even without delving into the matter, Nathaniel could urately surmise the entire chain of events. He was not in the habit of allowing someone who once bullied his woman to cover things up with a simple apology. ¡°Forget it since you¡¯re not willing to apologize. I don¡¯t dare pick trouble with Mr. Labarge¡¯s woman. My wife and I have something to discuss, so please see yourselves off.¡± Nathaniel dismissed the couple in an icy voice. At that, Winston did not have the audacity to tarry there any longer. ¡°Sorry. We¡¯ll leave you to it, then, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley. See you.¡± He left alone with huge strides. Biting the bullet, Xylie trailed after him. When they had gone a distance away from the caf¨¦, Winston whirled around and red at Xylie. ¡°Aren¡¯t. you usually good at pleasing others? Why did you turn into a veritable fool earlier that you couldn¡¯t even say anything nice?¡± With red¨Crimmed eyes, Xylie argued aggrievedly, ¡°I¡­ I also wanted to please them, but they didn¡¯t give me any chance to do so. Besides, I didn¡¯t dare speak to Mr. Hadley when Mrs. Hadley was hostile toward me Lighting a cigarette, Winston took a deep drag. His brows were knitted together slightly. ¡°Tell me what exactly happened between you and Christina.¡± Xylie told him about the grudge between her and Christina, but she did not speak the truth. Instead, she deftly pushed all the me onto thetter. After all, she could not afford to lose such a generous sugar daddy as Winston. Nevertheless, Winston was no fool. Considering Christina¡¯s identity and status back then, international supermodels would¡¯ve scrambled to model at her fashion show if she had only asked Nathaniel for help. Hence, she can¡¯t be med for the situation today. If one wants to assign me, it can only be Xylie¡¯s fault for having misconceptions about her status and courting death just because she had some fame. There had never been ack of intelligent women around him. While Xylie was his cup of tea, it did not matter since she was not supporting him. The most important thing then was to change Nathaniel¡¯s and Christina¡¯s perceptions of him. ordingly, he stated mercilessly, ¡°Don¡¯te and look for me anymore henceforth. My secretary will contact you. I won¡¯t skimp on mypensation for you.¡± Tossing the cigarette he had only smoked halfway into the trash can, he took out his phone and contacted his secretary, asking the man to find him another femalepanion as soon as possible. I Oh no, I¡¯m dead! My future is doomed! Xylie copsed on the ground while covering her face with both hands, utterly distraught. Just then, a white handkerchief appeared in front of her. A man¡¯s tall and broad figure enshrouded her completely. ¡°You seem to have run into great trouble. I¡¯d be d to help. Do you mind telling me about it?¡± The melodious and mesmerizing voice was seemingly magical, drawing one in unknowingly. Xylie lifted her head. Against the light, the man¡¯s striking countenance made her heart race uncontrobly. Theyer of golden light that enveloped him dazzled her, just like his appearance. Unbidden, she reached out and took the handkerchief as though it was herst lifeline. In the caf¨¦, Nathaniel took the menu from the server and handed it to Christina. His voice was beyond gentle. ¡°The food here is on the nd side, so it¡¯s in line with your dietary requirements. Feel free to order whatever you like.¡± After taking the menu from him, Christina casually put it aside. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. Let¡¯s get down to business.¡± In a sh, Nathaniel¡¯s gaze dimmed. If it were possible, he did not want to bring up that depressing subject. He leaned back against the chair, emanating a sense of gloominess. ¡°Can¡¯t we speak of something else, Christina?¡± ¡°No. This matter does not only concern my safety. It¡¯s also linked to the future and reputation of the Hadley and Gibson families.¡± Nathaniel gaped at her in surprise. In love with that clueless side of him, Christina got up. She voluntarily went over to him and sat down in the vacant space beside him. D Cradling his face, she teased smilingly, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you really thought that I agreed to talk with you because I wanted a divorce?¡± Nathaniel suppressed the excitement within him. He clutched her hands forcefully, his voice quivering badly because of his emotional state. It was as though he had backed himself into a corner, insisting on a definite answer. ¡°I don¡¯t quite get it, Christina. Can you please spell it out?¡± Staring into his red¨Crimmed eyes, Christina enunciated. ¡°Listen here carefully, Nathaniel. I¡¯m only going to say this once. I¡¯m never going to have a divorce with you, much less easily give you up to someone else. No matter what happens, we must remain entangled for the rest of our lives.¡± D She leaned over and rested her forehead against his. Her eyes bored right into his as she proimed, ¡°I love you, Nathaniel.¡± D The beast that had been leashed within Nathaniel for a long time broke free of its restraint. Cradling the back of her head, the man pulled her into his arms hard and kissed her desperately. A cheer rang out in the caf¨¦. Enduring the numbness at the tip of her tongue, Christina bit Nathaniel¡¯s tongue. The man finally pulled away from her in pain. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Christina scowled at him furiously. ¡°A lot of people are watching here. Couldn¡¯t you have restrained yourself for a bit?¡± Her face was as enchantingly crimson. His searing gaze lingering on her lips, Nathaniel hugged her brazenly. ¡°Let them watch if they so like it. It¡¯s not against thew for me to kiss my wife. Furthermore, there¡¯s nothing shameless about us.¡± Christina pushed at him. When he did not budge an inch, she helplessly gave up resisting. ¡°Let go of me first. We¡¯ll go back to the room and talk about this further. Hurry up.¡± She thumped him on the shoulder twice in a huff, but it carried little strength since she could not bear to hurt him. Nathaniel chuckled, turning into an absolute scoundrel. ¡°Kiss me, Darling, and we¡¯ll leave.¡± D The gazes of the crowd around them grew increasingly intent. Christina could not win against him, so she dipped her head and pecked him on the lips at lightning speed. ¡°Can we leave now?¡± Regret gripped her, for she would never have agreed to go to the caf¨¦ had she known, that he would lose control of his emotions so easily. Gratified, Nathaniel got to his feet and took her hand before leaving the caf¨¦ under the crowd¡¯s envious gazes. ¡°They¡¯ve made up so fast? Christina is too easily appeased to let Nathaniel off scot¨Cfree!¡± Victoria was stunned by the speed at which the couple reconciled, ¡°Mr. Hadley didn¡¯t do anything to betray Mrs. Hadley. Everything was a misunderstanding, so their reconciliation was a matter of time,¡± Sebastianmented in exasperation. Victoria shot him a sidelong look, retorting sarcastically, ¡°Judging from your tone, I was being too much of a busybody?¡± Having gotten himself into trouble again, Sebastian denied helplessly, ¡°No, I never said that!¡± Suddenly, Victoria¡¯s gaze was seemingly attracted by someone else. She even lost interest in lecturing him and briskly hurried forward. Chapter 685 Chapter 685 Sebastian watched in disbelief as Victoria, who was right in front of him, chatted andughed merrily with another man. Driven by jealousy, he erupted in anger and swiftly approached them, taking a stance between them and forming a barrier to keep them apart. Victoria looked at Sebastian in confusion. ¡°Seb, what are you doing? I¡¯m talking to Mr. Forrester. Don¡¯t cause trouble.¡± Hearing this, Sebastian finally recognized the man before him. It was Julian! Having dealt with simr situations before, Sebastian adeptly addressed him, stating, ¡°Mr. Forrester, my apologies.¡± Sebastian didn¡¯t offer any further exnation, and Julian didn¡¯t seem to take offense at the former¡¯s intrusion. ¡°No problem,¡± Julian replied absentmindedly, his eyes scanning the area as if seeking someone. ¡°It¡¯s good to see that you have a genuine concern for Ms. Lesley, Mr. Taggart. I wish you both evesting happiness. have some other matters to attend to, so please excuse me.¡± The rtionship between Sebastian and Victoria remained a well¨Cguarded secret, known only to a privileged few. Considering the circumstances surrounding the Lesley family, Sebastian had reservations about revealing, their rtionship to the public. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t worried about Julian exposing their secret as the man didn¡¯t appear to be the type to meddle in such matters. Victoria shed Julian a grateful smile before stepping back and positioning herself behind Sebastian. Despite Hadley Corporation and Forrester Group being fiercepetitors in the business world, Sebastian¡¯s admiration for the Forrester remained unaffected. Perceiving Julian¡¯s intentions, Sebastian was willing to extend a favor to him. ¡°Mr. Forrester, the fifth floor offers abundant entertainment options and an excellent view. I suggest you go and have a look. I assure you, it won¡¯t disappoint.¡± D A brief moment of warm gratitude softened Julian¡¯s typically cold gaze. He promptly responded with a quick ¡°thank you¡± and hurried toward the fifth floor. Victoria tugged on Sebastian¡¯s sleeve, confused. ¡°Seb, what did you say to Julian? I couldn¡¯t understand a word.¡± Sebastian exined, ¡°Ms. Gabrielle Cook has returned to attend the international business conference. Mr. Forrester was looking for her, and I simply helped him as thanks for his genuine well¨Cwishes for us,¡± D ¡°What? Gabrielle has returned?¡± Victoria eximed, her mouth hanging open in surprise. The recent rumors about Gabrielle¡¯s affair with Julian had spread far and wide. Gabrielle had left the country to escape the ensuing controversy, leaving Christina heartbroken, especially since Gabrielle hadn¡¯t confided 1/3 in her beforehand. ¡°Christina must not be aware of this. I need to tell her right away.¡± However, Sebastian swiftly grabbed her arm, urging caution. ¡°I suggest you wait and inform herter.¡± A realization struck Victoria, and she lightly tapped her forehead in realization. Understanding flooded her, and she chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re right. Distance can indeed make the heart grow fonder. Okay, I get it now.¡± D Sebastian gazed at her joyful face and spoke seriously. ¡°Victoria, I want us to make our rtionship public. What are your thoughts on that?¡± Taken aback, the woman looked at him in disbelief before questioning, ¡°Seb, are you joking?¡± Sebastian shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I want to be with you without hiding it. I genuinely care about you, and there¡¯s nothing to be ashamed of.¡± D Touched beyond measure, Victoria sniffled. ¡°It¡¯s okay not to make our rtionship public. I don¡¯t feel unhappy about that. I love you for who you are, and I don¡¯t care what others say.¡± During their time together, Sebastian contemted many things. Regardless of the disparity in wealth and social status between his family and the Lesley family, Sebastian¡¯s affections were solely directed toward Victoria. Yet, he understood that as long as he and Victoria remained together, there woulde a time when he would have to confront the Lesley family. Furthermore, witnessing the profound effect of Nathaniel¡¯s and Christina¡¯s rtionship deeply influenced him. ¡°I apologize for leaving you to bear the burden of pressure alone,¡± Sebastian sincerely apologized. ¡°I want to give you the recognition you deserve. Even if our family backgrounds aren¡¯t perfectly aligned, my genuine love for you will always remain unchanged.¡± Sebastian¡¯s heartfelt words stemmed from his genuine emotions. Even if he wasn¡¯t the most eloquent person or someone who was quick to understand emotions, meeting his true love had taught him to be romantic and express his feelings candidly. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Tears welled up in Victoria¡¯s eyes as she looked at Sebastian. She was rendered speechless by the overwhelming emotions swirling within her. Meanwhile, Sebastian awkwardly reached into his pocket and took out a long¨Ccherished small box. He slowly opened it to reveal a in silver ring resting inside. ¡°Will you keep loving me forever?¡± D There was no grand setting for a proposal, nor were there expensive diamonds involved. In fact, the silver ring showed visible scratches upon closer inspection. Nevertheless, it held a captivating allure thatpletely enchanted Victoria. D Overwhelmed with emotion, she threw herself into Sebastian¡¯s arms and cried tears of joy. ¡°Sebastian, I will!¡± Sebastian held her tightly and whispered, ¡°Thank you for continuing to love me.¡± D While he may not have had the means to shower Victoria with extravagant gifts at the moment, Sebastian 9/2 was resolute in his determination to work hard and make up for it in the future. Meanwhile, Christina leaned against the railing on the upper deck, a mischievous smile ying on her lips as she observed the affectionate couple below. Teasingly, she remarked, ¡°Looks like Mr. Taggart¡¯s thick skull finally cracked open. It only took him a few years to escape the single life. Quite the achievement, I must say.¡± Nathaniel sighed helplessly. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to give them a generous wedding gift aspensation.¡± D Having already opened their hearts to each other, Nathaniel and Christina had resolved the misunderstandings from the previous night. They engaged in a smooth conversation, but they did not anticipate witnessing Sebastian¡¯s and Victoria¡¯s public deration of love as they made their way to the conference hall. D Christina was filled with concern as she remarked, ¡°Victoria is the Lesley family¡¯s only daughter, and she¡¯s precious to them. Can Mr. Taggart sessfully persuade them?¡± ¡°Sebastian possesses the qualities that the Lesley family desires in a son¨Cinw. The only potential issue might be Victoria¡¯s brother,¡± Nathaniel replied, having pondered the matter carefully. Concerned about Sebastian¡¯s and Victoria¡¯s happiness, Christina couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you close friends with Victoria¡¯s brother? How about speaking a few kind words about Mr. Taggart in his presence?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll give it a try when the opportunity arises.¡± Nathaniel nodded affectionately and added, ¡°Can we head to the hall now?¡± Christina bashfully linked her arm with his and offered an apology, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dragging you along and subjecting you to all that lovey¨Cdovey stuff.¡± Nathaniel smiled and maintained a serene silence as they walked hand in hand into the elevator. ¡°When are you going to stop your peeping habit? What would people think if they catch you doing this?¡± Yerek expressed his disapproval. ¡°Who are you to judge, Yerek? Aren¡¯t you also fond of such activities?¡± Anya retorted, facing Yerek with determination, refusing to back down. ¡°Remember when Timothy and Dad used to discuss important matters in the study? You were always lingering by the door, eavesdropping. I witnessed it all.¡± Anya had a tendency to resort to old grievances when she found herself unable to prevail in an argument. Worried that Anya might inadvertently reveal some secrets, Yerek swiftly changed the subject. ¡°It appears that Nathaniel and Christina have reconciledpletely. The previous n didn¡¯t work out. What¡¯s your next move?¡± Chapter 686 Chapter 686 Anya maintained a confident expression, her gaze teasing as she locked eyes with Yerek. Her voice carried a hint of ambiguity as she spoke. ¡°Now, it all depends on your performance. Your skillful seduction of Xylie with just a handkerchief was impressive. She was once Winston¡¯s mistress, but due to her past conflicts with Christina, she was discarded by him. If we can fully exploit her resentment toward Christina, Xylie could be a valuable weapon in our hands.¡± Yerek¡¯s expression turned into one of anger as he confronted her sternly, ¡°You were following me?¡± Yerek had actually stumbled upon the scene where Winston abandoned Xylic. However, it was purely coincidental and not a result of any intentional actions on his part. He happened to be hiding nearby and overheard their conversation, so he instantly formed a n to use Xylie to seek revenge against Christina. Much to his surprise, Anya had actually seen through his n. The woman toyed with her ring and shed him an innocent smile. ¡°Yerek, I didn¡¯t intentionally eavesdrop. I just happened to be passing by and coincidentally had the same idea as you. We¡¯re siblings, so it¡¯s not strange to be on the same wavelength.¡± On the same wavelength? Bullsh*t! Yerek seethed with anger, but considering the bigger picture and maintaining his facade as the older brother, he chose to forgive Anya for her plot against him. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for you to be seen by Nathaniel and Christina. Find a ce to hide before the cruise ship docks. Once it does, you must disembark as soon as possible to avoid getting caught by Nathaniel¡¯s men,¡± he instructed firmly. ¡°Well, for the remaining matters, it¡¯s up to you, Yerek,¡± Anya calmly stated, acknowledging their respective roles. Acting obediently, she turned around to search for a hiding ce, while Yerek prepared to manipte Xylie for his own benefit. Christina, apanying Nathaniel, had been sessful in securing several major projects at the international business conference. As the conference neared its end, she unexpectedly stumbled upon Bailey and Julian engaged in an argument in the lobby of the conference hall. The two individuals found themselves embroiled in a heated dispute, cornered in a secluded area of the lobby. Bailey, determined to break free, struggled against Julian¡¯s tight grip, their conflict intensifying. As her face flushed a scarlet hue, Bailey delivered a resounding p across Julian¡¯s face. Julian, his eyes filled with an intensity that could cut through steel, stared back at her, the air heavy with tension. Seeing this, Christina quickly walked over and shielded Bailey behind her. ¡°Julian, haven¡¯t you caused enough harm to Bailey? You¡¯re incessantly creating trouble for her in public. With numerous media outlets present, once this news spreads, how do you expect her to face the public?¡± Despite the sessful suppression of previous negative rumors surrounding Bailey and Julian, public opinion had turned against Bailey. The general consensus was that she had deliberately seduced Julian, and the majority held a negative view of her actions. The relentless scrutiny eventually drove Bailey to seek sce overseas as she could no longer live a normal life in her old environment. 1/3 Julian spoke in a deep voice. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is a private matter between Gabrielle and me. I hope you won¡¯t interfere.¡± His polite demeanor toward Christina was solely due to Nathaniel¡¯s influence. Gabrielle had been avoiding him for a long time, and no matter what he did, he couldn¡¯t find her whereabouts. Julian managed to gather information from the Cook family that Gabrielle would be representing their overseaspany at the international business conference, so he made every effort to track her down. He had finally cornered her, and he insisted on bringing her back into his life regardless of the methods he had to employ. ¡°Julian, Christina is a dear friend of mine. Please be mindful of your words.¡± Gabrielle, rising to Christina¡¯s defense, cautioned Julian about his choice of words. ¡°You and I have nothing left to discuss. Things between us arepletely over, and it¡¯s time for us to move on separately. I no longer wish to have any ties with you. Consider how your fianc¨¦e would feel if she were to discover that you haven¡¯t fully let go of your past love.¡± The corner of her lips curled into a mocking smile as she continued, ¡°If I were in her position, unable to ept/someone else interfering in my rtionship, I wouldn¡¯t tolerate such a situation. That¡¯s why I despise being involved as a third party in a rtionship.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes flickered with pain. ¡°Gabrielle, you¡¯re not a third party in the rtionship. Just give me some time, and I¡¯ll handle everything. I won¡¯t put you in a difficult position.¡± Nevertheless, the woman¡¯s response was cold and devoid of emotions. ¡°I gave you a chance, but you didn¡¯t seize it, Julian. I detest being deceived, and yet you have the audacity to ask for my forgiveness while crossing all the boundaries I had established. The future stretches out before us, and I have no idea how to face you anymore. Finally, she said, ¡°Julian, let¡¯s just call it quits. Spare yourself, and spare me too.¡± Suppressing her trembling voice, Gabrielle spun on her heels and left the lobby. Worried about Gabrielle¡¯s safety in her current emotional state, Christina told Nathaniel, ¡°I¡¯ll go check on Bailey. Help me keep Julian here.¡± Nathaniel nodded, cautioning, ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Christina assured him, giving him a sweet smile before hurrying after Gabrielle in the direction she had gone. Julian felt the urge to pursue them, but Nathaniel intervened, preventing him from doing so. ¡°Mr. Forrester, it seems that Ms. Cook has unresolved feelings toward you. Pursuing her at this moment will only make things worse. It¡¯s wiser to wait for the opportune moment to address this matter.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Hearing this, Julian closed his eyes in anguish as he tightened his grip around his wine ss. He raised it to his lips and took a big gulp. In a bitter voice filled with self¨Cmockery, he said, ¡°Nathaniel, our situations are different. You can¡¯t fully understand how I feel¡­¡± Meanwhile, Christina scoured the deck area until she discovered Gabrielle, who was weeping in a cluttered storage room. She approached her and knelt down, extending a clean handkerchief. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t cry. If someone catches us like this, they might get the wrong idea and think I¡¯ve been mistreating you.¡± Gabrielle took the handkerchief, forcefully wiped her face, and sniffled. ¡°I thought I was finally moving on. Why does he have to show up now, Christina? What am I supposed to do?¡± Despite Gabrielle¡¯s apparent efforts to push Julian out of her life, she couldn¡¯t deceive her heart. Deep down, she still held strong feelings for him. Gabrielle¡¯s supposed ¡°letting go¡± was merely a cowardly way of running away from her true feelings. Christina spoke earnestly. ¡°Bailey, maybe you won¡¯t like what I¡¯m about to say, but as an outsider, I believe Julian¡¯s feelings for you are genuine. The Forrester family¡¯s influence is deep¨Crooted, and his engagement with Ze wasn¡¯t his choice. Perhaps you should calm down and have a serious talk with him.¡± D She continued, ¡°I understand that what I¡¯m saying may not be what you want to hear, but when your scandal with Julian was spreading like wildfire, the public opinion was exerting far too much pressure on everyone involved. Nobody had a chance to calm down and properly address the situation.¡± Gabrielle, taken aback by Christina¡¯s defense of Julian, looked at her in astonishment. ¡°Do you believe I should still be with Julian?¡± Christina smiled faintly. ¡°The way the Langford family and the Forrester family arranged the engagement is not based on honor. Love doesn¡¯t always conform to a predetermined order. If Ze can take such actions, why can¡¯t you? Right now, Ze is merely holding the title of Julian¡¯s fianc¨¦e in the eyes of the public. Their marriage has no legal standing; it¡¯s just wishful thinking of the Langford family.¡± Christina believed in these simple yet profound truths, and Gabrielle understood them as well, but the lattercked the conviction and determination to fight for what she truly wanted. Christina didn¡¯t mind being the persuasive voice. Gabrielle¡¯s dull and lifeless world suddenly became vibrant as understanding dawned upon her. With a sudden surge of energy, she rose to her feet. ¡°Christina, I¡¯m going to find Julian and have a sincere conversation with him¡­ By the way, do you smell something peculiar in the air?¡± Chapter 687 A Narrow Escape Chapter 687 A Narrow Escape As Gabrielle mentioned the smell of something burning, Christina also caught a whiff of it. ¡°Smells like something¡¯s burning.¡± However, before she could process it further, Gabrielle suddenly pointed at the door with a panicked expression. ¡°Christina, fire! There¡¯s a fire!¡± Christina whipped around and watched as the mes rapidly spread into the room, quickly engulfing the entire storeroom. ¡°Quick, let¡¯s get out of here!¡± Christina eximed, grabbing the stunned Gabrielle and pulling her toward the nearest exit, desperate to escape the growing inferno. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Bang! The iron grill nearby mmed shut, sealing off their only escape route. The storeroom was filled with highly mmable materials, and the fire rapidly spread, engulfing the entire space. Smoke quickly filled the room, making it difficult to breathe. Christina pulled Gabrielle toward a rack, seeking shelter from the encroaching mes. However, she identally inhaled the smoke in the chaos, causing a burning sensation in her throat. Gabrielle, panicking, eximed, ¡°Christina, what do we do? My phone has no signal!¡± Her heart sank as she realized her phone had no signal bars. Christina swiftly checked her phone as well, hoping for a signal, but to her dismay, she had no signal either. Coughing, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have a signal either.¡± Consumed by fear, Gabrielle cried out, ¡°What are we going to do? Are we going to die here?¡± She had recently regained her self¨Cconfidence and nned to confess her feelings to Julian soon. But now, in the face of this tragedy, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if their love was not meant to be in this lifetime. In contrast, Christina remained calm andposed, her mind racing to find a solution. She quickly surveyed the storeroom and noticed a window that had yet to be engulfed in mes. It was a small, round window that could barely amodate one person at a time. Determined, Christina seized a crowbar and broke the window with all her might. As the ss shattered, she sustained cuts on her face and arms, causing blood to trickle out of her wounds. ¡°Bailey, quick! Climb out through that window,¡± Christina shouted urgently. ¡°Hurry!¡± However, Gabrielle shook her head. ¡°No, I can¡¯t leave you here.¡± ¡°Listen to me, Bailey. I¡¯m pregnant, and I won¡¯t be able to fit through that window. You¡¯re the only one who can escape and get help. I¡¯m counting on you to find someone to rescue me.¡± Christina pushed her toward the window. ¡°We don¡¯t have much time.¡± Gabrielle held back her tears and climbed toward the window with the aid of a pail. The remaining shards of ss cut her skin, but she disregarded the pain, determined to wriggle out through the narrow opening. Once out of the storeroom, Gabrielle sprinted toward the hall without ncing back. ¡°Nathaniel, save Christina!¡± In her panicked state, Gabrielle scrambled and fell at the man¡¯s feet. Blood from her cuts left streaks on the white tiles. ¡°The storeroom! It¡¯s on fire! Christina is still inside!¡± Overwhelmed with fear, she burst into tears as Julian wrapped her in his embrace Nathaniel¡¯s face turned pale with worry. He hastily grabbed a nearby staff member and asked in a raised voice, ¡°Where is the storeroom?¡± The staff member trembled in fear and pointed toward the end of the hallway. ¡°It¡¯s at the end of the foyer.¡± Without wasting a moment, Nathaniel swiftly turned around and rushed out. Meanwhile, Gabrielle¡¯s breath hitched, and she copsed unconscious. Julian, in a state of panic, shouted, ¡°Doctor! We need a doctor!¡± The once bustling foyer descended into chaos as people scrambled to assist. Meanwhile, Christina stumbled upon a few expired bottles of water in a corner as the fire continued to rage. Reacting swiftly, Christina drenched herself with the water and hastily fashioned a makeshift mask using a wet handkerchief. She then sought refuge in a corner, seeking protection from the scorching heat that seared her skin. Her vision grew increasingly hazy as the oxygen quickly depleted. In a moment of desperate hope, a resounding ng reverberated through the room as the metal grille was forcefully kicked open. D ¡°Christina!¡± Nathaniel rushed forward and immediately spotted her amidst the chaos. Without hesitation, he hurried to her side, gently cradling her unconscious body in his arms. With unwavering determination, he carried her out of the engulfing mes. Sebastian and Victoria, who had hurried over upon hearing the news, approached to offer their assistance. ¡°How is Christina?¡± Victoria¡¯s anxiety grew as she observed Christina¡¯s paleplexion. She turned to the crowd and called out, ¡°Doctor! Where is the doctor?¡± At that moment, the captain arrived with a group of his subordinates and paramedics. Christina was immediately transported to the medical unit for further treatment. However, due to the limited medical supplies on board, Nathaniel instructed Sebastian to arrange for a helicopter to transport Christina to the nearest hospital onnd for her to receive the necessary care. Fortunately, Christina had managed to save herself, and neither her life nor the life of her unborn baby was in immediate danger. As relief washed over them, Victoria couldn¡¯t contain her tears of happiness, while Nathaniel¡¯s previously tense expression softened. Sebastian, too, let out a sigh of relief, d that Christina was safe. D ¡°I¡¯ll go and look after Christina,¡± Victoria offered, sensing Nathaniel¡¯s need for privacy to discuss matters that weren¡¯t meant for her ears. Using it as an excuse, she gave herself a way out. With a low voice, Nathaniel asked, ¡°Have you found the reason behind the fire in the storeroom?¡± ¡°ording to our investigation and the surveince cameras near the storeroom, we can confirm that this was not an ident but arson,¡± Sebastian exined. ¡°The fire rm and surveince cameras were deliberately destroyed when the fire broke out. Moreover, it appears that somebody spread fake news about someone falling into the water at the stern of the ship, diverting the attention of the officers on patrol. As a result, nobody noticed the fire even though it had been burning for ten minutes. Additionally, we found traces of petroleum outside the storeroom door, suggesting that someone intended to cause harm.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s heart ached at the thought of Christina being trapped helplessly inside the raging fire. ¡°Who did it?¡± ¡°Winston¡¯s girlfriend, Xylie,¡± Sebastian replied grimly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, the way the arson was carried out bears a striking resemnce to the incident that imed Mrs. Hadley¡¯s stepmother¡¯s life. Based on my investigation, it¡¯s evident that Xylie was acting under someone else¡¯s orders.¡± It had been years since the conflict between Christina and Xylie had taken ce, and he found it hard to believe that Xylie would go to such lengths for petty reasons. Knowing Winston¡¯s tendency to change girlfriends frequently, it seemed unlikely that he would willingly keep someone who posed such a threat. If Xylie had targeted Christina, it was akin to crossing Nathaniel himself. As he contemted Xylie¡¯s motive, it became apparent that her desire for revenge, fueled by the loss of her financial support, was apelling factor. However, it did not seem usible that Xylie acted alone in such a calcted attack. She was known to be! short¨Csighted and timid, unlikely to take such a massive risk to kill Christina, no matter how much she despised the woman. When his train of thought ended there, another person came to Nathaniel¡¯s mind¨CAnya. ¡°Where is Anya?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice carried a chilling undertone. ¡°She attempted to blend into the crowd when the ship docked, but the men we had stationed managed to capture her. She is currently held captive in an abandoned warehouse, awaiting your orders,¡± Sebastian replied. ¡°Take her to the interrogation room and extract every secret she holds,¡± Nathanielmanded in a hushed tone. ¡°If she refuses to talk, eliminate her and bring in Yerek as a recement.¡± D Nathaniel had initially intended to keep Anya as bait to lure in bigger yers, but her constant interference had be too much to bear. Besides, her presence orck thereof would not impact his ns at all. ¡°Sebastian, you know how to handle Mrs. Hadley¡¯s inquiries. I don¡¯t want her to be involved in any of this.¡± Chapter 688 Do Not Be Softhearted Chapter 688 Do Not Be Softhearted ¡°Understood. I know what to do.¡± Sebastian left to carry out his task, while Nathaniel returned to the ward to take care of Christina. The morning after, Christina was woken up by loud sobbing. She opened her eyes to find an ebony head wailing on her chest, tears soaking her hospital gown. Christina felt her temples throb, and ¡®she shoved the heavy head resting on her chest away in disdain. ¡°You¡¯re too noisy, Gabrielle,¡± Christina remarked hoarsely, and the wails instantly ceased. ¡°I¡¯m not dead yet. You don¡¯t have to start mourning so soon.¡± Gabrielle pounced on her, crying tears of joy. ¡°Christina¡­ You¡¯re finally awake!¡± Christina was struggling to breathe due to the smothering hug. She tried and failed several times to shove Gabrielle away. Finally, Victoria had enough and stepped forward to pull thetter away from the hospital bed. ¡°Christina just woke up, Ms. Cook. She can¡¯t handle all this drama,¡± Victoria chided. ¡°You¡¯ve been crying for half an hour. Why don¡¯t you drink some water and take a break?¡± Victoria was impressed by Gabrielle¡¯s lung capacity, seeing as thetter cried nonstop for half an hour without tiring. Her sobs echoed throughout the entire building and sounded so sorrowful that people would have thought she was wailing at a funeral. D Gabrielle hupped amid her sobs before saying aggrievedly, ¡°I just can¡¯t control my emotions. If something bad happens to you, Christina, I¡¯ll lose my will to live.¡± As she said that, she wanted to pounce on Christina again, but a stern gaze from thetter dispelled that notion.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°The fortune teller said I¡¯m tough and destined to live a long life, so how can I die in a fire?¡± Christina randomly made up an excuse tofort Gabrielle as her gaze flitted across the ward. ¡°Where¡¯s Nathaniel? I remember before I passed out, he was the one who charged in and saved me. Did something happen to him?¡± Victoria poured two sses of water and passed them to Christina and Gabrielle. ¡°You two patients have just woken up, so you should rest. Mr. Hadley is fine. He went to thepany to deal with urgent matters and told me to take good care of you before leaving.¡± Christina breathed a sigh of relief. As she drank some water, she suddenly remembered the fire on the cruise ship and quickly asked, ¡°What was that fire all about?¡± Gabrielle was still crying at the time, but her mood changed as soon as Christina brought up the subject. ¡°Anya instructed a somewhat famous female model to start it. Midway through, she tried to run away but was caught by Mr. Hadley. I would¡¯ve torn off ayer of Anya¡¯s flesh if he hadn¡¯t forbidden outsiders from interfering!¡± she said angrily. Gabrielle could see Nathaniel¡¯s motive for retaining Anya, but she was perplexed by his refusal to ede when she begged him for Xylic. ¡°Anya is in Nathaniel¡¯s hands?¡± Christina asked again out of uncertainty, thinking she was hearing things as a result of being unconscious for too long. ¡°Is this information reliable?¡± Gabrielle shifted her gaze to Victoria. ¡°Ms. Lesley¡¯s boyfriend was fully responsible for capturing her. You can ask her about it.¡± Victoria shrugged when Christina turned to gaze at her. ¡°That¡¯s right. Nathaniel¡¯s men are watching over Anya and Xylie, but I can¡¯t tell you where they are.¡± I won¡¯t make the same mistake again. Otherwise, Nathaniel won¡¯t let me off easy. Christina was well aware that Anya¡¯s life had beenpletely ruined and that Nathaniel would not allow anyone to get into contact with Anya because he did not want Christina to find out how cruel and vicious his methods of dealing with Anya were. Even so, she wanted to confirm with Anya herself the question that she had kept in her mind for a long time. ¡°Lend me your phone, Victoria. I want to make a call,¡± said Christina. Victoria took out her phone without hesitation and handed it to Christina, who entered and dialed Nathaniel¡¯s number. The call was picked up after several rings. ¡°Ms. Lesley, did something happen to Christina?¡± Nathaniel sounded anxious. ¡°Nathaniel, it¡¯s me.¡± Christina fought against the dryness in her throat. ¡°I want to meet Anya.¡± ¡°No way,¡± the man uttered coldly. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering. Sebastian will deal with the aftermath. There¡¯s no need for you to take action. Just take care of the baby.¡± He had been through enough during this period and could not afford to lose her. ¡°I have some questions I want to ask her myself,¡± Christina insisted. ¡°Nathaniel, I don¡¯t want to leave any regrets regarding the matter of my parents.¡± Only after a long time did the man relent. ¡°I¡¯ll get Lyle to pick you up. You have an hour, and you must return to the hospital when the time is up.¡± ¡°You have my word,¡± Christina replied with a smile. After hanging up the call, she returned the phone to Victoria, lifted the quilt, and got out of bed. She then walked to the closet and picked out a set of casual clothes to change into. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you, you, Christina,¡± Gabrielle offered. ¡°No need for that.¡¯ Stay in the hospital and recuperate.¡± Christina put on a loose woolen coat to cover her bulging belly. ¡°Even if I agree, Mr. Forrester won¡¯t agree to let you go.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Julian opened the door and walked in. He went straight to Gabrielle and reached out to grab her. ¡°Gabrielle, it¡¯s time for the routine checkup.¡± Gabrielle nimbly avoided his touch and huffed. ¡°I merely have some minor scrapes. They aren¡¯t severe enough to require checking twice a day. Let me be and leave.¡± Julian¡¯s eyes darkened. He coaxed patiently, worried that his temper would frighten Gabrielle, ¡°Mrs. Hadley needs rest, so don¡¯t disturb her. I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want when your injury heals. I promise.¡± Gabrielle scowled, refusing to tone down her hostility. At that, Christina quickly tried to ease the tension. ¡°Mr. Forrester is right. It just so happens that I need to go out and can¡¯t chat with you anymore. Go back with Mr. Forrester, Bailey. Didn¡¯t you tell me earlier that you have a lot of things you want to say to Mr. Forrester alone?¡± D Surprise shed in Julian¡¯s eyes, but he did not make it obvious. He simply grasped Gabrielle¡¯s wrist somewhat forcefully. ¡°Gabrielle, I¡¯m free after this. I want to have a serious talk with you.¡± The astute Victoria quickly nced at her watch and eximed, ¡°Oh my! It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s go, Christina. We¡¯ll leave Ms. Cook in your care, Mr. Forrester.¡± With that, she hurriedly dragged Christina out of the ward. . Victoria personally apanied Christina to the lobby of the inpatient department building just as Lyle drove there to pick thetter up. ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for me to apany you since you¡¯re settling family matters.¡± Victoria closed the car door for Christina before bending down to the window. ¡°Don¡¯t be softhearted anymore, Christina.¡± If Christina could not bring herself to settle the score with Anya, thetter would someday be a vengeful spirit that would take her life. Before leaving, Christina told the woman on the other side of the window, ¡°After everything I¡¯ve been through, it¡¯s time to put an end to it, but I want to ask you to take care of something for me first.¡± D Chapter 689 Fate Is In Your Hands Chapter689FateIsInYourHands Victoria would not reject Christina¡¯s request, evidently. ¡°Tell me what it is, and I¡¯ll do my best to fulfill it.¡± ¡°I heard that one of your friends has opened a legal firm in Hallsbay. I¡¯m hoping that your friend can meet with Mrs. Lazuli,¡± Christina started. ¡°If Mrs. Lazuli asks why, just tell her that I¡¯m inviting her to enjoy a free but fascinating live broadcast.¡± Victoria thought that Christina¡¯s request would be harder to fulfill than that, so she was surprised. Nevertheless, she swiftly agreed to it.¡°This is too simple. No problem. I¡¯ll call mywyer friend and have him look for Mrs. Lazuli right away. It won¡¯t dy your ns.¡± Victoria could mostly guess why Christina was doing this, but she was not a gossipmonger, so she knew not to ask for further details. Christina gave her a smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too polite with me, Christina. My matters with Sebastian have troubled you quite a lot, and I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll still need you and Mr. Hadley to intervene every once in a while in the future,¡± Victoria said. She knew that she could not deal with the entire Lesley family alone. However, things would be different if Nathaniel was involved. You¡¯re my junior, and Mr. Taggart is Nathaniel¡¯s right¨Chand man. We¡¯re practically family, so there¡¯s no way we¡¯re just going to sit on our hands for this. You shouldn¡¯t worry too much about this. All problems have answers.¡± Christina¡¯s words were like a cool breeze in the hot desert, blowing away the frustrations in Victoria¡¯s heart. ¡°I¡¯ll contact youter,¡± she said before leaving. ¡°Stay safe, Christina. I¡¯ll be waiting for your call.¡± Victoria took a few steps back and watched Christina¡¯s car leave. Then, she lowered her head and called her friend. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s something I need your help with¡­¡® Meanwhile, Anya was imprisoned in a winery belonging to Nathaniel, which was situated on the outskirts. The winery¡¯s central structure, a majestic vi, emitted an air of ageless allure, boasting opulent andvish medieval Western aesthetics that added a dash of enigmatic fascination to the estate. The vehicle cruised down a straight and spacious boulevard lined with towering ne trees, gradually making its way into the estate. With Lyle¡¯s guidance, Christina came to a sshouse. It was empty on the inside, but a floral scent lingered. Perhaps it used to be a garden, but it had been converted into a temporary prison for Anya. -Anya was bound and discarded on the ground. She was curled into herself like a caterpir. Her disheveled hair concealed her face, obscuring it from Christina¡¯s view. Blood oozed beneath Anya¡¯s body, mingling with the damp spots on the ground and creating meandering paths of small crimson streams. Her ankles and wrists bore scars of different severity. Some ck¨Cd bodyguards stood vigntly at the periphery, keeping a watchful eye. As soon as they noticed Christina¡¯s arrival, they greeted her in perfect synchronization and tactfully withdrew from the scene. Lyle, mindful of Christina¡¯s physical well¨Cbeing, fetched a chair for her to sit on. Christina took a seat on the chair and told Lyle, ¡°Take a look at her condition.¡± There was no part of Anya¡¯s body that had gone unharmed, and her clothes were tainted with bloodstains in several areas. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could discern that she was wearing fresh garments, for certain parts of the clothes remained surprisingly pristine. From that, it was evident how harrowing the ordeal Anya had to endure before Christina came to see her. When Lyle approached the wounded woman, he crouched down and nudged her. Then, he put his hand near her nostrils to feel for any signs of breathing. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, she¡¯s not in any life¨Cthreatening danger.¡± ¡°Wake her. I have things to ask her.¡± At that, Lyle instructed the men to bring a pail of cold water from the outside to pour onto Anya. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s freezing!¡± Anya was jolted back to consciousness by the icy water. She squired her feeble frame as she desperately tried to evade the chilling pool of water. Expressionlessly, Lyle seized the back of her cor and dragged her toward Christina. ¡°Behave yourself and refrain from shouting,¡± he warned. Anya nced up and spotted Lyle. Her neck instinctively recoiled in response. In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of Christina, adorned in clean and expensive garments as she sat before her with a look of pride on her face. Fear morphed into an enraged creature within Anya as she bared her fangs at the seated woman. ¡°Christina Steele, you b*tch! How dare you torment me like this? Even if I die, I won¡¯t spare you! I¡¯ll haunt you forever!¡± Anya fought desperately, attempting to break free, but Lyle held her firmly in his grip. Even though she was only steps away from Christina, those few steps felt like thousands of miles apart, and all she could do was hurl insults at Christina. ¡°Anya, you need to realize that you¡¯re now my prisoner, and it¡¯s me who won¡¯t spare you,¡± Christina said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. ¡°You¡¯re quite resentful to see me standing here unharmed, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anya spat out a few specks of blood at Christina before barking out crazedughter. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a coward, Christina! You¡¯re always hiding behind Nathaniel while you unt your false bravado! If you had any real skill, you wouldn¡¯t have waited until now to confront me. At the end of the day, you¡¯re no match for me!¡± Even at that point, Anya refused to ept her fate. Even if Christina were to hold a gun to her head, Anya would never submit to the former. ¡°If you had a shred of conscience, you would have remained the prosperous young heiress of the Gibson family, Anya. The truth is, your entire family has made a huge mistake¨Cthey¡¯ve all picked the wrong paths.¡± Right then, Christina pulled her coat tighter around her. The sshousecked heating, and the air was cold and damp there. She shivered from the chill, and she knew she had to wrap things up as quickly as she could. ¡°I came to talk to you and give you a chance to survive. You only have two options -either we strike a deal, or you can reject my first condition and wait here for a slow and excruciating death.¡± Anya chuckled. ¡°Do you honestly expect me to believe that you¡¯ll spare me if I agree to the deal? Don¡¯t underestimate my intelligence. Both you and Nathaniel are nothing but trouble. If you let me off the hook now, Nathaniel will surely find a way to take care of meter. I¡¯m fully aware of the maniptive games you and your husband y.¡± Christina arched a brow, not denying Anya¡¯s usations. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Having gone through so many trials, Anya had finally learned her lesson. ¡°You¡¯re Nigel¡¯s daughter, and you must know about the heinous deeds he hasmitted,¡± Christina offered a tempting proposition. ¡°I can assure you that Nigel will spend the rest of his life behind bars, but you¡¯re different. You¡¯re still young, and despite your own missteps, there¡¯s a chance for you to find redemption. If you reveal all the things he has done to me, I¡¯ll spare you. What do you think?¡± Then, Christina added, ¡°What I want is what Nathaniel wants as well.¡± Anya shot her a resentful re. ¡°You expect me to betray my own father in exchange for a chance at life?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do if that¡¯s what you believe.¡± Christina shrugged, unfazed. Her tone wasced with sarcasm as she continued, ¡°Your family has always been selfish and self¨Cserving. It¡¯s rather strange to witness this newfound filial devotion from you. It¡¯s not something I¡¯m ustomed to.¡± Anya was trapped like a fish on a chopping board, and Christina was the butcher. Anya could not decipher what went on in thetter¡¯s mind, so she wisely chose to remain silent. Hence, Christina gave Lyle a look, who promptly left. When he returned, he had a ck leather suitcase in his hands. Lyle then opened the suitcase and threw it toward Anya. ¡°What¡¯s inside this suitcase holds the power to shape your future. Now, it¡¯s all in your hands. Are you willing to let go of the opportunity for a fresh start because of Nigel?¡± Chapter 690 Nowhere To Run Chapter690NowhereToRun The suitcase contained all the incriminating evidence against Anya. Anya stared at the stack of documents, her eyes zing with a fiery intensity. With an abundance of evidence securely in her possession, Christina exuded an air of unwavering patience. She knew Anya would not dare to defy her. ¡°I can easily take down all the dirt about you that¡¯s been spreading online and give you a fresh start.¡± Christina enticingly offered to Anya. Anya began to show signs of wavering. Christina continued, ¡°Your mother¡¯s affiliation with the Specker family means I have to show respect to dimir. My ultimate goal remains the same¨Cto gather evidence of Nigel¡¯s involvement in the murder of my parents, make him confess, and ensure justice is served. Nigel and Yerek will never be part of the Stone family. Moreover, they abandoned you and your mother in times of crisis. Now that Nigel is facing consequences, why would you want to get entangled in that mess? If I were in your shoes, I would not only seize this rare opportunity to turn the tables but also liberate myself from Nigel¡¯s negative influence. I would focus on building a brighter future for myself. Remember, revenge is best served cold, and it¡¯s never toote to seek justice.¡± Thatst remark was a wake¨Cup call for Anya. Indeed, as Nigel indulged in his wealth and power, his priorities revolved solely around authority and personal gain. When he eventually lost everything he held dear, he became apathetic toward his family.. He proved himself unworthy of the title of a father. Why should I sacrifice my future and engage in a struggle for the sake of so¨Ccalled family honor when he was the one who let me down in the first ce? Anya carefully considered her options and began prioritizing her own benefits above all else. ¡°I¡¯ll take these pieces of evidence with me, and you¡¯ll give me an additional twenty million and take care of the rumors and gossip online.¡± A shrewd smile crossed Christina¡¯s calm eyes as she responded, ¡°No problem.¡± Lyle promptly retrieved a check from his bag and handed it to Christina. Christina decisively signed her name on the check without any hesitation,mitting a sum of twenty million. Lyle dropped the check onto the pile of evidence, fueling Anya¡¯s eagerness to possess them all. ¡°Anya, I¡¯ve shown you my sincerity. Now, it¡¯s time for you to reciprocate,¡± Christina uttered. Anya said, ¡°Water. I want some water.¡± Christina didn¡¯t turn down her sudden request and instructed Lyle to feed her half a bottle of water. After moisturizing her dry throat, Anya licked her cracked lips and began speaking slowly. ¡°I do know about my father¡¯s plot against your parents. He, along with Winston Labarge, the former CEO of Raveworks Enterprise, and his cousin David Labarge, were also implicated in the scheme. However, the Labarge brothers didn¡¯t fully trust the generous terms my father offered them. So, every time they had private meetings with my father, they secretly recorded videos as evidence to protect themselves in the future. Later on, a rift urred between them, and Winston sold Raveworks Enterprise and started a newpany in another city. As for why Winston didn¡¯t engage in a life¨Cor¨Cdeath struggle with my father, it was because Nathaniel and you put my father behind bars. As long as my father doesn¡¯t confess, he has a chance to regain his freedom, and Winston and David¡¯s misdeeds would not be exposed either.¡± Despite having conducted extensive investigations, Christina was unaware that the Labarge brothers held crucial evidence against Nigel. ¡°Who has control over those video evidence now?¡± Christina asked in a deep voice. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s in Winston¡¯s hands. He¡¯s a suspicious man. Even his buddy, who has stood by his side through thick and thin, can¡¯t earn hisplete trust,¡± Anya sneered. ¡°Otherwise, how do you think you managed to make Emilia, that naive girl, meet her downfall in Winston¡¯s hands during Mdm. Stone¡¯s birthday party?¡± Christina listened intently to Anya¡¯s words as her expression reverted back to its usualposed state. She fiddled with her phone and asked casually, ¡°Aside from them, who else yed a part in that conspiracy?¡± Anya¡¯s expression subtly revealed a hint of cunning as she replied, ¡°Grandma. Right from the moment the incident happened, she knew the truth. But in order to protect the reputation of the Gibson family and maintain the overall situation, she chose to conceal everything.¡± She continued speaking with feigned pity. ¡°It¡¯s truly unfortunate for your father to have someone as selfish as her as his mother. Indeed, Timothy is far more capable than my father, but I must thank Grandma. If it weren¡¯t for her self¨Ccenteredness, our family wouldn¡¯t have had a chance to rise.¡± In a dismissive tone, Christina scoffed, ¡°Regardless, your glory days are over.¡± Anya shot a vicious re at her upon hearing that. Christina got up from the chair, smoothing her coat with precision, and leveled a cold and disdainful gaze at Anya. ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head. It¡¯s truly unfortunate that my father was born into such a greedy family. But mark my words, his days of suffering are over, and his future will be filled with sess and fulfillment beyond anything you could ever imagine.¡± Anya made no attempt to hide her jealousy toward Christina: She fired back, ¡°The tides will turn eventually. Let¡¯s see how long your smugness willst!¡± Christina remained unfazed by Anya¡¯s provocation. With a cold smirk, she ignored thement and shifted her attention to Lyle. ¡°Release her.¡± Lyle stepped forward and untied the ropes restraining Anya. Anya stretched her stiff muscles a few times and quickly gathered the check and documents, stuffing them into a briefcase. Without looking back, she picked up the briefcase and left. Christina exhaled and took out her phone from her coat. After ending the call, a bloodthirsty smile formed on her lips. ¡°Tell the cops that Anya is fleeing to escape punishment.¡± (D When it came to punishing others, Christina might not be as tactical as Nathaniel, but in terms of ruthlessness, she was equally unforgiving. Anya hadmitted numerous evil deeds. Simply eliminating her would be too lenient a punishment. She deserved no mercy or clemency. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Stripping her of her freedom, confining her within four walls, and ensuring that she never saw a glimmer of hope for the rest of her life would inflict upon her a misery akin to death itself. In the meantime, Anya, burdened by the weight of the heavy suitcase, fought her way out of the manor and managed to g down a taxi on the street. Desperately, she pleaded with the driver to take her to downtown. Upon reaching downtown, Anya wasted no time. She swiftly made her way back to the hotel, where she quickly changed into a clean set of clothes. With a sense of urgency, she proceeded to the bank to cash out the check. However, before she could make her way out of the bank, the police swiftly arrived and caught her red- handed. During the search at the scene, the police found a suitcase she had been carrying, and its contents unequivocally confirmed her involvement in all the charges against her. As the cold metal handcuffs were ced around her wrists, Anya¡¯s eyes widened with the realization that she had fallen right into Christina¡¯s carefullyid trap. Christina had never thought of letting her off in the first ce. While she did fulfill her promise to spare Anya¡¯s life, she resorted to a different method to punish her. Amidst the watchful eyes of bystanders, Anya was escorted to a waiting police car, her disheveled state captured and swiftly shared online, igniting a fervent conversation. As Christina¡¯s car slowly passed by the bank¡¯s entrance, she withdrew her gaze and took delight in the misfortune of the person on the other end of the phone. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, both Nigel and Anya have paid the price for their mistakes. Now it¡¯s your turn, along with Yerek.¡± Chapter 691 More Trouble Chapter691MoreTrouble Azure knew from the start that Christina was no saint. Ever since Nigel was thrown into prison, she had already prepared herself for Christina to exact revenge. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the younger woman¡¯s patience and heart for vengeance. ¡°You should never go so far as to burn your bridgespletely, Christina. It won¡¯t bring you any good.¡± Wary of thewyer seated across her, Azure did her best to control her words and actions. ¡°Actually, it will,¡± Christina replied with a merciless smile. ¡°My mom died a tragic death, and my dad had to endure over twenty years of torment because of his legs. They deserve the worst fate possible. You have no right to act all self¨Crighteous and tell me what¡¯s right or wrong.¡± Azure was so furious that her chest hurt. How she wished she could appear on the other end of the phone and strangle Christina. She was ignorant and had made the biggest mistake in her life, which was to acknowledge Christina as part of the Gibson family. ¡°I¡¯m Timothy¡¯s biological mother, Christina. Even if you want to get even, it¡¯s not up to someone like you, who¡¯s younger than me, to teach me a lesson.¡± Azure was only deceiving herself; deep down, she wasn¡¯t as confident as she sounded. The older woman had never officially visited Timothy ever since he fell unconscious and was hospitalized. She was constantly busy dealing with Nigel¡¯s affairs and even more caught up trying to reim Gibson Corporation through other ways. Even so, her ns fell through. Now, Azure was like a helpless animal that had lost all its limbs. She wouldn¡¯t be able to rise again no matter how hard she tried. ¡°My dad will be awake soon. I¡¯ll have someone send you all documents rted to the cutting of ties between you and him,¡± Christina added frostily and hung up. As though struck in the head, Azure fell into a daze for a long while before finally processing what: Christina had said. ¡°This little brat doesn¡¯t have any respect for me! She¡¯s even trying to order me around!¡± The woman hurled her phone with rage, but none of herints and troubles would evoke the lawyer¡¯s pity. ¡°I¡¯ve done what Mrs. Hadley has asked me to, Mrs. Lazuli. Please find yourself a new home and move out as soon as you can. I¡¯ll have someone take a look at this house in a few days,¡± thewyer remarked professionally. -Not only did Christina get Victoria to have awyer put on such an exciting live show for her, but the former even made another demand. She gave Azure a grace period to move out of the Gibson residence. The mansion indeed belonged to Azure, but she had secretly mortgaged it to help cover the losses incurred by Nigel¡¯spany. Christina had someone purchase the building after receiving word that Azure couldn¡¯t afford to pay off the loan. Hence, the Gibson residence now belonged to Christina. After Azure had lost her status and influence, all those so-called friends who used to butter her up removed her from their circle. Even Barnaby didn¡¯t want her anymore, and all she could rely on now was Yerck. Yet, what devastated her more was that she couldn¡¯t reach Yerek, and all her possessions were now only enough to cover half a year¡¯s worth of rent and basic living expenses. Having lived in luxury all this while, downgrading her lifestyle was simply torture for her. Azure sat back on the couch and responded in a demanding tone, ¡°If Christina wants me to move out, have here see me in person. Otherwise, no one gets to tell me what to do.¡± Given his long career and having dealt with all kinds of cases, thewyer had certainly met his fair share of people who were more shameless and unreasonable than Azure. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, if Mrs. Hadley had toe over personally to address this trivial matter, she wouldn¡¯t have sent me to notify you in advance,¡± he exined politely. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in three days. I hope you¡¯ll make all necessary preparations and not make things difficult for us.¡± With that, he picked up his briefcase and left. Azure immediately threw a huge fit, and the once¨Csilent living room was soon filled with wails of anguish. Meanwhile, Christina returned to the ward on time. While the woman slowly enjoyed her dinner in the evening, Lyle suddenly opened the door and entered. ¡°Is something the matter, Lyle?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ve received news from the police, Mrs. Hadley. They got into a serious ident while escorting Anya back to the station. The police car fell into the sea while trying to evade arge truck that had lost control on a bridge. All the officers have been rescued, but Anya is nowhere to be found.¡± D Christina stopped moving for a split second before putting down her fork, appearing uninterested. ¡°Are there any suspects behind the ident?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious given the coincidence. ¡°Nothing¡¯s confirmed at the moment. The police found out that the truck wasn¡¯t fit to be on the road. It was old, but the faulty brake system didn¡¯t seem to have been intentionally caused by someone.¡± Still, that didn¡¯t mean someone hadn¡¯t tampered with the truck. ¡°Do whatever it takes to find Anya, dead or alive. Deploy more people if needed.¡± Christina frowned as her -expression turned grave. If she tries to get away, I¡¯ll never let her off. ¡°Understood,¡± Lyle responded before turning to leave. Having lost her appetite, Christina had the caretaker clear her food. When night fell, Nathaniel showed up at the ward with a chilly aura. ¡°I heard from the caretaker that you didn¡¯t have much for dinner. There was a lot of food left,¡± he commented with cier¨Clike eyes. ¡°I wasn¡¯t really hungry, so I didn¡¯t cat much.¡± The woman clutched her belly and walked back to her bed. from the window. ¡°Honestly, you don¡¯t have to keep dropping by to keep mepany. I know you¡¯re busy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feelfortable leaving you alone at the hospital,¡± Nathaniel replied frankly. ¡°I¡¯ll get Sebastian to bring you some supper. You have to take good care of your body and the baby.¡± Knowing that the man might get angry with her if she rejected him further, Christina burrowed herself in his arms. ¡°I want a burrito,¡± she murmured coyly. ¡°Okay.¡± While holding onto her with one arm, Nathaniel whipped out his phone and dialed Sebastian¡¯s number, asking thetter to buy a burrito. Then, he carried Christina back onto the bed and tucked her in. ¡°Yerek may have been involved with Anya¡¯s car ident,¡± he remarked, suddenly changing the subject. ¡°Nigel didn¡¯t rat him out, and Anya has a lot of dirt on him. If she gets caught, Yerek will have to be investigated too.¡± ¡°So, Yerek arranged the murder because he wanted to leave no loose ends,¡± Christinamented after a pause. ¡°There could be more than one reason behind that,¡± Nathaniel mused. ¡°Anya is a granddaughter of the Specker family, so there¡¯s no way dimir would just sit back and do nothing for her. As long as Anya¡¯s alive, Yerek will have a way to get more funds through dimir.¡± Christina was dumbstruck. So, he¡¯s going to such lengths to protect her just so he can use her as a cash machine? Chapter 692 A Joke Chapter 692AJoke If Christina¡¯s guess was true, it meant that Anya was in a perilous situation. Christina knew that although she had pressured Anya into revealing part of the truth, it was crucial to conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the validity of Anya¡¯s words. Before the entire truth was unveiled, Christina would never stop in her mission of taking revenge on Nigel¡¯s family. Anya¡¯s involvement in Christina¡¯s revenge n was just a piece of the puzzle. Christina intended to utilize Anya as a means to send a clear warning to all those who were involved. ¡°Nathaniel, I want to recuperate at home. I feel too lonely at the hospital,¡± Christina whined as she snuggled into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace. Afraid he would say no, she quickly gave another suggestion. ¡°Or I can transfer to my father¡¯s hospital to spend more time with him.¡± ¡°Your father is receiving excellent care from the medical team and caregiver. Don¡¯t worry about him,¡± Nathaniel assured her. ¡°Stay for another night. Tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll get the doctor to give you a thorough checkup tomorrow. If all goes well, you can return home to recover.¡± They remained in the dark as to whether Anya was still alive, or if her ident was rted to Yerek. Despite Nathaniel assigning a dedicated bodyguard to ensure Christina¡¯s safety, he knew there was always a possibility ofpses. The hospital¡¯s security system wasn¡¯t as tight as Scenic Garden Manor¡¯s security system. Therefore, when Christina expressed her desire to recover at home, Nathaniel eagerly seized the opportunity. That was exactly what he wanted as well. ¡°Okay. That sounds great,¡± Christina agreed readily. Half an hourter, Sebastian showed up at the ward with takeaway food. Christina didn¡¯t have an appetite today and only finished half of her burrito. Nathaniel snapped up the rest. He grew increasingly worried, but he hid his concern to avoid adding to Christina¡¯s stress. After making sure she was asleep, he walked out of her ward, where Sebastian had been waiting outside for some time. ¡°Let¡¯s talk elsewhere.¡± Nathaniel led Sebastian to the rooftop. After he lit up a cigarette, something urred to him, and he removed the cigarette from his lips in frustration, holding it between his fingers. ¡°How is the investigation going?¡± Nathaniel asked. ¡°Our operative who was tailing Yerek shared the information that he was out of town on a business trip before and after the incident. Hisst visit to Jadeborough was on the day of the international conference,¡± Sebastian informed. ¡°Following the conference, he flew to another state to meet with clients, and he has yet to return to Hallsbay or make any subsequent visits to Jadeborough. It has been seven days since Yerekst contacted Anya. There are rumors circting that they are currently in a dispute over the distribution of assets.¡± Yerek and Anya were bound to be engaged in a conflict. After all, Nigel had secretly transferred his assets to Yerek without the knowledge of his wife and daughter, leaving Anya and Macy with nothing but umting debts. ¡°Spread the news I told you to gather earlier. Make sure that Anya and Yerck are not given an opportunity to make another move,¡± Nathanielmanded coldly Yerck¡¯s aspirations of rebuilding thepany that Nigel had painstakingly established were nothing but a mere fantasy at present. Once Anya discovered the backup n that Nigel had devised for Yerek, she would undoubtedly make a scene, consequently weakening Yerek¡¯s financial capabilities. That way, it would be easier for Christina to deal with Yerek. The most effective strategy to bring down one¡¯s enemy was to instigate discord among them, causing them to turn against each other. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll get that done right away,¡± Sebastian replied. Nathaniel then listened to Sebastian¡¯s work reports before making his way back to the ward. He shrugged out of his suit jacket andy down behind Christina. Christina caught a whiff of his scent and moved closer, her voice groggy. ¡°Where have you been? You¡¯re freezing.¡± Nathaniel reached for the nket and wrapped it tightly around Christina. He spoke softly. ¡°I stepped out to take a phone call. Go back to sleep. I¡¯ll adjust the heater to make it warmer.¡± Christina let out a soft moan and nuzzled against Nathaniel¡¯s neck. Finding afortable position, she quickly drifted off to sleep. Nathaniel retrieved the remote control to increase the temperature of the heater before nting a kiss on the top of her head. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll make sure all your wishese true.¡± That very night, a sleek ck car came to a halt in front of an upscale condominium. The rear door swung open, and Emilia emerged with the assistance of her assistant. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go home. I want to keep drinking,¡± mumbled Emilia as she leaned on her assistant for support. They stumbled into the condominium, with Emilia¡¯s words slurring slightly. ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll make a comeback soon. No one can stop me from turning the tables.¡± ¡°Emilia, you¡¯re drunk,¡± her assistant reminded her softly. ¡°Melissa asked me to take you home. Which floor is your house on?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Emilia shot a sideways nce at her assistant before abruptly shoving her away. Pointing an usatory finger, she chided, ¡°You¡¯re here to gloat at my misfortune, too, don¡¯t you? Well, it¡¯s not going to happen!¡± Her loud voice echoed through the quiet surroundings. ¡°Christina can¡¯t ruin my reputation!¡± She patted her chest confidently and continued with a smug tone, ¡°Christina and I have been rivals for years, and she used to be no match for me. If it weren¡¯t for her luck in marrying a wealthy and influential man, she wouldn¡¯t have gained control over both the Steele and Gibson families!¡± One of the tenants shouted furiously at them from above, clearly annoyed by themotion. Worried that Emilia¡¯s behavior would make headlines the next day, the assistant reluctantly attempted to appease her. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right,¡± she hurriedly agreed, supporting Emilia. ¡°Melissa assured me that once the rumors have subsided, she will speak to thepany on your behalf to facilitate youreback.¡± Pleased, Emilia patted the assistant¡¯s face forcefully. ¡°Ha! When I make aeback, I won¡¯t forget to reward you. When my contract with Melissa¨Cends, I¡¯ll promote you to be my manager.¡± The assistant couldn¡¯t help but scoff inwardly. It wasmon knowledge in the entertainment industry that Emilia¡¯s chances of making aeback were slim to none after offending such a powerful individual. Despite Emilia¡¯s attempts to cozy up to influential figures at numerous social gatherings, she couldn¡¯t even secure any minor roles in web dramas. No one was willing to risk their own reputation or safety to assist Emilia. However, the assistant chose to remain in her position because Melissa had promised a substantial reward for monitoring Emilia¡¯s every move. After finding the ess card in Emilia¡¯s bag, the assistant unlocked the ss door and helped Emilia into the lobby. Emilia was quiet as they waited for the elevator to arrive. A sudden chill ran down Emilia¡¯s spine, momentarily sobering her up. Fear coursed through her veins, overpowering her heart. She whirled around to look beyond the lobby. Right then, her assistant told her to enter the elevator. As though she had seen something strange, Emilia dashed into the elevator, her movements reminiscent of a startled cat. Her assistant gave her a surprised look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Emilia?¡± Chapter 693 Counterattack Chapter 693 Counterattack Emilia cowered in a corner and urged, ¡°What are you doing? Come on in!¡± Startled by Emilia¡¯s erratic behavior, the assistant hastily followed suit and entered the elevator. Emilia, now visibly moreposed and sober, swiftly pressed the button for their intended floor. Plucking up her courage, the assistant asked, ¡°Emilia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Considering Emilia¡¯s rtively short tenure in the entertainment industry, she shouldn¡¯t have made too many enemies just yet. Emilia red at her. ¡°What¡¯s with the questions? That¡¯s none of your business!¡± With haste, Emilia hurried out of the elevator, closely followed by her piteous assistant who was scolded for nothing. As Emilia used her fingerprint to unlock the door to her condominium, she caught a glimpse of her assistant, who was still following her persistently, which ignited a surge of anger within her. ¡°Did Melissa ask you to keep an eye on me? I may be drunk, but I¡¯m not disabled! It¡¯s not like I¡¯d cause her trouble. If there¡¯s nothing else, you can leave now. Stop appearing in front of me all the time. You¡¯re bing a nuisance,¡± Emilia snapped. Emilia yanked the door open and stalked in, mming the door shut after her. The assistant rolled her eyes and left. The house was enveloped in darkness, and Emilia¡¯s head throbbed with pain. Leaning against the cab, she fumbled for the light switch. Her hand came into contact with something warm on the wall. This is strange. Since when did I install a heater behind the door? Perplexed, Emilia tightly gripped the warm object, giving it a few firm squeezes. Unexpectedly, the thing grasped her wrist in response. In an instant, a dark figure materialized and forcefully pushed Emilia against the door. Following a loud thud, Emilia¡¯s breath hitched when a force grasped her throat, constricting her airflow. At once, she sobered up as fear shed across her eyes. In a trembling voice, she asked, ¡°W-Who are you? How did you get in? W-What do you want for me?¡± ¡°Emilia, you seem to be thrivingtely, huh? I can barely recognize you,¡± Anya said in a hoarse voice. Sensing Emilia¡¯s fear, she pressed on tauntingly, ¡°Oh, the countless misdeeds you¡¯vemitted. Just look at how terrified you are. You¡¯re a far cry from the Emilia I once knew.¡± After confirming that the unwanted visitor was Anya, Emilia rxed but swiftly put on her guard again. ¡°How did you get in? Weren¡¯t you arrested by the police?¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The video depicting Anya getting arrested by the police at the bank had been spread all over the Inte. Emilia was initially pleased to learn that the police car escorting Anya had plunged into the ocean. To Emilia, Anya¡¯s supposed death was a stroke of luck. With Anya out of the picture, there would be no one to expose their past coboration in scheming against Christina. Emilia felt relieved knowing that Christina had no concrete evidence linking her to the matter. Once she overcame this current obstacle, she was determined to seize an opportunity to clear her tarnished reputation and make aeback in the entertainment industry. Anya proceeded to switch on all the lights, allowing Emilia to finally get a good look at her. Anya¡¯s clothes were filthy and disheveled. The filth dripping off her clothes stained Emilia¡¯s pristine carpet. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and her wrinkled skin was covered in wounds, some of them still bleeding. The sight sent shivers down Emilia¡¯s spine, causing her skin to crawl with unease. Did Anya create an ident to escape from the police? Emilia decided that this wasn¡¯t the time to ask how Anya barged into her house. Carefully, she asked, ¡°Anya, what brings you here? I¡¯m going through a rough patch myself, so I¡¯m not sure how much assistance I can offer you.¡± ¡°Emilia, as you suspected, I was apprehended by the police, but I managed to escape,¡± Anya stated nonchntly, copsing onto the couch. She grabbed an apple from the coffee table and began devouring it. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten in hours. Cook something for me!¡± She began to order Emilia around matter-of-factly. Deep down, Emilia was seething in fury. Did Anya seriously barge into my house just to order me around? It was a serious offense to hide a criminal, so Emilia wanted nothing more than to kick Anya out. s, she wasn¡¯t bold enough to do so. ¡°I don¡¯t cook at home. Why don¡¯t I order some food for you?¡± ¡°No. I want you to cook for me,¡± Anya demanded angrily, afraid that someone else might discover her whereabouts. Anya was an ouw, so Emilia dared not offend her. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll whip up some pasta for you. Why don¡¯t you take a shower and change into clean clothes?¡± Rising to her feet, Anya padded to the bathroom. She suddenly turned over her shoulder and warned Emilia with a sneer, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about ying any tricks. I¡¯m at my wits end, so if you force me any further, I¡¯ll make sure you end up in jail with me.¡± Emilia¡¯s face turned ashen as she forced out a smile. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, so I won¡¯t be foolish enough to betray you. Hurry, go take a shower. I¡¯ll bring you some clean clothes.¡± She hurried into her bedroom. After making sure Anya was in the bathroom, she sneaked out of the condominium and locked the door from outside. Pulling her phone out, she called the police. ¡°Hello, there¡¯s a thief in my house. My address is¡­¡± Emilia told the police her address clearly. She stared at the locked door, desperately hoping for their swift arrival. After ten agonizing minutes, several police officers finally appeared outside Emilia¡¯s house. ¡°I was afraid the thief would escape, so I locked the door from outside when I came out earlier. I¡¯m sure the thief is still inside,¡± Emilia exined, pretending to be terrified. Her hands trembled as she handed the key to the police. ¡°This is the key to my condominium ¡°Please stay away from the door,¡± the police reminded Emilia after taking the key from her. They then unlocked the door slowly. The condominiumcked proper soundproofing, and the running water from the bathroom masked the sound of the police officers entering. After a few minutes, the bathroom door swung open, and Anya emerged, dressed in a bathrobe. The police officers who were hiding behind the door swiftly sprang into action to pin Anya down. ¡°Stay still!¡± one of the officersmanded, recognizing her as a wanted criminal the moment heid eyes on her. Upon seeing the officers, Anya struggled with all her might to free herself, but she was no match for the officers¡¯ strength. When she was brought out of the condominium, Emilia was waiting at the door anxiously. ¡°Emilia, you b*tch! How dare you call the police?¡± Anya screamed. ¡°Just you wait. I will make sure you pay for this. I will expose everything you did to the public. Ha! I want you to suffer along with me!¡± Her howls echoed through the once-quiet corridor. Emilia remained unfazed by the threats, but she knew she had to maintain her innocent facade. Emilia quickly imed, ¡°I don¡¯t know her, so don¡¯t listen to her absurd ims. I will hire awyer and file a defamationwsuit against her. I won¡¯t let her escape the consequences of her actions so easily!¡± Chapter 694 Plot Twist Chapter 694 Plot Twist The leading police officer remained silent and simply advised Emilia to stay cautious before they departed. Emilia gave them a warm send-off before returning to her condominium. Her eyes scanned the disarrayed mess with a mix of disgust and contempt. Tomorrow morning, I shall throw everything in this house that has been touched by Anya. I don¡¯t want her bad luck to affect me. She has no right to use me of being heartless. She was foolish to stir up trouble and not know how to eliminate the threats lurking around her. Right then, Emilia¡¯s phone rang. It was an unknown number, so she hesitated for a few seconds before answering it. ¡°Who is this?¡± she asked sweetly. She had been longing for sponsors to reach out to her and was determined to make a memorable first impression on them. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°This is Yerek Gibson,¡± the voice on the other end revealed in a dark tone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you inform me about Anya¡¯s visit to your house and instead chose to get the police involved?¡± Emilia dared not offend him and immediately put up an act. ¡°Anya is crazy. I don¡¯t know who told us that we are coborating, so she showed up here, threatening to kill me. I couldn¡¯t find a chance to inform you that she was here. If someone else were to discover her at my house, I wouldn¡¯t be able to defend myself, Harboring a criminal is a serious offense, and I didn¡¯t want her to implicate me in her actions.¡± Taking a deep breath, she continued, ¡°The best course of action is to involve the police. Anyacks sufficient evidence to prove our involvement in her criminal activities. If she is sentenced to jail, there will be no one to challenge you for the inheritance. Anya¡¯s mother is too naive to pose a threat in that regard.¡± Yerek still thought that Emilia had acted recklessly. ¡°The police are not easily fooled. Anya has Emilia¡¯s heart sank as she jolted up abruptly, identally knocking over a nearby vase. ¡°Mr. Gibson, if Christina confronts me, you muste to my aid. My n has started to yield results, and I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want Christina to continue her streak of sess, do you?¡± Yerek hated it when people threatened him. In a furious tone, he snarled, ¡°Emilia, perhaps you should be more concerned about what Anya might reveal to the police. By the time Christina reaches you, you could already be sitting behind bars.¡± With that, he abruptly ended the call, leaving Emilia in a state of panic. The next morning, Nathaniel apanied Christina to her checkup appointment. Once the doctor confirmed that she could be discharged from the hospital and continue her recuperation at home. Nathaniel felt a sense of relief. He then drove her back to Scenic Garden Manor. Nathaniel¡¯s schedule for the day was packed, so he didn¡¯t stay at home for long. Soon, he and Sebastian left for work. Christina settledfortably on the couch, engrossed in reviewing the design n that udia had sent her on her tablet Lost in her thoughts, she was unaware that Lyle had appeared silently behind her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I have some news about Anya. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not good news,¡± he told her in a low voice. He was preparing her for the news that he would be delivering. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Christina said, her gaze fixed on the designs on her tablet. ¡°Anya was apprehendedst night at Emilia¡¯s condominium. Surprisingly, it was Emilia herself who contacted the authorities,¡± he revealed. ¡°However, things have taken a turn. A substantial sum of money has been paid to secure a prominentwyer for Anya. The evidence we gathered against her seems to have been discredited. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is highly likely that Anya will be granted bail within the next forty-eight hours.¡± Christina raised her head, her brows furrowed. ¡°Who hired thewyer for Anya?¡± Lyle¡¯s expression turned apologetic as he admitted hisck of knowledge. ¡°Unfortunately, the individual responsible for this seems to be operating discreetly, entrusting a trusted associate to handle the affairs. I regret to inform you that I have been unable to figure out the person¡¯s identity.¡± Anya¡¯s involvement in the crimes was set in stone, so the person must be extremely capable to be able to ensure her acquittal and subsequent release from jail. Yerck was busy finding investors for hispany and wasn¡¯t capable of bailing Anya out. ¡°Investigate this. No matter what, you must find out who is behind this,¡± Christina ordered. This was the first time a sense of panic crept into her heart since she began her actions against Anya. It seemed as though the situation was slipping out of her grasp. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll make sure our men continue their investigation,¡± Lyle responded solemnly. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, should inform Mr. Hadley about this matter?¡± ¡°He should have already been informed about the update by now,¡± Christina said, her irritation evident in her voice. ¡°You may leave now. I need some time alone to gather my thoughts.¡± Lyle spun on his heels to leave. udia was urging Christina to identify any issues with the renovation so that she could promptly arrange for repairs and ensure a swift return to business operations. Christina replied: I need some time to go through the details. I¡¯ll contact youter. Following that, she set her tablet aside and reached for her phone, dialing Victoria¡¯s number to invite her over for a discussion. Victoria wasted no time and promptly made her way to Christina¡¯s home. She ran into the living room and eximed eagerly, ¡°Christina, what do you want to discuss?¡± ¡°Calm down. Have some tea, and I¡¯ll exin everything to you gradually, Christina said as she handed Victoria the cup of tea she had prepared. After taking the cup of tea from her, Victoria set it aside. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty. Tell me what¡¯s happening now. I can¡¯t wait any longer,¡± she urged Christina. Christina proceeded to disclose the full story to Victoria, detailing Anya¡¯s escape, subsequent arrest, and the impending bail that would secure her release from jail. Victoria immediately exploded in anger. ¡°Who is the despicable individual that intervened to save Anya, a conniving woman? I will not rest until I uncover their identity. I¡¯ll initiate an investigation immediately!¡± Christina swiftly intervened, preventing Victoria from making the call. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your family¡¯s renowned detective agency abroad. Considering the circumstances, Nathaniel and I are likely being targeted, and we can¡¯t handle this alone. I¡¯ll need your help in uncovering the identity of this person.¡± No matter how careful the person was in concealing their identity, they could never remove traces of their existence. Victoria assured her confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Leave this to me. I promise I¡¯ll get the job done.¡± Christina reminded her carefully, ¡°Don¡¯t let Nathaniel find out I asked for your help. He doesn¡¯t want me to get involved in too many matters.¡± Victoria nodded. ¡°Got it. Mr. Hadley is smart, though. I can¡¯t guarantee that he¡¯ll never find out.¡± ¡°Just keep it from him as long as you can,¡± Christina replied. ¡°Another thing. I want to see Winston. He has something I need, but I can¡¯t contact him just like that. My identity is too sensitive. Can you think of any ways we can arrange a meeting with him?¡± If Christina couldn¡¯t meet up with Winston, she would never be able to confirm the validity of Anya¡¯s words. After a brief consideration, Victoria replied, ¡°David¡¯s mother is celebrating her sixtieth birthday the day after tomorrow. Winston and David are at odds, so he might not attend the banquet at night. You can attend it with Mr. Hadley, and I¡¯ll create an opportunity for you to meet up with Winston in private.¡± Chapter 695 Add Fuel To Fire Chapter 695 Add Fuel To Fire Once Christina and Victoria settled on their initial n, Victoria did not linger at Scenic Garden Manor for too long before leaving. After a brief afternoon nap, Christina headed to the hospital to pay a visit to Timothy as usual. Timothy¡¯s health showed slight signs of improvement. Although progress was slow, Christina still considered it good news. Just as Lyle had predicted, Anya was indeed granted bail in the afternoon by a mysterious individual. At the same time, the person Christina had sent to keep a close eye on Anya fell victim to her cunning tricks, ultimately losing track of her. Anya¡¯s escape would not have gone as smoothly if she had not received assistance from someone behind the scenes. In the meantime, Christina beefed up the protection around Timothy, doubling the security personnel stationed in the shadows in the hospital. To be on the safer side, Christina did not stay too long in the hospital, and when she left, she went straight back to Scenic Garden Manor. Christina immersed herselfpletely in the ongoing renovation process of the studio. She spent the entire afternoon engaged in online discussions with Rayne, and she felt fulfilled. On the other hand, the circumstances grew increasingly challenging for Emilia. Anya¡¯s arrest did nothing to alter her own future prospects. Upon receiving insider information that Emilia had been abandoned by thepany, her manager shamelessly arranged various ¡°reception¡± gigs for her. Every day, Emilia found herself either apanying CEOS for social drinking or acting as their femalepanion during recreational outings. However, Emilia refused to surrender easily. She convinced a big shot to let her participate in a live stage event for a small makeup brand. Keeping it a secret from her manager, she attended the event. Melissa only found out about it when the event came to an end. By the time the manager reached the event venue, Emilia had already wrapped up the event and was seated in the dressing room, removing her makeup and changing her attire. ¡°Who allowed you to take on the gig without permission from thepany?¡± The second Melissa barged into the dressing room, she began shouting at Emilia, heedless of the fact that the staff of the event was still around. ¡°Do you have any idea how thepany operates? Have youpletely disregarded our protocols? Thepensation you received from the brand for your endorsement is nowhere near enough to cover the hefty breach of contract penalties. I¡¯ve repeatedly cautioned you against rushing into aeback. emphasizing the need for patience. Yet here you are, creating such a colossal blunder. How can I possibly maintain my credibility and advocate for your opportunity to make aeback?¡± Emilia stood before the mirror, delicately removing theyers of vibrant makeup from her face. Unfazed by the presence of the woman behind her, she cast a cool smile and retorted, ¡°Melissa, I understand how unied you are with your myriad responsibilities. I wouldn¡¯t dare burden you with such trivial matters. Moreover, I willingly took on this endeavor without receiving anypensation. It could be viewed as a voluntary act rather than a vition of our contractual terms, wouldn¡¯t you agree? Since the day I ceased all my previous engagements, your attentiveness to my affairs has been rather scarce. Your exaggerated reaction today merely stems from your apprehension that my actions might tarnish your reputation and impede the prospects of the emerging talents under your wing.¡± Despite the fact that Emilia had exposed what was on her mind, Melissa was unashamed. She still felt that it was Christina who was in the wrong. ¡°My contract with thepany only expires in two years¡¯ time. You can¡¯t work, but that doesn¡¯t mean I have to suffer alongside you. There are few managers who only handle one artiste. Unlike you, I don¡¯t have the luxury of not having to worry about money,¡± Melissa hissed, her wordsced with sarcasm. Instantly, Emilia threw the powderpact onto Melissa¡¯s face before leaping up to her feet. At that, the staff hastily fled the scene, wanting no part in the unfolding drama. Melissa covered the corner of her eye, which had been struck by the powderpact, and inhaled sharply. ¡°Emilia, I¡¯ve treated you fairly ever since you were assigned to me. Despite thepany putting you on the back burner, I have made efforts to help you build connections. And now, this is how you repay me?¡± Her words, however, only served to add fuel to the fire that was Emilia¡¯s hatred. ¡°Your connection-building¡¯ was nothing more than a cover for your attempts to make me the instrument to get more resources,¡± Emilia retaliated. Almost all the insults and hardships she had endured had been because of Melissa. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll continue ttering you and pleasing you like before? That I¡¯ll plead for you to be my manager?¡± A mockingugh escaped Emilia. ¡°If you think that I¡¯m ruining your reputation, feel free to terminate the contract with me. Even without you, a pimp manager, I can still thrive in the entertainment industry. 1. Emilia Steele, have other ways of getting support!¡± Melissa locked her gaze onto the woman standing before her, her face betraying her shock. She had been convinced of her absolute control over Emilia, only to realize that she had unwittingly be a subject of mockery in Emilia¡¯s eyes. Melissa had recently been preupied with guiding the new artists, and that left little room for her to keep track of Emilia¡¯s activities. Thus, she could not be certain whether or not Emilia had managed to find a new support system without her knowledge. When Melissa saw how bold Emilia seemed, she could not help but feel a twinge of anxiety. ¡°What foolish dreams are you entertaining, Emilia? The one you¡¯ve crossed is Mr. Hadley. Who would dare to be your patron? Do you really believe you can break free of thepany¡¯s restraint without paying the penalty? Let me make it clear to you that this is out of the question. As long as I¡¯m your manager, you¡¯ll have to heed my instructions. Unless you miraculously be an A-list artiste overnight, you¡¯ll remain subject to my authority.¡± Melissa had no qualms about being harsh with her words. ¡°Well, too bad now, because you just ran out of chances. I¡¯m not going to give you an opportunity to appear in public anymore. As a top-tier manager in the entertainment industry, this is something within the range of my capabilities!¡± With that said, she stormed out of the room. After that, Emilia went on a rampage in the room, throwing things around to vent her emotions. Right then, someone entered the dressing room again. With bloodshot eyes, Emilia caught a glimpse of the person¡¯s appearance through the mirror. As if she had seen a ghost, she spun around and gripped the edge of the table tightly, eyes wide and filled with horror. ¡°W-Why are you here?¡± Wearing a creepy grin, Anya closed the door behind her and inched toward Emilia. ¡°Hey, Emilia, I¡¯m here to make good on my promise. Remember what I told you back when I got caught?¡± ¡°Listen, there are people out there. One shout from me and they¡¯lle storming in. You won¡¯t be able to escape. ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re still in the dark, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve been acquitted. Go ahead and call the cops. I¡¯ll make sure to spill all the ugly secrets about you.¡± Emilia¡¯s face went white with fear as she made a desperate attempt to flee, only to be hindered by the clothes rack Anya had toppled. She stumbled and crashed onto the floor with a loud thud. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The second Emilia¡¯s forehead collided with the hard floor, a rush of dizziness engulfed her senses. Driven by a fierce survival instinct, she wriggled along the ground toward the doorway, much like a desperate worm fleeing from the bird. Anya gazed down at her with a disdainful expression, looking at Emilia as if she were nothing more than a helpless, drowning dog. Anya was determined to make Emilia pay back every hardship she had ever endured at her hands. ¡°Help! Someone, save me! Help! Anyone!¡± In the next second, Anya raised her foot and mercilessly crushed Emilia¡¯s hand, taunting, ¡°Did you ever consider that this day woulde when you betrayed me?¡± Emilia cried out in pain, desperately wing at Anya¡¯s foot in an attempt to free her own hand. Yet, the more she tried to fight back, the more cruel Anya became. ¡°You¡¯re as despicable and shameless as Christina! You sisters should go to hell together!¡± Chapter 696 Malice Chapter 696 Malice At this moment, Emilia¡¯s arrogant attitude that was directed at Melissa hadpletely dissipated. Her desperate desire to survive consumed her. She had to stay alive, and she was willing to pay any price necessary to do so. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Anya, I didn¡¯t mean to betray you,¡± Emilia pleaded, putting on a pitiful act. ¡°It was Yerek who told me to do this!¡± Emilia was well aware that Anya had not approached her first just to teach her a lesson. It was clear that there was a power imbnce in Emilia and Yerek¡¯s partnership, for Yerek never showed any respect for Emilia. Emilia was an impatient person. Her choice to rely on Yerek when Anya was losing was driven by desperation. Surprisingly, their objectives aligned perfectly, as both harbored a deep hatred toward Christina. It was that very animosity that forced two people who could not stand each other to form a partnership for the sake of achieving their objectives. ¡°Tell me, why did Yerek ask you to betray me?¡± Anya grabbed Emilia¡¯s chin, forcing her to lift her head. ¡°I won¡¯t show you any mercy if you lie to me!¡± Anya now resembled a demon from the depths of hell. She was no longer the short-sighted and power- hungry heiress of the Gibson family she once was. The brutal society and the harsh reality forcefully changed Anya into apletely different person. Now, her methods were far more ruthless and extreme than Timothy¡¯s. ¡°Yerek feared that you willpete with him for the inheritance, so he set you up.¡± Emilia blurted out. fabricating a lie to save her own hide. ¡°What inheritance? Be specific!¡± From what Anya knew, Nigel¡¯spany was burdened with debt, and a significant portion of the remaining assets had been taken by Christina under various pretexts. Moreover, Barnaby did not even care about Yerek and Nigel, so there were no assets for Emilia and Yerek to contend for. ¡°Nigel registered severalpanies overseas under the names of others, and thosepanies continued thriving, having not been affected by the series of events,¡± Emilia admitted. ¡°Most of the funds used to establish thosepanies were transferred from marital assets. Now, all of those companies have been transferred to Yerek¡¯s name. From what I know, their market value is around fifty billion.¡± Anya was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief as she eximed, ¡°How could that be?¡± If Nigel had transferred such arge amount of money, why was Macypletely unaware of it? Nevertheless, Anya soon figured out the answer Nigel never allowed Macy to get involved in thepany¡¯s matters. Her only focus was on spending money, and Nigel provided her with a ck card that could fulfill those desires of hers. ¡°After the division of the Gibson family, Yerek did live a humble life for a while. That was because he hadn¡¯t yet fully acquired Nigel¡¯s assets. The sight of Anya¡¯s agony brought Emilia joy. As if she was addicted to that sensation, she revealed every single one of Yerek¡¯s secret trump cards. ¡°This image of Yerek that outsiders currently perceive is entirely a facade. The more miserable his life seems, the easier it bes for those who seek to harm him to let their guard down. That makes his ns more likely to seed.¡± Anya was skeptical regarding Emilia¡¯s revtions. Sensing her hesitation, Emilia added, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can investigate Yerek¡¯s ounts. Every fifteenth of the month, a substantial amount of money will be transferred into his ount. That money isn¡¯t investment capital; it¡¯s dividends from shares transferred to him by overseaspanies.¡± Yerek¡¯s craftiness sent shivers down Anya¡¯s spine, and Nigel¡¯s preferential treatment broke Anya¡¯s heart. She, too, was Nigel¡¯s child. Why can¡¯t I have what Yerek has? Pain exploded in Anya¡¯s heart, and she stumbled back before copsing on the chair behind her, her pale lips quivering. Seizing the opportunity, Emilia managed to crawl up from the ground and looked at her bruised and battered hand. A glimmer of resentment shed in her eyes. ¡°Yerek has leverage over me, leaving me with no other option but to be coerced by him. Honestly, I would rather work together with you.¡± Emilia was slowly chipping off Anya¡¯s defenses, making thetter¡¯s stance sway. ¡°I¡¯m seeking a bright future, and you¡¯re after power. Why don¡¯t we continue our partnership? We can work together to get rid of Yerek and help you regain what¡¯s rightfully yours.¡± At that, Anya¡¯s gaze toward Emilia turned cold, and a mocking smile yed at the corner of her lips. ¡°Continue our partnership so you can have another opportunity to stab me in my back? I don¡¯t think so.¡± Emilia maintained herposure and said, ¡°It¡¯s still better than both of us ending up in the hands of Yerek and Christina. Take a moment to think about it. Once Yerek learns that you¡¯ve been acquitted, how do you think he wille after you? Have you given it serious thought?¡± Sure enough, Yerek was the heir groomed by Nigel. He had learned everything from Nigel, including Nigel¡¯s despicable nature. Fifteen years ago, Nigel had dared to set up his own brother and sister-inw and kill them. It would not come as a surprise for Yerek to not spare her, his half-sister. To those two, blood ties mattered not when personal profits were at stake. ¡°Emilia, there¡¯s no trust left between us. If you want us to keep working together, you need to prove your sincerity to me.¡± She finally took the bait! ¡°You were only arrested because you fell for Christina¡¯s trap. I¡¯ve gathered information these past couple of days. Tomorrow, Christina is scheduled to visit her studio for an inspection. This will be an excellent opportunity. Tell me how you want me to handle it, and I¡¯ll follow your instructions without questions.¡± Anya¡¯s eyes narrowed with fierce determination. ¡°I want that demn Christina here, all died up and ready ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Emilia replied, a cunning n formting in her mind. ¡°But let¡¯s keep this quiet. We don¡¯t want to alert anyone. I¡¯ll need your assistance since having more people involved won¡¯t do us any favors.¡± Anya narrowed her eyes dangerously. ¡°I¡¯ll back you up.¡± Emilia curled her lips. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange the transportation.¡± Just before Nathaniel¡¯s return, Christina and Rayne made the final adjustments to the studio renovation n. ¡°This particr task is a bit intricate, and there¡¯s a risk of misinterpretation by the workers. I¡¯ll visit the construction site tomorrow in person to oversee the process and ensure its uracy. Let¡¯s arrange a meeting on-site to discuss the specifics.¡± When Christina heard a noiseing from the foyer, she guessed Nathaniel must¡¯vee back. ¡°I have something to attend to, so let¡¯s discuss the details when we meet tomorrow.¡± At that, Rayne waved goodbye to Christina and ended the video call. Right then, Nathaniel appeared in the living room. Christina discreetly switched the work page on her tablet to the gossip and entertainment channel. Coincidentally, the entertainment section covered a full page of news about theical incidents surrounding Anya¡¯s arrest and subsequent release within forty-eight hours. Nathaniel nced at the content on the tablet and reassured, ¡°Thewyer who managed to secure Anya¡¯s release is highly reputable and skilled in the field, and the big shot backing thewyer isn¡¯t one to be underestimated. There¡¯s no need to be overly concerned about this. With me around, those who are trying to bully you won¡¯t end well.¡± Chapter 697 Dreaming Of Changing Dads Chapter697DreamingOfChangingDads The fact that Nathaniel had been called the Grim Reaper wasn¡¯t without any basis. Anyone he targeted would never be able to escape his grasp. ¡°I¡¯m not sad, Nathaniel. I just feel that it¡¯s a shame.¡± Christina stared at him. ¡°I had assumed that my n was perfect. Given how evil Anya is, I can¡¯t believe that there¡¯s someone out there willing to protect her still.¡± Anya was no longer the morous daughter of the Gibson family. In fact, she had nothing left and was reduced to living in poverty and disgrace. Consequently, Christina couldn¡¯t, for the life of her, figure out what the mysterious person saw in Anya. ¡°The truth will definitely be revealed one day. Everything will make sense once we find out who her mysterious benefactor is.¡± Nathaniel tried toe up with a solution for the dilemma she was in, ¡°You can monitor those who interacted with Anya before. There¡¯s a good chance that one of them is her protector.¡± A person popped into Christina¡¯s mind immediately. ¡°Could dimir have interfered behind the scenes?¡± Nathaniel rejected the idea, ¡°It can¡¯t be him, as my men are monitoring the Specker family. dimir knows very well what¡¯s at stake and values the reputation of the Specker family more than his own life. On top of that, he¡¯s a man of virtue. Since he dered that he would stay out of the Gibson family¡¯s conflicts, he would definitely not cross the line.¡± The only other suspect Christina could think of was Yerek. Hence, she asked hesitantly, ¡°Can it be Yerek?¡± After giving the matter some thought, Nathaniel gave an ambiguous reply. ¡°Anything can be possible.¡± Before Christina had the chance to question further, Nathaniel borated, ¡°Yerek has been desperately looking for investors recently, but the results were dismal. He ns to sell thepany Nigel left him to raise cash. Therefore, he has met with some foreign investors at an overseas conference and is seemingly close to them. Perhaps he is preparing to start apany with them overseas.¡± Expanding his business overseas was undoubtedly the best path for Yerek to take. After all, it was close to impossible for him to clean up the mess Nigel had left him. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about such topics anymore.¡± Christina changed the subject. ¡°The studio¡¯s renovations have almost beenpleted. I feel like going to check out the ce tomorrow.¡± ¡°Remember to take Lyle with you.¡± Nathaniel knew what she was up to, yet he wasn¡¯t going to stop her as long as she didn¡¯t cross his threshold. ¡°Got it,¡± Christina replied in delight. In the evening, Christina and Nathaniel had dinner at the Hadley residence. Lucas and Cam clung to Christina and refused to leave her despite it being their bedtime. After ending his chat with Charlie, Nathaniel returned to his bedroom from the study. The sight of Lucas and Cam hugging their respective pillow and doll on his side of the bed caused his face to darken. ¡°Go sleep in your own room.¡± Grabbing the children with one hand each, he reprimanded them, ¡°Both of you are too noisy and will prevent Mommy from getting a good rest. Now that she¡¯s carrying a baby, she needs a ce that¡¯s absolutely quiet.¡± The children struggled desperately with their limbs iling in the air. Giving up upon realizing the futility of their efforts, they dered in unison, ¡°Mommy promised us that she would sleep with us tonight, so you¡¯ll have to sleep in the guest room, Daddy.¡± Me? Sleep in the guest room? No way! Ignoring the children¡¯s vehement protest, Nathaniel carried them back to their room without breaking a sweat. ¡°Both of you, stay here and behave,¡± Nathaniel ordered sternly before turning to leave. With that, the children obeyed and remained in their room, staring nkly at each other. A short whileter, Nathaniel returned with their pillow and doll. He then proceeded to make their beds and patted them. ¡°Now, be good ande to bed.¡± Upon exchanging nces, Lucas and Cam stubbornly stood where they were when they saw the defiance in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Daddy, how can you insist on sleeping with Mommy when you¡¯re an adult? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Cam lectured. Amused by her words, Nathaniel exined, ¡°I¡¯m different from the two of you. Mommy and I are husband and wife. We are supposed to sleep with each other, but you¡¯re not allowed to.¡± Lucas pouted in response. ¡°You¡¯re really cunning, Daddy. You just want Mommy all for yourself.¡± Nathaniel cocked a brow. ¡°She¡¯s mine after all.¡± Clenching her fists, Cam fumed, ¡°Mommy is your darling, while we¡¯re Mommy¡¯s darlings. Good things should be shared, Daddy. You shouldn¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± Nathaniel gave Cam¡¯s hair a tousle as he replied in a gentle tone, ¡°That¡¯s not how you use the phrase. Certain things can never be shared. You¡¯ll understand when you grow up. That said, there¡¯s one thing I need to rify. Not only are both of you Mommy¡¯s darlings, but you¡¯re mine too.¡± Nathaniel added affectionately, ¡°So, don¡¯t be angry about it. Can you go to bed now, my darlings?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ted over Nathaniel¡¯s soothing words, the children climbed into bed obediently. ¡°Daddy, you¡¯re not allowed to cancel the family holiday next month. Otherwise, Lucas and I will be angry.¡± Cam grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s pinkie as she sounded particrly serious. Lucas chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. If you don¡¯t keep your promise¡­¡± Pondering for a long while, he was unable to find the words that would make him sound more authoritative. The curious Nathaniel probed further, ¡°What will you do if I don¡¯t?¡± After some hesitation, Lucas dered, ¡°I¡¯ll get someone else to be my daddy.¡± As the veins on his forehead began to throb, Nathaniel gritted out, ¡°You won¡¯t get the chance. Now, go to bed.¡± Sensing Nathaniel¡¯s displeasure, both of them quickly hid their plump selves underneath their nkets. Their reaction caused his anger to evaporate immediately. Smiling without a word, he tucked them in before getting up to leave. When Christina emerged from the shower to be greeted by the empty bed, the sight of the missing children caused her to open the door curiously. Just as she was about to go out and look for them, she saw Nathaniel on his way back. Thetter wrapped his arms around her and led her toward the bed. ¡°It¡¯s alreadyte. Where are you going?¡± Christina answered candidly, ¡°I was looking for Lucas and Cam. I promised to sleep with them tonight.¡± ¡°They went back to their room to sleep.¡± When Lucas¡® words about how he wanted Christina to change husbands echoed in Nathaniel¡¯s mind, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a squeeze in his heart. Thus, he asked in a pitiful tone, ¡°Christina, do you find me annoying? Is that why you don¡¯t want to sleep with me and insist on me sleeping in the guest room?¡± Unsure about what was going through his mind, Christina decided to indulge his asional silliness. ¡°What are you talking about, little Nathaniel? I would never find you annoying. Come on now, let¡¯s see you smile again.¡± Chapter 698 From The Beginning Chapter698FromTheBeginning ¡°Christina, stop getting carried away!¡± Even though Nathaniel¡¯s eyes darkened, the affection in his tone was unmistakable. With her arms wrapped around his neck, she lifted herself off her heels to give his lips a gentle peck. She then suggested softly, ¡°Since you don¡¯t like that, why don¡¯t Ipensate you like this? What do you think?¡± When Nathaniel held her waist and leaned in to whisper something in her ear, Christina shot him a re but surprisingly didn¡¯t say no. The next morning, Christina was unable to fulfill her promise of sending the children to school. D Nheless, both of them didn¡¯t kick up a fuss as they sat inside the car together with Nathaniel, who was taking them instead. Since the children hadn¡¯t seen Sebastian in a while, they cozied up to him and yed by his side, raising a ruckus for the rest of the journey. D ¡°Mr. Taggart, at your wedding with Ms. Lesley, Lucas and I will be your flower children, all right?¡± Cam stared at him with her eyes widened in anticipation. How did the children know that Victoria and I are in a rtionship? Sebastian reacted with bewilderment. He was certain that neither Nathaniel nor Christina had told the children, for they never stuck their noses in the business of others. Moreover, until he and Victoria made their rtionship public, the lesser people knew the better. ¡°Who told you that Ms. Lesley and I are getting married?¡± Sebastian threw the question back at them. Lucas replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°Mr. Taggart, Cam and I saw both of you kissing at the restaurant.¡± The words caused Nathaniel to look up and throw Sebastian a nce. (D Thetter immediately realized what happened. That was the first time they officially went on a date after his proposal on the ship. Back then, Sebastian had handpicked the restaurant and reserved the entire ce. It was his idea of a romantic date to make up for what happened. The room was really private, so how did the children manage to see Victoria and me kissing? Sebastian was brimming with curiosity. ¡°Mr. Lucas, Ms. Cam, can you tell me how you found out? I¡¯ll give you a treat if you do.¡± Lucas, whose character took after Nathaniel, wasn¡¯t easy to be manipted. However, the same couldn¡¯t be said for Cam. Even though she couldn¡¯t be bribed with money, she would easily sumb to the temptation of food. Contrary to Sebastian¡¯s expectations, Lucas and Cam replied in unison, ¡°It¡¯s a secret, Mr. Taggart. We can¡¯t tell you.¡± At that moment, the driver informed abruptly, ¡°Mr. Hadley, we¡¯ve arrived at the school.¡± Forced to leave the topic at that, Sebastian opened the door for the children to alight. Upon returning from walking the children into the school, Nathaniel asked, ¡°Are you and Victoria really getting married?¡± Sebastian showed no hesitation at all. ¡°Mm¨Chmm. She is the one for me. Even if we can¡¯t be together in the end, I¡¯ll never be able to settle for someone else.¡± Victoria was the only person in his heart. There was just no space for anyone else. ¡°If you ever encounter a problem that¡¯s too much for you, you can alwayse to me,¡± Nathaniel offered in an indifferent tone before returning to his emails. Briefly stunned, Sebastian broke into a respectful smile. ¡°Okay. I understand.¡± Even if something like that happened someday, it wasn¡¯t in Sebastian¡¯s character to ask Nathaniel for help. Yet thetter¡¯s promise did change the nature of the issue. Nathaniel¡¯s word, worth its weight in gold, ignited the will within Sebastian to marry Victoria no matter what. ¡°Come along with us to the banquet tomorrow, as Preston would also be there. It¡¯s time the Lesley family learn about your rtionship with Victoria.¡± Nathaniel could foresee the impending problems Sebastian was going to face. Preston and Victoria weren¡¯t close despite the fact that they were siblings. His protectiveness over her only extended until there was a conflict with the Lesley family¡¯s interests. After all, Victoria was the only daughter of the family, and they hoped to use her in a marriage alliance that would elevate the Lesley family¡¯s status. Therefore, if they found out that Victoria had fallen for an assistant who didn¡¯te from a distinguished family, they would definitely object to the rtionship. However, Nathaniel wasn¡¯t going to allow something like that to happen to his most important subordinate. Hence, he would step in to convince the Lesley family on Sebastian¡¯s behalf when the situation required it. D ¡°All right. I¡¯ll make the necessary arrangements at work!¡± Sebastian answered. By the time Christina woke up, it was already close to noon. Her phone was filled with missed calls and messages from Rayne. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯mte!¡± Christina replied thetter as she rushed into the shower. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. This is all Nathaniel¡¯s fault. He tormented me the entire night in his unbridled excitement. Now, I¡¯ve overslept and stood Rayne up. D After giving her sore back a rub, Christina headed into the wardrobe to change into a dress. She proceeded to grab a quick breakfast before rushing to the studio under Lyle¡¯s escort. As the studio was still under renovation, Christina made a quick round on the ount of the child she was carrying. Thereafter, she headed outside to discuss with Rayne the issues rting to the¨C renovation. In the meantime, Lyle was standing nearby and watching the traffic below. It was hard to tell what was going through his mind. ¡°Christina, our studio has been defamed twice up till now, dealing a blow to our brand name and reputation. Therefore, I can¡¯t guarantee that the business would be as profitable as it used to be once the repairs arepleted.¡± Rayne felt distraught over the situation. ¡°Perhaps the brands pushed online by influencers might even outsell us. I just want you to be mentally prepared.¡± Although the studio had won the closely¨Cfoughtwsuit, they had also paid out a lot inpensation. At the same time, there were many who openly condemned their brand after being influenced by the rumors. Among them, in particr, were Elizabeth and her junior. Their die¨Chard fans would time and time again criticize the studio, causing it to lose many potential customers. In order to ensure a smooth resumption of work at the studio, Rayne had sent meticulously¨Cprepared presents to their high¨Cend members. Unfortunately, all the gifts ended up being returned. ¡°Since we have decided to start from scratch, these obstacles don¡¯t mean much. We just have to jump through the same hoops one more time.¡± Christina wasn¡¯t hung up about it. ¡°Don¡¯t give yourself too much pressure. Regardless of the troubles we face, I¡¯ll persevere through them. Given how all of you have been by my side through the entire period, it would be unfair to you if I were to give up easily.¡± D The words brought a tear to Rayne¡¯s eyes. ¡°Christina, you have our full support, and we have long gotten ourselves ready for this task. We¡¯re just waiting for the studio to resume its operations.¡± ¡°On the first day of work, organize a dinner, as I want to give everyone a treat. Just think of it as celebrating our first day of work.¡± Christina handed Rayne a tissue. ¡°Here, give it a wipe. You won¡¯t look good if your makeup smears.¡± Rayne took the tissue and wiped the corner of her eye. All right. I¡¯ll update you once I make the arrangements.¡± Christina beamed in response. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t take up anymore of your time. I¡¯m heading upstairs to Gibson Corporation.¡± ¡°Okay, call me if you need anything.¡± Just as Rayne had finished, she grabbed Christina¡¯s hand when something popped into her mind suddenly. After scanning her surroundings to make sure they were alone, she leaned closer to Christina and whispered, ¡°Christina, I saw Anya in a barst night.¡± Chapter 699 Missing Chapter699Missing Rayne knew Christina had put someone on Anya¡¯s trail and that almost everyone knew about Anya¡¯s ugly deeds. Unaware of Christina¡¯s somber expression, Rayne continued, ¡°Anya seemed to have met some big shot. It was impossible to miss her flirtatious expression. If only the light wasn¡¯t so dim, then I could¡¯ve gotten a clear look at the person she was meeting.¡± Considering how drunk Rayne was the night before, spotting and recognizing Anya in the crowd was already a stroke of luck. ¡°Which bar did you go to?¡± asked Christina. She wondered if Anya¡¯spanion was the same person who bailed her out of the station. Rayne racked her brains but could not remember anything else. She replied dejectedly, ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. I can¡¯t remember. My friend brought me to that bar after a dinner appointment, so my head was already kind of fuzzy. I¡¯ll ask my friend about it.. ¡°It¡¯s imperative for me to know who Anya met at the bar, Rayne. Please try to get the bar¡¯s name and address for me as soon as possible,¡± urged Christina. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll call my friend right after this.¡± Rayne was determined not to let her boss down. Relieved, Christina bid her assistant farewell. ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a move.¡± She took the elevator to the Gibson Corporation offices. As usual, she signed off on the important paperwork and headed home. The key departments in Gibson Corporation were run by Christina¡¯s most trusted subordinates, so she was never worried about thepany¡¯s operations. On the way home, Christina suddenly said to her bodyguard, ¡°Could you please stop the car, Lyle? I¡¯d like to buy something.¡± Lyle dutifully parked the car at the side of the road and addressed her, ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, Mrs. Hadley. What would you like to buy? I can get it for you. Just wait in the car.¡± Christina¡¯s gaze traveled to a nearby cake shop that had a long, snaking queue out its door. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯d like to buy some egg tarts from that shop for Lucas and Cam. Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure. Please rest in the car. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Lyle put on his coat and alighted from the car, striding toward the cake shop. Christina took out her phone and texted her children to apologize for not fulfilling her promise that morning. The kids saw her text on the smartwatches gifted to them by Nathaniel. They texted Christina several cute emojis instead of throwing a tantrum. They even coaxed her to quickly get over her guilt as it would not be healthy for her baby. D Warmth swelled in Christina¡¯s chest. She almost cried; she had be more prone to mood swings since her pregnancy. Click! Christina focused on replying to her children¡¯s messages, assuming Lyle had opened the car door. Suddenly, a handkerchief covered her nose and mouth. Christina gasped in surprise, vaguely making out a familiar silhouette before passing out cold. Everything happened so quickly that she could barely defend herself. Meanwhile, Lyle paid for the pastries and returned to the car. He paled when he realized Christina was missing from the back/seat. He rushed to the front of the car and noticed that one of the doors was ajar, revealing Christina¡¯s phone on the car floor. He instinctively knew that Christina was in trouble. Lyle hurriedly dialed Nathaniel¡¯s phone, but s, no one answered his call. He did not manage to reach Sebastian either. He ced the pastries in the car and sped for Hadley Corporation¡¯s offices. Lyle immediately ran into Sebastian and his colleagues once he got out of the office elevators. There was a board meeting in thepany, and Sebastian was in charge of retrieving the materials for the meeting. When he saw Lyle, he asked in surprise, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you with Mrs. Hadley? Why are you here?¡± Lyle responded by pulling him aside and muttering, ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡¯s missing.¡± He hastily described what had happened earlier to Sebastian. Sebastian¡¯s expression grew solemn as he muttered, ¡°Darn it. Today is thepany¡¯s annual board meeting. If Mr. Hadley leaves the meeting halfway, there¡¯ll be a lot of problems in the future.¡± Unlike Sebastian, Lyle did not stop to consider the long¨Cterm repercussions of Nathaniel¡¯s absence and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the conference room? I¡¯ll look for Mr. Hadley.¡± Sebastian side¨Ceyed him and questioned, ¡°Did you think I was worried about Mr. Hadley taking his anger out on me? That¡¯s not what I was¡­ Ah, forget it. I don¡¯t have time to exin my concerns to you now. Just wait here. I¡¯ll let Mr. Hadley know about it.¡± Then, Sebastian beelined for the conference room, wishing more than ever that he had the ability to teleport. When he arrived, thepany directors were engaged in a heated discussion. That did not deter Sebastian from striding into the conference room and approaching Nathaniel from behind. He leaned closer to Nathaniel and whispered, ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley is in trouble.¡± Nathaniel knitted his brows in concern and immediately left the conference room. Sebastian hurriedly announced to the confused crowd, ¡°Sorry, Mr. Hadley has to attend to an emergency. We will postpone this board meeting for now, and I will send out official notices on the new meeting date after discussing this with Mr. Hadley.¡± After that, he rushed out of the room and caught up to Nathaniel. Meanwhile, Christina woke up to the unwee ssh of cold water. She opened her eyes to the sight of Anya kneeling before her. The young woman¡¯s gaze was affixed to Christina¡¯s abdomen, which sent shivers down Christina¡¯s spine. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡± Anya slowly stood up and grabbed Christina¡¯s chin, shaking it roughly. She sneered and mused out loud, ¡°I just can¡¯t figure out why you¡¯re so irresistible to Nathaniel that he would wish you to bear three of his children.¡± Animosity rolled off Anya in waves. Cautiously, Christina asked, ¡°What are you trying to do, Anya?¡± A murderous glint entered Anya¡¯s gaze. She released her steel grip on Christina¡¯s chin and spat, ¡°What a great question. You set me up and almostnded me, in jail. I¡¯m simply trying to avenge myself for both the past and the present.¡± Anya¡¯s gaze shifted from Christina¡¯s face to her abdomen and stayed there. ¡°How do you think Nathaniel will react when that baby in your stomach is gone?¡± A deranged cackle escaped Anya, who added, ¡°Maybe he¡¯ll take his own life by then to join his wife and unborn baby in their graves?¡± Christina frowned and returned fiercely, ¡°Nathaniel won¡¯t forgive you if you harm me.¡± ¡°Clearly, his revenge means nothing to me, or I wouldn¡¯t have dared to kidnap you. The worst possible oue is joining you and that vile seed in hell! With your lives in my hands, Nathaniel has no choice but to give in to my demands.¡± Anya turned around and grabbed a ss of water off an old desk. She shoved the ss against Christina¡¯s mouth and ordered, ¡°Drink it.¡± Christina turned away before ramming her chin into Anya¡¯s hand. The pain caused Anya to lose her grip on the ss, which fell to the floor and shattered, sshing them both with its contents. Anya had no qualms about pping Christina for her actions. The p rang out in the room. ¡°You b*tch. You¡¯re nothing but a pitiful insect in my hands. Do you still think you can behave like the esteemed Mrs.. Hadley?¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. The p was so hard that half of Christina¡¯s face had gone numb. Still, she shot Anya a defiant gaze and smirked. ¡°I suppose it is time for our long¨Cdrawn fight toe to a conclusion, Anya.¡± Chapter 700 The End Of Destiny Chapter700TheEndOfDestiny ¡°You¡¯re right. We should indeed put an end to this.¡± As Anya spoke, she raised her hand and delivered another p across Christina¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve ruined my reputation!¡± Acting like a deranged woman, she started choking Christina. Her eyes were filled with rage when she growled, ¡°I won¡¯t let you die so easily. I¡¯ll torture you slowly and make your life a living hell. You¡¯ll eventually beg me for mercy, pleading for me to spare you.¡± With her hands and feet tightly bound to the chair, Christina was rendered immobile. Despite so, she stared at Anya without fear, refusing to show any signs of fear as she endured the violence inflicted upon her. Hearing themotioning from the ssroom, Emilia was worried that Anya might lose control of her actions and identally torment Christina to death. If that happens, we¡¯ll lose whatever leverage we have against Nathaniel. With that thought in mind, she rushed in to pull Anya away. ¡°Are you out of your mind? How are we going to negotiate with Nathaniel if something happens to Christina?¡± Consumed by hatred, thetter had long since lost interest in using Christina as leverage to extort a ransom from Nathaniel. She bellowed, ¡°You do know that in order to get money from Nathaniel, you¡¯d have to be alive first, right? I was the one who asked you to bring Christina here, but how I deal with her is my own business. You¡¯d better not meddle in my affairs.¡± Emilia was visibly frustrated when she released her grip on the woman, saying, ¡°I was just trying to warn you, but since you don¡¯t appreciate it, feel free to do as you please then. After all, your hands are already stained with the blood of numerous people. Adding Christina to the list won¡¯t make much of a difference/ Emilia¡¯s words struck a nerve in Anya and she red at the former before fuming, ¡°Get the h*ll out of here! You have no right to teach me how to handle things!¡± Feeling deeply humiliated, Emilia turned on her heels and left in a huff. D*mn that Anya! Who does she think she is to be ordering me around like that? Refusing to let the whole thing slide, a cunning thought soon crossed her mind. She reached into a separatepartment of her bag and took out another phone before entering Nathaniel¡¯s number in the recipient field and sending him a location tracking message without any hesitation. D Once she was done, she threw a nce at the ssroom before sashaying away. I was going to spare Anya¡¯s life so that she could deal with Christina, but I can¡¯t believe she actually dares to order me around. There¡¯s simply no way I¡¯m going to submit to anyone. D The abandoned school they were at had two cars parked at the sports field. After throwing the key of the other car onto the hood of its vehicle, Emilia walked toward the silver sedan not far away. Instead of driving away from the scene immediately, she drove the car out of the school and parked it behind a dpidated wall. Concealed from sight, she patiently waited for the dramatic spectacle that was about to unfold. Back in the ssroom, Anya was taking a break as she contemted various ways to torment Christina. ¡°Did you kill Madison and Miranda?¡± Even though Christina already knew the truth, she still wanted to hear Anya admit to it. Knowing that the woman had no chance of leaving alive, Anya brazenly confessed, ¡°So what if I did? They had iting for trying to threaten me. You should be grateful that I got rid of your love rival and the stepmother who once mistreated you.¡± With a deadpan expression, Christina replied, ¡°Anya, nothing you did deserves gratitude. You will eventually pay a heavy price for your actions.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already paid my dues!¡± Anya red daggers at her, looking as if she was going to kill her in the next moment. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! This is all your fault! Why couldn¡¯t you just stay in Jadeborough and be a properdy of the Hadley family? Why did you have toe back to the Gibson family and fight me for the inheritance?¡± Still ring at Christina, she added, ¡°That old hag, Azure, is no saint either. She actually had the audacity to threaten me, expecting me to be her servant. Once I get rid of you, I¡¯ll send her on her way to join you!¡± She retrieved a piece of rope from her bag and wound it around her wrist tightly before approaching Christina. ¡°Madison died by her own hands, while Miranda was burned to death. Since you¡¯ve always liked to be the unique one, let me give you a different way to die then,¡± Anya dered coldly as she closed in on thetter. The rough hemp rope scraped against Christina¡¯s wrists, breaking the skin as she fought to break free. However, her efforts were futile. Anya taunted, ¡°It¡¯s useless. You can¡¯t escape. No one can save you. But don¡¯t worry, Nathaniel can cometer to collect your lifeless body. I would love to see the expression on his face when he finds you dead before him. I imagine it will be quite the spectacr sight to behold.¡± As she spoke, she looped the rope around Christina¡¯s neck, tying a tight knot. Slowly and methodically, she tightened the knot, her face contorting into a sinister expression. Christina couldn¡¯t help butment in her heart. Am I really going to die in Anya¡¯s hands? Vroom! The sound of a roaring engine suddenly echoed from outside the ssroom. In the next moment, a ck Hummer burst through, crashing through the wall anding to a stop before Anya. Realizing that something was amiss, Anya reached out to grab Christina, only to get fiercely bitten in return. She yelped and instinctively flung her hand away. Just then, a dark figure leaped from the car andnded in front of Anya before giving her a kick that sent her flying away. ¡°Christina!¡± Nathaniel rushed over to Christina¡¯s side and frantically untied the rope that was wrapped around her neck. His voice was trembling when he ordered, ¡°Someone, get me a knife!¡± The rope was tightly bound, and his increasing panic only made it more difficult for him to untie it. Christina said softly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just take your time, okay? I¡¯m safe now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Snatching the knife from Sebastian¡¯s hand, Nathaniel swiftly cut through the ropes. He held her tightly in his arms. The warmth of her body brought him back to reality. He muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry for beingte.¡± ¡°You came just in time.¡± Christina patted his back. ¡°In any case, let¡¯s get out of here first.¡± ¡°All right.¡± Nathaniel lifted Christina in his arms and scanned the area, but Anya was nowhere to be found. His expression grew grim. ¡°Where¡¯s Anya?¡± he questioned. It was only then that Sebastian realized both Anya and Lyle were missing. ¡°Lyle went after her,¡± he informed. Just as he uttered those words, the piercing sound of tires screeching against the ground reverberated from outside the sports field. ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look,¡± Christina said to Nathaniel. ¡°Anya has another aplice, Emilia. We can¡¯t let them escape.¡± Nathaniel carried her as they walked out of the ssroom. Meanwhile, a high¨Cspeed car chase was unfolding on the field. Anya maneuvered her car aggressively, ramming it into Lyle¡¯s vehicle in an attempt to escape the scene. Desperate to flee, she threw caution to the wind and floored the elerator. Ignoring her own safety, she collided with Lyle¡¯s vehicle again and again until the opportunity to break free from the encirclement presented itself. As she smirked triumphantly, her car had just cleared the gates when it began to sway from side to side. The brakes are not working! Anya¡¯s face fell as she desperately turned the steering wheel to avoid the trees ahead. When she saw the fast¨Capproaching stone barrier, she frantically reached for the door handle, only to realize that it had been locked and wouldn¡¯t budge. D With a thunderous crash, Anya¡¯s car collided with the stone barrier head¨Con, the impact causing the front end of the vehicle to crumple. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. The collision triggered a fiery explosion that engulfed the vehicle in a raging inferno. Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Christina watched in horror as the gruesome scene unfolded before her eyes, her face turning paler by the second. Nathaniel pressed her head against his chest and uttered cooly, ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Chapter 701 A Misunderstanding Chapter701AMisunderstanding The entire car was engulfed in mes after the explosion. ¡°Clean up the mess, Sebastian.¡± Fearing that this incident would affect Christina¡¯s baby, Nathaniel carried her into his car after giving the order. A faint smile formed on Emilia¡¯s lips as she stared at the mes in the distance. She then rolled the car window down and tossed the ck controller out. Now that I have gotten rid of Anya, my next target is Christina! I will make her suffer a thousand times more! With that in mind, Emilia drove off feeling amazing. As though Sebastian had heard something, he turned around and nced at the end of the road. He had a little furrow between his eyebrows when he saw a ck car disappear from sight. ¡°Go check and see if there are any surveince cameras nearby,¡± he said while motioning at a bodyguard. ¡°On it!¡± the bodyguard replied and ran off to carry out his duty. Nathaniel kept Christinapany while she got an examination at the hospital before they returned to Scenic Garden Manor. She had nned on taking a short nap in the afternoon, but the shock from earlier -had left her so exhausted that she slept till the evening. While heading downstairs for dinner, Christina saw that Lyle was nowhere to be found. ¡°Where¡¯s Lyle?¡± she asked. The look in Nathaniel¡¯s eyes turned slightly cold. ¡°He was not able to protect you, so I have sent him back to the camp for more training. I will get you another bodyguard.¡± Nathaniel had actually wanted to rece Lyle, but he couldn¡¯t really find another bodyguard as capable as Lyle. ¡°It¡¯s not his fault. Everything happened way too quickly. None of us thought Anya would be bold enough to kidnap me in broad daylight. I told him to go buy me some pastries, and I let my guard down while waiting. That¡¯s how Anya managed to get me,¡± Christina exined. ¡°He did not follow protocol, so he needs to be punished ordingly,¡± Nathaniel said coldly while cing a chunk of fish on her te. Christina put her cutlery down and stood up. ¡°I have gotten used to Lyle¡¯s protection, and I don¡¯t want to waste any more time and energy adapting to a new guy. I¡¯m done eating.¡± She then turned around and went upstairs. Nathaniel could tell that she was clearly throwing a tantrum. Not wanting to upset her any further, he gave Sebastian a call and said, ¡°Have Lyle transferred back here. Also, pair some of the more agile and sharp- -witted men with him. I want them protecting Christina in secret.¡± Sebastian was not surprised when he heard Nathaniel¡¯s order. ¡°Understood.¡± Nathaniel took a sip of red wine and made his way into the courtyard. ¡°How is the investigation going? Did you manage to find anything?¡± ¡°Anya¡¯s car had been tampered with. They rewrote her car¡¯s programming so they could control it from a distance. I suspect that the person who did it was nearby at the time. Unfortunately, there were no surveince cameras near the abandoned school, so we were unable to identify that person.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. ¡°Emilia is Anya¡¯s aplice. Go find out where she has been today,¡± Nathaniel ordered icily. Now that Anya is dead, we won¡¯t be able to prove that Emilia was her aplice based on Christina¡¯s testimony alone. With that in mind, Nathaniel added, ¡°Sebastian, I want you to go meet Emilia in person. I don¡¯t trust anyone else with this task. Even if you can¡¯t find proof of Emilia¡¯s involvement in this kidnapping, you need to collect evidence of her other crimes. Emilia needs to go.¡± Emilia is a really dangerous person. She pretended to be working with Anya, only to kill her when she no longer needed her. It¡¯s clear that she has a much more sinister n in mind. If a little bit of overkill is necessary to ensure Christina¡¯s safety, then so be it. Sebastian tailed Emiliater that night and arrived at a fancy bar. Instead of heading straight to the bar after parking her car, Emilia walked up to Sebastian¡¯s car and knocked on the window. Sebastian calmly rolled his window down and asked, ¡°Oh, hello there, Ms. Steele. Is there something I can help you with?¡± Emilia rested one hand on his car window and asked with a coquettish smile, ¡°You¡¯ve been following me since the afternoon, Mr. Taggart. Why don¡¯t youe have a drink with me? I¡¯ll tell you everything you want to know.¡± I know I¡¯m not the best at tailing people, but Emilia shouldn¡¯t have spotted me so easily. How did she know I was tailing her? With that in mind, Sebastian replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you may have gotten the wrong idea, Ms. Steele. I wasn¡¯t following you or anything. I am simply waiting for someone.¡± Emilia shed Sebastian a faint smile, reaching out to grab him by the chin. She was about to say something when someone shouted angrily behind her, ¡°What the f*ck are you two doing?¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes were burning with anger as she stormed up to Sebastian¡¯s car. Before Emilia even realized what was going on, Victoria grabbed her by the hair and smacked her on the head with her handbag. ¡°How dare youy your filthy ws on my man, Emilia? I¡¯ll chop them off tonight!¡± Victoria yelled furiously. Words like ¡°modest¡± and ¡°gentle¡± did not evene close to describing Victoria at the moment. Victoria hated Emilia for hurting Christina, but she hadn¡¯t been able to do anything about it. Now that she had caught Emilia seducing Sebastian, she was determined to teach her a lesson. Emilia had not expected Victoria to show up all of a sudden. The fact that the daughter of the Lesley family would take an interest in a lowly personal assistant is enough to cause a scandal. Victoria is Christina¡¯s junior and best friend, so destroying her reputation is equal to getting my revenge on Christina! Before Emilia could evene up with a n, however, Victoria had tackled her to the ground and climbed on top of her. Victoria then took her high heel off and attempted to hit Emilia in the face with it, but Sebastian quickly stopped her. He pulled her to her feet and hugged her tightly as he said, ¡°Calm down, Victoria. We¡¯re in public right now, remember? Look, this really is a misunderstanding. I¡¯ll exin everything to you when we get back, okay?¡± Victoria¡¯s tears were still flowing as she red at Sebastian with reddened eyes. ¡°Have you gotten tired of me, Sebastian? Is that why you didn¡¯t push her away when she touched you? How is she any better than me? I¡¯m prettier, wealthier, and I love you more than anything!¡± Although Emilia was the one who got hit, Victoria acted as though she was the victim instead. ¡°I like you a lot, Sebastian! You can¡¯t break up with me even if you have gotten tired of me, okay? I know I have a bad temper, but I can change!¡± Victoria said softly, like a child that was afraid of being scolded by her parents. Sebastian hugged her and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m working, not flirting with other girls. Stop crying, okay?¡± Chapter 702 Getting Her Revenge Chapter 702GettingHerRevenge Victoria¡¯s eyes went wide as she stared at Sebastian in shock. What? This is all a misunderstanding? Although Victoria was feeling a little guilty, she decided to follow through with her act when she saw Emilia¡¯s despicable face. ¡°I called you and told you toe pick me up earlier, but you said no. So, what are you doing here now? Are you messing around with me?¡± Victoria broke free from Sebastian¡¯s embrace. She then grabbed Emilia¡¯s phone and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the password? Tell me!¡± Emilia¡¯s heart was filled with anger as she red at Victoria. As if beating me up in public wasn¡¯t bad enough, she now wants to go through my phone? Am I really that much of a pushover? Emilia reached out to snatch her phone back, only to have Victoria hold it in front of her face. Just like that, Victoria easily unlocked the phone using its facial recognition feature. Realizing that she was no match for Victoria, Emilia shifted her attention toward Sebastian instead. ¡°Hey, Sebastian! Your girlfriend has crossed the line here! Shouldn¡¯t you do something about her?¡± She figured that Sebastian and Victoria had kept their rtionship a secret because they didn¡¯t want the members of the Lesley family to find out. Victoria eximed while forcefully tossing the phone at Emilia¡¯s chest. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be scared of letting someone go through your phone if you didn¡¯t do anything wrong! Come at me if you¡¯ve got what it takes! Leave my man alone! So what if I went through your phone, huh? Don¡¯t like it? Then sue me!¡± Victoria¡¯s arrogant and disdainful attitude left Emiliapletely speechless. ¡°Oh, I forgot! You¡¯re no longer the famous actress in the entertainment industry. You¡¯re only good for entertaining people over drinks! You can¡¯t even afford awyer with that little amount of money you¡¯ve got! You know what? I¡¯ll let you off the hook this time, but you¡¯d better stay the f*ck away from my man, or things are going to get really ugly for you!¡± The people passing by were all staring at the three of them, but Sebastian wasn¡¯t bothered in the slightest. He knew that Victoria was doing this to avenge Christina and put an end to the awkward situation, so he didn¡¯t do anything to stop her. While Victoria did go a little overboard by going through Emilia¡¯s phone, it could allow them to uncover some of her secrets. Victoria then walked up to Sebastian, shed him a reassuring look, and dragged him into the car. ¡°Argh! F*ck you, Victoria! I¡¯ll kill you for sure!¡± Emilia screamed furiously in front of the bar while watching the two of them speed off into the distance. Her violent outburst and vicious expression were so scary that the onlookers backed away instantly. As Sebastian parked the car by the river, Victoria cautiously observed his expression before mustering the courage to nuzzle against him. ¡°You¡¯re not mad at me anymore, are you, Seb?¡± eyes, ¡°No, but please don¡¯t act so rashly Sebastian turned toward her and replied with a gentle look in his again next time. I was also at fault for not seeing your text message in time.¡± All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Like a child who had gotten her candy, Victoria happily threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist tightly. ¡°I¡¯m so d you¡¯re not mad at me anymore! I didn¡¯t know you were working. The sight of another woman touching you got me so worked up that I couldn¡¯t keep my emotions under control.¡± It wouldn¡¯t even be an overstatement to say that Victoria had thought of where she would bury Emilia¡¯s body when she saw her touch Sebastian earlier. Sebastian was like oxygen to Victoria, and she loved him so much that she couldn¡¯t imagine how life would be without him. ¡°Mr. Hadley wanted me to keep an eye on her.¡± Sebastian then proceeded to give her a summary of what happened earlier that day before asking, ¡°Did you manage to find anything when going through her phone?¡± ¡°Yes, I did. I saw Yerek¡¯s phone number in her call log. Do you think he¡¯s the mastermind who told Emilia to kill Anya?¡± Victoria replied after giving it some thought. ¡°That¡¯s not enough to prove anything. Come on; I¡¯ll send you home,¡± Sebastian said. ¡°It¡¯s sote now, Seb. Are you going to continue tailing Emilia? That wound I left on her face will take at least three to five days to heal, so she¡¯ll most likely go home to lie low. I don¡¯t want to go home so soon, Seb!¡± Sebastian let out a sigh as he couldn¡¯t say no to Victoria¡¯s pleas. ¡°We¡¯ll go grab supper, then.¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes lit up instantly when she heard that, and she began searching for restaurants on her phone. While she was distracted, Sebastian quickly informed his subordinates to help keep an eye on Emilia. Instead of heading home immediately after leaving the bar, Emilia went to see Yerek at his house. Yerek was frozen in shock when he opened the door and saw the wounds on Emilia¡¯s body. He then quickly pulled her inside and asked with a frown, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to only contact each other through the phone?¡± Emilia bit down on her lip. ¡°You think I want toe see you like this? I had no choice, okay?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with those injuries of yours?¡± Yerek asked while massaging his aching forehead. Emilia¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred the moment she heard that. ¡°It was Victoria! She and Sebastian are a couple!¡± Yerek arched an eyebrow at her in response. ¡°Victoria and Sebastian are dating? You¡¯re not making this up, are you?¡± Why would Victoria give up on marrying wealthy men for Nathaniel¡¯spdog? It just sounds like a joke, no matter how you look at it! ¡°I heard it from Victoria herself. Sebastian was there when she said it, and he didn¡¯t deny it either. Given how intimate they were with each other, I¡¯d say it¡¯s definitely true. You could have someone look into this if you don¡¯t believe me,¡± Emilia replied. Yerek narrowed his eyes and took a closer look at Emilia¡¯s wounds. That was when he kind of figured out how she got injured. Hmph¡­ This woman doesn¡¯t know how to keep her hands to herself! With that in mind, Yerek said indifferently, ¡°Got it. You should hurry on home now.¡± Emilia was hoping that Yerek would offer to avenge her, so seeing his indifferent reaction frustrated her to no end. ¡°Sebastian is Nathaniel¡¯s right¨Chand man, and Victoria is Christina¡¯s junior. It¡¯s most likely Christina and Nathaniel who helped get them together. The members of the Lesley family are bound to get mad at Christina if they find out about this. Don¡¯t you want to reim Gibson Corporation?¡± Back then, Yerek had wanted Gibson Corporation so badly that he would even have dreams about it. Having received the assets that Nigel had transferred overseas, however, he could do just fine without Gibson Corporation. Even so, he still wanted to get his revenge on Christina and Nathaniel, no matter how long it would take. Once I gain enough power, I will surely be able to crush those two with ease! I can¡¯t expect much from Emilia because ofhow short¨Csighted she is, but I can¡¯t risk letting her be a liability to me either. Right now, I need to convert those assets into cash and keep a low profile as I carry out my ns. ¡°Victoria is not someone you can afford to mess with. The Lesley family prefers to get rid of pesky busybodies first before dealing with their internal affairs.¡± If Emilia were smart, she would know better than to cause a scene with this incident. s, Yerek had underestimated her hatred toward Christina. Emilia contacted some paparazzi immediately after leaving Yerek¡¯s condominium unit and told them about her findings. Nathaniel was the first to receive word about the news ¡°Should we have someone suppress the news, Mr. Hadley?¡± Chapter 703 Love Crisis Chapter703LoveCrisis Although Preston had received the news long ago, he didn¡¯t confront Sebastian right away as he was wary of Nathaniel. Sebastian was widely known as a prominent figure around Nathaniel, but few people knew that their rtionship was more than that of a superior and a subordinate. If Preston were to take action against Sebastian, Nathaniel would definitely not stand by idly. ¡°No need. Perhaps this is a good thing.¡± Nathaniel pondered for a moment. ¡°Inform the Public Rtions Department to pay attention to public opinion on the Inte. Tell them to control thements when necessary.¡± After ending the call, Nathaniel went to the kitchen and personally prepared a burrito. Then, he brought it upstairs. When Christina heard his familiar footstepsing from outside the door, she quickly put down her phone, lifted the nket, andy down. She then pretended to be asleep, facing away from the door. Nathaniel pushed open the door and walked in. After cing the tray on the bedside table; he reached out to pull the nket covering Christina¡¯s head down. He whispered, ¡°Are you still angry?¡± N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Christina ignored him. Nathaniel wasn¡¯t bothered by that. ¡°I had Lyle transferred back from the training camp. You¡¯ll be able to see him tomorrow morning. I didn¡¯t punish him?¡± Christina opened her eyes. She was hesitating whether to get up or not when Nathaniel¡¯s alluring voice suddenly reached her ears. ¡°I made your favorite burrito. Will you forgive me after eating it?¡± Christina felt a tingling sensation in her ear. She quickly climbed out of bed while nervously clenching her fingers. ¡°I¡¯m not angry.¡± ¡°Okay, you¡¯re not angry. I didn¡¯t consider your feelings fully before I made that decision.¡± Christina nced at his handsome and pleasing face and realized she couldn¡¯t stay mad at him. In the end, she gave up arguing. ¡°Well, I admit that I was a little angry when I found out you had sent Lyle away. His situation reminded me of my past self. It was not his fault, yet he had to bear the consequences of others¡® actions.¡± Nathaniel was afraid that Christina would bring up the past, especially since their initial encounter wasn¡¯t pleasant. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll be more mindful in the future.¡± Nathaniel handed the burrito to her. ¡°Hurry up and eat while it¡¯s still hot. I have something to discuss with youter.¡± Since Christina didn¡¯t eat much for dinner, her stomach had long been growling after sulking for a few hours. Nevertheless, the thought of going downstairs and bumping into Nathaniel didn¡¯t appeal to her, so she took out the bread and snacks she had bought previously and filled her stomach with those. Christina noticed that she had be more temperamental during her pregnancy. She was no longer able to control her emotions and thoughts like before. At the thought of that, Christina became visibly upset. Nathaniel noticed her change and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is the burrito not tasty? I can make another one for you.¡± He started to get up, but Christina quickly pulled him back. ¡°No, the burrito is delicious.¡± After hesitating for a moment, she asked, ¡°Nathaniel, am I difficult to please? I think my temper has been getting unpredictable.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never thought that way,¡± Nathaniel reassured her gently. ¡°You¡¯re starting to rely on me and show me your truest self without holding back. I¡¯m lucky to be able to experience this.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Christina¡¯s tone couldn¡¯t help but lighten as her ears flushed an unusual shade of red. After quickly finishing the burrito, she asked, ¡°You mentioned earlier that you wanted to discuss something with me. Can you tell me now?¡± Intuition told Christina that it wasn¡¯t about a simple matter. ¡°Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship has been exposed. Given the Lesley family¡¯s attitude, they won¡¯t approve of Sebastian,¡± Nathaniel said frankly. ¡°This is the opportunity Preston has been waiting for. I believe Sebastian is capable of handling this matter well, but what Victoria does is more important.¡± ¡°Victoria is stronger than we think. If she has chosen someone, she won¡¯t easily give up. She and Sebastian will definitely have a happy ending,¡± Christina said calmly. Since Christina was on good terms with Victoria, Nathaniel was worried that she would be unhappy after seeing the articles online about Victoria and Sebastian. Other than preparing Christina for what she was going to sec, Nathaniel was also indirectly advising her not to get involved. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should sleep.¡± Nathaniel smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the study to reply to a few work emails. I¡¯lle and apany youter.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Nathaniel then tucked her in and left a dim bedsidemp on before leaving the room quietly. After tossing and turning for a while, Christina took out her phone and opened a webpage. The entertainment news was flooded with headlines about Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship. Public opinion was divided. Some gossipyizens and media thought Sebastian was unworthy of Victoria and mocked him for winning her over, while others were more rational. They were disdainful of the negative opinions and instead showed support for Sebastian¡¯s efforts in pursuing love. They believed that Sebastian possessed qualities that made him no less than a wealthy heir. Christina liked everyment from those who chose to support Sebastian and Victoria. Since Christina¡¯s ount was officially verified, and most of her followers were influential figures, she was targeted by some troublemakers in just half an hour. They took screenshots of her likes on some of thements and posted them online to make a big deal out of it. As expected, Christina became another prominent figure involved in the scandal. When Gabrielle couldn¡¯t stand the criticisms directed at Christina any longer, she personally stepped in and started an argument with the haters. She even rallied a group of friends to help. Instantly, the inte was in an uproar. Christina nced at the webpage. Feeling satisfied, she put down her phone and went to sleep peacefully. Even if it meant that the Lesleys would target her, she would continue to support Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship unwaveringly because she knew she had Nathaniel¡¯s support. Meanwhile, Emilia was sitting in front of theputer, feeling very satisfied as she scrolled through the comments that were attacking Victoria online. Love makes people ugly. She wanted Victoria to taste the pain of losing her true love! ¡°I asked you to dig up dirt on Victoria. How is that going?¡± Emilia repeatedly asked the private detective she hired as she wanted to strike while the iron was hot. The detective hesitated slightly. ¡°Ms. Steele, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to earn the money you s¨¨nt me. I can¡¯t afford to offend the Lesleys.¡± Emilia narrowed her eyes contemptuously. ¡°Since you took my money, you should do your best to get the job done for me. Are you trying to back out now? Thinking of shutting down your detective agency, eh?¡® The detective was unafraid of Emilia¡¯s threat. He cursed at Emilia, ¡°You clearly told me from the beginning that Victoria was the one ordering me to dig up dirt. I would rather not earn this money even if you held a knife to my neck. Besides, it¡¯s only five hundred thousand, which is not even enough for a down payment on a house. I¡¯ll return this money to you fully!¡± He angrily hung up the phone and promptly refunded the money back to Emilia¡¯s ount. ¡°So what if she¡¯s Victoria Lesley, the daughter of the Lesley family? I refuse to believe that no one is willing to take this deal!¡± Chapter 704 Exposed Chapter704Exposed With the right offer, there was bound to be someone who would step forward to do the job. Emilia found a paparazzo who specialized in exposing scandals of celebrities online. Moreover, this person had an influential background! Most celebrities didn¡¯t dare to mess with him even if they were targeted. Instead, they preferred to pay him off to settle the disputes. Emilia saw this as an opportunity and eagerly arranged to meet him in person. The meeting was scheduled for tomorrow. ¡°It is indeed wise to approach me, Ms. Steele. As for Victoria, she¡¯s quite well¨Cknown in the entertainment industry overseas. After I gather her scandalous materials tonight, I will show them to you when we meet tomorrow. The payment shall be made then. You will be satisfied!¡± the paparazzo dered confidently. Emilia thought he was being overconfident, so she intentionally poured cold water on him. ¡°I will decide whether the information in your hands is valuabel or not only after I personally verify it. You have until tomorrow, she said skeptically. Without waiting for the man to respond, Emilia hung up resolutely. She purposely portrayed herself as difficult to deal with to deter him from plotting against her. After carrying out her n, Emilia slipped into her dreams filled with beautiful fantasies of destroying Victoria. The next morning, Christina was awakened from her sleep by Victoria¡¯s frantic phone calls. Nathaniel had already left for work. Forced to wake up, Christina answered the call with a hint of annoyance. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Christina¡­¡± Victoria¡¯s voice was filled with grief and sorrow. ¡°Christina, you have to help me this time¡­¡± Christina paused for a few seconds. When her mind processed the situation, sheforted, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Victoria. Take your time and tell me what happened.¡± After a few hups and sobs, Victoria continued, ¡°My rtionship with Sebastian has been exposed. After my family found out, they strongly opposed it. They are pressuring me to break up with Sebastian. If I don¡¯t, they will cause trouble for him.¡± The Lesleys¡® reactions and actions werepletely within Christina¡¯s expectations. ¡°Christina, my parents want to send me abroad, so I ran away. But I didn¡¯t take my wallet or phone with me. Can youe over? I haven¡¯t told Sebastian because I don¡¯t want to worry him,¡± Victoria pleaded. Victoria made the call using a stranger¡¯s phone. She had climbed over the wall and fled when the sky was still dark in her thin silk pajamas. As a result, she had been shivering in the biting cold for half an hour. ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle to you right away,¡± Christina said as she hurriedly got out of bed. After Victoria provided an address, Christina instructed her to find a nearby restaurant to order some food and rest. They would talk about the rest in detail after she made her way there. Upon ending the call, Christina quickly freshened up, changed her clothes, and hurried downstairs. Lyle had already been waiting downstairs for a while. When he saw Christina in a rush, he approached her and asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you going out now?¡± Christina was startled by his sudden voice because she didn¡¯t notice him. cing a hand over her pounding heart, she took a deep breath and smiled at Lyle. ¡°Lyle! You¡¯re back.¡± Lyle¡¯s face was devoid of expression. ¡°Yes. I apologize for letting you worry about me, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Christina felt apologetic. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m the one who caused you trouble. I¡¯ll be more careful in the future.¡± Lyle strained the muscles on his cheeks as he tried hard to put on a happy smile. However, he ended up grimacing because he wasn¡¯t used to smiling. Sensing his thoughts and difort, Christina said empathetically, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry to meet Victoria. Can you please arrange a car for me?¡± ¡°Please wait a moment, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Lyle swiftly turned and left. Half an hourter, Christina arrived at the restaurant There were only a few customers inside since it wasn¡¯t peak dining hours at the restaurant. Christina immediately spotted Victoria sitting alone in a corner, looking dejected and listless. She held a cup of coffee and was lifting it up and putting it down mechanically over and over again. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Christina sat down opposite her. ¡°Can your hunger be satisfied just by staring at the coffee?¡± Victoria felt even more upset the moment she saw Christina. Her former spirited and confident self had completely vanished, reced by a sense of helplessness. ¡°Christina, I have no appetite¡­ I really don¡¯t know what to do, Victoria said in a hoarse voice. ¡°I don¡¯t want to break up with Sebastian. Christina, please give me some advice. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat first, and then we can think of a solution slowly. We mustn¡¯t rush with such matters.¡± Christina then asked the waiter for a menu. As Victoria still appeared lost, Christina helped her order a few breakfast dishes. ¡°Sebastian is associated with Nathaniel. He won¡¯t stand by idly. You also have to believe in Sebastian¡¯s ability to resolve issues.¡± Victoria sniffled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause any trouble for Sebastian. My parents and brother are already upset with me for breaking off the engagement, but I know I¡¯m not at fault for wanting to spend the rest of my life with the person I love. Even if it means giving up my identity as a Lesley, I¡¯m willing to do it.¡± After finally finding someone that she genuinely loved, Victoria was unwilling to give up what she had. She refused to be a sacrificial pawn in an arranged marriage. Christina listened attentively to her innermost thoughts and handed her tissues asionally, ¡°Sebastian and I had agreed on when to publicly announce our rtionship. We had been very careful throughout this period because we were afraid of being discovered,¡± Victoria exined. ¡°He proposed to me on a cruise ship, but everything was still fine then. I don¡¯t understand why this was suddenly exposed.¡± ¡°Think carefully. Have you recently offended anyone?¡± Christina reminded her. Victoria pondered for a moment. ¡°Emilia. It must have been her!¡± ¡°Why do you suspect her?¡± Christina asked. ¡°I hit Emilia outside a barst night¡­¡± Victoria told Christina about what had happened. ¡°Emilia is wicked and cunning, and she knows about my rtionship with Sebastian. She must have found a way to cause trouble for us!¡± Victoria spat with hatred, ¡°Emilia Steele! She better not show herself in front of me, or I¡­¡± Suddenly, Victoria mmed the table and stood up, her eyes fixed on something behind Christina. Before Christina could react, Victoria sprinted toward Emilia like an unleashed beast. Hearing Victoria¡¯s voice from behind her, Emilia instinctively trembled. She ran desperately without looking back, which further convinced Victoria that she was guilty of something. Victoria¡¯s body seemed to be filled with adrenaline as she ran. Just as Emilia jumped into the back seat of a taxi and was about to close the car door for an escape, Victoria leaped forward and gripped the door tightly with both hands. Victoria¡¯s face twisted menacingly. Gritting her teeth, she yelled, ¡°Get out of the car, Emilia!¡± Emilia held onto the door handle firmly. ¡°Are you going to attack me again, Victoria?¡± The two of them held onto the car door, locked in a tense standoff. It was the first time the taxi driver had witnessed such an intense scene. He stared at the door anxiously, afraid that they would damage it. He wanted to intervene and stop them, but he was intimidated by their fierce demeanor. Victoria sneered, ¡°The beating you received from me is nothingpared to the despicable things you¡¯ve done!¡± With that said, Victoria held onto the car door with one hand and reached through the window with the other to grab Emilia¡¯s hair. Then, she forcefully dragged her outside of the car in a fit of rage. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Emilia shrieked, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you, Victoria!¡± Chapter 705 You Are No Match For Me Chapter 705 You Are No Match For Me Having been repeatedly attacked by Victoria, Emilia knew she couldn¡¯t take it lying down longer. It was time to fight back! Unfortunately, Victoria showed no signs of stopping as she yanked the woman out of the ca and gave her two tight ps. For a moment, Emilia¡¯s head spun. When she finally snapped out of her daze and tried to w at Victoria¡¯s face, thetter easily held her back. By the time Christina lumbered out of the restaurant, the scene before her had be so chaotic that she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. She hastily walked to Victoria, who was straddling Emilia, and pulled her to her feet. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Victoria? You¡¯re being a public nuisance! Do you think you haven¡¯t gone viral enough on social media?¡± Red-eyed and maniacal, Victoria bit her lower lip. ¡°I¡¯m about to lose Sebastian, so why should I care? Leave me be, Christina. I want to rip this b*tch¡¯s skin off!¡± ¡°Are you happy now?¡± Emilia fumed as she red at Christina. ¡°You found someone to stick for you and beat me to a pulp, huh? This is all your fault! Fight me fair and square if you have the guts! Stop hiding behind others and making them do your dirty work!¡± By then, Lyle had also heard themotion and hurriedly approached Christina. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ll arrange for someone to send her away,¡± he said, shooting a cold stare at Emilia. To his surprise, Christina shook her head. ¡°No. I have something to say to her. Take Ms. Lesley to the car first.¡± After all, we¡¯re in themercial district, and the crowd around us is getting bigger by the second Victoria is still trending on social media, and given how easily recognizable she is, it wouldnt do her any good if this matter blew up Despite having a moment of hesitation, Lyle eventually came around Hum Eppose that¡¯d be all right. Emilia has just been beaten up and there are so many unlookers, I doubt she id da amoking to Christina With that, the man turned to Victoria, his face stoic yet respectful ¡°Please get in the car M Lesley Victoria seemed hesitant, but when she fich Christina¡¯s death are on her, she shrink away and did as instructed The next second. Emilia wiped the blood from theer of her south and smirked ¡°Does Victoria not have the guts to take responsibility for her actions? Why does she need you to clean up her mess? Wait a minute¡­ Are you also thinking of beating me up? Is that it?¡± Hmph. Christina had better not push me into a corner. Otherwise, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to retaliate! I¡¯m alone in the world now, anyway. Dragging her down with me before I die will mean my revenge n has half seeded! Unfazed, Christina strode to Emilia and stared her in the eye. ¡°There¡¯s no need for me to trouble my friends if I want to get back at you, Emilia. In any case, you were the one who spread the news of Victoria¡¯s rtionship online, weren¡¯t you?¡± Emilia quickly averted her gaze. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do something so childish.¡± ¡°Victoria has beaten you twice already, so it¡¯s clear that you have a motive. It¡¯s only a matter of time before we find out who the mastermind is¡­¡± Christina said coldly before grasping Emilia¡¯s chin and tilting her face up. ¡°If all the evidence points to you, you should know what consequences you¡¯ll face!¡± s, Emilia pped Christina¡¯s hand away and stumbled to her feet, her eyes zing with indignance. ¡°Ha! Do you think I don¡¯t know how scheming you are? You can easily pin the me on anyone you like. If I¡¯m not wrong, you also nned on ming me for Anya¡¯s death, right? You know what, Christina? My biggest regret is not getting rid of you before you left the Steele family!¡± If I could turn back time, I¡¯d harden my heart and destroy her once and for all! Why should I always y second fiddle to her? I¡¯m just as capable, for goodness¡¯ sake! ¡°You can try as many times as you like, but you¡¯ll never be my match,¡± Christina mocked. ¡°As for Anya, I don¡¯t care if she¡¯s dead or alive. However, I have every reason to suspect that you two had plotted my kidnapping.¡± ¡°Since you insist I¡¯m the mastermind, show me the proof!¡± Emilia retorted. Does she think she can scare me into submission? I¡¯m confident I¡¯ve covered my tracks well, so nothing frightens me! ¡°No hurry,¡± Christina replied with a devious smile. ¡°There¡¯s plenty of time to y with you in the future.¡± The more Emilia stared into the woman¡¯s eyes, the more she panicked. However, before she could muster up the courage to rebuke, the phone in her bag began to ring. Seemingly having recalled something. Emilia grabbed her phone and walked away as her expression changed imperceptibly. ¡°We shall see who has thestugh!¡± Christina promptly stepped into the car by the road and closed the door. ¡°Lyle, get someone to follow Emilia.¡± Upon hearing that, Victoria nudged closer and grumbled, ¡°Why did you stop me earlier, Christina? Emilia must be up to something! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have run at the sight of me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in the wrong for assaulting others in public, especially when you don¡¯t have any evidence to support your im! Besides, you¡¯re the daughter of the prestigious Lesley family and not some crazy, unreasonable woman. What if Emilia¡¯s appearance was all just a part of a trap to lure you in? Can you imagine how embarrassed your family and the Taggarts would be? Your parents might even think you¡¯d given up on maintaining the Lesleys¡¯ reputation because of a man. Given those circumstances, do you still see a future for Sebastian?¡± It was the first time Victoria had received such a harsh scolding from Christina, and it was also at that moment that she realized how impulsive she had been. Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of regret and helplessness, she burst into tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. I didn¡¯t think that far. I¡¯m scared¡­ I¡¯m so scared of losing Sebastian.¡± ¡°There, there. Stop crying,¡± Christina coaxed as she hugged the sobbing woman and patted her back reassuringly. ¡°The matter hasn¡¯t reached a point where it¡¯s beyond salvage. I¡¯ll apany you to Sebastian¡¯s. You can ask him for his opinions and ns.¡± Victoria merely nodded amidst sobs. Christina handed her a handkerchief. ¡°All right. Wipe your tears away. If you keep crying and ruin your face, Sebastian might dump you for good.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Victoria said proudly, evoking a chuckle from her friend. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the mall and buy you some new clothes first. Sebastian should still be at the office, so why don¡¯t you call him? I¡¯m sure he must be worried sick that he hasn¡¯t been able to contact you,¡± Christina added before passing her phone to Victoria. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. Thetter did as she was told, but the conversation between her and Sebastian onlysted a few sentences. Shortly after, Christina apanied Victoria to the mall and bought her clothes, shoes, a phone, and a new SIM card. With everything settled, the two women returned to the car and set off for Hadley Corporation. ¡°Christina, I¡¯ll pay you back for the items you bought me today,¡± Victoria said sheepishly ¡°No. It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s no need to stand on ceremony with me. I didn¡¯t spend much on these, anyway. Besides, I¡¯ve troubled you a lottely, so let me do my part for you,¡± Christina replied, her lips curling into a smile. ¡°Your priority is to get your rtionship back on track. You and Sebastian will always have my unconditional support.¡± s, Victoria was so touched by Christina¡¯s words that she couldn¡¯t help but cry again. ¡°Oh¡­ Please don¡¯t cry. We¡¯re reaching Hadley Corporation soon. If Sebastian sees you in this state, he might think I was bullying you!¡± Christina teased as she yfully pinched Victoria¡¯s cheeks and handed her the newly purchased makeup set. ¡°Go on and put on some makeup. Otherwise, your paleness might worry Sebastian.¡± Pouting, Victoria muttered, ¡°Sebastian isn¡¯t that shallow.¡± Despite saying that, she obediently reached for the makeup and began dolling herself up. Soon, the car drove past Hadley Corporation, where several reporters had gathered at the entrance. A keen-eyed Victoria immediately spotted Preston in the crowd and ducked down behind Christina. ¡°Oh, no¡­ What should I do, Christina? My brother¡¯s here at Hadley Corporation. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s out to make things difficult for Sebastian!¡± Chapter 706 Fled Chapter 706 Fled It was hard for Christina not to notice Preston, who stood out in the crowd. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. He doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯re with me,¡± Christinaforted Victoria before looking toward the driver seat and saying to Lyle, ¡°Drive to the underground parking.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Lyle stepped on the elerator and sped into Hadley Corporation¡¯s underground parking. When Preston looked up, he vaguely noticed a familiar face pass by him. With the reporters following him, his mood, which was already bad enough, plummeted further. ¡°Mr. Lesley, given that Lesley Group and Hadley Corporation are currently not coborating on any projects, what¡¯s the reason for your sudden visit to Hadley Corporation? Are you intending to talk to Mr. Hadley¡¯s assistant about his rtionship with Ms. Lesley?¡± ¡°Did Ms. Lesley break off her engagement because she was in love with someone else?¡± ¡°Mr. Lesley, is it true that Ms. Lesley and Mr. Taggart are currently dating?¡± Preston halted his steps and cast a cold gaze at the reporters before arching his brows and replying, ¡°Those are all rumors. My sister is not dating anyone at the moment. Anyway, she¡¯s free to date whoever she wants. It¡¯s none of anyone else¡¯s business.¡± Preston would never allow his sister, the daughter of the prestigious Lesley family, to marry a CEO¡¯s assistant who was a nobody. He nned to settle the matter privately, as he did not want to air his family¡¯s dirtyundry in public. It was true that he had gone to Hadley Corporation to seek an exnation from Sebastian. However, Nathaniel kept deflecting his questions. As such, two hours and countless cups of coffeeter, he still had not gotten to meet Sebastian. Obviously, Nathaniel was intentionally preventing him from meeting Sebastian! Preston was aware that it would not be wise to fall out with Nathaniel over a mere assistant After all, his family¡¯s interests shoulde before his sister¡¯s rtionship issues. Just then, a bold reporter shoved the microphone in front of Preston and asked him a tricky question. ¡°Mr. Lesley, you deny the rumors that your sister is currently in a rtionship, but someone posted a photo online that showed Mr. Taggart proposing to Ms. Lesley on the cruise ship during the international business conference a few days ago.¡± After saying that, the reporter showed the photo on his phone to everyone present. At that instant, everyone turned their focus to the reporter, and the camera lights started shing. ¡°How do you exin this photo then?¡± With a darkened expression, Preston gazed at the reporter sharply and replied, ¡°You seem to have come prepared. This makes me question your true intentions.¡± With Preston¡¯s words, the reporter instantly became the center of discussion. After being taught a lesson, the reporter grew hesitant and gradually lost all confidence. Avoiding Preston¡¯s intimidating gaze, he replied, ¡°I¡­ I¡­ I chanced upon it online.¡± He started to retreat as he spoke. As soon as he spotted a small opening among the crowd, he turned around and dashed toward a taxi that was passing by. Everyone was stunned by the dramatic scene that had just unfolded before them. Did he just flee? The other reporters were expecting their colleague to trick Preston into sharing some juicy information. After what happened earlier, even though the remaining reporters were curious to know the truth, they did not want to risk provoking Preston. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Under the escort of his assistant and bodyguard, Preston finally managed to break away from the crowd and got into his luxury car, which was parked by the roadside. ¡°Find thattlesome reporter and destroy those pictures as well as any other information he has,¡± Preston ordered coldly. How dare he try to set me up! That guy must be sick of living! After escaping the scene, the male reporter got out of the taxi and headed into a dark alley He paced around nervously while waiting for the person he was supposed to meet to arrive. Tap, tap, tap A whileter, footsteps could be hearding from the entrance of the alley. The next moment, a tall, muscr man wearing a ck coat appeared in front of the reporter. As the man was standing with his back facing the light shining into the alley, his face was almost completely hidden in the shadows. ¡°You¡¯rete!¡± the impatient reporterined in an annoyed tone before taking out a phone and a thick envelope from his bag. Handing the items over to the man, he said, ¡°Here, I¡¯m returning these to you. I¡¯m cancelling our deal. If you were there just now, you would have seen how scary Preston Lesley was. I could feel him exuding murderous aura when I was asking him the question ording to your instructions earlier!¡± Staying alive was much more important than having money. The money would be useless if one were dead. The reporter regretted not realizing that earlier. Fiddling with the envelope in his hand, the man remained silent. Seeing that, the reporter started to panic and said, ¡°What do you want now? I didn¡¯t touch the money in the envelope at all. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can count the money.¡± ¡°Since I was willing to pay the high fees you quoted, it means money is not an issue for me.¡± With a sinister look in his eyes, the man continued, ¡°Not only did you fail to do what I asked, but you have also created more trouble for me. This is really frustrating.¡± Upon hearing that, rm bells sounded in the reporter¡¯s head. Feeling angry and scared at the same time, he stared at the man and asked, ¡°What do you mean by that? Are you thinking about extorting me? Why don¡¯t you go find out about my reputation as a gossip reporter in the entertainment industry before doing that?¡± The tall man let out a disdainful chuckle. One secondter, the reporter copsed to the ground with a bloody hole in his forehead. Blood was oozing out continuously from his wound, and his eyes were bulging. He was staring lifelessly at the sky as he met a gruesome end. ¡°What a foolish pest. How dare he treat himself as someone important just because I paid him to do something.¡± The man tossed the items in his hand to his subordinate behind him and said expressionlessly, ¡°Clean up the mess. Don¡¯t let Preston Lesley suspect us.¡± With that, he turned and walked out of the alley. Without looking back, he opened the door and got into the car. After lighting a cigarette impatiently, he shot a side nce at the woman sitting next to him and said, ¡°The so-called best paparazzo you hired online is such a coward I ended up having to clean up your mess again. Emilia, can you please think carefully before you act?¡± ¡°How would I have known that he was a professional scammer? Anyway, I¡¯ve sort of achieved my objective. You did a good job killing him. At least, I won¡¯t have to worry about him giving me trouble. ¡°Do you really think that solves all your problems?¡± Yerek took a puff on his cigarette before uttering with a hostile expression, ¡°Preston is no fool. Sooner orter, he¡¯ll start suspecting you.¡± Emilia¡¯s actions had offended a few big shots at the same time. If she could use her abilities in other areas, perhaps, the Steele family would not have been in such dire straits. Even though Emilia was panicking internally, she kept a poker face and said nonchntly, ¡°Yerek, if you think about it, I¡¯m actually doing you a favor. Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t have the time after you if he¡¯s busy dealing with Sebastian¡¯s rtionship problem.¡± Chapter 707 Cherishing Each Other Chapter 707 Cherishing Each Other Yerek was eager to sell off his domestic assets and leave the country to maintain a low profile. However, his n was far from easy and presented many challenges. Not only did Nathaniel covertly intercept the projects Yerek had painstakingly negotiated, but he also tarnished hispany¡¯s reputation when he decided to sell it, making it difficult for anyone to take over his business ventures. His debt was also growing by the day. The assets left to him by Nigel were not sustainable in the long run. If he still failed to get out of the situation, his overseaspany would inevitably suffer. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Nathaniel. The fact that he hasn¡¯t caused trouble for me doesn¡¯t mean he can¡¯t find the time to do so. Perhaps he¡¯s just biding his time for a grand move,¡± Yerek said, unwilling to waste more words on Emilia. ¡°Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll be going abroad for a while. You might as well find a safe ce to hide for some time. Once the situation calms down, I¡¯ll inform you toe back.¡± Rather than going into hiding to ensure her safety, Emilia chose to take risks and stay put to witness the unfolding drama. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go into hiding. I can simply stay indoors. They have no evidence against me, so they won¡¯t be able to harm me in any way.¡± ncing at Emilia with a mocking expression, Yerek responded indifferently, ¡°Suit yourself. But if things go south, don¡¯t you dare drag me down with you.¡± He extinguished his cigarette and casually tossed it out of the window. ¡°You can get out now.¡± Nevertheless, Emilia refused to leave. Yerek knitted his brows. ¡°Is there anything else you want to talk about?¡± Emilia attempted to put on a friendly facade. ¡°Yerek, you¡¯re worried that I might cause you trouble, right? How about this? I have ns for stic surgery, but ites with a hefty price tag. Considering your recent financial sess, I thought maybe you could lend me some money?¡± Yerek¡¯s face instantly turned grim, and he could not help but raise his voice. ¡°Do you take me for a money-printing machine? I can¡¯t just conjure up any amount you desire. At most, I can give you one million. It¡¯s up to you to figure out how to cover the rest of the expenses.¡± One million would not even cover the most basic stic surgery at a high-end hospital, let alone the expenses for postoperative recovery and adjustments. All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org. After losing her job in the entertainment industry, Emilia did not have enough savings to support her lavish lifestyle. She had no choice but to explore other channels to make money. ¡°Yerek, that¡¯s not enough. Can¡¯t you give me a bit more?¡± Emilia attempted to use her charming tactics to entice Yerek into providing her with additional funds, but Yerek was not swayed by her ploy. ¡°It¡¯s not my problem that you don¡¯t have enough money,¡± Yerek sneered. ¡°I do have a solution that can save you some money, though. It depends on whether you¡¯re willing to do it.¡± Emilia¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I know an expert in 3D printing technology, and he specializes in creating hyper-realistic masks. I can write a rmendation letter for you, and you can visit him to get a custom made mask. It¡¯ll save you time and effort, and you¡¯ll avoid unnecessaryplications. It perfect solution,¡± he exined. Upon hearing that, she frowned. Isn¡¯t that something Anya had tried before? How could he propose a n that had already failed? What is he thinking? Noticing the concern in her eyes, Yerek reassured her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re smarter than Anya. I¡¯m confident that you won¡¯t make the same mistakes she did.¡± D Emilia found herself inexplicably stirred by a sense ofpetition, nearly losing herself in desire, and impulsively agreed without much thought. ¡°Give me the person¡¯s contact information then.¡± A small smirk appeared on one corner of Yerek¡¯s lips as he retrieved a business card from his wallet and passed it to Emilia. He reminded her, ¡°He doesn¡¯t like to handle a big crowd, so you¡¯ll have to visit him alone.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Emilia replied, cradling the business card as if it were a precious treasure. Meanwhile, at Hadley Corporation, Christina and Victoria took the CEO-exclusive elevator straight to the top-floor office. Since Sebastian had received Victoria¡¯s message, he had been waiting outside the elevator doors. As soon as Victoria spotted Sebastian, her emotions surged. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she flung herself into his arms in front of Christina. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Seb. It¡¯s my fault that my brother caused trouble for you. Did he give you a hard time? Did he hurt you? Let me see if you¡¯re injured.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s go somewhere else. It¡¯s not convenient to talk here,¡± Sebastian said. Victoria nodded obediently, seemingly oblivious to Christina¡¯s presence. Christina casually cleared her throat. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to discuss with Nathaniel. You guys go ahead.¡± Sebastian expressed his gratitude. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee. We¡¯re still looking forward to attending your wedding. Mr. Taggart, don¡¯t keep us waiting,¡± Christina teased with a grin, and without looking back, she turned and walked toward the CEO¡¯s office. Sebastian held Victoria¡¯s hand and walked her to the pantry. Nathaniel was in the middle of a video conference that could not be interrupted when Christina entered the office. She sat in the lounge area, scrolling her phone and patiently waiting for him to finish his meeting. Christina logged into her social media ount and discovered that all the rumors and gossip surrounding Sebastian and Victoria had vanished from the inte. Even the previously trending posts about her being reprimanded had mysteriously disappeared without a trace. ¡°What are you looking at? I¡¯ve been calling your name without getting a response,¡± Nathaniel said as he walked over and sat beside her. He could not help but notice that her phone was disying a celebrity gossip site. ¡°The Lesleys found it embarrassing, so they went to great lengths and spent a considerable amount of money to erase all the online reports. And regarding the troubles you caused, I¡¯ve already entrusted the PR department to handle them.¡± Earlier that morning, Nathaniel had overheard conversations among employees. That was how he came to learn about the peculiar online tactics Christina had employed. Nathaniel was both mad and amused. It seemed that his reminders to Christina over the past few days had fallen on deaf ears. However angry he may be, and regardless of the magnitude of the mess his wife had caused, Nathaniel knew that he still had to assist her in cleaning it up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would still do the same thing.¡± Christina responded with a hint of dissatisfaction. ¡°Sebastian and Victoria have genuine feelings for each other, and they haven¡¯t done anything morally wrong. So, why should they endure the mockery of the online community?¡± Furthermore, she could not simply stand by and let people criticize Victoria without taking any action. ¡°Just a while ago, Preston approached me. He had this idea of discreetly convincing Sebastian to end his rtionship with Victoria in order to mitigate the rumors and salvage the Lesley family¡¯s reputation,¡± Nathaniel exined, his indifference evident in his tone. ¡°But I turned down his proposal and didn¡¯t allow him to meet with Sebastian. I¡¯m nning to relocate Sebastian to our international branch and focus on developing his ability to handle things on his own.¡± With the scandal in full swing, it seemed that the best choice for the Lesley family was to send Victoria overseas. Nathaniel had no intention of intentionally keeping Sebastian and Victoria apart. His action would be contingent upon the Lesley family¡¯s decision on Victoria¡¯s overseas destination. Given the extensive global reach of Hadley Corporation, with subsidiaries and operations spanning various countries and regions, Nathaniel had the flexibility to align Sebastian¡¯s transfer ordingly. He understood that the Lesleys might eventually see through his ns, but he remained undeterred, confident in his ability to navigate any obstacles they might present. ¡°There¡¯s something still bothering me, Nat. I don¡¯t think Preston will give up so easily.¡± Christina voiced her concern. Chapter 708 Recruitment Chapter 708 Recruitment ¡°Preston would never fight a losing battle. There¡¯s no need for you to worry too much¡± Nathaniel must have known what Preston was nning. However, he had no intention of bringing the schemes at work into his personal life, so he changed the topic. ¡°It¡¯s going to be noon. Let¡¯s go and have lunch.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± said Christina with a smile. Before leaving, she sent a message to Victoria. She did not mind even though Victoria did not respond to her message. After Christina and Nathaniel had their lunch, Victoria contacted her. The two women arranged to meet up at Hadley Corporation. ¡°Once you¡¯re done, head straight home. Don¡¯t stay out for too long. It isn¡¯t safe in Jadeborough during this period of time,¡± reminded Nathaniel before he got out of the car. ¡°Remember not to contact the Lesley family on your own.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Christina smiled. ¡°See you at night.¡± Nathaniel leaned forward and gave her a kiss on her forehead. He said gently. ¡°Be careful Call me if there¡¯s anything.¡± Christina nodded and watched Nathaniel walk into the office building. ¡°Christina, you guys are practically an old married couple, so can you not disy so much affection every time? Please have some consideration for my feelings.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Victoria was very envious when she saw how lovey-dovey Christina and Nathaniel were If she and Sebastian could get married, their married life would surely be sweeter than any couple. With that thought in mind, Victoria felt all blissful. ¡°Who was the one who jumped on her boyfriend the moment she saw him in the office quipped Christina Victoria opened the car door and sat next to Christina. ¡°That isn¡¯t the same Christina plea don¡¯t make fun of me She covered her face shyly. ¡°If you continue to do so, I won¡¯t talk y Christina removed her hands and asked, ¡°Are you not sad anym ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve talked about it with Sebastian. We decided to pick a suitable time for him to go back home with me to meet my family. That will make our rtionship official.¡± Victoria let out a sweet smile before continuing, ¡°No matter what difficulties we shall encounter, we¡¯ll face it together and ovee the problem.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good news.¡± Christina was genuinely happy for Victoria. ¡°What do you intend to do before that?¡± ¡°Sebastian owns a condominium in the city, so I¡¯ll stay there for a few days until my parents have calmed down. Then I¡¯ll go back home,¡± said Victoria. ¡°Christina, now that your studio has reopened, can you hire me as a designer? I¡¯d like to be able to support myself.¡± Christina could not ask for more. She was just thinking of an excuse to recruit Victoria as a designer in her studio. ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all. You can start work anytime,¡± said Christina happily. ¡°Thank you, Christina.¡± Victoria gave her an emotional hug and kissed her a few times on her face. In the end, Christina could not take it anymore and pushed her away. She wiped her face and said, ¡°Victoria, stay away from me. I don¡¯t want any trouble from Sebastian.¡± Victoria pushed her luck and hugged Christina again. She nuzzled up against her face like an adorable little kitten. ¡°You¡¯re my senior. Sebastian won¡¯t be jealous. He¡¯s a handsome and capable man who knows what he should and should not do.¡± Christina could not help but roll her eyes and allowed Victoria to mumble on. All she talked about was how outstanding Sebastian was. It was clear that Victoria was very much in love. Christina sent Victoria to the condominium, and the two women bade each farewell. ¡°I still have something on, so I won¡¯t go up with you. If there¡¯s anything, call me.¡± To that, Victoria responded, ¡°I will. Bye, Christina.¡± On the way back to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina leaned in her seat and felt sleepy. She had developed the habit of napping in the afternoon, but she was unable to do so that afternoon. Lyle turned up the air-conditioning and slowed down the car. Christina slept for a while in the car. Once she arrived at Scenic Garden Manor, she was prepared to continue her nap in the bedroom. Just then, the butler walked up to her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Lazuli is here in the living room. She has been waiting for you since this morning.¡± Because of what happened previously, Azure was no longer allowed to set foot into Scenic Garden Manor. Nevertheless, once a person started to act shamelessly, they would be much more difficult to handle. When the butler refused to allow Azure to meet Christina, Azure began to make a scene outside Scenic Garden Manor. Her image and dignity as a rich woman were all gone. In order to protect the Hadley family¡¯s reputation, the butler had no choice but to invite Azure into the living room for the time being. He did not inform Christina and ignored Azure on purpose. The butler was hoping that Azure would leave on her own once she realized she would not be seeing Christina. Unfortunately, the butler had underestimated Azure¡¯s patience. Azure ended up waiting for many hours. ¡°Did she say why she is looking for me?¡± asked Christina unhappily. ¡°No,¡± replied the butler. ¡°I see. You should continue what you were doing. I¡¯ll go in and take a look.¡± Christina then strode toward the living room. Before she realized what was happening, Azure charged at her in a huff. ¡°Christina, I can¡¯t believe how arrogant you have be. It¡¯s so hard to see you nowadays.¡± Azure snorted coldly with a grim face. If she had not heard that something had happened to Anya in Jadeborough, Azure would never have wanted to see Christina again in this lifetime. She wished that Christina was not part of the Gibson family! ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, please watch your words. I don¡¯t like people making a din at my turf.¡± Without any expression, Christina sat down in front of Azure and got straight to the point. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t havee for no reason. Tell me. What is it this time? I¡¯m very busy.¡± Azure was infuriated by Christina¡¯s arrogant manner, but she could not do anything about it. ¡°I heard something happened to Anya.¡± ¡°She¡¯s dead.¡± Christina sounded very calm, as if it was nothing important. ¡°What?¡± Azure stood up in shock. ¡°Christina, no matter what, Anya was still your sister for a while. How could you harm her?¡± Christina looked up at her with a smirk. ¡°Who told you that I was the one who hurt Anya? Was it Yerek?¡± Azure was stumped, looking at Christina uneasily. ¡°If I really wanted Anya dead, I have hundreds of ways to let her disappear from this world without a trace,¡± said Christina. ¡°Before Anya died, she kidnapped me with Emilia. Now that something has happened to Anya, Emilia has disappeared.¡± She shed an eerie smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go and ask Emilia who actually killed Anya?¡± Chapter 709 Pass The Buck Chapter 709 Pass The Buck Emilia? Azure had met Emilia a few times, but she did not think too highly of thetter. To Azure, a woman who would do anything for money was of no importance. ¡°Where¡¯s the proof?¡± Azure was not stupid. ¡°Are you trying to use me to get rid of Emilia? That¡¯s why you¡¯re so willing to tell me who Anya¡¯s murderer is.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you want to believe, then I can do nothing about it,¡± said Christina. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, it¡¯s up to you whether you want to believe me or not. You can hunt for the evidence by yourself. If there¡¯s nothing else, please leave.¡± Christina then got up and walked toward the stairs. Azure¡¯s angry voice rang out. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Christina, stop right there. I still have something to ask you.¡± Azure went up to grab hold of her. ¡°Where have you hidden your father? I want to see him.¡± Azure hade to look for Christina on the pretext of finding out what happened to Anya. In truth, she was looking for Timothy. She believed that Timothy still had a conscience and would not ignore her. Christina¡¯s face fell at the mention of Timothy, and she red at Azure. ¡°You have never cared whether my father was dead or alive. Now that Nigel is in prison, Anya is dead, Yerek is busy saving himself, and Barnaby doesn¡¯t want you anymore, you ce yourst hopes on my father. What a great idea.¡± Christina¡¯s words cut Azure¡¯s heart like a razor-sharp knife. Without her expensive jewelry and clothes, Azure no longer looked dignified and virtuous. Her haggard face had aged by a decade, and she looked far worse than most women her Christina could tell that Azure had been suffering during this period, and it was precisely why Azure wanted to find out the whereabouts of Timothy. Azure was utterly humiliated. She looked away and mumbled, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m concerned about him. He¡¯s also my son. You have the least right to passment on me.¡± age. Azure was determined to find out where Timothy was. ¡°Christina, if you don¡¯t tell me where your father is, I¡¯ll inform the police. When this gets out, it¡¯ll be embarrassing for you!¡± Christina stood on the step with her arms crossed. She looked down at Azure. ¡°Go on then. Call the police. When the policee looking for me, I¡¯ll tell them how Nigel plotted against my parents fifteen years ago and that both Yerek and you knew about it but did nothing. Do you think the police wille after both of you or me by then? Right. You were away in Hallsbay, so I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t know that Yerek has received Nigel¡¯s overseas assets. My dad must have put in painstaking effort for those assets. If I choose to pursue the matter, Nigel will probably never get out of prison in this lifetime. Yerek is no better. Why don¡¯t I send Yerek in too so that both father and son can apany one another?¡± Azure was so furious that her face turned ashen. She ced one hand on her chest and pointed at Christina with another, dumbfounded. Christina sneered, ¡°What else do you want to say to me? Do it once and for all. I¡¯ll be sure to give you a clear answer.¡± ¡°You¡­ You heartless b*tch!¡± Azure¡¯s eyes had turned red, and she was disgusted by Christina¡¯s behavior. ¡°If you dare hurt Yerek, I won¡¯t let you off!¡± As soon as Azure finished speaking, she copsed. The butler immediately came over and ced his finger near Azure¡¯s nose. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, she has fainted.¡± There was no expression on Christina¡¯s face. ¡°Send her to the hospital and inform Yerek.¡± That was thest thing Christina would do for Azure. As for Azure¡¯s future, it would depend on her fate. ¡°Yes.¡± The butler summoned the housekeeper. The incident did not affect Christina. She went to her bedroom and had a wonderful nap. When Yerek found out about what happened to Azure, he was annoyed. In the end, he sent someone to the hospital with a wad of cash and did not turn up personally. Azure convinced herself that Yerek was busy at work. That was why he did note to visit her. Once Azure was discharged, she found out the whereabouts of Emilia and went to look for her on her own. When Emilia heard the doorbell ring, she got a fright. Holding her breath, she walked quietly to the door and looked through the peephole. It was Azure. Why is this old woman not in Hallsbay? What is she doing here? It had been a long time since Emilia interacted with Azure. Emilia dared not open the door and pretended that she was not home. Bang! The door shook violently as it made a deafening sound. Emilia got a shock and stared at the door. She was staying in an old residential area, and the facilities were dpidated. That old door would not be able to stand up to such violent torture. ¡°Emilia, I know you¡¯re at home. Open up!¡± Azure continued to m on the door. ¡°I¡¯m giving you three seconds. When the time is up, I¡¯ll get someone to tear the door down!¡± Emilia gritted her teeth and opened the door. ¡°What do you want? I don¡¯t know you. Why are you behaving like a barbarian in front of my house?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know me?¡± scoffed Azure as she squeezed past Emilia and walked into the house uninvited. That pissed Emilia off. ¡°This is my house. Get out!¡± She pointed at the door. Azure walked around the house before settling on the couch like she owned the ce. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you really don¡¯t know me or if you are pretending. I¡¯m sure I got the right person, and that¡¯s you, Emilia,¡± said Azure in a stern voice. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know Anya. She¡¯s my granddaughter. Two days ago, she died a horrible death all of a sudden. You were thest one to see her before she died.¡± She¡¯s up to no good! Emilia calmed herself. ¡°That¡¯s rubbish. Christina was thest to see her. To tell you the truth, Anya and I were sort of close with one another. I feel sorry for her demise and am also looking for evidence to avenge her death.¡± Both Emilia and Christina saidpletely different things. Azure had no idea who she should believe. ¡°You only got close to Anya because both of you were plotting a kidnapping, am I right?¡± said Azure shrewdly. ¡°I know the real Anya. She would never mingle with indecent people. Furthermore, she was very particr so I¡¯m sure you¡¯re lying.¡± Emilia panicked momentarily when she realized that she was being exposed and quickly forced herself to calm down. ¡°Did Christina tell you that? You have been duped by that woman. Gibson Corporation is a Chapter 710 Clear My Name Chapter 710 Clear My Name Azure would rather ce her trust in Emilia than Christina, as she had suffered in the hands of the latter many times. ¡°Present your evidence, and I might believe what you say.¡± Little did she know Emilia was waiting for this very moment. ¡°You want evidence, right? Wait here. I¡¯ll fetch it for you.¡± Emilia turned around and strode into the bedroom. Azure watched as Emilia searched high and low inside the room, not knowing what Emilia was looking for. Noticing that Emilia wasing out of the room, Azure quickly withdrew her gaze, feigning an air of nonchnce as she looked askance at Emilia. ¡°Have you found it?¡± she asked, reaching out to Emilia. ¡°Let me have a look.¡± Emilia shoved a phone into her hand. ¡°This is the surveince camera footage from the scene. You will understand what happened once you see it.¡± Azure yed the video and realized that it was footage from an ident. Captured within the footage was Anya¡¯s car veering out of control, then crashing into the roadside before exploding. Soon, three figures appeared not far from the explosion site. Two of them she recognized were Christina and Nathaniel. However, the third was a familiar face yet she couldn¡¯t remember. Stoking the fire, Emilia added, ¡°Even if Christina couldn¡¯tmit such heinous acts like murder and arson, her husband, Nathaniel, could. They¡¯re birds of a feather, both deplorable.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Azure¡¯s hands holding the phone trembled violently. Had she not seen this footage, Christina might have sessfully fooled her. ¡°Since you hold such evidence, why not hand it over to the police? What are you waiting for?¡± Azure questioned Emilia, her tone full of hatred. ¡°I wish to seek justice for Anya, but I am powerless.¡± Emilia disyed her impable acting skills, her voice choked with sobs. ¡°The Hadley family owns the entire Jadeborough. They have eyes on me at all times. If I hand this evidence over, I¡¯ll surely be the next victim. I am living in perpetual fear. It¡¯s not easy for me.¡± Azure felt that something didn¡¯t add up. However, her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and she could not see through the hidden secrets within. ¡°Then what about your plot with Anya to kidnap Christina? How do you exin that?¡± ¡°I did not participate in that. I¡¯m usually busy, so I rarely contact Anya. Usually, she¡¯s the one seeking me out.¡± Emilia sounded so convincing that she managed to hoodwink Azure with her silver tongue. ¡°I won¡¯t interfere with how you choose to handle this evidence. My only condition is that Christina and Nathaniel must not know the evidence came from me. Can we agree on that?¡± Azure regarded Emilia in silence. Emilia pleaded, ¡°Please, I beg you. Since I helped you, help me out just this once. I have a deep grudge against Christina. She¡¯s itching for a chance to teach me a lesson.¡± After a moment of silence, Azure said, ¡°Very well. You have my word.¡± A wide smile stretched across Emilia¡¯s face, but her eyes held not a shred of warmth. She personally escorted Azure to the door andughed smugly. ¡°What a fool. The Gibsons are such fools to fall for such a ruse. Christina, let¡¯s see how you get out of this one!¡± After exiting Emilia¡¯s house, Azure hailed a cab to head to the police station to hand over the evidence. The police treated the matter with high priority and dispatched officers to Scenic Garden Manor immediately. Christina was jolted awake by the butler. She sat up groggily, and upon listening to the butler¡¯s report, she asked in disbelief, ¡°What did you say? The police want to question me?¡± She couldn¡¯t recall any transgressions she might havemitted. ¡°Yes. The two police officers refuse to disclose the reason,¡± Raymond said. Christina rose from the bed and changed into a set offortable clothes before descending the stairs. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we meet again,¡± greeted one of the officers, who was a familiar face. Christina shed the two police officers a polite smile. ¡°I apologize for keeping you waiting I was resting. Please ask anything you wish. I¡¯ll cooperate to the best of my abilities¡± Gracefully, she took a seat, then had Raymond serve two cups of hot tea Without mincing words, the senior police officers asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we¡¯ve received a report suggesting your involvement in the attempted murder of Anya Gibson. We would like to know where you were and what you were doing on the day of the incident. We hope you can tell us the truth¡± So, they¡¯re here for the case concerning Anya¡­. ¡°Officer, I, too, am a victim in this case. On the day of the incident, I was kidnapped by Anya and locked up in an abandoned school. My husband arrived just in time to save me, or I would have been killed by Anya that day.¡± up on the Sebastian had dealt with the aftermath of the incident, so Christina did not follow investigation. However, she was certain that no matter how crafty Azure was, thetter wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her. ¡°Anya was desperate to escape, resulting in a severe car crash followed by an explosion. Officer, I want to know who killed Anya more than you do. However, I assure you that it wasn¡¯t me,¡± Christina dered with conviction. ¡°I am a pregnant woman. Even if I don¡¯t think of myself, I have to think of my child. I would never engage in murder or arson.¡± The senior police officer exchanged a nce with his partner. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Hadley. This is a major case, and we may have further questions. We hope you¡¯ll stay in the city until the investigation concludes.¡± Christina nodded in agreement. ¡°No problem. Please let me know when you reach a conclusion. I am implicated in this matter and I wish to clear my name.¡± ¡°All right. We will take our leave for now,¡± the senior officer said before he exited with his partner. The two police officers went back to the car parked at the mansion entrance. The younger police officer asked in puzzlement, ¡°Sir, we already have the evidence in our hands. Why didn¡¯t we take Christina Steele in for questioning?¡± The senior police officer took a puff of his cigarette, then gave his young partner an expressionless sideways nce. ¡°You¡¯re still too green andck appropriate training. Don¡¯t you know who Christina Steele is? The evidence we have alone doesn¡¯t exin it all. If there¡¯s something wrong with the evidence, the Hadley family will not let this slide.¡± ¡°But I have watched the footage multiple times. I didn¡¯t identify any other valuable clues,¡± the younger police officer said. ¡°The man who drove the car to stop Anya¡¯s escape in the video is Christina¡¯s bodyguard. If she wants to silence anyone, she doesn¡¯t need to lift a finger herself. Moreover, we found a remote control at the crime scene that has Christina¡¯s fingerprints on it.¡± The senior police officer was silent for a moment before he said in a solemn tone, ¡°There¡¯s something off about that footage. I remember the surveince cameras at the crime scene are in disrepair and they¡¯re practically non-functional. If that¡¯s the case, where did this footagee from? Let¡¯s return to the crime scene and search again.¡± Christina stood before the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor and watched as the police officers drove away impassively. She turned to Lyle who was ordered, ¡°Bring Emilia to me. I have questions for her.¡± Chapter 711 Stay Out Of The Way Chapter711StayOutOfTheWay However, Lyle did not return with the person Christina wished to see. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, after Mrs. Lazuli visited Emilia, she disappeared. Her manager has already reported to thepany that they can¡¯t contact Emilia,¡± Lyle reported in a serious tone. ¡°Emilia¡¯s contract with the entertainmentpany has two years left before it officially expires.¡± Harboring dreams of stardom, Emilia sought to turn her life around through this avenue. What is her purpose if her disappearance isn¡¯t forced but intentional? Is she trying to evade paying a penalty to the entertainmentpany for breaching her contract! However, there is no escaping the penalty. Emilia should know this well. ¡°After Mrs. Lazuli left Emilia¡¯s ce, she went straight to the police station. There¡¯s no doubt that Mrs. Lazuli reported to the police that you were the one who plotted against Anya.¡± Lyle added. ¡°That is not Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s intention. Find out Emilia¡¯s whereabouts as soon as possible.¡± Without Emilia stirring the pot, Mrs. Lazuli wouldn¡¯t have risked such a move without concrete evidence. In the evening. Nathaniel came to pick Christina up for a birthday banquet. The banquet was hosted by David, who was celebrating his mother¡¯s birthday with such extravagance it could rival any opulent feast. Victoria and Sebastian, the subjects of intense public gossip, were also present. Christina was surprised to see them entertaining guests hand in hand. Christina seized the opportunity and pulled Victoria into a secluded corner. ¡°What brings you here?¡± IfI remember correctly, I saw Preston¡¯s name on the guest list. ¡°Sebastian is attending the banquet as Mr. Hadley¡¯s secretary, and I¡¯m apanying him as his partner. Is there a problem with that?¡± Victoria swirled the wine ss in her hand casually, her gaze tracing Sebastian¡¯s every move. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid your brother will spot you?¡± Christina asked. ¡°Afraid? Quite the contrary. I¡¯m actually anxious that he isn¡¯t here yet. Since his meeting Sebastian is inevitable, having them meet in advance isn¡¯t such a bad idea,¡± Victoria said, draping her arm around Christina¡¯s shoulder. Tonight, nearly half of Jadeborough¡¯s prominent figures will gather here. My brother, who values his pride over anything else, wouldn¡¯t dare make a scene in front of this audience no matter how upset he is about my rtionship with Sebastian. Besides, aren¡¯t you and Mr. Hadley here to support us? Mr. Hadley would never let anyone bully his people.¡± ¡°By your words, if you married Sebastian, wouldn¡¯t that make Preston Nathaniel¡¯s and my brother¨Cin- law?¡± Christina suddenly had this absurd thought. Victoria¡¯s delicate face crumpled into a frown. ¡°Ah, how did I not think of that? Mr. Hadley treats Sebastian like a brother. Christina, am I causing trouble for you? Perhaps I should slip away before my brother arrives! Christina¡¯s gaze shifted to the entrance. She cocked a brow and said, ¡°Toote. Preston is already here.¡± Victoria quickly hid behind Christina, poking her head out cautiously to look at the entrance. Unfortunately, Preston spotted Victoria the moment he stepped through the door. He walked straight toward Christina. ¡°How long are you going to hide, Victoria?¡± Preston¡¯s sharp gaze and well¨Ctailored ck suit set off his coldness and ruthlessness to the fullest. ¡°Come here!¡± Victoria clutched Christina¡¯s dress. ¡°Preston, there are many people watching. Spare me some dignity. We can talk at home.¡± Preston hade with the intention of confronting Victoria. He let out a snort and said, ¡°If you knew shame, you wouldn¡¯t be messing around with a man out there.¡± The rebellious spirit in Victoria sparked to life. She stood forward, ready to lock horns with her brother. ¡°What do you mean? Sebastian and I are truly in love with each other. We¡¯re in a serious rtionship.. Preston, you may not approve of us, but please, don¡¯t insult Sebastian.¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes reddened, tears welling up in them. ¡°In your eyes, Sebastian may be an ordinary man, but to me, he is exceptional and ambitious. I won¡¯t marry anyone but him.¡± If it were not for the greater cause, Preston wouldn¡¯t bother about the trouble Victoria got into outside. ¡°Stop this nonsense, Victoria!¡± Preston scolded harshly. He reached out to grab Victoria, but Christina stepped in between them. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, this is a family matter between Victoria and me. Please stay out of the way.¡± Christina replied with a in smile, ¡°Mr. Lesley, tonight is Mr. Labarge¡¯s mother¡¯s birthday celebration. Victoria is here to join the celebration. It¡¯s a joyous asion. It seems inappropriate for you to cause a scene here, don¡¯t you think?¡± Preston could not care less about David. His mere presence was already giving the man more credit than he deserved. Preston¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously as he said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley¡ª¡± ¡°Mr. Lesley, do you have something against my wife?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s cold voice rang out right then. Apanied by Sebastian, he strode toward Christina ¡°You can talk to me directly. There¡¯s no need to trouble my wife. She¡¯s carrying our child, and she cannot be burdened with the slightest hint of distress.¡± A surprised look flitted across Preston¡¯s eyes as he nced at Christina¡¯s belly. His pent¨Cup anger exploded the moment he witnessed Victoria lunging herself into Sebastian¡¯s arms. ¡°Nathaniel, please look after the people around you. Preston had always held fast to a stringent set of principles. He wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to make things difficult for a vulnerable pregnant woman just to achieve his goals. ¡°Not just anyone is fit to associate themselves with the Lesley family.¡± Nathaniel protected Christina behind him and smirked. ¡°I see that you take issue with my assistant. If you believe that a match between Mr. Taggart and Ms. Lesley would stain the Lesley family¡¯s reputation, you are severely mistaken. It¡¯s clear that you don¡¯t understand Mr. Taggart, much like everyone else.¡± He patted Sebastian¡¯s shoulder and continued. ¡°Allow me to introduce my assistant formally. This is Sebastian Taggart. He will soon be the executive deputy CEO of the Hadley Corporation branch office overseas. As far as I remember, the Lesley family¡¯s overseas investments are still in their early stages. If, in the future, Sebastian and the Lesley family were to be family, wouldn¡¯t that greatly benefit the Lesley family?¡± Even though it was only an executive deputy CEO post, the position would essentially make Sebastian the second¨Cinmand of Hadley Corporation. Not only did the candidate for such a position need to possess exceptional capabilities, but the candidate would also require theplete trust of their superior. Nathaniel was pushing Preston into a corner, a position from which Preston found himself unable to resist or refute. In essence, Nathaniel was stating the hard facts that once the Lesley family ceased its opposition to the rtionship between Victoria and Sebastian, the coboration between the two families could bypass the gatekeeper that was Nathaniel himself. Sebastian could facilitate the coboration instead. All Preston desired was a prosperous future for the Lesley family. ¡°Surely you¡¯re not jesting. Mr. Hadley?¡± Chapter 712 Change In Attitude Chapter712 ChangeInAttitude As a precaution. Preston decided to sound out Nathaniel. ¡°We¡¯ve been acquainted for years, Mr. Lesley. Do you still not know me?¡± A cold smile formed on Nathaniel¡¯s lips. ¡°Sebastian is loyal to me. I won¡¯t disappoint him just to please others. He deserves this.¡± Nathaniel was right. He didn¡¯t need to please others, for he had the quality of being the one others toadied to. Preston stared at Nathaniel. He quickly came up with a n and gave him a vague answer. ¡°Even though an elder brother can be considered a parent, my parents are still alive and well, so I can¡¯t decide on my parents¡® behalf. I hope you can forgive me for that. The Lesley family isn¡¯t amon household, so if Mr. Taggart wishes to continue staying by my sister¡¯s side, he¡¯ll have to follow the rules Following traditional marriage customs is a must. I¡¯m sure that isn¡¯t a difficult request.¡± Preston¡¯s change in attitude caught Sebastian off guard. Despite the happiness within him, Sebastian forced himself to y it cool. ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Lesley. I¡¯ll respect Victoria¡¯s and the Lesley family¡¯s requests. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± He was eager to show Preston his sincerity toward Victoria, but he wasn¡¯t a smooth talker. Preston didn¡¯t need Sebastian to persuade him with clich¨¦s. He gave him a long stare and warned, ¡°Sebastian, remember your promise today.¡± At that moment, David raced over with his secretary. ¡°It¡¯s my honor to have you both, Mr. Hadley and Mr. Lesley, attend my mother¡¯s birthday banquet. I apologize in advance if there¡¯s anyck of hospitality.¡± David wasn¡¯t hoping much when he sent the invitation to Nathaniel and Preston since it wouldn¡¯t affect him in the slightest if the two didn¡¯t show up, but if they did attend, his social status would rise. He wouldn¡¯t have to be cautious and check others¡® expressions in the future when he managed his company. Those people might end up being the ones who buttered up to him. David had had people keep an eye on Nathaniel and Preston. When he noticed the growing tension between the two, he didn¡¯t dare to approach and had chosen to watch from the side instead. ¡°Thank you for inviting me, Mr. Labarge. You gave me a chance to settle some troublesome matters. I¡¯ll have to take my leave since I have something else scheduled,¡± Preston said indifferently. He turned around and left the moment he finished. David only got the gist behind Preston¡¯s words and misunderstood them for some dispute between Preston and Nathaniel, not connecting it to the scandal of Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship. David was about to approach Nathaniel when the butler ran to his side and whispered something in his ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to deal with an urgent matter with my mother. Please excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley.¡± After courteously exining his departure, David left with his butler without waiting for a reply from Nathaniel and Christina. Christina hadn¡¯t caught sight of Winston since the banquet started. That, along with David¡¯s hasty departure, piqued her curiosity. ¡°You must be tired. Let¡¯s head home.¡± Nathaniel had never liked attending banquets. Since he had already achieved what he came out to do that day, he didn¡¯t need to continue wasting his time there in the name of talking business. Moreover, Christina was quite far in her pregnancy, She needed rest too. Christina frowned. ¡°Are we leaving already? We haven¡¯t wished Old Mrs. Labarge a happy birthday yet.¡± ¡°Old Mrs. Labarge is busy handling something, so she won¡¯t have time to meet anyone. Sending her a present is enough.¡± Nathaniel leaned closer and whispered in Christina¡¯s ear, ¡°Winston is here. I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t be peaceful for the Labarge family tonight. We don¡¯t need to be dragged into their mess,¡± ¡°Let¡¯s head home, then. I¡¯m a bit tired.¡± A sh of disappointment flickered across Christina¡¯s eyes. She wasn¡¯t interested in the bustling atmosphere around her. Catching the look in her eyes, Nathaniel didn¡¯t expose her thoughts immediately. ¡°Sebastian, I¡¯m putting you in charge of sending Ms. Lesley home.¡±¡° Sebastian nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley. Be careful on the road.¡± Before leaving, Victoria grabbed Christina¡¯s arm and said, ¡°I heard Winston is going to part ways with David. The conflict between them has made them turn against each other.¡± Christina said impassively. ¡°I¡¯m free tomorrow. I can keep youpany.¡± Victoria understood her implication. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± When Christina and Nathaniel returned to the car, Nathaniel asked, ¡°What did you talk about with Victoria earlier? You guys were being mysterious, so I¡¯m a bit curious.¡± Christina smiled in response. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Victoria wants to join my fashion design studio. Since the renovation is nearpletion, she wants to take a look around. Also, she asked for mypany to shop for her wedding ring as a surprise for Sebastian.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. She and Victoria had talked about it on WhatsApp. They merely brought forward the date to purchase the wedding ring. Nathaniel looked indifferent, so she couldn¡¯t gauge his thoughts. ¡°Nathaniel, you can¡¯t tell anyone about her being the chief designer of my studio. I would like to wait until the day the studio resumes business before making a solemn announcement to the public. Oh, keep that tidbit about her proposal to Sebastian a secret, too,¡± Christina added. Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her. ¡°Okay. Let me know if your studio needs my help. I have a few mediapanies that can help promote and advertise your studio.¡±¡° ¡°I¡¯m sure the fee is expensive. I can¡¯t afford that.¡± She had already poured a lot of her savings into renovating the studio. When it started operating, it still needed arge sum of money. There was also Gibson Corporation taking off on top of that. Christina had lost two¨Cthirds of her savings. Nathaniel chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not taking your money. It¡¯s free advertising. The mediapanies are considered matrimonial properties, so you have ownership over them as well. We¡¯re married. You don¡¯t have to draw a line with me. I don¡¯t like that.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s considerate offer made Christina feel guilty. She regretted lying to him and omitting the truth. Her apology was already on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed it back at the veryst minute. She decided to tell him everything once she found out the reason why David and Winston fell out after meeting with Victoria the next day, Christina triedforting herself with that excuse but couldn¡¯t convince herself. ¡°Christina, I have something to ask you, and I hope you can tell me the truth.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s smile slowly faded. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been investigating Yerek¡¯s assets overseas. What are you trying to do?¡± Yerek¡¯s circumstances were vastly different from before. Those who willingly supported him weren¡¯t good people. For such an egoist like Yerek, he would surely take his revenge against Christina once he could stand on his own feet. Nathaniel couldn¡¯t handle things getting out of his control. He hoped Christina would choose to rely on him forever. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°My father¡¯s cut is among the assets Nigel¡¯s transferred overseas. I have to get it back for him. Based on my investigations, it seems Yerek has no assets under his name, both domestically and internationally, except for thepanies in the country that are facing bankruptcy.¡± Chapter 713 He Is Your Only Son Chapter713HeIsYourOnlySon Nathaniel knitted his brows. ¡°Some of the assets overseas Yerek inherited from Nigel are nothing more than shellpanies. It seems that both Yerek and we were deceived by Nigel,¡± ¡°What? Why would Nigel do that?¡± Christina eximed. Nigel¡¯s locked up in prison, and yet he went through all this trouble to set up this scheme? How on earth did he pull it off while being stuck behind bars? ¡°Nigel¡¯s ultimate goal is to be the head of Gibson Corporation, but hecks the capability to achieve it. However, it¡¯s a different story for Yerek, who is now a free man. The fact that Yerek managed to find a reliable person he could count on in just a little over a month indicates that he must have had someone guide him behind the scenes.¡± Christina went deep in thought. Who could that be? Anya is dead, and Mrs. Lazuli doesn¡¯t seem capable of orchestrating such a n. Even Emilia has vanished without a trace. At this point, the only person Yerek could count on is Barnaby, ¡°Could Barnaby be the person who offered Yerek guidance?¡± Christina made a wild guess. ¡°Sheridan still holds sway in the Stone family, so Barnaby wouldn¡¯t dare to make any reckless moves. With Sheridan¡¯s absolute power in the family, no one in their right mind would dare to challenge him.¡± As the primary suspect was eliminated, Christina found herself trapped once again in a deadlock of thoughts. She could not afford to sit idly by. After much hesitation, she said earnestly, ¡°I want to meet Nigel.¡± Since she could not find any clues from Yerek, she thought it best to shift her focus to Nigel instead. Nathaniel knew nothing would hold Christina back. ¡°Tell me when you¡¯d like to meet him. I¡¯ll get someone to make the necessary arrangements. ¡°Let¡¯s schedule it for tomorrow morning. Let¡¯s get it done and over with.¡± Christina had thought she could avoid any contact with Nigel as long as she chose to ignore any updates or information about him. However, that was all wishful thinking on her part. The next morning. Lyle apanied Christina to the prison to pay Nigel a visit. In just a short span of half a month, the experience of imprisonment had eroded Nigel¡¯s once proud demeanor and determination. His jet¨Cck hair had turned silver, and his face bore the weight of weariness and hardships. His once¨Csharp eyes were robbed of their vitality, leaving them dull and lifeless. Nigel¡¯s eyes darted stiffly from side to side, devoid of expression. He lifted his gaze to see the striking Christina seated before him. The malicious smile that tugged at the corners of his lips could send shivers down anyone¡¯s spine. Separated by a thick pane of ss, Christina remained unfazed. ¡°Nigel, it¡¯s been a while. It appears that prison life hasn¡¯t been too kind to you,¡± Christina said with a subtle grin. ¡°On the bright side, you should be grateful that your charges are limited to financial crimes. Anyway, I¡¯ll work doubly hard to make sure your stay behind bars is prolonged.¡± Nigel¡¯s facial muscles twitched, and his gaze turned dark and cold. ¡°Christina, did youe here today just to rub it in my face?¡± ¡°Oh, certainly not. I¡¯m here specifically to seek your guidance. I¡¯m genuinely curious about how you were able to covertly transfer Gibson Corporation¡¯s assets overseas and subsequently erase any trace of it. I find it intriguing how you left no evidence behind,¡± Christina said, her eyes fixed on Nigel¡¯s, afraid of missing even the slightest clue. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Nigel responded calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve sessfully taken control of Gibson Corporation, and you know better than anyone what assets I had. Now I¡¯m just an ipetent prisoner. Whatever charges you want to pin on me. I¡¯ll ept my fate.¡± Nigel was confident that Christina did not have any evidence in her hands. Otherwise, she would not havee specifically to engage him in this conversation. Like a solitary wanderer, he remained calm and unperturbed, impervious to any provocation. ¡°Do you know Anya is dead?¡± Christina suddenly changed the subject, calmly delivering that tragic piece of news. ¡°She was trapped in a car in a fire and burned alive. The culprit remains atrge, and the case has made little progress. I wonder, could Yerek be the next target of the killer? Oh, no. He¡¯s your only son, isn¡¯t he T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Bang! Nigel furiously mmed the table with his fists, his body hunched over, and his eyes burning with intense anger. He looked daggers at Christina, his demeanor resembling a provoked beast trapped in confinement Unfazed by Nigel¡¯s disy of anger, Christina remainedposed and continued, ¡°Among the assets you secretly moved overseas over the years, there¡¯s a portion that rightfully belongs to my father. You might have thought that by changing ownership, I would be left powerless. But let me assure you that¡¯s not the case. As for Yerek, his situation isn¡¯t looking too promising either. I believe there are forces at work that will deal with him without my interference. Yerek¡¯s fate will be far more devastating than Anya¡¯s. You may be counting on Barnaby to turn the tables, but unfortunately, when they learned about your imprisonment, the Stone family, in order to distance themselves, publicly denied acknowledging your identity. Yerek is fighting a battle on his own, surrounded by enemies from all sides. How long do you think he can hold on?¡± Veins bulged on Nigel¡¯s forehead, a clear sign that he was struggling to contain an inner turmoil. The two of them remained locked in a stalemate, with Christina appearing calm andposed, patiently waiting for Nigel to take the initiative and discuss their terms. Nigel gritted his teeth. ¡°Christina Steele, you¡¯re despicable!¡± Christina responded with a gentle smile, ¡°I¡¯ll never be as despicable as you.¡± She deliberately nced at her watch. ¡°Visiting hours are almost over. I¡¯ll give us this one chance to cooperate, and I suppose you wouldn¡¯t have agreed to meet me if you didn¡¯t have your own agenda in mind.¡± Nigel wrestled with his thoughts, engaged in an internal battle. He licked his chapped lips and confessed, ¡°Regarding the incident that urred fifteen years ago¡­.. I believe you should have discovered the involvement of Hendrick and David Labarge. Yes, I conspired with them. The Labarge cousins assisted me with the transfer of assets, and I provided them with the initial capital to start their ownpany. Suddenly, a realization struck Christina. ¡°So, the rumors about your supposed falling out with Winston over Raveworks Enterprise were just a staged act?¡± Upon witnessing the shock in Christina¡¯s eyes, Nigel could not help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over him. A glimmer of triumph gleamed in his dim eyes. ¡°Hendrick is a man driven by greed and ambition. Give him the slightest hint of hope, and he would risk his life to take a gamble. We considered numerous scenarios for our ns, but we never expected that I would end up in prison so soon.¡± Nigel¡¯s expression contorted. ¡°You mentioned earlier that the assets I transferred to Yerek were emptied. It must be the work of Hendrick and David. They must have done it, thinking my days are over.¡± The very weapon Nigel had wielded with the most power fifteen years ago had eventually turned against him. What a ruthless move With nothing holding him back, Nigel made the decision to expose everything. If I¡¯m destined for hell, I¡¯ll make sure to drag them down with me! Nigel¡¯s voice took on a resolute tone. ¡°I reckon what I just said should be enough for you to spare Yerck¡¯s life, Christina. So, you better keep your promise, or I won¡¯t spare you even in death!¡± Chapter 714 An Unfair Agreement Chapter714AnUnfairAgreement Christina didn¡¯t immediately agree to Nigel¡¯s conditions. ¡°I need time to verify whether what you¡¯re saying is true. Before that, I expect you to behave yourself and stay in yourne. It¡¯s a condition that must be met for us to sessfully coborate.¡± It was obviously an unfair agreement, but Nigel was not in a position to refuse. Nigel had already lived through almost two¨Cthirds of his life. As a deeply traditional person, he didn¡¯t have extravagant expectations for the time that remained. His only wish was to have someone dear to him by his side in his old age and provide him with support until his final days. Now that Anya was gone, Yerek became the only person Nigel could truly depend on. Nigel looked back on the days of boundless glory when he had control over the Gibson family and compared it to his current situation. His overwhelming emotion wasn¡¯t one of regret but rather a deep- seated self¨Cdirected anger for not being ruthless enough. Because of his momentarypse in judgment, he had inadvertently provided his long¨Csuffering prey with an opportunity to turn the tide. ¡°I¡¯m already a prisoner with my life and death in your hands. There¡¯s nothing I can do,¡± said Nigel with a bitter smile, his face marked by a growing look of defeat and weariness. No matter how dire Nigel¡¯s circumstances were, they failed to elicit even a hint ofpassion from Christina as the death of her mother and the tormenting years her father had endured in a wheelchair only served to fuel her hatred toward Nigel. All of a sudden, a sinister idea blossomed in Christina¡¯s heart. ¡°In consideration of your somewhat sincere intentions, Nigel, I¡¯ll share a little tidbit of information with you.¡± Christina¡¯s lips curled into a menacing smirk. ¡°Do you remember Emilia? Anya¡¯s death may have. something to do with her. Yerek and Emilia share a close rtionship behind the scenes. Who knows. perhaps Yerek could have had some involvement in the incident.¡± With that, Christina whirled around and left without sparing another backward nce. ¡°What do you mean by that, Christina? Come back here and make things clear!¡± A scream of rage tore from Nigel¡¯s throat, echoing behind her, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing to the floor. Nigel¡¯s own flesh and blood had conspired to harm his half¨Csister. The source of this tragedy stemmed from Nigel¡¯s insatiable greed. Undoubtedly, he deserved to bear the weight of this agonizing guilt. The elusive truth loomed over Nigel like a razor¨Csharp guillotine poised to im his life one day. Even if he managed to survive by some stroke of luck, he would be condemned to a fate worse than death¡ªa life devoid of true purpose and filled with unending torment. Christina stepped out of the prison gates,ing to a pause in front of her car. Gazing up at the somber. ashen sky, she let out a gentle sigh. A sense of mncholy burdened Christina¡¯s heart like a mountain resting upon it. Despite witnessing the pitiful state of Nigel firsthand, she did not feel as satisfied as she had imagined. Lyle, sensing her subdued mood, asked, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, if you are facing any challenging problems that need solving. I¡¯m here to offer my assistance.¡± Aforting smile spread across Christina¡¯s face as she replied, ¡°There are indeed plenty of issues that need to be resolved, and your assistance will be of great help. I won¡¯t hesitate to ask for your help, and in fact. I have a matter that requires your assistance.¡± ¡°Please, do tell.¡± ¡°I promised to meet my junior at ten o¡¯clock, and it¡¯s almost time. I would appreciate it if you could take me to the designated location as efficiently as possible, Christina said with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste any time. My junior has a strong dislike for tardiness.¡± Lyle, having won several international racing championships, was skilled in driving almost any mode of transportation, whether it be airborne, aquatic, or terrestrial. There was hardly any type of vehicle he couldn¡¯t handle with expertise. The journey from the detention center to the city center would normally take half an hour by car. If the traffic was smooth, they would reach their destination in fifteen minutes. However, Christina was not an ordinary passenger; she was with child. The speed of the car had to be maintained within a safe range, and this undoubtedly added ayer of difficulty to Lyle¡¯s quest. Feeling the pressure, he said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ll try to drive faster to ensure you arrive on time for your appointment.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t take it so seriously. I was just kidding! My junior is notorious for beingte to appointments: Usually, it¡¯s others who have to wait for her. Let¡¯s go.¡± After saying her yful remark, Christina strode toward the car. Lyle, not entirely at ease, stepped forward to open the car door for her. ¡°Thank you, but I can do it myself next time.¡± ¡°This is part of my job. There¡¯s no need to be so polite, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Christina said nothing further and got into the car. Lyle then gently closed the door. During the journey that followed, she admired Lyle¡¯s exceptional driving skills. When the car came to a smooth stop in front of the restaurant, Christina remained in awe. Not only did Lyle drive fast, but he also disyed an impressive level of stability. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mrs. Hadley?¡± Lyle got out of the car and opened the backseat door. Upon noticing Christina¡¯s dazed expression, he felt his heart leap to his throat, concerned that she might have been startled or identally injured. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± ¡°Christina said, holding onto the door for support as she got out of the car, her legs feeling slightly weak. ¡°Lyle, your driving skills are even more impressive than I¡¯ve imagined. I hope to have the opportunity to see your excellence on the racetrack next time.¡± The man quickly lowered his gaze. ¡°Certainly. I¡¯ll offer you aplimentary ticket to next the international racingpetition. ¡°One ticket won¡¯t be enough. You¡¯ll have to give me several more. I have quite a few friends who are interested in racing. I¡¯ll bring them along to cheer for you at the event,¡± Christina said, her toneced with sincerity. ¡°Thank you, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Lyle¡¯s fondness for Christina rose another notch. It wasn¡¯t until Christina had downed her third cup of water that Victoria finally arrived. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Christina. I got caught up with something. You must¡¯ve waited for a long time. I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Victoria uttered, pressing her palms together with an apologetic look on her face. ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you. Please don¡¯t be angry with me!¡± Christina lifted her fingers and yfully flicked the woman¡¯s forehead. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m that petty?¡± she teased. Victoria subserviently approached Christina and, like arge dog, wrapped her arms around Christina¡¯s. She then proceeded to put on a cutesy act. ¡°Of course not! Christina, you¡¯re like an angel in my eyes. No one can ever rece you as the most important person in my heart.¡± Christina cast her a sidelong nce. ¡°If I¡¯m number one in your heart, then what about Sebastian?¡® ¡°It¡¯s different, you see. You¡¯re my best friend, my number one in that regard. Sebastian is my significant. other, and my number one in that aspect. You two are in entirely different categories,¡± Victoria exined with a pout. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. As the two sat closely together, Christina couldn¡¯t resist casting a quick nce down Victoria¡¯s smooth and graceful neck. She noticed the suggestive marks concealed beneath her cor. ¡°Victoria, how goes your rtionship with Sebastian?¡± Victoria stared at her with a puzzled expression, unsure why she suddenly asked such a question. Nevertheless, Christina¡¯s gaze was too intense to ignore, causing Victoria to hastily pull up her cor. Blushing with a scarlet hue, she swiftly redirected the conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s get down to business, Christina, I¡¯ve uncovered quite a bit of shocking information about the Labarge family, and I can hardly wait to share them with you!¡± Chapter 715 Shady Business Chapter715ShadyBusiness Knowing that Victoria was intentionally changing the subject, Christina decided to go along with it. ¡°Okay, spill the beans. What shocking information did you discover?¡± Victoria took a sip of her juice, half a cup vanishing quickly, and then cleared her throat before cautiously surveying their surroundings. Satisfied that only Lyle, whom Christina trusted, was present, she began to share the information she had uncovered. ¡°Last night, shortly after we left, something happened at David¡¯s residence. The banquet was abruptly cut short, and there are rumors that a dispute arose between the Labarge cousins over an uneven division of theirpany. During the altercation, David identally stabbed Winston, leading Winston¡¯s family to insist on involving the police. However, David¡¯s mother intervened. She managed to suppress the incident and create an opportunity for further discussion.¡± Christina probed further, ¡°But weren¡¯t Winston and David working well together? Why did they suddenly go their separate ways?¡± ¡°It appears that Emilia¡¯s entanglement with the two cousins served as the indirect trigger of the altercation. After all, it is difficult for any man to ept his partner betraying him and bing involved with his own brother. Emilia¡¯s maniption skills are truly remarkable. She managed to captivate and manipte both brothers.¡± Victoria couldn¡¯t help but sigh as she continued, ¡°One of the main reasons is David¡¯s discontent with a cerrain high¨Cranking executive in thepany. He holds prestigious titles but contributes little to the actual work, yet still receives substantial rewards. David believes that he has put in immense effort for thepany, only to be given the position of vice president. He demanded arger share of the company¡¯s stocks and dividends, or even the opportunity to take over thepany itself, but Winston refused to agree. Since David couldn¡¯t do much about the high¨Cranking executive, he resorted to targeting Winston. This led to a major argument between the two men, and David announced that he would be working independently from that point onward.¡± After taking a sip of her juice to quench her thirst, Victoria went on. ¡°Last night, Winston attended the banquet with the intention of making David¡¯s mother their mediator, hoping she could persuade David to change his mind. However, things took a turn for the worse as they started bringing up old matters and arguing with one another. Eventually, it escted to a physical altercation which was only brought to an end when David ended up stabbing Winston. ¡°Interestingly, the mysterious high¨Cranking executive has never shown his face since thepany was established. He¡¯s only responsible for providing funds and projects. asionally, he¡¯d issue some orders, leaving Winston and David to handle all the legwork. However, this is just one version of the story. There¡¯s another version where it is rumored that the Labarge cousins are involved in some shady business and offended some people they shouldn¡¯t have. They made a fortune through unorthodox means, and now those people are closing in on them. Fearing the consequences, David suggested parting ways and venturing into their respective business endeavors.¡± The information Victoria had discovered aligned closely with what Nigel had told Christina. Christina believed that the deteriorating rtionship between the Labarge cousins was indeed connected to both versions of the rumors. It was Nigel who had provided the funding to establish thepany. Despite having already amassed a fortune fifteen years prior, the cousins sought to repeat their misdeeds, this time aiming at their former benefactor, Nigel. Winston and David had stolen the assets that Nigel had transferred overseas. It was only a matter of time before this secret would be unearthed by Yerek In the face of their own interests, Winston and David harbored mutual distrust, fearing betrayal from one another. This prompted them to hastily go their separate ways in order to safeguard their respective gains and minimize any potential damage. ¡°Did Winston agree to call off their partnership?¡± Christina asked. ¡°David is out to kill him. It¡¯s only natural that Winston wouldn¡¯t want a ticking time bomb by his side. Early this morning, he got in touch with awyer to draft a contract. However, resolving the situation completely might not be easy, considering how David managed to rise to his current position. His mother is aware of the situation. She¡¯ll be reluctant to let go of Winston, who yed a huge role in her son¡¯s sess. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. With that knowledge in mind, Christina instructed the other woman, ¡°If Winston and David end up parting ways, you must let me know immediately.¡± Victoria realized that something exciting was about to happen, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. ¡°Christina, do you already have an idea in mind?¡± ¡°To be honest, I managed to extract plenty of valuable information from Anya on the day of the incident. Winston has in his possession a recording that serves as evidence of their coboration with Nigel in harming my parents fifteen years ago. He¡¯s been using it to protect himself, and unfortunately. I haven¡¯t been able to find out where he¡¯s hiding it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not nning to approach Winston and David under the pretext of cooperation to obtain the evidence, are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the most practical option I have thus far.¡± Victoria hung her head in despair, repeatedly pping her own lips with her hand. Seeing this, Christina was momentarily taken aback. She swiftly intervened, gently grabbing Victoria¡¯s hand to prevent her from causing harm to herself. ¡°What are you doing. Victoria?¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have shared this information with you. You¡¯re putting yourself at risk by doing this, and if Mc Hadley finds out that I was the one who leaked the information to you, he¡¯ll kill me. Christina, please have mercy on me. I¡¯m begging you. I¡¯m not even married yet, and Sebastian doesn¡¯t deserve to be widowed before he gets the chance to marry. Please spare my life, and let¡¯s find someone else to handle this, okay?¡± Victoria stared at Christina with teary eyes as she pleaded. Desperate to dissuade thetter from acting on her risky n, she was on the brink of dropping to her knees. Victoria hade to regard Nathaniel as her elder brother. She was fiercely loyal to Christina, but at the same time, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend the man. After all, she had fallen in love with a certain somebody¡¯s assistant. ¡°I¡¯ll inevitablye into contact with Winston and David at some point. I can¡¯t hide forever,¡± Christina said solemnly, weighing the pros and cons of her n. ¡°If I personally approach one of them to discuss cooperation. I¡¯ll be able to demonstrate my sincerity, and the chances of sessfully gaining their trust will increase exponentially. People tend to becent with time, especially since they have sessfully deceived the Gibson family twice in a row. Despite that, Victoria remained unconvinced by the n. ¡°How about I personally approach them on behalf of Lesley Group? David previously attempted to curry favor with my brother but to no avail,¡± Although Christina knew that Victoria genuinely wanted to contribute something to the n, she couldn¡¯t help but throw a bucket of cold water on her enthusiasm. ¡°You have enough on your te with the issues surrounding your rtionship with Sebastian. Since you have to deal with your family, you shouldn¡¯t get involved in this. Aren¡¯t you afraid that your brother will seize this opportunity to impose a bunch of conditions on you?¡± Victoria furrowed her brows, and a frown soon etched itself on her delicate face. In a dejected tone, she said, ¡°Christina, am I really that useless? I can¡¯t even handle my own family affairs, and now I¡¯m burdening others with worry.¡± She just wanted to be with someone she loved, but it seemed nearly impossible for her to make it happen. ¡°What are you think about? I think you¡¯re doing great. You¡¯re willing to go against your family for the sake of your lover. It took you and Sebastian considerable effort to convince your brother to ept your rtionship. Are you just going to give up halfway?¡± Victoria shook her head fervently. ¡°No way! I can already picture our wedding, and I¡¯m just waiting for the day he marries me. I¡¯ve put a great deal of effort into this rtionship, so I¡¯m not going to let all my hard work go to waste.¡± Just as Christina was about to offer a few words offort to Victoria, she caught sight of a familiar figure at the corner of the restaurant not too far away. Chapter 716 Follower Chapter716Follower Not receiving any response from Christina even after waiting for a long while, Victoria shifted her gaze and followed Christina¡¯s line of sight to an empty corner. She asked curiously, ¡°Christina, what are you looking at?¡± A hint of coldness flitted across Christina¡¯s eyes as she withdrew her gaze. ¡°Nothing. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to survey jewelry? Let¡¯s go now.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ve already made an appointment with the jewelry designer. I guarantee you won¡¯t regret tagging along this time.¡± Victoria was exhrated at the mention of jewelry. She dragged Christina out of the restaurant. When Christina met the jewelry designer in person, she finally fathomed what Victoria meant when she said their meeting with the designer would be worthwhile. The jewelry designer Victoria hired was called Hera. Despite her young age, she was well¨Cknown internationally and only took on private custom orders from high¨Cend customers. She only epted two orders per year. Although she was rumored to be entric, that didn¡¯t affect her career progression or esteemed reputation. As soon as Victoria and Hera met, they greeted each other warmly with a cheek kiss. Victoria introduced, ¡°Hera, let me introduce you to my senior, Christina. She has her own clothing brand and studio. She¡¯ll be my boss after some time.¡± Hera, possessing Epean and Adrunian bloodline, bored her gray¨Cblue eyes into Christina¡¯s. She stretched out her hand and said, ¡°Hello, my name is Hera. I¡¯m a jewelry designer. Victoria and I are university ssmates. I often heard her talk about you.¡± Christina shook hands with Hera and smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about you, Ms. Hera. Thanks to Victoria, I have the pleasure of meeting you in person today. I truly didn¡¯te for nothing this time.¡± Hera responded with a courteous smile. Those tteringpliments circte mainly because of how supportive others are.¡±¡° Victoria linked their arms with hers, one on each side. ¡°Let¡¯s sit down and chat. After they interacted for some time, Christina realized Hera merely had an indifferent appearance. In fact, she was talkative and humorous. The trio chatted about a few topics before moving on to their main agenda that day. Victoria expressed her requirements and ideas for the wedding ring to Hera. After more than an hour of discussion, Victoria and Hera finalized the initial draft. ¡°I¡¯ve made ns with friends tonight, so we¡¯ll have to meet again next time.¡± Hera looked apologetically at the two. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to a meal when I¡¯m free. I think our personalities are quitepatible, Ms. Steele, 1 hope we¡¯ll have a chance to work together in the future. Christina was pleasantly surprised. ¡°It would be my honor.¡± She was nning the first fashion show after her studio opened for business. If she could acquire Hera¡¯s jewelry sponsorship, her reputation and poprity would increase further. ¡°My ride is here. I look forward to our next meeting. Ms. Steele¡° Hera picked up her bag and left. While watching Hera¡¯s retreating figure, Christina had already formted a preliminary n for their coboration in her mind. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°Christina, I didn¡¯t lie to you, right?¡± Victoria leaned closer to Christina, seeking credit. Christina pinched Victoria¡¯s cheek. ¡°I owe you a favor for this.¡± ¡°You and Mr. Hadley have helped Sebastian and me so much that I don¡¯t even know how to thank you. Besides, I¡¯ll be working as a designer in your studio in the future. Getting sponsorships for the studio is also part of my job. Christina, given our rtionship, you don¡¯t need to be so formal with me.¡± ¡°Nevertheless, I still have to thank you for helping me establish this connection.¡± Victoria scratched her nose. ¡°So you saw through me.¡± ¡°You need more practice to polish your acting skills. Although my brand is somewhat famous, without the introduction from an acquaintance, a designer as renowned as Hera would never waste her time and energy to get to know an insignificant clothing brand, much less develop the interest to cooperate with us.¡± Hera could¡¯ve refused Victoria¡¯s request, but she had surprisingly epted, which prompted Christina to feel curious about Hera¡¯s intention. Christina was already looking forward to their next meeting. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a look at the studio. Do you want toe with me?¡± Christina asked Victoria. ¡°I¡¯ll pass. Sebastian and I agreed to have dinner together tonight. I need to go back now to prepare. I¡¯ll take my leave first, Christina. Don¡¯t overtire yourself. You¡¯re pregnant, after all. Be careful on the road,¡± Victoria reminded Christina thoughtfully before grabbing her bag and hastily leaving in excitement. Christina nced at a corner and said to Lyle, ¡°I want to go to the shopping mall next door to buy something for Lucas and Cam.¡± *Sure, Mrs. Hadley,¡± Lyle responded impassively. Christina strolled aimlessly in the children¡¯s area of the mall with Lyle, with a persistent follower treading on their heels. However, the stalker¡¯s tracking skills were franklyughable. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Christina turned and walked toward the restroom. Seeing that, the stalker hurried after her. Unexpectedly, right after the stalker stepped into the restroom. Lyle shut the door behind her. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, you¡¯ve been following me sneakily the whole time. What do you want?¡± After washing her hands, Christina leisurely wiped her hands with a piece of paper towel and tossed it into the trash can while fixating her emotionless eyes on the flustered Azure. Azure retreated to the corner of the wall. ¡°Tell him to leave first. I have something to say to you alone.¡± Unfortunately, the seemingly reasonable demand was ruthlessly denied by Christina. ¡°He¡¯s my confidant. There¡¯s nothing we have to talk about that must be kept under cover from others. If you mind, you don¡¯t have to discuss anything with me in person.¡± Christina wasn¡¯t clear about the purpose of Azure finding her, and she didn¡¯t know if Azure hade alone or had secretly brought helpers. Azure cast a wary nce at Lyle before speaking hesitantly. ¡°Christina, you¡¯ve already caused Nigel to be imprisoned. You can¡¯t harm Yerek too!¡± Yerek was their family¡¯s final trump card, so Azure wanted to ensure nothing bad would happen to him. ¡°Who told you I¡¯m going to harm Yerek?¡± Christina parrowed her eyes menacingly. My conversation with Nigel inside the jail shouldn¡¯t have leaked out so rarily. ¡°You had Nathaniel covertly investigate Yerek¡¯s assets. Isn¡¯t that part of your n to take back part of the riches that belonged to your father? Those are what Nigel deserved to receive from the beginning. Otherwise, the Gibson family would¡¯ve met its demise long ago during the years when your father was crippled,¡± Azure said harshly. ¡°Nigel does have his merits, but they¡¯re not enough to offset the crimes hemitted, nor is it an excuse for you to convince yourself to ept the reality,¡± Christina replied frostily. Azure knew Christina wasn¡¯t someone who would be easily fooled. She wanted to get closer to Christina but was blocked by Lyle. Having no other choice, Azure could only speak hoarsely while separated from Christina by a few steps. ¡°It was Winston who came up with the scheme to plot against your parents back Chapter 717 Backfired Chapter 717 Backfired Is Azure at her wit¡¯s end? I can¡¯t believe she still wants to clear Nigel¡¯s name! Christina retorted sharply, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to exhaust yourself trying to clear Nigel¡¯s name. If he never had the intention to harm anyone, he wouldn¡¯t need Winston¡¯s help. Nigel is going to jail, and that¡¯s a fact, so you don¡¯t need to waste time defending him or attempting to overturn his case.¡± Right after her words fell, a knife swung toward her. Azure had swiftly retrieved a knife from her bag and swung it menacingly at Christina, her expression filled with hostility. With lightning-fast reflexes, Lyle swiftly disarmed Azure, knocking the knife out of her hand. He then twisted her wrist, causing a loud crack to echo through the room as Azure let out a piercing scream of pain. Lyle forcefully pushed Azure away, creating distance between her and Christina. After positioning himself in front of Christina, he assumed a protective stance and fixed Azure with a stern re. Azure was too old to climb to her feet after crashing to the ground. Right then, someone knocked on the door from the outside. Azure gathered her might and called for help, ¡°Help! Someone wants to kill me! Save me! Don¡¯te near me!¡± Both Christina and Lyle stood rooted to their spots, watching Azure putting up an act. Outside, themotion grew as people heard Azure¡¯s cries for assistance. They started pounding on the door, desperately trying to break in ande to her aid. ¡°Lyle, open the door,¡± Christina ordered, turning to Lyle. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Lyle went over to the door to open it. The people outside stumbled and tumbled into the restroom, landing in a disheveled heap on the floor. It was a scene of utter disorder and confusion. Azure quickly grabbed the chance to say weakly, ¡°Save me! They want me dead!¡± The security team leader of the mall hurriedly stepped forward, his voice filled with concern. ¡°Madam, please don¡¯t be afraid. We are here to ensure your safety. Allow us to escort you to the hospital immediately.¡± Azure gripped his hands tightly and wailed, ¡°Thank you so much! If you hadn¡¯t made it here in time, I would¡¯ve died here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll make sure justice is served. We¡¯ve already called the police,¡± the security team leader assured her. He didn¡¯t even investigate what happened and assumed Christina and Lyle were in the wrong. Sometimes, one¡¯s age was a great weapon to attack others. Azure knew that, so she used the public¡¯s sympathy to frame Christina. To safeguard the privacy of their customers, the mall had chosen not to install surveince cameras inside the restroom, inadvertently providing an advantage to Azure. Christina approached Azure and gave her a cold look. ¡°Old Mrs. Gibson, this is awful society. If you are found guilty of defamation, you will have to face the consequences. I strongly advise you to reconsider your actions and the path you choose to take,¡± she warned, her voice icy. ¡°Mywyer will be in touch with you to handle the necessary legal proceedings.¡± The crowd could barely believe their ears. Could there be something we are unaware of? The elderly woman appears frail and helpless, lying on the ground. It seems as though she is the one being victimized. On the other hand, the youngdy and gentleman do not exhibit any signs of guilt. Azure argued, ¡°Don¡¯t believe her! She ruined my family, leading to the death of my granddaughter and the imprisonment of my son, I was merely seeking justice for my son and granddaughter, but she attempted to end my life!¡± As Azure¡¯s fabrications became more outrageous, Christina could no longer restrain herself and approached Azure with determination. Misinterpreting Christina¡¯s intentions, the security team leader sternly eximed, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Ignoring his warning, Christina dered, ¡°You¡¯ll find out whether or not she¡¯s telling the truth by checking the Inte. Someone btedly recognized Azure. ¡°Oh, no wonder this olddy looks familiar. It turns out she¡¯s Old Mrs. Gibson!¡± After getting her name, the crowd pulled out their phones and searched the Inte. They soon found a lot of gossip about the Gibson family. ¡°Oh, so Nigel Gibson is her son?¡± one of the onlookers eximed with disbelief. ¡°He caused harm to his own elder brother and sister-inw just to get his hands on the family¡¯s money. Now he¡¯s desperately trying to avoid going to jail and clear his name. How shameless can they be!¡± Perhaps the onlookers¡¯ gazes were too sharp, for Azure felt guilt wash over her. She covered her face, not daring to meet their eyes. The security team leader remained unfazed by the surrounding gossip. Keeping a professional demeanor he stated, ¡°Our priority right now is attending to the olddy¡¯s injuries. Please clear the way so we can safely transport her to the hospital.¡± Two security guards helped Azure out of the restroom. No one stopped Christina and Lyle from leaving the mall. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, do you need me to exin things online?¡± Lyle had seen some onlookers recording the incident and was afraid that Christina would be portrayed in a bad light on the Inte. Showing no signs of fear, Christina replied confidently, There¡¯s no need for that. This is what Old Mrs. Gibson desires, so I won¡¯t interfere. Please notify Yerek about the situation and let them handle it as they see fit.¡± Lyle left to do as told without asking questions. Upon receiving the second notification about Azure¡¯s hospitalization due to her injuries, Yerek reluctantly decided to pay her a visit. When he arrived, Azure immediately started pouring out her grievances. Clutching his hand, she pleaded, ¡°Yerek, I¡¯ve lost my son, and you¡¯re all I have left. I can¡¯t bear to see anything happen to you. You must reim Gibson Corporation from Christina and fulfill your father¡¯s wish. Yerek shoved her hand away impatiently and snapped, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why you keep creating problems for yourself. Christina has Nathaniel¡¯s backing, while we are left to fend for ourselves. We are no match for her! Instead ofplicating matters, why don¡¯t you focus on enjoying your remaining years? 1 will handle everything, so please stop causing more trouble for me, okay?¡± Azure gazed at him incredulously, refusing to believe that her usually filial grandson would treat her so rudely. ¡°Yerek, are you implying that I¡¯m old and worthless? Are you ming me for not being able to make Barnaby acknowledge you and your father? Is that why you believe everything I do will only be a burden. to you?¡± she asked sadly. ¡°That¡¯s right. If only you had pushed harder to make Barnaby acknowledge me and my father, perhaps none of this would have happened. My father wouldn¡¯t be in jail, Anya wouldn¡¯t be dead, and my business wouldn¡¯t be under constant threats!¡± Yerek burst out, his frustration evident. ¡°I feel like amb waiting to be ughtered by Nathaniel. He has a knife to my neck, ready to strike at any moment. If I make one wrong move, he won¡¯t hesitate to sh my throat. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been taking a step back and keeping a low profile, biding my time to regain my strength.¡± As he gripped Azure¡¯s shoulder, a crazed look took over his eyes. ¡°If you want to help me, go get Barnaby to acknowledge me so I can join the Stone family!¡± Chapter 718 Mine Chapter 718 Mine If I can secure the support of the Stone family, my chances of winning this game will greatly increase. Without Anya holding me back, the Gibson family will be mine and mine alone! Azure might be old, but Barnaby was a sentimental person. Clearly, they still had feelings for each other. Yerek still believed that the reason Barnaby didn¡¯t allow him and Nigel to return to the Stone family wasn¡¯t due to Sheridan¡¯s intimidation, but because Azure hadn¡¯t put forth her best efforts to make it happen. ¡°I-I¡¯ve tried everything, but Barnaby refused to say yes. Barnaby simply won¡¯t give his consent. I¡¯m at a loss for what to do. I can¡¯t bring myself to cause a scene at his house, as that would only bring disgrace upon us.¡± Azure sounded helpless. Azure¡¯s pride and sense of propriety prevented her from taking such drastic measures. Yerek sneered, ¡°Pride means nothing whenpared to wealth and power. Once I regain control of Gibson Corporation, I¡¯ll make sure those who have belittled and mistreated use to us and beg for our forgiveness!¡± Hearing that, Azure was moved. In her recent time of despair, she had felt the weight of everyone¡¯s disdain upon her, particrly from her once closest friends, who mocked and ridiculed her. It was a source of immense anguish. As a result, she became reclusive, seldom venturing outside her home. If someone hadn¡¯t informed her about Anya¡¯s demise, she would never have made her way to Jadeborough! Sensing her hesitation, Yerek softened his voice. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve asked around. After Old Mr. Stone¡¯s wife passed away, he never remarried. It seems he couldn¡¯t forget his first love.¡± Azure¡¯s eyes widened with a mixture of shock and barely contained excitement. Her voice trembled as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. ¡°I-Is it really true?¡± she asked, her eyes welling up with tears. Yerek replied solemnly, ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee it, but why don¡¯t you have a conversation with Old Mr. Stone directly? Grandma, remember, he¡¯s just a vulnerable human being. If you show him the extent of your suffering, he might feelpelled to help you, especially if he still harbors feelings for you.¡± He had made up his mind. Barnaby is distancing himself from us as he is prioritizing the pride of the Stone family over our well- being. I won¡¯t let him enjoy all the benefits while we suffer. Even if he threatens me, I will do everything in my power to involve the Stone family in this mess! Azure still couldn¡¯t bring herself to do it. ¡°Yerek, why don¡¯t you let me think over this? I¡¯ll give you an answerter.¡± Yerek arched a brow in delight. After his carrot and stick approach, she was finally showing signs of caving in. ¡°Okay, take your time. I have work to attend to as well, so I won¡¯t interrupt your rest. I¡¯ll visit you when I have some free time.¡± Azure replied cheerfully, ¡°Sure. Take care of your health, for you¡¯re my only surviving grandchild.¡± The moment Yerek turned to leave, the gentle smile on his lips disappeared. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. His gaze was fixated on the floor buttons in the elevator. Upon noting the one indicating the VIP wards, he pressed it. The elevator headed upstairs and stopped on the floor housing the VIP wards. Yerck stepped out of the elevator and fixed his gaze on the ward at the very end of the corridor. There were two burly bodyguards guarding the door. As they chatted softly, they sensed a stranger approaching. They looked up to see Yerek steadily making his way toward them. ¡°Sir, is there anything you need?¡± One of the bodyguards extended his hand, preventing Yerek from advancing any further. ¡°This is a VIP ward.¡± Yerck said calmly. ¡°The patient is my uncle, Timothy Gibson. I happened to be nearby and thought of paying him a visit.¡± The bodyguard remained firm. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but we didn¡¯t receive any visitor list. I¡¯m afraid you cannot enter.¡± Hearing that, Yerek deliberately put on an enlightened expression. ¡°Is that so? What a pity. I¡¯ll visit another day, then.¡± He cast a dark look at the door before turning to leave. After watching Yerek enter the elevator, the bodyguards immediately informed Christina about his arrival: Christina found his attempt to visit ridiculous. Considering his past actions and his unfulfilled goals, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he was resorting to the same trick to harm Timothy once again. She ordered, ¡°Without my consent, no one is to enter the ward to visit my father.¡± Rayne, who had been waiting nearby, noticed Christina¡¯s somber expression and approached her with concern. ¡°Christina, what¡¯s wrong? What happened? Christina quickly tamped her emotions and shed a smile. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s continue.¡± Since Christina seemed reluctant to share, Rayne respected her privacy and decided not to press further. Instead, they took a stroll in the studio, where renovation was nearpletion. Christina was pleased with the progress. Before leaving, she told Rayne about Victoria joining their studio. She didn¡¯t expect Rayne to ask, ¡°Are both brands entering a coboration?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it. It concerns Victoria¡¯s privacy, and it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to disclose it. Nevertheless, I¡¯m optimistic about the positive impact her presence will bring to our studio. With her poprity, we can expect great improvements in the future.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll share the news and prepare her a wee party,¡± Rayne said eagerly. She couldn¡¯t wait to meet Victoria in person. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll prepare the guest list for the opening day and send it to youter,¡± Christina told her. ¡°Drive safe!¡± Rayne responded gaily. Before returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina dropped by the hospital. ¡°Mr. Gibson should be regaining consciousness these few days. His vital signs are stable, and his overall physical condition is promising,¡± the doctor informed with a serious tone. ¡°If he receives adequate rest and actively participates in rehabilitation training, there is a high probability of his leg making a full recovery. Christina was delighted to hear that. ¡°Oh, this is great! Her efforts had not been in vain. ¡°I won¡¯t keep you from your work. I¡¯ll go in and visit him.¡± Christina whirled around and ran into the ward. Timothy¡¯s unconscious state had caused him to lose a considerable amount of weight. However, his complexion appeared rtively healthy, indicating that he had been well taken care of during his time in the hospital. Christina felt mixed emotions overwhelming her as she stared at her father¡¯s unconscious form in bed. ¡°In your absence, I made the decision to relocate Gibson Corporation to Jadeborough. I understand that you may not approve of this choice, and I respect your decision either way. Additionally, I wanted to inform you that I have severed all ties with Azure on your behalf. However, I won¡¯t interfere if you choose to continue supporting her,¡± Christina said softly, her words resonating within the stillness of the ward. Her eyes widened as she spotted Timothy¡¯s fingers twitching ever so slightly. A glimmer of realization filled her, and she held her breath, pinning her unwavering gaze on Timothy, not daring to blink. Timothy¡¯s fingers twitched yet again. ¡°Lyle, hurry! Get the doctor!¡± Chapter 719 A Misunderstanding Chapter 719 A Misunderstanding The medical team soon arrived in haste. They had to check Timothy¡¯s condition thoroughly, so Christina had to leave the ward and wait outside anxiously. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, why don¡¯t you take a seat and try to rx for a moment?¡± Lyle suggested in a gentle tone after noting Christina¡¯s unsettled emotions. ¡°The doctors are currently examining Mr. Gibson, and it may take some time for the results to be avable. Do you need water or food? I can get someone to buy some for you. Christina waspletely focused on Timothy¡¯s well-being and couldn¡¯t pay attention to anything else. Shaking her head, she replied, ¡°No need for that. I¡¯m not hungry or thirsty. If you need to grab a bite, go ahead. I¡¯ll be fine alone.¡± ¡°If you need me, just let me know.¡± Lyle remained by Christina¡¯s side silently, keeping herpany until the results came out. The exantination went on for over an hour. Timothy remained unconscious, showing no signs of stirring despite the doctors¡¯ efforts to rouse him. It felt like Christina had imagined his fingers twitching earlier. ¡°Mrs, Hadley, please remain patient. I have confidence that Mr. Gibson will regain consciousness soon,¡±¡°¡± the attending physician reassured Christina calmly. He left with his team after giving Christina some medical advice. Christina remained in the ward until evening. Nathaniel left work earlier than usual, eager to spend some quality time alone with Christina at home. However, upon arriving home, he was greeted by Raymond, who informed him that Christina had not yet returned. A sense of unease washed over Nathaniel as his attempts to reach her went unanswered. He was on the verge of mobilizing a search team to find her when a timely call from Lyle came in, halting his actions. Nathaniel immediately made his way to Timothy¡¯s ward. Christina could barely hide her surprise when he showed up. ¡°Nathaniel? Why are you here?¡± After confirming that she was safe and sound, Nathaniel did his best to tamp down his irritation. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you at home after getting off work earlier than usual, and Raymond told me you¡¯ve been out the whole day. I was worried and decided toe over to visit you and Dad,¡± he said gently. Christina btedly realized she had been in the hospital for way too long. She shot him an apologetic look. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Itpletely slipped my mind how much time had passed. I had my phone on silent mode since I was at the hospital, and I failed to notice your calls. You must¡¯ve been worried sick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just take note next time.¡± Nathaniel went over to her and nced at Timothy. ¡°I heard the doctor say Dad should regain consciousness these few days and that he showed signs of waking today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He can understand us.¡± Christina eagerly shared the good news with him. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged a ce for him to stay in after he gets discharged from the hospital. I hope he¡¯ll like it.¡± Nathaniel assured her, ¡°Dad will love anything you prepare for him.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Tears welled up in Christina¡¯s eyes. Nathaniel kept Christinapany in the ward for over half an hour before they left the hospital together. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Timothy¡¯s fingers twitched, and he slowly opened his eyes. The following morning, Christina was woken up by a call from the hospital before the sun was up. ¡°What? My father is missing?¡± Christina¡¯s body froze as if struck by lightning upon hearing the nurse¡¯s words. It took her a moment to collect herself, and her voice grew icy. ¡°When did you realize he was missing?¡± The nurse replied nervously, ¡°Mr. Gibson was still in his bed when we did our midnight rounds. Around six in the morning, the caregiver noticed that the door to his ward was open and went in to check on him. That was when we discovered he was missing Christina was wide awake by now. ¡°Did you search the other areas of the hospital?¡± ¡°Yes, we did. After reviewing the surveince footage in the security room, we discovered that Mr. Gibson left his ward on his own ord. Given his current condition, he shouldn¡¯t be leaving the hospital. Ms. Steele, did Mr. Gibson happen toe to you?¡± Christina was Timothy¡¯s only rtive in Jadeborough. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder where he would go after leaving the hospital alone. Weighed down by worry, Christina had no answer for the nurse. Nathaniel took charge of the situation, taking Christina¡¯s phone and ending the call on her behalf. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Dad is an adult, and he must have a reason to leave the hospital in his weakened state. I will send my men to search for him, and we will receive updates soon.¡± Christina clutched his wrist anxiously. ¡°Nathaniel, my dad¡¯s health is fragile, especially with his leg condition. He¡¯s not familiar with Jadeborough, and I¡¯m worried about him.¡± She pulled the covers open to get out of bed when Nathaniel grabbed her arm. -Where are you going?¡± ¡°I want to search for him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s freezing outside. Christina, you¡¯re pregnant. How could you head out to search for him? Have you ever thought about me?¡± Nathaniel eximed. He had always gone to great lengths to take care of Christina, ensuring her safety and well-being. The thought of her jeopardizing her and the health of their unborn child infuriated him. Christina hesitated. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m just worried about him. He¡¯s my only surviving rtive in the world.¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t bring himself to be angry with her. Instead, he gently pulled her back to the bed, covering her legs with the warm covers. Jadeborough is my territory, and I have the means to locate someone easily. Trust me when I say that nothing will happen to him. Be good and stay here to wait for news.¡± After Nathaniel gave her his word repeatedly, Christina reluctantly agreed to stay at home to wait for any updates. N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Nathaniel instructed the kitchen to deliver a nourishing breakfast to their room so he could make sure Christina ate her breakfast. Despite her worries, she forced herself to consume at least half of the breakfast. Soon, Sebastian came bearing good news. It turned out that Timothy had gone to the detention center to meet Nigel alone! Christina and Nathaniel arrived just in time to witness Timothy emerging from the detention center. ¡°Why did youe here alone? I¡¯ve been searching for you everywhere!¡± Christina suppressed her fear and hurried over to Timothy. ¡°You look pale. Why don¡¯t I drive you back to the hospital?¡± Timothy was wearing a down jacket that Sebastian had offered him earlier. He took Christina¡¯s hand and patted the back of it. ¡°I¡¯m fine, so don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s talk about this when we get back. I¡¯m sorry for leaving without saying anything. You and Mr. Hadley must¡¯ve been worried,¡± he exined, realizing he had underestimated how important he was to Christina. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re fine. Let¡¯s head back to the hospital right now. If you want to go anywhere, just let me know beforehand instead of leaving without telling anyone. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to drive you wherever you need to go,¡± Christina said, her voice quivering as she fought back tears. ¡°If something were to happen to you, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face Mom in heaven. Chapter 720 It Is Too Late Chapter720ItIsTooLate Timothy was overwhelmed with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t think about that at that time.¡± The first thought that popped into his mind when he woke up was not to see Christina, as he was consumed by an overpoweringpulsion to go and find Nigel. He reached out to his loyal aide, Jasper, who informed him that Nigel was incarcerated. With the address provided by Jasper, he made the decision to visit Nigel. ¡°It¡¯s windy outside, so get in the car first.¡± Nathaniel gestured to Sebastian to assist Timothy in getting into the car while he focused on coaxing Christina back into the vehicle. After Christina and Timothy got into the car, the two unexpectedly fell into silence. The father and daughter made their way back to the hospital ward without exchanging any words. The attending doctor performed a thorough examination on Timothy and confirmed that his body was in good condition. Christina felt a wave of relief wash over her upon hearing the news. Sebastian found a pretext to excuse himself from the ward, leaving Christina, Nathaniel, and Timothy alone in the room. Christina poured Timothy a cup of warm water. After taking a sip, he cradled it delicately in his hands, refusing to let it go. Timothy had long recognized Nathaniel as an outstanding son¨Cinw. He openly admitted, ¡°I didn¡¯t go to see Nigel to seek any confirmation. I just wanted to personally see what he looks like now, as a prisoner, and what kind of life he¡¯s living.¡± He reflected on the wasted years of his youth and admitted that it was a lifelong regret for him. The dismal fate of Nigel, no matter how tragic, could never make up for everything he had lost. After enduring years of Nigel¡¯s relentless mockery and attacks. Timothy was consumed by an overwhelming desire to make him experience the bitterness of ridicule and suppression. Throughout their lives, Nigel had always sought topete with Timothy, yet he consistently fell short. The intricate schemes Nigel had devised over a significant portion of his life not only ensnared himself but also eventually entangled his family in the web of consequences. Timothy could not help but feel a sense of irony. ¡°That visit was worthwhile. Nigel¡¯s situation is even more miserable than I imagined.¡± A hint of mockery shed across Timothy¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that he was only convicted on charges of financial crimes. Timothy longed for Nigel to pay the ultimate price with his life! ¡°Nathaniel and I have done everything in our power to investigate and gather evidence of Nigel¡¯s harm toward you and Mom, and we¡¯ve made some breakthroughs,¡± Christina said, ¡°I¡¯ll ensure that none of the culprits who have caused harm to you and mom escape justice.¡± Timothy let out a sigh. ¡°Christina, this matter has remained concealed from the public for fifteen years, and now only fragments of evidence havee to light. I¡¯m certain that the hidden truth behind it is undoubtedly intricate. My health is fragile, and my remaining years are limited. However, you¡¯re different. You still have your entire life ahead of you. Listen to my advice: go back, embrace a peaceful life, and distance yourself from these troubling affairs.¡± Nheless, to Christina, it was toote for her to pull herself away from this chaos. At this juncture, she had emerged as one of the primary key yers in this game. There was no way for her to withdraw, as her body and soul were inseparably entwined with the very essence of the game. ¡°No. They took my mother¡¯s life. I can¡¯t persuade myself to stay on the sidelines,¡± Christina said with determination. ¡°Please, don¡¯t try to convince me otherwise. I won¡¯t give up until I uncover the truth. Besides, with Nathaniel by my side protecting me, I have no concerns about anyone posing a threat to me. Nathaniel solemnly assured, ¡°I agree with Christina. I¡¯ll protect her safety at all costs, even if it means sacrificing my own life.¡± Timothy¡¯s sharp gaze fell upon the two of them. Knowing that he could not persuade Christina to change. her mind, after a long pause, he said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you must proceed with extreme caution. Although Nigel is imprisoned, Yerek, whom he mentored, possesses a more meticulous mind and ruthless heart. He¡¯s also steadier than Nigel.¡± One of the greatest regrets in Timothy¡¯s life was trusting his mother¡¯s and Nigel¡¯s words. Instead of conducting a thorough investigation into Yerek¡¯s background after adopting him, he made the fateful decision to entrust the management of the entire Gibson Corporation to Yerek and Nigel. Not only did Nigel devour and undermine the business empire that Timothy and his wife had painstakingly built, but he also had the audacity to direct his malicious intentions toward their only daughter. Such actions had crossed Timothy¡¯s boundaries. ¡°I know what to do,¡± Christina said. ¡°You were hospitalized, fell into aa, and almost became a vegetable, all because of the schemes orchestrated by Yerek. Despite any lingering attachment you may have toward him as the adopted son of the family, I will not show him any mercy.¡± Timothy sighed once again. ¡°Yerek is indeed a smart person, but unfortunately, he has misused his intelligence.¡± Suddenly, something seemed to trigger his memory. ¡°By the way, when I visited Nigel in prison, he mentioned that Anya is dead. What exactly happened?¡± Christina exined the whole story, and Timothy¡¯s face turned livid with anger. ¡°None of the children Nigel raised turned out to be decent individuals!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it affect your health. The police are investigating the culprit responsible for her death. I have acted with righteousness and steadfastness, so I¡¯m not afraid of their covert actions,¡± Christina uttered. ¡°You¡¯re not alone now. You¡¯re carrying a child in your womb, so don¡¯t be impulsive,¡± Timothy said. He then shifted his gaze to Nathaniel. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I entrust Christina to you. Don¡¯t let me down.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Nathaniel replied, ¡°Thanks for believing in me. I¡¯ll protect her and our unborn child at all costs.¡± After uttering so many words, Timothy felt a wave of exhaustion washing over him. ¡°You both can go back now. I need some time alone to rest.¡± ¡°In that case, we won¡¯t disturb your rest. We¡¯lle and visit you another time,¡± Nathaniel said. Timothy nodded in acknowledgment as Christina and Nathaniel left the ward. ¡°Sebastian, immediately arrange for two new attentive caretakers toe in and make sure they rotate shifts to attend to his needs. I don¡¯t want a situation like today to happen again,¡± Nathaniel whispered in Sebastian¡¯s car. ¡°If there are any further developments, inform me first. I want to ensure she¡¯s not disturbed. Sebastian nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll ry your instructions promptly.¡± Satisfied with the response, Nathaniel walked back to Christina¡¯s side. ¡°What did you say to Sebastian?¡± Christina had been deep in thought since she left the ward. When she noticed Nathaniel had not followed her and was engaged in a hushed conversation with Sebastian a few steps away, her curiosity was piqued. ¡°I asked him to find new caretakers. The previous ones weren¡¯t attentive enough, causing unnecessary worry for you,¡± Nathaniel replied frankly as he pressed the elevator button. ¡°Are you hungry? I still have some time for lunch, and I can apany you.¡± Christina could not help but chuckle. ¡°Do I look like a glutton? I¡¯m not hungry. I had a substantial breakfast just two hours ago.¡± Nathaniel knitted his brows and lowered his head to stare at Christina¡¯s bulging belly. No one could discern what thoughts were swirling in his mind. When there was no one around, Christina grabbed Nathaniel¡¯s hand and ced it on her belly. ¡°Can you feel anything? The baby isn¡¯t hungry, but it seems to be craving ice cream.¡± Chapter 721 Unrepentant Chapter721Unrepentant Nathaniel¡¯s palm could feel the warmth of Christina¡¯s body through her knitted sweater. It was as if he could already touch his unborn child. As the frosty look in his eyes melted away, a gentle air descended upon him. In spite of that, he remained firm in his rejection of her request. ¡°No, the doctor has instructed you to only consume nutritious food. You have to avoid anything that¡¯s too spicy, cold, or strong.¡± Unable to fulfill her desire, Christina broke into a frown. ¡°Can I not just have a few mouthfuls?¡± Nathaniel stood firm. ¡°No.¡± Finally, Christina replied in disappointment, ¡°Fine.¡° Unable to bear the sight of her being upset, Nathaniel coaxed her patiently, ¡°Once our child has been born and your body has recovered, I¡¯ll buy you anything you want.¡± Even though Nathaniel had made simr promises countless times in their rtionship, it still worked like a charm. ¡°You promised it. I¡¯ll not let you forget what you said.¡± Christina gave him an earnest look. ¡°I¡¯ll draft a contract the first thing we get home, Nathaniel answered affectionately. A smile emerged on Christina¡¯s face. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go that far. I still trust you enough to keep your word. If Nathaniel doesn¡¯t keep his promise, I¡¯ll just satisfy my cravings behind his back. Although Nathaniel could read her mind, he didn¡¯t expose her thoughts upfront. He was more inclined to express himself through his actions. For the subsequent period of her pregnancy, Christina¡¯s diet became healthier and more disciplined under Nathaniel¡¯s watchful eye. Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina went back to the bedroom to catch up on her sleep because she had gotten up earlier than usual. Once she entered deep slumber, Nathaniel headed to the office together with Sebastian to deal with the morning¡¯s backlog. Despite Christina¡¯s best efforts at covering up the news about Timothy, those who were keeping an eye on him quickly learned about his movements after he had regained consciousness. Azure, who refused to give up on her desire to meet him, was the first to visit. Meanwhile, there were bodyguards stationed outside Timothy¡¯s ward. Even after she told them who she was, she was given the same treatment as Yerek¡ªboth were barred from entering. Unwilling to let her effort ofing go to waste, Azure began to shamelessly kick up a fuss. ¡°I¡¯m Timothy¡¯s mother. What right does Christina have to stop me from seeing my own son? If you know what¡¯s good for you, you had better step aside and not waste my time.¡± ¡°Old Mrs. Gibson, we¡¯re just following Mrs. Hadley¡¯s orders, so don¡¯t make things difficult for us. On top that, we¡¯re in a hospital. You¡¯ll disturb the other patients by causing a ruckus here.¡± Despite Azure¡¯s desperate efforts to push aside the bodyguards blocking her way, they didn¡¯t budge an inch. Just as she was panting heavily, an idea shed across her mind. Her eyes subsequently rolled up as her body¨Cslumped weakly to the ground. The sudden turn of events caused the bodyguards toe forward to check on her. She then opened her eyes abruptly and pushed the bodyguards aside with all her might. Upon springing to her feet, she barged into the ward in a single breath. Bam! All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. The opening of the door was so sudden that it woke Timothy from his deep slumber. Shocked, he looked toward the entrance. Timothy had never seen Azure in such a haggard condition. In fact, her appearance was so filthy that he could barely recognize her. Cognizant of their dereliction of duty, the bodyguards rushed frantically into the room to apologize. ¡°We¡¯re sorry we failed to stop her, Mr. Gibson.¡± Timothy didn¡¯t me them for it. ¡°Wait outside. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± Even if Azure didn¡¯t see him today, he would seek her out sooner orter. After all, he had to personally put an end to certain matters once and for all. The bodyguards shot Azure a hesitant look before leaving the ward. Nevertheless, they left the door slightly ajar as a precaution for any eventualities. It was a detail that Azure missed due to how focused she was on her uing charade. ¡°Timothy, I finally get to see you.¡± She walked up to his bed, teary¨Ceyed. ¡°Christina refused to let me come in. A lot has happened when you weren¡¯t around¡­¡± Azure proceeded to rte her own sob story before shamelessly using Christina of being someone cruel. To cap it off, she even indirectly begged for mercy on Nigel and Yerek¡¯s behalf. In response, the scowl on Timothy¡¯s face gradually deepened. Right when Azure maligned Christina by ming her for Anya¡¯s death, Timothy could no longer hold back his rage: ¡°Enough!¡± he roared in a soft yet forceful voice before leveling a grim stare on the stunned Azure. ¡°If you barged into my ward and disrupted my rest just to hurl baseless usations against my daughter, you should leave. You¡¯re definitely not wee here.¡± Azure couldn¡¯t fathom what Christina did to Timothy to have him believe in a devious girl who preferred to side with outsiders instead of his very own mother. Even at that point, Azure was convinced that she could shackle Timothy with familial bonds. ¡°Timothy, I don¡¯t me you for refusing to acknowledge Nigel, the brother whom you grew up with. You can use me of ying favorites or not being rational, but you can¡¯t continue to have your judgment clouded!¡± As if he could guess what Azure was going to say next, he pointed at the door and thundered, ¡°Get out!¡± Refusing to leave, Azure continued stubbornly, ¡°I have no objection to Christina taking over Gibson Corporation, but there¡¯s something you¡¯re not aware of. She disregarded everything and moved Gibson Corporation from Hallsbay to Jadeborough due to Nathaniel¡¯s influence. In truth, Nathaniel is the one running the show at Gibson Corporation, while Christina is nothing but a puppet. If this continues, Gibson Corporation will be officially taken over by Nathaniel. Thepany you and your wife spent half your lives building will be ruined by Christina¡¯s hands!¡± Timothy calmly replied. ¡°When we first established Gibson Corporation, it was meant to be a gift to Christina. Now that it has been given to her, she naturally has full ownership of it. Whatever she wants to do with it is her decision and something that no one else has the right to interfere with.¡± Timothy wasn¡¯t going to tolerate those who maligned Christina to sow discord between him and his daughter on the pretext of saving Gibson Corporation. He made no exceptions even if it was his very own mother. ¡°Timothy, I know you resent me, but I¡¯m doing this for your own good and that of Gibson Corporation. There¡¯s more to Christina than meets the eye. Considering that she is capable of murder, there¡¯s nothing else she won¡¯t dare do!¡± Staring coldly at Azure, Timothy no longer felt the urge to save someone who was unrepentant. ¡°You keep saying that you¡¯re doing this for my own good, but your words and actions clearly demonstrate otherwise. Chapter 722 Cheap Provocation Chapter722CheapProvocation When Azure recalled her words in detail and realized that she had struck a nerve with Timothy, she stuttered in an effort to exin. ¡°Timothy, 1-¡± Having lost his patience with her, Timothy put his foot down. ¡°Christina is my daughter. Regardless of what she has done, you, as my mother and her elder, have never shown her any respect at all.¡± At that very moment, Timothy¡¯s hatred for Azure surged out like water that had burst its dam. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to lower yourself for Nigel¡¯s sake. You appear to be admitting your mistake, but the reality is that this is one of your tricks. Evidently, you don¡¯t feel as if you have done anything wrong. On the contrary, you think that those who are responsible for your current predicament are the ones who have betrayed you. Familial bonds that are insincere mean nothing to me. In fact, I don¡¯t think Christina has done anything wrong at all. Regardless of the decisions she makes and their ensuing consequences, I will always support her unconditionally, even if it puts the future of Gibson Corporation at risk. ¡°There¡¯s also one thing I must emphasize. Even though I don¡¯t know Christina as well as Nathaniel does, I firmly believe that she¡¯d never break thew. Also, given the Hadley family¡¯s position, Nathaniel has no need to further crown his sess with the addition of a mediocrepany like Gibson Corporation. I don¡¯t mind you feeling pessimistic about their marriage, but it¡¯s wrong for you to sow discord between me and them. I¡¯m no longer the same clueless cripple from fifteen years ago who is easily manipted.¡± In the end, Timothy didn¡¯t give Azure the chance to defend herself as he coldly kicked her out of the ward. ¡°Going forward, there¡¯s no need for us to see each other unless it involves a matter of life and death. That said, I will still carry out my responsibility of taking care of you in your old age as required by the law.¡±T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The words struck Azure like lightning, causing panic to set into her. Timothy truly wants to sever ties with me! ¡°Timothy, you can¡¯t do something as heartless as this!¡± As Azure¡¯s pleas fell on deaf ears, Timothy called out to the bodyguards stationed outside, ¡°Please escort the guest out. I want to get some rest. Both of them were just waiting for Timothy¡¯s cue. ¡°Please leave, Old Mrs. Gibson.¡±¡°¡± Azure realized she was powerless against the two bodyguards. There was no way she would win in a fight, regardless of whether it was physical or verbal. Now that Timothy wanted her gone, she would only end up embarrassing herself by staying. Nheless, she questioned him defiantly, ¡°Timothy, aren¡¯t you worried about being condemned by others? Sooner orter, you¡¯ll live to regret your decision.¡± The resolve Timothy felt was unprecedented. ¡°I already have my answer. The biggest regret I have was to trust you unconditionally and foolishly hand over Gibson Corporation to Nigel.¡± Cognizant that they had reached the point of no return. Azure stormed off without looking back. Thereafter, Timothy instructed the bodyguards, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Christina about her visit. I don¡¯t want her to worry as stress is bad for the baby.¡± After a brief hesitation, the bodyguards nodded in agreement before reporting the matter to Nathaniel. Timothy only told them not to let Christina know but didn¡¯t say anything about not telling Nathaniel. Even after returning to her ward for some time, Azure¡¯s frustration continued to eat at her, causing her to pace back and forth in the room. Feeling the need to seize the initiative, she tried many ways to locate Barnaby and set off at once to see him. Meanwhile, Christina had slept till the evening. After waking up and having dinner, she sat on the living room couch with a tablet in hand. She chatted with Lucas and Cam on video while waiting for Nathaniel toe home. The children were trying to cheer her up by sharing the interesting events they encountered in school. As Nathaniel had yet toe home after a few hours, Christina coaxed the children to go to bed. It wasn¡¯t until she promised to visit them that they reluctantly ended the video call. Thereafter, Christina tried to contact Nathaniel, but no one answered. Left without a choice, she called Sebastian instead. Finally, Sebastian answered her call right before she was about to give up. The deafening music in the background was unmistakable. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, is there something you need?¡± ¡°Is Nathaniel with you?¡± ¡°Um, yes. He has an important event tonight. We were just about to leave as it¡¯s almost ending. Mr. Hadley had a lot to drink and is probably drunk. Do you want me to pass the phone to him?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I was just worried when I couldn¡¯t reach him. Be careful on your way back.¡± ¡°All right, Mrs. Hadley. See youter.¡± Upon ending the call, Christina continued to wait for Nathaniel¡¯s return with a cup of milk in hand. While doing so, she gradually drifted into sleep unknowingly. Fortunately, the house was adequately warmed by the heater, so she didn¡¯t get a cold. The next morning, she was awoken by the butler. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she inquired in a daze, ¡°Did Nathaniele homest night?¡± The butler shook his head. ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. You can¡¯t sleep here, Mrs. Hadley, as you¡¯ll get a cold easily. Do you need me to give Mr. Hadley a call?¡± Since it was rare for Nathaniel not toe home, Christina furrowed her brows. ¡°It¡¯s fine. He¡¯s probably busy with work, and it¡¯s not urgent anyway. There¡¯s no need to bother him. I¡¯ll be going back to my room to catch up on sleep.¡± The butler nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°All right then. Mind your steps on your way up.¡± Christina yawned as she returned to her room. After a short nap, her hunger woke her up and sent her downstairs for food. It was then that a ping on her phone heralded the receipt of a message from an unknown number Within the message was a single high¨Cdefinition photo. Even though there were no words, the image itself was self¨Cexnatory. There were two figures in it. One was Nathaniel, who hadn¡¯te home, and the other was a beautiful woman with a stunning figure. Both of them were in an intimate embrace as they walked into a hotel Christina couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort. #¡®hoever sent this should feel ashamed of themselves for threatening me with such a badly taken photo. Although the sender had done so anonymously. Christina endeavored to find out who it really was Coincidentally, the sender was the woman in the picture. Her name was Mnie Steele. She was a budding star within Hadley Entertainment¡¯s stable who had made her name in an online drama. Christina responded to Mnie¡¯s provocation calmly: State your demands. Mnie¡¯s reply was immediate: Give me five million, or will release this scandalous photograph to the public. I¡¯m sure a scandal involving Nathaniel cheating would be a huge shock to the world. Chapter 723 The Capability To Bully Chapter 723 The Capability To Bully Christina sneered and sent: Five million? I¡¯m shocked that you actually dared to name an amount. Is Nathaniel not even worth five million to you? the other woman retaliated, continuing to provoke Christina. Christina slowly typed: What I¡¯m trying to say is that you¡¯re asking for too little. Just like you said earlier, considering Nathaniel¡¯s wealth and status, if you were to expose this photo, the rewards you¡¯d receive wouldn¡¯t be limited to a measly five million. In fact, you¡¯d also gain the fame and attention you crave the most. Christina had easily read Mnie¡¯s mind. Perhaps her straightforward approach angered Mnie, as thetter¡¯s response was clearly angry. Mnie: Mrs. Hadley, this is the choice you¡¯ve picked. Since you won¡¯t pay this amount, I¡¯ll grant you your wish! You¡¯ll only have yourself to me for this! Right as Christina was about to reply to Mnie¡¯s message, Victoria suddenly called her. ¡°Christina, where are you? I need your help!¡± Victoria¡¯s voice was quivering andced with despair. ¡°Sebastian hasn¡¯t responded to my message sincest night. When I went to his ce this morning, the security guard said that he never came home. What¡¯s worse is that¡­ I tracked him down, and it turns out he¡¯s at a hotel with some other woman!¡± -The vein on Christina¡¯s temple throbbed. ¡°What do you want me to help you with?¡± Victoria snarled, ¡°I want you to catch him red-handed with me!¡± Like Nathaniel, Sebastian had note home the night before. Both had supposedly brought someone to a hotel and stayed there overnight. As Christina tracked down Mnie¡¯s current location, she asked Victoria, ¡°Which hotel is Sebastian at?¡± Victoria told her the name of the hotel before gritting out, ¡°If he dares to do anything to betray me, I¡¯m going to show him hell!¡± Sure enough, Sebastian and Nathaniel were in the same hotel. ¡°Okay, I¡¯lle with you, bute and pick me up.¡± ¡°Thank you, Christina.¡± Christina then went to the walk-in closet. Since she was going to be apanying Victoria to catch Sebastian red-handed, she was going to have to look good too. With that thought, Christina picked a limited edition new dress of the season to wear while putting on light makeup. She also took the prettiest and most expensive jewelry she could find before leaving the - house with the priciest bag she owned. When Lyle saw her, he froze before blurting out, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, are you on your way to attend a banquet?¡± Christina smiled at him, exuding confidence as she said, ¡°No, no. I¡¯m going to be ying a game with someone. Come on. I¡¯m inviting you to watch a drama unfold.¡± Lyle was bemused, but he followed Christina out of the mansion nevertheless. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ll drive the car over.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not driving today. Someone¡¯s going to be picking us up.¡± Lyle did not voice his confusion about that. Around ten minutester, Victoria¡¯s bright-red Mercedes-Benz stopped right in front of the two of them. Christina got into the backseat while Lyle sat in the front passenger seat. ¡°What do I do if this turns out to be real, Christina?¡± Victoria was no longer as aggressive as she was earlier in the call. She hugged Christina tightly as if Christina was her lifebuoy in the ocean. ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Sebastian is the kind of man to do something like that,¡± Christina told her. ¡°Think about it. It took such a long time for him to realize his feelings when you were courting him. He¡¯s usually preupied with work, and the people hees into contact with are mostly coworkers and clients. If he¡¯s a yboy, he wouldn¡¯t have been single until he met you.¡± With his conditions, women would flock to Sebastian if he was interested in starting a romantic rtionship. However, Victoria was not as confident in her own charms. ¡°I have a bad temper, so he¡¯ll get sick of me eventually, but I can¡¯t change it¡­¡± She hammered her thigh in frustration, her mood changing faster than Christina could blink. The sorrow that was present on her face earlier was gone, giving way to fury. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°If he dares to cheat on me, I¡¯m going to teach him a lesson he¡¯ll never forget!¡± The vicious way she uttered those words even made the driver and Lyle, who were sitting in front, shudder. I knew it. Jealous women aren¡¯t ones to be trifled with! When the car came to a stop by the hotel, Victoria pushed the door open and dashed to the reception despite wearing high heels. Even Christina had trouble catching up with her. Smack! Victoria mmed her phone onto the counter and questioned, ¡°Which room is the man in this. photo in?¡± The receptionist nced at the photo and politely replied, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, Miss, but answering you will breach our guest¡¯s privacy, and I can¡¯t do that.¡± Victoria became even more livid and snapped, ¡°I want to see your manager!¡± She then tossed a gold card on the counter. That was the VIP card for the upscale hotel, and the receptionist swiftly nodded. ¡°Please give me a moment. I¡¯ll contact the manager right away.¡± Christina-was watching Victoria the entire time. Even though Victoria seemed like a bully, the actions she had taken were the fastest way to get to Sebastian. Hence, Christina quietly stood behind Victoria, waiting for the manager to appear. Meanwhile, the manager hurried down from his office upon receiving the news. He could recognize Victoria, so he knew that she was not someone he could afford to cross. Moreover, he noticed how elegantly Christina was dressed and sensed trouble brewing. The manager tactfully skipped the pleasantries and said, ¡°Ms. Lesley, it¡¯s not that we are unwilling to assist you, but that it¡¯s against hotel policy for employees to disclose customer privacy without proper authorization. Please don¡¯t put us in a difficult position. Victoria retrieved her phone, but she left the conspicuous gold card lying on the table. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll find out on my own, but don¡¯t get in my way!¡± With that said, she turned to head toward the elevator. The manager wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and hastily ran after Victoria. ¡°Ms. Lesley, openly searching for someone in the hotel could disturb the other guests¡¯ rest¡­¡± Victoria was in a foul mood, so what others felt was not any of her concern. ¡°Then just tell me his room number so I don¡¯t waste time searching around!¡± The manager was still using the same old polite and diplomatic way to talk to her, so Victoria was not going to heed his words. ¡°Calm down, Victoria,¡± Christina calmly intervened. ¡°Being rash won¡¯t solve anything.¡± At that, Victoria suppressed her anger. When the manager turned to Christina, he looked at her as if she was his savior. However, his delight did notst for long, for what Christina said next made him resentful. Christina went straight to the point by saying, ¡°Lyle, I remember that this hotel belongs to the Hadley family, right?¡± Lyle replied, ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. This is indeed one of the Hadley family¡¯s businesses.¡± Ma¡¯am? The manager began studying Christina. The longer he looked at her, the more familiar he found her. The receptionist beside him was first to realize it, however. She whispered to the manager, ¡°Oh my god, isn¡¯t she Mr. Hadley¡¯s wife?¡± No wonder she looks familiar! She¡¯s our employer¡¯s wife! The manager¡¯s attitude changed immediately, and he was abruptly far more efficient than before. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re Mrs. Hadley, and she¡¯s your friend. I apologize for our inadequate service. Let me handle things for your friend right away.¡± A knowing smile crept upon Christina¡¯s lips. It sent chills down the spines of those who saw it. ¡°By the way, find out for me which room Mr. Hadley is in too,¡± she added casually. Chapter 724 Premonition Came True Chapter 724 Premonition Came True As soon as those words were spoken, Victoria and Lyle looked at Christina at the same time, each harboring different thoughts in their mind. Nathaniel is also staying in this hotel? Did I misunderstand Sebastian? Victoria was shocked. Lyle appeared much calmer. However, his thoughts were poles apart from Victoria¡¯s. He was adept at quickly grasping the key points in a conversation. Upon further pondering, Lyle realized he seemed to have unintentionally discovered some significant secret. Victoria moved to Christina¡¯s side and asked in an undertone, ¡°Christina, since you¡¯ve known all along that the person staying with Sebastian in this hotel is actually Nathaniel, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Christina gazed at Victoria calmly and uttered meaningfully, ¡°Even if Nathaniel and Sebastian stay in the same hotel, it doesn¡¯t exin everything. Figuring out the truth isn¡¯t hard, either. We¡¯ll know what exactly is happening once we go upstairs and see for ourselves.¡± Victoria was yanked back to reality in less than two seconds after feeling relieved from her assumption. Anger surged within her as she turned to look at the hotel manager and snapped, ¡°You¡¯re taking forever to check the room number of a guest. If I were your boss, I would definitely fire you!¡± The manager wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, looking somewhat hesitant. ¡°My friend has a bad temper. She bears no ill will despite her harsh words. Just continue with your job and do your best,¡± Christina said indifferently while sweeping her gaze over everyone present. ¡°Just tell us what we want to know. If Mr. Hadley and Mr. Taggart askter, I¡¯ll deal with them.¡± Upon hearing Christina¡¯s reassurance, the manager abandoned all doubts, smiling more brightly and rxedly. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Lesley, Mr. Hadley and Mr. Taggart are staying in room nine hundred and ny-nine and room nine hundred and ny-eight, respectively.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll go up ourselves so as not to dy your work,¡± Christina uttered politely and strode toward the elevator. Seeing that, Victoria hurriedly followed. Lyle tried to tip off Sebastian but couldn¡¯t find the right time to do it. He even had a surreal feeling that Christina was monitoring his every action. Christina stared at the changing numbers on the elevator panel with a poker face as the atmosphere inside the elevator gradually grew tense and silent. Even the carefree Victoria could sense something odd about Christina¡¯s state of mind. She discreetly approached Lyle and whispered, ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t tell me Mr. Hadley is fooling around with another woman and has been found out by Christina?¡± The more Christina appeared calm, the more terrifying she seemed. Perhaps it was the shared sixth sense among women at work, but Victoria felt that the person who was there at the hotel to catch their partner cheating was Christina instead of her. Lyle shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing. Unable to acquire the answer she desired, Victoria pouted in disappointment, When the elevator arrived on the top floor, Victoria instantly became invigorated. Her eyes gleamed like a radar detector. After stepping out of the elevator, she paused for a few seconds, then stormed toward the right. She urately found room nine hundred and ny-eight and pressed the doorbell forcefully. Christina stood before the door of room nine hundred and ny-nine. Before she could do anything else, Victoria had already fallen into a frenzy, raising her leg to boot the door. ¡°Sebastian, open up!¡± Victoria red at the closed door, wishing she could immediately have someone come and break it down. The next moment, Sebastian¡¯s room door remained still, but someone opened the door in front of Christina. She instinctively looked up and came face-to-face with Nathaniel. His bathrobe hung loosely on him, and his hair was dripping with water. Hot, damp air blew straight at Christina¡¯s face when the door opened. ¡°Christina, why are you here?¡± Nathaniel looked at the person before him in surprise. Then, when he noticed Victoria making a fuss in front of Sebastian¡¯s room, he knitted his brows. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Nathaniel left his door wide open, allowing Christina to clearly see some of his room¡¯s interior decoration. Nheless, she didn¡¯t find the woman named Mnie as she expected. ¡°Victoria hasn¡¯t been able to contact Sebastian all night, and she¡¯s worried something happened to him. She asked me toe with her to find him,¡± Christina halfheartedly exined with a made-up excuse. ¡°Did you both stay here alonest night?¡± Nathaniel sensed the hidden questioning in Christina¡¯s words. Just as he was about to exin, the room next door opened up from the inside with a click. However, to Christina¡¯s astonishment, the person who opened the door wasn¡¯t Sebastian, but Mnie! Mnie and Sebastian shared a room! In that case, why did she send me the provocative text? I¡¯m confident Mnie is trying to pick a fight with me, not Victoria. Adjusting her sexy nightgown, Mnie arched her brow and said, ¡°Miss, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going too far for disturbing other people¡¯s sleep early in the morning?¡± Victoria shoved aside Mnie, who was blocking the entrance, and strode inward. Then, the scene she least wanted to see entered her sight. Clothes were scattered across the floor, and an ambiguous atmosphere permeated the air inside the room. All the signs indicated what had happened there the night before. Sebastian was woken up by themotion and sat up. His vision gradually cleared as he regained consciousness. Noticing the person who had barged into his room, he fell into a daze. Victoria grasped Sebastian¡¯s cor, pointing at Mnie at the door. ¡°Tell me the truth. When did that woman start messing around?¡± Sebastian looked bewildered. ¡°Victoria, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± After he ended the call with Christinast night, he returned to the private room and was forced to consume a lot of alcohol by his business partners. He didn¡¯t even have any recollection of how he ended up at the hotel. Victoria glowered at him as if wishing she could skin him alive. Overwhelmed by anger, all her wrath eventually turned into utter despair. ¡°You even slept with her, yet you tell me you don¡¯t know what happened. Sebastian, do you think it¡¯s fun toying with me?¡± Sebastian turned to the woman at the door. He vaguely remembered she was one of the rtively popr female celebrities under Hadley Entertainment. Mnie was also one of the attendees at the gatheringst night, tagging along with the director¡¯s crew. However, Sebastian couldn¡¯t recall her name. Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t a fool. Swiftly wrapping his mind around the situation, Sebastian said with a frown, ¡°I don¡¯t know how she ended up in my room. I drank too muchst night and don¡¯t remember what I did.¡± Mnie walked over and uttered coyly, ¡°Mr. Taggart, you were the one who clung to me and insisted I stay to keep youpany. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to deny all that now?¡± A cold and stern glint flitted across Sebastian¡¯s eyes. ¡°I have enough confidence in my own capacity for alcohol. I would nevery my hands on another woman.¡± Mnie brushed the long hair beside her ear and smirked. ¡°Mr. Taggart, you told mest night that I was your favorite woman and how you fell in love with me at first sight. You even said many sweet and touching words while holding me.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Victoria red at Mnie. On the other hand, Mnie continued wearing an infatuated expression. ¡°You also mentioned you would marry me and bring me a lifetime of happiness. Have you forgotten everything you said?¡± Before Mnie could speak further, Victoria lifted her hand and repeatedly pped Mnie with all her might. The crisp smacks echoed inside the room. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy ofpeting with me?¡± Chapter 725 The Crafty Celebrity Chapter 725 The Crafty Celebrity Mnie was utterly dumbfounded. She would have thought she was dreaming if her cheeks were not burning in pain. She screeched, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth! Why did you hit me?¡± Years of experience in show business had hardened Mnie¡¯s character, and she hardly feared Victoria¡¯s family background. Mnie continued, ¡°I have evidence. I recorded all the sweet-nothings that Mr. Taggart said to me yesterday!¡± With that said, Mnie grabbed her phone off the bedside table and began ying a recording in front of everyone. The voice in the recording had barely uttered two words when Victoria rushed forward like a mad woman. She wrenched the phone from Mnie¡¯s hand, flinging it onto the floor and trampling it. Victoria was far from done. She smashed a nearby vase and clenched her right fist around one of the ceramic shards. Her eyes were bloodshot as she red at Mnie and shrieked, ¡°A recording? The thing I hate the most in this world is other people touching my things. I¡¯ll teach you a lesson. Then, it¡¯s his turn!¡± Christina sensed that Victoria was on the verge of losing control. She immediately shouted at Lyle ¡°Hurry! Hold her back!¡± s, Victoria had alreadyunched herself nimbly at Mnie. ¡°Victoria!¡± Sebastian acted on reflex, cing himself in front of Mnie. Victoria¡¯s shard-wielding hand was forced to a stop just half an inch away from his heart. Disbelief filled Victoria¡¯s gaze. She stared at her boyfriend through tears and used him, ¡°How can you defend her?¡± Hastily, Sebastian exined, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be med for harming someone else.¡± Fury had clouded Victoria¡¯s judgment. She could not calm down and consider his concerns rationally. Tumultuous emotions welled in her chest, fueling her urgency to get rid of the vixen behind Sebastian. She waved the shard in her hand and gave Sebastian an ultimatum. ¡°I¡¯ve never been a clingy person, Sebastian. Give me an answer now. Who will you choose? Me or her?¡± A fearless Mnie fanned the mes by goading, ¡°What man would ever fancy a shrew like you?¡± ¡°Shut up! You have no right to speak here!¡± Victoria retorted furiously. Mnie¡¯s expression soured. She replied scornfully, ¡°Don¡¯t think you can erase what happened between Mr. Taggart and me because you¡¯ve destroyed my evidence. They say alcohol is a truth serum. I believe Mr. Taggart is indeed interested in me.¡± Her ims were immediately refuted by Sebastian, who said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not the least bit interested in you. In fact, I don¡¯t even know your name. Why would I confess to you while drunk?¡± He turned to Victoria and pleaded, ¡°I didn¡¯t touch her, Victoria.¡± While Sebastian was not a hundred percent sure if he had uttered any flirty words to Mnie, he was confident that he had never bedded her. He never did anything outrageous when he was drunk. Alcohol turned him into a quier, unsociable man. And when he was drunk out of his mind, it was near impossible to wake him up. Mnie clenched her fists angrily. With her evidence gone and Sebastian insisting on his innocence, she was rapidly running out of options. That was, unless, she took a risky bet. She made up her mind and asked, ¡°Are you trying to wash your hands of this, Mr. Taggart? Fine. We¡¯re all adults here, and I can¡¯t force you to admit to your actions. We both got what we wanted out of our one- night stand. I may have failed to win the affection of someone as wonderful as you, Mr. Taggart, but I no longer have any regrets after spending a night with you. I¡¯ll leave now before I bring you more trouble.¡± After that, she turned and collected her clothes and things off the floor, making a move to leave. Before she could leave, Christina stepped forward, stubbornly-blocking Mnie¡¯s path. Bewildered, Mnie demanded, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be my question to you?¡± Christina stared at her probingly and dropped her bombshell. ¡°You sent me a bunch of provocative texts and photos, demanding five million to keep you quiet. When you realized you couldn¡¯t ckmail me, you changed your mind and set your sights on Mr. Taggart instead of Mr. Hadley. Just what are you trying?¡± Mnie replied calmly, ¡°What photos? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. I know who you are, but we¡¯ve never had any past interactions. I know my ce, and I would never try to steal something that didn¡¯t belong to me.¡± Christina promptly whipped out her phone and scrolled through her text history. She disyed her screen to everyone in the room and dered, ¡°You¡¯re the texter. Did you think I wouldn¡¯t be able to track you down if you pretended to be a tabloid reporter?¡± Still, Mnie insisted, ¡°I lost my phone a while back. Someone¡¯s using my phone to do horrible things; I¡¯m a victim here too! I¡¯m a celebrity, and I value my reputation more than anyone else. I didn¡¯t send you those texts, and that¡¯s that! Don¡¯t try to use me of false crimes to help your friend!¡± Her words elicited a scoff from Christina. ¡°You go on and on about valuing your reputation, but here you are, taking advantage of someone else by implicating them in a scandal. Do your fans know what a scheming liar you are?¡± A fall from grace was every celebrity¡¯s worst nightmare. Mnie was no different, and she reacted viciously to Christina¡¯s usations. Mnie argued, ¡°Being the Hadley family¡¯s daughter-inw doesn¡¯t give you the right to bully others! I¡¯m not afraid to admit I fell for Mr. Taggart at first sight. He was managing the entertainmentpany for Mr. Hadley, and I entered showbiz for him. I like him, and I want to grow closer to him. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that. We had a one-night stand, but I¡¯ve never thought of bing a mistress that would ruin someone else¡¯s rtionship. I¡¯m not forcing him to take responsibility for what happenedst night.¡± Her ability to distort her scheming ways into the pining actions of an admirer disgusted Christina to no end. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°If you want to destroy me, go ahead and spread the news. The worst that¡¯ll happen to me is my departure from the entertainment industry.¡± Mnie added, ¡°I like Mr. Taggart; I just like him too much! There¡¯s absolutely nothing wrong with that!¡±. Every word out of her mouth drove Victoria closer to madness. Victoria cried hoarsely, ¡°I won¡¯t let you off for this! I swear I¡¯ll ruin your reputation so you¡¯ll never make a comeback in showbiz!¡± Sebastian, who was trying his best to restrain her, took a scolding as well. ¡°Let go of me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Since her verbal protests fell on deaf ears, Victoria began scratching and biting Sebastian. He allowed her to vent her frustrations on him and continued to apologize profusely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I upset you. You can hit and scold me as much as you want, but please don¡¯t leave me.¡± Victoria bit him so hard that she drew blood. Though the wounds were on Sebastian¡¯s body, her own heart ached with pain. He really was her biggest weakness. She stared at him with red-rimmed eyes and stopped hitting him. Nathaniel, who had remained stoically silent throughout the confrontation, suddenly piped up, ¡°Lyle, tie her up and bring her with us.¡± Chapter 726 Helpless Chapter 726 Helpless Upon hearing that, Mnie dropped her belongings and turned to run. Lyle anticipated her intention and swiftly dashed forward, catching up and restraining her. At that moment, several men in business suits appeared in the hallway, casually chatting and looking for their room numbers. They paid no attention to the situation unfolding in room nine hundred and ny- eight. Mnie heard the voices and exerted all her strength, struggling to rush out the door. She fell onto the thick carpet. With her red silk nightgown disheveled and Lyle¡¯s relentless pursuit, anyone who took in the scene would easily misunderstand what was happening. ¡°Help! Help me! Someone is trying to force himself on me!¡± Mnie screamed. Lyle wanted to cover her mouth but was toote. The few men turned their heads in her direction after hearing her shrieks. Seeing a towering man restraining a woman struggling to escape, they could tell she was being coerced. Dragging their luggage, those men hastily approached Mnie, whose eyes were gleaming with triumph. For an instant, Christina felt the scene before her was all too familiar. Isn¡¯t this the same despicable tactic Mrs. Lazuli used against me? The past often eerily ovepped. If it weren¡¯t for the difference in behavior, appearance, and temperament between Mnie and Emilia, Christina would¡¯ve suspected Emilia actually impersonated Mnie. ¡°Oh Isn¡¯t this Mr. Hadley?¡± A man in a dark blue suit noticed Nathaniel, and his eyes lit up at once. Focusing solely on Nathaniel, he eagerly introduced himself, ¡°Mr. Hadley, my name is Hendrick Labarge. We met at the international business conference previously. You even asked me if I was willing to coborate with Hadley Corporation to provide construction materials.¡± After that day, Nathaniel had given no response, causing Hendrick to lose sleep and be haunted by the empty promise made by Nathaniel. He dreamed of doing business with Hadley Corporation, but one had to make an appointment in advance to meet with Nathaniel. Unfortunately, Hendrick was scheduled for a meeting with Nathaniel that would take ce only half a yearter. Seeing that the matter seemed to have fizzled out, Hendrick had no choice but to give up. Unexpectedly, he encountered Nathaniel there while apanying his clients to check in at the hotel. Naturally, Hendrick wasn¡¯t going to let that rare opportunity slip through his fingers. Still, the current circumstances weren¡¯t suitable for discussing business. ¡°Mr. Hadley, what¡¯s going on?¡± Hendrick approached. He recognized Mnie as soon as he saw her face. clearly. ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t this Ms. Steele? Are you guys filming a scene?¡± What a small world! Mnie cursed inwardly. Of all the people I could¡¯ve run into, it had to be Hendrick. This guy once tried to exploit me. He¡¯s a cunning man. There¡¯s no telling what kind of stories he may spread about me in front of Nathaniel. Figuring that ensuring her survival took precedence above her grudges against Hendrick, Mnie swiftly made a decision, using her superb acting skills to try to win Hendrick¡¯s sympathy. ¡°Mr. Labarge, can you please help me? I beg you.¡± Hendrick smiled faintly. ¡°I see. You¡¯re not filming a scene. In that case, I must apologize for identally interrupting your business, Mr. Hadley.¡± He shifted his gaze onto Mnie. ¡°Ms. Steele, Mr. Hadley isn¡¯t someone who likes to trouble others. If you haven¡¯t done anything wrong, why would he send someone after you? This is a matter between you and Mr. Hadley, so it¡¯s not appropriate for an outsider like me to intervene. I have something else to attend to, so I shall take my leave now.¡± Before leaving, Hendrick turned to look at Nathaniel ingratiatingly. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Jadeborough is a big city. The fact that we can encounter one another again proves that we are meant to cross paths with each other. I¡¯d like to invite you for a meal when you¡¯re free next time. I wish to discuss the construction materials business between ourpanies in detail. I¡¯ll even offer you the mostpetitive price.¡± Nathaniel found Hendrick and his clients a nuisance. Nevertheless, it was customary for one not to reciprocate another person¡¯s kindness with hostility. Hendrick had regarded Nathaniel with utmost courtesy the whole time, and Nathaniel could¡¯ve ignored Hendrick, but he wasn¡¯t going to give up a potential business opportunity with a greater profit margin when it was presented to his face. Nathaniel nodded. ¡°I remember you. You can contact my secretary afterward. He will arrange a meeting for us.¡± Hendrick was ecstatic. ¡°Excellent. I¡¯ll get in touch with your secretary as soon as I get back. I shan¡¯t disturb you further, then.¡± Then, he quickly left while dragging his luggage. As she watched her lifeline slipping away, Mnie¡¯s face turned ashen. ¡°Mr. Hadley, I¡¯m an artist under yourpany. If I suddenly disappear, and my agent can¡¯t get in touch with me, I could be sued for breach of contract by the brands I¡¯m endorsing. That would mean a significant loss for thepany.¡± Nathaniel uttered carefreely, ¡°I¡¯m not short on money.¡±¡± Nearly half of the top celebrities in the entertainment industry were cultivated by Hadley Entertainment. Any of their artists could¡¯ve easily earned the amount that Mnie brought in within an hour. Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t risk ruining the confidant he had painstakingly nurtured for such a small profit. ¡°Lyle, why haven¡¯t you taken her away yet?¡± An impatient look shed across Nathaniel¡¯s countenance. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Lyle responded. He casually picked up a piece of cloth from the floor and stuffed it into Mnie¡¯s mouth to prevent her from causing unnecessary trouble with her shouts. However, even after Mnie was led away, the tension between Victoria and Sebastian remained palpable and hadn¡¯t eased at all. ¡°Let¡¯s go back first and allow them some privacy to talk this matter out,¡± Christina whispered while reaching out to tug at Nathaniel¡¯s bathrobe. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s go to the room next door to rest for a while. I need to take another shower and change into clean clothes.¡± Having no intention of getting involved in Sebastian¡¯s love affairs, Nathaniel escorted Christina back to his room. H¨¨ seated her on the couch in the living room and thoughtfully had the hotel send some fruits and snacks to his room before turning around to enter the bathroom. Christina took a walk around the spacious and luxurious suite. Besides Nathaniel¡¯s lingering scent, she found no signs of a woman staying inside the room. That meant that the provocative photos Mnie had used to threaten her were likely tampered with using some image editing software. Still, Christina was baffled by why Mnie had suddenly changed her target from Nathaniel to Sebastian after she had set her eyes on the former. Lost in her thoughts while staring at the messy bed, Christina didn¡¯t sense Nathaniel approaching her. ¡°Are you checking up on me?¡± He held her from behind, wrapping his muscr arms around her waist and cing his warm lips on the skin of her neck. ¡°Did you find any worthwhile clues after searching for so long?¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Christina felt guilty while simultaneously blushing crimson because of Nathaniel¡¯s teasing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to suspect something was going on between you and Mnie.¡± She bit her lower lip in dissatisfaction and spoke aggrievedly. ¡°It¡¯s all because you didn¡¯te homest night and were unreachable through the phone. Moreover, I even received those pictures and provocative messages from Mnie, so I couldn¡¯t help but assume the worst.¡± Nathaniel didn¡¯t me her. Instead, he kissed her earlobe. ¡°You were provoked intoing to the hotel, but what about Victoria? What¡¯s her story?¡± Chapter 727 Lost In Love Chapter 727 Lost In Love Christina carefully exined Victoria¡¯s side of the story to Nathaniel. With a frown, she added, ¡°Something still feels off to me. If Mnie¡¯s initial target was you, why did she appear in Sebastian¡¯s room instead of yours?¡± She was intent on figuring out why Mnie had suddenly changed her n. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Nathaniel promptly arched a brow in displeasure. His attention swiftly locked onto her mention of changing targets. He asked drily, ¡°Did you want me to be involved with other women?¡± His words took Christina aback, though she quickly recovered and shook her head vigorously. ¡°Not at all.¡± In fact, her demeanor took an immediate one-eighty as she dered, ¡°Listen up, Nathaniel. If you ever cheat on me with another woman, I will divorce you and make sure you never see your children again. I¡¯ll take your money and your children to find another man.¡± A frightening expression shed through Nathaniel¡¯s deep gaze. He replied warningly, ¡°I would never fault if anyone touches my woman, but I¡¯ll hunt them down and make them wish they were never born.¡± The room heating was switched on, yet Christina felt a chill running down her spine. -She shivered and turned toward Nathaniel, pulling his face down for a kiss. It was a tried-and-true method to calm him down. As expected, Nathaniel¡¯s expression instantly eased, and the suffocating aura he had exuded earlier also dissipated. He wiggled his brows at her and taunted, ¡°Oh, so now you¡¯re scared?¡± ¡°You know I¡¯m a scaredy-cat, yet you still said those things to threaten me,¡± Christina protested. Still, her smile widened as she cautioned, ¡°If I leave you out of fear one day, that¡¯s entirely on you, Nathaniel.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be able to run.¡± Nathaniel wrapped his arms around her waist and ced his palm on the bump on her belly. ¡°You¡¯re my wife, and no matter where you hide, I will have a way to find you.¡± His gaze glinted with determination. Christina did not doubt the truth of his words at all. She could not bring herself to leave Lucas and Cam behind, so she was destined to spend the rest of her life entangled with Nathaniel. Christina decided to cajole Nathaniel a little more and offered, ¡°Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll give an easy time to all those vultures waiting to sink their ws into you, either. Anyway, let¡¯s get back on topic. What do you think of Mnie?¡± Nathaniel replied honestly, ¡°I don¡¯t know her.¡± After Hadley Corporation¡¯s entertainment arm went live, Nathaniel had left its operations to his trusted subordinates. He was only involved in its major projects and events. He would have remained clueless about the goings-on in the entertainment industry if not for Emilia¡¯s scandal. The only person who couldpel him to change his nonchnt attitude about his entertainment company was Christina. Meanwhile, his curt denial exasperated Christina, who rified, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to make you slip up and admit anything. You don¡¯t need to hurry and draw a line between yourself and Mnie.¡± Nathaniel replied seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in managing the entertainmentpany side of things. If you want to know more about Mnie¡¯s background, you can ask Sebastian. He¡¯ll know better than me.¡± The dinnerst night was his first encounter with Mnie. Even if the production team had urged Mnie to approach him for more investment money, his aura was intimidating enough to turn her into a stuttering fool. She would never have had the confidence to conquer Nathaniel. Sebastian was different. Everyone knew that he was Nathaniel¡¯s right-hand man. Winning him over was as close as it got to winning Nathaniel over. On the flip side, Nathaniel and Sebastian were in the same boat. If one of his men ran into trouble, Nathaniel would not be faring any better. Nathaniel uttered lightly, ¡°Maybe someone is targeting me through Sebastian.¡± This was not the first time something like this had happened to him. He added, ¡°Mnie is the next Anya.¡± He was referring to how Anya had posed as the Ludwig family¡¯s heiress to approach him at the international business conference. Christina asked, ¡°Do you think Anya and Mnie are working under the same person¡¯s orders? If so, why is that person intent on harming you? They seem obsessed with ruining your reputation.¡± ¡°No. They¡¯re not just after me; they¡¯re after the entire Hadley family.¡± Nathaniel¡¯s guess hit the bulls- eye. To clear up Christina¡¯s confusion, he exined more simply, ¡°The Hadley family¡¯s business is sprawling./ have too many enemies. Perhaps one of ourpetitors is using dirty tricks to target me. I¡¯ll have someone investigate it properly. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± While Christina trusted Nathaniel¡¯s ability implicitly, she knew he was deliberately ying down the severity of the situation. She replied, ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s check on Victoria and Sebastian. She has a fierce temper, and I¡¯m worried they¡¯re arguing again.¡± ¡°Let me change.¡± Nathaniel turned to the wardrobe and changed into a new suit. Then, they made their way to the room next door. A forlorn Sebastian sat alone on the couch. The room was a mess, with things scattered across the floor. Christina looked around, but Victoria was nowhere to be found. ¡°Mr. Taggart, where¡¯s Victoria?¡± she asked. Sebastian was a ball of dejection as he mumbled, ¡°She left. She said¡­ she hoped both of us could take some time to calm down. Away from each other.¡± He would much prefer Victoria throw a tantrum or vent her anger at him instead of ignoring him. His moping infuriated Christina, who demanded, ¡°So what? Are you just going to let her leave like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. She doesn¡¯t want to see me, so I don¡¯t know what to do,¡± replied Sebastian weakly. ¡°Victoria has always been rash. People who are agitated tend to do more extreme things. Did you consider her safety when you let her leave alone?¡± Christina continued fiercely, ¡°It hadn¡¯t been easy for you and Victoria to make it to today. Preston only just changed his mind about you. If you¡¯re going to back off at this little obstacle, why promise Victoria the moon and the stars? Why get her hopes up?¡± Sebastian clenched his fists tightly as his eyes grew red-rimmed with tears. Nathaniel added coldly, ¡°The car¡¯s downstairs. Use it as you see fit. Remember we have a meeting with Lesley Group tomorrow. Don¡¯t let your personal affairs affect your work.¡± ¡°Thank you for your advice, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯ll look for Victoria now.¡± Sebastian seemed reinvigorated with a sense of purpose. He grabbed his suit coat off the floor and dashed out of the room. ¡°I hope they can make up and return to how they were before, or my studio¡¯s first fashion show is as good as dead,¡± Christina uttered with a sigh. Nathaniel stared at her and asked, ¡°Are you short on manpower at your studio?¡± Worried that he would try to offer another talent from hispany to help, Christina immediately said, ¡°Not at all I just wanted to rebrand my studio¡¯s works, and Victoria¡¯s designs are perfect for that. I thought showcasing her designs at the first show would be a good idea!¡± Of course, that was not Christina¡¯s only motive. Chapter 728 Think Too Highly Of Yourself Chapter 728 Think Too Highly Of Yourself Even though Nathaniel did his best to put a stop to Sebastian¡¯s and Mnie¡¯s scandal, the Lesley family still caught wind of it. Sebastian couldn¡¯t catch up to Victoria on the day the news broke. The Lesley family had sent someone to pick her up. Since then, Sebastian lost all contact with her. Nathaniel¡¯s and Preston¡¯s business talks didn¡¯t go smoothly. Although Nathaniel nned to offer forty percent of the profit to Preston, thetter still didn¡¯t take the offer and even mocked Nathaniel¡¯s terms and conditions. Nathaniel knew Preston was taking his anger out on him on Victoria¡¯s behalf. He saw through Preston¡¯s intention to make Sebastian break up with Victoria by intentionally ruining the coboration between the twopanies. Naturally, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t let himself be put in a disadvantageous position. However, since Preston didn¡¯t want to coborate with him, he had no intention of forcing the former. He immediately had his secretary withdraw the coboration proposal and contract and told Preston forthrightly, ¡°If you think the Lesley Group coboration with Hadley Corporation is humiliating for the Lesley family, then the partnership between the twopanies will end from this day forward, Mr. Lesley. I¡¯ll send someone to follow up on the details regardingpensation. Since I have other tasks to see to, I¡¯ll be taking my leave. Sebastian, please help me see Mr. Lesley off. I think he wants to talk to you privately too.¡± Preston rose to his feet with a dark look. Without another word, he turned to leave the room, with Sebastian following closely behind. ¡°Bring a few assistants with you and follow them. Don¡¯t let them get into an altercation.¡± Nathaniel nced at the assistant beside him. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The assistant whirled around and left. Preston¡¯s stride halted in front of the elevator. Swinging his cold gaze to Sebastian, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll drop the matter about your indecisiveness and be honest with you. Victoria will be leaving the country in a few days. That marks the end of your rtionship, so don¡¯t contact her again. She¡¯s worth better.¡± Sebastian¡¯s expression turned grave, but his eyes were filled with conviction. ¡°Mr. Lesley, this is between Victoria and me, so I hope other people don¡¯t interfere with our rtionship. I¡¯ll tell you directly that I won¡¯t break up with Victoria, and she won¡¯t look for another man.¡± Prestonughed from the overwhelming anger coursing through him. He grasped Sebastian¡¯s cor and raised his fist. Noticing the assistants standing a distance away were keeping their eyes on him and Sebastian, he suppressed his raging impulse, lowered his fist, and shoved Sebastian away since he didn¡¯t want to cause an -uproar on Nathaniel¡¯s turf. ¡°Your sweet talk was how you got Victoria to be with you in the first ce. It blinded her, but now that she sees you for who you really are, she knows to cut her losses.¡± Preston looked personable, but the words out of his mouth were vicious. ¡°She¡¯s the one who decided to go abroad. No one forced her.¡± Sebastian felt a sharp de stabbed into his heart at the news. The shooting pain radiated throughout his limbs and bones. ¡°Impossible! Victoria would never do such a thing!¡± His voice quivered. Satisfaction flooded Preston at Sebastian¡¯s losing hisposure. ¡°Victoria hates being betrayed and lied to the most. Her partner¡¯s loyalty is important to her. Yet, you did everything she was sensitive about. How can you be such a thick face and expect her to stay by your side? Sebastian, you¡¯re Nathaniel¡¯s confidant. Others might respect you for that, but the Lesley family hasn¡¯t sumbed to that level where we pave our prospects by walking on eggshells around you. You think too highly of yourself.¡± Submerged in a feeling of loss, Sebastian couldn¡¯t register anything Preston told him after. A voice in his mind beseeched him to search for Victoria and stop her from leaving. ¡°You¡¯re on your own!¡± With that, Preston turned on his heels and stepped into the elevator. Suddenly, Sebastian lunged at him, grabbed his cor, and dragged him into the elevator. The assistants standing not far away wanted to stop them but were toote, for the elevator doors had slid shut. ¡°Hurry! Let¡¯s take the other elevator down! Someone inform security on level one to stand by. They must not let Mr. Taggart and Mr. Lesley fight,¡± the assistant urgently ordered his subordinates. Within the elevator, Sebastian had pinned Preston in a corner. ¡°Where is Victoria? Where is she right now?¡± Preston¡¯s expression was cial as he uttered coldly, ¡°Release me, Sebastian!¡± How dare a mere assistant treat me like this? I won¡¯t be able to show my face to the public if news about this spreads. Victoria was the only thing on Sebastian¡¯s mind at that point. Not only did he not release Preston as requested, but he also shifted his grip from thetter¡¯s cor to his throat. The stifling tension nketed the air within the narrow space. Preston sensed the hostility radiating from Sebastian. Having experienced many situations, he wasn¡¯t intimidated by Sebastian¡¯s threatening actions and words. ¡°If you hurt me, Victoria will never forgive you. Even if you kill me today, you still won¡¯t get a chance to meet her.¡± The elevator dinged, indicating their arrival on the first floor. When the doors slid open, the crowd outside the elevator was stunned by the scene in front of them. Preston and Sebastian were exchanging punches. The security guards arrivedte but quickly got to work and dispersed the crowd. ¡°Mr. Lesley, Mr. Taggart, let¡¯s talk with our mouths and not fists. We¡¯re at the office. If words about your brawl spread, it won¡¯t look good for any of us,¡± the head of security advised. Sebastian realized his loss of control and quickly reined back his temper. He took a few steps back at the same time he unhanded Preston. Preston smoothened the wrinkles in his attire with a scowl. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. Mr. Taggart and I were just sparring a little. I wasn¡¯t a match for him since he had me pinned down. I apologize for the scene.¡± Despite his exnation, everyone knew what actually happened but said nothing. All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°I won¡¯t be as merciful the next time we meet, Mr. Taggart.¡± Preston stepped out of the elevator and stormed out of the building. Sebastian sucked in a deep breath. He didn¡¯t return to his office. Instead, he went to the balcony alone and started calling Victoria relentlessly. Unsurprisingly, all his calls went to voicemail. Her phone was turned off. Does she really intend to leave me? His heart clenched at the painful thought. His hand holding the phone shook fervently. At his wit¡¯s end, he called Christina and pleaded, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I can¡¯t reach Victoria. Can you help me?¡± When she received Sebastian¡¯s call, Christina was on her way to the mansion Mnie was confined at. Panic washed over her at the news of Victoria leaving the country. Firstly, she was worried that Sebastian and Victoria would break up for real, with no hope of ever getting back together. Secondly, the reopening of her fashion studio was also one of her concerns. Her studio had already advertised the chief designer d¨¦but event in which Victoria would appear. Out of the blue, she was informed about Victoria¡¯s departure. Wouldn¡¯t that just set her studio up for public ridicule? Since her studio had a few disputes with several celebrities, manyizens were waiting for a chance to mock her. Even though she didn¡¯t want to get involved between Sebastian and Victoria, she had no choice but to meddle in their mess. ¡°I¡¯ll go and talk to Victoria. In the meantime, I hope you prepare yourself to face the obstacles heading your way.¡± Chapter 729 Are You Trying To Lecture Me Chapter 729 Are You Trying To Lecture Me All Sebastian wanted now was to see Victoria as soon as possible. As for everything else, he couldn¡¯t care anymore. ¡°Yes.¡± Sebastian¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°If you see her, please tell her that I haven¡¯t gone back on our promise.¡± ¡°Wait for my message.¡± Christina hung up the call and dialed Victoria¡¯s mobile number, only to find that thetter¡¯s phone was turned off. ¡°Lyle, let¡¯s not go to the studio. Head to the Lesley residence instead.¡± Lyle turned the car around steadily and headed toward the Lesley residence. About half an hourter, Christina stood in front of the Lesley residence. After ringing the doorbell for a few minutes, a middle¨Caged maid finally arrived. The maid didn¡¯t immediately open the intricately carved iron gate. Instead, she asked about Christina¡¯s identity through the gate. ¡°May I know who are you looking for?¡± ¡°I am Victoria¡¯s friend. I can¡¯t reach her, so I¡¯m here to see if something happened to her.¡± The maid cautiously nced around as she whispered, Sorry, Ms. Lesley hasn¡¯t been feeling well these past few days. I¡¯m afraid she¡¯s not avable to meet you. You should go back first.¡± ¡°Victoria signed a contract with me. My studio is about to open in a couple of days, and she hasn¡¯t completed the work she promised. I must see her today. Please convey my message,¡± Christina said coldly. Deducing that Christina was someone of significance, the maid hesitated for a moment before truthfully saying, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to inform her. Mrs. Lesley has given orders that she doesn¡¯t want Ms. Lesley to meet anyone. I¡¯m just an employee. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± Even so, Christina had no intention of returning empty¨Chanded. After all, with the relevant work arrangements prepared, her studio still needed Victoria to function. Christina sincerely hoped that Sebastian and Victoria could have a happy ending instead of losing each other regretfully. ¡°I am just acting ording to the contract. I don¡¯t want to make things difficult for Victoria because of these matters. Her negligence can cause significant financial losses to my studio,¡± Christina said sternly. ¡°Although the Lesley family doesn¡¯tck the money for thepensation of a breach in contract, the news of their breach of trust would be detrimental to Victoria¡¯s reputation. Does Mrs. Lesley really want to ruin her daughter¡¯s future?¡± The maid¡¯s expression changed drastically. Christina calmly added, ¡°If Mrs. Lesley asks about my identity, you can tell her that I¡¯m Christina Steele, -also known as Mrs. Hadley.¡± The maid hurriedly replied, ¡°Please wait a moment. I will go in and ask Mrs. Lesley.¡± She quickly rushed into the vi. A few minutester, the maid returned to Christina and opened the intricately carved gate respectfully. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Lesley invites you in.¡± ¡°Lyle, wait for me in the car,¡± Christina instructed, then followed the maid into the vi. Sitting on the couch in the living room was a beautifuldy. She was wearing a green designer gown made of silk, whichplemented her refined elegance. Brenda, also known as Mrs. Lesley, nced at Christina and took a sip of warm tea. As she slowly put down the cup, her lips curved into a gentle smile. ¡°Thank you for visiting, Mrs. Hadley. I apologize for my housekeeper¡¯sck of manners. It is not my intention to let you wait outside in the cold for so long. I truly feel sorry about it,¡± Brenda said, then turned to the butler behind her. ¡°Quickly bring a warmer for Mrs. Hadley and turn up the heater.¡± The butler nodded and turned to leave when Christina stopped him timely. ¡°Mrs. Lesley, there¡¯s no need for the trouble. If you really feel sorry, let me see Victoria. I have something to discuss with her face¨Cto- face.¡± All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org. Brenda¡¯s smile slightly stiffened, but her good upbringing prevented her from shutting her guests out of the house directly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re here at the wrong time, Mrs. Hadley, Victoria has been ill for the past two days. She just took medicine and went to sleep. It will be a while before she wakes up. Why don¡¯t youe back another time?¡± Christina didn¡¯t believe Brenda. If she left now, it would be even harder for her to meet Victoria the next time. Ever since the Lesleys were aware of Victoria¡¯s rtionship with Sebastian, they intended to sever the love between them. They would certainly do everything possible to hide Victoria¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. I can wait until Victoria wakes up.¡± Christina smiled faintly. ¡°This is my first official meeting with you, Mrs. Lesley, so why don¡¯t we have a chat to pass the time?¡± Christina made it clear that she wouldn¡¯t easily give in, As the smile on Brenda¡¯s face gradually faded, her gaze toward Christina was no longer friendly, and her tone became serious. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re here to speak up for Sebastian, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for work¨Crted matters,¡± Christina replied calmly. ¡°Victoria is the chief designer of my fashion studio. In a few days, there will be a fashion show specially organized for her, and she cannot be absent.¡± Upon hearing this, Brenda chuckled lightly, her eyes filled with disdain. ¡°Victoria¡¯s design talent is renowned in the fashion industry. There are countless people who want to recruit her. It¡¯s quite surprising that she chooses to work in your small clothing studio,¡± Brenda said. ¡°When she was twenty years old, we invested in her own studio abroad, and she gained a lot of fame from her own brand.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what Sebastian has done to her to make her willing to cut off ties with her family for the sake of an unknown man. She would rather give up a promising future and be with him! How foolish.¡± Brenda paused before continuing, ¡°Victoria is my only daughter. I will never allow her to make one mistake after another. A marriage that isn¡¯tpatible in terms of social status and family background cannotst with love alone, which can easily deteriorate. You are a smart person, Mrs. Hadley. You should know that not everyone is as lucky as you to marry an exceptional man like Nathaniel Hadley.¡± Brenda didn¡¯t want to sound too harsh, but whenever she thought of Victoria risking her life to go on a hunger strike for Sebastian, she felt hatred in her heart. She also heard that Christina yed a part in matchmaking Victoria and Sebastian. Since Christina was protected by the title of Mrs. Hadley, Brenda couldn¡¯t do anything to her directly. However, she could still mock the former subtly. ¡°Mrs. Lesley, you shouldn¡¯t only focus on appearances,¡± Christina replied calmly. ¡°Have you personally interacted with Sebastian? Have you made a sincere effort to understand him? I don¡¯t think because you believe that Sebastian¡¯s status doesn¡¯t match the Lesley family, and you¡¯re not humble enough you have to make acquaintances with an ordinary person. You keep saying that you¡¯re breaking them up for Victoria¡¯s own good, but you overlook a crucial point¨Cyou don¡¯t really know what Victoria truly wants.¡± Brenda felt challenged by Christina¡¯s words. Her expression turned sour. Suppressing her anger, she raised her voice, saying, ¡°Are you trying to lecture me on how to do things?¡± Chapter 730 A Face Down Chapter 730 A Face Down Brenda¡¯s menacing voice echoed loudly in the silent and spacious living room. Christina calmly stared at the elegant Brenda and replied slowly, ¡°Mrs. Lesley, you have misunderstood me. How can I dare to lecture you, an elder? I am merely considering my own and Victoria¡¯s future.¡± Brenda sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t bring Victoria into this.¡± The status of the Lesley family attracted tters from many people, but since Christina married into the Hadley family, shecked neither status nor wealth and power. The only thing she was worried about was the reputation of her studio. Brenda believed that the reason Christina hired Victoria as a chief designer was simply because she valued Victoria¡¯s fame. Therefore, when Victoria had conflicts with her family and lost the wealth and status provided by the Lesley family, Christina took advantage of the situation and deceived Victoria into signing a so¨Ccalled contract. ¡°The contract that Victoria signed with you is null and void starting today. The liquidated damages will be borne by the Lesley family,¡± Brenda dered as she raised her head proudly. ¡°I have only one condition. Victoria and Sebastian mustpletely sever ties. After that, I request that you stop disturbing her new life.¡± Brenda appeared resolute and unyielding. Christina¡¯s gaze instantly turned cold. ¡°Mrs. Lesley, you may not yet be aware of the true consequences if Victoria breaches the contract with the studio.¡± Brenda snorted coldly. ¡°First, you tried to lecture me on how to handle things, and now you¡¯re resorting to threatening me? To put it bluntly, Mrs. Hadley, when I was your age, I had already built a thriving beauty salon business. Being sensible and knowing when to advance and retreat is the best way to sess.¡± Came prepared, Christina smiled gracefully as she revealed her trump card. ¡°Mrs. Lesley, I¡¯ve long heard the inspirational story of your entrepreneurial journey when you were young.¡± A disdainful smile appeared on Brenda¡¯s lips. She had long grown tired of ttery and adtion. Christina continued, ¡°But I heard that you have had a few more troubles recently. There was a medical ident at your most reputable beauty salon, and the client involved is said toe from a significant background. After using the products from your salon, she experienced serious facial skin problems.¡± Brenda¡¯s face suddenly turned pale. This was the biggest problem she had encountered ever since she became a sessful businesswoman. She had already tried to suppress the news. How did Christina find out about it? ¡°Now the customer wants to sue you and your beauty salon, and due to the political background of that youngdy, all the beauty salons under your name are under investigation. If these problems are not handled well, both your career and the Lesley family will suffer severe consequences.¡± Brenda struggled to control her anger. She nearly sshed the tea in her hand onto Christina¡¯s face. Eyes filled with murderous intent, she fixed her gaze on Christina¡¯s throat. ¡°You investigated my secrets thoroughly just to negotiate with me, didn¡¯t you?¡± Brenda seethed with anger. ¡°I¡¯m very curious about how capable Sebastian is since he can persuade the esteemed Mrs. Hadley to intervene personally on his behalf.¡± The sarcasm in her words was evident. Christina responded, ¡°I¡¯ve said before, Mrs. Lesley. I¡¯m not here to threaten you. On the contrary, considering my rtionship with Victoria, I can help you solve the difficulties you¡¯re facing.¡± Brenda had approached almost everyone who could be of help, but they didn¡¯t agree to help her because they were all worried about getting involved and potentially causing trouble for themselves. While Brenda was busy trying to resolve her career problems, she also had to deal with Victoria¡¯s rtionship. She was already stretched thin. Of course, there was a more important reason Brenda strongly opposed Victoria being with Sebastian. She attempted to arrange a marriage between Victoria and a young man from a political family she targeted. If the marriage seeded, her problems would naturally be solved, and no one would dare to provoke her again. Brenda believed her ns were foolproof and thought that no one could see through her true intentions. Little did she know that ever since Victoria¡¯s rtionship with Sebastian was exposed, the actions of the Lesley family were being closely monitored by Christina and Nathaniel. Upon hearing that Christina could help her alleviate her problems, Brenda scrutinized her carefully. If it were anyone else, Brenda wouldn¡¯t be swayed easily. However, Christina had married a capable husband, and whatever Christina couldn¡¯t achieve could be aplished by Nathaniel better. Sensing Brenda¡¯s hesitation, Christina decided to y her trump card. ¡°Even if I can¡¯t help you myself, Sebastian is there to help. He is a prominent figure around Nathaniel, and Nathaniel intends to train him to take over thepany¡¯s business overseas. At such a critical moment, Nathaniel will definitely not let any problem affect Sebastian.¡± Christina continued, ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Nathaniel actually supports Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship fully. You know very little about Sebastian and haven¡¯t had much contact with him. You probably don¡¯t know how popr he is among other girls. All those prominent and influential families want to recruit Sebastian as their son¨Cinw. But Sebastian is quite stubborn. Once he sets his mind on someone, he won¡¯t easily change. His loyalty has caused Nathaniel some distress for a while because those who wanted to recruit Sebastian lost the opportunity to coborate long¨Cterm with the Hadleys.¡± It wasmon knowledge that the Lesleys were slightly inferior to the Hadleys in various aspects. Unaware that the coboration between Preston and Nathaniel had gone south, Brenda proudly said, ¡°I believe Mr. Hadley is not driven emotionally at work. You don¡¯t need to go out of your way to speak well of Sebastian, nor do you need to use my weaknesses to threaten me. I will never agree to them being together.¡± Christina stood up and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. The things I¡¯ve told you are not meant to show how outstanding Sebastian is or how he can¡¯t live without Victoria. It¡¯s about Victoria needing Sebastian. You know better than I do about Victoria¡¯s stubbornness. She¡¯s your daughter. What I hope for is that you can let go of prejudices and try to understand things beyond your social circle sincerely.¡± Tap! Tap! Tap! Just then, footsteps could be hearding from upstairs. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ms. Lesley, Mrs. Lesley is mecting a guest. You can¡¯t go down!¡± The butler¡¯s urgent voice came through. ¡°Step aside, all of you!¡± Victoria¡¯s deep and powerful voice suddenly rang out. As Victoria rushed to the living room from upstairs instantly, the butler and several housekeepers followed in fear. They were afraid of being dismissed because of this. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re here!¡± Victoria pounced on Christina and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Take me away quickly. I¡¯ve had enough of being controlled.¡± With that, Victoria held Christina¡¯s hand and began to leave with her. Behind them, Brenda¡¯s angry yells could be heard. ¡°Victoria, where do you think you¡¯re going? Stop right there!¡± Victoria dragged Christina along and didn¡¯t look back. Furious, Brenda red at the butler and servants. ¡°Are you all dead? Stop Victoria from leaving at once!¡± Chapter 731 Getting Revenge Chapter 731 Getting Revenge ¡°Christina, run!¡± Victoria grabbed Christina and ran out of the mansion. Lyle¡¯s car had been parked in front of the mansion. When he saw Christina and Victoria running out with a group of housekeepers chasing after them, he started the car immediately. Victoria opened the car door and pushed Christina in before getting into the car herself. She then yelled at Lyle, ¡°Drive!¡± Lyle locked the car doors and stepped on the elerator. The car sped away, leaving behind a trail of dust. The butler and housekeepers looked at the car and were at a loss. Sh*t! We¡¯re goners! We actually let Ms. Lesley get away. Mrs. Lesley won¡¯t let us off¡­ Victoria looked at the mansion that was getting further and further away. She happily leaned in her seat and heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It feels so good to be free!¡± eximed Victoria as she turned to look at Christina. Victoria looked like a kitten who was rubbing Christina¡¯s arm. ¡°Christina, thank you foring to look for me. That¡¯s how I get the opportunity to escape. You have no idea how I have been suffering at home.¡± Victoria had lost quite a bit of weight and looked haggard. Only her eyes were shimmering brightly. Christina felt sorry for her. ¡°You should have called me earlier. When Sebastian couldn¡¯t get in touch with you, he was so worried.¡± At the mention of Sebastian, Victoria¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°If he cares so much about me, why didn¡¯t he come and look for me?¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Victoria had been locked in her room by Brenda, and there was always someone keeping watch on her at all times. In order to prevent her from running away, Brenda instructed the butler to spike Victoria¡¯s food with sleeping pills. Victoria went through her days in a daze. Whether she was wide awake or dreaming, the person that she wanted to see the most was Sebastian. From morning to night, Victoria hoped that Sebastian would be the one to rescue her from the Lesley family. Yet, he did not show up. The more Victoria thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and her eyes became teary. -Christina embraced her and said, ¡°Sebastian wanted toe and look for you, but he couldn¡¯t.¡± Victoria looked up all of a sudden and grabbed Christina¡¯s clothes. Her eyes glimmered with hope. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t joke about something so serious. Sebastian has his difficulties too. While you were being locked up by your mother, your brother sent someone to keep an eye on Sebastian.¡± Christina handed her a piece of handkerchief before continuing, ¡°Sebastian wants me to let you know that he has never broken his promise to you.¡± In that instant, torrential tears streamed down Victoria¡¯s cheeks. She had been suppressing her feeling for so long, and now the dam burst. She clung to Christina and started bawling. Christina sighed and caressed Victoria¡¯s back. She hoped that after this episode, both Sebastian and Victoria could be together. After all, there was a limit to what Christina could do for them. ¡°I want to see Sebastian now. Christina, take me to see him. Okay?¡± said Victoria with a sob. Both her eyes were red with tears. ¡°All right. But given the current circumstances, you can¡¯t appear in public ces. Come back to Scenic Garden Manor with me, and I¡¯ll ask him toe and pick you up,¡± Christina suggested. Brenda would surely send someone to get Victoria back, but no one dared to make a scene at the Hadley family¡¯s territory. As such, Scenic Garden Manor was the best option. Victoria nodded. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Just as Christina brought Victoria back to Scenic Garden Manor, Brenda sent someone to take Victoria back home. Naturally, Christina would not allow that. She ordered the butler to throw Brenda¡¯s men out. Just as Christina had expected, Brenda dared not make a scene in front of the Hadley residence. One call and her men went away. Once Victoria had eaten to her heart¡¯s content, she fell asleep. The moment she woke up, she disappeared. ¡°Where is Ms. Lesley?¡± Christina had just woken up. When she could not find Victoria anywhere, she immediately asked the butler, thinking that Brenda had sent someone to take her away. The butler looked grim. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Lesley is in the backyard questioning Mnie.¡± ¡°Oh no!¡± Christina had forgotten all about that. ording to her n, Christina was supposed to meet Mnie. However, she received Sebastian¡¯s call for help, so she went to the Lesley family instead. In order not to have any dy, she instructed the butler to bring Mnie to Scenic Garden Manor and waited for her return to deal with Mnie. Because of everything, Christina had forgotten about Mnie. Thetter was unlucky to have bumped into Victoria. Worried that Victoria might torture Mnie to bits, Christina quickly made her way to the storehouse. When Christina was passing by the pond, she saw that Victoria had hung Mnie upside¨Cdown using a halyard and was bouncing Mnie up and down. Mnie was being dunked into the pond head first and pulled up very quickly. Her torture went on and on. ¡°Victoria, enough!¡± Christina went over and took the remote control away from Victoria before telling her off, ¡°Even if Mnie has done wrong, there¡¯s no need for you to torture her like this. If she dies, are you going to be responsible?¡± Victoria scoffed. ¡°She deserves it. Who told her to seduce my man? I¡¯m just teaching her a lesson. She¡¯s lucky that I¡¯m not stabbing her with a knife!¡± Christina handed the remote control to the butler and said, ¡°Get her down and bring her to the living room. I have something to ask herter.¡± Victoria was unwilling, but she dared not go against Christina¡¯s order. In the end, she watched the butler take Mnie back to the living room. ¡°You tortured her so badly. How am I going to get any information out of her? Victoria, you should learn to control your emotions before you get into trouble.¡± Christina then added, ¡°Mnie is a key person, and this concerns a bigger plot. You are causing me more trouble.¡± It did not cross Victoria¡¯s mind that things could be soplicated. She looked at Christina and apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. I wasn¡¯t thinking. I only wanted to teach Mnie a lesson. I won¡¯t be at peace until I take my revenge.¡± ¡°Even so, you should know your limits,¡± said Christina. ¡°There¡¯s another hour before Sebastian can go off from work. Let¡¯s use this time to interrogate Mnie. You are wee to watch, but you aren¡¯t allowed to be physical with her no matter what she says.¡± Victoria patted her chest. ¡°Christina, I promise you that I won¡¯t touch her. I¡¯ll leave everything to you.¡± Christina did not think that Victoria could get a hold of her emotions. Both women then went to the living room. There was a thick nket wrapped around Mnie. She had regained her energy. Even though the heater was turned on in the living room, she was still shivering. ¡°Christina, you have already detained me for days now. If you want to kill me, just do it! Don¡¯t torture me like this!¡± Chapter 732 The Mysterious Woman Chapter 732 The Mysterious Woman Victoria had long disliked Mnie, and when she heard Mnie yelling at Christina, the anger she had barely suppressed red up again. ¡°Watch your tone, Mnie.¡± Victoria swung her fist at the other woman as a warning. ¡°Or do you want another beating?¡± Having experienced Victoria¡¯s wrath, Mnie shivered involuntarily as she huddled in the corner of the couch with a nket around her. Christina broke the tense atmosphere. Compared to Victoria¡¯s rough methods, Christina preferred to use non-confrontational methods. ¡°I have given you a few days to think. You should have figured out why I had someone lock you up.¡± Christina smiled lightly, but her gaze was ice-cold. ¡°I want to know why you suddenly changed your mind and decided to cause trouble for Sebastian.¡± ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Mnie sniffled arrogantly. ¡°If I tell you, will you act as if nothing happened and let me go?¡± Victoria sneered. ¡°Have you ever seen a mistress with a happy ending?¡± ¡°I told you, my rtionship with Mr. Taggart is consensual. Since I¡¯m not forcing him to take any responsibility for me. I¡¯m technically not his mistress, Mnie retorted fearfully. Hearing this, Victoria exploded in anger. ¡°Nonsense! Sebastian clearly doesn¡¯t know you. You used despicable means to manipte him. Consensual rtionship? Bullsh*t! Are you not ashamed of what you said?¡± Besides being Victoria¡¯s rival, Mnie was nothing more than a shameless woman trying to get into bed with Sebastian. In the face of such a vixen. Victoria¡¯s years of good upbringing copsed at this moment. If it weren¡¯t for Christina watching by the side, Mnie wouldn¡¯t have been so lucky. She wouldn¡¯t be able to taunt Victoria while wrapped in a nket and enjoying the warmth.. Although Mnie was a prisoner, she still held her head high and stubbornly dered, ¡°Although you¡¯re dating Mr. Taggart, you¡¯re not even willing to acknowledge him officially. How are you fit topete with me? It¡¯s evident enough that the Lesleys look down on Mr. Taggart¡¯s background. Just look at the recent scandals exposing your rtionship. The Lesleys clearly consider your rtionship a disgrace!¡± Smack! The air seemed to freeze. Christina¡¯s hand connected with Mnie¡¯s check in a resounding p, her face remaining impassive. Victoria stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock, taking a moment to process what had just happened. Meanwhile, Mnie covered her burning cheek and red at Christina angrily. Biting her lower lip tightly, she didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°This is my house; Victoria is my guest and my friend. You need to be mindful of your boundaries.¡± Christina gathered all the photos scattered on the coffee table and tossed them directly at Mnie, a disy of her defiance and support for Victoria. ¡°I had them verified. All these photos were digitally manipted. Mnie, I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Who instructed you to do this?¡± As Mnie touched her swollen face, she scanned the photos on the ground one by one. She replied calmly, ¡°I want to be famous, so I found a rich person to back me up. It¡¯s too difficult to win over Nathaniel, and I don¡¯t want to waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That¡¯s why I approached Sebastian. He is a popr figure around Nathaniel and has been managing the entertainment company for him. If I get involved with him, I can at least have leverage over him even if I don¡¯t seed. I will have secured my future in this lifetime.¡± With those words, Mnie cast a mocking gaze at Victoria and persisted in provoking her. ¡°Ms. Lesley certainly has excellent taste and luck. Simply by acting like a pampered youngdy, she manages to capture Mr. Taggart¡¯s heart.¡± Tilting her head to the side, she directly confronted Victoria, asking. ¡°Why don¡¯t you enlighten me on your secrets? How about teaching me how to achieve the same?¡± It was evident that Mnie was trying to humiliate Victoria. Thetter red at Mnie with murderous intent. ¡°Don¡¯t be so arrogant, Mnie Steele!¡± However, Mnie simply sneered and turned to address Christina, saying, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I have told you everything you want to know. Considering that we both share the same surname, why don¡¯t you let me go? Perhaps we might cross paths again with each other in the future. What do you say?¡± ¡°All right. I¡¯ll let you go.¡± Christina¡¯s response came as an utter surprise for both Victoria and Mnie. Mnie was momentarily stunned by Christina¡¯s unexpected reaction. Her thoughts became muddled, and she struggled to regain herposure, almost forgetting what she had intended to say. ¡°Christina, you can¡¯t let her go!¡± Victoria gritted her teeth. ¡°She¡¯s just a somewhat famous inte celebrity. If she doesn¡¯t have someone backing her up behind the scenes, she won¡¯t have the guts to scheme against Nathaniel. This woman is definitely up to something.¡± Mnie smirked. ¡°Does ambition count? Let¡¯s not talk about rich, powerful, and handsome men like Nathaniel, who are rare enough. Take Mr. Taggart for example, he¡¯s a good man who¡¯s rather desirable.¡± Victoria¡¯s patience wore thin as Mnie continued to cross her boundaries. With a fiery re, Victoria issued a stern warning. ¡°Shut your mouth! If I ever hear you mention Mr. Taggart¡¯ again, I¡¯ll make sure you never speak another word!¡± Damn it! Sebastian is mine and mine only! All these problematic girls can stay away! ¡°Don¡¯t be too overbearing, Ms. Lesley. Men like gentle and understanding women. Mnie stood up as she said, ¡°If you won¡¯t let me pursue him, I shall still admire him. You have no right to interfere.¡± She nonchntly tossed the nket aside and, as she walked past Christina, shot her a mocking nce, scanning her from head to toe. Her gaze lingered on Christina¡¯s lower abdomen, and she couldn¡¯t resist making a snide remark. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you¡¯re truly a beautiful and kind-hearted woman. I have no doubt that your child will grow up to be exceptional.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Emilia Steele.¡± Christina deliberately enunciated her name. However, Mnie blinked in confusion at Christina¡¯s remark. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, you seem to have mistaken my name, I¡¯m Mnie, not Emilia,¡± she said, tapping her temple with a smug smile. ¡°Unlike Emilia, I¡¯m not foolish and self-righteous.¡± After that, Mnie strode off. ¡°Christina, why did you let her go?¡± Victoria wanted to chase after Mnie and drag thetter back, but Christina grabbed her wrist, preventing her from chasing after the woman. ¡°Don¡¯t chase after her. Just let her go,¡± Christina advised, her frown deepening. ¡°I purposely allowed her to leave. If we keep her here, I doubt we¡¯ll be able to get any useful information from her. It¡¯s better to strategize and find a more effective way to deal with the situation.¡± Victoria sat on the couch, rubbing her temples in frustration. ¡°But Christina, why did you suddenly call Mnie by the name ¡®Emilia¡¯? Do you suspect that she¡¯s Emilia who¡¯s currently missing?¡± Christina nodded affirmatively. ¡°Indeed, Mnie gives me an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Despite her physical appearance beingpletely different from Emilia¡¯s, and the absence of any apparent signs of stic surgery, there are moments where I sense traces of Emilia in her words and actions.¡± During the days when Christina kept Mnie confined, she didn¡¯t stand by idly. Instead, she invited the most renowned stic surgeons domestically and internationally to evaluate Mnie. The assessment from the stic surgeons left no room for doubt-Mnie¡¯s facial features were entirely natural, with no evidence of surgical alterations. The spection about her wearing a hyper-realistic mask was deemed highly unlikely and improbable. Victoria asked hesitantly, ¡°Could it be that Mnie is Emilia¡¯s long-lost sister?¡± Chapter 733 Assistance Chapter 733 Assistance ¡°Miranda only had one daughter, and that¡¯s Emilia,¡± Christina answered with absolute certainty. It was precisely because of this that Christina found Mnie¡¯s behavior peculiar, and why she decided to lure the woman into a trap. ¡°Now that Mnie has been caught once, it may not be easy to get hold of any evidence against her in the future,¡± Victoria pointed out worriedly. If Christina hadn¡¯t intervened and calmed the situation earlier, Victoria¡¯s hot temper might have escted, potentially pressuring Mnie into confessing or revealing more information. ¡°As long as her goals remain unachieved, she will eventually lose patience and take action. Let¡¯s wait patiently. Perhaps we will get something unexpected,¡± Christina advised. As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of a car engine could be heard outside the mansion. Victoria¡¯s excitement surged through her like a dose of adrenaline. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she leaped up from the couch and dashed outside, her voice filled with joy as she shouted, ¡°Sebastian is here! He¡¯s here to pick me up!¡± When the mansion¡¯s door swung open from the outside. Sebastian was taken by surprise as someone crashed into him. Before he could react, a pair of arms were wrapped around his waist. A familiar scent instantly filled the air, and as Sebastian lowered his head, he met a pair of glistening reddened eyes. ¡°Seb!¡± Victoria sobbed. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you so much!¡± Sebastian¡¯s heart swelled as he held Victoria in his arms. Ignoring any onlookers, including Nathaniel who might be observing them, he spoke with a hoarse voice. ¡°Why did you run like that? What if you had gotten hurt?¡± He felt a surge of relief wash over him, grateful that it was him who had opened the door and not Nathaniel. The thought of witnessing Nathaniel and Victoria embracing each other was something he couldn¡¯t bear to see. Victoria muttered, ¡°I just wanted to see you as soon as possible.¡± Sebastian¡¯s heart was filled with warmth, and a trace of delight shimmered in his gentle gaze. ¡°Find another ce to act all lovey-dovey, will you?¡± Nathaniel interrupted them after standing in the cold wind for a couple of minutes, displeased that he was forced to witness their public disy of affection. Sebastian apologized, ¡°My apologies, Mr. Hadley. We¡¯ll be leaving right away. Thank you both, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley, for your help today.¡± Nathaniel waved his hand dismissively as he nced at his assistant. ¡°Just don¡¯t dy your work. ¡°Understood,¡± Sebastian nodded, taking Victoria¡¯s hand as they turned toward the waiting car by the door. Christina walked to the door and watched as the happy couple went on their way. She then turned to Nathaniel, chiding. ¡°They finally have a chance to be together. Can¡¯t you give Sebastian some time off to mend their rtionship?¡± Nathaniel guided Christina indoors and closed the door, shutting out the chilling wind. He calmly borated, ¡°Sebastian¡¯s best chance to win over the Lesleys and gain their eptance is by swiftly assuming control of the overseas branch and establishing himself as a significant figure within Hadley Corporation.¡± ¡°Entrusting Sebastian¡¯s training to someone else is a risk, and managing the overseas branch poses unique challengespared to domestic operations. However, once he secures the position of deputy CEO, he will have ample time to be with Victoria. At that point, the Lesleys will no longer be an obstacle, and he can prioritize their rtionship,¡± he concluded. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Nathaniel lowered his head and nted a kiss on the woman¡¯s forehead as he led her into the living room. By then, the butler had already cleaned up the mess left by Mnie. ¡°Did they give you a hard time when you went to the Lesley residence today?¡± Nathaniel asked. Christina¡¯s voice filled with frustration as she spoke about her encounter with Victoria¡¯s mother. ¡°I only met Mrs. Lesley today. From what I gathered, Mrs. Lesley is vehemently against Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s rtionship. She is pushing for Victoria to enter into a marriage alliance with a man from a privileged background to address the issues faced by her beauty salons. It¡¯s clear that Mrs. Lesley¡¯s main concern is her own benefits, without considering Victoria¡¯s happiness in the slightest.¡± Nathaniel was not the least bit surprised by the revtion. He had dealt with the Lesleys before, and he understood their characters and methods. ¡°Don¡¯t let these trivial matters anger you. If Mrs. Lesley tries to bully you, find your own way to fight back, and if any problems arise, I¡¯ll take care of them for you, he reassured her. As Christina leaned into Nathaniel¡¯s embrace, she rested the back of her head against his shoulder and looked up at him with determination. ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m not afraid of Mrs. Lesley causing trouble for me, but I¡¯m worried that she might harm Sebastian. Her beauty salon is facing a major problem, and Sebastian may not be able to meet her demands. I¡¯m concerned that Victoria could still be a pawn in Mrs. Lesley¡¯s game.¡± Nathaniel looked at her and asked, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Christina¡¯s smile of satisfaction lingered as she sat up straight, her gaze focused and earnest. ¡°I hope you can personally assist Mrs. Lesley in oveing some of her difficulties and provide her with a taste of sess first¡± By helping Brenda ovee her difficulties and demonstrating sess, Christina believed it would enhance her credibility when speaking to the older woman. Moreover, it would also serve to minimize the obstacles faced by Sebastian and Victoria. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take care of it. As Nathaniel brushed his fingertips against her earlobe and lightly pinched it, he whispered in her ear, ¡°Do I get a reward for helping you?¡± The suggestive nature of this small gesture was evident. Christina instinctively wanted to escape, but Nathaniel saw through her. He extended his long arm to lock her in his embrace tightly from behind. As he brushed his warm lips across her earlobe, he teased. ¡°Why run? Do you think I¡¯ll really devour you?¡± Of course, Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t actually devour her. He would only torment her in bed¡­ Christina had long been ustomed to this. She gulped nervously and said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I was just- thinking of going to the kitchen to look for something to eat.¡± She seemed to be frightened by him, but Nathaniel wasn¡¯t so deranged that he didn¡¯t know his limits. Thus, he stopped at that and released the woman from his embrace. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stop scaring you. What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± Christina let her guard down and ordered a long list of dishes. In the end, she realized that she might have ordered a little too much. Nathaniel had just finished work, and he hadn¡¯t rested for long before having to cook for her. At the thought of this, she couldn¡¯t help feeling sorry for him. ¡°Forget about what I said earlier. I just want a burrito. It¡¯s my favorite.¡± ¡°You¡¯re pregnant, and it¡¯s important that you get proper nutrition. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll make you some delicious burritos. As for tonight, you can enjoy the meal you ordered earlier,¡± Nathaniel said, taking off his suit jacket and carefully cing it on the couch. He then rolled up his sleeves and instructed, ¡°Go and wait in the living room. I¡¯ll let you know once I¡¯m done. The kitchen can be quite smoky, and I don¡¯t want you to be exposed to any harmful fumes.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christina nodded. As Nathaniel entered the kitchen and began cooking up a feast, Christina went to the living room to watch some television. However, she found her gaze gradually drawn by the figure in the kitchen. She quietly moved to the dining room, finding the perfect spot with a clear view. From there, she attentively watched. Nathaniel as he skillfully prepared the meal. Christina secretly took a few pictures of the man, but at that moment, her phone suddenly rang. Upon hearing the sound, Nathaniel turned around and saw Christina fumbling with her phone. Caught in the act, Christina shed him an awkward smile. ¡°Um¡­ do continue with what you¡¯re doing. I¡¯ll go take this call.¡±¡°¡± With that, she quickly left the dining room and made her way to the living room. Sliding open the floor- to-ceiling windows, she stepped out into the courtyard to answer the phone. ¡°Christina, something terrible has happened.¡± Rayne¡¯s anxious voice came through the phone. ¡°What happened?¡± Christina asked, her brows furrowing. ¡°Calm down and tell me what¡¯s going on. There¡¯s no need to panic. Rayne¡¯s call couldn¡¯t havee at a worse time, and Christina instantly felt an unsettling premonition that something had gone awry. ¡°A fire broke out at the studio. There might be some casualties.¡± Chapter 734 Trying To Solve The Mystery Chapter 734 Trying To Solve The Mystery That news struck Christina like a bolt from the blue and left her feeling dizzy for a good few seconds. Holding her forehead, she asked in confusion, ¡°The renovation work at the studio is almostplete, right? How did it catch fire all of a sudden?¡± Rayne was close to tears at that point. ¡°I don¡¯t know! Our studio is the only one that caught fire in the entire building! The security guards have already filed a police report. Could youe over and have a look, Christina?¡± The studio had caught fire twice in a row, so Rayne was starting to question if her bad luck was affecting the studio. ¡°Be careful, and don¡¯t do anything rash. I¡¯lle over so just wait for me,¡± Christina said before hanging up the phone and rushing upstairs to get changed. ¡°What happened, Christina? Where are you going?¡± Nathaniel stepped out of the kitchen when he heard themotion. ¡°A fire broke out at the studio, so I¡¯m heading over to check on things!¡± Christina eximed anxiously. Nathaniel grabbed her by the hand. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous there, and there¡¯s nothing you can do to help anyway. I¡¯ll send someone over to have a look, so you just stay right here.¡± Christina gave it some thought and nodded. ¡°All right, then. Hurry up and send someone over to find out what¡¯s going on. Rayne says¡­ She took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Rayne says there might be casualties in this fire.¡± ¡°Nothing is certain until we have confirmation, so please try to stay calm. I¡¯ll go make the call right away) the man said while stepping aside to make a phone call Christina kept her gaze fixated on him the entire time. A few minutester, he returned to her side and told her, ¡°Sebastian and Victoria happen to be nearby, so they¡¯re already on their way to the studio. They¡¯ll drop by Scenic Garden Manorter this evening. By the way, dinner is almost ready. I know you don¡¯t really have much of an appetite, but you have to eat something, okay?¡± Christina nodded absentmindedly and sent Rayne a text before sitting down at the dining table. Judging by how delicious the food looked, Christina could tell that Nathaniel put a lot of effort into it Not wanting to let his effort go to waste, she forced herself to eat quite a lot of the food. After having dinner, Nathaniel kept Christinapany as they sat in the living room and waited for an update. Sebastian, Victoria, and Rayne showed up at Scenic Garden Manor a few hourster. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina! You trust me so much, and yet, I always mess things up. The studio is scheduled to be open for business in a few days, and I have already sent out the invitations! What will we do?¡± Rayne sobbed the moment she saw Christina. Christina handed her a handkerchief andforted her, saying. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, so you don¡¯t have to apologize. Let¡¯s all put our heads together. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able toe up with a solution.¡± Rayne took the handkerchief over and wiped her tears with ¡°Sebastian, have you identified the cause of the fire at the studio?¡± Nathaniel asked, his tone serious. +5 Bonus ¡°ording to the initial investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit when the renovation workers used machinery that was against industry standards. There were a lot of mmable items in the studio at the time, so the fire spread really quickly. Two of the workers were unable to make it out in time,¡± Sebastian instinctively nced at Christina after saying that. Noticing the calm look on her face, he continued, ¡°The fire resulted in the deaths of two workers and the destruction of the studio. As the firefighters were able to put the fire out in time, the floors above and below were not affected too much.¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Rayne eximed all of a sudden. She then wiped her tears dry before continuing, ¡°I had people clean up a part of the studio because the renovation work was almostplete, so why were there so many mmable items?¡± The looks on everyone¡¯s faces turned gloomy when they heard that. ¡°But they did find a lot of mmable items at the scene, most of them being fibers of fabric. Did you get the delivery date wrong when cing the order with the supplier?¡± Victoria asked. Rayne paused for a few seconds and gave it some thought before replying. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The supplier would never deliver the goods without my request. More importantly. I have been busy nning the studio¡¯s opening banquet that I didn¡¯t have time to purchase the fabric. Besides, the team in charge of the banquet is still overseas, so they would never deliver the stuff for the banquet before they return.¡± Her reply made it obvious that someone set Christina¡¯s studio on fire because they didn¡¯t want it to resume operations. ¡°Call the supplier and ask if they delivered the goods to the studio,¡± Nathaniel told Rayne. ¡°On it!¡± Thetter then whipped out her phone and began calling up the suppliers.? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Christina couldn¡¯t think of anyone she had offendedtely to the point where they would want to burn her studio to the ground. After making about fifty calls, Rayne finally found the answer she wanted. ¡°I¡¯ve got it! One of the suppliers said someone gave him a call yesterday, ordered a bunch of high-end fabric in our studio¡¯s name, and opted for payment upon delivery. The studio caught fire shortly after the fabric arrived. That supplier is the studio¡¯s business partner, so he delivered the goods without confirming the order with us. He tried to call the number back after hearing about the incident, but the number could no longer be reached,¡± she eximed excitedly. She then handed Christina the phone as she continued, ¡°This is the phone number that the supplier provided.¡± Christina nced at it and turned toward Lyle, who was standing next to her. ¡°Lyle, get someone to investigate this phone number. Get me information on its user as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Lyle replied with a nod and left after memorizing the number. This was the first time Rayne had experienced something this serious, so she felt extremely uneasy and anxious the whole time, ¡°You should head back and get some rest, Rayne. I can take care of things from here. I¡¯ll let you know if I find anything. Please tell the staff at the studio that we may have to dy its operational date indefinitely. If they are unwilling to wait, thenpensate them and have them look for a job elsewhere.¡± Rayne couldn¡¯te up with any better ideas. The staff had been waiting too long to start working. As much as they wanted to work hard alongside Christina, they could only go so long without a paycheck. Thus, Rayne nodded with reddened eyes. ¡°Understood; I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± She then left Scenic Garden Manor with a disappointed look on her face. Sebastian and Victoria stuck around for a little while longer before leaving as well. Christina teared up as she sat on the couch and watched the videos that theizens had uploaded of the fire. Nathaniel snatched her phone over and said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Christina. I¡¯ll help you get that justice you deserve.¡± ¡°Nathaniel. have you realized that things never end well for those who are close to me?¡± She sobbed. Chapter 735 Exposed Herself Chapter 735 Exposed Herself That news struck Christina like a bolt from the blue and left her feeling dizzy for a good few seconds. Holding her forehead, she asked in confusion, ¡°The renovation work at the studio is almostplete, right? How did it catch fire all of a sudden?¡± Rayne was close to tears at that point. ¡°I don¡¯t know! Our studio is the only one that caught fire in the entire building! The security guards have already filed a police report. Could youe over and have a look, Christina?¡± The studio had caught fire twice in a row, so Rayne was starting to question if her bad luck was affecting the studio. ¡°Be careful, and don¡¯t do anything rash. I¡¯lle over so just wait for me,¡± Christina said before hanging up the phone and rushing upstairs to get changed. ¡°What happened, Christina? Where are you going?¡± Nathaniel stepped out of the kitchen when he heard themotion. ¡°A fire broke out at the studio, so I¡¯m heading over to check on things!¡± Christina eximed anxiously. Nathaniel grabbed her by the hand. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous there, and there¡¯s nothing you can do to help anyway. I¡¯ll send someone over to have a look, so you just stay right here.¡± Christina gave it some thought and nodded. ¡°All right, then. Hurry up and send someone over to find out what¡¯s going on. Rayne says¡­ She took a deep breath before continuing. ¡°Rayne says there might be casualties in this fire.¡± ¡°Nothing is certain until we have confirmation, so please try to stay calm. I¡¯ll go make the call right away) the man said while stepping aside to make a phone call Christina kept her gaze fixated on him the entire time. A few minutester, he returned to her side and told her, ¡°Sebastian and Victoria happen to be nearby, so they¡¯re already on their way to the studio. They¡¯ll drop by Scenic Garden Manorter this evening. By the way, dinner is almost ready. I know you don¡¯t really have much of an appetite, but you have to eat something, okay?¡± Christina nodded absentmindedly and sent Rayne a text before sitting down at the dining table. Judging by how delicious the food looked, Christina could tell that Nathaniel put a lot of effort into it Not wanting to let his effort go to waste, she forced herself to eat quite a lot of the food. After having dinner, Nathaniel kept Christinapany as they sat in the living room and waited for an update. Sebastian, Victoria, and Rayne showed up at Scenic Garden Manor a few hourster. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina! You trust me so much, and yet, I always mess things up. The studio is scheduled to be open for business in a few days, and I have already sent out the invitations! What will we do?¡± Rayne sobbed the moment she saw Christina. Christina handed her a handkerchief andforted her, saying. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault, so you don¡¯t have to apologize. Let¡¯s all put our heads together. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able toe up with a solution.¡± Rayne took the handkerchief over and wiped her tears with ¡°Sebastian, have you identified the cause of the fire at the studio?¡± Nathaniel asked, his tone serious. ¡°ording to the initial investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit when the renovation workers used machinery that was against industry standards. There were a lot of mmable items in the studio at the time, so the fire spread really quickly. Two of the workers were unable to make it out in time,¡± Sebastian instinctively nced at Christina after saying that. Noticing the calm look on her face, he continued, ¡°The fire resulted in the deaths of two workers and the destruction of the studio. As the firefighters were able to put the fire out in time, the floors above and below were not affected too much.¡± ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Rayne eximed all of a sudden. She then wiped her tears dry before continuing, ¡°I had people clean up a part of the studio because the renovation work was almostplete, so why were there so many mmable items?¡± The looks on everyone¡¯s faces turned gloomy when they heard that. ¡°But they did find a lot of mmable items at the scene, most of them being fibers of fabric. Did you get the delivery date wrong when cing the order with the supplier?¡± Victoria asked. Rayne paused for a few seconds and gave it some thought before replying. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The supplier would never deliver the goods without my request. More importantly. I have been busy nning the studio¡¯s opening banquet that I didn¡¯t have time to purchase the fabric. Besides, the team in charge of the banquet is still overseas, so they would never deliver the stuff for the banquet before they return.¡± Her reply made it obvious that someone set Christina¡¯s studio on fire because they didn¡¯t want it to resume operations. ¡°Call the supplier and ask if they delivered the goods to the studio,¡± Nathaniel told Rayne. ¡°On it!¡± Thetter then whipped out her phone and began calling up the suppliers. Christina couldn¡¯t think of anyone she had offendedtely to the point where they would want to burn her studio to the ground. After making about fifty calls, Rayne finally found the answer she wanted. ¡°I¡¯ve got it! One of the suppliers said someone gave him a call yesterday, ordered a bunch of high-end fabric in our studio¡¯s name, and opted for payment upon delivery. The studio caught fire shortly after the fabric arrived. That supplier is the studio¡¯s business partner, so he delivered the goods without confirming the order with us. He tried to call the number back after hearing about the incident, but the number could no longer be reached,¡± she eximed excitedly. She then handed Christina the phone as she continued, ¡°This is the phone number that the supplier provided.¡± Christina nced at it and turned toward Lyle, who was standing next to her. ¡°Lyle, get someone to investigate this phone number. Get me information on its user as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Lyle replied with a nod and left after memorizing the number. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. This was the first time Rayne had experienced something this serious, so she felt extremely uneasy and anxious the whole time, ¡°You should head back and get some rest, Rayne. I can take care of things from here. I¡¯ll let you know if I find anything. Please tell the staff at the studio that we may have to dy its operational date indefinitely. If they are unwilling to wait, thenpensate them and have them look for a job elsewhere.¡± Rayne couldn¡¯te up with any better ideas. The staff had been waiting too long to start working. As much as they wanted to work hard alongside Christina, they could only go so long without a paycheck. Thus, Rayne nodded with reddened eyes. ¡°Understood; I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡± She then left Scenic Garden Manor with a disappointed look on her face. Sebastian and Victoria stuck around for a little while longer before leaving as well. Christina teared up as she sat on the couch and watched the videos that theizens had uploaded of the fire. Nathaniel snatched her phone over and said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Christina. I¡¯ll help you get that justice you deserve.¡± ¡°Nathaniel. have you realized that things never end well for those who are close to me?¡± She sobbed. Chapter 736 Avenging Sebastian Chapter 736 Avenging Sebastian Victoria couldn¡¯t believe what she had just heard. She widened her eyes in shock, her face turning as pale as a sheet. ¡°What did you just say? Say that one more time!¡± That was when Brenda realized she had said something she shouldn¡¯t. Not wanting to look like a coward in front of Victoria, she decided to admit to her doings. ¡°You heard me! I hired someone to set Christina¡¯s studio on fire! Now that her studio is no more, you¡¯ll have to go back to managing your own studio! You¡¯re the heiress of the Lesley family, so why would you give up on your position as a boss and work for someone else? You may not be ashamed of yourself, but I am! Christina had the audacity to show up at my house and threaten me. She thinks she can get away with anything simply because she married into the Hadley family, but I¡¯m no pushover either! Anyway, she is responsible for your rtionship with Sebastian, so she deserves to be taught a lesson!¡± Victoria had never thought her mother would be the one who set fire to the studio. Her chest tightened with anger, and she found it a little hard to breathe. ¡°What you did is illegal! Do you know that two people have died in that fire of yours?¡± The look on Brenda¡¯s face changed when she heard that, and a sense of panic began to well up within her. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I told them to clear the ce before setting it on fire, and my men were there to keep an eye on things! There¡¯s no way that fire would¡¯ve killed anyone!¡± Brenda was panicking so much that her mind was a mess, and she didn¡¯t even know what to say anymore. As for Victoria, she sank into despair and slumped weakly against the seat. There was a lifeless look in her eyes as she stared nkly at the scenery outside the window. Brenda whipped out her phone and dialed a number, but it was no longer in service. ¡°What should I do, Victoria? I only wanted to teach Christina a lesson! I didn¡¯t mean to get anyone killed!¡± Brenda was already in a lot of trouble with thewsuits she faced, so she couldn¡¯t imagine what would happen if word were to get out about her hiring someone to set the studio on fire, ¡°Victoria, you and Christina are junior and senior, so could you please tell her to let this slide? I¡¯ll agree to whatever request she has!¡± Victoria shot her mother an icy-cold re and replied with a sarcastic sneer, ¡°She tried to be nice to you before, but you disrespected her and set her studio on fire. Now that you¡¯ve gotten yourself in trouble, you expect her to just let this slide? What are you even going to say to her?¡± ¡°Christina is the one who started it! I wouldn¡¯t have tried to teach her a lesson if she hadn¡¯t messed with me! Victoria, are you seriously going to just sit by and watch me get taken away by the authorities?¡± Brenda protested stubbornly. Victoria didn¡¯t want her mother to go to prison, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to betray Christina and the family of the deceased either. She covered her face and cried in agony. ¡°I don¡¯t know! I don¡¯t know what to do! Why must you guys force me to make such decisions?¡± After taking some time to calm herself down, Brenda had returned to her usual domineering self by the time the car pulled up inside the courtyard of the Lesley residence. ¡°Please escort Victoria to her room. Do not let her leave her room without my permission, and do not let anyone visit her either,¡± she told the butler. Victoria looked up at her in shock. ¡°Are you going to confine me?¡± ¡°Until you have realized your wrongdoing, you are to remain at home. Once I am done cleaning up the mess here, you will leave this country with me,¡± Brenda said, standing firm on her belief that Christina and Sebastian would only ruin her daughter¡¯s future. Brenda wanted her children to achieve sess and strive for excellence, which was something Preston. had done a great job at. That was precisely the reason Brenda¡¯s position in the Lesley family was unaffected even though her husband, Soren Lesley, was often sleeping around. Victoria bit down on her lip. ¡°What do you n on doing?¡± She was referring to the consequences of setting the studio on fire. ¡°I¡¯ve already thought of a solution to the problem, so you don¡¯t have to worry about it. All you have to do is stay home and reflect upon your mistakes. I will grant you your freedom once you have truly repented.¡± Victoria angrily got out of the car and stormed into the mansion. Meanwhile, Brenda wiped the cold sweat off her forehead before telling the driver. ¡°Help me contact the family of the deceased.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for Christina and Nathaniel to find out that Brenda had forcefully taken Victoria away. ¡°Are Sebastian¡¯s injuries severe?¡± Christina asked worriedly. ¡°The wound on his head required a few stitches. He¡¯ll need at least two weeks to recover. ording to him. Ms. Lesley and Mrs. Lesley had a fierce argument, and Mrs. Lesley locked her up afterward. She ns to send Ms. Lesley overseas next month,¡± Lyle replied honestly. Having thought of something, Nathaniel asked, ¡°What were they arguing about? Did Mrs. Lesley exhibit any strange behavior?¡± Still oblivious to what Nathaniel was trying to imply, Christina asked in confusion, ¡°Why are you so curious about Mrs. Lesley, Nathaniel?¡± ¡°I suspect that she has something to do with the fire at the studio,¡± Nathaniel replied straightforwardly. ¡°But I haven¡¯t done anything to offend Mrs. Lesley, so why would she set fire to my studio? Besides, arson is a serious crime, so there¡¯s no way she wouldn¡¯t know about the legal consequences.¡± ¡°People who have gotten too used to having their way often don¡¯t think about the consequences of their actions. They only care about getting what they want. You confronted her over Victoria and Sebastian¡¯s rtionship using the beauty salonwsuit. It¡¯s possible that she might be holding a grudge against you for that,¡± Nathaniel exined. That was when Christina finally realized what he meant. ¡°After bringing Ms. Lesley home, Mrs. Lesley visited the family members of the deceased victims. I have arranged for our men to tail her. We will need to wait for them to update us with further details, Lyle said. ¡°Don¡¯t bother waiting. I know what Mrs. Lesley told those family members. She¡¯s definitely the one who set fire to the studio. I bet she¡¯s trying to bribe the family members after realizing that things have gotten out of hand,¡± Christina said coldly. If the family members ept Mrs. Lesley¡¯s bribery, then she could get away scot-free. She must think I won¡¯t do anything to her because of my rtionship with Victoria. That¡¯s probably why she was bold enough to visit the family members of the deceased victims. Nathaniel knew the risks involved in this case, so he chose to give Christina his full cooperation instead of taking over the case himself. ¡°What do you n on doing?¡± he asked. Christina let out a sigh. ¡°Mrs. Lesley has given me the answers I needed. We can¡¯t let Sebastian¡¯s injury be in vain. We need to avenge him somehow!¡±? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Chapter 737 A Deal Chapter 737 A Deal Later that night, Christina had Lyle gather information on all the beauty salons that Brenda owned. Meanwhile, Brenda had settled the dispute with the family members of the deceased victims and could finally focus on dealing with Christina. She had kept such a tight lid on the matter that Soren and Preston, who were overseas at the time, had no idea about this incident. Christina visited Sebastian at the hospital the next morning before heading over to the Lesley residence with Lyle. She refused to let Nathaniel tag along with her. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Brenda let out a mocking chuckle when she heard that Christina had shown up at her doorstep. She then told the housekeeper to keep a close eye on Victoria before having the butler show Christina in. This time, Christina had Lyle remain by her side instead of having him wait inside the car. Brenda¡¯s expression slid into a frown when she saw the man standing behind Christina. ¡°Tonly allowed you to enter my mansion, Mrs. Hadley. What is the meaning of this? Are you here to start a fight with me?¡± Christina sat down in front of Brenda and replied with a faint smile, ¡°You have very dangerous people working for you, Mrs. Lesley. I need to do something to ensure my safety. Don¡¯t worry; he won¡¯t act without my orders, so you have no reason to be afraid of him. You may call the police or have your men come over if you feel unsafe. I don¡¯t mind it at all.¡± Brenda let out a sarcastic chuckle in response. This is my territory, so I have no reason to fear Christina! ¡°Why don¡¯t you stop beating around the bush and get straight to the point?¡± ¡°Perfect. I love it when people are direct and straightforward,¡± came Christina¡¯s response. Lyle then whipped out a bunch of files and ced them neatly in front of Brenda. ¡°What is all this?¡± Brenda asked without even looking at the files. ¡°Evidence on all the medical idents that have taken ce at your beauty salons. You sure are impressive, Mrs. Lesley. Had this happened to me instead, thepensation amount alone would have driven me to bankruptcy! In fact, it might even result in a few years of imprisonment!¡± Christina replied calmly. The look on Brenda¡¯s face changed instantly. She then quickly skimmed through the files and saw that they were indeed evidence that couldnd her in a lot of legal trouble, Her hands were trembling as she looked up at Christina and asked, ¡°Why would you go through so much trouble to obtain all this? What do you want from me?¡± Christina arched an eyebrow at the older woman in response. ¡°My request is simple. I just want you to stay out of Victoria and Sebastian¡¯s rtionship. In return, I will pretend none of these ever happened. I won¡¯t even take legal action against you for setting my studio on fire. What do you think of this deal, Mrs. Lesley?¡± What? She went out of her way to gather all of this evidence against me, and yet, she doesn¡¯t make any requests that would profit herself? It¡¯s hard to believe that she¡¯s doing this solely for Victoria¡¯s and Sebastian¡¯s sakes¡­¡­.. With that in mind. Brenda asked cautiously, ¡°You¡¯re not going to go against your word and hit me with a nasty surpriseter on, are you?¡± ¡°You are Victoria¡¯s mother. Even if I neglect the fact that she is my junior, I still respect our mentor enough to not do Victoria dirty,¡± Christina stated. ¡°This deal will take effect immediately if you agree to it. The longer you wait, the worse your situation will get. You¡¯ve been fighting thosewsuits long enough, so it¡¯s about time you put an end to all this.¡± Brenda fell silent as she analyzed the pros and cons of her options. She knew that Christina had left her with no choice but to ept the deal, but she hated being at someone¡¯s mercy and refused to give up on choosing her own son-inw. Brenda firmly believed that Sebastian could not be better than the other guys from families of matching statuses. Having said what she came to say, Christina decided to give Brenda some time to think about it. ¡°Contact me once you have made up your mind.¡± That was when Brenda¡¯s phone rang all of a sudden. She nced at the caller ID and quickly stepped aside to answer the phone. ¡°Hello? What? But you told me they didn¡¯t have any evidence to prove it was my beauty salon¡¯s fault! Since you¡¯re unable to handle this case, I¡¯ll have no choice but to get myself anotherwyer. We¡¯re done here!¡± Brenda saw Christina sneering at her after she angrily hung up the phone. That was when she finally realized what was going on. The older woman then took a deep breath and said, ¡°All right; I agree to the terms of your deal. You must take care of thosewsuits for me, or I will never allow Victoria to date Sebastian.¡± She got even angrier when she saw Lyley out the contracts that he had prepared beforehand. ¡°It¡¯s your turn to sign, Mrs. Lesley,¡± Christina said while signing her name on the contracts and ignoring the look of displeasure on Brenda¡¯s face. Brenda clenched her teeth in anger and frustration as she picked up the pen and signed her name. There, are you happy now that you¡¯ve gotten what you wanted?¡± ¡°What pleases me the most is attending Victoria¡¯s and Sebastian¡¯s wedding.¡± Christina replied, rubbing salt on Brenda¡¯s wound. Brenda got so furious that she snapped the pen in half and said with a gloomy expression, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, so I won¡¯t be seeing you off, Mrs. Hadley. My butler will show you to the door.¡± ¡°Oh, we can show ourselves out just fine. Christina said with a smile before turning around and leaving the mansion. Victoria was granted her freedom shortly after Christina left. After finding out what happened from the butler, she felt so touched that she transferred ten million into Christina¡¯s bank ount as compensation for the studio, Having suffered two huge losses in a row, Christina dly epted herpensation. Although it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Nathaniel to back her up financially, she preferred to build her business up all by herself. Rayne then contacted a newpany and paid triple the market rate to have themplete the renovation in a week. While the studio was being renovated, Christina spent most of her time with her family. The four of them went on a nice vacation overseas, After returning from her vacation, Christina visited Timothy with Lucas and Cam Because Timothy had left a bad impression on the two kids, they were somewhat ufortable with visiting him. Even so, they tried their best to not show it because they didn¡¯t want to put Christina in a tough spot. Excited after hearing that Christina and his grandchildren would being over. Timothy had someone clean the entire mansion overnight and prepared lots of snacks for them. He even got up really early to work on his facial expressions so as to appear more friendly to the kids. ¡°Lucas! Cam! Come here and let me have a good look at you two!¡± Timothy greeted them with his arms outstretched while seated in his wheelchair. Lucas and Cam simply hid behind Christina and exchanged hesitant nces in response. The look in Timothy¡¯s eyes turned slightly gloomy as he awkwardly ced his arms back down. ¡°Maybe the kids are feeling a little shy around me because we haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time. Anyway, it¡¯s cold out here. Come on in!¡± Chapter 738 Guidance Chapter 738 Guidance As the group entered the mansion, the butler and housekeepers helped unload gifts from the trunk of the car. Once inside the living room, Lucas and Cam sat closely next to Christina, sneakily sizing up Timothy and behaving less lively than usual. Timothy smiled gently and instructed the housekeeper to serve the beverages and snacks he had prepared in advance, all of which were Christina¡¯s and the kids¡¯ favorites. ¡°Have a taste. If you like the food, I can have the kitchen prepare them for you the next time youe over.¡± Lucas and Cam stared longingly at the exquisite snacks on the table, but they didn¡¯t dare to reach out for them, fearing that Timothy might scold them. Noticing the unease between Timothy and the children, she swiftly stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Nathaniel is swamped with work and couldn¡¯t spare the time to visit. During our vacation abroad recently. Lucas and Cam picked out a present for you.¡± She patted her kids¡¯ heads and said, ¡°Go get the gift and show it to your granddad.¡± Timothy couldn¡¯t contain his joy as an exuberant smile spread across his face. ¡°You should enjoy yourselves while on holiday instead of worrying about an old man like me.¡± ¡°After your health improves, we can all go together next time,¡± Christina chirped. Lucas and Cam rarely ever refused Christina¡¯s requests. They found the gift for Timothy from the pile of presents, and Lucas was tasked with the responsibility of handing it to Timothy. The boy uttered meekly, ¡°Granddad, this is your present. Open it and see if you like it.¡± ¡°Of course, I like it. I love anything that you two gift me,¡± Timothy responded with a delighted grin, happily stretching out his hand to receive the present. He unfastened the ribbon outside the box, opened¡± it, and saw the set of emerald tea set. Its exquisiteness wasparable to a valuable collectible. Timothy was in haste when he moved to Jadeborough. As a result, he left the tea set collection he had spent most of his life garnering in Hallsbay. His poor health also made it impossible for him to retrieve those items for the time being. Initially, Christina nned to gift Timothy a string of prayer beads, but Lucas and Cam mentioned that he liked tea sets, so she let them pick one. ¡°Excellent!¡± Timothy carefully wrapped up the tea set, called over his butler, and reminded sternly, ¡°Take this tea set to my study. Be extra careful, and don¡¯t break it.¡± The butler cautiously carried the tea set away. With the act of gift-giving serving as an icebreaker, the rtionship between Timothy and the two children noticeably warmed. They no longer resisted getting close to him, even starting to answer his questions and sharing their daily fun anecdotes. The four of them had a rather enjoyable meal together. Afterward, Lucas and Cam yed in the courtyard while Christina chatted with Timothy on the balcony. ¡°Christina, I heard your studio was set on fire. Have they caught the arsonist?¡± Timothy asked concernedly. ¡°The problem has been resolved. You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Christina replied with a smile. ¡°Has anyone from the Gibson family been disturbing your peace recently?¡± Although the Gibson family had fallen apart, some branches of the family remained intact. Some time ago, members of one of the Gibson family¡¯s branches somehow learned about Timothy¡¯s whereabouts and came to Jadeborough to stir a ruckus. They were unsatisfied with the previously agreed-upon division of assets and demanded a new agreement that they felt would be more equitable. They also requested Timothy to pay the interest on a loan they had given him fifteen years ago. Having long since settled the debt from fifteen years ago, Timothy simply had his butler chase them away after hearing their unreasonable demands. Unwilling to leave empty-handed after traveling such a long distance to Jadeborough, they resorted to a devious scheme. They set up speakers outside the mansion and hung banners to defame Timothy as a defaulter who refused to repay his debts. Upon hearing that news, Christina directly reported it to the police. Those people had to take a loss and leave dejectedly after being taken to the police station. Still, Christina couldn¡¯t be certain if they would go behind her back ande looking for trouble with Timothy. ¡°Those people couldn¡¯t havee up with such an idea.¡± Timothy scoffed. ¡°I guess someone can¡¯t stand me living well, and since they couldn¡¯ty a finger on me, they wanted to make my life miserable. You don¡¯t have to worry too much about this.¡± Needless to say, Christina fathomed who Timothy was referring to by ¡°they¡± Counting the days, it had been a long time since Christina had received any news from Yerek and Azure. Even Emilia¡¯s disappearance had be a mystery. ¡°The assets Nigel had transferred overseas were intercepted by someone midway. Yerek and Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s rtionship isn¡¯t as good as before, but they interact frequently. There¡¯s no way they would easily give up on the forces backing Barnaby,¡± Christina meticulously analyzed Yerek and Azure¡¯s trains of thought. Yerek¡¯s ambitions were doomed to fail without a mary source to fund him. Barnaby was a loyal lover, and men were bound to fall for women¡¯s beauty. Still, how long could he hold out under Sheridan¡¯s suppression? Christina was curious to know the answer ¡°Before I moved to Jadeborough, I met Barnaby a few times at the Gibson residence. During that time, he and Mrs. Lazuli didn¡¯t deliberately avoid others. If it weren¡¯t for the pressure from Sheridan, Barnaby probably would¡¯ve acknowledged and epted Nigel as part of the family.¡± A hint of disdain shed across Timothy¡¯s eyes as he talked about the past. ¡°The Gibson family¡¯s scandal made headlines, and the friendship between Sheridan and Yerek was ruined shortly after.¡± ¡°Even if Yerek returned to the Stone family, he would still be no match for Sheridan. However, Sheridan isn¡¯t afraid to air out dirtyundry, as if he deliberately wants to show it to outsiders. Christina, don¡¯t you think Sheridan is a very cunning person?¡± Christina hadn¡¯t had many opportunities to interact with Sheridan. Both of them had always shown restraint and politeness whenever they met. Naturally, she was unclear about Sheridan¡¯s thoughts that warranted her scrutiny. Still, something Christina couldn¡¯t disregard was that both Nathaniel and Timothy had mentioned Sheridan wasn¡¯t as simple a man as he appeared to be Christina decided to bear that in mind. ¡°I¡¯ll be more wary of Sheridan in the future. Aside from this, do you have any other matters to remind me about?¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Timothy trained his eyes on the two small figures ying chase in the courtyard. ¡°When you have the time, bring along Nathaniel and the two kids to apany me back to Hallsbay. Those restless members of the Gibson family are always coveting Gibson Corporation. It¡¯s time to let them know that even after I¡¯m dead, I still have descendants who can inherit my family business. They should know this and give up their wishful thinking now.¡± Christina looked down. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll try to arrange it. My fashion studio is opening for business in a few days. Will you be there?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll be there. That is such a joyous asion.¡± Timothy grinned. ¡°Let me know the time and address. I¡¯ll find my way there. You don¡¯t have to go through the trouble of sending someone to pick me up.¡± Christina nodded. ¡°All right.¡± In the blink of an eye, it was already evening. Christina and the two children bade their farewell and left. Jasper hurried in and whispered beside Timothy¡¯s ear, ¡°Mr. Gibson, there¡¯s news from the detention center. The person inside wants to meet with you.¡± Chapter 739 A Formidable Opponent Chapter 739 A Formidable Opponent Timothy believed he had expressed everything he needed to say to Nigel. Why would he want to meet me without any apparent reason? After a pause, Timothy sighed. ¡°Considering that he voluntarily requested to see me after being incarcerated, I suppose I can grant him this one meeting. Go ahead and make the arrangements.¡± ¡°All right, Mr. Gibson,¡± Jasper responded. ¡°Would you like me to inform Ms. Christina about your visit to Mr. Nigel at the prison?¡± Christina had made it clear that she preferred people around her to keep a distance from Nigel. Timothy red at Jasper and reprimanded him, ¡°It¡¯s not an important matter. Let¡¯s not bother her, especially considering she¡¯s carrying a child and already upied with managing the studio and Gibson Corporation.¡± Furthermore, since Nigel was imprisoned, their meeting would be brief and limited. Timothy had no reason to be concerned about any potential actions or consequences from Nigel. ¡°Understood, Mr. Gibson. I¡¯ll promptly respond to them,¡± Jasper said as he wheeled Timothy into the mansion. Timothy was in a positive mood, so Nigel¡¯s request did not faze him. ¡°Christina¡¯s studio will reopen in a couple of days. Can you give me some suggestions on what gift I should get for her? I can¡¯t make up my mind¡­¡± After experiencing two fire incidents, Christina finally reopened her studio for business. Due to previous controversies and numerousints from customers as well as legal pressures from severalwsuits, the studio¡¯s reputation had plummeted. Even today, many people were still spreading negativements about the studio on the inte. To ensure a smooth opening ceremony for the studio, Christina decided to only invite her family and a select group of close friends to celebrate the asion. Laurel and her other seniors and juniors were caught up with work, so they could not show up. Nevertheless, Christina still paid attention to the proper arrangements of the ceremony. What surprised Christina the most was that all the designers had made the choice to return to the studio and work alongside her. Despite Christina¡¯s intention to keep the opening ceremony low-profile, the presence of Charlie and Julia attracted many prominent figures who arrived uninvited. As a result, the initially quiet asion transformed into a vibrant and extraordinary event. Christina stood at the entrance, observing the continuous stream of guests. She maintained a polite smile but asionally nced at her watch, appearing somewhat anxious. ¡°Waiting for Dad?¡± Nathaniel walked up to her, draping his coat over her shoulders. ¡°He should be arriving soon. Let¡¯s go inside and wait. It¡¯s windy here, and you might catch a cold.¡± Christina tightly grasped the cor of her coat as she was a little nervous. ¡°My father is visiting my studio for the first time. I want to wee and introduce him to everyone and tell them he¡¯s my father.¡± She wanted to make it clear to them that despite Timothy¡¯s struggles over the past fifteen years, he was not a worthless individual and should not be subjected to mockery or ridicule. At that moment, Christina caught sight of Jasper wheeling Timothy out of the elevator from a distance. ¡°Herees my dad!¡± Christina¡¯s face lit up, and she walked toward Timothy, taking charge of the wheelchair from Jasper. ¡°I¡¯ll bring you inside, Dad,¡± Before Timothy could respond, Nathaniel quickly reached out and grabbed the wheelchair¡¯s push handles, T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He then said to Christina, ¡°Come, let me do it. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡± Christina did not refuse his offer to help. She stood beside Nathaniel and apanied them as they entered the banquet hall. Timothy¡¯s satisfaction with his future son-inw, Nathaniel, was growing. He could discern that Nathaniel genuinely cared for Christina and was not merely putting on a show. Upon learning of Timothy¡¯s arrival, Charlie and Julia approached him after exchanging greetings with a few other guests, extending a warm wee. ¡°It has been a while, Mr. Gibson.¡± Charlie let out a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s not often we get a chance to meet each other. If your health permits, how about we have a drink togetherter? What do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can take alcohol, but I¡¯ll drink tea instead. I wouldn¡¯t want to disappoint you, Mr. Hadley,¡± Timothy responded with a cheerful grin. Charlie quickly replied, ¡°Let the young ones handle the guest. How about we take a break in the lounge? We can rx, have a cup of tea, and challenge each other in a game of chess to see if your skills are still sharp.¡± Timothy epted the challenge. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find me to be a formidable opponent.¡± They hade a long way from being former partners, then enemies, and now, due to their children¡¯s marriage, bing inws by chance. Despite their past misunderstandings, they respected their differences, and their admiration for each other remained unchanged in theirter years. Timothy shifted his gaze toward Christina. ¡°You go ahead with the preparations. Mr. Hadley and I will catch up in the lounge. It¡¯s quieter over there.¡± Christina smiled and nodded. ¡°Sure, if you need anything, just ask Jasper to let me know.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of him,¡± Charlie assured as he took control of the wheelchair, wheeling Timothy to the lounge in front of all the guests. ¡°Is it just me, or is that really Timothy Gibson in the wheelchair? Isn¡¯t he the arch-enemy of the Hadleys?¡± one of the female guests eximed in disbelief. ¡°Have you not been keeping up with the news? Mr. Hadley¡¯s son married Timothy¡¯s daughter, and she gave the Hadley family a set of twins. Despite past conflicts, it¡¯s only natural for Timothy and the Hadleys to reconcile for the sake of their future generation,¡± another female guest exined. ¡°I¡¯m not referring to that. Didn¡¯t Timothy die a long time ago? I heard that following his alleged demise, Nigel Gibson, the family¡¯s illegitimate son, capitalized on the situation and exerted control over the Gibson family for more than a decade.¡± ¡°Have you been living under a rock? Those were rumors from over ten years ago. Now, it¡¯s Ms. Christina who wields power in the Gibson family. As for that illegitimate son and his family, some have met their demise, while others are incarcerated. None of them have met a favorable fate.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it rumored that Ms. Christina was responsible for Anya Gibson¡¯s death?¡± ¡°Oh,e on! Look where you are now. Just zip your mouth if you don¡¯t want to offend the Hadleys.¡± The two affluent female guests leaned in closer to each other, their voices hushed in whispered conversation. Suddenly, a strong and powerful voice interrupted their conversation. ¡°Nigel is not an illegitimate child. He is the son of the Stone family. Don¡¯t you dare speak nonsense if you don¡¯t know the truth!¡± The two women were taken aback by the sudden reprimand. They traced the source of the voice and looked over to see Azure, dressed in resplendent attire, ring at them with piercing eyes. Azure¡¯s scandalous affairs had indeed be the topic of gossip in town, yet people had been careful not to exacerbate the situation out of a sense of respect. However, when Azure herself decided to broach the subject, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The two affluent women held esteemed positions in society, so they did not feel intimidated by Azure, who had experienced a downfall in her status. ¡°We¡¯re just stating facts. Nigel is the illegitimate son of the Stone family, and Old Mr. Stone doesn¡¯t even acknowledge his existence.¡± Azure let out a disdainful snort as she tightly wrapped her expensive fur coat around her. With a proud lift of her chin, she dered, ¡°Whoever told you that Old Mr. Stone refused to acknowledge Nigel was mistaken. Nigel is now officially a member of the Stone family!¡± Chapter 740 Hypocrisy Chapter 740 Hypocrisy When Christina heard Azure¡¯s voice at the noisy banquet, she had initially thought it was just her imagination. However, upon turning around and seeing Azure in a heated debate with two other wealthydies, Christina felt her mood sink. She was sure the only Gibson family member she had sent an invitation to was Timothy, so why did Azure show up uninvited? As if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, thetter even had the check to cause a scene at the banquet! Christina promptly set her ss of juice down and was about to storm off when Nathaniel held her back. The man had also spotted Azure, but unlike his wife, he could control his temper better. ¡°Old Mr. Stone is here, too,¡± he mumbled. Thankfully, Christina quickly caught on to what Nathaniel was implying. Oh, that¡¯s odd¡­ Why would Azure and Barnaby attend the banquet together? Isn¡¯t he eager to break off all ties with her? When did they reconcile? More importantly, why have they decided to make a public appearance? Aren¡¯t they afraid of Sheridan kicking up a fuss? Argh! I can¡¯t make heads or tails of this! However, I¡¯ve got to hand it to Azure¡­ She must be pretty impressive if she managed to melt someone as cold-hearted as Barnaby. Having noticed how baffled Christina was, Nathaniel spoke up. ¡°Sheridan has mostly been away on business trips, and besides, he has enough problems to deal with. I doubt he knows half of what his father¡¯s doing.¡± Ha. I know Sheridan well. Azure wouldn¡¯t be strutting around like she owns the ce if he were here. Then again, it¡¯s a pity to see what she has be. The Mrs. Lazuli I knew had always been a ssy and dignified woman. s, the cruel reality of life has dulled her shine and changed her mindset, turning her into one of those unsophisticated and narrow-mindeddies who shamelessly unt their wealth¡­ ¡°More than half of Jadeborough¡¯s most influential people are in attendance today. I can¡¯t let her stir up trouble in my turf,¡± Christina retorted before pulling her hand away and walking toward Azure. However, just as she was nearly approaching the woman, thetter suddenly turned and left. Christina wanted to give chase, but the twodies who had bickered with Azure began swarming around her. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, today¡¯s the grand opening of your studio. You shouldn¡¯t be letting any Tom, Dick, or Harry attend the event!¡± one of them piped up. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what Old Mrs. Gibson said earlier?¡± the other added, though with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°Old Mr. Stone has already epted Nigel into the Stone family, and it¡¯s only a matter of time before she marries into the family too. Aren¡¯t you jealous of her good fortune?¡± Even though Christina disliked Azure, it didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d tolerate others making fun and speaking ill of thetter in front of her. ¡°Many people are attending the event today, but I can assure you that those two aren¡¯t on my guest That said, I wouldn¡¯t be a good host if I chased them away now, would I? As long as everyone stays in theirne, I¡¯m sure there wouldn¡¯t be any problems,¡± she said coldly. Having read between the lines, the two wealthydies quickly realized what Christina truly meant. However, despite their frustration, they knew they weren¡¯t in a position to retort. After all, they were the ones who had stirred up trouble first, and they weren¡¯t on Christina¡¯s guest list. ¡°You¡¯re right, Mrs. Hadley. We shan¡¯t bother you anymore. Goodbye,¡± the twodies said before taking their leave, albeit begrudgingly. Christina wanted to continue searching for Azure, but by then, thetter was nowhere to be found. At the same time, Julia had sent someone to inform the young woman that she wanted to introduce a friend to her. Left with no choice, Christina went off to look for Julia instead. After leaving the main banquet hall and roaming around, Azure finally found Timothy alone in the lounge. Having surveyed her surroundings to ensure no one was looking at her, she hurriedly walked to the table and dropped a pill into the ss of champagne. Within seconds, it dissolved into the liquid before her eyes. Azure picked up the ss and swirled it gently, a wicked smile tugging at her lips. Satisfied, she spun on her heels and made a beeline for the lounge. Unbeknownst to her, two little heads suddenly popped out from behind arge floral arrangement. With a slice of cake in each hand and cream at the corners of her mouth, Cam turned to her brother, wide- eyed and anxious. ¡°Lucas, that nasty old witch dropped something into the champagne ss and is heading toward Granddad¡¯s lounge now. What should we do?¡± Calm and sensible as ever, Lucas wiped his sister¡¯s mouth with his handkerchief before putting it back into his pocket. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s follow her and see what she¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°Yay! We can finally y a detective game!¡± Cam eximed as she danced around excitedly, her cakes almost smashing into Lucas¡¯ face. Thetter sighed and promptly took one of the cakes away from Cam. ¡°I¡¯ll hold on to this for you first. You can have it back when you¡¯ve finished the other slice.¡± With that, Cam chuckled and led Lucas to the lounge by the hand. Before long, the two children began their stealthy operation of lurking outside the lounge and doing their best to peep through the door crack. Timothy sat in the lounge, analyzing his chess match while waiting for Charlie to return from answering a call. What he wasn¡¯t expecting, though, was the appearance of an unwee guest. Upon seeing Azure strut into the room, he turned glum and shifted his focus back onto the chess board, clearly having no intention of entertaining the older woman. Azure knew Timothy was prejudiced against her, but if she wanted to achieve her goal, she¡¯d have to use her thick skin to her advantage. ¡°Timothy, 1-heard you¡¯d be at Christina¡¯s banquet, so I decided to drop by to see you,¡± Azure said as she shamelessly sat opposite the man and pushed the ss of champagne toward him. ¡°If I remember correctly, you used to love drinking champagne the most¡­ Try this. I specially picked it for you. Let me know if it¡¯s to your liking.¡± Timothy didn¡¯t even bother to spare her a nce as he replied coldly, ¡°Given my current health condition, do you think I should be drinking?¡± Realizing how painfully awkward the situation had be, Azure froze. Sh*t. I¡¯ve made such a big mistake! I¡¯d better try to smooth things over¡­ ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I thought you had already recovered. In that case, let¡¯s forget about the champagne. What would you like to eat? I can get it for you since you have difficulty moving.¡± ¡°Just because my legs aren¡¯t good doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t care for myself. Why don¡¯t you cut to the chase? N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. with There¡¯s no need to suck up to me,¡± Timothy said as he calmly moved his chess piece and locked eyes Azure. It was also then that he realized just how much Azure had changed. Not only had her clothes and style be more elegant, but she also seemed less raddled. Her poise and grace, without a doubt, were shining through. Even though Azure¡¯s motive had been exposed, she felt no shame as she shared her real reason for approaching Timothy. ¡°Nigel has been behaving well in prisontely, and ourwyers said that it¡¯d be beneficial for his trial if you could write a letter of understanding.¡± Chapter 741 Cat Is Out Of The Bag Chapter741Cat Is OutOfTheBag There could only be two reasons Azure sought him out. It was either for Nigel or for Yerek. Timothy had lost count of how many times Azure came pleading for Nigel¡¯s case. His patience was wearing thin from her repetitive and selfish act. ¡°You want me to provide a letter of forgiveness for Nigel?¡± Timothy¡¯s voice was gentle, but his eyes lacked any hint of warmth. Azure thought he was considering her proposal. Her spirit was lifted, and her gaze on Timothy softened with renewed affection. ¡°Yes. If you find the writing tedious, I can ask someone else to draft it for you. All you need to do is sign the letter,¡± Azure said. A derisive smile crossed Timothy¡¯s face. ¡°What do you presume I could possibly write in such a letter?¡± A cold prickle of dread stung Azure¡¯s heart at his words, but before she could retort, Timothy ruthlessly tore through her fa?ade of selfishness. ¡°Shall I write how Nigel has been vying for the Gibson family¡¯s power, schemed the death of my wife, leading to my physical impairment and enduring mental torture for fifteen years? Or how Nigel abused his position, transferring assets in an attempt to secure his position, even contemting murder when it failed? Every single crime that Nigelmitted was a life¡¯s worth of atonement. Even if I were to provide this letter, do you think a judge would acknowledge it?¡± Timothy mocked. Azure¡¯s lips trembled, and she remained silent for a long while before she managed to choke out a coherent response. ¡°Even if Nigel is released early, he won¡¯t pose any threat to you and Christina. The Gibson family will still belong to you,¡± she reasoned. ¡°The Gibson family has always belonged to Christina and me. You don¡¯t even have the right to mention Gibson Corporation,¡± Timothy spat. Azure continued to make her case and said, ¡°Yes, I admit my selfishness contributed to today¡¯s tragedy. Timothy, I can confidently tell you that Barnaby has agreed to acknowledge Nigel as his son. If Nigel wishes topete in the future, it will be for the Stone family¡¯s assets. He won¡¯t interfere in the Gibson family¡¯s affairs.¡± Timothy looked at the woman derisively and remained silent. ¡°I really don¡¯t me you for not acknowledging me. But I did give birth to you. For the sake of that, leave me a way out,¡± Azure pleaded, wiping away the tears streaming down her face. Timothy had grown numb to her pleas, and he was not stirred in the slightest. ¡°Did you know Nigel asked to see me today? He said the same thing, only that he was trying to save Yerek, while you were trying to -save him.¡± Azure stared at Timothy in shock. ¡°Nigel? What did Nigel say to you?¡± Timothy didn¡¯t intend to keep it from Azure and said, ¡°Nigel was worried his actions would endanger his only kin. He asked me to spare Yerek. As a trade¨Coff, he told me who were the people involved in the plot years ago.¡± At that moment, Timothy looked at Azure with a hint of amusement in his eyes. ¡°Barnaby¡¯s name was on that list.¡± It was quite the paradox, Nigel and Barnaby both wanted to protect their son, yet their approaches were as contrasting as night and day. One was trying to save his son while the other was digging his own grave. What a ludicrous situation! Azure slumped onto the couch, her face ashen. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Barnaby would never do that¡­¡± Throughout the entire ordeal, she had suspected that only Nigel was the mastermind behind the scheme, with her and Yerek merely serving as ndestine aplices. Why would Barnaby want to conspire against Timothy and his wife? Azure simply couldn¡¯t wrap her mind around it. If this secret got out, herst source of support would crumble to nothing. She fixed her gaze on the champagne before her, a streak of determination shing in her heart. With a wisp of a pale smile on her face, Azure managed, ¡°After what you¡¯ve said, it seems I¡¯ve no face left to beg you¡­ No, not anymore. I¡¯ll nevere to you again.¡± Timothy lowered his gaze. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then you should leave.¡± Wiping away her tears, Azure pushed the champagne toward Timothy and said rather assertively, ¡°Drink this, and from now on, our mother¨Cand¨Cson rtionship will cease to exist, and we shall see no more of each other.¡± It was hardly good news. Timothy eyed her for a moment before reaching out for the champagne. Azure watched him with eyes wide as brass bells as she held her breath in anxiety, fearing he might change his mind halfway. ¡°Don¡¯t drink it!¡± Two shrill, youthful voices rang out in unison. The next second, the door was pushed open and two small figures charged at Timothy. Lucas swatted the ss of champagne away. Cam eximed, ¡°Granddad, you can¡¯t drink that! She put something in it! My brother and I both saw it!¡± Timothy¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously as he shot a re at Azure. ¡°Are you that desperate to see me dead?¡± All colors drained from Azure¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t! They¡¯re talking nonsense. How could you believe what children said? You¡¯re my son. How could I harm you?¡± Lucas dered fearlessly, ¡°We¡¯ll soon find out who¡¯s lying when we check the surveince camera footage with Mommy and Daddy.¡± Cam chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right! When you slipped something into the ss, the surveince camera hidden in the chandelier above your head surely caught it.¡± There¡¯s a hidden surveince camera in the chandelier? The revtion hit Azure like a bullet, stirring up a storm in her heart. Cam did not bother to conceal her dislike for Azure. ¡°That chandelier was a gift my brother and I picked out for Mommy. You¡¯re scared now, aren¡¯t you? Your face is pale as a ghost.¡± D*mn these two little brats for ruining my n! Azure clenched her teeth in exasperation, shooting a¨Cvenomous look at Lucas and Cam. Cam, being the more timid one, quickly hid behind Lucas, peering out behind her brother. Drawing a deep breath to steady her emotions, Azure pleaded, ¡°Lucas, Cam, I know I¡¯ve been too strict with you, causing you to bear grudges against me. You can hate me, but why do you have to nder me?¡± What she needed to do now was to buy as much time as possible so that Barnaby could show up. By then, even Christina and Nathaniel wouldn¡¯t be able to touch her. As long as she could leave the banquet hall unscathed, she could tamper with the surveince camera footage, and there would be no evidence to back Lucas and Cam¡¯s ims. Cam/hands akimbo and indignation puffing her cheeks dered, ¡°My brother and I don¡¯t tell lies! I¡¯m going to get Mommy and Daddy now, and I¡¯m going to tell everyone here that you¡¯re a wicked woman!¡± ¡°Cam¡­¡± Timothy didn¡¯t wish to cause an uproar, but Cam moved too swiftly for him to stop her. At the same time, he couldn¡¯t find it in him to reject the children¡¯s kind gesture. Just as Azure was about to take action, Cam had already dashed to the door. She almost collided with Christina who was entering the room, but Nathaniel, quick as a falcon, scooped his daughter up into his arms. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Cam, where are you hurrying off to?¡± Chapter 742 Reaping What She Sows Chapter742ReapingWhatSheSows Seeing both Nathaniel and Christina around gave Cam an instant boost of confidence. Hugging Nathaniel¡¯s neck, the girl said in a loud and clear voice, ¡°Daddy, that evil woman added something to Granddad¡¯s drink before giving it to him.¡± Even though Cam did not understand theplicated adult world that was filled with deception and maniption, she could clearly tell good from bad and had exposed Azure¡¯s ulterior motives in the most candid manner. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°She had also asked Granddad to sign a letter of understanding to save Granduncle Nigel,¡± Lucas chimed in. Upon hearing that, Christina and Nathaniel fully understood what was going on. Barnaby, who happened to be looking for Azure, heard what the kids said and cast a sharp gaze at Azure and Timothy. Supporting himself with his walking stick, the man asked, ¡°What letter of understanding were they talking about?¡± Azure tried to cover up the truth but her intentions were noticed by Christina. Christina dashed into the lounge at once, grabbing the documents from the table before Azure could do so. Without looking at the contents of the documents, Christina looked toward Lyle, who was standing at the door, and said without a change in expression, ¡°Lyle, please take Mr. Lucas and Ms. Cam out of the room.¡± As Christina knew that the oue would be messy, she did not want to taint the children¡¯s innocent world by allowing them to learn about the unscrupulous means used by adults to achieve their goals. ¡°Understood,¡± Lyle answered before leading Lucas and Cam away from the lounge. After scrutinizing the documents, which were all about absolving Nigel of his crimes, Christina hurled the stack of documents on the ground furiously. Everyone, especially Azure, was stunned. Out of guilt, Azure inched a few steps to the side. She could not help but worry that Christina would lose control and hit her. ¡°Not only had Nigel broken thew, but he had alsomitted a felony. He killed my mother. He had taken a life. How dare you shamelessly force us to forgive him?¡± Christina nced at the wine that was spilled on the floor and said, ¡°Mr. Taggart, can you please take a sample of the wine and send it to the lab? We will know if the wine was indeed spiked after an examination.¡± As Timothy was one of the concerned parties, he had left Christina in charge of handling the matter while he quietly waited for justice to be served. Barnaby had more or less understood the situation with everything he heard so far. He was the one who brought Azure to the banquet. By stirring up trouble on the host¡¯s turf, she was not only ruining their day but also embarrassing him. Sebastian looked toward Nathaniel with an inquiring gaze, and Nathaniel replied, ¡°Do as Mrs. Hadley says.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Sebastian replied before taking out a silk handkerchief to retrieve a sample of the wine from the floor. However, he was blocked by Barnaby¡¯s walking stick when he was walking past the man. ¡°Please wait,¡± Barnaby said. ¡°Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, for my sake, can we please settle this privately? Since we are celebrating the grand opening of Mrs. Hadley¡¯s studio today, let¡¯s not create a scene and ruin such a wonderful day. Besides, it¡¯s also damaging to our families¡® reputations if outsiders see us fighting.¡± Christina sneered and replied, ¡°Old Mr. Stone, I didn¡¯t invite her. You were the one who brought her here. If she really cared about your reputation, she wouldn¡¯t have tried to set my father up at my event. Does it make sense that the culprit is asking the victim to take responsibility for their actions? Is the Stone family treating the Gibson family and the Hadley family as pushovers?¡± Christina had given Azure a few chances previously, but not only did the woman not reflect on her actions and change her ways, but she had also continued pushing her luck. ¡°What happened?¡± Charlie scanned the surroundings suspiciously when he came back after taking the phone call and saw everyone standing in front of the lounge. The next moment, he fixed his sharp gaze on Barnaby and said in an imposing manner ¡°Old Mr. Stone, you¡¯re wee to bring guests here to celebrate the special day with us, but it seems like you¡¯re here to create trouble for my daughter¨Cinw and her family instead. Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s not very appropriate?¡± Charlie was openly protecting Christina without even finding out the details of what had actually happened. ¡°Is this the way the Stone family handles things?¡± Barnaby¡¯s expression darkened after he was criticized. However, he was unable to refute Charlie¡¯s usations. Everyone at the banquet saw him and Azure behaving like a couple, and that was exactly what Barnaby wished for. He wanted the entire world to know that Azure belonged to him. Now that Azure had created such a huge mess, despite his unwillingness, Barnaby had no choice but to let her bear the consequences of her actions. Azure jumped to Barnaby¡¯s defense when she saw him being attacked by the Hadley family. ¡°This has got nothing to do with Old Mr. Stone. If you¡¯re angry, you should take it out on me. I¡¯ll take responsibility for my actions.¡± Determined to drag Barnaby into the matter, Christina said, ¡°Mrs. Lazuli, Nigel is also Old Mr. Stone¡¯s son. You tried to harm my dad and force him to sign the letter of understanding. It¡¯s hard for me to believe that you came up with the idea yourself.¡± If Barnaby was implicated, it would affect the entire Stone family. In order to protect the family¡¯s reputation, the other members of the Stone family might cut ties with Barnaby. With just Barnaby¡¯s support, Azure and Yerek would not be Christina¡¯s match! Even though Barnaby was also anxious to save Nigel, he would have never done it in such a foolish way. Azure¡¯s actions had worsened the situation. Barnaby cursed inwardly, knowing that there was no way Nathaniel and Charlie would allow him to stay out of the matter. Just as Azure was about to retort, Barnaby signaled for her to stop by ring at her. The woman had no choice but to obey and keep quiet. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, how are you intending to handle the issue?¡± Barnaby asked. ¡°My views don¡¯t really count. It¡¯s my dad¡¯s opinion that matters.¡± After saying that, Christina turned to look at Timothy, who was behind her, and asked, ¡°Dad, what do you think is the best way for us to settle this? I¡¯ll go with whatever you say.¡± Timothy nced at Azure before answering, ¡°I¡¯ve been sick for too long. My brain is not working as well as it used to. Christina, why don¡¯t you decide for me? I don¡¯t really have anything in mind.¡± As Timothy¡¯s daughter, Christina had every right to act on his behalf. The corners of Christina¡¯s lips curled up slightly as she replied, ¡°All right then. I¡¯ll settle it for you. I¡¯ll make sure she receives her deserved punishment for what she did to you.¡± Timothy nodded in satisfaction. Christina¡¯s determination and assertiveness reminded him of his days. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, on ount of the years of friendship between the Hadley family and the Stone family, I will make sure that your grievances are properly addressed. I hope you will also keep in mind our families¡® rtionship when you decide what to do. It would be a pity if we have to fall out with each other.¡± It was as clear as day what Barnaby was insinuating. ¡°Friendship?¡± Charlie scoffed before continuing, ¡°Old Mr. Stone, I don¡¯t think that still exists after the speech you made just now!¡± Taking a pause, he looked toward Christina and said, ¡°Christina, just tell us what you wish to do. The Hadley family has your back. Barnaby had a grim expression while he waited for Christina to speak. After shing an appreciative smile at Charlie, Christina fixed her gaze on Barnaby and said, ¡°My request is very simple. Let¡¯s leave it to the police to handle. If it¡¯s proven that the drink was spiked, we will let thew determine Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s fate. If nothing is found in the drink, I¡¯ll get Lucas and Cam to apologize to her. Also, Mrs. Lazuli has to promise that she will not appear in front of us ever again.¡± Chapter 743 Falling Out Chapter 743FallingOut As soon as those words fell, a terrified Azure tugged on Barnaby¡¯s sleeve with a pleading look in her ¡°Don¡¯t agree to it,¡± she begged. Enraged, Barnaby shook her off and replied haughtily, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we¡¯ll do it your way then.¡± ¡°No!¡± Azure blurted as the crowd¡¯s eyes fell on her. ¡°Having your children apologize to me isn¡¯t going to completely undo all the bad reputation I¡¯m getting. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being very unfair by making such a request?¡± At that instant, Barnaby wished he could shove something into Azure¡¯s mouth to shut her up. ¡°Hmph! Why would we fear being incriminated if we¡¯ve done nothing wrong? There¡¯s no point in Azure meddling with something so trivial. I believe the Hadleys still have some credibility.¡± Azure had a pained expression on her face as she heard that. Barnaby had taken matters into his own hands out of fear that she would cause more trouble. ¡°The investigation will take some time. I have other matters to deal with, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave now. Please have someone update me when the results are out, Mrs. Hadley,¡± the elderly man requested. ¡°She¡¯lle with me since there hasn¡¯t been any solid evidence yet.¡± He was already respecting Christina and the Hadley family enough. ¡°If you¡¯re taking her with you, I hope you¡¯ll at least keep to your word,¡± Nathaniel remarked. Barnaby scoffed. ¡°Worry not, Mr. Hadley. You¡¯ll get everything as promised.¡± Then, he left with Azure. Nathaniel shot Sebastian a nce, and thetter used a handkerchief to soak up the spilled wine, ced the cloth into a zip¨Clock bag, and instructed someone to have it examined. With that, the unpleasant interlude came to an end. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault,¡± Charliemented, ming himself. ¡°They wouldn¡¯t havee looking for trouble with you if I hadn¡¯t spent so long outside on my phone. Thank goodness Lucas and Cam saw through Azure¡¯s schemes beforehand. I can¡¯t imagine what would¡¯ve happened otherwise.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. The thought of the possible consequences sent a chill down his spine. ¡°Rx, Charlie. Aren¡¯t I perfectly fine? You don¡¯t have to me yourself.¡± Timothy smiled. ¡°Anyway, you two should go attend to your guests. I¡¯ll carry on with my game of chess.¡± With lots of work to do, Christina and Nathaniel left, heading to Lucas¡® and Cam¡¯s yroom. The two children rushed up to them. ¡°Mommy, Daddy, has everything been taken care of?¡± ¡°Yup. Everything¡¯s okay now,¡± Christina responded while pinching their chubby cheeks. ¡°Remember, if you ever encounter something like this again, be sure to let an adult know right away. Don¡¯t try to tackle it yourselves, okay? It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Lucas paused. ¡°But it was Granddad. He would¡¯ve been in danger if we hadn¡¯t stopped those guys.¡± Cam nodded in agreement. ¡°Lucas is right.¡± ¡°Granddad¡¯s a grown man. He knows how to look after himself,¡± Christina advised despite feeling proud of them. ¡°You¡¯re still young, so you¡¯ll have to make sure you¡¯re safe before trying to help others. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the children answered in unison. ¡°Very good.¡± Christina beamed. Just then, Nathaniel returned with a grave expression after picking up a phone call. Knowing he had something to tell her, Christina had Rayne keep Lucas and Campany so she could head into the office next door with Nathaniel. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Nathaniel?¡± she then asked. ¡°It¡¯s about the sample that Sebastian had someone send to theb. Someone stole it during the journey,¡± Nathaniel exined. ¡°This may essentially seem like a case of robbery, but someone definitely knows the truth more than we do.¡± Christina¡¯s brows knitted, but her reaction was much calmer than Nathaniel had expected. ¡°All the footage from the studio¡¯s probably been wiped out too,¡± she remarked. Sebastian soon returned with more news, and just as Christina had predicted, they had lost all the footage recorded on the studio¡¯s surveince cameras. The fact that Barnaby acted so openly and fearlessly showed how much he wanted to burn bridges with the Hadley family. ¡°I went to get a technician right away, but even he couldn¡¯t do anything to recover the footage,¡± Sebastian reported. At this point, Barnaby wasn¡¯t just disregarding the Hadley family lightly anymore; he was practically challenging them now. Sebastian narrowed his eyes. Then, he suddenly recalled something and asked, ¡°When is Nigel¡¯s closest trial?¡± Sebastian pondered for a moment before looking it up on his phone. ¡°Thising Tuesday.¡± Nathaniel turned to Christina. ¡°Since Barnaby and Azure are trying to get Nigel a lighter sentence, then I¡¯d say we attack them from there. What do you think?¡± The woman smirked. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. The more they want something, the more we¡¯ll stop them from getting it.¡± ¡°Hand all the details and evidence we¡¯ve gathered secretly to the police, and let them deal with this ording to thew,¡± Nathaniel instructed Sebastian. ¡°Also, let Winston know that Nigel might rat them out.¡± ¡°Right away, Mr. Hadley.¡± Thetter turned around and left. Nathaniel wanted to make Barnaby and Azur¨¦ regret everything they had done today. There were many others who wanted to watch Nigel fall too.. It¡¯s time to turn this fight really ugly. Some people keep thinking they can mess with us. Then, an idea came to Christina. ¡°We can¡¯t inform Winston and the others yet. This has something to do with the Stone family¡¯s ongoing feud over their inheritance. Sheridan must be involved.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you and Sheridan use to get along pretty well? Nathaniel asked in an unusual tone. Wow! Someone sounds so jealous. Christina chuckled. ¡°Since when? Sheridan and I are just friends, but it looks like we might be enemies after today.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care what you intend to use him for. Stay away from him. I don¡¯t like you having any sort of interaction with him,¡± Nathaniel demanded. Christina nodded carnestly. ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll do my best to avoid contact with him. You¡¯re not mad anymore, right?¡± She then cupped his face boldly and stood on her toes to kiss his lips, her eyes sparkling like the stars. ¡°Can¡¯t you do something about that jealousy of yours, Little Nathaniel?¡± Despite those words of dissatisfaction, the woman¡¯s tone was filled with adoration. ¡°I can¡¯t change that because it¡¯s you,¡± Nathaniel answered candidly. ¡°If anything, they should be the ones changing and staying away from you without being told to.¡± Ovee by how unreasonable the man was, Christina hugged his arm and leaned onto him affectionately. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you can¡¯t change. Well, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s a bad trait. Anyway, it looks like there are lots of guests outside. We should make an appearance as hosts. Let¡¯s go.¡± With a curl of his lips, Nathaniel headed outside as she continued to lean against him. Meanwhile, Barnaby and Azure remained silent throughout the journey home after leaving the banquet. The rigid atmosphere remained until they arrived back at the Stone residence. Then, an odd look appeared on their faces as they walked into the living room and noticed the person seated on the couch. ¡°Back so soon? Did something unpleasant happen at the banquet?¡± Chapter 744 Self Awareness Chapter 744 Self Awareness As Sheridan leaned back into the coachngedly he the Pushing side Aure¡¯s hand that was dinging onto hir Baraty appeared her with as emotionless expression ¡°Why didest you tell me that ev¡¯reing back I cond you up at the airpor in me to pick Watching how the two of them were convening in farmal sermes, Aard was difficult for her so join in in the end, she quietly headed upstairs given ncing toward the second floor, Sheridan meered. gone through a leadership change. I would likely her family awkward felt to stay and Sten I hade back the Stone family m step down from my position as head of the Barnaby reprimanded Sheridan softly, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? Soop taking the rumors N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. Songi outside seriously Changing the heir to the Stone family is a major decision that involves every family member. Thest thing I would do is go looking for tele Even though recognizing Nigel was something Barnaby greatly desired, he was under no on as o which one was the clever one among the fools If only Nigel and Yerek had some smarts, they wouldre been defeated by Chriss ¡°In that case, what¡¯s this about you and Old Mrs Gibson Sheridan ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that you and her have rekindle Nigel? Instead, you¡¯re recognizing them simply be Asking the question was uncharacteristic of the mes of your past and this isn¡¯t just aberat you just don¡¯t want to have any regress in your Sheridan¡¯s scathing words exposed Barnaley¡¯s intention, ripping away any dignity thetter had Feeling humiliated. Barnaby gave Sheridan a long stare before eking out aplete sentence ¡°You can rest assured that my reconciliation with her won¡¯t affect you in any way. On top of that, I¡¯m not that naive to bring her back to the Stone family just to have the others criticize me ¡°Given that you¡¯re trying to fulfill a wish of yours, it¡¯s not surprising that you don¡¯t care about what others think. However, have you forgotten something important?¡± With his hands pressed against the table, Sheridan gave Barnaby a piercing gaze, as if he was a predator preparing to strike ¡°Thad dered in front of everyone in the Stone family that they¡¯re not allowed to join objected to you recognizing Nigel. Yet, you have gone Back on your word and refused to keep sl by going out with her in public. In fact, you even allowed her to move into the Stone residence did you ever consider my position as the head of the Seone family when you did all that? How am 1 to manage the entire family when you keep challenging my authority?¡± Barnaby responded resolutely, ¡°What¡¯s done is done, and it¡¯s toote for any going to kick her out expecially when she is the mother of my son. Sheridan, you rida, you¡¯re the Considering your capabilities, no one will dare disobey obry you. If it really bothers you, we¡¯ll s ince I live sidled everything here. We¡¯ll defioarly not get in you Barnaliy decisions Sheridan let a sort to express his disappointmenter Bars Barnaby lond twight bits all the principles and strategies of lic how to deal with a disobeying family member Nevenbeless, Sheridan knew what he had to do. Barnaby¡¯s impulsive actions had given him his answer graces Grandpa. let me remind you that your decision not only puts me in a difficult position but also diagra the Stone family. On top of that, you have also ced our family in a precarious position as the Hailey family will see your action as a provocation. Because of you, the Hadley family wille after the family before I can even think of how to deal with them. Based on how well you know Nathaniel you think he¡¯ll do to our family?¡± Barnaby opened his mouth, but no words came out for a long time. During the banquet, he was focused on stamping his authority and trying to resolve Arure¡¯s predi caining him to neglect the many repercussions of his actions. Now that Sheridan had reminded him of them, the gravity of the consequences began to weigh down on him Sheridan might be standing in the vanguard of the family, but he was still responsible for his actions as the former head of the Stone family. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sheridan. I failed to think through it properly.¡± Barnaby admitted. ¡°Grandpa, ever since you reunited with your old me, you¡¯re no longer like your old self.¡± the disappointed Sheridanmented, ¡°Looks like the old adage-Love makes fools of us all-does ring true Barnaby looked visibly awkward when he realized that it was he who blundered first. With nothing to defend himself with, he inquired, ¡°So how do you n to remedy the situation?¡± ¡°Remedy?¡± Sheridan stared at Barnaby in disbelief as he sneered, ¡°Grandpa, don¡¯t you know that you can have your cake and eat it too?¡± Barnaby was rendered speechless. ¡°Nigel¡¯s trial begins on Tuesday, and I¡¯m sure that he¡¯ll be found guilty.¡± Sebastian added in an insidious tone, ¡°However, you gave her implicit permission to obtain a letter of understanding from Timothy and to spike thetter¡¯s drink? That woman¡¯s charms have clearly caused you to take leave of your senses!¡± ¡°Insolence!¡± Barnaby banged the table in anger. ¡°I¡¯m your grandfather, Sheridan. How dare you speak to me that way!¡± Sheridan sprang to his feet abruptly and red at Barnaby ¡°There¡¯s no way she could get her hands on a drug like that if you hadn¡¯t given it to her. If my men hadt informed me about it in time so that I can clean up your mess, the Stone family would¡¯ve been niined once the drug was sent for testing. Of all the drugs in the research center, you had to pick an unfinished product. If it was anyone else who had done the same thing. I would have punished theins severely Feeling distraught, Barnaby slumped onto the couch with his brows tightly furrowed Upon regaining hisposure, he remarked skeptically. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound right. The drug that I ordered to be brought over was apleted product that won¡¯t put one¡¯s life in danger. Its only function is render someone mute. All I wanted to do was threen Timothy into writing a letter of understanding in alleviate Nigel¡¯s sentence. I never had the intention of killing him As he pondered upon the matter, a terrifying thought gradually emerged in his mind. she told have been ripombeing the Stone for the Sheridan sa Barnaby sharing his sentimens, he bolnika smirk. In tad of atak hatt¡¯s certainly better than being aantte dall the time? Sherstangealted his pekes before leaving in a hurt hie aber storms upstairs to emiront Azure In very host time a heated argument echoed the mansions up a cigarettes he leaned against ins car, Sheridas save the second loce a distant look stane ickest quizsically, ¡°Me Stone, you spent a lot of effort stealing the testing sample railway to Mr.se, I would be bad for you if he finds out one day but was ctarette but on the floor and stubbing it out with his feet. Sheridan sncerns, ¡°My veel bewhieved once i remove those parasites from the Stone family I dont care about the at or other Chapter 745 Falling Out Again. Chapter 745 Falling Out Again. The fact that Nigel was going to prison was set in stone Nheless, Sheridan had nned to spare Azure and Yerek initially on Barnaby¡¯s ount. Unfortunately, they just couldn¡¯t stop covering something that didn¡¯t belong to them. Moreover, they were also gradually bing a threat to his position. Sitting in a position of power, Sheridan enjoyed the thrill that came with wielding authority and forcing others into submission. However, anything that escted out of his control or didn¡¯t bend to bis will would have to be destroyed. ¡°There¡¯s conflict within the Stone family recently.¡± Sheridan paused before letting out a nigger as he stared at the opulent mansion before him. ¡°It seems this mansion that Grandpa built for his old me is jinxed, as it has brought bad luck upon the Stone family. It¡¯s time he builds a new one.¡± Just as he spoke, he gave his assistant a thoughtful look before adding, ¡°I¡¯m sure you know what to do The assistant replied, ¡°Yes, Mr. Stone,¡± After Sheridan got into the car, the assistant closed the door behind him before driving away Inside the mansion, Barnaby and Azure were still quarreling about the drug, unaware of the looming ¡°Let me ask you again, did you give Timothy lethal poison instead of the drug that¡¯ll render him mute! Are you lying to me?¡± Azure had no idea what Barnaby was talking about. She had given Timothy the drug that would make him lose his voice and even made an effort to check when she procured it. Furthermore, she still couldn¡¯t bring herself to kill someone just to silence them. Azure shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you.¡± She then gave the matter some thought. ¡°Is the test result out?¡± Barnaby responded with a frown instead of answering ¡°I knew it! Christina must have tampered with the results!¡± Azure ranted. ¡°After causing Nigel to be imprisoned, someone as wicked as her would definitely not let me off. Barnaby, you had better not fall for her tricks At that moment, Barnaby couldn¡¯t tell whether Azure was telling the truth. The only thing on his mind was that the woman in front of him was no longer the woman he lovest decades ago. The pressures of reality had molded her to someone Machiavellian into He then realized bis insention to rekindle their rtionship past was just as Sheridan host ridan bost described ing to make up for the regress in his youth As for Azure she got hack with him for her own Banyak depily ¡°Let me a would The candidness of the question caught Azure off guard, causing her to smile awkwardly, ¡°Barnaby, lecs m talk about this. Why are you bringing this up all of a suilden!¡± Steeling himself. Barnaby demanded. ¡°Answer me!¡± His roar gave Azure a fright. Clenching her fists with a glint in her eyes, she retorted softly. ¡°Is that answer more important than the freedom and future of our son The truth dawned upon Barnaby Even though he was mentally prepared for it, confirming her intentions still made him feel as if everything he had done for her was nothing but a joke ¡°You¡¯re Nigel¡¯s mother, so I¡¯ll still treat you ordingly. Although his case isplex. I¡¯ll try my best to dy it. I just hope that you¡¯ll think through your actions before doing anything¡± As if he had moved on Barnaby continued, ¡°This mansion will be your amodation going forward. If you want to return to Hallsbay, I¡¯ll buy you a ce there too. Every month, your allowance will be deposited into your ount, and you¡¯ll not have to worry about your livelihood for the rest of your life. The shocked Azure replied. ¡°What do you mean, Barnaby? Are you breaking up with me?¡± Regaining the frosty demeanor of the past, Barnaby retorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t this your objective? A sudden sense of guilt swelled within Azure. ¡°No, Barnaby. Why are you kicking up a fuss at a crucial time like this? Don¡¯t you realize how inappropriate this is?¡± She couldn¡¯t figure out what she had done wrong to have caused Barnaby to regret his decision and revert their rtionship back to square one. ¡°You don¡¯t have to force yourself to do something you¡¯re not willing to. Both of us have aged now. We¡¯re no longer young lovebirds who can¡¯t live without one another.¡± Barnaby understood what he really wanted. There was no need for him to make up for his regrets. All he was looking to do was take responsibility for the mistakes of the past. ¡°I''ll get someone to transfer the money to you. Going forward, we¡¯ll contact each other by phone to avoid any unwanted attention.¡± When Barnaby turned and left, Azure was left standing in bewilderment, as if she had been struck by lightning. A long while passed before she finally regained her senses. The events that happened consecutively on that day were entirely out of her control. ¡°Don¡¯t leave. Barnaby!¡± By the time Azure rushed out, Barnaby had already gotten into his car While banging on the car window, all she could see was his icy side profile. Upon watching the car disappear from her sight, she didn¡¯t continue toment her fate. Instead, she rushed into the mansion in search of her phone She hid in the bathroom and spoke softly into her phone ¡°Barnaby has turned his back on us. Yerel We need to set the second n in motion¡± After she heard his response over the line. Azure¡¯s expression turned grim as she unknowingly raised her N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content. ¡°You were the one who suggestedl we work together. Instead, you failed to stop Sheridan froming back early, allowing him to ruin my n.¡± The mare Azure thought about it, the angrier she became ¡°Sheridan might have some dirt on Barnaby. That¡¯s why thetter may have been forced to protect himself. Also, we need to deal with Christina, who keeps getting in our way. It was she who tampered with the test results.¡± Azure dramatically rted everything that happened at the banquet to Yerek, sending a chill down his spine. Hearing about how Barnaby had fallen out with the Hadley family almost drove him crazy When ites to choosing between the Stone family¡¯s interests and his love and affection for Azure, Barnaby would definitely choose the former. Yerek murmured. ¡°My sources tell me that Christina has found a new lead. Barnaby was involved in that past incident.¡± ¡°What?¡± Azure was stunned. ¡°Why would Barnaby- ¡°What¡¯s there to be surprised about? We were only focused on the enmity between the Gibson and Hadley families and neglected the fact that the Stones, Gibsons, and Hadleys were allpetitors back then.¡± Yerek gave Azure an idea. ¡°Therefore, we¡¯re not going to allow Barnaby to extricate himself from the matter. You should use this information to ckmail him. Regardless of how powerful Sheridan is, there¡¯s no way he would disobey Barnaby.¡± Nheless, Azure felt hesitant about the idea. ¡°Yerek, Barnaby isn¡¯t a fool. Let me think about it first.¡± Once the call ended, Azure was lost in thought as she stared into the mirror in front of her After bidding farewell to thest guest, Christina returned to the break room to rest, only to hear Sebastian reporting the movements of the Stone family to Nathaniel. ¡°The person who stole the test sample wasn¡¯t sent by Barnaby. In that case, who is the mastermind behind him?¡± Chapter 746 When Will You Marry Me Chapter 746 When Will You Marry Me Sebastian answered Christina¡¯s question truthfully. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The other party came prepared and intentionally hid their identity. As such, I¡¯ve yet to unearth anything¡± Instead of reprimanding Sebastian, she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. There¡¯s no need to feel pressured because we need to be patient. Perhaps they¡¯ll lose theirposure before us and expose themselves¡± Nathaniel turned to Sebastian. ¡°Do you have a backup of the sample?¡± In response, Sebastian shook his head. I didn¡¯t expect someone would steal the sample, so I only used a handkerchief to acquire some wine stains. The rest had been swept away by the cleaner. Even if we could retrieve some from the garbage bin, the sample would¡¯ve been contaminated. If we submit that to theb, not only will it increase the difficulty of their workload, it may all be for naught in the end. ¡°In that case, send someone to monitor Mrs. Lazuli and Barnaby. We¡¯ll search for clues through other means,¡± replied Nathaniel solemnly. ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian nodded before continuing, ¡°Mr. Stone hurriedly returned to Jadeborough. ording to what I heard, he had a heated argument with Old Mr. Stone when they met up today. The reason was rted to Mrs. Lazuli. Additionally, after Mr. Stone left, Old Mr. Stone and Mrs. Lazuli quarreled.¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. He was aware of everything they were doing because he had already nted spies on Barnaby¡¯s side. Raising her eyebrow, Christina asked, ¡°Oh? What was their dispute about?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Stone suspected that Mrs. Lazuli was lying to him. He believed she had made him the scapegoat after plotting against Mr. Gibson. Consequently, the responsibility was thrust onto the family, indirectly leading to the war between the Hadley family, the Stone family, and the Gibson family¡± Mrs. Lazuli is meticulous, but her n¡¯s too challenging to execute. The possibility of it backfiring is high, and it has happened. Her scheme had only progressed one-third of its way before Barnaby, her absolute backing, destroyed it. Without his support, she can¡¯t do much. Hence, there¡¯s no way Mrs. Lazuli and Yerek will let Barnaby escape their grasp that easily ¡°How did Barnaby resolve this issue in the end?¡± Enthusiasm was present in Christina¡¯s eyes. Nathaniel stared at her affectionately, allowing her to ask Sebastian as many questions as she wanted ¡°For Nigel¡¯s sake, Old Mr. Stone decided to reduce the frequency of his meetings with Mrs Lazuli Hell still provide her a residence and living expenses until she passes away,¡± answered Sebastian Christina thought. I assumed Barnaby would ignore Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s plight like thest few times, but it does so he can be responsible Nathaniel remarked. ¡°Barnaby¡¯s strained rtionship with Mrs. Lazuli is unquestionably rted to Sheridan. If we keep an eye on him, we¡¯ll most likely discover unexpected clues After it was proven that the individual who stole the sample wasn¡¯t Barnaby, Nathantel shifted his suspicions to Sheridan. I¡¯m aware that Yerek¡¯s partially responsible for this, but I know he¡¯s temporartly upied Besides, it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯s capable enough to pull this off ¡°Understood As Sebastian answered, he nced at the sneaky figure outside of the door. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else. Fil be taking my leave now, Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley¡± Chrisma had already spotted Victoria and smilet ¡°Go Don¡¯t let my junior wait too long Otherwise, she¡¯ll throw a tantrum soon Embarrassed, Sebastian exited the lounge. Immediately, Victoriatched onto his towering figure like an octopus, ignoring the stares. Sebastian tried to yank her off his body, but she responded by wrapping her limbs around him tighter. A sigh of resignation escaped his lips as he allowed her to do as she pleased. ¡°I signaled you so many times. Why did it take you so long to notice! I was waiting outside until my legs were aching, spat Victoria, displeased. She enclosed her legs around his slim waist, her feet dangling in the air. I deliberately wore a pair of ten-centimeter high-heels toplement my gown today After Iran arand greeting the guests on behalf of Christina, my feet were exhausted. ¡°I was working and couldn¡¯t leave. Please get down first. I¡¯ll apany you to the dressing room Sebastian suggested. ¡°No, I want you to carry me there.¡± Ever since their rtionship was approved by Brenda, Victoria acted increasingly coyly with him without minding what outsiders thought of her. Meanwhile, Sebastian would follow her wishes withoutint. ¡°Stay still, then. Don¡¯t move around, or you¡¯ll fall.¡± He promptly carried Victoria to another dressing room. On the way there, he attracted numerous envious looks from countless designers. ¡°Mr. Taggart dotes on Ms. Lesley way too much. Indeed, good men always already belong to another woman. They¡¯re unlike how the inte describes them at all. I don¡¯t think they¡¯re acting¡± ¡°Mr. Taggart is Mr. Hadley¡¯s assistant. Considering how well Mr. Hadley always treats Ms. Steele, I doubt Mr. Taggart will do anything less than that with his own lover. Also, I heard the Lesley family has already agreed to Ms. Lesley¡¯s rtionship with Mr. Taggart.¡° ¡°Wow! Doesn¡¯t that mean their wedding will be happening soon? If I can design a wedding gown for them. the worth of my resume will look really impressive!¡± ¡°Keep dreaming. Even if Ms. Lesley isn¡¯t designing it herself, Ms. Steele will do it. In any case, that incredible job will nevernd in ourps.¡± Sebastian and Victoria heard every word those designers said. When they arrived at the dressing room, Victoria eagerly asked, ¡°Look, even they want to witness our wedding. When are you nning to marry me?¡± Sebastian answered seriously. ¡°Marriage is a big event in one¡¯s life. It mustn¡¯t be treated casually ¡°Of course I want to marry her, but I¡¯m not powerful enough yet I must fulfill the promise I made in front of the Lesley family and present an unforgettable wedding to Victoria! ¡°I don¡¯t care if my wedding isvish or not, Seb. All I care about is that you¡¯re my groom¡± Can you give me a little more time. Victoria?¡± inquired Sebastian solemnly Okay I won¡¯t rush you Victoria smiled Even though the hid her true emotions well, the observant Sebastian still noticed her disappointment Give me a second¡± He promptly let the room for a few minutes before returning with a tablet and pimes I found on the her sight to the tables When she tables. When she did joy Gleefully, she perused the photos ¡°When did you collget these ¡°When I was free. Most of them are rmended by series. I think they¡¯re all pretty good, but i don¡¯t hews know which one you like, so I saved them first to show youter.¡± Sebastian kept failing to because cause he was busy with his job and learning how to manage apany Take my time to pick one Carefully Victoria held the tablet in her arms as though she treasure Seconds later, she couldn¡¯t help but approach Sebastian Victoria abou Just as they were about to kiss someone coughed, chatering the romantic atmosphere in the Tm sorry for disturbing you twe but there¡¯s an emergency I need to speak with Vir Will you mind lending her to me for a few minutes. Mi Taggart Chapter 747 The Best Senior Chapter 747 The Best Senior The person who spoke was Christina. Sebastian couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse, so he stood up awkwardly. ¡°I don¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll attend to my work, then. I¡¯ll leave you to your conversation.¡± Victoria watched her boyfriend leave before turning to look at Christina resentfully and started howling as shey dead on the couch. ¡°Christina, of all the times you could¡¯ve shown up, why must you choose the moment I¡¯m sharing an intimate moment with my man? Are you doing this on purpose?¡± Christina walked over and pulled Victoria up. After thetter was properly seated, she smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you two, but it¡¯s only because you two didn¡¯t close the door when getting intimate. Besides, you were too engrossed that you didn¡¯t hear me knocking on the door.¡± Victoria blushed and gazed at Christina dispiritedly. ¡°Christina, what do you need from me?¡± Christina ¨¹ttered seriously, ¡°Rayne and I had a discussion. The studio¡¯s first fashion show will be scheduled for the day after tomorrow at Global Shopping Center in the city center. The mall is usually crowded on Saturdays, so we can achieve good publicity. Since the main theme of this fashion show is focused on you, I wanted to know your opinion. If you think it¡¯s not feasible, we can think of other ideas.¡± At the mention of work-rted issues, Victoria put away her carefree demeanor. ¡°You¡¯re my boss, so the final say is up to you. My creations are alreadypleted, aside from thecking of some essories. However, I¡¯ve found a sponsor. The jewelry is being delivered to Jadeborough as we speak. Barring any idents, it should arrive tomorrow. Victoria regarded the fashion show with great importance, so she invested a lot of effort and energy in her designs, striving to astonish the public with her works and re-establish the reputation of Christina¡¯s brand. ¡°All right. In that case, I¡¯ll have Rayne prepare for the rehearsal of the fashion show,¡± Christina said. Having finished talking about business, Victoria cheerfully showed Christina the wedding theme on her tablet, boasting, ¡°Sebastian arranged this for me. I¡¯m going to be Mrs. Taggart soon!¡± Christina was genuinely happy for Victoria and uttered wholeheartedly, ¡°Congrattions on having your wishe true in the near future.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, you and Mr. Hadley are our matchmakers. How about I let you design my wedding dress at that time? What do you say?¡± Victoria was worried Christina would reject her, so she hurriedly wrapped her arms around Christina¡¯s and acted coy. ¡°Please agree to this, Christina!¡± Naturally, Christina wasn¡¯t going to refuse. She even felt honored to be tasked with that responsibility. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re making me dizzy with all the shaking. You¡¯re my junior, so I have no reason to say Victoria excitedly pecked Christina on the cheek, almost lifting thetter and twirling on the spot in exhration. ¡°Thank you, Christina. You¡¯re the best!¡± Christina flicked Victoria¡¯s forehead. ¡°First, you have to do well for the fashion show. I¡¯m counting on you to garner poprity for the studio.¡± Victoria chuckled and blinked her eyes knowingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll definitely give you a huge surprise at the fashion show in three days.¡± ¡°I have faith in your capabilities.¡± Christina responded sincerely. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Subsequently, the banquet ended sessfully. Exhausted, Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor As Lucas and Cam had to go to school the next day, Charlie and Julia brought them back to the Hadley residence. Charlie and Timothy were equally skilled in ying chess. After their game resulted in a tie, the two agreed on the time for their next match before parting ways, After taking a bath, Christinay in Nathaniel¡¯s arms, keeping himpany and chatting with him as he sorted out work-rted emails. ¡°Your dad and mine seem to get along well.¡± A rxed expression spread across Christina¡¯s countenance as she recalled Charlie and Timothy¡¯s reluctance to leave the banquet venue earlier. ¡°They have amon hobby. It¡¯ll also benefit your dad¡¯s health for him to have someone to apany him after he moves to Jadeborough.¡± Nathaniel held Christina with one hand while using his other hand to touch theptop¡¯s trackpad, dexterously switching between software interfaces. ¡°You can find some time to arrange a gathering to strengthen the rtionship between our families.¡± Christina hadn¡¯t seriously considered that matter before, but now that Nathaniel had reminded her, she swiftly came up with an idea. ¡°Once I¡¯m done with the fashion show in three days, I¡¯ll arrange a gathering for both our families.¡± Nathaniel closed hisptop with one hand, casually putting it away, andy down with Christina in his embrace. ¡°Is there anything I can help with regarding the fashion show?¡± Christina replied, ¡°No. Rayne has arranged everything. We also decided to host the event at Global Shopping Center in the city center.¡± ¡°If I remember correctly, Global Shopping Center is a property under the Hadley family. If you face any issue then, you can contact the person in charge of the mall at any time.¡± Nathaniel kissed her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Let¡¯s sleep.¡± ¡°Good night,¡± she chirped. The moment she shut her eyes, fatigue quickly overwhelmed her, and she drifted off to sleep soon. After ascertaining Christina was sound asleep, Nathaniel discreetly got up and left the bedroom. Sebastian had been waiting in the living room downstairs for a while. When he saw Nathaniel descending the stairs, he greeted, ¡°Mr. Hadley.¡± Nathaniel cut to the chase. ¡°What¡¯s Sheridan¡¯s current stance?¡± That afternoon, Sheridan had sent someone to seek cooperation with Nathaniel, offering very generous terms with the intention of resolving the conflict between the Hadley and Stone families. Nathaniel wasn¡¯t a pushover. After browsing through the agreement, he turned the liaison officer away and bluntly expressed his disinterest in the project Sheridan offered. Sheridan thought Nathaniel was unsatisfied with the proposed revenue distribution, so he immediately had someone draft another new agreement and deliver it to Nathaniel. However, the oue was the same. Nathaniel rejected the proposition after taking just a nce at the document. Sheridan was unable to fathom Nathaniel¡¯s intention, so after carefully weighing the pros and cons, he decided to talk to Nathaniel in person. Nathaniel told Sheridan he would only agree to a face to face discussion under one condition Sheridan had to first deal with the mess made by Barnaley and Anure and provide Timothy with a reasonable exnation With that, Sheridan cooled down considerably. Then, he ryed a message to Nathaniel, saying he would take that matter seriously. Subsequently, there weren¡¯t any more responses from Sheridan Nathaniel was finally able to lure Sheridan into the trap he had meticulously spent a long time setting up Since that matter concerned Christina, Nathaniel ced extra effort into ensuring its sess. ¡°Mr. Stone held a meeting with the senior executives overnight, probably preparing for how to maximize his interest in the negotiation with you.¡± ¡°The Stone family is really full of cunning old foxes,¡± Nathaniel uttered derisively. Sheridan had no intention to cooperate with the Hadley family, but for the sake of restoring the Stone family¡¯s reputation, he was making decisions against his own will. Barnaby had been shrewd for most of his life, but he ultimately risked ruining the hard work of his entire life because of an old lover. Nathaniel figured it hadn¡¯t been easy for Sheridan to hold on all by himself until now. Still, the business world values abilities and tactics. Benevolence won¡¯t bring any benefit. Besides, I¡¯m not someone who enjoys showing others kindness anyway. ¡°Snatch all the projects the Stone family is interested in. It looks like verbal warnings aren¡¯t impactful enough. We need to take some action to teach them a memorable lesson.¡± Chapter 748 Irreplaceable Chapter 748 Irreceable That night, Nathaniel worked to sabotage the Stone family¡¯s investment ventures relentlessly. When Sheridan woke up the next day, he could never have imagined that the Stone family was on the verge of beingpletely pushed out of the business circle. What fueled Sheridan¡¯s anger further was Nathaniel¡¯s audacious attempts to undermine the Stone family. paying no heed to public opinion. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Sheridan knew Nathaniel had run out of patience. What Nathaniel said no longer served as a warning: he was ready to deliver a fatal blow, Nathaniel had dominated the business realm at a young age, and he remained undefeated against seasoned veterans and ambitious neers. While Sheridan embraced new challenges, he could not shake off the lingering uncertainty of facing Nathaniel head-on. The odds of his sess remained uncertain. Sheridan swiftly convened a board meeting to devise a strategic n, while his desire to engage in discussion with Nathaniel grew stronger with each passing moment. Unfortunately, Nathaniel declined his request and tly refused Sheridan¡¯s attempts to reconcile, citing a busy schedule as the reason. In his office, Sheridan¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the plummeting share price. Despite his best efforts to regain hisposure, the graph disyed on the screen caused his heart to ache with a sense of anguish. As the stock prices continued to plummet at an rming rate, Sheridan¡¯s anxiousness grew, knowing that if this trend persisted, the Stone Group would be forced to dere bankruptcy the next day. Sheridan¡¯s hatred of Azure and Nigel had reached an unprecedented peak. The Stone family found themselves entangled in this situation solely because of the mother and son¡¯s actions. Unable to reach Nathaniel, Sheridan shifted his focus to Christina. He decided to give her a call. Meanwhile, Christina was attending a fashion show rehearsal. Upon seeing Sheridan¡¯s number on the screen, she quickly switched her phone to silent mode and casually dropped it into her bag. The observant Victoria noticed the numbers appearing on Christina¡¯s phone and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure you want to ignore Mr. Stone¡¯s call? This is the perfect opportunity to state your demands.¡± Christina was unbothered. ¡°He should reach out to Mr. Hadley directly, not me. I don¡¯t want to involve myself in their business disputes.¡± The Stone family was already trending on social media carly in the morning. Even though Christina was not fond of keeping up with the news, the people around her could not stop discussing the Stone family¡¯s plight in front of her. Thus, it was hard for her to remain oblivious to it. ¡°What a ruthless man Mr. Hadley is. When he decides to make a move, he aims for the kill without hesitation. I bet Old Mr. Stone must have regretted his action for going against the Hadleys.¡± Victoria sighed, relishing in their misfortune. ¡°Hey, wanna bet?¡± Christina nced at her from the corners of her eyes. ¡°What kind of bet?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how long the Stone family can hold on. The loser will serve as the other person¡¯s servant for a month.¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as her mind raced with cunning ns. Christina turned around, intentionally protruding her noticeably curved abdomen. ¡°You want a pregnant woman to be your servant to serve you tea the whole day?¡± Victoria froze for a moment while staring at her belly. Even if Christina agreed to the bet, he knew Nathaniel would never let her off. If he were to discover that I made Christina my servant, he would not hesitate to offer me a goblet of deadly poison instead of a steaming cup of tea! After contemting for a short while, she trembled slightly and shook her head repeatedly. ¡°No, no, no, I don¡¯t want to die young. Let¡¯s change the bet.¡± Christina dismissed the proposal, refusing to engage in the bet. ¡°I won¡¯t bet with you. The likelihood of the Stone family going bankrupt is slim.¡± Sheridan was not a fool. If he could prevent Barnaby from acknowledging his illegitimate son and take control of the Stone family within six months, the man must have possessed remarkable capabilities and skills. Victoria, who had limited interactions with Sheridan, was unaware of his true abilities. Curiously, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you have faith in the capabilities of your man?¡± Christina smiled, her lips curling, ¡°Nathaniel is irreceable in my heart. But the battles in the business world are like cruel games, where the winner takes it all. However, destiny is unpredictable, and no one can urately predict the future oues.¡± Victoria instantly lost interest, saying, ¡°Never mind then, let¡¯s forget about the bet. We¡¯ve seen enough of the rehearsal. Shall we go backstage?¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s go.¡± Christina turned around and was ready to head in the backstage direction. Suddenly, a plump figure abruptly dashed in front of Christina, catching her off guard. Victoria swiftly positioned herself in front of Christina, giving the intruder a stern gaze. ¡°Who are you? Who gave you permission toe here? What do you want?¡± Hendrick¡¯s gaze cunningly fixated on Christina, and a wide smile spread across his face, narrowing his eyes into slits. He nervously rubbed his hands together. ¡°Um¡­ Mrs. Hadley, don¡¯t you remember me? I¡¯m Hendrick Labarge. We had the pleasure of meeting before. Mr. Hadley was nning to discuss a partnership with me.¡± Victoria nced at Christina, her eyes filled with curiosity. Christina pondered for a moment. ¡°Mr.¡± Labarge. I¡¯m sorry, it took me a while to recognize you.¡± Hendrick¡¯s expression turned smug as he disregarded Victoria¡¯s presence. He eagerly extended an invitation to Christina. ¡°It seems like fate has brought us together. There¡¯s this great restaurant just around the corner. How about we grab lunch together? I¡¯ve got something important to discuss regarding our potential coboration.¡± It was not difficult to tell Hendrick had an ulterior motive toward Christina. Christina declined the offer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have a lot of work to attend to. If Mr. Labarge wishes to order a dress from us, you can contact the person in charge at the studio. They will be happy to assist you.¡± Hendrick grew impatient and attempted to grab Christina, but Victoria, who stood between them, forcefully swatted his hand away. ¡°How dare you harass a married woman in broad daylight? Are you tired of living freely and want to spend a few days behind bars?¡± Victoria¡¯s eyes narrowed with a cold gaze as if she were about to wield a big sword and sever Hendrick¡¯s indecent hand. The sharp pain on the back of his hand shattered Hendrick¡¯s lustful thoughts. He awkwardly retracted his hand and said, ¡°I apologize, Ms. Lesley, I didn¡¯t mean any harm toward Mrs. Hadley, I was just overwhelmed after meeting her. Please forgive me, Mrs. Hadley.¡± Hendrick¡¯s frivolous actions were purely instinctive. However, Christina and Victoria, having experienced enough of such behavior, were not easily fooled by his words. Christina had some interest in Hendrick, but only because he might be useful to her. Before she could obtain the evidence from him, she thought it would be best not to provoke him. ¡°Mr. Labarge, I¡¯m upied with preparations for the uing fashion show in two days, leaving me little time for a lunch meeting. I¡¯ll talk to Mr. Hadley on your behalf and ask him to directly discuss the coboration with you. What do you think?¡± Chapter 749 Masterpiece Chapter 749 Masterpiece Oh, no¡­ The hefty price of coveting Nathaniel¡¯s woman. Hendrick¡¯s target was indeed Christina, but if he tangled with Nathaniel, his dream would turn into a nightmare. If Nathaniel were to discover his intention toward Christina, being yed alive would be the least severe punishment Hendrick could expect. That Grim Reaper will undoubtedly do away with me. ¡°Ah¡­ I haven¡¯t done drafting my project proposal, so it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to discuss the coboration with Mr. Hadley so rashly. After all, Mr. Hadley¡¯s time is precious, and I can¡¯t afford to waste it.¡± Wearing a resentful expression, Hendrick was forced to cast aside his lewd thoughts. ¡°Since you¡¯re busy with work, Mrs. Hadley, I won¡¯t disturb you further. Let¡¯s meet another day.¡± Victoria sneered, prompting Hendrick to flee in a panic. Watching his pathetic retreating figure from behind, Christina couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Why did you scare him? Just let him be. He has the intention but certainlycks the courage to act on it.¡± Victoria snorted. ¡°If he had lingered a few more minutes, I would¡¯ve beaten him up. Has he got the nerves of steel or something? I can¡¯t believe he dares to try to covet you without considering who your husband is.¡± Her impression of Hendrick couldn¡¯t be worse. Every time she thought of his lecherous smile, Victoria felt nauseous. ¡°I¡¯m counting on the fact that he won¡¯t do me any harm, which was why I didn¡¯t confront him outright earlier. Hendrick is a David and Winston¡¯s rtive, so keeping him around may still be useful.¡± ¡°But you didn¡¯t have to sacrifice your dignity to aplish that goal- Mmm!¡± Christina abruptly covered Victoria¡¯s mouth with her hand. Thetter red at Christina, threatening Christina to let go with her stern gaze. Christina dragged her aside. ¡°Victoria, this mall belongs to the Hadley family, and there may be people around who are associated with Mr. Hadley. Are you trying to tell everyone that Mr. Hadley is about to be cuckolded by me by making a huge fuss about this? Please spare me. If Mr. Hadley gets mad, even I can¡¯t handle his wrath.¡± Realizing how recklessly she was, Victoria smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just spoke my mind without thinking much.¡± Christina reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t repeat this mistake again. We can¡¯t let another person know about our meeting with Hendrick here today.¡± Victoria nodded. Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the day of the fashion show soon arrived. Christina finally knew what was the big surprise Victoria had arranged for her. It was Hera¡¯s jewelry sponsorship. Not only did Hera generously lend jewelry to Victoria to support the event, but she also personally came to the venue to watch the show. The initially quiet venue was instantly packed with visitors. Journalists arrived in waves as the shes of their cameras flickered incessantly ¡°What do you think of this surprise, Christina? Victoria arched her brow smugly ¡°Absolutely amazing!¡± Christina enthusiastically pecked Victoria¡¯s cheek a few times. ¡°This is your reward my dear Victoria¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. You have to treat Hera and me to meal after this event ends¡± Victoria seized the opportunity to make her demand. ¡°We want a luxurious and scrumptious seafood feast. I will not ept anything less ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll make sure you can eat to your heart¡¯s content, Christina chirped. ¡°The fashion show is about to start. Let¡¯s get down to business first. We need to go backstage and do a final check.¡± Christina was walking ahead when Victoria tugged at her all of a sudden. She turned around in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Victoria?¡± Victoria¡¯s gaze was fixated forward. ¡°Christina, isn¡¯t that Mnie? Why is she wearing the final piece 1 designed for this fashion show?¡± Her eyes widened in disbelief as she uttered those words through gritted teeth. Shifting her eyes following Victoria¡¯s line of vision, Christina indeed saw Mnie wearing Victoria¡¯s masterpiece, Floral Goddess. The billowing hem of the pink gradient dress was adorned with handmade roses and shiny white rhinestones that sparkled under the bright light like a dazzling starry night sky. The strapless design of the dress also entuated the charm of a woman¡¯s vicle perfectly. Finally, an artificial floral wreath was the crowning touch, giving the wearer an overall vibe that was elegant and yet not excessively ring. With Mnie¡¯s temperament, she could certainly pull off the gracefulness of the dress. However, on closer look, the overall vibecked a sense of liveliness but wasced with an additional hint of sultriness. Unfortunately, that hint of sultriness went against Victoria¡¯s original intent for the design. Victoria, in high heels, stormed up to Mnie, causing several staff members who were applying makeup on Mnie to be startled. ¡°Who swapped the model for the final piece without consulting me?¡± Victoria swept her piercing gaze across everyone present as her loud reproach reverberated backstage. She reached out to pull at the dress on Mnie. ¡°You are not qualified to wear my dress. Take it off now! At once!¡± Mnie curled her lipsposedly. ¡°So, this is your masterpiece, Ms. Lesley. I understand your feelings at the moment, but I didn¡¯t intentionally steal someone else¡¯s chance to take the stage. The original model is my junior, but she hasn¡¯t been feeling well in the past few days, so I¡¯m taking her ce.¡± Recing a model at thest minute was an error in the preparation of a fashion show and could risk turning a great event into a mess. Victoria uttered solemnly, ¡°I¡¯m the designer for this dress, so I have the right to prohibit a model from wearing my work on stage. Mnie, you¡¯re unworthy to put on my dress.¡± The grin on Mnie¡¯s countenance wasced with traces of resentment. ¡°But the event is starting soon, and my makeup is already done. Are you sure you want to rece me at thest minute? Wouldn¡¯t it be a pity if the masterpiece couldn¡¯t be presented to the public in the most perfect manner?¡± Mnie had to admit she liked the dress Victoria designed. That was why she resorted to despicable means to substitute the initially selected model, making herself the model to wear the final piece. ¡°I¡¯d rather this dress be a pile of rags than let you tarnish this design¡¯s original intent and meaning¡± Victoria grew more agitated as she spoke. She began yanking the dress off Mnie, causing chaos to erupt at the scene. As Christina was pregnant, she didn¡¯t dare to get involved in the altercation that was evolving into a scuffle. At that moment, Rayne hastened over. ¡°Christina, what¡¯s going on? Why are they fighting?¡± ¡°Contact the security guards toe and break them up. Hurry up!¡± Christina instructed Rayne. The latter swiftly ran to call security. A few minutester, the entangled Mnie and Victoria were finally separated with great difficulty. Victoria was scratched and bruised, and Mnie wasn¡¯t in better shape either. Her makeup was ruined, and it was already toote to redo it. Rayne didn¡¯t understand the grudges and disputes between Victoria, Christina, and Mnie. All she saw was the crumpled masterpiece that now resembled a lump of pickled vegetables. She almost passed out in fury. ¡°What should we do? You¡¯re supposed to go on stage in half an hour. There¡¯s no time to iron the dress and redo the makeup!¡± Christina walked over and nced at Mnie coldly before asking Rayne in an undertone, ¡°It¡¯s fine whether the masterpiece is presented or not. As for Mnie, I want to know how she managed to bypass me and Ms. Lesley¡¯s personal selection to be the model for the final piece of the show.¡± Chapter 750 A Fruitless Venture Chapter750AFruitlessVenture Rayne looked at the chaotic scene around her, a sinking feeling creeping into her heart, for she knew she had sparked a cmity. ¡°The model previously in charge of the grand finale had a mishap in the hotel bathroomst night. She¡¯sid up in the hospital, unable to move. Worried that it would cause a dy in today¡¯s show, I urgently contacted the model agency to rmend an experienced recement to solve the problem. They sent me Mnie,¡± she exined. As her gaze met Christina¡¯s icy countenance, Rayne felt a shiver of unease. ¡°I investigated Mnie¡¯s background thoroughly. She¡¯s been modeling part¨Ctime since her university days. Both her beauty and demeanor are exceptional. I meant to discuss it with you today, but it completely slipped my mind in the rush of preparations. I was unaware of the conflict between Ms. Lesley and Mnie. If I had known, I would have rather taken to the runway myself than invited her,¡± Rayne added. Knowing Rayne as well as she did, Christina had no doubts about her assistant¡¯s integrity It seemed improbable that Rayne would have epted bribes from Mnie to let her infiltrate and disrupt their fashion show. ¡°You¡¯ye mistaken. The person who has a conflict with Mnie is me, not Victoria. Victoria was only standing up for me,¡± Christina rified. Rayne stood in stunned silence, her eyes darting between Christina and Mnie. Christina did not offer further exnation and instead said, ¡°Although this mess wasn¡¯t intentional on your part, you vited our workce rules. So, you have to manage the aftermath.¡± Rayne had no objections. After all, she was in charge of the fashion studio. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it immediately.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Christina called after her. ¡°Bring me all the information on the models.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have my assistant deliver them to you,¡± Rayne replied, summoning her assistant to fetch the required documents. She then concentrated on controlling the damage. Rayne pacified the seething Victoria before instructing the staff to tidy up the scene. Then, she walked over to Mnie and said, ¡°Ms. Steele, I sincerely apologize for my oversight which led to an out¨Cof¨C the- norm hiring process. Therefore, I have to rece you. Rest assured, the payment agreed upon earlier will be sent in full to yourpany. I¡¯ll also contact them to ensure you don¡¯t face any consequences because of this.¡± While Rayne leaned toward siding with Christina, she couldn¡¯t be like Victoria, targeting anyone who crossed her path. Reputation and public opinion were paramount for their newly reopened fashion studio. She had to make sure Mnie didn¡¯t tarnish their image after leaving their doors. ¨CMnie met Rayne¡¯s gaze with cold, unreadable eyes. ¡°And what if I refuse and insist onpleting this show as per our contract?¡± Rayne hadn¡¯t achieved her position just by currying favor with Christina. Her voice took on an icy edge. ¡°Ms. Seymour, I suggest you put aside the benefits you think you might gain by making things difficult for me. Ms. Lesley is not just the special designer for our studio but also the heiress of the Lesley family. It would take her mere words to ruin someone¡¯s career. Besides, my boss wouldn¡¯t just stand by and watch.¡± Rayne smiled and continued, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d take the payment and walk away without a fuss.¡® Mnie¡¯s face clouded over, but her manners held strong. They were in a public space, and an image must be maintained. She couldn¡¯t afford to cause a scene. ¡°Ms. Maguire, I¡¯m not part of the model agency. I am here to help a friend in need. I¡¯m a well¨Cknown figure in the entertainment industry. Are you trying to brush me off with a meager payment? Do you take me for a fool?¡± Mnie retorted. ¡°As you¡¯ve stated, you¡¯re here on a friend¡¯s behalf. Well, allow me to be blunt. If it weren¡¯t for this fashion show¡¯s lucrative benefits, would you, a figure of modest fame, have been bothered by your friend¡¯s request? Unless you¡¯re implying, you aren¡¯t in it for the money at all?¡± Rayne paused, her gaze turning frosty. ¡°Or perhaps there¡¯s a more nefarious scheme at y?¡± Even if the evidence was allid out in in sight, Mnie would never admit to her ulterior motives. Stiffly, Mnie conceded to Rayne¡¯s initial proposition. ¡°When will the payment be made?¡± Rayne¡¯s demeanor warmed slightly. ¡°It can be arranged now. I¡¯ll send someone over to assist you with your makeup removal.¡± She beckoned over a makeup artist and a few staff members and personally oversaw the careful removal of the grand attire and jewelry adorning Mnie. Following this, she transferred the payment and even generously covered her meal and transportation costs. This gesture only served to heighten Mnie¡¯s suspicion that Rayne was treating her like a beggar. Never before had she suffered such an insult. With her dignity fraying, Mnie collected her belongings and left, her face giving nothing away. Meanwhile, Victoria stared after Mnie¡¯s retreating form and fumed. ¡°She got off too easy! I should have wed her face and made sure she was unable to charm anyone else with her looks.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. While attending to the wound on Victoria¡¯s neck with a cotton swab, Christina reminded, ¡°Rayne is a woman, Victoria. Your attempts to ensnare her with your beauty won¡¯t work. Can¡¯t you keep a level head? You would have made the headlines again if your outburst was caught on camera.¡± Victoria grumbled a few times, a piteous whine escaping her lips. ¡°Christina, what do we do? My pride and joy, my creation was ruined by that wretched woman.¡± Christina remained unperturbed. ¡°I inspected the outfit earlier. Only a few appliqu¨¦s were damaged. With a few adjustments and some needlework, it should be fine. I have already selected a recement model. This fashion show is vital for our reputation. I won¡¯t let our efforts go to waste.¡± A delighted smile bloomed on Victoria¡¯s face. The next second, she let out a moan of pain, comining, ¡°Christina, can¡¯t you be more gentle?¡± Christina chided her, ¡°Who told you to squirm when I was applying the medicine? Just suck it up.¡± Victoria obediently sat in the chair, allowing Christina to continue tending to her wounds. The fashion show proceeded after a dy of ten minutes. Mnie emerged from Global Shopping Center but didn¡¯t immediately take leave. Instead, she positioned herself discreetly in a corner, her face shrouded behind a mask and sunsses, sending messages to her dear friend whoy in the hospital. From the corner of her eyes, she spotted a suspicious figure lingering at the periphery of the show¡¯s cordon. Every time a passerby approached, the figure would retreat into their heavy coat, standing with their back against everyone, imitating a mere spectator. Finding the person intriguing, Mnie pocketed her phone and navigated her way toward them. On sighting Mnie¡¯s approach, the figure turned tail to flee. However, Mnie managed to out to grab the person by the shoulder. ¡°Hey, are you trying to get into the show?¡± she asked. After a brief struggle, the figure gave up and replied in a muted voice, ¡°No.¡± Mnie recognized it as an older female¡¯s voice and said, ¡°You needn¡¯t be embarrassed. Today¡¯s show has invited the internationally famous jewelry designer, Ms. Hera. Plenty of people around here are fans of Ms. Hera, who can¡¯t gain ess because theyck an invitation just like you.¡± The woman looked up at Mnie, who offered her a friendly smile and said, ¡°I have an invitation. I could sell it to you.¡± Chapter 751 Diverting Trouble Chapter 751 Diverting Trouble The woman remained silent for a while, possibly pondering whether Mnie was attempting to deceive her. Mnie took the initiative to exin, ¡°I have an urgent matter to attend to. This invitation was bought online at a rather high price. I don¡¯t want my hard¨C earned money to go to waste. If you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll sell it to someone else.¡± As Mnie turned to leave, the woman called after her, ¡°How much? I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Mnie simply offered an amount, ¡°Two thousand!¡± The woman hesitated. ¡°Will you take fifteen hundred? That¡¯s all I have on me.¡± Feigning a pained expression, Mnie sighed. ¡°All right. Fifteen hundred it is. I wouldn¡¯t agree to this price if it weren¡¯t for my hurry.¡± The woman handed over all the cash from her wallet to Mnie, who then handed over her work badge without giving the money a second look before c her bag. The woman examined the work badge in her hand and was visibly taken aback. ¡°This isn¡¯t an invitation.¡± Mnie smiled slyly. ¡°Isn¡¯t a work badge more useful than an invitation? You can get in and out of the show any time you want and gather autographs until your hand goes numb, without having to queue up or stake out to see your idol. You¡¯ve spent your fifteen hundred well.¡± The woman said no more. She put on the work badge and headed for the entrance of the show. Watching her receding figure, Mnie¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. Christina, Victoria, let¡¯s see how smoothly your fashion show will proceed now! Meanwhile, the backstage was in a whirl of activity. Victoria firmly refused to allow Christina to help, insisting that thetter supervise from the sidelines. Victoria was caught in a flurry of activities, instructin Meanwhile, Christina sat at the side, leisurely watching everyone hustle and bustle, fully enjoying the privilege of being the boss. ¡°Take a break. Have some water.¡± Christina handed a bottle of water to Victoria. Victoria, immersed in perfecting the embellishments of Floral Goddess, was far too engrossed to lift her hands for a drink. Just as she was about to decli Victoria beamed in delight. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re even more thoughtful than my boyfriend.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°Right. Drink this and stop talking.¡± Victoria ceased talking and downed nearly half the bottle of water before she rmenced her work. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around. Carry on at your own pace. There¡¯s no need to hurry,¡± suggested Christina, finding her own idle sitting rather unproductive. ¡°Go on,¡± Victoria replied, not lifting her head. With the water bottle set down, Christina exited backstage. A figure swiftly brushed past her as she was about to walk toward the audience. Christina noticed that the figure was seemingly trying to conceal itself. After the incident with Mnie, Christina had be hyper¨Caware of theings and goings of the staff. She turned to the person and ordered in a low voice, ¡°Halt!¡± The mysterious figure obeyed and slowly turned, albeit keeping their head low to avoid Christina¡¯s gaze. ¡°Which area are you assigned to? I don¡¯t remember seeing you before,¡± Christina queried, eyeing the unidentified worker¡¯s tag. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The person did not reply and clutched the worker¡¯s badge tighter. Spotting this, Christina¡¯s suspicions only grew.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she asked again, inching closer. The stranger abruptly turned and sprinted backstage. Christina hurried after the figure with a hand supporting her waist. In the chaos, she collided with Victoria, who quickly steadied her before Christina fell. ¡°Christina, why did you run- ¡°Quick, seize that person!¡± ¨C Without time for exnation, Christina¡¯s authoritative bellow drew the attention of the surrounding security, who managed to apprehend the figure after a When the disguise was stripped away, Christina found herself staring at a painfully familiar face. She paused and said, ¡°Mdm. Specker?¡± Macy looked gaunt, barely recognizable. However, Christina¡¯s instincts knew her all too well, and she instantly recognized the woman the moment she Victoria furrowed her brows. ¡°Christina, who is this woman? Is she another troublemaker Mnie sent?¡± At that moment, security presented a worker¡¯s badge marked with the name ¡°Mnie.¡± Infuriated, Victoria spat out, ¡°So, she really is Mnie¡¯s aplice. What are you here for? What did Mnie send you to do?¡± Christina snapped, ¡°Do you know Mnie?¡± Guilty and fearful, Macy denied it right away. ¡°I don¡¯t know any Mnie. I bought this badge from a woman outside. If she¡¯s wronged you, it has nothing t Christina rephrased her question. ¡°Mnie sold you the badge. What is your purpose foring in here?¡± Macy mped her mouth shut, turning her head away in silence. Christina cleared the area of unnecessary onlookers, leaving only two security officers watching over Macy. They retreated to a more private location wit Christina turned to Victoria and said, ¡°You handle the fashion show. I have some questions for her.¡± Casting a nce at Macy, Victoria replied, ¡°All right. Take care.¡± Christina nodded. After Victoria left, Christina ordered security to release Macy. She then beckoned for Lyle to join them. Now, with only the three of them left, Christina felt no need for caution. ¡°Mdm. Specker, I reckon your appearance at my fashion show isn¡¯t a coincidence, right?¡± Christina asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Macy retorted with a cold sneer. ¡°You¡¯re here to avenge Anya?¡± At the mention of Anya, a low growl erupted from Macy¡¯s throat. ¡°Murderers should pay with their lives. You deserve to die!¡± Christina replied in an icy tone, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. It wasn¡¯t me who killed Anya. It was Emilia. Even if Anya and Emilia hadn¡¯t nned that abduction, A Macy¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she said, ¡°You and Emilia¡­ both of you are equally evil. Whether it was you who nned Anya¡¯s death or not, you were definitely involved.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not worth meying a hand on her, but others might not think the same,¡± Christina pointed out bluntly. ¡°Anya murdered Madison. It was only a ma sought revenge. Moreover, she set a fire that killed Miranda, Emilia¡¯s mother. However, they became allies. Based on my understanding of Emilia, she re Macy continued to re defiantly at Christina. ¡°Emilia erased all the evidence and schemed to shift the me onto me. She has deceived both you and Anya,¡± Christina exined, her voice firm and clear. ¡°Let me make this clear. If I wanted to harm someone, I would leave no trace. Furthermore, I wouldn¡¯t need to get my hands dirty. If you wish to find Emilia, go look for Yerek. They have an excellen Chapter 752 Sowing Discord Chapter 752 Sowing Discord Chapter 751 Diverting Trouble The woman remained silent for a while, possibly pondering whether Mnie was attempting to deceive her. Mnie took the initiative to exin, ¡°I have an urgent matter to attend to. This invitation was bought online at a rather high price. I don¡¯t want my hard¨Cearned money to go to waste. If you¡¯re not interested, I¡¯ll sell it to someone else.¡± As Mnie turned to leave, the woman called after her, ¡°How much? I¡¯ll buy it.¡± Mnie simply offered an amount, ¡°Two thousand!¡± The woman hesitated. ¡°Will you take fifteen hundred? That¡¯s all I have on me.¡± Feigning a pained expression, Mnie sighed. ¡°All right. Fifteen hundred it is. I wouldn¡¯t agree to this price if it weren¡¯t for my hurry.¡± The woman handed over all the cash from her wallet to Mnie, who then handed over her work badge without giving the money a second look before chucking it into her bag. The woman examined the work badge in her hand and was visibly taken aback. ¡°This isn¡¯t an invitation.¡± Mnie smiled slyly. ¡°Isn¡¯t a work badge more useful than an invitation? You can get in and out of the show any time you want and gather autographs until your hand goes numb, without having to queue up or stake out to see your idol. You¡¯ve spent your fifteen hundred well.¡± The woman said no more. She put on the work badge and headed for the entrance of the show.From N?velDrama.Org. Watching her receding figure, Mnie¡¯s lips curled into a cold smirk. Christina, Victoria, let¡¯s see how smoothly your fashion show will proceed now! Meanwhile, the backstage was in a whirl of activity. Victoria firmly refused to allow Christina to help, insisting that thetter supervise from the sidelines. Victoria was caught in a flurry of activities, instructing the models and directing makeup artists forst- minute makeovers. It was a whirlwind of chaos. Meanwhile, Christina sat at the side, leisurely watching everyone hustle and bustle, fully enjoying the privilege of being the boss. ¡°Take a break. Have some water.¡± Christina handed a bottle of water to Victoria. Victoria, immersed in perfecting the embellishments of Floral Goddess, was far too engrossed to lift her hands for a drink. Just as she was about to decline the offer, Christina unscrewed the bottle cap and brought the water to her lips. Victoria beamed in delight. ¡°Christina, you¡¯re even more thoughtful than my boyfriend.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. ¡°Right. Drink this and stop talking.¡± Victoria ceased talking and downed nearly half the bottle of water before she rmenced her work. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look around. Carry on at your own pace. There¡¯s no need to hurry,¡± suggested Christina, finding her own idle sitting rather unproductive. ¡°Go on,¡± Victoria replied, not lifting her head. With the water bottle set down, Christina exited backstage. A figure swiftly brushed past her as she was about to walk toward the audience. Christina noticed that the figure was seemingly trying to conceal itself. After the incident with Mnie, Christina had be hyper¨Caware of theings and goings of the staff. She turned to the person and ordered in a low voice, ¡°Halt!¡± The mysterious figure obeyed and slowly turned, albeit keeping their head low to avoid Christina¡¯s gaze. ¡°Which area are you assigned to? I don¡¯t remember seeing you before,¡± Christina queried, eyeing the unidentified worker¡¯s tag. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The person did not reply and clutched the worker¡¯s badge tighter. Spotting this, Christina¡¯s suspicions only grew. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± she asked again, inching closer. The stranger abruptly turned and sprinted backstage. Christina hurried after the figure with a hand supporting her waist. In the chaos, she collided with Victoria, who quickly steadied her before Christina fell. ¡°Christina, why did you run- ¡°Quick, seize that person!¡± ¨C Without time for exnation, Christina¡¯s authoritative bellow drew the attention of the surrounding security, who managed to apprehend the figure after a short chase. When the disguise was stripped away, Christina found herself staring at a painfully familiar face. She paused and said, ¡°Mdm. Specker?¡± Macy looked gaunt, barely recognizable. However, Christina¡¯s instincts knew her all too well, and she instantly recognized the woman the moment sheid her eyes on Macy. Victoria furrowed her brows. ¡°Christina, who is this woman? Is she another troublemaker Mnie sent?¡± At that moment, security presented a worker¡¯s badge marked with the name ¡°Mnie.¡± Infuriated, Victoria spat out, ¡°So, she really is Mnie¡¯s aplice. What are you here for? What did Mnie send you to do?¡± Christina snapped, ¡°Do you know Mnie?¡± Guilty and fearful, Macy denied it right away. ¡°I don¡¯t know any Mnie. I bought this badge from a woman outside. If she¡¯s wronged you, it has nothing to do with me!¡± Christina rephrased her question. ¡°Mnie sold you the badge. What is your purpose foring in here?¡± Macy mped her mouth shut, turning her head away in silence. Christina cleared the area of unnecessary onlookers, leaving only two security officers watching over Macy. They retreated to a more private location with Victoria following close behind. Christina turned to Victoria and said, ¡°You handle the fashion show. I have some questions for her.¡± Casting a nce at Macy, Victoria replied, ¡°All right. Take care.¡± Christina nodded. After Victoria left, Christina ordered security to release Macy. She then beckoned for Lyle to join them. Now, with only the three of them left, Christina felt no need for caution. ¡°Mdm. Specker, I reckon your appearance at my fashion show isn¡¯t a coincidence, right?¡± Christina asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Macy retorted with a cold sneer. ¡°You¡¯re here to avenge Anya?¡± At the mention of Anya, a low growl erupted from Macy¡¯s throat. ¡°Murderers should pay with their lives. You deserve to die!¡± Christina replied in an icy tone, ¡°I¡¯ve told you before. It wasn¡¯t me who killed Anya. It was Emilia. Even if Anya and Emilia hadn¡¯t nned that abduction, Anya couldn¡¯t have escaped her inevitable fate.¡± Macy¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she said, ¡°You and Emilia¡­ both of you are equally evil. Whether it was you who nned Anya¡¯s death or not, you were definitely involved.¡± ¡°She¡¯s not worth meying a hand on her, but others might not think the same,¡± Christina pointed out bluntly. ¡°Anya murdered Madison. It was only a matter of time before the Taggart family sought revenge. Moreover, she set a fire that killed Miranda, Emilia¡¯s mother. However, they became allies. Based on my understanding of Emilia, she removed Anya because thetter no longer served her interests.¡± Macy continued to re defiantly at Christina. ¡°Emilia erased all the evidence and schemed to shift the me onto me. She has deceived both you and Anya,¡± Christina exined, her voice firm and clear. ¡°Let me make this clear. If I wanted to harm someone, I would leave no trace. Furthermore, I wouldn¡¯t need to get my hands dirty. If you wish to find Emilia, go look for Yerek. They have an excellent working rtionship.¡± Chapter 753 Perish Together Chapter 753 Perish Together Every time Macy lit the lighter, Yerek¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He knew that those driven to madness could do anything, so he didn¡¯t dare to provoke Macy further at that critical juncture. ¡°Anya¡¯s death has nothing to do with me. You¡¯re seeking revenge against the wrong person,¡± Yerek feignedposure. ¡°You should be looking for Christina. She knows the truth of this matter more than anyone else.¡± Macy didn¡¯t trust Christina or Yerek. She¡¯d rather risk killing an innocent than let a guilty party go free. Anya¡¯s death was a fatal blow to her. Now that she was left all alone, the only thing that kept Macy going until that point was her quest to avenge her daughter. Macy had always abhorred Yerek and Azure. She wanted to settle the old and new scores together. Even if she were going to hell, she would drag them down with her. ¡°Yerek, stop deceiving me. I already know the entire truth.¡± Macy red at Yerek hatefully. ¡°You conspired with that b*tch, Emilia, to kill Anya. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know the motive behind your scheming is to monopolize the wealth left by Nigel.¡± How has Macy found out this ploy that had been so well hidden? Yerek was bewildered, but he was adept at shifting me. ¡°I considered Anya my little sister, and her death also pained me. I would never go to the length of causing another person¡¯s death for that bit of wealth. Besides, I hardly know Emilia, let alone conspire with her. On the other hand, Anya was very close to Emilia while she was still alive. Before her death, she and Emilia plotted to kidnap Christina. I was abroad at that time and knew nothing about the whole kidnapping process. You should meet with Emilia to get the full story. She¡¯s one of the parties involved.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying. When Anya was still alive, you were double-dealing behind her back and were already involved with Emilia. You two schemed to cause Anya¡¯s death! Even if Anya¡¯s death has nothing to do with you, I will still send you and this old woman to apany Anya in the afterlife because you owe me that much!¡± Macy uttered sternly. Her heart-wrenching shrieks roused Azure from her unconscious state. When Azure opened her eyes and took in Macy¡¯s menacing appearance, she almost passed out again in fright. ¡°Yerck, Yerek, you¡¯re here. H-Hurry up and save me. Quickly capture this crazy woman!¡± Looking up and noticing Yerek, Azure shouted agitatedly as if she was holding onto herst lifeline Saying those words seemed to have exhausted all her energy as she panted weakly afterward. Macy red at her. ¡°Shut up!¡± Just then, Yerek seized the moment when Macy was distracted and rushed over to grab her wrist, trying to snatch the lighter. However, Yerek had underestimated Macy¡¯s ferocity. She resisted violently, biting and scratching him. Soon, his arm and face bore several bloody abrasions A hint of murderous intent shed across Yerek¡¯s menacing eyes. Steeling his resolution, he swung his fist at Macy¡¯s head. Bang! Macy was knocked to the ground, and at the same time, the lighter in her hand smashed heavily on the floor. In an instant, sparks flew everywhere. me erupted and spread quickly, catching on Azure. In no time, half the living room was engulfed in a sea of fire. Yerek backed away, retreating to the door. ¡°Yerek, save me¡­ Help me! Hurry up and rescue me!¡± Azure struggled desperately. She crawled toward him with great difficulty, but the surrounding fire raged. She could only watch helplessly as the ze cut off her escape route. ¡°Hahaha! All of you deserve to die!¡± Macyughed hysterically. She sat in the middle of the fire with tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°Anya, I¡¯ve avenged you. Fret not. I¡¯m bringing them both down to hell to apologize to you now!¡± Yerek booted the mansion door open and fled into the courtyard in panic. ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. A determined look flitted across his eyes as he turned around to nce at the luxurious mansion gradually devoured by the fire. It¡¯s a good thing that Mrs. Lazuli is dead. She won¡¯t be bothering me anymore. Yerek felt unbearably tired, having to drag along a burden. He figured he might stand a chance to seed even if he were to act alone. Moreover, he still had a final trick left up his sleeve. As the fire spread to the periphery of the mansion, Yerek took out his phone to call the police. ¡°There¡¯s been a murder and arson. I¡¯m at¡­¡± Within a few hours, the fire that had affected half the mansion area became trending news online. The identity of the mansion¡¯s owner was revealed byizens. Moreover, due to the deceased being Azure and Macy, Barnaby and the Gibson family also became topics of heated discussion among the public. While the online discussions were in full swing, Christina was wrapping up the final details of the fashion show. When thest model showed up wearing Victoria¡¯s masterpiece, Floral Goddess, it caused quite a stir. In addition, with Hera¡¯s jewelryplementing the looks, the fashion show was a resounding sess. Lyle swiftly walked up to Christina¡¯s side and spoke in an undertone. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mrs. Lazuli and Mrs. Gibson died in a fire three hours ago. The major media outlets are reporting this news, and you and Mr. Gibson are also on the trending list.¡± Hearing that, Christina uttered in shock, ¡°Was the fire an ident or an act of malice?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t an ident. Mrs. Gibson confronted Mrs. Lazuli in the mansion, and a conflict arose. Yerek was also present, and he was the one who called the police! Yerek called the police? That¡¯s interesting ¡°What was Yerek doing there?¡± Christina probed further. ¡°ording to the testimony Yerek provided to the police, Mrs. Gibson lured him to the mansion on the pretense that Mrs. Lazuli was injured and then tried to kill them, but he managed to escape.¡± Christina knew very well Yerek must be involved in the two women¡¯s deaths. Mrs. Lazuli and Macy¡¯s existence had formed a threat to Yerek, so he took advantage of this fire to get rid of them! ¡°What was Barnaby¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡°Old Mr. Stone rushed to the scene as soon as he received the news to deal with the aftermath. However, he refused to handle Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral for the reason that she wasn¡¯t his wife, so it will be up to you and Mr. Gibson to take over.¡± Christina curled her lips into a scornful smile and sneered, ¡°Barnaby really knows how to y his cards.¡± It wasn¡¯t Lyle¡¯s ce toment on his employer¡¯s affairs, so he merely asked, ¡°Are you sure you wish to take over, Mrs. Hadley?¡± ¡°No matter what, Mrs. Lazuli was my father¡¯s mother and nominally my grandma. Regardless of how much I detest her, I should give her a proper send-off to avoid criticism. Go ahead and make the arrangements.¡± Christina fiddled with the brochure in her hand as a brilliant idea popped into her mind. ¡°We can¡¯t let Barnaby off the hook so easily. Let¡¯s recircte and make trending the recent news about him and Mrs. Lazuli being seen together. She smiled faintly. Mrs. Lazuli harbored such undying affection for her old lover in her lifetime. Now that she¡¯s dead, Barnaby must attend her funeral as a final act of goodwill no matter how reluctant he feels.¡± Chapter 754 Unwanted Gift Chapter 754 Unwanted Gift Christina felt nothing toward Azure, so she had no qualms about doing so. Hesitantly, Lyle disclosed. ¡°The Stone family has already suppressed the discussion. If we intentionally make it a trending topic, the Stone family wille looking for trouble.¡± Fearlessly, Christina replied, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we want. Barnaby cares about his dignity. He wants the outside world to see him as an affectionate man. While he may suppress trending topics once, he won¡¯t do it again. Even if he knows I¡¯m pulling the strings behind the scene, he can only swallow his anger and let it happen.¡± If Christina acquires evidence rted to Barnaby on the case from fifteen years ago, he¡¯ll face much more dire consequences than going on trending and gettingmbasted byizens. ¡°I understand now.¡± Lyle promptly turned around and left. Victoria delegated the rest of her work to Rayne before approaching Christina with Hera in tow. ¡°Have you thought about where you¡¯ll bring Hera and me for a fancy meal, Christina? We¡¯re ready to leave.¡± Christina smiled. ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll book us a table now.¡± In response, Victoria turned to Hera. ¡°Are you craving any food specifically?¡± Hera wasn¡¯t picky, so she said, ¡°I¡¯m good with anything, so I¡¯ll let Ms. Steele decide. Food isn¡¯t something I¡¯m particr about.¡± ¡°In that case, let me choose a ce for you. We¡¯ll go to the restaurant you¡¯ve mentioned to me a few times before. It¡¯s not far from here, so we can just walk there. It¡¯ll be quicker than traveling by car since we won¡¯t be stuck in traffic. What do you think?¡± After Hera turned to Christina, thetter nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll listen to Victoria, then. I¡¯ll book our table now.¡± She promptly made a call and booked a table before sending a text message to Nathaniel, informing him of her ns. Nathaniel was probably busy because he didn¡¯t reply immediately Christina didn¡¯t think much about it. Abruptly, Hera informed apologetically, ¡°I need to visit the restroom first. Please wait for me. Ms. Steele ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll wait, replied Christina Linking arms with Hera, Victoria suggested. ¡°Let¡¯s go together Since you aren¡¯t familiar with this ce, show you the way Without dy, they left As Christina waited for them. Rayne troned toward hewith a pink, rectangr box. ¡°Thank goodnes you¡¯re still he Staring at Rayne¡¯s hands Christia How ls in a C This is Me Laborg, congratting you on the Rayne lowered her eyes and nced at the card on the box. ¡°It¡¯s Hendrick Labarge.¡± While she didn¡¯t know who Hendrick was, Christina did. Christina sneered, ¡°Throw it away. I don¡¯t need it.¡± If I ept this gift, not only will I end up angering Nathaniel, but it will also be the end of my quiet, peaceful days. I know what Hendrick¡¯s thinking. Stunned, Rayne inquired, ¡°Are you sure you want me to throw it away before checking what¡¯s inside? It seems expensive,¡± ¡°If you like it, you can keep it. Mr. Hadley dislikes seeing me epting gifts from other men.¡± D Tactfully, Rayne nodded and opened the present in front of Christina. Inside the box was a beautifully packaged rose with an unconceble, delicate, rustic vibe. The style of the present was a match with Hendrick¡¯s taste. Rayne remarked, ¡°I thought it would be something expensive, like an antique vase or even jewelry. To think it¡¯s a single red rose. Whoever this man is, he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s appropriate at all. He¡¯s aware you¡¯re a married woman, yet he still gifted you something that¡¯ll cause others to misunderstand your rtionship with him. What a sly man.¡± Nonchntly, Christina uttered, ¡°Which is why its final resting ce will be inside a garbage bin.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll toss it away right now!¡± Irritated, Rayne searched for a trash can while holding the box. When Victoria and Hera returned from the restroom, they ran into the incensed Rayne. Hence, upon returning to Christina¡¯s side, Victoria asked. ¡°Who ticked Rayne off? Why does she look like she wants to punch someone?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t like the gift, so she¡¯s angry,¡± exined Christina apathetically. Naturally, Victoria misunderstood the situation. ¡°John still hasn¡¯t won her over after trying for so long?¡± Suddenly, she heard John¡¯s icy voice ring out from behind her. ¡°Allow me to rify something, Ms. Lesley. My rtionship with Rayne isn¡¯t what you think it is.¡± Mischievously, Victoria smiled at John. ¡°Ah, so Rayne¡¯s love is unrequited. No wonder she still hasn¡¯t seeded in getting a boyfriend yet.¡± Holding his camera firmly in his hands, he ignored Victoria and left without sparing her another nce. Awkwardly, Victoriamented, ¡°John can¡¯t stand even a little teasing, huh? He gets shy so easily. He can¡¯t just wait for Rayne to approach him in the future.¡± Staring at John¡¯s back, Christina spoke thoughtfully. ¡°Some people aren¡¯t good at expressing their inner thoughts. Just because he doesn¡¯t show it on his face doesn¡¯t mean he knows nothing. Instead of intervening in their rtionship, you should focus on your marriage with Sebastian.¡± Smiling from ear to ear, Hera added, ¡°Ms. Steele is right. Please grant me the experience of being a bridesmaid before I go into seclusion.¡± Exasperated, Victoria stomped her foot. ¡°Argh, stop teasing me, or I won¡¯t be talking to you guys anymore! How annoying¡± Hastily, Hera put an arm around Victoria¡¯s shoulder and tried to appease her. ¡°All right, all right, we won¡¯t make fun of you anymore. It¡¯s been a tiring day for you, so don¡¯t lose your temper, okay? Let¡¯s head to the restaurant.¡± Christina chimed in, ¡°To celebrate the sess of our event, feel free to order whatever you want to eat. It¡¯ll be my treat, all right?¡± Victoria beamed instantly and took her friends¡¯ hands before the three women headed out happily. The restaurant they visited was located next to Global Shopping Center. As Victoria and Hera were famous figures, Christina booked the entire ce to prevent people from disturbing them. ¡°I booked a table at your restaurant an hour ago with my phone. Yet, you¡¯re telling me now that I didn¡¯t receive a notification because of your oversight? Do you really think apologies can solve this problem? How are you all nning topensate me for my wasted time?¡± A familiar voice rang out. When the trio heard that, they simultaneously turned in the direction of the voice and saw Mnie. From N?velDrama.Org. The instant Victoria spotted Mnie, she rose from her seat and approached thetter as though she was a cat who encountered a mouse. ¡°Victoria¡­¡± Hera couldn¡¯t stop Victoria in time. To ensure Victoria wouldn¡¯t cause amotion, Christina and Hera followed her. Victoria pushed the restaurant manager aside, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and stared at Mnie provocatively. ¡°I was the one who booked the entire Chapter 755 Surprise Chapter 755 Surprise Dmmit! Why is it Victoria again? What an unlucky day! I can¡¯t believe I have to deal with the same nuisance twice in a row! Mnie red at Victoria. Seeing Mnie standing perfectly still like a log. Victoria shoved the former¡¯s shoulder and snapped, ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question. Are you deaf?¡± Furiously, Mnie brushed the spot on her shoulder where Victoria just touched and red at thetter with disdain. ¡°You don¡¯t own this restaurant, so what right do you have to obstruct me from demanding compensation, huh? Don¡¯t you think you should mind your own business, Ms. Lesley?¡± In response, Victoria stuffed a bank card into the manager¡¯s suit pocket. ¡°I¡¯m buying this restaurant.¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets as she opened her mouth in shock. Humiliated and exasperated, she eximed, ¡°You¡¯re insane! Do you think just because you¡¯re rich that- Without warning, Victoria gave Mnie a hard and ruthless p across the face, which startled everyone. Shaking her painful hand, she produced a fewrge banknotes from her wallet and hurled them at Mnie¡¯s face haughtily. ¡°This is thepensation for your injury and the restaurant¡¯s failure to notify the cancetion of your booking. Also, you should use the money to get a doctor to tighten the loose screw in your head. You should know who you shouldn¡¯t offend and what you shouldn¡¯t say.¡± Mnie was livid, for she had never been humiliated to that extent before. ¡°You¡¯re such a bully, Victoria! I¡¯m going to beat you up!¡± In response, Victoria rolled up her sleeve. ¡°Bring it on, then! Today, I¡¯ll pummel you until you kneel before me and admit defeat!¡± She couldn¡¯t care less about her image when she finally had the chance to take revenge on Mnie for destroying her masterpiece. ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly, Victoria.¡± Christina and Hera held Victoria back while the restaurant manager and employees blocked Mnie¡¯s path. The scene became noisy and chaotic as everyone tried to calm the two angry women down. ¡°She was asking for a beating, Christina!¡± Victoria gritted her teeth. ¡°If I don¡¯t teach her a lesson today, she¡¯ll piss on our heads one day!¡± ¡°You were the one who was being unreasonable, Victoria! You don¡¯t have the right to nder me!¡± Mnie¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot out of anger as she looked at Christina and said mockingly, ¡°Don¡¯t you know? You treated your beloved junior sincerely, yet she helped your nemesis, Emilia, escape behind your back.¡± Taken aback, Christina nced at Victoria. Thetter panicked and averted her line of sight before glowering at Mnie. ¡°I¡¯m going to tear your face into pieces if you continue spouting nonsense!¡± Breaking free from the employees¡¯ grasp, Mnie tidied her shirt and sneered, ¡°I¡¯m not. She¡¯ll know it¡¯s true once she investigates the matter. I¡¯ll consider myself unlucky and let the matter slide today, but I won¡¯t let you off that easily next time!¡± She left after shooting Victoria onest re Bewildered, the restaurant manager held Victoria¡¯s bank card and asked, ¡°Are you still buying the restaurant, Ms. Lesley?¡± Silently, Christina returned to her seat. Victoria couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with the manager and simply said, ¡°Yes. Just swipe the card, and don¡¯t bother me.¡± Hera was puzzled, for she didn¡¯t know who Emilia was or what was the story behind it all. Christina perused the menu expressionlessly in her seat. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. Let¡¯s order some food.¡± Victoria wanted to say something but decided against it in the end. Just like that, the three women finished the meal with their minds upied by each of their own thoughts. Hera could sense something was going on between Victoria and Christina. As an outsider, she didn¡¯t feel it was appropriate to stick her nose into their affair. Hence, she came up with an excuse and left after dinner. Afterward, Victoria drove Christina back to Scenic Garden Manor. On the way back, Christina didn¡¯t ask Victoria any questions, which made thetter on edge. Finally, when the vehicle pulled into the courtyard of Scenic Garden Manor, she couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything you want to ask me, Christina?¡± asked Victoria as she locked the car and faced Christina. Christina raised her eyes. ¡°I do, but I¡¯m waiting for you to tell me about it.¡± I thought about it for a long while. While I hesitated whether to believe Mnie¡¯s words, Victoria¡¯s behavior just now told me everything I needed to know. ¡°Mnie was telling the truth. Emilia met me some time ago. She demanded I create a fake identity for her and send her overseas safely. She had dirt on me. Lewd pictures of me with someone else at a gathering back when I was studying overseas.¡± A sigh escaped Victoria¡¯s lips. ¡°If I had rejected her request, she would¡¯ve posted the pictures online. I wasn¡¯t afraid of it happening, but back then, my rtionship with Sebastian had just stabilized. I¡­ was afraid he¡¯d look at me differently if he saw those photos.¡± Her eyes reddened as she spoke while choking back tears. ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t have done that or hid the truth from you, but I had no other choice, Christina. I can¡¯t lose Sebastian.¡° Humans had a selfish nature. No matter how strong the bond between Christina and Victoria was, the latter still couldn¡¯t sacrifice her happiness for Christina¡¯s sake. Coldly, Christina questioned, ¡°If Mnie didn¡¯t bring up this matter, were you nning to hide it from me for the rest of your life!¡± Victoria nodded before quickly shaking her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina. I didn¡¯t want to.¡± Christina remainedpletely silent as Victoria¡¯s sorrowful sobs echoed in the car. A whileter, Christina said, ¡°What else did Emilia ask you to do?¡± Victoria blinked guiltily, pursing her lips as she hesitated to speak the truth. Christina pushed the car door and demanded. ¡°Unlock the door!¡± Panicking, Victoria seized her senior¡¯s arm. Tll tell you Christina! Don¡¯t get angry ring at Victoria, Christina warned, ¡°If you lie to me again, our friendship ends here /? my further Iv Paling Victoria wred Emilia already knows that Winston possesses the evidence from yours ago. ¡°How dare you disclose that information to Emilia!¡± Christina¡¯s chest ached from anger as she panted heavily. Pain was also radiating from her abdomen. Victoria submissively epted Christina¡¯s admonishment. ¡°I don¡¯t know what method she used to obtain it. By the time I learned of the news, she already had it.¡± Christina¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Even then, you didn¡¯t reveal the matter to me. You even created a fake identity for her and sent her out of the country to lie low!¡± Victoria nodded and repeated, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.. Wearily, Christina closed her eyes. When she opened them again, a frosty look was swirling within. ¡°I¡¯m so disappointed in you, Victoria.¡± Victoria clenched her fists. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Christina!¡± Sighing, Christina waved her hand. ¡°Forget about it. I don¡¯t me you. After all, we¡¯re just friends. You don¡¯t need to sacrifice your happiness for my sake.¡± ¡°Your choice isn¡¯t incorrect, Victoria,¡± she stated softly. ¡°Unlock the door.¡± While Victoria wished to exin further, Christina¡¯s cold attitude made her feel ashamed. Hastily, she unlocked the door and watched Christina leave with teary eyes. In a daze, Christina entered the mansion. Suddenly, Raymond rushed toward her with a grim expression. ¡°Mr. Hadley is injured, Mrs. Hadley. He¡¯s resting upstairs. You should go and take a look.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Chapter 756 War Chapter 756 War Christina didn¡¯t bother to ask how he got hurt as she rushed upstairs. The family doctor was treating Nathaniel¡¯s abdominal wound while the man was in aa. A thick stench of blood was present in the air inside the bedroom. It wasn¡¯t until Christina approached Nathaniel that she realized how severe his wounds were. There was a long gash stretching from his waist to his shoulder de. The white bed quilt had been drenched in blood. Additionally, there were multiple injuries of varying severity all over his body, but they weren¡¯t lethal. A chill was sent down Christina¡¯s spine as she watched the family doctor tend to her husband. She felt as though a giant rock was weighing on her chest, causing her to experience a suffocating sense of panic. After Sebastian had his wounds treated, he rushed over to the bedroom and noticed Christina¡¯s pallid countenance. Swiftly, he suggested, ¡°The stench of blood here is too strong, Mrs. Hadley. It might affect the baby. How about you wait in the neighboring room? I¡¯ll let you know when the doctor is done.¡± Knowing that she couldn¡¯t be of any help even if she stuck around, Christina nodded and trudged out of the bedroom. As she supported herself by pressing a hand on the wall, she took in a deep breath. Worried, Sebastian asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± She nodded. Momentster, she calmed herself down and turned to Sebastian. He¡¯s also gravely injured, but his wounds aren¡¯t as rming as Nathaniel¡¯s. ¡°What happened?¡± questioned Christina. ¡°ording to today¡¯s schedule, Mr. Hadley was supposed to have a business meeting at a port. Even though the journey was kept a secret, we were ambushed halfway there.¡± Rage burned in Sebastian¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°Whoever they were, they came prepared. Mr. Hadley was shed in order to protect me.¡± Christina asked solemnly, ¡°What kind of business meeting was he supposed to attend?¡± I have a feeling what it may be since the Hadley family has businesses in various industries, and some of them can only be developed Overseas Hesitantly, Sebastian informed, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ rted to firearms.¡± ¡°Have you investigated who¡¯s behind the assault?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Sheridan.¡± A grave expression settled on Sebastian¡¯s face. ¡°After all, he¡¯s Mr. Hadley¡¯s only mighty competitor in this industry. Mr. Stone also wants to make a profit, but his family¡¯s reputation has taken a diptely. Furthermore, Old Mr. Stone had openly acknowledged and epted his illegitimate child recently. Hence, the arms dealer thought Mr. Stone¡¯s position as the head of the family might be jeopardized. To avoid unnecessary and unforeseen risks, the arms dealer chose to coborate with Mr. Hadley. More importantly, after the Hadley family and the Stone family had a public falling-out, the Hadley family stole many projects from under the Stone family. Mr. Stone wouldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing. After all, if he could get his hands on that firearm business, he¡¯d likely have enough funds to prevent Stone Group¡¯s capital chain rupture¡± Sheridan! I underestimated how ruthless that man could be. However, Christina was so worried about Nathaniel¡¯s injury at that moment that she didn¡¯t have the extra energy to deal with Sheridan. She asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send Nathaniel to the hospital?¡± ¡°Mr. Hadley told us not to. The arms dealer is an entric man. He never conducts business with people who get involved with trouble easily. If news of Mr. Hadley¡¯s ambush is leaked, Mr. Stone will be the one who reaps the benefits in the end,¡± answered Sebastian. There¡¯s no way we¡¯ll let other people mooch off our efforts when Mr. Hadley almost died for this business. Christina wasn¡¯t certain what that particr business meant to Nathaniel. Considering how much Nathaniel and Sebastian care about this matter, I bet it has something to do with the Hadley family¡¯s future. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. It was then the family doctor exited the bedroom. Christina hastily inquired, ¡°How¡¯s Nathaniel¡¯s condition, Dr. Moreau?¡± The family doctor, Gael Moreau replied grimly, ¡°Mr. Hadley¡¯s very lucky. While his injury was deep, it didn¡¯t harm his entrails. I performed emergency suturing on his wound, but I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s suffering from any other internal injury, so my suggestion is that he should be sent to the hospital quickly. He needs to receive a detailed examination as soon as possible to avoid missing out on the golden treatment period.¡± In response, Christina nced at Nathaniel. ¡°With your skills, will you be able to ensure Nathaniel¡¯s safety if I prepareplete medical equipment for you, Dr. Moreau?¡± As the Hadley family¡¯s private doctor, Gael was aware of how wealthy they were, Hence, he wasn¡¯t surprised when Christina proposed spending tens of millions to set up an infirmary for Nathaniel. ¡°I can¡¯t, but my medical team can,¡± he answered confidently. Upon receiving the answer she wanted, Christina initiated the preparation. ¡°Please help set up an infirmary within an hour, Sebastian. Money won¡¯t be a problem. What¡¯s important is that we mustn¡¯t waste any time.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Sebastian promptly called someone on the phone. An hourter, medical equipment worth tens of millions was transferred into Scenic Garden Manor. Gael¡¯s medical team was in position, and Nathaniel was sent to the infirmary for a detailed examination. Christina kept herself busy while waiting. ¡°You should return home and rest, Mr. Taggart. I¡¯ll handle everything else.¡± Sebastian¡¯s injured in the ambush, too, I need to consider the bigger picture. However, Sebastian refused to leave. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I want to stay here and lend you a hand.¡± ¡°Victoria¡¯s feeling blue right now. You should keep herpany.¡± Sebastian¡¯s expression instantly changed when he heard that. He asked anxiously. ¡°Was the event today unsessful?¡± Christina gazed at him for a long while before answering. ¡°It was, thanks to Victoria¡¯s help. The studio¡¯s reputation skyrocketed. She¡¯s feeling down because the rtionship between us is facing an issue. You¡¯ll understand everything once you see her. Go on, I don¡¯t need you for now.¡± I don¡¯t want to speak too much about the details with him. Tactfully, Sebastian refrained from asking questions. ¡°I¡¯ll take my leave now, then, Mrs. Hadley. If you need me, contact me anytime¡± Just as he turned toward the staircase, she abruptly reminded him, ¡°Remember who you work for before you make your decision, Sebastian¡± I¡¯m not trying to see discord between Victoria and Sebastian. I just don¡¯t want to see someone else get betrayed by a person they trust the most again. Sebastian has been loyal to Nathaniel for many years now, so he knows everyone¡¯s secret in the Hadley family. I need to ensure his loyalty toward Nathaniel. Sebastian didn¡¯t understand why Christina said that, but he still expressed his stance clearly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Hadley. I won¡¯t forget who I am or what Mr. Hadley did for me.¡± He bowed at her before leaving. Soon, Nathaniel¡¯s examination result was out. His life wasn¡¯t in any danger. Aside from the sh on his abdomen and a few other superficial wounds, he was considered healthy. Christina asked Raymond to prepare rooms for the medical team so it would be convenient for them to treat Nathaniel. After everything was done, Christina summoned Lyle to Scenic Garden Manor. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether Barnaby is rted to the case from fifteen years ago. What¡¯s important is that you need to help me make this spection into reality.¡± Chapter 757 Raining Cats And Dogs Chapter 757 Raining Cats And Dogs Lyle didn¡¯t understand what Christina meant, so he asked, ¡°Do you mean you want me to create rumors to cause Barnaby trouble and let him expose the truth by himself?¡± With a sinister expression, Christina dered, ¡°No. My goal is the Stone family. Sheridan attempted to take Mr. Hadley¡¯s life, so I¡¯ll destroy what they care about the most in return.¡± Onemonality between Barnaby and Sheridan is that they¡¯ll do anything to make the Stone family a business empire. It was only after thoroughly analyzing the cruel truth from fifteen years ago that I realize I¡¯ve overlooked the most essential part from the very beginning. The Hadley family¡¯s foundation is located in Jadeborough, and Hallsbay was only one of the locations where Charlie developed his business. Meanwhile, the Gibson family¡¯s greatestpetitor in Hallsbay isn¡¯t solely the Hadley family. There¡¯s also the Stone family, which is an equal match with the Gibson family. If we can turn the Gibson family and the Stone family against each other, the Hadley family will be the ultimate winner. As such, I began investigating the Stone family¡¯s development fifteen years ago. I discovered that after my parent¡¯s ident, Nigel took over Gibson Corporation and handed that project over to someone else. On the surface, it would appear Winston got lucky, but in reality, Barnaby was the one who took over that mess. It was because of that project the Stone family acquired a hefty profit. After that, they began expanding into other industries, which eventually led to their glorious state. When her train of thought ended there, Christina felt remorseful. If I had been more meticulous, perhaps I would¡¯ve saved myself a lot of trouble. ¡°I know what I should do now,¡± Lyle said. ¡°Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral has been prepared, and Mr. Gibson has received the news. He mentioned he¡¯ll let you decide the date.¡± Upon considering her next move, Christina informed, ¡°Tomorrow, then. Mrs. Lazuli is Nigel¡¯s mother. He shouldn¡¯t be kept in the dark about it. Ry what Yerek told the police to him. As for what he¡¯ll think, that¡¯s his matter to deal with.¡± If Nigel¡¯s smart, he¡¯ll guess why and how Mrs. Lazuli passed away. It¡¯ll be interesting to see Nigel and Yerek, father and son, turn against each other. Christina added solemnly, ¡°One more thing. I want you to locate Emilia¡¯s whereabouts as soon as possible and regain the evidence she stole from Winston. Those are important to me.¡± ¡°One way to aplish that in the shortest amount of time is to start with Yerek. They¡¯re working together, after all. If she¡¯s on the run, I bet she¡¯s still in contact with Yerek,¡± suggested Lyle. ¡°I don¡¯t care if Emilia¡¯s dead or alive as long as the evidence is brought to me,¡± shemanded frigidly. Emilia¡¯s purpose for taking those evidence is obvious, which is to threaten me with them at the right time. I¡¯m not afraid of that, but I¡¯m worried that the most useful evidence will be destroyed. If that happens, the efforts I¡¯ve invested into this affair will be for naught. They¡¯ve been living too carefreely for too many years. It¡¯s time for them to face the consequences of their wrongdoings! After Lyle left, Christina returned to the bedroom to look after Nathaniel. When she did, she saw Nathaniel sitting up, reaching for the ss of water on the bedside table. Hurriedly. she dashed toward him and lent him a hand. ¡°You should¡¯ve asked for help if you want to drink water What if you fall off the bed?¡± said Christina, worried. With a hoarse voice, Nathaniel replied. ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s just a minor injury. Besides, the fewer people who know about my wound, the better Sitting on the side of the bed, Christina spoke tearfully You almost lost your life! How could you say it¡¯s a minor injury? Do you know how worried I was about you?¡± Nathaniel couldn¡¯t be bothered to drink the water when he saw Christina¡¯s tears. Panicking, he consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Your mood will affect the baby.¡± Christina red at him. ¡°Then why did you make me worry?¡± Nathaniel said earnestly, ¡°I predicted something would happen today, but I didn¡¯t expect they would be so bold as to attempt to murder me.¡± ¡°Is that business really that important?¡± asked Christina softly. He hugged her and replied. ¡°I promise this will be thest time. I¡¯m no longer alone now. I have a wife, children, and my very own family. You and the kids are my most precious treasures.¡± In reality, he didn¡¯t need the money. His real aim was to teach Sheridan a lesson. Sheridan was nning to rely on that firearm deal to rise again, which was something Nathaniel would not allow. Nathaniel didn¡¯t want Christina to be embroiled in that matter, so he had been hiding the truth from her. Instead of beating around the bush, Christina cut to the chase. ¡°Sheridan¡¯s behind this. What are you nning to do? I¡¯ve already asked Lyle to spread the word about Barnaby¡¯s involvement in my parent¡¯s ident. Tomorrow is Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral, so the members of the Stone family will definitely be there. I won¡¯t let them leave without a hitch. If Barnaby doesn¡¯t attend the funeral, his reputation will be questioned, and the Stone family may suffer as well. Hence, there¡¯s no doubt he¡¯lle when his family¡¯s already in hot water. Moreover, I insisted on having the funeral held tomorrow, not because I¡¯m worried things would worsen if it¡¯s dragged out, but because tomorrow is Nigel¡¯s final hearing. Furrowing his brows, Nathaniel asked. ¡°You¡¯re going to deal with Barnaby?¡± Christina sneered, ¡°Oh, it won¡¯t be me.¡± Then, she whispered something to him, prompting him to smile affectionately. ¡°I won¡¯t stop you, but you must ensure your safety. Bring Lyle with you tomorrow. I¡¯ll arrange for a few skilled bodyguards to apany you as well. You aren¡¯t allowed to object to this.¡± She nodded. ¡°I promise.¡± The next morning, it was raining cats and dogs. From N?velDrama.Org. Despite that Azure¡¯s funeral proceeded as nned After Christina spread the word about Azure¡¯s death to Haday, the Gibson branch families rushed over to attend the funeral The cries of the Gibson family¡¯s rtives could be heard during the wake, Ironically, none of Azure¡¯s affluent friends annded the funeral. After all, she was as rich anymore after the decision of the Gibson family¡¯s assets Serrated by all the crying. Christina stood at the entrance to get some fresh air Momentster. Timahy speached her in wheekha ¡°Who walling for Christina?¡± There¡¯s s ¡°He was the first to ditch my mother after what happened to her. There¡¯s no way he¡¯lle,¡± said Timothy, snickering. Just because Timothy lived in rtive seclusion didn¡¯t mean he wasn¡¯t aware of the happenings in the outside world. At that moment, a ck car arrived at the entrance. Barnaby descended from the vehicle, grabbed a ck umbre from the driver, and trudged toward the two, The edges of Christina¡¯s lips curved upward mockingly. ¡°Look. It¡¯s Barnaby.¡± Chapter 758 Ugly Side Revealed Chapter 758 Ugly Side Revealed Barnaby¡¯s emergence gave Timothy a shock, but thetter¡¯s expression turned icy soon after. ¡°Father, why don¡¯t you head over to the lounge next door to rest? Let me attend to Old Mr. Stone.¡± Christina proposed, worried about her father¡¯s health. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Timothy replied before wheeling himself toward the next room. Barnaby shot Timothy a grim look when thetter left. From the way he left without even bothering to greet Barnaby, it was clear how much he disliked the latter. While gripping his umbre, Barnaby walked up to Christina, his stern, ck suit making him look more menacing. ¡°I¡¯ve been told today is her funeral, Mrs. Hadley, so I¡¯m here to give her a final sendoff.¡± ¡°Who have youe to say your farewells as?¡± Christina asked without mincing her words. ¡°I heard that after she had passed on, not only did you refuse to make the necessary preparations, but you even spent a ton to suppress any news about her. Your actions have only proven one thing: you¡¯re trying your hardest to sever all rtions with Mrs. Lazuli. If that¡¯s the case, why have youe to send her off? That¡¯s just incredibly pretentious.¡± The atmosphere grew awkward as Christina called Barnaby out on his act. If he could, he wouldn¡¯t even have shown up. Unfortunately, he had previously made the wrong decision of going against Sheridan¡¯s words and bringing Azure to a public event, thus disclosing their rtionship. Now, everyone knew that Azure was his first love as well as the woman he was about to take as his second wife. Even if they didn¡¯t have a marriage certificate, that didn¡¯t stop others from referring to Azure as Old Mrs. Stone. After much deliberation, Barnaby eventually came anyway. Although he had now lost interest in Azure, they still used to have a past together. Hence, even though the woman had approached him with hidden intentions while she was alive, he now didn¡¯t wish to keep scores with a dead person. ¡°My rtionship with Azure can¡¯t be described in a few mere sentences, Mrs. Hadley,¡± Barnaby responded without a change in expression. ¡°Since today is her funeral, shouldn¡¯t we avoid disturbing her peace?¡± Christina raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re right. We shouldn¡¯t cause a scene at the mourning hall, so please leave. I don¡¯t think Mrs. Lazuli wants to see you.¡± ¡°You!¡± Barnaby red at her in exasperation. Yet, just as he was about to give her a lecture as an elder. several reporters showed up out of the blue, shutting him up effectively. It was unknown whether these reporters had been ordered to appear or were simply terrible at reading the room, but their cameras wouldn¡¯t stop clicking away at Barnaby. A female reporter stepped forward and held a microphone in front of him. ¡°Old Mr. Stone, rumors have it that you refused to prepare for Azure Lazuli¡¯s funeral because you wanted to protect your own reputation Why, then, have youe here today? Barnaby¡¯s driver immediately rushed over to chase the reporters away. ¡°Old Mr. Stone isn¡¯t epting any interviews, so please leave this instance!¡± With their dreams of snagging some precious scoop on the line, the reporters certainly weren¡¯t nning on leaving so easily. ¡°Have youe to attend the funeral just to feel better about yourself, Old Mr. Stone?¡± the same woman asked. As themotion here soon became louder than the sounds of wailing inside the funeral hall, Christina stood there like a bystander and watched the reporters attack Barnaby. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. In truth, she had arranged for the media to show up, especially that brazen female reporter, who was a well-known figure in the world of journalism. This woman had over a million fans online, and every news item she produced would always gain traction. Aware that remaining silent would only convince the reporters that he had a guilty conscience, Barnaby found his patience growing thin in the face of all these difficult questions. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± he roared, pping the female reporter¡¯s microphone, causing the woman to lose her bnce and fall to the ground. With that, Barnaby had sessfully sent himself to the top of the trending list online. All the reporters had captured the moment by the time he realized what he had done. ¡°Make them get rid of every picture and video they have,¡± he ordered his driver quietly. ¡°I won¡¯t forgive anyone who publicizes this incident!¡± s, the reporters turned and fled with their cameras immediately, and the driver was the only subordinate Barnaby brought with him today. There was no way the driver could take care of all those reporters alone. At this point, Barnaby couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay his respects to Azure anymore. All he wanted was to get even with Christina. ¡°Did you deliberately arrange for those reporters toe?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been getting a lot of media attentiontely. If you¡¯re using me of trying to bring you down, I have the right to use you of causing a scene at Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral,¡± Christina objected. ¡°Besides, those reporters might have followed you here from the start, considering that the venue for Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral was never made public.¡± With a few simple sentences, Christina had washed her hands of the matterpletely. Unable to produce any solid evidence that Christina was at fault, Barnaby could only swallow his anger. ¡°You¡¯d better hope I don¡¯t find out it was you, or I¡¯m going to demand an exnation from the Hadley family,¡± he scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t try to threaten me with the Hadley family,¡± Christina retaliated. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that I¡¯m their daughter-inw. Even if I¡¯m at fault, they¡¯ll still side with me. Comining to them isn¡¯t going to change anything.¡± Then, she added frostily, ¡°Or, you could expose me to the media-provided you have evidence. Otherwise, I can sue you for nder.¡± ¡°The nerve!¡± Livid, Barnaby turned to leave. Christina didn¡¯t stop him. Just as the elderly man arrived at the door, a ck car stopped right in front of him, and he was stunned to see the man alighting the vehicle. ¡°Winston? What are you doing here?¡± Christina was just as bemused. Why would this mane to Azure¡¯s funeral? Winston adjusted his ck suit before turning to Barnaby, ¡°I know your son personally, and his mother has passed away, so it¡¯s only natural I attend the funeral. Is there a problem with that, Old Mr. Stone?¡± he asked jeeringly. ¡°If I can¡¯t even enter the hall, what makes you think you can?¡± Barnaby responded grimly. Winston chuckled. ¡°You and I are definitely not the same. After all, I wouldn¡¯t try to cut ties with an old me after her death just to protect my own image. Heck, even I wouldn¡¯t let you set foot into the funeral hall if I were part of Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s family.¡± Barnaby had always looked down on Winston, believing that thetter wasn¡¯t worthy of speaking to him. Winston was aware of this, so he had intentionally timed his appearance while Barnaby was in a tough spot. He wanted to watch the old man rear his ugly side and make a fool of himself. ¡°Watch your mouth, Winston. If I could take you to great heights, I can bring you down the same way!¡± Chapter 759 Competition Of Three Chapter 759 Competition Of Three No matter how Barnaby kept his voice hushed, Christina managed to hear his every word. Remaining calm, Winston smiled and took a huge step toward Barnaby. ¡°You¡¯ve done your fair share of grumbling behind the backs of those who feed you, Barnaby. Why don¡¯t you reveal all the things you used to do back then? We can go down together. I¡¯m just a nobody, though. I¡¯m nothingpared to prestigious folk like you? Seeing the elderly man quiver with rage. Winston continued smugly, ¡°Nigel is a lost cause. Wouldn¡¯t it have been great if you chose me as your right-hand man instead of him? Too bad it¡¯s all in the past. I have my own establishment now, and I don¡¯t need anything from you.¡± Barnaby gritted his teeth. ¡°I can crush your littlepany with just my finger!¡± An insidious look shed in Winston¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s why you¡¯ve been secretly plotting against me ever since Nigel and I fell out and he went to jail. You convinced David to divide our assets and gave him all sorts of other ideas. Well, you got what you wanted. I nearly died by my own cousin¡¯s hands, and most of thepany¡¯s shares and funds belong to him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you get for being too greedy,¡± Barnaby taunted mercilessly. Winston lit a cigarette, took a puff, and blew out a cloud of smoke. Then, he smirked. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t intend to leave things the way they are anymore. I¡¯m a sore loser who can¡¯t handle seeing others doing better than me, and I have no qualms about getting even with you. I¡¯m going to come clean to the Gibson family and appeal for leniency.¡± Hisst few words hit Barnaby like a bomb, shattering thetter¡¯sposure. ¡°You¡¯ve gone mad, Winston!¡± The younger man smirked. ¡°What else can I do when I have nothing left?¡± Barnaby nced toward Christina warily before gripping Winston¡¯s wrist. ¡°Please remember where we are now. This isn¡¯t a ce for you to do whatever as you wish. Let¡¯s talk somewhere else.¡± Winston chuckled. ¡°A hundred million. Nothing more, nothing less. I¡¯ll do whatever you ask as long as you agree.¡± A hundred million was the exact amount David had robbed of him. Barnaby had instigated the affair, so it didn¡¯t seem like a stretch for Winston to reim what he had lost. The old man red at him. ¡°You¡¯re asking for the world!¡± A hundred million was about half of his worth. Winston was practically skinning him alive! In response, Winston retracted his hand andmented shamelessly. ¡°It¡¯s your choice. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m forcing you to hand over the money with a knife over your throat.¡± Then, his lips curled maliciously. ¡°It¡¯s about time. I¡¯d like to have a chat with Mrs. Hadley. We have quite a fewmon topics to discuss.¡± Barnaby gave in just as the former was about to leave. ¡°Let me think about it. Come with me for now. We can talk in detail.¡± Winston quirked his brows in satisfaction. ¡°Mrs. Hadley is watching us. I have to get in there and pay my respects to prevent her from feeling suspicious. Don¡¯t worry, though. My lips will stay sealed as long as I get my money.¡± Christina stood nearby watching as Barnaby reluctantly let Winston off. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you inside the car at the entrance. Don¡¯t take too long,¡± said the elderly man. With that, he strode away. Retracting his contemptuous gaze, Winston turned around and walked toward Christina, wearing a gentle expression. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Hadley. I¡¯m here to pay Mrs. Lazuli myst respects.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Labarge,¡± Christina replied cryptically. ¡°Are you well-acquainted with Old Mr. Stone?¡± Winston kept his answer vague. ¡°We¡¯ve worked together a few times, but we¡¯re not exactly close. I just so happened to bump into him today, so I thought I¡¯d say hi.¡± Christina said nothing more and let Winston in. She then dialed Lyle¡¯s number. ¡°Look into Winston Labarge and Barnaby¡¯s rtionship.¡± Meanwhile, Barnaby was seated inside his car when the door on the other side flew open, and someone sat next to him without any hesitation. ¡°Who are you?¡± Barnaby turned to the person cautiously. Emilia took off her cap and mask. ¡°It¡¯s me, Emilia. Do you still remember me?¡± She grinned at Barnaby, but there was no warmth in her eyes. ¡°So, it¡¯s you. What do you want for you to be sneaking up on me like this?¡± Barnaby asked disdainfully. He had met Emilia a few times before this and didn¡¯t have a good impression of her at all. What good coulde from a woman who relied on her looks to get by? Disregarding the insulting look in Barnaby¡¯s eyes, Emilia went straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten evidence from Winston.¡± Barnaby didn¡¯t know what evidence she was referring to, but hearing Winston¡¯s name had rms going off in his head. ¡°What evidence?¡± Emilia didn¡¯t answer him directly. ¡°Winston¡¯s going to hand this evidence over to Christina. I¡¯m sure it¡¯d be a huge deal for you if whatever you did fifteen years ago came to light.¡± Barnaby¡¯s expression turned grave as he realized Emilia¡¯s motive. ¡°How much do you want?¡± The woman¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°I don¡¯t want money. I want you to help me get rid of Christina.¡± Barnaby suspected that Emilia wasn¡¯t of sound mind. If I were capable of getting rid of her, I wouldn¡¯t have had to bow down to her all this time! Disposing of Christina was easy, but Nathaniel would surely never let him off. Still, Barnaby had to keep in mind the evidence Emilia possessed. ¡°What evidence is this? Show it to me.¡± The woman took out her phone and yed a recording of Barnaby and Nigel discussing how they could seize Gibson Corporation. The elderly man¡¯s face clouded over. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you managed to escape unscathed and put all the me on the Labarge cousins,¡± Emilia remarked. ¡°Think about your family when in doubt, Old Mr. Stone. Sheridan is your pride and joy. Are you going to sit back and watch him fall to his doom?¡± Barnaby was infuriated. Why is everyone threatening me? Do they think I¡¯m a pushover? He gripped his cane so hard that he was about to break it, but upon careful consideration, he steeled himself and replied, ¡°Christina is the most important person to Nathaniel, and she has his support. You¡¯ll have to give me time to prepare.¡± Emilia beamed. ¡°Okay. I look forward to your good news.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. She then put her cap and mask back on before opening the door to get out. Barnaby turned to his driver in front. ¡°Get someone skilled to follow her. Take care of this matter without leaving any trace, and don¡¯t fall into her trap. Make sure to leave no loose ends.¡± The driver nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Then, Barnaby gazed at Winston, who was walking toward the vehicle. ¡°Bring him along too. It¡¯s less lonely having somepany on the road.¡± Harboring all his dreams of rising again, Winston happily opened the door to the car before him, completely oblivious to the catastrophe that would soon befall him. Chapter 760 A Promising Lead Chapter 760 A Promising Lead Despite their strained rtionship, Christina ensured Azure¡¯s dignity was upheld by organizing a solemn funeral. She left no opportunity for criticism from the distant rtives of the Gibson family, who might seek to find fault in her actions. After the funeral, those rtives departed in disappointment, realizing that they could not extract any additional benefits from Christina and Timothy. Christina then sent Timothy home. Before leaving, Timothy held her hand and said in a serious tone, ¡°It¡¯s been a tiring day for you, Christina. Thank you for everything you did. Go ahead and do whatever you desire. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Not only did he regain control of Gibson Corporation, but he also got his daughter back. Though the truth from fifteen years ago remained undisclosed, he was already satisfied with what he had and did not dare to ask for more. Christina sped Timothy¡¯s slender hand and offered him a warm smile. ¡°Thank you for your understanding. The promise I made to you will soon be realized. Just have faith and wait for the good news. Timothy bobbed his head in response. ¡°You should go home now. Take care of yourself.¡± After bidding Timothy farewell, Christina got into a car and went to the hospital. After getting off the car, Lyle walked up to Christina and whispered, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯ve uncovered the rtionship between Old Mr. Stone and Winston.¡± Christina calmly stepped into the elevator and said, ¡°Tell me more.¡± With no one around, Lyle felt relieved and no longer spoke cautiously. ¡°Old Mr. Stone was Winston¡¯s business partner during his early entrepreneurial days fifteen years ago. Back then, the Stone family was heavily involved in real estate development along the coast. To gain favor with Old Mr. Stone, Winston intentionally sold construction materials to the Stone Group at remarkably low prices. However, coincidentally, the Stone Group failed to secure a bid for a coastal development project. This oue created the perception that the Gibsons and the Hadleys had conspired to oppress and defeat Stone Group. Christina pondered, recalling information about the development of Stone Group. Confused, she asked, ¡°Is Nigel aware of the friendship between Old Mr. Stone and Winston?¡± Lyle responded, ¡°No, Nigel has no knowledge of that. Even Yerek was kept in the dark about it. After Stone Group¡¯s failure to win the coastal project, their capability started to decline. In order to preserve what remained of thepany, Old Mr. Stone redirected their development ns overseas. His partnership with Winstonsted for less than half a month, and the funds used to procure those construction materials came from a personal ount. Eventually, those materials were sold to Nigel.¡± To seek confirmation, Christina asked with a hint of astonishment, ¡°So, the construction materials Nigel used to build the coastal mansions came from Barnaby?¡± Lyle confirmed with certainty. ¡°That¡¯s right. In fact, it was Winston who introduced Nigel to Old Mr. Stone. As they discussed, Lyle shared his spection openly. ¡°It¡¯s possible that Winston stumbled upon the knowledge that Nigel was Old Mr. Stone¡¯s illegitimate child. Then, he intentionally introduced Nigel to Old Mr. Stone, hoping to exploit the situation for his own gain.¡± Winston¡¯s ascent to sess wasrgely attributed to the support he received from Nigel. He also skillfully utilized the familial bond between Barnaby and Nigel to his advantage. As Nigel¡¯s influence and power grew, Winston reaped numerous benefits from their association. While Nigel may have regarded Winston as a tool, unbeknownst to him, Winston was merely using Nigel as a stepping stone. Christina knitted her brows as realization dawned upon her. In other words, after Nigel and Winston had a falling out, Barnaby found out about how Winston had secretly set Nigel up. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Infuriated, Barnaby decided to teach Winston a lesson on behalf of Nigel. Meanwhile, Winston, who was betrayed and left with nothing, harbored a desire for revenge. He intended to use the evidence he had kept from fifteen years ago to use Barnaby and Nigel of their actions. However, never in his wildest dreams did he anticipate that Emilia would be the one to steal the evidence from him. That exined the confrontation between Barnaby and Winston at the funeral today. In his desperation, would Winston use the evidence as leverage to threaten Barnaby and obtain advantages from him? The elevator doors opened, interrupting Christina¡¯s train of thought. She quickened her pace and walked out of the elevator. However, after taking a few steps forward, she suddenly turned around and looked at Lyle. ¡°Where¡¯s Winston?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate,¡± Lyle responded. He turned around, walked to a corner, and made a call to inquire about Winston¡¯s whereabouts. Meanwhile, Christina proceeded directly to Nathaniel¡¯s ward. Nathaniel was sitting on the bed, attending to work emails. When he saw Christina enter, he casually closed hisptop and set it aside on the nearby table. ¡°Did everything go smoothly today?¡± Nathaniel grasped her freezing red hands and ced them under the covers to warm them up. ¡°The funeral went smoothly,¡± Christina replied. ¡°Both Barnaby and Winston attended the session, but I didn¡¯t allow Barnaby to enter the memorial hall. The journalists I had arranged in advance performed well, and I believe we can make the Stone family a trending topic tonight without having to wait until tomorrow. ¡°That mediapany was specifically hired to serve the Hadley family. If you ever need their assistance again in the future, feel free to order them around.¡± Nathaniel lifted a corner of the nket and patted the empty space beside him, signaling for Christina to lie down next to him. The bed had ample space, easily amodating two people at once. Christina did not hesitate. She removed her shoes and socks and climbed up next to Nathaniel. Nathaniel adjusted the temperature in the ward, increased the warmth, and grabbed another nket to cover Christina¡¯s body. ¡°You¡¯ve had a busy day, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯re tired. Take a rest now, and I¡¯ll wake you up for dinnerter.¡± Christina¡¯s mind was racing with thoughts, leaving her wide awake. ¡°I don¡¯t feel sleepy at all. How about we have a chat?¡± Nathaniel was more than happy to do so. ¡°What would you like to talk about?¡± Christina shared the details of the unusual conversation she witnessed between Barnaby and Winston at the funeral with Nathaniel. Nathaniel¡¯s expression grew serious as he responded, ¡°Considering Barnaby¡¯s way of doing things, it seems Winston might be in for a rough time.¡± Just as Christina finished speaking, Lyle entered the room. He caught sight of Nathaniel and Christina cuddling, and his expression turned awkward as he stood hesitantly by the door, unsure of what to do. Nathaniel and Christina, on the other hand, appearedpletely at ease in each other¡¯spany. ¡°Lyle, have you found any information about Winston?¡± Christina took the initiative to ask him. Lyle walked further into the room. ¡°Yes, after leaving Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral, he got into Old Mr. Stone¡¯s car. ording to Winston¡¯s neighbor, he hasn¡¯t returned home since he left this morning, but he did hire some workers to clean up his ce. And there¡¯s one more thing. Emilia was spotted outside Mrs. Lazuli¡¯s funeral. Witnesses saw her getting out of Old Mr. Stone¡¯s car, and she has been missing ever since, just like Winston.¡± Upon hearing that, Christina could not help but imagine the worst-case scenario-Emilia and Winston might have encountered some unforeseen circumstances. ¡°We need to deploy more people to find out their whereabouts,¡± Christina said, her concern growing for the safety of the evidence they held. Lyle nodded and left to carry out the orders. As he left, Christina grew even more restless. Nathanielforted her. ¡°While we may have lost Winston and Emilia as our key leads, there are still other avenues we can explore. For example, Sheridan could be a promising lead that could lead us to a breakthrough.¡± Chapter 761 Scary Threat Chapter 761 Scary Threat Christina shot Nathaniel a confused look. Noticing her perplexity, he patiently exined, ¡°It¡¯s unlikely that Sheridan is oblivious to Barnaby¡¯s past. From the moment that he, along with the other members of the Stone family, opposed Barnaby¡¯s decision in acknowledging his illegitimate child, it was evident he was wary of Nigel¡¯s and Yerek¡¯s existence, assuming the father and son would snatch Stone Group like how they stole Gibson Corporation away.¡± Following that, Nathaniel threw out another piece of shocking news. ¡°Nigel¡¯s sentence and the failure of Yerek¡¯s businesses were probably Sheridan¡¯s doing, but he was good at fabricating lies and shifting the me. Hence, Mrs. Lazuli and Yerek believed we were behind it.¡± Christina still couldn¡¯t understand Sheridan¡¯s motive. ¡°If Sheridan is the mastermind, won¡¯t his actions be too risky if his goal is just to secure his benefit?¡± Nathaniel borated, ¡°Diamond cuts diamond. Don¡¯t underestimate a person¡¯s desire to win. While Sheridan may appear glorious in front of others, his days in the Stone family have been far from easy. Each member of the Stone family wants their child to seed as the head of the family, except for him. He¡¯s skating on thin ice in there. Naturally, he¡¯s pulling all the stops to seize the position for himself,¡± Nathaniel¡¯s input helped Christina understand Sheridan better. She realized Sheridan¡¯s current circumstances weren¡¯t that different from her past. They were both born into wealthy families, but the environment they grew up in was filled with obstacles and hardships. Only the wearer knew where the shoe pinched. ¡°How are you nning to retaliate against Sheridan after he set you up?¡± Christina suddenly gained an interest in Nathaniel¡¯s revenge n. Instead of telling her directly, he kept her in suspense. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after you wake up from your nap.¡± Christina wrapped her arms around his waist and pleaded, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep after you tell me, or else I can¡¯t sleep. Nathaniel persisted, ¡°Nope. You didn¡¯t take your nap on time today. Nothing is more important than y health ? N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Knowing that she could never persuade Nathaniel, Christina gave up. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep on the couch then.¡± Nathaniel pinned her down and said domineeringly. ¡°Sleep on the bed. It¡¯srge enough to fit both of us with extra space to spare. You don¡¯t have to worry about grazing my injuries.¡± Aware that she couldn¡¯t dissuade him, Christina scooched further toward the edge of the bed and held onto the edge of the nket. ¡°Stay with me then,¡± she implored. Nathaniel slowlyy down by her side and covered her eyes with hisrge palm. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay here, so go to sleep.¡± The nap was oddly peaceful. It was already eight in the evening when Christina woke up. After having dinner with Nathaniel in the ward, she proceeded to deal with work matters. Nathaniel didn¡¯t disturb her and immersed himself in his work, too. Christina couldn¡¯t spend the night at the hospital. As soon as she reached Scenic Garden Manor around ten at night, she got a call from Victoria. ¡°Christina, can youe over now to keep mepany?¡± Victoria was sobbing profusely. With a quivering voice, it took a while for her to get all the words out. ¡°S-Someone¡­ sent something to me. I¡¯m scared¡­ I can¡¯t reach Seb on his phone. Pleasee over. I have something important to tell you.¡± Christina immediately put on the coat she just removed and started walking toward the door. ¡°I¡¯ll head over there now. Shut all the doors and windows. Don¡¯t open the door for anyone, okay?¡± she assured Victoria. ¡°Okay. P-Pleasee quickly.¡± Weeping, Victoria gave Christina her address. Ending the call, Christina ordered Lyle, ¡°We¡¯re going to Victoria¡¯s mansion in the eastern suburb.¡± Lyle didn¡¯t ask any questions and drove to the eastern suburb. Each mansion in the neighborhood had distinct designs. The distance between each house was wide with a hill in between. When Christina arrived at Victoria¡¯s ce, she noticed the windows were smashed, the door was sprayed with red paint, and it was pitch ck inside. Lyle kicked the door down, and Christina rushed in. ¡°Victoria? Victoria! Where are you?¡± Lyle turned on all the lights in the house and saw the whole ce was a mess. The items on the shelves were either toppled or moved. Even the fridge in the kitchen was ransacked. Christina dashed up the stairs but didn¡¯t see anyone there. Based on the valuable items scattered on the floor, the intruder wasn¡¯t there for the luxury goods but something else. She and Lyle were searching the study when her expression suddenly turned grave upon noticing the half piece of bloody tongue in a box on the desk. Covering her mouth in horror, she retched as she held on to the bookshelf. Lyle hurriedly covered the bloody flesh with a document but identally knocked over something on the desk. The bookshelf on the side slowly slid open, and a figure lunged toward Lyle. The person was none other than Victoria, and she was shrieking, ¡°Go away! Get out!¡± Lyle caught the golf club that Victoria was swinging about to prevent it from hitting him. ¡°It¡¯s me, Victoria,¡± Christina called out in time. Hearing the familiar voice, the frightened Victoria calmed down, and her eyes finally regained focus. Turning her head in the direction of the voice, she ascertained it was Christina and tossed the golf club aside, leaping into thetter¡¯s arms. ¡°You¡¯re finally here, Christina!¡± Christina patted Victoria¡¯s back and let her cry it out. Once Victoria started to calm down, Christina said gently, ¡°It¡¯s too messy here, so let¡¯s talk in another room.¡± Victoria grasped onto Christina¡¯s coat tightly out of fear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go downstairs. Those people might still be there.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one else down there. Don¡¯t be scared. Lyle and I will protect you.¡± Victoria was traumatized by the incident, so Christina did her best tofort thetter. ¡°I¡¯m not lying, Victoria. They don¡¯t hold a candle to Lyle¡¯sbat skills.¡± Victoria nced at Lyle briefly before finally nodding. Taking Victoria¡¯s hand, Christina led her down the steps to the living room while Lyle checked the entire house thoroughly. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Lesley, the house is secured. I¡¯ll go and check the outer perimeter. You can talk here.¡± ¡°Be careful,¡± Christina advised. Once Lyle left, she offered, ¡°I¡¯ll get you a ss of water.¡± Victoria urgently grabbed the hem of Christina¡¯s shirt and shook her head fervently. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty. Christina. Just stay here with me.¡± Christina sighed and sat back down. ¡°You said someone sent you something on the phone earlier. Is it the thing in the box on the desk in the study?¡± Victoria nodded. ¡°Yeah. I kept my nose cleantely. I didn¡¯t even leave the house much. I don¡¯t know who I¡¯ve offended, but I¡¯ve checked the sender¡¯s details, and every piece of information listed on the parcel was fake.¡± Christina asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Sebastian? Why isn¡¯t he here with you?¡± I remember telling Sebastian to stay close to Victoria. ¡°Don¡¯t me Seb, Christina. This has nothing to do with him.¡± After a short pause, she added, ¡°Seb raced out of the house when he got a call an hour ago. He said he would be back soon, but a group of men began banging on the door the minute he left. I saw they had weapons on them, so I hid in the safe room in the study. From their conversation, I know they were looking for something. Victoria looked up at Christina and continued in a hoarse voice, ¡°Christina, Emilia is dead. The thing in the box¡­ belonged to her. Someone is warning me to keep my mouth shut.¡± Chapter 762 Resurrected Chapter 762 Resurrected Christina¡¯s first thought was that the deal between Victoria and Emilia had been exposed. ¡°Is there anyone else who knows about the deal you made with Emilia?¡± Christina asked. Victoria pondered over it seriously for a moment before shaking her head. Feeling at a loss, she replied, ¡°The only ones I told were you and Seb.¡± The next moment, realization dawned on her, and she eximed, ¡°It¡¯s Emilia. She must¡¯ve been the one who spilled the beans!¡± Christina could not help but feel like something was amiss. Casting a sharp gaze at Victoria, she asked solemnly. ¡°Victoria, be honest with me. Other than creating a fake identity for Emilia to go abroad and telling her where the evidence is, did you make any other deals with her?¡± Without hesitation, Victoria shook her head and replied, ¡°Nope. Christina, there¡¯s really nothing else. I¡¯m telling the truth.¡± As the matter concerned her safety, it would not make sense for Victoria to lie. If the anonymous sender¡¯s objective was to prevent the truth of what happened fifteen years ago from getting exposed by using Emilia¡¯s tragic end to warn Victoria, it was unlikely that Victoria was his first target, and neither would she be thest. Anyone who was linked to that piece of evidence from fifteen years ago or had seen the evidence was at risk of being killed! Who could that person be? Christina fell into deep thought and remained silent for a long time. While watching Christina silently, Victoria was also paying attention to her surroundings, as she was worried that someone would suddenly appear and assault her. ¡°Victoria, how can you be sure that Emilia is dead?¡± ¡°There was a letter in the box warning me to be careful with what I say if I don¡¯t want to end up dying a gruesome death like Emilia. Christina, I tried contacting Emilia, but her phone was switched off. Something bad must have happened to her.¡± Taking a pause, she continued, ¡°Emilia did show up at Azure¡¯s funeral yesterday, I saw her talking to Barnaby, but I¡¯m not sure what they spoke about. Emilia needs money, and Winston had gone bankrupt. Since she wouldn¡¯t be able to get anything from him, she would definitely try to get some from Barnaby by threatening him. After all, Barnaby was also involved in what happened fifteen years ago.¡± Victoria was filled with regret. Thinking back, she must have lost her mind to have made that deal with Emilia. She wouldn¡¯t be in the current mess if she had not done that. Victoria paced around in fear while dialing Sebastian¡¯s number repeatedly. However, none of the calls got through. Kneeling in front of Christina, she said, ¡°Christina, do you think something bad has happened to Seb? I tried asking around, but no one knows where he is. You must help me. I¡¯m begging you. I can¡¯t let anything bad happen to him.¡± Christina helped Victoria up and replied with a stern expression, ¡°Get up first. Sit down, and we can talk properly. I¡¯ll get angry if you kneel down again.¡± Upon hearing that, Victoria sat down on the couch obediently. She was so anxious that all colors had drained from her face. Just then, Lyle returned after inspecting the surroundings. The next moment, Sebastian walked into the room behind him. Victoria immediately sprung up from the couch and threw herself in Sebastian¡¯s arms. ¡°Seb, I wasn¡¯t able to reach you. I thought something bad has happened to you!¡± She burst into tears after saying that. Comforting the woman gently, Sebastian said, ¡°My phone was broken. Don¡¯t cry. Look, I¡¯m back safe and sound.¡± Victoria gradually stopped crying, but her arms were still tightly wrapped around Sebastian. Holding Victoria in his arms, Sebastian walked toward Christina and said with an apologetic smile, ¡°Lyle told me what happened. Mrs. Hadley, I¡¯m so sorry to have troubled you. Thanks for rushing over to check on Victoria.¡± ¡°No problem. Victoria is my junior. It¡¯s my responsibility to protect her when she¡¯s in danger,¡± Christina replied before continuing, ¡°By the way, Victoria mentioned that you left in a hurry after receiving a phone call. From what I know, Mr. Hadley didn¡¯t assign any tasks to you.¡± Nathaniel and Sebastian had gotten injured together, and Nathaniel was still recovering in the hospital. Naturally, Sebastian would not have any work to do at the office. The caller asked to meet me. If I reject, he will expose everything Victoria did previously when she was overseas.¡± Sebastian¡¯s expression darkened as he continued, ¡°I was surrounded when I reached the meeting ce at the agreed time. While trying to escape, my phone fell on the ground and was broken. That¡¯s why Victoria wasn¡¯t able to contact me.¡± Victoria felt extremely guilty when she heard that. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry that I¡¯ve dragged you into this mess. Sebastian smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. His aim was to lure me away so that they could attack you. I was too stupid to have fallen into their trap. I¡¯m so d that you managed to hide. Otherwise, they would have seeded in their scheme.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not stupid. I don¡¯t think so at all. Don¡¯t say that ever again,¡± Victoria said while hugging the man tightly. ¡°All right. I won¡¯t say such things anymore,¡± Sebastian agreed. Christina cleared her throat before saying, ¡°Now that Mr. Taggart is back, Lyle and I shall take our leave first. Since the other party did not find what they wanted, they might show up here again. You guys should find a new ce to stay. Let me know if you need any help.¡± Sebastian looked at Christina and replied gratefully, Thanks, Mrs. Hadley. Stay safe on your way back.¡± Christina and Lyle turned to leave. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. Seated in the back seat of the car, Christina was deep in thought when Lyle suddenly mmed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching stop. The woman was propelled forward and almost knocked her head against the headrest. ¡°Lyle, what¡¯s going on?¡± Christina looked up at Lyle while cing a hand on her stomach. ¡°Someone suddenly dashed in front of the car. Wait here for a while. I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Before Lyle could unbuckle his seatbelt, the person had already climbed up from the ground and was knocking on the rear car window. Christina turned to look and saw Emilia¡¯s face pressed up against the window. Her face was as pale and vicious as a ghost¡¯s under the illumination of the car¡¯s headlights. ¡°Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!¡± Emilia continued banging on the window desperately. Noticing Christina¡¯s indifference. she attempted to open the door. Worried that Christina might get frightened, Lyle got out of the car at once and tried to drag Emilia away However, Emilia continued making unintelligible noises and refused to let go of the car door handle. The next moment, Emilia broke free from Lyle¡¯s restraint. She immediately ran to the other side of the car and got in after opening the door. No matter how hard Lyle tried to drag her out of the car, the woman did not budge. She was clutching the car seat with all her strength while staring at Christina with a pleading look in her eyes as if she had something to say. Christina stopped Lyle and said, ¡°Let her go. I don¡¯t think she means any harm.¡± Lyle opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words when he saw Christina¡¯s intimidating gaze. Despite letting go of his grip on Emilia, he remained cautious, ready to attack at any time. Christina looked at Emilia and said, ¡°Since you have something to say, spit it out right now.¡± She had previously sent a few subordinates to find Emilia and was surprised that the woman had shown up on her own. ¡°Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!¡± Emilia opened her mouth wide and pointed to it. Only then did Christina notice that her tongue had been cut off. She took out a notepad and a pen from the stowagepartment in the rear and said, ¡°Write down what you want to tell me.¡± Reading Emilia¡¯s words carefully, Christina said, ¡°Sheridan had sent someone to cut off your tongue. Barnaby wants to kill you?¡± Chapter 763 Exploited Chapter 763 Exploited Emilia wrote: That¡¯s right. Barnaby wanted to snatch the evidence from my hands. I tried to use the evidence to ckmail him for money but ended up on his hit list instead. It was during my escape that I bumped into Sheridan. She was trembling as she wrote, causing the notebook to make a loud snapping sound with each stroke of her pen. She continued to write: Sheridan¡¯s appearance was no coincidence. He had been tracking both Barnaby and me. He feared the evidence in my possession and sought to eliminate me. It was he who severed my tongue, rendering me unable to speak. He also demanded that I surrender the evidence, but little did he know I had swallowed it beforehand. Taking advantage of his men¡¯s drunken state, I managed to kill them and escape. Christina, Sheridan will never spare anyone who knows about the existence of that evidence. What happened to Victoria and I was just the beginning. Only you can save us now. If you help me, I will surrender myself to the authorities. I¡¯ve had dealings with Winston and David, and I¡¯ve also cooperated with Yerek. I know all of their secrets, and I¡¯m willing to testify in court! It was evident that Emilia had reached a point of desperation. With nowhere else to go after her escape, she sought refuge with Victoria, only to discover that thetter was also embroiled in a series of troubles. In fact, the woman was in an even more dire situation than her. With no choice left, she had initially nned to find a ce to hide, but in her moments of despair, she unexpectedly caught sight of Christina emerging from Victoria¡¯s vi. At that moment, only one thought crossed her mind. I need to stay alive¡­ I must survive! Emilia noticed how Christina was staying silent, so she continued writing: Sheridan used that evidence to ckmail Nigel into doing his bidding. In fact, his seemingly innocent approach to you was nothing more than a calcted scheme! Sheridan is an incredibly ambitious man, and after being defeated by Nathaniel, he is desperate to make aeback. He wants to start by bringing down Gibson Corporation before gradually eroding Hadley Corporation¡¯s power. I swear, everything I¡¯ve told you tonight is true, and I would face a fate worse than death if I were to deceive you in any way. Compared to the woman¡¯s oath, Christina was more concerned about the whereabouts of that evidence. As such, she asked, ¡°So, where¡¯s that evidence now?¡± Emilia eagerly took out a sh drive and handed it to Christina before writing: I¡¯ve only nced through the contents, and I haven¡¯t tampered with anything. Christina, you¡¯ll help me, won¡¯t you? She added several question marks at the end of her sentence. ¡°I can save your life, but for now, the safest ce for you is the police station,¡± came Christina¡¯s reply. When she saw Emilia trembling at the mention of the police station, she added coldly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise to surrender yourself and testify in court? Well, it¡¯s not toote to change your mind now, but know that once you leave this ce, you may not live to see tomorrow. Emilia was well aware that once Sheridan had chosen his prey, escape would be a near- impossible feat. It was precisely this understanding thatpelled her to turn to Christina for help. She wrote: I¡¯ll turn myself in, but you must ensure my safety. ¡°Deal,¡± Christina agreed. After receiving the reassurance she needed, Emilia slumped in the chair, her strength drained. She covered her face and broke down into sobs, choked with emotion. Christina signaled for Lyle to get into the car. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital first and then make a stop at the police station.¡± Two hourster, the car pulled away from the hospital with Emilia curled up in a corner, no longer writing a single word. She gazed out at the bustling street outside, and her eyes gradually welled up with tears. I will never have the chance to see such a lively atmosphere after tonight. All that awaits me now is the impending T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. trial Just then, Lyle noticed that there were several cars trailing behind them. ¡°Mrs. Hadley, we¡¯re being followed.¡± Emilia jumped up from her seat in rm when she heard that, while Christina nced at her without showing any expression. A momentter, Christina¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Nathaniel. ¡°Christina, where are you right now?¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded slightly breathless. ¡°I¡¯m outside with Lyle, preparing to take Emilia to turn herself in,¡± Christina replied, her gaze fixed on the car¡¯s rearview mirror. ¡°Stop the car immediately and get out!¡± Nathaniel¡¯s voice grew anxious. ¡°Quickly! Someone tampered with your car. There¡­ there are explosives inside!¡± Because Nathaniel was practically yelling by the end of his sentence, the word ¡°explosives¡± rang loud and clear within the car, causing Lyle¡¯s face to pale. He mmed on the brakes, bringing the car to a halt in the middle of the road. ¡°Get out of the car!¡± Christina gave Emilia a push before turning around and opening the door. She all but leaped out when Lyle caught her midway, pulling her close. They had only taken a few steps when a deafening explosion erupted behind them. Christina turned her head instinctively, only to witness Emilia being consumed by the raging mes. Subsequently, an unidentified object flew toward her,nding with a resounding thud at her feet. I It¡¯s the sh drive! She reached out and clutched the sh drive tightly in her hand. Chaos ensued as screams filled the air. Lyle helped Christina to a seat by the flower bed, tending to her while making a phone call. Meanwhile, thetter was staring fixedly at the burning wreckage ahead, her heart feeling as though it was being squeezed tightly. After some time, the ring sound of police sirens and the wailing of ambnce vehicles echoed throughout the area. ¡°Christina Nathaniel¡¯s voice sounded in her ear. Christina raised her head dully, and she could vaguely make out the familiar figure towering in front of her. She opened her mouth. ¡°Nathaniel?¡± Nathaniel hugged her tightly and panted as he said, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s me. I¡¯vee to take you home.¡± He was on the verge of losing his sanity when he heard the sound of an explosioning from his phone carlier. ¡°Nathaniel!¡± Christina finally snapped back to her senses as she held on tightly to the man. ¡°You¡¯re safe now. Let¡¯s go home first. Lyle will stay behind to handle things,¡± Nathaniel said, gritting his teeth, enduring the pain of his wounds as he carried Christina toward the waiting car by the roadside. Back at Scenic Garden Manor, he instructed Raymond to bring a ss of warm water. He soon noticed that Christina¡¯s right hand was tightly clenched as if holding onto something. He ced the ss of water on the table and gently pried open her fingers, causing a blood-stained sh drive to roll out from her hand. Her palm was covered in blood, making it a distressing sight to behold. Without asking any questions, Nathaniel ced the sh drive on the table before turning around to fetch the first aid kit By the time he was done tending to Christina¡¯s wounds, the ss of water had already turned cold. He turned around and poured her a fresh ss of warm water. ¡°Have some water.¡± Nathaniel said as he ced the ss on her other hand. Christina shook her head, her gaze fixed on the man. Her voice wasced with despair when she said, ¡°Emilia¡¯s dead¡­ I promised her that I would protect her¡­ Before she died, she handed this to me. Nathaniel, she had taken the wrong path so many times, and this time she had finally made up her mind to start anew, but she will never have the chance again! ¡°Emilia gave you that item because she wanted you to put an end to all of this, Nathaniel said. ¡°The person who tampered with your car was Yerek. Not only were there explosives in your car, but he also nted a listening device.¡± A listening device? Christina was shocked to hear that. Even though she had slowly calmed down, this revtion still caused ripples of emotion to surge through her. A cold glint shed past Nathaniel¡¯s eyes as he exined. ¡°Yerek secretly installed it while you were at the hospital. Sheridan had been feeding information to him all along, cleverly using him as a pawn. Since Yerek was desperate for a chance to turn the tables, he decided to target both you and Emilia. However, they didn¡¯t anticipate that I had nted an informant by Sheridan¡¯s side. The person who lured Sebastian away from Victoria tonight was also Yerek.¡± Sheridan! It¡¯s always Sheridan! Christina clenched her fist. She had a determined look in her eyes when she said, ¡°Nathaniel. I¡¯m going to hand the evidence over to the police!¡± Chapter 764 Beyond Fortunate Chapter 764 Beyond Fortunate Christina wouldn¡¯t act ruthlessly like Sheridan, eliminating all potential threats around her by resorting to any possible means. ¡°The police wille to take your statement tomorrow, so you can hand over the evidence to them at that time. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to follow up on the rest. No matter what decision you make, I will support you unconditionally,¡± Nathaniel uttered gently. Upon hearing that, Christina couldn¡¯t help but tear up. ¡°Nathaniel, will you stay with me tomorrow!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He kissed the corner of her lips but abruptly copsed into her arms a secondter. Christina was frightened. She reached out to grope him around his waist and discovered her hand was covered with blood. ¡°Someone, hurry up and call a doctor!¡± How could I have forgotten that he was injured? Pandemonium reigned in Scenic Garden Manor. Christina stayed up all night to care for Nathaniel and only sumbed to drowsiness and drifted off to sleep at the edge of the bed as dawn approached. When she was woken up by Raymond, Nathaniel had yet to regain consciousness, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, two police officers are waiting for you in the living room downstairs,¡± Raymond said in a low voice. ¡°Please receive them well. I¡¯ll tidy up ande down shortly.¡± Christina hastily turned around and went into the walk-in closet to change into loungewear. Then, she quickly freshened up and hurried downstairs. The two police officers who came were familiar faces as they were also in charge of investigating Anya¡¯s case previously. C Christina exchanged some pleasantries with them before getting to the main topic. After taking her statement about the explosion that happened downtown yesterday, one of the older police officers said, ¡°After the explosion, we received an anonymous letter and a video at the police station. We¡¯ve identified the handwriting to be Emilia¡¯s, and she confessed to many criminal activities in the letter and the video, including testifying against Yerek The other police officer chimed in, ¡°After investigating, we found that Yerek was involved in the explosion. The police have initiated an arrest warrant for him. In the meantime, please try to stay home as much as possible.¡± Christina didn¡¯t expect Emilia to have that trick left up her sleeve. She handed the sh drive to the older police officer. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen the contents, but this is a critical piece of evidence. My only wish is for you to enforce thew impartially and deliver justice to me.¡± The old police officer exchanged nces with his partner. Then, he reached out and received the sh drive. ¡°Rest assured, Mrs. Hadley. The higher-ups are paying close attention to this case. We will give you a satisfactory answer in due course. We have to leave for now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Christina got up to see them out. After handing over the sh drive, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. At that moment, Raymond approached her and said, ¡°Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has woken up.¡± Christina put all her worries aside, turned around, and hastened upstairs. Over the next fortnight, Christina and Nathaniel were holed up in Scenic Garden Manor most of the time. Nathaniel recuperated while Christina was focused on resting for her pregnancy. Sebastian and Victoria came to visit Christina, but Nathaniel disdained them for interrupting his private moments with Christina. He chased them away with a grimace and gave Sebastian an extended paid leave. Christina had Lucas and Cam stay with them for a while, but the two kids always clung to Christina, wanting her to tuck them in every night. Feeling threatened, Nathaniel sent the children back to the Hadley residence under the pretext of Christina requiring rest. ¡°Why are you jealous of Lucas and Cam? They¡¯re just kids and are at the age where they need their parents¡¯ care andpany the most.¡± Christina red at Nathaniel in dissatisfaction. He was unfazed and continued peeling an orange for her. ¡°They¡¯re too boisterous. Once you¡¯ve given birth, we¡¯ll have plenty of time to live together. Besides, Mom and Dad won¡¯t feel lonely either with the kids staying over at their ce.¡± Christina couldn¡¯t refute him because of how justified his reasons were. Subsequently, the days passed by peacefully. Nheless, they also received some good news during that period. After the police received the sh drive from Christina and carried out a thorough investigation, they arrested Sheridan and Barnaby. Once the news was released, an uproar broke out on the inte instantaneously. Stone Group¡¯s share price plummeted continuously. Following the loss of their two key leaders, the fight for the heirship within the Stone family broke out, and in less than two weeks, the Stone family fell apart. The case from fifteen years ago was revisited for investigation, and the long-dyed truth was revealed, clearing the Hadley family¡¯s name and allowing Christina and Timothy to hold their heads high. Shortly after Sheridan and Barnaby were detained. Yerek was apprehended at Hallsbay. It turned out Yerek tried to join forces with the Gibson family¡¯s branches to target Gibson Corporation, which was currently under Christina¡¯s leadership. However, before he could execute his n, he was caught by the police, who had been keeping an eye on him. From N?velDrama.Org. After the scandal subsided, Gideon, considering thest remaining bit of father-daughter bond he had with Emilia, arranged her funeral. Anya had it worst. Upon learning that Anya was the one who killed Madison, the Taggarts sent their subordinates to desecrate Anya¡¯s grave overnight. Anya died in a car explosion, so Azure made a cenotaph for her. Since the Taggarts failed to find Anya¡¯s remains, they vented their frustration before returning begrudgingly. As Christina¡¯s pregnancy progressed, she put on more weight and rarely left the house. She entrusted her fashion studio to Rayne. Due to the great publicity attained through Victoria and Hera¡¯s fame, the studio¡¯s business skyrocketed. Meanwhile, Gibson Corporation was managed by Nathaniel. Sebastian officially took over the position of vice president for Hadley Corporation¡¯s overseas branch. As a result, Victoria frequently traveled abroad. Members of the Lesley family knew they couldn¡¯t separate the couple, so they started to ept that as the reality. After getting to know Sebastian better, the Lesley family members grew more content with him. In the end, they even took the initiative to urge the couple to get married as soon as possible. And so, Christina¡¯s leisure days came to an end as Victoria asked her to help with the wedding preparations. Needless to say, Christina was in charge ofing up with the designs for the wedding dress, while Hera was responsible for designing the jewelry, During that period, Christina began spending a lot of time hanging out with Hera, and only at that time did she realize Hera and Durkas were a couple. Sebastian and Victoria¡¯s grand wedding became a sensational topic in Jadeborough. At the same time, Christina also received an invitation to attend Gabrielle and Julian¡¯s engagement banquet. Five monthster, Christina gave birth to a healthy and adorable baby girl. Charlie and Julia were overjoyed, posting pictures of their three grandchildren on their Instagram ount every day. The baby shower to celebrate the newborn baby¡¯s birth was also done in the most magnificent manner. Lucas and Cam doted on the baby. Having learned most of Charlie and Julia¡¯s unting skills, the two kids often boasted about their cute little sister to their teachers and ssmates at school. Everyone in the Hadley family regarded the baby with utmost importance, especially Nathaniel. He couldn¡¯t decide on a satisfactory name for the baby even after the baby shower had ended. One day, Christina exited the nursery and walked past the study when she unintentionally caught sight of Nathaniel earnestly flipping through a thick dictionary. Papers filled with names suitable for the baby girl were scattered across the table and floor. She was fond of Nathaniel¡¯s serious mien whenever he was focused on something. Christina leaned against the door frame of the study, staring at him in amusement. Her thoughts drifted away, and past memories swirled in her mind like a film reel. Christina suddenly strode up to Nathaniel and hugged him tightly. The dictionary in his hand fell onto the floor with a thud. He didn¡¯t even have time to catch the book as he wrapped his arms around Christina out of reflex. She leaned close to his ear and uttered a heartfelt yet not-so-romantic confession, ¡°Nathaniel, I¡¯m beyond fortunate to be able to spend the rest of my life with you.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!