Ch. 101..110
Chapter 101
A gentle cool breeze blew through the window into the room but was quickly mitigated by the warmth
inside.
Christina was startled by the movement behind her and woke up. When she opened her eyes, she realized Nathaniel was hugging her tightly.
It seemed his grip was more aggressive today.
She rubbed her eyes and gently pushed him away. “Nathaniel, I need to get up.”
Christina’s gentle voice woke Nathaniel. He opened his eyes, revealing a hint of languidness.
He was in a good mood after having a well-rested sleep last night.
“I’m going back to the Hadley residence. I’m sure Mrs. Hadley wasn’t pleased when I didn’t return last night.”
Christina rolled off the bed and did a stretch. Her thin dress clung tightly to her body, revealing her slender and sexy figure as she raised her arms.
Nathaniel kept his gaze fixed on her until she entered the bathroom.
Shortly after, Christina came out of the bathroom, decked in black. She hurriedly headed downstairs and grabbed a few pieces of bread before leaving in a car.
Christina was long gone by the time Nathaniel changed his clothes and headed downstairs.
Without any hesitation, Nathaniel got in a car and asked the driver to take him to the Hadley
residence.
When Christina arrived at the Hadley residence, she saw Julia sitting in the living room, sipping coffee from an exquisite porcelain cup. She was like a jasmine flower in full blossom, exuding an air of elegance and gracefulness as she sipped the coffee brewed using coffee beans that were specially air-
flown in.
Christina approached her and said, “My apologies, Mis. Hadley. I wasn’t able to come back yesterday as I was working overtime at the office.”
Julia glanced at Christina calmly and replied, “I’ve seen the progress. Go ahead and carry on with your
work.”
Julia was pleased with how the gown was coming along, and hence, did not question Christina further about her absence last night.
Christina heaved a sigh of relief when she heard Julia reply.
She headed upstairs and continued with her work in the room, carefully fixing the eight embroidered jasmine flowers onto the gown. Along with some embroidered petals adorning the flowers, the overall design looked perfect.
As Christina looked at the gown she had painstakingly created, a satisfied smile appeared of her face. Next, she removed the thread soaked in the water infused with jasmine flowers and hung it on the
balcony. The thread could be used once it was dry.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
Christina answered, “Come in.”
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One of the Hadley family’s housekeepers entered. “M. Ada, Mrs. Hadley is asking to meet you in the backyard.”
“Did Mrs. Hadley mention what it’s about?” Christina asked curiously.
“No, she didn’t.”
Christina did not inquire further. She followed the housekeeper down the stairs and to the backyard.
There was a big swimming pool on the right side of the backyard. Julia was nowhere in sight, but Christina noticed another slender figure.
The housekeeper left without a word after bringing Christina to the poolside.
Madison had a hint of slyness in her eyes as both women exchanged hostile glances.
“You’re the one looking for me?” Christina questioned. She had already guessed the housekeeper was lying about Julia waiting for her in the backyard.
As Madison stared at Christina’s crystal clear eyes, she could not help but feel the similarity. “You’re Christina, aren’t you? If that’s not the case, why do you dare not take off the mask?”
Christina’s heart started beating faster. She did not want to engage with Madison, so she tried to brush her off. “I’ve no idea who you are talking about. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Are you feeling guilty, Christina? Watch as I tear off that pretentious mask of yours!”
With that, Madison pushed Christina, who had turned to walk away, into the swimming pool!
She has to remove the mask for sure once she gets wet. I’ll finally know if she’s indeed Christina!
Behind the mask, Christina’s eyes instantly widened in shock. She did not expect Madison to go to such extremes. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating as her body lost balance and fell toward the swimming pool.
At the last second, Christina grabbed Madison’s curly tresses, resulting in them falling in tandem.
Madison was smirking and feeling proud of her ingenious plan when she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her scalp.
The two simultaneously fell into the swimming pool with a loud splash.
Christina, who did not know how to swim, swallowed several mouthfuls of water. To make matters worse, her bulky mask interfered with her breathing
Soon, she started to encounter difficulties breathing.
Madison also took in a few mouthfuls of water after falling into the water unexpectedly. She noticed Christina struggling in the water and began to swim toward her. “You crazy woman! I shall see how you
can continue to act mysterious once I get that mask off!”
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Madison was certain that Ada and Christina were the same person. Hence, she was determined to expose her true identity in front of Julia.
She did not want to continue letting Christina gain brownie points from Julia by using the pretext of designing a gown.
Madison reached the struggling figure and was ecstatic when her hand touched the mask.
However, Christina’s limp body suddenly gained strength from nowhere, and she gave a powerful kick to Madison’s abdomen, sending the latter under the water in pain.
Christina had mustered all of her remaining strength to that kick. Her body subsequently went limp. and slowly sank to the bottom of the pool.
Who… Who can save me…
Christina could hardly breathe. It was as if her lungs were filled with water and about to burst anytime.
Her eyelids began to droop slowly. Amidst the blurriness, she saw a tall figure diving into the water.
The figure swam swiftly toward her and grabbed her just as she was about to pass out.
Meanwhile, Madison, who had swallowed several more mouthfuls of water, could distinctly recognize the figure as Nathaniel.
“Nathaniel, save me! Nathaniel…” Madison kept calling out feebly. She firmly believed that Nathaniel would not leave her behind.
But she was wrong.
She watched in shock as Nathaniel carried Christina and swam to the top without looking back.
A sharp pain bolted through Madison’s body as if she was being skinned alive. As she watched. Nathaniel’s retreating figure, her eyes widened in anger.
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably with rage. If one’s murderous expression could kill someone, Christina would be shredded into pieces by Madison at that moment.
Meanwhile, Julia and the housekeepers rushed over after hearing the commotion and were stunned by what they saw.
A soaking wet Mr. Hadley is carrying Ms. Ada in his arms? Did he jump into the water to save a female stranger? These were the thoughts that first came to everyone’s mind.
Before they could even react, they heard Madison’s dry for help in the pool.
Even though nobody had any idea what had happened, Helen immediately sent two housekeepers into
the pool to rescue Madison as saving her life was more important at the moment.
Nathaniel looked at Julia with a darkened expression and bloodshot eyes. “Please give me an explanation later.”
With that, he entered the house with Christina in his arms.
Julia was baffled by Nathaniel’s words. Is he mad at me because of a designer? This is ridiculous!
Boiling with rage, Julia turned to look at the drenched Madison with an ice-cold expression. “Shouldn’t you be explaining what’s going on here?”
Chapter 102
Madison shuddered as a gust of cold wind blew past.
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She wanted to expose Christina, but now that Christina was taken away by Nathaniel, Madison’s claims would be pointless since there weren’t any witnesses.
Moreover, Madison figured Julia must’ve guessed it too, but she couldn’t fathom why the latter didn’t take any action.
Under such circumstances, if Madison were to raise that issue, she might even risk getting herself labeled as a troublemaker.
“When I was chatting with Ms. Ada carlier, she lost her balance and fell. I panicked and jumped in after her. I’m sorry that I caused such a commotion.”
Tears welled up in Madison’s eyes. Her body was soaked, and the chilly winter wind blowing at her caused her to shiver in the cold.
Anyone who saw her in that pitiful state would sympathize with her, especially given her excellent relationship with Julia.
Bring Ms. Taggart back into the house so she can change into clean clothes.”
The housekeepers behind Julia immediately executed her orders after she spoke, stepping forward and helping Madison to enter the house.
Helen waited until they walked farther ahead before she approached and uttered in an undertone. “Mrs. Hadley, what should we do now?” Mr. Hadley mentioned he wanted an explanation. Does that mean Ms. Ada is closely acquainted with Mr. Hadley?
Julia’s doubts gradually cleared up, as if a thick fog in her mind had been lifted. She snorted and turned around to go back into the house.
Meanwhile, inside the guest room, Christina’s body was drenched. Her pale face shone under the lights, and the water on her long eyelashes glistened. She looked like a drowned kitten. If he had gone. to her rescue a little later, she would’ve been done for
Christina tensed up again when the sound of fabric getting torn up rang out.
She hurriedly covered her exposed shoulder and stared at him in utter shock. “What are you doing?” Why is he tearing my clothes like a thug without a word?
Nathaniel wore a sheer cold expression. If I hadn’t been worried and followed her earlier, the person lying in front of me now wouldn’t be alive anymore. Instead, I’d be facing a corpse.
He uttered sternly, “Changing your clothes.” Does she still plan to continue working in this soaked outfit?
With that, he resumed ripping up the black clothes wrapped around her body.
The crisp sound of clothes being torn apart reverberged. In just a few seconds, Christina’s garments were torn into pieces.
“All right! That’s enough! I’ll do the rest myself.” Christina covered her slender shoulders. A few droplets adorned her exquisite collarbones, and the remaining clothes clinging to her body vaguely
Nathaniel, who had intended to continue, hesitated. He caught his breath as he took in the sight of her fair skin.
“Hurry up and change.”
Christina blinked, thinking he was going to continue tearing up her clothes. When she regained her senses, she hastily grabbed some clean clothes and rushed into the bathroom.
Moments later, she changed into a clean outfit. When exiting the bathroom, she couldn’t help but sneeze. Falling into the water during such chilly weather is definitely more exciting than taking a walk in an icehouse.
Before she could steady herself, Nathaniel pulled her over and started blow-drying her hair. “We’re going back right away. If I let her stay here any longer, something is bound to go wrong.
Christina felt her heart sink. The design of the gown is almost done. Won’t all my effort be wasted if I walk away now? But Nathaniel has always been a willful person, and no one can change his mind. Not to mention, he’s still enraged at the moment.
Christina looked up and saw the expression on Nathaniel’s face. He was gazing at her as if she was caught up in the thick of the fray, and he was determined to rescue her from the predicament.
“I don’t want to leave… Achoo!” Even my body is betraying me.
Taking in her reddened nose, Nathaniel felt his heartache.
He said more firmly, “No. We’re leaving right away.”
Nathaniel no longer cared about falling out with his mother. He didn’t want Christina to suffer such grievances, having to live vigilantly every day and afraid of being caught.
Christina wasn’t wearing her mask, so her identity would be exposed if she stepped out of the room. like this. In that case, all my previous hard work will go to waste!
She was being dragged along like a baby panda. The next second, she tugged on Nathaniel’s arm and acted cute, uttering in a coy voice, “I don’t want to. I only have two more decorations left to complete my task. It’s not worth walking away now!”
Nathaniel stopped abruptly in his tracks.
He felt his heart melting as he listened to her sweet voice.
Noticing his gradually relaxing brows, she carefully observed how Nathaniel was susceptible to that approach. It’ll be easy once I know his weakness!
Christina continued to play up her coquettish charm, pressing her body against him. The height difference between the two was apparent, and when he looked down, he could appreciate even the slightest details of her delicate facial features.
“I promise you I can finish the whole collection in at most two days. After that, I’ll go back to Scenic Garden Manor and keep you company every day. What do you say?”
Nathaniel’s eyes gleamed. He clearly appeared to be more moved than before. She’ll keep me company
every day? Usually, Christina would rest at her grandmother’s house and only spend her weekends at Scenic Garden Manor at my insistence. She’s making me a promise to come back to Scenic Garden Manor every day and keep me company now. This seems like a pretty good deal, after all.
Nathaniel arched his right brow. “Really?”
Christina blinked her long eyelashes and pouted her rosy lips. “Of course. I promise, but can you let me stay here for now?”
Nathaniel’s brows twitched as he uttered coldly, “Fine
He agreed somewhat reluctantly as if being threatened by Christina.
“Darling, you’re amazing!” Christina jumped up in joy wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed
his cheek.
Nathaniel’s lips curved upward imperceptibly when he felt the tender sensation on his face. Lifting his hand, he patted her head. “Stay in the room. Let me handle the explanation.”
After saying that, he turned around and left, leaving Christina slightly puzzled. What is he planning to do?
Nathaniel opened the door and strode to the living room before sitting on the couch.
Julia seemed to be waiting for him as she immediately questioned her son, “What’s your relationship with Ms. Ada? Is she Christina?”
Julia was too familiar with her son’s personality. He would never be so anxious if it weren’t someone or something he cared about.
Hence, she was certain the woman inside the room must be Christina.
Wearing a poker face, he regarded his mother with a sharp gaze. “She’s Ada, the famous designer. She’s handling a few outfit designs for me and agreed she would take Christina as her apprentice after completing the job here.”
“So, you saved her because of Christina?” Julia frowned and pressed further.
He responded firmly and impassively, “Christina will participate in an international competition soon. Ada is responsible for guiding Christina, so quit making things difficult for her. If you push her too hard, I’ll take her away immediately.”
Chapter 103
Everything seemed to slow to a halt.
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It would still be believable if Nathaniel admitted that he had only taken Ada’s side for Christina.
“You would do all that for that brat?” Julia said disdainfully, her tone tinged with resentment.
Her resentment, however, was targeted at Christina.
Nathaniel crossed his arms as his handsome face revealed a cold, somber expression. “If you had accepted her in the first place, we wouldn’t need to have this conversation.”
Christina had only suffered in the Hadley residence for so long because of Julia. Nathaniel couldn’t be with her all the time, but he wanted to at least make sure she was safe.
Julia scoffed as if she had just heard a bad joke. “I’ll never accept her. Stop dreaming.”
Not even in her wildest dreams would she ever allow lowly little brat to marry into the Hadley family.
Nathaniel knew his mother’s stubbornness better than anyone and wasn’t planning on an argument. “I’ll come and pick Ms. Ada up in three days. I hope to see her unscathed.”
After that, he stood up and strode out calmly.
Sebastian hurriedly followed suit. The mother-son relationship that had barely been mended after so long had once returned to a standstill.
He wondered when Julia and Nathaniel could finally be on good terms again.
Meanwhile, Christina was blowing her mask dry in the room. Luckily, the voice changer was still working. If it had been broken, she wouldn’t have been able to continue even if Nathaniel didn’t stop
her.
She put on her disguise, which included a checkered shawl that practically swallowed up her petite figure.
Her mask sufficiently covered her slender face.
Christina walked downstairs and met eyes with Madison, who had just walked out of the guest room, freshly dressed. Their gazes sparked with animosity.
“Mrs. Hadley, as your guest, shouldn’t you give me an explanation as to why I was treated the way I was in your humble abode?”
The crowd fell silent and glanced at each other awkwardly at Ada’s words.
To them, the petite woman was a little strange, but she also seemed like someone who was easy to manipulate because of how sheltered she acted.
It was rather out of character for them to see her act so firmly.
Julia raised an eyebrow. She was somehow more interested in this demanding side of the petite lady. “Madison said you were the one who fell, and she simply wanted to help you. What further explanation could you possibly need?”
Madison felt like her heart was being held up by a single thread of fishing line. Even her heartbeat felt unstable. She had no idea that Ada would demand an explanation from her.
Christina looked down at Madison from the stairs. “You were the one who pushed me. I must say, Ms. Taggart, you’re as good at twisting the truth as you are at hiding it.”
“What did you say?” Madison was taken aback by her jab.
Is she calling me fake?
Christina wasn’t just going to let things go so easily. If she didn’t give Madison a proper warning this time, she knew she was about to have a hard time trying to design the clothes in peace.
Madison carefully plastered an expression of hurt and betrayal as tears began to form in her eyes. “You were the one who almost fell. I was just trying to help you! I can’t believe you thought I would hurt you. How could you blatantly lie like that?”
Blatant lie? Christina was finally beginning to see Madison for who she truly was.
She stepped closer to Madison. “You were the one who got the maid to lead me to the swimming pool. Sure, I won’t deny that you wanted to talk to me. I just didn’t expect that the talk would get interrupted. by you pushing me into the pool.”
Madison’s expression soured after she heard the woman’s words.
There was nothing she could do to deny it further as all Julia had to do was ask the maid about what happened.
“Enough! There will be no more talk about this,” Julia commanded sharply.
She already knew what was going on and was clearly just saving Madison’s face.
Madison knew when to step down and was more than aware that she would only embarrass herself by staying any longer. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hadley. It was all my fault for troubling you. I have somewhere else to be, so I’ll get going. I’ll come and visit you some other day.”
Julia nodded plainly.
Christina felt a subtle surge of joy in her heart as she watched Madison scamper away with her tail between her legs.
After eating such a big slice of humble pie, Madison wouldn’t be coming back for a long time.
After chasing Madison away, Christina switched her target to Julia. “Mrs. Hadley, you agreed to provide me with a quiet environment when I arrived.”
Julia’s expression hardened. “You have my word that no one will bother you while you’re working on your designs.”
“That’s all the reassurance I need.”
After that, Christina turned and walked back upstairs.
Once she closed the door, Christina threw herself back into her work. She checked through all the spools of thread and arranged them back into the bag once she made sure they were all dry:
She then took the second gown off of the mannequin and set up the template for the petals before starting to work on the embroidery for the dress.
It took a lot of patience and skill to embroider those jasmine flowers neatly.
However, to a designer like Christina, embroidery was one of the more outstanding skills in her
arsenal.
Her grandmother had personally taught her embroidery ever since she was young. Christina had even received a few awards for winning embroidery competitions when she was in school.
A few hours later, the basic outline of the petals were done.
Suddenly, her phone rang. It was Nathaniel who called to remind her about their dinner plans.
In the midst of her work, Christina had actually completely forgotten about it. She hung up the phone. and put the gown back on the mannequin before rushing out.
She spotted the black Bentley that usually drove her around parked outside in the driveway.
The driver handed her a gift bag. “This is from Mr. Hadley. He wants you to wear this later.”
Then, she rolled up the partition without another word.
The car pulled up in front of a five-star restaurant about an hour later.
Christina placed the mask inside the bag. She was dressed in a crisp white button-down blouse paired with a pink bodycon skirt that was offset by a white coat perched casually on her shoulders. Her silky raven hair fell like a waterfall down her back.
Her surroundings seemed to light up with her very presence the moment she stepped out of the car.
She walked toward the VIP room and almost bumped into Nathaniel. When their gazes met, Christina felt a strange sense of guilt,
Madison walked up to her and went in for a huge hug “Christina! I heard from Mr. Hadley that you’re really good at making connections during dinners like these. I’m going to make sure I learn from you today.”
Christina would have marveled at Madison’s kindness and friendliness had that conversation happened a few weeks ago.
Now, however, all she felt was that Madison was a big phony.
Her friendliness only showed in front of Nathaniel. When he wasn’t there, that was when her true self emerged. She was just like the evil stepmother in fairy tales.
Christina smiled flatly before slipping her arm around Nathaniel’s. “Let’s go.”
Nathaniel raised his chin slightly, impressed by her taking the initiative.
The two of them walked in, leaving Madison standing behind, shaking in anger,
She used to be the one who would show up with Nathaniel to events like these. Her heart felt like it was twisted into thousands of knots now that the woman next to him was no longer her.
Chapter 104
“Good evening, Mr. Hadley. Who’s this beauty you brought along today?” Charles Lowe piped up as soon as they walked in.
He was the CEO of Golden Peak Group.
In fact, all of the seats at the table were filled by a bunch of well-known CEOs. It was Christina’s first time seeing so many VIPs in one place.
It seemed like birds of a feather really did flock together.
“She’s my personal assistant,” Nathaniel said plainly. He wasn’t about to reveal Christina’s true identity.
The two of them sat down next to each other, and a waiter approached to fill their glasses. Madison, on the other hand, remained unnoticed when she walked in a couple of minutes after.
She used to be the center of attention whenever she walked into the room. Instead of teasing her, the men’s attention at the table was all fixated on Christina now.
Madison sat next to Christina and accidentally met eyes with a CEO sitting across from her.
After giving her a meaningful glance, he looked away.
Madison scoffed inwardly. She couldn’t wait to see how capable Christina was.
A few more CEOs came by in the pretense of toasting to Nathaniel, but in reality, they all just wanted. to get a closer look at the gorgeous woman sitting next to him.
“Only a lady this beautiful could manage to win Mr. Hadley’s heart over,” Charles said with a chuckle. His gaze, however, shone with a glimpse of malevolence.
Christina smiled gently. “Mr. Hadley prefers to go for substance instead. I’m honored that he picked my skillset over others.”
She had managed to shut down Charles’ jab in just two sentences. If he said anything else, he was going to seem like the petty one.
The other CEOs could tell that she wasn’t someone to be messed with. She was like a nightshade flower
– beautiful but deadly.
There were some other business partners who hadn’t personally met Nathaniel before, and all of them went up to toast him.
It wasn’t as bad while toasting the familiar people for Nathaniel because even though he had seen some of them before, he hadn’t cared enough to remember their names. So when he couldn’t address them properly, the situation became rather awkward.
Christina stood up and reminded Nathaniel of their names quietly next to him. “This is Mr. Wesley. He owns a company in the west of the city and worked with Hadley Corporation before.”
Then, she continued, “This one is Mr. Lachmann, and his company focuses on robotics. They also focus on new scientific discoveries. Since the Hadley Corporation has plans to branch out into that area in the future, we could plan for a meeting sometime soon.”
With Christina next to him, Nathaniel successfully evaded any awkwardness that could have taken place.
She had already learned about everyone who would attend the dinner from Sebastian beforehand in order to keep the atmosphere light and cheerful.
Madison was beginning to wonder if the woman next to Nathaniel was actually the Christina she knew.
From what she heard, Christina had never attended a dinner with so many VIPs. How come she knew to prepare so much?
Madison was beginning to feel like she had underestimated her.
After greeting everyone, Christina remained silent next to Nathaniel.”
”
All of the CEOs were smiling and seemed friendly, but their words were laced with thorns. If Nathaniel or Christina said a single wrong thing, it could possibly land them into more trouble than expected.
“Hadley Corporation really is making it big recently, huh? There’s still quite a bit left to be desired, though. I always say business isn’t just about the numbers. It requires decency, too,” the CEO of Riser Group said.
His name was Carter York, and he had once been up against Nathaniel for a piece of land which ended up going to Hadley Corporation for an extremely reasonable price.
He had held that grudge against Nathaniel ever since.
”
”
Carter obviously knew the consequences of starting trouble at a dinner like the one they were attending.
” 4
Everyone fell silent. Clearly, nobody wanted to get involved in their dirty laundry, so they all just
waited for the drama to unfold.
”
H
If Nathaniel retaliated, it would clearly be a hit to his reputation. If he didn’t say anything after getting humiliated like that. Carter would have reveled in getting the upper hand..
The silence was so thick one could cut it with a knifel
Suddenly, the door to the private room swung open, and a waiter walked in bearing a bottle of red wine.
He glanced at Nathaniel before exclaiming in shock, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Hadley?”
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Nathaniel responded mildly
Now that the waiter knew he was talking to Nathaniel, his voice shook slightly from excitement. “Well, of course, you wouldn’t remember someone like me. But I remember you. Specifically, I remember you for being so generous and building an affordable housing area in the middle of such an expensive city.
It’s one of the only reasons blue-collar workers like myself can afford to live here. You have no idea how grateful all of us are.”
Christina, who had been quiet the whole time, stood up with a gracious smile. “Giving back to the community is one of Mr. Hadley’s top priorities. Thank you so much for your appreciation”
The waiter continued to thank Nathaniel profusely even as he began to leave the room.
Carter, who had failed to embarrass Nathaniel, felt like he had ended up embarrassing himself instead.
He had already been extremely ticked off at the fact at Nathaniel had gotten his hands on the piece. of land. What pissed him off even more was how, instead of raising the prices of the houses there. Nathamel had lowered them instead.
That was what Carter was the angriest about.
If he showed it now, however, he would definitely be labeled as a heartless businessman.
The atmosphere began to warm up once again. Madison couldn’t find even a single thing to nitpick. about Christina’s performance, even when the dinner was over.
Christina helped a tipsy Nathaniel to the backseat of their car after walking out of the restaurant.
“Are you feeling all right?” she asked before turning to the driver. “Please take us back to Scenic Garden
Manor
The driver nodded in response and drove off. When Madison finally walked out, the road in front of her was empty.
Her thin lips quivered, and her heart felt like a chunk had been cut out of it. Even the wind seemed to be harsher as a cold breeze made her shiver.
The Maybach stopped at the gates of Scenic Garden Manor, and Christina helped Nathaniel get out of the car. However, his tall stature almost completely shadowed her small, slender figure.
The two of them stumbled down the driveway and into the house. After barely making it inside, Christina called out for some housekeepers. “Come over and help-”
The butler and a few housekeepers all began to approach them, but Nathaniel waved them. away with
disdain.
They looked at him in silent understanding.
By the time Christina had finished dabbing off the thin sheen of sweat on her forehead, the living room was empty. “That’s weird. Why didn’t they come to help?”
She was left to bring Nathaniel upstairs alone.
The two of them collapsed onto the bed once they entered the bedroom. The smell of liquor on Nathaniel’s clothes and skin mixed with his usual sandalwood scent, creating an intoxicating perfume that wafted past Christina’s nose.
She sat up and sighed helplessly at the sight of Nathaniel’s motionless body.
Only a CEO like himself could afford to get so drunk and still have people waiting on his every move.
She reached out to take off his suit jacket and reached out to help him unbutton some of the buttons on his shirt in an attempt to get rid of the smell of liquor and cigars.
The moment her hand landed on his shirt, he grabbed it tightly. The palm of his hand was warmer than usual, perhaps due to the alcohol he had consumed. His skin on hers felt like a candle’s flame gently heating up her hand.
After a quick turn of events, Christina was now face up on the bed as Nathaniel hovered over her. Her glossy eyes sparkled. “So you aren’t drunk?”
“Who said I was drunk?” Nathaniel said with a smirk, le just wanted to enjoy the feeling of Christina taking care of him.
“Since you’re perfectly fine, I’m going to go back to the Hadley residence,” Christina said huffily.
She reached out to push him away, but when her hands landed against his chest, she could feel his heart thudding loudly beneath his skin.
Chapter 105
Christina stared at Nathaniel’s frigid countenance, feeling as though her heart was forced to beat faster. with his.
Without warning, he grabbed her fair wrist, so slim that he only needed to apply a slight force to snap it. “Didn’t you agree you’ll sleep with me every day?”
Hesitation was apparent in her tone. “I did, but…”
“Then sleep” Nathaniel lay on the bed sideways and pulled Christina into his embrace.
Despite his muscular arms, he was gentle when he wrapped them around her body because he was worried he would accidentally hurt her.
It wasn’t until he felt her body temperature as he pressed her against his chest that he truly felt at ease.
As Christina was held tightly in his arms, she listened to his breathing. Eventually, her tense nerves
relaxed.
As her eyelids shut, she fell asleep.
The next morning, when she woke up, Nathaniel was already gone.
Moments later, she recalled she still needed to work. Hastily, she left the bed and rushed downstairs like a busy rabbit.
“The car is ready to set off, Mrs. Hadley,” the driver informed.
Christina nodded and entered the vehicle, where she saw a cup of hot milk and egg sitting in the empty space next to her.
The driver clarified, “Mr. Hadley knew you’d wake up late, so he specially prepared breakfast for you.”
As Christina sipped the milk, she felt a sense of warmth bubbling from within.
Half an hour later, the car arrived at Radiant Corporation.
After she arrived at the office using the elevator, she noticed that there were still a dozen minutes left until the morning meeting. Thus, she entered the pantry with a cup.
There, she bumped into Anna, who greeted her, “Hey, Ms. Steele. You’re here for coffee, too?”
“Why are you treating me like a stranger?” Christina smiled, knowing Anna was merely teasing her.
“The result will be announced next week. If I’m chosen, I’m definitely thanking you first.” Promptly. Anna delivered a cup of coffee to Christina.
The latter accepted it. “I’m already satisfied with the coffee you brewed.”
While they were chatting, Caroline entered the room and glanced at them with disdain.
The atmosphere instantly turned uncomfortable. Seeing that the morning meeting was about to begin, Christina exited the room.
Before she left work, she applied for leave with Gina think I’ll be able to complete the mission if I work from Friday tomorrow to Sunday.
Once Christina returned to her office, she wrapped up her task ahead of time. Then, after work, she entered a car in the parking lot. During her journey to the Hadley residence, she changed into appropriate clothing.
When she exited the vehicle, she was wearing all black and assuming the persona of Ada again.
Julia was in the backyard, so Christina didn’t meet her upon arriving at the residence.
Right after Christina entered the room, she began busying about as she hadn’t finished embroidering the rest of the jasmine yet.
The setting sun outside the window gradually submerged into the horizon as the stars decorated the sky. Eventually, the room was lit, and a shadow of her slim body was cast on the glossy floor.
It wasn’t until Christina’s phone rang at midnight that she shifted her attention away from her work to answer the call.
“What are you doing right now?” Nathaniel asked.
As Christina pressed the phone between her ear and shoulder, she spoke lazily. “I’m embroidering. You’re not sleeping yet?”
“Are you hungry?” Nathaniel’s voice was somewhat hoarse. His environment sounded quiet, so she assumed he was in his office.
Now that he mentioned it, I do feel pretty hungry. Although, if I tell him that, he’ll deliver supper to me. It wasn’t easy for me to remove Mrs. Hadley’s concern. If he comes here, my efforts will be for naught. When Christina’s train of thought ended there, she shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
“Oh?” Nathaniel slightly raised his voice as though he was questioning her. “Island Hotel recently released a new dish. They also sell desserts, like milk ice. Are you sure you don’t want any of them?”
As Christina listened, her hunger struck back.
She gulped. D*mn it. Why does he have to say all that? Now I’m really hungry.
Gritting her teeth, she told herself to resist the temptation. I won’t let him find an excuse to disturb my isolation plan.
As she pressed her hand on her abdomen, she spoke resolutely. “I’m really not hungry. You should rest early. I still need to finish my task. Bye.”
Christina wrapped up the conversation hurriedly as lough she was worried if she hesitated for a second longer, Nathaniel would deliver food to her door.
His countenance grew colder as he stared at his phone. It seems I’ve failed to convince her. I guess I’ll bring a chef to the Hadley residence tomorrow. There’s no way that glutton will be able to say no to delicious food.
Suddenly, he received a text message from Christina Don’t come to the Hadley residence and disturb my work for the next three days. I’ll return to Scenic Garden Manor once I complete my task during the weekend. If you aren’t busy, wait for me in the study during the afternoon. Love, Christina.
What? I can’t visit her for the next three days? What is this, a long-distance relationship? Nathaniel’s expression darkened.
When Sebastian entered the room, he noticed something was wrong with the atmosphere. Did I step into hell or what?
Then he noticed Nathaniel staring at the phone. Why does he appear so cold and gloomy? What text message is he reading?
“The driver is ready to take you home, Mr. Hadley,” informed Sebastian. Can we get off work already?
Upon placing his phone down, Nathaniel lifted his sight. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became oppressive. “I’m not returning. Bring me all the documents I need to take care of next week.”
A chill ran down Sebastian’s spine as he felt perplexed Didn’t he ask me to call for the driver? Why did he suddenly decide to work overtime?
“Yes, Mr. Hadley.” Still, he didn’t dare to waste any time. Promptly, he turned around, ready to leave the room. However, upon arriving at the entrance, he recalled something important. “Do you want me to send you the supper you ordered earlier, Mr. Hadley?”
Icily, Nathaniel replied. “No. You finish it.”
Sebastian was pleasantly surprised. After all, the food was prepared by five-star chefs. “Understood.” Then, he exited the room and closed the door.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel felt sullen that he couldn’t sleep with his cuddly lover for the next three nights.
That thought was enough to sweep away all of his drowsiness away.
He opened the files sitting at the side and read through them with full attention.
Back in the Hadley residence, the air inside the building felt much fresher after the morning breeze entered it.
Julia was in a pretty good mood. When she returned from her walk in the outer courtyard, she glanced at the second floor. “Has Ms. Ada been staying inside her room?”
Helen replied, “Ever since she returned yesterday, yes Even her meals were delivered to her by the housekeepers.”
In response, Julia nodded and rested in the living room. “Since she dislikes being bothered, we’ll just leave her be.”
Later on, she learned from the studio that Ada didn’t intentionally hide her identity. Instead, it was always Ada’s style to avoid making an appearance.
For the next two days, Christina remained in her room. She would only enter the guest room to rest and wash herself.
During the night, she stared at the third dress, which was nearing completion. I think I did a pretty good job! Tomorrow, I’ll be able to wrap things up.
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Christina woke up early in the morning, which was why she successfully finalized all the dresses before the afternoon.
Upon hearing that her long-awaited dresses had been completed, Julia beamed, which was rare. Together with Helen, they admired Christina’s handiwork.
Initially, when Julia picked three designs from five options, she did it to test Ada’s skills.
After seeing the three magnificent dresses, she regretted not asking Ada to make all five of them.
As sunlight landed on all three slim-fit dresses, they appeared flawless, whether in terms of their color coordination or exquisite craftsmanship.
The vividness of the jasmine was an excellent finishing touch.
”
“Wow. This is the best-looking dress I’ve ever seen, Mrs. Hadley. I think it’ll look great on you.” Helen was excited, like a child staring at a rare toy.
4 A satisfied grin settled on Julia’s often-composed countenance while she stared at the dresses like they
were treasures.
Even though Julia didn’t verbally express her liking for the dresses, Christina could still tell the former was pleased with them.
Closing her eyes, Helen stood next to the dresses and sniffed. Curiously, she asked. “Why does the dress smell like jasmine, Ms. Ada?” The cloth themselves don’t have any smell, and I doubt Ms. Ada sprayed some perfume on them since the fragrance doesn’t last long. The aroma is sweet and oddly refreshing.
Julia also found the fragrance refreshing.
“It’s thanks to the jasmines Mrs. Hadley asked the housekeeper to deliver me every day. Even though. they’ve wilted, they’re still capable of emitting a pleasint scent after I soaked them in warm water. After bathing the threads in that water, I added some special material into the mix, imbuing them with the aroma of jasmine. Then, I applied those threads to the dress. That’s why the dress has that smell.” explained Christina.
Upon listening to her explanation, Helen and Julia were thoroughly impressed by Ada’s talent.
“Now that I’ve handed these dresses to you, my task is completed. Hannah will take care of the rest.” As Christina spoke, she packed up her tools, preparing to leave.
Julia’s impression of the mysterious, masked woman improved after she spent some time with the latter. Swiftly, she shot a meaningful look at Helen.
Helen immediately understood her employer’s intention and proposed, “There’ll be a night banquet next week, Ms. Ada. If you have the time, feel free to participate with Mrs. Hadley. Ordinary folks aren’t allowed to join, as most attendants are prominent figures. However, your status will differ if you attend it with Mrs. Hadley. I bet plenty of socialites will be interested in wearing your dresses when the
time comes.”
In other words, she was saying Christina should accept Julia’s offer to widen her horizons.
Upon hearing that, Christina rejected the offer with a troubled look. “Actually, my schedule for these
two years is pretty full, so I won’t be accepting any new jobs for a while. Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Hadley.”
After she swiftly packed her things, she nodded at Julia and left.
Helen didn’t expect Christina to reject the proposal that straightforwardly.
Meanwhile, Julia didn’t mind, possibly because she had already gotten used to Christina’s indifference and because she was satisfied with the dresses.
Once Christina stepped out of the Hadley residence, she saw the driver waiting for her at the side of the entrance.
She entered the vehicle and returned to Scenic Garden Manor.
Upon entering the living room, she saw Raymond approaching her with a smile. “You’re back, Mrs. Hadley. I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare more dishes.” Mr. Hadley typically doesn’t eat a lot, so the dishes are usually only prepared for one person. However, if Mrs. Hadley is around, the table will be filled with food.
Christina grinned forcefully. Why does it sound like he’s saying I got a huge appetite?
When Raymond noticed the slight awkwardness on her face, he knew she had misunderstood him. Speedily, he explained, “It’s because Mr. Hadley’s appetite will improve if you join him for a meal.”
The edges of her lips curved upward with embarrassment. “I’ll head upstairs first.”
Once she reached the second floor, she tiptoed toward the study. The door was already opened. Just as she tried to sneak inside, she was surprised when someone exited the room.
“What the heck?” Widening her eyes, she dodged backward reflexively. She was stunned for two seconds before she realized who was standing before her.
Sebastian was wearing formal attire and giant bags under his eyes. He looked horrendously pale, like a refugee who hadn’t eaten anything for a week.
“What happened to you, Sebastian?” asked Christina,
Sebastian stared at Christina as if looking at his savior from a pit of despair. With a hoarse voice, he explained, “Mr. Hadley didn’t sleep or rest for three days. I had to help him organize the documents.”
Three days without rest? Did he stop sleeping since the nigh I returned to the Hadley residence? Even machines can’t withstand this level of physical exertion. If Sebastian works any longer, he’ll probably turn into a skeleton. Swiftly, Christina suggested, “You should return home to rest.”
With a folder still in his hand, Sebastian spoke hesitantly. “But I still haven’t…
“You have my permission to continue handling the rest of the documents tomorrow.”
Upon hearing that, he nodded enthusiastically as if he had just received the best news all year. “Then I’ll be heading out now. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
Then he scampered away.
Christina promptly entered the study. Even though the heater was turned on, the room still felt chilly.
A tall figure was sitting on the scarlet office chair. The sunlight landed on his body, outlining his subdued yet elegant vibe.
Nathaniel’s eyes were half-opened as he scanned the document on his desk. The armband he was wearing displayed just how muscular his right biceps were.
Upon hearing someone stepping into the room, he lifted his starry eyes.
“I heard you didn’t sleep for three days. Don’t you feel tired?” Christina approached his desk, pressed her elbows on the surface, cupped her chin with her hands, and gazed at him with shock and curiosity.
The edges of her lips curved upward mischievously and energetically. A tender look swirled in her apricot eyes.
When Nathaniel shifted his sight from the boring document to her fair, pretty face, he felt his tired. eyes relaxing.
Emotions swelled in his calm heart as he stared at her. “Come over here.”
“Okay.” Christina strode to the back of his desk. Before she could stand still, she was pulled into his embrace.
“Am I disturbing your work?” she asked, shrinking her neck. I shouldn’t have allowed Sebastian to leave without first asking him about the situation. What if he has something important he needs Sebastian to take care of?
Wordlessly, Nathaniel aimed his cold gaze at her, inadvertently spooking her.
Panicked, she stated, “How about I leave so you can focus-
Before she could finish her sentence, he kissed her passionately. His scorching, overwhelming vibe dominated her breathing.
Chapter 107
Christina was disoriented by the sudden kiss and blushed.
It wasn’t until she was almost out of breath that she was released. “How are you still so energetic after staying awake for three days?” Also, how can he remain so elegant, aside from his eye bags, even though he worked overnight? I pity Sebastian, honestly. He’s forced to keep up with Nathaniel.
Nathaniel laid the Ferropenian documents before he “Translate it for me.” I recall she’s fluent in Ferropenian.
Puzzled, she stared at him. Doesn’t he understand the language? Why does he need me to translate it for him?
Still, she accepted the documents and replied ingratiatingly, “Okay.”
Christina scanned through the Ferropenian text and started reading the document aloud. There was plenty of jargon on the paper, though it didn’t stump her.
Her sweet voice resembled the pleasant sound of a stream crashing against the rocks and a precious. celadon being knocked.
When her voice wormed into Nathaniel’s ears, each of her pronunciations sounded like a musical note.
Christina was earnestly reading the documents when she noticed something pressing on her shoulder. In response, she glanced back and saw him sleeping. my voice that hypnotic?
While she wanted to move, she was worried she would wake him up. Considering he worked non-stop for three days, I bet he’s exhausted. I guess I’ll give in and be his pillow for the night.
She lifted a tablet and drew some design elements on it. Then, she gazed around the room before staring at Nathaniel’s handsome face.
Twilight sunshine landed on the side of his face, illuminating his thin eyelids and long eyelashes. Despite the dark bags under his eyes, his attractiveness wasn’t diminished. Instead, it was increased.
Suddenly, Christina was inspired to draw Nathaniel on the tablet. Every stroke of her stylus was done skillfully. Half an hour later, his handsome face was depicted on the tablet.
She was used to saving her drawings in the tablet’s folder. Once she concluded her task, she leaned on Nathaniel’s shoulder and slumbered because she was tired.
When she woke up in a bed, it was already the next morning.
She didn’t expect to sleep that well. In any case, since it was Monday, she needed to head to work, so she left the bed.
Upon arriving downstairs, Christina saw Nathaniel eating breakfast at the dining table and watching. the news on his tablet. He looks so elegant, like an eighteenth-century royal prince. Heck, he may be even more dignified than a prince.
“Good morning, Mrs. Hadley.” Raymond served her a cup of hot milk and her breakfast.
As Christina enjoyed her meal, she glanced at Nathaniel, who seemed to be in high spirits. He doesn’t look like someone who has been working overnight at all. In fact, even his eye bags have disappeared.
Chapter 107 Report
After that, Nathaniel personally sent her to her workplace.
When they arrived, but before Christina exited the vehicle, he said, “Join me for dinner at home tonight.”
His tone was cold, as if he was ordering her.
Christina nodded and grinned. “Okay.”
Without delay, she ambled into the company building..
It was an especially lively day as it was time for the winners of last week’s internal competition to be announced.
Many who participated were excited since the top three would be given a raise and a promotion.
Caroline was chatting with a few coworkers in Team B’s office.
“I bet you’ll take one of the top three spots, Caroline!”
“Remember to take good care of us once you get your promotion.”
Caroline was feeling pretty smug. While confident in her work, she still pretended to be humble. “We’ll wait until the result is out.”
When the group saw Christina entering the office, they scattered.
Before work was over, the HR department sent the names of the top three contestants in the competition to everyone’s mailbox.
Anna took first place, while the second and third were from Team B and C, respectively.
Surprisingly, Caroline’s name wasn’t in the top three
Naturally, she was crushed, especially after she flaunted what she thought was her would-be achievement in front of her coworkers in the morning. I spent so much effort creating that fantastic design. How could I have lost?
Her colleagues were cheering in the office, starkly contrasting how she felt at that moment.
When she saw Christina stepping out of the oflice, she couldn’t suppress her anger any longer and approached the latter.
Upon noticing a figure was in her path, Christina lifted her sight and saw Caroline glaring at her furiously. “What’s the matter?”
“Did you not submit my work, Christina?” Caroline thought that was the only explanation for her failure. She must’ve intentionally done that because she doesn’t like me! There’s no way I’ll fail to reach the top three with my capabilities! What an evil woman! She doesn’t deserve to be the team leader!
Christina furrowed her eyebrows. “I did. Don’t you think it’s disrespectful for you to accuse me without understanding the situation first?”
However, anger blinded Caroline. She was convinced Christina was lying to her instead of listening to the latter’s explanation. “I know you don’t like me, but don’t you think it’s outrageous for you to do
this? I’m reporting you to the higher-ups!”
Their colleagues promptly surrounded them. Since work hours were over, the neighboring team came to check out what the fuss was about. In an instant, Team B’s office was crammed with people.
If Christina failed to handle her subordinate’s provocation adequately, her reputation in Radiant Corporation would suffer a fatal blow.
Still, she remained composed. Her fair countenance appeared equally soft and frigid, like snowflakes. under the lunar glow. “The HR Department is on the thirteenth floor. If you have any complaints, submit them there.”
As she didn’t do anything wrong, she wasn’t intimidated by Caroline’s threats. Besides, I’m not the one who chose the winners. I’m only responsible for submitting people’s work to the competition.
Upon witnessing Christina’s confidence, Caroline recalled the rumors that the former was protected by a prestigious figure. Doesn’t that mean the higher-ups won’t punish her even if she does something terrible? This is ridiculous!
When her train of thought ended there, she became even more incensed. As she had no outlet for her grievance, her eyes reddened as she glared at Christina wordlessly.
It was then Anna arrived, intending to share her good news with Christina. When she saw Caroline giving Christina trouble, she immediately spoke up. “Christina’s right. If you’re dissatisfied with her, submit a complaint about her to the HR department. Why make a scene here instead?”
Caroline exploded with jealousy when she saw Anna, the competition winner. “Drop your act, Anna! Some time ago, in the pantry, I heard
you promising to repay Christina if you got first place! She’s clearly favoring you!”
Chapter 108
Upon hearing that, the other employees instantly peered at Christina and Anna with disdain. After all, favoritism was an anathema in the industry.
Anna wasn’t going to ignore that accusation as she retorted lividly, “What nonsense are you speaking? Yes, Christina shared some of her opinions with me, but that doesn’t mean she’s showing me favoritism!”
A scowl settled on Caroline’s countenance. Of course, she wouldn’t admit it. They’re colluding with each other, after all! There’s no point in continuing this argument since our colleagues will start to think Christina’s unreliable, whether it’s true or not.
“In any case, I know you two are working with each other. How disgusting!” Upon completing her sentence, she turned around, ready to leave.
Suddenly, someone spoke in a cold voice at the entrance. “You’re just going to leave after scolding her?”
His magnetic voice instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
The bodyguards pushed the crowd aside, making way for Nathaniel to enter.
His simple, slim-fit suit perfectly illustrated his towering figure. A cold look was present on his exceptionally alluring face as he stepped toward Christina with a kingly vibe.
The female employees covered their mouths because they almost shouted when they finally saw Nathaniel’s rumored handsome mug. However, they couldn’t help but dismiss the rumors once they
witnessed his beauty with their own eyes.
After all, his charming appearance couldn’t be described with words.
Moments later, they wondered why he was standing up for Christina, which roused their jealousy.
Christina was stunned to see him. I can’t believe it. Why is he here?
Nathaniel’s sharp, icy gaze landed on Caroline. “You’re claiming Christina is showing favoritism, yes?”
Trembling like a weak animal facing its natural predator, Caroline was so terrified that she couldn’t utter anything.
“Call Zachary here.”
“Understood.” One of Nathaniel’s bodyguards promptly left the room.
Cold sweat covered Christina’s back. This is only a minor matter that requires a little clarification.
The crowd thought Nathaniel looked like a king adjudicating a case as he stood in the middle of the office with a group of bodyguards.
A minute later, Zachary hurriedly arrived at the office Even from afar, he could already sense the cold, unpleasant atmosphere in the room. “What happened? Why did Mr. Hadley personally come to resolve an issue?”
Nathaniel lifted his chin silently.
No one in the room dared to utter a word, fearing they would get sacked if they said the wrong thing.
In the end, Christina stepped forward to recount what had transpired.
When Zachary finished listening to her tale, he thought there was more to the story, so he asked, “Is that all?”
Christina eyed the disbelief on his countenance while feeling the same. “Yes, that’s all.”
Zachary was so furious that he almost rolled his eyes around. I can’t believe Nathaniel marched into the office as if he was going to destroy the place for such a minor issue. Isn’t this overkill? Then again, it involves Christina, who he has always protected.
Swiftly, he asked his assistant to bring all the work submitted to the competition. There really were thirty design drawings.
He explained, “Caroline’s work was submitted. However, it wasn’t good enough to reach the top three. Meanwhile, Anna’s work is deemed by the judges to be the best, which is why she won.”
Once every submitted piece of work was laid next to each other, everyone could clearly discern which one was the best.
Thus, it was Caroline’s fault for thinking she was better than she actually was. She thought her victory was secured because she didn’t consider the talents others possessed.
Her countenance was flushed with embarrassment as people stared at her mockingly. This is more embarrassing than getting slapped! I don’t want to stay here anymore!
Immediately, Caroline tried to escape, but Nathaniel’s bodyguards blocked her path.
“Do you think you can leave after slandering someone without apologizing?” Nathaniel glared at her sharply.
Caroline paled as she turned to Christina, no longer possessing her overbearing attitude. “I’m sorry, Ms. Steele. I shouldn’t have accused you.”
Calmly, Christina replied, “I accept your apology. You may leave now.”
In response, the bodyguards stepped away, allowing Caroline to leave.
Zachary asked the security guards to vacate the office before approaching Nathaniel. “It’s pretty rare for you to come here, so how about we have dinner together?”
Holding Christina’s hand, Nathaniel declined, “I’m busy tonight.”
“So you’re just going to leave after summoning me here?” grumbled Zachary.
Nathaniel ignored him and dragged Christina away.
Back at Scenic Garden Manor, dinner had already been prepared by the time the couple arrived. The entire table was so filled with food that there was barely any space left for the desserts.
“Why is there so much food here? Do we have guests tonight?” Christina was shocked. There’s no way two of us can eat all of these.
the
Nathaniel eyed her and pulled her to her seat. “No.”
Once the couple was seated, Christina ate while Nathaniel continuously laid food on her plate.
She didn’t want to waste any food, so she ate more and more until her stomach was on the exploding.
verge
of
Yet, Nathaniel didn’t stop as he watched Christina stuff her mouth full. She looks so cute when she chews. It’s like I’m feeding a tiny, adorable animal. It really warms my heart.
“You should eat something, too. I can’t finish all of these.” Christina couldn’t help but complain when he stacked a large drumstick on the mountain of meat in her bowl. “I still want to eat desserts, you
know.”
Peering at her displeased pout, Nathaniel pulled her bowl to his side while placing desserts before her.
“Go ahead.”
While Christina was full, she couldn’t resist the call of the delicious desserts, so she grabbed her spoon and devoured them.
After dinner, they went on a stroll in the backyard. Meanwhile, the housekeepers and Raymond cleaned up the dishes, which were all almost empty.
Raymond thought, If Mr. Hadley continues to feed Mrs. Hadley like this, I bet she’ll grow fat soon. Still, I enjoy seeing Mrs. Hadley sharing dinner with Mr. Hadley in the house. It makes the place seem livelier.
Meanwhile, the darkness of night gradually swallowed the remaining vestiges of twilight.
Scenic Garden Manor’s backyard was huge. Back then Nathaniel hired a world-famous designer to create it. Its yearly maintenance fee cost more than ten million.
Even though it had been some time since Christina started living there, it was her first time properly strolling in the backyard.
Just as she felt the night breeze was chilly, she felt soffiething resting on her shoulders.
It was Nathaniel’s black coat. As his unique scent enveloped her body, she felt a sense of warmth. expelling the cold.
“Don’t catch a cold,” he uttered before holding her tender hand and continuing their walk.
His big sturdy hand made Christina feel safe.
Chapter 109
The backyard was huge, and Christina got tired before they managed to walk through three-quarters of the place. And so, the couple returned to where they came from.
They sat on the wicker swing with the boundless starry night illuminating their figure from above.
Christina felt a weight on her shoulder as the unique ambergris scent from Nathaniel’s body wafted. into her nostrils. Leaning his weight on Christina’s shoulder, the man shut his eyes and rested.
Nathaniel’s side profile was like a perfectly crafted statue, with frostiness swirling in his eyes that plummeted the temperature in his surroundings.
Christina lifted her hand to stroke Nathaniel’s thick hair like she was trying to comfort a large animal. “Are you sleepy? Shall we return home to rest up? It’s too windy here.”
She feared Nathaniel would catch a cold from staying in a windy location for too long.
Nathaniel lifted his head slightly, resting his nose on Christina’s neck. Then, he kissed her on the neck.
The man replied, “It’s okay. I enjoy sitting here.” He didn’t want to interrupt the current harmonious atmosphere. It was enjoyable for him to take in her scent and feel her warmth and breath.
Christina didn’t force it. To her, it was good for Nathaniel to immerse in the natural air after a whole day of working and meeting.
Nathaniel’s hot breath tickled Christina’s neck like a feather. She shrunk her neck, changing the topic. “Do you think Mrs. Hadley will look beautiful in her dress? She invited me to the banquet today, but I said no in case she realized it was me….
Christina babbled on, but Nathaniel gave her no response. It was then she lowered her head, realizing. that he was asleep.
With a phone call, she told Raymond to bring a blanket to them.
Soon, Raymond walked over with the item they requested. Christina covered Nathaniel with a blanket huge enough to cover both of them.
As for Raymond, he was glad to see Nathaniel sleeping soundly in Christina’s embrace, as it had been. long since Nathaniel had exuded such a gentle aura.
The butler headed into the house and bumped into Julia. He stepped forward, greeting respectfully, “Mrs. Hadley, what’s the purpose of your late visitation? Are you looking for Mr. Hadley?”
A surge of heat radiated from Julia after she got out of her car.
She peered inside. “That woman is here too?” Julia’s tone was upset, with a touch of disdain in it.
Raymond knew who Julia referred to. “Ms. Christina and Mr. Hadley are resting over there.”
Julia shot cold daggers in the direction Raymond pointed while walking over to the couple. She halted in her steps when she neared them.
The woman didn’t want to bother the couple when she noticed Nathaniel’s tranquil appearance, with his head leaning against Christina.
It’s been so long since Nathaniel look so serene and at peace
After a moment of hesitation, Julia turned and walked into the house without speaking.
+15 Bonus
As for Christina, Julia’s arrival went unnoticed by her. She took out her phone to check on the latest fashion news and found the information about Yosef being featured in an overseas fashion magazine. His clothing designs had gradually become more outstanding as time passed.
Christina browsed through them before saving a few eye-catching outfit photos on her phone.
I have to be open to new ideas in our field of work. If not, will be eliminated by the fashion world.
After that, Christina came across Renee Olson, a famous television drama actress, announcing the news about her marriage. With soaring popularity, the innocent, clean-looking actress had full eyebrows, big eyes, a small but sharp nose that didn’t steal the spotlight from her other beautiful features, and thin lips. She was a woman who naturally attracted others’ attention by just standing there with a bare face and casual clothing.
The rumor was that she had already registered her marriage, while her husband’s identity was kept. under wrap. Even though her tall husband’s face was lurred out in their photo, they matched each other perfectly.
The netizens reacted positively after discovering the news, making the announcement of Renee’s marriage a trending topic.
After that, Christina put away her phone, realizing the time was late and that the outside temperature had dropped significantly. She turned her head and voiced, “Nathaniel, let’s head inside now. You will get a cold if we stay out too long.”
As Nathaniel was displeased to be interrupted during his deep sleep, annoyance flashed across his face as he stared at Christina’s face.
Christina scrunched her brows, complaining, “I’m freezing out here. If the wind continues to blow in my face, I’ll get sick.”
Nathaniel got up abruptly after hearing her remarks. With his back against the moonlight, unreadable. emotions glinted in his eyes, hidden by the dark.
Surprised by his sudden movement, Christina wondered if she said something wrong when Nathaniel covered her with the blanket and wrapped her up like a burrito before picking her up from the ground. From his worried stares, Christina guessed the man would have placed a quilt over her if there was one beside them. Then, Nathaniel turned and male his way into the house.
When they reached the living room, the couple noticed Julia seated on the couch with a half-empty cup before her on the coffee table, indicating that she had arrived quite some time.
As Christina was a tad embarrassed to be seen by Julia her cheeks turned a rosy-red shade. She objected, “Quick. Put me down!”
Nathaniel peered at her and walked over to the couch, letting Christina sit on his lap.
Christina was rendered speechless by what Nathaniel did. She wanted to burrow herself into a hole because it was so embarrassing.
I’m not a doll! Isn’t it weird for me to sit on his lap?
She noticed Julia’s expression darkening at their lovey-dovey action, so she mumbled, “Can you please let me go?”
Nathaniel ignored her. Instead, he gripped her tighter “Didn’t you say that you were freezing? Stop wriggling around.”
Feeling self-conscious and unnerved by their sitting positions and Julia’s upset face, Christina escaped from Nathaniel’s embrace while removing the blanket from her. “You guys have a nice chat! I’m heading up now!”
With that, she hugged the blanket and rushed upstairs
Raymond was amused by the duo’s sweet interaction, smiling to himself. Mr. Hadley and Ms. Christina’s bond grew stronger as the days passed.
Julia coughed lightly as she shot warning looks at the couple.
“Is there anything of concern for you to show up so late at night?” Nathaniel asked coldly.
Julia’s expression softened after Christina walked away. “You’re invited to the banquet on the day after
tomorrow.”
Nathaniel eyes darkened. “Okay.”
Julia was surprised by his answer. “I only want you to come. Don’t bring her with you.
She assumed Nathaniel must have readily agreed to her invitation because of Christina.
“It depends on my mood.” Nathaniel got up from the couch and went upstairs.
Julia was upset by his behavior. She sighed inwardly.
Oh no. When did Nathaniel fall in love with Christina? He loves her so much that he can’t bear to hear others. gossiping or talking badly about her. I’m afraid that if this continues, he will become increasingly
obsessed with her.
Chapter 110
The sound of the leaving car drifted into Christina’s cars as Nathaniel walked into the room.
She craned her neck toward him like a curious baby, asking, “Why did Mrs. Hadley find you?”
Nathaniel headed over to her and caressed her head. “She told me to bring you along to a banquet tomorrow.”
Christina narrowed her eyes upon hearing his response. It was customary for her to be invited to the banquet if her identity was Ada, the designer. But Juli only knew of her as Christina, the daughter-in- law she despised, so Christina couldn’t understand why Julia would invite her to the event.
“Didn’t you mention that you want to see my mom in the dress you designed? Let’s go and take a stroll at the banquet so we can take a peek, shall we?” Nathaniel leaned forward and kissed Christina’s head.
A sweet sense of bliss filled Christina, then. Just one glance at the dress will do! No harm done, right?
Christina arrived at Radiant Corporation on time the following day. She wasn’t busy because there was not much work to be done on the weekend. Then, after their meeting ended, Gina came to her.
She said, “Christina, we have a customer here to choose a dress. Why don’t you serve her?”
“Okay.”
Exquisite dresses were displayed occasionally in the large exhibition hall on the tenth floor of Radiant Corporation. These unique, one-of-a-kind dresses were sellable items reserved only for VIP guests.
and sometimes, these picky guests would request the dress designers to serve them.
Hence, Christina didn’t overthink the situation. She picked her stuff and went downstairs.
Soon, she arrived at the brightly-lit exhibition hall that showcased numerous customized formal dresses that cost a hefty sum.
A smiling Madison stood in the middle of the exhibition hall, provocation evident in her eyes, greeting, “We meet again, Ms. Steele.”
Initially, Christina never did notice the unusual glint in Madison’s eyes. If it weren’t for her identity as Ada, she wouldn’t have realized how dangerous this gentle-looking woman was.
“Hi, Ms. Taggart. Are you here to choose a dress today?” Christina greeted the woman calmly.
As Madison glanced at Christina, her mind was flooded with different thoughts.
Urgh! Her body figure resembled that of Ada. She looks soft and fragile. What a pretentious woman! She utilized her body to make Nathaniel fall in love with her.
Madison chuckled lightly. “I need a suitable dress for Mrs. Hadley’s banquet tonight. You’re a designer, so I’m sure you have a keen eyesight. Come on. Pick a dress for me.”
With that, she grabbed Christina’s wrist and walked toward the racks of dresses.
Even though she was alarmed by Madison’s fake intimacy with her, Christina kept her emotions under control while remaining expressionless.
After browsing through the dresses, Madison stopped as she fiddled with the dresses before her. “I think these two are great. What do you think? Is the red one or the white one better?”
Christina looked at the dresses. However, Madison continued without waiting for her to speak, “Nathaniel doesn’t like red, so I think I’ll go with the white one.”
Then, she grinned at Christina. There was a hint of provocation in it that only Christina could detect. To others, the women were just having a normal conversation.
Just then, Christina’s colleague approached them to wrap up the white dress Madison chose.
Christina walked over and took the red dress. She passed it to the salesperson. “Wrap this red dress and send it to my office.”
Her colleagues nodded before walking away with both dresses.
Christina’s action was a retaliation to Madison’s insinuation. I will wear a red dress even if Nathaniel doesn’t like red.
She laughed lightly, explaining herself, “What a coincidence. I’m also heading to the banquet tonight and need a new dress. Please don’t overthink this, okay?”
Madison smiled in embarrassment, for she never expected Christina to respond in such a way. “Of
course not.”
They turned and headed toward the entrance after that. Then Madison spotted the accessories on the side and stopped Christina, who was at the front, from leaving. “Ms. Steele, does this look nice on me?”
Christina turned around. Unexpected to her, Madison grabbed a black mask that closely resembled the one worn by Ada and covered Christina’s face. Christina shuddered and froze as her face got hidden by the mask, with only her bright eyes exposed.
Madison narrowed her eyes, asking suspiciously, “You look a lot like a designer I saw a few days ago. Her name is Ada. Do you know her?”
Christina’s back was rigid as she removed the mask calmly. Her face was cold when she replied, “Of course. She is quite famous in the design industry.”
An eerie smile appeared on Madison’s face. “I’ll see you tonight, then.” Having said that, she strutted off on her heels.
Mixed emotions filled Christina as she stared at the mask in her hands.
Did she find out about my identity?
Many big shots showed up at the banquet that night. Those included in the list were young men bestowed the title of count and countless reputable young socialites from Jadeborough.
The moment Christina stepped inside, she thought she had arrived at the kingdom of women, for everywhere she laid her eyes, she saw women dressed to the nines.
“Are you sure this is Mrs. Hadley’s banquet? This seems like…” Christina was confused. She thought the scene was something out of a consort selection event.
Nathaniel grabbed her hand. “Let’s go.”
Dressed in a wine-red-colored suit and a white shirt, Nathaniel radiated the aura of a vampire found in the darkest of night. Although his eyes were frosty and his gaze was chilling, the surrounding women
threw flirtatious looks in Nathaniel’s way after they entered the hall.
What was not known to the crowd was that Nathaniel chose his suit to complement Christina. Meanwhile, Christina’s red, off-shoulder dress had a swirling pattern on the waistline that accentuated her slim midriff.
Standing side by side, the couple looked perfectly compatible, like they had just stepped out of a
poster.
After making a round, Nathaniel noticed Julia was conversing with a few socialites, so he walked over with Christina in his arms, and his appearance immediately attracted these women’s attention.
Concurrently, Julia was sizing up Christina with disdain on her face. She made it evident that she had no intention of welcoming the latter as her guest. After all, the main goal of today’s banquet was to introduce new friends and acquaintances to Nathaniel because, to her, Nathaniel had fallen in love with Christina at first sight because he had no experience with other women for all these years.
If Nathaniel surrounds himself with more women and friends and gains more experience in the dating world, maybe he will find that little girl uninteresting!
Julia shifted her gaze away as she spoke. “Come over Nathaniel. I’ll introduce you to a few socialites that grew up in wealthy, educated families. They are nothing like the scoundrels from low-income. families.”
Meanwhile, the socialites’ eyes brightened when they spotted Nathaniel as the same thought flashed across their minds.
Wow! We heard so much about him being the perfect man. It seems like this news about him is true now that we have come face-to-face with him.
The socialites were about to talk when Nathaniel glared at them warningly. “My darling doesn’t like
these women.”