Ch. 121..130

Chapter 121

Francis was wearing a thin black shirt that contrasted with his fair skin, making him stand out visually. Apart from that, he was also wearing some small stainless steel pendants and rings that added to his

charm.

When he heard the commotion, he raised his head and looked at the young woman. A playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he said, “Did you bring your measuring tape today? If not, I have plenty prepared.”

“That won’t be necessary. I brought it with me.” Christina walked over and took out her measuring

tape.

After saving the edited itinerary, Francis got to his feet and made his way to her side.

He noticed how the light fell on her clean and flawless face, which made her seem as pretty as a piece. of translucent emerald. Her clear eyes were gazing at the scenery outside the window, and the calmness reflected in them was as serene as a painting

A sly look flashed in Francis’ eyes as he bent down slightly and leaned close to her ear before whispering, “Remember to save the measurements after you’re done. I plan to have all my future formal wear custom-made by you.”

Taken aback by the sudden closeness, Christina shot him a glare and huffed, “You don’t need to talk so close to me. I’m not deaf.”

When he saw that his prank had succeeded, a satisfied smile spread across his lips. He suddenly found the woman to be rather interesting and felt that even if he hadn’t made a deal with her, he would

still want to get close to her.

Christina took out the measuring tape and instructed, “Raise your hands.”

Francis obliged and raised them obediently, looking like a king who was waiting for his attendant to dress him up.

Since the two had a significant height difference, Christina had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him. She kept him at arm’s length, making it obvious that she was deliberately avoiding any physical contact with him.

Francis furrowed his brows slightly at that, and with a displeased tone, he said, “I’m not sick, so why are you keeping your distance?” He didn’t like the way she was treating him as if he was some sort of dangerous person.

“You’re getting married soon, and your spouse-to-be is the famous actress, Renee Olson. I’m just worried that if we’re seen getting too close, it will have a negative impact on your marriage,” Christina replied matter-of-factly.

She was trying her best to avoid any unnecessary conflict.

Francis chuckled in response. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re worried about being misunderstood by Nathaniel instead?”

Realizing that her intention had been seen through, she glared at him irritably and continued measuring him with the tape in her hand. After a while, she recorded the measurements.

“All right, I’ve got your measurements. The designs will be up to Renee to decide.” Christina put away her measuring tape and notebook. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Just as she was about to leave, Francis stopped her. “You forgot to take the measurements for the pants.”

Christina’s lips twitched slightly in response. It wasn’t that she had forgotten, but rather she simply. didn’t want to take the measurements. “The size of the pants can be adjusted easily, so I’ll just use the standard measurements for models of similar height.”

Sensing the perfunctory tone she was using, Francis glanced at his watch and grinned. “All right. Let me walk you out, then.”

Christina nodded and walked over to open the door, only to see a group of people approaching.

Her gaze then settled on Nathaniel, who was dressed in a black suit. His handsome face was cold and emotionless as he exuded a gloomy aura.

When the light fell on his side profile, it made him seem as if he was glowing.

Christina blinked in surprise. “Nathaniel?”

When Nathaniel saw Christina walking out of Francis studio, his expression darkened further.

An overwhelming sense of oppression swept over the area, and Christina swiftly moved away from Francis’ side.

She put on her best docile look before walking up to Nathaniel and explaining with a sweet smile, “I’m here to take measurements for an order that the company received.”

Nathaniel’s gaze fell on Christina’s face and he asked coldly, “Are you done, then?”

“Yeah, I’m done.” She nodded.

Francis was leaning against the door frame with his arms folded across his chest and a mocking look in his eyes when he said, “Christina, remember to bring the clothes over for me to try on in person when they’re ready.”

When he saw the slight change in Nathaniel’s expression, a sense of glee surged within him.

He was well aware of what the other man was thinking, for he knew better than anyone how possessive Nathaniel could be.

Nobody can touch what belongs to him. That is probably the only weakness Nathaniel has.

Christina stiffened when she heard Francis’ words and wondered why the man was mentioning the clothes in such an ambiguous tone. “I’ll have my assistant bring them over,” she replied.

With that, she linked her arm with Nathaniel and walked out.

Silence filled the air once they got into the car.

Christina looked at Nathaniel curiously and asked, “What were you doing in Francis’ studio?”

Although she didn’t see the two interact much, she was certain that there must be some kind of grudge between them. He wouldn’t go to Francis’ studio for no reason.

Sebastian, who was sitting in the passenger seat, turned around and explained, “This piece of land belongs to Hadley Corporation. The company’s planning to take it back and build a mansion.”

“You’re taking back the land? Does that mean Francis would have to move his studio?” Christina was surprised and felt that it was a waste to build a mansion in such a nice area.

“Well, it’s not decided yet. We’re still negotiating on the price,” came Sebastian’s reply.

When the land was leased out, it was done so using a rental agreement with a ten-year contract and a price increase every five years.

Since Nathaniel was going to increase the rent, Francis would have to return the land to Hadley Corporation if he could not afford it.

Nathaniel glanced at Christina and asked, “Are you disappointed to hear that?”

“Of course not. It’s not like it’s my studio, anyway. I just envy having such a good and spacious place to work, that’s all,” Christina answered with a smile.

She felt that she could get a lot more done working in a place like this and thought it was a pity to let such a good place go to waste.

Seemingly satisfied with her answer, Nathaniel didn’t question her further.

The car soon left the suburbs and returned to the bustling city center before coming to a stop at the entrance of Radiant Corporation.

Just before Christina got out of the car, Nathaniel said, “Go back to Scenic Garden Manor once you’re done with work.”

Christina was planning to stay back at the company to continue working. As such, when she heard the man’s words, she hesitated for a moment before narrowing her eyes and replying, “Okay.”

Once she alighted, the car drove off.

Christina had just entered the office when she received a message on her phone.

The message was from Francis, and it read: I have an artist who is going to release a new album soon, and I want you to do the styling for her. The payment will be a hundred thousand.

Christina was tempted when she saw the figures, so she messaged back: Sure. Send me the information about the artist, then.

Half a minute later, she received a reply from Francis. It turned out that the artist was Coco.

It had been a while since they had last met, and Christina could see that the woman had gained some confidence. Thinking that she would be able to work with someone she was familiar with, Christina suddenly felt less resistant toward this job.

After working until the evening, she sent the designs for the wedding dress and suit to Renee before leaving the office.

Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina saw that several stylists were waiting for her in the living room. “Mr. Hadley instructed us to come and do the styling for you, Mrs. Hadley.”

Just as she was left feeling puzzled by the whole thing, she was quickly ushered upstairs. An hour later,. she was dressed in a high-end feather evening gown, which was light and elegant. Her long black hair was tied up, giving her a dignified and graceful appearance.

The moment Christina was done with the styling, Nathaniel’s car arrived at the door.

 

Chapter 122

Christina sat in the car, and the faint scent of agarwood lingered in the air. This scent didn’t seem like a specific perfume, but rather one that could change its fragrance depending on the person’s body. temperature.

At that moment, Nathaniel’s masculine scent came to life.

“Are we going to a party?” Christina asked curiously. Nathaniel hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.

“Banues’ wine party,” Nathaniel replied.

Christina had heard of the name before. The brand was famous internationally, and every year it would hold an anniversary day exclusively for members.

For ordinary people, it was a good opportunity to expand their social circle. But for Nathaniel, a wine. party at this level didn’t require his personal appearance.

Is there another reason?

Christina hesitated and asked, “Is there anything special about this party?”

Nathaniel paused for a moment, then held Christina’s small hand. Her hand was tiny and tender, like a

child’s.

It made him feel like protecting her.

“Back then, my parents met at this wine party. They both love this wine and would attend the party every year,” Nathaniel said placidly.

Suddenly, Christina realized why Julia valued this party so much and even had a custom-made gown. designed.

The reason was that she could see Nathaniel’s father.

From this, it was clear that Julia still hadn’t let go of Nathaniel’s father.

Half an hour later, the car slowly stopped at the entrance of the venue.

Nathaniel held Christina’s hand and they got out of the car before walking into the venue together.

Julia wore a sleek dark blue gown, looking dignified and elegant. She chatted with several wealthy ladies who were considered her old friends from her younger days.

One wealthy lady proudly showed off her gown. “This dress was personally sewn by the designer Kevel, and the workmanship is excellent.”

“I envy you for being able to hire Kevel. Could you introduce him to me someday?” These famous designers were not easy to hire.

The wealthy lady was flattered by their compliments and casually said, “Last month, I offered the designer Ada ten million to make me a dress, but she was unavailable, so I had no choice but to hire Kevel instead.”

The wealthy ladies listened and became even more envious. Who wouldn’t want a custom-made gown?

Julia remained calm, but her heart was disturbed. Christina gave up such a high-paying commission for me?

The image of the girl wearing a mask and embroidering every day in the sewing room flashed across her mind. When she thought of how the girl had deliberately hidden her identity to get closer to her, she felt a little uncomfortable.

Nathaniel walked over with Christina at this moment.

As soon as Julia saw Christina, any positive feelings she had disappeared. She looked Christina up and down and sneered, “It’s good to bring her out to see the world so that she won’t embarrass the Hadley family when interacting with people in our circles.”

Her disdainful tone sounded icy as if no matter how hard Christina tried to please her, she would still be rejected.

Christina wasn’t angry. She replied calmly, “Nathaniel has everything, and I’ve seen everything there is to see in the world.”

Julia’s lips curved into a smile. This brat is quite eloquent indeed!

Suddenly, a figure brushed past Christina from behind, causing the girl to stumble and spill her drink onto Julia’s gown.

“Ah… Ms. Christina, how could you be so careless?” Helen was the first to react as she anxiously stared at the wet patch on Julia’s dress.

Leaving the party at this moment when it had just started would not be appropriate, but attending the party in a wet dress would invite ridicule.

The atmosphere became cold, and everyone’s faces looked grim.

Christina’s face turned slightly red as she was intimidated by Julia’s angry gaze. After a moment of silence, she said in embarrassment, “I didn’t mean to do that. I’ll compensate you with a new dress.” Christina then turned to Sebastian. “Go to the car trunk and bring the spare dress.”

Afraid that Julia would be relentless in her scolding. Christina pulled Nathaniel’s arm and hurried.

away.

Sebastian quickly brought the dress in a gift box and handed it to Helen, saying, “Mrs. Hadley, this is the dress that Ms. Christina is compensating you with

He then left after completing his task.

Helen opened the box and was surprised to see the jasmine dress that Julia had asked her to burn.

“M-Mrs. Hadley, um… we have no choice. It’s better to wear it now first. This is a dress that many wealthy ladies envy!” Helen sounded cautious, fearing that she would upset Julia.

Julia had yet to meet the person she wanted to meet, so she didn’t want to leave yet. She remained calm, took the gift box without any expression, and went to the dressing room to get changed.

Soon, the party was in full swing, and the brand manager of Banues opened a new bottle of wine in the center of the living room and invited the guests to taste it.

Christina took a few sips of the wine, and the fragrant aroma filled her nose. The wine tasted so “Do you like it?” Nathaniel asked, seeing that she seemed to be drinking wine for the first time. This wine was not very high in alcohol content, and it had a strong fruity fragrance. Christina had drunk it as though it was a normal non-alcoholic beverage.

Christina nodded. “I do.”

Nathaniel turned to Sebastian and said, “Place an order for ten boxes.”

Sebastian hummed in acknowledgment and left to handle the order.

As a couple approached the brand manager. Nathaniel’s gaze fell on them, and his expression turned slightly cold.

Christina could feel the temperature around her dropping and curiously followed Nathaniel’s gaze.

A middle-aged couple was standing together, wearing matching black formal wear. The man was wearing an elegant black suit, while the woman was wearing a tailored black dress.

The woman was holding the man’s hand, and they looked like husband and wife.

The man’s features were somewhat similar to Nathaniel’s handsome, almost otherworldly face. The curve of his nose and jaw, especially made him look as though he had stepped straight out of an oil painting

This is your father, right?” Christina widened her eyes in shock. It’s really Charlie Hadley.

Nathaniel’s eyes were cold and mysterious, like a black rose in the dark. He knows that Mom will attend every year, and yet he openly brought his mistress here.

Charlie had no regard for Julia’s status as Mrs. Hadley at all.

That was why Nathaniel hated their whole family, including their child, Francis Fernando.

Upon learning the truth, Christina opened her mouth in disbelief. How could Charlie behave so outrageously and not consider Mrs. Hadley’s feelings?

At that moment Julia had already changed her clothes and came out.

She took slow steps toward the brand manager, and the guests couldn’t help but look at this esteemed lady wherever she passed by

 

Chapter 123

Illuminated by the lights, Julia stood there in a custom-made gown that fit her perfectly. The jasmine flowers that adorned the gown! were extremely lifelike and looked as if they had bloomed on it. Paired with her elegant makeup, she was the picture of refinement.

Over the years, Julia had made sure to take good care of her skin, and it showed. Her skin was far more supple than the skin of other people her age.

Charlie, who had not seen her in a long time, exclaimed when he laid eyes on her. “Julia, you look fantastic in that gown

He, too, liked jasmine flowers. As he drew closer, he could detect the faint fragrance of jasmine. He had to admit that it was mesmerizing.

The woman who stood next to Charlie was close to their age. Although she was also dressed elegantly. there was a distinct contrast as she stood next to Julia.

“Julia, that’s such a pretty gown you’re wearing! Is it made by a famous designer?” Linda smiled.

Linda Macall was Charlie’s mistress. Everyone in their circle knew about the Hadley family’s scandal, and they were aware of Charlie’s infidelity.

This time, he had even boldly brought his mistress to the wine party. Only Julia would have the grace to tolerate such a faux pas.

The outsiders thought it wise that Julia did not choose to divorce Charlie.

This meant no matter where Charlie brought Linda, the latter would always be regarded as a mistress.

Julia tilted her chin, and her eyes darkened as she said, “Shut up. You are not qualified to speak of such matters. Also, we’re not that close. I never permitted you to address me by name.”

Thoroughly humiliated at being publicly admonished Linda, whose eyes were red, replied aggrievedly, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hadley.”

Charlie felt a headache forming. Whenever the two women encountered each other, Linda would always be the one who came out on the losing side.

In an attempt to help Linda out, he turned to Julia and said. “Can you tone down on the aggressiveness whenever we meet Whatever happened to your image as a refined lady from a prestigious tamily?” His tone was unfriendly, and it carried with it a hint of accusation

Inwardly, Linda gloated while she kept a pitiful expression on her face. “Charlie, I’m sure Mrs. Hadley didn’t do it on purpose Let’s not make a scene in public

julia felt her heart clench as a wave of anger surged within her Glaring at the off-putting and hypocritical expression Linda wore. Julia said coldly, Stop flaunting her in front of me if you don’t wish for me to admonish her As her anger continued to rise she continued in a frigid tone. “It I were actually uncouth. I would have torn into her countless unes before this. You know that she’s not someone who should have been brought here, but still you did that and behaved shamefully on purpose.”

“Why, you…” Charlie was furious. The slight admiration he had felt toward her a moment ago had vanished without a trace.

Although Linda was frowning, she was secretly thrilled. It did not matter how elegantly and gorgeously Julia was dressed. In the end, Charlie still did not favor her. There’s no way Julia can beat me in this lifetime!

A heavy silence hung in the end, turning the atmosphere uncomfortably awkward.

Christina stared at the three of them. It was obvious that they did not like each other, but for the sake of appearances, they had to act cordially with each other. She could not comprehend such a feeling.

She turned around to look at Nathaniel’s reaction and saw that his cold and handsome face was completely expressionless. He looked as if he was used to such a scene.

Just then, a tall figure strode out from the crowd.

Clad in a dignified suit, the man looked to be around fifty years old. However, that did not diminish the elegance he exuded. He had a calm face that was tempered by time, and he gave off an assertive aura.

“Julia, you’re here!” the man said in a mellow voice. The three of them immediately turned their gazes toward him.

Julia was stunned. Her pupils contracted slightly as she turned to look at him. “Lawrence! When did you return from overseas?”

Smiling slightly, Lawrence Phelps walked toward her with a glass of red wine in his hand. “I just got off the plane. I remembered that you were a member of Banues and thought I might run into you here.”

“You know I’ll always attend the party every year.” The confrontational energy from earlier had vanished, and Julia resumed her usual elegant demeanor.

“You look especially gorgeous today. Since it’s rare for us to meet, shall we have a chat?” Lawrence invited gallantly.

“Of course.” Smiling slightly, Julia nodded and left with Lawrence.

When Linda saw that Julia had gone off with another man, she sneered, “They seem to have a good relationship.” She turned around in puzzlement when she realized that her comment was met with silence. She saw a hint of anger color Charlie’s face. He looks as if he’s jealous.

Charlie knew better than anyone else how close Lawrence and Julia were.

They were childhood friends, and their families had even planned for their engagement at one point. If Charlie had not suddenly barged in, Julia might have married Lawrence.

Now that we’re estranged, Lawrence must be up to something!

Charlie suddenly felt a little upset.

Curiously, Christina turned and asked Nathaniel, “Who’s that unusually charming gentleman? He seems to have a good relationship with Mrs. Hadley.

Nathaniel frowned. “What do you mean by charming? He’s just an ordinary person.”

Christina was baffled. I guess for someone as handsome as Nathaniel, anyone else would seem like an ordinary person to him.

Nathaniel stared after his mother’s and Lawrence’s retreating figures and casually commented, “I’ve met him once or twice. He seems to be an old friend of my mother.”

Since Nathaniel had been young back then, he could not quite discern their relationship.

Due to Lawrence’s appearance at the party, Julia felt as if time had passed very quickly. When it ended, Lawrence offered to send her back.

“There’s no need for you to send my wife back.” Out of nowhere, Charlie suddenly appeared and rejected the other man bluntly.

Lawrence’s eyes darkened imperceptibly. “You seem to be quite a busy man. The lady over there appears to be waiting for you.”

He was referring to Linda, whom he knew had wrecked Julia’s marriage. Hence, he wasn’t too fond of the other woman.

After witnessing their friendly banter earlier, Charlie was so jealous that his eyes were practically bulging out of their sockets.

How dare he cozy up to someone else’s wife like that. He must have bad intentions!

Charlie glared at the other man and said, “That’s none of your business. Please step aside.”

The other guests gathered to watch the show gleefully when they saw that an argument had ensued. Julia’s expression grew tense as she told the two of them to stop arguing.

“I don’t need either of you to send me home,” she said as she gazed somewhere into the distance. “Nathaniel will be sending me home.”

Nathaniel obliged. Soon, he, Christina, and Julia walked out of the reception hall.

With only Charlie and Lawrence left, everyone else dispersed.

 

Chapter 124

After getting into the car, Christina felt a little uneasy when she saw Julia sitting in the back seat. “I think I should ride shotgun.”

Sebastian reached his arm out and blocked her path. “That’s my spot, Ms. Christina. It’s really spacious. in the back, so you won’t feel cramped at all.”

Realizing that she had nothing to say in retaliation, Christina had no choice but to give up on the front seat. “All right, then.”

After making sure that everyone was seated, the driver started the car and drove off.

The atmosphere in the back of the car was ridiculously tense, and the silence felt deafening. It was already tense with Nathaniel around, but Julia’s presence took things to the next level.

Christina was so uptight that she didn’t even dare breathe out loud as she sat there with her palms on

her knees.

As the car slowly cruised down the road, Christina couldn’t help but feel as though the driver was slowing down on purpose.

Julia felt pressure on her shoulder when the car pulled up at a traffic light. She turned her head in

confusion, only to see Christina resting her head on her shoulder.

What? Even Nathaniel has never been this close to me! Who does she think she is? How dare she rest her head on my shoulder?

Suppressing her rage, Julia was about to move Christina’s head away, but Nathaniel grabbed her by the wrist. “She didn’t get enough sleep the past few days in order to make you that dress,” he said with at resentful look in his eyes.

Julia shot him a displeased glare as she put her hand down, but her face suddenly turned solemn.

As much as she disliked Christina, Julia decided to let it go since Christina had helped her.

The car soon arrived at the Hadley residence.

Nathaniel carefully pulled Christina into his arms before Julia got out of the car.

Christina frowned slightly in surprise and nuzzled against his chest. As though she had just found a new comfortable spot, Christina continued sleeping soundly.

“Get some rest,” Nathaniel said and rolled up the car window.

Julia’s eyes narrowed as she watched the car drive off

Nathaniel always had an icy-cold expression, but I saw a hint of warmth on his face just now. It’s almost as though he’s becoming more and more human. Is Christina the one who changed him?

As the rays of the morning sun shone into the bedroom, Christina slowly opened her eyes. She sat bolt upright when she recognized the familiar bedroom around her.

Wait a minute… Did I fall asleep on the way home last night? If I recall correctly, I rested my head on Mrs. Hadley’s shoulder… Oh, no! I can’t believe I did something that rude to Mrs. Hadley! She must hate me even more

now! It looks like I’m going to have a lot of trouble maintaining a decent relationship with her…

With that in mind, Christina hopped off the bed, got changed, and ran down the stairs.

+15 Bonus

To her surprise, Nathaniel had yet to leave the house at that hour. Instead, he was reading the news on his tablet while having breakfast at the dining table.

Is he waiting for me?

“Don’t you have to go to work?” Christina asked curiously while making her way over.

The look in Nathaniel’s eyes was still cold as he replied, “I was waiting for you so we could head over together.”

Christina let out a soft chuckle when she heard that. After all, Nathaniel hardly ever waited for anyone. It was usually others who waited for him instead.

The two of them left the house after having breakfast

After returning to the office, Christina got a call from Francis when she had only sat down for a bit.

“I’ll pick you up outside your office building in five minutes,” he said and hung up the phone before Christina could even respond.

Christina had spent time doing some research after promising him to help Coco with her appearance, so all she needed to do was inform Gina before leaving the office.

A black MPV was parked outside the office building. The door only opened when Christina

got

closer

to it.

Coco gave Christina a big hug the moment she entered the car. “Yay! I’m so glad I get to work with you again!”

Coco had been so busy filming for her new show that they barely had any time to meet up. Being ant extroverted person, Coco kept telling Christina about the interesting incidents she encountered while filming throughout the entire drive.

Upon arriving on set, Coco went on to get her makeup done while Christina followed the staff to the dressing room.

She saw Francis sitting on a couch inside the moment she opened the door. He was wearing a simplistic black dress shirt with a denim jacket. The retro-looking pendant dangling from his neck helped add some more flair to his overall outfit.

Wow… Those in the entertainment industry sure have great fashion sense!

Francis’ lips curled into a smile when he saw Christina come in. “You’re free to mix and match the clothes here however you like. All you have to do is create five outfits in total. That should be a piece of cake for you, right?”

It wasn’t until then that Christina realized the clothes on the shelf were the latest designs of the season. Those clothes could easily cost up to millions.

Since Coco’s style was that of a pretty and cute princess, Christina had to focus on clothes that looked cute when putting the outfits together.

“You know, you wouldn’t have to buy this many clothes if you had just let me preview them beforehand,” Christina said.

“What, are you feeling sorry about how much I’ve spent?” Francis asked with a huge grin.

Ugh… Can’t he just talk to me normally? Why did he have to make it sound so flirty?

Christina rolled her eyes at him. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I was simply expressing my opinion from a businessperson’s point of view.”

It was her dream to someday own a studio for her own brand and develop it little by little. In order to do that, she needed to gain more experience and knowledge.

Amused by Christina’s prideful behavior, Francis leaned lazily on his side and watched her get down to

business.

Hmm… She looks kind of cute when she’s all serious about her work.

Christina became even more focused as the dressing room fell into silence.

In order to create a completely unique outfit, she tried putting together elements that did not stand out at first glance. It wasn’t long before she came up with outfits that she was satisfied with.

All that was left to do was to have Coco try them on and see how she looked. With that in mind, she turned around to seek Francis’ opinion on the outfits, only to realize he was standing right behind her.

Because he was standing really close to her, his handsome face was merely inches away from her shoulder. Surprisingly, the faint scent of tobacco on his clothes mixed with his perfume didn’t smell that bad.

Feeling satisfied with her outfit combinations, Francis reached out and tied the ribbon on one of the outfits into the shape of a bow. “There, that outfit is now perfect!”

Christina nodded in response. “Agreed,” she said with a smile that revealed her perfect pearly whites and highlighted her rosy lips.

Charmed by Christina’s beauty, Francis inched closer to her and whispered seductively into her ear, “We really make a perfect pair.”

 

Chapter 125

Like a scared kitten, Christina jumped back when his manly voice reached her ears.

She felt goosebumps all over her skin and his warm breath around her ear. Her face burned bright red > instantly. “I can hear you just fine, so you don’t have to talk next to my car like that. Honestly, you gave

me quite the scare back there!”

Francis chuckled in amusement when he saw her response. “I’ve charmed tons of women in the past, but you’re the first one to get scared instead. I’ll be sure to remember you.”

Oh, she looks like a deer caught in the headlights! It just makes me want to protect her!

The look in Christina’s eyes turned gloomy as she said with a displeased frown, “Would you please behave yourself? You’re engaged, remember? Stop flirting with other women! Is this how people in the entertainment industry carry themselves?”

While handsome and wealthy men like Francis were bound to attract tons of women, Christina was not one of them.

Francis lips curled into a faint smile when he heard that. There was an unfathomable look in his gaze.

Just then, someone opened the door to the dressing room, relieving the sexual tension almost

instantly.

Coco walked up to Christina in anticipation and cast her gaze upon the outfits. “Wow! You sure have great taste, Christina! I’ll go try them on right away!”

Christina then helped Coco with her hairstyle and makeup after the latter put on the outfits.

“Your makeup skills have improved, Christina! Have you been practicing at home or something?” Coco asked.

“Ah, you caught me!” Christina replied with a chuckle.

As fashion design was closely related to makeup, Christina needed to study makeup as part of her profession.

After all, she could only complete a perfect look with better skills.

About an hour later, Christina had finished applying the makeup to match the first outfit that she put together. Coco was really pleased with the way she looked in the mirror. “You’re so good at this, Christina! I want you to be my fashion designer for all of my music videos in the future!”

Christina felt happy after receiving Coco’s acknowledgment and compliment. The film crew then had Coco do a photo shoot before she could try on the next outfit. Because the makeup for each outfit was different, Christina would have to help Coco with her makeup all over again. As such, it was impossible to try out all five outfits within a single day.

While Christina waited patiently on the side, someone handed her a cup of coffee. She turned around in confusion, only to see Francis winking seductively at her.

“Here you go. Come on; you’re not still mad at me, are you?”

If I’m bothered by his behavior, then that would mean I feel something toward him as well!

With that in mind, Christina took the coffee over and sipped on it before asking, “I heard you’re moving your studio. Is that true?” She had heard about that while she was in Nathaniel’s car.

Francis nodded and replied nonchalantly, “It should come as no surprise to you that he hates me. He’s always picking a fight with me, so I’ve gotten used to it by now.”

Christina narrowed her eyes as she asked, “How are you related to Nathaniel?”

Did those two know each other long ago? Do they have some kind of grudge between them or something?

“He never told you?” Francis asked with a sarcastic smile.

He absolutely refuses to talk about it, so I’m really curious..

Christina pouted at the thought of that.

Francis lowered his gaze when he saw the look on her face and knew her answer to his question. “We have the same father. I’m his younger brother, but he has never acknowledged me.”

Christina opened her mouth slightly as a sudden realization dawned upon her.

Oh… That explains why they’re always at each other’s throats and get into fights whenever they see each other!

Coco’s photoshoot took all day and ended rather late in the evening. Despite her performing really well, she got tired after working for more than ten hours straight.

Most of the staff had gone off work by then. Because the location of the photo shoot was a little far away from the city, the staff decided to leave in groups.

By the time Christina was done arranging the outfits in the dressing room, the staff had all left the set.

“I’ll send you home,” Francis said while waving a set of keys in the air.

As it was incredibly difficult to hail a cab there, Christina decided to take him up on his offer.

She was about to open the door to the back seat when Francis stopped her. “Don’t you know that it’s basic manners to ride shotgun when your friend is giving you a ride?”

What does she take me for? A driver?

Of course, Christina didn’t do that on purpose. She had gotten so used to having a driver that it became second nature to her.

Francis waited until she had gotten into the passenger seat before entering the car.

He then sped off shortly after starting the engine. Because the road they were on was not a part of the main road, there were hardly any cars around. The sound of the wind was the only thing Christina could hear inside the car.

As they slowly came to a halt at a red light, a car in front of them flashed its high beams repeatedly at them to get their attention.

Christina narrowed her eyes when she glanced at the car and recognized its license plate.

Nathaniel has got to be the only person in all of Jadeborough to own a license plate with four eights ini

Both cars were facing each other, so it wasn’t hard to see Nathaniel sitting in the back seat.

The look in Nathaniel’s eyes was so cold that Christina could feel his domineering aura even from a distance.

The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as though their cars were the only ones in the area. It felt as though something horrible was about to happen in no time.

“It seems Nathaniel has come to pick me up, so you don’t have to send me home tonight,” Christina said while undoing her seat belt.

Her tone sounded casual as though she was saying goodbye to an ordinary friend.

Francis’ lips curled into a faint smile as he leaned over and opened the door for her. “I’ll pick you up at the same time tomorrow.”

Christina paused in her tracks when she heard that. “No, that won’t be necessary. I know the way, so I can come over myself.”

She then swiftly got out of the car and walked up to Nathaniel’s.

Sebastian quickly opened the door for her and motioned at her to get in when he saw her walking over.

The traffic light turned green, and both cars continued to move forward slowly.

Nathaniel’s huge figure made his presence all the more domineering, and the look in his eyes was so cold that a single glance was enough to make one’s blood freeze.

Sebastian nervously wiped the sweat off his brow as he drove on. Mr. Hadley is usually happy to see Mrs. Hadley, so why does he look even angrier now?

Christina leaned against Nathaniel and propped her chin up with one arm as she asked, “Nathaniel, do you know what I did at work today?”

Sebastian felt as though the air in the car had been depleted at that point. Regardless of what Christina did at work, she should not have been in Francis’ car

After all, Nathaniel’s level of jealousy was ridiculous, and there was no telling what he would do.

It’s never a good idea to anger Mr. Hadley, even if you’re his wife. I wish you all the best, Mrs. Hadley!

 

Chapter 126

Time stood still. After a while, Nathaniel uttered through gritted teeth, “I don’t know.”

“Today, I’m doing styling for Coco’s new music video. Do you remember Coco? I was the one in charge of her clothing styling for my first television series.”

Christina got more and more animated as she spoke. Her words were soft and sweet, like cotton candy, and they melted one’s heart.

Gradually, the atmosphere in the car became less tense.

“I think I’m much better in my job now, and I should be able to have my own distinct style soon. When I open up my own studio, do you want to be my first customer? I’ll make you the most handsome- looking suit that will make you shine at all times.”

Christina’s eager expression made her look like an adorable, small animal waiting for his approval.

Nathaniel was no longer as cold as before. He raised his long fingers, touched her chin, and caressed her soft and smooth skin.

“All right.”

All of a sudden, his gorgeous face came close to Christina’s. Before she knew it, he bent down and kissed her on her lips. Her heart skipped a beat, and there was only silence.

Nathaniel had his arms around her slender shoulders as he assaulted her with his passionate kiss. Just as she was about to pass out, he released her.

“You aren’t allowed to go near him in the future.”

By him, Christina knew that he was referring to Francis. I wonder why Nathaniel hates him so much. Is it because Francis is an illegitimate child?

The grudges from the previous generations tended to have an effect on the younger generations too.

Christina bit her lip. “But I still have a job to do, and Coco is his… Coco is one of his artists. I can’t get away from him…”

Her words turned the atmosphere ice-cold once again.

Even Sebastian felt like jumping out of the car as the tense atmosphere terrified him. Why can’t Mrs. Hadley lie to Mr. Hadley? It’s not like he can use a surveillance camera on you when you’re at work, can he?

Christina looked at that cold face of his carefully before continuing, “However, I can assure you that I won’t have any interaction with Francis besides work-related stuff.”

Unfortunately, Nathaniel did not budge an inch. He was still as cold as ever.

Christina wrapped her arms around his lean torso and could feel the result of the hard work that he put in at the gym. She then returned to her senses.

“Think about it. You wouldn’t find out even if I lied to you and continued to work with Francis behind your back. However, I don’t do pretentious things.”

Christina’s assurance was way better than any other tactic. If he still refused to give in, it would make him look very harsh.

The annoyance on Nathaniel’s face lessened. “Okay. In the future, Sebastian will send you to work and fetch you afterward.”

At that moment, Sebastian was frozen to his scat. “Yes, Mr. Hadley.”

The following day, Christina saw Sebastian waiting for her when she was about to head to work.

“You’re a very busy man. Why don’t you just let the driver send me instead?” Christina felt that it was a waste of resources for the secretary of a CEO to be sending her to work.

Sebastian smiled and opened the car door. “Mr. Hadley trusts me. That’s why he lets me do this task. I have an assistant to help me with things recently, so it’s all right.”

“Oh, by the way, what happened to Madison?” asked Christina after she got into the car. Madison had not made things difficult for her in a long time.

Sebastian started the engine and replied, “Mr. Hadley has sent her abroad to deal with some projects.”

Madison was sent away after Ada’s identity was revealed. It was not hard to guess what Nathaniel’s motive was.

Christina asked no more questions. She took out her tablet and started working.

Soon, they arrived at the location. Francis was not there that day, and Christina felt that everything went much smoother and faster.

It was easy for Coco to portray the playful style given her childlike face. There was no need to use extra styling. The moment she showed up, she was in character.

Christina had prepared shimmery makeup for her. The current set of styling made Coco look even more quirky and cheerful..

Once they were done with indoor filming that morning, they proceeded to the outdoor location.

In order to achieve good lighting, the staff moved quickly once they were done with the indoor shooting.

During the lunch break, Christina tidied up the clothes. Since she had no assistant, she had to do everything by herself.

The next scene was an outdoor location that was built by the studio. Back then, Francis had built it for the sake of convenience.

Most of the company’s music videos and photoshoots were shot and completed at the same location.

Christina went to the location using the company car. By the time she arrived, the staff were staging the place. She, on the other hand, had already laid out all her tools and equipment.

“Are

you Coco’s stylist?” asked a piercing voice, causing Christina to turn around.

The woman was dressed in simple black clothing, and she had no makeup on. She appeared to

of the artists here for the shoot.

be

“Yes,” answered Christina indifferently.

Gwyneth Lawson placed her hands on her waist, feeling unhappy about Christina’s attitude. However, Gwyneth had heard from the cameraman that Coco’s styling was excellent the day before, and her makeup was different from usual. As such, Gwyneth wanted to try Christina out as well.

She did not expect Christina to be so unappreciative.

Gwyneth’s assistant walked up to Christina and said arrogantly, “Do you know who you are talking to? Lots of makeup artists want to work with Ms. Lawson!”.

Christina glanced at the tall and slender woman. Gwyneth indeed had a great figure and a good- looking face, so Christina had no doubt she was an artist.

However, Christina was not interested in working with her. After a soft “I see” as acknowledgment, she continued with her work.

It was Gwyneth’s first time witnessing such an arrogan working attitude from a stylist. Then again, she had been in the entertainment industry for some time now. It was true that some unique stylists had a bit of a temper.

Thus, Gwyneth pulled out a chair and sat down. She then undid her black jacket, which happened to showcase her exquisite figure. “Come over and do my makeup.”

Christina turned around and saw her in the chair. “My apologies. I have to do the makeup for Coco later on, so I won’t have time for you.”

Gwyneth’s assistant glared at Christina before telling her off, “Ms. Lawson is Coco’s senior. Is there anything wrong with letting Ms. Lawson go first?”

Christina was at a loss for words. It was the first time something like that had happened to her.

Just then, Coco came over. After changing into a pink checkered dress, she looked extremely adorable.

She had heard the conversation earlier on. Since Gwyneth was more famous and higher in seniority, she tended to bully the newer and younger artists.

 

Chapter 127

It wasn’t the first time Coco got bullied. Once during a gathering, Gwyneth intentionally sent the others away and left Coco alone at the club.

Another incident was during their collaboration for a commercial. It was a winter day with snow falling, and Gwyneth deliberately had Coco smiling in the cold winter breeze, clad in thin clothing. She even purposely dragged things on, so Coco was close to being a frozen snowman by the time she was done filming.

Thinking back on all her past experiences, Coco didn’t have a single nice thing to say about the arrogant woman in front of her.

She turned to Christina and said, “Let Ms. Lawson use my spot if she wants it since she’ll need more time to conceal the wrinkles on her face.”

“Coco!” Gwyneth shot to her feet and stormed over to them with anger on her face.

She wasn’t happy about Francis splitting some of her resources with Coco as of late. She’s a woman with no background, yet she wants to snatch away my resources, I’ll take that as a challenge.

“Mr. Fernando specifically hired Christina to be my stylist, so if you want to employ her, call Mr.

nando first,” Coco rebutted.

Francis said I was the only one getting a stylist, so I’m not conceding, regardless of what Gwyneth says.

Gwyneth planted her hand on her hip and glared at Coco. “Do I need to spell out my relationship with. Mr. Fernando for you? You’re just a country girl. What right do you have to stand on this stage as a

celebrity? I guess your fans are either brainless or country bumpkins like you. Why else would they like you?” she scorned.

Gwyneth’s family had always been wealthy. She had been an art student since she was young and spent her earlier days studying in a music school abroad. That was where she met and got acquainted with Francis. The two then returned to the country to kickstart their career.

Francis established his own studio, Francis Entertainment, after achieving success as an actor. Gwyneth joined without a second thought the moment she found out about Francis’ company.

She had performed well for the past years and earned a hefty profit for the company, so she was considered a favorite.

Coco’s starting point was different from hers. Coco had learned and trained at small organizations. Naturally, her curriculum vitae were severely lacking compared to Gwyneth’s.

However, the only difference was Coco’s years of backbreaking training. She had focused on improving her acting skills, which finally paid off in the form of Francis’ acknowledgment.

Christina stood in front of Coco, worried the latter’s dress would be stained. “You lack caliber for speaking like that. Both of you are celebrities, so insulting her as such is basically criticizing yourself.”

Even though Christina knew the entertainment industry was ugly like that, Coco was not only her partner but also her friend.

She couldn’t stand there and watch others mock Coca Sensing the tension in the air, the surrounding photographers and production assistants gathered around them to watch.

Gwyneth’s features twisted in anger. “You better not think you’re somebody. You’re just a no-name stylist! Believe it or not, but one word from me, and the majority of the big shots in the entertainment industry won’t collaborate with you.”

Her threatening eyes fixed on Christina’s face.

A mere stylist dares to challenge me? Everyone who takes Coco’s side is my enemy.

Coco was enraged but didn’t want to affect Christina’s career. Instinctively, she grabbed Christina’s wrist. “Leave it, Christina.”

“Leave it? I won’t drop the matter if you don’t kneel down and apologize.” Gwyneth snorted.

Her dislike for Coco was amplifying as of late. She figured she should use this chance to teach the newer celebrity a lesson.

With a sneer on her lips, Gwyneth crossed her arms across her chest, perfectly embodying the word “arrogance.”

Kneel and apologize? Gwyneth dares to demand us do something so humiliating? This has obviously crossed a line! How are we supposed to keep our pride intact in the entertainment industry if we kneel in public?

“You’re crossing a line!” Coco had planned to bury the hatchet by apologizing, yet she didn’t expect Gwyneth to rack it up a notch.

Gwyneth merely stared them down with cold eyes that held a gleam of envy. “I want you to regret ever showing off in front of me. Do you think you’re a big deal since Francis gave you a chance? Guess

whose side he’ll take with one word from me?”

The benefits she brought to the company were more than Coco. Naturally, any top management would choose a more valuable artist. Plus, there was a long-time rumor flowing in the company.

Gwyneth liked Francis, hence her lack of hesitation injoining his company when it first started. Any new artist who wished to get closer to Francis would have to face Gwyneth’s attacks.

Recently, Coco hadn’t only received Francis’ attention but also a few good endorsement deals. Naturally, her colleagues would gossip about her.

All the gossip reached Gwyneth’s ears, and she took it as Coco’s shameless attempt to snatch Francis away from her. That was why she singled Coco out.

“Since that’s the case, why don’t we call Francis over and see how he deals with this?” Christina asked.

She refused to believe Francis didn’t have a sense of morality.

Gwyneth looked like she had heard something unimaginable. They dare to call Francis over?

During their argument, the production assistant had discreetly recorded a video of the scene and sent it to Francis. Francis immediately raced over once he saw the video.

The crowd parted for him to pass through.

“This place is used for filming, not for an argument. Why are none of you working?” Francis approached them in a black shirt with a wine-red tic, looking more serious than usual.

His overly-cool gaze was like the cold, icy water. It deterred anyone which it landed on.

The crowd instantly dispersed like small critters scattering away.

Usually calm and gentle, Francis was a completely different person whenever there was a dispute.

It was a first for Christina to see such a serious-looking Francis. Studying him in further detail, his presence was much stronger than Nathaniel’s, but their features when tense were quite similar.

“Francis, this makeup artist and Coco are bullying me Hurry up and help me!” Gwyneth immediately rushed to his side and complained as though her pillar of support had arrived. “I want them to apologize to me no matter what, or I’ll be angry. Once I’m angry. I can’t focus on work. Francis, hurry up and make them apologize!”

At the heel of her words, Gwyneth even sneered at Christina.

Seeing the closeness between the two, envy filled Coco. Everyone wanted recognition from their bosses, and she was no exception.

However, she wasn’t willing to take the injustice lying down.

“Mr. Fernando, I didn’t bully Ms. Lawson. She was the one who started it. I just resisted, as is the normal reaction.”

With a frown, Gwyneth snapped, “Shut up!

 

Chapter 128

Francis swept his gaze across them before fixing his stare on Christina. He questioned, “What’s going

on?”

Gwyneth froze momentarily, wondering if she had misheard Francis.

What? I can’t believe that Francis believes in Christina’s words instead of mine. Isn’t she just a stylist? Besides, I’ve never heard of her in this field before. I was merely trying to stir up trouble by snatching Coco’s stylist. I won’t let her go easily if she deliberately says something to Francis!

Christina’s gaze flickered as she exchanged glances with Francis. At that moment, she looked like she knew Francis’ intention.

She uttered nonchalantly. “It’s nothing big. Gwyneth’s stylist is not here yet, so she wanted my help. However, I can’t leave now,”

“I see,” uttered Francis. Turning to gaze at the assistant, he ordered, “Hurry up and bring Gwyneth to do her makeup.”

“Yes, got it.” The assistant nodded, approached Gwyneth, and pulled her lightly. “Ms. Lawson, let’s get to work. Our schedule is pretty full today.”

Meanwhile, Gwyneth knew that Christina was giving her an out by doing so. Things would probably turn south if she refused to cooperate.

Judging from how Francis immediately turned to Christina to ask her take on what happened, he’s clearly on her side.

With that thought in mind, Gwyneth felt uneasy. Knowing that she shouldn’t be kicking up a fuss about that, Gwyneth mustered every ounce of willpower to keep her feelings suppressed and walked away.

It took Coco quite a while to register what she had just heard.

Is that it? What’s happening? Gwyneth isn’t someone who would give in just like that.

“Let’s go! We have to do the makeup. What are you waiting for?” Christina pulled Coco and left.

The drama died down unexpectedly. After they were done with the makeup, Coco followed the photographer for a shoot.

Meanwhile, Christina tidied her makeup tools at the dressing table and prepared the next outfit.

It was at that moment a dark reflection appeared in the bright mirror. Francis walked up to her silently and uttered, “You did a great job. I think that you have the potential to become a manager. Do you want to consider it?”

After what had happened a while ago, Christina rolled her eyes at him and replied. “There’s no need for that. Stop pushing the responsibility on me next time. Although I’m not working for your company, it would affect my career if I offend people like that.”

A hint of a smile appeared on Francis’ lips. She’s smarter than I thought. It didn’t matter which side I picked in a situation like that. There would be an aggrieved party anyway. That was why I asked Christina for help. She didn’t want to find trouble and was smart enough to cooperate with me after realizing what I wanted. All things considered, everyone had a happy ending. Besides that, Gwyneth won’t make things difficult for Coco again in the

Francis sat on the couch at the back, a wide smile on his face. “I owe you a favor. I’ll add another five percent to your fees.”

“I’m satisfied with this method of repayment.” Now that Christina needed money, she wouldn’t reject the offer.

Christina turned around to look at him. “The suit is done. Do you want to try it?”

Renee had recently been participating in a variety show. She was probably too busy to reply to her text messages and merely mentioned that she was satisfied with the design drawing. Thus, she asked Christina to proceed with tailoring the clothes.

Subsequently, Christina took some time out of her schedule to make the clothes. Renee didn’t have the time to try hers on yet. Hence, Christina planned to deal with Francis first.

Standing up, Francis responded, “Okay, pass the suit to me.”

Christina grabbed the suit from a garment bag beside her. After stacking the clothes up neatly, she passed them to Francis.

There was a changing room there. After taking the suit, Francis went into the room to get changed.

After some time, Francis came out in a white shirt. Christina had chosen a stand-up collar for it, which was a design suitable for weddings or grand events. By matching the dress shirt with a black bow tie, it lent a mysterious but charming aura to Francis.

Meanwhile, Christina had also elaborately tailored the waist of the suit. Once he buttoned the suit, Francis could flaunt his perfect slim figure underneath.

The length of the trousers was just right, and when paired with a pair of leather shoes, the overall result was that of a flawless wedding suit.

Christina answered with satisfaction, “It fits you amazingly. I think there’s no need for any alteration, right?”

Slightly lifting his chin, Francis tilted his head, showing his good-looking features. “Do I look handsome?”

There was no doubt that he was handsome. Back when he first started out, he gained popularity with his personable appearance. Other than possessing good looks, he was talented in acting and singing as well. He was a high-profile celebrity back then, and the paparazzi would follow him all day to take pictures of him to sell to the media. Needless to say, his good looks were widely acknowledged by the public. Later, Francis set up his own studio and started taking lesser jobs. Because of that, it was not common to spot him in the media nowadays.

Christina’s expression grew awkward as he looked at her. “Ask yourself. I think you know yourself

better”

“It’s so difficult to hear a word of compliment from you.” Francis shoved his hand into his pocket and suddenly frowned slightly. “Is there something wrong with the shirt? I feel something poking me.”

Hearing that, Christina walked over in confusion. How is that possible? I used the best materials to make this.

Really? Where?”

As Francis lifted his suit, the pleasant scent of his cologne wafted across her nose. “Touch the inside of this side. I think there’s a needle poking me.”

Christina focused all her attention on the shirt. It was not her habit to be that careless to leave a needle on the shirt. As she was about to place her hand on the shirt, she abruptly paused.

Lifting her head to look at Francis, she saw the wicked smile on his face and immediately realized that she had been fooled.

She retrieved her hand and said furiously, “Judging from how shameless you are, I think your skin is too thick for a needle to poke through. Can you stop flirting around? You’re getting married soon.”

I wonder if Renee knows he is this flirtatious? Although Nathaniel is cold and aloof, I much prefer him. Nathaniel is definitely more likable!

Francis had been sorely tempted to grab Christina into his embrace earlier. Ah! No matter what she does, she looks so adorable! However, she seems to have misunderstood me. Should I make it clear to her?

Francis asked abruptly, “Would you feel better if I’m not getting married?”

“No. I wouldn’t bother talking to you if you were not Renee’s fiancé.” Christina shot him a glare.

Christina only got in touch with Francis because of Renee. After all, Nathaniel would be unhappy if she had too much interaction with another man.

Francis’s face fell as a dark glint flitted across his eyes. He kept mum for a moment before saying, “Could you please make another suit according to these measurements?”

“Huh? Two sets?” Christina reconfirmed. Did I hear it right? Why would he make two similar suits?

“Yes. I will pay you accordingly.”

As soon as he said that, Francis turned around to take off the suit and handed it to Christina. “Pass the suits to Renee after you’re done.”

Christina took over the suit and responded, “Okay.”

She hesitated for a brief moment before asking, “Do you know any celebrities who are looking for custom-made dresses? I have excellent craftsmanship, and I’m able to deliver fast. Nevertheless, I charge slightly higher than the other tailors.”

Chapter 129

With an arched brow, Francis crossed his arms and stared at her puzzledly. “Your husband is filthy rich. Why are you working so hard for money? Is he not letting you spend his money?”

Christina raised her brows in response. “That’s not the case, of course. It’s just that I’m still so young, so I don’t want to rely on my husband financially. I want to spend my own money. You know what? Forget I ever asked,” she answered. I’ll just contact the other studios. I should be able to make some money if I hide my identity.

“Wait. I have great connections, so obviously, I know some people. They’ll pay at least three hundred thousand for each outfit. Will that work?” Francis called out to her.

“Of course! I’ll pay you commissions if the deal goes through.” Christina was surprised to hear how much she could make. If I can make that much money, no longer have to worry about Mom’s medical fees.

“I don’t need commissions. Perhaps you can treat me to a meal instead,” Francis suggested.

Christina hesitated for a while before agreeing, “Sure]

“I’ll send you the contacts later,” Francis said and got back to his work.

Christina kept Coco company until the shooting was done, and Sebastian came to fetch Christina right before noon.

Coincidentally, Gwyneth saw Christina getting into the car.

“She’s just a stylist, no? Why is she getting picked up in such an expensive car?” Gwyneth’s assistant had noticed Christina as well.

“I bet she’s a mistress. She looks so shady, but she’s pretending to be an innocent girl,” Gwyneth sneered.

“She’s clearly loaded. Why is she still working so hard I bet she’s trying to get close to Mr. Fernando!” the assistant uttered firmly. I’ve been working in the entertainment industry for so many years now, so I’ve seen countless people coming into the industry to get close to celebrities. Plenty of people are going after Mr. Fernando

because he’s handsome.

“Is Christina after Francis?” Gwyneth’s expression froze. I haven’t even gotten rid of Coco! Now, I have to deal with Christina as well!

With that in mind, Gwyneth demanded angrily, “Find out who Christina is working for!”

“Yes, Ms. Lawson.”

By the time Christina arrived in the city center, it was Junchtime. Hence, Sebastian sent her to Hadley Corporation.

Upon arriving in the CEO’s office, she saw Nathaniel working on his computer.

Shortly after she arrived, the chef entered the office with a cart and piled up the coffee table with delicious dishes.

“Mr. Hadley, lunch is ready,” the chef uttered and left the office.

Hearing that, Nathaniel rose to his feet and walked up to Christina. “Is the food enough?” he asked. Although the table is piled up with dishes, the food might not be enough.

“Of course! I don’t think we can finish the food.” Christina smiled in response. Nathaniel must think I’m a glutton.

As soon as those words fell, Nathaniel shot her a dubious glance and sat her down. After that, he removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves as if he was ready to gobble the dishes up.

In the end, Christina ate most of the food prepared, and they managed to finish everything,

When the chef came in to clear the table, he brought long some ice cream.

Seeing that, Christina quickly waved dismissively. “I’m filled to the brim!” she uttered. Gosh! Does he take me for a pig?

“Leave the ice cream here. You can eat it later,” Nathaniel said. Hence, the chef left the ice cream and

exited the office.

After lunch, Nathaniel went back to work right away.

Meanwhile, as Christina rested on the couch, she saw the ice cream melting and didn’t want it to go to waste, so she carefully reached out her hands to grab it.

With her back turned to Nathaniel, she started eating the ice cream.

When Nathaniel eventually lifted his gaze, he saw Christina sitting motionless on the couch and approached her. Only then did he realize that she was asleep.

She looked absolutely like a doll with her long and dark eyelashes, fair skin, and exquisite facial features. At the same time, there was an ice cream stain on her rosy lips.

Nathaniel couldn’t bear to wake her when he saw her sleeping soundly. Hence, he wiped the ice cream stain off her lips, put his coat over her, and lifted her into his arms.

Right then, Sebastian walked in and said, “Mr. Hadley, regarding the meeting at two this afternoon-

Nathaniel cut Sebastian off with a glare and ordered, “Cancel it.”

Sebastian was stunned, and he immediately became wary. When he lowered his gaze, he noticed a person sleeping soundly in Nathaniel’s arms.

“Yes, Mr. Hadley,” Sebastian replied softly.

Afraid that Christina would wake up, Nathaniel hurriedly carried her to the lounge.

Christina ended up sleeping the entire afternoon.

When she woke up, she noticed it was getting dark outside. As she scrambled to her feet, she grumbled, “I have work to do! Why didn’t you wake me up?”

In response, Nathaniel pulled her into his embrace. Before she could struggle out of his arms, he uttered flatly, “I applied for a leave of absence for your

“Oh…” Christina stayed. At least I won’t get a penalty if he already applied for leave for me. I need to save as

much money as I can now.

Christina thought she wouldn’t fall asleep again after taking a nap in the afternoon. To her surprise, she felt so comfortable lying in Nathaniel’s arms that she dozed off moments later.

Seeing that Christina had fallen asleep once again, Nathaniel got up from the side, pulled the blanket. over her, and tucked her in.

Upon leaving the lounge, he received a phone call from Madison.

In a gentle tone, Madison said, “Mr. Hadley, the contract has been signed, and we can officially start. working next week.”

As though he weren’t paying attention to what she had just said, Nathaniel sat in his chair and kept mum for a while before humming an acknowledgment.

At that moment, Madison was standing in front of a glass window in her hotel room. While looking at the lit-up scenery outside, she said, “I don’t think I’ll be returning so soon. I’ll only be leaving after the work has started successfully.”

Again, Nathaniel only hummed an acknowledgment after being quiet for a while.

M

Madison was actually testing Nathaniel. If he didn’t agree to have her back, she wouldn’t dare return to the country.

She had thoroughly infuriated Nathaniel when she exposed Christina’s identity the last time around. If not for the fact that she had been working for him for a long time, she would’ve been sacked by Hadley Corporation.

“That’s all, then. I better not take up too much of your time,” Madison said.

Nathaniel hung up the phone as soon as she finished her sentence.

Seeing how things had played out, Madison felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment. After going through what happened last time, I now know how much Nathaniel cares about Christina. If I keep going after him openly, he’s only going to hate me more. Even if I could destroy their relationship by doing that, it wouldn’t do me any good. From now on, I’ll need to rely on Francis to help me out.

 

Chapter 130

Christina heard back from Francis at around noon the next day.

Francis texted: I’ve already sent you the contact details. Don’t forget to buy me a meal this weekend.

Christina called the customer after replying to Francis: Sure.

+15 Bonus

The customer was a woman with a sweet voice. Since Francis had already told the customer about the deal, Christina had a simple conversation with her before agreeing to meet each other during the weekend.

The customer was rather generous because she immediately transferred half of the payment to Christina after the phone call.

Seeing that she finally had some money in her bank account, Christina felt a sense of security.

The weekend came in the blink of an eye, and Christina arrived at Yeatder Villa.

The moment the door opened, Christina was stunned when she saw the pretty woman standing before her. I know her! She’s Linda, Charlie’s dance partner that night! It turns out Francis has referred his mother to me. Why would he do this when he knows exactly who I am He has ulterior motives, doesn’t he?

“You’re Ms. Steele, right? Please, come in.” Linda recognized Christina right away. This lady attended the reception with Nathaniel that night. Mrs. Hadley doesn’t like her, right?

After leading Christina into the villa, the housekeeper served her a pot of tea and said, “Please have some, Ms. Steele.”

Meanwhile, Linda was sizing Christina up. She’s a beautiful girl. No wonder Nathaniel likes her.

“Is it true you designed the gown Mrs. Hadley wore that night?” Linda asked.

Christina nodded. “Yes.”

“I want a gown that looks exactly like hers. I’ll pay you the same amount she paid you.” Linda uttered excitedly.

Linda had been filled when jealousy when she caught Charlie looking at Julia when the latter wore the

gown.

Back then, Julia was the most popular socialite in Jadeborough, and she had plenty of men pursuing her. Now, however, Charlie ended up staying in Yeatder Villa instead of the Hadley residence.

With that knowledge in mind, Christina couldn’t help but think there was a conflict between Julia and Linda. Why does she want the same gown as Mrs. Hadley even after she has already gotten her hands on Mrs. Hadley’s husband?

“Mdm. Macall-”

“Oh, please. You can either call me Ms. Macall or Mrs Hadley.” Linda smiled.

Mrs. Hadley? Does Linda want me to acknowledge her identity? If Mrs. Hadley had a good relationship with Linda, I wouldn’t mind. However, it’s a fact they don’t see eye to eye with each other. In order to avoid crossing anyone, Christina smiled and replied, “Ms. Macall, I designed that gown for Mrs. Hadley based on her

personal characteristics. Since everyone is unique, what suits her might not suit you.”

+15 Bonus

Linda’s expression turned grim. “Are you saying I’m not as charming as she is, and she’ll look better than me in that gown?”

“That’s not it. I’m saying that you both have different styles. Mrs. Hadley is elegant, but you’re younger. Hence, you should try wearing brighter and more colorful outfits,” Christina explained calmly.

Linda’s mood was lifted when she heard Christina calling her young. “You’re right! Design a gown with bright colors on it, then. I can pay you however much you want.”

“I’ve already negotiated the price with Francis, so you don’t need to pay anything more,” Christina uttered. I would never raise the price as I wish.

“No. I need to pay more for the quality. I’m sure the quality of the gown will be compromised if I pay you less.” Linda continued in a more serious tone, “I’ll pay as much as Mrs. Hadley paid you. You must produce an exquisite gown for me.”

It was clear Linda was afraid of being inferior to Julia.

Christina nodded. “Don’t worry, Ms. Macall. I’ll do my best.”

With that, Christina took out a measuring tape and said, “Let’s get your measurements. I’ll come to you again once I’m done with my design drawing. If you’re okay with it, I’ll proceed to make the gown.”

“All right.” Linda was very satisfied. Although this lady is young, she’s very efficient. I like her.

Christina left after having a chat with Linda.

When Christina arrived at Scenic Garden Manor, Raymond welcomed her home and said, “Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley said you should go ahead with ditiner without him.”

“Okay.” Christina went to the study, took her drawing board, and listed all the design elements she could think of. The more detailed the elements were the easier it would be for her to draft the design.

When she was done with that, she went downstairs for dinner.

That night, after sitting on the chair for a few hours and going through a few sitting postures, she finally came up with a design. As Linda had requested, Christina designed a red gown.

Linda wanted an extravagant gown, so Christina designed a shawl as well. However, Christina hadn’t decided on the material she was going to use to make the gown.

With the drawing done, she kept everything hidden. That was how she kept her part-time job from Nathaniel.

After that, she went to bed and fell asleep.

1

Nathaniel had irregular working hours. At times, he had to review and solve the problems concerning the projects at hand.

Therefore, he would have to go back to work in his off-hours if he were to receive an emergency call. By the time he arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor, it was already the wee hours of the morning.

The moment he opened the door to the bedroom, he caught a whiff of her scent. The moon was clear, and the bed was covered in a silver glow. With Christina sleeping on her side, her beautiful curves were rather apparent.

Upon seeing that, Nathaniel grew excited right away. Loosening his necktie, he removed his coat and unbuttoned his shirt before going into the bathroom.

Christina was woken up by the sound of water coming from the bathroom. At that moment, the masculine scent of Nathaniel was all over the room, and it wafted into her nose.

When she turned toward the bathroom, she saw a blurred figure under the dim lighting, so she went to the closet to fetch a bathrobe. Right as she was about to knock on the bathroom door, a mischievous idea popped up in her mind.

Christina grinned and hid behind the door.

A while later, she stopped hearing the sound of water coming from the bathroom.

The bathroom was filled with steam when Nathaniel came out. As he was drying his hair with a towel, his gaze suddenly darkened because he felt someone closing in on him. He grew tense at once and grabbed the neck of the figure in the darkness.

Christina gasped for air and hit him with the bathrobe as she asked, “Are you trying to kill your wife?”

Hearing that, Nathaniel quickly retracted his hand and patted her back. He could fight like at professional fighter, so that was purely a reflex action. “Don’t ever do that again. It’s a dangerous game.”