Ch. 151..160
Chapter 151
The temperature in the room abruptly dropped by several degrees.
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Nathaniel’s menacing aura filled the room. If looks cold kill, Eugene would have died on the spot.
Nathaniel demanded. “Not only have you plagiarized my wife’s creation but are also falsely accusing her How do you think I should react to all that
Eugene’s gaze flitted nervously at he mulled over a response. The meaning of Nathaniel’s words finally hit the designer, who stammered. “W-Wife Did you say Christina Steel is your wife!”
Didn’t Christine just graduate from design school! He could the already be married? And to Mr. Hadley, no less? Ick! I’m doomed.
His body trembled with fear, but still, he willed himself to calm downI
He would not admit to any wrongdoing if there was no damning evidence Otherwise, his design career would be as good as over
“Im not falsely accusing anyone. Mr. Hadley. That is hy original design Eugene insisted rather weakly
Nathaniel shot the stubborn designer a withering glane before scoffing
A moment later, Sebastian threw a stack of document before Eugene
“These are all evidence of your plagiarizing habits. You used to pass off intern designs as your own all the time. A leopard never changes its spots” commerned Sebastian
The documents sent Eugene into further panic
He had spent a lot of money and connection to keep his dirty past buried, and he was naturally astonished that someone had recovered the evidence
It was clearer than ever that he had to plead innocence till the end. Admitting to plagiarism in the past would only make him seem more guilty now.
Eugene broke into cold sweat before insisting. “I really didn’t plagiarize her design, Mr. Hadley. How about this? I can release a statement announcing that Christina obtained my permission before using my design”
Sebastian was appalled by the man’s brazenness. He oriously plagiarized Mrs. Hadley’s work! But if he simply refuses to plead guilty to any wrongdoing, things are going to get complicated,
In contrast, Nathaniel gracefully sat on a couch and seemed unperturbed by Eugene’s persistent denial. He stared at the designer coolly and said. “You laundered plenty of money from the money you last collaborated with Your studio will close down once make the call and report you to the authorities.”
Eugene went wide-eyed in shock.
The worst a plagiarism scandal could do was to put him out of work, but a corruption scandal could land him in jail.
Even a fool knew which was the easier way out. Mr. Hadley’s connections in the industry are vast. I should’ve known digging into my dirty past was nothing but child’s play to him.
Eugene’s legs gave out beneath him. He knelt and pleaded for mercy. “It’s my fault, Mr. Hadley. I plagiarized your wife’s design. I know how to fix this, so please don’t report my corruption matters to the authorities.”
Satisfied with the confession, Nathaniel shot the security guards a knowing look, ordering them to lead Eugene away.
Meanwhile, Christina slept soundly the whole night.
She was dismayed to realize it was already bright outside by the time she awoke. Oh no! I haven’t thought of a way to prove my innocence.
She jumped out of bed and changed into fresh clothes before hastily leaving the house.
Christina checked her phone on her way out. It was ringing with dozens of news notifications. Every headline she clicked into discussed her plagiarism scandal.
It turned out that Eugene had released an official statement around dawn, admitting to plagiarizing
Christina’s work.
In the statement, he shared that he had purchased Christina’s design draft from Xenia Darby, a designer at Radiant Corporation, before reproducing it stroke by stroke.
At the same time, he expressed his utmost apologies to Christina and his supporters over the trouble he had caused and announced his permanent departure from the design industry.
Christina’s grip on her phone tightened subconsciously. I have only been knocked out for a night. What happened in that short span? Why did Eugene suddenly confess to his wrongdoing?
Still, what infuriated her more was the fact that he lied about Anna selling him the design.
She had worried herself to exhaustion over the lie the night before, knowing she would be devastated if she were betrayed by the person she trusted most.
After calming down considerably, Christina began worrying about Xenia.
News of the plagiarism scandal must have spread like wildfire, which exposed Xenia to the public’s
blame.
Christina tried to call Xenia several times but to no avail.
Once she arrived at Radiant Corporation, she was immediately pulled aside by Gina, who muttered anxiously, “We’ve got a situation on our hands, Christina. Xenia says she wants to take her life.”
Christina stiffened, her body filled with dread. “Where is she?”
“On the roof of the building.”
Many colleagues had crowded the rooftop entrance by then, though no one dared to approach the lone figure perched on the edge of the roof.
Chapter 151 Messing With The Wrong Person
Xenia’s face was wet with tears. She hated Eugene with a vengeance.
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Why did he have to suddenly admit to plagiarizing someone’s work? Even then, he didn’t have to rat on me as his accomplice! Didn’t we agree that my involvement would be kept secret?
She whipped out her phone and called someone.
Much to her relief, the line connected almost immediately. Xenia wailed. “You’ve got to save me, Eugene. The whole world is calling me an ingrate. You promised me you would find me a design director job abroad if I stole the design draft for you. I can get on the next plane out of here right now. Just tell me where to go.”
Eugene’s mood soured further on the other end of the line. He was already brooding over the end of his lucrative career.
His poor mood spurred him to retort, “Do you think you can become a design director with your subpar skills? Dream again. Perhaps you can find work as an odd-job worker.”
Xenia exploded in anger. Her hands shook as she spat “Are you breaking your promise?”
“You’re useless, you know. You couldn’t even get such a small task done properly, and you’re expecting me to help you? Dream on,” Eugene replied in a very cold tone.
He only approached Xenia because she was Christina’s assistant, which placed her in the best position to steal the design draft.
Now that his crimes had been revealed, he neither had the mood nor time to spare on a woman who was now useless to him.
The revelation was too much for Xenia to bear. She would not have stolen the draft for him if she had not believed that he loved her.
She nearly roared, “You lied to me! You heartless b*surd! I hope you rot in h*ll! I’ll expose all your dirty dealings!”
Eugene only scoffed, wholly unaffected by her threats. Instead, he countered, “Don’t forget that I still have your intimate photos. We’ll see who’s more ashamed once I send them to the tabloids.”
He hung up without giving her a chance to reply.
Only then did Xenia realize that she had been discarded like a dirty rag after serving its purpose.
Alas, she could not even protest the injustice of it all, not when Eugene still had incriminating photos of her.
Tears of despair rolled down her face. She was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.
She had just been abandoned by the man who used her, and behind her, her colleagues were mocking or humiliating her. Xenia had never felt lonelier at that very moment.
Worst of all, she had put herself in that situation.
Meanwhile, Christina and Gina finally arrived on the rooftop. Everyone turned to stare at them, eager to see the drama unfold.
“Xenia, what are you doing? Get off of there!” yelled Christina.
She strode toward the sobbing woman resolutely.
The familiar voice caused Xenia to cry a fresh wave of tears.
She turned around and noticed Christina’s approach. Hatred swelled in Xenia’s chest as she spat, “Why are you here? To see how I landed in such a predicament?”
Christina froze in her tracks. Pity and confusion flitted through her gaze as she denied Xenia’s accusations. “No. Why would I come here to do that?”
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Xenia shot daggers at Christina and sniped, “Stop acting all innocent. I’m the one who got you caught up in the whole plagiarism scandal. Now that the truth is out, you can’t wait to see me jump,right?
Not only had she taken photos of Christina’s design daft when the latter was not paying attention, but she had also deliberately gone online and incited netizens to have Christina kicked out of Radiant Corporation. Now, she had to bear the consequences of her actions.
My colleagues are calling me ungrateful and a traitor for double-crossing someone from the same company. They’re also telling me to get out of Radiant Corporation and to go to hell!
Christina bit her lip. Then, she asked, “With your incredible talent for embroidery, are you going to give up just like that?”
I’ve observed her work closely. Her needlework is excellent, he can even give her embroidery a three- dimensional effect.
Anna also stepped forward to help with persuading Xenia. “Xenia, don’t do something stupid. Hurry up and get down from there. Haven’t you read the announcement yet?”
In truth, Xenia had not dared to read any of the company’s posts as the comments were flooded with insults and call for her to get lost.
Seeing the pair singing the same tune made her feel even more upset. “Both of you should stop pretending. Christina is biased. She always delegates the easiest work to Anna while leaving the most laborious tasks like embroidering to me. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve pricked my fingers on the needles. Whenever my fingers bleed, she only carts about the clothes and not me. You two are responsible for the state I’m in today!”
She blurted out all her grievances all of a sudden, wanting to let the others know just how Christina abused her power.
Even though Christina was on the receiving end of those accusations, Anna felt a burst of anger when she heard that. She shouted, “Xenia Darby, so it’s true what they said when they called you utterly
heartless!”
Christina felt as though she were about to lose her head. Now is the time to talk sense into Xenia and calm her down, but why is she stoking the fire?
Even though she grabbed Anna’s arm, the latter’s fury did not subside in the slightest. All Anna could think of was to rush forward and slap Xenia.
Christina sighed, blaming herself for not explaining things clearly previously. “I put you in charge of embroidery because you’re very talented. I also recommended you to one of the top ten embroidery companies in the country. I was planning to tell you after we finished this batch of dresses…”
Alas, this happened before we could finish making the dresses.
When Christina held up her phone to show the offer letter, Xenia was utterly shocked. Everything she thought was true came crumbling down around her in an instant.
Christina’s kindness and sincerity made her feel ashamed of her actions. Burying her face in her
Seizing the chance when Xenia was momentarily distacted, the security guard standing to one side. swooped her up in his arms and brought her down. After that, Xenia fainted from the shock and had to be sent to the hospital.
More than anything, the commotion left others heartbroken.
Christina returned to the sewing room, feeling terrible. She sent the offer letter to Xenia’s phone, hoping the unpleasant incident would merely be a minor hiccup that did not affect her future.
Just then, Anna walked in with a cup of latte. “Drink this. It’ll help to calm you down.”
Forcing a smile, Christina held the warm cup to her lips and took a sip.
Her eyes were slightly lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
Anna patted her shoulder gently and continued to comfort her. “You’re just too kind. What happened isn’t your fault at all.”
Actually, I was also guilty of harboring prejudice toward Christina in the beginning. Through our interactions. however, my admiration for this young yet responsible lady gradually grew. Others say she climbed the ladder by riding on someone’s coattails, but she genuinely has what it takes. Xenia’s hubris is to blame for this incident.
Christina finally snapped out of her daze and said calmly, “I’m fine. Let’s get back to work.”
After the scandal blew over, Christina insisted on returning Henrietta her money and compensated the company for the cost of the materials for the dress out of her own pocket.
Henrietta’s attitude toward her shifted considerably upon learning that she had not copied another’s. work and even suggested engaging her again in the future.
Christina did not refuse, and the two exchanged contact information.
Although Gina had planned to arrange for another assistant for Christina, the latter declined the offer.
With all the work falling onto Anna and her, they were busy practically day and night in the following days. Hence, Christina took the opportunity to sleep in at Scenic Garden Manor when it was finally the
weekend.
After waking up, she changed into a casual outfit and went for a stroll in the front courtyard after
breakfast.
Since it was the start of winter, the winds were stronger and faster.
While sitting on a wooden bench and enjoying the breeze, she took out her phone and took a selfie. Then, she sent it to someone.
A second later, Nathaniel received the message on his phone.
He was in a conference room, and the atmosphere was serious as the director of the market development department was giving a report.
He checked his vibrating phone and tapped to view the message. The photo immediately popped up.
13:06 Mon,
Christina was wearing a white sweater paired with a short red skirt. She had on nude-colored stockings. over her long, fair legs, and her bare face appeared radiant. Her lips were curved into a slight smile, and there was a tender look in her beautiful eyes. She looked absolutely charming.
He could not help smiling at the sight of such a sweet photo, and he tapped on the photo to save it to his phone before replying with a message.
Meanwhile, the director had finished giving his report and was staring at his CEO in bewilderment.
The other executives also looked toward the head of the table in shock, hardly daring to breathe. They had never seen Nathaniel smile in a meeting or get distracted by his phone.
As for Sebastian, he did not show any surprise at the scene. If that expression appears on his face, it can only mean he’s chatting with Mrs. Hadley.
“Mr. Hadley, that’s the end of my report. Is there anything you think needs to be improved?” the director enquired softly.
Nathaniel looked up, his gaze icy. “Start from the top again.”
“Sure.” The director broke into a cold sweat as he began his hour-long report a second time.
Upon receiving his message, Christina read it out under her breath. “The skirt is too short. You’re not allowed to wear it out of the room next time.”
She studied her skirt carefully. How is this too short? The hem falls right to my knees. It’s the perfect length for a short skirt! I can sense his jealousy even on this side of the screen.
Just as she was about to go back into the house, a black Lincoln drove up.
Immediately recognizing the car plate number, Raymond had the guard at the gate let the vehicle. through.
The person who got out of the car was Hannah. “Ms. Christina, Mrs. Hadley would like to invite you to the Hadley residence.”
Even though she was a housekeeper, she spoke in a steady tone. After serving Julia for many years, she had honed an aura that was neither obsequious nor supercilious.
Christina’s heart lurched when she heard that Julia wanted to meet with her. However, since Julia had made the request and even sent a car to pick her up, she had no reason to decline.
As Christina stood up, Hannah scrutinized her outfit’s a young and innocent style. However, it’s unsuitable for a meeting with the in-laws, especially someone like Mrs. Hadley, who is a stickler for etiquette.
Hence, she said to Christina, “Please change into another outfit. I’ll wait for you here.”
Looking at her casual clothes, Christina thought it was not quite suitable indeed. She smiled and said, “In that case, please wait for a moment.”
With that, she turned and went upstairs. After changing into a beige suit, she tied back her long hair and added a rhinestone-encrusted hair clip in the shape of a bow on the right side.
Then, she went downstairs, got into the Lincoln, and returned to the Hadley residence with Hannah.
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The fragrant aroma of tea filled the living room of the Hadley residence.
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Julia was not the only one there, though. Christina had also heard the sweet voice of a young woman when she came in.
“Is there something you wanted to see me about, Mrs Hadley?” Christina asked calmly and confidently.
The woman sitting on the couch was in her early twenties and looked full of energy.
Olivia Stone leaned closer toward Julia and asked curiously, “Why isn’t she addressing you as ‘Mom,’” Aunt Julia?”
Married women would usually address their in-laws as “Mum” and “Dad.” The fact that she doesn’t do so means Aunt Julia doesn’t even see her as a daughter-in-law. That’s probably why Aunt Julia refuses to let her address her as “Mom.”
Instead of answering the question, Julia simply let out a soft chuckle and shifted her gaze toward Christina. “Take a seat,” she said in a commanding tone, which reflected her high social status.
Christina knew it would take a lot more than a few favors to change Julia’s mindset, so she didn’t mind it one bit.
In fact, she could clearly feel that Julia was slowly warming up to her.
Olivia flashed Christina a sweet smile and handed her a cup of tea. “You must be Christina, right? I’m Nathaniel’s cousin. My name is Olivia Stone!”
Those who are suddenly nice to you usually want something from you. This woman’s smile looks kind of fake. It’s almost as though she’s smiling simply because she has to. Hmm… Now that I take a closer look at her face, she looks kind of familiar… Have I seen her picture in some entertainment news article before?
With that in mind, Christina pursed her lips and said, “Thanks.”
“I hear you’re a designer. Is that true?” Olivia asked.
“Yes, you’re right,” Christina replied.
She had yet to touch the cup of tea that Olivia handed her.
Olivia did her research on Christina before coming over that day.
Christina had risen to fame as a designer within the entertainment industry, and countless people have flocked over to Radiant Corporation to have her design dresses for them.
Olivia heard Julia casually mention having a designer as a daughter-in-law. It wasn’t until she did some digging that she found out Christina was her cousin’s wife.
Naturally, she wasn’t about to let such a valuable connection go to waste.
“I’m going to attend a wedding soon. Could you help design a unique dress for me?” Olivia asked with a giggle.
Ha! I knew she wanted something from me! Who will ask someone they’ve just met to make them a dress?
With that in mind, Christina politely declined by saying. “If you need a dress, you could head over to Radiant Corporation and schedule an appointment with me. Company policy forbids us from accepting orders in private.”
Olivia froze and shot Julia a sad look without saying anything
It was obvious that she didn’t want to go through all that trouble.
Not only would Radiant Corporation charge its clients a high price for custom orders, but she would also have to get in line like everybody else.
The look in Julia’s eyes gradually grew cold when she heard that. “She’s your cousin. Why can’t you make an exception for her?”
She made an exception for me back then, didn’t she?
“Don’t put Christina in a tough spot, Aunt Julia,” Christina said with a pitiful frown.
She then turned toward Christina as she continued, wouldn’t have troubled you like this if I weren’t in such a hurry. I’m sorry, Christina.”
Christina furrowed her brow in displeasure, but she remained calm and glared coldly at Olivia without saying a word.
Is Olivia trying to paint me as the bad guy for declining her request? Hmph! Let’s see how long she can keep this up!
Julia knitted her eyebrows together.
She went through severe blood loss while giving birth to Nathaniel, so she couldn’t fulfill her wish of having a daughter.
As such, Olivia was the closest thing she had. That was why she had always liked Olivia and spoiled her like her own.
She had summoned Christina specifically because she wanted her to help Olivia out.
“Can’t you see how much she wants to wear a dress that you designed? Just find some time to make her one. It won’t take very long.”
Julia paused for a few seconds before continuing, “Tll pay you three million for that dress. There, will you help her now?”
Money was not the reason Christina declined Olivia’s equest, though. The company had received so many orders that her schedule was completely packed, so accepting Olivia’s order would require Christina to work without rest just to keep up with the orders.
No amount of money could ever be more important han taking good care of one’s health.
Christina felt as though she was being forced to the edge and struggled to make a decision.
“This isn’t about the money. You can find a lot of beautiful and well-made dresses online. How about I buy you a dress of your choice instead?” Christina asked.
She was willing to dig into her own pockets and buy Olivia a dress as it would be so much more.
convenient.
However, Olivia was not satisfied with the solution offered. “But those aren’t going to fit me perfectly! They won’t look good on me!”
Because of her pretty face and mellow voice, she made it sound as though she was the one being bullied.
Julia was about to say something, but Olivia stopped her again. “Don’t make things difficult for Christina, Aunt Julia! I’ll figure something out on my own.”
Julia felt really bad for Olivia, but she didn’t want to say anything further when she saw how firm Christina was.
Olivia let out a sigh and shifted her gaze back toward Christina as she exclaimed, “But I’m new to Jadeborough, and I didn’t bring a lot of stuff with me. I don’t know where to shop for dresses, nor do I know how to pick one that suits me.”
She wasn’t from Jadeborough and had only come over because her job required her to.
Seeing as Olivia had traveled this far all by herself, Julla felt the need to look after her.
Since it wouldn’t be appropriate for a woman like her to go shopping with Olivia, she decided to have Christina do it instead. “Take Olivia shopping and help her pick out a nice dress. I’ll pay for it.”
Christina’s face clouded over when she heard that. She knew she couldn’t keep declining Julia’s requests, so she had no choice but to agree to them.
“All right,” Christina replied with a nod and headed out the door.
Olivia said goodbye to Julia before leaving the house and getting into the car.
As Christina remained silent throughout the entire drive, Olivia kept talking about herself. It wasn’t until then that Christina found out Olivia was a small-time celebrity.
She had debuted a few years ago, but the roles she received were all mediocre, which made it hard for her to boost her popularity.
Christina brought Olivia to Radiant Corporation’s gallery where all the dresses that were deemed the best would be mass-produced and sold.
They all looked very pretty and sold for really high prices.
“Which one of these would look good on me, Christina?” Olivia asked while handing Christina three dresses that she had the salesperson pick out for her.
They were all unique in design, but they were not exactly suitable for a wedding.
“I think these would be a bit loud if you wear them to a wedding. For weddings, one should wear dresses that are simplistic yet modest and graceful in appearance,” Christina commented as those dresses were more suited for catwalks and banquets.
She then picked out a pink dress and a champagne-colored one. “These two would suit you better. Which color would you prefer?”
Olivia didn’t like either of them, but she couldn’t bring herself to express her dissatisfaction either, so she nodded and said with a smile, “You’ve got such great taste, Christina! I’ll take the champagne- colored one!”
Olivia then wrapped an arm around Christina’s as she continued, “But I also like the ones I saw earlier! How about we buy them too? That way, I’ll be able to wear them in the future!”
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Christina nodded with a smile and had the salesperson put the dresses into a bag
However, she handed Julia’s credit card back to Olivia and had her return it to Julia. After paying for the dresses with her own money, Christina breathed a sigh of relief as she had finally completed her
task.
She was about to have the butler drive Olivia back to the Hadley residence when Olivia clung tightly to
her arm.
“It has been forever since I last visited Jadeborough, and I don’t know anyone of my age here. Could I spend the night at your place, Christina? I have work tomorrow and will leave after attending the wedding the day after. Will you please take me in for one night? Pretty please?”
“A-All right, then…”
Since Olivia was a young girl all by herself in Jadeborough, Christina couldn’t bring herself to say no to her. She then brought Olivia over to Scenic Garden Manor.
They had just gotten out of the car when two bodyguards came over and stopped them.
“Mr. Hadley has specifically mentioned that strangers are not allowed in Scenic Garden Manor, Mrs. Hadley,”
“She’s Nathaniel’s cousin, so it’s okay to let her in,” Christina explained.
“No can do. We are not allowed to let anyone else in without Mr. Hadley’s permission,” the bodyguard said firmly and refused to budge.
Christina had wanted to explain herself further, but the bodyguards simply stared straight ahead and stood there like statues.
“I’m sorry, Christina! Am I causing you trouble?” Olivia had never seen anything like this, so she was on the verge of crying out of fear.
I brought Olivia over myself, so they have no right to stop her from entering!
With that in mind, Christina asked, “I’m the lady of this house. How dare you two defy me?”
The bodyguards froze up as it was the first time they had seen Christina behave like this.
Having seen how Nathaniel treated Christina in the past, they knew he would definitely say yes if she gave him a call.
As such, they decided not to stop her and let them both in.
After bringing Olivia into the house, Christina had the butler prepare the guest room on the first floor
for her.
Since Christina still had some work to do, she went into the study upstairs.
Renee gave her a video call and said while trying on a wedding gown. “This wedding gown looks amazing, Christina! I’ve taken lots of pictures carlier. Ill hang them up in the gallery during the banquet!
Christina also saw Renee’s husband, Hansel Headingten, standing behind her. They were both wearing. outfits that Christina had personally designed and created, which made them look perfect for each
other.
“You have got to attend my wedding the day after tomorrow, Christina!” Renee said with her hands on her hips.
She only behaved like that because the two of them were very close friends, though.
Christina nodded with a smile. “Sure thing. I’ll be there”
She wanted to be present at the wedding to experience the grandness and feel the heartwarming. ambiance of watching her friend get married.
After getting off the phone, Christina went back to concentrating on her design drawing. Due to the recent high amounts of workload, she had no choice but to work overtime.
A few hours soon came to pass, but she was so absorbed in her work that she didn’t even realize the sky had turned dark.
The manor was so grand that even the guest room was incredibly huge.
Olivia had always known since she was little that she had a wealthy cousin brother.
Despite his excellence and good looks, however, he was also very cold and prideful. It got to a point. where he wouldn’t even play with the other kids of his age.
She then retrieved a nightgown from her suitcase. The nightgown looked rather cute and sexy, so it would appeal to almost every man out there.
She had just taken a shower and changed into the nightgown when she heard the sound of a car pulling up outside the manor.
That must be Nathaniel!
Olivia quickly untied her hair and ruffled it a little before heading out the room.
Wait a minute… Would Nathaniel get angry if I just walk up to him like this? I don’t want to upset him or anything!
Unsure of what to do, Olivia quickly ran toward the stairs when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
“Christina?” Nathaniel called out to her.
Because Olivia had her back turned, all Nathaniel saw was her slender figure from behind.
Olivia froze when she heard what he said.
Did Nathaniel just mistake me for Christina? Well, Christina and I do have similar figures, so it’s no surprise if he mistakes me for her. Honestly, though, I think I’m rauch smarter and better looking than Christina! At the very least, I wouldn’t just bring another woman home…
Nathaniel had walked up to Olivia while she was still lost in thought.
His huge figure cast a tall shadow on the ground, and Olivia could feel his domineering aura without even looking at him.
A perfect man like Nathaniel has got to be the man of every woman’s dreams!
Nathaniel was about to place his hand on Olivia’s shoulders when Christina called out to him from upstairs, “Welcome home, Nathaniel!”
The air felt as though it had frozen around them.
Nathaniel’s brow knitted into a frown as he shifted his gaze between Christina, who was coming down the stairs, and the slender woman standing in front of him.
Olivia trembled slightly when she felt an icy-cold aur coming from behind. She then slowly turned around and said, “Hi, Nathaniel. It’s me, Olivia.”
As they hadn’t seen each other in a very long time, Olivia wasn’t sure if Nathaniel would still remember her.
Nathaniel’s frown deepened as he asked, “Who are you?”
As Christina reached the floor they were on, she noticed a hint of shyness in Olivia’s expression.
Wait a minute… A girl would only make that face when shes around her crush! They’re cousins, aren’t they? Why would she make that face around him?
With that in mind, Christina walked up to Nathaniel and wrapped her arms around his. “She’s your cousin, Nathaniel. Do you not know that?”
“I don’t remember,” Nathaniel replied coldly as though Olivia was a complete stranger to him.
Things got so awkward that it felt as though the air had stopped.
Olivia let out an awkward chuckle and explained softly, “We have only met a few times in the past, so it makes sense that you wouldn’t remember me.”
They never greeted each other during those few times they met, so it was no different from being total
strangers.
“She’s the daughter of Mrs. Hadley’s cousin sister, though. How could you forget her?” Christina asked with a frown.
I thought these two would at least know each other, but that clearly isn’t the case here. They’re acting as though they have never met each other! How odd…
Their conversation was interrupted when the butler came over and said, “Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley, dinner has been served.”
“Hearing that makes me hungry. Come on. Let’s go and have dinner!” Christina said while dragging Nathaniel over by the arm.
Olivia felt jealous when she saw how intimate they were with each other.
When all three of them were seated at the table, she tried to gain Nathaniel’s attention by talking in detail about their past encounters in hopes of him remembering her.
Olivia was delighted when Nathaniel placed his utensils down all of a sudden, only to hear him ask, “So, you’re that girl my aunt adopted?”
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Everyone fell silent, and the atmosphere soon grew awkward.
Christina turned to Olivia in surprise, feeling as though she had been lied to.
Wait, so these two aren’t related by blood? Why didn’t anyone tell me this before?
She shifted her gaze toward Nathaniel, wondering if Olivia had romantic feelings for him given the shy look she had just given him.
Olivia appeared visibly uncomfortable, but it was unclear if it was due to guilt from withholding the truth from Christina or from being exposed.
She put down her fork and gave Christina a pitiful look. “Please don’t misunderstand, Christina,” Olivial said. “Mom has always treated me like her own, and Aunt Julia and I are as close as family.”
Christina narrowed her eyes. When did I mention misunderstanding anything? Isn’t Olivia giving herself away by saying that?
“Let’s just cat,” she said, brushing aside the unpleasant interlude.
After dinner. Christina and Nathaniel went upstairs to retire for the night while Olivia remained downstairs in the living room on the pretext of watching television.
The house fell into an eerie silence as the housekeeper turned off all the lights around midnight.
Olivia stole a glance at the stairs, then scanned her surroundings before making her way toward them.
She had been paying attention to the commotion upstairs and knew that Nathaniel was probably still in his study.
Olivia poured a glass of warm milk and made her way upstairs.
The second floor was expansive and dimly lit, except for the study, where a soft silver light spilled into the hallway.
Olivia felt nervous as she approached the door with the glass of milk.
Before entering the study, she tugged at the collar of her pajamas and bit her lip, trying to make herself appear weak and pitiful.
“Nathaniel, have a glass of warm milk. Take a break,” she said softly as she entered the room.
Nathaniel looked up, fixing his deep, dark eyes on her
Olivia froze, intimidated by his piercing gaze. He exuded a regal air that was enough to unnerve
anyone.
“Get out,” Nathaniel said coldly, dismissing her before she could even approach him.
Having expected the rejection, Olivia was determined not to give up just yet.
She clutched the glass of warm milk and walked over to Nathaniel, staring at him with innocent eyes. “Nathaniel, please don’t get me wrong…”
13:07 Mon, Ma
Nathaniel, however, was having none of it. He smacked the glass from her hand, spilling the milk all over the floor, causing Olivia to cry out in shock and fall to the ground.
Christina, who had been tossing and turning in bed in the adjacent room, was jolted awake by Olivia’s
scream.
As she entered the study, she immediately sensed the tension in the room. Nathaniel’s handsome face was filled with a cold expression, and his anger was palpable, threatening to burn the whole study.
down.
Olivia broke into tears when she saw Christina. “Christina, I just wanted to serve Nathaniel a glass of
warm milk…”
Raymond hurried over when he heard the commotion. He immediately caught on to Olivia’s deceitful intentions and knew she had no business being in Nathaniel’s study when he saw the spilled milk all over the floor.
“Who gave you permission to enter Mr. Hadley’s study?” he demanded, repulsed by the young lady’s
actions.
Meanwhile, Christina approached Olivia, who was still trembling on the ground.
Her attention was momentarily diverted by Olivia’s revealing pajamas, which left little to the imagination. From that angle, she could see almost everything beneath Olivia’s collar.
Her eyelids twitched, and her chest tightened at the sight, but she quickly regained her composure and helped Olivia up. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault,” she apologized.
“Don’t say that, Christina,” replied Olivia, putting on a piteous act while hiding her glee.
Christina is so gullible. Perhaps I can use this to my advantage and even get to sleep in the master bedroom if I play my cards right.
With that thought in mind, Olivia leaned on Christina for support and said softly, “I brought in the glass of milk over for Nathaniel since you fell asleep. I was so scared wandering around downstairs, all
alone.”
Raymond couldn’t help but roll his eyes at Olivia’s obvious attempts at manipulation.
Even I can tell that Olivia has ulterior motives, so why can’t Mrs. Hadley see through her act? It’s so frustrating!
Raymond sighed and walked over to clean up the spilled milk.
Meanwhile, Christina gave Olivia a cold stare and pulled her collar up. “It’s all my fault. None of this would have happened if I had turned down your request. Nathaniel doesn’t like being approached by strangers,” she said icily.
Olivia was still mulling over how she could convince Christina to let her sleep in the master bedroom when Christina’s words hit her like a bolt of lightning.
She felt stunned and wondered if she had misheard. “Christina, please don’t blame yourself. It was my fault. I’ll be more careful next time.”
Next time? Christina frowned. She wants to stay?
Her lips curled up, but the smile was devoid of warmth. “Raymond, please arrange for Ms. Stone to be sent back to the Hadley residence.”
Raymond perked up at the request and quickly agreed. “Sure thing, Mrs. Hadley. I’ll take care of it right. away.”
“Christina, I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here with you. Please let me stay,” pleaded Olivia, her voice trembling as she gazed at Christina in disbelief.
Alas, Christina’s determined expression made it clear she was not joking.
Raymond grabbed Olivia’s wrists and dragged her out of the study.
The butler who would usually get tired from doing chores effortlessly brought Olivia down the stairs.
Scenic Garden Manor returned to its peaceful state as the car took off.
Christina walked over to Nathaniel and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pouted. “Are you still mad?” she asked.
Nathaniel remained impassive as he stared at her ingratiating smile.
“Come on, don’t be angry. I promise I won’t bring anyone home without your permission in the future. Tomorrow, I’ll have the housekeeper disinfect the entire house to eliminate any lingering smells. This is our home, and no one can come in here, okay?” Christina’s soft voice was sweet as honey.
Nathaniel broke into a smile as she spoke. He tapped her nose affectionately and replied, “Go to bed.”
He stood up, carrying Christina in his arms and taking her back to the master bedroom.
Olivia never dared to bother Christina again after getting kicked out of the manor.
Meanwhile, Christina had been so occupied with her work at Radiant Corporation that she had. completely forgotten she had a wedding to attend until Renee called the next day.
She quickly changed into a white evening gown at the office, styled her hair in a simple updo, and applied some light makeup before heading to the hotel where the wedding was taking place.
Christina had to present her invitation card to the guards when she arrived before being escorted to the top floor since the wedding wasn’t open to the public and only close family and friends were allowed entry.
When Christina entered the grand hall, she felt like she was attending an A-list event with recognizable celebrities filling the room.
However, she didn’t have much time to gawk as her main duty was to doll up Rence and ensure she looked stunning-
Chapter 156
Christina found the dressing room and was about to enter when she heard a commotion from within
She swallowed the words of congratulations that almost escaped her lips.
Rence was dressed in a pristine white dress, yet the joy which a bride should have was absent from her face.
She glared at her father with resentment in her eyes. How could you bring that woman along when today is my wedding day? Are you doing this to upset me on purpose?”
“How rude of you, Rence! She’s my girlfriend.” Edward’s expression was inexplicably indifferent
“Have you considered Mom’s feelings? Imagine how ashamed she’d feel when she sees you appear with a girlfriend my age!” Rence was so exasperated that her eyes shone with unshed tears.
She could accept her parents’ separation after a divorce, but her father bringing another woman to such an important occasion was off-limits.
The worst part was that her father’s girlfriend was also part of the entertainment industry. Renee was worried about what her friends might think of her if they found out about such a scandalous affair.
“I didn’t want to bring her with me, but she insisted on tagging along. There’s nothing I can do about that.” Edward carefully enunciated his words, not knowing how to explain.
“There are only two options. Either she gets lost, or you leave together with her. I have no desire to see her at my wedding ceremony,” Renee announced with finality as she sat before the dressing table
Edward wanted to say something further, but upon seeing the stubborn look on his daughter’s face, he sighed and left.
He met Christina’s gaze as soon as he stepped out of the doorway.
Realizing that their conversation was so loud that Christina had overheard everything, he sighed once more before striding away.
Christina entered the dressing room, where Renee sat gloomily before the dressing table.
The latter heard footsteps and hurriedly collected herself, plastering a smile. “Christina, you’re here”
Christina was taken aback by how swiftly her mood changed. She had been raising her voice just a moment ago but was now greeting Christina with an amicable smile.
As expected from an A-list actress. She’s capable of handling any situation with grace and finesse. Indeed, she’s born to be a star in the entertainment industry.
“Your wedding venue is decorated stunningly! I’m sure everyone can’t wait to see what a gorgeous bride you’ll be.”
Christina approached Rence and carefully admired her glowing skin.
They chatted while Christina helped Rence change into her bridal gown and apply make-up that accentuated her outstanding features. Finally, Rence wore her wedding veil with Christina’s help.
13.07
Rence was a natural beauty. Her high brow ridge gave her a regal air, while her delicate jawline added a touch of feminine softness to her features. A dash of rouge was applied to her delicate lips to add a touch of color to her complexion.
Her make-up was just completed when the host came to inform her, “Renee, we’re starting soon. Please come outside and get ready.”
“All right.”
Rence got to her feet. At that moment, she was transformed into a magnificent bride.
“You go on ahead. I’ll clean up the dressing table,” said Christina as the host led Renee out.
She made her way out only after tidying the dressing table.
While passing by a balcony on one side of the corridor, she overheard a conversation.
“You should head back first. I’ll meet you at the hotel once the wedding ceremony ends,” Edward persuaded.
“Why are you so worried when I’m not? I wish to give your daughter my blessings on her wedding. too,” replied a young woman with a meek and pitcous voice.
“She dislikes you. Your presence would only upset her and create unnecessary trouble.”
“I’m sure we’d have many common interests since were around the same age. How are you so sure we won’t get along?”
Christina was not nosey, yet she couldn’t help pausing in her tracks when she heard the woman’s meek.
tone.
She craned her neck and saw that the young woman was wearing an extravagant gown and thick makeup.
It seemed like she was here to vie for attention instead of attending the banquet.
Christina immediately recognized her to be Olivia.
It turns out she’s referring to Renee’s wedding when she mentioned attending a friend’s wedding! What’s even more surprising is that she’s in a relationship with Renee’s father! I can’t believe such an innocent-looking lady like her is the mistress of a man several decades older than her!
“That’s enough. Please, just leave now.” Edward quickly turned to leave for he was afraid he might relent if he lingered any longer.
Christina hurriedly hid in an inconspicuous corner to avoid running into Edward. It’d be extremely awkward if that happened.
Only after his footsteps faded away did she emerge from her hiding spot.
The wedding ceremony had begun. Taking her seat among the guests, Christina gazed up at the stage and whipped out her phone to record a video of her surroundings before pointing the camera at
herself.
She sent the video to Nathaniel once she was done.
The wedding photographer took advantage of the interval before the next segment commenced to invite the guests to take a photo with the newly-wedded couple.
Christina sat aside and watched as many celebrities with charming features lined up to take a photo with the couple. She was lucky to enjoy such a feast for the eyes just by sitting there.
Looking at the celebrities’ attire, she couldn’t shake off her professional habit and began sizing up their outfits.
The photographer turned in her direction shortly after and asked if he had left anyone out.
Christina had just stood up when she felt a warm hand gripping her wrist. “Let’s do it together.”
As soon as she raised her head, Francis’ well-sculptured features came into view. His lips curved upward to form a charming smirk.
He pulled her forward, and they posed for the photo with Christina and Thomas between them.
“Say cheese,” said the photographer as he captured a shot of them.
At that moment, a slender woman made her way over It turned out to be Olivia, who was wearing a bright smile. “Renee, why don’t we take a photo together?” she asked.
She was behaving amicably with Renee, and those who were oblivious to their relationship would definitely be fooled to think they were close friends.
Renee’s face fell as she lowered her voice and hissed. Who said you were allowed here? Get lost.”
She stared daggers at Edward, who was seated at the main table.
I told him to get this woman to leave! Why is she still here?
“You’re the bride, so you shouldn’t get mad. I’ll leave after we take a photo. Don’t worry,” Olivia uttered. showing no intention to leave as told while urging the photographer to take the picture.
Only the most influential individuals and celebrities were invited to the wedding ceremony. Olivia would gain clout if a photo of her as one of the guests was posted online.
Thomas ushered Renee away when he saw that she was on the verge of losing her temper.
After all, it would be embarrassing if they made a scene in front of this many distinguished guests.
Unwilling to give up, Olivia was about to follow them when Christina intervened. “It’s Renee’s big day today, so please don’t ruin it for her. Please leave.”
“Christina, you seem to be on friendly terms with Renee. Why don’t you act as the intermediary and help us get to know each other better?” Olivia still hadn’t given up on following Rence.
Chapter 157
Christina dared not say that she knew Olivia as it was too humiliating.
“If she refuses to get to know you, you can’t change her mind easily. I think you should leave.”
Not wanting to waste time talking to her, Christina tumed to leave, but Olivia grabbed her arm.
Despite her slender build, she had enough strength to prevent Christina from leaving.
“Christina, are you still upset about what happened to Nathaniel last night?” she asked, almost on the verge of tears. “I know it was my fault. Can you please not leave me alone here?”
Christina had never met someone who could act as well as Olivia.
I’m leaving her alone? Why does she make me sound so evil?
“All right. Let’s leave together, then.” Christina gripped her hand tightly and led her out.
No matter how reluctant Olivia was, she had no reason to stay behind.
D”mn it! I still haven’t gotten to take a photo with Rence and Thomas! I don’t want to leave yet!
As soon as they exited the hotel, Christina shook Olivia’s hand off and asked, “Does Mrs. Hadley know you’re doing this?”
Olivia had wanted to continue her pretense but was forced to drop the act when faced with Christina’s questioning.
Folding her arms across her chest, she directed an icy glare in Christina’s direction. “Aunt Julia adores. me. I bet you’re nothing compared to me in her eyes.
Aunt Julia and Christina’s relationship is strained, to say the least. Christina and Nathaniel are married, but Aunt – Julia still forbids Christina from calling her “Mom.” She clearly hates her.
Olivia was well-behaved in the presence of Julia, but in reality, she spent a lot of money and couldn’t keep relying on the latter for financial support.
Edward was the owner of a film company, so she ended up currying favor with him.
Words eluded Christina as she looked at Olivia’s coy manner. “You’d better behave yourself.”
With that, she spun on her heels and left.
It’s unfortunate that a young woman like Olivia is unwilling to work hard and instead looks for shortcuts. She doesn’t realize that her actions could lead to the destruction of her life if she isn’t careful enough.
It was evening when Christina finally returned to Scenic Garden Manor.
She walked into the manor to discover that there was a new couch in the living room. Nathaniel was lounging on it, reading a document on his tablet. He placed his tablet aside when he spotted her.
“Has the wedding ended?” he asked.
Christina hummed in affirmation but didn’t tell him what transpired earlier.
Her phone rang. It was a call from Julia.
Christina had a bad feeling. She was about to answer the call when Nathaniel took her phone from her and put the call on loudspeaker.
“Mrs. Hadley, is there anything I can do for you?”
Julia’s angry voice pierced through the phone as she confronted Christina, “How could you spend so much money? You bought thirty million worth of branded goods using my card!” Her bank account had just alerted her about the extravagant purchase made with her supplementary card.
“What are you talking about? Thirty million? I never even used your card!” Christina’s eyes turned as wide as saucers.
Afraid that Olivia had twisted the truth to frame her, she explained, “I paid for Olivia’s dresses and told her to return your card to you.”
Did Olivia use her card behind her back?
“Thirty million is nothing to me. If you’ve used my card, just admit to it. Why would Olivia accuse you falsely for no reason?” Julia snapped.
Without waiting for any reply, she ended the call abruptly.
Christina was disgruntled to be accused of something she didn’t do. Staring at her phone, she whined helplessly, “Nathaniel, I didn’t use Mrs. Hadley’s card. I swear! I actually used my own card to buy five gowns for Olivia. They cost a bomb!”
J
Christina felt aggrieved. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have paid for her purchases. Despite my kind deed, I was wrongly accused.
Nathaniel scowled. “You bought a gift for her?”
“Yeah. I bought five gowns,” Christina replied with a leng face, feeling distressed about wasting her
money.
Displeasure crossed Nathaniel’s face as he gave her a dark look. She usually spends her money wisely and keeps track of her expenses at all times. I can’t believe she’s generous enough to buy dresses for someone else.
Christina belatedly realized he was upset and pinched his checks cheekily. In an attempt to cheer him up, she offered, “Why don’t I buy a gift for you the next time I get paid?”
“That’s more like it.”
Christina grinned. “I’ll head upstairs to continue working. I still have many pending design drafts to complete.”
Nathaniel ruffled her hair adoringly and grunted in acknowledgment.
After Christina went upstairs, he pulled out his phone to call Sebastian. “Run a thorough background
search on Olivia Stone.”
Sebastian responded in affirmation, and the call ended.
A few days later, Nathaniel brought Christina to the Hadley residence after she got off work.
After yelling at Christina over the phone previously, Julia didn’t bother being nice to her when they met this time.
Christina had no idea why Nathaniel would bring her here to get mistreated.
Julia was glaring at her so hard that her eyes were practically blazing with fire.
Olivia, on the other hand, was diligently making tea and giving Julia a massage, winning the older woman’s favor.
“Christina, have some tea,” Olivia offered cheerfully as though their previous altercation had never happened.
Christina couldn’t help but feel that she would be out of place in the entertainment industry as she lacked the ability to put on a perfunctory act.
She wordlessly accepted the tea without responding to Olivia’s polite greeting.
Upon observing Christina’s behavior, Julia immediately assumed that she was being arrogant, looking down on others because Nathaniel adored her.
The air was tense and neither of them spoke, creating an uncomfortable silence.
Suddenly, Nathaniel broke the silence by saying, “I’d like to watch TV”
Christina pivoted her head to stare at Nathaniel in confusion. He never watches TV.
Hannah retrieved the remote control to switch on the TV.
“The entertainment channel, please,” Nathaniel instructed.
Hannah tuned in to the entertainment channel as told. The news being reported was fairly routine, with updates on a recent release of a historical drama and a movie featuring popular actresses, but nothing particularly noteworthy.
Christina was baffled. Is Nathaniel planning on investing in a project related to the entertainment industry?
A while later, everyone stopped paying attention as neither was interested in entertainment news.
Suddenly, a piece of gossip news attracted their attention.
The news anchor reported the scandal involving a D-list actress who allegedly seduced the owner of Olson Group, leading to Renee Olson’s decision to terminate all collaborations with the company. The actress was said to have spent the night with the man at a hotel and subsequently landed the lead role in a new drama produced by Olson Group.
A few HD photos were displayed, showing the D-list actress in action.
Everyone immediately recognized that it was Olivia.
“Olivia, you…” Julia was gobsmacked upon seeing the news.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that the obedient girl would become the mistress of a middle-aged man!
Her face turned grim as she stared at the photos in disbelief. The truth was blindingly clear now.
“Aunt Julia, I did nothing of the sort. That man tricked me, and I innocently fell for his lies. It wasn’t. my fault…
Olivia’s pupils narrowed in shock. I’m extremely careful and vigilant whenever I head out. How did the paparazzi catch me in the act?
Chapter 158
Julia noticed that the branded bag in the photo Olivia was holding was one of the items purchased using her credit card.
Olivia had told her that Christina brought her to Radiant Corporation to buy some inexpensive gowns, but had mentioned nothing about buying a branded bag.
Julia reasoned that if Olivia really liked the bag, she wouldn’t mind buying it for the latter. However, the fact that Olivia lied through her teeth about it indicated that she had a defective personality.
The photos accompanying the news made it impossible for Olivia to deny her involvement.
Olivia felt cold sweat drenching her back when she noticed Julia’s expression turning dark.
Her voice was trembling as she explained, “Aunt Julia, that was fake news. Photos can be photoshopped, so don’t trust that!”
Christina was certain that the photos were not fabricated, as she recognized the man in the pictures as Edward Olson. The snapshots of the two of them laughing and chatting couldn’t have been photoshopped.
However, she wasn’t about to chime in right this moment.
After all, she knew Julia wasn’t a fool to be tricked by Olivia’s lie.
Julia shot Olivia an exasperated glare. “You’re a young lady in your twenties, but you’re having an affair with an old man! I’m not going to believe any of your excuses. How could you become his mistress?
Aren’t you ashamed?”
Julia’s marriage was destroyed by a homewrecker, so she despised immoral women.
Olivia’s actions had struck her sore spot.
“I wonder how your mom educated you over the years. You might be adopted, but you’re still part of the Stone family. If word gets out, the Stone family won’t let things slide easily,” Julia warned.
Tears rolled down Olivia’s cheeks as she sobbed, “Aunt Julia, listen to me. It was a misunderstanding!”
Her tears were merely part of her act, and no one sympathized with her.
Julia rose to her feet, looking both indifferent and disappointed. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. Save your excuses for the Stone family. Raymond, give her a ride home.”
Raymond nodded readily and got the housekeeper to pack up Olivia’s stuff swiftly.
“Ms. Stone, this way please.”
Olivia paled as she dropped to the ground to grovel at Julia’s feet. “Aunt Julia, please don’t kick me out. My mom will kill me if I return. Please, Aunt Julia…”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried miserably.
Julia hesitated before prying her hands off firmly. She then pivoted around and strode up the stairs.
Raymond and the help dragged Olivia out and got her into the car.
When silence was restored in the living room, Christina snapped out of her reverie.
On the way back, she couldn’t help but ask, “Did you arrange for the news to be reported on TV?”
She found it strange that he asked to switch on the TV right after their arrival.
He then requested to tune in to the entertainment channel, and Olivia’s news was reported shortly. after. She refused to believe that it was purely a coincidence.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Sebastian was inwardly pleased.
Mrs. Hadley finally discovered one of the many things Mr. Hadley had done behind her back for her sake.
Nathaniel leaned against the car window, propping his arm up and resting his chin on his palm in a suave and commanding pose.
His calm gaze swept over Christina’s curious expression and replied, “As the saying goes, ‘He who is unjust is doomed to destruction: What she did will be exposed sooner or later.”
All he did was expedite the matter and reveal the truth to the public ahead of time.
Christina remembered that the branded items Olivia used in the photos were quite conspicuous. Some. of them were even enlarged, making it easy to see the branded bags and scarves she was carrying.
The person who took the photos must’ve done that on purpose so Julia could see clearly that it was Olivia who used her card to buy the branded items.
As realization dawned upon Christina, she grinned and rested her head on Nathaniel’s shoulder.
Whenever she leaned on his broad shoulder, she felt safe and secure, just as he always made her feel.
He never boasted about the things he did but was still able to give her a sense of security.
Back in Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel returned to his study to work.
Christina prepared home-cooked dishes for dinner that night, and Nathaniel had a hearty appetite, cating more than his usual amount.
Nevertheless, Christina thought he ate his usual portion.
In the late hours of the night, Nathaniel was engrossed in reading a contract in his study while Sebastian busied himself with organizing documents on a corner of Nathaniel’s desk.
Right then, Madison’s call arrived. She was still abroad.
“Mr. Hadley, I’ve finished work here, and I’ll be back tomorrow. Do you have any other orders for me?” Madison asked in a soft voice.
She gripped her phone tightly, waiting for his reply.
“Mm.” Nathaniel grunted in response.
Knowing Nathaniel was consenting to her return, Madison was inwardly delighted.
Despite sounding calm, she couldn’t help but grin. “It’s late, so I won’t take up your time anymore. Sleep early.”
For over two months, she had been working overseas. Every night, as she returned to her hotel room after work, Nathaniel would occupy her thoughts.
She couldn’t shake off the image of Nathaniel working seriously, reading contracts, and talking to her.
After the call ended, Madison poured herself a glass of red wine before texting Francis: How are things going on your end?
A while later, Francis sent her a photo of him attending Renee’s wedding with Christina.
Madison observed the photo and brushed her fingers across their figures, covering the newly-wedded couple standing between Christina and Francis. They look like a great match.
Radiant Corporation was focusing on developing Epean-style sweet but sexy female clothing brand for the second half of the year.
Zachary called for a meeting early in the morning, gathering the directors and group leaders of the design department with the directors of the PR department to discuss the research and development program for the market, as well as its feasibility.
Christina listened along as she made notes.
Being employed in a large company had its pros and cons, and one of the downsides was that she didn’t have the freedom to design whatever she pleased. The designers were obligated to create appropriate designs in line with the company’s chosen style.
After spending the entire morning in the meeting, Christina felt like her ears were buzzing.
At noon, she left work to have lunch with Nathaniel.
The receptionist at the front desk of Hadley Corporation recognized her, so Christina took the elevator and went straight to the CEO’s office.
She pushed the door open and walked in.
Madison turned over her shoulder and gave her a smile. “Christina, I’m glad you’re here. I have a gift for you.”
She retrieved a petite leather branded bag from her luggage, which shimmered under the light.
Christina had seen the bag being featured in the latest fashion news and knew it cost at least six figures.
Though the gift was expensive, she couldn’t bring herself to reject it. “Thank you.”
“I think this bag is cute and suits your style a lot. I hope you like it,” Madison said, wearing a kind smile.
Chapter 159
For a moment, Christina wasn’t sure if the Madison who used to plot against her was the same person. as the one standing before her.
Madison was currently all smiles.
However, her smile was devoid of emotions, which made Christina feel rather strange.
“I love it. You’ve got great taste.” It was only right to express gratitude after receiving a gift.
Such basic etiquette wasn’t lost on Christina.
Following that, Madison placed a beautiful black gift box on Nathaniel’s table. “This is yours, Mr. Hadley. I’ve brought you a gift, too, so don’t call me biased.”
Christina’s gaze fell on the gorgeous brooch in the box. One could tell it was a meticulously chosen gift.
In fact, it was obvious that Madison’s main objective was to give Nathaniel a gift. Christina’s gift was just
a cover.
Without glancing at it, Nathaniel simply hummed in acknowledgment and picked up the document by
the side.
Madison could not tear her eyes away from his charming face. After all, she missed working with him. after not seeing him for two months.
However, she would never tell him her feelings.
Madison smiled and picked up her luggage. “I shall not disturb you two anymore. I’ll get going now.”
She would not show her emotions, no matter how disgruntled she felt.
After all, she had already been punished for her actions last time. All she could do at that moment was to take things a step at a time and wait for the right moment.
The thick atmosphere of jealousy that filled the air in the room was palpable, but it wasn’t from Nathaniel. Rather, it came from Christina.
She held the brooch and felt bitter when she thought of Nathaniel wearing a brooch gifted by another
Woman.
Although it looked ordinary, an accessory like this represented the thoughts of the gift giver.
The recipient would be reminded of the giver whenever he or she put it on.
“It’s pretty,” Christina commented sourly as she put the box down.
Hearing that, Nathaniel looked up at her with a frown.
The woman was pulling her cheeks and pouting her lips, her sparkling eyes glinting with jealousy.
Nathaniel cast her a puzzled look.
Just then, Sebastian knocked on the door and entered with some documents. “Mr. Hadley, these
The Birthday Of Grandma
documents are urgent. Please deal with them first.”
As soon as he put the documents down, a black box appeared out of nowhere in his line of sight.
Before Sebastian could even ask about it, Nathaniel said plainly, “It’s for you.”
Picking up the box, Sebastian muttered, “Madison has already given me a brooch, but it’s not as nice as this one.”
Nathaniel threw Sebastian a glare, exuding an icy aura
“Thank you. Mr. Hadley. I really like it.” With that, Sebastian turned around and left with the box.
The corners of Christina’s lips curled upward slightly. He’s getting smarter these days.
After lunch, Christina took a nap in the lounge before going to work at Radiant Corporation in the afternoon.
There was another meeting in the afternoon. Once it ended, Christina went to the tailor room to continue working on the gown that was close to its due date.
The new project was very important to Zachary, hence Gina was involved in designing as well.
It was almost nine o’clock in the evening by the time Christina exited the tailor room.
Almost all of her colleagues had left at that time. Seeing Gina’s office was still brightly lit, Christina. went to the pantry to get two glasses of warm water.
“Ms. Tanner, will I disturb your work?” asked Christina while standing at the door with two glasses of
water.
Only then did Gina look up from the paper she was working on and smiled. “No. Come in.”
“It’s late now. It’s better to just drink water,” explained Christina. Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea. could refresh one’s mind, but they could also keep one awake the whole night, causing one to lose sleep.
While Christina placed the glass on the table, she spotted the design draft presented on the tablet from the corner of her eye. It was incomplete, but one could tell it was drawn by someone with a great foundation.
As expected from someone who holds the position of a director.
Christina’s eyes sparkled. “You sure are great at hiding your skills, Ms. Tanner. I can’t wait to see your work when it’s completed.”
Smiling, Gina responded, “You’re pretty impressive yourself, too. Keep up the good work.”
“Thank you, Ms. Tanner. I’ll let you continue with your work.” Christina walked out and shut the door behind her.
Gina’s eyes glimmered as she watched Christina leave. At first, it was Nathaniel who asked Gina to look out for Christina, who was a newbie.
After a few interactions with Christina, however, Gina began to realize the former was not as weak as
she expected.
In fact, Gina believed Christina could overcome every difficulty on her own, even without Nathaniel interfering and helping her behind the scenes.
After having worked like a dog for a week, Christina lay in bed during the weekend to read up on the latest fashion news. Right then, a housekeeper knocked on the door.
“Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley would like you to get changed and wait for him.”
Hearing that, Christina sat up and picked up her phone that was charging on the side. To her surprise, the screen was flooded with notifications of missed calls from Nathaniel.
She could picture his scowling face even though they weren’t together at that moment.
“Tell him I’ll get ready.”
With that, she put her phone down, scurried into the changing room, changed into a light pink dress, and combed her hair in front of the mirror.
The moment she went downstairs, she saw Nathaniel car parked in front of the entrance.
As she walked over, Sebastian opened the door.
She hopped into the car and smiled sweetly. “Where are we going, Darling?”
She spoke ingratiatingly, for she knew she had angered him.
Nathaniel tucked her hair behind her ear, exposing her youthful and innocent face under the light. She looked radiant and adorable.
“It’s Grandma’s birthday today. We’re going to Yorksland,” he said plainly.
It’s Old Mrs. Hadley’s birthday?
As far as Christina remembered, the old lady had always lived in seclusion. Rumor had it that she had an unpredictable temper.
Christina glared at him, complaining. “Why didn’t you say sooner? I prepared nothing. It’ll be so awkward if I go there empty-handed. Sebastian, turn around and go to the mall now. I need to buy at gift for her. I’m sure Grandma has everything she needs, but it’s not right for her granddaughter-in-law to show up without a gift.”
Nathaniel smiled upon seeing her serious expression and tousled her hair affectionately.
The next thing she knew, she felt a warm and soft sensation on her forehead.
Nathaniel kissed her gently, his warm breath enveloping her.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve already prepared the gift for you. You just need to say it’s from you.”
Christina nodded obediently. Nothing would go wrong since Nathaniel was the one who prepared the gift.
“Get some sleep. It’ll take a while for us to arrive at Yorksland,” Nathaniel said softly while embracing
her.
Hearing that, Christina curled up like a lazy kitten and nestled against his chest while humming softly in acknowledgment.
Listening to his powerful heartbeat and feeling his slender arms wrapped tightly around her waist, Christina felt as if she had all the best things on earth.
A few minutes into the peaceful drive, she fell asleep.
Chapter 160
It was already evening when the car arrived in Yorksland and stopped in a villa.
When Christina opened her eyes, all she saw was a bamboo forest.
To be more specific, it was an outer courtyard filled with bamboo. There was a pebbled path leading toward the two-storied villa.
When she exited the vehicle, a gust of fresh air swept past her, carrying a faint bamboo fragrance.
I’ve lived in the heart of the city for so long that I’ve gotten used to all the dust and gas carbon. It feels like I’ve stepped into a new world here. As that thought swirled in Christina’s mind, a gust of cold wind blew at her, making her feel both refreshed and chilly.
A black coat settled on her shoulders as Nathaniel’s unique sandalwood scent enveloped her, making her feel warm.
He then took her small hand and led her inside.
Meanwhile, Sebastian followed them while carrying the gifts.
They weren’t the only visitors. When Christina ventured deeper into the courtyard, she saw around seven luxury cars parked outside.
Ever since Abraham Hadley passed away, Felicia Carson had been living alone in that peaceful villa.
She usually wouldn’t accept visitors all year long except on her birthday.
Naturally, her friends and families wouldn’t miss a once-in-a-year opportunity to visit her.
Everyone knew Felicia was religious, so the guests brought paintings and antiques related to her. religion as gifts.
When Christina entered the building, she saw a kindly old woman sitting in the middle of the living
room.
Felicia was wearing a quaint, plain-colored attire, appearing composed. Even though she was nearly seventy years old, she could still sit up straight.
Meanwhile, Julia was clad in a gown with vividly embroidered jasmine. Her hair was tied-up into a bun, and her makeup was light, giving her an air of dignified elegance.
Charlie was right next to her, donning a black suit. Hi refined vibe matched Julia, and they looked like the perfect couple while standing together.
Nathaniel brought Christina over to his elders and greeted, “Grandma.”
Felicia nodded as her gaze landed on Christina. She looks beautiful. I like her small face and bright eyes.
It was Christina’s first official meeting with the old woman, so she was feeling extremely anxious, even more anxious than when she went for a job interview.
Smiling, she uttered, “I hope you’ll live a long and healthy life, Grandma. Happy birthday.”
The solemn atmosphere was instantly shattered by the young woman’s sweet voice.
Felicia nodded with satisfaction. “Please, take a seat.”
“Thank you, Grandma.” Nathaniel spoke.
Regardless of the occasion, he always acted indifferently.
He escorted Christina to the seats at the side. The three generations of the Hadley family had assembled, generating an atmosphere too overpowering for ordinary people to handle.
Felicia turned to Julia. “Your gown is unique, Felicia. The embroidery is beautiful.”
“Thank you, Mom.” Julia glanced at Christina.
Her indifferent gaze made it challenging to tell what she was thinking.
1
Considering how much she dislikes me, I don’t think she’ll necessarily be delighted by that compliment. Christina thought.
”
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Promptly, Julia answered, “Your granddaughter-in-law was the one who sewed it by hand.”
Félicia nodded. “I can tell she’s skilled from her work. Not bad.”
Upon obtaining the elders’ approval, Christina felt proud. As a joyful glint flashed past her eyes, she covertly tugged Nathaniel’s hand. Even though Mrs. Hadley still hasn’t accepted me despite my efforts,
at the very least, I can tell she doesn’t hate me as much anymore.
Madison, who just entered the building, overheard the conversation. Mrs. Hadley was praising Christina? Even Old Mrs. Hadley, who usually doesn’t pay attention to anything, praised her! I only left for two months. How did she impress both of them in such a short amount of time Her abilities exceed my expectations!
After recollecting herself, she smiled and stepped toward Felicia. “Happy birthday, Old Mrs. Hadley. I wish you the best of health in many years to come! My parents are busy, so they asked me to bring you their gifts.”
When she presented a traditional painting to the old woman, the butler at the side accepted it.
Felicia nodded. “I’m happy the Taggart family still remembers my preference after all these years.”
It was thanks to Abraham that the Hadley family and the Taggart family always shared a strong relationship.
The Taggart family was also a prominent family in Jadeborough with an established family business in the city.
Even though Madison was the eldest daughter of the Taggart family, she worked for Hadley Corporation instead of helping her family.
Her intention to approach a certain someone was apparent to the elders.
Back then, both families were interested in pairing the two together. Unfortunately for them, Nathaniel was married before it could happen.
So, the idea was scrapped.
Felicia spoke. “There’s no need for you youngsters to stay here. Feel free to walk around outside.”
Upon obtaining the old woman’s approval, Christina and the others left the living room.
It was Christina’s first time there, so she was intrigued by everything she saw.
Nathaniel accompanied her on a stroll. Meanwhile, Madison followed behind them, staring at them. with jealousy.
When Christina wasn’t around, I was always by Nathaniel’s side. Even though we didn’t have any physical contact, we were still together. Now, I can only watch them enviously. As she tightened her fists, she tried calming herself down in her mind. I must be patient and wait for an opportunity to strike…
Moments later, Christina and Nathaniel entered the bamboo forest that was part of the villa.
A white rabbit hopped past them when they entered the forest through the pebbled path.
Christina gasped in surprise and chased after it.
The adorable rabbit eventually stopped next to a bamboo.
As she carefully approached the creature, she noticed the rabbit’s foot was injured, its blood tainting its white fur.
She examined the wound in detail. It seems like the rabbit was hit by someone with a blunt object.
Suddenly, a series of footsteps approached her, accompanied by a voice. “Where did the rabbit go?”
When Christina raised her head, she saw a skinny figure appearing in her view.
It was a young woman wearing a pink dress and holding a slingshot. The arrogance in her eyes was clear as day.
When she noticed Christina, she questioned assertively, “Hey, did you see a rabbit?”
“I did. Is it yours?” asked Christina.
The woman, Elizabeth Bennet, snorted. “As if I’ll keep such a smelly thing. I’m bored, so I’m looking.
for fun.”
Suddenly, she saw the fluffy white ball moving in her view. Immediately, she raised her slingshot and aimed it at the innocent animal.
Christina’s pupils constricted as she blocked the woman’s line of sight. “I won’t allow you to hurt it.”
However, Elizabeth ignored her and readied her slingshot. Coldly, she spat, “If you don’t move away, don’t blame me when I hit you!”
Then, she intentionally loosened the rubber band, shooting a rock straight toward Christina’s face.