Ch. 251..260
Chapter 251
Christina breathed a sigh of relief only after she hung up the phone.
“Was that your boyfriend?” asked Benjamin.
Uh… That was my husband.” Christina flushed, feeling a little shy.
She rarely mentioned Nathaniel to outsiders because he attracted too much attention. Besides, she did not want to attract the attention of people with ulterior motives.
As if discovering an interesting fact, Benjamin said, “D”mn. I thought you were still underage. Turns out you’re married.”
It was understandable that he saw her that way since she had fair skin and smiled in a way that charmed everyone. It would not be an exaggeration to say that anyone would fall in love with her at first sight.
“The details of the next round of the competition will be announced tomorrow. You should rest early.” Christina put down her empty cup and got up to leave.
Seeing that. Benjamin opened the door and gestured to the door. “Good night.”
“Good night.” Upon reaching her room, Christina stopped thinking about the protest.
They’ll leave when they’re tired. Everyone’s got to work, anyway. They can’t possibly starve themselves and hang around the gate to protest.
Christina got into the bed and soon fell asleep.
At midnight, unified shouts from the outside traveled into the room. “Withdraw from the competition, Christina! Withdraw!”
They shouted in unison, and their voices grew louder with each shout. Soon, everyone in the house was awakened.
Several designers rushed to Christina’s door and scolded, “You’re a jinx, Christina! Get out now!”
“Open up, Christina! Deal with your problem now!”
“How are we supposed to sleep with all this noise?”
The moment Christina opened the door, she was met with several pairs of eyes that were glaring at her as if they wanted to gobble her up.
Nonetheless, there was nothing Christina could do about the protestors out there. It was not like she asked for this.
Standing in front of the crowd, Nancy threatened, “Get rid of those people now or withdraw from the competition.”
“That’s right. Your problem is affecting us!” Margaret uttered in an unpleasant tone while glaring at Christina.
The two women’s exaggerated words made the rest of the designers agree that Christina had to either withdraw from the competition or get rid of the people out there.
Intensifying Public Opinion.
The criticisms made Christina feel suffocated, but she could not just ignore the matter. After all, she was. the cause of all this.
“Let me check with the security guards.” Christina put on a coat and went downstairs.
As soon as she found the security guards on duty, she asked, “Why aren’t you guys chasing them away? The noise is affecting the others.”
How are these people standing in the middle of the road for an entire day when it’s so cold? Are they being paid to do
this?
Alas, the guard said exasperatedly. “We don’t have a choice. Everything outside of the mansion is public property. There’s no use calling the police as long as they do nothing illegal in public areas.”
In fact, the security guards would have driven the crowd away instead of just looking at them if they had the authority to do something about it.
Christina sighed, feeling helpless as she watched the group of people shout louder than before.
I guess I should give Nathaniel a call. He’s my husband, after all. Trivial matters like this should be resolved as long as I ask for his help.
Hence, Christina turned around and approached the door. To her dismay, Margaret had roped in the other designers to lock the door.
“Christina, you’re not getting in if you don’t deal with those people.”
“You jinx! You have no right to come in!”
Christina stared at the locked door in shock.
In the next second, fury bubbled in her heart. They’re too much! What gives them the right to lock me out? Even if they wanted to do that, they should at least give me my phone.
“Open up! You can’t do this. Open up!” Christina fumed.
At that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be as strong as Hercules so she could smash the door
open.
Have these women lost their minds? They should give me my phone if they’re not letting me in!
The women inside the mansion smiled from ear to ear when they heard Christina’s panicked voice.
They were going to lock her outside in the cold for the entire night.
It’s her fault for being so aloof all the time. Tonight, we’re going to let her experience what it’s like to be ostracized.
Meanwhile, Benjamin was infuriated by their actions. He rushed downstairs and berated, “How could you do that to Christina? Open the door now!”
Benjamin was the only person among them who stood on Christina’s side.
Of course, the women would not give up so easily when they had finally found a chance to bully Christina.
“Lock Benjamin in his room!” yelled someone. Immediately, the others began shoving Benjamin up the stairs before he could arrive on the first floor.
Intensifying Public Opinion
“What are you crazy women trying to do? Let me go!”
With no one helping him, the women managed to force him upstairs with just a few pushes. They ignored. everything he said as if they were zombies who lost their sense of rationality.
After shoving him into the room, Nancy grabbed a mop and slipped it through the door handle to lock him from the outside.
“Have you women lost your minds? Open the door now!” Benjamin yelled at the top of his lungs while pounding on the door. Even his eyes were bloodshot.
He could not be bothered about himself. All he was worried about was how cold Christina must be from being outside in those thin pajamas.
I promised to be like a brother to her last night. And now, I can’t help her when she’s in trouble.
The women on the outside high-fived each other as if they were the victors. “Nicely done, girls!”
With that, Nancy brought the others downstairs. She could not be happier now that the two people she hated the most were locked up.
“Come on. Let’s go to the kitchen and have a drink to celebrate this peaceful and wonderful night,” Margaret suggested.
Hearing that, the rest headed toward the dining area. All of them had a sense of pride for being in the same boat.
Soon, the beers in the refrigerator were taken out and uncapped. With that, each of them held up a bottle. and clinked them.
They exchanged gleeful glances. After all, they had formed an alliance after having eliminated a common
enemy.
While they were enjoying themselves, they did not notice the camera that was secretly capturing every moment in the corner.
The cold night breeze blew incessantly outside, causing Christina’s fingers to feel stiff in just a short while. The worst thing about all this was not that she was out in the cold in her pajamas-it was not having her phone with her.
Feeling helpless, she had no choice but to approach the security guards to borrow a phone.
The guards felt sorry for her when they saw her frozen face. However, three minutes ago, they had just received a call from the director and were told that the director was live broadcasting the scene. They were not allowed to lend her their phones for the sake of the show.
“I’m sorry. We’ll be fired if we lend it to you.”
“Sorry. This is being live broadcast, so we can’t lend it to you.”
Nonsense. This is all for the show again? This director doesn’t even care about my well-being.
The current temperature was almost sub-zero. Even though Christina was wearing fleece pajamas, it was still cold without any heaters around.
Given no choice, Christina strode back to the door and eyed it coldly.
Intensifying Public Opinion
They’re causing such a ruckus. I’m sure Benjamin will learn
Chapter 252 Selena Saves The Day
The number of viewers watching the live broadcast had reached several million and was still increasing.
Angry comments flooded the show’s comments section.
A netizen wrote: At first, I thought Christina was not all that great. But now, I have realized those female designers are the disgusting ones.
Someone commented: It’s so cold out there. I’d tear apart anyone who would dare lock me out in that weather.
Another added: Someone, help her! I can’t bear to watch this anymore!
The next comment read: The leaders of the movement are clearly Nancy and Margaret. These immoral designers should be the ones withdrawing from the competition.
Christina had been standing out there for an indefinite amount of time, yet no one seemed to have any intentions of opening the door for her.
The outside was filled with protestors, while the mansion was locked from the inside. Christina was stuck in between and could go neither in nor out of the compound.
After scanning her surroundings, she spotted a set of badminton rackets. Hence, she walked over without hesitation.
Although the rackets were not sharp objects, she still slammed one against the door.
She did not use all her strength during her first try, yet the racket was already bent out of shape. The door did not budge from that.
Naturally, Christina realized she did not use enough strength the first time. Thus, she gathered all her might and brought it down on the door again and again, with each strike fiercer than before.
Soon, the door handle was broken, and so was her racket.
Forcing someone into a corner was extremely easy. All that was needed was to make that person lose their patience.
Christina’s expression turned colder, and her gaze grew more piercing as she picked up the other perfect badminton racket and continued hitting the gap in the door.
When the banging sounds rang out, the laughter in the house came to a halt.
Their expressions changed as they exchanged glances.
Nancy grew flustered when she saw Christina smashing the door with something on the outside.
After all, Christina seemed weak under normal circumstances. Nancy had never imagined the former would be stronger than she thought.
Is she trying to break the door?
A person from the group was so shocked that her beer bottle slipped from her hand as she remembered. seeing the news of a usually calm woman beating up people violently.
“What do we do? Will Christina come in and hurt us?”
Margaret raised her brows slightly, scoffing at their worried looks, “What are you scared of? There’s no need to be afraid of her when there are so many of us.”
They had around six people on their side while Christina was alone. Moreover, Margaret believed they would not lose to someone who looked so fragile.
The women’s worries were reduced when they thought about that.
After all, they had only chased her out of the house. It was nothing major.
An apology was all that was needed if Christina wanted to pursue the matter.
The sound of the door being pushed open brought the women back to their senses. At the same time, a gush of cold wind rushed in.
The women froze and shifted their gazes to the door.
Christina emanated a frosty air, her eyes bloodshot and the tip of her nose pink from the cold. The look on her face gave off an unfamiliar and distant vibe.
She still had the broken racket in her hand as if she would throw it at them anytime.
Some were so frightened that they hid behind Margaret. No one dared to say a word.
Margaret, too, was afraid, but she did not show it. “What do you plan to do, Christina? It’s illegal to hit others!”
I’ll call the police if she actually hits us. Let’s see how she’ll compete when she’s arrested.
Christina scoffed, “Do you people think you’re worth it for me to make a move against you?”
Despite saying that, she never let go of the badminton racket. Instead, she kept closing the distance between her and the women.
Someone shrieked in fright, “It’s not our fault. They were the ones who made us do it.”
Finally feeling scared, huh? What were you doing earlier?
The urge to hit them with the racket gripped Christina.
The atmosphere was extremely tense. Everyone simply gazed at each other without speaking.
Suddenly, the sound of high heels clacking on the ground sounded behind them. “All of you are full of nonsense!”
A stern voice suddenly rang out, and everyone turned in the voice’s direction.
It was Selena.
As if having seen their savior, Nancy and the others rushed toward Selena and complained, “Christina’s gone mad! She’s trying to kill us!”
“Exactly. Just look at her eyes, Ms. Selena. She looks as if she’s going to eat us alive. She’s definitely gone mad. We need to call the police now!”
“Ms. Selena-”
Selena Saves The Day
“Shut up, all of you!”
Selena’s tense and stern expression stunned everyone at the scene.
She spun around and threw Nancy and the others an icy look. “How could you people leave a young lady out there in the cold?”
The women were stupefied, for they thought Selena was there to help them.
How did Ms. Selena find out about what happened earlier?
They could not think of a better explanation than Benjamin telling on them.
Nancy stepped up to explain, “Don’t listen to Benjamin’s nonsense, Ms. Selena. He’s in it together with Christina. He helped her slander-
“Wow. Not only are you not admitting your mistakes, but you’re also twisting the truth, huh?”
Selena’s expression tensed up again, with her eyelashes fluttering. Clearly, she was infuriated.
Nancy and the others fell silent again, feeling conflicted and fearful at the same time.
Will the upcoming rounds of the competition be affected if Ms. Selena gets involved in this?
Immediately, some regretted listening to Nancy.
Selena had rushed over the second she received a call from Benjamin. While in the car, she watched the broadcast through her phone. That was how she learned about the outrageous acts of Nancy and the others.
“Apologize to Christina now!”
Margaret’s gaze wavered. They still did not understand why Selena was so mad. After all, it was just a prank.
No matter how reluctant they were, they had no choice but to say, “Sorry, Christina!”
Alas, Christina eyed the women coldly. “Do you think an apology will solve everything?”
Did they think they’ll be forgiven for leaving me outside in the cold for almost three hours with a mere apology? Dream on!
The women’s expressions changed instantly. They looked uglier than someone who got punched several times in the face.
They were more worried about Christina taking legal action against them rather than feeling guilty. Things would get messy if the police report messed with their records.
“What do you want, Christina?” Margaret frowned angrily, unwilling to admit defeat.
Nancy, too, piped up. “Exactly. We’ve already apologized to you. Can’t you just let it go?”
She’s fine, anyway. Besides, we’ve already lowered our dignity to apologize to her. How ungrateful.
They did not understand why an easygoing person would suddenly become so stubborn.
Anger flashed in the women’s eyes. They would have broken into a fight if Selena had not been there.
Chapter 253 An Eye For An Eye
“Your actions earlier put me in danger, so I’m going to file a police report. I don’t care if you’re not given punishments.”
Christina paused momentarily, her eyes gleaming when she looked up. “What matters the most is that you guys will have criminal records for causing trouble.”
The others grew flustered in an instant..
The competition was extremely important to both Nancy and Margaret. They would be in deep trouble if the police got involved and their mentor were to look into it.
Their mentor, Zele, was someone who valued her dignity. If she learned about their embarrassing act, their apprenticeship could be revoked.
All of a sudden, the other designers panicked. Having a criminal record could affect their future. More. importantly, Christina’s serious expression told them she was not joking.
No one would be willing to risk their careers over a trivial matter.
Given no choice, Nancy tried getting Selena’s help. “Ms. Selena, I think Christina’s going a little overboard. There’s no need to go that far and make a police report, right?”
We’re still in the middle of the competition. It’ll get delayed if a police report is made. Ms. Selena cares a lot about this competition. Surely she’ll say something to make the competition go smoothly.
“She’s right, Ms. Selena. Don’t you think Christina’s going a little too far?” Margaret chimed in. She must want to resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Christina said nothing. Her expression darkened as her gaze turned icy.
Looking as calm as ever, Selena smiled. “How could I speak on behalf of Christina when I’m not the victim? I’m not the one you should be asking if you don’t want to go to the police station. You should be asking for Christina’s forgiveness instead.”
I have no right to decide for Christina.
Meanwhile, Christina’s gaze glimmered when she heard Selena’s words. Never did she expect the latter to stand on her side.
Now that Christina had Selena’s support, she was even more determined to pursue the matter.
Several designers shuddered, frightened and at a loss for what to do. At that moment, they felt like their future was hanging by a thread and could be ruined at any time.
Margaret balled her fists so tightly that her fingernails almost snapped. “Tell us, Christina. What do we need to do so that you won’t report us?”
The people behind her gazed at Christina, nodding earnestly. At that point, they would do anything as long as they did not have to go to the police station.
Narrowing her eyes, Christina stared at the women who gazed at her eagerly. “I was locked outside for over two hours. In return, you should stay out there for three hours. That way, we’ll be even.”
What? Stand out there for three hours? We’ll freeze!
Nancy’s heart flooded with anger, for she thought the demand was outrageous. “Don’t push it! You were only out there for over two hours.”
It’s freezing outside, and we’re in our pajamas. We’ll catch a cold from the strong wind. She’s deliberately making things difficult for us.
Christina’s brow twitched. “I’m not forcing you to do it. It’s up to you.”
If they don’t do it, I’ll make a police report to have these vicious women arrested.
After hesitating for a moment, the others turned and exited the mansion. None of them wanted to get arrested.
At the same time, both Nancy and Margaret exchanged glances before biting the bullet and walking out. They inhaled sharply as the icy wind blew. It made them shiver.
In an instant, their body temperature dropped drastically, as if they were covered in ice.
“It’s so cold. How did Christina stay out here for so long?” Nancy complained, her voice becoming softer…
They were finally suffering the consequences of locking Christina out of the mansion in such cold weather, and that did not feel good.
The women’s faces flushed with embarrassment.
Alas, the production team treated them equally and provided them with no help. The former simply broadcasted the scene with a drone.
The sight of the skinny figures standing in the courtyard late at night with the freezing wind blowing against their bodies made them look rather pitiful.
However, everyone in the comments section only said the women got what they deserved.
One comment read: Nice one, Christina! That’s how you should take revenge!
Selena, on the other hand, did not comment on the outcome. She simply looked at Christina calmly. saying. “Get some rest. You’re entering the finals tomorrow morning. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Christina was still shivering from the cold, but her eyes were sparkling with determination. “Thank you for your concern, Ms. Selena. I’ll do my best.”
Selena’s gaze on the young lady was filled with admiration. After flashing a smile, the former walked away.
As she walked out of the mansion, she noticed the shivering women. To their dismay, she merely sighed. and walked away.
Upon arriving at the second floor, Christina removed the mop from the door handle.
The moment she pushed the door open, she saw a flustered-looking Benjamin, his eyes brimming with tears. He looked pitiful.
Perhaps it was his behavior that leaned more to the feminine side that made Christina regard him as someone of the same gender.
“Are you okay, Christina? Those women are crazy. They locked me inside and stopped me from opening the door for you,” Benjamin explained in a panic. After all, he had been locked up for over two hours. He could not help but wonder how Christina survived the weather.
Chuckling, Christina assured him, “I’m fine.”
“How are you fine? Your nose is red!” Benjamin found a random fancy scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Only then did he scan the surroundings. “Where did those crazy women go?”
That was when Christina roughly explained the entire situation. “They’re still out there in the cold.”
After listening to the story. Benjamin clapped and cheered, “You’re incredible, Christina. I’ve got to take a picture of their pathetic looks.”
“What’s the use of taking such pictures? I’m going to get some sleep.”
Christina let out a few yawns. After the torturous hours, all she wanted to do was bury herself under the covers and sleep until she was satisfied.
Benjamin turned around to grab a coat before pushing her into her room. “I must take a picture of this so I can look at it whenever I’m feeling down. Go get some rest and don’t bother about me.”
After pushing her into the room, he hurried downstairs.
One would think he had a deep grudge against those women if they saw the gleeful smirk on his face.
Shutting the door, Christina climbed into bed and fell asleep with no care in the world.
In the meantime, the broadcast went viral. In fact, the number of viewers did not drop even after midnight.
Madison, who was in the office in Jadeborough, was elated to see Christina kicked out of the mansion.
She supported the other women inwardly, hoping Christina would fall sick from their prank.
However, the more Madison watched, the more she realized something was off. Not only did Christina break the door down, but those women were also chased out of the mansion.
How stupid!
Madison’s gaze then shifted to the protestors outside the gate. Why are they still out there in the cold? Is there another reason for that?
Just as she was trying to figure it out, her phone rang.
“Come to my office.”
Chapter 254 I Could Use Holly
Nathaniel’s voice sounded so seductive that Madison wished she could record it and listen to it every night before sleep.
“Okay, Mr. Hadley.”
Nathaniel hung up the phone immediately after she said that.
Madison saw Nathaniel sitting at his desk with an icy-cold look in his eyes when she entered his office. “Take care of these people,” he said while showing her a video.
Madison recognized those people as the ones who were protesting against Christina.
Did someone hire those people to do this, or what? They were so dedicated that they stood out there all night in the freezing temperatures!
“I’ll take care of this right away,” Madison replied with a nod and left the office..
Nathaniel then looked at the picture that he had set as his phone’s screensaver. It was a picture he had secretly taken of Christina while she was sleeping on his chest.
He didn’t like taking pictures, nor did he like people pointing cameras at him. Whenever the media interviewed Nathaniel, Sebastian would provide them with pictures that were taken beforehand.
Christina was sleeping soundly when the golden rays of the morning sun fell upon her fair skin. Unable to resist her beauty, Nathaniel whipped out his phone and secretly took a picture of her to capture that moment.
He had seen the incident from last night on the news. Just because Christina did not ask for his help did not mean he would sit by and do nothing.
After returning to her office, Madison kept making phone calls to follow up on the situation.
It didn’t take her long to find out what was going on.
So, Holly comes from a wealthy family, and she got mad at Christina for getting her kicked out of the competition. That’s why she hired those people to protest against her. Heh… Does Holly really think she could win against Christina by doing this? It didn’t even do any actual damage to her whatsoever! Hmm… Wait a minute… This gives me an idea! I could use Holly to get rid of Christina! That way, it will be her who takes the fall if things go bad!
With that in mind, Madison began putting her plan into action.
Meanwhile, everything was quiet inside the mansion.
Margaret and the others had been standing at the door in the cold for three hours straight.
It got so cold that they nearly became human popsicles when dawn was near. After entering the house, -they all grabbed their heating pads and went to bed.
There were hidden cameras in every corner of that mansion. The footage would then be edited accordingly and included in the show.
The number of viewers had increased significantly since the show was in its final season. It wouldn’t even be an overstatement to say that practically everyone in the country was talking about the competition at that point.
With the incident from last night being the main focal point of the show, anyone with a smartphone would stay tuned for the latest news on Christina.
The film crew waited until everyone was fast asleep before repairing the broken door.
The protesters who were demanding Christina withdraw from the competition had all vanished without a trace. Those who didn’t know what happened would assume that they had left after being humiliated by what happened last night.
Things were incredibly peaceful at the mansion. A gentle breeze blew at the plants, causing them to sway gracefully in the wind. It was as though the commotion from last night had never even happened.
Selena’s assistant. Minola Jablonski, headed over to the mansion at noon to wake them up.
With the exception of Benjamin, everyone was practically half asleep when they dragged themselves out of their rooms. Margaret’s eyes had gotten all swollen up.
As Christina had more time to sleep, she was feeling slightly better than the others. Even so, she still had a gloomy look on her face.
Oh, no… I know this feeling all too well. This is what happens before a cold! One’s body feels weak and lethargic!
As though they had all fallen ill after waking up, some of them kept sneezing as they went down the stairs.
A few of them had even developed a fever at that point.
Minola placed a box of cold medicine on the table and said, “Ms. Selena is genuinely concerned about. your well-being. The finals takes place tonight, so please head over to the venue immediately after you are done eating.”
She then turned around and left after saying that, leaving the group feeling speechless as they stared at the cold medicine.
Given their current state, they didn’t even know if they were fit to participate in the competition.
Benjamin picked up a packet of cold medicine and dragged Christina aside as he whispered, “Have a seat, Christina. I’ll prepare the medicine for you.”
Christina didn’t feel like doing anything at the time, so she was grateful that he would help her prepare the cold medicine.
It wasn’t long before Benjamin came over and served up a glass of cold medicine solution. Christina took the glass over and chugged the solution in one go.
“How are you feeling? I could get you some cough syrup or something if you still feel unwell. It won’t make you drowsy, but it might taste slightly unpleasant,” Benjamin asked worriedly.
Christina shook her head. She knew it would leave her feeling tired after its effects wore off, and she still had a competition later that evening.
Seeing as she did not want to take the cough syrup, Benjamin decided not to push her any further and continued eating his breakfast beside her.
After they were done eating, everyone left the mansion in vehicles that the staff had prepared for them.
The venue for the competition was a huge, enclosed studio. In order to add to the mood, the director had the staff decorate the entire place.
The contemporary design went well with the bright lighting and made the stage look really grand.
Everyone froze in awe when they got out of the cars and saw the sight before them.
It was probably the dream of every designer to showcase their work on that stage and win first place in that competition.
Christina felt a lot better as she recalled the main reason behind her participation, and she was determined to give it her best shot regardless of the outcome.
Behind that grand stage was a tailor room for them to work on their designs.
All designers then entered the tailor room and waited patiently for further instructions. The next thing they knew, seven people, who were covered from head to toe in black rags, entered the room.
Oh, no… What kind of tough challenge is Ms. Selena going to give us this time?
The designers were snapped out of their train of thought when Selena entered the room. She was dressed in an elegant traditional gown, which formed a huge contrast with her usual contemporary look.
Her long hair, exquisite makeup, and graceful posture really showed her status as a lady from a wealthy family.
“Ladies, what is the main reason for which you design clothes?”
Some people became designers because they liked the fame it would bring them, while others liked the fortune they could make out of it.
The designers simply stood there and stared blankly at Selena in silence.
“Clothes are meant to be worn by everyone, not as a status symbol nor a fashion statement. They are. supposed to help one discover one’s true self!”
Everyone found themselves stunned, or, rather, they were confused by what she said.
Help others discover their true selves?
Chapter 255 Discovering Oneself
None of them understood the meaning of those words.
Selena knew she had achieved her goal when she saw the confused looks on their faces. “I want each of you to pick one out of these seven random strangers and help them discover their true selves.”
So, those people behind her are our models? Those black rags are covering their bodies entirely, so we can’t even see their faces, let alone their figures! What if we end up picking a model with an unpleasant body shape? That could easily cost us the competition! This is way too risky!
With that in mind, Margaret decided to speak her mind even if it would sound offensive. “This isn’t very fair, Ms. Selena. We’re designers, so we should design clothes that look unique and contemporary instead of giving random strangers makeovers.”
We went to prestigious schools and spent day and night in tailor rooms so that our designs would become famous all over the world! How could they judge our capabilities using random strangers they picked off the street? This is unfair to us!
“That’s right! Could you please change the theme, Ms. Selena? Maybe make it a retro theme or something?” Nancy added.
The rest of the designers agreed with Margaret and Nancy.
These people might not even know how to do a catwalk, which would render our designs completely useless! There’s no point in working hard to make the best outfit if the model can’t bring out the best in it! How could Ms. Selena toy with us like this? Could it be that she has secretly selected a good– looking model for Christina to help her win?
The mere thought of that was enough to put a displeased frown on their faces.
However, Selena showed no intention of changing her mind. “The competition is about to begin. Those of you who do not wish to participate in it may leave now!”
The designers were stunned by her decision to stand firm.
Having overcome so many difficult obstacles just to get into the finals, there was no way they would give up so easily.
Minola then walked up to them with a box and said, “To ensure that the process is fair for everyone, we will have you draw lots to choose your model.”
Drawing lots, huh? That seems fair. At the very least, no one would be able to cheat or fake the results.
With that in mind, Margaret stepped forward and picked out a card from the box. Upon examining her card, she saw it had the number seven written on it.
Realizing that it was impossible to change the rules of the competition, the other designers followed suit and hoped that they would get a decent model.
Christina and Benjamin were the last ones to draw lots from the box. The model numbers they got were four and six, respectively.
After being assigned to a model each, they walked up to their respective models without even knowing what they looked like.
Christina ripped off the black cloth on her model after a brief moment of hesitation, only to freeze in shock when she saw the person in front of her.
Wait a minute… She looks more like a homeless person than a random stranger from the streets! Her clothes are tattered, and her fingernails have turned purple from the cold! How does she even survive the freezing temperatures in those thin pants of hers?
She looked so terrifying that some of the designers screamed upon seeing her. One of the designers‘ legs gave out beneath her, causing her to slump weakly to the floor.
“What the f*ck? She looks so scary!” Nancy exclaimed in terror and crawled backward on all fours.
Everyone else removed the rags from their models as well. Sure enough, the models were all homeless men and women in their twenties. The clothes they had on were filthy and tattered. Some of them were held in place with stitches, but holes could still be seen on them regardless.
They looked no different from beggars on the streets with their worn–out clothes and filthy appearance. In fact, they looked so dirty that one would feel soiled simply by breathing the same air as them. Due to their being homeless, they had long since gotten used to people viewing them with disgust. Even so, seeing the look of fear and disgust in the designers‘ eyes still made them feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Only those who had experienced such treatment would understand how they felt.
As the designers had never seen such people in their lives, they were all scared out of their wits and ran crying toward Selena. “These people could be carrying diseases, Ms. Selena! We don’t want to go near them!”
“That’s right, Ms. Selena! Just look at how filthy their clothes are! It’s so disgusting!”
“Could you please get us another batch of models?”
Selena’s expression slid into a frown as her face clouded over. “What are you girls saying, huh? Do you really think I wouldn’t have the models undergo a health screening beforehand?” she snapped at them sternly.
The designers all fell silent when they heard that.
“It’s true that these models are homeless people, but I have put them all through a comprehensive health screening and got them all to clean themselves thoroughly in the shower. As for the clothes, we wanted to keep them on the models so that you girls could understand the models better. You have four hours to give them a complete makeover. The competition has begun, and it will not stop for any one of you. I will not change any of the rules either, so those of you who would like to forfeit may do so now. Otherwise, proceed to work on your model!” Selena continued with an authoritative voice.
All the designers in the room remained silent. None of them dared protest any further as they made their way back to their respective workstations.
The cameras installed in all four corners of the room captured everything on video and streamed it online.
The director couldn’t help but marvel at Selena’s brilliant idea.
He didn’t know why Selena chose to use homeless people as models, but her decision had helped him achieve the desired effect, so he didn’t mind it one bit.
It wasn’t long before the livestream garnered millions of viewers, all of which were expressing their shock in the comments section.
A comment read: Whoa… Using homeless people as models? This is way too scary for me! I’d have forfeited the competition if I were them!
I wish I had half the courage of those designers…
Is Ms. Selena doing this to punish them for what they did last night?
Good luck, Christina!
After taking a moment to regain her composure, Christina lifted her head and took a good look at her model.
She appears to be twenty–six or twenty–seven years old. Because she has been out in the sun for prolonged periods of time with no skin care at all, there are a lot of spots on her skin, and her lips have a few deep cracks on them. Putting those aside, however, she does have a decent figure. She’s slim and has hardly any excess body fat anywhere.
Noticing that the woman felt a little insecure and awkward from her staring, Christina flashed her a smile and said, “Hi, my name is Christina Steele, and I will be your designer for today. I’m going to take waist measurement, okay?”
The woman was stunned when she saw Christina’s beautiful smile. How long has it been since someone smiled at me like this?
“Okay,” she replied awkwardly with a nod.
Christina then pulled out her measuring tape and noted down the woman’s waist measurement.
Chapter 256 Competition
Meanwhile, Benjamin was matched with a male model. Without any ado, he took up the measuring tape and began taking notes.
“Do you mind taking off your coat? I think the measurement will be more accurate without it,” Benjamin suggested.
The man was confused, for his rugged and unkempt appearance had warded off many.
They were afraid and disgusted by him, but the designer before him was behaving differently. Despite the initial shock in his eyes when they first met, he composed himself quickly and seemed unperturbed at that moment.
From how comfortable Benjamin was around him, the model felt he was treated as Benjamin’s equal. “It’s dirty, though,” the model blurted.
Benjamin looked up from the design board and rested his hands on his waist, saying casually, “I don’t mind. Ms. Selena said we have nothing to worry about hygiene. Don’t tell me you feel self–conscious.” Now that Benjamin put it that way, the model felt his reluctance made him seem petty.
“I don’t,” he replied as he took off his coat, revealing his muscular body since that was the only thing he was wearing.
Benjamin was impressed by how well–built the slovenly–dressed man was.
“If you don’t mind me asking,” Benjamin uttered, “I don’t understand how a homeless man like you maintain such a good body. Don’t tell me you’re a real model Ms. Selena sent just to test us.”
Well, I guess I’m lucky to get a real model while others don’t. The chances of winning will be higher for me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m here because they said they were paying three hundred just for me to stand here,” the man replied.
Oops, I guess I’m not that lucky after all. Collecting his thoughts, Benjamin observed that man and began drafting a design for him.
On the other side, Margaret was also working assiduously. Her goal was to win the competition, although it was no mean feat to dress a beggar up presentably.
In fact, she felt upset by the woman’s unsightly face, so she went ahead to cover the beggar’s face with a paper bag.
Now that she could only see the woman’s body, she felt she could finally work on the design without being distracted.
As for the female beggar, she felt disrespected when Margaret put a paper bag over her head, but she remained quiet since the rules required her to follow the designer’s lead.
As time ticked by, the live broadcast ended, with the next live stream scheduled for nine at night when the final round of the competition would be aired.
Once the drawings were ready, the designers began hurrying to make the clothes. In a time– constrained circumstance like that, they could only present the rough idea of their designs instead of being too detail- oriented.
While the designers worked, their models stood beside them and removed their clothes before putting on the freshly–made pieces.
If the designed clothing did not fit, the designers would make alterations directly on the clothing while the models had them on.
The atmosphere of the competition venue became tense as the designers worked away industriously without even taking a breather.
They were like athletes running on the track, afraid of being overtaken once they let down their guard.
Four hours went by in the sound of the whirring sewing machines, and the grey sky had already turned utterly dark without the illumination of any stars, making the indoor lights unusually painful to look at.
The audience was already waiting eagerly for the live stream.
In fact, the streaming server almost crashed when the show went live at the beginning. The camera focused on the emcee, who was smiling brightly on the stage.
After a simple word of introduction, the showcase began.
The first designer to present was Nancy, whose model was a tall woman dressed in a fringe dress. The neat trims on the fashion piece showed how fine Nancy’s artistry was. After putting on some makeup and wearing the exquisite dress, the homeless woman looked as though she had a major makeover.
Her aesthetic appearance won many votes from the audience online.
Likewise, the second and third models, who failed to make an excellent first impression, surprised everyone with the contrast they made after putting on fashionable clothing.
The fifth model to walk the runway was Margaret’s.
With a gold piece as the inskirts underneath a dress with a flounce hem, Margaret’s design was considered high–end clothing.
Everyone could feel the model’s powerful and captivating aura as she walked the runway.
Yet, despite all the impressed gazes thrown at the model, no one could tell from her cold expression if she liked what she was wearing.
Soon, it was time for Christina’s model to appear.
All the spotlights were cast on a woman in red at that moment. She had a sheer detailed top ornamented with red feathers and shiny pieces of diamonds, as well as a layered gauze fabric as a skirt, making her look like a blossoming flower.
From the design, it was evident that the designer had a tutu in mind. With an equally red headscarf which made her look like a flamingo, the tall model walked down the runway just as a ballerina would.
While black and white swans were common, the audience was amused when the model’s attire reminded them of a red swan.
Just as the model assumed her position on the stage, the lights suddenly went out. In the darkness, cries of astonishment pierced through the air.
“Whoa!”
“This is spectacular!”
The audience was blown away when they saw the model’s dress glowing in the dark. Glistens of red shone vividly as she danced gracefully until she reached the end of the stage when the lights turned on again. Ending her show with a pirouette, the model smiled confidently at the audience.
Everyone was so impressed that their jaws dropped.
Selena’s eyes glimmered with amazement as her lips quivered. Superbly done, Christina Steele. You didn’t let anyone who look highly on you down.
The other designers who were also watching could not believe the model they had just seen was a homeless woman. They had never thought someone like them could dance ballet.
She completed the dance with an immaculate fifth position, and her spin was incredible.
From how shaken up the audience was by the sight, it went without saying that they voted for Christina, propelling her position to the first on the chart after the humbling number of votes in the beginning.
“This is insanely good!” the staff exclaimed.
“The outfit really brought out the best in the model.”
These compliments were not well–taken by the designers standing on the other side, for they were confident that the model Christina had been assigned was explicitly chosen by Selena.
To them, there was no way a beggar would know ballet.
Chapter 257 She Earned It
The truth was many others were confused by how a homeless woman could dance ballet too, but since the competition had not ended, they decided to keep their questions for later.
Finally, it was Benjamin’s model’s turn.
With a jacket over an open–neck sweater wrapped around his strapping body, the model strode down the aisle with his long legs, giving off an assertive vibe.
On a closer look, one could not help but realize that the man had exceptional features which made him look mixed–race..
In fact, no one would have guessed the man was homeless if no one had told them about it.
This went to show how well a job the designer did in revamping everyone’s impression.
Now that every participant had showcased their work, the audience began casting their votes.
However, their votes accounted only for half of the overall score since Selena’s vote contributed to another fifty percent of the final result.
As the voting session took place, all the designers assembled backstage while they waited for the results.
At first, everyone seemed relieved that the presentation was over and was chatting about how staggered they were initially by their models.
However, everyone became edgy as time passed. The competition had yet to end, and the results were about to be revealed.
Having worked with each other over the past month, the designers had mixed feelings about parting. They had come a long way from not liking one another at first sight.
But regardless, all of them wanted to leave the program as the winner.
They began guessing who would emerge as the champion. Given how Margaret’s model had completely changed people’s first impressions, the designers believed that Margaret could be the winner.
As for Nancy, everyone thought things could have been better if not for the earlier fallout between her and the model. Repulsed by her model, Nancy had earlier refused to go too close to the beggar when she was altering her clothes, so she ended up pricking the model a few times with her scissors.
Feeling offended, the model did not cooperate with Nancy and simply walked half–heartedly down the runway, which upset Nancy beyond measure.
Faced with that thorny situation, Nancy had made up her mind that she would appeal the results if she did not end up being top three.
“There’s no point guessing, guys. Christina will turn out to be the winner for sure. Didn’t you guys see how nice Ms. Selena was toward her?”
“We did. We all got some homeless people as models, but she got a ballerina!”
“I know, right? What’s the point of this competition? Ms. Selena should have just given her the prize.”
Those snarky comments were uttered loudly so Christina could hear them clearly from another side.
She felt hurt when she heard their remarks, but her phone kept ringing as new messages flooded in, distracting her from the sour comments.
Who is it? Don’t tell me it’s just some spam messages.
She realized Nathaniel had been bombarding her with messages.
Nathaniel: Is it cold there? Don’t catch a cold.
Nathaniel: Should I go and get you now? I can host a competition here in Jadeborough if you want to attend one. Why do you have to go all the way there? What if you get into trouble?
Nathaniel: Are you eating well?
Nathaniel: I saw you on the live stream. Remember to take a water break even if you’re busy.
Nathaniel: I’m picking you up after the competition.
Nathaniel: Wait for me.
Christina felt a weight on her heart when she read his messages. Toward the end, a tear dropped on her phone screen without her even realizing it.
It finally dawned upon her why she felt her phone had been unusually quiet the past few days. She had been so preoccupied with coming up with a design that a cold could not even stop her from working. In fact, she had forgotten entirely about Nathaniel.
She felt guilty and touched when she finally had time to read the messages and realized how concerned and upset Nathaniel was at first and how he eventually softened his tone.
Deep down, she blamed herself for not letting him know she was doing fine.
At the same time, she felt fortunate that Nathaniel did not just appear at the competition venue to bring her back, or else the situation would have been awkward.
Checking the time she received the last message from him, Christina figured it was about time Nathaniel arrived.
Just then, the production assistant entered and called for everyone.
At the announcement, everyone stood up, knowing it was time they revealed the results.
On the stage, they could not help but feel nervous as they looked at Selena’s calm and stern face.
“I believe each and every one of you has gone through a lot from the beginning of this competition, but I hope no matter what happens, you guys will never forget why you became a designer in the first place.”
Selena’s words put everyone into deep thought, for no one could read between her lines. No one responded.
“All right. We’ll move on to the result now. The second runner–up goes to… Margaret Lester.”
All eyes were instantly on Margaret. Some felt happy for her, while others thought she deserved better.
Margaret forced a rigid smile as she processed what she had just heard.
Despite having told herself getting third place was the bare minimum, she still felt the result was unfair, but she put on a poise front since all the cameras were pointed at her.
Then, they moved to announce the runner–up, which turned out to be Benjamin.
The designers around him showed faces of disbelief when they learned that Benjamin had won second place.
What? That sissy got second place?
They were obviously disgruntled with the result.
There’s nothing unique about his art. Ms. Selena should know well enough to realize that.
Of all the designers, Christina was the only one who smiled at Benjamin. “Congratulations. It was a job well done!”
Benjamin was moved by the kind gesture. While others were second–guessing the legitimacy of his achievement, Christina was the only one who congratulated him earnestly. “Thank you, Christina.”
However, disapproving voices grew more severe as the designers uttered increasingly scathing remarks.
In fact, Nancy even rolled her eyes at him. For now, her only hope was getting first place.
Well, my work is better than Margaret’s, so I won’t be surprised if I’m the champion.
Everyone held their breath in wait for the final revelation of the result.
“And the first place goes to the best design tonight by Christina Steele! She earned it!”
Selena went on stage to give her the award personally.
The announcement came as a bombshell for Christina, who felt her heart skip a beat and the blood in her body rage.
She turned emotional as she recalled how hard she had worked over the past month to pass the evaluation. No one could understand how helpless and alone she had felt when the others chased her out of the mansion, but she managed to pull through the toughest time.
Sometimes, she felt tempted to call Nathaniel to bring her back to Jadeborough, but in hindsight, she was glad she persevered, for the result was all worth it.
Applause resounded around Christina, and she snapped back and smiled at the crowd, but before she could even savor the moment of success, people started throwing words of mockery.
“I bet the winners were selected internally beforehand. There’s no way someone like her could get a príze for that kind of work.”
Chapter 258 The Truth
Christina’s victorious moment was short–lived when everyone began casting doubtful glances at her.
Her face fell, and a hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
No one would feel good in a situation like that, but Nancy could not be bothered when she stood forward and questioned unapologetically, “Ms. Selena, please explain why all of us got homeless beggars as models while Christina got a ballerina. This is blatant partiality!”
Since she did not win any awards, Nancy figured she had nothing to lose, so she challenged Selena outright about Christina’s special treatment.
This is so unfair!
Faced with Nancy’s interrogation, Christina felt the urge to confront Nancy and divulge the truth about the models, but Selena beat her to it.
“Watch your tongue. Who gave you the right to challenge me? Zele?” Selena fumed. She was defensive because Nancy had challenged her despite her specifying that the competition would be carried out fairly.
“I…” Nancy was suddenly stumped.
She participated in the competition because Zele had asked her to and even requested that she bring home an award. Now that things had turned out like that, she would only fall out of Zele’s favor, and the thought of it made Nancy detest Christina even more.
Her dissatisfaction was so strong she felt like throwing Christina off the stage and snatching her award from her.
It was apparent that other designers were on her side from the discontent written all over their faces. They could not see why Christina’s work was better than theirs.
Reading the room, Selena addressed all of them without the slightest hint of pity in her voice. “I told all of you never to forget why you became a designer in the first place, didn’t I?”
Perplexed, the designers looked at one another, trying to guess what Selena was trying to get at.
“Do you want to know why you lost?” Selena asked with her face darkened. “First, you guys are not as capable. Second, none of you took it to heart to get to know your models. I’ll show you who your models really are now.”
As the music began playing again, all the designers found themselves dumbfounded, except for Christina, who seemed cool as a cucumber, as if she had seen through everything right from the beginning.
The next thing everyone knew, a group of professional models appeared on the stage one after another, moving down the runway with the perfect catwalk. Their strides were swift, and their gazes were firm. From how finely toned their bodies were, it was not hard to tell that they had put in some hard work to maintain them.
However, despite all these telling signs that they were professionally trained, the designers had mistaken them for homeless people because of their shabby clothes.
More importantly, out of all the models assigned to the designers, only Christina’s was not a professional model but a ballerina. That was why she had danced her way through the show.
On that note, the other designers had had the upper hand over her but they had still lost because of their carelessness.
The revelation left the designers ashamed of themselves. Looking at the experienced models walking in their skilled steps, the designers felt their egos getting trampled on.
“Is it clear now why you lost?” Selena asked coldly. “Not only are all of you not cut for it, but you are also narrow–minded. All of you are sore losers. You all need to learn to be a human before being a designer.”
Her words left the designers feeling embarrassed, but one of them went forward immediately and apologized to Christina, “I’m sorry, Christina. You won because you deserve it.”
“Thank you,” Christina replied, nodding slightly in surprise.
One after another, the designers took turns congratulating her before going off the stage. The truth was all of them had known that Christina was the best among them, but blinded by jealousy, they had joined those who wanted to tear Christina down.
Now that Selena’s words spoke sense into them, they realized they should celebrate others‘ achievements instead of wallowing in jealousy.
Likewise, Margaret realized she had won third prize merely because she had put in relatively more effort than the rest out of her desire to win, not because she had paid any attention to her model.
Still, she felt disgruntled that that was the reason why Christina won.
Just like that, the meaningful event ended amidst the audience’s praises. While Selena was famed as an extraordinary designer, that was the first time everyone had witnessed for themselves what was so special about her.
With everyone going home, the film crew began a celebration for the winners, but Christina seemed distracted with her gaze wandering in the crowd, trying to locate Nathaniel.
“Christina, it’s your big day today. Why don’t we go to the party together?” Selena asked warmly.
She had not forgotten about her promise to recruit the champion of the competition to her studio and was looking forward to working with Christina.
However, Christina was not as enthusiastic. She had looked around a few times but still could not find Nathaniel. “I’m sorry, Ms. Selena. I have something on tonight, so I might not be able to make it to the party. What about we do a rain check? It’ll be my treat.”
Knowing far too well what the look on Christina’s face meant, Selena replied, “Of course. Happy moments should be spent with the people you love. We can always meet up next time.”
“Thank you, Ms. Selena. I promise I will make it up to you. I’ll definitely get back to you.”
Just as she spoke, Christina spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
Although the surrounding was dim, Christina recognized him at first sight. There was no way she would overlook his tall build and dark eyes that reminded her of the sparkling stars in the night. His charming face had never failed to catch her attention among all the other men.
“I got to go, Ms. Selena. See you.” With that, Christina turned and walked away.
Somehow, she hoped she had longer legs which could bring her to Nathaniel faster.
Just as she was going closer to him, a few crews blocked her way, pushing their equipment through and forcing Christina to stop where she was.
She waved her trophy at him excitedly, dying to close the distance that made him seem so far apart.
Nathaniel’s face lit up in a smile when he saw her. His smile was so warm Christina felt it could melt the winter snow.
Luckily for the couple, the crew went past quickly. Christina’s walk broke into a run as she went to Nathaniel, but because she was too focused on him, she tripped over the wires on the ground and fell forward.
Chapter 259 Christina Injured
“Are you all right?”
A gentle voice entered Christina’s ears as she plunged into his warm and solid chest, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
She looked up, blinked, and flashed a faint smile. “I’m fine.”
Nathaniel held her up, gently massaged her cheeks with his fingers, and looked at her affectionately. “You lost weight.”
Her face was round and chubby, akin to fluffy cotton candy, tempting him to steal a pinch of sweetness at every passing moment.
Christina tilted her adorable face, defending herself. “I eat well every day, so it’s impossible for me to lose weight due to hunger. I guess I lost weight because I’ve missed you.”
Nathaniel burst into laughter and stroked her head. “Come, let’s head back to the hotel.”
It was getting late, and he did not want Christina to feel exhausted, knowing that a late-night journey would undoubtedly take a toll on her energy.
“All right. Give me a moment. I need to pack my things first.” Christina left her belongings backstage as she rushed over to meet him.
Just when Nathaniel thought of accompanying her, he received a call from Madison.
Upon noticing that, Christina said, “You should take the call. It could be something important that she needs to discuss with you. I can handle packing my things myself.”
“All right. I’ll wait for you here, then.”
After Christina nodded in agreement, she turned around. Nathaniel proceeded to answer the call.
In a soothing voice, Madison said, “Mr. Hadley, there’s a minor issue with the production of a batch of leather materials at the factory. The suppliers we agreed upon for the raw materials are planning on increasing their prices. I’ve already emailed you the information of several suppliers. Please let me know once you’ve decided which supplier you want to go with.”
Nathaniel muttered a response before hanging up the call.
Just when he was about to walk into the studio, a crew member ran out and exclaimed, “A designer is injured! Call the ambulance!”
All the designers who participated in the competition had left the studio, whereas the director, Selena, Benjamin, and Margaret were at the celebration party. Those who stayed back were crew members tasked to clean up the premises.
When the other crew members were still in a daze, a tall figure charged into the studio like a fierce beast.
The crew member continued shouting, “Stop looking. Call the ambulance! The designer suffered a severe loss of blood.”
Another crew member came to his sense and called the ambulance on his phone. The others put aside their work and went to check on the designer.
Nathaniel hurriedly made his way backstage, only to find a slender figure sprawled on the ground amidst a cluster of sewing machines. The floor was covered in blood.
“Christina!” he bellowed with all his might, his throat instantly overwhelmed by the faint scent of blood.
Disregarding everything else backstage, he lifted Christina from the pool of blood. Her face was devoid of any color, and she felt fragile in his arms, like a feather that could easily be blown away by a breeze.
“Get out of my way!” Like a wild lion, Nathaniel roared, his eyes bloodshot and his body emanating a strong aura of fury.
At that moment, everyone instinctively stepped aside.
Before they could take a closer at who the injured designer was, the dark figure flashed by in their line of sight, disappearing without a trace.
Nathaniel carried Christina into the car and thundered in a deep voice. “To the hospital now!”
“All right!” Sebastian started the engine and pressed down the gas pedal.
While he was speeding on the road, Sebastian took a glance at the rear mirror and was struck dumb when he saw the blood-soaked Christina lying in Nathaniel’s arms.
Just a few moments ago, he received the news of Christina winning the award from the live stream, and now she’s injured and unconscious. How did that happen?
He did not dare to inquire about what had happened. The somber expression on Nathaniel’s face sent shivers down Sebastian’s spine. It was as if he was prepared to unleash hell at any moment.
Nathaniel held Christina’s fragile body tightly, still feeling the warmth emanating from her. The attack had clearly come from behind, as the back of her head on the right side continued to bleed profusely, staining Nathaniel’s white shirt crimson. You wouldn’t have been injured if I had gone in with you. But you’re going to be okay, Christina. You’ll be fine.
Nathaniel’s heart was overwhelmed with guilt. He could feel as if someone was squeezing his heart tightly, causing him unbearable pain and suffocating him. Whoever hurt you, I’ll skin their skin and
break their bones!
Soon, the car pulled up next to the hospital entrance.
With Christina in his arms, Nathaniel hastily got out of the car and sprinted toward the emergency room, heedless of the still-open car door.
“Doctor! Go and get the doctor!” Nathaniel exclaimed.
Upon hearing the urgent call, the doctor in the emergency ward swiftly moved toward the scene. With a sense of urgency, they promptly commenced the examination of her wounds as they laid eyes upon the pale-faced girl, her body enduring the torment of profuse bleeding.
The nurse beside them immediately prepared the gauze and other tools needed to stop the bleeding. “We’ll need you to leave the ward and let us do our work.”
The atmosphere in the emergency room instantly became tense. Several nurses swiftly coordinated with the doctor while Nathaniel tightly clenched his fists, stealing another glance at the unconscious Christina. He could only stand by the corridor like a guardian angel.
“We’ve made a police report, Mr. Hadley. They’re now at the scene to collect evidence.” After getting down the car, Sebastian gathered as much information as he could.
However, all he could ascertain was that Christina had been assaulted. Beyond that, he remained completely in the dark.
When the incident happened, all the crew members were occupied with their respective tasks. Furthermore, most of them were part-time employees who were unfamiliar with each other, so they did not pay attention to any suspicious individuals. This would make the investigation even more challenging.
“I don’t care what methods you use. We must get to the bottom of this before tomorrow!” Nathaniel’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. Like a dragon whose scales had been touched, he emitted a terrifying aura that made the surrounding air heavy and oppressive.
“All right, Mr. Hadley.” Sebastian then ordered his men to search for more clues.
As he was walking out of the hospital, he cussed inwardly. The person who injured Ms. Christina is doomed!
Nathaniel stood still outside the emergency room, his eyes locked on Christina as she received care from the medical team.
The doctor felt an intensified pressure as Nathaniel’s penetrating gaze bore into him. Even though he understood the man was only concerned about the patient’s condition, his overwhelming presence made it difficult to ignore.
Thankfully, that did not hinder the doctor from carrying out his duties efficiently. After half an hour, the wound was properly treated.
Luckily, the injury wasn’t deep enough to necessitate stitches. Once the bleeding was controlled, the nurse helped transfer her to a ward.
Inside the private room, the air was filled with a strong scent of disinfectant. The nurse prepared the necessary medications and provided Nathaniel with some instructions. She could not help but steal a few extra glances at the man with a cold and impeccably handsome appearance.
Nevertheless, the man merely hummed in response as he did not pay attention to her. The nurse left after providing him with instructions on the necessary care.
Under the soft silver light, Christina lay quietly on the bed, her right hand connected to an IV drip. Her pallid face bore a striking resemblance to a radiant moon, while her slender frame exuded a fragility that tugged at the heartstrings of those who beheld her.
Chapter 260 The Wrath Of Nathaniel
Nathaniel sat by the bed, watching over Christina intently while his hand held onto hers.
According to the doctor, her injury wasn’t too serious, and she would wake up once the anesthesia wore off.
Still, Nathaniel couldn’t help but worry. Christina would surely be terrified if she were to wake up and not see him next to her.
Outside the window, the pitch-black sky began to glower in what felt like a blink of an eye.
As the morning rays seeped into the room at dawn, Nathaniel finally realized he had remained seated there the whole night.
The door to the ward was pushed open, and Sebastian walked in. Seeing Christina lying in bed made him inexplicably upset.
“We’ve got the culprit, Mr. Hadley, but we’re waiting for the police to interrogate them before we can move on to the next step,” he leaned into Nathaniel’s ear and reported.
The latter’s eyes narrowed, and his wrath instantly permeated the air in the entire room. “Follow the police closely. I want to know every single detail.”
There’s no way they’d attack her without reason. They wouldn’t do that just because they wanted to steal her work. Someone must be behind this whole incident.
“Yes, Mr. Hadley,” Sebastian answered and left right away.
A nurse came in to replace Christina’s bag a while later, and she couldn’t help but glance at the man sitting nearby. He was extraordinarily handsome but looked so icy that one might get frostbite just from being gazed at by him.
“Ah! It hurts…” A meek voice cried out softly.
After a long slumber, Christina finally opened her eyes only to shut them immediately due to the glaring sunlight. A wave of pain came from the back of her head, causing her to nearly pass out again
“I’ll get the doctor!” the nurse announced hastily upon seeing her wake up.
After her eyes had adjusted to the light, Christina opened them once again to observe her surroundings. Then, it dawned on her that she was in a hospital ward after seeing the white walls.
Her chest tightened momentarily before easing up.
“Christina! You’re awake.” Nathaniel rushed over to the bedside and touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She’s not feverish. Thank goodness.
Like a lazy kitten, Christina leaned into his arms, appearing as though she hadn’t recovered from the shock.
“Does it hurt anywhere?” Nathaniel asked, holding her by the shoulders.
“Yeah. My head hurts so much. Is it bleeding? I remember someone hitting me from behind…”
Christina tried to remember what she saw before losing consciousness. She felt as if she had seen that man before.
I think he was one of the guys who tried to hurt me back at the mansion. Are these people for real? They came all the way to the competition just to look for me? What did I ever do to make someone try to get back at me like this?
Nathaniel caressed her head as he gazed at her tenderly. “Don’t worry. We’ve caught the guy, and the police are interrogating him now. We’ll be sure to get something out of him.”
Christina scoffed. “Those guys are crazy. We can’t let him off no matter what.”
She was supposed to celebrate her joyous victory with Nathaniel today, but now, everything had been ruined.
As the two exchanged a few more words, the doctor entered and gave Christina a full-body check-up.
Although the woman wasn’t in any serious condition, the doctor suggested she remain hospitalized since her injury hadn’t healed. She didn’t need stitches, but there was a risk of the wound tearing by accident, so it was best if she stayed for a few days and left only after a scab had formed.
The nurse returned at noon to change Christina’s dressing, and the latter yelped in pain. “Oww! It hurts!”
How she wanted her assailant to be struck the exact same way so he could feel how much pain she was in now.
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened each time she cried out. “Be more gentle,” he even warned.
The nurse was at a loss, for she was already being as gentle as she could. It was just a simple task that she had practiced countless times, but for some reason, it suddenly began to feel a little foreign to her.
“I’m being as gentle as I can, but there are nerves everywhere around the wound. I can’t do this in a way that wouldn’t hurt at all. If it’s too much to bear, shall I get the doctor to give you some anesthesia?”
The mere thought of getting anesthetized threw Christina off. While the drug would ease her pain, it would also make her head spin all day, and she really didn’t want that.
“No… No. I don’t want anesthesia,” she whimpered. “Keep going. I’ll bear with it.”
The nurse continued, but no matter how gentle she was, the pain remained. Thankfully, it didn’t take her long to finish.
Letting out a sigh, Christina realized how much sweat had gathered on her palm while gripping Nathaniel’s hand.
There was a huge scowl on the man’s face, too, as though he was the one who had gone through all that pain.
Christina touched the gauze covering her wound. She didn’t have the courage to look into a mirror and had no idea what she looked like with a head full of bandages.
-The thought of her current appearance made her swear at her assailant internally. That b*stard! The police should really lock up a dangerous guy like him.
A rumbling noise rang out inside the quiet room, and the woman clutched her stomach like a puppy needing care. “I’m hungry, Nathaniel.”
Feeling sorry, Nathaniel stroked her head. “Sebastian’s on the way with some food.”
“Thank goodness my mouth isn’t injured,” Christina grumbled, puffing her cheeks. “I might starve to death if I can’t eat-”
“Don’t say that,” Nathaniel cut her off, placing a finger on her lips.
Despite the man sounding stern, Christina sensed a hint of warmth in his voice-something she hadn’t fel coming from him before.
She reached out with both arms and grabbed his hand tightly, placing her cheek against it to feel that same warmth. “I’m not dreaming. You really are right next to me. Did you know? Right before I passed
out, all I could think of was you.”
As her mind began to buzz, the only person she believed could help her was Nathaniel.
That was the exact moment she realized how important he was to her.
The woman sniffed, and as soon as she glanced up slightly, a warm pair of lips engulfed hers. In that instant, Nathaniel’s scent infiltrated every part of her body-from her lungs to her head, cells, and event nerves.
She hugged the man’s slender waist tightly, feeling a sense of security swirling within her as she leaned into his firm chest.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a bright light shone into the room.
Christina shoved Nathaniel away in fright and hid under her blanket, her cheeks feeling as though they were on fire.
This is so embarrassing! Is it a doctor who came in? Oh, God! What would he think if he saw me acting like that even though I’m injured? What if he thinks I’m tacky?