Ch. 371..380

Chapter 371 Drive Me Crazy

“Wait for me at the front, Nathaniel. I want to visit the restroom.” She clutched her bag and peered at him.

“Mmm, be careful.” Nathamel didn’t suspect anything.

Without delay, she left in the opposite direction, trekked through the crowd, and arrived backstage.

However, she didn’t see any familiar faces, only a few staff members preparing for their performances.

She continued ambling forward. The staff were so preoccupied with their tasks that they ignored her.

Suddenly, the door next to her was opened, and she was pulled into the room.

After the door was shut tight, she was pinned to it. Right before she was about to scream, she recognized the person before her.

“Francis?” Christina lifted her eyebrow. “Were you the one who sent me the message?”

“Yep.” replied Francis.

He never stopped chasing after the truth for Christina. Finally, after years of effort, he found a reliable lead.

“Tell me who’s the culprit.” Rage swirled in her eyes.

While he was happy about his guess, he was disappointed she was only interested in seeing him because of the information he had.

Gazing at her, he proposed, “Let’s trade, Christina.”

“What?” Christina knitted her eyebrows..

Francis pinched her chin, speaking to her in a threatening tone. “Why should I provide you accurate intel without receiving anything in return every time?”

“I can discover the truth myself. And if I can’t, Nathaniel can.” Without hesitation, she shoved his hand away furiously and prepared to leave.

“It took me years to discover the truth. Furthermore, that necklace of yours hides another mystery.” He stepped closer to her like he was a demon from hell.

With a devilish smirk, he spat icily, “Sure, you can discover the truth by yourself, but your search will take years. Are you sure you don’t want the intel that is already in my possession?”

No expressions were visible on Christina’s fair countenance as she stayed quiet.

Leaning even closer to her, Francis persuaded in a provocative tone. “Let me help you. I’ve never given you a tough time before.”

Compared to Nathaniel, he was a lot gentler. At the very least, he wouldn’t trap and monitor her in a house.

“What’s your condition?” She relented.

“I founded an entertainment company recently, and I want you to be my stylist there.” Francis scrutinized her, attempting to locate a trace of emotion on her composed countenance.

It was a condition she found acceptable as it was within her capabilities. “Fine. Can you tell me the truth now?”

“You’ll know once you sign a contract at my company tomorrow.”

“Sure.” Christina promptly turned around, preparing to leave.

However, Francis grabbed her wrist and presented a keychain to her. “I think this souvenir that is based on the amusement park’s mascot suits you.”

Without warning, the door was kicked open by Nathaniel, who glowered at the two of them with hellish wrath.

The humiliation of being deceived felt like a slap to the face for him.

He strode forward and punched Francis’ face.

Francis dodged the attack as he didn’t want his countenance to be injured before his performance.

Worry flooded Christina’s heart as she knew how violent the battle between the two men could become. There are too many people outside right now. If they cause too much of a commotion, news about their conflict will spread

Hence, she stood between the two men and hugged Nathaniel. “Stop! Don’t be rash, and listen to me.”

Nathaniel ceased his movements, though he still glared at Francis.

Meanwhile, Francis felt as though he just received a blow to the head upon seeing Christina’s tender body. pressing against Nathaniel’s.

“Let’s leave here first. Then, we’ll talk.” Christina started pulling Nathaniel out of the room by his hand.

Before she succeeded, Francis blurted. “Do you think it’s fun restricting her like this, Nathaniel?” It was difficult to tell if he said that out of jealousy or resentment.

That spurred Nathaniel to halt his steps and turned his wrathful scowl at Francis again.

“Stop talking. Francis.” While Christina wasn’t sure what Francis was planning, she was confident it wasn’t anything good.

The look in Francis’ eyes turned gloomy. “Why don’t you tell him how much you hate staying with him. Christina? Express your disdain for everything about him and the constraints he imposed on you!”

Christina was taken aback. I thought about those things before, but I never said it in front of Nathaniel because I knew I wouldn’t achieve anything even if I did. We’ve been avoiding the topic during our recent time together, but Francis just has to bring it up, as though he’s forcing us to confront the issue.

Standing before Francis, Nathaniel almost lifted the former by the collar.

“Are you going to hit me? I won’t let you off this time.” While Francis’ wound had mostly subsided, he still had to cover the bruise with a liquid foundation. It was his fault I couldn’t attend the fashion show. If he touches me again, I’m going to sue-

“Can you shut up, Francis?” Christina scowled at him. Did he forget what happened last time?

Separating the two men was a massive undertaking for her. When the people outside heard their argument, they entered the room to check out what was going on. Francis’ assistant immediately sensed something was wrong and informed him. “It’s about time for your performance, Mr. Fernando. You mustn’t get into any accident right now.”

More and more people gathered at the entrance while the production assistant outside shouted for the staff members to enter the stage.

Hastily, Christina dragged Nathaniel out of the room by his hand.

After that, Nathaniel led her to a fake mountain, which wasn’t as crowded as the other locations. “It seems you enjoy going to the restroom with Francis.” They disappeared in the restroom four years ago, too.

He pushed Christina to the fake mountain too quickly, causing her pain.

“You’ve misunderstood. 1-” Before she could complete her sentence, Nathaniel pressed his lips on hers. domineeringly, making breathing difficult for her.

He was so forceful that he likely would’ve crushed her shoulders if he used a little more strength.

“Let me go… It hurts…” Christina smashed her fist onto his shoulder, but it was no use.

Moments later, she heard tearing sounds and felt her shoulders getting chilly. Her coat had been ripped __apart.

As though her brain was struck by lightning, her body froze. She couldn’t believe Nathaniel would do such a thing in public.

Most tourists had gathered at the stage, though some still occasionally passed them by.

What if someone sees us? Christina whimpered, “Are you crazy, Nathaniel?”

Nathaniel gazed at her sharply and growled, “Yeah, I am, and it’s all because of you! Whenever I see you with him, I wish I could kill him! Why must you keep clinging to him?”

 

 

Chapter 372 You Have Disappointed Me

“I’m not clinging to him! You have misunderstood the situation!” Christina glared at Nathaniel, infuriated. Do I look like the type of woman who would cling to men whenever I feel like it?

The excellent impression he left on her earlier vanished inn an instant.

The scene of Francis and Christina standing close together repeated in Nathaniel’s mind as he peered at her with stifled emotions. “Promise me you won’t see him again.” This is her last chance!

“No. I’m not your belonging or your puppet!” The resolution in Christina’s eyes stung him.

It was as though a ball of fire was burning his body and rationality from the inside.

Once again, he clutched Christina’s neck tightly while he shoved his other hand to her back. She was thin, so he could feel her spine as he brushed his fingers over her fair, tender skin.

“You’re a lunatic! An animal! Release me!” Christina glowered at him. Unfortunately, he had transformed into a beast of rage, unable to listen to even a word she said.

“You forced me to do this!” Without hesitation, Nathaniel shredded her thin coat apart. When a cold gust swept through her dress, she trembled.

Powerless as an ant, she could do nothing to escape him. “I’m disappointed in you, Nathaniel.”

“Since you’ll never have any hope for me no matter what I do, I rather not waste my efforts anymore!” Nathaniel bit her neck, causing her to release a muffled grunt and weep.

He paused as her sobbing kept plucking on his nerves.

Suddenly, Christina heard people approaching them and was emotionally stung by their laughter and chatter.

At that moment, she only had a thin dress on her. Additionally. Nathaniel had lifted her skirt to her thigh.

She couldn’t help but wonder what others would think if they saw her messy hair, torn coat, and teary countenance.

“Leave,” Nathaniel barked coldly just as the approaching group was only a few steps away from the fake mountain.

The group of strangers promptly halted their steps. It wasn’t difficult to guess what a man and woman. were doing at an obscure corner.

Therefore, they rapidly left.

Nathaniel covered Christina’s body with his black coat, glanced at her, and left.

When a gust of wind passed her by, the sandalwood scent on his coat entered her nose.

Christina was very tempted to throw the coat away. After composing herself, she ambled toward the gate.

Even though fireworks were going off in the sky, she wasn’t in the mood to enjoy them anymore.

Her depressive mood was a stark contrast to the gorgeous scenery behind her.

The driver had been waiting for a while when Christina arrived at the car. If Nathaniel hadn’t snatched her bag away, she would’ve taken a taxi back home instead of spending more time with him.

The atmosphere inside the vehicle was very tense as the couple didn’t speak a word to each other on the ride back.

Even the driver could feel the uneasy vibe coming from the back. They seemed happy when they left the residence earlier. Did they not enjoy their time in the amusement park?

Back in Scenic Garden Manor, Christina was the first to enter the building.

“Did you have fun today?” inquired Raymond.

“Ask him,” she replied before rushing upstairs.

Puzzled, Raymond turned back and saw Nathaniel walking in with a scowl. “Mr. Hadley, you and Mrs. Hadley-

“Send her supper upstairs,” requested Nathaniel without slowing his steps while ascending the stairs.

Christina bathed in hot water, which caused her pain when it touched the bite wounds on her shoulder. That b*stard! Is he a dog? Why did he bite me?

After changing into a long-sleeved nightgown and drying her hair, she heard the housekeeper knocking on the door.

“I have prepared supper, Mrs. Hadley. Would you like some?” The housekeeper was instructed not to mention Nathaniel was the one who gave the order.

“Sure,” answered Christina.

The housekeeper laid the bowl of food on the table and left.

When the fragrance of food traveled into her nose, Christina recalled she hadn’t eaten anything for the day as she spent the whole day playing in the amusement park.

Sitting before the coffee table, she finished the oatmeal before returning to her bed.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the scene at the fake mountain as she lay on the bed. A wave of humiliation washed over her, which brought a flood of rage into her heart as she slept.

At midnight, Nathaniel sneakily opened the door and strolled into the room.

He stared at Christina, whose body curled up at the corner of the bed like a cooked prawn while her black hair rested on the side like seaweed. In his eyes, she was as pretty as Sleeping Beauty.

The blanket that was previously on her body had been kicked off the bed.

The bedside lamp faintly illuminated her furrowed eyebrows. She looked quite pitiful as if she had been insulted.

Nathaniel pulled up the blanket and covered her body gently. Then, he smoothened her eyebrows tenderly.

Once calmness returned to her countenance, he left. I doubt she wants to see me right now.

The morning sunlight pierced through the clouds and landed in the bedroom.

Christina felt much better after a good night’s sleep.

After washing up and changing her clothes, she headed to the dining room.

She received an address and a message from Francis on her phone: Meet you here at nine. Don’t be late.

I wonder if Nathaniel will forbid me from leaving after what happened last night. When her train of thought. ended there, she asked probingly, “Where’s Mr. Hadley?”

The housekeeper served her a bowl of oatmeal. “He went to the office very early in the morning. He said you should ask the driver to take you anywhere you want to go.”

Christina was stunned for a moment, surprised. “Ask the driver to get the car up.”

“Yes.”

After breakfast, Christina requested the driver to take her to the address Francis sent her.

Half an hour later, she arrived at her destination..

Francis’ company was located in a mansion. There was a courtyard with a pond in it. The whole place looked more like a recreational center.

The door was not locked, so Christina strode right into the building.

When the employees noticed her, they thought she was just a random stranger. “Who are you? Leave now.”

Christina stopped. “I’m the new stylist.”

A sexy woman approached her, examined her, and smirked. “How dare you pretend to be the stylist! Get out of here, phony!”

Christina’s eyebrows trembled slightly as she gazed at the woman. “You can ask Francis if I’m a phony. If he said I am, I’ll leave immediately.”

 

Chapter 373 Reuniting With Bailey

“The fact that you know Mr. Fernando is here just goes to show you’re an obsessive fan! We come across people like you far too often!”

“Penelope is the only stylist here in this company, so she must be lying! We should kick her out!”

Just like that, Christina was swarmed by the group of staff who surrounded her.

Penelope Lacefield reached out and shoved Christina amidst the chaos, causing her to lose her balance. and fall backward.

Her palms were instantly cut open the moment they hit the sandy ground.

“Get lost, all of you!” a man shouted coldly from behind.

Everyone froze and turned around, only to see Francis making his way toward them.

Despite his gloomy expression, he looked like a foreign prince with his white dress shirt, puffy cuffs, jewel necklaces, and curled hair that had been dyed into a bluish-green color.

The icy-cold look on his face changed the moment he saw Christina’s bleeding palms. “Are you

The staff realized they had made a huge mistake when they saw how Francis treated Christina. With a gloomy look on her face, Christina pulled her hands back and said, “I don’t think the work culture” here is suitable for me.”

Given her current status, there were plenty of people out there who would willingly get in line just to hire her.

As such, she had no need to put up with such nonsense at all.

“It was her fault for not making that clear. None of us intended for this to happen. There have been far too many obsessive fans lately, so our response was perfectly justified,” Penelope protested..

Christina shot her an icy-cold glare. Wow… This woman sure knows how to twist the facts!

“Apologize to her,” Francis ordered coldly.

The looks on the staff’s faces turned gloomy when they heard that. However, as reluctant as they were, none of them dared disobey Francis’ orders. “Sorry…” they muttered through clenched teeth.

“Come with me,” Francis said as he grabbed Christina by the hand and dragged her inside.

The staff began complaining the moment the two of them left. “Who the f*ck is that woman? How dare she behave so arrogantly?”

Francis then retrieved a first aid kit and carefully treated Christina’s wounds. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not briefing everyone beforehand.”

“If you feel guilty for what happened, then how about you tell me what I want to know before we sign this contract?” Christina asked calmly.

After treating her wounds, Francis handed her a contract that he had prepared in advance and said, “You’ve become a lot smarter than before. I’ll tell you after you sign the contract.”

Christina took the contract over from him and read through every term in great detail. Apart from the penalty for breach of contract, which was billions, it looked no different from any other contract

“Did you make a mistake with the penalty amount for breach of contract?” she asked.

“Nope That amount is inclusive of the money for the information I’m selling you. I don’t know if you would bail on me, so I’m going to need some insurance Nathaniel can totally afford to pay for this, so

you don’t have to worry about a thing. If you do breach our contract, I can use that money to go after Nathamel. I’ll be honest with you here. I’ve been saving up a lot of money over the past few years, and 1 have quite enough to go against him.” Francis said nonchalantly with his arms crossed.

Christina kept her gaze fixated on him as she hesitated.

“Of course, you don’t have to sign the contract if you don’t want to. I’m not going to force you into doing anything.” Francis continued and reached out to take the contract back.

Christina quickly pulled the contract away from him and proceeded to sign her name on it.

“There, can you tell me what I want to know now?” she asked while handing it over to him.

Francis’s eyes lit up slightly when he saw her name on the contract.

He was about to say something when a staff knocked on the door and reminded him, “All preparations are complete, Mr. Fernando. We can start the shoot anytime.”

“Got it.” Francis put the contract away and shifted his gaze back toward Christina as he asked, “Do you mind if we get this job done first?”

“No, I don’t,” Christina replied.

Francis then explained the procedure to her. They were going to shoot a commercial for a skincare product, and Penelope had already prepared the outfits and hairstyles beforehand.

“I want you to come up with new designs and hairstyles in five minutes,” Francis said before walking off to get his makeup done.

Christina glanced at the outfits that Penelope had prepared, but she did not find any of those to her liking-

Instead, she spent one minute looking up information on the product and the commercial’s concept before selecting the clothes for her outfits.

“I heard you graduated from some lesser-known institute. I wouldn’t embarrass myself here if I were you!” Penelope warned her.

“I don’t need you to judge my professionalism,” Christina replied with her expression as cold as ice.

She was so calm with her response that Penelope had no idea how to counter her at all.

Eventually, all Penelope could do was shoot her a vicious glare before storming off.

Christina picked out a suit jacket with no lining on the inside and paired it with a pair of casual pants matching color.

She then presented the outfit to Francis and said, “Here’s, your first set of outfit. Go ahead and put it on.” The makeup artist standing next to them felt really displeased with the way she spoke to Francis.

Reuniting With Bailey

Ugh! How dare she talk to our dream man like that?

Francis simply picked up the clothes and made his way into the changing room without saying anything

Everyone else around them got mad at Christina when they saw that.

What an insolent woman! Mr. Fernando is a nice guy who hardly scolds his subordinates, but that doesn’t give a stylist the right to be disrespectful toward him!

After changing into the outfit. Francis made his way over to the spot that had been decorated beforehand. The photographer then took a few pictures and confirmed that the lighting was okay.

After that. Christina walked up to him with a scarf and carefully wrapped it around his neck.

The black scarf had white letters in Anglandurn printed on it, which helped form a bit of contrast against his fully-black outfit.

The outfit revealed his delicate collarbones, which made him look all the more sexier.

The photo shoot went by rather smoothly, and the sky was already dark by the time they were done with

Christina decided she would come to see Francis the next day to continue their discussion, so she packed her things and got ready to leave.

“I’ll give you a ride home.” Francis didn’t have time to change out of his outfit, so he still had the scent of perfume on him.

“That won’t be necessary. My car is here.”

Christina had contacted the driver earlier to come and pick her up.

“It’s late, and you probably won’t have dinner waiting for you at home. How about having dinner with met before heading back?” Francis asked as he followed behind her.

“No, thanks. I have an appointment.” Christina said as she walked out the door and got into Raymond’s car.

Francis let out a sigh as he watched the car leave the set.

“Will you be going home, Mrs. Hadley?” the driver asked.

“No. Take me to the bar in the city.” Christina was supposed to meet Bailey there. Besides, she was in a bad mood, and the kids weren’t home, so she didn’t feel like going back to Scenic Garden Manor at

all.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up outside the entrance.

Christina could hear the sound of people chatting and laughing the moment she entered the bar.

“I’ve missed you so much, Christina! I can’t believe you just upped and left for four years! That was so uncool!” Bailey exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Christina and clung to her like a koala bear.

Christina had left in a real hurry back then. Fearing that Nathaniel would be able to track her down, she did not contact Bailey at all.

 

Chapter 374 Nathaniel Burns Up With A Fever

“Why would you want to meet me in a place like this? Have you become a party girl during my absence?” Christina asked while pinching her cheeks.

Bailey gave her waist a tight hug and replied with a smile, “Of course not! This bar belongs to a friend of mine. I just came over to support his business. That’s all! Now, enough talk about me. Do you have any idea how much I’ve missed you? Tell me where you’ve been throughout the past four years!”

Christina proceeded to give her a brief summary of the events that took place. Bailey got so mad at Nathaniel after hearing her story that she wanted to chop him up into pieces.

“Unbelievable! I thought he loved you, but he turned out to be a possessive control freak! As if that wasn’t bad enough, he even had the audacity to use the kids to threaten you into staying with him!” she shouted while slamming her fist on the table.

Christina felt glad to know that she had someone who actually cared about her. “It’s fine. I can handle it. I’ve managed to survive all these years, and he isn’t really giving me a hard time now. Anyway, let’s not ruin the mood by talking about such sad things. Cheers!”

In the mean time, Raymond had called Christina several times using the landline at Scenic Garden Manor, -but she never answered her phone.

“How is it? Is Mrs. Hadley still not picking up?” Sebastian asked anxiously.

The butler put the phone down and shook his head. “Mrs. Hadley would usually pick up if we call her using this landline. I’m assuming she and Mr. Hadley got into a very huge fight this time.”

Sebastian, too, had no idea why things had gotten worse between them after they returned from the amusement park,

The doctor came down from the second floor.

“How is Mr. Hadley doing, doctor?” Sebastian asked anxiously.

“Things are not looking good. The wound on his back has gotten inflamed because it wasn’t treated in time, so he’s at risk of getting an infection. On top of that, he is also burning up with a high fever. If this goes on, he could catch pneumonia. I have suggested Mr. Hadley seek treatment at a hospital, but he refused and wouldn’t even take his medication,” the doctor replied with a stern look on his face.

Mutual cooperation between patient and doctor was necessary for a treatment to be successful, so there wasn’t much the doctor could do in this situation.

“I’ll leave the medication here. Please send Mr. Hadley to a hospital immediately if his condition worsens,” the doctor continued and left the house.

The butler’s expression slid into a frown. “Mrs. Hadley is the only one who can persuade Mr. Hadley.”

Having recalled something, Sebastian asked, “Didn’t Mrs. Hadley leave the house in one of the drivers’ cars?”

“Oh, you’re right! We could try asking the driver about her whereabouts,” Raymond replied as he whipped out his phone and punched in the driver’s number.

“Where is Mrs. Hadley right now? What? A bar? Hurry up and tell her that Mr. Hadley is very sick. We need her to come home immediately!”

Gosh! I can’t believe Mrs. Hadley is out there partying while Mr. Hadley is burning up with a high fever here!

Sebastian’s expression turned extremely gloomy at the thought of that.

Having downed two glasses of cocktails, Christina was feeling a little tipsy even though the drinks were fairly low in alcohol content.

“Mr. Hadley is sick, Mrs. Hadley! Please return to the manor immediately!” said the driver.

Christina had a little furrow between her eyebrows as she replied, “He should see a doctor if he’s sick. I’m no doctor, so I wouldn’t be able to treat him anyway.”

Because the driver had yet to hang up the phone, Sebastian and Raymond were able to hear what she said.

Since when did Mrs. Hadley become so cold and heartless?

“But Mr. Hadley is-”

“Go wait outside. I’m hanging out with my friend right now,” Christina cut him off.

“All right, then.” The driver turned around and walked out of the bar without saying another word.

Bailey wrapped an arm around her shoulder and asked, “What’s the matter? Is that heartless monster sick?”

Christina gritted her teeth in anger when she recalled what Nathaniel did to her at the amusement park. Hmph! Serves him right!

She then downed another glass of cocktail in an attempt to drown her negative emotions. “He has doctors who will tend to him if he’s sick, so there’s no point in me rushing home now.”

Bailey gave her a thumbs up when she saw how determined Christina was. “Well said! You can’t let him control you like that!”

The two of them had a few more rounds of drinks before finally leaving the bar.

“My driver will send me home. Make sure to text me when you get home, okay?” Bailey said while waving. goodbye.

“All right.”

Christina then got into her driver’s car, and the driver floored the accelerator all the way back to the manor.

After he parked the car outside the front door, Christina got out and casually made her way into the house.

Sebastian ran up to her and said anxiously, “Mrs. Hadley! Please go have a look at Mr. Hadley! He’s very sick and refuses to take his medication!”

Mr. Hadley’s life is in danger! This cannot wait any longer!

Nathaniel Burns Up With A Fever

Christina simply shot him a cold glance and replied nonchalantly. “That just means his condition isn’t really all that serious. I’m sure he’ll take his medicine if his condition gets really bad.”

Nathaniel never cared about me when I refused to eat out of anger! Eventually, I gave up and started eating when I got too hungry. No one would actually try to kill themself like this!

Sebastian had assumed that Christina’s mood would have improved by the time she returned, but that was clearly not the case here. “It’s common for married couples to get into arguments every now and then, Mrs. Hadley. Will you please coax him into taking his medication? You can go back to being mad at him. after that.”

Christina’s face turned red with anger almost instantly. “Why should I coax him and submit to him?” she snapped at Sebastian coldly.

“Mr. Hadley isn’t exactly good at expressing himself. Please forgive him if he has done anything to offend you.” Sebastian replied with a helpless expression.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Nathaniel is very good at expressing his feelings. He locks people up whenever he gets angry and forces himself on them whenever he gets mad. I have never seen anyone who is more expressive than him,” Christina said and went straight upstairs.

Sebastian could only let out a helpless sigh as he watched her walk away.

Just how did their conflict get worse after the trip to the amusement park?

Christina sobered up a lot after taking a hot shower late at night.

Hmph! I don’t care what happens to Nathaniel! I just want him to stay away from me and the kids!

She was snapped out of her train of thought when someone knocked on the door. “Mrs. Hadley? The doctor said Mr. Hadley’s fever is caused by an inflammation of the wound on his back. Are you sure you don’t want to go see him?”

The butler waited for a bit, but there was no reply, so he could only turn around and walk away.

The wound on his back? Oh, that’s right! I remember him getting injured when he shielded me from the cart. I thought he would’ve had someone treat him upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor. Turns out, he has left that wound untreated ever since! Wait a minute… Doesn’t that mean he was injured while spending the day with me at the amusement park? It’s no wonder his wound got inflamed! I don’t want to care about him, but… Do I really just leave him be? Ugh… I am partly responsible for his fever, though…

After rolling around in bed and hesitating for a bit, she gave in to the soft spot in her heart and tiptoed toward the study.

 

Chapter 375 The Gibson Family Might Be Involved

Nathamel’s tall figure could be seen lying on the couch with his feet dangling off the armrest.

The atmosphere in the room felt incredibly tense as though he were a sleeping lion.

The medicine was neatly laid out on the coffee table, and the glass of warm water on the side had turned cold.

“What’s he trying to accomplish here? Gain sympathy?” Christina muttered under her breath with a pout.

She then brought in a jug of warm water, opened the box containing the medicine, and read its instructions.

Take two tablets orally, huh…

“Wake up, Nathaniel. It’s time to take your medicine,” Christina called out to him in a somewhat soft voice.

Like a statue made of stone, Nathaniel showed no response whatsoever.

Christina tried patting him on the cheek, only to realize his skin was as hot as boiling water.

Oh, my goodness! This high fever will probably damage his brain if we don’t treat it in time! My kids are definitely going to be laughed at for having a dimwit as a father!

She was hesitating about whether she should have Raymond feed Nathaniel the medicine when Madison. stormed into the room.

“Christina, you heartless b*tch! Are you trying to get Mr. Hadley killed?” she yelled while grabbing the glass of cold water on the coffee table and splashing it all over Christina’s face.

Infuriated, Christina splashed the hot water on Madison’s face in retaliation.

Christina showed no emotion whatsoever as she placed the glass, which was still somewhat warm, down on the table. “Who let you in here? You have been suspended from Hadley Corporation, so who are you to show up here like this?”

The tension in the room intensified instantly.

As Christina was the woman of the house at Scenic Garden Manor, she had every right to confront Madison.

“By entering this house without a legitimate purpose, you are technically trespassing on private property. I could call the police and have you arrested for this!” Christina continued with a look in her eyes as cold as ice.

“You have no right to abuse Mr. Hadley like this, Christina!” Madison had come rushing over the moment she heard about Nathaniel’s condition from Sebastian.

Her heart felt as though it was stabbed by a million needles when she saw Nathaniel lying on the couch. with his face all pale..

She hated Christina to the bone for toying with the man she had loved and protected for almost eight years.

It’s all Christina’s fault that I got suspended! I would never have let things get this bad if I knew about Mr. Hadley’s condition!

Christina’s tone was dripping with sarcasm as she said with a snicker, “I enjoy abusing Nathaniel, and he enjoys being abused by me. If you’re able to make him leave me, do it. Otherwise, f*cking leave us alone!

The look on Madison’s face turned incredibly gloomy, but there was nothing she could do except glare daggers at Christina.

Christina then whipped out her phone and gave Raymond a call. A few bodyguards came marching into the room a few moments later.

“Who told you guys to let her in? I’ll have you all fired if something like this happens again!” Christina shouted angrily.

The only reason the bodyguards did not stop Madison from entering the house was because they knew her as Nathaniel’s assistant.

“Understood, Mrs. Hadley.” The bodyguards then walked up to Madison and said with conflicted looks on their faces, “Please leave, Ms. Taggart. Don’t make this any more difficult for us.”

Madison was seething with anger, but she could only leave with the bodyguards as she had no valid reason to stick around.

Just like that, the study fell into complete silence once again. Christina wiped the remaining water droplets off her face with a paper towel before shooting Nathaniel a cold glance. “See this? You’re the reason I have to put up with all this crap.”

She then fetched him another glass of warm water from the kitchen. This time, she also brought a bowl and a spoon with her.

Christina placed the pill in the bowl and crushed it with the spoon before dissolving it in a small amount of water.

After preparing the medicine, she lifted Nathaniel’s head slightly and fed him the medicine using the spoon.

The pill tasted bitter after being crushed and dissolved in water, causing Nathaniel to frown slightly in response.

It was already in the wee hours of the morning by the time Christina was done feeding him the medicine. and tucking him in.

“Honestly, why do I keep putting up with your crap?” Christina mumbled to herself as she glanced at Nathaniel, who was sleeping soundly before leaving the room..

She woke up rather late the next morning.

Nathaniel was having breakfast at the dining table when she came downstairs.

“Here you go, Mrs. Hadley. Enjoy your breakfast!”

One of the housekeepers served up Christina’s breakfast the moment she sat down at the table.

“Thank you for looking after Mr. Hadley last night,” said Raymond with a chuckle.

The Gibson Family Might Be Involved.

Nathaniel paused and shifted his gaze toward Christina when he heard that.

He knew that someone was looking after him last night, but he thought it was Raymond instead.

Christina shot Raymond an annoyed glance. “If you’re so free, then why don’t you go weed the courtyard

Raymond stopped talking after that.

The courtyard was as huge as a soccer field, so an old man like him would probably die of exhaustion if he were to weed the entire courtyard.

Christina was getting ready to leave the house after breakfast when Nathaniel called out to her, “Where are you going?”

“You’ll know where I’m going once you ask my driver later,” Christina replied coldly.

Hmph! Don’t think our relationship has improved simply because I took care of you last night!

A deep frown creased Nathaniel’s brow when he heard that. Christina’s sudden change in attitude had truly caught him by surprise.

Raymond and the housekeepers kept their heads low when they sensed the tension rising at the dining table.

Christina then ignored him and walked right out of the house.

A few minutes after the car left the house, Nathaniel received a message from the driver that read: Mrs. Hadley is meeting a famous celebrity named Francis Fernando.

Nathaniel got so mad when he saw Francis’ name that he almost crushed his phone to bits.

Having witnessed what Christina was capable of doing yesterday, none of the staff dared insult her when she arrived at the mansion.

Penelope watched on as Christina rode the elevator straight to the third floor..

Mr. Fernando’s office is on the third floor! None of us would dare go there without his permission!

“What’s so great about Christina anyway? Why is she allowed access to the third floor?”

“She’s being far too arrogant! We should teach her a lesson!”

Penelope pulled those staff close and said with a vicious look in her eyes, “I have an idea that’ll make her think twice about messing with us…”

The windows in the spacious living room on the third floor provided a clear view of the scenery outside.

Francis had on a white dress shirt with the first button undone, which revealed his sexy Adam’s apple and exquisite collarbones. His outfit matched the black and white color theme of the living room, which gave off a somewhat solemn vibe.

“Would you prefer milk or orange juice?”

 

Chapter 376 On One Condition

“Are you saying someone intended to kill Granny and Mom?” Christina, whose brows were furrowed, plunged into deep thoughts.

“Or is it because your family had offended someone?” Francis was also baffled by the matter,

“That’s impossible,” answered Christina with resolution.

She knew very well what kind of person Evelyn and Sharon were. They certainly wouldn’t be on bad terms with someone.

“If we want to get to the bottom of this, we can only investigate the Gibson family.” Francis gazed at the calm look on her face and couldn’t figure out what was on her mind.

Suddenly, Christina raised her eyes and saw him staring at her with slanted eyes. “That’s it?”

“That’s all I managed to find out,” stated Francis honestly.

Christina mocked, “This little information is certainly not worth me signing a contract.”

“You’ve signed it anyway and can’t change your mind now. We’ll start working after fifteen minutes, You can rest for a while.” A half-smile hung on his face.

After saying that, he stood up and walked away.

It must be because Christina didn’t sleep well last night that she seemed slightly deprived of sleep now.

Music started playing in the quiet room. She fell asleep while leaning on the couch while listening to the slow melody.

When she woke up, she realized she had overslept.

Why didn’t Francis wake me up?

After going downstairs, Christina saw Francis, who had put on make-up but had yet to change his clothes.

“No need to hurry. Take your time.”

Several people around Christina turned to her and began to b*tch about her.

How dare she let Mr. Fernando wait for her. I’ve never seen a stylist so full of herself

She’s simply taking Mr. Fernando’s patience for granted to act as she pleases.

Christina had no intention of explaining anything and scowled at Francis.

She walked over to the wardrobe, picked the outfits to match them, and worked until nighttime.

“There will be a fashion show later. Come with me so I can introduce you to some famous people in the industry.” Francis appeared behind Christina without making a sound.

“I still have things to do. Besides, there’s no term in the agreement saying I must accompany you to social events

Christina declined his request frankly. For some reason, she felt very tired today.

“All right. Head home early to rest after you finish work

After the staff hastily packed the stuff, they swarmed around Francis and left with him.

After tidying the clothes he had worn earlier, Christina placed them in the storeroom and walked out the door

Nathaniel’s car was waiting for her at the entrance instead of the car she rode here this morning.

It was difficult to hail a taxi in the high end residential area.

Thus, Christina had no choice but to get into the car.

Then, the car drove away.

Nathaniel’s hand was propped against the car window. He rested his temple on the back of his hand while reading the document in his hand with his eyes lowered. “Put these on.”

It was not until then that Christina noticed the branded shopping bag containing a dress and high heels beside her foot.

“Where are we going?”

“A banquet.”

“I don’t want to go.”

Nathaniel put away the documents in his hands while his gaze shifted to the stubborn look on her small face. “Get changed, or I’ll help you do that.”

His tone was very firm, leaving her no choice.

Christina regretted so much for taking care of him last night. Now that he has recovered, he is giving me a hard time.

Seeing her remain unmoved, Nathaniel simply raised his hand to remove her coat, exposing her fair and tender shoulder.

His gesture made Christina’s hair stand on end like a frightened cat. Panicked, she uttered. “I’ll do it myself.”

Only then did Nathaniel was willing to let go of her hand. The driver then rolled up the partition.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the banquet’s entrance.

“Mr. Hadley, we’re very honored to have you attend tonight’s dinner,” said Frank, who organized the event

He ran a fashion company that owned several famous clothing brands nationwide.

“May I know who is this lady?” A woman who came with Mr. Hadley must be high-status. I must get to know her.

“She’s my wife.”

A glint flashed in Frank’s eyes. “So you’re Mrs. Hadley. What a coincidence. Some fashion designers are also here today. Why don’t I introduce you to them?”

Nathaniel nodded faintly.

Frank left to look for the designers while Christina glared at Nathaniel from the side. Did he bring me here today so that I can make new connections?

After a short while, Frank returned with two famous designers in the industry and introduced them to Christina.

As designers who shared the same interests, they got along well and got acquainted quickly, saved each other’s contacts, and even agreed to go to an exhibition together.

“We’ve invited a new ambassador to showcase the latest menswear tonight. Please let me know if there is any to your liking, Mr. Hadley.” What mattered the most to Frank now was a collaboration with Hadley. Corporation.

If Hadley Corporation invested in his company, the business would surely boost.

“I will keep an eye out,” said Nathaniel calmly.

Right then, music started playing on the stage at the front while some tall and slender male models. dressed in the latest menswear walked out.

Everyone had their gazes fixated on the stage.

The menswear collection had pretty decent tailoring and design, while the outfit matching looked stylish.

“Look. It’s Francis Fernando.”

“It’s really him. Let’s ask for his autograph backstage later!”

“Oh, my dream man…”

Hearing the familiar name, Christina shifted her gaze to the front. Francis’ appearance on the stage instantly outshined the other male models.

It turned out that the event Francis mentioned earlier happened to be here..

They exchanged glances. When he saw her, the surprised look in his eyes was apparent, but it quickly disappeared.

After Francis finished cat walking and got off the stage, many women surrounded him, requesting to take pictures with him and have his autograph.

He fulfilled their wishes. After taking some pictures, the people around him dispersed.

Francis walked up to Christina. “Didn’t you say you were tired? Why didn’t you head home after getting off work?”

Before Christina could say a word, he shot Nathaniel a provocative look. “Someone must have forced you here against your will.”

“Stop it, warned Christina with a low voice.

Lately, every time Nathaniel and Francis met they always almost get into a fight.

Unaware of the relationship between the three of them, Frank grinned at the side and kept bringing up the cooperation. “Mr. Hadley, what do you think about the new menswear collection? Is it worth the investment?”

“They look nice, but the ambassador is awful. We’ll do business together on one condition-you someone else,” stated Nathaniel coldly. hire

Caught in a bind, Frank looked at the charming Francis. Everyone thinks he looks stunning. How come Mr. Hadley is still displeased?

“Sure. I’ll do as you wish.”

“Come to my office with the contract tomorrow.” After saying that, Nathaniel grabbed Christina’s hand and added. “We’ll take our leave first.”

“Okay. Goodbye, Mr. Hadley.”

As they walked toward the door, Francis ran after them.

 

Chapter 377 No One Takes Care Of Daddy

As the car door opened, Nathaniel swiftly lifted Christina off her feet and carried her inside.

The closing of the door reverberated in her ears as she found herself pressed against the car window.

Without hesitation, Nathaniel forcefully kissed her, his fiery and intense breath engulfing her like a raging fire, consuming her completely.

Instinctively, she tried to evade his overpowering presence. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside the window.

It was at that moment she understood why he did that.

Nathaniel intentionally used her to provoke Francis.

Outside the car, a chilling gust of wind slipped into Francis’ collar, yet his handsome face remained remarkably composed.

The figure pressed against the window and their entwined hands appeared to be signaling to him that something was happening in the car.

He felt as if someone had ripped his heart out and dropped it from a great height, shattering it into pieces.

As the car drove away, only the solitary figure of the man remained on the empty ground.

Inside the car, Christina pushed Nathaniel away, her icy face showing no reaction. “You’ve achieved your goal. Can you let go now?”

The wrist Nathaniel gripped onto throbbed with a faint pain.

Nathaniel slowly released his grip, appearing calm as if nothing had happened.

He admitted he did that to provoke Francis. Seeing the disappointment and frustration on Francis’ face gave him a sense of satisfaction.

Christina rubbed her wrist before mouthing the word “childish.”

“I can be more childish than this if you insist on keeping in touch with him,” Nathaniel said, unfazed by her disdain.

Upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina was the first to get out of the car and went upstairs.

Observing her visibly irritated expression, the butler deduced that another argument had ensued between the couple.

Nathaniel, too, ascended the stairs and retreated into his study.

Engrossed in his work, he pushed himself until the late hours of the night, but his exhausted body succumbed to a fever.

The butler brought a glass of water upstairs and noticed the medicine on the desk had only been taken once. “You still need to continue taking your medication. Mr. Hadley.”

Nathaniel responded with a faint hum and paid no further attention to his reminder.

The butler knew he could not persuade Nathaniel further. Saying more will only annoy him.

The following day, Christina woke up and left the house without having breakfast.

She agreed to take on the role of stylist for Francis company. In other words, she would not only be serving him but the entire company as well.

Today, there was a retro-themed eyewear advertisement shoot for one of the artists in the company, and the location was in an area in the old town.

Since she assumed the position, Christina was assigned Penelope as her assistant, and the latter found it difficult to accept it.

Upon arriving at the set, Penelope made little effort to assist her. She spent most of her time either chatting with others or taking photographs.

After the shoot, they returned to the company in the evening.

“Please tidy up the clothes.” Christina was ready to depart to the Hadley residence to pick up the children.

“Why should I? It was you who messed up the clothes,” Penelope retorted, crossing her arms and showing no intention of taking any action.

Christina casually put the bag of clothes aside and said, “It’s up to you whether you want to tidy them up or not. My job here is done.”

She then turned around and walked out the door, leaving behind an ashen-faced Penelope and a bag of clothes.

Christina got into the car and instructed the driver, “The Hadley residence.”

“Yes, Mrs. Hadley,” the driver responded and drove off

When Christina arrived at the Hadley residence, the two children were playing soccer in the courtyard with their grandparents.

“Mommy!” Camila and Lucas ran over when they saw Christina from a distance. They hugged her legs, their happy faces beaming with delight.

“Join us for dinner before you leave,” Julia said with a grin.

Being with her grandchildren brought her so much joy. She could not bear to part with these two adorable little ones.

“All right, Mom,” she responded.

Nothing could escape Julia’s eyes.

Even though Julia did not live in Scenic Garden Manor, she knew Christina had a fight with Nathaniel.

As they were walking back to the house, Julia talked about random household matters before finally shifting to the topic of the couple’s relationship. “Nathaniel has always been reserved and has had difficulty expressing his emotions since childhood. But everything he does, he does it with your best interests in mind.”

Upon hearing that, Christina responded, “There are many ways to be nice to someone. Acting dominant and selfish is not one of them”

After enduring the silent treatment for two days, the thought of divorce resurfaced in her mind

If it were not for the children’s sake, she would have already handed Nathaniel the divorce papers.

“It’s important for the husband and wife to communicate with each other. He wouldn’t know what’s on your mind if you don’t voter your dissatisfaction.” Julia said, gently patting Christina’s hand with anticipation in her eyes.

Christina bobbed her head in acknowledgment, realizing there was no need to make the elders in the family worry.

After dinner, Christina brought the children back to Scenic Garden Manor.

As soon as the butler saw Christina, he hurriedly walked up to them. “Good to have all of you home.”

Yet, his hesitant demeanor caught the attention of the two children.

“You seem worried, Mr. Patel. Did something happen to Daddy?” Lucas looked up, his clear eyes sparked with curiosity.

The butler grew agitated. “Mr. Hadley is having a fever again, and he refused to take his medicine.” Christina’s eyes darkened, but she had no intention of responding. Doesn’t he know how to take his medicine? He’s an adult, yet he expects me to spoon-feed him?

She felt she had done her best and was not guilty about it.

At that moment, Sebastian came downstairs with a serious look. When his gaze met Christina’s calm face, he said, “Mr. Hadley’s condition has worsened compared to last time. According to the doctor, the anti- inflammatory medication he took once wasn’t sufficient to fully reduce the inflammation resulting in the recurrence of symptoms. The doctor may have given him a jab, but he still needs to take his prescribed medication.”

After speaking, Sebastian looked at Christina, subtly hinting at her to do something.

The others, too, turned their attention to Christina. In a nonchalant voice, she finally responded, “If he can tough it out and refuse to take his medication despite how serious his condition is, it just goes to show he can handle it. So, there’s really no need to worry.”

Sebastian’s and the butler’s expressions darkened. How can we not worry about him?

In the end, Camila and Lucas took the initiative to go upstairs as they were worried about their father. “We want to go see Daddy.”

“It’s so sad that Daddy is sick, and there’s no one to take care of him,” Camila said, her concern shining through.

Sebastian found solace in the fact that the children still cared about Nathaniel.

Witnessing the distress on the faces of the two little ones, Christina quickly caught up with them. “Daddy is ill, so you kids should stay away from him. We wouldn’t want you to catch it too.”

“We’ll stand far away and just observe, don’t worry. We won’t get infected.” Lucas held Camila’s hand and walked in the study’s direction.

Feeling a sense of resignation, Christina closely trailed behind the pair and stepped into the room.

“Daddy, are you sick? Do you feel uncomfortable?” Lucas walked to the couch, his eyes filled with genuine concern as he gazed at Nathaniel’s pale face.

“Get well soon. Daddy!” Camila expressed her concern in an innocent tone.

Nathaniel tenderly caressed their heads, finding solace in the smiles that adorned their faces. It brought him a slight sense of relief amidst his discomfort.

Christina went up and pulled the children away. “It’s just a minor flu, don’t worry. Come, let’s go.”

Chapter 378 You Have A Guest

“Daddy’s sick, so we want to take care of him” Lucas blinked innocently.

“We took care of you when you were sick, too,” Camila chimed in to express her agreement.

Christina was baffled, not knowing how to explain the situation to the children. “It’s different. Daddy’s condition is more serious. I’d be worried if you two fell ill, too.”

Lucas and Camila fell silent immediately because their mother had a point.

The two children considered awhile before uttering in unison, “We’ll leave the responsibility of caring for Daddy to you, then.”

“Huh?” Christina almost choked. She carried the children to their room and said, “I can just leave him to Raymond and Mr. Taggart. I still need to take care of you two.”

“That won’t do. Daddy’s a part of our family. It’s only right for family members to take care of him. Mommy, why do you not want to take care of Daddy?” questioned Lucas with his arms crossed like an adult.

Camila’s lips were pursed into a line as she pinned a dubious gaze on her mother. “Do you not see Daddy as one of us?”

Christina was amused by their persistent questions.

“It was you who said family members should love one another. Was it all a lie?” Lucas pressed on with his head tilted, appearing confused.

“No. Mommy never lies,” Camila stated confidently.

Their conversation dumbfounded Christina. They won’t stop if I don’t go over to take care of Nathaniel today. Given no choice, she agreed, “All right. I promise to go over to take care of him.”

It was not until they heard Christina’s promise did they feel at ease. With that, the children followed the housekeeper to take their showers.

Christina was in no hurry to visit the study. Instead, she returned to her room after leaving the children’s room.

It was not until she had taken a shower and changed into her pajamas did she head to the study. Nathaniel was in an unconscious state. The weight loss made his charming features look more chiseled.

The way Christina saw it, he was like an injured lion that would attack her even if she approached him with good intentions.

She had not forgotten the naughty act he did at the banquet’s entrance last night.

He bit my lips.

Just then. Raymond walked in with a glass of warm water. “I’m sure Mr. Hadley will take his medicines now that you’re here, Mrs. Hadley.”

Raymond, who usually worked leisurely, was exceptionally efficient that day. It did not take long for him to set all the things on the coffee table and leave the study.

After feeding Nathaniel his medicine, Christina wiped him down with a towel.

That was when she recalled Sebastian mentioning the unhealed wound on Nathaniel’s back. It was what caused the latter’s fever to recur.

Expending much effort, Christina finally flipped Nathaniel around.

Immediately, the white shirt smeared with blood came into view. The crimson stain was as striking as a blooming red flower in the snow.

Sebastian wasn’t lying. Nathaniel’s condition is really serious.

The mottled wound was a shocking sight. Nonetheless, Christina fetched a bottle of anti-inflammatory medicine and carefully cleaned his wound. Soon, a mountain of gauze and used cotton swabs was stacked beside her.

There was an hour left until the next round of medicine intake after dealing with his wound. Hence, Christina lay on the couch and scrolled through her phone to kill time.

In no time, she fell asleep on the armrest, and her phone slipped from her hand to the carpet..

The pitch-black sky slowly turned grey as midnight approached.

As Nathaniel’s eyes fluttered open, he felt a heated sensation by his legs, as if a heater was sitting on them. Glancing over, he saw a curled-up figure hugging his thighs like they were a bolster.

Nathaniel sat up in response. As he was worried that Christina might catch a cold from the way she slept. he carefully lifted her into his arms. Deep in her slumber, she opened her eyes drowsily and let herself be carried upon recognizing the familiar face.

“Let’s go to our room to sleep.”

Christina drowsily murmured a response and continued sleeping in his embrace.

Nathaniel was feeling more energized after getting some sleep. Rising to his feet, he carried her in his arms and walked to their room.

The two had not shared a bed in a long time. After all, Christina had been treating him coldly ever since he returned.

Now that the opportunity presented itself, Nathaniel happily hugged her slender body and kissed her hair, taking in her scent as he dozed off.

Rays of the morning sun flooded into the room the next day.

Christina woke up to find herself in bed with a sturdy arm resting on her waist. Looking up, she saw Nathaniel sleeping soundly beside her.

She instinctively felt the man’s forehead. Great, his fever has subsided.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Christina quietly slipped out of bed, got changed, and left the room.

Lucas and Camila were having their breakfast on the first floor when they saw their mother descending the stairs. Immediately, they asked, “Mommy, is Daddy feeling better?”

Flashing them a faint smile, Christina replied, “He’s much better, but he’s still sleeping. Well, we mustn’t disturb him. I’ll send you to the kindergarten when you’ve finished your breakfast.”

The news of their father’s recovery almost sent the children leaping with joy. “Okay!”

After breakfast, Christina left the house with Lucas and Camila.

By the time Nathaniel was awake again, he was feeling much better. Even his back did not hurt anymore.

When Nathaniel reached the first floor, Raymond had already placed his breakfast on the dining table.

Nathaniel took his seat to find a box of medicines and a note beside his cutleries.

The writing on the note was squiggly, which was clearly written by children. It read: Daddy, remember to take your medicine, Love, Lucas and Camila.

“Mr. Lucas and Ms. Camila are really caring.” Raymond commented softly.

Good thing they persuaded Mrs. Hadley. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gone over to take care of Mr. Hadley.

Nathaniel had a simple breakfast and left the house with the box of medicines.

In the CEO’s office at Hadley Corporation, Nathaniel perused the documents in his office while Sebastian sorted them out.

At noon, someone knocked on the door and pushed it open.

Madison entered with some homemade dishes. “Mr. Hadley, you shouldn’t exert yourself too much when you’ve just recovered. Come here and have something to eat first.”

With that, she began spreading out the dishes on the table.

Sebastian could neither chase nor scold her. Hence, he walked out and left the door ajar to avoid unnecessary gossip.

“Put the things down and leave,” hissed Nathaniel, his gaze still fixed on the documents.

Regardless, Madison walked over with a bowl of soup, paying no heed to his words.

“Mr. Hadley, please have some soup. I’ll leave when you’ve finished your meal.”

All she wanted was to see Nathaniel recover. That was enough to satisfy her.

Right then, the sound of footsteps came from outside, causing the two in the office to turn their heads.

Christina walked in at that very moment. She was worried Nathaniel might forget to take his medicine, which could result in his fever recurring.

Whether or not he might have a fever was the least of her concern. Rather, it was the possibility of the children contracting the bacteria that worried her.

“I didn’t know you have a guest,” stated Christina as she continued making her way into the office. Madison rolled her eyes inwardly, annoyed by her words. Why don’t you leave then? Why did you come in to

Christina passed Madison by and leaned against the office table on her side “Isn’t it rather mappropriate for you to show up at the office now?”

 

Chapter 379 What If I Cannot Make It

Madison’s face tightened into a forced smile. “I’m only here as a friend. Does my presence pose a threat to you?”

That only applies to enemies. Your presence isn’t powerful enough yet.” Christina’s gaze had a tinge of iciness, expressing the indifference on her face.

Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her slim waist and gently pulled her into his embrace. As a result, she fell naturally into his lap and leaned against his chest.

“Are you hungry? Have some,” prompted Nathaniel while lifting the bowl of soup to feed her.

Watching Christina being fed the lunch she prepared with care sent a rush of resentment into Madison’s heart. Even breathing became a chore to her.

“It tastes okay, but it doesn’t suit my taste. Why don’t we go to a restaurant instead?” Christina wiped the corners of her mouth.

Nathaniel’s eyes lit up as if he had heard a piece of good news. He put the bowl down and walked toward the door with Christina’s hand in his.

The moment the door was opened, Sebastian, who had been standing guard outside, came into sight.

“Clean up the office, and don’t simply let anyone enter in the future,” ordered Nathaniel before marching away with Christina.

Madison clenched her fists. It would be a lie if she said the scene did not hurt her pride.

When the couple arrived at the underground parking lot, Christina was placed into the passenger seat.

As Nathaniel was afraid that she might escape, he pressed on her shoulder while fastening her seatbelt. “Where shall we eat?” he asked when he got into the driver’s seat.

Christina merely made that suggestion to provoke Madison. Never did the former expect him to take her words seriously.

“Anything. You decide.”

Nathaniel grunted in acknowledgment and drove the car out of the parking lot.

The weather that day was pretty splendid as rays of sunlight that had a tint of warmth shone through the windows.

Christina rolled down the window, allowing the breeze to rush in and flutter her lustrous hair. Her dark eyes carried a dazed look as she stared at the scenery.

Just then, light reflected off the corner of the rearview mirror. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was a camera.

Christina’s body jolted, the feeling of being watched engulfing her. “Nathaniel, do you spot any cars tailing

Nathaniel instinctively glanced at the rearview mirror but found nothing abnormal. “Nope. Can you take a closer look and identify the car?”

What If I Cannot Make It

Alas, the car had disappeared by the time she did as instructed.

Where did it go? I’m sure I saw a camera aimed at me from the car’s passenger seat. Could I be hallucinating because I did not sleep well last night?

“Do you need me to pull over to check out the situation?” Nathaniel asked as he looked at her.

Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, Christina scanned the surroundings and still found nothing out of the ordinary. “It’s fine. Maybe I was too nervous.”

Noting her disturbed expression, Nathaniel took her hand with concern and assured her, “I’m here. Everything will be fine.”

Sure enough, the warmth his hand exuded helped her calm down as though it had magic,

Moments later, they arrived at a private room in a restaurant.

To Christina’s surprise, the dishes were already prepared beforehand.

“That’s a lot of dishes. We can’t possibly finish them.” Christina was conflicted, for she hated wasting food.

“You can treat it as a reward for taking care of me last night,” said Nathaniel. He helped her into her seat and served her a bowl of soup. “Apparently, this helps to boost the immune system.”

Christina quickly lowered her head to drink the soup in order to avoid his scorching gaze.

Her great appetite allowed her to take in a lot of food. At the same time, the way she kept her head lowered like a hamster eating its food lifted Nathaniel’s spirits.

On their way home after their meal, Christina subconsciously trained her eyes on the road. This time, however, she found nothing unusual.

Hence, Christina put the matter out of her mind.

Before the car arrived at the office, Christina’s phone rang.

“Where are you?” came Francis’ aloof voice.

“I don’t have time to listen to you if you’re going to lecture me for not tidying the clothes last night,” Christina responded in a similar tone.

“There’s an awards ceremony tonight. It starts at six o’clock. Don’t be late.” With that, Francis ended the call.

Christina checked the time and noticed it was almost three o’clock. Considering she had to prepare pre-styling work in advance, she had to head over immediately.

After checking the traffic, she realized the venue was closer to where she currently was. “Pull over here. I’m not going to the office later.”

“Where are you going?”

Returning Nathaniel’s gaze, Christina answered, “Granite Avenue. It’s just nearby. I can walk from here.”

“I’ll send you there.”

What If I Cannot Make It

Nathaniel turned the car around as soon as he finished. The sunlight streamed in through the window. outlining his dashing yet stoic face. He looked as if he was emitting light at all times.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up at the entrance of the venue.

The red carpet was spread, and stern-looking bodyguards were already in their positions.

“Thank you for the ride-”

Nathaniel reached out to unbuckle her seatbelt as soon as the car came to a stop.

His majestic figure leaned over from the driver’s seat, blocking out the light that shone on Christina. With their bodies drawn closer, the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Christina turned her head slightly to avoid his gaze.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel’s gaze fell on her fair neck. In the next second, he lowered his head and bit her without hesitation.

Realization dawned on Christina the moment she felt a warm sensation spread over her neck.

“Nathaniel, let me go!”

She struggled and hit his shoulders a few times, yet her attacks merely shook his body.

The car windows were tinted, hence one could not look in from the outside.

Nonetheless, the puzzled bodyguards eyed the luxury car parked at the entrance. Why isn’t anyone getting out?

Nathaniel remained in that position for some time until he was willing to release her. Her face had turned. as red as a cooked lobster.

“Nathaniel, how dare you! That was a childish move!” Christina glowered at the man.

I shouldn’t have let him send me here. I knew he’d be up to no good.

Nathaniel simply twitched his brow in amusement. After all, he had mastered the ways to tolerate her temper.

He could make peace with her, regardless of how she felt.

However, he would not allow Francis to push the boundaries or even have the slightest bit of wishful thinking.

“You can get out of the car now-”

The door slammed shut with a bang before he could finish his words.

Just like that, Christina entered the venue without looking back.

It did not take her long to find Francis’ room thanks to the staff’s instructions.

He refused to be touched by the makeup artists who were supposed to take turns applying makeup on him.

Chapter 380 Delete It All

“If I go on stage without any makeup, I’ll rant on Twitter about how irresponsible you were so my fans can criticize you.” Francis crossed his arms and hummed gleefully.

“Hah I didn’t ask you to wait for me, anyway While saying that. Christina cleaned her hands with a wet wipe and began applying skincare products on Francis face.

Pre-makeup skincare routines were a vital step. They could even affect the outcome of the touch-ups.

After inspecting his face meticulously, Christina realized he had amazing skin. Unlike normal people, he did not have uneven skin tones.

When she had finished applying the foundation on his face, she instructed, “Wait here.”

Putting down the applicator, she cleaned her hands again with another wet wipe before picking out his outfit.

An artist’s outfit was usually borrowed, but in the case of well-known celebrities like Francis, the brands would naturally sponsor the celebrities’ clothes upon learning about their attendance at the event.

It did not matter whether the clothes were used, but the brand would get free advertisement if the celebrities wore them.

Christina picked a suit, a white shirt, and two royal blue pins. A simple outfit would suffice for events like that.

“Why didn’t you bring something from the studio? I can wear them if they’re suitable.”

Francis sat with his legs crossed, casually staring at Christina’s back as she worked.

Her comportment was naturally graceful. In fact, her back alone exuded an elegant poise.

“We don’t have any male outfits in stock. Besides, we don’t have your sizes,” Christina pointed out as she compared two shirts of different styles with the suit.

“I’ll go to your office to get one made when I’m free,” said Francis plainly.

Christina merely tried to match the outfits instead of answering him.

When she was happy with her choice of clothing, she set them aside and continued putting on the setting. powder for Francis.

“Why do you need to wait for so long before putting on the powder?” asked Francis, trying to find common ground.

Their scents were apparent to one another, considering how close they were to each other. “That’s because I’m waiting for the foundation to set. It’s a little trick I use. After that, I’ll apply the powder before your face secrets any oil. That way, the foundation will stay. Most makeup artists don’t know this trick.”

Christina felt a little proud to share her secret.

Seeing her smile, Francis, too, did the same.

Suddenly, his smile stiffened, and his gaze was fixed on the red mark on Christina’s neck.

Wow, it even has traces of dark purple. Just exactly how hard does one need to kiss to make that color appear?

The view was like daggers that slashed at Francis’ heart. It ached terribly, even though there were no wounds.

“Why are you still staying in Scenic Garden Manor? That’s where you were imprisoned—”

Christina stuffed his blabbering mouth with the applicator before he ended his sentence.

5 Bonus

A terrific amount of powder went up to his nose, leaving him panting even after coughing several times. “Are you trying to kill me, Christina?” he screeched in panic.

“Shut up. Don’t you dare bring up my relationship with Nathaniel in public places like this.” Christina threw him a glare to make her warning clearer.

Hearing that, Francis wound his fingers around her bony wrist and stared intently at her flawless face. “All right. Let’s not talk about him.”

Rolling her eyes at him, Christina freed her hand to continue putting on his makeup, completely unaware of the prying eyes in the distance that witnessed her “outrageous acts.”

How could she treat Francis like that?

To the other ladies, Francis was like royalty. They could not believe he was getting bullied by a mere makeup artist.

Infuriated by what she saw, Penelope saved the pictures she secretly took so she could send them into the fan group chat when the time came.

Hmph! Christina might not like Francis, but he has many admirers. His precious fans would never tolerate someone bullying their dream man. Looks like someone will help me deal with her this time.

An evil smirk crept to Penelope’s lips as she stared at the photos.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and in came a woman in a red gown who sat on Francis’ lap without hesitation. “Fran, I didn’t know you were attending the banquet. Why didn’t you say hello?”

“I was busy,” Francis answered flatly.

He did not push the woman away, but his gaze was fixed on Christina, languidly observing the latter’s expression.

Christina calmly applied the lipstick on him using her finger, for it gave the best result. Hence, Francis could feel the softness of her finger.

No matter how much the celebrity rambled. Francis did not register a single word. Instead, his attention was fixed on Christina.

At that point, Christina was done with his makeup. “It’s done. I’ll get going now.”

“Don’t you need to stay to fix my makeup?” Francis’ pupils constricted to express his dismay.

“I’m the one who did the makeup. It won’t get messed up. Don’t worry. Penelope will be here,” said Christina while continuing to pack her tools on the table.

When she turned around, Francis gripped her hand again. “The banquet will end early tonight. Why don’t

we go out and celebrate it?”

“It’s okay. I need to go home to attend to my kids.”

She retracted her hand and continued packing.

The scene of Christina turning him down again infuriated the eavesdroppers.

She made five disrespectful gestures and gave him three eye-rolls in just two hours! More importantly, she’s actually a mother!

Suddenly, Christina sensed an uncomfortable feeling at her back. As she turned around, she met the contemptuous eyes glowering at her.

They stared at her with such intense resentment as if they wanted nothing more than to wipe her off the earth.

“Fran, is this your makeup artist?” The female celebrity narrowed her eyes at Christina.

“Yes. She’s the one who did my recent makeovers.”

“No wonder you’ve been looking more stylish,” the female celebrity commented with a chuckle. Turning to Christina, the former asked. “Can I have your contact details?”

Of course, no one would refuse a business opportunity.

Christina handed the woman her card-the new version Rayne helped to print.

The woman put on an amused smile after casting an eye over the details. “Your office is at Hadley Corporation?”

“Yep. Feel free to contact me whenever there’s a need.” Christina returned the smile out of politeness and left with her things.

The driver Nathaniel had assigned was already waiting for her by the time she exited through the building’s back door.

When she settled into the car, the driver drove straight to Scenic Garden Manor.

It was already late by the time she arrived for Lucas and Camila were already asleep.

Still, she tiptoed into their room to give them a goodnight kiss before leaving their bedroom to take a shower.

In the meantime, her phone rang nonstop on the dressing table.

The first text read: Have you reached home?

The next read: You must be exhausted today. Have a good rest. I’ll treat you to lunch tomorrow.

Finally, the last one read: What perfume do you use? It smells great. Use that tomorrow. Goodnight.

They were all from Francis.

Nathaniel read and deleted them all.

When Christina came out of the bathroom, she met his bloodshot eyes that were staring intently at her

He exuded an aura that gave her an immense sense of threat.

They exchanged gazes while an unbearable tension started building in the air.