Ch. 481..490

Chapter 481 Are You Interested In Women

As expected of Nathaniel, he can always see through someone at a glance. Christina’s lips curved into a begrudging smile as she asked, “Are you someone worthy of my trust?”

“No one but me is worthy,” came his reply.

Observing how confident he appeared, she could not help thinking he sounded rather convincing.

She handed the flash drive she was holding to him. “This thing is very important to me. You must keep it carefully, okay?”

Her secretive manner made it seem as though she was entrusting him with some top–secret information. Staring at the flash drive in his hand, Nathaniel asked, “What’s in it?”

“Some data. Very important data. I’ll need it when I’m back in Hallsbay. Before I return, however, I’m entrusting it to you. If you lose it, you’ll have to be responsible,” she replied, forcefully transferring her burden to him.

He weighed the small item in his hand, then raised a hand and held her by her chin. “And what about the reward?”

“A reward? How calculative of you,” she scoffed. Why must I give him a reward for keeping such a tiny thing safe? Whatever I can offer are things he has at his fingertips. As for anything that’s not within my means, he can obtain it with just a few words.

“I’m a businessman. I don’t do anything that has no value to it. As he spoke, he passed the flash drive back to her.

She puffed out her cheeks in exasperation. “What reward do you want?”

“I want to sleep with you,” he replied while pointing at the large bed behind her.

That request… seems doable. Without hesitation, Christina handed the flash drive to him again. “Deal. You must keep it safe.”

With that, she finally felt the weight lift from her shoulders and turned to leave.

Over at the restaurant, Anya had ordered a delicious spread and even popped open two bottles of good wine. “It’s my brother–in–law’s treat today, so there’s no need to hold back. Drink to your heart’s content.”

The moment Christina walked in, she saw Anya flaunting her powerful connections. Sweeping her gaze over the table, she saw that everything on it would cost at least several tens of thousands.

“You’re here, Christina! Come and sit.” Anya had deliberately left the seat next to her empty for Christina. I’ve already told everyone about my plan just now. Everyone will toast Christina one after another, and once she’s drunk, I can use that opportunity to search her and see if she has the flash drive.

“You’re always so generous, Ms. Gibson. You’ve even cracked open a couple of bottles of good red wine.” Christina picked up the red wine and glanced at it. A bottle would set one back several tens of thousands.

Anya smiled. She had checked and learned that Nathaniel owned the hotel. That was why she had decided to take advantage of that. “Christina, this is Nathaniel’s hotel. All you have to do is tell him to foot the bill for this meal.”

Here, she paused for a while. Gazing at Christina with an amused expression, she continued, “Don’t tell me you dare not make the call because he doesn’t listen to you.”

“He’s my husband, so he’s willing to pay for whatever I want to eat, drink, or buy. However, you and the others don’t seem to have that sort of connection to him, am I right?” Christina folded her arms in front

of her chest, a mocking look in her eyes.,

As Nathaniel’s wife, I can spend his money anyhow I want. However, these people have nothing to do with him. What right do they have to suggest something so ridiculous?

Instantly, a hush fell over the group. Even those who had been cheering enthusiastically looked at each other wordlessly.

Only then did Christina pull out the chair and sit down. “However, since we’re here on vacation and this is where I grew up, I suppose I’m considered the host. Hence, this meal is on me. Let’s all enjoy ourselves to the fullest!”

She broke into a smile, and the atmosphere lightened considerably. The other colleagues laughed as they poured her a drink. The conversation returned to normal after they clinked their glasses, but Anya looked peeved.

In truth, Christina had deliberately done all that to teach Anya a lesson so that the latter would not dare to take advantage of the situation again in the future.

Scowling, Anya cast an icy gaze over the others.

They sprang to action immediately and began refilling Christina’s glass while making ingratiating remarks.

“Ms. Steele, thank you for your hospitality today. Here’s a toast to you. It’s bottoms up for me, but feel free to drink as much as you wish,” one of her colleagues said before tilting their head back and downing the entire glass of wine.

Christina did not feel like drinking. However, after hearing what the other party said, she had no choice but to take a sip out of courtesy.

Since she held a higher position than the others, and they were not at a social dinner, she had no reason to drink more than that.

The others were each more enthusiastic than the last. Although Christine did not drink much each time, their continuous toasting was quickly too much for her.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Anya finally said, “There’s rock climbing available at the nearby resort. Let’s go there together tomorrow. After that, we can come back here for lunch before making our way back downtown. Do you think that’s a good idea, Christina?”

Christina had seen the nearby recreational area before. Although outdoor rock climbing would be more difficult, she felt it would be beneficial for building physical strength. Hence, she replied, “Okay. That’s decided, then.”

A strange smile tugged at the corners of Anya’s lips, but it quickly disappeared, and almost no one noticed it. “Why don’t I take you upstairs, Christina?”

Christina stood up abruptly. “You guys enjoy yourselves. I’ll be heading up first.”

The two women left the table and headed toward the elevator. Moving closer, Anya placed an arm around

Christina’s waist. “Let me help you.”

After they entered the elevator and the doors closed behind them, Christina pretended to tilt to one side and lean against the wall. She glared at Anya. “There’s no one here. You don’t have to act as though we have a close sisterly bond.”

Anya’s expression was somewhat stiff. If she hadn’t found the flash drive first, I’d never have been willing to touch her.

She started searching Christina’s body anxiously. “You must be drunk, Christina. I always care a lot about you.”

As she spoke, she continued scrabbling about Christina’s clothes. Why can’t I find it?

Christina pushed her hands away somewhat impatiently. Then, she drawled with a hint of an interrogative tone, “Are you interested in women, Anya? Otherwise, why are you pawing at me like that?”

A look of embarrassment crossed Anya’s face. I clearly saw her drink a lot just now, so why does she still seem so aware? I searched her quickly just now, and I’m sure she doesn’t have the flash drive on her. Could she have left it in her room? However, it’d make sense for her to carry something so important with her, wouldn’t it?

After learning that Sheridan was an accountant, Anya guessed that Christina was checking her documents because the latter wanted to look into her account at the company. Over the years, I’ve used my position within the company to siphon off money countless times. If I get found out, I won’t be able to remain at Gibson Corporation.

Wanting to investigate further, Anya decided to follow Christina into her room.

When the elevator doors opened, she pulled Christina’s hand again. “Why did you get so drunk? Let me help you.”

I can stand steadily, and I don’t feel dizzy. How am I drunk? Christina wanted to refuse, but Anya had already taken her arm and was helping her walk out.

Although she attempted to push Anya away a few times, the latter stopped her each time. At the door to the room, Anya grabbed Christina’s bag to look for the keycard.

Suddenly, the door opened with a beep. A tall figure loomed over Anya, blocking out the light from above her head.

 

Chapter 482 Why Are You Avoiding Me

“Nathaniel?” Anya was surprised to see the man present, as that meant she wouldn’t be able to enter and search for the flash drive.

Nathaniel remained composed and cold, his eyes sparkling with a concealed intensity. He reached out and drew Christina closer to him. “Why did you come back so late?”

His tone carried a hint of complaint, and upon detecting a faint smell of alcohol, he furrowed his brows.

The woman’s face was flushed, and her eyes were glimmering with tears. After all, it was customary to share a meal and enjoy a few drinks with colleagues.

Why does he look so displeased, as if I have committed a mistake?

Anya wanted to follow them inside, but Nathaniel casually closed the door in her face.

As the door slammed shut, she was left standing outside, her frustration mounting.

She couldn’t wait any longer. If she failed to find the flash drive, she would be in danger once Christina returned to Hallsbay.

As Anya walked away, she called Madison. “What’s going on? Christina was away for so long, so why haven’t you managed to snag Nathaniel yet?”

With Nathaniel around, it was difficult to go after Christina.

Madison had been feeling despondent ever since she dropped off Nathaniel at Scenic Garden Manor as he had been ignoring her calls.

Moreover, their collaboration with Taggart Group was not renewed when the contract expired.

Anya never expected Madison to be so incompetent. If she had known, she would have just found a random woman to get close to Nathaniel and obtain some intimate photos.

“We’re at the resort. Hurry over here, and find a way to keep him occupied.”

Madison’s hope ignited once again. “Quick, give me the address.”

Once Christina was inside the room, the alcohol from the drinks she had indulged in earlier finally kicked in, making her feel increasingly dizzy.

She made her way to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. When she felt a bit more alert, she proceeded to undress.

After clumsily wrestling with her buttons for a while, she finally managed to undo them. As she lifted her head, the movement caused a sensation of oxygen deprivation to wash over her. Her body tilted before she slumped against the wall with a thud.

She closed her eyes, lost in a daze.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Nathaniel had heard the loud thud and feared she might have injured herself.

“What happened?”

Christina could feel the warm palm resting on her delicate shoulder and the support around her waist. She lifted her gaze and met the man’s dark eyes. Her breath hitched slightly as she whispered, “I’m fine.”

“Let’s go out first.” Nathaniel supported her and tried to lead her outside.

“I’m all right. I just lost my balance carlier. You can go out. I want to shower,” Christina said. She did not want to go to bed with the smell of alcohol on her.

“How are you going to shower like this?” Nathaniel scanned the delicate figure in his arms, the soft illumination accentuating her fair complexion. Her clothes were partially undone, revealing her sexy collarbones.

“I can’t sleep without showering.” She had even been to the construction site today, so her clothes were dusty.

Nathaniel lifted Christina in his arms and pressed her against the washstand. “Should I help you?” he suggested.

As he spoke, his hands started to lift her clothing. The scorching heat of his embrace ignited her blood like a flame, causing her vision to become hazy.

Christina’s cheeks turned crimson as she pushed his hand away. Shoving his shoulder, she said, “I don’t need help. You should leave.”

She had only consumed a few drinks; there was no need for anyone to help her with showering.

Moreover, she wasn’t foolish enough to willingly surrender herself to Nathaniel, especially with his hungry, wolf–like gaze.

“When are you going to stop avoiding me?” Nathaniel tightly held Christina’s hand, but she stubbornly refused to meet his gaze.

“I’m not avoiding you,” she replied, feeling trapped under his scorching gaze. She felt like a helpless animal with nowhere to escape.

Nathaniel grasped her delicate shoulders with both hands. “You know it was a misunderstanding that night. Why do you keep giving me mixed signals and ignoring me?”

His anger seeped through his words, rendering Christina speechless. Despite comprehending that it was merely a misunderstanding that night, she couldn’t completely embrace their relationship in her heart.

“I don’t want to discuss this issue, okay? I have a headache!” Christina pushed his hands away, unwilling to dwell on the matter further.

Witnessing her continuous attempts to evade him, Nathaniel was overwhelmed with a sense of remorse, as if he were tormenting a helpless creature.

He sighed softly and left the room in disappointment.

The bathroom door closed, enveloping the space in a soothing silence. Christina massaged her temples with her fingertips and descended from the washstand, preparing herself for a refreshing shower.

The warm water cascaded over her fatigued body, washing away the weariness of the day.

When Christina emerged from the bathroom, she found the room devoid of Nathaniel’s presence. However, his faint scent still lingered in the air.

She breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for his absence. Confronting each other would only intensify the already palpable awkwardness between them.

Christina settled into the bed and soon drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, a knock reverberated through the door, stirring Christina from her slumber. When she swung the door open, she was greeted by a fully geared–up Anya.

“We’re going rock climbing today. Hurry up,” Anya urged impatiently.

Christina grunted in acknowledgment before shutting the door in Anya’s face, causing the latter to scowl. She quickly changed into her climbing gear and shouldered her backpack before heading out. They met their colleagues at the restaurant, had breakfast, and officially set off.

After a short ten–minute drive, they arrived at the climbing area. Upon inquiring, they were informed that all the indoor facilities were fully booked, leaving only the outdoor area available.

Anya and the others discussed for a moment before their gaze landed on Christina. “If it’s okay with you, shall we book the outdoor area?”

Christina was hesitant to venture outdoors because of the unfavorable weather. However, she did not want to dampen everyone’s spirits by returning back to the hotel. “Okay, let’s book for three hours.”

Anya and a colleague went to purchase the tickets, and soon the staff led them to the outdoor section.

After hearing the instructions and safety precautions, they began their ascent.

Christina followed closely behind Anya as they climbed together. Their stamina and physique were similar, so their progress was somewhat on par.

After reaching the summit, the two of them descended together along the path. The climb had already drained Christina’s energy significantly. As they made their way down, Anya struggled to keep up with her.

“I can’t believe you have such good stamina,” Anya scoffed.

Christina cast a wary glance at Anya, uncertain of her motives. She decided to proceed with her descent cautiously.

Just then, the sky had turned dark with clouds, indicating that rain would likely arrive soon.

As Christina disappeared from view, Anya retrieved a small knife from her pocket, a smirk curling her lips. With Christina out of the picture, she believed that no one would be able to impede her position within the Gibson family. It did not matter if Christina had any leverage on her if the former couldn’t do anything with it.

She aimed the knife at the rope securing Christina and began cutting it.

Unaware of the danger closing in on her, Christina continued her descent.

Chapter 483 Christina Is In Trouble

As Christina descended slowly, she suddenly felt the rope shaking. This is strange. Why is the rope shaking even when I don’t move?

Just as Christina raised her head, the rope lost all support, causing her to plummet down.

Her body tensed up, and it took several seconds after the impactful landing for her mind to regain clarity.

What just happened?

Christina turned her head and saw that her rope had snapped.

How could a perfectly fine rope snap? Wait a second, the edges are smooth, as if they were cut. The only person with me just now was Anya. She must have tampered with my rope!

Anger ignited deep within her. She guessed that Anya was afraid of the leverage she held, leading her to sabotage the rope.

Regardless of the reason, Anya’s actions had posed a threat to Christina’s life.

Christina gathered her thoughts and decided it was best to leave this place as soon as possible.

She shifted slightly, relieved that her hands were unharmed, but she experienced a throbbing ache in her body. When she sat up and tried to put weight on her foot, a searing and intense pain surged up her ankle.

Oh no, I think I injured my leg from the fall!

Christina tried to find her phone in her pocket to call for help, but after searching through all of them, she couldn’t locate her phone. It was highly likely that it had fallen out when she fell.

As she surveyed her surroundings, all she could see were trees, leaving her disoriented and unable to find her way.

What should I do? I can’t move and don’t have any means of communication. I have no idea how to escape the forest…

Meanwhile, Anya had landed safely. She discarded the other half of Christina’s rope, pretending she had never climbed with Christina.

Upon returning to the rest area, she exchanged glances with her colleagues and promptly started packing up, getting ready to depart.

“Hey, are you sure everyone from your group is here?” a staff member asked with concern.

They looked at each other, and one of them said with a smile, “Yeah, everyone is here. Did you make a mistake?”

“Mistake? I remember there were seven of you, but now there are only six. Did I really remember wrongly?” the staff member replied.

“You must be mistaken. There are only six of us,” another colleague confirmed once again.

The staff member furrowed his brows slightly but stopped pushing the issue. After all, many people came for rock climbing throughout the day, so it wouldn’t be surprising for him to recall wrongly.

“All right then, you should leave now. It’s about to rain, and all outdoor climbing activities will be suspended.”

The staff member led the group to the tour bus, and soon they were transported back to the hotel.

As they stepped off the bus, a towering figure cast a shadow over them. “Where’s Christina?”

They looked at Nathaniel nervously, hemming and hawing but not replying to his question.

It will be disastrous if Mr. Hadley finds out that we intentionally left her behind in the rock–climbing area. What terrible luck! Why did he have to show up at this exact moment?

Anya realized that they could no longer hide the truth. The only way to get out of this was to pretend as though she had only just discovered Christina was missing.

She made a show of counting her colleagues before feigning shock. “Oh no, we’re missing someone! It seems like it’s Christina!”

Nathaniel’s face darkened, and a wave of anger surged through him. His dark eyes narrowed as he grabbed Anya by the collar. “What happened? Why are you guys back without Christina?”

The man was clearly fuming with anger. When faced with his interrogation, the group fell silent.

Beads of sweat started forming on Anya’s forehead as she tried to concoct an explanation. “We didn’t realize it when we left. Christina is always so aloof, and since we’re not close to her, it’s understandable that we didn’t notice she was missing.”

Luckily, she had thought ahead and prepared her words carefully to avoid being flustered.

The staff member who had brought them back refuted her words. “I just reminded you earlier that were missing someone, and you said you weren’t!”

Anya’s face turned pale, and she glared at the staff member for meddling in her affairs.

Nathaniel clenched his fists as if he wanted to crush the woman before him. “Where’s the rock climbing at?”

He had attended an early meeting in the morning, and when he returned to the room, Christina was nowhere to be found.

With the sky darkening swiftly, he knew he needed to find her before the impending storm hit!

Worried that something bad had happened as well, the staff member promptly offered, “I know the I’ll take you there.”

Sebastian said anxiously, “Mr. Hadley, I’ll prepare the car.”

“Bring our men along. I’ll head there first.”

Nathaniel boarded the tour bus, his tall figure seeming even more imposing in the confined space. He commanded, “Drive.”

Within a matter of seconds, the group scattered away.

One colleague voiced his concern, “What should we do? Should we explain the situation?”

As it turned out, they had meticulously planned everything since the previous night. Taking Christina

rock climbing was a deliberate ploy to teach her a lesson so she would not dare to offend Anya again in the future.

Unexpectedly, she hadn’t returned and was missing.

With the weather turning treacherous, what if something terrible happens?

Anya maintained a resolute expression. “Don’t worry. Let’s head back to Hallsbay first.”

With that, she swiftly led the group away.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel arrived at the outdoor rock climbing area in no time.

As he gazed at the towering rockfaces, an ominous feeling washed over him.

Without hesitation, he meticulously searched the area from the mountaintop downward, but he did not find any tracks. It became clear that Christina had not come down from the mountain.

The only remaining possibility was that she had fallen.

Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. The sky had already turned gloomy, and if it started to rain, it was impossible to predict the dangers Christina might face.

“We’ve already dispatched a support team. We’ll have to wait,” the staff member reported on the progress.

Nathaniel examined the map, his brows knitted slightly. “There’s no time. I’ll go in first, and you can follow after help arrives.”

Everyone present was taken aback by his words.

Sebastian immediately blocked his way. “Mr. Hadley, it’s too dangerous. We have no idea what the situation is inside. It’s too risky for you to venture in recklessly.”

“I haven’t encountered any danger I can’t handle. Leaving her alone inside is the most dangerous situation,” Nathaniel stated firmly.

He retrieved an emergency pack, meticulously checking its contents to ensure an ample supply of resources. With the pack securely strapped to his back, he made the final preparations before setting off.

“Mr. Hadley, I’ll accompany you,” Sebastian declared without hesitation, strapping on a large backpack. He couldn’t let Nathaniel face the danger alone.

“Stay behind and wait for the rescue team to arrive before entering.”

If they both entered, there would be no one left outside to coordinate the rescue efforts.

Sebastian stood there, filled with hesitation, as he watched Nathaniel disappear into the depths of the mountain forests.

Despite the pain, Christina mustered all her strength and slowly stood up, using a sturdy tree branch as a makeshift crutch. She cast her gaze upon the endless stretch of trees, unable to comprehend the length of the journey ahead to escape.

 

Chapter 484 Found Her

As fat raindrops spattered on Christina’s face, she gently wiped them away and fixed her gaze on the road ahead of her.

Not only did she have nothing on her, but she was also unfamiliar with the surroundings. Suddenly, a sense of helplessness overcame her, and tears welled up in her eyes.

I mustn’t cry or be scared. Lucas and Camila are waiting for me. I must go home in one piece and make Anya pay!

With the help of two sturdy branches, she slowly limped forward. As the cliff face was behind her, heading away from it was certainly the correct path.

However, her injured leg and the pouring rain hindered her from moving forward.

Moreover, Christina did not know if anyone would come to save her. After all, Anya would inform no one about the former’s disappearance when it was a deliberate attempt to harm her.

If no one knew Christina was trapped there, she would have no choice but to walk out of the forest on her own.

Thoughts of how large the forest was and whether wild animals existed there raced through Christina’s mind. The more she dwelled on it, the more hopeless she felt.

Despite the nagging pain in her leg, her depleting energy, and the uncertain feeling of what dangers awaited her, she could not just sit there and wait.

Gritting her teeth, Christina continued marching forward. She was drenched in no time, and the cold wind made her shiver.

Faster. I need to be faster.

When she was tired, she leaned against a tree to take shelter from the rain, her body curled up into a ball due to the cold. In fact, she was so cold that she could barely feel the pain in her leg now.

Her lips quivered. At that moment, nothing terrified her more than the biting cold.

Right then, a figure came to her mind. That person had a charming and familiar face and would appear whenever she was in danger.

Unfortunately, she was in a forest, which would take some time for the man to locate her even if he took a plane. There’s no way he would appear out of thin air.

Suddenly, a flash of lightning streaked through the sky, making Christina scream with fright.

Every slight movement in the forest, like the disturbed birds in trees and rustling leaves, frightened her.

Is this some kind of joke? I’m already feeling miserable, and now the birds and leaves are bullying me, too.

No longer wanting to stay at that spot, Christina got to her feet with the help of the branches and hurried forward. Her brows were tightly knit, and her jaw was clenched strongly. All she wished was to get out of the forest as quickly as possible.

When rainwater rolled down her face, she would lick her lips to quench her thirst.

Just then, another crash of thunder sounded. Christina quickly shielded her head with her arms and shut

her eyes in fright. Immediately, the strong front she put on earlier came crumbling down.

Like the rainwater, her tears streamed down her face until they reached her lips, but they tasted bitter to her.

All of a sudden, there was a loud crack from above her head before a mass of branches came falling down.

Christina looked up in fear, unable to process what she should do at that moment. Just as the branches were about to crush her, a figure darted toward her.

The person wrapped a strong, muscular arm around her waist and shielded her in his embrace.

Even though her cold was driven away by the person’s warmth, she still shuddered from the fright.

Meanwhile, the branches fell on the man’s back with a thud before sliding to the ground beside them.

Christina’s eyes widened with fright, and her body froze. The man’s grave and stern expression, shrouded in the light, hit her squarely in the heart.

“Are you hurt?” asked Nathaniel with a pained look on his face.

Breathing in deeply to recollect herself, Christina shook her head and asked, “H–How did you find me?”

“Theard your scream and followed the source. Good thing I arrived in time, or you’d be hurt.” While explaining, Nathaniel unbuttoned his raincoat and draped it over her.

“Can you walk?” he asked.

Christina shook her head. “I fell from the top and injured my leg.”

“Let’s find shelter first.” With that, Nathaniel scooped her into his arms to move to the abandoned house he had spotted moments ago. It could be their temporary shelter until the sky had cleared. Then, they could continue on their way.

“Wait!”

Nathaniel halted in his tracks and lowered his head to gaze at her. “What’s wrong?”

Christina covered his head with the raincoat. Their breaths overlapped each other’s in the cramped space under one raincoat.

Averting her gaze shyly, she said, “Okay. We can go now.”

She could not bear to let the man get wet. After all, he had risked his life to come and save her. Smiling subtly, Nathaniel began running until they reached the abandoned house tens of meters away. It must be built for the workers when they come into the forest. Judging by its state, it must’ve been abandoned for quite some time.

Regardless, it was better than nothing, for the couple could keep out of the rain there. The moment they stepped into the house, they were greeted by thick layers of dust everywhere.

Christina sneezed violently and rubbed her nose. At that point, she could not tell what caused her to sneeze–the dust or the cold.

The fierce wind howled like a ferocious beast, blowing off the thick dust and leaving behind a bone- chilling temperature.

Nathaniel put Christina down to pick up some branches from the outside before shutting the door.

Since there were no heaters or fires, the temperature in the house continued to drop, even though they were isolated from the cold wind.

Just then, Nathaniel approached Christina. He held up her leg and examined the wound carefully. “I think there’s a broken bone. Don’t move. I’m going to get you bandaged to fix the bone in place.”

Following that, he shrugged off his backpack and rummaged for the relevant medical equipment.

“You’ll need to bear with it if it hurts, Disinfection is a must.” The grave and serious expression on his face accentuated the masculine vibe he gave off.

Christina was so lost in his charm that her leg was already bandaged by the time she returned to her senses.

Although she was no longer in the rain, her body was feeling cold again.

She curled up and hugged her arms to keep herself warm. Meanwhile, the rain outside grew heavier. Looks like it’s going to rain for a few more hours. Even worse, it might last for the whole night.

Being the observant man he was, Nathaniel took out a lighter from the backpack and started a fire with the inflammable materials that were not needed. He then snapped an old chair into pieces and tossed them into the flames.

The branches were wet, which made them unsuitable for starting a fire. Fortunately, there were old chairs around, and they were unaffected by the rain. It did not take long for the wood pieces to light up into a blue flame.

Only then did he throw the branches into the fire. With that, the flames grew stronger.

As the house was sealed tight, the warmth from the fire soon replaced the cold in the air. Christina, too, gradually felt warmer.

Her clothes were still wet, but they would soon dry in the warmth.

Just then, Nathaniel placed his coat over her before sitting beside her. “Are you cold?”

Scooting closer to him, she answered, “Not anymore.”

In fact, she felt loads better compared to earlier when she was alone.

Chapter 485 Feelings Grow Stronger

Christina shared the coat with Nathaniel but dared not get too close to him for fear of making him wet.

However, the man simply wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. “Get closer. You’ll feel warmer taster.”

Christina hummed gently and lay her head on his shoulder. Immediately, the faint sandalwood scent on his body entered her nose, filling her with a sense of security.

The howling of the wind never stopped, and its blusters shook the house so hard it seemed as if it would collapse anytime.

“Achool”

Christina shivered. The cold was becoming more obvious thanks to the contrasting temperatures she was feeling, both on the inside and outside.

Hence, Nathaniel pulled her closer and rubbed his palm on her shoulder to create friction. “Are you cold?”

Her pale complexion made him frown with worry, and when his gaze fell on her drenched clothes, he feared she might catch a cold.

That was when an idea came to his mind. He gave her a gentle push to make some space and unbuttoned his shirt. Subsequently, he removed his white shirt and handed it to her, saying sternly. “Put it on.”

As she lifted her gaze, she was blessed by the sight of Nathaniel’s muscular and slender body. At the same time, a strong scent of male pheromones wafted into her nose. “Why are you giving me your shirt?”

“Yours is wet. You’ll catch a cold if you keep we

Nathaniel removed the coat from her shoulders, exposing her beautiful curves under the drenched shirt that clung tightly to her skin. The dancing flames reflected in her eyes while her neat brows emphasized her gentle temperament.

Christina sneezed again. It was as if her body was answering on her behalf.

She knew there was no reason to go against her body’s needs. After all, she could return Nathaniel’s shirt once hers was dry.

Taking the white shirt from him, she said softly, “Turn around. Don’t look at me.”

Nathaniel chuckled softly when he saw how shy she was, but he obliged.

Only when he had turned away did Christina unbutton her wet shirt.

Her movements were so swift that it took her only a few seconds to get out of her clothes and into Nathaniel’s shirt. However, the shirt looked like a dress on her petite body.

Christina was on the skinnier side, and the shirt could almost reach her knees. After giving it some thought, she decided to take off her pants as well.

They were a pair of thin workout pants, which should dry fairly quickly.

Feelings Grow Stronger

When she was done, she sat down and said shyly, “I’m done.”

That was when Nathaniel turned back to see her curled up like a frightened pet, her figure and long legs accentuated by the shirt.

He passed her the bottle of water he just got out of the bag. “Have some.”

Christina’s eyes flickered as she took it from him. “Do you still have any more in your bag?”

“Yes”

Only when she had heard his answer did she gulp the water with relief. She was so thirsty that she finished

it in one go.

After that, Nathaniel took out a packet of biscuits from the bag. He seemed to be well-prepared for the

situation.

Tearing the package open, he took out a piece of biscuit and brought it to Christina’s lips. “Eat up.”

The look of worry in his eyes was the most sincere gaze Christina had ever seen. Hence, she ate and drank until the adrenaline in her body gradually reduced.

Soon, the sky outside turned dark.

As raindrops pattered and the wind howled outside, a cold breeze would occasionally enter the house through the gap at the metal door to stir the flames.

“Are you still feeling cold?” Nathaniel asked worriedly.

Christina looked up to meet his passionate gaze, nodding. “Yep.”

Under normal circumstances, she would not be interested in how much he cared about her. At that moment, however, she had complete trust in him, and she did not want to lie to a man who would risk his life to save her.

Upon hearing her answer, Nathaniel lifted her into his arms and wrapped them tightly around her, like a beast protecting a tiny animal.

All of a sudden, everything about him-his firm muscles, the visible line in the middle of his abdomen, his faint woody scent, and his strong heartbeat-became more prominent to Christina.

“Looks like the rain won’t be stopping tonight. Get some sleep. Someone should be here to help us in the morning.” Nathaniel assured calmly.

Christina nodded. “How did you know I was here?”

“Anya said you didn’t go back with them.” Nathaniel lowered his gaze, making his expression unreadable.

Immediately, Christina’s eyes glinted with hostility. “Of course I didn’t. How could I? She purposely cut my rope.

Anya clearly wanted to kill me. I’m going to teach that evil woman a lesson once I get back.

Noting the anger in her eyes, Nathaniel massaged her brows. “Don’t worry about that. You’ll get to make

her pay for everything she’s done once we get back.”

The amount of force he exerted on her brows was just right. Christina was so exhausted that she relaxed and lay her head on his broad chest.

She could still remember the time when she used to love nestling in his arms, and she would get a sense of security from his firm and broad chest.

As she thought about that, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

The flames continued to dance, creating shadows on the ground of them hugging each other.

The weather in the morning was colder compared to last night.

No one knew when the fire went out. When Christina opened her eyes, she realized Nathaniel had kept her in his arms the whole night.

She looked up and was greeted by the sight of his dreamy looks.

The clear sunlight poured in from the windows, illuminating Nathaniel’s face. The slumbering man appeared captivating, with his dense eyelashes protruding from his lower lids and his breathing deep and steady.

When Christina caressed his face, his eyes suddenly fluttered open.

“You’re awake.”

“Mm.” Christina instinctively retracted her hand, but it was caught by Nathaniel.

With his gaze lowered, he murmured. “The rain’s stopped. Let’s get out of here.”

“Okay, You should go out first. I’ll get changed.

Nathaniel let out a hum of acknowledgment and placed her arm on his neck, pulling their distance closer. All of a sudden, their bodies’ temperature rose.

Christina blinked nervously and held her breath as the man sealed his thin lips on hers. At that moment, her heart palpitated wildly, and she felt a rush of blood to her head.

They remained in that position for a while until Christina pushed him, her cheeks as red as an apple. “Go out first.”

We’d be trapped if another storm comes.

Only then did Nathaniel let go of her and walk out of the house, leaving Christina alone. She covered her lips that curled into a shy smile.

After that, she quickly changed into her dry clothes and returned the shirt to Nathaniel. “Put it on quickly. Don’t catch a cold.”

Once Nathaniel had slipped the shirt on, Christina helped him to button it up and put the coat over him. Just like that, Nathaniel had returned to his usual cool and aloof self.

He grabbed Christina’s arm and said, “Let’s go.”

Chapter 486 Stop Running

The warmth of Nathaniel’s palm enveloped Christina’s small hand, instilling an inexplicable sense of security in her heart.

The two walked along the mountain road. Not long after, Christina started to feel exhausted, and cold sweat drenched her back.

“Are you tired?” Nathaniel noticed her pace was slowing, and she wasn’t able to keep up.

Christina shook her head slightly. She didn’t want to say it out loud, even if she was tired. Nathaniel had taken care of her the whole night, providing her with all the food and water. Regardless of how fit he was, he couldn’t endure the harsh environment and conditions for so long.

Nathaniel let go of her hand, bent over, and commanded, “Get up.”

“No. You must be tired too.” Christina was reluctant to let him carry her. She had drunk a few mouthfuls of water earlier, but Nathaniel hadn’t taken even a single sip.

“Hurry up. We don’t have time to waste.”

Nathaniel grabbed her hands and pulled her close to his back. She leaned against his broad back and crossed her arms around his neck.

Their bodies were tightly pressed together.

On his way in, Nathaniel had made markings on the road, so they quickly found their way out following the signs. When they were a few kilometers from the main road, they finally met with the rescue team.

Sebastian had wanted to search for them last night, but a storm had made it impossible. The rescue team was unfamiliar with the mountain roads, so rushing in unprepared would only increase the risk.

At dawn, they immediately went into the mountain as soon as the rain had stopped. Unexpectedly, they encountered the couple so soon.

“Are you all right, Mr. Hadley? Are you hurt?” Sebastian asked while offering him a bottle of water.

The first thing Nathaniel did after receiving the water was offer it to Christina, letting her gulp half the bottle of water before he finished the rest.

“I’m fine. Have you arranged the transport?” Nathaniel wasn’t injured, but his energy was depleted, so he needed to return to the hotel to rest first.

“I’ve made all the necessary arrangements.”

Subsequently, the party swiftly exited the mountain. Once outside, the doctor examined their conditions and treated Christina’s wounded leg. Only then did the two return to the hotel.

After disappearing the whole night, Christina immediately called her kids upon returning to the hotel room, even before she bathed.

Lucas and Camila had stayed home and were overwrought when they couldn’t contact either of their

parents.

“Mommy, where were you? Why didn’t you come home for the entire night?” Two childish voices rang out once the call connected.

All the fatigue in Christina dissipated at that instant. She apologized to the kids sincerely, “Mommy had too much work to attend to last night and fell asleep in the office. Don’t be mad. How about I treat you to some delicious pudding as compensation when I’m home?”

“That’s a promise! You better keep your word.”

The two adorable children mimicked the pinky swear gesture at the camera.

“Of course. Be good and go to school. I’ll pick you up in person later. Then, we’ll go and enjoy some dessert.” Christina lifted her little finger at the camera too, sealing the pinky promise.

“Where’s Daddy? Is he with you?” Camila asked concernedly.

Nathaniel, standing at one side, felt contented. Daughters care more about their fathers, after all. At least Camila still remembers to ask about me.

Christina pointed the camera at Nathaniel. “Your daddy’s here. He’s also tired and needs to rest, so you two be good and wait for us to come home.”

“Okay, Mommy. We’ll be good. See you in the afternoon.”

With that, the two kids sent a series of blowing kisses toward the camera. Sweetness brimmed in Christina’s heart as she saw that.

Only after ending the call did Christina heave a sigh of relief.

She had focused the camera on her face earlier, not daring to let the children see her dirt-stained clothes. so as not to worry them..

Placing down the phone, she stood up. “I’m going to take a shower now.”

Nathaniel blocked her path and rested his hand on her slim waist, uttering gently, “You injured your leg. so it’s inconvenient for you to walk. Let me help you.”

Looking at her bandaged leg, which was indeed causing her inconvenience when moving around, she allowed him to support her to walk toward the bathroom.

Christina let go of his hand upon reaching the side of the bathtub. When she noticed he showed no inclination to leave, she reminded him in an undertone, “You can go out now.”

Staring at her blushing face and demure appearance, he couldn’t help but tease her, “Your leg is wounded, so it’ll be inconvenient for you to undress. Shall I help you with that too?”

She frowned and smacked him on the back of his hand. “That’s not needed, Mr. Hadley. I injured my foot, not my hand, so I can still take care of myself. Following your logic, are you going to volunteer to help me take a shower too?”

“If that’s what you need, I won’t mind.”

“Well, I do!”

Christina’s ears turned red in self-consciousness. Discomfort churned within her as he fixated his passionate gaze on her, prompting her to stretch out her hand to cover his eyes.

“Stop looking! Don’t you feel embarrassed!” He’s staring at me so brazenly!

Nathaniel clasped her waist before pulling her close, resting his forehead on hers and enchanting her with the dark abyss that was his eyes.

“Why should I be embarrassed for looking at my possession?”

“I’m a person, not an item. When will you change your arrogant attitude, Nathaniel?” Christina grumbled.

He raised his head and slightly lifted hers so his lips could touch hers. “Will you stay by my side and stop running away?” His voice was filled with the utmost tenderness. Sensing her silence, he leaned

closer to her. “Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, I will still pursue you. Therefore, instead of wasting your energy, why don’t you just stay by my side compliantly?”

“Nathaniel, why do your pleas of asking someone to stay sound more like a threat?” Christina was both amused and exasperated. He’s obviously the one doing all he can to keep me by his side, yet it sounds like I’m the ungrateful one.

Nathaniel murmured, “Stop being mad. I promise you I’ll listen to all you say.”

“Will you really do that?” Christina snorted. I know him too well. He’s a straightforward man. He’ll go along with my wishes when he’s in a good mood, but he won’t be so agreeable when he’s in a foul mood. At this moment, he’s like a fierce beast while I’m a defenseless little lamb. No matter how you see it, I’m the one at a disadvantage.

Still, after all the ups and downs they’d faced, it was always Nathaniel who risked his life to save her when she was caught up in the most perilous situations. Christina reckoned no one else in the world would love her in that manner-willing to protect her at the cost of his own life. Perhaps a wild beast can also be tamed. Why don’t I give it a try?

With great effort, Nathaniel finally managed to kiss Christina. “You could even abandon our children, so how would I dare to make you angry?”

Christina sighed inwardly. This method is indeed effective. How could one achieve one’s goal without going all out? “At least you’re wise enough to consider the greater good. In that case, we’ve reached a consensus, then. You’re not allowed to throw a tantrum whenever you please from now on. We need to communicate properly.”

“Yes, I promise.” He kissed her as he spoke. “Can we bathe now? I’m covered in sweat.”

“Be careful. My foot can’t get wet-” Before she could finish her sentence, he savagely ripped her clothes

Chapter 487 Are You Getting Married

Rays of sunlight pierced through the windows and lit up the room.

Christina lay on Nathaniel’s chest, her smooth back littered with red marks from the night before. The warm glow gradually roused her from sleep, and her eyes fluttered open.

Just then, the door opened, and two little figures barged into the room.

“Mommy, Daddy. Are you getting married?” Camila and Lucas muttered as they stared at their parents with wide-eyed innocence.

Needless to say, the duo had no idea what they were looking at. All they knew from playing in school was that family members expressed love by holding hands and hugging one another.

Stunned by the sudden appearance of her children, Christina yanked the blanket over her head, her heart thumping wildly.

The next second, she kicked Nathaniel hard. “Get the kids out! Hurry!”

The latter winced at the pain. My goodness. She sure is strong….

“Lucas, Camila, why are you guys up so early?” he asked calmly.

“Daddy, you’re attending my ballet recital today, aren’t you?” Camila piped up, doe-eyed and adorable as she sported a sequined butterfly pin in her hair. “Ms. Tuffin said I must be there earlier because I’m the principal dancer.”

As soon as Camila stopped her ballet lessons at the kindergarten, Christina enrolled her in an external dance school, where a public performance would be held after every semester.

Upon hearing that, Nathaniel did his best to remain unfazed despite having broken into a cold sweat. “Thank you for the reminder, Camila. I almost forgot about it. Well… Why don’t you guys head downstairs and wait for me? You can grab a candy while you’re at it.”

Unsurprisingly, the children’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Okay, Daddy! You and Mommy had better hurry up if you don’t want us to finish all the candy,” Lucas urged before grabbing his sister’s hand and running out of the room.

Once the door was finally shut, Christina heaved a sigh of relief under the blanket.

Argh! That was so embarrassing! I can’t believe the kids caught us in this state. Thank goodness they didn’t see anything too explicit, though. Otherwise, I’d never be able to face them again…..

“You can come out now,” Nathaniel teased as he pulled the blanket away.

Christina was already red in the face, but when she noticed the man’s indifference toward the situation, her embarrassment quickly turned into annoyance. “Do you think this is funny? You can sleep on the couch tonight!”

After changing into a fresh set of clothes, Christina sat at the dressing table and began applying her makeup. With her long hair half-tied, her face looked even smaller and more delicate.

Just as she picked up a light pink lipstick, Nathaniel suddenly grabbed her hand “That color’s too light. This one would look better on you.” he said while reaching for a red lipstick and lifting her chin.

Christina’s eyes sparkled as she met Nathaniel’s gaze, her lips parting slightly for him.

Like an artist painting a masterpiece, the latter carefully applied the lipstick and marveled at how the color had brought out the woman’s beauty even more.

“You’re gorgeous,” he praised, not once taking his eyes off her.

Christina chuckled and stood up. “Come on. Let’s head downstairs. Otherwise, our two greedy munchkins will get cavities from all the candy.”

Sure enough, Christina saw candy wrappers scattered all over the living room when she got to the ground.

The closer she got to Camila and Lucas, the more she could smell the candy scent on them.

Naturally, she took out several wet wipes and began cleaning their hands. “All right. We can leave now.”

With that, the family of four got into the car and sped off.

After arriving at the performance venue, Nathaniel promptly led Lucas to their seats while Christina accompanied Camila backstage to report to her teacher, Winnie Tuffin.

Once that was done, Christina helped her daughter change into a beautiful tutu and tied her hair into a neat little bun.

Camila then dug out a hairpin from her bag and handed it to her mother. “Mommy, I want to wear this for the performance.”

“Who gave you this hairpin?” Christina asked. Hmm… I remember all the hair accessories I’ve ever bought for Camila, and I’m sure I’ve never seen this one before.

“Daddy had it custom-made for me!” Camila replied, beaming with delight. “Look at all the sparkly diamonds on it. Aren’t they pretty?”

For a moment, Christina was taken aback. It’s more than just pretty… It’s breathtaking! The feel and craftsmanship of the hairpin are incredible, and it looks nothing like a replica. I can’t believe Nathaniel got genuine diamonds for a kid. He sure is generous, huh? I’ll have to tell him off once we get home!

Just then, Winnie walked over and spotted the hairpin in the little girl’s hair. “Oh, that hairpin is beautiful. It looks so good on Camila!”

Camila held her skirt out and curtsied gracefully. “Thank you, Ms. Tuffin.”

Afterward, Winnie informed Christina to return backstage only when the performance was over before leading Camila away to make the necessary preparations.

Without further ado, Christina headed to her seat and held Lucas in her arms.

Soon, the ballei performance started

Under the warm aner lighting a small figure camding in the center began dancing to the music.

Camila cm ments were smooth and elegant, and there was no doubt the had put in a lot of work to achieve such precision. With the hairpin stop her head shining and sparkling, she looked just like a princess in a fairy tale

When Camila’s solo was ever, the other children gradually joined her on stage to begin their group performance

The dance was neat and synchronized, and even though the movements didn’t seem particularly complicated, it was still no easy fest for the children to have mastered them.

As soon as the performance ended, the audience broke out in thunderous applause.

“Nathaniel, you and Lucas can wait for me outside. I’ll meet you guys once I’ve picked Camila up.” Christina said.

The ballet class has more than twenty students, so I’m sure the backstage would be crowded with parents. It’d be better for me to go alone than to have Nathaniel and Lucas jostle with the sea of people

too.

Nathaniel merely hummed in response and walked out with Lucas in his arms.

By the time Christina got backstage, several parents were already happily leaving with their children. However, when she approached the dressing room, she suddenly heard crying from inside.

Although it was almost impossible to differentiate between children’s cries, Christina knew there was something familiar with the wailing that wafted into her cars.

Upon opening the door and seeing her daughter’s makeup all smudged from the crying, Christina rushed forward and hugged her “What’s the matter, Camila?”

Wait a minute… Is that a handprint on her face? Did someone slap her?

There, there, don’t cry,” Christina coaxed. “Tell me what happened, Camila.”

Although Camila managed to calm down a little, large teardrops continued to trickle down her cheeks.

“Mommy, my h-hairpin… the girl muttered amidst sobs and sniffles.

Only then did Christina realize Camila’s hair was in a mess, and the diamond hairpin clipped to the hair bun had also gone missing.

Needless to say, her heart ached at the sight of her panic-stricken daughter. “Don’t worry. I’ll get the hairpin back for you.”

Having gently wiped away Camila’s tears, Christina turned her attention to Winnie. “Can you tell me what’s going on here?”

While Winnie comforted another crying child, a lady standing beside her, dressed head to toe in designer brands, scowled at Christina. “Don’t take your kids out if you don’t know how to teach them.

Your daughter was the one who hit my child first. My kid merely acted in self-defense.”

 

Chapter 488 Camila Lost Her Hairpin

For a moment, the room was silent save for the two children sobbing away.

Christina glanced at the little girl in the white tutu, and sure enough, one of her cheeks was red.

I may not know what happened exactly, but Camila’s hairpin has gone missing, and there’s no way I’d let that slide!

“Since no one can explain the matter to me, let’s check the surveillance footage!” Christina said sternly as she hugged Camila even tighter.

Upon hearing that, the wealthy woman, Lola, seemed to flinch. “Hmph. Go on, then. Do you think I’m scared of you? Don’t forget that your daughter hit my daughter. I won’t let that go so easily!”

Worried that things might get out of hand. Winnie hastily tried to mediate the situation. “Mrs. Hadley, there are no surveillance cameras in the dressing room. Besides, it’s just a tiny misunderstanding. Why don’t we have Camila apologize to her classmate and let that be the end of it?”

My goodness… These two women are no small fry, and I can’t afford to offend either of them! Hopefully, we can resolve this matter soon without blowing it up further.

“Tiny misunderstanding?” Christina scoffed. “Camila’s hairpin is encrusted with diamonds. That’s not. something an apology can fix. Furthermore, we’re still not sure who’s truly at fault here. Why should my daughter apologize?”

So what if Camila made the first move? That doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in the wrong! There has to be a reason behind it.

Left with no other choice, Winnie quickly approached Lola. “Mrs. Cohen, have you seen that diamond hairpin anywhere? If we still can’t find it, you might have to stay behind to aid the investigation.”

Lola, however, snorted at the teacher. “Diamond hairpin? What nonsense is that? Fine. Carry out the investigation, then. In any case, they aren’t leaving until they apologize to my Heather!”

Who in their right mind would give a diamond hairpin worth more than a hundred thousand to a child? Do they not know how easily children lose things? That’s no different from throwing their money away! Even as rich as we are, we wouldn’t buy a hairpin with real diamonds for Heather. I bet it’s just a slightly more expensive hairpin… Must they be 30 arrogant about it?

Stuck in a dilemma, Winnie had no choice but to call the police.

Meanwhile, Camila hugged Christina’s waist tightly, and it was clear that the little girl felt aggrieved.

“Mommy, will I be able to find the hairpin that Daddy gave me?”

Christina gently caressed her daughter’s head and smiled. “Of course. The policeman will catch the thief gets here!”

After hearing her mother’s reassurance, Camila felt much better and nodded.

“Camila, can you tell me what happened earlier?” Christina asked concernedly.

Camila might get anxious when the police arrive, so it’d be better if I explained the situation instead.

“After our performance ended, I sat on the chair to wait for you. Heather then came over to compliment. my hairpin and insisted I give it to her. She tried to snatch it from me when I refused to, so I hit her…” Camila said before her voice trailed off.

Despite her age, she, too, knew very well that it was wrong to hit other people.

“What about the hairpin? Did your classmate take it?” Christina added as she clutched her daughter’s hand.

Alas, Camila shook her head. “I don’t know, either.”

After all, everything had been so chaotic that she didn’t even notice where the hairpin had gone.

Instead of probing further, Christina tidied up Camila’s hair and waited patiently with her.

Within ten minutes, two police officers arrived at the venue and began their investigation.

Unfortunately, the police quickly found themselves in a tight spot once they had questioned all three parties, and even a thorough sweep of the dressing room failed to turn up any hairpin.

Everyone had their side of the story, but with no surveillance footage to back them up, it was hard to determine who had stolen the hairpin.

Just then, Lola marched angrily up to Christina and Camila. “Officers, this woman’s daughter hit my child, and I want them to apologize to me right now!”

Hmph. There’s no evidence, anyway. It’s time to show them who’s boss!

Terrified by Lola’s loud and brash voice, Camila hurriedly buried her face in Christina’s chest.

“I guess we’ll still need to continue investigating this matter, Mrs. Hadley, why don’t you apologize on Camila’s behalf first?” Winnie suggested. “We can all head home for now and settle this later.”

Christina frowned as she hugged her frightened daughter and met her gaze. Camila then mumbled, “Mommy, I didn’t do anything wrong. Heather snatched my hairpin first.”

With that, Christina felt a renewed sense of motivation. “I don’t agree to this arrangement. Let’s conduct a bag search since there aren’t surveillance cameras in the dressing room. Who knows? Someone might have stashed it away.”

How can an item vanish into thin air? I’m sure someone must have hidden it!

Upon hearing that, Lola’s gaze darkened. D*mn. Why is this woman so relentless? “What gives you the right to search my bag? I’ll have you know that my bag is worth hundreds of thousands! Will you be able to pay for any damages incurred?”

The next second, a chill ran down her spine as she hid her bag behind her.

The police officers, on the other hand, knew Christina had a point. If the situation couldn’t be resolved, they’d have to follow procedures and conduct a manual bag search.

Christina immediately placed her bag on the table. “You can check mine first.”

After pondering for a while, the police finally came to a decision. “To ensure fairness, we’d like to search both ladies’ bags. If we still can’t find anything, well expand our search to cover the areas outside the dressing room.”

Everyone shifted their gaze toward Lola almost immediately.

Of course, if she continued to resist without a good reason, it’d only make her look even more suspicious.

Unsurprisingly, Lola’s expression turned grim. “I didn’t take the item. Why should you search my bag?”

“It that’s the case, then you shouldn’t have a problem with getting searched. Please cooperate with the police. Christina warned.

What an odd reaction…….. Given how overbearing she was earlier, shouldn’t she jump at the chance of a bag search to clear her name”

“Please cooperate with the investigation,” the police urged.

A strange expression crossed Lola’s face, but just as she was wondering what she should do, the door to the dressing room burst open.

Before anyone could react, Heather ran up to the man and wrapped her arms around his leg. “Daddy. I want to go home. Please take me home.”

As it turned out, the man was none other than Heather’s father, Andrew Cohen. He had been waiting outside for so long that he was getting impatient.

“What’s the matter? Why aren’t we leaving yet?” Andrew asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Lola hurried over to her husband and gave him a brief rundown of the situation. After hearing everything. Andrew furrowed his brows. “All this for just a hairpin? I’ll pay you for it, then! Is a hundred enough?”

With that, he fished out a wad of notes from his designer wallet and waved them in front of Christina. “Go on. Take the money and scram.”

Christina stared at the paltry amount of money and smirked. “A hundred? That’s hardly enough to buy one of the diamonds on my daughter’s hairpin

Andrew paled for a moment as Lola quickly filled him in. Seconds later, his surprise turned into utter contempt. “Why would you give a child such an expensive item? Is there even a need to wear something so valuable? Now that she’s lost it, you only have yourself to blame!”

 

Chapter 489 Hairpin Found

Silence ensued. Andrew grinned gloatingly. Children haven’t developed the awareness to protect their belongings yet. Hence, it’s the parent’s fault when the child’s obviously expensive hairpin is stolen!

What kind of reasoning is that? The look in Christina’s eyes darkened. “Based on your logic, are you saying if a person’s expensive handbag or money is stolen, it’s their fault for bringing it with them? In that case, why do we even need police officers?”

Andrew clearly had no refute for Christina’s questioning. His expression darkened as he remained silent.

However, Lola rebuked with disdain, “Who knows if she was wearing a real diamond hairpin? If it’s a fake, doesn’t that mean the police officers are wasting their time searching for something that costs a few dozen bucks?”

The atmosphere grew tense.

Just then, the door was opened again before Nathaniel stepped in with Lucas in his arms.

He ceased his movements, blocking the light with his towering figure, and stared at Christina and Camila. “Who’s bullying you?” L

Upon spotting her father, Camila pounced toward him and spoke aggrievedly. “It’s Heather’s fault my hairpin went missing, Daddy…”

She felt bad because the hairpin had been given to her by her father.

In response, Nathaniel lifted her and wiped the tears on her face away. “Is it the one I bought from an auction for you?”

“No. It’s the custom-made diamond hairpin you bought me last month.”

At the side, Lucas acted as though he just discovered a huge secret. When did Daddy buy so many hairpins for Camila? He didn’t even buy me the limited-edition action figure I asked him to! Isn’t he just playing favorites?

The expressions on the assertive couple’s faces shifted the moment they saw Nathaniel.

I can’t believe they’re the wife and daughter of Mr. Hadley! In that case, he definitely bought a diamond hairpin for his daughter! Thank goodness he didn’t hear what I said earlier. Otherwise, we would’ve offended a prominent figure! Andrew greeted Nathaniel with a smile. “We met at a reception before, though you didn’t notice me because of how busy you were, Mr. Hadley.”

Nathaniel had attended so many social events that he couldn’t remember everything about them. Additionally, he didn’t pay great attention during most of them and usually only spoke with more capable individuals in the business industry. Hence, if he couldn’t recall someone, it meant they weren’t significant enough to be remembered.

Ignoring the man, he turned to Christina. “Have you found the hairpin yet?”

“No. The police officers suggested checking everyone’s bags. However, some people claimed they didn’t take it yet refused to cooperate,” scoffed Christina.

It was then Winnie suggested in a small voice, “Did someone pick it up by accident? If you return it, you probably won’t be punished. Mrs. Hadley is pretty kind.”

Christina was confounded by Winnie’s words. Does she know who took the hairpin? Or is it because she wants to smooth things over and prevent a fight? After all, we’ll all meet again at the ballet school, so perhaps she’s trying to avoid future awkward situations. If the thief had returned it at the beginning, I would’ve let this matter go. However, after all that was said and done, I can’t pretend nothing happened anymore.

Nathaniel turned toward the couple with a frown. “You’re not cooperating?”

Paling, the man felt awkward. If I can snatch an opportunity to befriend a distinguished figure like him, our company will ascend to greater heights!

Immediately, he grabbed-Lola’s handbag. “Of course we’ll cooperate!”

The woman was shocked and tried to snatch the bag back. “I didn’t steal anything, so why should I let others search my bag?”

“If you didn’t steal anything, just show it to the officers! What are you worried about? Andrew continued. to tug on the handbag. Neither of them was willing to give up.

“I don’t want anyone to see what’s inside!” Forcefully, Lola pulled the bag.

Meanwhile, the man was still so eager to please Nathaniel that he didn’t relent. “If you didn’t take the hairpin, just show your bag to them!”

Suddenly, the bag was torn in half. As a result, everything inside spilled to the ground, including cosmetics, a perfume bottle, a purse, and a shiny hairpin.

An uncomfortable silence filled the air as everyone held their breaths.

While Andrew was dumbfounded, Lola felt embarrassed. Gritting her teeth, she admonished in a small voice, “I told you not to take my bag, but you insisted. Are you happy now?”

The man replied, “How can you blame me? You claimed you didn’t steal it…”

Christina found the couple’s actions sad yet amusing.

Lola, who was acting all arrogant earlier, kneeled and hugged Christina’s leg. “I was overtaken by greed. earlier. Please forgive me! I’ll apologize to you!”

When the children were arguing with each other just now, the hairpin had dropped next to her foot. After realizing there weren’t surveillance cameras around, she put it into her bag.

She was giddy that she picked up a valuable item and thought no one would notice.

Naturally, she didn’t expect things would turn out the way it did.

However, her pleading was pointless as there was undeniable proof of her crime.

Christina frowned. “Weren’t you mocking us for buying a fake earlier? Isn’t the decision to steal an item made based on its value?”

What a pathetic woman. Upon pushing Lola’s hand away, Christina stepped away with disdain. “I don’t need any apologies or compensation. The evidence is solid, so I’ll let the police officers do their job.”

The police officers took a photo of the mess on the ground before lifting Lola and picking her belongings. up. “Miss, please follow us to the police station to record your statement.”

Lola wailed while Andrew watched, feeling utterly humiliated.

Christina picked up Camila and was ready to leave when Heather scampered toward her.

“Miss, please don’t take my mommy away. I was only playing around. It has nothing to do with Mommy…” As the girl spoke, she cried.

Christina’s heart softened when she saw the crying child.

As she hesitated, she turned to Nathaniel, asking for his opinion.

Nathaniel understood her thoughts and whispered. “You should decide.”

After a brief contemplation, Christina turned to Lola. “Enroll your daughter in another ballet school. I won’t sue you, but I don’t want to see you again.”

Disbelief was written all over Lola’s face. She was stunned for a few moments before she thanked Christina profusely.

Christina then requested the hairpin from the police officers. “Sorry for wasting your time, but I won’t be suing her.”

The police officers nodded, gave Lola a stern warning, and left.

After that, Christina left the building with her children. Perhaps the kids were tired, for they fell asleep in their parent’s embrace soon after boarding the car,

Suddenly, the car took a turn. Christina temporarily lost control of her body and bumped into Nathaniel.

Chapter 490 Why Are You Being A Stranger

When Christina’s lips bumped into Nathaniel’s cheek, his faint woody scent filled her nostrils and left her in a daze. A few seconds later, she jolted back.

We should stop fooling around. It would be embarrassing if the children saw us.

Ever since the children barged into the room the last time, Christina would always keep a safe distance from him whenever they were out.

Meanwhile, Lucas and Camila were already awake by the time the car arrived at Scenic Garden Manor.

A short nap was all the kids needed to reinvigorate themselves.

After alighting from the car, both of them played ball in the courtyard. Christina was watching them she received Rayne’s call.

She subsequently headed to the study and borrowed Nathaniel’s computer for work.

It turned out that there was a problem with one of the design drawings. The design looked good on yet the intended result wasn’t achieved when it was given physical form, creating a need for a change color.

Based on the sample Rayne had sent. Christina adjusted the color a few times until she was satisfied.

By the time she was finished, night had already fallen.

When she suddenly received a call from Azure, she remembered that she hadn’t spoken to her grandmother over the last two days due to work.

Thus, she answered without hesitation. “Grandma.“

“Christina, I was worried when I didn’t hear from you for the past two days. I thought that something untoward had happened,” Azure remarked anxiously.

Christina’s heart was warmed by the concern shown by her grandmother. She felt the urge to pour her heart out and tell Azure about everything Anya did to her.

However, before she could start, she heard Anya’s voice in the background. “Grandma, did Christina say when she’ll be back?”

Anya is with Grandma?

Christina didn’t want to alert Anya of her plan yet. Besides, her words wouldn’t carry much impact since she wasn’t by Azure’s side.

Holding that thought, she suppressed her anger and decided to hold Anya accountable only upon her return

“Grandma, I’ve already signed the contract with Hadley Corporation and will come home in the next few days,” Christina replied.

Azure nodded upon hearing Christina’s calm voice. “All right then. Be careful. Remember to bring the children over with you when you come. I’ll be here, waiting for you.”

“All right. Grandma. You take care too.”

Upon ending the call, Christina let out a sigh. Given that she had dirt on Anya, there wasn’t much for her to be afraid of.

Eyes narrowed, she began to plot how she could kick Anya out of Gibson Corporation.

Although she was only in her twenties. Anya was extremely shrewd. Thus, taking her down was going to be an uphill task.

Even if I can’t remove her from Gibson Corporation, this matter alone is enough to threaten her position.

All of a sudden, a towering figure blocked off the light. Nathaniel then gave her head a gentle stroke. “What’s on your mind?”

“I was thinking of going back in the next few days. Grandma has called to pester me about it,” Christina. replied.

At that moment, her main concern was whether to take the children with her, for she was worried that any conflict with Anya might affect them.

“You should. I’ll come with you.”

While speaking, Nathaniel walked right up to her. He then cornered her by placing his palms down on the table on both sides of her.

“It’s not as simple as it seems. I’m going back to confront Anya this time, so bringing the kids along isn’t a good idea. Why don’t you stay here with them instead?”

That was the best idea Christina could come up with. However, Azure’s longing for her great- grandchildren caused her to hold her chin in contemplation.

Nathaniel turned toward her and suggested in a deep voice, “Why don’t you take Raymond with you? The children will get to have some fun for a couple of days and won’t get in your way.”

“Good idea. I’ll do that.”

Just as she spoke, Christina pushed his face away before squeezing her way out from underneath his arm.

After she escaped from his grasp, Nathaniel turned around and watched her silhouette slip away like a cat.

Soon, the weekend arrived. Before setting off, Camila and Lucas filled their bags with sweets.

“Mommy, we want to share these sweets with Granddad and Great-Granny,” Camila explained.

Christina gave her face a gentle rub. “That’s so thoughtful of you. Let’s get into the car now”

With that, she carried both of them in.

Thereafter, Nathaniel, too, joined them inside and put Camila on his lap. From the looks of it, he seemed to be going with them.

“We’ll only be gone for a few days. Are you sure you want to tag along?”

Christina gave Nathaniel a hesitant look. Is he going to ignore his work just like that?

“Sebastian has made all the necessary arrangements. There’s nothing for you to worry about.”

The moment he finished, Nathaniel instructed the driver, “Let’s go.”

The driver immediately started the car and drove off.

Two hours later, their car arrived outside the Gibson residence.

Azure was already waiting at the door. The moment she saw two small figures emerge from the car, she walked forward in delight and swept them up into her arms.

“Oh, let me have a good look at you, my darlings!”

The children’s presence warmed Azure’s heart.

“Great-Granny, look at what we brought you.” Camila couldn’t wait to show her grandmother the sweets in her bag.

Azure played along by feigning surprise. “Wow, they’re sweets!”

“I deliberately brought them for you.” The children subsequently stuffed the bags into Azure’s arms.

Breaking into a proud smile, she complimented the children for their thoughtfulness.

Meanwhile, Christina and Nathaniel alighted from the car. Despite the joy her great-grandchildren. brought her, Azure’s expression drastically changed at the sight of Nathaniel.

The fact that he was Christina’s husband didn’t ease the animosity between the Hadley family and the Gibson family.

“I’m back, Grandma,” Christina greeted while holding Nathaniel’s hand.

Azure put on airs by reflex. “You should’ve just come by yourself, Christina. Why did you bring the outsider?”

Nathaniel’s my husband. How can she call him an outsider?

Christina flashed a conflicted expression at her grandmother. “Nathaniel was worried about me coming home alone. Also, he wanted to visit you too.”

“How thoughtful of him. Come on in now, Christina,” Azure flatly commented as she turned around and led the children inside.

As the group walked into the house one after another, Christina snuck a concerned glance at Nathaniel but was relieved to see the emotionless look on his face.

It was hard for her to believe there would be a time when the proud Nathaniel would stay silent after being sneered at.

His response told her that he was truly intent on avoiding conflict with the Gibson family.

Touched by his gesture, she held Nathaniel’s hand “Come now, let’s head inside”

Upon entering the living room. they were greeted by the sight of Anya, who had donned an expensive dress. She was sipping coffee on the couch, the air she gave off that of the mistress of the house

The moment she saw the couple, she greeted sarcastically. “I’m surprised to see you here. Mr. Hadley. The Gibson residence doesn’t welcome those who share your surname.”

With a darkened expression, Christina sneered. “Why are you being such a stranger now? Didn’t you seem to be on good terms with him in Jadeborough?”