Ch. 491..500
Chapter 491 We Are Scared
Anya’s expression swiftly turned grim. Since when did these two reconcile?
She replied softly. “That’s just because I want to keep the peace when we’re in public.”
“Does that mean you’re only nice in public but not at home?” Christina questioned, showing Anya no respect.
Anya could only scowl in response affer being left speechless by the scathing comment.
“Enough! Stop arguing,” Azure ordered in a solemn tone. She didn’t want them quarreling in front of her great-grandchildren.
After peace returned to the living room, Azure shifted her attention to Nathaniel. “The Gibson family knows what it takes to be a good host. It would be rude for us to kick you out, so please have a seat.”
Azure accorded Nathaniel due respect on the account that he was her great-grandchildren’s father.
Thereafter, Lucas and Camila brought out sweets of different flavors for Azure to try. The latter reacted with joy upon accepting the children’s gifts.
“Thank you for bringing me these delicious sweets. I, too, have presents for the two of you. Why don’t you come upstairs with me so that I can show you?” Azure asked with anticipation.
The children cheered, “Hurray! Let’s go!”
Their reaction drew a look of contempt from Anya, for she knew how expensive the gifts prepared by
Azure were.
The moment Azure was gone, Anya sneered, “As if your attempt to claim the family assets wasn’t enough. You even brought two more children to get a larger share. I can’t believe how disgusting you
are.”
Before Christina could react, a towering figure preempted her by grabbing Anya’s throat.
“You!” Anya was stunned.
This is outrageous! How dare Nathaniel lay a finger on me in my own home?
“When Grandma sees you bullying me, she’ll definitely kick you out of the house!” Felicia snarled, her entire face turning red.
With no intention of letting go, Nathaniel gave her a piercing look as he warned, “Go ahead and tell her. Remember to mention how you pushed Christina down the mountain too. Let’s see which of us will be kicked out of the house after that.”
Nathaniel had tolerated her presence the moment he stepped into the house. Little did he expect her to test his patience further.
His threat blew Anya’s mind, causing her to tremble in fear and rendering her speechless.
After all, she had never expected Christina to survive the fall.
“What evidence do you have? Did you capture it on video?”
Despite the silence that descended upon Nathaniel, he maintained his fiery glare on her.
His response triggered gloating laughter from Anya. “How can you accuse me of pushing her when you have no proof whatsoever? You could well be maligning me when it was she who fell by herself.”
Anya flashed a smug smile the moment she finished. Seeing that, Christina came forward to pull Nathaniel’s hand back.
She then confronted Anya by shielding Nathaniel behind her. “It appears to me that this was your plan since the beginning. You seem confident that I have no evidence at all.”
When Anya maintained her smirk and didn’t reply, Christina leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I might not have any proof for this crime, but I have plenty in my hands for another one.”
Cognizant of what Christina was talking about, Anya began to panic.
Her desperation was the only reason she chose to harm Christina.
With a slight frown on her face, Christina led Nathaniel to the door. “Why don’t you head back to the hotel? I’ll come by with the kids later.”
Christina had gotten Nathaniel to reserve a hotel room before their arrival.
After walking him out the door, she watched his car leave before returning to the house.
At that moment, Azure came down with the two children holding exquisite toys in their hands.
Lucas was the first to run toward his mother to flaunt his toy. “Mommy, look at this limited edition.
ransformer. It’s amazing!”
“I received a Barbie-themed hairclip, dress, and doll. I really love them!” Camila showed off the items Azure got her. They were all a testament to her great-grandmother’s love.
Christina caressed their soft faces. “Have both of you said your thanks?”
“Of course. We do know our manners,” Camila and Lucas replied in unison.
Thereafter, Christina carried Camila and held Lucas by his hand as she walked to the door. “I’ll take you guys out for a stroll. There are plenty of fruit trees in the backyard. I’m sure you’ve never seen
them. before.”
“Okay, I can’t wait to see them!”
Just as Christina walked past Anya, she stumbled forward after being tripped.
As cold sweat broke out abruptly on her spine, she staggered forward and crashed to the ground in an attempt to cushion Camila from the floor.
Upon witnessing Christina’s fall, the concerned Lucas hurried up to her. “Mommy, what happened?” “Mommy, does it hurt? Let me blow it for you.” The shock brought tears to Camila’s eyes, while the tip of her nose began to redden. Getting to her feet, Christina could feel the pain from the impact on her knees. Yet, in order to maintain a strong front for the kids, she simply shook her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”
With that, she turned around and shot Anya a glare.
Her gesture was followed by Lucas pointing his finger at the latter and yelling. “You’re a meanie. How
Anya stood up and scoffed, “So what if I did? You all had better get out of this house. You’re not welcome here at all!”
She turned and went upstairs the moment she finished.
Infuriated by her words, Lucas puffed his cheeks as he glared at Anya’s leaving silhouette. Just as he wanted to run after her, Christina quickly held him back.
“No, Lucas.”
He shot Christina an indignant look. “But she did it on purpose.”
Christina simply snorted to herself. I’ll definitely not show her any mercy tomorrow.
After that, she carried the children in her arms. “I’m fine. Let’s go out to the backyard and play.”
With that, she walked out with the children.
When Christina wanted to return to the hotel in the afternoon, Azure invited them to stay for dinner, to which the children readily agreed..
Upon returning from her stroll outside, Anya could hear the sound of giggles coming from inside her
room.
Realizing that the childish voices belonged to the two children, she picked up her pace and stormed into the room, only to be greeted by the sight of it having been turned into a children’s playground.
The walls were covered with doodles, while her limited edition dresses were not spared. Even her jewelry was strewn across the floor in a huge mess.
The devastation caused Anya to blow her top. “I’m going to kill you b*stards if it’s the last thing I do!”
Nevertheless, the children shot her a defiant glare. “You shouldn’t have bullied my mommy, you wicked woman!”
Whoever tries to harm Mommy will not be forgiven!
The children threw their pens at Anya before fleeing from her room.
“Stop running! I’m going to kill both of you!”
The moment Anya emerged from her room in pursuit, she was greeted by the sight of the children peeking out from behind Azure.
The two burst into tears immediately. “Great-Granny, we’re really scared! That evil woman is threatening to kill us. After bullying our mommy, she wants to do the same to us. I don’t want to come here anymore!”
Chapter 492 Things Are Getting Interesting
Anya paused in her tracks, her face as black as thunder. “How dare you little bastards tell on me!”
She would have taught the two kids a lesson if Azure weren’t present.
Lucas and Camila squirmed into Azure’s arms and sobbed piteously, “Great-Granny, save us!”
Azure protected the two young kids and chastised, “Anya, you shouldn’t be so hard on them. They’re just kids. You’re so much older than them.”
“Grandma!” Anya was so apoplectic that she could almost feel steam coming out of her ears.
Her room was in such a terrible mess that it had practically become a huge garbage dump.
“Grandma, Christina was the one who told them to mess up my room. How could you still take their side?”
Seeing red, she felt like she was on the verge of a cardiac arrest.
Lucas made a face at her and harrumphed, “We wouldn’t have messed up your room if you purposely tripped my mommy. You’re the bad guy here. I was merely avenging her.”
hadn’t
“Great-Granny, she intentionally tripped Mommy and almost caused me to fall too. She’s evil, so you to chase her out!” Camila complained with a pout.
have
Azure frowned upon hearing that. “Anya, you’ve gone overboard. How could you hurt others for fun?” Anya’s face turned pale as she was rendered speechless from fury. In an instant, she went from being the victim to being the perpetrator.
Azure sighed lightly and carried both children downstairs. “Don’t be afraid. Great-Granny is here. I will protect you. I prepared some delicious desserts for you. Let’s have some, shall we?”
Lucas and Camila nodded cheerfully with their hands wrapped around Azure’s neck. “Sure! Let’s go and finish all the snacks! We won’t be leaving any for that nasty woman.”
Anya glared at the two rascals and gritted her teeth.
I shall see how long that arrogance can last.
Christina brought her two children back to the hotel after dinner.
Nathaniel had been working alone in the hotel for the entire day.
Lucas and Camila were deadbeat after such a long day and fell asleep promptly after Christina gave them a bath.
Christina emerged from the bathroom with her waist-long dark hair hanging loose. Her fair skin, which was scrubbed clean under the warm shower, glowed with a pearlescent sheen under the hotel’s light.
“Are you not done yet?” She approached Nathaniel after drying her hair.
Nathaniel put down his pen and pulled her into his arms. “Just in time.”
“Did you take good care of the flash drive I passed to you?” Christina voiced her concern.
Things Are Getting Interesting
Nathaniel inclined his head. “Of course. Do you need it now?”
Christina shook her head. The flash drive will be safer with him compared to me.
“This is a good chance for us to gain leverage over Anya. Once we expose all of her crimes tomorrow, I’ll have had my revenge!” she uttered seriously.
“I can’t wait to see everything unfold tomorrow.”
The following day, the morning sunlight crept into the room through the curtains.
Christina got ready to head to the company after having breakfast with her two children.
She entrusted the kids to her reliable bodyguard before leaving. “You may send them to my grandmother’s house. I’ve already informed her of your arrival, so she’ll be waiting by the gate.”
Lucas and Camila lifted their heads and looked at their mother, asking curiously, “Mommy, aren’t you coming with us?”
“I have some important matters to deal with. I’ll pick both of you up once I’m done.” Christina ruffled their hair affectionately.
She took the flash drive from Nathaniel after the children departed with the bodyguard.
“Are you sure you don’t need me to go with you?” Nathaniel was rather worried.
“Yes. I’ll be fine with your most trusted bodyguards by my side. Don’t worry.” Christina straightened his tie. Her eyes shone with determination and gentleness.
Nathaniel wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her forehead. “Get this over with quickly so we can have lunch together. It’ll be just the two of us without the kids. I want to spend some quality time with you.”
Sensing the warmth from Nathaniel’s lips on her forehead, Christina smiled blissfully. “Okay.”
She then turned toward the elevator with several bodyguards following behind her.
One of them sat in the passenger seat of her car while the others got into two other cars.
The journey to Gibson Corporation was rather smooth and peaceful.
Christina observed how nervous and vigilant the bodyguards were and wondered whether Nathaniel had overreacted by insisting on having so many bodyguards escort her.
The car came to a stop at the traffic light.
Gibson Corporation was only one street away.
Suddenly, a sedan abruptly drove toward them against the flow of traffic. Subsequently, several motorcyclists emerged out of the blue and surrounded Christina’s car.
The bodyguards tensed up and began communicating through their walkie-talkies.
“Be on alert. There’s imminent danger. Protect Mrs. Hadley.”
Things Are Getting Interesting
Christina subconsciously gripped her seatbelt tightly and felt her heart rate increase significantly.
Just then, one of the motorcyclists used a metal chain to smash the car window.
Hairline cracks formed on the window following an car-splitting bang.
Sensing danger, Christina yelped in terror. “Get us out of here! Drive!”
The driver ignored the red lights and stepped hard on the accelerator, causing the car to jerk forward at top speed.
The motorcyclists were hot on their trails. The bodyguards in the other two cars attempted to throw them off by stopping their cars horizontally in the middle of the street, blocking their way.
Several of the motorcyclists got down and began brawling with the bodyguards.
Only then did it occur to Christina how dire the situation was.
Anya is out of her mind. I can’t believe she went to such extreme lengths just to stop me.
Their car lost control without forewarning and began swerving on the road.
“What’s going on?” asked the bodyguard urgently.
“The ground is too slippery. I’ve lost control of the car,” Cold sweat dotted the driver’s forehead as he grappled with the steering wheel.
Christina felt dizzy as the car skidded around uncontrollably.
Under the scorching sun, the black Maybach collided head-on with a stone pillar in front of it.
The loud noise from the crash attracted the attention of passers-by, who observed as roiling steam rose from the damaged car.
Some onlookers immediately called for the ambulance and the police.
None of them stepped forward to offer assistance as they had no clue what had transpired.
Meanwhile, in the car, Christina’s head was spinning as she felt blood trickle down the side of her face. Her whole head hurt so badly that she couldn’t tell how many injuries she sustained.
She unfastened her seatbelt after taking some time to recover.
The bodyguard exited the car first and opened the door to help her out.
“Are you all right, Mrs. Hadley?”
“I’m fine. What time is it? We have to get to the company.”
Christina was dizzy and disoriented. All she could think about was getting to Gibson Corporation.
However, her feet gave way after she barely took a few steps forward.
In the meantime, Anya was on the phone at Gibson Corporation.
iled the road just as you instructed, causing Christina’s car to flip over. Although she
managed to get out of the car, she blacked out shortly after that. Her current condition remains unknown.”
Chapter 493 You Can Head Back First
Christina took a deep breath. She turned to face the project director, a young lady in her early twenties. “Have you thought things through before owning up to the charges? Once you’re proven guilty, you will not only have to return the money but your license will also be revoked. In the end, you’ll be blacklisted by all major corporations.”
To a young female employee like her, such dire consequences spelled the end of her career.
The director had made up her mind to risk everything. Biting the bullet, she said, “I was the one who fabricated all these documents. Ms. Gibson truly had no idea. Whenever I presented the documents for signing. I included the false accounts and secretly withdrew the commissions.”
This project director had been working for Anya for a long time. Christina didn’t expect Anya to abandon the project director to save herself.
Christina’s expression clouded over as she immediately called security to bring the project director away.
The atmosphere in the conference room couldn’t be any more tense.
Actually, everyone knew what was going on, but no one dared to speak up.
Christina didn’t expect Anya to have an escape plan and let the project director take the blame.
However, Christina wouldn’t let her get out of this easily.
Christina glared at Anya and said sternly, “Although
consider the mastermind behind this wasn’t you, you were
negligent in your supervision, which is considered dereliction of duty. This shows that you’re not suitable
Starting today, you’ll be demoted to the position of project group leader.
think about getting promoted.”
for the position of vice presidene standard, don’t e
If your performance doesn’t meet
With that, Christina looked at everyone and said, “The meeting is adjourned.”
She then walked out of the conference room.
Anya was naturally upset since she had joined the company as a director and was now demoted to a mere employee.
However, she could only bear with it no matter how resentful she was at that moment.
In the office, Christina received a name list from the director of the HR department. It was a list of employees that worked under Anya. “They’re all fired.”
“Yes, Ms. Steele.” The HR department’s director took the list back from Christina and left.
Even though she couldn’t remove Anya from the company, she removed the latter’s closest allies. This would likely prevent Anya from causing any more trouble from now on.
After settling everything, she heaved a sigh of relief and reclined in her chair.
At this moment, the door was pushed open.
Christina was resting with her eyes closed, so she assumed it was her assistant who had to grab the first aid kit. “Just put it down. I’ll take care of it myself.”
The footsteps approached her and didn’t stop until the person was behind her.
Christina immediately grew wary and stood up abruptly. Subsequently, she met the man’s jet-black eyes.
Nathaniel set aside the first aid kit he was holding and inspected the wound on her forehead while wearing an apathetic expression.
Upon feeling the warmth from his fingertips, Christina instinctively recoiled. “It hurts.”
Her voice was so delicate and tender that Nathaniel’s heart almost melted.
His movements slowed down as he carefully disinfected her wound and blew on it to ease the pain. “Those people have been caught, but none of them confessed who the mastermind was.”
“They won’t necessarily tell the truth even if they do confess,” Christina added.
After seeing Anya’s tactics just now, she was sure Anya had come up with a way to escape unscathed.
A dark glint flashed across Nathaniel’s eyes. “I won’t let her get away with it so easily.” —
His tone was light, but the chilly aura he exuded was palpable.
Christina nodded. “However, she’s my cousin and someone my grandmother treasures. I can’t bring myself to harm her.”
Sometimes, she hated herself for being so soft-hearted. Even if others were cruel to her, she couldn’t bring herself to hurt them.
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll take care of it.” Nathaniel carefully bandaged her wound and stopped mentioning this topic.
At that moment, Christina’s phone rang.
It was a call from Sheridan.
“Christina, I heard you’re back. Did the information help you?” Sheridan’s voice was as gentle as the
setting sun.
Although Nathaniel and Sheridan were both men, Nathaniel was like a scorching sun at noon, capable of melting the coldest heart. Sheridan, on the other hand, was completely different from him.
“It has helped me tremendously! Thank you! Please send me the bill.” Christina smiled.
Things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly if she didn’t have Sheridan helping her.
Sheridan chuckled. “I’ve already asked my assistant to send it. Have you eaten lunch? I know a nice restaurant. Shall we go and grab lunch together?”
Christina hesitated as she glanced at Nathaniel, whose expression had darkened. “Of course, but…”
She was about to suggest making plans for another time when Sheridan interrupted, “I’m already downstairs at your company. Come down.”
With that, Sheridan hung up the phone.
So fast? He’s already downstairs?
Christina shot an awkward glance at Nathaniel. “How about you go back first? We’ll grab dinner together, okay?”
Chapter 494 Come To Me Anytime.
Nathaniel’s eyebrow twitched. She wants me to go back while they go on a date?
“I’ll go with you. I happen to want to try that restaurant.”
Christina was taken aback, for Nathaniel and Sheridan had mismatched personalities, akin to oil and water. If they were to have a meal together, the tension in the air would certainly be palpable!
A while later, the couple arrived at the entrance together.
Despite his composed demeanor, Sheridan was rather taken aback to see Nathaniel standing there.
“I hope you don’t mind another person joining us.” Christina chuckled in an attempt to ease the awkwardness.
Sheridan responded by flashing them a courteous smile. “Of course not. Please, get in.”
With that, he opened the door to the passenger seat.
Nathaniel’s brows furrowed, and he swiftly clasped Christina’s hand, swiftly pivoting on his heels and striding in the opposite direction. “No need. We’ll take our own vehicle.”
A tinge of tension crept into Christina’s expression. She offered a polite smile to Sheridan and suggested, “Please lead the way, and we’ll follow you.”
Having said that, she turned and glared at the man beside her, whispering. “Can’t you talk nicely?”
Nathaniel’s actions only made things awkward for everyone involved. Fortunately, Sheridan was not a petty person. Otherwise, he might have already left before they even had a chance to eat.
“What do you mean I wasn’t talking nicely? Can’t you see the way he looks at you? It’s as if he wants to swallow you whole,” Nathaniel hissed.
“He lent me a helping hand. Can you please show him some respect?” Exasperated. Christina climbed into the car and firmly shut the door behind her.
Nathaniel’s expression grew grim as he observed her forcefully shutting the door, his eyebrows furrowing in displeasure.
He merely helped you out with the accounts. Who doesn’t know how to do that?
Aware of the woman’s obvious discontent, he had no choice but to tamp down his anger and get into the driver’s seat. He then started the engine and proceeded to follow Sheridan’s vehicle.
In due time, they arrived at the restaurant. Nathaniel maintained a quiet demeanor, looking slightly displeased, but at the very least, he did not offer any offending remarks.
-During the meal, only Christina and Sheridan were chatting away. However, when it came almost time to
pay the bill, Nathaniel’s phone rang, and he excused himself to take the call.
Hence, when the bill came, Christina jumped at the opportunity to pay, only to be stopped by Sheridan.
“How can I let you pay? You’ve been such great help to me, after all. Why don’t you let me treat you to a
meal?” Christina could not help but sigh as she watched Sheridan hand the waiter money.
“You’ll have the chance to treat me to a meal next time.” Sheridan grinned, exuding an air of elegance. He paused for a moment before continuing, “I didn’t know you two are back together.”
Watching Christina and Nathaniel interact reminded him of a new couple whose romance was just budding
The woman’s face reddened in embarrassment. She and Nathaniel had had their fair share of arguments and was even on the brink of divorce at some point. However, after going through a series of events, they were bound together, tighter than ever.
“Well, I hope it won’t happen again.” Truth be told, Christina wasn’t certain if it was possible for her and Nathaniel. She was merely going with what her heart yearned for.
Since we didn’t separate after all that we’ve been through, perhaps we’re fated to be together.
Sheridan flashed her a smile. “I wish you two a happily ever after. If he doesn’t treat you well… you can come to me anytime.”
Christina’s eyes widened in shock, leaving her momentarily speechless. She respond to his unexpected statement.
Just then, Nathaniel returned from outside, having ended the call. “Can we leave now?”
“You guys go ahead. I feel bloated from all the food. I might go on a walk to relieve it,” said Sheridan.
“All right. Let’s meet again soon.” Christina rose from her seat and beamed at him.
Nathaniel gently held her hand as they made their way out of the restaurant together, a voice. “The kids are rushing us to head back. We should hurry,” he said.
On their way back, he asked with feigned indifference. “What did he say to you while I was gone?”
Despite being engaged in a phone call, Nathaniel had closely observed Christina and Sheridan’s interaction.
“Nothing much… Just that I can ask him for help if I encounter any issues with the accounts in the future.” Christina lied..
Her intuition told her that if she was truthful, the man would have likely turned the car around and headed back to the restaurant to “reason” with Sheridan.
“Isn’t it just accounting? Leave it to me next time.” Nathaniel scoffed, a hint of disdain present in his voice.
Christina was amused by his proud yet jealous attitude. “Okay, I’ll let you handle it all,” she said playfully.
On the road, she received a call from the Gibson residence. It was Azure.
“Christina, come home for dinner tonight, and bring the kids and Nathaniel along,” the elderly woman requested.
Christina was rather surprised by her grandmother’s words. To her knowledge, Azure opposed Nathaniel. due to his identity. However, now that she was extending an invitation to him, Christina could not bear to
decline.
“Okay, Grandma. I’m on my way back to the hotel. I’ll pick up Lucas and Camila before heading over.”
Azure smiled in satisfaction. “Sure. I’ll wait for you.”
Meanwhile, at the Gibson residence, Azure had just hung up when she was met with the storm brewing in Anya’s eyes. Anya approached her grandmother with a mixture of anger and frustration, questioning, “Grandma, the Gibson and Hadley families are at odds with one another. How could you invite Nathaniel over for dinner?”
Azure’s face took on a solemn expression. “You won’t understand. Rest assured, I have my purpose for inviting him here.”
You wish to become the son-in-law of the Gibson family, hm? Let’s see if you have what it takes.
Anya’s excitement grew as she heard Azure’s words. “Grandma, what is your plan?” she asked eagerly.
“Of course, I must find a way to separate the two of them.”
Given Christina’s lack of awareness about the Gibson family’s true nature, it was understandable that she got involved with Nathaniel. However, now that she was aware of the situation, it only seemed logical for her to separate herself from him.
I’m sure she’ll understand.
Azure rose from her seat and ascended the stairs with a determined stride.
Watching her grandmother’s retreating figure, Anya couldn’t help chuckling inwardly, her mind filling with anticipation.
With Grandma’s intervention, the relationship between Christina and Nathaniel is destined to crumble. Grandma is no ordinary person. Her reputation in Hallsbay precedes her, and her instrumental role in propelling the Gibson family to greatness cannot be underestimated. Years of dedicated service at Gibson Corporation have bestowed upon her a wealth of experience and influence, allowing her to hold the highest authority in the company. Even if she has transferred half of her shares to Christina, her secret holdings still wield significant power. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Grandma on my side in this battle.
In the evening, a Lincoln came to stop at the entrance of the Gibson residence.
As soon as the doors were open, Lucas and Camila dashed out of the vehicle.
“Oh, my dear great-grandchildren! Come to Great-Granny!” Azure eagerly beckoned the children over as she had eagerly awaited their arrival for quite some time.
The two little ones were great at acting cute. They trotted over, their tiny steps filled with excitement. With joyful anticipation, they jumped into their great-grandmother’s awaiting arms.
“Great-Granny, it’s only been a few days since we last saw you, but you look much younger,” Lucas remarked as he gazed up at the elderly woman.
Camila added, “Great-Granny is in good health, so it’s no wonder she looks young.”
Azure chuckled in amusement before instructing the butler to bring the children inside.
Christina and Nathaniel approached Azure, their hands intertwined as they greeted her in unison, “Hello,
Grandma.”
Azure’s lips curled into a smile as she responded, “I’m Christina’s grandmother, so it’s only fitting for her to address me that way. As for you, you should address me as ‘Mrs. Lazuli.”
Azure’s desire for Nathaniel to address her formally reflected her reluctance to accept him into the family.
At this point, Christina’s expression grew more perplexed, for she couldn’t figure out her grandmother’s intentions.
Why did she invite him to dinner if she had reservations about accepting him? Is it possible that she purposely wants to make things difficult for him?
Nathaniel remained composed and unfazed by the elderly woman’s request. In a measured tone, he responded. “Of course. Addressing you as ‘Mrs. Lazuli does make you sound younger.”
Chapter 495 Gifts
In an attempt to alleviate the awkwardness, Christina chimed in, “Ah, I wasn’t aware that you preferred to be addressed as ‘Mrs. Lazuli. Should I start calling you that as well?”
Azure grinned, playfully and gently tapping her granddaughter’s nose. “Don’t be such a tease.”
Worried that her grandmother would continue giving Nathaniel a hard time, she released Nathaniel’s hand and instead linked arms with Azure, guiding her inside the house. “Let’s go inside and have dinner. I’m famished.”
Nathaniel retrieved several bags of gifts from the trunk of the car before joining them and making his way inside.
Upon entering the residence, Christina couldn’t help but notice a few unfamiliar faces. They were dressed to the nines, and their gazes were filled with scrutiny when they saw her.
She whispered into Azure’s ear, “Grandma, did you invite them here?”
Grandma didn’t mention that there would be this many guests when we were on the phone earlier.
Azure replied softly, “Yes, I did. These are your relatives. They heard that I found my biological granddaughter and expressed their interest in meeting you.”
Many of them knew of Christina’s existence and had long since wanted to meet her.
Christina forced an awkward smile onto her lips. At that moment, she looked like a helpless child who was meeting her relatives for the first time.
A housekeeper approached Nathaniel and offered to take the bags from him. With a smile, she remarked, “Mr. Hadley, how courteous of you. The gifts you brought seem to be quite heavy.”
Azure settled herself on the couch, expressing her disapproval with a scoff. “Hmph. We don’t have space to store such gifts here. Leave them here for now, and he can take them back when they leave.”
Despite the presence of numerous relatives in the hall, Azure did not bother to hold back with her words. It was apparent that she wasn’t planning on showing Nathaniel any respect.
Naturally, Azure was well aware that her words would provoke Nathaniel and fuel his anger. She could not be happier than to watch him lose his temper, as it would provide her with a valid reason to urge Christina to leave him.
Hence, she waited patiently for his reaction.
On the other hand, Christina’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and discomfort. She found herself caught in the middle, torn between her loyalty to Nathaniel and her family ties with Azure.
I have no idea what to do if a confrontation breaks out between Nathaniel and Grandma. Given his temper, he wouldn’t sit back and allow these remarks to slide.
At that thought, Christina cast a worried glance at the man.
Fortunately, Nathaniel remained composed as he stood beside Christina. It was as if Azure’s words had no
power to affect or hurt him.
Without a change in his expression, he uttered flatly, “I apologize if my gifts are not to your liking, Mrs. Lazuli. However, since I have already brought them here and you find them displeasing, perhaps you can distribute them among the relatives who are present today.”
He was not the type of person who would take back his gifts once they had been given.
Everyone present instantly recognized Nathaniel when he entered and was well aware of his status as the CEO of Hadley Corporation. Thus, they held the belief that any gifts presented by him would undoubtedly be of the highest quality.
Christina shared the same sentiments as he did. Since they had already brought the gifts, it wouldn’t be right to retract them.
She turned toward the butler and said, “Please unpack the gifts and arrange them on a table for everyone to see. If any of our guests are interested, they are welcome to take them. Is that all right with you, Grandma?”
Azure scoffed, her gaze and tone filled with disdain. “Very well. Though I’m afraid that the housekeepers would be burdened with the tedious task of repacking them later. It would be such a waste of time and energy.”
Christina merely smiled at her grandmother’s words before shooting a look at the butler, silently conveying her instructions.
The butler called over a few housekeepers to help. They then took out the gifts and placed them on the table one by one, per Christina’s orders.
As the housekeepers unveiled the gifts, revealing the exquisite contents within, a sense of astonishment filled the grand hall. The room fell silent as eyes widened in awe. The assortment of presents included luxurious emerald bracelets, dazzling diamond brooches, elegant pearl necklaces, high–quality supplements, delicacies like abalones and sea cucumbers, as well as branded stationery.
Nathaniel had prepared everything.
Even Christina was taken aback by the sheer extravagance of the gifts. She was not expecting such a grand gesture, considering the limited preparation time, but Nathaniel’s thoughtfulness and attention to
detail surpassed her expectations.
A few individuals eagerly rose from their seats, their eyes gleaming with excitement as they hastened toward the display of gifts. One of them couldn’t help but comment with admiration, “Mr. Hadley, your generosity knows no bounds. Your dedication to your wife and her family is truly remarkable.”
“These pearl earrings are so pretty! I want them!”
“I want that diamond necklace!”
“Give that to me!”
“Hey! I took it first!”
In the beginning, a sense of mutual respect permeated the air as the guests gracefully passed the gifts amongst themselves. However, as time wore on, the guests were filled with apprehension and anxiety,
fearing that the items they coveted would be taken away. The atmosphere became increasingly fraught with tension, transforming the once cordial gathering into a scene of fervent disputes and heated arguments, as everyone vied to secure their desired gifts.
Before long, all of the lavish gifts on the table were dispersed among the guests, leaving behind only a set of art paper and a set of stationery.
Anya had anticipated witnessing Nathaniel’s embarrassment, but to her surprise, the relatives did not comply with her expectations. Instead, they eagerly seized every gift Nathaniel had presented.
Anya’s face turned gloomy, contrasting sharply with the gleeful and satisfied expressions of the other
relatives.
Azure noticed the remaining things on the table and went to take a look. After thorough observation, she exclaimed in surprise, “Are these from Yarley Bookstore?”
“Yes,” came Nathaniel’s indifferent response.
Anya’s laughter echoed through the room, her tone filled with mockery. She seemed to have found an opportunity to undermine Nathaniel as she fired back, “Are you trying to deceive us with knockoffs? Yarley Bookstore only produces its items four times a year, and pre–orders must be placed a month in advance. Did you really have enough time to arrange these gifts?”
The art papers produced by Yarley Bookstore were renowned for their exceptional quality. Manufactured using traditional methods, each paper went through numerous meticulous steps, resulting in a product of great value.
If one were not a seasoned artist, one would purchase such costly materials. Even if one did purchase the art papers, the thought of parting with them would be inconceivable.
Thus, fueled by her skepticism, Anya remained confident in her belief that the art papers on the table were nothing more than cheap imitations.
Hearing this, the relatives who had eagerly claimed the gifts from the table began inspecting their newfound possessions with a mix of panic and worry, doubt creeping into their minds as they questioned the authenticity of the gifts.
Christina, too, was panic–stricken. Her mind raced as she sought a way to defend Nathaniel and salvage the situation.
On the other hand, Nathaniel remained as calm as a millpond, his expression unchanging as he turned a deaf ear to Anya’s accusations.
Azure’s finger glided across the art paper as she took note of the familiar texture. Indeed, the papers resembled the ones she usually used.
Immediately after, she took hold of the remaining items on the table and handed them over to the butler, instructing him to put them away. “These are indeed genuine,” she remarked. “I must say, I’m quite surprised you were able to acquire such rare items.”
Anya’s earlier suspicion echoed in Azure’s mind. The art papers do need to be pre–ordered in advance. Did he begin preparing the gifts a month ago?
At that realization, Azure’s gaze fixated on Nathaniel with a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
The man could not be bothered to explain himself, and his commanding presence silenced any doubts or objections regarding the authenticity of his gifts.
After the ordeal, the family members engaged in a brief conversation before eventually taking their leave. It was close to eight at night when the remaining people relocated to the dining room.
Everyone settled into their seats at the dining table, with Lucas and Camila sitting on either side of Azure. The housekeepers then served steaming plates of freshly cooked pasta to each person at the table.
Nathaniel dined with elegance, but his composure faltered after he took a few bites of the pasta. A sudden spiciness and lingering pain assaulted his taste buds, leaving him puzzled.
Upon closer inspection, he realized that there were finely–chopped ghost peppers mixed into his plate of pasta.
The ghost peppers shared the same hue as tomatoes, effectively camouflaging the unexpected heat. It was only after a few bites that Nathaniel’s throat began to burn.
Chapter 496 I Will Solve It
Nathaniel’s brows furrowed, and he let out a soft cough, instinctively covering his nose with his hands.
“What’s wrong, Nathaniel?” Christina asked softly as she leaned closer to him.
“Someone put chili in my bowl,” Nathaniel replied in a voice so soft that only the both of them could hear. His brows remained knitted.
Nathaniel couldn’t take spicy food at all. If he consumed anything with spice, his throat would become hoarse the next day, and he would experience stomach discomfort for several days after.
Across from them, Anya’s tone dripped with sarcasm as she remarked, “Grandma went through the trouble of having pasta delivered all the way from Irushea because it’s her favorite. Are you saying that the food prepared in the Gibson residence isn’t to your liking?”
Christina couldn’t help but conclude that it was intentional on Anya’s part to instruct the staff to add chili to Nathaniel’s plate. There seemed to be no other explanation for why his pasta was spicy while everyone else was enjoying the same dish.
“Forget it. I’m fine,” Nathaniel told her. He didn’t want to cause a scene during dinner.
Christina’s expression turned dark as she grabbed Nathaniel’s plate of pasta.
While Nathaniel refrained from causing a scene, Christina believed it was her responsibility to address the issue on his behalf. After all, Azure had declared this place as her home, and it was only reasonable for Christina to bring up any problems that arose during dinner.
She took a bite of his pasta before summoning the butler. “Who told you to add chili to this pasta?”
“It was Ms. Gibson’s order,” the butler replied, seemingly hesitant.
Christina firmly set her utensils aside and ordered, “Take this plate of pasta to the person who instructed you to add chili and let them enjoy it themselves.” Her tone carried a resolute authority, leaving no room for argument.
The butler shot Anya a stumped look. “Well… I…”
Anya was caught off guard, not expecting Christina to confront her directly during dinner.
There was no way she’d eat a plate of pasta full of chili. Flashing an awkward smile, she piped up, “The kitchen staff must’ve heard wrongly. Butler, please get him a new plate of pasta.”
The butler quickly left with the spicy pasta.
Soon, a plate of non–spicy pasta was placed before Nathaniel. “Mr. Hadley, please enjoy your meal,” the butler said politely.
Azure was a witness to the entire debacle but didn’t speak up to stop them. As it was a minor matter, she pretended to not see anything, not wanting to appear biased toward anyone involved.
After dinner came to an end, Azure went upstairs with the kids while Christina and Nathaniel took a leisurely stroll in the backyard.
“I didn’t see your father during dinner. Where is he?” Nathaniel asked, showing his concern.
Christina’s gaze dimmed at the mention of her biological father. “He’s unwell, so he normally doesn’t come downstairs for meals.”
She was still uncertain about how to approach the task of informing Nathaniel and her father about the truth.
It was tough to be stuck in the middle.
Nevertheless, Christina snapped out of her reverie and dragged him back to the house. “It’s getting late, so we should leave.”
Over an hour had passed since dinner concluded, and Christina wondered what had occupied the children’s attention to the extent that they hadn’t asked for their parents.
The couple returned to the house and told the butler to bring the kids downstairs.
Shortly after, Azure came down the stairs, but the children were nowhere to be seen.
“Grandma, where are Lucas and Camila?” Christina inquired as a sense of unease grew within her.
Azure replied indifferently, “They are asleep. Let them spend the night here.”
“No need. We’re taking them with us now.” Nathaniel suddenly spoke up firmly as his gaze turned dark.
Christina swiftly reached out and grasped his hand, urging him to remain composed and avoid creating a
scene.
In a firm tone, she asserted, “Grandma, I’ll bring the kids to visit tomorrow. Let me take them home now.”
“Why go through all the trouble? Let them stay here so I can see them whenever I want,” Azure replied with a gentle tone. D
“What did you do to the children? Did you hide them somewhere?” Nathaniel frowned as his expression turned icy.
No wonder they’ve been distant and cold toward me since my arrival. I anticipated them making things difficult for me, but it seems their focus is on the children, not me.
Azure’s lips curled into a smirk. “Do you seriously think the grudge between both families will end if you offer us a collaboration and some gifts? How naïve of you.”
A heavy silence filled the air, freezing time in its tracks.
Feeling flustered, Christina stepped forward, her gaze filled with disbelief. “Grandma, that’s a matter between the adults. Why did you involve the kids?”
However, the elderly woman remained unfazed. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt them, but if the Hadley family wants them back, that won’t be an easy feat.” D
She relished the thought of the panic and distress that would consume the Hadley family once they discovered the children were missing. It was precisely the reaction she had hoped to provoke. D
Nathaniel’s eyes were blocks of ice as he demanded angrily, “What do you want?”
They hid the kids to get something from me, right?
Azure threw a file at him, and it landed at his feet with a thud. “Invest one percent on day one, five on day two, thirty percent on day three, and fifty percent on day five,” she commanded. “Once you comply, I’ll return the children to you.”
percent
Christina picked up the file and realized it was a contract outlining Hadley Corporation’s investment in a new energy development project by Gibson Corporation. The investment amount was staggering, with fifty percent of it being equivalent to half of Hadley Corporation’s funds.
It was unclear whether the project had already commenced or if it was just a facade, with Gibson Corporation using it as a means to acquire funds from Hadley Corporation in a seemingly legitimate
manner.
“Grandma, how could you do this? How could you use my children to threaten the Hadley family?” Tears pooled up in Christina’s eyes. D
She felt a deep sense of injustice, not wanting her children to be caught in the crossfire of the ongoing feud between the two families.
Azure’s face turned grim as she instructed the butler to escort Christina upstairs. “Mr. Hadley, take the file with you and take your time to consider it at home. However, be aware that I have little patience, and I won’t wait for long. I expect to see the signed contract tomorrow, along with the initial investment amount transferred to my account. If you dare to deceive me in any way, rest assured that you won’t have the privilege of seeing your beloved children ever again.”
Nathaniel gripped the file tightly until it crumpled up. A thunderous scowl buried itself in his forehead, an ominous black thundercloud of temper settling over him.
The housekeepers quickly sidestepped him, as if he were not a person but a fearsome lion capable of tearing them apart if they did not move out of his path swiftly.
Nathaniel was breathless with anger. He had arrived with the intention of resolving their feud, only to be betrayed by Azure and have his children taken away from him.
How could he not be enraged?
Christina gave him a worried look. “Nathaniel, I–I didn’t know this would happen…” Her voice began trembling.
She anticipated that things wouldn’t go smoothly, but she never expected Azure to stoop to such a despicable tactic. The repercussions of a head–to–head confrontation between the two families would
be dire.
Holding Nathaniel’s hand tightly, she couldn’t stop her eyes from turning red as she fought back the urge to cry.
Ultimately, Nathaniel’s heart softened when he saw the pitiful state his beloved woman was in. “Stay here and take care of the kids. I’ll solve the problem.”
Chapter 497 A Man
“Nathaniel, L…” Christina felt her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach in despair, causing her immense discomfort.
Nathaniel wrapped an arm around her shoulder and massaged her brows. “It’s going to be fine. Leave this
to me.”
“But-”
“Take care of the kids. Trust me,” Nathaniel asserted.
Christina’s brows knitted together. Left with no other choice, she nodded in agreement. “Okay. Let’s keep in touch with each other.”
At that, Nathaniel spun on his heels and left with the file.
Christina felt a deep sense of remorse as she watched him walk away. She could tell that he had prepared the gifts with care, knowing the importance of their visit to the Gibson family.
Alas, all of his efforts were in vain, and it pained her to see him hurt in such a way.
Christina’s eyes were burning as she turned to look at Azure. “Grandma, you’ve disappointed me.”
Anya marched over to join Azure and gave Christina a dismissive look. “Don’t be naïve. The Hadley family is at odds with us. How could you still defend Nathaniel at this juncture?” D
“He’s my husband. Besides, that accident wasn’t his fault!” Christina protested as tears glistened in her
eyes.
She felt like she had been betrayed by her own family.
Despite that, Azure maintained a stern and cold expression, her gaze filled with an icy resolve. She remained silent, showing no signs of remorse for using the kids as leverage to threaten Nathaniel.
Biting her lip. Christina demanded, “Lucas and Camila are your grandchildren. How could you use them. as pawns to fulfill your own desires? What will happen when they discover the truth when they’re older? Won’t they be furious with you?”
Isn’t she afraid the kids will blame her when they grow up?
Azure scowled. “That’s it. We’ll talk about that later. For now, he has to fulfill the agreement.”
She had made up her mind, so no one could persuade her otherwise.
Christina quickly ran after her. “Where are Lucas and Camila?”
As long as the kids were safe, she was fine with everything else.
Seeing Christina’s concern, Azure responded darkly, “Rest assured, they are safe. Just be patient and wait. I’m doing this for your own good, young lady.”
“Grandma, I know you’re upset, but you cannot-
Before Christina could finish her words, Anya shoved her away. “Grandma won’t tell you where the kids
are. Just stay here and don’t cause a commotion
With that. Anya held Azure and helped her up the stairs
Disappointment flooded Christina as she watched them walk away Noticing that no cars had left the premises since her arrival, she realized that the children were still inside the expansive house However,
finding their whereabouts within the vast residence posed a daunting challenge.
Nevertheless, Christina wasn’t about to give up.
I have five days to find the children and save them. If I succeed. Nathaniel won’t have to make that investment in the project. I can’t let him give away his hard-earned money to the Gibson family.
That night, Christina found it impossible to sleep. She spent the entire night tirelessly searching the vast Gibson residence. However, with its numerous sections and locked rooms, her solo search proved challenging
The butler had been instructed not to grant her access to any keys, further complicating her mission.
Christina’s search proved futile.
At dawn, she fell asleep out of exhaustion in one of the guest rooms, deciding to get some rest before continuing with her search.
Having learned of Christina’s relentless search, Azure took measures to ensure her plan remained undisturbed by arranging for someone to lock the guest room Christina was staying in from the outside. When Christina woke up around noon, she felt a pang of hunger and made her way to the door. To her dismay, it was locked from the outside.
I can’t believe they locked me up!
Christina pounded on the door angrily. “Open the door now! Open it!”
Alas, Christina’s desperate yells and pounding on the door went unanswered, echoing through the building with no one to hear or respond to her helpless pleas.
“Open the door! I need to find Lucas and Camila!”
Meanwhile, Anya was enjoying her lunch alone when the housekeeper reported to her, “Ms. Gibson, Ms. Steele has been locked up. She is crying and pounding on the door. Shall we release her?”
A smirk played on Anya’s lips. “Why should we release her? Ignore her and don’t bring her any food. She can starve for today.”
Christina’s tough. She didn’t die back at the cliff, so she won’t starve to her death this time, too.
The housekeeper dared not defy her order and nodded before leaving.
After finishing her lunch, Anya strolled out of the house and followed a path that led to the backyard. Her steps carried her to a storage room tucked away from plain sight.
She fished out the key and unlocked the door to see two kids huddled against each other.
They were none other than Lucas and Camila.
“Evil woman, let us out!” Lucas screamed in fury.
two mido à prisilia
en fed de pi
continuity. When theri asike they friend diemelten in the disde la condnes of this room
Armen who did this to them
After petting Ineked up in the dark for the whole night, Camila was trembling as the chung in tightly
in
Her voice was disoriented as die whispered. Lovas Feared Can you take me to Mommy?”
Anya shot them a glosting look as an iry grin played on her lips. “You got locked up as you were naughty
Hote dere they treat my room at their playground! Serve them right?
Fury flashed in Lucas gaze “Evil lady, let us go! We want to see our mommy’ If Daddy finds out you’re been bullying us hell definitely make you pay””
Anya scoffed mockingly, her voice dripping with disdain. “Oh, how armusing. Your daddy is too preoccupied to come to your rescue! And as for your mommy, well, she hasn’t the faintest idea of your whereabouts. She won’t be able to find you?” Her terrifying laughter filled the air
Camila burst into tears and kept asking for her mother. Lucas did his best to comfort his sister, but his efforts seemed futtle in soothing her distress
Pleased. Anya spun on her heels to leave. In a sudden turn of events, a small figure dashed toward Anyha, delivering a forceful push that caught her off guard.
Taken by surprise, Anya stumbled forward before crashing to the ground, screaming out in anguish.
“Ow! Ow, my face hurts! You little b*stards, do you want me to punish you both?”
Without hesitation, Lucas took Camila’s hand and ran for the door. They both stepped on Anya’s back on the way out in their haste to flee the scene.
“Lucas, I’m scared Camila’s eyes welled up with tears, her rosy cheeks turning pale. It was a heart- wrenching sight to behold.
Lucas wiped her tears away gently. “Don’t be scared, Camila. Let’s go. We’ll be safe once we find Mommy!”
Mommy taught me to protect Camila at all times as I’m a man
He grabbed her hand tightly and continued running, his voice echoing through the surroundings as he
shouted for Christina.
“Mommy, where are you? Mommy!”
Chapter 498 Make A Move
Christina, who was locked up in the room, had collapsed to the ground from exhaustion.
In her daze, she thought she heard the children’s voices, so she opened the window to see two tiny figures running in the corridor.
Christina was startled, and she hastily shouted at the two tiny people, “Lucas, Camila, I’m here!”
Upon hearing their mother’s voice, the children excitedly waved their hands at her. “Mommy, we’ve come for you!”
Immediately, the children rushed toward Christina’s room.
Just as they did that. Anya and the housekeepers ran after them.
Christina could no longer remain calm by then, for she knew that if the children were taken away, she would not be able to find them again.
After surveying the room, she soon found a chair. Without hesitation, she picked it up and swung it at the lock on the door.
With a resounding clang, the lock was evidently loosened. Christina swung the chair at it once more before it finally gave way and fell off.
Christina narrowed her eyes and tossed the chair away. With a rough kick on the lock, the door unlocked.
Right as she opened the door, the children lunged over and threw themselves into her arms, bawling. “Mommy, I’m so scared! She’s a bad person! Slic locked us both up!”
Camila was sniffling and crying as she spoke, tears filling her eyes.
As Christina held them tightly, she softly consoled, “Don’t be scared, Camila. I’ll take you two away from this place.”
The trio hugged each other tightly. Just as they were about to leave, Anya and the housekeepers rushed upstairs. A few of the housekeepers were even standing at the staircase, blocking their way.
A wicked grin spread across Anya’s face when her gaze fell upon the three frantic figures. “Grandma said. you have to stay here until the plan is completed.”
Her expression turned sinister and smug. She regarded them with a gaze akin to a butcher eyeing helpless sheep as if she held the power to do anything to them.
Christina took several steps back with the children in her arms. Gently guiding them into an empty room, she reassured them, “Be good. Once I’m done settling this, I’ll take you two away from this place.”
Lucas and Camila could only helplessly look at their mother before nodding slowly. “Be careful, Mommy.”
“All right. Don’t come out, okay? I’ll be done with this soon.” While saying that, Christina closed the door
behind her.
Her gaze locked onto Anya’s arrogant expression, and with determination in her voice, she demanded,
“Step aside on your accord. Otherwise, don’t blame me for not showing you any mercy”
lemess flickered in Christina’s eyes as her delicate lace tensed up.
Nevertheless, Anya did not heed the woman’s warning and instead let out a mocking Laugh “And let you go? Dream on! You’d better get back in that mom obediently. Perhaps Grandma might show you three a sliver of mercy once this is over and allow you
room
The only thought consuming Christina’s mind was the desperate need to escape with her children from that place. “This has nothing to do with us, yet you’re using me and my children as your bargaining chips. You’ve truly let me down.”
Christina had the Gibsons’ best interest at heart, only to be used as a mere instrument for their revenge If that was how things were going to be, they would no longer hold any significance in her life.
A solemn determination shone in Christina’s eyes as she spoke with a firm tone. “Consider this your final chance, Anya.”
“I don’t care for your chances.” Anya responded defiantly. With her gaining the upper hand, she had no intention of allowing Christina to escape.
Furrowing her brows, she then turned to instruct the housekeepers, “Take her back into the room. If she puts up a fight, don’t hesitate to use physical force. I’ll take full responsibility for any injuries and report the incident to Grandma.”
What a cruel woman. I can’t believe she’s even going to hurt me!
Christina narrowed her eyes, then tightened her fists in anger. Winning against the numerous people in front of her would prove to be a challenge with her current strength.
Determined, Christina knew that she had to make every punch count. She had to take down the housekeepers with a single punch, for it was her only path to victory in this confrontation.
Right then, one of the housekeepers approached Christina with hostility in her eyes. It was evident that the housekeeper did not regard Christina as the eldest daughter of the Gibson family.
Just as the female housekeeper reached out to grab Christina’s shirt, Christina seized the opportunity to grab the woman’s outstretched wrist. In a swift and decisive move, she pushed her opponent forward and used the momentum to land a powerful punch.
Overwhelmed by the impact, the woman let out an anguished cry before falling to the ground.
Another housekeeper took a few hurried steps forward in an attempt to aid her fallen colleague. However, she had taken no more than a couple of steps when Christina swiftly stepped on her knee. With a loud thump, she collapsed to the ground, now kneeling before Christina.
A wave of fear washed over the remaining housekeepers as they witnessed the scene unfolding before their eyes. They had all underestimated her, assuming she was a small and delicate woman who posed no threat to the group of them.
However, now it seemed like they had made the wrong assumptions.
When Anya noticed how nervous and hesitant the housekeepers were, she grew alarmed, her voice trembling with a mix of panic and frustration as she urged, “Why are you just standing there? Move!
Attack her together! Why are you all so afraid of one woman when there are so many of you?”
Left without a choice, the other housekeepers were forced to dash over, and sure enough, Christina could not fend off all of them by herself.
In no time, a few of the women had restrained her arms and legs, rendering Christina unable to budge.
At that, Anya could not resist cackling in delight, her laughter echoing throughout the room. “You can’t escape, Christina. Say, what do you think about this idea? We’ll use you as leverage to force Nathaniel into giving our family more shares. I’m sure he’ll comply willingly. After all, those shares probably mean nothing to him since he was willing to put his life on the line to look for you in the mountains.”
Christina was heaving, and her lashes were quivering from rage.
How dare they control me and use me as a bargaining chip to threaten Nathaniel! The humiliation was making her spiral into an emotional breakdown.
In the next second, Christina whipped her head to the side and sank her teeth fiercely into one of the hands that were holding her down.
The owner of the hand-one of the housekeepers-was not expecting the attack. In her pain, she let go of Christina, who then took the opportunity to punch another housekeeper.
The ladies had never encountered a scene like this before. Christina was like a demon who had emerged from the fiery depths of hell, spreading misfortune to anyone who dared to approach her.
Once Christina broke free of her restraints, she advanced toward Anya, looking as if she intended to tear the woman apart from limb to limb.
Anya was forced to step back. She attempted to use one of the housekeepers behind her as a shield to impede Christina’s progress, but Christina effortlessly shoved the other woman aside.
With no one left standing between them, Christina grabbed Anya’s collar and rammed her toward the wall.
Bang! came the loud sound that reverberated in the building.
A sharp, scaring pain reverberated through Anya’s head, causing her to lose all sense of direction in an
instant.
“Ow! It hurts! Let go of me!”
Christina’s eyes flickered with rage, but Anya was not one to go down so easily. The two women engaged in a fierce battle, tugging at each other’s hair and shirts until the sound of someone tumbling down the stairs captured everyone’s attention.
Chapter 499 Escaped
The crowd on the second floor were stupefied.
They heard a loud crash but didn’t know who it was that tumbled down the stairs.
A few of them turned around and looked in the direction of the stairs, only to see Christina standing there. This only meant that the person who fell down the stairs was Anya.
The housekeepers’ expressions darkened in an instant. Then, they hurried over and discovered Anya unconscious, lying at the bottom of the stairs.
“This is bad. Ms. Gibson has fainted. Call the ambulance now!”
“Let’s go check on Ms. Gibson.”
The few housekeepers ran toward the stairs and rushed down. At that point, they couldn’t care less about Christina. After they lifted Anya, they ran out like the wind.
It wasn’t until the group of people left in a hurry that Christina finally felt relaxed.
Earlier, when the two were in the middle of the fight, Anya wanted to push her down the stairs. Fortunately, she swiftly dodged it, causing the other woman to lose balance and fall instead.
Christina came to her senses and ran back to the room. She opened the door and saw the two kids hugging each other tightly.
“Come here, Lucas and Camila. We need to leave this place immediately!”
The two kids hurried over and threw themselves into Christina’s embrace. Carrying one of them in each. arm, she went downstairs.
Soon, they arrived at the garage. Christina found her car, put the kids into their seats, then drove off.
At the main door, the metal gate was tightly closed.
The man who guarded the door and several bodyguards blocked their way. “Please step out of the car, Ms. Christina. You cannot leave without Old Mrs. Gibson’s permission.”
The tension in the air was so thick that one could cut it with a knife. The kids looked at Christina worryingly and cried, “Let’s leave, Mommy. We don’t want to stay here!”
With a faint grin, Christina turned around and said, “Sit tight and buckle up.”
They were obedient and immediately leaned back into their seat and fastened their seatbelts. Then, they focused their clear eyes on the front.
Narrowing her gaze, Christina’s eyes lit up before she stepped hard on the gas pedal without hesitation, slamming the car to the metal gate.
The impact of the car was so huge that it dented the metal gate at once.
Naturally, the collision also caused the car hood to be deformed. However, Christina was unbothered and immediately put her car in reverse and moved back before stepping hard on the gas pedal again.
This time, the car instantly sped forth like a rocket. The engine roared as the car accelerated, but alas it failed to smash the gate open.
The bodyguards that tried to stop Christina were stunned.
No one dared to step forward to stop her car anymore as they didn’t want to get run over. This was only a job to them, so there was no need for them to put their lives on the line.
Subsequently, Christina made another reverse before accelerating into the main gate again. Following the collision, the car hood was utterly deformed. However, the good news was that the metal gate was
knocked down too.
Now that there were no obstacles standing in her way, she sped away from the Gibson residence with the kids.
“Where are we going. Mommy?” Lucas asked, his eyes filled with worry.
At the same time, Camila looked behind them. “Do you think they’ll come after us?”
The children were terrified after being locked up for the past few days.
Christina’s expression darkened when she heard her children’s words. “They won’t. I’ll bring us to Daddy.”
The most important thing weighing on Christina’s mind was to locate Nathaniel at once. It would only take slightly over two hours to return from Hallsbay, and they would be much safer in the comfort of their home.
Before their car could go far, however, they noticed a few black sedans driving out of the mansion. The commotion from earlier must have alerted Azure, prompting her to send people to come after the trio.
“Speed up, Mommy. Faster…” Lucas was so anxious he almost jumped.
Meanwhile, Camila clung to her brother tightly. “Quick, Mommy. Don’t let the bad guys catch up to us!”
With tension coursing through her veins, Christina stepped on the accelerator and sped down the road.
The night sky was dark, with very few dim stars.
Nathaniel transferred the investment funds into the project according to the agreement. Though he was aware that Azure was using a fake project to pull in money, he had no choice but to yield to her demands for the safety of Christina and their children.
Suddenly, the sound of a ringing phone came from inside the office.
Nathaniel answered the phone, and the anxious voice of the security guard came from the other end. “Mr. Hadley, we saw Mrs. Hadley’s car downstairs. It looks like she had a car accident-”
Before the security guard could finish speaking, Nathaniel put down the phone and ran out.
He stepped into the elevator, fixing his dark eyes on the flashing floor numbers. Every second of waiting
felt like a century to him. His blood seemed to have pooled in his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe.
A car with a deformed car hood was parked at the main entrance Christina stood beside the car with the Two kids as they carried a bottle of water each, gulping away.
Nathaniel dashed in their direction and pulled Christina into his embrace. “How come you and the kids are here? What happened to the car?”
He had too many questions. As he asked away, he tightened his embrace around the woman.
Only by feeling her warmth, breath, and heartbeat could Nathaniel be at ease.
He was the only one who knew how worried he was for the past two days.
“I’m thirsty. Let me drink some water.” Christina pushed him away and gulped down more water.
Seeing her speaking with such strength, Nathaniel realized it was nothing severe. “They said you were in an accident earlier. I thought…”
Christina rushed back without resting and drinking water, so she was exhausted. When they finally arrived. the three bought a few bottles of mineral water and planned to quench their thirst before meeting Nathaniel upstairs.
However, the security guard at the entrance must have recognized them, so he called and reported the matter to Nathaniel.
Lucas, who stood at the side, put away his empty bottle and tugged at his father’s sleeve. “Stop playing favorites. Daddy. Worry about us too.”
Hearing that, Camila lifted her head to look at Nathaniel with her innocent and clear eyes. “Daddy, don’t you miss Lucas and me?”
With outstretched arms, Nathaniel enveloped the kids in a tight embrace. As he gazed upon the two delicate faces, a profound warmth filled his chest, igniting a fire within him.
No words could express his feelings at that moment.
“Of course, I do. I missed you two beyond words.” Having said that, he planted a light kiss on their cheeks.
The four of them exchanged glances and smiled, sharing a moment of connection and joy. All of a sudden, the sound of Lucas’ rumbling stomach broke the silence.
His face quickly reddened from embarrassment. “I’m starving. Can we go home now?”
Camila wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and chimed in. “I want to go home, too.”
In response, Nathaniel bobbed his head. “I’ll take us home right away.”
After instructing his driver to bring the car over, he swiftly gave Sebastian a call. “Terminate the investment immediately. Also, compile all of the evidence we’ve gathered over the past few days and make a report.”2
r to making the investment . Nahachiel had conducted a thorough background check on the company onsible for overseeing the proces, cuththerine substantial information on their operations. With zient solid evidence in hand, he was es contdent that they could reclaim all the investment funds that
at stake.
lerstood, Mr. Hadley. Fl get on in mmededetely came Sebastian’s response.
hen, the driver had already brought over cita car from the garage.
s go home.” Nathaniel uttered, guiding inanmily into the car.
Chapter 500 Pin The Blame
On the way back. Nathaniel called in advance to ask the housekeepers to prepare dinner.
Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Lucas and Camila smelled the aroma of food as soon as they got out of the car. The kids were already famished and could no longer hold back-they were almost drooling.
They swiftly entered the house and settled around the dining table. Christina joined them and took a seat as well. The three of them, driven by their hunger, voraciously devoured the food, paying little attention to maintaining a composed demeanor.
After satiating their hunger, a wave of fatigue washed over them.
The housekeepers quickly took the two kids upstairs to clean up, and they fell asleep immediately after the shower.
Meanwhile, inside the bathroom of the master bedroom, Christina was lying in the bathtub, the warm water dispelling her exhaustion. As the steam rose, her vision gradually became hazy.
She began to reflect on the events of the day. The close call lingered in her thoughts, and she almost thought that she wouldn’t be able to make it back safely.
However, the incident also enabled Christina to learn of the Gibsons’ true intentions. They had deceived her for the sake of financial gain.
Christina’s mind raced with thoughts and questions. If that’s the case, then why did Grandma transfer the shares to me? Could it be that it was a calculated move to manipulate me into severing my ties with Nathaniel? How can they so easily take advantage of those who are related to them?
The realization of her family’s willingness to stoop to such despicable means for their own gain left Christina disheartened as hatred welled up in her heart.
With that in mind, she resolved never to set foot in the Gibson residence again, as they had thoroughly let her down.
Christina relaxed her body, submerging herself fully in the bathtub. Suddenly, a jolt of surprise coursed through her as a large hand plunged into the water, gripping her wrist tightly and forcefully pulling her
out of the water.
“Christina, what’s wrong?” Nathaniel’s eyes were filled with shock as though he had just witnessed her doing something dangerous to herself.
However, Christina merely wanted to relax her mind.
“I’m fine. I just—”
Before she could utter another word, Nathaniel swiftly enveloped her in his arms, holding her tightly as if afraid she would vanish in an instant. “I’m here now. You don’t need to be afraid anymore,” he reassured
her.
Christina’s gaze turned cold as she looked at him. She gritted her teeth lightly as she explained, “I’m not afraid. I just haven’t figured out how to deal with them.”
Pin The Blame
“No matter your decision, you have my full support.”
Christina nodded faintly, a frosty glint flitting across her eyes. I vow to seize everything the Gibson family possesses and strip Anya of everything she owns.
When her train of thought ended there, she explained to the man, “First, we need to halt the investment for Gibson Corporation. Besides, we only saw…”
Meanwhile, in a hospital room in Hallsbay, Anya regained consciousness and was overwhelmed by a throbbing pain in her head. As she collected her thoughts, the memories of her confrontation with Christina and the subsequent fall down the stairs came rushing back to her.
She rang the bell several times, but no one responded to her calls for assistance. Left with no other choice, Anya could only take matters into her own hands and leave the bed by herself.
As Anya ventured into the corridor, her gaze landed on a woman clad in a hospital gown who was walking toward her. A fleeting expression of astonishment flashed across the woman’s face when she locked eyes with Anya. Overwhelmed by the shock, she appeared on the verge of fainting.
Anya furrowed her brows. What’s her problem?
Anya made her way to the nurse station where she noticed a nurse on the night shift dozing off. Feeling exasperated, she rapped her knuckles on the table to grab the nurse’s attention and firmly stated, “I want to be discharged.”
The nurse looked up and gasped in surprise. It took a while before she came back to her senses. “Uh….. may I have your ward number, Miss?”
“I don’t know. My name is Anya Gibson. Check for yourself.”
Perplexed by the peculiar reactions she received, Anya couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. Is there something terrifying about my appearance? Did the fall deform my face or something?
At that thought, she got worried and scanned her surroundings in search of a mirror.
Seeing that there was a big half-length mirror in the office, Anya swiftly made her way in. When her reflection came into view, she, too, was filled with shock. Staring back at her was a face marred by a long and jagged scar, stretching from her forehead to the center of her eyebrows. The once familiar features now appeared ferocious and intimidating.
“Ah!” A shriek escaped her lips. Anya grabbed whatever was within reach and hurled it at the mirror with all her might, continuing to do so with everything that could be thrown.
The nurse rushed over, her voice filled with concern. “Please, you need to calm down. Getting so worked up like this will only hinder your recovery.”
“What happened to my face? Tell me!” Anya shouted as she tightly clenched the nurse’s sleeve.
“You bumped into something during your fall down the stairs. Luckily, cosmetic procedures have advanced significantly, and your face will heal with time,” the nurse offered in a comforting tone.
Nevertheless, Anya struggled to come to terms with her altered reality. She forcefully pushed the nurse aside, her sobs echoing throughout the room as she hugged her knees.
This is all Christina’s fault. This is all her fault! I wouldn’t have rolled down the stairs if not for her. Christina, I’l make sure you pay for this!
The next morning, the warmth of the morning sun painted the room in a vibrant glow, gently stirring. Christina from her slumber.
Two petite figures dashed into the room, each carrying something in their tiny hands. Lucas held a cup of freshly poured milk, while Camila carefully carried a plate of delicious bread. “Wake up, Mommy. It’s time for breakfast!”
Christina stretched her limbs before sitting up and welcoming her children into her embrace. Only when she felt the comforting warmth of their bodies did a serene tranquility wash over her, enveloping her heart with a profound sense of peace.
“Bring these down. I’ll head downstairs after I’m done washing up.” With that, she pecked them on their checks.
Lucas and Camila exchanged glances. As joyful smiles adorned their little faces, they ran out of the room. each clutching their breakfast treasures.
Wasting no time, Christina freshened up and changed into a fresh set of clothes before heading. downstairs.
Lucas and Camila were playing soccer in the courtyard, while Nathaniel sat at the dining table, engrossed in the documents before him. There were two sets of breakfast on the table.
Christina walked over to his side and sat down to have some food.
Just then, Nathaniel handed her the documents for a termination of contract. “Have you thought it through?” he asked.
“There’s no point in pondering. They don’t care about me, so why should I spare them some thought?” Christina’s voice held a firm determination as she uttered those words.
They don’t care about me, their disregard for my feelings is evident. Thus, I shouldn’t have any reservations either, and if I’m doing this, I’ll show them no mercy.
Nathaniel passed the document to Sebastian. “Send it immediately. I suppose the Gibsons will receive it by this afternoon.”
The latter took the document and left.
It had been a long time since Christina had an off day. That day, she did not intend to go anywhere and wanted to spend the entire day accompanying her children at home, savoring the luxury of having some
time off.
The
ever-productive woman re-planned her kids’ study courses for the second half of the year and made some necessary arrangements for her studio.
In the evening, Raymond brought her a letter.
Christina’s curiosity was piqued when she noticed it was sent from Hallsbay, and she opened it at once.
“What’s this?” Nathaniel took the envelope from her hand.
It was a letter from Anya. The woman was suing Christina for assault.
“She was the one who wanted to push me but ended up slipping herself. How dare she try to pin the blame on me?” Christina exclaimed, furious.
Such claims could not be established without evidence. However, she was afraid that the cunning Anya would fabricate evidence to support her argument.
The letter mentioned that the assault had caused Anya to sustain an injury on her forehead, and she was demanding total compensation for treatment expenses from Christina.
However, Christina remembered that the woman’s face was not injured from the fall.
Anya’s a vain woman, so she wouldn’t hurt herself for the sake of suing me. In that case, where on earth did she sustain that injury?
Nathaniel put the piece of paper away. “Just leave such matters to the lawyer. Don’t let it affect your mood,” he told her.
“I’m not in the wrong, so I’m not afraid of her at all,” Christina affirmed with a nod..
The following day, Christina woke up early and prepared some breakfast for the kids. After dropping. them off at the kindergarten, she headed to her studio.
It had been so long since Christina last stepped foot in the studio that even Rayne wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her when she saw Christina.