Ch. 531..540
Chapter 531 Your Junior
Having nothing to do and no plans of sleeping yet, Christina took out her phone and scrolled through Twitter.
Initially, she planned on checking her studio’s official page to see the increase in the number of followers.
Back when Rayne uploaded the photo of her at the beach, her studio gained a hundred thousand new followers. Consequently, the studio’s popularity soared considerably.
With followers as a foundation, not only could she continue running the studio, but she could also establish her own brand later.
In her mind, she sketched out the blueprint of her career.
All of a sudden, her eyes snagged on the topic that ranked top.
It read: Shocking news! Francis Fernando leaves the entertainment industry!
When Christina saw that it was about Francis, her finger stilled slightly. In the next second, she tapped on the link.
It turned out that it was connected to a live broadcast.
On the screen, Francis was as handsome as ever. His every single gesture captivated the hearts of countless girls.
When he announced his exit from the entertainment industry and said he would not be filming any television series or movies nor appearing on camera, a flurry of mournful comments flooded the screen.
Someone commented: Don’t go, Francis!
Another fan wrote: The entertainment industry will die without you, Darling!
That was followed by another comment that wrote: What should I do? I feel like I’m about to die.
No matter how much his fans pleaded with him, Francis stood by his decision. Soon, the press conference ended.
Christina spaced out as she stared at the phone screen that had gone black.
Only then did she understand that such was what Francis meant by leaving.
She scrolled through her phone before abruptly recalling that she no longer had the man’s number in her contact list.
On that very night, Francis left the country with Linda after the press conference.
The next day, Christina told Nathaniel about it, but the latter was not the least bit surprised.
In truth, he did not only meet up with a supplier yesterday but also Francis.
Francis handed him the information he had previously requested and bid him farewell.
Nonetheless, Nathaniel did not tell Christina all that.
He sensed a far greater storm on the horizon after scanning through the information from Francis, and he did not want her to be hurt by it.
Christina did not notice the man’s abnormality.
Instead, she felt a touch sorry about Francis’ departure as she had yet to thank him for bustling around tirelessly while she was missing.
But on second thought, he was a member of the Hadley family at the end of the day, so they would still meet again one day.
The sensation of Francis’ exit from the entertainment industry only lasted for half a month. Following the passage of time, he gradually faded from everyone’s memories.
Right then. Christina was three months pregnant. However, she was still so slender that one could not tell that she was with a child. That went doubly true when winter came since she was wearing much more clothes.
No sooner had she arrived at the studio than Rayne hurried over. On the one hand, it was to take care of Christina. On the other, she wanted to gripe.
“Christina, I really can’t get along with Hector! Why don’t you just sack him?”
Hector Fendley was the photographer who took Christina’s photos at the beach back then. Impressed by his photography skills. Christina hired him for the studio with high pay.
Unexpectedly, Rayne and Hector were like natural enemies, neither liking the other.
But in Christina’s eyes, they seemed more like a bickering couple.
They always had conflicts due to work matters, but Hector always gave way to Rayne without compromising his principles.
“Who’s going to take photos for the studio to increase our followers if he’s gone?” Christina countered.
“I’ll do it…” As Rayne spoke, her voice grew increasingly softer.
Despite her reluctance to admit the truth. Hector was undeniably a professional. The photos he took looked great and could attract followers, bringing the studio commissions.
Thus, the studio’s performance improved, and she also had an increment in salary.
“Oh yes, I told you to recruit some staff. How’s it going?” Seeing that Rayne was no longer fuming. Christina started talking about work.
Speaking of work matters, Rayne turned professional. She placed the few resumes she had screened before Christina.
“Looks good. Arrange for them to come for an interview.” Christina gave a nod of satisfaction after skimming through them.
Since she was currently pregnant, coupled with the fact that the studio’s commission had ballooned, it was time to expand their operations.
“Will do.” Rayne promptly contacted the shortlisted applicants and made the arrangements.
In the blink of an eye, it was noon. Usually, Nathaniel came to pick Christina up for lunch together.
It was only when Christina had gotten into the car that she discovered it was Sebastian who had come to pick her up that day.
“Mrs. Hadley, something suddenly came up for Mr. Hadley, so he had me come to pick you up.” Sebastian explained.
Christina was unbothered about all that. She studied the man who had his entire focus on driving.
Hmm, he’s actually pretty good-looking. Besides, he has acquired some of Nathaniel’s aloofness after working for him for so many years.
As she recalled the blind dates she previously arranged for him that had all ended in failure, her curiosity finally got the better of her.
“What kind of girl do you like. Sebastian?”
Wholly focused on driving, Sebastian trembled inwardly upon hearing that question. Fortunately, his hands remained steady, and the car continued advancing steadily.
His face flushed bright red. “Mrs. Hadley, about this…”
“You can’t tell me that?” It was Christina’s first time seeing the man blush, and she was inexorably surprised.
Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian never had time to pay any attention to girls when he was studying. And once he graduated from university, he joined Hadley Corporation, catching Nathaniel’s eye because he was a fellow workaholic.
It had been ten years since then, and he had never been in a relationship.
Hence, Sebastian had no idea how to answer Christina’s question. Luckily, they were not headed for somewhere far.
He floored the gas pedal. On the heels of that, he brought the car to a steady stop in front of Lavish Dining. “We’re here, Mrs. Hadley.”
Christina, who had yet to receive an answer from the man, turned and looked out the window. At once, a flash of puzzlement glinted in her eyes.
“Mr. Hadley scheduled a lunch date with the CEO of Lesley Group here,” Sebastian clarified.
The CEO of Lesley Group… Preston Lesley? That’s the person Madison was going to marry back then.
Christina’s lips pressed into a thin line. She alighted from the car and followed Sebastian to the reserved. private room.
The instant the door of the private room was pushed open, she had a clear view of the scene within.
Nathaniel sat across from the door with a man and a woman sitting on his left.
The man was clearly the CEO of Lesley Group whom Sebastian mentioned.
Meanwhile, the woman exclaimed, “This is great, Christina! I finally get to meet you!”
Nathaniel had just gotten to his feet to escort Christina over, but little did he expect someone else to act even faster than him.
By then, the woman had already reached Christina and greeted happily, “Christina!”
Christina stared at her somewhat familiar countenance. But at that moment, she could not remember who exactly the woman was. “You are?”
“I’m Victoria Lesley, your junior!”
Chapter 532 Remember Him
My junior? Christina was puzzled.
“Are you the apprentice Ms. Shaw accepted in Ferropene?” Christina asked. Prior to this, I received a text from Ms. Shaw. She told me that she was residing in Ferropene and that she had accepted a new apprentice. She even sent me a photo.
“Yes, Christina. I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since I came back to the country.” Victoria had heard about Christina long ago, and she admired the latter a lot.
Therefore, when she found out Preston was going to meet Nathaniel, the CEO of Hadley Corporation, she asked him to let her tag along.
Christina clicked with Victoria the moment she saw the latter. She thought the young lady was not only bubbly and humble but adorable, too.
The two sat down together and chatted endlessly.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel and Preston shared a gaze and smiled before they started talking business.
Due to the favor the Lesley family did for the Hadley family the last time around, Nathaniel was willing to make the deal more favorable to Preston.
Hence, the atmosphere was harmonious during the meal.
Preston had something urgent to deal with after the meal, so he couldn’t send Victoria home..
“Sebastian, send Ms. Lesley home,” Nathaniel instructed.
“This way, please, Ms. Lesley.” Sebastian ushered Victoria toward the car.
Victoria glanced at Sebastian and quirked her brow ever so slightly before getting into the car.
After Sebastian got into the car and drove for a while, Victoria tilted her head askew and uttered in a mischievous tone, “We meet again, Oldster.”
Despite remaining expressionless, Sebastian felt his heart racing. She recognizes me!
When Sebastian recognized Victoria right away upon entering the private room earlier, he experienced slight changes in his emotions.
However, he thought Victoria didn’t recognize him when he noticed that the latter didn’t even look at him.
Moments later, Victoria cupped her face in her hands and said, “I don’t feel like going home.”
She had been kept at home ever since she returned to the country, and she was bored out of her mind. Now that I’m finally away from Preston, I don’t want to go home so soon.
“Where would you like to go, Ms. Lesley?” Sebastian tried his best to keep his cool.
Pouting, Victoria answered, “I want to go shopping.”
“Sure.” Sebastian turned the car around and sent Victoria to a mall nearby.
Right when Sebastian was about to leave, Victoria stopped him and requested, “Don’t leave. Come with me.”
Sebastian spaced out when he stared into Victoria’s bright eyes. Our social statuses are too far apart. I must keep a distance from her.
“Ms. Lesley, I have work to do,” Sebastian rejected Victoria.
Victoria was sent abroad to study since young, so she had few friends in the country. To make matters. worse, she ended up arguing with the friends she met up with last time and had a fallout with them.
Thus, she didn’t even have anyone to go shopping with.
Victoria stubbornly insisted, “I don’t care. I want you to keep me company.”
She even stood in front of Sebastian to stop him from leaving.
“Please don’t make things difficult for me, Ms. Lesley.” Sebastian had been working for Nathaniel for decades, so he had experience in dealing with all sorts of spoiled and pampered girls in the past. At that moment, however, he felt rather helpless. What’s with me today? Why do I think Victoria is adorable?
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do!” Victoria didn’t give Sebastian the chance to reject her. As soon as she finished talking, she grabbed his hand and dragged him into the mall with her.
In a flash, Sebastian felt his cheeks burning as his heart pounded in his chest. Following Victoria like a puppet, he seemed to have lost control of his body and allowed her to steer him.
After they were done shopping, Sebastian sent Victoria home and rushed back to the office. By then, it was almost time to get off work.
“Mr. Taggart, there’s a document here requiring your signature.” The secretary, who had been waiting for Sebastian for a long time, handed him a document.
“Okay.”
The secretary stole a quick glance at Sebastian after the document was signed and turned to leave. Seconds later, Sebastian heard people gossiping about him. One could be heard saying, “I’ve never seen Mr. Taggart skip work before.”
“Mr. Taggart seems different today. He looks so gleeful. It’s like he has fallen in love.”
“What? That can’t be, right? My heart would be broken!”
Evidently, Sebastian had quite a few admirers in the office.
Sebastian’s expression darkened when he heard those words. He strode toward them and fumed, “Don’t you guys have work to do?”
The moment he showed up, everyone went silent and dispersed at once,
However, he couldn’t stop thinking about what he heard and recalling the scene of him shopping with
Because of that, he had trouble sleeping that night.
Meanwhile, upon returning to Scenic Garden Manor, Christina called Laurel right away and talked to her about Victoria.
Laurel would only take on talented people as her apprentices, and although Victoria had yet to produce any substantial pieces, the latter was clearly talented.
As they mentioned Victoria, Christina thought about letting Victoria work at her studio. Not only can Victoria gain some experience working in the studio, but she can also help lessen the workload and alleviate the problems caused by the shortage of staff.
It was already eleven at night by the time Christina was done talking to Laurel.
“Why are you still awake?” Nathaniel came out of the shower and saw Christina scrolling through her phone in bed.
Ever since Christina got pregnant, she had been following a strict bedtime schedule. In fact, she would go to bed at half-past eight and fall asleep before ten at night.
Seeing that it was past her bedtime. Christina set her phone aside sheepishly and slipped under the blanket, exposing only her head. “I’ll go to sleep now.”
“You aren’t behaving yourself. Do you want me to punish you?” Nathaniel lifted the blanket on his side of the bed and got into bed as well.
“No.” Christina pouted, putting on a piteous expression.
In the next second, Nathaniel wrapped his long arm around her and pulled her into his embrace.
His heart started racing when he caught a whiff of the faint fragrance on Christina’s body.
“May I?” Nathaniel whispered into Christina’s ear, his hoarse voice making her blush instantly.
Obviously, she knew what Nathaniel was asking for. However, at the thought of the baby in her stomach, she replied, “No. We ought to follow the doctor’s advice.”
“All right, then. Let’s do as the doctor said,” Nathaniel answered. The doctor said we could start having sex after three months, but we must take it slow. In that case, I’ll take it slow.
Christina thought Nathaniel would back off, but to her surprise, she felt her nightgown getting pulled off of her in the next second. After that, she saw her pink silk nightgown getting thrown onto the floor.
Nathaniel struggled to control his lustful desires, but he didn’t forget to assure Christina, “I’ll be gentle. Darling.”
Christina, who was initially reluctant, became more at case when she heard what he said. Well, it has been three months. Nathaniel has been suppressing his urges for long enough.
Christina slept through the night and woke up naturally the next morning.
Having done intense exercise the night before, Christina slumped on the couch to watch television after she had her breakfast. Though Nathaniel told me he would be gentle, things still spiraled out of control. As expected of a man who had been restraining his urge for more than three months. He’s like a scary beast!
Christina complained inwardly before dozing off on the couch.
Suddenly, Nathaniel texted her, and she was woken up by the special ringtone she set for him.
Christina picked up her phone and saw the text Nathaniel had sent to her that read: Have you eaten your breakfast? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?
I can’t believe he has the audacity to mention that! Christina sat up straight, ready to criticize Nathaniel over text, but an intense pain shot up from her waist as soon as she moved, causing her to hiss in agony. With that, she grew even more annoyed with him.
Christina sent him an angry emoji with the caption: Hmph!
Nathaniel couldn’t help smiling when he saw Christina’s reply.
The head of the project management department who was reporting his work saw Nathaniel’s smile and almost bit his own tongue. He quickly recomposed himself after making sure Nathaniel didn’t notice his slip-up and continued reporting.
In response to Christina’s text, Nathaniel replied: Remember to have lunch on time and take a nap. I’ll go with you to the hospital for a prenatal care checkup in the afternoon. After the checkup, I’ll allow you to have a slice of chocolate cake.
Nathaniel was exceptionally patient with her because he had been asking her to stick to a strict and healthy diet. As a matter of fact, all her meals were planned out by a skilled nutritionist.
Christina’s diet was managed so strictly that she felt as though Nathaniel had gone mad.
Her eyes were filled with affection as she caressed her baby bump and replied: All right, but you ought to know that I haven’t forgiven you for what you did to me.
Needless to say, Nathaniel knew what Christina was talking about, so he replied: I’ll give you a massage tonight, Darling!
Christina blushed immediately and responded: You’re pushing it, you hooligan!
To which Nathaniel replied shamelessly: Yes, but you’re the only one who can make me lose control.
Nathaniel didn’t mind putting his ego aside when teasing Christina. He could be as shameless as a man could be in front of his beloved wife.
Christina’s checks burned up, so she put her phone away sheepishly and lay on the couch, hugging a pillow. She stared at the handsome actor in the drama showing on the television as she lay down, but her mind was filled with Nathaniel’s handsome facial features.
Chapter 533 Sudden Turn Of Events
Soon, she dozed off once again when drowsiness crept up. By the time she woke up, it was two in the afternoon..
She was roused by the butler.
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up sluggishly and asked in a hoarse voice, “What is it?”
“Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley has sent someone here to pick you up. Mr. Hadley said you could eat something before heading out. There’s no rush,” the butler answered.
Right then, Christina remembered she was supposed to go to the hospital with Nathaniel for the prenatal care checkup. I slept so soundly that I almost forgot about the appointment!
After regaining full consciousness, she got up from the couch and smiled bashfully, “Please tell the driver to wait for me. I’ll head upstairs to get changed.”
“Mr. Hadley said there’s no rush,” the butler repeated. “I’ll get the housekeeper to heat up the dishes and serve you lunch.”
“Thank you.” Christina didn’t reject the butler’s suggestion. She then went upstairs to get changed before coming back down to have lunch and getting into a black car parked in front of the entrance.
While the driver was driving slowly, Christina scrolled through her phone. There and then, she noticed that her previous conversation with Nathaniel ended with the teasing text he sent to her.
Christina had the habit of reporting her whereabouts to Nathaniel, so she texted: I’ve already left the house. See you later.
Upon sending that text, she proceeded to deal with some work matters on her phone.
Once she was done, she lifted her head to look out the window and jumped in alarm. Why are we in an unfamiliar and secluded area?
“Are we not going to Hadley Corporation?” Christina asked the driver..
“There’s a car accident downtown, and the traffic there is congested. In order to save time, I took a detour.” The driver’s voice was cold and hoarse.
Hearing that, Christina had her eyes fixed on the driver’s side profile. There’s a scar on that man’s head, and he looks so fierce. He doesn’t look like he’s Nathaniel’s subordinate! Wait! He isn’t Nathaniel’s driver!
With that in mind, Christina inched toward the car door and discreetly placed her right hand on the handle.
The man saw what she did through the rear-view mirror, and he sneered, “Looks like you’re not that stupid after all. Save your breath. I’ve already locked all the doors, and we’re in the suburbs now. No one’s coming to your rescue no matter how loud you shout.”
Christina forced herself to stay calm. I can’t afford to confront him head-on. I’m pregnant now. I can’t risk endangering the baby.
“What do you want?” Christina asked in a deep voice. “If you want money, I can give you all the money you want. After that, you may leave. I won’t call the police.”
She tried to bargain her way out of trouble.
“You’ll know once we arrive at the destination.” The man seemed reluctant to talk. He then lit up a cigarette and stepped on the throttle before aggressively steering the car into an abandoned factory.
Christina reached into her purse, but before she could grab her phone, the driver slammed on the brakes, causing her to slam hard into the seat in front of her.
Fortunately, she managed to protect her tummy in the nick of time.
She felt her head spinning and her vision going black. Before she could regain her senses, the man opened the car door and dragged her out of the car violently.
The man then dragged her toward an abandoned building, leaving her phone and purse in the car. He even put a black bag over her head as they approached the building.
“I’ve brought her here. Where’s my money?” the man asked. Worried that she might escape, he gripped her arm so tightly that she was in pain.
Christina didn’t hear anyone responding to the man’s question. However, she soon heard a voice coming out of the man’s phone.
It was a woman’s voice.
The woman was talking softly, so Christina couldn’t tell who she was.
Shortly after, the man hung up the phone and pushed Christina forward. “Get your a’s inside!” He sounded extremely satisfied when he said. “Who would’ve thought that you would be worth so much money? Your fate will decide whether you can escape from that lunatic and stay alive.”
Christina almost fell to the ground after getting shoved ahead. Soon after the man finished his sentence, she heard a loud noise of metal doors closing shut.
Right then, all she could see was darkness.
A while later, the metal doors were flung open. This time around, the footsteps of the person who approached her sounded a lot lighter than that of the man.
Chapter 534 Crossing The Line
The irregular footsteps made Christina feel even more anxious.
A strong sense of impending danger caused Christina to retreat and instinctively place her hand over her tummy to protect her baby.
Little did she know that her action had further irritated the person.
In the next second. Christina felt someone yanking her hair and slamming her head against something heavy. The intense pain made her feel like her head was splitting open.
Apparently, the person had smashed Christina’s head against a steel pole. After that, she mumbled, “You b*tch! You’re a b*tch! You must die! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
That’s Madison! Christina could never forget Madison’s voice.
“Let go of me!” Christina scratched Madison’s arm with all her might as pain and confusion flooded her mind. Didn’t Madison go crazy? How would a lunatic know how to pay someone for carrying out their dirty deeds?
Countless thoughts were racing through Christina’s mind, but Madison didn’t give her time to register what was going on. Her actions became even more violent. Hence, Christina was so focused on defending herself that she couldn’t think properly.
Soon, Madison’s wrists started bleeding due to the scratches. Upon feeling the stinging pain, she let go of Christina. Somehow, the black bag over Christina’s head was torn apart during the scuffle.
Christina could barely see clearly under the dim light, but she immediately noticed how horrible Madison looked.
Madison’s tangled-up long hair looked dried and discolored. Her skin was no longer as healthy and fair as before. Instead, it was pallid. Besides, there were blisters all over her lips. As for her eyes, they were bloodshot and filled with viciousness.
At that time, she was clad in a hospital gown smudged with dirt and bloodstains while wearing a pair of slippers, exposing her scarred legs.
Christina couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw Madison’s haggard and disheveled state. Madison was prideful and glamorous back then. Now, she looks miserable! Who would’ve seen this coming?
While staring at Madison warily, Christina tried to come up with an escape plan.
Meanwhile, Madison stretched her neck and opened her bloody palms. After that, she kept looking at her hands in a daze. The gloomy look in her eyes made it hard to tell what was on her mind.
We made so much noise, but no one came to check things out. I guess Madison and I are alone in this factory. Suddenly, Christina noticed that the metal door was open, so she took a deep breath and jumped up. bolting toward it.
All of a sudden, Madison pounced on Christina from behind. Christina instinctively protected her tummy and landed heavily on her knees.
“Argh!” Christina turned pale due to the intense pain she felt in her knees.
While sitting on Christina’s body, Madison squeezed Christina’s neck with both hands and yelled, “Nathaniel is mine! Once I kill you, he’ll fall for me! I must kill you!”
Christina, carrying a heavy weight in her tummy, didn’t have the energy to break free from Madison’s restraint.
“Nathaniel was never yours! Even if you kill me, he still won’t fall for you. He’ll only hate you even more.” Christina dug her nails deep into Madison’s flesh as she was starting to feel suffocated. “That’s because I’m Nathaniel’s beloved woman!”
Hearing that, Madison went berserk and screamed, “You’re lying! He was into me until you showed up and ruined my relationship with him! She was right! You’re nothing but a jinx!”
At that point, Christina was almost blacking out, but she managed to pick up on the keywords in Madison’s sentence. “Why would you believe her? What if she was using you? What if she wanted both of us dead?”
Madison fell silent all of a sudden when she heard that.
Dead silence ensued, and not a single sound could be heard save for their heavy pants.
“Ah! That’s not right! That’s not how it’s supposed to be!” Madison pounded her own head in a crazed manner, her thoughts in disarray.
Christina quickly took the opportunity to push Madison off of her.
After that, Madison lifted her head and glared maliciously at Christina. “You were lying, weren’t you? You only said that because you wanted to escape! She was right! You’re a scheming woman! I must get rid of you!”
Christina ran a few steps forward, picked up a wooden plank off the ground, and swung it toward the back without turning around.
Bam!
The wooden plank broke in two, and Madison crashed onto the ground. While blood was gushing out of her head, she immediately curled up and panted heavily with her head in her arms.
Trembling all over, Christina threw the plank aside and staggered out of the factory.
However, she stumbled and fell forward.
Instead of hitting the ground, she fell into someone’s embrace.
“Get lost!” Christina reflexively flailed her arms about and pushed the person away as her fight or flight response got the better of her.
Unexpectedly, the person tightened his arms around her. “Look at me, Ms. Steele. I’m Sheridan!”
Christina froze and stared at the man before her. Seeing that it was indeed Sheridan, she calmed down and leaned against his chest. “Help me, Mr. Stone,” she pleaded.
Despite having just escaped danger, Christina didn’t shed a tear.
In response, Sheridan looked at the woman lying on the ground nearby and uttered gently. “I’m here to rescue you. Calm down, okay? I’ll bring you to the car so that you can rest. After that, we’ll call the police.”
Christina nodded anxiously and let Sheridan bring her to his car.
“Here. Drink some water.” Sheridan gave Christina a bottle of water and took a blanket out of the car to put it over her. “I’ll send you to the hospital after I call the police.”
As he said that, he cast a glance at her belly,
“I’m fine. There’s no need to go to the hospital first. Could you please borrow me your phone? I would like to make a phone call.” Christina took a sip of the water. I had left my phone in the car when the man brought me here. I can’t imagine how anxious Nathaniel was when he found out I got missing.
“Sure.” Sheridan unlocked his phone and gave it to Christina. “Stay here and make your phone call. I’ll check on the woman inside because it seems like she’s hurt very badly. If she ends up dying, you’ll be in trouble.”
Before he left, he added, “I observed the surroundings when I came here and didn’t see anyone around, so don’t worry. You’re safe now.”
“Thank you.” Christina squeezed out a smile and swiftly keyed in Nathaniel’s phone number, which she had memorized.
Sheridan then turned around to walk toward the abandoned building.
When Nathaniel found out Christina had been kidnapped by someone who pretended to be his driver, he was on the verge of flipping the entire city upside down because he couldn’t track the tracking device he hid in Christina’s phone..
Once his subordinate told him that Madison had escaped from the psychiatric hospital, he brought dozens of men with him to the Taggart residence and surrounded the area.
With a frigid look in his eyes, he swept a glance over all of the members of the Taggart family and warned mercilessly. “If something bad happens to my wife, I’ll wipe out the entire Taggart family!”
Sebastian turned pale when he heard that. However, he didn’t say anything in retort because he knew exactly how much Christina meant to Nathaniel.
The Taggarts had only themselves to blame for what happened.
Enraged, Moira almost broke her cane when she struck it on the ground. “Nathaniel, you’re crossing the line!”
Chapter 535 Safe
Everyone was well aware that Nathaniel’s rise to the helm of a new generation of top wealthy families was not only due to the prestige accumulated by his elders but more because of his ruthlessness.
He regarded those he didn’t care about as mere insignificant ants.
Nathaniel slightly raised his brow haughtily. “I dare to run rampant on the Taggart family’s territory with my men. Do you think anything is holding me back? All of you should wake up now. I’m not laying my hands on you now, not because I have reservations. Instead, it is because my wife has delayed your sentence. Let me ask you again. Where did Madison take my wife?”
They had no idea that Madison had escaped from the psychiatric hospital in the first place, let alone that Christina had been kidnapped. If Nathaniel hadn’t stormed into the Taggart residence to question them. they would still be kept in the dark.
Among all the Taggarts, the only person aside from Sebastian who was capable of handling such extreme situations was Maggie.
However, Sebastian clearly couldn’t be relied upon since he had dedicated half his life to serving Nathaniel.
Hence, the Taggarts actually resented Sebastian now that they were caught up in that predicament.
“Sebastian, you’re also considered a member of the Taggart family. Now that our family is in crisis, can you really bring yourself to sit by and watch?”
“Is the Hadley family’s riches so tempting that you would abandon your family’s honor for money and a future?”
“He’s just an ungrateful wretch. If he had a bit of conscience, Maddy wouldn’t have gone crazy!”
Sebastian suddenly became the Taggart family’s scapegoat. They vented their anger at him without
shame.
Sebastian clenched his fists. His heart gradually turned numb as he listened to their hurtful insults.
After a while, he looked up and retorted, “The Taggart family was in the wrong first. Madison knew better than anyone the consequences of her actions, yet she didn’t mind sacrificing the entire Taggart family to achieve her goals. Why should I clean up the mess for such a selfish family?”
His words hit the Taggarts hard. They all gazed at him in shock and were rendered speechless.
At that moment, Nathaniel played his role as an outsider to the Taggart family’s business.
He believed Sebastian to have the capabilities to sort out his personal affairs. Nathaniel was only focused on locating Christina as soon as possible. He couldn’t be bothered to entertain anyone or anything else.
The agonizing wait was wearing on Nathaniel’s patience. He became more restless and reached into his suit pocket to take out a cigarette, but his fingers ended up touching his phone, which felt hot to the touch.
As if sudden realization had washed over him, Nathaniel took out his phone and saw several missed calls from an unfamiliar number.
Fingers trembling, he dialed the number.
The call swiftly connected, and Christina’s weak and hoarse voice sounded on the other end of the line. “Nathaniel, come and pick me up.”
Nathaniel lost his cool. “Where are you? I’ll go over and pick you up right now!”
He strode outward anxiously while talking into the phone.
Seeing that, Sebastian wanted to follow Nathaniel, but Maggie’s stern voice rang out behind him. “Sebastian, if you step out of this house today, you’ll have to bear the responsibility for your choice.”
His figure froze for only a second before he ran after Nathaniel without sparing another glance at the Taggarts. Soon, he disappeared from everyone’s sight.
From the moment Sebastian chose to pledge his loyalty to Nathaniel, the Taggart family’s honor no longer had anything to do with him.
The Taggarts would only remember him when they needed him.
Christina calmed down significantly after calling Nathaniel.
Sheridan hadn’t come out of the factory since he went in earlier.
Christina grasped the phone and curled up in the chair, waiting for Nathaniel to show up. The subtle aches originating from her abdomen caused her to start panicking.
“Nathaniel, why aren’t you here yet…” Christina clutched her belly as grievances churned within her.
Even when she had fallen into the sea previously, she didn’t miss Nathaniel as much as she did now.
Nathaniel had become a crucial part of her life, and she could no longer live without him.
At that moment, Christina heard the screeching halt of a car amidst her daze.
“Christina!” Nathaniel’s sound reverberated beside her ears.
She jolted awake and stumbled out of the car. Before she could even see Nathaniel’s face clearly, he had swept her into his arms. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“You’re finally here, Nathaniel!” Her long-suppressed fear burst forth.
Grabbing his shirt tightly, she sobbed hysterically.
Sebastian tactfully led the bodyguards into the abandoned factory.
Nathaniel’s heart ached severely as he heard her sobs. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
Suddenly, a white-hot pain shot up from Christina’s abdomen. Colors drained from her face as she let out a muffled grunt. Her cries swiftly turned into painful gasps. “Nathaniel, my stomach hurts.”
“I’ll bring you to the hospital right away!” Overwrought, Nathaniel scooped Christina up and carried her to another car. Then, he growled at the driver, “Quick. Drive us to the nearest hospital!”
Christina almost passed out from the pain. She lay in his arms and clung to his collar. “O-Our baby must stay safe!”
Nathaniel’s eyes turned red. Ignoring how dirty her fingertips were, he pulled her hand close to his lips. and repeatedly kissed it. His voice trembled uncontrollably. “Nothing will happen to you and our baby. 1 promise.”
Five years ago, he didn’t get to stay by Christina and the children’s side. He wasn’t going to allow the tragedy to repeat itself five years later.
Christina leaned weakly against him as she drifted in and out of consciousness due to the intense pain. She could hardly perceive whatever Nathaniel said subsequently.
All she vaguely remembered was the few seconds that Nathaniel carried her and sprinted all the way, rushing into the emergency room. He was on the brink of losing control of his emotions and breaking
down.
She had never seen him in that state. For the first time in forever, he was scared and impulsive.
Yet, the person who gave Nathaniel that touch of humanity was her, Christina.
The emergency room doors opened and closed. Group after group of medical personnel came and went. Finally, after an agonizing hour-long wait, Nathaniel received the good news.
Both Christina and the baby were safe.
Nathaniel exhaled a sigh of relief. Seeing his tall figure swaying. Sebastian speedily supported him and whispered, “Mrs. Hadley is safe. You can rest easy for now, Mr. Hadley.”
Nathaniel pushed Sebastian away while straightening his back, regaining his usual cold and ruthless. demeanor. “How’s the progress at Madison’s end?”
Sebastian said, “She’s not in any life-threatening danger, but she took a heavy blow to the head, and her tongue was bitten off. I’ve sent someone to stand guard outside her hospital room while waiting for your further instruction.” Observing the changes in Nathaniel’s expression. Sebastian added. “When I led our men into the factory, Sheridan was there. He was the one who tied Madison up. It seems like he rescued Mrs. Hadley.”
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened. He adjusted his disheveled collar while training his eyes on Christina, who was being wheeled out of the emergency room by the nurse. “Notify the Taggarts that I will be taking Madison’s life.”
Chapter 536 Comfort
Sebastian was not surprised that Nathaniel gave that order.
Previously, Madison had set up a trap, causing Christina to fall into the sea Back then, the Taggart family had pleaded with Nathaniel to let Madison off. On account of their friendship. Nathamel did not pursue the matter.
However, instead of being grateful, Madison kept pushing her luck, repeatedly crossing Nathaniel’s boundaries.
It was time to put a stop to the woman’s nonsense.
“Understood.” Sebastian hung his head and stood rooted to the spot while watching Nathaniel and Christina leave.
A moment later, he turned and left the hospital.
Christina slept deeply for one whole day with Nathaniel staying by her bedside the entire time.
Nathaniel did not publicize the fact that Christina had been kidnapped. Instead, he lied to his family and the kids that the woman had gone on a business trip.
Click. Suddenly, the door to the ward opened.
Nathaniel looked over and saw Sheridan entering the room, holding an exquisite fruit basket. “Im here to visit Ms. Steele,” the man said.
As Christina was indebted to Sheridan, no matter how much Nathaniel disliked his woman interacting with another man, he would not be rude and chase him away.
“Let’s talk outside. Nathaniel got up and walked toward the door. There was no warmth in his eyes, only a hint of exhaustion.
Sheridan put down the fruit basket and took a glance at Christina, who was sleeping soundly, before turning around and leaving the ward.
After closing the door, Nathaniel stood right in front of the entrance, as if he was silently asserting his claim on the woman.
“How’s Ms. Steele doing?” Sheridan spoke first.
“She and the baby are both doing well. Thanks for asking, Mr. Stone.” Pinching a cigarette between his thumb and forefinger. Nathaniel fixed his gaze on Sheridan and asked, “May I know why were you at the scene of Christina’s kidnapping?”
The Stones were a reputable family that had also accumulated some wealth, but their influence was nowhere near the Hadley family
Despite that being the case, unlike the heirs of other wealthy families who were always trying to butter Nathaniel up. Sheridan stood firmly in front of hum and replied calmly. “I had something to discuss with Ms. Steele. When I arrived at the entrance of Scenic Garden Manor, I saw Ms Steele getting into that tried to follow them, but I lost them for a while after their car drove out of the city. Lonly managed to track them down more than half an hour later. When I saw Ms. Steele again, she had escaped after knocking Madison unconscious. You already know what happened after that.”
Nathaniel stared at Sheridan for a few seconds before asking. “What were you planning to discuss with her?”
“Mr. Hadley, since you don’t seem to know anything about it, I guess Ms. Steele has been intentionally. keeping it from you. In that case, it’s better for you to ask her directly,” Sheridan replied, matter-of-
factly.
Taking a pause, the man glanced at his watch before continuing with a smile, “Sorry, I have some matters to attend to. I’ll be back to visit Ms. Steele again another day.”
With that, Sheridan turned and left.
Nathaniel fell into deep thought as he gazed at Sheridan’s departing figure.
It was already noon when Christina woke up.
After staring at the ceiling in a daze for a few seconds, the woman seemed to have suddenly remembered something and put her hands to her stomach.
When she felt her baby bump, she heaved a sigh of relief. Holding back the urge to cry, Christina sat up slowly while holding on to the edge of the bed for support.
Even though she was staying in a private ward, she was all alone.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
“Nathaniel Christina abruptly ceased speaking as Nathaniel ran toward her and pulled her into his arms.
“You’re finally awake!” he exclaimed in a low voice that sounded like he was trying to suppress his emotions. Nathaniel was hugging the woman so tightly that it seemed as if he was afraid that she would disappear if he let go of her. Then, he murmured. “I’m so glad you’re awake. I was so worried.”
Patting his back gently, Christina comforted, “Sorry for making you worry again.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing.” Nathaniel said, finally pulling away from the hug. With a self- reproaching look in his eyes, he continued, “I shouldn’t have let you go out alone. I should have replied
to your message immediately. I shouldn’t-”
Christina quickly put her hand over his mouth, cutting him off. “What happened was an accident. No one could have seen it coming. Nathaniel, it’s not your fault. Most importantly, both our baby and I have returned to you safely. We still have each other in the days to come.”
She placed her hand on the back of Nathaniel’s hand and interlaced her fingers with his before continuing. “Now that we have gotten through the crisis, don’t you think we should cherish what we have even more?”
Christina keenly noticed that Nathaniel was suffering internally because of what happened to her, and she knew that she was the only one who could cheer him up.
Nathaniel instantly felt better after hearing Christina’s words. Holding her hand tightly, he replied. “You’re right. I should stop blaming myself. If I continue dwelling on it, I would just be trapped in a dark abyss.”
Taking a pause, he carried on in a gentle voice, “You have slept for one whole day. What do you feel like cating? I’ll get someone to buy and deliver it here. The doctor said that you have to be hospitalized and kept under observation for another two days to make sure that the fetus is not affected.”
Christina smiled and replied, “I don’t have any cravings. I just want you to stay with me.”
She was aware that she had become more clingy, but she just could not control herself. Even so, Nathaniel was not the slightest bit annoyed. It was a change he welcomed with open arms.
He was glad that he was irreplaceable in Christina’s heart.
“I will always be by your side.” Nathaniel planted a kiss on the crease between Christina’s brows before taking out his phone to text Sebastian, instructing him to deliver some food over.
Looking at the man’s face in concern, Christina said worriedly. “Did you get any rest while I was asleep?”
“I’m not tired, Nathaniel replied.
Not only had he not rested the entire day, but he had also postponed everything in his schedule.
He had not left Christina’s side the entire time. Similarly, members of the Taggart family had also spent the day gripped by fear and anxiety.
Some of them had tried to visit Christina in the hospital, but their attempts were met with rejection from Nathaniel.
The Taggarts knew that they had to bear the consequences of the trouble created by Madison. Moreover, they did not dare to divulge the details of the incident since Nathaniel was intentionally keeping it under wraps.
Christina pressed Nathaniel down on the bed and said, “Take a nap here.”
As the bed was too small, Christina almost fell off the bed after Nathaniel lay down. Reacting quickly, the man grabbed her waist and said helplessly. “I’m not tired.”
There was no way Christina was going to believe that after seeing the obvious dark eye circles below his eyes.
Pouting, she snuggled into the man’s arms, leaning her face against his chest.
“Just treat it as if you’re accompanying me.”
“All right,” Nathaniel finally agreed.
The tension in Nathaniel’s nerves dissipated as he caught a whiff of Christina’s familiar fragrance. Moments later, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and he drifted into a peaceful slumber.
A while later, Sebastian arrived at the ward with the food. When he saw the heartwarming scene inside, he froze for a moment before quietly stepping out.
The phone in his pocket rang continuously as he waited patiently outside the ward, but he did not even bother to take a glance at it.
Over the past two days, the number of calls he received from the Taggart family was more than the total number of calls he had received from them over the past decade.
The Taggart family was thrown into a panic Madison had fallen into Nathaniel’s hands. As Nathaniel was not willing to meet them, they decided to approach Sebastian instead, hoping to persuade him to intercede on their behalf and put in a good word for Madison.
However, that was completely unrealistic!
Chapter 537 Trauma
Nathaniel only managed to sleep for a little over two hours. The unfamiliar surroundings made him feel unsettled, but he found comfort in having Christina by his side.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Christina propping her head up with one hand while her delicate fingers lightly pinched his well-defined nose bridge.
Their eyes met, and a trace of uneasiness flashed in the woman’s gaze; she resembled a mischievous child caught in the act by a parent.
While Christina was caught off guard by Nathaniel’s sudden awakening, he stared at her fixedly.
Embarrassed, Christina hastily withdrew her hand, her eyes shifting as she attempted to conceal her unusual behavior. “Um… There was a mosquito on your nose, and I was just trying to swat it. It’s not what you think.”
She felt a pang of regret as she noticed Nathaniel’s peculiar gaze, realizing that her words had only made the situation worse.
Just then, Nathaniel grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. “What was I thinking?”
Her heart started to race when she felt his warm breath brushing against her face; the man’s overwhelming seductive aura was utterly captivating.
Nathaniel leaned closer, determined to elicit a response. “Christina, tell me.”
There was no avoiding the topic any longer.
Resigned, Christina briefly closed her eyes, then quickly reopened them.
As she gazed into Nathaniel’s slightly fatigued yet still commanding face, she lowered her eyes and softly confessed, “I simply wanted to touch you. Please, don’t ask anymore-
Before she could finish her sentence, Nathaniel unexpectedly took her hands and pressed them against his face. He said gently. “Everything I possess belongs to you. Feel free to touch; there’s no need to do it secretly.”
After over five years of marriage, Nathaniel could sense the hidden insecurities Christina harbored although she never explicitly expressed herself.
Experiencing two consecutive dangers within a month had scared Christina, no matter how strong she appeared on the surface.
The warmth emanating from their joined palms traveled through Christina’s body and gave her immense comfort.
In this world, no one understands my desires better than Nathaniel
Her ears flushed with a tinge of embarrassment as she made her confession. “I had a nightmare. You saved me and lost…”
She hesitated, unable to utter those two haunting words.
When she recalled the gruesome scenes from her dream, her face turned pallid, and her voice quivered as she continued, “Nathaniel, promise me that no matter what lies ahead, you won’t put yourself in harm’s way. Your well-being must always come first.”
Nathaniel could guess the content of her dreams. He hugged her tightly and comforted her. “Dreams. often stand in contrast to reality. Don’t worry too much. Your safety and the well-being of our child are paramount.”
The nightmare continued to haunt Christina’s thoughts, but she couldn’t allow Nathaniel to worry. She had to appear at ease.
Hence, she lifted her head and mustered a smile. “You’re right. I shouldn’t let my imagination run wild.”
Her hand gently caressed her growing belly as she playfully complained, “Nathaniel, I’m famished.”
Hearing that, he helped her to sit up before replying. “I’ll have Sebastian bring some food. Just wait here, and I’ll fetch you a glass of water.”
Christina nodded obediently.
After sending Sebastian a message, Nathaniel got out of bed to fetch a glass of warm water for her.
Soon enough. Sebastian knocked on the door and entered the ward, carrying several packed food boxes.
The food Sebastian had brought two hours ago had turned cold and soggy. Upon receiving Nathaniel’s message, he swiftly headed out and purchased a fresh meal.
After Christina and Nathaniel finished eating, drowsiness began to overtake her once again.
Nathaniel quietly slipped out of the ward after ensuring she was sound asleep. He found Sebastian patiently waiting on a bench in the corridor.
“Have they apprehended the person who posed as the driver? What is the latest on Madison?” Nathaniel asked.
With his focus fully on caring for Christina, there were numerous tasks demanding couldn’t personally oversee. Thus, he entrusted them to Sebastian.
However, he promised to settle the score eventually,
“They found the person, but he drowned in the river. Madison sustained severe injuries to her to neck. She can no longer speak, and the trauma has driven her to the brink of madness. She spends her time in a state of lucidity, plagued by the desire for self-destruction. To stabilize her emotions, she relies heavily on sedatives. It seems unlikely that we’ll get much information from her.”
Upon hearing Sebastian’s update, Nathaniel fell silent and got lost in his thoughts.
The former also kept quiet tacitly.
“Arrange for the most renowned psychiatric specialists, both domestic and international, to conduct a thorough psychological evaluation on Madison,” Nathaniel declared with an icy tone. “Since she can’t speak, let her communicate through writing. As long as she’s still alive, we may uncover something.” Sebastian’s heart skipped a beat at that. “Are you suspecting that Madison might be feigning insanity?”
In response, Nathaniel casted him a piercing sidelong glance.
Sensing the man’s displeasure, Sebastian hurriedly explained, “I’m sorry, Mr. Hadley. My relationship with the Taggart family isn’t great, so I typically refrain from involving myself in their affairs. I will investigate Madison’s medical history.”
A lunatic would never dare to venture into a desolate factory on the outskirts and try to harm Christina, unless they were incited or influenced by someone else. If no one was orchestrating the kidnapping. Madison might have been pretending to be insane to evade Nathaniel’s retribution.
Regardless of the truth, Sebastian was certain that neither Madison nor the Taggart family would meet a good end. Nathaniel would not allow them to remain as a lingering threat to Christina.
“Sebastian, I know you can separate personal matters from business.” Nathaniel patted Sebastian’s shoulder and continued, “Do not disappoint me.”
“Got it,” the man replied.
With that, Nathaniel turned around and entered the ward.
Christina slept soundly until the following morning. When Sebastian delivered her breakfast, he informed her that Nathaniel had to return to the company and would only be able to come to the hospital in the afternoon.
She was well aware of Nathaniel’s busy schedule, so it was quite a sacrifice for him to take care of her in the hospital the whole day.
“Sebastian, you can go and attend to your tasks. I’ll be fine on my own at the hospital,” Christina said. She didn’t like being constantly watched, and she knew Nathaniel shouldn’t be separated from his entourage.
Before Sebastian could refuse, the woman waved her phone in her hand. “I will explain it to Nathaniel myself. I won’t cause you any trouble, so you can rest assured and go back to the company. The hospital has security guards and nurses, so I’ll be safe.”
Unable to defy her wishes. Sebastian said, “I’ll head back first. If you need anything, you can call me anytime.”
Christina smiled faintly. “Okay, get there safely.”
Once Sebastian left, Christina felt more at ease. She continued eating her delicious, hearty breakfast.
Just then, the door to the ward was pushed open once again.
Assuming that Sebastian had returned midway, Christina said without raising her head. “Sebastian, what’s the matter?”
The person entering didn’t answer. After closing the door, she stood by the bedside.
As a pair of black heels caught Christina’s eye, she paused for a moment before looking up at the visitor.
“It’s only been a few days, and you’ve managed to get yourself admitted to the hospital. Christina, you truly are a harbinger of disaster,” said the visitor with a half-smile.
Chapter 538 An Unexpected Guest
Christina’s gaze briefly lingered on Anya, who had arrived unwelcome, before she casually averted her attention. Then, she continued eating her breakfast as if nothing had happened.
Anya felt utterly ignored. With no one else present in the hospital room, she could not be bothered to pretend that she was close to Christina.
Whenever Anya laid eyes on Christina, it was like she encountered her prey. She couldn’t go a day without taunting and ridiculing Christina.
“Hey, I’m talking to you! Stop pretending you can’t hear me!” Anya angrily knocked over Christina’s small table. Hot soup and oatmeal splattered all over the bed, while a few slices of toast fell onto the blanket, narrowly brushing against Anya’s skirt.
Startled, Anya jumped up and screamed in a shrill and piercing voice, “Argh! I went to great lengths to buy this new skirt. What a stroke of bad luck!”
She grabbed a handful of tissues and attempted to wipe off the oil stains from her skirt. However, she couldn’t resist complaining. “You always spell disaster! It’s no wonder nothing good comes my way.”
Christina stared at the toasts which had fallen to the ground, a complex expression crossing her face. She was not full yet. Yet, her favorite toasts were ruined by Anya before she could even take a bite.
Christina originally had no intention of engaging with Anya, but after what happened, she couldn’t help but feel angry. “I didn’t invite you here. Not only did you waste my food, but you also disturbed my meal. What gives you the right to criticize me?”
Fortunately, a layer of blanket covered Christina’s stomach. Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire had her stomach been scalded.
Anya tossed a napkin at Christina and said in disdain, “Do you really think I want to visit you in the hospital? If it weren’t for the fact that Grandma can’t really leave the house and Uncle Timothy’s busy with work, I wouldn’t have come even if you begged.”
Christina’s expression turned cold. “The news of my hospitalization hasn’t been publicly disclosed. How did you all find out?”
In order to protect her, Nathaniel had gone to the extent of renting an entire floor in the hospital so that she could have a quiet environment during her pregnancy. Apart from the doctors and nurses, no outsiders were allowed to enter.
How did Anya manage to evade the tight surveillance and appear in my ward?
Anya’s expression momentarily stiffened, but she quickly found an excuse. “The Gibson family has shares in this hospital. It’s not difficult to learn about your hospitalization. No matter how capable Nathaniel is. he can’t control everything.”
Leaning against the headboard, Christina reluctantly accepted Anya’s explanation. “You can leave now. I need to rest.”
Naturally, Anya couldn’t be easily dismissed with just a few words. With a cold smile, she said, “All right, I can leave. But first, you need to complete the task that Uncle Timothy entrusted to me.”
At the mention of Timothy, a trace of impatience flickered in Christina’s eyes. “Say it quickly!”
“When will you be able to convince Nathaniel to sign the contract that Uncle Timothy asked you to give him? It’s been dragging on for over half a month. Don’t use Nathaniel as an excuse to chase me away. He cares so deeply about you that he will surely agree if you ask.”
Anya narrowed her eyes. Gripping the edge of the bed, she fixed her gaze on Christina like a predator.
“Are you intentionally letting Nathaniel toy with Uncle Timothy from the very beginning? You’ve never planned to seek revenge against the Hadley family, right?”
Christina stroked her stomach calmly. “I’m not even in a hurry when I’m the rightful heir of the Gibson family. Why is an outsider like you so anxious? Your family’s annual dividends won’t be affected regardless of the Gibson family’s future developments.”
“Christina, don’t let love cloud your judgment!” roared Anya. “The Hadley family had sabotaged the Gibson family so much in the past, even to the point of almost killing Uncle Timothy. With the two families in opposition once again, the Hadley family will undoubtedly do something drastic, especially considering its usual methods. Must we wait until the Gibson family meets its demise before you can wake up?”
Christina replied coldly, “It’s a grudge between my father and the Hadley family. What does it have to do with you?”
Anya’s provocations were not effective at all.
Christina was right, too. Even if the Gibson family was defeated, it wouldn’t directly impact Anya.
Her family had already made substantial profits from their shares in Gibson Corporation. Furthermore, since they had their own independent investments, they wouldn’t be destroyed even if they were implicated in the Gibson family’s demise.
Thus, Anya’s involvement in this messy situation seemed quite unnecessary.
Christina wasn’t a fool either. She had seen through Anya’s malicious intentions from the very beginning.
Anya was simply so jealous of Christina’s marriage to Nathaniel that she would do everything in her power to ruin Christina’s happy marriage. Her claims of acting in the Gibson family’s best interest were merely excuses for her vicious plans.
Anya was furious. “You ungrateful b*tch! You’ll regret this one day!”
She stormed off in a fit of anger.
Christina paid little heed to Anya’s words. As long as Christina remained valuable to the Gibson family, they couldn’t possibly push her to death.
Pressing the service bell, Christina summoned a nurse to clean the room and replace the bedding with fresh linens.
She didn’t want to disturb Nathaniel, so she got food delivered to satisfy her hunger.
Even though she could endure some grievances, she would never allow her unborn child to suffer.
After she was full, she soon felt sleepy.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel swiftly made his way to the psychiatric hospital after finishing his work.
The psychiatrist whom Sebastian had hired from overseas was conducting a psychological evaluation on Madison. Nathaniel supervised the entire process, not letting a single detail go undetected.
Madison underwent the examination with the aid of sedation and the doctor’s guidance. When the doctor asked her a question, she suddenly exhibited madness. After ripping off the medical equipment on her body, she even punched the doctor.
The doctors and nurses nearby swiftly intervened and pinned the agitated Madison against the table.
“Kill her! Kill her!” Madison shouted vehemently. As she glanced toward the glass window, she fell momentarily quiet before erupting into mad laughter. “He has come to see me.”
The nurse injected a sedative into Madison’s arm while the latter kept asking, “Am I pretty? Is my hairstyle messy? I don’t think I’ve put on makeup. Will he dislike me?”
The doctors and nurses remained silent, refusing to answer her questions.
Nathaniel maintained his stoic expression while he gazed at her.
At that, Madison’s anger surged once again. “Why am I inferior to that b*tch? That person is right! She deserves to die. I should have killed her sooner!”
A flicker of murderous intent flashed in Nathaniel’s eyes as he frowned.
Madison’s words unmistakably referred to two individuals: Christina and the mastermind behind the scenes.
“There’s no need for further psychological evaluations. Sebastian, I don’t care what methods you employ. but you must find out the identity of the mastermind from Madison within three days.”
While the words of a madwoman held little credibility, they would still hold some influence.
Nathaniel had given Madison ample chances, but she had crossed his boundaries two consecutive times. Their past relationship had withered away, and Nathaniel wasn’t a saint. He would never do anything that would put him at a disadvantage.
“If necessary, there’s no need to spare her life.”
Chapter 539 A Meeting
Nathaniel’s notoriety for his ruthlessness was not baseless, after all.
Sparing Madison had been his greatest act of tolerance.
“I know what needs to be done,” said Sebastian.
Sacrificing Madison to safeguard the Taggart family was the best outcome. Sebastian hoped that the Taggart family would be self-aware enough to stop provoking Nathaniel any further.
Without sparing Madison an additional glance, Nathaniel walked away.
+5 Bonus
When Madison saw him leaving, she spiraled into further insanity. “Nat, don’t abandon me! I’ll die without you!”
Sebastian sighed wearily before pushing the door open and gesturing at everyone.
The tranquilizer gradually took effect in Madison’s body, rendering her incapable of doing anything even without anyone restraining her.
Looking down at Madison, Sebastian said coldly. “Mr. Hadley has left, so there’s no need for you to feign madness any longer. Your pitiful act may work on the foolish members of the Taggart family, but it’s useless against Mr. Hadley and me.”
Madison stared blankly at the doorway, not saying a single word.
Sebastian didn’t expect her to immediately return to normal. When people pretended to be someone else for far too long, they would begin to believe they had successfully deceived everyone else while gradually transforming into the persona of their imagination.
“You’re left with only two options. First, carry your so-called secrets to the depths of hell. Second, sacrifice. yourself to protect the entire Taggart family,” Sebastian declared, his face devoid of emotion. “Regardless of your choice, it won’t influence Mr. Hadley’s decision. You sacrificed so much for someone else, yet you gained nothing in return. Don’t you find that pathetic?”
Madison buried her face in the blanket lifelessly.
Observing this, Sebastian furrowed his brow. It would be hard to extract a confession from her.
“Tie her up and lock her in the isolation chamber. Employ all the methods used for mentally-ill patients. Her condition seems severe, so we can’t allow her to escape and harm others,”
The moment he said that, Madison’s shoulders quivered imperceptibly.
Sebastian scoffed mockingly and left.
Meanwhile, Madison was transported to the isolation chamber. Her agonized screams reverberated in the chamber endlessly.
Christina spent several days in the hospital before returning to Scenic Garden Manor to spend her days of pregnancy.
After she chased Anya out of the ward, the latter never made another visit. The Gibson family quietened. down, too.
Nathaniel insisted on sending the two kids to the Hadley residence, permitting them to return for only two days a week.
Thankfully, Lucas and Camila were understanding and well-behaved. Knowing that Christina was pregnant, they did not dare to kick up a fuss at home or constantly pester her.
On the other hand, Rayne visited Christina a few times because of work. As the clients’ requirements were too strict, it was impossible to reach their standards even after changing the designers and drafts multiple times. Left with no choice, Rayne could only seek help from Christina.
While Christina provided suggestions regarding the designs, she left the execution to the other designers.
Nathaniel was slightly dissatisfied about this. However, Christina knew him well. It took some effort, but she managed to appease him.
With Nathaniel’s approval, Christina frequently visited the studio. While it appeared to be for supervising. it was actually to alleviate her boredom at home. Nowhere else could make her more engaged than the studio.
Toward the end of the work day, Christina received a message from Nathaniel while she was discussing later. the design drawing with the designers. I have a client meeting nearby. I’ll come to pick you up
She couldn’t ignore Nathaniel’s message. If she took more than a minute to respond, he would show up at the studio.
Great! I’m almost done here. I’ll be waiting for you. After sending the text, Christina followed up with several
cute stickers.
Nathaniel liked all of them, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
Sebastian caught onto his good mood, but he continued focusing on his duties professionally. Soon, he noticed Timothy exiting a car outside the shop.
He cleared his throat and reminded, “Mr. Hadley, Mr. Gibson is here.”
“Okay,” replied Nathaniel calmly. He placed his phone aside and stared at Timothy’s approaching figure frostily.
Timothy rolled his wheelchair toward Nathaniel enthusiastically.
Having been rejected by Nathaniel a few times, Timothy thought that he would have to keep his plans on hold. Just as he was starting to worry, Nathaniel took the initiative to contact him.
Knowing that Christina couldn’t be relied upon, Timothy wasn’t foolish enough to sit and wait for his downfall.
“I’ve heard you haven’t been in the best health recently. Actually, you could’ve asked someone else to deal with a minor matter like this.” Even though Nathaniel acted politely, his words were filled with detachment.
“This is the first time our families have collaborated. How can I trust anyone else with it?” Timothy smiled and got straight to the point. “You’re a busy man, so I won’t take up much of your time. Since you’ve had a change of heart, let’s sign the contract promptly. The longer the project drags on, the more challenging it becomes to complete later on.”
In response, Nathaniel glanced at Timothy and gracefully sipped his coffee.
Unable to understand Nathaniel’s thoughts, Timothy felt restless and uneasy. Nonetheless, he didn’t dare show his feelings or hurry Nathaniel.
Just then, Nathaniel spoke up indifferently. “I’m sorry. Perhaps my assistant failed to convey my intentions clearly.”
Timothy’s smile froze.
“I prefer not to discuss business outside of work hours.” Nathaniel looked at Timothy. “I invited you to meet because I wanted to address some personal matters. It’s nothing important, but it’s hard to talk about it over the phone. So, I thought a face-to-face conversation would be better.”
Timothy’s heart sank. He and Nathaniel belonged to different worlds. As they barely interacted, they were not on the same page.
Although Nathaniel was his son-in-law, they both knew their friendliness was just a façade.
Aside from the complicated history between the Hadley and Gibson families, Christina was the only topic they could discuss.
“Is this about Christina?” Timothy asked, his expression neutral.
“Yes.” A tender look appeared in Nathaniel’s gaze at the mention of Christina. “She’s pregnant now, so I want to ensure that no one will disturb her, especially for insignificant matters.”
Upon hearing that, Timothy finally realized that Nathaniel had never regarded the Gibson family with importance.
Still, he decided to play dumb. “I don’t quite understand what you mean. Christina has only returned to the Gibson family recently. Since we’re all busy with work, we don’t have many opportunities to spend time together. Our relationship with her may not be very close, but we would never mistreat her. Although you aren’t bad yourself, you don’t meet her grandmother’s standards. While Christina has been having conflicts with the family recently, that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a member of the Gibson family. As she contributes to the family, she will only stand to benefit in the future. I’m doing what’s best for her.”
Timothy skillfully disguised his plans with kind intentions, while shifting the responsibility onto Christina.
Nathaniel’s gaze grew colder. With a cold sneer, he asked, “Does the Gibson family’s kindness toward Christina include condoning its members to assassinate her?”
Chapter 540 Careful Calculation
Once this accusation was proven to be true, the Gibson family would fall from grace.
With the fallout between the Gibson family and the Hadley family and the pending court case looming over them. Timothy knew that it was no longer possible to control Nathaniel through Christina.
As the Gibson family’s power and influence fell into Nigel’s family, the Hadley family canceled many of their investments in Gibson Corporation. Moreover, Nigel’s failure to address Gibson Corporation’s problems nearly pushed the company to the brink of collapse.
Because of that, Timothy’s impression of his younger brother, Nigel fell drastically. To him, Nigel was no longer a man who could take charge, but an incapable blockhead that was beyond help.
Gibson Corporation was founded by Timothy. He had poured his heart and soul into the company, sacrificing even his wife and his own future in the process.
Not wanting to surrender to fate, Timothy had been secretly attending rehabilitation sessions.
Luckily for Timothy, Nathaniel ran into some trouble after he filed the appeal against Gibson Corporation. With the case at a standstill, Gibson Corporation was given a chance to catch its breath. Even though Timothy was far away in Hallsbay, he was acutely aware of what was happening in Jadeborough.
Although Christina was his own daughter, she came second to his need for revenge.
As Timothy was contemplating ways to get closer to Nathaniel, the latter sent one of his men to escort Timothy to Jadeborough for the two of them to meet.
Despite the indisputable fact that Jadeborough was Nathaniel’s territory. Timothy was not the least bit intimidated. He knew that no matter how angry Nathaniel was with the Gibson family, he was still their son-in-law and could not bring himself to destroy the family.
However, it was worth noting that the Gibson family’s elders had yet to acknowledge Nathaniel as son- in-law.
It was exactly because of that that Timothy had the guts to pretend nothing had happened. In the name of cooperation, he set aside his enmity with the Hadley family and ignored everyone else’s opinion, coming to negotiate with Nathaniel alone.
To his surprise, Nathaniel acted unexpectedly and did not play along with Timothy’s plan. He led Timothy around in circles and even insulted the Gibson family.
Timothy said in a deep voice, “Nathaniel, don’t talk nonsense. The Gibson family always does business righteously. How could we have ordered a murder?”
Righteously, huh? That word has nothing to do with the Gibson family at all.
Nathaniel tamed the sarcastic flame burning in him. He casually twisted the ring on his hand and replied, “Don’t get angry now. I’m just saying that if the Gibson family really is innocent, nothing will happen to the Gibson family even if others are trying to frame you, right?”
Timothy knew that Nathaniel was covertly trying to set him up. He refused to fall for the latter’s tricks.
If it hadn’t been for Nigel and those other idiots who offered to collaborate with Nathaniel for the sake of peace, the Gibson family would not be in this position right now, and Timothy wouldn’t have to stay here. and act according to Nathaniel’s mood.
“If you have something to say, just be direct with me. There’s no need to beat around the bushes,” Timothy stated. He did not expect himself to be able to resolve the mess or revive the Gibson family’s reputation in front of Nathaniel, anyway.
“Ever since you got here, you had not once asked about Christina,” Nathaniel pointed out with an empty smile. “Since that’s the way you are, there’s no need for us to carry on. Sebastian, please see our guest out.”
Nathaniel’s mood changed faster than Timothy could blink.
Timothy was certain now that he had been tricked. He gritted his teeth and retorted, “Ever since you brought Christina back, you’ve kept her hidden away. Even if I asked, would you tell me the truth? It would be better for me to check on her myself.”
To gain the upper hand, Timothy put on the demeanor of an elder of the Gibson family. “Christina is my daughter, the heir of the Gibson family. If anything happens to her, I will not let you get away with it, even at the cost of my own life.”
Nathaniel stared at him coldly. “I’m the only person in this world who would never harm Christina, On the contrary, it’s the Gibson family who hurts her in the name of love.”
He got to his feet and glared down at Timothy, emanating a domineering and intimidating aura.
“You want to prove to everyone how much you care about your daughter, right? I’ll offer you an alternative. Go home and ask Anya about all the terrible things she has secretly done. You can take my words today as a warning, but one day, I will settle our scores eventually. I won’t show mercy to those who want to hurt Christina.”
After saying all that he wanted to say, Nathaniel walked away without another glance backward, Sebastian followed behind him.
D*mn it! How dare he threaten me to my face when he’s younger than me?
Timothy was heaving with anger. He only managed to calm the raging fire burning inside him after sipping some water.
At that moment, his phone rang.
When Timothy saw Nigel’s name on the screen, disgust flitted across his face. However, he could not ignore the call.
After all, it was important to uphold the Gibson family’s reputation. There should be no gossip about any strife between the brothers.
Timothy was considering taking everything back from Nigel after his legs healed.
Although Nigel was not the best person Timothy could use, he sufficed for now.
“What is it?” Not wanting Nigel to notice that something was off. Timothy restrained his emotions and asked in a low voice.
“Timothy, have you met Nathaniel? What did he say? Did you manage to persuade him to withdraw the lawsuit? Is he willing to work with Gibson Corporation?” Nigel asked anxiously. “Project payments are due. If news gets out that we can’t secure any investments and that we’ve run out of money, our investors will exit. Gibson Corporation will be finished!”
Timothy cared more about Gibson Corporation than Nigel did. He directed all the anger he felt from Nathaniel toward Nigel, snapping, “Do you think Nathaniel is a three-year-old boy? Do you think you could tempt him with some candy and get what you want from him? You are too naive!”
At that, Nigel’s attitude flipped suddenly, and his words took on a harsh edge.
“Timothy, if Mom and you had listened to me and refrained from suing Hadley Corporation, Gibson. Corporation would not be in this state today. Christina is the Hadley family’s daughter-in-law and the Gibson family’s heir. Since you made a mistake, Nathaniel withdrew his investments. Just think of it as his way of venting his anger. If you let Christina persuade him, won’t the Hadley family’s money flow right back into the Gibson family’s pockets? What I’m trying to say is that you are pushing Christina too hard. I understand that you and Mom want revenge, but you should not have put Gibson Corporation at risk. This entire debacle is your fault. Put down your pride and talk to Christina. Maybe then, we can put this drama behind us.”
On the surface, it seemed as if Nigel was speaking in the best interests of Gibson Corporation. In truth, however, he was simply pushing away his responsibilities. He only wanted a share of the benefits without having to shoulder the burden of the bad times.
Timothy couldn’t help blaming himself for being so blind as to not see through Nigel’s character from the beginning.
He shook with anger as he countered. “What are you talking about? If you think you’re so capable, why don’t you come here and speak to Nathaniel yourself? Why are you hiding in Hallsbay and refusing to show up?”
With his true intentions laid bare by Timothy, Nigel was rendered speechless.
A sudden realization came to Timothy just then, and he asked in a gloomy voice, “Be honest with me. Nigel. Do the things Anya did lately have anything to do with you?”