Ch. 561..570
Chapter 561 Only One
Nathanari gently parted her back and offered comforting words “Don’t cry I’ll be here with you every step of the way while you handle Mom « situation.”
Christina clutched at his shirt, her tears tooking through the fabric, Ierring a funny wet stain on his chest. She hareuped and spoke with a shaky voice. “Tm grateful that you re by my side. Otherwise, I would be completely lost *
Nathaniel had spoilt her so much that she was entirely dependent on him. In times of trouble, he was the first person who came to her mind, knowing that he would always be there to lend a helping hand
Her reliance on him pleased the man immensely. “Let’s head in and take a look.”
Christina nodded, allowing Nathaniel to hold her hand and lead her into the outpatient clinic.
Sharon’s body was covered in numerous wounds, requiring the doctor and nurses to carefully dress them. It took some time to tend to all her injuries.
When the curtains were drawn apart, Christina and Nathaniel saw Sharon’s head and limbs were bandaged up. Unable to move, she could only cast a fleeting glance at them.
After reading her report, the doctor told them. The patient is currently running a fever, and her wounds fright cause an infection. I would suggest that she remains hospitalized today for observation. She can go home to recuperate once her fever subsides.”
Nathaniel said. “I’ll take care of the admission procedures. Stay here and keep Mom company.”
“Okay,” Christina replied with a nod.
The doctor then left a few instructions before telling the nurse to wheel Sharon to her ward
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” Christina asked, overwhelmed with guilt. The demands of her pregnancy and managing her studio had consumed her attention, causing her to forget about Sharon
“It’s not serious, and I can manage on my own. I don’t want to trouble you while you’re pregnant,” Sharon rasped weakly. “Nathaniel is busy with work. Why did you ask him to come to the hospital? When he returns, tell him to go back to his office to resume work
Christina felt a stab of fear when she recalled what happened earlier. “You were already weak, to begin with, and now you’re injured to the point where you can’t even move. How can you say this is not serious?”
As Nathaniel entered the ward after completing the admission procedures Sharon turned to him with pleading expression. “Nathaniel, please tell Christina not to cry. It won’t be good for her or the baby”
Nathaniel replied, “Mom, let Christina express her emotions. It isn’t wise for her to bottle up her emotio either.”
“Well, my injuries are only superficial, and I can manage at home with some fever medication. It’s not a serious situation, so why don’t they discharge me now?” Sharon asked hopefully. She had spent a few years in the hospital previously and didn’t enjoy being there.
Christina’s voice was hoarse as she spoke with teary eyes. “No, the doctor has advised that you must stay in the hospital for observation as there is a risk of infection.”
home tonight, it will be difficult for Christina to sleep as she’ll be extremely worried about you.”
“Okay, I’ll stay here for one night. Christina, you can’t worry too much. It’s not good for you to stay up late either.” Sharon hastily agreed.
Just like that, she was wheeled to the VIP ward by the nurse.
After the eventful day, she soon fell into a deep slumber.
Nathaniel hired a caregiver to stay with her for the night before leaving with Christina.
At the elevator, Christina shook Nathaniel’s arm and said, “Nathaniel, Gideon got hurt while protecting my mom. I would like to visit him before we leave and also cover his medical expenses as a gesture of gratitude.”
“Let’s go.” Nathaniel brought her to the information desk, where they found out Gideon’s room. They then took the elevator to the floor where the normal wards were located.
Gideon was taken aback by Christina’s visit. Just as he started to feel a flicker of excitement, he caught sight. of the man standing behind her. In an instant, fear consumed him, causing him to shrink back instinctively.
He was still wary of Nathaniel until that very moment and never wanted to experience Nathaniel’s ruthless tactics ever again.
Despite his fear, Gideon was still worried about Sharon. “Christina, how is your mom doing?” he asked.
“She’s fine, save for some superficial injuries,” Christina explained as she sat down on the chair Nathaniel got for her. “I’d like to know what happened, and why Emilia wants you dead.”
Gideon hung his head and averted his gaze. “It was all my fault. I was the one who brought harm upon. your mom.”
It was clear that he was reluctant to share, so Christina decided not to push him further. Instead, she took out a check and placed it on the bedside cabinet. “Here’s fifty thousand to cover your medical and recuperation expenses.”
Gideon’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the check. In the past, greed might have consumed him. but now he was overwhelmed with anguish and guilt. “Christina, I can’t accept this,” he said, his voice filled with helplessness. “I protected your mom because it was my fault she got into trouble. Please take the back. I’m just grateful that you’re here to visit me.”
Christina got to her feet, making no move to retrieve the check. “Just take it. I know you’ll need it given your current condition. Besides, you know Mom well. She’s kind-hearted and doesn’t like feeling indebted to others. If you refuse to accept the money, it will only make her feel guilty. Considering her current health condition, I don’t want unnecessary worries to consume her over such a trivial matter.”
Gideon’s hands trembled as he responded in a low voice. “I’m sorry.”
“I’ll get going now. You’re on your own.”
Christina spun on her heels to leave. Nathaniel kept her company the entire time but didn’t say a word.
Both Nathaniel and Christina had different ways of solving problems. If Nathaniel were to take action, things wouldn’t be in Gideon’s favor. It was well-known that Nathaniel was relentless in seeking the truth and uncovering secrets. No one could remain silent or hide information from him for long.
Back at Scenic Garden Manor, Christina didn’t feel like moving. She clung onto Nathaniel like a koala bear and nuzzled against his nape.
“Nathaniel. I’m sleepy. Are you heading to work later?
“I have a busy day at work today due to a quarterly meeting that I must attend. However, I can spare an hour to keep you company while you take a nap. I promise I will make an effort to return home earlier than usual tonight,” Nathaniel assured her.
“That must be tiring for you. Nathaniel, am I too annoying?” Christina asked worriedly.
Nathaniel massaged the back of her neck and replied affectionately, “Don’t say that. I love that you depend on me. I’m more than happy to spoil you, and no one has the right to criticize you.”
Christina rewarded him with a light peck on the cheek. Pleased, she told him, “Nathaniel, you’re the best husband in the world. You’re mine and mine alone.”
“Mm. I’m yours, and you’re my one and only.”
Nathaniel carried her into the mansion and placed her on the couch. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of a familiar fragrance.
“Christina, did you buy a new perfume?”
“I didn’t spray any perfume today,” came Christina’s answer.
After getting her to remove her scarf, Nathaniel sniffed at it carefully.
“Your scarf smells a lot like the scent of the handmade velvet flower,” he said.
Chapter 562 Stalk
Christina reached out to get the scarf from him, intending to sniff at it herself, but Nathaniel held it out of her reach.
“We don’t know if the scent is harmful, so you better stay away from it. I’ll fill the bathtub with warm water so you can take a bath,” Nathaniel told her. Worried about the possibility of the scent lingering on her clothes, he quickly grabbed a bag and placed the scarf inside, tying it tightly. “I’ll arrange for the scarf to be tested, and once we have the results, I’ll inform you”
Christina followed him up the stairs and said thoughtfully, “I didn’t touch anything scented today before leaving home. I hugged my mom at the hospital, but I believe she’s not the culprit given how much she adores Lucas and Camila.”
Nathaniel assured her, “I, too, believe she wouldn’t commit such an unspeakable act.”
Christina racked her brains for a while before something occurred to her. “That reminds me of something. Last night, I attended a fashion party and crossed paths with Emilia. I believe I detected this very scent on her.”
Regret washed over Christina as she realized she had been too preoccupied with catching up to Anya that she overlooked this crucial clue.
the “I’ll get someone to investigate Emilia,” Nathaniel stated. He then entered the bathroom to fill up. bathtub for her. “Get changed now. I’m going downstairs to get the housekeeper to prepare some snacks for you.”
Christina padded into the bathroom with her furry pajamas while Nathaniel went downstairs to prepare some snacks for her.
After finishing the snacks, Nathaniel took a short one-hour nap with Christina before heading to work. He didn’t forget to hand the package containing the scarf to his assistant, who occupied the passenger seat.
“Run tests on this scarf and the handmade velvet flower in the box to find out if the scents on both items match,” he ordered.
“Yes.” His assistant didn’t probe further and took the package. “Mr. Hadley, as per your instructions, I’ve sent someone to monitor Anya closely. Her behavior has been quite peculiar lately. Since arriving in Jadeborough, she has only ventured out of her house once to attend a fashion party. After that, she has remained holed up in her house, relying solely on food deliveries. Her curtains are always drawn, and there are instances where she doesn’t even bother to switch on the lights.”
Nathaniel swiftly perused his work emails while remarking. “It’s evident that she’s feeling guilty. I recall that her investigation report didn’t mention any mental illnesses. Continue monitoring her closely and identify the individuals she frequently communicates with.”
“Got it,” his assistant replied.
The following day, Christina and Nathaniel were having breakfast in the dining room. They planned to go pick up Sharon from the hospital a bit later.
Right then, the assistant came in with a file and placed it beside Nathaniel. “Mr. Hadley, this is the report you requested regarding the scent. The results indicate that the fragrance on both the scarf and the handmade velvet flower is from the same perfume.”
Nathaniel gave the report a quick scan before giving it to Christina. “Go on.”
Christina attempted to read the report, but the abundance of chemical symbols and technical language made it difficult for her to comprehend After a briet glance, she set it aside.
“I looked into Emuha’s whereabouts and found that she purchased a handmade velvet flower from a booth at the square. The owner of the booth, who personally designs and creates each item, only has one of each design. Therefore, it should be possible to track down the buyer of the specific handmade velvet flower. Additionally, during her time as a part-time model, Emilia started dating someone who is studying chemistry. It’s plausible that she could have obtained heavy metals from him to carry out harm against Mr. Lucas
Christina was caught off guard by the plot twist. She could barely wrap her mind around the truth. “If Emilia was the one who brought harm to Lucas, why wasn’t her fingerprint on the handmade velvet flower? How did she place the box into Lucas backpack?”
The assistant didn’t have answers to her questions. Fidgeting nervously, he replied, “Mrs. Hadley, this is all I can find for now. I’m afraid I don’t have answers to your questions.”
Christina flashed a reassuring smile at him. “You’ve done a great job by unearthing many clues. I’ll ask Mr. Hadley to give you a raise as a token of appreciation for your hard work.”
The assistant beamed happily, finding Nathaniel’s icy expression adorable right this moment. “Thank you, Mrs. Hadley!”
“Please arrange that with the HR department today. I have some other matters to attend to in the morning, but I will be back at work in the afternoon. Kindly reschedule the ten o’clock meeting to the afternoon. Nathaniel instructed indifferently.
“Got it!” The assistant left in delight, determined to work harder.
Christina glanced at Nathaniel. “Was that too presumptuous of me?”
Nathaniel peeled an egg and placed it on her plate. “You’re Mrs. Hadley, and the company belongs to the Hadley family, thus you have a say in it. If you wish, I don’t mind arranging a position for you at the
company.”
Christina shook her head. “No. I’m only interested in design, not the crafty ways of the corporate world. Spare me from that.”
Hearing this, the man didn’t pursue the topic either. “You must finish your breakfast today.”
Christina’s expression scrunched up as she forced herself to finish her nutritious breakfast under Nathaniel’s watch.
After that, the couple picked Sharon up from the hospital and drove her home.
They initially planned on having lunch together, but an urgent call from Nathaniel’s assistant came, and he had to leave. Thus, Christina stayed behind to keep Sharon company
Christina followed Sharon to the nearby supermarket to buy some groceries, and the mother and daughter chatted pleasantly along the way.
“Mom, why don’t you go upstairs first? I suddenly have a craving for cherries. I’ll run to the fruit shop outside our residential area and buy some before coming back home,” Christina suggested to Sharon as the elevator arrived. She placed the grocery bags she was carrying into the elevator before stepping out.
“Be careful.” Sharon reminded her.
“Got it. See you later!” Christina watched as the elevator doors slid shut before turning on her heels to leave, her figure disappearing around the corner.
A figure not far away hesitated briefly before hurrying toward the elevator in the lobby.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Christina got into an elevator at another entrance and arrived at Sharon’s floor ahead of the stranger.
She hid in the corner outside the elevator, gripping her heavy bag and ready to launch an attack.
The figure didn’t put their guard up and came directly toward Christina after exiting the elevator.
Through the refraction she saw on the tiles, Christina hurled her bag in the direction of the stranger.
“Ow!” the person yelped and dropped to the ground, covering their face.
Christina strode over and flung the person’s cap away. In an icy voice, she demanded, “Gideon, why did you follow us all the way here? What are you planning to do?”
Gideon gingerly held his bleeding nose and responded timidly. “I didn’t have any malicious intentions. I genuinely wanted to check on your mother’s well-being”
Seeing Christina’s cold expression, he hurriedly added, “I didn’t intentionally follow you. I just happened to spot you outside the supermarket. It’s the truth, I swear. If I were to lie, I’d deserve a terrible fate.”
Chapter 563 Feeling Troubled
Christina wasn’t a cruel person. Since Gideon didn’t harm her or Sharon when he followed them, she didn’t see the need to beat him up any further.
Staring at his bleeding nose, she asked coldly, “Is your nose all right?”
Surprised by the concern shown toward him, Gideon frantically shook his head. “I’m fine. It’s just a little bit of blood. In fact, it doesn’t hurt at all. There’s no need for you to worry.”
Christina sneered, “You misunderstand. I’m not concerned about you. As I was the one who struck you, my reputation would be ruined if you were to suffer any after–effects later on and word of it got out. I’m not someone who likes to owe anyone favors.”
Just as she spoke, she retrieved the brick from her bag and threw it into the trash. Thereafter, she handed Gideon a packet of tissues and a wad of cash.
Staring blankly at what she was giving him, Gideon looked disappointed as he attempted to speak but hesitated in the end.
“Wipe away the blood on your face and clothes. Otherwise, people might misunderstand and send you to the police station. As for the money, treat it as compensation for the medical expenses for your nose.”
“I can’t take your money indiscriminately anymore,” Gideon declared with a look of conviction in his eye “I know I have been a jerk all this while by using your mom to force you into a marriage just for money. I might be in dire circumstances now, but adversity has allowed me to find meaning in life. Therefore, I’m not going to repeat the same mistakes again.”
Just when Christina assumed that Gideon was lying, the latter stood up proudly before walking away with an unsteady gait.
Briefly stunned, Christina began to pack her things with a sense of dread.
She was uncertain if Gideon had really turned over a new leaf, but what concerned her more was the fact that he could see Sharon in her absence.
Given how soft–hearted Sharon was, she would be in danger if she was taken in by Gideon’s repentant charade.
After all, she was a victim of the latter’s insidious methods in the past.
Thereafter, Christina returned home feeling unsettled.
Upon hearing the door open, Sharon emerged from the kitchen to welcome Christina back. However, the sight of the latter’s empty hands caused her to ask quizzically, “Christina, didn’t you say that you were going to buy cherries?”
Christina quickly replaced her troubled expression with one of regret. “I was too late. The cherries were sold out by the time I got there.”
Sharon consoled her with a smile, “Don’t fret. If you still want them, I’ll get some from the market tomorrow. They’ll definitely be juicy and fresh. Now that you’re pregnant, it’s imperative to feed yourself with as much nutrition as possible. We have to make sure the child you’re carrying gets everything it needs.”
Holding her mother’s arm, Christina replied in a cute voice, “Thank you, Mom. What have you cooked
today? It smells delicious! I’m feeling hungry already.”
“They’re all your favorite dishes. Go wash your hands and take a break. Once the soup is ready, we can have lunch. I’ve also made an extra portion for Nathaniel, so you can bring it back to him tonight.”
Christina leaned against her mother just like a kitten looking for attention. “There’s no need to wait till tonight. I have something to deal with at the studio at noon. I’ll drop it off to him on my way there.”
“In that case, I’ll pack it into a lunch box for him.” With that, Sharon returned to the kitchen. After washing her hands, Christina joined her mother inside to help. However, she was quickly chased out due to Sharon’s concern about the impact of fumes on the baby.
Left without a choice, Christina sat obediently at the dining table and waited.
After lunch was done, mother and daughter chatted a while before the latter needed to rush back to her studio.
As Sharon handed the lunch box to Christina, she didn’t forget to give her daughter some advice.
“Christina, you have to make your child the priority, so don’t focus too much on work. On top of that, Nathaniel’s work isn’t easy. Whenever he goes on a business trip or comes home late, don’t be too hard on him. Whatever issues both of you have, it’s important to communicate them to each other instead of throwing a tantrum. Only by adopting an understanding and forgiving attitude can your marriage last for a long time.”
“I know, Mom. Don’t worry,” Christina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at her mother’s words.
She then assured, “Did you hear some unfounded rumors from someone? Honestly, the stories of Nathaniel’s philandering ways on the internet are nonsense. Don’t believe any of them. Both of us couldn’t be any happier, and he loves me a lot now. As we plan to spend the rest of our lives with each other, we’re not going to act impulsively when it comes to our relationship.” D
Nodding in response, Sharon was sincerely happy that her daughter had found her soulmate. “Anyway, be careful while you’re out there. I’ll get you the cherries tomorrow, so why don’t you bring Nathaniel
over for a meal? He has done a lot for me while I was in the hospital the day before. I still haven’t thanked him for it yet.”
After putting on her jacket and scarf, Christina replied with a smile, “We’re family, Mom. Nathaniel isn’t going to mind something like that. That said, we’ll still come to visit you tomorrow. Anyway, you haven’t fully recovered yet, so you don’t have to walk me down.”
After stepping out with the heavy lunch box in her hand, Christina waved goodbye to Sharon before closing the door and taking the elevator down.
From afar, Christina could spot the familiar Maybach waiting at the entrance.
The driver’s door quickly opened with Sebastian running out to help Christina carry her stuff.
Christina was surprised by the sight. “Mr. Taggart, aren’t you supposed to be recuperating at the hospital?”
Worried about Sebastian, she quickly scrutinized him from head to toe.
Nonetheless, he replied respectfully, “My injuries weren’t serious, so I’ve more or less recovered after such a long rest. Since Mr. Hadley needs me and I just feel restless not doing anything, I decided to go back to work today. Anyway, Mr. Hadley is bogged down in a meeting, so he sent me to pick you up.”
Christina remarked in embarrassment, “Have you been waiting for a long time? It’s cold outside. You could’ve given me a call. What if I were to only go home at night? Wouldn’t you have to wait for half a day? It would be such a waste of your time.”
Sebastian reassured her, “I just arrived, and the car has its heater on, so it’s not cold at all. To be honest, since it’s my first day back, there’s nothing much for me to do. Rest assured that you’re not taking up any of my time.”
He then opened the backseat door for Christina. “This way please.”
“Remember to call me directly the next time Nathaniel sends you to pick me up,” Christina reminded him after getting into the car.
Sebastian nodded in acknowledgment. “All right. I’ll do that.”
Upon closing the door, Sebastian put the lunch box on the front passenger seat before driving off.
“Mr. Taggart, I’m not going back to Scenic Garden Manor yet. Send me to the office, as I want to bring Nathaniel lunch. After that, I’ll be heading to the studio for a while,” Christina instructed.
“Understood.” Sebastian spun the car around and drove toward Hadley Corporation.
Upon arriving at the office, Sebastian followed behind Christina with the lunch box in hand.
Just as they emerged from the elevator, they ran into Nathaniel coming out of the conference room with a pot–bellied, middle–aged man.
After raising his head to throw Christina a glance, Nathaniel had a quick word with the man before getting the assistant to walk him out.
He then approached Christina. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? I would have waited for you downstairs.”
Christina replied, “You already sent Sebastian to pick me up. Besides, you’re busy. You shouldn’t waste time on something like that. I might not come here often, but I still remember how to get to the CEO’s office.”
Nathaniel reached out to hold her hand. “Let’s talk in the office. Coincidentally, there’s something I want to ask you.”
Chapter 564 Incomplete Understanding
Nathaniel–never one to care about the perception of others–held Christina’s hand in public as he led her into his office.
Meanwhile, all the employees in the secretarial department were blown away by the sight of the couple. They subsequently tussled against each other to peek out of their glass door and look in the direction of the CEO’s office.
“Did you see that? Mr. Hadley was really gentle. After working here for eight years, I’ve never seen him seem so human before.”
“This is the power of love, something someone single like you would never understand. Anyway, I can’t believe how handsome Mr. Hadley is when he smiles!”
“Hahaha… I guess Mrs. Hadley is the only one in the world who can stir Mr. Hadley’s emotions. I hope that she comes by more often. As long as Mr. Hadley is in a good mood, our days in the office would be peaceful.”
“Come on, ladies. Zip it. All of us will get in trouble if either one of them hears us.”
“Hmph, Mr. Hadley might be cold, but he isn’t someone petty. You’re just trying to scare me just because I’m easily cowed, but I’m not afraid at all. Worse comes to worst, I’ll plead for mercy from Mrs. Hadley. I’m sure she’ll save us considering what a kind person she is.”
Just like a bunch of chirping birds, the secretaries forgot to lower their voices as they got carried away gossiping. Little did they know that every word they said could clearly be heard by Nathaniel and Christina.
Even Sebastian couldn’t help but feel nervous for them.
Nathaniel’s expression darkened as he commented grimly, “If they have nothing better to do, they can help the sales department increase their sales. On top of that, based on company policy, deduct a week’s salary from them for gossiping in the office.”
That group of girls would definitely cry their eyes out if a week’s salary was docked from them.
Sebastian subsequently gave Christina a pleading look.
After throwing Sebastian a reassuring glance, Christina set off to stop Nathaniel from turning into a boss from hell, saying, “Nathaniel, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with what they said. Back then, you would always keep your true emotions bottled up. Whenever you’re angry, I don’t even know how to start pacifying you.”
She continued earnestly, “On top of that, I like the fact that you’re being more open with emotions in my presence. That way, I can do my best to take them into account.”
Meanwhile, Nathaniel stared at her with his eyes ablaze.
“There’s one thing I agree with them wholeheartedly. You do have a mesmerizing smile. Given how much they admire your looks, I shouldn’t lose out too. After all, that’s what I get for having such a handsome husband.”
From the smile that emerged on Nathaniel’s face, it was clear that he was pleased with Christina’s attempts to pacify him. “Sebastian, put that down and get back to work.”
With that, Sebastian left the lunch box on the desk before disappearing from the office quickly.
Just as expected, getting Christina to placate Nathaniel was the right decision.
“Are you still angry?” Christina held his face and gave it a rub.
“No, not anymore.” Nathaniel led her to the couch to sit. “I was just worried that the situation would make you feel uncomfortable.”
All of a sudden, Christina found Nathaniel to be domineering yet adorable when he was being protective. “Don’t overreact, as they mean no harm. To be honest, I like how candid they were, especially when they were praising me. It makes me really happy, so I obviously won’t mind. Anyway, I brought the lunch Mom made for you. Eat up while it’s still hot.”
Christina subsequently laid the dishes from the lunch box out on the table.
“Mom also invited us to lunch tomorrow. If you can’t make it, we can reschedule.”
“I can spare some time. Go ahead and make the arrangements.” Nathaniel picked up a piece of pork rib with his fork and took a bite. “Mom’s cooking has improved a lot again. This is delicious.”
“Since you like it, I’ll get my mom to teach me so that I can cook for you and the kids.” Christina added, “By the way, didn’t you say that you have something to ask me? What is it?”
Nathaniel put down his fork. “The man you saw in the corridor just now was Winston Labarge. He was the supplier of construction materials to the Hadley and Gibson families back in the day. Do you know him?”
Winston Labarge?
As Christina searched her memories, she concluded that she had never met or heard of him.
Thus, she shook her head in disappointment. “No. Despite having returned to the Gibson family for some time now, I’ve never heard anyone mention this man. Nathaniel, is he somehow connected to my parents‘ accident?”
Nathaniel replied, “Yes. Winston has an amazing talent for business. Back then, he bought a quality factory on the cheap and turned it into a listed construction materials company, inadvertently monopolizing the entire market. His ability to handle relationships well also resulted in many other bosses making a beeline to work with him. The property development projects by the Hadley and Gibson families were mostly supplied by him too.”
Christina asked curiously, “How did the bad blood between Winston and the two families come to be?” “To be precise, why did Winston plot against the Gibson family?” Nathaniel elaborated, “Winston’s and the Gibson family’s businesses were based in Hallsbay, while the Hadley family was based in Jadeborough. The only reason the Hadley family came into contact with Winston as a supplier of construction materials was due to its partnership with the Gibson family. If not for the Gibson family’s introduction, the Hadley family would never have known who Winston was, let alone work on a few major projects together.”
Overwhelmed by the information, Christina pinched her forehead in frustration.
Nathaniel couldn’t help but sympathize with her. As he helped massaged her throbbing temple, he suggested softly, “Let me take care of the investigation. I just didn’t want to keep this from you since we agreed to be honest with each other. The last thing I want is for you to feel distraught over it.”
Grabbing his hand, Christina gave it a peck with a glistening look in her eyes.
“I know that you would always have my best interest at heart, but the accident caused me to lose both my parents and became the reason for the Gibson family’s animosity toward you. In fact, they had wanted you to pay a heavy price despite the fact that you were the most innocent party in the controversy. On top of that, I have the right to know everything and the responsibility of unraveling the truth is also mine. There’s no way I can rely on you for everything. Nathaniel, I’m not as weak as you think I am. It’s just that I can’t figure out why the Gibson family hasn’t made any progress in their
investigation despite being rich and powerful. All this while, they have been stuck with the idea of seeking vengeance on the Hadley family.”
The issue didn’t escape Nathaniel’s notice, but he didn’t have any evidence to support his supposition. His speculation was, after all, just that and wasn’t solid enough to convince anyone yet.
“Given how complicated the circumstances surrounding the accident were, it wouldn’t be surprising if all the evidence was erased if it was actually a plot hatched by someone. As for the Gibson family, their judgment would likely be clouded by the shock of the event, allowing the real perpetrator to escape.“
Upon hearing Nathaniel’s words, Christina felt a gradual easing of the tension she had been experiencing.
“Even then, the fact that the Gibson family has dragged an innocent party into the matter is undeniable.” she uttered.
Chapter 565 Letting Himself Go
Nathaniel knew from Christina’s incomparably righteous words that she would not act rashly due to family ties.
In truth, he did not care if the Gibson family used terrible means to exact revenge on him and the Hadley family. The Gibson family making use of Christina to deal with him was what truly concerned him, as only she and their children were his weaknesses in this world.
Christina is my everything!
“Christina, although the Hadley family and the Gibson family have long–standing grudges, and you and I are husband and wife, I don’t want you to let these reasons affect your perception of the Gibson family, let alone choose to be ruthless to yourself out of guilt toward me,” Nathaniel said with a clear head.
Christina locked her gaze on him and articulated each word clearly. “I know what I’m doing.”
She stood up and sat beside Nathaniel, pressing in close to the familiar scent of his body.
“Do you remember what I said to you? Wherever you and the children are is where I belong. It’s true that I am a member of the Gibson family, and I am willing to do my part for the family, but I am not going to follow their orders blindly. I made a mistake once, and I’m not going down that road again.”
Christina firmly believed that the Hadley family would never plot against the Gibson family back then, even though there was a lack of evidence to support their innocence currently. Someone must’ve deliberately led them astray, resulting in the feud between the two families that continues to this day.
“I won’t let down your efforts and dedication. I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Nathaniel responded vehemently.
Christina felt like she was bathed in the springtime morning sun with warmth enveloping her body. “The food is getting cold. Eat up. I’ll get you a glass of water. Don’t drink coffee all the time. It’s not good for your stomach.”
Nathaniel glanced at the coffee cup at the corner of the table. He had been so absorbed in her heartwarming confession earlier that he had forgotten to instruct Sebastian to put it away.
By the time Christina emerged from the pantry, he was done eating.
“Thank you for your hard work today, Darling.” He took advantage of Christina’s indulgence and affection for him and pestered her as much as he could. In fact, it was more like coercion. “I’ll give you whatever reward you want. Should you refuse, you won’t be able to walk out of this door today.” D
Regardless of his words, he was getting handsy. He pulled her into his arms and pressed his thin lips to her ear, saying the most flirtatious sweet nothing while acting innocent. D
His acts caused Christina’s cheeks and ears to burn red as her heartbeat started racing.
“We’re at the office, Nathaniel. Don’t go overboard.”
Not only was Nathaniel doing so without reservations, but he also followed up by blowing into her ear. “Those who are well–fed are prone to lust. I’m a normal man. We haven’t had sex for more than three months, so you must understand.”
Christina was like an angry cat whose tail had been stepped on. She slipped out of his hold and moved around to the opposite side of the coffee table to glare at him in embarrassment. “If you try that again, I’m… I’m going to ignore you.”
Nathaniel’s eyes flickered teasingly.
Christina kept to her word, picked up her bag on the couch, and turned to leave. Seeing that, he immediately pulled her back into his arms and coaxed patiently, “Don’t get angry. It’s my fault.”
Christina’s face was flushed, and she could not look him in the eyes.
Nathaniel chuckled when he saw that. His low and magnetic voice seemed to have a magical charm controlling her emotions. “It’s now lunch break. Come with me to the lounge and sleep for a while
Christina hummed shyly, not expecting him to dare to do something else.
Nathaniel led her into the lounge, taking off his suit jacket before lying beside her with an arm arou slightly thicker waistline. He then closed his eyes and prepared to fall asleep.
Christina had long been exhausted, having been kept busy by Sharon all morning and hurrying to c Nathaniel’s lunch in the afternoon. Hence, she fell asleep soon after her head touched the pillow.
When the sound of steady breathing reached his ears, Nathaniel opened his eyes and tenderly gazed her features. He then lowered his head and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
Christina slept until three in the afternoon. When she woke up, Nathaniel was no longer beside her. She walked out of the lounge and found herself alone in the spacious CEO’s office.
Just then, her phone rang, breaking the silence in the office.
Suddenly, something came into Christina’s mind. She quickly walked to the couch and took out her pl from her bag.
The caller was Rayne, who had sent her no less than ten text messages and WhatsApp messages alone. “Sorry, Rayne. Something came up in the afternoon, and I accidentally forgot about the studio.” Christi placed her hand on her forehead with a remorseful look. “I will bear the consequences.”
“Pregnant women might become forgetful, so I can understand why your memory is so poor now,” Rayr said empathetically. “You are the boss of the studio. No matter what, you still have your husband backing you up. No one would dare to upset you, except for the blind and troublesome Elizabeth, of course.” Rayne had requested Christina to go to the studio that day so they could come up with a perfect solution to resolve the issue of the trouble Elizabeth had created for them and complete the order successfully. Elizabeth enjoyed causing trouble for the studio because of Anya’s instigation and the enmity between her and Christina. As one of the most popular artists recently, Elizabeth had no shortage of brands offering high–end clothing to her, but she only liked to pick on Christina’s studio.
However, this time was different. Even though it was indeed Elizabeth who placed the order, the dress was made for her fellow celebrity, best friend, and heiress–Anthea Campbell.
Christina hurriedly got down to business. “I didn’t make it to the appointment on time. Did Elizabeth make things difficult for you?”
Rayne snorted in response. “It’s a good thing you didn’t come, or else you would’ve been tricked by them and come all the way for nothing.”
“What do you mean?” Christina asked, puzzled.
From her understanding of Elizabeth, the latter would never easily let go of any chance to ridicule her.
“Elizabeth and her best friend didn’t even show up after I have reschedule many other appointments. After kicking up so much fuss, they stood us up.” Rayne grew angrier as she spoke. “Everyone in the studio. waited for them for several hours. In the end, I contacted Elizabeth’s manager, who was sarcastic and mean. She simply said that she was busy at the last minute and gave me Anthea’s measurements before cutting off all contact.”
Rayne continued through gritted teeth, “Aren’t they deliberately making things difficult for us by not providing the specific measurements, and the required style? To make things worse, she demanded us
to deliver the clothing on time seven days later?”
Christina knew that Rayne was fuming with rage. Otherwise, she would never unload her work troubles. on her with the latter’s calm temperament.
“Get the other designers to work on other orders first. I bet Anthea is coming for me, so let me take care of this and liaise with her.”
Chapter 566 Not Interested In Your Money
Rayne rejected Christina’s suggestion decisively. “Since Anthea is targeting you, there is no way I’ll let you have interactions with any of them. Seeing that Anthea is friends with Elizabeth is enough to prove that she’s not a good person either. You’re pregnant right now. If they harbor bad intentions and something happens to you, I’ll never be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.”
She mulled it over and added, “Christina, in the worst–case scenario, let’s just cancel the order. They deliberately fooled our newbie into clinching the contract, anyway. They’re obviously the unreasonable ones.”
After some contemplation, Christina insisted on the original plan. “Maybe they’re waiting for us to breach the agreement first? In any case, there are no grudges between Anthea and me. She’s probably just a pawn that’s being taken advantage of. I’ll bring someone along with me. After all, she is a public figure and has an image and reputation to maintain. I doubt she’ll dare do anything to me openly.”
Christina supposed she could deal with an uninvited troublemaker without asking Nathaniel for help. As long as my studio is still open for business. I’ll have to learn to deal with challenges and hardships.
“Why don’t I go with you? I know more about this deal than you do. It won’t be difficult for me to handle their unreasonable demands,” suggested Rayne.
Without hesitation, Christina rejected her offer. “I’ve already troubled you to help me manage this studio. This matter happened because of me, after all. Let me resolve it. I’m only pregnant, and won’t be giving birth so soon. I’m not that fragile.”
Rayne was never pretentious toward Christina; instead, she was very honest and straightforward with her words. “Well, you’ve paid me such a high salary. I’m more than willing to become your diligent workhorse, Haha…”
The joyous atmosphere Rayne created successfully shifted Christina’s mind from the matter. The two continued chatting until Sebastian interrupted them with a doorknock.
“Mrs. Hadley, Mr. Hadley is still in a meeting. I’m afraid it’ll only end in the evening. Then, he has an important social event to attend in the evening. He’s tied up but is worried that you’ll wait too long, so he wants me to pass the message and find out if you’ll like to head back to Scenic Garden Manor or go to Mdm. Zapler’s place.”
Uneasy about leaving Christina alone at home and worried that she would get too bored or her emotions might get out of control, Nathaniel thus thoughtfully planned things out for her.
Christina smiled faintly. “Send me back to Scenic Garden Manor then.”
“All right. I’ll arrange a car to send you back right away.” Sebastian then called the driver and instructed the latter to wait downstairs. “Mrs. Hadley, we can go now. I’ll walk you out.”
“Thank you.” Christina grabbed her handbag and stepped out of the office.
As they passed by the secretarial department, the secretaries averted their gazes toward Christina and remained fixated on her as she walked.
When Sebastian shot them a warning look, those secretaries immediately ducked their heads and pretended to be busy with work.
Christina had long gotten used to being scrutinized by others anytime and anywhere.
It was something she could not avoid after becoming Nathaniel’s wife.
Moments later, Christina and Sebastian took the elevator down. When the elevator doors opened midway, two glamorously–dressed young women entered. One of them had a pair of oversized sunglasses covering half of her face and was behaving like an arrogant and prideful noblewoman.
The other woman was trying to talk sense into the former to stop throwing tantrums lest she messed with the wrong person and ultimately sabotaged her own career.
“Natalia, given my current fame and resources, do you think I need to be at the mercy of an inferior director?” Anthea Campbell scoffed. “Does he really think I became famous because of his lousy drama? What an id ot! How can someone take such formalities as genuine praises? No wonder he’s still a nobody despite working in the entertainment industry for this long. He’s thinking of using my fame to boost his drama, huh? Sure, as long as he pays me a fee of seventy million according to the market rate. Otherwise, there’s no room for discussion.”
Natalia warily glimpsed at Christina and Sebastian, then shot Anthea a knowing look, hinting the latter to keep herself in check and not become someone else’s subject of ridicule.
“Anthea, if you have something to say, let’s talk when we return. This is Hadley Corporation, not our turf.”
Hearing Anthea’s name, Christina gave her a second glance.
Coincidentally, Anthea also turned to look at Christina. It was that one glance she got on the latter’s tail like a lunatic.
Right then, the elevator doors opened. As Christina stepped out, Anthea followed closely behind.
Suddenly, Christina felt someone pull her hand aggressively from behind. Letting out a cry, she lost her footing and nearly fell onto the ground.
Fortunately, Sebastian swiftly held onto her and asked, “Mrs. Hadley, are you all right?” Oh, my… That was a close one.
Christina regained her balance, and after taking a deep breath, she glanced at Anthea, who was staring at her intently.
As Anthea’s manager, Natalia was long acquainted with Anthea’s personality. Even though she was unsure why the latter would suddenly find trouble with a stranger, she had enough experience to know she was not supposed to intervene when the latter was teaching someone a lesson.
Anthea huffed, “I remember who you are. You’re Christina Steele. This world is indeed small. I can’t believe I’ll run into you here.” At this point, it seemed like a thought crossed her mind. “I heard your assistant tried to contact me today but failed to reach me. Don’t tell me you purposely make your way here after looking into my schedule and pretend as if you bump into me out of sheer coincidence?”
Sebastian stared at Anthea. She’s pretty popular, and with her demeanor and looks, she does fit to be the ambassador for this season’s new product. Then again, many other celebrities are equally outstanding too. How can the advertising department agree to sign her without finding out about her personality? Isn’t this adding unnecessary trouble for the company?.
Unfortunately, Anthea was undoubtedly foolish. Of all the people, she had offended the woman Nathaniel cared about the most. This time, a dramatic change would come for the advertising department, and so was Anthea’s career. Her career as an artist would probably end here, and it was something even the Campbell family could not do anything to salvage. [1
Christina quirked an eyebrow and retorted, “Ms. Campbell, are you too immersed in your character and think the world only revolves around you?”
Having been deeply influenced by Elizabeth, Anthea had always held a prejudice toward Christina. Now that she ran into the latter and got brutally ridiculed, she felt anger surge through her whole body at once.
“Christina, do you think I willingly engaged your studio to make me a gown? Listen! I have lots of resources and money. Even if you beg me, I won’t wear the crappy gown your studio made to attend any events!”
“You can always change your mind. I’m not short of customers.”
Christina was unaffected by Anthea and remained as cool as a cucumber throughout.
“Besides, I’m not interested in earning your money anyway.”
Chapter 567 Unreasonable
Anthea couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
Despite not being one of the top leading actresses, being the daughter of the Campbell family had its perks. It drew the attention of numerous renowned designers trying hard to be in her good books.
If it wasn’t to avenge Elizabeth, Anthea wouldn’t even have known who Christina was.
Anthea stepped forward with her arms crossed, her eyes flickering with a venomous glint.
“Christina, we have already signed a contract. It clearly states a seven–day deadline for delivery. In the event of a breach by either party, the other party is entitled to treble damages. Given the modest size of your studio, can you afford such a substantial penalty for non–compliance?”
Natalia added firmly, “The penalty itself is not the focus here. Your studio’s incompetency has disrupted my artist’s schedule, leading to significant damage to her reputation. Ms. Steele, I strongly advise you to carefully consider the consequences before deciding whether to breach the contract.”
Throughout her years in the fashion design industry, Christina came across a myriad of personalities. Many big shots on the international stage were far more demanding and unreasonable than Anthea.
After all, Anthea was merely a pampered heiress from a wealthy family. Dealing with her was as effortless ás tending to a small, harmless creature
“The contract clearly states that for any private orders, the designer must personally take accurate measurements. Verbal or proxy measurements are not acceptable. Failure to adhere to this clause will be regarded as an intentional breach of contract, with the breaching party assuming full responsibility, Christina sneered.
Anthea stared blankly at her for a few seconds as if she had just heard the most preposterous joke. Then, she ridiculed, “Are you so desperate for money? How dare you extort money from me without
knowing who I am? It appears that you have given up on making a name for yourself in the fashion industry in this country.”
Although she had heard rumors of Christina’s unscrupulous nature, she never expected the woman to act so shamelessly for the sake of money.
Christina scoffed and replied, “The terms are clearly stated in the contract. Did Ms. Campbell forget to read and understand them before signing it? I’ve been informed that she arranged a meeting with the designer but failed to turn up. Instead, she asked her manager to send the measurements to my studio. Despite our efforts to contact them, there was no response. Ms. Campbell’s actions are in clear violation of the contractual obligations. Since you don’t want to work with my studio, I request to terminate the contract. Do you have any problems with that?” D
Anthea’s deliberate breach of the agreement was not merely an attempt to cause trouble for the studio. She really hoped that the studio would breach the terms first. Then Christina, the studio’s owner, would definitely look for Anthea and plead for her understanding.
Even though Anthea anticipated Christina’s arrival, it was not to seek her understanding but to demand compensation.
As the crowd around them grew, Natalia spoke sternly, “Ms. Steele, my artist is extremely busy, and she didn’t fail to turn up for the appointment intentionally. I did send someone to inform your studio about this. Perhaps there was a miscommunication along the way. This isn’t the best place for a discussion. Why don’t we arrange to talk in detail another day?”
Just then, Sebastian’s phone rang, and he glanced apologetically at Christina.
“Ms. Christina, it’s a call from Mr. Hadley. I’ll answer it
“Go ahead.”
Christina felt guilty for taking up Sebastian’s time with her personal affairs. She knew that Anthea was deliberately stirring up trouble. Feeling exhausted, especially with the burden of her wished to dismiss Anthea and Natalia so that she could return home and rest.
It was not worthwhile to be mentally and physically exhausted for an order.
Christina’s firm stance against Anthea’s unreasonable demand demonstrated her unwavering confidence in her actions.
“I don’t think my studio is fated to work with Ms. Campbell. In fact, you were the one who breached the contract first. Given that neither of us wants to waste any more time, let’s quickly resolve this. We should not impede Ms. Campbell’s search for another custom–made gown and risk affecting her attendance at the upcoming event-”
“You’re being unreasonable, Ms. Steele.”
Anthea interrupted Natalia as she felt that she was embarrassing her. “She did it on purpose. Is there a need to beg her? I feel embarrassed having to wear her designs to the event. What’s the big deal about terminating the contract? My family’s team of lawyers is not to be trifled with. Let them handle it. She can’t stay arrogant for long.”
Natalia was reprimanded on the spot, and it made her somewhat uncomfortable.
Anthea was an arrogant woman who thought highly of herself because of her family background and the blind adoration of her brainless fans. Although she wasn’t a famous celebrity, her absurd behavior had only worsened over the years.
Despite her efforts over the years, Natalia had only succeeded in shaping Anthea into a popular star. However, she reluctantly yielded to the latter’s demands as she depended on Anthea for her livelihood.
Christina scoffed and responded indifferently, “Please send someone to discuss the specific details of the contract termination with my assistant. Her decision will represent mine.”
After speaking, Christina couldn’t be bothered to engage with Anthea any longer and walked toward the door.
“I’m not done speaking, Christina Steele. Did I give you permission to leave? Stop right there!”
Infuriated by Christina’s arrogant attitude, Anthea stomped her feet and was about to chase after her. However, she was stopped by Sebastian.
“Get out of my way! I don’t want to teach you a lesson now!” she hissed at the man.
As Natalia’s gaze lingered on Sebastian, a sense of familiarity washed over her. Suddenly, a vivid image flashed in her mind, prompting her to grab Anthea’s arm with a mix of shock and urgency. “Anthea, that’s Sebastian Taggart! You mustn’t provoke him.”
However, Anthea furrowed her brow in annoyance and retorted, “Who is Sebastian Taggart? Oh, come on, Natalia, why are you so timid? It’s really embarrassing.”
Natalia’s heart raced, and she hurriedly whispered, “He’s Nathaniel Hadley’s personal assistant. He holds considerable power within Hadley Corporation. In fact, he can make decisions on behalf of Nathaniel.
Anthea’s face turned pale, and she lamented, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
This was her first visit to Hadley Corporation for a potential collaboration. Not only did she fail to meet Nathaniel, but she also unknowingly stirred up trouble.
This is all Christina’s fault. If she didn’t provoke me, I wouldn’t have lost my cool and said the wrong things.
Attempting to salvage the situation, Anthea quickly changed her tone and smiled seductively. “I’m sorry. I was mistaken earlier and failed to recognize you, Mr. Taggart. I hope you won’t hold it against me.”
Sebastian wouldn’t pay much attention to an artist on the brink of being blacklisted in the entertainment industry.
“Ms. Campbell, based on the investigation conducted by our company’s advertising department, it has been determined that you are not a suitable spokesperson for our new product. Therefore, we have decided to terminate all collaborations with you with immediate effect. We will arrange for our staff to handle the administrative details. You may leave now.” D
Chapter 568 Reap What You Sow
The unexpected news left Anthea and Natalia dumbfounded.
An hour ago, Anthea and her team were warmly welcomed by the staff of Hadley Corporation as they entered the manager’s office to finalize the contract. Every clause and provision in the agreement had been meticulously customized to meet Anthea’s specific requirements.
How could things take such a sudden turn?
Hadley Corporation had extremely stringent criteria for selecting its brand ambassadors. To successfully navigate through their rigorous selection process and secure a contract was a clear indication of a bright and promising future in the entertainment industry.
Anthea’s endorsement deal with Hadley Corporation wasn’t solely due to her talent. It was mainly due to the influential forces working behind the scenes.
A significant portion of the entertainment industry was under the control of the Hadley family, and any artist terminated by them would face the grim fate of being blacklisted from the industry.
In short, Anthea was doomed!
Natália’s heart raced, her anxiousness soaring. “Mr. Taggart, didn’t we have a fruitful discussion with Ms. Farlin from the advertising department a while ago? Why this sudden breach of contract? It’s so unfair.
In the past, Sebastian would issue his commands and silently retreat without providing any explanations. However, Nathaniel’s text message explicitly stated that he should make Anthea understand who she could and couldn’t provoke.
Since it was a death sentence, he didn’t mind making it clear to the other party.
Sebastian explained with a solemn expression, “Ms. Farlin from the advertising department was dismissed by the company ten minutes ago on the grounds of abuse of power. A new department manager will officially take over tomorrow, and the company will reselect its spokesperson. We strive to be fair and impartial.”
His gaze fell upon Anthea and Natalia, who were overwhelmed with guilt and could not defend themselves.
The message had been delivered, and the rest was no longer Sebastian’s concern. “We won’t delay any more of Ms. Campbell’s time. Goodbye.”
With that, he turned around and entered the lift.
Meanwhile, Anthea and Natalia caught wind of the whispers circulating among the onlookers.
“Oh my! Oh my! Anthea hasn’t been in the spotlight for just a few days, and her face has changed so much. No wonder I didn’t immediately recognize her. She looks much worse in person than on TV. I can’t believe I have been her fan for years. Not only does her appearance not match her acting skills, but she also has a terrible personality.”
“In her previous live broadcast, she mentioned having a major endorsement deal lined up. Turns out it was supposed to be a collaboration with our company’s product. Looks like that deal is completely out of the picture now.”
“Anthea is unbelievably foolish. Why would she provoke the boss’s wife? Isn’t she just asking for trouble?”
“Haha! She doesn’t even know the important people around Mr. Hadley. Can we really expect someone with such low intelligence to identify the boss’s wife? It’s time to unfollow her. There’s no place for her in the entertainment industry anymore.”
As the comments grew increasingly offensive, Anthea’s face contorted with anger.
Worried that Anthea might stir up trouble, Natalia hastily pulled her away. “Don’t pay attention to those gossipers. Let’s leave this place quickly. It will be even more troublesome if we get caught by the reporters. We’ll figure out a solution later. The Hadley Corporation will need to show some respect to the Campbell family. They won’t destroy you.”
Anthea suppressed her anger and got into the company’s minivan.
Once Christina returned to Scenic Garden Manor, she received a barrage of calls from Rayne.
She pressed the answer button and settled on the sofa. Soon, Rayne’s enthusiastic voice filled the spacious living room through the phone’s receiver.
“I have great news, Christina!” Rayne chuckled before continuing, “Anthea is paying for her actions. She provoked someone influential and is being blacklisted. All the brand partners are busy terminating contracts with her to steer clear. Once she terminates her contract with our studio, she’ll have to pay a hefty penalty fee.”
Christina let out a half–hearted “Ah,” her mind sluggish for a moment before realizing who Rayne was referring to. She was on the verge of falling asleep.
“Anthea Campbell, right?” She yawned, her lack of surprise evident. “Oh, then let’s quickly arrange the termination procedures. It’s better to avoid unnecessary complications.”
Rayne’s enthusiasm dwindled. “Christina, tell me honestly, are you the influential person Anthea provoked?”
Christina tilted her head, glanced at the clock on the wall, and sank further into the soft sofa. Her eyes were teary and hazy.
“It wasn’t me. I don’t have the ability to blacklist an artist with a strong background.”
“If it’s not you, then it must be your significant other. I should have realized this earlier. Anthea’s downfall came after the official statement from Hadley Corporation. Thank god you and I are friends, not enemies.. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know where to hide.” D
“Rayne, I’m going to sleep for a while. Let’s talk later if there’s something important.”
Christina’s eyelids were too heavy to keep up. Clutching her phone, she quickly drifted into a deep slumber.
After waiting a while, Rayne could only hear the sound of long and steady breathing. She couldn’t help but feel both amused and frustrated. Hanging up the phone, she walked out of the office and made an announcement to prioritize the orders of other clients and to ignore any trouble from Anthea’s side.
The entire studio became exhilarated as they no longer had to worry about doing well on Anthea’s projects to avoid her nitpicking.
Meanwhile, Anthea was called back to the company and reprimanded fiercely. Not only were all the
Resources previously assigned to her given to other artists, but she was also ordered to take an extended leave. It was a covert strategy aimed at sidelining her from the entertainment industry and pressuring her into terminating her contract willingly.
Of course, Anthea refused to do so. She showed her tantrums in front of many high–level executives, berating them to her heart’s content. As a result, she undoubtedly offended everyone in the process.
As Anthea exited the company premises, she was subjected to ongoing ridicule and mockery from onlookers.
She was always arrogant and full of herself when she was famous. Hence, in her downfall, she encountered no shortage of people eager to ridicule her.
When Anthea learned of Elizabeth’s whereabouts, she went straight to her after leaving the company.
Soon, she found Elizabeth resting in the dressing room.
“Why didn’t you inform me that Christina is Nathaniel’s wife, Elizabeth?” Anthea seethed with anger as she firmly gripped the woman’s collar, her eyes piercing into her. “You conspired against me, intending to steal my resources, didn’t you?”
Elizabeth feigned ignorance and pleaded, “This must be a misunderstanding, Anthea. Please let go so that we can talk calmly. This is a workplace, and there’s no need for irrational behavior.”
Irrational behavior?
Anthea sneered and released her grip on Elizabeth’s collar. Next, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding slap to the latter’s cheek.
The slap sent Elizabeth flying to the ground. The searing pain on her cheek was a clear indication of the humiliating truth–she had been slapped, and this was not a dream!
The person who slapped her was none other than the very person she had sent out as her loyal henchman!
“Elizabeth, I considered you a friend, but you treated me as a pawn. I’ll not forgive myself if I don’t tear you apart.”
Chapter 569 Karma
Anthca’s vengeful nature was known to all in the entertainment industry.
Even though Elizabeth had someone powerful to back her up as well, it was still not enough in comparison with the Campbell family.
Elizabeth knew well that Anthea had crossed Christina under her instigation–that was the reason Anthea was blacklisted by Nathaniel…
If news of that were to be exposed, the people supporting Elizabeth would surely give up on her to curb the impending damage they would suffer.
Anthea had the Campbell family to back her up, so she had a chance to get back on her feet, but it was not the same for Elizabeth. She was able to enjoy her current status and glory because she had been capable and cunning enough to attain them.
The entertainment industry was never short of beautiful and capable artists. If one wanted to continue building their career in that industry, they would need people to back them up.
As Elizabeth held onto her swollen cheek, she hid the iciness in her eyes. By the time she lifted her head to look at Anthea, she had a pitiful look on her face.
“Anthea, I’ve always thought of you as a good friend, so how can I possibly laugh at you and steal your opportunities?” Elizabeth bit down on her pale lower lip. “I didn’t try to hide Christina and Nathaniel’s relationship from you. I thought you already knew about it. Moreover, I heard that what Nathaniel and Christina have is an unhappy contractual marriage and that they’ve been arguing over divorce recently.”
If Anthea had not been blacklisted, she would have no doubts about Elizabeth’s words.
However, reality had taught Anthea a terrible lesson.
She was fooled because of her dumb belief in her friendship with Elizabeth. In the end, she was punished for her stupidity while Elizabeth, the mastermind, continued to bathe in glory.
Anthea, who was a proud soul, would never let Elizabeth go with the matter. As far as she was concerned, the latter was born with a lower status than her.
Anthea mocked, “You seemed obsessed with Christina, Are you telling me these because you’re still trying to use me to take revenge on Christina for you?”
The look in her eyes was a vicious one as she grabbed Elizabeth by her jaw with her right hand, almost- crushing it.
“You have so many blackmail–worthy materials about them, so why don’t you just expose them through the media?” Anthea snarled. “It’s not that you don’t want to do it, but you’re afraid. You’re scared that Christina will find out that you’re behind this and ruin your career. That’s why you’re looking for a scapegoat, and I’m the scapegoat you’ve found!”
Elizabeth held her breath as a wave of shock crashed into her.
When did the naive Anthea become so smart? I can’t admit to that or Anthea will never let me off the hook.
Thus, Elizabeth quickly recomposed herself and pretended to play the fool. As she held Anthea’s hand that had gripped her jaw, she said in a hoarse voice, “Anthea, did Christina tell you something? Don’t believe her words. She’s trying to sow discord between us! She’s trying to provoke you so that you’ll break off the contract and compensate her studio the huge penalty fee. The company has only temporarily put your work on hold, but you can rise again with your fame. I have some connections, and I can introduce work to you. Once this blows over, you can still take on roles in movies and endorsement offers.”
Anthea was disgusted by Elizabeth’s pretentiousness. She let go and Elizabeth fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
“I don’t need a model who sells her body and looks to climb up the social ladder to help me out. I have my family,” Anthea uttered in disdain. “Just you wait, Elizabeth. I won’t let you off this easily.” D
With that, she spun on her heel and left.
Elizabeth climbed to her feet. When she turned to look in the mirror, she saw how much of a mess she looked. The red handprint was a sign of the humiliation she suffered, and she trembled in anger after seeing it.
Right then, a soft sound came from the walk–in closet at the side.
Elizabeth whipped her head over and glared at the spot.
The makeup assistant fell onto the pile of clothes, her face as pale as a sheet of paper. She stammered, “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, Ms. Bennett! I left something here. I… I heard nothing! I’m leaving now!”
The assistant looked miserable as remorse flooded her mind.
If she had known that she was going to hear such shocking secrets, she would have snuck out of the room when Elizabeth started fighting with Anthea.
Elizabeth did not stop the assistant as the latter scurried off, but she glared at her retreating figure the entire time.
You bl*ody b*tch! I am going to make you pay for eavesdropping!
Meanwhile, Christina slept through that night.
When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a handsome face.
Nathaniel had returned to Scenic Garden Manor and had come to her side to watch her.
“You’re back.” Christina habitually moved closer to Nathaniel, the suit jacket draped on her sliding down. to her waist. “You’re home much earlier than usual.”
Nathaniel placed his arms under her armpit and lifted her to a sitting position on his lap. As he positioned a hand by her waist to prevent her from falling, he said, “I was done with work, so I wanted to come home as quickly as I can to keep you company.”
The tint of displeasure in his eyes was palpable. “Christina, have you forgotten that I told you not to sleep in the living room?”
Christina had been tired and sleepy at that time, and the couch was spacious and comfortable. She was used to sleeping on it, so why would she move?
“I wanted to see you the second you got home.”
Nathaniel froze, and the irritation in his eyes dissipated. As he pulled her into his arms, he said the sweetest words in the calmest tone, “If you want to sleep in the living room next time, you need to wear more layers to keep yourself warm.”Christina beamed and replied, “Okay.”
That was the end of that.
Feeling a little hungry. Christina got off Nathaniel, but she accidentally pressed the remote on the couch, and the television switched on. In the next second, the voice of the news anchor reporting the blacklisting of Anthea sounded out in the quiet living room.
Worried that she would fall, Nathaniel quickly held her back and said, “What are you trying to do?”
Christina touched the tip of her nose sheepishly and answered, “I’m hungry. I was thinking of getting something to eat from the kitchen.”
Putting her aside, Nathaniel said, “I’ll get it for you. Don’t move around so much. You nearly fell earlier.”
At that, Christina sheepishly chuckled before waiting for Nathaniel to return with food.
Soon, he came back with some snacks and a glass of fresh juice. “Eat up. Have some desserts to stave off the hunger.”
As Christina dug in, she stared at Anthea on the screen.
Anthea was getting surrounded by reporters, and in the end, she dashed into the minivan in haste with her manager and assistant escorting her.
Despite that, Anthea could not leave. Fans came from all directions to swarm the minivan. As they smacked the vehicle windows, they cursed and insulted her.
Fans of the two female celebrities were cursing at each other. It was a chaotic scene.
The ones who started the fight were Elizabeth’s fans, and they were using everything they had in hand to hit the vehicle.
Christina was baffled and curious. “Aren’t Anthea and Elizabeth close? Why are their fans fighting?”
Chapter 570 Sabotage
Christina’s voice was soft, and if Nathaniel did not pay attention to her, he would not have heard what she had said.
That was because she was not expecting anyone to give her an answer. However, Nathaniel, who never paid attention to the gossip of the show business, abruptly said, “Anthea’s opportunities were passed onto Elizabeth after her blacklisting.”
The fame of an artiste in the entertainment industry was not merely judged based on their reputation and influence, but also by the number of opportunities they had.
While it was nothing unusual to see someone intercept another person’s opportunity, it was a matter that concerned the artiste’s reputation.
Most would choose to endure it in silence, but Anthea was a proud woman. Thus, she started going after Elizabeth in public.
Anthea had spent quite an amount of money to dig up Elizabeth’s dark past to expose it.
Similarly, Elizabeth’s team could not take it in silence either, so they began retaliating.
That was how the personal fight between the two celebrities ended up transforming into a fight between their fans as well.
The chaos on the internet spread offline, and soon, it became the news that Christina saw–Anthea surrounded by Elizabeth’s fans and being cursed at. At the same time, Elizabeth’s film site was constantly getting sabotaged by Anthea’s fans, so the film crew had no choice but to pause work.
Everything had occurred in the matter of hours.
Christina returned to Nathaniel’s lap and brought a piece of fruit to him.
Nathaniel, who was staring at his document on his laptop, opened his mouth to eat it without averting his gaze.
“Nathaniel, you were the one who ordered the blacklisting of Anthea, weren’t you?”
Things had gone south for Anthea right after Christina met her on Hadley Corporation’s turf, so Christina would have to be a fool to think that Nathaniel was not involved.
In an icy tone, Nathaniel said, “She shouldn’t have crossed you.”
A smile grew on Christina’s lips, and she put down the plate of fruit before lunging at him. As she nuzzled her head against the crook of his neck like an excited kitten, she remarked, “It feels so good to be under someone’s protection.”
Nathaniel curled his lips and reached out to pinch her neck. Reaching past her waist to get to his laptop, he then said, “It’ll take some time before dinner is done. Do you want to sleep for a while longer?”
Christina breathed in the faint pine scent on Nathaniel and mumbled, “I’m not sleepy. Elizabeth ordered a dress from my studio under Anthea’s name, but I’ve made it known to Anthea that I’ve rejected the order and told her that she broke the contract first. But now that Anthea’s in hot water, I won’t be able to get my penalty fee, right?”
Anthea had too much work and engagements at hand, so Christina’s studio was not the only company she had to compensate.
What a little money–grubber. You are always thinking about money.
Nathaniel’s expression softened into a doting look. “No. The Campbell family values their dignity. Even if Anthea can’t pay the penalty fee, the Campbell family will still resolve this issue for her. The
Campbells can ignore the requests of the others, but they won’t dare to miss your compensation.”
Even though Christina’s studio was just a young bud, anyone who did a quick investigation into her studio would easily find out about Christina’s connection to Nathaniel.
The Campbell family would not cross Nathaniel just to save a meager amount of money.
While Anthea could give up on her career in the entertainment industry easily, the Campbell family could not just pull out of the corporate world.
Nathaniel’s reply put Christina at ease about her last worry. While she leaned into his arms, she closed her eyes and muttered, “I’ll heed your words. If Anthea really does try to skip the compensation, I’ll come after you.”
As she spoke, she jabbed her finger on Nathaniel’s chest.
Nathaniel grabbed her hand and smiled even wider. “Okay. If she doesn’t compensate you, I’ll do it.”
Then, he held the back of her head and leaned closer to her.
“I’ll give myself to you as compensation.“D
He sealed her lips and the words Christina wanted to say.
That night, not only did she receive Nathaniel’s immense “compensation,” but she was nearly exhausted by his long “compensation process“. D
It seemed like it was her loss in the end. D
The next morning, Christina went down the stairs with a hand on her back with much difficulty. As Nathaniel was worried that she would tumble down, he bent over to carry her.
She let out a shriek before grumpily glaring at him. “Let me down!”
“I’ll let you down in a while,” Nathaniel said with a small smile. Ignoring her embarrassed and frustrated gaze, he brought her to the dining table. “I can also provide you with feeding service.”
Christina’s face turned bright red, and she shoved him away. “My back’s so sore, It’s not as if I’ve broken my hand. You were the one who did… Just stay away from me. I don’t want to see you today.”
The thought of the passionate night before nearly intensified the burning sensation on Christina’s face
until it set her face on fire.
If not for the doctor’s orders, Nathaniel would not have held himself back.
Nathaniel rejected, “No way. No matter where you hide, I’ll find you.”
He then pulled the chair beside her and sat down on it. Once he took her plate, he started peeling the egg.
Meanwhile, Christina was telling herself that she had to set a rule for Nathaniel, or she would never leave the house ever again at this rate.
After that, she lowered her head and ate her breakfast, ignoring Nathaniel.
Nathaniel was not a chatty person, but he did not mind coaxing her. “I’m going to meet Winston today to talk about the collaboration. I’ll pick you up from the studio at noon and tell you the details then.”
Christina froze in the middle of her action and frowned. “You know that something’s up with Winston, so why do you still want to take the risk and work with him?”
Sure enough, Christina’s attention was diverted by the new topic.
As Nathaniel held the egg to her mouth, he said, “Eat first. Then, I’ll tell you.”
Christina finished the egg unwillingly. When she saw Nathaniel slowly cleaning his fingers with the napkin, she impatiently urged, “Hurry up and tell me, Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel uttered, “It’s a long–term plan to catch the big fish. If there isn’t a bait that’s good enough to lure Winston. I won’t be able to find out the person behind this. The relationship between the Hadley family and the Gibson family is worsening. If the Hadley family continues working with Winston, the mastermind will be wary. Winston is greedy. He won’t be able to give up on the lucrative profits that the Hadley family can give him, so he might let history repeat itself.”
What Christina did not know was that Nathaniel had already gained control over Winston. If not for Nathaniel’s fear of alarming the mastermind, he would have destroyed everything Winston had immediately.
Winston only had the opportunity to work with the Hadley family because he was still useful to Nathaniel.
“I only used a small real estate project to test Winston out. It won’t affect the project’s future development. Those trivial losses won’t matter that much,” Nathaniel added. “You don’t need to worry about this. No matter how witty Winston is, he’s no match for me.”
Christina knew how capable and crafty Nathaniel was, but she was still afraid that someone would sneak up on him from the shadows.
Nonetheless, not even Christina was capable of changing Nathaniel’s mind.
“Nathaniel, I don’t want you to take risks because of me.