Ch. 691..700

Chapter 691 More Trouble

Azure knew from the start that Christina was no saint. Ever since Nigel was thrown into prison, she had already prepared herself for Christina to exact revenge.

Unfortunately, she had underestimated the younger woman’s patience and heart for vengeance.

“You should never go so far as to burn your bridges completely, Christina. It won’t bring you any good.” Wary of the lawyer seated across her, Azure did her best to control her words and actions.

“Actually, it will,” Christina replied with a merciless smile. “My mom died a tragic death, and my dad had to endure over twenty years of torment because of his legs. They deserve the worst fate possible. You have no right to act all self–righteous and tell me what’s right or wrong.”

Azure was so furious that her chest hurt. How she wished she could appear on the other end of the phone and strangle Christina.

She was ignorant and had made the biggest mistake in her life, which was to acknowledge Christina as part of the Gibson family.

“I’m Timothy’s biological mother, Christina. Even if you want to get even, it’s not up to someone like you, who’s younger than me, to teach me a lesson.” Azure was only deceiving herself; deep down, she wasn’t as confident as she sounded.

The older woman had never officially visited Timothy ever since he fell unconscious and was hospitalized. She was constantly busy dealing with Nigel’s affairs and even more caught up trying to reclaim Gibson Corporation through other ways.

Even so, her plans fell through.

Now, Azure was like a helpless animal that had lost all its limbs. She wouldn’t be able to rise again no matter how hard she tried.

“My dad will be awake soon. I’ll have someone send you all documents related to the cutting of ties between you and him,” Christina added frostily and hung up.

As though struck in the head, Azure fell into a daze for a long while before finally processing what: Christina had said.

“This little brat doesn’t have any respect for me! She’s even trying to order me around!”

The woman hurled her phone with rage, but none of her complaints and troubles would evoke the lawyer’s pity.

“I’ve done what Mrs. Hadley has asked me to, Mrs. Lazuli. Please find yourself a new home and move out as soon as you can. I’ll have someone take a look at this house in a few days,” the lawyer remarked professionally.

-Not only did Christina get Victoria to have a lawyer put on such an exciting live show for her, but the former even made another demand.

She gave Azure a grace period to move out of the Gibson residence.

The mansion indeed belonged to Azure, but she had secretly mortgaged it to help cover the losses incurred by Nigel’s company.

Christina had someone purchase the building after receiving word that Azure couldn’t afford to pay off the loan.

Hence, the Gibson residence now belonged to Christina.

After Azure had lost her status and influence, all those so-called friends who used to butter her up removed her from their circle. Even Barnaby didn’t want her anymore, and all she could rely on now was Yerck.

Yet, what devastated her more was that she couldn’t reach Yerek, and all her possessions were now only enough to cover half a year’s worth of rent and basic living expenses.

Having lived in luxury all this while, downgrading her lifestyle was simply torture for her.

Azure sat back on the couch and responded in a demanding tone, “If Christina wants me to move out, have her come see me in person. Otherwise, no one gets to tell me what to do.”

Given his long career and having dealt with all kinds of cases, the lawyer had certainly met his fair share of people who were more shameless and unreasonable than Azure.

“Mrs. Lazuli, if Mrs. Hadley had to come over personally to address this trivial matter, she wouldn’t have sent me to notify you in advance,” he explained politely. “I’ll be back in three days. I hope you’ll make all necessary preparations and not make things difficult for us.”

With that, he picked up his briefcase and left.

Azure immediately threw a huge fit, and the once–silent living room was soon filled with wails of anguish.

Meanwhile, Christina returned to the ward on time.

While the woman slowly enjoyed her dinner in the evening, Lyle suddenly opened the door and entered.

“Is something the matter, Lyle?”

“I’ve received news from the police, Mrs. Hadley. They got into a serious accident while escorting Anya back to the station. The police car fell into the sea while trying to evade a large truck that had lost control on a bridge. All the officers have been rescued, but Anya is nowhere to be found.” D

Christina stopped moving for a split second before putting down her fork, appearing uninterested.

“Are there any suspects behind the accident?” She couldn’t help but feel suspicious given the coincidence.

“Nothing’s confirmed at the moment. The police found out that the truck wasn’t fit to be on the road. It was old, but the faulty brake system didn’t seem to have been intentionally caused by someone.”

Still, that didn’t mean someone hadn’t tampered with the truck.

“Do whatever it takes to find Anya, dead or alive. Deploy more people if needed.” Christina frowned as her -expression turned grave.

If she tries to get away, I’ll never let her off.

“Understood,” Lyle responded before turning to leave.

Having lost her appetite, Christina had the caretaker clear her food.

When night fell, Nathaniel showed up at the ward with a chilly aura.

“I heard from the caretaker that you didn’t have much for dinner. There was a lot of food left,” he commented with glacier–like eyes.

“I wasn’t really hungry, so I didn’t cat much.” The woman clutched her belly and walked back to her bed. from the window. “Honestly, you don’t have to keep dropping by to keep me company. I know you’re busy.”

“I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone at the hospital,” Nathaniel replied frankly. “I’ll get Sebastian to bring you some supper. You have to take good care of your body and the baby.”

Knowing that the man might get angry with her if she rejected him further, Christina burrowed herself in his arms. “I want a burrito,” she murmured coyly.

“Okay.” While holding onto her with one arm, Nathaniel whipped out his phone and dialed Sebastian’s number, asking the latter to buy a burrito.

Then, he carried Christina back onto the bed and tucked her in.

“Yerek may have been involved with Anya’s car accident,” he remarked, suddenly changing the subject. “Nigel didn’t rat him out, and Anya has a lot of dirt on him. If she gets caught, Yerek will have to be investigated too.”

“So, Yerek arranged the murder because he wanted to leave no loose ends,” Christina commented after a pause.

“There could be more than one reason behind that,” Nathaniel mused. “Anya is a granddaughter of the Specker family, so there’s no way Vladimir would just sit back and do nothing for her. As long as Anya’s alive, Yerek will have a way to get more funds through Vladimir.”

Christina was dumbstruck.

So, he’s going to such lengths to protect her just so he can use her as a cash machine?

Chapter 692 A Joke

If Christina’s guess was true, it meant that Anya was in a perilous situation.

Christina knew that although she had pressured Anya into revealing part of the truth, it was crucial to conduct a thorough investigation to confirm the validity of Anya’s words.

Before the entire truth was unveiled, Christina would never stop in her mission of taking revenge on Nigel’s family.

Anya’s involvement in Christina’s revenge plan was just a piece of the puzzle. Christina intended to utilize Anya as a means to send a clear warning to all those who were involved.

“Nathaniel, I want to recuperate at home. I feel too lonely at the hospital,” Christina whined as she snuggled into Nathaniel’s embrace. Afraid he would say no, she quickly gave another suggestion. “Or I can transfer to my father’s hospital to spend more time with him.”

“Your father is receiving excellent care from the medical team and caregiver. Don’t worry about him,” Nathaniel assured her. “Stay for another night. Tomorrow morning, I’ll get the doctor to give you a thorough checkup tomorrow. If all goes well, you can return home to recover.”

They remained in the dark as to whether Anya was still alive, or if her accident was related to Yerek.

Despite Nathaniel assigning a dedicated bodyguard to ensure Christina’s safety, he knew there was always a possibility of lapses. The hospital’s security system wasn’t as tight as Scenic Garden Manor’s security system.

Therefore, when Christina expressed her desire to recover at home, Nathaniel eagerly seized the opportunity. That was exactly what he wanted as well.

“Okay. That sounds great,” Christina agreed readily.

Half an hour later, Sebastian showed up at the ward with takeaway food.

Christina didn’t have an appetite today and only finished half of her burrito. Nathaniel snapped up the rest.

He grew increasingly worried, but he hid his concern to avoid adding to Christina’s stress.

After making sure she was asleep, he walked out of her ward, where Sebastian had been waiting outside for some time.

“Let’s talk elsewhere.”

Nathaniel led Sebastian to the rooftop. After he lit up a cigarette, something occurred to him, and he removed the cigarette from his lips in frustration, holding it between his fingers.

“How is the investigation going?” Nathaniel asked.

“Our operative who was tailing Yerek shared the information that he was out of town on a business trip before and after the incident. His last visit to Jadeborough was on the day of the international conference,” Sebastian informed. “Following the conference, he flew to another state to meet with clients, and he has yet to return to Hallsbay or make any subsequent visits to Jadeborough. It has been seven days since Yerek last contacted Anya. There are rumors circulating that they are currently in a dispute over the distribution of assets.”

Yerek and Anya were bound to be engaged in a conflict. After all, Nigel had secretly transferred his assets to Yerek without the knowledge of his wife and daughter, leaving Anya and Macy with nothing but accumulating debts.

“Spread the news I told you to gather earlier. Make sure that Anya and Yerck are not given an opportunity to make another move,” Nathaniel commanded coldly

Yerck’s aspirations of rebuilding the company that Nigel had painstakingly established were nothing but a mere fantasy at present.

Once Anya discovered the backup plan that Nigel had devised for Yerek, she would undoubtedly make a scene, consequently weakening Yerek’s financial capabilities.

That way, it would be easier for Christina to deal with Yerek.

The most effective strategy to bring down one’s enemy was to instigate discord among them, causing them to turn against each other.

“Yes. I’ll get that done right away,” Sebastian replied.

Nathaniel then listened to Sebastian’s work reports before making his way back to the ward. He shrugged out of his suit jacket and lay down behind Christina.

Christina caught a whiff of his scent and moved closer, her voice groggy. “Where have you been? You’re freezing.”

Nathaniel reached for the blanket and wrapped it tightly around Christina. He spoke softly. “I stepped out to take a phone call. Go back to sleep. I’ll adjust the heater to make it warmer.”

Christina let out a soft moan and nuzzled against Nathaniel’s neck. Finding a comfortable position, she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Nathaniel retrieved the remote control to increase the temperature of the heater before planting a kiss on the top of her head.

“Christina, I’ll make sure all your wishes come true.”

That very night, a sleek black car came to a halt in front of an upscale condominium. The rear door swung open, and Emilia emerged with the assistance of her assistant.

“I don’t want to go home. I want to keep drinking,” mumbled Emilia as she leaned on her assistant for support. They stumbled into the condominium, with Emilia’s words slurring slightly. “I–I’ll make a comeback soon. No one can stop me from turning the tables.”

“Emilia, you’re drunk,” her assistant reminded her softly. “Melissa asked me to take you home. Which floor is your house on?”

Emilia shot a sideways glance at her assistant before abruptly shoving her away. Pointing an accusatory finger, she chided, “You’re here to gloat at my misfortune, too, don’t you? Well, it’s not going to happen!”

Her loud voice echoed through the quiet surroundings. “Christina can’t ruin my reputation!”

She patted her chest confidently and continued with a smug tone, “Christina and I have been rivals for years, and she used to be no match for me. If it weren’t for her luck in marrying a wealthy and influential man, she wouldn’t have gained control over both the Steele and Gibson families!”

One of the tenants shouted furiously at them from above, clearly annoyed by the commotion. Worried that Emilia’s behavior would make headlines the next day, the assistant reluctantly attempted to appease her.

“You’re absolutely right,” she hurriedly agreed, supporting Emilia. “Melissa assured me that once the rumors have subsided, she will speak to the company on your behalf to facilitate your comeback.”

Pleased, Emilia patted the assistant’s face forcefully. “Ha! When I make a comeback, I won’t forget to reward

you. When my contract with Melissa–ends, I’ll promote you to be my manager.”

The assistant couldn’t help but scoff inwardly. It was common knowledge in the entertainment industry that Emilia’s chances of making a comeback were slim to none after offending such a powerful individual.

Despite Emilia’s attempts to cozy up to influential figures at numerous social gatherings, she couldn’t even secure any minor roles in web dramas.

No one was willing to risk their own reputation or safety to assist Emilia. However, the assistant chose to remain in her position because Melissa had promised a substantial reward for monitoring Emilia’s every move.

After finding the access card in Emilia’s bag, the assistant unlocked the glass door and helped Emilia into the lobby.

Emilia was quiet as they waited for the elevator to arrive.

A sudden chill ran down Emilia’s spine, momentarily sobering her up.

Fear coursed through her veins, overpowering her heart.

She whirled around to look beyond the lobby. Right then, her assistant told her to enter the elevator.

As though she had seen something strange, Emilia dashed into the elevator, her movements reminiscent of a startled cat.

Her assistant gave her a surprised look. “What’s wrong, Emilia?”

 

Chapter 693 Counterattack

Emilia cowered in a corner and urged, “What are you doing? Come on in!”

Startled by Emilia’s erratic behavior, the assistant hastily followed suit and entered the elevator. Emilia, now visibly more composed and sober, swiftly pressed the button for their intended floor.

Plucking up her courage, the assistant asked, “Emilia, what’s wrong?” Considering Emilia’s relatively short tenure in the entertainment industry, she shouldn’t have made too many enemies just yet.

Emilia glared at her. “What’s with the questions? That’s none of your business!”

With haste, Emilia hurried out of the elevator, closely followed by her piteous assistant who was scolded for nothing.

As Emilia used her fingerprint to unlock the door to her condominium, she caught a glimpse of her assistant, who was still following her persistently, which ignited a surge of anger within her.

“Did Melissa ask you to keep an eye on me? I may be drunk, but I’m not disabled! It’s not like I’d cause her trouble. If there’s nothing else, you can leave now. Stop appearing in front of me all the time. You’re becoming a nuisance,” Emilia snapped.

Emilia yanked the door open and stalked in, slamming the door shut after her.

The assistant rolled her eyes and left.

The house was enveloped in darkness, and Emilia’s head throbbed with pain. Leaning against the cabinet, she fumbled for the light switch.

Her hand came into contact with something warm on the wall.

This is strange. Since when did I install a heater behind the door?

Perplexed, Emilia tightly gripped the warm object, giving it a few firm squeezes. Unexpectedly, the thing grasped her wrist in response. In an instant, a dark figure materialized and forcefully pushed Emilia against the door.

Following a loud thud, Emilia’s breath hitched when a force grasped her throat, constricting her airflow.

At once, she sobered up as fear flashed across her eyes. In a trembling voice, she asked, “W-Who are you? How did you get in? W-What do you want for me?”

“Emilia, you seem to be thriving lately, huh? I can barely recognize you,” Anya said in a hoarse voice. Sensing Emilia’s fear, she pressed on tauntingly, “Oh, the countless misdeeds you’ve committed. Just look at how terrified you are. You’re a far cry from the Emilia I once knew.”

After confirming that the unwanted visitor was Anya, Emilia relaxed but swiftly put on her guard again. “How did you get in? Weren’t you arrested by the police?”

The video depicting Anya getting arrested by the police at the bank had been spread all over the Internet. Emilia was initially pleased to learn that the police car escorting Anya had plunged into the ocean.

To Emilia, Anya’s supposed death was a stroke of luck. With Anya out of the picture, there would be no one to expose their past collaboration in scheming against Christina.

Emilia felt relieved knowing that Christina had no concrete evidence linking her to the matter. Once she overcame this current obstacle, she was determined to seize an opportunity to clear her tarnished reputation and make a comeback in the entertainment industry.

Anya proceeded to switch on all the lights, allowing Emilia to finally get a good look at her.

Anya’s clothes were filthy and disheveled. The filth dripping off her clothes stained Emilia’s pristine carpet. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and her wrinkled skin was covered in wounds, some of them still bleeding.

The sight sent shivers down Emilia’s spine, causing her skin to crawl with unease.

Did Anya create an accident to escape from the police?

Emilia decided that this wasn’t the time to ask how Anya barged into her house. Carefully, she asked, “Anya, what brings you here? I’m going through a rough patch myself, so I’m not sure how much assistance I can offer you.”

“Emilia, as you suspected, I was apprehended by the police, but I managed to escape,” Anya stated nonchalantly, collapsing onto the couch. She grabbed an apple from the coffee table and began devouring it. “I haven’t eaten in hours. Cook something for me!”

She began to order Emilia around matter-of-factly.

Deep down, Emilia was seething in fury. Did Anya seriously barge into my house just to order me around?

It was a serious offense to hide a criminal, so Emilia wanted nothing more than to kick Anya out. Alas, she wasn’t bold enough to do so.

“I don’t cook at home. Why don’t I order some food for you?”

“No. I want you to cook for me,” Anya demanded angrily, afraid that someone else might discover her whereabouts.

Anya was an outlaw, so Emilia dared not offend her. “Okay, I’ll whip up some pasta for you. Why don’t you take a shower and change into clean clothes?”

Rising to her feet, Anya padded to the bathroom. She suddenly turned over her shoulder and warned Emilia with a sneer, “Don’t even think about playing any tricks. I’m at my wits end, so if you force me any further, I’ll make sure you end up in jail with me.”

Emilia’s face turned ashen as she forced out a smile. “We’re in this together, so I won’t be foolish enough to betray you. Hurry, go take a shower. I’ll bring you some clean clothes.”

She hurried into her bedroom. After making sure Anya was in the bathroom, she sneaked out of the condominium and locked the door from outside. Pulling her phone out, she called the police.

“Hello, there’s a thief in my house. My address is…”

Emilia told the police her address clearly. She stared at the locked door, desperately hoping for their swift arrival.

After ten agonizing minutes, several police officers finally appeared outside Emilia’s house.

“I was afraid the thief would escape, so I locked the door from outside when I came out earlier. I’m sure the thief is still inside,” Emilia explained, pretending to be terrified. Her hands trembled as she handed the key to the police. “This is the key to my condominium

“Please stay away from the door,” the police reminded Emilia after taking the key from her. They then unlocked the door slowly.

The condominium lacked proper soundproofing, and the running water from the bathroom masked the sound of the police officers entering.

After a few minutes, the bathroom door swung open, and Anya emerged, dressed in a bathrobe.

The police officers who were hiding behind the door swiftly sprang into action to pin Anya down.

“Stay still!” one of the officers commanded, recognizing her as a wanted criminal the moment he laid eyes on her.

Upon seeing the officers, Anya struggled with all her might to free herself, but she was no match for the officers’ strength.

When she was brought out of the condominium, Emilia was waiting at the door anxiously.

“Emilia, you b*tch! How dare you call the police?” Anya screamed. “Just you wait. I will make sure you pay for this. I will expose everything you did to the public. Ha! I want you to suffer along with me!”

Her howls echoed through the once-quiet corridor. Emilia remained unfazed by the threats, but she knew she had to maintain her innocent facade.

Emilia quickly claimed, “I don’t know her, so don’t listen to her absurd claims. I will hire a lawyer and file a defamation lawsuit against her. I won’t let her escape the consequences of her actions so easily!

 

Chapter 694 Plot Twist

The leading police officer remained silent and simply advised Emilia to stay cautious before they departed.

Emilia gave them a warm send-off before returning to her condominium. Her eyes scanned the disarrayed mess with a mix of disgust and contempt.

Tomorrow morning, I shall throw everything in this house that has been touched by Anya. I don’t want her bad luck to affect me. She has no right to accuse me of being heartless. She was foolish to stir up trouble and not know how to eliminate the threats lurking around her.

Right then, Emilia’s phone rang. It was an unknown number, so she hesitated for a few seconds before answering it.

“Who is this?” she asked sweetly. She had been longing for sponsors to reach out to her and was determined to make a memorable first impression on them.

“This is Yerek Gibson,” the voice on the other end revealed in a dark tone. “Why didn’t you inform me about Anya’s visit to your house and instead chose to get the police involved?”

Emilia dared not offend him and immediately put up an act. “Anya is crazy. I don’t know who told us that we are collaborating, so she showed up here, threatening to kill me. I couldn’t find a chance to inform you that she was here. If someone else were to discover her at my house, I wouldn’t be able to defend myself, Harboring a criminal is a serious offense, and I didn’t want her to implicate me in her actions.”

Taking a deep breath, she continued, “The best course of action is to involve the police. Anya lacks sufficient evidence to prove our involvement in her criminal activities. If she is sentenced to jail, there will be no one to challenge you for the inheritance. Anya’s mother is too naive to pose a threat in that regard.” Yerek still thought that Emilia had acted recklessly. “The police are not easily fooled. Anya has

committed numerous crimes, and they will thoroughly investigate her claims. Moreover, Anya’s downfall can largely be attributed to Christina and Nathaniel’s actions. Do you honestly believe that Christina is unaware of your involvement?”

Emilia’s heart sank as she jolted up abruptly, accidentally knocking over a nearby vase. “Mr. Gibson, if Christina confronts me, you must come to my aid. My plan has started to yield results, and I’m sure you don’t want Christina to continue her streak of success, do you?”

Yerek hated it when people threatened him. In a furious tone, he snarled, “Emilia, perhaps you should be more concerned about what Anya might reveal to the police. By the time Christina reaches you, you could already be sitting behind bars.”

With that, he abruptly ended the call, leaving Emilia in a state of panic.

The next morning, Nathaniel accompanied Christina to her checkup appointment. Once the doctor confirmed that she could be discharged from the hospital and continue her recuperation at home. Nathaniel felt a sense of relief. He then drove her back to Scenic Garden Manor.

Nathaniel’s schedule for the day was packed, so he didn’t stay at home for long. Soon, he and Sebastian left for work.

Christina settled comfortably on the couch, engrossed in reviewing the design plan that Klaudia had sent

her on her tablet

Lost in her thoughts, she was unaware that Lyle had appeared silently behind her. “Mrs. Hadley, I have some news about Anya. Unfortunately, it’s not good news,” he told her in a low voice.

He was preparing her for the news that he would be delivering.

“Go ahead,” Christina said, her gaze fixed on the designs on her tablet.

“Anya was apprehended last night at Emilia’s condominium. Surprisingly, it was Emilia herself who contacted the authorities,” he revealed. “However, things have taken a turn. A substantial sum of money has been paid to secure a prominent lawyer for Anya. The evidence we gathered against her seems to have been discredited. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is highly likely that Anya will be granted bail within the next forty-eight hours.”

Christina raised her head, her brows furrowed. “Who hired the lawyer for Anya?”

Lyle’s expression turned apologetic as he admitted his lack of knowledge. “Unfortunately, the individual responsible for this seems to be operating discreetly, entrusting a trusted associate to handle the affairs. I regret to inform you that I have been unable to figure out the person’s identity.”

Anya’s involvement in the crimes was set in stone, so the person must be extremely capable to be able to ensure her acquittal and subsequent release from jail.

Yerck was busy finding investors for his company and wasn’t capable of bailing Anya out.

“Investigate this. No matter what, you must find out who is behind this,” Christina ordered. This was the first time a sense of panic crept into her heart since she began her actions against Anya. It seemed as though the situation was slipping out of her grasp.

“Yes. I’ll make sure our men continue their investigation,” Lyle responded solemnly. “Mrs. Hadley, should inform Mr. Hadley about this matter?”

“He should have already been informed about the update by now,” Christina said, her irritation evident in her voice. “You may leave now. I need some time alone to gather my thoughts.”

Lyle spun on his heels to leave.

Klaudia was urging Christina to identify any issues with the renovation so that she could promptly arrange for repairs and ensure a swift return to business operations.

Christina replied: I need some time to go through the details. I’ll contact you later.

Following that, she set her tablet aside and reached for her phone, dialing Victoria’s number to invite her over for a discussion. Victoria wasted no time and promptly made her way to Christina’s home.

She ran into the living room and exclaimed eagerly, “Christina, what do you want to discuss?”

“Calm down. Have some tea, and I’ll explain everything to you gradually, Christina said as she handed Victoria the cup of tea she had prepared.

After taking the cup of tea from her, Victoria set it aside. “I’m not thirsty. Tell me what’s happening now. I can’t wait any longer,” she urged Christina.

Christina proceeded to disclose the full story to Victoria, detailing Anya’s escape, subsequent arrest, and the impending bail that would secure her release from jail.

Victoria immediately exploded in anger. “Who is the despicable individual that intervened to save Anya, a conniving woman? I will not rest until I uncover their identity. I’ll initiate an investigation immediately!”

Christina swiftly intervened, preventing Victoria from making the call. “I’ve heard about your family’s renowned detective agency abroad. Considering the circumstances, Nathaniel and I are likely being targeted, and we can’t handle this alone. I’ll need your help in uncovering the identity of this person.”

No matter how careful the person was in concealing their identity, they could never remove traces of their existence.

Victoria assured her confidently, “Don’t worry. Leave this to me. I promise I’ll get the job done.”

Christina reminded her carefully, “Don’t let Nathaniel find out I asked for your help. He doesn’t want me to get involved in too many matters.”

Victoria nodded. “Got it. Mr. Hadley is smart, though. I can’t guarantee that he’ll never find out.”

“Just keep it from him as long as you can,” Christina replied. “Another thing. I want to see Winston. He has something I need, but I can’t contact him just like that. My identity is too sensitive. Can you think of any ways we can arrange a meeting with him?”

If Christina couldn’t meet up with Winston, she would never be able to confirm the validity of Anya’s words.

After a brief consideration, Victoria replied, “David’s mother is celebrating her sixtieth birthday the day after tomorrow. Winston and David are at odds, so he might not attend the banquet at night. You can attend it with Mr. Hadley, and I’ll create an opportunity for you to meet up with Winston in private.”

 

Chapter 695 Add Fuel To Fire

Once Christina and Victoria settled on their initial plan, Victoria did not linger at Scenic Garden Manor for too long before leaving.

After a brief afternoon nap, Christina headed to the hospital to pay a visit to Timothy as usual.

Timothy’s health showed slight signs of improvement. Although progress was slow, Christina still considered it good news.

Just as Lyle had predicted, Anya was indeed granted bail in the afternoon by a mysterious individual.

At the same time, the person Christina had sent to keep a close eye on Anya fell victim to her cunning tricks, ultimately losing track of her.

Anya’s escape would not have gone as smoothly if she had not received assistance from someone behind the scenes.

In the meantime, Christina beefed up the protection around Timothy, doubling the security personnel stationed in the shadows in the hospital.

To be on the safer side, Christina did not stay too long in the hospital, and when she left, she went straight back to Scenic Garden Manor.

Christina immersed herself completely in the ongoing renovation process of the studio. She spent the entire afternoon engaged in online discussions with Rayne, and she felt fulfilled.

On the other hand, the circumstances grew increasingly challenging for Emilia. Anya’s arrest did nothing to alter her own future prospects.

Upon receiving insider information that Emilia had been abandoned by the company, her manager shamelessly arranged various “reception” gigs for her. Every day, Emilia found herself either

accompanying CEOS for social drinking or acting as their female companion during recreational outings.

However, Emilia refused to surrender easily. She convinced a big shot to let her participate in a live stage event for a small makeup brand. Keeping it a secret from her manager, she attended the event.

Melissa only found out about it when the event came to an end.

By the time the manager reached the event venue, Emilia had already wrapped up the event and was seated in the dressing room, removing her makeup and changing her attire.

“Who allowed you to take on the gig without permission from the company?”

The second Melissa barged into the dressing room, she began shouting at Emilia, heedless of the fact that the staff of the event was still around.

“Do you have any idea how the company operates? Have you completely disregarded our protocols? The compensation you received from the brand for your endorsement is nowhere near enough to cover the hefty breach of contract penalties. I’ve repeatedly cautioned you against rushing into a comeback. emphasizing the need for patience. Yet here you are, creating such a colossal blunder. How can I possibly maintain my credibility and advocate for your opportunity to make a comeback?”

Emilia stood before the mirror, delicately removing the layers of vibrant makeup from her face. Unfazed by the

presence of the woman behind her, she cast a cool smile and retorted, “Melissa, I understand how unied you are with your myriad responsibilities. I wouldn’t dare burden you with such trivial matters.

Moreover, I willingly took on this endeavor without receiving any compensation. It could be viewed as a voluntary act rather than a violation of our contractual terms, wouldn’t you agree? Since the day I

ceased all my previous engagements, your attentiveness to my affairs has been rather scarce. Your exaggerated reaction today merely stems from your apprehension that my actions might tarnish your reputation and impede the prospects of the emerging talents under your wing.”

Despite the fact that Emilia had exposed what was on her mind, Melissa was unashamed. She still felt that it was Christina who was in the wrong.

“My contract with the company only expires in two years’ time. You can’t work, but that doesn’t mean I have to suffer alongside you. There are few managers who only handle one artiste. Unlike you, I don’t have the luxury of not having to worry about money,” Melissa hissed, her words laced with sarcasm.

Instantly, Emilia threw the powder compact onto Melissa’s face before leaping up to her feet. At that, the staff hastily fled the scene, wanting no part in the unfolding drama.

Melissa covered the corner of her eye, which had been struck by the powder compact, and inhaled sharply. “Emilia, I’ve treated you fairly ever since you were assigned to me. Despite the company putting you on the back burner, I have made efforts to help you build connections. And now, this is how you repay me?”

Her words, however, only served to add fuel to the fire that was Emilia’s hatred.

“Your connection-building’ was nothing more than a cover for your attempts to make me the instrument to get more resources,” Emilia retaliated. Almost all the insults and hardships she had endured had been because of Melissa. “Do you think I’ll continue flattering you and pleasing you like before? That I’ll plead for you to be my manager?”

A mocking laugh escaped Emilia. “If you think that I’m ruining your reputation, feel free to terminate the contract with me. Even without you, a pimp manager, I can still thrive in the entertainment industry. 1. Emilia Steele, have other ways of getting support!”

Melissa locked her gaze onto the woman standing before her, her face betraying her shock. She had been convinced of her absolute control over Emilia, only to realize that she had unwittingly become a subject of mockery in Emilia’s eyes.

Melissa had recently been preoccupied with guiding the new artists, and that left little room for her to keep track of Emilia’s activities. Thus, she could not be certain whether or not Emilia had managed to find a new support system without her knowledge.

When Melissa saw how bold Emilia seemed, she could not help but feel a twinge of anxiety.

“What foolish dreams are you entertaining, Emilia? The one you’ve crossed is Mr. Hadley. Who would dare to be your patron? Do you really believe you can break free of the company’s restraint without paying the penalty? Let me make it clear to you that this is out of the question. As long as I’m your manager, you’ll have to heed my instructions. Unless you miraculously become an A-list artiste overnight, you’ll remain subject to my authority.”

Melissa had no qualms about being harsh with her words.

“Well, too bad now, because you just ran out of chances. I’m not going to give you an opportunity to appear in public anymore. As a top-tier manager in the entertainment industry, this is something within the range of my capabilities!”

With that said, she stormed out of the room.

After that, Emilia went on a rampage in the room, throwing things around to vent her emotions.

Right then, someone entered the dressing room again.

With bloodshot eyes, Emilia caught a glimpse of the person’s appearance through the mirror. As if she had seen a ghost, she spun around and gripped the edge of the table tightly, eyes wide and filled with

horror.

“W-Why are you here?”

Wearing a creepy grin, Anya closed the door behind her and inched toward Emilia.

“Hey, Emilia, I’m here to make good on my promise. Remember what I told you back when I got caught?”

“Listen, there are people out there. One shout from me and they’ll come storming in. You won’t be able to escape.

“Hahaha! You’re still in the dark, aren’t you? I’ve been acquitted. Go ahead and call the cops. I’ll make sure to spill all the ugly secrets about you.”

Emilia’s face went white with fear as she made a desperate attempt to flee, only to be hindered by the clothes rack Anya had toppled. She stumbled and crashed onto the floor with a loud thud.

The second Emilia’s forehead collided with the hard floor, a rush of dizziness engulfed her senses. Driven by a fierce survival instinct, she wriggled along the ground toward the doorway, much like a desperate worm fleeing from the bird.

Anya gazed down at her with a disdainful expression, looking at Emilia as if she were nothing more than a helpless, drowning dog.

Anya was determined to make Emilia pay back every hardship she had ever endured at her hands.

“Help! Someone, save me! Help! Anyone!”

In the next second, Anya raised her foot and mercilessly crushed Emilia’s hand, taunting, “Did you ever consider that this day would come when you betrayed me?”

Emilia cried out in pain, desperately clawing at Anya’s foot in an attempt to free her own hand. Yet, the more she tried to fight back, the more cruel Anya became.

“You’re as despicable and shameless as Christina! You sisters should go to hell together!”\

Chapter 696 Malice

At this moment, Emilia’s arrogant attitude that was directed at Melissa had completely dissipated. Her desperate desire to survive consumed her. She had to stay alive, and she was willing to pay any price necessary to do so.

“Anya, I didn’t mean to betray you,” Emilia pleaded, putting on a pitiful act. “It was Yerek who told me to do this!”

Emilia was well aware that Anya had not approached her first just to teach her a lesson.

It was clear that there was a power imbalance in Emilia and Yerek’s partnership, for Yerek never showed any respect for Emilia.

Emilia was an impatient person. Her choice to rely on Yerek when Anya was losing was driven by desperation. Surprisingly, their objectives aligned perfectly, as both harbored a deep hatred toward Christina.

It was that very animosity that forced two people who could not stand each other to form a partnership for the sake of achieving their objectives.

“Tell me, why did Yerek ask you to betray me?” Anya grabbed Emilia’s chin, forcing her to lift her head. “I won’t show you any mercy if you lie to me!”

Anya now resembled a demon from the depths of hell. She was no longer the short-sighted and power- hungry

heiress of the Gibson family she once was.

The brutal society and the harsh reality forcefully changed Anya into a completely different person. Now, her methods were far more ruthless and extreme than Timothy’s.

“Yerek feared that you will compete with him for the inheritance, so he set you up.” Emilia blurted out. fabricating a lie to save her own hide.

“What inheritance? Be specific!”

From what Anya knew, Nigel’s company was burdened with debt, and a significant portion of the remaining assets had been taken by Christina under various pretexts. Moreover, Barnaby did not even care about Yerek and Nigel, so there were no assets for Emilia and Yerek to contend for.

“Nigel registered several companies overseas under the names of others, and those companies continued thriving, having not been affected by the series of events,” Emilia admitted. “Most of the funds used to establish those companies were transferred from marital assets. Now, all of those companies have been transferred to Yerek’s name. From what I know, their market value is around fifty billion.”

Anya was taken aback, her eyes widening in disbelief as she exclaimed, “How could that be?”

If Nigel had transferred such a large amount of money, why was Macy completely unaware of it?

Nevertheless, Anya soon figured out the answer

Nigel never allowed Macy to get involved in the company’s matters. Her only focus was on spending money, and Nigel provided her with a black card that could fulfill those desires of hers.

“After the division of the Gibson family, Yerek did live a humble life for a while. That was because he hadn’t yet fully acquired Nigel’s assets.

The sight of Anya’s agony brought Emilia joy. As if she was addicted to that sensation, she revealed every single one of Yerek’s secret trump cards.

“This image of Yerek that outsiders currently perceive is entirely a facade. The more miserable his life seems, the easier it becomes for those who seek to harm him to let their guard down. That makes his plans more likely to succeed.”

Anya was skeptical regarding Emilia’s revelations. Sensing her hesitation, Emilia added, “If you don’t believe me, you can investigate Yerek’s accounts. Every fifteenth of the month, a substantial amount of money will be transferred into his account. That money isn’t investment capital; it’s dividends from shares transferred to him by overseas companies.”

Yerek’s craftiness sent shivers down Anya’s spine, and Nigel’s preferential treatment broke Anya’s heart.

She, too, was Nigel’s child. Why can’t I have what Yerek has?

Pain exploded in Anya’s heart, and she stumbled back before collapsing on the chair behind her, her pale lips quivering.

Seizing the opportunity, Emilia managed to crawl up from the ground and looked at her bruised and battered hand. A glimmer of resentment flashed in her eyes.

“Yerek has leverage over me, leaving me with no other option but to be coerced by him. Honestly, I would rather work together with you.”

Emilia was slowly chipping off Anya’s defenses, making the latter’s stance sway.

“I’m seeking a bright future, and you’re after power. Why don’t we continue our partnership? We can work together to get rid of Yerek and help you regain what’s rightfully yours.”

At that, Anya’s gaze toward Emilia turned cold, and a mocking smile played at the corner of her lips. “Continue our partnership so you can have another opportunity to stab me in my back? I don’t think so.”

Emilia maintained her composure and said, “It’s still better than both of us ending up in the hands of Yerek and Christina. Take a moment to think about it. Once Yerek learns that you’ve been acquitted, how do you think he will come after you? Have you given it serious thought?”

Sure enough, Yerek was the heir groomed by Nigel. He had learned everything from Nigel, including Nigel’s despicable nature.

Fifteen years ago, Nigel had dared to set up his own brother and sister-in-law and kill them. It would not come as a surprise for Yerek to not spare her, his half-sister.

To those two, blood ties mattered not when personal profits were at stake.

“Emilia, there’s no trust left between us. If you want us to keep working together, you need to prove your sincerity to me.”

She finally took the bait!

“You were only arrested because you fell for Christina’s trap. I’ve gathered information these past couple of days. Tomorrow, Christina is scheduled to visit her studio for an inspection. This will be an excellent opportunity. Tell me how you want me to handle it, and I’ll follow your instructions without questions.” Anya’s eyes narrowed with fierce determination. “I want that demn Christina here, all died up and ready

“Yes, of course,” Emilia replied, a cunning plan formulating in her mind. “But let’s keep this quiet. We don’t want to alert anyone. I’ll need your assistance since having more people involved won’t do us any favors.”

Anya narrowed her eyes dangerously. “I’ll back you up.”

Emilia curled her lips. “I’ll arrange the transportation.”

Just before Nathaniel’s return, Christina and Rayne made the final adjustments to the studio renovation plan.

“This particular task is a bit intricate, and there’s a risk of misinterpretation by the workers. I’ll visit the construction site tomorrow in person to oversee the process and ensure its accuracy. Let’s arrange a meeting on-site to discuss the specifics.”

When Christina heard a noise coming from the foyer, she guessed Nathaniel must’ve come back.

“I have something to attend to, so let’s discuss the details when we meet tomorrow.”

At that, Rayne waved goodbye to Christina and ended the video call.

Right then, Nathaniel appeared in the living room.

Christina discreetly switched the work page on her tablet to the gossip and entertainment channel. Coincidentally, the entertainment section covered a full page of news about the comical incidents surrounding Anya’s arrest and subsequent release within forty-eight hours.

Nathaniel glanced at the content on the tablet and reassured, “The lawyer who managed to secure Anya’s release is highly reputable and skilled in the field, and the big shot backing the lawyer isn’t one to be underestimated. There’s no need to be overly concerned about this. With me around, those who are trying to bully you won’t end well.”

 

Chapter 697 Dreaming Of Changing Dads

The fact that Nathaniel had been called the Grim Reaper wasn’t without any basis.

Anyone he targeted would never be able to escape his grasp.

“I’m not sad, Nathaniel. I just feel that it’s a shame.” Christina stared at him. “I had assumed that my plan was perfect. Given how evil Anya is, I can’t believe that there’s someone out there willing to protect her still.”

Anya was no longer the glamorous daughter of the Gibson family. In fact, she had nothing left and was reduced to living in poverty and disgrace.

Consequently, Christina couldn’t, for the life of her, figure out what the mysterious person saw in Anya.

“The truth will definitely be revealed one day. Everything will make sense once we find out who her mysterious benefactor is.” Nathaniel tried to come up with a solution for the dilemma she was in, “You can monitor those who interacted with Anya before. There’s a good chance that one of them is her protector.”

A person popped into Christina’s mind immediately. “Could Vladimir have interfered behind the scenes?”

Nathaniel rejected the idea, “It can’t be him, as my men are monitoring the Specker family. Vladimir knows very well what’s at stake and values the reputation of the Specker family more than his own life. On top of that, he’s a man of virtue. Since he declared that he would stay out of the Gibson family’s conflicts, he would definitely not cross the line.”

The only other suspect Christina could think of was Yerek.

Hence, she asked hesitantly, “Can it be Yerek?”

After giving the matter some thought, Nathaniel gave an ambiguous reply. “Anything can be possible.”

Before Christina had the chance to question further, Nathaniel elaborated, “Yerek has been desperately looking for investors recently, but the results were dismal. He plans to sell the company Nigel left him to raise cash. Therefore, he has met with some foreign investors at an overseas conference and is seemingly close to them. Perhaps he is preparing to start a company with them overseas.”

Expanding his business overseas was undoubtedly the best path for Yerek to take.

After all, it was close to impossible for him to clean up the mess Nigel had left him.

“Let’s not talk about such topics anymore.” Christina changed the subject. “The studio’s renovations have almost been completed. I feel like going to check out the place tomorrow.”

“Remember to take Lyle with you.” Nathaniel knew what she was up to, yet he wasn’t going to stop her as long as she didn’t cross his threshold.

“Got it,” Christina replied in delight.

In the evening, Christina and Nathaniel had dinner at the Hadley residence. Lucas and Camila clung to Christina and refused to leave her despite it being their bedtime.

After ending his chat with Charlie, Nathaniel returned to his bedroom from the study. The sight of Lucas and Camila hugging their respective pillow and doll on his side of the bed caused his face to darken.

“Go sleep in your own room.” Grabbing the children with one hand each, he reprimanded them, “Both of you are too noisy and will prevent Mommy from getting a good rest. Now that she’s carrying a baby, she needs a place that’s absolutely quiet.”

The children struggled desperately with their limbs flailing in the air. Giving up upon realizing the futility of their efforts, they declared in unison, “Mommy promised us that she would sleep with us tonight, so

you’ll have to sleep in the guest room, Daddy.”

Me? Sleep in the guest room? No way!

Ignoring the children’s vehement protest, Nathaniel carried them back to their room without breaking a sweat.

“Both of you, stay here and behave,” Nathaniel ordered sternly before turning to leave.

With that, the children obeyed and remained in their room, staring blankly at each other.

A short while later, Nathaniel returned with their pillow and doll. He then proceeded to make their beds and patted them.

“Now, be good and come to bed.”

Upon exchanging glances, Lucas and Camila stubbornly stood where they were when they saw the defiance in each other’s eyes.

“Daddy, how can you insist on sleeping with Mommy when you’re an adult? Aren’t you embarrassed?” Camila lectured.

Amused by her words, Nathaniel explained, “I’m different from the two of you. Mommy and I are husband and wife. We are supposed to sleep with each other, but you’re not allowed to.”

Lucas pouted in response. “You’re really cunning, Daddy. You just want Mommy all for yourself.”

Nathaniel cocked a brow. “She’s mine after all.”

Clenching her fists, Camila fumed, “Mommy is your darling, while we’re Mommy’s darlings. Good things should be shared, Daddy. You shouldn’t be unreasonable.”

Nathaniel gave Camila’s hair a tousle as he replied in a gentle tone, “That’s not how you use the phrase. Certain things can never be shared. You’ll understand when you grow up. That said, there’s one thing I need to clarify. Not only are both of you Mommy’s darlings, but you’re mine too.”

Nathaniel added affectionately, “So, don’t be angry about it. Can you go to bed now, my darlings?”

Elated over Nathaniel’s soothing words, the children climbed into bed obediently.

“Daddy, you’re not allowed to cancel the family holiday next month. Otherwise, Lucas and I will be angry.” Camila grabbed Nathaniel’s pinkie as she sounded particularly serious.

Lucas chimed in, “That’s right. If you don’t keep your promise…”

Pondering for a long while, he was unable to find the words that would make him sound more authoritative.

The curious Nathaniel probed further, “What will you do if I don’t?”

After some hesitation, Lucas declared, “I’ll get someone else to be my daddy.”

As the veins on his forehead began to throb, Nathaniel gritted out, “You won’t get the chance. Now, go to bed.”

Sensing Nathaniel’s displeasure, both of them quickly hid their plump selves underneath their blankets.

Their reaction caused his anger to evaporate immediately. Smiling without a word, he tucked them in before getting up to leave.

When Christina emerged from the shower to be greeted by the empty bed, the sight of the missing children caused her to open the door curiously. Just as she was about to go out and look for them, she saw Nathaniel on his way back.

The latter wrapped his arms around her and led her toward the bed. “It’s already late. Where are you going?”

Christina answered candidly, “I was looking for Lucas and Camila. I promised to sleep with them tonight.”

“They went back to their room to sleep.” When Lucas‘ words about how he wanted Christina to change husbands echoed in Nathaniel’s mind, he couldn’t help but feel a squeeze in his heart. Thus, he asked in a pitiful tone, “Christina, do you find me annoying? Is that why you don’t want to sleep with me and insist on me sleeping in the guest room?”

Unsure about what was going through his mind, Christina decided to indulge his occasional silliness.

“What are you talking about, little Nathaniel? I would never find you annoying. Come on now, let’s see you smile again.”

 

Chapter 698 From The Beginning

“Christina, stop getting carried away!” Even though Nathaniel’s eyes darkened, the affection in his tone was unmistakable.

With her arms wrapped around his neck, she lifted herself off her heels to give his lips a gentle peck. She then suggested softly, “Since you don’t like that, why don’t I compensate you like this? What do you think?”

When Nathaniel held her waist and leaned in to whisper something in her ear, Christina shot him a glare but surprisingly didn’t say no.

The next morning, Christina was unable to fulfill her promise of sending the children to school. D

Nonetheless, both of them didn’t kick up a fuss as they sat inside the car together with Nathaniel, who was taking them instead.

Since the children hadn’t seen Sebastian in a while, they cozied up to him and played by his side, raising a ruckus for the rest of the journey. D

“Mr. Taggart, at your wedding with Ms. Lesley, Lucas and I will be your flower children, all right?” Camila stared at him with her eyes widened in anticipation.

How did the children know that Victoria and I are in a relationship?

Sebastian reacted with bewilderment. He was certain that neither Nathaniel nor Christina had told the children, for they never stuck their noses in the business of others.

Moreover, until he and Victoria made their relationship public, the lesser people knew the better.

“Who told you that Ms. Lesley and I are getting married?” Sebastian threw the question back at them.

Lucas replied matter–of–factly, “Mr. Taggart, Camila and I saw both of you kissing at the restaurant.”

The words caused Nathaniel to look up and throw Sebastian a glance. (D

The latter immediately realized what happened. That was the first time they officially went on a date after his proposal on the ship.

Back then, Sebastian had handpicked the restaurant and reserved the entire place. It was his idea of a romantic date to make up for what happened.

The room was really private, so how did the children manage to see Victoria and me kissing?

Sebastian was brimming with curiosity. “Mr. Lucas, Ms. Camila, can you tell me how you found out? I’ll give you a treat if you do.”

Lucas, whose character took after Nathaniel, wasn’t easy to be manipulated. However, the same couldn’t be said for Camila. Even though she couldn’t be bribed with money, she would easily succumb to the temptation of food.

Contrary to Sebastian’s expectations, Lucas and Camila replied in unison, “It’s a secret, Mr. Taggart. We can’t tell you.”

At that moment, the driver informed abruptly, “Mr. Hadley, we’ve arrived at the school.”

Forced to leave the topic at that, Sebastian opened the door for the children to alight.

Upon returning from walking the children into the school, Nathaniel asked, “Are you and Victoria really getting married?”

Sebastian showed no hesitation at all. “Mm–hmm. She is the one for me. Even if we can’t be together in the end, I’ll never be able to settle for someone else.”

Victoria was the only person in his heart. There was just no space for anyone else.

“If you ever encounter a problem that’s too much for you, you can always come to me,” Nathaniel offered in an indifferent tone before returning to his emails.

Briefly stunned, Sebastian broke into a respectful smile. “Okay. I understand.”

Even if something like that happened someday, it wasn’t in Sebastian’s character to ask Nathaniel for help. Yet the latter’s promise did change the nature of the issue.

Nathaniel’s word, worth its weight in gold, ignited the will within Sebastian to marry Victoria no matter what.

“Come along with us to the banquet tomorrow, as Preston would also be there. It’s time the Lesley family learn about your relationship with Victoria.” Nathaniel could foresee the impending problems Sebastian was going to face.

Preston and Victoria weren’t close despite the fact that they were siblings. His protectiveness over her only extended until there was a conflict with the Lesley family’s interests. After all, Victoria was the only daughter of the family, and they hoped to use her in a marriage alliance that would elevate the Lesley family’s status.

Therefore, if they found out that Victoria had fallen for an assistant who didn’t come from a distinguished family, they would definitely object to the relationship.

However, Nathaniel wasn’t going to allow something like that to happen to his most important subordinate. Hence, he would step in to convince the Lesley family on Sebastian’s behalf when the situation required it. D

“All right. I’ll make the necessary arrangements at work!” Sebastian answered.

By the time Christina woke up, it was already close to noon. Her phone was filled with missed calls and messages from Rayne.

“Oh no, I’m late!” Christina replied the latter as she rushed into the shower.

This is all Nathaniel’s fault. He tormented me the entire night in his unbridled excitement. Now, I’ve overslept and stood Rayne up. D

After giving her sore back a rub, Christina headed into the wardrobe to change into a dress. She proceeded to grab a quick breakfast before rushing to the studio under Lyle’s escort.

As the studio was still under renovation, Christina made a quick round on the account of the child she was carrying. Thereafter, she headed outside to discuss with Rayne the issues relating to the– renovation.

In the meantime, Lyle was standing nearby and watching the traffic below. It was hard to tell what was going through his mind.

“Christina, our studio has been defamed twice up till now, dealing a blow to our brand name and reputation. Therefore, I can’t guarantee that the business would be as profitable as it used to be once the repairs are completed.” Rayne felt distraught over the situation. “Perhaps the brands pushed online by influencers might even outsell us. I just want you to be mentally prepared.”

Although the studio had won the closely–fought lawsuit, they had also paid out a lot in compensation. At the same time, there were many who openly condemned their brand after being influenced by the rumors.

Among them, in particular, were Elizabeth and her junior. Their die–hard fans would time and time again criticize the studio, causing it to lose many potential customers.

In order to ensure a smooth resumption of work at the studio, Rayne had sent meticulously–prepared presents to their high–end members. Unfortunately, all the gifts ended up being returned.

“Since we have decided to start from scratch, these obstacles don’t mean much. We just have to jump through the same hoops one more time.” Christina wasn’t hung up about it. “Don’t give yourself too much pressure. Regardless of the troubles we face, I’ll persevere through them. Given how all of you have been by my side through the entire period, it would be unfair to you if I were to give up easily.” D

The words brought a tear to Rayne’s eyes. “Christina, you have our full support, and we have long gotten ourselves ready for this task. We’re just waiting for the studio to resume its operations.”

“On the first day of work, organize a dinner, as I want to give everyone a treat. Just think of it as celebrating our first day of work.” Christina handed Rayne a tissue. “Here, give it a wipe. You won’t look good if your makeup smears.”

Rayne took the tissue and wiped the corner of her eye. All right. I’ll update you once I make the arrangements.”

Christina beamed in response. “Well, I won’t take up anymore of your time. I’m heading upstairs to Gibson Corporation.”

“Okay, call me if you need anything.”

Just as Rayne had finished, she grabbed Christina’s hand when something popped into her mind suddenly.

After scanning her surroundings to make sure they were alone, she leaned closer to Christina and whispered, “Christina, I saw Anya in a bar last night.”

 

Chapter 699 Missing

Rayne knew Christina had put someone on Anya’s trail and that almost everyone knew about Anya’s ugly deeds.

Unaware of Christina’s somber expression, Rayne continued, “Anya seemed to have met some big shot. It was impossible to miss her flirtatious expression. If only the light wasn’t so dim, then I could’ve gotten a clear look at the person she was meeting.”

Considering how drunk Rayne was the night before, spotting and recognizing Anya in the crowd was already a stroke of luck.

“Which bar did you go to?” asked Christina. She wondered if Anya’s companion was the same person who bailed her out of the station.

Rayne racked her brains but could not remember anything else. She replied dejectedly, “Ah, I’m sorry. I can’t remember. My friend brought me to that bar after a dinner appointment, so my head was already kind of fuzzy. I’ll ask my friend about it..

“It’s imperative for me to know who Anya met at the bar, Rayne. Please try to get the bar’s name and address for me as soon as possible,” urged Christina.

“Don’t worry. I’ll call my friend right after this.” Rayne was determined not to let her boss down.

Relieved, Christina bid her assistant farewell. “Then I’ll make a move.” She took the elevator to the Gibson Corporation offices.

As usual, she signed off on the important paperwork and headed home.

The key departments in Gibson Corporation were run by Christina’s most trusted subordinates, so she was never worried about the company’s operations.

On the way home, Christina suddenly said to her bodyguard, “Could you please stop the car, Lyle? I’d like to buy something.”

Lyle dutifully parked the car at the side of the road and addressed her, “It’s cold outside, Mrs. Hadley. What would you like to buy? I can get it for you. Just wait in the car.”

Christina’s gaze traveled to a nearby cake shop that had a long, snaking queue out its door. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and said, “I’d like to buy some egg tarts from that shop for Lucas and Camila. Thank you.”

“Sure. Please rest in the car. I’ll be back soon.” Lyle put on his coat and alighted from the car, striding toward the cake shop.

Christina took out her phone and texted her children to apologize for not fulfilling her promise that morning.

The kids saw her text on the smartwatches gifted to them by Nathaniel. They texted Christina several cute emojis instead of throwing a tantrum. They even coaxed her to quickly get over her guilt as it would not be healthy for her baby. D

Warmth swelled in Christina’s chest. She almost cried; she had become more prone to mood swings since her pregnancy.

Click! Christina focused on replying to her children’s messages, assuming Lyle had opened the car door.

Suddenly, a handkerchief covered her nose and mouth. Christina gasped in surprise, vaguely making out a familiar silhouette before passing out cold.

Everything happened so quickly that she could barely defend herself.

Meanwhile, Lyle paid for the pastries and returned to the car. He paled when he realized Christina was missing from the back/seat. He rushed to the front of the car and noticed that one of the doors was ajar, revealing Christina’s phone on the car floor.

He instinctively knew that Christina was in trouble.

Lyle hurriedly dialed Nathaniel’s phone, but alas, no one answered his call. He did not manage to reach Sebastian either.

He placed the pastries in the car and sped for Hadley Corporation’s offices.

Lyle immediately ran into Sebastian and his colleagues once he got out of the office elevators.

There was a board meeting in the company, and Sebastian was in charge of retrieving the materials for the meeting.

When he saw Lyle, he asked in surprise, “Why aren’t you with Mrs. Hadley? Why are you here?”

Lyle responded by pulling him aside and muttering, “Mrs. Hadley’s missing.”

He hastily described what had happened earlier to Sebastian.

Sebastian’s expression grew solemn as he muttered, “Darn it. Today is the company’s annual board meeting. If Mr. Hadley leaves the meeting halfway, there’ll be a lot of problems in the future.”

Unlike Sebastian, Lyle did not stop to consider the long–term repercussions of Nathaniel’s absence and asked, “Where’s the conference room? I’ll look for Mr. Hadley.”

Sebastian side–eyed him and questioned, “Did you think I was worried about Mr. Hadley taking his anger out on me? That’s not what I was… Ah, forget it. I don’t have time to explain my concerns to you now. Just wait here. I’ll let Mr. Hadley know about it.”

Then, Sebastian beelined for the conference room, wishing more than ever that he had the ability to teleport.

When he arrived, the company directors were engaged in a heated discussion. That did not deter Sebastian from striding into the conference room and approaching Nathaniel from behind. He leaned closer to Nathaniel and whispered, “Mr. Hadley, Mrs. Hadley is in trouble.”

Nathaniel knitted his brows in concern and immediately left the conference room.

Sebastian hurriedly announced to the confused crowd, “Sorry, Mr. Hadley has to attend to an emergency. We will postpone this board meeting for now, and I will send out official notices on the new meeting date after discussing this with Mr. Hadley.”

After that, he rushed out of the room and caught up to Nathaniel.

Meanwhile, Christina woke up to the unwelcome splash of cold water. She opened her eyes to the sight of Anya kneeling before her. The young woman’s gaze was affixed to Christina’s abdomen, which sent shivers down Christina’s spine.

“You’re finally awake.” Anya slowly stood up and grabbed Christina’s chin, shaking it roughly. She sneered and mused out loud, “I just can’t figure out why you’re so irresistible to Nathaniel that he would wish you to bear three of his children.”

Animosity rolled off Anya in waves. Cautiously, Christina asked, “What are you trying to do, Anya?”

A murderous glint entered Anya’s gaze. She released her steel grip on Christina’s chin and spat, “What a great question. You set me up and almost landed me, in jail. I’m simply trying to avenge myself for both the past and the present.”

Anya’s gaze shifted from Christina’s face to her abdomen and stayed there.

“How do you think Nathaniel will react when that baby in your stomach is gone?” A deranged cackle escaped Anya, who added, “Maybe he’ll take his own life by then to join his wife and unborn baby in their graves?”

Christina frowned and returned fiercely, “Nathaniel won’t forgive you if you harm me.”

“Clearly, his revenge means nothing to me, or I wouldn’t have dared to kidnap you. The worst possible outcome is joining you and that vile seed in hell! With your lives in my hands, Nathaniel has no choice but to give in to my demands.”

Anya turned around and grabbed a glass of water off an old desk. She shoved the glass against Christina’s mouth and ordered, “Drink it.”

Christina turned away before ramming her chin into Anya’s hand. The pain caused Anya to lose her grip on the glass, which fell to the floor and shattered, splashing them both with its contents.

Anya had no qualms about slapping Christina for her actions. The slap rang out in the room. “You b*tch. You’re nothing but a pitiful insect in my hands. Do you still think you can behave like the esteemed Mrs.. Hadley?”

The slap was so hard that half of Christina’s face had gone numb. Still, she shot Anya a defiant gaze and smirked. “I suppose it is time for our long–drawn fight to come to a conclusion, Anya.”

 

Chapter 700 The End Of Destiny

“You’re right. We should indeed put an end to this.” As Anya spoke, she raised her hand and delivered another slap across Christina’s face. “You’ve ruined my reputation!”

Acting like a deranged woman, she started choking Christina. Her eyes were filled with rage when she growled, “I won’t let you die so easily. I’ll torture you slowly and make your life a living hell. You’ll eventually beg me for mercy, pleading for me to spare you.”

With her hands and feet tightly bound to the chair, Christina was rendered immobile. Despite so, she stared at Anya without fear, refusing to show any signs of fear as she endured the violence inflicted upon her.

Hearing the commotion coming from the classroom, Emilia was worried that Anya might lose control of her actions and accidentally torment Christina to death. If that happens, we’ll lose whatever leverage we have against Nathaniel.

With that thought in mind, she rushed in to pull Anya away. “Are you out of your mind? How are we going to negotiate with Nathaniel if something happens to Christina?”

Consumed by hatred, the latter had long since lost interest in using Christina as leverage to extort a ransom from Nathaniel.

She bellowed, “You do know that in order to get money from Nathaniel, you’d have to be alive first, right? I was the one who asked you to bring Christina here, but how I deal with her is my own business. You’d better not meddle in my affairs.”

Emilia was visibly frustrated when she released her grip on the woman, saying, “I was just trying to warn you, but since you don’t appreciate it, feel free to do as you please then. After all, your hands are already stained with the blood of numerous people. Adding Christina to the list won’t make much of a difference/

Emilia’s words struck a nerve in Anya and she glared at the former before fuming, “Get the h*ll out of here! You have no right to teach me how to handle things!”

Feeling deeply humiliated, Emilia turned on her heels and left in a huff.

D*mn that Anya! Who does she think she is to be ordering me around like that?

Refusing to let the whole thing slide, a cunning thought soon crossed her mind. She reached into a separate compartment of her bag and took out another phone before entering Nathaniel’s number in the recipient field and sending him a location tracking message without any hesitation. D

Once she was done, she threw a glance at the classroom before sashaying away.

I was going to spare Anya’s life so that she could deal with Christina, but I can’t believe she actually dares to order me around. There’s simply no way I’m going to submit to anyone. D

The abandoned school they were at had two cars parked at the sports field.

After throwing the key of the other car onto the hood of its vehicle, Emilia walked toward the silver sedan not far away.

Instead of driving away from the scene immediately, she drove the car out of the school and parked it behind a dilapidated wall. Concealed from sight, she patiently waited for the dramatic spectacle that was

about to unfold.

Back in the classroom, Anya was taking a break as she contemplated various ways to torment Christina.

“Did you kill Madison and Miranda?” Even though Christina already knew the truth, she still wanted to hear Anya admit to it.

Knowing that the woman had no chance of leaving alive, Anya brazenly confessed, “So what if I did? They had it coming for trying to threaten me. You should be grateful that I got rid of your love rival and the stepmother who once mistreated you.”

With a deadpan expression, Christina replied, “Anya, nothing you did deserves gratitude. You will eventually pay a heavy price for your actions.”

“I’ve already paid my dues!” Anya glared daggers at her, looking as if she was going to kill her in the next moment. “It’s all because of you! This is all your fault! Why couldn’t you just stay in Jadeborough and be a proper lady of the Hadley family? Why did you have to come back to the Gibson family and fight me for the inheritance?”

Still glaring at Christina, she added, “That old hag, Azure, is no saint either. She actually had the audacity to threaten me, expecting me to be her servant. Once I get rid of you, I’ll send her on her way to join you!”

She retrieved a piece of rope from her bag and wound it around her wrist tightly before approaching Christina.

“Madison died by her own hands, while Miranda was burned to death. Since you’ve always liked to be the unique one, let me give you a different way to die then,” Anya declared coldly as she closed in on the latter.

The rough hemp rope scraped against Christina’s wrists, breaking the skin as she fought to break free. However, her efforts were futile.

Anya taunted, “It’s useless. You can’t escape. No one can save you. But don’t worry, Nathaniel can come later to collect your lifeless body. I would love to see the expression on his face when he finds you dead before him. I imagine it will be quite the spectacular sight to behold.”

As she spoke, she looped the rope around Christina’s neck, tying a tight knot. Slowly and methodically, she tightened the knot, her face contorting into a sinister expression.

Christina couldn’t help but lament in her heart. Am I really going to die in Anya’s hands?

Vroom!

The sound of a roaring engine suddenly echoed from outside the classroom.

In the next moment, a black Hummer burst through, crashing through the wall and coming to a stop before Anya.

Realizing that something was amiss, Anya reached out to grab Christina, only to get fiercely bitten in return.

She yelped and instinctively flung her hand away.

Just then, a dark figure leaped from the car and landed in front of Anya before giving her a kick that sent her flying away.

“Christina!” Nathaniel rushed over to Christina’s side and frantically untied the rope that was wrapped around her neck. His voice was trembling when he ordered, “Someone, get me a knife!”

The rope was tightly bound, and his increasing panic only made it more difficult for him to untie it.

Christina said softly, “I’m fine. Just take your time, okay? I’m safe now, aren’t I?”

Snatching the knife from Sebastian’s hand, Nathaniel swiftly cut through the ropes. He held her tightly in his arms. The warmth of her body brought him back to reality.

He muttered, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry for being late.”

“You came just in time.” Christina patted his back. “In any case, let’s get out of here first.”

“All right.” Nathaniel lifted Christina in his arms and scanned the area, but Anya was nowhere to be found. His expression grew grim. “Where’s Anya?” he questioned.

It was only then that Sebastian realized both Anya and Lyle were missing. “Lyle went after her,” he informed.

Just as he uttered those words, the piercing sound of tires screeching against the ground reverberated from outside the sports field.

“Let’s go and take a look,” Christina said to Nathaniel. “Anya has another accomplice, Emilia. We can’t let them escape.”

Nathaniel carried her as they walked out of the classroom.

Meanwhile, a high–speed car chase was unfolding on the field.

Anya maneuvered her car aggressively, ramming it into Lyle’s vehicle in an attempt to escape the scene.

Desperate to flee, she threw caution to the wind and floored the accelerator. Ignoring her own safety, she collided with Lyle’s vehicle again and again until the opportunity to break free from the encirclement presented itself.

As she smirked triumphantly, her car had just cleared the gates when it began to sway from side to side.

The brakes are not working!

Anya’s face fell as she desperately turned the steering wheel to avoid the trees ahead. When she saw the fast–approaching stone barrier, she frantically reached for the door handle, only to realize that it had been locked and wouldn’t budge. D

With a thunderous crash, Anya’s car collided with the stone barrier head–on, the impact causing the front end of the vehicle to crumple.

The collision triggered a fiery explosion that engulfed the vehicle in a raging inferno.

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Christina watched in horror as the gruesome scene unfolded before her eyes, her face turning paler by the second.

Nathaniel pressed her head against his chest and uttered cooly, “Don’t look.”