Chapter 237 Darling
Seeing that, Nathaniel ordered the bodyguard to drag her away.
Meanwhile, Sierra had come upstairs as she couldn’t find Alana anywhere downstairs. To her utter disbelief, she saw Alana clinging to the bodyguard and dancing in a sl’tty manner.
It was an appalling sight as she seemed like a stripper on the dancefloor.
Sierra’s face turned as dark as thunder. “What is wrong with her?”
With all her belongings packed up, Christina emerged from her room, casting a calm glance at Alana. “She sought to harm me, but now she’s experiencing the consequences of her own actions. Karma has caught up with her.”
Sierra’s eyes turned as wide as saucers as she had no idea Alana would be this despicable.
I was only trying to get on Christina’s nerves. If she were to truly get hurt, Nathaniel would be furious with me. Nathaniel’s face contorted into a scowl, his silence speaking volumes about his anger.
Grabbing Christina’s arm, he urged, “Let’s go home.”
Go home? Sharbrook Manor is my house. Since when did it become our home?
Christina bit back her annoyance and followed Nathaniel down the stairs, leaving Sierra to deal with the culprit who caused the commotion.
Dead silence ensued in the car.
Nathaniel cast a quick glance at the packed carrier bag Christina had with her. Looks like she’s determined not to come back, huh?
He shot the pa*senger seat a frosty look and ordered. “Sebastian, make sure to go to Scenic Garden Manor later and bring my suits and essential belongings to Sharbrook Manor.”
Sebastian’s lips twitched. Is he moving out? “Yes, Mr. Hadley.”
Christina couldn’t contain her frustration any longer. She turned around and met Nathaniel’s icy gaze with her own. “Sharbrook Manor is too small to accommodate your countless suits. Why are you acting so childish?”
“If you don’t want to stay with me, can’t I move there to stay with you?”
Nathaniel’s gaze was captivating, drawing her in like a powerful whirlpool and pulling her deeper into his
eyes.
The atmosphere became awkward once again.
Christina felt a rising resentment in her chest. Who is being unreasonable and demanding here?
Suddenly, the car veered sharply, causing the sound of the tires screeching against the asphalt to fill the
air.
Christina crashed into Nathaniel’s chest, feeling his warm breath on her face as her heart raced within her ribcage.
At the same time, Nathaniel’s instinctive reaction was to reach out and secure her waist in a protective grip. His brows furrowed with concern as he inquired. “Are you hurt?”
His voice carried a gentle tone, and Christina felt a comforting warmth envelop her heart.
She blushed prettily. “I’m fine.”
The anger that had consumed Nathaniel throughout the night dissipated upon hearing her coy voice.
Despite his hardened exterior, he was ready to shed his armor to embrace Christina in a warm and comforting hug.
He gently stroked her hair with his large hand and spoke in an affectionate tone. “All right. Stop being mad at me, hmm?”
Christina was no longer mad at him. She took his hand and told him. “I’m not mad anymore. You don’t have to move your clothes over. My carrier bag is full of cloth and tools.”
As it turned out, she had only gone back to retrieve her sewing tools, plus two jackets that she planned on leaving at the studio. The weather was getting colder, so she wanted them on hand in case she needed them.
She never had any intention of moving out.
As the tension in the air dissipated, the driver and Sebastian exchanged a knowing glance.
I’m glad Mr. and Mrs. Hadley made up. Otherwise, it feels agonizing to be in the same space as them.
Christina returned to her studio.
Rayne had cleaned up the studio and arranged a few files neatly on her table.
Christina was pretty pleased at how efficient her a*sistant was.
As soon as she powered on her laptop, Christina was greeted with an invitation to participate in a prestigious design competition in Hallsbay. This international event would take place at the heart of the city, and invitations had been extended to the most accomplished designers in the country.
She began reading the details carefully. Winning it would give others more confidence in my abilities. Back in university, I was primarily focused on earning money and missed out on participating in design competitions. Despite my extensive industry experience, I lack the recognition and trophies that often accompany such accolades. This competition will present an opportunity to showcase my talent and prove my worth to others.
After making up her mind, she filled in her details on the webpage and sent in her application.
“Rayne, we have a business trip tomorrow. Can you make it?” Christina asked, a hint of concern in her voice. The trip had come up rather suddenly, so she was unsure if Rayne would be able to accommodate it in her schedule.
“Of course I can. Where are we heading, Ms. Steele? Do you need me to reserve the flight tickets for us?” Rayne sounded calm.
Christina glanced at her watch. “You can book the flight tickets. Just make sure we arrive tomorrow. Send me the flight details after you’ve reserved our tickets.”
With that, Christina headed out again.
She went to a dessert shop to buy a few desserts before heading to Hadley Corporation.
When she arrived, Nathaniel was in the middle of a meeting.
Christina placed the desserts on the coffee table and waited patiently for Nathaniel to finish his meeting. As she waited, she pondered the best way to inform him about her upcoming business trip.
I’m not sure how long I’ll be gone as it will depend on how long it takes to find a suitable place to stay. The filming might also take a while.
Nathaniel didn’t make her wait for long. He returned to his office right after his meeting ended.
Christina bounded over to Nathaniel, her movements resembling that of a nimble rabbit. She flashed a bright smile at him and spoke in a cheerful tone. “Hey Nathaniel, I brought over some afternoon tea for you. Does that make you happy?”
Nathaniel swept his gaze over the desserts on the table and turned to look at Christina, who was obviously waiting eagerly for his compliment. “Do you need my help for something?”
“Of course not. I came here to enjoy afternoon tea with you. Are you moved?”
“Yes, I’m happy and moved,” Nathaniel replied, his face devoid of emotion.
As they settled down into their seats, Christina started babbling about irrelevant stuff.
Her melodious voice was calming and relaxing.
Nathaniel couldn’t care less about what she said as long as he could hear her wonderful voice.
Christina chatted animatedly, her words flowing until her throat felt dry. Sensing that the moment was approaching, she decided to reveal her intention. “You know, Nathaniel, I’ve been seeing some of my friends on Instagram who have been winning numerous design competitions lately. It got me thinking about how I used to be so focused on work. I never really took part in large-scale competitions. I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy toward them.”
She then sneaked a glance at Nathaniel, who seemed unperturbed and unaware of her underlying
message.
Christina rested her head on his arm and swung it gently. “Do you think I have what it takes to win first place in a competition?” she posed a coy question.
Nathaniel finally understood her underlying message and gazed at her calmly. “Where are you going to join the competition?”
Is this why she brought me afternoon tea and acted coyly?
“Hallsbay. It’s not too far from here. You’ll let me go, won’t you?” Christina lifted her head, her innocent eyes sparkling like the night stars.
“Please, Darling? Pretty please?” she pleaded, oozing adorableness.
