Chapter 450 You Are Not Him
Upon hearing his words, a hushed silence fell over the crowd. No one dared to provoke him further.
The bodyguards took a step forward to disperse the crowd, and the remaining employees swiftly entered the elevator, eager to continue with their work. Within moments, the lobby was once again vacant and quiet.
Nathaniel gripped Christina’s hand and pulled her into the private elevator reserved for higher–ups. Before the doors could close, he pinned her to the wall.
“You must explain yourself,” he demanded coldly.
Christina furrowed her brows and responded honestly, “I fell asleep in my room last night. When I woke up in the morning, Francis wasn’t there anymore.”
She spoke with an air of composure and indifference as if the situation held no significance to her.
Nathaniel narrowed his gaze. “That’s it?”
What does he mean? Does he not trust me?
Christina’s eyes turned cold. “What else do you think happened?”
She despised being mistrusted by anyone.
I don’t care what others think about me. He’s my husband, though. How could he not trust me?
As their gazes met, the air around them seemed to freeze.
There was no need for him to say anything as Christina could see the doubt in his
The elevator doors opened with a ding, breaking the silence.
gaze.
Christina forcefully pushed his hands away. “If that’s what you believe, perhaps we should reconsider our relationship,” she stated firmly.
A couple who had doubts about each other would only tie each other down.
With that, she stalked out without looking back.
Upon arriving at her office, Rayne rushed over to Christina, having already read about the gossip. “Christina, how did you manage to come up? There’s a crowd downstairs. I texted you earlier, asking you not to come to the office,” Rayne exclaimed.
Christina, not wanting to dwell on the frustrating incident, dismissed her concerns. “The security guards intervened, and they dispersed the crowd,” she casually replied, brushing off the topic.
“Thankfully, this is Hadley Corporation. If it were any other place, you would have been completely blocked and unable to get through,” Rayne remarked.
Christina told her, “I don’t want to meet with any clients today. Please refrain from disturbing me unless it’s something urgent.” With that, she entered her office, seeking a moment of peace and solitude.
Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a glow on Nathaniel as he read the scandalous news article about Christina and Francis in his office upstairs.
As expected, the moment the article surfaced, Hadley Corporation’s stock prices took a hit. Throughout the morning until the market closed at eleven–thirty, the company’s shares plummeted by thirteen
percent.
If the prices keep falling, the company will face significant losses. Furthermore, explaining this to the shareholders won’t be an easy task.
Nathaniel’s gaze shifted downward, fixating on the screen before him. His expression was inscrutable, making it difficult to discern his thoughts.
For the next three days, the matter didn’t settle down like usual but spread like wildfire online, garnering a lot of discussions.
Christina found herself at the receiving end of harsh online criticism, as netizens condemned her for being shameless and greedy. They even accused her of seducing a celebrity despite being married to an esteemed CEO.
She became the subject of disdain and contempt among internet users, and some even went to the extent of staking out Hadley Corporation, eagerly awaiting a chance to capture a photo of Christina for the sake of online attention.
In stark contrast, Nathaniel was depicted as a devoted and loyal man, receiving admiration from women. Numerous netizens expressed their willingness to marry him if he were to get a divorce.
Consequently, Hadley Corporation’s share prices stabilized and even began to rise once again, reflecting the positive perception surrounding Nathaniel.
Christina grew weary of the constant scrutiny. Every time she ventured outside, the paparazzi would surreptitiously capture her every move, invading her privacy. She resented being pursued like a celebrity and longed for freedom from constant surveillance.
Fearing for her children’s well–being, she hesitated to visit them, fearful that the relentless paparazzi would intrude on their lives as well.
She didn’t care how the media portrayed her, but she refused to drag her kids into the matter.
When the doorbell of the condominium rang, Christina opened the door, a*suming it was Rayne who came to deliver some stuff to her.
“It’s you?” Fury flashed in Christina’s gaze, and she didn’t step aside to allow Nathaniel entry.
Nathaniel’s gaze was dark as he came closer to her, forcing her to either take a step back or bump into him.
Christina retreated readily instead of struggling fruitlessly. “If you’re here to say something, say it now.” “Christina, why must you talk to me this way?” Nathaniel frowned as his voice turned cold.
Christina didn’t think there was anything wrong with her tone, but as she glanced up, she couldn’t help but notice Nathaniel’s icy expression. His tired eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he appeared more dejected than ever. His unshaven stubble added to his somber appearance, suggesting a lack of restful sleep.
“Just tell me why you’re here. I’m busy,” she reminded him.
Nathaniel had been consumed with work for the past few days and had rushed over as soon as he had wrapped things up. He didn’t expect to be treated coldly.
“I heard from your a*sistant that you’re considering moving your office. Is that true?” he asked. He had come here right after receiving the news.
After a few days of cooling down, Christina managed to regain her composure. It wasn’t that she genuinely desired to relocate her office, but rather, she wanted to avoid being the subject of gossip and unwarranted judgment. “Your company is raising my rent, and I can’t afford it anymore. That’s why I made the decision to relocate.”
It sounded like a reasonable excuse, but Nathaniel’s expression merely grew darker.
When did I ask her to pay the rental? It’s just an excuse for her to stay away from me.
He came closer and put a hand on her shoulder. “The matter will blow over soon. I’ll get my lawyer to issue a warning letter tomorrow,” he told her gently.
The warmth radiating from his palm didn’t rea*sure Christina. In fact, she found this side of him more unfamiliar than ever.
Pushing him away, she responded coldly, “The netizens are praising you as a devoted man while labeling me as an evil woman. This issue has been escalating for days, yet you haven’t defended me in any way. Why is that?”
Nathaniel was stunned by her response. “I wanted to defend you, but I was really busy-”
“That’s enough!” Christina growled, feeling her heart being torn apart by their accusations hurled at each other. “You’re so busy that you couldn’t even find a moment to send me a text? Do you really expect me to believe you?”
He didn’t bother dispelling the rumor as it would benefit him.
Nathaniel scowled and snapped, “Francis was the one who did this. Did he step out to explain things on your behalf?”
It is highly probable that Francis was behind this scandal. Why didn’t Christina blame me instead?
Christina’s blood ran cold before it surged into her brain. Her eyes turned red as she stared at him intently. “How can you even compare yourself to him? He’s nothing to me, but you’re the exact opposite!”
