Chapter 551 Come Prepared
Nathaniel pulled her into his arms comfortingly, “Nothing will happen to me. The police. summoned me to the precinct to talk about Madison, that’s all. By this point, her case is difficult to make sense of. The cops are lacking in clues and evidence. Somebody has written an article about her death and posted it online, so the cops are under a lot of pressure. They would not give up any leads they have easily.”
Christina only knew that Madison was incurably insane and that her family had sent her to a psychiatric institution for treatment. She was unaware that Nathaniel had secretly tortured
Madison.
Nathaniel was cautious not to leave any trace behind. The torment Madison endured in the psychiatric hospital was standard procedure for treatment for all patients; the severity of the treatment depended on the state of her mental health.
Even if somebody were to leak the secret, it would not be traced back to Nathaniel.
As a result, it was stupid of Manuel to use Madison’s condition as leverage.
Christina was glum. “Everybody on the internet is suspecting you. As Madison had been your a*sistant for years, and she and I had an altercation, you look like the biggest suspect to an outsider, but you have gotten involved for me. You shouldn’t have to bear the condemnation and the blame on my behalf.”
Nathaniel stroked her back and smiled. “I am your husband. Of course, I will protect you. I don’t care what other people think as long as you trust me.”
Christina choked back her tears. “I’m sorry, Nathaniel.”
Ever since she got pregnant, Christina had been emotionally unstable and easily a*sumed the
Worst.
Though Nathaniel was fending off a headache dealing with that, he felt sorry for her. “It isn’t your fault. You don’t have to apologize.” He sighed. “Didn’t you promise me not to look at the gossip online? You lied to me.”
Christina did keep her word, but the rumors were so contagious that everybody at the hospital was talking about it, which was how she came to hear of it.
“I didn’t lie.” Christina pouted. “I heard it from someone.”
“I have found the person fanning the flames. In three days, this fiasco will be over. Just wait and see.” Nathaniel did not tell Christina that the Taggart family had abducted Sebastian.
Christina did not doubt Nathaniel for a moment. Upon obtaining his guarantee, she felt
much more at ease.
That night was the best sleep she had had in a while.
Nathaniel’s name remained trending online for three whole days, after which the Taggart family held a wake for Madison as planned.
Sebastian was released that day. They dragged him out to stand before Madison’s memorial portrait to express his remorse.
Nathaniel had cost Maggie dearly. She was livid at Sebastian’s inaction and betrayal.
Upon finding out that Manuel had kidnapped him to teach him a lesson when she was sent back to the Taggart residence, she pretended not to know and gave him full rein.
Punishing Sebastian is indirectly giving Nathaniel a slap to the face.
The guests who had come to pay their respects were curious about Sebastian kneeling before the deceased, but they did not dare ask about it.
Everybody knew about the altercation between the Taggart family and the Hadley family.
Sebastian knelt from morning until the afternoon and was denied the opportunity to rest. Furthermore, Manuel deprived him of food and had him beaten during the period of his incarceration.
Nevertheless, his back remained tall and proud, though his coarse features were drained of
color.
Manuel stood beside him. “Aren’t you Nathaniel’s loyal hound?” he jeered. “He killed Madison and refused to own up, so you, as his lackey, will take his place and beg for forgiveness. It’s part of your job and your honor too. This opportunity isn’t given to just anybody, you know.”
Impa*sively, Sebastian shot a sideways glance at Manuel, which looked more like a leer.
Manuel saw that Sebastian was not taking him seriously. The years during which Sebastian had served Nathaniel were glorious.
Manuel left to entertain the guests, but all of them were keen to discuss Sebastian. He, as Maggie’s beloved grandson, became of little interest.
Manuel was so angry that his chest throbbed painfully. Gritting his teeth, he was about to swing a fist at Sebastian when a lackey tumbled in and fell flat on his face before them.
“Bad news, Mr. Manuel! Nathaniel brought a large group of people over. They’re almost here. Nobody can stop them! We’d better run!”
As soon as the warning was uttered, Nathaniel’s figure appeared in the distance.
“This is the Taggart residence and my turf. What am I afraid of? Take Sebastian and keep. him hidden.”
The lackey was about to drag Sebastian away when a dozen broad-shouldered and round- bellied bodyguards dashed in and surrounded the trio.
Tactfully, Maggie dispersed the crowd gathered at the Taggart residence.
She did not wish to suffer the indignity of having her family’s dirty laundry aired.
Sebastian looked up at Nathaniel at once. His eyes shone.
Nathaniel did not spare Sebastian a glance. Instead, his icy glare fell onto Manuel.
As if aware that a venomous snake had noticed him, Manuel felt goosebumps erupting all over his skin. “How dare you show up here, Nathaniel? You’ve got some big balls. Do you not respect us Taggarts at all?”
“Shut your mouth, Manuel!” Maggie commanded as she was wheeled into the hall.
In his youthful exuberance, Manuel is no match for Nathaniel. It is plain that he feared nothing for coming to the Taggart residence to cause trouble today, of all days. Furthermore, he came prepared.
Manuel fell into sullen silence upon being reprimanded, not daring to utter another word.
Maggie turned to Nathaniel. “If you’re here to pay your respects to Madison, Mr. Hadley, I welcome you with open arms. But, if you have another purpose in mind, I must ask you to leave immediately. People are watching us. Surely you would not want the Hadley family to be ridiculed.”
Nathaniel chuckled. His gaze was filled with arrogant disdain. In fact, more than half of the paparazzi outside had been there at his request.
“The Hadley family’s reputation has nothing to do with anybody else. Thank you for your concern, Old Mrs. Taggart,” Nathaniel said quietly. “I’m here today for my a*sistant. He has been missing for several days, and I have been having his disappearance investigated. Coincidentally, my investigation led us here, to you, the Taggart family.”
Maggie glanced at Sebastian. Only then did she notice he had undergone no trivial abuse. His handsome face was no longer identifiable as before. The wounds on his body, old and new, melded into an indiscernible, bloody mosaic. They looked harrowing.
She did not expect Manuel to be so heavy-handed that he had disfigured their captive to such an extent.
Nathaniel will not forgive him easily.
Maggie said sternly, “There must be some misunderstanding. Youngsters tend to act rashly without consideration of consequences and would inadvertently offend somebody. It happens all the time. I’ve been so occupied with Madison’s funeral that I hadn’t noticed what my family members have been
up to.”
Maggie’s attempt to bail Manuel out of trouble with mere words was impossible.
She turned her gaze to Sebastian. “Why don’t you explain things to Mr. Hadley, Sebastian? Tell him where you were over the past few days. Don’t put Mr. Hadley and the Taggart family in a bad spot.”
