Chapter 689 Fate Is In Your Hands
Victoria would not reject Christina’s request, evidently. “Tell me what it is, and I’ll do my best to fulfill it.”
“I heard that one of your friends has opened a legal firm in Hallsbay. I’m hoping that your friend can meet with Mrs. Lazuli,” Christina started. “If Mrs. Lazuli asks why, just tell her that I’m inviting her to enjoy a free but fascinating live broadcast.”
Victoria thought that Christina’s request would be harder to fulfill than that, so she was surprised. Nevertheless, she swiftly agreed to it.“This is too simple. No problem. I’ll call my lawyer friend and have him look for Mrs. Lazuli right away. It won’t delay your plans.”
Victoria could mostly guess why Christina was doing this, but she was not a gossipmonger, so she knew not to ask for further details.
Christina gave her a smile. “Thank you.”
“You’re too polite with me, Christina. My matters with Sebastian have troubled you quite a lot, and I’m afraid I’ll still need you and Mr. Hadley to intervene every once in a while in the future,” Victoria said. She knew that she could not deal with the entire Lesley family alone.
However, things would be different if Nathaniel was involved.
You’re my junior, and Mr. Taggart is Nathaniel’s right–hand man. We’re practically family, so there’s no way we’re just going to sit on our hands for this. You shouldn’t worry too much about this. All problems have answers.”
Christina’s words were like a cool breeze in the hot desert, blowing away the frustrations in Victoria’s heart.
“I’ll contact you later,” she said before leaving.
“Stay safe, Christina. I’ll be waiting for your call.” Victoria took a few steps back and watched Christina’s car leave. Then, she lowered her head and called her friend. “Hey, there’s something I need your help with…‘
Meanwhile, Anya was imprisoned in a winery belonging to Nathaniel, which was situated on the outskirts. The winery’s central structure, a majestic villa, emitted an air of ageless allure, boasting opulent and lavish medieval Western aesthetics that added a dash of enigmatic fascination to the estate.
The vehicle cruised down a straight and spacious boulevard lined with towering plane trees, gradually making its way into the estate.
With Lyle’s guidance, Christina came to a gla*shouse. It was empty on the inside, but a floral scent lingered.
Perhaps it used to be a garden, but it had been converted into a temporary prison for Anya.
-Anya was bound and discarded on the ground. She was curled into herself like a caterpillar. Her
disheveled hair concealed her face, obscuring it from Christina’s view.
Blood oozed beneath Anya’s body, mingling with the damp spots on the ground and creating meandering paths of small crimson streams. Her ankles and wrists bore scars of different severity.
Some black–clad bodyguards stood vigilantly at the periphery, keeping a watchful eye. As soon as they noticed Christina’s arrival, they greeted her in perfect synchronization and tactfully withdrew from the
scene.
Lyle, mindful of Christina’s physical well–being, fetched a chair for her to sit on.
Christina took a seat on the chair and told Lyle, “Take a look at her condition.”
There was no part of Anya’s body that had gone unharmed, and her clothes were tainted with bloodstains in several areas. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could discern that she was wearing fresh garments, for certain parts of the clothes remained surprisingly pristine.
From that, it was evident how harrowing the ordeal Anya had to endure before Christina came to see her.
When Lyle approached the wounded woman, he crouched down and nudged her. Then, he put his hand near her nostrils to feel for any signs of breathing.
“Mrs. Hadley, she’s not in any life–threatening danger.”
“Wake her. I have things to ask her.”
At that, Lyle instructed the men to bring a pail of cold water from the outside to pour onto Anya.
“Ah, it’s freezing!” Anya was jolted back to consciousness by the icy water. She squired her feeble frame as she desperately tried to evade the chilling pool of water.
Expressionlessly, Lyle seized the back of her collar and dragged her toward Christina. “Behave yourself and refrain from shouting,” he warned.
Anya glanced up and spotted Lyle. Her neck instinctively recoiled in response. In her peripheral vision, she caught sight of Christina, adorned in clean and expensive garments as she sat before her with a look of pride on her face. Fear morphed into an enraged creature within Anya as she bared her fangs at the seated
woman.
“Christina Steele, you b*tch! How dare you torment me like this? Even if I die, I won’t spare you! I’ll haunt you forever!”
Anya fought desperately, attempting to break free, but Lyle held her firmly in his grip.
Even though she was only steps away from Christina, those few steps felt like thousands of miles apart, and all she could do was hurl insults at Christina.
“Anya, you need to realize that you’re now my prisoner, and it’s me who won’t spare you,” Christina said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re quite resentful to see me standing here unharmed, aren’t you?”
Anya spat out a few specks of blood at Christina before barking out crazed laughter. “You’re nothing but a coward, Christina! You’re always hiding behind Nathaniel while you flaunt your false bravado! If you had any real skill, you wouldn’t have waited until now to confront me. At the end of the day, you’re no match for me!”
Even at that point, Anya refused to accept her fate. Even if Christina were to hold a gun to her head, Anya would never submit to the former.
“If you had a shred of conscience, you would have remained the prosperous young heiress of the Gibson family, Anya. The truth is, your entire family has made a huge mistake–they’ve all picked the wrong paths.”
Right then, Christina pulled her coat tighter around her. The gla*shouse lacked heating, and the air was
cold and damp there. She shivered from the chill, and she knew she had to wrap things up as quickly as
she could.
“I came to talk to you and give you a chance to survive. You only have two options -either we strike a deal, or you can reject my first condition and wait here for a slow and excruciating death.”
Anya chuckled. “Do you honestly expect me to believe that you’ll spare me if I agree to the deal? Don’t underestimate my intelligence. Both you and Nathaniel are nothing but trouble. If you let me off the hook now, Nathaniel will surely find a way to take care of me later. I’m fully aware of the manipulative games you and your husband play.”
Christina arched a brow, not denying Anya’s accusations.
Having gone through so many trials, Anya had finally learned her lesson.
“You’re Nigel’s daughter, and you must know about the heinous deeds he has committed,” Christina offered a tempting proposition. “I can a*sure you that Nigel will spend the rest of his life behind bars, but you’re different. You’re still young, and despite your own missteps, there’s a chance for you to find redemption. If you reveal all the things he has done to me, I’ll spare you. What do you think?”
Then, Christina added, “What I want is what Nathaniel wants as well.”
Anya shot her a resentful glare. “You expect me to betray my own father in exchange for a chance at life?”
“There’s nothing I can do if that’s what you believe.” Christina shrugged, unfazed. Her tone was laced with sarcasm as she continued, “Your family has always been selfish and self–serving. It’s rather strange to witness this newfound filial devotion from you. It’s not something I’m accustomed to.”
Anya was trapped like a fish on a chopping board, and Christina was the butcher. Anya could not decipher what went on in the latter’s mind, so she wisely chose to remain silent.
Hence, Christina gave Lyle a look, who promptly left. When he returned, he had a black leather suitcase in his hands.
Lyle then opened the suitcase and threw it toward Anya.
“What’s inside this suitcase holds the power to shape your future. Now, it’s all in your hands. Are you willing to let go of the opportunity for a fresh start because of Nigel?”
