Chapter 10
When Nathaniel entered the room and took in the sight of the two women standing before him, his gaze immediately shifted to the smeared clothing. The paints, the chaos, the drenched fabric—it was clear there had been a fight. He didn’t need to ask what had happened.
Christina, ever composed, remained silent as Nathaniel approached her. Without a word, he took a piece of tissue from the side table and gently wiped away the stray paint from her face, his touch tender and focused, as if the others in the room no longer existed.
Turning to his mother, Nathaniel’s voice cut through the tension. “I didn’t ask you to stay with her. You don’t need to come to my house unless there’s something important.”
The words hung in the air, sharp and final.
Julia was struck silent, her chest tightening. When did they become this close? Her mind raced with disbelief. Their mother-son relationship had always been distant—far from the picture of warmth outsiders imagined. But now, Nathaniel’s calm dismissal of her, so publicly, was a clear sign that something had shifted. How much had changed in the time I wasn’t watching?
Xandra, who had been quietly observing the scene, seized the opportunity to speak, her voice soft but filled with hidden anticipation. “It’s been a long time, Nathaniel. How have you been?” She dared not meet his eyes, but the longing was undeniable. They had once been on the cusp of marriage, years ago. She had never forgiven Christina for taking him away from her.
Nathaniel didn’t even acknowledge her greeting. His eyes were still fixed on Christina, the woman who had his full attention. Instead, he turned to Sebastian, his voice colder than before. “Sebastian, send Mrs. Hadley off.”
The command hit like a slap.
The warm smile Xandra had maintained melted from her face, and her hand, which had been extended toward Nathaniel, faltered mid-air. Her jealousy flared, but she hid it behind a veil of politeness. How did she win his heart? What does that woman have that I don’t?
Sebastian, ever the efficient assistant, stepped forward with practiced politeness. “Mrs. Hadley, Ms. Sullivan, this way, please.” The force of his words, though delivered with respect, only heightened the awkwardness of the moment, the clear implication that they were no longer welcome.
Julia felt the sharp sting of Nathaniel’s actions. He was drawing a firm line between them—one that she wasn’t prepared for. “Nathaniel, don’t fall for her innocent look,” Julia spat, her tone dripping with disdain. “She’s not who you think she is.”
Christina’s eyes darkened, her lips curling into a mocking smile. She had heard this all before, the lies, the venom. Julia never tired of trying to poison Nathaniel’s opinion of her.
Nathaniel, however, continued to ignore his mother’s tirade, his gaze solely on Christina. His focus was unwavering as he wiped the last of the paint from her face, his fingers brushing against her skin with an intimacy that made Julia’s blood boil.
Julia’s chest tightened with frustration. How could he not see what’s in front of him? she thought. Doesn’t he realize the kind of woman she is?
But before she could voice her thoughts, she was interrupted by her own nagging doubt. Is he really so blind, or has he chosen her on purpose?
“Nathaniel, here’s some advice, as your mother,” Julia began, her voice heavy with false concern. “That woman was at a hotel last night. She was even wearing a man’s shirt when she came back! You’ve been fooled, Nathaniel.” Her words were sharp, meant to strike at the core of his feelings for Christina. “You deserve better than her.”
Xandra, eager to add fuel to the fire, chimed in with a worried expression. “Nathaniel, you’re an exceptional man. Why waste your time with someone like her? If you truly care for yourself, you’ll let go of this… this… woman.” The last word hung in the air, like a judgment.
Like me… Xandra’s thoughts were clear, though unsaid. She couldn’t hide the jealousy as she watched Christina lean closer to Nathaniel, her proximity deliberate and bold.
Christina’s lips curled into a thin smile, her patience thinning. The hypocritical words of both women were suffocating. She almost couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Do you really think I’ll fall for this act? She thought to herself, her gaze sharp as she took a step toward Nathaniel, resting her head against his chest in a gesture that was soft, seductive, and full of unspoken defiance.
“If I’m such a filthy woman, maybe you should find someone else,” she said, her voice low, yet the challenge was clear.
Nathaniel’s arm instinctively wrapped around her, his hand resting gently against her back, offering silent support. It was subtle, but to anyone paying attention, it was a clear declaration of where his loyalty lay.
Julia and Xandra, both watching, could only feel the distance between their hopes and the reality in front of them. Nathaniel was no longer the son they could control. He had changed, and it was clear he wasn’t going to back down from the woman in his arms.