Chapter 23 Suitability.
Nathaniel’s expression darkened with frustration. “Why do you keep bringing up divorce? Anyone who doesn’t know the situation would think I’ve been mistreating you.” His voice was laced with anger, a sharp contrast to the usual calmness he exuded.
Christina met his gaze, her own eyes revealing a mixture of confusion and resolve. “I’m not saying you’ve mistreated me. It’s just that… we’re not right for each other. Don’t you understand?” Her words hung in the air, and the heavy silence that followed made her feel the weight of the unbridgeable divide between them.
Nathaniel fell silent, deeply absorbed in his thoughts. Christina seized the moment, pulling herself out of his embrace. She couldn’t bear the suffocating tension any longer. “Please think about it. I’ll send you the documents as soon as I can,” she said softly, her voice filled with a hint of finality.
With that, she left.
By the time Nathaniel snapped back to reality, Christina was already gone.
Later that day, Christina busied herself drafting the divorce agreement, carefully printing it out and sending it off to Nathaniel by mail. Her heart was heavy, but she knew this was the best decision for her. She couldn’t keep living in this limbo, caught between two worlds she no longer belonged to.
After mailing the divorce papers, Christina packed her belongings and moved out of the university dorm. The Steele family had already made it clear they weren’t going to support her any longer, so she had no choice but to seek refuge with the only person she could count on in the city: her grandmother.
With only a suitcase in hand, she hailed a taxi and made her way to the east side of the city. There, an elderly woman in a floral skirt stood outside a two-story house, holding a cane and craning her neck as if she were waiting for someone. When the taxi arrived, Christina paid the fare and hurried out, her heart lightening as she approached her grandmother.
“Hi, Granny!” Christina greeted, a wide smile spreading across her face as she threw herself into the elderly woman’s arms. “I’ve missed you so much! Have you missed me too?”
Evelyn Henderson, Christina’s grandmother, hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you too, dear. Come inside. I’ll cook you something delicious,” she said, her voice warm with affection.
Christina felt a sense of comfort as she entered the house. Despite not having been here in a while, the familiar sights brought a sense of nostalgia. The intricate carvings on the decorative piece in the hall and the soothing music from the record player made her feel safe, like nothing had changed.
“Christina, bring your suitcase into the room. I’ll get dinner ready for you,” Evelyn said, as sprightly as ever despite being in her sixties. She loved to sing and cook, and Christina had always cherished her grandmother’s homemade meals.
Christina nodded and carried her suitcase to the room. The room was simple, cozy, and homely—exactly as she remembered. Evelyn had prepared everything for her return, including fresh sheets with a delicate daisy print. After placing her suitcase aside, Christina took out her laptop and began sending out resumes to various design companies.
She decided to send them to multiple firms at once to maximize her chances. Afterward, she texted her store manager to inform her of her resignation. The response came quickly. The store manager, who had seen Xandra and Nathaniel make a large purchase at the store earlier that day, transferred Christina her salary and commission for the days she worked.
The unexpected windfall lifted Christina’s spirits, and for the first time in a while, she felt a glimmer of hope. With this money, she could afford to take her time drafting her designs and not worry about an immediate job. It was a small victory in the grand scheme of things, but it felt like progress.
Later that evening, after enjoying a homemade dinner that Evelyn had prepared with love, Christina praised her grandmother’s cooking. “I would be the happiest girl in the world if I could eat this food every day,” she said, savoring the meal. Evelyn beamed with pride at the compliment.
“Such a sweet talker,” Evelyn chuckled, clearly delighted by the praise. After dinner, Christina helped clean up, feeling content in the warmth of her grandmother’s home.
That night, Christina slept soundly, a rare and peaceful sleep that had eluded her in recent weeks.
The following morning, she woke up later than usual, having spent the morning relaxing in bed. When she entered the living room, she found breakfast waiting for her, along with a note from Evelyn. The note explained that she had gone out early for a rehearsal, as she had been invited to join a choir. There was a competition coming up, so Evelyn had to leave early to prepare.
Christina enjoyed her breakfast and then set herself up in the small pavilion in the courtyard to continue working on her designs. She felt at ease in the quiet of her grandmother’s home, the peaceful atmosphere a welcome contrast to the turmoil of her life.
Around noon, after finishing her work, Christina changed into a skirt and went out for a walk.
Meanwhile, in the Hadley residence, Nathaniel was sitting in his office, dressed in a sharp suit and wearing a limited-edition Bulgari watch. His demeanor was as cold and aloof as ever, his focus entirely on the documents in front of him. He had been reviewing information about Christina, her struggles with university tuition, and her role as her mother’s primary caregiver. He couldn’t help but feel a mixture of guilt and admiration for her resilience.
Despite the arrogance he often displayed, Nathaniel couldn’t deny that there was something extraordinary about Christina. Her innocence, her brightness, her strength—they were all qualities he had failed to truly appreciate before. He found himself reflecting on his own behavior toward her, realizing how blind he had been to her pain.
Just then, Sebastian rushed in, holding a document in his hands. “Mr. Hadley, this is from Ms. Christina,” he said, presenting it with an air of caution.
Nathaniel took the document, his expression darkening when he saw it was a divorce agreement. The words on the page felt like a punch to the gut. “I didn’t expect her to have the courage to send this,” Nathaniel muttered under his breath, irritation and a strange sense of loss welling up inside him.
He stood up abruptly, crumpling the document in his hand. “Get the car ready. I need to go see her,” he commanded.
Sebastian nodded quickly and rushed to follow him.
Meanwhile, Christina, oblivious to Nathaniel’s plans, had just finished shopping for groceries. She was in a good mood, enjoying an ice cream cone as she strolled home. But then, out of nowhere, a familiar figure appeared before her—Brayden.
“Brayden?” Christina was caught off guard, surprised to see him here. How had he found her?
Brayden smiled warmly, his dark eyes brimming with emotion. “Hi, Christina,” he said, his voice carrying an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us. Over the past few days, I realized I can’t just let go of you. I don’t care about your past. I want to be with you. How about we go out on a date?”
Christina stared at him, stunned. The feelings she had once held for Brayden seemed to resurface, but she was also painfully aware of the tangled mess that was her life. Could she really move on from Nathaniel so easily?
Her mind raced as she tried to process his words, torn between the comfort of Brayden’s sincerity and the overwhelming pull of her complicated past with Nathaniel.