Chapter 24 Suitability.
Nathaniel’s frustration grew clearer with every word. “Why do you keep bringing up divorce? Anyone who doesn’t know the situation will think I’ve been mistreating you,” he said, his voice tinged with annoyance. His eyes narrowed as he tried to understand her reasoning.
Christina met his gaze and saw the anger flickering in his eyes. She responded gently, “I didn’t say you’ve treated me badly. It’s just that… we’re not right for each other. Can’t you see that?” She paused, the distance between them feeling like an impassable chasm. How could she make him understand?
Nathaniel fell silent, deep in thought. Christina, sensing the shift in his mood, quickly pulled herself from his embrace. “Please think it over. I’ll send you the divorce papers as soon as possible,” she said quietly, her voice carrying a note of finality.
With that, she left.
By the time Nathaniel came out of his reverie, she was already gone.
Later, Christina sat down to prepare the divorce agreement. Her fingers moved steadily as she printed it out and prepared to send it to Nathaniel. Once that task was done, she began to gather her things. The decision to move out was not an easy one, but she had no other choice. The Steele family had made it clear they wouldn’t support her any longer. The only person left she could rely on in the city was her grandmother.
With just a suitcase in hand, she hailed a taxi and headed toward the east side of the city.
On the other side of the city, an elderly woman in a floral skirt stood outside a two-story house, holding a cane and craning her neck, looking as if she were waiting for someone. When the green taxi arrived, Christina paid the fare and quickly stepped out, hurrying toward her grandmother.
“Hi, Granny!” she called, throwing herself into her grandmother’s arms, as if she were still a child. “I’ve missed you so much! Did you miss me?”
Evelyn Henderson, her grandmother, embraced her warmly. “I’ve missed you too, Christina! Come inside, I’ll make you something tasty,” she said, smiling.
Christina felt a wave of comfort as she stepped inside. The house was just as she remembered, with the same decorative carvings in the hall and the same song playing on the record player. Despite everything that had happened, the familiar sights and sounds were a balm to her soul.
“Christina, bring your suitcase to the room. I’ll go to the kitchen to cook you something,” Evelyn called, ever so sprightly for a woman in her sixties. Despite her age, Evelyn was a force of nature—full of energy, always singing and cooking.
Christina nodded, feeling a sense of peace as she carried her suitcase to the room. The décor was simple, but it felt like home. The fresh daisy-patterned sheets on the bed made her smile, knowing Evelyn had prepared the room just for her. After putting her suitcase aside, Christina took out her laptop and started sending out her resumes to design companies. She sent them to multiple places at once, hoping for a quick response. Afterward, she texted her store manager, informing her of her resignation.
The response came almost immediately. The manager, who had witnessed Xandra and Nathaniel purchasing a large amount of merchandise from the store earlier that day, sent Christina her salary and commission for the last few days.
Christina smiled as she saw the funds transferred into her account. It was the best thing that had happened to her all day. With this money, she wouldn’t have to rush into another job right away. She could take her time, focusing on her designs and waiting for responses from the companies.
Later, Evelyn called out, announcing that dinner was ready. Christina eagerly joined her at the table. That evening, they had a full meal—four dishes, one of which was Christina’s favorite.
“I would be the happiest girl alive if I could eat your cooking every day, Granny!” Christina exclaimed, savoring the food. Evelyn beamed with pride at the compliment.
“You’re such a sweet talker, Christina,” Evelyn chuckled, clearly delighted. After dinner, Christina helped with the dishes, grateful for the warmth and simplicity of the evening.
That night, Christina slept soundly, a rare and peaceful sleep that had eluded her for weeks.
The next morning, she lingered in bed a little longer than usual, enjoying the comfort of her grandmother’s home. When she finally got up and entered the living room, she found breakfast waiting for her along with a note. Evelyn had been invited to join a choir, and there was a competition coming up. She had gone out early in the morning for a rehearsal.
Christina ate her breakfast and then retreated to the small pavilion in the courtyard to continue working on her designs. She felt at peace here, surrounded by the quiet of the home she had always loved. Around noon, she changed into a skirt and decided to go out for a walk.
Meanwhile, inside the Hadley residence, Nathaniel sat at his desk, dressed in a stylish suit, wearing a limited-edition Bulgari watch, and exuding the aura of a rich heir. His demeanor remained as cold and distant as always, a sharp contrast to the emotions he was beginning to confront. He was flipping through documents related to Christina’s recent years, each page revealing more of her struggles—her need to pay her own university tuition, the responsibility of caring for her mother.
His mind raced as he considered her situation. “How could a university student bear such pressure in life?” he wondered. “No wonder she’s so focused on money. It’s the only way she can survive.”
Nathaniel couldn’t help but think back to the resolute way Christina had left him. She must have been terribly disappointed in him. He realized he had never truly understood her, never put himself in her shoes. Despite his attraction to her, he couldn’t deny the truth—she was an extraordinary woman. Her innocence, her brightness, the way her eyes always shone with hope—she was unlike anyone he had ever known.
As he continued to reflect, Sebastian hurried into the room with a document in hand. “Mr. Hadley, this is from Ms. Christina,” he said.
Nathaniel took the document with a frown, opening it to find a divorce agreement. The sight of it made his stomach twist. “I didn’t expect her to have the courage to send this,” he muttered, irritated. “Looks like I need to set things straight with her.”
He crumpled the document in his hand. “Get the car ready,” he ordered.
Sebastian nodded quickly, rushing to prepare for their departure.
At that moment, Christina had just finished grocery shopping. She walked home with a spring in her step, happily enjoying an ice cream cone. But as she made her way to the courtyard, a figure appeared in front of her—Brayden.
“Brayden?” Christina exclaimed, surprised to see him there. “How did you find me?”
Brayden, the handsome and charming guy known for his gentlemanly demeanor, smiled warmly at her. His dark eyes seemed to carry emotions he could no longer hold back.
“Hi, Christina,” he greeted, his voice low with sincerity. He had been thinking about her ever since they parted ways at the bar. The more he reflected on their past, the more he realized that he couldn’t simply let her go.
After four years together, he knew that Christina was a kind soul. He couldn’t stand the thought of her disappearing from his life forever.
“If it hurts to imagine a life without you, that’s when I know I’ve fallen for you,” he thought, his heart aching as he stepped closer to her. Gently, he took her wrist in his hand. “I’ve been thinking a lot about us. I don’t care about your past. I just want to be with you. Would you go out with me on a date?”
Christina stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to take his hand and say yes, but another part of her was still tangled in the mess of her feelings for Nathaniel.