Chapter 6
“The Hadley family?” Christina, Gideon, and Miranda were equally stunned.
They stared at the housekeeper in disbelief.
“Mr. Nathaniel Hadley is here to escort Ms. Steele home,” the housekeeper announced.
Christina’s mouth hung open in shock as she looked at the housekeeper, still processing what she’d heard. “Nathaniel Hadley?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief.
The housekeeper nodded solemnly, confirming her worst fear.
Damn it! Christina cursed herself inwardly for jinxing her own situation.
The arranged marriage between the Steele and Hadley families had lasted three years, yet not a single Hadley had ever set foot in their home. Now, out of nowhere, Nathaniel Hadley himself had arrived at the Steeles’ doorstep.
Gideon and Miranda, initially stunned, quickly shifted to a state of eager anticipation upon hearing the reason for Nathaniel’s visit.
Gideon’s smile was wide and sincere as he turned to the housekeeper. “Invite him in.”
“I’m already here.”
The voice, rich and confident, resonated through the room. There was an underlying coldness to it that seemed to match the man himself.
Just then, Nathaniel stepped into view. He was every bit as striking as the rumors had promised—and more. His tall frame, sharply cut features, and tailored suit exuded power and confidence. He stood in front of Christina, his gaze locking with hers.
Christina stiffened. This man—was this really Nathaniel Hadley?
She had heard the rumors of him being disfigured and short, but what stood before her defied all of them. Nathaniel Hadley was, in every sense of the word, breathtaking.
Her voice faltered as she stared at him, still processing. “Y-You’re Nathaniel Hadley?”
Nathaniel’s sharp eyes swept over her, a flicker of recognition passing through them. When he spoke, his tone was clipped, but with an undeniable hint of amusement. “That’s ‘husband’ to you.”
The words hit Christina like a punch to the stomach. She couldn’t form a response, and her mind raced with questions.
Miranda, still unable to process the shock of seeing such a handsome man, was beside herself. Isn’t he supposed to be an ugly monster?
But Gideon—Gideon was all smiles. He saw opportunity, and he seized it with a warmth that could barely conceal his excitement. “Please come in, Mr. Hadley.”
Nathaniel, however, didn’t seem interested in pleasantries. “That won’t be necessary. I’m here to take Christina home.”
Christina blinked, still reeling from the shock. “Aren’t we already divorced?”
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened, his gaze hardening as he met her confusion with cold finality. “The divorce agreement has been voided. You’re still Mrs. Hadley.”
Christina’s mind was spinning. Nothing made sense. But with her father and stepmother watching closely, she had no choice but to follow Nathaniel to the waiting car.
The silence in the Lincoln stretch limousine was thick, almost suffocating.
Once they were well away from the Steele residence, Christina, still in a daze, finally broke the silence. “Stop the car!” she demanded, her voice strained.
The driver didn’t hesitate and pulled over to the side of the road.
Christina flung the door open, intent on escaping.
Before she could even take a full step, Nathaniel’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist with startling force. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Surprised by his sudden action, Christina jerked her arm free, frowning. “Home!”
“We haven’t arrived at the Hadley residence yet.”
She stared at him, confused, before a mocking smirk tugged at her lips. “You can’t possibly think you can treat people like pawns just because you’re some walking Adonis. Is this all some twisted game to you?”
Nathaniel didn’t flinch. Instead, he leaned toward her, his face mere inches from hers. “Yes,” he said, his voice low and laced with dark humor. After a pause, his lips brushed her ear. “Especially last night. That was very entertaining.”
Christina’s thoughts immediately snapped back to the night before. Flashbacks of their brief but intense encounter flooded her mind, and her face flushed bright red.
Her teeth ground together in frustration, but she couldn’t stop the heat that spread across her cheeks.
“You psycho!” she snapped.
The driver, who had been silently observing, nearly choked on his own breath. No one had ever dared speak to Nathaniel this way before.
Nathaniel’s expression remained impassive, his grip tightening as he pulled her back into his embrace with a casual ease that left her stunned. “Start the car,” he ordered.
The car lurched forward, the engine roaring to life, while Christina’s protests and struggles were met with nothing but the hum of the road beneath them.