Chapter 67 The Same Banquet
As Nathaniel carried Christina out of the banquet hall, the whispers from the crowd followed them like a trail of smoke. Christina could hear the murmurs, the speculations, and the snide remarks, but she chose to ignore them. The last thing on her mind was the judgment of people who didn’t know her.
Nathaniel’s strong arms held her securely, and his presence was like a shield, protecting her from both the physical chaos around them and the emotional turmoil she was feeling. His calm, unbothered demeanor was the complete opposite of her own embarrassment.
Once they reached a quieter area, Nathaniel gently set her down, his hand still resting on her shoulder. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his tone soft but firm, an undercurrent of concern that didn’t go unnoticed.
Christina shook her head, her cheeks flushed from both the situation and his proximity. “I’m fine. Just… embarrassed.”
Nathaniel’s gaze softened as he examined her, his brow furrowing slightly at the sight of her wet dress and tousled hair. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean handkerchief, gently dabbing at the wet strands of her hair. “It was an accident. Don’t let them get to you.”
“I didn’t mean to cause such a scene,” Christina said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I just wanted to help Coco, but everything turned into a mess.”
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a small, reassuring smile. “You didn’t cause a scene. People who don’t know you or your worth are the ones making a spectacle. It doesn’t matter.”
His words were comforting, and for the first time that night, Christina felt a slight sense of relief. Nathaniel had always been a grounding presence, but this moment felt different. There was something about his calm strength that made her feel safe, even in the face of such humiliation.
“I’m sorry you had to witness all of that,” Christina muttered, glancing up at him.
Nathaniel’s expression softened further. “There’s nothing to apologize for. But you shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”
Christina blinked in surprise. “What do you mean?”
“You deserve better than that,” Nathaniel said simply, his voice steady. “You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. Certainly not to those people who only care about status.”
Christina’s heart fluttered at his words. There was sincerity in them, something that made her feel understood in a way few people ever did. The thought of what the crowd had said earlier—their judgment about her background, her designs, and even her appearance—faded into the background. In that moment, Nathaniel’s support meant more than any of their opinions.
“I wasn’t looking to prove anything,” she admitted quietly. “I just wanted to help Coco. She’s been so kind to me, and I thought this might be a good opportunity.”
Nathaniel nodded, his hand still resting gently on her shoulder. “And you did help her. Don’t let their opinions change that.”
For a moment, Christina felt the weight of the situation lift from her chest. She wasn’t alone in this. Nathaniel’s presence was all the support she needed.
After a brief pause, Nathaniel looked down at her with a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Now, how about we get you out of this mess? You’ve already been through enough tonight.”
Christina chuckled softly, nodding. “I’d like that.”
Nathaniel reached for her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. “Let’s get you cleaned up, and then we’ll get out of here. We can go somewhere quiet and let this night be a distant memory.”
As they made their way toward the exit, Christina couldn’t help but feel grateful. Grateful for Nathaniel’s unwavering support, for his calm in the face of everything, and for his ability to make her feel like the only person that mattered in the world at that moment.
The world outside the banquet hall felt different now—quieter, calmer—and for the first time that night, Christina felt like everything would be okay. She had Nathaniel by her side, and that was all she needed to face whatever came next.