Chapter 73 Not A Good Sign
Christina felt a knot tighten in her stomach as she processed the conversation that had just unfolded. Julia’s cold, dismissive tone was unmistakable, and the fact that Nathaniel hadn’t even tried to soften her words left a bitter taste in her mouth.
She didn’t know exactly what she had expected, but this definitely wasn’t it. The invitation—if one could even call it that—felt more like a command than anything else. And Julia’s reference to her as a “country bumpkin” only added fuel to her growing unease. It was clear that Nathaniel’s mother had little regard for her, and this sudden dinner invitation felt like a test, or worse, an attempt to assert some kind of control over her life.
“Saturday,” Christina repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. She nodded, though her mind was already racing with questions. Why now? Why was Julia suddenly so eager to have her at the Hadley residence? Had Nathaniel said anything to his mother about her? Was this just another one of those awkward, strained family moments?
Nathaniel glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “I know what you’re thinking, but you’ll be fine. Just don’t let her get to you.”
Christina bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wasn’t worried about Julia. No, what made her uneasy was the way Nathaniel seemed to handle it. He’d always defended her in some ways, but he also hadn’t stood up to his mother as firmly as she would’ve liked. It was always this delicate balance of power between them, and Christina wasn’t sure how she fit into it.
“I’m not worried about me,” Christina finally said, lifting her chin slightly. “I’m worried about you.”
Nathaniel’s brows furrowed as he reached for her hand, pulling her closer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She shook her head, her voice quiet but firm. “You don’t have to fix everything. But you have to stop trying to please her at the cost of your own happiness. She’s not going to change, Nathaniel.”
For a moment, they stood in silence. Nathaniel’s jaw clenched, and he looked like he was about to say something, but then he stopped himself. Instead, he gave a short nod. “I know. But I can’t ignore her, especially when it comes to family.”
Christina felt her heart sink a little at the resignation in his voice. This was the man who had built an empire, but in matters of family, he seemed like a different person—vulnerable, tied to expectations he could never escape.
They stood there for a few more moments, the air thick with unspoken thoughts, until Nathaniel finally spoke again, his voice softer now. “Let’s go home. I’ll take care of things. You don’t need to worry.”
Christina nodded, not sure whether she should feel reassured or more worried. She had always known that the Hadley family, with all its power and grandeur, would eventually play a major role in her relationship with Nathaniel. But the reality of it, the way it seemed to overshadow everything else, was harder to swallow than she had anticipated.
As they drove back to the Hadley estate, the tension between them remained, unspoken but palpable. Nathaniel’s phone buzzed intermittently with work-related messages, but he didn’t seem to care. His attention was focused on the road ahead, as if he was preparing for some inevitable confrontation. Christina, on the other hand, was deep in her own thoughts. The upcoming dinner felt like a ticking time bomb, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could ignore the growing feeling of unease in her chest.
The Hadley estate loomed in front of them as they pulled into the driveway, its imposing gates opening to welcome them. Nathaniel’s world, a place she had only glimpsed at the edges, was always more vast than she could ever truly understand. And yet, she was here—caught between two worlds, each demanding its own version of her.
Inside the mansion, the coldness of the family’s expectations hit Christina like a wave. Nathaniel’s mother, Julia, was already waiting in the grand dining room, her sharp eyes assessing Christina as soon as she walked in. There was no warm greeting, no attempt to make her feel welcome. Just a sharp, calculating gaze that seemed to pierce right through her.
“Ah, so you’ve decided to show up,” Julia said, her tone dripping with disdain as she looked at Christina, her words more of a statement than a question.
Christina forced herself to smile, keeping her voice steady despite the tension that coiled around her. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Nathaniel stepped in beside her, offering a brief, almost imperceptible glance of reassurance. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Dinner proceeded in awkward silence. Julia dominated the conversation with her icy comments, while Nathaniel sat back, his eyes flickering between his mother and Christina. Christina felt like a pawn in a game she didn’t understand, unsure of the rules and constantly on edge.
After what seemed like an eternity, the dinner finally came to an end. Christina couldn’t get out of there fast enough. She was exhausted, emotionally drained, and even though Nathaniel tried to comfort her with a few quiet words, she couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing would ever change—at least, not until Nathaniel stopped playing by his family’s rules.
As they left the dining room, Nathaniel’s phone buzzed again, this time with an urgent message from work. He checked it quickly, and without looking at Christina, he muttered, “I have to take this.”
Christina nodded, feeling the weight of the evening pressing down on her. She wasn’t sure what she had expected, but this wasn’t it. The walls that Nathaniel had built around himself, and the coldness of his family, seemed impenetrable. And she was beginning to wonder if she could ever truly fit into this world.