Chapter 74 Help Me Bathe
Christina flinched as the coffee cup flew toward her, but she managed to step back just in time, the cup hitting the floor with a loud crash, spilling its contents all over the polished marble.
The room fell silent, all eyes on Julia, whose face was flushed with fury. Christina’s heart raced, but she remained calm, refusing to be intimidated by Julia’s tantrum.
Nathaniel, who had been quietly observing the exchange, stood up and walked over to Christina, placing his hand protectively on her shoulder. His voice was low but firm, cutting through the tension in the room.
“That’s enough, Julia,” Nathaniel said coldly. “If you can’t respect my wife, then perhaps you should leave.” His words were sharp, each syllable laced with a hint of authority.
Julia’s face twisted in disbelief, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze. “You’re defending her now?” she scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. “After everything she’s done?”
Christina’s heart skipped a beat at Julia’s words, but she refused to let her anger show. She straightened her back, ready to speak her mind, but Nathaniel beat her to it.
“Enough,” Nathaniel said again, his tone brokering no further argument. “You’ll learn to respect my decisions, Julia.”
Julia looked from Nathaniel to Christina, her eyes seething with a mix of anger and resentment, before she turned on her heel, storming out of the room.
The air felt thick with tension as everyone else in the room awkwardly exchanged glances. The women sitting on the couch seemed to shrink into their seats, avoiding eye contact. The housekeeper, who had been standing by the doorway, cleared her throat, signaling the end of the uncomfortable scene.
Nathaniel turned back to Christina, his expression softening slightly, though his protective stance remained. “Are you alright?” he asked quietly.
Christina nodded, though she could feel the sting of Julia’s words still lingering in the back of her mind. “I’m fine,” she replied, her voice steady. “Thank you for standing up for me.”
Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her for a long moment, as if weighing his next words. “I don’t like it when people disrespect you,” he finally said, his voice low but sincere. “And I won’t tolerate it, especially from my family.”
Christina smiled faintly, appreciating his words but still feeling the weight of the situation. “I know,” she murmured, “but sometimes, I don’t think it’s just about respect. There’s something more… something I can’t quite figure out.”
Nathaniel’s gaze softened even further, his lips curling into a small smile. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, pulling her closer, “I’ll figure it out for you.”
Christina couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through her chest at his reassurance. Despite everything that had happened, there was a part of her that believed in him, in them.
As they sat back down on the couch, the room’s atmosphere slowly began to calm, though the tension from Julia’s outburst still hung in the air. But for the moment, it didn’t matter. Christina and Nathaniel were together, and that was all that mattered.