Chapter_9
Julia’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding, as she pointed toward Christina. “Christina, you’re not Nathaniel’s wife anymore, so get out!”
The words stung, not just because of the bitterness in Julia’s tone, but because they felt like a declaration of victory for the woman who had always seen Christina as an outsider. The divorce had been signed; in Julia’s eyes, there was no reason for Christina to remain, no place for her in this house.
Xandra, ever the opportunist, didn’t waste a moment to jump in. “Mrs. Hadley, please, don’t let her upset you,” she cooed, her voice sugary sweet. “It’s bad for your health to get so angry. There’s no need to waste your energy on someone who’s no longer part of this family.”
Her words, though wrapped in concern, were meant to drive a wedge deeper between Christina and the Hadley family. Xandra’s true intent was clear—to highlight Christina’s outsider status, a strategic move to ensure Nathaniel would see her as the right choice moving forward.
But despite the harsh words, none of the maids made a move to enforce Julia’s demands. Christina stood her ground, arms folded defiantly, her piercing gaze never wavering.
Well, there’s nothing you can do to me, Christina thought bitterly. She wasn’t the same docile woman who had once cowered under their judgment.
Frustrated by the lack of action, Julia’s temper flared. “They may be too scared of you, but I’m not!” Her voice trembled with fury as she pushed aside any notion of maintaining her poised image as the Hadley matriarch.
With one swift motion, she knocked over the paints that had been carefully arranged on the table. The colors spilled out in chaotic streams, mingling into a black mess that stained Christina’s pristine white dress.
In the past, Christina might have retreated quietly to change, humiliated and subdued by the situation. But not now. This time, the sight of her soiled dress ignited something within her. She grabbed the container of water used to clean the brushes and hurled it at Julia without hesitation.
The water splashed across Julia and Xandra, drenching them both in the process. Xandra, her dress ruined, gritted her teeth, the heat of fury blazing in her eyes.
If she could, she would have lunged at Christina, tearing into her without a second thought. But there was too much at stake, too many eyes watching.
Julia, splattered in the pungent-smelling water, froze for a moment, her shock quickly turning to rage. “Christina Steele!” she shouted, her voice thick with disbelief and anger. “How dare you! You have no respect for your elders!”
Christina’s eyes flashed with sharp disdain as she met Julia’s gaze. “Respect? For someone who’s never shown me an ounce of kindness? Why should I respect you when you’ve done nothing but humiliate me for years?”
The words were cold and cutting, and they hit Julia harder than any slap. Christina had been silent for so long, but today she had nothing left to lose. She had learned the hard way—being silent only fed the cruelty.
Julia’s face flushed with rage, her blood pressure spiking as her temper got the better of her. “How dare you!” she gasped, trying to raise her hand to strike, but before she could, her legs buckled, and she collapsed backward, her body suddenly weak.
Xandra rushed to her side, concern apparent in her voice, though it was clear she was only worried about Julia’s health. “Mrs. Hadley, are you alright?” she asked, her voice high-pitched with fake worry.
Christina couldn’t help but scoff at the sight. A world-class actress, she thought with a bitter smile. She’s so good at pretending.
“There are no cameras here, so just cut the act,” Christina said sharply, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She wasn’t about to be manipulated by Xandra’s false concern.
Xandra, holding Julia up, couldn’t suppress the boiling frustration inside her. But she knew better than to escalate things further, at least not before Nathaniel returned. If Julia grew too tired of the act, she would have to abandon it. But for now, she had to play the part, for Julia’s sake.
As if on cue, the sound of an approaching car engine pierced the air, followed by the familiar taps of footsteps approaching the door. Nathaniel had returned.
The tension in the room thickened. Xandra and Julia both straightened as they heard Nathaniel’s arrival. This was the moment they had been waiting for—the moment when Christina’s actions would be judged by the one person whose opinion truly mattered.
Nathaniel walked into the room, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the chaotic scene. He frowned at the sight of his mother drenched and Christina standing defiantly by the overturned paints.
“What’s going on here?” His voice was calm, yet the underlying tension was unmistakable.
Julia, sensing an opportunity to enlist her son’s support, immediately launched into her complaints. “Nathaniel, Christina is impossible! She hit me! She has no place in this house, and she’ll bring nothing but trouble if she stays. There can be no peace in this family with her here!”