Chapter 93 What Is There For Her To Hide
The tension in the air was palpable as Julia’s sharp words echoed in Nathaniel’s ears, but he didn’t let it get to him. His mother had always been difficult, especially when it came to Christina. He wasn’t sure what it was—jealousy, resentment, or something deeper—but he knew Julia had never fully accepted Christina. It was clear from the way she spoke about her, with disdain disguised as concern.
Nathaniel turned to Helen with a small, strained smile. “It’s fine, Helen. I’ll handle it.” His eyes flicked toward the staircase, where Julia had disappeared. He knew it was pointless to argue with her—especially not when she was in one of her moods.
He needed to be with Christina.
Christina, however, was far from the drama in the Hadley household. Her focus was entirely on her work. The sketches of the gown were almost complete. The fabric, luxurious and flowing, was exactly what Julia had requested. But Christina knew that perfection wasn’t enough. The gown needed to be infused with something more—her touch. She had spent countless hours perfecting the designs, and though it was now well into the night, she had no intention of leaving until she was completely satisfied.
Her hand moved across the page, adding delicate details to the sketch. She was so absorbed in the process that she didn’t notice the time slipping away until the light from the hallway crept under the door. She glanced at the clock—nearly midnight.
Christina took a deep breath, stretched, and stood up from the desk, her body sore from hours of continuous work. She left the room and made her way downstairs to freshen up before heading to the lounge for some rest. She was so tired, her mind foggy with exhaustion, but at least she could rest easy knowing she had completed the most important part of the work.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel had retreated to one of the guest rooms. He wasn’t keen on staying here, but he couldn’t leave without seeing Christina, not when he knew she was working through the night. Julia’s sharp comments hadn’t phased him. Christina was different. She had always been different from the women Julia expected him to be with. He had known it from the beginning—there was something about Christina’s quiet strength, her grace under pressure, and her unwavering loyalty that drew him to her.
He heard the door to the guest room creak open, and his attention snapped up. It was Julia.
“I hope you’re comfortable,” she said stiffly, standing just inside the doorway. “I’ll have breakfast ready for you in the morning.”
Nathaniel nodded. “Thanks, Mom. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Julia didn’t respond immediately. She lingered in the doorway, eyeing him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. “You really care about her, don’t you?”
Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. “I do.”
Julia’s lips curled into a tight smile. “I’ve seen this before, Nathaniel. You always fall for the ones you shouldn’t.”
“I’ve never fallen for someone I shouldn’t have,” Nathaniel replied, his voice calm but firm. “Christina is different. She’s not like the others.”
Julia didn’t seem to like the answer, her eyes hardening slightly. “We’ll see,” she muttered before turning on her heel and heading back upstairs.
Nathaniel let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. He had to be careful with his mother. But one thing was for certain—he wasn’t going to let anyone, not even his own mother, come between him and Christina.
Christina entered the lounge after her brief rest, still tired but feeling a bit more at ease. It wasn’t long before she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to find Nathaniel standing in the doorway, his eyes scanning the room before landing on her.
“Christina,” he said softly, his voice a soothing balm after the long hours of work. “How’s it going? Are you okay?”
She managed a tired smile, trying to hide how drained she felt. “I’m fine. Just finishing up. I didn’t expect you to be here so soon.”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. “I told you, I was in the area. Plus, I wanted to see you.”
Christina couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her at his words. Even after everything, he still wanted to be here with her. She stood up from the lounge chair and walked toward him, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
“You should get some rest,” he said gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m here now. I’ll make sure everything’s taken care of.”
She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes for a moment. “I’ll rest in a bit. I just want to make sure the gown is perfect before I leave.”
Nathaniel frowned. “You’ve been working non-stop. You need to take care of yourself too.”
Christina smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “I will. I just… want to make sure I do my best.”
He nodded, understanding. “I know. But don’t forget to take care of you as well.”
For a moment, they stood in silence, the only sound the faint hum of the house in the background. Christina felt a deep sense of gratitude for Nathaniel—his presence was comforting, like an anchor in the storm of her busy life.
“You really do care about me, don’t you?” she asked quietly, looking up at him.
Nathaniel smiled, a hint of tenderness in his gaze. “More than you know.”
Christina felt her heart flutter in her chest. There was something so reassuring about his words. No matter how complicated things got, she knew she could always count on him.
“I’ll make sure everything’s done,” Christina said softly. “But thank you for being here, Nathaniel.”
He kissed her forehead gently. “Always.”