Chapter 94 Why Did You Come
Christina gasped, the cold water soaking through her clothes instantly, sending a chill down her spine. Her breath hitched as the icy droplets dripped from her hair and face. For a moment, she stood there frozen, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
The flickering light from the front of the Hadley residence illuminated her drenched form, and the suddenness of the attack left her stunned. Her hand instinctively reached up to adjust her mask, but the situation was more pressing than her appearance.
She turned around in fury, only to see Helen standing near the doorway, a smug look on her face.
“Did you think you could just walk in here, pretending to be someone you’re not?” Helen sneered, her tone dripping with condescension. “You think Nathaniel would allow someone like you into his world? You’re nothing more than a tool to him, Ada.”
Christina’s heart pounded in her chest. She had been prepared for subtle manipulations, for the scrutiny that came with being under Julia and Helen’s watch, but she had not expected this—a direct, public humiliation. She clenched her fists at her sides, trying to steady her breathing.
“Do you think this will make me leave?” Christina’s voice was calm but laced with an edge of determination, despite the shock of the moment. She wasn’t going to let them break her.
Helen’s smile widened, but there was something in her eyes now, a flicker of doubt that Christina didn’t miss. “I don’t think it’ll make you leave. But it’ll make you think twice before trying to play the role of Mrs. Hadley’s trusted designer. You’re not welcome here.”
Christina stood tall, fighting the urge to wipe the cold water from her face. She didn’t give Helen the satisfaction of seeing her flinch. “If you think this will change anything, you’re wrong,” she said, her voice unwavering despite the situation.
The tension in the air was thick, and Christina could hear the distant echo of a door opening, followed by footsteps approaching. She turned, expecting to see Nathaniel, but to her surprise, it was Julia who emerged from the house, her expression unreadable.
“Enough,” Julia said sharply, her gaze flicking to Helen before landing on Christina. “Go inside and dry off. You don’t need to stand here any longer.”
Christina blinked in surprise. Was Julia… defending her?
Helen looked flustered, but she didn’t argue, merely nodding stiffly and stepping back. “As you wish, Mrs. Hadley.”
Christina took a steadying breath and, without another word, walked past the two women, her damp clothes clinging to her skin. She knew she couldn’t show weakness now, not in front of them.
Julia watched her carefully as Christina made her way into the house. Once they were inside, Julia spoke, her voice softer now. “Don’t let Helen get to you. She’s… testing you. I’ve had my own share of her games.”
Christina didn’t respond right away. She was still processing the interaction, the rush of emotions that had followed the cold splash, and the unexpected support from Julia.
“Are you going to be okay?” Julia asked, her gaze softening.
Christina nodded, her confidence slowly returning. “I’ll be fine. I just didn’t expect that.”
“Well, welcome to my world,” Julia said dryly, though there was a hint of a smile at the corners of her lips. “It’s not always easy, but it’s certainly never boring.”
Christina allowed herself a small, relieved laugh. Despite the tension, the fact that Julia had at least acknowledged the cruelty of the situation gave her some comfort.
“Let’s get you cleaned up. You’ve had enough surprises for one day.”
As they walked toward the stairs, Christina couldn’t shake the feeling that Julia was beginning to see her in a new light. Whether that was good or bad, she wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain—things were getting more complicated with every step she took in the Hadley household.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel sat in the car, staring at his phone. He had been meaning to speak with Christina when she arrived but had been delayed by a few calls. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel isolated or vulnerable, especially not in the face of his mother’s manipulations.
When he saw the car pull up at the Hadley residence, he had every intention of checking in on her, but what he didn’t expect was the scene that unfolded.
The moment he saw the water splashing on Christina, his heart tightened. He could barely make out the details from the distance, but it was clear enough—someone had intentionally soaked her.
He clenched his jaw, his fist tightening around the steering wheel. There were too many things happening that he couldn’t control, too many people making decisions for Christina—people who didn’t understand her.
Without a word, he opened the car door and stepped out, already headed toward the front entrance.