Chapter 95 Deliberate
Julia stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room with a sharpness that seemed to pierce through the air. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough that even the sound of Christina’s measuring tape unfurling seemed louder than usual.
For a brief moment, Julia’s gaze flicked from the measuring tape in Christina’s hands to the impassive expression on Nathaniel’s face. She couldn’t quite decipher the situation—there were too many things that didn’t add up.
Her eyes narrowed, and she folded her arms across her chest. “Taking measurements at this hour?” she asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “And locking the door?”
Christina, still with her mask securely in place, refused to meet her gaze directly. She focused intently on the task at hand, her hands steady as she recorded the measurements, hoping that the ruse would hold.
Nathaniel’s gaze remained unwavering as he adjusted his tie, his demeanor cool and collected. “Yes,” he said, his voice firm, “I don’t appreciate interruptions when I’m working. I’d like some privacy.”
Julia didn’t move, but the muscles in her jaw twitched with a barely concealed annoyance. Her suspicion was obvious, but she didn’t push further, her instincts warning her that pushing now could backfire.
“Fine,” Julia replied coldly, her tone tight. “But don’t forget who you’re dealing with, Nathaniel.”
She turned on her heel, signaling the end of the conversation. As she walked out, the door clicked shut behind her, leaving Nathaniel and Christina in an uncomfortable silence.
Christina let out a shaky breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. Her back was still stiff with tension, and she could feel the weight of Julia’s suspicion pressing down on her.
Nathaniel, however, seemed unphased. He walked over to the window and gazed out, his arms crossed as if contemplating something far beyond the room.
Christina looked up at him, her mask still obscuring most of her face, but her eyes were wide with anxiety. “That was close,” she whispered, her voice tinged with nerves. “You really need to stop showing up unannounced. If she keeps suspecting—”
He turned back toward her, cutting her off with a sharp look. “I’m not leaving you alone in this house,” he said, his tone quiet but firm. “And you’re too valuable to be exposed just because my mother has a hunch.”
Christina looked at him, her mind racing. It was true. Staying in the Hadley residence meant constant risks, constant tension. She was walking a fine line, and one wrong step could expose everything. Yet, there was no denying the comfort of having Nathaniel by her side, even if he complicated things further.
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up,” she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck as the exhaustion of the past few days started to catch up with her. “I can’t risk it, Nathaniel. Not with your family so close to finding out.”
Nathaniel’s expression softened, but there was a trace of something darker behind his eyes—something protective, something driven by a desire to shield her. “You won’t have to do it alone,” he said quietly. “I won’t let you.”
Christina wanted to argue, to protest that he couldn’t protect her forever, but the sincerity in his voice made her hesitate. She knew that no matter how hard she tried to distance herself, Nathaniel wasn’t going to let her go that easily.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling. In a strange way, it was reassuring—comforting even.
She wiped a hand across her face, trying to clear her thoughts. “I just need to finish this and get out of here before anyone else catches on.”
Nathaniel nodded, his gaze steady. “Let me help. We can sort this out together.”
Christina met his eyes for a moment, her heart beating just a little faster. Despite everything, she couldn’t deny that having him by her side was… easier than she had expected.
But that comfort was short-lived as she heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching once more.
The door creaked open again, and to Christina’s horror, Helen stepped in, her face unreadable.
“Ms. Ada,” she began coolly, her gaze flicking between the two of them, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
Christina’s stomach twisted into knots, but Nathaniel acted fast, stepping between them with an almost casual air. “Helen,” he said smoothly, “What is it?”
Helen’s gaze shifted to him, and for a moment, it felt like a silent battle of wills. But then, her attention turned back to Christina. “I just wanted to remind you that Mrs. Hadley will be expecting some updates on the designs later this evening,” she said, her tone betraying none of her earlier coldness. “Don’t keep her waiting.”
Christina forced a smile and nodded, though her mind was racing. Was Helen just playing the part of the obedient housekeeper? Or was she trying to push some sort of agenda?
“Of course, Helen,” she said, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest.
Helen paused for a moment, then turned to leave. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Christina and Nathaniel once again alone. The tension lingered in the air, but now, it was mixed with a sense of urgency.
Christina took a deep breath and returned to her sewing machine, her fingers trembling slightly as she began to work again. There was no more time to waste. The closer she got to finishing the dress, the closer she got to her escape from the Hadley residence—and to whatever awaited her beyond the carefully constructed façade she had built.