It had already been almost a week, yet Nathaniel had not returned to Scenic Garden Manor.
After everything, things seemed to have returned to its peaceful state.
Christina asked Rayne to stop accepting jobs, and she felt unsure about the future.
She tried her best to avoid negative thoughts while leading a repetitive daily routine.
Raymond sent Nathaniel the photos he secretly took of Christina.
The photos showed Christina sitting and sunbathing in the front yard, taking walks, drawing, and listening
to music.
She seemed to have lost her former liveliness and innocence, though.
Her eyes, especially, seemed clouded and devoid of light.
Christina ate her breakfast in the dining room, wearing a simple white dress.
The sound of someone striding in high heels came from the outside.
“Oh, how pitiful. Are you having breakfast alone?” Jewel took pleasure in her misfortune, looking at Christina like looking at a loser.
Christina glanced at her languidly and continued eating her breakfast.
Jewel felt as if she had just punched into nothing as she did not receive the response she expected. “I heard. Nathaniel hasn’t been back for almost a week. Don’t you think you’re being shameless by continuing to remain here? A woman like you who likes flirting around only ruins the reputation of the Hadley family! You continue to involve yourself with Francis despite knowing how much Nathaniel despises him.”
Christina remained unfazed in the face of Jewel’s accusations. She appeared as cool as an icy lake and did not even bat an eye.
“Are you done speaking? Get out if you’re done.” Christina gently wiped the corner of her mouth and stood up.
Jewel was infuriated from seeing her unaffected look.
After all, she came prepared that day, and her goal was to see Christina devastated and miserable.
Jewel grabbed Christina, who was about to head upstairs. She mocked. “Do you know why Nathaniel keeps you by his side?”
Christina stiffened.
Looking up, she met Jewel’s scornful look.
Christina felt like she was kept in the dark, and all she could hear was the mockery of others, but she did not know what was being said.
“What do you want to say?”
Jewel grew smug upon seeing Christina getting emotional. “Nathaniel can’t get close to women since a
long time ago. He’ll have an allergic reaction all over his body when coming into contact with women, his life would even be in danger. Strangely, his allergy doesn’t act up when he touches you. Madison has been carrying this burden for years and covering up for Nathaniel to not let anyone find out about this
secret.”
Christina’s eyes narrowed, and she was thunderstruck.
Nathaniel can’t go near women?
Memories from the past gradually flashed across her mind. Christina recalled when Nathaniel was sent to the hospital after being touched by a peacock.
There were no other women around Nathaniel apart from her and Madison.
Nathaniel was very cautious in his interactions with other women, even in mandatory social settings.
Oh, it seems like there was a reason for that…
“However, Nathaniel’s condition has improved recently. There isn’t any allergy reaction when he touches
women now.”
Christina turned and went upstairs quickly, in hopes that she could use some sort of magic to disappear
and never return.
After being startled, Jewel snapped out of her daze. I was actually shoved to the ground by this frail woman. I guess her usual weak demeanor was all an act. It’s so fun to see Christina in such a distraught state!
This incident would always remain an issue between them, regardless of whether Nathaniel would be with Christina in the future.
Though Christina’s bedroom door was tightly shut, it could only shut out the light and not the pain.
She was leaning against the cold wall. No one could see her expression at this moment, but her expression was exposing her true emotions.
Why did Nathaniel hide this from me? Was I only Nathaniel’s temporary stand-in when he had no other option all along?
Christina’s throat grew hoarse from weeping, and she cried to the point where she could not even make a sound.
Her palm landed on her lower abdomen. I’m sorry, my child. I don’t want to cry, but I’m feeling really terrible. You’ll understand me, won’t you?
Christina fell asleep on the carpet after exhausting herself from crying.
She was awakened by the cold the next morning.
Her head was spinning as she woke up, and she felt uncomfortable.
Christina had a feeling that she had caught a cold.
She forced herself to stand up, and she took out a thermometer to measure her body temperature. Her condition was not terrible. After all, there were no other symptoms aside from feeling a bit dizzy.
The maid who brought breakfast into the room saw Christina using the thermometer. She took it over and exclaimed, “Oh my. Mrs. Hadley, you have just recovered. Getting upset is making your condition worse. You can eat your breakfast first, and I’ll get the doctor for you.”
Christina stopped her. “No need.” ·
Nathaniel would know she was pregnant if she called for the doctor. Moreover, she could not take any medication at the moment.
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