Chapter 37 Teach Her A Lesson
The family dinner was a solemn affair. However, beneath the table, there was something else happening between Christina and Nathaniel.
When the man’s warm hand came to rest on Christina’s knee, her body trembled in shock, and she nearly dropped the piece of meat.
Tilting her head, she glared at him surreptitiously to tell him to cut it out..
Yet, it only caused Nathaniel to be amused. Meeting her widened eyes, he found her anxious demeanor endearing and utterly adorable.
He then ignored the warning look in her eyes and continued eating in an elegant manner akin to a prince’s.
Christina was the most impressed by how he could maintain a tranquil expression throughout it all, as though he was not the one touching her knee beneath the table.
His mastery in masking his real emotions reminded her of an experienced magician.
When his hand stopped moving across her thigh, Christina a**umed that he no longer found it fun, so she proceeded to ignore him.
No sooner had she crammed the meat into her mouth and began to chew than she suddenly coughed. and expelled the contents of her mouth onto the face of Emilia, who had been seated directly across from her.
A deathly hush fell over the dining table. No one expected Christina to be capable of doing something as rude as spitting out food during the meal.
Emilia came to her senses and belatedly realized that Christina had spat food on her face, causing her delicate makeup to be ruined entirely,
“Ah! Christina, why are you so uncouth? This is disgusting!” she screamed tearfully as she ran away.
At that sight, the housekeepers could not help but snicker among themselves.
Gideon had hoped to have Emilia showcase her best qualities in front of Nathaniel so as to make a good impression on the latter, but his hopes were dashed.
He glowered at the housekeepers to stop them from laughing at his beloved daughter.
Someone let out a derisive chuckle beside him.
At once, sheer anger washed over Gideon, and he vowed to fire the housekeeper who had the audacity to laugh at his daughter.
He shifted his gaze toward the source of that laughter, only to see Nathaniel propping his right arm on the table with his fingertips on his lips. One could not deny that the smirk on the latter’s face was downright mesmerizing.
Mr. Hadley was the one who snorted!
At that realization, Miranda and Gideon lapsed into silence, their expressions turning as black as
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thunder.
It was never Christina’s intention to humiliate Emilia. They might be at odds, but she was not uncivilized.
Then, she shot a discreet look at Nathaniel, the culprit. It was all his fault! I only spit out the food in my mouth because he frightened me by pinching my thigh when I was focused on eating!
Fury brimmed in Miranda’s eyes, but she dared not reveal her displeasure toward Christina as Nathaniel was still around.
Miranda waited until she finished her food before she headed to Emilia’s room to check on the latter. doing so under the excuse of needing the bathroom.
Emilia had washed her face, but her makeup was all smeared. She looked like she had just come out of the pool.
“Mom, Christina must have done that on purpose! Teach her a lesson on my behalf!” Emilia whined.
Heartbroken at how miserable Emilia looked, Miranda took her hand and comforted her, “Don’t be mad and quickly clean yourself up. Show them what you’re made of by taking Nathaniel away from her. I can’t help you if you stay in your room and wallow in despair.”
Emilia felt that her mother’s words made sense. Stealing Nathaniel away from Christina was her only way to take revenge on the latter.
After comforting Emilia, Miranda walked out of the bedroom.
By then. Christina had finished her meal and was about to leave with Nathaniel.
Since the start of the dinner, Christina had not mentioned a word about the collaboration to Nathaniel. so Gideon grew increasingly anxious and repeatedly gave her looks to remind her
Alas, Christina refused to meet his eyes and merely communicated with Nathaniel briefly.
A wave of fury crashed through Gideon, but he could not lash out at her. After some deliberation, he said. “Christina, you previously mentioned that you would discuss the collaboration with Nathaniel. How did it go?”
Nathaniel tilted his head to look at the woman beside her. “What collaboration? You didn’t tell me anything about it.”
Christina wanted to leave after finishing the strawberries; she could not be bothered to mention the collaboration.
Having grown up without any monetary support from Gideon, she was not willing to a**ist the Steele family in any way that could potentially lead to their success. It was none of her concern, anyway
Christina popped a white strawberry into her mouth. As expected, imported strawberries are sweeter than locally sourced ones.
After Gideon glared at her for the second time, she answered slowly. “Steele Group wants to collaborate with Hadley Corporation, but I don’t think that is necessary. After all, Steele Group will be taking advantage of Hadley Corporation in the collaboration as they lack the financial resources and connections required to do things on their own. I’m trying to save Dad’s face and prevent others from
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accusing our family of riding on Hadley Corporation’s coattails”
Never in Gideon’s wildest dreams did he think Christina would have the guts to be so blunt. He felt rage pulsing through his veins. Not only did she degrade Steele Group, but she also accused me of being shameless! That’s absurdly outrageous of her!
The tension crackled in the air. If Nathaniel were not present, Gideon would have long ordered. someone to fetch him a stick so that he could give his unfilial daughter a severe beating.
It was rare for Christina to be so bold as to go against Gideon fearlessly.
In the past, she had tried pleasing the Steele family and endured many grievances for her mother’s
sake.
She even allowed them to arrange her marriage, but they still did not change their attitudes and continued treating her badly,
Right then, Nathaniel picked up the document from the table and glanced at it. “We’re a family, so this is not taking advantage of me. I’ll bring this home to review it and will give you my answer as soon as possible.”
His words had a calming effect, like a bucket of water dousing the flames of rage that had been smoldering within the room.
Gideon’s face lit up with joy. “Sure thing! Take your time, Nathaniel. You can call me if you need clarification on anything, or I can visit your office and explain things if needed.”
Christina snorted inwardly. What a shameless dog.
Her smile never wavered, and she hid her annoyance deep in her heart. No one could tell her true
emotions.
Her complexion was so luminous that it almost seemed as if a filter had been applied to her skin. Her silky, dark hair framed her small face, making her look like an enchanting fairy that had recently descended from the heavens.
Her beauty was precisely why people were envious of her.
Christina stretched lazily and pressed her hands on Nathaniel’s shoulder. Gazing at his handsome face, she said, “I’m tired. Can we go home and sleep now?”
Nathaniel was captivated by the inadvertent cuteness in her behavior. “Mm. Let’s go.”
Gideon saw them to the door in an obsequious manner. Right then, Emilia descended the stairs and hollered. “Wait up, Nathaniel!”
She took extra care with her appearance, having applied a new makeup look and chosen clothes that were more daring than usual. Since she was a few centimeters shorter than him, her deliberate outfit choice of an off-shoulder chiffon shirt made sure that he would get an eyeful of her cleavage if he were to lower his gaze.
Disgusted, Christina hurried Nathaniel along.
As Nathaniel walked away, Emilia grew anxious and hastened to catch up with him. She was sure she could outshine Christina in her pretty clothes.
Wait up, Nathaniel! Ah!”
Delighted that she had finally caught up with Nathaniel, Emilia reached out boldly to grab his arm.
Without any warning. Christina used her ankle to trip Emilia, causing the latter to fall head-first onto the pebbled path. The pain prompted her to yelp in pain.
