Chapter 426 Ulterior Motive

After taking the measurements. Christina asked Azure some questions about the design details and clearly noted the requested specifications “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now.”

Azure flashed a faint smile. “Okay. The driver is waiting at the entrance.”

“Thank you.” That place was relatively remote, so cars would rarely show up there. Christina got to her feet, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.

Following her departure, the assistant off to the side took out a transparent bag and placed the cup. Christina had drunk from inside it. “Once we conduct a DNA test, we’ll be able to confirm Ms. Steele’s identity.”

Azure rested her gaze on the cup. It’s necessary to clarify the matter of her identity before I acknowledge her to avoid encountering someone harboring ulterior motives.

After arriving downtown, Christina asked the driver to stop the car and took a taxi back to Scenic Garden Manor.

She entered the study and sorted out the documents in her hands, The sun outside the window gradually set. Exhausted, she rested her head on the table and took a nap.

A while later, she was abruptly woken up by a phone call.

“Ms. Steele, I know you’re very busy, but don’t forget you’re still under contract with my company.” Francis’ deep and magnetic voice sounded from the other end of the line.

Christina had been swamped with work recently and hadn’t been to Francis’ place much. Sometimes, he would send her some selected sets of clothes to ask which ones he should wear.

After she gave her opinion, he would heed her decision without hesitation.

“Is there any important event? If not, I’m hanging up.” Christina sounded groggy as she had just woken up.

Francis feared she would end the call, so he hurriedly said, “There’s a very important red carpet event tomorrow, so you must come in person.”

“What time?”

“Come over at five in the afternoon for preparations.”

Christina muttered an acknowledgment before hanging up the phone.

She massaged her temples and glanced at the time. The kids should be coming back from school soon.

With that thought in mind, she went downstairs to wait for them. Not long after, the driver escorted the two children to the front door.

Lucas and Camila were dressed in their kindergarten uniforms. One wore a little suit while the other a dress. She thought their faces looked adorable no matter how she looked at them.

“Mommy, look. This is the flower I drew for you. Do you like it?” Camila impatiently took out her masterpiece from her bag.

She inherited Christina’s drawing talent, and her skills surpassed that of her peers despite her young age.

“Of course. I’ll get it framed later.” Christina kissed her daughter.

“Mommy, I want a kiss too.”

Christina gave Lucas’ handsome face a peck as well. Holding the two kids in her arms, she felt utterly contented.

“It’s time to wash your hands and have your dinner.” She brought them into the dining room.

Then, the housekeeper led them to the sink to wash their hands.

Nathaniel didn’t come home for dinner every night. He would only return when he wasn’t busy. When he was occupied by work, Christina didn’t want to disturb him either.

Under normal circumstances, if he didn’t come home for dinner by mealtime, Christina would eat with her children first.

At night, Christina told the two kids bedtime stories and sang them nursery rhymes. Only when she saw they were sound asleep did she get up to leave the children’s room.

Just as she was closing the door, she came face to face with Nathaniel, who was walking up the stairs.

The corridor was dimly lit, partially illuminating his exquisite countenance. His slender figure cast a long shadow on the floor as he exuded an authoritative aura.

“You’re back,” Christina remarked indifferently.

Her nonchalant attitude caused him to feel a sense of estrangement. He hummed softly in acknowledgment.

Whenever Christina saw him now, she couldn’t help but be reminded of the document in his study. Did Nathaniel find out something? If so, why hasn’t he mentioned anything to me?

That feeling made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t shake the sensation that a vast gulf now stood between them.

“Rest early.” With that, she strode toward the bedroom.

Nathaniel was worried that talking in the hallway would wake the children, so he followed her into the bedroom.

Pin-drop silence ensued after the sound of the door closing reverberated. Even their breathing seemed to turn shallower.

Hearing his approaching footsteps, Christina hastily moved to the bed as if a vicious ghost was chasing her. Before she could lie down, she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?” Nathaniel asked with a slight frown.

“No, that’s not it. I’m just a little tired from work.” She gave a perfunctory response.

Seeing that, Nathaniel didn’t press further. Instead, he took out two tickets for an art exhibition from his pocket. “This emerging artist has become quite popular recently. He has an exhibition tomorrow night at eight Let’s go together”

He wasn’t asking her to go with him-he was telling her she was going Christina looked at the two tickets and hesitated briefly before saying. “I have work tomorrow afternoon. I’m not sure if I can make it in time.”

“It’s fine. I’ll wait for you. You can come over after you’re done with work. Give me a call if you can’t make it. His voice was laced with a hint of gloominess.

Given the circumstances, she had no reason to refuse. “Okay.”

Nathaniel placed the tickets on the table and motioned for her to lie down. “Go to sleep.”

As Christina lay down, Nathaniel switched off the bedside lamp. Subsequently, her surroundings turned quiet, and she drifted off to sleep soon after.

The next afternoon, Christina packed her tools and went to Francis’ company.

When she entered, the staff present regarded her with distant expressions. It was understandable since she had been missing in action for days on end, even though she was a highly paid stylist. Therefore, it was only natural for others to be unfamiliar with her..

Striding inward, she spotted Francis lounging on the couch. His shirt was sloppily worn, with only one button fastened, revealing a swath of fair skin on his chest and firm abdominal muscles.

His shoulder-length hair hung loosely on either side. His feather-like eyelashes were long and dense, and his prominent nose and thin lips were so exquisite that it was hard to distinguish his gender. No wonder he holds the title of the most handsome man in the entertainment industry. This is indeed a well-deserved title.

Christina walked over. Taking in his lazy appearance, as if he had just woken up, she let out a sigh. “Why haven’t you changed yet?”

He looked up at her and smirked. “I’m waiting for you to decide what I should wear. The clothes at the back were provided by the sponsors. You need to pick out two sets of outfits,”

“Two sets?” she asked.

“That’s what the sponsor requested. I’ll be entering with their representative later,” he uttered casually.

Francis was already used to that kind of thing since it was part of his job.

That night’s red carpet show had been organized by a collaboration of various clothing brands. Christina figured most of the major brands probably invited celebrities.

She moved toward the two long rows of clothing racks and examined the available options. Her expression darkened the longer she inspected the garments. “What brand is this?”

“You don’t know Parf?”

Francis ambled over as well and stood behind Christina. He used his slender finger to lift a lock of her long hair, brought it up to his nose, and took a whiff. “Smells nice.”

She looked at the clothes and contemplated briefly before saying. “Half of these designs are plagiarized from a well-known brand. Are you sure you won’t be called out for wearing these?”

Christina disdained those designs that lacked genuineness.

“Who is badmouthing my company’s clothes!” A shrill voice rang out as a figure appeared in everyone’s sight.