Chapter 688 Do Not Be Softhearted

“Understood. I know what to do.”

Sebastian left to carry out his task, while Nathaniel returned to the ward to take care of Christina.

The morning after, Christina was woken up by loud sobbing. She opened her eyes to find an ebony head wailing on her chest, tears soaking her hospital gown.

Christina felt her temples throb, and ‘she shoved the heavy head resting on her chest away in disdain.

“You’re too noisy, Gabrielle,” Christina remarked hoarsely, and the wails instantly ceased. “I’m not dead yet. You don’t have to start mourning so soon.”

Gabrielle pounced on her, crying tears of joy. “Christina... You’re finally awake!”

Christina was struggling to breathe due to the smothering hug. She tried and failed several times to shove Gabrielle away.

Finally, Victoria had enough and stepped forward to pull the latter away from the hospital bed.

“Christina just woke up, Ms. Cook. She can’t handle all this drama,” Victoria chided. “You’ve been crying for half an hour. Why don’t you drink some water and take a break?”

Victoria was impressed by Gabrielle’s lung capacity, seeing as the latter cried nonstop for half an hour without tiring. Her sobs echoed throughout the entire building and sounded so sorrowful that people would have thought she was wailing at a funeral. D Gabrielle hiccupped amid her sobs before saying aggrievedly, “I just can’t control my emotions. If something bad happens to you, Christina, I’ll lose my will to live.”

As she said that, she wanted to pounce on Christina again, but a stern gaze from the latter dispelled that notion.

“The fortune teller said I’m tough and destined to live a long life, so how can I die in a fire?”

Christina randomly made up an excuse to comfort Gabrielle as her gaze flitted across the ward.

“Where’s Nathaniel? I remember before I passed out, he was the one who charged in and saved me. Did something happen to him?”

Victoria poured two glasses of water and passed them to Christina and Gabrielle. “You two patients have just woken up, so you should rest. Mr. Hadley is fine. He went to the company to deal with urgent matters and told me to take good care of you before leaving.”

Christina breathed a sigh of relief. As she drank some water, she suddenly remembered the fire on the cruise ship and quickly asked, “What was that fire all about?”

Gabrielle was still crying at the time, but her mood changed as soon as Christina brought up the subject. “Anya instructed a somewhat famous female model to start it. Midway through, she tried to run away but was caught by Mr. Hadley. I would’ve torn off a layer of Anya’s flesh if he hadn’t forbidden outsiders from interfering!” she said angrily.

Gabrielle could see Nathaniel’s motive for retaining Anya, but she was perplexed by his refusal to accede when she begged him for Xylic.

“Anya is in Nathaniel’s hands?” Christina asked again out of uncertainty, thinking she was hearing things as a result of being unconscious for too long. “Is this information reliable?”

Gabrielle shifted her gaze to Victoria. “Ms. Lesley’s boyfriend was fully responsible for capturing her. You can ask her about it.”

Victoria shrugged when Christina turned to gaze at her. “That’s right. Nathaniel’s men are watching over Anya and Xylie, but I can’t tell you where they are.”

I won’t make the same mistake again. Otherwise, Nathaniel won’t let me off easy.

Christina was well aware that Anya’s life had been completely ruined and that Nathaniel would not allow anyone to get into contact with Anya because he did not want Christina to find out how cruel and vicious his methods of dealing with Anya were.

Even so, she wanted to confirm with Anya herself the question that she had kept in her mind for a long time.

“Lend me your phone, Victoria. I want to make a call,” said Christina.

Victoria took out her phone without hesitation and handed it to Christina, who entered and dialed Nathaniel’s number.

The call was picked up after several rings. “Ms. Lesley, did something happen to Christina?”

Nathaniel sounded anxious.

“Nathaniel, it’s me.” Christina fought against the dryness in her throat. “I want to meet Anya.”

“No way,” the man uttered coldly. “You’re still recovering. Sebastian will deal with the aftermath. There’s no need for you to take action. Just take care of the baby.”

He had been through enough during this period and could not afford to lose her.

“I have some questions I want to ask her myself,” Christina insisted. “Nathaniel, I don’t want to leave any regrets regarding the matter of my parents.”

Only after a long time did the man relent. “I’ll get Lyle to pick you up. You have an hour, and you must return to the hospital when the time is up.”

“You have my word,” Christina replied with a smile.

After hanging up the call, she returned the phone to Victoria, lifted the quilt, and got out of bed. She then walked to the closet and picked out a set of casual clothes to change into.

“I’ll go with you, you, Christina,” Gabrielle offered.

“No need for that.’ Stay in the hospital and recuperate.” Christina put on a loose woolen coat to cover her bulging belly. “Even if I agree, Mr. Forrester won’t agree to let you go.”

Just as she finished speaking, Julian opened the door and walked in. He went straight to Gabrielle and reached out to grab her.

“Gabrielle, it’s time for the routine checkup.”

Gabrielle nimbly avoided his touch and huffed. “I merely have some minor scrapes. They aren’t severe enough to require checking twice a day. Let me be and leave.”

Julian’s eyes darkened. He coaxed patiently, worried that his temper would frighten Gabrielle, “Mrs.

Hadley needs rest, so don’t disturb her. I’ll let you do whatever you want when your injury heals. I promise.”

Gabrielle scowled, refusing to tone down her hostility.

At that, Christina quickly tried to ease the tension. “Mr. Forrester is right. It just so happens that I need to go out and can’t chat with you anymore. Go back with Mr. Forrester, Bailey. Didn’t you tell me earlier that you have a lot of things you want to say to Mr. Forrester alone?” D Surprise flashed in Julian’s eyes, but he did not make it obvious. He simply grasped Gabrielle’s wrist somewhat forcefully.

“Gabrielle, I’m free after this. I want to have a serious talk with you.”

The astute Victoria quickly glanced at her watch and exclaimed, “Oh my! It’s getting late. Let’s go, Christina. We’ll leave Ms.

Cook in your care, Mr. Forrester.”

With that, she hurriedly dragged Christina out of the ward.

.

Victoria personally accompanied Christina to the lobby of the inpatient department building just as Lyle drove there to pick the latter up.

“It’s not appropriate for me to accompany you since you’re settling family matters.” Victoria closed the car door for Christina before bending down to the window. “Don’t be softhearted anymore, Christina.”

If Christina could not bring herself to settle the score with Anya, the latter would someday become a vengeful spirit that would take her life.

Before leaving, Christina told the woman on the other side of the window, “After everything I’ve been through, it’s time to put an end to it, but I want to ask you to take care of something for me first.” D