“Are you all right?”
A gentle voice entered Christina’s ears as she plunged into his warm and solid chest, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
She looked up, blinked, and flashed a faint smile. “I’m fine.”
Nathaniel held her up, gently massaged her cheeks with his fingers, and looked at her affectionately. “You lost weight.”
Her face was round and chubby, akin to fluffy cotton candy, tempting him to steal a pinch of sweetness at every passing moment.
Christina tilted her adorable face, defending herself. “I eat well every day, so it’s impossible for me to lose weight due to hunger. I guess I lost weight because I’ve missed you.”
Nathaniel burst into laughter and stroked her head. “Come, let’s head back to the hotel.”
It was getting late, and he did not want Christina to feel exhausted, knowing that a late-night journey would undoubtedly take a toll on her energy.
“All right. Give me a moment. I need to pack my things first.” Christina left her belongings backstage as she rushed over to meet him.
Just when Nathaniel thought of accompanying her, he received a call from Madison.
Upon noticing that, Christina said, “You should take the call. It could be something important that she needs to discuss with you. I can handle packing my things myself.”
“All right. I’ll wait for you here, then.”
After Christina nodded in agreement, she turned around. Nathaniel proceeded to answer the call.
In a soothing voice, Madison said, “Mr. Hadley, there’s a minor issue with the production of a batch of leather materials at the factory. The suppliers we agreed upon for the raw materials are planning on increasing their prices. I’ve already emailed you the information of several suppliers. Please let me know once you’ve decided which supplier you want to go with.”
Nathaniel muttered a response before hanging up the call.
Just when he was about to walk into the studio, a crew member ran out and exclaimed, “A designer is injured! Call the ambulance!”
All the designers who participated in the competition had left the studio, whereas the director, Selena, Benjamin, and Margaret were at the celebration party. Those who stayed back were crew members tasked to clean up the premises.
When the other crew members were still in a daze, a tall figure charged into the studio like a fierce beast.
The crew member continued shouting, “Stop looking. Call the ambulance! The designer suffered a severe
loss of blood.”
Another crew member came to his sense and called the ambulance on his phone. The others put aside their work and went to check on the designer.
Nathaniel hurriedly made his way backstage, only to find a slender figure sprawled on the ground amidst a cluster of sewing machines. The floor was covered in blood.
“Christina!” he bellowed with all his might, his throat instantly overwhelmed by the faint scent of blood.
Disregarding everything else backstage, he lifted Christina from the pool of blood. Her face was devoid of any color, and she felt fragile in his arms, like a feather that could easily be blown away by a breeze.
“Get out of my way!” Like a wild lion, Nathaniel roared, his eyes bloodshot and his body emanating a strong aura of fury.
At that moment, everyone instinctively stepped aside.
Before they could take a closer at who the injured designer was, the dark figure flashed by in their line of sight, disappearing without a trace.
Nathaniel carried Christina into the car and thundered in a deep voice. “To the hospital now!”
“All right!” Sebastian started the engine and pressed down the gas pedal.
While he was speeding on the road, Sebastian took a glance at the rear mirror and was struck dumb when he saw the blood-soaked Christina lying in Nathaniel’s arms.
Just a few moments ago, he received the news of Christina winning the award from the live stream, and now she’s injured and unconscious. How did that happen?
He did not dare to inquire about what had happened. The somber expression on Nathaniel’s face sent shivers down Sebastian’s spine. It was as if he was prepared to unleash hell at any moment.
Nathaniel held Christina’s fragile body tightly, still feeling the warmth emanating from her. The attack had clearly come from behind, as the back of her head on the right side continued to bleed profusely, staining Nathaniel’s white shirt crimson. You wouldn’t have been injured if I had gone in with you. But you’re going to be okay, Christina. You’ll be fine.
Nathaniel’s heart was overwhelmed with guilt. He could feel as if someone was squeezing his heart tightly, causing him unbearable pain and suffocating him. Whoever hurt you, I’ll skin their skin and break their bones!
Soon, the car pulled up next to the hospital entrance.
With Christina in his arms, Nathaniel hastily got out of the car and sprinted toward the emergency room, heedless of the still-open car door.
“Doctor! Go and get the doctor!” Nathaniel exclaimed.
Upon hearing the urgent call, the doctor in the emergency ward swiftly moved toward the scene. With a sense of urgency, they promptly commenced the examination of her wounds as they laid eyes upon the pale-faced girl, her body enduring the torment of profuse bleeding.
The nurse beside them immediately prepared the gauze and other tools needed to stop the bleeding. “We’ll need you to leave the ward and let us do our work.”
The atmosphere in the emergency room instantly became tense. Several nurses swiftly coordinated with the doctor while Nathaniel tightly clenched his fists, stealing another glance at the unconscious Christina. He could only stand by the corridor like a guardian angel.
“We’ve made a police report, Mr. Hadley. They’re now at the scene to collect evidence.” After getting down
the car, Sebastian gathered as much information as he could.
However, all he could ascertain was that Christina had been assaulted. Beyond that, he remained completely in the dark.
When the incident happened, all the crew members were occupied with their respective tasks. Furthermore, most of them were part-time employees who were unfamiliar with each other, so they did not pay attention to any suspicious individuals. This would make the investigation even more challenging.
“I don’t care what methods you use. We must get to the bottom of this before tomorrow!” Nathaniel’s eyes were filled with bloodshot veins. Like a dragon whose scales had been touched, he emitted a terrifying aura that made the surrounding air heavy and oppressive.
“All right, Mr. Hadley.” Sebastian then ordered his men to search for more clues.
As he was walking out of the hospital, he cussed inwardly. The person who injured Ms. Christina is doomed!
Nathaniel stood still outside the emergency room, his eyes locked on Christina as she received care from the medical team.
The doctor felt an intensified pressure as Nathaniel’s penetrating gaze bore into him. Even though he understood the man was only concerned about the patient’s condition, his overwhelming presence made it difficult to ignore.
Thankfully, that did not hinder the doctor from carrying out his duties efficiently. After half an hour, the wound was properly treated.
Luckily, the injury wasn’t deep enough to necessitate stitches. Once the bleeding was controlled, the nurse helped transfer her to a ward.
Inside the private room, the air was filled with a strong scent of disinfectant. The nurse prepared the necessary medications and provided Nathaniel with some instructions. She could not help but steal a few extra glances at the man with a cold and impeccably handsome appearance.
Nevertheless, the man merely hummed in response as he did not pay attention to her. The nurse left after providing him with instructions on the necessary care.
Under the soft silver light, Christina lay quietly on the bed, her right hand connected to an IV drip. Her pallid face bore a striking resemblance to a radiant moon, while her slender frame exuded a fragility that tugged at the heartstrings of those who beheld her.
