Chapter 7 Trapped by Vows

As the familiar sight of the entrance came into view, someone pulled open the door to the passenger seat. "Get down."

Christina didn't have the slightest wish to return to Scenic Garden Manor, which had been nothing more than a cage to her.

"I don't want to," she refused indifferently.

She didn't want to be Mrs. Hadley, much less live at Nathaniel's mercy.

Before she could react, Christina suddenly felt herself being lifted. Her soft body stuck close to his muscular chest.

Christina's heart palpitated inexplicably as she sensed his body heat seeping through her skin.

Nathaniel carried her into the house. The housekeeper, moving in their direction, was utterly shocked. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Nathaniel holding Christina, who had been chased out of the house, in his arms.

After gently placing her on the couch, he held up her palm. The cut on her hand stimulated her nerves, sending pain up her arm.

"Bring me the first-aid kit."

The housekeeper, who was in a daze, immediately hummed in acknowledgment after hearing Nathaniel's stern voice. She hastily retrieved the first-aid kit and placed it on the table.

"Should I do it, Mr. Hadley?" How can I let Mr. Hadley handle this sort of thing?

"It's fine."

He wiped the back of Christina's hand with a cotton swab stained with aqueous iodine.

"Ouch! It hurts!" She feared physical pain the most. She wanted to retract her arm, but he grasped her hand tight.

"Be good. Bear with it." He spoke tenderly as if he was coaxing a child.

The stark contrast of a man, standing at approximately six feet tall, suddenly talking to her in such a gentle tone befuddled Christina.

The sunlight shining on his face made his serious facial expression look unusually serene.

After he was done bandaging her wound, he even blew at it lightly. His breath grazed her skin as if he was physically caressing her.

Christina withdrew her arm and averted her gaze. "Thank you. Can I go home now?"

"Do you suffer from amnesia? This is your home." Nathaniel seemed to have forgotten entirely about their divorce as if that had never happened.

Christina was anxious, but she knew confronting him head-on wouldn't benefit her, so she thought communicating with him would be a better alternative. *He has never shown me any concern after so many years of marriage. Is he doing this because he changed his mind after we slept together that night?*

"We're already divorced. What you're doing now is unlawful imprisonment!"

Nathaniel pinched her chin and forced her to meet his gaze.

He curled his lips into a smirk. "Who would've thought you're knowledgeable in legal matters too?"

Christina's face flushed red. She could sense he was being sarcastic.

Nathaniel leaned very close to her, puffing his breaths on the tip of her nose. "In that case, are we still considered a legally married couple if the divorce agreement is missing, and we've yet to finalize the documents at the court?"

*He's as cunning as a fox! He forced me to sign the divorce papers, yet he's also the one going back on his words now. How can a naive girl like me match up against a sly devil like him?*

The phone in his pocket rang at that moment, shattering the ambiguous atmosphere between them. Nathaniel answered the call.

Sebastian said, "Mr. Hadley, there's an emergency meeting with the authorities from Hawen that requires your personal attention. I've brought the car to the entrance of the house."

Nathaniel muttered a response and hung up the call.

He let go of Christina and tidied her suit.

Sensing he was about to leave, Christina began to devise an escape plan in her mind.

When Nathaniel reached the doorway, he deliberately halted in his tracks and instructed, "Stand guard here and make sure she doesn't go anywhere."

"Understood," the bodyguards responded with a resounding voice.

Christina felt her heart sink. Is he seriously locking me up?

She hit the air in frustration while watching Nathaniel leave.