Chapter 11
On the second floor, Elizabeth’s bedroom was very quiet, completely different from the noise downstairs.
As soon as Christina pushed open the door, she saw her husband’s paternal aunt, Amelia White, standing by the bed and checking her watch with obvious impatience.
“Aunt Amelia,” Christina called softly.
Amelia turned at the sound, her eyes sweeping over Christina from head to toe, filled with disgust. “What took you so long?”
A moment later, Ethan walked in as well. “Aunt Amelia.”
The moment she saw him, Amelia’s expression brightened at once. After asking about him with concern, she glanced at Christina again. “Since you’re here, stay and take care of your grandmother. I still need to go downstairs and greet the guests.”
With that, Amelia brushed past Christina and left. The door closed, leaving only three people in the room.
Elizabeth leaned against the headboard. Her hair was white, but she still looked full of spirit.
“Christina’s here?” Elizabeth’s eyes lit up when she saw her, and she waved. “Quick, come over here.”
At that moment, Christina’s cold heart finally felt a trace of warmth.
She quickly walked to the bedside and held Elizabeth’s wrinkled hand. “Grandma, how are you feeling today? Does your leg still hurt?”
“It doesn’t hurt.” Elizabeth frowned. “Why is your face so pale? Did that jerk bully you again?”
As she spoke, Elizabeth shot Ethan, who was standing by the door, a fierce glare.
Ethan touched his nose and walked over. “Grandma, how would I dare bully her?”
“You know how to care for anyone?” Elizabeth scolded mercilessly. “You go around with that cold face all day, like someone owes you money.”
Christina forced a smile, sat on the edge of the bed, and skillfully began massaging Elizabeth’s shoulders. “Grandma, Ethan treats me well. Don’t worry. As long as you’re healthy, I’m happy.”
Ethan stood to the side, watching Christina’s gentle profile.
She kept her head lowered, carefully massaging Elizabeth. Her movements were practiced, clearly something she did often.
But when he thought of how she had avoided his hand downstairs earlier, Ethan felt a flicker of irritation.
“How are things at the company?” Elizabeth asked Ethan after enjoying Christina’s massage.
“Everything’s going smoothly. The project in South Emerald City has already started,” Ethan answered respectfully.
“Good. As long as it’s going well.” Elizabeth patted the back of Christina’s hand and said seriously, “Money can never all be earned. You two have been married for three years now. It’s time to think about having a child.”
Christina’s fingers paused. In these three years, children had been the topic she feared most.
Ethan’s expression turned cold. “Grandma, the company is expanding right now. I’m very busy and don’t have the energy for a child at the moment.”
“Busy, busy... that’s all I ever hear from you. It’s one thing for your brother to be busy with scientific research, but you’re doing business. Are you really so busy you don’t even have time to have a child?” Elizabeth grew so angry that she slapped the bed. “Christina is already twenty-five. If you keep delaying, she’ll be an older mother!”
“It’s still early. Waiting a few more years is fine.” Ethan’s tone was firm as he looked at Christina with warning in his eyes. “Besides, Christina’s career is just starting. She doesn’t want to be tied down by a child so early either, right?”
He pushed the difficult question onto Christina.
Just as he had done every time over the past three years, he played the dutiful grandson in front of the elders while forcing her to be the “unreasonable” one.
Christina lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions in them. “Yes, Grandma... I don’t want to have a child yet.”
Elizabeth looked at them both and finally sighed. “You two really are something.”
After leaving Elizabeth’s room, Ethan walked ahead.
Christina endured the pain in her foot as she followed behind him. With every step, the wound rubbed against her shoe, and the pain was so sharp that cold sweat broke out across her forehead.
“Christina.” Ethan suddenly stopped and turned around, a trace of mockery in his voice. “You acted pretty well in front of Grandma just now. I thought you’d take the chance to complain, cry about wanting a child, and try to tie me down.”
Christina looked up at him. “Mr. Carter, since this is a transaction, we should follow the rules.”
Ethan let out a cold snort. “Good. Then keep it that way. Find somewhere to stay on your own, don’t wander around, and especially don’t cause me any trouble.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the other side of the banquet hall.
Emily was there, surrounded by a group of people like a princess.
Christina stood where she was, watching his unhesitating figure until her vision blurred.
In the banquet hall, people came and went, raising their glasses with fake smiles, talking about stocks, gossip, and the latest designer brands.
Christina felt suffocated by the oppressive air. Alone, she walked to the dessert table in the corner.
There were not many people there. She picked up a slice of Black Forest cake and took a spoonful.
The sweetness melted on her tongue, but it could not suppress the bitterness in her heart.
“Christina has quite an appetite.”
Christina didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Rachel walked over with a glass of red wine in hand, her eyes sweeping contemptuously over the cake Christina was holding. “Ethan has already gone to keep Emily company, and you’re still in the mood to eat cake here?”
Rachel sneered. “Then again, someone like you has never seen the world. When would you ever normally get to eat desserts this fancy? Eat more, because... you won’t have many good days like this left.”
Christina put down the spoon and looked directly at Rachel. “Rachel, you keep provoking me. Do you really think I won’t do anything to you?”
Rachel froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Christina, this is Carter Manor. What can you do to me? Ethan doesn’t love you at all. You’ll be kicked out soon!”
She pointed at the desserts on the table. “When that happens, bitterness is all you’ll deserve for the rest of your life!”
Christina stared at Rachel, then suddenly strode toward her.
Rachel was startled. “You... what are you trying to do?”
