Chapter 177 Don't move, let me apply some medicine for you
"Ah! What are you doing!"
Natalie exclaimed in surprise as Oliver’s hand brushed against her back. She quickly covered herself.
"Don’t move," Oliver whispered gently. He approached with some ointment in hand and continued, "Let me apply some medicine for you."
Natalie complied, exposing her back to the cool air. A tingling sensation enveloped her skin, causing goosebumps, yet it also brought a sense of relief. She turned to look at him and saw the intense and devout expression on his face.
After that, Oliver helped Natalie to dress. Initially, she was a little uneasy, but her initial resistance eventually gave way to acceptance. After all, it was not their first encounter of such a nature.
When her eyes fleetingly caught sight of Oliver's belt, Oliver, perceptive as ever, teasingly asked, "What are you looking at?"
Natalie averted her gaze. "I wasn’t looking at anything."
Oliver hugged her waist and placed his mouth next to her ear, whispering, “Hmm?”
Realizing that he was teasing her, Natalie retorted with a playful scoff. "You’re inviting trouble."
Was he not seeking trouble by getting himself riled up?
Oliver teased, “Then, are you going to help me resolve the trouble?”
Natalie paused. She did not think he would do anything, but his words introduced a sliver of doubt.
At that moment, a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Natalie, it’s time to wake up. I’ve prepared breakfast for you!"
Lucas's voice echoed from the other side, somewhat muffled by the effective soundproofing of the room.
Oliver's expression soured immediately.
Natalie, her cheeks flushed, reclaimed her clothing from Oliver, urging, "Lucas is here. Let's not continue this."
Oliver scowled and snatched the clothes back, saying, “Stop moving.”
Then, he resumed dressing Natalie, evidently finding pleasure in caring for her. If only the unwelcome interruption had not occurred.
"Oliver..."
"Don’t talk to me!" Oliver's mood had visibly dropped.
Natalie, puzzled by his sudden shift in demeanor yet sensing it had something to do with Lucas, chose silence to avoid exacerbating the situation, especially to shield her brother.
…
When Natalie saw the breakfast Lucas prepared, she praised him before she asked him to eat. Then, she went to the kitchen to prepare Oliver’s meal.
During her absence, Lucas glanced disdainfully at Oliver and accused, "This is your fault. My sister can’t even enjoy her breakfast in peace!"
Oliver met his gaze with an expressionless face, thinking that if Lucas were not significantly younger and the brother of Natalie, he might have thrown Lucas out.
Natalie returned with a bowl of tomato cheese pasta and a fried egg for Oliver. "Enjoy your meal! Next time, I’ll rise earlier to prepare something even more delicious for you."
"You didn’t cook for me," Lucas protested, his jealousy apparent.
"You already made your breakfast, right? Behave," Natalie replied, offering him a piece of beef, fully aware of his motives to provoke Oliver, likely stemming from their underlying conflict.
While Natalie's attention was elsewhere, the air between Lucas and Oliver thickened with unspoken tension. Oliver looked at his young brother-in-law smugly, which only served to ignite the latter’s frustration further.
…
After breakfast, Oliver ordered, "Lucas, come with me."
This broke Lucas’ expectations of spending time alone with Natalie and disrupting her alone time with Oliver.
Natalie's expression clouded with concern as she called out, "Oliver..."
"I’m taking him to the hospital for a thorough examination," Oliver explained, his tone cool and his gaze sharp with irritation, "What’s the matter? Are you afraid I might harm your brother?"
"No... Of course not," Natalie replied, her voice tinged with exasperation. How could she suspect Oliver of such a thing?
"I don’t want to go. I’m perfectly fine. The doctor confirmed it just yesterday," Lucas protested, adamant about not wanting to go with Oliver.
"Lucas, the doctor only performed a preliminary check-up. Go for a comprehensive examination at the hospital. It’s the only way to put my mind at ease," Natalie insisted, her concern for Lucas's well-being overriding everything else.
In the end, Lucas reluctantly joined Oliver in the Rolls-Royce, casting a critical eye over the luxurious interior with a begrudging acceptance of its quality.
"Where are we going?" Lucas asked skeptically. He doubted Oliver's true intentions were as straightforward as a hospital visit.
Oliver was about to light a cigarette when he paused. Taking Lucas's presence into consideration, he finally decided against smoking, mindful of Lucas’ health and Natalie's likely worry over her brother's exposure to secondhand smoke.
Oliver murmured, pretending to be engrossed in a document. "There's a cargo ship bound for South Africa at the docks today. It would be simple to hide you in the cargo hold, out of your sister's reach and knowledge."
"Oliver!" Lucas was aghast. How dare Oliver do such a thing? However, he knew Oliver was not one to be underestimated. With his young age and lack of protection now, he was indeed vulnerable. When he recalled the rumors surrounding Oliver's ruthless and unbridled nature, he could not help but panic slightly.
Lucas dialed back on his usual defiance and feigned a more subdued attitude as he said, “You can’t do this, Brother-in-law. Natalie would be devastated.”
Oliver sneered. “Oh, so now I’m your brother-in-law?”
Lucas silently fumed, realizing through Jamie's amused glance in the rearview mirror that Oliver had been jesting all along. He thought to himself, ‘If it weren’t for the sake of keeping up appearances, do you think I’d willingly address you as ‘brother-in-law’?’
This episode left Lucas reflecting on his frail condition. If not for his physical limitations, he would not be so dependent on his wits alone, lacking the strength to defend himself or those he cared about.
At sixteen, Lucas was caught in the awkward phase between youth and adulthood, prone to overestimating his strengths while underplaying his weaknesses—or vice versa. He momentarily overlooked his exceptional intellect and capabilities, which already set him apart from his peers.
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