Chapter 187 My Wife, Natalie
Natalie looked at Oliver.
Oliver’s lips beneath his mask moved as he said, “Yes, this is my wife, Natalie.”
"Mrs. Windsor is even more beautiful in person than in the photographs!"
Others noticed Oliver and approached him one by one. It had become an almost open secret among their social circles that Oliver possessed an arrogance that intimidated many. This was especially evident at the engagement party of Adrian and Hailey, seeing how fearful the Windsor and Harrington families were.
People continued to vie for Oliver's attention, hoping to curry favor; the reality that Oliver might not hold much power in the family did not deter them. The Windsor family, after all, would not fault anyone for attempting to align with them.
When Adrian and Hailey arrived, they saw a crowd surrounding Oliver and Natalie. Despite the mask on his face, Oliver's indifference and impatience are palpable. Natalie, conversely, managed a perpetual smile on her face, expertly navigating the social dynamics at play.
Consequently, no one paid any attention to Adrian and Hailey.
"Adrian, should we leave?" Hailey, accustomed to being the center of attention, was unhappy with the attention Natalie received. She felt both jealous and humiliated.
"Have you forgotten the reason for our attendance?" Adrian responded impatiently.
Following their engagement scandal, troubles continued to pile up. They were ridiculed in their social circles, and just when things were calming down, Arwyn exposed everything. Adrian had to spend a large sum of money to get rid of Arwyn.
Arwyn’s disclosure—that Hailey had alienated someone significant—meant that Hailey could no longer use certain information to her advantage against the Harringtons. Both families found themselves in a stalemate, achieving only a fragile peace.
With their stocks plummeting, Adrian and Hailey were forced by their elders to attend this party to present a united front. They hoped to turn Arwyn’s words into baseless rumors.
"Don't be mad. I was just joking!" Hailey quickly appeased Adrian playfully. She suddenly remembered that the party was a three-day event, which meant that she had ample time to interact with Oliver.
Meanwhile, Adrian looked at the bright smile on Natalie’s face and regretted his decision to abandon her for Hailey's fleeting charms.
The venue was located on a private island that was accessible only by boat, enhancing its exclusivity and privacy.
"Mr. Windsor, after you."
The crowd fawned over Oliver, given his status as the heir to the nation's foremost affluent family.
Oliver boarded the boat with ease, pausing to assist Natalie rather than walking directly inside.
A crew member awkwardly withdrew his hand upon seeing this.
Oliver held Natalie's hand, guiding her onto the boat with a supportive arm around her waist.
Someone exclaimed, “Oliver is really thoughtful…”
The onlookers, particularly the young women from notable families, reassessed their perceptions of Oliver. Despite rumors of his disfigurement, his protective demeanor and actions toward Natalie challenged their preconceptions. Even with a mask, he was extremely attractive.
“Hailey, Adrian, when did you arrive?" Natalie suddenly asked at this time, drawing attention to Adrian and Hailey, whose entrance had previously gone unnoticed.
"Just a while ago,” Hailey replied with a stiff smile. She could not hide her unhappiness at all. Then, she said to Oliver, “It’s been a while, Oliver.”
Natalie's words shifted the focus to Adrian and Hailey. Not only that, but these words also embarrassed them, drawing attention to the fact their arrival had gone unnoticed.
"I haven’t congratulated you yet for winning Top Avenue! Congratulations,” Natalie continued to say with a smile on her face.
Hailey's expression was rather unsightly. Clearly, Natalie was deliberately provoking her. Previously, she had deliberately stimulated Lucas to deal with Natalie. It was a move that was deeply personal and malicious. She clearly did not care about Lucas’ safety at all.
At this time, one of the ladies said, “Mrs. Windsor, although you withdrew from the competition, your signing with HHY marks your entrance into the realm of international supermodels."
Others quickly joined in, offering their congratulations to Natalie.
This comparison rendered Hailey's own victory in the competition hollow: the champion gained little, whereas Natalie, having withdrawn at the last moment, secured the backing of a top agency.
Hailey's frustration mounted, and she gritted her teeth in anger.
Oliver, who had until then remained silent, suddenly asked, “Adrian, didn’t you see me?”
Natalie knew Oliver was going to make Adrian address him and her as ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt’ again to humiliate Adrian. She suppressed her laughter and waited for Adrian's response.
Adrian, caught in a difficult position, knew defiance was not an option. His connection to the Windsor family was well-known and failing to acknowledge them properly would be deemed rude, inviting scorn and mockery.
"Uncle Oliver, Aunty Natalie." Adrian conceded, albeit with reluctance.
Oliver ignored Adrian's greeting entirely, instead opting to escort Natalie towards the cabin with his arm around her waist, demonstrating a blatant disregard for Adrian.
Oliver's reputation for arrogance and defiance was well-established, and he felt no obligation to temper his behavior, even in the face of criticism.
Adrian's frustration was palpable. Turning to Hailey, he asked with a dark expression, "Why did you only greet Oliver earlier?”
Adrian was infuriated by Oliver's dismissive treatment, and he was even more infuriated by Hailey’s behavior. Oliver had just humiliated him, but Hailey was so friendly toward Oliver.
‘Useless woman!’
Hailey naturally could not say that she was interested in Oliver and wanted to snatch him away from Natalie.
Adrian caressed Hailey’s cheek as he suddenly lowered his voice and said menacingly, “Hailey, do you still harbor feelings for Oliver? After all, he was once your fiance.”
Hailey’s face turned ashen. Her thoughts about Oliver vanished and were replaced by fear. She quickly kissed, hiding her revulsion, before she denied, “Adrian, what are you talking about? That’s ridiculous!”
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