Chapter 196 Natalie, You're Just a Stand-In
While Susan's design might not have been particularly remarkable, her beauty and fame did not deter affluent individuals from investing millions in her art.
"Six million dollars!"
"Six million three hundred thousand dollars!"
"Seven million dollars!"
"Fifty million dollars!"
The room was stunned into silence by the last bid. Everyone turned to look at the person who made the bid in unison.
Natalie looked at Oliver with an expression of disbelief.
Oliver set his paddle down expressionless as he looked at the design on display. The way he looked at the design was very careful, a stark contrast to the way he had just nonchalantly bid for it.
The design, upon closer examination, revealed immature techniques and even flaws. They had been criticized publicly before and considered worthless. However, Oliver had just purchased it for fifty million dollars.
Was he out of his mind?
That was the question on everyone's mind, Natalie included.
The host said excitedly, "Fifty million dollars once! Fifty million dollars twice! Fifty million dollars thrice! Sold!"
After that, Natalie lost interest in the rest of the auction. Her thoughts were in turmoil. She finally realized why Oliver had suddenly decided to attend the auction. It was all because of the design draft.
The auction would become a major topic of conversation. A design draft deemed worthless by many had been bought for an exorbitant sum by Oliver. Susan's name was on everyone's lips again, fueling speculation about her identity and her connection to Oliver.
Though the auctioned items were typically delivered directly to the guests' accommodations, Oliver chose to collect the design draft himself once the auction concluded.
Natalie stayed behind, choosing not to follow him but to wait in the same spot. As the crowd thinned, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror panels attached to a nearby pillar. Her reflection looked lonely, reminiscent of a neglected pet, with a touch of bewilderment.
"Natalie."
An irritating voice from behind.
In the mirror, Natalie saw Hailey.
Dressed in a brown dress with light makeup, Hailey carried a limited-edition handbag and looked at Natalie arrogantly. She smirked. "Are you wondering why Oliver spent fifty million on that useless design draft?"
Natalie instinctively frowned, unwilling to hear more. She knew nothing beneficial would come from Hailey. "Hailey, if I wish to know, I'll ask the person directly involved."
After saying that, Natalie turned to leave, but Hailey grabbed her wrist. How could she let Natalie leave so easily? After all, she came to provoke Natalie, and she had not said what she wanted to say yet.
"It's because of Susan!"
At the mention of Susan, Natalie’s feet stopped moving. She had suspected as much but had never allowed herself to fully believe it.
Hailey noticed Natalie's reaction and was pleased with the impact of her words.
"Natalie, Oliver has always had a woman in his heart, and that woman is Susan. Do you know why I used to go around telling everyone Oliver was mine? Because I hadn’t, others might think I’m the third party in their relationship. Someone who ruined Oliver and Susan’s love…”
Natalie felt a sharp pain in her heart at Hailey's words.
"Oh, one more thing!" Hailey added, as if it had just occurred to her, "I forgot to mention, you look somewhat like Susan. Perhaps Oliver sees the woman he once loved, or maybe still loves, when he looks at you. You're nothing but a stand-in for Susan!"
Even after Hailey had vanished from her view, Natalie remained lost in thought, unable to shake off the unsettling conversation.
"What’s wrong?"
Oliver returned, carrying a brocade box likely containing Susan's design, and pulled Natalie back to her senses.
Natalie looked at him silently.
Oliver shifted the box to his other hand and gently held her chin, prompting her for an answer.
"Nothing," Natalie said and pretended to appear composed, "Shall we go back?"
"Yes," Oliver agreed, casually placing his arm around her waist as they began to leave, passing the remaining guests who offered brief greetings.
Natalie could not help but notice their curious glances at the brocade box, feeling like their gazes all held unspoken thoughts. At this time, she overheard someone whispering, and the comment resonated with her.
“It’s not easy to marry into a wealthy family, especially for someone with Natalie’s identity.”
…
Despite the previous night's indulgences, Oliver was unaffected. He seemed energetic.
Natalie, feeling uneasy, stopped Oliver's advances.
"I'm not feeling well."
Concerned, Oliver hugged tightly, whispering, "Did I hurt you last night?"
Natalie, not wanting to engage further, gave a noncommittal response and turned away, burying her face in the pillow and seeking solace in the solitude of her thoughts. The weight of Hailey's words and Oliver's strange interest in the design draft plagued her thoughts, leaving her feeling trapped and suffocated.
Oliver knew that last night’s activities had exhausted Natalie. Moreover, she was delicate, to begin with. He thought her refusal was due to her exhaustion and decided to give her space, retreating to the bathroom for a shower.
Alone, Natalie waited until she could hear the sound of water before she sat up, her gaze drifting to the brocade box. Curiosity overcame her, and she searched for Susan on her phone, sifting through various results. Some praised her as promising due to her recent work, but others claimed she was overrated and attributed her success to luck. The recent auction had catapulted Susan back into the limelight, sparking debates about her talent and Oliver's motives. After all, he had bought something that most people considered worthless for fifty million dollars.
Some people speculated that Oliver liked Susan, and some said that Susan was like Van Gogh; she had finally found someone who appreciated work, just like how Van Gogh’s works initially faced criticism from his contemporaries.
Amidst the speculations, Susan became more and more popular in the country, and there were even people speculating about her return to the country.
After a while, Natalie clicked on a photo of Susan, noting the undeniable resemblance between them. Susan appeared vibrant and graceful in her photo, embodying both beauty and elegance with a hint of youthful charm.
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