Chapter 224 Oliver's Sarcastic Smile
Natalie had always been independent and rarely relied on others to protect her.
"What are you thinking?" Oliver's sharp senses immediately detected Natalie's cautious gaze as he gently tilted her chin. This seemingly flirtatious gesture had a different meaning coming from him. It was a natural display of indulgence.
"Natalie! You need to listen to me!" Robert urged anxiously. He had invested greatly into his daughter Hailey. He hoped she would marry into a wealthy family to improve the Watson family's influence and his social status. Seeing that his long-held hope for his daughter was about to be ruined, how could he not be anxious?
Intentionally causing harm and attempting murder, were crimes that would lead to imprisonment!
For an ordinary person without power or influence, It could have been easily handled with some money. But Natalie now had Oliver’s backing!
Meeting Robert's urgent and expectant gaze, Natalie inwardly sneered and told Oliver, "I'll listen to you."
Robert's desperate attempt to seem like a loving father disgusted her!
Oliver's lips curled slightly, making it hard to discern his mood, but the Robert couple could already feel his icy displeasure.
"Charles," Oliver spoke up as he glanced at him.
Understanding Oliver’s intention immediately, Charles said, "According to the law, murderers are sentenced to death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of more than ten years. Those who attempt murder receive a reduced punishment based on the circumstances, and those with less severe circumstances may receive a fixed-term imprisonment of three to ten years."
Upon hearing this, Hailey's eyes lost their glimmer, and she slumped down to the ground in despair. She thought she could escape unpunished.
Hailey shook her head incessantly, feeling anxious and fearfully pleading not to go to jail. She never considered the consequences when attacking Natalie. She believed that the Watson family and the Harrington family would protect her.
Mrs. Watson's face turned pale, as she restrained her overwhelming hatred toward Natalie as she begged Oliver, "Mr. Windsor, it was my poor guidance that led Hailey to act impulsively. It's my fault. Please don't hold her accountable. She is young, she shouldn't go to jail!"
"Young?" Oliver scoffed, smirking. "She's already an adult, and you call her young?"
As he spoke, his gaze flicked toward Natalie's direction before he continued, "Natalie started working part-time when she was just sixteen."
Natalie raised her head in astonishment. How could Oliver know about such a trivial matter?
She once thought he disrespected her, but now the memories evoked sadness at her weak existence and her helplessness, then. A child only cries when someone cares. Back then, no one cared for her.
Back then, she was walking on eggshells in the Watson family. Who wou;d’ve cared for her?
"Natalie, it was my fault before. I mistreated you. Blame me for everything, not Hailey!" Mrs. Watson's love for her daughter overflowed, as she took all the blame upon herself.
Natalie suddenly remembered her own mother never liked her at all. She even suspected she wasn't her mother’s biological child when she was very yyounger. But if she wasn't her own child, why would Lucas treat her so well and protect her? Perhaps she was thinking too much as a child.
Natalie didn't want to talk to Mrs. Watson anymore. She turned around and felt as though she couldn’t take it anymore. She decided to bury herself in Oliver's embrace.
Oliver chuckled silently, enjoying Natalie's dependence, and raised two slender fingers, resembling a king who was about to pass judgement. Each word he spoke was a gesture of mercy toward the others. "There are two ways to resolve this.", he said.
The Watsons desperately awaited his words.
Natalie looked at him intently, her ears perked up.
"Here's the first one. I heard that Hailey was going to stab Natalie in the abdomen. Hailey, now you must harm yourself in the stomach, and only then we’ll call it even."
"No! I won’t let you harm my daughter!" Mrs. Watson rushed over, leaning over the railing, attempting to protect Hailey.
Hailey was already trembling in fear, slumped on the ground. How could she bring herself to harm herself?
"Mr. Windsor, what is the second option?" Robert cautiously asked.
He was concerned about Hailey's marriage prospects if she were tp have scars. If he were to stab her and save her life without causing damage to the internal organs, a scar on her stomach might affect her ability to bear children. How could she become the matriarch of a prestigious family then?
"The second option," Oliver casually replied, "is to handle it officially."
"No, no!" Robert shook his head repeatedly. Going to prison with a criminal record was worse than stabbing her! If she had a record, she would lose all her value. No, absolutely could not have that!
Robert kept praying, Mrs. Watson kept pleading, and Hailey sat listlessly in the interrogation room.
"Mummy, Daddy, call Adrian!" Hailey, who had been arrogant before, was now filled with endless fear.
"Yes, let Adrian know. Let the Harrington family come and negotiate!" Mrs. Watson chimed in.
After all, the Harrington family members were Oliver's relatives. He had to consider it. Even without the family relationship, the Harrington family's power was stronger than the Watson family's.
Robert quickly made the call.
Natalie squinted her eyes. Thinking to herself, were they fools? Calling Adrian now would only provoke the Harrington family, wouldn't it? Or did they think Hailey's status in the Harrington family was strong enough?
Natalie glanced at Oliver, who was leaning on the desk, in a relaxed state. He adjusted his mask and had a cold look in his eyes, as if he had expected the Watson family to call Adrian.
In the interrogation room, Hailey's eyes were like daggers, glaring at Oliver intensely. At times, she would laugh to herself, as if it were self-mockery or in irony.
"Should you... leave first?" Natalie asked softly. "Hailey might reveal the fact that you haven't been disfigured."
Given the current situation, it would not be ideal for the Harrington family to find out about Oliver's deception.
Natalie was amazed. Indeed, upon seeing Oliver wearing a mask, she realized his secret was still safe.
Furthermore, Hailey was always a proud person. She absolutely did not want others to know that the Oliver she had abandoned was not disfigured buta handsome man.
"No matter what, I will stand by your side!" Natalie solemnly promised Oliver.
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