Chapter 357 Good, I'm here
The question lingered in the air, a palpable tension: did they truly find Jane's presence agreeable? To the discerning eye, she appeared as a usurper, vying for a position that wasn't hers to claim.
Oliver Windsor, caught in the throes of jealousy, couldn't help but feel a sense of insecurity. He sensed his place in Natalie's heart waver, threatened by Jane's growing influence.
"Lilian was the first to notice Oliver's arrival, her voice cutting through the air, "You're here!"
Barrett, previously lost in thought, was jolted back to reality. He greeted Oliver with a respectful nod, "Mr. Windsor."
Natalie, her back turned to Oliver, was unaware of his presence until she heard his voice. She turned around, her gaze meeting his, and felt an unexpected pang of emotion.
For reasons she couldn't quite understand, seeing Oliver stirred feelings of injustice within her.
The commotion outside the diagnosis room caught Roger's attention. He opened the door just in time to witness Natalie throwing herself into Oliver's embrace. A familiar sense of detachment washed over him, his heart aching at the sight.
If there truly was a second personality within him, what role did it play in this moment?
Oliver, his arms wide open, welcomed Natalie into his embrace. He held her close, his hand gently caressing her back, his voice a soothing whisper, "Good, I'm here."
The lingering gloom that Jane had cast was dispelled as Natalie rushed into his arms. Oliver pulled back slightly, eager to see for himself that she was unharmed.
Before he could get a clear look, Natalie once again sought solace in his embrace, her hands clutching his slim waist. She pressed her ear against his chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a comforting sound.
Feeling her warmth and tenderness, Oliver was filled with an indescribable sense of contentment.
Seeing her remain silent, he asked with concern, "What's wrong, Natalie?"
Upon his arrival, Oliver had been informed of Susan's hospitalization. Her injuries were not severe, requiring only rest and recuperation.
"...It's nothing," Natalie reassured him, shaking her head. She simply wanted to hold onto the man who had rushed from another city to be by her side.
It was then that Natalie noticed the curious gazes of Lilian, Barrett, and the others. She felt a flush of embarrassment and quickly averted her gaze.
Oliver's gaze swept over the people in the corridor before settling on Roger, who had just emerged from the diagnosis room. He walked towards him, his hand firmly holding Natalie's.
"Mr. Wild, thank you. The 'thank you' earlier was from Susan. Let me say it again, thank you for my wife."
Despite his gratitude, Oliver felt a twinge of annoyance. He found himself thanking this man time and again. But what could he do? Gratitude was indeed in order.
Roger, his arms crossed, looked at Oliver with a mocking expression. "Susan? Mr. Windsor, what are you thanking me for?"
"For saving Susan. I'm like her elder brother," Oliver replied.
Roger's laughter was laced with sarcasm. Elder brother. Just like the role he was playing now, the "good friend" and "old friend's elder brother" of Natalie. It was all a facade, a charade to mask his true feelings.
Once Oliver arrived, Roger didn't linger. He exchanged a few words with Natalie and then left. His disdain for Oliver was one reason, but he also had his own issues to deal with - especially if he truly did have a second personality. He needed to understand its origin and assess whether it posed a threat to Natalie.
Oliver glanced through the glass at Susan, who lay in a coma in the hospital room. After inquiring about her condition, he led Natalie to an empty lounge.
As soon as they entered the room, Oliver lifted Natalie up and carried her to the couch. He settled her on his lap, inspecting her carefully for any injuries. Satisfied, he kissed the corner of her mouth affectionately.
"Natalie, on the phone, I thought you were about to cry," Oliver said, cradling her face and forcing her to meet his gaze.
Recalling her desperate plea for help, Natalie's cheeks flushed. She had never imagined that she would one day entrust all her hopes to a man, and that he would be the first person she would think of in a crisis.
Natalie felt a little embarrassed. "Did I trouble you? Actually, you didn't have to come..."
She paused and smiled.
Oliver might not be here for her sake. After all, Susan was the one who got hurt.
However, she kept this speculation to herself. Oliver might not appreciate it, and she herself felt it was petty.
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known Roger was here too," Oliver said, oblivious to Natalie's thoughts.
"You..." Natalie was at a loss for words, wondering how the conversation always circled back to Roger.
Seeing her reaction, Oliver leaned in and kissed Natalie's lips, his gaze intense. "I heard that Roger arrived on the island before me."
Natalie replied quickly, "I came on your helicopter."
Oliver looked at her, a joyful smile forming on his face. "I didn't say anything."
'I didn't say I was jealous, but you clarified so quickly. You're the one overthinking!' Oliver thought to himself.
Natalie clicked her tongue and thought, 'Just keep pretending!'
Once Natalie's mood had lightened, Oliver took the opportunity to probe into the day's events. The revelation that Hailey was the culprit cast a frosty veil over his countenance.
Despite his best efforts, he had failed to apprehend Hailey. This time, she had managed to acquire Natalie's information and infiltrate the island successfully. This indicated that she was likely receiving assistance from an unknown source.
However, Oliver had already scrutinized all potential suspects through his extensive network. None of them appeared to be involved, which added an element of mystery to the situation.
"Why was Susan there?" Oliver questioned, identifying a suspicious detail.
"She said she saw me leaving the room and became concerned, so she followed," Natalie relayed Susan's explanation, given after her injury.
Merely a coincidence?
A subtle furrow creased Oliver's brow.
He was instinctively skeptical of such fortuitous circumstances.
Suddenly, Natalie murmured, "Darling."
"Yes?"
"...Never mind."
She sighed inwardly. The tangled emotions she harbored for Susan were a topic she could only discuss with Jane. She was at a loss for how to broach the subject with Oliver.
Oliver, too, was a significant player in this drama.
How could she possibly inquire about the intricate dynamics between the three of them? The answers she received might only serve to confuse her further.
Words, after all, could never truly compete with actions.
Oliver promptly dispatched agents to scour the nation for Hailey. Until she was located, he could not risk letting Natalie out of his sight. Consequently, the filming of "Fun Challenge" was indefinitely suspended.
Oliver delegated the task of negotiating with the show's director to the PR manager of the RK Group. The show was terminated with a breach of contract fee to ensure that Natalie's reputation remained untarnished.
Natalie chose to exit the show. Jane initially intended to follow suit, but Natalie persuaded her to stay.
Jane had no desire to become embroiled in this convoluted situation.
Wary of public opinion, Natalie was determined to shield her best friend from any potential online backlash.
The show had garnered a considerable online following and had served to highlight Jane's talents, gradually dispelling any doubts about her award-winning photography.
If Jane were to withdraw now, it wouldn't be due to reasons such as fear or concerns for her safety. Rather, she feared the relentless criticism she would inevitably face from those who envied her success and continued to idolize her, even in the absence of The Watkins.
Natalie understood Jane's perspective. To Jane, the show was merely a game. Filming one more episode wouldn't place any undue pressure on her. Jane's decision to withdraw was motivated solely by her concern for her own well-being.
"Barrett, will you be returning to the production team with Jane?" Natalie queried.
"I'm not going back!" Barrett declared instantly. "Susan is my friend, and I intend to stay here until she recovers."
"Barrett, are you a coward? You're just making excuses because you don't want to cross-dress," Jane accused, exposing Barrett's hidden agenda.
Barrett regarded Jane with a blank expression, harboring a grudge against her venomous tongue.
"Fine," he thought, "Jacob was right. Life would be much simpler if I interacted less with Jane."
"Mr. Windsor, I need to speak with you," Barrett addressed Oliver. "In private, if that's alright."
Natalie assumed he was concerned about Susan's safety, but his concerns were directed towards Oliver.
The Break Room
A wall separated them, muffling the sounds from the other side.
Oliver leaned casually against the wall, choosing to remain standing, signaling to Barrett to make his point swiftly.
His primary concern was Natalie's safety, and he was ill at ease diverting his attention to others in this precarious situation.
"Mr. Windsor, I misplaced my wallet tonight and went to the surveillance room to review the footage. But..." Barrett hesitated, struggling to accept the reality of what he had seen. "I saw Susan making a phone call and leaving at the same time."
Oliver narrowed his eyes; the words tonight and leaving held significant implications.
"What time was it?"
"Around ten o'clock."
Barrett may not have been academically inclined, but he excelled in other areas. He wouldn't bring up an irrelevant point at such a critical juncture.
"Continue," Oliver instructed.
"Susan's expression was odd, filled with panic and urgency. I heard that Susan followed Natalie because she saw her leaving, but the surveillance footage shows... Susan left after Natalie had already departed from the hotel."
The timeline didn't align.
Susan had lied.
A cold glint flashed in Oliver's eyes, sharp as a blade.
His gaze pierced Barrett like a sword, as if he could kill with a mere look.
"Mr. Windsor, I swear I'm telling the truth. I'm not making this up!" Barrett protested, raising his hands defensively. After all, he had no reason to fabricate such a story, right?
After a moment, Oliver's gaze shifted, radiating a chilling aura that was profoundly unsettling.
"Are you certain?" Oliver queried.
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't dare to come here and tell you!" Barrett retorted.
Susan was his friend, yet her actions had repeatedly shocked and confused him, as if a vast darkness lurked behind her facade.
This realization filled Barrett with dread, and by voicing his suspicions, he was effectively distancing himself from Susan.
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