Chapter 369 Becoming the Next Mrs. Windsor!
Joanna had the closest relationship with Susan. In the midst of their conversation, Joanna suddenly recalled a previous discussion. "By the way, Susan, you mentioned once that you were in love with a man. How are things progressing between you two now? Since you’ve returned to the country, you can start dating."
Susan found herself momentarily puzzled, unsure of whom her best friend was referencing. She had often talked about her romantic endeavors, but the man she referred to was Arthur, not Oliver.
Susan and Arthur's acquaintance stretched back to their childhood, though they had never been particularly close. She had always thought Oliver had feelings for her, but at that time, she liked Arthur.
She thought, ‘A man in love with me? Does such a person exist?’
"Susan, what’s wrong?" Joanna asked, noting Susan's troubled look.
"It’s... nothing." Susan swiftly regained her composure, an idea sparking in her mind. Her demeanor shifted, and with a tentative look toward her two closest friends, she said, "There’s no hope. The man I spoke of is now married."
"Married?" Her friends were taken aback.
"But I thought you had a good relationship with him,right?”
"The issue of marriage is rather complex," Susan explained as she opened Natalie's video to reveal the truth to her friends.
"The man I was referring to earlier is, in fact, Oliver. He’s now Natalie's husband. You might recall that Oliver was initially engaged to Hailey from the Watson family. We both respected this engagement and had no intention of overstepping boundaries. However, Natalie later manipulated the situation to push Hailey toward Adrian and married Oliver herself."
"I had no idea Natalie is so scheming!"
"Perhaps she underwent plastic surgery," Joanna suggested angrily.
"I was hesitant to mention this..." Susan hesitated, capturing her friends' full attention before continuing, "I injured my leg while attempting to rescue Natalie. I was supposed to be recovering in Paykston, but Natalie couldn’t bear my presence near Oliver and convinced him to send me away before my wound had fully healed. The journey exacerbated my condition, causing the wound to reopen."
"Natalie is really wicked! What’s her background? And how dare she steal a man from you? You’re from the Hastings family! You and Oliver grew up together; surely, things should have unfolded differently!"
"Oliver and I have ended our relationship. Regardless of our feelings, there’s nothing more to be done. We should move on."
Susan's friends expressed their sympathy and waited for the conversation to continue.
After hearing the tale, the duo decided to inform the elders of the Hastings family, embellishing the story with additional details.
The family had initially believed Susan's injuries were purely accidental, but the revelation of such a twist angered them. They were determined to teach Natalie a lesson.
On the surface, Susan seemed to be deeply affected by the situation, but inwardly, she felt smug and satisfied.
Knowing her friends' penchant for spreading news, she understood that their knowledge of the events would quickly become public gossip.
Susan masterfully manipulated the situation, turning everyone involved into unwitting pawns in her strategy.
Her conflict with Natalie was just the beginning of a larger scheme.
Susan was determined to fight for what she wanted, believing that through her efforts, anything could become hers.
This belief fueled her ambition, not only in her rising career as a designer but also in her prominent role within the Hastings family, and her aspirations to join the Norton family by becoming the next Mrs. Windsor through marriage to Oliver.
Oliver, living up to expectations, made his way to Europe to find Natalie, planning his trip around her limited availability.
Upon returning from an event, dressed elegantly in a black gown and subtle makeup, Natalie was greeted by the sight of a tall, slender figure in a dark gray coat, quietly looking out the window.
Noticing her presence, the man turned, his expression cold and stern was softened by the tenderness in his eyes.
"You..." Natalie was taken aback.
"Why am I here?" Oliver approached her slowly. "Mrs. Windsor, it seems you pose this question to your husband every time."
With a light chuckle, Natalie acknowledged the truth in his words.
Emily and Casey, realizing it was their cue to exit, shared a knowing glance. It was clear the moment belonged to Natalie and her visitor.
Lilian, unabashedly curious and cheerful, turned to her cousin with excitement. "Oliver, did you make this trip just to see Natalie?"
Casey could not help but silently scoff at the obviousness of the question, thinking to herself, ‘It's clear he's here for Natalie, isn't it?’
Oliver confirmed with a nod.
Taking this as their opportunity to depart, Emily and Casey excused themselves from Natalie's company. Emily mentioned something about going shopping, while Casey expressed a desire to explore the area like a tourist. Both were quick to find reasons to leave the scene.
Oliver then turned his attention to his cousin, Lilian, who was clearly not planning to leave just yet. He asked, "And what about you?"
With a dramatic pout, Lilian began to count off on her fingers. "I was planning on going back to my room to rest. It's not like I can go out, it's so frustrating! But really, it's because I don't have any money to spend."
Oliver sighed at his cousin's lament and pulled out a gold card, offering it to her. "Go enjoy yourself."
Lilian's spirits immediately lifted.
"You're the best!" Lilian exclaimed, her mood brightening as she took the card. Before she left, she said cheerily, "Goodbye, Oliver, Natalie!"
The duality of a woman's soul is fascinating: one part diligently worked, while the other was never tired of shopping—especially when the expenses are covered by someone else!
With everyone gone, Oliver reflected on his family's approach to Lilian's finances, grateful that her parents had instilled some limit to her spending, making his gesture meaningful rather than futile.
Natalie, however, expressed her concern. "Do you think it's wise to let Lilian wander off on her own?"
"She knows her way around. Remember, she was the one who ventured out alone last time," Oliver reassured her, puzzled by his wife's tendency to worry about others.
This moment made Oliver reconsider the idea of having children soon. The thought of dividing Natalie's attention even further seemed less appealing.
Natalie, upon reflection, trusted Oliver's judgment regarding his cousin's safety.
"Did you come alone? What about Charles and Jamie?" Natalie asked as she opened the door, leading Oliver inside.
Their apartment was a spacious loft, with the living area on the lower level and bedrooms above. A striking panoramic floor-to-ceiling window offered a breathtaking view of the scenery outside, epitomizing the blend of comfort and style.
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