Chapter 380 I Am Your Husband
Natalie's temples throbbed, and her finger hovered above her phone's screen, trembling before she finally pressed it.
The top news story featured a photograph of a person who had suffered a fatal fall, with blood pooling around the body. The image was blurred slightly, yet the severe injuries from the fall were discernible.
The headline stated: Hailey Found Dead in a Remote Area; Recording Pen Was Discovered Along with Her Body!
The recording's contents were shared.
Hailey had been a figure of significant public interest, making her voice instantly recognizable.
"Throughout the years, I’ve committed many wrongs, including bullying Natalie. Natalie is my father’s illegitimate child, and I hate her. I hate her mother for ruining my parents' marriage and my family. I hate her very existence; seeing her reminds me of my father's unfaithfulness. It angers me that she constantly competes with me. I’m dedicated to my modeling career, yet she always tries to take away everything I care about! Every time I see her on the runway feels like a slap to my face."
"I concede that my treatment of Natalie was terrible, but my actions don’t warrant death, certainly not in this manner. My life in the past year has been more wretched than that of a beggar. My mother is powerless to help me; My father fears the influence of the Windsor family and dares not intervene. In the past, I could never have envisioned scavenging for food, wearing tattered clothes, and living without dignity. I could not have imagined that even in such dire straits, Natalie would still be dissatisfied. She wants me dead! My mere existence seems to threaten her peace."
These revelations could have dire implications. Would people recall Natalie's illegitimacy? Would they question her entitlement to the Windsor family name?
"Oh, it wasn’t the maid who caused Victoria's demise. Her death was unrelated to me. Edwin is the true perpetrator. Only he benefited from Victoria's death. I exposed the truth now because I’m unwilling to die bearing this injustice."
"Death seems to be my fate, a result of Natalie's demands and coercion."
Natalie listened to the recording repeatedly. Hailey’s soft and pleading voice echoed in ears, as though validating the saying, ‘One speaks truthfully in the face of death’.
Hailey reevaluated her treatment of Natalie, admitting to her mistreatment of Natalie, which gave credence to her words.
The content and tone of her private video to Natalie were starkly different.
Natalie shuddered with fear. She remained motionless, unsure of how much time had passed, until the ringing of her phone jolted her back to the present.
It was Oliver calling.
"Where are you, Natalie?" Oliver's voice sounded calm, but Natalie could hear the worry in his voice.
"I’m on campus,” Natalie replied. To her own surprise, Natalie's response came out steady and unruffled.
There was a brief pause before Oliver asked, "You're aware of it, then?"
"How did you figure it out?" Natalie's reply was accompanied by a light chuckle.
"Natalie, I’m your husband," Oliver stated matter-of-factly.
It was as if they were engaged in a silent game of charades, each understanding the unspoken implications of their words while it would likely baffle anyone else.
"Find somewhere to sit; I’m on my way to get you," Oliver instructed, without ending the call, he added, "Let's continue talking until I arrive."
In that moment, Natalie was not sure why, but she found herself able to smile.
"No, I'll wait right here," she insisted and began walking toward the school's entrance. She found a secluded spot by the gate and put on her mask.
Around her, the daily hustle and bustle of campus life unfolded as students scurried past, engrossed in conversations with friends, pondering over homework, or simply lost in their thoughts. This everyday scene of student life seemed increasingly alien to Natalie.
She felt detached from the typical experience of a 21-year-old university student. Indeed, she was different. How many students her age were married? And how many found themselves caught in a storm of complexities at 21, as she had?
From a distance, Oliver's gaze, sharp and dark, noticed two figures approaching Natalie. Without hesitation, he alighted from his car and hastened towards them.
When Natalie saw Oliver, he quickly reached her side and wrapped her in his arms, catching the two strangers off guard.
Oliver's icy stare was enough to make them beat a hasty retreat.
"What's going on?" Natalie asked, puzzled by the sudden tension.
"Who were they?" Oliver examined Natalie carefully, checking for any signs of distress or harm.
"They were just asking for directions..."
Realization dawned on Natalie.
"You thought they were going to harm or insult me?"
Natalie found the situation slightly amusing at first, but the sight of Oliver's distressed and indignant expression made laughter an impossibility for her. Wrapped in his embrace, she offered reassurance by gently patting his back.
"I’m really fine. Hailey had always sought to harm me through public opinion. Her methods have been the same from the beginning to the end."
Yet, she was acutely aware that public opinion could serve as a weapon that cuts both ways.
This was particularly true now, with the source of the rumors no longer alive.
The majority of the online community tended to sympathize with those perceived as vulnerable, and their opinions could be easily influenced. A single tide of internet sentiment could unjustly cast Natalie as the villain.
"Hailey... Is she really gone?" Natalie's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Yes, the Watson family has taken care of the formalities regarding her remains."
The revelation of Hailey's demise, with fingers pointed at Natalie, ignited widespread controversy almost immediately.
Returning her gaze to the news story, Natalie saw that comments had surged into the tens of thousands.
[I can’t stand homewreckers! They don’t care about the consequences when they destroy people’s families!]
[If someone were to ruin my family, I’d kill them! Natalie is in the wrong here!]
[Hailey was only 24 years old! This is so sad!]
[From now on, I’m going to boycott all the brands that Natalie works with!]
[Is Edwin the culprit?]
"Stop reading. I’ll take care of this."
Oliver intervened, swiftly taking Natalie's phone, shutting off its display, and setting it aside.
"And how will you do that? By removing it from trending topics?"
Natalie noticed attempts were being made to suppress the topic. The act of removing topics from trending searches often led to greater scrutiny and could further incite public outrage. However, it was undeniable that it also provided an effective solution.
"That wasn't my doing."
"It wasn't you? Then who could it be?" Natalie asked, surprised.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
