Chapter 381 Baby, Lean on Me
Oliver said, "Roger."
It would have been better if Natalie had not asked the question.
Swiftly diverting the conversation, Natalie mentioned, "I listened to Hailey's audio carefully earlier. While it seemed like a sincere apology, it cleverly hid numerous traps. She brought up the matter of my status as an illegitimate daughter, hoping to provoke public condemnation against me from a moral standpoint. She confessed that her bullying toward me was merely because she felt suppressed by me, suggesting that my actions drove her to death. Furthermore, she manipulated public perception, fueling their anger toward me. She was convincing them that her actions toward me were, if not forgivable and justifiable, at least understandable. On the other hand, my actions were portrayed as malicious. However, this issue is not hard to deal with."
Natalie dissected the situation with calmness and objectivity.
Oliver's initial concerns dissipated as he looked at Natalie with admiration and a smile. "My dear, can’t you rely on me?"
Natalie merely blinked in response.
With a mix of affection and impatience, Oliver gently pinched her face, asking, "So, how do you plan to handle this?"
"Firstly, according to the law, Hailey should still be serving her sentence in prison. Her release, therefore, is a criminal offense," Natalie remarked, casting a meaningful look at Oliver.
Oliver acknowledged his oversight. "That was my mistake."
Natalie elaborated, "As for Hailey's accusation that I was ‘responsible’ for her death, I was constantly busy with filming or working overseas. I had no opportunity to interact with her. Providing proof of my whereabouts and lack of contact with her should suffice."
Oliver had a similar strategy in mind, albeit more stringent in approach. Now that his wife had outlined a course of action, he was prepared to support her.
Nevertheless, revisiting Hailey's previous scandals could be beneficial.
Oliver did not adhere to the principle of 'respecting the deceased' indiscriminately. His perspective depended on the actions of the deceased. Someone like Hailey did not merit such respect!
"Additionally, Hailey claimed that Edwin was responsible for Victoria's death."
Natalie had an intuition that Oliver was already aware of this. Given his intelligence and direct involvement in the investigation, he likely had a thorough understanding of the case.
The focus on Edwin was significantly less than on Natalie due to the content of Hailey's recording, which primarily concentrated on Natalie, thereby rendering Edwin's involvement to be somehow overlooked.
"Yes, this issue will soon attract public interest, and Edwin will come under scrutiny."
Over the years, Edwin has engaged in numerous reprehensible acts, and recently, in his efforts to take down Oliver, Edwin's behavior had been particularly erratic.
"There are many clues left at the Windsor family mansion. Should we proceed with an investigation now, we’re likely to uncover everything."
…
Edwin, feeling anxious and perturbed now, had nearly forgotten about the incident involving Victoria, even neglecting the fact that he was the one responsible. He blamed everything on Hailey and the scapegoat, never anticipating that Hailey would go to such lengths.
"She could just target Natalie. Why must she drag me into this?”
Upon learning of the situation, Edwin immediately directed his team to manage the public narrative. Any mentions of him were erased, and he launched a smear campaign to undermine Natalie, shifting public focus toward her.
Edwin understood this was only a stopgap measure. His priority was to eradicate any evidence of his past deeds.
"Edwin! You bast*rd!"
Henry burst into the room, wielding a cane, his face flushed with fury.
The aftermath of Victoria's death, along with the subsequent events involving Adrian and Victoria, took a toll on Henry. He seemed to age overnight, and his health deteriorated.
In a fit of irritation, Edwin banged the table and stormed out of the study, maintaining a stoic demeanor.
Henry's anger intensified upon witnessing Edwin's reaction. He pounded his cane against the floor with a loud bang.
"You scoundrel! What exactly happened with Victoria?"
Henry had learned of the incident through a neutral party within the conglomerate.
Edwin responded with a cold stare, "Based on your reaction, it seems like you believe I’m involved in that matter, correct?”
After taking a moment to collect himself, Henry asked, “Are you involved?”
A mocking smile appeared on Edwin's face. "Yes!"
"You!"
"Father, I’m your legitimate son. Victoria was merely a 'legitimized' illegitimate child. If there's anyone to blame, it's yourself for your partiality. You're powerless against me now since I hold the reins of the Windsor Group."
Henry, seething with rage, could barely catch his breath as he exclaimed, "You!"
The butler, standing nearby, was worried about Henry, and wanted to intervene, but upon encountering Edwin's sharp gaze, he remained silent.
…
Jane, Lucas, and Lilian were quick to learn about the unfolding events and immediately offered to help Natalie, but she refused them. She was confident in her ability to manage the situation on her own.
The Bentley made its way into Rosewood Estate, and an unassuming black SUV, which was following behind, pulled to a stop.
Roger, seated in the back of the SUV, lit a cigarette and watched as Natalie's car gradually vanished from view.
"Why did you stop contacting Natalie, sir?” the driver asked.
After finishing his cigarette, Roger only said, "Let’s go back."
In times past, Roger would have sought out Natalie, either to be by her side or to offer her a comforting call, reassuring her of his availability should she need him. However, he now hesitated to take such actions.
The presence of reporters' vehicles earlier that day had unveiled to Roger the reason behind Hailey's desperate act, but by then, it was already too late for him to intervene.
Upon his return, he was met with the scene of journalists and even police officers gathered around; the Internet was awash with news stories casting Natalie in a negative light. It was clear that this was the result of someone's deliberate machinations.
Roger contemplated whether the individual behind Hailey could be the ‘other him’. Even if he was not directly responsible, he felt complicit in the malice directed toward Natalie. Had it not been for Nathan's intervention, Hailey would have remained under Oliver's watchful eye, and any attempt at escape would have been swiftly countered by Oliver.
Roger lamented his lack of foresight; had he given the matter more consideration, Hailey's plan would not have come to fruition, leaving Natalie unaffected by the fallout.
"The media outlets that converged on the scene today have reported that the tip-off regarding Hailey came from a deliberate leak. The mastermind used international bank accounts and involved several organizations, complicating efforts to identify them."
Without external help, Hailey lacked the means to disseminate the news so extensively and rapidly.
"Continue the investigation," Roger instructed, his mind racing with thoughts, "And look into Susan as well."
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