Chapter 386 Natalie, Are You Afraid of Me?
'How could she have forgotten? How had she dared to challenge me?' Oliver thought.
Oliver spun on his heel, preparing to make his exit. As he did so, he caught sight of Natalie, standing a few meters away. She was still dressed in her casual morning attire, her clothes gently rippling in the breeze. He had no idea how long she had been standing there, silently observing.
His heart stuttered in his chest, and his first instinct was to conceal the situation from her. But there was no time, and no way to hide what had transpired.
"What do you want to say?" Natalie inquired, her voice steady.
They began to walk back towards the main building, side by side. Natalie could sense that Oliver had something on his mind, yet he remained silent. It was an unusual circumstance for him.
Suddenly, Oliver halted and turned to face her. "Aren't you afraid?" he asked.
"Afraid of what?" she questioned, her brow furrowing slightly.
"Of what you just witnessed," Oliver replied, his laughter tinged with self-deprecation. "It was my command."
Natalie moved to stand in front of him, her gaze unwavering. A gust of wind blew, causing Oliver's slightly overgrown hair to brush against his forehead.
Tilting her head back, Natalie reached up and gently brushed the stray strands from his face. "Mr. Windsor, have you forgotten that you once pointed a gun at me? And you even gave me that gun."
Oliver had almost forgotten about that incident. It was a distant memory, so far removed from his present reality that he had forgotten how he had once felt towards Natalie. She had been treated with indifference, like a burden brought in by her grandmother, or a chef who suited their taste. That was all she had been to him.
But now, she was the apple of his eye.
"I'm sorry, Natalie," Oliver murmured, his gaze dropping to the ground. "Were you scared at that time?"
"Well, a little," Natalie admitted, nodding her head. "It was the first time I saw... such a scene."
"I'm sorry, Natalie," he apologized once more.
Natalie took another step forward, her toes brushing against his. She opened her arms and wrapped them around his waist, pulling him into a hug. Oliver's body trembled slightly as he felt her body against his, her embrace delicate yet firm.
"But you found me in the woods later, and I thank you for that. You saved me with your gun, Honey, and I'm not afraid. Not now, not ever."
Oliver bent his back, pulling Natalie closer. She wasn't afraid? She wasn't afraid of his once cold and heartless self? The realization filled him with a sense of honor and... relief.
"Don't worry, I won't do anything to Mrs. Watson. She will safely return," he reassured her.
Natalie gently touched his head, praising him as one would a child. "You know, you're a law-abiding good person."
A chuckle escaped Oliver's lips. It was then that he noticed Natalie was still wearing her house slippers. The thin slippers provided by Rosewood Estate were meant for indoor use only.
Oliver pivoted, crouching before Natalie, his hand gesturing subtly behind his back.
"Mount up," he suggested.
Natalie's expression was a blend of surprise and delight. "You're offering me a piggyback ride?"
Oliver didn't respond verbally, instead, he reached back, capturing Natalie's hand and guiding it to rest on his shoulder.
Natalie gasped as she felt her body lift off the ground, her legs being hoisted by Oliver.
Being significantly shorter than Oliver, the view from his back was a new experience for her. The world seemed more expansive, more breathtaking from this vantage point.
Even though the height difference was only a matter of inches, the change in perspective was profound.
Natalie found her spirits lifting, her gaze wandering as she took in the familiar surroundings from this new angle.
"Am I too heavy?" she asked, her arms wrapped around his neck as she tilted her head to catch his eye.
"Just a tad," he reassured her. "nothing to fret over."
"Hey!" Natalie chided, her voice filled with playful exasperation.
With his precious cargo on his back, Oliver tested the weight, finding it lighter than expected.
His pace was slow and measured, each step steady and unhurried. He felt no fatigue, in fact, he wished the journey could be longer, infinitely so. He could carry his precious girl on his back forever, until they were both old and gray.
Hours later, the situation took an unexpected turn. Vivian, a rising star in the makeup industry, posted a cryptic message on Instagram: "Trust Natalie."
After a year of tireless effort, Vivian had transformed from an unknown makeup artist to a sought-after professional, thanks to her exceptional work in several high-profile shows, including one where she had worked with Natalie.
"Trust Natalie" was a powerful statement. It signified Vivian's faith in Natalie's character, her bold decision to publicly align herself with Natalie, despite the prevailing public sentiment. A single misstep could tarnish her reputation.
As the gossip hounds eagerly dissected this shocking development, another comment appeared, this one from Jacob.
[I don't know Susan, but I'm honored to know Natalie.]
His fans joined the conversation, teasing, [You're honored because Natalie introduced you to gaming, haha!]
Jokes aside, Jacob's staunch support for Natalie was clear. Many of his fans had watched Natalie's live shows and had a positive impression of her. Now, with their idol's endorsement, they ceased their attacks on Natalie.
Soon, others who had worked with Natalie, including Zoey and Grace, expressed their support in varying degrees. While they didn't post explicit messages, they liked Jacob's Instagram post.
A person who receives the backing of their peers often garners public support as well.
The most surprising development was a post from Joseph, the international male supermodel known for his aloof demeanor. "Miss Natalie is an excellent model. I hope to have the opportunity to work with her."
Joseph, who hadn't posted on Instagram for half a year, broke his silence to voice his support for Natalie.
The internet was abuzz with speculation. [Wow! Is there something going on between Natalie and Joseph?]
Rumors spread like wildfire. [Are Joseph and Natalie rekindling their romance?]
The endorsements from these influential figures gradually shifted public opinion about Natalie.
Some argued, [Does being an orphan make you inferior to ordinary people? Are you proud just because your parents have royal bloodlines?]
Others suggested, [Let's have a rational discussion. Don't you think the recent wave of criticism against Natalie is too concentrated? It's reasonable to suspect someone is manipulating it.]
A few defended her, [Since Natalie is not a legitimate Watson's daughter, should she apologize for attacking and destroying another family? Natalie has suffered years of bullying because of this, which is unfair!]
Of course, there were detractors. [So what if it was a scheme? The fact remains the fact! Natalie is trash!]
They continued to berate her. [Natalie was raised by the Watson family, what's the big deal if she's mistreated? She became Mrs. Windsor just by taking advantage of the Watson family!]
The internet, a lawless place where people could vent their emotions without repercussions, was ablaze with these conflicting opinions.
Resolving this matter was not going to be a simple task.
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