Chapter 391 Oliver, Why Are You So Childish?
Natalie cautiously raised her head. When she saw the curtain behind, she sighed with frustration and annoyance and glared at Oliver. After a moment, still seething with anger, said, "I'm leaving. Enjoy your meal alone!"
However, Oliver acted swiftly, holding her by the waist before he murmured, "If you leave now, you’ll draw everyone's attention."
This caused Natalie to pause and reconsider.
"Look," he said, gesturing toward the food, as a mischievous idea formed in his mind to tease her, "If I'm happy, I'll let you leave. I'll make sure no one dares to look at you.”
Natalie, taken aback, exclaimed, "Oliver, why are you so childish?”
Without any hint of embarrassment, Oliver urged, "Hurry."
Natalie had never imagined that someone like her who was unafraid of walking on international fashion runways would have a day like this.
She reluctantly assumed the role of feeding him.
After they had gone through half of the plate, Natalie, seeking her 'reward', asked, "Now, will you tell me about Samuel?"
After all, the reward for her feeding him was him answering her questions about Samuel.
After swallowing another bite, Oliver said, "Samuel, well, let's just say he's a madman.”
Realizing she would not get any substantial information this way, Natalie pressed on, "What do you know about Samuel and Emily?"
"They were engaged," Oliver replied.
He had thoroughly investigated Emily when Natalie first signed a contract with Emily, so he naturally knew this. Furthermore, the relationship between Emily and Samuel was hardly a secret within their circle.
"And what about Emily, Joseph, and Samuel?" Natalie pushed, momentarily forgetting to continue feeding Oliver in her quest for the real story.
"Hey, you're slacking," Oliver chided.
Natalie shot him a glare but resumed her feeding duties.
"Samuel was convinced Emily and Joseph were having an affair. He made things difficult for Joseph, and he only let Joseph go with the promise that Emily and Joseph cease all contact," Oliver shared before asking, "Mad, isn't it?"
Realization dawned swiftly. It suddenly made sense why Joseph had vanished at the pinnacle of his career, only to reemerge focused on the international scene, seldom engaging in domestic work.
Many had theorized his absence as a strategic pivot toward global markets, but Natalie found the gossip surrounding Emily far more compelling.
In this scenario, the only individuals capable of scrubbing the Internet clean of any scandal involving Joseph and Emily would be Joseph, Emily, or Samuel themselves.
Unbeknownst to Natalie, the internal communication channels of the Windsor Group were already in turmoil.
The corporate culture at Windsor Group had traditionally been quite relaxed, with no strict rules against employees gossiping about their employer. Consequently, within minutes, a photo showing Natalie perched on Oliver's lap had made its rounds across various company chat groups.
[Did you see the way the boss looked at Natalie? I thought he only looked at people as though they were a roadside pebble. As it turns out, I was wrong. All his tenderness is reserved solely for Natalie!]
[With this, I believe all the rumors about Oliver and Susan must be false!]
[Natalie dared to pinch Mr. Windsor's face, and he just let her do it. Can you believe it?]
[This is too much! I'm so jealous! My boyfriend would never let me touch his face, claiming it damages his image.]
[It's as though he's a different person in front of her! He really spoils her!]
[It feels like I'm sneakily watching a drama instead of working.]
[The secretaries actually dared to leak this photo? I'm convinced the boss knew we'd been watching all along. He only closed the curtain after Natalie spotted us. It must have been deliberate.]
[I've always wondered… the boss is usually here, and Susan was abroad. How did those romantic rumors even start? In any case, there's no doubt Natalie is the boss' wife, and Susan is nothing.]
[Agreed!]
…
Natalie spent the next three days in a neighboring province for several photoshots.
Upon her return to the Rosewood Estate, Natalie found Liam waiting for her anxiously. He approached swiftly as she arrived.
"Natalie, Arthur is back."
"Who?" Natalie asked, momentarily puzzled.
"Oliver's younger brother, Arthur," Liam said before explaining in a lowered voice, "Oliver's people dragged him back, and he's now causing a commotion in the house!"
The mention of Arthur immediately brought Flora to Natalie's mind. He was Flora’s former lover after all.
Guided by Liam, Natalie stepped into the residence and was soon met with the sight of a man of considerable height lounging on the sofa.
In stark contrast to Oliver's customary formal wear, Arthur presented a more laid-back figure, clad in casual attire, with one leg nonchalantly draped over the other. He was focused on his phone, looking very calm.
'Didn't Liam say he was causing a commotion?’
"Liam, where is Oliver?" Natalie whispered.
"In the study," Liam responded quietly. "Arthur destroyed a precious artwork, and now there's a standoff between him and Oliver."
Implicit in his words was a plea for Natalie to mediate the tension.
Despite their efforts to keep their voices down, the relative silence of the main building meant that even subdued conversations drew attention.
Arthur looked up and saw Natalie.
With this, Natalie had a better look at him.
His features bore a resemblance to Oliver's, approximately sixty to seventy percent similarity, but he lacked the intensity and iciness that typically marked Oliver's expression. He appeared refined and elegant, precisely the sort that would attract Flora.
Arthur smiled and asked, "And who might this be?"
Based on his tone, it was clear he was looking for trouble.
Natalie chose not to respond, her attention drawn instead to the trash bin where she spotted fragments of a painting – the remains of a small gift that Oliver had given her.
"Arthur, she's Oliver's wife!" Liam replied.
Arthur rose to his feet, examining Natalie from head to toe, his smile widening as if he were thoroughly pleased. He said, “Hello, I always assumed Susan would be my sister-in-law, given how much Oliver indulged her in the past. But it seems I was mistaken.”
"Arthur, you…"
Liam found himself at a loss for words, casting a worried glance toward Natalie.
"Natalie…"
Arthur’s words really struck a nerve with Natalie. However, she offered Liam a reassuring look. At this time, she also could see that Arthur was indeed angry at Oliver.
Clearly, Arthur was seeking to provoke her and, by extension, Oliver.
'Just look at how he's smiling while stabbing another person with his word! I really wonder how much hardship Flora endured when she was with him!' Natalie thought.
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