Chapter539 Couples' Quiz
Despite Susan's scandals, a few of the ladies, well-connected and influential in their own right, stood unwaveringly by her side. Of course, not everyone was a fan.
As the lone man left in the café—and one with an aura of intriguing mystery—Oliver drew eyes naturally. His curt remarks hit Susan like successive blows.
The socialites watched Susan as if they were watching a play.
Susan returned to her seat, face flushed and jaws clenched.
“Not only did Natalie haunt Oliver, but her leg had also miraculously healed—that was just a stroke of luck!”
"Please open the application everyone; we're going to start the quiz!" the event coordinator announced.
Yes, they even had a custom-designed application just for this activity.
Oliver, utterly bored, turned on his phone, only to be greeted by Natalie's photo. She was asleep, her eyes gently shut, her delicate face pressed against the pillow, lashes long and perfectly curled.
Asleep, she seemed so much softer and alluring than awake.
It was a snapshot Oliver had stealthily taken one night, sneaking into Natalie’s room.
Lately, he found himself staring at the photo often, as if she were still his darling.
"Next question! Can you tell me, did your partner wear the same shoes yesterday as they did today?"
Everyone was puzzled.
"Shouldn't you be asking about birthdays or favorites?" someone challenged.
The quizmaster retorted, "C'mon, even middle schoolers in love know to ask about birthdays and favorites. We need something with more flair, right?"
With a click of indifference, Oliver submitted his answer.
Only one person got the first question right.
"Mr. Windsor, why did you turn in a blank sheet?" said the coordinator, following instructions from above. The sponsors, who were enhancing the viewer experience, could view submitted content on the application and interact with the quizmaster in real-time.
Facing the camera, he shot back, "How could I know? I just met Natalie today."
She thought her grandson needed an attitude adjustment, that's all.
The relentless questions continued:
"What did your partner eat last night?"
"What time did your partner leave home today?"
Oliver began to suspect that the matriarch was deliberately peppering him with these impossible questions to keep him from dropping out of the event.
With each successive blank sheet he turned in, those who had suspected a lingering connection between him and Natalie were now convinced: “See, Oliver doesn't have feelings for Natalie. He doesn’t know her at all!”
Within the ancient city.
One by one, everyone received alerts and slowly, people began finding the treasure chests.
Except Natalie.
Barrett even suspected there was a problem with their contact until he found out that Oliver didn't manage to answer a single question correctly!
"Have you two been faking affection all along? No way!" The more Barrett thought about it, the less it made sense. Oliver was too proud for such pretense—what proud man would bring his wife to and from work every day to avoid any prying eyes, and go as far as to pick out the bones from her fish?
Barrett doubted he himself could ever reach that level of devotion, even if he truly fell for someone.
But Natalie paid no attention. She was confident in her intellect to find what she needed on her own.
While she appeared nonchalant, her heart felt strangely hollow.
Barrett, having received new information, split up with Natalie.
"Miss Watson, I've long admired you. My name is Leonard."
A tall figure suddenly loomed before her.
Natalie met the gaze of the dignified man whose subtle shadow hinted at danger.
"You're Susan's fiancé?"
"Yes."
Natalie nodded, offering a cursory greeting, not keen on prolonging the conversation.
"Miss Watson, I'd like to be friends," Leonard blocked her path and said with a smile, "I mean no harm. Isn't your aversion a bit hurtful?"
"If you understand the concept of aversion, you'd understand why it's best we keep our distance."
Natalie had little fondness for Leonard, but she wasn't afraid; after all, they were in public, surrounded by staff. He couldn't possibly try anything harmful.
Natalie turned to walk in a different direction, but Leonard followed.
"Miss Watson, you may not realize, but I have always admired women who are bold in love and frank in speech," Leonard said, his alluring eyes conveying a heavy significance.
His words were laden with implications, causing even the staff following them to hold their breath.
"Mr. Leonard, I have no interest in Susan’s men, please, keep your distance." Natalie rarely spoke harshly to someone she'd just met, but if she did, it meant they'd well and truly crossed a line.
"What if I weren't engaged to Susan?" Leonard continued.
"You, I find even less interesting," she responded without missing a beat.
Natalie made a beeline away from him, her steps quick and determined.
Leonard watched Natalie with a curious amusement—a woman who drove Susan to seething jealousy, the very same woman for whom both Oliver and Roger Wild harbored secret affections. Just what was it about her that was so enchanting?
The event was three hours long.
After those hours had passed, the people from the old town reconvened at the café.
From a distance, Oliver noticed Natalie emerging from the old town engaged in conversation with Lucas, mingling and chatting comfortably with the other men as well.
Passing a grocery, Lucas popped in to buy an ice cream for Natalie.
Oliver's already unpleasing face soured further.
As Natalie approached, Oliver took her ice cream without giving an explanation.
Natalie was utterly baffled.
"Didn't you know you’re about to start your period?" Oliver nonchalantly tossed the still-wrapped ice cream to Lilian, gesturing for her to eat it.
Lilian, the unexpected beneficiary of this sweet treat, unwrapped it in a daze and took a bite.
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