Chapter 556 Wait for the Day You Beg
Their first meeting hadn't exactly gone off without a hitch.
Natalie's thoughts were a tangle, struggling to find a reason to convince herself.
As Lucas reached the entrance of the diner, a chilling whisper brushed by his ear: "Afraid Natalie will figure things out if she thinks too hard?"
Lucas's heart skipped a beat. He turned to see Oliver, gazing at him with significant intent.
"What's it to you?" Lucas grumbled, giving Oliver a stern look.
Oliver folded his arms comfortably. "It matters to me. For instance, my standing could greatly influence Lilian's parents."
The color drained from Lucas's face.
Men often feel they understand each other's emotions better. He could lie to his sister to save face, but his pride wouldn't allow him to hide the truth from Oliver.
Moreover, Oliver had always seen right through him.
"Being in love and being together aren't directly connected," Lucas asserted to Oliver. "Just like you seem to still have feelings for my sister."
But you two split up regardless.
Oliver raised an eyebrow, patting Lucas on the shoulder with anticipation. "I'll be waiting for the day you come begging to me, dear cousin."
If one believes they can like someone yet choose not to be together, that's not love.
Since you're not willing to swallow your pride and seek help from me, your brother-in-law, one day you'll come to me, and by then, I'll be playing the cousin card.
Lucas stands with Natalie, supporting her, while from Lilian's perspective, someone might side with her.
Naturally, the attitudes would be worlds apart.
"Miss Watson," a well-dressed woman approached Natalie discreetly.
Natalie lit up with joy: "Casey!"
Emily Reed had gone above and beyond to sneak Casey into the event, but upon seeing the caliber of attendees, high-profile socialites widely recognized as the creme de la creme, hope for success was slim. The staff present had undoubtedly been vetted and re-vetted, meticulously ensuring the identity of each person admitted.
Surprisingly, Casey had made it!
In a secluded corner, Casey confirmed they were alone before telling Natalie Watson, "I've discovered two things."
Efficiency was Casey's style; no time for niceties or small talk.
"Firstly, Leonard and Susan's marriage is peculiar—it reeks of a business partnership. Secondly, Susan and Sharon have been secretly communicating. From what I can tell, Sharon's acting as Susan's pawn."
Natalie's intellect meant Casey needn't elaborate; she would piece together the why behind it all on her own.
"There's more," Casey continued. "Miss Reed mentioned Sharon targeting you at the banquet. It's likely Susan fed Sharon information about your leg."
Though Casey had unearthed calling records between Sharon and Susan, divulging that to Natalie was off-limits. Casey's role in Natalie's world was merely as a bodyguard with brawn and brains—not to pry into secret communications.
"Susan," Natalie murmured the names, her eyes narrowing.
The news was both unexpected yet entirely predictable.
The improbable part was Susan choosing Sharon as an ally—Susan, a person who publicly exuded grace and empathy but privately valued status and lineage, wouldn't normally associate with someone like Sharon, whose societal ascent was tied to her mother's remarriage.
But it made sense; Susan lacked better allies, and Sharon, careful and manageable, fit the bill.
Unlike other high-born socialites, Sharon's sudden entry into their ranks made her less secure and easier to manipulate. Plus, as a fellow model, Sharon found it convenient to both attack and target Natalie, without suspicion falling too quickly on their connection.
Now, it clicked for Natalie why Sharon had pinpointed her leg issue at the banquet.
Sharon's knowledge went beyond mere observation; she knew.
Due to her leg injury, which Susan and her mother were directly responsible for, Susan was well-aware of her condition.
Casey acted cautiously, making sure to leave right away once she confirmed there were no further issues with Natalie. To keep others in the dark, she needed to minimize and manage her interactions with Natalie carefully, presenting herself as an autonomous player in the situation.
"Hey, I've got a question." Natalie called out to a staff member who was tidying up the house as she walked by.
"Of course, Miss Watson, what can I help you with?"
"Do you guys not keep spare blankets in the rooms?"
"Absolutely," the staff member replied, almost reflexively. That's standard practice
But she quickly remembered the head housekeeper's update from last night. Mr. Windsor and Miss Watson's room was marked as a 'no' for spare blankets - Mr. Windsor had asked for it to be so and had specified that it would remain this way for some time.
"Oh! Now that I think of it," the staff member quickly corrected herself, "only a few rooms are stocked with spare blankets, while others are not. If I'm not mistaken, your room with Mr. Windsor is one of those without."
Natalie was puzzled. Could it really be like this?
"Could we get an extra blanket for our room today?" she pondered, assuming such a small request could easily be fulfilled. This way, she wouldn't have to worry about an awkward evening or about... unintentionally cuddling up to Oliver again.
"I'm sorry, Miss Watson, but that decision comes from higher up; it's out of our hands," the staff member explained politely, her tone not patronizing but clearly not because of Natalie's standing.
She dared not be dismissive. After all, Mr. Windsor had called personally to have the spare blanket removed and had insisted that this detail be kept confidential. It was plain as day what his intentions were!
The rumors of Oliver being repulsed by Natalie seemed to be completely unfounded!
After breakfast, the group had their luggage taken care of by the service staff and set out for Enchanted Lake.
Though it's called a river, Enchanted Lake is actually a vast freshwater lake.
Nestled against a high mountain range with snow-capped peaks, the scenery where the mountains met the water was breathtaking.
A convoy of dozens of cars was an impressive sight by the lakeside.
Stepping out of the car, everyone was greeted by the incredibly fresh air; the temperature and humidity were perfectly comfortable—a typical subtropical monsoon climate that beckoned travelers all year round with its perpetual Spring-like days.
"Today's plans are super simple! You all can roam freely around here. Up north, there's a picturesque little village with serious charm, and west of that village, you'll find an old town with a completely different vibe from the one we saw yesterday. If you head further west, you'll come across a wetland park. Plus, we're currently on Lakeshore Drive, where there's a spot teeming with seagulls."
As the coordinator explained, the staff handed out large envelopes to each group.
Anyone who's ever binged on reality shows knows that big envelopes are never a good sign.
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