Chapter 573 Admiration Unbounded
Upon returning to the main house, each group handed their photos to the person in charge, awaiting the "judgment" of their elders.
The event organizers had planned a bonfire party and barbecue for the evening.
Thirty people gathered in a circle, feasting and drinking, enjoying a local band's performance that enlivened the air. The atmosphere was so festive that onlookers from the neighboring villas and B&Bs longed to join in.
However, as they neared, they were promptly turned away by the vigilant security guards.
A glimpse of the high-end SUVs parked nearby was enough to clue in the onlookers that the people inside the courtyard were important and not to be disturbed. Disheartened, they retreated the way they had come.
Barrett and Cadence, known for their popularity, had many friends who were eager to hear about their latest adventure. They knew the pair had visited a local, infamously entertaining haunted house escape room, and everyone was eager to know if it was as fun as the online buzz had suggested.
"It was a blast!" Barrett launched into a vivid account of their harrowing experience, highlighting the lifelike actors and the startlingly realistic dummy corpses. Bolstered by the eerie surroundings, he even playfully spooked a few of the more faint-hearted, igniting a chorus of screams followed by his own roaring laughter.
"From what you're saying, Barrett, that place sounds pretty tough," someone remarked with admiration. "Was Mr. Windsor the main brain behind it? I heard he's had a brilliant mind since childhood."
"Not at all, Oliver hardly used his head. It was all Natalie," Barrett scoffed, implying that Oliver was just mooching off her.
"Oh?"
"Let me just tell you!" Cadence blurted out, bubbling with excitement, "Natalie's observation skills and intellect are out of this world!"
"The epitaph on that plaque was cryptic. Can you believe it? Even more obscure than archaic texts, with all this astrology—she knew it all! I couldn't even recognize all the characters!"
"Not only that, Natalie was completely unshakeable. Right as we entered, she noticed that lamp was removable and could be used as a light source. She's super smart."
"The combination for the well's lock? She cracked it. She found the key and new clues all by herself in a chilling room downstairs, decked out like some sinister wedding crime scene. It didn't scare her one bit."
"I'm telling you, she blew me away; I'm utterly impressed!"
The crowd listened, utterly astounded.
Skeptical, someone chimed in, "That was Natalie? She looks so gentle and soft-spoken... but she's that fierce?"
An insider added, "I know someone who went to high school with Natalie. She was a rockstar even back then, always topping the class along with Jane, consistently ranking in the top three. "
"Natalie's incredible! You wouldn't guess it by looking at her. If I were that talented, I'd have shown off by now."
Cadence, accustomed to these revelations, quipped, "You all know I had a silly crush on Oliver in the past, right? Ever heard how I got turned down?"
At the mention of Oliver's true identity, the debutantes in the room couldn't help but steal glances at Mrs. Windsor's seat, their eyes landing on Cadence with curiosity.
"Italian? Natalie's practically a pro. And she's got Arabic, German, Japanese, Russian... you name it. Oh, and she can play the piano quite well, and I've heard she's a wiz with the violin and also knows her way around chess and checkers... I can't remember everything. Basically, whatever skills Jane has, Natalie seems to have them too. She might even outshine Jane, but if not, she's definitely not far behind."
The room fell silent, faces marked with puzzled expressions.
"Compete with Jane?!" one socialite exclaimed, eyes widening in shock.
Jane was the former reigning queen of high society. "Why can't you be more like The Watkins girl? Look at her and then look at you!" was a phrase often thrown around in their families, with Jane being the benchmark they were all compared to.
It was precisely because of such comparisons by the older generations that the peers grew to resent Jane.
And now you're telling me that Natalie, a mysterious woman who's been living with the Watson family for over a decade, rivals Jane in her accomplishments?
"Stop it, you’re making me depressed," lamented one heiress with a sense of despair. "Suddenly, I think Natalie is pretty amazing. If she wasn't so humble and showy, my mother would probably add, 'Look at you, always number one in spending money and nothing else. Why can't you be more like Natalie? I’ve spent a fortune shaping you into what you are!'"
A murmur of agreement swooped around the bystanders. "You're not alone.
"Putting heritage aside, Natalie really is a great match for Oliver. Honestly, I'm impressed by her now."
Unbeknownst to her, Natalie had inadvertently harvested a wave of goodwill.
"What about Susan? Back in Tycoon City, she was hailed as a genius," someone asked.
"Susan?" Cadence chuckled dryly with a dismissive look, more insulting than an outright sleight.
Comparing Susan to Natalie would be a disservice to Natalie.
After some searching, Lilian finally found Mia.
"Noah, come here, I've got something great for you!" Lilian beckoned Mia sneakily with a conspiratorial gesture.
Mia, a hardcore fan of Oliver and Natalie's pairing, had only been half-listening to Barrett and Cadence, eager for any gossip about the couple. She wasn't interested in how impressive Natalie alone was. Noticing Lillian's mischievous grin, she immediately headed over.
"What's up?"
With a snicker, Lillian pulled up a photo on her phone that Lucas had taken that morning. "Look!"
Mia gazed at a photo of Lillian standing in front of a magnificent bull, laughing. She stared for a while, not quite grasping the significance.
"Well... Maybe it's the angle, but you kind of look like you've got a double chin," Mia remarked after a pause.
" You're looking at the wrong thing!" Lillian pouted. Sure, she had a bit fat, but a double chin? That was a stretch.
"Check this out!" Lillian pointed to the background where Natalie and Oliver were. It was a perfect shot of Oliver's playful pinch on Natalie's cheek.
"Oh my God!" Mia shrieked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Send it to me! Send it to me! "
Completely absorbed in the picture, Mia pondered, "Can I post this on my Instagram? It's been so hard to get any sweet moments for the fanbase lately!"
Lillian thought for a moment, "It should be... okay, I guess? People who don't know them personally wouldn't recognize that it's my cousin and Natalie."
Mia quickly uploaded the picture to her Instagram and then opened an app to start editing.
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