Chapter 578 Shall We Take a Bath?
After Oliver posed the question, he watched Natalie intently, not wanting to miss a single reaction.
"And what about you?" retorted Natalie.
Oliver had the answer in his heart, but it wasn't one he felt he could express lightly.
Fearing that Natalie would remember everything once she sobered up, he didn't answer her question right away. Biting her lip in discontent, Natalie took a defiant sip of her beer, cradling the cup in her hands.
"You still haven't answered," Oliver pressed.
Holding up her beer, she announced with conviction, "I've been drinking." It was her way of declining to respond.
Oliver stared at her in frustration for a few seconds before nodding in resignation. "Alright, carry on!" He knew when it came to playing drinking games, if he wanted to win, he could win.
"Natalie, do you still love me?" He ventured again.
She frowned unhappily, "You can't keep asking the same question."
With a click of his tongue, Oliver was surprised that, despite her drinking, her mind was clear enough to catch that. "Alright, a different one," he said. "Have you ever loved me?"
At first, Natalie thought the question sounded the same. But then, pondering for a moment, she realized it was different. Lifting her beer, she took a significant gulp under Oliver's watchful eye, making sure he could see the beer sloshing in her mouth even after she set the cup down. She remained resolute in not answering the question.
The game resumed, and Oliver continued to win with ease.
"Why did you leave me?" he asked.
She had already clarified that it wasn't because of Susan. Natalie parted her lips, intending to reach for her beer again, but Oliver was one step ahead and took the cup away.
"Oliver, you're cheating!" Natalie accused indignantly. Her cheeks, already flushed from alcohol, became even more animated with annoyance.
"I'm not cheating," Oliver countered firmly, "Fair is fair, Natalie. Answer my question."
But Natalie wasn't about to accept the outcome of a bet. Standing up, her balance momentarily wavered, and Oliver quickly stood to assist her. She steadied herself and circled the small table to inspect his hands.
"Show me your trick if you're not cheating. What's up your sleeve?" she demanded.
Rotating his hands, she examined them as though searching for hidden candy. But she found nothing. Then, she began to pat him down here and there, looking for the so-called "secret."
Having had a few drinks himself, Oliver felt his blood heat with the proximity of her gentle touches. Her hand, soft and deft, brushing his skin through the thin material of his shirt, sent a shiver down his spine.
"Natalie! Stop!" he exclaimed.
"Knock it off! I'll find out if you're cheating!" Natalie insisted, seemingly oblivious to any danger as she adamantly searched for signs of cheating.
Oliver watched her intently, a surge of impulse growing within him.
Was it because love had waned, or perhaps it had never truly been there, that kept him from speaking out? Was it the fear of wounding his own pride that she might actually do something like this?
By the time he realized what was happening, his body had already betrayed him, pulling Natalie into his embrace with a swift yank, leading her to tumble into his arms. He cradled her face and kissed her fiercely.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd, but no one wanted to cause a scene.
They exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with unspoken gossip, yet no one dared to step forward and indulge their curiosity openly.
Natalie, struggling for breath under the intensity of his kisses, kept pushing against Oliver.
It took him a while to finally let her go, stopping more for fear of losing control than anything else.
Once released, Natalie covered her mouth with her hand, frowning in disgust at Oliver. She pointed accusingly at his mouth, "You reek!"
The smell of alcohol was overpowering.
Oliver couldn't help but laugh. Ironically, she was the one who had drunk more, yet in her drunken state, she had mastered the art of giving a taste of their own medicine.
A bodyguard, standing not far from Oliver and Natalie, whispered to his colleague, "Have you noticed the boss talking more? And he’s got more patience too!"
His partner responded dryly, "He's only like that around his wife, you're overthinking it."
"…" Well, that privilege was reserved for the wife alone.
Lucas, who had been pulled into a game by Lilian earlier, only realized what was happening when he saw a drunken Natalie being swiftly carried off by Oliver to their room.
The once succulent leg of lamb on the table was now nearly picked clean, surrounded by three empty glasses.
"Oliver, did you get my sister drunk on purpose? What's your game?" Lucas rushed over, blocking Oliver’s path.
But this time, Oliver hadn't intentionally gotten her drunk. During the game, Natalie was only tipsy, but as she refused to answer questions, she took several large swigs and was completely hammered.
However, Oliver didn't feel like explaining.
Lazily lifting an eyelid, he regarded his brother-in-law with a drawl, "What’s up? Coming to check out the show?"
With those words, Natalie, who lay slumped over his shoulder, shifted unconsciously against his neck, seeking a comfortable spot to sleep but unable to settle down.
Natalie's hair was prickly and stiff, and in her drunken state, she looked forlorn and helpless.
Lucas, seeing his sister so intoxicated, hesitated to speak. Had Natalie shown the slightest resistance to Oliver, maybe things wouldn't have come to this...
Oliver couldn't be bothered with Lucas any longer. Carrying Natalie in his arms, he headed toward the bedroom, leaving instructions for Lucas, "Take good care of Lilian."
Lucas stood speechless. “You don't need to remind me, it makes you sound even more suspicious,” he thought bitterly.
Natalie, groggy and clinging to Oliver's shoulder, tilted her head back. After a couple of seconds, her expression mixed with confusion and earnestness, she inquired, "What show?"
Oliver's bodyguard, seeing him holding Natalie, considerately advanced to open the door for him.
As Oliver stepped inside, the bodyguard cautiously stopped him and asked with comprehensive concern, "Sir, do you need me to buy… some protection?"
"What?" The bodyguard lowered his voice to a whisper, and with the bonfire party's noise nearby, Oliver didn't catch the words.
The bodyguard mouthed silently, "Protection."
Oliver snapped, "Get out!"
"Yes, sir!" The bodyguard retreated, sweating from the awkwardness. Before coming here, Bryant had thoroughly trained them to anticipate the boss's needs. Isn't it normal to ask if he needs protection when they are about to get intimate? He thought.
Poor Bryant, working for the boss can't be easy!
Oliver closed the door with a foot, then set Natalie down on the floor, bolstering her as he locked the door securely.
It wasn't really necessary since his bodyguards would be keeping watch outside, vigilantly ensuring their safety.
"Natalie?" he called.
Natalie, with her eyes closed, nodded her head bit by bit, clearly drunk and sleepy.
Oliver called her name again and saw no response. He asked, "Bath?"
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