Chapter 591 Discomfort
"Oh?" Richard asked with interest, "Why not?"
"You guys don't seem like you're cut from the same cloth." Natalie suddenly remembered the man Jane had once mentioned who had almost become her fiancé. "Maybe Jane sees you as more of a teacher, like an authoritative figure."
Although Jane was a good student, she had never liked teachers.
"And you seem like you'd prefer someone quiet and well-behaved. Of course, that's just my opinion. You don't have to take it to heart."
Richard's smile widened; it was the first genuine smile Natalie had seen on his face since she had arrived. "Mrs. Windsor, you're too kind. Many people think I should marry a gentle and demure lady."
And Jane was anything but "gentle and demure."
Richard gazed out the window, his voice becoming distant. "But when looking for a partner, some people look for someone who complements them, some for a match, and some for a reflection of themselves."
Oliver snorted in disagreement.
Richard glanced at Oliver, aware that he probably didn't approve of what had just been said.
Richard didn't linger on the subject, instead, he swiftly changed the topic to philosophy.
Natalie engaged in a deeper conversation with Richard, finding that they got along surprisingly well.
Oliver, thoroughly bored, watched them. Seeing Natalie chatting away happily, almost completely ignoring him, darkened his mood.
Especially since he didn't have a clue about philosophy.
"Richard seems to know a lot about my wife," Oliver interjected with a cool tone.
Natalie sensed there was an undertone to Oliver's words.
Oliver rested his chin in his hand, now that he wasn't discussing business with Richard, he began to lounge lazily. " Richard, you have a vast range of interests; how did you just happen to bring up philosophy?"
The implication was clear that Richard knew of Natalie's interest in philosophy and had intentionally chosen the topic.
Without missing a beat, Richard responded candidly, "Indeed, I aimed to cater to Mrs. Windsor's interests."
"How did you know I'm interested in philosophy?" Natalie asked with curiosity. It was more of an obscure hobby for her, and not many people were aware of it.
Richard looked meaningfully at Oliver and said, "Jovan mentioned once that a young girl named Watson was exceptionally bright for her age, delving into Buddhist texts even in high school."
"Jovan?" Natalie was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled, "Oh, I remember now. I was reading Gyatso in math class and my teacher confiscated the book. Jovan helped me get it back from the math teacher."
Before Natalie could finish, she sensed a growing chill in the air. She turned to find Oliver's gaze cool and detached.
That sudden lack of emotion usually meant something was upsetting.
Richard leisurely sipped his tea.
He had deliberately brought up Jovan to sour Oliver's mood. He wasn't particularly picky, but he didn't like to be shortchanged. If Oliver threw shade at him verbally, he made sure to return the favor.
"Mrs. Windsor, I used to hear Jovan talk about you quite often. I actually thought you might end up as my sister-in-law," Richard said with a visible sense of satisfaction, seeing Oliver look deflated.
He even felt he could push it a bit further.
"Ah?" Natalie waved her hands in a flustered gesture. "I'm not—"
In Oliver's eyes, Natalie was just too shy.
"Well, it seems I thought too much," Richard said, turning towards Oliver with a smile. "Mr. Windsor, perhaps you just got lucky picking up where Jovan left off. If it hadn't been for his misfortune, who knows who your wife might be now, right?"
Oliver thought to himself, chance had nothing to do with it.
"Has being single for so long made you cynical about other people's marriages?" Oliver replied with a listless tone, "Not a great friend, are you, Richard? Not caring whether Jovan is dead or alive, and using him to take a jab at me when his fate is uncertain."
Richard retorted, "It's precisely because we're friends that I know Jovan and Miss Jane wouldn't want me meddling in this matter. I'm sure Jovan would be pleased to see me getting on your nerves."
Even after leaving the tea room and saying goodbye to Richard, Natalie was still lost in thought.
Oliver glanced at her and asked, "What's on your mind?"
"Richard's words from earlier," replied Natalie, looking ahead. "Another version of oneself... Was that why Richard wanted to marry Jane initially? Hoping to adopt a personality like hers and to lead a life like that?"
Oliver tapped on Natalie's forehead.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, covering her forehead, "What was that for?"
"Richard doesn't have a girlfriend or a wife—don't buy into his nonsense," Oliver said with disdain.
The driver pulled up and opened the doors for the two of them.
Oliver let Natalie get into the car first; then he got in from the other side.
"But I think what he said made sense."
"Sense my ass."
Natalie had a favorable impression of Richard. She could tell that his talents extended beyond business and leadership; he was well-informed and seemed to have a good temperament on the surface.
Although underneath he shared Oliver's assertive nature, she thought as long as you weren't on his bad side, he'd be comfortable to be around. If Jane hadn't met Anthony, she probably would have had a good life with Richard.
Oliver's expression was so dark it could have matched a stormy sky, thinking what a waste it was to bring Natalie to meet Richard. That guy was a wolf in sheep's clothing!
The SUV made its way down the hill.
A while later, as if offhandedly, Oliver asked, "Was Jovan your ex?"
"What?" It took a moment for Natalie to realize Oliver was referring to Richard's comments from earlier. Surprised, she responded, 'How could that be! Jovan is Jane's brother!"
Oliver thought she was just being defensive.
He couldn't deny that Richard's words had gotten under his skin. He knew Richard wasn't someone who spoke without consideration, and he certainly wouldn't gossip about Jovan's feelings.
It was very likely that Jovan had harbored feelings for Natalie, a pity she was just a high schooler at the time.
Natalie was oblivious to Oliver's turmoil and even rolled her eyes in self-disgust, saying, "My ex was Adrian, remember? If I'd had someone as great as Jovan for an ex, why on earth would I have settled for Adrian?"
There, she admitted that Jovan was a catch.
Oliver clenched his jaw. He was already irritated by the thought of all the Adrian and Roger that had been in and out of Natalie's life, and now there was Jovan waiting in the wings.
At least Jovan was now overseas, fighting for his life with an uncertain future .
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