Chapter 598 Shut Up!
"Pull over," Oliver commanded, without hesitation, addressing the bodyguard in the passenger seat. “Go check it out.”
“Yes, sir.”
The three bodyguards in the back promptly exited the vehicle: two stood guard outside while the third remained alert, scanning the surroundings, ready for any unexpected situations.
The rain intensified, casting a misty veil over the mountainous road as the landscape began to disappear into the fog. The bodyguard, not having bothered to grab an umbrella, was soaked when he returned to report, hesitating as he caught Natalie and Oliver's gaze.
Natalie sensed something was amiss.
"Speak," Oliver demanded, catching the bodyguard's uneasy look.
"Lilian and Watson were at the back of the convoy. A massive rockslide just occurred back up the mountain, trapping their car behind it."
Natalie stood up abruptly in shock.
Oliver's quick reflexes saved her from hitting the vehicle's roof, cushioning her head with his hand.
"What's the situation now?" Oliver asked, furrowed brows signaling his concern.
The situation seemed stable; nobody was hurt, but they were just unable to come over due to car troubles. The bodyguard had hustled down to the rockslide to communicate with those on the other side of the debris.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Natalie's previously ashen face began to regain color. She said to Oliver, "I'll go check on them,” and bolted out of the car.
The bodyguards turned to Oliver, awaiting his command.
"An umbrella," Oliver gestured to one of the men.
Equipped with a large umbrella, Oliver stepped out of the vehicle quickly catching up to Natalie and sheltered her from the rain.
Encircled by his strong arm, the rain that had been pelting her ceased instantly. Natalie’s hurried pace slowed as she turned to meet Oliver’s deep and intense gaze.
"You know, if you catch a cold, Lucas would be worried sick," Oliver mentioned, aware that his concern was nothing compared to her adored younger brother’s.
There was a lump in his throat admitting that truth, a constriction like the sting of blood.
"Th-thanks," Natalie forced a small smile.
Oliver replied with an annoyed snort, "Don't mention it. I was on my way to find Lilian. You just happened to been en route.”
Natalie gave him a quizzical look, recognizing that this man had, almost imperceptibly, not only grown a thicker skin but also a talent for saying the opposite of what he felt.
Was her gratitude really that hard to accept?
Now wasn’t the time for banter with Oliver. Natalie clutched the edge of his coat, moving closer under the umbrella to avoid getting him wet.
Feeling her snuggle closer, Oliver’s mood lifted at the delicate scent unique to her.
See, Natalie still relied on him, even if only subconsciously.
"Cadence rolled down the window of the car and called out, "Where are you two headed in this downpour?"
"We're checking on Lucas and Lilian; their car broke down behind us," Natalie replied.
Before she could say more, a crew member dashed through the rain, urging with concern, “Mr. Windsor, Miss Watson, please head back. The storm’s getting worse, and we can’t stay here. We’ll ensure Mr. Watson and Miss Lilian are safely picked up.”
"No way," Natalie refused without a second thought. She couldn’t possibly leave.
The foul weather brought back memories from a year earlier, when Lucas had rushed from the hospital to find her at the Rosewood Estate.
After chemotherapy, leukemia patients must avoid sickness at all costs, as even a common cold could trigger dangerous reactions.
Natalie was uneasy.
"Miss Watson, what can you possibly do here alone?" asked Susan, her car idling behind Cadence's. She rolled down her window, a mocking smile lurking in her eyes. Then, with a loaded tone, she added, "Or do you expect us all to stay here just because you choose to?"
Natalie and Oliver had parked their cars up front. The narrow mountain road didn't allow for their big SUVs to pass each other, especially now with the rain making the risk of driving even greater. In other words, if the others wanted to leave, Natalie and Oliver had to move first.
Seeing the commotion, the rest got out of their vehicles.
Sharon, holding an umbrella, approached with a look of disgust and asked the person in charge, "When are we getting out of here? It's already four in the afternoon. We'll all get hungry if we don't head down soon, and it's not safe to drive these roads after dark. Surely we're not all expected to stay because Miss Watson wants to, right?"
The others nodded in agreement, finding Sharon's point valid, and began to persuade Natalie:
"Miss Watson, look at how the rain's getting worse. It's unsafe for everyone to stay, and you're not a professional. Staying here won't help."
"Yeah, Miss Watson, we're all worried if you stay... Right, Noah, Cadence?"
It was clear that aside from her close bond with Lilian, Natalie also got along well with Noah and Cadence, though it was a mystery how that friendship came to be.
Noah nodded vigorously, "Yeah, we all worry about you staying here, Natalie!"
She almost slipped up calling her by a nickname, but Ethan gave Noah a nudge in time for him to correct himself.
Cadence, feeling oddly pulled into the dialogue, turned away, saying, "It's not that I'm worried about you, but your presence here will make the others anxious."
Barrett rolled his eyes at Cadence's awkward reaction.
Their words echoed Sharon's sentiments but sounded much more genuine and concerned for her well-being.
"Thank you, everyone," Natalie sincerely thanked those who had her best interests at heart, "but I've made up my mind to stay. You all go ahead, don't wait for me, Mr. Windsor, you too..."
"Shut up, Natalie!" Oliver cut her off before she could finish suggesting he should leave.
How could he possibly feel at ease leaving her here alone!
This woman truly had a knack for driving him to the edge!
Natalie blinked, suddenly realizing that Oliver might stay behind because of Lilian.
Everyone else had chosen to stay, unwilling to press Oliver further.
"Oliver, you staying? Let's stick it out together then; I've never hung out in a place like this before!" Barrett, concerned about leaving Oliver behind.
Without hesitation, Oliver said, "You take Cadence and go."
Cadence, about to insist on staying, instantly shut her mouth obediently.
It was common knowledge that staying wasn't going to be comfortable – no immediate danger perhaps, but enduring the wind and rain without a guarantee of food was certain.
"Natalie, I've got a clean raincoat here for you!" Suddenly, a girl ran back to her car, fetched a brand-new raincoat still in its packaging, and handed it to Natalie, apologetically saying to Oliver, "Mr. Windsor, I'm sorry, I only have one left, so there's none for you."
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