Chapter 616 I Like You, I Love You
"Susan, Natalie is still my wife. Protecting her is not just my duty but also her right," Oliver said.
"But I...” Susan stopped herself, the rest of her words unspoken: I want that right, too! It should have been mine!
Susan bit back the words on the tip of her tongue, fighting the surge of insane jealousy. "But Oliver, you and Natalie are divorced. She isn't your wife anymore; she doesn't have that right!"
"Oliver, will you just look at me?" She brushed back her hair to reveal the bruises on her face and forehead. "See these nail marks? Natalie did this to me, she tried to disfigure my face! And this handprint – Leonard did this. A man who hits women is no man at all!"
"Oliver, I'm miserable. Please, I can't marry Leonard. Help me! You're divorced from Natalie now. Look at me, okay? We could go back to the way things were; we’d be so happy!"
"There is no going back," Oliver said dismissively, brushing off Susan's hands. "Furthermore, Natalie and I aren't divorced. She's still my wife."
"What?" Shock rooted Susan to the spot. "But... didn't you guys sign the divorce papers?"
Susan shook her head vigorously. "Impossible. I've seen the divorce agreement; you're divorced, and Natalie was kicked out of Rosewood Estate... It can't be."
Oliver didn’t correct Susan’s words; his mind was focused elsewhere: "How do you know about the divorce agreement?"
"I..." Susan froze, her panic and alarm all too evident to Oliver. By the time she thought to cover it up, it was already too late.
"Susan, this is where it ends for us."
"Oliver!"
Oliver turned and walked away, not looking back as Susan lunged forward, trying desperately to catch him.
She half-expected to be shoved away, but the man remained still, as if frozen in place.
Peering inquisitively, Susan caught sight of Natalie standing in the doorway, clad in an elegant morning robe, her gaze faintly fixed on them.
"Oliver, please don't go! I love you, I really do, even if you are married, my love doesn't wane! I’ll leave Leonard for you!" Susan played her cards, clinging to Oliver even tighter.
She yearned to witness Natalie's jealousy, to see her weep in pain, to watch her lash out at Oliver in bewilderment and anger!
It would be perfect if Natalie managed to irritate him!
"Miss Susan, didn't your mother teach you it's thievery taking what isn't yours without permission? It applies to objects and people alike." Natalie was not only unfazed, but she even raised an eyebrow as if enjoying the drama.
Oliver stared intensely at Natalie, motionless and silent.
Unable to discern his thoughts, Natalie excused herself, "I was looking for you to discuss something. When I stepped out and didn't see you but heard noises, I headed over. You hadn't closed the door after yourselves."
A shadow fell across Oliver's face.
Didn't she care at all that he might be romantically entangled with another woman?
Susan was aghast that Natalie could speak to Oliver so calmly as if she hadn't seen her clinging to him or heard what she had just confessed.
"Natalie, this is my room, and you're not welcome here!" Susan commanded dismissively.
Natalie chuckled, "I'm not here to see you."
After saying that, she turned to Oliver and asked, "Are you leaving?"
Oliver's gaze flickered.
" Oliver!" Susan's arms tightened in anxiety.
"Let's go," Oliver said, pushing Susan away.
As Susan tried to embrace Oliver again, Natalie stepped forward, exerted force with her arm and wrist, and pushed her aside.
"Susan, over your headache and looking for more trouble?" Natalie pointed at the slap mark on her face, "If I were you, I wouldn't parade in front of the man I love looking this ugly."
Furious and trembling, Susan covered the mark on her face with her hand.
She had been so focused on complaining to Oliver, seeking his pity, that she completely forgot how unsightly her bruised face must look!
In truth, compared to the domineering and haughty Natalie, she felt like a clown.
Susan looked at Oliver with a pleading gaze but his attention was nowhere to be found.
"Natalie," Oliver's voice called out.
She instantly knew he was hinting it was time to leave.
"Aren't you curious about who that guy is?" Susan clung to her last hope, trying to detain Oliver.
"One thing's for sure, it's not you." He could investigate who it actually was later on.
Oliver's fondness for Susan stemmed from the dark days when her company and encouragement were his solace.
But now, she had admitted to her lies, severing that bond herself.
Why Susan had pretended to be that girl, claiming she was the one who had taken care of him? Oliver no longer cared.
For a person of her character, it could have been an accidental impersonation, but it was more likely a deliberate charade.
She conned years of his loyalty and tried to drive a wedge between him and Natalie.
It was time for it all to end.
The woman's heart-wrenching sobs echoed from the room behind him.
Natalie was unmoved. She glanced at the man next to her radiating a chill and asked, "Did you slap her? Is that her cry I hear?"
"No."
Oliver's reply was sharp and cold, a clear sign of his anger to anyone who knew him.
Confused, Natalie swiped her key card and entered the room.
As soon as she stepped inside, a force pushed her against the wall. The door snapped shut behind her.
Oliver cornered her in the small space between his body and the wall, his voice tinged with irritation, "Natalie, aren't you angry?"
"Angry about what?"
"Susan." He remembered how she used to always bring up Susan. Now she was silent. Did that mean... she didn't care anymore?
The thought deepened the chill on Oliver's face.
"You're the one she's bothering, not me. Why should I be angry?" Natalie said, reading his intent to leave earlier. "She was clearly holding you back against your will. Plus, I noticed your expression—you looked disgusted. You obviously didn't want to talk to her."
Oliver stood stunned.
She... saw right through it.
"Even if I were to give Susan the benefit of the doubt," Natalie began, reluctant to use derogatory terms even for someone like Susan, "seeing her approaching you in that state—with her face all bruised up—I don't believe you'd entertain any thoughts about her."
Natalie went on, "Plus, Susan suggested she could break it off with Leonard if she wanted to. But Leonard, he's no pushover. He never really liked Susan; he must be after something. And if his goals aren't met, Susan might not be the one calling the shots on whether they split or not."
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