Chapter 618 Natalie, it's over for you!
As Natalie rose to her feet, Susan's eyes met hers, filled with derision and indifference.
In that fleeting moment, Susan realized Natalie bore striking similarities to Oliver. The way they both carried an air of disdain, how a mere glance could impose sheer intimidation upon any challenger without uttering a word.
"Come with me," Susan said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing within.
Natalie scoffed dismissively and strode away, clearly unwilling to be lured by Susan.
“That assistant you put on the event team, you really don’t care about her?” Seeing Natalie pause, Susan chuckled, “Her name's Casey, right? She's another one of your aides besides Lilian.”
After Casey replaced her predecessor, the others at the event barely noticed her presence. Although she accompanied Natalie to events, she often lingered in the shadows, hardly drawing any attention.
Natalie was caught off-guard that Susan knew about Casey.
“Susan, you’re not capable of handling her,” Natalie knew well Casey’s capabilities and intellect all too well.
“What if I use you as bait?”
Natalie furrowed her brow, scrutinizing Susan’s claim, carefully assessing the truth in her words.
“I know your assistant has some combat skills, but can she really survive an explosion?” Susan pulled out her phone, on it was a live feed from a hidden camera showing Casey standing atop a mound of earth, “I've planted dynamite right beneath her feet, and I have the detonator. You're smart, you know it only takes a bit of this stuff to let her die!”
Tossing her shotgun aside with distaste, Susan continued, “I know you have your doubts, but consider this: I set up the camera in advance and lured her there. Would I fall short on preparing a little dynamite? Would you risk a life? You wouldn’t, Natalie. And remember, if it weren't for you, your assistant wouldn’t be in this godforsaken place to begin with, nor would she have gotten my attention.”
Natalie’s expression turned grim—she dared not gamble with Casey’s life. Susan had planned so much against Lucas the day before, she was certainly capable of orchestrating today’s threat against Casey.
If only Natalie knew how Leonard had clamped down on Susan's activities, she wouldn't have felt this way.
Unfortunately, she was in the dark.
Susan made her point and walked away without further word.
Her steps were brisk, as if she didn't care if Natalie would follow. If Natalie followed, Susan’s goal was achieved; if not, she could still harm Casey, leaving Natalie to struggle with guilt and regret forever.
“Susan!”
After agonizing for what felt like an eternity, Natalie finally let her impulse overrule her logic and she hurried after Susan.
She couldn’t take the risk; she couldn’t gamble with Casey’s safety. Here, Casey was just a mere attendant, inherently vulnerable to Susan’s manipulation.
Susan had already left, a smirk of satisfaction curling her lips, her eyes gleaming with malice and cruelty as the sound of Natalie's voice faded into the distance.
Reaching the spot she had earlier scouted, Susan quickly hid in the bushes.
Natalie could no longer see Susan and felt a sudden suspicion as her alertness kicked in, but it was too late—
She felt a massive force shove her from behind, her balance toppling uncontrolled in one direction, her feet missing solid ground, the corner of her eye catching a glimpse of the steep, unfathomable slope beneath her.
In a split second, Natalie's swift reflexes grasped a vine, swinging momentarily in mid-air.
Struggling to lift her head, she was horrified to see Susan above her.
It was Susan who had pushed her!
Seeing Natalie hadn't tumbled down the slope as intended, Susan's expression flickered between panic and hesitance, but it was quickly consumed by jealousy and venom.
Natalie clung to the vine, desperately trying to pull herself up, her heart racing with fear.
Below, an inevitable and deep abyss seemed to await her.
"Susan, just leave now and I won't pursue this, or you'll be guilty of attempted murder," Natalie strained to speak.
She didn't expect to move Susan with emotion or reason—to persuade her to lend a hand.
If Susan had hesitated or felt fear about committing murder in the instant she pushed Natalie, now, seeing Natalie's desperate struggle on the brink of death, Susan felt only one desire: to finish her!
"Natalie, do you know why you're in this predicament?" Susan crouched down, "You shouldn't have competed with me over a man, threatened my identity, my life. You shouldn’t have humiliated me. Everything I suffer now is because of you! Only with your death, can I reclaim what's mine!"
"Mine? You mean Oliver?" Natalie couldn't fathom why Susan felt threatened, but she had no interest in unpacking a madwoman's thoughts.
Natalie's hands finally clasped solid ground, but her strength was waning.
"Natalie, what is that look on your face? I know Oliver loves you now, but what of it? Once you're gone, he'll quickly forget you, and I'll take your place as Mrs. Windsor. Gradually, he'll come to love me, as he once adored you."
"Susan, after doing such vile deeds, aren't you afraid of being haunted in your dreams?"
"Winners make history; this is the lesson I've lived by. I only know that to the victor go the spoils!"
Susan broke into a laugh, a sinister sound under the ominous sky.
With a twisted smile of satisfaction, Susan ground her heel into Natalie's fingers. "Die, Natalie, just die!"
"I'll get you back for every bit of pain you caused me! Just like this, I'll crush you under my foot like the insignificant bug that you are."
Pain spiked through her fingers as Natalie clenched her jaw in silence, her grip loosening against her will,
"Ahhh!"
With only one hand grasping the vine, Natalie's body swung dangerously.
Then, in the next moment, Susan picked up a rock and hurled it at her...
"Ahhh!"
As she plunged downward, the manic glee on Susan's face was the last thing Natalie saw.
As she tumbled, her mind replayed Susan's words about Oliver – "The one Oliver loves is you." It was clear as day, even Susan was certain of it. Natalie wondered if she'd ever get another chance to say anything to him.
...
The live-action role-playing event had been going on for two hours.
Those "killed" during the game returned to the starting point, leaving Jacob as the only winner.
Oliver still hadn't seen Natalie return, his face growing increasingly grim.
"Has anyone seen Natalie?" he asked those trickling back.
Everyone shook their heads.
Unease building, Oliver tried calling Natalie, but couldn't get through—even though there was full signal coverage.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
