Chapter 641 Aura
Outside the venue.
"Jane, where are we headed?" a tender, soft voice asked from within the safety of Jane's arms.
The little child clung tightly to Jane’s neck.
"Would you accompany me for some fresh air, Tina? We’ll return to see your mommy and Natalie in a while,” Jane asked.
"Where is Daddy?" Tina asked, tilting her head upward, "Are we going to look for Daddy?"
Despite the complexities of their past, Tina loved her father. As they spent more time together, her feelings for him naturally grew deeper. Moreover, as the saying went, ‘Blood is thicker than water’.
Seated by a fountain on a wooden bench, Jane lowered her eyes to Tina and asked, "Do you like your Daddy?"
After a moment of serious contemplation, Tina replied with a sincerity that belied her years, "I only like Daddy because he likes Mommy."
Jane found herself unable to agree with Tina's simple rationale. She cautioned gently, "Darling, you have to know that not all men are worth your trust. Their love could be fleeting. Don’t trust them so easily, okay?”
Tina struggled to fully comprehend Jane's words. Though she recognized each word individually, their collective meaning eluded her. She tilted her head, causing her pigtails to sway, to look at Jane in confusion.
"Jane, there’s a man watching you!” Tina suddenly said. She pointed her delicate finger at someone behind Jane.
Engrossed in her dialogue with Tina, Jane had been oblivious to the imposing presence behind her until now. Pulling Tina closer, she turned around and met a man’s intense gaze.
Even amidst the evening's showcase of opulence, the Bugatti's presence was noteworthy. The tall figure standing beside it looked at her silently with an enigmatic gaze.
A quiet tension hung in the air like the precursor to a storm.
"Jane, who’s he?" Tina whispered into Jane's ear, her gaze fixed on the figure, "Does he like you?"
The gloom brought by Anthony’s presence was temporarily swept away when Jane heard Tina’s innocent question, filling her with the urge to laugh. She tapped Tina’s nose gently and replied, “Silly goose.”
Jane lifted Tina and made her way towards the parking area, under Anthony's vigilant gaze. She did not want to have any interaction with Anthony at all. As they left, she reminded, “Don’t talk to strangers, okay?”
"I know," Tina responded obediently. However, she could not help but look back curiously one more time, saying, “He’s still watching you…”
"Is he following us?" Jane asked nonchalantly.
"No," Tina replied.
To Jane, this was comforting news.
…
Flora Lee descended from the stage to find Natalie's arms open in a comforting embrace.
Sensing Flora's rapid, uneven breaths, Natalie offered gentle reassurances with a soothing pat on the back.
“It’ll be okay,” Flora murmured, reassuring herself, "Arthur can’t take Tina away from me…”
The public was now aware that Tina was her child and that Arthur had neglected his duties and responsibilities. Victory seemed to be within her grasp.
Natalie was on the verge of revealing Arthur's broader intentions, which were not solely about Tina, but she restrained herself in the end. She changed the topic, saying, "Tina is with Jane in her car. She mentioned that your daughter misses you."
“Natalie, someone’s here to see you," a staff member said at this moment.
"Who is it?" Natalie asked instinctively.
The staff member shrugged. "I don’t know. He’s wearing sunglasses. But he’s incredibly handsome and charismatic.”
Natalie had a hunch about the other party’s identity.
Flora guessed it was Oliver too. She said, “Go. You change out of the dress later. Don’t make him wait. He might lose his patience. I don’t want him causing a scene.”
Despite having criticized Oliver as a player alongside Natalie in the past, Flora recognized that he was still Natalie's husband. She had to support her best friend’s decision.
"What about Tina and Arthur?”
"I have it covered, you go!" Flora insisted.
Natalie waved goodbye to the others, removed the floral accessory from her hair, lifted her dress, and hurried outside.
"Wine, do you know who is looking for Natalie?" a grinning female model asked Flora curiously.
The room buzzed with curiosity and anticipation.
"I have an idea." Flora nodded, fairly certain it was Oliver, although she had not seen him herself.
"Who is it? Can you tell us?"
"What do you think?" Flora responded with a knowing smile.
Silence ensued; they interpreted it as a polite refusal.
"Don’t bother snooping around; you might just be inviting trouble," Flora warned the younger girls who seemed eager for a glimpse.
The crowd took her caution to heart, their playful intentions shifting to sheepish looks.
Upon reflection, it was obvious. Natalie's ex-husband was Oliver. After being with someone like him, where else could she go but downward? Only someone equally impressive could capture her attention, a man who was undoubtedly too influential to offend.
…
The backstage area was relatively empty, limited to crew members only.
Oliver stood in a secluded corridor, a cigarette between his fingers.
Natalie saw a tall, authoritative figure in the distance. The faint glow of a cigarette briefly lit up with each inhale.
The man took a drag, tilted his head back, and exhaled a stream of smoke, highlighting the long line of his neck.
The smoke ring dispersed.
At the slightest sound, Oliver's gaze accurately shifted toward Natalie. He extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray on top of a nearby trash can and faced her.
The corridor was almost deserted, and the lighting was dim.
Backlit by faint light, Oliver's face was unclear, but his silhouette and his authoritative presence were unmistakable.
Even without a clear view, Natalie knew he was looking at her. She could sense the intensity of his gaze. She self-consciously adjusted to her dress, wondering if she looked strange dressed in the gown in such a place. The dress was stunning and extravagantly formal, designed for red carpets or a display case. However, here she was, wearing it in a dim and secluded place.
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