Chapter 696 Only Mr. Windsor Could Best Natalie
Nora's face turned pale, a fleeting crack in her composure, as if she'd been deeply wounded, "Simon, you... do you really not remember me?"
Natalie noticed Nora's assured demeanor, which didn't seem like random name-dropping or networking, but at the same time, Oliver had a photographic memory, and if he had truly known Nora, he would have recognized her.
Natalie's suspicious gaze flitted between the two.
Oliver's cool gaze shifted from Nora back to Natalie.
Others might not detect any meaning in that look, but Natalie and Oliver, having spent so much time together, understood it all too clearly—this man was warning her not to get any wrong ideas!
Was it about whether or not she was entertaining false hopes?
Clearly, Miss Nora had arrived with less than honorable intentions! Natalie glared back defiantly.
To Mia and the others, this interaction appeared to be nothing more than a display of affection; flaunting, flaunting, still flaunting!
Some of the couples from the summer camp retreated to their private group chat to express their candid thoughts, "As we suspected, no couple is innocent when trouble comes barking."
"Simon, you don't remember me? You were at the Norton family party when you were seventeen; we've met before." Nora tried to muster a smile, hoping to jog Oliver's memory.
"Seventeen?" Even the usually stoic Oliver found some amusement in this.
"That was what, eleven or twelve years ago? Miss Nora, you certainly have a timeless beauty, still thinking your appearance hasn't changed after more than a decade?" As Natalie and Oliver's loyal fan, Mia would not allow any so-called ingenues or deceivers to taint or disrupt the couple's love… not to the 'ship' that she adored!
Others could barely suppress their laughter.
"I have some impression." Oliver suddenly said.
The room fell silent, everyone's eyes turned toward Natalie, waiting for her reaction. Mr. Windsor's statement sounded like a direct challenge to her.
Nora's face lit up with anticipation, her eyes sparkling as she waited for Oliver's next words.
"I remember the party," Oliver declared with a dispassionate face, a blank expression as he looked at Nora.
"But you? No."
‘No impression of you.’ Nora's face fell apart once again.
A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Oliver's unexpected reply stunned them, but they knew Mr. Windsor was only speaking the truth.
This turnaround was even more crushing.
"Simon, I am John's niece!" Nora said, both angry and anxious.
Oliver chuckled, "Do you think John and I are close?"
Nora was at a loss for words.
Natalie wasn't sure who John was, but she quietly noted the name, making an inference from their conversation that there seemed to be some connection to the Norton family and that John and Oliver's relationship wasn't that great.
If John and Oliver weren't exactly buddy-buddy, she deduced that John probably wasn't on good terms with Lilian either.
"Leave an address; I'll have someone send it over." It was obvious Oliver had no interest in catching up with Nora any further.
"Do you think you owe me a Friesian horse?" Nora fumed with anger.
Mia and a summer camp socialite rolled their eyes on the spot.
With a polite smile, Natalie inquired, "So, Miss Nora, you mean to say you don't want the reward? That's fine too."
The summer camp socialites immediately chimed in:
"Oh, that's right! The original bet was between Natalie and Mr. Kensington, and it was Mr. Windsor who said he'd give Mr. Kensington a horse if he won against Natalie. Miss Nora, to be honest, you being dragged into this was completely unexpected."
"If I remember correctly, Miss Nora, you've won gold at the youth equestrian competition before, right? Competing against Natalie, who is more of an amateur, do you honestly feel good about that? Besides, Natalie rarely engages in these activities. Is that fair?"
Even the young gentlemen commented, "Mrs. Windsor plays a mean bridge game without having to crush us with it. She's a quick learner with Dominoes and probably hasn't ridden horses in quite some time."
Natalie remained noncommittal. Indeed, she never really boasted about her strengths.
"Right? Makes sense, doesn't it? So, there's no need to give the Friesian horse to Miss Nora, especially since she scorns it," Mia concluded with finality.
Nora was perplexed.
"I...," Nora began.
"You're also sorry for using your strength against Natalie's weakness, we all know that. You don't need to apologize, everyone knows Natalie is the kindest; she won't mind, right Natalie?" Mia interrupted Nora's response.
Natalie, signaled by Mia's wink, nodded with a smile.
Why knock down a young girl's standing?
It was all about protecting her.
Nora felt bullied by the group. Abroad, under the halo of the Norton family, she was held in high regard everywhere she went. And now, back at home, to be subjected to the attitudes of these so-called socialites who couldn't make it on the international stage!
Her face turned shades of red and white with anger. Stomping her foot, she left early.
The others shrugged it off without much concern. They weren't well acquainted with this newly returned socialite, nor did they have a reason to offend Oliver over someone whose real worth they weren't sure of.
Even if Nora's background was substantial, in this country, she still couldn't overpower Oliver.
The rest of the group continued their fun.
The people who had attended summer camp eventually opened up, and had started to rave about Natalie's remarkable abilities. They talked about how quickly she could find clues, showcasing her brilliant intelligence. They also praised the deliciousness of the barbecues and meals Natalie prepared, highlighting her domestic skills.
Unbeknownst to her, Natalie had become the center of attention among this group of privileged second-generation kids.
She was always unflappable, getting along well with everyone.
Oliver pulled Barrett aside, giving him a look reserved for fools, "Where's your brain?"
"Were you not supposed to use your head when you invited people? What on earth were you thinking by bringing Nora here?"
"Maybe... my brain took a brief leave of absence," Barrett offered as a meek explanation.
In Barrett's defense, he was quite innocent in the matter. Nora was a socialite fresh from a world-renowned university abroad and was currently all the rage. Barrett figured that her social status was more than adequate and considering her years abroad, he assumed she wouldn't have any inappropriate connections with his brother or Natalie.
But little did he know... What's that saying again?
Fate?
Barrett thought if he dared utter the word "fate," he wouldn't be able to walk out of the estate with his head high today.
When Oliver returned to Natalie's side, she was in the middle of an archery game with a group of people.
Natalie had once demonstrated her archery skills on a TV program called "Bazaar Challenge," and many were aware she knew how to shoot. However, most had skeptically attributed it to video editing until now. This time, they truly witnessed her extraordinary precision. Her every arrow hit its mark!
Encouraged by the cheers of the summer campers, the continuous applause attracted many other estate guests to watch.
"Mrs. Windsor is amazing!" someone exclaimed sincerely.
Oliver's lips curved into a half-smile, his eyes twinkling with tender amusement as he watched Natalie's figure pulling back the bowstring, "Ah, she's all right."
While he downplayed it verbally, his tone very much implied, "Of course she's impressive!"
The guests felt almost blinded by Mr. Windsor's beaming pride.
"Why don't you have a match with Mrs. Windsor, Mr. Windsor?" Ethan, who had never seen Oliver practice archery, had no doubt about his capabilities considering his versatility in just about everything else.
"Yeah, Mr. Windsor, you haven't shown your skills today! A showdown between you and Natalie would be great a couples' match!"
"Come on, Mr. Windsor! Your wife has already knocked out all my chances; it's no fun if she has no one to compete with."
Natalie, setting her bow aside, tilted her head and flashed a playful smile at Oliver while nudging her chin forward, asking, "Can you?"
Oliver caught the eager and challenging look in Natalie's eyes in an instant. He had not been particularly interested before, but now he felt inclined to join in. Oliver picked up a compound bow, which, thanks to its tight strings, had greater tension and power.
"Do you even know how to use that?" Natalie casually inquired, aware only of Oliver's sharpshooting skills.
"Is there anything your husband can't do?" Oliver's lips curled into a smirk. Without another word, he spun around with astonishing speed.
By the time the onlookers processed what was happening, a gold-tipped arrow had already left the bowstring, cutting through the air with a sound like bamboo splitting and flying straight toward a target.
Oliver didn't wait to see if his arrow hit the bullseye; he was already on his second and third shots...
After seven shots, not all had hit the center.
Instead, each one had struck the arrows Natalie had previously fired. The first three split Natalie's arrows in half from tip to tail, and the next three lodged tightly in the same spot at the heads of Natalie's arrows.
"Mr. Windsor is so cool!"
"Mr. Windsor is amazing! Incredible!"
"Only Mr. Windsor could outdo Natalie!"
"Does that comment sound a bit… cheeky?"
"I'm not the one with a dirty mind!"
"Wait, how come there's one that missed the target?" someone pointed out the anomaly.
Seven arrows, but the last one was off the mark.
Someone capable of shooting through another's arrow couldn't possibly miss.
Like everyone else, Natalie was puzzled and turned to Oliver for an explanation.
"Didn't want to upset you," Oliver said to Natalie, "You're still the best and the most formidable."
Natalie's cheeks started burning, feeling embarrassed in front of the crowd.
The others were momentarily speechless.
"I'm kind of full, from all the sweetness…"
"You're not alone."
After this round of shooting, everyone, except for a few who had been to summer camp, was astounded. Mr. Kensington, who had recently returned from abroad, was questioning his life choices.
Mr. Kensington pulled Barrett aside, looking for his childhood friend to console him.
"Console you?" Barrett said, "Let me tell you something about that woman," he nodded toward Natalie, whispering, "She's not human."
Mr. Kensington nodded in agreement, "I've begun to get that impression."
A woman who could match Mr. Windsor certainly wasn't ordinary.
Mia, who had just come over to get some pastries, overheard the conversation and wasn't pleased. "Could you be any more insensitive in what you're saying? Natalie knows eight languages, can recite the Buddhist scriptures in Sanskrit, is adept in the art of tea, sings beautifully, and can play various musical instruments. And most importantly, she's absolutely gorgeous!"
Mr. Kensington reacted with skepticism. "Do you hear yourself? Do those traits even sound like they belong to a real person?"
"If you, a good-for-nothing, are considered normal, then indeed, Natalie is a goddess. Natalie and Oliver are top-notch!"
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