Chapter 708 You Want to Hide It from Natalie?
Despite the burning sensation surging through his body, Oliver was adept at enduring. Even now, he maintained a semblance of calm.
"What’s wrong? You mentioned that you thought Cocker's suggestion was a great idea, didn’t you?" Natalie approached Oliver, her bare feet making no sound.
Her stature was tall, and she possessed an attractive figure. Her black nightdress served as her finest adornment, further highlighting her alluring charm. Every expression and smile from her captivated him.
She paused in front of Oliver and said, "I’m giving myself to you, Mr. Windsor. Shouldn’t you be happy?"
Oliver's eyes narrowed as he fixed an intense gaze on Natalie, not blinking, his look so penetrating it felt as if he could draw people in.
Feeling his stare, Natalie grew nervous. Moreover, she was not used to acting so assertively, so she felt uncomfortable.
"Do you not like the dress?” Natalie asked, pulling at her skirt, her previous allure replaced with awkwardness.
This dress was a gift from Cocker earlier that day. Natalie had thought it too bold for her taste but found herself wearing it sooner than expected.
Just as she was about to suggest changing out of the dress, she felt a strong arm wrap around her waist, pulling her forcefully against a solid chest.
"Why would you think that?" Oliver murmured close to her ear. The dress was chosen for him; of course, he would appreciate it.
Natalie sighed in relief, her lips curving into an enticing smile as she draped her arms around Oliver's neck.
"Oliver, Cocker was merely joking. That’s simply how she is," she said, "Don’t worry. I won’t abandon you."
"Natalie."
He leaned down, wrapping her in a tight embrace, laughter bubbling up from within him.
"Hmm?" Natalie looked up, puzzled.
Her question was answered with a fervent kiss.
His emotions barely contained; Oliver tightened his hold on her as if he wanted to meld her into his very being.
"Natalie, you’re mine."
Something seemed to have provoked Oliver that day. He asked persistently, “You didn’t lie to me, right?”
Natalie found herself unable to form coherent thoughts or respond to him.
Despite her silence, the man persisted, his questions echoing with increasing urgency.
"You won’t abandon me, right?"
"Yes…”
Natalie's response was automatic, her mind not fully grasping his words, yet she knew agreeing was the appropriate response.
...
In an unusual turn of events, Oliver helped Natalie wash up before he immediately carried her back to bed.
"What’s the matter?" Oliver noted Natalie's puzzled expression.
"Is this all for today?" she asked, surprised.
"Do you want more?" Oliver asked, quickly positioning himself over her.
"Hey!" Natalie protested, stopping him, “I was just asking!”
Oliver scoffed and kissed her rosy cheek before he said playfully, “You’re too weak.”
Natalie's eyes widened.
‘Weak? How am I weak?’
"I’m going to sleep! I have work tomorrow!”
Natalie hastily covered herself with the blanket, her actions signaling her intention to sleep immediately, telling him not to disturb her.
Oliver, respecting her wishes, held her close. However, finding the room slightly warmer than preferred, he adjusted the air conditioning down two degrees.
"By the way, you're the main shareholder of Cocker's company now, aren't you?"
Natalie recalled, just before drifting off, a fact shared by her overly candid friend.
"I don’t remember," Oliver admitted. His numerous private investments made it difficult to keep track, and he relied on his secretary to manage these details.
Natalie thought to herself that his nonchalance was almost enviable.
"Cocker is worried that you might be upset with her over today's incident," she mentioned.
Her underlying question was clear: Surely you're not that petty?
Oliver, adjusting the blanket over Natalie, hinted at potential retribution. "I had considered revenge."
Natalie tensed, aware of his reputation for exacting such measures. Moreover, he was also very skilled.
"However, since Mrs. Windsor has made a request, I naturally have to listen to her,” Oliver added softly in a teasing tone.
‘This man is deliberately teasing me!’
Natalie, attempting to turn away in annoyance, found herself securely held, making any movement impossible. Thus, she resigned to sleep in his embrace.
Natalie fell asleep swiftly, whereas Oliver lay awake, captivated by the memory of her in the black nightdress, her every gesture intensely appealing.
Her assurance — not to abandon him — lingered in his mind. Even if her promise was made absentmindedly, it held significance for him. After all, Natalie had spoken those words, and that was what mattered most.
As Oliver mulled over these thoughts, he felt the woman in his arms instinctively curl closer. She seemed to be experiencing discomfort.
In a moment, Oliver found his mind swarmed with thoughts, yet he could not hold onto any single one. With caution, he gently pulled back the covers to inspect further. His eyes narrowed immediately.
A trace of red marked the bedsheet.
‘Did her period come?’
For a brief moment, Oliver's mind went blank. Acting on instinct, he slipped out of bed to contact the household staff at Rosewood Estate. He reached out to the maid who worked closely with Natalie, inquiring about any changes in Natalie's use of sanitary products over the past couple of months and whether anything unusual had been noted during laundry.
"The laundry showed nothing out of the ordinary, but... I hadn't come across any sanitary products last month," the maid shared, seemingly unconcerned as she was aware of Natalie's irregular menstrual patterns.
After ending the call, Oliver promptly dialed Rosy May's number.
“I have a question. Is it possible to bleed in the early stages of pregnancy?” Oliver asked, cutting straight to the matter.
Rosy May, having just concluded a demanding surgery and was about to rest, was taken aback by his question.
"Answer me!"
Jolted by his words, Rosy internally criticized Oliver's lack of patience but replied professionally, "Yes, it's possible, especially after vigorous physical activity."
Oliver, massaging his temples, sought further clarification, asking, "Are there other conditions that might cause this?"
"Indeed, if..." Rosy's awareness sharpened, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Do you suspect Natalie might be pregnant?"
This hypothesis seemed far-fetched to Rosy.
“But surely Natalie... She wouldn’t choose to get pregnant at this point, right? Didn’t both of you take precautions?”
"We did," Oliver confirmed.
"Then it’s a one-in-a-thousand chance,” Rosy said, “But she still should get a checkup.”
Oliver said calmly, “Arrange for her to visit you tomorrow. She must not know whether she is pregnant or not.”
"Do you intend to hide this from her?" Rosy asked with a frown.
"Yes."
"That's not fair to Natalie," Rosy said icily, "As a potential mother, she has the right to make her own choices. You can't deny her the knowledge of her condition."
"I can," Oliver's tone was unwavering and decisive as he said, "Rosy May, this isn't a debate. I recognize your concern for Natalie, and I assure you, I have no intention of harming her. No matter the outcome, Natalie will always be important to me. The well-being of our potential child will not eclipse hers."
"Why are you doing this then?"
"I have my own reason. Your role is to fulfill your professional duties. Remember, I’m not a good person. Even if you’re unwilling, I have ways to make you cooperate."
Oliver had his methods of persuasion, confident in his ability to influence Rosy's cooperation.
After the call, Oliver lit a cigarette, the tobacco smoke blurring his silhouette.
His thoughts drifted to a document he had received the day before, a report identifying a compatible bone marrow donor for Lucas. The match was Susan.
Susan's name brought a flood of unwelcome memories. Oliver had hoped to sever all ties with her. He believed that as long as he blocked the reach of the Hastings family, with Susan’s character, she would likely die in prison. He had scoffed at the notion of a brief sentence.
Yet, faced with the twist of fate, Oliver could not ignore the irony. He dared not share this discovery with Natalie, knowing her deep affection for Lucas would override any past grievances against Susan.
The rarity of finding a suitable donor weighed heavily on him. Until a replacement for Susan was found, Oliver sought a bond to ensure Natalie's unwavering presence by his side — potentially, a child.
He planned to navigate Susan's situation discreetly, securing her cooperation to donate her bone marrow without endangering Natalie.
Oliver was still smoking when he noticed Natalie's hand moving in her sleep, reaching for him in the empty space on the bed, looking like she was about to wake up.
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