Chapter 712 Love Rival? It's Simon
Regardless of the circumstances, it was undoubtedly safer for Casey to remain with her than with Roger.
In the afternoon, the trio made their way back to the venue.
Upon Natalie's return, Nora, clad in a black dress that was casual yet elegant, remarked with a hint of sarcasm, "Miss Watson, you seem to have a vast array of high-profile connections. I wouldn’t have expected a model like you to be even busier than Innes and Melvin."
Nora stood out among the crowd, holding a script in her hand and appearing to discuss the event's flow with the committee leader. As the host, Nora's responsibilities extended beyond just overseeing the competition; she was also tasked with delivering public speeches. This event provided a valuable opportunity for her, a well-known European socialite, to make a public appearance.
Natalie, however, ignored Nora's comment and proceeded to ask Cocker about any significant tasks or schedule updates that might have been issued during her absence.
“How can you mentor the models when you wear flats? No wonder models from your country not only lacked natural qualities but also in work ethic, which explained your country’s inability to produce a notable supermodel or socialite in many years…”
Natalie paused as she walked toward Cocker.
Cocker's face lit up with a smile she could not suppress, recognizing Natalie's spirit of competition. She knew some women might appear gentle and delicate, but if provoked, they could unleash a formidable force.
The situation was about to become intriguing.
"Miss Nora, how can you say that?" Natalie's smile broadened as she said, "You've managed to insult all the women in our country. Such a lack of manners. Aren’t you worried about embarrassing your family?"
"My family is a renowned European aristocratic family, incomparable to someone of your obscure background!" Nora retorted, having done her homework on Natalie's background.
"Whose background is obscure? What are you even worth?” Lilian interjected as she raised her chin slightly. Her posture oozed the arrogance and noble aura instilled by the Norton family as she continued, "In my presence, you dare to talk about your ‘aristocratic’ family?”
Nora's expression turned unsightly immediately. She was worried that Lilian might expose the extent of her ties to the Norton family. Her family, though respectable, was essentially middle-class. It was only because her aunt had become a favored mistress of John, the second young master of the Norton family, that they saw an improvement in their status and business prosperity in recent years.
Natalie found herself observing Lilian more closely, surprised at her ability to utter such cutting remarks. At that moment, it did not cross her mind to consider how her brother had influenced Lilian's newfound boldness.
"Lilian, there’s no need for you to get involved," Natalie said, stepping in front of Lilian to shield her.
Lilian's connection to the Norton family was nearly an open secret among the country's second-generation elite. However, this competition primarily attracted an international audience, not all of whom were aware of Lilian's background.
Putting aside everything, Lilian's innate naivety and inexperience made her ill-equipped to handle individuals like Nora, who had been meticulously groomed for her role. Furthermore, the power struggle unfolding behind the scenes between John and Lilian's parents suggested it would be wise for Lilian to limit her interactions with those aligned with John's faction.
Given Lilian's status as a cherished young member of her family, exposing her to such unpleasantries was unnecessary. After all, with or without the Norton family's influence, Oliver's RK Group stood ready to support Lilian. She was better off embracing her role as a carefree princess.
"First of all, Nora, if you’re such a huge advocate for human rights and freedom, shouldn't I have the freedom to dress as I please?" Natalie began. She continued, "Secondly, given that you’re not a professional host and I’m a professional model, what grounds do you have to critique me in my area of expertise?"
"And lastly, about being a socialite," Natalie continued with a chuckle, as if the notion were absurd, "When Jane was the belle of the ball at the Parisian socialite event, you were probably still learning to navigate social functions."
Nora, seething with anger and on the verge of losing her composure, was torn between admiring Natalie's eloquently delivered arguments and her anger.
‘How had a simple quarrel escalated into a meticulously structured rebuke?’
"You dare to mention Jane, that has-been?” Nora retorted angrily. She also disliked Jane.
"Has-been?" Natalie countered with a scowl, "Nora, perhaps you should reflect on what you possess that could possibly eclipse Jane. That’d be better than insulting us and claiming that our country lacks notable figures."
"You!"
Natalie's eye roll was a silent but eloquent rebuttal: her look conveyed a clear message of indifference to Nora's frustration.
Bystanders, puzzled by the intense exchange between two seemingly unacquainted individuals, struggled to grasp the root of their conflict.
"Natalie, could there be some misunderstanding between you and Nora?" Innes intervened, hoping to defuse the situation, "I've known Nora previously; she's not one to look for trouble without cause."
Natalie regarded Innes thoughtfully.
‘Is this foreigner interfering because I rejected him?’
"I can't speak to whether Nora typically looks for trouble without a cause or not," Natalie replied after a pause, "But it seems like she regards me as a rival in love."
Nora's expression darkened at the suggestion, her impulse to silence Natalie clashing with her reluctance to seem embarrassed of her affection for Simon.
"A rival in love?" Melvin could not resist joining the conversation, intrigued by the unfolding drama.
"I'm not sure if this name is familiar to any of you," Natalie said, turning to Innes with a smile that belied the tension underlying her words, "The person who dropped me off earlier is Oliver. Oh, he’s also known as Simon."
Oliver was a name unfamiliar to most present. Simon, however, was a name that was well-known to those with connections and influence. He was a celebrated prodigy.
Innes felt a chill coursing through his body, causing him to shiver. He recalled his earlier boast about owning an Aston Martin but lacking a companion as captivating as Natalie. The potential repercussions of Simon being made aware of his words and actions left him anxious. He was worried about offending Simon.
As Natalie and Cocker made their way to the opposite side of the room, Innes hurried to catch up, calling out, "Natalie! Natalie, wait!"
Catching up to her, Innes attempted to explain himself.
"Natalie, what happened earlier was a complete misunderstanding. If I had known you were with Simon, I wouldn’t have entertained any thoughts of pursuing you.”
His smile was stiff as he continued, “My passion lies in fashion and art, and while I do admire beauty, I respect boundaries. Now that I understand you're already taken, and I assure you that I have no intention of intervening."
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