Chapter 793 Can I Trust You?
The last time Natalie looked in the mirror, she noticed a slight curve to her abdomen. Typically, this stage of pregnancy became apparent after three months. At three months, the baby would already be well-formed.
Natalie blinked and shuddered as she snapped back to reality. Even if the test results confirmed her pregnancy, she could not consider an abortion.
'The child is innocent. No way!' she thought resolutely.
…
In the conference room, the meeting was abruptly interrupted when Jamie exited the room. He returned with a troubled expression, saying, "Sorry for the interruption."
Then, Jamie walked up to Oliver and whispered, "Sir, Natalie has gone to the hospital."
"Is she injured?" Oliver asked, standing up quickly, his face clouded with worry.
The shareholders nearby noticed that even the tip of Oliver's foot had pivoted as though he was ready to sprint out at any moment. They exchanged glances, having never seen Oliver so visibly shaken.
"She's not injured. She went to the obstetrics and gynecology department for a pregnancy check-up," Jamie clarified. He was one of the few who was aware of Natalie's pregnancy.
Oliver knew that Natalie had grown suspicious, but he only felt relieved that she was not injured.
Oliver regained his composure and directed Jamie, "Contact the hospital and get a report confirming she's not pregnant."
He then turned to the European head of the meeting, saying, "Finish the meeting within two hours. Don't make me question your competence!"
…
'I'm not pregnant.'
Natalie let out a sigh of relief when she received the test results. She touched her lower abdomen involuntarily, feeling an unexpected sense of loss.
She tore up the report in her hands and threw it into the trash.
"Natalie, where are we headed next?" Casey asked anxiously, waiting downstairs. She approached Natalie as soon as she exited the building.
"Back to the hotel," Natalie replied.
The car was not parked directly outside the hospital but in a nearby parking lot.
As Natalie walked out of the hospital building, she noticed a tall, upright man standing under a plane tree in the distance. He wore sunglasses and had his hands in his pockets, observing from afar. The moment she stepped outside, his eyes met hers.
"Why are you here?" Natalie approached, asking with a mix of surprise and confusion.
"To pick you up," Oliver said, glancing at the exquisitely packaged gift bag in Casey's hand.
'The mugs?'
"How did you know I was here?" Natalie asked Oliver with a hint of suspicion.
"I was concerned about your safety, so I arranged for two bodyguards to follow you," Oliver explained truthfully. He believed that secrecy only bred suspicion.
Natalie had not noticed anyone following her. She looked at Casey subconsciously.
Casey pointed in a direction, and only then did Natalie see two men dressed discreetly among the crowd. They nodded politely at her, and had it not been for this gesture, she would not have noticed them at all.
"When you go out, most of the time someone is covertly watching over you," Casey remarked, assuming Natalie was aware of this arrangement.
The only difference was that in their home country, Oliver's bodyguards were more overt, whereas the ones currently assigned were better at blending in.
"It's for your protection," Oliver clarified.
Natalie understood the need for bodyguards, especially after last year's incident with Hailey. She knew Oliver would ensure her safety. But today, she had come to the hospital.
"Don't you want to ask why I came to the hospital?" Natalie asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"I was just about to," Oliver replied, smoothing her wind-blown hair, "So, why did you come to the hospital?"
"For a check-up," Natalie responded seriously, her gaze fixed on Oliver. She pursed her lips and asked, "Oliver, can I trust you?"
"Yes, you can."
…
Oliver had arranged a visit to a studio where Natalie would undergo a makeover. The formal attire had already been organized by Oliver, and the three sets of high-end custom-made dresses intended for delivery to Rosewood Estate later in the month were now required sooner than planned.
Thinking about the evening's event, Natalie initially leaned toward a champagne-colored mermaid gown, but she opted for a light pink mid-length dress instead. It was elegant but not overly extravagant, and most importantly, it allowed ease of movement.
As she made her choice, Natalie realized she still harbored a suspicion that perhaps a little life was growing inside her.
"Mrs. Windsor, is this one alright?" the stylist asked, seeking confirmation.
"Forget it. Change it to this one," Natalie said, choosing the champagne gown in the end.
With naturally good skin and flawless features, Natalie needed only light makeup and a simple updo, which she accentuated with a diamond hairpin. She had attended many grand banquets hosted by prestigious families before, and tonight would be no exception.
The Watson family had once been counted among the prestigious, and Natalie had attended many of their events, along with those hosted by the Watkins family before their fall from grace. At those gatherings, she and Jane would often huddle in a corner, playfully critiquing which attendee was too irritating or which young woman showed fake friendliness toward Jane despite barely tolerating her.
After her marriage to Oliver, Natalie found herself attending numerous large family gatherings, yet this was her first time at a grand banquet hosted by a foreign and esteemed family.
…
Norton Manor was a striking example of Baroque architecture. As their car wound through a vast expanse of greenery before reaching what could only be described as a castle, Natalie was in awe.
She stepped out of the car and, standing before the grand edifice, let out a sigh.
"What's wrong?" Oliver inquired, noticing her expression.
"I just feel like Lucas might end up living here after marrying Lilian," Natalie said with a hint of concern.
Oliver was momentarily at a loss for words.
"If Lucas takes an interest in business, there’s nothing wrong with that," he responded after a pause, listing several industries, "What I mentioned earlier is merely a fraction of what the Norton Group owns."
Natalie was not reassured. She felt even more doubtful that her brother could marry the Norton family's beloved daughter.
Oliver chuckled lightly, reached over to pinch Natalie's nose affectionately, and said reassuringly, "But you don’t need to envy them. I, your husband, am wealthier than Lilian."
He was right. Most of the RisingKing Group was his personal holding, in stark contrast to the Norton Group, which was a family-run conglomerate. Even if Isaiah, the current head, wielded significant power, his personal wealth and influence could not match Oliver's.
Upon their arrival at Norton Manor, Oliver's status as the head of RisingKing Group accorded him the reception of a highly esteemed guest, regardless of his personal ties with Isaiah.
As they stood at the entrance, a white-haired man in a suit and leather shoes greeted them warmly. "Mr. Windsor, you've arrived!"
Natalie's first impression was that he looked distinctly like a butler.
Oliver exchanged pleasantries with the man and then turned to Natalie, introducing him, "He is the butler of the Norton family."
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