Chapter 869 Gifts from Around the World (Flowers and More)
Natalie lightly kicked Oliver as she exclaimed, "You just don't understand!"
The organs of a seven-month-old fetus were fully developed, including a functional nervous system, enabling the baby to hear everything in the womb.
"You still haven't told me, what are you doing with that lucky draw?" Natalie said, steering the conversation back on track.
Publicly holding a lucky draw was a high-profile move, which was not characteristic of Oliver's usual style. He was not deliberately low-key, but neither did he typically seek such conspicuous attention.
For Natalie, who had been in the spotlight since childhood, standing at the center of a crowd, basking in the spotlight and various gazes, these experiences were commonplace. Thus, she had no interest in creating a sensation.
Oliver raised an eyebrow, giving Natalie a meaningful look. "What do you think? Why do you think I did that?"
Natalie was smart. Once Oliver posed the question in this manner, the purpose became very clear—it was for her.
She remembered that Oliver had not always embraced obscurity. During the months they were apart, he had adopted a higher profile—no longer concealing his identity, accepting various top interviews, attending events, and allowing his photos to be published.
While staying at Maple Villa, Natalie felt that Oliver's presence was overwhelming. Even after their separation, whenever she turned on the TV, went online, or picked up a prominent magazine, Oliver’s name and photos were ubiquitous. When this man chose to seek publicity, he had countless ways to achieve it.
"Are you trying to acknowledge our relationship?" Natalie ventured a guess.
"Smart!" Oliver approved with a nod, rewarding Natalie with a kiss on the corner of her mouth, his face beaming with pride.
Natalie regarded Oliver with a hint of suspicion and took out her phone to browse the Internet. Quickly, she pieced together the entire event—her inbox was filled with inquiries about her potential pregnancy, yet the comment section was free of such discussions, suggesting that Oliver had removed all comments about her pregnancy.
This was a maneuver Oliver had executed skillfully before.
On one hand, news of her pregnancy was suppressed across the internet. This attempt to obscure the truth only convinced netizens more firmly that Natalie was indeed pregnant. Simultaneously, Oliver's RisingKing Group was backing Natalie by hosting such a lucky draw.
Was this not an admission that the child Natalie was carrying belonged to Oliver?
Natalie's expression of sudden enlightenment indicated that she had figured it all out, but she was still puzzled over one thing. "I still don't understand why you are holding such a lucky draw? Do you have too much money?"
RisingKing Group owned high-end hotels, and although people purchased VOGUE to participate in the lucky draw, Natalie received a flat fee for the cover, not a profit share.
Ultimately, Natalie concluded one thing: Oliver simply had too much money.
As Natalie finished speaking, Oliver pinched her cheek.
"I can't let others claim that the child in your belly belongs to another man," he said with a slight frown, applying pressure that momentarily left two faint marks on Natalie’s face.
He released his grip and gently rubbed her cheeks with his fingertips, puzzled.
'Her skin is so tender; why did it leave a mark so easily?' he wondered silently.
Fortunately, the marks faded quickly.
Natalie instinctively glanced around, her thoughts briefly wandering. She had noticed that Oliver’s language had become very modern recently.
'Could it be that he's started surfing the Internet more often?' she mused.
"Honey," Oliver said with a sigh as he pinched Natalie’s arm gently and lifted her onto his lap.
Natalie, feeling the weight of her body growing, instinctively hugged Oliver’s neck for support. She soon realized that his hand had been safeguarding her belly the entire time, ensuring her comfort and safety.
"You're my wife, protected by law. I won’t allow the netizens to attack you in any manner," Oliver murmured, resting his head against Natalie's neck, "Even if they make comments, they should be ones born of envy."
A wave of emotion washed over Natalie, leaving her heart fluttering with a mixture of surrender and sweet affection.
Oliver looked up at her, his gaze filled with tenderness and a hint of awe. Pregnancy had bestowed upon her a radiant mix of innocence and allure, sometimes making it difficult for him to restrain himself. He kissed her eyelids and smiled with a mix of affection and helplessness in his expression as he said, "Honey, don’t look at me like that. Wait until after you give birth, then you can look at me all day and night."
"Oliver, shut up!" Natalie playfully scolded with a knowing smile playing on her lips.
'Men are inherently lustful!'
…
The excitement surrounding the VOGUE cover continued to intensify.
On the third day, the RisingKing Group announced the results of their lucky draw, igniting further buzz. Shortly thereafter, several bloggers disclosed arrangements linked to the VOGUE lucky draw, thrusting Natalie back into the spotlight.
It was revealed that those hosting similar lucky draws, with prizes worth six figures, were wealthy second-generation members in Paykston, all of whom maintained a close relationship with Natalie. This prompted some to speculate whether these lucky draws were influenced by their good relationship with Natalie or an attempt to curry favor with Oliver.
Soon enough, a counterpoint emerged online, highlighting the unique treatment Natalie received.
[Even other female celebrities and supermodels who married into wealthy families don't receive treatment like Natalie.]
The Paykston heirs, known for their arrogance, would not extend their support to Natalie if they did not respect her, regardless of their relationship with Oliver.
Barrett Sinclair, one of the heirs, bluntly dismissed the detractors with a single-word post on his social media.
Barret: [Fools!]
Natalie remained largely oblivious to these online squabbles. These days, her attention was occupied by the continuous stream of gifts arriving from around the globe. The news of her pregnancy, though not officially confirmed, had become widely accepted as truth. This led brands, studios, show directors, and business figures aware of her relationship with Oliver to send their congratulations.
Every day, countless parcels were delivered to the Rosewood Estate. Liam had to clear out a warehouse specifically to store these presents, directing servants to register and catalog each item. Valuable ornaments and antiques were set aside for Oliver's review. Meanwhile, gifts intended for Natalie and the baby—such as a state-of-the-art baby crib equipped with womb-like vibrations, exquisite handmade jewelry and bracelets, luxurious dresses for Natalie, and elegant jewelry—were presented directly to her.
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