Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 13: Natalie In Trouble

In the evening, Justin returned to the hotel after visiting a new home he was considering purchasing in the city. As the VIP elevator to the top floor was out of service, a staff guided him and Noah to a non VIP elevator which would take them to the floor below and they had to take stairs for the top floor.

On the way to the elevator, Justin noticed a familiar figure among the people entering the reception area, but couldn't see her face clearly. He furrowed his brows, trying to get a better look, but the figure had disappeared from the line of his sight.

Noah, noticing Justin's distracted gaze, excused the staff and explained, "There's a party in the hotel tonight, hosted by the second son of the Davis family. Most of the city's influential figures are invited. These guests must be here for that event. No one knows you're in the city, Mr. Harper, or we would have been invited as well. But, Mr. Rowan has been trying to reach you and asked a few times if you would like to go with him...."

"Tell him I'm busy," Justin simply walked into the elevator, his mind elsewhere.

Noah didn't push the matter, knowing that Justin rarely attended parties unless they involved business.

Inside the elevator, Justin quietly contemplated the possibility of having seen Natalie at the hotel. Considering her current circumstances, attending a party seemed unlikely and unwise, especially if she wanted to avoid being ridiculed by others.

As they stepped out and walked down a corridor, they overheard a group of girls talking. Initially, they ignored the chatter, but then a familiar name caught their attention.

"Natalie. I'm going to teach her a lesson today."

"Are you sure she's here, Briena? I don't think she'd dare show up at parties after the mess she caused."

"She's here with Mia. We saw her."

"What do you plan to do?"

"You know what she's most afraid of?"

"What is it?"

"Her mother died by drowning in the sea, so she's terrified of water. She can do anything but swim."

"So you mean...?"

loves to act fearless. Today, we can have some fun by making her face her

heard the conversation. "Find out where she is," he instructed, heading towards the

she's indeed here for the party. It seems the person they were talking about is Ms. Natalie Ford, given they mentioned her mother

even colder. "Mr. Harper..." Noah began, sensing

Justin asked,

on the first floor," Noah responded, following him

there," Justin

used to have the same fear, due to his experiences as a child. He only managed to conquer his fear with a great amount of effort, and he wouldn't wish that experience on a stranger, much

by and do

arrangements if we don't want to reveal your identity at the party, Mr. Harper," Noah commented, already tapping away on his phone to make the necessary arrangements. He could guess

Justin ordered

bit nervously. His boss could be demanding, often forgetting that his assistant

hotel staff member was already waiting for them. The staff member, aware of the VIP status but not the identity of the guest, greeted them and offered two black masks. Justin and Noah put them on; the masks covered their eyes

scanned the surroundings, searching for Natalie among the crowd in the grand, bustling hall,

are we going to find Ms. Ford?" Noah

urgency in

side of the hall, outside. You can see it

a masked figure approached them, his platinum blond hair gave away his identity, Rowan Lawson. "Harper, you

way through the

before turning to Noah.

of what to say. Admitting that his boss was indeed following a woman could cost him his job. "Just something came up," he replied evasively, then quickly hurried

the staff to leave. What's this guy

the hall with long, urgent strides, his mind replaying the girls' words about Natalie's fear of water and drowning. Worry curdled in