The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 140 His Opinion Matters

For the first time since Marcus had met Natalie, he saw her typically calm and aloof expression take on a look of genuine confusion.

"I blamed you at first, wanting to know what you said to my grandmother that frightened her so much," Natalie said softly, lowering her head. A trace of mockery tugged at her lips. Ultimately, whatever Marcus had told Grace didn't really matter.

If Grace truly had the mental capacity of a six-year-old, as long as Marcus hadn't been excessively harsh, nothing he said should have rattled her that deeply.

After all, he had not threatened or intimidated her. He had spoken calmly, yet her reaction was so extreme.

Deep down, how could Natalie not have her doubts? The truth was, she just hadn't been willing to believe them.

"Ms. Walker, does my opinion even matter?" Marcus' casual tone interrupted her thoughts. His dark, deep-set eyes were fixed on the Intensive Care Unit door.

"Don't you already know the answer?"

His words only deepened the bitter curve of Natalie's lips.

Of course, she knew. She had always known. But she could ignore it as long as no one said it out loud. She could pretend it didn't exist.

As long as Grace loved her, that had been enough. She didn't care how Victor and Diana treated her or about parental love.

Grace had given her tenfold what she didn't receive from Victor and Diana.

Grace's love was more than enough to rival what the other children had. Natalie never felt envious or pitiful.

But today, things had changed.

Today, she saw how Charlotte and William protected and cared for her, and Mason and Hector stepped forward to shield her without a word.

With them there, Victor and Diana couldn't hurt her.

emotional manipulation get to her. She had the right to reject

the contrary, it was her loss-had she been with her biological parents, her life would have

love for her had always had an ulterior motive. Natalie could never

Victor slapped her over some trivial matter. While Grace would pull Natalie behind her and scold Victor, she never retaliated against him as fiercely

stark. And with the

she had that comparison,

"Even so,

I might not have grown up safely," Natalie

head again.

Marcus' oversized white sweatshirt, she looked smaller. The sleeves fell far past her hands. Her

way she had

lowered slightly, his sharp brows furrowing.

part of an elaborate act orchestrated by her and

to guilt-tripping again, pressuring him

seemed all

him, even if

struck him. When he broke off his engagement to

that Emma wasn't their

they had been paving the way for

he would eventually need to cancel his

could happen,

the Holden family, Natalie's identity was Elim, and Charles relied on her for treatment. During this time, Marcus would ensure she remained safe no matter what

was why he had been so patient, staying by her side and preemptively handling every issue,

family didn't insist on continuing the engagement. But if they did, it didn't matter if it involved Emma or anyone

And with Elim here, I believe Mrs. Langley Senior will pull through," Marcus

lingered in his mind-Natalie was Elim. How could it be that Grace's mental state had regressed to that

neurology specialists. I can arrange a consultation to thoroughly examine Mrs. Langley Senior and explore treatment options—perhaps even surgery—to help restore her cognitive function." Natalie shook her head at his

"It didn't work."