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.

not to let Victor's emotional manipulation get to her. She had the right

loss-had she been with

said it plainly-Grace's love for her had always had an ulterior motive. Natalie could never surpass Victor in

her and scold Victor, she never

the comparison came a deep

that she had that comparison, doubt had begun

"Even so,

might not have

head again.

far past her hands. Her fingers peeked out slightly, pale and slender,

fragile―vulnerable in a way she had never shown before, like a lost

slightly, his sharp brows furrowing. Which version of Natalie

still part of an elaborate

up, would she resort to guilt-tripping

seemed all

tried to manipulate him, even if Natalie were now revealed to be Charlotte and

broke off his engagement to Emma, the Walker family agreed

that Emma wasn't

cancel the engagement so quickly, they had

his engagement to the true

scenarios of what could happen, but

Holden family, Natalie's identity was Elim, and Charles relied on her for

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

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

And with Elim here, I believe Mrs. Langley

a thought lingered in his mind-Natalie was Elim. How could it be that Grace's mental state

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."

"It didn't work."