The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 188 Another Secret About Grace Langley

Natalie had to admit that Marcus was undeniably attractive—his graceful demeanor combined with an unconscious, almost effortless charm made him hard to ignore.

Still, her brothers from the Walkers weren't too shabby either, especially her second brother, Lincoln. His looks were truly exceptional.

Pulling her gaze away from Marcus, Natalie walked to the other side of the room and sank into the couch. "Alright, let's hear it. What's Grace's secret?"

Marcus smiled faintly, his lips curving in a way that softened his sharp features. His reddened eyes and lowered lashes made him look heartbreakingly sincere, as if the intensity of his emotions might spill over at any moment.

"What kind of secret do you want to hear, Ms. Walker?" he asked, his voice low and teasing. "Grace has so many. Which one do you want?"

He loosened his already unfastened tie further, exposing more of his collarbone, before collapsing onto the sofa in a lazy sprawl. Throwing an arm over his eyes, he muttered, "Water. I need water."

Natalie stared at him in disbelief.

"Marcus, cut the drunken nonsense!" she snapped, her irritation plain. "What happened to all the helpers around here? Normally, you can't take a step in this house without tripping over someone. Now, suddenly, not a soul in sight."

And Sheldon, who was usually so omnipresent, was nowhere to be found. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were purposefully leaving her alone to deal with this mess.

"Where are your bodyguards?" she demanded.

She walked around the room, searching for Marcus' usual entourage. Elijah and Noah, his ever-loyal bodyguards, were always at his side. If he was at the Holden Group, his assistant, Ethan, would take over.

Earlier, Elijah had helped him inside. But now he was gone.

"Water. I said I need water," Marcus repeated, ignoring her question.

"Not until you spill the secret," Natalie retorted, glaring down at him. "Marcus, don't try this drunken act with me."

"I am trying it," he said, his tone taking on a petulant edge. Suddenly, he lurched upright, but before he could do anything else, Natalie planted her foot firmly on his chest and shoved him back onto the couch.

me?" she growled, her

shutting his eyes with a pitiful expression. "You're so bossy... like a drill sergeant. Or maybe

She cursed herself for coming downstairs to deal with his antics

and wallow," she said, removing her foot from his

her waist, yanking her back. Marcus' deep,

Natalie froze, the words taking a moment

said," he repeated slowly, "Victor Langley isn't Grace's

you saying Victor is... your grandfather's illegitimate son?" Marcus let out a hollow laugh. "Why stop there? Maybe he's the love child of both my grandfather and Grace." "You're the

Marcus replied with a wry smile, standing up and smoothing his rumpled clothes. His expression shifted into something impossibly charming, his

turned

after him, dumbfounded.

stairs, Marcus paused at the second-floor railing and leaned over to look down

met, Marcus quickly ducked out of sight.

of nowhere, startling her.

she could respond, Sheldon answered his own question,

Ms. Walker," he added before

feeling as though she was the only sober person in a house

her bed, but sleep didn't come. Her mind churned with questions. If Victor wasn't Grace's

was Grace's endgame in

thought about it,

up, Grace

seemed like the perfect

l.ne

had been deeply

these

felt glaringly obvious now. She rolled onto her back with a huff, staring at the ceiling. It irritated her to no end that Marcus could drop such a bombshell on her

answers. But she quickly dismissed the idea. Marcus was clearly drunk, and pressing him now would

figured she would