The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 199 No Such Thing as Should or Shouldn't

After Natalie sent Charlotte a heart emoji, her phone immediately started lighting up with notifications. It was one transfer after another—her mom sending her money over and over again without stopping.

Sitting across from her, Shawn could hear the constant pinging of her phone. Curiosity got the better of him.

"Nat, are you texting with a friend?" he asked.

"It's my mom," Natalie replied quickly, typing a message asking her mom to stop sending money.

She already had plenty-Lincoln had given her an additional card tied to his account, and Mason, despite his modest allowance, gave her everything he had. Hector and Timothy also sent her money regularly, as if worried she'd starve without it.

When Natalie's message reached her mom, it finally stopped the barrage. Her mom then sent a voice message instead. "Sweetie, don't be shy with me. I have plenty of money, and it's all yours-none of them are for your brothers!"

Since Shawn was nearby, Natalie didn't play the voice message out loud. She held her phone to her ear to listen, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

She thought if her brothers heard that, they'd probably be devastated.

Still, there was a strange warmth in her heart. It was a new, comforting feeling-a mother's unconditional love.

Charlotte didn't expect her to compromise, didn't ask her to trade anything for affection, and didn't make her endure hardships to earn care. She simply loved and protected her. It was something Natalie had never experienced at the Langleys.

Without realizing it, Natalie's initial resistance toward Charlotte had melted away.

"Nat, do you want to take a walk outside?" Shawn asked, noticing her faint smile. His lips curved into a warm grin. "Celeste will be wrapping up her shoot in about 20 minutes. Do you want to watch her up close?"

After a moment's thought, Natalie nodded. "Sure. Let's go."

into a high-end couture gown with a fresh hairstyle and carefully chosen jewelry to match. She stood on the rocks, effortlessly posing as waves crashed around

snapped away, capturing frame after

of sunlight, sea spray, and Celeste's elegance was breathtaking —simply watching was

brought over a large sunshade umbrella. He took it and held it over

her gaze with a gentle smile. "You're Celeste's cousin. Taking extra care of you is the

Mr. Haines, but there's no such thing as what someone should or shouldn't do," Natalie replied, reaching out to take the umbrella. "I can hold it

Her fair skin didn't tan easily, but she could lighten it again with her herbal baths even if

insisted, holding the umbrella. He maintained

so polite. If I don't take care of you, Celeste will kill me when she finds out," he added with a

expression, Natalie decided not to argue further. She wasn't

high heels aside without

an arm

"Sure," he replied easily.

trying to distance herself from Celeste's tight embrace. Celeste,

her eyes. "Do you know how many girls would kill to hug me? Come on,

she pressed her cheek against Natalie's, grinning

was ridiculously soft and smooth. It

naturally fair. Charlotte and Celeste had enviably pale complexions, but Natalie's skin was even more

one who deliberately tanned himself, the Walker brothers all

finally understood why Emma was so tan. No matter how much foundation or whitening cream she used,

kept these thoughts to

them. After all, she was a girl carefully raised by the Walker

Let's invite them to join us

but Natalie had been able to approach earlier, thanks to Shawn's intervention. Meanwhile, Walter was waiting in the public

Shawn accompanied her to meet Walter, they drew onlookers' attention. Though the beach wasn't crowded, two

were older adults or