The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 658 The Admiration He Felt for Natalie

"Thank you." Natalie leaned against Marcus' arms. After being in the car all day, she was exhausted.

Elijah followed the GPS to the edge of the county and parked in front of a small motel. Zachary pulled up alongside them and stopped as well.

Sophia opened the door and stepped out. After sitting so long, she felt like she couldn't even feel her bottom half anymore. Zane and Connie also got out of the backseat. Everyone stretched their limbs to loosen up.

"There's a place to eat over there. Let's head there later," Natalie said, pointing across the street from the motel. "Conditions here will be rough, so I appreciate everyone's effort."

"Ms. Walker, don't say that. I may not be able to deal with much, but I can at least handle hardship." Zane grinned, trying to be endearing. "Ms. Walker, you'll see that bringing me along wasn't a mistake."

Natalie only smiled and didn't say much. She turned to Sophia, asking, "Are you okay?"

Sophia looked a little tired, but her eyes were bright. "Don't worry. I'm fine."

"Let's stretch a bit, book the rooms first, then we'll go eat."

"Ms. Walker, I'll handle it," Connie volunteered, grabbing Zane by the hand and heading into the motel.

"Let me count how many rooms we need," she said. "Mr. Holden and Ms. Walker in one room, you and Zachary in another, me and Sophia in one, Elijah gets a room alone. Sounds good?"

"Why not have Zachary and Sophia in one room, and you and me in another? Elijah gets a solo room," Zane blurted out before thinking.

Connie smacked him on the head. "Keep dreaming. What kind of relationship do we have that I'd share a room with you?

"And who gave you the right to decide that Zachary and Sophia are to share a room? Did you ask them?"

Zane rubbed his head, looking pitiful but not daring to argue.

"Zane, just listen to Ms. Sterling," Zachary said nearby. "Don't stir up trouble, or we'll leave you on the roadside."

"Zachary, you're so biased." Zane pouted and whimpered, but no one paid him any attention.

Connie collected everyone's IDs, booked the rooms, and they all went across the street for dinner.

in the mood for a stroll. They headed back to the

of her bag and started scanning the room. Marcus watched her. "Checking for hidden

sure. Connie

lay down on the bed with her outside

don't bother changing. Just sleep

"Okay."

actually a bit of a neat freak. This was his first time in places like these, including that restaurant earlier. In the past, he would have turned around and left without a second glance. But with

Marcus realized the place they were heading— Coalmarsh-was probably going to be

to wear outdoor jackets, work

Elijah during the drive all day, they were both exhausted. They

was more or less the same routine. But Connie and Sophia, being two women alone,

Connie with Zane, and Elijah

final arrangement, he shed the

morning, Natalie and Marcus woke up to the sound of their alarm. They got up quickly,

the time they stepped outside, Sophia and the others were also packed

place across the street, then head out," Natalie said, glancing at the group. "Did everyone sleep well last

nodded. "We

"Good. Let's go."""

the car. Once we leave, we're

"Got it."

Marcus followed quietly, feeling his admiration and love for Natalie grow a little

again. This time they left the county and entered

a tar road, still manageable but narrow-only wide enough for one car. If another vehicle came from the opposite direction, things

area, traffic was sparse. The drive

mountain. From there, the road changed. There were no longer any tar roads, just bumpy,

the self-heating meals

said, calling everyone over to unpack the supplies. She opened and activated the meals, then handed

how much

This was his first