The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 671 They Were Braver Than Her

Natalie did not try to stop them. Instead, she turned around, grabbed Marcus' hand, and headed back into the office.

Once they were inside, she poured him a cup of water and said, "Marcus, tell me the truth. Do you think what I'm doing here is right or wrong?"

Marcus accepted the paper cup from her but set it aside on the desk without drinking it. Then, he reached out and pulled Natalie into his arms.

He held her tightly, unable to put his emotions into words. He could not imagine what she had faced the first time she brought people to this place.

What kind of filth and violence did she have to confront just to carry out her act of kindness? After all, no matter how tough or capable she seemed, Natalie was still just a young woman.

Natalie felt the tension in Marcus' body and gently patted his back. "What's wrong? Marcus, are you... worried about me?"

His voice was low and hoarse. "Yeah, Nat. I'm worried about you... and I ache for you. When those villagers charged at us with weapons, I was terrified."

He was scared she would get hurt, scared she would not be able to save the girls inside-and worse, that she would end up paying the price herself. The men who lived here were hideous, their hearts even worse. Just looking at them made Marcus sick to his stomach.

Yet, Natalie had come here with her people, building and running Hope Elementary School for almost two years now.

Natalie assured him, "Don't worry. I never come here alone. Taylor and the others are all former security personnel. And we come armed, always prepared. The villagers get nothing out of us."

"I know that, but I still worry," Marcus murmured, holding her for a long time before finally loosening his grip.

He added, "Nat, I don't want you coming here anymore. I'll get someone else to take over."

sorry. This was supposed to be our honeymoon, and

this side of your life, and I feel very lucky for that. I just worry about those girls. What if, later on, they regret all this? What if they blame you for changing their lives? Not everyone knows

rather give these girls a shot at a different life than worry about what could have been. He told me this was the kind of thing you pour money into and

if it means getting slandered for it. That's what

yourself. The so-called parents here... most of them don't deserve that title. Lynette and the others might be better off after they cut ties with their

teenagers, but they have amazing courage and determination. I think they're way braver

"Back when I found out I wasn't really a Langley, I still held on just because of the little kindness Grace showed me, even after how

as he reached over and took

sighed. "I know. I trust Lynette, Ann, and Sue-and I trust the others too. This school isn't going anywhere. Whether it's boys or girls, they all deserve a shot at an education.

ingrained beliefs takes time, and it's never easy. But once you start something like this, you have to see it through. Next time, I'll take you to one of

nodded. Then, he stood up and walked over to

on the field, Lynette and the other girls were still locked in a tearful embrace, sobbing uncontrollably, their cries were raw and hoarse. Nonetheless, after this storm of sorrow, they woulddikely never cry

signed contracts and reported, "Natalie, every household with a daughter has signed the. agreement. Some of them didn't want money. They just demanded that their daughters support them in their old age, the same way their

arrangements to you,"

Maverick said that once Martin's done

before Natalie could answer. "I'll go. From now on, if anything happens, come

froze, then turned to Natalie, who gave a slight nod. "Yeah. From now on, go

hesitation. "Should

strikingly handsome and tall, with a poised, commanding posture that made him stand out in

The way he had taken Maverick down earlier had been swift and brutal. It left Taylor and

collapsed, three of his ribs shattered by