The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

As soon as Marcus finished speaking, Charles sat there, locking eyes with him. Their gazes collided in the quiet room, seemingly calm on the surface. However, the invisible tension sparked like a flint in the air.

Charlene, who had struggled against Hector earlier, did not dare move a muscle. She was not afraid of Hector, and she definitely was not scared of Natalie. But when it came to Marcus, she had a primal fear she could not explain, something buried deep in her bones.

Charles kept staring at Marcus for a long time, but in the end, he was the one who caved first. His gaze flicked away, and he turned his head to the side.

"I'm not this girl's grandfather, so how would I know who her grandmother is?" Charles muttered, clearly lacking conviction. "If you're curious about her family, why not ask her directly? She's right here, so what's the point of asking me?

"Marcus, it sounds like you're accusing me of doing something wrong. Do you really think I'm the kind of man who would play with someone's heart? I raised you, taught you how to be a man, taught you everything I knew. And now you're here, questioning me? You've really disappointed me, Marcus."

"Grandpa, stop trying to change the subject," Marcus replied flatly, completely unmoved by the guilt trip.

He added, "If you're not guilty and afraid, just tell us everything. You were close with Grandma and Charlene's grandmother. How could you not recognize their descendant?

"Mrs. Walker saw one photo of Nat on a missing person site and instantly knew she was her daughter. She didn't wait-she acted. But you? What did you do?"

Charles' face turned pale, then blotchy red. He knew exactly what he had done. The very next morning after Marcus mentioned Charlene was coming to visit, Charles had grabbed Sheldon and left in a hurry. He ran-because he was afraid to face her.

Marcus and Natalie had pieced things together just from a photo. If they had seen Charlene in person, they would have been even more certain.

Charlene asked in a small, fragile voice, "Mr. Holden Senior, why won't you look at me? My grandma said you'd be happy if I came to meet you, but it doesn't look like she was right after all."

"What's your grandma's name?" Charles asked, though the answer was already haunting him. Still, he held on to that final thread of denial.

"Yvette Jenkins," Charlene said, blinking innocently. "She told me to give my phone to Nattie because she found out her boyfriend was Marcus Holden, the heir of the Holden family, your grandson."

She continued, "My name's Charlene, and it sounds so much like your name. It was Grandma's way of showing me how much she loved you. She really liked you, Mr. Holden Senior. You knew that, didn't you?"

Her words hit Charles like a thunderclap, and his face was drained of color. He muttered, "That's impossible... The Jenkins family died in that fire years ago.

"All of them-except Vivian. Everyone else was a goner. And now you're telling me Yvette survived? That's not possible. It can't be true."

Charlene replied, "Grandma didn't die in that fire, but it seems like you're not even happy to hear that she's alive."

She gave a small shrug, and Hector finally released her collar. Then, she stepped forward and poured herself a glass of tea, sipping slowly before turning her gaze back to Charles.

She said, "Mr. Holden Senior, have you forgotten your own name after being called 'Mr. Holden Senior' so many times? Your name is Charles Holden. Charles... Charles... that's the name my grandma said more than any other."

Natalie and Hector remained silent, simply watching the scene unfold like it was the juiciest drama they had ever seen. Who would have thought, in this lifetime, they would be front row to the unraveling of secrets surrounding the former head of the Holden family?

"My grandma didn't die. Are you... disappointed by that, Mr. Holden Senior?" Charlene asked, her tone shifting as she looked at him with sharp, unreadable eyes. "She told me to meet Natalie and Marcus first... and also to pass along a message to you."

"What message?" Charles let out a bitter laugh, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Imagine that... I've got one foot in the grave, and now I'm being hit with something like this."

"Grandma said... an old flame is returning," Charlene said sincerely. "She's missed you all these years, Mr. Holden Senior."

Her eyes gleamed with sincerity as

she added, "She used to tell me

stories about you. And now that I've seen you for myself, I get it. You really are just like she described. Mr. Holden Senior, are you looking forward to seeing her again?"

She blinked her big round eyes at him, wide with anticipation. "Sometimes, when

she dreams, she whispers your name... 'Charles.""

"That's enough," Charles said suddenly, looking shaken. His hand paused over

the wedding gift list he had been drafting with Sheldon. He could not even focus on it anymore.

"I'm tired. I need to lie down for a bit. Sheldon, help me to my room."

"Yes, sir." Sheldon quickly moved to support Charles, but not before shooting Marcus and Natalie a loaded glance-one full of disapproval.

In his mind, Marcus, raised by Charles himself, had crossed a line. How could he corner the old man like this?

And Natalie-Charles had always truly cared for her. Yet here she was, standing silently beside Charlene while the girl pressed Charles with questions as if trying to tear open old wounds without care for his health.

Marcus and Natalie caught Sheldon's stare and understood exactly what he meant, but neither said a word in response. They both remained silent.

Charlene stood up, as if to follow Charles, but was immediately stopped. Hector grabbed the collar of her shirt again.

"Ms. Jenkins, behave," Hector said calmly. "Didn't you say you were hungry? I'll take you to eat something."

"But I'm not finished talking to him!" Charlene protested, reaching back to swat at Hector's hand.

During this entire trip, Hector kept her under strict control, and she barely had a moment to do anything she actually wanted.noveldrama

"Mr. Holden Senior isn't in good health. Don't push him too far," Hector said as he guided her toward the kitchen.

Once they were inside, he closed the door. Then, he grabbed an apple, washed it, and shoved it into her hands. "Here. Eat."

Charlene took a bite, chewing noisily

as she stared at him. After a few moments, she gave a soft laugh. "Hector, do you want to date me? just tumed 18 and haven't had a boyfriend yet. What do you think? Don't you think that's quite a prize?"

Without hesitation, Hector flicked her on the forehead. "Trying to act like a femme fatale? You've got a long way to go."

Charlene rubbed her head with a pout. "Was my performance really that bad? I swear that's how girls act in all the dramas."

Hector replied, "Cut it. Now tell me. What's the real story behind your grandma?"

He had not heard the full details of the Jenkins family fire that Charles and Marcus had mentioned earlier and Charlene had not told him much on the way back. She had been moody, keeping her mouth sealed like a vault.

But now that they were back at the Walkers' and she had her dramatic face-off with Charles, she suddenly had plenty to say. Moreover, it was obvious that whatever she had revealed had rattled Charles to the core.