The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Hector, ignoring Charlene's comments, calmly advised, "Charlene, focus on the road. If we miss the turn, we'll have to take a long detour, and I don't want to waste time."

Sensing Hector's genuine frustration, Charlene chose to remain silent. After a while, she instructed, "Turn left at the next traffic light."

"Got it," Hector replied.

Following Charlene's guidance, he navigated through the heart of Dithoria, winding through the area until they arrived at a place that seemed unfamiliar. When Charlene noticed a tall plane tree ahead, she instructed him to stop. "Pull over, we've arrived."

Hector surveyed the surroundings and parked along the roadside. "I'm going to buy some gifts," he said, realizing he had left in such a rush that he forgot to bring any.

It was his first visit, and since they were visiting an elder, he knew he couldn't skip the proper etiquette.

Charlene remained silent and waited by the sidewalk. Before long, Hector was back with gifts and fruit. He stood in front of her and said, "Let's go!"

"Okay."

She led the way, navigating Hector past the towering plane tree and into a slender alleyway. She opened the gate to the last house at the end of the alley. Once inside, it felt unexpectedly roomy, as though it was detached from the alley, creating two distinctly separate worlds.

"Grandma, I've brought Mr. Hector back with me," Charlene announced as they stepped in.

Hector took in the view of the spacious front yard. In the far right corner, he noticed a large plane tree with a swing hanging from it. Across from the swing sat a stone table accompanied by four stone stools.

The front yard was spotless, with just a few scattered leaves on the ground. The door to the house opened with a creak, revealing an elderly woman with white hair and a face full of wrinkles. She moved slowly and with some difficulty.

"Grandma." Charlene hurried over, gently taking her arm.

"Hector, meet my grandma, Yvette Jenkins," she introduced.

Hector moved forward with his gifts, maintaining a respectful demeanor. "Hello, Mrs. Jenkins Senior."noveldrama

Yvette narrowed her eyes, assessing Hector closely. Despite being nearly shut, her eyes felt intensely penetrating.

Hector held his position, showing respect but remaining steadfast and fearless. The Walker family had no hidden secrets, so they had no reason to be afraid.

After a brief pause, Yvette looked away. "Please, come in and sit down," she invited.

"Certainly, Mrs. Jenkins Senior," Hector replied.

He walked into the house behind Charlene and Yvette. The interior was roomy and immaculate, featuring straightforward, practical furnishings and appliances from classic, reputable brands.

Charlene assisted Yvette to the couch before heading to the kitchen to make tea and wash some of the fruit Hector had bought.

Yvette looked at Hector, signaling him to take a seat across from her.

"Hello, Mrs. Jenkins Senior. I'm Hector Walker," he said, introducing himself.

"I know," Yvette replied, her gaze briefly passing over the gifts and fruit Hector had brought, her thoughts unreadable.

"Mrs. Jenkins Senior, on my journey here, Ms. Jenkins shared some information with me. I'd like to ask if what she said is true," Hector said directly.

He continued. "Are the matters of my sister being swapped, the Langley family rising to become the wealthiest in Amberton, and Cassie's poisoning of Laura all tied to the Jenkins family?"

Hector was exercising a lot of tact. He was curious if it had something to do with Yvette personally. However, since it was their first meeting and he wasn't certain if anyone else was around besides Yvette and Charlene, he chose his words carefully.

"Yes, it was entirely my doing," Yvette replied, her wrinkled face forming a sarcastic grin. "I planned everything."

"Mrs. Jenkins Senior, did the Walker family ever do you any harm?" Hector asked calmly, though he was seething inside.

"Why don't you try guessing?" Yvette's sarcastic grin widened. "Mr. Hector, why don't you guess if your grandparents ever did anything against me or the Jenkins family?"

Noticing the clear disdain on Yvette's face, Hector realized there must be some past issue unknown to the younger generations of the family.

"I'm afraid I can't figure it out," he said. "Please... tell me, Mrs. Jenkins Senior."

"The fire at the Jenkins residence was set by none other than my dear sister, Vivian," Yvette explained, her expression turning grim.

Suddenly, she erupted into laughter. It was sharp and jarring, filled with resentment. "My own sister, my flesh and blood, she betrayed us all for a man. Despite everything the Jenkins family had provided her, she wasn't content. She aimed to bring the entire family down with her.

"If it weren't for Cindy's mother, I wouldn't have survived that fire." Yvette's voice shook with fury. "The entire Jenkins family was wiped out, and yet Vivian had the nerve to pretend she was devastated, claiming she died of a broken heart. What a bunch of nonsense."

She continued. "Charles, that vile man, knew very well that Vivian was responsible for the fire, but he chose to protect her. He organized the Jenkins family's funerals, sure, But only because he wanted to cover up Vivian's crime. If he hadn't defended her, the Jenkins family wouldn't have met such a tragic end."

"Do you know why Cassie is so taken with Wesley?" Yvette suddenly asked with an odd smile. Without waiting for a reply, she answered, "It's because Cassie and Wesley are actually half-siblings. They share the same mother."

She added, "Vivian had been betrayed long before the Jenkins and Holden families united through marriage. Before this union, Vivian had a man she deeply adored. She had no desire to marry and even asked me to stand in for her. I declined, as did our parents.

"The man she loved was a con artist

who scammed her out of her

money, heart, and trust. Still, Vivian was captivated by him, resolute in her willingness to risk everything. In the end, our parents used theman's life as a bargaining chip, compelling Vivian to wed Charles against her will.

"She cried as she became Charles's bride. Following the marriage, the Holden and Jenkins families worked together more closely than ever before. For a while, Dithoria was filled with talk about the two families' business ventures.

"For a time, Vivian was on her best

behavior. Charles had always cherished her, treating her as though she were a rare jewel after their

marriage. The only

Sprin

Vivian's past with the untrustworthy man were my family. My parents

firmly instructed everyone to keep it a secret.

"Charles had no idea that Vivian didn't truly love him, that her heart belonged to another, someone who couldn't hold a candle to Charles in any aspect. We believed Vivian had settled into a peaceful life, and my family gradually lowered our defenses.

"However, when Wesley turned five, the man my family had discreetly sent overseas came back."

As Yvette recounted the story, a dangerous glint appeared in her eyes.