The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 328

Natalie sat on the couch, flipping through the first sketchbook page by page. By the time she reached the last page, she was almost certain that Marcus hadn't lied—this sketchbook was indeed a replica of the one Federrick had given her.

She wasn't sure if her mentor had the others. If he did, he would have surely given them to her already.

Natalie glanced up at Marcus. He was leaning lazily against the bookshelf, looking intently at her.

When their gazes met, Marcus's lips curved into a smile. "See? I didn't lie to you."

Natalie nodded. "I already have this one. Can I see the other four?"

"Of course," Marcus said, hooking his finger at her. "Come here. I'll carry you up to get them."

"No," Natalie refused without hesitation. "I'll get the ladder myself."

"Alright," Marcus didn't push further. The ladders here were lightweight yet sturdy, so he wasn't worried about Natalie struggling to move one or falling from it.

However, the moment Natalie reached for the ladder, a long, well-defined hand appeared and effortlessly took it from her.

"I got it," Marcus said.

"Thanks."

With a casual smile, he carried the ladder into the small room and positioned it in front of another bookshelf. "They're on the top shelf," he added.

"Thank you, Marcus," she replied.

Natalie climbed up while Marcus stood below, holding the ladder steady. When she glanced down, she saw him looking up at her.

"Don't look at me like that," she muttered, pressing her lips together. "Is it four books up here or just one?"

"All four are there," Marcus replied. "But I don't know if they're what you need. I've never seen the plants drawn inside, so I can't be sure if their described uses are accurate."

"Alright."

Natalie hopped down from the ladder, and Marcus instinctively reached out to catch her. Before she could react, she was already in his arms.

"Marcus—"

Before Natalie could finish her protest, Marcus gently set her down on the ground. "Sorry, I was just worried you might fall."

Natalie glared at him fiercely.

Marcus merely chuckled. When she was angry, her cheeks flushed red, her big, bright eyes burned with intensity, and even her hair seemed to bristle.

She also had a habit of hitting him. If he wasn't careful, her slap would land on his face before he knew it.

But then again, this wasn't the first time she had hit him.

Natalie took a deep breath to steady herself. She felt like Marcus was making her overly sensitive.

Perhaps he really just wanted to repay a debt of gratitude and help her.

"The key?" she asked.

"Here," Marcus said, handing her another golden key. "Go sit outside and take a look. I'll have some snacks and tea brought in."

"Alright. Thanks."

Marcus turned and walked out. When he reached the entrance, he took out his phone and glanced at a message from Charles with some book recommendations.

"The Art of Winning Her Heart. The Ultimate Dating Handbook. 100 Ways to Show You Care."

Marcus was speechless.

Now that Charles had recovered, his meddling had only gotten worse.

However, this time, Marcus didn't feel annoyed.

…

Natalie sat behind the desk, unlocked the small golden lock, and carefully took out the four sketchbooks. She glanced toward the door, but Marcus was no longer in sight.

Natalie hadn't expected that what Marcus had given her was actually the original.

But then, how had Federrick managed to secretly sketch it from the Holdens' library in the first place?

As Natalie pondered this, Marcus walked in, followed by several helpers. Each carried a tray, and as they approached, they carefully set down an array of exquisite pastries on the table.

The last two trays held tea and an assortment of sparkling beverages. By the time the helpers finished setting everything down, the table was fully laden.

Natalie glanced at Marcus, but before he could say a word, the helpers quietly and orderly exited the room.

"Now that you've seen everything, how about having something to eat?" Marcus pulled out a chair and gestured to her. "Nat, come here."

Natalie held up the sketchbook in her hand. "Marcus, can I make a copy of this?"

"No need to go through all that trouble. I'll just give it to you."

"I can't accept that. I'll just copy it myself," Natalie insisted, recalling Federrick's words. She couldn't take the Holdens' sketchbook, but making her own copy was fine.

Marcus didn't argue. "Alright, I'll get you some paper and pencils."

Marcus didn't insist. If Natalie stayed to copy the sketches, it would give him more time to spend with her. After all, repaying a debt of gratitude was best done slowly.

"Alright, thanks."

"Nat, eat something while I'm gone. I won't take long."

As Marcus turned to leave, Natalie got up and moved to the table. She poured herself a cup of tea, gently blew on it, and took a small sip.

The pastries were meticulously crafted, and the plates holding them were even more exquisite. The sparkling drinks in delicate glasses came in different colors. A single whiff was enough for Natalie to recognize that they were all flavors she liked.

Each portion was just enough for her to enjoy without feeling overwhelmed or getting tired of any one flavor.

Marcus' hospitality as a host was so meticulous and thoughtful that Natalie couldn't find a single fault with it.