The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 329

Exquisite pastries and beautiful drinks always had a way of lifting one's mood, and Natalie was no exception.

She smiled faintly and picked up a piece of pastry with her fork, taking a small bite. A subtle jasmine flower fragrance lingered on her palate. It was clear that jasmine had been incorporated into the dessert.

After finishing the pastry, she took a sip of the orange-flavored sparkling water. As expected, her mood improved even further.

Marcus's way of repaying a favor was certainly thorough. If Sophia had leveraged his influence, she could have easily made herself stronger. Yet, Sophia hadn't.

Then again, Sophia herself had admitted that she had stolen the identity of his savior. All these years, she had lived in constant fear of being exposed.

Otherwise, Shane wouldn't have blackmailed her for so long.

At the thought of Shane, Natalie's expression turned cold.

Shane was Cindy's son, Emma's devoted lapdog, and a despicable human being.

Yet, such a scumbag was still working comfortably in the Walker family, earning a hefty salary. During the welcome party, the person who had secretly taken photos of her was most likely Shane.

Then, there was the listening device Noah found behind the umbrella tree.

All of it pointed to a malignant presence within the Walker family.

Just as Natalie was lost in thought, Marcus returned with the drawing materials. "Nat, here's the paper and pencils."

While Natalie was still lost in thought about the Walker family, Marcus returned with the art supplies.

"Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?" he asked, glancing at the table.

Only a small piece of pastry was missing, and one of the sparkling beverages had been barely touched.

It was far less than he had expected her to consume.

"No, it's not that," Natalie said, taking the supplies from him. "I'll be here for quite a while. Is that okay?"

"Of course. Stay as long as you like."

"Alright."

"Help me clear some space on the table, then."

"Got it."

Marcus didn't call for the helpers. Instead, he personally moved things exactly as Natalie directed. Soon, half the table was cleared, and before she could say anything, he had already arranged the art supplies neatly for her.

"Do you need any help?" he asked.

Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Can you actually help?"

Then, she realized it was a redundant question. These high-society heirs were all trained in music, chess, and painting.

"Here, you can help me with this one," she said, handing him one of the sketchbooks.

"Alright."

Marcus pulled up a chair and sat across from Natalie. The sketchbook she gave him was the last of the set.

Since Natalie already had the first one, she started copying from the second, while Marcus worked on the fifth.

For the next few hours, neither of them spoke.

The window was open, carrying in the faint fragrance of jasmine with the occasional breeze. Sunlight streamed into the room, shifting gradually as time passed. By late afternoon, a golden beam landed right on Natalie's face.

Marcus looked up and found himself staring.

Natalie sat there completely absorbed in her work, bathed in soft, golden light.

She had delicate, well-defined features—a petite face, a straight, dainty nose, and beautifully shaped lips that were slightly pursed in concentration. The sunlight illuminated her refined profile, casting a warm glow on her flawless, porcelain-like skin.

Marcus's artistic skills were clearly superior.

"This is great. After you finish the fifth book, go ahead and copy the fourth one for me."

"Got it," he agreed without hesitation. Then, he urged, "Have some more pastries."

"No more," Natalie said.

Natalie flexed her wrist, then stood up and stretched before spinning around a few times to loosen up. After that, she sat back down and continued sketching.

Marcus smiled slightly, but he said nothing. He simply picked up his pen again, and soon, the room fell back into a comfortable silence.

No one knew how much time had passed when Natalie's phone suddenly chimed with a notification. Marcus glanced up and immediately recognized the sender's email address.

It was the mysterious site where King of Hearts posted updates on the search for his parents' whereabouts.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, and just as he reached out to take a closer look, Natalie swiftly picked up her phone.

She looked up at him, only to find that Marcus had already lowered his gaze and returned to his drawing.

"I'm stepping out for some fresh air," she said, standing up and heading outside with her phone in hand.

Once outside, Natalie opened the email. The message was brief, containing only a single line. "King, Wesley Holden and Laura Reed are in Scarlet Hill, Amberton."

Natalie deleted the email immediately and opened a map. Amberton was thousands of miles from Dithoria. There were no direct transportation options available; reaching it would require multiple transfers. Driving there would take even longer.

She quickly searched for more information about Scarlet Hill.

It was a small village named after its vast fields of scarlet poppies. The entire hillside would be awash in a fiery red hue during the blooming season. Every year, from May to July, tourists flocked to Scarlet Hill to witness the breathtaking sight.

This three-month period was also the peak earning season for the villagers of Scarlet Hill. Once the blooming season ended, the number of visitors dropped significantly.

Marcus's parents were hiding there—just as the scarlet poppies were in full bloom.