The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

"Maybe I won't get to use the names I come up with, but if Nat says the word, there's a good chance one will be chosen." Marcus' gaze softened, and his tone became gentle. It was like he was a whole different person.

Mason thought about it and nodded. Their parents always listened to Natalie. If she made the final call, Marcus could still become the ultimate winner.

"Come on, let's pick out names for the baby."

"Sure. Okay," Mason relented.

The two men grabbed a pen and paper and started brainstorming names for the little one.

At the same time, over in Dithoria, at the Holden Group, Wesley was sitting in Marcus' executive chair.

Laura wasn't at the flower shop either. She was sitting in his office, scrolling through her phone and looking at all sorts of baby and maternity items.

"Wesley, I just received a message from Charlotte. She said that once Natalie comes back, she has to stay in the Walker residence."

She frowned as she continued browsing. "I don't even know how to bring it up to her that I want Natalie to stay with us at Holden Residence."

"I've already called Mason, telling him to bring Natalie back to our place once they arrive in Dithoria." Wesley frowned. "But even though he agreed on the phone, I'm guessing he was just brushing me off.

"He's Nat's biological brother, of course he's going to side with Charlotte and William. I'm worried that in the end, he and Timothy will take both Natalie and Marcus back to the Walker residence."noveldrama

"There's no need to even guess. He's a Walker, so he's obviously going to bring her straight home." Laura sighed. "I just wish we were Nat's biological parents. It'll be great if she's our daughter."

"If Marcus hears you say that, he'd be heartbroken," Wesley said gently. After all, he'd always felt he owed Marcus too much as a father.

"I know. It's just a thought. I won't say that in front of Marcus." Laura's eyes reddened. "I feel sorry for Marcus too. As a mother, I owe him too much.

"I just want them to be happy. It's exactly because we've failed Marcus so many times that I hope Natalie can stay with us here. We can take care of them both.

"Sure, Charlotte and William will take care of them too, but if they're both at the Walker residence, I'll feel useless as a mother."

"Don't think like that," Wesley said, trying to soothe her. "Even if they stay at our place, the housekeepers will take care of everything. I wouldn't want you to tire yourself out, either."

"I don't care. I'm still going to fight Charlotte on this," Laura replied.

She took out her phone and summoned all her courage before calling Charlotte. All these years she was away to cure her illness, she'd been isolated from the world.

Even though she'd been back for a while, and that she'd been friends with Charlotte for years, she still felt a little nervous confronting Charlotte.

The call was answered quickly, and Charlotte's voice came through the speaker.

"Hello, Laura."

"Charlotte, there's something I'd like to talk to you about, if that's okay." Laura's tone was weak from the start.

"Sure, go ahead."

Laura took a deep breath before speaking cautiously. "Charlotte, here's the thing. We all know that

Nat is pregnant, so Wesley andet

were hoping... that Nat could come live with us. As her in-laws, we'd really like to take care of her. What do you think?"

"Laura, aren't you opening your flower shop soon?" Charlotte responded with a light chuckle. "You've spent years curing your illness, and you haven't had a chance to enjoy life properly.

"You and Wesley should spend more quality time together, just the two of you. You should focus on yourself and not worry about taking care of Nat. I've already arranged everything.

"From the early stages of her pregnancy to the birth of the child and even the childcare afterward, I've got everything covered.

"You should just focus on your flower shop. Enjoy life. You should make up for lost time with Wesley. That's all you need to do.

"Of course, if you ever want to visit Nat or the baby, you're always welcome. We'll tell the baby they have a loving, gentle, and strong paternal grandmother."

"Charlotte, what I meant was..." Laura panicked and rushed to clarify, "I'd like Natalie to stay at Holden Residence, not at the Walker residence."

"That's not going to happen," Charlotte replied, shutting it down instantly. "Laura, I'll be honest with you. We lost our daughter for 20 years.

"After finding her, she barely spent any time at home before your son swept her away. And now, they're even married. Not long after, she's pregnant. If we think about it, she got pregnant before the wedding happened.

"Laura, we're being generous for not going after Marcus. If you want to fight me over my daughter, I'm going to lose it!"

"I—" Laura shot a pleading look at Wesley. She wasn't good with words like Charlotte was, but she was sincere.

Wesley took the phone and switched it to speaker. "Charlotte, it's me."

"Hello, Wesley!" Charlotte said with a smile. "Wesley, if you're about to say the same thing as Laura, there's nothing more to talk about.

"When you two weren't around, Willian and I treated Marcus like our own son. Now that he and Natalie are married, he's our son-in-law. Once they move in with us, you don't need to worry.

"William and I will take care of both of them. You've done so much for Laura all these years. Now that we still have the energy to care for them, you two should take the time to enjoy life."

"Charlotte, Laura and I didn't get to

be there for Marcus growing up, so we didn't get to fulfill our duties as

parents. So now, we just want to

take care of Natalie and Marcine

watch our grandchild come into the world. We'll help raise the child."

make it up to Marcus,

"If you want to m

ive!

then make it up to him! Why are you projecting your feelings onto the grandchild? If the baby finds out their grandparents only care because they're trying to make up for their dad's childhood, how sad would that make them?"

Charlotte's tone was calm but firm. When it came to the right to care for the baby,

she wasn't going to back down an inch.

"Charlotte, that's not what I mean. Please don't twist my words," Wesley said, exasperated. "Laura and I are serious and sincere."

"It's the same for William and me." Charlotte wasn't backing down. "You weren't there for Marcus growing up, and it's the same for us and Nat.

"She spent all those years with the Langleys, suffering so much. Now that she's pregnant, as her mother, what's wrong with me wanting to take care of her throughout the pregnancy?"

Charlotte's voice started to tremble.

"And now, you're trying to take her away from me. Weren't we supposed to be

best friends, lifelong friends? Is this what best friends do? Stab each other in the heart?"

Suddenly, she began crying. "I really picked the wrong friends. How could my friend have zero sympathy?"

"Ah..." Laura was stunned. That wasn't what they meant at all!