The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Noah had his ear pressed against the study door, his gaze darting around the hallway. The Holden Residence study was known for its impeccable

soundproofing, but he had installed a small device inside.

It wasn't a listening bug. With Sheldon's sharp instincts, he would have noticed it instantly. So Noah didn't dare go that far.

However, even this small device was enough. Noah could make out the faintest sound from inside.

"Mr. Holden Senior, once Mr. Marcus and Mrs. Natalie's wedding is over, I'll bring Cassie to see you."

Sheldon's voice carried softly through the receiver. "She doesn't deserve to exist in this world.

"I want her to witness it all with her own eyes. The man she loves most, her own brother, living happily with the woman she despises most. The more she craves something, the more I'll make sure she can't have it.

"Mr. Holden Senior, Vivian never truly cared for you. She deceived you, toyed with your feelings, and tricked you into raising her bastard daughter. I won't let it go.

"Cassie has to die. Only then can Mr. Wesley, Ms. Laura, Mr. Marcus, and his bride live in peace.

"Don't worry. Once I finish everything, I'll leave Holden Residence. I'll take all the blame. I won't let Mr. Wesley or Mr. Marcus get tainted in the slightest."

Noah listened in silence, his expression grim. He could already guess what Sheldon was planning. His eyes flickered around the hallway. Stepping lightly, he quietly backed away from the study.

Inside, Sheldon remained seated, clutching the ruined family photo in his hand. Vivian and Cassie's faces had been slashed beyond recognition. His tear- streaked face trembled as he spoke.

"Mr. Holden Senior, if only you were still here. You would have seen Mr. Marcus get married. You would have seen Mr. Wesley and Ms. Laura come home.

"We were so close. So close to being whole again. We could have had everything. But why? Why did it have to be like this?"

His cries were filled with anguish. He pounded the desk with trembling fists, unable to accept what had happened.

Charles had collapsed right here in this study. When he died, how deep must his despair have been? A man only gives up on living when sorrow and hopelessness reach their breaking point.

And it had all started with Vivian and Yvette, the women of the Jenkins family. There was not a single good one among them.

Sheldon wept endlessly in the quiet room, his body racked with grief. Eventually, his tears dried on his face, and he fell asleep slumped over the desk.

Noah left the main house, carefully avoiding the cameras. He made his way to the small villa at the back of Holden Residence.

Sheldon often visited this villa when no one was watching. The last time Noah followed him, he had been caught. That time, Sheldon had brought him in willingly.

He had said it was to feed a pet, and Noah believed him at first. But later, something about it just didn't sit right.

So he kept quiet, continued working closely with Sheldon, learning how to manage the household, all while silently observing.

He trusted Sheldon's loyalty. It mirrored his and his brother's. But there was no denying that something was being kept from them.

After much thought, he had placed the small device in the study, hoping to uncover a clue. At last, he had one.

Noah was certain Cassie was in Sheldon's hands. The only question was where she was being hidden.

Sheldon rarely left Holden Reside ce. Noah had never seen him slip away, nor had he seen him frequent any unusual rooms-except this villa.

Sheldon came here far too often. He had said it was for his pet, but Noah no longer believed that.

With the wedding fast approaching, he didn't want to stir the pot. The Holden and Walker families had placed great importance on the ceremony. Nothing was allowed to go wrong.

So even though he had his suspicions, he couldn't breathe a word of this to Marcus. It wasn't the right time, especially when it would only cause distraction.

As he entered the small villa, his heart was pounding.noveldrama

Sheldon had been grooming him, preparing him to take over. He wanted to mold him into another version of himself, someone loyal to the Holden family, especially to Marcus.

Noah had the loyalty. He had the skills. What he still lacked was vision. He needed the ability to plan, to see the bigger picture.

That, Sheldon was still teaching him.

Standing inside the dim villa, he dared not turn on the lights. He didn't use a flashlight, either. Instead, he brought night-vision goggles.

The moment he put them on, everything inside the villa became crystal clear before his eyes.

The furniture, the decor, everything looked just like it had the last time he was here with Sheldon. But he was sure there was something hidden. A secret that hadn't been revealed.

And if something was hidden, it could be found.

He began his search, carefully and thoroughly, tapping on the walls as he moved through the rooms, listening for hollow sounds or loose panels.

He checked several bedrooms and found nothing. Just as he was about to head

into the study, his phone rang. The sudden sound startled him in the silence.

He steadied himself and quickly answered.

"Hello, Mr. Phelps?"

"Noah. Turn around."

Sheldon's voice came through cold and emotionless. Noah's heart sank like a stone.

He froze.

"Are you afraid?" the voice asked again. "You're my student. You're not allowed to be afraid. Turn around."

The voice came from the phone, yet it felt like it was right behind him.

Noah slowly turned, stiff and silent.

There stood Sheldon, framed in the doorway, holding his phone. He stared directly at Noah, his face unreadable. Noah didn't know when he had arrived.

"Mr. Phelps, I..." he tried to explain, but the words caught in his throat. Any excuse now would sound weak.

Sheldon flicked on all the lights with a sharp motion. In his hand was the device that Noah had planted in the study.

"When did you put this in?" He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Noah. "Be honest. I won't be angry."

"Earlier this afternoon," Noah said.

He closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he didn't try to

hide his thoughts anymore. Instead, he faced it head-on.

"Mr. Phelps, you haven't been acting like yourself lately. I figured you were hiding something from us. That's why Dneeded to know. I needed to confirm if Cassie is in your hands."

Sheldon chuckled. He wasn't angry. In fact, he almost looked pleased. The shadows from earlier faded, his face softening into something warmer, more approving.

"Noah. I didn't choose wrong." He placed a hand on Noah's shoulder. "If you had used a real listening device, I would have known the moment you put it in. But this little toot gave you a chance.

"You wanted to find out whether Cassie is in my hands. If you've found your

answer, what are you going to do about it?"