The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Yvette let out a mocking laugh. Compared to how devastated Charles was, her calm, amused look, was downright cruel.

"Charles, do you still dare claim that you and Vivian shared a loving marriage? Now that you've discovered the daughter you've cherished and raised with so much love isn't even your own flesh and blood, how does it feel?"

"Grandpa Charles, take a look at this too." Hector handed the other envelope to Charles. "Take a look at this report."

Charles didn't have the courage to look. "Hector, I can't... Give it to Marcus."

Charles closed his eyes, tears streamed down his aged face.

All these years, he had believed that he and his wife were childhood sweethearts who were truly in love and that their marriage was a destined union.

Unexpectedly, everything Yvette said was true.

And all it took was a single paternity test to shatter his lifelong faith and devotion.

"Hector, let me do it." Marcus took the envelope from Hector's hands. He opened it, pulled out the test results, and read it carefully. After a while, he said indifferently, "Grandpa, Dad is your biological son."

Charles' vision went black, and he fell heavily onto the floor.

"Grandpa Charles!"

"Grandpa!"

"Grandpa Charles!"

Hector, Marcus, and Natalie all screamed, and the room instantly descended into chaos.

Fortunately, Hector and Natalie were doctors. Since Natalie had treated Charles previously, she knew his condition very well.

Furthermore, she had been keeping emergency medication on hand for him. After administering it, they rushed him to the hospital.

"Marcus, you need to prepare yourself." Natalie held Marcus' hand in the car on the way to the hospital. "Grandpa Charles might not make it through this time. The test results were too much of a blow for him."

Natalie remembered the time Charles gave her a present at the welcome party. When he spoke of his late wife, his eyes were filled with love.

Back then, though he hadn't said it outright, Natalie understood. At that time, Marcus had misunderstood her, and she had been avoiding him. So, she simply pretended not to notice Charles' hopeful expectations.

But, she knew.

Charles had hoped that one day, she and Marcus would have the kind of love he had with Vivian.

But now, Yvette had revealed the truth, which was confirmed by the paternity test. Just like that, Charles' years of devotion turned into nothing but a joke.

Marcus just remained silent and gripped Natalie's hand tightly. He didn't realize he was hurting her.

Natalie didn't say a word, nor did she show it. She simply let him hold onto her. The car sped toward the hospital. The moment they arrived, Charles was rushed into examination. Natalie didn't follow Charles into the examination room, and Marcus didn't ask her to. Both of them just waited outside the examination room. After a long while, Marcus suddenly pulled Natalie into a tight embrace.

"Nat, when the heart dies, is it beyond saving?" Marcus asked softly in her ear. "Grandpa has always managed to pull through in the past, but this time, you told me to prepare myself. It's because he doesn't have the will to live anymore, right?"

Natalie wrapped her arms around Marcus and patted his back gently, not knowing how to answer him.

"You don't have to say it. I know." Marcus closed his eyes, struggling to suppress his emotions. "I've always known."

He continued, "When I was a child, Grandpa would tell me how much he and Grandma loved each other. If it weren't for the devastating blow she suffered, her health wouldn't have deteriorated.

"They would've grown old together. Every time I asked him what was the devastating blow she suffered, he would only sigh and not answer it.

"Nat, he was the one who raised me."

Marcus closed his eyes, silent tears slipped from the corners.noveldrama

"Ever since he fell ill, he always wished I could get a girlfriend and settle down. If it was possible, he wanted a great-grandchild.

"He would always say that he wasn't that old and was at the perfect age to take

care of a baby. If I had one, he'd handle everything, and I wouldn't need to worry about a thing.

"How can he just give up now just because Aunt Cassie isn't his biological daughter? Is he going to give up on me?"

"Marcus, calm down." Natalie patted his back gently. "If what Yvette said is true, anyone else would've not been able to accept it. It's not just Grandpa Charles. Also, Grandpa Charles adored Cassie, didn't he?"

Marcus choked out a response, "Yes. He spoiled her immensely. As long as she didn't cross the line, he granted her every wish. For a time, I even envied how much he doted on her."

"But now that Grandpa Charles found out that the daughter he cherished for so many years isn't actually his, it's normal that he couldn't accept it," Natalie said, trying to console Marcus.

She added, "Compared to Cassie not being his real daughter, the real blow is realizing that the love story and loving marriage he believed in were

all lies No man could accept being betrayed and deceived by the woman he loved most. Marcus, can you understand why he's like this?"

"Nat, I don't want anything to happen to him," Marcus choked on his words. "Please, save him one more time. Elim, I'm begging you."

Natalie froze. Although she had saved Charles once, this time, she was powerless. It was because Charles had lost the will to live. He would also likely refuse treatment.

She was all too familiar with patients' expressions and their psychological states.

"I'll do my best." Natalie gently patted Marcus's shoulder. "Marcus, I'll do my best."

"Thank you."

"Nat, you can't promise that!" Hector exclaimed, appearing out of nowhere with a grim expression. Then, he turned toward Marcus. "This time, Nat can't perform surgery on Grandpa Charles."

"Why not?" Marcus asked. "If even Nat can't save him, then who can?"

"If Grandpa Charles dies on Nat's operating table, how will you two move forward from there?"

Hector stared at Marcus. "This time, he's given up on living. He just finished his checkup and has already refused hospitalization.

"He asked to be taken back to Holden Residence to see Yvette. That's why I won't

let Nat be put in such a precarious position. If you want someone to blame, blame me instead."

Hector pulled Natalie toward him and said, "Elim has never lost a fight with death, but what if the patient doesn't want to be saved?"

Both Natalie and Marcus were stunned.

"Marcus, think carefully about what I just said. I need a word with Nat in private." Without waiting for them to respond, Hector took Natalie away.