The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

After Elijah finished speaking, he looked at Natalie cautiously. He had truly

worried himself sick over Marcus' happiness.

Natalie took a moment to think carefully about what Elijah had said. After a while, she slowly nodded.

"Alright, I won't say a thing."

She realized Elijah had a point. She wasn't Marcus, so she couldn't fully understand what this meant to him. For him, it might be something joyful and deeply meaningful. She shouldn't impose her own perspective on someone else's choice.

Marcus wanted to give her a surprise. The moment she acted genuinely

surprised, that reaction would probably be the most satisfying and happiest moment for him. All she needed to do was pretend she knew nothing and quietly wait for the surprise he had prepared.

"Thank you, Elijah," she said sincerely.

"Mrs. Holden, there's no need to thank me. If there's nothing else, I'll step out now." Elijah grinned.

Natalie nodded, and Elijah quietly left the office. The room returned to silence.

She didn't touch anything else on Marcus' desk. Instead, she walked into the lounge, slipped off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed.

The mattress shifted slightly under her weight, and Marcus immediately opened his eyes. Once he saw who it was, he let out a clear breath of relief. Then, without hesitation, he reached out and pulled Natalie into his arms.

"Nat, you came."

"I did. Did I wake you?" Her voice was soft.

"No, just surprised-pleasantly surprised," Marcus replied, kissing her cheek.

"For a second I thought I was dreaming. But I know this isn't a dream. You really came to keep me company." As he spoke, a faint smile lifted the corners of his lips. "Stay with me a little longer, alright?"

"Alright."

Natalie nestled into his arms and closed her eyes. Within minutes, she soon drifted off to sleep as well.

...

Several hours later, Natalie was woken by the sound of her phone ringing. Marcus was no longer beside her. She didn't know when he had gotten up, and he hadn't woken her either.

She sat up, picked up her phone, and answered the call. "Hello, Olivia? What's wrong?"

"Nat, Mason is off at training today and I'm bored out of my mind. Let's go hike up Mount Ashridge, please?"

Olivia's cheerful voice came through the line. "Come on, please? I'm begging you."

Natalie glanced at the time. "Let me call you back in a bit."

"Okay," Olivia replied quickly. Then she added, "But you have to come. Promise me, please?"

"Olivia, talk to me properly. Are you hiding something from me?" Natalie asked with a frown.

She could tell right away that something was off. As she threw off the blanket and stepped into her shoes, she kept the call going and stepped out of the rest room.

Inside the office, Marcus was already back at work, fully focused on the documents in front of him.

Hearing movement, he looked up. "You're awake."

Natalie nodded and said a few more words to Olivia before ending the call.

"Nat, I'm sorry. I still have a lot of work to finish today. So I won't be able to head home with you later." Marcus walked over and pulled her gently into his arms.

Since they had made things official, he had gotten used to holding and kissing her whenever he could. Being legally married only made it feel even more natural.

"That's alright. I'll go home on my own. But Marcus, I need you to promise me one thing," Natalie said.noveldrama

"Anything. Just say it."

"No more staying up late. Lack of sleep is terrible for your health," she said as she lightly touched his eyes.

"I know," Marcus said, smiling. It felt so good to have his wife worry about him. "I'll come home earlier tonight. Are you staying at my place or your own?"

Natalie thought for a moment. "You won't be home for the next three days, right? I'll stay at mine."

"Alright. I'll ask Elijah to drive you."

"No need. Keep him with you. Noah is still protecting me in secret." "Alright."

"Nat, I still have some work to finish. I've got two more meetings coming up, so won't be able to join you for lunch I'm running out of time. Let me take you downstairs," Marcus said as he glanced at his watch.

Natalie stopped him. "No need. If you're busy, go ahead. I'll head downstairs myself. I happened to have plans to eat with Olivia. And after that, we're going to hike Mount Ashridge."

She rose on tiptoe and kissed the corner of his lips. "I'm heading out. Work hard."

"Nat, thank you. And I'm sorry. We just got married, and I haven't had any time to spend with you properly," Marcus said as he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her forehead with quiet persistence.

"It was a sudden decision to get the marriage certificate. You don't have to feel guilty. But if you really want to make it up to me, just remember what said about the charity work. Make lots of money, then help fund my charity programs," Natalie said with a gentle smile.

"I will," Marcus replied without hesitation.

He held her for another moment before slowly letting go. "I'll walk you out."

"Alright."

They walked out of the office together. Marcus walked her to the private elevator, but Natalie motioned for him to head back.

She took the elevator down alone, then called Olivia once she reached the ground floor. "Hey, Olivia. Where are you right now? Should I come pick you up, or should we just meet at Mount Ashridge?"

"Just come to Mount Ashridge. I'm already here," Olivia replied cheerfully.

"Alright."

Natalie hung up and walked to the curb to hail a cab. She had come to Holden Group earlier with Timothy, and Noah was hiding in the shadows somewhere. She didn't plan to ask him to show himself.

Once she arrived at Mount Ashridge, she spotted Olivia standing by the sidewalk with a skewer of spicy sausage in her hand.

When she saw Natalie approach, she quickly finished the sausage, then ran over. "Nat, over here!"

Natalie walked over and Olivia grabbed her hand. "Come on, hurry up. We're almost out of time."

"Out of time for what?"

Olivia just gave a mysterious smile. "You'll see soon."

She started a countdown. "Five, four, three, two, one."

As her voice fell, both sides of the stairs leading up the mountain lit up with rows

of colorful lights. The lights were arranged in neat patterns, each one spelling out the word "Nat."

"It's my name." Natalie stared in astonishment. The little lights twinkled in different colors, spelling her name all along the winding path up the mountain. "Look," Olivia said with a snap of her fingers. At the top of the mountain, drones began to appear in the sky, forming patterns. One line after another appeared in midair.

"Marcus loves Natalie."

Natalie was still taking in the lights when the next surprise unfolded.

"Keep watching," Olivia said, eyes full of wonder.

Natalie stayed silent. She simply looked up at the sky as the drones continued to

rearrange themselves.

"Marcus finally married Natalie."

"Nat, I love you."

"Wishing Natalie and Marcus a lifetime of happiness together."

"Marcus loves Natalie. Forever."

One after another, the drones spelled out messages of love.

Olivia was on the verge of tears. "This is so romantic. I can't believe a serious guy

like Marcus would come up with something like this. "

Then, she whispered, "And there's more."

She turned Natalie around, and before she could react, the night sky behind them

exploded with brilliant fireworks.

One after another, dazzling bursts of light lit up the sky above them.