The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

"Alright then. Take your time, Mr. Holden Senior."

William and Charlotte stood up. They exchanged a quick glance before walking out of the study.

Charles rose from his chair and walked over to his desk, sinking into his seat. The framed photograph that had once been there had been removed at his request. Sheldon had taken it away.

The frame sat there, empty and hollow.

A deep ache settled in his chest. He pressed his fingers against his forehead before moving a trembling hand to clutch his heart.

The pain was unbearable, so sharp that it felt suffocating. The moment he closed his eyes, all he could see was Vivian entwined with another man, locked in betrayal.

Yvette's ruthless move had completely shattered the love and faith he had clung to for so many years.

With his eyes shut, memories flickered before him like an old film, each frame piercing deeper into his soul.

He saw his childhood, playing and studying alongside Vivian. He saw their engagement, their wedding, and the moment she became pregnant. He had been overwhelmed with joy, running around excitedly, shouting that he was going to be a father.

He had cared for her with the utmost caution throughout her pregnancy, fearing that even the slightest discomfort might harm her. And when she gave birth, he had been terrified, praying that she would make it through safely.

He couldn't understand. Where had he gone wrong?

That man had nothing special. He had seen the photos and watched the video. The man was inferior to him in every way. His looks, his stature, and his presence were nothing extraordinary. What had Vivian seen in him?

The pain in Charles' chest intensified. His eyes burned. His head hung low, and heavy tears fell onto the desk.

"Why? Why? Why did it have to be this way?" he choked out.

William and Charlotte stepped into the living room and spotted Sheldon crouched behind the large potted umbrella plant in the corner, shoulders trembling with sobs.

They exchanged glances. Charlotte gave a slight nod before stepping aside. William approached Sheldon and gently placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Sheldon, what's wrong? Why are you crying here alone?" William asked softly. Sheldon lifted his head. His face was soaked in tears, completely out of control. "Mr. Walker, Mr. Holden Senior... he doesn't want to live anymore."

His voice was hoarse and choked with emotion as he grabbed William's wrist. "Mr. Walker, I beg you. Help me. Please save him."

As he spoke, his sobs grew louder. "Yvette is cruel. She is truly too cruel. Mr. Holden Senior didn't set that fire back then. He didn't even know about it. Of course he sided with his wife. She was the lady of the household. What was so wrong about favoring his own wife?"

Tears streamed down Sheldon's face. "But Yvette is unreasonable. She put all the blame on Mr. Holden Senior, and even dragged the Walker family into it. Because of her, Ms. Walker was switched at birth and spent all those years suffering in the Langley family.

"Why did she have to involve the innocent? The Jenkins family deceived Mr. Holden Senior. Vivian already had a man she loved, yet she still chose to marry Mr. Holden Senior and kept the truth from him.

"Mr. Holden Senior is a victim too. He is a good man. He could have any woman he wanted, but because he loved Vivian so deeply, he was deceived by her family."

The more Sheldon spoke, the more aggrieved he felt. His sobs grew louder.

"Yvette curses Mr. Holden Senior, but she is the one who deserves to be cursed. The Jenkins family turned against each other, yet she blames Mr. Holden Senior for everything.

"If they hadn't deceived him, Mr. Holden Senior would have married someone else. Someone who truly loved him. He would have lived a peaceful and happy life. If not for their Ties, Mr. Wesley, Madam Laura, and even Mr. Marcus would never have suffered so much."

William listened to Sheldon's impassioned words and couldn't help but agree.

The Jenkins family had lied and manipulated from the start. They had forcibly separated Vivian from the man she loved. It was no wonder she harbored resentment. Even after marrying into the Holden family, she probably blamed Charles for everything, thinking he had kept her from the life she truly wanted.

"Mr. Holden Senior loved Cassie so much. He devoted his life to raising her with love and care, yet in the end..." Sheldon choked on his sobs. "In the end, Cassie turned out to be another man's child.

"Mr. Holden Senior spent years raising another man's daughter, only for her to turn around and harm Madam Laura and leave Mr. Marcus without parents for so many years. I hate her. I hate Yvette. I hate Vivian too. I just... I want to kill Yvette."

William's expression changed. He quickly helped Sheldon to his feet.

"Sheldon, I understand how you feel. But Yvette already has cancer. If you kill her now, not only will you lose your life, you'll be giving her a way out. It's not worth it. You mustn't do something so reckless.

"Sheldon, Mr. Holden Senior needs you now more than ever. You have been by his side for decades. You cannot collapse before he does.

"We've asked Mr. Holden Senior to take charge of Marcus and Nat's engagement. There's still a lot of work ahead. You're needed. Don't do anything foolish."

Sheldon didn't respond. He just kept sobbing, his whole body trembling. In all his years with Charles, he had never cried like this.

William sighed inwardly and guided him to the couch.

"Sheldon, have you ever thought about why Yvette chose this moment to reveal everything?"

"I know. She's a venomous woman. She's dying, so she wants to drag Mr. Holden Senior down with her. She wants to see him suffer before she dies."

Even as he cried, Sheldon still managed to respond.

"Then we mustn't let her have her way. Everything you said was absolutely right," William said seriously.

"The Jenkins family deceived and manipulated people from the very beginning. This was nothing short of a fraudulent marriage, and now Yvette has the audacity

to blame the Holden and Walker families. She is completely deranged."

William added, his tone darkening, "I feel like going over there and cursing her out right now. Sheldon, do you want to come with me? I'm even considering slapping her across the face don't care if she is an elder. She swapped my daughter at birth. I want to beat her to death?"

"You're right. Let's go together." Sheldon's eyes lit up at those words.

"Let's take Mr. Holden Senior too. We'll all go scold her together."

William's idea struck a chord. Charles was holding everything in. If he didn't find a way to let it out, he might spiral into despair and take his own life.

"Good. I'll go get him right now."

Sheldon abruptly stopped crying. He wiped his tears roughly and rushed toward

the study.

"Mr. Holden Senior. Mr. Holden Senior."

He didn't even knock before shoving the door open. The next second, a terrifiednoveldrama

scream echoed through the house.

"Mr. Holden Senior!"