The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Natalie walked into the Holden Group building, carrying several bags. She hadn't yet reached the elevators when Ethan got out of one and came jogging toward

her.

"You're here, Mrs. Holden. Let me carry those for you," he said, quickly stepping forward to take the bags from her hands.

"Ethan, how did you know I was coming? You got here pretty fast. Can you read minds now?" Natalie raised an eyebrow.

Ethan laughed and replied respectfully, "Not at all, Mrs. Holden. Mr. Marcus is in his office. I'll take you up."

"Did Marcus know I was coming?" Natalie asked. She still found his timing a bit too perfect.

"No, it was Mr. Timothy who told me to come down and meet you."

"Oh, it was Timothy." That explained it. Natalie nodded. "Alright. Lead the way then."

"Please, right this way."

Ethan took her into the private executive elevator and pressed the button for the top floor.

After a brief silence, he smiled and said, "Congratulations to you and Mr. Marcus. I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and adorable children."

Natalie gave a small smile. Ethan seemed a bit more talkative than usual today.

Soon, the elevator reached the top floor. Ethan carried the bags into the president's office and grabbed Elijah as he passed by.

"Elijah, come help me with something."

"Alright, alright."

Before leaving, Elijah made sure to greet her. "Mrs. Holden, Mr. Marcus is in the rest room. You'll see him as soon as you walk in. He hasn't eaten yet. He's been working so hard."

Before Elijah could say more, Ethan quickly clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him out of the office.

Natalie picked up the bags from the desk and walked into the private lounge.

The curtains had been drawn, though not completely. Slivers of sunlight slipped through the gaps and illuminated the sleeping man on the bed.noveldrama

The air conditioning was set to sleep mode. Marcus lay on the bed, breathing evenly, his sleeping posture neat and composed.

Natalie set the bags on the coffee table, then quietly sat down at the edge of the bed.

Marcus' eyes were closed, his long lashes casting soft shadows on his face. That was when she saw the heavy dark circles under his eyes.

She quickly figured that he hadn't slept at all last night.

Her brow furrowed slightly. She reached under the blanket and gently lifted his hand, noticing the tiny but dense pencil smudges on his fingers.

Marcus had always been a light sleeper. The faintest sound or shift in movement would wake him. But this time, even as she moved his hand, he remained completely still.

It was clear he hadn't slept a wink the night before. He must have done something that left him completely drained.

Natalie couldn't bring herself to wake him, not even for a meal. She carefully tucked his hand back under the blanket, stood up, and drew the curtains shut. Then she quietly walked out of the private lounge.

Marcus' office was spacious. One wall was made entirely of floor-to-ceiling windows, letting in abundant natural light. His desk was large, and behind it stood a full wall of bookshelves. Many were filled with books, while the rest held files and folders in neat rows.

On the opposite wall hung a massive painting of wild horses in full gallop. The power and motion captured in the image made it striking to look at.

There were several large potted plants in the corners of the office, all well- maintained and thriving, likely thanks to a professional gardener.

Natalie sat behind the desk. The thick stack of documents in front of her brought back memories of her days at the Langley Group. There had been countless reports, endless market analysis, department project proposals and detailed planning documents. Even the thought of it made her head throb.

Of course, Marcus didn't have to handle everything the way she once did. He had Ethan, a highly capable assistant, and a team of competent senior executives and staff.

But Holden Group had many branches and operated globally. Even with help, his workload was massive.

And since he hadn't been coming to the office much recently, most of his tasks had been handled remotely. With his return and the upcoming wedding to prepare for, he had no choice but to finish a mountain of work in advance, which only added more weight to his already full schedule.

As she sat there thinking, she noticed one of the drawers hadn't been fully closed. Inside, a sheet of paper was slightly visible.

Natalie wasn't the type to pry. She never invaded other people's privacy. But the sketches were right in front of her, and at a glance, she could already tell what they were.

Could those smudges on Marcus' fingers have come from creating these designs?

Almost instinctively, she pulled open the drawer. After flipping through the pages, her suspicion was confirmed. He had been sketching designs. He was personally creating their wedding rings and wedding gown.

He hadn't stayed up all night just to work. He had been making things for their wedding. For a moment, Natalie couldn't describe what she was feeling inside. Marcus didn't need to do this.

There was a knock on the door. Elijah stepped in.

"You saw it, didn't you?" he asked.

Natalie nodded. "I did."

"Mr. Marcus didn't want you to know. Could you pretend you didn't see anything? Just act like you don't know." Elijah scratched his head.

Natalie gently returned the sketches to the drawer and closed it. "Alright. I didn't

see anything. I don't know anything. Elijah, I'm staying here today. I'll keep Marcus company."

"What?" Elijah looked stunned.

"If you're staying, then how is he supposed to sneak out to the jewelry store tonight? He was up all night yesterday. I can tell he's planning to stay up again. We can't stop him from doing what he wants. Please, Mrs. Holden, just pretend you don't know. Don't try to stop him."

Natalie looked at him. "But Elijah, seeing him like this breaks my heart. I understand what he's trying to do. That's enough for me. Being together is about connection. Not about the things we give each other. I feel for him, Elijah. Truly."

"But Mrs. Holden, to him, this is something he wants to do. Something that brings him joy, even if it's exhausting."

Elijah might never have dated before, but he had read enough novels, seen enough movies and dramas to understand these things.

"Just let him do it. Make sure he eats, drinks, and gets some rest. That's all. For Mr. Marcus, designing and making the rings and gown with his own hands means something very special. This is his way of showing love. You only need to wait and receive the surprise."