The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 164

Natalie's sudden thanks and apology caught Marcus off guard. Seeing her bowing, he quickly stood up and reached out to stop her.

"Ms. Walker, there's no need for that. I helped you because you helped me first. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered," he said.

Natalie smiled and nodded. "Alright, let's not dwell on anything unpleasant. Since we're already out at sea, I'll make the most of it."

"Sure," Marcus replied.

As they chatted, the chef had finished cooking, and the servers brought dishes to the table.

"This king crab is prepared three ways—steamed, salt and pepper, and garlic chili style," one server explained while setting down the plates.

"We also have steamed lobster, caviar, tuna belly sashimi, shrimp sashimi, prawn sashimi, grilled lobster with black pepper, baked lobster with cheese, grilled snapper, tender beef ribs, and truffle foie gras."

When the server finished introducing the dishes, Marcus waved him away. "Ms. Walker, please."

Natalie looked at the table piled high with seafood. Beyond the window lay the boundless ocean under a clear, vibrant sky. Where the sea met the horizon, it formed a dazzling line of brilliant blue. Her heavy mood lifted in an instant.

Marcus hadn't ordered wine, though there were various small desserts, mostly chocolates.

Noticing the familiar packaging, Natalie realized it was the same brand she had found in her room at the Holden residence.

"Ms. Walker, please."

"Thank you."

They began eating. Neither of them spoke during the meal.

Marcus' purpose was to delay Natalie's trip to the hospital. Now that they were adrift at sea, he could decide when they would return.

When they finished their meal, Marcus asked Elijah to bring over two fishing rods so he and Natalie could fish on the deck.

She rarely spent so much time alone with Marcus. Most days, he kept his distance.

Slightly turning her head, she watched him place bait on the hook and cast his line with an easy, fluid motion—making a simple act look surprisingly elegant.

Grace had taken her fishing back when she was healthy, so Natalie knew the basic steps. She followed Marcus' example and baited her hook. Then, she cast the line and sat quietly.

The ferry moved at a slow pace, so steady that she barely felt it.

Soon, Marcus' float bobbed. He pulled up the rod and caught a long, slender pink fish. He removed it and offered it to Natalie. "Ms. Walker, it's yours."

Natalie blinked in surprise.

"You don't like it?" Marcus asked. He then tossed the fish back into the sea.

Natalie was speechless. She hadn't said she didn't like it. She was just surprised he had offered her his first catch.

Just then, Marcus' phone rang. He glanced at the screen before answering. "Hello, Grandpa."

Charles' schedule was fixed, so she only had to return for his acupuncture sessions.

Still, a thought crossed Natalie's mind, and she frowned a little. She might be unable to move out before Charles' treatment ended.

She kept her worries to herself instead of voicing them. She fished quietly with Marcus until he told Elijah to head back at 4:00 pm.

…

Marcus timed their arrival at Holden Residence to coincide with Charles' evening acupuncture session.

Stepping into the grand foyer, they heard cheerful voices. Grace and Charles were happily chatting about something, both clearly in a good mood.

At the sight of Marcus and Natalie, Charles appeared ready to scold them. But Grace gently tugged his hand, then shook her head, so he relented.

"Alright. For Grace's sake, I won't stay mad at you two today," Charles grumbled. "But you can't eat with us tonight. You like going out anyway, don't you? Then go have all the fun you want."

Grace chimed in with a smile. "You're Marcus, right? The last time I saw you, you were just a little boy. Look how tall and handsome you are now. I used to hold you in my arms when you were little."

Her eyes looked hurt, but then they sparkled with excitement. "I'm all better now. Aren't you happy?"