The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 131 Their Plan to Set Him Up From the Beginning "Grandma, if Victor and Diana had been responsible, I wouldn't have had to send you to the nursing hin the first place," Natalie said softly. "If you go back, it might be better to stay at the nursing home." She continued, "I probably won't return to Amberton. Let's give up on the Langleys, okay?" Grace stubbornly shook her head. "I don't want to stay in Dithoria. I want to go back to Amberton, where my his." Grace begged, "Nattie, please takeback home." Grace grabbed Natalie's hand tightly, the joy she had before vanishing completely. "Why don't you marry Marcus right now? If you marry him, I can live with you both." She then turned to Marcus and asked, "Marcus, what do you think? You're Nattie's boyfriend. Would you marry her?" Marcus' expression didn't change. He simply glanced at Natalie, then gave a faint, almost imperceptible smile. He picked up his water cup and took a sip.

First, he was asked to pretend to be her boyfriend, and now Grace was pushing him to marry her. The speed of it all was almost unbelievable.

At this point, Marcus was sure that Grace and Natalie had set him up from the beginning. First, Natalie asked him to pretend to be her boyfriend, and now Grace was pushing him to marry her. Their plan hadn't changed from the start.

Marcus stood up and said to Natalie, "Ms. Walker, I'm sorry, but I have to leave for something urgent." Turning to Grace, he continued, "I need to clarify-I'm not Natalie's boyfriend, and I won't marry her. I'm just helping her out by pretending to be her boyfriend. However, when it comes to marriage, it's better to be clear." Marcus's expression remained as calm and composed as ever, with no extra expression. He finished his words without a hint of emotion, then gave Natalie a slight nod. Ignoring the growing tension on her face, he walked away.

Grace watched Marcus leave, then looked back at Natalie. "Nattie, didn't you say he was good to you? Aren't you two a couple? Why did he say it's all fake?" The smile on Natalie's face faded, and she picked up her cup of water, taking a sip. The cold water jolted her back to reality, and she managed to force a smile. "Yes, Marcus is helpingby pretending to be my boyfriend to reassure you, Grandma." Now that Marcus had exposed the truth, Natalie saw no point in continuing the act. Pretending to be happy and in love was exhausting.

Her expression turned cool and indifferent again. "Grandma, I just want you to feel at ease. I don't need Langley Group's shares to live well. Besides, I've already found my biological parents and reconnected with them." She continued, "I've thought it through. You gaveLangley Group's shares because you were worried that I would be alone and unable to support myself. However, Selena is threatening suicide, and Langley Group is no longer the company it once was.

"Grandma, I don't know if you understand—I can help you protect Langley Group, but I don't think it's worth it." Langley Group had becAmberton's leading enterprise, but it wasn't solely her doing. Internal conflict was the greatest threat in a large company where the family held the majority of the shares.

Victor's family was clearly trying to stir up trouble within.

"I asked Marcus to pretend to be my boyfriend because you once said Marcus was the grandson-in-law you picked for me. If he were my fiancé, he would be a better match than Selena or Tyler," she added.

Although Natalie's voice remained calm and gentle, she no longer treated Grace like a child. Instead, she looked at her seriously and tenderly.

Grace's eyes suddenly reddened. "Nattie, don't you wantanymore? You promised me, don't you remember?" "I haven't forgotten, Grandma," Natalie said.

Natalie watched as Grace's tears fell, and she sighed quietly in her heart. This situation wasn't going as she had hoped.

"Then, Nattie, don't give the shares to them." Grace sobbed, her tears falling in streams.

She cried pitifully like a small child, leaving Natalie at a loss for how to comfort her.

Grace had always been strong all these years, but this was the first tshe had seen her cry like this. "Grandma, please don't cry! It was wrong ofto lie to you," Natalie said apologetically. "I won't trade the shares for guardianship. I won't let the Langleys take you away." Grace cried even harder. "Why is your relationship with Marcus fake? Why won't he marry you? Is he ashamed of me? Does he think I'm a burden?" Grace's voice cracked with desperation as she said, "Nattie, maybe I should just go back to Cedar Hill Nursing Home. You've found your birth parents, and who am I to stay at your house? The shares can't go to Victor and Diana. I don't accept Selena. You're the only granddaughter I recognize." She sniffled and asked, "Nattie, does Marcus not like me? Does he think I'm a burden? Did you not win him over yet? Have you tried the methods I taught you? Did you use them on him?" Natalie fell silent. Grace had taught her that if she couldn't win over a man, she should take drastic measures. However, that was something Natalie couldn't bring herself to do.

Marcus had been drugged twice, and she had the chance to be with him both times. Yet, she didn't like him, and she would never take advantage of him.

Grace's words were simply things Natalie pretended to agree with, but she couldn't follow them all.

Marcus had refused to continue playing along halfway through, and Natalie understood Grace's om intentions. Whether she had the En support of Marcus or the Holden family, Grace would never let her trade the Langley Group shares for guardianship. In the end, the Langley Group's shares in Natalie's hands had beca ticking tbomb.

For now, she would keep a steady course with Victor and Selena focus on Charles's treatment, and then return to Amberton. "Grandma, let's not talk about Marcus anymore. The food's here. Let's eat!" Natalie said, trying to distract Grace.

She placed sbeef skewers on the grill, making sure to keep saway from the spicier marinadesh since Grace couldn't handle the heat. As the meat sizzled, she carefully moved the skewers to a plate. "Grandma, wait a bit for them to cool down before you eat." "Okay," Grace replied, nodding obediently.

Just as Natalie wasn't paying attention, Grace suddenly stood up and dashed outside.

"Grandma, where are you going?" Natalie called out, quickly getting to her feet to follow.

Grace ran straight toward the busy road without looking at the oncoming traffic.

"Grandma!" Natalie shouted.

Before she could reach her, Grace was struck by a car, sending her tumbling several feet away from the impact.