The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming

Chapter 199 No Such Thing as Should or Shouldn't After Natalie sent Charlotte a heart emoji, her phone immediately started lighting up with notifications. It was one transfer after another-her mom sending her money over and over again without stopping.

Sitting across from her, Shawn could hear the constant pinging of her phone. Curiosity got the better of him. "Nat, are you texting with a friend?" he asked.

"It's my mom," Natalie replied quickly, typing a message asking her mom to stop sending money.

She already had plenty-Lincoln had given her an additional card tied to his account, and Mason, despite his modest allowance, gave her everything he had. Hector and Timothy also sent her money regularly, as if worried she'd starve without it.

When Natalie's message reached her mom, it finally stopped the barrage. Her mom then sent a voice message instead. "Sweetie, don't be shy with me. I have plenty of money, and it's all yours-none of them are for your brothers!" Since Shawn was nearby, Natalie didn't play the voice message out loud. She held her phone to her ear to listen, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

She thought if her brothers heard that, they'd probably be devastated.

Still, there was a strange warmth in her heart. It was a new, comforting feeling-a mother's unconditional love. Charlotte didn't expect her to compromise, didn't ask her to trade anything for affection, and didn't make her endure hardships to earn care. She simply loved and protected her. It was something Natalie had never experienced at the Langleys.

Without realizing it, Natalie's initial resistance toward Charlotte had melted away.

"Nat, do you want to take a walk outside?" Shawn asked, noticing her faint smile. His lips curved into a warm grin. "Celeste will be wrapping up her shoot in about 20 minutes. Do you want to watch her up close?" After a moment's thought, Natalie nodded. "Sure. Let's go." Shawn led her out of Celeste's private lounge and toward the set. By now, Celeste had changed into a high-end couture gown with a fresh hairstyle and carefully chosen jewelry to match. She stood on the rocks, effortlessly posing as waves crashed around her, sending perfect sprays of water into the air.

The photographer snapped away, capturing frafter frof flawless shots.

The combination of sunlight, sea spray, and Celeste's elegance was breathtaking -simply watching was enough to lift anyone's mood.

Shawn's assistant brought over a large sunshade umbrella. He took it and held it over Natalie, shielding her entirely.

Natalie glanced at him, puzzled. Shawn met her gaze with a gentle smile. "You're Celeste's cousin. Taking extra care of you is the least I can do-it's what I should do." "Thank you, Mr. Haines, but there's no such thing as what someone should or shouldn't do," Natalie replied, reaching out to take the umbrella. "I can hold it myself." She didn't mind the sun, though she did prefer not to tan. Her fair skin didn't tan easily, but she could lighten it again with her herbal baths even if it did.

"I'll do it," Shawn insisted, holding the umbrella. He maintained a polite distance while holding it over her.

"Nat, don't be so polite. If I don't take care of you, Celeste will killwhen she finds out," he added with a self- deprecating chuckle, his smile softening into a look of gentle pleading. "Please, just lethandle this for my own peace of mind." Seeing his earnest expression, Natalie decided not to argue further. She wasn't the type to overthink or refuse kindness when it was offered sincerely.

When Celeste finished her shoot, she tossed her high heels aside without care and ran barefoot to Natalie, her face glowing with excitement.

"All done! Tto eat!" Celeste exclaimed, throwing an arm around Natalie's shoulders. "Shawn, you're coming too!" "Sure," he replied easily.

"I cwith a friend," Natalie said, trying to distance herself from Celeste's tight embrace. Celeste, however, only pulled her closer.

"Stop squirming," Celeste teased, rolling her eyes. "Do you know how many girls would kill to hug me? Con, stick close!" With that, she pressed her cheek against Natalie's, grinning as she did.

Wow, Celeste thought Natalie's skin was ridiculously soft and smooth. It must be those amazing Kennedy family genes.

The Kennedys were naturally fair. Charlotte and Celeste had enviably pale complexions, but Natalie's skin was even more flawless.

Except for the one who deliberately tanned himself, the Walker brothers all had fair complexions.

Celeste finally understood why Emma was so tan. No matter how much foundation or whitening cream she used, it couldn't change the fact that she had a naturally tan complexion.

Of course, Celeste kept these thoughts to herself.

To be fair, setting aside any bias, Emma wasn truly tanned-she just wasn't as pale as the rest of them. After all, she was a girl carefully raised by the Walker family. With her upbringing, refined tastes, and the elegance money could buy, how bad could she really be? "Where's your friend? Let's invite them to join us for dinner!" Celeste said cheerfully.

The ad shoot was taking place on private property, but Natalie had been able to approach earlier, thanks to Shawn's intervention. Meanwhile, Walter was waiting in the public area.

As Celeste and Shawn accompanied her to meet Walter, they drew onlookers' attention. Though the beach wasn't crowded, two stars of their caliber couldn't go unnoticed.

Still, most of the people present were older adults or families with children-not the type to cause a scene.

What intrigued them most, however, wasn't the celebrities but Natalie.

Standing, between Celeste andm Shawn, she looked every bit as striking as they did, holding her own effortlessly. Walking through the crowd, they undeniably attracted everyone's attention.

Celeste and Shawn were long accustomed to being the center of attention, but Natalie on always Off! preferred keeping a low profile. She avoided handling things in person whenever possible.

Now, walking alongside the two stars, she instantly becthe focus om of all eyes. The attention was so overwhelming that she wanted nothing more than to distance herself from them on the spot. By the tthey reached Walter, Natalie had subtly freed herself from Celeste's grip and jogged the last few steps to him.

"Walter," she called out.

Walter had just finished his phone call and looked up to see her running toward him. He stood and caught her in a steady embrace.

"What's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost," he said with a small laugh.

"Not a ghost," Natalie replied, catching her breath. "My cousin, Celeste Kennedy. And her co-star, Shawn Haines." Walter followed her gaze to see Celeste approaching in a striking red gown and Shawn in a white tailored suit. Celeste reached him first, her sharp eyes scanning him up and down.

Though Walter was casually dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, his tall, lean frand air of quiet authority made him stand out. His frameless glasses and reserved dampasuly added to the sense of composure that hinted at a powerful, high-ranking professional,