The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 663

"They're asking for 10,000 dollars, and they want brides for their sons too. Otherwise, they won't allow the girls to go to school," Taylor said.

"This time, Maverick rallied all the families in the village who have sons. They're demanding we comply, or not only will Sue and Ann be barred from school, but they'll also prevent any future daughters from being educated.

"Maverick even said that while we may have people stationed here, we can't guard against them forever. It's a threat, plain and simple."

Taylor's face darkened. "These people are beyond saving. Greedy and ungrateful, they are. We come here to help them, and not only do they not appreciate it, but they turn around and threaten us.

"If we didn't have weapons, they probably would've attacked us already."

He clenched his fists in frustration. "If not for the sake of these girls, I'd never want to set foot in this godforsaken place again."

Natalie stayed composed. In truth, 10,000 dollars wasn't much for them—but this precedent couldn't be set.

If she gave in once, the villagers would see them as walking money trees, using the girls' futures as leverage to demand endless payouts.

"Natalie, over the past year, the villagers have acted respectful on the surface, but deep down, they hold no reverence for us," Taylor continued.

"Sue and Ann have always been diligent. They've remembered your words, Natalie. For over a year now, they've studied relentlessly, and every teacher here has seen it. But if we agree to their parents' demands, future work will be nearly impossible."

"We won't agree," Natalie said calmly. "Bring Sue, Ann, and Lynette. I want to hear what they think for themselves."

"Understood."

Taylor left the office and returned shortly after with the three girls.

Before Natalie could even speak, all three dropped to their knees.

"Ms. Natalie, please," Lynette said first. "Please take us out of this place so we can go to school. I know what my dad and the other parents have said.

"We'll repay the 10,000 dollars ourselves. We'll even write you IOUs. We're asking for your help in severing ties with Ashford Vale and our families."

Lynette slammed her head against the floor repeatedly, desperate to prove her sincerity. "Ms. Natalie, the three of us have already discussed this. Once we leave, we'll study hard and never come back here again.

"In our parents' eyes, we're only valuable as tools to benefit our brothers. We don't want our children to suffer the same fate."

"That's right!" Sue and Ann chimed in. "Ms. Natalie, we've made up our minds. We won't stay trapped here. We want to take control of our own lives."

As they spoke, tears filled their eyes and streamed down their cheeks. "Ms. Natalie, the first time we met you, you made us yearn for the world outside. It was the first time we realized that girls could live completely different lives if they relied on themselves.

"We don't want to be stuck in Ashford Vale forever, generation after generation, sacrificed and used by the men here.

"10,000 dollars is hard for us now, but once we're out, we'll study and work to pay it back."

"But your parents also demanded brides for their sons." Natalie didn't help the girls up. Instead, she calmly brought up the second thing that was demanded of her.

"I can lend you the money, but what about that?"

"We'll talk to them," Lynette said. "If they won't agree, then forget the 10,000 dollars. They won't even keep us as daughters. If it comes to it, we'll die."

Her eyes were fierce, her tone unwavering. The three of them had made up their minds. They would escape this place, no matter what it took.

Natalie turned to Sophia. "What do you think?"

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