The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Natalie rounded the final bend her combat boots hitting the mud at the edge of the track with a heavy thud

She controlled her pace, smoothly transitioning from a run to a walk, then finally coming to a stop

She ripped off the weighted vest, bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for al

Noah stood at the gate, an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips, as he stopped the stopwatch and glanced down at it

He smirked, raising an eyebrow, and flashed the stopwatch at Natalie with a little wave.

Natalie straightened up, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of the number. She didn’t say a word, but a faint smile tugged at her lips.

“One hour and nineteen minutes,” Noah announced.

He switched the unlit cigarette from one corner of his mouth to the other, grinning so wide he couldn’t wipe the mile off his face.

“Natalie, you’re making me rewrite the training plan again. Last year’s record was one hour and twenty–one minutes and you just cut it down by two whole minutes. Two minutes, do you even know what that means?”

Natalie stood up straight, her breathing steady and her heart rate back to normal. The mountain breeze had already dried the sweat from her forehead, though her cheeks still carried the flush of exertion.

“Guess you’ll need to add 10 more pounds next year,” she shot back

Noah burst out laughing, his voice echoing across the empty field before the wind swept it away.

He took the cigarette from his mouth and rolled it between his fingers.

“Add 10 more pounds? You trying to get me roasted by those forty–seven people?” Noah joked.

Natalie shrugged. “They’ll be cursing you, not me.”

Noticing the others catching up behind her, Natalie said with a shrug. “I’m hungry, that’s all

With that, she headed off toward the cafeteria.

Madison and Sebastian were running neck and neck, just a few steps apart, and with one last burst of both made a final sprint for the finish line.

They crossed the finish line almost at the same time

Noah pressed the button: “Madison, one hour, twenty six minutes, duty eight seconds

“Sebastian, one hour, twenty six minutes, torty seconds, he added

He glanced at the two of them, thinking. This year’s recruits are looking pretty solid last year the second place is pound load was one hour and twenty–seven minutes

This year, with 55 pounds, and the second and third places still clocking in like this now that’s impressive

Of course, that’s not counting Natalie’s crazy stamina

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Chapter 142

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Madison and Sebastian nearly collapsed, leaning heavily on their knees. Their chests heaved, each breath scorching hot and cigged. Their throats felt scraped raw, as if sandpaper had torn thertrup, and they were too wiped out to even speak

The 55–pound run had drain every bit of strength from their bodies, leaving their legs aching and numb Sweat streamed down their foreheads, running along their jawlines and dripping into the mur

Their feet were so heavy and sore, it felt like they were filled with lead. Even standing upright was a struggle

Sebastian just dropped into a half–crouch, gasping for breath.

His vision even went a little black for a moment. He’d pushed himself to the absolute limit in that final sprint

After catching their breath for a bit, the two finally managed to lift their heads, automatically looking toward where Natalie had walked off.

That one look made their ragged breathing hitch, shock written all over their faces, impossible to hide.

There was Natalie, walking at a steady pace, her posture straight and sharp. like she hadn’t just finished a brutal weighted

run.

It was as if that insane one hour and nineteen minutes was just another walk in the park for her, something she could pull off without even breaking a sweat.

“How… how long did she take?” Madison asked, his breath coming in ragged gasps, eyes narrowed in disbelief.

Noah followed his gaze to Natalie and let out a low chuckle.

“Nineteen minutes flat.”

“What? Did I hear that right?” Sebastian gasped, still in disbelief.

‘How is that even possible? She’s so skinny, but she crushed us by over seven minutes! Sebastian thought, utterly stained Madison and Sebastian were having their minds blown. Everything they thought they knew just got turned upside tow

Noah just chuckled at their reactions, saying nothing. More people were arriving at the finish line

It’s Blondie.

1

He came running over, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his face, and tossed his weighted pack second thought.

Man, I’m wiped out! Oh my god!” he groaned.

He couldn’t even stand and jus, draped himself over Noah, practically hanging off han

“What’s my time?” Blondie asked sull panting

Noah shoved him off with a grimace “Jeez, you’re drenched Get off me!

Blondie stumbled from the push, but didn’t care. He braced himself with his hands on his hups

Noah glanced at the timer “Looks like you’re shipping this year Blondie Fourth place one hour twenty une autres

seconds”

Chapter 112-

Come in that’s preuy good! I was hauling 10 extra pounds this year!” Blondie shot back, still panting

Blondie was still gasping for breath. “Hang on, are we really gonna have to add another 10 pounds next year‘

Noah just chuckled, saying nothing.

Blondie looked like he was about to keel over. “Do I really have to come back next year? I’m done seriously‘ Who can ev compete with her?”

Madison and Sebastian had finally caught their breath and could at least stand up straight.

They watched Blondie and Noah interacting, a bunch of questions swirling in their heads

‘So Blondie and Noah go way back, huh? He’s been coming here for years?‘ Madison wondered.

And he knows Natalie too?‘ Sebastian thought, still trying to wrap his head around it.

Wait, they’re really gonna add 10 more pounds next year? What’s that got to do with Natalie?‘ they both wondered

Noah cleared his throat, noticing the looks on their faces and letting his smile fade. “Why are you just standing here Go

eat!”

Madison and Sebastian didn’t say a word, just slowly headed toward the cafeteria.

Blondie took a moment to catch his breath, then shuffled after them./

*****

At that moment, Natalie was all alone in the vast cafeteria, having the whole place to herself as she ate Madison and Sebastian came in one after the other, grabbed their food, and sat down at the table next to Natalies

Madison spoke first. “Madison, from Harbor City, Marine Corps.”

Sebastian, sitting across from him, said, “Sebastian, from Eastland, Special Operations Brigade

They’d finally introduced themselves.

Blondie grabbed his food and sat down across from Natalie, catching the tail end of their conversation et gratis spoke up.

“Just call me Blondie. I’m from Harbor City, just floating around, not with any unit he saad

Noah raised an eyebrow. “Not with any unit? What does that mean?”

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