The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160 Back To The Harbor City

Chapter 160 Back To The Harbor City

The party was held in the cafeteria. Tonight, they served barbecue pork ribs, grilled fish, stewed ribs, green salad, and a huge pot of pumpkin soup.

The veteran cook, wearing his apron and holding a big ladle, stood at the door, his face creased with a wide smile.

He’d been cooking at this training camp for nine years, watching nine groups of trainees graduate.

Whenever graduation rolled around, he always whipped up two extra dishes.

Everyone gathered around a long table made by pushing several tables together, the place buzzing with chatter and laughter. Many people were scribbling down each other’s contact info on scraps of paper.

Natalie and Henry came in one after the other and grabbed a random seat.

When Natalie walked in, Sunny stood up, making a fuss as he set down his fork.

“Natalie is here! Come on, Instructor, say something!” he called out, his voice full of mischief.

The others quickly joined in, chanting, “Yeah, say something! Come on, say something!”

Natalie gave them a faint smile and raised her hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down. The cafeteria went silent, and all eyes were on her.

Hayden and the others chanted, “Say something!” Natalie repeated after them, her tone casual, a small smile tugging at her lips.

“Alright, I’ll say a few words,” she said, her posture relaxed.

She scanned the room, meeting every face. Two months ago, I checked you all out just like this, but back then, you weren’t looking at me the way you are now.

“Two months ago, all forty-six of you were lined up on the field, and some of you couldn’t even show the most basic respect,” Natalie said.

Sunny ducked his head, his ears burning red.

Xavier, sitting next to him, looked just as embarrassed, his fingers tightly gripping his knees.

“Two months later, there are twenty-five of you sitting here. I’m not going to say you’ve gotten stronger. Getting stronger is your own business, not mine,” Natalie said.

“All I want to say is, the reason you’re here is because you never gave up. It’s not because you’re especially talented, or because you had a strong foundation. It’s because you refused to leave yourself any way out. That’s why you’re sitting here now.”

Kelly stared at Natalie, her eyes misty. She never expected she’d actually stick it out till the end. ‘Turns out, every time I failed, it was because I’d already given myself an excuse to quit.’

If Natalie hadn’t talked to her that night, Kelly probably would’ve gone back to her unit ages ago. When she first got here, she figured, ‘I’m a woman. Quitting wouldn’t be anything to be embarrassed about.’

Natalie picked up her glass of water and looked around at everyone.

“Training’s over, and you’re all about to head out. Maybe to new places, maybe to start new training. Just remember, you came from here. Make us proud out there. And finally…”

She paused, her voice warm and genuine. “Wishing all of you a brilliant future. Let’s drink to that!”

“Bottoms up!” everyone shouted, and all twenty-five of them tipped their heads back, finishing their water in one go.

Some drank so fast that water spilled from the corners of their mouths and ran down their necks.

Natalie sat down and picked up her fork.

“Let’s eat,” she said.

Noah’s eyes filled with tears of joy. ‘This is amazing. I’m finally graduating this year, he thought, feeling a rush of happiness. He’d always known this day would come, but it still felt like it arrived out of nowhere.

His gaze met Henry’s, and they shared a smile, raising their glasses in a silent toast across the table.

Ivan stood up and said, “Let me put on a little s

“Go for it!”

I sing a song?”

Successfully unlocked!

Someone cheered.

1/3

Chapter 160 Back To The Harbor City

Everyone cracked up at his pitchy, winding voice. “Hahaha, Ivan, get off the stage already! someone shouted.

Kelly, swept up by the lively mood, couldn’t resist jumping in to perform too.

“I’ll do it! I’ll dance for everyone!” she called out, waving her hand excitedly.

“Yeah! Let our beautiful Kelly give us a dance!” someone shouted, and the whole table burst into cheers.

Kelly beamed as she danced, showing off a traditional routine from her hometown. When she finished, everyone was totally stunned. Some even forgot to clap.

“Whoa, who knew our sniper queen Kelly had so many hidden talents!”

“Hell yeah!” Kelly shot back, grinning.

Everyone cracked up, the laughter echoing through the cafetería.

Natalie couldn’t help but join in the laughter, swept up by the lively atmosphere.

Henry, sitting beside her, raised his glass and clinked it lightly against hers. “Looks like we’ll be working together for a long time, Instructor. Hope you’ll keep showing me the ropes.”

Natalie glanced at him, gave a small nod, and took a sip from her glass. “Yeah.”

Blondie was grinning from ear to ear. ‘It’s finally over! Two whole months. Wonder if my little trinket has missed me even a bit, he thought, feeling giddy.

‘Tomorrow, I’m gonna give her a surprise!’ he added, already picturing her shocked face.

*****

The next morning, two small military shuttle buses were parked at the entrance.

After seeing off the trainees from each unit, Blondie drove over.

Henry flashed Natalie a smile. “Mind if I catch a ride with you?”

He’d finally swapped out his training gear for a set of neat black casual clothes, and his hair was immaculately styled, looking way more polished than usual.

After all those weeks of grueling training, you’d never guess he’d been out in the sun. His skin was still that same cool, aristocratic pale as before.

Natalie pulled open the passenger door, not even looking at him. “Yeah.”

Once she was in the car, Natalie buckled up and pulled out her phone, opening WhatsApp.

There were over 99 unread messages waiting for her.

Most of them were from the “Angel Investors Project” group chat, over 99 messages piling up. She tapped into the chat, where messages were still flying fast and furious. She didn’t bother scrolling up, just started reading from the latest ones.

Ryan: [Wow, it’s already day 58 since Natalie left… I really miss her!]

Jason: [She went out, she went to see her uncle, so how come she just disappeared on us?]

Charlotte: [Okay, you two, chill. Natalie already said she had things to handle. Stop being so dramatic!]

Andrew: [School’s starting soon. Natalie should be back any day now.]

Ethan: [I’m cooking lunch today. You two coming back for a meal? @Ryan @Blake.]

Ryan: [Of course!]

Blake: [Yeah, I’ll be there.]

Natali

100

her message, the chat froze for a split second, then blew up like fireworks, messages popping off

hhhh!

blowing up the chat with a ton of exclamation marks, then dropping a bunch of three- or four- talie didn’t bother listening. She just tapped to convert them to text.

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