The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 184

The two–week military training camp was finally over.

For the past couple of days. Natalie had been trying to video call Jacob, but he never picked up. Sometimes hed text her back later, saying he was hanging out at someone’s place and didn’t bring his phone, and other times he’d just ghost her no calls, no replies, nothing.

It was Saturday, and Natalie was planning to head back to Rivertown for a bit.

Rosie Rowan had headed out early that morning, and no one had a clue where she went. She’d been hard to find these past few days, always vanishing as soon as training was over at noon.

Blondie used to always ask her to hang out or grab food, but lately, even he’d been acting weirdly distant.

Natalie stepped out around ten in the morning. She was wearing a light blue plaid shirt over a white racerback tank, paired with light blue denim cutoffs.

She topped it off with a faded light blue baseball cap, her long hair hanging loose, and carried two cloth bags filled with herbs.

As she stepped out, she bumped right into Henry Pierce, who was coming out of the apartment across the hall.

Henry Pierce’s face lit up. This time, he hadn’t even tried to orchestrate a coincidence. It just happened. ‘See? We’re totally made for each other,‘ he thought, grinning to himself.

He’d pretty much moved in here, and he wasn’t hiding it. Even though Natalie never asked, he already had his answer ready

‘I just want to be close to you, see you every day. That’s why I moted in,‘ he’d say without missing a beat.

But what Henry Pierce didn’t realize was that Natalie never asked because she knew his answer would be cheesy as hell.

Henry Pierce, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, walked over to her in a relaxed, natural way.

“Heading out?” he asked.

“Yeah, Natalie replied.

She opened the back door of her white Audi and placed her bags inside.

Henry Pierce, being his usual shameless self, wouldn’t let it go. “So, where are you headed

Natalie closed the back door, arched an eyebrow, and turned to him “Guess”

Henry saw that playful, almost–smirking look on her face, and it got under his skin, but on the surface he stayed cool as

ever.

He leaned against the doorframe hands in his pockets, tilted his head and then spoke itp

“Shopping” he guessed

Natalie ignored him and opened the driver’s door

“Hiking Henry kept guessing

Natalie shid into the driver’s seat and buckled up

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Chapter 184-

rating a friend Henry kept throwing out guesses.

“Heading home?” he guessed again.

Natalie started the car, the engine rumbled to life

0

Henry Pierce got a bit anxious, stepped right up to the window, looking dead serious. “So, you’re off to get me a birthday gift?”

Natalie finally turned to look at him, her eyes calm and steady, like she was looking at him as if he were an idiot.

“Isn’t your birthday next month?” she shot back.

Henry Pierce froze for a second.

His hand stayed on the car window, body locked in place, but his heart suddenly started racing.

Wait, she knows my birthday’s next month?‘ Henry thought, completely stunned.

I never told her!‘

They’d never talked about birthdays or even mentioned their ages since they met, but somehow, she knew.

She actually knows my birthday!‘ Henry was totally floored.

Henry was about to speak up, but Natalie shut him down before he could get a word out.

She frowned, kept one hand on the wheel, and with the other, firmly peeled his hand off the window, no hesitation, all

business.

Then she rolled up the window, the engine revved louder, and her white Audi spun around in a slick U–turn, speeding off

Henry stood there, hand still pressed against the window, frozen in place.

The white Audi’s taillights flashed around the corner, then disappeared.

Henry slowly lowered his hand and slipped it into his pocket.

The grin on his face kept growing, and he just couldn’t hold it back.

He pulled out his phone and opened up his chat with Natalie.

He scrolled all the way up. Nope, not a single mention of his birthday anywhere.

Then he checked his social media, just to be sure, not a single birthday post

He even Googled himself just in case, nothing as expected. He always kept his into private

So how did she know? Henry wondered, totally ballled

He turned around and spotted Lewis not far behind him

Lewis jumped, totally caught off guard by Henry’s sudden um He scrambled to bude his plom hoping Heroy hardhity him snapping those unflattering photos of his briss just now

Oh crap, did he see me? Lewis thought panicking

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Chapter 184.

in downed, he thought, feeling the dread wash over him.

But the next second. Henry suddenly demanded. “How did you know she knows my birthday’s next month?

Lewis stiffened up, startled. Uh?”

Henry glanced at his phone again, grinning ear to ear. He looked nothing like the infamous Henry from Harbor City now

“Come on, let’s head to the office,” Henry said, grinning.

Lewis blinked, still a bit out of it. “Uh, oh, okay, please get in.”

Meanwhile, Natalie had no idea what was going on in Henry’s head. The only reason she even remembered his birthday was because Rosie had been nagging her nonstop the past few days, stressing over what to get him next fronth.

Honestly, Natalie only remembered because Rosie kept drilling it into her head.

Rosie was totally doing it on purpose, since she’d already figured out her uncle was into Natalie.

At first, Rosie was a little freaked out by her uncle always trying to get her to call Natalie “aunt,” but then she thought. Eh. hey’re only six or seven years apart. Whatever.‘

Her uncle had no vices, was good–looking, loaded, and actually pretty impressive. No rumors, no exes, clean record all

round.

He passed the friend test, for now. She’d keep watching him, and if he ever made Natalie unhappy, he’d be out.

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