The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

“Oh, right, I’m getting old. Mhearmg’s not what it used to be.” Jacob said, waving his hand by his ear to show he wasn

making it up.

Natalie looked at him with a calm, steady gaze, then finally nodded.

She picked up her bowl and took a sip of the noodle soup.

She had already asked Larkin to come over. Since Jacob didn’t want her to worry, she just acted clueless and pretended she lidn’t notice anything.

Got it,” she said.

acob let out a breath, his shoulders sagging with relief.

He stood up, walked over to the counter, and started tidying up the dishes.

arkin finally showed up a little after six.

Jatalie was playing Go with Jacob in the yard. Maybe it was the medicine, but Jacob was unusually energetic today, and he ept Natalie playing for quite a while.

What’s up with you today? Normally, I can’t even win two out of ten games against you, but now I keep losing. Are you oing easy on me because I’m an old man?” Jacob squinted at her, sizing her up.

latalie blinked innocently. “No, maybe you’ve just gotten craftier lately! After all, you’re my teacher. The older you get, the nore tricks you have up your sleeve. It’s only natural that I can’t beat you.”

acob caught the meaning behind her words and laughed until his face turned red. “You little brat, you’re getting more clever ith your words every day.”

Knock, knock, knock!”

acob looked puzzled, wondering who would show up at this hour. “Who is it?”

latalie got up to answer the door. Larkin was standing outside, dressed in a black T–shirt and loose beige pants

Who are you looking for?”

acob didn’t recognize him.

Natalie stepped aside to let him in. “He’s the caretaker I hired Grandma’s house is usually empty and I’m worried the Gre amily might come by again

He also plays Go, so he can keep you company when you’re bored Plus he’s a pretty good cook so you wecan rat ogether

acob looked skeptical is be really just the caretaker

it telt kind of weard almost like he was here to check on me

Natalie krpt 4 straight face Yeah

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And about the medicine I gave you. Ell hand it over to him Loer so he con brew it for your every day. You have to take at or I’ll come back every day just to make sure you de

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7:45 am P P

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As soon as Jacob heard that Natalie would come back just to make sure he took his medicine, he nodded immediately Dory worry, I’ll take it. Your school comes first!”

He started urging her to leave It’s getting dark, and you still have to get back to the city. You should go now”

Natalie’s brows twitched as she looked at him for a moment before finally saying. “Alright, I’ll come back to see you this

weekend.”

Okay, hold on a second. Here, take this.” Jacob said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a string of beads

It wasn’t anything valuable, just a simple peach pit bracelet.

Each bead had been polished smooth and shiny over the years, their edges rounded, and they gave off a subtle reddish

heen.

He’d worn it for almost thirty years, and the patterns on the beads had been rubbed so smooth they were barely visible

nymore.

Here, take this,” Jacob said, pressing the bracelet into Natalie’s hand.

Wear it well, alright? I’ve cherished this bracelet for thirty years,” he added.

Natalie looked down at the bracelet in her hand, the beads smooth and darkened from years of use. She held it tightly. ccepting it without hesitation. “Okay.”

Let’s snap a photo,” Natalie said with a playful wink. “It’s the first time you’ve let me get my hands on your old treasure, gotta ommemorate it!”

acob wasn’t sure why this moment needed to be captured, but somehow… it really did feel special enough to remember Natalie handed her phone to Larkin. Jacob took a seat on the stone bench, and she stood behind him.

After leaving the yard, Natalie reminded Larkin about Jacob’s medicine and handed him the keys. Don’t worry, Ms. Gardener. I’ll make sure Jacob is well taken care of,” Larkin said.

Monday rolled around, and after a grueling week of military training, classes finally kicked off for real The first class of the day was a shared English class for Physics Class Land Music Performance Class & Rosie was in Music Performance Class 8, so she and Natalie got to attend the same class together As Natalie and Rose walked into the classroom together everyone’s attention was instantly drawn in them

“Wow, isn’t that the school beauty? She’s really taking ac

Lass with us!

“Isn’t the girl next to her hom our

Class

“Damn, she’s actually friends with the school beauty!

Rosie lifted her chin proudly, thinking to herself Sec The campus queen by my bestiel

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Chapter 186-

o ahead, be jealous! Eat your heart out!

They grabbed seats somewhere in the middle, and before the gossip even trad a chance to die down, someone walked in at

the door.

She was rocking a pale pink mini dress, her soft brown hair cascading down with a whine headband, looking pure and adorable, like a total sweetheart.

The whole class started buzzing all over again.

“Whoa, who is that? She’s got that total ‘white moonlight‘ vibe! How have I never seen her before?”

‘No clue, but she looks so pure, like, seriously innocent!”

‘Yeah, she’s not the kind of jaw–dropping beauty like the school queen, but she totally reminds me of my white moonlight crush!”

Agreed! Two beauties, completely different styles!”

Man my eyes are living the dream today. School queen behind me, white moonlight in front. Sitting right in the middle. his is peak life!”

Wait, she’s one of us? I heard she was too weak to join the training, so that’s why we never saw her before.”

Damn, she’s in our class? Awesome! Both stunners are ours!”

Rosie’s brows instantly knitted together and her lips pursed the second she saw Iris Rowan walk in.

Why does my sister haunt me everywhere I go?‘ Rosie grumbled to herself.

She buried her head in her arms on the desk, thinking, ‘Ugh, I don’t want to see her, and I definitely don’t want her to see

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But Iris Rowan had already spotted Rosie and Natalie, and she walked straight over to them.

Rosie? How come you haven’t kept in touch with the family these past two months? Grandpa and Grandma really miss you ris Rowan said in her sweetest, most innocent voice.

Rosie wrinkled her nose in frustration. If she’d bumped into Iris Rowan alone, she probably would ve just let it shishy

But now. Natalie was right by her side! No way she’d back down.

Rosie absolutely hated her sister. So two–faced, sweet on the surface, scheming underneath

Iris Kowan was a pro at acting all weak and innocent in front of others, but behind the scenes she was always sanching and setting traps Rosie had lost count of how many times she’d been screwed over by her since they were kids

But now with Natale and her uncle in her corner Ruiste wasn’t scared of her anymore

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