The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

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Natalie was thoroughly satisfied, thinking, ‘No wonder this place is such a legend in Harbor City. The food really is that good.”‘

By the time the last course was finished, she had cleaned every plate in front of her.

Henry took a sip of water, “I didn’t expect you to have such an appetite, Miss Moore.”

Natalie dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “I’ve always eaten like this.”

A faint smile touched Henry’s lips. “Now that you’re back in town, there are plenty of good restaurants in Harbor City. If you’d like, I’d be happy to take you to a few.”

Blondie rolled his eyes. ‘Here he goes again.”

Natalie didn’t answer him directly. “Thank you. Maybe next time.”

Blondie patted his stomach and got to his feet. “Thanks for dinner, Mr. Pierce. It’s getting late, Talia. We should get going.”

Henry’s brow twitched. ‘He never knows when to shut up?‘ But with Natalie there, he kept his temper in check and only

shot Blondie a cool, warning look.

Blondie felt a chill at that glance, but with Natalie beside him, he still lifted his chin and glared right back.

Natalie seemed not to notice the tension between them. She picked up her napkin, wiped her fingers slowly, and rose to

her feet. “Let’s go.” Her tone stayed even, without the slightest hint of emotion.

Once they were outside, Blondie instinctively moved to open the passenger door for Natalie.

Henry stood where he was and watched the yellow car disappear into the distance, his eyes narrowing. Then he took out his phone and made a call. “Look into Blondie for me.”

Lewis, still laid up in the hospital, answered at once. “Yes, Mr. Pierce.”

When Natalie got home, Ryan and Ethan were bickering over something she couldn’t even figure out, and it looked like they were about to throw hands.

Ethan, clearly annoyed, pushed Ryan’s head away with one hand, still holding a book in the other. “No deal.”

Ryan refused to back down. “Ethan, come on. Just let me borrow it for a few days, please? I’ll be your slave.”

“No way. Not a chance. This isn’t up for discussion,” Ethan’s tone was final.

Ryan gritted his teeth. “Alright, Ethan. If you won’t give it to me, I’m gonna take it myself.”

The moment the words left his mouth, his eyes locked on the book in Ethan’s hand, and he clearly looked ready to snatch.

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Chapter 43

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Ethan frowned, held the book up high with one hand, and gave Ryan a hard shove with the other, sending him sprawling

onto the couch.

“What are you two doing?” Natalie asked, hands in her pockets as she leaned casually against the door, watching them with a hint of amusement.

Both of them turned to look at her, only now realizing she’d come home. They’d been so caught up in their argument that they hadn’t even noticed her arrival.

Ethan quickly tucked the book away, his usual calm, gentle expression settling back into place, though the faint pink at the tips of his ears gave him away.

Ryan, on the other hand, sprang up from the couch, still looking annoyed, but when he saw Natalie, he plastered on a forced grin. “Hey, you’re back?”

Natalie responded with a quiet “Mm–hmm“, walked into the living room, and took a seat on the couch. “What are you two fighting over?”

“It’s nothing. Just a book.” Ethan tried to play it cool.

“It’s not just a book.” Ryan jumped up, practically bouncing with excitement. “That’s the first volume of my favorite novel in hard copy. It just got delivered today. And Ethan’s copy has the author’s printed signature. It’s a limited edition.”

His voice was dripping with envy and frustration. “I couldn’t even snag one. There were barely any online. Ethan just got insanely lucky or something. And he won’t even let me take a peek.”

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“Of course. I literally dream about it.” Ryan nodded so hard it looked like his head might fall off. “It’s Bluebell’s autograph. She’s my idol. This is huge for me.”

She nodded, glanced at the unsigned edition in Ryan’s hands, and suddenly said, “Let me see your book.”

Ryan blinked, unsure what Natalie was planning, but he handed over his copy without hesitation, still grumbling under his breath. “Look, Natalie. Mine doesn’t have anything. Ethan’s has a printed signature. How is that fair?”

Natalie said, “How about I sign it for you?”

“You want to sign it for me?” Ryan blinked, a mix of disbelief and amusement on his face. He shot her a look that said, “Seriously? Are you kidding me?”

“Look, honey. I know you’re just trying to make me feel better, but your autograph doesn’t really count, does it? It’s not like you’re Bluebell… Sure, you’re my favorite sister, but…”

He scratched his head, staring at his shiny new regular edition and feeling a bit bummed, especially since all the hard

copies were already sold out.

He looked at Natalie and then at Ethan’s coveted printed–signature edition, and after a moment of hesitation, handed his

book over anyway. “Alright, if you wanna sign on it, then sign on it. What can I do? You’re my favorite.”

He tried to act tough, but honestly, it hurt like hell inside.

Natalie took the book, paying no mind to Ryan’s melodramatic expression. She flipped open to the front page without a

second thought and then fished a black pen out of her bag.

Ryan and Ethan both stared at her, their eyes full of curiosity and anticipation.

Natalie’s hand paused for only a beat before her pen touched the page. She wrote “Bluebell” in one smooth motion, the

signature sharp, stylish, and uncannily close to the printed one in Ethan’s copy. Even the tiny flourish at the end matched almost exactly.

Ryan’s eyes went wide, and his mouth hung open in shock.

He snatched the book back, pressed it right up to his face, and stared at the signature in disbelief. It was exactly the same. as the ones he’d been staring at online all night.