The Scorned Heiress's Hidden Empire (by Jade Quinn) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Thanks.”

Natalie took the bag and tucked her things inside.

Lewis watched her, his eyes filled with pity as he recalled the background check he’d run.

He never expected her life to be such a tragedy…

She had scraped by in the countryside with the grandmother who adopted her. After the old woman died, she was brought to the Grants. They called it “adoption,” but they hadn’t given her a dime in two years.

Lewis couldn’t imagine how she’d managed to juggle school while working to feed herself.

And then, to be kicked out the night before the SATs without even a place to sleep.

She and Miss Rowan were in the same boat, except Rosie had Mr. Pierce. Natalie had no one.

Even her backpack was a knock-off. The legendary designer MOIRÉ had never made a backpack, and judging by the wear and tear, she’d probably been using this one for years.

Natalie shut her door. If she knew what he was thinking, even she wouldn’t be able to keep a straight face.

“Miss Moore, Mr. Pierce is driving Rosie to the exam center. You should come with us.”

Natalie nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”

Lewis led the way while Rosie happily linked arms with Natalie. “This is great! Who knew we’d end up getting kicked out at the same time? Hahaha!”

Natalie: “…Heh.”

They had been deskmates for two years, one ranked dead last in class, the other second to last.

Rosie was a bit chubby and soft-hearted, making her an easy target for bullies until Natalie showed up and put a stop to it.

To Rosie, someone who could protect her and keep her from being the very bottom of the class was basically a goddess.

Plus, Natalie was so gorgeous that she’d dethroned Rosie’s annoying “Prom Queen” sister the moment she arrived. Rosie was officially Natalie’s number one fangirl!

Rosie whispered, “My uncle has such a weird temper; he scares me to death. I have no idea why he showed up yesterday, but thank god you’re here!”

*****

In the three minutes it took to get downstairs, Rosie didn’t stop talking for a second.

14:33 Thu, May 14

Chapter 5

Lewis had never seen Miss Rowan this lively before!

Downstairs, the black Bentley was idling in front of the lobby.

51

Lewis opened the rear door. Henry Pierce was already inside, his long fingers scrolling through world news on a tablet.

The moment the door opened, a calm but commanding gaze shifted toward them.

Henry didn’t turn his head, merely tilting his chin slightly. The morning sun filtered through the glass, casting sharp shadows across his chiseled profile.

He wore a perfectly tailored charcoal suit without a tie. His top button was undone, adding a touch of casual ease to his otherwise impeccable elegance.

A subtle platinum watch hugged his wrist, the face catching the light with a cold glint.

Rosie immediately went quiet, her grip tightening on Natalie’s arm. “U-Uncle Henry.”

“Mhm.”

Henry gave a curt acknowledgment as he looked at them.

Rosie instinctively nudged Natalie forward. “I… I’ll sit in the front. I get carsick…”

Natalie noticed Rosie’s nerves but didn’t say anything. She gave Henry a small nod and slid into the back seat.

The door clicked shut, sealing them off from the outside world.

The interior was spacious, smelling of crisp cedar and a hint of expensive leather, which only added to the serious atmosphere.

Natalie placed her backpack in her lap and cracked the window just enough to let in a sliver of a breeze.

She crossed her legs, resting her chin on her hand as she watched the city blur past.

She sat there in silence, her dark hair cascading down like a waterfall. A few stray strands danced in the wind from the window, brushing against her pale, delicate neck.

The sunlight traced her profile-from her smooth forehead to her straight, elegant nose and her thin, pale lips. Every feature looked sculpted, yet radiated a natural, icy grace.

The light danced on her long lashes, casting fan-shaped shadows that hid her thoughts, leaving only a sense of distant tranquility.

Henry switched off his tablet and looked up to see this exact sight.

Though he was a man of legendary restraint who usually ignored women entirely, his gaze lingered on Natalie for a rare, frozen moment.

Up front, Lewis caught the scene in the rearview mirror.

14:33 Thu, May 14

Chapter 5

With just one look, he immediately averted his eyes to the road, his mind racing with shock.

He’d worked for Henry for nearly a decade and had never seen his boss look at anyone like that.

Lewis’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Holy crap!

No way. Is the ice king actually thawing?

But… Miss Moore is only eighteen or nineteen, just like Rosie. Boss is… twenty-six…

Isn’t that a bit of a “cradle robber” situation?

(

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he felt a sudden chill down his spine and met Henry’s eyes in the mirror.

Breaking into a cold sweat, he stopped daydreaming and focused entirely on driving.

Henry noticed the white backpack in the girl’s lap. The edges were frayed and the fabric was slightly yellowed from washing, but it was perfectly clean and well-kept.

The MOIRÉ logo in the bottom right corner was subtle-almost hidden-with clean, flowing lines.

Yet, Henry’s gaze paused on that very mark.

“If I’m not mistaken, is your backpack a piece by the master designer MOIRÉ?”

MOIRE was a world-class fashion legend known for flawless craftsmanship, an impossibly critical eye, and a notoriously eccentric temper.

No one had ever seen her. All anyone knew was that she was a woman who handled all her business through an assistant.

She only released a handful of pieces each year. Every single one was priceless, and money couldn’t buy them -you needed to catch her in the right mood.

Natalie didn’t even turn away from the window. She just gave a soft “Mhm.”

Henry raised an eyebrow. He’d only just met her, but the girl sitting next to him was nothing like the report, which described a rural nobody, a loser kicked out by the Grants who skipped class and got into fights.

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