When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 603

**TITLE: HereSelf 603**
**Chapter 603: The Calculated Move**

“Natalie!”

At the sound of her name, a cold wave of dread washed over Baron.

His heart plummeted into an abyss of anxiety.

He glanced around frantically, his eyes landing on the garden shears abandoned carelessly near the roses, their sharp edges glinting ominously in the fading light. The soil bore the unmistakable marks of hurried footsteps, but they were not the delicate prints left by his wife.

“Security!” he barked, his voice strained with urgency.

The bodyguards rushed in, their faces pale as they realized the gravity of the situation.

“Sir,” one of them stammered, trying to maintain composure despite the palpable tension.

“Where is my wife? She has disappeared right under your noses! What exactly is the purpose of your presence here?” Baron’s voice was laced with fury, each word dripping with accusation.

The bodyguards exchanged anxious glances, their confidence shattered. They had believed that with Hayes neutralized, the Stone and Gunn families were out of danger. Their vigilance had waned, and now they were faced with the horrific reality that someone had dared to abduct Natalie.

“We are at fault. We will begin the search at once,” one of them replied, his voice trembling.

Baron’s expression darkened, a storm brewing within him.

“If anything happens to my wife, I swear every single one of you will face the consequences!” he declared, his voice a low growl as he stormed into the living room.

Waylon, who had been oblivious to the chaos outside, caught sight of Baron’s frantic entrance and felt a knot tighten in his stomach. “What happened? Where is Natalie?” he asked, concern etched on his face.

“Natalie is gone,” Baron replied tersely, urgency propelling him forward as he snatched up his phone to scrutinize the surveillance footage.

Jensen, that cunning adversary, had managed to elude almost all the cameras. However, the one positioned over the garden had captured the horrifying scene.

18:01 Tue, Dec 9 AD

Baron’s heart raced as he watched the footage unfold. He saw Jensen strike Natalie, rendering her unconscious before hoisting her away. In a fit of rage, he slammed his palm against the table, the sound echoing like thunder in the room.

“Damn it!” he shouted, frustration bubbling over.

Jensen had been lurking in the garden, and Baron had walked right past him, oblivious to the danger. How could he have missed the signs?

Waylon turned to Ruby, bewildered. “Aren’t you worried about Natalie? Why didn’t you want me to go with him?”

Ruby’s gaze followed Baron’s retreating figure, her voice soft yet resolute. “Natalie is with Baron because he saved her. I can see the depth of his love for her, but I don’t think Natalie fully understands her feelings for him yet. This situation with Jensen, as dire as it is, might actually force them to confront their emotions and clarify what they mean to each other.”

“But you’re still worried about Natalie, aren’t you?” Waylon pressed, searching her face for signs of doubt.

A small smile graced Ruby’s lips at his question. “I am concerned, of course. But I also know Jensen’s intentions, and I prepared for this long ago.”

“A plan?” Waylon’s surprise was evident.

In his mind, Ruby had always been the nurturing figure, the one who relied on him for solutions. Hearing her speak of a plan felt surreal, like discovering an entirely new facet of her character.

Ruby sensed the skepticism in Waylon’s eyes, and though a flicker of annoyance sparked within her, she understood why he might doubt her. The years spent searching for their child had fostered a sense of vigilance in her that sometimes made others question her reliability.

“Oh, well,” she sighed, collecting her thoughts. “I didn’t specifically guard against Jensen, but I know Loretta. She has always held a prominent position in the Luke family. When Jensen’s identity came to light, Loretta was cast out. While she may feel some maternal affection for him, Jensen being the illegitimate son of the Gunn family has ignited her ambition. She could leave the Luke family behind and become his adoptive mother. Anticipating her moves, I hired someone to keep an eye on her. I never imagined that the surveillance would actually reveal something so crucial.”

As Ruby spoke, she realized she had merely been exercising foresight, never expecting it to be so vital at this moment.

Waylon found himself reevaluating his perception of Ruby, seeing her not just as a worried mother but as a woman of strength and cunning.