The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 505

Natalie shook her head as she answered, "I've asked Mom about it when I was on the call with her at the hotel. She said we never made enemies, and since we've always been on good terms with the Holdens, no one would be reckless enough to cross us.

"Cindy had been by my mother's side since she was young, which is why she moved with them to Amberton. But back then, she wasn't married, and she definitely wasn't pregnant. So how was Emma born and switched with me?"

"There's only one possibility—Emma was born from another woman," Marcus added.

Natalie didn't state it outright, but Marcus caught on immediately.

"Well, that explains why Cindy was never pregnant yet still had a biological daughter who could be swapped with me on the day I was born."

She went on, "Mom told me that she and Laura had made a promise years ago. It just so happened that Laura got pregnant first, so you were born before me. But the engagement between our families still stands, just as planned. Before Cindy started working for my mother, she was just a worker from a small and remote town… Wait."

She suddenly thought of something. "Cindy's from Scarlet Hill."

"Scarlet Hill?"

Marcus' expression darkened slightly. "I'll have Ethan look into it right away."

"The notebook Selena gave me contains the names of multiple girls who were moved from Scarlet Hill."

A thought struck Natalie, and she immediately called the police department.

"Mr. Keller? I need you to send a team to Scarlet Hill right away. Have them check out the entertainment venues."

"What's going on, Natalie?"

She quickly relayed her suspicions, and within moments, the officers were on their way to Scarlet Hill.

"Laura and Wesley spent years searching for a cure, but when they finally gave up, they chose to settle down in Scartlet Hill. That's the only reason we ever had a chance to come here.

"Scarlet Hill is a well-known tourist spot in Amberton. The Walkers and Holdens were based in Dithoria. Under normal circumstances, they would have had no reason to visit here."

Natalie sighed. "Who could have imagined such a breathtaking place would be exploited as a human trafficking route?"

Marcus' expression darkened. "Nat, I have a bad feeling about this. Whoever is behind this is no petty criminal."

"Do you think it's Cassie?"

"No, it's not her," Marcus replied without hesitation. "She's unhinged, sure, but she's rich. She doesn't like kids, but she's never been known to hurt them.

"Besides, according to Grace, the timeline doesn't add up. That means the mastermind must be from my grandfather's generation."

"Then, do you think Grandpa Charles holds any clues?"

"I've asked him before, and he told me he's never offended anyone or done anything cruel. With our family's status, most people wouldn't dare to mess with us. That's what makes this all the more baffling."

Marcus pressed his fingers against his temples. "I want to know who's controlling Grace. We need to get her phone from her room. Once we have it, we might get some answers. But Nat, I have a feeling this won't be a simple case to crack."

"It's fine. We have to give it a shot anyway." Natalie flashed a smile. "The tougher the challenge, the more rewarding the victory. Don't you agree?"

"Yeah, I agree. But right now, I just want to kiss you."

The moment the words left his mouth, Marcus closed the distance, kissing her before she could react.

Natalie lifted her face slightly, melting into the kiss.

She loved kissing Marcus. His lips were soft, carrying a faint sweetness that reminded her of the strawberry candy she used to love as a child.

At first, he wasn't the best at it—he'd accidentally nip her lips or tongue. However, it didn't take long for him to improve.

Perhaps men had a natural talent for this sort of thing.

After a lingering moment, they finally pulled away.