The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

That night, Laura didn't sleep well. She had a long, terrifying nightmare

In the dream, a massive, bloated white grub was crushing her chest, suffocating her under its weight. Then, it began laying thousands of tiny larvae, which squirmed and burrowed relentlessly into her skin, disappearing beneath the surface.

Laura struggled desperately to push the grotesque creature off her, but her limbs were paralyzed-useless. Her terror reached its peak as she opened her mouth to scream for Wesley, but no matter how hard she tried, not a single sound came out.

Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. Suddenly, the white grub let out a chilling, inhuman cackle. At that moment, the bedroom door creaked open, and Cassie walked in.

But she was nothing like the gentle, affectionate sister-in-law Laura knew. Cassie wore a red wedding gown, her figure illuminated by the eerie glow of a lantern she held in her hand. A thin layer of white fuzz clung to the lantern's surface.

"Cassie, help me!"

Laura managed to choke out the words, stretching a trembling hand toward her.

But Cassie only giggled softly. She stepped forward, placing the lantern in Laura's outstretched palm. The moment Laura touched it, the white fuzz covering the lantern detached like the tiny larvae before and burrowed into her skin.

Cassie crouched beside her, reaching out to brush Laura's damp hair from her forehead.

"Laura, don't worry," she whispered sweetly. "I'll take good care of Marcus."

The warmth in her voice sent a chill down Laura's spine.noveldrama

"Wesley loves you. Even my father cherishes you. But why?" Cassie's voice turned sharp, mocking.

"Before you showed up, I was the princess of the Holden family. I was the one they adored. But after you came, their hearts shifted away from me."

Cassie's expression darkened. "Besides, you don't deserve Wesley!"

She traced Laura's cheek with a light touch. "You're pretty, sure. But what else do you have over me?

"Still, I should thank you. My father always wanted a grandson, and you gave him exactly that. Wesley and I—well, we're blood siblings. We can't have children together. So consider this baby your repayment to the Holden family.

"I've treated you so well-fed you, clothed you, entertained you. It's only fair that you return the favor, don't you think?"

Laura's body trembled violently. "Cassie... you—"

Her voice faltered, unable to form the words. She stared at Cassie, her eyes filled with shock-and fear.

Cassie's smirk widened. "That's right. I love Wesley." She brought her lips close to Laura's ear and whispered, "If I weren't his biological sister, do you really think a man as perfect as him would've chosen you?

"As long as Wesley has a child, no one can stop me from being with him. And if we never have a child, who would ever know we were together?"

Laura's mind reeled. Every word Cassie spoke was crystal clear, yet their meaning felt incomprehensible.

"Laura, Wesley loves me, and I love him. As for you? You were just brought in to bear our child. But don't worry. I'll raise Marcus as if he were my own. You can rest easy now."

"Cassie " Laura's voice rose in a strangled cry.

Suddenly, the enormous grub on her chest burst apart, and the suffocating weight

on her body disappeared. With newfound strength, Laura shoved Cassie away and bolted upright, panting heavily.

"Does Wesley know what kind of person you are?" she gasped.

"You're terrifying. Truly terrifying."

Cassie only smiled. "Of course he knows."

Laura's breath caught in her throat.

"You didn't actually think I did all of this without his knowledge, did you?" Cassie giggled, her eyes glinting with eerie amusement.

"Then... what about Father? Does he know?"

Cassie tilted her head, her smile deepening. "Father? Of course he does. Why

else do you think he treats you better than his own daughter?"

Laura's vision blurred.

"Laura," Cassie murmured. "You're just a tool. Enjoy the gift I've prepared for you."

With that, she stood, lifted her

lantern, and turned toward the door.

"Tonight, Wesley and I will finally be

together. If I'm in a good mood,

might even let you watch our wedding night, though I doubt you'd want to."

"Cassie Holden-"A deep, authoritative voice cut through the room like a blade.

The bedroom lights flashed on, revealing Charles standing in the doorway, his expression thunderous. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and struck Cassie hard across the face.

"I've raised a monster! How dare you do this to Laura?" he spat.

"Someone, take Cassie to the basement! Lock her up!"

His rage was palpable, his hands trembling with fury as he turned to Sheldon. "Where's Wesley?"

Sheldon hesitated before responding carefully, "Ms. Cassie drugged him. The effects have already taken hold, so he can't come right now. I've summoned the family doctor."

"It's useless," Cassie interjected, looking up from where she had fallen. Her cheek was red and swollen, but she laughed anyway. "The drug I gave Wesley-no ordinary doctor can cure it.

"Father, don't you cherish Laura?" Cassie sneered. "I poisoned her with Umbrahex-and only I have the cure. But I won't give it to her.

"Hahaha! You always claimed to love me, and Wesley always said he cared about

me. But both of you treat Laura better than you ever treated me!

"Why? What gives you the right to keep me away from Wesley?

"You wanted a grandson, and now Laura has given you one. Isn't it time you let me be with Wesley?"

"Cassie, you're insane! A complete lunatic!"

Charles was shaking with fury. "Take her to the basement! No one is to release her without my order!"

"Yes, Mr. Holden Senior."

Sheldon swiftly led the maids in restraining Cassie. As they dragged her away, Laura sat there in stunned silence, her mind racing.

Had she really heard what she just heard?

Cassie loved Wesley and drugged him?

And Charles-he had shown no intention of protecting Cassie, nor signs of covering for her.

But what about Wesley? Did he know Cassie harbored such twisted feelings for

him?

"Laura, don't be afraid. I'll get a

doctor to see you right away. I won't

let anything happen to you." Charles

stepped forward to comfort her,

raising his hand as if to pat her head but hesitating midway.

"This is my fault. I never noticed what was going on in Cassie's mind. I'll find a

psychologist to help her, and I'll make sure you get better too."

"Thank you, Father," Laura murmured, unsure of what else to say. She felt terrible, her body weak and mind muddled. "Is Wesley okay?"

"He'll be fine, and so will you," Charles said firmly. "I'll get the doctor right away."

He left the room, and before long, a team of doctors arrived to examine Laura. One after another, they finished their check-ups, only to shake their heads in uncertainty.

The exhausting ordeal stretched late into the night, and eventually, Laura could no longer fight off sleep.

By early morning, a caretaker at the postpartum centre woke her. Handing Laura

a mirror, the woman watched as Laura took one look at her reflection-and let out a blood-curdling scream.