The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Laura stared at her reflection in the mirror, unable to control the piercing scream that escaped her lips.

The face staring back at her was covered in fine white fur, and her once long, silky black hair had turned completely snow-white. She was unrecognizable.

"This isn't me! This isn't me!" she shrieked, grabbing the mirror from the maid's hands and smashing it.

Wesley rushed in and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Laura," he murmured, holding her firmly. "Don't be afraid. I'll find a doctor who can cure you. I won't let anything happen to you." His voice trembled as he clung to her.

Laura struggled against him. "Let go of me! Let go!"

"Laura, don't move. Don't be afraid." No matter how much she thrashed and sobbed, Wesley refused to release her. "I'll stay with you until we find a doctor who can treat you. I will make sure you recover. I promise."

The events of the previous night flashed through Laura's mind, and a terrifying thought struck her.

Maybe it hadn't been a dream. Maybe it had all really happened.

"Wesley, tell me the truth. Last night, did Cassie enter my room wearing a red wedding gown and holding a lantern?" she forced herself to calm down, gripping Wesley's shirt tightly.

Wesley hesitated before slowly shaking his head. "No, Laura. You must have had a nightmare."

"You're lying," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. "You're lying to me. It wasn't a dream. It really happened, didn't it? Cassie loves you, doesn't she? She even drugged you. She wants to be with you. She even wants to marry you, right?" Her fingers dug into his shirt. "You and Cassie are disgusting!"

"Laura!" Wesley's anger flared as he shoved her away. "How could you even think that? Even if Cassie had feelings for me, I never knew! I had no idea she harbored such twisted thoughts. She's my sister! We're siblings-nothing more. You were dreaming, Laura! It was just a dream!"

Laura stared at him, his sudden outburst confirming everything she feared. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she threw off the blanket, forcing herself out of bed despite the pain coursing through her body. "I need to find my child."

She hadn't forgotten what Cassie had said last night-about the baby being hers, meant for them. Laura couldn't let her child fall into Cassie's hands.

"Wesley, you and Cassie disgust me," Laura spat, gritting her teeth through her tears. "A sister in love with her own brother, and a brother who covers for her while she harms his wife-you're both disgusting freaks!"

"That's not true! Laura, it's not like that!" Wesley grabbed her, his eyes red with desperation. "You're misunderstanding me. I love you, only you. I always have." His voice cracked. "I've never had those kinds of feelings for Cassie.

"You've known me for so long. Do you really not know what kind of person I am? You can't just lump me together with Cassie because of her feelings!

"Cassie is Cassie. I am me. If you don't trust her, fine. But do you not trust me either?" He was basically pleading with her.

"I want to see my child," Laura said firmly. "Wesley, I want a divorce. I'm taking my child and leaving."noveldrama

"In your condition? How do you plan to survive? How will you raise a child on your own?" Wesley held her tightly and gently laid her back on the bed. "Cassie is locked in the basement. Father is interrogating her for the antidote. Once we have it, you'll recover."

He choked on his sobs as he held her close. "Laura, please. Believe me."

"Let me go, Wesley!" Laura fought against him. "I don't believe you. I will never believe you again. I want to take my son and leave. Your whole family is sick. The Holdens are all monsters-Cassie, and you too!"

"Laura!" Wesley shouted. "Bring the doctor! Give her a sedation!"

"How dare you?" Laura gasped in horror. "Wesley, don't do this to me. Please, don't do this!"

"I won't let you leave." Wesley cupped her face in his hands. "No matter what happens to you, you'll always be my wife. I will take care of Cassie She will never appear in front of you again. She won't be able to disgust you anymore." He stared into her eyes, uttering, "Laura, wait for me."

Without hesitation, he pressed a kiss against her fur-covered face before turning to leave.

But before he could take another step, a needle suddenly stabbed into his neck. Behind him stood Lucy, who had appeared out of nowhere.

And then Cassie arrived the very same Cassie who was supposed to be locked in the basement.

She walked in, followed by a line of people. At the front of the group, unconscious, were Charles and Sheldon, dragged forward like offerings.

Cassie stepped toward Laura, seizing her chin between her fingers. "Laura, how could you make Wesley go against me?

"And my Father!

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He locked me in the basement for you. He even tried to force me to hand over the antidote Cassie's voice trembled with rage. "He's never raised a hand against me before. But because of you, he slapped me. Twice."

Her eyes burned with resentment as she took a trembling breath. "Laura, do you have any idea how much it hurt? And Wesley-he stormed into the basement and hit me too!

"They all claim to love me the most. But look at them now. For you, they've turned against me. They hit me, cursed me, even threatened to cut me off financially. They called me shameless!

"But why? I'm a Holden too! So why would my father side with an outsider over me?"

Cassie released Laura's chin and turned to look at the unconscious Wesley and Charles on the floor.

"And Sheldon—so loyal to my father. My father loves you, so of course, he does too."

She let out a cold laugh. "Do you have any idea how jealous I am of you, Laura? From the moment Wesley brought you home, I've been jealous.

"I've waited so long for this day,---so long." Her lips curled in a sneer. "Pretending

to be the perfect little sister-acting as though we were so close-I was sick to my stomach.

"But now, I don't have to pretend anymore."

She stood tall, twirling in place, letting the crimson fabric of her wedding dress billow around her. "I'm the most distinguished daughter of the Holden family. And you✈you're nothing but a lowly orphan. What gives you the right to compete with me?"

Cassie tilted her head. "Oh, I just thought of something fun. Killing you outright would be too easy."

She raised her hand, and a veiled woman stepped forward, placing a small black vial in her palm.

"Laura," Cassie whispered with a smile. "You can't die just yet." She turned the bottle in her hands. "Whether Charles and Wesley live or die depends on you." Her smile deepened. "Drink this yourself, and I'll let them go."