The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Cassie smiled sweetly at Laura. "Wesley's and Father' lives are in your hands now. They thought locking me in the basement would force me to hand over the antidote? They really underestimated their own daughter and sister." Her tone was laced with amusement.

"If I dared to do this, I obviously prepared for every possible outcome. Father always believed that a daughter should just eat, drink, and enjoy life. But tell me, how am I inferior to Wesley? Why should he inherit Holden Group while I'm expected to play the role of a useless socialite?"

Her eyes darkened. "I refuse to accept that."

Leaning closer, her voice turned ghostly. "But if you obediently drink this, I'll let

them go.

"As for Holden Group-" She let out a chilling laugh. "Once you and Wesley are out of the picture, I have no doubt Father will put it in my hands."

Laura forced herself to sit up, her gaze locked on the black vial in Cassie's hand. "What do you really want, Cassie? Wesley or Holden Group?" Her voice was hoarse, but she didn't waver. "Can I trust your words? If I drink this, will you really let Father and Wesley go?"

Cassie chuckled lazily. "Of course. But honestly, I doubt you'd actually drink something that could very well kill you just to save them.

"Oh, and by the way-this won't kill you. It'll just make you wish you were dead. You won't be human, nor will you be a ghost." She paused before adding with a wicked smirk, "And you still won't be allowed near my dear little nephew. I'll make sure of that.

"Otherwise, I'll ensure he ends up with the same thing inside him that's currently inside you."

Cassie burst into laughter, grabbing the hem of her red wedding dress and twirling in front of Laura. Her dance was flawless, every movement poised and elegant.

Charles had hired the best instructors to teach her since childhood. With her stunning looks, exquisite makeup, and graceful figure, she was undeniably captivating.

But beneath it all, her heart was filled with malice.

At that moment, Laura truly understood what it meant for someone to wear a saint's face but hide a serpent's heart.

"I'll drink it." She made the decision without hesitation.

Cassie froze mid-twirl, her expression flickering with disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I said I'll drink it."

Laura extended her hand, and Cassie immediately placed the black vial in her palm. "Go on, then."

Even now, Cassie seemed unconvinced. She watched Laura closely, waiting for her to back out. After all, this wasn't just poison—it was something far worse.

But in the next moment, Laura uncorked the vial and swallowed its contents in one gulp.

The moment the liquid touched her tongue, searing pain shot through her body. It burned from her mouth to her throat, spreading like wildfire into her stomach.

"It hurts—" A pained whimper escaped her lips. Clutching her abdomen, she writhed on the bed, unable to stop the agony.

"Bring a mirror for her," Cassie ordered.

A maid quickly handed her one, and she positioned it in front of Laura. "Look, you're turning back into a human."

Through the haze of pain, Laura forced herself to look. In the mirror, the white fur covering her body was slowly receding.

"I placed two poisons inside you," Cassie explained gleefully. "One feeds on blood. The other controls the feeding. It ensures you'll suffer but won't die too quickly."

She smiled sweetly. "At a certain point, your blood will be completely replaced with something else."

She tilted her head, feigning deep thought. "Who knows? Maybe you'll turn into a werewolf, maybe a vampire. But one thing's for sure; you won't be human anymore."

Laura clutched her throat, struggling through the unbearable pain. "I drank what you wanted. Now let Wesley and Father go."

Cassie grinned. "Of course, I'll let them go. But not before I take care of something else first."

She clapped her hands, and Lucy entered with two doctors in tow.

"Hypnotize them. Erase their memories," Cassie commanded, then grabbed

Laura's chin, her nails digging into her skin. "Don't worry, Laura. Once I'm done with them, it'll be your turn.

"The Holden family can't afford a scandal. I can't have my father knowing that his own daughter is in love with her brother." She sneered. "And as for Wesley... even when I drugged him, he refused to touch me. So I'll make sure neither of you ever return to the Holder family.

"You and Wesley will never reunite with your child!"

Her laughter echoed through the room, twisted and maniacal. She was beautiful, but at that moment, Laura saw her for what she truly was-a demon from the depths of hell.

Helplessly, she watched as Charles and Wesley were forced to swallow a mysterious drug before the doctors hypnotized them, altering their memories. Then, it was her turn.noveldrama

But when it came to Laura, the implanted memories were far from simple. Just when she thought she would never escape, she heard Marcus' voice. Her child was calling for her, over and over again, urging her to wake up. That voice-his cries of "Mommy"-pierced through the fog, giving her the strength to fight back.

She clawed her way out of Cassie's mental trap.

"Marcus, thank you."

Tears streamed down Laura's face as she held his hand tightly. "I don't know if what I saw in that illusion was real, but I can't shake the feeling that my memories were altered.

"Not just mine. Your grandfather's and your father's too. But I don't know how to

tell them. Cassie is Charles' daughter, your father's biological sister. I don't know if they would believe me over her."

Natalie wrung out a warm towel and

gently pressed it over Laura's

swollen eyes. "So that's what

happened. No wonder Mr. Holden Senior has been acting so strangely. It's because his memories were altered."

Kon

Marcus hesitated before asking, "What about Sheldon? Was his memory tampered with too? When they altered it, Mom, do you know what kind of memories Cassie implanted in them?"

Laura shook her head. "In that illusion, I remember Sheldon was beaten badly. His memories were altered as well. But after they

vel

hypnotized me, I completely net

what new memories they implanted in your grandfather and your father. Cóntent belongs to

"Marcus, I'm sorry. I can't help you any further."

"Mom, you have nothing to apologize for." Marcus stood up, his expression darkening. "The one who should apologize is Cassie.

"Natalie, please help my mother wash up. I need to step outside for a bit."

Natalie nodded. "Alright."

She had to prepare Laura's herbal bath anyway, and Marcus staying here would

be inappropriate.