Chapter 154
Chapter 154
Natalie and Marcus reached home in comfortable silence, the city lights blurring past the tinted windows of their
car.
Natalie leaned back against the leather seat, a deep sense of fulfillment washing over her. She had finally gotten one over on jessica. The image of Jessica on her knees, humiliated in front of strangers, replayed in Natalie’s mind like a sweet victory. A small, satisfied sinile tugged at her lips. She deserved every second of it.
As they stepped in, the door clicking shut behind them, Natalie kicked off her heels and sighed contentedly. She turned to Marcus, her eyes sparkling with lingering triumph. “I never get why Travis always lies and that stupid Jessica always listened to him. It’s like she’s blind to his obvious bullshit p>
Marcus expression calm and detached as he poured himself a drink from the bar cart. “I already paid what I owed her. So whatever she does now is none of my business p>
Natalie nodded, settling onto the plush sofa and tucking her legs beneath her. “Oh yeah. About Eden p>
Eden was Victoria’s fiancée-the one Victoria had used to drive Julia away so she could secure the COO position. Natalie’s brow furrowed slightly. “Something is strange. I traced the wife I told you about, but I didn’t see any trace of her anywhere. It is strange. So then, I tracked down her brother. Who told me that she went missing. Like, disappeared-and no one could see her or trace her again p>
Marcus frowned, his sharp mind already piecing together the inconsistencies. Something suspicious lurked behind this whole situation.
Why would Eden’s wife suddenly go missing without a trace, only for him to move on so quickly and now push to marry Victoria? It didn’t add up.
Natalie watched him closely, reading the suspicion in his eyes. “I’m on it,” she assured him firmly. “I’ll make sure I look more into it p>
Marcus nodded slowly, “Eden already submitted his proposal to become a partner with us. His history is solid- multiple successful collaborations with the Langstone family over the years. But this thing with his wife… it’s worth looking into. Hold off on approving anything until we figure out what really happened p>
Natalie nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. “Okay p>
She shifted closer on the sofa, her hand brushing his arm as the conversation turned more personal. “Also, about the Gemstone. You haven’t extracted the power in it yet p>
Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Natalie frowned, her expression a mix of concern and frustration. “No wonder that cultivator beat you to a pulp. You aren’t in his level yet. You need that power to level up. Maybe you’ll have some upper hand to defeat him next time p>
Marcus nodded, the memory of that brutal encounter flashing through his mind.
Actually, before that day, he hadn’t anticipated that he would face the cultivator, or that the man would be far more powerful than him.
Marcus said he would do it overnight.
Natalie nodded, a small smile of approval crossing her face. But at that exact moment, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She picked it up casually and checked the message. As soon as her eyes scanned the screen, her expression changed completely. The color drained from her cheeks, and a shadow of deep disturbance flickered
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across her features. Her usual composure cracked, replaced by visible tension that Marcus immediately noticed.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice sharp with concern as he set his drink aside.
Instantly, Natalie masked it with a bright, forced smile. “Nothing, actually,” she replied, slipping the phone into her pocket with practiced ease.
Marcus frowned, studying her closely. “I’m sure there is something. You looked disturbed p>
Natalie waved it off lightly, though her eyes betrayed a hint of unease. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I will deal with it p>
Marcus nodded slowly, deciding not to press her again. If it was really something that big, Natalie would tell him when she was ready.
Their bond had been built on trust, and he respected her strength. Still, a quiet worry settled in his chest as he watched her. Whatever that message contained, it had shaken her more than she let on.
XXXXX
Marcus retreated to the spacious balcony that night, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He placed the Gemstone on a low table in front of him, exactly as instructed. Settling into a deep meditation posture, he crossed his legs, spine straight, and closed his eyes. His mind reached out, connecting with the ancient stone through focused breathing and inner energy channels.
Hours dragged on. Over four hours passed in the same rigid position, yet nothing happened. The stone remained
silent.
Exhaustion crept into his muscles, his body aching from the strain. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the breeze. Still, Marcus forced himself to hold.
Without this, no way he could avenge his father.
Then, after several more tense minutes, a faint crack echoed in the quiet night. The Gemstone’s surface splintered, releasing a swirling aura of golden light. The energy surged outward, drawn like a magnet into the small bead clutched in Marcus’s palm. Instantly, he could feel it entering his veins-a rush of raw, fiery power flooding his meridians, igniting every cell. His body trembled as the force coursed through him, strengthening his muscles. With that, he snapped his eyes opened.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.