Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Caught in the Act.

Chapter 13 Caught in the Act

20 Tree Coins

Natalie tried to yank her arm free, but with the difference in strength between a man and a woman, it was useless.

She had no choice but to let him drag her straight into the living room.

It was the weekend, the housekeeper’s regular day off.

Only the two of them were there.

Jackson flung her onto the couch and sat down across from her.

He picked up a teacup and poured himself a drink.

“You seem to owe me a reason for the divorce,” he said, not even bothering to lift his on. What is it?”

eyes.

“Go

Natalie let out a cold smile. “You really need a reason?”

Jackson slammed the cup down on the table and raised his eyes to look at her indifferent expression.

Thud-

The teapot clashed against the high–end marble table with a deep, jarring sound.

It cut through the stillness of the room.

“Natalie, have you thought about what life will be like after divorcing me? You’ve been in prison. Let’s be honest–no one’s going to hire an ex–con like you.”

Natalie’s smile grew even colder.

She’d never planned on finding a job. She was going to build something of her own.

“You’re saying all this because you’re scared Grandpa will kick you and Aiden out, right?” She stood up. “Don’t worry. I’ll call Grandpa and explain everything. It has nothing to do with you or Ms. Victoria. I’ll take all the blame.”

She turned to leave.

“Did I say you could go?”

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6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 13 Caught in the Act

Jackson stood up as well, his voice low and heavy.

Natalie didn’t stop. “Mr. Jackson, please sign the papers as soon as possible.”

The moment her words dropped, he grabbed her arm from behind.

In the next second, her feet left the ground.

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Jackson threw her back onto the couch, straddled her waist with his long legs, and pinned her wrist against the backrest with one hand.

Natalie was completely immobilized.

They’d shared intimacy in the past, but she had always been the one to initiate it.

This was new.

She stared at him warily, “What are you doing?”

“You’re staying at Clear Estate for the next few days. You’re not going anywhere. Until Grandpa’s calmed down, don’t even think about that signature.”

His voice was deep, and his dark eyes held the kind of silence that comes right before a storm.

“You have no right to keep me here.” Natalie struggled against his grip. “Let go.”

But Jackson didn’t respond–he held her even tighter.

“Jackson, forcing yourself on your ex–wife in broad daylight–aren’t you worried you’ll disgrace the Collins family?”

Just then, a low and magnetic voice came from the front entrance.

Both of them turned at once.

Natalie froze when she saw who had entered.

Marcus?

Why was he here?

Jackson immediately let her go and got off her. “Uncle Marcus? What brings you here?”

Natalie sat up straight, smoothing down her tousled hair by reflex.

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Chapter 13 Caught in the Act

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“I heard your grandfather blew up yesterday, so I figured I’d come by since I had some time. Aiden spent the night at the old house. When he saw me this morning, he begged me to bring him back.”

Marcus spoke casually, his eyes briefly glancing toward Natalie.

Just for a second, then he looked away.

When his Maybach pulled into the driveway, he’d heard something inside and had his assistant James take Aiden to the back garden.

“Where’s Aiden now?”

“With the way you two were going at it, you think I’d bring the kid inside?”

Marcus slid his hands into his pockets and sat across from Natalie.

She glanced at him. His overwhelming presence swallowed the space around him in an

instant.

Jackson poured him a cup of tea. “Uncle Marcus, I was just talking to her about the divorce. You know how mad Grandpa got last night–I need to keep things stable for now.”

Marcus eyed the teacup but didn’t pick it up..

His tone was cool. “If the decision’s made, why care what people think?”

Jackson hesitated, wanting to s

something.

The truth was, most of his assets had come from the Collins family–especially from Grandpa.

He wouldn’t be where he was now without the old man’s help.

And the old man’s opinion carried weight.

“I’ll call Grandpa and tell him everything. I was the one who initiated the divorce. Mr. Jackson, please stop making this harder than it has to be.”

Natalic stood up and walked out without looking back.

Marcus’s sudden appearance had given her the perfect excuse to leave.

If she didn’t go now, she’d probably be stuck there overnight.

Jackson watched her walk away, his fingers tightening around the teacup.

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6:18 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 13 Caught in the Act

Just as he was about to speak, Marcus met his eyes with a sharp, cold stare.

Jackson looked away. “Uncle Marcus, since you’re here, why not stay for dinner?”

“Another time. I’ve got other things to do.”

Marcus stood and followed her out.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

Natalie was just about to step outside when Aiden suddenly appeared.

So he came after all.

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