Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 The Wrong Man at the Door

Chapter 18 The Wrong Man at the Door

“Mm.”

Seeing Lucy’s discomfort, Marcus didn’t linger. He turned and quietly left the room.

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Once the door closed behind him, Lucy rushed over, her face full of excitement. “I can’t believe Jackson’s Uncle Marcus actually came to visit you.”

“He came on behalf of the orphanage,” Natalie said. “Anderson Corp is one of their donors. The director couldn’t come herself, so he stopped by instead.”

“Rich, powerful, good–looking–and a philanthropist on top of that? No comparison–he’s already better than your ex in every way.”

Lucy gave her a big thumbs–up, grinning wide.

Natalie’s face darkened slightly. “He’s not my anything anymore.”

“Right, right. My bad.” Lucy clapped a hand over her mouth, then laughed. “Still, you and Uncle Marcus looked way better together than you ever did with Jackson.”

That made Natalie lift her eyes instinctively.

Her lashes fluttered slightly.

“Don’t joke like that,” she said softly. “Jackson still hasn’t signed the papers. Technically, we’re still married…”

“Not for much longer,” Lucy said with a wicked smile. “I heard Uncle Marcus is still single. Why not keep the goods in the family? If you bag him, Jackson would have to call you Auntie. Just thinking about that is satisfying.”

Natalie reached out and tapped her on the back. “I’m hungry.”

“Changing the subject, huh?” Lucy picked up the food container. “Classic you.”

Over the next few days, Natalie remained in the hospital to recover.

Gabriel somehow found out about her being admitted and insisted on coming to see her. Apparently, he had gotten so worked up at the family dinner a few days ago that it affected his

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Chapter 18 The Wrong Man at the Door

heart.

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After Stella pleaded with him over and over, he finally agreed not to visit Natalie at the hospital.

Natalie even called him personally, promising to come visit him at the Collins residence once. she was discharged. Only then did the old man relax.

During her three days in the hospital, Lucy juggled work during the day and continued helping Natalie track down Lily’s whereabouts.

At night, she came by to keep Natalie company.

Jackson and Aiden never came back.

The night before Natalie was discharged, Lucy spent the whole evening ranting about them.

“Ungrateful father, brainless son.”

“One scolding and they’re gone for good…”

Natalie just listened with a smile, never saying a word.

She knew Lucy was standing up for her.

Only Lucy–her best friend–had ever truly been on her side.

On the morning of her discharge, Lucy got a call bright and early–something urgent had come up, and she had to leave at six a.m. She said she’d be back as soon as she could to help with the discharge paperwork.

Natalie waited.

And waited.

But Lucy never came.

And without someone to help her with the paperwork, she couldn’t leave the hospital.

She didn’t want to call Jackson.

After some hesitation, she finally opened her contacts and scrolled to a number she’d saved a few days ago.

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6:20 Fri, Sep 26

Chapter 18 The Wrong Man at the Door

She hadn’t expected Marcus’s number to come in handy like this.

When the call connected, a deep voice answered. “Who is this?”

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“Mr. Collins, it’s Natalie…” She paused, then continued. “I know this might be an inappropriate request, and I’m sorry to bother you, but I really don’t want to ask Jackson for help. Would you mind helping me check out of the hospital?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

She had no idea what he was thinking in those few quiet seconds.

Natalie figured he was probably about to come up with an excuse–or maybe he was just too. busy.

She started again, “If you’re tied up with something, I completely understand-”

“I’ll be there in five minutes.”

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

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