Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 78

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Chapter 78 A Family of Sorts.

Chapter 78 A Family of Sorts.

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“This is just my guess,” Natalie said coolly, “I can’t confirm it yet. It needs more digging–or someone to force the truth out.”

“Do you want me to help?”

Marcus’s voice sank low, brushing against her ear. Instinct had her refusing almost before he finished. “No. This is between me and her. I don’t want anyone else pulled in.”

Marcus suddenly rose and leaned in close, his presence filling the space between them. “Anyone else? Aren’t we family?”

Natalie’s back stiffened. He knew she was already nearly divorced from Jackson. How could that word–family–still apply?

Their distance shrank to nothing. She could feel his breath, see how his lashes cast faint shadows under the harsh white lights.

She forced a smile, masking her tightening chest. “Jackson and I are almost divorced. I don’t think we count as family anymore.”

Marcus’s brows drew together. “Who said I meant him?”

Her breath caught. She blinked, thrown off.

Then his lips curved faintly, his tone level as if it were the most natural truth in the world. “You took Lily in. She’s your daughter now. I’m her godfather. Doesn’t that make us, in a way, family?”

The logic startled her into silence. For a moment she could only laugh softly, shaking her head. Just as she opened her mouth to answer, a sharp knock rattled the door.

“You–what did you do to my son? Open up!”

Both she and Marcus turned toward the sound.

Quinton’s mother.

Natalie was about to go when Lucy and Atlas hurried back from the rear. Atlas strode to the door and unlatched it. The old woman shoved inside, eyes darting wildly as she scoured the clinic.

“Where is he? Where’s my son? What have you done with him?”

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17:21 Mon, Sep 29

Chapter 78 A Family of Sorts

She fixed Natalie with a glare, voice sharp.

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Natalie didn’t even glance at her. Instead, she turned to Marcus. “Mr. Collins, you should go. I’ll handle this.”

He gave a slight nod and strode out, leaving the clinic with long, sure steps.

Outside, the street was empty again; the gawkers had melted away. Marilyn too was gone.

“Your son’s been taken to the hospital,” Natalie said evenly, her face set in stone.

“You beat him, didn’t you?” The woman’s voice cracked, harsh. “I heard him screaming! What did you do to him?”

“It wasn’t us.” Lucy stepped forward, her tone clipped. “It was Mr. Collins’s men. And you’d best stop making trouble, or we’ll call the police. Because your son confessed–he admitted it was all a setup, meant to frame Dr. Foster and Dr. Chen.”

She jabbed a finger toward the door. “So leave. Now.”

The old woman’s face twisted. “Which hospital?”

Atlas answered flatly, “First Hospital. Go now and you’ll catch him.”

She muttered curses under her breath as she stalked off, still grumbling as the door shut behind her.

Lucy frowned, turning back. “I’m starting to wonder if that woman was even really his mother. She didn’t seem like it at all.”

“Real or fake, it doesn’t matter,” Natalie said coolly. “The truth is out. That’s enough.”

“So what’s your move now?” Lucy pressed, eyes gleaming. “How do you plan to hit back? Want me to help? With my contacts, I could dig up a nice pile of Victoria’s dirty laundry.”

Atlas blinked. “Wait–you’re a paparazzi?”

“What paparazzi? Don’t insult me. I’m a journalist.”

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