The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Wesley hadn't been back at Holden Residence for long, and he hadn't spent much time with Sheldon yet. However, he could already tell that Sheldon wasn't quite the same as the one he remembered.

At first, Wesley thought it was just because he had been away for too long, making his perception feel off. After all, people changed, especially when they hadn't seen each other in years.

After hearing Laura's thoughts, Wesley took a moment to carefully recall all the little changes Sheldon had shown since he returned to the Holden family.

"Laura, you're right," Wesley said. "Sheldon is acting a bit off, but he means no harm. He's been good to Marcus and Natalie, and I don't believe he would betray the Holden family or any of us."

Laura nodded. After returning to Holden Residence, Sheldon had taken excellent care of her. He even went out of his way to ensure she felt comfortable and at ease. He would often engage in heart-to-heart conversations with her, as though worried she wouldn't adapt.

"I'll have the kitchen prepare some dishes. I plan to have a few drinks with Sheldon," Wesley said, pulling Laura with him as he turned around. "Tell Marcus to join us."

"Alright," Laura replied, nodding before heading downstairs to find Marcus and Natalie.

"Marcus, Nat," she called out when she saw them.

Marcus and Natalie turned around. "Mom?"noveldrama

"Marcus, your father asked for the kitchen to prepare some food. He wants to have a drink with Sheldon, who has been working hard these days. You should join them as well," Laura said, pulling Natalie aside.

"Nat won't be drinking, though. You're a girl and should rest early tonight. I've picked out a few shops for you to check, can you help me look at them?"

"Sure!" Natalie agreed without hesitation. Wesley wouldn't call Sheldon for a drink out of nowhere, let alone insist Marcus join in. It was obvious he was trying to keep her out of the conversation.

Natalie didn't point it out and simply nodded, leaving with Laura.

Marcus looked up toward the second floor. Wesley stood there, giving him a slight nod.

Marcus returned the gesture, and the two of them silently acknowledged each other's unspoken agreement.

Before long, Marcus stepped inside the villa. Soon after, Sheldon arrived as well, walking in with a smile.

"Mr. Marcus, the maids told me that you and Mr. Wesley wanted to have a drink with me. Is that true?" he asked.

"It is," Wesley answered as he came downstairs with a smile. "Sheldon, our family was held together thanks to you while we were away. Without you, our home would have fallen apart."

Sheldon quickly waved his hands. "Mr. Wesley, you're exaggerating. I was only doing what I should."

"Come on, Sheldon. Don't be so formal with us," Wesley said, pulling Sheldon toward the dining room. "Marcus, tell the kitchen to hurry it up, then head to the wine cellar and pick out a few good bottles."

"Alright," Marcus replied before turning to leave.

As Marcus left, Wesley turned back to Sheldon. "I'm so happy that Marcus' proposal was successful. These past few years, I've been away with Laura and haven't really fulfilled my duties as a father. Fortunately, Marcus had both Father and you, Sheldon."

Wesley gave Sheldon a strong hug. "We're going to drink tonight, Sheldon. I'm really happy today. If Father were still here, he would've been just as happy."

At the mention of Charles, Sheldon's eyes turned red. "Indeed... If Mr. Holden Senior were still with us, that would have been wonderful."

"The wine is here," Marcus said as he returned with several bottles, placing them on the dining table.

At that moment, the kitchen began bringing out the dishes, quickly filling the table with a variety of food.

Wesley opened a bottle of wine and poured the drink into glasses.

"Sheldon, this first toast is to you. While I was away, you took care of my father and Marcus. I owe you more than words can express," Wesley said, raising his glass before downing his drink in one go. "Come, Sheldon. Drink with me." He then turned to Marcus. "Marcus, you should toast to Sheldon as well."

Marcus nodded and raised his glass. "Sheldon, this toast is to you. Growing up, you were the one who cared for me the most aside from Grandpa. You treated me better than anyone else did. Now that Grandpa is gone, you're the closest person I have to him."

Marcus' words made Sheldon's tears fall uncontrollably. He held his glass, sobbing uncontrollably. "What are you all saying? What's all this about served Mr. Holden Senior and have been with the Holden family my whole life. You're my family! If I don't look afteryou, who else would I take care of?"

Choking up, Sheldon finished the drink in his glass.

Wesley and Marcus exchanged a glance. Then, they raised their glasses once more in a toast to Sheldon.

"Sheldon, I'm so happy that my proposal was a success. This toast is to you," Marcus said, refilling Sheldon's glass before raising his own.

"That's great," Sheldon said hoarsely, lifting his glass and downing it again in one gulp.

"Sheldon, since Laura's return, you've taken great care of her. If it weren't for your careful attention to her emotions, she probably wouldn't have felt comfortable staying here," Wesley continued, pouring more wine for Sheldon. "This toast is to you."

"I'm just doing what I should for Mdm. Laura," Sheldon replied, raising his glass and downing its content again.

"Here's to you," Wesley said.

"I raise my glass to you, Sheldon," Marcus added.

The two of them took turns toasting Sheldon. After several rounds, Sheldon was visibly drunk.

As the alcohol took over, he suddenly lost control and burst into tears.

"Mr. Holden Senior is gone... I don't want to live anymore. Mr. Holden Senior, I miss you. I really, really miss you!" he sobbed.

"Sheldon, can you tell me where you've been sneaking off to in the middle of the night these past few days?" Marcus asked as he grabbed a tissue and gently wiped Sheldon's tears.

"I don't go anywhere. I just stand outside, watching over Mr. Holden Senior," Sheldon cried, looking at the large maple tree outside. "Every night, I go there to talk to him."

Marcus frowned slightly. He could tell Sheldon was lying.

At first, Marcus hadn't noticed Sheldon disappearing at night. It was Noab who had discovered it.

After he'd heard about it, Marcunet

had been too preoccupied with planning his proposal, so he instructed Noah to keep an eye on Sheldon discreetly without alerting

anyone.

Later, Noah confirmed that Sheldon had been going to the small villa behind the main house. He would stay there for a long time before coming out.

One night, Noah had even slipped inside to investigate, but after searching the

entire place, he found no sign of Sheldon.

When Noah reported this to Marcus, Marcus had thought it over carefully but chose not to confront Sheldon directly.

If Sheldon was truly hiding something, pressing him for answers would only make him more cautious.

Thankfully, Sheldon had never done anything to harm the Holden family or betray their trust. He had always been loyal and prioritized the Holden family above all else. As such, Marcus chose to pretend he didn't know about this. However, after hearing what Laura had said, Marcus knew Wesley was suspicious

too.

This drinking session wasn't just for celebration.

It was to get him drunk and try to get answers.