The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus)

Noah stared at Cassie, torn between thoughts he couldn't untangle. He had no idea what the right thing to do was.

Sheldon's voice echoed in his ears, one word after another, like a spell wrapping around his mind, dulling his ability to think.

"Noah, if you want the wedding to go smoothly, you need to forget everything that happened today."

He pulled Noah to his feet. "If I hadn't brought you here, you would've never found this place, no matter what you suspected. So forget it. Forget everything you've seen and heard today. Consider this a personal request from me."

Noah returned to his senses, and he looked at Sheldon in a daze.

Sheldon gently patted his shoulder. "Go back now."

"Don't go. If I die, Sheldon will die too. So don't leave," Cassie cried. "You know what's happening. If you pretend you don't, can you live with your conscience?"

"Now you're talking about conscience? Are you serious?" Sheldon said with a laugh. "Even now, you're still trying to manipulate him? Cassie, look at yourself. You're pathetic."

Cassie refused to give up. She couldn't move her limbs, and though Sheldon had kept her fed, it was just enough to keep her alive.

"Noah, you don't want to see Sheldon lose his life because of me, do you?" She looked up at him again, desperate. "He's old. He should be enjoying his retirement. If he dies because of me, is that really worth it?"

"Noah, don't listen to her. She's a bad person," Sheldon said calmly.

He grabbed Noah's arm. "You know my secret now. It's time to rest. Now, if you had to choose between me and Cassie, who would you choose?

"I'd choose you, Mr. Phelps," Noah answered quietly.

His face had gone pale. He didn't even need to think to answer the question. Cassie could never compare to Sheldon.

"Good. Then let's go."

With that, Sheldon turned and led him out of the basement.

They stepped out of the small villa, and a cold wind swept over them. It was only then that Noah realized his entire body was soaked in sweat.

"Stop thinking about it. Go take a shower. Get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, everything will feel different," Sheldon said gently.

"Mr. Phelps, I—"

"Don't speak." Sheldon interrupted before he could finish. "I know what you want to say, but you don't need to say anything. Just rest."

Sheldon's tone left no room for argument. Noah couldn't resist. He gave a small nod and returned to his room.

Sheldon stood in place, watching him leave. A sharp glint passed through his eyes. Cassie could no longer stay here. She had to be moved. There was no room for delay.

He drew in a deep breath and returned to his own room. But he didn't sleep. He waited until the house was completely silent, then quietly slipped out and made his way back to the small villa.

At the same time, Noah lay awake in bed, tossing and turning. He didn't know if he had made the right choice. His thoughts were a mess. He couldn't find peace.

On one hand, he didn't want Sheldon to suffer for someone like Cassie. On the other hand, he feared that revealing the truth would ruin Marcus and Natalie's wedding.

Wesley and Marcus had both been searching for Cassie. If they found out she was in Sheldon's hands, they would take revenge. That was exactly the outcome Sheldon wanted to avoid.

He didn't want them to be stained by blood. Sheldon's loyalty to the Holden family had never been in question.

Noah replayed everything in his head until his mind felt like it was unraveling. In the end, he sat up, letting out a long breath.

"No. I have to tell Mr. Marcus. Even if Sheldon resents me, I can't watch him put himself at risk," he mumbled, then got out of bed and put on his shoes.

This was not the time to hesitate.

He walked straight out of his room and headed for Marcus' bedroom. He knocked firmly, but the moment his knuckles left the door, he remembered that Marcus and Natalie weren't staying at Holden Residence tonight.

He clenched his jaw, turned, and knocked on Wesley's door instead.

After several knocks, a voice answered from within. "Who is it? It's the middle of the night."

"Mr. Wesley, it's me. Noah."

"Just a moment."

Wesley got up, slipped on a coat, and walked to the door with a yawn.

"Noah? It's the middle of the night. Is something urgent?"

"I'm sorry for disturbing you, Mr. Wesley, but yes. It's very urgent."

Noah took a deep breath and leaned closer, lowering his voice. He told Wesley everything—the hidden basement, the cage, and Cassie.

Wesley's expression changed immediately. He had suspected something. Since his return to- Dithoria, he had been searching for

Cassie, but it was as if she had vanished from the earth.

So she had been hidden here, in Holden Residence, all along.

And Sheldon had kept it from everyone, punishing Cassie under their noses, while no one noticed a thing.

"You did well," Wesley said after a long pause. He gave Noah a nod of approval. "Keep this to yourself. I'll handle it."

"Yes, Mr. Wesley. I just don't know how to face Mr. Phelps after this."

"You don't have to. Sheldon is not unreasonable. He'll understand your intentions," Wesley said firmly.

"Thank you, Mr. Wesley."

Noah's eyes were slightly red. He still didn't know if what he had done was right.

But since he had chosen this path, he couldn't turn back now.

"Don't let Marcus know."

"Understood, Mr. Wesley."

"Go rest."

"Yes."

Noah turned and left, finally able to breathe freely. For the first time in days, he felt

like he might actually sleep.

Wesley, however, was wide awake. He put on a coat and made his way to the small villa.

Following Noah's directions, henoveldrama

located the hidden door in the study

and opened it. With a flashlight in

hand he descended the longo

staircase into the basement.

At the bottom, he found the switch on the wall and turned on the lights. The room

lit up instantly. It was clean. Immaculate.

However, there was no cage.

No Cassie.

Wesley stood still, stunned. He walked through the room, searching every corner

multiple times.

But aside from himself, there was no one else down there. Not even a single

trace.