Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 134

apter 134 Don’t Pretend Nothing Happened

Natalie glared at him. “If you don’t let go, believe me, I’ll call him in here.”

Jackson lowered his gaze, the resentment in his eyes growing darker, heavier.

After two long seconds, he finally released her.

At that moment, his phone rang from his pocket.

He glanced down, expression flickering, then answered the call and strode toward the door.

The moment he opened it, he came face–to–face with Marcus, whose expression was ice–cold, his face shadowed with barely restrained anger.

Jackson gave him a curt nod, then brought the phone back to his ear and walked downstairs quickly. “Don’t worry; I’m on my way.”

Marcus‘ gaze followed him, deep and unreadable.

He had only stepped into the study for a moment; on his way back, passing by their room, he’d caught the sounds inside. That was why he’d chosen that particular way to interrupt them.

He stepped inside, closing the door firmly and turning the lock.

Natalie was still standing out on the balcony. When she saw him, her lashes trembled faintly.

Her voice was quieter than usual. “Mr. Collins, why did you just come in like that?”

Marcus‘ expression was unreadable as he strode toward her. “What did he do to you?”

Her throat tightened instinctively; her gaze darted away. “Nothing.”

He caught the way her head dipped. Even with her hair falling forward, her chin lowered, he didn’t miss the faint redness along the delicate skin of her neck.

“He laid hands on you?”

His voice was low, edged with danger.

Natalie instinctively took a step back and shook her head. “No.”

In the next moment, Marcus tilted her chin upward, his tone cold as steel. “Then why is your

neck so red?”

Natalie didn’t want to linger on the subject; her voice was calm, detached. “Didn’t you say was time for dinner, Mr. Collins? I’m hungry. Why don’t we head down and eat?”

She slipped free of his hold, stepping around him, moving toward the door.

“I told you before, if anyone hurts you, you can tell me it

Natalie blinked, thoughtful. So that’s why he left in such a hurry… his sweetheart must’ve gotten into trouble. Perfect. I wasn’t in the mood to share a meal with him anyway.

Moments later, the butler returned with a steaming bowl of ginger syrup, setting it gently in front of her. “Ms. Foster, Mr. Collins asked the kitchen to prepare this for you to warm you up.”

Natalie blinked, caught off guard. She looked up, her gaze brushing over the man across from her. “Thank you, Mr. Collins.”

Marcus didn’t respond. His long, defined fingers wrapped around a spoon as he stirred the dark broth of the chicken soup in his bowl.

Natalie glanced toward the butler. “Where is everyone else? They’re not coming down for dinner?”

“Madam Stella is upstairs with Mr. Gabriel,” the butler said. “She asked that you two go ahead and cat. Mr. Jackson and Ms. Victoria will be back later tonight.”

Natalie nodded lightly, murmuring her acknowledgment, then lowered her gaze and sipped the ginger syrup.

Sweet, with a sharp bite of spice–just like her mood at that moment, complicated and hard to name.

Once the butler excused himself, the room was left in silence, just the two of them.

His presence was overwhelming, filling the room.

The tension simmered, rising steadily.

“It’s just dinner,” his deep voice rumbled from across the table. “Why are you so tense? It’s not like we haven’t eaten together before.”

Natalie glanced up—just as a piece of rib was quietly placed into her bowl.