Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 135

Natalie followed the motion and looked up, catching sight of Marcus‘ long, defined fingers as he quietly drew his hand back.

The moment their eyes met, her chest tightened; an unfamiliar tension coiled through her.

Once two people had kissed, held each other, and bared themselves completely, the air between them could never go back to what it was.

That undeniable awareness kept pressing in on her, unbidden and relentless.

“I’m not tense; you’re imagining things.”

Forcing her racing heartbeat under control, Natalie lowered her head and took a bite of the rib he’d placed in her bowl.

Marcus didn’t reply. Instead, he calmly reached over and added another piece of meat to her plate.

His quiet, unabashed attention wasn’t lost on her; even Stella, hidden in the shadows upstairs, had been watching from the second–floor railing. From that vantage point, she had a clear view of the dining room below.

There was nothing overtly improper between the two of them; no gestures one could point to and name. But the sight of them together–so natural, so wordless—carried an undercurrent, something unspoken yet palpable.

Ambiguous. The word sprang into Stella’s mind and startled her so badly she stepped back a little, her pulse skipping as if she’d caught herself thinking something forbidden.

By the time dinner wrapped up, it was already six–thirty in the evening.

Natalie said her goodbyes to Marcus, then drove off toward home.

Marcus stood there, watching her taillights disappear down the drive; only then did he pull his gaze back and say, cool and even, “Madam Stella, you can stop hiding.”

The moment his voice dropped, Stella–who had been standing just beyond the doorway, observing everything–gave a small, involuntary flinch,

He didn’t even look at her, his eyes still fixed on the road where her car had vanished.

Jaw tightening, Stella stepped out at last, forcing herself to move closer until they stood side by side.

She tried for a light smile. “Marcus, I was just going to walk Natalie out, but you were already outside, so I stayed back…”

“When did you develop such a fondness for lurking?”

Her head snapped toward him, startled. “What? No, I wasn’t lurking, Marcus. Why would I spy on you? You’re overthinking–really…”

“She’s my nephew’s wife,” Marcus said, his tone clipped, indifferent. “If you want to look, you can do it openly. There’s no need for this sneaking around… unless, of course, you’ve got something to hide.”

Stella froze, the words striking her silent.

Marcus had a reputation—not just within the Collins family but throughout the business world. Ruthless, sharp, and utterly unforgiving, he was the one man you didn’t want to cross.

And of all the people in this house, he was the only one she’d never dared to underestimate.

Stella stood there, watching the sleek car disappear into the distance, her expression clouding, shadows settling in her eyes. No, things aren’t that simple.

She was going to pay Marcus back.

Inside, she checked her bank accounts.

Renovating and outfitting the clinic had cost 2.4 million; add to that the expenses of smoothing things over with Lily and her recent living costs, and her balance was down to five hundred and thirty thousand.

She’d promised Marcus she’d transfer two hundred thousand to him–but Jackson had once mentioned the car had cost well over 1.5 million.

She didn’t have that kind of money, not yet. But sending only two hundred thousand felt… wrong.

After thinking it through, she decided to transfer five hundred thousand, leaving herself just thirty thousand.

Natalie called James, Marcus‘ assistant, and got the corporate account for the Collins Group. Moments later, the money was transferred.

When the transaction cleared, she let out a quiet sigh of relief; something inside her settled.

From the kitchen doorway, Lucy tilted her head, eyeing her with open curiosity. “Natalie, what’s going on with you?”

“What could possibly be going on with me?” Natalie set her phone down, the corners of her mouth curving in a faint, almost careless smile. “I just transferred the money for the car to Marcus, that’s all.”