Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159 An Unwelcome Guest

Natalie started to say that Lucy had already cooked at home, but something in his dark, heavy mood made her hold her tongue.

There was a decent restaurant across the street from her building. They were shown to a private room and sat facing each other.

“What did you want to talk about?” she asked, looking at him curiously.

Marcus was wiping his hands with a napkin, his movements slow, deliberate, and elegant. He placed the napkin on the table, then shifted, his arm sliding around her waist, pulling her close.

“Be with me.”

The words, spoken so simply, sent a jolt through Natalie. She knew exactly what he meant. He wanted her to be his mistress.

Marcus was single, and a man his age had needs. That was normal. But she could not be the one to fulfill them.

“Don’t say things like that. It’s impossible between us…”

“Impossible?” The hand at her waist tightened. “And what makes you say that? Was last night not to your liking-”

“Don’t,” she cut him off, her face flushing.

A slow smile curved his lips. “I thought we were quite compatible. Or are you really planning to just use me and run, Ms. Foster?”

Natalie swallowed, unsure how to answer. Marcus had someone he loved. He would never make her his wife, which meant the only role available was that of a mistress. If his childhood sweetheart, Adelyn, ever got divorced, he would go back to her without a second thought. Natalie had just escaped one toxic situation; she had no desire to jump into another. Especially not with another man from the same family.

“Hmm? Why so quiet?” His voice pulled her from her thoughts.

Adelyn. Natalie noted the difference. With her, it was always the formal ‘Ms. Foster‘ or her full name. With his true love, it was just her first name, spoken with an easy intimacy that stung. A cool wave of clarity washed over her, extinguishing the chaotic warmth of the last few days.

Marcus’s brow furrowed, and he shot Natalie an unreadable, almost incredulous look.

“Then thank you, Ms. Foster,” Adelyn said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “For giving me the chance to have a meal with Marcus.” The memory of their conversation in the restroom was still fresh in Natalie’s mind, but with Marcus standing right there, she couldn’t very well make a scene.

She signaled to the server. “Could we have another place setting, please?”

Throughout the exchange, Marcus continued to stare at her with that strange, baffled expression. Natalie didn’t understand. She was giving him an opportunity to be with the woman he loved. Why did he look so unhappy?

During the meal, Adelyn fussed over Marcus, serving him food and hanging on his every word. It was painfully obvious how much she adored him. And under her attention, the hard lines of his face seemed to soften.

Natalie felt like an intruder, a third wheel at a private reunion. She pushed her food around her plate for a few more minutes, then stood. “I’m full. You two enjoy your meal. I have some things to take care of at home, so I won’t keep you. I’ll go settle the bill on my way out.”