Shattered Then Healed By His Love (by Haley Blanton) novel Chapter 39

hapter 39 Not About Your Kid

James gave a quick nod. “Understood, Mr. Collins.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Marcus‘ phone started ringing.

He lowered his gaze to glance at the screen–it was Ruben, his closest friend.

He brought the phone to his car. “What is it?”

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“Your old tea house–someone just offered a hundred and twenty thousand a month for it,” Ruben said. “I know a hundred and twenty grand is nothing to you, but it’s just sitting there empty. You really don’t want to rent it out? I mean, that place—”

aken.”

Marcus‘ response was concise and sharp.

“Taken? Since when? I just talked to James yesterday, and he said it was still available!”

Ruben’s voice on the other end was full of disbelief.

“Just now,” Marcus said flatly.

“Just now? Then how much did you rent it for? Don’t tell me you got taken advantage of. That location easily starts at a hundred grand-”

“Five thousand.”

There was a sharp intake of breath. “What? Marcus, are you out of your mind? Sure, you’ve never been attached to that property, but that was the first asset we bought together! You can’t just give it away like it’s nothing.”

“I’ll have James deliver the contract tonight.”

Before Ruben could say another word, Marcus ended the call.

The call hadn’t been on speaker, but the volume from the earpiece wasn’t exactly low. They’d been stopped at a red light, so James had heard every word.

And he couldn’t, for the life of him, understand why Mr. Collins was doing this.

By the time Natalie arrived at the school gates, a teacher was already waiting for her.

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10:57 Sat, Sep 27

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Chapter 39 Not About Your Kid

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She’d toured three schools recently; of them, Starfold Academy had the best reputation. With summer break right around the corner, she needed to finalize Lily’s admission before the term ended, so Lily could spend a couple of weeks easing into the new environment.

As Natalie stepped out of the school, a voice called out behind her.

“Natalic, what are you doing here?”

She froze for a moment, then turned around–meeting a pair of deep, penetrating eyes.

Her body stiffened.

It was Jackson.

He strode forward, stopping in front of her. “The teacher called you too? To attend Aiden’s parent–teacher conference?”

So that was why he was here. No wonder Victoria had time to parade Aiden around today.

“No,” Natalie said coolly. “I’m here for something else.”

“This is a school. Aiden’s school. What business could you possibly have here if it’s not about him?” Jackson’s gaze darkened. “You’re not… sneaking around behind my back, are you? Plotting something?”

His hand shot out, clamping around her arm.

Pain lanced through her skin and up her shoulder, making her brows knit tightly.

“Let go.”

Her voice was ice, her eyes as cold as steel.

“What? Is my entire life supposed to revolve around you and your son? Am I not allowed to have my own private matters? Just because I’m at Aiden’s school, it has to be about him?”

Jackson’s gaze lowered, locking with hers.

And in her eyes–once warm, once filled with devotion–there was only a frozen detachment now, colder than a stranger’s.

The words still hanging between them, Natalie wrenched her arm free with all her strength.

She turned to leave, but Jackson stepped forward quickly, blocking her path.

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10:57 Sat, Sep 27

Chapter 39 Not About Your Kid

His voice was low, heavy. “You still owe me an explanation about Grandfather.”

Natalie stopped abruptly.

Of course she knew what he was talking about–her medical skills.

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“What’s there to explain? I saved your grandfather. If you can’t bring yourself to thank me, fine –but to interrogate me over it?”

“Natalic, drop the act,” Jackson said, his expression dark and unreadable as his eyes bore into her. “I spoke to the chief physician myself. Even the experts wouldn’t dare touch his meridians that day, but you went straight in. What are you hiding from me?”

“It’s not hiding,” Natalie said flatly, her face devoid of emotion. “My skills have always been good. You just never cared enough to notice.”

Every time she saw his face, old memories clawed their way back–memories of pain, humiliation, and the nightmare that was prison.

Every glance only deepened the bitterness lodged in her chest.

“Do you, know someone named Claudia?” Jackson pressed, his voice dropping lower. “Are you her disciple?”

At that, Natalie’s spine went rigid for a moment.

But her expression didn’t change; she simply lifted her gaze, her eyes gleaming like shards of glass.

“And what if I am?” she said coldly. “Did you suddenly come down with something terminal? Need her to check what’s wrong with you?”

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