The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 271

The moment Emma stopped talking, Marcus' strikingly handsome face turned as dark as a stormy sky. He lunged forward, seizing her by the throat.

"Emma, choose your words carefully," he warned.

Marcus' deep, captivating voice carried a venomous edge. "Don't think everyone shares your dirty thoughts. If you slander Sophia and me again, I'll end you."

As Marcus delivered his threat, his grip tightened abruptly. Emma struggled to breathe, feeling as though the air had been completely drained from her lungs.

She reached out to slap Marcus' hand from around her neck. His arm, sculpted with lean muscles, radiated power, both refined and formidable. Yet now, that power was poised to choke the life out of her.

Just as Emma's eyes began to roll back and she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, a delicate, slender hand gripped Marcus' wrist, accompanied by a cold voice. "Marcus, calm down."

At those words, Marcus' fingers instantly relaxed. Emma was freed, and she began to cough violently, desperately gulping in the air.

Natalie, having stood by the hospital room door, had overheard their entire exchange. She watched Emma cough, then shifted her gaze to Marcus. It was clear Marcus had deep feelings for Sophia.

"Emma, Gabriel has admitted to everything. He's been turned over to the police," Natalie said calmly. "Flash was a birthday present from Sky. How could you use it recklessly, drive it to madness, and ultimately cause its death? Don't you feel guilty toward Sky?"

Natalie fixed her gaze on Emma. "Sophia is Sky's girlfriend and your future sister-in-law. Just because she's close with Mr. Holden, you intend to harm them both.

"Are Mom and Dad aware of how malicious and envious you are? Do they realize that the daughter they've cherished and raised for 20 years has become so spiteful?"

Emma couldn't stop coughing. "I didn't do it…" she choked out. Though fear churned inside her, she refused to let it show. "I didn't do these things, Natalie. You can't accuse me unjustly."

As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks. "I know you dislike me. You believe I've stolen the life you should've lived for 20 years, and you're trying to push me out by staging all this. Gabriel has already said that you ordered him to do it.

"Natalie, I didn't want to bring this up, but why are you trying to pass the blame? Marcus, when Gabriel visited me earlier, your bodyguard, Noah, was present. He heard it himself. Gabriel said it was Natalie who gave the orders."

"Emma, you're truly stubborn," Marcus remarked with a frosty tone.

He pulled a pile of photographs from his pocket and tossed them directly at Emma.

Emma picked up the photos. They revealed that during her travels, she was in a bar with a man, accepting a box of cigarettes and a white paper packet from him.

"Gabriel has already admitted what was in the white packet," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing with a chilly intensity. "Even with all the evidence before you, do you still want to deny it?"

"See for yourself. This is the call you made to Gabriel." Marcus produced another stack of papers, tossing them forcefully at Emma.

"Noah traced this number. It was obtained through special means while you were traveling. Even though Gabriel has admitted to everything, you're still behaving this way."