Chapter 8 He Took Her Home Chapter 8 He Took Her Home Natalie froze when her eyes met the man's deep gaze . Marcus ? Why him ? A +10 Free Coms The corners of his narrow eyes lifted ever so slightly , and under the dim light , his phoenix eyes were unreadable . Natalie recalled the scene at The Collins residence just moments ago , and a tightness gripped her chest . She didn't know how to respond . " From here , it's at least an hour's walk down , " Marcus said , his voice low and hoarse . " Don't tell me you're planning to hike all the way to the base ? " If she hadn't run into him , that really had been her plan . After all , Jackson wouldn't come after her - much less drive her home . " Thank you , Uncle Marcus ." As soon as Natalie go into the car , another wave of dizziness hit her . She barely managed to grab the door handle in time to keep herself from collapsing . The pounding headache was unbearable . " What did you just call me ? " As soon as she sat down , his deep voice sounded again . Natalie turned to look at him , and when their eyes met , a wild idea sprang her mind . Marcus had never married - and had never been caught in any kind of scandal . If she wanted to climb her way up , her own strength alone wouldn't be enough ... But just as that reckless thought emerged , the dizziness surged again , this time with alarming force . The next second , her body slumped sideways , completely out of her control . Marcus instinctively raised a hand to support her shoulder . 175 6:17 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 8 He Took Her Home . A faint scent of violets drifted into her nose . It smelled so familiar - she'd definitely caught that scent somewhere before . From the moment he first saw her , he'd had a strange sense of déjà vu . But today was clearly their first meeting . " Ms. Foster ? Ms. Foster .... Looking down at the woman in his arms , Marcus couldn't help furrowing his brows . +10 Free Cou They were so close that even through his suit , he could feel her rising body temperature . He reached out a long , elegant hand and placed it on her forehead . Fever . A bad one . After pulling his hand back , he grabbed his phone and called his assistant . " Have a doctor meet me at Sonata Bay . " " Yes , Mr. Collins . " Half an hour later , at Sonata Bay . James arrived with a family doctor and went straight upstairs . Outside the master bedroom stood a tall figure . James had assumed it was his boss who wasn't feeling well . But once he stepped into the room , he saw that it was a woman . Mr. Collins was known for being a bit of a clean freak . Aside from letting Fiona come in to tidy up , he never allowed anyone else inside the master bedroom - especially not a woman . Standing to the side , James couldn't help sizing up the woman in bed . Who exactly was she? After taking the medicine , Natalie's condition started to improve . She woke up about thirty minutes later . Blinking open her drowsy eyes , she stared blankly at the unfamiliar room . 275 6:17 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 8 He Took Her Home 回答 ∅ +10 From Coins The entire space was decorated in shades of black , white , and gray - even the blackout curtains were pitch black . Scenes from before she passed out flashed through her mind . She had gotten into Marcus's car ... Could this be his house ? She threw off the covers and sat up , but her body still felt unbearably hot . Forcing herself through the discomfort , she opened the door and stepped out . " Miss , you're awake ? " She was immediately met with a warm , gentle gaze . Probably the maid of the house . Seeing her glancing around , Fiona pointed toward the end of the hallway . " Are you looking for Mr. Collins ? He's in the study Natalie gave a slight nod . She figured the person the maid referred to was Marcus . She walked slowly to the end of the corridor and reached out a delicate hand to knock . " Come in ," came his deep voice . Natalie opened the door and entered . Standing before the floor - to - ceiling window was a tall silhouette . Even from behind , she recognized him instantly . " Mr. Collins , why am I at your house ? " Marcus turned at the sound of her voice and met her worn - out expression . Without a change in expression , he walked past her . " You passed out the moment you got into my car . I didn't know your address , so I brought you here . My maid's already given you your medicine . " " Thank you , Mr. Collins ... " " What happened to Uncle Marcus ? " 3/5 6:17 Fri , Sep 26 Chapter 8 He Took Her Home He circled around the large desk and pulled out a chair to sit down . Natalie blinked , caught off guard . " In the car , didn't you call me Uncle Marcus ? Since you're Jackson's wife and he hasn't signed the divorce papers , it's only right that you call me that ." Leaning back in the chair , Marcus's eyes narrowed slightly . His gaze was deep and unreadable . She'd called him that earlier on a whim , when a crazy idea flashed through her mind . But right now , she was too unwell to think things through . Just as Natalie was about to respond , a young voice called out from outside the study . ' Daddy , is Uncle Marcus really home ? " Natalie's body froze . That was her son Aiden's voice . What was he doing here ? " He is . I just asked . " Then came Jackson's voice , sending a wave of panic down Natalie's spine . She'd just announced their divorce in public , and now - of all times - he and Aiden were here , catching her in Marcus's home ? Even if she jumped into the river , she wouldn't be able to wash . this clean . To avoid any unnecessary drama or misunderstandings , Natalie quickly looked around for a place to hide . The space beneath the desk was the only option . " Mr. Collins , please don't let them know I'm here ... " Natalie rushed over and slipped to his side . When Marcus saw her glance under the desk , he immediately guessed what she was thinking . His lips lifted into a faint , amused smile . Things were getting more and more interesting ... 4/5 6:17 Fri , Sep 26 - Chapter 8 He Took Her Home 15 Free Cons He gave a slight nod , then pushed back the chair with her still in it to make room for her . The footsteps outside drew closer . Without another thought , Natalie bent down and crawled . underneath . As Marcus pulled the chair back in , she caught a whiff of his faint cedar scent . The closeness took her by surprise . She reflexively backed away . But the sudden motion threw off her balance , and she tipped backward . She instinctively reached out - grabbing the pair of long legs right in front of her . Marcus looked down , and their eyes met . For a moment , it was as if time stood still . Then came a knock on the study door . Natalie quickly let go of his legs and crouched still beneath the desk . " Uncle Marcus . " Jackson entered with Aiden , finding Marcus alone inside . Marcus lazily lifted his eyes and replied without much interest , " It's late , Jackson . What brings you here ? " Natalie held her breath beneath the desk , listening intently . She heard Jackson say slowly , " Aiden's feeling better , so I was going to take him home . But everything happened so suddenly today - I didn't expect Natalie to cause such a scene and ruin the family dinner that was supposed to welcome you back . I wanted to come apologize in person . 5/5 In "A Lady Hard to Please" by CrushReels, a single mother makes a poignant return to the city she fled seven years ago. Her mission: to secure treatment for her son's leukemia, setting the stage for an emotional journey of love and resilience amidst past heartbreak. As her ex-lover reenters her life upon hearing of her return, old wounds resurface, sparking a complex web of emotions and decisions that delve deep into themes of forgiveness, second chances, and the enduring power of love. This modern romance novel stands out for its raw portrayal of familial bonds tested by adversity, offering readers a compelling exploration of human strength and vulnerability. With a captivating blend of heart-wrenching moments and tender revelations, "A Lady Hard to Please" promises a captivating read that lingers in the heart long after the final page. Available to read online at CrushReel for those seeking a tale that transcends boundaries and speaks to the resilience of the human spirit.