Chapter 20 Caught in the Act Finished Just as Natalic was about to respond to Marcus , the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her . " Natalie , we're good to go- " As she turned toward the voice , she instinctively tried to pull away from Marcus's grasp , but it was already too late . She lifted her eyes - and locked gazes with Jackson , who had just stepped into the room . He had walked in on a moment that couldn't have looked more suspicious . " What are you two doing ? " Jackson's brows knit together , his voice tight with a mix of anger and disbelief . Marcus let go of Natalie and said evenly , " Ms. Foster lost her balance . I helped her . Since you've handled the paperwork , go ahead and take her home . " With that , he turned and strode toward the door . Only after the sound of his footsteps faded did Jackson finally focus his attention on Natalie . She glanced at the form in his hand , walked up to him , and snatched it away . " Thanks . " Without waiting for a reply , she turned and headed for the door . " Stop ." Jackson's low voice came from behind her . Natalie paused and looked back at him . " You finished the paperwork . That's enough . I don't need you to take me home - I can manage on my own . " " What Marcus said earlier ... was that true ? " He stepped closer , eyes dark with cold intensity . Natalie looked up , expression unreadable . " What do you think ? " Jackson stared down at her , his sharp gaze shimmering under the bright hospital lights . A faint smirk played at his lips , as though daring her to keep talking . 1/2 19:34 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 20 Caught in the Act 4337 Finished But when he didn't say anything for a long time , Natalie let out a faint laugh . " Mr. Jackson , you don't seriously think I'm trying to seduce your uncle , do you ? " That made Jackson's mouth curl into a mocking sneer . " Seduce my uncle ? You think you're worth that ? " His voice was soft , but every word was dripping with contempt . Natalie's face darkened slightly . She stared at him , silent . " You're nothing special - and you've been to prison , " Jackson said with a cold scoff . " Everyone in the Collins family knows how high Uncle Marcus's standards are . He's surrounded by beautiful women all the time , but he doesn't just care about looks . You have to have something up here . " He tapped his temple with one long finger . Still , Natalie didn't get angry . She said calmly , " Well , the fact that you chose Victoria says enough . Clearly , your judgment doesn't match your uncle's ." Jackson's brows twitched at that . Two birds with one stone . She'd insulted both him and Victoria in one line . " If you've got something to say to me , just say it . Why drag Victoria into this ? " he snapped . He reached for her arm , clearly trying to stop her and get a real answer . But Natalie stepped back quickly and turned to leave . His frustrated voice echoed behind her , but she didn't even glance back as she walked down the hallway . When she got to the hospital entrance , a familiar figure flashed by , " Lucy ! " she called out . Lucy stopped in her tracks , spinning around with surprise . " Natalie ? I thought you were still in the room waiting for me . Why are you out here ? " " I waited forever , and you never showed up . I ended up calling Marcus . Then Jackson showed up too . " C ल 19:34 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 20 Caught in the Act Natalie stepped closer , smiling . : 37 Finished " I'm so sorry , Natalic . " Lucy apologized breathlessly . " That job was too important - I couldn't get out of it . I didn't even have time to call you . I came as fast as I could . " " It's okay . " " So , where are they ? " Lucy looked around . No one else was in sight . " It's a long story , " Natalie said . " Anyway , it's almost noon . You hungry ? Let's grab lunch . " " Definitely . "" They found a small restaurant near the hospital , ordered a couple of stir - fried dishes , and sat down to eat . Between bites , the conversation turned to Lily . " Sounds like the girl really was sent to another orphanage , " Lucy said . Natalie's hand froze mid - air , fork in hand . " You found Lily's biological father ? " " Yeah , I did . But the kid's not with him - she was definitely placed in an orphanage . We just don't know which one yet . I'll have to dig deeper ." " Thank you , Lucy ... seriously ." " Don't mention it . We're family . No need to thank me . " Send Gifts 20