Chapter 26 A House Full of Fireworks " Morning ." Marcus's voice was low and cool as he greeted her , then walked briskly toward the stairs . 37 ) Finished " Dad's not up yet ? I'm gonna be late for school . Are you taking me or is Dad taking me ? " Aiden asked , tugging on Natalie's sleeve . " Your dad's not here . He went out last night ," Natalie replied , her tone flat . " What ? " Aiden blinked . " Dad didn't sleep here last night ? " Stella opened her mouth , but before she could speak , another voice cut in . Natalie looked up - and locked eyes with Gabriel , who had appeared silently at the edge of the corridor on the third floor . He'd heard everything . Natalie's brow tensed . So Grandpa heard it all . " He had work last night , " she said calmly . " That idiot ... " Gabriel growled , his cane slamming hard against the floor . The lines on his face deepened with anger . " Has Aiden woken up yet ? " Just then , Jackson's voice echoed from downstairs . Apparently , he'd returned just in time to take Aiden to school . Natalie glanced at Gabriel and saw the old man turn sharply and storm toward the stairs , clearly fuming . It was going to be another chaotic morning . When Natalie arrived at the dining room , Gabriel was already mid - rant . " What were you doing last night ? Why didn't you stay home ? " he snapped at Jackson . Marcus sat beside the old man , quietly having his breakfast . 1/3 19:36 Fri , Sep 19 : 口 37 Chapter 26 A House Full of Fireworks Finished Jackson offered a half - hearted explanation . " I got an urgent call for work late last night . It ran long , so I just stayed at the office ." Natalie's lips curled in a cold smile . So seeing Victoria now counted as work ? Gabriel's anger flared . His voice rose . " What work is more important than your wife ? No wonder she wants a divorce . With how you treat her , who wouldn't leave you ? " " She locked me out , " Jackson argued . " After she went upstairs , she shut the door in my face . I had work to handle anyway , so I just left . " As he spoke , he shot Natalie a sharp glare , his eyes filled with irritation . He lied so easily - without blinking . How had she never noticed what a liar he was ? " Sorry , " Natalie said flatly . " I drank too much and didn't hear you knocking ." " You expect me to believe that ? That you passed out so hard you couldn't hear anything ? You locked the door on purpose , " Jackson snapped . " Enough . " Marcus's voice cut through the tension , steady and calm . " It's early . Just eat . Don't you still have to take Aiden to school ? " With Marcus stepping in , Jackson bit back the rest of his words . He pulled out a chair to sit , but Aiden had already slung his backpack over his shoulder and was fidgeting . " Dad , I'm gonna be late ! Forget breakfast - can you just take me now ? " " Alright , I'll take you ." Jackson pushed the chair back in . Even though they were still in the family estate , and surrounded by elders , Natalie knew she still had to show up as a mother . " I'll come too , " she offered . But Aiden cut her off immediately . " No thanks . Dad can take me . " Stella grabbed a hard - boiled egg and a bottle of milk , handing them to him . " Eat these on the way . " " Thanks , Grandma . " 19:36 Fri , Sep 19 Chapter 26 A House Full of Fireworks Jackson and Aiden left . 4 37 Finished Stella and Gabriel , claiming they'd already eaten , went out for a walk in the garden . And just like that , it was only Marcus and Natalie left in the dining room . Now that everyone was gone , the atmosphere felt surprisingly awkward . " You're already here - might as well have some breakfast before you leave ," Marcus said quietly . His deep voice reached her ears , and Natalie instinctively turned to look at him . Those dark eyes - deep as a frozen lake in w