Natalie''s sudden thanks and apology caught Marcus off guard. Seeing her bowing, he quickly stood up and reached out to stop her.
"Ms. Walker, there''s no need for that. I helped you because you helped me first. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have bothered," he said.
Natalie smiled and nodded. "Alright, let''s not dwell on anything unpleasant. Since we''re already out at sea, I''ll make the most of it."
"Sure," Marcus replied.
As they chatted, the chef had finished cooking, and the servers brought dishes to the table.
"This king crab is prepared three ways-steamed, salt and pepper, and garlic chili style," one server exined while setting down the tes.
"We also have steamed lobster, caviar, tuna belly sashimi, shrimp sashimi, prawn sashimi, grilled lobster with ck pepper, baked lobster with cheese, grilled snapper, tender beef ribs, and truffle foie gras."
When the server finished introducing the dishes, Marcus waved him away. "Ms. Walker, please."
Natalie looked at the table piled high with seafood. Beyond the windowy the boundless ocean under a clear, vibrant sky. Where the sea met the horizon, it formed a dazzling line of brilliant blue. Her heavy mood lifted in an instant.
Marcus hadn''t ordered wine, though there were various small desserts, mostly choctes.
Noticing the familiar packaging, Natalie realized it was the same brand she had found in her room at the Holden residence.
"Ms. Walker, please."
"Thank you."
They began eating. Neither of them spoke during the meal.
Marcus'' purpose was to dy Natalie''s trip to the hospital. Now that they were adrift at sea, he could decide when they would return.
When they finished their meal, Marcus asked Elijah to bring over two fishing rods so he and Natalie could fish on the deck.
She rarely spent so much time alone with Marcus. Most days, he kept his distance.
Slightly turning her head, she watched him ce bait on the hook and cast his line with an easy, fluid motion —making a simple act look surprisingly elegant.
Grace had taken her fishing back when she was healthy, so Natalie knew the basic steps. She followed Marcus'' example and baited her hook. Then, she cast the line and sat quietly.
The ferry moved at a slow pace, so steady that she barely felt it.
Soon, Marcus'' float bobbed. He pulled up the rod and caught a long, slender pink fish. He removed it and offered it to Natalie. "Ms. Walker, it''s yours."
Natalie blinked in surprise.
"You don''t like it?" Marcus asked. He then tossed the fish back into the sea.
Natalie was speechless. She hadn''t said she didn''t like it. She was just surprised he had offered her his first catch.
Just then, Marcus'' phone rang. He nced at the screen before answering. "Hello, Grandpa."
"Why haven''t you brought Natalie to the hospital yet?" Charles asked in clear displeasure. "Grace is fine now. I''m bringing her back home. From now on, she and Natalie will be staying here at our ce."
Marcus was taken aback. "Grandpa, that might not be the best idea!"
"What''s wrong with it?" Charles snapped. "Our ce is big enough. Don''t tell me you''re against setting aside a guest room and a few extra meals. Grace is my godsister and your god-grandmother. Even if she weren''t,
I''d still bring her if I wanted to. I''m still alive, Marcus. You don''t get to decide anything just yet."
Marcus fell silent for a moment. "Fine, Grandpa. As long as it makes you happy."
He owned plenty of other houses anyway and could simply move out.
Besides, he hadn''t forgotten that Grace once encouraged Natalie to seduce him or even drug him. Any sympathy he had begun to feel for Natalie vanished after this call.
Ending the call, Marcus turned to Natalie. "Ms. Walker, my grandfather took your grandmother back to Holden Residence. She''ll be living there from now on."
He said calmly, "You didn''t want anyone to know you''re Dr. Elim. Your grandmother probably has no idea, right? My grandfather isn''t the best at keeping secrets."
He was hinting that Grace might have already learned Natalie was Dr. Elim.
Natalie''s lips twitched slightly. "It''s fine. I can handle it."
"Alright. I''ll keep you safe during my grandfather''s treatment."
Marcus had given his word. For the next three months, while Charles was receiving treatment, he would protect Natalie from harm.
"Thank you," she replied.
Natalie didn''t refuse. After all, she had her own residence in Dithoria. If Grace was going to live at Holden Residence, she would just stay elsewhere.
Charles'' schedule was fixed, so she only had to return for his acupuncture sessions.
Still, a thought crossed Natalie''s mind, and she frowned a little. She might be unable to move out before Charles'' treatment ended.
She kept her worries to herself instead of voicing them. She fished quietly with Marcus until he told Elijah to head back at 4:00 pm.
Marcus timed their arrival at Holden Residence to coincide with Charles'' evening acupuncture session. Stepping into the grand foyer, they heard cheerful voices. Grace and Charles were happily chatting about something, both clearly in a good mood.
At the sight of Marcus and Natalie, Charles appeared ready to scold them. But Grace gently tugged his hand, then shook her head, so he relented.
"Alright. For Grace''s sake, I won''t stay mad at you two today," Charles grumbled. "But you can''t eat with us tonight. You like going out anyway, don''t you? Then go have all the fun you want."
Grace chimed in with a smile. "You''re Marcus, right? Thest time I saw you, you were just a little boy. Look how tall and handsome you are now. I used to hold you in my arms when you were little."
She sighed at how quickly time had passed. "I remember joking with your grandfather back then, saying I''d marry my granddaughter off to you when you grew up. But he told me your mother had already arranged a fiancée for you."
When Grace finished speaking, she turned to Natalie. The moment her eyes fell on her, Grace''s expression and voice suddenly became pitiful. "Nattie, where did you and Marcus go? I waited for so long at the hospital, but you never came."
Her eyes looked hurt, but then they sparkled with excitement. "I''m all better now. Aren''t you happy?"