After Natalie finished speaking, Connie fell into deep thought. She had no idea whether Cassie and Sophia got along or not.


    From the information she''d gathered, Cassie and Sophia weren''t even close in age. They barely interacted before, essentially maintaining a superficial connection at best.


    The fact that Sophia was pregnant and Cassie somehow knew—while the entire Walker family remained in the dark—was strange. If the two had been close, it wouldn''t have been surprising. But given their distant rtionship, it didn''t make sense.


    "Connie, think carefully," Natalie said, tossing a chocte wrapper into the trash can after finishing her piece. "Back when Cassie was at Quinton Hospital, how did she act toward the doctor in charge of treating Mr. Holden Senior?"


    "She was determined to push for Jessy to treat him," Natalie continued. "If she already knew someone as capable as Jessy, why go out of her way to look elsewhere?


    "And as for Ms. Sinir''s baby, you don''t even know who the father is. Assuming Ms. Sinir was wronged, you''re just taking their word for it. Connie, since when did you stop using your brain?"


    Connie''s cheeks turned red with embarrassment, but she didn''t dare show anger. After a long pause, she mumbled, "I just thought..... Well, since they told Mr. Holden Senior directly, Cassie wouldn''t have the nerve to lie to him."


    "That''s just what you think," Natalie replied, unwrapping another piece of chocte and breaking off half to hand to her. "The information you found on Cassie barely scratches the surface. It''s all just what the Holden family wants outsiders to see."


    Natalie pulled out theptop Timothy had gifted her and opened it. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as she thoroughly checked for any issues with the device. Once she was satisfied it was clean, she loaded a program she''d written herself.


    Connie watched Natalie type rapidly, mesmerized by her speed. Before long, Natalie turned the screen toward her.


    "Sophia''s secret boyfriend-Sky."


    "What?" Connie gasped, wide-eyed. "The eldest son of the Walker family? CEO of Walker Group?"


    "Yup," Natalie confirmed, her tone calm. "And he''s... also my older brother."


    Natalie smirked. When she''d first looked into the Walker family, she hadn''te across any mention of Sky having a girlfriend.


    "If Sky is the father of Sophia''s baby, there''s no reason he wouldn''t want the child. That leaves only one possibility-he''s not the father."


    Natalie grabbed herptop again, typing even faster this time. Momentster, she found something even more intriguing.


    "Connie, look at this."


    "Huh?"


    Connie leaned closer, her eyes widening as she read, "Sky and Emma... are way too close!"


    Natalie chuckled softly. Emma being close to Sky didn''t surprise her at all. Emma was the Walker family''s pampered princess, and Sky, as the eldest brother, spoiled her the most.


    The way the Walker family treated her, their biological daughter,pared to Emma, the adopted one, was ringly obvious.


    Sky''s loyalty clearly leaned toward Emma. Of course, he kept his emotions in check and never outright opposed their parents.


    "Ms. Walker, even for siblings, that''s... a little too close, don''t you think?" Connie muttered.


    "It''s none of our business," Natalie replied, closing theptop screen and ruffling Connie''s hair. "Go get some rest.


    "Remember, you''re the only one who should handle Mr. Holden Senior''s medication. Brew it yourself, serve it yourself. Don''t even trust Sheldon."


    "Got it, Ms. Walker." Connie nodded earnestly.


    "And be especially wary of Cassie."


    "I understand, Ms. Walker."


    Connie was tasked with personally preparing Charles'' medication, ensuring he took it on time, and overseeing his meals before he consumed anything. Her vignce was thorough.


    Seeing that Connie took her instructions seriously, Natalie felt satisfied. She said, "Get some sleep." "Goodnight, Ms. Walker."


    "Goodnight."


    After Connie left, Natalie reopened herptop, diving deeper into Cassie''s background.


    Cassie was Charles'' youngest daughter and the heiress of the Holden family. Her older brother was Wesley, Marcus'' father.


    Cassie had dropped out of college to study abroad, majoring in jewelry design. But after returning back home, she didn''t pursue design or join Holden Group.


    Still single to this day, she openly


    stated that she''s in a stable rtionship with her boyfriend but


    insisted she would never get


    married, describing marriageas


    "where love goes to die."


    She rarely returned to Holden Residence and wasn''t close to her father.


    The media portrayed her as an independent, sophisticated heiress. But three years ago, Charles announced that Marcus would be Holden Group''s sole heir.


    From then on, Cassie''s image as a


    self-reliant heiress began to


    crumble. Her boyfriend mysteriously vanished, and she started ying the role of the dutiful daughter.


    Still, Charles didn''t buy it.


    Natalie thought back to their first meeting at Quinton Hospital in Balford. It was clear then that Cassie and Marcus didn''t get along.


    So why would Cassie suddenly bring Sophia to the Holden residence and pry about Elim? It probably wasn''t just about Sophia''s baby.


    Natalie grabbed her phone, sent an email, and then tossed it onto the couch before heading to the kitchen for a ss of water.


    Outside the window, headlights shed. Natalie walked over and saw a ck Rolls-Royce Ghost pulling in.


    The car came to a stop, and Elijah stepped out, opening the door to help Marcus out.


    Marcus, clearly drunk, leaned heavily on Elijah as they made their way toward the house.


    Halfway there, Marcus suddenly stopped, looking up toward the guestroom where Natalie stood. Their eyes


    met.


    Natalie''s expression remained calm, е


    her gaze steady. Meanwhile, Marcus'' strikingly handsome face was flushed, his eyes betraying emotions he couldn''t put into words.


    Natalie calmly pulled the curtains shut, turned off the lights, and climbed into bed.


    Just as she closed her eyes, her phone rang. She picked it up, seeing Marcus'' name on the screen.


    "Hello, Mr. Holden. It''ste. What do you need?" Natalie''s voice was cool and even, free of any unnecessary


    emotion.


    There was no response, just the faint sound of breathing.


    "Mr. Holden, if you''re not going to speak, I''ll hang up."


    "Natalie,e downstairs," Marcus finally said, his deep, maic voice breaking the silence. Then, he hung


    up.


    Annoyed, Natalie cursed him under her breath. What the hell was his problem at this hour?


    She sent him a text saying, "Sorry, I''m already in bed."


    His reply came instantly, "Ms. Walker, don''t you want to know Mrs. Langley Senior''s secret?"


    The mention of Grace piqued her curiosity. Five minutester, she was downstairs, fully dressed. Marcus was sprawled on the couch, his eyes closed, his ck suit slightly undone to reveal his corbone and part of his chest.


    His longshes rested quietly against his flushed, perfect face, the faint scent of alcohol hanging in the air. "Mr. Holden, are you drunk?" Natalie waved a hand in front of his face, asking.


    Suddenly, Marcus'' eyes snapped open. He grabbed her wrist, pulling her down on top of him. In the next instant, he flipped them over, pinning her to the couch.


    "Don''t move,


    Ms. Walker," he murmured, his voice husky and raw. His dark eyes burned with an unnatural


    intensity. "Stay still. It''ll be quick."


    With that, he rested his chin on her shoulder.