When Marcus rested his chin on Natalie''s shoulder, he didn''t move again.


    Annoyed, Natalie reached up and yanked his hair back hard. "Marcus, get off me."


    "You didn''t... get drugged again, did you?" she asked sharply. It was the only exnation she could think of for why he was acting like this.


    "No," he murmured, his deep, raspy voice tinged with exhaustion. "No one drugged me."


    But something had upset him—that much was true. Not that he''d admit it. Their rtionship wasn''t close enough for him to share every little detail.


    He wanted to hold her purely because of the alcohol. He was chasing that fleeting memory of the crimson red scarf she''d worn once and theforting scent she always carried.


    As he held her, taking in her soothing fragrance, the unease and irritation swirling in his chest began to calm. But Natalie wasn''t letting up. Her grip on his hair was relentless, as if she were about to yank it all out.


    Marcus finally grabbed her wrist, his strong hand prying her fingers free with ease.


    "Ms. Walker, I apologize."


    "Get off," she snapped, her tone as blunt as ever. "Mr. Holden, we''re not close enough for this kind of behavior."


    That earned a low chuckle from Marcus. He slowly sat up, but his piercing ck eyes never left her face, watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.


    Natalie frowned, her frustration clear on her delicate features. "You said you had something to tell me about Mrs. Langley Senior. That''s the only reason I came downstairs. I''m exhausted and need to rest. I don''t have time to deal with your drunken antics."


    Marcus wasn''t offended. Instead, he simply stared at her, his sharp gaze taking in the flush of irritation on her otherwise pale face.


    Natalie looked so much like Charlotte in her youth-it was uncanny.


    When Charlotte had revealed that Natalie was her biological daughter, Marcus had been present. But he''d pretended to take an urgent phone call and left before the conversation could continue. Who would dare confront him if he imed he hadn''t been there?


    What he hadn''t expected was for his estranged mother to call him afterward, saying that now that the Walker family had found their biological daughter, the engagement between their families should resume.


    She''d even gone so far as to say Emma wasn''t good enough for him, but the true Walker heiress was a different story.


    It wasughable. His entire life seemed inextricably tied to the Walker family''s daughters, no matter how hard he tried to break free.


    As Marcus'' expression grew increasinglyplicated, Natalie waved a hand in front of his face. "Mr. Holden, are you okay?"


    "I''m fine," he replied, leaning back into the couch and rubbing his temples.


    His opinion of Natalie had shifted, but the resentment he felt at being forced into this situation remained. His parents, who had ignored him for years, suddenly appeared in his life just to give him orders—to marry their chosen bride.


    If he refused, what could they do? This marriage was out of the question.


    "Ms. Walker, stay with me a little longer," he murmured, his eyes closing as his body rxed. "Or... have a drink with me."


    "You''ve had enough," Natalie said tly. "Should I grab a mirror so you can see what you look like right now?" "That won''t be necessary," Marcus replied with a faint smirk. "I''m perfectly aware of my condition." "I''m just... a little sad."


    As he spoke, a single tear rolled silently down his cheek.


    Natalie raised an eyebrow. Well, this is new. In her entire life, she''d never seen a grown man cry.


    "Mr. Holden, what''s got you so upset? Go ahead, spill it. Maybe it''ll cheer me up."


    Marcus stayed quiet. Being abandoned by his parents-did that count as something sad? But why would he share that with her?


    Sure, Natalie had been switched at birth and spent 20 years as nothing more than a living blood bank for the Langley But once her biological family found her, they showered her with affection. It was clear to anyone with eyes how much her parents and brothers adored her


    Meanwhile, Marcus had grown up in his family''s home, but his parents had handed him off to his grandfather


    and spent their lives traveling the country, never sparing him a second thought.


    Years passed without a single visit, phone call, or even a video chat. And now, the one time they did reach out, it was to order him to marry someone.


    For the first time, Marcus found


    himself wondering who had it worse,


    him or Natalie. He didn''t realize he


    was still crying. All he felt was a crushing weight on his chest, making it hard to breathe.


    Natalie studied him in silence. His perfectly tailored suit was now wrinkled, and his sharp,manding presence had


    softened into something almood


    was


    pitiful. His normally immacte hair disheveled, and his lips were pressed into a tight line.


    This vulnerable side of him was surprising for a man who always carried himself with cold arrogance.


    Without saying a word, Natalie got up and went to the kitchen. She returned with a cup of hot tea. "Mr. Holden, get up and drink this."


    When Marcus didn''t respond, she kicked his leg lightly. Still nothing.


    Annoyed, she grabbed the tea, leaned over, and pinched his cheeks to force his mouth open. Then she poured the warm tea down his throat.


    Marcus sputtered, coughing violently as he opened his eyes to see Natalie staring at him with her usual nk expression.


    "I called you, but you didn''t listen," she said coolly. "Since you''re awake now, drink it yourself." "Natalie!" Marcus'' voice rose in exasperation, a mix of anger and disbelief. He''d never been treated this way, not even when he was sick and on the verge of death.


    "I''m not deaf. No need to yell," Natalie replied, unfazed. She shoved the tea into his hands. "Consider this overtime. Make sure to send me my fee."


    "What did you say?" Marcus frowned, confused.


    "I said, I''m working overtime. Don''t forget to pay me for it," she repeated patiently. "After all, our rtionship


    isn''t close enough for me to do this out of the goodness of my heart."


    Marcus stared at her, speechless. "So... you''re treating this like a job?"


    "Yeah. What do you think?" Natalie said with a smirk. She had always seen work as nothing more than putting


    lipstick on a pig.


    Marcus didn''t know whether tough or cry. She had an answer for everything.


    He stood, taking the tea she''d given him. Tilting his head back, he drank it in one go.


    The hot liquid spilled past the corners of his mouth, running down his sharp jawline, tracing the contours of his throat, and disappearing into the open cor of his shirt.


    Natalie tried not to look, but his presence was overwhelming. Even doing something as simple as drinking tea, he managed to exude an effortless charm that was impossible to ignore.