When Charlotte heard Natalie''s firm response, all her doubts disappeared.


    This was perfect—her daughter wasn''t the type to lose herself over some guy, unlike Emma, who hadpletely swallowed her pride for Marcus.


    There were plenty of fish in the sea. If one wasn''t fit, you simply moved on. Marcus wasn''t the be-all and end- all.


    "Alright," Charlotte said, her voice carrying a lightugh. "I''ll talk to your dad, and we''ll return the engagement gifts that the Holden family gave us back then."


    She then said in a teasing tone, "Nat, I know so many great young men. Just pick one, and I''ll set it up for you!"


    "No need. I''m not interested in dating right now," Natalie replied, walking as she spoke.


    She stepped outside the front door just as Marcus descended the stairs. He was dressed sharply in a perfectly tailored ck suit, every detail meticulously in ce, from his crisp shirt to his impably tied tie. His handsome face was as stoic and distant as ever, exuding an aura of cold authority.


    Natalie hung up after she finished speaking to Charlotte. She nced at Marcus and raised her phone, a wordless reminder for him to transfer her overtime pay from the night before.


    Marcus opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but before he could get a word out, Natalie turned and walked off without looking back.


    "Mr. Holden," Sheldon said, suddenly appearing at Marcus'' side, "do you know you kissed Ms. Walkerst night?"


    "What?" Marcus'' eyes widened in disbelief. "Sheldon, mind your words."


    "I have proof." Sheldon fearlessly pulled out his phone and showed him a photo. The image, taken at an angle, clearly showed Marcus pinning Natalie on the couch, looking for all the world like he was kissing her. Marcus'' face darkened as he reached to snatch the phone, but the butler deftly dodged him.


    "Mr. Holden, Mr. Holden Senior is waiting for you in the study," Sheldon said with a mischievous grin. "Looks like we might be celebrating some good news soon!"


    Marcus red at Sheldon, his mind racing. How did Sheldon even get that photo?


    "Mr. Holden, don''t keep him waiting!" Sheldon called over his shoulder as he turned to leave, utterly unfazed by Marcus'' dark expression.


    Sheldon was practically humming with delight. When Natalie left earlier, she had even waved goodbye to Marcus. To him, this was clearly a sign of mutual affection.


    If it weren''t love, someone as sharp as Natalie would''ve hurled her phone at Marcus without a second thought, probably leaving him with a nasty bruise.


    Still smirking, Sheldon followed Marcus into the study where Charles was waiting.


    Charles had just finished his acupuncture session and entered the room ten minutester. Marcus had been working on some documents in the meantime but immediately stood when Charles walked in.


    "Grandpa," he greeted respectfully.


    "The Walkers called me," Charles began without preamble, his expression serious. "They told me that Emma isn''t their biological daughter. Your previous engagement with her is null and void—what''s done is done."


    Although his tone was calm, his face betrayed traces of lingering irritation. Natalie had warned him to stayposed after his treatments, and if he couldn''t manage it, she''d left him some medicine to calm his nerves. He''d already taken one after receiving William''s call earlier.


    "Now," Charles continued, "the Walkers said they''ve found their biological daughter, and there''s no reason to continue this engagement between her and you. They''ll be returning the engagement gifts shortly, and the marriage agreement between our families will be officially canceled."


    Marcus said nothing.


    "You''re happy now, aren''t you?" Charles said, eyeing him. "You didn''t want to marry their daughter, and they''ve made it clear they don''t want you either."


    "You''re right, Grandpa," Marcus replied evenly. "The engagement gifts the Walkers sent me back then-are they still in your possession?"


    Charles raised an eyebrow, but his irritation shifted into a wry chuckte. "Wow, you''re bold. Now that I''m on the mend and you can''t stress me out death, you think you can do


    whatever you want?"


    "Not at all, Grandpa. You''ll live a long and healthy life," Marcus said smoothly.


    "I don''t care about living a long life. I just want to see you settle down and start a family," Charles muttered.


    Marcus remained silent.


    Charles sighed and opened a safe, pulling out several boxes of varying sizes and a stack of document envelopes. He ced them on the desk in front of Marcus.


    "These are the engagement gifts the Walkers sent us."


    "And what did we give them?" Marcus asked as he opened one of the boxes and nced inside.


    "Our gifts to them were more


    extravagant, of course," Charles replied. "Your mother and Mrs. Walker arranged this engagement. If they''re returning the gifts, you should inform your mother, don''t you think?"


    "No need," Marcus said firmly. "I''m an adult. I know what I''m doing."


    Charles studied him carefully. "Are you still holding a grudge against your parents?"


    "I''m not," Marcus said, standing abruptly. "Grandpa, I need to head to the office. If the Walkers return the gifts, please handle it for me."


    Before Charles could respond, Marcus left the study, cutting off the conversation.


    Charles sighed, his unspoken words stuck in his throat.


    "Why didn''t you tell him his parents had their reasons?" Sheldon asked as he stepped forward, massaging Charles'' shoulders. "If the Walkers return the gifts, it''ll create more friction with his parents."


    "I don''t need to exin myself to them," Charles said with a snort. "Marcus is an adult. He can make his own choices. I''m not going to live forever."


    Sheldon nodded and left the study. At the front door, he spotted the Walkers'' cars pulling up in an orderly line.


    "Mr. Holden Senior, the Walkers are here," he called out.


    Charles walked out to greet them, his posture straight despite his age.


    The cars stopped, and William and Charlotte stepped out first. Behind them, the trunks of the other cars opened, and boxes were carried out one by one.


    "Mr. Holden Senior," they greeted in unison, bowing slightly out of respect.


    "These are the engagement gifts your family gave us before the children were born," Charlotte said with a polite smile. "Please, take a moment to check them."


    "We''ve kept them safe all these years," she added. "We''ve also spoken with Natalie about this, and while she''s a bit disappointed, she respects the decision."


    Charles nodded solemnly. "It seems the children weren''t meant to be."


    "Still," Charlotte said gently, "returning these gifts is the right thing to do. Since the engagement is off, we couldn''t possibly keep them."


    She gestured to the gifts they''d brought. "And we''d appreciate it if you could return the engagement gifts your family gave us as well."


    Though the Walkers'' gifts didn''t match the Holdens'' in value, they were determined to ensure everything was returned properly—no loose ends, no misunderstandings.


    Otherwise, Marcus might think the Walker family left those things behind on purpose