Walter looked at Natalie''s mischievous smile, which she had never shown before. He was stunned for a moment, thinking that this side of Natalie was both cute and yful.


    "Alright!" Walter smiled. "Then, when are we going back?"


    Natalie replied, "At 9:00 pm. After we piss off Mrs. Langley Senior, we''ll need to rush back."


    She needed to start Charles'' acupuncture treatment before leaving, and the next morning, she had toe back to continue the process. Thus, until Charles'' condition improved, she did not have much free time on her hands.


    "Will we be okay on time?" Walter did a quick mental calction of the time. Rushing to Amberton at 9:00 pm and back would prove to be a very tight schedule. He worried that Natalie wouldn''t get enough rest, which would be bad for her health.


    "The Walkers have a helicopter. I''ll just borrow it from my mom." Natalie pulled out her phone and immediately called Charlotte.


    "Hello? Mom, could I use the family helicopter for a bit? I need to fly to Amberton tonight."


    "Sure! Of course, you can," Charlotte answered right away. "I''ll get it ready for you. You can leave whenever you want.


    "But sweetheart, I have only one request. Even after you get to Amberton, don''t forget toe home! Remember, your home is in Dithoria, your dad''s name is William, and your mom''s is Charlotte.


    "Don''t ever forget the way home, and don''t forget your parents'' names!"


    Natalieughed. "I know. Don''t worry! Since I''ve acknowledged you, I won''t return to the Langleys."


    "Sweetheart, I believe you! Don''t misunderstand anything!"


    "Okay, I won''t misunderstand."


    Charlotte added, "By the way, Celeste called me. She said you didn''t ept the gift she sent you, so she asked me to tell you to ept it."


    "Alright, I got it."


    "Okay. Have a good time with Celeste! I won''t disturb you."


    After hanging up, Natalie removed Grace''s number from her blocked contacts and called her. She turned on the speakerphone so Walter could hear.


    As soon as the call connected, Natalie could immediately hear three coughs. In


    the past, whenever Grace felt even a little unwell, Natalie would quickly grow worried and ask a doctor to check on her.


    But now, Natalie didn''t feel much about it. "Hello, Mrs. Langley Senior. It''s me, Natalie."


    She waited for Grace''s coughing to stop before slowly speaking. "I heard that you won''t allow me to be in a rtionship with Walter?


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, allow me to ask you why can''t I be with Walter?"


    Natalie slowly said, "It''s true that you brought Walter back to the Langleys and sent him to school, but over the years, it''s been me who''s taking care of him! I raised this rose myself, so why can''t I pick it?"


    Walter felt his heart race as he listened to Natalie. Wasn''t she referring to him as a rose right now?


    Natalie continued, "Or does Mrs. Langley Senior think I''m unworthy?"


    She raised an eyebrow as her slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the table. Her tone was calm andposed, speaking in a cold and indifferent voice that sounded questioning but affirmative.


    "Oh, right. I heard that Ms. Langley made you so angry that you ended up in the hospital. Langley Group must be a mess right now.


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, you should take care of yourself. After all, Mr. Langley cannot bear the responsibility of Langley Group. As for Ms. Langley and Mrs. Langley, they''re probably even more incapable.


    "You have so many things to worry about, and yet you still care about who I date. It''s hard for me not to believe that you truly care about me."


    Walter listened as Natalie delivered the most sarcastic words in the calmest tone, and he couldn''t help but smile.


    Natalie met Walter''s gaze and smiled at him lightly. He picked up his teacup and softly clinked it against hers.


    Every time Natalie visited Walter when they were young, she would bring him delicious snacks and beverages. Although Walter was technically sponsored by Grace, it was in name only.


    Grace provided him with almost no financial and material support. At school, he only had the basics-enough food and clothes to keep him warm.


    His happiest days were when Natalie came to visit him.


    The two of them would find somewhere to turn into a secret base, and Natalie wouldy down a mat, cing some snacks and drinks on it. Once they both sat down, they would eat together.


    Natalie would tell him many interesting things. When she spoke about them, her eyes seemed to sparkle.


    Later on, her visits became less and less frequent. There was even a time when she didn''te to visit him for two whole months.


    Walter became so worried that he secretly crawled through a small hole in the school fence and snuck out. He had a great memory, so even though he had only been to the Langley residence once, he had memorized the entire route there.


    When he arrived, he didn''t dare knock on the door and could only


    watch from a distance. He waited a long time for one of the helpers f


    the Langley residence toem


    to throw the trash. He then cautiously approached them and asked about Natalie.


    W2


    It was then that Walter found out Natalie had been taken to the hospital to draw blood for Diana.


    Walter was both furious and resentful. Furious at the Langley family''s cruelty, and resented his own weakness and powerlessness.


    If only he had been stronger and more powerful-he could have taken Natalie away from the Langleys and stopped them from taking her to the hospital to draw her blood.


    Seeing that Grace remained silent,


    Natalie leisurely continued, "Mrs. Langley Senior, you''re old now. You should really take care of your health! heard that the shareholders of Langley Group are all selling off their shares. Mrs. Langley Senior, you should be worried about your son being foolish enough to buy those shares!"


    "Nattie,e back to visit me!" Grace''s weary and haggard voice finally came through the phone. "I''m afraid... I don''t have many days left to live."


    Grace let out a long sigh. "Nattie, there are some words and things I''ve thought about carefully, and I''ve finally decided to have an open and honest conversation with you.


    "Nattie, you''ve misunderstood me. I know your family also misunderstands me, and I get why you would. But Nattie, why don''t you trust me?" Natalie interrupted her, asking, "Mrs. Langley Senior, did I treat you well?"


    This time, Grace answered without hesitation, "Yes. You treated me the best."


    "If I was so good to you, then why did you deceive me?" Natalie''s tone remained calm, but her eyes were slightly reddened.


    She had been sincere and devoted to the Langleys without reservation. She never onceined about Diana using her as a blood bank for many years.


    Yet, the grandmother who always imed to love her the most turned out to be the one colluding with Victor and Diana behind her back.


    They beat her with a stick and offered her a carrot. The Langleys had thoroughly yed her like a fool.