"Emma has a safe that''s full of your belongings. Honestly, I think she''s a bit of a perverted psycho," Celeste casually said, getting straight to the point.


    "I heard from Aunt Charlotte that you''ve already broken off your engagement with Emma. But since I used to be her cousin, I know just how deeply obsessed she is


    with you.


    "Now, she''s no longer the true heiress of the Walkers, and I don''t want her to drag Aunt Charlotte''s family down with her."


    The Walkers and Kennedys had always maintained a close bond. In fact, the Kennedys once doted on Emma just like the Walkers had.


    However, after discovering that Emma wasn''t Charlotte and William''s biological daughter, the Kennedys held a meeting to discuss their stance.


    Emma had been raised by the Walkers for 20 years, and the rtionship built wasn''t something that could easily be let go of. Still, no one was willing to let her presence harm their true blood rtive.


    "Mr. Holden, you understand what I''m saying, right?"


    Marcus nodded. "I understand."


    "Is there anything else?" He nced at the watch on his wrist. "I have other things to do."


    "There isn''t. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."


    "Thank you for your kind intentions, Ms. Kennedy." Marcus stood up. "I''ll handle


    it."


    "No need to thank me. It''s the right thing to do."


    "Goodbye, Ms. Kennedy."


    "Bye, Mr. Holden."


    After Marcus left, his expression darkened. His disgust toward Emma had reached an all-time high.


    Of course, he understood what Celeste was implying-since he had broken off the engagement with Emma and she wasn''t a biological daughter of the Walkers, anything she did out of her obsession for him was no longer the Walker family''s responsibility.


    The Walkers and Kennedys were deeply intertwined, not just through blood but business ties as well. Thus, they shared onemon principle-neither family would risk offending the Holden family, especially not for someone like Emma.


    "Noah, find someone to approach Emma. If she has hidden anything of mine, destroy it."


    "Understood, Mr. Holden," Noah respectfully said.


    After they exited the Helianese restaurant, Marcus'' expression turned even colder.


    That was because he happened to see Natalie and Walter sitting inside a car, chatting. He didn''t know what they were talking about, but Natalie was smiling brightly with a cheerful expression on her face.


    Whenever she faced him, on the other hand, she was either indifferent and distant, orpletely guarded.


    An ufortable feeling twisted in his chest.


    Marcus knew he hated her. Plus, she had a boyfriend now he should feel relieved. At the very least, she wouldn''t be trying to seduce him anymore and using him to plot her revenge against her ex-fiancé and Selena.


    And yet... Why did the sight of her smiling with Walter irritate him so much?


    Noah noticed Marcus staring in Natalie''s direction and asked politely, "Mr. Holden, would you like to go over to greet Ms. Walker?"


    "No." Marcus looked away and turned around, getting into his own car.


    Once inside, he pulled out his phone and texted Natalie. "Ms. Walker, don''t forget


    to be on time for my grandpa''s treatment."


    In the other car nearby, Natalie took out her phone and nced at it before


    replying to Marcus, "Don''t worry, Mr. Holden. I''m a professional."


    After he read Natalie''s reply, Marcus put away his phone without expression. "Drive. To Greeke za," he instructed.


    "Yes, Mr. Holden."


    Natalie and Walter chatted in the car for a while.


    Walter needed to handle thepensation matter between Langley Group and its departing employees, so this time, he would probably returnter than Natalie.


    "Grace might try to y all sorts of emotional cards with us when negotiating with Langley Group this time round," he warned.


    Natalie started the car and said, "I''ll drop you off at the hotel first. When


    I''m done tonight, I''ll give you a


    meet up


    Or you could just go


    elined


    straight to the Walker residence


    after you pack up your things at the hotel! I''ll let my mom know.


    "Natalie, are you getting used to being with the Walkers now?" Walter asked all of


    a sudden, looking directly at her. "I''ve never asked you this, but after finding your biological parents, are you happy?"


    "There''s no such thing as being happy or unhappy," Natalie answered seriously. "However, they did make me realize that love and protection came in different forms."


    She continued, "Walter, I think I misunderstood some things in the past."


    He nodded. "It''s the same with me. I think I''ve misunderstood these things since childhood, too. Nat, we''ll both get back on the right track."


    "Yeah. That''s a must. You know who I am, right?"


    Walter chuckled. "Of course! You''re the amazing Nat who raised me since I was young!"


    Upon hearing this, Natalie couldn''t help butugh too. "I spent quite a lot of my allowance to support you when we were kids. But still, we should also thank Grace. She gave me enough of an allowance when we were little. That was how I could raise you."


    Walter then said, "But the money we earned for her and Langley Group has more thanpensated for that, hasn''t it?"


    "It''s not the same."


    "It is." Walter looked at Natalie solemnly. "Nat, did Grace raise us out of kindness?


    If that kindness was wrapped in poison and plots, would you still feel grateful?"


    Natalie fell silent. After a long while, she gently shook her head. "No."


    "I will find the proof." Walter reached out and ruffled Natalie''s hair. "Natalie, don''t hold onto hope for Grace anymore. She has deceived you for so many years. Do you really think she ever truly cared about you?"


    Natalie let out a long sigh. "I know."


    "So, let''s go back! When the timees, we''ll return to Amberton."


    "Perfect. I''ve asked Mason to go to Amberton too."


    With Mason there, he would tear apart Grace''s fake facade without hesitation if


    she tried to y the emotional card.


    "Good. Natalie, don''t soften up!"


    She nodded. "I won''t."


    Walter''s biggest worry was that Natalie was too kind and soft-hearted. He worried she still held onto the kindness Grace had shown her in the past, giving the Langleys yet another chance to hurt her again.


    After dropping Walter off at the hotel, Natalie drove to Goodwill Pharmacy in Dithoria.


    Goodwill Pharmacy was founded by Federrick. It had branches in cities all over the country—therger the city, the more branches there were.


    After he found Natalie, Federrick nursed her back to health, taught her medicine, and gradually transferred his team of talents into her hands.


    It could be said that, although Federrick had no children of his own, he treated


    Natalie even better than he would a biological daughter.


    He often said that rtionships


    between people were all about fate. The moment he first saw the young Natalie, Ke felt that their fated meeting had arrived-that the heavens thought Natalie was pitiful,


    so they sent Federrick to save her life.


    As she entered Goodwill Pharmacy, Natalie instinctively thought of Federrick. That


    old man was so strict when teaching her medicine, yet he acted like a


    mischievous child once lessons were over.


    She had no idea where in the world he had wandered off to now. Did he ever think


    of her?


    "Natalie, you''re here!"


    "Natalie''s here!"


    "Hey, Natalie!"


    Natalie hummed in acknowledgement. "Carry on with your work."


    She went around greeting everyone in Goodwill Pharmacy. She didn''t like being


    referred to as "Boss", so they all just called her Natalie.