Elijah entered the study holding a ss of milk, and Marcus nced up briefly before calmly instructing, "Elijah, after Ms. Sinir finishes her milk, take her to the guest room to rest."


    "Understood, Mr. Holden." Elijah nodded before turning to Sophia. "Ms. Sinir, please drink."


    He handed Sophia the warm milk, but she shook her head. "Thank you, but I really don''t want to drink it."


    "You don''t look well. Please have some." Marcus urged. "My aunt told me you''ve been having a hard timetely."


    Pregnancy already made her feel unwell, and on top of that, she was excessively worried. She had be even thinner than before.


    Yet the baby inside her seemed strong, growing steadily despite her poor eating and sleeping habits.


    Marcus was reminded of his own situation. His parents had left him with Charles since birth. He wondered if Laura had any expectations or joy while carrying him.


    Eventually, Sophia epted Marcus'' kindness. She took the milk from Elijah and drank it slowly.


    "Thank you, Marcus."


    "Go rest now," he replied.


    "Okay," she said. "Get some rest yourself. Good night."


    "Mm. good night."


    She turned to Elijah and said, "Elijah, thank you."


    Elijah replied, "Ms. Sinir, you''re wee."


    He escorted Sophia to the guest room, and Marcus stayed in the study for a while. He only snapped back to reality when Cassie knocked on the door.


    "Marcus, care for a drink with me?" She smiled gently, her tone full of affection. "It''s been a while since we''ve had a proper heart-to-heart talk, hasn''t it?


    "I heard you called off your engagement with Emma."


    He gave her a faint, uninterested nce. "It''ste. You should rest, Aunt Cassie."


    "Don''t be like that! Come out for a drink."


    Cassie stood at the door, hesitating to enter. She knew that if Marcus didn''t invite her in, she wouldn''t dare to enter his study.


    "By the way, your mother called mest time, ming me for not keeping an eye on you and letting you break off your engagement with Ms. Walker.


    "To be honest, your parents are irresponsible. Since you were born, they handed you off to your grandfather and never came back to check on you. They only focused on having you, not raising you. They didn''t even bother to appreciate you."


    "Enough." He suddenly lowered his tone, and his expression turned cold instantly. "If you''re here to sow discord, you can leave now. Elijah, show her out."


    "Understood, Mr. Holden."


    Elijah immediately stepped forward. "Ms. Holden, this way, please."


    "You!" She shot Elijah a vicious re. This damned bodyguard, Elijah, always called her "Ms. Holden" whenever he was being disrespectful.


    She was the second heiress of the Holden family, but he treated her like an outsider.


    "Ms. Holden, should I carry you out?" he said gruffly. "My hands are big and heavy; I might identally snap your waist. For your own safety, you should walk out yourself."


    "You-"


    Before she could finish, Elijah interrupted again. "Ms. Holden, don''t be upset. Staying upte already makes you look older, and if you''re angry, you''ll only get uglier.


    "By then, you''ll be old and ugly and won''t match the status of ''Ms. Holden'' anymore."


    "Marcus, aren''t you going to control your subordinate?" Cassie couldn''t argue with Elijah, so she turned her ire toward Marcus.


    But Marcus paid her no mind, not even ncing at her. "Elijah is right. He''s looking out for you. At your age, you shouldn''t be staying upte like a young person."


    "Just you wait, Marcus! I''m telling your parents you don''t respect me."


    Fuming, Cassie turned to leave. Marcus sat on the couch, his already dark expression deepening.


    "Mr. Holden, I''ll keep an eye on Ms. Holden to prevent her fromining," Elijah offered.


    "Let herin." Marcus stood up, his whole demeanor exuding a chilling air. "I want to see if my dear Aunt Cassie can get my parents to back her up."


    "Understood, Mr. Holden." Elijah stepped back nervously. Marcus rarely got angry, but when he did, it was terrifying.


    Marcus left the study and went upstairs. As he passed the guest room, he stopped for an inexplicable moment.


    Since Charles no longer required acupuncture and only needed medicine, Natalie


    moved out of Holden Residence without hesitation.


    Marcus pushed open the guest


    room door. The room was clean and


    neat, as if no one had ever stayed


    there Even the snacks and choctes he had prepared for Natalie had been returned


    Marcus stepped in, walked to the couch, and sat down. He reached for the snack


    tray, picked a piece of chocte, and unwrapped it before eating it.


    He remembered that Natalie had only eaten the chocte when she stayed here.


    The rich and smooth chocte melted instantly upon contact, and its aroma spread through the mouth, bringing an unexpected sense of delight.


    He sat for a while. Though there were no longer any traces of Natalie''s presence


    in the guest room, it still seemed to carry her lingering essence.


    His previously restless mind, almost miraculously, found a rare sense of peace. After finishing the piece of chocte, Marcus stood up and left the guest room.


    The following morning, Marcus was having breakfast downstairs when Sophia came down from the guest room.


    "Good morning, Marcus," she greeted.


    "Did you sleep wellst night?" He pushed the milk toward Sophia. "Drink the milk after you finish breakfast. Afterward, we''ll go to the Walker family."


    "Okay. Thank you."


    The breakfast Marcus arranged for Sophia was suitable for pregnant women. Though light, it was appetizing and nutritious.


    Sophia didn''t want to refuse his kindness, forcing herself to eat a little more than usual.


    After breakfast, he took her out of the vi. "Have you decided how you''ll face Sky when we arrive?" he asked.


    Her face immediately paled. She hesitated for a long while before murmuring, "Can I stay in the car and not get out?"


    "Hector is a doctor. If he notices your poorplexion and offers to check your pulse, he''ll likely realize you''re pregnant."


    Marcus shielded her head as she got into the car. "Sophia, are you sure? You need to think carefully about the future of this child."


    Sophia''s eyes welled with tears, and her body trembled uncontrobly. She pressed her hands to her face, and the tears fell.


    "I don''t want to. I don''t want to go to the Walker residence. Marcus, can you go for me? I beg you." She suddenly lost control of her emotions and broke down in tears.


    "Marcus, please... I don''t want to see Sky."


    Overwhelmed, she could no longer stand steadily and instinctively leaned against


    Marcus for support.


    Inside the vi, Connie was carrying a bowl of medicine meant for


    Charles when she saw the scene.


    Startled, she quickly hid behin


    Money Tree, pulled out her phone, and snapped several photos of the


    two.