"Natalie, I''m sorry," Marcus apologized again solemnly when Natalie did not respond.


    Natalie blinked, stunned. His apology threw her off a little.


    "I''m sorry about what happened before. I shouldn''t have jumped to conclusions without knowing the full truth," Marcus added as Natalie continued blinking at him, perplexed. "I am really sorry."


    The first time he came to Amberton, he overheard Natalie and Grace talking through the door. Because of this, he had wrongly perceived Natalie as a vain woman trying to seduce him and use him to get revenge on Selena and Tyler.


    His impression of her was terrible from the start, so he disliked her intensely from their very first meeting.


    Then, he discovered that she was the famous Elim-the very one who had saved Charles.


    He had been grateful to her and reevaluated his opinion of her, until he heard Grace talking about how Natalie should try and pursue him, telling her that she should resort to other means like drugging him if she couldn''t manage to win him


    over.


    Whatever goodwill he had just started to feel toward Natalie vanished instantly at that.


    Now, after hearing Zane''s firm defense of her and what Natalie had said to him earlier, he realized just how deep his prejudice and misunderstanding of her had been.


    He had been wrong, so he should apologize to both Zane and Natalie.


    "Natalie, will you forgive me for my past arrogance?" Marcus was clearly struggling to get the words out, but his expression was serious. He wasn''t joking.


    Instinctively, Natalie reached out and ced her hand against his forehead, feeling for his temperature. "No fever..." she muttered to herself.


    Marcus was speechless. What, was it really that shocking that he would apologize for his mistakes?


    "I am perfectly healthy, Ms. Walker, and in my right mind," he said. Though exasperated, he still sounded earnest. "I''m not apologizing to you because I''m sick."


    Natalie nodded. "Okay then. If that''s all you have to say, I''m going to go check on Sophia.


    "Oh, and Mr. Holden-since Sophia saved your life, you probably should have verified your sources before talking about her behind her back. Honestly, that behavior doesn''t suit your good looks."


    In other words, she was telling him that he should have just shut up and looked pretty.


    With that, she turned and walked into Goodwill Pharmacy.


    Marcus stared after her, speechless.


    He had been wrong, and he had apologized for it. Even though Natalie mocked him, he could do nothing but ept it.


    Soon, he followed Natalie inside as well.


    Goodwill Pharmacy specialized in traditional medicine and offered both consultations and prescriptions. Patients could get their prescribed medication at the counter, or pay extra to have their medicine prepared on-site.


    There were also some rare medicines sold at the pharmacy, but they were strictly regted and needed the owner''s permission before anyone could buy them.


    Marcus had brought Charles here before, hoping to get the rare medication, but Goodwill Pharmacy had turned him down.


    Apparently, the pharmacy had a strict regtory process on who they were allowed to sell the medication to, and only the pharmacy had the right to the final exnation.


    Marcus now suspected that the supposed "regtory process" was nothing more than the owner''s personal judgment.


    He followed Natalie into the courtyard. Sophia had already been moved into a clean guestroom.


    The clinic, which was fully equipped with medical devices, was next to the guest room. Sophia would have a quiet and safe environment to recover from her illness.


    Natalie checked on her while Zane stood by the side, carefully jotting down notes.


    As he did, he muttered, "Natalie, you have to believe me. I''m really not a scumbag. I never bullied Ms. Sinir."


    "I know. You don''t need to exin anything." Lifting her wrist to look at the time, she added, "Have the person in charge here bring me Sophia''s medical report. Since I''m already here, I might as well stay for a while."


    "Sure, Natalie," Zane agreed quickly.


    When he turned around, he saw Marcus.


    "Ms. Sinir is fine now, Mr. Holden. Don''t worry," Zane said. "You look like you''re injured too. You should go and get that checked!"


    "Thanks, but I''m fine," Marcus said, nodding in gratitude. Then, he apologized


    again, "I''m sorry for the misunderstanding earlier. Please ept my apology."


    Zane scratched his head and waved


    it off. "It''s fine. I''m d it''s all cleared up. I will investigate if Ruby has really been bullying Ms. Sinir using my name. If she has, I will not let it slide. Don''t worry, Mr. Holden."


    Naturally, Zane did not dare to press on the issue after Marcus had apologized to him, especially since he was acting so approachable.


    Besides, Zane hadn''t done anything wrong, so he wasn''t afraid of any repercussions. "I''ve already broken up with Ruby. I''ll make it public and let everyone know. If anyone continues spreading rumors ''ll take legal action," he continued.


    "Alright."


    Marcus went up to Sophia''s bed. Natalie was still there, checking her vitals.


    "Ms. Sinir had a miscarriage because of the car ident. Do you really not know who the father of the child is?"


    Natalie gently ced Sophia''s hand back onto the bed. "Her pulse is pretty weak and irregr. She''s overly anxious. She was nine weeks pregnant and badly malnourished. I wonder how she was taking care of herself.


    "While she''s staying here, I will ensure she has the best medicine and is well cared for. You don''t need to worry about her meals and treatments, Mr. Holden."


    Marcus nodded. "Alright, thank you."


    "Hold on, don''t thank me yet." Natalie smiled. "I charge for my services. I''m not running a charity."


    She handed him a slip of paper. "Go and pay at the counter up front."


    Marcus nced at the paper. There were only two things written on it-his name, and a number-two million dors.


    "You wouldn''t want news of Ms.


    Sinir''s pregnancy getting out, would you? So, as far as everyone else knows, you''re the one staying here, not her. Any objections, Holden?" Natalie asked meaningfully. "Ms. Sinir saved your life. You wouldn''t just leave her


    до


    to fend for herself, right?"


    Taking a deep breath, Marcus nodded lightly. "Of course not. Thank you for your


    thoroughness. I appreciate it."


    With that, he turned and left to pay at the counter. Even so, he couldn''t quite shake the feeling that Natalie had been unusually cold and disdainful when she


    said that Sophia had saved his life.


    Hopefully, it had just been his imagination.


    Natalie wasn''t a kind person. She always charged him hefty fees for her


    treatments.