Natalie hugged Charlotte in silence.


    Charlotte''s eyes immediately stung and grew hot. She hugged her daughter back, trying hard not to let her tears fall.


    "Nat, my sweet girl," Charlotte said, her voice soft and reassuring. "I''ll make sure the party is as beautiful and grand as possible. You were born to live a life offort, surrounded by love and admiration."


    Natalie''s eyes felt hot as well. She remembered Diana always saying to her, "Natalie, you weren''t born for an easy life. Your only use is to provide blood for me. Otherwise, even raising a dog would be better than raising you."


    But now, Charlotte told her she was born to live a life offort, surrounded by love and admiration.


    The difference between love and neglect had never been so clear.


    Charlotte hugged Natalie for a long time until she regained control of her emotions. Then, she gently pulled away and smiled and said, "Mom, let''s go check out the stables."


    "Alright," Charlotte agreed. "But, sweetie, you already had Marcus take Gabriel away. Is there something else that''s making you suspicious?"


    "Gabriel is rted to Cindy. From what Mason told me, Cindy was the one who raised Emma," Natalie said in a low voice. "You weren''t home when Cindy was dismissed, so you don''t know how it all went down."


    "I wasn''t there in person, but your dad told me everything," Charlotte said, her expression turning cold. "I told him that if Emma refuses to behave, we won''t allow her to stay here. We''ve spoiled her all these years. It wasn''t so she could undermine you.


    "This is your home. Even if we''ve raised her for 20 years, she has no right topete with you for anything.


    "Nat, your dad and I stand firm on this. We''ve loved Emma since she was little, but her ce will never surpass yours. If she hurts you or targets you, just like Selena did, your dad and I won''t tolerate it."


    Charlotte''s tone was resolute, her gaze growing colder. "Nat, you don''t have to feel conflicted. Emma''s enjoyed a wonderful life here for 20 years. Our family doesn''t owe her anything.


    "Your dad is already investigating the baby swap incident. If it wasn''t just an ident but something done on purpose, we absolutely won''t let it slide."


    After hearing this, Natalie hugged Charlotte again. She couldn''t put into words what she felt. It was like her heart had been steeped in warm honey lemon-tart and sweet, yet soothinglyforting.


    "Mom, thank you," Natalie said softly.


    "Silly girl, why thank me? I should be the one telling you I''m sorry. We went 20 whole years without realizing Emma wasn''t our daughter," Charlotte said, her eyes reddening.


    When Charlotte first saw Natalie''s photo online, she knew right away that Natalie was her daughter.


    At that moment, she waspletely overwhelmed with guilt, regret, fear, and eagerness all at once. She rushed to Amberton to find Natalie and make up for every lost day over the years.


    "It''s not your fault," Natalie said, still holding Charlotte tight. "It really isn''t."


    "The only right thing Victor ever did was post your information on that family searchwork. But that doesn''t mean I''ll ever forgive him," Charlotte said, steadying herself. "They all knew you weren''t really their daughter, yet they still used you as a living blood bank. That was intentional abuse. So, I will never forgive them."


    "I won''t forgive them either," Natalie said with a faint smile. "Over the years, I''ve given their family far more than anything I owed them. No matter how badly they end up, I won''t sympathize. And I won''t go easy on them."


    "Good. If that''s how you feel, then I have no qualms about what I n to do next," Charlotte said, her eyes moist.


    Charlotte reached out and gently ruffled Natalie''s hair. Her real daughter was finally letting her in, finally trusting her. She was hugging her and sharing her feelings, just like Emma did.


    "Yes. When ites to the Langleys, there''s no reason to hesitate." Natalie''s lips curved in a small smile as she nced ahead. "Is that the stable up there?"


    Charlotte nodded. "Yes, that''s it."


    Walker Estate covered a vast area, designed with a careful eye for aesthetics so that every part of it felt grand yet harmonized perfectly.


    The stables were arge, standalone


    building with two rows of horse stalls. Gabriel was responsible for


    feeding and training the horses,


    while other helpers handled the daily cleaning and upkeep.


    When Natalie and Charlotte entered, Natalie scanned the space and walked straight to a stall in the middle.


    A striking white horse stood there, its coat glossy and bright, its mane soft and


    sleek. It snorted warm breaths as it watched Natalie''s approach.


    This horse was none other than sh, the one that had crashed into Marcus'' car.


    "sh is Emma''s horse," Charlotte exined. "It''s been gentle ever since Gabriel started training it as a foal. It''s never attacked anyone, not once. From the footage, Gabriel blew a lot of smoke in its face. I suspect that''s what made it go wild.


    Natalie spoke calmly. "If it''s lost control once, it can lose control again. We should


    have it sent away. A dangerous animal that hurts people can''t stay."


    "Alright." Charlotte picked up her phone and dialed. "Hello, Gorge? Bring someone over to load sh and move it out."


    "Yes, Mrs. Walker." Gorge hung up and turned to the security detail with him. "Carson, get a truck ready. Take sh away."


    "Understood, Mr. Palmer," Carson replied respectfully before turning and walking


    away.


    Emma overheard Gorge''s orders as she assisted him with new staff training. She immediately stepped forward and asked, "Gorge, what did you say? Why are you sending sh away?"


    Her expression darkened. Everyone knew sh was her horse. If it was taken away, she''d lose her dignity in front of the entire household.


    "Ms. Emma, this is Mrs. Walker''s order," Gorge replied, neither servile nor overbearing. "If you have a problem with it, you should speak to her yourself."


    "I won''t allow you to send sh away," Emma dered. "I''ll go talk to my mom right now."


    "Certainly, Ms. Emma. Carson, prepare the truck and follow Ms. Emma." "Yes, Mr. Palmer."


    Emma''s expression turned even more sour at Gorge''s businesslike attitude, but she said nothing and hurried off.


    She ran all the way to the stables. As soon as she entered, she saw Natalie and Charlotte standing near sh''s stall, talking quietly but affectionately.


    The look Charlotte gave Natalie was filled with tenderness and warmth, all the motherly love in the world.


    Emma bit down on her lip and strode forward.


    "Mom, I heard Gorge say you''ll send sh away. Is that true?"


    "Yes." Charlotte turned and faced


    Emma. The warmth in her expression faded to something more neutral, though she kept her tone gentle. "sh went crazy and


    hurt people. It''s better to send it away."


    "Mom, I want to know if this was your idea or hers." Emma''s gaze shifted toward


    Natalie.


    sh was a birthday gift from Sky when she turned 16. Charlotte knew just how important and meaningful it was to her. That was why she was sure it had to be Natalie''s idea.


    "It was my idea." Before Charlotte could speak, Natalie calmly answered. "A beast that harms people must not stay. What''s the matter, Emma? Are you unhappy about that?"