Natalie also never imagined that she wasn''t the Langleys'' biological daughter. She assumed she had been switched at birth by ident, and there were no other hidden motives.


    But now, things seemed far moreplicated than she had thought. However, so much time had passed. It wouldn''t be easy to start investigating, so there was no rush.


    "Come, I''ll take you for a treatment," Olivia said, pulling Natalie out of bed. As they were about to leave, they saw Gorge leading a professional team out of the elevator.


    "Ms. Natalie, Ms. Thatcher," Gorge greeted with a smile. "Mrs. Walker invited a stylist and her team to the house. From now on, Ms. Natalie will have to prepare for the wee party."


    He added, "Please let me know right away if you need anything in the future, Ms. Natalie."


    "Okay. Thank you, Mr. Palmer."


    The Walker residence had its own spa room. The stylist had dropped by the vi many times and was quite familiar with theyout. The team ushered Natalie and Olivia inside and immediately began a full-body treatment.


    Although the scars on Natalie''s body had already faded significantly, they were still visible. In the past, she always wrapped herself up tightly. But now that she was far away from the Langleys, she no longer needed to care.


    She wasn''t bothered even if there were some faded scars, as they would heal in time. While she was enjoying the arranged spa treatments, Marcus and Noah returned to the Helianese restaurant.


    As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, Noah opened the car door and said respectfully, "Mr. Holden, Gabriel is willing to talk. He admitted that someone gave him orders.


    "It was the same person who gave him the smoke to spray into sh''s mouth as well, but Gabriel had no idea who it was. He said the person sent it to him via express delivery but didn''t see who gave the orders. He also gave me a phone number."


    Marcus hummed in response before getting out of the car. "Take me to see him." "Yes, Mr. Holden."


    Noah led Marcus into the Helianese restaurant, but they didn''t go upstairs. Instead, they headed for the back room.


    He pressed a hidden button on the wall, and a secret door slid open slowly. Marcus stepped through the door first onto a corridor. After a short distance, they arrived at a small secret room.


    Marcus entered the secret room, where Gabriely weakly on the floor. His face was bloody and battered, making him look unrecognizable.


    "Wake him up," Marcus ordered as he took a seat, slowly wiping his hands with a tissue.


    "Yes, Mr. Holden." Noah reached for a bucket of cold water before sshing it directly on Gabriel''s head.


    A shrill scream echoed throughout the secret room. Gabriel sat up on the floor in a hurry immediately.


    "You''re awake." Marcus'' low yet chilly voice caused Gabriel to shiver instantly.


    "Mr. Holden, I was wrong. I''ve made a big mistake." Gabriel nced at Marcus as he kept begging. "I shouldn''t have been so greedy for the money. I never should''ve let sh run into your car.


    He groveled at Marcus'' feet. "I beg you to look the other way and let me off. Please, I beg you. I''m begging you."


    "Gabriel, I''m giving you onest chance. Tell me honestly. Who gave you the orders?" Marcus stood up and crouched down to stare at Gabriel.


    "It''s not like I can''t let you go, but I want to hear the truth. Guess what happened to thest person who tried to hurt my woman." Marcus''s calm voice sounded maic, but he sounded like a demon to Gabriel at that moment.


    "Mr. Holden, I''m really sorry. I really have no idea who it was."


    "The number you gave Noah is no longer in service." Marcus stood up and gave Noah a meaningful look. Noah stepped forward and grabbed Gabriel before smashing his head roughly against the floor.


    Gabriel screamed in agony, but it didn''tst for long because Noah shoved a rag into his mouth. "Think about it carefully before you answer again."


    Marcus took out another phone and logged into an email address full of zeroes. He began checking the messages for the past few days. He saw a photo from two days ago and erged it. With a smirk, he saved the photo before sending it.


    "I''m in a good mood, so I''ll give you another ten seconds. If you don''t have an answer, I..." Magnus smirked. "I''ll send you to mine coal at my family''s mines in Afrasia!"


    "After all, the Walkers have already fired you. No one in Dithoria State would dare to hire you, so I''ll hire you to mine coal. What do you think?"


    Gabriel immediately shook his head and sobbed. He wanted to object, but a rag had been stuffed in his mouth. All he could do was whine.


    Seeing that, Noah reached out to pull the rag out from Gabriel''s mouth. "Tell the truth."


    Gabriel sobbed before shaking his head. "I really have no idea who it was!" Marcus'' patience snapped. "Take him away!" he ordered. "Before sending him to mine coal, let him visit Emma."


    "Yes, Mr. Holden," Noah replied and took Gabriel away.


    Marcus took out his phone and erged the photo. An 18-year-old Natalie stood underneath a magnolia tree, gazing upward as she reached out to catch a falling magnolia.


    ...


    It was midnight at Hector Private Hospital. Emma had been transferred from the ICU to the VIP ward. Someone pushed the door open to her hospital room before turning on the light.


    The light flooded the entire hospital room. Emma, who had been lying on the hospital bed, was suddenly jolted awake. She instantly turned her head to avoid the blinding lights. As the door closed with a thump, her heart raced.


    "Ms. Emma. An old acquaintance is here to see you."


    The voice sounded familiar to Emma. Once her eyes had adjusted to the light, she saw Gabriel lying against the foot of the hospital bed, covered in wounds.


    The sight caused Emma to shriek in fright. Within the next second, Noah stepped forward to mp her mouth shut.


    "Ms. Emma, what are you screaming for?" Noah asked icily. "I heard your beloved horse was ughtered, and the doctors barely managed to save your life. Don''t scream, okay?"


    He then turned to Gabriel. "Look up."


    Gabriel lifted his head with difficulty and gazed at Emma with a forced smile. "Ms.


    Emma, don''t be afraid. I just got a beating, but I''ll be fine.


    "Rest well, Ms. Emma. It was my fault. I hurt sh."


    He then added, "It was all because of


    that woman who just returned to the Walker family, that Ms. Natalie. She gave me money to drug sh. She''s


    also the one who ordered me to have sh ram into Mr. Holden''s car."


    While speaking, Gabriel started tearing up. "Ms. Emma, I''ve let you, Mr. Walker, and Mrs. Walker down. But I really couldn''t say no to Ms. Natalie."


    Emma stared at Gabriel in a daze. After some time, she reached for the phone and dialed Charlotte''s number.


    "Mom, Gabriel confessed that it was Natalie who gave him the drug. It was Natalie who asked him to drug sh and make it ram into Marcus'' car. Gabriel''s with me, Mom. He said it himself."


    Noah stood nearby with a narrowed gaze. Marcus had mentioned that the incident must have had something to do with Emma. But he never expected Gabriel to frame Natalie.