Marcus stared at Sky, his gaze icy and sharp, undisguised contempt and disgust flickering in his eyes.


    "At your own sister''s wee party, you keep bringing up that malicious fraud. Sky, you truly have a talent for being revolting. What terrible luck for Natalie to have a brother like you."


    Sky, drenched in coffee, his hair and clothes soaked, turned pale and flushed in turns under Marcus'' blunt words.


    He had intended to use his presence to overwhelm Marcus, but he hadn''t expected Marcus to be even more domineering than he was.


    And Marcus wasn''t holding back at all.


    Meanwhile, Natalie sat there unbothered, calmly making a call to the helpers. This time, she directly ordered them to bring a full pot of coffee.


    Marcus enjoyed throwing drinks, and she enjoyed watching. Two cups simply weren''t enough.


    "If I were you, Sky, I wouldn''t havee to me with this request," Marcus said.


    "Marcus, stop acting like you''re standing up for Natalie," Sky said. "This is a family matter between siblings. What business does an outsider like you have interfering with?"


    Sky gritted his teeth, his face dark with anger. Wiping the dripping coffee off his face, he snapped bitterly, "Don''t forget, you were the one who broke off your engagement with Natalie."


    "There was never any real romantic emotion between us in the first ce," Marcus replied. "It was only natural for the engagement to end. But that does mean we aren''t still friends."


    At that moment, he felt a slight pang of regret for breaking off the engagement. If he were still Natatlie''s fiancé, it would''ve been even easier for him to step in and take charge.


    "Natalie, I want to hear it from you. Do you really want your ex-fiancé interfering in our family affairs?" Sky turned his focus to Natalie, realizing Marcus was unwilling to back down. "You''re my biological sister, but Emma is also the sister I grew up with. Is it really so wrong for me to want you two to get along?"


    Natalie found his wordsughable. She raised her eyes to meet Sky''s gaze.


    "Sky, save those words for Mom and Dad. Today is the wee party they arranged specifically for me. I don''t want it to turn ugly. I respect you as my blood- rted brother, but that doesn''t mean I have to agree to your unreasonable demands."


    The corner of her lips lifted slightly, her toneced with both mocking and indifferent.


    "I said it this morning. I won''t kick Emma out, nor will I make things difficult for her. But let''s be clear- the one trying to harm me is her. She''s the one who refuses to tolerate my existence.


    "Am I not even allowed to fight back after being bullied by her? No matter what she does to me, in your eyes, I should just take it? I should forgive her, indulge her, and put her on a pedestal the way you do? And that''s the only way to be good?"


    Sky took a deep breath, his face tensing at Natalie''s cold sarcasm. At this moment, he knew that Natalie wasn''t someone he could easily pressure into submission


    "You don''t have to use our parents to pressure me-that''s not my intention either. I admit, I was too hasty. Some of the things I said were out of line. If I upset you, I apologize."


    Sky steadied his emotions.


    Right now, he had no idea which hospital Emma had been transferred to. He had already confronted Hector about it, even using his status as the eldest brother to pressure him, but Hector had simply told him to ask Marcus himself.


    That was why Sky had taken the opportunity to approach Charles in the lounge, hoping he would put in a good word for him with Marcus.


    But instead, Charles had simply called both Marcus and Natalie in, then conveniently excused himself.


    Emma had revealed her true feelings with the recording. Even if Sky wanted to protect her, it was nearly impossible to convince his parents.


    His only option was to seek Natalie''s forgiveness first. Yet he had barely spoken a


    few sentences before the atmosphere turned hostile.


    And Marcus-far from being neutral-waspletely against him, speaking without the slightest regard for courtesy.


    Not to mention, he had thrown coffee in his face. Twice.


    A soft knock sounded at the lounge door. A maid stood at the entrance, carefully


    asking, "Ms. Natalie, should I bring in the coffee now?"


    Natalie nodded. "Yes, bring it in."


    The tension in the room was overwhelming, the pressure suffocating.


    The maid quickly and cautiously ced the coffee down, then bowed and


    retreated without dy.


    Natalie poured two cups, lifting one and handing it to Marcus.


    "Mr. Holden, have some coffee."


    "Thank you."


    Marcus epted the cup.


    The coffee was rich and fragrant, its deep aroma filling the air. At this temperature,


    if it happened to spill onto Sky''s face... well, it would be just right.


    Since Sky was so determined to defend Emma, Marcus decided he wouldn''t hold back anymore.


    He had initially intended to show some restraint, given the rtionship between their families. But now, that no longer seemed necessary.


    Marcus pulled out his phone and,


    right in front of Sky and Natalie,


    dialed Ethan. "Ethan, release the evidence of Emma drugging me at


    Holden Residence to the media."


    Ethan''s respectful voice came through the receiver. "Yes, Mr. Holden."


    "And hand Gabriel Morgan over to the authorities. All evidence rted to Emma- submit it tow enforcement."


    "Understood, Mr. Holden."


    "Also, make the necessary arrangements. Since Emma enjoys drugging people


    so much, let her experience it properly while in custody."


    "Yes, Mr. Holden."


    With each of Marcus''mands, Sky''s face drained of all color, turning deathly pale.


    Panicked, he lunged forward and smacked Marcus'' phone away. "Marcus, you''re too cruel!"


    Marcus responded with a solid punch to Sky''s face.


    "Cruel?" he sneered. "No matter how cruel I am, can I possiblypare to your dear Emma?"


    His mocking tone was unmistakable. "Compared to you forcing your own sister to forgive Emma, I think my methods are far too lenient.


    "Natalie is a woman. For the sake of keeping peace and out of respect for you as her elder brother, she may choose to hold back-but I don''t have to.


    "You said it yourself—I''m Natalie''s ex-fiancé. And as her ex-fiancé, it''s only natural for me to make up for the damage caused by breaking off our engagement by doing something for her. Just like how you''re so devoted to Emma."


    svel


    "Natalie, say something!" Sky was frantic. He couldn''t allow Ethan to carry out Marcus'' orders—if that happened, Emma''s life would bepletely ruined.


    "What do you want me to say?" Natalie took a sip of coffee with aposed, elegant posture. "Emma wanted me dead. You heard the


    recording loud and clear. So what now? Emma''s life matters, but mine doesn''t?


    "Sorry, but Marcus is merely my ex-fiancé. Whatever he chooses to do is beyond


    my control. I don''t have the right to interfere."


    "Natalie Walker!"


    "And who do you think you''re raising your voice at?" A sharp, icy reprimand


    suddenly echoed from the doorway.


    Charlotte entered the room, apanied by Mason. Behind them were Shawn


    and Celeste.


    Charlotte strode forward. Without hesitation, she raised her hand and delivered a resounding p across Sky''s face.


    "Sky Walker, you never fail to amaze me."