After Natalie had calmly asked that question, Marcus fell silent again and just continued to stare at her.


    His gaze felt slightly warm and inscrutable, giving her the impression of suppressed affection for her.


    "Mr. Holden-"


    "Natalie, you can call me by my name," Marcus interrupted. "We''ve known each other for a long time. Calling each other ''Mr. Holden'' and ''Ms. Walker'' all the time feels too distant."


    Natalie couldn''t help but retort, "But we''re not that familiar, are we?"


    "You''re my grandfather''s lifesaver, and you stayed at Holden Residence for a while. We''ve seen each other almost daily, and I also yed along with your act to chase away Emma. In front of others, I even imed I was pursuing you. You call that being ''not familiar?""


    Natalie was speechless.


    "I admit that I was wrong to call off our engagement. To make it right, I take back what I said about ending it," Marcus continued.


    At that, Natalie''s expression immediately shifted, but before she could say something, Marcus spoke again.


    "You should be the one to end it."


    Marcus kept his gaze fixed on Natalie, noticing her change in expression when he mentioned retracting his previous words. He hurriedly added, "I''m a man, and I shouldn''t have ignored your feelings and your dignity. That was my mistake.


    "Natalie, can you forgive me just this once?"


    After she heard that, Natalie''s initially speechless expression slowly became solemn. She stared at Marcus. His facial features were refined and wless, and his eyes, dark and intense, made her feel like prey under the gaze of a hunter when he stared at her.


    Marcus was acting strangely, almost as if he were possessed.


    "Natalie, you can''t curse at me in your heart," Marcus said, his lips pressing into a thin line. He had clearly noticed her distaste toward him in her eyes alone.


    Natalie tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "I didn''t curse at you. Don''t nder me."


    "Okay. That''s good," Marcus said unexpectedly calmly, which only made Natalie feel more confused about his attitude.


    "Mr. Holden, are you okay?" Natalie couldn''t stand being stared at by Marcus any longer, so she stood up and asked, "Aren''t you going to check on Ms. Sinir?"


    "No," Marcus answered without hesitation. "I''m not here for her."


    "Then who are you here for? You still haven''t said who you''re looking for at Goodwill Pharmacy."


    "I came for you." Marcus stood up as well, saying, "I came to find you and invite you to a meal. Just to... thank you for saving Sophia."


    Marcus thought about it carefully. He knew Natalie didn''t want him to know, and he was afraid that if he were honest, she would flee even faster than a rabbit could.


    Thus, he decided he should pretend he still didn''t know about the truth of the matter.


    "There''s no need for a meal. Even if I were paid to help, I wouldn''t ignore what happened at the Walker residence," Natalie said before smiling slightly. "If there''s nothing else, I won''t keep you here any longer."


    "That''s... fine as well." Marcus sighed. "I''ll go check on Sophia. You can call me anytime if you need anything."


    "Okay," Natalie responded casually.


    Marcus acted strangely today. He seemed to want to say something to her but


    was hesitating, which waspletely unlike his usual behavior.


    Perhaps he really had been possessed by something. There was no other reasonable exnation for it.


    When Marcus saw that Natalie didn''t want to talk with him further, he turned and left her office.


    He turned around and went to Sophia''s room, where she was currently eating. When she saw him, she immediately sat up straight.


    "M-Marcus, are you... going to punish me?" Sophia asked, feeling guilty and scared after confessing. She knew Marcus'' methods of handling others all too well.


    "I-I... I''m telling you, I''m one of Ms. Walker''s people now." Sophia mustered up her courage and said, "Don''te over. If you dare to hurt me, Ms. Walker will... will protect me."


    "Hah!" Marcusughed at that. He stopped in his tracks but didn''t approach her. "Why didn''t you say anything before?"


    "I... I..." Sophia stammered, unable to find the words.


    After a while, she gathered her courage again and blurted out, "I''m shameless, alright? I have no shame. I''m inhuman. I lied to you, but I don''t want to die yet!"


    As Sophia spoke, her eyes began to redden. "Marcus, I lied to you. It was my fault. I''ve already spoken with Ms. Walker... Wait. Natalie is younger


    Ret


    than me-but that''s not


    stop me from calling her respectfully.  swnovel


    "Just let me off the hook and pretend it never happened!"


    Marcus was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.


    When Sophia saw that Marcus remained silent, she bit her lip and spoke up


    again. "Or... I can help you pursue Ms. Walker? I can tell that you like her."


    "Hmm?" Marcus'' gaze shifted instantly after hearing that. How could she tell when he hadn''t even realized it himself?


    Sophia bit her bottom lip.


    Emboldened, she continued, "Don''t


    deny it. When you took me to see Ms. Walker for the first time, the way you looked at her was strangeit was full of guilt, regret, and a hint of affection and helplessness.  swnovel


    "Just admit it, Marcus! You like Ms. Walker. You''re someone who hasn''t been in a rtionship and doesn''t have many women around you. You feel gratitude toward me; and for Emma, your ex-fiancée, it''s disgust. You don''t even know how to express your emotions, let alone how to pursue someone.


    to swnovel


    "It''s best if you let me off. Don''t seek revenge against me, and I''ll help you pursue Ms. Walker."


    Now that Sophia had finally said everything she wanted to, she was no longer afraid like she had been before. It was as Natalie said-only she could save herself.


    She had always been scared, but now she felt it was better to face the consequences head-on. After all, what was one more debt? At worst, she would just be a debtor.


    But living a miserable life was better than dying. She still wanted to live on-and live a good life.


    If she had intended to give up on living a good life, she would not have had to deceive Marcus in the first ce.


    "Marcus, the look in your eyes gave you away. Didn''t you know that?"


    "Shut up." Marcus pinched between his eyebrows. "Watch what you say. Don''t let Natalie find out."


    "Why?" Sophia instinctively asked. "I''m one of Ms. Walker''s people now. I can''t keep secrets from her."


    "Then have you already told her that you told me about the fake lifesaver matter?" Sophia immediately paused. "Uh... No, I haven''t."


    "If you don''t want Natalie to know you sold her out, then keep your mouth shut." Marcus coldly remarked, "I underestimated you. You''re quick to change sides." Sophia, feeling guilty, muttered, "Um... I... I... I''m shameless. Say whatever you want. I admit that I''m shameless."


    Indeed, shameless people were invincible.


    "Also, you don''t have to threaten me. I''ll be honest with Ms. Walker. It''s not a big deal. Whatever happens, happens."


    Sophia took a deep breath. Since she wanted to change, she couldn''t do things like before when she deceived others.