Before Natalie could respond, Sky''s voice came through the phone again. "Oh, right. Nat, Mr. Sinir mentioned that you own Goodwill Pharmacy. Is that true?"


    "Yes," Natalie admitted without hesitation.


    "That''s great." Sky''s tone softened slightly. "I heard Goodwill Pharmacy has an ointment that works well for pain relief and swelling. Could you bring me a tube when youe backter?"


    "Sure, I''ll bring one tonight."


    "Alright. Thanks, Nat."


    "No problem, Sky."


    Since he was being polite, Natalie responded in kind.


    "Go ahead and get back to work. Take care of yourself," he finally said.


    "Okay. Thanks, Sky. You too, take care."


    After hanging up, Natalie couldn''t help but notice the shift in his attitude.


    Could he be using retreat as a strategy to advance?


    Natalie shook her head. She didn''t want to assume the worst, but since she returned to the Walkers, Sky had always sided with Emma.


    For him to suddenly change like this... it was hard not to be suspicious.


    Still, without actual evidence, she decided to let it go for now.


    After the call ended, Natalie motioned for Zane to return the phone to Ivan. "Mr. Sinir, please leave."


    "What do you mean by leave?" Ivan''s expression darkened.


    He continued, "Didn''t Sky tell you? Before long, our families will be joined by marriage. Wendy and Ruby were out of line, and I''ve already punished them for it.


    "Natalie, you''re the heiress of the Walkers, the eldest daughter. You should consider the bigger picture when making decisions. If rumors start spreading about a conflict between our families before the wedding even happens, it won''t be good for either of us."


    "You''re right, Mr. Sinir. Thanks for the reminder. I''ll talk to Sky right now and call off the engagement."


    Natalie''s expression remained nk as she reached for her phone.


    "Even the Sinirs'' housekeepers think they can point fingers at me and hurl insults. The Walkers can''t afford to be associated with a family like yours.


    "The Sinirs are from a household with exceptional manners, and the Walkers just aren''t worthy of that kind of refinement. Thus, I''ll let Sky and my parents know right away."


    Without hesitation, she dialed Charlotte''s number. The phone barely rang before it was answered.


    "Hello, sweetie."


    "Mom, the Sinirs'' housekeepers pointed in my face and insulted me. They even caused trouble at Goodwill Pharmacy, trying to force me to sell them the medicine. I didn''t want to sell anything to people who had just cussed me out, you


    see.


    "Then, Mr. Sinir told me that I should be more mature and think about the bigger picture before making decisions, especially since our families are about to be inws."


    The moment the call connected, Natalie''s tone became pitiful,pletely different from the icy one she had used just seconds ago.


    "Mom, if the Sinirs'' housekeepers are acting like this, what happens if Sky actually marries Ms. Sinir? Will they kick me out of my own home? Mom, I''m scared..."


    Her voice trembled even more as if she were on the verge of tears.


    "Mom, please talk to Dad and tell Sky to break off the engagement with Ms. Sinir. Their housekeepers are already treating me this way, and the wedding hasn''t even happened yet. If it goes through, what if they start hitting me? I''m scared..."


    By the time she finished speaking, she had fully broken into sobs, crying like a helpless, terrified girl.


    Her sudden shift left Ivanpletely stunned.


    "Hold on a minute. What the hell do you mean by that? Natalie, how can you twist my words like this? When did I ever say our housekeepers would hit you if our families became inws?"


    "Mom, listen! Mr. Sinir is still yelling at me! Mom, save me! Protect me!"


    Tears welled up in Natalie''s red-rimmed eyes almost instantly, spilling over just as quickly. She looked so fragile that a light breeze might have knocked her over.


    Anyone walking in at that moment would have had no doubt—she was the one being bullied.


    On the other end of the phone, Charlotte heard Natalie crying and immediately lost it.


    "Sweetie, don''t be scared! Protect yourself. I''m on my way to back you up! That bastard, Ivan, dares to bully my daughter? Was he blind at the wee party? Did he forget what my precious girl looks like?


    "Sit tight, sweetheart! I''m bringing people over right now. That eng ement is getting canceled. And if Sky dares to argue with me, I''ll castrate him and send him off to be an eunuch!"


    Hearing Charlotte''s words, Natalie''s lips curled into a faint smile. "Thanks, Mom."


    "Just wait for me, sweetheart. And


    don''t be afraid. If that old bastard,


    Ivan, darès toy a hand on you, hit him back! If you win, I''ll cover the medical bills. If you lose, I''ll make sure he rots in prison."


    With that, Charlotte immediately rounded up Sky and the family''s private security


    team, storming out in five cars straight to Goodwill Pharmacy.


    Inside the car, her face was dark with fury. She turned to Sky, her tone cold and serious. "How do you feel about Sophia?"


    Sky had already suspected that they were heading out to support Natalie. "Do you want the truth or a lie?"


    Charlotte shot him a sharp look. "What do you want to tell me? The truth or a lie?"


    Sky cleared his throat. "The truth is, I''ve never had any real feelings for Ms. Sinir: Our engagement wasz arranged by our families. Even


    though we''ve known each other et


    years, we don''t interact much. Those asional dates every month? Just a show to keep the elders happy.


    "Ms. Sinir and I had an agreement from the start-if either of us fell for someone else, we''d be upfront about it. No drama, no secrets."


    Charlotte let out a coldugh. "So, you and Sophia agreed that even if you got married, you''d just live your own separate lives?"


    Sky stayed silent. That was pretty much the truth, but he didn''t dare admit it outright.


    "Good. That makes things easier. You''re breaking off the engagement with Sophia."


    Charlotte didn''t scold him. Instead, she felt relieved.


    Since there were no real feelings between them and they had alreadye to an understanding, calling off the engagement was the best oue for both sides. "Besides, the Sinirs'' housekeepers had the nerve to bully Nat, and Ivan still thinks he can marry into our family? He can keep dreaming."


    Her teeth clenched as she seethed. "That old bastard spoils his mistress and neglects his wife. I used to feel


    a little sorry for Sophia. I even


    thought that once she married you,


    I''d treat her like my daughter.


    "But since Ivan dared to mess with me, I''ll make sure he learns a lesson today.


    Let''s see if Dithoria State belongs to the Sinirs or the Walkers." "Mother, I don''t mind calling it off, but Sophia was never favored in the Sinir family to begin with. If she gets dumped because of this, things will probably get even worse for her."


    Sky recalled how Sophia had always been treated in the Sinir household.


    He wasn''t overly sympathetic, but they had been engaged at least in name-for quite some time.


    Charlotte scoffed, shooting him a sharp look. "If you care so much, why don''t you go ahead and marry her?"


    "Yeah, no thanks." Sky let out a long sigh. "Mother, I''m not someone who gets sentimental. The Sinirs messed with Nat, and as her family, we have to protect her-no questions asked."


    "Well, look at that. You''re finally making sense for once." Charlotte narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully.


    "But weren''t you always standing on that fake heiress'' side before? Not once did you think about protecting Nat."