If Natalie were to name one thing she was most passionate about and hoped to aplish, it would be to find all the medicinal ingredients in Federrick''s sketchbook.


    Marcus really did pique her curiosity by telling her about Lethal Vermillion.


    But what sparked Natalie''s curiosity the most was the fact that Marcus knew it was one of the medicinal ingredients in her sketchbook.


    She hadn''t shown anyone the sketchbook her mentor had left her, not even Connie.


    "Did you go through my sketchbook, Marcus?"


    Natalie cautiously eyed the man before her. She had always kept the sketchbook safely tucked away, and she hardly ever flipped through it. Did she let Marcus read it when she was staying at Holden Residence?


    "I have the same one in The Book Sanctum in my house," Marcus replied. "There was this one time when you were having coffee on the balcony, and I spotted it from below. Since they have the same cover, I assumed they have the same content.


    "And I just happened toe across this medicinal ingredient by chance, so I took a photo of it. But I''m not a professional, and I''m not sure how to harvest it in a way that preserves its full value, so I just let it continue growing in its original spot."


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of Marcus'' lips. "Nat, do you want to visit The Book Sanctum in Holden Residence? You might find some books that catch your interest there."


    Upon hearing what Marcus had just said, Natalie''s heart skipped a beat. She had stayed at Holden Residence for some time, and she entered Charles'' study room before, yet she had never heard of The Book Sanctum.


    The Book Sanctum-it sounded far beyond a simple study.


    She nodded. "Sure, bring me there then."


    After pondering for a moment, Natalie finally decided to visit The Book Sanctum. She wanted to see if the sketchbook Marcus had mentioned was the same sketchbook she had.


    Federrick had never told her there were multiple copies of the sketchbook, after all.


    "Let''s go to The Book Sanctum first."


    "Okay. This way, please."


    Marcus sounded so polite and gentle. His typically frosty face had softened, like snow melting away, leaving only warmth and tenderness behind.


    It sent a chill down Natalie''s spine. She suddenly had the urge to p Marcus across his face, making him kneel before her in his suit and calling her "Mommy".


    The moment the thought crossed her mind, Natalie forced herself to calm down. That kind of thought? Absolutely not!


    After all, she and Marcus were ex-fiancé and fiancée, and there was no turning back now.


    "What''s wrong, Nat?"


    As he noticed Natalie had stopped walking, he turned around, staring at her in confusion.


    "Nothing. Can you stop calling me ''Nat,'' Marcus? I don''t think we''re that close."


    There was a hint of frustration behind Natalie''s otherwise cold expression. They should really keep a clear distance.


    Natalie continued, "I''ve never expected anything in return, so there''s no need for you to do anything out of gratitude. Let''s just stay the way we were back then, okay?"


    "No," Marcus replied tly. "If you pay attention to how I''ve treated Sophia, you''ll see just how much I care for my lifesaver. I can''t let things just stay this way now that I know I''ve made a mistake. Whether you ept it or not, I''m still doing it." "But..."


    "Just tell me, Nat, do you want the Lethal Vermillion?"


    Marcus interrupted Natalie. Then, with a smirk, he added, "The sketchbook as well. Do you want to see it? It actually has a total of five volumes, though."


    Natalie was at a loss for words. As much as she hated to admit it, Marcus knew exactly how to capture her attention.


    "Let''s go."


    As she strode forward, she sent Mason a few texts. Thetter was still watching over Emma for her.


    Although Emma had been sent to the enforcement office, Mason told Natalie that Sky couldn''t bear to see her suffer, so Sky made sure she had everything she needed there.


    It couldn''t be helped; Emma was hurt by sh, which was just the perfect excuse to ask for some leniency.


    Gabriel, however, was less fortunate. He kept insisting it was Natalie''s doing, even with all the evidence-until his cellmates gave him a brutal wake-up call.


    As Mason put it, Garbriel got


    smacked 18 times in three days and stuck with the boss inside. When the enforcers checked in, the boss. simplychuckled, "Oh,e on We''re just joking around. Noone


    actually hurt him!"


    Hence, Gabriel wailed, screamed, cried, and begged for mercy like it was the end


    of the world. But after a check-up? Nothing serious.


    Well, he wasn''t dying-just a little roughhousing, apparently.


    Natalie burst outughing when she heard Mason tell her all this. Besides, Mason also mentioned that Lincoln, Hector, and Timothy "did the same thing" to Gabriel, just like how Sky took care of Emma''s needs in the enforcement office.


    She knew right away that someone was taking care of Gabriel in the enforcement office, but it was a rough type of care.


    Even a tongue got bitten by its own teeth sometimes-so really, Gabriel had iting.


    Everything was by the book, anyway. His whining wasn''t going to get him any sympathy.


    Mason''s storytelling was so lively and engaging that it kept Natalie grinning the whole time.


    The only problem was that Emma probably wouldn''t be stuck in the enforcement office for long. Thus, Mason was frustrated. He wanted to


    track down Emma''s biological parents, change herst name, and


    show Emma the door out of the


    Walker family as quickly as possible.


    So Natalie told him not to rush it since getting to the truth of what had happened back then probably wouldn''t be as easy as it seemed. They should just let Sky be if he wanted to protect Emma so much.


    After all, Emma was Sky''s precious little sister, raised with affection and care. It was only natural for the biological sister, who returnedter, to not match up with


    Emma.


    Mason then told Natalie he''d grab a few buddies, meet up with Sky that evening, and give him a few punches to vent his frustration.


    Grinning, Natalie rejected Mason''s suggestion because Sky had had it hard at home already.


    Mason agreed with her after giving it a few thoughts.


    Natalie and Mason were the closest in age, and since Mason was the first person


    to wholeheartedly believe that his real sister wasn''t Emma, they shared the


    deepest bond.


    After Natalie had made a call to Mason, she walked to Marcus'' car.


    Marcus opened the car door, guiding Natalie into the car as he ced his hand


    over her head.


    "Let''s head to The Book Sanctum first. I want to see if the sketchbook you mentioned was real."


    Natalie put away her phone, closing her eyes in the back seat.


    "Alright."


    Marcus hopped into the car. "Drive home, please."


    "Yes, sir."


    The driver ignited the car and pulled away. Marcus was in the passenger seat.


    With a press of a button, the partition wall rose slowly, and it fully separated the front from the back.


    Despite the huge space in the car, Natalie felt a sudden tightness in her chest for some unknown reason.


    In the next instant, Marcus leaned in, and Natalie''s body went stiff right away. "What are you doing, Marcus?"


    "Helping you with the seatbelt," he answered naturally, reaching for the seatbelt


    and fastening it for her.


    "I can do it on my own."


    All Natalie could hear was the click of the seatbelt, and her senses were overwhelmed by the man''smanding presence.