Natalie clicked on the images of Scarlet Hill. Vast fields of scarlet poppies stretched out before her, their fiery red petals dazzling and captivating.


    Tourists swarmed the area, capturing the breathtaking scenery with their cameras. The atmosphere was lively and bustling.


    Marcus'' biological parents weren''t permanent residents of Scarlet Hill. It was just that when she had asked for information, their location had been traced there.


    Coincidentally, she also needed to go to Amberton to investigate the whereabouts of Emma''s biological parents. While she was there, she could visit Scarlet Hill to see if she could find Wesley and Laura.


    After all, Laura and Charlotte had been close friends. Since Natalie bore such a striking resemnce to Charlotte, Laura would likely recognize her without any introduction.


    Natalie tucked her phone away and turned to head back to the study when another notification chimed. She swiped her finger across the screen and opened


    the message.


    The sender was the same string of zeros, and the message contained only a single photo. In it, she was sitting across from Marcus, deeply focused on her drawing.


    Natalie''s heart skipped a beat. She nced around, but the surroundings were eerily quiet, with no sign of anyone nearby.


    She then looked toward the study, where the security cameras were clearly visible. However, this photo wasn''t taken from a security feed. The angle and rity suggested it came from a high-end professional camera.


    Code Zero was like a ghost, appearing out of nowhere just when she was about to forget about them.


    Natalie quickly tapped out a response. "Who the hell are you? Why are you watching me?"


    Code Zero replied almost instantly, "I''m a friend."


    Natalie frowned. What kind of friend lurked in the shadows, constantly monitoring someone?


    She fired back, "You''re not watching me in the shower or the bathroom, are you?" Code Zero replied, "I''m not that much of a creep."


    Then another message followed. "Do not go to Scarlet Hill. Don''t look for Wesley and Laura. Remember this."


    Natalie''s frown deepened. She had just received the information about Wesley and Laura''s location, and now Code Zero was warning her not to go. She wondered who this person was and what their motive was for keeping such a close eye on her.


    "Nat," Marcus interrupted.


    Natalie quicklyposed herself, deleting the messages. Now wasn''t the time to trace Code Zero''s location.


    "Marcus, what are you doing out here?" she asked, turning to face him.


    "I was worried when you didn''te back, so I came to check on you," Marcus


    said, stepping closer. "Is everything alright?"


    Natalie smiled. "Everything''s fine. Let''s go back."


    "When we finish these sketches, I''ll be heading back," Marcus said.


    "Marcus, you mentioned before that you wanted to visit Amberton, right?" Natalie asked, tilting her head slightly.


    "Yes."


    "Great. Let''s go together."


    If Code Zero was so determined to keep her away from Scarlet Hill, then she was even more determined to go, and she was bringing Marcus with her.


    Logically, she shouldn''t meddle in other people''s family affairs, especially Marcus''. However, the look of loneliness and sorrow she had seen on his face had stirred an inexplicable sense of sympathy in her.


    Besides, even if she tried to stop Marcus from following her to Amberton, it would be pointless.


    Marcus now knew that she had saved him as a child, and he was determined to repay that debt.


    Whether she epted it or not was her choice, but Marcus'' decision to repay her was his. Given the current situation, Marcus was set on repaying her no matter what she thought. Instead of wasting time trying to dissuade him, she might as well take him along.


    "Nat, why did you suddenly agree to let me go with you?" Marcus asked, studying Natalie with a probing gaze. "Weren''t you against it before?"


    "If I told you not to go, would you really stay behind?" Natalie countered.


    Marcus thought for a moment, then shook his head.


    Natalie smirked. "Exactly. So, what''s the point in arguing about it? Let''s go finish the sketches."


    "Alright," Marcus replied, not pressing further.


    The two of them returned to the table and continued working on the remaining sketchbooks.


    1.n


    By the time they were done, it was already 9:00 pm. Throughout the process, Natalie finished off all the snacks and sparkling water the servants had brought. Since she was still hungry, Marcus had Sheldon bring dinner. The two of them ate together at the desk, facing each other infortable silence.


    They ended up eating together at the desk.


    Once everything was sorted, Natalie packed up the newlypleted four


    sketchbooks and shed Marcus a rare, sweet smile.


    She couldn''t help it-her good mood made it impossible to maintain her usual cold demeanor.


    "Marcus, thank you," she said sincerely.


    "You''re wee. It''s my pleasure to help you," Marcus replied, reaching out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.


    Just as Natalie instinctively raised her hand to swat him, he quickly stepped back, dodging just in time.


    "Don''t be so fierce," he teased. "I''m not drugged this time-I won''t do anything to you."


    Natalie scoffed but didn''t argue further.


    "I''m leaving now. Thanks again for today," she said, turning to go.


    "Let me walk you out," Marcus offered, following her as they stepped out of the study.


    The garden lights had already turned on, casting a warm glow over the courtyard. She carried a small ck box in her arms. Inside were the newlypleted sketchbooks, along with the five original ones.


    The box itself was sleek and polished, with a delicate gold lock that gleamed under the light. One look was enough to tell it was an expensive piece.


    At first, she didn''t want to ept them, but Marcus insisted, using the excuse of "repaying his debt". In the end, she had no choice but to ept them.


    On the way back to Walker Estate, Natalie felt a wave of exhaustion wash over


    her. She leaned back in the car, holding the box close, and closed her eyes for a quick rest.


    Marcus didn''t disturb her. Instead, he quietly removed his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, letting her rest in peace.


    The ride back to the Walker Estate was quiet. When the car pulled up to the grand entrance, Natalie stirred awake.


    "We''re here," Marcus said softly.


    "Marcus, thank you again," Natalie replied, yawning slightly as she gathered the boxes in her arms. "I won''t invite you in for tea-it''ste, and you should head back to rest."


    "Nat, goodnight," Marcus said, getting out of the car to watch her walk into the mansion.


    Just as he was about to turn back and get into his car, something felt off. He looked up and immediately spotted Charlotte and William


    balcony. The couple each bel.ne


    standing on the second-floor


    ss of red wine, staring down at him with eyes that could almost devour him whole.


    Marcus remained unfazed. Instead, he shed them a polite smile and greeted, "Mr. and Mrs. Walker, good evening."


    William and Charlotte remained silent. Just a short while ago, Marcus had been ready to call off the engagement, and now he was dropping their precious daughter off at home. They couldn''t help but wonder what Marcus was ying at. After his courteous farewell, Marcus got back into the car and instructed the driver, "Let''s go."


    "Yes, Mr. Holden," the driver replied, and the car pulled away.


    Just as Natalie carried the box toward the elevator, Mason suddenly jumped out


    of nowhere.


    "Natalie,e here," Mason said, pulling her toward the small study on the first floor.


    "What''s going on?" Natalie asked.


    Mason closed the door behind them and handed her an envelope. "Emma attempted suicide while in custody at the enforcement office. Sky panicked and went to great lengths to get her out. She''s now staying at one of the Sinir family''s properties."


    Natalie''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Has he lost his mind?" she eximed. "He just called off his engagement with Sophia, and now he''s sheltering Emma in one of their family''s estates? Does he have any idea of the horrible things Emma did to Sophia?"