Lincoln had barely finished speaking when Hector and the others'' expressions shifted subtly.


    If Cindy was truly Emma''s biological mother, then this wasn''t just a case of babies being switched at birth. It might not have been an ident at all-it could have been a long-brewing scheme.


    A heavy silence settled over the room as the weight of the possibility sank in. After a while, Lincoln said, "Natalie, you can''t go to Amberton alone."


    "This is just a suspicion for now," Natalie replied calmly. "Since we know where Cindy is and Emma likely does too, all we need to do is get their hair and run a DNA test."


    She stood up decisively. "There''s no time to waste. Let''s do it now."


    "I''ll call Marcus," Lincoln said. "He probably hasn''t gone far yet."


    He paused before asking, "Natalie, why do you want Marcus involved?"


    Natalie smiled slightly and exined, "Marcus has been protecting Sophia all these years, and Emma is in love with him. Having him step in will yield the best results.


    "Besides, Sky can use his family status to pressure you guys, but can he do the same to Marcus? Marcus only shows him courtesy out of respect for their families'' ties. If they were to go head-to-head, do you think Sky would win?"


    Lincoln nodded. "Fair point."


    The Walker brothers weren''t afraid of Marcus because they had grown up together, and Marcus had never put on any airs around them. However, that didn''t mean they were unaware of his capabilities.


    "Then it''s settled," Natalie dered. She turned to Lincoln and the others. "Lincoln, Hector, and Timothy, I''ll need your help this time."


    "There''s no need for formalities," Lincoln said, ruffling Natalie''s hair. "Don''t worry about Sky. If ites to a fight, the four of us can beat him half to death before Dad even has to step in."


    Natalie couldn''t help but chuckle, though a hint of bitterness lingered in her heart. "Lincoln, am I a bad person? I just got back, and I''m already afraid of causing discord in the family."


    Lincoln sighed. "Nonsense. Natalie, there has never been discord in this family. If Dad punishes Sky, it''s because Sky deserves it. You don''t have to worry that Sky will hate Dad and Mom because of you. They are fair and reasonable people. Just because Sky was raised here doesn''t mean they''ll favor him."


    Natalie''s eyes reddened slightly. "I know. Dad and Mom always side with me."


    "And so do your brothers," Lincoln said with a gentle smile. "Don''t ever think you''re less than anyone else. You are our sister, Natalie. We know what kind of life you endured in the Langley family. Don''t me yourself for anything rted to Emma. She could have lived a good life if she had been content."


    He paused, then continued gently, "The Walker family would have supported her for a lifetime, given her a life offort and luxury. But she threw it all away. You''re the one who truly suffered, the real victim here. What right does she have to me you? In some ways, Emma is even worse than Selena.


    "So remember, Nat-you are the best. Never let someone else''s mistakes make you doubt yourself."


    With that, he pulled Natalie into a gentle embrace. "You''re our most precious little sister. We''ll always support and protect you no matter what you do. From the moment we learned about you, you had a family standing behind you. Nat, you never have to worry-we will never be like Sky. And neither will Mom and Dad."


    Natalie felt a tightness in her chest as Lincoln spoke. Her eyes burned, and she sniffled, trying to hold back the emotions surging within her. She wasn''t someone who easily showed her feelings, but at this moment, she could hardly stop herself from crying.


    "Don''t cry," Lincoln said with a soft chuckle, expertly lightening the mood. "Remember what we''re about to do. If you cry, Emma will think you''ve been


    scolded at home, and she''ll just gloat about it."


    Natalie couldn''t help butugh at that. "Lincoln, thank you," she said.


    "Thank you, too, Mason, Timothy, Hector."


    She looked at each of them earnestly. "I used to envy others, but now I don''t have to anymore."


    "From now on, it''ll be others envying you," Mason chimed in. "You deserve the best."


    "Alright, enough," Timothy said, lightly tapping Mason on the head. "Since we''ve got our assignments, let''s get moving."


    "Right," everyone agreed.


    Before they dispersed, Lincoln turned to Natalie with a serious expression. "There''s one thing I need to ask you, Natalie."


    "Go ahead, Lincoln," Natalie replied.


    "Marcus broke off the engagement with you, and Mom and Dad returned the gifts


    to the Holdens. But now, it seems like you and Marcus are getting along quite


    well. What''s going on between you two?"


    The scene of Marcus dropping Natalie off earlier hadn''t just been witnessed by William and Charlotte, The Walker brothers had also seen it from their rooms. Combined with what had happened at the wee party, it was hard not to wonder if Marcus had some kind of split


    personality.


    One moment, he was calling off the engagement, and the next, he was hovering


    around Natalie like a lost puppy.


    Of course, none of them dared to say that outright.


    "Well... we''re no longer engaged, but we''re still friends," Natalie answered carefully.


    The truth wasplicated. Marcus


    had a reason for everything he did, and she didn''t intend to tell her brothers about how she had once saved Marcus as a child. Only a few people knew about it-Sophia, Elijah,


    Noah, and some at Goodwill


    Pharmacy.


    If she wanted Marcus to stand up for Sophia, then Sophia''s role as his savior had


    to remain intact.


    It wasn''t that Natalie didn''t trust her brothers-she just didn''t want them ming Sophia.


    Sophia had already suffered enough, especially at the hands of the Walker family.


    If anything, the Walkers owed her an apology.


    "Marcus and I don''t have romantic feelings for each other, so breaking off the engagement was the right thing to do. But just because we''re not lovers doesn''t mean we can''t be friends," Natalie exined calmly.


    "It''s better to have one more friend than one more enemy, right? At least we''re not


    like Emma, who destroys what she can''t have."


    Lincoln and the others exchanged nces.


    Mason was too straightforward to catch on, but the other three understood


    immediately.


    "Alright," Lincoln nodded. "Then let''s go lock down Sky. If Cindy really is Emma''s biological mother, you might not even need to go to Amberton."


    "No, I still have to go," Natalie said without hesitation.


    Now that she knew Marcus'' parents were in Scarlet Hill, she had to make the trip.


    Whether or not she could help Marcus, it was at least a gesture of goodwill- consider it repayment for the sketchbooks Marcus had given her.