Lincoln, Hector, and Timothy had gone to find Sky while Mason stayed behind. Natalie called Marcus, asking him to turn the car around and pick her up.


    Marcus didn''t ask why he simply instructed the driver to turn back.


    "Nat," Mason called out.


    "Mason, don''t ask me about Sophia. She''ll tell you if she wants to talk about it," Natalie interrupted Mason.


    He hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn''t press further. "Nat, how do you know I was going to ask about Sophia?"


    He made small talk to break the silence. "Besides, what''s going on between you and Marcus? I just want to make sure you''re okay. I don''t want you to be deceived or hurt by him.


    "You''re still young, and there are things you don''t understand. Marcus is a good person, but he broke off your engagement before-that alone makes me feel like he didn''t respect you."


    Mason rubbed his head. "If I said something wrong, don''t take it to heart. And don''t be mad at me, alright?"


    "I won''t. I know you''re just looking out for me." Natalie smiled as she packed up her backpack. "Come on. Let''s wait for Marcus outside."


    "By the way, Nat, Dad and Mom have been watching you. They''re worried you''ll be bullied and won''t tell them anything."


    "I know." Natalie''s lips curled into a smile. "Didn''t I call Mom when things happened at Goodwill Pharmacy? She stood up for me and had my back."


    "I know. I also know that Ivan insulted Dad, called you an illegitimate child, and even said that the rest of us were Mom''s illegitimate children too. And then, you had someone beat him up."


    Speaking of this, Mason couldn''t hide his anger. "Ivan is disgusting. Just because he cheats and keeps mistresses, he thinks everyone else is like him. Even if you hadn''t dealt with him, Dad would have."


    Natalie nodded. "Exactly. He insulted Dad and Mom-I couldn''t just let that slide. But it''s in the past now. It doesn''t matter anymore."


    Ivan humiliated William and Charlotte, and Natalie retaliated by beating him. That settled the matter.


    Mason carried Natalie''s canvas backpack and led her downstairs from the fifth floor as they talked.


    Once they reached the ground floor, Natalie mentioned wanting to check out Shane''s room, so Mason took her there.


    The Walker family had a separate vi designated for the helpers. Cindy, who had always taken care of Emma, was allowed to live in the main estate.


    Her son, Shane, lived in the helpers'' quarters a little further from the main estate.


    Standing in front of the small vi, Mason gestured. "This is it. Shane''s room is on the first floor."


    Natalie studied the building. "So, everyone living here is rted to Cindy?"


    "Yes. Mom appreciated Cindy''s dedication to Emma and found her trustworthy. So, when Cindy asked if her rtives could work for the family, Mom agreed."


    Natalie understood now. Since this building housed only Cindy''s rtives-all members of the Morgan family-Shane had been able to assault Sophia here.


    Sophia must have been utterly desperate. Calling for help would have only made things worse.


    "Nat, do you really want to go inside?"


    "Yes."


    Natalie took the lead, and Mason quickly followed. They found Shane lounging on the couch, ying a mobile game.


    "Shane."


    He immediately looked up at the sound of Natalie''s cold voice. His


    expression changed briefly butet


    quickly returned to obedience and respect. "Mr. Mason, Ms. Walker."


    "You''re Shane Morgan?" Natalie nced around the vi. Most of the helpers were either off duty or resting at this hour, except for those on security detail. "Yes, Ms. Walker."


    He maintained a respectful posture. His features resembled Cindy''s to some degree, but there was no resemnce to Emma.


    Of course, if Emma had looked like Shane or Cindy, Charlotte would have suspected something long ago.


    "Take me to your room." Natalie withdrew her gaze from the vi''s interior.


    Sophia had said that Shane assaulted her in a helper''s room, where he had even answered Emma''s call in front of her.


    The Walker family had many helper rooms, but Shane was audacious, so it had to be his own room.


    If anyone had found out that he had assaulted Sophia, Sky''s fiancée, he would have been killed on the spot.


    And yet, months had passed, and not only was Shane unharmed, but even after Cindy was expelled from the household, he remained unbothered. Someone was still protecting him.


    Before, it had been Emma. But now?


    "Ms. Walker, I don''t know why you


    want to see my room. I''m just a helper and a man; my room isn''t exactly presentable." Shane lowered his head and spoke deferentially. "I wouldn''t want to offend you."


    "If she tells you to take her there, you take her there. Stop wasting time." Mason''s voice was sharp and cold. "What? Do you think she needs your permission?"


    "I wouldn''t dare, Mr. Mason. It''s just that my room is a bit messy-" Without hesitation, Mason pulled out his phone and called Gorge. "Gorge,e to the helper quarters now. Ms. Walker wants to see Shane''s room."


    "I''ll take you." Shane lowered his head further, then walked over and opened his door. "Ms. Walker, this is my room."


    Natalie stepped inside. When Shane tried to follow, Mason grabbed him and shoved him back. "Stay put."


    "Yes, Mr. Mason."


    The room was clean and not messy; everything was neatly arranged. A few posters of female celebrities adorned the walls.


    Natalie took a closer look. The actress in the posters bore a resemnce to Emma.


    She moved toward the desk, where a framed photo of Emma was disyed. Her smile was bright and cheerful.


    Natalie tapped the desk lightly, then pulled open a drawer.


    "Ms. Walker, that''s my private property," Shane protested from the doorway, hisposure beginning to crack. "Please respect my privacy."


    "Privacy, huh?" She smirked, then cast a sidelong nce at him. "I''m just looking around. Why are you so nervous?"


    With that, she pulled out a photo album. As she flipped through it, every single picture inside was of Sophia.


    Right in the middle of the album were photos of Sophia pinned beneath Shane, struggling as he vited her.


    Natalie''s expression remained unchanged, but her fists clenched tightly.


    She kept turning the pages.


    There were no photos on thest page-only a small, bloodstained piece of


    bedsheet.