"There''s more underneath." Natalie reached deeper into the box, pulling out a stack of photographs-pictures of Sophia.


    However, each one had been defaced with thick red crosses, and the back of the photos was covered in vile insults-"Slut", "Die", and "Trash".


    Sophia''s face had been shed beyond recognition, her featurespletely mutted.


    At the very bottom of the boxy a small doll. On its back, someone had written Sophia''s birthday. The doll was riddled with pinholes as if it had been used for some twisted revenge.


    It was clear just how much they hated her.


    "These are all evidence."


    Natalie carefully packed everything back into the box and handed it to Marcus. Then, she stepped forward, suddenly grabbing Shane''s face and forcing his mouth open before swiftly shoving a small pill down his throat.


    With a push and a pull, Shane had no time to react-the pill was already swallowed.


    He immediately shoved his fingers down his throat, desperately trying to make himself vomit.


    Shane coughed and retched violently, but nothing came up. He could only dry heave in agony.


    "Don''t waste your energy." Natalie''s voice was ice-cold. "Now answer me-does Emma have the same kind of material you do?"


    He stopped gagging and slowly lifted his head, his eyes filled with resentment. Before he could speak, Marcus stepped forward, shielding Natalie and pressing the heel of his polished leather shoe against Shane''s throat.


    "If you don''t want your eyes, you can take them out." His deep, maic voice sounded nonchnt. "If you can''t learn to judge people, there''s no need to keep them."


    "I—I can judge! I can judge just fine! Mr. Holden, please! I swear I won''t misjudge her!"


    The moment Marcus finished speaking, Shane groveled like a dog.


    Natalie stood to the side, watching. She had finally figured it out-Marcus'' presence carried more weight than all five Walker brothersbined.


    "Ms. Walker, I''m sorry! Please forgive me! I won''t do it again!"


    "Answer her question." Marcus pressed down slightly harder with his foot, bulging Shane''s eyes.


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk!"


    "Ms. Emma... has more than I do." Shane gasped in pain. "It was her who ordered me to do this to Sophia! She told me to take those photos and videos. She said Sophia kept clinging to Mr. Holden and needed to be taught a lesson.


    "She also said Sophia was unworthy of Mr. Sky and that I shouldpletely ruin her so she could never marry him."


    Shane felt as if the shoe pressing against his throat wasn''t just a foot but a knife— one that could drop at any moment and sever his head from his body.


    "Ms. Emma also promised me that if Sophia gave birth to my child, she would help me be the son-inw of the Sinir family.


    "Ms. Walker, I was wrong! Mr. Holden, please have mercy on me!"


    Natalie''s voice turned even colder. "One more question-did Sky know about what you did to Sophia?"


    She emphasized his name, her tone sharp. "Think before you answer."


    Shane hesitated for a moment.


    Marcus let out a low chuckle. Then, he pressed down again.


    "Ahh! I''ll talk! I''ll talk!" Shane screamed in agony. "Mr. Sky... he knows about it."


    "Damn it!" Natalie clenched her fists tightly.


    "So you dare to act so arrogantly because, besides Emma, you have Sky protecting you, right?"


    Shane shut his eyes in despair. He wasn''t afraid of Natalie, but he was terrified of Marcus.


    Marcus was the heir and ruler of Holden Group, but he also held another title in the outside world—the Living King of Hell.


    Most people never got close enough to see his true nature. To them, he was just a powerful businessman. But those who had witnessed his methods firsthand called him the Living King of Hell.


    Natalie had beaten Shane senseless earlier, and he hadn''t cared.


    But now, Marcus had worn a pair of gloves, and Shane was scared.


    "Answer."


    "Yes." With that single word, Shane shut his eyes.


    Marcus lifted his foot. Immediately, Noah stepped forward and wiped the sole of his shoe clean.


    Such filth had no right to stain even the bottom of Marcus'' shoes.


    Natalie had heard everything she needed to hear. She nced at Marcus. He met


    her gaze and gave her a slight nod.


    There were no words needed.


    For a moment, despite her sorrow,


    she realized something


    shocking-she and he were so in


    sync that a single look was all it took to understand each other


    "Let''s go."


    Marcus didn''t ask what pill she had given Shane. Instead, he gently ced a hand on her shoulder as if to steady her. "Mason is here, so nothing will go wrong."


    "Mason," he continued, addressing Mason. "Promise Nat, you''ll keep an eye on this bastard."


    Mason, suddenly called out, immediately straightened. "Yes! Don''t worry, Nat. I''ll handle this."


    "Be careful of Sky," Natalie warned, emphasizing his name.


    Mason nodded firmly. "Got it."


    "Alright. We''re going to see Sophia."


    "Okay."


    "By the way... Sophia... she..." Mason''s voice wavered. His eyes were red. It''s our family''s fault for letting this happen to her. If there''s anything Sophia needs-anything at all-just tell me, and I''ll make sure she gets it."


    "This wasn''t your fault," Natalie replied coldly. "The ones who owe her... are the ones who actually hurt her."


    "I understand." He nodded, but he felt sad, guilty, and remorseful. It was hard for


    him to remain indifferent and not get involved simply.


    "We''re leaving." Natalie and Marcus walked out of the basement together.


    Once outside, she exhaled deeply.


    "I used to think my time with the Langley family was miserable... but I never imagined Sophia had suffered even worse."


    "It''s my fault. I failed to protect her."


    Marcus also felt guilty. Natalie was right-he had treated Sophia as a lifesaver for so many years, yet he had never truly understood what she had gone through. "You''re not to me," she whispered. Her eyes began to redden. "Marcus, don''t take my words from before to heart.


    "Sophia was too scared to tell the truth. The more she tried to protect herself, the more she suffered. Ultimately, she had no choice but to endure it all in silence.


    "But at least... at least she found the courage to speak up this time."


    "Let''s go."


    "Alright."


    On the way to Goodwill Pharmacy, neither of them spoke.


    When they arrived, Natalie, carrying the evidence, walked ahead of Marcus and


    entered Sophia''s room first.


    Inside, Sophia was chatting with Helena, a faint smile on her lips.


    "Ms. Walker, you''re here!" Helena immediately stood up to greet her.


    "Helena, can you step out for a moment? I need to talk to Sophia alone."


    "Of course." Helena then left the room.


    The moment she did, Sophia tensed up, her smile vanishing. She leaned back slightly against the bed, her expression filled with unease.