Natalie''s tone was icy, and her expression indifferent. At that moment, Hector felt as though he was seeing her arrive at the Walker residence for the first time.


    She looked distant and aloof as if she was detached from everything. But at the same time, she exuded a cold and elegant aura, as if she had everything under control.


    "The Sinirs have no idea. ording to Lincoln, we shall see if Sophia decides to inform them. But they will surely find out about the investigation," Hector answered truthfully.


    "Lincoln told the authorities to wait until Sophia woke up and gave her consent. Furthermore, Marcus''wyer intervened. For now, the Sinirs are still in the dark."


    "We can''t allow the Sinirs to harm Sophia any further. She has to break free from their control," Natalie stated firmly. "I''ll talk to Marcus and ask him to get Sophia''s mother out."


    "Natalie, is something going on between you and Marcus?" Hector asked carefully. He couldn''t make sense of their rtionship.


    Natalie didn''t mind the question. "We''re not in a rtionship. We''re just friends."


    There was never any romantic interest between them. Coupled with the misunderstanding from before, Marcus wanted nothing to do with her. She had no intention of chasing after someone uninterested in her. Therefore, they had never been particrly close.


    To Natalie, the canceled engagement was a relief.


    After their misunderstanding had been cleared, Marcus also discovered that she had saved his life as a child. He wanted to repay the debt, and she couldn''t stop him, so she let him be.


    Coupled with what happened to Sophia, they had gotten much closer.


    "Nat, I don''t mean that. If you like Marcus, I will fully support you in dating him. I''m just unhappy because you should''ve been the one to call off the engagement, not the other way around," Hector said.


    "How could a man put a woman in such an awkward position? If he pursues you, make him work for it. Give him the full experience of chasing a woman."


    Natalie was speechless.


    "I''m just joking with you. I was trying to lighten the mood. Clearly, my humor fell t."


    Hector scratched his nose embarrassingly and continued, "Marcus had only gotten pretty close to Sophia in recent years. I just don''t want you to be deceived."


    "Thank you, Hector. I get it."


    "Okay. I trust you. Let''s go back!"


    "I want to stay here and wait for Sophia to wake up."


    "Alright, I''ll apany you."


    Natalie shook her head. "Hector, you should go home. With so many of us at the hospital, if Mom and Dad wake up and notice no one''s home, especially after such a big incident, they''ll get mad. Someone needs to be home to exin things to them."


    Natalie declined Hector''s offer to apany her. Initially, she hoped to settle Sophia''s issues quietly. But now, many people were involved.


    However, this time, Emma would have no chance of getting out of this.


    When she eventually discovered that the woman she killed was actually her biological mother, she would likely live the rest of her life in regret.


    Then again, that might not happen for someone like Emma. She may even me Cindy for staying with her after switching her into the wealthy Walker family.


    She might feel like Cindy was dragging her down, stripping her of the luxurious life she was supposed to enjoy.


    "Lincoln has to go to work in the morning, you have your hospital shifts, and Timothy has his things to do. Mason can stay with me."


    Natalie said calmly, "Hector, once Sophia wakes up, I''ll talk to her. If Mom and Dad ask, just tell them I n to befriend her. It''s best if they respect my wishes. Otherwise, I''ll think of ways to convince them."


    Hector was speechless for a second. Since Natalie had said so, their parents wouldn''t refuse.


    "Okay, I''ll discuss it with Lincoln."


    "Hector, does Lincoln know that Emma and Cindy are mother and daughter?"


    "He does."


    Natalie nodded. "Good"


    "It''s a shame Cindy died." Hector was filled with sorrow about losing their lead. "Nat, with Cindy dead, are you still going to investigate the baby switch?"


    "Do


    you think I should continue investigating?"


    Natalie''s lips curled into a smile.


    "When Mom and Dad sent me to et


    Amberton, I''m sure suspected


    thing. It''s too coincidental for


    babies to be switched at birth."


    Hector sighed. "Nat, no matter what you do, I''ll support you."


    "That''s great. Thank you. You should go home with Lincoln and Timothy."


    Natalie smiled at Hector, who nodded and went inside the hospital to get his brothers.


    Natalie stayed in the garden for quite some time until she heard footsteps approaching. Without turning around, she could tell who it was.


    "The Sinirs are here."


    Marcus'' deep voice sounded behind her. "Sophia''s helper informed them. I''ve sent Elijah and Noah to pick up Ms. ir from the convent."


    Natalie pondered for a moment. "Did the helper notify the Sinirs while leading Elijah and Noah to the convent where Ms. ir was?


    "That''s right. It''s part of Sophia''s n."


    Marcus nodded. "She lured the Sinirs to the hospital so that even if the convent contacted Ivan, Elijah and Noah would ensure they couldn''t inform the family in time."


    "I thought Sophia didn''t want to get us involved. Why did she ask Elijah and Noah


    to pick up her mother?"


    "It''s because she doesn''t trust anyone else. Besides, she guessed that you would ask me for help, so she asked me in advance to avoid owing you a favor."


    Marcus smirked. "I''ve known her for many years, but I''ve never truly understood her. She''s been nning this for quite some time."


    "Marcus, do you pity Sophia?" Natalie looked at the sky. It was pitch ck, and no stars could be seen. Even the moon was hidden-it was so dark and depressing.


    "As a friend, I do."


    Marcus followed her gaze and looked at the sky as well. "I regret not being more attentive to her in the past."


    "Why did Grandpa Charles forbid you from helping her? Is it because of her status?


    "He was worried about gossip, but I didn''t care. However, it could''ve harmed Sophia. He wouldn''t have cared if I nned to marry her."


    "But you''ve never thought of marrying her, right?"


    "No," Marcus answered without hesitation.


    "The thing between us had never been romantic. Sophia even told me that she never liked me. She never thought of slowly falling in love to marry into the Holden family."


    "All these years, she never requested


    anything from me. I was the one who couldn''t sit still. I was the one who went to the Sinir residence to look for her so that I could pressure Ivan not to mistreat Sophia and Samantha."


    "I believe you." Natalie let out a sigh. If Sophia were selfish, she wouldn''t have


    tormented herself all these years, pretending to be his savior.