Marcus'' grip on the steering wheel tightened when he saw Natalie''s smile. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his mind kept reying the way she had smiled so sweetly while talking to Walter.


    She had once treated Tyler like a savior too. She used to follow him whenever she ran away from the Langleys, staying out the whole day.


    She had more memories with Walter and Tyler than with Marcus, especially since, in the beginning, he had misunderstood her. Because of that, he didn''t want to see her.


    Later, he discovered Natalie was actually Elim, the person who saved his grandfather and helped him when he was drugged.


    Although he had saved her once, she was the one who had helped him more. That time he rescued her, he caught a glimpse of that small red mark, and it stayed in his mind for a long time after.


    "Marcus, why aren''t you talking?"


    Marcus kept driving in silence. Natalie turned to the side, studying his profile. His tall nose, chiseled jaw, and long, thickshes entuated his sharp features.


    From this angle, he looked even more captivating.


    He was unbelievably handsome. Every time she stared at him, she felt a momentary, irresistible pull. Yet, at this moment, he looked upset. His cold expression and firmly pressed lips clearly revealed his mood.


    In response to her question, he gripped the steering wheel so hard that the veins in the back of his hand stood out.


    At the sight of his hand, Natalie immediately thought how easy it would be to do acupuncture on those prominent veins.


    "A lie," he said suddenly in his low, slightly hoarse voice. "Just tell me a lie."


    He already had a feeling the real truth wouldn''t be something he wanted to hear. "If you want a lie, then..." she drawled, pretending to think. "I prefer Tyler." Before Marcus'' face could darken again, she added, "And if it''s the truth, that''s also the case."


    If she had to choose between Walter and Tyler, she couldn''t deny that she had relied more on Tyler in the past.


    She was the one who picked Walter out from the orphanage. Back then, he needed her more than he could protect her.


    Tyler, on the other hand, was a scion of the Miller family. Whenever he came to the Langleys, no matter how much Diana disliked Natalie, she would still give Tyler some respect. Being with him meant she could avoid Diana''s abuse.


    Later, she realized Tyler wasn''t trustworthy. The things he did pushed her away. As she grew older, her dependence on him faded until itpletely vanished.


    Still, she couldn''t erase the memories of how she had depended on him as a child. She admitted it openly. Those memories were just part of her life story, not some scandalous secret.


    Suddenly, Marcus hit the brakes and brought the car to a stop. He kept both hands tight on the steering wheel, struggling to contain the wild, jealous beast roaring inside him.


    Because of the sudden stop, Natalie''s body lurched forward even though she was wearing her seat belt.


    "Marcus, what are you—"


    She barely got her question out before he unclipped his seat belt and leaned over to kiss her without warning. It happened so fast. Within a single heartbeat, he silenced her with a kiss.


    "Mmm..."


    Natalie tried to push him away, but he was unexpectedly forceful. His strength overwhelmed her. She couldn''t resist him in the slightest.


    The moment his lips pressed against hers, her mind wentpletely nk. She stared wide-eyed at his dark, deep eyes so close to her.


    For a split second, he paused after iming her lips. Then, he reached up and covered her eyes with one hand.


    "Don''t move," he murmured. His voice was deep, and it sounded even rougher than usual.


    Natalie felt her entire body tense. She was strapped in by her seat belt, pinned in ce by his arm, and her mind was buzzing.


    A split secondter, his lips pressed closer, sending a strange electric surge through her. She shuddered involuntarily.


    Marcus began to move more gently, kissing her with careful tenderness. "Natalie, rx," he whispered.


    She raised her hand, about to p him. However, he was quick to catch her wrist. He ced her palm firmly against his chest.


    Her hand had barely touched him when she felt the powerful beat of his heart. The rhythm hammered even faster with every beat.


    "Mmm..." She wanted to speak, but he silenced her with another kiss.


    A shrill horn red from behind them. Marcus seemed to snap back to his senses. He pulled away slightly, looking at her flushed face.


    She red at him in a mix of anger and embarrassment, her cheeks reddening.


    The horns continued. Marcus mumbled an apology and started the car again.


    Natalie felt her face burning hot. In her 20 years of life, she had never been kissed before-let alone forced into one like that.


    Even though she had once been Tyler''s fiancée and relied on himin her childhood, there had never been any intimate contact between them. That was her first kiss, and Marcus stole it so easily.


    But Marcus was driving, so she couldn''t do anything to him. No matter how angry


    she was, she couldn''t risk her own safety.


    Marcus had gradually calmed down


    as the heat of his impulsive action faded. He wasn''t sure what had


    admitted she preferred Tyler he just


    wanted to make her stop talking.


    He was cautious enough not to look at her directly now. The surprising part was


    that she neither pped him nor yelled at him.


    He stole a peek at her from the corner of his eye. She was sitting up straight, hands resting in herp, staring out the window.


    At the sight, Marcus felt his mood lift. The anger that had twisted his thoughts earlier seemed to vanish, reced by a subtle happiness.


    But Natalie was actually gazing at him through the reflection in the window. Her mind was still reeling from the sudden kiss.


    She felt her face burning even hotter, as if that surge of electricity had drained all her strength. Now that she''d calmed down a bit, she watched him through his reflection in the window.


    He looked calm, but his ears were


    BUT


    bright red, as if they might start bleeding at any moment. His hands on the wheel remained steady.. Those long, slender fingers had just gripped her wrist and pressed her palm against his pounding heart. Cóntent belongs to


    Remembering the force of that heartbeat, Natalie realized one thing. Marcus liked


    her.


    But when exactly did he start liking her?