Charlotte suddenly cleared her throat. She took Natalie by the hand and stood. "Sweetie, they''re talking business. You''re still young, so let''s go to the garden and pick some fresh flowers to arrange in a vase. We can have breakfast in the garden. I''ll have Gorge bring it outter."


    Turning toward William, she said, "Honey, you can chat with our guest. I''ll take Natalie to pick flowers."


    With that, Charlotte led Natalie out of the dining area.


    "Wait, don''t leave!" Ivan sprang to his feet, rushing over to block their path. "Natalie, you''re so beautiful and kind. You wouldn''t just leave me in the lurch, right? Please, help me!"


    Natalie was speechless. She had never seen such a shameless man.


    Before she could speak, Charlotte drew her behind her and smiled gently. "Ivan, please don''t make things hard for my daughter. She just got home and knows nothing about the business world. All the money we gave her is locked away in long-term ounts, so we really can''t lend you anything."


    Charlotte squeezed Natalie''s hand, hinting that she didn''t need to say anything at all or worry. Ivan would never walk away with a single cent.


    Natalie squeezed Charlotte''s hand back. She was grateful for Charlotte''s protection, but something like this was no trouble for her to handle on her own.


    "Mr. Sinir, if I remember correctly, we had a bit of a conflict at Goodwill Pharmacy not too long ago," Natalie said coldly. "If your memory isn''t great, I''d be happy to remind you. Just because my parents are polite to guests doesn''t mean I don''t hold grudges."


    Natalie stepped out from behind Charlotte and looked at William. "Dad,st time at Goodwill Pharmacy, Mr. Sinir insulted Mom, saying I was a child she had with another man."


    "You little=" Ivan''s face reddened. It was true he had said those things. He never expected he would one daye begging the Walker family for help.


    Natalie added, "Mr. Sinir also called me an uppity nobody. He said I shouldn''t assume you two love me more. He even imed that Emma dared to insult me at the wee party only because the two of you allowed it."


    As she spoke, Natalie turned her gaze back to Ivan and said slowly, "If you''ve forgotten, I can always show you the surveince footage from the pharmacy again. It''ll refresh your memory and remind my dad exactly how you mocked my mom and me."


    William pped the table hard. "Ivan, I considered you a friend, and this is how you treat my wife and daughter? You actually have the nerve toe here asking for money? How about I lend you some manure to eat instead?


    "Charlotte, Nat, why didn''t you tell me earlier that he bullied you?"


    William turned and called for security. "Throw Ivan out. If he shows up again, chase him off at once."


    "Yes, Mr. Walker."


    "Get going!"


    The bodyguards took hold of Ivan''s arms. He refused to go, so they lifted him on both sides. "Go!"


    "Put me down! Let go of me!" Ivan screeched. "William, you can''t treat me like this! I''m your good friend, remember? We were almost inws. Even if that changed, how can you be so heartless?"


    Natalie thought, "He must be out of his mind! What kind of nonsense is that?" William walked over. "Honey, sweetie,e and eat your breakfast."


    He led them back to the dining table and said, "You two eat first. I''ll see Ivan out."


    "Dad, let me go," Natalie said, standing up. "Mr. Sinir and I have never gotten along. Let me handle it."


    "Sweetie, I''m worried he''ll bully you."


    "He can''t," Natalie said with a smile.


    "I won''t let myself suffer. Mom


    knows that. Thest time I was


    bullied, I called her right away. Now, I''m at home with security around. Ivan Sinir can''t do anything to me."


    "Alright, you go." William smiled warmly. "I believe in you."


    "Thanks, Dad."


    Natalie left the dining area. Not far away, Ivan was still shouting, so she picked up her pace until she caught up to him.


    "Mr. Sinir, you really have some nerve showing up at my house," Natalie said with a sneer. "I have to say, you''re really shameless. But then again, your judgment has always been awful.


    "You spoiled Julia and Ruby, fought with me not long ago, and now you''re here begging for money? I''m honestly shocked Sinir Group hasn''t gone under already.


    "Well, it won''t be yours much longer. Ethan already came looking for you, right? While it''s still early, and Marcus hasn''t gone to work, maybe you can get a fair price from Ethan.


    "Marcus doesn''t have a good temper. He was being polite right now, but once he ran out of patience, well... who knew what would happen?"


    "Sophia was


    ???


    harmed by Emma. Doesn''t your family bear any responsibility for that?" Ivan struggled to free himself from the bodyguards. "William! Charlotte! Come out here! Why won''t you help me? Your family raised a murderer! Take responsibility! Pay up!"


    "You say Emma hurt Sophia. Then go find Emma. Why are you yelling here?" Natalie stepped closer.


    Ivan automatically backed up a step.


    "Mr. Sinir, if you truly care about Sophia, then go confront Emma and Sky. Emma was kicked out of the Walker family long ago. She has no connection to us. My parents have only one daughter now, and that''s me."


    Natalie gave him a cold smile, her


    pretty eyes void of warmth. "And yet, you still have the nerve toe here


    asking for money? With how


    thick-skinned you are, you''re practically wearing body armor. Not even bullets or cannons could pierce it.


    "What? Do you think I''m some kind of saint? Mr. Sinir, you''re wrong. I''m no saint. I''m your worst nightmare. Coming to me will only make things worse for you."


    Ivan stared at Natalie''s mocking smile and regretteding there. From theirst confrontation at Goodwill Pharmacy, he should have known she wasn''t easy to provoke.


    But if he didn''t do something, this crisis would destroy the Sinir Group. "Marcus said he wants to see the Sinir acquisition contract by today. You''d better go meet Ethan," Natalie said with a small grin.


    She now understood what Marcus meant about teaming up to take down Sinir Group. He had predicted that Ivan woulde to the Walker family once he grew desperate.


    Since Natalie was the family''s beloved daughter, and her parents felt guilty for all she''d gone through, they would never help someone who had bullied her.