Marcus stood tall and straight by the car door, patiently waiting for Natalie to step inside.


    His eyes were deep-set and his face showed no emotion, maintaining an air of nobility and elegance. Natalie hesitated for a moment.


    Then, with an indifferent tone, Marcus remarked, "Are you avoiding me deliberately because you feel guilty?"


    Without further dy, Natalie entered the car. Avoiding deliberately? Why would she need to avoid anything deliberately, or feel guilty about anything?


    As she settled in, Marcus'' lips briefly curved into a slight smile, though it vanished almost instantly. Lincoln, standing behind him, missed it, as did Natalie, who was already seated.


    "Nat, why did you get into Marcus'' car?" Lincoln hurried over. "Come on, take my car instead."


    "Lincoln, there''s something I need to discuss with Marcus." Natalie felt a twinge of regret over her hasty decision.


    Why should Marcus'' words make her feel guilty? Yet, having already entered the car, leaving now would only validate his assumption.


    With a smile, she patted the seat next to her and suggested, "Lincoln, you can join us in Marcus'' car too."


    "Fine." Lincoln climbed into Marcus'' car without any hesitation.


    He took Marcus'' seat and turned to grin at him. "Marcus, how about you take the front passenger seat?"


    Marcus was momentarily speechless. He had half a mind to yank Lincoln out and ship him off somewhere far away. But even if he dealt with Lincoln, there were still Hector, Timothy, and Mason to consider.


    Mason wasn''t much of a threat, but the other three Walker brothers wouldn''t be easy to cate. On top of that, he needed to seek forgiveness from William and Charlotte as well.


    Marcus gave a slight nod. "Alright, I''ll sit in the front."


    Ethan, seated in the front, was taken aback. "Huh?"


    When had Marcus be so amodating? Previously, despite the arranged marriage between the Holden and Walker families, the three Walker brothers had shown Marcus great respect.


    Now, because of Natalie, they were bing bolder around Marcus.


    "Ethan, get out of the car," Marcus ordered coldly.


    Ethan shivered and hurriedly opened the car door to step out. "Mr. Marcus."


    "Get in the trunk," Marcusmanded, his voice icy and his demeanor equally cold.


    He had intentionally requested a car with limited seating from the driver to spend more private time with Natalie. Now, with Lincoln upying a seat, Marcus was forcing Ethan into the trunk, hoping this would prompt Lincoln to move.


    "Yes, Mr. Marcus," Ethan replied, walking toward the trunk, nearly in tears.


    Lincoln quickly interjected, "Ethan, you can drive my carter!"


    Despite Marcus'' foul mood, he wouldn''t truly force Ethan into the trunk, given his ties to the Walker family.


    Marcus had ended his engagement with Lincoln''s sister and treated her indifferently afterward, so Lincoln thought it fitting for Marcus to face some hurdles. If Marcus won Natalie over too easily, he might not value her.


    Lincoln wanted Marcus to understand that Natalie wasn''t easily won over.


    "Thank you, Mr. Lincoln," Ethan gratefully responded.


    A helper from the Walker family then guided Ethan to Lincoln''s car.


    "Marcus, let''s go!" Lincoln said with a grin. "Oh, look, flowers and choctes. Nat, want some? If not, I''ll take them."


    Lincoln noticed the gardenias and choctes and cast a knowing nce at Marcus in the passenger seat. Marcus was genuinely serious about courting Natalie this time.


    "I''m not interested in having any."


    "Then I''ll take it! Thanks for the choctes, Marcus. It''s a new vor!" Lincoln eagerly unwrapped the chocte.


    Lincoln beamed. "These gardenias are lovely and smell amazing. Nat, what kind of chocte do you prefer? You''re the one in charge; just have the factory create it! As for the gardenias, they''re delightful.dll ask Gorge to nt some so we can have them in the house every day."


    Natalie smiled, ying along with Lincoln''s teasing. "Sure!"


    Marcus, seated in the front passenger seat, stayed quiet. Now and then, he nced at Natalie in the backseat through the rear-view mirror, noticing her eyes crinkling from her smiles.


    After impulsively kissing her the night before, Marcus had resolved to make her his wife.


    From the front, Marcus offered, "If you like them, I''ll have Ethan send them to you every day. If you need anything, just list it for me, and I''ll make sure it''s taken care of."


    Lincoln gave a slight smile. "Thanks, but I don''t really need anything. Marcus, after we meet Sophia, feel free to go about your business. I n to take Nat to mypany and introduce her to some male artists there."


    Marcus'' gaze grew a bit colder, but he maintained hisposure. Lincoln was testing him.


    "Fine," Marcus responded with indifference, his voice devoid of any emotion. "Nat, what do you think of meeting the male artists?"


    "I''d rather not," Natalie replied, uninterested in dating at the moment.


    Her mind was upied with her trip to Amberton to discover the truth about her being switched at birth.


    She also nned to find Marcus'' parents. Going to Scarlet Hill to search for them was a decision she had previously made.


    Additionally, she needed to acquire the herb Marcus had mentioned. As long as he kept his feelings to himself and didn''t pursue her romantically, she was willing to maintain a good rtionship with him.


    Furthermore, everyone in Dithoria knew that Marcus had always protected Sophia since childhood. Sophia had just kept it hidden from him before.


    Now that Marcus had openly stated in front of Ivan that Sophia was under his protection, Ivan would have to reconsider before threatening Sophia again.


    "Nat, you''re still young. It''s good to make more friends," Lincoln advised softly, reaching out to tousle Natalie''s hair. "Especially male friends. You should explore and broaden your options."


    "Lincoln, I''m not ready to date yet," Natalie responded, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She didn''t have any


    interest in dating Marcus, nor did she feel like dating anyone else. "I''ve already connected with a lot of people at the wee party."


    All the notable personalities in Dithoria had attended her wee party. There


    were plenty of promising young individuals among them, and on that day, many men lined up to befriend her.


    "Oh, I understand." Lincoln chuckled.


    He continued. That''s fine too. If you


    want to meet new people in the future, just let me know anytime. And if you develop a crush, you must tell me I''ll help you evaluate them. I


    can easily spot if a man is worth it or not. If I don''t approve of the guy you''re seeing, he''s definitely not the right one."


    "Okay, I''ll keep that in mind."


    Natalie and Lincoln conversed freely in the backseat as if they were the only ones


    there. Meanwhile, Marcus, seated in the front passenger seat, was growing increasingly sullen.