Charlotte''s eyes were red, but she remained firm in her decision. They had agreed not to hire awyer for Sky, and they would not go back on their word.


    "Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Emma Meloney wants to see you both." An officer approached them and ryed the message.


    William and Charlotte exchanged a nce before nodding. "Since we''re here, let''s go see her. Nat,e with us."


    "Of course." Natalie agreed without hesitation.


    She had already seen Emma once, but she was more than happy to apany her parents for another visit.


    The three of them entered the holding area.


    Emma had only seen Natalie not long ago; she had broken down emotionally and cried during the visit. Her eyes were still swollen and red.


    The moment she saw William and Charlotte, fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "Mom, Dad-"


    "Don''t call us that." Charlotte''s voice wasced with disgust. "Emma, your mother was Cindy Meloney, not me. I always wondered why Cindy treated you so well, as if she wanted to give you her very heart. Turns out, you were her biological daughter. Of course, she doted on you."


    "No! Mom, you''re my mother!" Emma sobbed.


    She had just received her new identification-her name was no longer Emma Walker but Emma Meloney. Her household registration had been transferred to Cindy''s hometown.


    "Cindy wasn''t my real mother! You''re my mother!


    Desperate, Emma turned to William. "Dad, look at me! I''m your daughter! You once said I was your most beloved daughter. That if I asked for the stars, you wouldn''t just give me the moon-you''d give me the whole sky! Dad, I know I was wrong! Please, save me! I am not Cindy''s daughter! I am not!"


    "Emma Meloney, you''re still in denial." William''s voice was as cold as ice, devoid of warmth or mercy. "Your mother deliberately switched you with Natalie, allowing you to live in wealth and luxury while my real daughter suffered in the Langley family, used as nothing more than a living blood bank."


    "And now, you still dare to call us Mom and Dad? I didn''t kill you myself, and that''s already an act of mercy. You were never part of the Walker family. Your very blood is tainted."


    "No! It''s not like that! It''s not!" Emma screamed, sobbing hysterically. "That''s not true!"


    "Then tell me. Can you swear that you didn''t instruct Shane to harm Sophia?" William''s voice turned even colder. "Can you swear that you didn''t push Sky to condone your evil?


    "Emma, even if Cindy wasn''t your biological mother, she raised you with care. She treated you as well as any real mother would. And yet, you still killed her without hesitation. Someone as ruthless and cruel as you could never be part of the Walker family.


    "You orchestrated Shane''s attack on Sophia. You killed your own mother. And you dragged my son down with you. Count your sins yourself. Do you even deserve to call yourself human?


    "Emma, what right do you have to call us your parents? What right do you have to ask us to save you? You think we came to see you because we still care about you?"


    "No. We came to make one thing very clear. Abandon any thought of relying on the Walker family ever again. Emma Meloney, you brought this upon yourself. You deserve everything that''sing to you."


    William''s words were sharp, each one cutting deeper into Emma''s heart. Her face paled with every sentence, until all color drained from her entirely.


    "Charlotte, Nat, let''s go." Without a second nce, William turned on his heel and called for his wife and daughter to leave.


    "Mom! I know I was wrong!" Emma lunged forward and grabbed Charlotte''s hand, gripping it tightly. "I really know I was wrong! Mom, please! Give me one more chance! I promise I''ll change! I''ll be a good person!"


    She sobbed uncontrobly, clinging to Charlotte as if she were herst lifeline. "Mom, I''ll take all the me! I''ll say that everything was Shane''s and my doing! I''ll clear Sky''s name. I won''t let anything happen to Sky! Mom, please, save me just onest time!"


    "Let go." Charlotte took a deep breath, then forcibly pried Emma''s fingers off her. "Sky made his own mistakes. He doesn''t need your fake confessions. You can''t take the me for him even if you wanted to.


    "You lived a life of luxury in the Walker family for 20 years, but in return, you destroyed my eldest son. Emma, I will never forgive you for that."


    Charlotte''s eyes reddened again and shoved Emma away forcefully. Her perfect son had be a prisoner because of her. There was no greater grievance in her heart than this.


    Yes, she knew that Sky had brought this upon himself. But it was all because of Emma.


    Charlotte pushed her away without hesitation. only have one daughter, and that''s Natalie. From the moment you schemed against my real daughter, any connection between us was severed. You are not my child. Don''t call me ''Mom. You don''t deserve to do so.


    "Repent for your sins. The biggest regret of my life was trusting Cindy too much and allowing her to switch my daughter without realizing it for all these years."


    Emma wept, tears streaming down her face. "No! Mom, please! Don''t do this!" "Shut up. Don''t call me that. You are unworthy."


    Charlotte took a deep breath, then turned away, grabbing Natalie''s hand. Without another word, she walked out.


    Once they were outside, Natalie silently handed Charlotte a tissue. "Mom, if you''re upset, it''s okay to cry."


    Charlotte shook her head. "No. There''s nothing to cry about. My heart is just aching for Sky."


    Changing the subject, she said, "We visited Sophia earlier. We spoke with her for


    a long time. She doesn''t want anypensation from us, but your dad and I insisted."


    Charlotte sighed. "When we were


    there, both of the Holt brothers were present I could tell that Zachary liked Sophia. But he''s her psychologist. A doctor shouldn''t fall in tove with their patient."


    Natalie blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Zachary liked Sophia?


    Charlotte patted Natalie''s hand. "But other people''s affairs are none of our business."


    "Mm. That''s true." Natalie quickly collected herself and agreed.


    She had been to Zachary''s office before to retrieve Sophia''s medical records. She knew he was a good psychologist, but she hadn''t


    expected him to develop feelings for


    Sophia.


    "Sweetie, Sophia has been through so much. The Walker family yed a big part


    in her suffering."


    William spoke this time. "Sky bears a great deal of responsibility. So in the future,


    can you look after Sophia more? Consider it as making amends on behalf of your brother."


    "Of course, I will."


    Natalie didn''t even need to think about it. Even if it wasn''t for Sky, she would have helped Sophia anyway.


    "Then, on behalf of your brother, I thank you." William smiled in relief.


    Of course, he knew.


    He knew that this entire situation-the unraveling of Emma''s schemes, the fall of Shane, the exposure of the truth—had been orchestrated by Natalie and Marcus. He knew that Natalie was already helping Sophia but he still made this request.


    Because he hoped that when Sky was finally released, he would have even the slimmest chance of earning Sophia''s forgiveness.


    For now, though, Sky, Emma, and Shane-none of them would receive any help.