After telling her what was on his mind, Zachary smiled slightly at Natalie. "Ms. Walker, don''t you think that''s the right way to see it?"


    Natalie nodded. "It makes sense. But if your mother taught you these values, then may I ask? Why did she allow Zane to date Ruby?"


    Hearing this, theposed expression on Zachary''s face showed a trace of helplessness. "That''s something I can''t reallyment on, but I know Zane well. He hasn''t been corrupted by Ruby."


    "I have another question." Natalie locked her gaze on Zachary and spoke slowly. "You''ve always known that most of Sophia''s hardships came from Ruby and her mother. Why didn''t you help her before?"


    Zachary''s expression darkened slightly. It took him a long moment before he finally responded. "Mr. Holden was protecting her. His influence is far greater than mine.


    "And at that time, Sophia''s fiancé was your brother, Sky. You should understand that, Ms. Walker. The Holt family couldn''tpare to the Walker family and I was only her psychologist-bound by confidentiality. My position and status weren''t even close to Mr. Holden''s."


    Zachary lowered his gaze to the sleeping Sophia. "She had a fiancé. She had Mr. Holden. All I could do was help her relieve her internal struggles. I truly didn''t do enough."


    There was regret in his voice-helplessness, too. He hadn''t had the status or the authority to help her before. And as her psychologist, he had been bound to keep her secrets.


    Now, with everythingid bare between him and Natalie, he could hear the warning in her words. He was a psychologist—a psychologist should not fall in love with their patient.


    But feelings weren''t always within one''s control.


    He had known this for a long time. That was why he had suppressed his feelings. For years, no one-not even Sophia herself-had noticed the emotions he had buried deep in his heart. However, Charlotte had visited once and instantly seen through him.


    And now, Natalie appeared and casually pointed out the sunflowers in the room, Zachary knew that he could no longer hide it from them. So, he wouldn''t.


    He had stopped being her psychologist, and over time, everything would fall into ce naturally.


    "Ms. Walker, I''m no longer a psychologist. I''ve started my own business, and I''m slowly taking over some of the Holt family''s businesses. But for now, I''m not too busy, so I can stay here and take care of Sophia and Ms. ir."


    Zachary had already regained hisposure and smiled slightly. "You and Mr. Holden are both busy people. I''ll keep you updated on Sophia''s condition."


    "Then... thank you?" She wasn''t even Sophia''s family member. Yet, Zachary sounded as if he was reassuring her that he would take good care of Sophia.


    "It''s not a burden. I''m doing it willingly." Zachary smiled. "Ms. Walker, do you like sunflowers?"


    "They''re nice. I like beautiful flowers."


    "Sophia likes sunflowers, so I like giving them to her." Zachary smiled again before suddenly saying, "Mr. Holden is here for you."


    "Huh?"


    Natalie turned her head and saw Marcus standing at the doorway. She had no idea how long he had been there, but he was holding a bouquet of Phenopsis orchids in his hands. His dark eyes were fixed on her, unwavering.


    "Marcus, if you came to see Sophia, why didn''t youe in?" Natalie took the lead, speaking before he could. "It''s rude to eavesdrop, you know?"


    Marcus was speechless at the moment he wasn''t eavesdropping. He was standing there, openly listening. Besides, if he had spoken earlier, he might have interrupted Zachary.


    Marcus cleared his throat softly, then walked inside with the orchids in his hands. "Ms. Walker, these are for you."


    Natalie looked at the orchids he was holding.


    She didn''t know if it was because she had been thinking about the meaning of sunflowers earlier, but suddenly, she had the urge to check the flowernguage of Phenopsis orchids.


    "I came here to pick you up. Grandpa asked me to invite you for dinner and Ms. Sterling is also looking for you."


    Marcus exined that he wasn''t actually here to visit Sophia-he hade specifically to pick Natalie up from the hospital.


    There was no other way. Natalie wasn''t someone who could be controlled by anyone. She was independent and free-spirited, strong-willed yet distant, but at the same time, kind and soft-hearted.


    If Marcus wanted to pursue her, he had to be prepared for a long game.


    "Ms. Walker, go ahead." Zachary smiled slightly, "Mr. Holden''s orchids are beautiful. They match your outfit perfectly today."


    Marcus cast Zachary a cool nce, but Zachary simply returned a polite, respectful smile—so impable that there was nothing to fault.


    "Well then, let''s go." After a brief moment of thought, Natalie epted Marcus''s invitation-but she didn''t take the orchid he offered her.


    "Ms. Walker, this is for you." Marcus extended the orchid toward her again. "It''s just a bouquet. You''re not overthinking it, are you?"


    His gaze was deep and unreadable, like a bottomless abyss, drawing people in with an almost irresistible pull. When he focused on someone like that, his eyes held such intensity and warmth that it was easy to get lost in them.


    Almost instinctively, Natalie took the orchid from him. "Thank you."


    "You''re wee." Marcus gave her a faint smile. "Shall we?"


    "Alright." Holding the orchid, Natalie turned and ced it on the bedside table next to Sophia. "Mr. Holt, when Sophia wakes up, let her know I was here and that this orchid is from both me and Marcus."


    Zachary was momentarily stunned before ncing at Marcus. Marcus'' expression remained calm, only narrowing his eyes slightly when he met Zachary''s gaze.


    Without hesitation, Zachary quickly picked up the orchid and pushed it back into Natalie''s arms. "Ms. Walker, Sophia doesn''t like orchids. She prefers sunflowers. I already got her some sunflowers, so it would be


    better if you kept this one for yourself.


    "Besides, it''s not exactly appropriate to ept a flower from Mr. Holden and then give it away in front of him, don''t you think?" he added with a meaningful look.


    "Oh?" Natalie turned to Marcus with a small smile. "Marcus, since you gave it to me, it belongs to me now, doesn''t it?"


    Marcus nodded. "Yes."


    Natalie''s smile deepened. "Then since it''s mine, I can do whatever I want with it, right?"


    Marcus nodded again. "Yes."


    "In that case, I''d like to give it to Sophia. Do you have any objections?"


    "No objections." Marcus''s deep, velvety voice carried a hint of resignation, but there was also an unmistakable trace of indulgence in the curve of his lips. "Well then..." Natalie turned back to Zachary. "Mr. Holt, do you still think it''s inappropriate for me to give this flower to Sophia?"


    Zachary was speechless at the moment.


    "If Ms. Walker thinks it''s appropriate, then it is." Zachary sighed in defeat. "However, orchids symbolize true love and sincere emotions. They''re meant to be given to someone you''re pursuing. Ms. Walker, Mr. Holden is expressing his true feelings for you."