When Sheldon and Connie heard Charles'' words, they cried even harder, and Natalie was also moved.


    Charles showed her what it truly meant to be an elder. Compared to the empty words from Grace in the past, Charles'' care for his family was real and deep.


    Natalie realized that the love she received from the Langley family had always been shallow, and she had mistaken it for sincerity because she had received so little of it.


    She turned around, took a few deep breaths, and wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to steady her emotions. Once she feltposed, she turned back to Marcus and Charles, giving them both a smile.


    "Grandpa Charles, I promise you. But Marcus, you also have to promise me that you won''t push me away when I''mforting you," Natalie said.


    Marcus looked at her, his eyes red, and nodded.


    "Let''s make a pinky promise," Charles said, extending his pinky toward them. "Let''s make this promise. Sheldon, Connie, stop crying,e here and make the pinky promise too."


    "Okay."


    Sheldon and Connie, still sobbing, walked over and extended their pinky fingers. Natalie nced at Marcus, and he was gazing at her with eyes so deep they felt almost unreadable.


    She felt her breath hitch as she met his gaze. She slowly extended her pinky, and Marcus hooked his finger around hers.


    Charles watched them, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. The emotions between the two were developing naturally, and this promise gave Marcus another chance, another opportunity to get closer to Natalie.


    The pinky promise was made, and although Connie and Sheldon were still crying, Marcus'' eyes remained red but dry. Natalie didn''t portray much emotion, but she was deeply moved by Charles'' feelings for Marcus.


    After the pinky promise, Charles spoke again. "Sheldon, Connie, go wash your faces. You look awful with all that crying."


    "Marcus, take Natalie out for a walk. I''m tired and want to get some rest."


    "Yes, Grandpa." Marcus'' voice was hoarse as he ced a coat over Charles'' shoulders. "Grandpa, you''ll live a long life. You''ll see me get married and have children. Everything will be alright."


    Charles simply patted his hand. "Marcus, remember what I told you."


    Marcus'' eyes reddened further as he softly responded, "I always remember, Grandpa."


    "Take Natalie out for a while!"


    "Alright."


    "Ms. Walker, please," Marcus said, his tone much gentler now.


    Natalie gave him a concerned nce, but Charles waved his hand with a smile, telling her to go ahead. He then closed his eyes, showing he was resting.


    Once outside the dining room, Natalie was silent for a long while before speaking softly. "Marcus, I checked Grandpa''s pulse. His health isn''t too bad, but I''ll stay tonight to observe what''s going on with his breathing difficulties at night." "Thank you," Marcus said, clearly troubled, but still acknowledging her offer.


    Natalie wasn''t great atforting people, but she felt a desire to ease his tension at that moment. "Marcus, what does Grandpa Charles like?" she asked.


    "He wants grandchildren," he replied simply.


    Natalie blinked, surprised, but then realized Charles'' wish was to see Marcus get married and have children. It made sense now.


    After a long silence, Natalie spoke again. "Marcus, I''m going to Amberton, to Scarlet Hill. Would you like toe with me?"


    She wanted to go to Scarlet Hill and ask Marcus'' biological parents why they had left him with his grandfather and never returned to visit him all these years.


    Natalie knew she didn''t have the right to make such a decision alone, so she invited Marcus, knowing he would probably want answers more than she did. Charles wouldn''t speak, so they would go find the answers themselves. "Marcus, will you go with me?"


    Marcus paused, thinking deeply, and after a long moment, he nodded slowly. "Okay. When are we leaving?"


    "I need to take care of some things first, and you''ll need to make arrangements for the Holden Group, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Then let''s finish everything on our tes, and then we''ll leave. For the matter with Sophia, I''ll have Lincoln and Mason handle it. I won''t wait for the judgment to be delivered."


    "Alright."


    "Now I''m going to talk to Connie. You should calm down a bit too."


    "Okay."


    No matter what Natalie said, Marcus agreed with a calm and obedient tone. It almost felt like he was waiting for her to take the lead.


    Natalie gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Don''t worry, Grandpa Charles will be fine."


    "Thanks."


    Marcus gave her a small, sad smile, the look in his eyes softer than before. "Thank you for agreeing to reassure Grandpa. It really put his mind at ease."


    "We''re friends," Natalie said earnestly. "Even if you misunderstood me before and broke off our engagement, I don''t think you were wrong.


    "If I were you, I''d feel ufortable hearing what Mrs. Langley Senior said too.


    No one wants to feel used or manipted. As long as we cleared up our misunderstandings.


    "As for the broken engagement, I don''t think you did anything wrong. We didn''t have feelings for each


    other to begin with. A marriage without affection probably wouldn''t have led to love."


    Marcus opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the sincerity in her eyes. He ultimately said nothing.


    "You don''t have to feel guilty for what happened between us. It''s all in the past."


    Natalie smiled warmly. "We''re friends, right?"


    Marcus'' lips curled into a bitter smile. He didn''t want to be just friends—he wanted


    to be her boyfriend. But for now, he knew he couldn''t rush her.


    "Okay, we''re friends. Then... can I still call you Nat?" he asked tentatively.


    "Sure, it''s just a name."


    "Alright. Nat, let me show you to the Book Sanctum," Marcus said.


    "Sure."


    on


    Natalie was still interested in the Book Sanctum. Thest time she was there, she had been focused the hand-drawn books, but she''d also noticed many books and materials she had been wanting to find but hadn''t been able to.


    Marcus led her back to the Book Sanctum. Once inside, Natalie went to pick out a few books, which she brought over to the couch and sat down to read.


    Marcus didn''t pick up any books. Instead, he took out paper and a pen. He sat at a distance from Natalie and started to sketch.


    Natalie was so engrossed in her reading that she didn''t notice his every move.


    Half an hourter, Marcus had drawn a sketch of her absorbed in her reading.


    He looked up at Natalie, who was still focused on her book, and set the drawing aside. Unlocking his phone, he opened a photo. It was of Natalie, standing under a magnolia tree at the age of 18.