"Lincoln, Marcus didn''t resist, but I was the one who lost control and started


    touching him first. When you beat him upter, don''t actually break his legs. I''ve already promised to take responsibility for him. You have to be ountable in life. You can''t just take what you want as you please."


    Natalie noticed Lincoln''s expression turning darker by the second. Her voice gradually became quieter. At that moment, the bathroom door opened, and Marcus walked out wearing a bathrobe.


    "Good morning, Lincoln." Marcus nodded politely, greeting Lincoln as if it was the most natural thing in the world.


    Lincoln sneered, stepping forward andnding a punch straight on Marcus'' cheek.


    "Lincoln, be gentle, Nat likes my face," Marcus didn''t dodge or try to move away, epting the punch without flinching.


    "Marcus, do you even have any shame?"


    Lincoln gritted his teeth, anger practically radiating off him. "First, you broke the engagement, and now you deliberately got my sister drunk? Do you think she''s just some pet you can summon and dismiss at will?"


    Marcus wiped the blood from his lips and sighed, "Sorry, it''s my fault. Lincoln, hit me wherever you want, just not my face."


    "You-"


    "Nat likes my face. She said I''m the most handsome man she''s ever seen."


    Marcus calmly interrupted before Lincoln could unleash his rage. "She said I''m the best-looking among all the men she knows."


    Implying, of course, that he was more handsome than her brothers.


    He was handsome, and he was proud of it.


    "Nat, do you think he''s handsome?" Lincoln turned to look at Natalie. "Am I or your other brothers not handsome enough?"


    Natalie just stared in silence... Her brothers were indeed all handsome, but the moment she saw Marcus, she had been struck by his looks, and her mind hadpletely nked out for a few seconds.


    "Nat, say something."


    Lincoln grew frustrated with her silence and let out a bitterugh. "Alright, I get it." "Marcus,e here and take your beating."


    He couldn''t bring himself to be angry at Natalie, so everything was Marcus'' fault. It was he who deliberately got her drunk and brought her back to his room. He wasn''t going to kill him, but he sure as hell deserved a good beating.


    "Alright." Marcus nodded obediently, "Lincoln, hit me however you like, but don''t hit my face."


    "Shut up."


    Lincoln shot him a death re before dragging him into the bathroom. The door mmed shut, followed by a flurry of crashing sounds.


    Natalie stood by the door, feeling the pain spreading all over her body. Things werepletely out of her control.


    She could hear Marcus'' muffled groans from inside. Terrified, she almost reached out to open the bathroom door to check on him, but she feared that if she did, Lincoln might get mad and hit her, too.


    After a few more loud crashes, the noise finally subsided.


    Some timeter, Lincoln opened the bathroom door. He nced at Natalie, who was standing by the door, looking worried. A slight smile tugged at his lips.


    "Don''t worry, I didn''t kill him. After this beating, I won''t interfere with Marcus pursuing you anymore. You just need to be more reserved. Don''t let him get you too easily. Let him know that the heiress of the Walker family, our precious little sister, is not so easily won over."


    As he spoke, Lincoln reached over and gently ruffled Natalie''s hair before pulling her into a gentle hug. "Nat, I won''t stop you from dating whoever you want. If Marcus treats you badly, just let me know, and I''ll help you beat him up."


    Warmth filled Natalie''s heart, and her eyes welled up with tears. She wanted to say something, but her mind immediately shed back to the vivid dream she had.


    Her lips parted before her brain could process her words, and she muttered, "Lincoln, is it possible that when I had my way with Marcus, he just couldn''t fight back? Did you see his chest when you were hitting him? I did that."


    Lincoln froze.


    Of course, he saw it, but it didn''t stop him from beating him up.


    "You''re ady, how strong could you be?"


    Lincoln patted Natalie''s head, exasperated. "It''s that damn Marcus'' fault. You were drunk, and he could''ve taken you home, but he didn''t. Instead, he brought you back to his room.


    "If he had just taken you home, you wouldn''t have had the chance to take advantage of him. Everything is his fault. He''s the one to me for looking so damn attractive, that''s what made you fall for him."


    "Lincoln..."


    "Nat, it''s not your fault! Don''t feel guilty. You don''t have to take responsibility for that dog of a man. He''s a grown man. What''s he afraid of? He should be honored that you took advantage of him."


    "Lincoln, you''re so protective!" Natalie couldn''t help butugh, her tone light. "Protective and unreasonable."


    "If I don''t protect my little sister, should I protect that sly dog, Marcus?" Lincoln raised an eyebrow.


    "Don''t you worry about him getting back at you?"


    "I wouldn''t have dared to talk to him like that before. But now that he wants to


    pursue my sister, he better be nice to me or he''ll have no chance."


    Lincoln''s tone softened. "Nat, we didn''t know of your existence when you were at the Langley family, so


    I''m


    we couldn''t protect you we ne


    angry because Marcus knew


    rejected him, and yet he deliberately got you drunk and brought you back to his room. No matter what you did, it was all part of his n.


    "So, he deserved this beating. But I still support you, go ahead and get him, then show him who''s boss. Make him regret breaking off the engagement with you."


    Natalie couldn''t hold it in any longer, and she burst outughing. But once theughter died down, her eyes filled with tears. "Lincoln, thank you."


    "Don''t mention it." Lincoln rubbed her hair. "That chocte factory I gave you? Marcus sold it to me at a low price. He''s practically the one who gave it to you. Nat, I just want you to be happy no matter who you end up with. As long as you''re happy, I will be at ease."


    "Thank you, Lincoln."


    Natalie''s eyes were getting more teary. "Lincoln, I''m sorry. I''ve disappointed you."


    "Silly goose, you have no idea how amazing you are. I''m so proud of you."


    Lincoln gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Go check on that bastard now."


    "Okay."


    Natalie stepped out of his arms and walked into the bathroom.


    Marcus was lying on the floor, his face still handsome, but under his open bathrobe, his body was bruised all over.


    Natalie gasped, seeing just how badly Lincoln had beaten him. She asked, "Marcus, are you alright?"


    She steadied herself and squatted down next to him. Marcus slowly opened his eyes. For a brief moment, his gaze was filled with hopelessness, but the moment


    he saw her, it turned into something fiery.


    "I''m fine, not dead yet."