Marcus and Natalie searched for the remaining sketchbooks inside The Book Sanctum.


    Last time, they had found one in a small room, so this time, Marcus led her straight there.


    The room wasn''trge, with just a few bookshelves lining the walls. They split up to search, but after a thorough check, Natalie looked at Marcus and shook her head. "It''s not here. Let''s look outside."


    Marcus walked over and took her hand. "Nat, is this sketchbook really that important?"


    "You''ll understand once you see it. It''s filled with rare herbs-many of which have unique properties that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere."


    Natalie frowned slightly. She wasn''t particrly desperate for it, but her mentor, Federrick, was.


    "Nat, you''ve been with the Walkers for a while now. Haven''t you noticed that they have ess to a lot of rare medicinal ingredients that aren''t avable on the market?"


    Marcus found it strange. Given how much the Walker family doted on Natalie, William and Charlotte wouldn''t have kept anything from her.


    "When you were poisoned by Victor, Emma was the one who sent me the antidote you needed."


    The moment Marcus mentioned it, Natalie remembered.


    Back then, after being poisoned with the Three-Second Toxin, she had required Dead of Night to recover. Without it, she would have been in serious trouble.


    "Maybe I just never asked, and my family didn''t realize I needed it."


    Since she had never told them she was Elim, they wouldn''t have thought to provide her with medicinal resources.


    Besides, Hector was a doctor, and the Walkers had a full medical team in their employment. William and Charlotte simply wanted Natalie to live freely and happily. They had even given her a fashionpany-just to keep her upied so she wouldn''t get bored.


    Natalie understood their intentions, so she had happily epted thepany.


    "Nat, your biological parents treat you really well. Aside from Sky, your four other brothers also care about you. When do you n on telling them that you''re Elim? The Walker family has far more medicinal resources than the Holdens."


    Marcus knew how passionate Natalie was about rare herbs. And with the Walkers'' vast supply, she should be making use of it.


    "Alright, I get it." Natalie smiled slightly. "Marcus, how do you know so much about the Walkers? Did Emma tell you back when you were her fiancé?"


    Before she could react, Marcus pulled her into his arms, trapping her firmly against him. His gaze bore into hers, his tone carrying a trace of grievance.


    "Nat, don''t mention me in the same breath as that wretched woman. I swear, I never had any intimate contact with Emma, nor did I ever have any romantic feelings for her."


    "Alright, I was just teasing you."


    Wrapped in his embrace, Natalie could smell the faint scent of gardenias on him. His warmth seeped through his clothes, transferring to her skin.


    She instinctively reached up to touch his forehead. "Marcus, are you running a fever? Why are you so warm?"


    Marcus stared at her in silence, his expression unreadable.


    He had no way to exin it. Every time he held her, his body temperature spiked, his heartbeat raced, and an uncontroble urge to im her surged within him.


    Yet, on the surface, Marcus remained asposed as ever-calm, steady, and giving nothing away.


    "I should go home now. We''re leaving for Amberton early tomorrow." Natalie tried to pull away, but Marcus held her firmly in ce. "Nat, I want to kiss you."


    Before she could respond, he lowered his head and captured her lips with his. Natalie let out a soft sound of surprise before quickly losing herself in the kiss.


    By the time Marcus finally released her, he was breathing heavily. "I''ll take you home."


    Natalie''s legs felt weak. She didn''t need a mirror to know that her face waspletely flushed.


    "Alright."


    They left The Book Sanctum, and Marcus drove her back to the Walker residence. As they reached the entrance, he reached out and held her back just as she was about to get out of the car.


    "Nat, see you tomorrow."


    "See you tomorrow, Marcus."


    Seeing his reluctant expression, Natalie couldn''t help but find it amusing. She unfastened her seatbelt, leaned over, and gave him a quick peck on the corner of his lips.


    "There, be good."


    Marcus chuckled. "Are you coaxing a child?"


    "Yes." Natalie grinned. "So, will you let me coax you?"


    "I''ll allow it."


    A smile spread across Marcus'' face as he cupped the back of her head and kissed her again.


    The car window was suddenly tapped.


    Standing outside with a rolling pin in hand, Gorge red at them furiously.


    Natalie quickly pulled away and got out of the car. "See you tomorrow!" "Okay, see you!"


    Marcus didn''t mind Gorge''s re in the slightest. In fact, he was d that the Walkers had so many people who cared about Natalie.


    After Marcus drove off, Gorge stood beside Nataling, fuming. "Ms. Walker, how could you let Marcus kiss you? You''re our heiress, so you need to protect yourself! How dare he kiss you?"


    "Gorge, thank you, but Marcus is a good man." Natalie smiled sweetly at him. "I know all of you are upset about how he broke off the engagement before, but emotions areplicated things. Even if he hadn''t ended it back then, still probably wouldn''t have married him.


    "A rtionship and a marriage should be built on mutual feelings. Before, he didn''t


    like me, and I didn''t like him. So the breakup wasn''t just his decision-it was mine


    too.


    "But we''re dating now, and I think it feels pretty nice. Besides, I have an ex-fiancé too. So we''re even."


    Gorge was momentarily at a loss for words.


    But seeing Natalie so happy, he decided that was all that really mattered.


    "Gorge, I''m leaving for Amberton tomorrow. Please prepare plenty of snacks for my trip."


    "Sure, Ms. Walker."


    Gorge quickly headed back inside to arrange everything.


    ...


    The next morning, Marcus arrived at the Walker residence early. Natalie had already woken up, washed up, ande downstairs.


    William and Charlotte never restricted her freedom, but they always cared for her.


    "Sweetheart,e have breakfast."


    "Good morning, Dad and Mom. Good morning, Gorge! Good morning, Marcus!"


    Natalie sat at the dining table,


    ncing at Marcus. He was making


    progress. Thest time he was here,


    he had gotten beaten up, but now,


    he was actually allowed to join them for breakfast.


    "Sweetheart, if anyone bullies you in Amberton, don''t hold back. If you can win the


    fight, fight. If not, run."


    "Mrs. Walker, with me there, no one will dare bully Nat," Marcus interjected at the perfect moment.


    Charlotte had been waiting for him


    to say that. She smiled at him.


    "Good, then make sure to protect her. If Nates back with even a single strand of hair missing I''ll make her break up with you."


    Marcus was stunned by that reply.