Laura walked to the door but hesitated. She turned back to Natalie, her voice filled with quiet desperation. "Dr. Elim, could you have Mark step out for a while?"


    Her eyes held a sorrow that felt impossible to escape, and her entire presence was weighed down by an invisible grief. The son she had longed to see for years was standing right in front of her, yet she could not reveal her identity to him. In this state, hardly anyone would be able to ept her, let alone her son.


    There were nights when Wesley took her out for some air under the cover of darkness, only for them to run into strangers. Those strangers called her a ghost, a monster-some even called her a witch or a demon. Some had tried to attack her, drag her away, or even threatened to burn her alive.


    Luckily, Benson always had bodyguards shadowing her from a distance, ensuring she did not get caught. Even so, the fear had settled deep in her bones. She was Marcus'' biological mother, yet she had never held him, never once cared for him since the day he was born.


    Before seeing him, she had spent years longing for this moment. Yet, now that it had arrived, she was afraid.


    Natalie watched the emotions flicker across Laura''s face and instantly understood her struggle. She gave a small nod and said, "Alright, I''ll have him leave for now."


    "Thank you." Laura was beyond grateful, though a trace of disappointment lingered in her heart. Still, she quickly steeled herself. Once this strange illness was cured, she could meet Marcus as a normal person.


    She repeated, "Thank you so much, really."


    "Don''t mention it, Mrs. Holden." Natalie''s heart felt heavy. Laura''s condition wasplicated, and she needed to dig into research immediately.


    She continued, "Mrs. Holden, please arrange a guest room for me and make sure no one disturbs me. Also, before we begin any treatment, I need to understand what happens when your symptoms appear."


    "Of course, I''ll do whatever you say," Laura agreed right away. She turned and grabbed the notebook Wesley had been keeping, then handed it to Natalie before wrapping herself up tightly in her coverings again.


    "Dr. Elim, when you send Mark away, would it be alright if I stood by the door to watch him leave?" Her voice was cautious, as if afraid of overstepping. "I won''t get close. I won''t risk infecting him."


    "Mrs. Holden, this is your home. You can stand wherever you like. I''ll tell Mark he needs to head back," Natalie said as she took the notebook.


    Before she turned to leave, she paused and added with a gentle smile, "By the way, Mark really loves his parents. He always says the people he''s most grateful for are the ones who brought him into this world-his mom, dad, and his grandfather."


    The moment those words left Natalie''s lips, Laura froze.


    "I''ll ask him to leave now." With that, Natalie walked past her, heading toward the stairs. But before she reached them, she heard the sound of muffled sobbing behind her.


    Laura was trying to hold it in, forcing herself to cry without making a sound. However, the more she tried, the harder the pain hit.


    She wanted so badly to run out, to hold Marcus and tell him she was his mother. Yet, she could not find the courage to do so.


    After all, she might look normal for now, but in a day or two-maybe even sooner -her symptoms would return. And when they did, she would look terrifying.


    Tears streamed down Laura''s face as she choked out her apologies. "I''m sorry... I''m so sorry..."


    Natalie stood at the top of the stairs for a long moment before finally making her way down. Meanwhile, Wesley was already waiting at the bottom. The moment he saw her, he rushed forward.


    He asked, "Dr. Elim, is there any hope for Laura''s condition?"


    He sounded cautious, and it was understandable why. He had sought out so many doctors over the years that he had lost count of how many times he had gone from hope to disappointment, from disappointment to despair. If this also failed, he would have no choice but to watch Laura waste away.


    "I will cure Mrs. Holden," Natalie stated firmly, without the slightest hesitation. "No matter what it takes, no matter how much time or effort, I will find a way to heal her."


    "Thank you. Thank you so much." With a heavy thud, Wesley dropped to his knees in front of Natalie without a second thought.


    He continued, "Dr. Elim, thank you! You are a savior to my wife and me. If Laura recovers, I''ll be at your beck and call, respecting you as much as I do with my parents!"


    Natalie quickly reached out and pulled Wesley to his feet. "No, please don''t. Mr. Holden, you''re exaggerating."


    She could not possibly ept such regard as it would furtherplicate the dynamic of her rtionship with Marcus, considering Wesley and Laure were Marcus'' parents.


    She added, "I promise to do everything I can to cure Mrs. Holden, so please trust me."


    "Thank you. Thank you. Whatever you need from us, just say the word." Wesley''s eyes welled up with tears. For years, Laura had always said he had suffered, but in truth, how could his painpare to hers?


    All he could do was stay by her side, never leaving. Although he desperately wanted to, he could not take away an ounce of her suffering. Every time he had to watch her endure agony, he wished he could take her ce.


    After helping Wesley to his feet, Natalie spoke slowly and carefully. "Mr. Holden, Mrs. Holden asked me to send Mark away. I''ll speak with him now."


    Laura was too afraid to face Marcus because of how she looked-but what about Wesley? His son was right there, and she wondered if he wanted to see him.


    Natalie slowed her steps, listening for any movement behind her. However, even


    as she reached the front door, Wesley did not follow.


    She sighed inwardly. Clearly, they had made up their minds not to reveal themselves to Marcus. If they had truly wanted to reunite with him, they would not have gone to such great lengths to cover themselves


    up.


    Moreover, Marcus had not seen them since he was a child. Even if Charles were here, he probably would not recognize them either.


    Outside, Marcus was standing beneath a me tree, chatting with Benson. When he saw Natalie step out, he immediately walked over and asked, "Dr. Elim, you''re done with the patient?"


    Natalie sighed and said, "Mark, you should head back. There''s nothing you can do here, so just go back to work and make me some more money."


    Marcus frowned slightly. "Huh? What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Natalie pulled him aside and whispered, "Exactly like what I said. Marcus, listen to me. You need to leave. Go back and set up our new home like we nned."


    Marcus''s frown deepened. "Nat, just be honest with me. Can this family be cured? Or is it really that bad?"


    "It is." Natalie hesitated, thinking


    about how to phrase her words.


    Then, she continued, "But I can''t say


    much more. Patient confidentiality applies, even if you''re my boyfriend. I can''t disclose anything right now."


    Wesley and Laura had spent years keeping the truth from Marcus, and they would rather have him resent them than let him know what was really going on. So,


    without their permission, she could not tell him either.


    Natalie looked at Marcus seriously, her eyes locked onto his. "Marcus, you understand, right? You''re the best boyfriend in the world, so of course, you''ll support my career. Right?"


    Marcus replied without hesitation, "I''m not leaving, and I won''t get in your way. I can help out with whatever you need."


    Natalie shut him down immediately. "That''s not an option. You have to go."