Once Julie realized Natalie had turned against Grace, and after receiving Natalie''s call urging her to testify, she no longer hesitated toe forward.


    She had been cing all her bets on Natalie realizing the truth about Grace and refusing to stand against the Holdens for her.


    And she was right.


    Stepping out of the interrogation room, Julie spotted Walter and Natalie standing side by side, their eyes fixed on Grace through the ss.


    On the other hand, Marcus stood close, his hand resting lightly on Natalie''s waist —a silent yet unmistakable deration of dominance and possession.


    Julie walked up to the three of them and greeted them respectfully.


    "I''ve told Grace everything I had to."


    "Yeah, we saw everything." Natalie nodded slightly. "Well done, Ms. Lombard. We still require your full cooperation in the investigation. Please do your best toply."


    With a serious expression, Julie promised, "You have my word, Ms. Walker."


    "Okay."


    The officers escorted Julie to another room as the interrogation team entered to question Grace further.


    "I''m only talking if Natalie is here," Grace dered. "Get her, and I''ll tell you everything. Otherwise, don''t expect a word from me."


    After pondering for a moment, the officers nodded.


    Natalie took in Grace''s demand and gently patted Marcus'' hand on her waist. "I''ll go see her."


    "I''ll follow you."


    Ever since Walter started hovering around Natalie, Marcus hadn''t taken a single step away from her.


    Walter remained silent, but his heart ached. The love he never voiced would now remain unsaid forever.


    He could only stay by Natalie''s side as a childhood friend, never revealing the love he carried while continuing to support and help her.


    And in that, he found sce.


    Walter didn''t step into the interrogation room. Instead, he stood outside, watching Marcus position himself behind Natalie. She crossed her arms, sitting across from Grace as she stared at her nkly.


    "Mrs. Langley Senior, you asked for me, and now I''m here. You may speak now."


    Natalie''s voice was cold as she continued, "The so-called person behind everything that you kept mentioning was actually you, wasn''t it?


    "The story you made up and the nonexistent woman you imed threatened and coerced you were nothing but a cover for the crimes you and Kentonmitted together all these years. And you thought fabricating this woman would absolve you from all this, but you were wrong, Mrs. Langley Senior."


    "No, that''s not it."


    With a wry smile, Grace murmured, "Nattie, after all these years as your grandmother, is this really how you see me?"


    Natalie''s tone was distant. "Whatever trust I had in you is long gone, Mrs. Langley Senior. Also, stop calling yourself my grandmother. Having someone like you as family is an embarrassment to me."


    Her tone was stripped of any trace of emotion.


    "I only have a question, Mrs. Langley Senior. As a woman, you knew how cruel the world could be for those who are trafficked. And yet, you still let Kenton take Selena, who was still an infant at that time, and sell her?


    "Even if Victor wasn''t your real son, even if you despised Diana, Selena was just a helpless baby. Did you never stop to think about what could''ve happened to her? That she might not survive? That she might suffer things too horrific to imagine? Did none of that ever matter to you?


    "No, you thought about it. You knew exactly what you were doing. But it didn''t matter-because you were a heartless person in the first ce."


    Natalie''s cold voice echoed in the interrogation room. With each word, Grace''s face grew a shade paler. By the time the final words fell, she looked like a lifeless shadow of herself.


    "No, Nattie. It''s not like that! That person is real, I swear! I have a phone at home with her contact information inside the safe in my room. She really threatened me. She forced me, Nattie! Please, believe me."


    "Really?"


    Natalie unfolded her arms and leaned forward, nting her hands firmly on the table. "Mrs. Langley Senior, you wanted this meeting. Now that I''m here, are you still


    refusing to speak the truth? No one''s patiencests forever, and I don''t buy for a second that you were forced to sell Selena."


    "No, it''s her. It really is her!" Grace cried. "I don''t know what she was nning, but


    it was her who forced my hand!"


    "Is she Cassie, then?" Natalie fixed her gaze on Grace, unwavering. "You''d better not lie, Mrs. Langley Senior."


    "It''s not Cassie," Grace answered as she cried. "I was Mr. Holden Senior''s godsister. At that time, Cassie was still little, and my daughter hadn''t even been born yet.


    "Even if Cassie had been twisted and


    calcting since she was a child, she wouldn''t have had the means to pull off something like this. She only came to me when Wesley was nning to marry Laura. But even then, she was just following orders from that person. I swear, Nattie. I''m not lying. I really mean it."


    Grace sobbed. "I''ve told you everything I know. All I ask is one thing. Just one promise from you."


    "You''re in no position to bargain with me, Mrs. Langley Senior. Whether you talk or not, the officers will get the truth out of you," Natalie said, leaning back in the chair. "I''m not agreeing to any of your terms. Speak if you want. If not, I don''t care."


    "Nattie!" Grace''s voice trembled with panic. She shot up, then copsed to her knees before Natalie. "This isn''t a negotiation, it''s a plea. Please, just promise me one thing.


    "I never trafficked babies. The only monstrous things I''ve done were making Diana and Victor take your blood... and selling Selena. I had my reasons. I swear,


    I did."


    "What exactly do you want me to promise you?" Natalie''s gaze was icy cold. "Choose your words wisely."


    "Just one request. My daughter,


    Megan-you already know she was


    once Laura''s nutritionist. I don''t


    Laura''s


    know where she is now or if she''s even ative. If you find her, please, I beg you to keep her safe. She was taken from me when she was only three days old. I owe her so much... I just want her to be okay."


    Grace pleaded, "Nattie, I''m begging you. Just this one thing... please."