Natalie shook her head as she answered, "I''ve asked Mom about it when I was on the call with her at the hotel. She said we never made enemies, and since we''ve always been on good terms with the Holdens, no one would be reckless enough to cross us.


    "Cindy had been by my mother''s side since she was young, which is why she moved with them to Amberton. But back then, she wasn''t married, and she definitely wasn''t pregnant. So how was Emma born and switched with me?"


    "There''s only one possibility-Emma was born from another woman," Marcus added.


    Natalie didn''t state it outright, but Marcus caught on immediately.


    "Well, that exins why Cindy was never pregnant yet still had a biological daughter who could be swapped with me on the day I was born."


    She went on, "Mom told me that she and Laura had made a promise years ago. It just so happened that Laura got pregnant first, so you were born before me. But the engagement between our families still stands, just as nned. Before Cindy started working for my mother, she was just a worker from a small and remote town... Wait."


    She suddenly thought of something. "Cindy''s from Scarlet Hill."


    "Scarlet Hill?"


    Marcus'' expression darkened slightly. "I''ll have Ethan look into it right away."


    "The notebook Selena gave me contains the names of multiple girls who were moved from Scarlet Hill."


    A thought struck Natalie, and she immediately called the police department.


    "Mr. Keller? I need you to send a team to Scarlet Hill right away. Have them check out the entertainment venues."


    "What''s going on, Natalie?"


    She quickly ryed her suspicions, and within moments, the officers were on their way to Scarlet Hill.


    "Laura and Wesley spent years searching for a cure, but when they finally gave up, they chose to settle down in Scartlet Hill. That''s the only reason we ever had a chance toe here.


    "Scarlet Hill is a well-known tourist spot in Amberton. The Walkers and Holdens were based in Dithoria. Under normal circumstances, they would have had no reason to visit here."


    Natalie sighed. "Who could have imagined such a breathtaking ce would be exploited as a human trafficking route?"


    Marcus'' expression darkened. "Nat, I have a bad feeling about this. Whoever is behind this is no petty criminal."


    "Do you think it''s Cassie?"


    "No, it''s not her," Marcus replied without hesitation. "She''s unhinged, sure, but she''s rich. She doesn''t like kids, but she''s never been known to hurt them.


    "Besides, ording to Grace, the timeline doesn''t add up. That means the mastermind must be from my grandfather''s generation."


    "Then, do you think Grandpa Charles holds any clues?"


    "I''ve asked him before, and he told me he''s never offended anyone or done anything cruel. With our family''s status, most people wouldn''t dare to mess with us. That''s what makes this all the more baffling."


    Marcus pressed his fingers against his temples. "I want to know who''s controlling Grace. We need to get her phone from her room. Once we have it, we might get some answers. But Nat, I have a feeling this won''t be a simple case to crack."


    "It''s fine. We have to give it a shot anyway." Natalie shed a smile. "The tougher the challenge, the more rewarding the victory. Don''t you agree?"


    "Yeah, I agree. But right now, I just want to kiss you."


    The moment the words left his mouth, Marcus closed the distance, kissing her before she could react.


    Natalie lifted her face slightly, melting into the kiss.


    She loved kissing Marcus. His lips were soft, carrying a faint sweetness that


    reminded her of the strawberry candy she used to love as a child.


    At first, he wasn''t the best at it—he''d identally nip her lips or tongue. However,


    it didn''t take long for him to improve.


    Perhaps men had a natural talent for this sort of thing.


    After a lingering moment, they finally pulled away.


    "Let''s get married when this is over, Nat. What do you say?"


    Marcus'' voice was low and husky, his breathing uneven. His Adam''s apple bobbed as he fought to steady himself.


    "Alright!" Natalieughed. "Marcus, are you really that impatient?"


    "Very." His piercing eyes never left her. "I can''t wait to make you my wife."


    "Well then..." Natalie smirked. "I think I''ll have to run a premarital check on you first."


    "Go ahead. Do it however you''d like."


    "Nat, Mr. Holden, we''ve arrived."


    Their conversation was interrupted by Walter, who had been silent until now, speaking from the front.


    Natalie nced out the window and realized they had already arrived at the Langley residence.


    "Let''s go!"


    Natalie slid off Marcus''p, but before she could fully move away, a firm arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her right back.


    Eyes twinkling, she asked, "Still not enough?"


    "Yeah, never enough," Marcus admitted smoothly. "I could kiss you forever."


    "Then let''s make itst a little longer."


    Natalie smiled, winding her arms around his neck as their lips met once more.


    She knew exactly why Marcus was acting this way. He had insecurities; he worried that he had misjudged her too much in the beginning and that she had only agreed to be with him out of a sense of obligation.


    Other than that, there was her past engagement with Tyler; and Walter, the guy she had once brought home and raised with her own pocket money.


    Marcus never said it out loud, but Natalie could see the insecurities beneath his silence.


    After all, when a man like him got jealous, it was serious business.


    They had been kissing for nearly five minutes when a sharp knock on the car window broke the moment. Natalieughed, softly pushing him away.


    "Alright. If we don''t get out now, Walter''s going to get impatient."


    "And you care if he''s impatient?"


    Marcus'' expression was unreadable, but the jealousy in his voice was unmistakable.


    "Walter wants to discuss work with


    me. The sooner we finish, the


    sooner we can leave." Natalie pinched his ears lightly. "You''re the only one I care about, Marcus. Besides, you''reing with me. You''re my boyfriend, so you have share my workload, okay?"


    Marcus gave a firm nod. "Okay."


    "Then, get out first and open my door."


    "Alright."


    Marcus exited the car first, then circled around to open the door for Natalie.


    "We''re here, Nat."


    She smiled at him yfully before stepping out.


    The second she turned to Walter, her warm demeanor vanished. In an


    icy tone, she said, "Walter, from now on, any conversation we have-my boyfriend is part of it."


    Walter shot Marcus a brief look and replied tly, "Okay."