As Walter finished speaking, Natalie furrowed her brows again. "Walter, that''s not what I meant."


    "Nat, I won''t bother you two." Marcus suddenly spoke up. "I''ll wait outside."


    "You don''t have to go," Natalie said, reaching out to stop him. "I''m not taking your side just because you''re my boyfriend. I''m just speaking based on the situation.


    "Walter, I never distanced myself from you just because I got into a rtionship. You were the one I chose from the orphanage and brought into the Langley family. We grew up together. What we share is different from what I have with Marcus. "And Marcus, you don''t have to force yourself to walk away just because you''re worried Walter and I might argue."


    Natalie held Marcus'' hand. She knew how jealous he could get and that no matter how jealous he was, he wouldn''tsh out at her. He would just bottle it up, quietly struggling inside. Since she chose to be with him, she wouldn''t let him spiral like that. That security a partner needs-she would give it to him.


    "Walter, love and friendship don''t conflict." Natalie looked at him seriously. "If there''s ever a misunderstanding between us, I hope we clear it up right away. If you had a girlfriend, and you took her side in an argument with me, would you do it just because she''s your girlfriend?"


    Walter paused, then slowly shook his head. "No, I''d go by what''s right."


    "Exactly. And I''m doing the same. This has nothing to do with Marcus." Natalie pulled over a chair and sat down.


    "Grace must stay in the police station. She can''t be released. We''ve now obtained her phone and this photo album. All new evidence we find must be immediately submitted to the police.


    "Grace''s biggest concern is her biological daughter, Megan. And Megan is tied to the Umbrahex case involving Mrs. Holden, which makes Marcus a key person in this situation too. He doesn''t need to leave. He can''t leave."


    Marcus gazed deeply at Natalie, his eyes filled with tenderness, warmth, and quiet gratitude. Yes, he had been jealous, but her words filled him withfort and joy.


    Though he knew he couldn''tpare to the ten-plus years of friendship between her and Walter, her defense of him still meant everything. He loved her, and even if it hurt, he was willing to step back.


    He trusted her to know the line between friendship and love-and she hadn''t let him down. At this moment, he feltpletely secure.


    Walter listened to her, bitterness rising in his heart. He forced a smile, but it looked more like a grimace than joy. "Nat, I never said Mr. Holden had to leave. He offered to go himself." His voice was full of self-reproach. "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have brought up the past to talk about the present."


    Natalie didn''t want to linger on this topic any longer. She gave a faint smile, her tone softening. "Alright, let''s not talk about that anymore. Let''s get back to the investigation. Walter, go on-tell us what you found."


    "Okay." Walter nodded and retrieved several items from Grace''s study. One by one, he opened them and exined their origins to Natalie and Marcus.


    After drinking the medicine Connie had prepared and undergoing acupuncture from Federrick, Lauray down to rest at The Herbalist''s Sanctuary.


    With thebination of herbal treatment and acupuncture, the Umbrahex had been cleared from her body, and she was steadily recovering. Before long, she would be able to return to a normal life.


    But not long after shey down, Sheldon knocked on her door. "Mrs. Holden, are you asleep? Mr. Holden Senior would like to speak with you."


    Laura wasn''t asleep yet. "Not yet. Give me a moment. I''ll get up."


    Ten minutester, Laura was seated across from Charles. "Father, I heard that you wanted to speak with me."


    Though Laura had already divorced Wesley-and he had agreed to it—the paperwork hadn''t been filed. But Marcus had already arranged for their divorce papers to be processed and the application had been acknowledged.


    Even though she was no longer Wesley''s wife, she still respectfully called Charles "Father."


    "Laura, how are you feeling? Any better?" Charles had clearly aged in just a few days. There was a deep weariness about him.


    "I feel much better, Father," Laura replied. "Federrick said I''ll be able to live like a normal person again soon."


    Compared to Charles'' exhausted appearance, Laura looked much better, her expression buoyed by a happiness she couldn''t quite hide. After years of suffering under the torment of Umbrahex, each day now brought healing and renewed hope.


    "Laura, did you know Wesley has gone back to Dithoria?"


    She nodded. "He said he had some things to take care of and would return once he was done if I''m still here by then."


    "Wesley went to find Cassie. Did you know that?" Charles finally decided to open up. "I''m honestly worried he might do something to her. Laura, it took me a long time to make up my mind to talk to you.


    "I know this might sound cruel, but Wesley and Cassie are both my children. They''re brother and sister. I''m terrified that while I''m still alive, I''ll witness them turn on each other.


    "But if we don''t punish Cassie, it would be terribly unfair to you. The pain and suffering you''ve endured all these years, the separation from Marcus-I can''t ask you to forgive her.


    "I just want to beg you-stop Wesley. Don''t let him do something he''ll regret. Laura, please call him and ask him toe back. Will you?"


    Laura was stunned, unable to respond for a long while.


    Charles took a sip of the medicinal drink in front of him. Since arriving at The Herbalist''s Sanctuary, he had met with Federrick, who prepared this drink to help his health. Even if taken at night, it wouldn''t disrupt his sleep.


    "Laura, I know you and Wesley are divorced, but you still don''t want anything bad to happen to him, right? Cassie''s not mentally stable. I worry about Wesley, but I worry about Cassie too."


    Laura''s face flushed red. After a while, she finally spoke. "Father, I understand everything you''re saying. But I promised Wesley that after the divorce, I would no longer interfere in his affairs. All he wants is forme to live well. As long as I''m happy, that''s enough for him.


    "As for Cassie, won''t forgive her. And I don''t believe Wesley will either. Precisely because she''s his sister, we can''t forgive her. Father, I used to trust Cassiepletely. I treated her like my own sister and gave her everything I had. And how did she treat me?


    Laura''s eyes turned red. "I understand your concern for her, and I don''t me you. But just as you said, no one has the right to ask me to forgive her after all I''ve endured. My body hasn''t fully


    recovered yet, but when it does, I


    won''t let her go either.


    "I may have divorced Wesley, but that doesn''t mean I don''t love him. And Wesley didn''t agree to the divorce because he stopped loving me. It''s precisely because he loves me that he let me go.


    "Father, the bond between a parent and child is but one form of love. The love between a husband and wife is another. If Wesley had been the one suffering all these years, I would''ve made the same choice he did.


    "Both feelings are not the same, but love is."