"Nat, I won''t keep you any longer. Enjoy your trip with Marcus. If there''s anything you need, just tell me. Don''t be polite with me. I''ve truly changed." Sky''s voice was warm and sincere.

    Only then did Natalie respond. "All right. I understand. Thank you, Sky."

    "Okay. I''m hanging up now. Have fun."

    "Goodbye, Sky."

    Natalie ended the call and looked up to find Marcus watching her intently.

    "What is it? Is there something on my face? What are you staring at me like that?" she asked, touching her cheek.

    Marcus gave a faint smile. "Nat, when did you talk to Zachary alone? I didn''t know he and Sophia had forgiven your brother. I''m just curious, that''s all. I''ve been trying to figure it out."

    Natalie set down her phone. She had taken a nap in the RV, and by the time she woke up, several hours had passed. The vehicle had stopped outside a hotel that Timothy had picked along the route. She was nning to rest before getting out.

    Sky''s call hade in right after she got up. Since marrying Marcus, she no longer avoided answering the phone in front of him.

    Hearing his question, she smiled and rested her chin in her hand, thinking for a while before speaking.

    "If I had to exin it properly, we''d have to go back to before our wedding."

    I''m listening," Marcus said, his voice gentle.

    Natalie nodded and began.

    It had been just before their wedding when the Remington family and Samuel came to Dithoria. There had been some unpleasant conflict between Samuel and Sophia, and everyone was aware of it.

    Then, one day, Zachary and Sophia invited Natalie to meet them. Just the three of them.

    They picked a barbecue ce and ordered enough food to cover the whole table. It was meant to be casual, but they had a clear purpose.

    Natalie agreed to meet.

    As they ate, Zachary and Sophia brought up the matter of Sky.

    Zachary said, "Ms. Walker, Sophia and I have thought long and hard about it. We''ve decided to forgive Sky. But we won''t announce it publicly, nor will we tell the rest of the Walker family. We''re only telling you."

    Natalie raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

    Sophia took a sip of water before answering, her voice soft. "Nat, I may need Sky''s help with something in the future. He owes me. And I want him to help me deal with someone."

    "Who?" Natalie asked.

    "Samuel. I want Sky to help me take him down," Sophia replied.

    Natalie had been surprised. "Sky is still in prison. He can''t do anything."

    "I''ve looked into it. Sky has been on his best behavior in prison. He''s earned several merits. If awyer steps in to help, he can be released early through legal channels," Zachary said.

    "The problem is, no one in Dithoria dares to take his case or supervise him after his release. But we know Walter."

    Zachary continued calmly.

    "He''s the most respectedwyer in Amberton. He''s never lost a case. And he grew up with you. You personally picked him up from the orphanage.

    "Walter listens to you. He''s the only one who would dare to represent Sky and oversee his release. That''s why Sky has to be released."

    Sophia nodded and added, "Yes, I haven''t truly forgiven him. But Nat, I want to make peace with the Walker family. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were always kind to me when I was young.

    "Sky wasn''t the one who hurt me the most. He was an aplice, yes, but the real monsters were Shane and Emma. They''re the ones who truly deserve punishment.

    "Sky made mistakes, but he doesn''t deserve to die for them. I want him to help me deal with Samuel. That''s why we came to you."

    Zachary looked at Natalie seriously. "There''s another reason we chose you. Sky treated you poorly before. If you''re the one who helps him, he''ll never forget it. He''ll always feel indebted to you.

    "You help him now, and for the rest of his life, he''ll hold you in the highest regard. So will the rest of the Walker family. They''ll see it as a gesture of grace.

    "Mr. and Mrs. Walker may seem cold to him now, but as time passes, their anger will fade. In the end, they may even be the ones to bring him out. This arrangement only benefits you. There''s nothing to lose."

    Natalie had smiled at that. She looked at Zachary and said, "You really are a psychologist. Your analysis is impressive.

    "But I didn''t agree because of everything Mr. Holt said. I agreed because it was Sophia''s request. I don''t owe her anything, but I feel for her. As a woman to another, I wanted to help.

    "I''ll ask Walter to handle it. But if Skyes to thank me, I''ll tell him the truth. I''ll tell him to thank you instead. Whatever requests you have, you can tell him directly."

    "Thank you, Ms. Walker." Zachary stood and bowed deeply.

    Sophia stood as well and bowed alongside him. "Thank you, Nat."

    Natalie waved them off. "No need to thank me. Just remember this moment if I ever need help from either of you in the future."

    "We will. I have a n of my own. Thank you," Sophia said, her eyes reddening.

    "Let''s eat," Natalie said. It had been a while since she''d had barbecue, and she was genuinely looking forward to it.

    The three of them finished the meal in high spirits.

    ...

    "That''s what happened."

    Natalie finished recounting the memory and picked up her water ss, taking a small sip.

    "I don''t know what Zachary and Sophia are nning, but I can guess." Marcus nodded. Letting Sky deal with Samuel, he thought, kept their own names clean.

    "I understand. And it would be easy for Sky to get it done."

    Natalie replied, "Yes, Zachary was right. Sky was never going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Even though my parents act like they''ve washed their hands of him, everything he does in prison, any merit he earns, still reaches their ears. Sending Walter to help him was just a nudge in the right direction.

    "My parents lost me for years. They''re trying to make it up to me, and I understand that. But Sky was once their chosen heir. If Emma had nevere into the picture, he would never have gone so far astray.

    "Sending him to prison was my parents'' way of waking him up. They were never going to abandon himpletely."