The Heiress Nobody Saw Coming (Natalie and Marcus) novel Chapter 382

After William and Charlotte left the hospital room, Natalie pulled out a chair and sat down, her gaze calm as she looked at Sky.

Sky forced a bitter smile. It took him a long time before he finally spoke. "I'm sorry."

Natalie's expression remained steady, her tone flat and devoid of emotion. "The person you should be apologizing to isn't me. It's Sophia."

"I know." Sky exhaled heavily, his voice weary. "I had no idea Cindy was Emma's biological mother."

"Now that you do, how do you feel?"

Sky looked at Natalie, his eyes dazed. "I don't know. I just feel confused. My mind is a mess.

"If Cindy was Emma's biological mother, then there's only one possibility—you and Emma weren't switched by accident. It was deliberate. But I don't understand how Cindy managed to pull it off.

"When Mother gave birth in Amberton, Cindy wasn't pregnant. She was always by her side, taking care of her. So, I don't know. It's all just too chaotic. Now that Cindy is dead, this lead is completely cut off."

Natalie glanced around the room, then pulled a chocolate bar from her pocket. She unwrapped it and handed it to Sky.

"I'm still going to Amberton to investigate this. Me, Selena, and Emma… the three of us weren't switched for no reason. With Cindy dead, the investigation might be harder, but no matter what, if something was done, there would always be traces left behind.

"My dear brother, when you went to Amberton before, you weren't actually trying to uncover the truth, were you? You didn't want to find Emma's real parents. You couldn't bear to send her away. You couldn't bear to take her away from the wealth and protection of the Walker family."

Hearing Natalie call him "brother", Sky's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He hadn't expected that after everything he had done—after how blatantly he had favored Emma, after all the harm he had caused Sophia—Natalie would still call him that.

Even if she was questioning him, even if her words held no warmth, the fact that she still called him her brother made an unbearable sourness rise in his chest.

"Yes, I was wrong. I was completely wrong." Sky's voice was choked, unable to control the emotion in it.

"Recognizing your mistakes and making amends—there's no great virtue." Natalie handed him the chocolate. "Try it. It's not bitter. This was made by the chocolate factory Lincoln bought."

Sky took the chocolate and placed it in his mouth. It melted instantly, rich and smooth. There wasn't even a hint of bitterness but his heart was still unbearably heavy.

"Nat, I am sorry."

After swallowing, Sky spoke again, his guilt overwhelming. "I shouldn't have been prejudiced against you. I shouldn't have thought that your return would disrupt Emma's place in the family.

"I wanted you two to get along. I hoped your return wouldn't shake her position. But I ignored the fact that you were the one who had truly been wronged. Nat, I am so sorry."

Natalie wasn't surprised by his apology. People's perspectives change when they brush against death.

"It's fine," she said with a faint smile.

"Sky, you never owed Emma anything. Everything you did for her was real. Your kindness was sincere but the more someone gives, the harder it is to let go.

"And people have feelings. You watched Emma grow up. You doted on her, protected her. Meanwhile, I was just a stranger who suddenly appeared. We had no emotional connection. I understand why you took her side."

Her voice remained calm.

None of them could escape their crimes and Sophia would never sign any statement of forgiveness for them.

What she wanted was for everyone who had hurt her to face their rightful punishment—to ensure that they could never harm anyone else again.

The easy way out for Emma would be death, but that would be too good for her. The best punishment is for her to rot in prison. For someone like her, losing the wealth and status as a Walker was the real torment.

Sometimes dying was a relief, but living—living and suffering—was the cruelest fate of all.

Natalie walked out of the ward. William and Charlotte were standing nearby, speaking quietly. When they saw her emerge, they immediately approached.

"Are you done talking to Sky?"

"Yes, I'm done."

"I just hope this time, he truly understands his mistakes and changes." Charlotte sighed. "For a wretched woman like Emma, his effort really wasn't worth it.

"But there is nothing we can do. He made his choice. And now, no matter how painful it is, he has to walk this path himself."

Even as she spoke, Charlotte's eyes turned red. No matter what, Sky was still the son she had carried for ten months. The very first child she had given birth to after enduring the agony of labor.

When he was born, she and William had been overjoyed. They had placed the highest hopes in him.

"Mom, don't be sad. Sky might truly change this time." Natalie hugged Charlotte gently. "We'll wait for him to come home."