Great! He's here too. Is this a coincidence or another trap?

Frank paused, surprised by Nathalia's tone, but he didn't let go. Instead, he bellowed, "What's wrong with you? Wake up. He doesn't want to marry you. The family doesn't welcome you. Don't you see it? You are an embarrassment to our family."

​​

He yelled at her as if she was someone to be ashamed of. It excited the crowd. A good show is on. Aha. The Carters are good at putting on good shows. Let's see what Frank Carter's doing this time.

Nathalia sneered, "The Carters is an embarrassment anyway." She showed no more respect for him. I'm treating you the way you treat me.

"You! Disrespectful devil!" Frank roared and lifted his other arm up, about to slap Nathalia.

"Stop!" Spencer shouted, and he held Frank's hand.

"Let go of her!" Matt yelled at the same time and stepped in front of Nathalia.

The two looked at each other, both angry, emotional, and surprised.

Seeing Spencer's furious face, Frank trembled slightly, but he quickly picked up the courage again and retorted, "Spencer Davidson, I suggest you take care of your own family issue first. Nathalia is my daughter. Leave her to me."

He was normally intimidated by Spencer, but this time he seemed to have come prepared.

Spencer glared at him hostilely and in disgust. "Mr. Carter, are you really Nathalia's father? I sincerely doubt it."

Frank felt threatened, but he composed himself. There's no way to retreat.

"Spencer Davidson, you understand very well that neither your parents nor we agree to this engagement or wedding. What you are doing is nonsense!"

Anna picked the right time and joined in, "Spencer, I've decided to marry you since I was little. You can only marry me."

Mrs. Davidson pouted her lips like a dissatisfied child and exclaimed, "Spencer, I will only have Anna as my daughter-in-law. I don't want you to marry any other girls." Her mannerism was rather puzzling to the crowd. A middle-aged woman is acting like a teenage girl. The spectators exchanged confused looks.

Steve couldn't stand the ridiculousness anymore and stepped in. "Mrs. Davidson, come, please. You look tired. Let me take you upstairs to get some rest."

Mrs. Davidson looked at Steve, bewildered. "Who are you? Do I know you?" She questioned, like a lost little girl.

Steve let out a quiet sigh. When is this going to end? He thought frustratingly. However, he acted enthusiastically, "It's me, Steve. Remember? Steven Walken. When I was little, I used to go to your house often and play with Spencer."

Mrs. Davidson frowned as if she was thinking hard, "I can't remember." Steve had expected that she would say so. Of course, she doesn't remember me. She can't even remember who her husband is. The only person she remembers is Spencer.

"Well, I guess I didn't really make a deep impression then. Hahaha. I thought you would at least remember my handsome face. Hahaha," He said jokingly while winking at Patrick and James, hoping they could help.

It took Patrick a little while to get the message. "Mrs. Davidson, what a delightful surprise to have you here. A great pleasure to meet you finally. Would you like to have a drink with us?"

It was the first time Patrick met Spencer's mother. She was nothing like what he expected. Is this why Spencer always seems to feel so heavy and stressed?

Mrs. Davidson looked at him, dubiously, "Who are you? I don't know you. Don't you try to trick me!"

"Er..." Patrick was taken aback. What?

Nathalia watched her quietly, and a sense of sorrow grew inside her.

Anna cuddled Mrs. Davidson and gave her a little squeeze to get her attention, "Mummy, I have to marry Spencer. Can you help me, please."

"Yes, darling. Of course." Mrs. Davidson stroked Anna's head affectionately. She seemed to have totally forgotten about Patrick and Steve. "Spencer, mum loves Anna. If you marry her, then the three of us can always be together as a real family."

A real family? Nathalia smiled helplessly. She didn't know what to think anymore.

Spencer knitted his brows, took Nathalia next to him, and held her hand tight. "Mum, Nathalia is a good girl. She..."

Mrs. Davidson wouldn't hear him. Her face turned stern, and she cried, "Why don't you listen to me? Do you want to be like your dad? That horrible man. If so, I won't see you again." Tears streamed down her face, and she cried like a kid.

All of a sudden, she started coughing hard and vomiting, her face red, her breathing heavy. Everyone stared, shocked.

Nathalia was frightened. Terror traveled through her body. She felt like she was frozen and couldn't move.

Spencer panicked, let go of Nathalia's hand, and hugged his mother. "Mum, calm down, calm down. I will do what you say. Calm down. Take a deep breath..." He said desperately.

Anna was scared for a second, but she quickly reacted and shouted, "Robert, quick. Mum needs help!" A middle-aged man rushed in. "Clear space, quick." He demanded, and the crowd moved. "Take her upstairs to the room..."

It was chaos. No one was sure what had happened. There were talks and guesses amongst the crowd.

Nathalia waited outside the room. She stood there, forlorn, staring at her hands. Empty. Nothing. It's all gone. She thought. Is this fate? Is this my destiny?

Sophie stood next to her, crying for Nathalia. "Everything will be fine. Nathalia. Everything will be fine." She tried to comfort Nathalia and convince herself, though she felt powerless. Why is this happening to her? Has she not been through enough? Happiness was so close to her, and now it just slipped away... Why? She doesn't deserve this. Why is God so cruel to her?

Nathalia smiled, a defeated and helpless smile at Sophie. Fate can't be changed, can it? Is happiness an impossibility to me? It's ok. I can handle it. It's perhaps not such a bad thing after all.

Matt gazed at Nathalia, his heart aching. She is like a tree, with her roots deep down under the ground, standing there, strong. Storms can't destroy her. Nothing can uproot her. He thought. However, she's so young. This is not supposed to happen in her life.