Nathalia, by contrast, was much more mature. She showed no anger, no impatience, no contempt.

"Businesses grow and fail, just like the sun rises and sets, people come and go. It's the law of nature, and we don't go against it. Why? Mr. Johnson, why are you so concerned about how I feel about it? It makes me wonder if you have done something that's to be ashamed of, and it's your sense of guilt speaking if you have any."

​​

I'm giving it back as you insist, Ben Johnson. This is just a small appetizer. I shall give you a proper feast in the near future.

Reminded of the scandals of Ben Johnson, the shareholders exchanged looks of understanding, putting on a disdainful look.

Though news of adultery wasn't uncommon nowadays or had never been, and those with money could usually buy their way through, sad but true, it didn't mean that the society allowed it, that people would accept it without judging.

He slept with someone's wife, then assaulted their daughter, and got engaged to their other daughter. It was horrific. It was hideous.

Ben was enraged by Nathalia's response, but he managed to put on a rigid smile to maintain his little dignity. "Sharp, as usual, Miss Nathalia Carter, I'm impressed." I'm the CEO with the most shares here. Huh! How dare she be so arrogant to me?

He couldn't grasp how Nathalia had made herself superior to him.

Nathalia took an apathetic glance at Ben, stood up, and said with a natural air of authority, "We shall call it a day now."

The shareholders, except Ben, all stood up in respect, which enraged Ben terribly. He clenched his fists helplessly. I've made so much effort to come so far, but now somehow, she's still above me. Why?! Every time! I lose to her.

Ben stared at the desk as if concentrated on his own thoughts. "Nathalia, can I talk to you for a bit?"

Nathalia stopped, stepped aside to let the shareholders walk by. When everyone was gone, she said calmly, "What do you want to talk about? Your malicious ambition? Your secret deal with Anne Carter? The unspeakable evil you've conducted? The real reason why you are here?"

The invisible question marks turned into arrows, shooting through Ben's throat, and he couldn't utter a word.

He felt naked in front of her. Despite how much he had tried to hide his real intentions, to keep his mask on, he knew she had seen through him.

"When, when did you find out?" He stuttered. He had thought he was the clever one, the one in charge of the game, but it turned out that he was the one played. But how?! He asked himself. He had done a lot of research and preparation before approaching her.

Nathalia looked him up and down and thought such a scumbag under a mask of pretentious integrity. "I knew you approached me with unkind intentions the very first time I met you." She said plainly.

She could never forget the moment he threw her into the ocean, into the abyss of darkness; she could never forget his betrayal, his cruelty. She could still feel the hatred towards him.

She didn't have the time or chance to get revenge. Now she had revenge on Carter and Ben Johnson had invited himself to her, she thought why not give him what he deserved.

It mattered not who it was that had got Ben on his back. She would get revenge. She was determined.

Again shocked, Ben stared at Nathalia with his eyes wide open and asked, "How?"

Aware of losing control of his own emotion, he changed strategy. "No wonder you never trusted me. Believe it or not, I've always loved you. I love you, Nathalia. You are the only girl that I've ever loved. You are beautiful, smart, and wise. You are perfect."

He didn't explain or beg for forgiveness. He expressed his affection and made it sound as genuine as possible.

Nathalia remained indifferent. "Even if what you said is true. I don't care."

His love made her sick. What is love? An excuse to hurt? To escape from responsibility? A tool to gain fame and fortune? No. He doesn't understand love. He never did. In her last life and this life, he has never understood what love is.

Ben Johnson was pathetic. He was absurd. He had someone who truly loved him, but he abandoned her; he killed her, and he killed her love. No one would ever love him again as she did, and he deserved it no more.

Somehow he felt a sudden loss, an emptiness inside him. He couldn't understand why, but he felt it.

He took a deep breath, put on a serious face, and in a serious tone, he declared, "Nathalia Carter, as you said, business is business, as long as the company is concerned, I won't have mercy on you. I'll defeat you." It was a declaration as well as a warning.

The more she despised him, the more he wanted to prove to her his capability. To defeat her is the only way to gain his superiority over her.

Nathalia looked at him into his eyes and listened quietly. "Let's see." She responded plainly.

For the first time, Ben saw the fearless beauty on Nathalia's face. He was amazed. "Nathalia, you, you haven't changed. Your fearlessness, your confidence, your strong will. It makes me want to defeat you more."

Every time he lost, he felt awfully frustrated. He found it difficult to accept, and he hadn't accepted it. She's just a girl under twenty, and I've lived and worked and fought, but she beat me! It's impossible.

His gaze angered Nathalia. She found it repulsive. It was a possessive look.

"Ben Johnson, you are meant to be defeated by me. It's a fact." She said icily.

"Am I?" Ben kept his eyes on her. "Let's see." He sounded confident, excessively confident.

Nathalia turned around and left without another word. There was no need to say more.

Just as she walked out of the gate, a security guard came running to her with two men following. "Miss Nathalia Carter, these two officers want to talk to you."

Nathalia nodded to the security guard to say thank you and implied that his job was done. The security guard walked away.

"How can I help you, officers?" Nathalia asked calmly.

The officers showed their cards and said directly, "A body was found ashore this morning. It could be your father, Frank Carter. You are his only family that's in the States now. Please come with us and help identify the body."

"What?" Nathalia stared at the police aghast. No. It's impossible. He's not dead. And why the beach? Nathalia couldn't believe it. He's too tough, too calculating to die.