She could feel fear wrapping her heart up. The more she wanted to keep calm, the worse her hands shook.

She felt more alone with Curt standing aside watching. What else can I do? I wish Spencer's here.

​​

Mrs. Davidson's face looked paler, but she managed to reply to Nathalia in a whisper, "Don't worry, Nathalia. I won't die."

"I love you, mum," Nathalia said gently. She kept her eyes at the door, praying for Spencer's return. Then she noticed that Curt was coming close to them. She looked up quickly, like a frightened little animal. "What are you doing?" She snapped anxiously.

"I just..." Curt looked hurt. Do they really think I'm that cruel? I just want to check on her. What do they think I would do?

Curt didn't mean to hurt his wife. It was an accident. However, he was too proud to explain.

"She's your wife. Even if you don't love her, you can't hurt her. Stay away. If you ever intend to kill her, you will have to kill me first!" Nathalia exclaimed.

I have to protect my mum. That was all she knew. I have to protect mum from him.

Curt stared at Nathalia in disbelief. Kill her? Why does she even think so?! Just as he was about to explain, Spencer walked in.

"Nathalia, mum!" Spencer exclaimed, terrified by the scene, and rushed to them.

"Oh, Spencer! I'm so scared. He's trying to kill mum!" Nathalia cried.

To kill mum! Spencer stared at Curt with hatred and anger. Curt looked hurt.

Seeing his mother lying on the floor and the pool of blood, Spencer couldn't think. "Mum." He kneeled down beside his mum. Tears filled his eyes instantly.

Mrs. Davidson opened her eyes slightly with great effort, but she could barely talk.

"I've called the ambulance. It should arrive soon." Nathalia said to Spencer gently, her voice quivering still. Spencer hugged her to calm her, "Mum will be fine. Don't worry, babe."

Then he stood up and walked towards Curt. His face said anger and hatred. Without a word, Spencer threw a punch up his father's chin. Bang.

Curt didn't dodge. He stood there and took it. It hurt badly, but what hurt him more was the look in his son's eyes. For the very first time in his life, he sensed fear. He felt like he was going to lose the most important thing in his life.

"Spencer, I didn't mean to hurt your mother. I was just..."

"Bullshit! This isn't the first time. Have you not hurt her enough?! What have you ever done for mum? Nothing. All you did was hurting her!" Spencer snapped. Mum has never done anything wrong to deserve this. Why does he have to hurt her? Why? The only thing mum did wrong was to love him too much!

"I..." Curt was speechless. He couldn't bear to see the look of hatred on Spencer's face. It tortured him.

"I will never forgive you, never. Curt Davidson, I'm ashamed to have you as my father. Get out! Stay away from us! You, and your bastard son. I don't want to see you again." Spencer yelled emotionally.

Curt wanted to explain, but he couldn't. At last, he merely said, "I will explain later when you calm down." He sounded so helpless.

The ambulance arrived. The doctor and the nurses carried Mrs. Davidson out, followed by Nathalia and Spencer.

When everyone left, Curt stood there, staring at the stand of blood on the carpet, then he cupped his face with both hands. A tear leaked through his fingers and fell onto the carpet.

As soon as they got to the hospital, experts and doctors were requested to check on Mrs. Davidson only to find that it was only something minor.

Still worried, Spencer asked the doctor again, "Are you sure? It's certain that my mother's fine? It's nothing serious?" Mrs. Davidson looked pale, lying on the bed. Nathalia stroked her hands, and they felt cold.

The chief doctor replied calmly and patiently, "Yes, we are sure, Mr. Davidson. We have cleaned the cut. Luckily it's not very deep, and she didn't lose much blood. She just needs a few day's good rest, and she will be fine. She's..." The doctor hesitated, heaved a sigh, and continued, "She's just too shocked and exhausted. She needs some peace."

The doctors could help with physical injuries, but not heartaches. Spencer understood and said, "Thank you, doctor."

After all the doctors left, Spencer and Nathalia stood by the bed, both deep in thought. After a while, Nathalia finally said, rather timidly, "Spencer, I think I overreacted just then and misunderstood dad..." He isn't such a bad person. He wouldn't have the thought of killing mum. Even if he wanted to kill someone, he didn't need to do it himself. He could just send someone.

She was too emotional and too worried to think properly. Also, she couldn't forgive him for asking her not to call the ambulance. Perhaps that was what got her to overreact.

Spencer heard the concern in Nathalia's tone. He pecked a kiss on her head gently and said, "Babe, I'm so grateful that you were there with mum. You were very brave as you have always been. It's not the first time that he's hurt mum. I will never forgive him. From now on, he and I are strangers."

Nathalia recalled what Spencer once told her about their past, about how mum lost her memories, about their fights, and about the coldness of Curt. She felt a heavyweight on her heart.

"Honey, I'll always be with you and mum." Nathalia hugged him tightly.

"I know, babe." He kissed her head. "I thought about what you have been through with your family and how you had to go through it alone. I wish I was there for you." Being hurt by one's family was probably the most painful thing.

She was only eighteen then.

"I wasn't alone. You were there for me the whole time. You've given me the most support. I would not have been able to go through it without you." Nathalia looked at Spencer into his eyes and said gratefully.

Looking back, she thought it was like a dream. The darkness and the hardship seemed so long ago. There would always be battles to fight in life, but as long as there was love, there was hope as love conquered everything.